Timeline: a few months after Endgame storyline

Mostly Danielle PoV

A Day at a Time

In life there is no such thing as a happy ending or happily ever-after. Life isn't a linear concept with a beginning and an end; though to the human mind, it definitely seemed like it. And there was definitely not a point in life where one thought: 'This is it. The perfect ending. I have achieved complete fulfillment and contentment.'

To young girls, especially, this was the kind of fantasy that ended in disappointment when they grew up and realized there is no perfect ending in life; there is no 'happily-ever after'. At least not like the books and fairytales made you believe.

Most girls were lucky though. They got many years of blissful unawareness of the truth of life.

For Danielle Masters, however…. She realized this truth at the young age of twelve. She learned what life really was in the single year of her birth.

She tried not to think about the cards' destiny had played her. She tried to live in the 'now'. Enjoy the single moments in life where she could be happy and content; just like she also accepted and got through the harder moments in life.

She also tried to not think about how she was now fourteen—almost fifteen—but had technically only been alive for about two years and some months. There was so much of the world she did not know; but there was so much of the world she did know—and it was knowledge that a young girl should not have yet.

For example, she was more cunning than most knew. She could manipulate and plan ahead in ways that no teenager really should.

She supposed having an evil genius as a creator did that to a person. But it wasn't all bad; because if it wasn't for her advanced knowledge and the skills he taught her, she would have never survived for as long as she had. She would have…. probably melted like all the other clones.

Instead, she had outwitted her own creator; broke free from the time when he was just looking to use her to hurt someone else. And she had even learned to keep her body stable all on her own for almost a year. She used what her creator had instilled in her to keep one step ahead of him; to find a way into the Ghost Zone and stay stable and hidden.

But as the saying went, no one can hide forever. Eventually, she had been forced to face her demons—namely face the monster of a father who only saw her as a mistake and a pawn to get what he wanted.

Her saving grace had been the one person who she probably hurt the most—and who was her building template. And yet, she had grown to love Danny as a cousin of sorts. As a role model; and someone she could call a friend.

In spite of their supposed similar makeup, she never saw much similarities between them besides superficial ones like eyes and their love for rock bands. But other than that, the way they thought and felt were so vastly different.

Like, compared to Danny, she was hardly a good person. Then again, compared to Danny most people could not match his level of kindness. Her cousin was quite special in so many ways—In ways, she knew she could never be even if she wanted to be.

But somehow, it did not bother her. She was okay with the fact that she would never be like Danny and never wanted to be Danny.

She supposed it's why her father had despised her existence for so long. He must have seen the moment he laid eyes on her that she was nothing like who he wanted. It had to have been a hard blow to him. It was in these moments she had actually pitied him.

She pitied him a lot actually; because without his realizing it, what he had ultimately created was an emotional and mental duplicate of himself.

Vlad Masters for many years had been a selfish, manipulative and hateful man. But he sneered at life and those around him because deep down in his cold heart, he was alone and lost, and hated by those he longed would love him.

Danielle knew the feelings all too well. She knew how easy darkness was. She had gotten a taste of it in the short time she had been with her creator. And then after when she had directed that darkness to the man who was supposed to be her father.

And if Danny had not saved her and had not shown her forgiveness, she probably would have given into that darkness. Because the darkness kept you from hurting. It kept you from accepting how you were all alone in the world. Unloved. Unwanted.

A mistake in this cruel world.

A freak.

As her father once told her: He had hated her because she had been the personification of the worst of him. And yet, Danielle wondered if he truly knew the extent of it himself…

Things had taken a surprising change, of course. The once evil half-ghost billionaire was gone; and in his place there was now this… man. A man trying to be a father and a guardian and everything else that he never was.

Danielle knew Vlad was trying. She had seen it when he had first come to her in that hospital room in Amity Park. She had seen the guilt and sorrow and confusion.

And to this day, Danielle could see Vlad still asked himself 'Why?'

Why save him? Why would she, the person who he probably had hurt the most—if not the second most if you counted Danny—had cared at all to save his life?

Most people thought it was because she felt some kind of obligation to him for being her creator/father…

Not at all.

Like she had mentioned, she was not Danny. She didn't forgive people so easily. Her concept of a second chance was far from the one her cousin had.

People like Danny believed everyone deserved a clean slate; a chance to start over, fresh, like the past did not matter as long as you changed and regretted your mistakes…

To Danielle… a second chance was no some do-over. It was basically accepting the consequences of your actions and making the most of it. Trying to make it better. Who knows… maybe she would never forgive Vlad for the things he did to her. It didn't mean she didn't care or thought he didn't deserve a 'second chance'. But… she doubted she would ever reach a point in her life when she could say she forgave him.

No. The truth was she had saved him that day for one reason: She understood.

She understood Vlad Masters. She got it in ways that people—and possibly not even Vlad and Danny himself—realized. She would never tell Vlad, though. But if she saved him from the Guys-in-White that day, if she practically almost died to spare his life—it was because she understood. It was because she had always seen herself reflected in Vlad Masters. She knew how much pain and despair it took to get consumed that much by hate and darkness.

And sure, she didn't experience that darkness for long. But she knew. She knew being evil was easy.

Being 'good' or 'trying to be better' was extremely difficult.

Danielle had not wanted her creator—the person she had loved like a father at one point—to die never knowing it didn't have to be like that. He didn't have to live with so much darkness and misery.

She meant it when she said she pitied Vlad Masters.

But Danielle also knew it was something she could never make him understand. Just like for her, it had taken a unique boy named Danny Fenton to make her see that darkness wasn't the answer.

And that was another thing Vlad and she had in common:

They were both saved from their darkness by the same person.

Danielle sometimes wondered if her father realized just how alike they were. Even now… they had so many similarities.

They were both currently trying to live a life that felt foreign to them. Danielle did not remember the time shift; but she had still made the choice to come live with Vlad Masters.

She still made the choice to 'try' with him.

If she was honest to herself, though, part of the reason she accepted to come to Wisconsin was because of her old need to be accepted by the one person who did not want her—to finally have her father. No matter how much she evolved over the past couple of years and had moved on from who she was before she met Danny, she still had that proverbial need to be loved by Vlad Masters.

And that was her own battle.

That was the other reason why she had accepted to come live with him. She wanted—needed to erase that side of her. If she ever trusted or loved Vlad again, she wanted it to be because he finally deserved it; because it grew between them—and not because he had engrained it into her clone mind.

Also being close to Vlad Masters meant she could watch him evolve. She knew it was really the only way any kind of healthy relationship could ever grow between them. Because if she was just told 'he changed', she would never believe it. So, she wanted to see it. And in some ways… it was fascinating.

It gave her hope that if he could change and evolve, she could, too.

Ironically, no matter how similar they might be in some ways, they were worlds away in others. And for all her efforts, Danielle sometimes found herself at a loss.

She had only been in Wisconsin for a couple of months, and it just felt like trial and error with Vlad Masters.

For example, when she first got here, she told herself the one thing she would not do is call him 'dad' again.

Even if she could admit to others Vlad Masters was her father, it did not mean she could—or wanted—to admit it to him—or acknowledge him as such. Vlad Masters was far from a father to her, no matter if he had changed or not.

Again, just because she understood, didn't mean she exactly forgave him.

The point was, that when she had addressed him as 'Vlad' for the first time in the castle when they were alone, he had visibly tensed. The atmosphere had switched so quick, it had also put her on edge and she had wanted to flee.

For a while after that, she had avoided addressing him by anything for the longest time. Instead, saying 'hey' or even tapping his arm to get his attention.

But in the same week, Annabelle and her mother had come to visit, and Annie's mom had asked her something along the lines 'How has your father been behaving?'.

And again, Vlad had visibly tensed.

Danielle had been utterly confused. He clearly did not like how she called him 'Vlad'; but at the mention of his being 'her father', he also seemed to struggle with it.

She had no idea what he wanted; and she was not about to ask. It had upset her a bit, honestly; and she told herself, she didn't care. He didn't get to choose what she called him.

And yet…

There were times that he showed all the devotion in the world. There were days that felt like she had been with him, for not just a couple of months, but fourteen actual years.

The way he would come check up on her when he thought she was asleep. The way he brought her snacks when she was in her room studying all day. And even in the way he placed a hand on her head or shoulder as parting gesture every night before bed and every morning before they went their own way to work or school.

Life was certainly not linear. It had its ups and downs. The question was… would it ever have more ups than downs when it came to her relationship with her father?

Danielle wondered and thought all this as she quietly listened to the pair of arguing adults at the bottom of the stairs.

Of course, they had no idea she was listening…

"What did you say to her, Vlad?" Stephanie demanded angrily.

"I have not said anything to her!" Vlad argued back. "All I asked her was if she would allow me to run some tests on her to make sure her condition is remaining stable! And she just ran out on me!"

"What condition? She is a perfectly normal girl!"

"Stephanie, have you forgotten—"

"Of course, I have not forgotten!" she cut him off with a hiss. "How could I forget what you did to her, how you… you… I cannot even say it!"

"Well, you should," Vlad replied with an ice in his voice Danielle had not heard in months. "Because I did that. I made her. I experimented on her and tried to kill her on numerous occasions. And just like I have to live with that truth for the rest of my life, if you want to be anywhere near me or her, you will have to accept it, too!"

"I don't have to accept anything!" she shouted at him furiously. "How can you just talk about what you did to that poor girl as if—"

"I don't care? Is that what you think, Stephanie. That I don't care? That I don't regret hurting Danielle after everything?"

"I have not said that!"

"Then, what the blazes are you saying? Actually, I don't care what you are trying to say! None of this is any of your business anyways!"

"Ha!" Stephanie mocked back angrily. "There is your famous line! Not my business? Look around you, Vladimir. This isn't your office and I am not your secretary! You were the one who begged me to come back into your life. So, news flash: It IS my business! But that's your problem! It has always been your problem! Because for all your genius, you are a stupid man!"

"How dare you…!"

"No! You listen to me!" Stephanie snapped back. "I won't let you hurt Danielle. Do you understand me? I have tolerated a lot of things from you. I have even turned a blind eye to some less than moral things from you; but this I will not! If you hurt her again—"

"Do not threaten me," Vlad cut her off with a hiss. "Just because we're friends does not mean I will allow you to talk to me like this! And you clearly do not believe I have changed at all, if you think I would hurt her again!"

Stephanie scoffed. "Like I said, this is your problem. You think hurting someone is physically assaulting them or trying to melt them… If you understood anything, Vlad, you would understand why I am angry with you. You would understand why your daughter fled from you and came to me after you asked her to come down to the lab for 'tests'!"

Vlad lowered his gaze though it was clear he was now more uncomfortable than angry.

"You… don't know all that has happened between us, Stephanie…," he muttered quietly. "You have no idea what it's like to have to rebuild something between us that… might not even be possible…And all the reasons why she might never be… my daughter."

Stephanie shook her head in disappointment. "You're right. She isn't your daughter… You haven't earned that right."

Danielle frowned deeply as she watched Stephanie turn and leave the house.

Vlad just stood there, shoulders tense and his expressionless gaze just staring at the front door.

Then, suddenly…

"I would think you would know better than to listen in on adult conversations…."

Although she was a bit surprised he had known she was there and had not said anything until now, Danielle still scoffed. "Some conversation…"

Vlad instantly glared at her. "Do not sass me, young lady. I am not in the mood. I also do not appreciate you running away to Stephanie and Annabelle's home without my permission just because you cannot talk to me like a civilized person about our problems! I hope you know you are grounded!"

Danielle stood from the stair she had been sitting on and laughed in response. "Wow. You can't even sound normal when you are 'grounding me'."

"What the blazes is your problem, Danielle!" Vlad shouted at her. "You have been antagonizing me all week when I have done nothing to merit your disrespect lately!"

"Why do you care? I'm not your daughter, remember?!"

"Confound it! You know full well that is now how I meant that! You are the one who cringes every time someone brings up the fact that I am your father! Not to mention, you keep calling me 'Vlad!'"

"What? I do not cringe at it! You're the one that has a panic attack at the idea of being a father to me! And you know what, Vlad? Annabelle's mom is right! You haven't earned from me calling you anything but Vlad! So I'm NOT calling you dad because you can't even act like my dad without it looking like you sucked on a lemon!"

"I have never asked you to call me 'father', Daniel!"

Vlad froze and his eyes widened a fraction as he realized what he had just called the girl.

Danielle's own anger melded away as she lowered her gaze. "Finally, you say it…," she muttered. "Ever since I've been here… That's what you do. You address me like you have to keep reminding yourself I'm not Danny."

"Danielle…. I didn't mean to…."

"I know you don't!" Danielle cut him off with despair. "I know you don't mean to compare me to Danny, even without saying it! But you do! I can tell how you try to react to me like you would to Danny. You probably think it's safer for you to pretend I'm Danny so you won't screw up with me! But it doesn't work, Vlad! I'm not Danny! And if I cringe, it's not because of the concept of your being my dad, but because your interaction with me is so forced! It's so obvious you don't know how to act around me!"

"Because I don't!" Vlad exclaimed, frustrated.

But then he paused and let out a long suffering sigh. He shook his head as he said quietly, "I don't know what you expect of me; or how to…"

He shook his head again. "…I know I lost the right to be your father. And you're right… Part of me cannot help but think about Daniel… But not for the reasons you think…"

Vlad hesitated before he admitted, "For so long I wanted him in my life, and I wanted him as a son… But I was forced to realized that was not the role I was meant to play in his life—not in the way I wanted it at least. And now… it feels like I am back in the same position with you…"

Vlad frowned sadly at her. "If I cannot be your father, then… what am I supposed to be to you, Danielle? What do you want me to be?"

Danielle lowered her gaze before she sat back down on the stairs. She shook her head and dejectedly replied, "I don't know either… I just hope you know I cannot be your replacement for Danny. I never was… I never will be."

"Danielle, I know that. And I am passed that stage in my life…" Vlad replied.

He hesitated before he climbed the stairs and sat beside her on the stairs. "Look, I am sorry that I frightened you this morning. I know we still have a long way to go before you can trust me…. But I meant what I said. I will never hurt you again. I just… I want you to be well and… happy."

"I'm happy," she replied honestly, looking at him.

Vlad smiled a bit. "You are?"

Danielle smiled back. "Yeah, it's not bad here…. Even if you're a lousy role model, but… I appreciate you trying. I just.. I'm not ready for the lab thing."

The man clearly ignored the jab and instead asked, "Can I at least take a blood sample? We can do it in your room or a bathroom….?"

Danielle thought about it before she nodded. "I guess that's okay."

"Thank you… However, there is one thing I need you to do for me…."

Danielle frowned; but didn't say anything as she waited for him to continue.

"Danielle, please do not take this the wrong way… I am more than thrilled you have taken such fondness to Annabelle and her mother. I am glad you feel safe with them; but there are things between us that they do not understand. Yes, I have told Stephanie about you, but… we both know it's not the same…"

Danielle looked away but nodded. He was right, of course. No one really knew all the details of their relationship, except each other. She was sure not even Danny knew. At least, she never told him everything. And somehow… she doubted Vlad would share all the details with him or anyone either. And maybe it was better that way. Some things were better left unsaid.

And maybe one day they could both move on from it.

"You cannot runaway every time we have a misunderstanding," Vlad eventually continued, noticing the troubled look on the girl. "I understand why you do but… I need you to try to… talk with me, instead."

Danielle still didn't answer. They both knew why she ran away each time they had a confrontation. It was instinct to flee from the man beside him. It was how she had survived.

It was so easy to fall back into that habit; into that primal instinct. But sometimes her mind wouldn't listen… Sometimes the fear of his hurting her like before became too much.

"Can you at least try?" he asked her quietly.

"Yeah…"

"One more thing… About you calling me… father. You do not have to call me anything you don't want. I mean that. But please know, you will always be my daughter; but I understand there are some things that are hard to forget. And I don't blame you."

Danielle nodded. "Thanks…"

"Hmm, don't thank me just yet. You are still grounded," Vlad replied with a small smirk.

"Awww! That's not fair!" she protested, though deep down she felt a sense of relief.

Relief that at least they could always go back to 'trying again'. And for once, it felt normal.

"You scared me half to death. It is completely fair," Vlad answered.

Danielle smirked. "I have a halfa pun in mind as comeback; but I think I'll save it for another day."

The man chuckled before he stood. "Thank you for saving me the torture… Besides it's time for dinner. Come."

"Wait, Vlad?"

The man frowned down at her. "Yes?"

Danielle sighed before looking up at him sadly. "I'm sorry I caused a fight between you and Mrs. Hui… And I'm sorry I left without saying anything to you…"

The man smiled back and nodded. "It's alright. And my argument with Stephanie was not your fault… The truth is you are not the only one who I have to learn to…. react better to."

Danielle smiled warmly as she stood up to follow him down the stairs. "Like you once said… one day at a time, right? For what it's worth… I can tell you've changed… And well, just, thanks for trying."

Vlad sighed. "What more can we do….?"

"I heard food is a good coping mechanism," Danielle answered with a grin.

"Sure, if you want to become obese," Vlad replied with a chuckle.

"Game of chess then? I mean, after dinner? … I almost beat you last time," she answered smugly.

Vlad finally grinned at her. "So you thought… But yes… I accept." He paused but then added with a smirk, "Can I be honest with you about something?"

"What?"

"You're a much better chess player than Daniel… Just don't tell him I said that."

Danielle grinned evilly. "Ha! I am totally rubbing that in his face!"

Vlad actually laughed heartedly in response.

Those that know me... You know I am not fond of Danielle's character; but she has grown on me just a little; but only because of the tense dynamic she brings to Vlad's life. I mean, how do you build a relationship with a person who hated you and tried to kill you? Who made you and then discards you like nothing? And then I think of the time she spent with Vlad. What was that like? What did she learn from him? What did they do together? And now... being back together... How do you connect ALL of it...?

How can I resist not writing about it? lol

I think I might do more drabbles of Danielle... just so much potential with how things are between her and Vlad.

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

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