Warning, shameless, shameless fluff ahead. Oh dear me. Well at least half this chapter, but that's because I'm in the need for a little bit of fluffage. Even the most cynical heart can use a LITTLE fluff now again, but really this is some major fluff. But as promised there are more exciting prospects on the horizon.

I am sending love you those of you who are so sweet and tender, so kind and dear to review. You are my inspiration, my shining beacon in the dark wasteland of my life and I love you with all the soles of my shoes.

Chapter Twelve

Danny said nothing as he watched Jazz and Tucker slip out the door. He smiled slightly then turned back to Valerie.

"You're still having ghost trouble?" he asked.

Valerie shrugged her shoulders. "It's not like when we were kids," she answered. "They all seem to be peaceful. Maybe now that the ring isn't on Sam's finger things will quiet down."

"Who were you having trouble with?" Danny asked as he lead her to a bench and sat down beside her.

"I think it could have been Youngblood," Valerie answered as she looked past Danny to Sam who had been watching for a moment but turned away quickly when Valerie looked up. She smiled. "I never saw him, just heard his evil little cackling laughter. Your fiancée is very jealous." Valerie remarked.

"Good," Danny said. "Maybe I can get her to open up to me. She's been a little odd lately. Too much pressure. Too much worry." A hurt look entered Danny's eyes. "She talks to Tucker though."

"A little jealous are we?" Valerie teased.

"A lot jealous," Danny agreed very seriously.

"Good," Valerie said as she placed her hand on Danny's. "Jealousy can be good sometimes." Danny laughed and looked for Sam. She was no where in sight and he frowned.

"She's behind that sculpture over there," Valerie laughed and Danny relaxed.

"I should go talk to her," Danny said. "I think we've tortured her enough."

"I agree," Valerie said as she stood. "If you ever need me to come to the rescue again…"

"You might want to take those words back," Danny warned. "Things may have been quiet for the last few years but…"

"I mean it," Valerie said as she put her hand on the side of Danny's face and looked into his eyes. "I have a lot to make up for where you're concerned. If you ever need my help all you have to do is ask and I'm there." She kissed his cheek. "I'll keep you updated on my ghost situation."

"Thank you Val," Danny said. Valerie winked at him then looked around for Sam. She caught the Goth girl's eye then waved and walked out of the gallery. Danny watched her go for a moment then walked toward Sam.

"I'm not talking to you right now," Sam said shortly as she turned away from him.

"That's okay," Danny said. "At least you still have your finger."

Sam sighed and looked at Danny for a moment. "Maybe, but I think I'd rather…" she started to say but Danny stopped her.

"Don't even say it," he warned. "It's better to keep your finger and I'm not going to let you change your mind and refuse to marry me."

Sam tried to stay angry at Danny but the earnestness in his eyes as they met hers, turned her heart. "Well there is no ring. No ring. No engagement."

"Oh yeah?" Danny asked his eyes began to gleam mischievously.

"Yeah," Sam answered "Which means I'm free to take back my yes."

"Do you really want to?" Danny teased.

"No," Sam said honestly, "But maybe it would make live less complicated if we just went back to the way things were."

Danny shook his head. "Sorry my Sam. No can do." He walked her over to one of the nearby benches and sat her down. He got down on one knee and looked into her eyes.

"Don't you dare," Sam warned. "I'm serious Danny you're going to really make me mad." Danny only grinned at her and held up a black box.

"Will you marry me Sam?" he asked. Sam looked at the box he held in his hand and took it carefully. She opened it up then gasped. It wasn't a grand big diamond ring, and it wasn't the cursed ring, but it was beautiful all the same. It was a platinum gold band set with an amethyst, the color of Sam's eyes.

"You suck," Sam said trying not to smile.

"You're welcome," Danny replied as he took the ring out of the box and slipped it on her finger. "I'm sorry it's not engraved but well the notice was a little short."

Sam only shook her head as she looked at her finger. "I haven't said yes yet."

"But you will," Danny told her. "Just wear the ring for awhile and see if it grows on you."

Sam narrowed her eyes. "You know what Danny? That isn't even funny." Danny only smiled back at her.

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Three AM on the dot, just as Tucker predicted. Sam was knocking on the Techno Geek's bedroom door. He always, always answered. Always. Even when he didn't want to. But, there was no answer. Sam frowned as she knocked again, only louder this time.

Danny heard and stirred and walked to his door and listed to Sam whispering for Tucker to wake up. He considered opening his own door and pulling her into his room, only well…it was better he didn't. Sam's knocking turned frantic and Danny frowned worriedly. He walked to the wall and phased his head through and looked into Tucker's empty room. At the moment he wasn't sure if he should be worried or not.

"Sam," Danny called from his room as he opened his door. She paused at Tucker's door and frowned.

"I'm sorry," She finally said. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"He's not in there," Danny said as he pointed his thumb at Tucker's room.

"What?" Sam asked. She turned the knob, opened the door and was confronted with an empty room. Sam took several deep breaths to keep back the sob of dismay which began bubbling up her throat.

Sam turned to Danny. "Where is he?" she asked trying not to sound frantic.

Danny folded his arms across his chest. "I have an idea," he said shortly.

Sam took a deep breath then smiled wryly. "And that upsets you?" Danny shrugged.

Sam looked toward Tucker's door and sighed. "I guess I'll go back to bed."

Danny grabbed her arm. "Why don't you talk to me instead?" he offered.

Sam gave Danny a thoughtful look then walked down the hall to the kitchen. Danny followed her and watched as she filled a glass of water. She offered him the glass and he smiled and took a sip.

"Talk to me Sam," Danny said as he put the glass on the cabinet.

Sam turned her back to Danny. "You planned that whole thing with Valerie didn't you?" she asked.

"Sort of," Danny answered. "Yes."

"Are you going to kill Tucker?"

"Probably," Danny answered.

Sam laughed as she sat down at the table and looked at Danny for a moment. "So everything is okay now," she said as she looked at the new ring on her hand.

"Well the ring is off yes," Danny answered. "But we have a few more hurdles to cross."

"Do you really still want to marry me?" She asked. "Wouldn't you prefer someone like Valerie? Isn't she the girl you loved first? They say you never get over your first love."

Danny laughed as he reached across and took Sam's hand. "I've loved you since the fourth grade," he said softly. "I loved you when I went into that damn ghost portal to impress you. I loved you more in the ninth grade when I did my best to give up loving a girl who I didn't think loved me back."

He took a deep breath and continued. "I loved you even more in the twelfth grade when you put your life before mine to protect me. I've loved you all through college even though you were always a prickly pear whenever I tried to talk you into an honest relationship. I loved you on Sunday when I asked you to marry me, but even now I love you more. What more do you want from me Sam?"

Sam looked down at the ring on her finger. "I don't know," she said.

"My undying love and loyalty?" Danny asked as he watched her face. "It's yours. My heart? My soul? Yours. Yours. My life? Yours. Everything I have? All yours."

"Bleh," Sam said as she wrinkled her nose. "My teeth are rotting here."

"Okay," Danny continued. "A dental plan and health insurance? Yours, but you have to marry me first." Sam leaned on her hand and looked at Danny for a moment.

"What do you want from me?" She asked then bit her lip.

"Oh well," Danny said as he grinned. "I have a long list."

"Well I suppose I have all night," Sam joked.

Danny wasn't joking anymore. "I want your heart Sam."

"It's always been yours," Sam answered. "All that and more."

"I want you to start talking to me instead of Tucker," Danny told her. "I want you to wake me up at three in the morning when something is bothering you. I want to be the one to comfort you and wipe away your tears."

"But," Sam started to say.

"No!" Danny growled closing his eyes for a moment then piercing her heart with their vivid blue intensity as he opened them and looked into hers. "It's always half way with you Sam! It's like you have your foot half out the door, ready to run for protection if things get too tough."

"I don't mean to be that way," Sam said honestly. "I just do get scared."

"Scared of me?" Danny asked.

"No," Sam answered. "Scared of me. I just, love you too much it scares me. You can do better than me. And then worse than that I'm afraid something is going to happen to take you away from me. Like with Pariah Dark"

"When is the last time I fought a ghost?" Danny asked. "I transform into my ghostly self to fly around and such. I almost never go into the Ghost Zone."

"But it's always something," Sam said as she reminded him of the grocery store hold up. "We're ill fated you and I. Something is always going to be trying to tear us apart. The ring. The Ghost Zone law. Your Dad getting sick. Vlad."

"They can only keep us apart if we let them," Danny told Sam gently. "If your scared. Hold on to me. I'll protect you."

"Who will protect you?" Sam asked her eyes luminous with unshed tears.

"You," Danny answered as to took her hand and pulled her up into his arms. "No more fighting Sam. Not between you and me. We have the rest of the world to fight with."

"What about Tucker and Jazz?" asked Sam.

"They can figure out their own problems. I'm just concerned with you," Danny answered as he kissed Sam then pulled her with him down the hall. "Of course Tucker has a lot to answer for, but we'll deal with that later. Right now it's just you and me and to hell with everyone else."

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Jazz woke up in the darkness with a terrible headache. What had happened? She hadn't been drinking. She never drank. The last thing she remembered was walking down the street with Tucker to his car.

"Tucker!" Jazz said as she sat up in the darkness. "Tuck?" There was no answer in the darkness of the empty room. There was a tiny bit of light trickling in through a small window near the ceiling. Jazz stood shakily then crawled all the way around the room, hoping beyond hope that at the very least Tucker was passed out somewhere.

She reached the furthest corner of the room and came in contact with a shoe, a leg, a person. Who ever it was, was alive and breathing though unconscious. She felt touched the person's face. Glasses. Hat. Tucker. Jazz took a relieved breath.

"Tuck," she said as she tapped his face. She ran her hands around his head checking for bumps or blood then she checked him over for any other signs of trauma. "Tuck," she said again.

"Go away Sam," he said sleepily. "I don't want to talk anymore." Despite the obvious severity of the situation, Jazz stifled a laugh. Poor Tuck.

"Sweetheart," Jazz said as she whispered in his ear. "Wake up."

"Jazz?" Tucker asked then sat up and almost bumped heads with her. He looked around in confusion. "Where are we?"

"I was hoping you'd be able to answer that question," Jazz answered. "I don't know."

Tucker checked his pocket for his PDA. Gone. A flush of panic rose up in his chest, but he did his best to stifle it. He'd long been trained simply by being in Danny's presence to be calm in bad situations, but without his PDA he felt lost, naked and alone.

"What happened?" Tucker asked as he looked up at the tiny window at the ceiling.

"I have no clue,' Jazz answered. "The last thing I remember was standing at your car."

Tucker opened his mouth to say something, but stopped as a pounding resounded from the other side of the room. The door open casting light into the darkness and a large shadowy figure stood in the center.

"Jasmine Fenton," The creature called. "You will come with me."

Jazz twined her hand into Tucker's. "No!" She said. "I'm not going anywhere without Tucker."

The creature stepped further into the room and revealed glowing red eyes and craggily teeth. "You will come with me Jasmine Fenton or reap the consequences."

"You heard her you big hulking mass of strange ectoplasmic goo!" Tucker said.

Jazz stifled her laughter. "It's strange mass of ectoplasmic energy," she corrected.

"Whatever," Tucker replied as he valiantly pushed Jazz behind him.

The creature growled an obscenity, or at least they thought it was an obscenity under it's breath as it advanced into the room. Of course Tucker was more bravado than action. He wasn't Danny. He didn't have ghost powers, which meant he was powerless. The ghost grabbed Tucker and threw him against the wall and grabbed Jazz and pulled her screaming out of the room.

Tucker tried to stand to go after them, but his efforts were all in vain. He finally collapsed in the center of the room. He sat in despair and terror fearing the horrible fate Jazz was probably facing and went quietly mad wishing beyond reason that he had Danny's powers, or at the very least a way to contact him.

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Jazz calmed her panic as the big burly ghost seized her and drug her away from Tucker. Panic wasn't going to make matters any better. She took several deep breaths and did her best to take in her surroundings, unfortunately the ghost was moving too fast for her to see anything more than green and gold.

"Green and gold," Jazz said out loud. "Why is that so familiar?"

The ghost stopped and hurled her into a room then slammed the door. Jazz stood immediately and tried to open the door, but it was locked. She pounded on it for a moment.

"Please calm down Jasmine," came a voice from inside the room. "Come sit down. There is no need for all this hysteria."

Jazz's blood ran cold. "Vlad?" she asked as she turned around. Sitting in a chair wearing a smoking jacket and cravat was Vlad Masters. Her panic subsided slightly as she walked forward.

"Please sit Jasmine," Vlad said as he gestured to the chair beside him.

"Why did you kidnap Tucker and me?" Jazz asked as she remained standing. "I thought you were done plotting against Danny."

"Oh," Vlad said sweetly. "This has absolutely nothing to do with Danny. Or your mother. Or even your idiot father. This is about you."

"Me?" Jazz asked almost on a squeak. She cleared her throat and asked. "What have I done that would require you to kidnap me?"

Vlad smiled as he leaned forward, steepling his fingers on his chin. "You've done nothing more than to be the brilliant and beautiful daughter of a brilliant and beautiful woman." Vlad answered. He blinked at Jazz a moment. "Would you like some tea?"

"No," Jazz said as she folded her arms across her chest. "What I would like is for you to release Tucker out of that wretched dungeon and send us back home unharmed."

"I am sorry Jasmine," Vlad said kindly. "I'm afraid I'll have to deny your request. Maybe after some time I can release Tucker into more comfortable accommodations. It will all depend on you and your willingness to cooperate."

"Okay," Jazz said. She wanted Vlad to cut to the chase. She didn't want to play any of his mind games. "Just tell me what you want."

"What does any man want?" Vlad asked. "A wife, children to carry on his legacy. I've passed that up hoping for my hearts desire to realize the error of her ways and join me. Unfortunately your mother has tied herself so tightly to your father, that well, as much as I love her, she cannot give me what I now desire most."

A chill of revulsion ran up Jazz's arms. "And what is that?" she asked, not sure she wanted to know.

"Why just as I said, children. I require children of my own." Vlad answered as though she were an idiot.

"I admit for awhile I saw Danny as a son due to our ghostly conditions. My will even names him my heir, but I prefer children of my own lineage. Of course I require the mother of my children to possess brilliance and courage.

"Maddie, your mother, fit my requirements perfectly. Sadly, not only are her child bearing years past her, but I'm afraid I couldn't bear to hurt your father by taking her away. I have suddenly grown a conscience where Jack Fenton is concerned."

"Well, that and she hates your guts," Jazz said. "What do I have to do with this?"

"You are your mother's daughter," Vlad replied smoothly his eyebrows raising.

Jazz gasped then shivered in revulsion. "Uncle Vlad!" she exclaimed, partly to drive home the point of age difference but mostly out of shock. "You're not proposing that I become the mother of your children!"

"That is exactly my aim," Vlad admitted.

Jazz blinked for a moment then flushed an interesting shade of crimson. "As tempting as your offer is," she choked then cleared her throat. "I'm sorry I have to decline." Vlad began to laugh and the chilled blood in Jazz's veins slowly began to turn to ice.

"Jazz my darling," Vlad said in a soft sinister voice. "I didn't mean to imply that you had a decision in the matter. The plans have all be set in motion. I am just making you aware of your fate."

"Don't be ridiculous Uncle Vlad," Jazz said forcefully. "I have a life back at home. People will miss me. I have my work. And Tucker…" Jazz's eyes widened. "You are going to let Tucker go aren't you?"

"I'm sorry Jazz." Vlad said sympathetically as he picked up a remote and hit a button. "Maybe at some point I can release him. It all depends on how you cooperate." He gestured to the screen that was dropping down out of the ceiling.

Jazz turned and gasped as she saw Tucker and herself on the screen. They had their arms around each other and were smiling.

"Hi Mom, Dad, Daniel and Samantha," Jazz on the television said in a perky tone of voice. "Tucker and I are sending you this tape to let you know we decided to run away together."

"Don't worry guys. I'll take good care of Jasmine," said Tucker on the television. "We'll contact you soon."

"I love you all," the Jazz on the screen called then the screen went blank.

Jazz turned and looked at Vlad with wide eyes. "You're insane!" she cried.

"No Jasmine. I'm not insane. I am diabolical," Vlad corrected. He stood and walked to the door a serene smile on his face.

"The tape you just saw will arrive on your brother's door step by courier first thing in the morning. I have had all the necessary paperwork drawn up," he said as he put his hand on the door knob. "My lawyer will be here in the morning for you to sign the papers and we will be wed in the evening."

"What?" Jazz screeched "I'm not going to marry you! Why would you want to marry me? You're sick! Sick!"

Vlad continued to look at Jazz calmly. "You don't expect for me to not marry the mother of my children do you?" The smile remained on his face and Jazz wanted to claw it off of him with her fingers. "And I think you will cooperate, if you care anything for Mr. Foley's safety."

Jazz opened and closed her mouth a few times. She was afraid to say anything more or give Vlad any ammunition to use against her.

"I understand you're frightened my darling, but you'll see in the long run. I'll make you happy," Vlad told her as he opened the door. "So sit down and relax. I'll have Mr. Foley sent up to you provided that you are a good girl. And remember. You are both being watched. No funny business."

Jazz covered her face with her hands and took several deep breaths. "Wake up Jazz," she said to herself. "This is the craziest nightmare you've ever had."

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Mua ha ha ha ha! Review review! If you know what's good for you, review is what you will do! I can hold out on chapter fourteen forevah! Bawahhhh No it's lies all lies. I can't hold out on any chapter, but still if you could please review cause it makes me indescribably happy and a happy writer writes a better story.

Vlad and Jazz…Yikes huh? And I know some of you think Jazz and Tuck is weird but Vlad and Jazz..bleeeeeaaahhh! Mua hahahaahahahah