Epilogue

Good Charlotte

If Danny had to shake one more 'grateful' citizens hands, or listen to the sob story about the kid, or parent, or significant other he who had died because of the chieftain he was going to explode. It wasn't that he didn't care; he just didn't need to hear all about it from every single person. At this point in time he would love to go back to his cabin, sleep, go to John's and Dr. Appar's funeral, and then go home. Where he would be expected to be a superhero and student once again, joy.

Still, it could be worse, the Manson's, thank God, had just arrived back from wherever they had disappeared to. Some sort of get together with friends it turned out. Danny was just glad they hadn't been tied up, that would have been a headache. Sam had spent the whole of the other day convincing her parents she was fine and that it really wasn't Danny's fault she had been captured, and the only thing she now had was a shattered heart and bruised wrists. Of course he had to learn this from Valerie because Sam was actively avoiding him. Danny just decided to let it be for the time. Sam seemed to be trying to figure things out for herself at the moment. Even though she was wearing her dark clothes again her hair was still fluffed and red, and eyes still a deep turquoise.

Valerie had become Danny's cling-on; Susan was often teasing them, lightly to Danny and with a touch of cruelty toward Valerie. For some reason Valerie looked guilty every time that happened and she wouldn't tell him why. Jack had figured out quickly what was going on and had asked for the ring back to be modified. Danny had no idea what the man was talking about and said so. Jack looked confused and a little relieved. Valerie looked between them funny and then gone and dragged him away. Thankfully she wasn't so pushy about the whole kissing and admitting they were going out. Danny just had to deal with a warm, very sexy, young woman cuddling up next to him all day.

He scanned the party. It was taking place in the main lodge in a huge ball room on the third floor. It was nice, he supposed. There were streamers on the wall, a huge thank you banner on the wall, a small memorial at the other side of the room where there were flowers placed to honor to those who lost their lives to the ghost. At the end of the party they were all going to be gathered into separate bouquets to place on all the graves of the victims whose family decided to bury them at the Country Resort.

Of course Mr. Lancer, Tereash, and O'Brian had returned and they were all chatting happily over punch. It was an odd sort of mixture of happiness and reserve. Lancer looked the most at ease in the setting of the four teachers, but though there hadn't been many deaths in Amity, there had always been a bit of a celebration after a huge attack on Amity, Danny had usually made a point to enjoy himself. But Tucker had had to leave early, saying good-bye that afternoon, Valerie had ate something wrong and was puking her guts back at her cabin, and Sam had disappeared into the shadows.

So Danny hung out and nibble at mini hotdogs and chips. Oh, and of course listen to annoying citizens who seemed to think that if anyone dared to become a hero they should be tortured to madness by annoying stories and an odd mix of guilt for just not coming soon enough to actually make a difference, and if they didn't stop calling him by that stupid nickname he was going to strangle one of them. Rope them up by their… and stop this train of thought before it became anymore morbid and murderous.

"Danny!" he almost groaned at the chipper tone. Not another one. "Hey, you could at least pretend to be happy to see your sister."

Danny flinched a little under his sister's quick smack.

"Sorry Jazz, I thought you were another 'grateful' citizen with a sob story," said Danny rolling his eyes.

"This is your party," said Jazz, and Danny just shook his head in irritation.

"Yeah, a hero's party, now I know why they always try and sneak out in the movies," said Danny. "Now I have even more reason to keep my identity a secret. You think anyone would mind that much if I ducked out for the rest of the night?"

"Oh I know a few families who would be disappointed to hear that you left before midnight. They've been trying to find you all night," said Jazz, Danny started to inch toward the balcony doorway. She laughed and caught his arm. "At least until midnight, then you can say you stayed as long as you thought was appropriate but wanted a fairly good rest for the funeral tomorrow."

"Couldn't I duck out now and say that I got tired and needed my rest?" asked Danny.

"No, because everyone knows that hora specto has amazing healing power and is in the best of health even though he came out the big bad ghosts cave with extensive bleeding, broken bones, and on the brink of death if you just counted the exhaustion."

"Don't call me that," whined Danny.

"What, hora specto?" asked Jazz and giggled when Danny groaned. "So they got you confused with Clockwork, from what you told us about your fight with the big bad chieftain Clockwork was the one that the chieftain had a beef with. It makes sense that they would change that idea to mean he would be the one to defeat the chieftain."

"Oh great, now I'm the champion watcher of time. That sounds like a great label for someone fourteen years old," said Danny sarcastically.

"Just hope that some insane newspaper doesn't get wind of this or your also going to become a nutter," why did it seem like whenever Danny was having a bad day did his sister have to get a sense of humor?

"That helps a lot Jazz, thank you," said Danny sarcastically.

"Oh buck up, it's just a few more hours, a funeral, and then two days to rest and relax and then back to school for your sophomore year," said Jazz, Danny glared at her and then sighed with a shake of his head.

"Thank you for reminding me of that," said Danny and then pushed her out of the way. "I'm going to get some more fresh air before I have to face the annoying crowd. This summer is a disaster."

Danny opened the door and breathed in deeply. It was loud in there. They had music playing loud enough so that people had to try and talk over it. Made for a loud room full of people who all seemed to shake slightly in anticipation and a bunch of rich WASPs. Danny could feel the cool summer night air easing the bit of a head-ache he'd got while waiting in there.

One day I woke up

What the hell was that?

I woke up knowing

Great, they had cranked the music up. Hopefully that meant that everyone inside was dancing and that no one was trying to talk to one another. Danny leaned against the railing and decided that if anyone wanted to talk to him they would have to come out here to annoy him, he wasn't going to go back and have a shouting conversation with annoying rich people who got in arguments with thrill seekers.

I called my mother told her I loved her

"Danny, what are you doing out here?" Danny turned and smiled at Maddie. She came up to her son and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I guess this thing has been a little overwhelming for you."

Danny smiled and looked over at everything. The small town was mostly dark. It was too late for most stores to still be closed and quite a few people were somewhere in the main building. Further in the trees there were a few lights on. Street lights and cabin lights of people who were in their cabins for the rest of the night. He'd been told that there was even a group of people going to the top of one of the taller summits with candles in memory and celebration. People were a bit odd sometimes, but there wasn't anything Danny could have done about that.

"I wish they'd stop making me into some sort of hero, I wasn't the only one who helped get rid of the ghost once and for all," grumbled Danny and shivered a little, it was chilly for summer.

Can you feel the cold tonight?

"Yes, but you were the one that finished him off, and the one that showed up," said Maddie hugging her son from behind.

"Valerie helped, John was there the whole time, Danny Phantom saved our lives," said Danny and sighed when his mother looked at him with confusion. "Invso-Bill."

"Oh, don't be silly, and Valerie would be getting her recognition if she hadn't eaten that bad chicken and had to stay in the cabin the rest of the night," said Maddie with a chuckle.

"Lucky her," muttered Danny. Maddie laughed and hugged him tighter he squirmed in annoyance.

We talked of old friends and all things that we did

"You have no idea how happy that you're alive," his mother whispered, her voice a little choked. "When they brought you back you were hardly breathing and they thought we were going to lose all three of you. I don't care what your father says; we aren't going to teach you to hunt ghosts. I never want to come that to losing you again, so we'll teach you to protect yourself and that's all. This whole summer there's been something going on, but there always seems to be something going on with you, and we always trusted you to work it out on your own. Maybe Jazz is right, maybe we haven't been paying enough attention. But I promise from this moment on we'll pay attention."

"You guys are…" started Danny but his mother hushed him.

"No Danny, we didn't even realize that you and Valerie were together. No one's been paying enough attention and you kids have proven just how much trouble you can get to when we neglect you," said Maddie and turned him to look at her. "We'll be a family, an odd one perhaps, but I'll make sure your father doesn't kill you or your sister."

"Maddie, hunny, you have to watch this!" said Jack signaling her over.

"Jack, no Jack, don't sweety," and Danny chuckled and watched her run after her embarrassing husband. It was her fault for marrying the goofball anyway.

All alone but I feel just fine

He turned back and smiled. His family was a little bit of a joke, but they were his family. One day perhaps he'd understand them, or they could continue to confuse him.

He could easily work things out with his friends, Tucker was easy, all he had to do was keep emails going and they should be fine. Sam would be harder, but as long as he was sensitive, or whatever, and didn't goad her while they apologized he would have someone to hunt ghosts with in no time.

He smiled. Moments like this he supposed was why he was a hero. To know that his friends were okay. To know his family cared about him. Hell he even got a girlfriend out of it. There were always a few loose strings to tie up. But this was as perfect as it got in the real world.

You know the happiest day of my life

So he'd bash Clockwork's head when he saw him again, but right now he just felt light. That was odd, and – was his body half way through the banister? Oh, no not this again, he really had to work on his control. He couldn't be going ghost randomly, his parents would definitely figure it out.

Was that a hand? Had someone passed out coming to talk to him? If he had suddenly turned ghost that would be a good reason to pass out. It would also make more rumors, and Danny was suddenly grateful they were leav – was that..? The person was wearing the same cloth…

"Now Danny -- Danny! What did you do to him?" his mother was hysterical, drawing something from her belt.

I know the happiest day of my life

Danny started to feel himself drift away. Physically and mentally, but all he could do was look on the unmoving body trying to process the fact. His mother was now at it and he was looking at his own unmoving body, lying limply in her arms. He hardly could understand the fact that she was calling for him to wake up, shouting at Inviso-Bill to bring him back. He couldn't die, he still had those strings. He hadn't made up with Sam. He had just fallen in love and started a oddly deep relationship with Valerie. He had connected with his mother.

I swear the happiest day of my life

But he was already fading and he couldn't go back. He couldn't force his spirit to stay in the human world and he felt his grip on life, on his existence, slipping.

"No," Danny whispered, and disappeared with a push of the wind and a cry from a grief-stricken mother.

Is the day that I died.

END

Disclaimer: I do not own Good Charlotte or their song "The Day I Die," please don't get me in trouble for this, it's the thing that inspired this story.