Hello fellow Phans! Sorry it's been awhile, if only my life revolved around the DP world then I could update sooner. Sadly, this is not the case, life is too demanding right now! So I'm sorry to bring this story to an abrupt end, this not what I intended and I hope you are not too mad at me!

Here is the final chapter to No Second Chances.

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Four Years Later…

Danny stepped out of the limousine and gazed at the NASA facility before him, taking it all in. It had been only a dream for so long, the reality of it was taking a while to sink in. Vlad Master's stepped out of the other the side of the limo. He walked around and stood beside Danny, Squinting from the brightness of the vast Florida sun.

"Isn't it great?" Danny asked the man absentmindedly.

Vlad raised an eyebrow at the younger man. "No greater than what it was six months ago when you visited the open day." Vlad answered.

Danny smirked at the man. "Come on Vlad, even you have to admit this place is pretty awesome."

"Well, it's no Madison University, but if it keeps you occupied and out of that Ghost Zone for a change then who am I to argue?"

Danny looked the billionaire and frowned. Vlad had been more sour and snippy than usual the past few days. Danny was aware that he could easily push Vlad's buttons, and did get under the man's skin on an occasional basis. However, Danny couldn't think of anything he'd done recently to annoy the man. In fact, he'd been too preoccupied with packing and preparing himself to begin his astronaut training to cause any trouble. Danny turned and hulled his cases out of the limo, Vlad didn't move an inch to offer any assistance. Danny shrugged it off, even though he knew this was very unlike Vlad. Usually the man was overbearingly involved. Danny wasn't sure what had knocked Vlad into this foul mood, but he was certain he wasn't going to let it ruin the day he'd been dreaming of his whole life.

()()()

Vlad followed Danny whilst he registered and found his way to his dorm room, not once uttering a word even though the younger halfa was chatting away to him enthusiastically. Less than a couple hours later Danny had finished unpacking and sorting his room.

"Well, what do you think?" Danny asked, turning towards Vlad and smiling.

Vlad's dull expression didn't break. "Hm, it's marvellous." He replied sarcastically.

"Alright what is with you?" Danny snapped, "You've been in a terrible mood all day. All week even! Have I done something to annoy you?"

Surprisingly, Vlad chuckled at Danny's minor outburst. "You can't tell, why am I not surprised?"

"So I have done something?" Danny asked scowling, "What?"

Vlad glared at Danny. "After everything I've done for you this is how you repay me. You go and run off without a care in the world!"

"What are you talking about?" Danny demanded. "I'm leaving for college, I'm finally going to make something of myself. I thought you'd be happy. I even got in on my own merit remember? I got that scholarship."

"A scholarship awarded by the private school which I paid for." Vlad said coldly. "Admit it Daniel, you could never have achieved all this before I stepped in and you know it. Moving away from your pathetic little home town was the best thing that happened to you."

Danny jerked back slightly, hurt by what the older man had just said to him. He could feel his fists involuntarily tighten. "Don't go there Vlad. I don't want to argue with you, and I don't get why you're so upset. You always said that you wanted to help me, now you resent me for it?"

Vlad sighed upon hearing the confusion and hurt in Danny's voice. "I don't resent you, Daniel. And I don't regret taking you in. But I'm angry that you're throwing it all back in my face. You could have stayed in Wisconsin and studied at Madison. You could have worked alongside me and taken over my companies when I retired. You could have had everything you ever wanted Daniel. Yet you're choosing to run off and fulfil some childish dream of becoming a spaceman. I'm sure you'll probably return to pathetic little Amity Park when you graduate, fix up your old misshapen house and work at the space centre in Axion Labs. Not to mention return to your little ghost fighting job! If there's one thing I could never fix with you Daniel, it was your ridiculous hero complex."

Danny stared sadly at Vlad. Would all of that be such a bad thing? He couldn't help but feel upset that Vlad did not share the happiness he felt at finally fulfilling his dreams. Realistically, he knew he owed a lot of his success to Vlad. Danny thought back to how Vlad had taken him in, had been patient and comforting when he was grieving for the loss of his family, friends and home. He even helped Danny to overcome his mental illness of post-traumatic stress disorder, helped him through it all and made it okay again. It was as if Danny had been in the dark and Vlad turned on the light, had been broken and Vlad put the pieces back together. Danny knew that it was true, without Vlad's care, help and protection, Danny would not be here right now. He had seen a different side to Vlad Masters which no one knew existed, the side that proved he had a heart. Danny had grown to really like this side of him. The side he was seeing right now, unfortunately, demonstrated the side which reminded Danny of what he had been like when he first met him.

"I'm sorry you feel that way Vlad." Danny said quietly, "I am grateful for everything you've done for me, really, I just haven't had the chance to say it yet. I didn't know that you wanted all of that stuff for me, but honestly Vlad, I couldn't do it anyway. That's who you are, not me. And I can't live in your shadow forever Vlad, I can be your apprentice. I still have to live my own life."

Vlad looked at Danny, thinking for a few minutes. He always knew that Danny had the potential to grow up well and make something great of himself. He knew he should feel proud and share in the boy's success. However, the sting of Danny leaving him was overpowering these positive feelings. Vlad knew deep down that he didn't want Danny to leave, he cared too much about him now and he was such a huge part of his life. But Danny was over eighteen now, and had no reason to stay in Wisconsin if he didn't want to. He was now free to live his life and make his own decisions, much to Vlad's dismay.

However, Vlad did feel proud of Danny. Deep down he was pleased to see his charge so happy, considering how hurt he was when Vlad first took him in. Vlad felt lucky to have helped him grow up and have had such a good impact on his life as he had on his. Vlad was aware that his anger was all directed at how much he was going to miss him. But he could never let Danny know this.

Vlad sighed, "I know." He finally replied.

He then outreached his hand to Danny, as a peace offering and a farewell. Danny looked at it for a few seconds, then threw his arms around Vlad's neck and pulled him into a tight hug. Vlad did not reject this embrace, and contently appreciated it for several seconds.

"You know something Vlad, I think you'll miss me." Danny smirked as he pulled away.

"Hm. Speaking of miss, you better not miss any of your classes or training, I know what you're like Daniel Fenton. You won't have me to keep you right anymore." Vlad responded, as he turned to leave. Then he paused for a second "Take care of yourself Daniel." He said before he walked out the door.

Danny followed and stood at the doorway. "Hey Fruitloop," He called after Vlad down the corridor, who turned around with a scowl, "See you at Christmas?" Danny asked with a smile.

"I'm counting on it, you little rat!" Vlad called back with a smirk. He'd never even considered the possibility that Danny would want to visit him.

()()()

As Vlad existed the training facility, he wondered what adventures would lie ahead for Danny, secretly praying that he would be okay. As he sat in the limo and headed for the airport, he felt the sting of knowing he would be returning to a huge empty house. He knew he had grown too fond and attached to having Danny around, now it was coming back to bite him. Although he had already began plotting another scheme involving one the lost treasures hidden within the Ghost Zone. That would keep him busy at least. He admitted o himself that even though there were advantages to having Danny around Vlad realised now that he had severely mis-judged the time and effort it took to raise a teenager! There was no doubt the boy had a handful, but he wouldn't change it for the world.

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So there you have it, my faithful readers. I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing. I want to apologise again for cutting the story short, I planned to include the process of Danny overcoming the PTSD, finally bonding with Vlad and moving on. Please don't be mad at me! A huge thank you for picking my story, and especially to those of you who have followed/favourited and reviewed. It has meant a lot to me, and I hope I haven't let you down with the premature ending.

So long for now…

xseriouslyx