Making his way down the halls he decides to go straight for the boy’s room. The master of time can find him there when he feels to do so, no reason to pretend that he don’t already know he’s here already. To his surprise thought so meet he with the other ghost in the hallway two corridors down from the child’s room.

The time master was coming out from a room with there were no light coming out from or any sound, the short look Nocturne got into the room before the time master closed the door were darkness companied by silent.

Putting his head slightly to the side he study his friend as he turns towards him. A raised brow became his answer. “I have seen you exiting that room quite a few times now, and that is only since the night before yesterday. Yet I don’t recall you even using that room before.”

The lift brow got the other as company. “You mean I can’t use the rooms in my own home as I please?”

“That is not what I meant,” Nocturne frowned. “But you knew that already. May I ask what have your interest with that room?”

“Does that matter to you?”

“Hmm, I would dare say that depends.” Now it is Nocturne who rose a brow, “If it is something in style of a hobby of yours or in line of your feeding, then no, I do not have any peculiar interest. But if it is something that is of a concern for the child,” the skeptical look melted away as a gentle smile took it place, “or for yourself then yes, it is of my concern if you would so let me. I consider you are friend after all.”

Silence stretched out between them and for a moment Nocturne started to believe that there would be no response to his offer. A low chuckle broke out from the shorter ghost where he hovered in the hall. The chuckle ebbed out as he shook his head.

“Than I guess it could matter for you but not in a way you or anyone could imagine. I’m currently working on something that will change a few more things in my tower but in the end if they go as I plan them to, then things will be easier in the long run.”

The dream ghost listened and got a little disappointed when the other then turned around and started down the hall. “What changes?”

A humming is his answer. “Clockwork.”

“In time.”

Nocturne reminded himself not to strangle the master of time as he settled for the vague promise the he would be told about what was going on, later. They were quiet as they entered the sleeping child’s room, Clockwork raising the lights some while Nocturne moved over to beside the bed.

Again like all the other times he started to fuss over the child, fluffing pillows, tugging the comforter, and petting both the child and the puppy who was liking his hand. All the while cooing and humming toneless melodies.

There were no response.

Not showing his worry or distress the dream ghost continued as he always did on his visit, speaking with his friend as the time ghost too fussed with the child, a soft touch with a little energy to chase away any nightmares that may be there deep under the feeling of nothing, quietly watching as Clockwork periodically did silent work in the room or for short moments left it.

All day went and the child slept, his puppy either sleeping beside him or nuzzling both him and the plush Nocturne gave him the first visit.

Nocturne did not want to leave that night but did so with the promise to be back early in the morning.

That night in the ghost zone were quiet as the report spread in the zone, no change in the child.

Next day started as a repeat of the one before, a short report to the warden, a few greetings and then off to the clock tower.

It is quiet in the tower as he enters and again so meets he Clockwork as he exits that dark silent room. “Going to tell me what’s in there?”

“In time, hopefully.”

That last word was told in a whisper and Nocturne is not all to sure that he were meant to hear it, so he restrained to comment as they both moved down the hall.

Nocturne move through the motion as he had done the day before with the child, fussing, tugging, petting, while humming or singing softly. All the while swallowing down his worry at the lack of response. It would be fine, everything would be fine. Danny had proven over and over again in the past how strong he could be. He would wake up. It is fine.

Clockwork left the room a little more then he had done the day before, Nocturne getting the a snack for Cujo at one point saw his friend yet again leaving the dark room. He did not pressure his friend about the room.

When evening settled in Nocturne did not want to leave, the child would wake up soon, he were certain. Nothing said it had to be in the day time and he would be damned if the child woke up alone after all that happen and been done to him.

“I’m not leaving.”

“Understood. There is a guest room two doors down from Daniel’s, you can stay there. Just remember to pay Walker a visit before night.”

Thankful that he got clear to stay the night Nocturne went over for a short while that night to the prison to give his report. Ignoring the worried glances and looks given his way both as he came and as he left. Everything would be fine once the child woke up.

As he enters the tower again he comes face to face with a small child. And for a moment he thought it to be Danny in human form being up and about. But no, on a second glance he could tell that while this child looked eerily similar to the sleeping one there are some stark differences. The first one being that this one clearly is a girl and secondly looks to be somewhere around maybe 7 or 8 year of age.

The small girl is starring up at him and Nocturne is not completely sure what is going on. Carefully as not to startle her he kneels down before her as he addresses her. “ Hello, child. Who might you be?”

She fidgets as she plays with the cuff of her hoodie, before hiding her hands in its pocket. “I’m Dani, with an I” she held up on finger on the ‘I’ before hiding her hand again. “Soo- who are you mister?”

“I’m Nocturne, the ghost of dreams. It’s nice to meet you Dani. You wouldn’t happen to know where the ghost who lives here currently is do you?”

“Oh, you mean minster in clock? He is over there.” She said as she pointed to the doorway leading down to the observatory. “He said he would be back soon and then we can go see my cousin.” She look sad at the mentioning of her relative but she bounced back as she smiled up at the tall star ghost. “Hey let’s go find ‘im.”

And taking the taller ghost’s hand in her own she tugged him after her as they went down the hallway and into the observatory where they indeed found the tower’s owner. Looking over a variation of clocks with moving images. The little girl bunched over to him, a tug at his cloak made him look down.

Upon seeing the small girl he smiled and bend down to pick her up. She soon nuzzled into his chest as she griped fist full of his cloak to keep balance.

Nocturne stood by the entrance as he watch this. Confused he glided over to his friend that seemed to just be done with his work, for the moment at least. The grin he got as the clock wearing ghost saw him spelled mischief and something content. The dream ghost is a bit unnerved by it, it can never be good when the one who controls time looks like that.

“Hello Nocturne. You visit to the warden went well I presume?”

“As if you need to ask.” The dream ghost glanced over to the small child in his friend’s hold. He wanted to ask about her, who she is and where she comes from. But most of all why she looks so much like Danny. As if sensing his thoughts the time ghost smiled gently as he introduced the small child.

“This here is Danielle, more known as Dani with an I,” he added at the protesting huff from the girl who got content at the correction before nuzzling back again. “Her life is quite unique as she have traveled for the most part of it. I found her as she was about to be a stowaway at a ship to England actually.” He patted her on the head at this and smiled. “She is alone and since few knew about her and no one were about to adopt her I decided she can be living here as a part of a family.”

The word surprised came to mind as Nocturne kept on staring at his friend as he started down the halls on his way to the other child in the tower. Suddenly the time ghost stop and look over his shoulder, he is smirking. “Oh, nd before I forget to mention it. She happens to also be Daniel’s cousin.”

“What?”

But Clockwork gave no answer as he kept on walking, humming a happy melody together with the child. Flustered Nocturne followed.

“No one have said a word that Danny has other relatives, at least no one his age, or younger. And what do you mean she have been on her own? Clockwork. Is this what you meant before about changes in your tower?”

“Some of them yes, half, there is one more change but that is not a guarantee if it will or will not happen. I hope it will.”  Once more did he end a comment in a whisper and this time Nocturne will comment on it, later.

They reached Danny’s room and upon entering it Dani jumped down from Clockwork’s hold and run over to her cousin’s side. She stood there for some time, just looking over the other. Before she carefully lay a hand on his shoulder.

“Hi cuz… That guy over there told me you aren’t feeling to well. He said some other things to that I don’t really know what he means and it all sounds like riddles. It’s kind of funny and annoying at the same time. And, and he said that you will live here now, and h-he said I can live here to. So we can be siblings now. B-but you will wake up first right? He said th-that you maybe won’t but that’s a lie because I k-know you and you don’t leave other like that. A-and I’m here now so you have to wake up now. O-okay?”

Dani tried to smile the whole time she spoke with her cousin/maybe brother but she started to cry and most of the things she said sounded garbled to near none understandable.

Seeing the distress of the smaller child Nocturne went over to her and her cousin and picked her up. At first she protested but settled down soon enough as he rocked her and hummed. So Clockwork’s family grew with one more member that night Nocturne thought for himself as he later lay the girl to rest in her own room right next to the boy’s. It had mixed theme of a night sky at the ceiling and a willow in the night covering the rest of the room.

As Nocturne was about to turn in for the night as well he saw Clockwork on his way towards the hallway where the dark room is. Thinking that now is as good a time as any to talk to the time master about any other changes he followed.

When he went down the hallway the door to the dark room stood open, taking this as a sort of invite he went inside. The door closed after him and it wasn’t long there after that the silence in the room was broken.

“AAAAAGRRRRAAAA.”

The scream was haunting as it sounded against the walls in the room, willed with anguish and sorrow. Startled he tries to find the source of this scream. It did not take long to find the only other person in the room.

Confusion ensured as the dream ghost could clearly see that it is not his friend who is screaming his out his innards. But there is no other in the room who could be doing it either. Unsure what else to do he moves over to Clockwork who looks back at him.

“I could use your assistance for this.”

That is when he saw the thermos and the source for the scream that took a small pause as is desperate for breath before starting up again.

“What is going on?” he had to be speaking in near yelling to be heard. “Who’s in there?”

“Someone who’s class is currently undergoing a change. Or his sub-class is, to be precis.”

“WHAT?”

“I need to take him out of the thermos but he would be trashing to badly for it to be safe. I need you to make him sleep as I release him.”

Sometimes he really hate how this time-y bastard can’t give useful information before hand. “One of these day’s I will have telling me in advance about things like these.” Yet he did not protest as he made himself ready.

Clockwork gave him a thankful smile. “Good luck with that.”

It became a rather long night for the two adult ghosts as they did their best in helping to sooth the hurting specter now stuck in a time and sleep mixed suspension bubble.

“Hi there, I’m Dani with an I. Who are you?”

The blue skinned specter with red eyes and white fire-y hair looked down on the small girl intrigued. “I’m Dark but mostly I’m called Dan. When did you show up pipsqueak?”

“Be nice Dan.”

Huffing the dark Phantom glanced at his new benefactor before looking back at the small girl. Who have shifted into her ghost form and was now truing to grip hold of tufts of his hair. Curious over the girls curiosity he simply let her do as she wish. Surprised as she unprovoked started to answer his question as is Clockwork had never interrupted.

“I was on my way to somewhere new when he over there with the purple tablecloth showed up. He said that Danny was sick and is going to live here now, then he asked if I wanted to stay here too. And so I’m here.” She is now using both her hands to try to ‘trap’ his flames by clapping them down on them. “Why are you here mister? Are you also going to stay?”

Dan is silent for a moment before speaking. “Yeah, I’m going to live here too. And I am given a chance, my first one.” He smiled even as he saw the confusion in the small child, who in the end latched on to the first part of his answer and smiled back.

“Hah, then that’s great. You can be like our big brother when Danny wakes up.”

Her smile is big and infectious as he smiles back, even if his smile is a bit more hesitant and wavy as if unused to friendly smiling. Nocturne is happy that everything seems to turning out for the better for this small family, even if he has concerns about Clockwork’s subtle comments that Danny might have a bit of difficulty in accepting Dan at first.

It’s fine as long as he wakes up it is fine.

The seventh day started of really good, they all four had breakfast together even if the oldest child, technically adult, tried to skip. Promptly being caught and hauled back to the table by one mister Nocturne and this under the quiet snickers of the oldest amongst them. Dan got placated some thought when the dream ghost lectured the time ghost as well when he tried to leave the table to early. For the most part so played Dan together with Dani, both periodically visiting the sleeping child. Or Dani did, Dan never went in farther then the doorway.

Nocturne and Clockwork spend a lot of the day inside the room with Danny, trying what they could to coax the boy into waking. Everything seemed fine, aside from the child still not showing signs of waking up, he at the very least seemed stable. By evening time Nocturne manage to convince the other two children to spend time together with him in Danny’s room as he would read them all fairy tales. Dan tried to deny that he enjoyed the story time as much as Dani did even when he clearly listened as closely as she did.

It was being a good day.

Then came night again and it is the seventh day. And Danny started to spasm as he choke on air.

But he was kind in the manner that he always gave Clockwork the report of all and any progress in the humanzone, as well as in the ghostzone. Giving Clockwork a recap on how the former family is now in the humans register as child abuses but have avoided, with the help of Vlad, to be announced as such in any media. The case has also been put up on trial to see about their punishment in the system. Again so helped Vlad with that, so it came down to no jail time for any party, but there was both fines to be paid as well as that the family would be under supervision by the humans for some time, mostly regarding whether or not they would be allowed to keep their oldest child.

It had been more complications, however, when the ghosts was involved in to the matter. The first reaction had been as expected that a rescue team would have to save Danny. But thanks to Vlad it was agreed to drag in a ghost as a represent for their cause in the event. The conclusion was reached after a lot of arguing, and while the MIW still is opposed to the ghosts, the actual judge and child service agreed with the necessity of what was done. Further more so when it was given out the child’s current status of being in a coma caused by the abuse. The ghost doctor Ryan was also called in to give prof that any further, and unnecessary, movement of the child could very likely lead to his death. He was careful not to show evidence of the child being half ghost.

The new facts helped in making the human agree to let the ghost handle the recovering of the child. Yet the question if the ghost were to remain in charge of the child in distress when he awakes is still being handled. The same goes for the former parents wish to meet the child, but it does look like they will agree to it, yet only under the condition that it will be supervised.

The ghosts are still not fully in agreement about allowing there to ever be a meeting between child and former family members again, but they are willing to keep to their word about Danny having the right of chose. There is therefore preparations being done for both cases, him wanting to see them or him not wanting to see them.

In the humanzone there have also occurred a process regarding the three children that was close to Danny. They are all three under investigation, that have nearly reached its conclusion. The other children’s families had been shocked, and upset, when they got the note that their children where being suspected of abusing their ‘friend’. At first they had all denied that it could ever happen and had even tried to protect their children from such an accusations. But as the investigation had progressed, and some evaluations had been done on the children, it came to light some of the things that they had done.

It had terrified the parents when they found out that not only had their own blood and bone been causing pain to another, but that they also enjoyed it and saw it like they had done no wrong. Evaluations on them implied that there had occurred some abnormalities in their ability to empathies with other individuals. They all also showed an unhealthy obsession regarding Danny Fenton, one even claiming that he belonged to them and that the adults had no rights to take him away from them.

The solution for this case has yet to be finished but at least one condition for the aftereffects have been decided. All the children would be forced in to therapy, for violent tendency and empathy failure. The said children are of course against it all, but all the involved adults are agreeing that it is needed. Especially after some peculiar outburst from them all at different times, mostly comments that contradicted known facts about the abuse, show of obsession, or even what seemed like pure paranoia. One even went so far as threatening to ruin a doctor’s life if he didn’t bend for her commands.

The other families has also given an official apology to the former parents for what their children had done to Danny. The children are also temporary removed from school, both to keep them under stronger watch as to keep them separate. The parents have also taken to discussion if they should make so that the three children will do further studies in different locations. The Manson family is even thinking about moving altogether away from the town, they are though waiting with that decision as they want to know where Danny will be living from now on. So that they don’t by mistake moves to close to his new home.

The school had also been informed regarding Danny and his condition. And already so was the school board willing to be helpful. He would be excused from all current schoolwork without ill effect on his score record. They were also willing in trying to make some sort of compromise regarding the last years scores. It was under discussion how the child would be allowed a chance to better them without having to redo the whole year.

So aside from that, so has there been no further progress in that zone and neither in the ghostzone, all portals are still under guard, the ghosts are still running errands to be of help, otherwise nothing new. Some have tried to demand to get to know, or get some information about, the ghost that have direct care of the halfa but they are mostly ignored or explained to why the can’t get that information.

Clockwork already knew all this long beforehand of course, but it was giving both him and his guest a sense of being allowed full involvement with it. In return so reported Clockwork about current process of the sleeping child, and also the observants repeated visit.

They hadn’t visited as often and persistent as Nocturne, but revisited they had. Nearly getting themselves erased a few times by doing so. It was hard for those green eyeballs to take in new situations. Especially when that situation included that they where not in what they saw as direct control. They had so far demanded, threatened, argued, and even to some degree begged. All of it was meet with anger and refusal from Clockwork. They stopped visiting though after they had been seen in a clock to attempt to, be they own hands, take care of the ‘problem’. That had been met with a very real threat to be meet with pure animosity from the master of time if they did anymore attempts to get rid of his child. Not only would they be erased from the current time, but he would erase them at their beginning.

Though Clockwork avoided to describe it in so many details when he told Nocturne about this. Only fleeting about their visits and bad behavior but that he had after some ‘persuasion’ gotten them to see it more from his ‘point of view’. Nocturne was certain however that there was a lot more behind it then that, being well aware of what a pain the observants could be, but he decided against to inquire any further about it.

And as what was becoming normal, came Nocturne over on a visit on the fourth day. He gave the tower’s owner a quick greeting before continuing down the hall for the child’s room. It didn’t bother the time ghost, already aware of both the ‘payback’ system that the dream ghost has in play, but he was also aware of the other reason the other had hurried so much. Finishing what he had at hand, he turned the clock he was using to its neutral stage before following down the same hall.

He found his guest fussing with Danny’s covers and pillows while he cooed at the child, lightly trying to wake him, but at the same time trying to be careful not to disturb him. Clockwork let him do as he wanted and it only took some few moments before it became clear for the dream ghost that the child was still in a coma. His expression became sad as he started to gently stroke his hand through the boy’s hair, softly singing a small lullaby.

“I told you that it isn’t until the fifth day that he has the chance to wake up, as earliest.”

“…I just wanted to see if you for once could maybe have been wrong. Foolish, I know, but one can still hope for the impossible.”

“True. And it is not foolish to hold hope, especially when it is for the welfare of another. It’s kind of you, and of all the others, to show so mush care for Daniel.”

“Nice it may be but it’s not lot of a help for him now. Not as much as it would have been if we had given it to him before this stage.”

“That’s not necessary correct. His current state is, as it was found out, caused by the lack of care, that is a truth. But the care that many now are willing to share is not a waist, as it both can and will be of great help to stabilize him when awake… There are currently quite a few who believes this could have been avoided. They are right in the basic facts that him being cared for would have avoided this moment to happen, but what they insist to forget is that it was an unknown fact that care was something so critical for him. And as cruel as it may be so was the unbalance of care and lack of it that allowed us to find it’s meaning for him. Otherwise he would already been gone, or been domed to disappear not to long from now, with no one knowing why. Therefore the idea of giving blame for his condition to either oneself or someone else is pointless.”

“You know for every time I came by here I get more and more an understanding why, just why, a social meeting with you involved can be so frustrating… Still, thanks for saying that it matter how we care now, even if it is late.”

Clockwork gave him a pat on the shoulder, it was equally for soothing as it was to annoy the other. After some time when Nocturne felt done with fuzzing with the sleeping child he was about to start his report for Clockwork. He didn’t want to leave the room. He believed that not only would it be a good thing not to leave the boy alone, even if unconscious, but it also seemed unlikely that they would cause to much disturbance by talking calmly in the room. If anything that would be a good thing if what people claimed of those in a coma being calmed by the prof of company.

That is when the distant noise started. Nocturne frowned while Clockwork had shortly a look of surprise before going over to a smile. Not long after a little ghostly came bouncing in to the room. Happily he yipped at them before charging and jump up on the bed. Before he got to curl up by the boy’s side though so swept Nocturne in.

“What are a dog doing here? You, get down from there.” The dream ghost got so far as lifting the dog up some inches before it barked and hastily turned out of his grip. “No, hush. You can’t make a racket in here.” He said as he tried to dive for the dog again.

Clockwork though decided to intervene, before it could evolve in to some type of catch game. He put his hand on Nocturnes arm and dragged him back some before speaking. “It’s okay. That dog is Cujo, he belong to Danny.”

Nocturne starred at the time ghost, then the puppy ghost, and back to Clockwork. “Since when has the young halfa had a pet? There was no word of it from either his family, nor from the other ghosts. If I had known I would have gone and picked him up.” He observed, a bit nervous still, as the puppy curled up beside Danny’s side and promptly went to sleep.

“That is because no-one knew. That and the fact that Danny hadn’t had the chance to officially call Cujo his. He named him, played with him, and even visits him from time to time. But with the circumstances at his former home, and the treatment from his ‘companions’, he couldn’t see it as a possibility.”

“With the findings and the current knowledge of the family and ‘companions’ behaviors I can understand his reasoning.  Will there be a difference now though? I have never seen you as a pet person but will you allow the puppy, Cujo was it, to stay here?”

“I see no problems with that. If anything I would prefer it, there will be times when I will be busy, and it would then make things easier for us both if he was allowed a true companion and friend. That and Cujo is a rather amusing one.” Clockwork smiled as the little dog rosed somewhat, enough to yip at him, before going back to sleep. “And I know already that Danny himself will be a great pet owner,” Clockwork smile dipped some, “if he succeeds in waking up.”

“It all comes down to that doesn’t it? Everything is fixed and done to make everything in his life as good as they can be, but only if he survives this.” Nocturne lightly petted the child’s head. “He really was dealt unfair cards for his life.”

Clockwork didn’t say anything to that, there was nothing that needed to be said that hadn’t been said, and neither was there anything to say to help. The best to do was to allow the grief to play to it’s end. When Nocturne was feeling calmer again, he went back to report to Clockwork as he had planed to do.

The report was of the normal small things, such as the legal status moving a little on the questions that are in process. But this time a little bigger thing was included, the children has had their first therapy seasons. And all three’s seasons had been cut a little short, it was said it was due to aggression coming from them and even some physical slashes at their surroundings. It would seem that the last few days had put some stress on them.

Even with therapy season being private between patient and doctor, Nocturne had done some snooping around and found some lovely facts. It would seem that what had made the children angry wasn’t worry for either punishment nor consequences, no, what had made them angry was that for the last few days had they been striped of their credibility and their reputations with their family’s as harmless kids. That they would no longer be listened to blindly by the adults. That everything they said was now questioned.

Nocturne saw that as a sort of punishment in itself, something they had made themselves well deserved off. To no longer be the center of truth, as they saw fit, and no longer the rulers of their worlds, and never to be one again. It most be frustrating now, but would likely progress into be a hell for them soon enough. And it all made Nocturne very happy.

He had at one point seen the other two children’s dreams, and he had found them just as bad as Jasmines had been. Pain and agony for Danny while they themselves was free of all crimes. Even when holding the source for the halfa’s pain. He had left them with terrifying nightmares.

Besides that there was not much to say and after some time Nocturne decided it was time to leave.

“I will be back later.”

“In the next 5 hours.”

“Showoff.” The dream ghost looked over to the little ghost puppy that yawned. “It really was a nice thing that you let the dog find his way here.”

“O I didn’t.”

“What?”

“I did say that Cujo is an amusing one. Alway able to find his way to the most impossible of places.” Clockwork saw first wonder on the dream ghost’s face but then worry. “No need for alarm over that. He is the only one that can do so regarding my tower. Even the observants need my will to be let in here.” Which is also a part of why they hadn’t been around as of late.

“Okay then. Goodbye Danny. Bye Clocky.” Nocturne smirked as he saw the clear annoyance on the other’s face. The chance that he would come to regret it was a very possible variable. That still didn’t mean that it hadn’t been worth it though.

With the dream ghost finally gone Clockwork went to the small child and his dog. He gave Cujo a small pet on his head, getting a tired lick in return. It really was hard not to like the little animal, ghost or not. The time ghost spend some time with Danny as he had taken up as a habit to do, either talking to the child, telling him a fairytale, or sing him a song that could be either a lullaby or simply a song.

When done he turned the light back down some before leaving. He didn’t go back to his work though, no, there was no current need for that, and there was something else he wanted to address. Going more deeply inside his tower he after awhile came to a room that was dark and barrel of anything except two things. A table, and a thermos, that has stood closed and untouched since it came to his home.