The Power of Love

Danny walked as quickly as he could to get home. He could feel Melissa's breathing start to slow down, and he was getting worried. People stared at him as he passed, but he didn't care. He just had to get Melissa home to their parents. 'Where's Jazz when you need her?' Danny wondered. He finally saw the huge satillite signaling they were closing in on the FentonWorks house. He burst through the door, carrying her up to her room, and setting her on her stuffed animal covered bed. Danny suddenly felt chills when he looked at them. He always did, thinking her stuffed animals would come alive and eat him.

"Dwanny.." He was snapped out of his thoughts of the killer animals when he heard Melissa speak.

"Yeah?"

"Thank wou." He nodded. He didn't really know what she was saying thanks for, but right now he didn't really care.

"I'll be right back." He waited until she nodded, then he ran out of the room to get his mom and dad. As usual, they were in the lab, working on something that made a gigantic hole in the wall. (A/N: Sound familiar?) Upon hearing the lab door slam open, Maddie turned her gaze from the blueprints to see Danny trip over a wire that was connected to the wall. He sat up quickly before rushing to his mother.

"Daniel James Fenton! Why aren't you in school?" Danny winced upon hearing his full name, but shook his head.

"Mom! Melissa followed me to school and she's upstairs in her room! Something's wrong!" Danny raised an eyebrow when he heard a slight "Ow!" and seeing his father come out of the hole.

"Melissa did what?" Maddie exclaimed. She suddenly felt bad for ignoring their youngest child. She shook her head of the oncoming tears, and rushed upstairs to Melissa's room, pulling Danny with her. Once inside, Maddie's heart jerked in her chest. Melissa was still in the same position, but this time her face was back to it's original color and she was bouncing a stuffed bear up and down for her own amusement. She set it down though when she heard her door open.

"H-hey Mommy." Melissa said softly. Maddie walked slowly over to her. Danny followed and sat beside Melissa. Their mother kneeled in front of her before grabbing her in a hug, crying. "What's wrong, Mommy?" She asked, just as softly as before. Jack came into the room just then, walking to Melissa.

"Why did you leave the house, Missy? You know you're not allowed to leave without someone with you." Jack said, kneeling on the other side, in front of Danny.

"Melissa told me she was lonely. I don't know why she came to the school, but I'm glad I saw her. She looked tired." Danny said, concern flooding his eyes as he thought back to the experience. He shook his head, making whatever thought he was thinking go away. His attention was brought back to Melissa when she fixed her eyes to him. The six little words she spoke made him feel guilty for leaving for school to start with.

"I.. wanted to be with Dwanny.." Maddie turned her gaze to Danny, smiling softly.

"Well, honey, we'll let you rest. Danny, come on. I want to talk to you." Maddie said, grabbing her son's hand and dragging him out the door but not before patting Melissa on the head. Jack followed them. Melissa smiled, and grabbed her bear, hugging it tightly before resting her head on her over-sized pillow.

Once in the living room, Maddie set Danny on the arm of the chair, with her sitting beside him and Jack on the other side. "Oh, Danny, I'm so proud of you." Maddie said before bringing him into a tight embrace.

"Why?" He asked from her shoulder. Jack put a hand on Danny's back.

"Son, we're proud of you for not giving up on your sister. I know she's not exactly easy to take care of, and she must get annoying when she follows you around.." Jack trailed off upon seeing Danny's expression.

"Tell me about it.." He muttered. Maddie laughed softly.

"Danny, what we're trying to say is that no matter where you go, Melissa will always follow you because she loves you, and you must love her back because you just carried her eight blocks from school to home." Danny blushed, hanging his head in embarrassment. He lifted his head, looking at his mother.

"Well, I just don't.. want anything to happen to her. I worry about her." Danny admitted. His eyes suddenly filled with tears, and he blinked rapidly to dry them up but with no success.

"Dear? Why are you crying?" Danny felt a finger under his chin, forcing him to look up into the face of his mother. He avoided eye contact, and sighed, blinking away the rest of the remaining tears, but his eyes were still glassy.

"Is she going to die?" Maddie seemed taken aback by the question, and soon her eyes filled with tears. She looked to Jack, who seemed to get the message his wife was sending him. He turned to his son.

"Danny, you know Melissa has a weak heart, and that she was supposed to die when she was only a month old. But, during the time that she was standing to the point at where she was walking much like everyone else, her heart had to work faster to keep up with her progress." Jack swallowed back the lump that was growing in his throat, continuing. "If she continues to follow you to school, her heart might.. give out from the pressure, and she could have a heart attack." He tried to avoid eye contact with his son, but it was becoming to hard to even look at his hands without tears blurring his vision.

Danny stared wide-eyed at his father, letting his 7-year-old mind digest the information Jack had just given him. He slowly lowered his head, his eyes rapidly filling up with tears, and he closed them tightly, his hands forming fists. He soon felt four warm arms wrap themselves around him, but he didn't care. "No.." Danny whispered. Melissa couldn't die, she wouldn't. He wouldn't let her. "No.." He said more confidently. "She's not going to die. I won't let her." He said, his voice rising in volume. Maddie smiled sadly at her son. He really was concerned about her.

"Of course she won't, sweetheart. As long as you're there with her, she'll be happy." Maddie said, her own tears still running down her face. Danny nodded, and squirmed to get out of the death grip he was currently in. Once free, he stood looking at his parents.

"Do I have to go back to school?" He asked, his eyes still red from crying. Maddie's heart fell apart at the look in his eyes, and she sighed.

"No, sweetheart. You stay home and keep Melissa company. Your father and I are going back to the lab." Danny smiled and shoved a fist in the air.

"Yes!" Jack and Maddie smiled as they both stood and walked back to the lab. After making sure they were gone, he ran back upstairs to Melissa' room. He opened the door slowly, wincing when it creaked. He slowly walked in, grabbed a chair on his way to her bed and set it down, making himself comfortable. Danny finally fixed his gaze on Melissa. She was asleep with the teddy bear tucked inbetween her arm. He smiled softly at the sight, and sighed. He slowly reached out and moved her hair away from her sleeping eyes. She seemed to feel it because she opened her eyes, much like the first time, making Danny jump from the sudden movement. He smiled when he heard her giggle.

"Hi Dwanny," Melissa whispered, grabbing his hand and rolling over to face him fully.

"Hi Missy." He answered, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. He knew that always made her sleepy, and he smiled when her eyes started to get heavy. "Are you okay?" Danny asked, his forehead wrinkling in concern.

"Wes, doctur Dwanny, I'm fwine." She said, smiling, but frowned at the look on his face. She sighed, her eyes moving to his thumb still moving over her hand. "I'm fwine Dwanny, really." She heard him sigh, and his thumb moved to a slower pace, and she felt her eyes get heavy again.

"You need your rest. I'll be here when you wake up, Missy. I promise." Melissa smiled slightly upon hearing her nickname, and nodded. Her eyes closing fully, then she frowned. She knew he'd be there, but she wanted to feel him there too. She opened her eyes again, and stared at his sky blue eyes. He was staring at their hands, his eyes tearing slightly.

"Dwanny?" He jumped from the sudden voice, but switched his gaze to her eyes.

"Yeah?" She bit her lip, still looking to their intertwined hands.

"Will you sweep with me?" She asked, softly, and slowly raised her eyes to his. He seemed to be thinking, and he smiled before letting go of her hand.

"Sure." Melissa smiled wide and she scooted over to the wall so Danny could get in the bed. He took off his shoes, and slipped under the covers. Danny raised up onto his forearm, resting his head on his hand. "Go to sleep now, okay?" She nodded, and yawned. Walking to his school really tired her out. She smiled when she felt Danny's hand grab hers and start to rub his thumb across her hand again. Soon enough, sleep took over her.

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Maddie dropped the wrench she was holding, and stretched. Kneeling over for one hour really did a number on your back. She winced when her spine popped, and she stood looking over at her husband.

"Jack?" She heard a loud bump and knew that he'd hit his head again. He came out of the machine rubbing his head, confirming her statement.

"Yes, Maddie?" He asked, setting down the power drill.

"I'm worried about the kids upstairs. Let's go see them." Maddie started up the stairs out of the lab with Jack close behind. She slowly creeped up the stairs and stopped outside of Melissa's room. Fear and concern clouded her mind when she didn't hear anything. She opened the door slowly, and gasped at the sight. Maddie walked into the room to get a better view. She quickly raised a hand to her mouth to prevent a loud 'aww' from escaping. Danny and Melissa were both fast asleep, with his hand still grasping hers, and Melissa still with her teddy bear, a large smile on her face. (A/N: I am picturing this right now, and I'm surpressing an 'awww' as you read.)

"What is it, Ma-" Jack was abruptly cut off by Maddie rushing over to him, pressing her hand over his mouth.

"Shh.. come here, Jack and see this." She quickly pulled Jack over to their children, and she watched as his face softened at the sight. "Jack... hurry and get the camera before they wake up!" Maddie whispered urgently. Jack did as told, and he came back in the room seconds after handing the camera to Maddie. "This is going to make a great postcard cover." She whispered to herself more to Jack, and took a few pictures.

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Jazz came home that afternoon, her face red from anger. She was told by the principal that Danny had skipped class without an excuse, and she was close to the point of telling their parents, but she wanted his side of the story first. Jazz opened the door and slammed it shut. She saw their parents sitting on the couch looking at something instead of working on whatever they work on in the lab.

"What's going on? Where's Danny?" She wanted to see what they'd do if she mentioned Danny. Maybe they'd figure out he didn't come home with her. They looked over at her, their expressions still shaped like they'd seen a baby cat or something. She walked over to them, and saw that they were holding pictures.

At that moment when Jazz sat on the opposite side of her mother, Danny and Melissa came downstairs, looking refreshed but still like they'd just woken up, and they probably did. "What's going on?" Danny asked, rubbing his eye while his other hand still held onto Melissa's. His clothes were ruffled and Melissa still clung to her teddy bear. Maddie couldn't help herself anymore.

"Oh, Danny! You and Melissa look so cute together!" Jazz raised an eyebrow and turned back to her mother.

"You aren't mad? Danny skipped class!" Jazz's expression went to true confusion when Maddie sighed then smiled.

"I know, sweetheart. Danny came home earlier today. Melissa had followed him to school and he carried her home. Then me and your father found them asleep when we went to check up on them." Danny froze. "We also got pictures!" She held them up to let Jazz see. Her anger quickly melted when she saw them sleeping.

"Aww! Danny! Missy!" Danny and Melissa exchanged glances, starting to get worried if Jazz was going insane. "You two are so adorable! Mom, you have to make me a copy of this picture!" Danny groaned and Melissa smacked her forehead.

"I will dear. I'm making copies for the entire family!" Maddie turned her attention to the two youngest Fenton's. "Danny, Melissa! Come see!" Danny hesitantly walked forward, pulling Melissa behind him. He took the picture from his mom and held it so he and Melissa could see it. He smiled and he looked at Melissa. He handed it back to Maddie, and suddenly a blur of red flashed before him and he felt Jazz squeezing him and Melissa from behind, making Melissa's head come into contact with his shoulder. She winced from the sudden contact, and she reached up to rub her head.

"Mom, hurry! Take a picture of me with them!" Danny groaned, and rolled his eyes while Melissa giggled behind her hand. Maddie quickly grabbed the camera.

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After a couple of pictures were taken, they all sat down on the couch. Well, Jack, Maddie and Jazz sat on the couch, Melissa and Danny sat on the floor. Jazz took a glance at them before sighing.

"So, what happened at school? I never really got the entire story." Danny cast his eyes downward, and Melissa noticed. She sighed, and decided to tell them instead.

"Well, after Dwanny went to swkool, I got wonely. So I followed him, which was a stwupid idea because I awlmost fell dwown. Dwanny saw me, and twook me home." She explained the best she could, because she didn't really remember all the details. Melissa looked back up at Jazz, then at her parents. They seemed shocked, but they hadn't heard it either. Jazz looked as if she were on the point of crying, but not because of sadness.

"Awww! You followed Danny to school! That's so sweet! I knew you two were inseperable!" Danny raised his eyes to Jazz, and smiled weakly. He glanced at Melissa to see her doing the same thing. Melissa suddenly put a hand to her forehead. Danny fully turned his attention to her. Maddie and Jazz got up to sit beside Danny.

"Missy? What's wrong?" He asked, worriedly. When she didn't answer, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his lap again. He pressed his hand to her forehead again, and his eyes knitted together in concern. He looked up at his mother. "Mom, what's wrong with her?" He saw his mother shrug.

"Probably too much excitement, Danny. She'll be fine." Although Danny knew she was just trying to cheer him up, he wanted to believe she was alright. He switched his gaze to Melissa when she moved slightly in his lap.

"Dwanny?"

"Yeah?"

"I wuv you. Wuo know that, wight?" Danny nodded.

"I love you too." She closed her eyes, seeming satisfied at his answer, smiling.

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(cries) Never in my 14 years of existance have I ever cried at one of my own stories! Probably because I'm so sensitive, but Melissa's not dead. She just got a sleepy spell and needed to lie down, and she just wanted to tell Danny she loved him before she fell asleep. Anyway, it seems easier for me to write this story than my other ones. (shrugs) Hope you like the quick updates, cuz I sure do like writing them. XD

Disclaimer: I don't own DP, but Missy is mine. Just so you know.. and you probably do.. (grins sheepishly)