It's that time again, another new fanfic.

This fanfic is part of my anniversary celebrations! It's been four years since I posted my very first story on Fanfiction. Time really does fly.

So, this story is based little over twenty years after the events of the series. Phantom Planet never happened.

This story is based mostly from my OC's perspective but there are a few special chapters in others' perspectives. I don't want to say too many spoilers, so I'll let you guys discover Melinoe and her life for yourselves. Feel free to speculate and comment on what you think throughout the story.

Quick disclaimer, I don't own Danny Phantom.

And with that, enjoy the story…

Blooming flowers enticed bees with their intoxicating scents. Ducks quacked among themselves in the duck pond. Small children shrieked with laughter in the playground overseen by caring parents. Teenagers ambled lazily through the park on their way to local hangouts. However, the peace was interrupted by a lolloping Chesapeake Bay Retriever bursting through the bushes and into the duck pond, eyes wide with excitement and tongue lolling happily to one side.

"Rusty! No!" a fifteen-year-old girl shouted as she ran through the bushes after the dog. The girl had long sleek black hair tied back in a plait and deep green eyes. She wore a pair of ripped black jeans and a white blouse with frills around the neck. The dog glanced at his owner before he chased a flighty duck squawking in alarm.

"Rusty! Leave that duck alone!" the girl scolded from the edge of the pond with an annoyed scowl. She knew the dog wouldn't listen. Not when it came to ducks. It was in his breed to love ducks, but she could still hope. Rusty the dog ignored his owner as he splashed through the shallow pond after the frightened birds.

The girl growled in annoyance before running around the pond hoping to get close enough without getting wet to grab the leash trailing behind the dog. She lunged at the leash as Rusty leapt at the poor duck he had managed to corner. The duck flapped away from the dog as the girl managed to catch the leash and pulled the dog back onto dry land.

"Rusty! Bad dog! You know you shouldn't attack the ducks," the girl reprimanded, glaring at the hunched dog.

"You'd think she could afford a dog trainer to get that mutt in line," a passing girl commented with a laugh. The girl's eyes widened in alarm as she spun around to see four girls in her year watching the entire thing from the paved pathway nearby.

"It's not really his fault. He was bred to hunt ducks," the girl defended her pet.

"Sure Melinoe, just like it's not your fault your dad decided to skip out," the same girl retorted with a raised eyebrow and malicious smirk. Melinoe scowled but knew better than to argue with the head cheerleader.

Rusty rose to his feet as the group of four girls walked away, giggling among themselves. Melinoe clicked her tongue and started to walk the opposite way along the path. Rusty obediently trotted along with his owner.

"Now you behave," Melinoe muttered to the dog with a roll of her eyes. Rusty glanced at her before he stopped to sniff a clump of grass. Melinoe sighed as she let Rusty smell the clump until he was satisfied.

The cheerleader's comment had cut deeper than Melinoe was willing to admit. It hurt to know that her father hadn't even bothered to stick around to meet her. She didn't have a picture or even know his name. Her mother refused to talk about him, except for the occasional comment which she would also refuse to elaborate on, no matter how much Melinoe pestered her. Melinoe shook her head as she continued, Rusty leading the way. What was the point in dwelling on a man who had obviously decided she wasn't worth his time? It was better for her to forget what little she knew and put his absence and the unknown reasons behind her and move forward, no matter how much her heart yearned to know more.

She turned to her dog as he scampered back and hid behind her legs as a young couple walked past them. She looked down at him with a fond smirk and shook her head.

"You are a useless guard dog Rusty. Come on, let's go the long way home," Melinoe decided and led the way down a smaller path off the one they were on. Melinoe suddenly scowled in confusion and dug out her cell phone from her jeans pocket. Her mother was calling her. Melinoe's thumb hovered over the decline button before she sighed and moved it to the accept button.

"Hey mom. Going the long way home so I'll be a bit later than I said," Melinoe informed her mother.

"Mel? Can you hear me?" her mother's muffled voice called.

"Yeah, mom. I hear you. What's up?" Melinoe answered with a worried frown.

"Mel? Don't-" the call was cut off. Melinoe blinked at the device in confusion before pocketing it and turned to Rusty.

"Fancy a run boy?" she asked as she grabbed the leash with both of her hands. Rusty cocked his head at her before sprinting after his owner as she began to jog down the path towards her house.

As Melinoe jogged, she held Rusty's lead out to one side to keep him from running in front and tripping her. She reached the end of her road, holding her side with a stitch, panting breathlessly. Rusty's tongue was dangling out of his mouth as he trotted beside his exhausted owner, wagging his tail. Melinoe marched down the road, through the black painted gate and hopped up the front two steps to the black painted door of a semi-detached white-washed townhouse. The front garden was modest with white glittering gravel and a few potted plants beside the white perimeter walls.

Melinoe fished her house key out of her pocket and turned it in the lock and stepped into her home. Her green eyes scanned the cluttered hall, ignoring the usual pile of shoes in the corner, overflowing coat rack and a few random things sitting on the stairs three or four steps up. She nervously bit her lip, worried about her mother. She turned to Rusty only to find the usually hyper-active dog cowering on the front step. Melinoe gulped down her nerves and edged into the house, leaving her dog at the front door.

"Who's in here!?" Melinoe called into the empty house. The only reason for Rusty to be frightened would be if there was a stranger inside, and the fact that her mother's call had been cut-off meant it was not someone Melinoe wanted in her home. Melinoe put one foot in front of the other, creeping into the house and towards the first door which so happened to be the kitchen. She froze in fear when she heard something moving in the room. Licking her lips, she searched for a weapon to defend herself with and found a large umbrella nearby. She grabbed it and held it firmly in her hands. With a big breath, she gathered her courage and kicked open the white door and brandished the umbrella as she charged into the kitchen.

She blinked in confusion however when she saw who was in her kitchen. White hair, glowing neon green eyes, black and white jumpsuit. Danny Phantom. The ghost blinked at her before raising his hands with a slight smirk.

"No need to attack. Just me," he muttered. Melinoe raised an eyebrow.

"I think I should decide that. Why are you in my house? Where's my mom?" Melinoe challenged. Danny Phantom frowned worriedly.

"I sensed a ghost around here. But when I got here, the house was empty. I thought a ghost just passed through. Are you sure your mom is meant to be home? Maybe she's at the store?" Danny Phantom answered. Melinoe dug out her phone, not daring to lower her umbrella. She didn't believe that the umbrella would stop the ghost but for now it was all she had.

"My mom called me. But she got cut off," Melinoe informed the ghost.

"Bad reception?" the ghost offered. Melinoe scowled before hitting a couple of buttons on her phone and re-dialled her mother's number. They waited in silence before muffled music cut through the tension. Melinoe's eyes widened in alarm and rushed towards the sound. The sound was coming from the closet where they kept the broom, mop and hoover. Sitting on the floor, half hidden by the mop, her mother's phone lay with her name flashing on the screen.

Melinoe scooped up the cell phone and turned to Danny Phantom. His concerned eyes widened in alarm as he strode across the room. He peered into the cupboard wordlessly. He crouched down, ignoring Melinoe watching him, and held out a hand. His hand glowed with soft green energy and almost instantly a glimmer of green on the floor appeared around his hand.

"I think a ghost took your mother," Danny Phantom muttered. Melinoe hesitated before stepping closer to the ghost.

"Why? I mean I know my mom's friends with a ghost tech designer, but wouldn't they take Tucker instead," Melinoe mumbled in confusion. Why would a ghost want to kidnap Samantha Manson, a stay at home single mother of an unextraordinary girl? Danny Phantom stood up and glanced at her before shaking his head.

"I need to find the ghost before I know why they'd take your mother. Is there anyone you can stay with? Friend? Other family?" Danny Phantom inquired.

"Why? You're gonna find my mom, right?" Melinoe pointed out.

"I will do my absolute best to find your mother as quickly as possible. But it could still take me more than a few hours. Besides, I can't be sure that ghost won't come back, maybe to take you. You can't stay here while I look," Danny Phantom replied with a shrug.

"Well, I'll come with you then," Melinoe decided. Danny Phantom blinked in surprise before scowling and shaking his head.

"No way. It's too dangerous. You can't come with me," Danny Phantom refused. Melinoe scoffed as she propped a fist on her hip.

"I have no friends and my grandparents are out of town right now. The only person that I could maybe go to is Tucker and I doubt you want to go anywhere near a guy who designs the stuff to hurt ghosts. Besides, that ghost took my mom. I want to help find her," Melinoe argued. Danny Phantom frowned at her before sighing.

"You're not gonna take no for an answer, are you?" he mumbled in defeat.

"Nope," Melinoe agreed with a triumphant smirk.

So, yep in this story Sam has a daughter, Melinoe, and Tucker is a ghost weapon designer.

I'll just clarify this since I can sense some of you may ask, Melinoe doesn't personally know Danny Phantom, she only recognises him since he's a famous figure in Amity Park for fighting back against attacking ghosts. Also, after this chapter, Danny Phantom will always be referred to as Phantom outside dialogue.

Any theories on who might have taken Sam? I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

Until the next chapter.