Chapter Fifty-Nine: Christmas Eve

All week, Vlad had tried changing Danny's clothes to something more festive, but they changed to black as soon as they were on. He'd tried changing the bandages – even though he found no wounds beneath – and they regained the wounded look. It seemed that Danny's shadow-ghost nature was intent on keeping him looking like he had been beaten the crud out of recently.

"He looks like we took him out of the Addams family." Dan remarked on the day of the party.

"Well, there's nothing we can do about that." Vlad said, shaking his head. "Well, we better not be late the party."

"Shadow ghosts are officially weird." Danny said, shaking his head. "I can't wait until I'm no longer one, because all this black is depressing."

"You're not wearing the Christmas sweater?" Vlad asked Dan.

Dan frowned. "I already wore it once. That's it."

Danny chuckled. "I don't think he likes it, Vlad."

"Well, suit yourself. Let's be off, then." Vlad led the two out, heading out of the hotel and to the car. They arrived at the Manson house early and Sam met them at the door in a purple dress. "Whoa. You make goth and emo kids look nice and peppy, James."

"Thaaaanks. Can we use that makeup you mentioned?" Danny asked.

"C'mon, in my rom." She grinned and led him away, leaving Dan and Vlad to talk to her parents.

Danny followed behind her, sitting down in a chair when she directed him. He caught sight of himself in the mirror and sighed. "I look so ghastly…"

"Aw, I think it's kind of cute." Sam stroked his white hair and then opened a box. "Okay, let's start with some foundation…to cover up the sickly pallor and bruise. Why didn't you wear something else?"

"I tried. But because I'm a shadow ghost everything but the bandages and my skin and eyes are black. And the bandages are always stained with blood from wounds that aren't even THERE, and—"

"Okay, okay." Sam kissed him gently. "Relax, we'll figure this thing out."

She finished applying the foundation and pulled out some blush. "Let's give your cheeks a bit of color." She said, gently dusting it so it was visible but not too visible and only if you got close. Then she pulled out lipstick and he flinched back.

"No, I think we're good with this." He said, shaking his head.

"Okay." She smiled and put it all away. "Yeah, you look a lot better now."

He looked in the mirror and nodded. The bruises and scratches were safely concealed, and he looked…healthy. He adjusted his hair and sighed; he still didn't look like Danny. He wondered if he ever would. "Alright, so…"

"C'mon, down to the party." She took his hand and led him downstairs to the others. Music from "The Nutcracker" was playing through tall speakers and he noticed that more people had arrived since he'd gone up to get his makeup done.

"Hey, why is your family doing this big Christmas party?" He asked, looking at her. "Aren't you Jewish?"

"Yeah, but they wanted to find any reason they could to cheer up to the town. "Your death still has a lot of people down, mostly because it told them that their kids aren't safe from the Guys in White's psycho attacks." She sighed. "The Fentons were invited out of pity, but they really don't like your dad."

They got the crowd and he saw Dan hanging out Dash, Valerie and Paulina, laughing at some joke they were telling. 'He's always been better at social stuff than me…' He thought.

'Hang in there, bro.' He heard Dan say in his head. 'Don't make yourself needlessly sad.'

"Right." He murmured. Sam had walked off to talk to someone, so he made his way to the refreshments table. He looked over at Dan as he walked and didn't notice when he bumped into someone. "Ow, oops! Sorry!" He cried, stumbling back.

"You alright, son?" He looked up and saw that he'd bumped right into Jack Fenton. "Oh, you're, uh…James, right?" He smiled and held out a hand. "I forgot to introduce myself before! Jack Fenton, world-reknown ghost-hunter!"

Danny reached out and shook his hand. "H-Hi…Yeah, I'm…James." He said softly.

"You're really quiet." Jack frowned. "You okay?"

"M-My father…" Danny said, glancing away. "He…hurt me. Now I can't talk so well…"

Jack pursed his lips and gently released his hand. "It was good of Vladdy to take you in. He's a great guy; you'll live the high life with him!" He smiled brightly.

Danny nodded, fidgeting with his bandages. "Uhm…I was going to get some food."

"Oh, right! Here, let me let you through." Jack moved out of his way, smiling. "Go on, son."

"Son"; he hadn't called him that since he was pretending he had accepted his half-ghost nature. Danny moved past him, trying not to let him see the hurt expression on his face. He felt like crying, but held it back. If he cried, Dan would be mad, Vlad would be mad, and dad would be hurt.

"Dan? What's wrong?" Valerie asked. "You look so mad all of a sudden."

"Huh?" Dan blinked, then rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah, sorry. I was just…thinking of something, that's all. Sorry to worry you."

"Yeah, we were worried you were turn into the Hulk or something!" Dash said, laughing a bit.

'As mad as I was, I might've; good thing I'm wearing the dampener.' He thought. "No, I'm not gonna do that. Don't worry." He then looked up as the next song played. "You know, I haven't asked Valerie to dance yet. Valerie, would you like to dance?"

"Sure." Valerie smiled, taking his hand and letting him lead her away, her yellow spaghetti-strap ball gown brushing against the floor as they walked.

They moved together as the song played; a perfect waltz that Dan had been taught by Vlad during one of their more romantic nights. She smiled fondly at him and then rested her head on his shoulder, their hands clasped together as his hold tightened slightly around her waist.

He noticed Danny and Sam had joined them on the dance floor, among a few other couples. Danny seemed to be looking a lot healthier, thanks to Sam's makeup – he would have to ask her what they used. Valerie kissing his cheek brought his attention back to her and he ignored Danny for the rest of the dance, finishing it with a kiss before they broke it and walked off to find a quiet place to talk while the crowd clapped and whistled.

"I didn't realize we had an audience." He said, walking into the dimly lit hall with her.

"'Course not." She smiled and kissed him. "You're pretty one-track sometimes. You worried about your new little brother?"

He sighed. "Caught me, huh? Yeah, I am. He's so skittish around crowds."

"Well, it looks like Sam is taking care of him." She laced her fingers with his, leaning in close. "So, you don't have to worry about him right now."

"Are you saying 'pay attention to me'?" Dan raised an eyebrow before kissing her. "You're so forceful, Valerie."

"Oh, I'll show you how 'forceful' I can be." Valerie grinned, pushing him against the wall and kissing him.

"Ahem." Sam was the interruption this time. "I don't care if you two make out or have sex or whatever, just don't do it in my house or in my hallway. There's a perfectly good hotel not too far from here."

Dan chuckled a bit. "Well? Wanna leave the party?"

"Let me get my coat; it's cold out there." Valerie smiled and then she walked off with him to the coat closet, the two getting their coats before disappearing into the night.

"So, uhm…" Sam walked up to Vlad, wincing a bit. "I kind of just told Valerie and Dan to go get a room and they left the hotel."

He sighed. "We might need to stay the night, then. He's not going to get another room when he has a perfectly good one we use already."

"I'll talk to my parents about you staying the night." Sam nodded, walking off and leaving Danny with Dan.

"I need to learn how to block him out." Danny sighed, leaning against the wall next to Vlad. "I can't see it, but I can hear his thoughts perfectly well."

Vlad smiled and rubbed his head. Danny leaned into the touch, relaxing.

"V-man!" Danny stiffened up as Jack approached. "How come you're not dancing with anyone?"

"Because I have a frightened orphan to take care of and you're married to the only woman in this place I have any semblance of interest in?" Vlad asked coolly.

"Oh. Well, I don't mind you dancing with her; just don't forget that she IS my wife." Jack grinned. "I'll watch your orphan for you!"

"Jack, I really don't think—" Vlad was cut off by Maddie joining them.

"Oh, what would it hurt?" Maddie smiled. "One dance, put all our differences behind us?"

Vlad looked torn and knelt next to Danny, looking him in the eyes. "What do you think? Will you be alright?"

Danny pursed his lips and then nodded. "I'll be fine." He smiled. Vlad sighed and nodded, heading off to dance with Maddie while Jack stayed by his side.

One thing was good about what Valerie and Dan running off. His mind always got clouded when he was in the throes of lust, so he couldn't know Danny's thoughts. Jack gingerly placed a hand on Danny's shoulder and gave an encouraging smile.

"You know, you're about the age my son would be." He said softly. "My son…I lost him many months ago. A horrible incident…"

Was he talking about when Phantom was born or when he was "attacked by the Guys in White"? Danny didn't know, and he didn't know what to say besides "I'm sorry to hear that."

"Yes. You…you just don't know when things like that will happen." Jack sighed. "I'm told you're an orphan. What happened to your family? You mentioned your father was…"

"Abusive?" He asked softly. "They're dead. Don't know how, I just know they are. I was living on the streets being harassed by a street gang when he and Dan found me." He smiled. "You should've seen 'em. They fought off the gang so fast, and then I was being lifted into Vlad's arms. I was scared, at first, but I was so tired I didn't know what to do. I think I passed out after resisting a bit, and then when I woke up I was in the castle, and Dan was offering me some water. All my wounds were wrapped up and I was safe from harm. Then they got the invitation to come here and had an argument about not wanting to leave me behind, so I said I would come along." He looked down. "I'm worried that I'm just a burden, though."

"You're not a burden." Jack said softly, gently rubbing his head. "Is your hair naturally white?"

He nodded. "Since I was born."

The song ended and Vlad gave Jack a look of death before Jack moved his hand and Vlad got between the two. "What were you talking about?" Vlad asked.

"He was telling me about your heroic rescue from the thugs." Jack smiled. "You and Dan are really a good team, aren't you?"

"It's been months, so we have formed a connection." Vlad smiled. "He's very protective of James, so you're lucky he's gone off. Though, right now he doesn't seem interested in anyone besides Miss Gray."

"You mean…?" Jack smiled. "Ah, young love. I remember when I first…"

He continued on, but Danny didn't hear it or want to hear it. He walked off, leaving Vlad to be his father's captive audience. He stepped out into the hall and sighed, sitting down on a chaise set up for relaxing.

"Phantom?" He heard Dash say in surprise.

He smiled a bit and looked up. "No, sorry. I may be sickly, but I'm not dead."

"No, you look like…aw, nevermind." Dash walked over and sat next to him. "So, you're…Dan's brother?"

"Well, kind of. His godfather took me in, so he sees me as a little brother." Danny replied. "Are you one of Dan's friends?"

"Well, more like a friend-of-a-friend." Dash said, shrugging a bit.

It felt so weird, talking to Dash without worrying about being slammed into the wall. "You called me 'Phantom' earlier…is my makeup coming off?"

"Makeup?" Dash blinked.

"Y-Yeah…" He looked down. "Miss Manson – 'Sam', Dan calls her – gave me some makeup to cover up my sickly pallor and b-bruises. I was worried it was coming off…"

"Ah, no." Dash shook his head. "You look healthy as a horse!" He grinned. "No, Phantom is someone that also has white hair. He was around here a lot until a few months back. I thought you were him from a distance, with your black and white clothes and white hair. Though, I gotta admit that his outfit was different."

"I see." Danny nodded. "Well, I'm not from around here. I'm sorry if I got your hopes up."

"Ah, it's okay." Dash sighed. "I just miss him, y'know? He was proof that there was still hope in this world; that even the dead could care."

"Dead?" Danny blinked.

"Yeah. Danny Phantom was a ghost, a friendly one, who protected the people and fought back the evil ghosts and bad people. He risked his afterlife for us, but so many of us just spat in his face! The Fentons were always shooting at him!" He glared towards the ballroom.

Danny smiled a bit. "He sounds like a nice guy. I wish he could've been there for me when my father…" He looked down. "A-Anyways, it doesn't matter anymore. I have a new life now, with James and Mr. Vlad."

"I didn't get your name, by the way." Dash held out a hand. "Dash Baxter." He grinned.

"I'm James." He took his hand, smiling a bit.

"You're quiet, James, but you're sure friendly." Dash smiled. "It's really good that you were taken in by Vlad Masters, he can give you all the comforts you'll ever need!"

Danny nodded, then slowly stood up. "I should get back to his side. Merry Christmas, Dash." He said softly, walking back into the ballroom.

"Merry Christmas, James." Dash replied.

Danny walked through the ballroom and then gasped in pain, feeling a pain shoot through his body. He knelt down, groaning, and looked around. Vlad…where was Vlad? He needed…ecto-energy. His parents were here. Maybe the Fenton Portal? No, it had been sealed up. Think, other portals…there had to be some!

He left the ballroom, heading out into the night. 'I have to find a portal!' He thought. 'It hurts!'

"James!" He heard Sam call out, coming out as she pulled her coat on. "Where are you going?"

"I have to find a portal, Sam!" Danny called back, his voice shaky and weak. "Before…" He groaned and slumped to his knees. "Please…find Vlad." He breathed as Sam knelt next to him.

"Okay!" Sam nodded and ran inside, coming out with Vlad, Jazz, and Tucker.

"Daniel?" Vlad breathed, lifting him into his arms.

"Need…ecto-energy." Danny whispered. "Please…"

"…I think I know what to do." Vlad nodded, turning to Sam. "I need a private room."

Sam nodded and led the way back in. They were taken to one of the guest bedrooms, where Vlad laid Danny down on the bed and nodded to them. "Step out and close the door. No one must see this."