a/n: hey, I'm back figured I'd pump out the next chapter. I'm in a writing mood, and I found some free time. So without further ado, here's super late…

Chapter 14: Auld Lang Syne

"The more you try to simplify things, the more you complicate them. You create rules, build walls, push people away, lie to yourself and ignore true feelings. That is not simplifying things."

~Ceceilia Ahern; If You Could See Me Now

Over lookers Pov

It had been nearly a week since Christmas, and New Year's Eve was approaching, which meant that new years party was impending. Danny had hardly spoken to Sam on the plane ride home or even in the taxi at the airport. She knew he had been through an ordeal, so she gave him his space, but when she got the news that he called in sick and wouldn't return until the new year, Sam knew she was being avoided.

But what she didn't know was why. All she knew was that it hurt. It hurt like hell, but she persisted. She closed herself off and focused on the only thing she had left; the story. She had put herself out there, yet again she'd been burned. She sure knew how to pick em.

He was a coward, she thought. He didn't even have the decency to tell her to her face, Especially after they had made love. The bastard. But why would he call? He'd gotten what he wanted, Sam thought. Then she shook her head. She couldn't believe it. Even though all the signs were there, there had to be a logical explanation for this.

He wasn't like some of the shitty men she'd laid with since Joe. he was different. She knew it. But then why? She pulled herself out of her reverie when she felt the tears prickling at her eyes. NO, she was Sam fucking Manson, and Sam fucking Manson did not cry at work.

She refocused on the puff piece she was writing when her cell rang. Oh, how she wanted it to be Danny. Much to her surprise, it was Paulina, though even more to her surprise, she didn't mind nearly as much as she thought she would.

"Hello," she answered as she willed her voice not to crack. It betrayed her. Paulina softened her expression though Sam couldn't see that. "You okay?" she asked, setting aside what she had called for. Sam reupholstered her tough girl facade. "Yeah, I'm good. What's up." she voiced, and though Paulina wasn't convinced, she decided they didn't know each other well enough to press.

Though still, they weren't enemies anymore; they weren't exactly friends. Instead, they were two strong women bonded by circumstance and that, in many cases, had a funny way of breeding the best friendships no matter how previously unlikely. Finally, Paulina shook her head and spoke on the issue she had called for.

"Well, I'm actually calling to see if you're going to the press party tonight. Joe and I will be there, and I figured it'd be the perfect time to chat some more. Maybe even put our plan into action." the beauty suggested. The press party was the party of the century. All the press from all the papers and magazines came and had a grand time every New Year's Eve.

Sam's facade fell at the mention of the press party because she and Danny had talked about going even before their tryst. They were supposed to go together. How could she bring herself to go alone? It's not the idea of not having a date but the idea of being there without Danny that really stung.

Being in a room full of people she could hardly stand on a good day with no reprieve sounded like sure torture. But she couldn't accurately convey that to Paulina, so after a long pause, she spoke. "I'll be there," she said, voice dry. She cleared her throat. "I don't know about exploring the secret floor tonight, but I definitely think we should plan when we're going to do this. First, we gotta find out how many guards there are and their rounds, you know, stuff like that." Sam added, already dreading the night. But she knew it was a necessary evil.

Vlad had hurt many people, which was more significant than her. She had to stop him. If she didn't, who would? "Sounds like a plan. I can keep Vlad and Joe busy, and you can do your thing in Vlad's office, get the guard log and whatever else you can find, then we'll reconvene." Paulina stated, adding to the plan.

"One more thing, we can't be seen talking. They think we hate each other. We need to keep it that way to keep our cover." Sam voiced the reporter in her coming out. Paulina laughed lightheartedly. "You don't hate me, Manson?" Paulina said with a smirk. "You're not the pop princess anymore, Paulina. That girl I hated. I mean, you made my life a living hell, but who you are now, you just might be someone I could… god help me… like." Sam answered honestly, too tired to give her usual sarcasm. Paulina smiled.

"You're not so bad yourself, Manson… err, Sam." Paulina let out. For the first time, Sam smiled. Then, she refocused and said, "alright, Paulina get ready to put on the show of your life tonight. It's all in or nothing at all." Paulina nodded and added, "I'm ready. Whatever happens, at least I'll have the one thing I'm denied right now. The truth." the girl stated sadly, and Sam nodded.

"See you tonight, Paulina," Sam voiced, and in turn, Paulina responded, "see you tonight, sausage sister." Sam was going to give Paulina a wisecrack back, but before she could, Paulina had already hung up the phone. Sam smiled despite herself. They, indeed, were more alike than she had previously realized. They both had to have the last word.

Several things happened over the next several hours. First, while Sam was getting ready, Danny called. He had asked Sam to meet him at Vlad Co., where the Press Party was being held. It was like she was having an out-of-body experience. Like she was just nodding along and agreeing, no questions asked.

Had she not been having an out-of-body experience, she would have yelled at him and given him an authentic piece of her mind. She would have found out why the hell he had gone ghost on her for lack of a better term. But she did none of that. Instead, she simply agreed to meet him, hung up the phone, and continued getting ready.

She was in unending agony, but she buried it deep. She had a job to do; her personal feelings be damned.

Soon enough, Sam was ready. She was wearing a floor-length lacy black dress that did everything for her breast. Her hair was curled, and she rocked a side part, beautiful diamond earrings, and a necklace set. In addition, she had a luxurious diamond headband that went with her other accessories. To top it all off, she had diamond-studded stiletto heels, a black lacy shawl, and her signature purple lipstick.

All in all, Sam looked and felt breathtaking. Usually, she'd just drive herself, but the girl opted to take her parent's limo just for tonight. Sam rarely flaunts her money; she'd be a hypocrite if she did. But at nights like these, it was nice to be an heiress, even if she ultimately rebuffed the lifestyle every other night. Sometimes you were allowed to be selfish. Sometimes you're allowed to be a hypocrite; she reminded herself. 'Fuck it,' she thought. 'Just fuck it.'

She stepped out of the limo, and Danny was there waiting for her at the front entrance. He looked distraught though you could tell he was masking it as best he could. Most people probably wouldn't have even noticed. But Sam saw right through him, as he could her. She had on her facade as she sauntered over to him. She even forced herself to smile; still, she was utterly out of her mind and body.

Emotionlessly he offered his arm out for her to grab, and she took it. They entered the building together and made their way to the elevator. They couldn't help but think of their first time in this elevator together. This was so different from now.

They were both just trying to hold it together but were on the verge of falling apart. Once the elevator doors opened, they got in, in silence, and they pressed the top floor button and waited in awkward silence as the elevator climbed. The tension was so thick you could have cut it with a buzz saw. Nevertheless, both parties were equally ecstatic when the elevator doors opened. Arm and arm, they walked through the double doors of the large ballroom where the event was being held. There were all sorts of people in their fancy attire. Some made small talk, some rushed toward the open bar, and some sat at the elegantly placed tables around the room.

Naturally, there was a large crystal chandelier above the dance floor, but no one had yet begun to dance despite the music playing. Sam peaked over to Paulina, and she could see that she had Vlad and Joe engaged in conversation.

But how was she going to get the key to Vlad's office from Paulina, especially with Danny standing right there. Furthermore, how would she sneak away from her would-be boyfriend and go snooping through Vlad's office, especially with so much left unsaid between the two of them.

This whole night was going to end in disaster. She was sure of it. Then, just when her musings couldn't get any worse, she was pulled out of them by a tap on her shoulder. It was Danny because why wouldn't it be?

Her heart hurt at his following words. "We need to talk. Can we go out to the balcony?" said the blue-eyed wonder. Sam felt unshed tears well up in her eyes. She gave off a sardonic laugh. "Fine, whatever you want," she said more harshly than she intended. She brushed past him and off to the balcony. Once out there, he shortly followed.

Luckily they were out there alone because of how cold it was presumably. "Sam, you don't know how hard this is…" Danny began, but Sam's sharp tongue cut him off. "Don't mince words, okay, don't do that shit. Just say it so we can both stop pretending." the girl retorted coldly.

Danny felt his heartbreak. He could see how he had hurt her. Why had he let himself believe he could have this without hurting anyone? But he'd rather her be hurt and hate him than be dead because of him. He could never take that. His own eyes began brimming with tears.

"Sam, please, you think this is easy for me? I never thought I'd have this, but somewhere between here and there, I fell in love with you, Sammy, and I-" the man began again before the woman cut him off again.

"Stop it, damnit if you're dumping me, just dump me. But don't feed me lines just to spare my feelings. I deserve better than that." the girl voiced as she could feel her heart breaking into a million pieces.

"I wish I could tell you everything. I wish I could explain to you why this is how it has to be." the man pleaded as he let some of his tears fall. He had done this. He had caused her pain. He had got Valerie killed. How much more could he fuck up? He was supposed to be the hero. But lately, it seemed like he was doing more harm than good. She began shaking and wagging her finger in his face. Tears that she had been holding back began brimming down her face. "You promised! You promised you'd tell me everything. You lied. And what's worse is you're a fucking coward. You're choosing this. You could tell me whatever it is you're holding back, and we could both exhale together, but now we're just going to hold our breath until it suffocates us. And I, for one, can't live like that." the girl screamed, pain echoing in every word, and they both could feel it. Every tear she cried was like a knife in his heart, and the words were like the knife being turned.

"Sam, it isn't as simple as just telling you the truth. It kills me that I hurt you. I never meant to. I tried to resist this pull, but it was too strong, Sammy. I should have left you alone. I should never have done this. I love-" Danny said as tears fell from his own eyes, and she mustered up a glare so cold it could chill drinks.

"Don't say that to me one more time. You make a choice right now, Danny Fenton, or I will make it for you…" Sam paused, and her expression softened. Then she continued, "... you can kiss me right now, tell me you love me and tell me everything you promised to, or you can make the worst mistake of your life and let me walk back into that party, and once I close that door, we're done." Sam finished as she felt her heart hitch in her throat.

Oh, how tempting that offer was. Danny didn't say anything right away. Instead, he stepped closer to her and pulled her into a hug. He kissed her on the cheek then he whispered in her ear. "I'm so sorry, Sammy." she pulled away from his embrace, tears, and venom in her eyes.

"Don't touch me. You will never touch me again! And I just want you to know, as you stand out here alone, that we could have had a beautiful life together. I would have given you everything, but I can't wait for you to trust me. I deserve better than the lies I do. And I want you to know that you hurt me tonight. You really just fucking hurt me." the girl voiced as she let her last few tears fall, turned around, and went back inside, leaving him standing there alone without another word.

Danny felt the loneliness set in, and he punched the outside concrete wall with all his might. The whole building shook. Looking around, he realized he was still alone, so the man went ghost and took to the skies. Flying always helped make even the darkest days just a little brighter, but it seemed tonight that nothing could make this better, that nothing would ever be alright again.

All he knew was he couldn't stay at Vlad Co. or this party another second. His mother didn't teach him to hate, but the world sure did. He hated Vlad. he had never killed anyone. But with Vlad, he was tempted, not just for orchestrating Valerie's murder but for what he had to do, Sam.

The image of her walking away from him was forever burned in his retinas, along with the pained look on her delicate features. He closed his eyes, and he was haunted by the ghost of her tears. 'How ironic,' the boy thought bitterly as he felt the utter bleakness of life engulf him.

Back at the party, though, Sam felt her heartbreaking, and she was still shaking from everything that had happened. She knew she had to refocus herself on the task at hand. She got a text from Paulina it said, 'meet me in the bathroom now make sure you're alone. Sam didn't respond but made sure no one followed her and headed for the ladies' room. Once in there, she locked the main door. Next, she and Paulina checked the stalls to ensure they were alone before speaking. Once they realized no one else was there, they began their plan.

"So I was able to score these from a tech investor friend. They aren't even on the market yet," Paulina stated with a smirk as she fished out tiny earbud-sized comm links. She put one in her ear and gave the other to Sam.

Sam didn't put it in right away, but she could tell what they were and knew how to use them. "So, do you have the key?" Sam asked, shoving her emotions down. She'd allow herself to feel everything later, but she had a mission to complete right now, and nothing got in the way of the story. Nothing. Paulina could tell Sam was in pain but decided not to press.

She both pitied how much pain she was in and envied her strength and courage. Sam had always been so fearless and strong. She wished she could be like that. Paulina fished out the key and handed it to Sam. Sam took it and put it in her bag.

"I gotta go entertain Vlad and joe; I'll let you know if you get made or if someone is coming, okay," Paulina said as Sam nodded and turned to leave, but Paulina stopped her.

"And Sam be careful, okay?" Paulina finished as Sam turned around and mustered up a smirk.

"Careful, Paulina, keep this up, and I might actually have to believe you care." Sam quipped with a smile. Paulina matched her smile and simply said. "Get out of here, Manson." Sam left without another word.

Naturally, Paulina returned to the party, and Sam headed down eerie hallways toward Vlads ominous office. Once there, she was surprised to find there were no guards. She figured it was because there was a lock on the door, so she looked behind her and to both sides; seeing no one, she used the key to open the door.

Once inside, she locked the door behind her. She figured that way; she would know if anyone came in after her. So with that, she got to work. She began going through papers and drawers. Most of what she found appeared exactly how Vlad wanted it to. Various donations to charities and community outreach. Nothing about the secret floor, the experimentation lab, or even getting juvenile convictions overturned and manipulating those kids to be his henchmen. Nothing at all. Then it hit her. He had planned for someone to go through his office. He had a contingency for everything and was always one step ahead. If he had anything about his dirty dealings, it would be just as secret and locked away as he was. He'd never leave a paper trail.

But if it wasn't here? Where the hell would he keep it ? Her eyes trailed up to the computer at the top of the desk, but if she knew Vlad, the files she needed would be locked away in secret files on a password-protected computer. Then, of course, she could call tucker, and he could get into the computer and files no problem, but that would mean putting him in grave danger, and furthermore, he'd let her and Paulina's plan slip to Danny. Then it would all be over. Whatever else he was, he was still her friend and partner.

And she would always hold a candle for him, despite her better judgment. The girl found herself lost in her Danny reverie for a moment until Paulina's voice pulled her out of it. "Did you find anything?" the woman asked. "Everything is probably in the computer, which I can't get into," Sam responded. Paulina was silent for a moment.

"Fuck, well, how are we supposed to get to the secret floor if we don't know how?" Paulina asked, her voice full of dismay. Suddenly something hit Sam. "I have an idea, but it's drastic and dangerous," Sam stated, now wary of her plan forming in her mind. Paulina paused. "How drastic and dangerous?" Paulina inquired. Sam took a breath before her response.

"If I can talk to one of Vlad's henchmen, not as myself but as someone they'd trust, I can get the information on them." Sam got out as she let out a long breath. Paulina didn't know what to say, but she didn't know about putting Sam in such danger. "What if they recognize you?" Paulina asked, now worried. She just wanted answers. She didn't want anyone to die for them.

Whatever happened to Sam tonight, she didn't care about the risk. All that mattered was the story. It was like that was all she had left. Paulina finally decided to stop biting her tongue. "Look, Sam, any blind person can see you're going through a lot right now. And, of course, I want my answers, and I want to take them down too, but it isn't worth your life." Paulina stated honestly. Sam paused as she could feel the tears coming back. She blinked them away.

"I appreciate the concern, but I'm not your problem, and right now, I'd rather be anyone else and anywhere else. I can pull this off. I know it. I just need to go home and change." Sam voiced. Paulina shook her head but knew Sam was stubborn, and her mind was made up. She sighed and said, "they hang out at a bar in Queens; Joe goes there sometimes. I'll text you the address." the beauty was quite concerned, but she knew that she had a better chance with her help than without.

"Thanks, Paulina." said Sam. "just be careful, okay," Paulina responded. "I'm leaving the office now. And I will." the girl retorted as she stood up and left. She needed this, and a bar sounded promising. After everything, she'd been through. She figured she could use a drink… correction, drinks.

An hour or so later found Sam dressed in deep cover. She wore a three days grace t-shirt with the back cut out and ripped dark black jeans. She put a fake septum piercing and blond highlight clip-ins in her hair.

She did her eye makeup heavy as she wore it in high school and cut out a boob window in her shirt. Sam needed one last drastic final touch. She looked in the mirror and saw someone very different from her typical blazer and business skirt. But she needed to go further. If she even came close to being recognized, it could cost her her life. She was feeling reckless, but she didn't have a death wish.

She reached into her medicine cabinet and pulled out a pair of scissors. She took a comb and parted her hair in the front. Then, she took out the part of her hair she wanted to be her bangs. She hadn't had bangs since high school.

She'd never forget her mother's frigid face when she found out she cut her bangs for the first time. She fucked it up the first time, but she got better and better. Sure she hadn't done it in years, but it was like riding a bike. Wasn't it? She held the hair and placed two fingers where she wanted to cut. Then she cut under the fingers. Her bangs were thick but otherwise very even.

Somehow cutting her bangs was the easiest thing she did all day.

She wore her push-up bra instantly, making her breast look larger, and topped it off with her signature purple lipstick. Now she was ready. She called a cab and got in it. When she arrived at O'Reilly's Irish pub, she got out. This was definitely it. It was a seedy bar in one of the roughest parts of New York.

She had to convince these people she belonged here. She walked in and sat at the bar. There was a pool table, and the bar was filled with mostly men. She set her sights on a guy with dark hair, blue eyes, and a tattoo sleeve. He had the sleeves cut off his shirt. She gave him some looks, then turned away before she ordered a straight Jamerson no chaser from the bar. The guy walked over to her. Once he got closer, she saw he was easy on the eyes.

He was not nearly as cute as Danny, but he'd do. "Hey, sweetheart, what's your name," the man asked. Sam turned to him and smirked. "What's yours?" Sam countered. The man smiled and quirked an eyebrow. "I asked you first." She nodded playfully as her drink was served. She took a big gulp and said, "Andi, Andi Mitchell," stated Sam as the guy smiled, and it lit up his blue eyes that were oh too much like Danny's. Sam couldn't avoid being pulled into them any more than one could avoid being pulled into the roaring waves of the sea on a stormy night.

She knew she had to get him comfortable with her. She had to do something that would reel him in like a proverbial fish on a hook. An idea struck her. Her head cocked over to the pool table, and she smirked.

"So mystery man, you play?" he said, matching her smirk and laughing lightheartedly. "Tough girl, huh?" she stared him boldly in the eyes and gave him a seductive look. "Wanna find out?" she voiced as she turned around, sauntered to the pool table, and began setting the balls up. The man shook his head despite himself as he couldn't help but follow the intriguing woman.

She was bending over with her toned rear up in the air. He came over and slapped her on the ass. Her first instinct was to give him a piece of her mind. But she had to remember she wasn't Sam right now. She couldn't afford to be. Sam may mind being slapped on the ass by a stranger whose name she didn't know. But Andi came here looking for trouble, and she just found it.

Sam forced herself to smile as she turned around and faced him. She smirked. "Easy there, tiger. I don't even know your name." the woman said seductively. The man put his hand on the back of his neck and internally kicked himself. He was so intrigued by this woman that he forgot to tell her his name. "It's Denny Fredrick," the man said with a smile that said that he was trying to keep his cool and hoped he didn't just make an ass of himself.

Sam inwardly cursed whatever deity she could think of. What would be the odds that her mark would not only look so much like a market pantry Danny but have the same initials? She came here to escape her problems, Her pain, and here it was staring her right in the face. She knew certain truths to be self-evident. That life wasn't fair and that Murphy's Law was always finding a way to take a dump on her life. But Jesus, couldn't she catch a break?

Perhaps Sam was looking for trouble just the same. She thrust herself into her persona. She put Sam as far back in the caverns of her mind as she could. It was freeing to say the least, even if it was just for this moment in time.

"It suits you, and nice to meet you officially anyway." Said Sam as she forced herself to focus on the matter at hand. Denny smiled. And Sam found herself smiling back. This felt nice. Denny turned to the bartender and ordered a round of tequila shots. He came back and handed Sam hers.

Fearlessly Sam downed the shot in one gulp. "Whoo!" she cheered. Then Denny smiled at her. There was something about this woman that intrigued him. It was right then and there that he knew he wanted more than just some meaningless hookup from her. He wanted her as a whole to be acquainted with every nuance of her mind, body, and soul.

Sam glanced over at Denny, who was giving her the same longing puppy dog stare that Danny always had. With those same goddamned eyes that she swore he would be the death of her. She knew now was the time to make her move.

She forced herself to focus, to forget the pain. "You wanna get outta here?" Sam inquired, and Denny's grin grew even brighter. "hey, pretty girl, that's my line." Then, the handsome stranger's retort came.

And just like that, Sam found herself going home with a handsome devil who might not be so devilish after all.

Hours later found the pair tangled in a mess of sweaty limbs and nudity. Sam had to admit. It was nice to just fuck without all the feelings, but the feelings always came later, didn't they, at least for one person or the other but rarely ever both. That's how it worked. Love was never equal, and when a heart broke, someone was always the victor, and someone was always the loser.

She was so fucking tired of giving herself to all the men just to lose in the end. And what she lost the most every single time seemed to be herself, which killed her almost more than the loss itself. So when was she going to stop putting herself on the back burner? When could she look a man dead in the eyes and say, "I love you, but I have to start loving myself more."

She knew what she had to do. She did, but yet here she was giving herself to yet another man. Even if she tried to pretend that it was Andi, it was still Sam. She was always Sam, and she could never escape that. If she looked at her history with men, it wasn't a pretty one, and letting go was never her strong suit.

There was Joe, Ethan, Danny now Denny, each man who still grabbed a piece of her heart and never returned it. Who was a girl who had lost her heart so many times? No, not lost given, which almost made it worst. So desperate, so sad, so pathetic, so insecure. Why was she constantly jealous of beautiful women whom she didn't see herself a part of?

When would this cycle of bullshit ever end? She made a decision right then and there. She had to end it. She had to take her power and her heart back from these men. She had to learn to stop caring so damn much. She had to learn to live by the Maya Angelo quote, "when someone shows you who they are, believe them."

She was the type of a person. If someone she loved showed her exactly who they were over and over, she'd still let them back in one way or another. Her bleeding heart was her driving force though she tried to hide it. But it was also her worst enemy.

"You okay, Andi," voiced Denny through Sam's reverie. Sam gave herself a jolt and swallowed hard. "Yeah, I'm fine, just in thought," stated the lost woman. Denny pulled her close and held her. Sam leaned into his embrace. Her body quivered. "No judgment if you want to vent…" Denny began, then he trailed off, and his tone became playful. "... or if you want me to put a hit out on whatever idiot broke your heart." the man finished with a laugh, and Sam smiled a genuine smile for the first time in a while. "Tempting." she quipped as her smile morphed into her signature smirk.

"I'd rather talk about you. I want into Vlad's crew. I need an outlet for my aggression." Sam stated, turning back on her facade. Denny grew wary. "How'd you know I worked for Vlad." said the man, uncomfortable. Sam laughed. "I used to knock boots with Joe years ago. He let a few things slip. I want in Denny. And I'll do anything to prove myself." the girl said, a passion in her eyes.

Denny seemed in thought for a beat before responding. "Why not ask Joe to get you in?" inquired the man, an eyebrow quirked. "Joe's a hard man to get to these days." came the woman's rebuttal. Denny's face darkened. "So that's the only reason you sought me out then, huh? I was just a pawn in your sick game." Denny said darkly. Sam smirked and pulled him in close to her still naked form. She whispered her following comment seductively. Her voice was hot in her lover's ear.

"That's not the only reason, honey. But I plan to use you as my personal fuck toy." the woman finished, and the man's eyes grew heavy with lust. "I could get on board with that." the man said, voice low and husky. Sam felt her womanhood quiver. She hadn't felt this alive in a while.

She put a finger on his lips as he leaned to kiss her and said, "you have to promise that you'll tell me everything and get me into Vlad's crew, then you can do whatever you want to me." the woman stated as Denny took her finger from his mouth and grabbed both her wrist then pinned them to the bed. He got on top of her and voiced, "carefully there, little darling, I have quite the imagination. But you've got yourself a deal." with that, the man kissed her roughly, and she returned the kiss. Next, he began teasing her clit and finger fucking her hard, her nails already digging into his back. Then all at once, with no warning, the man pulled out all four fingers and inserted his throbbing hard cock into her tight, soaking pussy. She hollered out in the best state of pleasure.

As promised, Denny did tell Sam everything. And after he fell asleep like clockwork, she gathered herself and threw her clothes on, then headed home, tired and sore but ultimately a lot freer than she had felt in a long time.

a/n: I know this took forever. I apologize for being so busy, and I had most of this planned, but I honestly just let the ending flow. I hope you enjoyed it. Keep reading for what's next, and please review.