I'm back and finishing up the story. Yeah, it's one day late, but I was on a hot bus for 12 hours yesterday and didn't get back until past 1 am, so what did you want me to do?

Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom.

Danny looked at Clockwork in curiosity. “Seriously?”

Clockwork gave a little nod and smirk. Danny returned it with a smile of his own. He gazed at the time portal, still frozen on that moment that changed his life.

“Well, then, here I go,” the boy dismissed. He floated upward and cast the time ghost one last appreciative look before flying charging through and into the past.

The boy blinked hard for a minute as he took in his surroundings. Lots of snow and people. His mother stood in front of him. She walked up and grabbed his hands gently.

“Is there something you want to tell us?” she asked softly.

“It’s okay, Danny, they know,” Jazz comforted.

Danny looked back at his parents and bit his lip. Now that he was here, he didn’t know what to do. An idea struck him, although it wasn’t a great one. But, it would have to do.

“I…I’d better go now,” he said. He gave them a little smile before willing himself to become invisible.

The crowd looked around in confusion, but his parents just looked at each other knowingly. He’d come talk to them when he was ready. They followed the crowd into the tower, but paused in a hallway and let everyone pass by until they were alone. They weren’t startled much when Danny suddenly appeared in ghost form. He looked guilty.

“Um…hi?” he said nervously.

Maddie wrapped him in a giant hug. In a few moments, Jack joined in as well.

“We’re so proud of you,” the mother told her son gently.

Danny changed back into his human self. He hugged both of his parents tighter.

“That’s all I ever wanted to hear.”

Danny walked into his kitchen. His parents were waiting there for him, still smiling even days after the revelation.

“Hi, honey!” Maddie greeted enthusiastically, giving Danny a kiss on the forehead.

“Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad!” he responded giving them a cheerful wave.

“How’re you doing, little brother?” Jazz inquired coming into the scene.

“It’d be nice if we didn’t have to go back to school today, but I think I’ll live,” the half-ghost answered. He checked his watch. “Speaking of school, looks like I’m off. I told Sam I’d meet her there early.”

Maddie giggled. “You know, we always knew that you two would get together.”

Danny blushed a little. He slung his backpack over his shoulder and transformed, giving his family one last little wave before phasing through the ceiling and flying away.

“There he goes, Maddie,” Jack commented, pulling his wife close to him. “Our son, the hero.”

Danny flew through the sky in the direction of school. Civilians walking on the street and even some that were driving waved excitedly up to him. He smiled brightly and waved back. This was kinda nice. After a few minutes, he turned himself invisible and landed near the school. Unnoticed, he changed back into Danny Fenton. The boy then proceeded to walk around front. Grinning mischievously, he snuck up behind Sam and put his hands over her eyes.

Sam giggled. “Danny, I know that’s you.”

“I know,” he replied, taking his hands away from her eyes, “but it’s still fun.”

Sam put her hand in his nervously. “So, how is it being the world’s savior?”

“Good, but it’s better now that I have someone special to share it with,” he cooed.

“You’re so corny,” she stated.

“No argument there.”

“I just hope that statue thing doesn’t give you a big head as well.”

Danny laughed. “Don’t worry about that. Although, I have to say, it was pretty funny when they let Tucker be mayor for a day and having him present it.”

“Just be thankful that he’s not going to be mayor all the time,” Danny’s girlfriend joked.

This made Danny laugh pretty hard. Oh, the irony. Little did she know how close that was to actually happening.

“What’s so funny?” she asked in confusion.

“Maybe I’ll tell you later. Hey, where is Tucker, anyways?”

“He’s probably stuck at home. The reporters are going ballistic. I made it here without getting mobbed too badly. Thankfully, no one saw us kiss right before you took off to go save the world. And if they did, they kept their mouths clamped shut. Could you imagine if that got around?”

Before Danny could reply, the bell rung and the two lovebirds walked inside together, hand in hand. A few whispers came from some of the students who saw them, but Danny and Sam paid no mind to them.

Suddenly, Danny spotted Valerie. He turned to Sam.

“Hey, Sam?” he asked. “Can I go talk to Valerie for a minute? There’s something that I really think she should know.”

Sam bit her lip as she studied the hunter girl, but nodded. Danny smiled graciously and walked over to Valerie.

“Hi, Val,” he greeted the girl. “Um, can I talk to you for a second? Alone?”

“Danny? What is it?” she questioned.

“Just follow me,” he ordered as he led away into a deserted part of the school. When he reached his destination, he took a deep breath and turned to face a confused Valerie. “Listen, there’s something you need to know. But first, do you trust me?”

“What do you mean ‘do I trust you’? Danny, what’s going on?!” she exclaimed.

“Just promise me that you won’t freak, okay?”

“Alright, I promise,” she vowed, a bit unsteadily, I might add.

“Val, the truth is, I know that you’re the Red Huntress,” he began. Valerie looked shocked and was about to say something, but the half-ghost cut her off. “Don’t interrupt, just listen for now. I know that you’re the Red Huntress, but you’re not the only one who’s been keeping secrets. I have, too. A big secret. Valerie, I’m half-ghost.”

She looked stunned. “Wait, you? You’re half-ghost? Like Vlad and…and…” her eyes widened in realization. “Just like Danielle Phantom. You’re Danny Phantom, aren’t you?”

To answer her, he simply changed into his ghost half. “Yeah, Val, I am. I’m so sorry that I didn’t tell you, but, you know, what with your being a ghost hunter and all…”

She didn’t answer.

“Val?”

“Sorry, Danny, this is just…it’s a lot to take in,”

“I know,” Danny sighed.

“It’s just going to take some time to let this all sink in.”

“Take as long as you need. I have to go now,” he said, changing back to human, “but I just thought that it was something you should know.”

With that, Danny left behind the stunned Valerie and rejoined Sam.

“So, how did that go?” she questioned.

“Not too bad, but I think she’s going to be in shock for a little while.”

“That’s understandable,” Sam agreed.

The two were still walking when a loud voice broke through to them.

“Hey, Fenton,” Dash sneered, coming up from behind them. Danny cringed, realizing that the boy was now a problem again.

“What is it, Dash?”

“Looks like it’s your lucky day. With all of the junk that’s been going on lately, I’m too tired to cream you. But don’t worry; I have you on my schedule for tomorrow.” The bully threatened. He gave Danny a menacing look and walked off.

The half-ghost shook his head. “Looks like everything’s back to normal.” His ghost sense went off as if to emphasize that statement.

Sam gave his hand a little squeeze. “Go.”

The half-ghost smiled at her and disappeared around a corner, checking his surroundings.

“I’m going ghost,” he whispered. His transformation into the world hero, Danny Phantom, took only a few moments. Afterward, he shot up through the ceiling and into the sky. Waiting for him was Skulker.

“I told you, I’ll never stop hunting you,” the mechanical ghost reminded with a smirk.

“You know what?” Danny said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Sorry to anyone who wanted a different outcome, but, what can I say? I did my best!

Also, I probably won't be starting anything big for a little while what with everything that's going on. Maybe a one-shot here and there, but that's about it. At least for a few weeks.