Author's Note: Yes, indeed, this is a Danny/Paulina fic. Danny/Paulina is my favorite pairing, and there aren't enough fics that cast it in a positive light. I aim to remedy that. Here, I imagine Danny and Paulina being eighteen and out of high school but not yet in college.

This was supposed to be just a more or less "fluffy" one-shot, but I had way too much fun writing Danny (like I always do) and ended up giving this an actual conflict which resulted in it being just a bit too long for a one-shot, so I decided to divide it into three parts instead.

Shadow Dancing

Give me more

Bent over her vanity, her dress riding up and just barely covering her, Paulina applied her mascara. Careful strokes coating and lengthening each lash. She had to look her best. For him.

There was a knock at her window. Mascara wand still in hand, Paulina stood and turned to look at the closed curtains that covered it. She had told him so many times that he could just phase in, didn't have to knock. By this point, she had given up. Her Danny was a gentleman to the end.

Paulina opened her curtains and smiled at her boyfriend who was hovering just outside. She opened her window and leaned out. "Hey there, ghost boy."

Danny moved in close so that his mouth was right next to hers. Paulina tenderly cupped his face and kissed him deeply. In his ghost form, he felt cool and vapory, like a soothing breeze. Paulina loved kissing him no matter what form he was in. Kissing him was not just an act but truly an experience, an experience that was all hers.

She pulled him in, and Danny changed back, his spectral luminescence disappearing. He took in her appearance, a wide grin breaking over his face. "Wow, you look incredible." Red, deep v-neck collar revealing the most exquisite cleavage, so tight and just barely covering her plump, supple, shapely—

Danny swallowed and looked up at the ceiling.

Paulina giggled. "Glad you like it."

She placed a hand on his chest. Danny resisted touching her, sure that if he did he wouldn't be able to take his hands off of her again.

"I got you something to wear, too," said Paulina.

Danny hesitated before replying. "You did?"

"Mmm hmm." Paulina moved to her bed where a man's dancing ensemble lay. She held up the black shirt and pants proudly. "I picked it out myself! What do you think?"

"Um…it looks kind of…" Danny smiled at her sheepishly. "Tight?"

"Oh, yeah. It's gonna make your butt look fantastic."

Danny reddened considerably. "I'm pretty sure no one is going to be looking at mine when yours is right next to it."

"Oh, that's where you're wrong, Danny boy," said Paulina as she handed him the clothes. "I see girls checking you out all the time." She quickly glanced up at the ceiling. "And guys."

Never failing to embarrass him, this one. "Not even close to the number of guys I see checking you out."

Paulina raised a teasing brow. "There you go again, turning a compliment right back on me."

"Oh, so I should feel flattered that guys are checking me out?"

"I said girls, too!"

Danny's eyes softened. He put a hand to her face and stroked her cheek. "Other girls have nothing on you. I can't believe how lucky I am to call you mine."

Paulina put her hand over his. "You're sweet." She kissed his hand, then stepped back. "Okay, put it on!"

"Right now?"

"Yes, right now! I bought it for you to wear tonight."

"But I don't want you spending money on me, babe."

"Don't worry about it." Paulina put her hands together. "Come on, come on! I've been waiting all day to see you finally wear this."

"But are you sure? I mean, I don't know anything about dancing, let alone Latin dancing, and this seems like something a real dancer would wear." Danny frowned. "What if everyone just thinks I'm a poseur?"

"If it bothers you that much, you can tell everyone your girlfriend made you wear it." Paulina put her hands on her hips. "I think they'll understand when they see just who your girlfriend is."

Danny laughed at that. "You certainly are convincing." He stared down at the outfit made of a soft and slightly pliable material, a long-sleeved black shirt with buttons down the front and pants that were tight at the top but flared out just a bit at the bottom. He was sure that he was going to look absolutely ridiculous, could never pull this off.

But how could he possibly say no to that heaven in her eyes?

Danny clutched at the shirt he was wearing and started to phase it off.

"No!" Paulina stopped him, lightly slapped his hand away.

"What? I thought you wanted me to put this on."

"I do!" Paulina smirked at him. "But don't just phase off your clothes. Be sexy about it."

Danny looked down at himself, the clothes in his hands, then back at her. "What, you want a striptease?"

Paulina nodded eagerly. Danny had only been joking, but he could see that that really was just what she wanted. He blushed and looked away. "Oh, my God..." he muttered.

"What? Come on!" Paulina pouted. "I do it for you all the time."

Danny looked back at her with mock exasperation. "That's different. You're hot."

"So are you!"

Danny rolled his eyes. "You're a hot girl. A woman. Women look amazing out of their clothes." He gestured to himself. "The male form isn't quite so impressive. Kind of the opposite, honestly."

"Danny, I assure you that your 'male form' is very impressive."

Danny chortled and moved closer to her. "How about you just undress me?"

Paulina ruffled his hair. "Nice try. Now, come on!" She clasped her hands and stuck out her bottom lip. "Do it for me, please?"

Danny stared at her for some time. He finally let out an exaggerated sigh. "Fine, I'll try."

Giddy, Paulina rushed to her bed and sat down. She placed her hands beside her and leaned forward. "Okay, I'm ready!"

Danny was sure his face couldn't get any redder, temperature couldn't get any higher. "The things you get me to do, I swear."

"This is hardly the kinkiest thing I've asked you to do."

Danny smirked at her knowingly. Memories of what they had done entered his mind, their secret romps behind closed doors. "Are you sure you want me to do this? If we get too excited, we're never going to go dancing." He paused, mulled the thought over. "But maybe that wouldn't be a total loss."

"No way. We're definitely going dancing. I didn't get all dressed up not to go!" She placed her hands on her knees. "Trust me. I can contain my excitement."

Well, it had been worth a try. Danny dropped the outfit Paulina had bought him to the floor. She was looking at him expectantly, hungrily.

"Ooh, wait." Paulina pulled out her cell phone.

"What? Don't record it!"

"I'm not!" Paulina's cell phone began to play a song with a sultry beat. She set it beside her and smiled pleasantly at him.

Danny pursed his lips. Okay, Fenton, it's just for your girlfriend. You can do this for her. With all she's done for you, she deserves this, at least.

Danny took in the adorable sight of her, her bare legs swinging slightly. He smiled fondly. Even if he sucked at this, he knew she'd be more than satisfied. She was always so happy with just about anything he did, always so encouraging.

Where to start…well…he had to take off his shoes at some point to get these pants on, so perhaps he could start with those. No way he could pull something that looked so tight over them.

He stepped on the heel of one shoe and kicked it off, then the other. Now he understood why Paulina had insisted he wear black shoes, to match this outfit. He looked up to meet Paulina's gaze.

Paulina nodded to show that she was pleased so far. She could see that he was definitely stalling, but she didn't mind. She was only too happy that he was trying for her, and his apprehension was actually quite endearing.

Danny thought back to what he liked about Paulina's own private dances for him. She of course had a stunning body, but what he loved most was how she would look straight into his eyes, how she made him feel like he was all she could see in that moment and that she wanted him, only him, that she had carefully selected him to share her secret parts with.

Could he emulate that, make her feel that way in this moment? Because it was true, so true. She was all he ever wanted or needed.

He gave her his most charming smile, swayed his hips to the beat of the music. He wasn't wearing the best shirt for stripping out of, but he knew that Paulina really liked his defined abdomen a lot, especially after a few years of nightly ghost-fighting and regular work-outs at the gym. Perhaps he could hold off on showing her that for a moment.

He turned around, a full one-eighty. He looked back over his shoulder at her and wiggled his brows playfully. Paulina's eyes widened as she bit her lip. She definitely seemed to be enjoying this which gave him a much-needed and appreciated boost of confidence.

Okay, no more stalling...

He crossed his arms over his torso and tugged at the bottom of his shirt with both hands. Hips moving just a bit in time to the music, he slowly started lifting it, moving it up and up and over his head.

Muscled, masculine, flawless. Paulina gasped at the sight and could not stop herself from saying something about it. "Damn, your back is so sexy, Danny."

His shirt still covering his arms, Danny turned only his head to look back at her. He stuck out his tongue just a little to acknowledge her comment, almost made his own comment about how much he loved seeing her back but resisted. She would probably just reprimand him for turning every compliment back to her like she so often did.

Danny looked down at his covered arms and wondered what to do next, what would be the most enthralling way to remove his shirt the rest of the way. How did Paulina always do this so effortlessly? She just seemed to know exactly how to be enticing. This was definitely not his forte.

Paulina noted Danny's pause. He was still facing away from her, seemed to be unsure. She could certainly stare at his back forever, but she wondered if she should step in and help him out.

But then he spun around and faced her, his shirt pulled down to his wrists like handcuffs. He kept them right in front of his abs. Paulina grinned approvingly at this teasing concealment. He knew her too well.

Danny regained some confidence once he saw Paulina's delighted expression. He approached her, held out his cuffed hands in surrender. He belonged to her, only her.

Paulina placed her hands near his shoulders and ran them down his well-toned arms to his wrists, pulling the shirt away to free him. She reached out to touch his chest, feel the lines of his abdomen, but he promptly turned intangible, her fingers going right through him.

Paulina chuckled. "Clever boy."

Danny stepped back out of her reach. He now stood before her completely shirtless, a breathtaking sight for Paulina. If only the dance studio would allow him entry with no shirt.

Danny looked down at himself. Just one thing left to remove now. He moved his hands to the waistband of his jeans, let them travel to the front.

But he couldn't bring himself to look up, couldn't meet Paulina's gaze.

His shirt hadn't been too hard, but this...

He unfastened his jeans, lowered the zipper.

Shaking, why was he shaking all of a sudden?

His confidence was plummeting, crashing, going, going.

Movement. Paulina was now standing and walking toward him, a come hither gleam in her eyes, a single finger indicating the same. She wrapped her arms around his neck and placed a tender kiss on his lips. Danny relaxed and embraced her, breathed in her sweet rescue.

"Here." Paulina picked up the shirt she had purchased for him from the floor and slipped his arms through the sleeves. She secured the buttons one by one, beginning from the bottom and ending close to his neck. She studied the finished look, frowned, undid just one button, then nodded in satisfaction. "Perfect."

Still a little pink, Danny placed a lock of her long hair behind her ear. "Thanks," he whispered.

Paulina picked up the pants and placed them in his arms. "I'm going to put on my heels." She turned off the music on her cell phone and entered her walk-in closet to get her shoes to allow Danny some privacy. He definitely needed some recovery time, but she was resolved to reward him for his valiant effort later. When she stepped out again in her heels, he was fully dressed, even had his shoes back on.

He held out his arms. "Well? Is this what you were hoping for?"

He was referring to his attire. Indeed, the shirt so wonderfully accentuated his youthful and well-built physique, and the pants gripped his legs so perfectly. She couldn't wait to see how his backside looked.

But just having him here in her room, having him to hold and kiss and admire, that was all she had ever hoped for.

In her heels, she was still noticeably shorter than him. "Just one thing." She undid his pants.

Danny was surprised but did not stop her. "Do we have time?" he asked hopefully.

Paulina gave him a cheeky smile. "Later, ghost boy." She tugged and pulled at his shirt, slipped it into the waistband of his pants. She refastened his pants over his now tucked-in shirt. "There, like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever except even more handsome."

"Oh, is that what you were going for? I thought this was gonna be Latin dancing, not disco."

"This works for Latin dancing, too. Don't you worry."

"I'm more worried about disappointing you since I certainly can't dance like Travolta." Danny meant this humorously, but it was also an earnest concern of his. Paulina was a talented dancer, and despite all of his ghostly battles and mastery of his supernatural powers, he was not particularly coordinated, had never taken any dance lessons at all.

Paulina sensed his insecurity, his doubt. She placed her hands on his shoulders. "You never disappoint me, Danny."

He knew she was being sincere, but some part of him couldn't help but think he wasn't worthy of her. "Sorry I couldn't…you know…"

Paulina shook her head. "You were great, superb even." She shrugged. "And you could always watch videos on the Internet of male stripteases if you want to get an idea of how it can be done."

Danny laughed. "Yeah, no, I'm not doing that."

"Aw, why not?"

"Because despite this effeminate outfit you put me in, I am in fact straight."

"It's not effeminate! It's super sexy. I told you, John Travolta wore something similar."

Danny raised a brow but did not say anything, only gave her a low "hmm."

Paulina rolled her eyes. "All right, you…cute thing, you. Let's get going."

"Shall we drive or fly?"

Paulina put her arms around his neck and practically jumped into his arms. She placed a kiss on his cheek with a loud smack! Danny's swanky new outfit was quickly replaced by his black and white jumpsuit. He lifted her into the air and phased through her ceiling, flew into the night sky and toward the dance studio.

(Stay tuned for part two if you feel so inclined!)

(Originally, I was going to have Danny decline to do the striptease, but then I figured that he would at least try. :b Fun scene to write. Danny is so adorable. But if you're wondering why oh why couldn't I have written Paulina doing the striptease instead...sorry. :b )