Epilogue

It was snowing in Amity, and you'd think Valerie Gray would be okay with this. But she wasn't. Honestly, she hated cold. Especially when she was flying on her board, tracking down ghosts.

Her hand went to her ear as she hit the Fenton Phone, "Dad, are you sure they went this way?"

"Positive, in fact, they are two blocks in front of you," her dad laughed.

"Danny better get better quickly, I'm over this," Valerie grumbled.

"You and I both know he would rather be out there right now," Damon gave a snort.

"And whose fault is it that he isn't?" Valerie growled as she saw a very familiar orange jumpsuit on the ground. "I found them."

"Good luck," her dad said.

"Thanks," Valerie rolled her eyes as she focused her attention on her prey. "What are you two doing?"

"BEWARE of the BOX Ghost!" the ghost called from the ground. Immediately, Valerie felt her blood pressure rise.

"Oh my gosh!" Valerie groaned as she saw what was behind them. A three story structure, completely composed of boxes. A large brown tabby curled up against the Box Ghost, and the ghost leaned down to pet him.

"All love the box ghost, creator of homes for all cats!" the ghost smiled.

Jack Fenton smiled at Valerie, "It turns out the box ghost didn't actually have plans for his boxes. A little nudge in the right direction and BANZAI!" Jack leaned down and whispered to Valerie, "Maybe he'll spend a little less time shouting BEWARE…"

"If only…" Valerie said as the box ghost stacked a new tower. "Is Danny still…"

"Still what?" a very familiar voice called, and Valerie turned to see Danny with his arms crossed.

"Danno, what are you doing out?" Jack grinned.

"What am I doing out?!" Danny waved his arms. "What was I doing in?! You and Mom sedated me for six days!"

"BEWARE! Kingdom Kitty will not fall!" Boxy waved a fist at Danny as he floated to close.

"And do I even want to know what this is about?" Danny gestured to the box towers and its furry occupants.

Valerie frowned, "Did you even talk to your mom before you left your…"

"Fenton Flusher?" Danny finished. "And no, no one was there, so I decided to make sure everyone was okay."

Valerie swallowed her anger, "How's your hand?"

Danny smiled, "About 80% percent functional. It might take a while, but I think I can get it completely healed with enough time. Hopefully, not as long as it took my neck..."

"Danno, why didn't you tell us the morphine wouldn't help you?" Jack asked his son.

Danny blushed green, "I thought you guys might not be able to make the cut if I told you."

"Son, that pain was so severe the shock it caused stopped your heart. Twice!" Jack waved his hand accidentally, knocking over a cat box tower. "Oops…"

"BEWARE!" a beam of light caught the obnoxious ghost, and he faded into the thermos in Danny's hand.

"While I really appreciate what you are doing for Boxy. I will go crazy if I allow him to box me into Amity," Danny joked. "So, you guys put on ghost sedatives and in the Fenton Flusher to mask any ghost signatures I could feel?"

"Yeap, it was better than using the defibrillator on you anymore!" Jack gave a grin. "But you're up and about now, so it's all good, right?"

"Right," Danny grinned, "Where is Mom anyways?"

"Jazz and her went Christmas shopping. I was…" Jack scratched his head, "Uh, supposed to be the one watching you. But then I got talking to Chad and…"

"Wait, the Box Ghost told you his real name?" Danny asked in shock.

Valerie suddenly realized her father's deception and hit her Fenton Phone, "Dad… why didn't you tell me Danny was out?"

When he answered, Valerie could hear the laughter in his tone, "And what would the fun have been in that? By the way, Maddie would like to know what Danny would like for dinner tonight."

"Dad, you told everyone but us that he was awake, didn't you?" Valerie asked.

"Let me know what he would like before Maddie demands I track you down myself," the man skillfully avoided her question.

Valerie looked up to see Jack holding Danny's wrist and checking his reflexes. Of course, it didn't mean much when he was Phantom, but he wasn't wincing with a closed fist, and that was a drastic improvement.

"Hey Phantom!" Danny looked up at Valerie as his Dad pinched his finger. She noticed the slight wince, "What do you want for dinner?"

"Ectoweenies!" he grinned as Valerie faked a gagging motion.

"You're choosing that to mess with me," Valerie fumed.

"No, you can have regular ones, and then everyone's a weiner," his green eyes glinted as he laughed.

"You can be such a dweb," Valerie stated after she repeated the information to her dad

Danny smiled before looking at his dad, "Hey, is it okay if I head over and visit Tucker and Sam?"

"Sure, Danno," the large man leaned down and gave his son a hug, "Be safe."

"I'll try," Danny smiled, and his rings appeared from either end of his body. As the circles returned to his core, the human Danny that was revealed did not look like Danny Fenton. Danny Fenton would never again be seen live and whole. His dad gave a grin as he turned to walk to the GAV.

Danny's eyes remained green and only lost their ghostly glow. His hair was now a pale bleach blonde, so close to his phantom color that the only thing that had changed when his rings had retracted was he now wore a black hoodie and jeans. The scars would also never fade. The cut across his cheek, the inch wide band that wrapped nearly completely around his neck and his right hand that he held out to Val.

She grabbed it and gently cradled it in her palm. The skin was pink and much too smooth. It looked like his entire hand had been burned. She could barely feel the ridges that could make fingerprints. She was sure they no longer matched his ones from when she had last held his right hand. He had subtly changed his new hand like the ones on his healthy left hand. Like his hair and eyes, they no longer matched Daniel Fenton.

"Val?" he whispered as his fingers shook as they tightened their hold on hers, but they were there. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes," she let her suit melt away and began walking down the street. "Are you?"

He didn't smile but sighed, "Everything feels so surreal. Not bad… just different. Everyone knowing, accepting, and learning. I never thought Boxy would tell anyone his name and he told my dad."

Valerie grinned, "You're telling me. I overheard Mr. Lancer discussing an early retirement."

"I bet he would love to travel with a certain aunt and cousin of mine," Danny grinned.

"He'll claim it is just to ensure Ellie's education," Valerie grinned as they approached the Foley house.

"Better than him shouting Moby Dick ten times a day," Danny grinned.

They walked to the door and knocked. It did not take long for Mrs. Foley to open the door, "Valerie, Phantom, come in!" They stepped in, and Danny waved to Maurice Foley, who sat with a book. "Sam is upstairs too," Angela grinned, "Would you like some hot chocolate."

"No thanks," Danny smiled. "You know us ghosts. We drain the souls of people around us."

Angela gave him a bemused smile as he turned to head up the stairs.

"Danny?" Maurice called, making Danny stop following Valerie up. "Can I talk with you for a moment?"

"Uh, sure, Mr. Foley," Danny floated to the couch across from Maurice and sat. Valerie paused before following and joining Danny.

"What happened to your hand? It looks painful," the man asked.

"Bad ghost injury," Danny responded quickly. "Nothing I can't heal from."

Maurice set his book to the side, and Danny seemed to tense beside Valerie. "I remember you healing my head after I tackled that ghost. It seems you have a gift with it."

Danny nodded, "I've had a lot of practice."

Maurice smiled, "I've always enjoyed having you visit Danny, so if you don't want to be caught, I would consider hiding the injuries that the media saw kill you."

The room chilled, and Valerie saw Danny's jaw drop, "You know who I was?"

"Danny Fenton, you need to hide your identity better if you thought I wouldn't figure that out. I saw a picture of my son's best friend's right hand, and then Phantom was suddenly unable to use his famous right hook. Honestly, did you think I was that dense?" Maurice asked.

"Uh, no, sir?" Danny murmured.

"Besides, I've been watching your neck heal the past few months as you were not so subtly checking on me," Maurice pointed out. He pointed at Val, "Then whenever Ms. Gray is around. You act way too much like you did around that cheerleader girl, Paulie?"

"I forgot you crushed on her," Valerie snorted as Danny blushed.

"The point is, if you don't want others to realize who you are, I would consider burrowing some of Sam's gloves and makeup. Perhaps find a way to mask those injuries," Maurice reached for Danny's hand. "I'm glad to see you using this again, Danny."

Danny blinked, "Thank you for getting that belt."

Maurice nodded, "Go ahead and go show Tucker. I'm sure he'll be thrilled," Maurice reached for his book. "By the way, curfew still stands for school breaks, too."

"Of course," Danny grined. "I don't want you to have to use the belt on me."

Phic Phight Prompts

@Zomb1e teeth

Due to his ghostly biology, painkillers don't work on Danny. Somehow, he didn't think this fact was worth mentioning.

@Silverwing

Team up! Jack Fenton and Box Ghost. BONZAI! And BEWARE!

@Sprout

The box ghost finds purpose among the stray cats of Amity- they appreciate the cardboard kingdoms he builds them!