Danny stood nervously outside Sam's childhood home in Amity Park. Sam was already there. She'd hidden the ring until they could break the news together. Sam's parents were going to be the hardest people to tell. Especially Sam's mother, Pamela. Pamela had formed a deep distrust and dislike of Danny since he was a teenager. Particularly when Circus Gothica was in town and Freakshow's staff messed with Danny, making him into a bad influence like Pamela believed him to be. Sam's parents had a conflicted view of Danny Phantom. They generally believed the rumours that floated around Amity Park. The general feeling about Danny right now was good but concerned that he was going to leave.
He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. He waited and Sam opened the door and grinned at him. She pecked him on the cheek.
"Mom's in a good mood right now. And dad's alright. Grandma's figured it out already and is on our side," she whispered. Danny smirked.
"At least your grandma likes me," Danny muttered and walked in, he was carrying a backpack with the Crown of Fire inside. If they were going to tell them his secret, he wanted to be as impressive as possible. Sam intertwined her fingers with his. She was just as nervous as he was. The next few minutes could go really well or really bad.
"Who was at the door Sammikins?" Pamela called sweetly. Sam pushed open the door and led Danny into the plush, lavish living room. Pamela's warm smile fell into a slight frown, like she had sniffed something unpleasant. Jeremy, Sam's father, frowned at Danny also. Sam's grandmother was far more welcoming, smiling warmly at Danny.
"Hello Danny," Sam's grandmother offered, glancing at Pamela and Jeremy with slight annoyance.
"Look whose here?" Sam announced cheerfully, trying to diffuse the tension.
"Good afternoon Mr and Mrs Manson. Grandma Manson," Danny greeted them, having been asked to call Sam's grandmother by the woman herself grandma. He appreciated the sentiment. Sam's grandmother obviously approved of him.
"Daniel," Jeremy returned stiffly. Danny internally cringed.
"Dad," Sam scolded.
"Why is he here Sammy?" Pamela asked, glaring at him with her unimpressed slight scowl. It was like she couldn't stop herself scowling at him but she didn't want to wrinkle her face.
"Because we have to tell you something," Sam ground out, already upset by her parents being unbearably unaccepting.
"He hasn't gotten you pregnant has he?!" Jeremy exclaimed in outrage.
"No! Dad. I'm not pregnant," Sam huffed.
"Then what have you got to tell us?" Pamela pressed impatiently.
"Goodness, if you two let them talk, I'm sure they'd tell you," Sam's grandmother interjected with annoyance. Pamela and Jeremy glanced at her before turning reluctantly to Sam and Danny. Sam wrapped her arm around Danny's, squeezing his hand reassuringly.
"We're engaged," Sam announced, it was better for her to break the news rather than Danny.
"What!?" Pamela exclaimed in horror.
"Congratulations Sam and Danny," Sam's grandmother interjected happily, genuinely.
"Thank you Grandma Manson," Danny returned with a smile.
"Did he even give you a ring?" Jeremy demanded accusingly.
"Yes, he did," Sam retorted sharply and slipped the ring out of her pocket and onto her hand, brandishing it angrily.
"He must have stolen that! He couldn't have afforded that," Pamela accused. Danny rolled his eyes.
"Actually, I have a very good job with a generous pay check Mrs Manson," Danny corrected stiffly. Since the job had lenient hours and was in the magical community, involving ghosts, he didn't like bringing up his job.
"Doing what?!" Jeremy retorted sternly.
"It's with the government. Ghost related," Danny answered.
"What do you get monthly?" Pamela inquired sternly.
"None of your business!" Sam's grandmother snapped.
"If he's going to marry our daughter, I think we have a right to know these things. If this "job" isn't stable, then we should know," Pamela argued.
"If I may. My job is very stable. I have a very high ranking position," Danny interjected.
"How!? You've only graduated from college a few months ago," Jeremy inquired sharply.
"I've been employed for longer than I've graduated. Since I have extensive background in ghosts, I was the obvious choice," Danny informed them. Pamela huffed in displeasure.
"You're with the Guys in White?" Sam's grandmother asked incredulously. Danny blinked.
"Er, no. Not exactly. This is another branch. More discrete and much higher success rate," Danny muttered. All three Mansons blinked in confusion. Danny rubbed his neck nervously.
"Go on," Jeremy prompted.
"It's classified. I'm not allowed to say any more," Danny offered. Both parents frowned distrustfully.
"It's the truth mom and dad," Sam added helpfully.
"Do you know about this job?" Pamela challenged. Sam bit her lip before nodding.
"Look, it doesn't matter about the job. We just wanted to tell you guys together before word got around and you found out from someone other than us. Is this gonna be a problem?" Sam concluded after an awkward silence. Pamela frowned at Danny, clearly appraising him. He shuffled nervously, starting to think that he should have worn something a little more formal than his usual t-shirt and jeans.
"I don't approve," Pamela decided.
"And nor do I. We have no proof of this job and I won't allow my daughter to marry someone who can't provide for her," Jeremy agreed. Sam growled in annoyance.
"Sam. I'm okay with telling them," Danny whispered. Sam glanced at him.
"Are you sure?" she muttered. Danny nodded. She sighed and nodded in agreement.
"Mom, dad, grandma… we have something else to tell you," Sam began nervously.
"Are you pregnant after all?!" Pamela exclaimed worriedly. Sam rolled her eyes.
"No! Would you stop that!? I'm not pregnant," Sam grumbled.
"What do you need to tell us?" Sam's grandmother inquired.
"It's more something I have to tell you. I don't know how you're gonna to take it. But please let me explain myself before you come to a decision," Danny requested carefully. Pamela and Jeremy scowled at him. He gulped nervously.
"When I was fourteen, I was involved in a lab accident in my parent's lab-" Danny began.
"Are you saying you're sterile?" Pamela interrupted. Danny frowned in annoyance.
"No. Please let me speak. I was involved in an accident. I was inside my parents' ghost portal when I accidently turned it on. It was believed that the portal was non-operational. So, it turned on while I was inside and my body was flushed with ectoplasmic energy and electricity. I… half-died during the accident. Sam and Tucker were there," Danny resumed.
"What do you mean, half-died?" Jeremy pressed in confusion.
"I'm half-ghost. I have two forms. My human form. Danny Fenton. And my ghost form. Danny Phantom," Danny revealed.
"He's delusional," Pamela gasped.
"He's not delusional," Sam snapped. Danny stepped away from Sam, dropping his backpack to the ground and called forward his ghost form. Pamela, Jeremy and Sam's grandmother gasped.
"That's not all," Danny interjected before opening the backpack and pulling out the crown.
"I'm the new Ghost King," Danny added and placed the crown on his head. He waited anxiously for Sam's parents' verdict.
"You're a freak!" Pamela shouted. Sam scowled angrily.
"He's not a freak! He's a hero," Sam defended sharply.
"No Sam. She's right. I am a freak. I've accepted that. But I have tried to be the best man I can be. I thought it best to tell you what I am before marrying Sam to soothe you. As king, I can protect Sam from any ghostly threats and human threats also," Danny replied.
"I will not give my blessing," Jeremy hissed.
"And nor will I," Pamela agreed. Danny shrugged.
"I just wanted to tell you the truth. I only ask that you not tell others about my half-ghost status. It could endanger my life as well as people I care about," Danny warned. Pamela and Jeremy narrowed their eyes at him.
"Is that a threat?" Jeremy whispered. Danny shook his head.
"It's a warning. To name one danger to me, the Guys in White could arrest and experiment on me. And I can't guarantee that they'll leave my family or friends alone," Danny corrected. He turned to Sam.
"I'm going to leave. Let things settle here. Want to stay or come with?" Danny informed her. Sam glared at her parents.
"I'll come with," Sam decided. Danny wrapped an arm around her waist, ignoring the protests from her parents. Danny turned them intangible and flew through the ceiling and took them back to Fenton Works.
"Don't mind them Danny. I don't care what they think about you. I love you. If they cut me off or disown me or whatever, I don't care," Sam told him. Danny smiled at her and kissed her on the cheek.
"Thanks Sam. I hate that I come between you and your family," Danny muttered.
"Not grandma. She likes you," Sam corrected. Danny smirked.
"How did it go?" Jazz called as she came out of the kitchen with a cup of tea. Danny sighed.
"Only time will tell. I told them that I'm King Phantom. We told them that we're engaged. It's up to them if they like it or not. But Grandma Manson seemed pleased with the news," Danny reported. Jazz frowned slightly.
"Hmm, I think they're unfair dislike of you is so wrong," Jazz remarked. Danny shrugged.
"It wouldn't be the first time someone didn't like me without a proper reason. Take Valerie for instance," Danny replied. Jazz hummed in agreement.
"Anyway, mom and dad wanted to see you about setting up a proper engagement party with all our human friends," Jazz informed them. Danny blinked.
"Better get in there to make sure they keep the ghost stuff to a minimum," Danny suggested, rushing into the kitchen, pulling Sam with him. Jazz giggled at her brother.
And that is that.
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I'm writing another fanfic after this one but it'll be based a long time after this story. And it mightn't be out for a while yet, so keep an eye out on my website and facebook. Links to both can be found in my bio.
Thank you to everyone who read this and the previous fanfics. I hope you enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.
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The first chapter of the winner of the poll will be posted today so check it out. The Ultimate Misunderstanding. A crossover with Danny Phantom and the Ultimate you to everyone who contributed.
So I can't think of anything else to say except…
Until the next fanfic.