N/A: I have had this sitting in my hard drive for about three months now. I was going to make it a full story but…I kinda lost the muse for it. If you want to adopt it, you can…just ask me first. K?

Ya'll are probably going to be really confused by the time this oneshot is over. I'll answer questions in the authors note at the end, K?

101 Oneshot Challenge:

3: Lost

I don't know what to do.

For over twenty years, I have always known exactly what to do next. Where I would live, what companies I should buy, my goals were always so clear. Kill jack, build my wealth, win over Maddie, and own the packers. They were tough goals, but goals nonetheless. I haven't actually been torn on an issue since I began striving towards those very goals all those years ago.

This boy, the son of my enemy and love, completely threw all those plans out the window.

My original plan was to have him as a human son, if that. He had merely been an easily fixed variable in my plans. A pathetic human child that belonged to the person I truly cared about. Sure, having a son would be a nice addition to my plans; assuming that they had worked and Maddie joined me. But to be honest, I hadn't cared that much whether he decided to stay with me or not. Imagine my surprise when I discovered he was half ghost like myself. The very fact changed my entire plan; changed everything I had been working toward for two decades. I knew from the moment that I saw the confused, young ghost transform into Danny Fenton in my mansion that I would have to recalculate.

Sure I'd been working towards Maddie for a long, long time, and I still wasn't willing to give her up. But you have to remember that I believed I was the only of my kind for over twenty years. The loneliness that comes with such a thought is almost unbearable!

So what else am I to do when I find out that there's another: a child in fact! Should I ignore him and pretend that I don't even know he exists? Of course not! I didn't care about what trouble it would cause my plans and me; I was not going to let such a child escape from my grasp. And I was not going to let him grow in the same way I had. I would not allow such a horrid existence such as mine to befall another.

So I reset everything I had been working toward for him, in an attempt to win him as my own son. He never saw what it was that I could offer him. He saw me as the villain. This infuriated me to no end. Why couldn't he see how I could help him? Why couldn't he understand that I was on his side? Why can't he understand that I gave up so much so that he wouldn't have to lead the same life I did?

Though despite my anger and frustration, I knew it was only natural that he refuse. I probably would have done the same in his situation. Then again, my relationship with my own father was very different from Daniel's with Jack. I am certainly no stranger to paternal loyalty; up until my father betrayed me, I would have done anything for him. But still… I wish Daniel could look past his blind ignorance and see how much better a father and teacher I could be. I never stopped trying to win him over.

Now, when he finally comes to me, I don't know what to do.

I had been in my lab in Wisconsin, working on an invention that had been the object of my fascination for a while now. It was an object originally inspired by one of Jack's own creations. One that he used on me in fact. The ghost gauntlets.

I had seen the genius in the concept, even if it had been created by Jack. I don't think he ever saw the full potential in something that can pull specters from humans, but I did. What kind of amazing potential was in store for such a power? I even suspected that it might be able to pull the ghostly core from a halfa's human body! Even if I never used them, they would no doubt inspire other inventions for years to come.

I had no doubt that they would be useful at some point, though when exactly I wasn't sure. Just a gut feeling I suppose. That morning, I had been working in the wiring within the gloves, welding some of the final touches in the wires and sealing some of the tendon-like skeletal structures that would allow movement when being used by the wearer. Without such structures, the inventions would allow no movement and act more as metal hand armor than gloves. Finally switching off the welding gun, I lifted the goggles from my eyes and wiped the sweat from my brow. A satisfied smile broke out on my face as I beheld the nearly finished gloves.

They resembled human hand anatomy, only bigger. The inside was hollow, making the gloves look almost like something a cyborg would have attached to his arms. The entire thing was silver with red highlights and pink ectoplasm. I still had plans to add an aluminum or steel 'skin' over the wiring and machinery, but otherwise, they were fully functional at last.

For over six months I have worked on these. And even though they still had a few things that needed to be sorted out, they were undoubtly impressive.

I didn't know what I planned to do with them, but at that moment, I didn't really care.

I lifted the gloves up to eyelevel, ejecting the long, spindly claws from the fingertips and observing every side of the devices. The possibilities are endless! I thought happily, easily getting caught up in my own excitement.

Just at that moment, a familiar hot feeling began to work its way outward from my chest. At first I barely noticed it, ignoring the feeling and attributing my ghost sense to Skulker or some other weak specter. But it didn't stop. The feeling got stronger, spreading out from what felt like my heart and running through my veins. It started warm, but soon became hotter until it almost felt as though my very blood were burning. The liquid fire traced outward from my chest and down my arms, making me cringe slightly in surprise and shudder with discomfort. I coughed twice, withholding the red, smoky vapor that I knew would be exiting my mouth and nose had I not been in control.

My emotions flipped like a switch, the reason for change inconceivable to anyone else. My excited and fascinated grin immediately fell into an irritated scowl, and I growled as I returned the gloves carefully to the table and flipped the white sheet over them angrily. Without warning, dark, smoky rings passed over me changing me to my ghostly alter ego. Whoever this is will be sorry he messed with Plasmius. I am not in the mood today. I thought angrily as I flew up through the lab ceiling. Most ghosts knew not to challenge me, especially not here in my own home. Whoever this was either a worthy opponent or they had a suicide wish… but judging by the strength of my ghost sense, I was a bit worried that it was the former.

I half sighed in relief, half snarled as the unfamiliar entities ghostly core came close enough for me to recognize. Daniel. I can handle Daniel.

He better not start anything. I thought angrily as I flew straight through room after meaningless room in my mansion, heading in the direction that my ghostly core was leading me. Then again, why else would he be here? I added on as an afterthought. The elusive pull of heat in my chest leading the way better than anything else could. I could tell by the strength of the pull that Daniel was somewhere on the grounds, possibly the football field or the nearby woods, so I headed in that basic direction. But I couldn't help but notice that his ghostly signature seemed…dulled, or weakened a bit. I was curious, but shrugged it off. Perhaps he was sick today, or maybe he had just returned from a ghost fight. Either way I didn't care. I would teach him to stay away from my home.

I sped out of the castle wall on the far left wing of the building, being nearly blinded by the sudden sunlight in my sensitive eyes. Judging by the sun, it was nearly noon, and I had been in the lab since early this morning.

Maybe being interrupted was a good thing… I thought wonderingly as I enjoyed the feel of fresh air on my face and body. I needed to get outside…but even so. That stubborn child is not going to try this again. Of this fact I was positive.

I finally spotted him flying low near the edge of the woods, or should I say, floating, as he wasn't going anywhere. In fact, he looked almost as if he were debating whether he should continue on to my castle. His ghostly form was pacing in midair, as if there were an invisible surface underneath his feet. He occasionally stole glances toward my castle, murmuring things to himself that I couldn't understand. He hadn't seen me yet, so I quickly turned invisible: a sadistic grin on my face. He had no idea what he was getting into, coming here to trespass. This would be fun. Well, maybe not for him…

As I've often said, impressions are everything…

And that's why I dove into the ground invisibly, only to shoot out directly in front of the floating teen, my voice cackling with laughter that could only be described as evil. The boy, not expecting this at all, let out a cry and flew backward a good ten feet; landing in the soft, freshly cut grass below. For a moment he could do nothing but stare blindly up at me, blinking slowly as he registered who I was.

"Hello Daniel." I said with a malicious grin that didn't show my hidden annoyance at his appearance. I hovered before him, arms crossed across my chest. Daniel looked up at me from where he had landed, not getting up and saying nothing. I cocked my head sideways, leering at him.

"Any particular reason you decided to trespass upon my castle? Wisconsin is quite far from Amity Park you know." I added. But still the boy said nothing to me. He looked away, pulling himself to his feet and brushing invisible dust off of his shoulder. He then muttered something incomprehensible, rubbing his arm nervously.

I looked him over suspiciously. Surely this couldn't be Daniel? The boy I know wouldn't hesitate to attack at the mere sight of me. This teenager…wouldn't even look at me. And what is he doing here at all? It just didn't make sense! I thought he had come to pick a fight over something or other that I had done. But he wasn't fighting now…so then what was his purpose for coming at all?

I floated down in front of him, still not touching the ground and keeping my arms crossed. I didn't let down my guard, still suspicious that he was going to attempt something against me.

"What? Ghost cat got your tongue? Looking for a fight?" I jeered at the boy, trying to provoke his confident nature out from this passive mask. I didn't understand this behavior! Cocky, aggressive behavior I understood, as it was the norm for him. This…I can't even begin to understand. This isn't the Daniel I know! My own emotions were clouding my jeering as I taunted him some more, trying to 'pull him out of his shell'

I cut off my attempts when Daniel abruptly looked up at me, for the first time meeting my eyes. When I saw what they held, my words froze on my tongue.

His eyes, normally so bright and full of light, were dull, dead. His expression was so full of sorrow that it hurt me to look at him. Even the ghostly green glow that had always remained in his green eyes was gone. I hadn't even noticed before, but his entire posture was slumped, defeated. He looked unharmed, maybe exhausted, but unhurt.

I could do nothing but stare in shock at this abrupt revelation of emotions.

"…Daniel?" I asked worriedly after a moment at seeing his state. He looked away.

"Knew I shouldn't have come…" He muttered darkly before abruptly spinning around and taking off back from where he came. I could do nothing for a moment but stare after his retreating figure, and then I came to my senses and took off after him.

"Daniel wait!" I called after his speeding form. But he didn't stop. Dare I say he sped up? Daniel had always been much more agile than I when it came to flight, and it didn't take long for him to outfly me. We both became black and white blurs, comets, with our spectral tails trailing behind. We flew past the grounds, reaching the edge of the woods. Daniel sped up even faster. Once he was over a hundred meters ahead I gave up and teleported directly in front of him with a swirl of pink mist. He hadn't been expecting it and crashed into my chest with a yelp. To prevent his escape, I pinned his forearms to his sides. He responded through thrashing wildly in an attempt to escape.

"Gah-Vlad!" He cried, trying to worm his way from my grip.

"Let-let go of me!"

"Not until you tell me why you came!"

"G-get away!"

"Daniel! What's wrong?" I demanded, shaking him quickly in an attempt to snap him out of his blind hysteria. If anything, he thrashed harder, his panicked gaze flickering around the area in a desperate plea for escape. He was so distressed he didn't even seem to remember that he could fight me off.

"N-no! Leave me-just leave me alone!" he cried out desperately, trying to pull away from my hands, his attempts getting more and more frantic and sloppy. He finally broke one of his arms from mine long enough to send a quick, powered uppercut to my jaw, sending me flying back with the force of a moving truck.

I managed to stop my tumbling after just one flip backward, as I was accustomed to such extremities during our battles. But even so, I was in the shock that could only be induced through being punched in the face. Once I had straightened myself in midair, I lifted two gloved fingers to my mouth, only to pull them away stained pink. For a moment I could only stare incredulously at my own ectoplasm in my hand, then look up at Daniel, who was floating ten feet away.

I wasn't as surprised that he'd gotten a hit on me, as I was that he had hit that hard. Even in our everyday battles he usually held some restraint when it came to physical power. Though it was obvious that this ambush had been a panic induced attempt at self-defense, not a planned attack.

Daniel stared back at me with an equally shocked expression, as if he himself was surprised that he had dared do it. He looked afraid of me: though it was probably a well-earned emotion all things considered. I wasn't angry though. I was much too concerned about the reasoning behind his panic than I was his actions.

"…Daniel?" I said tentatively, my cocky facade long gone; replaced by a somber expression. He didn't answer with words, but let out a choked sob, hiding his face behind his hands and turning away in midair. I couldn't see his face anymore, but I did see the glowing tears that slipped between his cupped fingers. And I could hear and see shaking sobs emerge from his throat.

At first I didn't understand what it was I was feeling, as I hadn't truly felt in in years. I didn't like seeing him like this. But why? He was so vulnerable, so open and broken...isn't that what I wanted? Didn't I want to break him? Didn't I want him to come running back to me?

I had always thought that if I had ever succeeded in breaking him I would be joyous, happy, even ecstatic. But this behavior...it didn't make me happy at all. It made me angry. Angry and sad. Only I am allowed to cause him such pain! After all, it's for his greater good, even when I beat him until he can't walk. It prepares him, keeps him on his toes, and wears down his resolve against joining me.

But this wasn't physical pain, this was emotional, something I am definitely no stranger toward. And for the first time in twenty years, I felt sympathy. It literally hurt deep in my chest for him. I wasn't entirely sure what was causing these feelings. After all, I have never before spared him a second glance after beating him into submission. But at that moment, I hated whatever had done this to my little badger. In these last two years I had learned that Daniel was strong, unbending. Not even I could break him: believe me, I've tried. So then what was it that had caused this?

I wanted to tear whatever or whoever it was to pieces.

So I just floated there, staring at the previously strong willed teenager that was breaking down in front of me, and trying to come to terms with my own emotions. I eventually decided to try to communicate, as maybe then I could figure out what was making me feel this way.

"Daniel please!" I begged, floating toward him slowly as not to startle him. "Tell me what is wrong! I can help you with whatever this is! Are your ghost powers acting up, or-" I broke off my pleading very suddenly, as Daniel had raced at me at full speed and wrapped his arms around my torso, eyes closed tightly as heaving sobs wracked his frame. I lifted my hands up and away from him in surprise, my eyes widening as I floated backward slightly. Daniel followed, arms still wrapped around me tightly; almost possessively, so desperate for comfort he didn't care that I was his enemy.

"They-they left m-me alone…" He cried into my chest, clutching my jumpsuit frantically in his fists. His face was hidden, probably his way of trying to retain some pride. Though right now, I hardly cared about his pride. Finally getting over my complete and utter surprise at his actions, I gave in to what felt natural and hesitantly hugged him back. He cried harder, clutching me closer.

"Daniel who? Who left you?" I asked, lifting his chin worriedly so I could see his tear streaked face. His shining green eyes sparkled with betrayal and sorrow, leaking tears that fell freely to the ground far below. His voice cracked as he answered.

"M-mom and d-dad. Didn't believe m-me. T-tried to shoot me down w-when I showed them. I tried to do good Vlad! Why can't they believe me? I'm a good kid!" his voice cracked several times in his speech, voice full of complete hopelessness. I didn't understand what exactly had happened to him, but I could tell that the last question was not entirely rhetorical. He needed an answer, even if it wasn't the one he wanted to hear. I gave in to what my heart was begging me to do and buried his face in my chest as I embraced him, rubbing soothing circles in his back.

"I don't know Daniel..." I said sadly, trying to put as much sympathy into that single phrase as I could. His tears stained the front of my jumpsuit, the soaked white material clenched in his pale fists. His actions contained a desperation that I didn't think was possible of him. He didn't speak for a few minutes, too caught up in his temporary comfort to talk. I held him close, murmuring empty reassurances in his ears and trying to give whatever comfort I could.

Eventually his tears stopped falling, though his shoulders still shook with dry sobs. He was determinedly not looking at me, probably out of shame in his weakness. But I didn't care. He could try to hide all he wanted, as long as he didn't break down like that again. I ran my fingers through his hair, looking at the white, soft locks. At some point we had drifted down to the grass below, his small form in my lap. For a while all was silent, and only the shaking of Daniels limbs gave evidence that he was still awake. I could've spoken long ago, but something seemed to hold me back. I just had a feeling that he needed to talk to me first. So I waited.

We sat together in the sun for almost half an hour, cool breeze shifting our glowing hair and causing my cape to billow behind me. Its times like these that I'm glad to live secluded in Wisconsin. I thought dreamily, watching the pine trees sway in the wind and produce the echoed rustling. The grass so soft, the trees so wide, and my son in my arms, for I saw him as such.

"...Vlad?" barely a whisper, throat hoarse. I looked down at his face, finally revealed from its place in my chest. He looked so...broken.

"Yes Daniel?" I asked slowly and comfortingly. He sighed softly.

"...I...I'm sorry..."

I held him closer, resting my chin on his head.

"Don't be, little badger." I replied. He closed his eyes, obviously exhausted from his flight to Wisconsin and his earlier emotional breakdown. I swept a lock of hair from his closed eyes, not entirely sure what to do. I only knew that we couldn't stay out here forever, and that he badly needed rest to recover. That meant going back to my mansion.

"...Daniel?" I called him softly. He opened his tired, broken green eyes to look up at me. Not speaking, but showing me he was listening.

"It's time we headed to my castle. You don't have to walk; I can carry you. Is that alright?" I asked him, my tone melancholy; as if I were half afraid he would refuse. He only stared up at me. And after a moment's hesitation, he nodded.

And so with him I rose into the air, careful not to stir the teen who was cradled against me like an infant. I drifted upward slowly, heading in the general direction of my castle. As I approached the mansion, my thoughts turned to the future.

Daniel can't go home. I won't let him if it causes him this amount of pain. No. He will stay with me until I can figure out what has happened to him. Perhaps...perhaps I may even be able to one day call him my son. Maybe this whole thing, whatever it is, will work to my advantage.

I looked down at Daniel, to see him looking up at me. His emerald eyes were dull, half lidded from exhaustion, and he was looking up at me as if I were his only comfort left. He was watching me without fear, as if he didn't care that I was his enemy. In fact, he looked more like he didn't care what I did with him. I knew in that moment, that I could kill him and he would be grateful.

I swallowed once as my planning thoughts shattered and my heart melted. Who am I to take advantage of this boys trust? He's putting his life in my hands. I hugged him closer as I flew on, lost in my own thoughts.

Dear God what am I going to do?

N/A: Hehe, cliffhanger…sorta.

Ok, so the story is Danny revealed his secret to his parents because they had him cornered and were going to knock him out and dissect him. When he did, they flipped out and started screaming about how a ghost could never be their son. The distraction allowed him to escape. Sam and Tuck were going out, and Danny, being distant from them lately, didn't go to stay with them. Jazz is in college, and so the only option left for him to stay with is…

Yeah. Didn't really think about what would happen past that. Thus, this is a oneshot.

So yeah. Go crazy on the reviews guys!