Author's Note: Hey guys! Woo, I'm still alive. Go me! Ahem...anyways, sorry this took so long to upload. It was all done, except that I haven't had time to upload it. School has been taking tons of my time lately. I'm hoping that the next chapter will be posted sooner. The next chapter will also be shorter. Thought you should know!

Also, thanks for all the awesome reviews! You have absolutely no idea how happy it makes me! Thanks so much!

And now, here's chapter eight!

Lovesick

Chapter Seven

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining brightly, sending its fiery fingers of light onto the warm streets of Amity Park. The sky was a crystalline azure; not a single puffy cloud in sight. The smell of flowers was in the air, carried on the shoulders of the cool breeze. People were out and about; children tugged at their mother's hand to point at something on sale at a store, while lovers simply took a stroll down the park.

One of these couples were Sam and Danny. After eating breakfast, they had decided to walk down to the park and simply enjoy each others company.

Sam rested her head on Danny's shoulder, their fingers interwinded together. They walked along for hours, Danny carrying a small basket in his other hand. They pointed at the small park animals which scurried up trees or flew majestically from them, all the while laughing and smiling.

Sam could never remember being so happy in her entire life, and it killed her to know that time was running out.

At around noon, they picked a nice spot under the shade of a large maple tree. Danny opened the basket and took out a small, checkered blanket. He spread it on the ground and motioned for Sam to sit down. When she had, he re-opened the basket and took out various foods, including some bacon sandwiches, a large watermelon which was cut into smaller, more edible slices, a bottle of orange soda, and some ripe, juicy strawberries, among other things. After spreading it all out on the blanket, he took a seat across from Sam and began eating.

He watched Sam curiously as he ate. She ate like she meant it; none of that petite, mind-your-manners garbage. Of course, there were limits. She didn't talk with her mouth full or simply reach out and snatch something up. And as he watched her eat, he felt his heart swell with pride that she was his girlfriend.

Danny felt happier than he had in a long time. For two reasons, mainly. Firstly, because his mother had upgraded the Fenton Portal with extra security; there had been no ghost attacks or invasions during the entire summer. Secondly, it amazed him that a single person, Sam, could make him feel so happy, possessive, and proud. She was his.

When they had both ate to their hearts' desire, Danny stood up. Sam looked at him curiously, wondering what he was going to do.

"I have something I want to show you," Danny said. He bent down and pulled Sam to her feet. He guided her so her back was leaning against the trunk of the tree and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

"I haven't been completely honest with you," he confessed after pulling back.

Sam waited patiently for him to continue.

"If we want this relationship to work, I think it would be best if we kept no secrets from each other." Danny said, stepping a few feet away from Sam.

"I know I'm making you impatient," he said, watching as Sam fidgeted. "But, I haven't told this to many people."

Danny took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then, he continued. "That figure you saw in the alleyway; that was me."

Sam nodded. "Yes, I saw you."

"No, you don't understand. I mean, the figure that was floating, the one with white hair and green eyes—that was me."

Sam stared at him for a moment, and Danny couldn't tell if she was going to burst out laughing, call him a liar, or run away. This was it, the moment of truth. He looked at her hopefully, waiting for her reaction.

Sam didn't do anything. Instead, she just smiled and said, "Prove it."

Danny grinned back at her. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

He looked around quickly, making sure there were no witnesses in sight. Then, he turned back to Sam. A glowing, pale blue ring appeared at his waist—It separated into two as one traveled up and the other went down. The rings disappeared in a matter of seconds, and instead of Danny Fenton, someone—something else stood in his place.

Sam leaned against the trunk of the tree, understanding why Danny had guided her there. If she was just standing, she would have fallen backwards and passed out. Instead, she gripped the trunk tightly, her arms stretching out behind her and wrapping themselves around it. Her knuckles were white from gripping so tight, her fingernails digging into the rough bark.

In front of her stood a man with snowy-white hair and brilliant green eyes. He wore a black and white hazmat suit with a simple logo emblazoned on it—a P inside a D. The outline of his muscles could be seen under the material, lean and hard. A pale white aura shone around him, making him stand out like a celestial god of some sort.

Sam leaned back against the tree, thankful that Danny had put her there. She wanted to ask, 'Who are you?' but that didn't seem right. So instead she asked, "What are you?"

The man laughed. "I'm a ghost. Well, a ghost-human hybrid. I'm still Danny," he insisted, taking a cautious step toward Sam, who pressed even harder into the tree. "Only, this is my alter-ego, Danny Phantom."

"How can I make sure you're Danny?"

Danny Phantom smiled. "Well, if seeing the transformation yourself wasn't enough proof, ask me a question."

Sam thought for a moment. What was something only Danny knew... Suddenly, she knew. She smiled at the ghost. "What's my last name, ghost?"

Phantom grinned. "Manson. Sam Manson."

A wave of relief washed over Sam. She looked at Danny with awestruck eyes. "So, it is you."

Danny nodded. Sam slowly walked up to him and placed a hand on his chest. She slowly moved her hand downward, feeling his hard muscles. Danny suddenly stopped her by grabbing her wrist. She looked up at him, perplexed.

"Don't. Your touch is too much, Sam." Danny smiled down at her and released her hand.

She nodded. "So, what can you do as a ghost, Danny?"

Danny grinned. "I thought you'd never ask."

He held out his hand and Sam took it. She looked up at him expectantly, and suddenly the ground was dropping away from her. She was floating, getting higher, higher.

Sam shrieked and wrapped her arms around Danny tightly. Danny laughed and buried his face in her hair. She smelled so good, like sweet sugar. He brushed her hair back and looked down at Sam.

She was terrified, he could see it in her eyes. Yet, she didn't complain or whine. She simply held on to him, trusting him. He would never let her fall. This young woman who had practically attached herself to him like a leech was now his life. He would die for her.

Danny flew over Amity Park at a slow and gentle pace. Sam had buried her face in his chest, her grip around him never loosening. She looked up at him suddenly.

"I'm terrified of heights," she explained. Danny nodded in understanding.

"I'm not too comfortable with you carrying me around like a toy poodle," she said, then quickly added, "But don't let go."

"Do you want me to take us down?" Danny asked gently.

Sam shook her head. "No. I want to get used to it up here. With you."

So Danny flew around, going nowhere in particular, occasionally swooping higher or lower, but never going any faster. Sam had loosened her grip around him considerably, looking at the scene of twinkling lights below that was Amity Park.

It had grown darker. The stars were out and Sam gasped as the celestial beauty surrounded them, twinkling brightly. Danny began to lower them carefully, heading for FentonWorks.

He landed with a soft thud on the concrete steps and walked over to the alleyway near the house, shrouding them both from view.

Sam wondered why they were there, until Danny transformed back into human.

Sam let go of his hand and hugged him fiercely. She kissed him and smiled. "Although I love your ghost half, I like your human half better."

Danny smiled at her. He took her hand and led her back to FentonWorks, thinking he was the luckiest man alive.

-DP-

Jazz heard someone pacing around in the guest room. She slowly pressed her ear to the door, hearing the heavy footsteps only a boot could make pace feverishly back and forth. She slowly entered, the black overwhelming her eyes for a minute. Her vision adjusted to the little light and she could see Sam pacing across the room. Jazz knocked quietly on the wall.

Sam froze and looked up in the direction of the noise. She didn't relax as she saw Jazz, just smiled stiffly.

Jazz sighed and walked over to the bed, passing a clearly confused Sam. She sat down, looking up at the goth who had narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"Why aren't you up at dinner?" Jazz asked.

"Why aren't you?" Sam snapped back, placing her hands on her hips and scowling.

Jazz sighed. "Look," she began, in a voice that could almost be described as pleading. "I know we haven't gotten off to the best start, but I'm willing to start again if you are."

Sam studied the red-head for a moment. "Go on."

"Well," Jazz paused. "How about having lunch tommorow? Dad'll be buying new parts for the ghost-hunting gear"-she ignored Sam's flinch-"so it will just be you, Danny, me, and mom. What do you say?"

Sam gave her a look of disgust, like she was an animal that had rolled in something smelly. She could think of a million things she would rather do than spend—no, waste—time with Jazz, most of those things including Danny. Sam blushed at the thoughts, but plastered a look of anticipation on her face.

"Sure!" Sam said, feigning a smile. Years of practice had made her a perfect actress for emotions. No one ever doubted, or even paused to wonder if she was faking it.

Jazz smiled back, pleased that Sam had agreed so quickly. "Well, then, I'll be on my way now." She walked over to the door. She quietly shut it after her and Sam was left alone to think about what she was just about to do.

-DP-

Danny had received a note from Sam, saying Come to my room after dinner. He smiled inwardly, wondering what the goth girl had in store for him. He only had to knock once before the door swung open. He gaped at the sight before him.

Candles were decorated around the room in various places, glittering madly like stars. A small box of chocolate and strawberries lay on top of the nightstand, along with a new can of unopened whipped cream.

But the one thing that drew his attention the most, like a moth to a flame, was Sam. Sam sat on the edge of the bed, her face illuminated strangely by the dim glow of the candles. She wore an outfit that consisted of nearly nothing, but covered her more intimate places. She smiled crookedly at Danny, beckoning him closer.

Danny felt his feet move of their own accord into the room. He didn't know exactly what was going on, but he liked the look of things.

The last sound after he shut the door was a whisper of bedsheets, a soft giggle, and a sigh of relief.