Okay, so this update was meant to be my birthday present to all of you (my birthday was this past Monday), but I didn't have it totally finished until Tuesday. Then, there was a problem with uploading documents, so I couldn't get it up until today. SORRY! But it's here now, right?

Alright, now I know what everyone is talking about in their updates when they say that the line-break-thingies aren't working right. This really TICKS ME OFF, but I guess I'll be able to live with it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom!

DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPPDPDPDP

Punch. Block. Kick. Duck. Karate chop. Block again.

The intense blows were flying between the two girls as they competed for the affection of the same boy. They were evenly matched so far, so the majority of the attacks were parried. However, when they stopped to gulp in a few breaths of much-needed air, Sam sported a bruise just below her left eye and Valerie had a similar one forming on her right arm. They each glanced at Danny, who waved innocently, glared at each other once more, and dove back into their epic battle.

Sam failed to block a punch and got hit in the eye.

Valerie tried to duck one of Sam's kicks, but she didn't quite crouch down low enough so she was hit in the side of the mouth.

"Girls, GIRLS!" Maddie shouted. She forcefully pulled the two of them apart and held them at arm's length.

"What's the matter with you two?" She demanded. "You're best friends! No friends fight like that with each other unless they're fighting over something really important."

"I was watching them," Dash boasted. "I think they were fighting over this loser," he announced as he shoved Danny.

"HE'S NOT A LOSER!" Both Sam and Valerie screeched. They ran up to Dash; Sam punched him in the face and Valerie punched him in the stomach.

"Owie…" Dash mumbled as he sank to the ground. Maddie couldn't hold back a giggle. They were fighting over a boy. And not just any boy; her son.

"Girls, you're too young to be fighting over a boy," Maddie chastised. "Now apologize." Sam and Valerie reluctantly mumbled a muffled 'sorry'. By that time the class had ended and the parents began filing in. Maddie picked up all of the blocks from the flying sidekick contest as the children left to greet their parents. She had just finished closing the supply closet when she heard a bloodcurdling shriek.

"SAMMYKINS!"

Maddie spun around and rushed over to the parents to see what was wrong. She smirked at what she found. Sam's mother had taken one look at her daughter's face and immediately noticed the makings of a black eye. Before she could do anything else, though, the irate woman had turned on her.

"What happened here?" Pam Manson demanded in a murderous tone.

"Uh…they were sparring, and it got a bit intense…"

"A bit? I'll say!" Mr. Baxter exclaimed angrily. "Look at what happened to my son! I'm going to file a complaint about this, mark my words."

"Me too," Pam said. She turned tail and dragged Sam out of the karate studio, Mr. Baxter and Dash hot on her heels.

"Maybe this would be a good time to back down," Damon said delicately. Maddie looked down and noticed that his daughter's lip was swollen and starting to bleed. The rest of the parents were either giving her cold stares or shaking their heads sadly, and Maddie knew that he was probably right.

"Yeah…" she muttered. "I'll hand in my resignation tomorrow." The rest of the parents escorted their children out of the building, and Maddie sat down on the karate mat and put her head in her hands. Suddenly, she felt a pair of small arms hug her midsection.

"What's wrong, mommy?" Danny asked. Maddie smiled softly. She spun around and grabbed Danny, who giggled happily. Maddie rested her son on her lap.

"Nothing's wrong, sweetie. I just don't think I'll be able to teach karate anymore."

"Good." Danny announced. Maddie looked up at him, surprised.

"Why is that good?"

"'Cuz you're too good. If you teach people how to be as good at karate as you are, people like that kid with yellow hair are going to be even meaner to me." Maddie chuckled.

"That's true. Although I probably wouldn't teach him anyway after what he did to you."

"He deserved what Sammy and Valerie did to him. Will I ever be allowed to see them again?"

"Not for some time, Danny. At least not until their parents cool down."

"How long is that?"

"I'm not sure…"

"Aw…"

"Hey, don't worry about it! You'll still be able to play with Tucker, right?"

"Yeah, I guess…" Danny looked towards the ground and his messy black hair covered his eyes. Maddie kissed him on the top of his head.

"C'mon, sweetie. Let's go home."