Imaginary

Summary: Everything has a consequence now Sam has to learn to live with hers. All Danny can do is hope it doesn't kill her.

Rating: PG-13 for mature themes and language.

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom, Butch Hartman does. I do not own Imaginary, Evanescence does.

Chapter Sixteen

In my field of paper flowers.

The whole Fenton how seemed to present a sort of a false happiness as the day before the custody hearing began. Sam knew she was becoming a lot more emotional. It seemed the harder she tried not to snap on somebody, the more often she snapped. Everyone seemed to be trying to bear in mind that she was pregnant and stressed about the nightmare court date but they were still getting rather tired of it.

Sam sighed as she lay there on the hide-a-bed that was becoming more and more familiar. She had her back to the stairs and the kitchen. She laid there staring at the wall, unmoving afraid that if they knew she was up she would fight them. She smelled the pancakes and fought back a wave of nausea. So far morning sickness was her biggest issue with pregnancy but she would have to re-evaluate when she started putting on weight.

She heard Tucker and Danny coming downstairs. Tucker had stayed the night last night and unfortunately had been the latest victim of her chemical driven wrath. He had left a PS2 controller laying out she had almost tripped. It was trivial, something a month ago she could have blown off. She hated how nasty she was becoming.

She heard them both stop at the bottom of the stairs. She was glad they were her best friends and all but the idea of them watching her sleep unnerved her. Tucker seemed to break the silence. "I can't believe she's been through all that."

"So your not mad at us for not telling you sooner?" Sam looked at the edge of the sheet guilt welling up inside her. She hadn't even had the guts to discuss it with Tucker, not after her parents' reaction, something she remembered vividly now.

"Actually I am," he went silent for a moment and Sam almost turned to face them. "But I was thinking about it after you went to sleep last night. I can't see myself acting any different if I was in your shoes, so I'm sure I'll get over it. I mean I'm glad you were there for her and all but I kinda feel useless. I didn't do anything to help, ya know what I mean?"

"She still has a long way to go. And of course then there's the baby." Both boys went silent for a minute.

"Would you think I was horrible if I said I can't see Sam as a mom?" Tucker asked quietly.

"No, honestly. I can't see her as one either. Maybe that's just because we know her too well."

She heard one of them sigh; she was betting it was Tuck. "Your probably right."

"Come on, let's go get some breakfast." Sam sat there numbly as she heard the guys go into the kitchen and greet Jazz. She tuned out there conversation. Maybe there was a reason they couldn't see her as a mom. It probably just wasn't meant to be. Even when all the other kids had talked about what children they were going to have; how many, names, number of years between them; she just couldn't force herself to form an answer in her own head.

Maybe she was just destined to be alone for the rest of her life. She could see Tucker making somebody a great husband and all you had to do was stick Danny in a room with a four-year-old and you could tell he was born to be a dad. But Sam had never been a children person. In her mind, kids were either crying or screaming and babies just were not cute. She had a problem with opening up to people too. Didn't exactly make for a fair-tale bride.

Heck, screw marriage, she couldn't even picture herself being in a dating situation. Ever. Maybe it was a sign that she didn't have what it takes to carry on with everyday life. Maybe, she had the right idea in the first place. She got up, pushing the thought away. She wasn't helping anyone thinking that she was better off dead. Just watch Danny be able to read her thoughts and come out here and kill her.

She walked into the kitchen and Jazz grinned over at her. "Morning!" Both the guys turned to her and grinned though Tucker seemed a little nervous being around her. She smiled back dropping into a chair. "You want me to fix you some pancakes, Sam?" Jazz offered.

Her stomach churned at the thought but she was tired of upsetting everybody. "Sure, that would be great." She tried to smile as Jazz grinned at her. It came out with a sort of nervous quirk. She looked over at Danny who was eating and Tucker who glanced away when she looked at him. He had obviously been staring. She suddenly felt like some sort of horrible animal on display.

She sat there in silence, just wishing that she was like Danny and could disappear or sink into the ground and never look back. She was pulled out of her near trance by a hand on her shoulder as Jazz leaned forward and placed the pancakes in front of her.

Sam looked down at them and the combined smell and sight of them was too much for her. Sam bolted for the door, her chair crashing against the linoleum floor. She threw open the bathroom door and threw up into the toilet. She fell to her knees, the quezy feeling still there. She felt sweaty and nasty. Her hair hung limply around her face. She hated being sick, she didn't know if she could do this every morning.

She wondered if they were missing her at breakfast. Just the thought of going back made her sick again. She felt somebody pull back her hair. She finished getting sick and rocked back onto her heals, trying to ignore the nasty taste in her mouth. She looked over to her right to thank the person but her jaw dropped open in surprise at who it was.

Staring back at her with bright blue-green eyes was Jazz. "You feeling better now?" Sam didn't know what to do so she just nodded. "I'm sorry, Sam. I should have realized that would make you sick and given you cereal or something."

"It's okay," Sam said. She hadn't really ever talked with Jazz on a one on one basis except in passing conversation. "It's my fault. I should have just said no."

It was quiet for a moment both girls staring at the tile floor they were sitting on. "I worry about you," Jazz said suddenly.

"I'm fine." Sam tried to sound assuring, although she was positive she didn't.

Jazz shook her head slightly. "I've been meaning to say this for a while, I know you don't really have any girl friends to talk to. If you ever need someone, I mean, I know you have Danny but I can't see my brother discussing the intimate details of a doctor visit." Sam almost grinned at the thought.

Sam was at a loss for what to say. "Thanks, Jazz."

Jazz just shrugged. "I wish I could do more."

Sam just shook her head overwhelmed. "You've already done more than enough. All of you guys. Much more than I deserve."

Jazz shook her head. "You deserve much better than this, Sam. We're just all sorry we can't give it to you."

Welcome to the shortest author's note EVER. Sorry I'm running late for work. Thanks to my reviewers: audi katia, anonoymous, Annie, IceSugarHigh, Storm Sword, Spice Of Life, RainbowSerenity, Sakura Scout, Divagurl277, Kagome51, Mrs. Granger-Weasley, Coldplayer813, lightning streak, Fox of Light, The Good Girl, Moody Maud, Ryo's destiny, autumngold, RavenForever, and Weeble Wobble Chic. Huggles to you all!