Hey, I'm just gonna jump right into the action because I'm just as excited as you are. Welcome to easily the most exciting chapter in this whole fanfic.

Sam stamped out into the road. He was extremely vexed at his daughter; he was certain she was up to something and had a pretty good idea what.

He would show her. Oh, yes, no food for…three days! Maybe four. Then she'd be sorry.

Sam was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't even see the car coming…

"Gather around guys, I'm afraid I have some bad news," Kermit said. "Do you guys remember Sam?"

"Sam? Oh, that eagle who kept thinking our show was unnatural."

"Yeah, and he called us all weirdos."

"That's the one," Kermit confirmed. "Well, he stepped out into a road earlier and…got hit…by a car."

"Is he alright?" asked someone.

Kermit shook his head sadly, silently.

Axel knew that sign, he fled up to the attic.

Several people called after him. Jasmine watched him go but didn't say a word. She knew exactly where her brother was going but she'd been sworn to secrecy. Luckily, Jasmine was a quick thinker.

"I expect he's probably feeling bad about some stuff he said to Sam w while back," she said to her parents. "I think we should leave him alone for a while. I'll check on him later."

"Sapphire?" Axel called.

He tried to open the door but it was locked.

"Axel? Is that you? Dad's locked the door; there should be a bolt somewhere."

Axel slid back the bolt and rushed inside.

"Axel, listen, I'm sorry about what I said earlier."

Axel waved her words away. "It doesn't matter," he insisted. "There's something I've got to tell you. Bad news."

Sapphire said nothing but looked at him worriedly with her blue, scared-looking eyes.

She's so beautiful Axel thought. He hated the idea of hurting her, but he knew he had no choice.

"It's about your dad," he said. "You see, he … got hit by a car."

Sapphire shook her head in denial. "But…he's alright, isn't he?"

Axel stared at the floor, unable to look her in the eye. "Sapphire, he's dead."

Sapphire burst into tears. She crumpled into a heap on the carpet and wept.

Axel thought she wanted to be on her own but when he turned to go, she clung onto his ankle.

"Please don't go, Axel," she begged. "Please? You're all I have left now."

"Well…" Axel looked at the open door wondering whether his parents had got suspicious as to why he had run off. But one look back at Sapphire sobbing her heart out changed his mind.

"Alright," he said. He closed the door and sat down beside her, putting his arm around her.

He started rocking her gently back-and-fourth.

"There, there," he murmured. "Now I think it might be time that we told someone where you are."

He said it very gently but Sapphire acted as if he'd slapped her.

"No! You can't!" she cried.

"But Saph, we have to!" Axel protested. "You're all alone now and I'm just a kid. There's only so much I can do."

"Please don't tell anyone, I'll get thrown out onto the streets."

"No! My dad would never do that!" Axel insisted. "I'm just trying to do what's best for you. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't tell anyone."

"Because…Dad will know," Sapphire whimpered.

"What? But Sam's gone."

"No! Dad might be dead but he's not gone forever."

"You don't mean…?"

"Ghosts, Axel."

"But ghosts don't exist."

"They do! They do! They have to! I can't have lost him forever!"

She burst into tears again. Axel felt awful.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Just p-promise me you w-won't t-tell anyone?"

"I promise," Axel said. "But I have to go now."

Sapphire gazed at him pleadingly.

"I'll be back soon," Axel pledged.

He reached over and kissed her on the cheek.

Then he was gone.