In the darkness, the only thing that lay before his eyes, he was faintly sure he was asleep. But more likely was he stuck in the realm between consciousness and unconsciousness. As the body does naturally, the realm of wakefulness pulled at him like an invisible hand grasping one side of his brain. He fought against it, trying desperately to pull himself back into the realm of the unconscious, knowing the closer he was pulled to awake, the more intense the pain that flooded his body. He knew this meant that pain awaited him upon awakening, and he was reluctant to allow it.

He was trapped, unwilling to welcome the waking world, where the agony was sure to crash down on him. Presently, he couldn't remember why he was in pain, as his focus was concentrated solely on staying asleep in order to avoid it.

But as nature intends, the pull to the world of the cognizant won over the desire for rest. As the last bits of sleep fell away, pain took its place like a mighty flood.

The agony spread throughout Danny's body faster than he fathomed. Like a large injection, the sore, pinching stabs began in his head and spread through his veins, swelling to the ends of his limbs. Unbeknownst to himself, he winced, eyebrows meeting in a pained grimace. The aching stabs lingered, casting blotches of yellow in the blackness behind his eyelids. With each blotch that exploded and disappeared like mini fireworks, a sting poked at his brain. It was then that he remembered why he was in pain. Although the Micro-Ghost had left his body, it had taken much of his energy with it, making it hard to fight against the pains it had inflicted on him when he'd disobeyed it's vile demands. The aches were his body's way of fighting the draining, 'infection'- like state the Micro-Ghost had left him in.

Although unpleasant, it turned out it was worth it.

After seconds that felt like minutes, the pains ebbed into dull aches, and his face muscles relaxed as he breathed a freeing sigh, lying still while his head was cleared of all blotching and darkness overshadowed once again.

Danny took inventory of his body once consciousness crept its way back in. Taking place of the awful stabs he'd experienced last time he'd awakened was full-body muscles sores- much like the feeling you get the morning after a vigorous, extended workout. Although an uncomfortable and motion-hindering feeling, it was welcome in comparison.

As each of his five senses reactivated one by one, his ears began picking up faint sounds. He thought for a moment he must be underwater the way they sounded, until his hearing cleared up and he recognized one as a short, soft moan. He eventually recognized it as himself, involuntarily groaning over his aches. The second sound he identified as a female voice to his left, softly speaking his name. He commanded his eyelids to open to see who it was, being unable to recognize it with hearing alone.

After a few failed attempts and temporary blur once the lids finally lifted, his vision finally fell back in his control. He turned his head toward the unidentified voice, ignoring the strain in his neck, and saw his sister Jazz sitting in a chair positioned close to his bed.

"You're awake!" she said, almost squeaking in her familiar, high-spirited voice. Danny was surprised he hadn't recognized it sooner. She smiled big, showing all her perfect teeth, reaching out and laying her hand over his. She rubbed it motherly, scooting her chair closer to his bed with her other hand. She settled back in her seat when it was as close as it would get, touching the edge of his bed.

"Jazz…" was all Danny could manage, chest expanding and contracting with the breath needed to speak. He blinked, eyes squinting as they burned as if sleep deprived. His mind still being a bit sluggish, he couldn't think of what he knew he should be asking.

"Oh my gosh, we've been so worried!" Jazz began, relief and ecstasy flooding her voice. "I almost had a heart attack after Sam and Tucker told me what happened! You're lucky they were around to help!" She prattled on, words flowing out of her mouth quickly and eagerly as if she were spilling long-kempt information to a close friend rather than updating her bed-ridden brother. She told of the difficult improvising she'd had to perform to keep their parents in the dark. How she had to convince their mother a trip to the hospital was unnecessary, that he was just sick with some weird, weeklong bug that was going around. Although there was expected skepticism from both parents, Jazz managed to dissuade them. She'd been covering for Danny so long it was becoming a talent she wore proudly.

It was then that Danny realized how long she said he'd been out of it; he could barely believe he'd been in sleep for a whole week.

Attempting to digest all the information his sister had spewed so soon after waking from his coma-like state, Danny laid his head back on the pillow, turning his head toward the ceiling and closing his eyes, dulling the burn. He inhaled and exhaled, and was relieved the motion wasn't painful. He still felt sore, just the same as sleeping too long during a long fought cold.

Danny felt Jazz's other hand join the other, grasping his and tightening her grip. "Danny?" Her voice had abruptly changed from euphoric to concerned as her brother looked away. "What's the matter?"

He didn't answer right away, trying to sort his thoughts. With a little effort, still being a bit lethargic, he made a mental list of issues that needed approaching.

Avert parents' suspicions: check.

He turned his head to Jazz as the next item on the list came to mind.

"How many ghost attacks have there been?" His voice was scratchy with fatigue, but the words were clear.

Jazz blinked once, looking at him as if that wasn't what she'd expected him to say. She shook her head as if disapproving, but there was a proud smile accompanying it. "You're barely awake after knocking on death's door and you're all business." A chuckled followed the sentence.

Danny was in no mood or mindset to respond to the tease/compliment. Instead, he just looked at her until she stopped shaking her head and looked at him.

Jazz leaned forward a bit, the smile still shadowed on her face. "You can relax," she assured. "There were only a couple little scares. Nothing Sam and Tucker couldn't take care of."

The mention of their names brought the next item to mind. Despite his irregular state of mind, he berated himself for not asking sooner. "Are they alright?" Strength was returning to his voice, erasing the scratch and allowing the echo of genuine concern. He tried to remember when he'd last seen them.

Jazz's brow creased in confusion. "Yeah, they're fine. Don't you remember telling them all the stuff they told me?"

Danny paused. He sorted his scattered thoughts and searched for the memory. After a minute of backtracking through his most recent memories, he found the last one he had of Sam and Tucker. Yes, they were in his room after bringing him back from the Ghost Zone, waiting eagerly for him to wake. He remembered telling them everything that happened; what it had been like to endure the Micro-Ghost's orders and punishments and how he felt when he'd finally been freed. How tired he was when they had to leave, how much he looked forward to resting. How Tucker left first and left him to talk with Sam.

Sam. Her name aroused something inside him. It was like a small flame, like a lit candle, burning warmly deep inside his chest. The memory of her sitting next to him in his room suddenly became clearer, sharper. He could see her face, how it was carefully guarded, and how her eyes avoided his. Faint worry lines creased her brow as she subconsciously bit her bottom lip. Seeing her face was like kindling for the fire inside him. It began to burn brighter and warmer, expanding and occupying a larger space inside his chest.

He suddenly became very aware of himself in that moment. It was like all the fog in his head had dissolved and someone had slapped him awake. He was fully reminded of the feelings that had lied asleep inside him, temporarily forgotten. The feelings he had for Sam. The feelings he had revealed to her when he thought he'd never see her again, before he'd left to face his fate for the sake of the ones he loved. The feelings that were now burning inside him like a rising fire.

The memory was still playing, un-pausing like a film. Sam's face relaxed, no longer biting her lip, but her eyes were full of anxiety. And fear. He struggled to remember why, thinking quickly as if he were trying to guess the ending to a movie just before it was revealed. The anticipation put his head in a high.

Her eyes finally met his, and the fire inside him flared. Flames lashed out and filled the vacant area of his chest, licking the sides as it tried to burst through the confines. It was like his torso had been engulfed in this fiery inferno of emotions and replaced his internal organs, leaving him with no lungs. He couldn't breathe.

He became dizzy when her violet shaded lips parted.

"Because I love you too."

"Danny!"

Sam disappeared and the flame was put out like the pilot light being turned off on a stove. It shrank impossibly fast and went out in a small 'puff'.

Danny blinked once, clearing his head of the temporary and sudden trance and looked at his sister. She had her hand wrapped around his shoulder like she'd been shaking him. Her eyes were tinted with concern and her brow was creased with lines of frustration. When she'd said his name, her tone implied she'd already said it multiple times.

"What?" was all Danny could manage. He hadn't been out of the trance long enough to remember what had happened before and why he'd been in it in the first place.

Jazz's frown altered from frustrated to concerned. "Are you ok?" she asked tenderly. Having no idea what had just been going through his head, she was frightened as she saw him space out so suddenly after she'd asked a simple question.

Danny took a quick inventory of himself before he answered. When the fire went out, his lungs came back, allowing him to breathe normally. The sudden onslaught of the trance shocked him out of his groggy state, which cleared his head. The only things that remained were the aches that extensively covered his body.

"Yeah… I'm ok."

Jazz was doubtful of his answer as she scrutinized his face, one side of her mouth upturned thoughtfully. His eyes were wide with shock, his breathing was a bit heavy and small beads of sweat were gathering on his forehead. She began thinking he was in no condition to talk.

"Maybe you should just rest for now." It sounded like a concerned order rather than a suggestion. "I have to get back to school anyway."

Danny's head was racing with thoughts on his sudden memory daze, so he nodded once in agreement. His body was still sore, but he'd had to function daily with discomforts before; it came with the territory of being a half-ghost superhero. He'd agreed with Jazz, not to physically recover, but so he could have some private time to think.

Jazz nodded in return, patted his hand comfortingly with a reassuring smile and stood to leave. She paused when she reached the door, hand on the knob as she turned to face him. "Sam and Tucker have been trying to see you all week, but mom and dad wouldn't let them." She half-smiled guiltily. "I guess I did too good of a job convincing them you were sick; they said no visitors in case you were contagious. Anyway, want me to tell them they can come and see you after school today?"

School; a mundane thing that hadn't even crossed his mind until now. He turned his eyes to the wall opposite his bed, a knot forming uncomfortably in his stomach. Was he ready to see her? Their feelings were already in the open; but where was he planning on going from there? It was impossible for their relationship to be the same; which he was very grateful for. No more hiding feelings, no more fearing rejection. They could just be together.

But how would he do that? He'd only known how to be a friend to her.

The notion seemed silly almost as soon as he'd thought it. His love for her was deep as a bottomless well. It set his insides on fire, as he'd learned just minutes earlier. And being her best friend was to his advantage. This wasn't an unrequited crush between two people who didn't know each other; it was a mutual love between two people who already knew and understood each other on a deep level. He had no reason to fear anything. He knew her and would know what she'd want.

The uncomfortable knot uncoiled into a warm sensation that filled his middle. A comforting and excited anticipation filled his head. A goofy half-smile decorated his face as he turned his head to his sister. "Yeah, that sounds great."

Jazz stared blankly for a moment, confused by his constantly warping behavior. Instead of indulging herself the question of why, she simply nodded and said, "Ok, I'll tell them to come over." She left the room and closed the door behind her, theories running rampant through her head.

Danny laid his head back on his pillow, closing his eyes and breathing a contented sigh. He was eager to see Sam now, although he couldn't deny the inevitable twist of unease in the pit of his stomach. This no longer represented the fear of rejection, but rather a mix of excitement and nervousness. He needed to be prepared when she arrived, and he still wasn't sure how.

Danny opened one eye to peek at the clock on his bed stand. It read 12:33, which gave him roughly three hours to get ready. Not only did he need to be mobile, but he also needed to plan how to go about asking the formal question he'd been desiring to ask her, and the one that would break away the last bits of broken ice.

She would like him to formally ask her; that much he knew. The proper way to go about it was the current question. As he tried to imagine it, he realized there wasn't much he could plan. Something like this would have to play out on its own, which he had no doubt it would go well. But he needed some way to make sure it was special.

Sam was one of a kind, definitely a diamond in the rough. She was unique and didn't desire the same things other girls did. She was an individual who didn't want to be pampered with special gifts or have her books carried for her. But he also knew these would be gestures she'd accept if they had meaning. A core meaning that presented something deep and significant.

Upon this deliberation, his eyes opened and a bright smile colored his face. Something from him would have meaning to her. She would accept a special trinket from him.

And he knew exactly the one.

There were only two problems with this idea. The first was that the ring he had in mind, the class ring engraved with her name that his father had given to him, was currently somewhere in Sam's house. The second was, even if he decided he was going to risk entering her room without her permission, would he even be able to? He hadn't even tried to stand yet, let alone go ghost and fly.

His body still ached, no different than the morning after a vigorous workout, but he was confident it was nothing that should incapacitate him. He started by throwing his comforter off his body, noting someone had changed him as he was wearing pajamas, and lifted himself into an upright position. The muscles in his back stretched uncomfortably and he couldn't keep himself from grimacing. It was unpleasant, but undoubtedly bearable.

The muscles in his legs protested similarly when he placed his feet on the floor and stood. At first, they wobbled like Jell-O and his head began to spin dizzily. Standing after being in a coma-like state for a week made this an expected reaction. It only took a few seconds for the dizziness to dissolve and leave everything clear again. Danny slowly lifted his arms above his head and experimentally stretched. It strengthened the feeling in his legs so they felt solid again, but his back and arms began throbbing. He winced as he lowered his arms and took a deep breath. The muscles pulsed for a few seconds before the throbbing ebbed.

All in all, he was quite satisfied. At least he was mobile.

Danny walked toward his door, taking the first steps carefully. He found it easy, as long as he shortened and slowed his stride just a bit. He opened the door and walked into the hall, intent on seeing his parents. He thought it best to let them know he was awake and would need some privacy to get dressed. That way, they wouldn't walk into his room and find him gone when he left to find the ring.

He made it down the stairs using the handrail for support. Upon seeing the living room, he found it strange he'd been asleep for seven days. He felt like he'd just been in this room the day before.

Just then, he was aware of the voices that echoed from the kitchen just around the corner. He heard the door to the garage shut, then the sound of hurried footsteps that soon entered the living room. His parents stopped short upon seeing him standing by the stairs. He gave them a genuine half-smile, which they returned with big, toothy ones.

"Danny!" Danny's mother Maddie exclaimed. Her voice was saturated in maternal relief and joy. She opened her arms wide and hurried over to him, closing him in a close but gentle embrace. She kissed the top of his head before releasing him, keeping her hands on his shoulders and lowering her face to his level (which wasn't far, he was getting taller). "How are you feeling?" she asked, an unrelenting smile decorating her face. Danny's father Jack was right behind her, watching his son with relief in his eyes and a joyous, goofy grin across his face.

"I'm fine," Danny answered honestly. "Just a little sore."

Maddie's eyes softened affectionately as she brushed some of the hair out of his face with her fingers. "You had us worried sick, honey."

"Good to have you back, son," Jack said. Even with his voice retaining its comical tone, it was thick with emotion.

Danny internally flinched; he constantly forgot how much his well being mattered to them and how is pain affected them. But they were part of the reason he chose to fight. He would protect them along with all the others he loved.

And seeing their devoted faces all for him like this reminded him why.

Maddie placed the palm of her hand over Danny's forehead. Her mouth turned down in a slight frown. "You're still a little warm. Let me take your temperature, then we can get you something to eat."

Danny knew he must have been famished, having no idea whether or not he'd ingested anything in the past week, but the nerves and excitement left his stomach slightly uneasy.

"Not now. Maybe later when I get back."

Maddie's brows met in confusion. "Get back?"

A flicker of panic burst in Danny's chest. "From- the shower," he quickly recovered. "I want to take a shower."

"Oh," Maddie responded, completely convinced. "At least let me take your temperature, then you can go ahead."

Danny nodded as his mother went to fetch the thermometer.

She hesitantly allowed him to stay out of bed after finding his temp a single degree above normal. It was gradually wearing off and she decided allowing him to get back into the swing of things would make him good as new. Danny entered the bathroom at the end of the hall, deciding to act on the shower excuse. He felt slightly chilled thanks to the echo of the fever and decided it would be a good idea to be as fresh and clean as possible for Sam and Tucker's visit. He was glad he'd made the decision as soon as the hot water rained down on his body. The heat relaxed his muscles and released some of the tension, reducing the aches into dull discomforts.

He dried himself with a towel after shutting the water off, but only to keep his mother from knowing he didn't actually need it when she collected the laundry. After hanging it up on the wall rack, he used his intangibility to dry himself completely, the water dropping right off and landing on the shower floor with a 'sploosh.'

He couldn't help but smile. It had been a week since he'd used his powers for daily routine or any other means. Strange that he was almost relieved to see he still had them.

After dressing in normal attire of baggy blue jeans and white t-shirt, Danny went back to his room and locked the door behind him.

Depending on the reason for the transformation, he had a different feeling every time he readied to go ghost. The motive this time sent a nervous wave of enthusiasm through his middle. He felt slightly daring, yet guilty to sneak into Sam's room. But he also felt excited, nervous and eager to please her with the ring. The mix of emotions seemed overwhelming, but a smile still crept across his face.

It was all for Sam.

Activating the command in his mind, a flash of light briefly brightened his room as his transformation commenced, beginning at his middle with a ring that split in two, one traveling up and the other down, altering his clothes to the familiar gray and black jumpsuit. Gray boots garbed his feet below as his black hair turned white above, the hues of his eyes adapting a sharp green in place of the deep blue. A very soft, ghostly glow faintly covered his body, completing the phantom form.

He lifted one of his gloved hands and examined it, twisting it around and back again. Another soft smile made an appearance on his face. It felt so normal, like the long gap between now and the last time he transformed didn't exist. Everything felt the same.

Except the flame that now burned eternally in his heart.

He launched himself off the floor, phasing through his window and flew toward Sam's house, flying over the buildings to get there faster. He flew with ease, his aches dulled into almost unnoticeable discomforts that didn't impede his flight patterns. He vaguely noticed that nothing had changed during his absence, the town below no more busy or empty than usual, soft sunlight beating down from above. He reached his destination in seconds, Sam's house being only a few short blocks away.

He adapted invisibility as he hovered by her bedroom window just in case her parents happened to be home. He hesitated at first, a needle of guilt penetrating the center of his chest. Entering Sam's room without permission felt like an invasion of her privacy. Despite his innocent intentions, would she be so quick to forgive him?

Yes. He was sure she would.

He phased through her window and black curtains, placing his feet carefully on the floor to limit the noise of his entry. It was considerably dark, the curtains being drawn and the wall paint being a deep, dark purple. He summoned an ecto plasmic glow around his hand to give some light, soon after spotting a lamp on her nightstand. He walked around the bed and turned it on, expelling the green glow afterward. It would be better to find a lit lamp than a floating, ethereal glow if someone happened to walk in.

He'd been in Sam's room a couple of times previously, not to mention seeing it a few times while talking to her on a WebCam, so he knew the layout pretty well. It felt strange now, however, as it was the first time he'd been in there without her. The needle buried itself deeper in his chest, but he ignored it. He was doing nothing she wouldn't understand.

Thinking of the nightstand as one of the most likely places to keep a ring, Danny opened the small top drawer at his waist. There wasn't much inside; a small pocket journal lay on the left, a mechanical pencil tucked inside the spiral binding. He looked away immediately, no intention whatsoever in invading her privacy in such a way.

The journal was instantly forgotten anyway when he laid eyes on what was placed on the right side. The ring he came for was there, easily recognized. But the photo underneath it was what had caught his eye so instantly.

He reached inside with both hands, grasping the ring in one palm and holding the picture in the fingers of the other. He pulled both items out of the drawer, his closed hand falling to his side and the other lifting the picture closer to his face.

He'd seen many pictures of himself and Sam. He had an album full of them, Tucker snaps along with them, in his room. But he'd never seen this one before. He didn't even remember it being taken. Rightly so, as both pairs of eyes in the picture were closed.

It was taken in Sam's basement theater, dark in the background but the bright light of a movie playing on the giant screen brightened the unknowing human subjects. Danny was seated at the far end of the couch, leaning back with his arm draped over the armrest, the other in his lap. His head was leaning in the opposite direction of the armrest, his cheek lying on the top of Sam's head, who lay with her legs sprawled across the remainder of the couch with her hands in her lap, her head leaned against Danny's shoulder. Both were sound asleep, unaware they were being photographed.

Danny stood frozen, eyes glued to the picture in his hand. Tucker had obviously been the photographer, being the only other one at these get-togethers and the only one not in the photo. But when had it been taken? It appeared recent, Sam and himself looking no different than they did now. His eyes strayed to the coffee table in the bottom left corner of the picture, where he spotted the case to the DVD 'Blood Bath 3: The Final Spill' lying among the mess of snacks and candy wrappers. They'd gone to Sam's house to watch that film just barely a month ago.

Small frown lines decorated Danny's face as he recalled that night. He did recall dozing with Sam seated next to him, but he had no memory of her being that close. He also remembered being the only one on the couch when he awoke the following morning. How had the close position happened? Was it an accident? Did Sam lean against him purposely after he'd fallen asleep? If Tucker had snapped the photo and Sam had it in her room, that meant Danny was the only one who didn't know about it. Why?

The possibilities sent a mess of emotions spiraling in his chest. Maybe she came so close on accident and Tucker had taken the picture and later teased her with it, in which she took it from him or he gave it to her. Or maybe she did it on purpose, Tucker snapped the picture, teased her with it and she took it from him so Danny wouldn't see it.

Either way, she kept it tucked away in this drawer, with the ring that was always meant for her lying on top.

He felt a surge of affection and gratitude to know it meant so much to her. A pang of guilt joined the mix as he realized this could have been hurting her. He felt like a coward for not speaking up on his feelings for her sooner. She was suffering in silence, just as he had been.

But knowing the feelings had been mutual the entire time made all his doubts about her feelings melt away. He meant just as much to her as she did to him. Based on how infinitely deep his love was for her, he knew he had nothing to fear.

A lovesick smile tugging one side of his mouth, he placed the picture back in its place and closed the drawer. He tightened his grasp around the ring, the other half of his mouth turning up to match the other. Switching the lamp off, he made his way to the window and phased out, heading straight back to his house, phasing into his room and converting to human form once his feet touched the floor. He unlocked the door before lying back on his bed, holding the ring between both thumbs and forefingers. He examined the gold band as it gleamed in the sun that shone through his window.

An unrelenting, adoring smile adorned his face as he ran a thumb over the cursive letters engraved inside the band, waiting patiently for Sam to wear it.

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

(Sighs) Fluff like Cotton Candy.

I apologize for the long delay on this chapter. I hope it was worth the wait. Thanks for reading :).