Previously:

Vlad... was reading books on raising children. He had a photo of Danny and his Mom on his table. A-And those papers with sketches of surprises for Danny... Did it mean that... Vlad didn't lie to him?.. That he cared not about his powers, but... him? As a person...

This morning for Vlad Masters was very hard. He woke up to find himself in his study, surrounded by parenting books, a half finished glass of wine and a still switched on lamp. He groaned and tried to stand up, but his head hurt and bad taste in mouth made him nauseous.

"Oh my goodness!.." he thought. "I haven't been so drunk since I mourned Maddie after settling Daniel here."

Remembering once more about the lost love of his life, he longingly looked at her photo. Her eyes seemed accusing and light from the morning sun, emanating from the enormous window behind, made her head gleam as if slightly shaking from side to side in disapproval.

"Oh Maddie…" he sighed. "You look at me like that every morning. Please, don't be so accusing, my dear. After all this helps me." But Maddie's expression didn't change. Vlad sighed. "I know, I know. But after that I feel cheerful and for Daniel it's very important now to see an example of a collected and happy person." The gleam of light travelled higher by the glass of the photo, making it seem like Maddie rolled her eyes. Vlad chuckled heartedly. "I love how you worry about me, my Love. But don't be concerned — I will take good care of our boy. He will be happy again."

Maddie "glared" at him and Vlad huffed. He was still lightheaded.

"Oh, come now, Maddie. I will become Daniel's adopted father very soon. I'll have all the rights to call him mine, and since you are his mother, I may easily consider him ours." Maddie still glowered at him. "Okay, fine! But, believe me, I won't ever understand why you married that oaf and how he could produce such a child as Daniel! I am positive that the boy was always meant to be a Masters! As were you, by the way!" He groaned and took his head in his hands. It hurt from his screaming. "No matter. Very soon he will be a Masters! Fate has put everything in its proper place!" His face fell when he said that. "If only it had been done in a more harmless way. If only you realized your mistake, my dear, and came to me, if only Daniel and Jasmine could understand everything and accept me as their father… Then there wouldn't be any need for Jack's death. But…" He gently took the photo of Maddie in his hand. "But everything turned out differently and very tragically. I believe that it was done for young Daniel to be guided and raised by me, Maddie. Even if you don't share this feeling, I'm sure of it and I will do everything so he will be happy again." He glanced at the photo of his ward and future-to-be-son and smiled. "I won't train him to forget all of you. I would never do that. But I will teach and help him to get over this tragedy. Because he needs to move on… So he wouldn't turn out like I did."

With that he carefully set the picture back on his desk and slowly went to the door. Passing Daniel's room, Vlad couldn't help himself, but check up on him. Softly opening one of the doors, Vlad peeked in. His Little Badger was sleeping, curled on his side, hair a mess and with a blanket covering him securely up to his ears. Vlad smiled contently and quietly closed the door. He went to his quarters.

It was a very big room in green and gold and a beautiful chandelier, which Vlad loved. He went to his big expensive bathroom, decorated with black tiles and jacuzzi in the corner. He took off his clothes and got into the jacuzzi. After the regulation of water and soap, Vlad sighed comfortably and leaned back. Oh, what a good feeling it was. So relaxing...

He rested in the bathroom for forty minutes, before brushing his teeth and making his hair decent. After that he went back to the bedroom and fished out one of his smart black suits. When he was ready and done with his tie, he looked at the mirror pleased. Yes, now he was feeling a lot better. And very cheerful.

At that moment the knock was heard at his doors.

"Come in, Godfrey." The ghost butler went into the room with a cup of green tea on the silver tray.

"Good morning, Master Masters. How are you feeling today?"

Vlad turned around and took his cup.

"I'm feeling glorious, Godfrey. As I do every day." He sipped his beverage.

"I see. Well, maybe, you could find some other catalyst for your happiness other than alcohol then, sir?"

Vlad glared at him.

"You've been overstepping your boundaries very often lately, butler. I recommend you to hold your tongue if you still want to work here."

Godfrey bowed calmly.

"Of course, Master. But I had only your best interests…"

"Sure, you did. But your piece of mind wasn't required. So keep it to yourself."

Godfrey bowed again.

"Yes, my Master."

"That's right." Vlad put his tea cup back on the tray and looked at his gold wrist-watch. It showed seven o'clock in the morning, a quite suitable time for having breakfast, Vlad thought.

"Go check up on Daniel." He ordered Godfrey. "If he isn't up, wake him. I want him at the dining room for breakfast in thirty minutes."

With that Vlad folded his hands behind his straight back and went into the hallway. He heard his butler saying:

"Right away, sir."

Vlad strolled to the main hall and into the kitchen, the irritation of the butler's importunity slowly fading away.

"Good morning, Volfgang." Vlad greeted the cook, who at sight of him bowed him lowly.

"Good morning, Master Masters! How did you sleep, my lord?"

Vlad smirked. That's why he liked his cook so much that he never considered a substitute — he knew his place and followed it flawlessly.

"I slept well, thank you." Vlad went into a small inspection of the kitchen. Everything was clean and bright as always. He looked into the pan, where the omelet was being fried. "What did you plan to serve us this morning?"

"Oh, Master, today you are going to enjoy my famous mushroom omelet and an oatmeal with strawberries! You ordered only the healthy food for young Master Daniel, so I excluded all the sugar and bad grease from his diet. Also there is a glass of milk for him."

Vlad nodded in approval.

"Good. Have you put vitamins in there?"

"Of course, Master, as you commanded." Volfgang nodded cheerfully. "Human and ghost vitamins, all with a repressed aura and increased salutariness!"

Vlad hummed.

"I'm pleased. Good work, Volfgang."

"Thank you, Master. What beverage would you want today?"

"Strong coffee, please. And do make sure that there are no Pop Tarts in this house. Godfrey told me he saw Daniel eating some of them two days ago, and I don't want him to have bad teeth."

"No problem, Master Masters, everything will be done."

"Good."

With that Vlad left the kitchen and went to sit at the head of the table in the dining room. His newspaper was already beside his seat. He looked through it, going over business news and high life rumors. Hmm… It seems Lady Carol is hosting a cocktail party in her mansion. It will be a good opportunity to continue introducing Daniel to high society. Now when Grand met him, he, of course, would set a rumor and while everyone was anticipated to see his future-to-be-son, Vlad would prepare him for it, and, maybe, would be successful in persuading him to take his surname, at last.

There was nothing interesting on the news today other than that. There was an article about the billionaires who had invested in charity, and Vlad Masters took up a half of this article, while other six people shared the other half. Vlad grinned pleased. He didn't like charity at all and thought about it as a waste of time and money, but it made his popularity grow and his image be the center of the someone's sanctuary dedicated to him. He didn't doubt in existence of such individuals.

"When I were in the hospital with the incurable deseace, no one, no one at all, came to me or helped or donated for my recovery." Vlad thought bitterly. "No one saw any reason in helding charity for me. So why should I sympathize with those unlucky, when no one sympathized with me in that state?"

But he still donated. And it paid off. More companies started to make deals with him and the money flow into his money bin grew two times stronger. And that led to him being one of the wealthier men in the world.

"Soon to be the wealthiest one." Vlad thought with triumph.

Vlad didn't know how long he was looking through his newspaper, but when he heard the double doors to the dining room opening and small familiar steps approaching the table, he folded his paper and put it back in its proper place.

"Good morning, Daniel." He greeted.

"Good morning, uncle Vlad." Answered a timid voice.

Vlad looked up, surprised. The boy hadn't called him "uncle" for a little less than two weeks. His heart swelled with joy from hearing his current title. But when he laid his eyes on the boy himself, he stilled in shock.

With short hair neatly combed and dressed in black dress trousers, white buttoned-up shirt and black shiny dress shoes, Daniel looked proper and wholly to Vlad's liking. Vlad blinked and looked him over once more. The shirt was tucked in and all buttoned-up. The sleeves weren't rolled up, but were down and made with cufflinks. Daniel's hands were held behind his back and his glaze was shyly turned to the floor.

It was unbelievable. Normally Daniel would wear an old T-shirt and some baggy worn-out jeans or shorts. But this...

At first Vlad was so shocked that he didn't even notice that Daniel was still standing in front of his seat uneasily.

"Y-You may sit, Little Badger." Vlad said. He watched as the boy nodded and took his place at the table. His cheeks reddened a little from Vlad still staring at him. But he endured the inspectation patiently. "Forgive me for bluntness, my dear boy… but I have to say that you look dashing today." The corners of Daniel's lips curved into the beginnings of a smile. Vlad felt like he was in some nearly perfect dream. "I am very pleased to see you looking so proper and, of course, I encourage you to continue dressing this way, but… what inspired you to such a pleasant change, Little Badger?" Vlad asked nicely.

Daniel hesitated.

"Well… You asked me to dress up for dinners, which wasn't that hard to do… And I chose to make a scene over it. And also yesterday when I saw and Max interacting… I understood that my life was very happy and my family would like it to remain the same, no matter the tragics on my way… So, if I start a new life, I thought it would be suitable to start dressing another way, so… it would be easier to adapt…"

"Say no more, Little Badger!" Vlad interrupted, a huge smile on his face, it seemed, was lightening the whole room up. "I understand you perfectly and will support your every decision!"

"Especially this decision." Vlad thought happily.

Daniel smiled gratefully, but still shyly.

"Thanks, uncle Vlad."

Vlad's heart skipped a bit, so glorious he felt. He ran a hand through his ward's combed thick hair.

"I'm very proud of you, Daniel. I truly am. It's hard to move on after what you've been through, but you handle it with courage and faith. I'm certain, this makes your dear family and friends proud of you too in heaven."

Daniel's eyes moisted a bit and he nodded again.

At that moment Godfrey went into the room with two plates of breakfast, bright as a light himself, obviously pleased with the huge step ahead in his masters' relationship. When he approached Daniel he winked at him and smiled in approval.

"Well…" Daniel said, slowly starting on his breakfast. Vlad proudly watched him minding his table manners. "What are you planning to do today?"

Vlad couldn't help himself, but to glow with happiness. Daniel on his own asked him what his plans were! Does it mean that…

"Well, I had in mind some work on business papers. I don't remember if I told you, but on Monday I will return to the office."

"You… You will?"

"Of course, dear boy. I am the owner, after all." Some strange expression appeared on Daniel's face. Vlad couldn't really identify it, so decided to interpret it as the most pleasing for himself. "Little Badger, don't be so sad. I won't be at the office for long. At six thirty I usually come back here. Moreover, from Monday on you will have your studies with the tutor."

Daniel nodded sullenly.

"Yeah, I know. But… you will be here when I meet her, right? I just… don't want to seem improper to her. After all, you've made a big deal of that school, so the teachers must be the same."

Vlad thought he couldn't be happier. Daniel trusted him, he wanted him to be with him when he met his teacher! And, of course, his future-to-be-dad will be with his precious soon-to-be-son!

"Sure I will be with you, Little Badger. And don't even worry. If you had some blanks in your manners, in these two weeks you've filled them well. Especially with today's improvement, I can say confidently that you are an amazing representative of the Masters family."

Vlad wore a proud smile and glanced at Daniel fondly, but the boy himself blushed and looked down. This upset Vlad a little. Apparently, he was pushing it.

"I just thought… if you are not too busy…" Daniel continued to Vlad's surprise, picking at his food. "Maybe, we could play a little bit… And then watch a movie together… I just… Maybe, you were right and I really got cooped up here."

Vlad thought he would fall with an attack of joy right away.

"Yes… Of course, my Little Badger!" He answered, nearly making himself keep sitting. Hearing Vlad accepting his offer, Daniel's head shot up, and a surprisingly joyful smile on his face.

"Really?"

"Sure! Quickly finish your breakfast and you're on!"

Very soon they were done with their food. Being nearly a blur Vlad got out of his seat, took Daniel by his forearm and let him into the hall.

"What do you want to play, son?" Vlad couldn't help but call him that. Daniel blushed, but shrugged.

"What do you want to play?"

Vlad's smile got even wider.

"GODFREY!" he shouted so loud the whole mansion shook. "Fetch us the football, Daniel and I are playing my favourite game!"

"Oh boy…" was all Daniel was quick to say before Vlad phased him to that part of the castle he hadn't yet seen.

"Heads up, my boy! Yes, great job! Now, show me what a good quarterback you are!"

Danny giggled, jumped back and threw the football as hard as he could. He was shocked how well it flew. Vlad tried to catch it and jumped. But the ball hit him in the side of his face and he fell on the ground. Danny got scared, but before he could make a step forward, a joyful laugh filled the field.

"That's it, my boy! THAT'S IT! You're a born quarterback, Daniel!"

Danny sighed in relief. It was ridiculous, really. It was so easy to make Vlad happy. All that was needed was to agree to play football with him (it was hard for Danny, remembering how he was bullied by the football team) and let Vlad dress him in a Green Bay Packers uniform.

"Strange," Danny thought. "With Vlad I almost enjoy playing football."

They had been playing already for several hours straight and they wouldn't even know it if Godfrey didn't come to invite them for lunch.

"My Masters, lunch is served." He said with a smile.

"Thank you, Godfrey." Vlad nodded, approached Danny and heartfully hugged him by shoulders with right hand and ruffled his hair in a fatherly manner with the left one. "Could you imagine that this fellow is a champion quarterback?"

"To tell the truth, I thought you were a boy of art, Master Daniel." Godfrey winked and Danny's ears reddened.

"Well… It's what I like to do. But sports were never really my thing…"

"Not your thing?! Ha! Little Badger, it is your thing and I will make you realize that!" Vlad screamed and a weirdly malicious grin spreaded on his face. "It's settled! I'm going to make you love football and when you do, you'll try out for the Goldsword football team and become a quarterback!"

Danny quirked a brow.

"Another plot, uncle Vlad?"

"No plot, son, a plan! A plan to make you see all your strong sides! Now, my boy, let's go have something to eat. You need a lot of meat and protein to bulk you up!"

"Bulk me up?" Danny whined while they all went back into the Manor. "What am I to you, a chicken to be eaten?"

Vlad chuckled.

"Forgive me, my dear boy, but I have much more grandiose plans for you."

The lunch was pleasant. Danny and Vlad were chattering much more freely now and somehow Danny didn't mind it. He wasn't against Vlad's company either. After what he had seen at night he just couldn't be mad at Vlad. He thought the man didn't mourn… but he mourned in one of the most dangerous and tragic ways. He thought Vlad was satisfied with how things were now… but in reality he was just trying to be cheerful for Danny. He studied parenting books to help Danny go through this all. And Danny wanted to assist him in his attempts. He wasn't going to call him his father ever, but maybe just someone who is there to support him… that he could do.

And that he was doing now.

"So, Little Badger, you wanted to watch a movie?" Vlad asked.

"Yeah. Are you up to one?"

"Certainly. Which one do you have in mind?"

"Well… I don't know if you heard about it. It's called The Giver. It's about a…"

"No spoilers, Daniel! I want to see it all on my own." Vlad chuckled. They've already finished their lunch. He stood up from the table, laying his napkin neatly on its surface and motioned for Danny to do the same. "Want to watch it in the theatre room or a living room?"

"A living room. That one which is cozy-family-like."

Vlad smiled and nodded. They went into the not very large room with dark green walls (Danny was starting to think that there were practically no rooms in this castle which had not-green walls), a large brown comfortable couch and big TV in front of it. There were many big windows, which now were covered with thick red curtains, and pieces of art on the walls. Also some big bookcases and a fireplace with two armchairs in front of it were hiding opposite the TV area. Danny liked this room. Sometimes during these weeks he could sit here for hours reading one of his books.

Waiting no time he hopped onto the couch and covered himself with a green and gold plaid. Vlad chuckled and sat next to him. In some time they found the needed movie.

"PG-13." Vlad noticed. "That is acceptable, though barely."

"What? If it was…"

"If it was higher than PG-13, you would not be allowed to watch it. And for your information I would like you to watch only something PG." Vlad said sternly.

"What?! But I'm 14! And what if I have already seen such films?"

"Then you will not see them again until you are at least 25."

"WHAT?! That's not fair!"

"These are my rules. I didn't bother earlier, but now I think it would be just right to install a parent control password on all our technologies."

"You're being ridiculous!"

"Maybe. But if you want to see something higher than PG, you must tell me. I will see it by myself so I may decide if it's decent for you."

"It's!.."

"Do you want to watch this movie or no, Daniel? As your guardian I have every right to restrict you from it."

Danny grumbled and folded his hands.

"Fine."

"That's my good boy." Vlad smiled at him and ran a hand through his hair. Danny relaxed a little in an instant from the gesture. It was so soothing, reminding him of his Mom's touches.

They watched the movie without comments. Danny had seen it a lot of times before, but every one of them he couldn't help but be fascinated with the film. They were watching how the main hero Jonas was held back to reality by his baby brother's screams and then how all the people remembered the truth and how the girl named Fiona was saved from death by that. Danny didn't notice how he got closer to Vlad and curled on the couch next to him and how Vlad wrapped an arm around him, running comforting fingers through his hair.

"Mom loved this film." Danny whispered, tears welling in his eyes. He buried his face in his guardian's shoulder.

"I understand now why." Vlad nodded, finding an immense comfort in holding the one person in the whole universe that needed him most, who Vlad could consider and call his family, his child. He sighed. "It was so right on Maddie's side to show you this piece of art."

But Danny shook his head.

"It wasn't she who showed it to me." He raised his head and looked into Vlad's eyes. "It was I who showed it to her in the first place. I found it on the Internet."

Vlad looked at Danny in surprise.

"How old were you?"

Danny shrugged.

"Around twelve."

"And you understood what it was about?"

Danny scoffed.

"Don't be silly, of course, I did. I'm not that much of an idiot. I thought it was obvious. It's about the perfect world which has appeared to be not perfect at all. It's about that there is no such thing as a perfect world… and no matter how hard you try and what you do, you wouldn't be able to build one. Not for long… Not forever…"

Vlad watched as Danny lowered his head back on his shoulder and cast his gaze downwards. How couldn't he notice?.. He never thought that… Daniel understood what was behind such things. But…

"Why did you want to show me this exact movie?" Vlad asked curiously.

Danny shrugged again.

"I thought… it was kinda about us… I mean… I was kinda trying to make the world more perfect by protecting people from ghosts. Not like that was my most important reason, I just felt like it was my responsibility, but… maybe this feeling was coming out of that desire somewhere deep inside?.. And you… You've been trying to reach your perfect life, flawless fantasy, where you married Mom and I was your son. We both tried so hard… But in the end it all just flew back into our backs."

Vlad didn't answer. He was just shocked at how well Daniel knew and understood him. This child… was much more intelligent and mature and wise than Vlad had ever given him credit for. He tightened his arm around the boy and continued to pet his head affectionately.

"Uncy Vlad", Danny suddenly said, while the credits for the movie were coming to an end.

"What is it, Little Badger?"

"Please, don't drink, okay?"

Vlad looked at him incredulously.

"Where…"

"No matter, just… Please, don't drink, okay?" He looked up at Vlad with puppy eyes, or maybe Little Badger eyes from now on. "I'm sorry I was so… difficult… But you were always so happy and joyful and it made me so sad, because… If you are like that then you don't miss my family… or at least my Mom. But now I know that you mourned and how you've been doing this… And I really don't want to see you drunk. I promise, I will cooperate, just… don't drink like that anymore, okay? I don't want to find you one morning dead of intoxication. I… I don't want you too to leave me alone."

Vlad's throat tightened.

"Little Badger, I will never leave you behind. I will always be with you. And… I won't drink anymore. I promise you that, child. I won't."

Danny nodded and… hugged Vlad tightly. For a moment the man was still, before wrapping hands around Daniel.

"It hurts." Danny said softly. "It hurts that they are gone..."

"Oh, my little boy…" Vlad whispered sadly. He felt like his heart was tearing apart from the pain that he had been suppressing for all this time. "I know. I know that it hurts. But everything's alright. I'm here, I'm with you. And I'll always be with you. I've got you, my child. I've got you."

Danny swallowed with a sob, then exhaled and looked up. A sad smile was gracing his lips and, to Vlad's delight, this time there were no tears.

"Thank you, Uncy Vlad."

"You're very welcome, Daniel."

They sat like this for some time, before deciding to have a walk outside. Vlad enjoyed this day immensely. Daniel was open with him and even liked to spend time together. When Vlad ordered Daniel at nine thirty in the evening to go to sleep, so he could rest before the hard day of studies, the boy didn't argue and even accepted Vlad's goodnight hug.

When the boy retreated from the den, where they settled after dinner, Godfrey entered.

"I congratulate you, sir." He said. "The boy is warming up to you."

"Yes." Vlad smiled, remembering the past day with pleasure. "He obeys now. He opens up. And I must say he impresses me immensely with every passing day."

"I see you are really fond of the boy."

"I am." Vlad agreed. "And I really hope that soon I will be also granted a chance to refer to him as Daniel Masters."

"I expect it to be true, Master. For a child his age it is very important to have a parent. Continue the way you're doing now, and he will be all yours."

"He will be. You have no doubt about it. And it will be better for the both of us." He looked at his butler and in his eyes was even a glint of appreciation. "Perhaps, you were right, Godfrey. A little mourning together really gives us immense progress."

"Glad I could help, sir."

Vlad nodded and, after giving the butler an order to clean the den up, retreated to his chambers. This day was the first tremendous step towards molding his Little Badger into Daniel James Masters and, what is more important, into a healthy happy person.

Author's Note:

Finalyyy, I finished this chapter! And I'm happy that it is not that big (though I cut it in two, guilty). But it's easier this way, I guess. So what can I say... Next time wait for the appeareance of one of the scariest ghost characters on the show! The fact that Danny is under Vlad's protection now doesn't mean that he has no enemies no more ;)

Also you can visit me on my blog in tumblr to see more of my arts for Danny and more:

blog/aleks-norward

Love you all, till next time!️