Summary: Consumed with worry and scared after watching Dani almost die, Danny begs her to come home with him and meet Jazz. He wants to see her safe and happy and taken care of more than anything. An important reveal also weighs heavy on him – Dani isn't the only living clone… and the other is him. He needs to tell her the truth; maybe that will convince her to agree to the idea of telling his parents. And she'll stay in Amity Park with him, where he'll never have to worry if she's safe ever again.

Meanwhile, Dani has mixed feelings. Still reeling from the loss of her clone siblings, Danny's unexpected worry and care make her uncomfortable. And her own guilt… she hurt him and helped get him kidnapped twice. How can he care about a mistake like her? But having clean clothes and a bed is wonderful. And things aren't as simple as she thinks.

Will Dani accept the help she needs and let herself be loved? Or will she push Danny and Jazz away and run again?

Warnings: Minor swearing, Moderate ectoplasmic gore, Past minor character death, Nightmares, Grief/mourning, angst

Note: It's finally here! Working on this year's Invisobang story was a blast, especially collaborating with my two wonderful artists, Serinji and Lostrence ! The art is lovely and I'm very excited for you all to see it.

This story is a sequel to my first Invisobang story, called "I am you(and you are me)." You should be able to understand this story without having read that one first though. The basic gist is, in Kindred Spirits, the Tiny clone ended up basically melting while still possessing Danny which caused their consciousness and cores to fuse into one being, a la Vlad and Danny's ghost halves fusing in TUE. There is a lot of angst and identity confusion as the new Danny figures out what happened and struggles to accept himself while hiding it from Sam, Tucker, and Jazz. But in the end, he tells them truth and after a lot of tears and hard conversations, they accept him too. Any other important details should be explained in the sequel itself.

A note on the title- (Not) Alone.

First off, it goes the the naming scheme that I've used for my previous Invisobang stories, which was really fun to make work.

And second, It's inspired by two of my favorite songs, one of which is by my favorite band, Disciple. And I've been wanting to name one of my stories after a Disciple song for years now. 😂 I'd been trying to think of songs which reflect the feelings Dani experiences during the story and/or which reflect the story's theme. Both of the songs do that pretty well, though both lean towards the theme. In both, the singer reassures the listener that they matter, they are loved, and they are not alone.

The first song is the appropriately named Not Alone" by Red. And the second is Erase" by Disciple. The "not alone" part is from the bridge, where "You are not alone" is sung several times, higher and louder each time until it reaches a really moving crescendo which has definitely brought me to tears many times. Both of these mean a lot to me and I am very happy to have them as a part of this story.

And finally, if you have any questions or comments, as always feel free to leave them in the comments below. I hope you enjoy this story!


"Stay away from my family." Danny loomed over Vlad Plasmius, a foot on his chest.

His dual core vibrated with a contained rage, green eyes boring into red.

"What the hell were you thinking?" The boy spread his arms. "You tried to kill Dani, Vlad. You tried to kill her. If I hadn't gotten here. If I-" Grief stabbed at his core. He'd come so close to losing her- No. He pushed the thought away, anger rising. "You were what? Gonna dissect her and try it all again?"

Vlad stiffened for just a second. The younger half ghost saw the lie flickering in his eyes.

"Don't say it. Don't you dare f-cking say it. What? You were trying to help her, find a way to stabilize her?" The boy scoffed. "Yeah. Right." A shake of his head. "Why did you even bother making any clones if you were just going to throw all of us away?"

"If you would just listen, my boy-"

Danny didn't blast the man's lying mouth but it was a near thing, a burning green flame warping the floor an inch from his enemy's head. "I'm not listening to any more of your lies." Another ball, this one of ice, flickered in his hand. "I'm done. This is over." Pure hatred in his eyes. "You've hurt so many people. One day all that's going to come back to bite you and…" A mirthless laugh. "It looks like that day's today. You don't have my mom, you don't have Danielle, and you don't have me."

The blue energy swelled, looming ominously over the older's core.

Red eyes widened with fear. Plasmius looked almost green, sick with terror. With a sneer, Danny shot.

"You're just as alone as you've ever been." Ice enveloped Vlad's arms and legs, pinning him to the metal floor.

A flicker of relief shone in the man's eyes, then…. scorn. "You were always too weak to do what needed to-"

With a wave of his hand, Danny threw another ball of cold. A hiss and the blue energy unfurled, an icy gag over the older halfa's mouth.

Danny didn't dignify the previous statement. Instead, removing his foot, he smirked. "You like that trick? I learned it from my friends in the Far Frozen. I'm sure you remember them." A not-so-gentle poke to the man's side. "Maybe it's time I let them have a stab at you." His lips quirked, darkly mirthful.

A muffled, confection-themed curse sounded from the man.

"Yeah, yeah, Fruitloop." The boy rolled his eyes. Then, deathly serious… "Don't touch my little sister." He turned, floating up without a look back. "I won't warn you again."

The boy flickered intangible, phasing through the ceiling. He flew up, attempting to shake off the whole interaction. Still, anger boiled in his veins. That man's audacity! He'd gone too far now, caused too much damage, hurt too many people. Danny had to do something about it….

He would definitely have to talk to Frostbite now; the yeti had to know something they could do. Dora too. And Pandora. And Clockwork… if he could get the old ghost to actually tell him anything useful. His parents too….

The boy swallowed, stomach suddenly flopping at the thought of the impending revelation. Part of him hated it. It made him queasy but it needed to happen. He'd already waited so long. And this problem with Vlad…. it couldn't go on, especially not without them knowing the truth. Maybe Mom and Dad could help him figure something out too….

Ugh. This was going to be hard. He should probably see what Danielle wanted to do before he got too wrapped up in-

Danielle!

Just like that his brain pivoted, relief and worry clashing in him. After months of not knowing where she was, if she was even alive, his little sister, the only other surviving clone was here!

Granted, Danielle didn't know any of that. She didn't know that he wasn't just Danny, her original, the person she was cloned from. But that he was also Tiny, Damian, one of her presumably dead clone brothers. Back at Vlad's, before she'd escaped, the two had accidentally fused. Their cores combined, creating something… someone new.

But none of that particularly mattered right now. Now, he and Dani were finally reunited and she was safe. He and Valerie had saved her from Vlad. But…

The image of her face, eyes wide with panic, dripping green with her ectoplasm…. That had been too close. He needed to make sure she was okay.

The ghost boy darted around, eyes instantly fixing on a red figure, high in the sky. He quickly rose.

Ten feet below now… "Dani, that was awesome! Dani?" His eyes widened, an instant panic. "Valerie, where's Dani?!" No. No, not again-

"Boo!" The girl popped back into sight, a teasing mischievous grin on her face.

"Danielle!" He breathed out, so much relief in the name. "Don't do that to me!" Danny chastised, anxiety flaring. "I thought you ran off again."

The memory ate at him. Then Sam and Tucker crashed through, hitting the older man. Locking Vlad ( Master) in a pod. He needs... he needs to find Danielle. He needs to find his baby sister. But she's gone. She's gone. Newly re-made and one of his first coherent thoughts was to find his baby sister.

The young clone's grin fell into a disappointed frown.

The boy didn't fully register the reaction, his hands on her shoulders. "Are you hurt? Anything feel weird?"

Dani shrugged out of his hold. "I'm fine."

She looked… uncomfortable, Danny realized. He lowered his arms, back-stepping. "I'm sorry. You just…. I got scared." He averted his eyes. The words… they weren't enough for all he'd just felt. " I…I almost lost you."

"But you didn't…." The girl trailed off, shifting awkwardly. An unsure look from him to… over his shoulder? "Thanks both of you for saving me." Right, the Huntress was still here. "Vlad would've baked me into a puddle if you hadn't been there."

The words sank into his core like a stone, icy dread swirling in him.

"But he didn't! And I'm fine. I feel great!" She smiled, a clear attempt at appeasing. "Better than ever. And now that I'm fixed, I've got places to go…" Half awkward, half excited, Dani pointed with her thumb behind her, floating up.

"No, you don't." Danny grabbed her arm and the girl tensed. His own rebuking tone surprised him; he sounded like Mom, telling him to go to bed. "You don't have to leave." His voice softened, gripped loosened.

The boy glanced back at Valerie, meeting her confused and thoughtful eyes behind her visor.

He pulled the younger girl closer, voice lowering. "Go to my house. I know you know where it is."

"But-" Dani started.

"They're out of town." Luckily, blessedly, his parents were off visiting Aunt Alicia. "Ja- My sister is home though. Find her. Tell her who you are." Danny put as much earnestness into the words as he could muster. "She'll get you something to eat, clean clothes. "

"You really don't have to do that." Dani bit her lip, unsure.

"You're family." He said plainly. It was easy, as simple as that. "Of course we're going to help you."

The girl looked down, frowning at her shoes. "I'm fine. I don't need help."

"Please. For me." With wide eyes, he pleaded. "Let us help you. Just… stay the night at least, please." He was not ashamed to beg, not about this.

Danielle's shoulder tensed, doubt plain on her face. She glanced over his shoulder at Valerie, then down again. Finally… "Okay. I'll go." Her body relaxed, ever so slightly.

Danny let go and Dani turned, flying off in the right direction, toward Fentonworks…. The girl gave a hesitant look back and the boy offered an encouraging smile, his core clinging to a desperate hope.

Please, please. He begged in his mind. Please let her go home to Jazz. Please.

The half ghost watched for a long minute, the girl soon disappearing into the distance. Then with a breath, he steeled himself.

He turned to the Huntress, hand held in front of him. "A deal's a deal."

Valerie crossed her arms, one brow raised in impatient question.

The boy hurriedly continued. "You helped me save Danielle. I'm your captive."

For a long moment, the Huntress studied him, her brow furrowed. Danny held his breath, waiting for her verdict. Then….

"Forget it."

"What?" He blinked.

"Fly away, Phantom." Valerie uncrossed her arms, waving him off. "Go." Something in her harsh expression softened. "Go take care of your family."

The boy's eyes widened. She was really going to…. "Alright. I'm going." A hint of a smile graced his lips. "Thanks again, Val."

Phantom drifted back, turning to fly after Danielle. It looked like he would get to introduce her to Jazz after-

"Hey!" He flinched, a sudden red shot zooming inches over his shoulder. Danny turned, mouth falling open in offense. "What was that for?"

The girl pointed, frowning. "It's open season tomorrow." Despite the words, humor danced in her eyes. "On sight, ghost boy."

Back to normal it was then, huh? "I look forward to it." The halfa smirked, mockingly saluting. "See ya Red."

The Huntress turned with a huff, eyes still sparkling with mirth. "See ya." She flew off.

Danny turned back towards where Danielle had gone. Well, things were smoothed out with Val at least, it seemed. But now…. The boy sighed, familiar worry plastering itself on his face. Now for everything else.


Dani with an i (and that 'i' was really important!) was happy to be alive. Really happy to be alive but… today had been weird.

On her last leg (almost literally; her legs did keep melting), she just made it to Amity Park. She looked for Danny, hoping he could help her. She stole some apples, was seen transforming by the scary (but very badass) red-suited ghost hunter lady. She was captured, used to trick and kidnap her original (again). Handed over to Vlad, strapped to a table. That had been… too close. She'd felt her body falling apart, Danny arriving seemingly too late. She had…. melted into a puddle. (Try not to think too hard about that part…)

But the green stuff (Danny said his dad made it?) had worked! Danny and… Valerie (that was the ghost hunter lady's name, right?) had fought Vlad for her. They'd given her time to get away and she felt better than ever. A new lease on life! She was ready to see the world but….

"Why was he being weird?" Dani muttered, flying off toward Fentonworks. "Worrying about me.. I'm fine."

She was half tempted to turn around and high tail it out of the city. There was so much to see. The Grand Canyon, New York City. Maybe she'd actually make it all the way to the ocean this time. She didn't have time to linger and…

The clone girl crossed her arms, scowling. She didn't need the help. And yet…

Danny's neon green eyes, wide with worry, flashed in her mind. That second before she'd reappeared, the sheer panic on his face….

Something like guilt twisted in her stomach. Maybe she could just stay for the night. Fresh clothes and a hot meal did sound good….

"Dani! Wait up!" Her original's voice called out behind her.

The girl paused in her flight, turning. She raised a brow, waving in the direction he'd come. "What was that about?"

He stopped, a hand moving to his neck. "Oh. I just had to talk to Red about something."

Dani's questioning look just intensified, lips pursed.

The boy hesitated, a weighty pause. Then… "I made a deal with Red, to get her to help me…"

Dani motioned him to continue. "Well?"

His cheeks turned green, a (guilty?) blush. "I… I told her about you being not just a ghost but human too…" Dani felt her core drop. (That was so close to his secret.) "I promised I'd become her prisoner, answer all her questions about ghosts and the Zone. Even let her… let her…" The words were left unsaid but Dani could guess them, what a ghost hunter (willing to sell her out to the man trying to kill her) would do with a captured ghost. The boy shook his head finally continuing. "I'd let her do whatever she wanted with me. If that's what it took to get her to help save you."

"So you escaped?" She asked hopefully.

Another head shake. "No. She… let me go."

Dani blinked. "She… let you go? That's…" A pause, her eyes lit up. "That's great! I knew she was cool!"

Still, that guilt lingered at the back of her mind. Danny had been captured and hurt (again) because of her. Even so, despite that, he was willing to be tortured if it meant saving her (As if she deserved to be saved). And…. dread dropped in her gut. If the Hunteress hadn't let him go….

"Yeah. She is cool." The boy smiled, almost wistful. After a second, he shook off the feeling. "Come on. We're almost home."

The clone girl looked around, at the street below. The hulking metal structure on one particular roof…. Only a few blocks away. "Right…. There's Fentonworks." The girl bit her lip.

"Jazz will be excited to meet you." Danny smiled soothingly; apparently he did notice her unease. He turned…

"Oh. Okay." Dani followed after him. "Wait? Jazz?"

The older halfa was already a street away from her. How was he so fast?! The younger took off after. Just a couple buildings away now….

Danny stopped in the air, reaching a hand out towards the girl. She just stared at it, uncomprehending for a long moment. His brow slowly furrowed. Then he sighed, floating closer to close the gap. His arm reached for her hand and…

Dani tensed instinctively, half-expecting a rebuke for not understanding. (A half-remembered memory, Vlad's nose in the air, "dull creature… never understands anything….")

But Danny's hand was gentle, voice soft when he spoke. "We need to turn invisible." The cold feeling washed over both of them. "Can't have someone seeing two ghosts phase into Danny Fenton's room."

"Yeah." Dani nodded, numbly. (Why had she reacted like that? Stupid…. Of course, her original wouldn't be angry about that. She'd never even seen him angry at her.)

Danny gently tugged her forward, pausing in front of a familiar window. He flickered both of them intangible and phased into his bedroom.

"Home, sweet, home." The boy sighed, reappearing. He let go of her hand and turned human.

A second later, Dani also transformed, landing on the floor.

"Jazz should be in her room." Danny said, opening his door. "Probably studying like always."

The clone girl couldn't help but follow, despite the nervousness turning her stomach. She knew Jazz existed, of course. And she'd seen her in passing the first time she'd been here. But actually meeting her? It had never even occurred to her. Six hours ago, her only thoughts were just getting to Danny in time, of staying alive (or her version of it as a half ghost). But what would happen next, she had no clue. (She didn't think she'd even make it this far.)

Ignorant to her worries, her original stepped across the hall and knocked on the door. Obviously Jazz's, from the name on it. "Jazz? Can we come in?"

"You can." A teenage girl's voice called through the door. Danny pushed it open with a creak. "We? Are Sam and Tucker here…"

The question trailed off, wide teal eyes falling on Dani's blue ones. The clone shifted awkwardly under the surprised gaze. Her heart fluttered anxiously. No one was saying anything….

"Jazz." At the name, both girl's eyes fixed on the boy. He motioned to the younger. "This is Danielle." He turned to his clone, smiling. "And Dani. This is ou- my big sister, Jazz."

The black-haired girl barely registered the stumble, eyes fixed back on the red-head. Numbly, she waved.

Slowly, Jazz closed the book she was reading and stood from the bed. "Danielle." There was no hesitation at the name. The red-head stepped forward and….

Before Dani even registered, the other girl's arms were squeezing her. "I'm so happy to meet you!"

What. The clone girl's mind stuttered. She flickered intangible, escaping from the uncomfortable bear hug.

For a second, Jazz looked hurt, disappointed. Then her expression softened into something understanding. "I'm sorry. I should have asked if you were comfortable being hugged."

"It's… it's okay." Dani rubbed the back of her neck, suddenly embarrassed. "You just… surprised me."

She had been surprised. Not only had Danny apparently told his sister about her, but Jazz was excited to meet her. And that reaction? It was… a lot. Of course she was uncomfortable. (Was that it though? She hadn't been hugged since… well, less than an hour ago, but she had just died so it was expected. But before that… another face, similar to her own and Danny's, flashed in her mind…)

"Still, I'm sorry about that." The older girl smiled apologetically. "I am very happy you are here and you're okay." Her brow furrowed, eyes searching her. "You are okay, right? You don't look hurt. Your hair is a mess though. And that hoodie is filthy." She tapped her chin. "I think we have some of my and Danny's old clothes in the attic. Something should fit you."

Dani took a step back, overwhelmed by the onslaught. "Really, that's-" Unfortunately then, her stomach grumbled loudly.

"Let's get some food in you first." Danny chuckled.

"You two are mother ducks." The clone girl grumbled, crossing her arms.

"It's mother hens." The boy pointed. "And no, I'm not." He huffed.

Jazz laughed, eyes sparkling teasingly. "You've got it bad, little brother." She stepped out the door, ignoring Danny's protest. "Come on, Danielle. I'll make you something to eat."

There was no getting out of this then, was there?

Dani followed the other girl, sheepishly adding. "It's… uhh… Dani, with an i."

"Dani with i." Jazz nodded sagely. "Okay Dani with an i, what do you want for dinner?"