Hello, all! I know. I know. I should be writing DoaS. But I am working on it! Just.. you know, been slow. BUT! I am happy to get to share this one-shot with you. It was a one-shot I knew I wanted to write because it did not fit with my wrap up for Endgame. So, I guess this is kinda of like an excerpt from the Vlad and Stephanie scene in the epilogue chapter. It's literally a continuation of it.

So, for those who have been asking me what happened between these two when Vlad asked Stephanie out to get 'some tea', well, here it is!

Enjoy!

Tea Talk

Stephanie knew by now that anything revolving around Vlad Masters was always strange and complex. The man just attracted problems… or created them.

So, she knew from the moment she called Vlad after that incident in Amity Park that something was wrong. And his sudden appearance now confirmed it.

Something had happened.

But like usual, she played along with the smiles and greetings when he had appeared at her door for the sake of her daughter and Danielle—which, by the way, was another matter entirely.

He had asked her to have 'tea' with him. And when she asked about keeping appearances, he had waved it off.

Oh, something was definitely going on.

Still, she agreed. She stayed calm as she got in his car and watched him get in after getting the door for her like the gentleman he was….

She had told him that innocent smile did not suit him, and that she was going to figure out what was going on by the end of this.

She had meant it.

So, the moment he turned on the car and pulled the car out of her driveway, her smile fell and her voice harden—not in anger, but in a no-nonsense tone of voice.

"Alright, what is going on?"

Vlad glanced at her and the moment he saw the look on her face his smile faded as well.

He sighed as he turned his eyes to the road. "I have returned to Wisconsin."

"I can see that. But that hardly explains anything, does it?"

"You are still angry with me," he muttered.

"Angry?" she repeated. "No, Vlad. I was angry with you almost a year-and-a-half ago when you went off the rail, fired me, and told me of all those horrible things you have been doing with your ghost powers. I am not angry. I am just over it. You. Your problems and drama. And your audacity to think you can just show up after over a year—after all that—and invite me for tea!"

Vlad's hands were tense on the steering wheel. He knew the woman's cold reception was only logical. Honestly, he had been surprised she had even pretended to be calm when he had arrived with Danielle at her house. But although he had expected it, in his heart, he was not really prepared for it. In his heart, all he could think of was their confession of love towards each other, that desire and despair they felt because they wanted to stay together but knew it was too late. It had been too late for them…

Until the timeline changed.

And while he was thankful for this second chance, it was still hard. It was hard to forget how it felt to hold her and… kiss her. It was agonizing to now have to accept that none of it had happened, and instead, the last thing his friend remembered was the cruel way he had treated her before leaving Wisconsin a year-and-a-half ago…

Was it even possible to have a friendship with Stephanie again, let alone hope for something more someday?

"Are you even listening to me?" Stephanie asked, sounding more annoyed.

"Of course, I am," Vlad answered quietly and sadly. "I know you have every right to be upset… I know you only agreed to come because Danielle was present, and your daughter was so happy to see me again… But there's things I need to tell you. And that is all I ask. Just hear me out, and then if you decide you are still… over me, I will not bother you again. You have my word."

Stephanie almost blushed at the 'over me' comment even though she knew he was just using her words from before.

"You better make this worthwhile, because if you have shown up here just to fill my daughter with hope only to disappoint her again, you will rue the day you met me, Vladimir. I mean that," she replied coldly.

Vlad glanced back at her. "Alright…"

There was a moment's silence before Stephanie asked, "Well?"

"I would rather not drive and talk at the same time… I mean, I rather us sit down and have a conversation."

Stephanie rolled her eyes but didn't say anything and just looked out the window.

Another moment of silence before Stephanie suddenly asked, "Why is Danielle with you? Not that I don't think she should be. It's about time you took responsibility for her, especially after the atrocities you did to her… I am just surprised she would want to be anywhere near you…"

But she then tensed and looked quickly at Vlad. "You didn't… kidnap her, did you?" Her eyes narrowed. "You better not have her against her will and are now dragging me into another of your—"

"No, Stephanie," Vlad cut her off, this time a bit more forcibly. But seeing her frown deepen, he sighed sharply and repeated. "No… I have not kidnapped anyone. I am not plotting anything… I just… She chose to come with me. I don't know why. She should hate me… But… she's giving me a chance, I suppose… A second chance I don't deserve; but maybe this time I can try to do things right by her. I can only hope… Much like I can only hope you will someday forgive me, too…"

"I told you I am not angry at you," she answered soberly.

"But you are hurt, and I do not blame you. I deserve your distrust and cold-shoulder… I understand," he answered.

Stephanie looked away at the passing cars again before she muttered, "Where are we going? I doubt it's anywhere where people can overhear all these 'important' things you need to tell me…"

"Right… I am taking us to my old Japanese restaurant. You know, the one with the private dinning rooms; run by Balmir? ...Although I sold it to him over a year now when—"

"Vlad…," Stephanie cut him off as she looked at him again. "I didn't agree to go have dinner with you."

"They have tea there…," he began.

"That is a high-end restaurant. I know you just renounced to your political position as mayor and somehow think that you are free from the public eye, but it's quite the opposite. You have been on the front of every Wisconsin paper and news segment for the past two weeks. How else do you think I knew you had returned to Wisconsin before today? Everyone is wondering why Wisconsin's once most rich and successful man has suddenly given up politics and returned to his old business ventures?"

Vlad quietly stared at the road for a few seconds before he replied almost coldly, "They can think what they want. I do not care."

"Well, maybe I do," Stephanie replied, her tone angry this time. "Maybe I don't want to be seen with you. Have you considered that? Maybe I don't want to see my face and name on the papers tomorrow and people talking about how one of the first things Vlad Masters has done upon his return to Wisconsin is take out to dinner his former secretary! I am in the middle of some important life-altering decisions and I do not need—"

Vlad, who had been driving in the center lane, suddenly veered into the right lane.

The sudden move startled the woman. But before she could ask what he was doing, he pulled over on the side of the road.

"Alright, we will do this here, if it is what you want," he stated as he parked the car and then turned his body to look at her.

"What in the world are you—?"

"I'm sorry," he cut her off as he stared back at her with all the remorse and sadness he felt. "I'm sorry, Stephanie. About everything. I am sorry for running away from Florida like a coward after my father and sister died. I'm sorry for leaving you behind without an explanation. I have been cruel to you. I have pushed you away for years when all you have done is try to help me. I have taken our friendship for granted. I have hurt you and Annabelle over and over again, and there is nothing I could ever do to amend for all my sins against you both, for all these years I have been awful! So, all I can say is I am sorry. I am truly and deeply sorry!"

Stephanie just stared at him, stunned. Vlad was a proud man. Too proud at times. And while there had been times when he had apologized about something, he had never in their lives apologized for all the times he hurt her, let alone all that happened in Florida when they had been teenagers.

Who in the world was this man?

Vlad lowered his gaze to the woman's bandaged wrist as the tense silence dragged on. He wanted to reach out and hold her, but he knew he didn't deserve to touch her. He deserved nothing but hate from her.

"I wish… I could start over…," he confessed sadly. "That we could start over, but I have no right to ask for such a thing…"

He sighed his eyes still lowered as he added, "You probably do not believe me. Or maybe my apology barely matters anymore after over twenty-five years… But so much has happened. So much you do not know. Yet I realize none of it matters. None of it makes my cruelty any better. If I told you I have changed… I do not even know if it would be true. Maybe I can't change… Maybe it's too late for me to be anything but this… evil man."

Vlad finally looked at her, and he seemed absolutely lost. It was how he had felt since the timeline changed. It was the emotion he had tried hard to keep hidden from Daniel.

He felt lost.

"I… think you're right. I will always be Vlad Masters… and Plasmius. I…I don't know how to be anything else… But at least, I want you to know I understand now. I see it. I see the pain I have caused you; the wrong I've done. And I will forever carry the weight of that guilt. Steph… I… I'm sorry."

Stephanie's expression had gone from surprised to confused, and by the end of his heartfelt words, she had grown sober. For what seemed forever, all she could do was stare back at those dark blue troubled eyes.

Finally, she asked the only question that she could form in her mind. "What happened?"

"Everything," he answered quietly, looking down. "Too much to explain in just a short time."

"Then good thing you owe me tea," she replied quietly.

And when the man blinked up at her in surprise she turned back against her seat and waved a hand, "Let's go to your house… I believe you have tea there."

Vlad finally smiled. "I believe I do…"

The man started the car and made a U-turn on the road since he had already missed the off-road entrance down to his castle.

The two were quiet for the short ten-minute ride; but they soon arrived, and Stephanie stepped out of the car without waiting for the man.

They entered the castle and were greeted by Derek.

"Derek, could you tell George…," Vlad began.

"That he can take a break," Stephanie cut him off. She glanced at Vlad as she added, "I'll be making us tea… That way you can focus on explaining… And I'll have a reason to stay."

Vlad readily nodded. He'd do whatever she wanted if it meant she was willing to listen.

"Certainly, madam," Derek replied barely concealing a smile before he vanished. After all, the woman already knew about his and Carl's ghostly natures. Although he wasn't sure if she was aware of the existence of everyone else…

Stephanie put her bag down near a table at the foyer before she looked back at Vlad, and asked, "Shall we?"

The man just nodded again and led them towards his kitchen.

"When did you arrive back in Wisconsin?" she questioned causally.

"Yesterday," he answered. "I still have my things back at Amity; but I hired a company to take care of it. They should be arriving tomorrow…"

Stephanie glanced at the older hybrid. "So… You really are not returning to Amity Park?"

He shook his head. "… Not anytime soon. Although I think I will keep the mansion for now. For visiting purposes, perhaps. I am not sure yet."

They finally arrived at the kitchen, and Vlad held the door open.

But as she entered, she asked, "Does this have to do with that ghost attack in Amity a few days back?"

"In part, yes…," he began hesitantly. He realized he wasn't sure just how much he wanted to share with the woman. It's not like he didn't want to tell her everything; but how much could he share without sounding absolutely insane…? Or worse, driving her further away?

The story with his sister was off the table. He wasn't sure if he would be able to share that ever. And besides, to tell Stephanie her best friend had returned as a ghost for his sake; and she had been around for years without their knowing… It would be like reopening old wounds.

He had hurt this woman enough.

"I'm listening…," Stephanie prompted when the man got quiet. She walked over to the kitchen and noted George was not there. Apparently, Derek had already shared the news of her presence. But she was still surprised he had left so quickly… Vlad had not mentioned it, but she had a feeling Derek and Carl were not the only ghostly servants the man had around here…

If only the woman knew she was indeed right and the man's ghost staff were all quietly listening from the employee's lounge, curious of the interaction between their employer and his long-time friend.

Stephanie busied herself by pulling out the tea pot and looking around for the other supplies. In the past, she rarely came to Vlad's kitchen—and obviously she had not been here in over a year-and-a-half. And yet, she remembered enough to get by. Plus, looking around for things gave her something to do...

Vlad hesitated, not sure where to start with all he wanted to say to her…

"That… um… ghost that attacked Amity Park. Well, he was not exactly a ghost. More like a spirit. It's, uh… Well, they are stronger than ghosts. More dangerous."

Okay, Vlad thought. So, for now he was also going to leave out the 'timeline' changing part of the story; and that also ruled out spirits being timeless beings. Yes, it was best not to complicate things for now. He would have to tell her about that other timeline eventually… just not now.

"It.. uh… Oh, let me get that for you," Vlad quickly said when he saw the woman reaching for the teacups on a high shelf.

"I'm not that short," she replied with a huff, but still allowed her friend to get the cups.

"Might as well make myself useful," he answered with a small smile.

"You were telling me about this life-changing story… It's why I'm here, remember?"

"Right, right…," he replied and watched as the woman added water to the kettle and turned on the stovetop.

"So, this spirit, Daniel had fought him before. But he escaped again and came back for revenge."

"Escaped from where? How did he escape?" she asked as she sorted through Vlad's herb selections. She already knew Vlad's favorite tea, so she did it mostly to occupy herself.

"Well… Daniel has this other spirit friend who kept the creature locked away because of how dangerous it was, and I… happened to visit this friend—Daniel's spirit friend… I was seeking revenge against the boy after a last fight with him. I thought perhaps with this powerful relic I had previously acquired I could coerce the spirit to do my bidding…. One thing led to another, and I fought with this spirit, and in all that, I… released that creature..."

Stephanie paused in what she was doing and stared at the man.

"The attack on Amity Park was your fault?"

Vlad internally cringed. "Yes… But it was an accident."

Stephanie sighed deeply and crossed her arms. She looked away for a moment before turning to look at him with a scowl. "You realize a lot of people got hurt with that attack, right? Your daughter being one of them! The disaster was all over the news!"

"I know, but…"

"Vlad," she cut him off tiredly. "If this is another confession of another evil thing you have done, I rather not…"

"No, it's not that," he quickly interrupted, afraid the woman would leave. "I mean, I did do something evil but it's not all of the story! I just want to explain why… I have returned."

"Because you are running again?" Stephanie asked, unconvinced.

Vlad frowned. "No. I'm done running."

Stephanie sighed before she turned back to the herbs and finally grabbed the Junshan Yinzhen tea leaves kept in their own jar. "Pass me the cream, would you?" she muttered.

Vlad turned to his fridge to fetch the dairy.

He dutifully retrieved it and then also bent down to grab a small pot from a nearby cabinet. He poured a bit a cream into the pot and set it on the stovetop next to the kettle.

As he turned on the second burner, Stephanie went to retrieve the tea balls before she returned to the tea leaves. The moment she opened the Junshan Yinzhen jar she was hit with its familiar aroma. She had forgotten how Vlad got his leaves imported directly from Junshan Valley in China. She was sure they were very expensive, but the tea was exquisite.

When they had been young, her parents could not afford to import tea leaves, of course, so they would get the store-bought ones for the most part. They were good but were not as strong and fragrant as these. But it still reminded her of home. It still reminded her of Vlad and Viviane and their lives together when they had been younger.

As if having a similar thought, Vlad grabbed the jar from her and smelled it before sighing wistfully. "I love this smell. It reminds me of… better times."

She took the jar back from him and pulled out a few leaves. "My parents still ask about you every time I visit; every time they make me this tea."

"Perhaps…. I could finally visit…"

Stephanie tensed and she stared at the man in disbelief.

"I-I mean…," he said a bit embarrassed. "If you wouldn't mind. It's just, well… Like you once told me, I should not forget my past. And I meant what I said… about not running anymore."

Stephanie's eyebrows creased. She really could not believe what she was hearing.

"This creature you freed… You said it went after Daniel…?" she asked, but her tone of voice was urging him on. He really had her attention now. She wanted to know what happened to bring about this radical change from the man in front of her. If she had not believed him before, she believed him now. She had been asking for years for Vlad to go back to Florida to at least visit and he had always refused!

"Well… Blast! The cream!" Vlad exclaimed when he saw it suddenly boiling over. He grabbed the pot off the stove and took it to the sink, knowing it was ruined and he had just made a mess. George was going to be upset when he saw this…

"Here," Stephanie said, moving towards him and turning on the water facet over the burnt milk. "I'll take care of this… You continue."

"But…"

"Keep going, Vlad," she said sternly.

Vlad sighed as she watched the woman clean up his mess but finally said, "I tried to stop him but he caught me by surprise. And… I had never faced a creature so powerful. It… could siphon off other ghost's energy. And had these other… unimaginable powers. He almost killed me. He damaged my ghost core so badly I…"

Stephanie looked concerned now. "Are you alright…? Your… core?"

Vlad nodded as he reflexively rubbed his chest. He still felt phantom pains when he thought of what Evil Phantom had done to him.

"Another spirit healed me… But that happened later. The point is I was so hurt, I barely made it back to Daniel on time. The creature almost killed his friends and family, and… he stole Daniel's ghost half.

Stephanie who had just grabbed another pot and the cream to heat up some more, paused again and stared at the man in confusion.

"What? What does that even mean?"

Vlad hesitated. "Well, under the right circumstances, a hybrid's ghost half can be separated from their human half. But temporarily. If we are split for too long, it could kill us. That is, unless someone found a way to stabilize the human side, which could only be done if—"

He stopped when he realized Stephanie looked utterly disturbed and confused all at once.

"Nevermind," he said with a sigh. This was harder than he thought it would be.

"The point is that creature really harmed Daniel and stole his ghost half to try to merge with it and grow stronger. And with both of us deteriorating, we were forced to seek help from a different spirit—the one I mentioned healed me. Of course, Daniel's family and friends, including Danielle, got involved, too. A lot happened in just a week. The Guys-in-White initially thought Daniel and I were to blame for all the destruction and harm that creature was causing. You see, that creature could shape-shift. So, he made himself look like Daniel to trick everyone. We were forced to hide out at my castle because the Guys-in-White were looking to arrest us…"

"Wait, you hid at your castle? This one?" Stephanie questioned.

"I-I meant, my chalet. At the Rockies," he quickly corrected himself. If he told her this castle, he would have had to explain the change in timeline. It was too much, too soon.

"Even with my damaged core, I was able to find a way to return to Amity and take back Daniel's ghost half. And… that's when Danielle got hurt. As we were trying to escape, the Guys-in-White ambushed us. She saved me from certain death by… putting herself in the line of fire... I still don't know why she risked her life to…"

"Save yours?" Stephanie finished quietly for him.

Vlad nodded. "She almost died... She lost her powers because of me, and I..."

Stephanie sighed softly when he trailed off and looked away. But then grabbing one of the man's arms to get his attention, she said honestly, "Considering all you have done to her I share your surprise... And while we can both agree you did not deserve her saving you and it's unfortunate she lost her powers, well… I am glad she saved you. And I am glad she survived, too. You are both alive, and the experience had brought you both closer. I think that's what really matters."

Vlad looked at the hand on his arm with a conflicted frown. He already knew he did not deserve Danielle's sacrifice, let alone her willingness to give him a second chance. And while it was nice to have his friend attempt to comfort him, he knew his circumstances with Danielle was one of the many things he had yet to truly assimilate; and he did not want to discuss further right now.

"Soon after that creature found us," he decided to continue. Although he sighed when Stephanie finally pulled away and turned back to what she had been doing. "He caused so much destruction in his path; but once again, we managed to evade him; and Daniel managed to safety merge back with his ghost half—for the most part, anyways. Daniel's core was highly unstable as a result of what that creature had done. And I… my core was barely working. I do not know how we made it to another of my hideouts, but there, we encountered this spirit who was willing to help us. Serenity was her name. She healed me, but also told me something important… something significant."

At that moment the kettle whistled.

Stephanie moved it off the heat and began to pour the hot water into the cups. "What did she tell you?" she asked.

"She… uh, told me Daniel and I are connected. A supernatural connection. It's why I can sense when he's in trouble… why I feel… drawn to him. Why we draw towards each other."

Stephanie scoffed. "If by 'drawn to each other' you mean drawn to each other's destructive tendencies and constant battles, then sure."

Vlad cringed. "...I know it's hard to believe… But our extreme rivalry and instability around each other was partly due to our bond being unstable… and undeveloped.

"No, Vlad." She looked at him, annoyed that he seemed to be just as obsessed with the other hybrid as always. "Your rivalry with that boy stemmed from your need to hurt his father—so in turn, you would hurt him and everyone he cared about. And as a result, the boy resented you. Not that I blame him. I would have also fought you tooth-and-nail. So, do not try to justify your rivalry with that child as some 'outside force' making you two unstable."

Vlad fell quiet as his core jolted a bit and he briefly focused on that connection to the boy. He felt it quickly reach out, too. But the man immediately pulled away and pushed it down into his core.

Now was not the time for that.

But how was he supposed to explain this? It did sound like he was making an excuse… But he was not. His bond with the boy was real. It did have a significant pull on them. And while it did not dictate their actions or decisions, Vlad knew in his heart it was in part the driving force that had kept him coming back to the other hybrid. That… and the genuine care for Daniel that somehow grew amongst all the dark thorns in his heart…

But she was also right that it was his hate and resentment that kept him at odds with Daniel. But it was more than that, too. That darkness he once felt had further kept their bond unstable and undeveloped, which in turn intensified their rivalry and instability around each other… It had been all those factors together, like a vicious cycle he could not escape until it drove him mad to the point of destroying his and the boy's life.

But how could he explain that to Stephanie? Even if he told her everything, including the timeline change, Vlad wasn't sure she would understand—much like Daniel's family and friends did not understand. In fact, they remained unsure about this supernatural bond Daniel and he shared even though they respected and acknowledged it was there.

How could they ever explain something they could just feel? And Vlad certainly felt it. He absolutely felt the difference in his being from before when their bond had been dormant and unstable to how to was now—how it kept his core steady and his heart hopeful.

Stephanie suddenly sighed when she realized she had silenced Vlad again. But she couldn't help it. She might not understand his relationship with the other half-ghost, especially now that he was talking about some 'supernatural bond', but she had heard and seen him obsess with the boy so much in the past, it bothered her to hear him excuse it; or try to explain it as if it was 'normal' or 'healthy' for him to be so hyper-focused on Daniel.

That didn't seem to have changed. And she still didn't know how she felt about it, except that it troubled her.

Still… she wanted him to continue. By now, she had heard enough to know what happened in Amity Park was significant. And she did not want to cause the man to draw away. She was also familiar with the man's need to flee when he felt uncomfortable or afraid.

"This bond… Is it how you both defeated that… spirit?" she asked, not looking at him and focusing on preparing the tea.

Vlad hesitated as he seemed to come out of his thoughts, but was also debating if he should try to explain his bond with Daniel…

"We were sure that creature was going to destroy everything and everyone," he said instead, but was now looking away. "For a moment, I was sure I would not survive, and worse… Daniel would not survive. I would have to watch him die, and… It would have been my fault—much like Danielle losing her powers and almost dying was my fault…. For the first time in my life since my accident, I felt helpless. Weak… I felt… mortal… No powers, strength, or clever plan was going to save me or Daniel. I had not felt such fear in so long. Death had not been so real since Viviane and my father's death… It felt like I was about to lose everything again like I did in Florida. And I would have lost everything if it wasn't for… this bond."

He paused before he looked seriously at her, and added, "I know you think I am just obsessed; but this bond is real, Stephanie. It kept me from giving up. It became this… burning need to save not myself, but Daniel… I needed to save him. It was the only reason I survived through all that creature had done to me. The only reason I did not give up or… run like I would have under other circumstances."

Stephanie had been quietly listening. Her skepticism quickly changing to consideration and wonder. She didn't understand what this bond was but… maybe it was more than she thought it was.

She was eager to know. "What did you do?"

She then began to add a little bit of the heated cream and a touch of elderflower cordial to the teas… Just how Vlad liked it. How they both did.

"I know it's obvious my relationship with Daniel has never been good. Enemies. Rivals. There was a moment when I thought I hated Daniel more than I did his father. I wanted to hate him for not understanding how important we were to each other… for not… feeling this yearning to keep close like I did. For… rejecting me time and time again."

He stopped before continuing more quietly, "You are right. I was obsessed. But even when I tried to separate myself from him, especially after his time here in Wisconsin, he was always there…. He wouldn't let me let go. He kept stopping me from finding an outlet… a replacement… to this yearning in my heart. He was this thorn in my heart that would not go away. At one point, I even considered world domination. Just anything that could quell my need to be near him and that could distract me."

Vlad shook his head. "But he would always show up… to annoy me somehow; to thwart my plans. And it felt like he was mocking me. Like he was purposely making it impossible for me to leave him behind. I realize now Daniel was as unstable as I was. We couldn't let go but we couldn't fix our relationship either; so it drove us into this spiraling descend… If I provoked him, he did not hesitate to respond back. When he would attack me, I came at him twice as strong…. If he wouldn't let me go, then I wouldn't either."

"It escalated so badly we almost destroyed each other," Vlad admitted grimly. "My releasing that creature had been the culmination of our yearlong battle to just hurt each other out of spite. But when I realized what I had done… When I realized I could truly lose him, suddenly, nothing else mattered more to me than saving him. Not my hate for Jack or my obsession for Maddie. Not all the fights and hateful things we said to each other. I just knew, in my core and soul that if I did not save that boy, I would truly lose myself and any real purpose in life."

Stephanie stared at him enraptured but still managed to hand him his tea.

Vlad took it and stared down at it before he muttered, "Daniel and I have a supernatural bond I cannot even begin to explain… But this bond is not just significant to each other, but to Existence. Serenity and Daniel's spirit friend told us we exist to bring balance to Existence. To help keep its natural order… I'm his guardian, Stephanie. Not in the human sense, but… ghostly… supernatural. All this time, I was right. Our destinies are as tied as our very cores."

He looked at her and his eyebrows drew in. "You once told me Daniel did not need me as his father, because he already had one. You told me to find where I fit in his life… And I did. This is where I fit, Steph. As his guardian. To guide him, help me grow, and balance him. To… lead him towards his own purpose, and to… to keep him good. It's crazy, isn't it? The villain… keeping the hero good?"

He shook his head, perplexed.

"I still cannot believe it myself; yet I have also always known. It somehow makes sense. I spent years angry at Jack and at Fate for all I've been through… for making me into this… monster… But without it all, I would have never found my true purpose. I would have never found Daniel. I would not have… this…"

He used his unoccupied hand to wield gold energy and he smiled at it.

"I have never felt so complete in my life… We used our own bond to defeat that creature. To make sure he is never a threat to anyone again. As I said, I finally understand… But not just about Daniel. But Jack and Maddie. My past… My present and future. My bond with Daniel has opened my eyes and awakened in me the need to be better… I see now all the years I've wasted, and… I refuse to waste anymore. This is why I am here, Stephanie…. I want to fix the wrongs in my life—at least, those in my grasp to fix. And one of those wrongs is how I have treated those who truly care about me… how I have treated you..."

He put the tea down and finally reached out to grab her hands.

Her eyes just widened in surprise as he continued.

"I have known you practically all my life; and even with everything I have done, you have never stopped caring… Never stopped helping me or supporting me. You have been one of the few things in my life that has been good and true… This past year-and-a-half I was living in Amity Park, I felt more alone than I ever have in my life, including those years in the hospital; and I realize now, I was missing you…You and your daughter… So, tell me, how do I fix… this? How do I earn your forgiveness and trust again? How do I get my friend back?"

Stephanie stared down at their joined hands before she slowly pulled away and instead grabbed her tea. She just glanced at him before she moved over to the kitchen table and sat down.

Vlad frowned in worry but then also grabbed his own tea and went to join her.

He silently watched her take a sip of her tea before he mimicked her. But he still would not take his eyes off her.

He wanted to smile at the taste of the tea. She and Viviane had always made his favorite tea exactly how he liked it. It was amazing she still remembered.

"Vlad…," she finally said. "I am glad you seem to be in a better place now. It's nice to hear you found your purpose and how your relationship with Daniel has changed… I am happy for you, but… While I appreciate your words and even your earleir apology...I still don't understand. If your purpose is Daniel and he's in Amity Park, why did you leave? To come fix our friendship? Why does that even matter now? What does any of this have to do with me?"

Vlad put the tea down. She still didn't understand…

"Daniel might be my purpose and he completes a part of me, but… he is not all I need, just like I am not everything he needs. It's also why I left. I don't want this bond between us to overtake everything else that is important in our lives. I want to allow him to grow on his own and find his own path, just like I must find mine. A wise spirit once told me, there cannot be balance in two if there is not balance in one…"

He looked down at his tea as he added, "I said I don't know if I can change, but… I want to try. For Daniel and my daughter. But also for you and Annabelle… Your daughter has always seen me as this… immaculate figure. And you have always believed the best of me… I want, no, I need, to try to be a fraction of that. I need to show you that your hope in me has not been in vain… All that has happened, it has reminded me of what truly is important, and that is why this has everything to do with you…

"I… I need you, Steph," he admitted, looking sadly at her. "Daniel might represent my purpose, but you are my heart. This place… with George and the other ghosts, with you and Annabelle; and now Danielle. You are all my family… And I need my family… That... That love I have searched for, has always been here... I… need my friend again. And I am sorry it took this long for me to realize it. I know I have hurt you so much, but… if you could only find it in your heart to give me another chance to be a friend to you. A real one. A good one… It's all I ask."

It was all he dared to ask, even when his heart wanted so much more...

Stephanie sighed as she stared at her tea while she gripped it with both hands. "I don't know what to say… So much as changed, Vlad…"

She looked sadly at him. "Even if we could try to be friends again, I don't know if we can be. You know I care about you. As you said, we have a long history and I will always worry for you and wish you the best; but in this past year, my life has changed, Vlad. It has led me down a different path than yours."

"You…" Vlad hesitated. "You have met someone? … is it Lawrence?"

Stephanie quickly looked at him. "What?"

Vlad forced a smile. "It's okay if you are seeing him. I will respect that. I just want a chance for us to repair our friendship."

Deep down he had known it was a possibility. After all, in the other timeline, Stephanie had been dating his lawyer. But he meant what he told her. If she had already moved on, he would not stand in the way. He loved her too much to try to get in the way of her happiness.

Stephanie huffed. "Why in the world would you think Lawrence has anything to do with what we're talking about? Why? Just because you once saw him visiting me at my house almost two years ago?"

"Well… I just thought…" Vlad blushed.

"Good heavens, Vlad." She shook her head, annoyed. "You really just love making assumptions. You do realize I have worked with Lawrence for years? That perhaps in all this time, we have become friends, just like I have made many other friends while working with you. Just because you held people at a distance does not mean I did…"

"I didn't mean to assume…"

"Yes, you did. It's what you always do," she replied with a sigh before grabbing her tea and taking a sip. "So, let me correct you," she continued soon after. "Lawrence will always be just a friend. And no, I have not met anyone. But I have advanced my career. Like you, I have been looking towards the future. And I have been working on starting my own company in agriculture and possibly farming."

Vlad smiled a bit. "Really?"

"Yes. So, as you can see, I cannot just drop everything just because you have returned. I cannot go back to being your secretary and your secret friendship when—"

"I am not asking you be my secretary again," he cut her off with a frown.

"How about your secret friend?" she countered.

"I told you… I don't care about what people will say…"

"And I told you, I do," she countered with a troubled look. "Vlad… You are a powerful man. Renowned… If people see me with you, they will think you returned because you have some affair with me. And just as bad, if my company takes off, they will say it was thanks to your influence. I don't mean any offence by this, but I don't want your influence or power. I want to do this on my own. Have something that is mine for once."

Vlad sighed. "I see…" He smiled at her. "And I want that for you, too. But take it from me, fame and success are a double-edged sword. It's easy to lose yourself in it. To lose sight of what's important."

"Vlad, my only concern is Annabelle," she answered honestly. "And in a couple of years, she will graduate and go off to college. I will wait until then to really focus on my business, but… she is all I have. And when she is gone, I need to have something to call my own… My own purpose. As I said, a lot has changed. My priorities have changed."

She suddenly reached out to him and placed a hand on his as she said with a smile, "I mean it. I am happy to hear you are letting go of your resentment, of finally giving yourself a chance to live a full life... And I will always be here if you need me, but… things cannot be like before. I'm sorry."

Vlad stared down at her hand before placing his other one above it. "I understand… But I do want you to know, I'm here now… If you need me… If you change your mind… I'll be here."

Stephanie smiled sadly and nodded. She moved her hand away and asked, "What will you do now that you have returned to Wisconsin?"

"Well, I suppose I will need to call Lawrence… I'm selling my companies."

Stephanie who had gone to take a sip of her tea, almost choked.

"What? Sell your companies?!"

Vlad nodded and frowned. "Yes… I'll start with Vlaco… Then, Dalv. I am not sure what I will do with the money yet, perhaps… donate it… Or maybe I'll just freeze it for some future use… I also plan to sell all my other properties except maybe the chalet at Rockies and my biotech lab in Berlin… I need to make some major financial decisions, so I will have to—"

"No."

Vlad stopped talking and looked back at the woman since he had really been thinking out loud.

"No?" he asked back.

"Vlad, you cannot sell your companies. I mean, they are your companies!"

"Are they? I stole my first million to get to where I got financially. I have tricked people out of their own businesses and overshadowed others to do my bidding. Are they really mine?"

Stephanie stared in shock, but then shook her head. "You may have done those awful things to get your fortune sooner, but we both know you would have been able to do it on your own. Before you left for Amity you sold off your other companies and assets. You went from being a billionaire to a millionaire. Honestly, I was shocked you even sold Vazier enterprise after all the mess with Mark… But you did…"

"That does not change anything…"

"Yes, it does! Because DALV and Vladco you did not steal anything from anyone! You built them from the ground up. They were your vision. It was your hard work that made them successful! Vlad, they are your life work! If… If you feel bad about your past deeds, then downsize some more and give the money back or whatever you need to do to make your peace, but don't destroy everything you have worked so hard for!"

Vlad lowered his gaze and took a sip of his tea. He was quiet for a long moment before he finally answered, "Daniel once asked me, why I worked so hard? Why I did what I did when he could see how taxing it was for me to maintain my image and power… I was too ashamed and embarrassed to reply truthfully to him back then. But I knew then, like I know now, the answer to that question… It was the same reason I moved to Amity Park and why I focused on world domination… It's a distraction. That's all my fame and fortune has been to me. A distraction from how miserable and alone I felt…"

He set his tea down and said soberly. "I don't need it anymore. Even if it's too late to recover what really matters to me…," He stared sadly at the woman. "I don't need it anymore. So, yes, I am going to sell my business empire. And I will find something else to focus on. Something that perhaps will make a difference in this world… Maybe I'll go back to school."

Stephanie let out a short laugh.

Vlad smiled back. "Oh, is that funny? Am I too old to go back to school?"

"No, it's not that… Just…" Stephanie stared strangely at him. "That must have been some ghost fight…Selling your companies, turning over a new leaf… Charity and making a difference in the world? Who are you?"

"Just a man who's gotten a second chance," Vlad answered quietly.

"Hmm…," Stephanie took a drink from her tea before answering, "I may like this man… Maybe in the future, I could even be friends with this man…"

Vlad's smile widened. "Nothing would make him happier."

Stephanie smiled back. "… I have also missed you."

"And you have no idea how much I have missed you," Vlad replied soberly.

"… Do you like your tea?" she asked, her smile growing.

"It's perfect. Thank you for making it," he replied.

"Thank you for inviting me."

Vlad glanced down at her tea, but then looked at her bandaged wrist.

"Are you sure that will be alright?" he asked.

"What? Oh… my wrist," she replied but then chuckled. "It's just a burn. I'll live."

Vlad didn't answer.

But seeing his troubled look, she lowered her head slightly in an attempt to catch his gaze. And when she did, asked, "Is there more you wish to tell me?"

"Yes…," he admitted quickly; but then added with a sigh, "Just not now… I do have a question for you, though… The envelopes I gave you before I left…"

"I gave your letter to Annabelle…," she answered.

"And the other… The one I asked you to only open if…?"

"Yes… I have it," she replied, watching him critically.

"You… You did not open it… did you?"

"Should I have?"

Vlad studied her face before lowering his gaze. "Would you mind returning it to me…? It's not needed anymore."

Stephanie hesitated but then shrugged. "Alright. I'll grab it when we head back to my house."

"Thank you," he answered soberly. He hesitated before he added, "Did you mean what you said… About us possibly being friends again in the future?"

"Did you mean what you said about visiting Florida and my parents again?"

Vlad nodded.

"Then… Let's make a deal. If by the time Annabelle graduates high school you have not changed your mind… We will take a trip together… as friends. And we'll have tea at my parents' house."

"That's… a year and half from now…," Vlad replied but then smiled warmly. "I look forward to it, my dear… "

Stephanie smiled back before raising her teacup slightly. "To future tea talks then."

Vlad chuckled and mimicked her. "And to the hope of many more after…"

Eventually, Vlad drove Stephanie back home. After their initial conversation, they turned their talk to what they both had been doing in the year-and-a-half they had not seen one another. Although, Vlad did not say as much as Stephanie. There really wasn't much worthwhile to tell the woman about his time in Amity Park.

But Vlad was content to hear about his former friend's new consultant position, and also of how far along she was with her plans with her new company. She told him about Annabelle. How she was in school, and her extracurricular activities. The girl was even dating Henry—the son of one of his former business partners.

Vlad was not sure how he felt about that. But he still listened, and his heart both warmed and saddened as he realized how much he had missed while away in Amity.

He had missed them so much. Unfortunately, fixing his relationship with Stephanie would take some time. But he didn't care. If he waited in vain for a woman that he never truly loved and she never loved him, how much more would he gladly wait for someone who has already proven how much she cared and he knew how much she loved him in return?

The truth was he hoped in his heart not just for her friendship but a chance to win her heart again. But he knew the friendship part needed to be mended first.

He would wait for her. He would do anything she wanted for a chance again.

As he finally rolled to a stop in front of her house, Vlad sighed and smiled sadly. "I guess this is good-bye for now…"

Stephanie nodded. As much as she could tell Vlad was sincere in his change and really wanted them to be friends again, she knew she could not put her life on hold for him any longer. She had accepted Vlad would never love her like she did. And she wasn't sure her heart could deal with him being close again and getting tangled in those emotions again.

She was tired of hoping in vain.

"I will see you around," she finally answered as she moved to open the car door.

But before she could step out, Vlad quickly grabbed her hand.

"Steph, wait."

She looked at him.

Vlad stared sadly at her, clearly conflicted before he sighed deeply and let her go. "… Would you mind grabbing those documents I gave you? …And fetching Danielle for me?"

It was far from what he wanted to say.

"Oh… Sure…" She got out of the car, but then paused. "Actually…," she said looking back at the man still in the car. "I think I put those documents in a box in my storage closest…. Would you mind having Carl come by tomorrow to pick them up instead?"

Vlad nodded and smiled. "Of course."

"Let me go tell Danielle you are here… Good-bye, Vlad…"

Vlad didn't reply as she finally walked back towards her house, but she could feel his eyes on her.

When she stepped into her home she sighed deeply. Maybe someday, they could be friends again… Just not now.

Stephanie shook her head before she called up to her daughter's room. "Annabelle! Danielle!"

The girls quickly came out of the room.

"Mom! You're back!" Annie exclaimed before asking with a grin. "How did it go?"

Stephanie rolled her eyes at her daughter's expression; and ignoring the question, she looked at Danielle and said, "Vlad is waiting for you in the car. I… It was a pleasure meeting you. Maybe someday we will get to know each other a bit more, hmm?"

Danielle smiled. "That would be nice…" She looked at the other girl who seemed a bit disappointed. "Later, Annie."

"Bye, Dani. No! Elle! Sounds better!"

Danielle chuckled. "Okay, bye!"

Stephanie walked her out, but as soon as the girl was gone, her daughter spoke up.

"So, did you guys makeup?"

Stephanie sighed deeply. "Annabelle, please do not start. We have talked about this. Nothing has changed."

"But—"

"Did you do your homework yet? I need you to help me make dinner."

Annabelle looked put off, but then sighed. "I'm almost done… I'll finish and then come down."

Stephanie moved over, kissed her cheek before she left towards her room. But she then had a sudden thought, and instead went to her study room.

She walked in and placed her bag on her desk before going over to a filing cabinet. She quickly pulled out a sealed large envelope and frowned...

Vlad slowly let her go before he moved away from her and went to retrieve the two envelopes on his desk. When he returned, he briefly studied his friend's flushed face as she quietly sniffled and kept her gaze lowered.

With a sigh, he placed both envelopes in the woman's hands.

"The smaller one is for your daughter. The other is for you, but I am going to ask you not to open it—that is, unless you feel it absolutely necessary…"

Stephanie bit her lip. She shouldn't be contemplating opening the envelope when it was clear Vlad had been relieved to hear she had not, and has said it was no longer needed. But… he had given it to her… And she had an undeniable urge to know what it was, especially now that he had returned and shared all he had with her…

She could open it, and then just put it all back in another sealed envelope. Vlad would never know...

"Stephanie," Vlad suddenly called, and when she looked dishearteningly back at him, he pointed at the envelopes and stressed, "What you hold in your hands is very important. I mean it. Do not ever open the one for you unless you feel it is necessary."

Stephanie searched her friend's eyes and fearfully asked, "Is this… your will, Vlad?"

"No, that's something else," Vlad said with a small smile. "My will is still with my lawyer. You know he takes care of that. But that in your hands is just as important. It is assurance—for you and your daughter, but also for me as well. I am selling my other companies because they do not mean much to me, but the things for which I have worked hard all these years, I will not risk losing. So, make sure you do not lose that envelope..."

Stephanie's eyes widened. He had been talking about DALV and Vladco back then for sure, but... He had returned to seel them now...

"You are selling your companies?! Why?!"

"… I do not need them anymore."

Could this be the deeds to his companies? If it was, it would make sense why he needed this back; but... he had mentioned this was also assurance for her and Annabelle. Unless...

"It's can't be…"

And making her decision, she ripped open the large folder and pulled out the very thick stack of papers…

They were definitely legal documents.

Her eyes widened even more. These were the ownership documents of Dalv and Vladco! But they were under HER name!

Stephanie gasped but before she could even process what she was looking at, she noticed another envelope. This was a normal white letter envelope. She quickly put down the stack of legal documents on top of her filing cabinet, and opened the letter, now feeling the need to absolutely see what it was.

And what she read next changed everything…

Dearest Stephanie,

There is so much I wish to say to you, but I have long since understood that the time for many of those unspoken words has passed by long ago. I will confess one thing, however: as I write this letter, I come to realize that my happiest time since I lost my parents and sibling was the day I was with you in that hospital room and I got to see the birth of a beautiful miracle. For a moment, it was like everything was right in the world—more importantly, in my life. I should have realized sooner. But… I have never been a man to live in the past. And I will not let my last words to you be of foolish 'what ifs' or remorse. No, it would do neither of us any good now.

If you are reading this, I do hope it is only because you felt the upmost necessity to do so. I am sure that is the case since I have always been able to trust you to respect my wishes—even in times when you have been against them.

You might wonder why I have done all I have done. I could try to explain, even justify my actions, but it would be pointless. Nevertheless, I feel I should at least attempt to make you understand to some extent…

It is truly ironic that it took Daniel's betrayal to make me accept the hardest truth for anyone to face: I know now I am a man who was never destined for love. It is the price I must pay for who I am and for the power which was thrust into my hands. And yet, the day I learned of another like me, I had hoped in vain that I could change my destiny. He somehow became my only means to escape this darkness that has plagued me so….But it was never meant to be—I can never escape what I am. And now that I have accepted it, it feels as if something has been ripped from within me, and I am slowly unraveling from the seams. This boy… the only one like me, has turned out to be my curse. I understand we share more than just a metaphorical connection: I am his villain, it seems, and so my destiny is to be defeated—destroyed by him...

It is possible I have lost all sense of logicality. I do not know anymore, and it no longer matters to me. So, I am forced by either obsession or fate to finish this. It must be done. And though I do not know how this will all end, I am certain that my secret will not come out intact. And so, it is with what little certainty I have left that I write this letter and make my last worthy decisions.

As you know, I have had many things in my time of success. But very few of those things have truly meant anything to me. And so in good conscience, I simply cannot abandon to their luck those few things. I must protect what matters—ensure their continuance even beyond my own life. In some ways, I am like most men. I wish for my name to live on. But most importantly, I needed to repay my debts to those who have been loyal to me…

I know what you must be thinking: this must be a will of some sort. No, my dear. The papers that are attached to this letter are much more valuable, in my opinion. And I just had to give them to you—the one person who knows me more than anyone else. The one person I have always been able to trust and who has never betrayed me. You, Stephanie, have been my only true friend. And I wish I could say this was a way to repay you for all you have done for me, but there are some things that can never be repaid. In actuality, I am asking you for one last favor, dearest. I am asking you to protect those few things that have ever had meaning to me.

There is no doubt that once the world knows of my evil side, the authorities with step in, and they will attempt to destroy everything connected to me. But, you see, in some ways, I am not like Daniel. I cannot drag those loyal to me down with me. That is why I fired you. I had to push you away yet again to keep you from sharing my end—whatever it may be. So, I do hope you can forgive me. I hope Annabelle can forgive me… But I am not sorry, because I know that for once I am not acting out of selfishness. Whatever humanity is left in me will not allow me to cause you and your daughter anymore harm by continuing to involve you in my life.

I leave no incriminating proceedings. I have done away with all my illegal and questionable dealings to make sure the government cannot take away what is mine. As I am sure you know, I do speak of Dalv and Vladco. After all, we built those companies from the ground up. I cannot have some fools attempt to destroy my precious hard work—But not just my hard work, Stephanie; yours as well. I have never told you this, but my true success would have been impossible without you. And since I will no longer be fit to continue to lead Dalv and Vladco, it is only fair I pass them on to you.

That's right, Stephanie. The papers attached to this letter are the deeds and legal rights, signed by me and my lawyer, naming you as sole owner of Vladco and Dalv. While my testament and will cannot be disclosed or carried out until after a year of my confirmed demise, these documents are immediately valid. All they require is your signature… Present them to the board and they will be irrefutable. I have full confidence that Vladco and Dalv will be in the best of hands.

We both know there will be gossip—when is there not?—and the government might even attempt to collapse and destroy the companies; but I have made it so they will be untouchable—except by you. I… do hope that you will carry on in my place; but the companies are now yours, Stephanie… And as much as it pains me to say it, I sincerely wish for you to do as you see fit with them… That means that if you decide to tear them down and sell them… you can. I just wanted to make sure it was your decision.

There is one more thing: a request, really. Perhaps even a plea. I have further given you the deeds of my castle in Wisconsin. It now belongs to you as well. It's not so much that I have any real attachment to it, but rather, that I want to make sure all my debts are paid. I know you have met Derek and Carl, and you are aware of their ghostly nature. However, what you do not know is that they are not the only ones, Stephanie. All my staff are ghosts. And… they have been with me for a very long time. The castle is their home. My request is that you come live at my castle after I am gone, so that they can continue to live there. It is possible that the government's ghost agency will come search the house after they have learned my secret, but my staff knows quite well what to do in those cases. I have further insured that those white-clad buffoons will find nothing, and therefore, cannot legally take possession of the house, especially when it is no longer under my name. Please, stay with my staff. As I said, the castle is their home and they would be lost or even in danger if they were forced back into the Ghost Zone.

Well, then, my dear, we have come to the end. Don't forget to give Annabelle my letter. And do not ever let her doubt my love for her. Thank you, Stephanie. Thank you for keeping me human all these years—for never giving up on me. It might be too late for things to have ended differently; but know that it wasn't your fault—but mine.

If I could turn back the clock, I would tell you all those things I have failed to say in this lifetime. If it would matter anymore, I would tell you that I love you—and that I have realized I never did stop loving you. I see now that my past twenty years have been wasted in an attempt to bury my true feelings under an obsessive pursuit of an illusion I had called love. But as I said, regret is a silly notion. And I am done with living in the past.

Good-bye, Stephanie. I wish you and your daughter the very best. You both certainly deserve it.

Your eternally grateful friend,

Vladimir Masters.

Awwww... And now she knows Vladdy loves her back. So much for waiting. LOL