Chapter 17: A Knock on the Door
It was a relatively quiet afternoon in the Fenton household. Well, as quiet as it could be with a toddler like Lucia. She was currently zooming around the living room on all fours, her tiny ghostly energy sparking from her fingertips, sending her toys skittering across the floor. Danny sat on the couch, watching with a mixture of pride and exasperation while Ember tidied up nearby, collecting scattered toys and trying to keep the chaos in check.
"Okay, I've got an idea," Ember said suddenly, placing a stuffed ghost bear back on the shelf. Danny glanced up, curious.
"Uh-oh. Is this a good idea or one of your wild ideas?" he teased, leaning back with his arms crossed behind his head.
Ember shot him a playful look, rolling her eyes. "No, no, it's a really good idea this time. I think we should take a family photo."
Danny raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A family photo? Like, an official one?"
"Yeah," Ember said, a little excitement creeping into her voice. "Lucia's growing up so fast, and we don't have anything official to remember this phase. I mean, look at her! She's already floating toys with just a flick of her hand. We need to capture these moments before she figures out how to phase through walls."
As if on cue, Lucia giggled and sent her stuffed ghost bear floating across the room with a burst of energy. It landed at Danny's feet, and he picked it up with a smile. "Okay, I see your point. But why not make it special? Let's go somewhere nice in the Ghost Zone and dress up for it. You know, something fancy."
Ember's eyes lit up. "Fancy? I like the sound of that. We've been so busy with everything lately—why not have a little fun? Plus, we can take the camera stand and make it feel like an actual photoshoot."
Danny chuckled, standing up. "Alright, then. Let's do it."
The next hour was spent in a flurry of excitement. Ember went through her closet, pulling out a cute, flowing dark-blue dress with ghostly patterns that shimmered slightly in the eerie light of the Ghost Zone. It was elegant but still had that edgy, rockstar vibe that Ember loved. She smoothed it down, admiring the way it swayed as she moved.
"How do I look?" she asked, turning to Danny, who had opted for a sharp, dark-gray suit that contrasted nicely against the ethereal colors of the Ghost Zone.
Danny smiled, taking her in. "You look amazing. Stunning, actually."
Ember blushed slightly, running a hand through her hair. "Thanks." She then turned her attention to Lucia, who was floating a few inches above the ground, trying to wriggle out of the little dress Danny had been struggling to put on her.
Lucia's dress was adorable—a soft, pastel-purple number with tiny sparkles and a cute, lacy hem. Despite her energy, Lucia managed to stay still long enough for Ember to fix the dress and smooth down her wild hair.
"You look beautiful, sweetheart," Ember said softly, leaning down and kissing Lucia's cheek. Lucia giggled, grabbing onto her mother's dress with tiny hands.
Danny, watching the scene, couldn't help but smile warmly. "You two are quite the pair," he said, affection clear in his voice.
Ember smiled up at him, lifting Lucia into her arms. "Well, we've got to make this family photo perfect, right?"
They packed up the camera stand and headed out into the Ghost Zone, making their way to one of the more scenic spots—a floating island that hovered over a ghostly meadow with glowing trees and shimmering, ethereal flowers. The eerie, yet beautiful landscape was the perfect backdrop for their photo.
As they set up, Lucia was full of energy, floating a few inches off the ground and giggling as Danny tried to get her to stay still long enough to adjust the camera. The soft glow of the Ghost Zone cast a magical light on the scene, with shades of blue, green, and purple swirling in the background.
"Okay, let's try this," Danny said as he finally set the camera on the stand and adjusted the focus.
Ember held Lucia in her arms, bouncing her lightly to calm her. "Alright, sweetheart, it's time to shine," she whispered, giving her daughter another kiss on the cheek. Lucia giggled, squirming happily as she nuzzled closer to her mom.
Danny stepped over and wrapped his arm around Ember's waist, smiling at the sight of the two most important people in his life. "You two are too cute," he said with a grin, glancing at the camera as the timer started ticking down.
They all stood close together, Lucia nestled in Ember's arms, with Danny leaning in, the smile on his face wide and genuine. The camera clicked, capturing the moment—Lucia's tiny hands glowing faintly with her ghostly energy, Ember's soft, loving smile as she looked at her daughter, and Danny's proud, happy expression.
But just as they thought they'd nailed it, a small burst of energy shot from Lucia's hands, sending a few nearby ghostly flowers floating into the shot.
Ember laughed. "Well, at least it's not floating furniture this time."
Danny chuckled, shaking his head. "Hey, maybe the flowers add a little something extra."
They reset the camera and tried again. This time, Lucia, giggling happily, managed to stay still for just long enough. Ember, beaming with pride, kissed Lucia's cheek once more, whispering, "You're so beautiful, my little star."
Danny couldn't help but smile at the two of them. "Okay, I think we got it this time."
When they checked the photo, it was perfect. Lucia's giggle was almost visible in the shot, her cheeks glowing with energy, and Ember's loving expression was clear as she held her close. Danny stood beside them, his smile wide, his arm around his family. In the background, the shimmering lights of the Ghost Zone provided an ethereal glow, adding to the magical quality of the picture.
"This one's the one," Ember said, her voice soft with satisfaction as she looked at the image.
Danny nodded, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Yeah, it is."
When they returned home, they printed the photo and framed it, placing it proudly on the mantle above the fireplace. As they admired it, Danny looked over at Ember, his voice warm.
"You know, it's not easy raising a ghost-powered kid in the Ghost Zone, but we're doing alright, don't you think?"
Ember laughed softly, wrapping her arm around his waist. "More than alright. We're doing great."
Lucia, now playing on the floor, looked up at her parents and giggled again, sending a small toy floating into the air. Danny and Ember just smiled, feeling a wave of love and pride for their quirky, magical family.
It had been a few months since the family photo, and life had fallen into a comfortable rhythm for Danny, Ember, and Lucia. But one thing hadn't changed: Ember's love for music. After much thought, she decided it was time to get back on the stage, to do more tours and sing for the fans who still adored her. She knew the Ghost Zone wasn't going to forget about her anytime soon, and her passion for music was still burning as brightly as ever.
But touring meant long stretches away from home, and it was a hard decision. Lucia was growing up fast, and Danny wanted to make sure she had one parent with her at all times, so they agreed—Ember would go on tour, and Danny would stay behind to spend more time with their daughter. Despite missing Ember, Danny knew this was an opportunity for some quality father-daughter bonding, something he cherished more than anything.
Ember was still incredibly popular in the Ghost Zone. Even with some ghosts still harboring resentment towards her for being with Danny—the former ghost hunter who had captured many of them—the majority of her fans loved her. Her music had only become more meaningful since becoming a mother, and her new songs reflected the changes in her life, which her fans embraced.
Tonight, one of Ember's biggest performances was airing live, and Danny and Lucia had front-row seats—well, from the comfort of their living room. The TV was set up, showing the stage where Ember would be performing in a matter of minutes. Danny sat on the couch, Lucia perched happily on his lap, wearing a tiny shirt emblazoned with Ember's iconic flaming heart insignia.
They really did look so much alike. Lucia had Ember's fiery blue hair—albeit softer in shade because she was still young—and those same sparkling eyes full of energy. She was already showing signs of having the same fierce personality as her mom. Whenever Ember came on screen, Lucia's face lit up, and tonight was no different.
"That's Mommy!" Danny pointed to the screen as the lights on stage started to flicker, signaling Ember's entrance.
Lucia's eyes went wide, and she let out a delighted squeal, clapping her tiny hands together. "Mommy!" she cried, her voice still small but full of excitement. She wiggled on Danny's lap, her ghostly energy causing a few nearby toys to rattle.
"Hold on, kiddo," Danny said with a chuckle, gently bouncing her on his knee to calm her. "Mommy's about to perform."
The lights on the stage flared to life, and there she was—Ember, in her signature rockstar outfit, but with a new twist. She had added elegant touches to her look, reflecting her growth as both a performer and a mother. The crowd roared, and Ember smiled, her energy lighting up the whole venue.
Danny couldn't help but smile too, watching the love of his life in her element. Even though they were miles apart, he could feel the connection through the screen, as though she was performing just for them. He knew how much Ember missed them while she was on the road, but seeing her so happy made it worth it.
Lucia, her bright blue eyes glued to the screen, started bouncing in Danny's lap, her hands clapping in time to the beat of the music. She had always loved the sound of her mother's voice, and tonight was no exception. As Ember belted out the first few notes of her song, Lucia let out a delighted laugh and reached her arms toward the screen, as if trying to reach her mother.
"Yeah, that's right, she's awesome, huh?" Danny said, grinning down at his daughter. He gently brushed a hand through her soft blue hair, feeling his heart swell. He was so proud of both of them—of Ember for being such a force of nature on stage, and of Lucia for already being such a little firecracker.
Lucia looked up at Danny with a wide smile, her small hands grabbing at his shirt, she just smiled in awe.
"She sure is," Danny replied reacting to her emotions even though she didn't say anything, hugging her a little closer as they both continued to watch Ember light up the stage.
As the performance went on, Ember transitioned into one of her newer songs, a softer one that had quickly become a fan favorite. The lyrics spoke of love, family, and the strength it took to hold everything together when you lived between two worlds—the human world and the Ghost Zone. She hadn't told anyone, but the song was about Danny and Lucia, about the life they had built together despite the odds.
The camera panned across the crowd, showing ghosts of all kinds swaying to the music, lost in the moment. Even those who hadn't initially approved of Ember's relationship with Danny couldn't deny how powerful her songs were. Slowly, she was winning them over, one performance at a time.
Back in the living room, Lucia swayed along with the music, her tiny hands clapping every now and then as the beat picked up. She looked up at Danny with a beaming smile, her face so much like Ember's that it made Danny's heart skip a beat.
"She's so beautiful," Danny thought to himself, amazed by how much Lucia looked and acted like her mother. He could already see the spark of strength and independence that Ember had in her, even at such a young age.
As the song ended, Ember smiled and spoke into the microphone. "This one's for my family, watching back home. I miss you both, but I'll be home soon."
Danny smiled at that, and Lucia, who didn't quite understand the words but recognized the sound of her mother's voice, laughed and clapped even harder. She reached out toward the TV again, shouting "Mommy!" as though she thought she could pull her mom out of the screen.
Danny chuckled, hugging her close. "We miss you too," he whispered to the screen, feeling a sense of pride and warmth wash over him.
After the performance, Danny stayed with Lucia on the couch, replaying clips of Ember's songs that had aired earlier. Lucia was getting sleepy now, her energy fading as the excitement of the concert wore her out. She nestled into Danny's chest, still wearing the tiny shirt with Ember's insignia on it, looking like a miniature version of her mom.
Danny looked down at her, brushing a strand of blue hair out of her face. "You're just like your mom, you know that?" he murmured softly, kissing the top of her head. "And you're both amazing."
Lucia smiled in her sleep, her tiny hands still gripping Danny's shirt. Danny turned off the TV and sat there in the quiet, holding his daughter close, thinking about how lucky he was. They were a family—a slightly chaotic, ghostly, and unconventional family—but a family nonetheless. And even though Ember wasn't with them tonight, he knew she was always with them in spirit.
As Lucia slept peacefully in his arms, Danny's thoughts drifted back to Ember, imagining what she'd say when she came home and saw how much Lucia had grown. It wouldn't be long before they were all back together, and until then, they had moments like this—small, sweet, and full of love.
The night had been filled with music and joy, as Danny and Lucia had just finished watching one of Ember's live performances on TV. Lucia, who had been clapping her tiny hands and squealing with excitement, was now thoroughly tuckered out. Her energy, so high just moments ago, had drained quickly, leaving her fast asleep in Danny's arms.
Smiling softly, Danny looked down at his daughter, her little shirt still sporting Ember's insignia. She looked so much like her mother—it was almost uncanny. Gently, he stood and carried her to her crib, cradling her as if she were the most delicate thing in the world.
"Goodnight, Lucia," Danny whispered, laying her down and watching her snuggle up with her stuffed ghost bear. Her soft blue hair was fanned out on the pillow as she shifted slightly, murmuring in her sleep. He smiled content, and quietly left her room, closing the door partway.
Just as Danny made his way into the living room, ready to relax for the night, there was a sudden knock on the door. He frowned and glanced at the clock—it was late, too late for visitors. His first thought was that maybe Ember had sent someone from the tour with a message, but the familiar cold energy he sensed outside the door told him otherwise.
Sighing, Danny muttered to himself, "Can't a guy have a peaceful night?"
He opened the door, and there stood Vlad Masters, dressed impeccably in his usual sharp suit, a cool smile on his face. Even though things between them had gotten better since the wedding, Danny still found it odd to see him this late at night.
"Vlad?" Danny asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What are you doing here so late? Can't you see I'm busy?"
Vlad raised an eyebrow and chuckled lightly. "I can see that, Daniel. Though from the looks of it, you've already put the little one to bed, so I thought this might be a good time."
Danny crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe, clearly unimpressed. "You know, most people would send a message or something. What's so important that it couldn't wait until morning?"
Vlad's face shifted slightly, his usual smug demeanor softening just a bit. He took a deep breath, as if weighing his words carefully.
"I didn't know how else to say this," Vlad began, his voice a little more serious than usual, "but… your mother… she wants to see you."
Danny's expression froze, his heart skipping a beat. He blinked, momentarily at a loss for words. "What?"
Vlad glanced away for a moment, an odd hint of uncertainty in his usually confident gaze. "Maddie. She… regrets kicking you out, Daniel. And she wants to talk."
Danny swallowed, a mixture of emotions swirling in his chest, but before he could ask more, Vlad's next words cut through the tension like ice.
"But I didn't know how to tell you."
And with that, the room fell silent, leaving Danny standing there, stunned, as the weight of Vlad's words hung in the air.
- To Be Continued -
Oh, Thats pretty weird, after all this time she finally wants to make up, why? How would Danny react, only I know haha.
A/N: I'm trying to debate whether I should rewrite the first few chapters since I've evolved so much as a writer, or should just leave it as it is. Anyways thanks for reading, Update soon :D
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