See? I told you things in From the Beginning would all be explained. Useless elements and plot holes? Not on my watch. (Those of you who know my tumblr and my billdip husband au? You know the pain that songs brings.)

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Chapter Four

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If someone had ever asked Danny to describe what it felt like to die, he would have said it felt like standing in a thunderstorm. To have lightning strike, and thousands upon thousands, millions, of volts of energy pass through you, nothing but a speed bump to get to where they were going. He would have described it as energy ripping through the body like it was tissue paper. Easily broken, and inconsequential.

If someone were to ask him to describe what it felt like to fade, however, he would have said it was...peaceful. Worries, and fears, disappearing, piece by piece. Like a puzzle being dismantled, and put back into the box, to be played with again on another rainy day. Given the choice, he would have gladly chosen fading over dying, and yet…

He wondered why that thought felt so wrong.

It wasn't as if he was upset with how his life had been lived - sure, he still had a few qualms about things, but nothing too bad. Everyone regretted things in their past, after all, and sometimes their future… He might have had a few things he had still needed to do, but he was just so tired. Tired of being the hero, of having to be perfect, of never showing his fears, of always having a smile on his face. It was just...so tiring.

Would anyone really fault him for fading? For accepting death so easily? It's not like he hadn't fought back, tooth and nail, for what he had believed in! He had always fought! That's why he was so tired, though, and why he just wanted a bit of rest. Yet...something was keeping him from letting go completely. The thought that he was leaving someone behind, someone that he could never leave behind - would never leave behind.

Everything was so foggy, though. As if staring through frosted glass that was steamed. He still had things to do...didn't he? Or...maybe he didn't? And someone was waiting - screaming - for him, right? He just...wasn't sure, anymore. Everything was jumbled, and mixed up, as if the puzzle box had been dumped upside down and then swept off the table.

"I was wondering when I would meet you." Danny tilted his head, giving a confused expression to the aged ghost in front of him. "Although sooner than I would have liked...you have a bit more to accomplish, don't you?"

"I...I don't know," Danny quietly mumbled, shuddering at the cold that wracked his body. "I can't really...remember anything- Or maybe I remember too much? It's just…"

"Overwhelming?" At the nod, the blue ghost let out a light laugh, flying over and gently ruffling the shivering teen's head. "I suppose I can understand that feeling...you've done remarkably well, for someone who was born to the world of humans, then again, you are as stubborn as your father."

"My...father?"

"Clockwork, of course." That was right though, wasn't it? Clockwork was his father, in more ways than one, now that he thought of it. It wasn't just through technicality, but through everything. "My apprentice seems to have found quite the spot of trouble… I had hoped to deal with this mess before it was passed on to him, yet I fear I was too late."

"Apprentice...then that means...you're Clockwise, right?" At the nod, Danny gave a small smile. "Kind of ironic, don't you think? A timekeeper being late?" The gentle laughter he heard banished most of the cold, Danny slowly uncurling from his hunched up form. "Where...where are we?"

"I suppose it is a place between." At the confused look, Clockwise gave another light laugh. "Think of it like the humans would of...purgatory, I suppose. A place between life, and death."

"Now doesn't that sound familiar," Danny mused, glancing around the landscape once again. It was pitch black, yet the world was covered with stars of all shapes, sizes, and colors. "Why am I in between, though? Shouldn't I just...be dead?"

"It seems that your story is not quite done yet. Wouldn't you agree, however?" Danny thought over what he could remember, giving a slow nod. "Besides, your mate is as stubborn as you."

"Mate- Andrew…" Hit with a barrage of images and words, Danny felt the breath catch in his throat. "Is he alright?! How long have I been here?! He hasn't done anything really stupid, has he?! Is he-"

"Relax, Daniel. Your mate is well, and furiously working on saving you, I might add." Danny paused at that, looking confused once again. "For the past year or so, since he was informed of your health, he has been working on an elixir to extend your life."

"Extend my- The alchemy potion...and...extend the cells- That idiot! Did he actually try to make some freaking philosopher's stone crap?! Did he not pay attention to Harry Potter?!" Danny huffed at the loud, startled laughter he heard, crossing his arms in annoyance. "I'm serious, here! He's a bigger idiot than I am when it comes to keeping me safe!"

"Worry not, little one, all is as it should be." Seeing the look he was given, Clockwise gave a questioning hum. "Yes?"

"You...you're the reason Clockwork is always using that line on me!" At more laughter, Danny rolled his eyes, slightly amused himself. So much for timekeepers being stoic. He supposed he just had good luck with them.

"Amusing, considering he hated those words more than any others." Oh...oh that was good. Now Danny had to go back, if only to hoard this knowledge over Clockwork for as long as he could. "You will be waking up soon, I believe, however...the pain is not yet over."

"What...do you mean?" If Andrew had fixed him something to extend his life, then...the immediate pain should be gone, shouldn't it? "You mean, like, the pain will come back when the elixir wears off, or something. Right?"

"I...am afraid not, young one. The elixir will only keep you from fading in this one instance, how you endure the rest of what is to happen, well...that is up to you." Feeling a sharp tug on his core, Danny let out a breathless gasp, hand flying to his chest. "I believe it is time for you to wake up, grandson."

"...nny...ann...Danny!" Eyes snapping open in terror, Danny relaxed at once at seeing he was in his mate's arms, who was looking panicked and terrified in equal amounts. "Danny- Please be- Can you hear me?!"

"Jeez, why are you so loud?" Danny grumbled, not fighting the tight hug he was pulled into, even if it did hurt his back. "I thought I was the loud one." Not hearing a joke shot back at him, Danny gave a small smile, lightly tugging on his mate's coat. "Aw, were you worried about me?"

"Yes." The word was quiet, and said through a voice thick with tears. "Please don't leave me alone…" The words were spoken in French, Andrew's native language, but Danny understood enough to almost have him tearing up himself. For as much as Andrew comforted and was there for him, he sometimes forgot just how much the other had been through himself.

"Hey, come on, GW, you're not getting rid of me that easily," Danny weakly chuckled, pausing before giving a huff. "Alchemy, though?! Are you trying to blow yourself up?! I can't believe you pulled some bullshit philosopher's stone shit just to try and give me a few more years- You are insane!" Looking up to see his mate's shocked expression, Danny smiled and patted the other's cheek lightly. "I see all."

"Now that is bullshit," Andrew snorted, carefully picking Danny up and carrying him towards the main library, where books were already floating and scattered around. Sitting down on the couch, and letting Danny happily lay across his lap, he started pulling books towards him with his powers. "The crystal in your back is clearer to see, by the way."

"Uugghh, of course it is," Danny groaned, blinking at the phone hovering in front of him. The picture showed the crystal was raised just a bit above the skin, and a bright red color that looked like hardened blood more than anything. His only small comfort that it wasn't blood was the fact he was still in his ghost form. "Well...I've stopped bleeding, at least."

"For now," Andrew muttered, kissing Danny's forehead at the look he was given. "Désolé, mon cher, I just...I know I've heard of this before…"

"A ghost turning to crystal- Hey, didn't you say these holes were deep?" Flipping through the pictures on the phone, he pulled up one from where he was human, the holes easily inches deep. "So that all filled with crystal...but how- And, you know, why. The why seems important to ask."

Hearing silence from his mate, Danny looked up, heart breaking at the hopeless look on the other's face. Sitting up as best he could, he pulled his mate down for a hug, arms wrapping around his neck and softly kissing his cheek, "Hey, don't worry about it...we'll figure things out, right? My stubbornness, and your smarts- The way we are, no one can stand in our way, right?"

"...Right."

They're both pretty fucking stubborn, when you think about it.