DGG: Ah, here we are. The last chapter. Just in time for the holiday season!

I'd like to thank all my lovely readers, reviewers, and story followers for being so patient with me, and for sticking with it until the very end! I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing/editing it!

"Clockwork?" Danny blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I just had to come here and make sure you were back to normal, and might I just say that it's good to see you back to your old self," Clockwork smiled, speaking calmly as usual as he floated casually through Danny's room at Fenton Works.

"It's good to be back," admitted the teenage ghost as he rubbed the back of his head. "But I have a feeling that you're not just here to check up on me."

Clockwork smirked coolly as he shifted to an old man.

"You think I have ulterior motives for being here?"

"You of all ghosts should have already known I was back to normal. There was no need to actually come here yourself," Danny pointed out.

The time-wielding ghost's smirk turned into a warm smile.

"You know me well, Danny."

"So what's up?"

"It's been several weeks since your last tussle with Plasmius, since you took his memories," the ghost's eyes darted toward Danny's top dresser drawer.

Danny remained silent, unsure of what to say.

"As the person who robbed him of his memories, they are now your responsibility to protect and ensure that they do not fall back into Plasmius' hands. And I think they deserve a little more protection than what a sock drawer can give them."

"I…didn't know what else to do with them," the teenage ghost admitted sheepishly.

"Danny, you live in a home practically made of ghostly weapons and defense systems, and you're telling me that you had no way of better protecting that vessel?" Clockwork raised an eyebrow as his age shifted to that of a small child.

"Hey! I'm not perceptive sometimes! Besides, I've had my mind on other things…"

"Ah, yes. Your sister and your friend in the hospital. I know. However, you must realize the great responsibility you unwittingly brought upon yourself. You can't just leave those memories alone unless you are absolutely sure they will be safe. Perhaps Plasmius happened to float through here? If he remembers everything, you'll be sunk."

"What are the odds of him actually coming back here now though?" Danny raised an eyebrow.

"It's possible. Do you remember how you felt before you found your memories, and before Plasmius found you? You felt as though you were looking for something, and you were. Although you were unaware of it, you were searching for your memories, and that's how Plasmius is now. He is searching for them. They are beckoning to him from afar. Although they cannot directly communicate with Plasmius, they are still calling out to him, and he senses it, just as you sensed yours. He may or may not end up back in Amity Park, and if he does, you'll need to see to it that you can get him away from here as quickly as you can."

"But when I was in the same vicinity as my memories, I couldn't leave," the boy shook his head.

"Exactly," Clockwork nodded while shifting age again. "That's why they need better protection."

"I guess I see your point."

"I'd hope so."

"What do you suggest?" Danny asked.

"I'd suggest that you talk with your parents. I'm sure they'd be more than willing to help make sure Plasmius never gets his hands back on those memories. I'm sure they could help find a way to protect them."

"So was he right? Are Plasmius and me really locked in a never ending battle?" the boy's shoulders slumped.

"Not anymore," Clockwork's words caused Danny to brighten slightly. "Plasmius was a prisoner of his own memories. You see, some ghosts just shouldn't be allowed to keep their memories, Danny. While some, like the guardian of the maze, believes that no ghosts should remember who they were previously, I believe that there are exceptions. Like you for instance. In fact, you're more preferable with your memories than without," Danny gave a nervous chuckle and cast his green orbs away at that. Clockwork continued, shifting age once more. "Plasmius however, is the opposite. Since he no longer remembers, he is no longer a threat to you. He can't fight you if he doesn't remember you were enemies."

"Which is a good thing," the teen gave a small smile.

"Yes. Never let him find those, Danny. If he finds it…"

"Then we'll be right back where we started."

Clockwork nodded, his form changing again.

"Well, at least I have purpose in my afterlife," Danny chuckled while rubbing his left arm nervously.

"And an important one at that," Clockwork frowned seriously. "Keeping his memories locked up won't just be beneficial for you, but for Amity Park or anywhere. He likes to cause a lot of destruction. This way he is less likely to do so."

"Wait a second!" Danny's green orbs bulged suddenly. "What if he runs into someone who tells him who he was or how he was or something! What if they tell him what happened and send him right to me?"

"That's why you need to protect the memories; however, most of the ghosts were not willing to partner up with Plasmius for a third time. They were afraid you would come to your senses. They feared you and your extra powers. After two defeats at the hands of those powers, they had had enough. There will always be ghosts who want to cause trouble, but for the time being, I doubt any of them will remind Plasmius of who he was or direct him to where he can find out. But you'll still want to be prepared, just in case."

"That's a relief," Danny calmed down. "I'll get on that. Um…thanks."

"No need to thank me. I'm just doing all I can to help," the ghost shifted age once more.

"No, I mean, thanks for sending me to find my memories. You directed me straight to them. Without that, I don't think I'd have ever found my friends, and I'd still be stuck as a murderous, revenge-filled death machine."

"Like I said, there's no need to thank me. I was just doing all I could to help," the master of time smiled. "I told you we were allies, and I meant it. We may have had some misunderstandings here and there in the past, but that happens between friends every once and awhile, doesn't it?"

"Thank-you," the teen smiled gratefully.

"Don't mention it," Clockwork looked out the window. "I see everyone is out of the hospital now. I suppose you shouldn't keep them waiting."

"Yeah! And don't worry. I'll make sure Plasmius' memories don't end up back in the wrong hands."

"See that you don't, Danny."

"Danny!" cried Tuck on the sidewalk. "You're still here! I mean…I just…it's you!"

"Duh. I don't plan on going anywhere," Danny laughed, but his laughter dissipated upon closer inspection of his friends and sister. "Look. I'm really sorry for all of this. You guys didn't have to risk your lives for me."

"Danny, I'd much rather have you around than the use of my legs," Tuck motioned toward his wheelchair. "You're more important than walking."

"And I'll get these stitches removed soon," smiled Jazz. "And my shoulder is nearly healed."

"Sure the stitches'll be gone, but you're going to have scars everywhere, Jazz. Your face, your arms, legs, sides. That maze guardian really did a number on you," the ghost frowned.

"Hey, we knew before going into that maze that we may not come back out. We knew it would be dangerous. Besides, you can always treat scars. And even if I don't, I'll be proud to wear them because they mean that I loved my little brother enough to help him remember who he really was. So don't worry about it, Danny. Like Tuck said, you're worth it."

The ghost boy burst out into a wide smile as he embraced his older sister.

"You know, I kind of feel guilty," Sam suddenly piped up, catching everyone's attention. "I was barely injured by the maze compared to the two of you."

"Hey, you apparently picked the right path. I had a gigantic monster chasing me from the moment I stepped into my side. If it wasn't for that tree crushing me, I'd probably still have working legs," frowned the tech-geek.

"I still feel terrible," Sam frowned.

"Well, quit," Jazz placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's not your fault. You had your own challenges in that section, and you're lucky you came out of it alive. We're all lucky we managed to get out of there alive."

"Besides, have you seen yourself, Sam? You got a pretty good beating during that fight with Plasmius. You're still covered in bruises. I remember Danny telling us about how all those clones attacked you guys. So you got just as beat up as us, just a little later," pointed out Tuck with a wink.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" the Goth rounded on Tucker, placing her hands on her hips.

"I can see it's not working!" Tuck laughed.

"Guys, come on. We're not here to fight with each other," Danny stepped in.

"Nope. I believe we're here to celebrate the most important thing, and that is that we have Danny back," smiled Tuck.

"Definitely," Sam brightened as she walked over beside Danny so that he could place his arm around her shoulders.

"It's good to be back," Danny looked to each of them. "I remember when I first woke up in the Ghost Zone, before I had any memories at all. I was so lost and empty. It's good to have found what I was looking for. But, guys, promise me one thing."

"Sure thing, Danny," piped up his sister.

"Never try to save my afterlife again," he smiled.

"Deal," agreed Tuck. "I don't know how much more of that we could take anyway."

Jazz laughed, "Yeah, it was definitely an ordeal. But it was worth it in the end. You're back, and that's what matters."

Sam nodded in agreement.

"So…Danny," Tuck spoke mischievously, "you can possess inanimate objects, right?"

"Why?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Because you could totally possess my wheelchair and zip me down the street or something. It'd be awesome!"

"Tuck!" Sam playfully scolded her friend.

"Seriously!" he laughed while holding his hands up in mock defense.

Danny laughed as well.

"Maybe later. For now I think all I want to do is chill out here on the front steps with you guys, like the old days."

And so the gang just sat outside the Fenton home and talked. Everyone mainly filled Danny in on what had been happening throughout the previous year. They joked, they laughed, they were comfortable. After a year of feeling tortured and alone, Danny was finally at ease again. He was where he belonged and where he needed to be – among friends and family. Friends and family who would risk anything for him, no less. He wasn't sure what he had done to deserve such loyalty, but he was grateful for it all the same. Finally he didn't have to fight anymore. He could just hang out without the threat of the ghosts always looming overhead.

He was happy.

He was home.

Nothing could destroy this happiness.

DGG: And there you have it. The end of another story. Again, many thanks to my reviewers and to any future reviewers. You have all been a lovely people! Happy Christmas and Merry Holidays to all! Thanks for reading!