"Sam." I said, trying to wake her up.

No answer.

"Sa-am."

Still nothing.

"Samantha."

"You know I hate it when you call me that." She said, her eyes still closed.

"Ah, you're awake. Good morning." I said, kissing her on the forehead.

"Morning, hon."

"Since it's Danny, Jr's first day home, I thought I'd make you some breakfast in bed." I said as I presented her with the tray.

"You didn't use real dairy, did you?"

"Now what kind of husband do you take me for?" I asked, mock-insulted. "Of course not. I used non-dairy milk and Eggs-cellent brand egg substitute."

"And the Maple syrup?"

"Fake maple."

"I love you."

"I love you, too"

One impasse Sam and I had reached was in regards to pretty much every type of non-veggie food, particularly bacon, eggs, and maple. I like my eggs over medium and my maple real, myself being a bit of a maple connoisseur. Anyhow, we agreed that we'd split the fridge three ways: my kinds of food, her kinds of food, and food we can both agree on, particularly breast milk for when the baby sitter comes over. We also agreed that we'd feed the child a perfectly balanced diet, except on nights where one of us had him, went out to eat as a family, or during a special occasion.

"I'll get that." I said as Danny started crying. "Shall I bring him in here, or should I get the bottle?"

"Bring him here."

"There he is. Good morning, Danny." I said, cradling my son in my arms. "Mommy wants to say good morning, too, wanna go see her? Let's go see her."

"Good morning, Danny."

"Did he sleep good last night?"

"You know those stories of midnight feedings and changing's?" She asked as she exposed her breast.

"Yeah."

"They were worse than I feared."

"So, Sam, let me get this straight: you won't drink milk from a cow, but you'll breastfeed?"

"It feels a little weird, but I hear it's better for the kid."

"Ah."

"All done, Danny?" she said, covering herself back up. "You want to take him, Dan?" Something she called me whenever both myself and the baby were in the same room.

"Sure, since you'll be home with him." I said, since we had agreed that she'd stay home until she felt strong enough to go back to work."

"Bring something home." Sam said as I dressed for work.

"I will. Love you, Sam"

"I love you, too."

"Bye-bye, Danny. I love you." I said as I bid my family farewell.

I didn't figure out that the mist coming out of my mouth was unnatural until I turned up the heat in the car. Just let it go, man, you don't want to get caught. Unfortunately, Vlad Masters had different plans.

"Hello, Danny." He said as I went down an empty street.

"I know what you're trying to do, Vlad." I said, seething.

"And what, pray tell, is that?

"Don't play dumb, I know you're trying to get me to reveal my secret."

"And what secret is that?"

"GET OUT OF MY CAR!"

"Alright, but before I do, I have a gift for the new father." He said, whipping out a metal belt.

"The Specter Deflector?"

"The Specter Reflector: when placed on a 'halfa', it shows everyone the ghost inside us. I made it just for you."

Before I could stop, he had placed the belt on me. The pain was so intense, I passed out.