Danny POV-

When Sam moved for the fourth time in the past fifteen minutes, I sat up. It's not like I would have been able to fall asleep anyway and I knew that she didn't believe I was asleep.

"What's on your mind?" I asked into the dark. I could see her just fine because of my ghost powers but I doubted that she could see me at all.

She scoffed, "You're kidding right?" It was sarcastic, she was obviously trying to pretend like she was fine but the way she said it: quietly, almost a whisper— I've never heard her sound so hopeless.

"Come on, just tell me. It might make you feel better," I told her, scooting closer to her. She jumped a little when I put my hand on her arm but she didn't cringe away. She was understandably tense.

"It's just…" her voice caught. It was a rare occasion that Sam cried. I think the last time I saw her cry was when her cat died in sixth grade, which was nearly four years ago. "Why haven't they killed us yet? Why would they keep us alive…?" she took a shaky breath.

Then in another quiet voice that would have been inaudible without my ghost powers she said, "What if I'm too late…?"

Then she let out a sob, then another until she practically collapsed in tears. I phased out of my handcuffs so I could wrap my arms around her.

"I…haven't heard anything about either…of my parents until last week. I have…no idea what they've been through or what has…happened to them…" she told me between gasps.

"It's going to be okay," I assured her, rubbing her shoulders.

"How do you know?" she asked sounding more frustrated than angry.

"…I don't." I admitted, "But I know you. And I know that you will do whatever you can to make this right."

She was quiet for a while.

"Jazz and your parents and Tucker's parents are probably worried sick," she pointed out.

I couldn't help but chuckle a little, of all the things she could be thinking about, she's thinking about our families.

"Yeah, probably," I agreed. By now, the school would have been able to determine who was missing and would have contacted our families, so yeah, worried sick is probably an understatement.

"So what's the plan when we get there?" I asked her quietly. Most of the time, I come up with the plans, but I am so completely out of my element here. I've obviously never been to Amour Ville, I've never met her real parents, and I am completely unprepared to deal with a war between countries. I just hope she has an idea of what we need to do.

"I assume we'll be taken to the prison and I assume that's where they're keeping my parents…" she started, biting her lip. She was just speculating, which wasn't exactly reassuring, but it helped. I understood what the rest of the plan was from there.

"And then I'll use my powers to break us out and then to break them out?" I guessed.

"Basically, yeah," she nodded.

"But what next?" I wondered, "Even if we can get them out of there, we don't have an army. We can't fight them."

She shook her head, "I don't know. I know there will be quite a few citizens who are still loyal to my parents but…I'm still not sure it will be enough. Plus, it's not like they'd have weapons to fight with."

She let out a deep sigh and I think I succeeded in making her feel better, or at least helped her to process things better. She laid her head on my shoulder and after about ten minutes, she fell asleep.

I wanted to sleep too, but I couldn't, so I stayed up; thinking.

Sam is a princess. And the full implication of that hit me.

She has been lying to us for eight years. She—assuming she is able to take the control from that evil dictator—will have to move back to Amour Ville. She'd have to leave Amity. She'll have to leave me and Tucker.

I didn't want Sam to move away. What if we never saw her again?

I shook my head. Sam wouldn't let that happen.

I thought about the fact that she's been lying to us for eight years. I know she would never have intentionally lied to us; it was only because she didn't have another choice. If I had to protect my parents, I would have done the same thing.

It must have been hard keeping this secret for so long, I know it's been hard for me just keeping my secret for the past year.

But I guess it does explain a lot about Sam.

I mean, Sam is smart, determined, kind, loyal, and strong. She's always nice to those who are nice to her. And she always quick to defends others. Which, I guess are all qualities she would need to run a country.

All the qualities of a princess.

Suddenly my head hurt like this was just too much to take at one time. I closed my eyes.

I wondered what would happen to us tomorrow.

I mean, Sam's right. What would be the point of keeping us alive? I mean, he had said we would assure her good behavior, but he also had her parents for that. So what was the point of keeping her alive, clearly he had been watching her well enough to know where she went to school, so he probably could have killed her at any time. So why didn't he? What did he want her for?

I didn't miss the way that guy Jacque had looked at her. I wanted to kill him for it.

Whatever they wanted from us, I know Sam would make any sacrifice for her parents and for Tucker and me. But if something bad was to happen to her, something I could have stopped, I would never forgive myself. I would do anything for Sam.

Even if it means revealing my secret.

But first, we're going to need an army.

Sam mentioned the citizens who would still be loyal to her parents which was a nice start, but the fact that they would be unarmed would be a problem.

Maybe I could break into an armory or something.

Yeah, that could work.

But I feared that even with the help of all of the citizens, it wouldn't be enough.

Unless…

I thought for a second.

It would be quite a risk, but—if it worked— it would definitely change the outcome of this war.