The Core Problem

by Apprentice08

While visiting the campus at UW Danny is confronted by Vlad and things tumble out of control all too quickly. The pair become drawn to each other, unable to fight the unknown pull coming from their ghostly cores. What started as something terrible evolves into something neither can live without. NO PHANTOM PLANET. Pompous Pep, warnings inside. All chapters are written.

11. Truth and Daring

A/N: Reader beware for this chapter. Went back over it four times, editing, cutting and pasting, I'm not happy with it, but the warning is because the conversations that happen and the discussions held and what ensues in this chapter is the darkest part of this story. This has been one of the lighter stories I've written, but I can't ever seem to escape at least one dark chapter in all my stories, it's in my very nature as I love writing them. So strap in, suit up and wear a helmet. Hope you enjoy, things are about to get really weird, gross and uncomfortable.

Peace and Love, all!

P.S. If you want to avoid the weird, gross and uncomfortable, skip around where Vlad is relating his story of Ernestra to Danny. Also, sorry for any editing or grammar mistakes!

WARNINGS: Mentions and discussion of necrophilia in passing, mentions of unwanted sexual encounters, sex scene between two males, detailed, and mentions of mass genocide and suffering. If any of this bothers you please read around.

Entry XI

I was numb. The flight back through the Zone to Vlad's lab had been silent. Vlad led and I followed, head down and eyes awash in regret. In that humming silence of the Ghost Zone, I contemplated everything. Clockwork's ghostly death, my lack of ability to stop it, the words that Clockwork had said right before he left, and the last six months of my life.

He had instructed me to trust Vlad and allow him to be my guide and mentor until Clockwork returned. And Vlad was supposed to trust me, and let me lead him towards the correct future. Neither of those things seemed possible given the situation at hand and that numbness sat in my gut as I replayed the last hour over and over in my mind.

By the time we entered the lab the numbness had faded and anger had taken its place. I remember stumbling to the ground, tears pouring down my face as I yelled angrily at no one. I'd lost a dear friend in a battle I hadn't even realized was raging, Vlad's past sins seeping into my life and affecting those I knew and cared about.

I can't remember if I was actually angry at Vlad, or myself for letting Clockwork down. After everything he had done for me, all the times he had helped me or given me the wisdom I needed to carry on through so many impossible scenarios, I had been unable to return the favor by protecting him and keeping him alive. I had failed to save him. The blow was painful, and I felt like my heart was going to explode from the pain.

My anger and hurt came out, and I lashed at Vlad as if the entire thing was his fault. I don't think Vlad had ever seen me so angry and he took every drop I spewed at him, simply looking like a guilty kicked dog. I was twisted up inside and couldn't bring myself to face the truth of Clockwork's demise. The only solace I had was the fact that eventually in the future he would return. Though how long it would be was unknown.

The following discussions Vlad and I had were rough, sharing things we had never planned to share with each other, admitting to so many mistakes both of us had made in the past. No matter how much you trust the ones you love, there will always be events in your life, choices you make, things that you do that you are either ashamed of or too scared to share, because if those you love most reject you, then to who can you turn?

That night I learned things from Vlad about his past that I knew he had never planned to tell me. In turn I told things to Vlad I never planned to tell him. When we needed each other's core strength the most to balance ourselves and each other, it didn't seem to be there. Vlad's ability to focus and think clearly did little to help me in the tense moments that followed. I felt just as lost and screwed up as I always did, and my more practiced hold on my emotions did not help Vlad keep his own tumultuous emotions under control.

I needed Vlad to be strong and calm, and Vlad needed me to be focused and detached. We failed in that regard because we'd only just joined our cores, and we had only just truly started to trust each other in the ways that really mattered. In the aftermath of Clockwork's death, we both realized we had kept secrets from each other and so our first fight as a couple ensued. I regret everything I said and Vlad to this day still brings up that night and tells me how much he loves me for not leaving.

I still don't think Vlad realizes that for me, leaving him would be impossible. In the grand scheme of things, Vlad would actually be the more likely of us to leave. Luckily such a prospect has never come to fruition, but that night, when I realized that Vlad's past mistakes were seeping like poison into my own life and hurting those who I cared the most about, well, as I explained before, I still regret everything I had said and to this day inwardly cringe at my own callous behavior towards the man I loved.

Chapter Eleven

Truth and Daring

Danny stumbled through the portal falling to the ground as the numb sensation that had been filling him faded and he was suddenly burning with rage.

He gritted his teeth, his hands fisting on the floor as he let out a rather nasty growl and slammed his fists down on the ground, ice spreading from his spot across the floor in aggressive and cracked fragments.

"It's not fair! It's not fair! I've done everything you expected of me! I've put my life on hold to protect others, I've jumped through every hoop you gave me Clockwork! Why wouldn't you let me save you! Why didn't you fight! I followed every order, I listened to everything you said, I...I did everything you wanted me to do! WHY DIDN'T YOU FIGHT! WHY WOULDN'T YOU LET ME SAVE YOU!" and with each hit of his fist the ice jerked and shot across the lab, covering the floor, climbing the walls, and coating the computers and their consoles. Snow flurries started to fall from the ceiling and the temperature dropped drastically.

Vlad was by the portal, eyes wide as he watched the entire lab become an icy tomb, cold emanating off of Danny in waves and Vlad's breath appearing as he realized Danny was going to freeze them both to death if he didn't calm down.

The older halfa had seen Danny angry before, but not to this level, as the sound of the young man's voice was so acidic and filled with anger he almost didn't recognize it. Vlad could also feel Danny's rage, pain, and fear pulsing heavily in the back of his mind and it felt so similar to Vlad's own from so long ago that the older man was quick to approach and bend down next to him.

"Daniel, please, you must calm down. Don't let the anger win, you must let it fade out, focus on what you can do, and not what you couldn't stop from happening."

At first, the young man said nothing, simply resting on his knees and hands as he took soft gulps of air and glared at the floor. Carefully Vlad raised Danny's face to see frozen tracks of tears across his skin and Vlad warmed his hand, pressing it across Danny's cheeks and melting the ice away.

"Don't touch me!" Danny bit out with venom and he stood and headed for the stairs, "Wait! Daniel, please!" Vlad called as he followed. "Just get away from me! This is your fault." Danny suddenly said, "What?" Vlad asked softly as Danny shoved the man's hand away and continued up the stairs. Vlad followed, a look of worry on his face, "How is it my fault? Daniel, I understand you are upset about losing your friend, and I get why you might misplace your anger as we weren't successful in saving him but-" Danny turned to him and in angry tones and clenched fists he said, "Your past actions have caused someone close to me to get killed! Ernestra was your enemy, not mine! Now she's got the thermos and that stupid book and whatever weird shit is written inside it! If you had taken care of her four years ago when you turned her down then none of this would have happened!" Danny said as he walked into the study and began to pace around.

Vlad just stood there, allowing Danny to fling insults and contemptuous remarks at him, the young man looking at Vlad with such angry and hurting eyes, Vlad himself remained silent as Danny vented.

"I never should have done this, never should have gotten involved with you! If I had just done what I told myself to do in the first place and focused on school, if I had just told you to fuck off none of this would be happening! Clockwork would still be here! I'd still have my friend!" and Danny turned to glare at Vlad, still in his ghost form and the aura around him glowing a bright white.

Vlad finally sighed, transforming back into his human form and unbuttoning his shirt as he pulled it loose from his pants and Danny turned away from him, arms still crossed as Vlad moved to sit on the couch, face in his hands as he said softly, "You're right. I should have handled all my remaining enemies before I ever approached you. I was impatient and selfish...I should never have put you and by extension those you care about in danger. I was in the process of tying up all of these loose ends, I swear, I was trying to fix it, take care of all the things I needed to in order for us to be together free of my past mistakes. Please, Daniel, I only wanted to do right by you, I know it was selfish of me to focus on us instead of the issues I needed to resolve but I-"

Danny suddenly burst in, "Big surprise, Vlad Masters doing something selfish because he was too impatient to wait. Why the hell did I agree to do this?" Danny had muttered the last part to himself but Vlad heard and the man was instantly up and moving to stand behind Daniel, "Please, you must believe me, I knew Ernestra was upset by my refusal but I never thought she would do something as crazy as killing an Ancient! Daniel, please, forgive my foolishness." and Vlad sounded desperate, the man seeming to know where the conversation could lead if he didn't try to explain himself.

"Why the hell should I? Because of your foolishness, Clockwork is dead!" Danny nearly yelled as he moved away from Vlad's hands and the older halfa didn't hesitate to try again, taking Danny by the shoulders and swinging him around, "I was in the process of trying to control the situation and appease those who I had wronged in the past. I was very close to succeeding, once I had the book I was going to return it to the ghosts I had taken it from. And I thought if I just held firm and continued to ignore and refuse Ernestra's advances she would eventually go away. I...miscalculated both her desire for me to accept her offer and the lengths to which she would go to make it happen."

Danny's anger had faded but it was still there simmering in his belly and flared even more when he heard the word 'advances', "What the hell do you mean, by advances?" Danny asked, looking up into Vlad's eyes and glaring.

Vlad suddenly realized he may have said too much, but Danny caught the swirl of panic in Vlad's mind and he asked suspiciously, "This crazy ghost chick offered you the crown to her kingdom. You told me it was because she wanted you to help her take over both the ghost and human realms...but...even so...there is more to it...what aren't you telling me? Why is she so obsessed with making you her king...why does she seem to care so much that you chose me over-" and Danny stopped, his eyes wide as Vlad's worried expression turned to one of utter panic and regret, "You...and her...were...together….wait...I'm confused. If you supposedly fell in love with me around the time I graduated high school two years ago...but you tried to go straight nearly four years ago-" and Danny looked down and muttered out a tired, "Of course," before he once again returned his narrow eyes to his companion and asked, "Vlad, how long have you known Ernestra?"

Vlad realized then that he was caught and so said softly, "I've... known Ernestra for nearly thirty years." Vlad said in a rather defeated voice.

"T-Thirty years?! You've known this crazy ghost woman for thirty years?! And you didn't think it was important to let me know she wasn't just some random ghost who wanted to use you for her own goals! You had an actual relationship with her! You've known her almost your entire half-human half-ghost life! Let me guess, now you're going to tell me that at some point you two were a couple!" and Danny's sarcastic expression faded when Vlad looked away and Danny's arms dropped to his sides in schock, "Wait, you two actually were...but what about my mother? You were so obsessed with her! I don't understand, if you were all about mom, how could you be with Ernestra?"

"It is complicated." Vlad said with a sigh as he rubbed at his face and Danny scoffed, "How the hell is it complicated!"

"I was lonely, Daniel!" Vlad suddenly yelled, "I was lonely and Ernestra knew that! She's the one who helped me learn how to control my powers!" Danny's eyes grew wide, he suddenly felt his knees give and he found himself dropping into a chair.

"I thought...you taught yourself." Danny said as he looked up at Vlad, all his anger finally deflated.

Vlad looked away at that, shame in his face and even more regret, "No, Daniel. When I first started out, I was just as lost and scared as you were. Ernestra and I met when I was at my most vulnerable and I was desperate for help." Vlad turned and walked away, coming to sit on the couch and Danny felt a massive swirl of utter disgust and regret wash through him from Vlad, the feelings stronger than was normal and he instantly stood and crossed to Vlad, sitting next to him and placing a hand on his leg, "Talk to me, please."

"Daniel, there are things you don't know about me, things I never planned to tell you. I wanted to leave everything behind, all the horrible, disgusting, cruel things I've done. I wanted to be better and so tried to leave it all in the past where it belongs."

"Please, Vlad. I need to know the enemy, your enemy, if I am going to help you fight her. I am asking you to trust me. I...I have things I am going to have to tell you as well...things that I never planned to tell you. You aren't the only one with secrets. I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."

Vlad glanced at him, a rather doubtful expression on his face as a cold fear settled in the back of the man's mind, a fear that was based in rejection and self-disgust.

"Vlad, it's alright. No matter what you tell me, I know you've changed and who you were back then, is not who you are now. Give me your trust, let me prove to you I deserve it."

Vlad sighed, the fear increasing as a shaky hand came to cover Daniel's and as Vlad talked he didn't let go, squeezing Danny's hand on and off as he spoke, "She's the one who taught me how to use my anger and hate to my advantage, she taught me how to manipulate and use my powers for my own gain. She's the one who…" but Vlad didn't finish, he stood and let go of Danny's hand, turning and stumbling to the fireplace, a palm coming to rest on the mantel as fingers rubbed at his eyes.

"She created Plasmius." Danny said softly, realizing that while Vlad had let his anger and pain from the accident in his college days fester and fed his desire for revenge, Ernestra must have been the one who fanned the flames into some semblance of purpose and an end goal. She had given him his drive. If she really was as nasty as Vlad said, a young and hurting Vlad, who had just left the hospital, lost his friends and recently discovered his ghost powers, would have been an easy target to manipulate and mold into a very powerful ally.

"Ernestra found me in the middle of a panic attack, I'd been out of the hospital only a few days and my powers...they came full force. I was phasing through things, shocking people accidentally, literally splitting in two and I was terrified as I was unable to hide it. My ghost powers were going haywire and I was nearly discovered. She saved me from that fate and taught me how to control and use my abilities. I told her what had happened, how I used to be a normal human, but that I had become half-ghost due to an accident. She took a heavy interest in me after that…" and Vlad trailed off. Danny moved closer, pressing his hands up the man's bare chest before he brought a hand to the back of Vlad's head and pulled him into a gentle kiss, "What happened next?"

Vlad's eyes closed, as if it was painful for him to keep talking, but Danny held onto him, giving gentle kisses to his chest as he tried to reassure the man it was all going to be okay. Vlad took a slow shaky breath and continued, "Ernestra kept showing up on and off for twenty years. She'd give me ideas, help me develop my plans, taught me how to get whatever I wanted by any means necessary and from her I learned how to be both Vlad Masters, a well-to-do billionaire and ruler of a fortune 500 company as well as Vlad Plasmius, a raving lunatic who always had a plan up his sleeve. I spent hours, days, sometimes weeks with her. And when I built my own portal and was finally able to go to her in the ghost zone...well...things became more personal between us. But I was still in love with your mother, obsessed with and dedicated to her. Anything that happened between Ernestra and me was...well...meaningless. She knew it too. She knew I still loved Maddie, but she didn't seem to care. A decade went by, her coming and going from my life, me running from my problems and confiding in her. I grew my empire, gained money and statues and she kept whispering things into my ear. It felt good to have someone, to not be alone. And she always welcomed me with open arms. I spent many nights with her and while I slowly began to realize how insane she was, I was still able to find comfort in her arms, even if it was fleeting."

Danny considered that, pressing his forehead to the man's chest as he tried not to think about Vlad with someone else. While Danny had been with someone before Vlad his relationship with Sam had been different. It wasn't based on some twisted game of manipulation but love and respect, still a thought occurred to him and he said softly, "Wait, she's a ghost...you're a human...and ghosts don't have sex the same way we do, how on Earth could you two ever-"

"Somethings are better left unsaid, Daniel. I'd rather not tell you, as I don't think you'd ever be able to look at me the same way again. And I've tried so hard to get you to look at me over the years." and Danny felt the man's arms wrap around him, Vlad holding him tightly as he kissed the top of Danny's head.

While Danny felt comfort swell, both in his own mind and Vlad's, he knew he could not let it go and so said firmly but softly, "No way, fruitloop, not this time. There can't be any secrets between us about our pasts. I need to know everything about her, so when you and I fight her I am prepared. I want to know the truth, and I promise, no matter how angry I am, I won't look at you differently."

Vlad swallowed, looked at Danny before moving back to sit on the couch, pulling Danny along behind him. They sat back down and Vlad brought a fist to his mouth and Vlad's eyes watered as a tear fell. Danny's worries intensified when he saw this, realizing what Vlad was about to tell him was bad, really bad.

"Ernestra is a very talented ghost, and she had a lot of powers. But her strongest was always...possession." Danny thought about that a moment before his face paled and he whispered out, "No. She didn't, you d-didn't…"

"She did...and I...I let her." Vlad said, the tears flowing softly as Vlad managed out, "At first I refused...it was too disturbing...even my own morals which Ernestra had twisted and corrupted wouldn't let me do something so perverse and disgusting. I told her even if the person wouldn't remember after, I refused to do that to another living human."

"That's...that's good-" Danny said with relief but Vlad let out a rather bitter and disgusted scoff before saying, "You would think. But Ernestra was determined to take our relationship into more intimate waters, perhaps she thought she'd have more control over me if she did. Since I refused to let her possess someone living as it was nothing more to me than rape, she solved what she considered to be my problem by possessing someone who had... very recently died."

"Oh my god-" Danny whispered, placing a hand on Vlad's shoulder, "Did you-"

"Not the first time. I'd spent the night drinking in a bar by myself. I was depressed and utterly disgusted with myself for letting Ernestra get so close. I had started to notice how depraved she was, and how abusive and psychotic she could be. I was drinking myself into a stupor, with hopes it would give me enough courage to speak my mind and tell her I was done with her. However, the drunker I got...the less aware I became. A pretty face lured me away from my plan, I figured it was just a girl looking for some company for the night. I myself, well...I don't need to tell you why I went with her. I thought it was just going to be a fun one night fling, and that maybe it could get my mind off Ernestra."

Danny went still as he softly said, "The woman...was it her?"

Tears started to pour from Vlad's eyes as he said through clenched teeth, "You have to believe me,I didn't realize until after that it was Ernestra...possessing... a... corpse. I felt sick for days after, like I'd been assaulted, tricked, betrayed. I could barely eat, couldn't go to work...I refused to talk to her, couldn't look at her. I told her to leave, screamed it at her, shrieking like a mad man. I thought she was gone for good, that my yelling and screaming at her about how it wasn't right, it wasn't natural and it disgusted me...that she disgusted me… had finally made her leave me alone."

"But it didn't." Danny said matter-of-factly.

Vlad let out a soft sob, "After a few months she came back. I was finally starting to get over what happened, what she had done, how she had tricked me and I was almost able to live with it knowing it hadn't been my choice and she had...she had lied. But, when Ernestra came back she was relentless. She wouldn't let me sleep, wouldn't let me eat anything or go to work, she just kept talking, whispering in my ear, filling my head with all these ideas and kept trying to make me see that it was all okay. I just sort of became numb to it all. And for about three years...I just let her have whatever she wanted."

"She wore you down...twisted your mind into knots, abused you relentlessly." Danny said softly as he realized that Ernestra had essentially broken him that night and after that, he'd simply stopped fighting her. Whatever soul, whatever moral compass Vlad had retrained after his accident, any healing and forgiveness he might have been able to develop with the passage of time, she had slowly crushed over the course of thirty years.

"I thought for a very long time...that she was my only friend. I thought she had my best interests in mind. But...after a time I began to see everything was a lie. It was around that time I started to change. Four years ago, I made the choice to try and be better, and I distanced myself from Ernestra, keeping her at arm's length. I fell in love with you, lost all of my anger and hatred, started to really feel like a human being again. The more I pulled away from Ernestra the more everything I had done in my past seemed so wrong and I felt...for the first time in a very long time I felt guilt, regret, shame...I felt...alive and real."

"So, when you started pulling away, that's when she offered you the crown to her kingdom? When she offered for you to be her king?" Danny pushed gently.

Vlad nodded, "Just before you and I shared our cores for the first time in the farmland, she had come to me, and offered me the crown. She explained her plans to me and explained how everything she had done over the last thirty some years had been meant to groom and prepare me to be her king and counterpart. I turned her down, said I wasn't interested in her plans for me and refused to let her manipulate or control me anymore. I knew I wanted you, and nothing else mattered. I had learned to live with so many horrible and unforgivable things, but for once in my wretched life, I wanted to live for someone else, and experience a life without pain, anger or the desire for revenge. I wanted to feel good again. And, the moment I decided I didn't want to be who I was anymore, changing became easy, and no matter how often I thought of going back, or returning to my evil ways, all I could think about was you and how you'd never give me a chance if I didn't try to make things right and become a good person."

"So, Ernestra stealing the book...taking the thermos...do you think she did it to control you?" Danny asked softly and Vlad sighed.

"Among other things. No doubt she must have realized there was a reason I turned her down. She'd spent so long helping me turn into the power hungry and corrupted person I was, that she probably couldn't wrap her brain around why I'd turn down what could have been the absolute seat of power. I think part of the reason she attacked Clockwork was because she realized if she could subdue him and get his staff she could look into the timeline, she could see everything, including what could have been so alluring to me to turn down the very thing she had groomed me to want. My guess is she saw my timeline and realized you were my goal. From there, if she watched your timeline and learned you were also a halfa as well as my lover she would try to extrapolate how to use you against me."

Danny's eyes grew wide, "That's why she grabbed the thermos." Danny said softly and Vlad looked at him, "Yes, but that leads me to ask, what is in the thermos, Little Badger?"

This time Danny stood, walking away to look at the fire, staring into and realizing that although Vlad had just admitted to necrophilia with a ghost, his own secret was going to be much worse. Because everything Vlad had done in his past, while it was horrible, disgusting and bad, Danny knew that it wasn't all Vlad. Ernestra had played a major part in manipulating, torturing and abusing Vlad towards an end goal that was her own. For once, Vlad Masters had been the pawn. When Vlad chose a pawn and used them to win his battles, it tended to be a one off, and if he achieved his goal he let his pawn go. Danny was proof of that, having been used several times without even knowing it. But it seemed, when Ernestra had sunk her claws into him, she decided to keep him for the rest of his life. And what followed had been thirty years of manipulation, abuse and relentless grooming in order to make him her perfect mate.

All that being said, and as disturbing as it was, Danny's secret was no better, for the monster that rested within the thermos had slaughtered thousands and turned Earth into a wasteland and while it was true it was Vlad's evil ghost half that had corrupted him, in the end, it was Danny himself who had gone through with it all. It was Danny Fenton, who had annihilated the world.

"I suppose it's your turn. I told you about Ernestra and the horrors of my past with her. You need to tell me what is in that thermos."

By this point Danny's anger was gone, and in its place was a cold dread, as he realized Ernestra was not a ghost to be trifled with and now that she had the thermos they were both in very big trouble, "Alright, but...it's a really long story. And...honestly...mine's not much better than yours." and Danny saw the look of surprise on Vlad's face as Danny moved closer, wrapping his arms around Vlad's body as he leaned against him.

"It all started with an alternate timeline, one where the Earth was nothing but a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The only surviving city was Amity Park, partially because of Valarie Gray and her father, but also because of all the research my parents had left behind...after...after they were killed."

Vlad's eyes grew wide and over the next hour Danny told Vlad the story of Dark Phantom and the future that almost was. He left nothing out, including meeting a very old and bearded Vlad. He shared everything down to the last second, when Clockwork had stopped time in order to save his family and friends. When he finished Vlad sat in a pensive silence, eyes staring at the fire and Danny waited for the anger he knew was brewing inside.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Vlad asked softly, eyes not looking to Danny who had sat up halfway through the story and was now sitting on the edge of the coffee table facing Vlad.

"Well, when this all happened, you hadn't even begun your whole turn over a new leaf thing. Honestly, I didn't trust you and I thought if you knew about Dark Phantom you would try to use him to your advantage. I don't know how you would, as he's not a thing you can really control, but in my mind I thought if anyone would try to figure out a way to control Dan, you would. I was worried you might-"

'What? Unleash a psychopathic ghost on the Earth and just let him slaughter everyone? I know I was crazy but I wasn't suicidal and if everything you've told me is true, even me in all my crazy would have known better-"

"You think so? Because as I recall, you are the one who let out Pariah Dark. Who I had to deal with by the way!" Danny said as he stood and moved to the fire place, letting out a grunt and growl at the man's utter stupidity.

"It was part of my future too, I deserved to know!" Vlad countered.

"Why does that matter? I dealt with it! It was years ago! It was supposed to be over! I trapped him in the thermos, changed the decisions I made and because of that the alternate timeline was destroyed. Dark Phantom was trapped in the thermos and Clockwork was guarding him!"

"Yes, very good for you, but you don't seem to understand the complexities of pulling someone outside of the timeline! Now that he isn't connected to his own timeline and exists outside of it, he can be released and become part of whatever timeline currently exists. So, that post-apocalyptic future, it could still happen!" Vlad yelled back as he stood and came to stand next to Danny, fists on his hips as he glared.

"Hey! Don't treat me like I am some stupid kid! I know all of that! Which is why I left the thermos in Clockwork's care! Even if Dan had managed to escape Clockwork would have been able to handle him, freeze time or do something to restrain him until I could get there and figure out what to do! I never thought there would be a ghost that could kill an Ancient like Clockwork! God, you're so stupid!" and Danny turned from Vlad, heading towards the door only to feel Vlad grab his arm, "You should have told me! I could have helped contain the creature! I could have helped keep him from being stolen in the first place! We could have worked together to make sure Dark Phantom never got free!"

"And how was I supposed to trust you!?" Danny suddenly screamed and Vlad frowned as his eyes grew narrow, "Back when this all happened you and I...we were still enemies! I didn't trust you, you didn't trust me and no matter how much you want to believe you would have done the right thing and helped me contain Dark Phantom, we both know you had continuously struggled to do the right thing in the past! What makes you think this time would have been any different?"

Vlad's hand dropped away from Danny's arm and he hung his head, "You're right." He said softly and Danny looked to him in surprise, "What?" he asked and Vlad nodded with certainty, "You were right...not to trust me. While I know now I would never try to do something like that, back when this happened...I very well might have. Especially because that bitch Ernestra was still whispering in my ear. I just wish...that wasn't true. I wish I had been back then what I am to you now. I wish I had never met Ernestra, I wish I had forgiven your parents, I wish-" and Vlad trailed off, turning away as he said softly, "I am sorry, I have no right to be angry about this at all. I just wish I could have been better then. But...I was still sick...I was still...toxic."

Vlad went back to the couch, laying down and bringing a hand to his face and taking a deep shaky breath, "You made the right decision." he whispered out and Danny rubbed at an arm as he stared with worried eyes as the man who looked utterly devastated.

"Hey, Vlad...I-"

"Come here, Daniel, please." and Vlad held out his other arm in Danny's direction and the young man slowly walked over and took his hand. Vlad pulled him close, taking hold of him in gentle arms before pulling Danny to lay on top of him.

Vlad swallowed thickly, before he whispered out, "So...after everything you've learned...will you stay?" and the man's eyes were closed, his face turning away as he waited for Danny to speak. The young man studied Vlad's face, the older man seemingly waiting for the talk of breaking up to start. Danny could feel how hard Vlad's heart was beating and felt anguish and heartache humming in the back of Vlad's mind.

"Look at me." Danny said softly and Vlad reluctantly did so, red rimmed eyes gazing up gently at him and Danny focused and waited.

Soft words were heard in his mind, Vlad's voice, which was laced with tears whispering softly, I don't want him to go, please let him stay, let him see something in me that is worth saving, worth redeeming, I've worked so hard to change, and having him...here...it's like I can finally breathe again...like I have some meaning to my life...like...I am not just a waste of flesh. I'll let him go if he asks...but the pain will be...my stars the pain of losing him...I won't think about it...not unless he decides to leave...just hope, pray...beg him to stay….

Danny smiled gently down at him, a tear coming to his eye as he chuckled and whispered out, "Why wouldn't I stay?"

Vlad's eyes grew wide before he asked in a breathy voice, "Really?"

"Look, what happened between you and Ernestra is in the past. I can't change it and you can't change it. You're different now and want to be a good person. And the good person you are now, is who I fell in love with. So, if you promise me no more sex with corpses that are possessed by a psycopathic ghost queen, then I promise I won't leave."

Vlad gave a choked laugh as he said in a rather relieved voice, "You've no idea how easy that promise is going to be to keep." Vlad murmured, "I lost nearly ten pounds throwing up after I realized what she had done, scrubbed myself raw in the shower."

Danny chuckled, because honestly he wanted to break the tension, he wanted to defuse how strained they both were, "And you won't leave me right?" Danny asked, giving a gentle kiss to Vlad's lips.

Vlad smiled as another tear rolled from his eye, "Only if you promise never to go evil, slaughter the entire planet and turn Earth into a barren wasteland of near extinction."

"That's also a really easy promise to keep." Danny smiled before he leaned down and pressed his lips to Vlad's, the man opening up to him and returning the kiss with passion. Danny hummed and the pain of loss and his fear faded to nothing. When they pulled apart Danny met the man's eyes and asked, "So what are we going to do about your ex-girlfriend?"

Vlad scoffed and rolled his eyes, "First off, she is not my ex-girl friend, we were never officially together, if anything I'd say we were acquaintances with benefits… horrible, disgusting, vomit inducing benefits." Vlad murmured and Danny laughed and went to talk only to be cut off by a loud booming voice.

"We both know that's not true, my love." and before Danny could speak Vlad was up and grabbing Danny painfully by the arm before shoving him against the wall, placing himself in front and hiding Danny behind him.

"Ernestra?" Vlad asked in shock, Danny peering around the man to catch sight of a black and green spirit that kind of reminded him of Spectra, but with slightly more curves and body to her shadowy figure.

"Oh Vlad, it's so good to see you again. I've missed you." she said with a smooth sultry voice, legs appearing from her spectral tail and Danny's eyes bulged as she took the shape of a very voluptuous woman. She was transparent yet visible, with a full chest, wide hips and a tiny waist, a black void that seemed to swirl inside her form as dark emerald eyes glowed.

"What do you want?" Vlad asked as he continued to shield Danny and his blue eyes never left her as she seemed to swagger towards him. Vlad pressed Danny back a little further and he heard the woman laugh, something that sounded so hollow and empty yet filled the room. A shiver ran up his spine and his ghost sense went off and the bad feeling that suddenly swirled in his gut made him near sick.

"You know what I want, sweetheart. I've spent the last thirty years preparing you for it. I want your tight firm ass on the throne next to mine. And I want my kingdom expanded."

"I told you quite clearly that I am not interested. I've moved on, I appreciate all the help you gave me in the past but it's time for me to stand on my own two feet. Our friendship has run its course, it's time for us to go our separate ways." Vlad said firmly, and Danny noticed the man's hand lightly sparked and fizzed with electricity behind his back.

"My love, you don't seem to understand. You can't say no to me. I have already invested too much of my time in you...and honestly….if I am being frank, I OWN YOU!" and she shrieked out the last part, the windows behind them shattering as she did. Danny covered his head, shutting his eyes and trying to keep from getting cut up by the flying shards of glass.

"Enough, Ernestra! It's over! You need to let me go!" Vlad yelled at her with confidence.

Another smooth laugh, a little hum and then Vlad was suddenly lifted off the ground and thrown into one of his books shelves. He lay there only a moment before he got up on his feet only to be shoved back to the ground by Ernestra's foot, "Mmm, I love when you're forceful, but mommy has had enough now. It's time for good little boy's to stop playing hooky and come home."

Vlad's eyes jumped to Danny who was moving to sneak up behind her and the most subtle shake of his head caught Danny off guard and the youth paused, Vlad's gaze narrowing dangerously and Danny grit his teeth and backed off, turning invisible but staying close by.

Once he returned his gaze to her, the female ghost taking his glance away as nothing more than pouting, he spoke with a firm voice as electricity crackled around his hands, "I know what you were doing to me." and Ernestra's smile faded a little as her own eyes matched his glare, "I realized it well over eight years ago. It took some time for me to get up the balls to admit it, but I didn't want to be who you planned for me to be. You manipulated and abused me in order to groom me into your perfect little king. But I don't want it, so go find someone else to be your damn puppet!" Vlad yelled back, the sparks in his hand intensifying and Danny prepared himself to fight, planning on using his wail the instant Vlad moved out of the way. Vlad suddenly grabbed Ernestra's ankle and set a very powerful and painful shock up the ghost's strange shimmering body and Ernestra let out a scream.

Her free foot went flying and caught Vlad across the face, the man still managing to scramble up only to have Ernestra grab him by the back of his shirt and rip it clean off. This made Vlad lose his balance but before he could even think to act she was flying with him across the room, throwing him against another bookcase before dragging him up and shoving him against the wall, "Behave, love, you don't want to make me mad. You do remember what I do to those who make me mad."

"Oh, I remember, I still have scars all over my back!" and Vlad punched her across the face, before sending another shock through her and she screamed again. She dropped Vlad to the floor, the man desperately looking around the room and Danny quickly popped back into sight, their eyes meeting and the man screaming in his head, WAIL! NOW!

Danny tucked his elbows into his side, took a deep breath and went to open his mouth and release it only to find an icy cold hand coming over his mouth and nose. The sudden explosive pain in his chest that came from his wail not leaving but instead being forced back down his throat left him shrieking behind the hand as he clawed at it and tears burst from his eyes as hot liquid flowed from his nose and ears.

"DANIEL!" Vlad yelled in utter fear before the sound of a laugh stopped him from moving, "Tut tut, my love, don't move or I snap his neck. We need to finish our little discussion and you have been such a naughty boy." Danny's terrified eyes glanced to her, saw how her eyes glowed near toxic green as the smile was pure cruelty and she reeked of death and decay.

Those green eyes suddenly turned to him and Ernestra said softly, "My, what a handsome young man you are. Full of life and youthful vitality. I can see why Vlad wanted you so badly. But, sadly, your new lover is my old one and I don't share well with others. That being said, I was nice. I gave Vlad his day in the sun, he got to feel all warm and fuzzy. I can be a rather nice person when I want to be. Unfortunately, I am not known for my patience. So, Vlad dear, now that you've seen how boring the warm and fuzzies are, and have had your little romp with love and affection, it's time to come home. I miss you." and Ernestra let go of Danny, the young man falling to the ground as fists came to his aching chest and he winced and cried, asking in a stressed and wheezing voice, "How did you...stop...m-my….wail?"

Ernestra gave him a rather small smile, almost as if answering him was beneath her but she wanted to see his reaction to her answer, "I'm a fast learner, it didn't take long for me to realize while I studied you in the time spirits portals that while your little wail can be rather devastating when let loose and allowed to grow and resonate, if one can stop it before it can grow, it's no different than stopping the sound waves of a normal human scream. Your wail only has power if you can get it out, but stop it at its source before it can amplify and it's nothing but a weak little yawn."

"Ernestra, please, stop this! Leave him alone! I'm not going with you! Let this go!" Vlad urged as he stood back up, taking slow steps towards her as his eyes flicked between her and Danny, who was lying curled up on the floor and softly crying from what was an excruciating amount of pain. Green ecto-plasim dripped from his nose and ears, his face looking much too pale.

"You don't have a choice! I originally intended to only steal the book you needed to smooth things over with Lester and his gallery of rogues in hopes it would leave you no choice but to come to me for help. However, plans changed when I viewed his timeline and realized I had a much better bargaining chip."

And Ernestra turned her seething green eyes towards Danny, her foot coming to rest on his head as she said with mild amusement, "Tell me, Vlad, do you know what's in that thermos?"

Vlad stopped walking the instant her foot came to rest on Danny's head and his eye twitched as he said carefully, "Yes. I know."

"Oh, he told you? Brave kid. But...did you ever see it? The creature inside, the one he became?" and she smiled wickedly down at Danny before turning to look at Vlad.

"No." Vlad said softly, his eyes glancing to Danny whose eyes continued to cry, who tried to shake his head in a silent urge to not listen to her.

"I did. His timeline may no longer exist, but I could still view it. Let me tell you, Vlad, if I didn't have to destroy you to create that beast I would do it in a heartbeat," and her eyes softened a little as she ground her foot against the side of Danny's head, "Do you remember? Did Clockwork ever show you all the horrible things you did in that future? How could someone as loving and kind as you, even with all of Vlad's evil consuming you….be such a horrible monster...did Clockwork show you?"

Danny said nothing and Ernestra stomped her foot on his head lightly, "Answer me!" Vlad took a step towards her but she held up her hand, "No no, don't move or I crush his skull, I want to know if he is aware of his actions, the things he did in his future. Well? Did you?"

Danny slowly nodded, tears pouring heavier as he laid there in pain, "Do you remember the little girl?" Ernestra asked softly, and Danny shook his head slowly, "I guess Clockwork decided to spare you. Oh Vlad, it was really nasty. Your lover...well...his future self...ripped a little girl...in half. Made her mother watch." and Ernestra started to laugh wickedly, Vlad's eyes wide as he looked from Ernestra to Danny whose face was scrunched up into one of anguish and rage.

"He didn't just slaughter them, he tortured and brutalized them just for fun! Oh the things you did, I can't even speak of it! You give cruelty a new name, a whole new meaning! Ripping off limbs, letting them bleed out, vaporizing them slowly, watching as they melted, the fires...the sheer destructive power!" Ernestra sounded near crazed as she talked about it and Vlad saw Danny's eyes twitching, his body starting to shake as he looked to be on the edge of his sanity, "Shut up...shut...up….shut...UP!" and Danny suddenly shoved her foot away and darted for her, tackling her and the pair crashing straight through the wall and into the foyer.

"SHUT UP!" Danny shrieked, "I DIDN'T! I STOPPED IT FROM HAPPENING! AND I WILL NEVER EVER LET THAT MONSTER OUT! I WILL NEVER BECOME THAT BEAST!" and he was firing at her, punching, kicking, grabbing her by the face and dragging her up before he spun and flung her down where she smashed into the marble floor.

Danny landed and took a massive breath, letting out his wail which hummed forward and shoved the toxic creature before him into the stairs, the marble cracking, wood snapping and the chandelier falling down behind him as he let his anger fly freely.

When his wail died out Danny stumbled forward as he pointed at her and said through gasping breaths, "The only monster here is you! And you aren't welcome!" and then he flew at her, his fist ready to deliver the final blow only to have it stopped by a black shimmering hand rising from the ruble.

Ernestra suddenly shot up from her spot on the stairs and turned the tables on the young man, flinging him around before firing him towards the ground where Danny hit and slid through the busted up marble floor. He came to rest in the large skid mark that was left behind and came to feel arms wrap around him as he looked up through blurry vision to make out Vlad, who was now in his ghost form and looking down at him, "Daniel, can you hear me? DANIEL! Talk to me!" Vlad urged with both fear and worry in his voice.

"I'm f-fine, you've given me a tougher beating than she did. Don't lose sight of her." Danny offered and Vlad smirked only to have it fade as he helped Danny to stand and the pair looked up to Ernestra who was in the air above them and laughing wickedly.

"Oh, Vlad, I just adore him! He's like a mini version of you! So much anger! So much regret! The perfect crown prince to our happy little family! I'd be willing to let you bring him with us!" Ernestra cried happily as he swung her arms around and leaned down towards them, "Two human-ghost hybrids are always better than one. And...since you're obviously so attached to him...well...I suppose….he could be my new body. That way...you'd still be able to enjoy him and me on a regular basis! Our glorious prince of darkness, the perfect royal family to rule over both the human and ghost realm!"

Danny took a step back, glaring at her before he said, "You take one step towards me and I swear to god I will level you, you disgusting freak!"

Ernestra's smile faded, her eyes narrowing as her teeth suddenly seemed to turn into needle like fangs, "Disgusting? Did you just call me disgusting? I'm not disgusting you little brat, I. Am. Beautiful!" and suddenly a massive power surge knocked both Vlad and Danny back, Ernestra seeming to swell in both size and power as she shrieked and all the glass in the room started to shatter and the mansion started to tremble.

Vlad and Danny had to cover their ears, both falling to the ground and screaming in pain as their brains felt like they might explode.

After the longest moment of Danny's life she stopped, glaring at them as she pointed a clawed finger, "Now, Vlad, you will be a good boy and come home!" and she went to zoom towards them only to stop at the sight of both Danny and Vlad once against standing, aiming their hands at her which glowed pink and green, "You'll leave now, or we fry you!" Danny barked back.

Ernestra paused and glared between the two, seeming to weigh her options before she growled a little and looked directly as Vlad, "You'll come home to me, or I will let out your lovers better half from the thermos and make sure he knows exactly where to find you. I don't need the humans of this planet to be alive in order to rule it and I am sure Danny's other half will be very happy to oblige. You have twenty-four hours, love, or I am going to lay waste to EVERYTHING! Starting with your pathetic little boy friend!" and then Ernestra was gone, having disappeared in a swirl of shimmering black light.

Danny fell to his knees, unable to maintain his fighting stance now that the threat was gone, "We are in so much trouble." Danny murmured only to hear Vlad let out a blast of surprised air, the young man looking to him in surprise.

"She...she left-" Vlad said in utter amazement.

"Uh, yeah, why wouldn't she? She came to deliver her message, just like you said she would. Though, honestly, I expected a letter or a ransom note...hell...even some ghostly henchman or something-"

"You don't understand, Daniel, she...she left...she didn't stay-" Vlad said, the shock in his voice still clearly evident and Danny patted the man's knee and motioned with a thumb for Vlad to help him up, "Oh, of course my dear boy, how silly, come..let's get to the lab and patch ourselves up...I can't believe she left-" Vlad mused to himself and Danny shook his head, "Why does that surprise you? Aren't you glad?" Danny asked as both Vlad and Danny leaned against each other and limped slowly towards the lab, leaving the ruined foyer and study behind.

"More than you know. But what you don't understand is that Ernestra never leaves until she gets what she wants. She spent years haunting me, would take weeks, even months to pester and badger and brainwash until I caved. If she makes a personal appearance it means she intends to collect whatever it is she is after at that moment or will drive you insane until you give it to her."

"So what your saying is, if she left like that...without collecting what she wanted...that means?"

Vlad smiled, then laughed as they entered the lab and Vlad helped Danny onto a table, "It means she knew she couldn't take us both."

"Why would she need to? She has the thermos, she would realize the threat of her releasing Dan would be enough to compel us both to come to her-" Danny changed back into his human form and Vlad started to help him remove his clothes before getting to work on patching him up.

"She's not planning on releasing Dark Phantom. It's so clear to me now. It's an empty threat. She saw what your evil half did and while she claims she doesn't care if he kills everyone, I realize now it's a lie. Ernesta craves worship and praise, her vanity is massive and humans no doubt make better subjects than ghosts as ghosts don't tend to congregate in mass."

"Right...the core problem." Danny mused, "The only reason she came here tonight was to test us. She knows if she releases your evil counterpart she won't be able to control him or stop him. And while it is obvious she admires him, she also knows if Dan was released he could easily dethrone her and kill the very people she wants to enslave and rule. She also knows that Dan is a combination of you and I, our ghost halves fused together."

"Damn it, she was testing to see if she could take us together. She was learning how we work, how we might fight if both of us were pitted against her."

Vlad hummed as he examined Danny's old injury from Skulker and all his new ones, determining Danny was alright and would most likely just have to have a few scratched wrapped and a healthy serving of pain killer.

"Your little attack spooked her, because in less than thirty seconds you dealt some very serious damage and nearly leveled the house. If I had been quicker and not so dazed I could have joined you and both of us most likely could have won." Vlad offered.

"Well that's good, right? Let's take the fight to her and burn her wannabe kingdom to the ground." Danny said, punching the palm of his hand with a fist as he smiled at Vlad with determination.

"Oh no, we will need more than just you and me. Here, we are in our element and she has no backup. But if we take the fight to her, we will be stepping into her territory, where she has her soldiers. Legions of warriors who are much the same as the undead armies you watched in so many of those ghastly horror movies growing up. If we take this fight to her, we will also need back up. We cannot do this alone."

And Danny thought about that a moment before he carefully looked up to Vlad and asked softly, "Sam and Tucker?"

Vlad looked at him a moment before he gave a soft smirk and said with a sigh, "Sam and Tucker."

"Hellz ya! Team Phantom is back in business!"

"But not just them, I'm going to call Skulker. And I want you to send a message to Miss. Gray."

"You want to bring Valerie into this?" Danny asked in surprise.

"Yes, for two reasons. One, she's the best there is in regards to strategy and plans of attack, aside from me-" and Danny playfully rolled his eyes as he hopped off the table and Vlad took his spot, the young man working to wrap the man up where needed and check him over, "And two?"

"You told me that Valerie and her father were the ones who kept Amity Park afloat when Dark Phantom was released upon the world. Considering the person with their finger on the release button of the thermos is an unstable crazy ghost queen, I want Miss. Gray in Amity, as she would be the one to initiate the lockdown and protect them. She will be able to save them, if we fail. Miss. Gray will be our back up plan."

And Danny thought about that long and hard. Vlad stood and looked down at him, eyes gentle as he said softly, "It's a call to arms. I'll summon Skulker, you get your friends on the line. We need them here as soon as possible. I can send a jet if needed, or a car, whatever it takes." and Danny nodded going to one of Vlad's computer consoles as Vlad went to a separate one to summon Skulker.

Danny activated the computer and sent a call to Sam, who responded almost instantly though she looked and sounded like she was half asleep, "Danny? What is it? Are you okay?" she asked as she yawned.

"Sorry to wake you Sam, but we have a Code Green, I need you and Tucker in Wisconsin at Vlad's as soon as you possibly can. I need you here, now."

"Is it Vlad?" She asked, now fully awake and Danny glanced at his counterpart who had glanced over at his name and sighed before looking away, fully aware while he had established trust and a relationship with Daniel, the young man's friends were a different story, "No...well...sort of...maybe? Not Vlad himself, but a nasty ghost who thinks Vlad owes her his life."

"What?"

"I'll explain when you get here. Call Tucker and let me know if you need a lift. Vlad said he can send a plane or car, whatever you need."

"Right. I'll let you know." and she hung up. Danny turned to Vlad who was speaking in a hushed voice, "I need you here now, I understand you don't want to get involved, but...as my friend...I am asking you for your help."

Danny moved a little closer as the silence rang only to hear Skulker's familiar voice said softly, "I'll be there shortly."

"Have you contact Miss. Gray?" Vlad asked as he turned to look at Danny and the young man rubbed at the back of his head, "Not yet. I was kind of curious if Skulker was going to show." Danny asked.

"I think so. Though, it is debatable."

"Huh, some friend." Danny mused and Vlad smirked, "Don't hold it against him. Ghosts aren't like humans, the fact that we have any kind of attachment to each other at all is a miracle in itself. Ghosts don't form attachments the-"

"The same way humans do, yeah, I figured that out." Danny said with a smile as he turned back to the computer and started to track down Valerie. He still had her number memorized and hoped sending her a video chat would get her attention. It was almost four in the morning, which meant it would only be two in the morning in California.

To Danny's utter surprise she picked up and her groggy face looked at him before her eyes went wide, "Danny?" she woke up much faster than Sam had and Danny waved at her sheepishly.

"What's going on? You okay?"

'Yeah. Well, no not really, but not for the reason you might think."

"Okay, what's going on then?" and Valerie's eyes caught sight of Vlad who had stepped into view of the camera, "Whoa, why are you guys all bandaged up?"

"It's a long story but, well, look, I have a Code Green, and I know you don't know what that means but essentially it's a call to arms for ghost hunters. We got a bad spirit cooking up trouble and we need all hands on deck. I already called Sam and Tucker. Any chance you will help?" and Valerie was moving as she held her phone, "I'm already suiting up. I'll grab my board and be there soon...wait...where we meeting?"

"Vlad's mansion, in Wisconsin." Danny offered and Valerie smirked, "A short ride if I fire up the jets, give me two hours and I am there."

"Excellent. Thanks Val."

"Oh, I should be thanking you, I've been going stir crazy not hunting. This will be just what I need to get out some energy!" and Danny chuckled, "Always the fighter."

"Don't you know it. See you soon!" and her feed went dead, "Hm, must be nice to have friends." Vlad said as he pressed his hand through Danny's hair and the young man hummed happily, "Excuse me, I showed up didn't I?" and Vlad and Danny turned to see Skulker floating by the portal, arms crossed and eyes heavily annoyed.

"No shit." Vlad whispered out flabbergasted.

"Huh, shows what you know about friendship." Skulker murmured and Vlad was quick to rush over and place a hand on his shoulder, "I knew you'd come." and Skulker glared at the man's smiling face before he too smiled a little and punched Vlad's shoulder lightly, "Idiot."

Danny laughed lightly at the restrained displays of mutual friendliness and strange affection only to stop when Skulker's eyes landed on him and he frowned, "Ah, whelp, yes...uh...about the other day...I didn't realize Plasmius was your...that you were his….that you two…"

"We're mates, it's okay, you can say it. The world won't end." Danny said with a chuckle and Skulker smirked, "Very well. Our laws forbid attacking another's mate if they have done no harm to you. So... I wish to apologize-"

Don't worry about it. To be fair, Vlad should have told you and my head is fine...if not a little sore. So...just...truce?" and Danny held out his hand and the hunter carefully took it, Danny shaking his hand and for once not pulling an attack out of nowhere as he had done so many times before with Skulker.

"Truce." Skulker said with a smirk.

The three stood in silence a moment only to suddenly jump when a flash showed up in the lab and from out of thin air Sam and Tucker appeared.

"What the, Sam? Tucker? How the hell-" Danny started only to have the pair run and jump on him, the trio falling to the ground as they hugged him, "Man! It's so good to see you!" Tucker said, as Sam smiled, "Look at that, couldn't even make it a year in college before you got your sorry ass in trouble again!"

Danny laughed as Skulker looked to Vlad, "Why don't we hug like that?"

"Don't even think about it." Vlad said before he moved back a little and Danny sat up, Sam and Tucker sitting before him, "Well, ya know, I can't have a normal life." Danny mused sarcastically.

"Fuck no, what fun would that be?" Sam asked and Tucker laughed, "How the hell did you two get here so fast?" Danny asked and Tucker held up his arm to reveal a strange looking wristband covered in glowing lights, "Remember how I told you I got an internship shadowing that leading tech company?"

"Yeah.' Danny asked as he stood and his friends followed suit, "Well, one of their latest inventions was this! A transport device! Like, straight out of Star Trekkers, it's hella new and still in the experimental phase but I figured I could borrow it for the night considering you messed things up again. Glad it didn't boil our insides or shred us into a million pieces." Tucker said as he adjusted his glasses and looked at the device with curiosity.

"Wait, I messed things up again? Don't blame me! It was-"

"Yeah, you hear that? Tucker stole top secret technology for you and we risked being boiled from the inside! Don't ever doubt our loyalty again!" Sam said as she crossed her arms and glared at him.

"Borrowed, Sam. I borrowed this. I am going to give it back." Tucker admonished, "Like hell you are, we are going on summer vacation with that thing!" Sam said with a wicked smile.

"Oh no! I'm not losing my internship just so you two can go frollocking on some beach-"

"Guys guys guys! Calm down! We don't have time to….did you say frolocking on a beach? As in, I don't know...Daytona Beach?" Danny asked, moving a little closer.

"Yeah, ya know, where Humpty Dumpty is playing this summer?" Sam said with a smile and her and Danny turned to Tucker, "Oh no, hell no! Code Green remember! Emergencies only! You two better behave or I am the hell out of here!" Tucker said, shielding the transport device from their covetous eyes, "Oh come on Tuck, what's the worst that could happen?" Danny asked, taking a step towards him, 'Yeah, I mean, it got us to Wisconsin just fine." Sam said.

"Nu-huh, no way, you two always say that and then the worst things happen! Like that time Danny split himself in two with the dream catcher thingy, or when Danny went back in time and Vlad married his mother and wasn't born, or I don't know, he blew up Ghostwriters book and got stuck in a poem for all of Christmas!"

"Hey, take it easy Tucker, we were just kidding." Sam said and Danny nodded, "Yeah, totally joking. As soon as this is over I will personally make sure that thing gets back where it belongs."

"Yeah, sure, only to jack it later when I'm not looking." Tucker said rolling his eyes and Danny and Sam smiled, "I don't steal things, I only borrow….borrow long enough to go see Humpty Dumpty and come back." and Sam nodded in agreement.

"I hate you." Tucker said and the trio started to laugh again only to stop at the sound of a clearing throat and they all looked to Vlad and Skulker who had been waiting quietly for the trio to end their jovolity.

"Oh shit, right. Sorry. Okay, I got distracted. Code Green, we need to-" Danny was stopped by a hand in the face, "Snacks first." Tucker said and Danny sighed, "Come on, can't it wait?"

"Nope! War meetings and the like always have snacks and soda, it's in the handbook." Tucker said and Danny looked to Sam, "He's right. We always have snacks and drinks during war meetings. It is in the handbook." and Danny deflated before he looked to Vlad with an apologetic smile and puppy eyes.

The man rolled his eyes and scoffed, "Very well, up to the kitchen. I'm sure we have something that will-"

"Alright! Rich people food!" and Tucker was beelining for the stairs, Sam and Danny followed with Vlad and Skulker behind them.

As they made their way through the house Sam glanced at him, "Hey, on a serious note, are we talking Pariah Dark bad...or...are we talking him bad?" and Danny sighed, unaware Vlad was listening carefully from behind.

"Honestly, depending on what happens in the next twenty-four hours, it could be...both." and Sam stopped at the top of the stairs, "The Thermos?" she asked, placing her hands on his shoulders, "The thermos was taken and Clockwork….Clockwork's gone, Sam." and Sam saw Danny's eyes water before her eyes watered too, "I didn't think...how? Is that even possible? Are you okay? I know how much he meant to you."

"I'm fine. But we can't let Ernestra, the ghost that took the thermos, we can't let her let him out. Or everyone is dead. And all that work...all the pain and suffering I went through to lock him up...well...the world will feel it a hundred times over." and Danny started walking, Sam coming beside him and taking his hand, "He isn't you, Danny."

"He was me-"

"Stop. Right now. We've had this talk a million times before. Don't let your fear control you. You aren't evil, you'd never hurt anyone and he isn't you. And no matter what happens we won't let Dark Phantom get loose. He won't kill anyone."

'I hope you're right. Because if he does get loose the first people he is going to come after is you, Tucker, mom, dad and Jazz. The people I love most, are the ones he will aim for. Then he will come after me...and what he'll do to me-"

Danny….stop...just….somethings are better left unsaid. We have to focus on what we always focus on. Making things right, fixing our mistakes and-"

"Never giving up. I know." and Sam leaned close and kissed his cheek as Danny smiled, "How's Luke by the way?"

"Oh he's great. When we have some time I'll tell you about it. We finally, ya know, spent some time together."

"Oh yeah? How was that?" Danny asked playfully, "Definitely good."

"I better get juicy details."

"We survive this and you will...whoa...what the hell happened?"

They came to join Tucker who was staring at the foyer, in all it's brutalized glory.

"That would be what happens when you piss off Danny Phantom." Vlad said, moving past the three as he ruffled Danny's hair and smirked as the young man chuckled, "Damn right."

"You did this?" Tucker asked, looking at the destruction with awe.

"Yeah. Vlad weakened her with a few well timed shocks and I got off my ghostly wail after slamming her around a bit. But as you can see by the large skid mark, it didn't do much in the way of stopping her from throwing me around like a rag doll."

"Damn. That's rough, dude. We're gonna have to really think this one through," Tucker said as they turned and followed Vlad to the kitchen.

"You got a run down of her powers? We're going to need to break each one down, figure out which of your powers can counter and-"

"Actually, which of our powers can counter." Vlad said as they entered the kitchen and Tucker and Sam looked to him, "He's right guys. I know it's hard for you to accept, but Vlad and I were only able to do any damage to her working together. It's not just me, Vlad's going to help too. Not to mention, he's known her for thirty years. " and the tone in Danny's voice was slightly annoyed and Vlad gave a winced smile before moving into the kitchen and pulling open the pantry door.

"Yeah, that's...cool." Tucker said and Sam looked at Danny, "What was that about?"

"Oh nothing, just...kind of annoyed with my boyfriend, because he didn't tell me about her until after-"

"I already told you I was sorry, Daniel. We need to focus on the task at hand, and deal with our personal issues later." Vlad said cutting the young man off as he disappeared into the pantry and Danny suddenly followed, "Give me a second guys, I need to talk to Vlad in Private." and Danny entered the pantry and shut the door.

Vlad stood at the far end, Danny coming up behind him and placing a hand on the man's shoulder, turning him around and looking up into his dark blue eyes, "I'm sorry. And you're right, there is a time and place for dealing with our personal problems. I just want to make sure you know, we are going to talk about it." Danny said.

Vlad's face fell a little but he nodded, "Yes, very well. If we survive this, we will discuss all of this...at length."

"Thank you. And we will survive this, we have friends to help and I have confidence you can lead us to victory. But you are going to have to trust people you barely know, and I am going to have to trust your judgement. We have to work together and I need to know you will listen to me as well."

"You know I will." Vlad said softly, reaching hands out to take Danny's face and pull him close, the man kissing him in such a sultry manner that Danny gave a soft hum. When Vld pulled away he sighed, "Come on, let's get your friends the snacks they require so we can get this meeting underway."

The pair emerged a few seconds later to see Tucker and Sam glancing wearily at Skulker who was leering at them wickedly, "Tut tut, no attacking my mates friends. They are also part of the deal. You respect them and they respect you." Vlad said, dumping an arm full of snacks onto the island as Danny did the same and the young man nodded, "Yeah, same for you two. Now that Vlad and I are bonded your allies are also protected. Skulker is Vlad's friend and you two are mine, thus he won't attack you and you won't attack him...right?" Danny asked, looking at them.

Sam and Tucker muttered unsure affirmatives before coming to stand next to Danny as Sam said, "This is really weird."

"I know." Danny said and Tucker made a face of excitement and dug into the snacks, "Alright, the only person we are waiting on is Valerie."

"You called Valerie too?" Sam asked in surprise, "Yeah. It's a long story but essentially we met a while ago when she was in town visiting her boyfriend and we had a long talk. She knows I am phantom and she's cool with it. She agreed to help us deal with Ernestra."

"Wicked." Sam said with a smile, knowing full well how useful she would be in a fight, "Hell yeah, Val can definitely do some damage." Tucker added, popping a snack cake into his mouth.

"Actually...she's going to be placed in Amity. She's not going with us to fight Ernestra."

"Say what?" and all eyes turned to the door to see Valarie standing there holding her board. The trio walked over and greeted her happily, each taking turns to hug her and welcome her to the war meeting before Danny reintroduced her to Skulker who Valerie glared at and Vlad who nervously rubbed at the back of his head and gave a rather apologetic look.

"What did you mean by me being placed in Amity? I thought I was called here to fight?"

"We'll explain everything. I promise." Danny said as he motioned for her to come to the island.

"Alright. We are all here. It's time to explain the situation in full." Vlad offered and everyone went to the island, taking a stool and grabbing snacks as Danny tossed soda cans and bottles of water to whomever wanted one from the fridge.

"Thanks for coming guys, you too Skulker." Danny offered and the discussions began.

"Alright, here is the situation. About thirty years ago, when Vlad first became a halfa, he ran into a ghost called Ernestra, she's a nasty piece of work. Long story short, she's spent the last thirty years grooming Vlad to become her king. Her long term goal is to rule over both the Ghost Zone and Human Realm. Our job is to stop her."

The group looked at him and Danny in turn looked at Vlad, the man sighed, rubbed at his forehead before he said quietly, "There's….more to it than that but the paraphrasing is good. Ernestra is what you might call a Twilight Ghost. A sub-species of Succubus."

"You're kidding." Skulker said, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he glared at Vlad, "No. Unfortunately I am not."

"Why in God's name would you get involved with a Twilighter? They're completely insane, and-"

"Yes, Skulker. I know that now, but when I first met Ernestra I was just a kid. I was terrified of my powers, couldn't control them, and unlike Daniel I didn't have any friends to help me or protect me. I was completely alone. She came into my life at a very chaotic point and brought order to that chaos and gave me a purpose. I had no clue about ghosts or the zone, I didn't know anything let alone the difference between a standard ghost and a Twilighter."

"What's a Twilighter?" Sam asked and Danny nodded, knowing he and Vlad had not gotten this far into the conversation previously.

"As I said, Twilight ghosts are offshoots of Succubus. Your good friend Spectra is also an offshoot of Succubus but she is much less dangerous. Her only goal is to suck negative emotions in order to gain power. She's what you'd call a Shadow Ghost."

"Well that's good, we've beaten Spectra loads of times." Tucker said only to have Vlad shake his head, "While that may be the case, Ernestra's desires are much more sinister. She doesn't feed off your negative emotions. She...she feeds off your soul." and the silence that followed that statement was tense and thick.

"Everytime Ernestra came to visit me, everytime she came to help me or give me advice on how to better use my powers and abilities for my own gain….everytime she fed my hatred and anger...she took a small piece of my soul." and Vlad brought a hand to his face, rubbed violently at his eyes, before he glanced to Danny who had a very terrified look on his face.

"Everytime she took it, I grew more angry and a little more crazy. Any healing I could have done after the accident, any forgiveness I could have granted your parents, any good I could have done in this world was taken away a small bit at a time and over the course of thirty years she stripped me of my humanity. She haunted me non-stop, and the entire time she groomed and prepared me to rule alongside her. About eight years ago I came to realize what she was, and what she was doing and about four years ago I finally broke away from her. I forced myself to change, I forced her out of my life and began the arduous process of reclaiming my soul and my humanity. With each little act of kindness I performed and with each offer of help I made to those less fortunate I began to once again feel like I was….human...like I was real." and Danny placed his hand on Vlad's, meeting the man's eye, "My anger faded, my hate disappeared. I cared less and less about control and gaining anything and more and more about making meaningful connections and doing something with my life that really mattered."

"So...wait...are you saying the reason you were such a nasty guy is because Ernestra made you that way?" Sam asked, cocking a brow and giving him a doubtful look as she crossed her arms.

"No, Miss. Manson. I will not put all of the blame on her. The anger and hate she fed and helped me to grow was my own. I take responsibility for all my actions, for the dangerous situations I put both you two and Daniel in. But...I believe if I had never met her...things would have been much different for me. I would have been much different. There are many things I wouldn't not have done in my life if Ernestra hadn't been there to manipulate me into doing it. When I met Daniel for the first time at my class reunion, realizing there was another half ghost, knowing he was Jack and Maddie's son… I have a strong suspicion that would have been different too, had she not already taken so much of my soul. I am sorry...for everything...for so many things...but I am trying to make things right. And Daniel can vouge for me. I am….better now. Her poison is gone...I'm not...toxic anymore." and Vlad looked at Danny again and the young man looked to the group, "I know it will take time for Vlad to earn your trust, and I don't expect you to forgive him overnight, but I promise you, he is better. He's not what he was."

Valerie was the first to speak, "I don't forgive easily, and when my trust is broken it's near impossible to get it back. But I trust Danny's judgement implicitly. So if he says you're alright, I will give you the benefit of the doubt. But you've got a long road ahead of you in regards to proving you've changed, Plasmius."

"Ditto." Sam and Tucker said at the same time and Vlad nodded, "I know. All that being said, the real problem is the fact that Ernestra got her hands on the Thermos."

"The what?" Valerie asked in confusion, "Thermos?" Skulker added and Sam and Tucker swallowed as Danny spoke, "Alright, more back story, which also leads to why we want you in Amity Val." and Danny proceeded to explain about the alternate timeline, Clockwork and what resided in the Thermos.

By the end of it Tucker and Sam were staring at the table with sad eyes, Valerie looked shocked and Skulker looked worried.

"So, the thing is, if Ernestra lets out Dark Phantom, the chances of us winning are slim to none. And if that is the case, the only person who was able to protect Amity and hold him at bay...was you Val. We want you in Amity, ready to amplify my parents ghost shield around the town and defend and protect them. We can't save the world...but you could keep humanity alive...even if it's only a few thousand of us."

The girl looked pale, her eyes watering a little as she said softly, "So...I...became the last defense...Amity was the last bastion of humanity."

"Yeah. And that strength you showed, we need it now. We need you to be ready for anything. The only good news I can give you is that since my parents weren't killed in this timeline, they will be there to help you. The sole burden of protecting humanity won't rest on just your shoulders. But I do have one request...don't...don't ever let my parents know….if this fails...if Dark Phantom is released and we can't stop him...if the worst outcome happens...please...don't ever tell my parents that I became that...that monster."

Valerie says nothing, only nods and falls silent as her worried eyes just stare at the table, "I am hoping that won't happen. Ernestra witnessed the alternate timeline in one of Clockwork's portals. She knows if she releases Dark Phantom, all her plans will fall apart. She can't beat him, and she can't control him. Dark Phantom is absent of a human soul, so there is nothing inside of him to hook her claws into. He would destroy her and the Zone and the human realm. If we are lucky she will continue to use the Thermos as a threat only." Vlad offered.

"So wait, all of this is a lot to take in, but narrow it down for me, what exactly does Ernestra want? What's her end goal?" Tucker suddenly asked.

To everyone's surprise but Vlad's Skulker spoke, "Ernestra wants Vlad to be her king. The area of the Ghost Zone she rules is massive and her armies are vast. But she wants Vlad's help in gaining control of both the Ghost Zone and Human Realm."

"But why, is what I mean. If she's as tough and crazy as you say, why does she need Vlad? If he's told her no and turned down the crown, why not just find another person who wants to help her, why does it have to be Vlad?" Tucker asked.

Skulker looked to Vlad whose eyes grew wide and the man said quickly, "It doesn't matter. What does matter is getting the Thermos away from her, and hopefully sucking her into one as well-"

"What was that?" Danny asked.

"What was what?" Vlad countered and Danny crossed his arms, "That! The look you just gave. What aren't you telling me?" Danny asked and Vlad looked away, "It doesn't matter Daniel, honestly, you're paranoid."

"Oh hell no, I saw that look, so you better tell me or-"

"Ernestra's core has chosen Vlad to be her mate." Skulker suddenly said, crossing his arms as he looked to Vlad, the look on his face very reminiscent of a parent to a child, urging Vlad to come clean and explain.

Danny's eyes bulged as he looked between the two, "What? No! That's not...that's not possible! Clockwork told me Vlad's core never tried to bond or fuse with other ghosts because he was too caught up on his plans for my mother...on his revenge...he was in love with her...his human half-"

"Yes. Vlad's core never tried to bond with another because he was so focused on his love for another human. However, Ernestra's core...for the last thirty years….has been focused on Vlad." and all eyes turned to the older halfa who looked absolutely awash in guilt.

Danny's eyes flashed green as he slammed his hands on the island and he yelled at no one, "WELL SHE CAN'T HAVE HIM! HE'S MINE! FUCK HER CORE!"

"Whoa...dude...you okay?" Tucker asked and all eyes turned to Skulker as he gave a dry chuckle, "He's fine. It's a ghost thing. Once ghost cores bond and fuse, they do so permanently, and while it is a very loving and affectionate bond, the side effects also include territorialism and an innate urge to protect. It's no different with me and Ember. If another ghost tried to take her from me, I'd be just as incensed as the whelp."

Danny turned to Vlad who held up his hands in a sign of surrender, "Easy, Little badger, I swear, our cores never touched...we never joined!" Vlad said trying to ease the young man into a sense of calm.

"That you know of." Skulker murmured, "Will you shut up!" Vlad hissed at him, "What? That you know of? What does that mean?"

Vlad went to speak but once again Skulker cut him off, "While Plasmius never actively tried to initiate a bond Ernestra could still have touched her core with his in an attempt to draw him in and activate his core in hopes of starting the process of bonding. Even if Plasmius wasn't aware of it, which can happen."

"That's it-" Danny said angrily as he grabbed the man by a wrist and turned to the group, "Tucker, Skulker, start working on a design for a new thermos. Vlad should have the schematics for my parents original design in his computer in the lab. We are going to need something wicked strong for both Ernestra as well as Dark Phantom. Sam and Valerie, I want strategies and a plan of attack. Skulker, give the girls the layout of Ernestra's kingdom and go over her powers with them as well as her armies and their abilities. I'll be right back, Vlad and I need to have a little chat."

Everyone watched them leave only to look at Skulker as he laughed softly, "I love watching the whelp own him so thoroughly. It's the most amusing thing to watch. We won't be seeing them for a while, best get to work, come nerd boy, and female friends of the whelp, let's head to the lab."

Sam and Tucker glanced at each other before small smiles came to their faces as they realized they no longer needed to worry about their friend, as it was suddenly quite clear of the two half ghosts, who was in charge.

The group of four headed for the lab, glancing towards the stairs to see Danny dragging Vlad behind him as they disappeared down a hallway, "Daniel, will you please stop, just wait a moment and listen-"

"Shut up, FruitLoop!" and Sam and Tucker hid their smirks behind their hands as Valerie laughed, "Damn, Fenton's maaaaad."

Skulker spoke softly, "He has every right to be. The sharing of cores to ghosts is like sex to humans. Up until this point...Danny assumed Vlad had not shared his core with another so-"

"Shit, so...it's like Danny finding out Vlad had a chick on the side." Tucker said.

"Actually, since Vlad knew Ernestra first, that would mean the whelp was the 'chick-on-the-side,'" Skulker said.

The trio suddenly understood why Danny was so mad but Valerie countered with, "Yeah, but Vlad said he left Ernestra like eight years ago. So really, there is nothing for Danny to be mad about. You guys don't think he's overreacting a little? I mean he can't change what happened and neither can Vlad so-"

"The problem isn't that Vlad might have joined his core with Ernestra's, I know for a fact Vlad didn't. The issue is, if Ernestra's core has chosen Vlad's core, she will be locked onto him until she is either destroyed or Vlad gives in. It is impossible for ghosts to have more than one mate, a core cannot be split between more than two. If Ernestra tries to bond her core with Vlad's while he is connected to the whelp, the pain will be unbearable and Ernestra and the pup's core will have to fight for Plasmius's core...fight for dominance."

"So wait, why did Danny drag Vlad off if not to yell at him for lying about his relationship with Ernestra?" Tucker asked.

"You really want to know?" Skulker asked as the group descended the steps to the lab.

The three youths nodded and Skulker shrugged, "Right now, the whelp's core is driving him to establish his place by Vlad's side, and cementing their bond. The bonding and mating of cores is much more instinctual than when human's bond and mate, therefore, as there is currently a threat to the whelp's claim over Vlad, the pup is reaffirming their bond and establishing that Vlad and his core belong to him."

Tucker held up his hands, "Wait wait wait, are you saying he dragged Vlad upstairs to-"

"Yes. It's a normal response to the threat of another potential mate."

"That's messed up and gross," Valerie said, more in response to the fact she personally did not like Vlad nor did she find him attractive.

"Ew." Sam said as her eyes glanced to the ceiling and Tucker shivered, "Didn't need that image in my head."

"You might find it gross, but the truth of the matter is, both Plasimus and young Phantom are half ghost and therefore are bound like any other ghost in the Ghost Zone by their cores. They can't help it, and they can't stop it, so you best learn how to accept, respect and understand it. It's not something your friend can help, and even if he was aware of why he was doing it, he couldn't stop it. It will be much easier for him and less embarrassing if you just accept it for what it is." and Skulker walked over to the computer, the trio looked at each other with guilty expressions as they realized Skulker had just given them a sharp lesson on cultural difference, tolerance and acceptance.

"That stung." Valerie said.

"Yeah. I guess there is a lot about this ghost core stuff we don't know." Tucker said.

"Yeah, but let's promise, no matter what, when Danny and Vlad come down, we're all three totally cool. Got it?"

"Yeah." Valerie and Tucker said together and then the three turned and headed over to Skulker, ready to work.

Danny entered into Vlad's bedroom, slamming the door behind them as Vlad crossed his arms and sneered, "Are you through? You're acting like I am some child that needs to be punished, and I don't appreciate being dragged off as if...what are you doing?!" Vlad asked in shock as he realized Danny was stripping down, and within seconds was completely naked.

"Daniel, get dressed this instant, we don't have time for-" Vlad couldn't finish because Danny was suddenly pressing their lips together as he shoved the man back and they fell onto the bed. The younger man ripped at Vlad's clothing, yanking it off and pulled out Vlad's ponytail.

"Daniel, what in blazes are you-"

"Shut up, I'm not putting up with this crap. You are mine, you're core is bonded to mine! Ernestra can take a flying leap into the voids of space. I am NOT letting her have you!" and Danny suddenly changed into Phantom, his hands coming to Vlad's now bare chest as he sent a surge of energy through the man and Vlad gave a grunt as he was suddenly forced to change.

Danny's hands yanked at Vlad's belt before he tugged the man's pants and boxers down and moved to straddle Vlad's bare hips.

"Daniel...Daniel….DANIEL!" and Vlad's hands came up to grip the young man's face, Danny's eyes glowing bright green, "Calm down. I'm not going anywhere, my core is bonded to yours, Ernestra can't do anything about it. We are mated for life, you know this, why are you acting so irrational."

And Danny seemed to snap out of it for a moment, his angry glare softening a little as he he looked at the man, pressing his face into Vlad's palm as he sighed, "I don't know, I just...hearing that she may have tried to join your cores, the very idea that her core might be seeking yours...it drives me crazy. Like there is fire under my skin, and I need to...to be close to you right now. I need to protect you and keep you away from her. We need to join and just, exist together...it's maddening...I need to...just...lay back, it's fine, relax and let me...just let me-" and Danny pressed forward, finding the man's lips and kissing him deeply, hands rubbing and messaging at Vlad's chest and sides, his hips grinding against the man and though Vlad seemed really confused and reluctant after a few seconds he conceded and his hands came to gently take Danny's hips.

"We need to join, right now, Vlad." Danny whispered against his lips and Vlad's hands slid down to grip at Danny's back sighed before he groaned out, "Whatever you want-" and Danny positioned himself over Vlad's length, slowly sliding down on to it as both he and Vlad moaned with lusty breaths.

When Vlad's length reached its end Danny's head tilted back, eyes closed as his face pointed to the ceiling and he started to move. His core seemed to ignite and hum loudly as all his thoughts and feelings rushed into Vlad's core and Vlad's rushed into his. So many potent and intense feelings came, love, fear, want, need, anger...these were the most basic emotions and they were also the most intense. He felt reassurance when Vlad's feeling of love wrapped around him and his mind was flooded with images of himself, laughing, crying, cuddling next to Vlad, their conversations time spent together. Happiness swelled, such a strong and heady feeling of wanting those things forever and pleasure started to shoot up through Danny's body.

Finally he looked down to see Vlad's eyes locked onto him, so much love and lust swirling as he watched Danny move and thrust down onto his length. A sort of overpowering lust hit him and as Vlad's hands slid from Danny's hips to his sides the young man grabbed Vlad's hands and shoved them down on either side of his head. Their fingers laced together as Danny continued to ride him, sweat breaking out on his brow as his green eyes locked with Vlad's red ones and their foreheads came together, "You're mine, not hers, and this...this is us, together, forever...and I want to hear you say it." Danny whispered out between moans and gasps, moving faster as Vlad let out such decadent moans.

"Us, together, forever, yes, Daniel, I promise...together forever." Vlad managed, his own body growing slick with sweat as he started to climb. Danny was now shaking from the effort, keeping his pace and not stopping to give himself or Vlad time to breath or enjoy a slow build.

"Daniel...slow….slow down-"

"No!" Danny suddenly bit out as he instead picked up his pace and sweat started to drip from his forehead onto Vlad's, "We're going to do this together, we….are….going...to…"

Vlad's body went ridgid, the man letting out a yell completion as he shot into his climax and Danny slammed down onto the man's length and released. His seed shot out, falling onto Vlad's chest and stomach, his body trembling as he sat up and pulled Vlad's hands to his chest, gripping the man's hands so tightly his knuckles were white and his muscles were pulled far too tight.

They both gasped and groaned as they rode out the waves of pleasure, Danny's hips giving instinctual jerks as their cores seemed to settle and then after a few more seconds Danny fell over. Vlad's length slipped out and Danny shook as he lay curled up and breathing far too heavy.

"D-Daniel, are you alright?" Vlad panted out as he reached for the young man only to stop when he saw Danny nearly dragging himself over to him. He curled into the man's side, Vlad turning as he wrapped arms around him and pulled him close, the pair so sweaty and exhausted they were nearly unable to move.

"What...the hell...just...happened?" Danny asked as he started to shiver a little from the cold air on his now soaked skin.

"I'm not...not sure." Vlad pulled up the blanket, covering them both as he continued to hold Danny close and gave a gentle kiss to his forehead.

A gruff cough came from the doorway and both of them looked over to see Skulker standing there with arms crossed, "What the devil are you doing here! Get out! Have you ever heard of knocking!?" Vlad bit out as he pulled the blanket higher to near completely cover Danny who was still shivering though the youth seemed to care not at all about their visitor.

"Is the fire sated?" Skulker asked, "Because you're needed downstairs." and Vlad would have thought the ghost teasing if not for the straight faced and matter-of-fact tone he had said it in.

"We are fine, everything is fine. I'm not sure what the hell just happened but we will be down in a moment. We need to bathe, and Daniel is shaking like a leaf." and Vlad looked down to see Danny was passed out, still shaking but fast asleep.

"Don't worry, the whelp will be fine. He was just doing what he was supposed to. Give him twenty minutes and the fire should be completely gone."

"What fire? What on Earth are you talking about, Skulker?"

"What just happened between you, it's part of the bond. The pup felt threatened by Ernestra, thought his position next to you was being challenged. So, he followed his instincts and re-established his core on yours."

Vlad stared wide eyed, "Wait, so you mean...all that...the aggressive behavior, the dominate posturing-"

"Don't be too hard on the pup, he's young. He'll learn how to better control himself and grow more confident about his place next to you with time. It's one of the reasons most ghosts wait so long to mate. Maturity makes all of the core business easier to handle. I was surprised you took a mate so young for this reason. He'll probably do this a few more times before he settles down. At least you know he's serious about you. I'd reassure him, only those who are insecure continue to peacock and strut to keep their mates attention. And I wouldn't let him dominate you too much, or he'll become too aggressive when none suitors whom he feels threatened by come around you."

"I think you and I need to have a drink soon so you can fill me in on what else might befall such a young mate. I had no clue and Daniel nearly poured all of his energy into me, he's out cold."

"You best let him rest then. Come down and join us. He will wake when his core recharges." and Skulker disappeared through the floor and Vlad pulled the blanket down to look at Danny, the youth out cold, though he had finally stopped shaking.

The feeling of utter adoration and love that swirled in his chest, the happiness and soft amusement at the situation warming his heart, "So worried about losing me to someone I don't even want you wasted all your energy establishing your position with me when you didn't need to. We both know, you are my only. Rest now. I'll be back to check on you soon." and Vlad got out of bed, his legs a little shaky but overall he felt rejuvenated and fresh. He walked to the bathroom, intent on a quick shower before going to join the others in preparing for war.

A/N: There you go! R&R Last chapter will hopefully be out by the weekend, just want to tweak some things and adjust and re-edit. I'm a little obsessed with making this story better than how I left it. Hope you enjoyed it!