Author's Notes:

I love this chapter, I think it's one of my favorite that I've written so far. *.*
Hope you enjoy! ^o^

All the air left Danny's lungs and he was silent for a moment. "You? That boy...was you?"

"Yes" the other replied nonchalantly.

"Why are you telling me this?" he asked turning himself to face the man and propped himself up on his elbow.

Vlad shrugged. "Honestly, I don't know. It just seemed fair after everything you've told me about yourself. Sorry, I know that I kind of killed the happy mood."

"No offense but you kinda didn't exactly."

"Hm, really?"

"I mean it was a sad story sure, but I'm kind of glad that you told me. I just... a while back when I said that you knew more about me than anyone else you said that it was the same with you. And I sorta doubted that, but now... I don't know I just feel closer. I mean what you said to me isn't something you tell just anyone so thank you for trusting me with this."

Vlad smiled at him, but the smile seemed different to Danny; less guarded and closed off. He returned the smile and held the other's gaze until he felt his face turn green in embarrassment and lets his eyes slide away, looking back up at the stars again. He cleared his throat awkwardly hoping that the man hadn't noticed and turned human.

"I really love it here. It's so serene and secluded that it feels like you could hide from life here," A firefly landed on the teen's nose and he let out a laugh before continuing. "It's like a whimsical hideaway."

"One of the perks of living in the middle of nowhere," the older half said a laugh in his voice. "I knew you would like it here." He turned human as well and extinguished the pink light.

Now the whole place was illuminated by the ruddy gold light cast by the lightning bugs. The younger noticed just now the other's attire. Instead of his normal formal attire he was in a plain black polo shirt, jeans and sneakers. 'I haven't seen him like this before... he looks relaxed and open and... I want to see him like this all the time.' "Thank you for taking me here." He said after a few beats.

"Honestly I didn't even think that you would come here."

"Why not?" he asked confused.

Vlad raised an eyebrow. "Oh I don't know, someone randomly shows up at your house, tells you they have a surprise for you but won't tell you were or what it is. Most people wouldn't be so keen on coming along."

"Well you were pretty persistent," he huffed, face tinting. "And I wasn't planning on coming along anyway."

"Then why did you?"

The younger halfa was feeling happy, warm and for once, relaxed, the emotions working on him like a drug. He closed his eyes and sighed. "You make me want to do stupid things. You make me feel reckless...and fearless. I feel like I can be myself around you and not just be some perfect hero like everyone expects me to be. That I'm allowed to be afraid, sad or happy around you and you wouldn't judge me no matter what."

The fireflies and stars play with the shadows, creating dabbled patterns to fall onto them. The impossibly blue pond shimmers like a sapphire, and a soft breeze dances over them; it was...perfect.

Just when the teen feels like he's about to fall asleep the other man speaks. "It's getting late, we should get you home."

Danny feels like he never wants to leave so he doesn't answer right away. "Yeah, you're probably right." He says, trying and failing to keep disappointment from leaking into his voice.

"I don't want you to look like a zombie on your first day of school." He says trying to cheer the other up.

He giggled. "Why not? I'll fit right in that way," he holds his hand out to the other, grinning sleepily. "Okay Mr. Magician, teleport us."

He returned the smile, accepted the other's hand and did as he was told.

The younger halfa felt a rush of air and found that they had been teleported directly onto his bed; he had expected the man to stand him up and then teleport. "Show off." He grumbled.

"I don't have the slightest idea as to what you are talking about." He replied grinning.

"Dummy." He bantered. 'Hm, I left the lights on.' He thought offhandedly

"Yee haw!!"

Both Danny and Vlad jumped, the older halfa falling off the bed (he had been laying on the edge) and hitting his head.

"Haha! I got you ye prairie dogs!" Youngblood cackled.

"Youngblood what the fuck!?" the teen fumed, face crimson, before he remembered that he was talking to a ghost kid. "Shit, sorry little dude. I mean- Gah! Someone stop me from cursing in front of the seven year old!" he said facepalming.

The little cowboy's eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms. "I am older than the two of you combined," he said pointing to the two halfas "Believe me, I've heard worse. I just look like a kid because I choose to. Got it?"

"Chill dude, I got it." The younger halfa said holding up his hands. Vlad propped himself up, holding his forehead in one hand. "Oh sorry!" he apologized before scrambling off of the bed and helping him up, mortified. "Uh Vlad this is Youngblood, Youngblood this is Vlad."

"Delighted to make your acquaintance." The man said.

"You should have seen your faces! You were like 'Ah!' and he was all like 'Eek!' it was great!" the Cowboy laughed.

"I do not go eek!" Danny protested, face flaming.

The other halfa snickered.

"Whose side are you one?" he deadpanned, crossing his arms.

"Sorry." Vlad apologized, struggling not to laugh.

"Don't get mad at me, I'm the one who covered for you." Youngblood said floating above them.

"Angry." The older halfa corrected.

"Who made you the grammar police?"

"What do you mean you covered for me?" the teen asked, ignoring their bickering.

Alter (Youngblood's parrot-well horse now) decided to pick that moment to pop up next to the halfas "We came over but you weren't here. Then we heard your parents come home so we went downstairs. When they asked where you were we figured that you had snuck off without them knowing so we said that you were sleeping."

"Oh, well thank you both," The younger halfa said scratching the back of his head awkwardly. "So why are you still here?"

"We wanted to see where you had gone. Duh!" the cowboy said still floating above them.

"Oh yes that makes perfect sense." He said dryly.

"Geez you're cranky, upset that I interrupted you date?~" Youngblood laughed

The teen's face exploded crimson. "It wasn't-it's not- I just don't like people lurking in my room, especially nosey little cowpokes!" he said fumbling for an excuse.

"Hey at least it's me here and not Johnny! He totally would have ransacked the place by now!"

"Yeah well-" he was about to hurl another argument when he heard a muffled laugh. He looked over and saw the other covering his mouth with one hand trying, unsuccessfully, to stifle his laughter.

"What's so funny?" Danny demanded

"You're arguing with a floating ghost cowboy kid... and losing!" he said laughing.

The younger glared at him unsuccessfully for about two seconds before laughing as well.

"Well at least your ghost mate knows how to lighten you up." The cowboy said laughing.

"Ghost mate? I thought you had quit it with the pirate lingo." The teen asked confused.

"But Johnny- ah forget it," the ghost kid said, dismissing the matter with a wave of his hand. "So do you think that you have time for a western style face off?"

"Tomorrow school starts," he said apologetically and glanced at the clock. "Shit! It's nearly midnight! We can play tomorrow okay? Now if you don't mind I have to get to bed."

"Yes sire pardner, and tomorrow we shall have a standoff!" the cowboy said before dropping the act for a moment. "Oh and I'm thinking about changing the cowboy look. I was thinking of either a knight, prince, soldier or wizard ooh or maybe a superhero! Can you help me decide later?"

"Sure Youngblood."

"Super! Bye Danny, Vlad!" The kid said happily before phasing through the ceiling.

"Nice to meet you Vlad, night Danny." Alter said before following the cowboy.

"Geez, those guys." He sighed; shaking his head smiling before rummaging through his drawers, got a random pair of pajamas and went to his bathroom, shutting the door behind him. He changed at Superman speed and stepped out only to find Vlad standing awkwardly in the middle of his room. "Shit sorry, I almost forgot you were there." He said quickly apologizing.

"It's fine, I just didn't know if you wanted me to go or not." He explained rubbing the back of his neck.

"Oh...well it's your choice. I mean I already feel like a jerk about how you always come here in the middle of the night whenever I have a nightmare." The teen said as he went to plug in the nightlight, feeling embarrassed as he did so. Sure, the other knew he had a nightlight but it was different since this time he actually had to plug it in front of the other. 'Great, I couldn't possibly look more like a little kid right now.' he thought as he flicked off the light switch.

"I really don't mind Badger. And anyway I feel like a jerk for keeping you out so late." 'That and I've gotten much too used to sleeping here.' He added silently.

"If that's what you want." The younger halfa said climbing into bed, followed by the other. This time, though they still had a respectable distance between each other, they lied facing each other, he threw the blanket over both of them. "Night Fruitloop" he said followed by a stifled yawn.

"Goodnight Badger."

Author's Notes:

Don't you hate it when your date/not date gets interrupted by a ghost cowboy kid? I know I do. XD
I really don't include anybody's thought except Danny's but I sooo had to include Vlad's thoughts here. XD
Yay! Our two goofballs are finally getting along! Or at least sorta moving past awkwardness?
Alter is the name I came up with for Youngblood's little assistant, I demand all of you to like the name! Lol, kidding.