Disclaimer: I do not own 'Danny Phantom' or any of the characters, concepts etc. Those are owned by Butch Hartman/Nickelodeon, I believe. I make no claim to anything in this story, it is a perspective with hypothetical scenarios added in.

The Events That Shape Us

Ch10: Fears and Promises

If Dani had of known that her Father was considering waking her up to bring her to dinner, she would have happily risked the elder Fenton's cooking; it couldn't be any worse than what she experiencing now.

She writhed in her bed, blankets and sheets tossed away by her unconscious struggling as her sleeping mind tormented itself with memories and twisted visions of what so nearly was.

She was a strong girl, and she had experienced more than anyone ever should, particularly at her age, but those experiences weighed heavily on her. Even her stubborn determination couldn't keep her subconscious in check when the uncertainty of sleep claimed her.

It wouldn't be the first time she had experienced these nightmarish visions of her past; in her time travelling she had experienced many a sleepless night caused by her memories of Vlad's betrayal and experimentation. But last night… everything about it was a fresh scar on her mind, etching itself into every one of her thoughts and overwhelming her feeble attempts to hide from her own memories.

She jerked awake, her strangled cry becoming a pitiful whimper as she frantically tried to gather up what blankets remained within her grasp, burying herself within their warmth and protection. But no matter how deep she went or how many blankets she covered herself with, she couldn't escape the sound of his laugh, or the burning red eyes that seemed to be watching her from every dark corner.

In her head, she knew it was pathetic; they were just memories, figments of her own imagination, she didn't have to be scared of them, and she definitely didn't need to let her parents know she was afraid.

But frankly, she didn't really care what her head thought. All she knew was that at that moment, she needed her parents; she needed to be wrapped up in their arms, and she needed to be told everything would be alright.

So of course she did the most rational thing her mind could think of at the time; she grabbed a blanket, wrapped it closely around her body, and ran full tilt down the dark corridor towards the stairs.

Danny thought he had heard noise coming from upstairs, and he was instantly on high alert. A quick glance towards Sam told him that she had heard it too and was now equally ready to fight, if need be. He was about to leave the table when the source of the disturbance appeared, peeking cautiously around the corner with a blanket gripped tightly in-hand and eyes wide in unimaginable terror. The whole effect made Danielle seem much younger than her appearance would normally indicate.

Danny and Sam were out of their seats and by her side in record time.

Before either of them could say anything, she had flung herself into their arms, and soon muffled, tear-drenched whimpering could be heard emanating from the girl, protectively encircled by her new parents.

No one had to say anything; they all knew why she was there.

Nightmares.

And not the garden-variety nightmares that most people have, but ones drawn straight from your own memories and subconscious, the ones that force you to relive the moments you most wish you could forget.

And silent nod and a sympathetic look from his parents were all that was needed for Danny to hoist Danielle into his arms and carry her back up the stairs, while Sam carried the discarded blanket, dropped in favour of her parents' arms, while whispering gently in her ear.

Neither of them spoke as Danny carefully laid the still fearful girl down in the guest double-bed, and neither of them spoke as they climbed in on either side of her.

Nor did they speak as Danielle wrapped her arms frantically around Sam, or as Sam returned the embrace with equal emotion.

They didn't speak when Danny pulled the sheets and the blankets and the duvets up to cover them all in a canopy of warmth, or as he embraced both girls.

They remained silent even when Jazz quietly came in and flicked the lights off and whispered a good night.

But in the darkness, wrapped in each other's arms and with their daughter held tightly between them, they whispered a promise to her.

"Whatever happens Danielle, we will always be here for you, no matter what. Always."