"Have you seen Danny recently?" Jazz asked Tucker, standing next to the table Harry, Ron and Tucker were sitting at.
"Not since he left with Sam," Tucker answered with a smug smirk. Jazz raised an eyebrow.
"Tucker, I can see you know something," she told him. Tucker grinned broadly and leant back in his chair, balancing on two legs.
"I do know what they're doing," he admitted. Jazz huffed in annoyance.
"Tucker," she growled.
"Hey, you wouldn't tell us before," Tucker retorted. Jazz gasped.
"Danny's gonna propose to Sam!" Jazz exclaimed excitedly. Tucker dropped back onto four legs.
"How did you guess?" he moaned.
"Tucker, you're useless at keeping secrets. At least any secrets that aren't life or death," Jazz replied.
Harry and Ron glanced at each other.
"You didn't know Jazz?" Harry asked. Jazz shook her head.
"I knew he was going to try again, eventually and he wanted to try and surprise Sam. But that's it," Jazz admitted.
"How long has he been gone?" Ron inquired, glancing between Tucker and Jazz.
"About an hour and a half I think. Maybe a bit longer," Tucker answered.
"You've been timing them?" Jazz retorted. Tucker scoffed.
"Of course I haven't. I just happened to look at the time when I saw them leave. See, hour and a half ago," Tucker corrected and showed them his watch. Jazz rolled her eyes.
"Blimey how long does it take to ask a question?" Ron blurted out. Jazz frowned at the red head wizard.
"Danny didn't want to make it obvious the first time around. I doubt he'd want it to be obvious this time either," Jazz informed him sharply. Ron's ears burned red.
"Sorry," he mumbled. Tucker shook his head.
"It's fine dude. Danny probably took her somewhere special in the Ghost Zone first," Tucker guessed.
"Hey guys, mind if we join you?" Danielle called as she dropped into a seat beside Tucker, Steven and Jared close behind.
"No. But why?" Tucker answered.
"These ghosts are so behind the times. It's annoying me. They keep asking me who I'm gonna marry. Saying I'm not gonna be young forever," Danielle complained.
"She nearly decked one ghost," Steven muttered in Jazz's ear.
"Don't tell Danny. He's super protective of Danielle," she whispered back. Steven snorted.
"You think I'm telling him anything like that?" Steven retorted, his tone saying that he knew it would be a crazy stupid idea to say anything to Danny.
"Speaking of Danny, I don't see him around," Steven remarked. Jazz smiled.
"He's with Sam. Asking her a special question," Jazz answered with a sly smirk.
"He's gonna propose!" Jared exclaimed. Jazz rolled her eyes.
"I'd say that's his plan, yes. But keep it down," Jazz retorted.
"Why? You think Sam will say no?" Danielle inquired sceptically. Jazz shook her head.
"No. But it's Danny's business. If he wants the whole Ghost Zone to know, then he'll tell them. Besides we don't even know if that's what Danny's up to," Jazz replied.
"Actually, he told me that's what he's up to," Tucker interjected. Jazz huffed in annoyance and gritted her teeth.
"Something might prevent him," Jazz told them. The group hummed in understanding.
The side door Danny and Sam left through creaked open and Danny slipped inside with Sam. They shut the door behind them.
"Oh, there they are," Danielle pointed out happily and pointed the couple out to the group. Danny and Sam hadn't walked more than five steps before a ghost rushed over to Danny. Danny muttered something to Sam before turning to the ghost, Sam walking towards the group.
"What was that about?" Jared asked as she joined them.
"Oh, Danny's just dealing with that ghost. He said I can leave him alone for a bit," Sam answered, glancing over her shoulder with a warm smile.
"I'm really not jealousy of Danny right now. Those ghosts are annoying and their requests and stuff are boring to listen to," Tucker commented. A small group of ghosts had gathered around Danny and he looked a little flustered.
"Where have you guys been?" Steven asked with a smirk. Sam shrugged.
"Oh nowhere special. He wanted to get some air so we walked around outside. Then Danny gave me a tour around Phantom Keep," Sam told them.
"Anywhere else?" Jazz urged curiously with a smirk. Sam blushed.
"Danny wanted to show me an island he learned about. It used to be a training ground for energy transferal, that's the name for what we called charging," Sam admitted.
"Come on, show us!" Danielle exclaimed excitedly. Sam glanced at her before checking on Danny. He'd dealt with the group of ghosts and was on his way over.
"Tucker, you have a big mouth," she retorted. Tucker opened his mouth to protest. Danny joined them and put an arm around Sam's shoulders.
"He really does," he agreed with a smirk. Tucker scowled and pouted, slumping in his chair with his arms folded.
"For that, I'm not gonna be your best man," Tucker grumbled. Danny laughed.
"Alright, Steven?" Danny remarked, turning playfully to the wizard. Tucker straightened up instantly, shouting out objections.
"Tuck, I'm messing with you," Danny assured.
Danielle jumped to her feet and rushed to Sam's side, yanking on the Goth's hand in order to see the ring. Sam chuckled and showed it to her.
"Wow, Jazz you have good taste," Danielle gasped.
"Actually, Danny picked that out. I was only there to get measurements so it'll fit. It does right?" Jazz corrected. Sam nodded with a smile. Danielle gaped at the ring and then Danny. He frowned at her.
"What? I can't pick out a nice ring for my fiancé?" he retorted. Danielle shook her head.
"But… you have no taste!" she protested. Danny rolled his eyes.
"I know what Sam likes Dani," he replied.
"Congrats you two," Harry interjected with a smirk and Ron quickly muttered his own congratulations as well.
"Thanks guys," Danny returned.
"I'm not looking forward to when we tell my parents. They're not gonna be happy," Sam mumbled with a frown, twisting the ring nervously.
"I've been thinking about that actually. Maybe it's time we told them about me," Danny remarked, pulling out a seat for Sam before grabbing one for himself.
"What?!" Sam exclaimed.
"Think about it Sam. I'm king of the Ghost Zone. A recognised hero in Amity Park. If we told them, they might finally stop seeing me as a bad influence and they won't argue as much. I know they're still not gonna be happy since it's me, but it might lessen the dislike," Danny elaborated. Sam shook her head.
"You don't have to do that Danny. It's their problem. Not ours. And not yours," Sam assured him.
"Sam, I'd prefer that I didn't come between you and your parents. And I'd prefer that they didn't completely hate me. This secret really has been kept for too long from people that should probably know. I'm willing to let them in and Tuck's parents too," Danny retorted, taking Sam's hand in his own and giving her a reassuring smile, glancing at Tucker across the table who looked equally shocked.
"We'll see how they take our engagement first," Sam relented. Danny shrugged.
"Fine… do I have to be there?" Danny asked with joking dread. Sam smirked.
"I'd prefer you to be," she answered.
"Speaking of parents, maybe you should find ours Danny," Jazz suggested. Danny sighed.
"Guess so. Before we start spreading word, Sam do you want to keep it quiet?" Danny asked. Sam blinked.
"Do you?" she replied.
"No, that's not what I mean. Do you want the Ghost Zone to know? People in Amity Park? How fast do you want this to spread? Because dad's a bigger loudmouth than Tucker when he gets excited," Danny explained, ignoring Tucker's shout of protest. Sam nodded in understanding.
"I'm not against people knowing. But I want to tell my parents before everyone else finds out," Sam decided with a shrug.
"Alright then, we'll keep it quiet until we tell your parents," Danny concluded.
"You're still gonna tell mom and dad Danny. I saw them over in that direction," Jazz told him and gestured off to the side of the room. Danny sighed.
"Alright, find ear plugs," Danny grumbled and got up. Sam giggled and got up with him. They disappeared into the crowd.
"Oh that's wonderful! Danny! Sam!" Maddie's voice exclaimed over the music and chatter. Jazz smirked.
"Well, Dora's realm knows about the engagement," Jazz laughed.
"Is that good or bad?" Ron asked.
"Hm, bad if they didn't want anyone to know, but it's not as bad as it could be. Dora's realm is pretty insulated. If it had been the Far Frozen it'll be totally different. They'd celebrate and shout it to anyone willing to listen," Danielle answered.
"And if it was someone like Kitty or Ember, gossipers, then the whole Ghost Zone will find out," Steven added.
"If I'm to understand that yell from Maddie correctly, I assume Daniel and Miss Manson have just gotten engaged," Vlad commented as he strolled over to the group.
"Yep," Jared confirmed. Vlad nodded.
"I will offer my well wishes once Daniel's parents have finished smothering the couple," Vlad remarked. A number of the group sniggered.
"I'll go tell Ginny and Hermione," Harry offered as he stood up. Jazz nodded.
"Go ahead, I have a feeling Danny and Sam are gonna be a while with mom and dad," Jazz agreed.
Sam giggled as Maddie refused to release her son from the joyous hug she'd pulled him into. Jack was booming a number of congratulations and assurances that he always knew they'd get engaged. Dora came over to the group.
"What's going on?" she asked curiously.
"Danny's parents are just happy. We just got engaged," Sam revealed, showing the engagement ring to the ghostly princess. Dora clapped her hands happily.
"Wonderful news Sam! We must celebrate!" Dora exclaimed happily. Sam grinned and glanced at Danny who was trying to refrain himself from phasing out of his mother's grasp.
"Thanks Dora. But we'd prefer to keep this as quiet as possible until we have the chance to tell my parents the news," Sam informed her. Dora smiled and nodded.
"Well, it's a good thing we were already celebrating Danny's coronation," Dora remarked before disappearing off to speak with the cooks.
One more chapter. Guess what the chapter will deal with.
This was really wrapping up the story but I really wanted to do the next chapter, so it's kind of an epilogue.
Let me know what you guys think of the story so far.
As per tradition, the winner of the poll will have its first chapter posted tomorrow after the last chapter of this one. Make sure to check out the advert on my facebook page before then. There's a link in my bio.
Until the next chapter.