A/N: Hi everyone, how's it going. Okay so I'm not feeling this chapter but oh well. I do have an important announcement. On May 15th, I will begin a year and half hiatus. So this means one of two things: 1. You all can wait for another chapter or 2. I'll hand off this fic to one of you.

Thalen crossed his arms as he listened to the two people who claimed to be his parents. He honestly didn't remember anything the two were talking about and honestly he wanted to go back to the halfa group. He wouldn't admit it to them because of his pride, but they were the closest thing to family he had.

"That's nice and all, but I have to go. I'm very busy and should get going," Thalen said gruffly interrupting the woman as she was talking.

"But-we just found you. And we were thinking that you'll want to come back home," the woman said her eyes filling with tears.

"Well, you thought wrong. I don't need either of you," Thalen said angrily, the woman's tears not having any effect on him.

"But where are you going to stay? What are you going to eat?" the woman asked panic in her voice.

"Thalen," Catalina's voice shouted causing the teen to turn and face the woman. She slammed into him crushing him in a hug. She released him before adding, "I have been looking all over for you." Thalen was about to speak when the woman saw the two human adults. She gave a quick glance between Thalen and his parents.

The teen tried to discretely convey that he didn't want to talk to this people who claimed to be his parents. His message must have made it to the woman because she took a protective step in front of him. "I'm sorry. I don't think we've met before. My name's Catalina," the woman introduced herself.

Thalen didn't catch the adults' names, but he didn't care to know them. They abandoned him and nothing they could do will erase that. "Oh, isn't this awkward," the female halfa said with a concerned look. "You see. When I was in Hong Kong, I found Thalen. I saw how he was lonely and I couldn't stand for it. Well, long story short…I adopted him because I thought he didn't have any parents." The woman looked sadly at the teen halfa before looking back to his parents. "I guess in the end it is Thalen's choice," the woman said softly.

Thalen realized what the woman gave him: a chance to get away from these strangers. He mentally smirked before answering, "Of course I choose you, Mom." The taller halfa knew that the woman hated to be called 'mom' even in a sarcastic tone because she was 'not that old'.

"Aww, I love you too," the woman said hugging the teen much to the teen's embarrassment. "I'm not that old," she whispered to him before letting go of him. "I'm so sorry," Catalina said to the two adults who looked at each other confused.

"You can't take him away from us," Thalen's estranged mother shouted being held back by the man.

"I apologize, but he's mine now," Catalina said her loud cheery voice becoming low.

"He's my son."

"He was your son before you abandon him," Catalina said raising her voice, her eyes flashed a brilliant red as the air around her warmed. Thalen looked at the woman knowing that she was angry; he had first hand knowledge of the woman's wrath. The two adults shrunk back no doubt catching the red flash of her eyes. "I recommend that you leave now," the woman said her voice low. The man getting the hint pulled his wife away as she screamed at him and the woman.

"Catalina," Thalen called out to the woman feeling a little nervous at the smirk the woman gave the two retreating adults.

"Well, that was very interesting. Anywho, I need to continue looking for the other halfa. Where did Abigail run off to? I thought I told you to travel in pairs," the woman chattered her earlier demeanor replaced with her normal cheerful one.

"She wanted me to speak to them. Maybe hoping that I'll bond with them or something stupid like that," Thalen said.

Catalina shrugged, "She just wants what's best for you." The woman started to walk away and Thalen followed after her.

"Hey, thanks for chasing them off. I don't know what they were thinking. Like I will go with them," Thalen grumbled thinking about the two adults.

"I know. Apparently you'll like me as your mom more," Catalina said giving the teen a smirk.

"Oh yeah, let's just get those adoption papers signed," Thalen said sarcastically. "I'll love to have Vlad as a dad." The thief jumped as the woman shocked him.

"Seriously, will you just stop with those comments," Catalina said rolling her eyes and hurrying her pace.

Thalen shrugged off her frustration; it was a common argument between the two. "Thalen, there you are. How did it go? Did you bond with your parents? What are they like?" Abigail's voice called out before she came into view.

"Ugh, I don't want to see them ever again," Thalen grumbled. The teen girl looked a little disappointed.

"I'm sorry to hear that," the girl said slumping a little, making the thief feel slightly guilty.

"It's not your fault. Besides I like hanging out with you guys more," Thalen said.

"If I could, I would go home," Abigail sadly. "I miss my family."

"You're more than welcome to go home," Catalina said her tone unreadable.

"But I'm needed here. I'll be home soon enough," Abigail said.

"Right, you'll be home in no time. Hey I got to get going, you know cover more ground and all that," Catalina said giving the two a quick wave, "Make sure you meet me in another fifteen minutes." The teens watched as Catalina went into an alley as a human and fly out as a ghost.

"You know you shouldn't tease her about Vlad," Abigail said seriously. Talen gave her a smirk.

"Why not? It's obvious that they have something going on," Thalen said.

Abigail looked away, "That's only half true. He's not quite over his lost love. But Catalina admitted that she does have feelings for him, but she told Sylvia and me in confidence so don't tell anyone."

"And you're telling me this because you can't keep a secret," Thalen said knowingly deciding to avoid thinking about the two adults' issues.

"Maybe," the girl answered blushing cutely. "I guess we should look for that halfa."

"Or we don't and say we did," Thalen suggested. The girl smiled and nodded.

DP~DP~DP

Catalina flew through the air. She should have kept her cool around Thalen's parents, but she couldn't lose her new family. The woman shook her head; the teens would have to go home eventually. She really didn't have any claim to them.

Catalina sighed and decided to think about that dilemma when it came up. She knew Vlad would tell her that she had to think about the future, but why worry when more exciting things were happening in the present. Speaking of exciting, Catalina felt the faint energy of the halfa that has been causing trouble.

She dove sharply as she saw him, landing roughly on the ground creating a crater in the dirt. "Found you," she said excitedly throwing a peace sign for good measure.

"Just leave me alone," the halfa said as he pushed past the woman; her small frame was easily pushed to one side.

"Hey, just let me talk," the woman complained flying over the teen so she was floating closer to his height.

The teen crossed his arms around his black trench coat. "If I listen will you leave me alone? Your voice is irritating."

"Yes.. maybe," the woman answered. The teen's ocean blue eyes narrowed at the answer. "So what's your name? I would rather call you by your name and not just as you," the woman rambled ignoring the obvious displeasure on the other halfa's face.

"Leon," the other halfa said with coldly.

"Okay so Leon. I know we got off on the wrong foot. But I want to offer you a place to stay you'll be with others like you," Catalina said trying to persuade the halfa.

"No," Leon answered coldly.

"You're sure worked up over some portal. Just get over it. Natural portals open up all the time," Catalina said exasperated.

"This isn't about just the portal. You separated me from…someone important to me," Leon said clenching his fist.

Catalina noticed the threatening action. "Is that it? What if I told you I could make a permanent portal?" It'll have to be at my base of operation, so me and my frien- partner, Vlad, can have control over it. Of course, you can use it anytime you want." The woman said cheerfully. She knew that there was no way she had the power to open a portal to the Ghost Zone, but Leon didn't have to know that.

"What's the catch?" Leon asked.

"No catch. Just stay with me and my band of halfas. You'll have a place to stay and food to eat and real clothes," the woman stating adding the last part when she caught sight of the other halfa's clothing choice: bandages under a trenchcoat and pants a size too big.

"There's nothing wrong with the way I dress," Leon said clenching his fists tighter, "I don't need you, any of you." Catalina let the teen get away this only because she knew he could pack a punch and she wasn't in the mood for a fight.

She turned away from the teen, deciding that Leon just needed more time. He'll come around eventually.

DP~DP~DP

Robin walked along the street. "I found you," a girl's voice called out. Robin turned to see a girl running towards him. Her short-topped boots were pounding the sidewalk and her nude-colored cardigan fluttered in the wind. Robin briefly wondered how the girl was running in her wedged boots. The girl tripped and fell forward. The taller halfa caught her easily and set her on her feet. "Hey, Robin. How's it going? Did you find that ghost yet? I have been searching for him and haven't found him. But if I did find him I bet I would have beaten him up."

"I'm doing well. Thanks for asking, Gwen," Robin responded wondering what was up with the younger halfa.

Gwen ran her fingers through her curly dark brown hair. "So I was thinking we can go looking for the ghost. I mean with your help, beating that ghost will be a sinch," the girl said.

Robin grinned, "I'm sure it will be. But you can't touch him."

"Oh yeah, like I didn't learn from the last time," Gwen said sarcastically. "So I'm thinking we surround him and then pump him full of ectoplasm until he begs for mercy."

"That could work, but I was thinking an ambush would be more effective," Robin admitted.

"At the hospital?" Gwen suggested, "Lots of miserable people there. Or maybe a nursing home or a school. Definitely a school. I'm always miserable there."

"Let's try the hospital, first. Somber likes deeper misery. Something like death and the like," Robin said with some thought.

"So not the school," Gwen responded with a chuckle.

A/N: Here's another extra for you because I like all of you.

Vlad looked at the freshly turned dirt beneath a large stone headstone. The name was clearly written on the smooth surface, 'Daniel Fenton'. Although Vlad had wanted to have his last name on the tombstone, but he decided he could at least honor the teen enough to have his own last name.

It was strange how empty he felt. The billionaire felt sorrow, but also a strange feeling of hopelessness. He had no clue where to go from here; all that he ever wanted was gone. He had nothing to strive for.

A small sniffle drew his attention away from his thoughts and toward the shorter woman standing beside him. "Vlad," the woman started softly, her eyes were not looking at him.

"Catalina," he responded to tell the woman that he had heard her.

"We'll get him back," the woman said with a surety.

"Who? Daniel is gone," Vlad said spitefully.

"Plasmius, Phantom," the woman said looking up at him. "Plasmius is part of you and Phantom must have a piece of Danny there as well."

Vlad wanted to scoff at the woman's naivety, but he could see the plead on her face; she wanted to believe what she said. He just sighed tiredly and walked away from the woman. A hand grabbed his and he stopped to face her. "If you want to continue with an impossibility, I don't want to follow you," the man said calmly, thinking that this would cause the woman to leave.

"Fine, but I want to stand by you," the woman said with conviction. The man narrowed his eyes and was about to retort when the woman spoke again. "We're all that we have left…I don't want to be alone anymore," she whispered lowering her head again.

The billionaire thought it over; truthfully, he didn't want to be alone as well. Vlad exhaled sharply, "you may come with me."

…..

Catalina pressed her hand into her side, sticky ectoplasm dripping from her fingers. She hadn't expected Dan to be that powerful. She tripped over her heavy feet and reprimanded herself for allowing herself to be hit so many times. She had thought that perhaps she could talk Dan out of his blind hate, but the now full ghost nearly tore her apart.

Catalina was truly regretting trying to fight the former half-ghost on her own. "Catalina?" Vlad's voice was a comfort to hear. "What did you do?" he asked harshly before pulling her arm around his shoulder. Grateful for the assist, Catalina slumped against him.

"I tried to talk to Dan. It didn't end well," she said with a chuckle. "I probably should have dodged a little more."

"Catalina, this is serious. You could have been killed," Vlad reprimanded.

Catalina chuckled a little to herself; she didn't really believe that the man truly cared. He was still mourning Madeline. But he brought up an interesting point. What if she died? Would she become a ghost like Dan? An empty shell of what she once was? Panic started to form at the pit of her stomach.

"Vlad," she said her voice squeaking. The man looked at her and acknowledged her call. "If I die, what will happen? Would I become a ghost? Will I be like Skulker or Ember? Will I be so obsessed with something that I'll be nothing but a mirage of who I am?" Catalina could hear the desperation in her voice. "I don't want to be a full ghost," she admitted softly. She looked up at Vlad who had not said a word. "If I were to become a full ghost, will you destroy me?" it was a desperate supplication.

"You won't become like Dan, Catalina," Vlad answered avoiding her final question.

"That's not the point. I won't be me. Please Vlad, promise me this at least," the woman pleaded.

Vlad sighed, "I give you my word." Catalina didn't know why that calmed her panic for the time being.