Danny Phantom: Clockwork Apprentice.

"Don't allow someone to make you feel like you're not good enough."
---

Jack was feeling a little down. When he'd asked Danny to come back to Amity with him his son had declined. But he understood why. There were some pretty sour memories there. Vlad told Jack and Jasmine to visit anytime. Danny lived in the Ghost Zone now but often stayed at Vlad's as well. And so after the reunion Jack reluctantly left his son's well being to his best friend. After what Madeline did Jack was surprised to find Danny trusted anyone. But then his son had always been gentle. Too bad that lead to him getting hurt by someone he trusted the most. If Jack could help it he'd make sure that never happened again. It shouldn't have happened at all.

"You missed the turn." His daughters voice sounded as upset and Jack felt, she wanted her little brother home, safe and sound.

"Oops, I have a lot on my mind I guess." Jack said, uncharacteristically down to earth.

"He'll come back won't be?" Jazz asked.

"Eventually. When it doesn't hurt as much." Jack said. But even then he wasn't sure if Danny would ever want to come back to Amity. What was there for him?

A gravestone.
- - -

Danny had been making popcorn when he'd been jumped. Desiree had snuck up behind him and captured the boy in a hug. "How's my favourite Halfa?" She cooed.

"He's upstairs picking a movie." Danny replied slyly. Desiree laughed and spun around with him in her arms. The wish ghost had become very motherly towards Danny, she often had to compete with Pandora, whom Danny was introduced to by Clockwork. The ancient Greek ghost had practically adopted him on sight. Desiree had met Danny through Vlad, of whom she was dating, a little while later.

"I hope it's a romance." She sighed. The twelve year old wriggled free of the ghosts grasp and turned back towards the microwave. He was still pretty pleased it didn't bring the food to life.

"Knowing Vlad, it's probably a documentary on the Packers. I'd have liked a comedy." He said cheerfully.

"That man and his football. Sometimes I fear he loves it more than me." She muttered.

"You know that isn't true. He adores you." Danny picked the microwave popcorn packet out once it was done and pinched at the corners of the packet, the least hot parts.

"But not the way he adored that harlot." Desiree growled before she realised what she'd said. "Oh, Danny, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."

"It's alright." Danny held up the bowl of popcorn over his head. "Let's go watch a movie." Desiree smiled as the boy sprinted upstairs. Vlad had made a no phasing rule when Danny had popped up in the room at an awkward moment. Which oddly enough had been Desiree's first encounter with Danny. Luckily he appeared pretty early on and hadn't seen anything too compromising. But try explaining to a 12 year old child why they were so shocked and embarrassed he'd dropped in. He figured it out himself though and it was awkward for everyone.

Desiree arrived upstairs, greeted Vlad with a quick peck on the cheek to which Danny very readily expressed his disgust. "Get a room!" He cried.

"This is my room." Vlad reminded him.

"Get another one. A Danny free one." Danny replied cheekily.

"Who taught you to be this sassy?" Desiree chuckled.

"It's a skill I was born with." Danny chuckled. "Movie time!"

"Please don't mention time..." Vlad groaned.

"Clockwork stick you in another loop?" Danny said with a mouthful of popcorn.

"He does not appreciate me teaching his charge vulgar language." Vlad huffed pointing a half hearted glare at Danny who just grinned. "I was helplessly stubbing my toe for two hours."