HAPPY HOLIDAYS NERDS! Yes i know that Christmas is over and so is every other holiday in December, just bear with me. I actually meant to upload this on Christmas, but I had family stuff I just had to do and ugh.

Well, it's up now! So YAY! Anywho...answering questions!

mpwtl125: Does this answer your question? Ok, ok, but in all seriousness, I hope so. I am at least going to try to get another chapter up in about a week, or get two chapters up in two weeks, either way, hopefully another chapter will be up soon, just be patient.

That's all the questions? Yes it is, so make sure to ask me questions! How many times to I have to ask?

I have been watching too much anime lately (haha lol there's no such thing as too much anime). I have watched SAO and The Seven Deadly Sins, and have also been reading a lot of fanfiction about youtubers along with caring more about virtual cats than my own self. I think i have an issue...oh well!

Anywho, shameless promotion aside, time for the chapter! YAY!

Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom, or any of the animes I mentioned above. Though I have an idea about an anime...and now if you excuse me I am going to slap my stepbrothers. I'll be back.

Chapter 19

Valerie's look of confusion quickly changed to one of horror. In a flash she pulled the blond into her room and closed the door, causing Star to be confused.

Valerie leaned against the door and took a deep breath. "Explain."

Star fidgeted with her hands and looked around the room (which she found was much more homey and fancy than her own) refusing to look at the dark skinned girl. "I-I, like, didn't mean to find out, but like I just did…"

"What exactly did you figure out?" Valerie hissed, yet there was a clear undertone of fear and worry.

Star fumbled a bit more with trying to speak. "Phan-Phantom. Phantom. I know, I think I know...About you and Tucker and Sam and Danny. I think I figured out Sam first and the rest just clicked I guess...I don't know though…"

Valerie's head was swimming, thoughts flying at speeds that could rival a rocket. It was making her sick just to try to comprehend them, yet she knew what they were all trying to say.

I need to get the others…

Valerie quickly turned around and threw the door open. She then turned to Star and told her to say before darting to Tucker's room.

Tucker had just started to finally get a good night's rest, yet Murphy's law just was not in their favor. Only a few minutes after he had crawled into bed, Valerie busted through the door. At first he was curious, but after seeing the scared look on his girlfriend's face made him scared as well. She didn't even have to explain, her eyes said enough, and soon enough they sprinted towards Danny's room, which was really just down the hall.

They weren't surprised to see Sam sleeping next to Danny in his room and not her own. Being the light sleepers they were as soon as they walked into the room their eyes opened and in the shadows of the darkness they could see the fear on their faces and the emotions emiting off them. Then they went straight back to Val's room, where a still confused Star awaited.

"So you do know…" Tucker said, softly. Their secret, who they were, was out.

"I like, didn't tell anyone. I just, like, figured it out not too long ago." Star said, wringing her hands still. "I'm like, so sorry and stuff. I didn't mean to."

"How did you find out?" Sam asked. The goth was more stoic than the rest of her friends, yet her eyes were slightly glossed over. She was just as afraid.

Star blinked and nodded, silently psyching herself up. "Umm...like, I started to think something was...weird...when we were all waiting for the feast to start before…" Star trailed off.

Danny flinched slightly at the memory, yet continued to look at the blond as if telling her to continue.

Star continued. "Sam, Valerie, and Tucker had just walked in and there were so many plants around, but I like saw something...I thought I saw Sam's hand move a bit, which isn't weird really, but like, the plant by her moved too. At least I think it did. I thought I was going crazy from being in this place...but…"

"'But' what?" Tucker pressed.

"...But, after that weird incident happened and you four, well five including that little girl...um…"

"Dani." Danny said.

Star nodded. "Yeah, well, her and Sam were talking and I think the girl-Dani, asked her to do something and got really excited, then I saw it happen again. I don't think I was hallucinating that time, because Dani seemed to get really excited by it."

Sam knew what she was talking about. Dani looked seeing Sam use her powers, and even though she would take after Danny's powers, the girl loved watching the plants grow when Sam 'did her magic,' as the girl so often says.

Sam nodded, gaze now directed at the floor. Danny, who was sitting on the bed beside her put a hand on her arm as if saying it wasn't her fault. Sam looked up slightly at him and gave a small smile in return.

Tucker watched the silent exchange, also agreeing that Sam wasn't the one to blame for the slip up. It wasn't even that, and really, it was no one's fault. Just a series of unfortunate events that played out in a way. Our lives could be counted as a series of unfortunate events. Tucker thought, smiling at the joke in his head. He wiped the smile from his face and looked at Star once again, waiting for her to continue.

Star noticed the small, quick exchange as well, yet didn't say anything. In a matter of seconds all eyes were back on her, waiting for her to continue. She took a deep breath. "Honestly...I didn't even think about it till I heard Nathan talking to this one ghost...um...Icaum? Icarrs? Icarus? Icarus I think. Well, they were talking at the feast and I heard Nathan ask about why you four were sitting at the head of the table while like everyone else, well, wasn't. He said something about how you four were important and how you guys were like gods or something and was really surprised to hear about how you four were treated in the real world."

Star paused for a second, waiting to see their reactions, yet the four remained silent as they processed the information in their heads and waited for the blond to continue.

"Well...I didn't really, like, think about it again till I was about to go to bed, then I was thinking of it again. But then I, like, remembered something."

"What?" Danny asked.

Star took another deep breath. "I remembered when we crashed. How you four were brave, and like, how you acted in general. When it happened, it was strange to see you guys acting like that, but it was...familiar I guess, too. It was how Phantom acts." Star gave a weak laugh. "I don't like, know how none of us saw it sooner. You and Sam use the same names. Then it just made sense I guess, everything clicked...I just know."

Valerie smiled. "You were always smarter than people gave credit for." The dark skinned girl said.

Star looked up at her old friend, slightly surprised. "You guys are not...upset?"

The four couldn't help letting out a laugh. "We're not over-protective parents, you know." Sam said, smiling slightly at the blond.

Danny smiled, yet a quickly as it came, it left. "Listen, Star."

Star looked at the halfa. "Yeah?"

"You can't tell anyone about this."

Star tilted her head in confusion. "What? Why? If they all knew then you guys wouldn't have to worry about being bullied and stuff!" Star was about to stand, yet Valerie put her hand on the girl's shoulder, stopping her.

"Because," Danny continued, unfazed. "It's not worth it. You don't understand why we kept this a secret. In case you forgot, my...parents hate ghosts, and if we told anyone at school to get out of being bullied, it would spread like wildfire, not to mention someone else would then be a target besides us. There is always a reason."

Star calmed, still not fully understanding. She thought about asking for them to explain it a bit more, yet another thought crossed her head. "How did it happen?"

"What do you mean?" Danny said.

"Like, how are you Fenton and Phantom. Cause, like, isn't Phantom dead?"

Sam, Tucker, and Valerie were about to say something about how it was rude to ask such a question, when Danny started laughing.

"Nice question, nice question," Danny said after calming down. "But, yes, Phantom is dead."

"But...but...you're alive...right?" Star asked, uncertain.

"Well...it goes both ways...in a way. Phantom is as alive as I am dead." Danny said.

Sam couldn't help roll her eyes. "If you're going to answer her damn question, then stop being so cryptic, baka." The goth said, smacking his arm.

Danny laughed again and kissed his girlfriend's forehead, then turned back to Star (who was still confused by what they meant).

"Basically," Danny said, "I'm half dead."

This didn't help Star's confusion. "How can something be 'half dead?'"

"Simple...in terms of events. Not so much in physical and scientific. Well...actually simple in that way too." Danny said.

Before Star could ask what that meant Tucker said something. "You sure you actually want to tell her?"

Danny nodded. "Better to understand everything then only know half of it."

Tucker nodded in return and let Danny continue. Danny turned to the blond, yet his face had gone back to a more solemn look. "You remember that week after school started and I was out for a few days?"

Star nodded. "Yeah, you were sick or something."

Danny shook his head. "That's just what I said to make no one question," He said, "No...in reality I got electrocuted by the portal."

Star gasped at this, her hands flying to cover her mouth.

Dany's lips pressed into a line. "It should've killed me, but it didn't, well...not fully at least. Sam and Tucker were with me when it happened. I remember walking in, using the wall to balance, then my hand pressed down on something and next thing I knew I just felt...pain. I don't really remember walking out of the portal, just blacking out after that. When I woke up, Sam and Tucker were over me saying they thought I died. The rest is history."

Star looked at the ground. "I'm sorry…"

Danny shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry for, it happened. And, honestly, I'm glad it did. I'm a better person, we all are." He said. Sam smiled at him and leaned into his side. Tucker and Valerie smiled as well.

Star said nothing for a while, still staring at the floor. "I...I won't say anything. You don't have to worry about me spilling your secret. I'll be quiet about it." She said quietly.

Danny smiled. "Thank you."

Valerie walked over to Star again and held out her hand for the blond to take. "Come on. I'll take you to your room." She said. Star looked at the hand in surprise, but smiled and took it. Valerie then helped the girl to her feet and turned to her friends. "I'll be right back, okay? Don't fall asleep before I get back." She said playfully.

Tucker laughed. "No worries, sweetcheeks. We'll be here." He said, a smirk on his face.

Valerie rolled her eyes and lead Star out into the hallway and back to her room. Soon enough, they were standing outside Star's guestroom. Before Star could say anything, Valerie chimed in.

"Listen, I know that everything we told you is a lot to process, but you have to understand this is important. It might even be better if you pretend as if nothing ever happened."

Star blinked. "Like, why?"

Valerie sighed. "it's a lot to explain, there is still a lot you don't know, but after this is all over, just forget it all, please."

Star was still confused, yet she could see the desperation on Valerie's face and nodded. Valerie smiled, truly grateful. "Thank you." She breathed, relieved.

Star wrung her hand again. "Well...if I have to, I will, but...can I ask you something?"

Valerie nodded. "Of course."

Star bit her lip. "Can we...be friends again, maybe?"

It was Valerie's turn to be shocked, but the dark-skinned girl smiled. "I don't think I ever said you weren't."

Star smiled as well. "I just, I miss being your friend."

Valerie put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "I know there isn't a lot of time, but just know that you can say I was your friend."

Star continued to smile. "Thank you."

"Well, it's late and I'm going off to bed. I'll see you in the morning." Valerie said.

Star nodded. "Alright. Night."

"Night."

Valerie then turned and began to walk back to her room. Star turned to go into her own room, then remembered what exactly Valerie had said. "Hey, Val? What did you mean by-"

Star turned back the way Valerie had left, yet the girl was gone, and Star was left with her thoughts swimming in her head, all wondering what Valerie had meant.

And with that, another chapter has come to a close. *pretends to close a book* And yes, I know it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger...I meant to do that *smirks evilly*

Well, guess what time it is? Question time!

1. What did Valerie mean by 'I know there isn't a lot of time, but just know that you can say I was your friend'?

2. What else are Danny, Sam, Tucker, and Valerie keeping secret?

3. Do you think Star is going to slip up and tell someone?

I know this chapter is overdue, I really did try to have this up by Christmas but DAMN YOU FAMILY GATHERINGS! As an introvert, I do not do well around other people for long periods of time.

Well, don't forget to review, favorite, all that good stuff! And I will see you in a little while (if I don't drown myself in anime, youtubers love lives, and cats on my phone first...I need friends...).

Alright then, PEACE! (turns into anime half-cat girl)

~Kitty ='u'=