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Published:
2022-10-01
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2024-03-28
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13/13
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Born of Life and Death

Summary:

Jack and Maddie Fenton have always desired to learn more about ghosts. As scientists; seeking knowledge is a sacred duty. As ghost hunters; information of a potential enemy is always useful. Yet the knowledge of the world and creatures of the dead eludes them, until an ancient and powerful ghost offers them all the knowledge they seek...for a small favor of course.

Notes:

If you want to read a certain story sometimes you gotta write it yourself...

Trigger warnings: dubious consent/pregnancy illness/description of childbirth

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter Text

In Amity Park, a small city with a long history of paranormal and supernatural happenings, lived a very unusual (even by the town's standards) couple.

Their names were Jack and Maddie Fenton. They lived in a lovely brick house on a corner with their one-and-a-half-year-old daughter Jazz. On the surface, they seemed like your typical small and loving family.

Then you notice the large technical monstrosity on top of the house, the neon sign flashing 'FentonWorks' day and night, and when you finally meet the couple they wear matching jumpsuits.

For you see, the couple were ghost researchers and hunters. It was their life's passion that they had turned into a business. They had come to Amity Park specifically because of its haunted history, and they chose their house in particular because, according to their calculations, there were 'high ectosignatures'. They were geniuses, building weapons and equipment like no one had ever seen.

Yet, for all their success with machinery, they had yet to learn anything substantial about ghosts.

"We could try the portal again?" Jack suggested as climbed down the stair after putting their daughter down for her nap.

"I don't know Jack." Maddie looked up from her latest project. "After what happened with Vlad..."

"We'll improve the design! We'll even more precautions this time, it'll be different, you'll see!"

"Well maybe the high spectral energy here could help-"

"Pardon me. I think I may be of service."

The couple jumped, weapons drawn, and turned to see an old man with deathly blue skin wearing a purple cloak and holding a clock-topped staff. The clock motif seemed to continue to the various watches on his wrists and at the center of his chest, a pendulum ticked back and forth.

When added to the fact that he was floating and glowing, the Fenton's knew they were facing an actual ghost.

"I assure you I mean you no harm." The ghost continued in a calm voice, as though he didn't notice or mind the blasters pointed at him.

Maddie kept a firm grip on her weapon. "Who are you?"

"And what do ya want spook?" Jack demanded.

"My name is Clockwork, Master of TIme." The corners of his mouth turned up in a slight smile. "And I want to offer you aid in your research concerning ghosts."

"...What?" Maddie glanced at her husband, who looked just as confused as she did. Still, they kept their weapons drawn.

Clockwork wasn't deterred. "I can offer you almost all the information you want. Samples of ectoplasm and plants grown in the Ghost Zone, books regarding the different kinds of ghosts, and the history and culture of the world beyond this one. Answers to questions that have plagued you for years.

And yes, information that could lead to a working portal."

"What's the catch?" Maddie asked, keeping her voice steady. "I've read about deals like this; there's always a price."

"The house you reside in lies on an ectoleyline." Clockwork continued, and to their further surprise shifted into a toddler! "The wall between this realm and the Ghost Zone is thin, making it easier for ghosts to come out...and for humans to go in."

"So I was right!" She grinned at her brilliance. "But why are you doing this?"

"I am the Ghost of TIme. I see all that there is, all that was, and all that could be. The different paths in store for both our worlds. By offering my services, you are helping me steer time onto paths that benefit all of us."

"You can see all of time!?" She turned her weapon down. This was incredible! Revolutionary! "Are there ghosts for different concepts as well!? How did you get your position!? How are-"

"Easy Mads..." Jack reluctantly put down his weapon, but still never took his glare off the ghost.

"Those questions will be answered in due time." Clockwork nodded. "As your wife said; there is a price for my aid."

"We're not giving you Jazz." Maddie's voice was hard. "We're scientists but we're not sacrificing our family for research."

"Especially not our baby!"

"Hmm....perhaps 'price' was not the correct term." Clockwork put a hand to his chin, shifting into a grown man. "What I'm asking is more of a 'trade' or 'favor'. I will not be taking anything, or anyone, from you. I only ask that you do something for me in turn."

"What?"


"...a baby?" Maddie whispered.

"A baby." Clockwork nodded. "That is half ghost, half human. They would have all the abilities of a ghost while still being a part of the human realm. They would be a bridge between the two worlds."

"Why us?" Jack asked, arm around his wife.

"Because the futures I see where you're raising the child are generally favorable. Of course...you would have to tone down the 'hunter' part of your career for their sake."

"Why...this?"

"I'm afraid I can't tell you about that. Telling too much of the future could have dire consequences."

Maddie calmed her breathing. So many scenarios ran through her mind. "And...how would that work; me carrying a...half ghost baby?"

"I'm afraid I can only explain once you agree to the deal. Rest assured, the child would be of you both."

"What do you think Mads?" Jack whispered, gently guiding Maddie to the end of the room. They needed the illusion of privacy.

Maddie closed her eyes and furrowed her brow for a minute. "I mean...we already wanted another baby..."

"Maddie! You can't be serious!?"

"When are we going to get an opportunity like this again? He said we would be raising them, they would be ours."

"What about when they grow up? What if they grow up to be some kind of weapon against humanity?"

"Then...we're just going to love them as best we can and hope for the best. Jack, this is our life's work! We have a chance to learn things others could only dream of! This would catapult the progress of paranormal study!"

Jack had to admit it to himself; he was curious. Knowledge about ghosts that people had tried to uncover for centuries within arm's reach...

"I mean...it would be really cool raising a kid with ghost powers..."

"Exactly! Besides, Jazz would love to have a little brother or sister."

He closed his eyes and nodded. "Alright." They turned back to Clockwork, who had shifted back into an old man. "It's a deal."

"Perfect." He reach out his hand and, reluctantly, Jack shook it, jumping as he felt a jolt go up his spine.

'What was that!?"

"A sign that the deal has been struck." Clockwork reached out for Maddie's hand, which she gave, and felt a jolt go down her own spine. "I will return here in five days at ten o'clock in the evening precisely. Meet me down here and we can begin. Farewell." With a twirl of his staff, he disappeared into a blue clock.

The couple looked at each other, dread already weighing them down.

What had they done? 


"Jack." Maddie's voice shook as he came up from the lab a day later. "I think I know why he gave such a specific date to begin."

"Besides being a time ghost? He does have that whole clock thing going on..."

"Four days from now is a full moon." Her shaking hands held up an almanac. "Full moons are believed to be a time of greater paranormal energies, linked with magic and...fertility."

"Ah." He looked out the window, at the nearly full moon in the sky. "Guess he's the traditional sort eh?" He gave a half-hearted chuckle.

His wife just gave him an annoyed look. "It's not just that. I also did some calculations and...I'd be ovulating too."

"Oh..." It felt like he'd been hit with a brick. "I guess he's not taking any chances."

"I just...I didn't think it'd be so soon."

"Maybe we can ask him to wait until next month?"

"No. It's going to happen sooner or later, no point in dragging this out. I mean...the soon we start the sooner we can continue our research, right?"

"Right."

Now if they both could just be satisfied with that...


The time came sooner than they'd like.

"You're ten minutes late." Clockwork said bluntly, already in the lab when they arrived.

"Sorry." Maddie said. "Our daughter was a bit fussy and-"

"No matter, this should still work." He reach into his robe and pulled out two clear vials of glowing green liquid. "You drink this one." He handed one to Maddie. "And you drink this." He handed the other to Jack.

"What is this?" She examined the vial, turning it slowly.

"Potions that will help with conception and help it develop its ghostly nature."

Maddie blushed at the blunt explanation. "But what's in it?"

"Ectoplasm, among a few other things. And no, you need to drink every last drop for it to work." He sighed at their hesitant looks. "They won't do either of you lasting harm. They will wear off after tonight."

The couple looked at each, silently having a conversation before nodding and downing the potions.

"Bleh!" Jack scrunched his face. "I've had spoiled fudge that tasted better."

"Give it a few minutes for it to take effect.  Now here's what we'll do next..."


He was very gentle. Surprisingly so.

She holds tight to her husband's body and keeps her eyes closed, focusing on the pleasure.

And so she doesn't see his glowing red eyes.


The next week was full of quiet tension, the couple both filled with anxiety yet saying nothing. They tried to put on a happy facade for their daughter, but Jazz was more observant than they realized.

"Is something wrong?" Jazz asked one morning over pancakes.

"What do you mean princess?" Jack shared a glance with his wife.

"You and mommy are acting weird."

"Oh sweetie..." Maddie ran her fingers through her daughter's hair. "It's nothing bad." They hoped. "We're just...waiting for some important news."

Jazz tilted her head. "What kind?"

"It's a surprise! But we should know soon."

"Okay!"

Once breakfast was over and Jazz was settled in the Fenton Anti-Ghost Playpen, they ducked upstairs.

"How soon Mads?"

"I'm scheduled to get my monthly in three days." Maddie looked at the calendar, at the marked date. "If I don't get it for a week then we see. It's the most accurate way to tell."

He didn't meet her eyes.

"Jack...I know we agreed to this. But after that night...I'm sure we can find a way out of this."

"What? No!" Jack rapidly shook his head. "I agreed to that too. I mean it was definitely weird...but I've had weirder nights. One time me and Vladdie-"

"Jack."

"Right! But you...this is gonna affect you way more than me. If you don't want to do this..."

"I want this." She took his hands. "This will still be our baby, half-ghost or not. And they're going to have the most amazing ghost-researching parents in the world."

He swooped her up into a deep kiss. "I don't know what I did to deserve ya Mads. Our kid's going to have the best parents this side of the dimensional rift! Or the other side too!"

The day came. Then a week after that. No period. 

Maddie got out the best quality pregnancy test they could find.

It came back positive.


"You know I could've informed you the moment it quickened." Clockwork said, appearing, just as before, in the basement out of nowhere.

"We need some normalcy about this." Maddie put a hand over her abdomen. If she closed her eyes and focused hard, she could feel something growing inside her. Was that a normal pregnancy thing? She hadn't felt the same with jazz but then again...

Clockwork extended his hand, and she took it, gasping lightly as he pulled her close. Eyes closed; he was silent for a moment before smiling. "It's a boy."

Startled, Maddie stepped back. "You can't know that...all fetuses start out as female before-"

"Honestly Clockwork, we must work on your bedside manners. You're scaring the poor woman."

Maddie looked at where a bare table had been set up and saw a tall woman with four arms and blue skin wearing ancient Grecian armor. How had they missed her?

"Uh..." Jack blinked. "Who's she?"

"My apologies" Clockwork floated over to his companion. "Allow me to introduce Pandora."

"Pandora?!" Maddie gasped. "From the Greek myths?!?"

"The very same. Though the legends have some of the details wrong."

"Among other things." Pandora grumbled as she poked through a bag. Then she gave the human couple a sweet smile. "I'm really quite nice once you get to know me."

"Indeed. Pandora will be serving as midwife for the duration of the pregnancy and birth."

"Midwife?" The couple asked in unison.

"Considering the...unique nature of the child," Pandora waved her hand. "It might be best to avoid human doctors. Do not fret, I am a fully qualified midwife and have delivered hundreds of children!"

Jack took his wife's hand. "What...kinds of children exactly?"

"Many different kinds, which I feel gives me better experience. Now would you kindly get up on the table? I just want to do a quick examination to see how you're doing."

Giving Jack's hand a quick squeeze, Maddie followed Pandora's instructions, giving her a brief medical history including what she went through with Jazz.

"It looks like you're in excellent health. Although..." Pandora tapped her fingers. "You do understand this pregnancy is going to be different compared to your first? Considering the child's nature..."

"I figured."

"Now, there is no exact precedent for this, but it looks like you and the child are doing well right now. I recommend getting plenty of rest and not putting too much stress on your body. We'll do weekly check-ups and if anything comes up, I'm sure Clockwork will let me know."

The implication of that last statement made Maddie feel as if she were under a microscope, but she nodded anyway.

This was going to be fine...


It started around six weeks later.

Jazz had been thrilled when they told her she would be a big sister and eagerly volunteered to help set up things for the new baby.

They also built and set up their own medical equipment to keep a better eye on things themselves. But so far all of Maddie's vitals seemed to be normal.

Until...

"I'm not hungry." Maddie says one night over dinner.

"Are you sure?" Jack asked. It had been Jack's turn to make dinner and he had chosen meatloaf and while it certainly wasn't restaurant material, it was still edible. "You're eating for two now."

"I know, it's just..." She looked at her plate as though it were piled with rotten fish. "I think it might just be cravings."

"For what? Fudge?"

"That's just it, I don't know! I looked in the fridge and all the cabinets and nothing looks good."

He frowned. "When was the last time you ate? You were already in the lab when I came down for breakfast."

"...Dinner." She said quietly. "Yesterday."

"Mads!"

"I know! But when I try to eat anything, it feels like I'm going to vomit! And then there's-"

That was when they remembered their daughter sitting there, turning her head back and forth like she was watching a tennis match.

"Are you sick mommy?"

"A little." Maddie conceded. "But it's nothing to worry about."

"What about the baby? Is he sick?"

"The baby's fine. This just happens sometimes while they're growing. I promise everything is going to be fine."

Jazz twisted her fork before nodding slowly.

It was only after they watched a movie and put her to bed did Maddie confide in him in the kitchen.

"I've been having...pain."

"Pain!? Like cramps!? When did it start?"

She rubbed her abdomen gently. "...Monday."

"Maddie! That was three days ago! Why didn't you tell me!?"

"I thought it would go away! That it was just my body adjusting! I did a quick blood test, and everything looked fine!"

"What if this means something's wrong? And now you're not eating!"

"I know! Let's just go downstairs and check it out. Pandora's not coming until Saturday, so we'll have to figure something out until then."

But they found the duo already waiting for them.

"He should have called me as soon as the pain started." Pandora glared at the elderly ghost.

"She did not make the pain known until a few minutes ago!" Clockwork huffed. "I did get us here before they arrived, didn't I?"

Maddie opened her mouth to scream at them for spying on her when the pain intensified. "Ahh!" She fell to her knees, gripping her stomach.

Jack rushed to her side. "What's happening to her!?"

"Get her on the table." Pandora commanded.

Carefully, Jack lifted her up and set her down on the medical table they had built.

"When did the pain start?" Pandora asked as Jack brought over some of the medical devices.

"Monday morning...I noticed it when I woke up, but it could have started before."

"Can you describe the pain?"

"It's like a wire is wrapping itself around me and getting tighter!" She hissed.

"She also hasn't eaten anything all day." Jack informed them, firing up the ultrasound machine. "She says it makes her feel sick."

Pandora looked thoughtful as Jack helped Maddie out of the top of her suit. "Let me check first." She placed a careful hand on her abdomen and the human shivered at the cold touch. Her husband rubbed her shoulder.

The ghostly warrior closed her eyes and focused in silence for a few moments.

"It's hungry."

"For what? I tried everything in the house!"

"Not just for human food." Pandora explained gently. "Remember, this child is half ghost. Thankfully I suspected this might happen..." She reached into her bag and pulled out a small vase with a top.

Clockwork's eyes widened. "Ah...I see."

"See what?" Jack demanded. "What's in that thing and how's it supposed to help my wife!?"

"This 'thing' is an amphora." Pandora popped the top off and show the couple the glowing green content. "And this is ectoplasm."

"Imagine as the ghost equivalent of blood." Clockwork explained. "It's what all ghosts are made of. Though, unlike blood, ghosts can consume ectoplasm in a variety of ways to gain or maintain energy. It might just be what the baby was looking for."

Jack looked doubtful. "So...he needs ghost food and human food?"

"Essentially, yes." Pandora held the vase up to Maddie. "The pain might have been a distress signal to let you know he needed something else. The lack of hunger is your body trying to concede to that need."

Maddie eyes the liquid carefully. Her scientist brain was screaming that it was toxic and dangerous. Once she got a whiff of it, however, her mouth began to drool, and her stomach growled.

"This won't hurt her right?"

"There should be no ill effects, considering what she's carrying."

Maddie took the vase and took a small, slow sip...before chugging down more of it.

"Maddie."

She wiped her mouth. "It tastes amazing Jack! I didn't realize how hungry I was until now."

"Wonderful!" Pandora smiled and pulled out some books. "I recommend consuming at least one cup of ectoplasm a day. I have some extra vials so you can try mixing it with human food if you want."

"On that note." Clockwork pulled out two large, old books. "It's time I start paying my part of the deal. These discuss the chemical makeup and uses of ectoplasm and more basic ghost biology, including the different categories and species of ghosts. I trust you'll use them well."

Jack flipped through them briefly while Pandora continued her exam. After a few minutes, he gave up; he wasn't in the headspace after what happened. He stood to go put them on the table for tomorrow-

Maddie gripped Jack's arm. "It's gone."

"What?"

"The pain. The pain just stopped."

A weight lifted itself from Jack's shoulders as he kissed her.

Maybe they could do this after all.


The next few months went by relatively smoothly, for the most part. They kept the vases of ectoplasm locked tight in the lab and Maddie had started experimenting with recipes. Jazz had asked about the 'weird green stuff' but had seemed satisfied when they told her it was 'special vitamins' for the baby. Though she had pouted when she was told she couldn't have it in her birthday cake.

Between the two of them, it was Jack who spent the most time in the lab running the experiments; he had insisted Maddie follow Pandora's advice to take it easy, especially now that she was further along, so she spent most of her time with their daughter or reading through the books Clockwork gave them. In twenty years she would never have theorized half of the things the books told her.

The baby was developing just fine, even their own machines gave off normal readings (once they were adjusted for the ectosignature of course). The ultrasound showed no physical abnormalities and confirmed Clockwrk's prediction of being a boy.

So six months in, when Maddie groaned awake one morning due to the baby kicking, she didn't think anything was out of the ordinary.

"Alright, alright." She rubbed her now visible bump as her son continued kicking against his confinement. "I'm awake. I'll make us some ectoplasm pancakes; does that sound good? Just let me take a shower to wake up first."

The baby gave another kick, as though he were consenting.

"Thank you." She got off the bed, careful not to wake her husband as she made her way to the bathroom.

She lifted her shirt...and nearly fainted.

"JACK!"


"How do you explain this!?" Jack demanded, pointing to the bright green veins mapped out along his wife's stomach.

Maddie felt like her heart was trying to power a superconductor. "What's happening to me!?" She gasped. "I saw the veins then I started cramping and spotting...is something wrong with my baby!?"

"Easy." Pandora tried to soothe her. "Clockwork, the tea!"

"Right here." He poured a cup and handed it to Pandora, who offered it to Maddie.

"What's in it!? Is it poison!?"

"It's not poison." Pandora said calmly. "You're having a panic attack, it's just some herbs to help calm you down. There's a little ectoplasm but most of it is herbs from the human world."

Hands shaking, the pregnant woman started drinking.

"That's it. There's a good girl." Pandora took the cup.

Normally Maddie would've hated being talked to like that, but she could already feel the tea starting to take effect.

"The veins are harmless. They're just a result of the child's ectoenergy." She reached into her bag and pulled out something in the shape of an hourglass and held it against Maddie's stomach, putting her ear on the other end. "Though they usually aren't this prominent...Ah ha! A very strong heartbeat!" She nodded with satisfaction. "The baby is fine. The shock of seeing it must have triggered a little third-trimester anxiety."

"A little!?" Maddie huffed.

"Hmm..." The warrior frowned and laid her hand on Maddie's stomach again. "That's odd..."

"Is something wrong?" Jack took his wife's hand.

"Clockwork come and see this."

The TIme Ghost laid a gentle hand on Maddie and hummed thoughtfully.

Maddie sucked a breath in through her teeth. "What is it!?"

"The baby is very strong." He rubbed the area where he felt a kick and Maddie had to fight the urge to slap it away. "We can already feel its energy."

"What's that-"

"Mommy?"

Maddie felt her heart almost stop when she saw Jazz standing on the stairs, Bearbert Einstein clutched tightly.

"Jazz sweetie, we told you to stay upstairs!"

"I got scared. You sounded sick." She turned her gaze to the two ghosts. "Are you doctors? Where are your white coats?"

"Hello Jasmine." Clockwork smiled kindly. "This is the firstborn." He explained to the warrior.

Panora grinned happily. "Hello child!"

"Jazz." Her father said. "Can you go back upstairs? I'll be right up." They had tried so hard to keep her out of this.

The two-year-old pouted. "But I wanna see mommy!" 

Maddie quickly buttoned her shirt up. "Mommy's fine sweetie. I was a little sick earlier but now I'm fine."

But Jazz had inherited the Fenton stubbornness as she hurried to Pandora. "Are you a doctor?"

"Of a sort." Pandora gave a shrug. "I'm a midwife."

"Midwife?"

"It means I'm taking care of your mother while she's carrying your brother. I will also be the one delivering him when it's time."

"Do all midwives have four arms?"

"Jazz." Her mother said warningly.

Pandora just smiled sweetly. "I'm a very special midwife."

The little girl's eyes widened. "My brother's special?"

"Yes, he's a very special child, so he needs special care."

Jazz nodded, accepting it fully before turning to clockwork. "Who are you? Are you a doctor?"

"I'm a friend of your parents."

"They have friends?"

"...Now that just hurts." Jack grumbled.

Jazz gasped as she was picked up by two of Pandora's arms. "Let's see your mother and how well she's doing."

Maddie tensed until the ghostly midwife deposited Jazz right next to her. The toddler laid her head down on her mother's belly and closed her eyes.

Her head shot up. "He kicked me!"

Maddie couldn't help but smile and pull her close. "That means he likes you."

Jazz smiled from ear to ear. "Mommy?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"What are those green lines on your tummy?"


Maddie sucked in through her nose as the first wave of pain came and went.

"They're just Braxton hicks...we've still got at least another month." She had put Jazz to bed two hours ago and Jack was still in the lab. She rubbed her back and closed her book. Research could wait until tomorrow.

"Everything's fine...gah!"

She gripped the chair arm until her knuckles went white as another wave of pain rolled through her. "It's nothing, it's nothing!" Once it passed she pushed herself up...and noticed the wet seat.

"No..."

She felt another presence in the room with her. This time she wasn't surprised to find Clockwork behind her, stone-faced.

"It's time."

Damn soundproof walls! "JACK-"

"I will get him." He took her arm and guided her to the stairs. "Right now you must focus on the child. Pandora is setting up the room. Quickly now."

He held her all the way up the stairs and as she stumbled through another contraction in the hall until Pandora met them at the door.

"Come come. Let's get you ready." She guided Maddie in and helped her change into a nightgown.

This was too fast. Labour wasn't supposed to be this quick, not even with the second baby. She had been in labor with Jazz for over twelve hours before she was born.

But this...her body hadn't given her any warning. No time to prepare. No time to plan.

"Something's wrong." She whispered as Pandora helped her up on the bed. 

"Nothing is wrong."

"It's too early!" She retorted. "He's not ready! He's not due for over a month! He's early!"

"He's right on time." Clockwork stated. When had he returned?

The door slammed open and Jack, wrench still in hand, looked terrified.

"Maddie!" He rushed to her side. "Are you ok!?"

"Baby's coming!"

"But-"

"I know!" She glared at the time ghost. "Babies aren't supposed to be born this early! What if he's sick!?"

"He will be fine."

"And Maddie!?"

"They will both be fine. And recall that he is not a normal baby."

"Mommy?" The two-year-old rubbed her eyes at the door. "Is the baby coming?"

"Yes, he is." Pandora said gently. "Why don't you go back to sleep and you can meet him in the morning?"

Jazz clutched her teddy and looked at her parents.

"Go back to sleep sweetie." Maddie forced a smile. "Everything will be fine. I promise."

Her daughter looked at her for a few more seconds before walking back to her room. 

Clockwork shut the door. "I'll soundproof the room."

Maddie squeezed Jack's hand as another contraction ripped through her. "I need to go to the hospital!"

Pandora shook her head. "You're too far along to be moved. Now try to focus on your breathing, we've still got a little ways to go."

"This is too fast! This-!"

Clockwork floated towards them. "Would you prefer to sleep through it? The baby's energy is very strong; your body is using everything it has to deliver him. It will be a painful process."

The human woman groaned and looked out the window, at the full moon hanging high in the sky.

"No...I want to be awake for this."

The purple-robed ghost nodded and rubbed a finger over her swollen belly, muttering something in a language knew was Ghost Speak, even if she didn't understand a word of it.

She let out a breath as the pain subsided. "Just a little something to take the edge off. A little longer now..."

Jack rubbed his wife's back. "How much longer?"


The grandfather clocked chimed.

"Midnight." Clockwork nodded. "It's time."

"The witching hour!" Pandora grinned. "A good omen!"

Jack wiped the sweat from Maddie's face as she grits her teeth.

"Good for you."

"And for you as well." Pandora lifted the nightgown and nodded. "You're ready. When the next contraction comes I need you to push hard."

Jack winced as his wife squeezed hard enough to break a smaller man's bones. This continued on with each contraction.

"He's crowning!" Pandora announced. "I can see the head!"

"Why the hell did we agree to this!?" Maddie hissed. "Why the hell did you let me talk you into this!?"

"One more push!"

"You can do it Mads!" He held his wife. "Just one last big push!"

She screamed as her body burned and felt like it was being torn in half-!

She collapsed as another scream filled the air.

"Twelve thirty on the dot." Clockwork nodded, as though approving.

In the blink of an eye, Pandora was now holding a clean, calm, newborn swaddled in a bright green blanket.

"A strong little warrior." She cooed, cuddling him. "Yes, you are! The cutest little warrior!"

"You did amazing Mads." Jack whispered, kissing her forehead.

The midwife handed the newborn over to Clockwork while she worked on healing and cleaning Maddie's body.

The ancient ghost smiled at the baby. "Hello, little Phantom."

The baby babbled back.

"My baby." Maddie held her arms out, fighting against exhaustion. "Give me my baby."

'Of course." Clockwork carefully deposited the precious bundle into the waiting arms.

Maddie held him close and marveled at what she had made.

He was small, smaller than Jazz even, and already had a patch of soft raven black hair. But it was his eyes that caught her attention; they were possibly the most beautiful icy blue eyes she had ever seen. Eyes that seemed to pierce right through to her soul.

Eyes that were full of wonder and seemed to glow with an unearthly light.

"He's beautiful." She whispered, tearing up. "Isn't he beautiful Jack?"

"Perfect." Jack sounded on the verge of tears as he kissed his wife's head. "He's perfect Mads."

"Mommy?" Jazz slowly opened the door. "Is the baby here yet?"

She didn't even have it in her to be mad. "Do you want to meet your brother?"

Her first baby nodded eagerly and rushed to the bed, where Jack hoised her up next to her mother.

"He's tiny!" She gasped and pulled at the blanket-

She frowned. "Where is he?"

"What!?" Both parents gasped as they looked at the bundle again.

Maddie shrieked. The bundle was empty! And freezing!

There was a softer cry as the baby faded back into view and looked at them with wet, glowing green eyes!

His parent's mouths hung open.

"Oh! His powers are already coming in!" Pandora clapped her hands.

"We warned you." Clockwork said. "The baby is half ghost, with all the abilities of one. Now it is your job to help him control those powers and make sure he puts them to good use."

"Half ghost?" Jazz asked.

"We'll explain later sweetie." Maddie quickly calmed the sniffling infant. She smiled and kissed his forehead.

Ghost or half ghost, he was still their son.

"Jazz, this is your brother. His name is Danny.

Danny Fenton."

Chapter 2

Notes:

A bonus chapter!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

"I can assure you I had nothing to do with this one."

Maddie glowered at Clockwork as she took a bite of a bright green cookie, fingers tapping against her slightly swollen belly, where feint green veins were already visible.

Pandora hummed as she checked Maddie's vitals. "It's possible there were some leftover remnants of the potion and ectoplasm from when you were carrying Daniel. Or perhaps being so close to an ectoleyline may have triggered something?"

The pregnant woman was still displeased. "You can see all of time, right? Surely you should have seen this happening!"

"There was always a possibility." The Time Ghost shrugged. "I am only to guide the timeline, not control it. Besides, who am I to stop a happily married couple from acting on their love?"

"Plus I remember that night this time!" Jack added.

Maddie just sighed. "So we're doing this again?"

"If it helps. it appears your body is better adjusted this time." Pandora nodded. "So this one might be easier."

"Are you up for it Mads? It's your choice."

She grinned. "We've already got a good handle on one half ghost baby, what's one more?"

Clockwork nodded and took her hand. "It's a girl."

She laughed as Jack kissed her head. "Jazz will be happy at least."


Maddie held her newborn daughter close.

Pandora had been right; this pregnancy had been slightly easier. The labor had still been quick and painful but at least they had been more prepared this time.

"She's beautiful Mads." Jack stroked her little cheek.

"She is. She looks just like Danny." Same black hair and blue eyes, though hers felt more energetic. 

"Mommy?" Their four-year-old daughter opened the door slowly, holding her two-year-old brother's hand. "Is the baby here?"

"She is. Do you want to meet her?"

Jazz nodded eagerly while Danny looked hesitant. He hadn't been nearly as excited as his sister about getting a new sibling. Maddie wondered if he thought they were replacing him or if he was disappointed by not getting a brother. One of Maddie's hopes was that having a sibling with powers like his would make her son feel less lonely.

"Remember children." Pandora smiled at them. "Be gentle, babies are very fragile things."

"We will Ms. Midwife." Jazz dragged her brother inside.

"Hello Jasmine." Clockwork nodded in greeting. "Hello Daniel."

"Hi Mr. Clock man."

Danny stayed quiet, keenly aware of Pandora's and Clockwork's eyes on him.

Jack foisted them up onto the bed and they crawled over to their mother, who turned to let them look at their sister.

Danny's eyes widened. "She small."

"As were you, when you were born." Clockwork said, looking right at the boy. "And just as now, we were all gathered here."

Without a word, Danny buried his face in his mother's shoulder before turning invisible.

"He's shy." She gently ran her fingers through her son's hair. That usually calmed him, down. "Now kids, I want you to meet-"

"Uh...Maddie?" Jack nervously glanced at the birth certificate. "About the name we picked..."

"What happened?" She asked flatly.

"You see...I was busy trying to keep Jazz and Danny calm...there was a lot on my mind...I kept thinking about how Danny's birth went..."

She just sighed. "What did you put down Jack? We can always have it changed later."

"It's just...don't you think it'd be nice, having our half ghost kids share a name?" He reluctantly held out the birth certificate.

Scrawled in messy handwriting, 'Danielle' was listed as the name, the second 'l' and 'e' hastily scribbled in.

"Oh Jack..."

"Where's she going?" Jazz asked.

Maddie realized the weight in her arms was gone and quickly grabbed onto the floating newborn.

The baby giggled, apparently amused by her ability and the reaction it garnered from her mother.

She couldn't help but laugh too. "Jazz, Danny, meet your baby sister, Danielle Fenton."

"Dani?" Danny asked, turning visible and holding out a finger for the baby to grab onto.

"Sure. Dani Fenton."

Notes:

I honestly don't know why there aren't more 'Dani is Jazz and Danny's bio little sister AU's' without them being twins. Oh well...

Chapter 3

Notes:

Happy Halloween!

Chapter Text

Alicia loved her sister, even if she didn't always understand her.

Her obsession with ghosts, her love for Jack (though Alicia preferred him over Vlad, that man gave her the creeps), and her opening a ghost hunting business. Alicia was a simple woman, more concerned with the matters of the living world than what lay beyond it.

But Alicia loved her sister, they had been a team. From leaving behind their lousy wealthy parents to being each other's maid of honor at their weddings, they had each other's backs. She never planned on having kids (even with her husband pushing for it). Still, when Maddie needed an emergency c-section with Jazz, Alicia was there by the time they got home from the hospital, helping around the house and tending to the baby for the next month.

So when her sister called with news that she was having another baby, Alicia began making plans just in case she needed to stay over. She loved Jazz and she was excited to meet her newest nibling, and started quilting a new baby blanket.

But soon after the announcement, Maddie began acting strange. Well, stranger than before. Even during the first call, she could detect a slight anxiousness in her sister's tone.

"We're trying a midwife this time."

"A midwife?" Now Alicia was all for midwives, they were essential in rural areas where she lived, but Maddie was different. "Are ya sure? After what happened with Jazz I'd thought you'd want to live at the hospital this time around."

"This pregnancy's going to be different." Her sister said slowly, as though thinking of each word carefully before speaking it. "And the midwife is fully qualified with plenty of experience. And if anything happens, Jack can get me to the hospital in no time."

Alicia didn't argue; while Maddie may not be in the habit of thinking things through with her experiments, she would never do anything that put her family in danger. If she wanted to try a different approach this time, then Alicia was in no position to judge.

Still, she made a habit of calling to check in every now and then; and every time Maddie gave an update on her family, research, and pregnancy. Everything was going fine, maybe she had worried over nothing.

Until one day when one of her husband's business trips took him took Chicago, she tagged along. She hated cities, they were noisy with too many people, but it was only a few hours from Amity Park and it give her a chance to visit Maddie if she was up for it.

But when she called, she was met with frantic shouting, with Jack quickly explaining that now wasn't a good time to talk with Maddie screaming something in the background. She hung up and took the first bus to Amity Park.

The door opened to a very surprised Maddie in a house robe.

"Oh, Alicia!" Maddie tightened the robe around herself. "What are you doing here?"

"I tried calling this morning and heard ya having a fit!"

"This morning...? Oh!" Maddie sighed. "I'm so sorry, I completely forgot you called! Come on in." She sat next to her sister on the couch, keeping her robe wrapped around her swollen belly. "This morning was a bit hectic. I was spotting and had a bit of a panic attack."

"Panic attack!?"

"But everything's fine!" Maddie insisted. "I'm fine, the baby's fine, the midwife said it was just a little third trimester stress, that's all."

She looked at Maddie's face, it looked tired but had that pregnancy glow she heard about. She relaxed a bit, her sister was about to have another baby and she and Jack were busy preparing for it. Anyone would be stressed in her position.

"If yer sure...guess I panicked a bit myself."

They got to talking for a while, catching up with each other and Maddie invited her to stay the night; Jack had to drive over to Chicago to pick up some equipment anyway so it wasn't much of an issue.

Jazz insisted that she be the one to read her a story that night and as she walked back to the guest room, she heard voices from her sister's room.

"...try makeup? I mean nobody's really going to see it anyway."

"I think they look cool."

"That's sweet, but what if they stay after he comes?"

Alicia couldn't help herself, she took soft steps and the door was open just enough for her to peek inside. Jack was sitting on the bed while Maddie was pacing, robe gone and rubbing-

"WHAT THE HELL!?" She threw the door open and Maddie paled, hand still on her stomach, where bright green veins contrasted sharply against pale skin. "Are you ok!?"

"Alicia, please it's nothing to worry about!" Maddie held her sister's arms. "The midwife says this is perfectly normal!"

"Like hell that's normal! Where did you find that midwife anyhow? Did she give you something? Ya gotta see a doctor now!"

"NO! I did my own ultrasound and everything looks fine!"

"Maddie ya can't be serious! Yer literally glowing!" She grabbed her younger sister's arm. "C'mon! Ya can show me where the nearest emergency room is!"

"WAIT!" Maddie pulled her arm away. "It's not what you think! Just...let me explain downstairs. Please."

"Maddie?" Jack looked at his wife with worry.

"I'm sure it'll be fine if we tell her."

"Tell me what!?"


"What the sam hell were you thinking Maddie!?"

Maddie ran her hand through her hair. "I know it sounds bad but-"

"'Sounds bad'!? Look at yerself!" Maddie pulled the robe tighter. "And apparently they got you eating....ectoplasm? That didn't set off any alarm bells?"

"I know it was reckless-"

"Jumping into a pig pen is reckless Maddie! Making a deal to have a time ghosts baby in exchange fer what? A couple of books!"

"I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING!" 

Alicia sighed when she saw her sister's wet eyes. "Did ya even consider what this kid's gonna be like? He could up being some kind of monster! Or something that ghost can use to get into the human world?"

"We have considered that." Maddie said, clearly struggling to keep her emotions in check. "And so far all our ultrasounds show is a healthy baby boy. Clockwork has plenty of access to our world but he hasn't attacked us yet." She took a long, shuddering breath. "I know what we did was unethical and looking back I know I should've rejected it but....this is my son Alicia. Jack's too. And we're going to love him as much as we do Jazz. And if he ends up being a weapon then Jack and I will take full responsibility but right now we are doing the best we can and it would be nice if you would respect my decision in this matter!"

The older sister sat back rubbing her temples, not saying anything for a minute.

"...Alright. I suppose it's too late to do anything about it now, but if he comes out with horns and cloven hoofs I'm saying 'I told you so'."


Alicia doesn't get the chance to meet Danny until he's six months old

She does have to admit; he's a cute baby, and very human looking, though his eyes seemed to glow with their own light. Unlike Jazz who was a generally happy is colicky baby, Danny was quiet and easy if a bit selective about who got to hold him, a privilege she only earns the day before she leaves.

It isn't until he buries his face in his mom's chest and turns invisible does she eye her sister.

"...His hair's white." She said simply as Maddie nursed him.

"I know. It...does that sometimes." She ran her fingers through his white locks. "And his eyes will turn green too. It's nothing to worry about, it's just his ghost half expressing itself. He's such a sweet baby. The only powers he's shown so far are the looks, invisibility and Jack said he saw him floating a little over his crib, and sometimes I swear I can see his breath. Clockwork said his powers would grow when gets older, and he'll have more control over them."

"...Yer milk's kinda green."

"Well, when you regularly eat ectoplasm for eight months..." Maddie gave a half-hearted chuckle as she burped her baby. "Everything else is normal. I mean really, aside from the ghost stuff, he's a normal, healthy baby boy. And Jazz absolutely adores him, she insists on helping me and Jack change and play with him. She tried reading him a story and she's so smart and-"

"I get it." She looked at him and he babbled at her. "Alright; I'll admit, he's a good baby."

"And I have no idea what he'll be like when he grows up." Maddie smiled. "But then again; that's the same for any baby, isn't it."

"I suppose." Maybe she was worried over nothing.


"Really Maddie?" She gave her sister a flat look as she reached for her flying, giggling daughter. "Again?"

"We didn't exactly plan for her, or for her to be half ghost too." Maddie held Dani close and smiled. "But isn't she precious?" She kissed her baby before stapping her securely in the lounger. "Jazz! Danny! Come say hi to your aunt!"

Jazz greeted her with a bright smile and a hug while Danny gave a small wave before sitting himself down in front of his baby sister.

"They adore her." Maddie said as they watched Jazz and Danny play near Dani, regularly showing and handing her toys. "I was a little worried since Danny didn't seem keen about a baby sister, but look at him now!" He stuck out his tongue, causing the baby to laugh. "Maybe this will be good for both of them; they won't have to worry about being alone."

"I guess yer right." She raised an eyebrow. "But really? 'Danny and Dani'?"

"I know, there was a little mix-up with the birth certificate. We keep meaning to get it changed but Jazz and Danny don't seem to mind."

They sat back and continued to watch the children play.

Alicia never really understood her sister or her family, but she loved them all the same. 

Chapter 4: UPDATE

Chapter Text

Okay, so like my Ducktales story 'A Different Tale' I'm asking for scenario ideas for this AU and if I'm inspired I'll write it! Just comment below!

Chapter 5

Notes:

Here's me combining two comment ideas into one!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The divorce was quick, and Alicia felt herself actually breathe the moment it was finalized.

It was time to start living life her way again.

Once she settled everything on her farm, she invited her sister and her family to stay for a few days. Maddie agreed, saying the kids needed a bit of 'fresh, country air'. But Alicia knew she was really coming because she was worried about her sister. Still, they were happy to see each other.

Jack was still the same big, not so bright ghost hunting maniac and her opinion of him only slightly improved when she saw how gentle he was with his kids. The mini ecto blaster put her on edge though.

Jazz was quickly growing into an intelligent young girl, eager to share everything she was learning in school and using a few big words even Alicia didn't know the meaning of. Danny was surprisingly quiet for a four-year-old, looking around as though expecting something to jump out and attack him (though when Jazz told her about the Christmas Turkey coming to life, she wondered how often it happened) and usually clung to his mother or older sister. Dani was well into her 'terrible twos' - no wait, simply calling them 'terrible' would be putting it mildly. She had barely gotten unbuckled she jumped out of the car and toddled towards a bush...which somehow caught on fire. Apparently, that was far from the first time that happened and other antics (according to her parents and sister) included almost eating a blob ghost, somehow picking the bolt locks to the house and the lab, trying to stick herself in the oven and letting a wild raccoon in the house.

And that was before she started using her ghost powers!

Alicia had watched as Dani flew over the chicken coop, scaring the chickens and causing them to hop the fence which scared Danny who then turned invisible until all the chickens were back inside.

"It certainly makes hide and seek interesting!" Jack smiled seeing his kids play with each other. "Somehow Jazz always manages to find them."

"We're still working on helping them control their abilities." Maddie looked on wistfully as Danny flew up to pick apples for him and his sisters. "I'm sorry for the trouble they've caused but this is the first time they've had a wide, open space to use their powers. We've only allowed them to use them in the house or the lab but their still children. We didn't even put Danny in preschool like we did with Jazz. He's starting kindergarten next year, he needs to be around kids, human kids his own age. We've already told Jazz not to tell other people about her siblings...'condition' but what if Danny gets scared and turns invisible? Or starts floating while taking a nap? 

We don't want Danny or Dani to be scared of themselves, but they also need to understand that other people won't see them the way they do! The GIW would take them away and experiment on them! Or call some other third-rate hunter who doesn't care that their just children and-"

"Easy Maddie." Alicia rubbed her sister's back. She glanced over and saw Jazz carrying her sister away from the pig pen. She knew what Maddie was saying, her neighbors were decent folk who usually minded their own business. But if they saw glowing green eyes, they would sooner call an exorcist than listen to reason. "They're gonna be fine. They're good kids. They'll learn to keep it under check."

"I know...thank you."

The rest of the day was actually calm, and the kids enjoyed being shown around the farm. Danny even looked more relaxed as they sat for dinner.

It didn't last.

They were about halfway done when blue mists burst from the younger kids' mouths, causing Dani to cry. Jack and Maddie sprang into action.

Maddie quickly pulled Dani out of her highchair and sat her down. "Kids get under the table! Do NOT move until I say so!"

Jazz and Danny obeyed, as though they had done this plenty of times before. Jazz held her siblings close, gently comforting them as her parents pulled out strange devices.

"What is going on here!?" Alicia grabbed her bat (She had locked her shotgun away before the kids arrived. Just because she wasn't on her sister's level didn't mean she was an idiot).

"Danny and Dani can sense ghosts." Maddie looked at her device, which showed a radar. "That blue mist lets them know when a ghost is nearby!"

The door bent in with a loud bang!

"I've got this." Jack slowly made his way over to the door and threw it open.

Alicia had lived here to recognize the different kinds of animals on the fly; this was-or at least used to be-a bobcat, only it was missing an eye and the remaining was glowing red. The rest of it was bright green and covered in scarring.

It gave an enraged roar.

Jack blasted it back off the front porch.

Maddie flipped out of the door, pulling out a glowing green bo staff. The bobcat, now even angrier, pounced at her.

Alicia felt her heart freeze. "MADDIE!"

But Maddie didn't flinch and just before the bobcat got her, she stabbed it right through with the staff.

The bobcat fizzled out.

Maddie checked the radar again. "it's gone!"

The kids cheered and Jack pulled his wife into an embrace.

Alicia just stood there, jaw slack.

"WHAT THE HECK?!"


Her niece and nephew were part ghost. The fact that other ghosts existed shouldn't have surprised her.

"Animal ghosts don't usually cause too much trouble." Maddie explained. "It depends on the animal, but most are content to mimic what they did in life. Those that have been hunted or abused tend to get hostile around humans."

"Our kid's ghost sensitivity is useful for locating ghosts," Jack continued. "But it can't tell us what kind of ghost, so we usually have to be on the cautious side."

At that moment, Alicia regretted the times she had insulted Jack over his belief in ghosts.

"The problem is it might go both ways." Maddie looked up at the night sky, the children having been tucked into bed an hour ago. "Our kids can sense ghosts...but some ghosts appear to sense them too. They'll never be caught off guard but we're also working on a way that covers their ectosignaturea without interfering with their powers. We're already trying to modify our equipment to ignore them."

"...Huh." 

What else could she say?

Soon it was just Alicia sitting on the porch, still too rattled to feel tired.

"Ghost animals...ectosignatures...just what have you people gotten into?"

"Auntie?"

She nearly jumped from her chair before realizing it was just her nephew peeking out from the door.

"Whatch'ya doin' out here kiddo? It's gotta be past midnight by now?" She stiffened. "Did ya sense another ghost?"

"No. That one was scary."

"Yeah...it certainly was."

After a moment of consideration, Danny gently closed the door and sat on the edge of the porch. His eyes nearly burst out of his head when he saw the sky. "Wow..."

"Heh. No light pollution out here."

Danny then began pointing to various stars and constellations with as much enthusiasm as a child on Christmas.

"Geex, you really know the sky."

"Mommy taught me. I want a telescope for my birthday."

"Danny!"

 Danny turned and fell on his back as he was tackle hugged by his toddler sister.

He huffed. "She keeps doing this! She follows me and Jazzy everywhere!"

"Sounds like ya got a little shadow, eh Elle?"

Dani growled, eyes flashing green, her cheeks puffing out like a chipmunk. "Dani!"

"She only responds to 'Dani'," Jazz stepped out. "She screamed when we tried to call her 'Elle' or 'Ellie''." She worked at prying her sister off her brother. "C'mon, it's bedtime."

"But the stars Jazzy! They're so many!"

"Not tired!"

"C'mon." Alicia effortlessly lifted Dani and Danny. "You can look at the stars tomorrow....or tonight before ya go to bed ok? And don't think I didn't see that yawn missy."

Danny nodded and Dani huffed while Jazz led them back to bed.

She slept pretty soundly after that.

Notes:

Just a few fun personal headcanons:

Dani gets the nickname 'chaos gremlin' from her siblings as they get older.

Dani's a lesbian, Danny's bisexual and trans and I'm still figuring Jazz out.

Aside from Frostbite, Clockwork, Pandora (and maybe Nocturne?) most ghosts don't know that the Phantoms are Clockwork's kids. Not even the Phantoms know. Not for a while at least.

Both Danny and Dani are Clockwork's children.

The portal activated around the same time as it did in the show, only this time it worked on the first try, and even though they weren't inside, all the spectral energy gave Danny and Dani their changeable ghost forms.

Sam and Tucker have known about Danny for years after he revealed his powers by accident. They promised not to tell.

Chapter 6

Notes:

Mystery Meat AU

Chapter Text

"Absolutely not!"

"But mom-"

"No." Maddie wrapped the device around her son's arm and began to squeeze the bulb. "Danny, you passed out after turning you, Sam, and Tucker intangible!"

Nearby, Dani snickered.

"And don't think I didn't see you almost phase through the stairs this morning!" Dani's face went red as Maddie turned back to her son's vital signs. "Ever since we opened the portal, your powers have been acting up. Your father and I theorize it has something to do with the excess ectoenergy along with your new ghost form." She rubbed a thumb over the black, previously white, sleeve of his jumpsuit. At the white 'DP' emblem Sam had designed on his chest (Jack hadn't been happy when she ripped the sticker of his face off). It had been designed to protect them from any side effects of opening the portal.

So much for that. "We agreed to let you go back to school only if you two agreed to only use your powers if you absolutely had to."

"I did have to!" Danny protested. "She was about to smother us in meat!"

"And I understand that part; it's the 'going back to fight that ghost on your own' part that I'm upset about." She put two fingers under his chin and began counting heartbeats. Her children still had them as ghosts, but it was much slower than a normal human's. "Your heartrates still high. You should have called us as soon as your ghost sense went off!"

"We were a little busy dealing with the meat controlling ghost!"

"I'll have to develop a 'ghost emergency' button on your phone. Your blood sugar is low, did you manage to eat lunch?"

"Er..."

"You're having an extra portion of ectovitamins to make up for it." She sighed. "Sweetie...I know you want to help and I'm so proud you're such a caring person...but your ghost form just isn't stable enough to take on a ghost of that power."

"You got that right." Dani smirked. "Which is why I-"

"-won't be going after her either. Neither of you has had enough training to maintain your forms for long. Dani, you can go to school tomorrow if your powers are stable. Jazz and Danny, you two are staying home while your father and I take care of this 'Lunch Lady'."

"WHAT!?"

Even Jazz looked upset. "But I have a quiz-"

"I'll write to your teacher and ask to reschedule it. I don't want any of you near Casper High until we can contain her and bring her back to the Ghost Zone."

Jack turned from the inventing table with a grin. "And our new Fenton Thermos will keep her safely contained! This baby can absorb and neutralize the powers of any spook it comes across!"

"But what if she starts attacking people!? You know Dani and I healf fast but Sam said she was planning a protest tomorrow! You and dad won't be able to get a clear shot with a bunch of teens running around! At least let me fly around and keep her away from everyone!"

Maddie gently ran her fingers through her son's snow white hair. "I know you want to protect them, but the best thing you can do right now is going through the training courses tomorrow while we catch the ghost." She glanced at her daughters. "This isn't chasing down blob ghosts in the park. This is a sentient spirit with malevolent intentions with the power to actually hurt people. To hurt you." She held her son's hands. "Promise me you won't go after her."

Green eyes looked away. "I promise." His voice was quiet and uneasy.

"Thank you. Now can you and Jazz fix up dinner? Your father and I need to prep for tomorrow."

Once her three grumbling children were up the stairs, she turned to the portal that hummed along the back wall. It was their life's work. A gateway to a whole new world; it was the scientific breakthrough of a millennium in any field.

She glared like it was a pile of mouse droppings. "Why did we think building that thing was a good idea?"

"We're almost done with the shield. And the reinforced door, at least we'll have more control over what comes in and out."

"But the kids..." She grimaced remembering how they celebrated the portal working...only for it to turn to panic as two of their children collapsed in pain. It had taken hours for their ghost forms to settle but seeing her babies in so much agony...

"Clockwork would've warned us if something would happen."

"Would he?" She snapped. "He didn't say anything about our children writhing in pain as their bodies developed new ghost forms!" 

Jack remembered that day all too well. "I know but...what if that would have happened anyway? What if it was like...half ghost puberty?"

"None of the books mentioned anything like this."

"Probably because there were no cases like them before. At least we were here to take care of them." He gave a small smile. "Remember when we dreamed about the kids following in our footsteps?"

That seemed like centuries ago. "I know...but having half ghost kids changes things. We have to be careful."

"I know. The GIW-"

"Not just the GIW! I mean other ghosts. Like those ectopusses that attacked Danny and his friends. What if there are other ghosts like the Lunch Lady....or worse? What if they realize who and what our kids are!? What if they try to take them? Or worse?! We made them like this, we have to protect them!"

Jack opened his mouth to speak when the crumbling of paper caught their attention. On a nearby table was now a scroll with a seal bearing the letters C and W intertwined.

"Clockwork." She took a deep breath and opened it. They had received a few letters like this over the years, some with plant and ectoplasm samples, others containing more books and documents while others containing advice and answers on how to help their kids.

'You cannot protect them forever.' Was written in a familiar fancy scrawl.

She scowled. "Oh what does he know?"

"Quite a lot I should think." Jack gently held his wife's shoulders. "He has a point; there are plenty of natural portals in Amity Park; they're going to run into something sooner or later."

Maddie closed her eyes and took a moment to think. "Fine. We can talk about letting them handle ghosts after we take care of this one."


Danny never thought in all his fourteen years that the first time he'd sneak out of the house would be to go to school of all places, but then his life had never been normal had it?

"Danny." He froze and turned to see his elder sister standing at his door, as he, in ghost form, put one leg out the window.

"Look, I know what you're going to say, but people need help. And I-"

"I know." She smiled and swung her car keys on her finger. "Mom and Dad are gone, I already drove Dani to school, and I have the backup thermos and wrist ray in the car."

He blinked, then smiled back. "Have I ever told you you're my favorite sister?"


Maddie tapped her foot as her two eldest sat on the couch, guilty expressions on their faces.

"Just what were two thinking!?"

"I know!" Dani marched up to them, furious. "I can't believe you fought a ghost without me!"

"Not the issue! The issue is you went behind our backs and put yourselves in danger!"

"I'm sorry!" Danny exclaimed. "But to be fair...we did catch her!" He held up the thermos with an innocent smile.

"I'll take that." Jack took the thermos.

"Jazz how could you encourage this? What if someone saw your brother transform!?"

"Danny's friends and I covered for him!" She defended. "Nobody saw him!"

"Mom." Danny steeled himself. "You've trained us for years and now you expect us to sit at home!"

"I trained you so that you could protect yourselves! Not to throw yourselves at the first opponent you meet!"

"And today I used that training to protect others! Isn't that what you and dad do!?"

"Don't you turn this around on us!"

"He has a point Mads." Jack interrupted. "He handled himself pretty well out there."

Danny grinned and sat back. "Thank you!"

"But you're still grounded for sneaking out."

"Aw man!"

"I'm just saying; more ghosts are going to show up and we won't always be around when they appear. Don't you think the kids should at least be able to handle things until we get there?"

Maddie replayed Danny's fight with the meat monster in her mind. She noticed several obvious flaws in his style...but he had handled himself far better than she expected. Then she looked at the hopeful and pleading faces of her children.

"... fine, you can start ghost hunting with us."

"YES!"

"-But only after you finish your homework and no going out after curfew and-"

She found herself embraced on all sides by her family.

She found herself smiling. Maybe they could make this work after all.

Chapter 7

Summary:

Blog ghost cuteness!

Chapter Text

Maddie had only left for one minute.

She had just served Danny and Jazz their lunch and was in the middle of trying to spoon feed Dani, but the one-year-old seemed to enjoy throwing her ecto mixed baby food at her siblings and mother as much as she did eating it. Then there was the unmistakable sound of an explosion from the lab. Setting the food and spoon out of reach, she rushed down with the promise to return quickly. Thankfully the damage was minimal, and Jack wasn't hurt, just a gasket that got overwhelmed. With a sigh of relief, she returned upstairs-

And found a small swarm of glowing green blobs swirling around her kids.

Maddie's immediate instinct to pick up her kids and get them somewhere safe was pushed aside by the fact that none of her kids were hurt, or even scared.

They were even giggling!

She slowly walked over and saw one blob managing the spoon for Dani while another held up the jar of food. both chirping brightly when she took a bite with no fuss. Another held a napkin and wiped Danny's face while he ate his sandwich, he even started patting it and it let out a little purr.

"Hi mommy." Jazz took a sip of her juice, not seeming to care about the blob cuddled up on her shoulder.

"Jazz sweetie...are these blob ghosts?"

Blob ghosts were slightly sentient piles of ectoplasm. They were the most often kind of ghost she and Jack found, but they were quick, sneaky, mischievous...and rarely harmful.

"Yup. Aren't they cute?" Jazz scratched the one on her shoulder and it began to purr.

Okay, Maddie had to admit, this was cute. 

She debated about calling Jack when her youngest grinned at her and opened her mouth...revealing a blob ghost who beeped.


Jack pushed through the exhaustion and got out of bed when the sound of whining echoed through the baby monitor. Either Dani or Danny must have woken up from a nightmare. So he grabbed the monitor and made his way down the hall.

He was at the door to the nursery when he realized that the monitor had gone silent. He checked it; it was still turned on and the batteries weren't dead.

Mind now completely awake, he slowly opened the door and looked in. Nothing amiss so far. He approached the crib and looked down-

-to find his daughter sleeping soundly with one blob ghost purring on her chest and another rubbing her hair.

"She woke up."

Nearly jumping out of his pajamas, Jack faced his son, still tucked in his own little bed, sleepily blinking up at him, and about five blob ghosts sleeping on top of his blanket.

"She start'd cryin', but they helped...they make good noise..."

"Ah...that's good." He gently ran a hand over Danny's hair. "Go back to sleep. Night son."

He was asleep before Jack closed the door, and the blobs glowed lightly with contentment.


 "Drop it."

Danny, mouth lips pierced shut, shook his head.

Maddie stood over him, hands on her hips and face stern. "I know you have something in your mouth."

The three year old looked incredibly nervous but still shook his head.

"Daniel James Fenton you better open your mouth by the time I get to five or you are in big trouble. One....two....three..."

Eyes wide, the toddler opened his mouth and spit out the blob ghost who looked no worse for wear. Maddie sighed, Clockwork's note had said blob ghosts often acted like toys for child ghosts, helping to develop their 'hunter instinct' by playing cat and mouse. His only real warning had been to make sure none of the kids swallowed them by accident but she and Jack didn't like them putting any ectoplasmic substances in their mouths that their parents hadn't prepared.

The fact that Danny and Dani liked to chew on them just made it worse.

At least the blobs seemed to enjoy it.

Chapter 8: Prompts

Chapter Text

Okay...I'm hitting a wall with my other stories so I'm hoping a few chapter suggestions for this story might get the juices flowing again. So lay it on me! Just comment below and see which one strikes the writing nerve.

 

Thank you.

Chapter 9

Summary:

Tis the Season!

Chapter Text

"I HATE THE HOLIDAYS!"

Jack and Maddie watched in horror as their son scowled at colorful Christmas decorations at the mall before the image shifted to the Ghost Zone where Danny gleefully destroyed Christmas items as a 'stress reliever'.

And it was all because of them.

"Do you understand now?" Clockwork asked pointedly. "I have allowed this to go on for four years because I thought you resolve it on your own. It appears I overestimated your ability to consider anyone else's feelings."

He returned them to the living room, where everything outside them was frozen in time.

Jack hung his head. "We didn't notice..."

"Yes, why should you notice your children are upset whenever you two have screaming matches?" The Time Ghost messaged his forehead. "We agreed that I would not interfere with their upbringing, but my desire to have my children actually enjoy the holiday season has forced me to bend that particular rule."

Maddie sat on the couch, hugging herself. "So we're the reason our kids hate Christmas? Not because of the stupid Santa thing?"

"Only Daniel develops such a burning hate for the holiday. Jasmine learns to tune you out and becomes neutral to the whole thing. Danielle does enjoy it somewhat." He sighed. "But only because her siblings put their energy into distracting her from your arguing by doing other activities. Even Daniel puts his anger aside to make her happy."

The dig was clear and cut both of their hearts to pieces.

"What do we do?" Jack asked quietly.

"Now, you can either act like responsible adults and simply agree to disagree and encourage your children to get into the spirit of things. Or...you can continue as is and deal with the consequences later. For reference; I am not a fan of rhyming."


Breakfast the next morning was tense.

The parents ate quietly, smiling at each other while the kids ate slowly, as though waiting for a bomb to detonate.

"Kids." Jack said. "Why don't we hang stockings for Santa after we eat?"

The children froze, their wide eyes immediately going to their mother, expecting a snarky remark about 'putting up socks for a man who's not coming'. They braced themselves.

It broke their hearts again.

But their mother just nodded, keeping her smile. "That sounds nice. And then after lunch, we can bake a gingerbread house."

"Huh?" The three year old gaped.

"What's going on?" Jazz asked, the seven year old looking at her parents suspiciously. "Mom, why aren't you yelling about Santa not being real? And dad, shouldn't you be shouting how Santa's magic and can do anything?"

"We're not doing that anymore." Their dad quickly informs them.

"We've decided to agree to disagree." Their mom explains. "Just because he believes in Santa and I don't doesn't mean we have to fight. Besides, Christmas is a time for family, and your happiness is what we both agree is the most important thing to us."

Jazz looked thoughtful for a moment but just nodded and returned to her pancakes. "Thank you." Dani gave a squeal of excitement before digging (sloppily) into her plate.

Danny, however, didn't quite seem to believe it and frowned into his milk, looking more grumpy and cynical than any five year old should be. "I give it three hours."

"Danny." Maddie said softly, running a hand through his hair. "We're so sorry about fighting in front of you before. I promise that's going to change. No more...passionate discussions regarding Santa. From now on it will be nothing but having fun and spending time together."

"We'd never do anything to hurt you kids." Jack said somberly. "At least not intentionally. We're going to try to do better. Will you give us a chance Danny-boy?"

Danny looked between him and Maddie before nodding slowly. "Ok."


It was the first Christmas morning either Jack or Maddie could remember where there was no sobbing, gloating or quiet resentment.

It felt wonderful, especially watching the kids eagerly tearing into their gifts right there. Seeing all three of them so happy, it made their parents a far greater sense of joy than ghosts or proving themselves right ever would.

'What are these?" Jazz brought out a small pile of presents that had been stashed behind the tree. Presents that neither Fenton Parent recognized. There were three boxes in total, all the same size, done up in purple wrapping, tried up with blue ribbons. Each had a tag with the name of a child.

"Jack did you-?"

"No...." His eyes widened along with a smile. "That means..."

Maddie picked up the box with Jazz's name and realized the wrapping was patterned with clocks and gears. She nearly dropped the gift. "Jack look at this!"

He looked at the wrapping and Maddie could tell his mind was coming to the same conclusion. "Wait...they can't-"

"DANI!" The parents jumped at their eldest daughter's voice and turned to see their younger daughter tearing into her present.

"DANI NO!" Maddie jumped over to stop the toddler but it was too late as the youngest Fenton opened the box and pulled out...

...A black plush cat.

"Kitty!" Dani hugged the stuffed toy close.

"...Huh?" Maddie didn't see anything wrong with it. Hopefully, she could take a closer inspection once Dani went down for her nap.

The slow sound of ripping alerted her to Danny carefully opening his present. He looked at her and, unable to think of a reasonable excuse to say no, nodded, allowing him to continue. He pulled out a handwoven blanket of the night sky, with accurate constellations sewn in. He smiled and wrapped it around himself.

"Mom?" Her oldest looked at her with pleading eyes.

"...Alright." She handed the gift to her daughter, who opened it with the precision of a surgeon. She pulled out a beautiful and ornate pocket watch on a silver chain. "Ooh!" She opened the cover, admiring the intricate patterns within. "It even has the right time!"

"I'm not surprised." Jack pulled the toddler into his lap and leaned back on the sofa.

"Mom." Danny tugged at her leg. "This is the best Christmas Ever!"

Chuckling, she leaned down and kissed his forehead. "And there's plenty more to come sweetie."

Chapter 10

Notes:

Just a few one shots.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

One of a Kind

This was something that had terrified Jack and Maddie ever since Danny, and later Dani, were born; that someone would realize what they were and hunt them down with no remorse. Of course, they had always assumed it was another human hunter.

Maddie knew they should've done something when Poindexter told them the whole Ghost Zone knew about half ghosts. They had theorized that full ghosts could sense their children's 'otherness', they just hadn't realized the ghosts would figure out the full extent of it.

Or what they would do about it either.

"This isn't the end of it." Maddie hugged herself after they flushed Skulker back into the Ghost Zone. "He's going to keep coming back for them. He's...he's how we used to be about hunting ghosts. Before..."

Jack gave her a gentle and reassuring hug. "I know. But hey, if his suit can be ruined by a phone then he can't be that smart."

"He wants to kill them Jack! Or at the very least keep them in a cage like pets. What if other ghosts want to do the same thing? We always knew something like this could happen." 

"With the G.I.W. or another human. He's a ghost! That means we can fight back with no legal repercussions!"

That got a chuckle out of her.

"You see Mads? We'll make sure if he ever comes back he'll regret going after our family."

But it wasn't just the parents that were worried. Jazz had been told all her life to keep her siblings condition a secret. At first it was blind faith that her parents were doing what they needed to do. When she grew up she thought it was just overprotectiveness brought on by guilt of their recklessness affecting their children. She was a bit frustrated as well; why should she be stuck keeping her parents secret? They were the only ones who made a big deal over their powers. All of the other hunters or researchers who visited seemed way too dense to notice anything. Besides, her siblings were kids who had never (intentionally) hurt anyone with their powers so what did they need to be scared of?

Skulker was a slap in the face that told her that there were competent hunters out there (human and ghost) and that her parents had good reason to be afraid.

And that they didn't care that her little brother and sister were kids; to hunters like Skulker they were simply prey, a trophy to boost their own ego. It also made her accept that any human hunters they encountered wouldn't give any mercy either. They would only see them as monsters that needed to be contained or put down. It would be far from the first time humans persecuted anyone deemed 'different'.

She slept in Danny's room that night, bringing Dani along. She was too shaken by he revelations to leave them alone.

She'd risk becoming a ghost herself before letting any hunter near them again.


What you Want

"You were really that jealous of me?" Danny asked as he hugged the blanket closer. Unfortunately, being half ghost didn't make you immune to human diseases.

"Yeah. I mean Duh!" Tucker gestured to all of him. "You and your sister are real life superheroes! Who wouldn't want that?"

"We're not superheroes." Danny snapped. "You think I asked to have these powers? No, but I'm stuck with them because my parents apparently never thought eating ectoplasm was a GREAT idea!" Alright, it wasn't that simple, but his head was clogged and his whole body hurt so he felt like he had the right to be angry. "Do you know how much we had to be careful growing up!? No sleepovers because we might fall through the floor and one of them always had to be a chaperone on field trips because 'our powers might react to an unfamiliar environment'. That video of my dad falling into the alligator exhibit is STILL trending!" He sneezed. "And don't get me started on the new ghost forms; our powers started acting up even more! They wanted to homeschool us! They're still debating it now that we've got these new powers coming in. And don't get me started on Doctor's visits. Do you know how terrifying it is that any day they might catch on that something's going on? Mom and Dad do blood tests EVERY WEEK to make sure our human blood is still just blood."

"I...I never thought of that." He had heard Danny complaining about those but Tucker and Sam had attributed it to his parent's overprotectiveness. 

"I guess we never wondered why they were so protective until now." Sam admitted as she set down the tray of soup.

Danny rubbed his eyes. "No. I'm sorry, I shouldn't be putting this on both of you. It's not my parents' fault either. This whole thing, having two half-ghost kids, must've been a nightmare for them." He briefly wondered then, just how many sacrifices they had made. He remembered how, any time a renowned ghost hunter or researcher had passed through town, his parents could never bring them home because it was too risky.

Then he remembered another time when he was in third grade his parents had to turn down going to an important Ghost Research Conference because they didn't have a trustworthy babysitter (He was sure Jazz and he would've behaved but Dani was another issue). "They didn't sign up for this either."

(Unknown to him, a certain time ghost hummed in amusement at the screen)

Notes:

Just to be clear, I'm NOT doing every episode, just the ones I can think of scenarios for.

Also, personal headcanon that both Maddie and Danny had Generalized Anxiety Disorder, she's just learned how to manage hers better.

Chapter 11

Notes:

Bitter Reunions

Chapter Text

"I know I'm late." Danny took a deep breath, trying not to wither under his parent's suspicious stares. He hands them the torn photo. "But I had a really good reason."


"Someone put a hit out on Dad!?" Dani's voice was a mix of fear and excitement.

"Huh." Jack looked at the photo piece again. It was him, but he hadn't worn a mullet since college. "Sweet!"

"What." Maddie, Danny, and Jazz stared at him.

"Having ghosts go after you before you get to them is how you know you've made it as a ghost hunter!" He grinned. "You know what that means? I'VE GOT A NEMESIS! How cool is that!?" Dani cheered in agreement. "Course I never thought it'd be three old birds, but you can't be picky."

"Dad." Danny said after a moment. "Someone else hired those birds to go after you. They mentioned a boss."

"Even cooler! They're sending out assassins because they're too scared of facing me head on."

"Dad." Jazz said flatly. "We should not be celebrating this. And besides, why would someone send the birds after only you and not mom?"

"Oh...that's a good point."

"Dad's probably just the start." Dani's eyes sparkled with dark adrenaline. "They could be going after us one by one!"

"You sound way too excited about that." Danny noted.

"That means we have to get THEM before they can get US. This is a real life action movie!"

"No!" Maddie shook her head. "No action movies! No assassins! What we NEED to do is lay low for a few days while we come up with a plan."

"And I've got just the thing!" Jack pulled out an invitation. "Jazzy pants was just telling us we needed to tell you about our lives before you kids and I can't think of a better way than our twentieth college reunion this weekend! My old pal Vlad's throwing it."

"That's perfect!" Maddie gave a sigh of relief. "It'll get us out of Amity for a bit and give us time to develop a game plan."

"Yeah but...Wisconsen!?" Jazz cringed.

"That's right!" Jack nodded. "A two-day drive with all five of us crammed in the Fenton Ghost Assault Vehicle while I blather on about ghosts. I can't think of a better bonding experience."


The kids listened in rapt attention as their father talked about his old friend...who, apparently, was Vlad Masters, a billionaire hosting the reunion at his castle.

And about the accident with the proto-portal.

'Wait, so he was blasted in the face with a ghost portal?" Danny asked. "And got ecto acne?"

"Yup." Jack nodded. "He had to be hospitalized for a few years but it sounds like he's doing great now."

"Dad..." Jazz clenched her sleeping bag. "Are you sure the portal didn't have any...other effects?"

"What do you mean?" Maddie asked, rubbing her eyes.

"We didn't get acne when you turned our portal on." Dani said. "But we got ghost forms and new powers."

"You and your brother are a different case. You were already born with ghostly abilities because I ate some ectoplasm while I was pregnant." A little partial truth never hurt anyone, right? "Vlad was fully human before the accident."

"What about after?"

"I-I don't know."

"Vlad stopped speaking to us after that." Jack looked out the window thoughtfully. It couldn't be possible. Could it? If Vlad had felt the need to hide any abilities...he could completely understand.

"We'll just have to see." Maddie said. "But not right away. Most likely the acne was temporary and didn't alter anything else."

"But if he does have powers..." Danny looked at his younger sister, eyes just as curious as his own. Another human with ghost powers... "Are we going to tell him about us?"

Jack nodded. "Of course-"

"Not." Maddie interrupted. "Jack we haven't spoken to him in twenty years. He's probably changed a lot; this isn't something we can trust him with. Not yet at least. Let's wait and see how the reunion goes?"

Jack's shoulders drooped. "Okay. I just...I just want to know if he's really forgiven me."

"I'm sure he's starting to. Why else would he invite us?"


They pulled up to the shining white castle decked out in yellow and green.

"Now remember." Maddie turned in her seat. "What are the rules?"

"No powers." Danny and Dani said in unison as they repeated the rules drilled into them time and time again. "No talking about powers. And if we sense a ghost, stay out of sight and call you."

"Perfect. Now let's head in."

Vlad Masters was...weird. Not in any ghostly way Danny or Dani could sense. He was polite enough but the way he looked at their mother and shut the door in their father's face was very off-putting. There was also his weird obsession with the Packers, but that seemed relatively minor.

"Do ya have a dungeon? " Dani asked as she looked up at the chandelier, wondering if she could sneak a swing on it later. "With stretchers and an iron maiden?"

Vlad gave an awkward chuckle and patted her head. "What a very...inquisitive child you have Maddie. The castle does have a dungeon, but I'm afraid any torture devices were removed years ago."

After a quick tour, the adults got to talking in a side room while the kids got their luggage.

"Vlad, I understand it may seem a bit sudden, but I need to ask you something..."

"No worries Maddie my dear." He eyed Jack. "Whatever you need to say, with Jack here with us, you can say it."

"About the portal incident...did anything else happen? Besides the ecto acne?"

His face was stone. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Well, we finally got our own ghost portal up and running!" Jack boasted, not noticing the flash of rage on his old friend's face. "We're taking the ghost researching field by storm."

"Yes, I've read many of your papers. Very informative. Especially the ones about ghost biology and behavior" Vlad furrowed his brow. "I've been meaning to ask how you've gotten such...specific information before the portal opened. And so much of it. Most researchers spent their whole lives and only uncovered a quarter of what you have."

"Just a bit of luck." Maddie waved it off, avoiding eye contact. "Found some old books while we were moving in. We could hardly believe it ourselves."

"Truly? I'd love to come over sometime and take a look at them myself."

"Really?" Jack's eyes sparkled. "I thought you gave up ectoscience after the accident?"

"Oh, it's more of a hobby these days, but I did uncover a few things on my own. But we can talk more about it later." He brushed his jacket. "I must say you have some lively children. But I noticed you called two of them 'Danny'?"

"Daniel and Danielle." Maddie explained. "We've tried other nicknames, but nothing stuck. We originally had another name for Dani, our daughter, but there was a... mix up with the name forms and we never got around the changing it. The kids don't seem to mind."

"How...quaint."


"He's creepy." Dani bounced on the bed as Danny got out his pajamas and toothbrush.

"He is." Jazz didn't look up from her book. "But he's a creep with running toilets and internet service, so we're putting up with him until we leave." She frowned and closed her book. "Neither of you...sensed anything, right?"

"Nothing." Danny caught Dani mid-bounce and set her on the floor. "Not from him or this place."

"Good. That's good. That means we have nothing to worry about."


Turns out, there was quite a bit to worry about.

Both Danny and Dani woke up in the middle of the night to their ghost sense. Dani peered around the corner. "Wait. Are those...?"

"Yup." Danny glared at the three elderly ghost vultures. "That's them."

"Did they follow us? Look! They're going after dad!"

"Get dad to the bathroom, I'll handle those guys."

But the birds turned out to be the least of their worries.

"You're the ghost siblings who use their powers 'for good'!" The new ghost sneered, towering over both of them. "How quaint."

He was stronger than them. Faster. Smarter. And far more powerful, creating shields and duplicating himself.

"Ghosts can do that!?" Dani gasped.

"Just me. My name is Plasmius and I'm afraid this acquaintance is going to be rather short lived."

They barely stood a chance and Danny used his last ounce of consciousness to hold his sister close before slamming into the floor. Plasmius watched in awe as the both of them transformed into their human selves.

"The ghost children...are Jack's son and daughter?"

He grinned and transformed back into Vlad Masters. "Well, what do you know..."


"So, bad news." Danny said that morning, having gathered his sisters in their parent's room. "This place does have ghosts. More specifically, the same ghosts that were looking for dad earlier."

"WHAT!?" His parents gasped as the half-ghosts explained their father's rescue.

"Huh. I thought I got to the bathroom too fast." Jack said.

"And I think we found their boss." Dani said. "And he totally kicked Danny's ass!"

"Hey! He kicked your ass just as much as mine!"

"Language!" Maddie scolded him and took a breath to settle her rising anxiety. "But this is bad. Are you hurt? Why didn't you wake us up!? Did you get his name? What did he look like?"

"We thought we could handle it." Dani said softly. "The guy had blue skin and red eyes. Like, he didn't even have pupils."

Both parents stiffened.

"What else." Jack demanded, voice eerily calm.

"He looked like a discount Dracula." Danny said. "Nothing I'd ever seen before. He said his name was Plasmius and...he's good. Really good. Nothing like what we've seen so far."

"What happened to him?" Jazz glanced around the room as though the ghost might appear then and there.

"I-I don't know. We blacked out and woke up in my bed. Mr. Masters said he found us in the hall and brought us back. We managed to pass it off as sleepwalking."

"So he could still be here?"

"We have to warn Vladdie!" Jack jumped to his feet. 

"We can't!" Jazz shook her head. "Not without disclosing the 'you know what'."

Maddie ran a hand through her hair. "She's right. Let's look around while he's setting up for the reunion. If we pick up something then we can warn him about potential ghost activity. Maybe we can convince him to cancel the reunion." She turned to her children. "And all of you; if any of you catch even a glimpse of him, call us. He might've decided to let you go last night but that does NOT mean he will next time."

This was supposed to be a short vacation. Where had it all gone wrong?


They didn't give anything. No trace. No ectosignature. Nothing.

They tried to subtly pry any information from Vlad about other potential ghosts residing in his castle, but he was adamant the only continuous presence was the Dairy King (who they couldn't find any trace of either). Oddly though, when they sat together for breakfast and lunch, he seemed fixated on Danny and Dani. Asking them about their interests and their school lives. Jazz felt a bit left out but Jack saw it as Vlad finally opening up.

There wasn't anything they could do to justify canceling the reunion so they all donned their semi-formal wear. Except for Jazz, who settled for watching old football videos in the media room. Jack and Maddie settled into enjoying the party and meeting up with old acquaintances, leaving the younger two Fentons bored out of their minds.

"Why can't we get a ghost attack now?" Dani whiled, head against the table.

"For once, I agree with you."

So when Vlad came asking for a favor, they jumped at the chance to actually do something.

"Woah." Dani looked around the lab. "This guy really goes all out on his hobby rooms."

"Wait a sec." Danny picked up a picture of a younger Vlad and Maddie, along with...he brought out the torn photo piece and held it up.

It was a perfect match.

"Oh no. No way."

And it only got worse from there.

"ENOUGH!"

Skulker pulled the blade back from Danny's throat as Vlad ordered him away.

"I-I don't understand!"

"Of course not! You're what, fourteen and twelve?" He circled them. "Too young to drive and one of you hasn't started puberty yet. I sent those ghosts, and others, to test your father's skill."

"I KNEW IT!" Dani shouted from her box prison. 'I KNEW you were creepy! I bet you're working for Plasmius."

Vlad burst into mocking laughter. "Working FOR Plasmius! How adorably naive."

"...Working WITH Plasmius?"

He continued to laugh. "Imagine MY surprise when I discovered you two. The second and third ghost hybrids your fool of a father created."

Danny's eyes widened. "Second?"

"Third!?"

Two black rings appeared and Masters transformed into Plasmius.

"I'M GOING GHOST!" They shouted in unison, only to find their own transformations not kicking in. 

"You both even share a battle cry. Hilarious." Plasmius went on, explaining he had paid Skulker to design that box to neutralize ghost powers, leaving them as human as their 'idiot father'.

"LET US OUT OF HERE!" Danny shouted, praying his parents would hear him.

"Why? So you can gp back to stumbling through your adolescence desperately trying to gain control of your powers? Powers, by the way, that I've had for twenty years. I have experience my children. And the money and power attained through using those powers for 'personal gain' you say. I could train you, teach you both everything I know. And all you have to do...is renounce your idiot father."

"Dude." Danny said flatly. "You are one seriously crazed up fruit loop. That is never going to happen."

"You're nuts." Dani added on. "Did that accident fry your brain too?"

"Yes. Well, once your father's out of the way, we'll see how you feel." He left, laughing like a cartoon villain.

They were left to kick and claw at their prisons, unable to reach their phones. 

"Well gosh and golly! It looks like you both could use a speck of help there dontch'ya know?"

Both of them were preparing for any cheese-themed attacks when he pressed the buttons on the boxes, freeing them.

Danny looked at him warily. "Why?"

"Well not all ghosts are evil, right? Some of us just want to be left alone dontch'ya know?"

After all the attacks of the past few weeks, it was a bit of an eye opener. They didn't even mind when he said he couldn't help fight Plasmius.

Then they heard their mother cry out ' JACK!"

"DAD!" Both transformed and flew to find the action.


Maddie was starting to grow bored. She didn't have any close friends from college and most of her old classmates just gave her the same small talk before going to talk to their own friends. Maybe she should grab her husband and kids and leave.

A scream. Maddie looked over and saw Harriet crashing into a table.

Something was wrong. Jack grinned maniacally at her, yelling about how he would always turn on her. Something was wrong. He was clenching his head, muttering.

He grabbed her. "Ghost...overpowering me.."

No. This couldn't be happening.

"Maddie...run! RUN!"

It had to be the ghost her kids fought! Wait...where were her kids!? She looked around but they were nowhere to be seen. Hadn't they been over by the snack table?

"JAZZ!" She burst into the media room, not caring about the pointed glares. "Where are your siblings!?"

Jazz blinks before turning sharply at the screams. "W-What's going on!?"

"A ghost is possessing your father and I can't find your brother or sister anywhere!" She reaches out but Jazz is already on her feet. "I'll drive the Ghost Assault Vehicle! You stay with me and try calling them!"

Any problems Jazz would have by driving a full RV through a castle were pushed aside as she split her focus from managing the weapons to trying to call her siblings. 

Ring...ring...voicemail! For both of them.

Then she saw it; her father flying around causing as much havoc as the ghost using his body yelled at the guests to remember that Jack Fenton did this to them.

"DADDY!"

"Guess again cheesehead!"

Then two figures flew through the wall.

"DANNY!"

"DANI!"

They kept flying...right through Jack, pushing out a figure that Maddie and Jazz had to assume was Plasmius.

"Jack!" Maddie ran to her husband's side, helping him up. "Are you alright!?"

Jack looked around at the destroyed room and glared. "NOBODY USES JACK FENTON AS A HUMAN MEAT PUPPET!"

Meanwhile, neither Danny nor Dani managed to land a hit on Plasmius.

"Stop it you two! Think about the things I could show you. The doors I could open for you. You, Danny and Dani Phantom, and I, Vlad Plasmius! Together, we could rule!"

"Forget it pal!" Danny retorted. "It can't buy our mom..."

"...it can't buy the Packers..." Dani continued, charging a blast.

"...and it can't buy us!" They blasted, only for Plasmius to catch them and sling them back.

Danny threw up a shield around both of them just as the RV came crashing through the wall.

"KIDS!" Jack shouted in worry.

"GET AWAY FROM OUR CHILDREN!" Maddie readies one of the lasers.

Plasmius froze. "They know?" He said breathlessly.

"IT'S VLAD!" Dani pointed to the vampiric ghost. "HE'S PLASMIUS! HE'S HALF GHOST TOO!"

Jack and Maddie stared at the ghost, who mirrored their expressions.

"Vladdie?" Jack breathed. "H-How..?"

"HOW DO YOU THINK YOU IDIOT!" Plasmius's eyes burned with rage. "When YOU blasted me with the very essence of the Ghost Zone!" He disappeared and then reappeared over the RV. Before they could react, he reached in and pulled out Maddie.

"MOM!"

"MADDIE!"

Maddie struggled in his grasp. "LET GO OF ME!"

"Never again woman!" Vlad tightened his grip. "That accident cost me my first chance with you and I am NOT losing you to him again!"

"WHAT!?"

Danny took that moment to body slam Plasmius as hard as he could, and Maddie found herself falling for two seconds before being caught by her daughter.

"Vlad!" Jack shook his head. "I-I don't understand. We were friends!"

"You ruined my life!" Vlad Plasmius reiterated. "You stole the love of my life! And to top it all off you tuned me into an ABOMINATION!" He growled. "And if that wasn't enough for you, you had to do the same to your own children!? Tell me: who's the REAL monster here!?"

"I'd say it's the guys who kidnapped us and sent those birds to kill our father." Dani said.

Jack ran a hand down his face.

"Here's the thermos!" Jazz threw it to Danny.

"So you're going to capture me?" Plasmius asked in a mocking tone. "And then what? People will ask questions; they always do when important people go missing. And what a coincidence he goes missing the same night he reunites with an 'old friend'!"

"We'll tell them everything." Danny retorted. "About what you are and what you did."

"Ah, yes. But how are you going to explain the ghost children who oh so coincidentally share the names of two of the Fenton children? Once I make my inevitable escape I shall be forced to reveal your little secret as well!"

He froze as Jack aimed one of the blasters at him. "Here's what's going to happen; We'll keep your secret, and you keep ours."

"Dad!" Danny protested.

"We let you go, and you leave our family alone." Jack's voice left no room for negotiation. "Truce?"

Plasmius glared at him. "Truce. For now."

Danny stared at him with every ounce of rage he had. "This isn't over."

"Of course it isn't son." Vlad Plasmius smirked. "Until next time."


They packed up their belongings as fast as they could, with Jack driving well past the speed limit until they crossed the state line.

The three siblings looked at each other. Finally, Jazz spoke. "Dad, we're sorry."

"No." He sighed. "I'm the one who's sorry. Are you kids ok?"

"Yeah." Danny nodded. "So Vlad's..."

'...like us?" Dani asked.

"No." Maddie turned in her seat to look at them. "He's nothing like you two. Vlad's a grown man; he's had plenty of time to move past what happened back then but he hasn't. He could have called us for help with his powers but he didn't. He could have used his powers to help people but he didn't. He used them for his own gain with no regard to who he hurt. I'm so proud of how you handled him." She sighed and lay back in her seat. "I never even knew he felt that way towards me."

"To be fair; anyone who knows you would love you." Jack smiled.

Dani gagged.

"That wasn't even the creepiest part." Danny shivered. "When he found out about me and Dani...he wanted us to be his kids."

"A combination of bitter loneliness and ambition, mixed with a desire for control." Jazz explained, acting like a lecturer. "He's had to figure out his powers all by himself for twenty years, with no one to provide emotional support. So when he saw two children going through the same thing he did, he thought he'd finally found people who understood him. Plus, with two other half'ghosts taking orders from him, he has more power and hands at his disposal, furthering whatever goals he has. Not to mention keeping a close eye on two potential rivals."

"Rival? Him?" Danny asked. "Jazz, Dani, and I combined couldn't beat him! He could do things I've never seen before."

"For now. But as you grow up, practice, and learn new abilities, there's a good chance of the two of you each becoming just as powerful as him. Maybe even more so!" She smiled. "And it terrifies him."

"He should be scared." Jack grinned. "He just made an enemy of the Fenton family and he 's gonna be sorry if he ever shows up in Amity Park!"

They could handle this. They had to.


"Maddie?" Jack glanced towards the RV and saw no sign of any of his kids being awake. "W-Was Vlad ever really our friend?"

She shrugged. "I don't know anymore. I keep thinking over all my memories of him, trying to see any sign of it."

I-I know I messed up with the proto-portal. I know what I did was unforgivable."

"Not unforgivable. Just...something that takes a while to forgive. Look at everything he's gained since then."

Jack didn't respond.

"Jack? You know even if the accident never happened, I would still pick you, right?"

"...I don't know how I ever got so lucky."

"Not luck. He could've easily found someone else, or maybe even adopted a few kids. Kids who didn't already have loving parents. He's had so many chances to be satisfied but...he isn't." She looked up at the stars. "Although, I wonder if he did tell us about his ghost half back then if we would help him or shoot him?"

"I'd help him with whatever he needed. If he wanted to get rid of his powers or not."

"And that's why I love you."

"...We really have changed a lot since college."

"For the better, I hope. At least the two of us."

He gave her a smile that turned into a frown. "He's not going to give up our kids. Not with everything Jazz said."

"Then we'll keep fighting him off."

"For how long?"

"As long as it takes." She stretched. "How did our lives end up like this?"

"I think it was either when we made that deal or the moment you walked into the paranormal science classroom."

She kissed him. "Let's get some sleep. It's a long drive back."

Chapter 12

Notes:

Trigger warning; brief mention of sex, allusions to rape, forced pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth and death in childbirth.

Chapter Text

Strange things had always happened in Amity Park, but it was usually smaller things that could be brushed aside or could be confined to a specific area that could be avoided. 

Frequent ghost attacks that tended to cause significant property damage could not be brushed aside or avoided. One could try, but they would usually find themselves in the front seat of a fight sooner or later. Ghosts came, some of them familiar, and started wreaking havoc; whether by hypnotizing people with their music, taking control of technology or just driving a motorcycle like a maniac.

Then Danny Phantom (formerly Invis-O-Bill) and Dani Phantom (formerly Will-O-Wilma), came, defeated the ghost usually with the help of the Fenton couple, and captured them. It was very confusing (not just because of the names) because none of it fit together.

Two ghost hunters working WITH ghosts? Ghosts who actually go out of their way to protect humans? That they somehow seemed so human themselves?

They couldn't really be humans of course. Nobody listened to Wes's conspiracy theories.

But one week they were kidnapping the mayor, and the next they were evacuating a burning building. They were floating contradictions.

The older one seemed to be in charge, coming up with plans, throwing quips and puns, and seemed to act like a regular teenager, though with a bit more caution. When his sister was there, he acted like a good older brother, taking hits meant for her and showing concern when she was hit. The younger one was bold and reckless, often charging into fights, fists flying without a second thought. She cared for her brother as well, hitting their enemy extra hard when he got hurt and teasing him when it was over.

Overall they acted like...a regular older brother and younger sister pair. Albeit with superpowers. It was a bit uncanny.

The teens and kids loved them. After all, they were real life superheroes. How cool was that? Besides, they had saved the town time and time again.

The adults were a more mixed bag. Some were grateful for their efforts, some thought they had brought trouble themselves and monsters were still monsters no matter what they did. Others appreciated the fact that they went out of their way to help but that two teenagers shouldn't wield that much power without adult oversight. Maybe that's what the Fentons were doing? Providing that oversight? And to think they had considered the Fentons crackpots...

They were still crazy, but now it was a smart crazy.

In any case, the ghost attacks weren't stopping anytime soon so even the most cynical townsfolk could put with the the Phantom siblings' protection for the time being. Even if no one knew where they came from.


Technus was steaming as he flew near Skulker's island. "Unbelievable! This is an outrage!"

"Let me guess." Ember smirked as she strummed her guitar. "Babypop and Babypunk got you?"

"My plan was perfect!"

Skulker didn't look up from where he was building a new weapon. "Clearly, it had several flaws."

"My plan was perfect! It was the Phantoms who were the problem!"

The roar of a motorcycle announced the arrival of two teenage ghosts and their shadow. Kitty's eyes lit up. "Ooh! Are we gossiping about the Phantom kids?"

"Sure. Grab a seat." Ember began strumming a new tune, something more lighthearted

"What happened to this being my island?" Skulker grumbled as he set his work aside for the moment.

"All I wanted to was to take control of every operating system in that city." Technus complained. "And control the masses through their technological devices. Why do they have a problem with it? The older one even suggested it when we met!"

Johnny shrugged. "I mean, you are intruding on their turf."

"They're pretty forgiving if you're just floating around Amity." Poindexter piped in. "It's when you start attacking innocent people that they feel they have to step in."

"But why?"

"And why are they getting aid from the hunters in the colorful suits?" Desiree asked.

Skulker looked at the new visitors. "Where did you two come from!?"

"The hunters are their parents." Kitty explained. "So I guess they're forcing the family business on them. Same old story."

"What!?" Technus gasped. "I thought the Phantoms were just haunting their house?"

"They're still human. So I guess they need human parents. And they know about the half ghost stuff."

"What a dangerous situation." Lunch Lady tsked. "Living with ghost hunters and forced to do their bidding. How awful!"

"Hey!" Youngblood arrived on his skeleton spaceship. Must be space week. "Are you having a party!?"

Johnny waved in a carefree manner. "Apparently."

"No we're not!" Skulker glared at the growing crowd. He had only meant for his girlfriend to hang out today. 

"We're talking about the two pains in the rears of our favorite playground." Ember smirked, starting playing an older rock and roll song.

"Oh! They're fun. I start playing and they chase me around. We even get to fight! But it's not much fun when they put me in the soup thing."

"THE SOUP CONTAINER IS MOST UNCOMFORTABLE!" The Box Ghost agreed. "BEWARE!"

"Yes, they are both half humans, just like Plasmius." Skulker groaned. Clearly, they weren't going to leave without some answers. "And yes, the adult hunters are their biological progenitors. And the progenitors are VERY protective over their spawn." He shuddered, remembering the beating he took from the mother when he had first hunted the brats; her eyes piercing through his very existence, promising to bring about his End.

"Ghost hunters with half ghost kids?" Ember frowned. "How the hell!?"

"They likely experimented on the children themselves in order to gain the perfect weapons against ghosts. Someone with the abilities of a ghost, but with a human side to control and sustain their ghost halves."

"Actually, they were born that way." Johnny said, Shaddow and Kitty nodded.

Everyone looked at him with wide eyes and open mouths. "WHAT!?"

"Their sister told me, the full human one. They've had powers since they were born. The jumpsuit forms are pretty recent."

"But how could something like that happen!?' Poindexter asked.

"They are scientists." Technus said. "It is likely they conducted their experiments before they were born, likely by mixing ectoplasm into their DNA."

"I saw a movie like that when I was still kickin'." Ember nodded and began strumming a song she enjoyed in life. "The government wanted to create the 'perfect super soldier' so they started messing with people's DNA. Didn't end well for the suits though once the kid grew up."

"Perhaps it was accidental?" Poindexter said. "They have a lot of ectoplasm in their lab and when I was alive the effects of nuclear radiation was the big thing. SOme people thought it could grant superpowers. Perhaps something similar happened?"

Desiree smiled slyly. "Oh, I keep forgetting how young most of you are."

Kitty folded her arms. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, it's just...once you've been around for a while you...hear all sorts of stories. The Ghost Zone is old, as are many who reside in it. And with all those summoning rituals and natural portals..."

"Desiree..." Skulkar scowled. "You aren't thinking..."

"You're both disgusting!" Lunch Lady scoffed.

"I AM VERY CONFUSED AS TO WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO!"

"What!?" Johnny exclaimed. "Stop being mysterious and tell us!"

"Well..." Desiree smirked. "When one becomes a ghost they often...retain their mortal desires."

"Uh, yeah?" Kitty asked. "Some of us still enjoy doing the things we did while alive."

"I was speaking of the more...basic desires."

It took a minute.

"What the hell!?"

"Oh gross!"

"Th-that's disgusting!"

"THIS CONVERSATION HAS BECOME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE!"

"What?" Youngblood looked around innocently at the shocked/disgusted looks of the teen ghosts. "What's she talking about?"

Ember played a loud chord and a see-through shield appeared around the child ghost. Youngblood began talking, but they heard nothing. "There, he can't hear us. Now, some ghosts have actually-?" She shuddered, she couldn't even think of anything to play.

"It is the most basic human instinct." Desire shrugged. "So of course it would trespass life and death."

"How the hell are you so casual about this!?" Kitty demanded.

"I was part of the Sultan's harem in life; one learns quite a bit about human desires there."

The four ghostly teens looked at each other awkwardly, daring each other to speak first.

Ember pushed Poindexter forward, who sighed in resignation. "H-How would...would they..."

"Honestly, I never understood the aversion you Westerners have to talking about sex. But there were quite a few methods. I heard about a cult who summoned a powerful ghost or demon and offered up a woman in exchange for power."

"...Did the woman want to?"

"Did it matter to the ghost? Or the cult?" She shook her head in disgust at the patriarchy. 

"...I've read a few records on this as well." Skulker said. "There were only a handful, and they were often far older than I am, but there were mentions of ghosts possessing humans in order to...do the deed."

"And quite often the end result was a child growing in the mother's womb."

"So how come I've never heard of half ghosts until Plasmius showed up!?" Ember stomped her foot.

"Because mixing the essence of a ghost and a human does not usually end well." Skulker said grimly. "From what I could tell, most of the pregnancies were unviable, often ending in miscarriage or stillbirth. And the descriptions of the infants were...monstrous. More like creatures you find here than human infants."

"...And the moms?" Kitty asked softly.

"Often died in birth with their child. If not...the writings I found made it sound like they wished they had." He stared off into his jungle. "Which confuses me more about the Phantom children. Their mother appeared perfectly healthy, not to mention the fact that she had two of them when one should have been impossible..."

"Maybe she's not their biological mother?" Poindexter suggested. "They could have used a test subject or perhaps Mr. Fenton remarried."

"No. They share too many physical features including height and body type."

"Plus Jazz never mentioned it." Johnny said. "And all the pictures they had showed the same person."

"AND THEY SHARE THEIR FATHER'S BLACK HAIR AND BLUE EYES! AT LEAST IN THEIR HUMAN FORMS!"

"Not his size though. Seriously, the man's a walking refrigerator and his kids are all sticks."

"Maybe we should just ask them?" Poindexter said.

"Does that honestly sound like something you just ask someone!?" Lunch Lady scolded. "And there's no guarantee they know either."

"And no teen wants to think about their parents...ugh!" Ember gagged. "And there's no way we can go to their parents either."

"Do you think Plasmius knows?" Technus asked.

'If he does, he never told me. He pays for my equipment and services; that's it."

"Think we can wrap up the sex talk?" Ember looked over to Youngblood, who was kicking at his prison and looked to be shouting curses. "Kiddo's getting cranky."

"Yes. I wish to end that part of the discussion as well."

Ember played another cord, causing the shield to collapse.

"About time!" Youngblood pouted. "What were you talking about!?"

"Adult things sweetie." Lunch Lady patted his head and gave him a cookie, which seemed to erase any other questions he had.

"Leaving...that on the board for later." Technus shook his head. "I still cannot understand why they insist on protecting the humans outside their blood relations."

"Because that's all they've ever known." Lunch Lady explained. "Their portal didn't open until a few months ago; I doubt they've been here before the prison break. Or know how to act like real ghosts."

"Eh, I'd say babypunk's got some of it down. Can't say much for her stick in the mud brother."

"Indeed." Technus nodded. "He seems very attached to his humanity; particularly those two humans he is constantly surrounded by. The younger acts like a wild animal! She actually chewed through some of my wiring!"

"They don't even use their powers to have fun." Youngblood huffed. "If I could do what they can do when I was alive I'd have made myself the King of the schoolyard!"

"And their powers will only grow. Just look at Plasmius, no one thought much of him and now look where he stands, both here and in the human realm. I wonder," Desiree said. "If we could get them away from their parents..."

"BUT THEIR PARENTS ARE THE MOST COMPETENT HUNTERS I, THE BOX GHOST, HAVE EVER MET! BEWARE!"

"I was around them way too much and believe me; they know their stuff." Johnny nodded. "More than those white suits at least."

"They at least could have given their kids different names." Kitty said. "Did they just run out of ideas?"

"I will have to look into this matter." Skulker said as he glared at everyone. "As for now; EVERYONE GET OFF MY ISLAND!"

Chapter 13

Notes:

Clockwork and Pandora have a very fun talk with some of their fellow Ancients.

Trigger warning; brief mentions of implied past rape, miscarriage, stillbirth, death in childbirth, infant murder.

I thought of Nocturne, Vortex, and Undergrowth acting similarly to the Greek Gods or eldritch beings in the past, with a morality far removed from humans. Keep that in mind as you read this.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The moment Pandora finished reading the message, she flew straight towards Clockwork's tower.

The note had only one line; We need to talk.

Clockwork was not one for social calls or 'beating around the bush' as the new generation likes to say; he only says what he needs to say. And as the Ancient of Time, that one line could have a million different meanings; from the timeline was on the verge of collapsing or he needed help to prevent the timeline from collapsing the future.

She threw the doors open and continued on. After passing by rows of gears and doors she found him in his usual spot; watching the timescreens. "Clockwork!"

"Thank you for coming right away." He turned, his face showing its usual stoicism. "We are about to have a crisis."

"What!? Is Pariah to be set loose again!? Plasmius is going to steal my box?"

'Neither." He then gave a long, weary sigh. "Frostbite, Vortex, Undergrowth, and Nocturne are on their way here."

That...was very unusual. The Ancients only met if it was either by accident or to handle a great disaster. "Whatever for?"

"It seems they have caught on that Daniel and Danielle are my children."

Pandora gripped her spear tighter. They knew it was bound to happen sooner or later, especially once the Fenton's portal was functional. Regular ghosts might be able to tell that the siblings were 'different' but other Ancients would have a better understanding of what to look for. "And the Observants?"

"Thankfully far too concerned with pretending they are in charge to notice anything. I wanted you here to warn you."

She snorted. "And so you would not have to face them yourself?"

"Frostbite at least will understand better if you are here to explain."

"How long until they arrive?"

"About-"

"CLOCKWORK!" Frostbite's voice echoed.

"-now."

Four new figures entered the chamber; one a white yet with an ice-encased arm. Another made of vines and leaves. The third had a tornado in place of legs or a tail and a torso consisting of clouds. The final one seemed to be made of the night sky aside from his mask and horns. All of them looked accusingly at Clockwork.

Clockwork's face didn't change. "And to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"You must know what we are here about." Undergrowth narrowed his eyes, silently challenging Clockwork to deny it.

"This is about Daniel and Danielle Phantom."

"Very interesting hybrids they are." Nocturne slinked closer until he towered over the TIme Ghost. "Very powerful for young ghosts. Upon closer inspection, however, we all managed to find a trace of your essence. In both of them."

"That's to be expected."

Vortex thundered. "Enough with the games! Are they your children or not!?"

"...Technically, yes, they are."

A moment of silence.

Nocturn turned to Pandora. "And by your lack of reaction, I can only assume you knew as well."

"Of course I do." No sense in delaying the inevitable. "I helped deliver both of them."

That was clearly not what the other Ancients expected to hear.

"...Clockwork, Pandora." Frostbite said slowly. "You both better have a good explanation for this."

Clockwork gestured to the timescreens. "Years ago, I was looking over this timeline, as is my job, and I foresaw events transpiring that threatened both the Infinite Realms and the Human Realm."

"...Pariah Dark and Plasmius."

"Among several. So I began searching for solutions to these issues by looking through possible and alternate timelines. He smiled. "And in many of them, I saw one or even two half ghost heroes preventing calamities time and time again. Oh, there were a variety of ways for them to come about, to gain their abilities, but in this timeline, they would need a little...push to set things into place." He put a finger to his chin. "Though technically it was supposed to be just Daniel. Danielle was a pleasant surprise.

To make a long story short-"

"Too late." Vortex grumbled.

"-I went to their parents and made a deal; they would have and raise the children while I provided information on ghosts. Both sides got what they agreed to. I needed help, so I enlisted Pandora."

"I wasn't happy about this either." Pandora eyed Clockwork. "But Clockwork wouldn't do anything to endanger the realms and the parents had already agreed to the deal. I needed to be there to make sure nothing went wrong."

Frostbite looked between them, fists clenched. "Even if they had signed, we agreed to try to stamp out this practice thousands of years ago! The Observants officially outlawed it!"

"And who here ACTUALLY listens to the Obervants?" No response. "That's what I thought." He looked at Vortex, Undergrowth, and Nocturn with dark eyes. "And need I remind everyone here that I am FAR from the first of us to sire a child with a mortal woman."

It was an unspoken fact that several of the Ancients had long desired children; whether adopted or spawned from themselves. The illusive crown jewel was a pure half human hybrid. A direct link to the human realm whose abilities could allow them to traverse both realms with ease.

Frostbite glared at the three unashamed Ancients. "The fact remains; most of the children they attempted to sire did not live to see the light of day, and too often took their poor mothers with them." He shuddered. "And even we in the Far Frozen have heard the description of the babes; mutated beings that the other humans would have quickly disposed of themselves had they lived."

Nocturne loomed over Frostite, their voice sharp and hot. "Don't you DARE speak of my children that way!"

"My children would have been unmatched!" Undergrowth cried out.

"I DID look into that." Clockwork interrupted before a physical fight could break out. "And I studied past cases as well as several possible timelines to develop a plan where both Phantoms and their mother come out alive and well."

"...How?"

"One particular thing I noticed was that some hybrid children did survive when the ghost conceived the child while possessing a human to act as a vessel."

"We also provided medicine and ectoplasm to make sure Madeline's body could sustain herself and the children until birth." Pandora continued. "I acted as their midwife and made sure everything went along smoothly."

"We provided every extra step we could and both sides came out just fine. I also did not interfere in their upbringing unless I absolutely had to. In their conscious memory, they had not even met us until recently."

"...So they do not know of their relation to you?" Nocturn narrowed their eyes. "Or how they truly came about?

"Not yet." Clockwork's voice was heavy. "And none of you will tell them either. They will learn when it is time. Any attempt to interfere with that will have severe consequences."

"Of course," Nocturne gave a sly smile. "We wouldn't dare interfere with your family affairs. Thought that doesn't mean we can't 'check in' with them from time to time. To see how they're coming along."

Vortex and Undergroth grinned sinisterly.

"Naturally." Undergrowth nodded. "The older one is close with my daughter, so I look forward to seeing her as well."

"Oh, this is going to be very fun!" Vortex laughed.

Clockwork glared at them coldly until they left the tower.

"...Things are about to get very complicated for the Phantoms." Frostbite said simply.

"Things were always going to be complicated for them. But keeping them isolated from the world isn't an option."

"When will they find out?"

"Soon." He sighed. "And it will be messy. Frostbite."" He paused. "I need a favor."

Frostbite raised an eyebrow but didn't respond.

"My children need a doctor for their ghost halves. They can't go to human doctors for ghost issues and while the Fenton parents have done well so far, however-"

"I will do it. Not because you asked, but because my people and I owe a great deal to them and genuinely enjoy their presence. They're bringing their parents to visit in a few days anyway."

"Thank you."

"That...honestly went better than I expected." Pandora said.

"You have no idea how many times I had to rewind time to achieve it."

Notes:

...This was supposed to be a one-shot. One chapter, maybe two. What happened?

Notes:

Happy Spooktober!

If anyone wants to write more on this go ahead! Just let me know.