PREVIOUSLY on Haunted Legacies

Titans Tower was overrun by Athena and her cult of sorcerers, but after a long struggle the power of the Gem of Form proved to be too much for Athena, and she was transformed into a mindless creature along with most of her cult. Sam and Dani discovered each other once again, and Jazz vowed that they would keep the gem safely away from those who would attempt to abuse its power, and might actually succeed. As a precaution, Robin left a Titans Communicator with Jazz in case the Reality Gem ever fell into the wrong hands.

Episode 11: The Thing That Lasts Forever

The sound of carolers could be heard patrolling the streets of Amity Park, singing songs of joy and beauty that only came into season once a year. Christmas was only a week away, and multicolored lights twinkled from every rooftop and doorstep while the pure white snow floated along on the gentle winter breeze. The ground was invisible under the coating of powder that kept coming down, except for those roads that were freshly paved to make travel easier.

Inside her large home, Dani stood in her bedroom looking herself over carefully in a body-length mirror she'd set up against the wall. She pursed her lips and looked down at her body, which was covered by a black tuxedo that did much to hide her more feminine features. If she weren't wearing makeup, she might almost be able to pass for her old boyish self. But that would only confuse people who didn't know that Dani and Danny were the same person. Besides, her voice would remain the same.

As she adjusted the red bow tie around her neck she heard a soft knock on her bedroom door. "It's open." She glanced at the door as it creaked open and Jazz poked her head inside. "Hey, Jazz."

"Hey Dani." Jazz slipped inside the bedroom and closed it behind her with her free hand. Hope was lying peacefully in one of her arms, trying to look around at the world as it passed by and yelling incoherently at anything that looked mildly interesting. Jazz stopped and looked Dani up and down for a moment, suppressing a chuckle.

"What?" Dani looked down at herself. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, nothing." Jazz replied. "I just figured you'd wear a dress on your first 'official' date with Sam since the transformation. I know you like to look pretty."

Dani's face turned bright red. "SHUSSSHHHHH!" She hissed. "That is for me-time only."

"Ah, gotcha." Jazz smiled. "It's in my vault of secrets." Dani turned back to the mirror and Jazz walked up behind her, inspecting her more closely in the mirror. "Looking pretty sharp, there. That's not even a clip-on tie is it?"

"No, it's real." Dani replied. "That's why I started getting ready three hours ago. So I could get this darn thing straight. I'm still not sure why Sam insisted on dressing up all fancy tonight. She said something about a special occasion but Christmas isn't for another week." She blinked. "Wait, I didn't miss Hanukkah did I?"

"No, it's not Hanukkah yet." Jazz replied with a smile. "I'm sure she has her reasons."

Dani narrowed her eyes. "If you know something about this, you'd better tell me."

"I know nothing at all." Jazz replied with that singsong tone of hers that always meant she was hiding something.

Dani knew something was up, but she decided to let it slide. It didn't really matter why Sam wanted to have such a formal date after over a year of resisting such stuffy rituals, if Sam wanted to do it then Dani would go through with it.

"Honestly, I'm looking forward to tonight," Dani said. "Between having a being of pure evil unleashed on the world from inside my body, being trapped in the body of my clone, almost melting into ectoplasm, and fighting for one of the most powerful mystical objects on the planet, I'm really looking forward to getting back to my LIFE, you know?" Dani turned to look back at Jazz. "It's like the last couple of months have just passed me right by. And I know I don't have an infinite amount of time to waste."

"That's a very mature thing to realize Dani." Jazz smiled in understanding and reached out one hand. With one flick of her wrist she straightened out the red bow tie around Dani's neck. "Just remember that your time may not be infinite, but you are still young. There's no need to rush into anything you may not feel ready for. And honesty is always the best policy." She nodded sagely.

Dani narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the sudden advice, but decided not to pursue it. Instead she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Jazz in a gentle hug, careful to avoid squishing Hope between them. The baby gurgled and swung one tiny fist at Dani's ponytail until she pulled back.

"Thanks, Jazz." Dani smiled.

"Any time, sis." Jazz smiled back. "Now go enjoy yourself, Sam will be expecting you any minute."

Dani nodded. "Alright. I'll let you know how it went."

"I'm sure you will." Jazz said in that annoying singsong tone. Dani tried to pretend she didn't notice it as she made her way downstairs with her sister following close behind. They made their way to the front door, where Dani grabbed her thick jacket off of the nearby coat rack and slipped it on over her tuxedo, careful not to dislodge the collar or ruffle the sleeves.

Dani and Jazz both blinked in surprise when they heard the doorbell. "Did she say she was coming to get you?" Jazz asked.

"Um, no. I thought I was going to go get her." Dani shook her head. "I guess she got tired of waiting... I knew I should have worn the clip-on."

"Well, don't make her wait anymore. Go! Go!" Jazz put a hand on Dani's back and pushed her all the way up to the door. "And remember to be on your best behavior."

"Yes, mother." Dani smirked and opened the front door. She and Jazz both blinked in surprise when they saw a stretch limousine resting by the side of the curb in the snow, while the driver stood by the doorway.

At the sight of her, the driver swept his arm back toward the limo with a grand flourish of his long coat. "Your ride awaits, Miss Fenton."

Dani stared at the driver for a moment, then turned back to Jazz. "I'm scared."

"Go on, it looks like you're in for a Heck of a night." Jazz pushed Dani out the front door with a grin. "I'll be waiting up for you." She waved and closed the door before Dani could complain.

Dani looked up at the driver, who was watching her with a cool, patient gaze. "Um... Yo." Dani waved politely.

"Hello. Miss Manson is waiting." The driver gestured to the limo again.

Dani obediently made her way down the sidewalk to the door near the back tires, where the driver hurried around to open the door for her. "Thanks." Dani smiled gratefully up at the man before crawling up onto the seat and slipping inside. The interior was big and hollow, with two seats situated on either side of what could almost be a small living room if it was tall enough to stand up in. The seat was plush enough to sink into, and there was a small refrigerator sticking out of the wall nearby.

"Hey, Dani." Sam's voice came from the seat opposite her own. Dani squinted into the darkness, and could see Sam's shadowy outline against the moonlight that filtered in through the front windshield. "Come over here. I have Snickers."

"Mmmm. Snickers." Dani climbed off of her seat and quickly darted to the front seat to sit beside Sam before the car's engine started up and they began to move down the street. Dani took Sam's Snickers with a grateful smile. "Thanks. My favorite."

"I know." Sam chuckled.

Dani took a bite of her Snickers bar, turning to look out the dark tinted window to watch the snowfall around the well-heated limousine. After a few moments, she turned to look back at Sam, though she couldn't see her very well in the darkness. "It's so weird seeing you like this... I mean, not that I didn't know you had money, but I've never known you to BE rich... y'know?"

"Yeah, I know." Sam replied softly.

"So what's up? What's the occasion?" Dani asked.

"Let's just enjoy the evening for now." Sam replied. "I mean, we'll see if you enjoy it." Sam lapsed into silence. Dani questioned her further a few more times, but didn't get any direct answers, so she let the topic die and decided to change the subject.

"Why is it so dark in here?" Dani asked. "This thing has a toaster on the armrest, and it doesn't have any lights?"

"It does, I just like the dark." Sam replied. "But if you insist..." Dani heard a rustling sound and the click of a small remote, and suddenly the interior of the well-furnished limousine was lit up with a well lit, but still dim and atmospheric light set on the roof in the center of the room-sized vehicle.

The splendor of the limousine was completely forgotten however when she glanced at Sam sitting right beside her. She was wearing a deep velvet dress with black hem of silk that glittered with shining diamonds hewn straight into the fabric. The bottom swept down to her feet, where Dani saw she'd even abandoned her boots in favor of a pair of dainty shoes that left her ankles bare. The top of the dress puffed out from her shoulders to each side with velvet cloth that tightened around her biceps and went straight down her arms into a pair of tight gloves, and her torso was covered from her neck down by black lace in a spider-web pattern, which became solid just at the top of her breasts. Her face was so heavily covered in makeup that she looked like a beautiful porcelain doll, an image completed by the three jewels that hung from each earring low enough to brush against her shoulders whenever she turned her head.

Sam blushed and looked away when she saw Dani staring, brushing a bit of hair out of her eyes.

"W... w... w... w..." Dani stuttered amazement before finally she was able to say what she really felt. "Wow."

Sam's blush only deepened, though it was mostly hidden behind her thick makeup. "Too much?"

"N... no..." Dani shook her head, still staring at her face. "You look absolutely stunning. I've just never seen you like this."

"Not many people have. Well, not many people outside of my parents' social circles," Sam replied.

"So why do it now?" Dani was only getting more confused by all of this by the second. "If you're not comfortable then why do it? You don't have to put on a show for me. You know that."

"I know..." Sam didn't look at him, instead gazing out the window at the snow falling around them. In another few moments she sighed in relief as the car began to turn. "It looks like we're here. Come on, I want you to try my favorite restaurant."

"Okay." Dani nodded, unsatisfied with the silence but unwilling to risk saying something really stupid. So Sam grabbed her thick winter jacket that hung down to her ankles and slipped it on as the door slid open on the side of the limo, with the driver standing aside and waiting for them to get out.

The restaurant was massive, and the smells filtering out of the warmly lit interior were as enticing as any Dani had smelled before. Which was shocking considering that the place was called 'The Garden's Delight', which Dani knew to be a strictly vegetarian place. The place was so expensive there was a red carpet on the ground leading up to its entrance, though the falling snow currently hid it from view.

Sam slid closer and slipped her arm through Dani's, hooking them together with a smile. Dani smiled back, still a bit confused by all of this fancy stuff. She didn't have to think to follow Sam into the restaurant though, where they handed their jackets over to a man who seemed to be there just to take them and approached the man behind a counter.

"Ah, Miss Manson and guest." The man clapped his hands. "How delightful to see you this evening."

"Good evening Paul." Sam smiled. "The usual table please."

"Of course, right this way." The man named Paul turned to lead them to a table in the back, a nice secluded spot near the corner, where a fireplace was burning nearby, but not close enough to be uncomfortably warm. The man held out a menu to each of them, then bowed and took his leave.

"So you come here a lot?" Dani asked.

"Yeah, sort of..." Sam trailed off nervously.

"Sam, is something bothering you?" Dani asked worriedly. "If there's something wrong, you can tell me. Seriously."

"Dani..." Sam sighed. "You know how sometimes there are more sides to people than they let the world see. Like Star hiding part of herself to be with Paulina. Or me, hiding my money..."

"But your money doesn't define you, you define you. Or at least, that's the lesson you've beaten into my head." Dani smiled humorously.

Sam looked at her seriously. "That's just it though. There's a side to me you never saw... I LIKE being spoiled and pampered. It's one of my guilty pleasures, and I never wanted anyone to know about it. It's embarrassing, but in some ways, I really am the spoiled rich brat everyone would think I am if they knew I was rich."

Dani looked around at the restaurant, then back at Sam, whose face was bright red as she swirled the water around the glass the waiter had just placed in front of her. "But I don't get it... why would you think I'd see you any differently if I knew about this? So you like to eat out at fancy restaurants sometimes, big deal."

"It's not just this, Dani." Sam replied. "I have a 3,000 dollar laptop in my room, and a stereo system that has enough power to literally bring a house down." She looked away from Dani. "When you get right down to it, I'm as bad as Paulina. A spoiled brat who gets everything her way and has everything she could ever want. Does anyone actually like someone like that?"

"Hey, you're nothing like Paulina." Dani retorted. "Because Paulina only cared about herself. You care about others, and you have things you care about. Like the wilderness, and animals, and equal rights. Those are the things that define you, Sam. And you've always been so sure of yourself before. Why are you so insecure now?"

"Because... because I..." Sam shook her head. "I just want you to know me, everything I am and everything I do because... because if..." She cleared her throat and looked up when the waiter arrived to take their order.

Sam said nothing more on the topic for the rest of their meal, instead turning the conversation to the events of the last few weeks, which mostly included going to school and saying goodbye to Star at the airport when she left to spend Christmas with her family. When they ran out of topics there the conversation turned to upcoming movies they wanted to see and video games they wanted to play. It was a comfortable, lighthearted time for them. But in Dani's heart it might as well have been total silence. Why wouldn't Sam say what was bothering her?

When they finished their meal they stood to get their jackets from the man who'd taken them earlier, and emerged from the restaurant into the snow-covered street outside. The full moon lit up the snow with a brilliant shine that almost made it seem to glow, while each individual snowflake glittered on its descent to the ground. Dani reached out her hand to take Sam's, and Sam gave her a soft smile as the limousine pulled up in front of the curb to get them.

They sat in the dark in the limousine, since Sam didn't turn the lights back on. They said nothing as the limo moved down the street toward Dani's house. The silence was deafening and disturbing. She would've done anything to break it, but she didn't know how. If Sam didn't want to talk, she didn't want to pry into her business. But why wouldn't Sam talk? She was always so sure of herself. And she was always so honest before.

Dani looked back at Sam, whose features were hidden in shadows too deep to see what she was thinking. She just stared at her face for a moment, then reached out and took Sam's hand. Sam looked over at her, the reflected moonlight sparkling across her cheeks and eyes, illuminating a puzzled gaze. Suddenly Dani's body flashed with ectoplasmic energy and Dani Phantom bolted straight up through the roof of the limousine, carrying Sam up with her.

"Gah! Dani! What are you doing!?" Sam screamed in shock.

"Do you trust me?" Dani called back down to her, still ascending into the sky.

"What? Yes, of course, but- AAAAHHHH!" Sam screamed when Dani suddenly whirled, throwing Sam straight up into the air. Sam's scream echoed through the night until Dani came right up under her, grabbing her hands and spinning through the air with her. "Dani!" Sam shouted, panting heavily. Dani slowed her spin and gave Sam a broad grin. In a moment Sam's look of terror faded into a soft laugh that grew until their laughter echoed through the calm night sky.

"What is this?" Sam laughed.

"You showed me a new side of you tonight. Thought I'd show you a new side of me." Dani whirled again, throwing Sam up into the air in a spin. Prepared this time, Sam tucked her arms into her body like a dancer, and grabbed hold of Dani's hands when she came back down, whirling to send them both into a spin, revolving around each other as they floated across the night sky.

The snow shined in the light of the full moon, glittering like a series of falling stars around their bodies as they danced across the night sky, with nothing but a gentle breeze that flowed through their hair and clothing to remind them that anything existed but each other. Their eyes locked on one another, their hands clutched out to their sides, stretched out to their full distance while they spun and moved around each other in a graceful rhythm to music that only existed in their minds. And yet they moved in perfect rhythm with one another, united in their dance as they were in all things.

As with all things, the dance had to end at last and they found themselves sitting on a bench that sat in the park in the middle of the city, holding each other close and staring up into the night sky.

"That was the most wonderful thing I've ever experienced." Sam sighed in contentment. "You can do things like that all the time... you could have any girl, one who isn't as spoiled or needy as me. Why would you want me?"

"Sam, I don't care if you're used to a fancy lifestyle." Dani reached a hand out and gently touched Sam's cheek, pulling her face up until they were face to face. "You're entitled to like whatever you want. If I had the kind of money you do, I'd probably do the same things. I doubt anyone could honestly say they wouldn't."

"Really?" Sam asked.

"Of course." Dani smiled. "It doesn't matter how you treat yourself, what matters is how you treat others. You're a kind, considerate, compassionate, and downright passionate person who always fights for the things she believes in. All of that is worth so much more than all the money in the world." Dani's eyes remained steady and serious as she stared deep into Sam's, running a hand over her cheek. "I love you, Sam. I love everything you are." She smiled. "Pampered lifestyle and all."

"Dani." Sam smiled, the moon sparkling off of the tears that slid down her cheeks. "I'm so happy to hear you say that. I... I've wanted to ask you something all night. I wasn't sure if I should, but now I am sure." Sam stood up from the bench, reaching out to take one of Dani's hands between hers.

"Ask me?" Dani watched her curiously. Slowly Sam dropped down to one knee, which crunched in the snow through her thick winter jacket, still holding Dani's hand between both of hers. "Ask... ask me what?" Dani's heart raced.

"Dani, over the last year, so much has happened. We've seen so many things, been through so much, and shared so many experiences. Even since the day we met there were moments that took my breath away, and made me wonder if I could ever be with anyone else. And having you disappear from my life completely... it made me realize that I couldn't. My money can run out, my friends can leave, and my family can turn on me... but if you've thought me anything, it's that there's one thing that can last forever."

"Dani Fenton..." Sam reached down into her luxurious purse and pulled out a small black box, decorated with red trim around the edges. Dani's heart leapt into her throat at the sight of it, and her breath didn't return when Sam held it up in the moonlight and opened it up to reveal a gold ring, ornately carved on the outside with 'Sam and Danny' etched around the length of the band. "Will you marry me?"

Dani raised her hands to her lips, staring down at the sparkling gold ring. A soft squeak was all that could slip through her tightly shut throat for several seconds until she was finally able to calm herself enough to speak. "Yes... yes yes!" Dani threw herself off of the bench, wrapping her arms around Sam and hugging her tightly. "Of course I will! Why even bother asking!?"

Sam grinned and pushed her back, lifting Dani's hand to slide the ring slowly onto her finger. Dani could barely stop shivering, and had no hope of losing the grin that threatened to split her face in half. When the ring was firmly on her finger she held it up to examine it in the bright moonlight, letting out a scream of joy that she could contain no longer.

Sam chuckled and stood up with a broad smile on her face, brushing some snow off of her dress and watching Dani scream into the night sky. Suddenly Dani leapt off of the ground and tackled Sam back to the snow with a thick crunch, clutching her tightly in her arms.

"I can't believe it. It's going to happen isn't it!?" Dani exclaimed, resting her cheek against Sam's chest. "We're getting married!"

"Yeah." Sam laughed and grinned, wrapping her arms tightly around Dani. "Yeah, it is."

They remained that way for longer than they could remember. Thankfully Sam's thick, expensive coat was up to the task of keeping her warm and dry in the snow. After a while the heat of the moment began to die down, but they didn't move to go anywhere. It was peaceful, lying in the gentle snow in each others' arms. Dani's mind finally began to clear enough to think things through. She never even began to regret saying yes, but there were a few things that continued to bother her.

"I thought of something..." Dani looked up at Sam's face, resting her chin on the peak of her chest. "We're 15... and both girls... CAN we get married?"

"Well, our age doesn't matter if we have parents' permission." Sam replied. "And I cleared it with both of our families last week."

"Your mom actually agreed to let you marry another girl?" Dani's eyes went wide. "But she's so conservative. How did you do that?"

"Let's just say I made you look like a pretty attractive alternative..." Sam smiled slyly.

LAST WEEK

"Gah! Okay, you can marry your girlfriend! Just get him out of here!" Sam's mother jabbed a finger at a boy standing in the kitchen with her, with several rings sticking out of his nose, ears, cheeks, and nipples. Sam grinned and gave him a thumbs up.

PRESENT

"And what about the fact that we're both girls?" Dani asked.

"I had Jazz look into that. A while back the government passed a law meant to curb the transgender phenomena, that said that the sex listed on a person's birth certificate will always be their legal sex, no matter what changes their body goes through. Which means..."

"I'm still legally a boy." Dani grinned.

"Right. Which means nobody can stop us." Sam gripped Dani's back tighter and pulled her up into a tender kiss on the lips. "And nobody will ever get between us."

Dani smiled and sniggled against her, resting her cheek on her chest. "So, all of our parents and Jazz all knew about this beforehand. Is there anyone who didn't know we were getting married before I did?"

"I haven't told Star yet." Sam smirked.

"Great. I get to do that." Dani smiled. At last, she pushed herself off of Sam, sitting up on her knees. "As much as I love freezing my butt off in the snow with you, I think maybe it's time we got home. Come on, I'll fly you." Dani climbed to her feet and held out one hand to Sam.

"Sounds good." Sam smiled and took his hand, letting Dani lift her easily off the ground as they rose into the deep midnight sky together.


Dani spun and whirled with the wind as she flew through the night after dropping Sam off at her house, her arms spread wide to catch every gust of wind and every snowflake that drifted in her direction. She couldn't stop smiling any more than she could stop dancing through the air. It felt like her heart was filled with helium, soaring higher and higher the more she thought about the night's events.

"Can you feel the love tonight..." She sung softly to herself, continuing the song under her breath on a soft hum as she touched down on her doorstep and reverted back to her normal human form. She pushed the door open and slipped inside by twirling on her heel, then kicking it closed with her free foot.

"Should I take that to mean the night went well?" Jazz asked form the couch in the living room, where she was reading a book with Hope asleep in her crib nearby.

Dani looked over at her, then with a broad grin raised her left hand to display the gold engagement ring on her finger. "I think it was wonderful."

Jazz closed her book calmly, resting her hands on it in a dignified manner. "You know this won't make anything easy. There is no happily ever after, Dani. Marriage is difficult. There will be fights, there will be arguments, and you may get absolutely sick of each other. If you're not careful, you can even become bitter enemies." She set the book on the couch beside her and stood up from the couch. "Are you sure you're ready for it?"

"Yeah." Dani nodded without hesitation. "I am."

"Why?"

"Because I love her. What other reason can there be?" Dani replied.

Jazz nodded and walked toward her, finally breaking into a broad smile and opening her arms wide to engulf Dani in a tight hug. "Then congratulations, Dani. I hope you're both truly happy."

"Thanks, Jazz." Dani closed her eyes and returned the hug, clutching her sister close. "For everything." She smiled broadly, and wasn't able to stop smiling for hours to come.


The morning sun shone through the window late in the morning, as the cold winter nights grew longer and longer. Thankfully it was a weekend, so Dani didn't have to rush out of bed, and could instead snuggle deeper into her blankets to ward off the chill in the air. One hand rose to rub her eyes, helping them focus so she could glance at the clock that sat on the nightstand beside a picture of Sam.

Dani sat up in her light blue pajamas, letting the blankets fall off of her body to the bed as she looked around. It took her a few moments to remember what had happened. It felt like a dream... it probably was, she knew. There was no way that kind of thing could happen in real life. Life wasn't that perfect. It wasn't that wonderful.

Then she looked down at her left hand, and saw a gold band shining in the orange light of dawn. A smile lit up her features. It wasn't a dream.

NEXT TIME on Haunted Legacies

It's Christmas Eve and there are wedding plans to make! But this most joyous time is interrupted when news of Hope's existence is leaked to the media. The news is buzzing across the globe, and within hours everyone in the world seems to know... including Paulina and Dark Danny. While Sam and Dani encounter their first speed bump on the road to marriage and Jazz deals with the repercussions of having a famous baby, Dark Danny comes up with a plan to revive his full strength through an unspeakable act. The sacrifice of an innocent life.

Episode 12: For Love