12/4/24: Christmas chapter! Mira hasn't gone away, but things will slow down a little for a bit as Sam recovers and a little time passes.

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom.

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Chapter 29: Christmas

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It was Christmas morning. Danny and Vlad had been up late in the night preparing the living room for when everyone woke up. With everything that had happened, they hadn't had the chance to get things ready for a proper Christmas. So, the pair of ghosts decided, especially now that Sam was with them, that it was only right to celebrate it the way it was meant to be.

Ki-oh hadn't returned yet and it was causing Sam to worry incessantly. Danny was caught between worry and being pissed off. Worry because Sam was afraid and because there was a possibility Mira had caught up to him and might find out where they are. Pissed off because, if that wasn't the case, what the hell was taking him so long? He was causing Sam to be upset!

Sam herself was already doing better. She still couldn't walk and was uncoordinated in her movements, but she had more strength and control in her arms, to the point she could now lift them and hug Danny. She was frustrated it was taking so long, but Bruce was astounded at how quickly she was recovering.

As for Danny, he was just as thrilled as a kid in a candy store that she was home. She felt nearly smothered at night with him holding her so tightly, like she might disappear again. She understood his feelings, and she cherished them, but when you couldn't really move your body to get out from under your boyfriend's heavy legs and arms, it was a bit frustrating. Though now that she was half ghost with a hot core, she couldn't deny that his cool body felt good against her.

Sam was in the bed with her two babies in front of her, DJ at the end of the bed. Spending the last two days with them had been a dream. Jackson was currently getting upset because his sister, who didn't have good control of her arms yet, kept flailing and smacking him. Every time Sam held her arms down long enough for Jackson to calm, she'd let go and Aurora would start again.

Danny chuckled at the scene. "She's got her mother's sass," he said fondly.

Sam stuck her tongue out at him, to which he responded in kind.

"I'm not the only one who can act like a child," he commented, ducking when her hand went for his head.

"It's Christmas, why are you antagonizing me?"

"Cuz you're cute when you're mad," he replied smoothly, giving her an innocent look with the biggest doe eyes he could give her.

She clenched her jaw, but he could see the sides of her mouth starting to betray her and try to move upwards. Finally she scoffed. "Arg! Why do you have to be so…Danny!"

He laughed openly before reaching over and grabbing his daughter who was once again pissing off Jackson. "Alright, leave your brother alone," he said, then turned back to Sam. "Are you ready to go to the living room?"

She eagerly nodded. Trips out of the bedroom had been relatively few in her limited state. That and everyone insisted she rest between physical therapy, but now she was, well, tired of rest.

Sam carefully picked up Jackson, proud she even could now, though her arms shook a bit, and settled him against her chest. Danny gently placed Aurora in her lap as well before he scooped her up bridal style and walked through the doorway. DJ hopped off the bed and followed, tail wagging.

The goth gasped at the living room. There was a huge tree in the corner beautifully decorated in green, purple and magenta ornaments and garland. Sam giggled at the little Danny Phantom plushie as a topper. Presents were wrapped and under the tree, the paper coming in a myriad of colors.

The windows all had lit green garland around them with ornaments on them as well. The coffee table and end stands were all covered in fake snow and little Christmas scenes of trees, deer and children sledding. The mantle of the fireplace had an entire village set up, each intricate detail giving her something new to marvel at the more she stared. A fire was lit in the fireplace.

The couches all had Christmas themed blankets and throw pillows and there were pictures of snow covered mountains and forests on the walls.

"Oh, it's beautiful, Danny!"

The ghost wasn't looking around at the room–he'd already seen it. He was watching her, his core feeling light at the wonder and excitement on her face, his soul feeling complete as he saw the bright spark in her eyes.

He wanted to hold her some more and watch as she took it all in, but Aurora was already getting fussy in her mom's lap. So, he set her down gently on the couch, making sure she was in a comfortable spot, and took his daughter. DJ settled at her feet.

"I love the tree," Sam said as she looked over it again.

Danny chuckled. "We used the colors from our powers, even Vlad's!" he explained, pointing out the magenta colored ornaments.

At that point, others started coming in. First, Jack and Maddie appeared, broad smiles at seeing Sam up and in the living room. Jack went over to the kitchen on the other side of the living room. "Anyone want coffee?"

"Yes, please!" Sam yelled. "I can't breastfeed anymore and I am dying for some coffee!"

Her milk had dried up while she was away, so the twins were now exclusively formula fed. Sam missed that bonding with them, but was also grateful she could have some coffee for the first time in nearly a year.

Danny smiled at her enthusiasm. "I'll take some, too."

"I'll just make a whole pot!" Jack responded cheerily.

Jazz and Tucker came from down a hallway then, Chase running ahead of them the moment he saw his cousins were out.

"Easy," Jazz told him as he ran up to his aunt to get a look at Jackson.

They barely had time to greet each other before Vlad joined them, followed quickly by Bruce and Dash.

"Present!" Chase said once he discovered the presents under the tree, little finger pointing excitedly.

"Not just yet," his father told him. "Let's wait until everyone gets settled."

The toddler crossed his little arms and pouted.

"He can open his gifts first once we get settled in, that way he has something to play with while we open ours," Maddie suggested. "We used to do that with Jazz and Danny when they were little."

"That's fine!" Jazz smiled, taking a seat on the couch next to her husband.

Danny finally sat as well, taking his spot next to Sam. He was on cloud nine. He couldn't believe he was sitting next to Sam this Christmas and enjoying time with everyone. It was just three days ago that Sam was Shade, and less than 48 hours since she woke up. He couldn't be more thankful.

Everyone settled in and Chase was so excited to be able to start opening gifts. It was a bit of a chore, as every time he opened a gift, he wanted to open the box and play with the toy. Tucker had to remind him more than once that he had other gifts to open.

Once Chase was done and happy, Sam and Danny opened the gifts for the twins, smiling at the toys and new clothes for them. Sam just about lost it when she opened matching onesies that said "I was just supposed to be a backrub".

There was a break then as coffee was distributed, before the adults exchanged their gifts.

Tucker was thrilled to get the latest video card for his computer, as well as LED gaming speakers that changed their lights in tune to games and music.

Jazz got lots of books and spa items. Vlad's face lit up at a bunch of Packer's regalia. Dash smiled warmly when he opened a box with a new teddy bear in it, Danny smirking at him. The jock also received a check to cover his school costs, to which he nearly cried at.

Bruce received books, a new lab coat, and a bottle of scotch he'd been wanting. Maddie received a gold necklace and earrings to match, along with a few ghostly inventions. Jack just about hyperventilated at the new Fenton Ghost Bazooka he received, as well lots and lots of fudge.

Danny was about to get up and get his gifts for Sam, when Maddie handed Sam a box, who then gave it to Danny. The ghost read the label before glancing back at the goth. "When did you have time to shop for Christmas?"

"I didn't," she answered with a shrug. "But Maddie was kind enough to go for me, after I gave her a list. I even got the video card for Tucker."

He gave her the warmest smile. "You didn't have to, but thank you." He unwrapped the rectangular box and opened it to reveal a few pairs of new, dark blue jeans, along with a few nice white button down shirts. Under those were two black button up vests, the kind you would normally see someone wear under a dress jacket.

His brows drew down in confusion. "Not that I don't appreciate the really nice clothes, but are these for a special occasion?" he asked, curious. This wasn't a gift he would expect from her under normal circumstances.

She blushed. "No I just…" She shifted Jackson around so his back to her chest while she thought about the best way to explain it. "I feel like you have the body type to look really good in that."

Danny watched her face get redder and redder before he chuckled. "Thank you."

This time, Jack got up and brought over a large box and set it in front of Danny, whose eyebrows went up. "Another one?"

Sam nodded and indicated with her arm. "Go ahead."

Danny carefully leaned forward, making sure Aurora stayed put, and pulled the paper off the box, face lighting up when he saw the large telescope. Then he noticed the brand and size: a Vixen 260mm telescope. His eyes widened like saucers. "Holy sh–" he glanced at Chase. "-crap, Sam! This thing is like twenty thousand dollars!"

She shrugged. "It's not like we're billionaires or anything," she said sarcastically. "Honestly, I wanted to get you the observatory one that's like $575,000, but it's too big; we'd have nowhere to put it."

Danny stared at her, his eyes nearly coming out of his head. This earned him chuckles from around the room.

Jack moved the telescope to the side and Sam handed Danny another, smaller wrapped box. "Another one?"

"Just shut up and take it," she quipped with mirth.

He pulled off the paper and opened the box to reveal a glass plaque. He pulled it out and stared at the constellations across it, all centered within a circle.

"This was what the night sky looked like the day the twins were born," Sam explained.

Danny ran his hands over the glass, a gentle smile on his face. Aurora, who was perched on his lap, leaning back against his chest, waved her hands around a bit at the glass. "Look, Aurora, how cool is that?" her father said.

He looked at it a moment longer before leaning over and kissing her cheek. "I love it," he smiled.

Danny then indicated at a box under the tree that Maddie grabbed and handed to Sam. "This one is for you."

Sam pulled the paper off and opened the box. She pulled back some tissue paper to find a black leather garment. "It's faux leather," Danny quickly said. "I made sure of that." The goth smiled and tried to pull it from the box, but it was too big.

"It's a faux leather, steampunk style trench coat. You uh…you looked really good in the one you had. This one is better quality, and I think more your style." His cheeks were tinged green.

She smiled warmly. "I love it."

Danny suddenly stood, going and grabbing Aurora's cooling blanket, and handed her off to Jack. Then he stood there looking around at everyone.

"I can't express how happy I am that everyone is together today, even you guys," he said, nodding towards Bruce and Dash.

"If these last five years have taught me anything, it's that you shouldn't take anything for granted," he continued. "Life is so precious, even for those of us who are on our second one. You never know from one second to the next who will be there, and who will be gone, so we need to cherish every moment we have with each other." He received nods all around.

"It's why I've decided not to waste any more time." He turned to Sam before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small box. Danny could hear gasps around the room as people realized what was happening.

Sam's eyes were wide as she watched her boyfriend get down on one knee. He opened the small box, revealing a small black ring with a stunning amethyst in the center. "Samantha Elizabeth Manson, I would be honored to spend the rest of your life with you. Will you marry me?"

She was bawling now, hand at her mouth. She didn't even need to think twice before she was nodding. "Y-yes," she said, barely able to form words past the emotions.

Danny grinned from ear to ear as the room erupted in cheers. He placed the ring on her finger–a perfect fit– and kissed her.

It really was the perfect Christmas morning.

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A few hours later, Maddie, Jazz and Tucker were in the kitchen getting dinner started. It was still a few hours till time to eat, but a big Christmas feast took time to prepare.

There was a knock at the door that alarmed everyone but Vlad and Danny. The ghost's had felt him coming.

Danny opened the door to find Ki-oh as well as a young Asian woman holding an infant. The ghost raised a brow. "We were starting to get worried."

Ki-oh bowed. "My apologies. My wife wanted to have our first Christmas as a family, just the three of us."

Danny looked at the short woman Ki-oh had his arm around. She was staring with wide eyes at the young ghost, realizing he was indeed, not human. Danny stepped back. "Come on in out of the snow. We can introduce everyone."

Ki-oh urged his wife in, who was very hesitant to move from the porch. Danny stepped back further so she felt a little safer, and she followed her husband in, eyes darting around the room. It was obvious she was nervous.

Danny closed the door and addressed the room. "We didn't have much time for introductions before, but these guys are gonna stay with us for a bit," he indicated towards the small family. He turned and pointed to each person in turn and introduced them to Ki-oh and his wife.

Once done, Ki-oh smiled and again bowed. "Thank you for allowing us to stay. I am Yoon Ki-oh, you can call me Ki-oh. This is my wife," he gestured to the small woman next to him, "Yoon Do-hee. You may call her Do-hee. And this," he smiled at the bundle in her arms. "Is our daughter, Yoon Se-ri."

"Mom, can you show them to their room, please?" Danny asked.

Maddie raised her brows in question but nodded. She wiped her hands off and left the kitchen. "You may follow me," she said, leading them down a hallway.

Once they were out of sight, "I figured a human would make her feel more comfortable," he explained. "She seemed a little freaked out by me."

A few minutes later Ki-oh came back and bowed his thanks again. Sam grinned at him. "I'm so glad you guys came," she said. "I was really getting worried."

He sighed but returned her smile with a small one of his own. "I'm very sorry. My excuse was true, at least partly. But honestly, she didn't believe me. At least, not until Declan showed up."

"Who is Declan?"

"Scar Face!" Sam yelled.

"What?" Danny asked, turning to her.

"That scar faced bastard who kidnapped you with Banner!"

Realization crossed his face before it settled into a deadly look. "You mean the one who tried to strangle you?" She nodded.

"You'll be happy to know she broke his nose," Ki-oh supplied.

The ghost looked at Sam sharply. "You did?"

"The day Mira took me and made me half ghost, Declan was there. The second I recognized him, I decked him," she shrugged.

Danny couldn't help it and grinned. "That's my girl,"

"The second she shattered his nose with no fear, I knew she was a force to be reckoned with," Ki-oh commented.

Danny shook his head. "You don't know the half of it."

Sam's look turned sad. "But that means she did send someone after your family."

The Korean man looked stricken. "I know she is no longer the person she was, but I had hoped…"

Jack, who had been paying attention to the conversation, stood from the couch and went over, slapping the man lightly on the back. "Well, any friend of my son's and Sam's is a friend of ours. Welcome."

"Thank you," Ki-oh responded.

Jack went into the kitchen then and promptly got told to leave when he asked if he could help. No one trusted Jack to cook food that they didn't want to bite.

"One other thing," Ki-oh said, getting everyone's attention. "I…I could not tell her I'm half ghost. I will, I just thought it would be too much information for her right now. She's never believed in ghosts, so I thought it would be shocking enough to see two real ghosts before telling her what I am. I would appreciate it if you kept it secret until I am able to tell her."

Danny crossed his arms. "I don't entirely agree with that approach, as I learned that lesson the hard way, but she's your wife. We'll respect it."

"Thank you," The Asian man said with sincerity. Then he looked apprehensive as he regarded the ghost. "Do you mind if we speak?"

Danny eyed him for a moment. He still wasn't sure if the man was genuine or if it was an act, but he nodded anyway and held his arm out to indicate the direction of the dining room. The ghost noticed the warning glare his now fiance sent his way. He stuck his tongue out at her, to which she rolled her eyes.

The men entered the dining room. Danny took a seat first, Ki-oh waiting respectfully before taking a seat himself.

The Korean man cleared his throat. "I just wanted to thank you again for inviting us to stay here. I know it's taking a lot of good faith on your part to have me here," he said.

"So long as you know what happens if you break that good faith," Danny said, his deep voice low in warning.

Ki-oh licked his lips and nodded. "I completely understand; you have a family to protect, as do I. I think we can at least agree that we'll do everything in our power to keep them safe." At the ghost's nod he continued. "I also wanted to assure you that I'll stay out of your way."

"Why?"

"Well, I did some reading on ghosts–"

"Oh, here we go," Danny mumbled with an eye roll.

"-and it says they're territorial and can be–"

"You say 'possessive' or 'obsessive' and you'll know what it feels like to be frozen to that chair," the ghost growled.

Ki-oh visibly paled, swallowing the rest of his sentence.

"I won't say those things aren't true, because they are for a lot of ghosts, but that's not really the case here. There's a lot of nuances to being a ghost that you can't really understand unless you are one–and being half ghost doesn't count, especially one made like you," he snapped.

Ki-oh put his hands up in defense. "My apologies, I didn't mean to offend," he said quickly, before lowering his hands again. But something Danny said bothered him, and he found he couldn't keep quiet about it.

"I know you have issues trusting me because I'm Mira's adoptive brother, and because of the way I was turned half ghost. But please do not forget that Sam was made that way too, and that your words could hurt her," he said sternly.

Danny glared to hide his surprise that the much smaller man stood up to him when it came to Sam. He started to feel just a smidge of respect for the man.

"You made her that way," the ghost countered with a raised brow. "And it was against her will, unlike the rest of you."

The Asian man's eyes cast down at the table. "Not all of us were willing."

That gave Danny pause and he stared at Ki-oh for a long time. Finally, "You didn't want to be this way?"

He shook his head. "I really didn't want anything to do with Mom's empire, but when she died Mira didn't give me a choice. She felt like it linked us together. I also don't make the best ghost because I'm terrified of flying and heights."

The young ghost mulled the information over in his head. If he was honest with himself, the Korean man just didn't seem capable of great harm. Not only that, but he was showing a tremendous amount of trust and good faith himself by bringing his family here with people he really didn't know, and a ghost who wasn't exactly friendly and who had a body count that rivaled the most prolific serial killers.

Danny stood suddenly, startling the man across from him. He stood there a moment before he bowed slightly, completely throwing off Ki-oh. "You may still need to earn my trust, but you have my respect," Danny said as he straightened up.

Ki-oh quickly stood and bowed as well, coming back up with a smile.

They reentered the living room, Sam giving Danny a withering and suspicious stare. Danny simply smirked at her. "He's got some balls, I'll give him that," he commented, causing Tucker, who had been taking a sip of water, to spit out his drink.

"I don't think I wanna know how you know about his balls, especially after you two went off alone," Tucker retorted, wiping the water off his shirt.

"Oh, grow up you two, seriously!" Jazz scolded, waving a wooden spoon at them.

Her brother sniggered, only to get a throw pillow to the face. It fell deadpan to the floor, Danny's green mischievous eyes landing on the assailant. "Vlad, would you be so kind as to take my son from my fiance?" he asked.

"Touch him and you'll lose an arm!" she threatened.

The billionaire raised a brow. "I'm not sure I want to get involved."

Danny stopped when he heard a chuckle next to him and turned to regard Ki-oh. "I never really had a family dynamic like this," the Asian man said. "It's refreshing to see."

"You mean grown men acting like a child?" Sam inquired.

"I'd like to see you come over here and say that," Danny retorted, a statement that made all eyes turn on him, some in shock.

Sam glared at him before she lost the fight and a smile broke through. "That was a good one, I'll give you that. But just you wait until I can walk!"

Danny chuckled and the tension was gone instantly.

"On that note, I need to pee," Sam said, annoyed. She hated the process of needing to use the bathroom and couldn't wait to be walking again.

This time, Vlad did take Jackson, holding the infant up so he could make faces at him, earning some smiles from the babe.

Danny went over and picked her up. He took her to the bathroom in their bedroom and set her down on the toilet. "Would you like help?" he asked. "I know it can't be easy to do this by yourself."

"You offer every time and every time I've been fine. I can do this on my own. It'll be a cold day in hell before I let someone help me pee," she growled.

"Are you sure? Cuz I–"

"Daniel James Phantom, get the hell out of this bathroom!"

Danny backpedaled quickly and left, shutting the door, but had a big grin on his face.

Jazz came into the room with a puzzled look. "Danny? Is she okay–why are you smiling?"

"I've never been so happy to be screamed at."

"He's very brave to aggravate her like that," Ki-oh commented.

Jazz laughed. "Nah, he's just a few brain cells short of a full deck."

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12/6/24: Thought I would add some comedy stuff in here as well as the big question! It's not actually where I planned for it to happen in this story…but my outline seems to be fluid lol.