Hopefully this has a distinct identity form all the other bonding stuff I've written.
I hope you enjoy, this was made with lots of attention and love.

The night was chilly when Madeline Fenton was walking home from patrolling the streets of Amity Park (mostly to keep an eye out for that Phantom menace, and the other trying to look for her son) that she stopped her stroll through the park to see the specter on her mind.

He was lying down, floating just a little over the grass, and looking at the stars. His face was stoic and his body was still.

And then his eyes watered and just as he went to wipe them Maddie spoke up.

"Phantom," she said, and Phantom sat up quickly and stood up mid air in alarm even faster. His eyes searched all over her for a weapon. Finding none, he relaxed. Drifted back onto the ground. The flicker of fear and what could possibly be pain or guilt if he weren't a ghost that definitely could not feel anything of that sort passed his eyes, but it was masked instantly by a casual smile and artificial confidence.

"Hey Maddie," he said, drifting along the air calmly. The air got colder. "What brings you here? Where's the gun?" To her surprise he seemed unafraid at all. Calm. Quiet.

It was mildly suspicious to her.

"There's no weapon, Phantom." She informed him. He shrugged.

"That's actually good. I don't like fighting you. Or d… your husband, Jack." He sat uncomfortably before having a sort of realization and patting the ground next to him. "Care to sit with me? Just for a while." He remained silent and the gears in his head were turning. "You mortals don't have as much time on your hands, so I understand if you can't stay for long-"

"Phantom."

"Maddie."

"You talk a lot. Shush it." And with that, she sat down next to him. The silence wrapped around them like a stuffy scarf. Phantom cleared his throat.

"What's your favorite constellation?" She gave the same answer she'd given her own son, Danny, many times when he'd asked various times.

"That one with the belt, O-"

"Orion!" The ghost seemed to withdraw into himself. "I, uh… I had my suspicions you were an Orion type. You just look like it." Maddie had no idea if that was an insult or a compliment.

"My son's favorite is the Little Dipper." Phantom nodded.

"That's my favorite, too." The silence filled the air again.

"What are you doing out here, Phantom?" Maddie finally asked. He stiffened. And then he shrugged.

"I just wanted to look at the stars." He took a deep breath, one that sounded much too necessary for a ghost, "I used to come here with my mom a lot when I was a kid." Maddie bit back the reflexive "you're still a child," knowing it would force her to admit she'd been hurting and planning to torture a mere child, and simply nodded.

"I used to come here with my son, too. He used to talk about-"

"Wanting to be an astronaut." Maddie tensed. Phantom seemed to have just processed what he said and hurried to correct himself. "It's what I told my mom, so I just assumed. I'm sorry." Maddie shook her head.

"It's alright I guess. I just… I guess I didn't realize how run of the mill our conversations were. They felt unique." Phantom looked guilty.

"I'm sure they were unique. I mean, many people say 'I love you' and that doesn't kill the word."

"That's very insightful of you, Phantom."

"Thank you, ma'am." But then he shuffled and the air felt heavy and Maddie forced herself to swallow her pride.

"What's bothering you, Phantom?" He squirmed.

"N-nothing-"

"I hope you realize lying to me is not that easy. I haven't fallen for your benevolent act, either." He sighed. Phantom's pristine white gloves went through his silver hair.

"I'll never get to be an astronaut now." The words died as suddenly as they came to life, and when Maddie turned to look at Phantom, he was looking away.

He made a strangled sob. And just like that he was crying. His tears glistened in the moonlight and Maddie recoiled. Her hand moved to comfort him and she stopped herself. This wasn't her kid. This was a ghostly menace. This was an innocent act. It had to be.

He continued crying.

"I'll never get to be with the stars," he cried out. "All I have is this… this, this hero thing that everyone thinks is a ruse and I just-" he ran his hands through his hair again like Danny did and Maddie's heart was hurting with the need to help Phantom.

Warm arms wrapped around his cold form and Phantom stopped his sobs for a second. He sniffled. And then he returned the hug and continued crying. He burrowed his head into the crook of her neck and kept crying.

Maddie didn't know how she recognized it, but from the way he was absorbing the hug and clutching onto her tight and crying as she muttered a few "shh," "it's okay to cry," "let it all out," "it's okay," and even one hesitant "I'm here," she could feel the way this had been bubbling over in his mind. A part of her suggested motherly instinct before shaking it off. This wasn't her kid. This was some... other… lady's… dead… kid. Oh no.

Maddie couldn't imagine losing her kid. Phantom muttered something reminiscing an apology and she reassured him. They held the hug for a while. Maddie's leg was starting to fall asleep, and Phantom seemed to just be falling asleep in general. As a ghost, there was no way he would need sleep, but maybe he was just pretending to need to breathe and sleep to act like one of the living.

"Thanks Mom," he mumbled before relaxing slightly. He still wasn't letting go. Her chest constricted painfully.

He thought she was his mom. Maybe she should let him have that just this once. Before he started trying to fool the town again. Before they'd have to fight. She found himself playing with his silver locks as he relaxed under the comforting touch. He felt touch starved to her, and she found herself wishing to hug him forever. Hug Danny, too.

Except this wasn't Danny. This was Phantom. Maddie sighed.

"Goodnight, Phantom…" she breathed out slowly. "Danny. Goodnight, Danny." Just this once.

"Goodnight Mom." She hummed and held him close as he drifted off to a light sleep.

It felt perfect to her, and she looked up at the stars again. Her gaze found Ursa Major and Ursa Minor and she smiled, remembering how Danny had pointed to the constellations once and said that the bears were them. And she relaxed, too.

Just this once. Only for a little while.

Feels kinda bittersweet and I want to do a second chapter but idk if anyone wants that.
Favorite and review if you'd like, I'd gladly publish a second chapter to tie it up a little neater if anyone wants that.
Love y'all and see you around.