(A/N) Okay, so not the quickest update. At least I haven't waited another year! Still, I know you really want to see what happens next. A few things to mention:

-Dani will come in this story.

-Phantom planet probably will not happen.

-I am working on the plot as I go. So if you have suggestions or want to point out errors, I'll see what I can do.

Anyhow, I just wanted to say I appreciate you guys from the bottom of my heart. You are my motivation and critics, and keep me on my toes. Love y'all and your support *hugs and kisses*

"Danny." Frostbite walked in, not bothering to knock. He knew what Danny would be doing: waiting for him. And he was, lying on the still-to-big pale blue bed, with four bedposts rising to support a white, lazy cover.

Danny examined his room. There was an armoire in the corner left of him, sleek brown and facing the door, which was in the middle of the right wall and the same wood. Both had intricate designs in the corners, with many loops and flowers. On the right of him was a bunch of half-finished ice sculptures, equipment, drawings, and gifts given to him, among other things, all stored nicely on shelves.

He then looked to the nightstand with two drawers beside him, looking out of place with its stark white color. Every other white was softer or had blue tint. Danny stored anything and everything truly significant to him in that nightstand, including his old band keeping him in his ghostly form (he isn't sure how), which left his arm feeling bare after being removed.

Actually, it left his entire self bare. He is just learning to cover up.

The ground, which Danny was currently staring at, was hard ice like the roof and the walls. The light illuminating Danny's exhausted face came from an unknown source through the roof glass. And to complete the picture was the decorated yeti of the Far Frozen walking in, with an ice hand and complicated garb.

"Danny," Frostbite repeated. "Hi, Frostbite." Danny looked up at him between stark white bangs. He had decided to be in ghost form, to make things a little easier somehow. Maybe his form wouldn't remind a certain yeti of what he's done to a certain halfa. Frostbite sighed. "We must talk." Frostbite sat cross-legged on the floor and was suddenly the same height as Danny sitting on the bed. "I know." Danny replied, suppressing anything and everything negative. It was hard, and it wasn't what Frostbite deserved according to Danny. But he did it anyway. Why? He couldn't clearly answer.

"Why would you run off like that?" Frostbite's hoarse voice accused. "Why would you hide my human half from me?" Danny said, equally hurt. "I asked first!" Frostbite's eyes narrowed as he said the childish comeback. "I left because I've never been! I wanted adventure. I was going to come back, you know I would have. I didn't think it was a big deal, because I'd stay in the shadows. I'd even say it's better I left now rather than when I was— like, thirty, or something!" Frostbite winced. "I asked you a question, too." Frostbite looked into neon green eyes warily.

"You're a halfa. Half of a ghost. With ghost hunters as parents... I was just trying to protect you!" Frostbite said defensively. "What about when I got older?" Danny's eyes swam. "I-I didn't want to let you go to them. Would you even want to see me again? I couldn't lose you." Frostbite's eyes gave a silent plea. Neither could argue at the other's logic, as both had good reasons for being upset. So they stared at one another until Danny found the strength to say, "At least we can both agree Vlad is a fruitloop."

They stared, and then bust out laughing. Whether it be from all the emotions they had inside them, begging to come out, or that the tension needed to be broken, or any number of things, it was a hearty, full laugh shared between them. And while things were most definitely not okay, they seemed a smidgen better. Because who wanted to be mad at the other?

"Come on, little Phantom. Let's eat." Frostbite made a daring move with that nickname, but was immensely relieved to see Danny smile a tiny bit at it. "Yeah, dude. I'm starving."

"Dude?" Frostbite cocked his head. "Oohh, sorry. Human slang." He felt a pang, but shoved it down. "Speaking of, how is it over there?" Frostbite asked as they walked/floated into the hall. Danny looked like he was genuinely thinking. "It was... good, actually." Danny gave a strange smile at that, one that seemed confused but happy. How did Frostbite know things were patching up? Because he felt a twinge of happiness when Danny said that. His Phantom was happy.

The aforementioned boy suddenly shook ever so slightly as they reached the doors leading to the courtyard, which would lead to the village, which would lead to the cafeteria. "What's wrong?" Danny looked up and then away within one second. "Nervous." Frostbite smiled. "Why? This is your family." Danny gave a wince. Family was a weird word. It had so many meanings, it was impossible for him to tell what it truly was to him. Nothing for the bill of his... predicament. Unfortunately, Frostbite noticed.

"This is your family, Danny. We raised and loved you. We will continue to do so. You must understand this," Frostbite grabbed Danny's shoulder, which shoved his paw right back off. "Family is very situational at the moment, Frostbite," Danny said, glaring at the floor as icy as his voice. Frostbite felt his own temper rising, and decided to say no more before things went downhill. And so, the rest of the way to the cafeteria was tread in uncomfortable silence.

When they finally arrived, Danny seemed ready to bolt. They were now outside, and Danny stared at the outdoor eating area. There were hundreds of tables in front of a snowy field, and behind those was a building with an area in front for serving. It looked like a school cafeteria lunch line, just with two supports holding up a cover being the only ceiling. Beyond the field and building were hills of white mishmashed with houses and buildings, with a large wall in the distance. It was what Danny called home for eight years, and yet it seemed so foreign.

"Go on. It's just like you used to," Frostbite said, his voice wavering as he looked at his little Phantom's expression. Frostbite's core shattered when he saw how… new Danny felt the place was. This is home! Frostbite wanted to scream. As Danny walked up to get food, avoiding everyone's eyes, Frostbite could sense the atmosphere change into one of caution. Apparently, Danny could, too, because before he ducked his head, Frostbite could've sworn he saw Danny's eyes were wet.

Danny took a huge breath, and briefly wondered if that was a mistake, and if it drew himself unwanted attention. He caught glimpses of his yeti family, and his core and heart shattered. They were all so… careful. And now, so was he. Had he really been that terrible to Frostbite? To everyone that one night, during The Meeting? Had so much changed he couldn't breathe without thinking twice?

Danny desperately wanted to say something to make them love him like they used to, but his loneliness and negative thoughts choked him, making it harder and harder to breathe. "Are you all right, Danny?" Flurry asked concernedly. Danny realized he had been staring at everyone and having a mini panic attack. A few yetis stopped their conversations, but most didn't even notice and continued their chatter.

This was his chance. He could say something, and make them love him the same as old times. Convince himself and the yetis nothing had changed. But things had changed, and he couldn't forget that no matter how much he tried. Danny's hope and courage sunk as the seconds passed by, like an ocean of doubt enveloping his faith. "Danny?" Flurry repeated. How come when he wanted things to change, they didn't? But change was just fine screwing with him earlier, when he was content.

"'M fine." His ship hit the sea floor. "Just tired from school." It collapsed in a heap of wreckage. "I doubt that," Flurry said, very straightforward. "Honestly. I'm glad to be here, though." It disintegrated among the waters. Flurry looked ready to object, but Danny floated past him to a reclusive table, not really caring if Frostbite followed him. Sitting down, Danny thought back to the cafeteria. The pressure was intense in there. This then made him think of Sam and Tucker, who he knew would make him feel better.

If only Danny could bring them here, but that would require telling his secret, something he still wasn't sure he could do. He felt like he was pulling what Frostbite had pulled by lying, and he couldn't bear it. He couldn't bear much else anymore. This was proven when Frostbite sat down unnoticed. "Danny, there is something I need to ask you about." Danny looked up, mildly surprised to see him there, and nodded. "Did Vlad ever stick you with any needles?" Danny winced. "I think. Why? Are they going to kill me?" Frostbite calmed the worked-up teen. "No, nothing of a sort."

"Then why do you ask?"

"Well…"

"No more secrets." Frostbite looked as if he had been struck, but nodded all the same. "I… should probably explain just exactly how Vlad feels about you and your human… relations."

Vlad grinned as he took Daniel's DNA. He needed to lure him back, and this would do exactly it. He didn't want an exact copy of Daniel, no. He wanted the authentic version. There were just some things Daniel had outside of his DNA's doing, like his experience. If Vlad wanted to put his plan into action, he needed the boy, and he needed him soon. He had no time to train an empty slate. He must act while the bonds between Daniel and his family were broken.

So, instead of cloning, he altered the boy's DNA just a bit. Instead of just one part of life's equation given by a man, there was now both parts. Vlad smiled. Nature would take its course, and he would be ready to initiate Step One in his plan to steal Maddie, Danny and Jazz, kill Jack, reveal halfas, and take control over the USA.

And this plan, there was no escaping.

"So, Vlad is just a really bad grudge holder?" Frostbite laughed, drawing the attention of other yetis and putting Danny at ease. "Yep." Danny smiled. "Well, at least I won't go to classes with that fruitloop anymore."

"Speaking of, you said you made new friends. Have you told them your secret?"

"I…want to. But I don't think I can. Amity just realized ghosts were real, and I doubt they're ready for me to exist." Danny winced.

"You are probably right. But no matter. How do you feel about a snowball fight?" Frostbite asked carefully. Danny looked up hopefully. When he saw the yeti's expression, he smirked. "You're on." The responding laugh made every other yeti smile or laugh as well. It seemed there was hope for the future.

Being both green and red faced was quite the combination, but it was payed no mind as another snowball flew. Panting, smiling, and creating snow, Danny hid behind a large mound. He peeked out, and saw Permafrost doing so as well. He hurled his snowball, and cheered as it met its intended target. But Permafrost just smiled. Confused, Danny turned around to dive back under cover, when he was met with a face full of snow. "Omph!" He cried as he was knocked to his butt.

He peeked through the fluff to see Glaze giggling. Laughing, Danny halfheartedly threw one back at her, but she ran away. He sighed and laid back down on the soft ground. He really appreciated the normalcy given to him. He felt so much better about Saturday and Sunday. Danny was in the middle of wishing that there would be no awkwardness… when he realized that he was the one making it awkward. If he just enjoyed his time, the other yetis would follow suit. Flushing in shame, he stood up, his earlier mood returned, convincing him that he could make things better. He made another snowball to launch at a daring Snowfall, sticking his tongue out playfully, like he used to.

Then, it was like he wasn't there anymore.

Snowfall turned into Jazz, who was angrily crying. "That was my project! Why would you color on it?" Danny's tongue was still out, and he just scrunched up his face even more. "MOM! DAD! Danny colored on my project and he won't apologize!" Jazz said, crying and running to her room. "Daniel James Fenton, get down here now!" Danny started to cry. He was in trouble now. He walked down the stairs to an upset mother and disapproving father. "Danny, what you did was not okay, but what made it even worse is that you refused to apologize. I'm very disappointed." Danny cried. "But I was making it better!" Maddie huffed. "Quit crying. You have no reason to. And If you wanted to help, you should've asked. You don't always know what is right, Danny." Danny nodded, still crying.

"Now go apologize, and no TV for a week." Danny looked angrily at his dad, and stomped upstairs. But that dissipated when he arrived at his sister's door. Knock knock, knock knock knock. "Jazz? Mom says I have to say sorry, and I am. I just wanted to make it pretty. I'll ask next time." The door opened. "Thanks, Danny. I'm still a little mad, though." Danny frowned. How rude. He apologized an everything, only to get this? He angrily stomped to his room and slammed the door. Life was so "NOT FAIR!" Whoops…

And then Danny was back in the midst of snowballs. He frowned. He guessed not all his flashbacks could be good ones, but it put a damper on his mood. Danny saw people come out of hiding and assumed the game was over, so he walked over as well. But what he saw surprised him, and not in a good way.

"Babypop, please, help me…" a beat-up Ember rasped, a huge cut running all along her body. "Oh my gosh, Ember, what happened to you?" Danny rushed to her side, picking her up bridal style. "Fentons…"

(A/N) Okay, so it was mostly filler. But I am going to hopefully finish the next chapter soon, so you guys can get more action. LOTS MORE! I had so much fun making up Vlad's plan! You'll just have to see, it's pretty cool (haha at least to me). So that will happen along with Ember's deal. Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed! I realize my chapters are kind of short compared to others' (a thousand words compared to five thousand), so I tried and will try to work on it. This one and a previous one were a bit more than two thousand, so I think that's an improvement.

Anyway, give me advice. Love,

FFK13