Truth

Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly

A/N: So I've been away a while. A lot of things have happened recently, some pretty bad stuff…I'm back to writing while trying to get back into school. I hope you enjoy this story. It's Seddie, though the main focus is on Spencer. I think you'll all enjoy it.

Chapter 1 (Father's Day)

"Happy father's day, Dad!" Carly cheered as she spoke into the phone. Steven Shay was thrilled to hear from her while on his mission. Spencer sat at the table, tapping his fingers slowly on the wood surface. He glanced to the side and looked back to Carly, he would rather talk to his father, considering Carly had been talking to him for quite some time now.

"Any chance I get to talk with my dad?" Spencer asked grumpily. Sam, who had been sitting on the couch, looked over at Spencer with a raised eyebrow. She thought it was strange that he was acting so out of it, he'd been depressed all week long. Usually he was upbeat and enthusiastic. Then again, she could never remember him being exciteful around this time of year. Carly rolled her eyes and glared at Spencer.

"Not yet, Spencer…I still haven't told Dad about the shirts!" Spencer stared back at Carly. He was reminded that she didn't always seem to respect his authority. In fact, there were times she acted better than he was.

"I don't get any respect." Spencer slowly stood up and crossed his arms, Carly saw him glaring back at her and chuckled nervously. She knew when he was pissed at her by that look, but she couldn't figure out why he would be upset with her. "I…" He slowly closed his hands and sighed, there really wasn't any reason to be upset with her. She was just being a typical teen. "Nevermind…" With that, he left the apartment, not really wanting to be around Carly today. He heard Sam scoff just before leaving.

"I wonder what's eating him." Spencer closed the door and continued on down the hall. What was eating him, nobody really would know. At least, he never wanted anyone to know. Not for the longest time. Though in the last few years, he was feeling the ache of that decision. He was thirty years old now, just fourteen years older than Carly, who literally was always the 'perfect child' in everyone's eyes. Was he jealous of her? She always got to talk to Steven for so long, especially around father's day, the day was all about him. She always got everything. He wasn't jealous of her, in fact, he was very proud of her. There was always a look of pride in his eyes whenever she accomplished something, or if she got straight A's, or if she learned a valuable lesson. He literally raised her for nearly sixteen years. Did he ever get any thanks? No, not even an ounce of appreciation.

"Why don't I get anything? Is it because I'm just a damn artist, that I'm just her brother and not capable of raising her? Is it because her mom's off doing her own thing?" Carly never knew her mother. Even when she met her mom, she couldn't know it. Spencer remembered that day, it brought tears to the girl's eyes. It wasn't her fault, her parents wouldn't let her keep or know Carly. That's why she went to the father. After that, Carly's parents never really talked again, except one time when Carly had her over to visit without knowing who she was.

"Hey Spence, what's going on?" Spencer spotted his friend, Socko, coming off the elevator and waved at him. "Did I catch you as you were leaving or something?"

"Yeah…I was actually fixing to go to the bar." Socko blinked and stared at Spencer, confused. Spencer lifted his hands and did an air quote as he spoke. "Carly's in there talking to that 'dad' of hers…I haven't even been able to tell him anything yet…" The men stepped in the elevator and Socko patted him on the shoulder, sighing with pity.

"I feel for you man. I wish there were something I could tell you…I really do."

"You know she's sixteen now, right?" Socko nodded as Spencer leaned back against the elevator wall and smiled. "You weren't there at her party back in January, she was having the time of her life. Dad sent her a present, of course it wasn't much better than mine…" Spencer frowned and crossed his arms, remembering how she went on and on about how dads always seemed to give the best presents to their children. "Now she's in there going on about how she's got the 'greatest father in the world'." Socko winced as the elevator doors closed. He pressed the button for the lobby and leaned against the side wall.

"Ouch, that sucks. Shown up by your old man…remember though, jealousy is a bad thing to mix with." Spencer sighed as the elevator reached the lobby and the doors opened. The two walked out and Spencer continued on with his venting.

"Yeah, to be jealous of your own dad…Then again, why should he get all the attention? He's not even her real father, for crying out loud!" They continued walking through the lobby, blissfully unaware that they'd passed Freddie, who had just heard Spencer's outburst. Freddie froze before getting on the elevator and glanced over at Spencer, stunned by what he had just heard. Surely, Spencer wasn't talking about Carly. "Every year, Socko, it's the same damn thing. She calls him up, wishes him a happy father's day, spends practically all damn day with the guy on the phone, and completely ignores me."

"Well, that's the way it goes." Freddie turned around and hurried over to Spencer before he left the building, he had to know what Spencer was going on about.

"Hey Spencer!" Freddie called out. Spencer froze and moved his eyes back, shocked that Freddie was there and hoping he didn't hear anything. If so, he may have just blown a big secret out the door. "Are you talking about Carly? Is Mr. Shay not her dad?" Spencer's jaw grew firm and his eyes darted to the street, he contemplated making a run for it.

"What's it to you, camera boy? You thinking about dating her since her father might not be her real one?"

"Uh…no…" He turned toward Freddie and grinned darkly at him, causing the boy to wince.

"Well I got news for you, Benson."

"Spencer…" Socko issued a warning tone, knowing his friend's blood was already boiling. Freddie took a slight step back as Spencer moved ominously towards him.

"I still don't approve of you, so no dating her!"

"Spencer, hold on!" Freddie begged as he lifted his hands up somewhat to defend himself.

"I'm like a ninja, don't try and cross me!"

"Spencer, I'm dating Sam now, remember? She's the girl I like…" Spencer blinked, realizing that he had forgotten about Freddie asking Sam on a date while filming iCarly. He had Gibby come on screen, make a fool of himself for Sam and making her embarrassed to think he was asking her out, and then Freddie stepped up to ask her out himself. Both tricking Sam, and impressing her enough to get her to date him. "I love Sam. Okay? I don't want Carly."

"Sorry bro…" Spencer breathed out and turned around, embarrassed by the display. Freddie lowered his arms as Spencer continued walking.

"So. Who is Carly's real dad, then?" Spencer froze briskly and closed his eyes, that was not something that Freddie needed to know. Socko groaned miserably and looked away in time to see a taxi pulling up a few feet away. He watched as a girl wearing a purple shirt and blue jeans stepped out of the car, her long brown hair fluffed down past her shoulders. It was the girl known by everyone as Sasha Striker. She looked over and smiled when she saw Spencer, then frowned when she saw the pained look on his face.

"Not again," Sasha whispered to herself. This was just what she was coming over for. She still considered this Spencer's day. He was always there for her on the days of the year hardest for her, and she tried to be here for him on his days. She did still love him, after all.

"Spencer, are you going to answer me or just stand there?" Spencer slowly turned to Freddie as Sasha raised her eyebrow, what was the kid pestering Spencer about now? "Who's Carly's real dad?" Her eyes grew wide and her arm fell to her side, causing the purse strap on her shoulder to slide down her arm and cling to her wrist. Someone knew what had happened? That couldn't be.

"I-I don't know," Spencer responded painfully. He clenched his hand up and his eyes shook with emotion. "She was adopted into the family. Nobody knows her birth parents…I've been taking care of her ever since dad's been in the military." Hell, he even had to give up law school for her. Though if he could go back in now, times would be easier for him to. Socko and Sasha both looked at Spencer sadly, why would he go on with that story? "She doesn't even know she's adopted…don't tell her…I'd hate for her to know, especially right now. Right now, as she goes on praising dad as the greatest father that ever lived." He smiled a fake smile, true he was happy for Carly, but it also pained him to have to sit there as she praised the man she thought was her true dad. Freddie nodded understandingly and gave a small sigh.

"I'm sorry to hear such a thing…do you think you'd ever try and find her real parents?" Spencer looked dangerously at Freddie, his jaw clenching and his eyes locking onto him. Such a thing could never happen. He wasn't sure why, but people seemed to think it would be best to just let the truth go away. No matter how painful it was to everyone involved.

"No. That can never happen." It was then that Freddie noticed Sasha standing next to the taxi, tears were in her eyes. No one could know, but her heart was breaking more than ever. Socko felt his friends' pain, and wished to the powers above that he could do something, but in all the years that had gone, there wasn't a thing he could do. "Everyone in my family are pretty much the biggest pricks on the planet, Freddie. That's all you need to know." Freddie twisted his head back to Spencer and frowned, he never saw Spencer looking so sad in his life. "Selfish, assholes who can't ever get their prickish little heads out of their own asses…" Freddie wished he could know what would make Spencer less angry and why he was so angry at his family, but there was nothing. He sighed as he lifted his hand from his pocket and patted Spencer on the back.

"I'm sorry man. I really am."

"Yeah…go tell Carly I said hello, by the way."

"I'll do that." Spencer watched as Freddie hurried back to the elevator. He sighed heavily and turned around, then noticing Sasha. His eyes grew wide and a smile crept onto his face, he was pleasantly surprised to see her. Sasha glanced at him, pain in her heart and her body, and tried to form a smile.

"Why did you lie to him like that, Spencer?" Sasha asked quietly as she moved slowly toward him. "You could have told the truth. By now…shouldn't the truth be told?"

"I don't know if anyone's ready for the truth, Sash…"

"Your daughter, maybe?" Socko asked with a frustrated growl. He crossed his arms as his friends both looked back to him, pain clearly present in their eyes. "We've been through this several times over the years…When are you going to let your parents stop ruling you? Both of you!"

It's a bit of a change from my usual stories, I think. I need to start fresh. I don't need to tell you what's been going on the last year and a half, but as far as my stories go, I need a fresh start. This started as a oneshot, but I realized the idea was too great to be just a oneshot, so I'm making a story out of this. I hope you'll enjoy it. Please, read and review! Whether you review because of the story or just for the sake of reviewing, I don't mind...god knows I need my fans right now...