Meant To Be

Chapter 4: Not According to Plan

"Sam, we don't have to find out now..." Danny stood in front of Sam, trying to keep her from walking any farther.

"Danny, why are you acting SO weird?" Sam was starting to get angry, and Danny noticed this.

"Because, remember, my kids don't know yet!"

"Know what, Danny?" Behind him stood his Mother, Maddie. Danny knew he couldn't weasel his way out of telling his parents now.

He looked to Sam. "Should I?"

Sam nodded.

"Tell me what...? Is Sam pregnant?" His Mother accused.

"No, Mom, it's not that. Just get everyone in the living room, okay?" Danny asked his Mother, his eyes solemn.

"Uh, okay...?" His Mother replied back, obviously confused. She walked off to begin to send everyone to the living room.

This isn't how I wanted today to go! Why is Sam so persistent? Has she already seen the lab AND the ring? What if my secret for her was already blown? Does she know about to the proposal? Danny's mind filled with questions as Sam asked one herself.

"Once again, why are you acting so weird?" She asked quietly, hoping to be answered.

"You'll know in..." Danny looked at his watch. Their conversation earlier had lasted longer than it should have. They were supposed to be at the restaurant 20 minutes ago. So, the special dinner was ruined. Might as well tell his family his biggest and longest kept secret ever.

"About 30 minutes to an hour. Depending on how well my family takes the news." He finally finished.

"I hope it's 30 minutes, because, you've been acting weird for the last week." Sam replied back as they started down the stairs, hand in hand.

Danny stood in the middle of the living room, his family (including Jazz and her family) looking up at him.

"Look, there's something I've been needing to tell you..." Danny hesistated.

"Sam's pregnant, isn't she?" Jack blurted out.

"Why does everyone think that?" Sam complained.

"No, Dad, she's not. It's something I should have told you a long time ago. As far back me being 14. You know that ghost boy Dad always wanted to rip apart molecule by molecule?"

"Him? We haven't seen him in almost 13 years." Jack interrupted his Son again.

"Well, you're wrong. He's standing right in front of you." With that being said, Danny let the rings appear, to change him to his ghost persona, Danny Phantom.

"You're Danny Phantom?" Jacob, Jazz's husband asked in awe.

"The one and only." Jazz chimed in.

"Are you not shocked by this Jazz?" Her Mother asked her.

"Well, no, Mom. I've know since me and Danny were teenagers." Jazz explained.

"And you never told us?" Jack asked finally coming out of shock.

"Yeah... About that..." Danny said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Mom, Dad, how could he? Dad constantly saying, 'let's catch the ghost boy and rip him apart molecule by molecule' or, you saying, 'no, Jack, we need to run experiments on him'. And you wonder why he didn't tell you earlier?" Jazz ranted. "I would have been terrified too. And..."

"Okay, Jazz. Like I said, I meant to tell you years ago. Alex, Eric, there's a big secret I haven't told you either. One or both of you could be part ghost." Danny had gotten down to their level as he had spoke. What he didn't know was Sam had left the room to go and get the Fenton Finder. No one had taken note of this, except Jazz.

"Danny?"

"Yeah, Jazz?"

"Have you and Sam been down to the lab yet?"

"No, why?" Danny wished she hadn't mentioned the lab. The last thing he need was for Sam to go and find...Wait...Where was Sam?

Danny flew down to the lab.

"Sam?" He was hoping Jazz was wrong. Yet there Sam stood, in front of ghost portal, searching for the Fenton Finder.

"Your parents haven't cleaned or organized this lab since you left, huh? Because I can't find it." Sam said as she searched. There was a hint of frustration in her voice.

She hadn't even noticed the roses or the black box on top of the table on the opposite side of the room. Which was a relief. But, Danny also knew Sam was looking in the wrong place. Over the table was a set of cabinets labeled: 'Ghost Hunting Gear'.

Danny went over, pocketed the black box, in case Sam came back down, and opened the cabinet retrieved the Fenton Finder.

Danny watched Sam as she turned to face him. She was more beautiful now than ever. Without even thinking, he dropped to one knee. Sam must have gasped because, in the next instant, everyone who had been in the living room was now in the lab. Danny pulled the black box out of his pocket. He opened it, and it was empty!