Links in the Chain
By Lacey52

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

A note: Well, isn't this going to be fun? Wanna' see Sam's dress, hair and accessories? Go to my profile and check out the link. It's the dark red dress with the sheer black over-thingy in the upper left square. Minus the gloves and you got it.

I am so sorry for taking so long to get this up, and no matter how profusely I apologize it will never make up for my lateness! FFN hasn't been very nice to me and I've not been able to update for three days. But it's here now, and I think you'll enjoy it! I'm going to try to rot your teeth out, just so you are forewarned. Have toothbrush and floss and mouthwash? Good, you'll need it.

Oh, and Silverflare07 wrote a one-shot and dedicated it to me! It's called 'Constants' and it's really fluffy and funny! Go and read it, it's great!

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

Chapter Fifty Eight: Shin-Dig

.o.O.o.o.O.o.
'What Dreams May Come…'

The Junior Class of Casper High School formally invites you to the celebration of our Senior Class and the memorable years they have spent with us.

The formal dance begins at seven o'clock, on Saturday, May 6th.
We await your presence with bated breath and hope that you enjoy this gathering of friends.
Please RSVP by the twentieth of April and make the proper arrangements.

This year's prom is being held at the Amity Park Convention Center and is sponsored by Mr. Edward Lancer, Ms. Gillian Porter, and Mrs. Susie Finke. We look forward to your arrival and hope that this extraordinary event is everything you've dreamed of!

'Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become.' James Allen
'Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake.' Henry David Thoreau
.o.O.o.o.O.o.

'Someone is way too excited about this stupid dance for his own health,' Sam bemoaned her fate of being woken up early by emotions alone. If they were that strong, then what must the poor halfa be doing right then, 'Excited, anxious, hopeful, and a little sneaky. Never a good combination at nine in the morning.'

'I'm not ready to get up yet,' Sam moaned and then chuckled to herself, 'Why is it that he just had to start getting up earlier than me? Why don't I get to sleep until like, noon or something?'

Rolling over to her side, she slowly opened her eyes, staring at the side of one of her pillows, comfortably snuggled down beneath her blankets and sheets and comforter. She liked to sleep warm, especially since she never knew when her halfa would show up for a visit and cause the temperature to drop. Sam smirked to herself at that thought, 'Guess I finally wised up and don't have to be cold anymore.'

Sam rolled over the opposite way, and observing her alarm clock, she watched the time go from nine to nine o' one. Deciding that being awake was probably far more productive and far less boring, the girl stretched and rolled over one last time, hoping to at least get out of her morning slump before facing the day by enjoying the feel of her soft pillows

But something else had her awake and sitting up quickly, 'No wonder that stupid boy was feeling that way! He snuck into my room!'

Sitting on top of the pillow next to her, which had been fluffed and carefully placed a few inches away from her so that she wouldn't upset it, was a single red rose and two coupons from her coupon book, 'That tricky little…'

She found herself ignoring the coupons for the moment in favor of pulling the rose to her, inhaling the sweet fragrance and laughing as the petals gently brushed against her nose, reminding her of silk. Smiling down at the flower, Sam realized it was the third one she had from her best friend, 'You're a sweet one…and I'm definitely lucky to have you as my 'little more than just a friend' best friend.'

Laughing at her own strange thoughts, Sam proceeded to roll out of bed and find a place to place the beautiful gift. The bottle of water she had by her computer would do for a vase for the moment, that way no awkward questions from her parents or anyone would crop up. She could just hear it now, 'Sam, dear, how did you get a rose?' and she'd say, 'Oh well, Danny, who's half ghost by the way, snuck in my room and left it on my pillow. Wasn't that sweet of him?' and they'd say, 'Sam did you just say it was 'sweet'? Are you coming down with something?'

Okay, so maybe it wouldn't go quite like that, but she could think and laugh. Her mood was giddy and light, and no doubt it was thanks to the link. Not that she minded. Nope, she didn't mind in the least.

Finally settling down enough to pull herself away from staring at the rose, Sam began to get dressed for the day, completely forgetting for the moment about the other things on her pillow. Pulling her hair into a low ponytail, Sam was walking out the door to head to her hair and makeup appointments her mother had made her, when the blue and green spots on her bed caught her eye.

Walking back into her room and over to her bed, she picked up the two slips of paper, 'Oh haha, very funny Danny…I am never making you another coupon book, no matter how much you liked this one…'

Laying the two slips of paper on her dresser with a roll of her eyes, Sam went on her merry way, 'So, one day of no sarcasm and one day of doing whatever you want? We'll see about that ghost boy, we'll see…'

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

As soon as he felt Sam wake up and start feeling happy, Danny was pleased and had to refrain from doing a little victory dance. When she got excited and that warm feeling of adoration swept through him and she felt like she was on could nine, well…

"Danny?" his mother had walked into the living room right about then, "Why are you dancing like that? In your PJ's?"

"Heh," he had rubbed the back of his neck, then headed for the stairs with Matches hot on his heels, "No reason!"

Now he was just bumming around his room with Matches, waiting until he had to get dressed and head over to Sam's. Apparently her parents wanted them to take a limo to prom, and Danny wasn't one to argue with the Mansons, especially when he was getting to ride in a limo for free.

"Heh, I bet you want to go for a ride in a limo, huh boy?" Danny threw another pencil across the room for Matches to chase and attack. He was good at playing fetch, just not so good about not chewing the toys to death before he brought them back, "I bet Sam would let you, after all you're 'not a dog, you're an intelligent being trapped in a canine's body'…"

"Did Sam finally rub off on you that much?" Maddie smiled at the door as she watched the dog and his boy play with one another, "Next thing I'll know I'll have a converted Goth, not that there's anything wrong with that."

"Whatever Mom," Danny replied teasingly as he sat up a little straighter, "If I ever came home in black eyeliner and my clothes all dark and 'artistically' ripped you'd probably freak out."

"Well," Maddie crossed the room and ruffled her son's hair, "maybe just a little bit. But I'd get over it."

"Heh, yeah," Danny laughed as he and Matches began to play tug of war with something that dog had brought to him, "It's Dad I'd have to watch out for. He'd probably think I had been possessed or something."

'Of course,' Danny frowned slightly as he continued to pull against Matches, 'a lot of people have been making that assumption…'

"He'd get over it too," Maddie laughed lightly, then stole the cloth from between the two playmates, "Say, what's this?"

As she held it up, Danny found himself faced with a ruined, crumpled t-shirt that looked like it had been through hell and back. Blood stains and tiny rips adorned it, and really he wouldn't have given it a second look, as he always had shirts like that. He normally would just say that he had been doing something stupid that resulted in him getting slightly injured, covering for his ghost fighting and such.

The only problem was the shirt was definitely not his size, color, or shape. It was small, black and purple, and a girl's.

"Danny," his mother looked between the ruined shirt and her son, "Is there something you need to tell me honey. I know it might be embarrassing, but if you and Sam are becoming more intimate…"

"Mom!" Danny snatched the shirt away from her with a brilliant blush, thinking back on when the last time she had worn it was, "This is Sam's shirt, but we weren't doing anything. Remember that night a while back when Jazz had to drive Sam home because it was raining and we had been studying? She had gotten soaked on her way over here and changed into some of my old clothes. I guess she must have left this here on accident."

"Why's it all ripped up?" Maddie looked at the old shirt with a critical eye, "And why does it look like there's dried blood on it?"

"It's probably all ripped up because Matches likes to chew on anything that smells like Sam," Danny grinned down at the dog, thanking his lucky starts that he had at least one way to get out of it, "and maybe that isn't blood. Who knows what Matches could get into?"

Giving him the once over, his mother finally seemed appeased and stood to leave, gently brushing his hair back and kissing his forehead, "Alright mister, but you better not misbehave tonight or you're in real trouble. Now you need to call Tucker and make sure that you all know when to meet, alright?"

"Alright Mom," Danny smiled as he watched her leave his room, before he turned to quickly stuff the shirt back into his closet where Matches had probably pulled it out of, 'Oh man, that was close. I couldn't tell her that that had been the shirt Sam was wearing when Skulker beat the crap out of me. Yeah, Mom I bled all over Sam, and she was nice enough to help me home and get me cleaned up. At least the part about Matches ripping it wasn't a lie…'

Holding it a second longer, Danny let the memory was over him. It wasn't exactly what a person would call a good memory, but it wasn't meant to be. It was motivation to better himself, to keep Sam and everyone else safe. It was one of thousands of times that Sam had been there for him, no matter the danger. Shaking his head he finished placing it back in his closet and headed to the phone.

"Hey Tucker," Danny said as the boy finally answered the phone, "You know we're supposed to meet at Sam's at five right?"

"Yeah, what time is it?" the sleepy reply came. Danny smirked as he realized he must have woken the poor boy up.

"It's almost six man, we're real late," Danny put a bit of urgency into his tone, and began to laugh as he heard Tucker scrambling around on the other end of the line. The noises soon stopped however and an angry Tucker was back on the phone.

"That was not cool," he said sternly, "I can't believe you'd wake me up an hour before I have to be there!"

"Hey it's not my fault," Danny replied lightly, "Mom told me to call, and I gotta' do what Mom says."

"Yeah whatever," Tucker wanted very badly to be able to glare through the telephone at the halfa on the other end, "I'll make sure that me and Val get there on time."

"You and Val?" Danny's eyebrows shot upwards. Finally someone he could ask things, "You're going to prom together? Did you buy her flowers and stuff?"

"No and no," Tucker sighed, "We're not exactly going together. And did you buy Sam flowers?"

"Just one," Danny answered coolly, "but seriously, what about you and Valerie?"

"I told her that since we're both going stag we should go stag together, that way we didn't have to sit alone," Tucker yawned then finished his sentence, "and that way there would be no obligations to one another."

Danny, now laying back on his bed and staring at the many models of rockets that were still attached to his ceiling, smiled knowingly, "You're still buying her flowers, aren't you?"

"Duh," Tucker answered, "You don't semi-ask a girl to prom and not buy her something like that. You bought Sam something right?"

"Yep," Danny smiled, "I already told you I did, you're just trying to change the subject. You're crushin' on Valerie again aren't you?"

Silence met Danny, and he read it loud and clear. Tucker had been one of his best friends for years. His silence on the matter spoke louder than anything he could have said, with the possible exception of him confessing his deepest feelings for the girl, "Tucker just admit it."

"Only if you admit that you like Sam," the answering ultimatum came quickly. Danny just smirked.

"Alright, I like Sam," he turned so her could play with Matches again, "Your turn."

"You actually admitted it?" Tucker sounded shocked, and Danny was just happy that he wasn't in the same room as he had a rather brilliant blush, "Who're you trying to play? What're you getting out of this little evil game?"

"No game," Danny answered coolly, all the time focusing on keeping his person completely intact. Sam's happy, floating feelings were helping slightly, but he still had to concentrate, "Sam's a cool person, one of my best friend, and I like her a lot."

"Not 'like' Danny," Tucker chided lightly with a smile, thinking he had gained the upper hand, "Like, like."

"Yeah, okay," Danny took a deep breath. What was the point in hiding it anymore when everyone already seemed to know? He almost started laughing at how nervous he was just saying it, "I like, like Sam. Now you."

"I can't believe this…" but Tucker trailed off, leaving Danny slightly frustrated at his reaction and the teasing he knew was soon to come.

"Oh come on and say it," Danny pushed right back with his verbal demand at confession. They had made an unspoken agreement to do so after all.

"Alright, alright," Tucker said laughingly, "So I'm crushin' on Valerie again? You're not gonna' go all ballistic on me are you?"

"I knew it!" Danny crowed in triumph, "Dude, this is the first time I've ever guessed right on something like this. This is awesome!"

"Shut up."

"You're taking her to prom! You've got it bad for her and she thinks you're going stag together. Dude, Tuck, you're tricking her into a date!"

"Shut up…"

"You like her…you like Val and she's going on a date and doesn't even know it…"

"Point established, noted, and taken," Tucker huffed to himself as he started to get up and lay out his suit for the evening, "Now shut up."

"Yeah right," Danny started laughing at his friend's behavior, "After all the hell you put me and Sam through? I don't think so."

"Hey, I'll see ya' at Sam's," Tucker chuckled wryly with his friend, "I gotta' be lookin' the best for the ladies, and that means I gotta' start getting ready."

"Yeah, I'll see ya'," Danny echoed up, "Make sure you tell Valerie before she figures out what you're pulling and tries to kill you!"

"Shut up!"

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

At five o'clock on the dot, Danny shifted nervously on the doorstep of the Manson's mansion, the very first time he had ever been nervous about entering the home his best friend lived in, and certainly the first time he had ever pressed the doorbell and be met by the Mansons themselves.

"Well, hello Daniel," Mr. Manson greeted him congenially, Mrs. Manson at his side and camera in hand.

"Hello Mr. Manson, Mrs. Manson," Danny shook the man's hand as he entered the home and the older man shut the door behind him. Mrs. Manson was critically looking over his choice of wardrobe and seemed marginally pleased with what he was wearing, "I'm not late am I? Tucker and Valerie aren't here yet…"

"No, you're right on time," Mr. Manson gave him a nod with his reply, "You're punctuality is a plus, son."

"Um, thank you, sir," Danny wasn't quite sure how to react to the sudden scrutiny that he was under. Not that the Mansons hadn't been judicious of him before, but it was quite different this time. This time he actually had something to prove, "Is Sam ready?"

"Not quite yet," Mrs. Manson answered airily, "Women always keep their dates waiting a few seconds, don't they Jeremy? You will surely live with our company for a few minutes, won't you?"

"Pam, let's not hassle him too much," Mr. Manson addressed his wife gently, then turned to smile at the tense young man beside him, "Though I must tell you that if you so much as breath at Samantha the wrong way your life will be hell."

The sentence and the smile on Sam's father's face didn't quite line up and made Danny want to sink into the floor, "Yes, sir."

"There will be no sex, no drugs, no alcohol, none of that vulgar dancing children seem to enjoy," Mrs. Manson waved her finger threateningly in his face, "no 'necking' or whatever you call it these days, no kissing, no touching, and a personal space of at least three feet will be maintained…"

"Pam dear," Mr. Manson chuckled at his wife, "I do believe the poor boy has gotten the point, or at least he had better."

The look sent his way had Danny ready to bolt, until Sam's voice reached them all, "Mom, Dad! Quit double teaming my experimental date!"

At her voice and the feelings rushing through him, Danny spun to face the stair case and found Sam's face immediately. Tingles ran all over his body and as he concentrated on keeping every part of his being intact, the only thing he could coherently manage at that moment in time was, "Wow."

"Lovely," Jeremy beamed at his daughter, her long dress gently swinging around her ankles as she came to a stop halfway down the stairs. Her eyes, like Danny's, were glued on her date for the night, and definitely liking what she found.

"Oh Samantha," her mother beamed, the camera lowering after the first dozen shots or so, "I was so worried when you told me it was black and a dark red, but this is just…wonderful!"

Danny just nodded his agreement, much to the amusement of both her parents. He quickly snapped out of it, though, as Pam Manson resumed her photo taking and snapped one of his love-struck face, "Gah! I'm blind!"

"Oh thanks," Sam crossed her arms and sent a fake glare his way, along with a smallwave of humor, "See me and go blind, don't I feel pretty…"

"Not you!" Danny rubbed his eyes to clear his vision as the door opened.

"Not who?" Tucker let Valerie walk in before him, smiling at the interesting line of conversation that they had walked in on.

"You," Valerie stated teasingly, "It's all your fault anyways."

"Me?" Tucker shot back overdramatically, "Me?"

"Him?" Danny turned a questioning eye up to Sam, then began to smile goofily as he took in the sight of her on the stairs again.

"No," Sam corrected, a smirk on her face, "Me, remember?"

"Yep," Ticker replied, looking from the awed Danny up to Sam with a wink, "definitely you."

"If I might interrupt your, uh, conversation," Jeremy Manson didn't know quite what to make of what had been taking place between the teens, "The limo is ready for you."

"You all behave," Pam saw Tucker and Valerie out the door, talking all the while, "And have fun, of course!"

As Danny waited for Sam to come the rest of the way down the stairs, he couldn't get over how good she looked, "You look, really…uh, really…"

"Thanks," Sam blushed, feeling several emotions run over her like a caress, "but you don't have to…"

But Sam never finished her sentence as Danny caught her left hand and pulled her closer, slipping a corsage over her hand and onto her wrist. The two red rosebuds were surrounded by small white flowers, covering only the back of her wrist and sending a lovely whiff of flower fragrance to her, "You look beautiful Sam."

"Uh, thanks," she smiled and made his stomach flip, "You look very handsome yourself. And don't worry, I found the coupons this morning so I'm not being sarcastic."

"Don't take those the wrong way," Danny smiled nervously as he turned towards the door with her to get to where the others were waiting outside, "I just wanted insurance that I'd get to dance sometime tonight."

Danny found himself grabbed roughly by the lapel of his jacket right before he reached the door, and Sam pulled him back and away from the window, much to his surprise and pleasure, "I just don't want Mom taking thousands of pictures while I try to put this on you."

Gently lifting the edge of his jacket, Sam pinned his boutonniere and smiled as she moved back to observe it, "Oh that's just too perfect. Mom's going to blow her top over this one, you clean up good Danny."

"Yeah, thanks," Danny blushed again and felt his leg start to disappear, "Crap."

Sam reached over and touched Danny's arm and immediately he regained control, "Are you okay?"

"I guess I'm just not used to getting compliments," he blushed again and rubbed the back of his neck, "As weird as it sounds, it helps when you, uh, touch me…"

"No touching!" Pam's voice had Danny and Sam both nearly jumping out of their skin, Danny immediately moving Sam behind him to better protect her from whatever had made the unearthly screech. He was rightfully embarrassed as Mrs. Manson threw open the door with a peeved look and pulled them outside for pictures.

Pictures taken, and teasing started by Tucker and Valerie about the 'no touching' comment, the teens were loaded into the limo and on their way. Pam and Jeremy stood outside of their home, smiling as they watched the vehicle turn the corner and drive off. It was surely going to be a night to remember.

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

"Are you sure you're ready? 'Cause if you're not ready, we don't have to go in and we'll just…Mph?"

"Danny," Sam took her hand off of the nervously chattering halfa's mouth, "I'm fine. It's an experimental date to freak people out, I already know they're going to be talking about us. It's you that I'm worried about not being ready."

"I'm cool," Danny huffed as he helped her out of the limousine, "What makes you think I'm not?"

"How 'bout the fact that you've been talkin' the entire ride?" Valerie crossed her arms as she watched Danny and Sam stand, "Or how about you talked all the way through dinner about absolutely everything except the prom?"

"Or it could be the fact that you look like you're sweatin' bullets," Tucker leaned casually against the side of the elongated car, "Man, I got to ride in a limo, this is so awesome."

"Well," Sam took a deep breath, then nudged Danny with her shoulder, "Let's do this."

"Right," Danny smiled down at her, "Let's go then."

Walking behind them, Valerie nodded to Tucker, pointing out that Sam had slipped her hand into his, and both were trying their hardest to not blush. Well, Sam was trying not to blush and Danny was trying to not loose his pants…or worse his head again…

"Well, Mr. Fenton and Ms. Manson," Edward Lancer smiled at the pair as they checked in, "Nice to see the two of you this evening. You look very nice Ms. Manson, I'm sure Mr. Fenton was pleased to see you."

"Thanks Mr. Lancer," Sam blushed as he took her ticket and Danny's, "We'd better get going so we can take some pictures."

"See ya'!" Danny called back happily as Sam dragged him towards the picture line.

"Well, Mr. Foley, Ms. Grey," Mr. Lancer's smile widened, "What a pleasant surprise this evening, I didn't realize the two of you decided to come together."

"We originally didn't," Valerie shot Tucker a glare, "I was tricked into 'going stag, together' with the geek."

"Hey," Tucker smirked as he signed them both in, "You're the one who agreed to go stag with the geek. See ya' around Mr. Lancer."

"Have a wonderful evening," Mr. Lancer smiled, before he frowned and turned back to the pair, "And no fighting or teasing!"

"Sure, Mr. Lancer," Tucker smiled puckishly as he led Valerie into the main room, "Whatever you say!"

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

"Well, would you look at that," Valerie smiled from the table she and Tucker had chosen, "They finally got done with their pictures. They look like old pros at this."

"Yep," Tucker smiled, "They've only been secretly dating for like ten years…they've been so secretive about it, they've even kept it secret from themselves."

Indeed, both Danny and Sam had entered with their eyes only on one another, acting as though they had been dating for years. Sam had tugged the tall young man to a stop to smile and fix his always mussed hair, and he in turn leaned down and whispered his thanks as the music was blaring so loudly.

"At least they look happy," Valerie smiled to herself as she watched the pair approach.

As Danny pulled Sam's chair out, the girl was just bursting with happiness, and that in turn made Danny want to do more and make this night more than perfect, 'She's so content right now, like this is all she wants…'

The pair chatted with Tucker and Valerie, watching as the last few people walked in with their dates or alone and migrated between tables, the snack bar, and the dance floor. Several glances had already been sent their way, as several people had taken in Danny and Sam's proximity and the rumor that had been flying around school that they were going to prom together.

The pair had neither confirmed nor denied the rumors and it made for a splendid debate amongst all the students. Were they or weren't they? Well, it was definitely answered as soon as Danny stood up and grabbed Sam's hand, tugging her towards the dance floor with a boyish grin and a happy light in his blue eyes.

"No, I don't want to dance," Sam was protesting even as she walked with him past the tables, "Danny…"

"Hey, I used the coupon," Danny kept pulling her towards the floor, "I get to dance if I want to."

"Well that's one way to do it," Kwan laughed as he grabbed Stars hand, "Come on, let's dance, Danny and Sam are!"

"Wait, Kwan, I'm not done with my lipstick!"

"You're lips look fine to me," Kwan smiled, "Now let's go, I'm not about to let the lovebirds out do us."

Soon enough the dance floor was filled with people, doing all sorts of dances from the Electric Slide to the Boot Scootin' Boogie to the Cotton Eyed Joe to Cumbias. Danny and Sam danced to them all, whether they really could dance to them or not.

Dash watched them as his date, the lovely Paulina whom he had been trying to get to go out with him for years, re-applied her lipstick, and smiled to himself wishfully, 'They're having fun at least, I'm stuck with the queen who only wants to dance to the 'right' music…'

"What are you seeing that's more interesting than me?" Paulina playfully leaned forward into his line of vision.

"Just watching Fenton and Manson," he said with a smirk, "I never thought they'd actually get together. How much money did you lose tonight because they hooked up?"

"Oh," Paulina inspected her nails, "Only about a hundred and eighty dollars. I didn't make that many bets on them."

"Yeah, I lost some to Foley," Dash grimaced slightly, then shrugged, "but I got ten back from you. Not a total loss I guess."

As Dash stood by his date beside the food table, Danny and Sam were laughing and having the time of their lives watching the people watch them.

"So experimental date," Sam stopped dancing to catch her breath and started to head for the food table, "Care to take a break and laugh at the people who's mouths are still hanging open from us coming together?"

"Sure thing," Danny smiled happily, more than a little pleased and proud that he was the one with Sam, making her feel all those emotions, "Want some punch?"

"Yeah," she grinned back at him, "I'll meet you back at the table…"

Danny started away, then stopped awkwardly to whirl around and look at Sam. She was standing just where he left her, but looking highly amused about something. The amusement was a clear, bright feeling that was common, and Danny knew it well. What had caught his attention was the other feeling. It was warm, affectionate, caring…and loving. And it had been directed at a thought of him speaking to her that had accidentally pierced through his mind.

Sam turned around then as she felt his emotions mix and her breath caught in her throat. He was looking at her so openly, with astonishment about something and feeling so deliciously nervous and happy and so much more, 'I guess he likes me dressed up like this.'

Sam blushed, smiled and gave her halfa a small wave, which seemed to wake him from whatever dream world he had went into. The teen smiled and waved back before turning on his heel and heading for the table. Tucker and Valerie, from their spot on the dance floor, began grinning like mad.

'She likes me, I know that,' Danny struggled with his thoughts as he poured punch into two cups, 'but if she loves me…what do I do? Am I supposed to say something or do I wait for her to say it? Does she want me to say it…and if she loves me and hasn't told me, does that mean she doesn't want me to know? What if I'm wrong? Don't think about it now or you'll phase out...figure it out later, tonight's just about hanging out with Sam.'

Walking back over, Danny handed off the punch and began to absently pick at the fruit on Sam's plate, "Hey, get your own!"

A tiny slap that didn't hurt at all to the back of his hand had Danny back in the world of the lucid and grinning like a fool as he stole another slice of pineapple from her plate and held her back from hitting him on the head, "Gotta' share Sam, it's polite. Besides, this is a day of what I want to do, and if I want to steal fruit off of your plate, then I get to."

Sam bit her tongue from making a sarcastic remark, remembering her promise to honor the coupons and then cursing herself for ever doing such a thing. What the hell had possessed her to give him that dumb book in the first place?

'Right,' Sam wryly thought with a grin as she play fought with her halfa over the last piece of watermelon, 'I love the idiot…stupid feelings making you do stupid things…Ooo he missed a strawberry.'

Just as Danny reached for the fruit, Sam popped it into her mouth with an evil grin, "Hey I wanted that!"

"What are you going to do about it?" Sam asked coyly with a raised eyebrow, 'Egad, I can't believe I just said that! Choke me now, I'm turning into Paulina!'

"I might just have to take it back," Danny's eyes lit up, a fiendish grin on his face.

Leaning in a little closer, Sam swore that time was slowing down and was half tempted to look around for Clockwork. Danny's face in front of her own, however, was by far the biggest concern of hers right then, as he continued to move closer. It seemed as though several people in the room were holding their breath as they watched the pair move closer together. With the exception of the blaring music, a pin could have dropped and been heard.

"What're you two up to?"

Several people had the urge to scream and run over to beat the girl who had just sat down at the table extremely close to Danny.

"We were enjoying prom," Sam stated coldly, turning away and feeling both her and Danny's anger start to rise, "This table is full Sarah, find somewhere else to sit."

"I just wanted to say hello to Danny here," Sarah turned her full attention to him, "You're looking handsome tonight in that tux."

"Thanks," Danny replied brusquely, turning more towards Sam and trying to ignore the girl beside him, "Where's your date?"

"Oh he's over with the guys, doing that stupid new dance that the team so seems to love," Sarah glanced around her and noticed that Valerie Grey was directly behind her, "Oh hi Val."

"Don't 'Hi Val,' me," she crossed her arms as Tucker backed away slightly. He didn't make it through his life with Danny and Sam as his best friends without recognizing when someone was seriously getting pissed off, "You're in my chair."

"Oh is this your chair?" Sarah replied as she stood, sweetly smiling at all of them, "I didn't realize that this was a loser only table. I'll have to leave now so you can get back to your pathetic nerd party."

As Sarah sashayed her way to the dance floor to find her date, Tucker and Valerie plopped down in their chairs, thankful that they had made it in time to diffuse a particularly tense, not to mention dangerous, situation. A hint of green was still present in Danny's eyes, even as Sam smiled tightly at everyone at the table, "So the dance is almost over right? They already announced prom king and queen, and did the Senior's song."

"Yeah," Danny stood up, "I'm gonna' head into the hall though for a minute. I need some air."

Dannyleft and Sam stood and grabbed her things to follow, "Can you come get us when it's time to leave?"

"No problem," Tucker smiled, "Just don't do anything that'll make you two blush when we come."

"Shut up Tuck," Sam blushed and moved towards the hall.

"I could seriously kill Sarah right now," Valerie huffed, even as Tucker extended his hand to ask for the last dance.

"You and about half the people in the room," Tucker looked around and laughed, then smiled at her, "So we gonna' dance or what?"

"Fine, but keep your hands where I can see them," Valerie growled out, then grinned, "Just because I'm at prom doesn't mean I'm not packin'."

Tucker just gulped and moved them both to the floor.

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

"Danny?" Sam looked around the entryway, sighting nearly all of the teachers already standing by the doorways to tell the kids goodnight as they left.

"I'm here," a sigh came from behind the open doors. There was just enough room for Danny to have squeezed in to hide, "Sorry I walked out on you back there. I just had to get away before I got too upset and did something I'd regret."

"Don't know if it'd be that bad," Sam smiled wickedly as she pulled him out of hiding, "if it had something to do with getting rid of Sarah."

A humorless chuckle escaped Danny as he shyly smiled and rubbed the back of his neck at hearing the last slow song of the evening being announced, "Hey, you uh, you wanna' dance this last one?"

"Here?" Sam asked in puzzlement, looking around the semi-empty hallway.

"Why not?" Danny moved forward and wrapped his arms around her and began to sway side to side, "It's just dancing with your best friend."

"I guess," Sam laughed happily at Danny's teasing tone as she wrapped her arms around his neck, both relaxing as they spent a peaceful moment alone, "Did you have a good time?"

"Yep, I sure did," Danny nodded enthusiastically, making his hair bounce over his eyes and Sam laugh, "You did too, right?"

"Best dance I've ever been to," she grinned up at him then, leaning in a little more to rest against him as they slowly rocked side to side, "Much better than a mosh pit."

"Don't remind me," Danny looked up for a moment at the memory, then leaned his head to rest on Sam's, "We've been through a hell of a lot, huh?"

"Mr. Fenton," one of the chaperones intoned menacingly.

"Uh, sorry," he blushed, "We've been through a heck of a lot, better?"

At the teacher's nod, they both separated a little and laughed, Danny enjoying the view of Sam's dark, beautiful eyes, sparkling with her feelings. He was caught in the moment, didn't think of the teachers around them, didn't think of the other people beginning to file out, he only thought about Sam…and her really good looking lips.

'I wonder how she tastes,' he thought tipsily as he leaned in a little closer.

'Wonder if he tastes as good as he smells,' Sam too was feeling a bit giddy at their proximity.

Indeed, they would have continued leaning in and discovered the answers to their pondering, had Tucker and Valerie not come out of the main room, and had them blushing and stuttering with a loud "Ahem."

"You told us to come and get you," Tucker grinned as he watched the pair blush, "And I told you to not do anything that would make you blush."

"We were just dancing," they both replied hurriedly, blushing even deeper as the teachers in the entryway began to laugh and gently tease about how much dancing looked like getting ready to kiss.

"Uh huh," Valerie grinned as the chaperones told their version of what had happened, "Sounds like you got busted."

Sam was all geared up to give a witty retort when Dash came around the corner and joined them as well, "So are you coming?"

"Coming where?" the halfa asked in confusion, trying to reduce his blushing any way he could.

"Dash is having an after party at his house," Tucker smiled broadly, "And we actually got invited."

"We got invited to an after party?" Sam stated, then rolled her eyes, "Well, amen, we're finally popular. Woohoo."

"Uh, uh, uh," Danny waved his finger in Sam's face, mocking what her mother had earlier done, "I gave you a coupon…"

"It only applies to the day you give it to me," Sam beamed at the loophole she had found as she grabbed Danny's watch and looked at it meaningfully, "It's already one o'clock in the morning. A new day has dawned and I am no longer restricted from being sarcastic."

Sam stuck out her tongue, Danny pouted, Tucker and Valerie started laughing, and Dash just shook his head, knowing enough about his friends to realize that the answer to his question had been a yes, "I don't even want to know and I'll see you guys there. Pick up some chips before you come."

"Whatever you say your highness," Sam frowned playfully, then turned to the others, "Well let's go before the urge for me to be even more sarcastic crops up. I've been holding it in all day and plan to make up for lost time."

"Well," Tucker smiled, "we're going to the right place then. Plenty of people for you to make fun of there."

They laughed and headed for the limo, parked right outside the convention center. It had been a great night so far, and as far as Danny and Sam were concerned it could only get better with a kiss. Mr. Murphy would have laughed if he was a real person. It wasn't going to be that easy for the lovebirds…then again, nothing worth having ever was.

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

The after party was in full swing by the time Sam's limousine pulled up and let them out. The trip to the super market to pick up the chips Dash requested had taken a bit of time and explaining as they were dressed so nicely. In truth, they had had a blast running through the aisles with their fancy clothes on, earning strange looks from the late night customers and staff.

They all figured they'd have to try it again next year when they were Seniors.

Dancing, eating, karaoke, laughing, Twister, and a few unauthorized beverages seemed to be the order of the night as the crème de la crème of Casper High enjoyed Dash's luxurious home. His parents had opted to take a weekend on vacation so he could have the house, not quite knowing what their son's party would become.

"This is awesome!" some one shouted over the music as the quartet of friends entered, "Turn the music up louder! I'm gonna' try jumping from the stairs to the chandelier!"

A rousing chorus of voices saying things like 'Rock on!' or 'Do it!' or other such nonsense had them looking up as the poor, disillusioned boy made his attempt and failed miserably.

"Oooo," Tucker and Danny, as well as the rest of the male population, groaned as the teen landed on the back of the couch, straddling it and squeaking out high pitched, incomprehensible gibberish. The females all cringed appropriately on behalf of the males they were with. A few even tried to comfort them in various ways...it definitely worked.

Another song came on and Valerie dragged Sam onto the dance floor to dance to the upbeat, choreographed song that everyone knew, "I haven't heard the Macarena in ages!"

"There's a reason for that," Sam stated, even as she danced and laughed along with everyone else, "You two get your butts over here, we are not dancing for your pleasure."

Tucker and Danny both blushed and moved into the dance with their friends, everyone laughing at Sam's remark and the teen's reactions. The song ended far too soon, or not soon enough according to Sam, and a slower one came on.

"Guess that last one wasn't the last slow song of the evening?" Sam grinned happily as Danny pulled her into the slow dance.

"Nah," he tried to play cool, and actually did pretty well for once, "That was the last slow song of the prom. This is completely different."

"Whatever you say," Sam grinned then messed up his hair, "experimental date."

"Hey," he caught her hand and put it back around his neck, "Hand goes there. Not that I'm picky about my hair or anything."

"I know you're not," Sam leaned against him again, listening to his heartbeat then blushing as it sped up a bit.

"Sam?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I, uh…" Danny leaned in, but couldn't finish as some guy ran by drunkenly and knocked into them the wall, "Jerk!"

Sam grabbed Danny's face to pull it back around to face her, his green, glowing eyes marking his presence brightly in the darkened house, "Calm down, it's no big deal alright?"

"Sorry," he said sheepishly as the green faded into familiar, caring blue, "You alright?"

"I'm fine," Sam smiled as he pulled her away from the wall, "Want to play Twister?"

"You used to hate Twister," Tucker said as he and Valerie dance by them, "Decide you like it now that you've got your 'experimental date' to have fun with?"

"I think I just won my twenty you two," Valerie laughed as she moved one hand from behind Tucker's neck and held it palm up towards them, "Now pay up or I'll collect it tomorrow!"

"No money," Sam said in a sing song manner, "Gotta' go, sorry Valerie."

Danny just smiled in amusement at the laughing Tucker and Valerie as he was dragged off, 'I can admit it...Valerie won, but I think that means I won too!'

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

It was four o'clock in the morning when the limo pulled into Sam's driveway and let her and Danny out, having already dropped Tucker and Valerie off at their respective homes. The front porch light was on and shining brightly, waiting for Sam's arrival home before it would be shut off by her waiting parents.

Danny nervously brushed Sam's hand with his own, asking silently for permission to hold it as he walked her to the door. Smiling to herself, Sam slipped her hand within his own larger palm, 'He really can be a gentleman when he wants to. He opened doors, pulled out chairs, always asks in his own special way before he does things.'

As the girl next to him giggled, Danny sent her a confused smile, trying to figure out the interesting mix of emotions. There were far too many to sort out and the halfa was extremely tired from the night of partying, 'Well, this is it. Walk her to the door, tell her goodnight, and give her a kiss. If she likes it, she kisses you back and everything's good. If she doesn't…well, I guess I'll improvise or something…'

"I'm glad that you agreed to be my experimental date," Danny chuckled as they climbed the porch's steps and stood in front of her door, "I had a really good time with you tonight, Sam."

"Promise you'll keep your pants up, Danny," Sam started to lean in to hug him, a shy smile on her face as he wrapped his arms around her as well, contently resting his head atop her own.

"I wore suspenders just for you Sam," Danny joked back, remembering the first time they had ever danced together. He loved that memory of holding Sam, and now that he had the real thing he wanted to make an even better one.

Leaning back, Danny caught her chin to pull up her face and see her eyes. A smile split his face at her slight surprise and the hope that was beginning to build in the back of her mind. Just as he started to lean down for his first good-night kiss with Sam, a flash blinded him, making him pull Sam behind his back instinctually for the second time that day as he turned to find the source.

"Oh," Mrs. Manson looked caught between smiling and frowning, "That just made such a sweet picture, though you shouldn't have been kissing!"

Behind her Mr. Manson raised his eyebrow as he did his best to not laugh at the face that they had both made. The best thing about it all, in his opinion, was Danny's reaction, 'The boy looked positively ready to fight whatever had startled them. Good reactions, protected my daughter…he's a fine boy, just a little rough around the edges…we'll have to see about this.'

"Mom!" Samsaid indignately, her rant about to begin in it's full glory, "I can't believe you did that, we did not kiss!"

"Heh," Danny smiled at her parents, then down at Sam herself as he backed away slightly, fearing that her wrath would be directed his way next, "I guess I had better get going, it's really late…er, early I mean."

Danny grabbed Sam's hand then, and in what could have been the bravest moment of his life, kissed it gently and smiled up at the now silent, and quite shocked, Sam, "Night, Sam. I had a great time."

"Yeah," Sam said slowly, her eyebrows still high on her forehead in surprise, "I did too, thank you for everything."

"No problem," he leaned forward and pecked her on her cheek, before remembering her parents' presence and promptly blushing, "See ya' around!"

Sam could only smile as she was pulled inside, lectured up and down for letting 'that Fenton boy' kiss her by her mother, and made to blush multiple times by her father's comments. Nothing really was phasing her right then though, as she was lost in her own little dream world, 'No wonder that was the theme for prom…as corny as it sounds, I like it when they come true sometimes…as long as they aren't nightmares. Nightmares would be bad.'

Laughing to herself as her parents finally finished 'talking' to her, Sam drifted up her stairs, fully content with the evening, 'It couldn't get any better.'

For once, Sam had managed to jinx herself, but unlike her unlucky halfa, Sam seemed to jinx herself in a very good way.

.o.O.o.o.O.o.

Sam quietly opened the door to her room and lightly stepped in, bending over for a second to take off her high heeled shoes and enjoy the soft carpet beneath her sore feet. Looking back up,she froze, her thoughts running a thousand miles a minute and her emotions running rampant.

A pair of luminescent green eyes met her gaze from her window, as a white haired young man melted slowly into view with a nervous grin on his face, and a hopeful feeling brushing over her mind, "I hope I ain't in trouble for showing up like this or anything…"

"You'd show up anyways," Sam remarked as she moved to sit by him on the window sill, happily watching as white changed to black and green faded to soft blue, "Not like I could stop you."

"Yeah you could," Danny shrugged and looked down, "All you'd have to do is tell me to stop and I would. You know that…I'm too afraid of your boots to not listen to ya'."

"Whatever," Sam rolled her eyes as she leaned against the still dressed up Danny, "You really do look good in that tux by the way."

"Yeah?" Danny turned and smiled, "You look great in that dress. I really like that choker."

"Thanks," she reached up to toy with the item, only to find her hand in Danny's for the millionth time that night.

"Sam…can I…" he leaned in closer, gently tugging her forward by her hand as he nervously licked his lips, "Can I kiss you?"

A shy smile bloomed on Sam's face as the moonlight played over Danny's features, "I'd like that."

Carefully he leaned down, paused for a half a second to send a prayer to heaven that for once things would go his way, and then lips met lips. It was sweet and gentle and just long enough, everything that a true first kiss should be. It wasn't hurried or unexpected like the fake-out, make-outs were. It wasn't too fast or too slow, too hard or too soft. No, in a word it was perfect.

'I'd even go so far as to call it impeccable or immaculate…' Sam thought dizzily to herself as Danny's lips left her own, his unique flavor lingering and such strong feelings washing over her as he held her.

"Wow," Danny grinned goofily, "Heh, wow…"

"Yeah," Sam agreed, her smile just as silly as the halfa's, who was still holding onto her, "wow…"

They sat for a moment in silence, not thinking anything at all as they just felt. There was so much to feel, and neither could even begin to imagine a better place to be at that moment as they exchanged shy smiles and glances.

Footsteps on the stairs finally broke the ambiance of the moment they had created, and Sam quickly stood, a light pink staining her cheeks. Danny stood as well, shifting his weight from foot to foot, even as he started to unconsciously float.

"Guess I had better get going," he smiled brightly, "My parents are gonna' skin me alive for being out so late."

Sam laughed, "I already got read the riot act, but Mom and Dad were fine. Thanks for making this the perfect night, Danny. I really had a good time…and well," but she had to trail off as she leaned up and kissed his cheek, "Just thanks."

"No problem," Danny said, his tone indicating that he wasn't all there at the moment as he drifted through her wall, "Night Sam…"

"Night," she smiled as she watched him land on the sidewalk and start to walk towards home, "Daniel Fenton you are one heck of a charmer…"

The halfa, Sam observed, must have been just as happy as she. Danny was walking home, alright, but there was one minor problem, 'His feet aren't touching the ground…God, I love that boy…'

Sam did a very girlish thing then, as she spun around to land on her bed, hugging her pillow to her chest. Sighing happily, she fell backwards, thinking over every, perfect detail of a very perfect night, her own feelings being echoed and increased by Danny's giddy happiness, 'This was the best night ever. Period.'

Danny, if he had been asked at that moment, would only have agreed as he continued his 'walk' home, an unmovable smile plastered on his face, 'Best night ever! Sam, I so love you…'