Waiting
Her life had been long and full.
Samantha Manson, aged 94, lay down to rest. Her husband and best friend since high school had passed on years ago, succumbing to cancer at the age of 82, but Samantha had lived on. She had seen her grandchildren grow up, seen her great-grandchildren go to their first days of kindergarten and first grade.
Everyone who knew Samantha knew she was fearless. She had lived in the days when Amity Park was overrun with ghosts, and lived on until the ghost attacks became few, and finally none; she had worked with the best known ghost hunters of all time, including Valerie Gray, James and Madeline Fenton, and of course, the infamous Danny Phantom. Even as she aged, she was active. She had even spoken in front of the House of Representatives about animal rights – three times.
She was tired, and she wanted to rest.
"Hello, Sam."
Samantha opened her eyes.
"Danny," she whispered to the white-haired specter standing at the side of her bed. "Where have you been all these years?"
He was young. He would always be young. Daniel Fenton had died at the age of nineteen.
"Here and there," he answered. His smile was bittersweet. "It's Samantha Foley now? I can't believe you married Tucker."
Samantha smiled gently. "You weren't there, Danny."
The ghost's smile faded. "I couldn't be there. You wouldn't have wanted me there. Trust me."He held out his hand, and a scythe materialized in it. "No one alive wants to see me – except the tired."
Sam's eyebrows rose. "How …?" she asked.
"In payment. A trade. For you, Sam." The specter named Death spread chained hands. "So you could live until you turned 94 years, 4 months, and 12 days." He closed his eyes. "Tuck's waiting for you."
Sam settled back on her pillow. "How long do we have to wait for you?"
The ghost smiled. "Not long."
Samantha closed her eyes. "I'm tired, Danny," she said softly. "I'm so tired."
Death lifted his scythe.
"So am I."
He swung.
fin
Something a little different. Yes, Danny becomes the Grim Reaper, for the term of Sam's life. If it makes you feel any better, he gets to hang out with Tuck and Sam for eternity after this snippet.