"Look, its Santa Claus! With his white hair and beard, and giant bag full of rich goodies!"
Vlad looked up and rolled his eyes as Danny floated down towards him, laughing. Vlad had just pulled up outside the Fenton House, hauling a large sack of "goodies" for the holidays. Danny must have been on the roof, for he now floated down in his ghost form, landing lightly on the front stoop as Vlad ascended the stairs.
"Enjoying your new found freedom with the powers?" Vlad asked, tilting his head towards the front door, referring to the fact that Danny no longer had to be so cautious in his ghost form around home anymore.
Danny smile faltered slightly. "Yeah it's been good."
Vlad noticed the turned down expression and put his bag down. "What's wrong, Daniel?
"Nothing just…" Danny glanced behind him at the front door, where muffled shouts could be heard. "The usual."
Vlad stepped over to the door, going intangible and sticking his head through the door. Maddie and Jack stood in the living room, their faces fierce and their voices raised at an alarming volume. Vlad had never seen the loving couple argue like this before. This was the usual? Maybe Vlad's chances with Maddie hadn't been as dismal as he'd initially thought.
Vlad pulled out and grabbed his bags, fazing them silently into the house and setting them down. He then grabbed Danny and floated them up to the roof.
"They get like this a lot, then," Vlad began, almost like a question but already knowing he was correct.
Danny shrugged, not bothering to look at Vlad. "They're good the whole year. I mean a few fights here and there, its normal. But the holidays are normally a time when families get together, and spend time with each other. You know, jolly and merry and all that crap." Danny sighed.
White rings circled his waist and turned him back into Danny Fenton. He sat down, leaning his elbows on the roofs short ledge and resting his chin on his forearms, an annoyed glare in his blue eyes. "But no. Not the Fentons. They decide that they'd rather spend the holidays ignoring their kids more than usual and fighting about the stupidest things. It's like all their pent up anger just explodes on Christmas, for whatever reason. They fight about ideas, and view points, and issues, where to put the tree, and what Christmas movie they should watch first and everything! It got better for a bit a few years ago, and some Christmas' they just kind of ignore with each other. I'm just so tired of it!"
Vlad listened silently as the boy ranted, knowing Danny needed to speak his feelings, uninterrupted. But once the boy was done, Vlad sat by him, putting a hand in his black hair to soothe the steaming teen.
"Have you ever talked to them about this?" Vlad asked.
"Yeah, but they don't listen," Danny mumbled, head still leaning against his arms as Vlad's fingers gently ran through his hair. The boy's shoulders seemed less tense. "I'm sixteen. They never listen to me about anything."
"But now that they know you're secret, that you're not just some teenager but a maturing young man, they should pay more attention to your issues. You just need to talk with them," Vlad explained patiently.
Danny sighed. Vlad looked at the boy, realizing how young he really was. Danny was afraid to talk to his parents about a lot of things, already fearing they wouldn't understand or accept something. Vlad had been on his own and independent for so long, he sometimes forgot what it was like to live with one's parents.
"I know it seems hard now, Daniel. When they get like this. But in a few years, you'll be out of the house and on your own. And when you come home for the holidays, they will be so ecstatic to see you again that they won't even remember to fight."
"Pfft, Jaz is back from school for the first time. They gushed and asked her questions and helped her unpack but then suddenly exploded again and now look at them!" Danny argued.
Vlad didn't say anything for a while, the chilly December air nipping at his nose and tosseling Danny's messy hair. A particularly bitter wind blew, Vlad's hair wiping back and Danny bringing his shoulders up a bit to block the wind from the back of his neck.
Vlad unwound the scarf from his own neck. He tapped Danny's shoulder and when the boy looked up in curiosity, Vlad tied it securely around the boy's bare neck. "I know what you're dealing with, Daniel." Vlad's voice was quiet, and as the wind settled and Danny's hair stopped blowing, black bangs fell over wide blue eyes. "My family life wasn't ideal either. Most holidays were pretty plain, but I remember one year in particular…" Vlad paused, his navy eyes darkening at the memory. "We were a poor country family. Few gifts on Christmas. I was seven, and I was opening my gift. It was a parka from Russia that my grandmother had sent for me. My mother had spent the money my father had given her to get me nice Church suit to get the package and have it wrapped."
Vlad paused a moment, and Danny didn't say a word, ensnared in the tale. "My father wasn't…overly fond of my mother's background. She had been a Russian immigrant, barely spoke English. He didn't like her speaking Russian to me. He wanted her to become American."
"You were born in the 60's right?" Danny asked quietly. "The Cold war?"
Vlad looked to the boy beside him, cheeks and nose pink from the cold, Vlad's red scarf secure around his neck. Vlad smiled. "That's right, my boy. I'm impressed. Seems you have been paying attention in class."
Danny shrugged off the tease, smiling at the initial praise. "History is more interesting than math."
Vlad smirked. "Yes well, World War II, as well as the growing tension between Russia and America is what caused my mother to come to America. And I guess in a way it spawned my father's hate of the culture. He was very focused on a…perfect family, I suppose."
"That sounds familiar," Danny muttered. "I remember this loopy guy I once knew, tried to clone me and steal my mom so he could create this "perfect family" he envisioned himself having." Danny shot Vlad a smirk.
Vlad chuckled, raising a silver eyebrow. "Oh? And what happened to this loopy man you once knew?"
Danny shrugged. "He moved on I think. Finally woke up and tried being a normal human being." Danny smiled at Vlad. "I like him better now."
"That's probably because he realized turning you into the perfect son wasn't the correct course of action to take," Vlad smirked, leaning close.
Danny blushed slightly and moved his face away, scratching at his head awkwardly. "So uh…what happened?"
"Hm?" Vlad said, casually moving to sit beside Danny.
"When your dad saw the parka."
"Oh," Vlad said, his teasing mood fading. "He took it and threw it into the fire place."
"What?" Danny exclaimed, his head whipping to the side to look at Vlad in shock. "Damn, are you serious?"
Vlad nodded. "My mother pulled it out of the fire with her bare hands and patted it down but it was ruined. She held it and sat there all Christmas, crying. My father took me out. I was so young, I didn't understand really at the time." Vlad remained quiet after his story, looking out over the roofs of houses, the streets below to Amity Park, a city so different from the Wisconsin cities and towns he'd grown up in.
"That's…awful," Danny eventually said. "I can't believe that happened."
"It was like that a lot," Vlad said. "I don't tell you this so you'll feel bad though, Daniel. I don't say all this for sympathy. I merely tell you, so you understand that I know what you're going through." Vlad put his hand on Danny's shoulder, encouraging the boy to look him in the eye. "I know it's hard sometimes when you feel like no one understands you, or listens to you. I just want you to realize Daniel, that I'm here for you, for anything. Advice, to vent, a safe home, company, anything. I've lived a while, I can help you. We're more alike than you may care to admit. Take comfort in that."
Danny blinked and smile. "Thanks."
The boy's smile made Vlad's heart race. He wanted to stay up here with the boy for a bit longer, talking some more, but a loud knock from below interrupted.
Danny and Vlad leaned over the edge of the roof to see Sam Manson standing before the Fenton's front door.
"Sam's here," Danny said with a smile.
Vlad blinked. "Why?" he asked, unable to keep the irritation from his voice. "Shouldn't she be spending the holidays with her overly pompous parents?"
"You'd know overly pompous, rich boy," Danny said with a laugh, oblivious to the tone of the older halfa. "I invited her. Sam celebrates Hanukkah, and it came before the 25th this year. I thought it'd be cool to have her over for Christmas."
"Right. Super cool," Vlad muttered, as Danny jumped from the roof and transformed into Phantom mid-fall, landing lightly behind the Goth teen. Vlad scowled as he watched them hug and laugh. They were so close with each other.
Vlad teleported down to the front door. "Shall we then, children?" he asked, opening the door to the Fenton's home.
"What are you doing here?" Sam asked, standing on the outside step as Danny entered his home.
"Daniel invited me," Vlad said with a smirk, entering the house after Danny and putting a hand on the boy's lower back, guiding him away from the Goth and into the house. "Jack, Maddie." Vlad cooed loudly enough for the couple to hear. When the two hunters stopped fighting mid-sentence to see their son and their newly arrived guest, excited faces replaced the angry scowls. "Happy Holidays."
"Vladdie!" Jack exclaimed and Vlad felt Danny give a sigh of relief to see his parents finally stop fighting. He probably knew that now that guests were here, especially one of the guests being his dad's best friend, the fighting was probably done for good. Vlad couldn't help but feel a tingle of pride, knowing he could help his young Daniel's spirits go up for Christmas.
Danny pulled away from Vlad's touch as Jack came over, blushing slightly but transforming back into his human form to help Sam out of her coat. Vlad watched them silently, ignoring Jack until Maddie also came over. "Vlad, why don't you bring your things upstairs to the guest room?"
"Oh yes," Vlad said going to the front door where he had put all this things for the weekend. He picked up his large sack of gifts for the family and carried them to the Christmas tree in the corner. Vlad noticed Danny showing Sam some of the ornaments adorning the family tree.
"I made this one when I was five, in arts class," Danny explained with a smile. Vlad glanced up, saw Danny's fingers lightly touching the ceramic rocket ship, crudely colored, still shining as though freshly painted.
Sam touched it, looking at the bottom. "This is too cute. You even put your name on the bottom, with a backwards Y and everything." The girl laughed and Danny laughed with her. Vlad wanted to hit something.
The man stood, leaning towards the teens. "Finding it interesting, Samantha, the cultures and celebrations that the normal people of society partake in. I mean, you're into that whole "teen rebellion" thing right, where you reject even the tiniest hint of conformity or normality, parading around in black and preaching about animals rights, and what not?"
Sam glared at Vlad, Danny joining her. "Hey, back off Vlad. Sam's Jewish, of course she's not going to celebrate Christmas. That's got nothing to do with her personality though."
"I just don't like following the mindless sheep of America's youth these days," Sam said self-righteously, crossing her arms and sticking her nose up as she stared down Vlad. The pompous air of someone raised in money. Vlad knew the look well; he had to perfect it himself years ago, in order to grow in the industries he's involved with. "But I proudly celebrate my culture, as well as the cultures of others. Open-mindedness is what's going to bring the world together. Not that someone like you would know."
"Hey Sam—" Danny tried to cut in, but neither she nor Vlad were listening anymore.
"Oh, as though you know so much about me," Vlad sneered down at the girl.
"I know the kind of person you are. Someone who steps on others to get what he wants, who uses money and power to gain control. And when you can't have that control, you take it by force. You talk nice, but you're part of the problem with this world, relying on money and bullying to get what you want."
"While spoiled brats like you act so targeted," Vlad argued. "Like the whole world is stupid and against you, as though you're the only logical being because you wear combat boots instead of high heels, and act like a boy instead of curling your hair. You think just because you don't eat meat or wear pink that you're better than all the other girls in school. I'll tell you right now that the only thing special about you is the fact that your friends with Danny Phantom. He and I are special, not you."
"You both may share that in common but at least I'm friends with him! You just want to use him! You're jealous of his friends and family, you're angry at the world for not giving you everything you want so you act all high and mighty, like some big shot because you've got billions of dollars and all these ghost powers! But that's all you'll ever have because I know all this is an act and sooner or later you're going to mess up and Danny's not going to give you a second chance again!"
Vlad's eyes flashed red and he stepped forward but Danny shoved himself between them.
"Guys, stop it!" he stage whispered, glancing over to his parents who were in the kitchen preparing the table. Danny looked to them both. "What the heck you guys? Why are you suddenly at each other's throats?"
"Uh, hello? He's Vlad Plasmius, evil villain extraordinaire?" Sam said like Danny was missing the big picture. "I know you said he saved your life or whatever but that doesn't mean his personality has changed at all."
"I'm giving him a chance, Sam," Danny said firmly and Vlad couldn't resist a childish smirk. He wanted so badly to stick his tongue out but he didn't dare stoop that low. "But," Danny then looked to Vlad pointedly. "Only if you show me you deserve it. If you're going to show me you've changed, you have to be polite to my friends too, Vlad."
Vlad flinched inwardly, already reminding himself of the guardian spirit's lessons. Step three…be nice to the friends…right right. Vlad scowled, realizing once he'd passed a step, it wasn't like the step was over. Each step was a lesson, was a change Vlad had to go through. He had to keep them, continue them all. Always be kind, and forgiving, and try with Daniel's friends. These things wouldn't end.
Vlad sighed, sucking up his pride just enough to say, "I apologize Daniel. It's the holidays, we should all be trying to get along."
"Thank you," Danny said after a moment, glancing to his parents again. "They're finally acting civil right now, I don't need you two fighting instead." Vlad looked away, ashamed. He didn't want to cause Danny any more trouble on Christmas. Vlad stepped back, not saying another a word. He turned and headed to the door, grabbing his overnight back and heading upstairs to the guest room next to Danny's.
He set his bag down on the bed.
"Don't lost focus, Vlad Masters." Vlad sighed, rubbing his face tiredly.
"I'm not," he said, walking over to the window. "I'm just tired of competing with people."
"Don't let yourself slip back into old habits," the guardian spirit continued on. "You mustn't."
"I won't. I'm not, I just—" Vlad shook his head and turned away from the faint image of the mirror spirit.
"I warned you this girl would be an obstacle," she said. "She's close to the boy. They've been friends for a very long time. She knows things about him that you don't. She has his trust, his affections. You must gain all that and more, while still being kind to her."
"You ask too much of me," Vlad muttered in irritation, sitting on the end of the bed. He shook his head. "I'm a businessman. I'm not exactly a kindly saint. I can't just ignore her snide remarks, her self-righteous air. Ugh, she's the kind of teenager I hate the most!"
"That's because she reminds you of yourself."
Vlad barked out a laugh. "Ha! I didn't realize you could be funny, mirror spirit. I only thought you were good for decent advice and nagging skills to rival an old house wife."
"She's determined, stubborn, strong-willed and not easily cowed. She's not afraid. In these ways you two are alike, and that is why you're personalities clash so much."
"That and the obvious reason that we're both interested in the same half-ghost boy, but you know, that's just a minor detail," Vlad snarked quietly, standing up from the bed. He sighed in forced defeat. "But, yes, I see your point, mirror spirit. As always, I shall have no other choice than to heed your word and curb my tongue."
"Have I led you astray so far, Vlad Masters?"
Vlad paused, glancing over at the shadowed figure of the spirit in the window. His gaze softened. "No. You're right."
He exited the room quietly, running into Jasmine who was exiting her old bedroom. "Oh Vlad, I heard you were coming by for Christmas," she said, her tone a tad guarded as her eyes roved over him. "I also heard about what's been going on these past few weeks."
Vlad didn't say anything. Jasmine certainly had grown over the years, just as Danny had. She was eighteen now, an adult. She held herself like one too, not just like a teenager that acted like an adult. She had been as old as Danny is now, but Vlad saw the difference. Then, Jasmine had wanted to be an adult, and although she was mature and smart, she had tried too hard to act older than she was. Danny knew his age. His maturity hadn't come from wanting to be treated differently, or trying. It had come through experience, and trial.
"Hello Jasmine. Are you still suspicious of me too?" Vlad asked, his eyes hard as he stared at her.
"I'm not sure yet," Jaz said, just as calm and firm. "Danny seems to think you've changed. We've talked about it."
Vlad's eyebrows rose slightly. What had Danny said?
"I trust my brother in the end. I trust his judgment. He's not some little kid anymore, so if he trusts you, I will. Unless or until you give me a reason not to."
Vlad smiled slightly, and nodded. He always did like Jaz. She was very level headed and logical, which he appreciated in others, but there was always a fierceness as well, a fire and a protectiveness very much like her younger brother. "Fair enough."
Jasmine nodded too and headed downstairs, Vlad following behind. Jasmine went to the living room to see if any Christmas specials were on television. Vlad went into the kitchen but bumped into Danny who had been exiting with a bowl of chips.
"Sorry," Danny said when Vlad grabbed Danny's arms to steady the boy.
"Snacking before dinner, Daniel?" Vlad asked with a lifted eyebrow.
"It's the holidays," Danny said with a shrug. "Regular eating order doesn't exist. I had candy canes and chocolate chips pancakes for breakfast and fruit cake for lunch." Vlad grimaced at the teens terrible eating habits.
"Yeah well, be careful little brother. Different kinds of rules apply on the holidays," Jaz said, causing the two halfas to look over curiously. She raised her blue eyes above their heads. They looked up. Vlad smirked wickedly, and Danny's face burst into a deep red. Mistletoe.
"Well well, you know the rules Daniel," Vlad said with a chuckle. He grabbed Danny's chin, glancing to see if Maddie and Jack were around. They seemed busy with dinner preparations. Sam was nowhere in sight and Jaz, having only pointed it out as a joke, was now seemingly focused on flipping through the channels. Vlad leaned down.
"S-stop," Danny exclaimed in a hushed tone, putting a hand over Vlad's mouth just as Sam arrived from down the hall. Danny quickly pushed away and headed toward his friend, his face still an unhealthy red.
"You okay Danny?" Sam asked curiously. She glanced to Vlad. "I step away to the bathroom for a second and he's already bothering you?"
"It's nothing, Sam. Let's just watch Rudolph with Jaz," Danny muttered, grabbing Sam's hand and pulling her to the couch. Vlad glared at their hands, feeling cheated.
Reign it in…stay calm, Vlad thought, struggling internally not to "Go Ghost" as Danny would put it and throw Ms. Samantha into the Ghost zone. Vlad sighed and shook his head, heading into the kitchen.
"It's great having you here, Vladdie!" Jack exclaimed as he helped his wife finish up the dinner preparations. "This is the first time we're spending the holidays together. And you've always been like a part of the family, especially now after…" Jack glanced to Danny over in the living room and then to Vlad guiltily. "Well now that everything's all cleared up and out in the open between everyone."
"Yes, it seems to be a great relief to Daniel to finally have his big secret revealed," Vlad agreed. "It seems to be making his holidays easier. He can actually relax."
"He's had it hard over the years, hasn't he?" Maddie asked quietly, not looking up as she cut the chicken.
Vlad watched her for a moment. "He hasn't talked about these passed two years with you much?" Jack and Maddie were quiet. "He's probably just trying to get used to everything."
"You two seem to be getting along better," Jack said with a smile. "You've been training a bit, right? Ever since you've gotten better. Has he talked to you much about anything?"
Vlad paused. "We're not really all that close," Vlad admitted, the sentence bitter on his tongue. "Just like his trust in you two will take a bit of getting used to, so too will his trust in me. We've butted heads often due to…our respective views and my nature before. But it's getting better."
"Well I'm just glad to have my son and best friend completely back," Jack said with a smile. "Makes the holidays that much better! Plus, now I can blather on about ghosts and you and Danny can actually contribute!"
"Yes of course," Vlad said with a sigh and a shake of his head. He had a feeling this would be coming up soon enough; Vlad had been a half ghost for over twenty years. Jack now knew this, and so knew Vlad would be a plethora of Ghostly knowledge. "But speaking of better holidays, Danny did mention something to me." Vlad paused, waiting to make sure he had the couple's undivided attention. "The both of you are my best—and only—friends, so I have to tell you that your antics during the holidays are bothering Daniel."
"Antics?" Maddie asked, confusion written on her face.
"The arguing," Vlad said point blank, fixing her with a hard stare. She squirmed. "Every Christmas it happens. Imagine the poor boy's anxiety; hiding secrets from his parents who barely pay attention to him on a regular basis, and then on the holidays, when families are supposed to come together, you two decide to deem this time acceptable to take out all your frustrations on each other."
"It's not like we chose this time in particular," Maddie argued, her eyes narrowed in insult. "Jack just decides that December is the best time to—"
Vlad raised a hand. "I honestly could care less why you two fight during the holidays or what about. I'm simply informing you of your son's discomfort. He's gone through enough, hasn't he?" Maddie and Jack, glancing uneasily at each other, then looked over to their son. "For his sake, at least. Make this a happy Christmas."
"Of course, Vlad. You're right," Jack said with a nod. "Mads and I do fight too much around this time. We're supposed to be a family, and we don't even act like one on the most important day of the year!" Vlad couldn't hold back a grimace. A family…a family with the woman I loved and the boy I…Vlad shook his head. Those feelings don't exist anymore. Just shadows of my past anger and jealousy. Move on. Danny will more than a son to me anyway, soon enough. "Thanks, Vladdie. I knew you were a good friend." Jack patted Vlad heavily on the back.
"Right," Vlad muttered, straightening with a wince. The things I put up with for that boy's sake…
"Yes well why don't we start off this Christmas right, then. Its dinner time!" Maddie announced happily, putting the last food platters on the kitchen table. "Danny, Jaz, Sam, come on in and eat!"
The teens entered and Vlad watched as Danny eyed the food hungrily. He sat eagerly. Vlad and Sam's eyes met. Immediately, each sat on either side of Danny.
Bowls were passed, plates and silverware clanking. Danny and Jaz talked about past Christmas', Jack told a story about when he almost discovered Santa Claus, and Maddie humored him, smiling pleasantly, though neither agreeing nor disagreeing with any of the facts in the story. It seemed Vlad's little talk had paid off.
The smells, the sounds, the laughs, the food and the stories. It was like the cheesy movies Vlad sometimes saw during the holiday mornings. Never had he personally experienced it. Sitting among friends, surrounded by so much laughter and noise. He wasn't in some office hall during a Christmas party; he was in a home. Daniel's elbow hit his at times, their hands meeting once or twice when they reached for the salt or the mashed potatoes. Danny would laugh, bump his knee against Vlad's. In no time at all, Vlad found himself smiling and sharing his own stories—the less sad and pathetically lonely ones of course—happy when he could make Danny laugh.
The only down side to this whole dinner was a certain black cloud sitting to the right of Danny. Said cloud laughed, whispered, and joked with Danny, sharing stories and references only they understood or remembered. Sam knew him, knew how to get his attention. Vlad found himself competing, irritated when he'd be interrupted by the Goth's words. Over the ghost boy's head, Vlad and Sam stared each other down, each hating the other for their own reasons, and wanting to keep Danny away.
Pop!
Jack stood, the newly uncorked champagne bottle dribbling from his hand. He poured a glass for himself, Maddie and Vlad. Jaz, Danny and Sam got sparkling cider.
"A toast! It's been a rocky year, but today we celebrate good family and friends," Jack began. "Now I know I may not be the smartest guy in town—" Vlad resisted the familiar urge to make a comment. "—but I do know one thing; today I'm surrounded by my amazing family, and that makes me the luckiest guy alive. Nothing beats family and love during the holidays!" Jack lifted his glass and drank, the others at the table following. As Vlad sipped his champagne, he glanced at Danny. Family and love…
"Very nice speech, Jack," Vlad acknowledged as Jack sat down. Maddie then stood, her glasses held in her hand gently.
"For those of you who haven't celebrated a Fenton Christmas," Maddie began, looking to Sam and Vlad. "This is an old tradition. Each member makes a small speech, about the year or what the holidays mean to them. Something they'd like to share with the family." Maddie turned her gaze to Vlad a moment and Vlad swallowed. "Vlad. Over the years we've had our differences, and for the most part you had lost all my respect and favor." Vlad suddenly felt like sinking into his seat. "But you've shown me, that even a man as nasty as I thought you were, can change. That is an incredible thing. You've proven a great devotion to this family, and more importantly, to my son Danny." Vlad glanced to Danny, who blinked in surprise and ducked his head, apparently embarrassed by his mother's words. "All I can say now is, I'm glad you're here with a family who loves you, Vlad. I hope for more years like this."
Maddie lifted her glass and the family followed, sipping their drinks but Vlad's drink remained frozen in his hand as he stared at Maddie. His gaze softened and he nodded at her. After the incident with the ghost shadow, Maddie hadn't said much in ways of forgiveness or anything. This right here, this was it. Maddie had finally forgiven Vlad, for everything he'd done. And though Vlad no longer wished to pursue Maddie romantically, this meant more to him than she might realize. He lifted his glass. "Thank you Maddie."
She nodded and smiled, sitting down and taking her husband's hand. The couple smiled at each as Jasmine stood.
"This year, I've started college at Yale University," Jaz began. "It's been an incredible experience and I'm excited for the life ahead of me. But here, in Amity Park, is where my family is and where my home will always be. I may be studying psychology, but ghosts will always be my life, whether I want them to be or not." Jack cheered and the table laughed. "And now that's not just because we're a family of ghost hunters." Jasmine smiled at her little brother. "It's because my little brother is part of one. I'm happy I can finally say that out loud and proud, because he deserves the praises! I'm proud of you little bro, and of our whole family!"
She raised her glass and everyone drank. Jack and Vlad refilled their now empty glasses. Danny looked to Sam, who seemed to protest a moment before slowly rising. "So, I'm not Christian, and I don't celebrate Christmas with my family. But I love the meaning of it. During Christmas, family comes together and celebrates life. They exchange gifts that show appreciation and love. Everyone is jolly and in a giving mood, and despite my normal dark outlook on life, I think this is a great time of the year. I'm happy to be celebrating with my best friend and his family." She raised her glass and everyone drank.
She sat and Danny stood. Vlad smiled up at him, waiting. "Well, all I can really say is that I'm grateful this year. Grateful to finally have my secret out to my parents. Grateful to have family and friends so understanding and accepting. Grateful to not be torn limb from limb." Danny laughed and his parents laughed as well, though Vlad could tell theirs was more forced. "But I gotta say, I'm really grateful to be rid of one of the biggest pains in my neck." Danny looked down at Vlad and the man's eyes widened slightly. "I'm grateful to be rid of that jealous bitter mean man, and to now have someone I can really grow to trust." Danny lifted his glass at Vlad. "Welcome to the family, V-man."
Vlad smiled and clicked his glass against Danny's. The two sipped and Danny sat. Vlad then stood, gathering his many thoughts. He buttoned his suit jacket and stood straight, his glass in hand. He'd stood before crowds before, bigger than this. He knew how to stand, how to speak, how to smile and how to emphasis his words. It was second nature to him. Never before had he been as nervous as he was now.
"Among me tonight are the people who have changed my life in the biggest of ways," Vlad began. "Whether they changed me physically," Vlad glanced at Jack with a slight smirk. "Or emotionally," Vlad quickly looked to Danny. "I'm undeserving of the praises I've received. I'm undeserving of this lovely dinner. A month ago, I never would have admitted to that, so blinded in my ways that I thought myself entitled to everything." Vlad paused, his gaze softening as his voice grew quiet and serious. The table was silent. "It was a tough lesson, realizing that trust must be earned back once lost, and that love can grow anywhere, in unexpected places, though not always in the ways we hope or expect." Vlad looked to Maddie and Jack, and then Danny, all eyes glued to him. "Ahem. Before I take the risk of sounding like Jack and rambling on," Jack laughed. "All I can really say is, thank you. I promise from now on, I will always be here, for all of you, as my family."
Vlad raised his glass and drained it, the table cheering as they raised their glasses.
The dinner went by well after that. Vlad had a few more glasses of champagne, laughing over old stories from college.
The atmosphere was easy and fun, alive and warm. Vlad found himself lost in the happiness, glowing with this new feeling, of comfort and true comradery. He poured himself another glass, laughing at something Maddie said when he noticed Danny and Sam leaving the kitchen and moving towards the living room. They paused in the doorway.
"Planning on getting an early Christmas gift, Danny?" Jaz teased, indicating the mistletoe above them. Vlad watched, expecting Danny to just walk away, to ignore his sister's teasing, to laugh and—
Sam folded her arms and opened her mouth to lecture Jaz on the pointlessness of the mistletoe and how it was simply made for men to get with women on the holidays, but she was cut off when Danny pressed his lips to her cheek. He pulled away, smiling and laughing at the blush on Sam's cheeks.
Vlad stood, staring at the couple. His insides suddenly felt cold and the light airy feeling turned cloudy and murky.
Danny had pulled away from Vlad. Told him to stop. Never reciprocated. But with Sam…Danny had initiated it.
Of course…of course, Vlad thought bitterly, his eyes narrowing as he watched the two teens move into the living room. A young girl, pretty and smart and a friend…of course he'd like her, why would he even entertain the idea of some 43-year-old man flirting with him…?
Vlad stared down at his empty champagne glass. Was this his fourth or fifth drink? Vlad scowled and grabbed the bottle from the counter, pouring himself another glass full.
…
"Vlad? Vlad, get up. Come on, wake up."
The voice swam through his thoughts, hazy and buzzing.
"Vlad!"
Vlad felt his body being shaken violently, heard the voice screaming at him, causing a split right between his ears. He forced his eyes open to see Danny faintly before him, the boy's face irritated.
"W-what? Stop screaming and shaking me," Vlad muttered with a rough voice, waving away Danny's hand.
"I'm not screaming, you're just drunk," Danny said, his voice still too loud for Vlad's liking. Irritation was evident in the young tone.
"Not drunk," Vlad said, sitting up and putting his head in his hands for a moment. When the spinning faded enough, he squinted up. He looked around, realizing he was in the downstairs lab of the Fenton home. "Why 'm down here?"
"God you don't remember anything, do you?" Danny sighed. He folded his arms as he stared down at Vlad like a troubled child. "You drank your way through all the champagne. You and my dad were going on and on about ghosts and football and cheese forever. You two danced to the Christmas songs, sang Snow Miser and Heat Miser, tried to dance with me and then tried to dance with the tree. Then you turned into Plasmius and tried dragging me into the ghost zone to attend the annual Christmas Truce party. My dad wanted to go but my mom locked up the Specter Speeder and took him to bed a while ago. You passed out down here."
Vlad blinked, none of that familiar at all. He figured Danny was exaggerating to try and embarrass Vlad, but when Vlad looked down at himself and saw green pine needles clinging to his black suit, he cringed at the idea that maybe he had actually tried to dance with a Christmas tree.
"Butter brickle," Vlad muttered, leaning back against the wall. God this is humiliating. How is Danny going to see me now? Why the hell did I let myself get so drunk!? Was I having that good of a time that I completely—Vlad paused mid-mental tirade as a memory smacked itself to the front of Vlad's memory. The mistletoe. Danny and Sam.
"Here," Danny said, holding out a glass of water and a seltzer tablet. Vlad glared at them, waving his hand as though shooing off a pesky fly. "Come on, just sober up and come upstairs so I can go to bed."
"I'm not that drunk, Daniel," Vlad snapped quietly, not moving from the ground.
"Did you not hear a word a said?" Vlad didn't respond. "You went and got yourself completely hammered at a small Christmas Eve dinner and ended up passed out cold in the basement. You're telling me that's not that drunk?"
"You're sixteen, still a child," Vlad said. "Like you'd really know anything. I barely had a sip."
"Right. An entire bottle is barely a sip," Danny muttered. He shook his head. He glanced down at the glass and tablet, his eyes narrowed. "But fine. I'm the child. You're just the one supposedly in love with a child so what does that say about you?"
"Says how truly desperate I am," Vlad muttered bitterly. "That damn mirror's fault anyway…"
"Mirror?"
Vlad looked up. He leaned back, smirking up at the boy, his head still pounding violently. He desperately wanted that tablet and water, his mouth dry and throat raw. "I never told you, did I? Why I suddenly started acting all nice and giving?"
Danny looked away, a redness to his cheeks, visible even in the dim lighting. "You said it was because you love me…" the words were quiet and Danny's irritated face only grew redder once the words were out of his mouth.
"Yeah, but I didn't just wake up one morning and think, "You know, it might be easier to chase after Maddie's son, instead of Maddie. He seems like the more reasonable choice of lover."" Danny's head turned to Vlad, a narrowed suspicious look in his blue eyes. "It was a mirror. The Espil Mirror, hidden away deep in the Ghost zone. Capable of showing the viewer his deepest desires, as well as showing him how to obtain them."
"So what, you saw yourself marrying me instead of my mom in the mirror?" Danny said sarcastically, his eyebrows still narrowed.
Vlad laughed bitterly, his throat burning. It felt good. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. "It showed me how cute you look on your back." A beat and then a burst of cold slapped Vlad in the face. He sputtered and wiped at the water dripping down his face.
"Screw you, Vlad," Danny growled, his face red and his eyes blazing green. The now empty glass of water was still outstretched towards Vlad, dripping lightly from the lip. "Stay down here alone for all I care then. But if you're going to continue to be an ass-hole again, then I don't want to see you tomorrow morning. Got it?"
Vlad stared up at the boy, water dripping from his chin. His head felt slightly clearer of the alcohol, but now it was merely buzzing with anger and frustration.
"What, so you can finally be alone with that she-bat without me getting in the way?"
Danny had been heading towards the stairs. He stopped and looked to Vlad, an incredulous look on his face. "That's what this is about? You're jealous of Sam? Are you serious?"
Vlad put his hand to the wall behind him and forced his way to his feet. He stumbled a bit, his head buzzing again but he made his way over, his expression dark. "Do I have a reason to not be threatened by her?"
"Of course not!" Danny said. His angry expression turned to surprise at his words, apparently realizing the implication of them. He shook his head. "I mean, first of all, its none of your business."
"Whom the one I love loves is my business," Vlad said, standing close to Danny, his voice hard and low. Danny stared up at him, not backing down despite the words.
"She's just my friend, Vlad. You can't get like this just because I hang out with her," Danny said. "She's my best friend, I've known her way longer than I've known you."
"She's just a human—"
"Oh can it, we're not vampires or some immortal being," Danny cut in. "Everyone isn't beneath us or different from us, so get that thought out of your head. We were completely human once too. Yeah we're both half ghosts, but that doesn't suddenly give you some kind of claim on me!"
Vlad didn't say anything a moment. Danny was right, Vlad couldn't let himself go back down into those feelings, those feelings of taking by force, or controlling everything and everyone. Of separating himself, thinking himself higher than all others because he was half ghost. But god, Vlad wanted so badly to hold Danny, to have him and never let him go, not to anyone! They were the same, what right did anyone else have to be with the young halfa. Seeing Danny with anyone else made him so mad he saw red! Cant let myself get like that anymore…
"Fine, if I have nothing to be jealous of, then you wouldn't mind answering a few simple questions for me?" Vlad asked, his voice casual with an edge. Danny stared at Vlad a moment, his anger turning into confusion. "Do you love her?"
"Huh?" Danny stuttered, his eyes no longer green but a confused blue. "W-what…y-yeah, yeah of course I love her. She's my best friend."
"Are you in love with her?"
Danny looked surprised. "N-no, of course not! I—"
"Do you like her?"
"What is this? What's the point of—"
"Just answer the question, Danny."
Danny glared up at Vlad, his cheeks pink. "I mean yeah I like her." He paused. "Well, not like…I mean…I don't know what I'm…" Vlad sighed. Danny grit his teeth. "What's the point of all that? You just asked me the same thing in three different ways."
"They are completely different questions," Vlad said calmly. His head pounded dully and his throat was still raw. Everything was tired. Danny tried to argue but Vlad cut him off. "Here, I'll show you. Daniel, do you love me?"
Danny's arguments stuttered to a stop, his eyes wide. "I…no, I mean well…I don't know really…"
"Hmm," Vlad knowledge, keeping his expression unreadable. "Are you in love with me?"
"N-No, definitely not!" Danny said, his face a deep red, his eyes staring away at the stairs, the boy's only escape from these questions.
"Do you like me?"
Danny looked to Vlad again, a confused helpless look on his face. Vlad almost felt bad for hounding the boy; he looked so young, so innocent. But Danny wasn't a kid anymore, and he needed to realize this.
"No, I mean yeah but…well, I don't know…"
Vlad sighed. "You see. If all three of those questions were essentially the same, you'd have been able to answer them all with the same answer. They all mean different things Daniel, and you realize that, hence you're confused answers."
Danny blinked. "But what's the point of it?"
"The point, my boy, is that this is all essentially pointless at the moment," Vlad said with a shake of his head. "You don't even know what you want."
Danny blinked up at Vlad, his lips pressed tightly together. Vlad stared at those lips, his mind working. Vlad reached up and took the boy's chin with his thumb and index finger, tilting it up. Vlad saw Danny swallow, saw the boy's blue eyes lock with his, wide and cautious. Vlad ran his thumb over Danny's lower lip briefly and Danny gasped softly. Vlad leaned down.
"Danny, you down there?" The two halfas jumped. Foot steps were heard coming down the stairs and Danny grabbed Vlad around the waist, tackling him down behind the lab table and turning them both invisible.
Vlad landed heavily on his back and groaned quietly when Danny landed on top of him. Vlad glanced to the bottom of the stairs and growled as he saw Sam appear, looking around the lab, up and down.
"Danny?" she whispered. She looked around. "You in here?"
Danny looked over and made to stand it seemed, but Vlad quickly wrapped an arm around Danny, pulling him down onto him, holding him close to his chest. The weight felt comfortable, Danny's legs tangled with his.
"What would she say if she saw us like this?" Vlad whispered in Danny's ear, and felt the boy stiffen.
"Shut up, you ass," Danny hissed, his face beet red, glancing over his shoulder at Sam as he struggled lightly in Vlad's hold. Vlad smirked.
"Wonder if he found Vlad. The guy was probably too stubborn to take the pill anyway," Sam muttered. She turned and headed back upstairs. Vlad paused, staring after the Goth.
Danny waited a few moments and then turned them visible and pulled away, stumbling up from Vlad. Vlad let him, sitting up. "Sam suggested the pill for me…?" Vlad asked, his voice quiet.
"Yeah, she did," Danny replied, his tone hard and his eyes looking at the wall. Neither spoke. "I get that you might be…jealous or whatever," Danny began, his voice tense and his cheeks tinting slightly. "But you can't act like how you did with my mom. Not again Vlad, please. Don't go all control-freak, heartless fruitloop again."
"What if that's just the real me?" Vlad asked quietly, his face blank. "What if this nice guy act is just that; an act to get you to like me?"
Danny looked down at Vlad. "Is it?"
Vlad looked up at the boy, wondering what the right answer was here. Vlad felt different, felt like he just wanted to be happy with Danny but…
"I don't know," Vlad said, looking away.
Danny's shoulders dropped. "Seems that's the only answer we're capable of tonight…" Danny laughed shallowly. Silence ate the air around them once more.
"Its late. Let's just go upstairs," Danny suggested tiredly. Vlad nodded and stood, following the boy out of the lab. They descended up to the second floor, Danny stopping at his door. Vlad went to pass him and go to the guest bed, but Danny stopped him with a hand on his wrist. Vlad looked to the boy and Danny seemed to falter slightly, pulling his hand away.
"Uh…just hang on a sec okay?" Danny whispered quickly and entered his room. Vlad stayed in the hallway and heard whispers from the bedroom. A female voice. Vlad couldn't help the jealousy that welled up at the idea of Sam staying in Danny's bedroom overnight, even if she was sleeping on the floor. He tried to force it down, but the feeling was hot in the back of his throat and behind his eyes. It wasn't fair. Maybe I haven't changed as much as I thought…
Danny returned quickly and some of Vlad's jealously faded. In the boy's hands was a thin square object, wrapped in green and yellow. Danny handed it to Vlad, his eyes averted.
"It's past twelve so…Merry Christmas Vlad," Danny said, his voice strange as though it felt odd to utter the words. "I wasn't sure when to give it to you, cause I really didn't want to do it in front of anyone—not cause its bad or weird or anything!—I just…it's more like a thank you I guess, but now after what you did well…"
Vlad put his hand to Danny's head, ruffling the dark hair affectionately. It was so cute seeing the boy so frazzled over him. "Thank you Daniel."
Danny looked to Vlad, ducking his head quickly before muttering, "Night." And escaping into his room, closing the door quietly.
Vlad chuckled and entered the next door guest room, a smile tugging at his lips. He closed the door, heart racing and sat on the bed, already peeling the paper back. Daniel got me a gift…Vlad's first in a long time.
It was a frame, with a photo of Danny and Vlad. Vlad stared at the image. Danny was smiling into the camera on the left, close, with shining blue eyes and a grin like he was about to laugh. Vlad was on the right, a bit further back it seemed, his face turned slightly, his expression curious as he looked at something out of view. Danny must have taken it at some point in the past few weeks, without Vlad even being aware. Had it been for this reason, to give the picture to Vlad as a surprise gift? Or had Danny simply wanted to take the picture, and then later decided to give it to Vlad?
The man stared at the framed photo for a moment, his thumb running over the glass where Danny's smile was. A personal gift. A thoughtful one. It made Vlad smile, but it also made him feel sick to his stomach. He thought about the things he'd said to Danny in the basement, the way he'd acted, the childishness of his behavior today.
Vlad put the photo on the nightstand and buried his face in his hands.
…
Vlad followed the smell of coffee down the stairs, his head foggy and his limbs tired. He'd dressed in his white dress shirt and black slacks, his hair pulled into as neat a ponytail as he could despite how awful he felt. He hadn't slept at all that night.
Vlad entered the kitchen to see Maddie pouring herself a cup of coffee. She was dressed in a robe and slippers. Sam and Danny were sitting at the table, Sam in a black nightgown and Danny in a white T-shirt and plaid pajama pants. The Goth was drinking a cup of coffee and Danny was scarfing down a plate of eggs and sausage.
"Coffee?" Maddie offered, holding out a warm mug. Vlad took it with both hands.
"Thank you," Vlad muttered, his voice hoarse. He ignored the jug of warm milk Maddie held out to him and drank deeply from the mug.
"Geez, you that hung over from last night?" Sam muttered as she sipped her own drink. "Though drinking straight black coffee is commendable in its own way I suppose."
"Lay off Sam," Danny said with a roll of his eyes, his mouth full of food. He swallowed and looked to Vlad, who glanced back. "You're a bit over dressed for Christmas morning, you know."
Vlad glanced down at himself. "Am I? I didn't think it'd be appropriate walking around in my underwear."
Danny choked slightly on his breakfast and Maddie looked slightly taken aback. "You sleep in your underwear?" Danny asked and then immediately blushed and looked away, raising a hand. "Never mind, it doesn't matter, don't say a word, I really don't want to know."
Vlad smirked and chuckled, taking another sip of his drink. His gaze went from the back of Danny's head to Sam who sat across from the boy.
Had Danny said anything to his friend about what happened last night? Vlad watched the two teens, but it didn't seem like he had. Why, Vlad wondered. Didn't the boy tell his little friend everything? Now that I think of it, I doubt he even told anyone about my little confession to him…probably embarrassed or something…
Vlad sipped the black coffee, ignoring the bitterness as it cleared his mind somewhat, dispelling the headache.
"Merry Christmas, Vlad," Maddie said, a bit awkwardly after Vlad's indirect confession to his sleeping attire, but her smile was genuine as she passed him to leave the kitchen. Vlad watched her go, remembering how that smile, how those kind words would have made him feel. Remembering how just the sight of her would put him into a better mood. But why? Because she was pretty? Because he had a crush on her years ago when her favorite singer had been Madonna and her number one accessory had been leg warmers?
Vlad knew little to nothing about the woman who had been the sole object of his affections for over two decades. Vlad glanced to Danny who was laughing about something with his friend. Vlad smiled. Danny's favorite color was red. He wanted to be an astronaut when he grew up. He loved Dumpty Humpty and had an appreciation for 80s music. Danny feared rejection from those he loved. Danny loved to protect those he loved, and would do so fiercely, to the death if he had to. He had an absolutely adorable look when he smiled, all boyish and wide eyed. His laugh was carefree despite the terrors Vlad knew the boy faced. Danny was half-ghost, and Vlad knew how lost someone could feel when they were neither alive nor dead.
Vlad knew this boy, better than he'd bothered to know anyone. And he wanted to know more, wanted to know everything. He wanted to see what Danny would become in a few years, he wanted to experience all new things with him and show him everything he'd learned and experienced in life.
Danny stood and put his plate away, leaving the room with Sam right beside him. But maybe…maybe Danny was meant to share all that with someone else. Vlad glanced into the living room to see that Jack had joined his wife on the couch, his arm around her as he beamed, wishing her a Merry Christmas.
Vlad stood in the kitchen with his mug of bitter coffee, milk and sugar sitting close by on the table. He watched the happy family, the happy couples, sipping his drink, leaving a heavy empty feeling in his stomach.
…
"Alright, why don't we get this Christmas underway?" Jack exclaimed with a loud clap of his hands.
"This is the part where the good kids get toys and the bad ones get a lump of black coal," Danny stage whispered to Sam.
"I'm guessing there's no Transformer toy under there for you this Christmas then, hm?" Sam smirked back and Danny laughed.
The boy looked to Vlad with a smirk. "Hey Santa, why don't you go first? You're the one with that big bag of stuff."
Vlad looked to the boy and then to the sack he'd put under the tree. "So eager to get your coal from Santa, hm Danny?" Vlad asked with a smirk and stood from his seat, making his way over to the tree. He lifted the bag and reached inside, pulling out a small envelope. "First is the parents, though, I'm afraid. Only fair I should think."
Maddie looked surprised and Jack smiled as he took the envelope from his friend. "Thanks Vladdie!" He ripped it open and he and his wife looked at the things he pulled out. They're eyes widened. "Tickets to California!"
"You two have never been on a real vacation, correct?" Vlad asked, with a raised eyebrow. He smirked. "And I hear the ghosts on Alcatraz are of an interesting and diverse selection."
"Vlad you didn't have to—" Maddie began but Vlad raised a hand.
"I have billions Maddie, and until now, the only person I've ever been able to truly spend my earnings on has been myself," Vlad said. "I wanted to splurge a bit."
Maddie still seemed uncomfortable accepting such a gift but smiled and thanked the man, smiling to her excited husband.
Vlad smiled slightly and reached back into his bag. He pulled out a neatly wrapped box with a silver ribbon. "For the lovely Jasmine," Vlad said, handing the box to Jaz, who sat in her light pink pajamas, orange hair knotted into a loose braid on her left shoulder.
She eyed Vlad for a moment, and then took the gift, carefully unwrapping the box. "A new laptop?" Jaz breathed. She turned the box over. "Wow, this is the latest model."
"It should help to have your own computer at college," Vlad said. "It beats those typewriters we had to use for our essays." Vlad glanced to Maddie and Jack who laughed and agreed.
"Uh, thanks Vlad," Jaz said with an awkward smile, glancing from the man to her brother and then back to the laptop, her smile widening slightly.
Vlad looked back to his "bag of goodies" and rifled around a bit, before pulling out two smaller boxes, just as neatly wrapped in a bright paper. He handed both to Sam with a neutral look on his face. "The red one is for Mr. Foley."
Sam's eyes widened and then she quirked an eyebrow at Vlad. "You got us gifts too? Why?"
"You're Danny's friends," Vlad said with a simple shrug and didn't seem about to say anymore on the subject. There really was nothing else to say about it.
Sam ripped hers open to see the box of a new phone. "My mom tried to buy me this phone," Sam muttered, glaring lightly at the box.
"But you didn't accept it, because you don't want to accept your parents' money. You want to earn it yourself," Vlad said. "But at the rate you're going, being as busy as you are, you'd never be able to afford it for yourself. So I figured I'd give it to you as a gift, hoping you could at least accept it then."
"I don't need any sort of bride from you," Sam said, her voice quiet so that Danny's parents wouldn't overhear. "Money can't buy you friends."
"Sam, just chill," Danny muttered firmly. "He's being nice."
"Oh yeah, didn't we agree this whole nice thing was an act?" Sam hissed.
"Yeah well what if it's not?" Danny whispered back, Vlad watching this little spat. "We're supposed to be the good guys, right? Then we have to give second chance. I already told him I would, so cut him a break for once."
Sam's eyes widened slightly and Vlad smiled.
Sam looked to Vlad and then to box. "I ordered it in black. Pink or aqua just didn't seem your color," Vlad added, before moving back to grab his last gifts. He missed Sam's small smile.
Vlad reached into the bag once more and pulled out two things; an envelope and a neatly wrapped box. He handed them both to Danny.
Danny smiled slightly and took them, opening the box first, guessing what it was by the similar shape it had to Jaz's gift. "You'll be starting college in another year. And it's got enough power for online gaming," Vlad said with a smirk as Danny revealed a new laptop.
"Awesome," Danny said with an excited smile. "It'll be great to get off that old chunky desktop." He laughed and held the envelope. "This isn't a one way ticket to stay in Wisconsin for a week, is it?" Danny smirked and quirked a dark brow as he ripped it open.
"Would you have preferred that, Little Badger?" Vlad asked, his voice low and deep, causing a slight blush to form on Danny's face at the implication.
Danny pulled out two tickets. "Oh, tickets to the Kennedy Space Center!" Danny's face split into a huge grin. "Man, I've been dying to go there, this is amazing!" Danny looked up to Vlad and seemed to momentarily forget all their past fights and conflicts. For a moment, Danny's face was open and happy, smiling up at Vlad in awe and excitement. "Thanks, Vlad!"
"Glad you like it, Daniel," Vlad said quietly, his smile gentle.
"So who are you going to take with you; Tucker or me?" Sam joked with an elbow nudge. "And just remember, Tucker is an expensive guest because he needs to eat every half hour."
Danny laughed and argued that Tucker at least didn't start random protests and chants in public whenever they went on trips.
Vlad's smile fell slightly. He made his way back to the armchair, sitting down and staring at the fireplace where a quiet fire was popping and burning. Maddie stood and started handing out gifts to her family, the sounds of paper ripping and happy exclamations filling the air.
Vlad resisted the urge to pout at this point, but he couldn't completely abandon his childish ways, or his petty jealousies. He should have expected Danny would want to go with a friend instead of him.
But as Vlad watched the scene before, as he saw Danny smiling and laughing with his family and with Sam, Vlad realized this was good. Look how happy he is like this, Vlad thought mildly, his gaze gentle as he regarded the boy. He smiled slightly. He's happy, and I'm able to be here, a part of that happiness. Before all this even started, my presence would have been a cloud over his holiday. I wouldn't have what I do now.
If I can't be the sole object of his affections as he is for me, shouldn't I be grateful to even be a part of it?
…
Vlad returned home late that day, his stomach filled with dinner and a brand new Packers poster under his arm, from the Fentons. He placed it carefully on the ledge by his Packers memorabilia wall to be hung up later, then shrugged off his coat and hung it up on the hook by the door. He walked down the hall and up the vast staircase to his grand master bedroom. There, he carefully pulled out the framed photo Danny had given him, placing it quietly on his nightstand, his fingers lightly touching the corners of the frame, his gaze passive. He turned away, shrugging off his black suit jacket and tossing in onto his bed. He began untying his red cravat but a quiet voice made him pause.
"Very good, Vlad."
"Yes," Vlad said mildly, pulling the tie from his neck and walking over to the large mirror on the wall. "Yes, it all did go very well, didn't it?"
The blue eyed spirit stared out from the mirror and nodded slightly.
"I'm happy," Vlad said, tilting his head slightly as he looked away. "For the first time, I actually felt really happy. Not so alone. I don't want to lose this feeling. Ever."
"And you never will," the spirit agreed, her voice taking on a light tone. "Continue as you are and soon the boy will love you as you love him."
Vlad was silent a moment, his eyes dark. He closed his eyes, releasing a heavy breath and then looked into the mirror. "No. I don't want that anymore."
The mirror paused a moment. "Don't want that anymore?"
"That kind of love from the boy," Vlad clarified calmly. "He loves the Goth. He's happy with her."
"Don't let your jealousy dissuade you, Vlad—"
"I'm not," Vlad said quickly, firmly. "I'm not. I'm merely doing what I should have learned to do a long time ago; let go when it's just not meant to be. I had to let go of Maddie because she was happy with another. I see it's the same with Danny."
"No Vlad, it's not," the spirit said. "I told you, he can and will—"
"No, I won't do that to him," Vlad said, shaking his head. "All my life, I've been selfish. Now…now because I love him, I don't want to be selfish with him. I don't want to force him to love me, if he wants to be with another."
"You have changed, Vlad," the spirit said quietly. "You don't need to force him. He can love you on his own. You must not give up."
Vlad smiled slightly. "Why not? I've fought so hard my whole life. And now, I'm happy with what I am finally given. It's more than I've ever had."
"You aren't someone who accepts a small amount. You don't stop at good enough. You said you wanted everything from Daniel."
"And I told you I was done being selfish—"
"No, you're done being hurt," the spirit cut in. "You are scared that should you receive the boy's true love, you wouldn't be able to handle the hurt should he decide to leave you."
"I'm not scared—"
"Yes you are. You want to play it safe, stay as a friend of the family, keep yourself distanced and alone but accepted. You've become comfortable and used to loneliness that even though you crave companionship so dearly, you're too scared of it now."
"I'm not scared," Vlad growled, hating the mirror for always reaching into his heart, for seeing straight into his fears and desires. What gave her the right!? "I'm simply content. I don't want to peruse that dream anymore. I want what I have now. I'm happy and that's the end of it! I want Danny to marry someone else and have a family with someone else, someone young and happy and good for him!" Vlad's eyes glowed red and burned. "I want him to smile and enjoy life, and he won't have that with me! It won't work, but as long as I can be in his life, I know I'll be happy!" The air around Vlad rippled and pulse with his building emotions and energy. His teeth elongated into fangs. "I'm fine with being alone!"
"But you love him."
Vlad let out a sad cry. The air went still, his fangs disappeared and his solid red eyes stared wide and desperate at the mirror. "I love him more than anything…so I can't lose him. I can't…"
"So you're giving up then," the spirit asked, and Vlad wasn't sure if it was a question or a statement. He nodded anyway.
"Yes. For the first time in my life, I'm going to put someone before myself," Vlad said quietly, his tone defeated and lost, the sound of a man with no other options, but confident in his choice nonetheless. "For the first time since I can remember, I'm giving up." Vlad stared into the mirror, his eyes going from solid red to the more human deep blue, his gaze haunted and tortured, but steady as always, like a bullet. The spirit saw the resolution in the man's eyes, saw that look so different from the unsure, confused look Vlad had worn before. Vlad knew what he was saying, knew what he was feeling, and now thought this the best course of action. To protect himself, and to once again save the one he loved most.
The two were quiet for a moment, regarding each other, separated only by the thin reflective glass.
"That's very unfortunate, Vlad Masters," the spirit said. Vlad tiredly rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to say something biting but suddenly the room dropped drastically in temperature. The fog thickened around him, turning everything white and clouded, surrounding his vision and prickling against his skin. Vlad gasped out a breath of frosty air and stared in surprise at the mirror.
"Wha—" Two clear white arms reached out from the mirror and grasped Vlad, turning him intangible and pulling him into the mirror.
Alright, so first things first, so sorry again for the late update! I know i said I'd get it out a lot sooner but this week has been brutal and I had like zero time to finish up the chapter. But here it is, hope you've enjoyed! ^^ As you can tell we're inching ever closer to the big climax! *eeps in a very unlady-like manner* Ahem, anyway...
A brief tale from an honored fanfiction author: Yesterday before bed i was scrolling threw the pompous pep tag on Tumblr like any other normal pompous pep fan, and i see this cute picture of Danny, Vlad and Dani. I smile and glance at the description from the artist below and what do i notice...THE PICTURE WAS BASED OFF OF TRUST ME! You can not believe my surprise! I literally hyperventilated and almost cried, it made me smile sooo much! That's been like a huge dream of mine, to have someone draw a fanart for a story of mine and look at that! So thank you, shiirojasmine, you gave me that little extra push to finally just get this chapter out! :D and of course thank you to Crooked Conchita for messaging me ^^ And thanks so much to all of you that are following this story, reading this story, commenting, and/or reminding me its been waaaaaay too long since I updated xD you all are so amazing, thank you so much!
Anyway, I think I've rambled long enough ^^" Sorry for any grammatical or spelling errors, I believe I got rid of any big ones, but let me know if there's anything that stands out that I may have missed. Remember to favorite or follow if you haven't and liked the story so far, as well as drop a little comment if you can, always makes my day, even if its just to say hello ^^ Thanks, love you all, and have a fabulous day!
ps: SPRING BREAK BABY, MEANS I'LL BE WRITING ALLLL WEEK! xD