Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom
Nervous. Everyone has felt it at one time or another. When they are being watched as they do an activity new to them, as they talk to a stranger, doing something under pressure. None of these things fit why Danny was nervous though. He was nervous for a completely different reason. He had to impersonate a rich kid and eat dinner with his best friend and crush's parents. Nothing can possibly go wrong.
Danny and Sam sat in the limo while it drove to the Manson's mansion in silence. Danny couldn't say anything because he was too tense to speak, while Sam didn't speak because she could tell Danny was tense and didn't want to accidentally rile him up. Once Danny started to look like he was going to explode from nervousness though, Sam decided to speak up. "Danny, relax. They're just my parents. Why are you so tense anyway?"
Danny was about to say something, but the limo came to a stop at the mansion. The limo driver got out of his seat to open the door for Danny and Sam.
The mansion was at least double the size of Fentonworks minus the Opscenter. Its walls were painted pure white with a very dark blue roof. Right in front of the mansion sat a large fountain spewing water. The most shocking thing though, sat on the driveway. A silver McLaren F1 was parked on the driveway as if it was never even touched. Apparently one of the Manson's loved cars and that must be their crown jewel.
As they were walking up to the house, Sam said, "I am going to have to change into some frilly dress so I don't upset my parents, so please do you best to act normal around them. Remember, stay calm."
Danny took one big gulp before knocking on the tan door. He didn't want to know what hell awaited him. The door flew open and Sam's mother ran out to strangle Sam in a hug. "Oh Sammykins, where have you been? Me and you father were so worried about you!"
Sam's father was standing at the doorway. He didn't speak; all he did was glare at Danny who felt himself shrinking in his presence. Sam, noticing this, pushed her mother off of her and faced her dad. "Dad, Mom, this is Danny. The friend I was talking about."
Sam's mother offered her gloved hand for a handshake. "Hello Daniel. Samantha has told us a lot about you. I mean a lot."
Danny shot a confused look at Sam as her face became beat red. Sam's father looked even angrier than before. He stuck out his hand to shake which Danny took. This time though, Sam's father applied so much pressure to the handshake, that Danny wouldn't be surprised if he broke a couple fingers. As Danny shook off the pain in his hand, Sam's mother said, "Samantha, go change into the dress I bought." she then leaned closer and whispered into Sam's ear, "You do want to impress your little friend, hmmm?"
Sam glared at her mother before she left Danny to his fate with her parents and marched into her room. Danny slowly started to back away from Sam's parents. Something must've changed because these people scared him. Sam's mother seemed to know something was up because she turned to him and gave him her best smile. "Please come in Mr.?"
"Fenton." Danny said trying to remain calm.
Sam's mom opened the door wider for Danny to enter. The main room was even more beautiful than the outside. Its floor consisted of white tiles with a black outline. There were two staircases on either side of the room that led to a second floor with an overlook over the main room. A huge chandelier hung from the roof just in front of the second level of the house. There were also several paintings hanging up all along the wall. One in particular stuck out to Danny. On one wall sat the portrait of a old man beaming at the artist while he was surrounded by cellophane twirling devices. If Danny had to guess, he would sat that was inventor of the deli toothpick cellophane twirling device.
"So," Sam's mom said as she led him towards a living room area. "I thought the Fenton's were those crazy ghost hunters that are always shouting about ghosts."
Danny clenched his fists. He really didn't want to insult his parents, but there was no way Sam's family would accept him if they knew the truth. Well, Sam's grandmother would, but she wasn't Sam's parents. He also tried to shake the feeling of Sam's father constantly glaring at him from behind. "Fenton is a very common name. My family runs a very prosperous anti-ghost weapon manufacturing business. We actually supply the Guys in White with most of their weapons."
Sam's mother stopped at a couch and she and her husband sat down, her husband still glaring at Danny the entire time. Danny chose to sit across from them in a chair. "So your family runs a corporation like Dalv?" Sam's mom asked not realizing she struck a nerve.
Danny's knuckles were white as he grounded out, "Yes, we are a lot like Dalv. I like to think we make much better equipment though."
Sam's father finally spoke up as he shifted his position on the couch so he was closer to his wife. "Well your equipment isn't all that good if the government funded ghost hunting agency can't even catch a ghost." he smirked when he noticed Danny was getting angry.
"Maybe it is their training and not the actual equipment." The room fell silent and the only interaction came from the glare Sam's father sent to Danny. Sam's mother could tell that most of the tension in the room came from her husband, so she needed to calm him down. "Jeremy, please calm down. He is a guest."
Sam's father stopped staringat Danny to turn to his wife and noticed the angry expression on her face. "Sorry honey."
Both men sat back down on the couch. Danny could tell that he was winning over Sam's mom, but it seemed like no matter what, Sam's father would always hate him. Sam chose this moment to walk down the second story staircase in a long dark purple dress that hung just below her shoulders. Sam sent her mother a glare that got even worse with every click of her heels as she took another step down the stairs.
Danny's eyes almost popped out of his head and he had to make sure he was still breathing. Sam looked absolutely gorgeous. On anyone else that dress would look great, but on Sam it looked perfect. It showed off every feature on Sam absolutely flawlessly. Whether it be her pitch black hair, or her hour glass figure, even her beautiful lavender eyes were complemented by the dress. Danny could have sworn the room got 20 degrees hotter as he started tugging at the collar of his shirt.
Sam stopped in front of her parents and a certain halfa whocouldn't forget that Sam was in a dress, and thedress fit her perfectly. Danny tried to hold down a blush as he said. "Uh, you look beautiful Sam."
Sam glanced at the ground and rocked back and forth. "Thanks Danny, but this is just a stupid dress my mom picked out. It barely even fits me."
It fits you very well. I am sure of that. Danny thought as his eyes were locked on Sam.
Sam turned to her parents but couldn't forget Danny's compliment. This entire time she has been operating under the assumption that there was no way Danny liked her. He never really showed any signs. Besides defending her against Dash, which any gentleman would have done, he never had shown interest in Sam. Maybe she just didn't notice though. Maybe he really did like her, but Sam wasn't paying enough attention. It didn't matter right now because Sam had to wrestle Danny away from the clutches of her parents.
"You happy, mother? This is the dress you wanted me to wear, right?" Sam nearly shouted at her mother.
Sam's mom looked over at Danny who was leaning forward in his seat and couldn't take his eyes off of Sam. She gave a small smirk. "Yes, actually I am happy."
Sam turned to where her mother was looking to see Danny quickly look at something else with a small blush coming to his cheeks. Sam couldn't put down a small blush too as she continued talking to her mother. "I think me and Danny should go to my room before dinner."
"But I think we have a right to learn more about Daniel. We are your parents after all." her mother objected as she turned to her husband to try and get him to agree with her. He was still sending a small glare at Danny though, and wasn't paying attention to the conversation.
"No buts mother. You want me and Danny to bond, well that requires showing him ALL of me; including the parts you may not like."
No one noticed, but Danny's cheeks were as red as a rose as he thought of all the implications of Sam showing all of herself to Danny. He quickly looked at the ground so no one would notice his embarrassment.
Sam's mother got out of her seat and tried to come up with a way for her daughter not to go, but none came to mind. "Fine, take Daniel to your room. Try to be a little cheerful though."
Sam glanced at Danny and noticed he was staring at the floor. She grabbed Danny's hand and started dragging him off as she said, "Come on Danny. I want to show you my room."
Sam led Danny upstairs to her room and sat down on her bed. Danny started looking around the room at everything and that's when Sam realized that it was a mess. Clothes were laying all over her floor, her bed looked like it was ripped to shreds, there was random junk on her dresser, her blinds were all crooked, and her closet was jammed with so much crap that she didn't even remember having. Danny chose to ignore all of this though, and comment on all the posters in her room. "I didn't know you were a Linkin Park fan Sam. When did that happen?"
Sam gave him a weird look. Why would she tell him what music she liked. Yes, they were friend if you wanted to call it that, but they never hung around school, much less discuss things like music. Danny seemed to catch his mistake because he quickly said, "I mean, I just never pictured you as a Linkin Park fan. I am more of a Humpty Dumpty kind of guy myself." Danny decided to sit down on the bed next to Sam as she replied, "Their music is ok, but it is too lighthearted for me. I like the darker style of music."
Danny looked down at the bed. He couldn't help but think that Sam used to love Humpty Dumpty. In fact, she was what got Danny interested in them.
"You know, I am surprised that you aren't wondering why my family is loaded." Sam said as she was also looking at the posters in her room. They have been up for so long that Sam usually forgets they are even there. They hold so many memories too. Sam looked over at Danny and noticed that he was once again looking at her bed. Why was he always looking down and why can't he look at her for once?
"Sorry. It must have slipped my mind. Why is your family loaded?" Danny asked, barely loooking at Sam.
Sam gave Danny her best smile. Even though she was still mad that she had to wear a dress, she couldn't stand Danny looking so depressed. "My great grandfather invented the deli toothpick cellophane-twirling device and my family has been rolling in money ever since. Please don't tell anyone at school though; especially Tucker. I don't want people to think I am rich and we both know that Tucker is a blabbermouth."
Danny knew why Sam was smiling and tried to give one back, but it quickly fell apart as Danny thought more and more about why he had to have this conversation all over again with Sam. "Don't worry, it is your secret and not mine to tell. Anyways, it's not like anyone would believe me."
Sam leaned back against her bed until her back was against the wall. "My parents seem to like you. Well, my mom anyway. My dad is a little protective of his little princess. I think he just doesn't want me to grow up. I also have a grandmother who lives here. She would love to meet you, but she is visiting Uncle Steve over in Ohio."
Danny noticed how Sam had a slight smile on her face and was staring off into space. She was definitely reminiscing about her childhood. What in her childhood changed though? Sam met Danny and Tucker in kindergarten so they were a pretty big influence on Sam as she was growing up. Without them, what changed? Sam shook her memory free to face Danny who walked over to the window in Sam's room and got a wonderful view of the silver McLaren sitting in the driveway. "Sam, why do you parents own a sports car?"
Sam walked up to the window and noticed the object of Danny's attention. "Oh, my dad is really into cars. He bought that a little while ago. Every now and again he will rent out one of the local racetracks and take it for a spin. He hasn't done that in weeks though."
Danny watched as the car glistened in the sunlight. He might be able to use that to get Sam's father to like him. He didn't know a lot about cars, but he knew enough to have a conversation with Sam's father.
Sam turned away from the window and looked at her watch. It was 5:56 and her parents would want her and Danny to be at the dinner table by 6:00. Probably sooner since this is a special occasion. "Come on Danny. It is time to dine with my parents."
"Do we have to?" Danny whined as Sam grabbed his hand and dragged him off to the dining room.
Danny had to admit, he was surprised by the Manson's dining room. Not because it was so extravagant, but because it was like any other dining room. There was a square wooden table in the middle of the room with five chairs. One on each side except one side which had two chairs. On the counter in the kitchen sat a small television that could still be seen from the dining room. The only thing that gave away the fact that they were rich was the chandelier the hung over the table.
Sam's parents were already sitting at the table and waiting when they arrived. Sam quickly sat down, but Danny realized that the only seat open was right next to Sam's dad, who was still glaring at him. Reluctantly, he took his seat and did his best to ignore the dagger like glare that came his way.
"So" Sam's mom said as she thought of a conversation starter. "I have a chicken in the oven. I hope you are okay with that Daniel."
Danny gave a brief nod as he felt buzz come from his phone. It was probably Tucker, but what did he want? Danny would have to wait since he was kind of busy. Danny turned to Sam's father who was still glaring at him but also seemed to be forming a scowl. He really needed to get Sam's father to like him and cars was the only thing he could think of. "Mr. Manson," Danny said as he gave off the friendliest smile he could muster. "I noticed you had a really nice looking sports car up front. Is that a McLaren F1?
Sam's father stopped his glare for a second to process what Danny just said. A hint of a smile shown on the man's face before it was quickly squashed by an indifferent look. "Yes it is. Do you know anything about cars?"
Danny could tell that this man considered himself superior to Danny. He would love to drop the man a few pegs, but this wasn't the subject to do so. Now if they were talking about ghosts. "My father taught me a little bit about cars. I always had a fascination with the McLaren though. It just looks so much nicer than a Porsche or a Ferrari."
Danny knew he was saying all the right words as a even bigger smile appeared on the man's face. "Maybe I misjudged you Daniel. You should come with me when I take it on the track some time. Then you can see how it operates."
Danny noticed that to the left of him Sam was rolling her eyes. He couldn't help but laugh a little which earned him a weird look from her mother. She then went in the kitchen to retrieve the chicken. The table was silent as everyone waited patiently for her to return with their food. During this wait, Danny began to wonder why the Manson's didn't have a servant staff. Their house was definitely big enough for one and it would make their lives easier. Sam's mother returned with a big piece of cooked chicken. She set it on the table and went to grab some more food; including ketchup, mustard barbecue sauce, some peas, and mashed potatoes with gravy.
Danny looked at all the food on the table and realized that this wasn't a fancy dinner like he expected the Manson's to have.
"Mrs. Manson, I am not trying to be rude or anything, but why don't you guys have any servants. You have the money to afford them and they would make your lives easier."
Sam's mother took a bite out of the chicken before speaking. "Please, call me Pamela. Mrs. Manson is my step mother." Pamela looked at her husband and daughter and decided that they were too busy eating to answer Danny's question. "I don't know what my daughter has told you, but we really don't throw our money at everything we can. It is sometimes good to just eat and talk like a normal family. Servants would just get in the way of that."
This didn't sound like the Manson's he knew. Then again, many things today didn't seem like the Manson's he knew. Since when did Sam's father like cars? Danny always thought of him as a sweater vest kind of guy. Danny also thought that Sam's mother was stuck up and obsessed with money. Could that have been false too? Yes, they seem to show off their wealth outside; with the McLaren, dresses, limo, their attitude, and accessories, but behind closed doors they seemed to be just your normal upper class family.
At the end of the dinner, Danny's phone went off again. He decided that it must be important for Tucker to interrupt him twice during dinner. He didn't notice Sam looking at the caller ID though. He got out of his sit and showed his phone to everyone at the table, "Sorry, but I have to take this. It is important." Sam's mom waved her hand to let Danny go and he walked off into the main room of the mansion. Sam was sitting at the table watching him go. She didn't want to eavesdrop on him, but she knew that Danny was hiding something important from her and she still didn't know what it was.
Sam also got out of her seat and started walking off to catch up to Danny. She approached the main room when she heard him speaking.
"You serious, Tucker? You may have found a way for me to return to my universe? That's excellent!"
There was a pause as Tucker was speaking over the phone.
"So I just have to find this Clockwork and everything should go back to normal; the wish on Sam will be reversed?"
Sam couldn't take it anymore. She had no idea what he was talking about and it annoyed her because it had to do with her. Both Danny and Tucker knew something about this wish that affected Sam. Yet neither will tell her. It is time she got some answers. She walked up behind Danny and asked, "What are you talking about Danny? What wish?"
There we go. It's a little late, but who cares, right? It is a big chapter so I hope it makes up for the timing. Give me your thoughts by reviewing.
Reviews:
AJ: I did go a little overboard with the traveling in Phantom Mercenary, didn't I? Well Sam might appear in the next chapter, but if not, definitely the chapter after that. Until then, you get this DxS chapter!