A/N: YAY! I'm BACK! Had a great time, too, but now it's time to have an even BETTER time-getting back to my DP world! And I told y'all I'd give you a quick summary to make sure you're up to speed. So far: Spectra and Bertrand are hatching evil plans, in order, of course, to gain eternal youth. Bertrand discovered a plant in the Ghost Zone which masks their ghostly aura. He also accidentally discovers that the little machine he used to refine that masking perfume also detects, measures, sucks up and refines misery pheromones. And the best pheromones come from the angst between couples who break up. With that piece of useful info, Spectra and Bertrand are devising a way to break up Danny and Sam, and eventually, Tucker and Valerie, so that they can suck up their misery. But the two evil ghosts stumble upon an enchanted animal couple who may become instrumental in Spectra's solidifying plan. In the meantime, their evil plan has to be put 'on hold' for a little fluff time. And, remember the mantra: 'IDNOAC' and you'll be fine. Now, here is Chapter 6. Enjoy!
TrueHeart—Chapter 6—Easy Change
The smell of the cool, moist earth tickled her nose and brushed her warm cheeks. She didn't mind the chill in the air and didn't even miss the sun. The rhythmical tinkling of the tiny waterdrops as they dove gracefully off their stalactites into their small crystalline pools was like a music box, caressing her mind with its distinct melody.
About to begin their unusual picnic, she chuckled slightly at how the small lantern they brought was no where near to being a candle; but, still, the light that emitted from it was enough for the embedded crystals in the walls of their underground cavern to wink back at her. Not with the intensity that they had done when the light from Danny's ectoplasmic energy orb had struck them, but still pleasant enough to enjoy.
"Didn't I tell you how happy I am that we could finally get back here?" Sam asked her boyfriend, her voice echoing a little as she placed the picnic basket on the cold, hard ground.
Danny chuckled, "No, you didn't-If you don't include the past hundred times, that is…." He then smiled at her when she smirked. He put their blanket down, very pleased at knowing that she was pleased.
He went over to their picnic basket and placed it on the blanket. He then suggested, "Would you like to look around before lunch, then? It has been a long time since we've been here."
He smiled again when she said, "I'd love that!"
Flying over and landing at her side, he changed to his human form before taking her hand in one of his. He quickly grabbed the small lantern with his other hand as they began their 'tour'. The couple strolled down the 'underground park' trail they had first seen when they were searching for Amity Park's oldest hospital's foundation during the Spectre mystery.
As they walked along, Sam smiled at the sense of both peace and solitude here. She relished the small echoing of their footsteps and even of their quiet breathing. They seemed to be the only living creatures at the moment; and if she could, she would freeze time so that they could stay here forever.
The trail was easy enough to follow, as the mini-cavern they were in had many smaller caverns and trails carved into it. All of these natural wonders had been formed from eons of the earth's own artistic work. Each new pathway or room was eager to display its own marvels to the eager-to-see couple. Some of the rooms had various small crystalline beacons embedded within their walls that twinkled in endlessly different patterns as the couple passed by. Others had thick ribbons of drapery-like stalactites, which oozed from the cool ceiling like taffy, their brilliant colors reflecting the various minerals that they had delicately encased throughout time. Small white slender straws of stalactites also hung from the ceiling and beckoned the young teens to sip the cool water that dripped from them. But, they moved silently onward, taking it all in.
Danny was so enthralled that he didn't watch where he was going and rammed right into a large stalagmite jutting out of the ground. He chuckled in embarrassment when he jolted to a sudden stop.
But Sam squeezed his hand in reassurance and understanding. "It's all so captivating, isn't it?" she whispered.
"But not as much as you," he softly replied and squeezed her hand back.
She was too embarrassed to reply and merely blushed; and leading him on, quickly walked over to the small pool that another stalagmite had cupped in its one outstretched hand. She slowly swirled the cold water and played with the percolating calcareous water that continued to add its brew to the pool. But it did not give her the words to say at that moment. Sure, what he had said was kinda goofy. But, underneath, she really, really loved all that goofiness. Especially when Danny said it.
She turned back to him and smiled before they resumed their walk. Except for an occasional soft whistle of amazement uttered by Danny or a soft gasp of wonderment from Sam, they continued to stroll in silence.
Finally, they came upon a very small waterfall peaking from a hole in one of the walls. It emptied into a small pond, which had a large flat rock right next to it. The couple looked at each other, and before they knew it, they found themselves sitting on top of the boulder as the waterfall sung its lullaby to them.
Again, no words needed to be spoken, but then Danny looked at Sam in surprise when she took off her boots and plunged her feet—stockings and all—right into the pond. "Oh, that's cold!" she gasped with a slight giggle followed by a shiver. "But nice!" She added, softly playing with the water with her feet.
Danny quickly decided to join her; although, unlike her, he took off his socks and not just his sneakers. Then, he rolled his pant legs up, and stuck his feet in beside her own. But instead of playing with the water, he smirked; and with a twinkle in his eye, purposely kicked up the water so that the small wave he created splashed right onto his girlfriend.
"Hey!" Sam protested, gasping with the sudden, unexpected chill. But then, her face turned mischievous and she also kicked some water right back at him.
He also gasped at the cold onslaught, but counterattacked with an even more violent kick of water at her.
She screamed with delight when hit by his cold liquid blow, but she swatted him right back with a water-filled counter-blow. Again, he wouldn't be outdone, and with an impish smile, forcefully attacked her with an even larger watery wave of cold.
She was able to pull herself up to the shelf, easily avoiding his attempt. She laughed when she thwarted him, but did not hesitate to shove both of her feet back in, successfully swiping at him with her newest attack. She hit him squarely and his eyes widened.
That was it! Danny kicked more violently, shoving the water right at her. This time, they didn't stop and shrieked or laughed as they played in their vigorous water battle. Before too long, they were both drenched; but then laughing, they both jumped totally into the pond.
They continued to splash each other with more than their feet this time. After several minutes of this kind of fun, Sam suddenly sneezed and began to shiver.
"Bless you!" Danny added with a laugh and he quickly drew nearer to her. He wrapped his drenched arm around her wet shoulders, which only made her shiver more.
She pulled her wet hair away from her eyes and looked up at him, smiling weakly. But then, he changed into his ghostly form, and she shivered a little more when she felt the cold rings pass through her. Wordlessly, he lifted them both out of the water, made them both intangible, and floated to the edge of the pond. They were now completely dry.
"Thanks, Danny," she said when she felt his now warm arm around her. "You really know when to do the right thing."
"Part of the job, Citizen," he teased back with a low, semi-serious tone; and she shoved him away with a slight laugh. But he stumbled back, inadvertently tripped on a small, sturdy stone and fell right into the pond again.
"Sorry," she winced, as she reached out to help him up. She had not meant to shove him that hard.
Just as he grabbed her hand, he pulled himself out of the pond and became intangible, spraying her with the water that had sloughed off of him. She yelled at the new shower of cold water, and frowned in irritation, but only partly, because underneath, she felt that she had deserved that.
It was his turn to say "Sorry!" this time, as he had not meant for that to happen as well. He made her intangible and then grabbed her other hand when they rematerialized as dry as they had been. Interlocking their fingers together, he pulled her closer with both of their hands. And when they were now face-to-face, he let go of her hands and gently cupped her chin with both of his hands, as he said, "But I'm not sorry for this."
And just before their lips met, the little lantern's light flickered and dimmed, as if it were embarrassed to catch the couple at this private moment….
A few moments later, they pulled slowly away. Sam looked into Danny's eyes and her own eyes softened as she said, "You know, this might seem silly to say, but I really can't think of a better place to be right now. And, uh, I hope you don't think I'm crazy, but I still can't believe that after all this time that we're finally together."
"Yeah, me, either," he said at first. "But I'm just glad it finally happened. I guess I always kinda knew it all along…And now, after everything that's happened, it was meant to be, as it should be." His eyes widened a little in embarrassment. Did he just sound like Clockwork?
Sam smiled at the look on his face and resisted the urge to laugh. She knew he was speaking about their telepathic connection. And Clockwork. Instead, she uttered, "Yeah, me, too." But then she was embarrassed to say what her next emotional thought was….
She didn't know that she had relayed it accidentally to her boyfriend, who caught it squarely, as he heard her in his mind say, "I think I've always been in love with you."
But he didn't answer back audibly or mentally, as he knew that she had not meant to say that openly. Yet. He knew how difficult it still was occasionally for her to express her feelings. In fact, he could only recall one time she had actually said anything…endearing... And that was just after he had saved her life from Jiva, when all of their emotions were understandably running high.
But he knew how she was and rolled with it. Especially now that they had this special gift between them, he knew how she felt. In some way, they wouldn't need the words. And she could always tell him when she was ready, and that would be all right with him, too. Instead, he leaned down closer to her and gave her a gentle but long kiss.
Sam trembled a little at first—and not because she was cold. But she soon relaxed when he drew her closer.
A few moments later, they parted, and she laid her head right under his neck and said, "You know what I like about it all?"
"What's that, Sam?"
"I like that it hasn't really changed a thing. And I don't regret at all at having made the big jump to the whole girlfriend/boyfriend thing. It's only made everything…uhm, fuller…." She blushed at the lack of a better word.
"I mean, more complete. Like a void inside me has been filled," he again heard her mentally say.
This time, he gently answered her back with his mind, "Yeah, I understand."
She gasped, but didn't get mad. She only blushed more and stuttered, "U-Uhm, Sorry! I didn't mean to do that!"
"That's OK. I know. But I'm kinda glad you did." He gently grabbed her chin and lifted it up while pulling her closer again. As he kissed her, he suddenly felt like he was floating. But, strangely enough, he also felt stronger. She filled him with a warm surge of… power.
He felt time had stopped as he was flooded with all kinds of intense emotions. Then he wondered why he couldn't hear the waterfall anymore.
He felt Sam shudder again and he didn't understand why until they gently parted, and he looked all around them. This time, his face cringed in embarrassment. Seeing his breath as he spoke, he stuttered, "U-Uh, Sorry! I didn't mean to do that!"
"That's OK. I know," she answered, also seeing her breath. "But I'm kinda glad you did!"
They both laughed in embarrassment again. Danny wrapped his arm around her waist and said, 'Let's go get some lunch, OK?"
"OK," she agreed, just as Danny grabbed the little lantern. He then lifted off with her, and she slightly turned back, giving the room they were once in one last look before the light left it.
The room did look beautiful, even though it had been accidentally frozen by Danny's ice powers when he had kissed her.