Chapter Eighty-Eight: New

Valerie stayed over for three weeks while Vlad made her new equipment. During that time, she got to know "Shade" and "Daniel" very well, and thought that she once saw Lucretius glowing but shook it off as lack of sleep.

"You may as well stay for next week, too." James remarked as they watched Lucretius play in the den.

"No, I can't. I promised my dad I'd be back by Christmas." Valerie sighed. "Thanks for the offer, though."

"How is your father?" James asked, reaching over to take something from Lucretius. "Not in your mouth, Luc."

"Miiine!" Lucretius whined.

Valerie smiled. "Well, he's…doing better. We had a scare for a little while, when he had a stroke, but he's otherwise doing okay." She sighed. "The whole town was on high-alert when I left after Phantom attacked FentonWorks, but since he hasn't attacked anyone else people are figuring that it was a personal attack and they have nothing to fear."

"Why would Phantom attack the Fentons?" James asked.

"Well, he might blame Jack Fenton for the loss of his friend. Geez, why didn't Danny just say he was Phantom's friend…" She rubbed the back of her head. "No wonder he got nervous whenever I mentioned wiping him out. I guess our relationship wasn't gonna last, huh?"

"Wait, 'relationship'?" James knelt down and picked up Lucretius. "Luc, don't pull at the expensive rug."

Valerie blushed. "Well…we dated, for a little bit. It fell apart, though, because I was always fighting Phantom and had no time for him."

"So, you dated Phantom more than you dated Danny." James remarked.

"It was NOT a 'date'!" Valerie frowned.

"Depends on who you ask." Shade remarked from his chair. He was reading a book with Daniel on his lap, but he'd set it down and looked over. "A dinner date, a fishing date, a fighting date…it's all a 'date', and there doesn't have to be romance involved."

"I…I guess so." Valerie blinked. "I never thought about it that way."

"Of course, you could see it as you cheating on Danny with Phantom, if you want to." Shade grinned. "And now you're cheating on Dan with him. Tsk tsk, Valerie."

"I am NOT!" Valerie stood up, her face red. "I-I just…he ruined my life!" She stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Shade watched her go, chuckling. "Ah, I love getting her goat. Brings back memories."

"You're messed up." Daniel chuckled.

Valerie fumed and left the door, storming off to the lab. Dan and Vlad were hard at work on her equipment, with Sam bringing them tools every now and then. They looked up in surprise when she entered and Dan set down his tool.

"Valerie, what's the matter?" Dan asked.

"Your friend was…teasing me." She huffed. "Said I was cheating with Phantom."

"To be fair, you are getting new equipment just to battle him." Dan remarked.

"T-That's different!" Valerie sputtered.

"I'm just kidding, Val." He smiled and kissed her. "I don't think you're cheating, babe. Relax and go back up, and tell Shade that I'll talk to him later about messing with you."

She nodded, walking up.

After she left and the soundproof door was closed, Vlad chuckled a bit. "Kind of hard to cheat on you with yourself, isn't it?"

"She doesn't know that." Dan shrugged. "And, if I have it my way, she never will."

After her equipment was finished, Dan saw her off with a kiss and then waved as she flew off on her new equipment. Danny joined him at the door and sighed. "She's not gonna have a reason to use that, y'know."

"Eh, why deny her our dates?" Dan smirked. "I'll just avoid dad."

"No, Phantom." Danny groaned. "Don't do that."

"But it will be awesome." Dan stretched.

"Guys!" Sam ran out to them. "The Box Ghost just came by with news!"

"Oh no." Dan frowned.

"Alright!" Danny smiled. "She's had the baby?"

"Little Box Lunch has been born." Sam grinned.

"Aw, crud." Dan groaned. "Now I have to accept that they're married and have a baby!"

"We attended the wedding. Why wouldn't you accept that?" Sam asked.

"…Shut up." Dan mumbled.

Danny laughed and went to the lab to congratulate The Box Ghost, taking off his bracelet as he did.

Dan sighed and did the same, Sam following behind.

They found Danny already cooing over the baby girl. "Aww, she's so beautiful…" He smiled at him. "I bet you're a proud papa."

"NATURALLY!" The Box Ghost beamed.

"Shh, lower volumes. Just like when you saw Lucretius." Danny reminded him.

"Of course! I was just so excited I forgot!" He smiled sheepishly. "I hear that Ghostwriter is making a school outside of his library since he has been getting so many students, and is looking for teachers!"

"I guess we can't just use Poindexter's school?" Danny shrugged.

"No, we cannot! Ghostwriter and Poindexter HATE each other, though I don't understand why!" The Box Ghost replied.

"Maybe because Ghostwriter is a bully with his ruler?" Dan remarked, rubbing his head. "Alright, let's see the imp." He walked over and looked at the baby wrapped in a small tablecloth. "Okay…I admit it, she's cute. You did good, Box Ghost." He patted his shoulder.

"Yeah, that's a good reason." Danny nodded. "He doesn't much like Skulker, either."

"Difference between them, though, is that Ghostwriter isn't as tough as Skulker and can't whup your butt as bad if you annoy him." Dan remarked. "Though, he can whip you pretty good…"

"Let's not talk about that around the baby." Danny frowned at him.

The Box Ghost nodded firmly, holding Box Lunch close. "Box Lunch is MUCH too young for THAT kind of talk!"

"I wan' see!" Lucretius came flying into the lab, spinning in the air as he weaved around the adults.

"Whoa, where did you come from?" Danny laughed as Lucretius came to stop by the baby and smiled. "See? Box Lunch."

"Bowunch." Lucretius nodded, reaching out to touch her outstretched hand. "Hi, Bowunch!"

"Aww." Sam smiled, watching the scene. "Oh, camera!" She ran off to get one, leaving the men alone with the kids.

"How's the mother doing?" Danny asked as he saw Box Lunch wrap her hand around Lucretius' fingers.

"She is doing well!" Box Ghost said, nodding. "She is resting, after her ordeal!"

Sam came back in with Vlad, Plasmius, and Dani, a camera in her hands. "Alright, I got a camera!"

"Ohh, so cute!" Dani cooed.

"She is!" Box Ghost beamed, shifting position so Sam could get a good picture of him and Box Lunch. Lucretius was pulled away by Danny, but his hand was still held by hers so it got into the picture.

"Aww, now one with the kids!" Sam smiled. "Dads, pose together!"

Dan moved far away so he didn't get in the shot, leaning against the wall while Sam took pictures excitedly with the kids and dads, then Dani and the kids, then Dani took pictures while Sam posed with the kids. Geez, so many pictures…

"A Christmas Truce party?" Vlad asked, looking up at Danny from his desk.

"Yeah. All of our ghost friends have a party on Christmas just like we do, so why not just hold it in our mansion?" Danny asked. "I mean, it'd be good to catch up with some of them. And we don't have anyone visiting right now that we have to avoid having ghosts around for."

Vlad sighed. "Very well. But, you're going to make sure that they don't wreck the place." He pointed at him. "Got that? Your responsibility."

"Yes, sir." Danny said playfully, leaving the room. Then he ran to the others to tell the good news before they wrote out invitations to all their ghost friends.

D'awww, baby Box Lunch! Such a cute baby! And she and Luc are already friends! ^^
Dan's all "Feh, too cool for family pictures." ~ Zone