Author's Note: This is in response to ghostanimal's challenge and an AU of Maternal Instincts. It is, possibly, a revelation fic and I hope that you like it. Also, I don't where DP takes place so let's just say it's a state where there are mountains. Reviews, as always, are much appreciated.

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom, I never have, I never will and I am only saying this once

Paternal Instincts

One

It was getting late. The sun was falling into the night sky casting shadows across the town of Amity Park as Danny Fenton (also known as Danny Phantom) flew over the buildings eyes scanning the area for any signs of ghost activity. He hoped that there wouldn't be an attack but, recently, he has been forced to fight at least one ghost every night. At the very least, it wasn't as bad as when Walker and his goons invaded the town.

Danny sighed as he floated on his back over another building. He had been named Public Ghost Enemy #1 after that incident and yet he knew that he couldn't just leave the town to defend itself from the ghost attacks even with the Fentons and Valerie helping out. Danny felt he had been given these abilities for a reason to use them to help the city even if they didn't want his help.

As he told Sam after the Walker incident, if he didn't help then who would?

"It doesn't look like anything is out here, Danny," Sam said through the Fenton phones that the three friends were wearing.

"It's too quiet. I'm half expecting some random ghost to jump out at any moment," Tucker's voice sounded over the phones.

"Don't jinx us, Tucker," Danny said because, knowing his luck, that was what was going to happen.

He shivered suddenly as a blue mist escaped his lips and he lifted his head and barely were able to roll out of the way in midair when a rocket shot toward him. It sailed into a building and exploded upon impact. He narrowed his eyes toward Skulker as the self-proclaimed Ghost Zone's greatest hunter flew in front of him.

"Danny? I saw the explosion. What was that?" Sam asked.

"Skulker," Danny said both to Sam and to the ghost.

"This time, I will have your pelt, whelp," Skulker declared.

Danny sighed. "Will you ever leave me alone?" He ducked to avoid an ectoblast from one of Skulker's ectoguns that was the hunter's answer before shooting his own ectoblast at Skulker who dodged out of the way.

"Danny, we're almost there," Tucker called through the Fenton phones as Danny dodged another rocket shot at him before wincing when Skulker cannoned into him sending him flying into another building. He went intangible and flew through the building before flying upward and dodging out of the way to avoid another tackle.

When Skulker turned around, he was kicked in the face and an ectoblast nearly took out one of the rocket powered wings that kept him afloat. "You are growing into an irritant, whelp, but I like that you are putting up a fight. I will still have your pelt though."

"That is still gross, dude," Danny said spreading his hands in front of him to create a shield that caught the ectoblast that Skulker's gun fired at him. He then flew to the side and shot another ectoblast at Skulker that the hunter dodged out of the way. However, the blast did nick his shoulder as he was scowling furiously at Danny.

"Danny!"

Danny dodged out of the way of another ectoblast as Sam and Tucker, on their motorized scooters, came to a stop in the middle of the street where the hunter and the halfa were fighting. Skulker scowled and flew at Danny only to be sent careening backwards when an ectoblast slammed into his chest. Danny charged at him and delivered an uppercut that sent Skulker flying upwards but he quickly righted himself and shot another rocket at Danny who dodged out of the way to avoid it.

Debris fell to the ground from the destroyed portion of the building but, thankfully, Sam and Tucker weren't in the way of the falling debris. Skulker flew at Danny who dodged and kicked the hunter before another ectoblast sent the hunter flying into a building but the ghost went intangible and flew through the roof to attack Danny again.

"Tucker, a little help please," Danny called dodging another ectoblast and another rocket.

"On it, Danny," Tucker called back his PDA was already out and he began typing away on it.

Skulker was about to launch another attack at Danny when, suddenly, his arm beeped. He frowned before looking at it and read the message out loud. "Go to the library and research eating habits of purple backed gorilla. Oh come on," he protested as his wings activated and he was forced to fly away.

Danny, chuckling, landed on the ground between his two best friends. "Nice one, Tuck," he said.

Tucker grinned. "He really should get that thing fixed," he said. "But, hey, it works for us."

Sam shook her head though a small smile was on her face. "Come on, we should probably finish patrolling and get home before it gets too late."

Danny grimaced. "Yeah, Mom and Dad won't be happy with me if I come home late again." He flew into the air and the three friends went back to patrolling the city.

Jack Fenton looked at his wife who was humming softly while she washed the dishes before she stopped and looked at him. "Jack, have you seen Jazz or Danny at all today?"

"Uh, Danny said something about hanging out with his friends and I think Jazz is in her room," Jack replied turning his attention back to his newest invention, the Specter Deflector that was designed to shock a ghost and weaken their strength and powers. He thought about his son; Danny seemed to be growing more and more distant with each passing day in the last six months.

Jack may be oblivious over a lot of things, especially if they didn't have anything to do with ghosts, and yet he even noticed that his son was acting strange. He had spoken about it with Maddie when his daughter, Jazz, was present and Jazz insisted that it was because Danny was a teenager and it was just a stage.

"Are you all right, Jack?" Maddie asked looking at her husband.

"I'm fine, Mads," Jack said before he began fiddling with his newest invention as he added, "Have you noticed that Danny seems a bit more distant recently?"

"I've noticed," Maddie said. "His grades are slipping, he's always coming home late—"

"He's shirking from his chores," Jack added.

"I'm just as concerned as you are, Jack," Maddie said. "Maybe he needs some father/son bonding time."

"Hey, I can show him my newest invention," Jack said lifting the Specter Deflector.

Maddie shook her head with a sigh. "I mean that you two should leave the city," she said.

Jack frowned lowering the invention before an idea came to him. "Well, we could go camping," he said. "I haven't gone camping in a while."

Maddie smiled. "I think that's a wonderful idea, Jack. I think it'll do Danny some good to leave the city for a while." Her violet eyes went thoughtful and she added, "I really think both of our children are growing up too fast. Maybe I could spend some quality time with Jazz—"

The door to the home opened and the two ghost hunters stood up before making their way into the living room as Danny closed the door behind him. He turned and jumped a little. "Oh, hi Mom, Dad," he said awkwardly. "Um, I'm heading to bed now. Good night."

"Wait," Jack said when Maddie turned to give him a look that told him he'd better tell him about the camping trip now before Danny disappeared on them the following day as he usually did on a Saturday after he dragged himself out of bed.

"Uh, what Dad?" Danny asked.

"We're going camping this weekend," Jack said. "I know a great spot to camp in the mountains though it's a few miles drive from here."

Danny didn't meet his eyes as he said, "Sorry, Dad, but I have plans with Sam and Tucker," he began.

"You two haven't had a chance to bond in a long time, Danny," Maddie said gently. "I think it would do you some good to leave Amity Park for a while. And it's only for this weekend, sweetie. I'm sure you're friends will understand."

"It'll be fun, Danny-boy," Jack said. "Hey, I can even teach you how to fish!"

Danny rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, that's great Dad," he said. Jack, being as oblivious as ever, didn't notice the somewhat sardonic tone in his son's voice. He also didn't notice the frustrated reluctance in Danny's voice when he asked, "When do we leave?"

"I think ten tomorrow morning would be early enough. What do you say, Jack?" Maddie said.

"Yeah, sure, that'll work." Jack was starting to look forward to going camping with his son; maybe he could talk to his son about ghosts during the car ride. He was already planning on bringing a couple of weapons with him just in case including the Specter Deflector, which he would probably give to Danny.

One could never be too careful after all.

Danny closed the door to his room with a scowl of frustration as he walked over to his computer. Why did Dad have to toss this camping trip on me so suddenly? And why the sudden want to spend time to me? He thought as he contacted both Sam and Tucker through video chat to let them know that they would have to cancel their plans for the weekend. It was mostly going to be spent hanging out with Sam at her house and patrolling the city for ghosts at night but Danny didn't mind.

"Hey, why the glum look, dude?" Tucker asked once his face appeared on the small window on the computer screen. He was joined a moment later by Sam.

"Dad decided, out of the blue, that we should spend the weekend together," Danny said with a grimace. "He didn't actually give me a choice so we're going to have to cancel our plans for this weekend."

"No way you can get out of it?" Sam asked curiously.

Danny shook his head. "Probably not. I was trying to think of a way but Mom insists it'll be good for me to leave the city for a bit."

"Well, we'll be here to keep the ghosts in check and we can't forget that Valerie will also be out and about," Tucker pointed out.

Danny sighed. "I guess it can't be that bad," he said. "Maybe I do need a little break."

"Hey, it's only for the weekend," Tucker said.

"Besides, I think a break will do you some good," Sam said.

"You'll be back creaming ghosts come Monday," Tucker said and Danny chuckled a little.

"Well, I'd better go. We're planning on leaving at ten tomorrow. Good night, Sam, Tucker."

"Night Danny," his two friends said before the windows disappeared. Putting his computer on hibernate, Danny stood up and walked over to his bed. He wondered how the camping trip was going to go.

At least I won't have to worry about ghosts attacking, he thought lying down on his bed. Well, I hope I won't have to worry about ghosts attacking anyway.

"Are you sure?"

"I overheard them speak about a camping trip and then told the whelp when he came home," Skulker assured him. "Well, I caught the last half of the conversation anyway since I had been taken to the library to research the eating habits of purple backed gorillas. I really need to get this thing," the hunter glared at the PDA on his arm, "fixed."

"Do you know where they are going?"

"They only said something about a spot in the mountains a few miles from Amity Park."

His boss's lips pressed together into a thin line. "Keep an eye on them and let me know where they are once they reach the campsite."

"All right, Plasmius."

"And do restrain yourself from attacking the boy," Plasmius added crimson eyes glittering. "Once he sees how incompetent his father truly is, I hope that he shall see the value of my offer and I do not want him dead before that happens. As for the blubbering buffoon, leave him alive for now. I have plans for both of them."

Skulker nodded. "All right, Plasmius, but you owe me." He flew out of the office going intangible as he flew through the wall.

Vlad Plasmius watched the hunter go before smirking. I am curious to see how well you will do with what I have planned for you, little badger, he thought.

A/n what do you think?

Blaze: it took a bit of working out since I was unsure of how to change it to fit with ghostanimal's challenge but I hope I did a good job

Darth: well, it is only the first chapter

Blaze: yup and plenty of bonding moments to come but I had to keep Vlad since he was the main antagonist in Maternal Instincts and, to be honest, he is my favorite villain in the DP series

Vlad: why thank you

Blaze: you're still a seriously crazed up fruitloop though

Danny: ha!

Vlad: I AM NOT A FRUITLOOP!

Danny and Blaze: yeah you are!

Vlad: (scowls and teleports away)

Blaze: and yeah, this chapter did not start out like the episode but hey, that's why it's AU

Darth: it was good though

Blaze: yup. Please review and I will post chapter 2 as soon as I possibly can but I doubt it will be anytime soon