So, I know I shouldn't be posting another story while I still have some others going on and some long awaited requests, but I couldn't get it out of my head and there were a lot of people in my life who wanted to see this, at the very least, started.

So here it is.

Enjoy!

~BlainexKurtxLovex

Prologue

It was a warm Tuesday morning in Amity Park and everything seemed normal, well, as normal as it could get in a town constantly under attack by ghosts. Maddie Fenton was cleaning the table of breakfast dishes when the phone rang. She pondered who could be calling her at this early hour, but answered anyway. Maddie picked up the phone from the hook and held the receiver to her ear.

"Fenton Works, Maddie Fenton speaking," she stated.

"Hi, Maddie. It's Olivia Evans," a familiar female voice replied. "We went to college together."

Maddie's lavender eyes brightened in recognition at the name. She remembered a tall girl with long auburn hair and eyes the color of the sky. Maddie smiled even though she knew that Olivia couldn't see it from the other end.

"Oh, Olivia! It is so nice to hear from you. Jack and I were hoping to see you at the reunion last month. I was excited to catch up on what you've been doing since college."

"I know, Maddie. I'm really sorry I couldn't attend. I was looking forward to it as well, but something came up that I couldn't reschedule," Olivia explained.

"Oh, that's quite alright, Liv. You should come for a visit and meet the kids. Jack and I could pick you up at the airport and you could stay with us. We could visit and catch up all we like."

"As much as I would love that Maddie, I just can't. It's not possible."

Maddie noticed all the happiness leave her old friend's voice. She suddenly sounded troubled and pained at the same time. That caught Maddie's attention and a warning seemed to go off in her mind. Something was wrong.

"Liv, sweetie, what is it? What's wrong?"

Silence followed Maddie's question for a long moment. Maddie tried again, but Olivia refused to answer. The worry was creeping into Maddie's heart and mind so fast that it scared her. Olivia had always been willing to talk to Maddie and tell her everything. Something had to have changed drastically since they had last spoke.Finally, Olivia broke the silence. She took a deep breath and Maddie's heart froze.

"I'm dying, Maddie. I don't have much time left."

"What?"

Maddie couldn't believe it. Olivia had been so healthy when they had last spoke. Nothing had seemed amiss and Olivia had been so happy even though she was parting ways with her best friends. However, Maddie wasn't naïve enough to think that whatever was plaguing her friend couldn't have happened later in life. Diseases have a funny way of showing up when you least expect them.

"I have a malignant brain tumor that has stopped reacting to chemo," Olivia explained.

"Liv, my god! I know this is a stupid and possibly pointless question, Liv, but do you need anything?"

Olivia seemed to have ignored Maddie's question because the next words that came out of her mouth had nothing to do with the question Maddie had asked.

"I have a beautiful daughter, Maddie."

"Oh, Liv…"

"She is around the same age as your boy, Maddie. She's so smart and quite the introvert, but she has such a life ahead of her. When I'm gone she will have no one left to take care of her."

"But, surely, your parents…"

"They died a few years back, Maddie," Olivia interjected. "You know I'm an only child. There is no one to take her in and I can't even fathom the possibility of foster care."

Silence again stretched between the two as Maddie thought. Olivia was obviously distressed worried for the welfare of her child. Maddie would be the same way. If something happened to her and Jack, her sister would take the kids in. Maddie also knew that if something were to happen to them both and Jazz was old enough she would take care of her brother. Olivia had no such reassurance. Maddie knew that foster care was, indeed, an option. Apparently, Olivia didn't want that for her daughter and if Maddie was honest with herself she didn't want that for her pseudo-niece either.

"What about her father, Liv? I'm sure he would…"

"No," Olivia deadpanned. "That is not an option and it never will be."

"But, Liv, she's his daughter. Don't you think it would be best if she lived with him?"

"Maddie, her father doesn't even know she exists. He's never known."

Maddie was shocked and a little more than disappointed in her friend. Olivia had always been straight-forward and honest in their college days. It was one of the many reasons Maddie had enjoyed Olivia's company all those years ago. Olivia had never been afraid to tell her the truth or what she needed to hear.

"Why didn't you tell him, Liv?"

"I couldn't, Maddie," Olivia explained. "We weren't dating at the time and it was one of those one night stand deals. It never was even supposed to happen. He never would have claimed Maleah and he most certainly won't now."

There was a burning question on the tip of Maddie's tongue that needed to be answered. "Who's her father, Liv?"

Another bout of silence followed Maddie's question. It was only broken when Maddie heard sobbing from the other end. Maddie could hear the sobs plainly and her heart clenched in her chest. Not once had she ever heard Olivia cry and it was killing Maddie to know that her friend sounded so defeated.

"Promise you won't be upset with me, Maddie," Olivia begged. "Promise me, that you'll let me explain myself and the whole situation. Please?"

"I promise, sweetheart. I could never be…"

"It's Vlad, Maddie," Olivia interrupted. "Maleah's father is Vlad Masters."

Maddie let out a sharp gasp and covered her mouth with her free hand. If Maddie hadn't been furious with Vlad before she was beyond angry now. She knew that Vlad hadn't always been a self-centered, egotistical, filthy piece of trash; but once he became a multi-billionaire he had certainly changed. Maddie wasn't dumb enough to not see the constant flirting at the reunion or any of the other times he had been around. Jack was oblivious, but Maddie knew that her children could see it as well.

But, Maddie couldn't believe, that back then, he would leave the woman who was carrying his child. Even if it had been a one night stand, Maddie would like to think that Vlad would have stepped up to the plate and offered to care for the child.

"It was after the accident, Maddie," Olivia began. Maddie refused to interrupt her. "He…Oh Maddie…he was so distressed and devastated. He felt like his whole career was over and that his friends would never see him the same way again. You knew I loved him, Maddie. I told him I didn't care about the Ecto-acne and confessed my feelings.

"I don't think either of us knew was really happening because before I knew it we were kissing. I hate to say that it was wonderful, Maddie, but it was. It was the most magical thing I had ever experienced. But…then…the next morning he told me it was all a horrible mistake. He said that I had 'taken advantage of him' and that he wanted nothing to do with me ever again."

"Liv…sweetie…"

Vlad had been as much Olivia's friend as he had been Maddie and Jack's. Her, Olivia, Jack, and Vlad had tons of study get-togethers before the accident. They had socialized outside of school as well. Olivia, who hadn't any interest in ghosts or portals, had sat in the lab when the three of them would spend hours on the ghost portal.

Maddie also knew that Olivia never would have taken advantage of Vlad like he claimed. Olivia had truly loved Vlad from the moment they met. Vlad had been completely clueless, but Maddie and Olivia had discussed it may times behind closed doors.

But, then something occurred to Maddie. If Maleah was the same age as Danny then…

"I know what you're thinking, Maddie. How could Maleah be the same age as Danny when he was born three years later," Olivia stated before Maddie could voice the question. "I think it had something to do with the Ecto-acne."

"Liv, I don't think…If you had any relations with…"

"That's the thing Maddie. I never had any relationships after that night. I was so devastated and I couldn't even fathom having one after the way Vlad had treated me. Sure, I dated, but nothing that ever became serious enough to warrant intercourse."

Maddie was confused and shocked. Ectoplasm was known to cause side effects and complications to humans, but she had never heard of them delaying a pregnancy. In all her years of researching ghosts and anything associated with them, this was one thing that had never come up.

If Maddie was being honest, she was curious and intrigued.

"Okay, explain it to me," Maddie prompted as she moved to sit at the table.

Olivia took a deep breath before beginning her story. She explained that nothing had seemed wrong with her for a long time. She was happy and willing to move on with her life even if the situation with Vlad had gone wrong. Olivia had been looking forward to her future in pediatric medicine. Everything went well for the first two years and then everything changed.

She realized one morning that her menstrual cycle was late by a week. Olivia thought it was weird and considered going to a doctor before writing it off as too much stress, but when it didn't come the next month at its appropriate time Oliva started to worry. If that wasn't concerning enough, Olivia would occasionally get sick during the day. She decided to set up a doctor's appointment only to find out that she was five weeks pregnant.

Olivia tried to tell the doctor that it wasn't possible, but the doctor had insisted that he wasn't wrong. They had run the test as a precaution only to find it to be the cause of her symptoms.

"It made no sense to me for almost a month, before I realized it had to be the Ecto-acne. You had always said that ectoplasm could cause unusual health conditions," Olivia finished.

"I know, but I never thought that it would delay pregnancy!"

"I never said you did, Maddie. This is my own fault for sleeping with Vlad while he was infected. But, I wouldn't change it," Oliva replied. "Maleah is the light of my life. If I had never had her I never would have known the joys of being a mother."

"I understand why you never told him, Liv, but now might be a good time to do so."

"I don't want Maleah to live with or be raised by him, Maddie. I've seen the papers and magazines. The Vlad we knew is gone and replaced with a heartless monster. I don't want her to ever know that Vlad is her father if I can help it."

"I think you should tell him," Maddie urged again, "before it's too late. There is a possibility that he will be more responsive."

"No," Olivia replied, "I don't want my daughter raised by a man who no longer has love in his heart."

Maddie recognized that Oliva was quickly running out of options and, to be honest, Maddie herself was still in shock. She wanted to know how her best friend had been able to keep such a huge secret from her all these years. Maddie did understand, however, because Jack had a big mouth and would have told Vlad the moment he saw him. She also understood why Olivia never told Vlad.

As far as Maddie was concerned, Vlad would make a horrible father to a young girl. She wanted what was best for her Maleah and Maddie wanted to help her friend, but how? Not even a second later, Maddie had an idea.

"Liv, give me your number and let me call you right back," Maddie exclaimed. The excitement in her voice seemed to catch Olivia's attention. "I need to talk to Jack, but I have an idea. It's a little crazy, but it just might work."

-Three Months Later-

Maddie was in the kitchen baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies while she waited for their guest to arrive. Jazz was doing her homework at the kitchen table in order to keep Maddie company. Danny was in the living room watching television while Jack was down in the lab working on a new project. Maddie was exceedingly nervous as the seconds and minutes ticked by. She had offered to pick their guest up at the airport, but had been told not to worry about it.

Her plan had worked out well. It had taken a lot to convince both Jack and Danny that it was the least they could do. Jack had finally agreed, claiming he needed someone new to talk about ghosts with. Danny had agreed quite reluctantly, but had concluded that he really didn't have a say in his parent's decisions. Jazz had been thrilled at the prospect and agreed to help her mother as much as she could.

The oven beeped, breaking Maddie out of her musings to let her know that the cookies were done. Just as she pulled the cookies out and placed them on top of the stove the doorbell rang. Maddie's hands started shaking, but she took a deep breath to calm herself before she went into hysterics.

"Danny, can you get that? It has got to be her," Maddie called to her son.

"Yeah!" he called back.

She heard him turn the television off before another thought occurred to her.

"Be welcoming, Danny!"

"I will, mom. Stop worrying."

As she waited, Maddie thought about her first meeting with the young girl. She had seen Olivia's obituary and packed her things in order to attend. Jazz offered to accompany her and Maddie had gladly accepted the company. Danny had offered to go with them too, which had been a shock considering his hesitation, but she had told him to stay home. He was already failing several classes lately and while Maddie would have loved the support he needed to focus on his studies. Maddie also wasn't sure if it would be good to expose Maleah to male contact so soon.

Maddie remembered how strong Maleah had seemed throughout her mother's funeral, but it had all been an act. Behind closed doors, the girl was a wreck. She had lost both her mother and her best friend at the same time. She had been left all alone with no family to look after her and now she was to be taken in by strangers. Maddie remembered how the girl's vibrant blue eyes had been red a puffy while her body shook from the need to stay strong. It hadn't been until she had seen Maddie and Jazz that she had let anyone see her cry.

Olivia had assured Maddie, prior to her death, that Maleah knew what would happen to her once she was gone and had agreed to it. Maleah had made every effort to speak with Maddie and Jazz several times prior to their visit. Maddie had even sent photos ahead so that the young girl knew who to look for when the time came.

Maddie recalled holding Maleah in her arms as she cried. Jazz had held her hand, supplied all the tissues either of them wanted, and consoled them both with kind words that Maddie couldn't say through her own tears. It had been hard for the both of them to watch the girl fall apart, but it had also been hard for Maddie to see her beloved friend in the casket. Olivia had looked so at peace, but Maddie couldn't help the tears that fell from her eyes any more than Maleah could. Jazz had wiped them away and gave her a sympathetic smile.

As Maddie had expected, Vlad never showed up. She hadn't thought he would after the way he had treated Olivia, but Maddie had hoped that some of the old Vlad was still inside him. Maddie had made sure to tell him when he had called to speak to Jack that same week. He hadn't seemed to care and it had irritated Maddie to no end.

Maddie took another deep breath to calm her anger at Vlad as she heard Danny's voice from the other room. A smile pulled across her face at the thought of the two of them getting along so quickly. Jazz was closing her books as Maddie turned around to see Danny and Maleah enter the kitchen. What surprised her the most was that Danny had taken Maleah's hand to lead her through the house.

Maleah looked nervous and a bit exhausted, but happy. Maddie noticed that Maleah was as close to Danny as she could be without sitting in his lap. What was even more shocking was that Danny didn't seem like he minded. He seemed more content and at ease than he had been when he found out that another person would be living with them.

"Danny, can you go get your father?" Maddie inquired. Danny nodded, squeezed Maleah's hand, and walked passed his mother to the stairs that led to the lab. Once he was out of sight, Maddie focused her attention on Maleah. "Welcome, Maleah. We are so happy to have you here."

"Thank you, Mrs. Fenton. I really appreciate everything you and your family are doing for me," Maleah said, "And please feel free to call me Leah."

"Oh sweetheart, it's our pleasure and of course. Also, please, call me Maddie," Maddie responded. Maddie walked over to the girl and wrapped her up in a tight hug. "It's great to have you here."

Maddie let out a mental sigh of relief when Maleah returned the hug. The girl's hold was tight as she tried to keep from crying. Jazz moved forward as Maddie moved back so that she could also wrap the younger girl in a hug. Maddie could hear Danny and Jack coming back up the stairs.

"Beware, Leah, my husband enjoys giving bear hugs."

"Yeah, Danny warned me," Leah stated.

Jack came up the steps first with Danny close behind him. He moved into the kitchen and towards Leah and wrapped her in a gentle bear hug. Maddie could see the concern in his face and the tenderness with which he held her. Jack was worried he would hurt and scare her off. He just kept hugging her while Maddie, Jazz, and Danny watched in silence.

Leah seemed surprised by the huge man's gentleness as she was expecting a crushing bear hug. It was obvious to everyone in the room that she wasn't accustomed to any type of male parental figure interaction. It took her a minute to pull her arms free and wrap them tightly around Jack's neck. She buried her face in his shoulder and started to cry.

"Thank…Thank you…you."

"Your welcome, little one," Jack whispered back.

Maddie couldn't stop the tears that flooded her eyes at the sight. Jazz wrapped an arm around her mother's waist and hugged her close. One look at her daughter showed her that Jazz was also crying at the beautiful sight. Maddie spared a glance at her son and was surprised to find him smiling, but there was a look in his eyes that spoke volumes. He was smitten with Leah and both the clear affection and adoration in his eyes made her wonder. He had been in love with Samantha Manson for as long as she could remember so how had he fallen so hard and so fast?

Danny spoke then. "Welcome to the family, Leah."

Jack set Leah down and the girl seemed shocked by Danny's words. Maddie was surprised and by the looks on both her husband's and daughter's faces so were they. Danny had spoken out the loudest about having another person in the house and how it would affect not only him, but the rest of the family. Now, here he was in the middle of the kitchen welcoming the new arrival as if he had wanted her there the entire time.

They watched as a huge smile stretched across the girl's face. It looked, to Maddie at least, that Leah wanted to hug him, but was holding herself back. She need the physical confirmation that this whole thing was real, that Danny really accepted her just like the rest of the family had.

What astounded Maddie the most was that Danny seemed to have noticed it too. He opened his arms, smiled, and motioned for the girl to come forward. Leah wasted no time running at him and wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. Danny enveloped her in his arms and pulled her just a smidgeon closer. Maddie, Jack, and Jazz were completely dumbfounded at the action. In the small amount of time Maleah had been in the house she had managed to win Danny over.

"You are safe now," Danny whispered. As if those were the words she had been waiting for, Maleah relaxed in his arms. Danny smiled, "You're home."

Maddie shared a look with her husband and her daughter. They didn't understand Danny's words or his actions. They were all wondering, it was clear, how his words had such a profound effect on the young girl. Maddie watched as Leah started to pull away and met Danny's eyes.

Maddie had to wonder, what was Maleah afraid of and how did Danny know what she needed to hear?

Well, there you go! First chapter up and finished! Let me know what you thought! Leave a comment and favorite this story for updates!

~BlainexKurtxLovex