Notes: The joy of NO MORE EXAMS!
Enjoy!


Confession Problems
Chapter IX:
Buried

"Ah! These kids are awesome!" Ember squeals as she and Dan fly back to Fenton Works. She's doing summersaults in the air on her guitar. Dan watching her, grinning widely. His stress about the Fenton's and Sam leaving him for the moment. This is why he loves being with Ember. You can get so wrapped up in the fun you have with her that you just forget everything else.

"Told you," Dan gloats. "I can't wait to go to your gig! You guys will be orgasmic!"

"Damn right we will!" Ember grins as she plays a solo on her sidekick. It was one that was just used in a mock performance by the band. The last note rings in both their ears and Ember groans. "Sharp note." She sighs and stops, fiddling with the nobs on the headstock. "Arg, these strings will be my death," she says.

"Get new ones," Dan advises, sitting cross legged in front of her. She shrugs, playing an E chord to see if the note was fixed. It wasn't.

"I only get new strings if one breaks," she tells her friend (for the tenth or so time).

"I know," but he never stops using logic on her (or attempting to). "It's too low now."

"I know," Ember groans. The next five minutes is spent tuning the stubborn instrument until Ember played the E chord, G chord, and A7 chord with satisfaction. "OK, we're good!" she says with a grin. Dan shakes his head in amusement.

"Come on, Vad should be back too." Together, they make their way to the Fenton's home and phase into the living room. Suddenly, the alarm blares and they cringe. That's really annoying…

"Holly cheese biscuts!" Jack exclaims as he bursts though the basement door. "GHOST!"

"Yes, said ghost being your son," Vlad drawls from the top of the stairs.

Jack blinks, looks at Dan and then sighs, "Right." He still isn't use to that! Dan and Vlad roll their eyes as the large man retreats back into the basement.

"Don't forget to turn the alarm OFF!" Vlad yells after him. Shaking his head, he turns to his son and friend. "Had fun?"

Ember grins, "O, yeah!" She flops onto the couch and sets her sidekick on the coffee table. "We're planning a gig on the weekend before school. It's gonna be HUGE!" She squeals, taking her guitar and playing one of the songs they are planning to use.

"Hm. Could you play something slower?" Vlad asks, sitting down beside Dan with a glass of water.

"Like a ballad?" Ember asks, considering it. Thinking of one, she begins playing a smooth arpeggio using the G, B, and high E strings.

"Ah, much better."

"Old man," Dan snickers. Ember laughs but does not stop playing. "Hey, where's Danny and his friends?"

Maddie suddenly pokes her head out from the kitchen, "O, he's walking them home. Such a gentleman…" She trails off and returns to the dishes. Dan stares after her, strangely anxious. Why? Danny always walks them home, right? So there's no reason to be worried. He'll be safe and he knows the place better than Dan, and it's normal, right?

Right?


It's hours later when Danny does return home. He makes it five minutes before his curfew (10 o clock) but finds that he's not in the clear. Dan is the one who greets him at the door, paranoid and anxious.

"Where have you been?" he demands. Dan's green eyes bore into Danny's blue ones with a disturbing intensity. The younger boy tenses, stuttering as he replies.

"W-walking Tuck and Sammy home." Dan raises an eyebrow.

"Sammy? Since when was she Sammy?"

Danny panics. He hadn't meant for him to find out yet! He thought it would happen in school or over dinner at LEAST! Trying to catch himself, he does something equally if not more stupid than calling Sam Sammy. "I-Since we're dating, I—!"

"DATING?!" Dan's eyes go wide and that word hits home. He's gaping, not able to believe what he was just told. "You? Samantha?" Behind him, Ember and Vlad share a worried glance. This is BAD.

"O! That's wonderful, honey!" Maddie exclaims. She rushes over from the kitchen and hugs her son. "Jack! Did you hear? Danny's dating Sam!"

"That goth girl?" Jack frowns, thinking about it. "I don't know…" She was annoying, bossy, a bit of a damper on a good mood…

Maddie glares at him, "Jack! We have to be supportive in Danny's decision!" Things are working out, at long last! 'Don't ruin it now!'

Jack smiles, "Ah, right pumpkin." He walks up and says, "Congratulations, son! You're becoming a man!" Jack pauses, "Wait… This means he needs The Talk!"

"The talk?" Danny echoes. His parents nod as Vlad and Ember frown in annoyance.

"Yup!"

"The Talk!"

"With two Capital 'T's!"

The couple takes their son downstairs where they can sit him down and have a LONG chat about being a man. In the living room, a single father stands to talk with his own son. Dan is still standing at the door, no doubt still hearing that dreadful word.

"Dan…" Ember whispers mournfully. She gets up and tries to find something to say; anything that will lighten the mood or give Dan strength and hope.

"It's over." Dan quietly shuts the front door.


Posted: JAN 23
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