Looking back at me I see

That I never really got it right

I never stopped to think of you

I'm always wrapped up in

Things I cannot win

-Crossfade-

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"Freakshow!" Sam exclaimed her eyes burning angrily. "What are you doing here?"

Freakshow walked around and sat in the chairs in front of them. He looked much different, still pale and bald though. His eyes were actually a gray blue color, his red contacts were out. He wasn't wearing a black and red trench coat or his other goth apparel or the black gloves. He was still extremely pale. But he was dressed in a gray button down shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans.

He frowned as he stared at the angry family and friends of Danny. She shook his head at their hateful glares. "I'm glad I found you all here, I just had to say that I've wronged you all, and I'm so sorry." He spoke sadly in his accented voice.

Tucker and Jazz's mouths fell open their eyes were wide. Sam didn't buy it.

"You pushed me off a train, you made Danny get hit by a train, you made him try to kill me." She growled. "Go to hell."

"I know, I know." He sighed. "I was wrong, so very wrong." His eyes locked with Sam's fiery violet ones. "You didn't deserve any of that, and neither did Danny. None of you deserved what I put you through."

Maddie and Jack were actually confused, they remembered his Circus Gothica, but it seemed like there was another event that they weren't aware of concerning him.

"What do you want? You didn't just waltz in here to wish us well." Sam demanded, her voice was dripping with venom.

"Actually I did, after losing my Lydia, I've had a lot to think of."

"Wait, wasn't Lydia already dead?" Jazz asked quizzically.

Freakshow sighed. "Yes, I suppose I owe you an explanation." Freakshow took a deep breath and began.

"Vlad broke me out of prison a few months after the summer I was thrown back in. He promised world conquest and the destruction of Danny Phantom if I did him one task. That was to make a Reality Gauntlet for him. It was no easy task and it took many trips to the Ghost Zone courtesy of Vlad's portal. I collected gems and was able to recreate another similar Reality Gauntlet. When I presented it to him I explained that it would need a ghost's spectral being melded into it so that it would run on ghostly energy and work properly." The man stopped to recall the past his voice grew bitter.

"The backstabber turned around and grabbed Lydia and melded her into the gauntlet, I couldn't save her. Of course the joke was on him because she wasn't nearly powerful enough to help him in victory, which was why he was unable to enslave humanity and destroy Danny with the gauntlet. The gems were not powered by enough energy and were very weak, and probably still are. Although that's not a huge surprise seeing as how this was a recreation and not the exact same as the original Danny destroyed."

"So it was you, you were behind everything. I should've guessed." Sam exclaimed. "How could you?"

"I didn't. After he destroyed Lydia I immediately turned from him. I couldn't help him rule after he did that to her and to me. I took off and remained hidden in hopes I wouldn't be thrown back into jail. It wasn't until I found out that Danny was back from the grave that I decided to find you all to explain and apologize."

"What are your apologies worth to us?" Tucker asked coldly.

"Could be nothing." He shrugged. "But it's worth it to me."

"Freakshow, the gems..." Sam pursued. "You said they were powered by Lydia's ghostly energy. How much could one do? Like oh say, the gem of life." She leaned forward expectantly for an answer.

"Call me Frederick, but the gems without the gauntlet on their own are not very powerful at all. Not like you had seen during your travels. I don't know what you exactly you want though."

"How much life is it capable of generating?" Sam asked irritably.

"Not a lot, not enough for a human if that's what you mean."

"I see." Sam said quietly and leaned back in her chair

"So, Frederick." Maddie said. "You said you helped take a hand in all that happened. Why did you have something against our son?"

"It was foolish really." He replied folding his hands in his lap. "I was power mad, and I wanted the most powerful ghost in my control. I used a family staff that was really intended for using ghosts to entertain the masses. I misused it and forced ghosts to do my bidding, soon I had your son under my power. I made him do horrible things, and even made him tried to kill this wonderful girl here." He said gesturing to Sam.

"Why do you say Sam's wonderful?" Jack questioned narrowing his eyes, prepared to protect Sam.

"She was the only creature in existence to break the strong hold I held over the ghosts. For centuries nothing could except the holder of the staff. Her voice, her scream, it was able to break through my hypnosis and bring the ghost boy to his senses, just in time to save her and drop the staff and break it forever. It's incredible, although it left me mad, it still amazes me."

"So you've been working alongside ghosts by controlling them." Maddie mused. "Then who was Lydia, if your staff was broken then wouldn't that mean she wouldn't be under your control."

"She was my love. She followed me everywhere I went. She was never under my power. Even death couldn't tear her from my side. Only Vlad could." Frederick explained in confidence.

"I see. I'm sorry." Maddie said.

"It's fine." He shrugged and leaned forward.

"So you must know a lot about ghosts since you've been working with them your whole life." Jack remarked.

"Actually I don't know a thing. All I knew was that under the power of the family staff they were minions." He said. "I must go now, before I'm found. I'm trying to restart my life and I can't do that in jail. I hope you will accept my apology in time, Fenton's, Sam." He nodded towards them both before getting up to go.

"Should we stop him?" Tucker asked looking at Jack and Maddie.

"Let him go." Sam said finally. "I think he's being sincere. Otherwise he wouldn't have told us any of that. Besides he can't be much of a threat anymore, just a lonely broken man."

"So Sam." Tucker began quietly while elbowing her lightly as they had settled down. "Why did you want to know about the gems?"

"Curiosity." She shrugged as she tried to hear what Jazz was telling Jack and Maddie about the summer when they were fourteen.

"You're up to something." He stated knowingly. "What is it Sam?"

"Why am I always the one who's doing something?" She asked defensively.

"Because you are."

"You're wrong Tuck. Now be quiet so I can hear Jazz." Sam demanded.

"I'm watching you Sam." Tucker remarked as he settled back into his chair to get some relaxation as they continued their wait.

"You do that..." Sam muttered.

Gasp, I updated! And it didn't take seven years! Gasp!Well I guess that answers any questions about why Freakshow was back. How many of you thought he was going to cause chaos, show of hands. Don't worry Danny'll will be in the next chapter. Yes I do enjoy dragging this story out, I promise that it's really coming to a close, no joke.