To everyone who asked for a sequel/continuation: this is for you.

Thank you.

The temperature dropped; Maddie noted with a slight smile that Phantom still sent his light out first. She put down her tools and faced him as he entered the visible spectrum. It was time to test a theory. "Hi, Danny. How was school?"

Phantom froze. For a few tense seconds, Maddie wondered if she was wrong. Then the spirit laughed and allowed his feet to touch ground.

"Jeez, mom . . . you couldn't have waited a few days? I owe Sam ten bucks now!"

Maddie breathed a sigh of relief and triumph. "That's what you get for making bets, young man - you know better than to gamble!"

"Yeah, yeah, shame on me." Phantom, or rather, Danny, sent her a wary look. "You're not mad at me, are you?"

Maddie frowned. "Why would I be mad?"

"I lied to you. About this." He gestured to himself.

"Well . . . I suppose I've had time to think about it." Maddie fiddled with one of the tools in front of her. "I can see why you'd be afraid to tell us. Especially with how worked up your father gets."

"Heh, yeah."

There was an awkward silence.

"So . . . got any questions?"

Maddie smiled, knowing all was forgiven.

~oOo~

Maddie found it amusing and a bit flattering that her son continued to visit her in spirit form. She appreciated the gesture; she would have missed his presence had he decided to stop. It certainly made for some interesting conversations.

"Does this mean you're not gonna call me Phantom anymore?" Danny was floating on his back near the ceiling, arms crossed beneath his head.

Maddie looked at him in surprise. "Do you want me to?"

"Well . . . ." Danny rubbed the back of his neck. "It was sort of like I had my own super-special nickname, y'know? Besides, it would be pretty weird if anyone heard you call spirit-me 'Danny.'"

Maddie hummed thoughtfully. "I suppose you have a point, Phantom."

Her son grinned. "Don't I always?"

She laughed at him and went back to work.

~oOo~

Truce notwithstanding, Maddie was not prepared for the sight that met her upon entering the lab a week later. Her husband was seated at one of the workbenches, tools and parts spread out before him. That wasn't what shocked her. It was the spirit hovering over Jack's shoulder as he spoke.

"Now we just need to connect these parts here - grab me that blowtorch, will you? - and we'll be set!" Phantom darted off, and Jack looked up. "Hey Madds! Spooky here's helping me put the finishing touches on the Fenton Ghost-Shocker! Those ghosts won't know what hit them!"

Maddie made an effort to compose herself. The scene was jarring, yes, but undeniably right. Both her boys were working on the family business together - it was almost enough to make her cry! Resisting the urge to hug them both, she gave her husband a chiding look. "Now, Jack, you know that's not his name."

"Actually, I don't mind." Phantom flipped upside down to dangle the requested tool in Jack's face. Her husband accepted it with a grin. "Anything's better than Invisobill."

"See? He doesn't care!" Jack turned back to his tinkering. "That's what I like about you, kid - ghost, spirit, or whatever, you don't sweat the small stuff."

Phantom grinned at the compliment, but his expression fell as Jack continued.

"Now, if I could just get Danny interested in this stuff . . . ."

Maddie sent the spirit a sympathetic look. She didn't quite understand her son's reluctance to let Jack in on his secret, but she would respect his wishes. He could tell his father when he was ready.

"Actually . . ."

Maddie raised an eyebrow. Could "when" be now?

". . . Danny is interested." Phantom rubbed the back of his neck, a very familiar nervous gesture if Jack had only been looking. "He just- well, he's spent so long trying to avoid this stuff, he doesn't know how to tell you."

Jack raised his head, invention forgotten. "Really? He said that?"

"Er, yeah. He and I talk sometimes, so . . . ."

"Great gobs of ghost goo!" Jack jumped up, knocking over his chair. "Did you hear that Maddie? Our boy wants to hunt ghosts!" He wiped a tear from his eye. "He's finally ready to follow in his old man's footsteps. I'm so proud!"

Maddie was hard-put not to laugh at Phantom's expression; the spirit looked utterly gob-smacked. "That's wonderful news, honey," she agreed, prompting Phantom to blush and Jack to start gushing about hunting ghosts as a family.

Maddie smiled at the irony. It wasn't the revelation she'd been hoping for, but it was a start.

~oOo~

"You're working too hard again."

The voice was accusatory. "And which of us is the mother, here?" Maddie asked without looking up. She reached for a nearby screwdriver, only to find it frozen to the table. "Phantom!"

The spirit crossed his arms. "I mean it, mom. You've been down here all day - take a break!"

Maddie frowned, waving a hand at the half-finished device in front of her. "I need to get this finished."

"You need a break. And you're taking one!"

Maddie bit back a yelp as her son grabbed her under the arms and lifted her into the air. "Daniel Phantom Fenton, you put me down this instant!"

"Nope, sorry! I'm a lawless teenage ghost, I do what I want." He soared toward the ceiling, turning them both intangible right before they hit. Soon they were through the roof and staring down at Amity Park. "Still want me to put you down?" Phantom asked drily.

Maddie shook her head. Not only would the fall be fatal, but the view from the sky was . . . well, frankly, it was beautiful. As she watched the people below going about their lives, not worrying about ghost attacks, her anger started to seep away. "All right, fine." She sighed, giving in to the inevitable. "I'm taking a break."

"Good." She could practically hear his smug grin. "Now was that so hard?"

Maddie huffed. She had learned it was better not to attempt "witty banter" with her son. The results were alway embarrassing for one of them - usually her. Instead, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the sensation of wind against her face. She had never known flying could be so peaceful.

The feeling was only slightly dimmed when they returned to find Jack ranting about ghosts abducting his wife.

~oOo~

Introducing their children to Phantom was Jack's idea. Maddie was uncertain; Jazz had never approved of her parents' "obsession" with ghosts. She'd probably be even more opposed if she knew one of their inventions had made her brother one.

Danny, of course, was an entirely different problem.

But her husband was insistent, so Maddie went along with it. She expected Danny's near-frantic excuses, and distracted Jack long enough for him to vanish. What she wasn't expecting was Jazz's reaction.

"Wait a minute . . . ." Jazz squinted at the glowing figure hovering a few inches above the floor. "It's you, isn't it? You're the one who saved me during Spirit Week!"

Phantom's jaw dropped. "You remember that?"

"Well, duh! How could I forget?" Jazz put her hands on her hips and smiled. "You left so quickly, I never got to say thank you."

"Oh. You're welcome?"

Off to the side, Jack leaned toward Maddie. "You uh, got any idea what they're talking about, Madds?"

Maddie shook her head. "No, but it sounds like we owe Phantom our daughter's life." She smiled as Jack immediately bounded over to pull both teens into a hug, eliciting cries of protest. Eventually, Phantom simply phased himself and Jazz out of their father's over-enthusiastic grip.

Maddie walked over and ruffled the spirit's hair, ignoring his complaints. Her son truly was a hero.

~oOo~

Having Vlad Masters in her home was a necessary evil. At least, that's what she told herself as the sleaze tried once again to put the moves on her. You would think, after twenty years, he would have gotten the message! It was with great relief that she excused herself to check on an experiment - only for Vlad to follow her to the lab. The man really couldn't take a hint.

It was only when she felt a familiar chill that she remembered her son's animosity toward their unwanted guest. Maddie sighed. This should prove interesting.

"Ghost!"

Maddie rolled her eyes as Vlad grabbed for the nearest ectogun.

"Don't worry, dearest, I won't let that foul specter lay a hand on you!"

Maddie disarmed Vlad in one smooth motion and tossed the gun back on the table. "Take one shot at that ghost, and I'll fold you up like a pretzel!" Ignoring his dumbfounded look (as entertaining as it was), she turned around. "Hello, Phantom. Here to empty the thermos again?"

"Nah, just thought I'd drop in for a visit." Her son's eyes danced with suppressed laughter; he made no attempt to hide his smirk. "Your friend seems a bit jumpy."

"Oh, don't mind Vlad." Maddie waved a hand. "He's not really used to dealing with ghosts."

Behind her, Vlad let out a strangled noise.

"I get that." Phantom grinned, something wicked in his gaze. "Sorry I scared you, V-man."

Rage flashed across Vlad's face, and he gave a false-sounding laugh. "Oh, I was just a bit startled, that's all. But Maddie," he turned to her, "are you sure it's safe to allow that . . . ghost . . . in your home? After all, it could turn on you at any moment. It's in its nature to do so."

Maddie's expression hardened. "Yes, Vlad, I'm sure. Phantom has been our ally for some time now. Jack and I trust him implicitly."

Vlad blinked at her before glaring at Phantom and turning toward the stairs. "I'm afraid I must take my leave," he said stiffly. "Business, you know. No doubt I'll be seeing you soon."

For a moment Maddie pondered his words - had they been directed at her or Phantom? - but was soon distracted by her son's laughter.

"Did you see the look on the ol' fruitloop's face? Ha!"

~oOo~

Maddie could not decide whether to be exasperated or amused. Ever since Danny had started assisting them in the lab, Jack had been confusing him with Phantom. Her son wasn't helping matters, answering to either name regardless of form. She couldn't even tell if he was doing it on purpose.

Jazz had plenty to say on the subject. Her daughter often cited textbooks and used terms like "mental scarring" and "impeded psychological growth."

Danny merely rolled his eyes. Maddie was tempted to join him.

~oOo~

It was amazing how much more effective their ghost hunting had become with Phantom on their side. Under the guise of giving him a pair of Fenton Phones, Maddie would sometimes call her son for assistance - after school hours, of course. Even Jack found the spirit's help well worth the conditions.

Maddie winced, recalling Phantom's face as he laid down his rules. She understood her son's fear, but it hurt to realize she was part of the cause. As such, she would follow his directives to the letter:

No invasive tests - on Phantom or any other ghost.

Captured ghosts were to be returned to the Ghost Zone after no more than 24 hours.

No tracking Phantom.

It was that last one that gave her the most trouble; she didn't like the idea that her baby could be out fighting ghosts without her knowledge. But as she watched Jack and Phantom tag-team a giant glowing slug, her worries were somewhat lessened. At least she knew her Phantom was capable.

~oOo~

In the end, it was pure chance that Jack found out. Or maybe Phantom had simply stopped hiding. Either way, not even her husband could deny the evidence when he caught Danny with his hand halfway through the cereal cupboard.

She was contemplating how to break them out of their frozen tableau when a camera flashed at her side. Maddie blinked in surprise. "Jazz?"

Her daughter smiled. "I actually figured it out a while ago." She gestured to Jack. "It's about time, isn't it?"

Maddie giggled; her husband was sporting the most comically confused look. "Yes, I suppose it is."

"Hey!" Danny glared at them, finally pulling his arm out of the door. "This isn't funny!"

Jazz folded her arms and smirked. "Actually, little brother, it is."

Jack chose that moment to return to the land of the articulate. "Holy fudge, you're Spooky!"

Danny's hand connected with his forehead. Maddie laughed, while Jazz snapped another picture.

"Yeah, dad, I am."

Maddie smiled, full of pride, as her son raised his arms. Finally, all was right with her world.

"Going ghost!"

Once again, thank you for your support - hopefully everyone enjoyed this bonus chapter!

Edit/ To the guest reviewer who asked about translating this fic to Russian: please feel free! I'm flattered that you want to. ^^ My one request is that you credit me as the original author. ;)