It wasn't until dinner time that Jazz noticed the absence of her brother. Coming into the kitchen, she approached her mother who was putting the finishing touched on dinner.

"Hey, mom?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Where's Danny?" Setting a steaming pot on the table, she answered,

"I believe he's still in the tank in the basement." Now that threw Jazz for a loop.

"What? Why?"

"Because, you have to admit, its better than the bathtub. And since his gills have developed, he can stay down there as long as he likes."

"oh."

"Speaking of your brother, can you go get him for dinner please?"

"Sure thing, mom." Climbing down the stairs to the basement, she couldn't help but stare at the sight that greeted her when she reached the bottom. There, laying asleep 5 feet underwater with no pants, was her baby brother who's hair had completely turned white and his scales have extended all the way down to his ankles. Not knowing how else to go about waking him, she rapped on the glass with her knuckles. The result was instantaneous; he startled awaked almost instantly and jumped a good bit into the open water. Calming himself, he started looking around for the disturbance, when his eyes landed on the distorted form of his sister through the glass. Jazz noted, with a bit of amusement, that his head frill perked up upon seeing her. It seemed for a second that he wanted to say something, then remembered he was underwater at the moment. Pulling himself up to the surface, he set his questioning gaze on Jazz.

"What is it?"

"Mom told me to come get you for dinner."

"Ok, tell her I'll be there in a minute."

Taking her brother's word, she turned around and headed back to the kitchen. When she got there, she was greeted to the sight of her father begging for permission to start eating.

"CAN I EAT NOW, MADS? PLEASE?"

"No, Jack. We're waiting for Danny." Her tone suggested this was not the first time she's had to answer his question.

"No need." Turning towards the door, there is a very wet Danny awkwardly standing there with water pooling underneath him. Looking away and rubbing his neck, "Sorry about the mess."

"It's not a problem, dear, come and eat with us." Without another word, he made his way to the table and sat down at his usual seat. Before his butt even hit the chair, Jack, being the man that he is, had already dug into his food with a vengeance. While watching his mother scold his father, and his sister's disgusted face, he couldn't help but revel in the normalcy. He could almost believe everything was normal. Or, he could, if it wasn't for the tell-tale pins and needles sensation on his back. Panicking, he ushered a quick "excuse me!" and ran upstairs to the bathroom and shut and lock the door. Sliding down to the floor, he put his face in his hands and waited for the sensation to pass. Not even a minute had passed before he felt a pulling sensation and then heard the distinct sound of fabric ripping. He couldn't hold in the panicked sound that escaped, even when he covered his mouth with his hands. After the pulling sensation subsided, he hesitantly opened his eyes. He didn't notice anything different right away, but he did notice a weird weight on his back. Hesitantly making his way to the mirror, he turned around and just barely managed to stop the scream that threatened to escape his throat. Sitting on his back, ripped through the back of his shirt, was a fairly large black and white fine. He was knocked out of his stupor by a knock on the door and the strangely gently voice of his father.

"DANNY-BOI, YOU OK IN THERE?"

"I don't know." Was his honest response.

"OPEN THE DOOR, SON." He slowly opened the door just enough to peek his head through and peered through his now-white bangs at the worried face of his father. Jack was not having it. "DANNY..." That was definitely a reprimanding tone. Gulping, he nervously opened the door the rest of the way but stayed behind it against the wall; shuddering from the sensation of his new fin being smushed against said wall. "DANIEL FENTON." Yep. That was his cue to come out and face the music. Slowly coming out of his hiding spot, he keeps his head down as he stands in front of his father. Jack, for his part, doesn't react other than the slight widening of his eyes. Slowly reaching out, he brushes his hand against the new fin, Danny allowing him to do it. "DOES IT HURT?"

"Not really. But it is uncomfortable though." Nodding his head, Jack seemingly had an idea. Pulling a pocket knife out his orange-jump suited pocket, he slowly brought it to the hem of his son's shirt. Looking to his son to permission, and after receiving a subtle nod, started to cut through the thin material. Once he cut it cleanly in half, he started to gently take it off his son, being extra careful of the fin protruding from his back. Setting it aside, he folded his knife and put it back in his pocket. Gently putting his large hand on Danny's back, being extra careful of the new fin, he started leading him back to the kitchen.

"COME ON, SON. LETS GO BACK TO DINNER." Not having the heart to decline his father, he allowed himself to be guided downstairs.

Descending down the stairs, Danny kept his head down as not to see the reaction of his other family members. However, he hesitated at his seat, when he suddenly took notice of it's back. Seeming to understand the issue, Jazz reached over and turned it sideways for him. Sending a thankful glance to his sister, he nervously sat down. The rest of dinner went by in silence.

_LINE BREAK_

It was night time when Danny met his next problem. Should he sleep in his bed where he'll ultimately be more comfortable but dry, or on the hard floor of the tank and be nice and wet? At least that was what he kept asking himself. But the real question was, was he willing to accept it and sleep in his tank instead of his bed? Sleeping in his tank as a replacement for a bed would be like accepting the reality of it and what his fate holds. He couldn't help but feel depressed at the thought. How far would the transformation go? Would he grow a tail, or would it stop at webbed feet? He really didn't know. But either way, he knew that after this was all over, he could no longer live on land. He would have to leave his family, his home, everything he's ever known. And then there's the issue of he has no idea how to survive on his own, let alone in the ocean. He's sure to die out there. Head frills drooping, he slowly walks his way to the basement. Once there, he climbs into his tank and lays down at the bottom.

When he wakes up, he's not sure what time it is, but he does know he's to antsy to go back to sleep. Never before in his life has he wanted to go outside more than he did at that moment. Surely just a walk on the beach would be fine? It would only be for a minute. Deciding that would be his plan, he quietly snuck out the back door and onto the beach.

_LINE BREAK_

"Are you sure this is a good idea, Sam?"

"No, but what other choice do we have?" Grumbling, the dark-skinned mer crossed his arms and gave a good scowl.

The two mers were currently sitting on top of a rock hoping to see this 'Danny' the queen spoke of.

Sighing, "Look, we were told to look out for him, and the only way for us to do that is to be near him, meet him if we can."

"Sam, look." Came the urgent cry of her friend. Following her friend's instructions, looked to where he was pointing, hey lavender eyes widening in surprise. Sitting on the beach, looking at the sky, was what had to be their target.

"Oh my God that's him! We have to talk to him!"

"Sam hold on." Seeing the questioning look from the purple mer, he continued. "Remember the only interaction he's had with our kind was not a good one. We have to be careful about this. There's no telling how they'll react." Thoughtful silence followed. And it continued, until Sam came up with (sort of) an idea.

"Ok, so here's what we do. He's less likely to freak out if there's only one of us. So, you stay here and I'll talk to him."

"I guess that could work, but-"

"Great!" He didn't even get to finish his sentence before the black-haired mer dashed off towards the direction of the beach.

_LINE BREAK_

Danny was just enjoying the night sky and fresh air, when he heard whispering.

"Psshh. Hey." Looking around, scared he had been discovered, the now white-haired teen only panicked more when he failed to find the owner of the voice. "Down here."

Looking down, he noticed the head of what was undoubtedly a mer, if the purple head fins were anything to go by, poking out of the water and smiling widely at him. Startled, he screamed. Or, at least, he would have if the mer didn't leap forward at amazing speeds and clamp a scaled and webbed hand to his mouth. Looking at the terrified boy in front of her, she asked, "If I let go, you're not going to scream. Got it?" After seeing the boy nod his head 'yes', the beautiful mer slowly removed her hand. As soon as he could, Danny shuffled back on the sand as far away as he could. Seeing the oncoming panic, Sam decided she needed to interfere. "Hey, hey. I'm not going to hurt you." Putting up her hands in the universal 'I surrender' gesture, she gave her best comforting smile. Sticking her hand out for a handshake, "Hi. My name's Sam. What's yours?" She already knew the answer, of course. But he didn't need to know that. Not yet, at least. Nervously and slowly he accepted the handshake and introduced himself.

"My name's Danny." She smiled to herself for this success.

"So," She ventured, "what are you doing out here?"

"Enjoying the fresh air. It's been a while since I've been outside." Seeing his downcast mood thanks to his betraying head fins, she decided to change the topic.

"So, how's it going?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" He seemed to be getting more comfortable in her presence, which is good.

"With all of this." She gestured to his fins."

"Oh. Alright, I guess." Sam, however, wasn't satisfied with that answer.

"Come on. Fellow mer here. I'm here to help you." After a half minute debate, he decided he might as well be honest. Hugging his knees to his chest,

"Honestly, I'm scared. I don't know what's going to happen when its done. There's no way I can survive in the ocean." Taking pity upon this poor creature, she decided to try to cheer him up.

"If you want, I could help you." Surprised, his head jerked up to meet the smiling face of the mer.

"What?"

"I said, I could help you. You know, adjust. If that's ok with you of course." It took him an embarrassingly long time to register what she was saying. But once he did, he just about jumped for joy.

"Really?!"

Nodding her head, "Of course." Without thinking better of it, he jumped forward and wrapped his arms around her, just about crying tears of joy.

"Yes! Yes! Thank you!" Unsure of what to do, Sam slowly and awkwardly returned the hug. She couldn't help but smile at his pure happiness.

Maybe, just maybe, everything would turn out okay after all.