Warnings for final chapter: None
-o0o-
Epilogue: Explanations, I wouldn't change anything for the world.
Danny wakes up to people gasping and someone enveloping him in a bone crushing hug, "Ow! Jazz, a little tight!" He grunts cringing.
Jazz releases him, only for his mother to come up and pull him into a similar embrace, "Danny! My baby, what happened?! You were floating in the air and vanished without a trace! We were so worried about you!"
"I'm okay mom," Danny says finally getting free, he hears another groan and becomes worried, "Phantom!"
"Phantom? Wha-" Danny ran past her mid sentence and up to a man laying in the same spot Phantom was when they'd disappeared. Green eyes open and a gasp of disbelief comes from Jazz before she runs over to the two.
"It can't be..." Jazz whispers, eyes wide and mouth hanging open. Phantom is wearing the same outfit as he did in the photograph, long white hair down and all over the place. He blinks a couple of times before he looks around the room.
Danny grabs and hugs him, taking the breath out of the ex ghost. Phantom smiles and strokes his back, though Danny could still feel the confusion in their link, "Nightingale? What's going on?" He glances around the room again, "Who are all these people?"
Danny searches the man's eyes, but can see that Phantom truly doesn't recognize anyone but him. He thinks back to what Clockwork said and feels a bit of sadness in his heart. So this was the price huh? Clockwork had literally wind back the clock for Phantom, he now remembers nothing of his time as a ghost; for Phantom never died.
Danny helps the green eyed man to his feet, "Phantom, we have a lot to talk about." he says resigned. Phantom gazes at him curiously, not understanding the look on Danny's face and the foreign feelings he is getting. He doesn't remember that they have a link and it's confusing him more that he recognizes the feelings of relief and resignation are not his own. Danny gazes back at his family, smiling tiredly, "You guys need to hear this to. It's a long story."
Phantom chuckles wryly, "Amore mio, you forget something, I like long stories and if I'm reading this right it appears to be a very good one." Danny rubs the back of his neck, 'Phantom, you really have no idea...'
-o0o-
When Danny had gotten done telling his story, the ship has finally left the Triangle and docked in Bermuda. Everyone stares at him, mouths open in disbelief when he finishes.
"So it is the year 2010, and I've been a ghost for 68 years?" Phantom asks.
"And what we thought was your imaginary friend was actually this man who was protecting you from a demon who used to abuse you when he was alive?" Maddie adds when she's able to speak.
"Yeah, that pretty much sums it up." Danny answers sheepishly. He then looks down at his feet, suddenly nervous, "Uh, you remember when you guys asked me if I was interested in anyone?"
His family all nod slowly. Danny takes Phantom's hand in his own, feeling a sense of comfort when Phantom's grip tightens.
"Well you see, the reason why I wasn't interested in anyone was because, subconsciously, I was still in love with Phantom. There wouldn't, couldn't, be anyone else." He confesses slowly, watching his family for any reaction.
"Are you sure sweetie?" His mother says. He gauges her facial expression, and sees nothing but curiosity in her eyes. He nods firmly.
"Yeah mom, Phantom and I were lovers even before it was socially acceptable. I couldn't imagine my life with anyone else." He smiles sweetly at the man in question, who returns it in full.
His family sees the looks on the boys faces and can't deny the love between them, especially when Danny's parents recognize the same looks that they themselves gave to each other. Maddie smiles, "Alright Danny, we have no problem with your relationship. But," She holds up a finger and glares at Phantom.
"If you hurt my baby, just remember that I am a black belt and I know over a hundred ways to cause you indescribable pain. Whether you're alive or dead."
"S-Sì ma'am..." Phantom said nervously, shaking his head yes so there would be no misunderstanding.
Maddie then smiles warmly, "Welcome to the family Phantom."
-o0o-
Danny chuckles as Phantom gapes at all the technology and buildings. He remembers a time when they were smaller, just a couple of two year olds discovering the future for the first time. Of course, Danny didn't realize Phantom was a ghost until he was seven, since Phantom never acted like the monsters his parents told them they were. Yeah, he could believe that there was some ghost who weren't friendly, but from what Danny could see, some simply wanted to be left alone. So when he found out, he didn't think much about it another continued on like nothing changed; like they were doing now.
Danny's parents took Phantom's and his relationship in stride, which the raven expected from his dad, since he was the live and let live type, but his mom was a shock.
When Maddie pulled him aside, he asked her why she was so cool about it when before she was so vehement about dismissing Phantom as an imaginary friend. Maddie bit her lip and looked away guiltily.
"I was scared for you," She had confessed, "I went through the same thing you did when I was younger...well I couldn't shoot ecto rays and the like but I could see spirits and I never really had a good experience with them. I ended up loosing a dear friend of mine because of a possessive ghost. It was why I devoted myself to the paranormal."
She had looked him in the eye, her own purple ones shining imploringly, "I was scared, because you'd almost always come home with injuries and when you talked about Phantom, I thought he was hurting you," She then smiled, finally looking like a great weight was lifted from her shoulders. "But he was protecting you from other ghosts who were wanting to hurt you, so he can't be a bad man can he? And I can tell he loves you very much."
Danny returned the smile and they hugged, the air finally clearing around them.
So Danny was able to reconcile with his mother and they are finally almost as close as when he was a little kid. Jazz had handled it like he'd expected her to, simply telling Phantom that if he ever hurt her brother, which was highly unlikely, she would put him in a world of pain. Phantom had a healthy fear and respect for the Fenton women, but didn't think too much about it.
When Danny asked, Phantom said almost wistfully, "Reminds me of when my sister Ellie found her husband, my mama had told him that if he broke her heart, he'd find himself eating dog meat instead of meatballs." Phantom laughed, "How could I compete with that, eh? Mia madre(1) would have done it too, she was a scary woman! But she loved us and would have done a lot for us." He then sighed, his expression full of regret, "Se solo si avrebbe accettato le mie preferenze(2)."
Danny felt sorry for Phantom, but forced a smile, "I'm sure she would have accepted you eventually, in fact if if she was here now, she would have been proud of you." Phantom smiled in appreciation and kissed the raven for that.
Later that night, as Danny and Phantom are snuggled down in there own room, Danny hears soft singing above his head. He smiles at the song, letting Phantom's voice carry him off.
His life back then wasn't perfect, but he would do it all over again if he had the chance to meet his Phantom.
Can you be my Nightingale?~
Sing to me, I know you're there~
You are my sanity, you bring me peace, sing me to sleep~
Say you'll be my Nightingale~
Fin
Translations and final authors note
(1) Mia madre, My Mother
(2) "Se solo si avrebbe accettato le mie preferenze." If only she would have accepted my preferences.
Thank you all for reading my multichapter story! I thank all who have stuck with me til the end of this and give you my love! You are all beautiful people!
Also Selena, I'm sorry but the authors notes on the first chapter said that anything consensual will only be mentioned. The reason I made this an M rating is because of the abuse that Danny had to go through, along with the rules on this site. Otherwise I would have rated this a T. I'm sorry if this ruined your expectations, you've been really sweet and I thank you for the offer, but it wouldn't have fit with the story I was wanting.
All that said, I love all of you and I hope you have a great day/night!
Sorceress