Notes: This is one of those oneshots I've had in my head for a while, now. A bit weird, I think, but I figured I'd still post, haha. Directly referred to by Maddie in chapter six.

Mistletoe

It was the first Christmas Danny had spent at Fenton Works since he was seventeen, and the fourth one avoiding the Truce Party. Dan had unfortunately found out about the party, however, when he was talking to Skulker, the metallic ghost ridden with the Christmas cheer that usually hit ghosts this time of year. Needless to say, the four year old was quite upset that his parents refused to attend, so Danny had suggested a Christmas Eve party at his parents' house, knowing that the boy's grandparents had a knack for cheering him up.

Naturally, his sister had come, as had Tucker and Sam. Though Danny was now regretting the fact that anyone had come, or that he hadn't had the common sense to stay home and avoid all human contact. But he was especially regretting having let his mom serve Vlad more eggnog after he'd started cheerfully talking about the eighties with Jack. He'd told her it was a warning sign, but as always, nobody listened to Danny Fenton.

"Daniel, since the moment I saw you under that starlit sky on the rooftop, carrying our child and glowing oh-so-brightly, I knew I was in love with you. It doesn't matter what the circumstances might be, whether a ghostly influence or not, but you are my other half whether we agree or not. Since the moment I met you, I knew you were special – in whatever way that might have been, you are the only one who can possibly understand me and vice versa."

Danny was wide-eyed with incredulity. He obviously knew about Vlad's feelings, since the billionaire had made them clear - incessantly so, as often as he could, whenever the two accidentally found themselves alone. But it was a completely different thing to do it in front of his family! In front of his friends! In front of everyone!

"Those eyes of yours, whether brilliant sapphires, alluring rubies, or enchanting emeralds, are so precious they make one easily lose themselves in their depths. You are the lost Atlantis that a life-long quest digs up, disbelief painting the very discovery but nothing minimizing its beauty and wonder. Without a doubt, you are my soul, your existence making sure mine has worth. Just ask, Daniel, and I will buy you every single star in space, though not a single one would compare to you."

He thought he saw his mom cover her mouth out of the corner of his eyes, her eyes shining with wide-eyed, shocked emotion at hearing Vlad speak about Danny like he'd never even spoken about her.

Mom! It's your son that your fifty year old college frenemy's telling these things to! Dan, don't smile! Just tell your father to shut up! Tucker, stop laughing! Jazz – Jazz, not you too! What part of this is funny? Sam – yes, Sam, just punch him! DO SOMETHING! NO! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

Despite the erratic thoughts which never did quite make it to his vocal chords, he couldn't block out everything that Vlad was saying, well-rehearsed out of some sappy romance novel or something so it would be moving to his parents and seem non-threatening to everyone else.

"I know I'm not alone in feeling this way. After all, your eyes wouldn't be glowing so radiantly if that weren't the case. We are meant for each other, Daniel, literal soulmates, as our beautiful child is testament to. Please, this Christmas, will you not simply accept the wonderful destiny that life has carved out for us and build a lifetime with me?"

Danny couldn't honestly say he'd expected this, though in retrospect he knew he should have. He wanted to threaten the guy as he revealed their official soulmate status to the room. His parents would certainly be convinced now, at least. He wanted to blast him or insult him or just do something, but he was frozen on the spot. And Vlad knew it well, judging from the wolfish grin he currently wore. He could hear his dad whispering something to his mom behind him as well as his son giggling. He could feel his friend's gazes burning through him as well as his eyes glowing red more intensely than he'd ever felt them do so before.

At that point, Danny's brain was officially shut down (that and he wasn't exactly all that sober himself), a glazed look in his eyes as he struggled to catch up with the events. Consequently, when Vlad looked up at the ceiling, he could do nothing but stare at the spot as well, barely registering the mistletoe that hung there. Vlad then grabbed him by the waist and, after donning a triumphant grin, captured Danny's lips with his in a paradoxically soft yet passionate kiss. Danny was as good as gone the second Vlad turned on his mating charms to their fullest, and the younger hybrid simply melted against the billionaire.

His arms wrapped themselves around the man's neck against his will as the part of his brain that was usually in control – the non-hormonal, non-ghost part – was turned to mush by the exquisite scent of spearmint, incense, and the ocean that Vlad was giving off in tidal waves.

Danny hated every second that passed as he beat the jubilant little red-eyed Danny Phantom in his head in an attempt to release himself from this trap. He hated the fact that this was the most incredible kiss he'd ever had, the most pleasurable sensation on par with his pregnancy. He hated that it was all forcefully thrust upon him in a most unfair and humiliating manner.

Vlad had cheated.

He'd made that single move past what had become somewhat acceptable to Danny. The stubborn and determined part of Danny, the dominant part, was blind with rage. However, that tiny little impulsive and obsessive part of him that was ruled by his ghost side was relieved – ecstatic, even.

In his current bliss, however, Danny couldn't help but illogically think that if he kept this up just a second longer, he'd be able to hold on for a very long time afterwards. Hold on to what? He wasn't quite sure.

He didn't hear the footsteps behind him, but he heard the gasp that followed them. Suddenly, that was all it took for some sense of sensibility to make it past his haze, and the second it did it, the situation he was in hit him full-force.

He wasn't aware of having acted, but he was aware that it had been him who'd just grabbed Vlad by the shoulders and tossed him across the room with all the brute strength his ghost half could afford him. In his shock, he'd done the first that came to mind, which had apparently involved shot-putting Vlad into the wall and creating a new entrance between the living room and the kitchen.

That effectively broke any spell which had come over everyone gathered. His parents were suddenly scolding him, Sam was yelling at him with a crestfallen expression, Tucker was stuttering over questions, Jazz was going on about repressed attraction, and Dan was laughing gleefully after seeing his mom throw his dad like he had. Danny winced at the reactions, excusing himself before going over to Vlad.

Danny's face was burning as he begrudgingly helped the man up. Vlad shot him an angry look that threatened certain bodily harm, but Danny turned the tables right around. He grabbed the billionaire by the neck of his winter sweater and leaned in close to him.

"You touch me again and I'll tell Mom and Dad everything. They'll make sure you don't have to be near Dan ever again. Mom's still willing to find a way if you get to be too much, you know," he hissed into Vlad's ear, and the billionaire had to struggle to catch the words from how silently they had been said.

The younger hybrid's neon green eyes left no room for witty banter.

"Daniel, relax! I was only being honest," Vlad said in a placating manner.

"I think you knew perfectly well that I didn't want you being 'honest' in front of my family and friends, Vlad!" he hissed.

Vlad's raised an eyebrow. "You didn't seem to be arguing much through our kiss, little badger."

"You tricked me!"

"I did not. You could have just as easily pushed me away. You're not attracted to me, after all, are you?" Vlad said patronizingly.

Danny was quiet, glaring heatedly at the man. "I'm going to tell them," he finally whispered, and Vlad's eyes widened.

"Daniel!"

But the half-ghost didn't listen, standing up and heading determinedly towards his parents, both of whom were currently speaking in hushed voices. Danny had a good idea what they were talking about, and it made him even more determined to make Vlad pay. Before he could make it, however, he was grabbed by the arm in an iron grip.

"Sorry about that! Don't know what came over me. Who wants more eggnog?" Vlad said rather quickly, disappearing into the kitchen and dragging Danny with him. Once they were a safe distance away from the speculative conversation going on in the living room, he turned to Danny.

"Fine. No more bold advances."

"No more advances period."

Vlad raised an eyebrow, not intimidated by the raven-haired man's angry red eyes or extended claws. "You forget, little badger, that I still have leverage on you."

"What leverage?" Danny scoffed, but faltered when he saw the billionaire's smirk.

"The same leverage I've had since day one, of course."

"The one which doesn't exist anymore, you mean. My parents already know everything, Vlad."

"But the world doesn't."

Danny's eyes narrowed. "That's the stupidest bluff I've ever heard from you. You're not that big of an idiot."

"You forget how much things have changed, Daniel. I've got plenty of power in the Ghost Zone, and as long as I've still got you and Dan, I've already won."

Danny opened his mouth to retort, but a small voice caught both their attentions.

"Mommy?"

Danny backed away from where he'd been staring down the other man, his glare melting away. "Yeah, sweetheart?"

"I'm sleepy," the boy mumbled.

Vlad and Danny looked at each other, both deflating rather quickly.

"Do you want to sleep here or go home, Dan? You know Santa will come either way, right?" Danny said.

"Santa's not real, Mom." Danny frowned, and Vlad couldn't help but chuckle. "Are you and Daddy gonna sleep here, too?"

Danny swallowed at the look his sleepy son gave him. He now fully understood how his parents so easily caved in to simple puppy-dog eyes when he was a kid. "If... if that's what you want."

The child nodded vigorously, turning into his ghost form and flying towards his mother, cuddling into his arms. The two parents gave matching smiles, though without looking at each other.

"Alrighty, then. Let's tuck you in upstairs, 'kay?"

"'Kay. Night, Daddy."

Vlad patted the boy's head, smiling down at him. "Goodnight, lapushka."

Moments later, Danny was grateful to be away from everyone as he tucked Dan into his old bed. He'd decided to turn in as well, and was already in his pajamas as he ran his fingers through the boy's wavy black hair next to him. He was trying to explain to his son what had happened earlier... and failing miserably.

"Dan... What happened earlier... I mean, your dad was... It doesn't mean... It was an -"

"Does this mean we're gonna live with Daddy?"

Danny sighed. "No, Dan. We're not going to live with your dad."

"Oh..."

The man rubbed the back of his neck, looking anywhere but at Dan. That tone of voice was absolutely heartbreaking. The kid put him in such awkward situations, sometimes!

"Look, Dan..."

He trailed off when he saw the boy was already fast asleep. Shaking his head dejectedly, Danny let his head hit the pillows, staring up at the glow-in-the-dark stars on his ceiling. He knew he had the power to make things so much simpler. It would be as easy as finally giving into the impulses that had been manifesting themselves over the years. If only making things simpler wasn't so complicated.

Because giving into those instincts would involve giving in to the most primitive aspects of his ghost half. It wasn't actually him who wanted all this, but rather Danny Phantom. He wasn't stupid, he did realize that some things were rather obvious; Phantom wanted Vlad, and that was that. But Danny most certainly didn't. It wasn't fair, he thought sullenly, to have to constantly keep up this battle. But he couldn't just let his ghost side win. He didn't seem very adept at handling that half when it was so strong, after all. Because no matter what he told himself, no matter that he was a twenty-two year old man, he was still afraid of so much. Afraid of not being strong enough, both for himself and for his loved ones.

As he finally drifted off to sleep, Danny wondered why the Christmas season was always so unpleasant.