Disclaimer I do not own Danny Phantom. I am just a dedicated fan.

DarkDragonQueen: Here I am again with a new story. I know, I know, you're asking me hey aren't you working on the Black Phoenix? Well I am and I'm way ahead so you'll still get your update. This is different from my other stories. It's more of a drama/angst story, which is something I've never done before... well I have but I didn't like it and took it off. Anyway, it's a very high Rated T on the brink of M, but not violent enough for that. It contains mentions of rape and graphic birth at the end.

I'm way too busy... I haven't even read the last fourteen reiws for this story, but please, keep doing so.

Yeah, you read this next part from me all the time. Grammar is not my best subject. I can apply it well to writing but I'm not perfect people. If you see a few mistakes here and there dismiss them. Luckily my spelling and use of words makes up for that.

Without further adu I give you the second chapter of Trial, Transition, Growth: Book I.

-.oOOo.-

The Carlsons

By

DarkDragonQueen

-.oOOo.-

"Must I go? There's no way I'm giving up my baby whether or not the court makes me. I swear if they do I'll run away to another continent and make a living there." Sam said as she sat on the couch in the living room with her arms crossed over her swollen belly. At six and a half months you could see the excitement in her eyes as she thought about the due- date being nearer and nearer.

Today, however, annoyance was evident in her eyes. Today she was to go and meet with the parents the courts had set up for her to possibly give her baby to. Of course she wasn't planning on doing so. She had already contacted Aly on the phone and being the smart observant person she was, Aly was already trying to find a loop hole and contact her connections. She didn't plan on giving up her baby, but if that didn't work she was very serious about moving to another continent. Maybe she'd go to Europe and live in Rome, Italy. She had always wanted to go there…

"Now Sam," Maddie said as though she was the girl's own mother. "We talked about this and we won't argue about it again. You have to go meet them at least and even if you don't want to give up your baby, the courts are going to be the ones who decide."

"That may be the case, but can't they adopt me and my baby if that be the case. I mean these people are in their thirties and can't have children. Even if I have to be a big sister at least I'll be apart of my baby's growth." Sam suggested.

Maddie sighed exasperated and left the living room and went down into the basement leaving a displeased Sam on the sofa.

"You know," Came a disembodied voice. "You look like a three year old who can't get her way like that."

Sam sat up. "Where are you Danny?" she asked looking behind and then turning back around nearly jumping a foot in the air when she saw his face was on inches from hers.

"Don't do that." Sam hit him on the arm and only became angrier when he kept laughing.

"Why, it's so funny." Danny laughed again.

Sam sighed not in the mood to play and she leaned her head on her hand.

"What's up?" Danny asked changing back into his human form and sitting next to her.

"I'm going to meet the Carlsons today." Sam sighed as she unconsciously rubbed her stomach.

"Want me to come and scare the daylights out of them?" Danny asked half joking and half serious.

This made Sam laugh. "No Danny, I think I should at least be polite to them before I tell them I don't want to give away my daughter." She sighed. "It's just not fair though. Lilith's the only good thing that came out of this whole situation and now it seems that fate wants to take that from me as well." She ran a hand through her thick black hair that now had strawberry blonde streaks and came down to the middle of her back in a low ponytail.

"Well fate's not always cruel. Sometimes it just likes to play with us and after seeing what it's put us through takes pity on us. Trust me I know." Danny scowled.

"How would you know?"

Danny frowned and his eyes became haunted. "You don't want to know."

Sam decided not to pry and instead said nothing just comfortable sitting in silence with her half ghost friend. That comfortable silence was broken by the sound of the doorbell.

"That must be the Carlsons." Sam sighed as she stood up and went to the door which had already been opened by Jazz.

"Oh there you are Sam." Jazz grabbed her and pulled her to the door. Though she too didn't like the idea of Sam having to forcibly give up her baby, she decided to put on a fake cheerfulness and politeness.

"Hello Samantha," said Mrs. Carlson. She had long red hair wrapped up in a delicate bun wearing a nice casual suit. Next to her was Mr. Carlson who had brown hair and was wearing jeans and a nice button down shirt. "I'm Mrs. Carlson, but you can call me Lisa and this is my husband Derrick."

Sam smiled and it broke her heart to think that she would have to tell them later on that she didn't want to give up her baby, but she had to do it. The least she could do though, was give them a chance.

"I prefer Sam." She replied as she stepped outside the door and followed the Carlsons to their car. She got in the back seat and Mrs. Carlson turned to look at her.

"We decided to take you out to see a play today and then we can go out to lunch. We heard you were a vegetarian so I found a nice vegetarian restaurant we could go to." She smiled.

Sam nodded her head in thanks. Three hours later found Sam sitting in the restaurant with the Carlsons enjoying a nice vegetarian dinner as she spoke to them and gave a little information on herself and then they told them a bit about themselves. I she were going to give up her baby, she would have let them becomes its parents with a seconds hesitation, but alas, she couldn't do that. She had a predetermined thought to keep her baby from the moment she found out and she would keep her word to not only herself but her baby as well. So then the moment came. Actually it was a little earlier than she had expected.

"Sam, are you okay? You seem a bit distant." Mrs. Carlson asked concerned.

Sam was pulled from her musings and gave a sad smile. "I have to be honest with you. It might be disappointing, but…" Sam trailed off and sighed not meeting the Carlsons' eyes. "You both are good people and I can tell you're full of all the love and nurturing a child needs to be raised properly. You make wonderful parents, but for someone else's baby."

She looked up and could clearly see the disappointment in their eyes. "Listen. I didn't just suddenly change my mind. I never wanted to do this. I had already decided I was going to keep my baby, but the courts have another idea. You see my parents disowned when they found out I was pregnant and then there's be a whole lot of- excuse my choice of words- but there's been a lot of shit being thrown into my life and this child in me is the only good that's come out of it. I can't just give it away."

"We understand." Mr. Carlson sighed. "We're glad you were honest with us."

"I know you're disappointed and all, but I rather be honest and disappoint you now than make you think you're getting this baby and break your hearts in the end. I know there's a child out there just for you, but it's not this one." Sam rubbed her large belly.

"I'm sorry again." Sam sighed.

"It's alright Sam. Now let's get you home."

-.oOOo.-

Wasn't that nice and didn't it touch your heart? R&R.