Chapter Thirteen: Friends in Strange Places

"You don't have to be crazy to be my friend. I'll train you." - Unknown

Danny

My head is foggy as I blink my eyes open and scan my surroundings. I'm still in the medical ward, but I am lying on a hospital bed not unlike the one Reaper was in when I used my Healing Touch on them. I suppose that's to be expected; the last thing I remember is taking that power as far as I could and then stretching it further.

I'm surprised that I'm not sore everywhere. I actually feel pretty good. Even my core feels better than it has since my fixation started. That might have something to do with the IV in my arm (human-form; I do recall transforming), the patch stuck to my chest, and… I'm not going to ask what's been shoved up my crotch.

"Frostbite?" I call. My voice is strong, too. How long have I been out?

Suddenly, my face is being assaulted by a wet tongue and a happy dog. What's Cujo doing here? And, why is my son's stuffed mouse laying next to me?

Frostbite had been fiddling with one of the machines and now focuses on me with a smile. "Ah. Good morrow, Great One. How are you feeling today?"

Today? Good morrow? That means "morning," right? Have I been out for a whole day? "Okay, I guess." I sit up slowly even though I still don't feel any pain. "Where's my grim? Are they alright?"

"They are well."

Frostbite stares me down like I'm a biological sample on a petri dish. "What's with the face?" I ask. I gesture to my own face. "I mean, I know I'm handsome, but I'm a little young for you, don't you think?"

Frostbite narrows his eyes and hums in thought. "I am going to do a scan of your core. You will feel a vibration that radiates deep inside of you."

"That's what she said," I say automatically. When Frostbite raises an eyebrow, I grin sheepishly. "Sorry. I couldn't resist."

"You do seem much more yourself," Frostbite comments as he plays with that same machine. "That is a good sign."

The patch on my chest starts buzzing against my skin, and it feels like my insides are vibrating all the way down to my stomach. It's a strange feeling, but what's even stranger is that it's… Well, it isn't comfortable, but it isn't uncomfortable if that makes any sense.

"You said I seem 'more myself,'" I say. "What do you mean by that?"

Frostbite hesitates then pulls up a chair to sit down beside me. I don't like that face he's making. "Allow me a question of my own before I answer yours. How long do you think you've been here?"

My stomach knots, and my pulse quickens. "A day?" I ask meekly. Frostbite shakes his head. "Two days?" This time he only looks at me pityingly. I swallow hard and brace myself. "How long?"

"Fourteen days, you have been here, Danny."

"Two weeks?" I shout. My breathing shortens, and I try not to have a panic attack. "I've been unconscious for two weeks?"

Frostbite remains annoyingly calm as he folds his hands in his lap. "More accurately, you were unconscious for nine days. For five days after that, your body was awake while your mind was locked in a statement of intense delirium."

Delirium? Like when Jazz got her wisdom teeth out? I wrack my brain, but all that does is scare me more. "I… I don't…"

"You don't remember," Frostbite finishes kindly. "That is normal." He pats my leg with an understanding smile. "I will let you wrap your head around this while I check the results of the scan."

Those weird chest vibrations stopped at some point, I realize.

Frostbite goes to check the screens, and I move Cujo into my lap and pet him to keep myself grounded. Two weeks. I've been here for two entire weeks. God, everyone must be worried sick. And, what about Amity Park? With me gone, the ghost attacks must have been through the roof! My core stutters in my chest.

Which apparently shows up on-screen, as Frostbite turns to me and says, "Your core appears to have fully stabilized, though just now there was a sudden fluctuation."

I don't know what that means, but I get what he's saying. "I was thinking about Amity Park. That's probably why."

"Ah, yes." Frostbite clasps his hands together. "Your Obsession. Now that your core has recovered in full, you will need to fulfill your Obsession sooner rather than later."

Because you haven't done so in two weeks, goes unsaid. My core has another "fluctuation" at the thought.

Frostbite has a suggestion. "We wouldn't normally let the guest of honor assist, but perhaps we could make an exception, given what your Obsession is."

"Back up," I request. "What are you talking about? Guest of honor for what?"

Frostbite chuckles like my ignorance amuses him. "'For what,' he asks. You know very well how much you mean to me and my people, Great One. Your recovery is a cause for celebration!"

"Oh! You-you don't need to do that," I insist.

But, Frostbite insists more. "Nonsense! I propose a feast in honor of your miraculous recovery!"

Don't get me wrong. I'm genuinely flattered, but… "I have no say in this, do I?"

"You do not," Frostbite says cheerfully. "But first, I will send word to your family that you are back to your old self."

"Can you take this stuff off me first?" I ask, holding up my arm with the IV.

"Of course," Frostbite says.

He reaches for the IV needle, but I point to the tube sticking out of my crotch. "Can you start with that one? I have to pee, and that thing is making it worse."

"Oh, is that what that bodily function is called?" Frostbite busies himself with removing the tube. The process is uncomfortable in more ways than one. "Sorry about this one. We had to improvise once we realized this 'peeing' was something your human body does regularly."

Every word out of his mouth makes my face redder and redder. "Have you been watching me pee?"

Oblivious, Frostbite explains, "Well, that part of you has been covered by your gown. Though, we have noticed a yellow liquid flowing through the tube and into a bag we attached to your bed. So, in that sense, the answer is yes."

Can I be in a coma for the rest of my life?

After I pee into a bucket - no one watches me, thank God - and put my clothes back on - no one watches me do that either, thank God - Frostbite tells me to transform as a final test. I am able to switch to ghost-form without issue, so I am given a clean bill of health. After calling my ghost parents, Frostbite offers to call Jazz as well. I tell him not to. I want to surprise everyone else.

Frostbite stops me when I try to leave my patient room. "I do hope you will attend the feast. It is in your honor, after all."

"I will," I say, as grateful as I am embarrassed. "But, I want to check on Amity Park first. And, of course, surprise all my visitors."

All my visitors. When Snowflake handed me a list of everyone who came to see me and how many times they were here, I had to turn away because I was getting emotional. Partly because of how long the list is and partly because I was caught off-guard by how many of my enemies are on that list. Not all of them, but most of them. I plan to visit everyone, friend and foe alike, and thank them for coming to see me.

"Understood," Frostbite says.

He doesn't get the chance to say anymore, because the door opens. Eileen squeals and nearly bowls me over in a hug. She covers my face in kisses, and I push her off.

"Ew, gross!" I protest. "Cool it, Mama!" But, I'm laughing and hugging her back as Cujo pants happily at my feet

"I will leave you be," Frostbite says with a smile as he exits the room.

"How is everyone?" I ask once we're alone.

Eileen puts her hands on her hips and gives me one of those mom looks. "Danny Fenton, you have been either out cold or out of your mind for the past two weeks."

"That doesn't answer my question."

Eileen throws her head back in laughter then pats me on the shoulder. "I'm glad you're feeling better. Everyone's fine. And, they'll be even more fine once they find out you're back to your old self."

"Can you not tell them?" I request with a grin. "I'd kind of like to pop in and freak them out."

"Oh, yeah," Eileen declares in amusement. "You're back to normal."

I frown again when I remember the other reason I've been stressed out. "What about Amity Park? Things haven't been too crazy, have they?"

Eileen hems and haws before saying, "No, but Vlad doesn't seem to realize that you do more than just beat up ghosts."

"Vlad?"

"He called a press conference to explain Danny Phantom's absence, and he's been looking after the town in your stead." She raises her hand to the side of her mouth and adds in an aside, "I don't think he likes it very much."

Vlad has been protecting the town? Vlad Masters/Plasmius? The cheesehead? The fruit loop? I know he's moved past his supervillain ways, but…Vlad?

I scratch my head and try to make sense of this. "How…how's he doing?"

"Eh," Eileen says with a disdainful shrug. "He gets the job done, but he doesn't seem to care if anyone gets hurt. And, he ignores any trouble that's strictly human."

That sounds like Vlad. I'll have to have a talk with him. After I thank him for making an attempt, that is.

Another ghost enters the room and makes me forget what I was going to say.

The ghost is very tall, at least eight feet. They have flawless pale blue-gray skin and an androgynous face with soft but handsome features. They have large wholly neon green eyes and no hair that I can see. Their fingers are long and slender with nails - they have nails! - that are either painted black or are naturally that color; the shine adds to the painted theory. They wear a cream-colored blouse with ruffles on the bottom and at the ends of the elbow-length sleeves, dark brown slacks, and black dress shoes.

"G…Grim?"

"Child," they greet breathlessly. They kneel down to hug me and plant kisses on my now-damp cheeks. "At long last, it is over."

"'Bout time," Eileen agrees.

I pull back to study Reaper's new form. "You…" A half-laugh half-sob leaves me. "You look like you're going to a job interview!"

Reaper makes a strange face. "Is that…good?"

I sniffle and nod before throwing my arms around them once more. "You look incredible! Did I…"

Reaper rubs my back. "You did. You also gave us quite a scare." This time they're the one who pulls away. "Frostbite told us of your...actions."

"You mean going hog wild and chugging Ecto-Dejecto like the stupid fuck he is?" Eileen says.

Reaper gives her a look. "Essentially, yes."

"I would do it again," I say firmly.

"Oof," Eileen grunts, turning her head and waving her hands in front of her. "Don't remind us. If I were still alive, I'd say you'd taken years off my life."

"Yes," Reaper agrees. They turn back to me. "As angels, it is in our nature to put other lives before our own. That being said, there is a point where it becomes hazardous. I would know."

Because of the war. Because of their sacrifice, the reason they needed my Healing Touch in the first place.

Eileen puts her hands on my shoulders and turns me so that I'm facing her. "Seriously. Kid. You need to cut down on the self-sacrificing bullshit. I know you were fixated this time, but I have a hunch you would have done everything the exact same way regardless."

I'm not going to tell her that she's right. "I'm sorry," I say. "I didn't mean to scare you guys. And, everyone else, I'm sure. When someone's in trouble, it's hard for me not to go all out and then some." I pull my hand through my hair, suddenly exhausted. "I know it's not healthy to try and do it all. It's just… It's like my brain isn't wired to put myself first."

"Tis another curse of our kind," Reaper says. They stand up and gaze down at me with love and understanding and maybe a little sadness. "What you must remember is that you have people who can help you help others."

I stop looking at them. "I don't want them to get hurt."

Eileen pats my back. "They don't want you to get hurt either. It's a vicious cycle, Danny, but a necessary one."

So, it is. And, that reminds me… "Hey, where does everyone think Danny Fenton is right now?"

"Actually," Eileen says, "I've been having my duplicates shapeshift and pose as you at school. It was the only thing I could think of that would keep people from asking too many questions."

She did that for me? "Oh, man. I can't imagine how awkward that must have been. Thank you."

Eileen clicks her tongue and steeples her fingers. "You won't be thanking me once you find out that I plan to give you a crash course in every lesson you missed while you were away."

I slap one hand on my head and sway on my feet. "Oooohhh, I am feeling woozy…"

Eileen smacks my arm. Reaper laughs.

When Eileen, Reaper, Cujo, and I leave the medical ward, none of us expect the other three Ancients to be there waiting for us. Clockwork (in his elderly form), Santa, and Pandora all charge at us the moment we step outside. Well, mostly Santa and Pandora. Clockwork hangs back, but there is real warmth on his face.

"Ha ha!" Santa cheers. He picks me up and crushes me against him. Literally crushes me. I can feel my bones turning to dust in his murderous embrace. "It's so good to see you up and moving!"

Pandora graciously pries me out of his grip and sets me down. "Watch it, Santa," she scolds. "Don't hurt my girlfriend's son."

"Girlfriend?" I look between my imprinted mother and the Master of Order and see that they are gazing at each other like… Oh my god. I point to Pandora but speak to Eileen. "I don't know how that happened, but I am not calling her 'Mom.'"

Eileen gives me a weird grin, but Pandora giggles and says to me, "Oh, I'd never ask you to do that. Call me 'Mommy.'"

The wink she sends me tells me she's joking. I smirk and say an emphatic, "Hell. No."

We both laugh a little, and I hear Eileen sigh in relief. Did she think I'd be upset? I'm surprised, yeah, but I like Pandora.

Just not enough to call her "Mom." Certainly not enough to call her "Mommy."

"How'd you all know Danny was leaving now?" Eileen asks.

Santa points his thumb over his shoulder at Clockwork. "How do you think?"

Clockwork only shrugs modestly.

"Well, this certainly saves me a few trips," I say. I step forward. "Thanks for coming to see me. I don't remember any of your visits, but it still means something to me, you know?"

Pandora bends over to pinch my cheek as hard as possible. "Oh, you are just the sweetest thing!"

"Hey. Hey," Eileen scolds as she pulls me away from her, um, girlfriend. I rub my sore cheek, and she warns Pandora, "You're supposed to be making my son like you. That's how this works."

"Danny already gets along with all of us," Clockwork says, floating forward to join the rest of us. "And, we like him as well. But," he morphs into a child as he turns his wholly red eyes on Reaper, "he is not the reason we're gathered here."

All three Ancients stare meaningfully at their fellow Ancient. This in turn makes Eileen and I stare at them too.

When all Reaper does is look from one person to the other, Santa gets impatient and floats to Reaper's eye level. "Hello? What's that thing you haven't done in five thousand years?" He flaps his arms up and down. "Show us your wings, dummy!"

"Oh my god, your wings!" I gasp. "Are your wings back, Grim?"

Reaper smiles. "I…have been waiting. I was hoping to take my first flight alongside you. As parent and son."

"Can we throw mother into the mix?" Eileen asks.

"Hey!" Santa whines. "What about us? We came all this way!"

Reaper grins wider and takes a deep breath that betrays their nerves. "Make room."

This is it. This is the moment.

We're ghosts, but we all seem to hold our breath as we stand back.

Two wings sprout from Reaper's back. As long as their owner is tall. Covered in huge reddish orange feathers. Beautiful.

My parent is beautiful.

I am the only one who doesn't crowd around my grim to hug them, kiss them, feel their feathers. Cujo, the other exception, is running around, barking his head off. I am rooted in place while tears roll unbidden down my cheeks and my core sings in my chest. Reaper, also crying, locks eyes with me, oozing pride and gratitude.

When the fanfare dies down, I let my own wings sprout from my back. "I know you're rusty," I say to Reaper, "so I promise to fly as fast as possible and leave you in the dirt."

We all flew Reaper home, and their joyous laughter rings through my head even now. Everyone held back while Reaper and I had our race. To keep things fair, I flew exclusively with my wings and not my inherent ability. Reaper won.

The Gargoyles collectively lost their minds at the sight of their Master's wings. After escaping their welcome but painful embraces - those guys hug hard - I left them and all the Ancients to their celebration. Eileen also left and brought Cujo with her, promising not to spoil the surprise back home.

According to the coordinates Reaper gave me, Technus's lair is the closest, though it's still a long flight away.

I knock on his door, and the moment he opens it and sees me, he gasps, throws his hands in the air, screams, "Ghost child!" and locks me into yet another bone-crushing embrace. Why are hugs so painful today?

When Technus is gracious enough to let go of me, he asks, "How are you feeling, child?"

I make a show of checking myself over. "Better now that I'm not being crushed like a grape."

"I hug hard," he says without apology.

"I won't keep you," I say. "I just wanna thank you for visiting me."

Technus's eyebrows shoot upward. "You remember?"

I rub the back of my neck. "No. Sorry. But, Snowflake - one of the doctors - she gave me a list of all my visitors. I don't remember anything from the past," I suppress a shutter, "two weeks… But, I want everyone to know I appreciate them coming to see me. You were the closest, so," I bow, "I appreciate it. I am surprised, though. I thought we were enemies."

"We are," Technus confirms. "That's why I had to come see you." He places his right fist over his core. "I have a deep respect for you, Phantom. You taught me that a mad scientist is nothing without a powerful adversary, and you are truly a worthy opponent."

"Technus, I'm touched. I think."

Technus floats aside and gestures toward the doorway. "Would you care for a sneak preview of my latest creation?"

It's tempting. I wouldn't mind an advantage going into our next fight. "No thanks," I say. "Kicking your butt is more fun if I go in blind."

"Tough talk, Phantom. But, let's see how tough you are," initiate scream-rant now, "when I unleash my latest and greatest creation upon human society!"

He then proceeds to shout out every detail of his invention.

The Lunch Lady's hug hurts worse than Technus's but not as badly as Santa's or the Gargoyles'. I'll be lucky if I make it through the day without another trip to the medical ward.

"Oh, you poor thing," she says after releasing me. "You're even thinner than usual. What has that girlfriend of yours been feeding you?"

"You know my girlfriend?" I ask.

Lunch Lady puts her hands on her hips. "We met the other day. Now that's a girl who knows how to eat. You should take a page from her." Choosing to ignore that. "Anyway, I'd brought you a nice tray of meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner. Alas, Mia-"

"Mira."

"Mira said that you'd just eaten some soup she brought you. I asked one of the doctors where I could store your meal for later, but they said it was better if you ate lighter meals for the time being." Lunch Lady scoffs and rolls her eyes. "Clearly, your meals were too light. Come inside, and I'll fix you up something more filling."

I float away when she tries to usher me into your lair. "Thank you, Gloria, but can I get a rain check? The Frozeners are preparing some big feast as we speak, and I want to be hungry for that."

It's not a total lie. Though, the feast won't be happening until tonight so that I have plenty of time to talk to everyone on my list. But, Lunch Lady accepts the explanation.

"Well, alright," she says. "But, make sure you fill your belly at that feast."

I pat my stomach. "I plan to. And, I promise to let you feed me next time. Provided I get to finally try your meatloaf and mashed potatoes."

"It's a date."

"As I live and breathe!"

"You're not alive, and you don't breathe."

Hutch Blairman only laughs and kisses my cheeks and fans the tears pooling in his eyes.

I let him have his moment before saying, "I just wanted to thank you for coming to see me. I confess that I don't remember anything from the past two weeks, but I still appreciate your visit."

Blairman does a little schoolgirl-ish dismissive wave. "Think nothing of it, Cereal Boy. Anything for my little protégé!" He says with baby-talk and a hard pinch to my cheek.

Normally, I wouldn't tolerate his - ahem - affectionate nature, but this is a special occasion.

But, when he randomly brings up the fact that he'll be directing my school's musical in the winter and asks how well I can sing, I suddenly have anywhere else to be.

I bump into Skulker on my way to Klemper's lair. Skulker is carrying around a huge net full of ghouls of various shapes and sizes.

"Well, look who's up and moving," he says with a dangerous smirk. "Feeling better, ghost child?"

I keep my distance. "More or less. I hear the doctors turned you away."

"Yes." Skulker scowls at the memory. "I told them I wouldn't hunt you while you were down!"

"For what it's worth, I believe you. You don't like to hunt things that can't fight back." I back up some more. "Should I be concerned now?"

Skulker waves me off. "Nah. Walker's on my case about hunting an angel." There's that smirk again. "But, don't get too comfortable. Once the heat dies down, I'll be more than happy to resume my hunt."

Lovely. "I have to ask. Why would you visit me if it wasn't to skin me alive?"

Skulker shrugs. "Why do you think? Your rarity isn't the only reason you're my favorite target. I admire your courage and your skill in combat. And, as lame as your penchant for puns is, your banter is a nice change of pace from the running and screaming I normally get from my prey. You make the hunt fun and interesting."

To say I'm stunned would be an understatement. "Do you really mean that?"

"Don't get the wrong idea, welp. My admiration will make my victory over you that much sweeter! But, as I said, I'm waiting for the heat to die down. So, take all the time you need to recover."

"I'll do that," I say.

I shoot my wings out from my back and let one of them slice through the top of the net. Skulker watches in horror that turns to fury as his captures shriek in glee and fly away. I fly away as well, giggling as I envision Skulker shaking his fist as he calls after me, "I take it back! Recover quickly so I can mount your head over my fireplace!"

"Does this mean we're friends?" Klemper asks eagerly.

"No," I clarify. "It means I'm grateful for your visit."

Klemper leans in close with wiggly, grabby fingers. "Does that mean we could be friends?"

"No. It means I'm going to leave now."

There's a densely forested area where all sorts of animal-like ghosts congregate. Luckily, I don't have to search through it to find Wulf. I land and call to him when I spot him relaxing on the edge of the floating landform.

He lifts his head, and his face lights up when he sees me waving. "Friend!"

I try to meet him halfway, but he lunges and knocks me flat on my back. Laughter bubbles out of me as he pins me down and licks me. His tongue is so big that I'm soaked after the first lick, but I don't mind.

"Get off!" I shout in Esperanto. "Get off of me!"

I don't try very hard to push him off.

Youngblood isn't on the list, so I'm shocked when he charges into me to wrap his short arms around me and nuzzle my stomach. After hugging him and letting him pretend he wasn't crying, I bring him over to a nearby rock to sit. Age has made him less prone to playing pretend and taking it too far, so it's become more and more common to see him dressed as the eight-year-old boy that he is. Today, he is wearing shorts, sneakers, a striped t-shirt, and… I didn't know they still made propeller caps.

Youngblood kicks his feet and speaks to his lap as if explaining himself to an angry parent. "I wanted to come see you, but…hospitals scare me. I was in them a lot when I was alive, and…"

"Bad memories," I conclude. "I get it. It's the reason I don't eat the Nasty Burger's signature sauce anymore. Don't ask," I add when he gives me a funny look. "Let's just say that I found out it's highly combustible."

I can tell he has even more questions now, but he thankfully accepts my answer. "I was born with a really bad heart defect. I don't remember what it was called, but it felt like I spent more time in hospitals than in my own house. I was three years old when that defect finally did me in."

"I see." I don't push for details, but my own heart aches with the reminder of how young Youngblood is. "You know my parents study ghosts. Well, a few years ago, they made a portal to this realm. When they turned it on, nothing happened. Fast forward, and I was showing Sam and Tucker the lab. Sam wanted to get a picture of me in the Portal, so I put on a jumpsuit and went inside. Turns out, Mom and Dad accidentally installed the "on" button on the inside of the Portal. I didn't see it until I brushed up against it. I was fourteen."

Youngblood doesn't say anything, only hums in acknowledgement.

Another thought I don't like hits. "Hey, I'm gonna be eighteen in a couple months. Does that mean I won't be able to see you anymore?"

Youngblood smiles and reaches under his shirt. He pulls out a small blue pendant. "It's a charm. It's the reason adults can't see me. Bradley," a skeletal demon he imprinted on, "made it for me. If I want adults besides him to see me, all I have to do is take it off."

That's more of a comfort than I'll admit.

"I have a charm, too," I say. I tap the stud in my left earlobe. Youngblood eyes it with interest. "Got it a few weeks ago. You see, one of my angel powers doesn't work properly because I'm half-human. The charm is meant to correct that."

"What power?" he asks.

I explain my ability to sense wanderers and promise to give him the full story another time. I've got a lot of stops to hit and not a lot of time to hit them.

Mira isn't at her lair, so I move on. I'll check with her parents and if she isn't at their house, I'll give her a call.

I run into the Box Ghost as I'm flying by, and he gives me a welcoming noogie.

I laugh as I twist out of his grip. "Nice to see you too, Boxy."

"Not as nice as it is to see you!" he counters. "You really scared me on my last visit."

"Did I?" I ask. I shrug apologetically. "Honestly, the past two weeks are, like, totally non-existent for me."

"I'm not surprised. You were unconscious for most of it," he twirls his finger around his ear, "and loopy for the rest. Glad to see you up and moving, though."

I smile and stretch my back and arms for emphasis. "Feels pretty good, too. Don't tell anyone on Earth, though. I want my triumphant return to be a surprise."

He mimes zipping his lips.

Johnny parks his motorcycle on a floating rock, and he and Kitty fly off of it. Kitty wraps me in a hug. Shadow appears out of nowhere and joins in. Johnny ruffles my hair.

"How are you feeling?" Kitty asks once she and Shadow release me from a hug that didn't hurt.

"Pretty good," I say. "Still processing the fact that I've missed two whole weeks of my life, but other than that. Thanks for coming to see me."

Johnny blinks in surprise. "You remember that?"

"No, but I'm told you guys were there, so thanks."

"You don't need to thank us," Kitty says warmly. "You're our friend!"

Shadow flashes a wide grin and two thumbs-up. "Danny friend!"

The sound of Shadow's voice always brings a smile to my face. According to Johnny, Shadow can't speak very well and only talks to people he really likes. I feel honored to be one of them.

"Phantom!" Spectra exclaims upon seeing me floating at her door. "I see you're feeling better."

"Much!" I say as cheerfully as I can. I lean forward with my hands behind my back. "And, I hear you tried to…pay me a visit…"

Spectra grimaces then coughs into her fist. "Oh, that? That was all a big misunderstanding. I truly did want to wish you well, but those silly Frozeners got the wrong idea."

"I believe you," I say.

Then I punch her in the nose and fly away before she can recover.

Ember's smile upon seeing me is brighter than I expected. "Hey! Check you out!" She purses her lips and narrows her eyes with her hands on her hips. "Unless you're still loopy?"

"Nope." I knock my fist against my head. "Clear as crystal up here. I just wanted to stop by and thank you for your visits. I'm told you played your guitar for me."

Ember shrugs modestly. "Figured you may as well get some good music while you were stuck there."

"Yeah, but here's the thing." I put my hands behind my back and duck my head real shyly. "I don't remember your visits at all. I have no memory of hearing your music. It's a shame, because your music is so good, but gosh darn it, I just don't remember what songs you played." I shake my head. "Such a shame."

Ember spent my little vent leaning against her doorway with her arms crossed and her mouth curled into a smirk. "Are you fishing for a private concert?"

"Is it working?" I ask.

"A little. Get in here, dipstick."

Walker happens to be patrolling or something near the entrance to his prison. He smiles and tips his hat when I land in front of him. "Well, look who it is," he says. "You look a lot better."

"That's good to hear," I quip. "I don't remember anything after passing out, but I must have looked like shit!"

"Let's just say that you were in a bad way," he says. "It's good to have you back, Phantom. Hate to see a fellow like you…in that sort of state, we'll say."

I smirk. "Careful, Ezekiel. It almost sounds like you like me."

One second later, I find myself on the ground with Walker's huge hand pinning me by the neck. "Don't get cute with me, kid," he warns, "because if you set one foot out of line, I'll have you in a cell so fast, it'll make your head spin!"

"I-I read you loud and clear," I stammer.

I find Danielle flying directly in my path, and her hug is firm but not enough to bruise me.

"You sure you should be flying around by yourself?" Danielle asks. Her arms are crossed, and her thin white eyebrows are narrowed.

"Don't worry," I say. "If I wasn't well enough to go off on my own, both the Frozeners and my ghost parents would have stopped me."

Danielle is satisfied with my response. "Fair enough. Just don't overdo it."

The moment my son opens the door, I whip his stuffed mouse out of pocketspace and hold it out to him. "I believe this belongs to you."

Bub gasps and cheers, "Daddy!"

He ignores Mouse in favor of wrapping his little arms around my neck. I hold him back and stamp down the emotion welling in me. What was going through Bub's mind while I was gone? Or, worse, when he saw me unconscious? Delirious?

He isn't scared when he pulls back to look up at me. "Are you better, Daddy?" He asks with a fanged grin and wide reptilian red eyes.

"I am," I say. I stroke his head with my thumb. "I'm sorry about all this. You must have been so scared."

"Yeah, it-it was scary," Bub says. "But, um, but Grandper said that you would get better. They wouldn't lie."

Reaper told me that they and the other Ancients knew from Clockwork that I would recover and that Clockwork swore them to secrecy for…Clockwork reasons, I guess. Reaper must have went behind his back. Good. I'm sure that was a load off Bub's mind.

"Bub?" calls a voice from inside. "Who's at the door?"

Another, much younger voice adds, "Are they nice?"

Bub tugs on my jumpsuit. "Come meet my new friends! They said they know you!"

So they do, I realize the moment I step into my son's lair, which is heavily inspired by a nursery.

A ghost who is physically a year younger than me leaps up from where she'd been knelt down on the carpet. She has light green skin, red eyes without pupils, and curly bright yellow hair. "Danny!" Amelia cheers. She throws her hands over her core. "Oh, thank the lord you're alright!"

I'm about to reply, but something latches on to my leg. Phantina - "Tina" for short - is Amelia's two-month-old daughter. She has the same skin and eyes as her mother, but her hair is made of orange flames. Tina is a quiet girl and is content to curl her arms and legs around my leg and give me a big, toothy grin.

"Good to see you guys," I say. I hand Mouse to Bub (who used to be the same size as Mouse) and bend over to pick up Tina, who immediately snuggles into my chest. "I was actually gonna come visit after this, so you just saved me a trip. You can hug me, you know," I say to Amelia, who very clearly stopped herself when she saw me. "It's okay to hug guys you're not married to these days."

Until my dad and I came around, Amelia's soul was imprisoned in an orphanage that shut down some time after the Civil War ended. As far as I can tell, she hadn't aged a day in the century-and-a-half she was stuck there with the soul of her unborn baby attached to her. Now she and that baby have a lot to learn about the modern world.

Amelia shyly plays with her hair. "I know. It's hard for me to let go of that mindset."

I let Tina float out of my grasp and hold out my arms. Amelia steps into them, and we share a hug that would have gotten her branded as a slut in her time. At least, I think that's how it worked.

Amelia still acts and dresses like women did in the 1800s, but she's eager to be a "modern woman." She was very excited when she found out that women could vote and that most people have never even heard of a corset. Eileen thinks Amelia will be ready for her first Earth outing soon. I hope it goes well.

We sit on the floor together and watch our kids play with blocks for a while. By which I mean that Tina has telekinetic powers and is using them to make the blocks shoot this way and that. She claps her hands and giggles while Bub flies around, trying to catch the blocks.

Meanwhile, we single parents discuss my recovery - a conversation that doesn't last long when I inform Amelia that I don't remember any of it - and her impending Earth visit.

"Thank you so much for sending Eileen my way," Amelia says. "She's been a godsend!"

There are two reasons why I thought Eileen would be the perfect teacher for Amelia. The first is that, while Eileen died about two hundred years before Amelia was even born, she still knows how it feels to be thrown into new situations in a changing world. Granted, Eileen has spent a lot of time in the human realm since her death, so unlike Amelia, Eileen got to watch and get used to the progression. The second reason is simply that teaching is my ghost mom's Obsession.

"And, Maddie as well," Amelia adds. "She painted a wonderful picture of what romantic relationships are like now. Wife and husband as equals! Remarkable!"

I choke down laughter. "Don't get too confident. Wouldn't want you to start flaunting those sexy ankles!" I punctuate this by suggestively wiggling my shoulders.

Amelia throws her hand over her mouth in a gasp and notices that, lo and behold, one of her ankles isn't quite covered by her flowy 1860s dress. "Oh my heavens!" She blushes profusely as she hurries to adjust her skirts.

"I was kidding?" I drawl as I remind myself that she has a hundred and fifty years to catch up on. And, that her sitting next to a guy she isn't dating is probably already a huge step for her.

Wait a minute.

"Did you say, 'Maddie?'" I ask.

Amelia nods, visibly relieved at the change of subject. "Your human mother assisted with my last lesson. Eileen had her tell me about what courtship - I mean, dating - is like nowadays."

Maddie willingly helped a ghost? "How did that go?"

"Oh, it was lovely!" Amelia gushes. "She was a mite shy at first, but once she started talking about your father, she positively blossomed! Your parents must be very much in love!"

"That, they are," I confirm. Though my mind is elsewhere.