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[godrej146noida]

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[cimmanonrowl]

Hi, I saw that you’re taking dbf requests for Hotch! Could I request a fic with dbf!Hotch where he finally makes a move on reader during a party being hosted by her dad? Also, I love your fics sm!!

Dress

It was your father’s appointment party as Chief Justice when lawyers and businessmen overtly offer their sons as your marriage prospects. All while Aaron Hotchner listened quietly beside you, you can tell that he’s not too happy about it.

Pairing: dbf!aaron hotchner x bfd!reader

Theme: spicy hotshot

Contents: age gap, making out, angry confession.

The decorous garden of your home residence was filled with a crowd of guests long before the party officially started. Prominent people of different names and titles— some of your father’s business partners and colleagues in the Supreme Court, and some family friends you barely recognize— draped in their finest garments and overtly high status in society.

Pleasantries and polite conversations were exchanged; and as your father greeted each one of his dear friends, you had no other choice but to stay beside him all the time and be on your best behavior.

“You have a very nice house here, Chief Justice,” Emilia Kane— one of your father’s business partners as you recalled— said with a dainty smile.

You mirrored her small nod when she glanced at you, smiling politely at the woman and the other two beside her. “Good evening, Ma’am.”

“Good evening, dear. You look absolutely gorgeous…” She took a sip of her champagne and raked your outfit subtly, a kind smile on her face. “What year are you in University now?”

“She just graduated a month ago, Emilia. She’s entering Harvard Law this fall, haven’t I told you yet?” Your father intercepted proudly, making you purse your lips as you initially intended to answer the question.

The woman beamed in amazement as she glanced at you. “Oh my, congratulations! I’m so sorry I didn’t know.”

“She graduated top of her class.”

You sighed lightly, glancing at your father. “Dad…”

“I’m sure you’ve seen the photos, Emilia. I posted everything on my social accounts...” Father dear went on, still smiling widely.

“Dad, please.”

“Oh, did you?” The woman said in awe, alternating her amused gaze between you and your father. “And did he get you a new car, dear? An apartment? What did he get you for your graduation?”

“I wanted to give her all thos—”

“No, dad…” You shook your head, chuckling.

“Well, I rented an entire villa in Mykonos for her and her friends. She just got back from Greece yesterday.”

“Dad!” Heat crept in your cheeks as he continued. This conversation is making you sound like a hopeless case of a spoiled brat when it wasn’t entirely true. You might appear spoiled for other people at times but not on a hopeless— certainly not on a spoiled brat level.

“Oh, dear, you’re fine…” The other woman chuckled sympathetically. “I bought my son a new Porsche just because he didn’t get himself kicked out of University. I’m sure your father’s just proud.”

You shyly darted your gaze at your dad as you felt his palm on your linked arms. “Why won’t I be? She’s my only daughter...”

The light conversation continued and was only interrupted when a couple of new guests approached your father. Several familiar faces of lawyers and judges; some from your father’s law firm and some from the Supreme Court. Over the past years, you got to know most of them, making you fix your posture and remind yourself to smile more pleasantly.

So you stood there prettily in silence, smiling, as you accepted their handshakes.

“You look beautiful, hija…”

You beamed at the compliment. “Thank you, attorney. Good evening.”

“Have you seen Marcus around? He told me he’d look for you.”

“Marcus?” You perked your eyebrows in curiosity. “Is he home already?”

The innocent question made your father chuckle a bit. “Yes, sweetie. I told you I played golf with them last week, remember?”

A bashful smile tugged at your lips as you looked at Attorney Jensen. They’re one of your closest family friends. His son, Marcus, is one of the kids you grew up hanging around with at law firm parties and at weekend golf clubs. He’s a nice kid... but everything turned weird when everyone started pairing you both as teenagers.

Your father must’ve told you about Marcus’ arrival but you’re sure you didn’t care enough the first time that you missed the entire story when he called.

“Well, I’m sure he’s just around...” You said with a sweet smile.

Minutes dragged by and their conversations continued. You stood beside your father in silence, occasionally engaging in the small talk. Some of the men asked about your education, your plan after law school, and your love life— all of which you answered as briefly and politely as possible.

“Sir, it’s time to prepare for your opening speech—” You turned in the organizer’s direction when you heard her voice.

You stared at your father expectantly. Well, it’s not like he would need your help in preparing for his speech. He’s a Chief Justice for heaven’s sake, surely he can do that alone. You just hope he’s not thinking of leaving you alone with these men.

“Thank you, Laura…” Your father turned to glance down at you. “Honey, would you mind staying here for a whi— never mind— Aaron!”

Your heart almost burst into ashes with the sudden cry of your father. You quickly followed his line of sight— immediately being greeted by the sight of your father’s dear best friend since University days.

Aaron Hotchner.

He’s in a well-polished suit. His dark hair was clean cut and even from afar, you can see the light stubble on his jaw. And Jesus Christ, how can someone look that good?

“Chief Justice,” He greeted your father with an equally wide yet endearing smile, deftly shaking hands while your father chuckled heartily.

Aaron turned to you with a timid smile, opening his arms as a little invitation. You noticed the hint of hesitation on his face with that. Yet still, you accepted the hug before placing a quick and delicate kiss on his cheek, your hands shaking as you perched both your palms on his arm.

“I’ll excuse myself for a while. Will you look after her, Aaron?” You heard your father say as you scrambled to step away from Aaron’s embrace.

He wetted his lower lip before nodding, not even daring to look at you. “Yeah, sure.”

Embarrassment licked your skin as you watched your unsuspecting father walk away. The moment he was completely out of sight, you felt Aaron’s gentle hand snaking at the low of your back, securing you from the waist— as if preventing you from running away from him.

Effortlessly, he engaged in conversations as he settled beside you. And just like earlier, you fell silent as everyone else was busy in their own conversations.

“How about you, are you planning to get married soon after graduating from Harvard Law?”

You smiled lightly as a couple of guests whirled their attention back to you. “I’m afraid I’ll have to look for a boyfriend first, attorney.”

Aaron’s thumb started rubbing soft strokes at your waist. He seemed to be doing that unconsciously because when you glanced at him, he was talking to another group of guests standing at his side.

“So you’re currently looking for a boyfriend?”

“Not really, no...” You chuckled awkwardly. “But if I meet a good one, why not?”

The older man took a huge swig of his brandy. “I have a son. He’s in DC. Surgeon.”

You nodded with an unsure smile. What do you even do with that kind of information?

“That’s impressive...” You said instead.

“He’s also looking for a girlfriend. I can hook you up if you like. I mean, he also graduated from Harvard—”

“That’s kind of you, attorney, but as I said I’m not really looking…”

“My son’s an architect. I believe your father mentioned you’re into art, is that correct?” Another man interrupted, taking an interest in the conversation.

“Yes, attorney…” You gave him a small smile.

Although this night wasn’t meant for you in any way, you’re aware that you are your father’s reflection to these people. You know how crucial it is that you remain polite as much as possible.

“Just a few dates, what do you say?” He offered with a humorous smile. “Come on, maybe we can merge our firms one day. You know, I don’t have any successor of my own. My son’s an architect.”

“It’s not her fault your son chose architecture,” Attorney Jensen cut off before you can reply for yourself. “Besides, my son has been courting her since they were young. He went home this year just to ask her out officially.”

Your breath hitched as you felt Aaron’s grip on your waist tighten. You glanced up at him in confusion, only to see that his usually kind eyes turned piercing, his eyebrows pulled into a tight frown. He seemed mad— furious. He looked furious at the incredulity he was hearing.

You glanced away, not sure what to make of that.

“I believe we need to go to our tables now...” Aaron said formally, his voice deep and serious. His eyes were pointed at his old colleagues and other businessmen.

You smiled at the waiting guests. “I believe I still want to hear what they’re saying...”

Aaron turned to you in disbelief, his scowl deepened.

“About?”

“About their sons.”

You watched Aaron with an innocent look, tilting your head a little, calming the rapid beating of your heart as you saw him let out a sigh of frustration.

Attorney Jensen chuckled at the sight. “Oh, come on now, Aaron. She’s a grown woman, plus it’s just a few dates. It won’t hurt surely.”

“Surely...” You nodded along, glancing at the other men. “It won’t hurt to try.”

You bit your lower lip as Aaron leaned into your ear. His hot breath fanned over your skin, his deep voice sending chills to trickle down your spine.

“Continue this conversation, young lady, and let’s see what will happen.”

The horrified look on your face drew laughter from the guests. They must’ve thought Aaron was threatening to tell this to your father. So you turned away, your smile dropping as you looked around apologetically.

Your father’s voice from the make-shift stage snatched everyone’s attention from you and the conversation. Some marshalls started ushering people to their seats to prepare for the opening speech of the Chief Justice. With small nods and smiles, they all marched toward their respective tables and left you on the spot with Aaron.

“Come with me.”

You staggered sidewards, looking around in slight panic. “The party’s starting.”

“We have to talk.”

“Aaron,” You sighed, eyeing the stage. “My father’s giving his speech…”

That only made him frown deeper. “You proofread that speech for him, you won’t miss anything.”

“So what if I did? I still want to listen.”

He wandered his gaze around the venue before guiding you away from the crowd. It was seldom that Aaron visited your home residence. When he and your father hang out, they usually visit bars, golf clubs, or shooting ranges. But he does know the basic layout of your house. And you know that he’s leading you inside your home this time.

Deep down, you feel like you know exactly where he wants to talk.

“What exactly do you think you’re doing?” He blurted out angrily the moment you stepped inside your room.

You whirled around to face him, crossing your arms across your chest as you heaved a tired sigh.

“What, Aaron?”

He took a step forward. “Is that your way of getting back at me?”

You shrugged, still confused about the point he was making. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You perfectly know what I’m talking about.”

A beat of silence.

Then realization dawned, making you smile in pure resignation.

Two months ago, you made up your mind and finally confessed to Aaron Hotchner. You’re already graduating from University. You will enter a Law School soon. What’s there to lose? Aaron had been showing the subtlest of signs that he likes you back: the way he looks at you, the way he makes you feel cared for and safe, the way— you mistook everything for a reciprocated love.

He cared for you, yes.

Simply because you are your father’s extension.

So what’s this? Why bother now?

“It was clear you didn’t like me,” You whispered quietly. “Which is fine, Aaron, really. I understand— I mean, I was hurt obviously. But… but I understand. I’ll just have to move on, right?”

“You’ve no idea what you’re saying…” He mumbled hoarsely, still piercing you with his darkened gaze. With quick steps, he bridged the gap between you and cupped your cheeks on both his hands.

You swallowed thickly, forcing yourself to meet his eyes. “Aaron…”

“How can I let you move on when that thought alone is killing me?”

Your breath hitched at his words. “W-what?”

“Fuck this,” He spat angrily before placing a chaste kiss on your lips. “You’re driving me mad, sweetheart.”

The sound of muffled laughter, distant conversations, and clinking glasses filtered in through the partially open window. You can barely hear a word of what your father was saying in his speech. All you are aware of is how Aaron desperately chased your lips with hungry and deep kisses, and how the weight of his body was forcing you to blindly take several steps back.

You melted into his sinful lips, your arms snaking around his neck and pulling him closer. You felt his hands move down to your waist, gripping tightly the thin fabric of your satin dress. The sound of ragged breathing mingled in the air as he walked you backward, backward until your back finally hit the wall.

His lips trailed down your neck, nipping and leaving a wet trail of heat in your wake.

You gasped, your fingers tangling in his hair as you arched into him. “Aaron…”

“God, I’ve wanted this for so long,” he murmured against your skin, his voice rough with desire. His big, calloused hands roamed over your body, exploring, familiarizing you.

“Aaron, what are you—” You rasped weakly as he broke another kiss, pressing his forehead against yours.

“Don’t do that again…” He whispered back, breathing heavily as he closed his eyes. “I’ll figure it out. I’ll think of something, I’ll do something just don’t—”

“Don’t what, Aaron?”

“You’ve no idea what you were saying. Your confession— how can you think that I don’t like you?”

“Well…” You blushed, still catching your breath. “You didn’t say anything after, then you sent me home. You didn’t attend my graduation. You didn’t reply to my texts or even congratulate me.”

“You told me I don’t have to say anything…”

“Well, technically, if you didn’t say anything then you don’t like me.”

“You really have no idea what you’re saying, darling.”

You shivered at his whispered words, feeling a surge of boldness. Your hands found the button of his shirt, eager to feel the warmth of his skin. You clumsily tugged on his tie and ripped his clothes off of him, tossing them aside.

Aaron Hotchner could only watch in anticipation as you let the strap of your dress fall on the soft curve of your shoulders... until all your clothes quickly became a forgotten pile on the floor, your moans intertwining like ropes in the party-stained air.

As always, any thoughts and reactions are highly appreciated. Plus, to anon who requested this, YOU ARE AN ANGEL. I loved crafting this with this plot, and hopefully, you liked it as much as I do! See you all on the next ones, we have a few other good requests!

[absolutefilthimsosorry]

Spoilers for DnP Incohearent!!!!

I’m having so much fun trying to solve these that I made a list to keep track! Message if you can help me fill in any I’m missing or if I’ve got any wrong!!!

Also lmk if you see any I’ve missed!! I’m going to keep updating this and have it unrebloggable but you can reblog this post to have a link to it!

These are all gathered from this post and this post so check the notes on those first to try to solve them then look here if you need answers!

Sow march cheer ray = so much cherry

Wee nay urn for uke oye yer tub = we’ve never fucked on youtube?

Ta fold in fig = the golden pig

Feed hay hid eho = vday video

Tat he won ape hit morse him he = daddy want a bit more simmy

Watt ken ice hay = what can I say

North key bus teabag king = naughty busty baking

Fool tie enter nit hobo / fall tie mint her nepo moe / fault aye mint earn are ohm owe/ foul thyme inch hermit hole mold = full time internet homo

Cumin mile aid deed or = come in my ladydoor

Hum hay zinc tan = amazingdan

Elven ower fug sedge own = eleven hour fuck session

An berry moth ribeye adam stir = and every month we buy a hamster

March rest array = Manchester eye

Cyst herding yell = sister daniel

Add a ding teps = editing tips

Cop dubai khaki luna = topped by kakuna

Late eat tore = ladydoor

Half tugger etch two eggs cyst = have the courage to exist

Perish she end wink = Parisian twink

Coal ten big/ goal then pick = golden pig

Cyst ordain yell = sister daniel

Train youth inks = try new things

Gay mean moss/ gain ink mass = gamingmas

Soften need = soft and neat

A wools lied = owl slide

Topper bought them hill = top or bottom Phil

Coat fit firenze = golf with friends???

Few ours pig meow fits = viewers pick my outfits

Read less tar = red lester

Eye eight soup igloo = I ate super glue

Insight youth era too walls = inside you there are two wolves

Mine amy stan = my name is Dan

Clap hella = glabella

Hiss teeth rent = hits different

Eel eyes apron kay kiss = Eliza pancakes

See pram haze ink bra jet = super amazing project

Feels lie yawn = phils lion

Fuel ease snot dawn fair = Phil is not on fire

Jaw shush ear son = josh hutcherson

Ball bull him tour food = bauble in your foot?

Sure eck = shrek

High ate dust = hiatus

Add a dink deps = editing tips

Ga hay shoom air age = gay shoe marriage

Pope eat plate aim = poppy playtime

Eat aches stu = it takes two

Goo gal few ed = google feud

Baze ick lee eye meg ay = basically I’m gay

Ko min yout ti ew = coming out to you

Ender knit subvert grew oop = internet support group

Phylis turn yar a sheen yes = PHIL LESTER YOU’RE A GENIUS

With Audi intern yet wean ed brr wood halve mat = without the internet we never would have met

Gum ban yins drool I’ve = companions through life

Reed sons wide answer flail = reasons why dans a fail

Ewan dam ah some are reed = you and Dan are so married

Denver sis fill/ Denver cis full = Dan vs Phil

Or lawn huffing = all or nothing

Dunk rye core raft = don’t cry craft

Mortal jester roam and thick/ Morph adjust row antic = more than just romantic

So wall how debris poll light = swallow to be polite???

Oar hinge art = orange heart

Foray virgo em = forever home

Chai reel loop/ share real oob = cherry lube

Cad boyd anne = cat boy dan

Far turf ill lip = father philip

Tess lit hen ink = the slittening

Forth house indie rolled or touches = four thousand year old tortoises

Hey moth swish roundup floating = a month without uploading

Jam march let pet tea an farms = Je mange les petit enfants

Day lion howl tour = Dalien Howlter

Ima let all kit = I’m a little kit

Feel pearl lays shell ter = Phil plays shelter

Fewer blue key app ending = viewer spooky happenings

Hell low iam tour reel = hello I am Toriel

Laugh tuh gey mile kuh = left to get milk

Villas eek wreck why vuh = Phil’s secret wife

Footy strain gin said dent = ___ strange incident????

Snow core play sum = snokoplasm

Nope puts cereal sleeping mage innit = no but seriously imagine it

Tear rip pulling flu hence = terrible influence

Jeff why eye aisle hike vague liner = fyi I like vagina

Eggs intense all cry cis = existential crisis

List of contributors

@fletthewreck @dandp @deadandphilgames @manchesterau @thephouseplants @awrfhi @jonsaremembers @rachosaurusrex @dapgolf @dan-whoell @dnphobe @dreamingalto @steveandscraggy @phanbeats @danandfuckingjonlmao @pepper-pastry @yonpote @un-interactive-introvert @spaniel-trowel @sisterdanieldyke @queerdnp @morganadelacour @amid-fandoms @spectral-kitkat @goingpheral @angelzonearth @wdapteo @2009phan @dansevilpianotea

[nerdieforpedro]

Weddings 101 with Dieter

Chapter Three: Meeting the Family

Dieter Bravo x plus size OFC (Maya)

Fanfiction 18+

Masterlist / Dieter Bravo Masterlist / Weddings 101 with Dieter Series/ AO3 Link

Word Count: approx 5.2k

Summary: Maya is awoken to Dieter having a vivd dream that benefits both of them. They go off to the separate events, Maya to the start of wedding stuff and Dieter to his golf press appearance. Maya is not enjoying herself at all and Dieter continues his beef with Oscar Issac. Daisy comes through for the win.

Warnings: self-doubt, sexy clouds, Dieter is a grabby menace, grinding, biting, sucking, vivid dreams, mutual masturbation, more bad nicknames, more Oscar Issac slander, body worship, one rouge mushroom, Dieter's MOUTH

Notes: Dieter has been chillin’ in my brain for the last few weeks. After posting chapter two, I started writing chapter 3 and here is where we are. I’m going for a rom-com vibe because Pedro hasn’t been in any and that saddens me greatly. He’d be so good in one! 😫 I’m aware that Pedro and Oscar are best buddies in real-life, I just wanted to add to the comedy for Dieter having a beef another actor and since he got mad about Star Wars last time, it was perfect.

Groggy, Maya opened her eyes, things were blurry and she couldn’t make anything out. She felt warm, maybe even a little hot. Not sure why, it was comfortable so she dozed back to sleep. An hour later, she awoke again, feeling like she had a new lease on life. She didn’t remember any of her dreams, never did, but felt a sense of unexplained joy. When she moved, things became more apparent.

She’s chest to chest with Dieter, laying on top of him. One leg is draped over his hips and her hand is cradling the back of his head. Her face on his chest and hears his heartbeat, surprisingly slow to her. He’s really sleeping comfortably with her weight on him like this. More shocking than that is she didn’t feel like moving. His body was sturdy, not something she imagined when thinking of Dieter. Lips parted slightly as his chest rises and falls, just listening to him soothes her nerves. Maybe this isn’t so bad. I mean I didn’t mean to be in his bed the first night here, but like this isn’t horrible. I wonder if he’d be startled if he woke up right now, wait…what time is it?

Maya recalled what Bravo’s assistant had mentioned yesterday, that he had somewhere to be at noon. Some press thing maybe, but whatever it was, she needed to know the time now. She didn’t hear anyone else in the villa that she could tell so maybe it wasn’t quite time yet. No alarm was going off so it should at least be before eleven. Now the next question, how should she wake him up? Just push his head, pinch him, move her leg, poke him… something may already be poking. No that’s just morning wood, it doesn’t mean what you think it means. Maya took her hand off Dieter’s head and pushed her torso up off of his chest, hearing him groan as she rolled on her back, swinging her leg quickly and brushing his erection.

A soft “Fuck baby,” was heard at the loss of the softness. Dieter was dreaming he was inside a cloud, laying on a bean bag with Kit Kat on top of him. She just was making fun of how goofy his face was with his wide cheerful smile, Just enjoying the sound of her voice as she talked and the pressure from her body, but then she floated away, saying she had to go. He reached for her and was able to wrap his arms around her, pressing his face between her cushiony bosoms instead of her stomach this time. “Shit you can’t get away. This is the best feeling, You can’t go Maya, you’re my Kit Kat dammit.” He heard loud drums suddenly, they scared him so he pressed his face deeper, turning his head side to side, the friction from his beard making his face warm. His lips found what he thought was her breastbone as he kept pressing his nose deeper, tipping his chin up, he extended his tongue and licked, tasting a mix of skin, sweat. He mumbled something into her chest and started to alternate between sucking and nibbling. The tempo of the drums changed from sounding like timpani (large orchestra drum) to snare drums that were uneven. They complemented the low sighs he heard, encouraging him to only suck harder and branch out toward her breasts. Once he did, the sighs transformed into moans, the back of his head had a familiar pressure on it from four to five different small points and his back was being raked by something sharp. It didn’t matter, all of it was euphoric, Dieter had never had a dream like this.

“Sweet Lips…sta- shit that feels good…” Her moans continued, she wrapped her arms around his head, to keep his head at her breasts. Maya’s thighs pressed together, she expected to be able to get out the bed but now she was participating in whatever dream Dieter seemed to be having. A dream about her. She was pleasantly surprised, but worried, she still didn’t know what time it was and didn’t want the assistant or anyone else walking in and seeing them like this. Bravo had pulled up her shirt and bra to access her breasts, it was why she thought he was awake, but despite her increasing moans and calling his name, he didn’t respond, just kept sucking and teasing her. She knew whenever she did get up, she’d need to wash her panties and shorts as they were soaked. His hardness kept grazing her knee and thigh, moist with what was likely his own precum. “Fuck, it’s just there…Dieter it’s not fair…Mmm…” He grazed her nipple with his teeth and she yelped, digging her fingers into his scalp before grabbing the base of his neck. Using her thighs, she was able to provide some friction to his cock as he kneaded and suckled on her breasts.

While Dieter was trapped within the warmth of his Kit Kat cloud, he felt the pressure of a firm water mattress around his cock. The fabric of his pants were a hindrance in identifying the true nature of the presence he felt providing his throbbing member some relief. His hips started to jerk as he grew closer to his release, moving faster the more he heard cursing along with his name. He managed to work both nipples into his mouth as he climaxed into his pants and onto the warm water bed. Taking his head from the breasts he was so fond off, his world view began to change

He was on a mattress, but there were no water or clouds, instead there were pillows, sheets and Maya. Her shirt was raised along with her bra and her breasts were slightly swollen and in his hands as he still massaged them gently. His face cooled from the departure as he looked up at a wondrous sight, Maya panting looking down at him, her eyes fluttering trying to focus but unable to. Her hand was on his neck. He looked down and his pants were wet with not only his spend, but some of hers that had leaked from her shorts. Dieter was conflicted, he was coming down from an excellent sex dream induced high that he had acted out with the person he had been dreaming about. The question was, is she okay with what he did? He wasn’t sure if the effects of Molly had worn off yet and she was perhaps more sensitive and hadn’t been alright at all with him touching her. “Maya, are you alright? I was having an intense dream and it looks like I-”

“Dee, you’re not fair at all. How the hell are you going to be so good at that while asleep?! It’s not right, I’ve never been happier about having sore breasts.” Maya sighed and cupped his cheek. She giggled and he exhaled, that’s one elephant out of the room, the second would be equally as worrisome. “I felt more sensitive. Is that because of the juice I drank last night? What was in there?” Dieter closed his eyes and placed a hand on her hip, pulling her shirt down. Her breasts were distracting and this needed to be said with the proper attention, though he was surprised that she remembered feeling off and drinking the juice, did she remember what she told him last night?

“Well that juice was supposed to be for my two day golf press tour. I show up, take pictures and do some autographs. It’s boring but pays well. I drink my juice spiked with some Molly to put me in a better mood for it.” He explained, his fingers tapping to the drums he had heard in his dream. 

“Ah that explains it. I felt real giggly and very bendy? Flexible? No.” She paused, trying to find the right word to describe it. She had sensed something was off, but didn’t mind it. She recalled drinking a lot of water as well too. “Open! That’s the right word! Open to any and everything. It’s a fun feeling like someone took out all my worries, but scary now that I think about it. Anyway I should have asked what was in your fridge given you told me that it was the most fun you’d had just by drinking.” Her laugh told Dieter that maybe things were alright for now, he didn’t need to ask about what she mentioned in the kitchen. Her soft lips kissed his head as she rolled away from him, popping up out of the bed. Scanning the room, Maya didn’t see a clock at the bedside or on the wall. She also didn’t see her phone either. It turned out she was in her room instead of Dieter’s so it should be in here. Maybe she left it downstairs after setting the alarm. 

Dieter got up on all fours and crawled to the edge of the bed, “Looking for something?” He wiggles his butt as Maya turns and she giggled, using a finger to poke his forehead. 

“I’m looking for my phone, a clock or any indication of time. You have to be showered and dressed by noon and I should be getting to the introductory brunch with everyone.” Her hand went to his curls, using her nails to run along his scalp and she was sure he purred. Dieter lowered his head to allow her to continue, a low hum mixed in with the purrs. “Enjoy that my fluffy boy? I can massage it more later tonight.” She paused, “Oh! Sugar Li-“

“Fluffy boy or Dieter is perfect Maya.” He ran his palm along the forearm of her hand that was atop his head, he looked up and smirked, “That’s a promise Kit Kat. I’ll hold you to it. Ask me if I enjoy it again. Say my name this time.” He moved closer to the edge of the bed and wrapped his arms around her hips, his cheek on her stomach, listening as it churned with hunger. He gave it a swift peck and nuzzled into her belly further.

This time, she used both hands to graze the top of his head, feeling his soft curls and spotting flashes of gray within the chocolate brown. She looked down, resisting the urge to pull him up and take his lips, he appeared content to hold her. Maya took a quiet rasp, closing her eyes as she explored his crown, “Do you enjoy my fingers grazing your scalp Dieter?”

“Abso-fuckin’…Yes. Yes.” Bravo panted, his hand trailed from her lower back to her round ass, filling his hand and started to knead it as he had her breasts. “Maya, what time do you absolutely need to be at that family brunch thing?” His face emerged out of her belly and peered up at her, his eyes pleading. If she came with him, he might not need the orange juice for the press interactions, though he may inspire other questions that had nothing to do with his projects. She cupped his face and opened her eyes, Maya felt she could be too easily swayed by his eyes so she focused on his lips and how pink they were. Also a bad move. 

“Need to be there by one. You can stop by after your press thing. After brunch, there’s going to just going to be some family gathering stuff and then I plan to make it an early dinner so I can bail. Though I’ll need to bring the bridesmaid dress because my mother and the bride’s mother will want to see all of us in them.” A long sigh followed. He could tell she wasn't looking forward to this at all, was it the dress itself, the people, the comparison with the other bridesmaids, both mothers? He’ll see how long he’d need to be at the golf event and as soon as he can, he’s getting out of there to come get Maya out of there. “You need to get ready though, then I can get ready.” An empty chuckle left her lips as she released his head and Dieter followed suit and let her go. He rolled to his side of the bed and retrieved his phone. It was only half after ten. He let her know and went downstairs to heat up the pizza and eat it, Maya found her phone on the kitchen island, it was at five percent so she plugged it in when she went up to her room briefly. 

Sitting and eating pizza together, they laughed and Dieter pouted when she brought up Oscar Issac again. He threw a mushroom at her, hitting her arm. She picked it off and ate it as they played around and ate. Finally when they finished, they went to their respective rooms and showered. Dieter put on a button down short sleeve shirt that was split down the middle - one half had zebra print and the other half had cheetah print on it. Daisy, who had been MIA the entire night nipped at Dieter’s ankles before he slipped on his gray boxer briefs, the elastic settling just under his round pouch of a belly and sitting on his hips. He picked up the goat and kissed her forehead. “You traitor. You left me last night. Still love you though.” The small goat baahed at him and licked his chin, its rough tongue made him laugh. He needed to pick out pants though, he didn’t really care so he pulled out a black pair when he heard a soft knock at his door. “Come in, you don’t need to knock Kit Kat. It’s only us two here and Daisy.”

Retrieving his black slacks, he set Daisy on the bed and the pants as well before sitting on the bed and putting on some white socks and his pants. He had the pants around his knees when he turned to see Maya who stood in the doorway looking away shyly. A grin crossed his face and her spun around and pulled the back of his shirt up, wiggling his ass at her. He heard her laugh, “Better than Oscar’s right?” She shook her head and he pulled up his pants and buttoned them, bitting his lips in frustration.

“Objectively I can’t lie to you Sugar Lips.” Maya chuckled, walking to sit on the bed and pet Daisy. She wore a dress that had a deep V in front, the base was white and it had lines of gold, green, brown ovals and various splashes of orange. It was nearly to the floor so only her feet poked out when she walked. Her hair was pinned up in a neat bun and she wore gold earrings. It was the fuchsia color on her lips that drew the most attention, it made her lips appear fuller then they already were. “But you’ve got other things Oscar doesn’t so don’t fret so much and I’ll try not to tease you about it.”

Dieter plopped down next to her as Daisy hopped to the floor, sauntering around. “What other things huh? And with that lipstick, I should call you Sugar Lips.” He laid his hand over hers and he remembered, “I don’t have your number Maya. I can’t send you pictures of Daisy or eggplant emojis.” 

“You’re impossible. It can’t just be texts and memes? Eggplants, really?” 

“Yeah and maybe some of the things that might be better than that man. Stupid bubble butt.” He stood to retrieve his phone and sat back down, unlocked it and handed it to Maya. “Put your number in and save yourself as…” He thought for a moment. 

“Mi Reina (My queen).” 

“Oh? What does that mean?” She did as he asked and entered her number and saved it.

Bravo laid his head on her shoulder and spoke into her ear, “I’ll tell you tonight while you’re rubbing my head again and I’m in your lap.” He licked her earlobe and scooped up Daisy who had returned, making his way to the door. One hand sent her a text to ensure she has his number too. “Let me know what you save me as Kit Kat. We should head downstairs. It’s eleven thirty.” The grin never left his face and he felt confident he had enticed her enough. Maya stopped on the way down to grab her phone, purse, brown sandals and a garment bag before meeting Dieter downstairs on the living room couch. Draping the bag over the back of the couch she sat next to Dieter and cut her eyes at him.

“Despite you being impossible at times,” Her hand touched her cool earlobe that previously had his tongue on it, “it’s also one of the charms you possess, Dieter.”

“I have charms now? Not just impossible?”

“You know you do. That mouth of yours is- ” Dieter places one hand at the side of her thighs and parted his lips after licking them. 

“My mouth is what, Maya?” He taunts, he leans like he’s going to kiss her but stops. “I can’t mess up your lipstick of course. Tell me what it does for you bebita (baby girl).” Lips graze her neck and his hands move up to her thighs, his tongue trails down to just above her breasts. Warm breath against her skin, her hands snaked to hold his soft sides. “Let me hear what I heard this morning. I’ll be thinking about it while answering those asinine questions. Por favor (please).” His chin touched her breast and he groaned, hearing Maya trying to stifle her moans only had him press his fingers into her thighs more. Dieter used his teeth to nibble gently on her breast which made her finally give him what he wanted, a deep bellow of pleasure. 

“Your mouth is dangerous, shit Dieter. Please, it’s almost time-” One hand was moving up to his head but she stopped herself and just held the back of his neck. She couldn’t pull him away, her back was curving into his face.

“Just a little longer cariño (dear).” His teeth started on her other breasts softly nibbling before a ‘swip’ was heard. Dieter stopped and peered over the back of the couch. Daisy had tugged on Maya’s garment bag and pulled it to the floor. “Daisy, you really are a traitor.” he reluctantly stood up and picked up the garment bag, draping it back over the couch as Maya straightened her dress back out.

“Daisy’s helping both of us out. That should be saved for when we’re alone.” Zack and two drivers were making their way in the villa. Dieter hadn’t heard them come in at all. The click of his tongue told the assistant that he likely had interrupted something but there was a schedule to keep. 

“Um, sir. Sorry to interrupt, but we should leave. Good morning Ms. Maya.” He smiled brightly. Dieter sighed and gave Kit Kat a peck on the cheek, she took his hand and whispered to him,

“I think I’m going to move up the time table on fucking you Sugar Lips.” Bravo’s eyes widened, she remembered saying that? Maya’s other hand gave his ass a solid squeeze. “For the record, I like your ass better than Oscar’s.” With that, she walked out with one of the drivers who carried her purse and garment bag as she hopped in the car and departed. Zack gave his boss a few minutes, thankfully he had built in time just in case the award winner wasn’t ready, but he ended up clearing his throat to bring Dieter back to reality. He made sure to grab his orange juice on the way out. The star followed his assistant and sat in the back of the car with Daisy, uncomfortably hard and looking out the window thinking of a way to bail on this event and drop by that brunch.

Maya wasn’t fairing much better, shifting around in the back of the car as the villa disappeared behind her. Her hands ran along the garment bag and then her thighs where Dieter’s hands had been. “Smooth bastard. I’ll need to see if they have a CVS or Walgreens here for some condoms. I can’t get it out of my head from this morning. I won’t tease him as much when I get back.” A soft smile graced her lips as she watched the trees slowly change into buildings, getting closer to the hotel. The Hilton was a nice hotel yes, but she was only looking forward to seeing her mother, father and brothers. Both sides of the now joining family proved to be insufferable at the engagement and bridal shower. It’s why she skipped the bachelorette party, a fact that the bride’s mother never failed to mention. 

Arriving at the hotel in a black audi did give her an air of satisfaction as some of the family members watched her walk in, her white dress with its pattern flowing behind her in the warm sun. Maya made her way to the main room where she knew brunch was in progress and spotted her mother, making a bee line for the short woman in her four inch heels, gray dress and gold bangles and rings. She wore them due to the residual effects of her rheumatoid arthritis but moved like a woman thirty years her junior.

“Hey Sweetie! You made it! I love the lipstick. I wasn’t sure about the dress but it suits you. You look like you’re floating.” They embraced and shared a hug, rocking side to side before they parted, holding each other’s hands. 

“Hey ma, you look beautiful. There still some food around?” Maya asked and her mother shook her head. ‘This child’ she likely thought, but she did notice a small red mark at the top one of her breasts.

“I think someone may have eaten you. You have any concealer Maya? If not, I can grab you some before they come over.” She dropped her hands and walked over to a chair where her purse was a few feet away. Removing a sponge and some liquid makeup, swished her hand to indicate for her to hold her dress to the side slightly to apply the makeup. She did and blended it out with the sponge, once happy with her work, then had Maya adjust her dress again. “Is whoever this is here or coming to the wedding?”

A long sigh left Kit Kat’s lips, “Maybe, I don’t know about today, but probably later this week. He’s…different. But it’s good I think.” Maya’s mother watches as a smile crept along her face, whoever it was, this man was someone who made her happy, which was very good.

“Well, go get some food and eat. The family’s going to bop around a bit more and then they want to do the final fitting for the bridesmaid dresses. Why it couldn’t be done weeks ago is beyond me? She maybe shouldn’t have changed colors so many times.” Her mother began to gripe but stopped when she saw the look in her daughter’s face. It wasn’t the time, the complaining could happen after things were said and done. She went to track down her husband who was taking advantage of the free wine samples offered until two in the afternoon. It was one forty five so he was entitled to a full fifteen minutes of wine drinking and would not accept anything less. 

Maya went to eat some sausage, eggs, and pancakes, grabbing two of each as she had eaten pizza already this morning. It was then that the bride appeared, greeting her warmly. She wasn’t a mean or annoying woman. Well, a little annoying, but only because she didn’t listen to any of the suggestions. Which yes, it’s her wedding, Maya understood that, but she wasn’t the only larger bridesmaid and the three of them with Maya included, weren’t into the strapless design or the dress being made in lace with a slip under it. You’re in Hawaii, in a humid ass place and needed to wear shapewear in addition to a tight dress was….now you sound like your mother.

The two women hugged and briefly chatted about the trip over here. The bride said hers was smooth and really enjoyed spending time with Michael, Maya’s brother. Nodding, Maya stated that her journey here had a few hiccups but turned out to be great, knowing that she wouldn't ask any further. Maya slowly ate her food, knowing that the fitting was imminent and followed Elyssa, the bride, up to one of the eighth floor rooms where all the other bridesmaids were waiting. None of them looked excited or even tried to keep a neutral face. What had happened?

“We’re going with another new color and style ladies!” Elyssa said excitedly, everyone groaned simultaneously. This fitting just became infinitely worse.

Dieter was trying to hold off on drinking his juice. He wanted to save it for either a really tiresome interview or if he had to talk to anyone about whoever the hell was playing golf. He didn’t care, he was here because they wanted to use his appearance to promote the tournament and he could talk about some of the projects he was producing. He hadn’t found any roles recently that he wanted to be a part of since the Cliff Beasts fiasco and into writing, painting and producing. He was talking with one interviewer who was asking about some of his artwork, someone who actually bothered to do some research. It was a fun conversation, until that douche popped up. Was he even supposed to be here?

Oscar Issac - who beat him out for the Star Wars role he wanted and could frustratingly play guitar and sing. This bastard who won some nonsense poll about who had better curls between Bravo and Issac and was sporting a full well-groomed beard with splashes of gray in it. And now some other interview has mentioned his ‘cakes’ from the last movie Oscar did where he spends a fair amount with no pants on. Dieter may be in a one-sided beef with the man, but he was going to keep calm. Be cool. Just grab his orange juice to chill out. 

His assistant Zack had it though and he wasn’t nearby. “Fuck.” Dieter muttered under his breath as Oscar walked over, opening his arms for a hug. Turning on the charm, he hugged him back and patted his back, a little too hard. 

“Hey Bravo, how are you? I heard you might be here. It’s good to see you.” A pearly white smile beamed from him. Go away. I want nothing to do with you.

“Fine. Just interviews and press. What’s new with you Issac? Singing about some more hippos?” Dieter meant it to be playful, but the vitriol was clear. Oscar picked up on it and he smirked, his eyebrows raising.

“Did another stint on broadway. You ever think trying it out Bravo?” Oscar stepped closer to Dieter,  “Oh, that’s right, you’ve flamed out and can’t hack it anymore. Doing your little scribbles and paints. Cabrón (bastard).” Dieter sucked his teeth, tapping his foot as fists formed at his sides. Wasn’t one sided after all, arrogant bastard. The camera around them snapped pictures of the two men smiling and talking, unaware of the battle for the last word taking place. Daisy trotted over and took her place near Bravo’s feet. 

Oscar bent down to pet Daisy which she allowed and Dieter followed suit, it was an excellent photo op, the pair of them with a baby goat. After a few pictures, Daisy walked a foot away and the two men continued taking pictures flashing peace signs while crouched. 

“Say what you will about my acting, but my art has already made millions and I can do it well after I retire from acting. What are you gonna do? Hop on a Christmas album with Mariah Carey when she re-emerges this winter?” Dieter continued as he stood back up beaming, “You and your hippos can only dream hijo de punta (son of a bitch).” Bravo waved to the cameras, when Oscar went to stand he was met with pain. 

Not from his knees, but a bite from one Daisy who maybe was going after the back pocket of his suit pants, but got a chunk of his ass in addition to the pocket. Issac let out a loud scream as Dieter laughed, this was the best thing to ever happen at a press event. It wasn’t long before he was escorted out with his goat, assistant, and his juice he never got to drink. The organizers confirmed that yes, he would still be paid as had done the interview and pictures and that’s mainly what he needed to know, as great as it was to see Oscar finally get his, he didn’t show up there for free. 

“Tell the driver to go to the Hilton hotel. I have someone to surprise. Isn’t that right Daisy? You’re not a traitor afterall. I hope you get the taste out of your mouth.” Dieter turned to his assistant Zack who just told the driver the address of the Hilton. “You got a snack for Daisy? She couldn’t have Oscar’s taste on her lips.” His large hand rubbed the goat’s head as she softly baahed and nuzzled into his chest. Zack got out a bag that had some snacks, giving the goat some carrots to nibble on. He held onto the small animal for Dieter as he hopped out of the SUV once the arrived at the hotel. He entered and asked at the front desk about a wedding party, they pointed him in the direction of the grand ballroom where some people were standing around, some were dancing and others were eating. It seemed that they may be in between events but he didn’t see her. He knew she’d be easy to pick out in the dress he saw this morning and her figure alone. A hand appeared on his shoulder and he turned to see the top of a head so he looked down.

“You looking for someone? Are you a guest of someone hun?” A warm voice asked him, he looked down to see an older woman with reddish brown hair looking up at him with a smile. Dieter noted that she had a ring on nearly every finger and multiple bracelets on both wrists. He nodded and she chuckled, it was similar to Maya.

“I am. Would you happen to be related to Maya?” he asked as she lowered her hand, she now wore a navy blue dress with suede heels, three inches this time.

“I’m her mother, Yvette. I take it she’s staying with you. She wasn’t sure if you were coming or not. Glad that you made it.” She started to walk down a hallway. “Follow me, I’ll show you where she is. Your name hun?” Ms. Yvette looked back and Dieter scratched the back of his head, he figured things would be fine. Meeting her mom was a little weird, but it was her brother’s wedding, he’d been hoping Maya would be with him when he met her but it didn’t appear bad yet. Dieter and Yvette rode the elevator to the eighth floor where the fittings had still been taking place.

Previous: Chapter Two

Next: Chapter Four

The tag list: @katw474 @readingiskeepingmegoing

@fhatbhabie @morallyinept @pedritapascal @pascalsanctuary @nissaimmortal @grogusmum @theywhowriteandknowthings @beefrobeefcal @goodwithcheese @iamasaddie @megamindsecretlair @pamasaur @pedrodascal @marcus-is-my-muse @clawdee @trulybetty @perotovar @joelslegalwhre @josephquinnswhore @mandoisapunk @secretelephanttattoo @for-a-longlongtime @legendary-pink-dot @sin-djarin @maggiemayhemnj @rhoorl @sp00kymulderr @linzels-blog @joelmillers-whore @guelyury @laurfilijames @missladym1981 @pamasaur @alltheglitterandtheroar @din-djarins-riduur @daddy-dins-girl @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin @yorksgirl @saturn-rings-writes @gwendibleywrites @angelofsmalldeath-codeine @musings-of-a-rose @soft-persephone @javierpena-inatacvest @mysterious-moonstruck-musings @magpiepills @handspunyarns @i-own-loki

[amazingarchitecturewebsite]

Villa Near Dahao Lake, #China by Foshan Topway Design Read more: Link in bio! Photography: Ouyang Yun Foshan Topway Design: The project is a residence located near Dahao Lake Golf Course in Foshan City. The building's main body is a townhouse with a yard both at the front and the back. Considering the inadequate daylighting in the interior central space, the designers transformed the structures of the original architectural structures. They divided the long space into three sections: the front hall, the atrium and the back hall. Together with the stairs, the central space that runs up to the roof forms a daylighting atrium… #casa #villa #архитектура www.amazingarchitecture.com ✔ A collection of the best contemporary architecture to inspire you. #design #architecture #amazingarchitecture #architect #arquitectura #luxury #realestate #life #cute #architettura #interiordesign #photooftheday #love #travel #construction #furniture #instagood #fashion #beautiful #archilovers #home #house ‎#amazing #picoftheday #architecturephotography ‎#معماری (at Foshan, Guangzhou) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClK2_vjsMO7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[oblivious-aro]

Friends in Strange Places Ch. 5

What if Vlad was good instead of evil? Link to chapter 1:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14074558/1/Friends-in-Strange-Places

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Although no one was paying attention, Jazz continued her narration. Tucker and Sam sat in silence, avoiding eye contact with anyone, while Danny stared out the window.

"Hey!" Danny interrupted Jazz "I think I can see the lake!"

Jazz stopped talking and looked out the window.

"Yeah!" she said "And some of the houses. Wow, the architecture is just phenomenal!"

Tucker and Sam rushed over to look too (the lakeview was only on Danny and Jazz's side, and the Fenton parents had always been pretty lax about seatbelts).

"Finally!" Tucker pumped his fist "I am so ready to get out of this vehicle."

"There sure are a lot of trees. It's nice. Shady." Sam remarked. "Those houses are a bit much, though. Which one's Vlad's?"

"Vlad's house should be coming up right about..." Maddie scanned out the window "There!"

She pointed to a minty green house they were steadily approaching. It was decadent, but nowhere neat as large as all the other houses on the lakefront.

"Ope, there's the driveway, turn there Jack."

They turned and drove down Vlad's (very long) driveway, to find Vlad himself standing at end of it. Danny wondered if he'd been standing there long.

When Danny stepped out of the RV behind Sam and Tucker, the first thing he noticed (besides his wobbly car legs) was Vlad's outfit. He wasn't wearing his usual suit, but instead a yellow golf shirt with green stripes around the waist, sleeves, and collar tucked into khaki pants.

"Ah, The Fentons, and friends." Vlad nodded towards Sam and Tucker "Welcome to my summer villa." Vlad gestured to the beautiful structure behind him.

"Wow Vlad," Maddie said "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but this is much ritzier than the little cottage I was expecting."

"Did I say cottage on the phone? Ah, see my mother had taken to calling it 'The Cottage', and it seems at some point I picked up the habit."

"Yeah, that does sound like something Nedelya would do." Jack nodded. "I see you managed to sneak in the ol' Packer's colour scheme past her?"

"Ah, so you noticed."

"You betcha! I suppose the inside is littered with yellow trim?"

"Gold, to be precise."

"Classic Vladdie!" Jack slapped Vlad on the back, knocking the wind out of him.

"Classic Jack." Vlad wheezed.

"Alright, as much as I'd love to stand around chitchating," Maddie said "We'd better get the food we brought into a fridge."

"Oh Maddie, you're barely staying for two days, you didn't have to-"

"Oh, nonsense Vlad. You're being very generous by letting us all stay at your place, including Danny's friends. The least we can do is bring some groceries."

"Well, since you've already gone to the trouble, I suppose I'll show you the kitchen."

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While Jack and Maddie started putting the groceries away, Vlad took the kids upstairs. He dropped Sam and Jazz off at their room, and then showed Danny and Tucker theirs.

"Feel free to explore wherever you'd like in the house." Vlad said "I'll be in the office, which is just in the next room over, finishing up some straightening if you need anything." Vlad gave a small wave as he left.

Danny and Tucker's room was identical to Sam and Jazz's. The floor was made of some kind of dark hardwood, and the walls were green with thins gold designs on it. There were two beds with solid wooden frames and green covers. Mounted on the wall between the beds, above a wooden nightstand, was a golden light fixture with a little chain hanging from it.

Tucker flopped onto one of the beds.

"Springy, yet firm with just enough give." Tucker folded his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. "Very nice. And I must say, I'm a fan of all these decorative pillows."

"Seems like a bit much." Danny said "What on earth does one person need seven pillows for?"

"Sneak attack!"

Danny turned intangible as a pillow sailed through his face and hit the wall behind him.

"Hey! That's cheating!"

Danny turned tangible and stuck his tongue out at Tucker.

"Nothing you can do about it, Tuck."

Tucker crossed his arms poutily.

Danny tossed his backpack onto the other bed.

"I'm gonna go talk to Vlad real quick." he said.

"Alright, don't be too long though, cuz I definitely want to grab Sam and go house-exploring before dinner. Maybe we'll find a hidden passageway!"

"What about Jazz?" Danny asked.

"Oh yeah. I keep forgetting about Jazz. It's been a while since we've really hung out with her."

"It really hasn't." Danny rolled his eyes as he left the room.

The door next to their guestroom (which Danny assumed was the office Vlad was talking about) was open, so Danny stepped inside.

The office had the same green walls as the guestrooms, just without the gold designs. A bookshelf with glass doors took up the entire left wall. Vlad stood at the back of the room by a plain empty wooden desk.

It didn't seem like this office was used for much.

"Are you and your friends finding everything all right?" Vlad asked.

"Yeah, we're all great." Danny closed the door behind him. "So, you're telling my parents this weekend, huh?"

"Indeed. Speaking of, how did things go with your sister? You did talk to her, right?"

"Jazz? Oh yeah, I did tell her. It turned out she already knew, actually."

"Really?" Vlad's eyes widened "And you had no idea?"

"Apparently she saw me go ghost a while back, but she wanted to wait until I was ready to tell her."

"Well," Vlad blinked, his expression unreadable "It sounds like things went well then."

"Yeah."

"I'm glad." Vlad smiled.

"Me too. I didn't tell her about you, though. I wanted to make sure you were okay with that first."

"I appreciate that." Vlad nodded. "You may tell her about me. It would probably be best to have her in the loop. Especially once your parents know about me."

"Yeah." Danny nodded "Are you gonna tell them tonight?"

Vlad didn't answer right away.

"No. I think I'll do it tomorrow. Later in the day. Probably after dinner."

"I think we'll be gone before then. Mom and Dad said we'd need to set out by 2:00 so we're not home too late."

"Ah yes, I suppose you do have school Monday, don't you? I'll tell them after lunch, then." Vlad sighed. "It truly is tragic how short the weekend is."

"Agreed. You, uh, nervous?"

"I'm...trying not to think about it too much until the moment arrives. I'm going to tell them, and that's that. There's nothing to be gained in dwelling on it."

"Yeah, I get that."

There was pause in the conversation.

Danny felt like he should say more. He knew what Vlad was going through better than anyone else possibly could, but the fact of the matter was that they didn't actually know each other that well. What encouraging words could Danny offer this person who was three decades older than him, and whom he hardly ever spoke to?

"You know," Vlad said "It brings me great joy, seeing you surrounded by people who know what happened to you and accept you. I wouldn't say I've had a bad life, far from it, but I'm glad you aren't going through what I went through alone."

Vlad sounded happy, but for some reason that made Danny feel worse for him than if he'd sounded sad.

"Well, for what it's worth, you're not alone anymore Vlad. Even if my parents don't accept you, you'll still have me and my friends. Not that they won't accept you, I know they totally will."

Vlad gave Danny a tired smile.

"I certainly hope so Little Badger."

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"Ah there you are, Vlad!" Maddie smiled as Vlad entered to the kitchen. "Got the kids all situated?"

"Yes, they're all set." Vlad said "I'll show you and Jack your room after we get the food all taken care of."

"Sounds good. It's so nice that we're finally able to spend some real quality time together." Maddie commented, putting a head of lettuce in the fridge.

Vlad gave her a small smile.

"Yeah, V-man!" Jack wrapped an arm tightly around Vlad. "I can finally catch you up on all the stuff Maddie and I have been working on! You are gonna love the Fenton-combobulator!"

"If you two don't mind," Vlad wriggled out of Jack's grip "I would actually prefer it if we didn't talk about anything ghost-related this weekend."

Jack frowned.

"Well, okay Vladdie. But, why-"

"Jack." Maddie said warningly.

Not that she wasn't also curious...

It couldn't have been trauma from the accident, Vlad had been very enthusiastic about their inventions when Jack took him down to the lab.

Especially the portal. He'd gone right up to it without a trace of fear or hesitation.

But she didn't want to risk pushing the issue. They'd wanted to spend time with Vlad like this ever since the reunion, and now that it was finally happening, Maddie just wanted to enjoy it. Preferably without without any drama.

"Alright, alright." Jack held up his hands. "No ghosts. I got it. Gives me more time to razz you, anyway. Seems The Packers aren't making it to The Super Bowl this year. Again."

"The Super Bowl isn't everything, Jack."

"I suppose that's true, but it's when Maddie makes her special chicken wings, so it's the most important football event as far as I'm concerned! By far!"

"Jack, that's far from a unique opinion." Vlad pinched his nose. "Though I must say, I'm interested in seeing how The Patriots..."

Jack and Vlad soon started throwing around terms and numbers that went over Maddie's head, but listening to their conversation still made her smile.

This was the Vlad she remembered. This was her friend.

For a while she'd wondered if he was even still in there, but now she could see him; he'd just been hidden behind some stuffy mask ever since the college reunion. The mask had slipped briefly in the lab at Fenton Works and in Colorado at three in the morning, but now it felt like it was truly and fully off.

This was the Vlad she and Jack had stayed up late running through concepts for theoretical inventions with, had scrounged the library for old newspapers with any articles on ghost sightings, had split whatever the 'deal of the day' was at Tony's Pizza's at least three days a week with.

It turned out that Vlad was still there, he just ordered more expensive pizzas these days.

Speaking of pizza...

"We should probably start getting supper made." Maddie said "Danny's friend Sam's a vegetarian, so she brought her own bean-based burgers, and we brought some vegetables for salads."

"And potatoes!" Jack piped up.

"Yes Jack. You start the potatoes, I'll do the salad, and Vlad can start on the patties."

Vlad's smile faded as he eyed the packages of ground beef on the table.

"You...didn't happen to bring any premade ones, did you?"

"Of course not!" Jack laughed. "The ones you make are waaay better V-man! Don't worry, we got the garlic powder and all those other spices and stuff you need!"

"Is there a problem, Vlad?" Maddie frowned concernedly.

"Well, it's jus been a while since I've actually- wait," Vlad eyed the little plastic bags next to the beef "You still remember the spice mixture I used?"

"Of course, V-man!" Jack patted Vlad's shoulder. "I'd never forget the spices for your burgers. Best I've ever had!"

"We actually use your recipe for burger night at our house." Maddie said.

"They never turn out quite as good as yours, though." Jack patted Vlad's shoulder again. "I don't know what your secret is Vladdie!"

It was strange. The fact that Jack and Maddie still remembered something as mundane as his hamburger recipe after all these years warmed his heart, but it also made it ache longingly.

"Well, Vlad, if you're not up to it, I certainly don't mind-"

"You know what?" Vlad cut Maddie off, his earlier hesitation replaced with burning drive "I'm pretty sure I remember how to do it." The fact that his friends had held on to such a small detail moved Vlad. "They aren't actually particularly difficult to make, I just haven't had anyone to make them for in a while."

Vlad turned to some cupboards next to the fridge.

"I know there's cutting boards around here somewhere...Jack, check the drawer near the stove for the kniv- on second thought, you should look through the cupboards while I find the knives, since you're, uh...taller than me."

"You got it V-man!" Jack beamed.

Maddie smiled as she watched Vlad opened and shut a few drawers.

Yes, that was the Vlad she knew. The Vlad she'd been missing. She continued to smile as Vlad and Jack handed her a knife and a cutting board and she began slicing tomatoes.

--------------------------------------------------

"Those were way better than the burgers Mom and Dad make!" Danny said.

"Yeah." Jazz agreed. "They're a lot less charred."

"Can't really give an opinion on the burgers," Sam said "But I am half-considering trying to talk my parents into getting some of that artisanal root beer."

The kids were all standing on Vlad's back deck. Danny had corralled them all outside after supper cleanup, figuring Vlad would want some tiem to catch up with Jack and Maddie privately.

"You know," Tucker said "I like Vlad Masters. His burger's are worthy of my mother's cooking, and he's a technological genius, but there is something weirdly off about him. He's too polite."

"Being poite's a bad thing?" Danny raised an eyebrow.

"That's not what I mean, Danny. He's polite in a...weird way."

"Oh please," Sam said "He's putting on a front. I'd recognize the 'polite rich person' persona anywhere."

"Not to mention the fact that he's been living alone in a football themed castle for the last twenty years." Jazz said. "It'd be weirder if he wasn't a little off."

"It is strange that he suddenly invited your family out here after months of silence." Sam narrowed her eyes "It's kind of sketchy, actually."

"I actually might know something about that." Danny said.

The other three all turned to look at him.

"Vlad told me he was planned on telling Mom and Dad...something important this weekend."

"Is he going to tell them he's half-ghost!?" Jazz asked, her eyes widening.

Danny's heart skipped a beat.

"Wait, what?"

"Oh, sorry. Do Sam and Tucker not know? I assumed they did, since Vlad invited them out here too."

"No, they know." Danny said. "The question is how do you know?"

"Wait," Tucker said "You didn't tell her about Vlad?"

"I was just about to! I had to get his permission first, and he's not around a lot."

"I mean, considering he sets off all the same ghost devices you do," Jazz started to count on her fingers "He was also the victim of a ghost portal accident, and the fact he's been avoiding Mom and Dad ever since said accident, it wasn't that hard to piece together."

"So, does that mean he's telling them right now?" Tucker asked.

"No. He said he planned on doing it tomorrow. I figured he wants to wait a bit and take the opportunity to spend some time with them before he tells them. You know, break the ice before he drops the bombshell on them."

"And spend one last weekend with them on the off chance they never want to see him again." Jazz added.

It took her a few seconds to realize that everyone was staring at her with horrified expressions.

"Not that that'll happen!" she backtracked "Sure, Mom and Dad will be pretty shocked and probably have a million questions, but they will accept him. I just mean that it might be hard for Vlad to have faith in them right now, you know, all things considered."

"Hey wait," Sam turned to Danny "Once your parents know that half-ghosts are a thing, doesn't that open up the possibility of your parents figuring you out?"

"I was also kind of worried about that." Danny said "But Vlad said he'd throw them off the scent when he talks about the details of his accident. Also, considering all the stuff they've missed in the past, do you really think my parents'll put two and two together on this one?"

"Yeah, probably not." Jazz, Sam, and Tucker all said at the same time.

"And you know, if things do go well, I...actually kind of might want to tell Mom and Dad too."

Sam, Tucker, and Jazz all gave Danny a sympathetic look, but didn't say anything.

"Anyway, I think we should give them some time at the house. Let them catch up or whatever it is adults do." Danny said quickly.

"Yeah, sure thing." Tucker nodded. "But what on earth are we supposed to do in the meantime?"

No one answered him right away.

"Wanna go sit on the dock?" Danny shrugged.

--------------------------------------------------

Tucker sighed as he sat down, letting his feet hang over the edge.

It was a very simple wooden dock that had been painted white. A large boulder that with house's address number carved into it was resting in a little garden by the walkway from the house. The walkway split into two separate paths at the dock that Jazz said ran along the whole edge of the lake.

The view of the lake from the dock was spectacular, but Tucker wasn't appreciating that right now.

"No wi-fi, no video games, no ghosts, what are we even supposed to do?"

"Have you tried relaxing?" Sam asked dryly "Maybe enjoying this gorgeous view of nature?"

"I feel you." Jazz plopped down beside Tucker. "I left all my textbooks at home. They made my suitcase too heavy. But now I don't know what to do with myself."

"Oh for Pete's sake," Sam shook her head. Listening to these two was making her depressed "We could...uh..." Sam looked around, her eyes falling on the lake water "Go swimming?"

Sam squatted down and stuck her hand in the lake. She immediately pulled it out and shot up to her feet.

"Never mind." Sam shook the water off of her hand "That's way too cold for swimming."

"It'd probably be perfect in summer." Jazz said, lazily draping her own hand in the water.

Sam leaned against a mailbox.

"Yeah, Probably." she sighed. "Hey wait, why is there a mailbox on the dock?"

"For the mail jumpers." Jazz said.

"The what?" Tucker sat up slightly.

"There's a boat tour that goes around to deliver and pick up mail on the docks. The mail jumpers jump onto the dock, put the mail in the box, then jump back on while the boat's still moving."

"That sounds incredibly impractical." Sam said.

"And really cool!" Tucker added.

"It's really more of a tradition thing nowadays. They only do it in the summer for tourists."

"This place seems like it's only fun in the summer." Tucker grumbled, slouching again.

Danny rejoined the group, holding up the hem of his shirt.

"Whatcha got there?" Sam raised an eyebrow.

"Rocks." Danny squatted down and dumped the rocks noisily onto the dock. He picked one up, wound his arm back, and tossed it at the lake. It skipped four times.

"Woah!" Sam and Tucker said.

"Pssht." Jazz rolled her eyes. "Only four skips? Is that really all you got?" Jazz picked up a rock.

"It's not my fault. These rocks are terrible for skipping. Unfortunately, they were the best I could find."

"Blame the worker, not the tools." Jazz tossed the rock she was holding. It skipped three times before sinking. "Oh, wow, these rocks are terrible."

"How'd you do that?" Tucker picked up a rock and threw it. It lamely sunk into the lake with a splash.

"You just throw it kind of like a frisbee." Danny said, skipping another stone. It skipped three times.

"I don't know how to throw a frisbee. You know this." Tucker glared at Danny

"You're a terrible teacher, Danny." Jazz laughed.

"Says you!"

"Yeah, says me," Jazz stood up "The current rock skipping record holder."

"I broke your records ages ago!"

"Uh-huh, sure Danny, you totally broke my record when no one else happened to be around."

"I totally did! I found the perfect rock and got sixteen skips!"

"Allegedly."

"Oh yeah? Give me ten minutes with one of them," Danny jerked his thumb at Sam and Tucker "And I'll make them a better rock skipper than you!"

"Oh please," Jazz rolled her eyes "You think you're the better teacher? I'm the one who taught you how to skip rocks, remember?"

"Ha! Jokes on you! I was never listening to a word you said and figured it out on my own!"

"This argument doesn't even make any sense." Tucker said "And I've told you two how I feel about being offered up to disprove your petty-"

"I call Danny!" Sam raised her hand.

"I- wha, hey!"

"It's settled then." Jazz grabbed Tucker by the shoulders. "Whoever's student can do the most skips with a single rock is the winner."

"Fine by me." Danny crossed his arms and smiled cockily.

"We're going to go down by the shore so you two can't steal my skipping secrets."

"Like we're going to need them!" Danny called as Jazz dragged the befuddled Tucker to the other dock.

"Okay," Danny turned to Sam once Jazz and Tucker were out of earshot "So you just wind your arm back at waist level, then launch it. Try to give it a spin and keep it parallel to the water. Flatter rocks work best, but these were the best I could find."

"Okay, so, like this?" Sam threw a rock. It sunk without skipping.

"Eh, you've almost got it. Just do it like fifty more times and it'll probably click."

"This is what you call teaching?"

"It's how I learned. And by watching Jazz. She's actually a much better shower than teller."

Danny threw a rock and it skipped three times.

"Ugh. Seriously, these rocks are awful for skipping. I can usually get way more."

"Great. I'm sure this will be a productive lesson."

Sam threw another one. It also sank. She scowled but picked up another rock, determined to get at least one skip.

Danny and Sam practiced stone skipping for a while, only pausing when they ran out of rocks to get more. Danny's usually skipped between three and five times (at one point he did manage to get seven), and Sam did manage to get a skip here and there, but most of her rocks just sank.

After watching the seventh rock in a row sink, Sam decided she needed a little break. She watched Danny wind up a stone.

"Hey, Danny..." Sam said "Can I ask you something?"

"Uh, sure."

"How old were you when you got your first crush?"

"Oh, uh..." Danny fumbled the rock he'd been about to throw. He hadn't been expecting her to ask that "I think I was, like, seven. You remember how I always picked Phoebe Phast in Turbo Racer Two as my racer?"

"Wait, you had a crush on Phoebe?"

"Well, I didn't really understand what it was at the time, but looking back, yeah it was totally a crush. Kind of explained why she was the only girl I ever picked as my character in a video game."

"Okay, so seven years old? Wow, that's younger than I expected. Okay, have you had any other crushes, besides for Paulina?" Sam almost managed to not roll her eyes at the mention of that name.

"Uh, yeah, I guess."

"You guess?"

"I mean, I don't think there were any other super noteworthy ones. Mostly celebrities and the same popular girls everyone else was crushing on in middle school. I kinda like Penelope Ryan, but she moved away before I could tell her. I probably wouldn't have asked her out anyway. I hated the idea of asking anyone out at the time, looking the way I did. Turns out undiagnosed dysphoria really amps up the whole pre-teen self-consciousness."

Danny laughed. Sam didn't.

"But...why?"

"Why what?"

"I don't get it. I mean, Penny was cool, I guess, but Paulina's a jerk, and Phoebe Phast isn't even real. I just can't figure out what you see in them."

"They're hot?"

"That's it? That's all you need? But that doesn't make any sense!"

"You don't have to be so judgy. It's not like I can pick who I like."

"I'm not being judgy! It's just...you make it seem like falling in love is so simple. Like, you don't put any consideration into it at all, like it just happens!"

Danny had no idea why Sam was freaking out so much, or why she was nitpicking his old crushes, but it was really annoying him.

"You sound like Tucker." Sam said "You're not making any sense."

"Sam, you're the one not making any sense." Danny snapped "I don't know what you're trying to get at, but Tucker and I are the normal ones. You're the one who's being weird!"

Danny's stomach dropped.

Sam didn't say anything. Her expression was a cross between being really deep in thought and really angry.

"I'm sorry, I-"

"It's fine Danny."

"No, really, I didn't mean-"

"Drop it."

Danny realized that Sam was looking over his shoulder. He turned and saw that Jazz and Tucker were coming back.

Jazz looked very grumpy.

"Uh, what's up?" Danny asked. He snuck another glance at Sam. Her expression was still unreadable.

"You win." Jazz crossed her arms.

"What?"

"I said you win!" Jazz threw her arms in the air. Tucker seemed to be avoiding eye contact with everyone.

"That bad?" Danny asked him.

"It bounced back." Tucker muttered.

"What?"

"It bounced back!" Tucker repeated louder.

"What do you mean?"

"He threw the rock," Jazz said "And I didn't see it skip, so I thought it sunk, but then it came sailing back out of the water right between our heads. So, for our own safety, we are forfeiting the competition."

"Woo hoo." Sam cheered dryly "We win."

She threw another rock into the lake. It sunk without skipping.

"Hey Sam," Tucker said "Are you okay?"

Sam threw another rock. It bounced once before sinking.

"I am now." she said with a small smile "With that, I've officially beaten you properly."

Tucker scowled and crossed his arms. Jazz patted his back sympathetically.

No one noticed the green tentacle emerge from the water. It patted along the shore where Jazz and Tucker had just been before slinking back into the lake.

--------------------------------------------------

The adults chatted idly as they finished the supper cleanup. Once everything was put away, they moved their conversation to the deck with coffee that Vlad had brewed with a French press. He claimed it 'brought out a richer earthier flavour'. Jack and Maddie had no idea what he was talking about.

There was a slight breeze that rustled the leaves as the sun began to dip below the horizon. It was a beginning to get a little chilly, but the warm coffee helped.

"You know," Jack said "I never thought I'd say this, but taking a break from ghosts has been sort of nice in a way."

"I know." Maddie said. "When was the last time we took a break Jack?"

"Hmm, let's see..." Jack scratched his chin. "I think the last time was my last fishing trip with Danny, and that was...huh, I think that was before we got the portal working."

"It's been that long?" Maddie frowned.

"You two are certainly in good company." Vlad said "I don't think I've taken a proper vacation in years!"

"You may not research ghosts anymore Vlad," Maddie elbowed Vlad in the arm "But it's good to see you've still kept your bad habits from working in the least supported branch of the sciences."

They all laughed, followed by a brief moment of comfortable silence.

"I've been meaning to ask, Vlad," Maddie said "How's your mother?"

"Oh...she...passed away. A little while ago."

"Oh." Maddie covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Vlad."

"Yeah, sorry to hear that V-man." Jack put a sympathetic hand on Vlad's shoulder. "Nedelya Masters was a wonderful person. Sweet, but with such a practical wit..." Jack sighed.

"How long has it been Vlad?" Maddie asked gently.

"About..." Vlad scrunched up his face "Five years at this point. She died in her sleep. Heart attack, the doctors said she went quickly. We didn't really have a full funeral, just a small ceremony."

"Oh Vlad," Maddie placed her hand on his "I'm so sorry we weren't there."

"It's alright, you didn't know."

"But I wish we had." Maddie's eyebrows were creased. "Tell me you had at least had someone with you?"

Vlad did have a support system, but he didn't think that Maddie meant his therapist and a committee of ghost vultures.

"Er...of course I did." Vlad attempted to give Maddie a reassuring smile.

Maddie sighed.

"We should have been there for you," her grip on Vlad's hand tightened "Five years ago...you should have told us, we could have-"

Maddie stopped talking. She let go of Vlad's hand, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

"You could have called us, Vladdie." Jack said softly "I know we hadn't spoken in a while, but we would have been there for you."

"I..."

Vlad wanted to say it was alright, it wasn't their fault, but he knew that that wasn't what they wanted to hear.

Jack looked between Vlad and Maddie. After a few seconds, he stood up and clapped a hand to both of their backs.

"Hey now," he smiled "I know that's pretty sad news, but this is supposed to be a happy visit. Old friends catching up, right? Here, I'll go make some more coffee and-"

Vlad and Maddie shot out of their seats.

"NO!" They shouted, simultaneously grabbing Jack's arms.

"Jack I love you, but Vlad's appliances are too expensive for your track record!" Maddie said.

"Remember what happened last time!" Vlad said

Jack held up his hands in surrender and sheepishly returned to his seat.

"The last time?" Maddie raised an eyebrow.

"Ah right, you weren't there for that." Vlad said. "Did we really never tell you that story?"

"No, you didn't." Maddie sat back down, staring at Vlad with intrigue in her eyes.

"Well," Vlad laughed and rubbed his face "You remember that week we told you you weren't allowed to come to our dorm room, and we wouldn't tell you why? Well, you see, Jack and I had just gotten a French press, and when we were trying it out for the first time, Jack decided to-"

"Hey, hey, wait a minute Vladdie! You forgot an important part! See Madds, when we went out to get the coffee press..."

Once Jack and Vlad finally managed to get through that story, it reminded Maddie of something that had happened with her roommate, which led to the trio swapping old college stories until it got too dark to be outside.

All things considered, it was a very nice evening.

--------------------------------------------------

Sam spat into the sink and set her toothbrush in the bottom half of its holder to dry.

She walked over to the bathroom door and paused with her hand on the knob.

"It's fine." Sam said to herself "It's just Jazz. Sure, you haven't really talked to her much since Danny became half-ghost, or before then really, but she's just Danny's sister. And it's just one night. How awkward can it be?"

Sam opened the door.

Jazz was sitting in the bed on the left side of the room, her blanket resting over her legs as she read a book.

Sam felt relieved. Reading meant no talking, and no talking meant no awkwardness.

Sam silently got under the covers of her own bed.

"Do you want to talk about what happened in the RV earlier?"

So much for no talking.

"What do you mean?"

"About your no-crush situation?"

So much for no awkwardness.

"What's there to talk about? I've never had any crushes, that's kind of the end of it."

"But how do you feel about that? You seemed a little defensive earlier."

"I wasn't defensive, I was just annoyed everyone was making such a big deal out of it. I haven't had a crush, who cares? Not me. I'm perfectly happy."

"Well I'm glad to hear that." Jazz looked up from her book "Although, just so you know, although it is perfectly normal for the rates of development in the adolescent psyche to vary from person to person, it's also normal to feel apprehensive about not reaching certain milestones at the same time as your peers."

"I'm not 'apprehensive'." Sam rolled her eyes. "It'll happen when it happens. I don't see the point in wasting my time with shallow high school romances that statistically don't last. Like, seriously, what's the appeal in hanging out with some guy not talking in a theatre? Or worse, trying to make romantic conversation at The Nasty Burger because most teenagers don't have the money for a real restaurant? I can just do that with friends, and it's way less awkward. What's the point in going through those motions?"

"While that's a perfectly valid perspective," Jazz said "There is value in the experimental relationships teenagers often have. It's true, those relationships often don't last, but they're a great opportunity for young minds to learn about things that'll be important for future more serious relationships, like personal preferences and boundaries. The negative impact of mistakes in the long term is also reduced in that time period, due to the lower-stakes nature of a high school romance compared to an adult one. I mean, the emotional reactions can still be quite volatile, but the lessons learned can help to form the foundation for dating knowledge later in life."

"That all sounds terrible. You're making me tired just thinking about it." Sam pulled the covers over her head, hoping to drown out Jazz's voice, but she just kept talking.

"I find it fascinating. You can learn so much about people from what they're like in a romantic relationship. Of course, like you said, it's fine if some people want to wait, or are aromantic. But I wouldn't dismiss-"

"Wait, aromantic?" Sam reemerged from the blankets "What's that?"

"It's when a person doesn't experience any romantic attraction."

"Like, at all?"

"I believe there are some nuances, but basically yes."

"That's a thing? I've never heard of that."

"Yeah, I don't think most people have. I did a lot of research into various LGBT+ identities when Danny came out, and I found some aromantic people online who talked about their experiences."

"Okay," Sam sat up straight "So you're saying it's possible for a person to never fall in love? Or get any crushes? Like, ever?"

"Yeah, turns out lots of people just don't."

"But, how do they know they won't ever?" Sam didn't know why her heart was beating so furiously "How can you tell it won't just happen later?"

"You know," Jazz scratched her chin "I don't really know. Maybe it's like how gay and straight people know they aren't bi. I suppose if we know you can know you can't possibly be attracted to some genders, then by the same principle you can know you won't be attracted to any of them!"

Jazz sounded like she'd just made an enlightening discovery. Sam just blinked at her in confusion.

"What I'm saying is there isn't really a way to tell. You've just got to figure it out for yourself."

"But how do you do that?"

"You seem to have a lot of questions about aromanticism. Is there maybe a reason for that?"

Sam suddenly felt...not fearful, more like she'd been caught doing something private.

"No."

But why did she feel like that? She was just asking questions, she wasn't even doing anything?

"Do you have any other questions?"

"No."

But Sam did have questions. So many questions. Questions she didn't even know how to ask.

"Hey, um, Jazz," she said "Are you...are you straight? Or something else?"

"I'd...like to keep that information to myself."

"Right, sorry." Sam's eyes snapped down to her bed sheets "I was being stupid. I shouldn't have asked."

"I'm not offended, Sam." Jazz smiled kindly "It's alright to ask questions, just as long as you respect the answer."

Jazz's words helped diminish Sam's embarrassment, but she wanted to change the subject.

Her eyes fell on Jazz's book.

"Hey wait a minute, I thought you said you didn't bring any of your textbooks."

"Huh? Oh, this isn't a textbook, it a book on the history of the Green Bay Packers."

"Oh?"

"I found it in the nightstand."

Sam opened the drawer and saw a small stack of books. They all seemed to be about the same football team.

"Wow," she said "Half-ghost and a massive dork. Vlad and Danny must get along great."

"Danny doesn't like football, but they probably would have lot's to talk about if Vlad ever bothered to visit."

Sam noticed a hint of venom in Jazz's voice.

"Maybe that'll all change after this weekend." Sam said.

"Hopefully, but..." Jazz pursed her lips "I didn't want to say too much in front of Danny, but do me a favour and try to be prepared for the worst."

"Wait, you think your parents aren't going to accept Vlad?"

"No, I do. Mom and Dad can be kind of tunnel visioned, but they're far from heartless. And they can be a lot more open-minded than they seem. I mean, they responded very positively to Danny being trans, despite having no idea what that even was until he told them, which I'll admit did surprise me. It's just...be ready just in case. Either way, be there for Danny for me. I know he really values your relationship. As friends, of course." Jazz added quickly "Having you and Tucker there really means a lot to him.

"Yeah, alright Jazz. You good if I turn the light out now?"

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." Jazz set her book on the nightstand and yawned. "We should probably be well rested for tomorrow. No matter how it goes down it's going to be an ordeal."

"Yup." Sam reached for the wall light, but paused with the decorative chain in her hand "Hey Jazz?"

"Yeah?" Jazz had pulled the blankets up to her chin and didn't even bother opening her eyes to answer Sam.

"Having you there means a lot to Danny too. It means a lot to all of us."

Sam caught a glimpse of Jazz's eyes flickering open before she pulled the chain, obscuring her view in total blackness. She did not want to see Jazz's reaction.

Ugh!

Sam had felt like she should say something, but now she was regretting those last words. Could she have been any more cheesy?

Jazz didn't need reassurance, she was smart, she already knew how important she was to Danny. What was reassurance of something so obvious from Sam of all people worth?

Sam's spiraling was interrupted by a quiet voice in the dark:

"Thanks Sam."

The doubtful thoughts in Sam's head quieted. She silently smiled back at Jazz.

Sam laid awake for a while, thinking about what Jazz had said.

Everything she'd said.

--------------------------------------------------

Danny had just gotten out of the bathroom. He sat down on his bed and was about to turn off the light off when Tucker spoke.

"Hey, Danny?"

"Yeah?"

"If I ask you something, do you promise not to laugh?"

"Are you going to ask me what I saw in Phoebe Phast when I was seven?"

"What?"

"Uh, nothing. Go ahead, Tuck. I won't laugh, I promise."

"So you...you only like girls, right?"

Oh. This was about what happened in the RV.

"Um, yeah."

"So like no guys ever? Not even once in a while? Like, when they're really hot?"

"Nope." Danny shook his head "Not even once."

Danny waited for Tucker to continue, but a minute passed and Tucker still hadn't said anything.

For as long as he could remember, Danny and his friends had always come to each other whenever something was up. And by something, they meant anything, good, bad, big, or small.

This was especially true for Tucker, who'd always worn his heart on his sleeve, ever since Danny first met him in preschool.

His silence right now was incredibly concerning.

"Do you..." Danny didn't want to be invasive, but he felt like he at least try to get Tucker to talk about whatever was going on in his head "...maybe...not only like girls?"

Danny cringed. He hoped that didn't sound as awkward to Tucker as it did to him.

"I mean, like, yeah it's pretty much only girls," Tucker shrugged "But, like, occasionally there's someone, like some guy celebrities, and it's like, come on! You know?"

"Uh-"

"Sometimes there's just a guy who just checks all the right boxes, and I mean, how could anyone not be into that? Like, there's a reason Choi's as popular as he is! He's such a cool guy and his smile just makes the world brighter!"

"Oh, um-"

"But it, like, hardly ever happens. It's at least ninety-nine percent girls. I mean, not that there's anything wrong with liking guys, but like it hardly ever happens, so it doesn't really mean anything, right?"

Well, at least he was talking now.

Danny looked at Tucker's pleading eyes. He wasn't really sure what Tucker wanted to hear, but he thought it was pretty obvious what was going on.

"You know Tuck, it kind of sounds to me like you might be bi."

Tucker's expression made Danny wonder if that had been the right thing to say.

"I mean..." Tucker spoke slowly "Probably not? I only get crushes on guys really rarely. And I mean, like, really rarely. I'm not trying to be defensive about it, I swear, I just don't think I like enough guys to qualify for...bi."

The last word came out very quietly.

"I'm...not really sure if that's how that works." Danny said.

"And how would you know?!" Tucker snapped.

"I, uh..." Danny blinked, taken aback by the sudden hostility.

Tucker let out a strained sigh and turned away from Danny.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you."

"It's okay, Tuck."

"I know you're trying to help. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Hey, seriously, it's okay. Don't beat yourself up over this Tuck, I get it."

"Really? Cuz I don't." Tucker took off his glasses and rubbed his face "I'm just...really confused right now. I seriously thought every guy got crushes on guys sometimes."

"I mean, I can tell when guys are, like, attractive, I guess." Danny said. "Usually I just feel jealous, if anything, though."

"Yeah, there's guys I want to be, but it's definitely different from guys I like. Huh, that's...kind of weird to say out loud." Tucker sat up and looked back at Danny. "I mean, I guess it's not really a big deal, it's just...for some reason, learning that this isn't actually something most guys do, it almost feels like...like I'm a different person than I thought I was all my life. Okay, maybe that's a bit dramatic, but I 'm not really sure how else to describe it..."

"No, that kind of makes sense. I kind of saw myself in a new light when I first realized I was trans."

"For real?" Tucker's eyes lit up "Was it kind of like you thought you knew where you were going one minute, and then you suddenly realized you had no idea?"

"Well...it was kind of the opposite, actually." Danny felt bad for crushing Tucker's hope, but he felt like he should be honest. "Once I found out what 'trans' was, everything kind of clicked into place. It was like...like I'd been trying to put a puzzle together my whole life, and someone had finally given me the box the puzzle came in so I could see the picture. It was a bit rough, but I finally had a map of where I was going."

Danny smiled at the memory, but then one look at Tucker's face brought him back to the present.

Between the conversation with Sam at the dock and now, Danny was being very unhelpful. He just couldn't seem to figure out what to say to make his friends feel better.

Was he a bad friend? He wasn't trying to be.

Truthfully, Danny didn't really understand why Tucker was so upset. Learning more about who he was had been enlightening for Danny. It brought him peace and made everything feel like it made so much more sense.

For Tucker, it seemed to be doing the opposite. If anything, he seemed to feel closer to how Danny felt before he figured out he was trans.

Maybe Tucker needed to hear something more like what Danny had wanted to hear back then.

"Although, it was pretty hard before someone gave me that map. I definitely felt totally lost before that. But I did learn something very important from feeling that lost for so long."

"Oh yeah, what's that?"

"You won't be lost forever, even if it feels that way right now. You might not figure it out soon, but you will figure it out eventually. And I mean, it's not like there's any rush."

Tucker didn't say anything right away. He set his glasses down on the nightstand.

"How are you being so calm about all of this?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, this...whatever this is, it kind of changes everything, doesn't it?"

"Not really?" Danny shrugged.

"Really?" Tucker raised a skeptical eyebrow. "The fact that I maybe like guys sometimes doesn't change the way you see me at all?"

"Um, no? Why would it?"

"The tone you and Jazz had in the RV suggested otherwise."

"Oh yeah, right."

Tucker did kind of have a point there.

"We were just surprised, that's all. Just reacting to new information."

Tucker didn't look convinced.

"Well, did it change the way you saw me after I told you I was a guy two years ago?" Danny challenged.

"What? No! No way," Tucker said quickly "Not even-"

Danny raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, it was a bit of an adjustment." Tucker relented "But once we got the hang of using the right pronouns and stuff, everything went back to feeling normal pretty quickly. I mean, I guess it was a slightly different normal, but it still felt as normal as the normal before did. Huh, you know, I never really thought about it much."

"There, see? And it's an even easier adjustment on my end. You're not even getting a hair cut."

"I hardly have any hair to cut."

"There's still some that can be cut..."

"Stay away from my hair!" Tucker yanked his beanie off the nightstand and covered his head with it.

Danny laughed. Tucker laughed a bit too, but then his smile shifted into a thoughtful expression.

"Do I...have to call myself bi?" he asked.

"I mean, it's up to you what you want to call yourself."

"I'm not sure I want to call myself anything right now, honestly. I...don't really know what I feel like. Or what I can really count as."

"That's okay, Tuck." Danny smiled "You can just figure it out later, or whatever. There really is no rush."

"Yeah."

Tucker let out a yawn.

"Man, having an identity crisis really wears you out."

"I can attest to that." Danny nodded solemnly.

"It feels illegal to be tired when you've spent half the day sitting in a car." Tucker took off his beanie and set it next to his glasses.

"I mean, we skipped a bunch rocks too."

"Danny, we regularly fight ghosts with enough power to level a city block. Throwing a few rocks cannot be that draining."

"Hey, rock skipping is a sport which requires a lot of precision and focus to-"

"I'm going to throw a pillow at you if you don't stop talking."

"Considering how well you threw that rock earlier, I'm not worried."

"Hey!"

Tucker glared at Danny for a few seconds, then the two of them burst out laughing.

"Aw man," Tucker shook his head "You know, I'm actually feeling a lot better now. I don't know what I was so worked up over."

"I figured talking would make you feel better. I mean, you're usually pretty gung-ho on sharing your feelings. You were honestly starting to scare me with how quiet you were being."

"Sorry." Tucker scrunched his eyebrows thoughtfully "I guess I just wasn't really sure how to explain what was going on. What Jazz said in the RV really blindsided me. I was just so sure about myself, and then suddenly I wasn't. But I think things are starting to settle in my brain, so I'm back to normal"

"Glad to hear it , Tuck."

Danny grabbed the chain for the light.

"Welp, I'm turning off the light now. I'm all worn out from being a supportive best friend."

"Which I appreciate. Just let me-"

Danny pulled the chain.

"Hey!" Tucker's voice called in the darkness. "What happened to 'supportive best friend'?"

"Shh! Sleepy time."

Danny heard a thwump that he assumed was a pillow hitting the wall a meter away from his head.

"Your aim suuuuucks." Danny whispered.

"Someone help!" Tucker said dramatically "I'm being haunted a ghost that's dissing my aim!"

"Whoooo!" Danny made his eyes glow green.

"Gah!" Tucker's startled cry made Danny laugh. "Jeez dude, don't do that! It's seriously creepy when it's this dark!"

Danny blinked his eyes back to normal and snuggled into his blankets.

Conversations from earlier started playing in his head as he began to drift off.

"...No. I think I'll do it tomorrow. Later in the day. Probably after dinner."

"...Geneva Lake was home to members of the Potawatomi tribe, who originally called the lake 'Kishwauketoe', meaning 'clear water'..."

'...I'm all worn out from being a supportive best friend.'

'...Tucker and I are the normal ones, you're the one who's being weird!'

Oh right, that. Danny felt his stomach shift guiltily.

He really hadn't meant what he'd said, but he'd still said it. Some 'supportive best friend' he was.

He really needed to talk to Sam tomorrow and apologize.

--------------------------------------------------

Danny eyes fluttered open. It was almost completely dark. He instinctively searched for his clock on the nightstand, but didn't see the glowing green numbers anywhere.

He sat up in a panic, but then he remembered where he was.

Vlad's house. Right.

Danny squinted at the analogue clock above the doorframe. It was about a quarter after eight.

It was morning, but still pretty early.

Danny tried to lie down and fall back asleep, but he just couldn't. He gave up after turning over for the seventh time.

Great. He'd barely gotten to sleep in any more than he did on a school day. Why couldn't Vlad have put windows in his guest room? Waking up panicking in the dark was not how Danny liked to start the day.

Danny floated out of bed so his footsteps wouldn't wake up Tucker. One of them might as well get to sleep in.

He stayed in the air as he intangibly pulled his clothes out of his backpack and got dressed for the day, only landing on the floor when he was out of the room and at the stairs.

As Danny got closer the the kitchen he heard a sizzling sound. He found Jazz standing at the stove in the kitchen.

The last step creaked when Danny stepped on it, causing Jazz to turn around.

"Huh," she said "Didn't expect to see you this early."

"Good morning to you too, Jazz. I tried to sleep in, but then I woke up and forgot where I was." Danny sniffed the air "Is that bacon?"

"Yup. I'm starting on some pancakes too. There's also cereal in the cupboard and fruit in the fridge. Mom and Dad packed a lot of food for a two-day trip."

"Feel like that one might have been more Dad than Mom. What are you doing up so early anyway?"

"I always get up at seven, Danny."

"Seriously? Even on weekends?"

"Yup."

"That sound awful."

"I actually find it calming starting everyday with a fixed routine. Of course, without my school work I didn't really have anything to do once I got up, so I figured I might as well start on breakfast."

Danny yawned and opened the fridge. He saw a big orange bowl filled with yellow liquid.

"What's in the bowl?"

"Scrambled eggs. I'm waiting for everyone to get up before I cook them."

"Oh. That's a lot of eggs."

"I'm feeding a lot of people this morning."

Danny pulled a carton of milk out of the fridge.

"Hey, you know what you should-"

"I am not doing that." Jazz's entire face wrinkled. "You can pour some of the eggs into a separate bowl if you want milk in them. The rest of us would like our breakfast edible."

"Mom likes them with milk too." Danny shut the fridge.

"So that's where you get your weirdness from."

Danny stuck his tongue out at Jazz and pulled open one of Vlad's cupboards.

"Wow," he said "Vlad's dishes are all like, in stacks. And you can see them all. It's so...so..."

"Organized? Convenient?" Jazz began to turn over the bacon in the pan "I know. Isn't it great? And nothing even tried to eat me while I was cooking."

"I'm actually a little scared to touch anything. For different reasons than normal. I feel like I'm gonna get in trouble.

"Don't worry," Vlad said "You won't."

Danny jumped. When had Vlad gotten here? He was pretty sure he hadn't heard the bottom step creak.

"Good morning Daniel, Jazz. Ah, I see you've started breakfast. How thoughtful of you."

"It's not a problem. I was up."

"Still, you didn't have to. It's quite appreci-"

"Good morning!" Jack interrupted brightly from the stairs. Maddie wasn't far behind him.

"Ooh, Jazz, you made breakfast, how nice of you." she smiled as she entered the kitchen. "Did you want any help? I could start on some eggs, or something."

"That's alright, Mom. I've already got some mixed in the fridge. Everything's already- Oh my gosh Danny! Do that over the sink! What is wrong with you?!"

--------------------------------------------------

Sam and Tucker slept a little longer, but were soon drawn downstairs by the sounds of conversation and the smell of food.

After breakfast was eaten and cleaned up, the kids went out to sit on the dock and practice rock skipping while the adults had tea out on the deck.

Well, Sam was practicing at least. Tucker was too scared to try again after what happened yesterday, and Jazz seemed to have finally decided to try relaxing on her vacation. She sat against the mailbox and lazily observing Sam's rocks skipping and sinking.

Danny was currently collecting more rocks for Sam. He stopped and looked back at the deck. From down here he could barely see the adults.

He wondered what they were talking about. He wondered if Vlad was going to tell them soon.

Danny shook his head and carried his latest selection back to the group.

Sam was now consistently getting two skips with her throws. She was concentrating deeply, and the others watched her silently.

The silence was broken by Danny dumping his shirtful of rocks onto the dock.

"Well," Jazz checked her watch "This is nice, but I'd like to walk some of the shore path before we leave. There are some very interesting houses belonging to some very influential people, and I'd like to take the opportunity to see at least some of that architecture in person."

She stood up and started down the left side of the path.

"Hey Jazz, wait up!" Tucker called as he started to follow her. He stopped and looked back at Sam and Danny. "Aren't you two coming?"

"Nah, I want to work on my rock skipping some more." Sam said "Besides, if I wanted to see some stuffy rich person's house I could've just stayed home."

"Suit yourself, but Jazz said there's one mansion with an actual pool on the roof."

"You know you won't be able to see that from the ground, right?" Sam said as she tossed another rock.

"Killjoy. You coming Danny?"

"Nah, I'm good."

"What? Well what if I told you we might get to see some of the Wrigley Company's estate?"

"The what?" Sam and Danny asked.

"You know, Wrigley's! They the company behind pretty much every noteworthy gum ever!"

"That sounds...really neat Tuck," Danny said "But listening to Jazz's lectures is not how I want to spend my vacation."

"Man, Jazz's lecture's aren't that bad. She actually says a lot of really interesting things sometimes. Whatever, it's your loss man. You two enjoy your rocks."

Tucker left them to catch up with Jazz on the path.

"Okay, I like gum as much as the next guy," Danny said once Tucker was out of sight "But looking at the house of the guy who makes it just doesn't sound fun at all. It's not like they're giving out free gum there."

"You're both geeks, but Tucker's definitely the bigger geek."

"We're both geeks? Isn't that kind of the pot calling the other pot black?"

"Okay one, black's my favourite colour, so that's a compliment. Two, the expression is 'pot calling the kettle black', Danny."

"What? But kettles aren't black, they're, like, shiny!"

Sam threw a stone. It skipped three times.

"Ha! New record." she grinned.

"Nice. Hey, uh, Sam," Danny rubbed the back of his neck "I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to say you're 'not normal'."

"Oh please Danny." Sam waved her hand. "You know I don't care about being 'normal'."

"Heh, I guess not." Danny smiled. He threw a stone. It skipped six times.

"Show off."

Danny beamed smugly.

"I, um, did talk to Jazz about that last night." Sam said "About the 'no crush' thing."

"Oh yeah? Did you get a lecture on 'the varying rates of development in the adolescent psyche'?"

"Yes. Yes I did. But she also mentioned something that kind of maybe made sense."

"Oh yeah? What was it?"

"Do you know what 'aromantic' means?"

"Eh...kinda? It's when you don't like romance, right?"

"It's not really about whether you like romance or not. Jazz said being aromantic means you don't really get crushes or fall in love or whatever. Like, ever."

"Oh. So, do you think you might be aromantic?"

"I don't know." Sam said. "Maybe."

"That's cool." Danny smiled.

"It is?"

"Yeah, you found a word to describe yourself. Doesn't that feel good?"

"I don't know, it's weird. Usually I do like figuring this kind of stuff out about myself, but I'm not really sure if it's quite right, even though it does feel kind of right."

"If it feels right, then how come you're not sure it is?" Danny asked.

Sam shrugged and threw a rock.

"I don't know," she said as the rock skipped once "I guess I just thought I had myself all figured out. I thought I had romance all figured out. I mean, I thought I was lightyears ahead of those girls in my class who were always fawning over those dumb boy bands who didn't even make any good music. I thought they were just shallow. I never considered the possibility that they were feeling something I wasn't capable of."

"Maybe you should stop assuming every girl with mainstream interests is being disingenuous."

Sam glared angrily at Danny.

"Right, not the time." he said quickly "Please continue."

"It's not that I don't like the idea of being aromantic, I just never realized that it was even an option until now. I mean, I never did really like any of that traditional romance stuff, but I figured I'd just do it right when the time came. And now it seems like I actually might not do it at all. It never even crossed my mind that this might be an option, and like, I'm actually fine with that, but for some reason I'm having kind of a hard time wrapping my mind around it."

"Maybe you just need some time to get used to the idea. Romantic interest as a concept is generally presented as a ubiquitous concept by our society."

Sam blinked twice then narrowed her eyes.

"Okay, there's no way you came up with that on your own. You lifted that from Jazz, didn't you?"

"Hey! I know big words too!"

"Sure you do, Danny."

Sam smirked at the pouting Danny as she threw another rock. It skipped twice.

"Maybe I should have expected this."

"How come?"

"Well, there's the fact that I've never had a crush before, and thought that everyone else was exaggerating when they talked about romantic feelings," Sam started to count on her fingers "I always thought romance stories were stupid, and it was always vaguely disappointing when characters I liked on TV started dating someone. Marriage always seemed like a terrible idea, and I sometimes felt this sense of satisfaction deep down when I heard that someone was getting divorced. Oh, and every classic dating scenario ever looks awkward and terrible to me. Like, I literally want to claw my eyes out when they do that awkward first date thing in movies. Even if it's going well, it's just so...so...ugh! Also, straight, gay, and bi never felt like quite the right labels for me, like they never really felt like they fit. There was also this one time, where my cousin and I were..."

Sam stopped talking when she realized how Danny was gaping at her.

"So you're telling me," Danny said "You thought all of that, and you're only just now considering you might be aromantic?"

"I thought everyone thought like that!" Sam threw up her arms "Like, this is how we all feel deep down, right?"

A grin began to spread across Sam's face.

"Well Sam," Danny said, grinning as well "I can assure you, that is absolutely not how most people feel deep down."

"Well that's obvious in hindsight!"

"Honestly, I feel like that's pretty obvious before hindsight."

"What? Danny, that's not how-"

Sam burst out laughing before she could finish her sentence.

"How did I not know?" Sam continued to laugh "Oh my gosh, it was so obvious. How did I not know until now?"

Danny couldn't help but laugh a little too. He didn't really get what was so funny, but he was glad Sam was happy.

The laughed for a little while longer and then just sat in silence, listening to the lapping of the lake.

"I think that's why I was so weird yesterday." Sam said. "I was just genuinely confused. I think I get it now, though."

The smile suddenly vanished from Sam's face and she slapped her forehead "Oh my gosh!"

"What?"

"I haven't asked you how you're doing at all!"

"Me?"

"Vlad's gonna tell your parents he's half-ghost sometime today, and I've just been going on about my problems."

"Sam it's fine. I wanted to listen to you. And honestly, I was glad for the distraction."

"Well, glad I could help, I guess. But how are you doing?"

"I mean," Danny let out a long breath "Nervous, I guess, but not as nervous as I thought I'd be? It almost kind of feels like it's not even really gonna happen, if that makes sense."

"That kind of sounds like you're in denial."

"What? No! Well, maybe a little. It's just not really how I thought things would go down, you know? I kind of figured if anyone was gonna tell my parents about half-ghosts, it'd be me since, you know, we thought I was the only person who was half-ghost in existence. It's just so bizarre that it's someone else. Like, I know Vlad telling them will affect me, but it also kind of doesn't, if that makes sense."

Danny threw a rock. It skipped four times.

"Everything's just so complicated and weird."

"I've found that anything that involves ghosts ends up making our lives complicated and weird. Especially yours."

"Yup."

There was another comfortable silence. Danny threw another rock and stood up.

"I'm gonna run to the bathroom real quick."

"Bring me one of Vlad's fancy root beers when you come back."

"You got it."

--------------------------------------------------

"I'm going to miss these outdoor conversations." Maddie sighed contently. "Oh Vlad, I forgot! Jack and I brought an album of the kids' baby photos we meant to show you."

Maddie set her empty cup on the table.

"There's some really cute ones of Danny in kindergarten, too. But, we'd better decide what to do for lunch. Sadly, we'll have to leave right after to get Sam and Tucker home at a decent time, Sam's parent were very insistent on that. I think we should get all of our stuff packed up and then have lunch at a restaurant, so we can just eat and go. Where do you recommend Vlad?"

"Hm?" Vlad hadn't been paying full attention to what Maddie was saying "Oh, yes, restaurants. There's...a lot of those around here. Perhaps a pizzeria? There are some very nice places that stone fire them. I'm sure the children would enjoy that, and it would cover Daniel's friend's dietary restrictions."

"Sounds great V-man!" Jack beamed and wrapped an arm around Vlad's shoulder. "So which one's the best around here?"

"Y-yes, of course, um..." Vlad had eaten at every restaurant in this town, multiple times, and yet he was struggling to recall even a single pizzeria's name.

Jack and Maddie frowned.

"What's up with you today V-man?"

"Um, whatever do you mean Jack?" Vlad smile unconvincingly.

"The Vladdie I know knows his eats, and he never," Jack jabbed his index finger at Vlad's chest for emphasis "Ever hesitates with his opinions on food. It's one of the traits I most respect about you."

"You do seem rather distracted, Vlad." Maddie said.

Vlad sighed.

"I was going to wait a little longer, but I suppose there's no point in putting it off." As much as he suddenly wanted to. "I have something that I wanted to tell you two. It's...about the accident."

"The accident?" Maddie repeated "As in the college proto-portal malfunction?"

"That's the one."

Jack and Maddie's eyes widened. Vlad pretended not to notice.

"Come, we should go to the living room to talk."

Jack and Maddie followed Vlad back into the house.

Danny stepped out from under the deck when he heard the soft thud of the door sliding shut.

If Sam was right about him being in denial earlier, he certainly wasn't now.

Now he was definitely feeling anxious.

Danny rushed back down to the dock.

--------------------------------------------------

"Sam!" Danny cried once he'd passed the address rock. His heart was pounding, but not from the running "Sam! It's happening! Vlad's-"

Danny stopped talking when he realized Sam wasn't on the dock.

"Sam?"

That's weird, Danny thought as he continued towards the lake, looking left and right. Sam was literally just here, and I was only gone for like five seconds. Where could she have-

Danny shivered as a puff of mist escaped his mouth.

Oh no.

"Sam!" he yelled, now slightly panicking "Sam! Where are you!"

"Danny?"

Danny whipped his head around and saw Jazz and Tucker standing a little ways off on the shore path.

"What's going on?" Tucker asked.

"Sam's missing!" Danny shouted as he ran over to them "And my ghost sense just went off!"

"Oh no." Tucker said.

"We have to tell Vlad!" Jazz started towards the house "He can-"

"Jazz no!" Danny grabbed her arm "Vlad's with Mom and Dad right now!"

"Yeah, he's been with them all weekend." Jazz tried to jerk her arm out out Danny's grasp "Danny, Vlad knows this area a lot better than we do. He'd be way more efficient at searching. I can get him away from Mom and Dad, and then we can tell him about the gho-"

"He's telling them that he's half-ghost right now!"

Jazz froze.

"Really?" Tucker's eyes widened "Oh, wow."

"Yeah," Danny continued "And if Mom and Dad hears there a malicious ghost on the loose that kidnapped Sam, and they pull out all the ghost weapons we all know they have stashed in the RV, and Vlad's just told them he's a ghost..."

"Yeah, that would probably not end up being a great situation." Tucker said.

"Besides, Sam's been captured by ghosts before, she knows how to handle herself."

"That's...not really comforting, Danny."

"It's fine, all of us have. Many times."

"Okay, how about you stop talking and we just focus on finding Sam."

"Alright." Danny let go of Jazz's arm "We can search faster if we split up. I'll start in the woods around Vlad's house. Those trees are pretty dense, there's plenty of places the ghost could be hiding in there."

"I'll go along the shore path for a bit." Jazz said "Maybe it took Sam the opposite way Tucker and I were walking."

"And I'll stay by the dock." Tucker said. "In case they come back to the scene of the crime."

The three of them nodded and set off in their respective directions.

--------------------------------------------------

He wasn't stalling. They should be sitting down when he told them. Somewhere comfortable. It just made sense.

Jack and Maddie were next to each other in the loveseat in Vlad's living room. He sat in an armchair facing them.

Nobody said anything right away. The ticking of the clock was thunderous.

Vlad wasn't stalling. He was just figuring out where to start.

Which was rather difficult, considering the magnitude of what he was about to reveal to Jack and Maddie.

"Is...everything alright, Vlad?" Maddie tentatively asked.

Vlad realized he'd been quiet for too long. It hadn't been because he was stalling, though, he was just planning what he was going to say. Carefully. It was a delicate matter.

"Yes, I'm alright Maddie. I'm..." Vlad adjusted his position in the armchair "I'm just not really sure how to...it's just that..." Vlad cleared his throat and took a breath "Regarding our last conversation, I realized that you were right. I have been distant. The reason for that is that I've been hiding something."

"Hiding? From...us?" Jack's sounded confused, like he'd never even considered the concept of Vlad not sharing something with them.

Vlad immediately felt guilty.

"I should have told you two a long time ago. I just...I wasn't sure how you would take it."

Jack and Maddie didn't say anything. Their expressions were neutral, but they were both leaning towards Vlad ever so slightly.

"After I was blasted by the proto-portal, there were some...side effects I didn't tell you about at the time."

"You mean the ecto-acne?" Jack asked. "I thought that faded. Our studies indicated that the acne was only acting as a temporary defense mechanism against the impure-"

"No, no, not the acne. That did fade after a month or so. This was...something else."

"Vlad, what are you talking about? What happened?" Maddie asked. Her voice was controlled, but there was a undertone of panic in it, like a parent who suspected their child might have ingested a toxic substance.

The words caught in Vlad's throat. He couldn't just say it, right? That'd be ludicrous. They wouldn't be able to process an idea as strange as a ghost-human hybrid if he just blurted it out.

Maybe he could start with the basics. Talk science. They were all scientists here. If Vlad could break the concept down for them, maybe they'd understand.

"It would seem that the portal's transmutative properties made the energy I was exposed to extremely volatile. So volatile that it actually restructured my DNA. In fact, it would seem that there was an ectoplasmic fusion on a molecular level."

Jack and Maddie raised their eyebrows, not really sure where Vlad was going with this.

"Yes..." Jack said. "And that's what caused the ecto-acne. Your body was purging the impurity. Although, I seriously doubt you were affected on quite that level."

"Well you'd be wrong about that. I've done numerous tests. The ectoplasm bonded with me and rearranged my cellular makeup, resulting in some...permanent side effects."

"What kind of side effects Vlad?" Maddie asked. She sounded slightly calmer, but much more confused.

Vlad was struck with the realization that he couldn't stall saying it any longer. His stomach lurched and it almost felt like someone else was saying his next words:

"The accident made me part-ghost."

The room was filled with silence.

Vlad felt like he was floating. Not in a happy carefree way, or like real floating that he actually did as a ghost, but more like an astronaut in a movie when the tether is cut off from the space ship.

Seconds felt like hours as Vlad analyzed every miniscule movement in Jack and Maddie's faces. He had to keep reigning himself in from the horrible conclusions his brain kept jumping to.

He'd gone over this with his therapist; be prepared for the worst, but acknowledge it's not the only possible outcome. Give them a chance. Don't make assumptions, don't jump to conclusions, don't push them away before they've at least had a chance to accept you.

Turns out that was easier said than done. The waiting was agony, and it was becoming harder and harder to keep the images of everything falling apart in his mind at bay.

Vlad desperately wanted to go back to the ship, go back to when he'd first had this idea of telling Jack and Maddie so he could stop himself, but that was impossible. All he could do was float there and wait for whatever was going to happen next.

He nearly jumped out of his chair when Maddie finally spoke.

"What...do you mean by that, Vlad?"

"I mean the accident turned me into a ghost."

Another silent pause. Jack and Maddie seemed to be waiting for him to elaborate, but what else could Vlad say? The concept was ludicrous, but it also really was that simple.

"Vlad," Maddie scrunched her eyebrow "That isn't possible. You're very clearly still human."

Vlad felt a surge of annoyance.

"Why would I be telling you this if it wasn't-"

Vlad forced himself to stop and breathe. It wasn't her fault she wasn't getting this right away. He might have reacted the same way twenty years ago.

"Let's hear him out Madds." Jack was calmer than Vlad had expected. Maybe he'd picked up on Vlad's obvious agitation. "Vladdie, what did you mean when you said you 'are a ghost'. You look pretty alive to me, man."

"It means that my DNA is partially ectoplasmic, I have ghostly abilities, and I even have a ghost form. So, to put it plainly, the proto-portal altered my genetic structure into that of a human-ghost hybrid."

There was yet another moment of silence.

"Vlad," Maddie pinched the bridge of her nose "If your trying to come up with some cockamamie story about why you've been away all these years, " her voice was steadily rising "I don't-"

"Hey, hey slow down Madds." Jack placed a hand on Maddie's shoulder. "Vladdie, what's all this about 'ghost DNA'? There's no possible genetic makeup that could be classified as both human and ghost. Your body should have purged all the impure ectoplasm by now."

Vlad sighed and rubbed his temple.

He could just show them. Maybe turn invisible or summon some ecto energy to his his hand. Or just simply transform.

No, a part of his brain said firmly. Seeing their friend using ghost powers would be too startling. They would freak out. True, they didn't have weapons to pull on him, but once they saw him doing ghostly things, they might not believe it was him anymore.

How could they?

No, Vlad had to get them to understand his ghostliness before showing them. It was his best shot at acceptance.

But how? He tried explaining things in detail, and he tried putting them as simply as he could, but Jack and Maddie still weren't getting it.

"I-"

Vlad was interrupted by a loud crash.

"What in the name of bratwurst was that?"

"It came from outside." Jack said.

The three of them shot to their feet and rushed out the front door of the house. It didn't take long to find the source of the noise.

"Maple smoked salmon!" Vlad cried.

In the middle of the lake, a giant green squid towered above them. Multiple red eyes darted around the lake while over a dozen tentacle towered out of the water

Three of those tentacles were wrapped around Sam, Tucker, and Jazz.

"Ghost!" Jack and Maddie yelled at the same time.

"And it has the kids!" Jack added, his tone urgent.

All of the squids eyes turned to the three new arrivals. They blinked simultaneously and then the squid began to thrash around, its captives screaming as they were flailed about in the grasp of the tentacles.

"We have to get to the RV and get-"

"We don't have time for that." Vlad cut Maddie off and took a step forward.

"But, Vlad-"

"Don't worry Maddie," Vlad turned to glare at the giant squid.

All of the fear and hesitation Vlad had been feeling vanished, suddenly replaced by a burning fury. This ghost had not only endangered the kids, but it had stolen Vlad's chance to explain things to Jack and Maddie, to make them properly understand.

This wasn't how he wanted to spend his potentially last moments with his friends.

"I can save the children. And...this is what I mean by ghost DNA."

Jack and Maddie jumped back as a black ring appeared around Vlad's waist. They stared dumbfounded as the ring split and changed their best friend into his terrifying ghost form.

Without looking back, Vlad shot off into the air and flew straight for the giant squid.

The ghost stopped flailing when it noticed Vlad coming. At least five tentacles shot towards him. Vlad expertly wove around them.

He didn't fool around. The second he was the right position, Vlad summoned a glob of pink ecto energy to his hand and waved his arm, sending out a razor sharp crescent that sliced right through the tentacle that was holding Sam.

Sam screamed as she fell through the air, but Vlad swooped down and caught her, carefully depositing her back on the dock before flying right back to the squid.

Sam's arrival on the dock snapped Maddie out of her stupor.

"Jack, run to the RV," she said "Get whatever you can to fight this ghost

Jack nodded and ran off to the other side of the house. Maddie started towards the dock.

The squid let out a roar of pain and rage, but its sliced-off tentacle quickly grew back.

The ghost was now lunging at Vlad more aggressively. Vlad duplicated and fused back together in rapid succession to confuse it.

After almost a minute of dodging, Vlad finally managed to get in a good enough position to slice the tentacle holding Tucker, but at the last second the squid moved the tentacle holding Jazz upwards, causing Vlad's blast to slice off both tentacles.

Jazz and Tucker screamed as they fell through the air.

There was a moment of panic on Vlad's face, but he quickly gathered himself and split into two, one Vlad swooping to catch Tucker and the other Jazz.

Just as Maddie arrived, the two Vlads set Jazz and Tucker down onto the dock before fusing back together. Vlad quickly wiped his forehead with his arm, steeled himself and flew back to the squid, launching ecto blasts at it.

"Kids," Maddie said "I know things are crazy right now, but we need to stay calm, and you need to listen. That ghost that saved you from the bigger ghost is actually Vlad!"

"Wait, that's Vlad?" Jazz asked, her head whipping around to the fighting ghosts. Tucker and Sam looked at each other with wide eyes. Maddie figured they were too in shock to say anything.

"It's a long story." Maddie said. "Wait! Was Danny with you?"

"No," Tucker answered "We haven't-"

A giant green ecto blast sailed past the group towards the squid. Everyone snapped their heads around to see Jack with a Fenton Bazooka propped up on his shoulder.

"Vladdie!" he called "Stay high so I don't hit you! My aim is not always the best!"

Vlad continued to shoot ecto blasts at the ghost. He gave no indication that he'd heard Jack, but he continued to fly near the top of the squid as Jack kept firing at the tentacles, keeping them away from Vlad. The throng of tentacles was thick enough that barely any of Jack's shots missed.

Jack and Vlad kept up their assault. Now that the captives had been saved, Vlad didn't have to hold back. He unleash a furious onslaught of ecto attacks at the squid's body, while Jack's kept the tentacles at bay with his bazooka. The ghost tried desperately to bat away the blasts, but just ended up with singed tentacle tips.

The squid slowly retreated further and further from the shore, but Jack and Vlad would not let up. Eventually, it let out a final roar before plunging below the water.

Vlad hovered above the lake for a few seconds, confirming that the ghost wasn't returning before heading back to the others.

"Are you children alright?" Vlad asked as he landed on the dock and morphed back into his human form.

"No broken bones." Sam reported, shivering and rubbing her bare arms.

"Yeah, d-don't worry," Tucker's added through chattering teeth "Th-this is only l-like, the eighth most t-traumatizing thing that's happened to us."

"Um, I would very much like to hear about those seven other-" Jazz stopped mid sentence and looked up at Vlad. She seemed to study him for a few seconds before her face was overtaken by a too-big smile.

"Well, thank you so much for saving us, Mr Masters." she said quickly "It is very cool and surprising for all of us to learn that you are half-ghost, but you saved our lives, so you're clearly not evil, so I'm going to take these two," she grabbed Sam and Tucker by their shoulders "And get them dried off and give them a mental checkup regarding the very wet and very horrifying ordeal we all just went through. Sound good? Okay great, see you later!"

Jazz began dragging Sam and Tucker towards the house before either of them could respond to what she'd just said.

Vlad smiled. What a strange child.

"Wow..."

Vlad's smile dropped at the sound of Maddie's astonished voice. He turned to find her and Jack staring at him. Maddie pulled back her hood.

"That was...so you...you really do have...ghost powers."

"Erm...yes?" Vlad could almost feel their gaze burning his skin. He shifted his feet uncomfortably.

"You mean," Jack did some quick math "For the last twenty years you've...and you didn't tell us?"

"But why Vlad? We were your friends!"

"You were ghost hunters. Capturing and dissecting ghosts was all you- all we ever talked about. I couldn't be sure how you'd react."

"Couldn't be sure how we'd..." Jack trailed off, rolling Vlad's sentence in his mind.

Vlad tensed when he saw The Fenton Bazooka shift on Jack's shoulder. Jack followed Vlad's fearful gaze and, after realizing what he was looking at, threw The Bazooka aside. It landed a good distance away with a small crash.

Maddie's eyes widened in horror.

"Vlad," her voice was barely above a whisper "You didn't think we'd..."

"You two were my dearest friends. I didn't want to risk you hating me." Vlad's voice was steady, but his heart was pounding, and his armpits were tingling.

Jack and Maddie knew. After twenty years of telling himself he'd never tell them, they finally knew.

Vlad honestly wasn't sure what was going to happen now.

"Vladdie, that's insane!" Jack threw out his arms "We'd never hate you, you're our friend!"

"Like I said, Jack, I couldn't be sure."

Maddie approached Vlad and placed her hand on his arm.

"Oh Vlad," she said, her eyes shining "It doesn't matter how ghostly you are. You're our best friend, we'd never..." Vlad felt Maddie's grip on him tighten. Not aggressively, but desperately. "Vlad we'll always love you. I'm so sorry we didn't make that clear enough to you."

Vlad let out a startled gasp as Maddie pounced, wrapping him in a hug.

"I..I..." Vlad tried to say something, but he couldn't find any words. His mind was completely blank. It was like he was frozen.

Suddenly he and Maddie were both crushed by Jack's massive arms.

"It's okay, Vladdie." Jack let out a sniffle "We're here for you now."

That was when his brain started to thaw.

Vlad had never allowed himself to even imagine this outcome. He had no idea what the future held now that Jack and Maddie knew.

The uncertainty terrified him.

But they didn't hate him. They didn't call him an imposter or a monster, they didn't want to capture and dissect him like he'd long feared.

Vlad could feel tears threatening to form in his eyes.

For the longest time those fears had driven so many of the decisions Vlad had made. Fears he'd been carrying around for over two decades crumble inside of him, tension drained from his muscles.

For the first time in years, Vlad let himself go.

He neck relaxed and he let his head fall somewhere between Jack's chest and Maddie's shoulder.

The tears began to flow down his face.

He was with his best friends. He was safe.

He could finally fall apart, because he knew his friends were there to support him, every part of him.

Behind the address rock they'd hidden behind, Sam, Jazz, and Tucker couldn't tear their eyes away from the emotional scene.

"They...they accept him." Jazz said, her voice a mixture between surprise and relief.

"Yeah..." Sam breathed.

"Hey, you found Sam!"

The trio all turned to see Danny approaching their hiding spot.

"Sam, we were looking everywhere for you! Where did you-" Danny stopped talking when he saw his parents hugging Vlad on the dock.

"...Um, did I miss something? And why are you all wet?"

"Mom and Dad know now." Jazz said.

"Oh."

Danny's eyes widened

"Oh!"

He looked over at the hugging adults.

"And they...it's..."

"Yeah." Jazz smiled softly.

"Wow." Danny breathed. He couldn't stop staring at the dock.

Sam and Tucker came over and each put a hand on Danny's shoulder.

--------------------------------------------------

After all the ghost fighting, hugging, and getting Sam, Jazz, and Tucker all dried off, they ran out of time to go out for lunch. Maddie told the kids they'd just make some sandwich's with the leftover groceries in the RV. Vlad grilled two of Sam's veggie burgers and wrapped them in aluminum foil, so she'd have something better to eat than a lettuce sandwich, while everyone packed up their stuff.

With all the hurried getting ready to leave, there wasn't a lot of time for Jack and Maddie to talk with Vlad about what had happened, but Danny heard Vlad say he wanted to 'get back together as soon as possible' when they were getting in the car.

It wasn't long before they were saying bye to Vlad and heading down the road back to Amity Park.

Danny looked at Vlad out the back window until he disappeared from view. He was pretty sure Vlad was looking back at him.

"So kids," Jack turned in the passenger seat after they'd been driving for a few minutes "I suppose you're all a little confused about what just happened."

No one in the back dared to speak.

"Maddie and I barely understand it ourselves, but it seems when Vlad got blasted by our flawed proto-portal back in college, it caused a mutation that seems to have given him ghost powers."

Jack didn't notice three pairs of eyes flash to Danny.

"Now, you don't have to worry. The ectoplasm in his DNA doesn't seem to pose any threat to his physical well-being, nor has it turned him into a terrifying monster. He's just..." Jack scrunched up his face and waved his and in the air.

"A scientific anomaly?" supplied Maddie.

"Yes, an anomaly! That's all."

"That being said," Maddie said "He would like us to keep it a secret. There's no telling what the media would do if they discovered a man of his prominence had ectoplasmic DNA. Understood, kids?"

"Yup." The four of them replied mechanically.

"They must still be in shock." Maddie said to Jack. He nodded.

"Don't worry kids," Jack turned back to them "This may be a...startling development, especially since we didn't even know this sort of thing could happen to a human before this morning. I mean, a human with the abilities of a ghost, that's just-"

"Jack."

"Right, right, sorry Madds. This is just very...oh man, imagine how it must have been for Vlad all those years, figuring his abilities out all on his own. He must've-"

"The important thing is," Maddie cut in "Even though we...certainly didn't expect this, Vlad's still the same person, even with ghost powers, and we're going to support him by showing him this information doesn't change our relationship with him."

"Yeah...we can do that." Danny said quietly, his eyes never leaving his parents.

Danny felt Jazz grab his hand. He didn't squeeze back, but he didn't let go either.

--------------------------------------------------

Outside of Jack and Maddie occasionally discussing directions, no one said much during the drive home, neither party feeling free to talk openly.

At some point Tucker and Sam dug out their Game Boys and started having Pokémon battles, while Jazz watched Danny play Pac-Man.

At some point they stopped at a diner. After they were seated, a server with a slightly shaky voice took their drink order. Her hand trembled slightly as she wrote and she apologized a lot.

"Was it just me, or does she seem a little nervous?" Maddie asked after the server had left to get their drinks.

"It's probably because we're such a big group." Jazz said "And she sounded like she might still be new."

"Oh, the poor thing." Maddie said "We should leave her a nice tip, Jack."

"Oh absolutely, Maddie." Jack nodded "Remember kids, customer service is one of the most grueling jobs in this country, and the Number One Fenton Rule, besides 'always be prepared for a ghost attack', is always treat people..."

Nervous server, observant Jazz, ranting Dad. All in all, this was a pretty normal restaurant outing for Danny.

Too normal.

They'd just had one of the least normal weekends of their lives, but you wouldn't have been able to tell from the outside. Jack Fenton continued to ramble on, as if his best friend hadn't just revealed to him that he'd been avoiding him for the last twenty years because he was freaking half-ghost!

It made Danny want to scream.

But instead he just sat there eating his chicken BLT and peanut butter milkshake, like everything was normal.

It was a relief when they finally got back to the RV and could go back to their video games.

Eventually, Sam and Tucker were dropped off at their respective houses. They both grabbed their luggage and said things like 'goodbye' and 'thanks for taking us', as if it had just been a normal weekend getaway.

Danny almost sighed with relief when they finally pulled up to Fenton Works. He really needed some time to by himself to think.

"Alright, you kids take your stuff upstairs while your father and I sort out the leftover food. " Maddie instructed once everyone was inside the house.

"Yeah, sure." Danny replied.

Both parents turned to the kitchen and Jazz started hauling her suitcase up the stairs.

"Hey Mom, Dad?" Danny said, causing everyone to snap their heads towards him "H-how are you guys doing?" Danny rubbed the back of his neck "Like, with the whole Vlad-ghost thing? That's gotta be a little weird for you guys, since he's your best friend and all."

Jack and Maddie flashed each other a look before smiling at Danny.

"You don't need to worry, son. We're all good."

"What about you, sweetie?" His mom came over and stroked his hair "I know this ghost stuff might be a little confusing for you and your friends. Did they seem alright with everything when they left?"

"Uh, yup! We're all good." Danny hoped he sounded casual "So it doesn't bother you that Vlad's half-ghost? Even though you two are ghost hunters?"

"Oh don't be silly Danny, he's still the same old Vlad, anyone can see that. What kind of friends would we be if we abandoned him just because he can fly through things now?"

Danny smiled at that, but tiny doubts still lingered.

"So you don't think he's some kind of mutant monster now, or that he's been taken over by an evil ghost, or that he's just some weird imitation of what he once was?"

Jazz's heart broke a little listening to Danny's list.

"Woah, slow your roll there, son." Jack came over and put a hand on Danny's shoulder "There isn't a smidgeon of doubt that the Vladdie we were talking to all weekend was our pal from college. It may seem far-fetched, and perhaps even a little scary for a human to have the same abilities as a ghost, but speaking as ghost professionals, Vlad seems perfectly alright and, although it might take us all some time to process this new development, we're gonna figure it out and in the meantime show Vlad all the support we can so he knows we don't see him any differently because of this. Just like your mother said."

Danny felt like a muscle he'd been unknowingly clenching for months finally relaxed.

"That's right Jack." Maddie gave Danny's hair one last ruffle "That being said, it is a school night, so you kids better unpack and get your homework done."

"I already did all my homework before we left." Jazz said. Danny remained silent.

"That's my Jazzerincess!" Jack beamed "But you still gotta unpack. You too Danny."

Jack gave him a friendly pat on the back that almost knocked him over.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm going."

Danny paused on the first step.

"Mom, Dad?"

"Yes Danny?"

"I love you guys."

Jack and Maddie looked at each other. It had been a while since they'd heard either of their kids say that unprompted. They smiled at Danny.

"We love you too, son." Jack said.

Danny smiled back before following Jazz up the stairs.

When he opened his bedroom door, Danny's body immediately felt lighter. Staying at Vlad's lavish vacation house had been fun, but it was nice to be surrounded by the familiar model rockets and glow-in-the-dark star stickers again.

"So, how are you feeling?" Jazz stood in Danny's doorframe, suitcase still in hand.

"About what?"

Jazz set her suitcase down and crossed her arms.

"Come on Danny."

Danny sighed.

"A lot, I guess." Danny ran a hand through his hair "But also, weirdly calm? And scared? Not like...worried something bad will happen scared, but like...it's hard to describe."

"I'd imagine."

"I'm not going to tell them tonight, probably not even tomorrow."

"There's no rush."

"I know, I just..." Danny took a breath. They'd all been through a lot this weekend, especially Danny, and there was a lot going on in his head, he just didn't have the energy to put those feeling into words right now.

"Look Jazz, I'm really tired and I've got a lot of unpacking to do, so can we save the psychoanalysis for tomorrow?"

"This isn't 'psychoanalysis'." Jazz rolled her eyes affectionately "But, sure. I'll be in my room if you do decide you want to talk."

"Alright Jazz." Danny's rolled his eyes in a less affectionate way. He swung his backpack onto his bed. "I...do appreciate that."

Jazz smiled as she wheeled her suitcase to her room.

Danny waited a few seconds to make sure she was really gone, and then turned invisible and phased his head through the floor into the kitchen.

"...least the kids seem to be taking it well." Danny heard his mom say. She was standing next to the stove stirring two mugs.

"Mmm." His dad replied absently. He was sitting at the kitchen table, lost in thought

Maddie carried the two mugs to the table and sat down next to Jack.

"I suppose this explains why Vlad's been so...dodgy for the past two decades." she said.

"A human with ghost powers..." Jack stared into his tea mug.

"It shouldn't be possible." Maddie said.

"I mean, it apparently happened to Vlad, so..."

"I know, Jack. But do you know what this means for our research? The fact that a human body is even capable of sustaining a partial ectoplasmic structure whilst remaining human? This raises so many questions! I mean, the very implications that-" Maddie rubbed her forehead "I still can't believe he didn't tell us."

"He was scared, Madds."

"Jack, I would've gone straight to you two if I'd started developing ghost powers."

"I know Madds, I would've too." Jack took a big slurp of his tea. "I suppose that's Vlad."

"What do you mean, Jack?"

"I mean, he's definitely the most careful of us three, but he's also always been a little paranoid."

"You think so?"

"I might've seen it a little more, since we shared a room, but he was always like 'Jack, you're ignoring safety protocols!', 'Jack, that violates the laws of nature!', 'Stop tampering with the fabric of reality Jack!' You know, stuff like that."

"I suppose you're right." Maddie gave a little laugh. Personally, Danny was with Vlad on this one.

"Poor Vladdie." Jack shook his head sadly "He always seemed to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders."

"He spent all those years alone," All of the humour drained from Maddie's face "Genuinely afraid of us...oh Jack I feel so awful just thinking about it!" Maddie buried her face in her hands.

Jack rushed out of his chair and wrapped his arms around Maddie.

"I know Maddie." he stared blankly at the wall while Maddie let out a few quiet sobs "Me too."

Maddie gave one last sniffle and looked up at Jack.

"I'm fine now, honey." she said, wiping her eyes with her hand. "I'm don't know what came over me, I'm sor-"

"Shh, shh, You don't have to apologize, Babycakes." Jack patted Maddie's back softly. She leaned against his chest and rubbed his arm. "Oh, Vlad..." Jack said quietly

Danny felt a little bad for watching this private moment, but he had to know their unfiltered feelings about Vlad.

Their thoughts pretty clear at this point though, so Danny remerged into his room and resolidified.

"How's that unpacking going?"

Jazz was sitting crisscross at the base of Danny's doorframe, an open book in her hand.

"Hey! What are you doing in my room!"

"I'm not technically in your room." Jazz closed her book and stood up. "So what are Mom and Dad saying?"

"I mean, I'd say they're taking Vlad being half-ghost pretty well. It's just..."

"What?"

"I don't know, they were kind of talking about why Vlad didn't tell them earlier, and Dad said something about Vlad being paranoid..."

"Wait," Jazz narrowed her eyes "It sounds like you're saying they're pinning this all on Vlad and not considering how all their talk of destroying ghosts could've even possibly played into his 'paranoia'."

"Ugh, those two! How can such world renowned geniuses be so oblivious?" Jazz trailed off and shook her head exasperatedly.

"Maybe they just need some time? You know, to like, process it or whatever?" Danny shrugged "This whole situation is kind of a lot, and they did seem to feel pretty bad about Vlad not trusting them."

Danny decided not to mention Mom crying.

Jazz sighed.

"I suppose. Well, at least they accept him. All things considered, I would say their reaction was pretty positive." she relented.

"Yes, and I'm very happy and relieved with how thing's have turned out." Danny walked closer to Jazz "Now get out of my room!"

With that, Danny slammed the door shut, leaving Jazz standing in the hallway.

"Teenagers." she huffed to herself as she headed back to her room.

--------------------------------------------------

Danny climbed up the steps to school. He was pulled from his thoughts when someone bumped into him hard enough to nearly knock him over.

"Hey!" Danny yelped as he regained his balance.

"Sorry Danny, didn't see you there." a familiar voice said.

"Oh, hey Valerie." With everything that had happened, Danny had forgotten to check in with her. "Sorry, I meant to call you last night. So how did everything, uh..."

Danny took in Valerie's appearance. Her eyes were glazed over, her hair seemed flatter than usual, and she'd completely forgotten to put on her eye makeup (Danny didn't remember what it was called).

"You good? You look a little..." Danny searched for the politest way to say it "...tired."

"Huh? Nah, I'm great. Some ghost couple showed up on a motorcycle, and they had an evil shadow that let out all the pets in the pet store."

"You mean Johnny and Kitty?"

"Yeah, and then after I rounded up all the pets, the stupid shadow had made its way to the zoo!"

"Ugh, that creepy shadow is always so annoying!"

"And if that wasn't enough, the freaking Box Ghost literally showed up eleven times! All while I was trying to round up various animals! Eleven times in two days Danny! I counted!"

"Okay, that's a bit much, even for him."

"But it's all good." Valerie's voice calmed down "I handled it. All the ghosts are back in their world, and all the animals are back in their cages. Probably."

"Okay, good good, nicely done." Danny nodded. "Glad you made it through all that. You sure you should be in school today, though? You seem pretty out of it."

"What? Naah! I'm great. I am sooo great! I aaam the champion!" Valerie started to sing "And IIII'll keep on fiiiiighting, till the-"

Her song was cut off by a ghost phasing out of the ground between her and Danny.

"I AM THE BOX GHOST!"

"Not you again!" Valerie's unfocused smile turned into an unfocused scowl "This is the twelfth time in three days! Why can't your stupid butt just stay in the stupid Ghost Zone for five stupid seconds!"

Valerie took a swing at the ghost, but completely missed. Her body got caught in the momentum of her punch, causing her to fall over.

Danny and The Box Ghost cringed in sympathy as she hit the stairs.

"Hey, you okay Val-"

Danny was interrupted by a loud snore.

"You know what? You take a rest, you deserve it." Danny reached into Valerie's backpack and retrieved The Fenton Thermos. "I'll handle this one." Danny glared at The Box Ghost.

"BEWARE!" he shouted before zooming away.

--------------------------------------------------

Danny transformed and flew after him.

Valerie continued to snore on the stairs.

We finally made it! The Fenton parents know about Vlad!

But this story's far from over...

What's gonna happen next? Who knows? Not me!

Don't worry! I do have a few ideas. I'll probably do the thing where I upload a short bit and then a long bit later. Just seems to be what works.

Anyways, thanks for reading! Feel free to leave a review and let me know what you think :)

[cross-border-communications]

The thermal spring water of Fiuggi Fonte Bonifacio VIII reopens its doors.

The town of Fiuggi, located south of Rome, boasts the presence of two thermal springs, Fonte Bonifacio VIII and Fonte Anticolana, which have given rise to one of the largest and oldest thermal complexes in Italy, with ancient origins.

Fiuggi is one of the most important hot spring resort towns in Europe. It has two beautiful parks and is known for its healing mineral springs that flow from Fonte Bonifacio VIII and Fonte Anticolana.

The sources reopen after a period of stasis with a wholly redesigned new look. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Boniface VIII Spring will take place on April 1st, according to the new management who recently took over the water bottling, golf course, and Anticolana spring.

This is a long-awaited piece of news in the city for all the local economic actors. The seasonal reopening of the hot springs symbolizes the start of the city's economic engine. It's linked to an allied industry with dozens of hotels, businesses, and workers.

The new owners of the Terme di Fiuggi, the entrepreneurs Stirpe, Borgomeo, Battisti, and Benedetto, have kept to the schedule announced at the press conference at the beginning of the year, proposing the same operational goals that characterize the Fiuggi facilities. The golf course is already accessible, the Bonifacio VIII spring will be opened on April 1st, and the Anticolana spring traditionally will open its doors on June 1st.

As announced by the new ownership, there won't be any profound changes or upheavals inside the park. But there will be a profound innovation in the services offered and a lot of investment in the historical relationship between the spa and the medical and scientific world.

Satisfaction and gratitude also for the staff employed during the other months and until the planned closure foresees between October and November.

In short, it's good news. It restores confidence and strengthens the work of the categories, which look forward with great hope to revitalize the thermal industry.

Fun fact. Pope Boniface VIII claimed his kidney stones had been healed by the mineral waters from the Fiuggi springs.

Yet one more hint for today's story: To stay up to date on all events and to know what to do during your stay, check out at ⏩ L' Acqua di Bonifacio VIII To be kept informed on unique locations and special experiences for a more responsible way of traveling around the world, contact NP Collection at ⏬⏬

Initially published by Anagnia in bio ⏩ La Fonte Bonifacio VIII di Fiuggi riapre i battenti

Get Direction on Map ⏩ Fiuggi spa centre.

⏩ The Board Behind

[laveekestatesblogs]

Why Gurugram is a Prime Destination for Buying Property

Over the past two decades, Gurugram (formerly Gurgaon) has transformed from a suburban town to one of India’s most thriving metropolitan cities. As a bustling commercial hub near the national capital of New Delhi, Gurugram is now home to numerous multinational corporations, startups, luxury housing projects, and modern infrastructure. This dynamic environment makes it a highly sought-after destination for real estate investments.

In this blog, we’ll explore several reasons why Gurugram is an attractive place for potential property buyers, including its strategic location, excellent infrastructure, job opportunities, and lifestyle amenities.

1. Proximity to New Delhi and Strategic Location

One of Gurugram’s biggest selling points is its proximity to New Delhi. Located just about 30 kilometers from the capital city, it benefits from seamless connectivity with the National Capital Region (NCR). The Delhi-Gurugram Expressway and National Highway-48 provide smooth travel between the two cities. Additionally, the proximity to the Indira Gandhi International Airport makes Gurugram a prime location for professionals who frequently travel domestically and internationally.

The city’s strategic location also gives it excellent connectivity to other parts of the country. With its well-connected highways and close proximity to major cities like Jaipur and Chandigarh, Gurugram serves as a critical node in North India’s infrastructure.

2. World-Class Infrastructure

Gurugram boasts some of the best infrastructure in India, which is one of the key reasons property buyers are drawn to this city. The area is home to wide roads, modern residential complexes, and top-notch amenities like malls, hospitals, educational institutions, and recreational spaces. Moreover, Gurugram has a number of smart city projects underway, aimed at improving traffic management, waste management, and energy efficiency.

Gurugram’s metro connectivity is another significant factor in its infrastructural development. The Rapid Metro and Delhi Metro link several parts of the city to key locations in the NCR, offering ease of transport for professionals working in and around the region. This growing infrastructure not only enhances the convenience of living in Gurugram but also contributes to rising property values.

3. Booming Job Market and Business Opportunities

Gurugram has established itself as a major business and IT hub, attracting multinational companies, financial institutions, and startups. It is often referred to as the "Millennium City" due to the presence of Fortune 500 companies and leading tech giants like Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Accenture. This commercial boom has not only made Gurugram a haven for job seekers but also increased demand for residential and commercial properties.

As more companies set up their headquarters in Gurugram, the demand for housing has surged, leading to the development of high-end residential projects and a growing real estate market. The influx of working professionals has also spurred the growth of rental properties, offering excellent returns for property investors.

Additionally, Gurugram's rise as a startup hub, with incubators, accelerators, and coworking spaces, has created a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs. This thriving business environment contributes to the overall economic growth of the region and is a compelling reason to invest in property.

4. Diverse Range of Real Estate Options

Gurugram offers a wide variety of real estate options to cater to different needs and budgets. Whether you’re looking for luxurious villas, premium apartments, or affordable housing, there’s something for everyone in Gurugram. Some areas, such as Golf Course Road, Golf Course Extension Road, and DLF Phase 1-5, are known for their luxury residences and high-end properties, while other localities like Sohna Road, New Gurgaon, and Dwarka Expressway offer more affordable housing options.

These areas are well-planned, with gated communities, green spaces, and top-notch amenities, making them ideal for both families and working professionals. Moreover, the real estate market in Gurugram has consistently delivered strong appreciation in property values, ensuring that investors benefit from long-term returns.

The presence of reputed developers like DLF, Sobha, Godrej, and Tata Housing ensures high-quality construction and on-time delivery of projects. Many new residential projects are equipped with modern features such as clubhouses, swimming pools, fitness centers, and smart home technology, offering residents a premium lifestyle.

5. Educational and Healthcare Facilities

Gurugram has an excellent array of educational institutions and healthcare facilities, making it an ideal place for families to settle down. The city is home to some of the top schools in India, such as The Shri Ram School, GD Goenka, Pathways World School, and Heritage International. Additionally, numerous international schools and colleges have established their presence in Gurugram, ensuring access to world-class education.

On the healthcare front, Gurugram is known for its advanced medical facilities and top hospitals. Institutions like Medanta – The Medicity, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Artemis Hospital, and Max Hospital provide high-quality healthcare services, making it a medical hub for both residents and people from neighboring regions.

6. Luxury Living and Modern Lifestyle

Gurugram is synonymous with a cosmopolitan lifestyle, offering residents access to world-class dining, entertainment, and shopping experiences. The city boasts some of the largest and most popular malls in India, such as Ambience Mall, MGF Metropolitan, and DLF Mega Mall, which house a variety of international and domestic retail brands.

The nightlife in Gurugram is vibrant, with a multitude of cafes, bars, and restaurants offering diverse cuisines and experiences. For those who prefer a more active lifestyle, the city offers ample options for fitness, sports, and recreation, including parks, golf courses, and fitness centers.

For those looking for luxury, Gurugram offers exclusive residential projects with high-end amenities, private clubs, and a curated lifestyle that caters to the affluent. Many luxury projects are developed by top real estate companies, offering everything from landscaped gardens to state-of-the-art security systems and concierge services.

7. Future Growth Prospects

As a rapidly growing city, Gurugram’s real estate market is expected to continue its upward trajectory. Ongoing infrastructure projects, such as the development of new metro lines, highways, and flyovers, will further enhance connectivity and boost property values. Additionally, initiatives like the Dwarka Expressway and the upcoming Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) will further stimulate economic growth and make Gurugram an even more attractive investment destination.

As more people move to the city for work, Gurugram’s real estate market is likely to see sustained demand in both residential and commercial sectors. The consistent rise in property prices makes it a favorable market for investors seeking long-term returns.

Conclusion

Gurugram’s transformation into a global city has made it a magnet for property buyers. Its proximity to New Delhi, excellent infrastructure, robust job market, diverse real estate options, and premium lifestyle amenities make it a prime location for real estate investment. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, a working professional, or an investor looking for high returns, Gurugram offers ample opportunities to find your dream property.

With future growth prospects looking bright, investing in Gurugram today could be a wise decision that yields substantial benefits in the years to come.

[novumtimes]

Prescott Development Attracts Dubai Property Buyers and Investors with the Launch of Legado by Prescott in JVC Business Real Estate

The successful grand launch took place on Monday, 9th September 2024, at the Ritz-Carlton DIFC. Prescott Development, a renowned name in Dubai’s luxury real estate, successfully unveiled its latest residential masterpiece, Legado by Prescott, on Monday, 9th September 2024, at the Ritz-Carlton DIFC. The event, hosted by Kris Fade, featured live performances and immersive displays, including a detailed model of the high-rise tower that captivated guests with its promise of exceptional living. The New Perspective of Luxury Living in JVC Following the success of Fairway Residences, Prescott Development introduces Legado, a 34-storey residential tower exclusively presented by Golden Bridge in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC). The development features 343 apartments, including premium and signature collections of studios, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as sky villas. It offers both furnished and unfurnished options, equipped with smart technology and branded kitchen appliances. Each residence is meticulously designed to offer stunning views of Dubai’s skyline, community landscapes, and golf courses. Prime Location Positioned in one of Dubai’s fastest-growing residential hubs, JVC, Legado by Prescott benefits from proximity to major highways and landmarks. The development is ideally suited for families and individuals, offering convenient access to schools, parks, retail outlets, and healthcare facilities, making it an attractive investment opportunity in a popular freehold community. 30+ World-Class Amenities Spread across three floors, Legado by Prescott offers ultra-luxurious amenities, including a 35-meter infinity pool, poolside cabanas, an exclusive clubhouse, and many more. It also has exclusive amenities like private pools and rooftop terraces. Shaheer Tabani, Director of Prescott, commented, “As the demand for sustainable living grows, we are proud to introduce Legado, a development that represents this vision. Legado stands out for its prime location, world-class amenities, and competitive pricing. With flexible payment plans, it’s accessible to a wide range of investors and homebuyers seeking high-value property investments in Dubai. Flexible Payment Plans With studios starting from AED 650,000 and one-bedroom apartments from AED 870,000, Legado offers flexible payment plans, including a 60/40 plan and a 3-year post-handover option. The handover is set for Q4 2027, ensuring a well-timed and high-quality delivery. For more information, visit Prescott Development’s official website https://prescottuae.ae/ or contact their experts at +971 50 375 1280   Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News. Source link via The Novum Times

[whitelandsgurgaon]

Exploring Central Park Properties in Gurgaon: A Premier Living Experience

Gurgaon, often hailed as one of India’s most prominent urban centers, is known for its modern infrastructure, thriving businesses, and upscale residential projects. Among the most coveted addresses in the city are the Central Park Properties, especially the much-talked-about Central Park Gurgaon development. Offering a blend of luxury, comfort, and modern amenities, these properties represent the epitome of contemporary living. Let's dive deeper into what makes Central Park Properties a top choice for homebuyers and investors alike.

What is Central Park Gurgaon?

Central Park Gurgaon is an elite residential development offering a range of luxurious living spaces in the heart of Gurgaon. Known for its aesthetically designed homes, world-class amenities, and meticulously planned spaces, the Central Park Gurgaon brand has set a high benchmark for urban living.

The development spans several acres, providing residents with a sense of space and freedom while being in close proximity to key business hubs, shopping centers, and entertainment zones. It offers an ideal balance of city life and natural serenity, making it one of the most sought-after addresses in the region.

Why Choose Central Park Properties?

Prime Location Central Park Gurgaon is strategically located near major highways and transport links, offering seamless connectivity to Delhi and other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR). Proximity to major commercial hubs like Cyber City, Golf Course Road, and Udyog Vihar makes it an excellent choice for professionals and business owners. The easy access to hospitals, schools, and shopping centers adds to the appeal of this prime location.

Luxury Living The Central Park Properties in Gurgaon redefine luxury with their beautifully designed apartments, penthouses, and villas. From spacious layouts to elegant interiors, each unit is thoughtfully crafted to provide a lavish living experience. High ceilings, expansive windows, and top-quality fixtures elevate the ambiance, making every home a masterpiece in itself.

World-Class Amenities Central Park offers an array of amenities that cater to the diverse needs of its residents. From sprawling landscaped gardens and jogging tracks to state-of-the-art gyms, swimming pools, and sports facilities, residents can enjoy a host of recreational activities. Moreover, exclusive clubhouses, spa centers, and fine-dining restaurants ensure that residents experience luxury at every corner.

Green and Sustainable Living One of the standout features of Central Park Gurgaon is its emphasis on sustainability and green living. The development is designed to maximize green spaces with parks, gardens, and tree-lined avenues. Environmentally friendly practices, such as rainwater harvesting, solar power utilization, and efficient waste management systems, are integrated into the construction, making it a forward-thinking choice for eco-conscious buyers.

Safety and Security Safety is paramount, and Central Park Gurgaon excel in offering a secure living environment. With 24/7 surveillance, gated access, and trained security personnel, residents can enjoy peace of mind. Additionally, the community is equipped with fire safety measures and medical facilities to handle emergencies efficiently.

Investment Potential

Central Park Gurgaon isn’t just an ideal place to live—it’s also a sound investment. With property values in Gurgaon consistently appreciating due to the city's rapid development and strategic location, buying a home in Central Park ensures substantial returns. The area is poised for growth, and with the infrastructure constantly being upgraded, the value of Central Park Properties will only rise over time.

The Future of Central Park Gurgaon

Central Park New Launch continues to expand its portfolio with new and innovative projects in Gurgaon. From luxurious residences to commercial spaces, the developer’s vision is to create self-sustained ecosystems where people can live, work, and play. The upcoming projects aim to elevate the standard of living even further, with an emphasis on smart technology, community spaces, and holistic well-being.

Conclusion

For anyone looking for a premium lifestyle in Gurgaon, Central Park Properties offer an unmatched experience. The combination of strategic location, luxurious amenities, and eco-conscious living makes Central Park Gurgaon a perfect choice for those who seek the best in modern living. Whether you're looking for a home for your family or a lucrative real estate investment, Central Park is a name you can trust.

[healthandfitness789]

Discover the Best Luxury Residential Projects in Gurgaon

Gurgaon, often referred to as the Millennium City, has emerged as a prime destination for luxury living. With its rapid development, world-class infrastructure, and proximity to the capital city, Delhi, Gurgaon offers an exceptional lifestyle. For those seeking opulent living spaces, the luxury residential projects in Gurgaon provide the perfect blend of modern architecture, top-notch amenities, and a prestigious address. In this blog, we'll explore some of the finest luxury residential projects in Gurgaon, their unique features, and why they are the ideal choice for discerning homebuyers.

Why Choose Gurgaon for Luxury Living?

Gurgaon has evolved into a hub of luxury real estate, attracting high-net-worth individuals, expatriates, and corporate executives. Here are some reasons why Gurgaon is a top choice for luxury living:

Proximity to Delhi: Gurgaon’s strategic location near the national capital makes it a preferred destination for those who want easy access to the city's business districts and amenities.

World-Class Infrastructure: From wide roads and well-planned sectors to top-notch healthcare facilities and international schools, Gurgaon offers a comprehensive lifestyle package.

Corporate Hub: Home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and MNCs, Gurgaon attracts a diverse population of professionals seeking high-quality living spaces.

Entertainment and Leisure: With an array of malls, fine dining restaurants, golf courses, and entertainment hubs, Gurgaon provides a vibrant and cosmopolitan lifestyle.

Luxury Living Standards: The luxury residential projects in Gurgaon are designed to offer a unique blend of comfort, convenience, and exclusivity, making them the epitome of luxurious living.

Top Luxury Residential Projects in Gurgaon

DLF Crest The DLF Crest stands out as one of the most prestigious luxury residential projects in Gurgaon. Located in the heart of DLF Phase V, this project offers spacious apartments with stunning views of the Aravalli Hills. The residences are designed to offer a blend of classic and contemporary styles, featuring high ceilings, large windows, and expansive balconies. Amenities include a clubhouse, swimming pool, fitness center, and lush green landscapes, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a luxurious lifestyle.

M3M Golf EstateM3M Golf Estate redefines luxury living with its world-class design and unparalleled amenities. Located on Golf Course Extension Road, this project offers premium apartments and penthouses with private elevators and expansive views of the golf course. Residents enjoy access to a 9-hole executive golf course, a lavish clubhouse, multiple swimming pools, and state-of-the-art sports facilities. The project is a true representation of the finest luxury residential projects in Gurgaon.

The Aralias by DLF The Aralias is another masterpiece from DLF, located in DLF Golf Links, Sector 42. This project offers ultra-luxurious apartments with spacious layouts and premium finishes. The project boasts of a stunning golf course view, state-of-the-art amenities, including a clubhouse, spa, tennis courts, and a 24/7 concierge service, ensuring a seamless living experience. The Aralias is one of the most sought-after luxury residential projects in Gurgaon, offering an exclusive lifestyle to its residents.

Central Park Resorts Central Park Resorts in Sector 48 offers a unique concept of living amidst green spaces. The project is spread over 50 acres and features luxurious apartments with direct access to 20 acres of resort living. Residents can enjoy amenities such as a 24-hour ambulance service, concierge, chef-on-call, and a temperature-controlled pool. With its unique concept and world-class facilities, Central Park Resorts is a standout among luxury residential projects in Gurgaon.

Tata Primanti Tata Primanti, located on Southern Peripheral Road, offers a serene and luxurious lifestyle. The project features villas, penthouses, and apartments designed with a contemporary aesthetic. With amenities like a spa, sauna, indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, and landscaped gardens, Tata Primanti offers a holistic living experience. It is one of the preferred luxury residential projects in Gurgaon for those who appreciate tranquility and elegance.

Key Features of Luxury Residential Projects in Gurgaon

Architectural Excellence: The luxury residential projects in Gurgaon are designed by renowned architects and feature modern aesthetics combined with functional layouts.

Premium Amenities: From private elevators and expansive balconies to high-end fitness centers, spas, and golf courses, these projects offer a range of premium amenities.

Security and Privacy: Enhanced security measures, including gated communities, 24/7 surveillance, and professional security personnel, ensure a safe and secure environment for residents.

Sustainable Living: Many of these projects incorporate green building practices, such as rainwater harvesting, solar power, and energy-efficient designs, promoting a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle.

Prime Locations: These projects are strategically located in prime sectors of Gurgaon, offering easy access to business hubs, shopping malls, schools, and hospitals.

Why Invest in Luxury Residential Projects in Gurgaon?

Investing in luxury residential projects in Gurgaon is not just about owning a home; it's about acquiring a lifestyle that offers comfort, convenience, and prestige. The city’s real estate market has shown consistent growth, making it a promising investment destination. Here are a few reasons to consider investing in these luxury projects:

High ROI: Properties in Gurgaon have a track record of delivering high returns on investment due to the city's growing demand and infrastructural developments.

Quality of Life: The luxury projects provide an unmatched living experience with their world-class amenities and services.

Prestigious Address: Owning a property in a luxury project in Gurgaon adds to your social status and offers a sense of pride.

Safe and Secure Environment: These projects provide a safe and secure environment, making them an ideal choice for families and individuals alike.

Conclusion

Gurgaon continues to be a hotspot for luxury living, offering some of the finest luxury residential proje

cats that cater to the needs and aspirations of modern homebuyers. Whether you are looking for an opulent apartment with panoramic views, a penthouse with state-of-the-art amenities, or a villa nestled in lush greenery, Gurgaon has something to offer for everyone. Investing in these luxury projects not only provides a comfortable and upscale living experience but also promises excellent returns in the future. So, if you are looking to elevate your lifestyle, explore the luxury residential projects in Gurgaon and find your dream home today.

[teslaproperties]

Top Reasons to Buy a Dubai Villa for Sale

Dubai, known for its luxurious lifestyle, stunning architecture, and world-class amenities, has become a global hotspot for real estate investment. Among the various property options available, villas in Dubai stand out for their grandeur and exclusive living experience. If you're considering buying a home in Dubai, here are the top reasons to buy a Dubai villa for sale.

1. Unparalleled Luxury and Comfort

Spacious Living

Dubai villas are renowned for their spacious layouts, providing ample room for families to live comfortably. Unlike luxury apartments in Dubai, villas offer multiple bedrooms, expansive living areas, private gardens, and often a private pool, ensuring a lavish lifestyle.

High-End Amenities

Dubai villas are equipped with a variety of upscale features.From state-of-the-art home automation systems and private gyms to home cinemas and personal spas, these properties offer everything needed for a luxurious and comfortable living experience.

2. Prime Locations

Exclusive Communities

Dubai villas are often located in some of the city's most prestigious and exclusive communities. Areas like Palm Jumeirah, Emirates Hills, and Jumeirah Golf Estates offer not only stunning properties but also a serene and secure environment, making them ideal for families.

Proximity to Key Attractions

Many villas are situated close to key attractions such as world-class golf courses, beaches, shopping malls, and top-tier schools. Because of its ideal location, homeowners can easily get all they need for a comfortable and pleasurable existence.

3. Strong Investment Potential

High Rental Yields

Dubai real estate offers some of the highest rental yields globally, making it an attractive market for property investment. Villas, in particular, command premium rental prices, providing a steady and lucrative income stream for investors.

Capital Appreciation

The Dubai property market has shown consistent growth over the years. Villas in prime locations have strong capital appreciation potential, ensuring that your investment grows over time.

4. Tax-Free Environment

No Property Taxes

One of the significant advantages of investing in Dubai real estate is the tax-free environment. For those who purchase real estate, the absence of capital gains and property taxes optimizes their return on investment.

5. Favorable Government Policies

Investor-Friendly Regulations

The administration of Dubai has put in place a number of initiatives to draw in outside capital.These include long-term residency visas for property investors and relaxed ownership regulations, making it easier and more secure to buy property in Dubai.

6. World-Class Infrastructure

Modern Amenities

Dubai is known for its state-of-the-art infrastructure, including world-class healthcare facilities, top-tier educational institutions, and efficient public transport systems. This modern infrastructure ensures a high quality of life for residents.

Continuous Development

Dubai continuously invests in its infrastructure, with new projects and developments enhancing the city’s appeal. From new transportation links to leisure and entertainment facilities, Dubai’s development ensures that property values continue to rise.

7. Safety and Security

Low Crime Rates

Dubai is renowned for its safety and security, with low crime rates and strict law enforcement. This safe environment makes it an ideal place for families and individuals looking for a secure place to call home.

Gated Communities

Many villas are located within gated communities that offer additional security measures, such as 24/7 surveillance and controlled access, ensuring residents' peace of mind.

8. Diverse Property Options

Variety of Styles and Sizes

Dubai’s villa market offers a diverse range of styles and sizes, catering to various tastes and preferences. Whether you prefer a contemporary design, a Mediterranean-style villa, or an Arabian-inspired home, you’ll find something that suits your aesthetic and lifestyle needs.

9. Quality of Life

Exceptional Lifestyle

Dubai provides a remarkable way of life that combines contemporary and tradition.From luxury shopping and fine dining to cultural festivals and outdoor activities, the city provides endless opportunities for recreation and relaxation.

10. Expert Guidance from Real Estate Agencies

Professional Assistance

It can be difficult to navigate the Dubai real estate market, but working with a trustworthy Dubai real estate company like Tesla Properties can make it easier. Proficient real estate representatives offer significant perspectives, aid in the choice of a property, manage legal and financial processes, and guarantee a seamless transaction.

Comprehensive Services

Dubai real estate companies provide a wide range of services, including negotiation, post-purchase assistance, and property search and appraisal. You can be confident you're getting the finest deals and making well-informed selections with this expert guidance.

Conclusion

Buying a villa in Dubai offers numerous benefits, from unparalleled luxury and prime locations to strong investment potential and a tax-free environment. With world-class infrastructure, safety, and a high quality of life, Dubai villas provide an exceptional living experience. Whether you’re looking for a new home or a profitable investment, Dubai’s diverse villa market has something to offer every discerning buyer.

For more information and to explore the finest villas in Dubai, visit Tesla Properties. Let us help you find your dream villa in this dynamic and thriving city.

[fgmedia]

The Ultimate Guide to Property Types in Dubai: Uncover Investment Gems

Introduction

A global city that stands in pride with respect to towering skyscrapers and posh life, Dubai provides a diversity of real estate investment alternatives. From chic apartments to sprawling villas and lavish penthouses, this vibrant market attracts investors from all over the world. Knowledge about these various types is really helpful for a person who plans to buy property in Dubai in order to make effective investment decisions.

From this, the reader is then able to understand the unique characteristics and real investment potential of the various property types on offer across Dubai. For most understanding Dubai's Real Estate visit https://thebroks.com/.

Overview of Dubai's Real Estate Market

The Dubai real estate market and industry as a whole has grown over the last two decades from a state of infancy to one of the most vibrant and diversified around the globe. The emirate of Dubai, by virtue of its strategic location, offers a tax-free environment with first-class infrastructural facilities and has also become a global investment hub. The market represents high-end projects, innovative architectural designs, and a huge variety of properties to meet any taste and budget.

Apartment Features

Apartment features include:

Studios and multi-bed units: Located in the neighborhood of hotels, studios and one-bedroom apartments are more endemic to young professionals and expatriates who find it easy to access in terms of rent and location.

Two- to three-bedroom apartments: Favored by families who want more room.

Upscale high-rise apartments: Allowing for panoramic views.

Popular Places for Apartments

Some of the most upscale apartments can be located in Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and the Jumeirah Beach Residence areas. Residents here avail themselves of multiple services at arm's length—from entertainment and restaurants to a wide variety of retail offerings. They also boast some breathtaking waterfront views. For other people, Jumeirah Village Circle, as well as Dubai Silicon Oasis, are other neighborhoods that offer great value apartments for a good number of people.

Investment Potential

Yields on Dubai property are among the best in prime areas worldwide, supported by high expat and tourist inflows; in addition, steady growth in the new resident influx and efforts of the government to further develop infrastructure will appreciate capital over the long term.

Villas in Dubai

Types of Clusters

Dubai's villa market has a collection of different-sized properties, from small and comfortable townhouses to independent large luxury villas. They come linked with communal amenities such as a community swimming pool and parks, which have always been family-based. In terms of individuality, a single villa will definitely fit the bill, offering smooth privacy, a lot of open space, a private garden, and a pool along with a home theatre and many other luxurious amenities.

Premier Residential Communities

Some of the most sought-after options are Emirates Hills, Palm Jumeirah, and Arabian Ranches. Emirates Hills is notorious for its luxurious villas set around an 18-hole championship golf course. Palm Jumeirah boasts beach villas with direct beach access. Arabian Ranches offers a suburban feel, landscaped parks, and community centers.

Investment Opportunities

Villas from Dubai are most definitely a secure investment, especially in a place that has established communities. Hence, equity in such properties also turns out well over time, whereby rental demand in high-quality villas tends to always stand strong. Furthermore, investors in Dubai strategically enhance their strengths as infrastructure developing, subsequently boosting the attractiveness of villa investments.

Penthouses in Dubai

Penthouses Features

Penthouses epitomize the highest standard of luxury living in Dubai. They mostly fill the top floors in high-rising buildings, where every occupant gets sweeping views of the sparkling cityscape or the Arabian Gulf. Designed to perfection, penthouses come with awfully wide living spaces, private terraces, and high-quality finishes.

Penthouses in High Demand

The best locations of penthouses include Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and The Palm Jumeirah. Downtown Dubai offers an iconic view of the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain, while Dubai Marina lits up with a bright waterfront lifestyle. The exclusivity and unequaled views of the sea are granted by The Palm Jumeirah and its unique island setting.

Return on Investment

Penthouses in Dubai offer an unparalleled return on investment. Given the prestige and demand associated with penthouses, they often attract positive capital appreciation. In addition, rental income accruing from penthouses can be phenomenal, especially for good ones. Investors who are looking for prestigious and high-yielding properties should look no further than Dubai penthouses.

House Dubai

Features of Townhouses

These types of townhouses in Dubai may be said to bridge the gap between the apartments and the villas. They offer space and privacy while giving more value for less money compared to an individual stand-alone villa. Characteristically, they host more than two bedrooms, private gardens, and are provided with communal features like swimming pools and gyms.

Higher-End Townhome Communities

Developments popular among townhouses include Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubai Hills Estate, and Mudon. While JVC combines both affordability and ease of access (close to the center), Dubai Hills Estate can be easily called a townhouse college with a more premium lifestyle, seeing people living close to the golf course, while vast parks mark Mudon out as an enticing family-friendly environment complemented with nice community facilities all around.

Now vs Then

Townhouses offer a balanced investment option of reasonable entry cost and good rental yields. Townhouses remain popular with families and professionals who prefer a mix of space, privacy, and community living. With Dubai set to be relentlessly developing, townhouses mounted in well-planned communities are likely to appreciate in value.

All Loft and Studio Spaces in Dubai

Make Human

Lofts and studios cater well to the aspirant for fashionable living areas but are rather compact living spaces. Lofts are, in essence, simply open floor plans with high ceilings that generally further lend to a very expansive feeling of personal space. Meanwhile, a studio holds a very functional use of space to fit in its small area.

Level 3

Ideal locations, rather, targeting the younger professionals for easy access to business hubs, entertainment spots, and public transport are Business Bay, Downtown Dubai, and Dubai Marina.

Attractiveness of

For investors, these lofts and studios work, as they are affordable and there is a lot of demand for renting out. More than any other type of market, in demand for subletting apartments and studios, there are guarantees for a single expat and young couples renting property to be assured of an inflow of tenants. This makes an investor's interest in lofts and studios worthwhile.

Types of Commercial Properties

The Three Major Sectors

The three major sectors in Dubai's commercial real estate market include office spaces, retail shops, and industrial warehouses. Office spaces range from small places of business, including businesses centers, to headquarters of major corporations. Other retail properties, for example, can be found within malls, on high streets, and within standing-alone buildings. Mostly, the location of other industrial properties is within free zones and industrial areas.

Key Business Districts

Commercial properties in districts such as DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre), Business Bay, and JLT (Jumeirah Lakes Towers) have served as the epicenters of commercial properties. DIFC is characterized by financial institutions, Business Bay houses mixed-use development, and JLT is loved mainly for pocket-friendly office spaces.

Investment Opportunities

Your money will multiply in commercial properties in Dubai. Dubai is ranked among the important and leading business centers of the world, and a high demand for quality commercial spaces always prevails here. Prime business areas ensure appreciation in rental yield, long-term lease agreements, and the best return.

The Dubai Palm Island

Defining Luxury Properties

In simple translations, a luxury property in Dubai presents an epitome that incorporates a prime location, exceptional design, and extravagant amenities. Under this category fall beachfront villas, high-rise penthouses, residences in elite communities, and so forth. What really sets them apart is attention to detail and superior quality.

Luxury Developments

Some developments, such as The World Islands, Bluewaters Island, and Al Barari, describe luxury. While it is home to private island living, vibing lifestyle, and attractions in Bluewaters Island, Al Barari is the famous greenery and exclusive villas.

Investment Value

The scarce and high-demand luxury properties in Dubai make them retain strong capital appreciation in investment value. They clock the interest of high-net-worth buyers and investors from different parts of the world. In addition, the rental market for these luxury properties remains very solid and offers an excellent income opportunity to investors.

Affordable Accommodation

Affordable Housing

The affordable housing market of Dubai in apartments to townhouses offers quite competitive quotations, covering wide budget ranges. Quality of development has never been foregone to meet the affordability threshold in projects such as Dubai South, International City, and Al Warsan.

Government Initiatives

A number of initiatives have been taken by the Dubai government related to the promotion of affordable housing through rent caps and development of low-cost houses. The concept is to maintain Dubai as a place of residence for all levels of incomes.

Investment in Affordable Housing

Affordable housing therein can be very rewarding, especially considering the forecast of Dubai, which means that demand remains high at lower, more affordable levels while providing steady rental income and good capital growth. The entry cost for affordable housing investments is also lower when compared with those for high-end properties.

Advantages of Serviced Apartments

Serviced Apartment Benefits

A serviced apartment provides the services of a hotel within a setting of home ambiance. These may include regular housekeeping, concierge-style services, and the additional feature of access to amenities like gyms and swimming pools, among others. The apartment proves especially valuable for short-term visits and for use by expatriates.

Common Areas

Popular residential towers include DAMAC Towers by Paramount, Address Dubai Marina, and Jumeirah Living World Trade Centre Residence. With these locations, residents are availed of short-term luxurious stays, upscale amenities, and unparalleled services.

Rental Yields

Serviced apartments yield a high return due to short-term rental demand. While Dubai hosts numerous business tourists and residents, they often prefer temporary housing; hence, for short-term high-end rentals, the annual return tends to be higher compared to conventional rentals.

Factors Influencing Property Prices

Location and Amenities

In Dubai, property prices are greatly influenced by the location and the types of amenities provided. Properties situated in the heart of the city or popular communities can command premium prices. Additionally, the availability of facilities like pools, gyms, parks, schools, and retail outlets plays a significant role in the property's value.

Economic and Government Policies

Dubai's economic stability and government policies also impact property prices. Initiatives such as allowing foreign ownership, investor visas, and infrastructure developments boost the real estate market. Economic factors like employment rates and GDP growth also influence property values.

Market Demand

The demand and supply dynamics in the real estate market are crucial in determining property prices. High demand with limited supply generally leads to an increase in prices, while oversupply can cause a drop. Investor sentiment, influenced by global and local economic conditions, also affects demand.

Conclusion

Investing in Dubai's real estate market offers diverse opportunities across various property types, from luxury villas to affordable apartments. Each category of property provides unique features and potential returns. Whether it's the high rental yields of serviced apartments or the long-term appreciation of luxury properties, understanding the different options helps investors make informed decisions.

Dubai's strategic location, tax benefits, and continuous development make it an attractive destination for real estate investment. As the market continues to evolve, staying informed about trends and market conditions will be crucial for maximizing returns and achieving investment goals.

FAQs

What's in it for investment in Dubai?

Investing in the Dubai real estate market offers several benefits, including high capital appreciation, substantial rental yields, a tax-free environment, a strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and a favorable investment climate. These factors position Dubai as a global investment destination.

Which areas in Dubai are worth investing in for apartments?

The top areas for apartment investments in Dubai include:

Downtown Dubai: Known for its iconic skyline and close proximity to landmarks like the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall.

Dubai Marina: Popular for its vibrant waterfront lifestyle and luxury living.

Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR): Offers stunning sea views and a lively beachside environment.

These locations provide excellent amenities, strong rental demand, and promising investment potential.

Are there any risks of investing in an off-plan property in Dubai?

While off-plan properties can offer attractive discounts and customization options, they also come with certain risks, such as:

Construction Delays: Projects may take longer than expected to complete.

Market Changes: Property values can fluctuate during the construction period.

To mitigate these risks, it's crucial to conduct thorough due diligence and choose reputable developers.

Why buy Dubai penthouses as investment destinations?

Investing in Dubai penthouses is advantageous due to their:

Exclusivity and High Demand: Penthouses are sought after for their luxury and status.

Substantial Rental Yields: High rental income potential.

Panoramic Views: Stunning cityscape and waterfront views.

Capital Appreciation: High potential for property value growth.

Penthouses provide a premium real estate investment with a blend of luxury and financial returns.

What does government support for affordable housing in Dubai look like?

The Dubai government has implemented several initiatives to support affordable housing, including:

Rent Cap Regulations: Policies to control rental prices.

Incentives for Developers: Attractive benefits for developers to build low-cost housing.

These measures aim to ensure affordable housing options for all income groups.

What are the perks of living in a gated community in Dubai?

Living in a gated community in Dubai offers numerous benefits, such as:

Increased Security and Privacy: Enhanced safety measures and restricted access.

Amenities: Access to parks, playgrounds, sports facilities, and more.

Family-Friendly Environment: Ideal for families, providing a secure and pleasant living space.

Gated communities are highly preferred by families and expatriates for their lifestyle and security features.

[buycommercialpropertiesindubai]

Top Neighborhoods to Consider When Buying Residential Properties in Dubai

Dubai offers a diverse range of neighborhoods, each with its unique charm and amenities. Choosing the right neighborhood is crucial when buying residential properties. This guide highlights the top neighborhoods to consider when buying residential properties in Dubai.

For more information on home loans, visit Home Loan UAE.

Downtown Dubai

Overview: Known as the heart of Dubai, Downtown Dubai is home to iconic landmarks such as the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and Dubai Fountain. The area offers a mix of luxury apartments and penthouses. Downtown Dubai is a vibrant urban hub that attracts professionals, families, and tourists alike.

Amenities: Residents enjoy access to world-class shopping, dining, and entertainment options. The neighborhood also offers excellent public transportation links and proximity to major business hubs. The Dubai Opera, Souk Al Bahar, and numerous five-star hotels add to the area's appeal.

Lifestyle: Downtown Dubai is ideal for those who enjoy a vibrant urban lifestyle with easy access to cultural and recreational activities. The community hosts events such as the Dubai Shopping Festival and New Year's Eve celebrations, providing residents with a dynamic living experience.

For property purchase options, explore Buy Apartments in Dubai.

Dubai Marina

Overview: Dubai Marina is a waterfront community known for its stunning skyscrapers and marina views. The area offers a range of apartments, from affordable options to high-end luxury units. Dubai Marina is one of the most sought-after residential destinations in the city.

Amenities: The neighborhood features a picturesque promenade, numerous dining and retail options, and a variety of recreational facilities, including yacht clubs and fitness centers. The Dubai Marina Mall, JBR Beach, and Bluewaters Island are popular attractions.

Lifestyle: Dubai Marina is perfect for those who love waterfront living and a lively social scene. The area is known for its vibrant nightlife, with numerous bars, clubs, and restaurants offering diverse entertainment options.

For mortgage services, consider Mortgage Broker UAE.

Palm Jumeirah

Overview: Palm Jumeirah is an iconic man-made island offering luxurious villas, townhouses, and apartments. The area is known for its exclusivity and stunning views of the Arabian Gulf. Palm Jumeirah is a symbol of Dubai's ambition and innovation.

Amenities: Residents enjoy access to private beaches, high-end resorts, fine dining restaurants, and upscale retail outlets. The island also features world-class leisure and entertainment facilities, including Atlantis The Palm and The Pointe.

Lifestyle: Palm Jumeirah is ideal for those seeking a luxurious and private lifestyle with resort-style living. The community offers a serene environment with easy access to the city's bustling areas.

For rental property management, visit Apartments For Rent in Dubai.

Arabian Ranches

Overview: Arabian Ranches is a family-friendly community offering spacious villas and townhouses. The area is known for its tranquil environment and green spaces. Arabian Ranches is one of Dubai's most popular residential communities for families.

Amenities: The neighborhood features parks, playgrounds, schools, and a golf course. Residents also have access to community centers with swimming pools, fitness facilities, and retail outlets. The Arabian Ranches Golf Club and Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club are notable attractions.

Lifestyle: Arabian Ranches is perfect for families and those who prefer a suburban lifestyle with easy access to essential amenities. The community fosters a sense of belonging and offers a peaceful retreat from the city's hustle and bustle.

For property sales, visit Sell Your Property in Dubai.

Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC)

Overview: Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) is a rapidly growing community offering a mix of villas, townhouses, and apartments. The area is known for its affordability and family-friendly environment. JVC is a popular choice for both investors and end-users.

Amenities: JVC features parks, schools, retail outlets, and recreational facilities. The neighborhood also offers easy access to major highways and public transportation links. Nakheel Mall, Circle Mall, and numerous supermarkets and restaurants cater to residents' needs.

Lifestyle: JVC is ideal for families and individuals seeking affordable housing options in a well-planned community. The community promotes a healthy and active lifestyle with its numerous parks and sports facilities.

Real-Life Success Story

Consider the case of Sarah, who successfully bought an apartment in Dubai Marina. Sarah chose the neighborhood for its vibrant lifestyle and waterfront views. By researching the area and securing a mortgage through a reputable broker, she found her dream home and enjoys the community's amenities and social scene. Sarah's experience demonstrates the importance of selecting a neighborhood that aligns with your lifestyle and investment goals.

Future Trends in Dubai Neighborhoods

Sustainable Communities: There is a growing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable neighborhoods. Developments that prioritize green spaces, energy efficiency, and sustainable practices are becoming more popular. Examples include Sustainable City and Dubai Hills Estate.

Smart Cities: The adoption of smart city technology is on the rise. Neighborhoods equipped with smart infrastructure, including smart grids, waste management systems, and digital connectivity, are attracting buyers. Smart Dubai is an initiative that aims to make Dubai the world's smartest and happiest city.

Integrated Communities: Integrated communities that offer a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational facilities are gaining popularity. These developments provide residents with a convenient and holistic living experience. Projects like City Walk and Dubai Creek Harbour exemplify this trend.

Conclusion

Choosing the right neighborhood is essential when buying residential properties in Dubai. Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, Arabian Ranches, and Jumeirah Village Circle are some of the top neighborhoods to consider. Each offers unique amenities and lifestyles to suit different preferences and needs. For more resources and expert advice, visit Home Loan UAE.