Danny and Sam's alarm went off at 7:30. Danny woke up to find Sam sleeping on top of him with her head resting on his chest. "That's interesting," he said.
"What's interesting?" she asked tiredly, her eyes fluttering open.
"Every time we wake up, we're always in the same position."
"What, you don't like it?"
"It's not that, it's just interesting that it comes so naturally to us."
"Why? Did you have a different position in mind when we started going out?"
"Oh, I don't know," he said, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. He spun the two of them around so that she was lying on her back and he was on top of her. "How do you like this one?"
"Ow, Danny, you're so heavy, get off!"
"I guess ten years of fighting ghosts has made me a bit muscular."
"A bit," she said, running her hands along his muscled arms and chest. "Don't worry, though, one of us is still light."
"Don't flatter yourself; you aren't exactly pulling off the anorexic look while toting Junior around, you know." She glared at him. "I meant that in the most complimentary way possible."
"You'd better, if you enjoy only being half ghost," she said as she punched him on the arm. Danny rolled off of her and they went into the adjoining bathroom to shower and wash up.
"I've actually been wondering about something like that for some time now" Danny said.
"What's that?"
"Will our kid be half ghost, or a quarter ghost, or what?"
"I never really thought about it…I guess it depends on what element of your genetic structure makes you half ghost."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, if it's a specific gene that gives you your powers, then it follows that it can be inherited just like any other trait."
"That's not the way it works; I've taken blood samples to look at and my DNA is actually coated in ectoplasm. It's not like there's a specific sequence of nucleotides that makes me half ghost."
"And so your entire genetic code is half-human, half-ghost?"
"Yeah, basically."
"Okay, then that means that the baby got 23 half-ghost chromosomes from you, and 23 human chromosomes from me. It follows that a quarter of its genetic code is ghost material, so it'll be a quarter ghost."
"But what if the ectoplasm spreads to the chromosomes that it gets from you? That would make it half ghost."
"I don't think that that's very likely, but I guess it's possible. You should be able to sense its psyche, so you'll be able to tell once the baby is born."
"Or I could do it now," he said. He manifested a spark of ghost energy in the palm of his hand and placed it on her belly.
"Not yet, Danny." At her words, he took his hand away.
"Why not?"
"I want it to be a surprise."
"Is that the same reason why you don't want to know its sex until it's born?"
"Yeah."
"Okay." They got the temperature of the shower just right and stepped in. Danny held up a bar of soap to Sam and said, "I wash your back, you wash mine?"
"I think that it's supposed to be 'I scratch you back, you scratch mine.'"
"Well, as we're kind of in the shower, I thought that washing would be more appropriate. Unless you want me to scratch your back, of course."
"No, it's okay."
"Good, I got a C when I took that course on back scratching back in school."
"You took a course in back scratching?"
"They were offering it for a credit, and I thought what the heck-it's an easy A."
"And you got a C?"
"My partner thought that I was being too sensuous with the back scratcher," he replied, running the bar of soap slowly up and down her back. Sam bit back a soft moan and instead asked, "Who was your partner?"
"We used dummies."
"Ah…"
"Is it just me, or is it starting to get really steamy in here?"
"No, I'm noticing it, too."
"Well, Miss Manson," he said, putting on a false formal tone, "I won't be able to shower with you anymore if you continue to cause the shower to steam up with your hotness."
"Danny, you know that I want to be called 'Mrs. Fenton' now."
"I know that, but it's such a weird feeling; when people say 'Mrs. Fenton' I think of my mom."
"It must be awkward at first," Sam agreed, "But I'm yours now."
"I know you are," Danny said, and walked around her with his hand dragging on her back so that he was facing her with both hands on her lower back. He leaned in and kissed her on the lips, then broke away and whispered in her ear, "And I wouldn't have it any other way." She ran her fingers through his wet hair and pulled him into a longer, more passionate kiss, the bar of soap long forgotten.
About fifteen minutes later, Danny and Sam stepped out of the shower and donned two white bathrobes, each of which had a VM embroidered on the left breast pocket. They heard someone knocking on the door, and Danny opened it to find a servant. "Breakfast for Mr. and Mrs. Fenton, courtesy of Mr. Masters," he announced, pushing a cart laden with food into the room. Sam rummaged through her purse until she found her wallet, and gave the man a generous tip. "Thank you very much, ma'am. By the way, the ceremony is scheduled to begin at 9:00 sharp," he said and bowed himself out of the room.
Danny immediately dug into a plate of bacon and eggs while Sam contented herself with a short stack of buttermilk pancakes. Danny had moved on to some of the more exotic pastries, quickly consuming a croissant, then a Danish, and he was about to devour some strudel when Sam hurriedly put down her knife and fork, her eyes as wide as dinner plates. "Sam, are you okay?" Danny asked, concerned. Sam shook her head and ran into the bathroom, where he could hear her retching. He sighed, put down his beloved food, and went over to the bathroom to comfort her. Danny came in just as she was flushing the toilet. He knelt beside her and patted her on the back. "How are you feeling?" he asked softly.
"Okay," she mumbled. Sam went over to the sink and began gargling.
"I hate seeing you in pain like this," Danny said.
"Really, it's okay." He gave her a questioning look. "I'm used to it by now. Besides, it'll all be over soon." He enveloped her in a bear hug and they stood there, silently contemplating. After what felt like an eternity, she broke away and looked up at him with a small smile. She gave him a soft peck on the cheek and said, "C'mon, we should get ready for the ceremony." They walked into the bedroom hand in hand.
They left the room about an hour later, Danny wearing a suit and Sam in a soft purple dress. As they proceeded down the hallway, they ran into Jack and Maddie Fenton. Maddie was wearing an actual teal dress, while Jack looked as though he had thrown a jacket and trousers over his HAZMAT, as well as the familiar blue-and-yellow striped tie. "Why hello, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton," Sam said.
"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton," Maddie replied with a smile.
"I'm so happy for V-man." Jack said.
"Me too, I'm glad he finally found someone…else…" Maddie said the last word quietly so that only Danny and Sam could hear. The three of them shared a dark glance and proceeded down the stairs.
The two couples joined the throng that was headed towards the chapel, which was located on the second floor. As they entered the room, Danny's ghost sense went off. Sam shot him a sideways glance, but followed his lead in ignoring it, at least temporarily. They sat down in the pews and looked up to the altar. "Is that…" Sam's voice trailed off.
"I think it is." Danny confirmed. It appeared that Vlad's best man was none other than Nicolai Technus. He had foregone his usual trench coat and white cape and instead donned a regular suit. His skin was no longer green, but normal-colored, probably due to some holographic technology he had implanted before the ceremony. However, his rectangular glasses and ponytail were still present.
"Who is that guy? He kind of looks like Vlad, but a little older." Maddie said.
"His name is Technus, and he's a business associate of Vlad's," Danny lied quickly. To Sam, he whispered, "They're right, I never noticed how he looks kind of like Vlad with that hair. The only real difference is the fact that he's clean-shaven."
"It was tougher to notice before because of the green skin."
"Probably."
"I always thought thatVlad was closer to Skulker. Why isn't he the best man?"
"It'd probably be tougher to disguise a tiny green blob as a human than an already-humanoid ghost."
"He has the exo-skeleton."
"Okay, because disguising a seven-foot-tall robot is so much easier." Maddie was about to ask what the two were whispering about when the ceremony began.
It was a quick service, and at the end everyone filed out of the chapel to change and then enjoy the benefits of the mansion, as the party wouldn't be until that evening. Maddie and Saphira made plans to meet in the training facility located in the basement in two hours' time to spar; behind them Vlad and Jack gave each other high fives.
"I'll get the spandex," Jack whispered,
"And I'll prepare the mud pit," Vlad replied.
Danny and Sam rolled their eyes and went upstairs to change into something a little more casual. Afterwards, they went out onto the grounds and decided to take a stroll through the gardens. They held each other's hand and slowly made their way along the foliage.
"I'm so glad everything turned out alright," Danny said.
"Why wouldn't it?"
"It might've been a plot to win over my mom again."
"Do you seriously still think that? Vlad isn't like that anymore."
"I guess you're right. After all, he did seem genuine at the Box Ghost's wedding. But he also said that he still wants me as his apprentice."
"But he hasn't tried to recruit you while we've been here."
"Do you think that he's really turned around? That he's not evil anymore?"
"I don't know. I would understand if he's having trouble giving it up. After all, twenty years of a certain mindset won't just disappear that easily. But I know that he's trying."
"How can you tell?"
"Because of Saphira. I believe that he's finally found someone more like himself. He doesn't have as much as an urge to be evil with her around."
"Yeah…I wonder if she's a Packers fan?"
"He wouldn't have married her if she wasn't." Danny laughed at that.
"When I saw her, she looked kind of familiar to me. Did you think so?"
"I know so. She was the one who organized that beauty pageant, back in freshman year of high school."
"How do you still remember that?"
"Are you kidding? You voted me the winner!" he blushed.
"That contest really meant a lot to you, huh?"
"It didn't mean a lot to you?"
"It did! You got kidnapped into the Ghost Zone to marry some prince! I thought I would die without you! Well, half-die. Again. Like, my human half dying. You know what I mean."
"Aww, Danny, that's so sweet!" he blushed again. Casting around for a new subject, he noticed the setting sun.
"C'mon, the party's starting soon. We should get ready." He led her back to the room.
Back at the room, Danny changed into his tuxedo, and Sam slipped on her mauve gown. They went down to the party, which was being held in the reception hall. They spoke with some of the acquaintances that they had made the previous night, as well as made some new friends. After about an hour, they ran into Vlad and Jack. They were standing with Saphira and Maddie, both of whom were blushing profusely. "I take it the mud wrestling went well?" Danny asked. The glint in the men's eyes and the death glares emanating from the women was all the answer he needed. The young couple went over to the dance floor and danced until Sam said she needed to sit down. They took a seat at one of the empty tables and watched the proceedings until they were approached by Vlad.
"Daniel, could you do me a favor? Go to my lab, second door on the left upstairs, and bring down a present I have for your father?" Danny and Sam glanced sideways at each other for a second.
"This is some kind of déjà vu joke, right?" he asked. Vlad laughed uproariously.
"Of course it is, my dear boy, of course it is. I'm such a josher! Enjoy the party, you two." He walked away.
"What was that about?" Sam asked.
"The first time we met, back when Vlad held his college reunion here, he asked me the same exact question. I went to the lab and Skulker attacked me and trapped me in the Spectral Energy Neutralizer, this cube that assembled itself around me. Once I was inside, it zapped me until I changed back into a human, and Vlad came in and exposed himself to me."
"That last bit sounded so wrong."
"I meant like him being half-ghost," Danny said, then he paused, realization of what Sam was implying finally hitting him. "Just the mental image of that is leaving a permanent scar on my psyche. I hope you're happy." She giggled.
"You sound so cute when you're being scarred for life."
"Thanks…I think."
"C'mon, I'm feeling much better. Let's go to the dance floor."
"Okay." The two danced the night away until the party began winding down. When people bean to leave the reception hall, Danny looked down at his watch and noticed with a shock that it was two in the morning. "It's getting late, we should get to bed."
"What are you talking about? I'm not"-she gave a large yawn-"tired." She finished her sentence sleepily and leaned against him.
"C'mon," he said, rousing her slightly, half-leading, half-dragging her over to the stairwell. He looked up at the four flights of stairs, then at Sam, then at the stairs again, and made his decision.
Danny emerged from the stairwell on the fourth floor carrying Sam bridal style. He put her down and leaned her against the wall while he fished around in his pocked for the key to their room. Danny unlocked the room, carried her inside and placed her on the bed. Blushing profusely, he slipped her out of her gown and underclothes and placed her under the covers. He undressed and followed her. Sam rolled around and one of her arms lay sprawled on Danny's chest, her head resting on his shoulder. It was in this position that they fell asleep.