A/N: *EDIT* So, seeing as this is the first bit of the continuation, I'm leaving the old AN up because of past answers. There's not TOO much in this chapter. It's a bit lighter, and now that I'm not in a hurry, I can take my time writing the story the way I wanted to. (Which is why so many chapters got deleted. I'd been trying to finish them before I headed off to be a missionary in Japan, but wasn't liking my rushed writing, so I'd stopped and deleted the crap when I got back.) Sorry that my upload speed is so low; I really spoiled you guys two years ago with more-than-weekly updates, but now I'm having to fall back in love with my story and get my momentum back, so please be patient. It's hard to pick back up in the middle. T^T' Hopefully, I'll get on a roll soon. I just need to get re-obsessed with my head-canon, and we'll be good...Probably. Anyway, not much new stuff, but...HERE WE GO!

Chapter 18~! You're going to hate me. ;P Had to upload this in a rather roundabout way as the normal doc. Submission isn't working…GOSH DANG IT FANFICTION WHY MUST YOU ALWAYS HAVE PROBLEMS!?

: You have PM deactivated, so this is the only way I can reply. There is no power suit #2, it was just an idea they were spitting out. How in the Infinite Realms did I come up with this story? Well…My mind runs rampant on headcanon and I had to write stories that show how I put the world together? The first and second books were actually kind-of written for the purpose of building up to this one, so…

Well, I'm just amazing, to be honest. *Hair Flip* *Realizes I have short hair and it doesn't work*

JC: Thank you. :D

Jim89: Kind-of? Close-ish? Well, you'll find out the details later.

ShadowWarrior85: You'll just have to find out, won't you?

Chapter #18: Something a Little Lighter

"…So…how did you get your stuff out of the trunk before it got fixed?" Darren raises an eyebrow, twirling his keys around his finger. He'd been exiting the auto shop just as she came in to pick up her repaired car.

Amity Park is a gold mine for mechanics, construction workers, and ecto-maniacs.

Guess why?

"She's a Fenton," someone snorts in the lobby, "Who knows?"

"Her parents probably have something."

"The Guys in White do."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Geez. Don't they know that tech like that could save people? Like…firemen? To keep them from getting crushed by falling buildings and stuff?!"

"The Fentons just have to make sure there aren't side effects."

"Yeah – did you hear about the time they reanimated the Christmas turkey?"

Jazz groans, "Can we stop talking about that?"

"Says the girl who bravely fought it off with a broom!" someone laughs good-naturedly.

Since the ghost attacks, the citizens of Amity Park have changed their perspectives on the Fenton family. At first, they were mad scientists obsessed with ghosts. The people the people of Amity Park distanced themselves from at all costs. Nowadays, they're the pet scientists of the city.

They're still a little strange, but not insane.

"You're about right – I mean, it was Danny who actually used it, but yeah, I had it phased from the trunk," she smiles.

"He tests most of the Fenton tech, doesn't he?" She recognizes him…he was on the football team with Dash and Kwan…

"Yeah – he and Valerie Grey, back before she went to California, anyway. Tuck checks the blueprints."

"You know…I never saw Danny as that type…" one of the older adults mutters.

"According to Dash, there're a lot of things that would surprise us," the ex-jock snorts.

"Like what?" Jazz narrows her eyes in suspicion.

"Dash? Baxter? Didn't he shove Fenton into lockers all the time?" the older man confirms.

"Yeah. He told me in Senior year that he'd found out that Danny had been letting himself get creamed and could've torn Dash to pieces any time he wanted to."

"Danny Fenton could've creamed Dash Baxter!? Hold the phone!" he splutters.

"Totally true," a blond emerges from a doorway – Star? – "You didn't see his abs. Totally surprised all of us. Foley too. Too bad they were both claimed by the end of that field trip. Danny took on Walker – the Ghost Warden – in hand-to-hand combat and was coming out on top, from what I saw."

"You're telling me that Danny Fenton can take a ghost in unarmed combat?!"

"He apparently doesn't get along well with Walker," she fixes her makeup in a compact.

"Nobody gets along with Walker," Jazz snorts, earning a look, "What? None of you have had any direct contact with him because he operates quietly when he comes to this side – which is rare."

"Direct contact?" Darren furrows his eyebrows.

"Last time he came to Amity Park, he and his lackeys overshadowed several people in town and used it to frame Phantom. Remember the whole 'Public Enemy Number One' thing? That was Walker overshadowing the mayor to cause trouble."

The residents look a little disturbed, and even Darren's gone a little pale.

"Look, he tends to stay in the Infinite Realms. He has a prison to run, after all…anyway, I really need to get going…" she finishes paying her repair bill.

Darren follows her out, "You did mention he was a warden?"

"Yeah."

"So, like…wouldn't he normally be the good guy, if he's a cop?"

"He would be…if he didn't make up his own rules," she smirks, unlocking her car, "Or assign ridiculous sentences for them. Danny's wanted for a few thousand years!"

"I see…" he hums, "Not being a local, I don't know about the local ghosts. What do you say we grab a cup of coffee - my treat - and you can give me the insider scoop on the spooks?"

Hope glitters in his silver eyes, and she's certain he's giving her his most charming puppy-dog smile.

"Things are a bit...hectic right now," she replies honestly.

"Oh! Yeah," he coughs, somewhat embarrassed, "Your brother's wedding, right? Sorry, I just…" his smile falls a little, "I just…"

"Just…?"

"I just didn't want to let a very beautiful woman simply walk away without doing anything."

She can feel her face flush a little. Normally, she wouldn't give any credit to a line like that. She's not ugly, she knows, but...she's found that most guys want to date her for the 'exotic' factor. So that they can say they went on a date with the Jasmine Fenton. An unexpected consequence of her parents' fame. She felt as though she'd had some sort of bounty stuck on her head. In fact, she was almost positive that getting a date with the strange, workaholic, diligent Jasmine Fenton was something of a challenge amongst the frat boys.

In which she had less-than-zero interest.

So Darren's simple, honest answer surprised her. He didn't even look embarrassed. Neither was he overconfident. He'd stated it as fact, nothing more. No attempt at empty flattery.

Just do it! Lisa's voice rings in her head.

She looks at her watch, "...I suppose I have time for coffee."

"Great! Do you have a favorite place?" he smiles, looking a little relieved.

"Yeah. We can walk there from here," she answers, "If you're okay with that?"

"Not a problem at all!"