Warning: Adult content, mpreg and high tensions.
Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom.
Chapter 11: Return
The girls stayed with us until they feel asleep late that night. Sam and I laid them down and then Sam laid down herself. I pretended to fall asleep as I held her but once I knew she was sound asleep, I turned intangible and flew up to the Ops Center. On the roof, though, I wouldn't be alone. Tucker sat on the top, where I used to sit, waiting on me. I sat down, Tucker keeping his gaze on the city.
I looked over my town, watching the city lights sparkle in the cold, November night. Horns honked, cats screeched and dogs barked as I retreated from my mind. When I felt that nausea return, I hung my head, weeping. Tucker still didn't say a word.
I cried until the frustration was released. "When did you start feeling like that," Tucker asked me.
"I don't know," I said, sucking in a slow breath. I exhaled, a puff of my breath expelling from my mouth. "The first time I noticed it was when Mom accused me of not missing the girls. That was Megan's birthday."
"Do you have any other symptoms of depression," Tucker asked me.
"Yeah," I said, nodding. I couldn't believe I was admitting this but I needed him. My girls needed me therefore I needed him. I had to be honest. "I've seen more death than I can count, Tucker. I've watched ghosts' rape women. I've been apart from my family for three months. As long as the girls were with me, I was okay. When I pawned them off on you, I shut myself off."
"You need to see Dr. Richardson," Tucker said, looking to me finally. His breath was visible in the air, too.
"I will," I nodded, hanging my head. "I just can't face this, Tucker. I didn't miss my own children and now I don't want to see them." I thought I'd start crying again but I held it together. "I don't know what's wrong with me, Tucker. I need your help, though. Please say you'll help me."
"You know I will, Danny," Tucker said, his facial expression softening. "You're sick, Danny. This isn't your fault."
"I feel like it is," I said, tears burning in my eyes.
"Well, it's not," Tucker said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "As soon as Mom goes to bed, I'm going to look up the recipe for the power booster. She won't have to know I'm taking it. I'll help you as long as I can but you have to get medical help. There's only so much I can do."
"I'll go tomorrow," I nodded. "I just need your word you won't mention this to anyone else."
"What are you going to do," Tucker asked me. "You can't keep this from Sam. She'll find out."
"I don't know," I said, looking back over the town. "That's why I came out here. Maybe I can figure things out before morning."
"I hope you can," Tucker said, standing up. "Because it's going to be a long road to recovery."
As Tucker crossed over the railing, heading inside, I released a breath. "I know." Tucker opened the door and went inside, leaving me alone.
I pulled my legs up, tucking my arms beneath them. The town below went about its business, reminding me that sometimes we can pretend to be normal when we're not. I've been a ghost for so long that I forgot what it was like to be a human. I owe it to my girls to be as normal as I can be. I still love them; I would do anything for them. I just can't touch them; at least not without help. I needed to be able to avoid contact without revealing this dark secret of Tucker's and mine.
"No," I whispered as I realized what I had to do. I had to make a choice, though. And they'll always come first.
(04)
I made sure I was up first and for appearances, I checked on the girls. I tucked them in again and returned Megan's stuffed dog to her hands. I took a shower and dressed for the day. The house was completely plunged in darkness even though it was almost seven in the morning. This late in the year, the sun had yet to rise. I grabbed the decanter from the coffee pot and filled it with water from the tap. It was going to be a long day today and I didn't even want to imagine what I would have to do to pull this kind of trickery off.
I added the water to the tank and put the decanter back under the drip pan. The dark black liquid began to pool out of the funnel and into the container below. I sat down at the table, in a space where the chair was already pulled out. Sitting on the table in front of me was a book. I ran my hand over the cover; Magnetism: Understanding the Pull that Pulls us All. I flipped the book open, the section bookmarked by a thin notebook.
The notebook had some markings in it as well. There was a well-organized column that flowed. The first list in the column was the word 'portal'. I swallowed.
Magnetism. Children. Castle. Secrets. Death. The list went further but it didn't tell me anything I needed to know. What was this list for? I gently lifted the book out of the textbook and opened it up, laying it on top of the ghost book. I flipped a page in reverse.
Humans with ghost abilities; rare in real world but creates powerful ghosts in Ghost Zone. The powers will usually present themselves in obscure ways; could explain kids but doubtful.
This began at the portal accident. That's when everything changed. Checked achieve—missing. Nothing before that point is missing; countless clippings (not just Danny's camera) missing. Hours of footage missing. What could have Danny so scared he'd clip footage?
I flipped through the notebook but I couldn't find anything concrete. If this is all Mom knows, then I'm just at risk of being exposed. I thought she had her answers. She knows the dots but she can't connect the picture.
Standing up, I put the notebook back where I found it with the column upright. I closed the textbook, running my hand down the Magnetism book. This is the most dangerous thing for her to be researching. How did she get a book on Magnetism?
"Danny," Mom's voice announced and I turned around, seeing her enter from the lab. "Hey, baby, what are you doing up?" Her eyes fell on the book but she looked back in my eyes, trying to hide a nervous disposition.
"Oh, I couldn't sleep anymore," I said, looking back to the table. I moved to the counter, grabbing a mug. "How long have you been up?"
"Pretty much all night," Mom said, coming up beside me. "Thanks." She took the mug I gave her and turned to the pot. She poured the coffee in her mug and then filled mine. "I've been trying to figure something out and it's been bugging me. It's been a long night."
"Have you been in the lab all night," I asked. Tucker wanted to find the recipe for the power booster last night. I wonder if he got it.
"Not all night," Mom remarked. She put the mug on the counter, grabbing the powdered creamer and the sugar bowl. She fixed her coffee like she liked it and then gestured them to me.
"I like mine black," I said, taking a drink. Mom nodded. "No taste… remember?"
"Danny… nevermind," Mom said. I swallowed, looking back to the table. She's so close to figuring it out. Should I go ahead and fill her in? There's no way I can keep this a secret until Graduation. But if she doesn't know I'm Phantom, then it's best to keep the charade up. I'd hold onto this secret as long as I can.
"So, what are you working on," I asked. I wondered if she'd tell me the truth.
"I want to know who that group was. Who is the network? The network for what? It makes no sense."
I cocked my head at her. "That's what you're working on. It's a group of followers of the Forbidden Zone."
"The Forbidden Zone," Mom questioned. "What's that?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out," I remarked. I took another drink. "All we know is the Forbidden Zone is where all the ghosts that start the war are from."
"You're kidding," Mom declared. "They're followers. Where is this Forbidden Zone?"
"No one knows," I answered. "There's only rumors and speculation that it exists at all. I fought a ghost once that was a follower of Hitler. He said he was in the Forbidden Zone."
Mom nodded. "It's happening so fast. I thought we'd have more time." Mom walked to the light switch and turned on the lights. "Jack," she muttered under her breath.
"Dad turn the lights off last night," I asked. I guess she has been in the lab a long time.
"Yeah," Mom said, going back to the table. She picked up the book and tucked it under her arm, on the side away from me. I guess she thinks I haven't seen it yet. With the lights out, it's a good guess. "He checked on me about three o'clock and I told him I wouldn't be to bed. I guess I was downstairs longer than I thought." Her eyes looked to the clock and she choked. "Seven-fifteen! Shoot, I need to start breakfast!"
"You need to get some sleep," I said, walking over to her. I put my hand on the book. "Now, tell me where to put this and you leave everything to me."
Mom's eyes widened and she watched my face carefully. I kept my expression vacant, pretending like I didn't know anything about the book. "No," Mom said slowly. "I-I'll put the book away myself. I-I have some things I need to put away downstairs anyway."
"Okay," I nodded. "But then you're going to bed. I'll take care of everything."
"You just got home," Mom protested.
"Which means I'm seriously behind in my responsibilities," I countered. "Now, I'm not taking no for an answer. I can handle breakfast, the house and the kids. You need to get some sleep."
"Okay," Mom conceded. She stepped away from me, tucking the book higher in the crook of her arm. She was hiding that book. When she started down the steps, I turned intangible and sunk through the floor. I went invisible and hovered near the ceiling. Once at the counter, Mom looked back to the changing room. She squatted down at the work station, punching in a code. I internally cursed when I couldn't see the code she input. Inside the counter were countless items. I saw half a dozen books, samples, notebooks and film. What has she found out?
Mom closed the door and I heard a beep and a pressurized sound. She stood back up and cleaned off the work station. She looked back to the changing room and reclined on the counter. She released a breath. "Taste. Smell. Touch. This makes no sense. He should not be this impervious. He's like the children… but damnit! I know he's not half ghost! Jack nor I are ghosts and there's no other way for him to be like this." She released a frustrated growl. "And it doesn't explain Sam or Tucker. I have to get a blood sample from them. They'll never let me get that close though."
She stood up straight and headed to the changing room. I dove for the counter and tried to phase my hand on it. I was shocked. I retrieved my hand back, shaking the feeling out. I grunted, flying back through the ceiling. I flew to the refrigerator, grabbing an armful of food in a split second. I flew to the counter, slowing down and acting normal. Mom opened the door.
"That was fast," I said, smiling at her. Mom nodded, distracted. "Now, go lay down. I've got everything under control."
"Okay, sweetheart," Mom said. She walked up to me, kissing me on the cheek. I saw the slightest jerk but a smile spread across her face. I acted like I hadn't noticed and she started for the living room. I watched her closely in my peripheral vision. Mom stopped shortly before exiting the kitchen, looking at me closely. As she started moving again, I noticed her touch her lips. She's not letting anything slip by her now. She's searching for the war path… and she's nearly found it.
(04)
I finished breakfast just about the time Sam came down the stairs. When she entered the room, I picked up the sausages and took it to the table. "Good morning," Sam smiled at me. I kept my eyes on the table.
"Morning."
"You were up early this morning," Sam smiled at me. She walked up behind me, snaking her arm around my waist. I patted her hand gently and tried not to show how comfortable she made me. I made a choppy jerk and backed away, trying to look uncomfortable but trying not to show it.
"Couldn't sleep," I said, my voice rough. I closed my eyes, trying not to let her see. If you aren't coming back to me, tell me now. Don't lead me on. This was going to hurt both of us but I had to choose. I felt tears burning around my eyes but I had to come up with something. It's either show my discomfort around the girls… or pretend I was uncomfortable with Sam. She would understand but she's never going to know. No one besides Tucker and I is ever going to know.
And here I was again, playing fire with our relationship. Something I promised her I'd never, ever do again. This time, she'll never forgive me.
"Are you okay," Sam asked me. I put the skillet in the sink, trying to control my emotions. I had to pull this off effortlessly… and just thinking about hurting her was killing me.
"Fine," I said, my voice breaking. Would it be so bad? Sam is the love of my life. My children will grow up and find their own somebody they can't live without. She wouldn't judge me like that. I have an illness… one I'm going to overcome. I just need time.
"No, you're not," Sam declared. She grabbed my arm, turning me to her. Her purple eyes searched mine, worry crossing her features. "Tell me what's wrong, Danny. I can help."
"I—," I began but I couldn't get it out. My eyes filled with tears but I blinked them away. "I'm just a little emotional, that's all." I turned away from her, opening the oven and pulling out the biscuits. "I'm different, Sam. I'm not the same man I was when I left."
"I know that," Sam said softly. I put the pan on the burners and placed the biscuits in a bread bowl. "But you're still the man I love. I hate seeing you distraught."
"I've changed, Sam. You-you don't know what I've seen out there. Just give me some time, honey," I shuttered a breath. "I need some time to adjust to living like this again."
Sam stepped into my arms, her hand stroking my face gently. "I love you. You will never be alone again. I promise." She reached for my lips, kissing me deeply. I forced myself to keep the kiss simple and try not to kiss her the way I wanted to. I wanted her to think back to this in a few days and realize I've been different since I came home. As much as I need Sam, I have to look out for my girls. My girls come before Sam… no matter how painful the alienation is going to be.
Sam sat down at the table as I began scrambling the eggs. As I got closer to being done, my family, shy Mom, began coming down. Dom and Gage brought the kids down last and I served their food, forcing myself to act completely normal. We ate breakfast and the kids started to play while I cleaned up. The only people not here were Joseph, Mom, Tucker and his parents and Brit and her parents. I dried my hands and went into the living room, sitting down in Dad's chair. I tried not to look at Sam, forcing myself to watch the kids play with a smile on my face.
It was around noon when Tucker came in the room from the kitchen. I looked at him in shock but he just nodded. I guess he got the recipe that he needed. "So," Tucker said, bending down to Megan's level. "Are you ready for your nap, little one?"
"I'm sleepy," Megan said, clutching her dog to her chest. Tucker smiled, lifting her up. Sam and I stood up, I picking up Lilly and Jamie while Sam got Jacky. We took them upstairs, laying them down for their naps. I could feel the fear and anguish fade now that Tucker was here. He was helping me again.
"So," Sam whispered as we left the room. "Why did you come in from the kitchen?"
"I was hungry," Tucker said, giving her a goofy smile. "Why else?"
"Oh," Sam said, looking down. She shook her head, "Yeah. That makes sense." She pushed him gently. "You are always hungry."
"What have you two been up to," Tucker asked with a smile.
"Watching the kids play," I replied.
"They didn't want to go to sleep until you came over," Sam chuckled. "Megan was about to collapse but she was holding out for Uncle Tucker."
"I love that little girl," Tucker smiled. "So, what are we doing today?"
I walked past the stairs, peeking in on Mom. She wasn't in her room. "Shoot," I declared. "I told her to lay down."
"Mom," Tucker asked, furrowing his brow.
"Yes," I declared. I started down the stairs, two at a time. "I wonder how long she's been up. I'm trying to keep her off the trail!"
"What trail," Sam asked. "Is that what was wrong with you this morning?"
"No," I replied. "I just caught her reading a book about Magnetism last night. She's been doing some research that has me worried."
"Like what," Tucker asked me.
"I spied on her this morning and she was talking about me being half ghost and the impossibility of that because she nor Dad are ghosts. She also said it wouldn't explain you two. I'm afraid she'll stumble upon the truth."
"She probably will," Tucker shrugged. I shook my head, entering the kitchen. "She's really close, Danny. She's already blocked me somehow. I can't read her mind anymore. Not even a word thought."
"I don't know about her," I groaned. "She's on the right path, I'm afraid, but she's not going in the right direction. I dread when she turns around and starts in the right direction."
"It'll happen," Tucker shrugged. "I'm not bothering with it anymore. She's not going to get my goat." I had to make Dad drag her out of the lab so I could get the recipe. I couldn't do that last night because I can't get inside her brain. Once I influenced Dad to distract her for me, though, I was able to do what I needed to. I gave up last night after one o'clock. It was evident she wasn't leaving.
Yeah. She was still up when I got up this morning. I had her lay down but now I'm thinking she took the shoot downstairs. She wanted to make me believe she was asleep.
Probably.
I entered the changing room and crossed the small HAZMAT suit filled room in a few bounds. I entered the lab. "Mom," I declared. She jumped.
"Hey, Danny-boy," Dad smiled at me. "What's up?"
"I told you to get some sleep, Mom. You staying up all day isn't helping!"
"I have work to do, Danny. Now be a good boy and leave me to work!"
I walked over to her, flipping her over my shoulders. Mom gasped as Sam and Tucker started snickering. "Danny," Dad cried, surprised.
"Mom is going to bed now," I said as I started for the changing room. "You can forget it! You're getting some sleep!"
"Daniel James Fenton, put me down this instance," Mom declared. I passed through the changing room, starting up the stairs. Mom was settling down but only because she knew I was too strong for her. I carried Mom up the stairs and into her and Dad's room. I dropped her gently on the bed. "You are in big trouble, mister!"
"You're getting some sleep," I announced. I went to her control panel and put a lockdown on the shoot, setting a password. "You'd better not come out of this room until at least four! Now get some sleep. You're probably exhausted."
"I was fine, Danny. Sweetheart, I know you're worried about me but I was fine. I was going to go to bed early."
"No, you were going to pull another all-nighter," I accused. Her eyes widened and I knew she was. "Mom, you have to get some sleep. Drinking the energy drinks doesn't cut it. You could get yourself hurt. I don't know when the last time you slept was. As far as I know, this could be your fourth or more day with no sleep. Now get some rest. I'm home and you don't have to worry about me anymore. Anything else can wait."
Mom released a deep sigh. "Yeah. I was using the energy drinks. I did get some sleep when we were in South America but I have work to do! Time is slipping away."
I sat down beside her on the bed, looking in her eyes. "Sam, Tucker and I are fine, Mom. We've been doing this for three years now. Just because this is new to you doesn't mean we're new to it, too." Her eyes widened. "I know you're close. We've talked it over and you've been dropping hints left and right. We know you're close to our secret and we're okay… sort of, with it. You don't have to worry. This is our life. We know how it goes. Just relax and let us tell you in our own time."
"How can I," Mom asked, searching in my eyes. "I'm so confused. All the evidence points to one conclusion but it is impossible! I know I can get the answer. I just need to find the question first."
"You need to slow down and not worry so much. I love you, Mom, and I know you can handle it. I'm not afraid of you finding out. I'm only scared that the answer you seek is going to scare you. I know it will. That's why I haven't told you; that's why I erased your memories. You deserved the peace you've had for the past two years. I know it seems like you've been living in a war zone but trust me… when you're finally included, you will truly understand."
Mom rubbed my face with her hand. "What is your temperature, Danny?"
"It's warm," I nodded. "It's a part of my biology now. It's nothing you have to worry about."
"Your DNA… it's not the same anymore, is it?"
"No," I said. I stood up. "But I'm me. I haven't changed who I am. I'm more hardened and my responsibilities are different but I'm still the same boy I was before August 27, 2004."
"What happened to you," Mom asked, her eyes filling with tears. "Please, you don't have to tell me the whole truth. Just tell me what it was like."
"It was life changing, Mom. I got through it, though. I survived."
"I should have been there for you," Mom said, looking down.
"It was something I had to go through alone. I'm stronger because of it."
"Was Sam and Tucker with you," Mom asked, tears falling.
"They were in the room… but they weren't with me. All three of us were alone that day even though we were in the same room together."
"Were Sam and Tucker involved," Mom asked. "Did the same thing that changed you change them?"
"No and yes," I replied. "I was first but they were a part of it too."
"Thank you," Mom said, wiping her eyes. "I'm no closer to getting any answers but I needed to hear that. I will figure it out but I needed to know something about what happened."
"I hope I didn't give too much away," I said, turning to the door. "Four o'clock. No sooner."
"Okay," Mom said. She stood up from the bed, going into her and Dad's private bathroom. I closed the door.
I came down the stairs, going into the kitchen. I opened the freezer, pulling out a tub of ice cream. I went to the drawer and got a spoon, sitting down to eat. I started eating the vanilla ice cream but something was off with it. I wanted something else with it.
"How did it go," Sam asked as she and Tucker sat down beside me.
"She's been using the energy drinks to stay awake. Goodness only knows how long she'd been up before she found me. She said she did get some sleep in Venezuela." I groaned, standing up. "I can't stand it."
"What," Sam asked.
"Oh boy," Tucker said, looking away. "He's getting cravings."
"Shut up," I grumbled. I sorted through the cabinet, opting to grab the peanut butter. I took my ice cream and peanut butter to the blender.
"Peanut butter and ice cream. Nothing wrong with that," Sam said. Thank you.
"Except he doesn't get cravings unless he's pregnant," Tucker retorted.
"Oh," Sam said, frowning.
"I'm not pregnant," I said, rolling my eyes. "I just want… some texture in my ice cream."
"Your new baby girl wants something particular," Tucker retorted.
"How do you know it's a girl," Sam asked.
"Because I think Vlad is a dud," Tucker snorted. "So far, all he's cranked out is girls."
"Eddie and Jacob would object to that," I retorted.
"Right," Tucker said, frowning. "Okay. Maybe I have a little nephew on the way."
Will you listen to yourself, I declared. Come on, Tucker! The last thing we need is for me to be pregnant. Besides, I haven't gained any weight. It's not true!
Yeah, well I am convinced you are going to have another baby. You're showing the signs. You didn't exactly show with Lilly either until you started eating well.
"Shut up," I retorted. I started blending the ice cream and peanut butter.
(04)
The clinic was a little busy when I stopped by. Tucker had distracted my family so that I could get away and now it was my turn to keep up my end of the bargain. Dr. Richardson was never with a patient, though, so I was free to see her. She was sitting at her desk, her hair in a new perm style, cropped short. She was talking with someone on the phone and I imagined it was her husband by the smile on her face. I hung back, not wanting to interrupt her phone call.
"Come on in," she called out once her phone call ended. I stepped into the full of her view and her eyes widened. "Danny?"
"Hey," I smiled. "I like your hair."
She pushed her chair out, allowing me to see all of her. I gaped at the ballooned abdomen. "I can't believe you're here!"
"I can't believe you're pregnant," I declared, looking at her face. "When did this happen?"
She blushed. "A few months ago. Number three."
"Congratulations," I smiled. I hugged her, giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "Do you know what it's going to be?"
"She's a girl," Richardson smiled. "Daddy's first girl. Going to be spoiled rotten with her big brothers."
"I'd say," I smiled. "The boys are… fourteen and eight now, right?"
"Yep," she nodded. "I thought I was done." She shook her head. "She decided to invite herself to this party." She chuckled softly.
"Well, congratulations," I smiled. I urged her back to her chair. "Here, off your feet."
"Last I heard, you were traveling the world. When did you get back?"
"Yesterday," I said, sitting across from her desk. I sat back, crossing my leg across the other. "I thought I'd stop by and see everyone."
"We've missed you, ghost boy," Richardson smiled at me warmly. "So, what did you do out there?"
"Oh, you know. Stop some bad ghosts, rescue some people, save the world; typical teenager stuff," I said, putting on a mask. I just couldn't do it; not now at least. She was more than my doctor; they all were. They were my friends and I didn't want to come see them only because I needed something. I wished I could, just once, stop by only to say hello. These guys have saved my life more than I can count.
"Yeah. My son just stopped an asteroid from destroying the entire planet last week," she quipped, a playfulness to her voice.
"Wow, at fourteen. He's doing well. I didn't do that until I was fifteen."
"That's right," Richardson laughed, realizing that I had just turned fifteen when the Disasteroid happened. "I thought you were still fourteen. What did you do at fourteen?"
I gave her an incredulous look. "Too many things to count, sister." She laughed. "So, what have you been up to lately?"
"Besides being five months pregnant," she laughed, "not much. My only patient decided to see the world."
"How are the boys liking school," I asked.
"Oh, they love it," she smiled. "Denver is in second grade and he loves the way his classes are taught. The teacher is wonderful and he is really interested in having the freedom to learn what he wants. I was worried about trusting an eight year old with a laptop but it's incredible. I don't think a herd of elephants walking across it could break it."
"Mom and Dad really wanted to make the laptops sturdy," I smiled. "The durability came in handy with Cujo around. I don't know how many times he would start a game of tug of war with the laptop as the rope. They're sturdy."
Richardson covered her mouth with her hand. "I'd say," she snickered. "So Cujo followed you."
"Everywhere I went," I grumbled. "He would stick with me for a while, then he'd go off on his own for a while. It never failed, though, because he was right back with me before I knew he was gone."
"That dog loves you," she smiled. "Be glad you had a friend."
"I had friends," I said, settling back. I crossed my arms casually. "But I get what you're saying. I was glad to have him along, even if he didn't stick with me all the time."
"Admit it, he was welcome company," she smiled.
"Very," I laughed, bowing my head. Sometimes, he was the only thing that kept me centered. After I couldn't drink anymore, he really helped. I really missed him when I went undercover.
"So, how many bad things did you see," she asked me, turning serious.
"Bad things," I said, feigning ignorance. "You mean ghosts?"
"You know what I mean," she said, giving me a stern look. "Come on, Danny. I'm not only your therapist, I'm the one person who knows you better than yourself. You didn't come here to say hello."
I sighed, reclining forward and taking my right foot with my left hand. "Tucker asked me to stop by. I didn't want to just show up with problems."
"I'm your doctor. You're supposed to just show up with problems. What happened, sweetheart?"
"The ghosts were… evil," I said, looking to her collection of ducks. Every shape, size, color and type of duck décor decorated her office. She was a huge duck fan. I spotted the duck I bought her for Christmas last year sitting on her bookshelf. A blue-gray ceramic duck, the entire ornament was hand detailed. It wasn't cheap, either. I had it special ordered. She loved it when she unwrapped it.
"You lost someone," she asked softly. "I knew the day would come."
"I didn't just lose someone," I said, looking down. "I lost many."
Her eyes widened as I looked back up. "Many," she asked to clarify.
"Twenty-five a day," I said, my throat clogging up. I cleared it. "They were trying to prove something. The ghosts they were following are the most evil humans this world had to offer. I imagine some did it because they only aspire to be at their level, but many probably never killed a human. You could tell by the choppy work. They either went overboard or done it too quickly. We were dealing with amateurs but they were trying to kill. Kill they did."
"I'm sorry, Danny," Richardson said, looking down. "God, I don't even know what to do. I'm not trained to deal with first responders or soldiers. You'll have to work with me, okay."
"The only thing I need from you is help with my girls," I said, tightening my grip on my ankle. I released a breath.
"Your girls," Richardson questioned. "I thought they were in town for the most part."
"They were," I nodded. "It's not they that need the help. It's about them that I need help. I think I'm suffering from some kind of depression about children or my children are taking on the form of my anxieties. I'm having trouble connecting to them."
"Your girls," she repeated. "But… you've never had any issues with your girls."
"I know," I said, nodding my head slowly. "I don't know if they told you or not, but Sam had a miscarriage. As you know, the miscarriage becomes a ghost in the Ghost Zone. I think I may have some kind of weird form of post-partum."
"Not possible," she replied. "You aren't raising him. You hardly would have any contact with him. Megan's too old for you to go into post-partum and this new baby wouldn't be able to project that kind of feeling. Lilly and Megan are representing responsibility right now. It's not your children. You don't have any kind of ill will to them, do you?"
"What," I asked, appalled. "Of course not. I just don't want to…" I trailed off as I realized she was right.
"Be responsible for them," she finished.
"Exactly," I sighed, waving my hand in agreement. "I hadn't realized it, yet. That's why I felt relieved when I said William was someone else's problem. But why? I've been responsible for my children since I found out I was pregnant. I've never had any problem with that. Why… the sudden rejection to responsibility?"
"Think about it, Danny," Richardson began to explain. "Who was responsible for the deaths?"
"I was," I answered.
"So if it was your responsibility, what guarantee do you have that you won't kill your daughters? Your sons?"
"So am I going to reject protecting my town," I asked, looking into her eyes. If I'm afraid of responsibility, shouldn't that mean I wouldn't care?
"No," she answered. "You'll be there for your town but the first time a ghost targets your family, you'll freeze. When you are responsible for someone who matters, not just someone you don't want to see die, you will feel that way. Your girls rely on you for everything. Without you, they don't eat, they don't learn, they don't bathe, they don't sleep… there's not a thing that you aren't responsible for with your children. It's a lot for you to deal with. You don't know it, but you are thinking that if you can't keep someone safe, then how are you supposed to be someone else's everything."
"How do I get over it," I asked, looking at her in desperation. I can't let my children down.
"You have to take baby steps. I want you to take a moment and either write or draw an event where someone died. I want to see these things: the scene, the actors, the emotions and your thoughts now. I don't care whether you draw it or write it out; I want emotion in either one. Can you do that for me?"
"When do you want me back," I asked.
"Monday," she replied. "That should give you time to finish the assignment. Also, keep the lines of communication open. If something is on your mind, I want you to speak it. Do not hold anything in. Explain to the kids that you love them very much but you are sick. Allow them to put their feelings on paper. Don't shut them out because you're scared. Shutting them out helps no one."
"They don't know," I said, looking down. "Only Tucker knows."
"Tell them," she said firmly.
"No," I objected. "How do I tell my girls that I don't want to be responsible for them? I will not hurt them!"
"Wait," she said, studying me intently. "'I will not hurt them'? That sounds like responsibility."
"Of course they're my responsibility. They're my children!"
"I was wrong," she said, pushing her chair back. She came to her feet, walking around the desk. "You're afraid of responsibility but that doesn't mean you'll walk away from it. That's not compatible with your symptoms."
"I have responsibilities," I defended. What else could it be? Everything she was saying was correct. "Just because it scares me doesn't mean I can turn my back on them."
"See, that is incompatible! You went through the same thing when Vlad kept Lilly. You decided, though, that you didn't want that responsibility. You decided you were going to shed your responsibilities and you stepped back in the portal, to hell with everything else. This is something new. What else are you feeling?"
"Maybe it was Lilly that taught me that lesson," I defended. "I stepped back into the portal and all my responsibilities were unanswered. The entire planet was nearly destroyed because I walked away from those responsibilities. Just because I don't want them doesn't mean I don't have them."
"It's not possible," she replied. She pulled the patient chair closer, sitting closer to me than her desk would allow. "This is reading like pre-partum. It's not the responsibilities you have you're scared of, it's the ones you'll inherit. Your children are growing up… no. You are inheriting your children. I forget. You haven't been responsible for them for nearly two months. You knew when you came home you would inherited your children. You are in post-partum. It's crazy, but it's like you are a new mother again. You may be picking up on Sam's hormones."
"So, wait," I said, shaking my head, "because Sam was pregnant and I am getting two 'new' kids, I'm in post-partum? How does that make sense?"
"Unless you're pregnant now, there's no other explanation," she answered. With Tucker and Sam's accusations, I'll take weird post-partum sickness. "You and Sam have a connection. Granted, most of it is Sam actually connected to you, but a connection means that both of you share a bond. It's groundbreaking but I think it fits." She gave me a friendly smile. "I mean, you don't look pregnant so I guess that's the only answer."
"I'm not pregnant," I replied. "I haven't seen Vlad in three months. I'd know it by now."
"Well, then all I have to do is put you on some medication to balance your hormones and keep you talking. We should be able to solve this rather quickly."
"Would you give the medication to me or Sam," I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She let out a surprised laugh. "No. It would be administered to you. It's your hormones out of whack. I'd guess Sam is okay. I will still have to treat you for major depression once your hormones are under control. It was the stress of the ghosts that triggered it. It was the same way when you were pregnant with Lilly. It wasn't the pregnancy that made you depressed, it was the circumstances around your life. I just didn't want to put you on any medication then because I don't know how it would affect a half-ghost fetus."
"Did you ever figure it out," I asked.
"No," she replied. "The kids are intolerable to medication. They can't have human medications."
"What," I asked, surprised. "That can't be. Lilly, Megan, Jacky and Jamie have had their immunizations."
"Created by your parents," she replied, standing up. She went back to her desk, pulling out a scrip pad. "All the tests we done before caused violent reactions. It was your mother and Christiana that came up with the medication for the children. Human medication makes them sick."
"How come I never knew this," I asked, my eyes wide.
"I don't know. The tests they done on controlled samples had violent reactions. Christina theorized that Lilly would become sick if she had the shots. I don't know exactly what they did but I know it was your mother who figured it out."
"I'm going to talk with her," I replied. I stood up, taking the script she wrote for me. "Thanks, Richardson. It was nice to see you again."
"Likewise," she smiled. "Take care Danny and my door is always open."
"Thanks," I smiled. I left the clinic.
(04)
I met my family at the mall as instructed. Today was Thanksgiving and the Amity Park parade was going on today. Megan ran to me when she saw me and I picked her up. The nausea in my stomach wasn't present as I held my little girl to my chest. Megan pointed her finger at a float with thousands of flowers stapled to it. "I helped, Dada!"
"That's great, sweetheart," I smiled. Megan called me Dada in public because to the town, Lilly and Megan was Sam's baby cousins. Mom had come up with this elaborate plan that we had provided protective detail to Sam's cousins and we were now raising them. I couldn't remember the entire story that Sam told me last night but it went somewhat like Sam's cousin had lost her husband in Iraq and she had got involved with a Chicago kingpin. When we at the Division found out, we agreed to look after the kids while she tried to get enough evidence to put him away. I'm not exactly sure how that's supposed to work but that's the story the town was sold.
We watched the floats pass by for ten minutes before the street finally cleared. Pretty soon, Black Friday preparations would begin. We started for the RV as everyone else started to clear the streets. Sam, Tucker, Jazz and I secured the kids and took a seat ourselves. We drove home.
Mom went into the kitchen as we put the kids in the living room. Once I was sure the kids were content, I dismissed myself. Mom was washing some potatoes when I entered the kitchen. "Hey, Mom, can I ask you a question."
"What about, honey," Mom asked me. She turned off the water, shaking the drops from her hands. I picked up the strainer of potatoes and took it to the table. "Thanks."
"No problem," I said, taking a seat. I released a breath. "I went to see Dr. Richardson today."
"That's great, honey," Mom smiled. "Is she helping you?"
"She prescribed something and assigned work for me to do," I answered. "But we were talking about the kids and she said that they can't have human medication. Is that true?"
"I'm afraid so," Mom sighed. "Christina said that she was unsure about how Lilly could take medication so she asked for my help. We took a sample from her collection and preformed some experiments. The human medication would have caused Lilly to have bad reactions. They can't have any active immunizations. The sample attacked the vaccine and some of the sample evaporated. It seems to be very dangerous to the children."
"Well, a vaccine isn't anything but introducing an illness to the body, right? It's just like when I did those tests on ectoplasm. How did you fix the problem?"
"We added ectoplasm," Mom answered. I laughed. "What?"
"Mom, you didn't create a vaccine. All you did was give them a shot of ectoplasm."
"What do you mean," Mom asked. "The ectoplasm should have stabilized the immunization."
I released a breath of air. "The reason the ectoplasm had a bad reaction was because some of it was used to destroy the pathogen in the vaccine. In the girls, their ectoplasm would replenish itself the same way humans and ghosts heal. In the controlled sample, the ectoplasm isn't a part of a living being so it dries up. If you gave the shot to the girls without ectoplasm, the vaccine would just lose its ability to immunize. The shots mean nothing to the kids."
"So the ectoplasm… no way. It healed the illness?"
"Yes," I replied. "Like I said, ectoplasm can't be affected by anything. When you introduce an illness to the kids, their ectoplasm will heal them so they can't build immunities."
"So they're not immune," Mom asked.
"No. They'll heal."
"Well, that doesn't help the kids! They'll still get sick."
"But their recovery time will be increased," I replied. "Ectoplasm is like nothing but white blood cells. Could you imagine putting an illness in a white blood cell bath? They have something better than immunity. They have cure."
"A universal cure," Mom asked, still not peeling potatoes.
"When you're dead, what can hurt you," I asked.
"Unbelievable," Mom breathed. I picked up a potato and a knife, beginning to peel. Mom got to work, peeling one herself. After about four potatoes apiece, Mom finally spoke up. "So. What did Dr. Richardson say?"
"Oh, you know. I'm a mess and I'm going to kill myself if I don't watch," I replied, smiling softly.
"That's not funny. You've already killed yourself."
"True," I nodded. I put the fifth potato I've peeled on the table, picking up the sixth. There was only two more.
"What does she want you to do," Mom asked me.
"Write or draw the scene of where someone died and talk with my family," I answered. I closed my eyes, still peeling the potato. "I'm just so confused. She thinks I should tell everyone but I think there's a line."
"A line," Mom asked. Her voice sounded distracted. I put the potato on the table, hesitating before I opened my eyes. Mom looked a little shaken. "What line?"
"What's wrong," I asked. I looked to my potatoes but there was no blood. I didn't cut myself. Each potato was where I left it. Why did she have that look?
"Are you not telling me something," Mom asked, her voice on the verge of breaking.
"Yeah," I nodded. "There-there's something that only Tucker and I know. And now Richardson."
"Honey, you can tell me," Mom replied. She stood up, grabbing a pot. She began putting the potatoes in the pot, leaving two still unpeeled. "We don't need any more."
"It's just… there's something different about me. The ghosts have made me… fearful of someone and it's a chore to not show my discomfort. Richardson thinks I should tell everyone how I feel but the last thing I want to do is hurt this person. I love them very much and I don't want them to know I can't be around them."
"You've been around everyone," Mom said, furrowing her brow. "Who is it?"
"I won't say," I said, looking down. Mom began to shuffle her feet and I looked up to see her adding water to the potatoes. "I'm going to get through this. I'll announce I'm having trouble but I'm not going to announce with who. You'll have to guess."
"I'm guessing it's not Tucker," Mom sighed.
"No. He called me out on it right away."
"Of course he did," Mom said, turning on the burner. "Tucker is the only person in this world that knows you inside out. Not even Sam knows you as well as Tucker knows you."
"I don't know," I said, swallowing. The more I think about it, the more I know my ruse would never fool Sam. Our connection would never allow me to fool her.
Our reunion said that much. The last time I saw her, I asked her to forget what I said but she knew I didn't feel that way. She was only hurting and she needed me, no matter if I was lying or not.
"Would you mind getting the pot roast out of the refrigerator and putting it in the oven for me, sweetheart," Mom asked. "I need to go talk to your father for a moment."
"Sure," I said, furrowing my brow.
"Thanks," Mom nodded. She started down the stairs, shutting the door behind her. I went to the fridge but I tried to listen. I couldn't hear anything. She's driving me nuts with this 'beating of the drums' mentality she has going on. I put the roast on.
(04)
After we had dinner, I announced to everyone but my girls that I had a problem. Tucker was satisfied with me leaving it as a guessing game. Now, my new goal was to act so well around the girls that they were the last considered nominations. I would treat everyone the same, leaving plenty of doubt who this person was. The most compassion I could show my girls would be the limit of compassion I would show to everyone else. I do not want anyone to notice that the one I give the less attention to be would be the children. I didn't want anyone to receive more attention than the rest.
After we bathed and put the girls to bed, I sat down at my desk. I had written logs my freshman year. I was going to try my hand at drawing my feelings. I was a good artist and I knew what I wanted to draw.
I wadded up my third attempt, casting it in the trash. Sam wrapped her arms around my neck as I started to sketch. "What are you doing," Sam asked me.
"I can't get it right," I huffed. "The memory I have of it isn't how I see it."
"Well, draw how you see it," Sam said. She rested her head on my shoulder. "This is your emotions, not a portrait, Danny. You don't have to show everything."
I nodded. I sketched out the victim and she was perfect, as always. Around her, I put the secondary actors. For ghosts, I drew a filmy shadow, using my pencil to create a shadow covering the billowing masses. For the humans, I drew heavy, black silhouettes. I cast the entire place in shadows except for the victim and me. The only thing with any clear details was the victim and I.
"Danny," Sam said, taking a shallow breath. "You weren't the only one there."
"I know," I answered as I looked over the drawing. I thought about the background but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it. I put it down, deciding to finish it later. "I was the only one that mattered, though. Her life was put in my hands and I failed her. I was supposed to protect her. He didn't come to anyone else; he came to me."
"Baby, listen to me. We all have responsibilities. Sometimes, they're huge and we feel… we feel we can't screw it up. I get that. William was my responsibility. He was given to me. He was in my womb and I failed him. But I can't dwell on that. I have four little lives that depend on me. I can't allow my failure to interfere. Does it hurt? Yes. Do I get scared? You can't imagine. But I get up every morning and I give them my everything. You have to do that, too."
"I'm not fooling you, am I," I asked, swallowing.
"You haven't fooled me for a minute, Danny Fenton," Sam said, coming around my chair. She knelt down until she was at my level. "I noticed it as soon as you wrapped your arms around Megan." Her voice lowered to a whisper. "I get that you're scared you'll screw up. I'm afraid too. They're too important. They're not Joe Schmo out there, they're our children. Even Jacky and Jamie. They are the next generation. Danny, this doesn't come from the trip. This comes from the dream. When you shot awake after the biggest failure of your existence, you told yourself that as long as I can protect people, I can protect my children.
"We had no idea people would die before the war. We didn't know that was going on out there. When you went out there, alone, you were faced with helplessness. Suddenly, it's not thirty years from now… it's now. This is different. Lilly, Megan, Jacky and Jamie can't defend for themselves. It's not just our responsibility… it's everything. Sammy was capable of protecting herself but she was overpowered. Now, our children can't even defend themselves. So you don't want this anymore. You are telling yourself if you walk away, so does the danger. It doesn't, Danny. It never goes away. We will never lose this responsibility. Not even to the children who are already ghosts."
"What do I do, Sam," I asked, looking to her. I wasn't sad, I was scared. I wasn't heartbroken, just… broken. "How do I tell myself that I'll do the best I can do? How do I tell myself the best I can is enough?"
"You don't," Sam said, taking my hand. "You tell yourself you'll never stop improving. Righting this doesn't end or even begin with the kids we have now. The only way to end this is to vow to protect Sammy. She's the one we know we lose. I promised my children I would be better to protect them by the time I am pregnant again. I promised myself I would protect my children with my dying breath. You need to do that, Danny. You need to promise your citizens that you will be better next time and you need to promise your children you will not lose anyone."
She put her hand on the drawing, pulling it to the center of the desk. "Now, tell Esmeralda that you will not lose another innocent and promise your children," she turned to the nursery, "that they will be safe."
I pushed my chair back, triggering my rings. "I don't make promises I can't keep." I flew through the roof, leaving Fentonworks.
(04)
I landed on the wall, the structure crumbling from age. It took me forever to realize this was it. In my dream, the wall was already gone. It had been thirty years and nature had already claimed it. When we started talking about boundaries for Amity Park, I realized the location of the Battle of Amity Park was along the wall. There was so many ghosts there that day, I didn't have time to look around. I know this is where Sammy died, though, because this is where the last line of defense is going to be.
I sat down on the wall, turning back to human. I hadn't been here in years besides flying over it now and again. We used to come here as kids. It was the coolest place for four weird kids to come play. When we were ten, Mom caught us coming way out here and put a stop to it. It was too far and too dangerous for little kids. Now, as a father, I know she was right.
And as a father who will lose a child here in thirty years, I agree.
What are we doing all this for? We are talking about shields and shelters and last defenses when I know I can keep my kids safe. I will take my children to a vacant lot—maybe this very place—and teach them how to fight. But for what? I won't be teaching them how to survive. I will be teaching them how to put their lives at risk. I will expect my children to stare down the next Ghost King and tell him that they don't have to win. I will expect my children to dive in front of ecto-blasts to use their bodies as shields for humans. I will expect my children to hit buildings!
Damn this wall! I jumped off the wall, eying it like an opponent. Why do my children have to do this? Why do my grandkids and great-grandkids? Ebony, Sawyer and Natalie will grow up in this world that I had failed and they will still be responsible for it. Even after four generations, they will still be responsible for my mess. This will never end. So long as they can transform, they will inherit this responsibility.
And the only descendent that has any chance of not inheriting the damn ring came from Sammy.
"You had to take everything," I screamed at the wall. "She was the only one not cursed! She was the weakest because she wasn't pure! You took her from me! You took that from me! You could have killed anyone, but you took the only hope for someone in my family to be born free of this curse! I could have had a grandchild who could have been human! I could have had a grandchild who could have had what I won't anymore! But you took it from me!"
I clenched my fists together, ectoplasm engulfing my bare hands. I screamed, releasing a blast on the objection of my fury. The wall crumbled, a section collapsing. I followed it as I sunk to my knees, hanging my head. Lilly and Megan are mine and Vlad's children. I was never supposed to be with him. Lilly and Megan were never meant to exist. But I became half ghost and I met Vlad. Sam and I were supposed to get together; powers or not. Our children were supposed to be normal. Our descendants were never meant to inherit this problem. But I became half ghost and forced Sam to follow me.
I don't regret becoming half ghost. I know this is who I am and I'm proud to be me. But my children are forced to follow in their parents' footsteps. This isn't like the typical family business. I had a choice to walk away from ghost hunting before the accident. Just because I was a Fenton didn't mean I was forced to become a ghost hunter. Mine and Sam's children have no such luxury. Just being our children has decided this fate for them. They can't stop being my children no more than I can stop being the son of Madeline and Jack Fenton. Being half ghost is synonymous to being the children of Sam and Danny Fenton.
It isn't fair. They should have the right to walk away if they so choose. Ebony should have the choice to be a pharmacist instead of a ghost hunter. Instead, just being born has predetermined her future. The minute Lilly was conceived, the same as Megan and the rest of their siblings, their future was determined. But being the child of two half ghosts, meaning they too are half ghost, has doomed their children to the same fate. Sammy wasn't signed into that pack. She could have had a child who didn't have the ring. That would make that child an Amalgamate or whatever the hell I called it. Ebony's husband, Isaac, wasn't forced to do anything. Eventually, Sammy's ghost side would be wiped out. Apparently, the same cannot be said for any pure half ghost.
Instead, though, Sammy will meet her mate through magnetism and they will have full ghost babies, if any babies at all. It isn't fair.
"Danny," I heard Danielle's voice. I turned in the direction I heard her voice to see Dani Phantom touching down. "What's wrong, cuz?"
"Sam talk you into this," I said, swallowing. The last person I needed to discuss this with is Danielle.
"She told me you were upset and you flew away as Danny Phantom," Dani said, flashing to a human. "I decided to come on my own. This is what she wanted, though."
"I'm just going through something, Dani. I'll be all right."
"I'm not going to lecture," Dani started out but I knew she would. "But," told you, "the last thing you need right now is to be alone."
"I don't want to be alone," I said, coming to my feet. "I just wanted to think and I didn't want Sam to be able to follow me."
"Are you and Sam fighting," Dani asked.
"No," I said, beginning to float. I crossed my legs Indian style, floating in midair. "I didn't want her finding me, though."
"What's going on, Danny," Danielle asked me. "Who are you really avoiding?"
I hung my head. "Dr. Richardson's theory is that I've somehow been affected by Sam's hormones when she was pregnant and I went into post-partum because I was stepping back into parenthood. I can't be around the girls."
Dani covered her mouth. "You're kidding. I would have never guessed."
"I didn't want anyone to guess," I sighed. "That's why I've lowered my comfort to everyone below my comfort to the girls. I wanted the kids to be the last guess. Problem is, Sam knew it right away."
"That's why you wanted to get away," Dani nodded. "I get where you're at, Danny. It wasn't easy for me to even look at the boys. I'm coming around, Danny. You will too."
"A year," I asked, incredulous. "Danielle, I've already spent a year of my life lying. I can't stand the thought of adding another one."
"You don't have to lie, Danny," Dani said softly. "If I've learned anything, it's that those kids are understanding. You left them for nearly two months, Danny. They missed you but they understood that you had no choice. I've seen you around them, Danny. You can do this. Be open with them. That was the only way I could tolerate the boys. If I pretended not to have any problems with them, I would have never come as far as I have."
"I'm so sorry, Danielle," I said, hanging my head. "I'm so sorry for judging you."
"Don't worry about that," Dani said, placing a hand on my knee. "What happened to me to justify what I did? At least you went through hell."
"You did too, Danielle," I said, looking to her. Danielle met my eyes. "I get it, now. God, I've said it so many times that I'm ashamed I didn't get it sooner. The reason you took it so hard was because of Vlad." Dani looked down. "Danielle, Jacky and Jamie aren't Vlad's. They aren't his sons."
"What," Dani asked, her eyes filling with tears. "How do you know?"
"He told me who's sperm he used," I said, swallowing. God, please don't let her hate me for this.
"Why didn't you tell me," Dani cried out, collapsing in tears. I wanted to hold her but I had to finish what I started.
"Because he used mine, Danielle," I spoke the words I had sworn I'd never mutter to a living soul. I thought I was going to break down. "Jacky and Jamie are mine and your children."
Dani looked up at me with tear-streaked eyes. "He-he used—you," Dani choked out.
I nodded miserably. "I didn't want anyone to," my voice broke, "know."
"I thought they were his, Danny," Danielle cried. She hung her head. "God, I thought they were his."
"I am so sorry," I said, tears filling my eyes. My heart broke, seeing her lying there. "Please, Danielle, I-I didn't have a choice."
Dani looked up at me again. "You didn't have a choice? You let me think that that monster fathered my children! You let me think their father was mine as well. How can you say you didn't have a choice?! You chose to lie to me, Danny! You did choose to do that!"
"What," I said, my tears stopping. I took a slow breath. "That's what-what you're upset about?"
"Why wouldn't I be," Dani cried, staring daggers at me. "All this time, I punished my children because I thought their father was a bastard! Why in the world do you think you would be a worse alternate than him?"
"Vlad is Lilly, Eddie, Jacob and Megan's father," I defended. "My children are my world!"
"Vlad isn't your father, Danny," Danielle retorted. "Look, I love Dad with all my heart and for all intents and purposes, he is my Dad but Vlad created me. Mom and Dad didn't choose to have a baby. They weren't even there when I was conceived! Vlad made that decision. It was hard enough knowing he made that decision with them… but to think his DNA was in them." She swallowed. "It was worse than dying. I hated them because he-he created me and then created them! It felt like incest. It was worse than incest. It was rape. That's why the penetration wasn't so bad. Once I got over it, I knew that it wasn't as bad as their conception. But-but they're ours. We were both victims. It makes them victims. You-you cannot believe the relief that gives me!"
"I'm sorry, Danielle. I thought—I mean, how did you even know it had to be Vlad's?"
"They were pure half ghosts," Dani said, breathing slowly. "There's only three complete half ghosts and-and I was their mother. I was so sure, so sure that he used himself."
"I knew Vlad wouldn't want impurities in them," I said, looking down. "I asked him who he used; if he used himself. He said he didn't. When I asked him who he used, he said me. I'm so sorry, Danielle. I thought it would be worse knowing the truth. I didn't think you would figure it out."
"Their powers are too pure," Danielle answered. "In my dreams, I can sense the difference between Sammy and her siblings. I used that technique to compare the girls and the boys. I knew they were half ghost. I had my suspicions before that because I never imagined him using you. That is a violation, even by his standards. He feels that he has a right to his property. But to take something from you, that violates you. I never imagined him doing it."
I furrowed my brow. "You're right. He wouldn't."
"What are you talking about," Dani asked me. "Jacky and Jamie are yours, right?"
"Yes," I nodded. I can't believe I was able to say it so clearly. "But there's another part of it that I was overlooking." I couldn't believe it.
"What," Dani urged.
"Paulina," I said, looking to Danielle. "I thought she was only a decoy. She was a part of it. Vlad gave her the tools needed to do the job and she collected the semen. Vlad didn't violate me. Paulina did."
"Okay," Dani said, shaking her head in confusion. "I don't get the big reveal from this."
"In one of my dreams, I saw this mystery ghost girl. She was Paulina's daughter and a half ghost. She was my daughter."
"Another one," Dani said, raising an eyebrow. "If Paulina artificially inseminated herself when Vlad done all this, where is the baby?"
And that's when my bubble popped. "I-I don't know."
"Face it. If she's yours, it's not the result of that night."
"Shoot," I retorted. "I thought I got my answer of who Rosalita was. I'm still no closer to figuring out who she is."
"She was half ghost but was she a pure breed," Dani asked.
"What," I asked. "Of course she was a pure breed. What else could she be?"
Dani gave me an incredulous look. "Oh, I don't know. An accident!"
"You have got to be kidding me," I declared. "You think she might have been one of us?"
"Why not," Dani shrugged. "Her mom is into ghost hunting, she lives in a town of ghost hunters and she's more than likely the friend of a ghost hunter. That's three strikes right there. We only needed one."
"Oh, crap," I groaned. I tried to act nonchalant about it but inside, it was devastating. Not because I need another child—I'll have ten coming as it is; oh, wow. That's the first time I've tallied them. Two more and I'll have a football team—but because Rosalita could have been my descendent reprieve. Her mother would be human.
"Damn, Danielle," I groaned, focusing on the numbers. "I have a dozen children."
"A dozen," Dani asked. "How do you figure?"
"Despite the fact that I want to claim them as nephews, they still have my DNA," I said, giving her a stern look.
"Forget it," Dani snorted. "You have ten. Jacky and Jamie… are mine."
Any depression, anger or frustration vanished as a smile tugged to my lips. "Are you ready?"
"I think I am, Danny," Dani said, looking me in the eye. "I'm scared and I don't know if I'm ready… but I'm willing to try. They're not Vlad's; I don't care about anything else."
"I am so sorry, Dani," I said, my face smoothing out. "I really thought not knowing was better than knowing."
"Do you get the importance of honesty now, Danny," she asked me.
"But they're my girls, Dani," I said, looking down. I crossed my arms, resting them below my chin. "How can I tell them they make me uncomfortable?"
"Telling them is much better than showing them, Danny," Danielle said, putting her hand back on my knee. She had stood up. "Trust me, telling them the truth will show them that you'll love them, no matter what. Keeping quiet but pretending will only cause confusion and self-doubt. Be honest with them. One day, it will never cross their minds."
"Thanks, Danielle," I smiled, landing back on the ground.
"Now, let's go home," Dani said. She took my hand.
I pulled her in and she hugged me back. "I love you, Danielle."
"I love you, too, Danny," Danielle said, pulling away.
We both changed into our ghost forms and flew home.
(04)
Sam was sitting up in bed when I flew through the window. Danielle had went to her own bedroom so it was only Sam and I while our girls slept. Sam looked up at me but she didn't look angry or disappointed. "Are you okay," Sam asked me as if this wasn't my fault.
"I'm sorry, Sam," I said, coming in the room and sitting down in front of her. "I was so afraid of failing the girls; of failing you that I couldn't face it. I'm still scared that we will lose our children but I know what I'm more afraid of. I'm afraid of forcing our children to do something they don't want to do." Sam's soft face bunched up in confusion. "They don't have a choice, Sam. They have to do this because they were born this way. I don't want our children doing something because it's their destiny. I want them to do it because that's what they want to do; just like us. We chose this life for ourselves. I don't want to choose our children's lives, too."
"Is that what you're afraid of," Sam asked, reaching her hand out to touch my arm. "Listen to me, our children will choose this life for themselves. We will never push them into anything. We will raise them to be loving, compassionate adults who want to do the right thing. Lilly and Megan will never be forced to do this because they were born with powers. I promise you, Danny. We will be good parents."
"It's not right, though, Sam," I said, looking down. "We've turned our accidents into careers. They're not accidents. They weren't planned and lord knows I wish we were older but they are not mistakes that can be corrected. Our accidents could have been prevented. Lilly, Eddie, Jacob, Megan and William could not have been prevented. Sammy, Pammy, D.J., Donnie and Jay cannot be prevented. They're not accidents. Being born shouldn't be a call of duty."
"What do you want to do," Sam asked me.
"I don't know yet," I said, looking down. "I won't hide who we are from our children. There will be no more hiding from family after graduation."
"Well, I think Lilly and Megan have proved hiding is out of the question.
"Yeah," I agreed, nodding. I looked to the nursery, hearing my girls' breathing. "But I don't want them to feel like they have to do anything, though." I let out a sigh. "I don't want them to feel obligated to the responsibilities we chose."
"Okay," Sam said, putting her hands in mine. "So, how do we do that?"
"The same way we did it in my dreams," I said, an epiphany coming on. Could it be that simple?
"Your dreams," Sam questioned. "If you dreamed of doing this, then doesn't that mean the kids had already chosen that life for themselves?"
"I don't know how long we did it," I said, looking in her eyes. "Remember when I was telling you about Pammy and her cry that I didn't know what it felt like to have your world turned upside down at fourteen?"
"Yeah," Sam smirked.
"The ghost powers were as easy as breathing," I remarked. "We never told them we didn't have these powers before high school. I took it as if the kids were just comfortable with the powers. That may be so, but I think they were comfortable because they thought it was natural. Like everyone had them."
"But how do we raise children not to expose powers if we act like everyone has them," Sam asked.
"I didn't say we had to tell them everyone had them. I said it was like everyone had them. We will teach them that they're hereditary, like hair color, but just because it's natural doesn't mean everyone has black hair."
"Okay, we're getting somewhere," Sam nodded.
"We have to protect them, Sam," I said, looking in her eyes. "Protect them, not the world. We're not creating an army. We're creating a family. We will have ten kids, Sam. I think I thought I was raising an army. I don't care about the war, Sam. Our children are not soldiers. If the kids want to help in the war, that's great, but we're not training an infantry. That's what I want, Sam. I want to see my children as kids."
"Then let's do it," Sam said, rubbing my arms. "We won't raise half ghosts. We'll raise kids. If they turn out to be half-ghost, that's great. If not, they're still our babies."
I looked to the nursery and for the first time, I didn't see people who would one day be in the war. All this time, I was raising warriors. I was raising fighters. I hadn't had one lesson with either girl yet but I imagined them. I was becoming Vlad. I stopped looking at my kids as my children and started looking at them as my progeny. Lilly and Megan are not my apprentices; they are my children.
AN: Thanks for the reviews, dear readers. I will reply to every review individually, I just haven't had a chance yet.
To the guest reviewer, I hope it was the circumstances that sucked, not the story! Thanks for the review :)
I hope this chapter explained what Danny's going through better. He still loves his children dearly, he's just afraid of being responsible for them. Danny would still lay his life down to protect Lilly and Megan, he's just afraid of failing them. I hope you understand his position. Proofreading this chapter made me realize I was SO happy to post this chapter a day after the last one ;)
Any feedback is welcome!
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