Disclaimer: I do not ownDanny Phantom.

Sam finished piling her hair on top of her head and secured it with a silver and sapphire clasp. She then turned around to grasp her purse and mask when there was a knock on the front door.

"Samantha darling open the door, I wish to speak with you about this evening."

Sam rolled her eyes. She was tempted to pretend that she was not home so she would not have to deal with her mother but she knew her mother would have seen her car in the driveway and would probably resort to using her key. I knew I should have changed the locks when I moved in. When Sam's grandmother had died two years ago, she had left instructions in her will that Sam was to be given the small in-law addition to her parent's house. She had known how hard they were on her granddaughter and wanted to make sure Sam had a place of her own. It had worked out perfectly because Sam had desperately needed to get away from her mother and father's smothering but she had not been able to rent an apartment because she was a full time student and the only way her parents would help was if she settled down and married someone suitable. Sam sighed as she walked to the door and opened it to face her mother.

"There you are Samantha" Lucinda Manson stepped in gracefully, walked to the sofa, and sat down as Sam shut the door.

"Hello Mother, was there something you needed? I was on my way to the benefit."

"Yes dear, that is what I want to talk to you about. As you know your father and I will not be attending this year because we leave for Tokyo tonight." Sam sat impatiently, waiting for her mother to get to the point. "Now in the past we have gone as a family, however we feel that it is not appropriate for you to arrive unescorted."

"Mother, what did you do?"

"Well your father contacted an old friend who has a son about your age."

"No."

"Samantha we are simply looking out for you best interests."

"No Mother, I am an adult and perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Besides I won't be completely alone, I'm meeting Danny and Tucker there."

Lucinda's face took on an expression of distaste. "Well, Samantha I am sorry but your father has already spoken with the young man and…"

"Well he can call back and tell him no because I am not going with some rich daddy's boy." As Sam finished speaking a knock sounded at the door again. Lucinda got up from the sofa and walked over to the door.

"Well, it's too late because he is already here, he traveled a good distance to get here on time, and it would be rude to turn him away now."

"I don't mind" Sam muttered under her breath but loud enough that her mother heard it.

"Sammykins please do this for your father and I. It's only one evening after all." Her mother looked at her earnestly and Sam closed her eyes and counted to ten – five times. Her parents drove her insane regularly but she did love them and did not want them to embarrassed and upset with her.

"All right Mother, I'll do it this once."

With a brilliant smile, Lucinda patted her hair and opened the door. "Nathan how wonderful to see you please come in. Samantha is ready. Samantha this is Nathan Brooks, his father does a lot of business with us."

Sam pasted a fake smile on her face and extended a hand to Nathan. "Pleasure to meet you Nathan."

"The pleasure is all mine Miss Manson" Nathan replied as he took her hand and pressed it between his own.

"Please call me Sam," she said as she pulled her hand away. Nathan was exactly what she would expect her parents to pick. Rich, charming and stuck up. He was fairly tall, around six feet and had a slim build. He had blonde hair, blue eyes, and perfect teeth and was dressed in a custom tailored suit. Sam disliked him already.

"Shall we?" he asked, holding out his arm for her to take. Sam picked up her things, said goodnight to her mother and walked out leaving Nathan to follow behind her.

Sam looked out the window as the limo drove up to Amity Hall, trying to look forward to the night after her mother's little bombshell. Every year Amityville held a fundraiser for the Children's Hospital. Sam of course had taken the cause to heart and had been a part of the program for the past few years. This year they had decided on a masquerade theme since it was close to Halloween and she had talked Tucker and Danny into coming with her.

Sam was brought out of her musings as the car door opened and the uniformed driver offered his hand to help her out. Exiting the limo, Sam placed her mask on and secured it behind her head while Nathan waited, having decided immediately that he was not wearing a mask. Old Fogey thought Sam as they walked up to the door and he opened it for her. Their conversation had been awkward and stilted on the way over with Sam bordering on rudeness. Sam felt guilty now; after all, it wasn't the poor man's fault. Deciding to try to be polite, she let him escort her to a table and smilingly agreed to a glass of champagne.

The room was filled with people and almost all of them were wearing masks. Sam looked around trying to spot Danny and Tucker. Finally, in a corner she spotted Tucker. She knew it was him by his flashing mask. Techno-geek strikes again she thought wryly. She excused herself from Nathan and made her way toward him.

"Well, well, hello beautiful. Look no further, your prince has arrived," he said as he sidled over to her and wrapped an arm across her shoulders.

"Hands off Tucker before I remove them from the rest of your body."

"Sam! Is that you?"

"No, its Cleopatra Sam said sarcastically.

Tucker snatched his arm back so quickly he nearly fell over. "Sam, when did you…? You look… I thought… Oh girl that is just wrong!" he said gesturing wildly at her.

"What?"

"You! You're not supposed to look like that! I mean you're like my sister and I just tried to pick you up. Man I am going to have nightmares now."

"Gee thanks" she said quirking an eyebrow at him. She glanced around. "Where's Danny?"

"Oh, he's around somewhere, he was looking for you"

"I'll never find him in this crowd."

"He's wearing black with a silver mask.

Danny walked slowly around the room trying not to figit. He stuck his finger under his tie and pulled at it. Dressing up was really not his thing. Why did we let Sam talk us into this? Well in Tucker's case, it had been bribery. Sam had managed to get him the newest PDA software, before it was released to the public. Danny? Well he would rather not dwell on how she hadn't needed to use bribery or threats on him. Hell she hadn't even pleaded. One look at that smile and those eyes and he had found himself happily agreeing. Face it Fenton, you're hooked, his conscious said. I am not, he argued. She's my best friend. Danny sighed, where was she anyway? He looked over toward where he had left Tucker. Not there he thought.

"Mr. Fenton, I presume?" a soft teasing voice asked from behind him.

Smiling he turned to face Sam and promptly forgot how to breathe. She stood before him in a full-length midnight blue dress. It had a square cut neckline edged in black lace and was fitted to the waist. From there it flowed out from her hips in a loose skirt. Long bell sleeves, also edged with lace, covered her arms ending just past her wrists. Her hair was up in a simple twist andshe wore a silver chain and matching earrings. The look was completed with the elegant black mask trimmed with sapphires that covered her eyes and the top of her nose. Danny felt desire slam into his gut and struggled to appear unaffected as he greeted her. Eyes twinkling with mischief he gave a low bow.

"Good evening, my lady."

Sam couldn't get over how good Danny looked. His black suit was fitted across his broad shoulders and hung perfectly on his lean, muscled form. His hair looked as if he had tried to tame it and failed, falling rakishly over his brow, and a silver mask framed his piercing blue eyes. They both laughed at their silliness and Sam felt herself relax for the first time that evening.