"Mom? Something wrong?"
Maddie snapped out of her daze when Danny questioned her and waved his hand in her face. She hadn't realized she'd been staring.
"Oh, what did you say, sweetie?" she said as she lowered her ectoblaster. Danny had just caught a stray ghost in the thermos and they were packing it in after a day of hunting.
"I asked if anything was wrong," he said. He floated down to the ground and detransformed, watching her.
Maddie leaned forward and kissed her son on the forehead. "No, nothing's wrong. I'm just… observing, I guess."
Danny frowned. "The transformation thing?"
Maddie quirked her mouth awkwardly. "Maybe?"
Danny sighed, crossing his arms and rubbing them with his hands.
Maddie watched her son shift uncomfortably under her gaze. She put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, sweetie. It's just… I'm not used to it yet. That's all."
Danny nodded slowly. "I get it. It's alright." he said quietly.
"Transform again," she said suddenly.
Danny's eyes widened. "What's wrong? Is there another ghost?" he said, the rings already coursing over his form as he flew up.
"No," she said, and reached for his hand. "Come here."
Danny turned back to look at her and floated back down in front of her. Maddie reached out and ruffled his white hair in her fingers. It was cooler to the touch than his black but still the same texture and mess it usually was. She let her touch slid down his head to cup his cheek. She smiled at him and he allowed himself a small smile back.
"I love you," she said, "both halves of you. I just need some time to adjust. Is that okay? Can you give me some time?"
Danny nodded against her hand and his smile grew wider. "I can."