It's four in the morning. I should be asleep. So, of course, I'm not. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom.

...

"Hey, Danny?" Maddie asked while they were sitting down for dinner. After what happened in the lab that day, Maddie felt useless with all of her confusion, so she made them a four-course meal.

Danny looked up, spaghetti hanging from his mouth. Jazz had gone back to her college campus that day after visiting with them, so dinner was now strange to all of them without all of their family.

"Yes?" Danny asked after he had got done chewing. Again, with the watching, Maddie noticed. His eyes were on her like a hawk's.

"The night that you," Maddie gestured with her hands. "Left, I guess. That was the same night that Phantom escaped."

Danny felt fear course through him. She knows, she knows, she knows-

"So, I was just thinking," Maddie grabbed his hand. Danny wanted to disappear. "Was it him? Was he the one who slapped you? Did he hurt you, make you run away? Because I swear Danny, if he ever laid a finger on-"

"No, mom!" Danny shook his head. "Phantom had nothing to do with it." A terrible, guilty wave of relief washed over him. She doesn't know.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I promise."

Maddie nodded. "Well, okay."

"Speaking of, I haven't seen any signs of the ghost boy." Jack spoke up. "I'm hearing stuff around town about it now."

"Trust me, I know." Maddie said grimly. "I've been glued to my radar."

Danny stood up with his plate. "Getting seconds, honey?" Maddie asked.

"Ah, no, I think I'm gonna go to bed early tonight." Danny sat his plate in the sink, already walking up the steps.

Jack and Maddie looked at each other. "It's only six in the afternoon." Jack said loudly to her, waving his hands as he spoke. Maddie shrugged in reply.

After dinner, and they had cleaned up the kitchen, they sat in the living room and watched a cheesy movie. It was amazingly bad. Jack fell asleep somewhere halfway through it, so Maddie just stopped watching it altogether. She was tired, too, and she needed to tell Danny goodnight anyway.

When Maddie reached his room, she immediately noticed it was empty, though she could hear Danny's voice coming from the open window. He was on the roof again. They've warned him plenty of times not to do it, but, now, Maddie doesn't really care if he does it or not.

"I know, Sam,"Danny's voice carried to Maddie. "We can go to the movies anytime, though. If we're gonna do something, we should do something we haven't done yet."

Maddie smiled, and poked her head out the window to find him. "Danny-" Maddie gasped, her smile disappearing. "Phantom!" She yelled, a growl in her throat.

The ghost boy's eyes were wide as he realized he had been caught. "I was just leaving! I promise!"

But, Maddie was already pulling out the weapon she always kept on her person. "Why do you have Danny's phone?" Maddie asked with a strange look in her eyes.

If he has Danny's phone, than that means that Danny lied to her. Danny and Phantom have been in contact with each other. Before Phantom could come up with an answer, Maddie shoots at him. The bolt of energy hit him in the chest, making a loud oof sound. Immediately, Phantom falls back to the roof, unable to fly.

His head is swimming. His vision is darkening. Maddie is getting closer to him. "What?" Phantom tried to speak, but his tongue suddenly didn't fit in his mouth. "Ugh. What was that?" The ghost coughed. Maddie rolled her eyes, as a cough is a sign of breathing. And ghosts do not breathe.

"Save the dramatics, ghost." Maddie began to tie him up, and the boy realized he couldn't find the strength to stop her. "You need to give me answers right now."

Phantom's head just rolled around, his eyes blinking sluggishly. Maddie knew that Phantom was capable of talking in this state, he just would be really dizzy.

"Why did your ectoplasm turn into blood? Human blood?" Maddie kept a gun trained on him. Phantom wanted to throw up.

"I-I don't know." He spoke slowly. Everything was spinning. "What-what did you do to me?"

"Shot you with a ghost inhibitor. You shouldn't be able to use your powers for a little bit." Maddie told him with a vicious smile. "Now, I will be the one asking questions around here."

Phantom could only nod.

"When an electric current is applied to your ectoplasm, it turns into blood. Why? Ghosts don't have blood. You go," Maddie frowned. "You go against everything I've ever known. Do you know how that feels? To be a scientist and get hit by a new discovery that doesn't make any sense?"

Phantom shook his head.

"I know you don't," Maddie spat out shortly. "You've been around Danny. You have his phone. He probably gave you the thermos. He's been lying to me." The gun whirred suddenly, bringing his attention back to focus. "And I have a feeling it's all your fault."

"I," Phantom swallowed, his green eyes trained on the weapon. "I had to borrow those both. I need them." Is that a lie? Yeah, but it's kinda true, too.

"For what? For ghost hunting?" Maddie could laugh at his weak excuses. "That doesn't explain why you feel the need to call Danny's girlfriend at night."

Phantom almost said "She's not my girlfriend!" out of habit, but managed to stop himself.

"I borrow things from her sometimes, too," Phantom mumbled, his vision starting to return to him.

"Stay away from them. Stay away from Danny! If I catch you doing anything that even remotely involves him, I will hunt you down, and end your miserable after life."

"Okay," Phantom nodded his head like he understood. "Okay."

"Good." Maddie still had the gun aimed directly at his forehead. "Now, tell me. Just-tell me about the blood." Maddie looked so pale, so lost. Once again, Danny felt extremely guilty.

"I don't know. I don't know, either."

"The hair came back strange, too. The electric current was put through it, and it turned black."

"You probably burnt it." Phantom was suddenly reminded of his white hair, and flipped it out of his face by moving his head around.

"That's what I thought, too. But, I did the electric current again, and behold, white hair. Back and forth, white to black to white." Maddie shook her head. "That's not-ghosts can't change their colors." She was no longer talking to him in a taunting tone. Just a confused and frustrated one.

"I don't know."

"Yes, you do!" Maddie picked her gun up again. Phantom didn't realize it wasn't pointed at him anymore. "Tell me right now, or I will shoot you. I don't care about your answers anymore. I just want to be rid of you. For good."

Phantom, unfortunately, believed every word.

"Wait! Don't do anything," His voice was shaky, the gun making him even more nervous.

"I won't have to do anything if you tell me."

"I've," Phantom closed his glowing green eyes. "I've already told you."

Maddie was immediately reminded of what Phantom said to her when they had him captured the first time.

I'm not just a ghost.

I'm also your son.

Maddie felt tears begin to build up just as they had before. Did he not realize what he was telling her? That her son was a ghost, as in, dead?

"Shut up! Stop saying that! Ugh!" Maddie whirred the gun up again, and Phantom knew it was going to fire this time. "You are so heartless! Do you enjoy hurting me?"

"No," Phantom shook his head. "No."

"Get out of here!" Maddie suddenly yelled. "I can't take this anymore. Get away! Go!" Phantom felt his strength begin to return to him, and suddenly he was floating.

Quickly, he made a move to run, and a bolt of energy from the gun nearly hit him in the shoulder.

"If I ever see you again," Maddie promised. "I will be the end of your afterlife."

Phantom, believing her, flew away, his hands and feet still tied together behind his back.

...

...

Secretly, the ghost flew back into the house as soon as Maddie exited his room, immediately going intangible to get the regular ropes off of him. Then, the familiar light traved up and down him, turning back into his human self.

Danny flopped on the bed. Things were now worse than ever. His mother now hated Phantom more than she ever did, and it was all because of the truth. He wasn't so sure things would be different if she knew.

There was just so much uncertainty. Would her hate for Phantom overtake her love for Danny?

He just didn't know, anymore.

Danny found himself wishing that Jazz still lived at home, or was at least there, then. Jazz was the one with the answers, not him. But, she wouldn't be visiting until the next break, which was months away. He didn't have months. More like hours.

Yawning, the boy curled up on his bed, and fell asleep, distantly wondering what his mother could be doing at that moment.

...

...

Maddie poured the entire bottle of ectoplasm on the electric table in a daze, not caring that she wouldn't be able to study it further. She was completely done with Phantom. Her eyes were puffy from crying. Once again, when she pressed the button, the green, glowing liquid turned into a dark, almost black red. The metallic iron smell of blood reached her nose, making her grimace.

It looked like a crime scene on the table.

The mother left it how it was, and sat at her table with her head down. Tears were threatening to pool out of her eyes again. Why is it that she's done everything wrong?

I've failed as a mother. I've failed as a scientist. I have failed.

Remembering Phantom's evil words, Maddie tried to straighten herself up. He was just evil, he shouldn't be making her react in such a way if she knew he was lying. Maddie clenched her hair as she thought the same thing over and over.

What if he wasn't lying?

Suddenly, she could hear her heart beat in her head. A breath escaped her. What if he wasn't lying?

"I'm not just a ghost, I'm your son!"

"I've already told you."

"I've already told you."

"You wouldn't like the answers."

"You wouldn't like the answers."

"Mom."

"Maddie."

A terrible, painful cough escaped her. It soon turned into gags, and Maddie vomited. After everything was gone, she sat there dry heaving.

The blood. The hair-oh, the hair turned black! Black, just like-

The slap on Danny's face. She-she slapped Phantom-

That's why he wouldn't tell-

The phone, the Fenton Thermos.

Hell, just a little while ago she had thought she heard Danny talking on the phone on the roof, but it was-it was Phantom.

They have the same voices.

Maddie sobbed, a gruesome sound. There was no way, it wasn't possible, this just wasn't possible. But, if it was-

She didn't want to think about it. But, she had to know. Carefully, Maddie stood up, her hair and eyes wild, and she walked out of the lab, up the staircase, and, finally, stood in front of Danny's door.

And she opened it.

Danny lay there, sleeping. Breathing. Alive.

They even look the same.

Maddie wanted to wake up from this horrible nightmare. She walked over to him.

Danny, her Danny, not-not whatever Phantom said he was, didn't move. Quickly, Maddie plucked a black hair out of his head, and, before he could react, got out of his room in a hurry.

She didn't want to stay longer than necessary.

In a daze, she walked back into the lab, and wiped off the terrible, dried blood on the electric table.

Danny's blood?

I'm a monster.

I'm heartless.

I'm evil.

Maddie placed the single black hair on the table, and prayed that it would burn, or shrivel up, or just do nothing.

She pressed the button, closed her eyes, and waited a few seconds.

And she opened them.

The hair was white, a glowing white, identical to the white hair of Phantom. It even had a soft glow to it, just like-just like the ghost.

A tear ran down her face, and she sat down the hair again. Once more, she pressed the button, this time with her eyes open.

The hair glowed. The electric table turned off. The hair was black.

Maddie ran out of the lab, never looking back.

...

...

Danny Fenton. Phantom. Fenton. Phantom.

Maddie cried into her pillows. She had been in her bed all morning ever since last night. She wouldn't be leaving anytime soon, either. It was almost like-almost like she was grieving for Danny, even though he was obviously still alive.

I almost cut him open. I wanted to cut him open. My poor baby. No wonder he didn't tell me, I'm terrifying!

Danny heard her sobbing from the hallway. He was nervous, always nervous, but he loved his mom, and wanted her to be okay. Hesitantly, he knocked on the door, making Maddie jump from the sudden noise.

"Mom?"

Maddie put a hand over her mouth. She suddenly didn't know what to do. "Yes?" Maddie tried to keep her voice steady.

"Are you okay?" Danny wondered if she was gonna let him in. He wondered if he even wanted to go in.

"Yes, sweetie, I'm just," Maddie bit her lip. "Emotional."

Danny nodded. "Do you," He paused. "Need anything?"

Yes. Drugs. "No, I'm fine. Thank you."

Well, this is awkward. Danny sighed. "Okay. Let me know if you do."

"I will. Thank you."

Oh my god, it had never been so weird to talk to his mom. Ugh. "Okay."

Danny ran down the stairs. They didn't talk for the rest of the day.

The next day, the sun shined. Birds sang. It wasn't near as cold as it had been for the past few weeks. Maddie glared at the sunshine. It wasn't a time to be happy, or beautiful. Didn't the world know she was mourning?

Maddie hated her room more than ever now. It was just more walls, more distance between her and Danny. She couldn't bear to be in here any longer. It was a Sunday morning, so Danny should be home, but Maddie didn't know if she could face him right now.

But, she loves him. Maddie didn't know if she could stop loving him, ever. Even if he was Phantom, her most hated enemy, she loved him. He was her son.

Maddie opened her door, and let go of the breath she had been holding in when she realized that Danny wasn't in the hallway, or staircase, and he most definitely wouldn't be in the lab. Quickly, she almost ran down to the lab, and once again buried herself with work to do.

She took apart the most complex weapon they owned, and put it back together in little under two hours. Her belly rumbled. Maddie realized she hasn't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon.

Once again, Maddie ran up to the kitchen after making sure she was alone. She grabbed the left over's from the other nights dinner, and carried them all into the lab. For the second time, Maddie stayed cooped up in one room, not daring to go out.

Until now.

Maddie was sick and tired of waiting and playing these games. Danny was her son. She loved him. And she wanted to talk to him. Mentally preparing herself, Maddie walked up into the third floor of the house, and stood in front of the door. That was now the only physical wall that separated them. She knocked on the door, and got no answer.

Knocked again. No answer.

Now worried, she called out his name. "Danny?"

No answer.

Maddie flew the door open to an empty bedroom. The window wasn't open, but now Maddie knew that, if her son and Phantom really were one and the same, he could've just gone intangible.

She shuddered. No mother wanted to think of their child as a ghost.

Realizing he wasn't there, Maddie ran downstairs, and rushed outside to get into the Fenton RV. She was going to find him, one way or another, this time. Quickly, while still driving, she called Sam and Tucker.

"Danny isn't here, he's with Sam."

"Danny isn't here, he's probably with Tucker."

Maddie hung up on them as soon as those words left their mouth.

A thought entered her mind as she realized she had left the ghost radar in the RV from last time. Leaning over to grab it, Maddie turned it on, and instantly saw the familiar, strong ecto-signature that let her know exactly which ghost she was looking at.

Phantom.

He was in the woods.

Maddie turned off on a back road, driving as fast as she could without accidentally wrecking. Her heart was pounding, and her mind was racing. When she gets to Phantom, Maddie told herself, I'll only bring a gun to be safe. Not to hurt him.

At least, that is what she told herself.

The road turned into dirt, and soon she was only yards away from Phantom. Maddie stopped the vehicle, and began walking deep into the woods of Amity Park.

...

...

Danny heard the familiar, chaotic sound of the family vehicle before he saw it. That's when he remembered he should've changed back a long time ago. If he had, he wouldn't have been found by that stupid radar. It was too late now.

Leaves and sticks crushing and snapping reached his ears. She would find him. No, she's already found him, she just hasn't seen him yet.

Maddie walked carefully through the wood, watching for thorns and brier patches, until, suddenly, she was standing beside the tree that Danny was currently hiding in.

"Phantom?" Maddie called out, which made Danny confused. Why wasn't she threatening him?

That's when he realized that she was looking right up at him.

"Oh." Phantom cleared his throat. "Maddie, I know what you said, but I can't leave, alright?"

Maddie just watched him.

"Well? Aren't you going to say something?" Phantom was getting annoyed. Maddie's heart broke even more when she realized that he was talking to her like an annoyed teenager would. Like Danny would.

"What?" He spat out. He had never liked being stared at. "I haven't been around your son anymore, or his friends. I promise." There was silence.

"Please, come down here." Maddie's voice was shaky. That's when Danny realized.

She knows.

"Um," Phantom bit his lip. His forehead was beginning to sweat, making his white hair stick to it. Carefully, and still keeping his distance, Danny flew down halfway, still not completely sure that she was going to play nice.

Maddie started to cry. "Danny, get down here right now and let me talk to you!" She demanded with tears streaming down her face.

Danny's breath caught in his throat, but he did so obediently. She was his mother, after all.

"You are Danny, right?" Maddie sniffed. Please say no.

"I'm sorry." Danny looked down at his feet. He couldn't face her.

"Oh my god." Maddie gasped. "No. Oh, Danny, no." She buried her face in her hands. This was it. This was the moment it became real.

"Mom," Danny took a step closer. He wanted to help, but he didn't know how.

"I can't believe I almost," Maddie sobbed, finally looking up at him. "I'm so sorry." She whispered. "How will you ever forgive me?"

"I've already forgiven you." Danny looked up at her, too. His green eyes were glassy with unshed tears. "You didn't know."

"I almost," Maddie shuddered. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"No! Danny, you're a ghost! You know what that-that means," Her voice trailed off. She couldn't finish.

Danny's eyes widened in realization. "Oh! You think I'm-? No, Mom, no. I'm alive."

"But, but you're a ghost."

Danny gulped, and carefully reached over to grab her hand. Maddie stayed perfectly still, trying not to think about how cold he was. Then, he brought her hand over to his chest, right above his heart.

And there, Maddie felt it beating quickly with nerves.

"You!" Maddie felt a relieved laugh build up inside her, so she let it out. "You're alive! You aren't-but, I don't get it. How?"

"I can show you, if you want." Danny said nervously, but he was happy now, too. She wasn't crying out of sadness anymore.

Maddie nodded, slowly. Then, a glowing light lit up around his waist, and traveled up down him to change his suit to shirt and jeans, his white hair to black, and his green eyes, blue. Maddie watched, fascinated, yet also in disbelief. Now, the son she had always known stood before her.

"That's incredible. How did this happen?"

"The accident. Dad put the "on" button inside the portal, and, well, I kinda pressed it."

"Danny! How many times have we told you not to mess around in the lab?" Maddie chastised.

"A lot?"

"Yeah!" Maddie shook her head. She couldn't help but smile.

"I just have so many questions. Where do I even start?"

"Mom, I know we have a lot to talk about, but can it wait till we're home?"

"Oh," Maddie grinned. "I suppose."

They walked back to the Fenton RV together, mother and son, and they never looked back.

...

THE END! I hope you enjoyed my little story! Please let me know if you did! -Lexi.