Warning: Okay, this chapter has social issues, secret keeping and adult content. Please be advised.
Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom.
Chapter 17: It Begins
We might have left in the afternoon, but it was already Saturday on the island. The humans tired out in the middle of the afternoon because of jet lag but us half ghosts were able to stay up the entire day. After ten hours on the island, I broke off on my own. I flew to my rocks, sitting in the middle of the ocean. It seemed like a lifetime ago that I sat on these rocks, afraid of Vlad. I got lost in my thoughts, thinking back to that week ten years ago. It was the middle of February so I was wrapped up in that horrible two month nightmare. Even now, ten years later, from November twenty-sixth to February fourth, I'm the most vulnerable. Technically, I made it through those dates but the anniversary of Freakshow was just nine days ago.
"Danny," Mom's voice called out. I jumped up, floating. Mom had one of the boats and a sig-ar. "Are you okay? What are you doing out here?"
"Just thinking," I replied. I landed back on my rocks, looking through the shield as I had that day.
"What about," Mom asked, tying the boat to one of the rocks and joining me. I held my knees with my arms.
"About that week," I said, hanging my head. I saw Mom furrow her brow. "The bad time lasts until February fifth."
"What does February fifth have to do with Vlad," Mom asked me.
"Personally, absolutely nothing. To me, everything. That's the date Freakshow controlled me when I stole those jewels. I was afraid of turning out like Vlad, I hated being restricted and this clown comes into my life and controls me. He stole a day of my life. The first two months were the worse."
"I'd say," Mom said. She rubbed my shoulder. "You don't have to worry anymore, Danny. You're not alone."
"I know I'm not," I said, looking to her. "And believe me, this has nothing to do with that. It's just… I sat here more than ten years ago, looking through that shield wondering if I'd ever be free. Wondering if I'd see you guys again. Now I'm back again, with my family. I have a great bunch of kids, three of which I haven't seen in a while. A lot has changed in those ten years. A hell of a lot. Vlad isn't even here anymore and the strangest thing is I miss him. Ten years ago, I prayed he'd leave me alone and now I pray I could see him one more time."
"You sat… in this very place," Mom asked. I saw her swallow.
"Yeah," I nodded. "Vlad dumped me on the beach and left me alone. I wanted to know how far I could go because I knew he had something in place and this is as far as I went. I sat here for two days before Vlad dragged me back to the camper."
"Are you sure this is the best place for you to be," Mom asked me, rubbing my shoulder. "Maybe it's too much on you."
"No," I said, shaking my head. I gave her a smile. "Like I said, Mom. A lot has changed over the past ten years. That's what has me the most upset. It's not about what happened ten years ago, it's the comparison."
"I am so sorry for sending you with that maniac, Danny," Mom said, probably for the millionth time since I returned her memories six years ago. I hugged her.
"I'm not. Sending me for that one week of hell changed that maniac into a decent man. Going through that hell gave me five children I cherish more than life itself. The pain I went through gave me a marriage I couldn't dream of. That week made me, Mom. Changing it changes me."
Mom cracked up laughing. What I said wasn't meant to be funny. "I'm sorry. I know you didn't mean for me to laugh at that. It's just a marriage you couldn't dream of?" I started laughing. "Sweetie, you did dream of it."
"No," I said, even though I was laughing. "I didn't dream of it, Mom. Sam and I are different. We're even different than the latest dream we saw. If Lilly's dream happens this timeline, it will go differently. Our kids will be ghost hunting. They will be included, even Sammy. I'm not going to hide Sammy from danger and wonder why she dies in twenty years."
Mom looked down. "Is it just twenty years away?"
"Yeah," I said. I released a shaky breath. "It's happening too fast, Mom. I'm so afraid of failing."
"Is that why you wanted this family gathering? Are you afraid that you'll wake up one day and one of us won't be here anymore?"
"No," I said, shaking my head. "Ida is about to become a ghost anyway. Our family will always be together because I'll die before I'll lose anyone of you guys to oblivion. I wanted this because the kids are growing up and I want to spend as much time with them as I can. I don't want them to think back to their youth and remember family times as training. I'm not naïve enough to believe we can waste a week without any training but I don't want my children to lose their childhood. They'll lose it soon enough. Lilly's nine!"
"Wait until she's twenty-four," Mom gave me a smirk. "How did you grow up on me? You were supposed to stay my baby forever."
"I know what you mean," I said, sighing. "Lilly isn't supposed to be growing up like this. And Sammy," I whimpered. "It's like she was born yesterday in my mind. She's four!"
"You grow up fast," Mom said, ruffling my hair. I smiled. "I'll never get you to complain about that again."
"I have hair to ruffle. What is there to complain about?"
Mom smiled, pushing me gently. I stood up, diving into the water. I came up, lifting the boat up intangible. Once the tie was disconnected from the rock, I turned the boat solid again and settled it upon my hand as if it was a bottle of soda. I held my hand out for Mom to join me.
"No matter how many times I see you doing things like this, I'll never get used to it," Mom said. I took her hand, pulling her to my side. I flew the boat and Mom back to shore.
"It's nothing," I said, shrugging. I put Mom on the beach and took the boat back to the dock. I flew back to Mom. "It's like carrying a book bag over my head."
"But it's a two hundred pound boat you're holding over your head single handedly."
I shrugged. "Two hundred pounds is nothing to us. Sammy can lift two hundred pounds."
"What about Pammy," Mom asked.
I nodded my head incredulously. "Yeah. Pammy is a pure halfa. Of course she can lift two hundred pounds."
"So you meant the weakest of your children can even lift that boat like that."
"I don't know like that," I said, grimacing. "She's so small. She might get squashed."
"All right. You've been up all night. It's time for you to get some rest."
"I'm ready for it," I sighed. It was after eight on the island but back home, it was three in the morning.
"Hit the showers and get to bed," Mom said, swatting me on the behind. I smirked back at her, heading for the bathhouse. There should be towels and clothing already in there.
After breakfast, the three of us convened on the top of the peak overlooking the island without any instruction to do so. I wasn't surprised to see my wife and best friend waiting for me; I was used to having thoughts I wasn't even aware of and Tucker spreading the word. I stood atop the cliff, overlooking the island below. Jazz was on the kiddy beach with her twins and Connor. Most were still inside but I could see Megan heading to the main beach.
"What's this about, sweetheart," Sam asked me.
"I've been keeping a secret the last few days," I said, looking to her. Tucker stood on the other side of Sam, each one of us flanking her. Tucker had his arms crossed, looking over the island. He knew. "I wanted to be able to tell you two this in private and yesterday was just the wrong time."
"Okay," Sam said, confused. She looked to Tucker but he offered no answers. She turned back to me. "Is now a good time?"
"Probably not," I replied, "but I'm going to tell you anyway. I won't tell anyone else, though. That's why Tucker only told you."
"You're starting to worry me, Danny. What's going on," Sam asked me.
"I paid the remaining of our team for vacations and I personally delivered them Wednesday. I stopped at Dash and Paulina's first and Paulina's daughter answered the door. Rosalita was my daughter, Sam. Paulina kept some of my sperm for herself after Vlad used her. Star found out, told Dash and he stopped her from telling me."
"Wha—but—oh, my God, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I sighed. "I was worried about you, though. We're not Rosalita's family, Sam. We'll be doing this as teachers, friends the most. I want to include her with the kids but they can't know the truth. No one but us six can know the truth."
"So you don't want the kids to know that Rosalita is their sister?"
"No," I answered. "I was hoping we could come up with a cover story. I don't want them to know she's my biological daughter but I want her to be able to be identified as a halfa."
"That shouldn't be a problem," Tucker replied. "The kids don't know halfas only come from us. You and Sam taught them that ghost powers are natural so when another halfa comes along that's not family, it will only enhance that lesson."
"Tucker's right," Sam answered. "The kids will be thrilled to have another halfa friend. They get along with the ghost kids at the castle, there's nothing hinting that they won't get along with Rosalita. Telling them she's your daughter, or at least treating her as such, will cause more trouble than telling them she's a halfa."
"What about you two," I asked. "Is there going to be any trouble from you two?"
"Sweetheart, this is your decision. I stand by what you want to do."
"The way I see it is Team Phantom is a family. Rosalita is Dash's daughter, therefore she is family. Blood does not matter."
I smiled. For once, the phrase was being used in reverse. For so long, we've considered non-blood relatives family but now, we consider someone who has my blood coursing through her veins as family but not because of DNA. Dash was her father, not me, the same way that Sam is my children's mother and not me. I carried them but that's as far as it went. I was a surrogate, Vlad was the donor; Sam will always be their mother.
"I appreciate this, guys," I said. I looked to Sam. "I'm so sorry, Sam. I hope you can forgive me."
"There's nothing to forgive, Danny. We're responsible for her but only in the way we're responsible for the demis. They have none of our blood in their veins but we're still responsible for them. Don't you agree?"
The demis was a name Mom picked out. She liked the name half ghost for Adam's species but it was taken. Because I had been calling my species halfas for years when she discovered us, she called the babies being born demi-ghosts. The children looked exactly like humans, no ectoplasm and no ghost forms. She has deemed my children halfas because they have ghost forms. That's how she determines a species.
If the person has no blood, they are ghosts; if they have ectoplasm and can transform, they are halfas; if they have no ectoplasm but have powers, they are demis; if they have ectoplasm but can't transform, they are Amalgamates; if they have no ectoplasm and no powers, they are human. That's only five species; Mom says the reason the kids don't have the temperature intolerance and they have all of their senses is because they were born like this. It has more to do with the genesis generation than being a halfa. No one has an answer as to why the kids breathe in their ghost forms and why their vitals are normal, though.
"Let's enjoy our vacation now, though," Tucker brought me back to the present. "We will have time later to introduce the kids and think about Rosalita."
"Yeah," Sam said, touching my shoulder. "For now, I want to spend time with our children and be with family."
"Yeah, that sounds great," I smiled at Sam. I put my hand on top of hers, pulling her close to me. "See ya later, Tuck. Thanks for calling this meeting."
"No problem, you two," Tucker laughed. I caught sight of him crossing his legs mid-air, floating above the cliff. Holding Sam's hand, we flew to the beach behind the cliff. We dove in the water and I triggered my ghost breath. I pulled Sam close to me, going to kiss her when she triggered her rings. She surprised me.
"Aren't you going to transform," Sam asked me aloud. She was in ghost form so she could talk.
I triggered the rings. "You want to talk," I asked, raising my eyebrow. "I kind of had other plans."
"I was just asking if you were going to transform," Sam said, shrugging. She wrapped her arms around my neck, using her fingers to massage my head. "I have no intentions of only talking."
"I don't follow," I said, setting myself apart from Sam. "The only thing we can't do underwater in our human forms is talk. Why would transforming be such a big deal for you?"
"Breathing is kind of essential to being a human," Sam laughed. "Don't you think?"
My eyes widened. "You don't know how to not breathe in human form."
"I can hold my breath for a period of time," Sam said, slowly.
"No, honey. We can cease breathing in human form. I'm sure I told you but I never taught you. I am so sorry."
"Oh," Sam said, surprised. "Well, that's not a problem. You can teach us later. Maybe tomorrow. But for now, I don't want to be distracted during my time with you now."
I kicked back to my previous location, capturing her lips with my own. "I don't know," I whispered. "I have no problem getting distracted." I hooked my hand behind her back, lurching her closer to me. Sam began to kiss me, feverishly and passionately. It was just us two this morning. Our children would get their time later.
We rejoined our family mid-morning just as Lilly was returning from spending time in the winter wonderland. It was perfect timing. We called Megan away from the beach and Pammy and Sammy from the playroom, joining Doc in the library. Sam and I sat our five kids down at the table. We had agreed during our time together it was time to explain to the kids who Eddie, Jake and Will were.
"Okay," Sam said, sitting down across from our brood. "Your father and I have decided that now is the best time to do this. You all know Eddie, Jake and Will, but there's something you don't know about them. Your father and I thought it was best to allow you kids to warm up to them before we properly introduced them. Eddie, Jake and Will aren't just other kids. They are your brothers."
"What," Lilly asked, furrowing her brow.
"Everyone who ever lived becomes a ghost when they die," I said gently. Sam and I decided now was the best time to explain it to them because Eddie and Jake are almost two by ghost years and Ida will pass soon. We don't want our kids to look at death as everyone else looks at it. They have never been separated from anyone in the family; we don't want them to think they are losing Ida. We will teach them the value of life but they will hopefully understand death, when it can't be prevented, is natural.
"You mean the ghosts were once like us," Megan asked.
"Does that mean Eddie, Jake and Will used to be alive," Doc asked.
"Yes," Sam nodded. "Life is fragile. There comes a time when life in this realm can no longer continue and the process is becoming a ghost. It's like what happened two years ago. Daddy's life was made fragile by that anti-ghost element and he couldn't continue to live in this realm. The only difference is sometimes, a soul chooses to stay behind. That's what Daddy did. When they don't go to the Ghost Zone like Eddie, Jake and Will did, they become Unfinished Business ghosts. The Reality Gauntlet identifies the UB ghosts as human still and can revive that particular type of ghost. Once they cross over, though, the soul goes through a process that is incompatible with human life. There's nothing else to do. That's why Eddie, Jake and Will are in the Ghost Zone and not with us."
"What happened to them," Lilly asked.
"Eddie and Jake would be just nine months younger than you, Lilly. Ghost juveniles age five years to look one year older so while they only look two, they're really nine. When Eddie and Jake were still alive, there was a period of great stress during their pregnancy. They couldn't handle the stress and they passed away. They live with Grandma and Grandpa Simmons now but we will have the option to bring them home in five years. Will was also a stressful injury. He'd be just a month younger than Doc."
"Uh," Lilly said, her eyes widening. "How? If you were pregnant with Doc, how did you get pregnant with Will?" Sam and I looked at each other, scared. Sam hadn't meant to say that and I didn't even catch it.
"Is William not Daddy's," Megan asked.
"No," Sam said, looking down. "William isn't mine." My eyes widened as I watched Sam renounce William. "You kids were too young to remember but your father and I had a brief moment of trouble during that time. It was a stressful time for both of us and we were fighting. Daddy made a mistake and a child was created from it. We didn't even know about it until after she had done it. She made it clear what she thought of her child and I consider him mine."
"Did what," Doc asked, shaking his head. I couldn't believe Sam was doing this. She's not really lying. I did make a huge mistake, creating a child and the other person threw the children away. She's only painting the picture with William instead of Doc.
"Life begins at conception," Sam said. "As soon as a life is started, it doesn't just go away. No one can just choose not to be pregnant anymore. When an abortion is preformed, the child just doesn't vanish. They become a ghost."
Lilly's eyes widened. "Are you saying Daddy's mistress aborted William," she asked, horrified.
"I'm saying the person Daddy had the affair with decided a child wasn't in the cards," Sam said slowly. I know she was speaking very carefully as to not lie, just mislead. "But because this person didn't want the child didn't mean he was unloved. I will never look at the baby and see he isn't mine. Regardless of who's blood courses through the veins, family is made of who loves you. That person may have created him but they weren't family. Family is more than blood and DNA."
"Like Uncle Tucker," Doc asked. "Even though he's not really Daddy's brother, he's still family."
"Or Aunt Brit, Grandma and Grandpa Foley or Grandma and Grandpa Calloway. Don't you ever think someone has to share your DNA to be family. There are people in my life that are in no way related to me but I love them more than the sun and the moon."
"Daddy," Lilly asked, looking to me. I looked to her, swallowing. "Why would you cheat on Mommy?"
"I've asked myself that question a million times, honey," I said, putting my arms on the table. "It was a mistake that I regret but I wouldn't take it back. I got a son from that affair that I love very much."
"Why can't the guys come live with us now," Doc asked. "We could put the bracelet on them."
I nodded. "We could but that's who they are. You kids… belong in this world." I just about said they were part human but I changed my mind. We've already got ourselves in one jam, I didn't want to get us in another. "Eddie, Jake and Will belong in the Ghost Zone. When they're old enough to know better, we can allow them to cross into this world but no matter where they live, they will always belong in the Ghost Zone."
"I'm sorry, Daddy. It must have been hard on you to lose three children."
"It was hard on everyone," I said, looking to Megan. "But we understand that just because the boys weren't going to be a part of this world didn't mean we'd lose them forever. I wished all three of them were still with us but I don't see them as gone. We are so lucky to have this piece of them."
"So why did you want to tell us this now," Lilly asked. I wasn't sure how much of this Sammy and Pammy were getting. Pammy was capable of understanding this but Sammy was distracting her. It wouldn't matter in three years anyway. Pammy would forget it when she got older. Sammy had the attention span of a four year old so while she could remember this conversation when she gets older, she doesn't have the mental capabilities of processing it like the rest of our children.
"There's someone in our life that we will lose. I don't know when but there's nothing we can do to stop it. Your father and I decided that it was time we explained to you about how a ghost exists and we knew you'd have questions about the boys. I accidently let it slip about William. I'm so used to him being my son, I don't even think about the other person anymore."
"She doesn't deserve him," Megan said. "How could someone pick something over their own kid? What could have meant more to her?"
"I don't know," I said, taking Megan's hand in mine. It's ironic that she should be the one to say this. Megan has a sister out there with her father and she was the one Vlad had the hardest time leaving behind. "All I know is everyone has a choice. It's a choice you have to live with for the rest of your life and I'm certain it wasn't easily made. No one makes that choice lightly."
"How is it a choice? I don't understand, Dad. How did she get this thing done," Lilly asked. I swallowed. Now, I had to explain abortion to my children.
"Not everyone knows about this other dimension," I said softly. "There are people out there that even deny an afterlife. Our town is unique because Grandma and Grandpa opened a portal and the ghosts escaped in the town. Mommy, Uncle Tucker, Aunt Valerie, Aunt Jazz, Aunt Danielle and I kept the ghosts in the walls but this is the only place that everyone knows about the existence of ghosts. You'll learn next year about this, Lilly, because ten years' learn about where ghosts come from. Think of it as ghostly birds and bees. So while we understand what the process does, not everyone thinks that way. Many people believe life begins after birth. It's kind of like how some ghosts believe life doesn't begin until after death. That's why some ghosts kill with mercy. They think the ghost existence is better than the human existence."
"This is legal," Megan asked, her eyes wide. "This woman killed your son and she gets away with it!"
"Megan," Sam said gently, "it's complicated. While I don't like the process, I see it's uses. The mother could be pressed up against a wall. She's pregnant and she can't afford to have a baby, maybe the baby is sick and it would be a strain on their life, there are multiple reasons abortions are performed every day—."
"Time," I cut in, hoping to drown out day. I didn't want the kids to know how many times this is performed. "What your mother is trying to say is not everyone is like us. We have five children and we're only twenty-four. Not everyone has the finances to do this. The beginning of conception is dangerous anyway. Maybe William would have died anyway. We never know when our time is. Sometimes, it's before we even begin."
Sam closed her eyes, releasing a subtle sigh of relief. She knew she was about to open a can of worms we weren't ready to deal with yet. It's a hot topic among the top Divisional board members as it is and these are full grown adults. The kids can't possibly understand the details of abortion. It's black and white to them. This world is filled with gray areas, though.
"It shouldn't be legal, though," Doc agreed with his sister. "Look at Will. He'll be a year for five, Dad! Shouldn't that mean something?"
"It does mean something, Doc. William will still grow up. Ghost biology is very strange. We will look young for the rest of our lives because of the ectoplasm we inherited. The people who didn't inherit ectoplasm are ravaged by age. Aunt Brit will age much faster than the rest of us. Ectoplasm won't allow the boys to age at a regular rate. It's their biology now."
"It wouldn't be Will's if that was illegal," Doc said, hanging his head.
"We don't know that," Sam replied. "Life is fragile, kids. That's what we're trying to tell you. Everyone dies, kids. We never know when it's going to be our time, though. William could have been taken from us another way."
"Are the boys coming over," Lilly asked, her voice quiet.
"Yeah," Sam nodded. "They're supposed to be over sometime today. Now, we don't want you guys telling this to them, okay. William is my son, no matter who his mother is."
"Okay, Mom," Lilly smiled.
"You can count on us," Megan nodded.
"Will you tell him eventually," Doc asked.
"Eventually," I replied. "Now, we just want him to be a kid."
"Hey," Sammy squealed. I looked to her and Pammy's location and Pammy had Sammy's blanket. "Give it back!"
"No," Pammy laughed. Sammy stood up on the chair, climbing up on the table. Sam and I chuckled as Sammy walked on the table to her sister's spot. Pammy floated out of her high chair with the blanket.
"Give it back," Sammy demanded again. Pammy flew higher. Sammy began to float up but Pammy darted away. Sammy went after her, the girls playing chase. I allowed them to fight it out. It's great practice.
"Who do you think is going to win," Sam asked.
"Pammy may be stronger but Sammy is smarter. She'll think of a way to beat her sister."
"That's what we want," Sam said, standing up. She bent down to Doc's level, hugging him to her chest. "Be smarter, not stronger."
"Can I go play with Jacky, Jamie and Joey now," Doc asked, looking up at his mother.
"Yeah," Sam said. She pulled the chair out for him to get down. Doc ran out of the room.
"I want to go swimming. Is that okay, Dad?"
"Lilly, how about you join Megan," I asked.
"I'm going to go read in front of an air vent, that's why," Lilly said, standing up. "Maybe I'll go swimming tonight."
"You know," Sam said, straightening herself. "When I was younger, I used to hate the sun. I'm still not a huge fan but I've learned that everything has its place. Maybe you'd like it if you gave it a try."
"A summer a year is enough for me, Mom. I appreciate what you're saying but I've gave it several tries. Nine of them to be exact." Sam and I laughed. "Later."
"How did she give summer nine tries," I asked, laughing. "She was eight last summer."
"She's probably talking about her first summer," Megan scoffed. "Later!"
"Be careful, baby," I replied. I stood up, flying over the table.
"Lazy," Sam shook her head. I wrapped my arms around her waist. "I'm sorry I made you out to be the bad guy but it was either…"
"I know," I said, stopping her from completing the sentence. You never know when we have a snoop around here. "I was the bad guy. I'm the one who made the mistake, not you."
"That time," Sam said, her voice quiet. "I made the mistake today. What was I thinking telling them I got pregnant when Doc was already conceived?"
"We didn't know," I said, kissing her head. "We lost Will before we even found out about Doc. So much went wrong with his gestation that it wasn't even funny. You told them how much younger the twins were from Lilly, it was only natural to tell them how old Will would be from Doc."
"Thank you for stopping me from saying how many abortions are actually performed," Sam said, putting her hand to her head. "They are too young to understand that."
"We're too young to understand that," I said, rubbing her hair. I kissed her head. "Every time we have the debate, I change my stance. I'm about to lobby to make murder legal. Just remove the gray area."
"No," Sam said, shaking her head. "What they need to do is increase education. People need to take responsibility for their actions. Their policy of forced adoption isn't any better and you know it. We don't have the resources to make sure the mother doesn't deliberately kill the baby. There were still abortions before Roe versus Wade. People will find a way. The solution is in making people realize that abortion isn't birth control. If you have a car but you can't afford the payments, driving it off a cliff isn't getting rid of the responsibility, only the car. Now you need a new car and you still have the payments on the old one, not to mention jail time if you're caught in insurance fraud."
"But abortion is birth control," I said, crossing my arms. "At least, it gets rid of the child. What responsibility do they have to that ghost? None. There's no jail time, there's no repercussions; they get off Scott free. I do like the idea of forced adoption. If they don't want the kid, then there should be repercussions for being irresponsible and getting pregnant. Picking up a box of rubbers isn't that hard. There's no excuse. We force men to pay child support after a marriage fails, why shouldn't the parents be forced to continue what they started. When we have sex, Sam, I know I have a chance of getting you pregnant. I make a commitment to you and I will always keep that commitment, no matter what. Sex isn't entertainment and then reproduction. The ghosts have this down pat. You can't get a male ghost pregnant accidently. There's only one reason someone touches that area."
"But human reproduction isn't male ghost reproduction, Danny," Sam objected. "The ghosts don't have this down pat. Female ghost reproduction is at an all-time high. Females still have a higher chance of getting pregnant. We can't stop that just because people choose to be irresponsible. We went through the same thing two years ago. Just because someone chooses to misuse a gun, does that mean everyone should have that right taken away?"
"If all gun owners were more responsible, the irresponsible gun owners wouldn't exist," I objected. We got into that during the gun debate of 2013. Sam was pro-second amendment. I thought my children should be safe. We don't allow some people to drive drunk because others are responsible.
"People will find a way, Danny. If we have forced adoptions, we will have people hiding their pregnancies until it's terminated. What about the kids placed in child services? We have so many kids that need good homes. What happens when millions of kids are put into circulation? Sweetheart, in an ideal world, no child will be aborted but until paradise arrives, we are stuck with imperfect people who make stupid mistakes."
"I guess," I sighed. She was right about that point. The nurseries in the Ghost Zone are full of children. If we put that in the Real World on top of the thousands already in foster services… what then? Tucker joked about child labor but it's an honest question that no one can answer. Our country is going broke as it is. We are already twenty-two trillion dollars in nation debt, three trillion more than projected. The portals just nearly broke us in a million pieces last year. The entire world is having financial troubles and the war hasn't even begun. I really regret in thirty to fifty years when we will have mass famine and pestilence. We're trying to prepare for a world absorbed in survival but all the experts keep saying the same thing: massive death totals.
"Honey," Sam asked, touching my hand. I looked up at her. "It's going to be all right."
"No, it's not, Sam," I said, walking away from her. I sat down in Doc's seat, propping my hand on the table. "The world is going to change, no matter what." I laughed out bitterly. "It's either a planet-wide war between humans and ghosts wherein the human race is nearly wiped off the face of the planet or a complete global financial meltdown wherein the human race is nearly wiped off the face of the planet."
Sam pulled Megan's seat back out, facing me when she sat down. "What is worse?"
"That's supposed to make me feel better," I declared, snapping at her. "Sam, our children will grow up in a world where people starve because there's not enough food. There will be anarchy. The United States will crumble to a third world country and this is the best solution? I don't want the ghosts to escape, Sam, but there is no better alternative. The world is coming to an end no matter what happens in twenty years. Oh, my God, and when we run out of money, how are we going to keep the ghosts out of our world? It'll happen no matter what, it's just a matter of when!"
Sam swallowed. "We can't save the entire world, Danny. We want to but this is too big. The only thing we can do is keep pushing back."
"But there's a fucking cliff back there, too, Sam," I said, hanging my head in my hand. "We keep backing up, trying to avoid falling down the trench in front of us but there's one behind us, we don't know the size of this one and it may actually be worse!"
"My first job is to protect my kids, Danny," Sam said, her voice firm. I kept my eyes shielded, feeling so lost. "I will not sacrifice my daughter for anyone. When that day comes, I won't care about anything else. My job is to make sure our eight kids make it out alive. I will still go there to protect the world but if it comes down to my kids or the planet, my kids come first."
"I agree," I said, looking up at her. "It just makes me wonder, Sam. Was Tucker right? When he said maybe we should tell everyone, would that have made a difference? We weren't as broke as we were then. We weren't even ten trillion in debt then. It's more than doubled in six years."
"We can't change the past, Danny," Sam said, rubbing my arm. "I've already resigned this fight, Danny. My job is to protect my kids, save who we can and try to live while we can."
"You figured this out a while ago, didn't you," I asked, looking to her.
Sam nodded. "We all have. We haven't told anyone else. Danny, you won't have to worry about becoming director. Unless something happens to Samuels in the next ten years, if we're lucky, by the time he dies, the Division isn't going to be as it is now. Samuels is creating a new way of doing it. When the United States collapses, the Division will be the new government."
I covered my face. "Why didn't you tell me," I asked, releasing a breath.
"We agreed we wouldn't tell anyone who didn't already know. Tucker doesn't even know… I think. I haven't told him. I talked to Samuels in private two months ago. He told me that they've known for the past three years. They knew in the first several months. The cost to keep the planet safe… it's too much. The UN is already arranging for a world power. There will be five directors when this takes place. It will spread the power out, like the constitution stated, so that no one is a supreme ruler. It will be global, though. The planet will be ruled by the Division. I'm trying to talk Samuels in beginning it now."
"Are you crazy," I declared.
"That's the same reaction he had," Sam said drily.
"We can't be in a civil war when the ghost war starts, Sam. They will crush us."
"And that's the same thing he said," Sam nodded. "I know you're right. It's just… if we were doing that now, we'd be a lot better off. As it is, we have countless bases set up in enemy territory because they won't do it and we have made countless more enemies because we have invaded their land to patrol the portals. Maybe if we were in charge of everything, we could stop it."
"No," I said, shaking my head. "Nothing is going to be able to stop it. Everything will change when we lose."
Sam released a breath as we both regretted the fight to come. I didn't want to talk about this anymore. I wanted to keep my mind off the future. That's why we came here: to focus on the present.
Grandma and Grandpa Simmons brought the boys over at noon and before Sam or I could take them, my mothers had stolen them. I hugged my grandmother and my grandfather and then welcomed my sons to the Real World. William squealed in Mom Number Two's arms, content. Eddie was chatting with Mom, his baby voice hyper. Jake was already dragging Mom Number Three to the kitchen and I didn't get the intimate welcome I wanted. I heard him banging on pots and pans.
"You are getting so big, Eddie," Mom said, bouncing him. Mom kissed his cheek, causing Eddie to laugh.
"Thank you, Maw-Maw," Eddie said, his voice excited.
"You didn't have any trouble getting Will did you," I asked.
"No," Grandpa shook his head. "We went to the castle and Anastasias handed him to us. We've been there before and we've never had any trouble."
"Anastasias said you enrolled Eddie and Jake in the school there. Is that true," Sam asked.
Grandma nodded. "Yeah. It was time for them to go to school but we wanted the boys to be together. They love hanging out together."
"How are the boys liking school," Tucker asked. He nearly made me jump out of my skin. I didn't see him enter the house.
"It's fun, Uncle Tucker," Eddie replied. "We learn true history, guest speakers come in, we get to play with new people and we can be normal boys. Jake doesn't like it but I like blending in."
Eddie and Jake were advanced by now. Will knows many words and he's learning quickly but he still acts like a baby. Eddie and Jake are starting to act like my halfa children at age four. Will is more like Pammy.
"Play," Will declared. "Please."
"Say it right, Will," Sam said, knowing he could do better.
"May I go play, please," Will asked. I smiled.
"Okay," Mom Number Two agreed. She put him down and he took to floating. Will flew to the playroom where Sammy, Pammy, Connor, Teresa and Philip are.
"Will," I called. Will stopped, turning to me. "They know who you are, son. You don't have to hide you're our child."
"Really," Will asked.
"What about us," Eddie asked.
"They almost know everything," I said, crossing my arms. "I haven't told them the whole truth."
"Okay, Daddy," Eddie nodded. Eddie would stay with us for a long time but his brothers liked striking out on their own. Eddie liked attention so long as we aren't falling over him as being a prince. Jake loves attention, too, but he was more of a 'look at me' kind of attention getter. Eddie liked being recognized; Jake wanted to capture everyone's attention.
"When are you going to tell them," Grandma asked.
"When they're older," I said, taking a seat in the living room. Sam sat down beside of me.
"We don't want to confuse them," Sam replied, placing her hand in mine. "We wouldn't have told the boys except they knew."
"It's pretty hard not to," Eddie replied. Everyone started to take a seat, spreading out amongst the chairs and couches. "They will start to notice the energies eventually. It's time you tell them before they find out on their own."
"The kids could feel the difference when Lilly was twelve," I sighed. "Right now, I can't see them noticing anything. They are still too young. I know you can sense the difference, Eddie, but we want you to know we are your parents. Not Vlad."
"I know. I've never even met Vlad before," Eddie shrugged. It was weird seeing a boy the age of two shrugging. I haven't seen it since Lilly. "But I can sense Mom's energy and compare it to mine and I know she didn't carry me. I sense yours and I can tell you are the carrier. If I ever sensed Vlad, I could tell he supplied. It's a ghost thing. But I know who my mom is."
"So long as you know," Sam smiled. Sam looked to my grandmother. "So, Carla, any change in the Ghost Zone."
"Not really," Grandma said, looking down. "I talked to Skulker a few cycles ago. The breaches are getting more numerous and that means more are escaping. He said that ten percent of the Ghost Zone is exposed. It's getting worse."
"We knew it would," I sighed. How did we get back here?
"What we need to do is let it go," Tucker said. "No one wants to deal with this today. Eventually, we won't be able to ignore it. Right now, let's not go there if we can stop it."
"Of course," Sam said, hanging her head. "I'm just worried, that's all. I haven't been to a board meeting in days. I wonder what's going on."
I pulled out my smart phone. "It's Sunday, seven o'clock in Amity, Sam," I said, looking at the clock. "You wouldn't be at the headquarters anyway."
"But I'd be going tomorrow," Sam sighed. "Sorry. I'll drop it. I'll be fine." I pulled her close to me, kissing her hair. I recommended for Samuels to put her on the board of directors when we graduated so Sam has an active part in the Division. Tucker doesn't have any titles in the Division but everyone here is a vital part of the organization. Mom and Sam are both on the board so I'm sure Mom knew about us running out of money eventually as well. That's who she was talking about. Team Phantom didn't know.
"If they need to get a hold of us, they know where to reach us," Mom replied. "For now, let's just enjoy the time off. I for one am glad not to babysit those idiots."
Mom wants to redo the rules. Mom wants to inform the members of congress about the upcoming war and prepare all law enforcements. She thinks the lowest deputy should know what we're facing but she is almost alone in her thinking. It's too many people involved if we do that so most are against the idea. If we tell the house and the senate, then they will be telling friends and distant family members and they will tell others and we will have mass panic on our hands. So the only thing we can do is alert the federal agencies and only certain members of them. Not everyone in DHS knows about ghosts, but there are members in every division that do know.
"Maddie, I get where you're coming from but you know that is not the way," Sam said, looking sympathetic.
"So we are supposed to leave people vulnerable," Mom asked, raising an eyebrow. "The DHS stockpiled AR-15's before the portals even opened! It's not right, Sam, and you know it. We will be prepared for this attack but people out in the country will be slaughtered."
"I'm more worried about populous places," I said, crossing my leg over the other. "Ghosts go where there are opportunities to feed, Mom. These ghosts will go where there are plenty of people to target. I never came across a town in the south that had less than twenty-five thousand people that was being attacked. They want opportunities to create the most damage. The country will be the last attacked."
"That was one case," Mom said gently. "We have no idea how they will react. All we know is there are nine thousand killed in twenty years. Who knows where those people lived?"
"Well, after Sammy died I flew around the area and I saw major metropolitans with body bags on city sidewalks. I don't know if there were any attacks in the small towns."
"And we shouldn't leave these people vulnerable to attack," Mom said.
"Enough," Tucker cut in. "We get that this is on everyone's mind but we aren't here to strategize. Just leave it alone for a few days. Jeez, people."
I looked down. "Sorry. What else do we talk about, though? Tell me if it feels right to talk about the latest contestant on American Idol when we know what's on the horizon?"
"Of course not," Tucker said, looking to me. "But one of these days we are going to pray to be able to shut it off but we won't be able to. Do you want to think back and realize we wasted precious family time talking about something we can't prevent? The truth is, Mom, no matter what we do nothing will help. People will die, the ghosts will get out, massive food shortages will happen, and no amount of prepping and no amount of warning will stop it. The only thing giving advanced warning will accomplish is what we have been faced with for the past eight years. There will be massive panic, serious doubt and debilitating worry. Give the people a few more years of peace. Sometimes, I wished I didn't know."
"I'm sorry, Tucker," I began to say.
"Danny, this isn't your fault," Tucker began as soon as I started talking. "So you had the dream, big deal. Except for the severity, we saw this happening since the beginning. The day that Nazi ghost kidnapped you and when we returned to a slew of ghost attacks we knew it'd get worse over the years. We never saw this coming but we were close. Don't underestimate those dreams. We know about Sammy, Valerie and the escape of the Forbidden Zone because of those dreams."
"That's right, Danny," Mom nodded. "Those dreams are a godsend. We would be in bigger trouble if you didn't dream of the war."
"I don't see it that way," I sighed. I kissed Sam on the cheek. "I'm going out for some air. Talk to you guys later."
"Be careful," Sam said, rubbing my arm as I stood up and pulled away from her.
I couldn't help myself as I gave her a cheeky smile. "What do I possibly have to fear on the island?"
"It's not other things that I'm worried about," Sam said honestly. I nodded.
"I'll be fine, sweetheart. I just need some air."
"Lunch will be served soon, sweetheart. I'll text you when it's ready."
"Thanks," I nodded. I started for the door, a good two minute walk even at the pace I walk. If this house ever caught fire, I don't think any human would survive. But then again, I'm not taking into consideration the efforts Vlad put into this place. I know there are hundreds of fire escapes and I see these strange boxes near the floor. I have no idea what that is or even if it has anything to do with the plan. All I know is it's close to the floor and it puts me to mind of crawling on a floor.
Finally, I made it outside to see three of the islanders on the porch. I acknowledged them as I stepped on the paved walkway. I followed the walkway to the gardens northeast of the house. The gardens were huge. There were dozens of people harvesting food, which is done year round. I made it to an orange grove and picked a ripe, juicy orange from the tree. I phased the flesh out of the rind, the peeling falling to the ground. I pulled the orange in two, separating a slice to eat.
I continued walking, eating the orange as I looked over the gardens. Exactly what did Vlad have planned here? This is much too large for anything I can think of. I know Vlad wanted to save the halfa race but there was no way he planned on me having this many kids. Maybe in my existence, but this is too big for annual results. Vlad never talked about including Sam and Tucker in it and I can't imagine him working with them. Did he have plans to turn these islanders into halfas?
I groaned, slipping another slice in my mouth. That man is a big mystery. I know that Vlad has the workers ship this food to the other islands in the area and the money he earns from it—very small; he sells it at almost no profit—is distributed amongst the workers. I don't get a dime from the island and that meant that Vlad didn't either so I know he wasn't doing this for money. He had something planned but the plan changed so he didn't need this anymore. Vlad had plans to use all this food, though.
I flew in the air, flying back to where Sam and Tucker had met me this morning. The island was abuzz with activity now that it was the afternoon. I could see the boats on the docks on the west side of the island. The workers were loading the goods on the boats and they would take those to the other islands in the area. I released a breath, looking to the rock ledge I was standing on. I would never be able to figure out Vlad so why even bother. He's gone, whatever he had planned died and my life has moved on.
The rock ledge was very high but not that wide. Most of the mountain on the east side of the island was straight up, with just a few foothills at the base of the ledge. Thick tropical foliage grew in this area, covering most of the rock. Behind me, the ledge went straight to the ocean and the waves crashed into the rock face. Lilly's winter wonderland was just a few yards from here and the water mill and water tower were at my feet. The shield was flickering above me, making this place the safest place in the planet. Mom and Dad have told me that nothing could destroy this shield. Vlad had it secure and I don't think even my ghostly wail could take it down.
The house sat in the southern portion of the island, the gardens behind it. To the west of the house was the small clinic and to the east of the house was the barn. Beaches lined the coast from the bathhouse to the green house. The bathhouse was directly in front of the southern portion of the house, where Vlad had dumped me when we arrived. The greenhouse was west of the house, near the docks. The docks sat west of the winter wonderland, among tiny islands and the only peninsula. This island was its own city.
The entire town of Amity Park comes to live on the island!
The memory was so sudden I literally snapped my head to the side as I remembered. It was. I couldn't believe what this information told me. Vlad had come to me literally days before we broke up and asked me to take the entire town of Amity Park to the island so we could, quote, 'turn everyone half ghost and populate the world with halfas.' I remember a fight we had before that when I told Vlad I couldn't leave my town and he wanted to know what I wanted him to do and he sarcastically remarked that. Could it be that he had this planned before we got together but he thought I wouldn't agree to it (he was right, I would have kicked his ass) and when I said I couldn't leave my town, he began to speculate whether or not I would agree to it?
It makes perfect sense and he didn't just do this at the last minute. Vlad had plans to kidnap my entire town and force them to breed. Oh, I think I'm going to be sick. It was organized that way, though. The house was big enough to hold thousands of people, the shield was strong enough to keep anyone out (or in), the lab was sealed, there is enough garden space here to feed everyone… Yeah, I'm going to be sick.
Suddenly, this island didn't feel like a retreat anymore. I flew from the ledge, phasing through the house. If I was Vlad's office, where would I be? Away from prying eyes. Before I went, though, I flew back to where my family was. "Mom," I asked, still floating.
"Honey," Mom asked, looking up startled. "What is it?"
"Could you come with me, please," I asked.
"Sure," Mom said. Eddie had already gone to play. Mom stood up, taking my hand. I phased us through the ceiling, back down through the ground and back up into the lab. "We're going to the lab?"
"I think I know what Vlad's plan was here, Mom, and it isn't good," I remarked.
"Well, whatever it is, you don't have to worry. It's over now."
"I know that," I sighed. I let go of her hand, landing on the ground. The portal pulsed in the background. "But still, it makes me sick to my stomach."
"Okay, what is it," Mom asked but I could tell I didn't have her attention. Mom had never been in this part of the lab before and she was overwhelmed by the room. "Son of a bitch, this was our invention," Mom snapped, picking up some kind of invention. It looked like a pen.
"Um, Mom, can we focus," I said.
Mom looked at me. "Oh, of course, sweetie. What's this theory of yours?"
"Just before we broke up, Vlad came to me in an effort to save the relationship. He asked me to allow him to take everyone in the town to the island, turn them half ghost and populate the world with halfas." I had her attention now. "I didn't take him seriously. I told him rocker, center, stay and we began talking about you guys. Vlad was scared for me in my last months of pregnancy and he asked me to live on the island and tell you guys. I decided I'd do it, had a dream about it falling apart, I ran away from home, had ten kids and died during childbirth."
"Well, that would have been unpleasant," Mom said, putting her full focus on me. "I'm guessing you changed your mind."
"Yeah," I nodded. I sighed. "Vlad didn't take it well. He claimed I was putting you guys before him and even accused me of being embarrassed of him. I really wasn't, Mom, although maybe I should have been. He was serious! I think that was his plan all along, Mom. That's what I want to do. Vlad doesn't just brainstorm. If he had plans, it'd be on paper somewhere."
"Have you come across a plan before," Mom asked me. I laughed, putting my hand behind my neck.
"I have no idea what it was," I said, rubbing my neck absentmindedly. "I found this dossier in Vlad's desk with names of women inside. I asked him about it because I thought he was replacing me—this wasn't long after we got together—but he said it was a dead plan. It was when it was unwilling that he planned this. I think it was from the time we went to DALV." I closed my eyes, trying not to see their faces.
"DALV, now that's a day I haven't thought about in a while," Mom smirked. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I said, shaking my head. "Bad place."
"He raped you without powers," Mom nodded, her jaw tight.
"Yeah, he did but he also had plans to kidnap me and you and killed two people to do it. We got away though and spoiled his plans."
"That you didn't tell me about," Mom said, walking towards me. "How did you find out about it?"
"Originally, I witnessed it but I blocked the memory. I didn't remember until a month later when I dreamed of it."
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart. So the travels wasn't the first time you lost someone," Mom asked.
"No. They were my first. He shot a blast at her, turning her to dust and he made him think he couldn't breathe and he suffocated right in front of me. Vlad is really powerful but so am I."
"You all are," Mom said, rubbing my arm. "Remember, you're not alone. Your brother, your sisters, your wife and your children are all with you now."
"I know," I nodded. I cleared my throat, "Okay, now to find some plans. I need to find Vlad's office."
"It shouldn't be hard," Mom replied. She walked away from the work lab and entered another section of the room. It went from linoleum floors to hardwood. We've found it.
We found all the evidence we needed. Vlad had this planned from before we became a couple. The big shocker of the afternoon though was the full picture on the dossier I found. Vlad had identities for both Danielle and I. The women, though, were weird. Mom thought maybe he wanted to turn me into woman but I don't think he was that crazy. My theory is so the kids could have a mother. My female identity would be used as our children's mother. Vlad hadn't selected a choice yet but a woman named Cassidy McMillion was leading the pack. My male identity was Daniel Rogers. Danielle had the last name of Jenkins but no male identity.
It didn't make any difference, though. Just because Vlad had these plans once upon a time doesn't mean it has any significance now. Vlad changed his mind when we became a couple and that's the important thing.
The time difference was completely weird. We had left Amity Park Friday at three-thirty. We arrived on the island only four and a half hours later but it was Saturday one o'clock. There was a seventeen-hour time discrepancy so that meant that while it was Joey's seventh birthday island time, it was still tomorrow in Amity Park. We decided to celebrate his birthday as if we were still in Amity Park. Even though it was already the fifteenth here didn't mean Joey was seven yet. So while Joey was playing with his cousins in the playroom, we were setting up the J Living Room for the party. J was bigger and was closer to the kitchen in the back so Jazz thought that was the best room to choose. We had brought all the supplies so Sam, Tucker, Jazz, Danielle and I started decorating while our parents were helping position the tables. Joseph, Brit, Mikey, Nathan, Lester and Valerie were carrying in the presents from the Ops Center. Star and Kwan were on child duty.
Five o'clock island time was midnight in Amity Park, so we planned to start the party the minute he turned seven. Five o'clock had Ida, my grandparents, Star, Kwan and the kids joining us in Living Room J. We had planned a surprise party but no other kid would have a surprise party like this. Sam, Tuck, Jazz, Dani and I had connected all the party supplies and Jazz was holding the one thing connecting them all. Everyone hid, the human way, before Joey entered. Jazz turned invisible so all the supplies would disappear.
When Star turned on the lights, we all jumped out. "Happy birthday, Joey!" Jazz turned visible again and all the supplies appeared. Joey's eyes went wide.
"Today's my birthday," Joey asked.
"Sure is, slugger," Joseph said, picking up his son. He showed Joey his phone. "See, midnight on February fifteenth. You were born today seven years ago!"
Joey hugged his dad. "I love you, Daddy."
"I love you to, Joe-Joe," Joseph said, hugging him back. Joseph put Joey down and he ran to his mother.
"Mommy, that was awesome! I had no idea the room was decorated."
"That's the benefits of having a half ghost mother," Jazz smiled. She kissed her son. "Happy birthday, angel. I love you so much."
"I love you, too, Mommy," Joey said. Jazz put him down and Joey went around the room getting happy birthday wishes and hugs.
The kids hit the games right away, turning Living Room J into a frenzy. Jacky, Jamie, Joey, Philip, Connor, Jacob, Eddie and Will started rough housing while the girls tried to not be outdone by the boys. All the adults sat down on the couches with our spouses, watching the kids play. Dani was in Fenton form so she was sitting in Nathan's arms while Lester leaned forward, watching the kids play. From my perceptive, it looked like Lester got the short end of the stick but he never complained. I couldn't imagine sharing Sam. You'd think there'd be jealousy issues but I never see that. Even Tucker, who's my best friend and my brother, couldn't get away with being with Sam more than me had we been in that situation. I don't know how they do it.
After the kids played for forty minutes, it was time to open presents and then cake time. The party broke up at six o'clock so we done our own things. The kids went back to playing so we decided to leave the room as it was and we'd clean up later (if not just leave it to the workers). Pammy was really tired but it was almost bedtime so we knew she could make it. The cake seemed to give her some much needed energy. Sam and I went outside and the porch was empty. The sun was going down and the heat was giving way to a cool evening breeze. We sat down on the outdoor couch, Sam leaning her head on the arm rest and laying her bare legs over my lap. I rubbed her legs.
"Do you ever wonder about the Johnson's and Danielle," I asked.
"All the time," Sam said, her voice soft and content as I gave her legs and feet a massage.
"I do not know how they do it. I was thinking I could never do what Lester does. It's so obvious that Nathan is the one that gets the most attention. I couldn't stand to watch the woman I love being with someone else, not even my brother. No amount of nights could make up for that. Dani was just laying on Nathan's shoulder and Lester sat there, right beside them. That man has control."
"I know what you mean," Sam nodded. "Oh, yeah, that's great."
I smiled. "So you couldn't share me, either."
"Absolutely not," Sam shook her head. "But I have a lot of respect for Danielle, too," Sam replied.
"Why," I asked. Danielle gets two men. What's so great about that?
"Well, obviously she does enough to get Lester to stick around. I mean, he was the first to come back. You'd think he'd be the one she loved more because it took Nathan longer to forgive her. But also, they keep their relationships so clean. I could never look at you as Phantom and ignore you if Fenton was your wife. I couldn't ignore you no matter what I looked like. She's capable of looking at Lester when she's Fenton and only see him as a friend. That must take a lot of self-restraint."
"I see your point," I nodded. "I don't see the differences anymore. I get confused anymore. Was it Phantom or Fenton that said that? Was I with Phantom or Foley when we saw that ghost? Am I Phantom or Fenton right now as I'm about to kiss the love of my life," I lifted her legs up, moving in closer to her. I kissed Sam passionately.
"Oh, yeah. Me too? I can't tell either." I smiled as Sam kissed me gently. I put my hand on her hip, kissing her again as Sam ran her fingers through my hair. "I love you, Danny. No matter what I look like or what you look like. I could never separate that."
"Me either," I said, kissing her again. Sam slid down further on the couch until I was completely on top of her. Sam's hand found mine and she ran her fingers through mine. She gripped my head tighter with her free hand and I felt her soft hands tug on my hair. I released a growl, the drive going full force. Sam released a soft purr, turning it into a moan. Finally she shot up from beneath me and we both phased through the canopy and went someplace private.
Just as I was starting to undress Sam, I heard another passionate purr. This one didn't come from Sam, though.
"Did you hear that," Sam asked, sitting up. She slipped the strap of her sundress back in its rightful spot. I stood up, allowing Sam to come to her feet. We peeked around the rock to see Dani Phantom and Lester, I hope, kissing. Dani ran her hand through Lester's short hair, the curls long tame and his afro-style hair replaced for a normal cut. Danielle phased the shirt off Lester's back and I realized when Lester grabbed her breast that Dani was already naked. Seeing my little sister having sex was too much for me and I turned, darting in the other direction. Sam followed me until we were far enough away. "I guess it's their time."
"Oh, I'll never unsee that," I whined.
"Oh, you big baby," Sam said, pushing me. I shivered visibly.
"Well, at least he doesn't have to undress her," I said, shaking my head.
"Where were we," Sam asked, grabbing my head. I saw a flashback.
"Sorry, honey," I said, shivering. "My drive was brutally murdered."
Sam pouted. "Maybe later."
We went back to the house, I desperately trying to scrub the image of my sister like that from my mind.
By Wednesday, we were adjusted to not being on the clock. Our family stayed on the island, the only work was training for thirty minutes and school, until Sunday afternoon (that was five-thirty AM island time). We carried the kids to the jet and they woke up a couple hours in the flight. Everyone knew we'd have trouble because the kids would be waking up in the middle of the afternoon. We knew we'd never get them in bed and we were right.
The ghost attacks grew at a steady rate but so did our children. Lilly started a month before the start of the 2015-2016 school year. She wanted to start flying herself to school. She was in fifth grade now so she thought she was old enough to fly herself to school. Sam and I weren't so sure but with D.J. due in September, we were really needing that extra time. Six children was finally starting to weigh us down. Brit was expecting her first child with Mikey, Tuck and Valerie were planning their wedding and Sam was due any day—things were crazy.
We caved with the kids. Ten was the age they could start using their powers to fly to school but the rest would have to either walk or ride the bus. Megan was so ready to walk to school. She had several friends in the neighborhood so she readily volunteered to wear a new type of bracelet Mom invented. Until they turned ten, their powers were removed during morning and afternoon commute. The boys and Sammy rode the bus.
"Okay," I said, taking out the blindfold. "Here's the first part."
"Thanks," Sam grumbled. Her abdomen was swelled and she was sitting on the couch. She put the blindfold on herself. "Next."
"Nose plugs," I said, giving her the next part.
"Don't say a word," Sam said, jerking her head as if giving me a stern look. "I will tell the kids you had business again."
"Honey, you're pregnant. It's not this horrible secret," I tried to reassure her.
"Not a word," Sam threatened again. She clipped her nose.
"Ready," I asked.
"I'm ready. Or, more like it, D.J. is ready," Sam grumbled.
"Okay, here you go," I said, picking up the third part: a medium rare sirloin steak. Sam could usually keep the cravings under control but when the baby wants something, he will do anything to get it. Apples with Lilly, diary with Megan, peanut butter with Doc, tortilla chips and avocado dip with Sammy, veggie lasagna for Pammy and now the dreaded meat for D.J. This kid is so grounded when he's born, I know it.
"Thanks, Danny. I can't stand the smell or taste of it," Sam said. I cut a piece and slipped it in her mouth. The kids were at school, Pammy was at my parents and I had taken my powers away. Sam was the only halfa in the area except for our son so she shouldn't be able to taste the meat. Sam sighed as she chewed the meat blindfolded. "He's happy." I remember that feeling. You couldn't tell you were eating it but somehow they did. At least Sam doesn't have to suffer this way.
"You're doing great, honey," I said, cutting another piece.
"Any idea on a birthday for D.J.," Sam asked.
"Early September," I said, feeding Sam the piece of meat. "I have no idea the exact date. Sorry."
"I hope it's soon. He can eat his own meat."
"Sorry," I said, looking at the plate. "He must have gotten it from me."
"Must have," Sam grumbled. I fed her another piece. "Is Rosalita coming over tonight?"
"That was the plan," I said. I cut another piece. I tried to feed her as quick as I could.
"You told Megan she was to come straight home, right," Sam asked.
"I told everyone we had a training session after school," I replied. "Whether they listen or not is still up for debate. Even my little butterfly tries to blow off the sessions."
"Sammy and Pammy are only copying their older siblings. Megan wants to hang out all day long, Lilly is fed up with training and wants to see action, Doc, Jacky and Jamie are too busy showing off and Joey keeps trying to interrupt." She shook her head. "The babies are the angels of the group."
"Yeah," I said. I fed her the last piece. "This is all of it."
"Good," Sam said. She removed the blindfold as I hid the plate. I turned back to see her tossing the blindfold and nose plug on the table. She rubbed my arm and her heat raised the hairs on my arm. It didn't feel like I was being touched by almost two hundred degrees but she felt warmer than my skin. Sam has lately begun to experiment with role reversals. She loves to imagine what it was like for me when I was the only half ghost.
I slid in close to her, her pulse sending vibrations through my hands. It felt like she had just finished running a marathon but her pulse is always like this. I kissed her lips, feeling her chest rise and fall rapidly. Sam wasn't the only one excited to pretend. Now that she can transform, there's no difference between us. We both feel the same temperature, our vitals are the same and we can both feel. If I take my powers away, though, it's always amazing to me how different we are.
Sam ran her hand up my arm and I felt her temperature creating chill bumps. I watched Sam close her eyes and I slipped my tongue in her mouth. She didn't notice, continuing to kiss me. If she knew what I was doing, she would be using her tongue as well. I used my right hand to go up her skirt. Her eyes were still closed so she hadn't felt me do it.
After we fooled around, Sam was breathing hard on the couch. "Easy, girl. You're too close to delivery," I joked.
"I love doing this," Sam sighed. "It makes me appreciate being half ghost so much more. I'm glad you're not alone anymore."
"Me too," I said, taking her hand.
"It's two-forty-five," Sam said, slowing her breaths. "The kids will be home in thirty minutes."
"I'll go tell the staff to make lunch," I replied. I kissed her again, standing up. Sam threw her head back, still breathing pretty hard. I smirked.
I took a jellybean before the kids were due back and waited for them to arrive. Lilly is always the first home but three-forty had Megan walking in the door, still no Lilly.
"Hey, guys," Megan said, putting her bag at the door. "Why didn't Lilly go to school today?"
"What," Sam asked, standing up. I rushed to Sam's side.
"Easy," I said, putting my hands on her back. I looked to Megan. "What do you mean Lilly wasn't at school?"
"I mean I haven't seen her all day. Her teachers said she wasn't there. I thought maybe she got sick after I left." Megan leaves first because she has a ten minute commute and Lilly has a two minute flight.
"Lilly went to school this morning," I said, my voice panicked.
"Danny," Sam cried.
"Shh," I soothed. "I'm going to check the sig-ar. You don't worry. Megan, watch your mother," I instructed. Maybe she's playing hookie. It's been nearly two weeks since she started flying to school. The timeline fits for Lilly abusing our trust. I pulled up Lilly's profile but she wasn't where I expected her. "Where is that," I asked myself. It was near Jefferson. That's three miles from the schools and as far as I know, Lilly doesn't have any friends over there.
I closed down the program, jogging back to the living room from the lab. "Sam, I got her. She just skipped out. I'm going to pick her up and we can talk to her when we get back. I'll be back in a couple minutes."
"Okay," Sam nodded. I transformed and flew through the ceiling. Before three minutes, I was over the area the sig-ar said she was. The area was deserted, only the old penitentiary still standing. It had been abandoned for years. I wonder what she's doing here?
"Lillian," I called out, phasing through the room I sensed her in. The minute I phased through the room, though, a thousand volts shot through my body. I screamed out, hitting the ground.
"Dad," Lilly's voice screamed out, terrified. Her voice was muffled, though.
"Long time no see, Phantom," a voice announced. I stood up on my hands and knees to see a blurry white blob.
"Don't beat around the bush, O," a second voice said. "Finish it." I went to hit him with a blast when a second shock went through my body. I screamed out, everything going black.
"Daddy, wake up," I heard Lilly's voice. I was so tired but she sounded scared. I forced my eyes open but I wasn't in my bedroom. Dirty, unwashed walls surrounded us and I was lying on the hard concrete. I snapped my head up but regretted it in the form of a throbbing headache. "Daddy, please, I'm scared."
"I'm here, Lilly," I said, wincing. Lilly was lying beside me but she was bound in ecto-rope. She had somehow made it to my side. I noticed I was tied up, too, my hands behind my back and my legs wound together with the twine. "What happened, Lilly?"
"I was on my way to school when I was shot down. I don't remember much before I woke up. I was flying, pain and then here. Well, not here; where we were earlier. They moved us after you were knocked out."
"They didn't touch you, did they," I hissed. So help me.
"No, Daddy. They're not trying to kill us… at least not yet. They want our entire family. I'm so sorry, Daddy. I should have listened to you. I was too young to be flying by myself."
"Good morning, sleeping beauty," a voice announced. Lilly jumped, terrified.
"Shh," I soothed. I hugged her with my neck and she snuggled into my shoulder.
"How touching," the second GIW announced. "The freak comforting his baby freak."
"Let her go," I announced. "It's me you want, not Lilith!"
"You're wrong," the first one announced.
"We want all of you," the second one continued.
"We want to know what you are."
"We certainly want your wife…"
"You will not touch her," I declared, coming to my feet. I screamed out as more electricity coursed through my body. However, I heard Lilly screaming under my screams. "No," I pleaded. "Please, don't hurt my daughter!" The shocks ceased and I fell to the floor. Lilly whimpered beside me.
"You think we care about your wife, your daughter, your unborn child," the second GIW announced, his voice that same annoying tone I remembered. "We only care about eradicating your entire team." He slurred the word.
"You won't hurt my family," I growled. "And I thought I got rid of you guys. Where have you been?"
"The GIW is gone. We weren't in the GIW anymore. We got the hell out when the Fenton house was haunted but we heard what happened to the organization. We've been planning but six months ago we saw you and your entire family flying to Fentonworks. We decided to get to work. You've been a busy beaver, Ghost boy."
"I'm a father first," I said, narrowing my eyes. Lilly, I sent out a message. I'm going to find out how they're shocking us, baby. Prepare yourself.
Okay, Dad, I heard Lilly reply. I looked to her and I saw her stiffen like a board.
I summoned energy in my core. "Hey, boys, I'd duck if I was you," I released my energy but I watched for any sign of activity. I saw O jerk and he pulled a trigger out of his coat. I focused on the trigger, picturing my ectoplasm ripping it out of his hands. I was actually fast enough to snatch the trigger from his hands.
"Get him," K screamed. I summoned the human in me, mixing it with my ectoplasm. As I was in ghost form, I was able to put my human form where I wanted to and slip right through the ropes. I shot two blasts at the GIW, capturing them. The men fell to the floor. I freed Lilly.
"Daddy," Lilly cried.
"I'm here, Lilith," I said, kissing her head. "You're safe."
"You better enjoy it while it lasts," O growled. "Because you won't be safe for much longer." I turned to shut them up when a spark came from their direction. Lilly and I gasped in pain, covering our eyes.
"Fenton flasher," Lilly cried. It was my parents' invention. It took a ghosts' advanced eyesight and used it against them. The flash died but the GIW were gone. "They're gone!"
"They have Fenton Inventions," I said, my voice quiet.
"That's not good, Dad."
"No, it's not," I said.
Mom and Dad arrived shortly after I called them. I had called Tucker and asked him to look after my family. I hadn't told him what was going on yet but I promised him a full explanation. Tucker gets testy when he can't find out what he wants to know when he wants to know it. I was calling, though, and not even the great Techno can do that.
"What's going on," Mom asked. "What are we doing here?"
"Those two GIW agents, O and K, are back. They kidnapped Lilly this morning."
"Oh, my God," Mom declared, holding Lilly at arm length. "Are you—?"
"I'm fine," Lilly replied. "They haven't done anything to me. They were waiting for Dad."
"Did they get you," Mom asked, turning to me.
"For a brief moment," I tried to make it seem no big. "But they had the Fenton Flasher."
"That's impossible," Dad declared. "We'd never sell any of our weapons to them and there's no way they stole it. You must have been mistaken."
Lilly picked up the small shell that looked like a firecracker. "We're not mistaken, Grandpa." Dad examined the small stick, the name 'Fenton Flasher' on the side and our trademark F. "They're getting Fenton inventions."
Mom snatched the Fenton Flasher out of Dad's hands. After she confirmed it was a Fenton Flasher, she crushed the paper shell in her hands. "I will find out how this happened. Heads will roll if I find out someone sold someone Fenton equipment without a thorough background check!"
"But we need to find out what they have here," I replied. "If they have a Fenton Flasher, I'm sure they must have other weapons. The last thing we need is the GIW with Fenton inventions."
"And he's coming after your family," Dad asked.
"They saw us the day we flew to Fentonworks for our family vacation," I said, balling my hands into fists. "They want Sam, guys. She's pregnant and they want to know how."
"Don't worry," Mom said, looking around the room. "Danny, she's not alone. No one is going to hurt Sam or D.J."
"Who's with Sam right now," Dad asked.
"Tucker," I answered.
"Should have guessed," Dad nodded. "How much does Tucker know?"
"Nothing," I said, looking to him incredulously. "I wouldn't send him into the lion's den with knowledge. Sam is going to demand answers." I gave a cheeky grin. "He doesn't know any."
"You're dead," Lilly grumbled, hopping on one of the GIW's counters.
"Wouldn't be the first time," I smirked. I got serious. "Sam deserves to hear it from me. I will be the one to tell her. He'll thank me for this later."
Mom pulled out her cell phone. "Okay. I'm going to call in for backup. You need to get to your wife but I know you won't leave us alone. As soon as they get here, go home, Phantom. We'll take care of this. You can take care of what you need to do."
I nodded. "Sounds good."
AN: Okay, I know it seems like I got on a soap box earlier but I tried not to lay it on too heavily. Personally, I'm a conservative so I am pro-life and pro-second amendment. I tried to get out of my comfort zone, though, so I wouldn't be arguing my political views. It wasn't that easy for me, so I hope my personal views didn't come through when Sam and Danny were talking to the kids.
A blast from the past there. This is a big part of my story so I'm building it up to the plot. In chapter 15, Danny dies so I had to put that in there. Then the portals open, which leads to the stressful environment which leads to Danny planning a family vacation which exposes the GIW to Danny's family. Shoo! It's a big tangled plot line! It's about to conclude, though and go back to tying up the series. That's what the Cassidy McMillion thing was about. I mentioned that in Part II so I wanted to finish tying it up. Plus, you guys might want to know where Daniel Rogers came from. That's where ^_^
Next chapter up Tuesday! This series should conclude April ninth!
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