"So are we quite done here?" Vlad asked as he approached the teen's table once he noticed they were done with their ice creams. "Or were you three planning on buying all the television sets at the electronic store as well?"

Vlad scowled at the teens seem to debate about this seriously amongst themselves, but Vlad shook his head. "No. Daniel already gave me back the card so I'm taking that as a sign this trip is over. We're leaving and getting some food, before you kids see yet another thing you want to buy."

"Wait, this little 'bonding experience' isn't over yet?" Danny asked suspiciously, standing from the table. He looked around Vlad's feet and towards the other tables. "And where's all the stuff we already bought?"

"Back at my place already, waiting for you. So if you want it, then let's get going." Vlad ignored the glares directed at him as they followed him out the mall. It wasn't exactly like this was the first time he'd been the object of their anger.

…

Vlad pulled up outside his large home in Ultra Posh Pulter Heights, the richest neighborhood in Amity Park, naturally.

The teens got out of the car, Danny turning to face Vlad as the man closed the driver side door behind him. "So what's the deal? Gonna barbeque in the back and act like a big happy family?"

"If you want to play the mommy, then by all means," Vlad said off-handedly, making Danny grimaced in obvious creeped-out distaste. "Since you won't want to play the son, obviously."

"Obviously," Danny agreed. "I'd rather play the strong hero kicking the crazy villain's ass."

Vlad smirked at the challenge, wishing he could call the boy out on it and see if the ghost kid could put his money where his mouth was. But alas, rules were rules. No fighting allowed.

"I was more so planning on ordering food and letting you kids have some fun before taking you back home." Vlad smiled over his shoulder at them just before unlocking the door. "Just trying to show you I mean no harm, of course."

The teens all shared a look, a look that blatantly showed their disbelief, as though Vlad were trying to convince them that Santa really existed.

Vlad hesitated a moment as the key slipped into the lock. He took a breath and then released it, knowing he was doing something extremely foolish, but his hands were tied. He clicked the key to the right and swung the door open.

"Welcome to my esteemed estate, children. Please do make yourselves at home."

…

Vlad left the teens in the living room as he headed to the large kitchen. He knew leaving teens alone in a large house with all kinds of expensive things could be dangerous, but he figured the teens wouldn't break too much if he left them alone for a moment. Or at least they wouldn't break anything that couldn't be replaced.

He checked the cabinets and refrigerator to see if there was anything he could quickly make to satisfy his three young guests. Being a bachelor, albeit one with expensive taste, left him a little thin in the food department, especially knowing the "sophisticated" palettes of sixteen year olds.

Vlad sighed and pulled out his phone making a quick call yet again.

A few moments later, Vlad heard someone approach. "So how's it going, Uncy Vlad?"

Vlad snapped his cell phone shut just as Danny approached. Vlad flinched slightly at the nickname the boy decided to use. Vlad had wanted to be the boy's father, pinned after his mother, the boy referred to him as his uncle…and now apparently Vlad wanted to date the boy. Creepy was written all over this situation, so Vlad quickly shook it off and ignored the name.

"Just last minute dinner preparations," Vlad said with a casual air. Vlad paused, noticing the two were alone in the kitchen. He vaguely wondered where the boy's friends were but ignored it in favor of taking advantage of this rare opportunity.

The boy was cute, Vlad had to admit. He had never really looked at the boy in that way, but he was. Vlad wasn't loathe to admitting he'd looked at men before as he looked at woman, he was an open-minded man, so it didn't take a huge stretch of Vlad's imagination of appreciate the leanness Danny was developing under the baggy clothes, or the delicate sky blue shade of his expressive eyes that contrast nicely with the light skin and dark black hair. Hair that always seemed so careless, so boyish and wild, as though the kid was always moving, always running his hands through it. Vlad suddenly had an impulse to run his fingers through that hair, find out for himself whether it was soft or rough, thin or thick, muse it up himself, grip it and—

"Helloo, Earth to Vlad?" Danny asked with a weird expression on his face, waving his hand back and forth in front of Vlad.

The older halfa blinked and shook his head. "Sorry, I was just…thinking," Vlad said lamely.

Danny shook his head. He looked around the kitchen a moment and then commented, "You know, this is the second time I've been in this place. It's weird because both times I came in willingly and with you acting like you cared about me."

The words shocked Vlad slightly. The content alone was strange but also the way they were said, casually but still with a sting.

"The first time was when I had those weird weather powers, and you were trying to keep me happy," Danny said with a laugh. "That was your fault, by the way."

Vlad chuckled lightly, remembering the event with a shiver. That hadn't exactly been one of his shining moments. "Yes it was, and I apologize." Danny looked at Vlad, surprise clear in his eyes. Vlad was a bit surprised by his own words as well but more so surprised that they had been genuine.

Danny shrugged. "It's all part of the game right? You're the big bad villain who has evil plots, a sad backstory, a bitter temper, and puts me and innocent people in harm's way. I'm the hero, who forgives and forgets, who saves the day and always manages to foil your schemes at the end of the day." Danny crossed his arms and raised his chin smugly and Vlad couldn't help but laugh at the cute picture the teen made.

"Yes that does seem to be how things go between us, but I happen to remember a few fights where I came out on top," Vlad said with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. "Most of the fights in fact. I do have over twenty years of practice my boy."

"Yeah, but I'm catching up quickly," Danny said with a challenging grin. "You should start training more."

"You have been improving, greatly I might add," Vlad said, with a hint of pride in his voice. He smiled slightly, enjoying the more casual atmosphere between them at the moment. He liked the weird relationship he had with the boy, that allowed them to exchange banter back and forth sometimes without any real malice. His good feeling increased even more when he noticed Danny's eyes light up slightly at the praise he received.

"Really?" the boy asked, his voice suddenly devoid of any sarcasm or challenge, just mere curiosity and hope.

Vlad nodded with a smile. "Indeed. In fact, with some proper training, you'd be a real force to be reckoned with, Daniel, here and in the Ghost Zone. You know my offer still—"

"No," Danny said, raising a hand with a shake of his head. "I already told you, not going to happen."

"And why not?"

"You're the villain and I'm the hero, Vlad. That's how it is, how it's always been. We can't get along, or train together."

Vlad paused, a serious look on his face as he stared at the boy. "And what if I don't want to be the villain anymore Daniel?"

Danny shook his head with a smile. "You can't just stop Vlad. It's in your blood! Besides, you're too good at it. I have too much fun fighting you!"

Vlad couldn't help the smile that forced its way to his face. Fighting the boy truly was fun, a thrill to face a creature just like himself. The verbal battles with the boy were just as rewarding, so Vlad would have to satisfy himself with this from now on.

"I'm serious though, Daniel, as flattering as that comment was," Vlad said, looking at the boy before him. "I'm not fighting you anymore from now on. At all. I'm not going to be going after you're family or plotting anything. I have other things in mind…less nefarious things. Can't you give me a chance?"

"No," Danny said, his eyebrows lowering as he glared at the older man and Vlad could feel the light casual atmosphere turning cold again. "No I can't. Ever since I met you, you've been conniving and lying. When I first met you on the day of the reunion, you seemed like a nice guy. My dad was excited to see you, you had a cool house and you were really friendly. But then…I met the real you." Danny glared at Vlad. "I can't trust you."

"I'm sorry Daniel," Vlad said, his voice quiet. Things weren't getting better. He just wanted to say something…something that would make the boy understand he was trying for him! "I'll just keep trying."

Danny seemed to want to say something, to ask something but then stopped. He hopped up onto the counter, sitting and swinging his legs. He smiled mischievously and Vlad found he rather liked that smile. "You know Vlad, you never did give me that foot massage you promised."

"Hm?" Vlad mused with a confused blink. The boy's moods and thoughts were as unbalanced as always, going from light, to angry, to teasing in a matter of moments. Vlad seriously hoped the boy would grow out of his swinging hormones soon or he'd get a headache.

"From when you have to cater to my every whim during the weather incident," Danny said with a smirk. He kept swinging his feet. "I had really been looking forward to that."

Danny laughed, probably imaging the humiliating picture Vlad would make as he catered to the boy like a servant at the boy's feet. But Vlad had a different picture, of himself running his hands on the boy's heels and calves, massaging the tension and licking the instep of the small foot, eliciting moans from the teen due to the pleasurable ministrations.

Vlad smirked and stepped over to Danny, dropping to one knee and cradling one of Danny's red converse in his hand. The boy froze in shock.

"I could fix that now, if you like," Vlad asked with a raised eyebrow. "Just think of it as more kindness, so you'll finally believe I've switched sides."

Danny's eyes widened and he quickly shook his foot out of Vlad's grip. "N-no thanks!"

Vlad chuckled and stood, standing close before Danny, letting a hand rest on the counter by Danny's thigh. "Another time then," Vlad said quietly.

Danny's shocked and confusion expression was absolutely adorable. Vlad realized he had just found his new favorite way of teasing the boy.

"Hey, is he hassling you Danny?"

Vlad and Danny turned towards the doorway of the kitchen, where Sam and Tucker now stood. Vlad scowled.

"And where have you two been all this time?" Vlad asked, standing away from Danny to direct his gaze on the other two teens.

"Bathroom," Sam said.

"Needed to make a call," Tucker said, both their faces completely casual and blank.

"Mhmm," Vlad said dryly, his gaze going from the "innocent" teens to Danny who had been acting way too friendly and talking more than normal this whole time. He sighed. Getting played by teenagers. He really was getting old. "Well, no worries. Despite the fact that you two were snooping and Danny was the very successful bait," Vlad smirked at Danny briefly. "It doesn't matter because I'm sure you're little search proved fruitless."

He smiled expectantly at the two teens, who didn't say a word but looked slightly shaken that Vlad had discovered their little scheme. "As I said," Vlad began with a wave of his hand. "I'm not planning anything or doing anything evil, so I don't care if you want to flip my mansion upside-down trying to find something suspicious. Although I wouldn't appreciate the mess you'd make."

A delicate ring filled the house suddenly and Vlad excused himself from the room to answer the door.

That was quick, Vlad thought, slightly disappointed to be interrupted. They probably took one look at the address and figured if they came fast enough they would get a nice tip.

Vlad opened the door and as expected, there stood an eager young kid with uneven stubble and thick eyebrows holding his ordered food. "Hello Mr. Mayor! I must say, it's exciting delivering your pizza! Though I didn't realize you could eat this much all by yourself—"

"Yes, thank you," Vlad said tersely, taking the pizzas and handing the boy his money. The boy counted it, obviously disappointed that he had only been handed the expected amount.

"Uh…"

"Have a nice day!" Vlad said with a sickly sweet smile and slammed the door with his foot. He was only supposed to be nice to Daniel and his friends, not every teenager in Amity Park.

Vlad walked back to the kitchen where the friends were all standing together, probably discussing whatever things the two had managed to find in their snooping adventure through his house.

"Dinner is served!" Vlad said proudly, dropping the pizzas onto the kitchen island. "One Meat Lovers for young Mr. Foley, One Vegetarian for Ms. Samantha, and of course one Pepperoni and Pineapple for young Daniel." Vlad opened each pizza box as he announced them, the smell of cheese, sauce, bread and assorted toppings filling the kitchen, making the teens forget any plans and gaze at the food like starved wolves.

"I'm not going to question how you know our pizza preferences," Sam said as he grabbed a piece of her veggie pizza. "I'll just chalk it up to more stalking and classic Vlad-creepiness."

"I just pay attention," Vlad said with a tight smile. He turned to Danny who was already half done with one of his slices. "You don't mind if I take a slice from your pizza, do you my boy?"

"You like pepperoni and pineapple?" Danny asked around a mouthful of pizza.

"Back in college, when you're father and I were roommates and we were ordering pizza, this was what we'd get," Vlad explained as he grabbed a slice for himself. "I liked pepperoni originally and he liked pineapple. We would compromise and get both, and after a few times we grew a fondness for the both together."

"Ha, so that's why this is all he orders." Danny said after he swallowed, gazing down at the pizza after hearing its story. "I grew up with this stuff."

Vlad smiled at the boy for a moment before biting into his slice. The familiar taste brought up happy memories, tainted by bitter feelings, so Vlad could only stomach one slice.

After dinner, the teens all gathered in the living room to play with all their purchases which Vlad had had his vultures drop in this room. Vlad watched them from the corner of the couch, watching the kids as though it were Christmas.

Vlad suddenly got a strange warm feeling, as though this were a nice family gathering, but it brought up images of someone sitting beside him on the couch, leaning against him contently as they watched the kids…

He shook his head. It was strange. He watched Danny, and though the scene before him made him think he should feel as though he were fathering Danny and seeing him as a son, it didn't sit right with Vlad. After that dream this more and the light flirting that had (without Danny's clear understanding) taken place in the kitchen, it was slowly becoming easier for Vlad to see Danny as a potential love interest instead of a son.

"How do you start this thing up?" Danny complained, handling his new phone as he touched the screen and turned it this way and that.

Tucker glanced over as he sensed a tech problem. "You got the new Noria? I've never handled one before."

Recognizing the word, Vlad glanced over to see Danny handling a cell phone made by Mastersoft. "Daniel, come over here. I do own the company that makes those after all."

"Don't you mean stole the company," Sam muttered as she sorted through the new accessories she bought herself. Vlad scowled at her but looked to Danny as said boy scooted over to Vlad, sitting by the man's feet.

"Alright, so show me how to use it," Danny said. "The commercials made it seem cool, like I could use it to see the stars and plan for asteroid sightings and things." Vlad bent over, his chin almost resting on Danny's shoulder as he looked at the phone in Danny's hand.

"That's true, and you can also program the phone to alert you to different eclipses, NASA activities, and have your calendar follow the moon phases," Vlad exclaimed as he poked at the screen, setting up the device and programming the features he mentioned, showing Danny how it all worked.

"Thanks for the NASA posters by the way," Danny said quietly as he watched Vlad install some helpful apps. Vlad paused briefly but continued, his heart fluttering slightly as the quiet words. So Danny had at least kept some of the stuff from the gift baskets, as well as appreciated them. Vlad smiled, enjoying the thought and the current closeness of the boy.

"Dude it can do all that?" Tucker asked, who had scooted over just as Vlad finished up. The man sat up, nodding. "I didn't think you actually knew how to use the stuff. I figured you just sat at your desk filling out paperwork for the company."

"I run the company," Vlad clarified with a raised eyebrow. "I make sure I know what the scientists are working on, what's being sold, how and how everything works."

"So you could like, make a new computer that syncs up to the Game Station or a PDA that's shaped like a watch?" Tucker asked excitedly.

Vlad arched an eyebrow with an amused smile. "Yes, I suppose I could so long as the technology is there. I could also get you free passes into the company to see all the newest gadgets, as well as free prototype versions to keep before they are released on the market."

Tucker looked about ready to burst, his eyes wide and shining with happy tears. Danny laughed and nudged Vlad's knee. "Stop it, you're going to give the poor boy a heart attack."

"I bet that's his plan," Sam muttered, giving a dry glare toward the group of boys.

Danny gave Sam an exasperated look while Vlad glared at the young goth girl.

"Right, because it's part of my evil scheme to spoil you kids until you all die of joy," Vlad said with a sneer.

"It would be a better method than some of the other plans you've had like trying to burn me at the stake but you know, it'd still get the job done in the end," Sam bit back, glaring fully at Vlad without blinking an eye.

Vlad blinked in surprise and then smirked. "You know Samantha, I always admired that about you. Your spirit." Sam rolled her eyes. "You're only a human, and yet you never back down when it comes to something you care about."

"Duh, that's what love means," Sam said and then blinked and blushed lightly, sputtering as she glanced at Danny. "I mean…well I defend things I love like… I mean not love love, just love like a friend! But, well…"

Vlad laughed, enjoying the teen girl being frazzled instead of bitter. Teens were so easy to tease sometimes.

"I'm sorry about that whole witch thing, by the way. I got a bit caught up in the era it seemed," Vlad said lightly.

Before Sam could say anything, Vlad looked down to Danny who mumbled, "This is the most I've heard you apologize…ever." Danny wasn't looking at Vlad when he said it, seeming to be talking to himself more than anything as he toyed around with the phone in his hands, his knees pulled up to his chest.

Vlad gazed down at the young boy, hoping this would be the start on the right path. He leaned down towards Danny's ear. "And I mean every word."

Danny jumped slightly, obviously not having expected Vlad to have heard him. His eyes widened but he shook his head and glared at Vlad. "Yeah sure." He stood and his friends followed. "It's getting late, Vlad. We need to head home."

Vlad looked up at the boy before him, wondering why the boy had evaded so quickly instead of arguing more like normal. "Sure thing, my boy. Let me just grab the keys and I'll drive you all home." Vlad couldn't resist reaching out and ruffling the boy's hair as he passed, his fingers lingering a second longer than they should have in the soft, thick locks.

As Vlad exited the room, he paused when he heard whispers. He focused his hyper-sensitive hearing on the conversation, curiosity getting the better.

"What do you mean?" Vlad heard Danny say to something he had missed.

"You and Tucker acting all buddy-buddy with Plasmius! Come on Danny, you're falling straight into his trap!"

"Oh come on Sam, we were not. And besides, there's no harm," Danny said casually and Vlad perked up a little. "Vlad's not doing anything right now—"

"He's always doing something!"

Vlad sighed hotly, glaring into the empty hall before him. That girl! Would she forever be a thorn in Vlad's side! The nerd was easy enough to win over and thankfully due to the mutual gender aspect, Danny sometimes leaned towards Tucker's line of thinking. But the girl was tougher. She was thick-headed and smart, acting as the mother hen, as the moral compass of the group, and Vlad knew Danny had a soft spot for her.

"Yeah, you think I don't know that. I just mean, there's no immediate threat. He's obviously trying to pull something, I'm not going to suddenly start hanging out with him and sharing cooking recipes. I just mean there's no danger in just having some fun. He's paying for all this."

"Yeah Sam, Danny's right. He's buying and he's not attacking. Whenever he finally reveals his plans, Danny will take him down like usual."

"God, you guys can be so thick sometimes! This is Vlad we're talking about, the guy who makes Danny's life a living hell every chance he gets!"

"I know, Sam. You're right, I'll be more alert."

"Thank you."

Vlad ground his teeth together, the anger in him boiling wildly in his chest. She's ruining everything! Vlad had been so close! The boy and he had…well not connected per say but had at least managed some decent conversations today without spitting fire at one another.

Vlad turned, intending to go out there and tell the girl off, or kick her out of the house, when a chill run up Vlad's spine and a whispered voice said, "Don't do it, Vlad."

Vlad turned, noticing a familiar ghostly glow around the hallway mirror. He sighed and walked over to it. "That girl," Vlad began, pointing towards the living room. "Is going to be my main obstacle, isn't she?"

"In a sense," the guardian spirit agreed passively. "But if you go in there with the anger you're feeling now, you're going to ruin everything. You've made progress Vlad Masters, significant progress." Vlad thought he heard a hint of surprise in the ghost's quiet voice, as though she were impressed, especially since Vlad had basically failed and skipped the second step to this whole thing.

Vlad smirked, preening at the thought of progress towards his goal.

"The boy is noticing your behavior and realizing you're not a threat. He's picking up on the way you act, the things you say, and more importantly, how you're treating his friends. This is good, Vlad Masters."

"Excellent," Vlad said, grabbing the keys off the table under the mirror. He smirked at those cold solid blue eyes. Maybe things were looking up after all. "Just a little more playing nice, kissing up to his friends and family, and the boy will be all mine!"

So sorry for the late update but here's a longish chapter finally! If I don't update again within the next few days, Merry Christmas and Happy holidays to all! Hope you have a fabulous week!

Comment, Favorite, follow, you know, all the stuff that makes us authors smile :)It would be a great Christmas gift for me ;)