Bonjour, mes chers! A bit of a long break between chapters for you guys, but I'm here to tell you something great. I finally have an uploading schedule! As well, I redid my Patr(e)on so Patrons get chapters a week in advanced. That means my patrons had access to this chapter last week. Cool, right? If you want all the information you can check me out at ibelieveinahappilyeverafter tumblr com and patr(e)on com/mjanderson to see what you're missing out on! Remember, you can always PM me for more information on something, too!

With that out of the way, enjoy!

Chapter Fifty Five

::

"See, I thought your hair was getting longer, but now I have proof." Danny grinned, sitting on top of one of their suitcases that Randy had meticulously packed earlier that morning, watching as Andrew stared blearily at him from where he was still trying to wake up. He was pretty sure the man was having trouble processing words and thought at the moment.

"Perhaps we should cut it," Randy mused, brushing his fingers through Andrew's hair - which was a mess of tangles and curls. Danny couldn't stop his laughter as Andrew purred quietly, leaning into the touch at once.

"Long hair looks good on him, though." Flying around the room until he found what he was looking for, Danny moved to the bed with a brush in one hand and a hair tie in the other. "How long until we leave?"

"About another hour." Randy snagged a quick kiss from him, Danny blinking in surprise and then laughing. "I'll go ahead and finish up breakfast while you try to do something with his hair. If you can."

"Hey, I'm Danny Phantom. What can't I do?" An amused snort from Andrew had Danny frowning and whacking the brush lightly against Andrew's head. It did nothing to stop the silly grin. "Hush."

"Good luck," Randy laughed, kissing at Andrew's cheek before heading back to the kitchen, Danny watching him as he wrapped his arms around Andrew's shoulders and pressed his face against Andrew's neck.

"He's a lot happier since everything, isn't he?"

"Extremely." Andrew's voice was still rough with sleep, the covers rustling as Andrew fell back to the bed and dragged Danny down with him. "It's nice to see him so happy."

"Hey, I'm supposed to be brushing your hair." Whining, Danny squirmed around, grinning as Andrew pinned him down with a faint flush. Too easy. "Let me brush your hair."

"Stop being a brat," Andrew countered, softening at the kiss Danny managed to press against the tip of his nose. "I used to have it long back in the days of the Sect."

"I know, you've told me. I think you look good with long hair." Carding his fingers through Andrew's hair, Danny held it back and studied it before giving a nod. "Yeah, definitely good with long hair.

"I'll keep that in mind. Now, are you going to brush it or are we going to go back to sleep and force Randy to pay for a late check-out?" Stifling his laughter as best he could, Danny shook his head and finally pushed himself to sit up.

"That's a little too cruel, don't you think?" The whine Andrew gave reminded Danny that for as mature as he was, Andrew was still only twenty-two. Strangely, that thought comforted him more than anything. "C'mon, Andy. Let's go home."

"It won't even be morning when we get back," Andrew complained. Danny kissed him to shut him up and grinned when Andrew pressed back without any more complaint, softening the kiss as he wound his arms around Danny's shoulders and pulled him closer. "I suppose I can be convinced."

"We can sleep in as much as you want when we get back?" Danny tried, huffing when Andrew only snorted. "What if I agree to do my homework when we get back and not move until it's done?"

"That is rather nice incentive, but I had a better idea." Oh? "I rather like the sound of a nice warm bath when we get home." Andrew smirked, lips brushing across Danny's. "As well, I rather like the idea of tying your wrists together and fucking you against the porcelain tub as I fill you with my energy."

"Randy! Hurry up on breakfast so we can get home!" Randy's complaints were easily ignored as Danny was pulled into another kiss and oh, fuck yes. He so very, very much loved his mates.

Thankfully it only took another hour before Danny got his promised bath with Andrew and a pleasant surprise of Randy joining them. After that, he slept for another few hours before heading home. He had barely phased into his bedroom before the door was slamming open and Jack was gathering him into a hug. "Welcome home, Danny-boy!"

"Dad- Dad! Breathing!" Unfortunately, Jack had long since stopped listening to his complaints and only hugged him tighter. Danny would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy it after everything that had happened. "Yeah, would've come straight back here, but Randy packed so it was kind of hard to tell what was mine when we sorted through the luggage."

"No problem, kiddo. I know what it's like to want to spend time with your boyfriends." Yeah, Andrew and Randy were pretty- Wait.

"I'm only- I- Boyfriends?"

"Well, yeah. You're dating both of them, right?" Jack finally set him down, Danny staring at him with an open mouth because, no, what, wait? He didn't!

"I never told you I was dating both of them!" He was pretty sure he hadn't, at least? Everything was so clouded in the last few weeks he had been dealing with Spectra, but he was almost positive he hadn't said anything like- Like that!

"Didn't have to, Danny-boy," Jack grinned, ruffling his hair with a fond, amused look that had Danny relaxing near at once. While he saw Clockwork as a father figure a hell of a lot, his dad would always be, well, his dad. At least they seemed alright with finding out this - although, after finding out he was half-ghost, there wasn't much his parents weren't okay with. "Oh, that reminds me! Vladdie wanted you to stop on by."

"Oh- Oh, yeah, sure. It's been a while since I've seen him, anyways." It would probably reassure Vlad to know that Danny was okay and Spectra was… That she wouldn't be hurting anyone else. "I just napped so I'll go on and head over?"

"We'll have lunch ready and waiting!" There was a loud clattering of pans and swearing from downstairs, Danny absolutely certain he had just heard his mother speak words that he had never even knew existed. "Er, maybe."

"If Vlad offers to let me eat lunch with him then I'm staying." Vlad was rich, he could afford to feed an extra mouth.

Instead of shooting back his own joke, Jack only smiled at him and brought him in for another hug, Danny frowning and, that- That was a bit strange. "I'm glad you're alright."

"Dad?" Yeah, his dad was affectionate, but this was strange even for him. "You alright?" The hug tightened for a moment, a hand settling on his hair and… For a moment, it felt like he was five years old and the hug his dad gave him proved that nothing could ever hurt him.

"Nothing at all, Danny. I'm just glad you're okay." What- Oh. Oh, so even his parents had noticed those last few weeks. Biting his lip, Danny threw his arms around Jack's neck and hugged him tight.

"I'm okay. I promise." He had a lot to make up for, but now, at least, he had the time to do it. Things were going to be better. He had promised.

::

"Jesus. You can't have a normal evil mansion, can you? No, you have to live in the most confusing evil mansion ever to be built!"

"You could always try coming through the front door instead of my ghost portal." Yeah, but where was the fun in that? Besides, this way Danny got to double check to make sure Vlad wasn't up to any sort of evil plot-

A high pitched shriek had Danny looking around for trouble at once, body tensing as something crashed into him and sent him reeling back. The only thing that kept him from firing off half a dozen shots was Vlad's fond smile and black hair near smothering him that smelled like some stupid ocean breeze shampoo. "Danny, Danny, Danny!" He knew that voice…

"Dani?" Managing to pry the beaming girl back, Danny felt the smile mirrored on his face as he let go and hugged her back against him. "Dani! Oh, mean, you've been gone for ages- Jeez, I haven't seen you since summer ended. Are you okay? How have you been doing- What are you doing here?"

"She thought the dining room would be the best area to lay an ambush," Vlad explained, and, yeah, that sounded like Dani, but it also explained nothing. Why was Dani here with Vlad?

"Hey, do I know my cuz, or do I know my cuz?" Dani smirked, pleased as could be before she gasped and pushed herself backwards. "Oh yeah! I almost forgot!" With that, Dani was squirming out of his hold and floating a foot or two back before holding out her hand. "Hi! My name is Elle Masters and it's a pleasure to meet you!"

"Uh." Really, what other response was he supposed to have to that? Elle? Yeah, okay, he could see Elle. No, the thing tripping him up was Masters. Looking to Vlad, the man raised his hands peacefully.

"She was quite insistent on the last name. I offered to have it legally changed to whatever she wished, but, well. Stubborness is a trait you two share."

Danny opened his mouth, pausing as Dani - Elle - pouted and held out her hand more. Actually, looking closely, she looked more… More alive. Even in her ghostly state she was already different. Her eyes stayed that bright green that was a bit lighter than Danny's, her hair was long and some of it was braided and hastily shoved out of the way, and even her outfit was different. No more hazmat suit.

"Hi, Elle." This was no longer Danielle who was his clone. This was, apparently, Elle Masters, who smiled brighter than anyone. "It's nice to meet you."

Elle's smile grew and Danny recognized the look on Vlad's face as the look on Jack's that he had seen not even twenty minutes ago. Had even that changed when he wasn't paying attention? "Oh, right!" That was his only warning before Danny was yelping and trying to get away from the little gremlin that was pawing at him. "I need your phone. We need to compare pictures of France so we can see who took the better ones - me, of course, but I wanna give you a fighting chance."

"Hey, hey, no pockets in the hazmat suit!" Danny finally managed to squirm away and hide behind Vlad, sticking his tongue out at Elle's pouting. It was kind of amusing to see Vlad looked more happy than Danny had ever seen him. Maybe… Maybe it really was just a family he had always been after. "Is this why you wanted to see me?"

"Well, I also wanted to make sure you were alright." Alright? Why- "I heard about the bridge, Daniel." Oh. Changing back, Danny landed on the floor with a small thump, rubbing at the back of his neck. "Do you need to talk about it?"

"I am with Andy and Randy. I know she'll never bother me again- That she'll never be able to bother me again, but I- It's hard, but…"

"It's progress." Yeah- Yes. This was what he had always wanted from Vlad. Someone who got it.

"So- So, okay, catch me up here, when the hell did Elle get here?" Danny wobbled as Elle dropped down to hang off of his back, trying not to laugh as she curled against him.

"No more than two months ago." That long? Did that mean… Vlad smiled at him, giving a slight nod. "She's more mature than you or I will ever be."

"Heck yeah I am!" Elle squirmed closer for a moment, Danny pausing as he heard her whisper quiet enough that not even Vlad would hear. "It's okay, now. We're okay."

"Yeah… Yeah, you're way more mature than I'll ever be." This girl started with a life that no one would want- Jesus, it wasn't even a life at first, and now… Now she was growing, and happy, and had a home she could finally call her own.

"It's so great! Vlad's even gotten me tutors and everything and catching me up to speed and I get to start being a normal kid!"

"Yeah, a normal kid who can fly and has a thousand dollar allowance each month." Danny dragged the girl off of him and held her out like he might a puppy, Elle grinning at him.

"You know, Daniel." Oh, no, what was the Fruitloop gonna do to ruin the moment? "I could give you an allowance as well, if you want one. Elle's is hovering at about four thousand right now."

"Wha- Seriously?" How the fuck- "Okay, first of all, you'll call her Elle, but you won't call me Danny?" Vlad just smiled and ugh. Ugh. "Second of all, seriously?" Four thousand- Like, okay, Danny wasn't exactly hurting on expenses. His parents made a decent amount with their science patents and Andrew and Randy had funds left over from their assassin days and their need to play with alchemy and turn things into silver and gold, so, like… He wasn't bad on money, but more would always be nice.

"You know you want to say yes," Elle grinned, Danny huffing and thinking about dropping her. "You won't drop me." Brat.

"I'll pass, thanks." Danny had some of his pride left. "Although if you wanted to make a donation to the college fund Mom and Dad have going for me, I mean, I won't say no to that."

"I'm sure you wouldn't. Well, come on, then. Elle wanted to try baking today. Perhaps with your help we won't burn down half the kitchen counter this time."

"Right." Danny carefully set Elle down before ruthlessly messing with her hair and making it into a mess. Ah, so this was what it was like to have a little sibling - or, well, little cousin? "C'mon, I'll teach you how to make some cake."

A few hours later and while the stove wasn't burned down, the kitchen was a little worse for wear. Vlad, at least, had stepped up to the challenge and explained he stress baked in college and oh, Danny had definitely teleported some things home to Vidya for later. Hopefully Andrew and Randy wouldn't question randomly appearing sweets.

"Oh, wow, that late?" Danny looked at the clock from where he was eating his fifth - sixth? - piece of… Something. It was something. "I should get home, I guess."

"I'll fly you to the portal." Elle was changing back into her ghost side, Danny amused as Vlad just intently focused on the piping of a cake he had pulled out of the oven.

"Bye, Vlad." 'Uncle' Vlad, hm. Maybe Danny would have to think about that a bit more, soon. Shrugging it off for now, Danny flew after Elle, smiling brightly at her. She really had grown since he had last seen her.

"He really has changed, you know." This girl was better than them all. "I mean, you're probably all concerned and feeling hero-y and all that, but-"

"Hey, hey, no, I know you can take care of yourself." Danny flew closer and captured her in a hug, knowing it was the right move when she returned it at once. "I gave him a second chance, too, Elle."

"I think… I think I'm starting to see him like a dad again. I know there's a lot to change and forgive, but-"

"Hey." Danny calmed her with a touch to her cheek, smile falling as she leaned into it at once. Not even a few years alive and she had been through so much and yet she still trusted them all so much. "You're right, there is a lot to forgive, but take it slow. He deserves a second chance, but so do you, and his happiness shouldn't have to come at the expense of yours, right?"

"Right." Elle hugged him tight, sniffing very dramatically. "You're the best cousin slash big brother slash clone a girl could have."

"Yeah, let's stick with cousin for right now." Letting them both indulge for another minute or two, Danny finally let Elle go. "Alright, go save the cake we left in the oven before Vlad gets pissed at me."

"Oh! Right! The chocolate one!" Sugar addict. Shaking his head, Danny flew leisurely into the lab hidden in the basement, near having a heart attack at seeing Vlad leaning up against a counter and waiting for him.

"Jesus- I thought you stopped being a total crazy evil supervillain! Leaning up against counters and waiting dramatically is a villain thing!" Although it was rather ruined by the fact Vlad still had frosting and flour on his cheek and forehead.

"I'll have you know I was doing that long before you were even a thought." Eugh. "Relax, Daniel. I just wanted-"

"To secretly ask me what Elle told me so you'll know to change your behavior or not?" Ha, that look said it all. "Andy and Randy are good teachers."

"Mm." Ah, right, they had that whole 'rival' kind of thing going on. "I don't suppose you'll tell me what she said, then?"

"Nah, that's no fun." Danny flew over and sat on the counter beside him, tail flicking at Vlad's side and earning him a huff from the man. It felt nice, like this. When the lab was dark and silent and the only sound was the portal behind them - where the only light was the portal behind them. "Just… Just keep being her dad. It'll all work out."

"Yes, well." Aw, he was blushing. "I… I know it might not make a difference for me or for us, but I have… I've been seeing a therapist the past few weeks now. Ever since she came back."

"Wha- Really!" Danny perked up, grin bright and oh, man. That was- That was amazing! The fact that Vlad was trying- And a few weeks!

"I might have fudged a little on the finer details of my life, but it's… It's been helping." Alright, Vlad kind of deserved to suffer a hug for that one. Although, Danny had a feeling that Vlad wasn't suffering all that badly.

"None of us are ever going to be perfect," Vlad said quietly, carefully - so carefully - resting a hand on Danny's head. "We're far too damaged for that. Yet… The three of us know how to work best when we're damaged, I believe."

"'S not just you and me anymore," Danny grinned, letting him go. "I know… I know it's not the family you ever wanted-"

"It's perfect, Daniel. All of you… Having Jack and Maddie as friends again, having Elle in my life, seeing you grow and be better than I ever was- Oh, little badger, it's perfect."

"If I cry then you don't get to ever tell anyone, okay?" It was getting better. There was a lot to make up for and a lot to fix in all their lives, but this… This was a damn good start to it all.