Chapter 7: Settled

At Fentonworks, Sam was talking to Danny, Star, Tucker and Jazz. "So, is Toadman trying to marry you?" Danny asked, outraged.

"A downside of being a rich girl." Sam muttered.

"If you and your grandmother need help against your parents, I can talk to my Dad." Star offered.

"Don't worry." Sam replied. "As hard as it is to believe, they took my side over Toadman."

"Really?" Tucker was the most vocal with the surprise. "I suppose not every rich jerk is a Beatrice. Sorry, Star."

"It's okay, Tucker." Star said.

"I assume Mr. and Mrs. Manson know Mr. Loadman disinherited him." Danny commented.

"He tried to reassured my parents that Mr. Loadman wouldn't cut off his grandchildren." Sam stated. "It didn't work since they still didn't approve how Toadman treated Star."

"Wow, they really aren't Beatrices." Star commented.

"Speaking of despicable rich people, do you think Jean-Puke would arrange a wedding between Colette and Toadman?" Danny asked with a smile.

"Danny-boo, I know we hate Colette but I never thought you hated her to this level." Star commented.

-LINE BREAK-A COUNTRY CLUB IN NEW YORK-

Jeremy and Pamela Manson were filling out membership forms to join a country club when they chanced upon an acquaintance of theirs. "Reginald Loadman?" They asked.

"Jeremy? Pamela? Are you members here as well?" Reginald asked the Mansons.

"At least we're trying to, Reginald." Jeremy said. "What about you?"

"I'm lucky to still be a member after the club found out what Donovan did." Reginald answered. "Only he was banned."

"A good decision considering his latest actions." Pamela commented.

"Latest actions?" Reginald asked in confusion.

"I should have known he was acting behind his back again." Jeremy stated. "Sit down. We'll have a very long talk."

-LINE BREAK-JEAN-LUC'S OFFICE-

Jean-Luc Bevier was at his office when his cell phone rang. "Donovan?" Jean-Luc asked. Because Star didn't live under his roof and he didn't care enough about her to block Donovan on her behalf, Donovan remained allowed to contact Jean-Luc but Star's stepfather still didn't expect Donovan to call.

"Mr. Bevier, I have a business proposition for you." Donovan said.

"Donovan, you cannot expect me to support your plans to marry Estelle without her grandmother supporting you. Can you?" Jean-Luc asked.

"No, Mr. Bevier." Donovan answered. "I'm wanting to marry Colette this time."

"Are you insane?" Jean-Luc asked with a frown. "Why do you expect me to agree?"

"I know she's obsessed with that peasant who turned Estelle against me." Donovan answered with a smug tone. "Aren't you concerned about that?"

"Without the Loadman fortune, how can you consider yourself a better suitor than someone who wouldn't beat up a girl for saying 'no' to him?" Jean-Luc asked.

"My father wouldn't leave my future children without anything, Mr. Bevier." Donovan argued.

"Do you know that for a fact or are you just assuming like you did when you thought he wouldn't disinherit you over how you treated Estelle and her peasant boyfriend?" Jean-Luc asked.

"I can talk to him if you want." Donovan replied, figuring out there was no point lying to Jean-Luc.

"And, if he approves, I can see if Colette agrees." Jean-Luc said.

"Won't you threaten to cut her off if she refuses?" Donovan asked, not understanding Jean-Luc's objections. "You had no problem with Lady Beatrice doing it to Estelle."

"Unlike Estelle, Colette is my daughter." Jean-Luc explained. "I won't force her to choose between having money and not having a husband who hits her when she refuses to do something he asks her to."

"What's wrong with you, Mr. Bevier?" Donovan asked. "We are elites."

"Being an elite requires us to keep a public image that mustn't be tarnished with the violent behavior people are taught to expect from lower class people, Donovan." Jean-Luc explained. "I did some shameful things in the past but lines must be draw. I won't agree to a marriage between you and Colette unless she agrees and your father confirms that your future child or children will inherit the Loadman fortune."

Donovan then heard his father entering the room. "Oh, he's just arrived. Please wait a minute, Mr. Bevier." He said. "Father, what's with that expression?"

"Donovan Loadman, did you try to get the Mansons to make their daughter marry you?" Reginald Loadman angrily asked.

"Father, I need another fortune now that I'm no longer going to inherit yours." Donovan answered and then turned his attention back to the phone. "Don't worry, Mr. Bevier." He quickly said. "They already turned me down so I'm free to court your daughter."

"You tried to get the goth first?" Jean-Luc asked.

"She's not the one who decided to beat up Vivian for flirting with the peasant, Mr. Bevier." Donovan explained.

Reginald then took over the Loadman side of the call. "Mr. Bevier, I don't know what my son offered to you, but I'll see to it that his future children won't inherit anything from me before he dies." He told Jean-Luc.

"I'll talk to Colette to see if she agrees to the idea, Mr. Loadman." Jean-Luc said. "Au revoir."

Back at the Loadman household, Reginald wasn't done scolding his son.

"Did you try to use my name to get a rich wife?" Reginald angrily asked.

"You cut me off." Donovan said like it explained everything. "What was I supposed to do? Get a job like a commoner?"

"Yes." Reginald bluntly answered.

-LINE BREAK-CASPER HIGH-

"What?" Sam asked upon hearing the news from Star. "Toadman tried to marry Colette?"

"They deserve each other." Tucker commented.

"Either way, I see Grandma Ida's rant did work." Sam said.

"Toadman actually tried to get her on his side in spite of your mother's warnings?" Danny asked in surprise.

"Yes, and I don't think Grandma realized I was within hearing distance based on what she shouted at him." Sam commented.

"Anyway, did Jean-Puke agree?" Danny asked, hoping he no longer had to endure Colette trying to take him from Star. He already had enough from Misty.

"As much as he'd love to stop his daughter's obsession with you, he won't force her to marry Toadman." Star sadly answered. "I don't blame him for that, mind you."

"True, it actually makes him slightly better than your former grandmother." Danny commented. "I still hate him, however."

Everyone else nodded.

"So, are your parents in a Country Club in New York?" Tucker asked, wanting to change subjects.

"Yes, and they're using their supermarket as an excuse to talk to Jean-Puke about buying wine to resell." Sam grumbled.

"What comes next?" Star asked. "Adding a gas station so they can make business with my family?"

"Don't say it, Star." Sam replied, remembering the Travilles owned an oil business. "They might like the idea."

"So, Starlight, how about we..." Danny's ghost sense interrupted him.

"Beware!" The Box Ghost showed up and said. "I am the Box Ghost."

"It won't take long." Danny said and then turned his attention to the Box Ghost. "Boo!"

"Beware." The Box Ghost sadly left.

"As I was saying, Starlight, how about we watch a movie?" Danny asked.

"Oh, there's a new Femalien movie coming soon!" Sam excitedly said.

"Sam, I'm sure Danny had something more romantic in mind." Star commented.

"I've heard Femalien will have a boyfriend." Sam replied with disgust. "Like female protagonists needed those. I'm only watching out of hope the movie will still be good in spite of that. Creatures of the night are supposed to be scary, not romantic."

"So, not a fan of Monster High?" Star teasingly asked.

"Monster girls acting like typical valley girls?" Sam disdainfully asked. "A vampire that can't stand the sight of blood? Don't take it the wrong way, I like that she's a vegetarian but vampires shouldn't be so squicky about seeing blood."

"Would you like if she ate fast food meat like that villain from the Kingsmen movie?" Tucker asked.

"One more joke and you'll have enough bandages to date one of Monster High's mummies." Sam threatened.

"Bye." Tucker replied and left.

"So, how's it now that your parents no longer live with you?" Star asked Sam.

"Actually, they're only staying in New York a few times a month." Sam answered. "Otherwise they're still here and I'm actually liking it now that they're showing a better side of their parenting."

"Before I forget, how did Colette react to the idea of marrying Toadman?" Danny asked Star.

"Unfortunately, boo, she rejected it." Star answered.

"Has she ever dated anyone who hasn't dated you before?" Danny asked out of curiosity.

"If she did, they must've cut ties with her before Jean-Puke married my Mom." Star commented.

"I can't blame them, Star." Danny said.

"Me neither, Danny-boo." Star agreed.

-LINE BREAK-THE LOADMAN HOUSEHOLD-

Donovan Loadman was trying to think of another rich girl's family to marry into when he heard his phone ring. Upon reading the caller's identity, he gave a hopeful smile. "Mr. Bevier? Did Colette give a reply? Will she marry me?"

"Yes and no." Jean-Luc replied.

"What do you mean?" Donovan asked in confusion.

"Yes, she gave a reply; and no, she will NOT marry you." Jean-Luc explained.

"I know you won't force her but, didn't you talk to her?" Donovan asked. "Didn't you explain the advantages of accepting the offer?"

"I don't see any advantages myself, boy." Jean-Luc replied.

"Look, if that's because my father said my future children will have to wait until I die before they can inherit his fortune, I can make him reconsider, Mr. Bevier." Donovan pleaded.

"Even if it does happen, my Colette deserves much better than some disgraced brute that's little better than the commoners now..."Jean Luc said in a snobbish manner.

"Would you rather have her marry that riff-raff who broke my teeth?" Donovan asked as a last ditch effort to convince his potential father-in-law.

"If not for the fact he made it clear he won't dump her stepsister for her, yes." Jean-Luc answered.

-LINE BREAK-CASPER HIGH-

"Toadman must be really crazy to marry a girl he knows doesn't love him and who he doesn't love." Danny commented.

"I can't imagine how unbearable it would be to be married to a crazy person you don't love." Star replied.

-LINE BREAK-A HOTEL IN PARIS-

"Vladdie, the last fifteen times were great but I want more." Alicia told her husband.

"Yes, dear." Vlad replied with a huge smile but his mind was saying something different. 'I'm killing that woman as soon as I'm free from the potion.' He thought. 'No matter how much the lawyers will charge and how much it'll take to bribe a jury, not that I can't overshadow them, it wouldn't cost more than whatever she'd take in a divorce.'

THE END

Answer to Leonardo (Guest): Eles não são as piores pessoas nesta história.

Author's Note: The Monster High reference is partly an allusion to the TMDDF spinoff where Danny dates Spectra Vondergeist.

Author's Note 2: At first, Jeremy and Pamela's desire to join the Golden Guild would be the main focus but I got sidetracked with Colette and Donovan.

Author's Note 3: Including Vlad and Alicia was Flowerprincess11's idea. The bold lines are her suggestions.