So, this note started off much more happily, but the chapter somehow got erased despite my saving it. I started the chapter literally the day after I posted Chapter 10, so when it got erased, I just wasn't motivated to start again, despite my one month update goal.

Still, you all have no idea how much I appreciate your reviews. It took a few tries, but I finally got this chapter where I wanted it.

Smiling gleefully, Vlad flew slowly but steadily to his abandoned mansion, where the prototype for his ghost gauntlets were.

Indeed—Vlad would soon deal with his human weakness, and then he would be ready to save Maddie, Jazz, and especially Danny.

"I'm almost there, my dears," he whispered, voice hoarse. "I'll save you all and then we can live together, forever…

In death."

And so time marches on…

Dan and Danny sat on Danny's bed, facing each other. Both ghosts were stone faced and silent. Dan tapped his fingers on his knee to the beat of "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic".

So far, Dan had tapped at least four songs from The Police alone.

"Goddamn it, Danny, are we going to sit here staring at each other all night or are you going to actually talk to me?" Dan finally demanded.

Danny actually laughed. "Sorry, Dan. I just don't know what to say."

Dan rolled his eyes. "Well, I can't help you with that."

Danny's eyes narrowed. "Actually…maybe you can." At Dan's raised eyebrow, Danny continued. "Tell me everything you've done to manipulate me, up to this point."

Danny watched, fascinated, as Dan tensed without visibly moving. Somehow, Dan's very aura seemed to withdraw; his tapping continued, but was more staccato; and his eyes were more closed off than Danny had ever seen.

"What do you mean?" Dan asked very carefully.

"I won't judge you," Danny replied. "And I promise that I will try to not react on my anger, if I get angry. I promise to hear you out completely first. But I want you to tell me what you've done to manipulate me."

"Why?"

Danny smiled ruefully. "We can't be a very good team if you're holding the leash and dragging me along, Dan."

Dan tilted his head. "We're a team?"

Danny nodded. "We're going to be. One way or another, I know you're the person I want to keep with me when I become master of time. But first, I need to trust you." Danny paused, looking around the room. "I told you I was starting to trust you—that I wanted to trust you. I still do. It feels crazy that it hasn't even been a month and I want to trust you. But, in about two weeks, you've also helped me increase my stamina eight-fold; you're the only person privy to all my secrets; you're the only person I feel like I could spent millennia with and not go crazy.

And, despite the collar around your neck, I haven't seen you try anything. You get along so well with Jazz, it's like you two have always been siblings. You and Paulina have such a close friendship, and I can see there's nothing there that's been manipulated or has an end game—you two are just good friends because you want to be, even if it pisses me off. I don't know if you're conscious of this, but you're taking steps to actually change. Some part of me even thinks that, machinations and all, you're not planning anything bad.

But for me to be sure of that, I need you to tell me."

Dan let out a long breath. "Wow. Okay."

"I know it's a lot to take in," Danny said.

The older ghost nodded.

"Oh, and before I forget…" Danny trailed off, reaching for the bag on his nightstand and handing it to Dan.

Dan's eyes widened as he withdrew the piece of the sword, his breath leaving him in a ragged rush. "Holy shit."

Danny grinned wide. "Yeah."

"Holy shit."

"Yeah."

"This is a piece of the fucking Sword of Mars, Danny."

"Yeah, it is."

Dan shook his head and turned incredulous eyes on Danny. "What the hell is this for?"

Danny shrugged. "I'm a bit late, but you've been here more than a week. I thought we should celebrate your anniversary for being so good."

Dan pursed his lips. "I don't know if I should be thankful, make fun of you for celebrating a week-long anniversary like a grade schooler, or be insulted because you make me sound like a dog."

Danny smiled. "Or, you could appreciate the gift and use that as an incentive to be honest with me."

Dan laughed. "Oh? And I'm the manipulative one? How about you tell me what else you manipulated, Danny-boy?" To Dan's surprise, Danny's cheeks flushed a deep red. "Wait. Did you orchestrate something else?"

Danny fidgeted. "I may or may not be the reason that Junior and Minnie are here today."

"…What."

Danny waved his hands in front of him. "Never mind! I'll explain later. You tell me what you've orchestrated first."

Dan snorted, shaking his head. "Wow. And I thought I was the mastermind here. All right."

Danny sat, silent, as Dan explained his plans to acclimate Danny to his touch; plans to isolate Danny and keep him dependent on Dan before Danny's friends came back; how Dan had planned on taking at least six months to slowly force Danny to question his sexuality; and even how Dan had planned their conversation to go when Danny finally confronted Dan in regards to his feelings. Dan stood and paced, gesturing with his hands occasionally, as he explained in detail the dates, the times, the people involved in his careful planning.

When Dan sat back down, Danny breathed out a long sigh.

"So," Danny said, "at any point, were you planning on betraying me?"

"No," Dan answered. "I didn't really want to kill you. It's not necessary for my survival anymore, since I live outside of my original time line."

"Is that the only reason you weren't going to kill me?"

Dan rolled his eyes. "I feel like you're fishing for something. Anyway, no, that wasn't the only reason. I recognized that I'd go insane without you again, so it makes more sense to make whatever this is work. And you're not the annoying brat you were when we first met; I feel like I can deal with you for a few millennia. Maybe two."

Danny smiled. "Gee, thanks. But, wow. You literally had a twenty-six step plan, spanning six months, to win me over?"

Dan shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a Slytherin."

"Of course you are," Danny laughed. "I don't think anyone's ever put that much effort for me before."

Dan raised his brows. "Yeah, real romantic of me."

"Yes, I realize," Danny sighed, "That I'm even thinking that way says a lot about how much of your manipulations have already succeeded." Dan smirked. "And the fact that we're having this conversation two weeks in instead of six months from now says a lot about how much your plans have failed."

Dan scowled. "Well, that was uncalled for."

"So, what caused your plans to accelerate to light speed?"

Dan relaxed, sitting back against the headboard. "I don't know. I knew to use your jealously to my advantage, but I didn't expect someone like Paulina. And I feel like I'm not the only one playing on this field towards my endgame. Someone else is helping me, without my knowledge."

"Clockwork," Danny supplied. "He helped me with my own plans for today."

"Mind explaining that to me? You invited Junior and Minnie?"

Danny had the grace to look sheepish. "I really didn't expect they'd be this much trouble. But yeah, I needed a reason for us to stay home." Dan raised a single brow. "Okay, fine, I needed a reason for you to stay away from Paulina."

"This Paulina thing really bothers you?" Dan asked.

Danny scowled, pulling his knees to his chest. "You have no idea."

"Why?"

"Besides a vagina, what does she have that I don't?" Danny demanded.

Dan struggled to keep a straight face. "Breasts."

Danny snorted. "Shut up. I mean it, though. You said it yourself; we feel more complete when we're with each other. Paulina can't do that for you."

"You are making this so much weirder than it has to be," Dan muttered.

"And she doesn't know you the way I know you! She didn't get ass handed back to her by you like I did; she didn't see how you came to be; she probably thinks that you're different now that you're in this time line, but I know you're not!"

Dan tilted his head, suddenly serious. "Do you?"

Danny steeled himself. "I do."

Dan sighed. "There's still quite a bit you don't know about me, Danny-boy."

"I know that, too," Danny replied. "So, tell me."

"Tell you?"

Danny nodded. "Tell me everything."

"Like what? I already told you everything important, like what happened when I was made and why I started killing people—"

"No," Danny interrupted. "You told me and my parents what happened when you were made. And that's all you told us—what happened. Tell me, Dan, what made you."

Dan grimaced. "I don't think that's a good idea…"

"Please, Dan," Danny sighed. "I know. I know I wasn't completely…receptive to you and what you are, but I want to be. I want to know. Jazz mentioned that just because you're calmer now, it doesn't mean that you stopped being who you were when I met you. And if I want this to move forward, I need to accept that. The only way I can accept that, though, is by knowing. And I'll only know if you tell me."

Dan's face was blank. "So…you want me to tell you about who I am?"

Danny nodded.

"Well, there goes two weeks' of work," Dan muttered sardonically. He breathed out, and "Ezra" melted away; Dan's skin turned blue, his hair was engulfed in flames, and his eyes bled red. His clothes, which had generally been a variation of Ezra's disguise lately, even turned back into his signature uniform.

Danny smiled. "Wow. I haven't seen 'Dan Phantom' in a while."

"You said you wanted me to tell you who I am," Dan replied quietly, "It's probably best I do that as me."

The halfa frowned. "Dan?"

"Danny, have you ever broken any bones?" Dan asked. "I know you didn't before fourteen, but what about after that?"

Danny blinked. "Uh, yeah. I broke my leg. Femur. Clean break, thankfully."

Dan nodded. "Do you remember how much that hurt?"

"Like crazy fucking hell."

"Right. Imagine that pain, remember that pain." Dan stood, walking away from Danny. "I don't think you remember, because you technically never lived it, but ripping us apart hurt more than a broken femur. It wasn't like the Fenton Ghost Catcher, where it gently expelled your ghost half. Vlad's ghost gauntlet's are just as sadistic as the man; it felt like every part of me was being ripped apart."

Dan glanced at Danny, then resumed his pacing. "And then, when it was over and the pain subsided, I figured out that you asked for that. You wanted me gone. I get it. It was hard and painful and the worst torture imaginable to know that everyone you ever loved and cared about was gone." Suddenly, the flames on Dan's head intensified and eyes like lasers focused on Danny, burning.

"But what the fucking hell did I have to do with any of that? How was getting rid of me going to change anything, Danny?! We were complete, Danny! Didn't you understand?! If anyone else had stepped into the ghost portal—if anyone else had tried—they would have been dead! It was always supposed to be you and me and you abandoned me, Danny!"

Danny sat, pushed up against the headboard, as Dan yelled at him, his face pale and eyes wide. "I…I don't…"

Dan turned away, irritably twitching. "I know, Danny. It wasn't you who did that. You can't explain it to me and you can't answer for the Danny that did this to me. And even if I still lived in my time line, I wouldn't know because I killed the fucking bastard.

And don't get me wrong, I'm fucking glad I did. When he ripped me out, when he threw me away, I knew that I wasn't enough yet to destroy him. I knew I wasn't complete. I knew I wouldn't ever be again, but if I couldn't be whole, at the very least I would be hell on earth. I would be the apocalypse and I would bring fear and pain and despair because if I had to go through it, the whole damn world would, too. And I knew I wanted to start with the person who discarded me.

I wanted Vlad's ghost half because of Vlad's experience and destructive power; because he was ten times more intelligent than you, but not as creative. Together, I knew I would be everyone's worst nightmare. Besides, why not rob the guy who made those damn gauntlets?" Dan grinned, large and sadistic. "And I left him alive. I wanted him to see what I could do and know that he had a hand in my creation—that it was just as much his fault as yours."

Dan sat down in front of Danny, taking in the pale face and cold sweat. "I get off on fear, Danny. I get off on making others do my bidding. I love the sound of screams, especially when I'm the reason for them. Being around you keeps me more sane; if I had left your human half alive in my time, I probably wouldn't have gone on a killing spree for so long.

But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy it. I love control; control over whether others live or die is the ultimate high for me. And, if Jazz were here, she might say I enjoy it so much and to such an extreme because my control was taken from me when I was created.

But I just like it, Danny. And I stopped for now, but I don't have many qualms with killing people to get my way. If you keep me on as your partner, and if you ever feel inclined not to immediately erase someone who needs to be erased, I'll probably convince you to let me kill them at birth."

Dan stood again, facing away from Danny as he fiddled with the computer. "And if you ever decide that you want to stop being master of time, I'll ask you to let me kill you. Or, if you decide that you want me gone, I'll force you to kill me. Death is where I feel most comfortable and most complete."

Dan turned swiftly and advanced on Danny, looming over the younger ghost. "Do you get it now, Danny? Do you get me now? When you ripped me out, it drove me insane; all I ever wanted was to be complete. You rejected me! You decided I didn't need to exist anymore and you decided to ask the world's craziest motherfucker to take me out in the most painful fucking way possible because I was just a fucking thing to you! I was you, Danny! Until you threw me out, I was just as much Danny fucking Fenton as your human half! And you tried to kill me!

Fucking hell, Danny, what did I ever do to deserve that?"

Danny swallowed loudly. "I don't know. I'm so sorry, Dan. Because…because it sounds like you didn't do anything wrong."

Dan breathed heavily, nose inches from Danny's. "I know I didn't."

Danny put a hand on Dan's shoulder. "For what it's worth, I—as in, the Danny that I am now and here, in this time—would never have done that to you."

"It physically aches not to kill people," Dan whispered.

Danny's lips quirked in a smile. "Then I better hope no one pisses you off enough."

Dan blinked. "That's it? That's all you have to say to that?"

"Well, that and they'll probably think they're going to hell when you kill them, cause you kind of look like Hades with that hair of yours," Danny replied, straight-faced.

Dan stared at Danny, eyes wide. Slowly, a smile formed on his face. "You're fucking insane. And a terrible comedian."

"At least I have company in the asylum," Danny replied. "And I bet our friends there will think I'm hilarious."

Dan straightened, eyes focused on the look of disappointment that flitted Danny's face. He flopped on the bed beside Danny and stared at the ceiling, conscious of Danny's eyes roaming his face. With a sigh, Dan closed his eyes and concentrated.

Flaming hair relaxed and fell across his forehead, short bangs brushing along his eyebrows; his white hair was similar to Danny's, but shorter.

"Holy shit," Danny said. "Is that your hair?"

Dan rolled his eyes. "Yes. Happy now?"

"Why do you make the bangs longer when you're Ezra?"

Dan smirked. "I like variety."

Danny ran his hands through Dan's hair. Unlike Dan's cold skin, the hair was heated, but not burning. The strands parted like hair, but felt almost like silk. Danny, entranced, kept petting Dan's hair. Dan, eventually, relaxed and closed his eyes again.

"Danny?" Dan said quietly. "I'm…not not happy that I failed to kill you."

Danny's brows furrowed. "What?"

"Double negatives cancel each other out; solve it yourself, kid."

Danny blinked and whispered the words to himself. A large smile broke out on his face.

"Satisfied, Danny?" Dan asked.

"Thank you," Danny said in reply. "That means a lot to me."

"Yeah, kay thanks." Dan replied flippantly. Danny merely smiled more.

They sat in silence for a bit longer, Danny carefully running his fingers through Dan's hair.

"So…about the Paulina thing…"

Dan opened one eyes. "What about the Paulina thing?"

"Have you, I don't know, decided not to pursue her?"

Dan sat up, dislodging Danny's hand. "Why would I decide that?"

Danny frowned. "Well, I mean…you just opened up to me. You admitted that you and I are, if you'll excuse the phrase, made for each other. I'm not saying we rip off our clothes right now and get at it, but I thought we were going to at least…commit, I guess?"

Dan glared at him. "Well, Danny, you still don't know what you want and I feel like it's my decision whether I decide to 'pursue' something with Paulina or not."

"Why do you need to decide anything?" Danny scowled. "There's nothing to decide."

Dan bared his teeth. "Again: that's my decision to make, Danny-boy. I'm pretty sure I just spent the last half hour explaining to you why you taking away my ability to choose pissed me the fuck off, so what the hell?"

"I just don't want you to feed me some bullshit and then run off with Paulina!"

Dan rolled his eyes. "Goddamn it, Danny, does Paulina seem like the kind of girl who'd be okay with that?"

"She seems like you she likes you enough, so how should I know?" Danny retorted.

Dan groaned. "Even if she was that kind of girl—and she isn't, you asshole—what does it matter if I'm the one making the decision?"

"Fine. Okay. Then decide: me or Paulina?" Danny said, crossing his arms.

Dan frowned. "What? No! I don't have to decide shit right now! Besides, if anyone should be making decisions, it should be you. You keep saying you want to keep me around and we're going to be partners, but I notice you conveniently forgot to tell me what exactly you want me to be."

Danny turned away. "I-I haven't exactly…figured it out…"

"And yet, you want me to commit to whatever the hell this is so that, whenever you're ready, I can be there—waiting. Like a fucking dog."

"No! I just—"

"Fucking shit, Danny, I'm not your pet!"

"I know you're not!"

"Then what the hell, Danny? What the actual hell?"

"You're mine, Dan! Get it now? So what if I haven't' decided what I want from you yet? I'm fucking seventeen! I can't have everything figured out! It just feels like Paulina is a threat and I don't want to lose you before I know what I want with you!"

Dan grit his teeth. "I'm not a fucking toy, Daniel. You cannot put me on a shelf and decide when you want to play with me. You have to deal with the consequences of your choices, because whatever number you spit out on me, it doesn't fucking matter. The consequences of your decisions don't care about how old you are or how long it takes you to take your head out of your ass."

"Dammit, Dan! I like you! Isn't that enough?"

Dan shook his head. "No, Danny. It isn't. Not if you can't see that you liking me doesn't mean you getting to take my decisions from me."

Danny's eyes widened, a pained expression on his face. Then, his eyes narrowed and his lips formed a snarl. "You know what? You know what I think? I think this is just part of your stupid plan to use my jealousy to make me more dependent on you."

"For fuck's sake, Danny—"

"No, that's exactly what this is! Because, otherwise, why would you throw away what's basically me agreeing to whatever the hell this is? Or maybe you think it's not cheating if you hook up with Paulina now when you haven't committed to anything?"

"That isn't it, you motherfucking brat! If you would just listen—"

"Maybe the other Danny was right to get rid of you."

Dan started, staring at Danny with wide eyes. Danny glared mutinously at the floor, but as the silence stretched on, the anger drained from his face. Gradually, Danny's brows relaxed and his mouth slackened. Wide, worried blue eyes snapped to Dan. Mute, Danny shook his head slowly. He reached for Dan, but the older ghost quickly took a step back.

"Wait, Dan, I didn't mean—" Danny tried, reaching again.

"Do. Not." Dan growled. White rings emerged around his waist, flying in opposite directions, and Ezra stood in Dan's place.

Danny continued shaking his head. "No, Dan, wait, let me explain—!"

"Go to hell, Danny," Dan muttered, teeth clenched. He pushed passed Danny, too angry to remember phasing through the floor, and stomped down the stairs. Jazz stood at the landing, biting her nails, and looked up as Dan approached.

"Dan?" she asked and followed him quickly as he walked to the front door. "Dan, what's wrong? I heard yelling!"

"Ask your brother," Dan growled.

Junior and Minnie watched from the couch as Jazz grabbed Dan's arm. His hands clenched into fists and Dan turned around. "What, Jazz?"

Jazz bit her lip. "Are you okay?"

Dan sighed, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. He relaxed his hands and shook his head. "No, Jazz. I'm not."

"What happened, Dan?"

"I don't really want to talk to you about it right now," Dan said. "Besides, Danny probably needs you."

Jazz looked up at the ceiling then back at Dan. "But…"

"Allow Phantom his respite, dear sister," Minnie said quietly. "Careful I speak, for words are true weapons. It appears to me he has wounds to heal."

The redheaded girl frowned. "Danny said something, didn't he?"

Dan looked away. "Yes, he did, Jazz. He said something and now I need to get out of this house before I destroy it again. Now will you leave me alone?"

Jazz nodded. "Of course. Just remember: Danny's a teenager. I know that doesn't excuse whatever he said, but he's really still a kid. In a sense, so are you. And that's okay. Kids hurt people sometimes, without realizing it. Sometimes they hurt people on purpose, when they've been hurt first.

He'll still need to apologize and he'll need to make up for it, but try not to take it too much to heart, Dan. Please."

Dan nodded silently. Jazz hugged him, unsurprised when he didn't reciprocate. As she released him, she smiled at him. Dan nodded again and walked out of the house. Jazz turned to the children on the couch.

"We'll stay here, Jazz," Junior said before she could ask. "You take care of Danny."

Smiling gratefully at them, she ran up the stairs and into Danny's room. Danny stood near his bed, facing the wall. As Jazz approached, Danny crumpled to his knees.

"Danny!" Jazz cried, rushing over. She grasped his shoulders and sat in front of him. Danny, though, stared at his hands and remained unresponsive. "Danny, please! Tell me what happened!"

"Jazz," Danny whispered. "He's gone."

"What?"

"Dan's gone," Danny whispered, shaking his head again. "I said something awful to him, and now he probably hates me. The only reason he didn't kill me is probably because of that stupid collar."

"What did you say, Danny?" Jazz implored.

"He's never going to come back," Danny continued, hyperventilating. "He's never going to want to see my face again and it's all my fault. How could I be so stupid?"

"Danny!" Jazz said, slapping him soundly across the face. "Stop that! Tell me what happened."

Watery blue eyes looked up at the redhead. "I told him that the other Danny—the me from his time line—was right to get rid of him."

Jazz inhaled deeply. "Oh, Danny, you didn't."

"I was just so angry, Jazz! He didn't want to give up Paulina! He kept saying it was his decision—"

"But it is his decision, Danny," Jazz said. "Why would you try to force him to choose?"

Danny's eyes suddenly hardened. "You're taking his side? I thought you were my sister!"

Jazz glared at him and stood up. "Don't you dare talk to me like that, Daniel Fenton. I've been by your side since day one; I may not have always gone about it the best way, but I always wanted to make sure you had the best of everything because I knew our parents were too neglectful of you. So don't you dare speak to me like that, Danny. I've done too much for you to have you accuse me of taking anyone else's side but yours!"

Danny looked up at Jazz, the anger having gone. Wide eyed and breath hitching, Danny nodded. "I-I'm sorry, Jazz. You're right."

Slowly, Jazz sat next to him again, her expression softening. "Danny, what is going on? I thought you were better after you read the journal?"

Danny laid his head on her shoulder and shook his head. Jazz wrapped her arms around her brother, one hand carding through his hair gently. When her shoulder started to moisten, Jazz clutched Danny closer. "Oh, Danny."

"I got scared, Jazz," Danny said, muffled and sniffling. "I laid my cards out on the table and I was scared I was going to get nothing from it. I got scared of what we would have to tell everyone and what mom and dad would think and what Sam, Dash, and Kwan would think and I just…if he was a guarantee, if he had promised to pick me over Paulina, I thought maybe I could deal with everything that came with it."

Jazz patted his head. "But Danny, you're asking him to guarantee himself without telling him that you're a guarantee, too. You're expecting him to put himself completely out there and to get nothing from you."

"I didn't know how much I was willing to give."

"Then maybe that should be enough for now, Danny," Jazz replied. "There is no reason to rush this. I have a feeling that things will work out. But you can't force him to choose you. Remember, Danny? You can't manipulate the manipulator. All you can do is be honest with him."

Danny sighed, pulling away from Jazz and quickly wiping his eyes. "Yeah, you're right. As usual."

"It isn't about me being right, Danny—"

"No, that's a good thing, Jazz." Danny smiled at her, albeit not as brightly. "That means you'll always be able to set me straight when I mess up like this."

Jazz smiled back softly. "Always, little brother."

Danny sighed again, looking away. "I want to chase him down…but I bet he needs his space."

"That's probably a good idea."

They sat together in silence, Jazz's hand covering Danny's. Danny sat up a bit and turned to her. "Does he like any food in particular?"

Jazz grinned. "You gonna apologize with a dinner?"

"The way to a man's heart is through his stomach," Danny chuckled. "If nothing else, I figure he'll at least stop complaining about mom's cooking."

Jazz laughed, standing and pulling Danny up with her. "C'mon. I don't know what he likes, but I feel like every stereotypical sociopathic murderer loves steak."

"You're the best, Jazz."

"I know."

Paulina sighed, pushing her pencil around her desk as Lancer taught them. Vaguely, she wondered if there were any other teachers in the school, but decided that she was probably just distracting herself.

Teal eyes glanced up at Tucker, who sat near the front behind Danny's empty seat. Paulina hadn't intended on revealing quite so much to Tucker, but the need to talk to anyone was so overwhelming. Paulina only had so many options, she couldn't help but open up to the tech genius. She could talk to Danny, but despite her belief that she would ultimately concede Ezra to Danny, she didn't want to make it any easier on the ghost boy. Danny needed to learn Ezra's value, and if that meant a little competition, Paulina didn't mind. She was experienced in being the competition, after all. She also couldn't talk to her best friend, Star, because Paulina knew that Star might not be as open regarding Ezra's intentions and it wasn't Paulina's secret to reveal, anyway.

Paulina looked around and the fiery shock of red hair one classmate had caught her eye. She supposed, in hindsight, she could talk to Jazz; she did recall Danny mentioning that his whole family was aware of Ezra's real identity, and if anyone could figure out what was going on between Danny and Ezra, it would likely be Jazz. Besides, Paulina hadn't forgotten that apparently there were others that Clockwork had to convince on Ezra's behalf, as Ezra himself had alluded to. It wasn't a far leap to assume that person would definitely be Jazz, who was always Danny's staunchest supporter.

But, in a way, Paulina was glad that Tucker was the person she ended up talking to. Paulina was smart enough to recognize the similarities between herself and Tucker: they were both geniuses in their own right; they were both one of the few minorities in the mostly-white Amityville; and they both had wronged Danny in some way and were seeking ways to make amends, albeit without Danny's knowledge.

Paulina wasn't blind to the way Tucker defended Danny without question after the incident with the Disasteroid. She wasn't sure, but she could vaguely remember an incident where she served as a slave for Tucker, as if he was a pharaoh. She definitely remembered overhearing Tucker apologize for trying to hurt Danny after that. And she definitely remembered when Tucker briefly had ghost powers; it was around the same time she mysteriously became the cutest thing in existence. She knew Tucker's defense of Danny was his form of retribution because, like any best friend, Tucker was probably jealous of Danny's powers and popularity at one time.

And Tucker, unlike Star and Sam, wouldn't—didn't—judge Danny or Ezra when he found out where their relationship was heading. That was one thing Paulina hadn't expected of Tucker, who tended to cling to labels as though he couldn't exist without them.

Perhaps, Paulina thought, there was even a chance of her and Tucker becoming friends.

The bell rang, forcing the Latina from her musings. With a heavy sigh, she collected her items slowly and rose. As she expected, Sam and Kwan barricaded themselves around her desk. Tucker, who was nearly out of the room, glanced back and shook his head. Resolutely, he walked over.

"You guys," he said once he was near enough, "Can we just drop this? No matter what you guys think, this isn't the place to have this conversation."

"We have a right to know, Tucker," Sam argued.

"Actually," Paulina interjected, "you don't. What I know and whoever told me is my business. If whomever told me decides they want you to know what I know, then I will gladly tell you. Until then, leave me alone." She pushed passed Kwan—he always was a bit of a teddy bear, despite being a linebacker—and headed towards the classroom door. Sam quickly grabbed Paulina's wrist, forcing the Latina to turn back around.

"Listen, Paulina," Sam hissed. "I don't care what your entitled ass thinks—"

"I hope you care what my entitled ass thinks," a voice said. The teens gathered around Paulina turned, surprised to see "Ezra" leaning against the doorway. "Because I agree with her."

Sam pursed her lips. "Dan. I thought you and Danny were taking the day off."

"We were," Dan confirmed. "I decided I needed some space and wanted to hang with Paulina. I couldn't find her outside, her dad hadn't seen her yet, so I came to look for her."

Paulina shot him a grateful look and wrenched her wrist out of Sam's hold. She flipped her hair and walked towards Dan, nodding at Tucker as she passed. Tucker nodded back to her. Sam, however, sighed explosively.

"I don't get this! What the hell do you see in her, Dan? In what way does Paulina contribute to your plans? I know what you're planning with Danny—don't try to put me off, because Danny himself basically confirmed it! What is going on?"

Dan groaned. "You just do not stop."

Sam scowled. "Where has being silent ever helped a woman?"

"Touché," Dan smirked, but sobered quickly. "Seriously, though, Sam. You can't listen if you don't shut up. Whatever you think is going on—if you think I'm trying to manipulate Danny or something—you're wrong. Danny knows everything I'm doing. Paulina is my friend. That's it."

"That can't be it!" Sam shouted. "Danny cannot be okay with what you're doing!"

"Goddamn it, Sam!" Paulina shouted, stomping her foot. Everyone jumped, surprised. "You paranoid bitch, do you even listen to yourself? Get—it—through—your—head! You don't know everything! You don't know what Danny and Dan do when they're alone; you don't know what Dan and I talk about; you don't know who knows and who doesn't! What will it take for you to understand? You don't know everything! You keep making all these assumptions without knowing anything and you keep hurting everyone involved because you're so damn sure you're right!

Well, you're not! All you're going to end up doing is alienating everyone you care about because who the hell wants to be around someone who can't accept people for who they fucking are?" Paulina shook her head, panting. "For once, Sam, why don't know ask Danny to sit down with you, and with everyone, and figure out what's going on? You need to learn how to listen, Sam, before you drive away all your friends." Paulina glared at a stricken Sam. "Like you did before."

With that, she grabbed Dan's wrist and dragged the ghost out of the classroom. The others stood in the empty classroom, silent. Finally, Sam sat down, shaking her head.

"Is she right about me again?" she asked quietly.

Tucker shrugged. "You can't change in one day, Sam," he said reasonably. "It will take time. But she is right, you know; you need to stop assuming things and thinking you have all the facts. That may have worked when we were ghost hunting, but that's because you were well-researched. People don't work the same way as books, Sam."

Kwan, visibly confused, patted Sam's shoulder. "Maybe we should listen to Paulina, Sam. We should talk to Danny and see if he's willing to be completely honest with us."

Sighing deeply, Sam nodded. "Yeah." With another nod, she took out her phone and texted Danny.

Instead of dragging them to Paulina's dad's car, the Latina led Dan to the back of the school again. She leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, while Dan stared at her. After another beat of silence, Paulina huffed and turned to look at him. Her eyes were hard, icy. "How dare she? I'm so tired of her always judging people, like she's so much better! What right does she have to judge what you and Danny are doing?"

Dan's eyebrows drew together. "In her, admittedly meagre, defense, she doesn't know me. She only knows what she knows and what she sees and she's kind of right to be worried, going by her limited information."

"That's her problem," Paulina snarled. "She always has limited information, but she's so willing to make snap judgements based on them. What does she know about you? That you were evil, that you came back, that you're obviously working towards being a better person, that you're friends with me and Danny, and that you and Danny are really close. That's it! What can you infer from that? Nothing!

God, she always does that! Did you know she and I used to be friends in grade school?" Paulina asked, her hair whipping around erratically as she paced back and forth. Dan merely watched her, mute. "We were friends, but then I started to like skirts and blouses and boys and none of the stuff she liked, so she decided I was fake and stopped being my friend. Fine, whatever. I don't care. But you don't get to judge other people when they don't fit into your world the way you want them to!

So I decided I wanted to be part of the popular kids. Why does she get to judge me and call me shallow? What does she know about me anymore? She doesn't know that my mom's gone! She doesn't know that my dad is always working! She doesn't know that I'm awesome at math! She doesn't know that I felt alone and I wanted to stop feeling that way! Did she think it didn't hurt when she ditched me because I wasn't 'the old Paulina'?" The Latina girl faced Dan, huffing. "Do you know what she told me when she decided we weren't gonna be friends anymore?

'I just think you should know: you're kind of a poser. You're not the old Paulina and I don't want to hang out with someone so fake.' Who the hell says that? She only cares about people if they're weird like her, but she's not weird! She's not any more unique than me or you, Ezra! She wants to be weird and unique because her family seems so perfect and so suburban, and she can't stand not having something about her that makes her special. Know what I know? I know her parents love her and support her, no matter how goth she gets; I know her parents pay for her and pamper her; I know she has both her parents! So, what? She's into the occult? Like other people aren't? She likes to wear dark clothes and doesn't want to be the plastic model girl the world tries to make us? There isn't a single girl in the world who wants to be that! We just want to be accepted; who is she to judge how we try to get that acceptance? Right!?"

Dan drew in a long breath, exhaling carefully as he watched Paulina resume her pacing. After a moment of letting her mutter to herself, Dan grabbed her shoulder. Nostrils flared, Paulina stopped her frantic steps and turned to him.

"Paulina," Dan said, hesitant, "I don't really know what to say or do to make you feel any better. I know I'm technically an adult, but I sort of killed anyone if they pissed me off, so I never really had to communicate. Still, I feel like this is something that you need to tell Sam. Maybe she doesn't know what she did. She is a little controlling and a little self-absorbed. She's a kid. You're all kids, honestly. And that's okay. Kids hurt people sometimes, without realizing it." Dan shook his head, sighing heavily.

"Sometimes they hurt people on purpose, when they've been hurt first."

Paulina sucked in a breath through clenched teeth and looked away. Dan gripped her shoulder gently, waiting for her to look back at him.

"It's okay, Paulina. You're okay. Sam ditching you doesn't mean you're any less interesting or not a good friend." Dan shrugged. "For what it's worth, you're my best friend."

Paulina shuddered, her eyes shut tightly. She gripped at her chest, but Dan's hand on her shoulder was a solid weight that kept her grounded. She didn't expect it to hurt so much when he finally used the "f" word, and she didn't expect it to be so soon, but she supposed it was better than letting her fall deeper. She glanced at Dan; his shoulders were tense, his eyes a little less lively. He had mentioned that he needed space after talking to Danny, but he sought out Paulina's company instead of being alone. He sought out her company, but was careful to define them as friends, she realized. Dan didn't abandon Danny, or seek her out to replace him. Dan needed a friend. She smiled.

She could be that friend.

Dan let his hand fall from her shoulder and stepped back as she turned around. Paulina nodded and held her arms up. Dan stared at her, unmoving. After a few moments, Paulina huffed and shook her arms, still holding them up. Dan shrugged, his arms still to his side.

"Hug me, estupido," she finally said.

Dan hesitated, but acquiesced with a roll of his eyes, allowing his arms to close around her shoulders as she stepped into his space, her own arms wrapping around his waist.

"Seriously, Danny's gonna think I'm straight at this rate," Dan griped.

Paulina laughed. "Idiot. Of course he won't."

Dan sighed, burying his nose in her hair. It was silky and soft and smelled of coconut. Her shoulders were insignificant under his large hands and he felt like he could protect her. Svelte and petite, Paulina's body felt nice against his own.

But it was still wrong.

Her hair was too long, too silky. There were no spikes, no flyaways, no coarseness from hours spent flying; Dan knew she didn't need him to protect her, but her shoulders sloped too elegantly—they weren't the rigid line of a soldier's; her body nearly fit against his, but it wasn't a perfect fit, a completion that he craved. Even as Dan held her tightly against him, his hands didn't wander, didn't want to explore. He sighed again, acceptance sagging his shoulders.

Maybe in another universe, another world, another time, Dan thought, but…

"Of course he won't," Paulina repeated. "I'll set him straight if he does…in a manner of speaking."

Dan huffed a little laugh. "You're right. Thanks."

"What for?"

Dan shrugged. "I don't know. I just felt like I should say something nice."

The hands clutching at his shirt loosened and patted Dan's back. Heaving a cleansing breath, Paulina nodded again, patting Dan's back more confidently. "All right, Ezra. Tell me what Danny did. Let's get you your damoiseau in distress."

"Cute, Paulina."

"I try."

Clockwork sat at the table, hands wrapped around the cup of tea he wasn't going to drink. Privately, he wondered if she gave him the tea just to mock him.

"You want me to…what?" her musical voice said; she puttered around in her kitchen, making another cup of tea that she would definitely drink right in his face.

"I want you to meet and train the incoming master of time," Clockwork repeated.

"Why do I have to train him?"

Clockwork rolled his eyes. "You'll be working with him, obviously."

"What's in it for me?"

Clockwork groaned. "What do you want, Ishtar?"

Ishtar turned around and smiled at him. Her long, black, wavy hair cascaded down her back and over dark chocolate shoulders. Her golden eyes sparkled with mischief. She placed a hand on her hip, and Clockwork couldn't help his eyes tracing her figure—from the top of her busty chest, to her size twelve waist, and to her wide hips. Scowling at himself, Clockwork looked away and feigned drinking his tea. The wide smirk on Ishtar's face proved it was as futile an action as Clockwork thought.

"Oh love," she said as she approached, wrapping her arms around Clockwork's shoulder. "You know exactly what I want."

Clockwork scoffed. "Maybe if you didn't kill all your lovers."

"They probably shouldn't have referred to porn to learn how to please women. I'm sure you're smarter than that."

"I won't take my chances with you. Anything else I can do for you to agree to this?"

Ishtar trilled a laugh. "You'll fall in my bed, eventually. They all do."

"Not Gilgamesh," Clockwork retorted.

Ishtar shrugged, flipping her hair. "Saw him with his wife once. Small dick, rotten lay. Would've been a waste anyway. That being said, since you won't keep me company in my bed, I demand an escort into the human realm. I hear there are new magazines and I wish to purchase and read them."

Clockwork shook his head. "You have got to stop reading Cosmopolitan."

"Do you agree to my terms?"

Clockwork rolled his eyes again. "Yes, my queen. You will have an escort and you will have your magazines. Are you pleased?"

Ishtar smiled, cocking her hip again with her arms akimbo; her smile widened as she noticed that even the unflappable Clockwork couldn't resist admiring her body again. "Yes, Clockwork. Ishtar, the goddess of life, is quite pleased."

"Great. Please put on some clothes."

And so time marches on…

I hope you like it! I wrote this in pieces, constantly flitting between scenes until they were all complete. The hardest part was making the emotions believable; the second time I wrote this (after it got deleted), all the emotions felt too artificial and I did not like it at all. I hope this was better.