Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom or any of the characters. Danny Phantom is the sole property of Butch Hartman, Nickelodeon and Paramount global.
Snowed
Chapter 8: Dani's Advice
Back in Amity Park
While Danny and Star were busy trying to "celebrate" A.K.A. console each other at Dani's cabin, Danny's parents were dealing with their own kind of turmoil.
They were on the opposite side of feeling any Holiday joy, as they were full of misery and echoing questions... all while trying to tidy up their house, since the kids were still gone.
They had managed to clean up the mess at their house, but they knew that their neighbors were still giving them the cold shoulder. Even more so than usual.
They also knew they were the cause of said misery, due to them making their kids run out. What made things worse, they still haven't heard anything from their kids and it was driving them mad with worry.
Especially since it was nearing sunset.
"Where could they be?..." Maddie asked, growing concern.
"I really hope this is about ghosts, so I can at least blame them..."Jack said, also worried but his old habit of bringing up ghost into the conversation popped up.
He paced back and forth as they grew more and more terrified with each passing minute. His wife, however, tried to remain even a little optimistic right now.
"Maybe they've calmed down enough to talk to us now?..."Maddie asked as she tried to call them with her cell phone yet again.
She tried to call Danny, but no answer.
"He's...He's not answering..."Maddie said, upset and worried.
"Try Jazz, she always answers her cell phone. Maybe she'll pick up..." Jack suggested hopefully.
Maddie did so, but there was no answer either.
"She's not answering either..."Maddie said, getting more upset.
"Let me give it a shot. Maybe I'll have better luck..." Jack said, wanting to try.
He dialed both his kids number, only to be greeted by the dial tone. He tried again, and waited for his kids to answer him, but got nothing except their voice message.
He was getting more upset by the second.
"They're actually ignoring us. I can't believe it!..."Jack said, surprised that neither of them would answer either of their parents.
His wife hated this, but tried to keep a cool head.
"Let's call their friends. Maybe Valerie, Tucker or Sam know where they are. I mean...they'd have to know. Right?..." Maddie said, hoping that she wasn't wrong.
"If not, then we may need to consider calling Johnathan or Stella...or anyone else..."She suggested, hoping to find the kids before it gets too dark outside.
"It's worth a shot..." Jack shrugged, desperate at this point as they tried calling pretty much everyone they knew.
Later
Jack and Maddie spent the next 20 minutes calling all their children's friends and acquaintances, but to their chagrin...they received the same answer.
"We haven't seen them..."Each one said in repetition; it seemed more like a greeting than an answer.
When they asked what had happened, Maddie and Jack tried to explain everything...and this is how they reacted.
"What on Earth did you two expect would happen after years of your lousy Christmas arguments?! I'd have run out as soon as I would!..."Tucker's father said upon hearing the phone call from his son, not surprised that the Fenton's ruined another Christmas.
"You both should be ashamed of yourselves!..."Angela said, sounding disgusted and disappointed in them.
They weren't the only one, since after they hung up, the Fenton parents kept calling more of their kids friends and acquaintances.
They had tried calling Sam next, but her parents answered...and this was their reactions too.
"You both are unbelievable! We Manson's may not celebrate Christmas, but at least we try and keep things civil for the holidays. Not to mention, even our little Sammy-kins at least tries to be nice for the sake of the holiday. I actually feel bad for that boy of yours every year..."They heard Pamela scolding them.
"Honestly, what kind of parents set those kinds of examples? And in front of yours children no less?! And you wonder everyone calls you guys maniacs?!..."Jeremy also scolded them, and for once, the Fenton parents couldn't argue against them.
They had tried calling Valerie's home next, but the result wasn't much better there.
"I'm just surprised that your kids tolerated you two for this long and didn't break sooner. I'd have called child services if I wasn't afraid you'd blast them. You both really need to take a good, long look at yourselves!..."Valerie's father said, sounding just as mad as the rest of them.
And this is how each and every one of those calls ended.
"If you ask me, you got what you deserve!..."Was heard, each one sounding angry and disappointed before ending the phone call.
Jack and Maddie both felt ashamed when the phone conversation ended there, since neither of them wanted to be reminded of how they've been acting like horrible parents during the winter Holidays.
Sulking, the parents crashed, either on the floor or couch. It did not matter where as they were too sad to think about where they were. It was too cold to be the couch and too soft to be the floor.
Maddie glanced at a Santa Claus figure sticking out from the trash, the one that they destroyed and threw away during their argument today It was burnt on one side and scratched on the other, looking back at her in an almost disapproving manner.
The matriarch of the family groaned in disappointment with herself, before facing her just as miserable husband.
"We really messed up, Jack. We ruined everything!..."Maddie said, as she buried her face in her hands as she felt the urge to cry.
Her husband, however, still didn't to believe all of this.
"Come on...we don't ALWAYS causing trouble during Christmas!..."Jack said in denial, not wanting to accept that this was as bad as everyone was making it out to be.
"Do you really believe that Jack? Or are you remembering things with rose tinted glasses?..."Maddie said, already knowing the answer.
"I don't remember things with rose tinted glasses, Maddie!..." Jack said.
"Jack, you remember almost everything that way..." Maddie stated, knowing her husband well.
"No, I don't!..."Jack denied, getting defensive right now.
"Then name ONE time that we didn't ignore them over our feud and ended up destroying everything?!..."Maddie challenged, but she already knew the answer.
Jack, in his truly clueless nature, had a confidence look on his face that could think up several times that they were not fighting.
"Well, what about that time-…"Jack paused, venturing through his mind as he searched all his Christmas memories.
He stuttered, stopped, searched, and sought out all he could, but there were no memories of a Fenton Christmas where the family was truly happy together. Even on holiday morning.
Still, he didn't want to accept defeat and kept trying.
"Uh...the time with the...no...the turkey came to life and tried to attack the kids. Oh, what about...no...that was the year we got banned by making so many small children cry when we accidentally ended up accidentally set fire to the decorative Santa and the bag of presents too...Uh, well...no...no...that Mall Santa threatened to sue us if we came within 10 feet of him after we nearly maimed him in our fight...and...uh...that one girl who worked as a store mall elf is still mad at us for almost sending her to the hospital three Christmases ago. Oh, Uh...no...Danny got mistaken for a fire hydrant that time..."Jack said, as he remembered those incidents with a clear here.
He recoiled, the worst moments of their many Christmases as he back through the past years. And all of them was caused in some way by him and his wife. Soon, he became silent as he felt cold inside as the hard truth reared it's ugly face.
His wife sighed.
"Do you finally see what I mean?..."Maddie said, hoping that she and her husband were now on the same page.
The large man in orange was utterly shocked with the reality of their spirits dropped faster than lead fruitcake, which he felt dropped in his stomach. With a very audible gulp, he pulled on his collar, feeling a bit hot and smaller than an insect right now.
"Umm... okay...so, maybe we got a little carried away." Jack reluctantly admitted.
"I wouldn't say little..."Maddie said, but her tone indicated that she blamed herself as much as him.
Jack frowned and got defensive.
"Well...I guess the kids really did have it bad and maybe if you didn't act like a huge Grinch every time I tried to teach Jazz and Danny about the joys of Santa and his reindeer, things wouldn't have gone this bad! Not to mention, that we wouldn't be in so much legal trouble, and maybe the kids wouldn't have even stormed out the way they did!..."Jack said, trying to shift the blame to the one person that literally right next to him.
"You're blaming ME for this?!..."Maddie shouted, looking furious at him.
Her husband just crossed his arms, glaring back at her.
"I'm just saying it takes two to tango and you could have tone your grumpiness down a smidge when I brought that big, jolly guy up! My big Christmas spirit and my desire to get them to believe isn't the only thing to blame for this situation! Your lack of Christmas spirit is also at fault here!..."Jack shouted, knowing full well what people say about him behind his back.
Jack had his own reasons for pushing his views and beliefs on his kids, but Maddie also had her own reasons for countering her husband's childish beliefs.
Maddie gasped in an insulted tone. She seemed more ticked and before she could yell at him, Jack cut her off.
"Don't forget, they're blaming both of us, after all! And I wasn't the one who threw that snow globe that almost maimed our son!..."Jack reminded, but his expression indicated that he blamed himself for it too.
His wife frowned, hating that reminder. However, she knew that she couldn't argue against that logic since it was the both of them that everyone blamed. She felt guilty and miserable as she was forced to come in terms with this.
Her husband, however, wasn't done venting as he kept bringing up his own issues as well.
"You wouldn't even let me take the kids to see Santa when they were little and you were upset every time I tried!..."Jack accused.
"I told you that it was silly and not necessary but you went as far to take them there behind my back! Even after I told you not to!..."Maddie snapped.
"They're MY kids too and I don't NEED your permission to take them there, and they WANTED to go! They looked so happy to have a chance to sit on his lap, until you showed up! Even if you had the authority to tell me not to take them there, it was still no reason for you to go crazy like you did!..."Jack snapped at her, but his anger soon turned to sadness.
"You wouldn't even let me take pictures there without trying to break the camera!..."Jack said, getting more upset as he recalled the past.
His wife was glaring at him, but felt a sense of guilt as she recalled that fight. She recalled how angry she got that Jack had gone behind her back and defied her like that and...well...their fight got really out of hand.
It was only now did she realize just how bad it was, and that she was kidding herself into thinking that it was no big deal.
"I just…wanted the kids to not get their hopes up on something…not real…"Maddie said, looking bitter as she said this.
Jack frowned, but saw how unhappy she looked and felt bad himself. However, he still wanted to stand by what he believed in.
"Sweetheart, we're ghost hunters. I keep telling you none of that matters…"Jack said as he crossed his arms and shook his head disapprovingly.
The two began to glare, ready to fuel the fires of their deadly debates. However, their hearts were not into it anymore. Without the kids, all of it seemed to float away.
This reason was unclear to them if it was right or wrong to have the kids around for their argument for a while...but they knew now that it was wrong.
Their blood cooled as their bodies slouched over. It took seconds, maybe minutes, before one of them spoke.
"This was more fun when we thought everyone enjoyed it..." Maddie admitted.
"I guess…maybe…—"Jack paused, feeling worse right now.
"Things got out of hand, Jack…"Maddie scowled to herself, feeling her facial muscles pull south like never before.
"I guess so...but...I just wanted to bond with the kids by telling them how amazing Santa was and then...somehow...that turned into this..."Jack said, wondering how his intention to spread Holiday cheer ended up ruining his children's Christmas experiences and he didn't even notice.
His wife felt guilty, she knew that Jack had good intentions and that maybe she went too far and. She saw a nearby picture of her children, back when they were in elementary school and she felt more emotional.
"Jack, I know you still believe in Santa, but we have to be adults about it…"Maddie said, cradling a picture of her children in a very motherly fashion.
The Fenton mother watched silently as the fat man tried to back up his own argument, but his wife cut him off.
"We don't have scientific proof about him. We'll just end up telling our kids about a lie. Ghosts are one thing, but they're the only spirits we can prove…"Maddie said, trying to be scientific.
"Which makes it more important to believe in Santa Claus and the spirit of Christmas…"Jack said, as he wore the most serious expression as he spoke frantically.
He had to be reminded to keep calm or he could explode again. He didn't want to argue with her again, he just wanted to state his case.
"Since ghosts exist, so can Santa! I'm sure one day we'll find the perfect irrefutable evidence. Even if we have to expedite to the North Pole one day. For all we know, he's upset with us…"Jack said, getting more emotion as he shouted.
"Jack! Be reasonable! We can't just go to a frozen tundra with no proof! We have responsibilities to act mature…"Maddie retorted, putting the photo away.
"Then how do you explain the coal?..." Jack asked, pointing to the pile that is still in place.
"A ghost messing with us. It has to be... right?..." Maddie asked, clearly unsure of her own answer.
"Then why the heck would a GHOST care that we get in fights during Christmas time?..."Jack challenged her.
"I...I don't know...maybe to...mess with us..."Maddie tried, but even she knew how weak that sounds.
"Even you're not buying that and you know it..."Jack said, frowning at her.
From there, the two began arguing, barely able to verbally fight as they tried to be parents. After a minute, and retort of being parents, they calmed down as they remembered their situation again. They could no longer stand to argue anymore. The matter was too depressing and frankly they wanted their kids back, not force them further away.
Right now, they didn't care who was right or wrong anymore. They just wanted to see their kids again and have a nice Christmas with them...but...could they really even ask for that now?
Jack and Maddie stared at the room. All the shining light and holiday decorations and it still seemed dull, dusty, and full of despair. The complete opposite of how it looked this morning. It looked lovely, because the truth wasn't clear to them.
The fat man pressed a hand on the couch, seeing if it looked as comfortable as he remembered. His gray-lenses vision had him amnesiac with these small details, much like his wife, who was leaning on the wall.
"Have…has this place always been that dreary?…"Maddie asked with an empty tone.
She stared at a burnt Santa decoration once more, as if it's gaze was taunting her. Normally this would be the part where she'd start another argument, but now it was just…something else she could not put her finger on.
"I thought so…"Jack said in his seat, still uncertain about the comfort. "You'd think all these lights would brightened up the day, but now…"The man could not finish that sentence, not wanting to say how this Christmas was dark and dreary.
But it was, making it seem like goth poetry might be appropriate background music to play right now, like at a certain goth hangout.
Not even Christmas specials on TV could brighten his mood. It was as if their home had become a classic black and white Christmas film, only they didn't know if this will end happily or not.
As Maddie took a spot beside her husband, she noticed the walls seemed emptier than the floor.
"Jack?…"Maddie asked, looking at the picture of her kids once more.
"When was the last time we had a family photo?…"She asked, seeing that there are plenty of pictures of her family but they were all individual photos of them or some group pictures that also included their children's friends.
Even Star was a recent addition to these pictures...but she didn't see any recent family pictures that included just the 4 of them
"Beats me…"Jack kept channel surfing, trying to fill this empty void.
He had no clue what to do as he began to mash the buttons on the remote.
"I can't even the remember last time we went to the photographer…"He said, finding nothing to watch.
The sound of the TV screen flipping channels caused Maddie to think back on how long it had really been since their last family photo was taken.
The wife in a blue jumpsuit recalled schedules and dressing up for the occasion, but all of it ended the same: ghosts. The first time was interrupted by some new toy that was made to be a remote control ghost, the less said about that the better. After that, any attempt to get a proper portrait was dashed by anything remotely supernatural.
Jack and Maddie were empty as they now paid attention to the room, slowly realizing they haven't been jolly during any of the Christmas seasons to say the least. Not at all.
Suddenly, the realization of why so many people avoid them may not be because of their obsession with ghosts. At least not entirely.
It made them feel smaller and smaller as realization kept kicking in.
"Is…is this what a Fenton Christmas is like for the kids?…"Jack said, his face paled as the reality hit him like a bulldozer, and not the ghost kind.
Another thought came to his mind, from when his children yelled at him earlier and he can't ignore it anymore.
"Do...do you think that the kids were serious? About...never coming back for the Holidays? And not bringing our future grand kids around to see us?..."Jack asked, sounding terrified by the prospect.
His wife didn't know how to respond, as she felt tears form in her eyes and began to cry. Maddie choke on her words, but never to retort or comment her own opinion.
It was a horrible sinking feeling for a parent to realize how they hurt their own children, and how much they resented them now. So much, that they probably managed to throw away a chance of spending Christmas with their children in the future...and miss out on precious family memories such as their grandchildren's first Christmas and so forth.
It was so horrible, that the Fenton mother couldn't bare it. She just felt nothing but regret and shame right now.
"Why did we get so carried away?!..."Maddie sadly whispered as more tears fell from her eyes, feeling grief-sickened as she knew that her kids were avoiding them and that they were truly to blame for it.
Sitting on the couch, the mother said one thing as it escaped her, the one thing on her mind that overpowered the idea of Santa's existence.
"I miss the kids. I want them back right now…"Maddie said as she curled into herself, her head buried in her knees as tears traveled down her legs.
Jack was the same and felt just as down in the dumps as his wife. Not even warm Christmas fudge could cheer him up.
The clock ticked, echoing in the room, providing the only sound that could be heard. No, that wasn't right; Christmas Carolers could be heard outside, singing in front of houses. The parents watched and listened as the group went to every home on the street, bringing a smile to the family's faces.
All except for Fenton Works, which was avoided like the plague.
Jack couldn't hold it in anymore as tears formed in his own eyes as regret and shame finally took a toll on him.
"What have we done?..."He said, holding his wife as he too started crying like a child as the cold night wrapped around them.
No one noticed that day how the Fenton household was quieter than a mouse. And yet, none of the neighborhood wanted to know why. They were just overjoyed that they can all spend one quiet Christmas evening with their loved ones.
Everyone but the Fentons themselves.
Back in the cabin
As Danny and Star were having their emotional moment with each other in the next room, while Dani, Jazz and Wulf had their ears on the wooden door and heard the entire rant and we're appalled.
This was their various reactions to their private conversation during their eavesdropping. Danielle was horrified, while Wulf felt sorry for his friend. Jazz was even crying as she heard her brother's grief and frustration at the scene when it happened.
"Poor Danny..."Jazz whispered, feeling bad for him. the elder sister cried as she sunk into the wall.
The three concerned eavesdroppers could the ghost boy quietly shedding his tears on Star's shoulder, after hearing Danny emotional speech that just showed them that, even with his ghost powers, he's not as invincible and does have a fragile side to himself.
One that he rarely shows to anyone, even amongst his friends and family.
Right now, he didn't care who saw him.
Danielle watched her genetic donor, not blaming him after hearing everything. Despite going though the cloning process, only to end up being a tool for her only father, this was a new level of heart breaking for her.
"You'd think Christmas would sound more jolly. Even ghosts don't do anything on the holidays…"Dani commented, knowing about the truce.
"It is the one and only traditional rule in the Ghost Zone that everyone participate and enjoys. However, the same cannot be said for the human on earth. But thus is still difficult to hear, especially friend a dear friend of mine. I show sympathy for your pain, friend..."Wulf said, speaking in English since he didn't feel like wanting to translate again.
He howled in pain, alerting the couple to their presence. Not the smartest thing he could do, but there was no fighting animal instincts. Jazz slapped her head at the antic, turning towards the creaking door.
Wearing a nervous smile, two steps back were taken to give everyone some room.
"Okay, next time... stick sleeping at the fireplace..." Jazz said to Wulf.
"Sorry..."Wulf said, but it was too late.
Danny and Star walked out of the room and saw them.
"You spied on us?..."Danny asked.
"Sorry..."Was all that Dani could muster and say.
The ghost boy sighed.
"Whatever..."He said, still looking gloomy as Star gave him her handkerchief to help dry his reddish soaked eyes.
"You gonna be okay, Danny-boo…"Star said, as she leaned into the ghost boy. "I'm here and I'm not going anywhere..."She said in a gentle way.
"I will...with a little more time. So long as your still by my side, Starlight..."Danny said, leaning into the girl's shoulder.
As he said this, Star gave him a quick peck on his cheek, but she knew that it could only help so much. She held him tightly by the waist and guided her boyfriend downstairs for some cheering up. She was always going to be there for Danny, now and forever, a quiet promise she kept to herself.
A promise she vowed to keep for a long time.
The would have stayed that way, but a not-so quiet ghost girl had something to say.
Dani had been listening to everything they had been talking about, and she knew of what happens on this day to them. Still, she felt something deep down and she couldn't keep quiet about it any longer.
"Danny...Jazz...I think that you guys need to talk to your parents again..."Dani said, shocking the entire room.
"What?!..."Danny asked, as he was shocked that she would ask them to do that.
Jazz jolted up like she was struck by lightning. That was the last thing anyone expected to hear from her, no. No one would ever say that, with many often commenting how the children were deathly silent on the holidays.
"Dani, I know you mean well and probably haven't interacted with a lot people for awhile...but what you're requesting is just a bit too much for us, especially since our little spat with our parents was just a couple of hours ago..."Jazz said, grabbing her little cousin by the shoulders.
She looked ready to shake the girl like a ragdoll, and the little ghost girl didn't like it.
"Please... stop... doing that... and talk... to them!..." Danielle said as she was still being shaked.
"Why?! Haven't you been listening to us? We can't..."The red haired girl said, still a little perplexed by Danielle's advice and didn't want to here it.
However, Dani phased out of the grip and dropped to the ground, going over to grab a cookie and some milk. She knew this would be a long one and they wouldn't agree at first, but she had to try.
Star kept her grip on Danny as he stared at the ghost girl. He was just as unsure as his sister.
"No offense, Danielle, but that's a terrible idea..."Danny said.
"Yeah, it is..."Star said, while Dani sighed.
"I knew you'd guys would react like this, but just hear me out..."Dani said, while the teens frowned.
However, they saw her serious expression and sighed.
"You have 2 minutes to convince us that you haven't suddenly gone crazy for suggesting that...starting now..."Danny said as he gestured to his watch.
Dani sighed, and tried to make her point.
"Look, I get it. You're mad and I can understand that. I admit that what your parents did was stupid, wrong, borderline psychotic and in complete disregard of either your feelings...but they are still your parents and I know from all the REALLY creepy amounts of data that Vlad had on your family...that they love you guys...and would be will to do anything to either protect you two from anything and keep you two happy..."Danielle said, speaking wiser than anyone expected her to sound.
Star, Jazz, Danny and Wulf were all silent as she continued to try and reason with the siblings.
"Did they go too far with their stupid debate? Yes, no doubt. Did they ignore you guys and cause a lot of damage? Totally. Did they set bad examples and ended up traumatizing you guys and probably a bunch of other people? Yes, and that was probably the least of their damage...but you see...uh...where was I going with this?..."Danielle asked, having trailed off.
"You were trying to give us a reason NOT to cut our parents out of our Holiday celebrations from now on..."Jazz said.
"And you got one minute left..."Danny sad as he impatiently gestured to his watch.
"Oh right...well. In the end, they are still your parents and you two have to set things straight with them, because if you two won't, no one will..."Danielle said.
She turned to her older brother figure and her older sister figure as well. She gave them a knowing look, something they didn't expect from someone of her physical or mental age.
"You both deserved better. I know that. And your parents are crazy some times...and it tends to amp up during this time of the year for some reason...but I also know from what I saw that they do love you guys. So, do the right thing and like…confront them or something. They're your parents and they love you and junk..."Danielle said as her childish tone came back at the end, but still wise.
"She's not wrong..." Jazz admitted, as the little ghost girl continued with her speech.
"I know that your dad always takes you on fishing trips once a year Danny...and that has to count for something. I also know that your mom apparently bakes cookies for you guys and she really loves doing that for you. And I know that your mom and dad used to take you guys to places like the park. the zoo, restaurants and amusement parks when you two were little and played with you...and carnivals...and other non-ghost hunting stuff...I also know that your mom was the one to give you a rocket and a telescope when you were little for your birthday...and that was part of the reason you grew to love space so much and wanted to be an astronaut. I also know that they always took care of you guys whenever you got sick and even made you guys chicken soup and stuff like that...so that has to count for something..."Dani said, looking like a sage as she said this.
She also looked a little in longing as she said all this, no doubt wishing that she could have been a part of all of that too.
Everyone else, however, just seemed disturbed upon hearing all of that from the little ghost girl.
"HOW MUCH info does Vlad have on our family?!..."Jazz asked, creep out.
"A lot...and I honestly don't think you wanna know...but I do know is that part of the reason it took your parents almost 20 years to make the ghost portal when they already had designs since college...is because they spent a lot of time raising you guys...giving you a roof over your heads and feeding you...like a real family..."Danielle said, sounding almost envious.
Danny and Jazz realized her point was getting clearer.
Sure, the holiday feud and their parents ghost obsession is troubling, but the Fenton siblings do recall all the times that their parents had been there for them and not even a ghost could stop them.
Danny recalled the family vacations, picnics, trips to the beach and theme parks. He also recalled that birthday where he got his first telescope from his mom and how he pretty much spent every evening looking at the stars with it when he was little.
"They did do all that..."He thought, feeling a bit of guilt.
"You know I'm right, right?..." Danielle asked. "You can't keep this whole "I'm gonna ignore my parents on Christmas as payback" shtick up forever..."She said.
"I can try..."Danny argued.
"You can, but we both know you're better than that. I also know that deep down, you and Jazz don't really WANT to cut them out, even if they are kind of crazy..."Danielle said, keeping a straight face on.
Danny wanted to protest and refuse, but he remained silent.
He knew that having a family is very important to Danielle and reminded himself of what her whole life was like up to this point. However, he still felt that actually experiencing these events were different from learning them via an obsessive stalker who can't accept the woman he lusted for never loved him.
She likely couldn't stand the thought of their own family falling apart like this, even if it's just during this time of the year. However, it...it's so complicated right now.
"Danielle. I know you mean well...but...this isn't easy..."Danny said.
"I never said it was..."Dani said, while the ghost boy continued.
"I still don't think you fully understand...I mean...it's the same thing each year. They have their stupid fight, something bad happens, they apologize and promise to do better but forget it and the cycle starts over. I'm just sick and tired of it. I don't want to go through it again!..."Danny said, feeling exhausted.
"Yeah, neither do I. I'm sick of it too! It's hard trying to act sane and rational when all they do is set bad examples and make people hate us every time it's past Thanksgiving..."Jazz said, rubbing her forehead as if she had a migraine.
"I'm sick and tired of the fact that I've had to act like the most responsible one in the family since I was seven years old. Otherwise, the turkey coming to life was the least of our issues..."The red haired girl said, sounding stressed out.
Star nodded, standing by their side.
"Yeah, Danielle. I know that Christmas is suppose to be all about family and being together...but Danny's parents took it too far and they are suppose to be ADULTS. They can't behave this way and think that it's okay. It's just not right or fair to Danny and Jazz..."Star said in agreement.
"And I don't want my future children to get traumatized and grown to hate my favorite Holiday all because of their lousy "tradition"..."Star mentally added, deciding to keep it to herself.
"From what I am hearing...they are not acting right. Maybe they should not be so forgiving..."Wulf said, feeling bad for his friends.
The little ghost girl heard this and sighed before crossing her arms and shaking her head.
"I know that I have no right to tell you what to do. That I never experienced what you guys had to go through and judging from your reactions, I know it's bad...but...I know your folks still love you guys and would do anything for you...Maybe all they need is a kick in the pants and a reality check...but I don't think cutting them out of your lives...even if it's just for the holidays is the best choice...at least not yet..."Danielle said, a sense of longing.
"Danielle...no offense, but you never actually spent any time with them outside of being a blood cell or whatever Vlad made you from..."Star said, but the younger Phantom shook her head.
"Doesn't matter and you know it. You know Danny doesn't have it in him to cut his parents out so easily and neither does Jazz. I just know that even if it might mean a quieter Holiday, you both are just gonna be more miserable in the end..."Danielle said while her brother figure took in what she said.
He remained silent and so did Jazz as they both pondered. Star saw this and sighed.
"Star...what do you think we should do?..."Danny asked, looking lost right now.
Star was still angry at his parents for ruining their first Christmas together, but she also knew that this is a complicated manner and not as black & white as dealing with a ghostly villain.
Still, the blonde girl tried to remain mature about this.
She knew personally what it was like to be hurt by a parent who probably didn't mean to and have a complicated relationship with them, as well as finding the strength to be willing to give them another chance to become better. The difference is that Jack and Maddie never cheated on anyone and blissfully threw their life with another way just because someone acted so charming they fell for it.
She still had her reservations about this whole ordeal, but she knew that Dani had a point.
Cutting Jack and Maddie out would just make Danny more miserable, even if he wouldn't admit it. She sighed, and tried to be rational as she spoke to her man.
"They're your parents, Danny. Not mine. If you feel like giving them one more chance, I'll support you. But it's your choice to make...yours too Jazz..."Star said, trying to be mature about this whole thing.
The two Fenton siblings remained silent as they both wondered what to do. The eldest sibling was the first to speak up.
"I'm still mad at Mom and Dad...but I don't want them out of my live. Crazy as they are...I don't hate them, even after all of this..."She said, before turning to her brother.
"I'll do it if you're willing to, Danny. Just say the word..."Jazz said, Danielle's words sinking in.
Danny was silent as he pondered what to do. He turned to face his girlfriend, who remained silent.
Star smiled.
"It's your choice, Boo. I'll agree, no matter what..."Star said, trying to be supportive.
Danny pondered it. He pondered long and hard about the advice Danielle gave him, and he also thought about Star and Jazz's words and actions before he sighed and nodded.
He gave his answer.
"Alright...I'll talk with Mom and Dad later. Since I'm not emotionally ready to talk to them just yet, I'd rather stay here for a little longer..."Danny said.
"Me too...This can't go on and...as insane as they are...I don't like the idea of cutting them out of my future kids lives...even if it's just for this Holiday..."Jazz said, listing off the pros and cons of this decision.
Star, Danielle and Wulf nodded at this.
"Okay, that sounds agreeable..."Danielle said.
"Alright then..."Star said, trusting their judgement.
Before they decided when to handle it, a plate of cookies held by a hair arm showed up in Danny's face.
"Cookie?..."Wulf said as he offered some more snacks in order to calm his young friend down.
Danny took one to be polite, and the others did the same. He took one bite.
"I guess we can stay an hour or so more..." He thought, as everyone kept eating and pondering their next move.
-To be continued-
Next time on Snowed
A Heart to Heart at Fenton Works
A/N: Special thanks to NeoMark, BeConfuzzled Writer, Invader Johny and Jay The Average Fanboy for helping out with this chapter. You guys rock :)
REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewer:
Jebest4781: Thank you :)
RonaldM40196867: I'd say Sam, and she doesn't even celebrate it.
Danifan3000: I see. But at least the coal helped Jack and Maddie get a much needed wake up call.
Eecobeo: Thank you for the suggestion, I will think about it.
Invader Johnny: Yeah.
Luiz4200: Yeah.
Guest: At least they realized it.
CZS4: Thank you :)
JDF Legacier Morphicon: Thank you :)
Here are my responses to your questions:
1) I guess it depends. Maybe ghosts like Box Lunch (who was born a ghost) can age.
2) I wanted to create what is basically a male Colette for Star.
3) Danny defeating his evil future self and trapping him in the thermos.
4) He'd might end up going to community college (if he's lucky) or just end up getting some blue collar job.
5) I like the character development, the unique plot and the story yelling.
:) I hope you enjoyed this! Remember to read and review :)