The Danny duplicate returned with an exaggerated amount of pizzas, at least by normal standards, the extended Fenton relatives all shared the trait of cartoonish appetite. Maddie was now exiting room with her finger pressed to her lips to which Danny nodded and placed the pizzas on the counter top. "Thanks for flying out of town for those Danny, I know it was a bit much but there aren't a lot of places that will still serve Oreo fudge and pineapple with ham" Maddie said.
Danny merely shrugged "eh, it's alright mom it's easier for me to do that stuff than put J.J down so no problem" the copy then retracted as the real Danny walked in and plopped down on a chair
His eyes looked tired but his body language said stressed "I take it that it was Sam I heard out there with you shouting at each-other?" Maddie asked.
"Who else would it be? Tucker has been damage control since yesterday and been completely swamped, but he'll have to have his blow out soon Paulina luckily won't stray too far from the fashion district to come here just because and Dash stopped trying to be best buddies so he's not hanging around" Danny huffed in annoyance "and to top it off Spike and Thorn are coming over first thing they're going to do is demand a selfie then try to sneak my stuff out"
"the sensors have all been armed Danny, no one is to enter any room they're not to be in, the kitchen, the den and the main bathroom are all that is accessible but I understand I'd be a little more than mistrusting if my cousins told everyone ghost powers ran in the family but his hadn't awakened yet. Danielle unfortunately only served as his evidence" Maddie sighed. It was rough watching her husband's family exploit her own and be powerless to stop any of it Danny was already dealing with more than any teenager could be reasonably expected and as his mother Maddie often felt terrible that he would shoulder his burdens alone. He was used to doing it alone but she wished once in a while he'd let them help. "Maybe after everyone gets here and you've made your presence you could slip out go out and check on Tucker"
"Even after yesterday you'd sign off on me going out with Val today?" Danny laughed.
"I did say we were all going on trust Danny I will honor my end if you two do the same" Maddie replied matching her sons' playful tone.
"I might take you up on that offer mom"
"Mom! Jazz stole my laptop!" Danielle shouted from down the hall,
"It's my laptop and I need to send some stuff into my teacher! Dani's just watching Netflix!" Jazz countered.
Maddie groaned in annoyance "I love my kids, I love my kids" she mumbled.
"Not like you and aunt Karen never fought over stuff" Danny chimed in as he passed his mom a pop from the fridge and grabbing himself something else.
"Yes we did but that was your grandmothers headache, this is mine and both these girls are half Fenton stubborn mixed with stubborn"
"Is Jazz and Dani" Danny joked.
Before Maddie had a chance to reply the doorbell interrupted them and both of them dropped their heads. It was time for the Fenton family reunion.
"Val's here!" Dani shouted as she raced to the door in phantom form blowing by Danny and Maddie in a black and white blur,
"Valerie is here?" Danny asked looking at his mom who merely smirked back him.
"After yesterday I think keeping you under supervision would be in everyone's best interest"
"Trust eh?" Danny snarked.
"I'm letting your girlfriend spend the night Danny, that's trust"
Danny was stumped for a second while his brain tried to work something out "she's staying the night?"
"Yes"
"The guest rooms are all spoken for"
"Yes they are"
"The pullout couch is taken"
"Indeed"
"So where is Valerie staying? Jazz and Dani don't have space in their room"
"As I said Danny, trust you're seventeen so this isn't something i can avoid but hopefully monitor safetly"
The gears in his head slowly but surely started working properly as Danny finally figured it out "Oh-Oh ok Uhm…thank you" Danny nervously choked.
"Door stays open, all night Danny! And I will be doing a random hour bed check!"
"Fair enough"
Valerie walked in wearing a red long sleeve shirt with black stockings and a green mini skirt "hey everybody thanks for the invite" she cheerily greeted "and hello to you Ghost boy" She added giving Danny a peck on the lips. She sat down beside Danny while Danielle took a black gym bag upstairs making kissy faces and noises at Danny as she passed by.
The doorbell rang again this Time it was Jack who raced to the front door "Jimbo!" he bellowed "Happy to have you come on in Bethany glad you could make it" Jacks overly excited voice rang throughout the house.
"Boisterous isn't he?" Valerie asked
"He's not alone" Danny stated.
"Jackie! This place looks a lot better than the last time we were here!" boomed Jims voice matching Jacks.
"They're all loud" Maddie pointed out.
"Maddie Jimbo and Bethany are here!" Danno take their bags to the guest room!" Jack directed his son to the door.
"Dan, good to see you kiddo how's the lifestyle of the rich and famous?" Uncle Jim asked.
"life's been fair uncle Jim, and it's Danny please" Being called Dan was something Danny was strictly against and had made that known to his relatives. He took his aunt and uncles bags and headed for the guest rooms, taking advantage of his short cuts. Jim and Beth followed Jack to the backyard where Evelyn was sitting with a pitcher of lemonade.
"So Jackie business seems to be going good for your clan ever think about taking on some partners?" Bethany asked just some extra funding and maybe some merchandizing" she asked as she took her seat beside her husband. Jack however poured himself a glass and shrugged his shoulders,
"Can't say that we have" he replied nonchalantly "Business has been solid, Government grants cover a lot of expenses and Danny's Phantom merchandize sales offer a fair contribution"
"Danny has a percentage of Phantom merchandize?" Beth asked rather keenly.
"The Phantom logo and other related products have been trademarked and Hasbro toys rents the licencing for the toy production at sixty percent on our return and then Warner brothers Inc. bought a sizable distribution for movies at twenty-two hundred thousand per movie and their own streaming platforms which leases out one-hundred thousand a season. Plus Maddie reinvested in a savings account"
"So Danny makes bank, I'm sure that keeps his head above water but what about you and Maddie and Fenton works? You guys must need a safety net, and who better than family to look for each-other"
"Beth, please don't start this" Jim mumbled to her.
"until Danny is legally an adult his mom handles his finances which does include portioning out business expenses since Danny is technically an employee"
"So Danny floats your whole operation and you pay him with his own money? Jack doesn't that seem a little misguided?"
"Bethany!" Evelyn interjected "it's rude to discuss family earnings especially so openly" there was a bite to Evelyn's voice as she addressed her daughter in-laws actions. She expected this, Bethany and Joanie have been trying to convince Jack to let them invest or become active members in the business side of Fenton works and have public roles. It was a falsehood to be sure they just wanted a percentage and kick back considering the government has also had offers to buy out and militarize Fenton works and Danny.
The doorbell rang again but instead of any of the residence opening it, the door swung open and a younger man roughly Jazz's again stepped inside the house "YO big D your fav cousins in the house! He hollered.
"Spike please just shut up" groaned a younger women closer to Danny and Danielle's age. She was dressed in a gothic attire. A black cloak draped over a black t-shirt and black skinny jeans, her blonde roots standing out under her dyed spikey black hair.
"What happened to Thorn?" Danny whispered to his sisters.
"Gothic phase" Jazz replied "common in most teenage girls, some form of a rebellious attitude against their parents and not conforming…"
"I know how the Goth phase works Jazz thanks" Danny quickly cut in " I dated one remember"
"yea recent queen of the Emo and vampires" Dani added "goth became a trend after people magazine snapped a photo of Danny Phantoms girlfriend and made every girl in the world convinced that's what he liked in a woman.
Spike grabbed Danny in a headlock and took a selfie "Family reunion with my super hero cousin" he cheered. The pic immediately found its way posted to social media captioned new age ghost boy training with O.G Ghost boy. Which only made Danny roll his eyes in frustration Spike knew the powers weren't a family trait but kept insisting to other people he would have them one day. When his eyes fell on Valerie Danny's eyes suddenly hardened.
"Oh my you're a lovely one, I am Spike Fenton Danny's favourite cousin and next Ghost boy saviour of the world" he jovially greeted reaching his hand out to Valerie.
Who looked at Spike then back at Danny with a look Danny could interpret as a 'give me a break look "Valerie Gray, Danny's girlfriend" she replied.
"G-Girlfriend? She's not a goth" Spike retorted.
"Nope defiantly not" Valerie replied "I tend to love having fun and being on the brighter side of things"
"She's also a lot more down to earth" Dani added earning a smile of gratitude from Valerie.
"Thanks for the help kids!" Joanie snapped on her way inside carrying a heavy hockey bag "Daniel would you be a dear and take this to my room please" she added throwing the bag to the floor and made her way to the backdoor followed by Spike, thorn and Danny's sisters.
"Seriously? They leave you to handle their luggage? After trying to milk some of attention?" Valerie asked.
"This is the new norm for them. Watch soon as they're outside they'll hound dad about letting them be partners in the family business until mom arrives." Danny stated as he lifted the hockey bag, making a mental note of how heavy it was and shuffled off to the other guest room with Valerie trailing behind him after grabbing a pizza from the counter top. Danny led her to a small room with a queen size bed and two end tables with a walk in closet. More or less an overnight room. There was two other rooms similar to this one but she didn't see her bag anywhere.
"Am I crashing with Jazz and Dani tonight?" she casually asked Danny.
"uhm, no Val you're not. Mom said to let you have my room for the night" Danny shyly replied as Valerie followed him down the hall to the stairs.
"And where are you sleeping? Bunking with your fanboy cousin?" Valerie teased.
"Mom didn't tell you when she invited you?"
Now Valerie's cheeks glowed red "she did, I was waiting to see your reaction to it"
She followed Danny into his bedroom and set the pizza on his desk, which was littered with school books and costume designs. "I'm…not sure what word is right to use for this situation. I want to say the way I feel but I don't want to be a creep about…."
Danny trailed off due to Valerie's lips pressing against his and her fingers laced around the back of his head. "as long as you don't feel like reciting Romeo and Juliet I won't judge you too harshly"
"Excited, eager, nervous and scared all come to mind" Danny absent mindedly blurted. His brain was still partially shut down from Val's kiss.
"All good answers" she whispered back to him "Your mom made it clear no hanky-panky but…" Valerie' hands fell to Danny's belt line "but I think a little making out would be acceptable" she pushed Danny down onto his bed before pouncing on him "see if you can guess my lipstick flavor before supper starts" she cooed once again she was pressed to his lips.
Danny suddenly lost all train of thought with the exception of 'cinnamon' he felt Valerie's fingers run through his hair but quickly propped herself up on him with her fingers touching her mouth "that was cold Danny like icy, got my own hopes up you slipped some tongue but I think we've got work to do"
Danny laid on the bed dejected "does it have to be now? I was enjoying myself" he whined.
"oh poor baby" Valerie teased "we can always pick this up later but for now let's go kick some ghost butt!"
"Going ghost!" Danny barked.
Valerie spun the face band on her watch causing it to illuminate a bright red glow red and black armour scaled over her body finishing with a transparent visor with digital motion tracking.
"New suit?" Danny asked
"Your mom got my dad to incorporate some new nanotech into Technus' old design. Titanium coated nanites with liquid regeneration so punctures, tears any kind of compromises to the suit it will heal itself as well as thermal regulation for those cold winter or ghostly snow days" Valerie explained as she fiddled with her control pad on her arm. "My ride should be here, lets go have some fun"
Valerie shimmied out the window as Danny rocketed out after her. The hover board sped alongside him even her board had upgrades. It was longer with threes miniature boosters instead of just sonic elevators for more pinpoint mobility. Latched onto the bottom was her long rifle, scatter blaster, and ray pistol. Not to mention whatever other destructive fireworks his parents could dream up. Danny almost felt bad for whoever was crashing their party.
"There!" Valerie shouted pointing at a wall, "they're invisible, but my scanner can still find them" she veered off in pursuit with Danny right behind her.
"Hey wait up!"
Danny glanced back to see Danielle racing after them. Not that he was surprised she was like Valerie, loved kicking ghost butt.
"Who's the party crasher today?" she hurriedly asked.
"Not sure yet" Danny replied following Valerie, who had turned down another alley "wait was that, Gameboy electrics? Oh crap it's..."
"AHAHA I am Technus! Master of all things wireless and linked!" Technus bellowed from inside a swirling storm of compiling gadgets and devices emerging in a mech armoured suit "Tremble before my awesome might as I cripple your social media lives"
The red huntress stepped on a switch releasing her long rifle propelling into her hands. Rapid fired blasts peppered Technus' body leaving scorch marks on his armour "foolish female child, your lowly inferior technology can't possibly hope to damage my superior body!" Technus boasted.
Several more shots blasted the chest plate causing Technus to stagger backwards "yeah, well how about if I just keep shooting you? What's going to give first your busted metal body or my infinite capacity rifle" Huntress screamed. Her relentless barrage of blasts showering the mech.
Danny likewise was blasting ecto beams at the mechs joints attempting to trip him up. Danielle however was holding up in the air a giant snowball that was steadily getting bigger, technus hadn't noticed her yet. She caught Danny's eye and winked.
Call it telepathy, sibling intuition, or collectively crazy ideas Danny knew what she wanted to do with it, he just had to buy her the time. "Kid has seen way to many Dragonball episodes to think that this will work" Danny muttered to himself.
Technus lashed at Red huntress with a long ecto-powered either-net cable snaring her right ankle. "you kids today need a proper lesson in respecting your elders!" with that he yanked the cable pulling the huntress from her board. "A lesson I Technus will happily teach!" three more cables emerged from his wrists ensnaring Red huntress by her other ankle and binding her wrists together.
"Hands off Jerk!" Danny shouted rocketing into Technus's back with a buit up ecto energy gathered in his hands. The blast impact launched the mech forward off its feet crashing into a dumpster. "Chill out you tesla imposter!" Danny fired an ice beam freezing the cables solid allowing Red huntress to snap her restraints. A red machete blade protruded from her forearm and she started hacking at the cables still attached to the suit.
"Enough of this!" Technus wailed summoning more electronic devices "I am Technus! Master of…" a subtle ding caught his attention "uhm Ghost brat, are you aware you have a stalker?" he asked with almost genuine concern. He then conjured a hologram screen in front of Danny to show a collection of Emails and fan pages, one being of a younger Hispanic girl demonstrating the 'Phantom wedding' "Ghostwife17, Pretty Paulina" technus read out loud "I have no concern for you ghost brat but no one should be subject of a stalker especially one of this calibre, how do you think I met my end"
Danny stopped in his tracks it occurred to him aside from Desirae, he never learned how his more human advisories died to begin with. "I didn't know that" Danny solemnly responded.
"Bah no matter it was almost a hundred years ago, now, shall we finish our business?" Technus fired a blast striking Danny in the chest sending him crashing into a wall. More holograms appeared in technus's visor flashing through at high speed. "Oh Boy Juicy gossip" he grinned. "Dear diary, today Tucker and Danny betrayed me again" he read aloud "ghost brat you've seem to have crossed your little gloomy friend" he taunted.
A stray red blast struck the visor shattering it. "while I don't care if your hacking everyone's cyber diaries I take offence to someone ignoring the best ghost hunter in amity park!" Huntress fired more blasts at the suits head.
Danny pulled himself up from the ground to see Danielle readying herself to launch her massive snow boulder. And Huntress barraging Technus with blasts, he drew his thermos this fight was coming to an end. "Huntress, move!" he shouted. Danielle launched her snow boulder simultaneously Huntress jumped away. A massive snow boulder crashed against technus burying him under twelve feet of compressed ghost snow. "game over" Danny sighed.
Technus poked his head out from under the snow his suit crusted with ice and frost "I am Technus I refuse to be beaten by the likes of you… oh look a Phantom-gram message…GAH! What is wrong with you children these days! Where is the self-respect and value of privacy!" he wailed. "Ghost brat get me out of here I want no part of this!"
Danny pointed his thermos and sucked up the techno ghost leaving the suit to fall to pieces in the snow "I wonder what set him off like that?" Dani asked reaching into the pile retrieving a smart phone. Her cheeks flared red as she forced down a laugh but ultimately failed "BAWH HAHA! Oh big brother there's a gift for you here" she wheezed between her gasps for air and laughter.
Danny took the phone from his sister and immediately cringed before passing it Huntress.
"Does that hoe really think this will work?" she growled "this is the internet even Phantom-gram is public the whole world will see this and know she's off her rocker"
Danielle continued to howl in laughter causing her eyes to water "maybe so but look where she has the image of Danny's face posted HAHA"
Huntress scanned the picture again noticing her lingerie bottoms had Danny Phantoms face printed on the front and back. "she has your face printed on her underwear and shared that publicly, I think I agree with Technus on this one where's the self-respect"
"That's one way to claim she's sat on your face" Dani laughed "oh look she even captioned it 'My honeymoon suit'
Danny slapped a handful of snow into her mouth "Dani your fourteen don't talk like that" Danny ordered.
"Oh wait" she spat out the snow Danny shoved in her mouth "I saw this trick in a movie, it's how she can tell everyone she got you in her pants without actually lying" she fell into the snow laughing at her older brothers blanching face. "Surprised she hasn't gone full crazy and gotten Danny tattooed on her chest yet"
"Please don't encourage anymore crazy behaviour" Danny groaned "as much as I don't want to say this, we should get back home"
Valerie suddenly retracted her helmet her face visibly disgusted "Danny I know we just started dating but if Sanchez is going to keep pulling this kind of crap then come Monday morning…"
Danny placed a chased kiss on her cheek "first chance we get we'll go public and no need to worry about Paulina I'm immune to anything she could pull" Danny told her as he rubbed her arms "that includes drugs and alcohol, ghost half nullifies all that"
"You tested that theory?" Dani interjected.
"Mom wanted a full read out of my limitations and also since you were starting high school and attending high school parties she wanted to make sure you'd be safe as possible" Danny replied.
"What's your limit?" Valerie chuckled.
"Can't be drugged" Danny replied "at all testing was extensive, morally bankrupt, and unethical but Mom had to be sure Dani would be safe, booze however… inconclusive"
"Inconclusive?" asked Dani
"Two-hundred thirty-five beers and wasn't even buzzed Mom lost it when she found out what dad was testing me for, I was sick from over filling my guts with beer but not alcohol related"
"That makes my stomach hurt" Dani groaned clutching her stomach "am I ever glad you're the lab rat"
"Well you're the favorite can't risk you can we" Danny teased as he started to fly off.