A/N: This takes place when Carly, Sam, and Freddie are twenty-eight, and a lot of things have changed. Sam ran away to New York, trying to forget things, but then, ten years later, Carly and Freddie found her. This also takes place in a world where iOMG never happened, because it would mess up my plot. And I haven't quite decided where I'm going to go with it, so suggestions are very much welcome and encouraged because I'm still figuring things out. It's my first Fanfiction, but I hope you like it :)

Disclaimer: iDon't own iCarly :(

People come to New York to get lost. They come to disappear in the bustle of faces that is the city. They're always running from something. I know I was. Still am, in a way.

Six days ago, a creamy vanilla colored envelope arrived in the mail. God knows how they found me, but they did. Today, I've decided that I'll have to open it.

Carlotta Shay

And

Fredward Benson

Request your presence when they celebrate their marriage

On the third day of January two-thousand twenty-three

At five o'clock in the evening

RSVP to 206-239-0309 by November nineteenth

Attached to the invitation was a personal letter from Carly and Freddie:

Sam,

You're probably wondering how we found you, after all this time. God, it's been over ten years now, hasn't it? We've known for a while that you went to New York City, but you don't know how many favors we had to pull in to find out exactly where we could find you. Carly was all for showing up at your apartment and surprising you, but I told her that you'd only run away again. And honestly, neither of us wants that.

We miss you, Sam. God, you don't know how many nights Carly has woken up from a nightmare, scared that she'd never see you again, or that you'd die before we could get a chance to reconnect. I hope you're not dead, Sam. Are you dead? Please don't be dead. And you have no idea how many times I've drafted this letter, trying to find the words that would make you sit down and read it, instead of just trashing it.

Please come to the wedding. I think it's time you grew up. Sam, you can't run forever. You're going to have to face us sometime. I'd rather it be before it was too late. Carly has been worried sick the past ten years about you. Neither of us knows what happened, why you ran. I think we deserve at least an explanation.

She really misses you. So do I. But do you know how much she wanted you to be her maid of honor? She couldn't find you though, so she chose her college roommate Leighton instead. Leighton's nice, a quiet girl, practically Carly's twin. But she's not you, and I've seen the way Carly's always glancing at the couch or the fridge when she and Leighton are working on wedding things, and how her eyes always drift to the picture we have of you on the counter. She knows you should be there instead of Leighton. I'm so glad that we found you, though. It would break Carly's heart, not having you at our wedding.

So how's being incognito been going? Carls and I have been great. We live at the Bushwell, did I mention that? Spencer eventually grew up and married his girlfriend of two years, Sarah, and they moved out when Sarah got pregnant. So Carly and I decided to move into their old apartment. Everything's pretty much the same. What with being a father and all, Spencer couldn't take much of his stuff with them.

We left the iCarly studio the exact same as when you left. I don't think Carly knows that I know this, but she goes up there every day before she thinks that I've woken up. I always see her sitting in the yellow beanbag, crying. She really misses you. I really miss you, Sam. Please come back, even if it's only for the wedding. We'd do anything to have you there.

Freddork

I look over the invitation again. The date catches my eye. Oh my god. It's January third. How could they get married on that day of all days? That's the day that Freddie and I kissed. And the day I fell for him. And that's going to be the day that I'll lose him forever.

Carly always got the guy. They were always head over heels for her girly, adorable little nature. They never looked twice at a girl like me. I'd always thought that maybe someday things would be different with Freddie. But they weren't. They'd never be. He was Carly's, just like every other guy I've liked. Or in Freddie's case, loved… But I couldn't. That had to stop. But how would I face them again without everything that I've fought to push down coming back up again?

I sweep my eyes over the letter, written in Freddie's neat penmanship. He misses me. That makes my heart flutter, something I haven't felt in ten years. And then there's Carly, who also misses me. But I couldn't go back and explain why I left. How could I do that, when it would break Carly's heart? I wouldn't do that to them, not at their wedding. I smile at the prospect of Spencer being a father. No matter what he thought, he was pretty good with kids. I mean, he practically raised the three of us hooligans. Carly and Freddie turned out pretty good. I don't really know about me, but that was my fault. Spencer had nothing to do with it. And then there was the signature. He signed it with Freddork. He remembered. I feel a blush creep into my cheeks. But then I stop. This can't happen. I won't do this to Carly. No.

My hand shakes as I pick up my phone and dial the number on the invite.

"Hello?" A deep voice answers.

"Hi, I'm calling to RSVP for the invitation to the wedding of Carlotta Shay and Fredward Benson," I say to the man in a weird, high pitched voice that isn't mine.

"Oh, would this be one of Carly's cousins?" he asks. It's Freddie. It's got to be Freddie. Taking a deep breath, I decide that I've got to tell him.

"No," I reply in my normal voice.

"Then who-" he begins, stopping short when he recognizes the voice. "Oh. God, is that really you, Sam?"

I nod, but then remember that he can't see me. "Yes," I say, my voice cracking as tears escape my eyes.

"So, how have you been? God, Sam, you have no idea how much we've missed you," he replies quickly.

"I've missed you guys too," I whisper.

"Does that mean that you'll come?" he asks excitedly.

"No, Freddie, I can't."

"Oh, I knew we should've figured out if you were busy before scheduling the date. Carly wanted you there more than anyone. Well, can you at least come for a visit before? Carly'd love to see you. Me too," he begins.

"That isn't what I meant, Freddie," I cut him off. "I'm not coming. End of story."

"I don't understand, Sam," he says after a moment.

"Look, Freddie," I begin, even though it kills me. "Things change a lot in ten years. I'm not coming back. I can't just come in and mess up your lives again. If Carly misses me that much, I'd rather not delude her into thinking I'm going to be back forever, because I wouldn't be. It's better as a clean break. It's better this way. Please."

"If you refuse to come," he retorted. "We will come out on the next plane to New York City and come to your apartment and force you to explain what happened. Because the Sam I knew wouldn't do anything to hurt Carly, especially something as cruel as this. Somewhere in her body, that Sam at least had one caring bone, and if you don't come, we're coming to figure out where the hell that Sam went."

"Fine," I told him.

"Fine what?" he asked angrily. "Are you going to come to your two best friends' wedding, or are you going to make us come get you?"

A/N: Oh look, a cliff-hanger... I'm so predictable. Oh well. What do you think should happen? Should Sam decline the invite, thinking Carly and Freddie would never do something like that, or should she just accept and face them at the wedding? Hehe, only I know (actually, I don't know yet...) Also, what should Sarah and Spencer's kids' names be? Oh, and I put a few Seddie references in the invite. Aside from the obvious Jan. 3 one, what were they? The next chapter'll have more explanation as to what's going on, because I feel like I didn't explain very well in this one. Now, I feel like I'm speaking to myself, so I'm gonna go now... So review and tell me where this should go :) (And if it's any good...)