Another drabble for CM/EG series. You'll be seeing a lot of these from me 'cause I have so many ideas about our halfas' futures after Endgame. Plus... maybe I have a hard time letting go... Heh.

Anyways, this one actually takes place right after Endgame's epilogue. If you recall, it ended with Skulker's scene at Halloween and his return... This one also ties in with a previous drabble between Vlad and Stephanie, 'Masks'.

And last, this will be unique in that it will have parts. Not sure how many yet, but at least 3.

Well, enjoy!

Compromise Part 1

"Finally!" Stephanie exclaimed in relief as she, Vlad, Danielle and Annabelle entered the Wisconsin castle. "I cannot walk another step in these heels!"

Vlad beside her smiled in amusement. "Maybe next time you will think twice over your choice of costume, hmm?"

"Hush, you. It's two in the morning. The last thing I want to do is question my life choices right now."

"Plus, she looks good. Isn't that what matters, baba?" Annabelle suddenly voiced with a smirk.

Vlad laughed. "Is this where you ladies tell me that pain is part of beauty?"

"Pfft," Danielle jumped in. "Not me." But then smirking herself, she added, "But isn't that your motto, too, Vlad? Don't act like you're not all about flare yourself."

"Stephanie is right. It's too late to be questioning life choices," Vlad answered right away.

There was a pause before they all suddenly giggled; because really, it was way too late, and their silly conversation could only stem from utter exhaustion. After all, they had just arrived from a Halloween party which while fun had been draining and the long drive back even more so.

Naturally, the party had been a Halloween costume party. So, while Stephanie was dressed as a black cat, Vlad had dressed as a warlock; though his long cape by now was draped over his arm.

Danielle and Annabelle had decided to dress in similar outfits as fallen angels. While Danielle's outfit was mostly all white with down-cast black-tipped wings and a halo; Annabelle was all black but had put on an almost all white wig with black tips at the end.

"Ugh, I can't anymore!" Stephanie suddenly exclaimed and leaned on Vlad's shoulder as she tilted her leg back in an attempt to pull off her heels.

With a smirk, however, the older hybrid unexpectedly swept her off her feet.

"Vlad!" she exclaimed, startled at being picked up. She was tired and maybe just a bit buzzed from all the wine. Sudden movements were the last thing she needed.

"What? I can't have your feet fall off, my dear," he answered innocently.

"Here, let me help," Annabelle said when she came forward and grabbed one of her mom's hanging legs and proceeded to pull off her heels.

"Thanks, Annie," her mom said with a relieved sigh before she turned her focus back on Vlad. She crossed her arms as she said with a huff, "Okay, fine; but now you are carrying me the whole way because I refuse to walk anymore."

Vlad took the heels from Annabelle, dangling them by the strap on his pinky finger before he replied, "Now you are just taking advantage of my giving nature. You're not exactly weightless, you know."

Danielle burst out laughing as the woman let out an indignant gasp.

"Oh, you so did not go there!" the girl snickered.

"He totally did, Elle!" Annie answered as she covered her mouth and giggled some more as her mom whacked the older hybrid in the head for good measure.

"Ow! And now you are abusing me. Why am I in this relationship again?" Vlad asked playfully.

Stephanie's expression melded into a daring grin but before she could reply, she felt more than saw the older half-ghost abruptly tense; and his smile fell so quick, it startled everyone.

"What?" Stephanie whispered, concerned.

Vlad slowly set the woman back to her own feet before he morphed into Plasmius.

Danielle and Annabelle shared a nervous look but said nothing.

"Someone's here…," Vlad muttered, eyes narrowing.

There was a ghostly presence in the house that was not any of his familiar staff's own. And it certainly was not one he had felt before. And… It was powerful.

Had it just appeared? Or was he so tired and distracted he failed to catch it the moment he stepped into his home?

"Stay here," Vlad commanded everyone before he turned invisible and flew off towards the source.

Who would dare invade his territory? Well, they were about to learn it was a deadly mistake!

Narrowing his eyes darkly, Plasmius flew into his upstairs study, only to be slammed by a powerful purple beam into the nearest wall.

Either the intruder was that powerful, or he was off his game because the attack hurt him enough for the older hybrid to lose his hold on his ghost half.

As black rings changed him into Masters again, he gripped at his chest, gasping in pain.

But realizing his even more compromised position, his eyes quickly darted up towards his attacker, only to gape in disbelief.

"Skulker?"

There before him was his closest ghost ally. He looked exactly the same as he remembered him when he last saw him almost a year ago… except his green flame hair and eyes were glowing a dark purple now. His energy signature felt very different…

And he had a smoking gun aimed at him.

Skulker stared hatefully at the older hybrid. The man had clearly been at some party judging by his getup, which only ticked off the hunter even more. Is this what the man had been doing all this time? Living it up like nothing had happened? Like he had not almost caused the end of the world twice now? And ruined his, the Knight, and who knows who else's lives?

Skulker didn't care what Fright Knight said about Plasmius while they had been in the Realm of Nightmares together; this was all Plasmius's fault.

He was like he was now, cursed forever, because of this stupid human in front of him. And his friend… Fright Knight was condemned to the Realm of Nightmare because of this man's constant foolishness!

But what truly angered Skulker most was how he felt more foolish to have ever called Plasmius an ally or friend, to have ever risked everything to save this man, especially when here the older hybrid was, no consequence to him. Well, Skulker was about to change that tonight!

"I hope you do not mind me crashing your little Halloween celebration," Skulker spat out. "I just thought it would be appropriate to come for your head tonight."

Vlad's eyes widened when his former ally pulled out a sword. But it wasn't one of his usual swords.

"Skulker…? Why do you have the Soul Shredder?" the older hybrid asked in dread.

"Like I said, it's for your head," Skulker sneered back.

But before Vlad could react or get past his shock, the study room's door flew open.

"Baba!" Annabelle exclaimed.

"Vlad!" Stephanie and Danielle echoed.

Vlad's eyes widened in horror at seeing his loved ones now in the room.

"No, do not—!" But Vlad's words died in a hiss as the moment he had tried to move, the tip of the Soul Shredder was suddenly against his throat,

The purple fire from the sword seemed to reach out like a noose around his neck. And Vlad could feel the unworldly energy wanting to consume him. But what was worse, the older hybrid had no idea what the powerful relic would do to a half-ghost. He knew what it did to ghosts and humans… so whatever it could do to him was not good.

"No, stop!" Stephanie suddenly exclaimed as she raised her hands in a pacifying gesture and slowly approached the angry ghost.

"Stephanie… You all need to leave," Vlad said nervously at her. He couldn't have her or anyone get hurt! And as angry as Skulker was, he was afraid of what he could do right now.

But the woman ignored him and took a few more tentative steps closer. "Please… Don't hurt him," she begged Skulker.

Meanwhile, Danielle had been moving against the wall behind Skulker's line of sight. She was sure Vlad kept an ecto-gun in his desk drawers somewhere… Maybe she could…

But a sudden humming gun stopped her cold.

Skulker glared over at Danielle and growled, "I can smell you, human." And looking back at Stephanie, another gun ejected from his shoulder as he further said, "And you. Come closer and I will peel the flesh off your bones!"

"Skulker, no!" Vlad gasped out. "Please… We can deal with whatever you are upset about alone. Just let me make them leave so—"

"Upset?" Skulker hissed back at him, the sword still against his throat flaring with power. "No, Plasmius. I was upset the times you used me for your little schemes. I was upset when you would use me as some errand boy! And I was upset when you thought our alliance gave you the right to control my life. I am beyond upset! This is your fault! Do you know what it is like to be trapped in the Realm of Nightmares? And all for what? Because I was a fool for trying to keep your ungrateful hide alive?! I should have let you perish in any one of the numbers of stupidities you have done! I should have listened to Ember about you!"

"Skulker, I'm sorry," Vlad answered with regret. "I did not mean for what happened to you and Fright Knight… I have been trying to find a way to help you both…"

"Help us?" Skulker cut him off coldly. "Oh yes, it certainly shows. Why don't you help me instead by giving me your head to mount on my wall!"

"No!" Stephanie begged him, horrified at the thought.

Skulker paused and glanced at the woman, then at the two human girls also in the room. He recognized only one of them as the older hybrid's pseudo daughter, who the man had been trying to kill before; but apparently… things had changed.

Skulker scoffed. "Is this what you have been doing all this time? Settling down with a mate and offspring while the rest of us pay the consequences of your actions?"

He glared back at Vlad. "You did not even see me coming, did you? I mean, look at you. It took just one blast to take you out…. Clearly, this whole… 'normal human life' does not suit you. It's made you weak. Tell me, Plasmius… If I decided to harm these humans, what could you possibly do to stop me?"

This time, Vlad's expression melded into a deep frown. And the room began to heat up as his core begged to let loose Plasmius again. But the man knew changing back into his ghost form would only make matters worse.

Angry or not. Powerful or not, this was still Skulker. This was still his friend.

"It is not in your nature to hurt others just to do so… You are a hunter," Vlad answered soberly.

"You do not know my nature anymore," Skulker answered darkly.

But Vlad just replied soberly, "If you now want me as your prey, then so be it. I will go willingly with you… Or you can slay me; but please, do not do it in front of them."

"No, baba!" Annie exclaimed, while Danielle just tensed with helplessness.

But Stephanie also said fearfully, "Please, you can't—!"

"Silence!" Vlad suddenly shouted at them and the room became thick with a dark hot energy that even made Danielle shiver in fear.

Danielle knew the feeling too well. She knew Plasmius' angry energy. And what came next...was never good.

Not truly perceiving the warning signs like Dani, Stephanie whispered, "Vlad, please, you can't expect us to just… I want to…"

She then took a step forward… And Skulker fired.

But in that instant the entire room suddenly exploded with red energy which blinded everyone.

Stephanie did not see the blast hit a solid red barrier in front of her instead of striking her; and Skulker had no time to react as the same violent energy threw him across the room.

When the flare was gone, Plasmius was floating high above the study, red violent power flaring and cackling around him. But his glare was not on Skulker but on Stephanie.

"I told you to leave! Get out! All of you!"

Danielle gasped and ran over to Stephanie who was too shocked to react.

"Vlad, calm down!" Danielle exclaimed as she grabbed Stephanie's arm, trying to pull her away. "We're just trying to help!"

"I don't need anyone's help! I don't need anything from any of you except for you to leave! NOW!" he screamed as the lights began to flicker wildly and the air further charged around them.

Meanwhile, Skulker quickly had recovered from the attack; but as he got to his feet, he frowned himself at the threatening display from the older hybrid.

Stephanie just stared in disbelief at the angry hybrid in front of her; but it was Danielle who was now scowling at Vlad before she looked at the woman and said, "We should go."

Stephanie finally seemed to snap out of it, because her expression melded into a sober expression before she just nodded at Danielle. As she turned, she saw her own daughter was still rooted next to the door. But what tugged mostly on the mother's heart was the fear on her face—fear towards Vlad.

But before they could leave the study, Skulker finally spoke up, capturing everyone's attention. "Like I said, Plasmius… This life does not suit you..."

Vlad glared over at Skulker; but before he could say anything, the hunter pointed the Soul Shredder at him and vowed, "You are no longer welcomed in the Ghost Zone. If I see you… you will regret it. I may not be able to spare this world and your human family from your destructive nature; but you can believe I will protect the Ghost Zone's inhabitants from your cursed existence. I am now the Spirit of Halloween. The reaper of souls like yours. Consider this your only warning. Come anywhere near ghostly territory, and it will be the last thing you do."

Without a pause, Skulker then vanished in a puff of purple smoke.

There was an audible silence in the room; and the only thing that filled it was the still raw feeling of Plasmius angry hot energy.

But with a sigh, the older hybrid came to his senses at last, and floated down. Then, he turned human; and the room instantly became breathable again; but the tension was just as heavy.

Vlad didn't even look at those still in the room. He didn't want to see their angry, disappointed, or worst of all, fearful look on their faces.

"I'm... I'm sorry…," he said… because, really… what else could he say?

But Stephanie just scoffed at him before she turned away, and told the teenagers, "Annie. Elle. Let's go. We're going to my house."

Vlad startled at that, and reflexively moved forward, saying, "What? No, it's too late for you—!"

"Stop!" Stephanie coldly snapped, eyes now narrowed furiously. "Do not take another step closer to me; or them! I don't want you to be anywhere near us right now!"

Truly, with how angry and hurt she felt, the idea of even sleeping under the same roof as this man, made her sick.

Vlad felt the words punch him in the stomach; but he knew she was absolutely right. She was right to be angry at him. But he had not known how else to react.

"Then, I'll leave," he compromised. "You all stay. It's too late for you to drive home. Please."

"Fine, go sleep under a bridge for all I care…," Stephanie answered sarcastically before looking at the two quiet teenagers and saying, "Come on, girls. Let's head to bed."

Vlad didn't say anything as he watched them leave him alone in the study. Maybe a better man would have gone after them; try to fix things; beg for forgiveness. But… he just couldn't bring himself to do anything but just let them leave.

With a sigh, he turned back into Plasmius and teleported up to his castle's roof. He would just stay up here tonight, because he was too tense to leave Stephanie and the girls alone. What if Skulker returned? Or maybe even Fright Knight? Surely, he was just as angry with him… No, he needed to protect them, even if it meant spending the night on his own roof.

'But who will protect them from you?' his conscience whispered back; and the man's guilt only seated itself deeper in his chest and stomach.

He had not meant to threaten his loved ones like he had. He had not meant to… do a lot of things; but it seemed no matter how much he tried he could not escape his evil tendencies.

How was he supposed to do this? Balance his ghost nature with his human one? It was simple when both his sides were just as evil... But now... How could he ever live a normal life when there would always be Plasmius—he would always have enemies and dangers that followed him. And for that reason, Plasmius could never settle down like Masters. He needed to be stronger and more fearsome than his foes if he was to survive, let alone protect others.

But he had never had to worry about someone else besides himself before. And now that he did have others close, he kept finding that he was either failing them or disappointing them.

Skulker was right.

This life didn't suit him. He had known that from the beginning since fate decided to give him a second chance. Deep down he had known… All this was a lie. And worse, he had gotten soft. But if he went back to how he was before, to what he knew, to what was easier… he would be going down that same dark path that had left him alone in the first place.

Did it truly mean he had to choose one or the other? How could he compromise? Or was it even possible for him?

How did Daniel do it?

"Danny," Vlad whispered. He had to warn him.

He quickly turned human, and dug into his pocket for his cell. And finding it, he quickly dialed the boy's cell number. It rang and rang; and Vlad began to wonder if he should just go to Amity Park directly. Sure, it had been about ten months since he had left; but this was an emergency. It wouldn't hurt to break his commitment to himself of staying away from the teenager for only a moment when there was such a dire situation at hand… right?

When the call went to voicemail, Vlad growled; and he seriously was about to stand and head into the Ghost Zone—consequences be darned.

But he suddenly paused as he remembered…

"Of course! The communicator!" he muttered. He quickly brought up his watch and activated its communicator. The device pulsed pink as the watch face transformed and attempted to create a link to Daniel's own device he had given him for his seventeenth birthday.

"E…H-Hello?" Danny's groggy voice answered.

Vlad tensed as he suddenly remembered the time. He would have kicked himself if it wasn't for the flood of emotions that came with hearing the younger hybrid's voice. Heavens, when was the last time they talked? The last time he had heard his voice? … His voice which sounded deeper now but still familiar.

He missed him. His core and heart ached as he suddenly became aware of how much he missed his little badger… How much he just…

"Vlad? Vlad, what's wrong?"

The boy's voice returned Vlad to his senses.

"Nothing is wrong," he replied automatically.

He heard the teen sit up—on his bed probably considering the time of day.

There was a pause before Danny replied somewhat annoyed, "It is almost three in the morning. No one calls this early unless something's wrong. Plus… You haven't reached out to me since my last birthday; and our link tells me you're far from fine. So, start talking, Masters. What's going on?"

Vlad blinked down at his communicator. Since when did Danny talk to him… like an adult?

Vlad pinched the bridge of his nose, forcing his flaring core to calm down and pull back from the link with the younger hybrid. He shouldn't have called him. What was he thinking?

Danny suddenly sighed over the communicator before he asked seriously, "Do you want me to come to Wisconsin?"

'Yes.'

"No, Daniel," Vlad replied soberly. "That's not necessary. I apologize for calling you so early; but I thought it was important to let you know, Skulker somehow escaped the Realm of Nightmare. And well, he's different."

"How is he different? And how did he get out? I thought there was no way to…"

"I thought there was not a way out for a ghost, either—even when I have still been looking for a way all this time," Vlad replied. "But he didn't say. He was too angry to say much of anything except how he wanted to cut off my head…"

"Yikes… I-I mean, he's that angry, huh?"

Vlad almost smiled at the teen's familiar reaction; but he just answered, "The most troubling thing, though, was he had Fright Knight's sword. And his signature feels so different, so much stronger. He said he's now the Spirit of Halloween."

"Crud. How is that even possible? I thought Serenity's curse on Fright Knight was, like, for eternity… And where is the knight anyways?"

"I don't know…," Vlad answered with a sigh. "I really don't know anything right now."

Danny fell quiet; but even when Vlad perceived the boy's worry for him, it did anything but comfort the man. It made him feel worse.

"I shouldn't have called you over this… Not at this hour," Vlad muttered , finally voicing his initial thought out loud.

"I'm glad you called me," Danny quickly said. "Maybe I can help you with—"

"I don't need—"

The man stopped himself as he realized what he was about to say the same thing he had just told Stephanie.

"I don't need anyone's help."

Danny clearly also knew what he had been about to say, because his tone of voice quickly changed into a mixture of frustration and sarcasm.

"No, of course I can't help. Why would Vlad Plasmius ever need help, right?"

"Daniel, that's not what—"

"No, I get it. You called me because you're worried that Skulker will come after me next; and you think I can't handle it. I'm the one that always needs help… Not you. Right?"

"I just need you to be careful, Daniel. If he shows up, you need to tell me right away. His power level is not what you remember."

"Neither is mine. Do you remember that? Or, what? On top of forgetting I exist, now you also forgot I've handled The Knight and Skulker plenty of times before. I've handled worse at this point, Vlad."

Vlad had visibly cringed at the guilt he felt when he felt almost bitterness from the teen with his words.

"I explained to you why I left… why I am staying away," the man answered quietly though he was not able to completely mask how guilty he felt.

Danny was quiet again; and if the communicator did not indicate they were still connected, Vlad would have thought he hung up.

"I know why you left," the teen finally spoke up, voice sober. "I get why you are staying away… It doesn't mean I have to like it or agree with you about it… And I swear I… I am trying to trust you on this. I am trying to believe you know better; that… my guardian knows better than me. But at times like this, it's really hard. Vlad, it's been almost a year. If it wasn't for our link or whenever I talk to Annie or Danielle, I would think you were still lost in space somewhere. What exactly are you waiting to happen? Why is it that I feel how much you want to reach out to me, but everything you say and do shows the opposite? You have to realize by now that you need my help as much as I need yours… So let me help you."

"It's not your job to take care of me, Danny. It's mine," Vlad answered seriously. "And it's my job to make sure you are safe; to look after your wellbeing…. even if it means going against my own desires to be close to you. Please, be careful with Skulker. I will take care of this; but in the meantime, just stay vigilant."

There was a pause again; and Vlad felt the boy's sadness. But the teen's voice didn't betray it; and he was reminded again how Daniel was… growing up.

As if reading his thoughts, the teen said soberly, "I'll be eighteen next year... in a few months… An adult, I guess; but that doesn't really matter to you. I might be a kid, Vlad; and maybe in your eyes, I always will be one; but I'm more than a kid. Like I once told you: one day you're going to realize I know more and understand more than you think."

"And you will one day learn, there's still a lot you do not know," Vlad replied softly; repeating his words from so long ago.

Danny chuckled but it was sad. "Take care of yourself, Masters. Just...Please don't forget about me?"

Vlad huffed, and it almost sounded like a sob. "Never, little badger."

As his watch returned to normal, indicating the connection was cut, Vlad lean forward; and raising his knees, he rested his elbows and buried his face in his hands.

It was times like this, he just wanted to fly back to Amity and forget all the reasons why he was keeping distance between Daniel as much as possible. But maybe the boy had been right. Maybe this would all be easier if they worked through things together…?

No. He couldn't push his own issues on the boy. He needed to stop being so blasted obsessive!

He could barely deal with Stephanie, Annabelle and Danielle. He had just scared them off for crying out loud… If he had done that to Daniel, the boy would have punched him in the face.

Maybe that's what he needed. Someone to slap some sense into him.

He lowered his hands and took a deep breath. He was such a mess. He didn't like it. He didn't like feeling… weak like this.

'What are you waiting for to happen?'

"To be ready to carry you through what's ahead, little badger…," Vlad whispered to the morning sky. Of course, he had been researching in all this time about spirits and supernatural bonds… And there were things he now knew, things he hypothesized, that were still too troubling to share with the young hybrid.

He had to be sure, first. And even then…

"At this rate… maybe I'll never be ready to return to Daniel's life…"

But he knew he had to find a way...He needed to think through this. He could figure this out. He owed Daniel, Stephanie, and his other loved ones that much.

Vlad Masters did not give up. If anything, his perseverance could be put to good use. He just had to find a way to… compromise between who he was as Plasmius and Masters before and who he was now.

Just because he was no longer causing trouble and plotting evil, it did not mean Vlad Plasmius could not be as formidable and dangerous as before. It was absolutely necessary now that he had so much more to lose.

He had to protect Daniel and his new blossoming family!

He just… had to learn to balance it. Yes, balance.

That was he was waiting on to return into Daniel's life.

He had to find his own balance in his life, and personas, and… emotions.

He had to find it; or he was going to lose everything he was working to build.

And he could not. He could not end up alone again.

Vlad sighed once more before he shook his head to dispel the thought. But soon after, he felt a pulse in his core; which by now he recognized the feeling as his bond with the other half-ghost.

As always, it seemed to encourage him. And he could almost hear Daniel saying 'It'll be fine, fruit loop."

He smiled sadly at that before he leaned back and laid down on his roof with his hands behind his head. It was a bit strange. At the moment, he had no friends; no family... He was completely alone on top of his roof.

And yet, as he stared up at the sky and at the brightly glowing Polaris star, he didn't really feel alone. He felt at peace, and he wanted to just enjoy it... enjoy the feeling of his bond with the young hybrid. It had been a bit since he actually allowed himself to just linger on it...

When the stars disappeared, he would start finding a way to compromise with the aspects of his life.

In the meantime…. maybe sleeping on the roof, gazing at the stars, would not be so awful after all.

To be continued...