This is a oneshot I did for DaimondRaider as a request challenge on DeviantArt. Clockwork watching as a new Fenton started in life.

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A New Life

"I'm not ready."

Clockwork didn't answer for some time. His longtime friend and poker partner quirked an eyebrow at his unusual silence.

"What, Clockwork? After all these years, no wisdom? No assurances, or promises, or calm speeches? That's not like you." The time ghost smiled.

"Danny. We've been friends for a long time now. I watched you grow up. I smiled in the background when you and Sam were finally married. I've helped you through trials beyond most humans' imaginations, guided you through your indecision, and I like to think that I have had some small part in giving you happiness. But on this…I find I have little to say."

The two powerful spirits floated in the viewing chamber of his gigantic stone castle, watching the silent images cross the green, swirling screen before them. For a while, Danny did not respond, and the two looked in on the powerful hybrid's family as the steady ticking of countless gears filled the void.

Jack Jonathan Fenton Junior burbled happily as Sam gently bounced him on her knee, his chubby fingers falling from the sides of his mouth and back to his sides. His mother ran her free hand tenderly through his already thick, black hair, returning the adoring gaze that shone forth from his startling green eyes. He hiccupped, a small bubble of air popping up from his full stomach, and she gently removed his warm bottle, storing it away for later. The small six-week-old baby yawned hugely, and she softly lowered him backwards to snuggle against her side. Within seconds, he was asleep, fingers slowly creeping into his mouth. His breathing was slow and steady, and his lips quirked into a small, imperfect smile.

Slowly, Sam stood up, carrying the small child in her arms and up to his crib. Suddenly he sneezed, and for a second you could swear his breath was visible. But Sam hardly batted an eyelash. She simply turned and checked that the Ghost Shield was up, and continued on to the bedroom. Brief explosions and shouts could be heard nearby, but Jack, already so used to the strange sounds, slept right through. Sam smiled sadly at that. Lights turned low, she sat in the far corner of the room and watched him sleep, unaware that Danny was doing the same thing.

"What do I do, Clockwork?" Danny asked softly, as if afraid to wake the baby that was not there. "He's so different from everyone else. Even I was human for a while; he'll never be. There's never been anyone like him before. How can I even know what to do?"

"Do your best." Clockwork answered, caught up in the sleeping infant. "All children are a handful, Danny. Yours may be trickier than most, but you're a good person, and I know you can teach him to be one too. And you have Sam. You'll be fine."

"But what if he gets hurt?" Danny pressed. "He's so small. What if I can't protect him?"

Clockwork chuckled. "Danny, if anyone in the entire world can protect his child, it's you. Besides, you must admit that he's already better at protecting himself than the average infant." If anything, this made his friend more worried.

"There's that, too." He confessed. "His powers. He's only a baby, Clockwork. How am I supposed to explain to him that he shouldn't try to phase through the second story floor, or disappear?" He asked, becoming more agitated. "Sam's already worried herself half to death twice searching for him. What if a friend forgets for just a second and leaves the door open and he floats right out of the house? We wouldn't know if he was invisible or gone, and how could he find his way home again?"

"I know that there are…unique problems involved, Danny." The ancient spirit confessed as he returned his gaze to the screen. "But he's worth it."

"Yeah." Danny responded with a quiet smile of his own as he watched Jack sleep. "He's worth everything. And more."

After several long minutes of silent observation dragged on, Danny turned and floated back towards the door.

"Did you get the answer you came for?" Clockwork asked, curious. His friend shook his head.

"No, but that's alright. Things will work out. I think you told me that once, a long time ago. Sam and I can handle a baby." Clockwork smiled as he watched his young friend go, and returned to the screen.

The child was beautiful. The time ghost smiled as he watched him turn over a bit in his sleep, never out of Sam's protective gaze. To be honest, he was grateful Danny hadn't pressed his question, as his complete, honest advice would have made Sam very angry at him. He hated giving away secrets. After all, how had Jack picked up a ghost from inside the shield?

The answer, he saw with a bemused grin, was sitting in Sam's bedside end table drawer. A little tab of paper, colored a bright shade of pink. Funny how Jack's ghost sense seemed to go off every time his mother picked him up.

Still smiling, Clockwork shut off the window. Danny was in for an interesting surprise. And Clockwork was looking forward to their next meeting.