Lyrics by Rihanna - Stay

Vlad looked to the ring on his finger, comforted that Maddie had finally accepted his proposal. She was finally his.

But the young boy still remained a piece of Jack that he could never erase. He could easily kill the kid, but it would be too much for Maddie to handle after Jack's death, too easy for neighbors to spread rumors and fill Maddie's head with doubt.

He glanced down at the picture of the blue eyed kid in his hands.

'What do you think?' He asked the shadows that followed his every move. The dark figures disintegrated the photo in his hand, laughing as the young boy quickly vanished.

~Not really sure how to feel about it

Something in the way you move

Makes me feel like I can't live without you

It takes me all the way

I want you to stay~

Sam began decorating the guest bedroom with her personal belongings that had "mysteriously" appeared in the room. New objects had also been compiled in the corner that she had left untouched. Exchanging white curtains for the black ones she bought, Sam took a step back to evaluate her progress.

It was clear Danny wasn't going to confess to bringing her things there and for the time being her house was "off limits" according to the Guys in White. Her parents had accepted Sam's word as she was officially becoming a member of the Fenton family.

It was a completely different experience from her childhood. Maddie was often spending time with her and Danny, speaking lively about everything. Danny seemed to be as curious about Sam as she was about him. Vlad was the only thing familar to her; a parent who always worked and was hardly ever there.

Sam pulled her black satin bed sheets over the matress, smoothing it with her fingers. What Tucker said still bounced around in her head. Danny was definitely hiding something, and Tucker feared if she learned the truth she would run away.

Not likely. Sam had already seen the good, the bad and the ugly. What could he possibly do to make her run?

Sam stared at the small space in approval. The room finally reflected her goth personality, but just like her pills, her makeup wasn't there. Danny once said she looked better without it. Maybe he didn't bring it so she couldn't wear it.

It was really annoying thinking Danny had become so involved in her life. He wasn't going to control anything about her if she could help it. Sam would rather die than submit to anyone, especially a bully.

"Decorating?" Maddie called from the hallway. Sam turned to see the woman carrying a basket of dirty laundry in her arms.

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I should have asked first."

"No need. It looks nice." She set the basket down and walked into the room. She lifted her hand to touch the curtain and smiled. "I've always wanted a daughter," Maddie murmured. She glanced back at Sam. "So I'm guessing you'll be spending more time here."

"If it's inconvenient, I can always go to my aunt's place."

"We love having you here, Sam. You could never impose. Does this aunt of yours even live close?"

"Uh...actually, she's out east."

"Is she in the next town?"

"She lives more east than that."

Maddie blinked. "East...As in, the east coast?" When Sam didn't answer, the woman shook her head. "That's a little too far from school, don't you think? You can keep the room as long as you like, Sam, so long as you and Danny don't get into any trouble."

Despite her silent curses, Sam's cheeks turned a dark red. Maddie laughed at the girl's sudden shyness. "I hope you don't have plans because I'm making dinner for the four of us," Maddie said as she walked out the door, picking up the laundry along the way.

"Four?" Sam asked, but Maddie had already disappeared down the stairs.

"You're home early," Maddie commented from the doorway as her husband entered. Vlad sighed, hanging a coat in the closet and trading dress shoes for house slippers.

Sam glanced at him sideways from the kitchen table. He seemed so much older than Maddie with his long white hair tied at the nape of his neck. He always wore business suits, and the man was so thin and tall it reminded her of Jack Skellington. Standing beside Maddie, who always wore a brave smile and a teal jumpsuit, the image didn't fit at all.

Vlad entered the kitchen where Sam and Danny sat enjoying dinner. Danny's hand clenched his spoon as Vlad came forward and Sam could have sworn he bent the utensil.

"Why don't we go out after you finish, Daniel?" He picked up the mail from the living room and took a seat on the sofa.

"Why don't you fall off a cliff?" Danny mumbled under his breath. Vlad flashed him a look from across the room, as if he could hear.

Sam glared, swinging her leg under the table to kick Danny.

"Ow." Danny frowned at her.

"Your mom worked hard on this dinner," Sam leaned forward, whispering, "the least you can do is pretend to enjoy it."

"How am I supposed to enjoy anything with that crazed old fruit loop in the room?" He motioned to Vlad with his spoon.

"Why don't you try not to be such a brat and realize there are people here who care about you."

Danny's eyes widened at Sam's response. She was being unusually blunt today. Slowly, his mouth molded into a smile. "And one of those people you're referring to is you, right?"

"Don't make me slap you at your own table."

Maddie came over and placed the salad on the table. "Dinners ready," she called out to Vlad. The man folded his newspaper and placed it on the coffee table, joining them in the kitchen. Vlad sat at the head across from Danny, with both Maddie and Sam in-between them. The meal consisted of awkward small talk, with Danny abruptly standing at the end. Both he and Vlad left without so much as a word.

Sam watched the distant sight of Danny disappear behind the front door. She didn't get a good vibe from Vlad, and she was willing to bet he was a big part of whatever was wrong with this family.

"I guess we shouldn't make so much food next time," Sam bemused as they finished putting leftovers into plastic containers."

Maddie rearranged the refrigerator, making room for the food. "Vlad's so busy with work he hardly has time to sit down to a meal. And Danny's diet changes constantly because of his treatment." Her voice lowered at the end.

It seemed apparent now that Maddie was the stay at home mom who did chores and her husband worked. While Sam wasn't thrilled at the thought of being a stereotype, she couldn't help but offer Maddie her assistance. And what good was she if her volunteer job was canceled along with school? She was as useless as her parents would be at one of her open mic nights.

Maddie picked up the laundry basket and began folding in the living room. Sam joined her on the couch.

"Where is your husband taking Danny?" She asked after a few moments of silence.

"Vlad likes to take Danny out every so often for male bonding. He believes Danny hates him." Maddie's mouth made a flat line. It was clear she could feel the tension from the two. "Danny's been through a lot since Jack died." She picked up a shirt and began folding it. "I don't blame him for keeping his distance."

Sam picked up one of Danny's white tees, folding it with great care. She should be grateful for having living parents, but every time she pictured their faces she could do nothing but frown. It was scary how much energy she put into hating them, and yet hate was an emotion Sam hardly even knew.

Maddie giggled softly. Sam glanced at the woman in confusion. "Sam, maybe you should leave those for Danny to sort out."

She blinked, staring down at the blue plaid boxers in her grip before dropping them as if she had touched the stove. Her life was officially becoming a nightmare.