Beyond Good and Evil

I don't own Danny Phantom.

Chapter 3: A time of reflection

The Fenton family sat at their table and ate their dinner of chicken and potatoes in silence. Usually, they would always see how the day was for them. But as of now, they were thinking of something else. And that was tomorrow.

Jazz was the first to look up from her meal and ask," How goes work?"

"I don't feel like talking about it," Maddie stated.

"It was okay Jazz," Jack said.

"I said I didn't want it to be talked about," Maddie said as she placed her fork down.

"She should know, it's the family business."

"Jack, I jut don't want to talk about ghosts right now."

"Why not? It's been moderately quiet. Peaceful, even."

"Its still something I don't want to discuss right now even if its been smooth."

"Doesn't matter either way. We can talk about anything we want."

"That's not the-"

"Stop it you too," Jazz cut in as she sensed a growing tension in her mother's voice. "I guess its save to say that we know what tomorrow is."

"You can say that again," Maddie said.

"Same here. It's off to the cemetery tomorrow," jack said as he took a drink of his water.

"At least you remembered," Maddie remarked.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Jack asked as he set his glass down. Maddie then got up and left the kitchen. Jack followed her and stopped her at the stairs. "What's going on?"

"The way you kept wanting to talk about the hunting. It was because of that Danny got into that problem."

"It was never the job. No one could see that coming," Jack said.

"As parents we should have been-" Jack then cut in said," I get it. We miss him. We should have been there, but we can't let our past kill us."

Maddie then became speechless at what Jack said. She then asked," Can't you understand that our son is dead because of this job?"

"I all ready told you. It wasn't our fault."

"Do you think so? So you continue this job because you think hunting ghost will just be a remainder of how our son was destroyed by one?"

"I do it to protect others. I would have saved our son if we had the chance, but it just wasn't known up to that point."

"We still should have been there."

Jack took a deep breath to calm himself of his wife's stubbornness. After letting his spent air exit his mouth, he then said," I now you're entitled to your opinion. But, you're missing the point. Danny died because he protected people. That's what we're trying to do. We could have saved our son, but at least we can prevent others from meeting the same fate as him."

"At least you respect my opinion," Maddie said as she climbed the stairs. She then stopped at the top of the staircase and called down," You should get ready for tomorrow." She then walked in the bathroom and closed the door. Jack climbed the stairs and at first wanted to talk more with his wife, but he just sighed and walked into the bedroom.

Jazz washed the plates of unfinished food in silence. She knew exactly what her parents were arguing about. Over the past year, the ghost hunting business had been relatively quiet. Not much activity was coming from the ghost zone. Ranging from good to a little bit of a problem, the job was at least getting them money. But, over time, her mom was questioning whether the job was still right. Because of this profession, it had lead to her son getting transformed into one and killed. She showed a ton of anger and sadness whenever the job was brought up or when she went out to do it. Hell, just three months ago, her dad had caught her mom trying to destroy the ghost portal. Their marriage was starting to look like it was on a knife-edge for the first time in so long.

The argument with her parents also brought up questions of her own. She remembered that night when she confronted Danny. She had all ready known Danny's powers when she saw him transform during spirit week. She had protected him a lot since then without him knowing it. But, thinking he had murdered someone just made her want to question whether he had still retained his humanity. She had pointed a weapon at him in order to stop him. She actually was going to pull the trigger and kill her own brother. She was sickened by that near action and she still was too this day. Was the path of researching ghost genius or dangerous? The answer just seemed…

She jumped as her deep thought on this was broken by the telephone ringing. She quickly wiped her hands and picked it up.

"Hello? 'She said into the receiver.

"Hi, Jazz," Sam's voice answered through the other end.

Jazz nearly dropped the phone in surprised. She hadn't seen Sam for pretty much since Danny's death. She knew about Danny confessing his feelings for her as she had done. Sam loved her brother, and she was so sad with never seeing him again. She had a strong since of the sadness Sam had felt. But, why would she be calling?

"Haven't heard from you in a while, Sam." She replied.

"I know. This might sound weird. But I need a favor."

"What is it?"

"Well, my parents can't bring me to Danny's grave tomorrow. If your family is going, can you give me a ride."

Sam waited for a reply on the other end. After what seemed like a hour, she said," I get if you can't, so-"

She was cut off as Jazz said," Be ready by nine. We can get you."

"Thank you." She said as Jazz heard the phone click. She knew she should have asked for her parent's permission. But, Sam had a relationship for Danny that had so much friendship and love. She asked herself, (What's so wrong with love?)

The next day…

Sam looked herself over in her mirror to make sure she was ready to go. She wore a black satin dress that draped around her ankles, her hair was tied back in a bun, and she wore black mascara. She picked up the bouquet of red roses and ran her fingers over the petals. Today was the anniversary of Danny's death. She had been to the cemetery numerous times, so it would seem it wouldn't be too different. But, it was very different. A year had passed since that day. The memories of that fateful event now seemed so clear that it was like a sports show's play by play. Danny getting shot, then falling, then dying. Sam wanted to get them out of her head, but it was way too hard to do so. That was because she didn't want the pain to leave. She wanted to use this pain in order to show that she still mourned him. She wasn't afraid of it.

She then heard a car horn from outside her window. She looked out to see the Fenton Ghost Assault Vehicle parked outside her house.

(Good. They came.) She thought as she prepared to leave the room. She opened the door, but froze for a second. She looked around the room, letting just one scene come back to her. The last night that Danny spent in the human world, it was here that they had confessed their love for each other. This was where they had shared their first kiss. To some people, an ideal place to share their first kiss was probably in the moonlight or with the sun sinking in the background. But, to Sam, that was the most romantic and greatest moment for her life. Even though it was long passed, she still held that memory deeply engraved in her mind and her heart.

(No time to remember. I can all that time at Danny's grave.)

She hurried out the front door and saw the side door of the van opened. She got in to see Tucker and Jazz in the passenger seats and Jack and Maddie in the driver seats. Their suits and dresses were black and gave off their mourning throughout the vehicle. Sam nodded at all of them in greeting and took her seat. The entire trip was in silence. Sam felt like she should start up a conversation, but decided not too. Everyone was in probably too busy remembering the good times they spent with Danny. She didn't want a conversation that would skewer towards the painful memories. She just thought it was best to keep her mouth shut.

They eventually got to the cemetery. They drove along the path until they reached the plot. The mourners exited the vehicle as it parked and then stood facing the tombstone. Inscribed on it was:

Daniel M. Fenton

1989-2005

Her helped those in dire need.

May he be peaceful in his next life.

The Fentons walked forward and placed a simple potted flower on the head of the grave. As they stepped back, Tucker walked up and put a green wreath adorned with a red banner that had Danny's name on it. Sam was the last to walk up. She placed her bouquet in front of the gravestone. Just then, time seemed to stop. Her head still on the bouquet, she suddenly shot back to Danny's last minute. And it was that time she held his bleeding body and heard him say this line…

" But…remember. I love you all. You are truly…the best family, friends, and lover…who ever came into my life."

Sam got up slowly then as Danny's voice still cycled through her head. With her back still turned, she said, "Danny loved us so much."

"That he did," Jack stated.

"What do you think he thought of for me? Did he have that sort of love that seemed unbreakable?" she said as she walked back into the line.

Jazz looked over to her and said," He did. The love he had for us was strong, He had in his heart for a long time. For me, the family, his friends…and there was so for you."

"You think so?"

Jazz smiled and said," Hey, I'm his sister. I know these things."

"Our son did love you. I could sense it for a while. Its good he got it out and told out before his passing." Maddie said.

"Danny was a good kid." Jack said. "To everyone, he was the greatest. I can really say this is the mostly possible way, but if he were alive, he would love us all with his heart and soul. Everyone he cared about deeply. And wherever he is, He probably still has those feelings for you. "

Sam smiled at hearing this when Maddie aid," We better hurry. Don't want to miss the mass."

The Fentons and Tucker walked towards the van, but Sam just stood there for a while. In her mind, pictures of Danny and the two were flooding her self-consciousness. He would also care for his family and friends. But secretly, she felt as though he cared about her with something huge, mighty, and passionate.

"Are you coming Sam?" Tucker called out from the van.

"Sure." She said. She looked at the graver one more time and said quietly to herself before heading back to the van," I will love you forever, Danny."

But, while they were busy remembering what they had lost, they were completely unaware of what was to come next.

Chapter 4 is coming soon.