Links in the Chain
By Lacey52
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
A note: I took the cheap way out and you shall never know what people bought for Sam on her birthday. Bwahahaha….okay, so I'm not that evil, you'll at least know what the boys got her…and one other person as well…and I apparently have a fixation of Fanning the Flames…oh well.
And I cut it short because…well, because I'm lazy and I think that sometimes it's best to let you picture what might have happened…no kissing though, you guys…they don't kiss yet, lol!
Last time Still Trying to Fly got five points for figuring out what the date of Danny's birthday was to me. Five points to whoever can guess what the date of Sam's birthday is to me. And yes, the answer can be found! (winks)
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
Chapter Thirty Five: Gala
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"I can't believe I let my mother do this to me," Sam tried once again to suffocate herself with her down pillows.
Once again it was Danny to the rescue, phasing the pillow over her face into intangibility, "You know, if you want me to loose this so called 'hero-complex' I've developed, you aren't helping me by trying to kill yourself every five minutes and making me save you."
"You know as much as I hate to admit it, he's right Sam," Tucker leaned backwards over the computer-chair he was sitting in, "And you're mom just wanted to give you a special party. It is your sweet sixteenth."
"Sweet sixteenth or not, she shouldn't have invited people behind my back," Sam huffed, "Do you realize that there is currently over half the school in my house? Do you realize that this means they all know that I'm bleeding, filthy rich?"
"Breath, Sam, breath," Danny laughed as he lightly bopped her with the pillow he had been holding onto, "Just go down there and be your normal, sarcastic, wonderful, and now supposedly sweet, sixteen year old self. Nothing to it."
"Easy for you to say, Mr. I Can Turn Invisible Whenever I Want To," Sam sat up to glare at both boys, "I don't even want to celebrate my birthday with those people. I just wanted to have a simple, stupid party with you two!"
"Calm down," Tucker laughed, "You're gettin' all worked up over nothin'. We are here, and it will be simple. Let's just go have fun like always and ignore anybody we don't like. It's your birthday Sam, whatever you say goes tonight."
As Sam finally rolled off of her bed in disgust to sit on the edge, Tucker made his way to the door, "I'm gonna' go get some food, but you'd better come down. It ain't a party without the birthday girl."
"He's absolutely right," Danny pretended to be upset with her, "and you will go down to that party, young lady, even if it means me dragging you down by force."
"I should hope there would be no dragging down by force of my daughter," a smiling Mr. Manson stepped into the room, "Though if it means that she'll make an appearance at her own party, I might make the exception."
"No problem, Mr. Manson, sir," Danny saluted as he caught Sam's arm to stand her up all the way, "I'll have her downstairs in two seconds, no sweat."
"There'd better not be any sweat," Mr. Manson smiled cheekily as he watched the teenagers blush deeply, before disappearing back through the door to supposedly head to the party downstairs.
"Well, that was awkward," Sam looked away from the boy still attached to her hand, 'Not that I mind him still being attached to my hand…or him feeling like that about me…'
Her heart sped up a bit as Danny pulled her gently towards the door, feelings of deep affection, caring, and slight protectiveness mingling in her mind, "Don't worry about it so much Sam. You look great, this is your birthday, and like Tuck said, we'll ignore the people we don't like."
Reaching the end of the hall and the top of the stairs, the pair looked down over the mingling people, many of which were too busy to even notice their arrival, "A sweet birthday for a sweet girl. Go enjoy it Sam," and he winked and gently pushed her towards the stairs.
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"Who knew Manson was so well to do?" yet another person queried, looking around themselves in astonishment, "I mean, she doesn't flaunt it or anything. I would sooooo be showing up at school in a limo everyday if I was her. What's her deal?"
"Ya' ever think that maybe she didn't want to show it off?" Valerie looked at the small group who had been gushing over the lavish mansion, receiving blank stares, "Never mind, I'm going to get some punch."
Heading over to the punch table, Valerie spotted the trio, Tucker and Danny being crazy trying to get Sam to break a smile, 'I wonder why she invited so many people? Seems like she just wants to hang out with the boys.'
"Oh, Sam dear!" a woman in a bright red dress, with lace trim and spaghetti straps, walked gracefully up to the Goth, "Aren't you just so happy that I invited everyone to your party? So much better than just two boys for guests, no offense of course."
"None taken, Mrs. M.," Tucker smiled, "We understand that you just wanted to give your little girl the best sweet sixteen ever…"
"It's fine Mom," Sam tried to smile, but it was more of a grimace, "I'm just not used to so many people…all talking about how much money I have."
"At least they aren't bothering you yet," Danny smiled, "If they start, though, I get to play bouncer. Anyone bothers you and out the door they go."
A playful wink, a gentle punch in the shoulder, and laughter all around had Mrs. Manson shaking her head and retreating and Valerie pausing in getting her drink, 'They're so carefree,' she wrinkled her forehead in consideration, 'The more I watch them, the more I wish I could be like that. If Danny really does know he's being overshadowed, why is he happy? I really don't know now.'
"Alright you," Sam looked to Tucker, "Whatever I want right?"
"Yep," Tucker laughed, "Since you're having such a horrible birthday."
"It isn't horrible, and I want some carrot sticks," she turned to Danny, "And could you possibly do me a huge favor?"
"Sure what is it?"
Valerie carefully moved herself closer to the trio, listening carefully to the rapidly quieting conversation, "I haven't seen my Dad and I wanted to talk to him before presents get started. Do you think you could find him for me?"
"No problem Sam," Danny smiled, "It's not like you're asking me to rob a bank or anything…I'll be back A.S.A.P."
Danny calmly walked away and Valerie set her cup down, following him down the hall, expecting something to happen, but nothing ever did. He found Sam's father after a few minutes of searching and brought her back to Sam. While she was thanking her father profusely for keeping her mother away from her all day and most of the evening, Valerie was again left pondering.
'Wouldn't it have been easier for him to change and just fly through everyone instead of having to work his way through the crowd?' she sat down on an empty chair, 'Either the boy doesn't take advantage of what he has all the time or he's just not that smart sometimes.'
Watching Danny try to juggle apples and finally succeeding in making Sam laugh as he dropped every piece of fruit he held, the hunter shook her head and laughed, 'I'll go with the he's not that smart sometimes…'
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
The night progressed fabulously after that; no major incidents, no mentioning of her astonishing wealth directly to her, and no ghosts. It seems that the ghosts had been nice enough to take the night off. In reality, Danny had…arranged that nothing would happen. It was all just a part of her birthday present, as far as he was concerned.
"Present time, dearest!" Sam's mother found the three of them near the massive food table that had been set up with all of Sam's favorite vegetarian treats.
"Mine first," Tucker thrust a small, badly wrapped purple package her way, "I think you'll like it."
"Thanks Tuck, but you didn't have to," but she smiled widely none-the-less and even was happy enough to give the boy a thank you hug when her unwrapping revealed a very stylish pair of earrings much like the Fenton Phones she still had in her room.
These, however, came with changeable color attachments and had tiny skull and crossbones on the very center. Very stylish in her opinion, and very cool, as they not only doubled as earphones for music or cell phone, but also had the same note as Danny's watch. They were waterproof, scratch proof, ghost proof, and could be used as a communications device.
"Always looking out for us, aren't you?" Sam smiled into Tucker's shoulder, "I love my present."
"I'm glad," Tucker chuckled as he let her go and sat her back down, "Now get to your other presents."
Vast amounts of wrapping paper and bags and boxes and tissue later, Sam was down to….to no more presents and there had been nothing from Danny, 'Either he didn't get me anything, or he's waiting to give it to me later. He tends to do the latter, so we'll just forget the former and go on with life.'
Thanking everyone for the wonderful gifts, Sam returned to just hanging out with her friends, until Maddie appeared and pulled her off to the side, "Mrs. Fenton, I didn't know you came."
"Oh, I just had to come and give you something special. It is your sweet sixteen after all," she smiled and held out a small bag, "I think you'll like this. It's nothing big, but it is a good memory…I think."
Opening the bag Sam drew out a simple cherry wood picture frame, complete with picture of her and Danny. Standing on her tiptoes and coming eye to nose with Danny, Sam seemed to be on the verge of strangling the poor boy.
She couldn't help laughing as she remembered the first time that Matches had chewed up her boots, 'Yep, I wanted to strangle him. Too bad the halfa carries around that stupid coupon book I made him…'
"I take it that you like it, as you're smiling so much," Mrs. Fenton gave the Gothic girl a quick hug and a peck on the cheek, "Happy birthday sweetheart, have a great time tonight and keep Danny out way past his curfew. I've got to run, but Jack and Jazz both send their love and happy wishes."
And she was off through the crowd to the door, but stopped when she got there to shout out over the crowd to her son, "Danny! You make sure Sam has the time of her life, and don't you dare come home before your curfew or you're in big trouble mister! Make sure she has the best night ever. Okay, love you sweetie, bye!"
People howled in laughter at the…semi-innuendo laden statements his mother had unwittingly made.
Mortified, Danny flashed a quick look over the girl in question, Tucker of course laughing all the while. Sam just laughed it all off and gave Danny a reassuring smile. His nerves were making her jumpy, but at the smile he seemed to relax and laugh it off like she had.
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
'Alright,' Danny coached himself as the party finally started to slow down and people started to clear out, 'It's just a present, nothing big, no worries. You've given her tons of presents. You gave her a present last year. You're going to give her one this year…and why am I trying to fool myself…'
"Danny?"
Aforementioned halfa just about jumped five feet in the air and turned around fighting.
"Wha! Sam," he took a deep breath to calm his nerves, "Don't do that when I'm nervous."
"I just wanted to find out why you're antsy," Sam poked his shoulder, "You've been acting a little funny since I opened presents, and I guess it has something to do with what you got me. If you got me anything that is…always gotta' put a fail-safe sentence in there, just in case you didn't."
"What? Of course I got you something…it just isn't a normal present," Danny tugged at his collar and then began to rub the back of his neck, "And as your birthday decided to be on the thirteenth of December, I'm kinda' worried that it's gonna' be too cold."
"Well, if it's outside, I can always just put on a coat," Sam bumped the tense boy, "Stop fretting and, at the risk of sounding materialistic, just give me my present already."
"Then put on your coat," Danny smiled nervously, "and meet me outside. Like I said it isn't exactly a normal present."
'Alright,' Sam hurried to get her coat, as a particularly fond feeling and nice memory came to her from Danny, 'Why in the world is Danny remembering the time with Ember? Flying…he wants to go outside…I'm going flying…'
And with a smirk, Sam headed outside to enjoy one of the coolest birthday presents ever…no pun intended.