Hello, everybody! I have a lot of time right now, so I've decided to make a one-shot that shows my theory of why Danny is really bitter around Christmas time. I'm learning to curb my rambling, so here's the fic. Enjoy!

Christmas was quickly approaching the town of Amity Park. People flooded the streets around every block, carolers cheerfully sang the songs of Christmas, and children were feeling happy at the thought of finally getting that Nintendo Wii they've been wanting on Christmas morning. But the most overwhelming feeling was the feeling of good in the air.

Despite all this Christmas cheer, there was one home that seemed to be in short supply. The Fenton's home and lab, which they named FentonWorks, was decorated with lights as usual. All of the Fentons loved the holiday season, save for one person, Danny Fenton.

Danny's mood around Christmas was the complete opposite of everyone else's. Instead of cheerful and thankful, he was bitter and angry.

The other Fentons, as well as his friends, Sam Manson and Tucker Foley tried their best to explain his bitterness about the holiday. Danny's parents, Jack and Maddie said it was because of their constant arguing about Santa Claus' existance. His sister Jazz said because of the holiday stress at that time, and Sam and Tucker said it must've been bad memories.

It was mostly bad memories that made Danny angry at this time of year. And the fact that his parents always argue about Santa's existance. But there was one main reason why he hated Christmas most of all. It was a tale of loss.

On the seventeenth day of December, Jazz, Jack, and Maddie came home in the early evening from a day of Christmas shopping. They were laughing as they took off their snow covered coats.

"That certainly was great." said Maddie as she saw Danny come into the hall, "Hey, Danny!" she said cheerfully.

"Meh." grunted Danny as he walked past into the kitchen.

"Uh... Danny?" said Jack as he looked into the kitchen, "We're going to the Christmas pageant at the school, you coming?"

Danny walked back into the hall clutching a soda can, "I'll pass." he said blandly as he walked up the stairs.

Sam and Tucker joined the Fentons at the pageant, which lasted for an hour-and-a-half. They walked out of the school discussing Danny's issues lately.

"I don't like the way he acts around Christmas." said Jazz in an annoyed tone, "He can totally ruin the holiday for all of us."

"Come on, Jazz," said Maddie as she put a hand on Jazz's shoulder, "Your brother just has some bad things that come up around this time of year."

"But still," said Tucker, "I really hate it when he acts all crabby around Christmas."

"Danny acting crabby around Christmas?" said an unknown voice, "I can't say that doesn't surprise me."

The voice belonged to Mr. Lancer, he overheard them and was walking towards them. "Do any of you know why he acts this way around the holidays?"

All of them shook their heads. They had some reasons to believe why he acted mad, but none knew the real reason.

"It's a pretty sad story." said Mr. Lancer with a note of sympathy, "But here's not the place to discuss it. Come on, I live nearby."

"This is a pretty nice place you've got here, Mr. Lancer." said Tucker as he looked around inside a relatively large house, "I didn't think teachers got paid so much."

"It just shows that you need to pay more attention, Mr. Foley." said Mr. Lancer.

"So..." said Jazz as she sat down on the couch, followed by Tucker and Maddie, "What's the story behind Danny's sadness?"

Mr. Lancer took a deep breath and turned to face the Fentons, Sam, and Tucker.

"Several years ago, back when Danny was five years old, he had another friend. One that he didn't tell any of you about. I was a kindergarten teacher at that time, so he was in my class. And he really thought of me as a close friend at that time. So, he told me about his friend. Her name was Emily.

Danny and Emily were really close in kindergarten. They did a lot of their projects together; they were practically inseperable. Many people said that they supposedly shared a special bond, one that very few experience.

That year, Danny said that you took a Christmas vacation up to the mountains." said Mr. Lancer to the Fentons, "Danny left after saying good-bye to Emily in class and was anxious to see her again after the holiday.

But as Christmas came around, Emily fell ill." explained Mr. Lancer, "It was nothing more than a common cold. Nothing to worry about. Danny wasn't there, so he didn't know anything about her being sick.

New Year's came and went. Danny returned to the school on the first day after break and didn't see Emily in class. When recess came, he asked me where she could be. Then..." said Mr. Lancer with a sigh, "I had to give him the hardest news I've ever had to give in my life."

Everyone else waited with their breaths held and eyes wide as Mr. Lancer sighed heavily.

"I told that... Emily had succumbed. She was gone." said Mr. Lancer as he felt a tear come down his face.

"Danny was crushed by the news, and started to cry. He repeated that for the rest of the day. He said, 'It's all my fault... I wasn't here to help her get better...' Those were his exact words. I remember them every year."

"Oh man..." said Tucker as he felt tears come to his eyes, "That's why he's always so mad around Christmas."

The rest of the group was starting to feel tears as well, "It's all because he lost a very good friend..." said Maddie, "It's something we never would've guessed."

"I can't begin to imagine what the would feel like." said Jazz as she wiped her eyes, "Losing someone you care about around a happy time."

"Emily, before she died, wrote one last letter to Danny. She wrote it on her deathbed, and when she was finished, told me to give it to him." Mr. Lancer went over to one of the drawers in the room, "I still have it to this day. As I saw Danny mourn for his friend, I couldn't bring myself to give it to him. And I've regretted it since. And that's probably why he started to dislike me from there."

He pulled out of the drawer a small brown envelope and handed it to Tucker. "Give it to Danny, I have not opened it for all these years."

Everyone was silent as they drove back to the Fenton's house. None of them ever expected a death of a friend to be the reason why Danny hated Christmas.

They remained silent as they entered the house and the living room. Danny was standing at the window watching the snow fall gently.

He turned around and saw his friends, "Hey." he said with a frown. None of them spoke for a few more moments, "Is...something wrong?" he asked.

Tucker sighed and pulled out the envelope given to him by Mr. Lancer and handed it to Danny. "This is for you, dude."

Danny was confused as he took the envelope and stared at it, "What's this?"

"Open it." said Maddie.

Danny opened the letter slowly and pulled out the aged piece of paper inside. He peered at it for a moment before he yelled out, "Emily!" he yelled suddenly, "Th-this is Emily's handwriting!"

Dear Danny,

I'm sure that I won't be here anymore when you read this. I don't want you to be sad, Danny. Christmas is supposed to be a very happy time for everybody, but I don't want you to be sad. You were always my friend, Danny. I will never forget you, no matter what happens to me. I hope the same will be true for you. The time that I spent with you made me really happy, more than I've ever been before. I'm blessed to have met you. No matter what happens, I'll always be with you, Danny.

Love,

Emily.

"No matter what happens, I'll always be with you, Danny..." Danny repeated the last line out loud. He smiled as he looked at the letter once more. He never knew his former friend could write something so touching. "Uh, guys...?" he said as he held back tears, "I... I want to be alone for a moment."

He walked past the Fentons and went up to his room and closed the door. He placed the letter on his desk and looked out the window at the falling snow.

"I'll always be with you, too, Emily." said Danny before he turned around and headed out the door.

Danny opened the door and saw his friends and family at the foot of the stairs. He smiled and felt more appreciative of them all being there and delivering the letter to him.

"So, when's the next Christmas pageant?" he said with a smile. "I'd like to go."