[AN: Here's Chapter 1! While I promise I proofread this, I'm pretty sure there are still a couple mistakes floating around in there somewhere, and for those I apologize. As always I own nothing and thanks for reading!]
Sometimes, secretly, when he was watching them smile and laugh and anticipate everything the other did, Spencer referred to Sam as his "freebie." He'd gotten one sister, and the cosmos decided to throw in a second, just for good measure. Spencer had always prided himself on being a good brother. In Carly's case that meant always being available for a laugh, advice, an iCarly segment or sometimes just a big old "squeezin' and squishin'" as he had come to call them. In Sam's, it meant hovering quietly in her peripheral vision, far enough away for her to feel independent, but close enough for her to know that she was never alone.
So when Freddie comes to him in January and says that every time she grabs his hand to flip him he feels sparks, Spencer's heart soars for her. (Or it did after he confirmed that Freddie had said "feels sparks" as opposed to "see spots," in which case they would be making a trip to Seattle General.) Patting Freddie on the back, he decides to share Spencer Shay's Two Biggest Secrets to Swaying Sam Puckett:
Number 1- You know the way to her heart; use it.
Number 2- You must be patient, no matter how long it takes; if you lose patience, you will never have another chance.
"But before you impart these rules grasshopper, you must ask yourself 'Is this what I truly want?'" Spencer smiles when Freddie nods slowly, still baffled at his heart's latest conclusion.
"Then godspeed young Benson."
In February Carly corners him in his room while Sam raids their refrigerator. He mentally bids the last spaghetti taco goodbye before tuning in to his sister's hushed interrogation.
"Why didn't you tell me Freddie likes Sam?"
"He came to me for support and guidance, and I didn't want to break his trust!" All he can do is cover his head with his hands as the slaps she delivers to his torso punctuate every word.
"You don't hide these things from your sister!" Soon enough the slapping ends and Spencer peeks through his fingers to see a faraway look in Carly's eyes. He pulls her into a big hug and kisses the top of her head.
"It's a guy thing," he says. "He was probably afraid that if he told you, you'd convince him to actually take the plunge."
"And you didn't?" Her voice is slightly muffled, due to half of her face being smothered in his shirt.
"Nope. I gave him what he needed to know and stepped back. I can't hold your hands forever you know," he says ticking her ribs. He smiles when she giggles and when Sam comes in to ask if they have any ham, he and Carly exchange a smile, sharing a secret.
A week later Freddie tells Spencer that Carly has threatened him with bodily harm if he even so much as thinks about hurting Sam.
"Are you scared?" Spencer asks.
"Terrified. I didn't know Carly could be that scary," Freddie replies. He pauses for a second before continuing. "But I'm not scared enough to wimp out."
"Then that's a good start." And even though Freddie has questions running through his mind and written all over his face, Spencer doesn't elaborate. Because one day Freddie will step back from the trio and just watch the duo, and he'll see that even if he has Sam's complete trust, which Spencer warns him could take years, Carly will always be watching. Just like Sam would do for her.
It's not until April that Sam comes crashing into the apartment, a myriad of emotions evident on her face. Spencer is in the midst of a new statue and chalks the slammed door up to detention or a bad test grade as she flops onto the couch, her feet on his coffee table and her head on the back of the couch, staring up at the ceiling. It's when Carly doesn't follow through the door a minute later, a reprimand sharp on her lips that Spencer finally looks at his tough little freebie. Coming down from his ladder and mimicking her position on the couch, he waits for her to break the silence.
"The nub gave me a pack of ham. Then he asked me out."
"Are we upset about the ham or the date?"
"He blindsided me. How could I give a well-thought out response with 12 pieces of perfectly packed ham staring at me?"
"We're upset because we said yes," Spencer surmised.
"It was a minor lapse in judgment. I'm setting him straight tomorrow."
"You could do that. Or you could consider this the first time that Freddie Benson will willingly pay for your meal." When he looks over at her, she's pensive.
"I guess letting him be seen with me for one night couldn't hurt…" she muses. Spencer smiles and resumes looking at the ceiling.
"Where's Carly?"
"After I said yes he started smiling and so I hit him. After all these years it's like a reflex."
"Carly's making sure there's no internal bleeding?"
Sam nods. "Let the record show that said nub did not stop smiling after the punch, proving that I should have hit him harder."
Spencer stays silent and finally, she sighs. "If this whole dating the nub thing is going to work, I have to stop hitting him, huh?"
"Baby steps kiddo. Just try to save the hits for when he really deserves them."
She leans over resting her head on his shoulder. He wraps an arm around her shoulder, pulling her into a half hug. They stay like this until Carly walks in, reprimanding Sam for "rudely assaulting her future husband." Sam groans and Spencer laughs as Carly grabs Sam by the arm and drags Sam upstairs to do girly-type bonding things. Hanging his head over the couch, Spencer watches as Brune Baby Sister pulls Blonde Baby Sister upstairs and sees a small smile on Blonde's face that belies the grumbles she's giving Brune. Getting up to resume his sculpting, Spencer feels a slight tug in his chest.
They're growing up, he finally thinks to himself.