It was four minutes before the start of iCarly and Sam was late, as usual. Freddie looked at his watch again and grew more exasperated. Carly was slowly pacing in front of the prop car in the studio; she expected Sam to be late, but this was cutting things a little too close. With barely a minute to spare Sam came bounding into the studio through the glass door.

"Ready to get this show started!" Sam's voice did not betray whether she understood the anxiety she was causing in her two friends.

"It's about time," Freddie couldn't help but sound frustrated.

"Shut it Frednub, I'm here now." Sam shot Freddie a look that she hoped Carly did not see.

Carly took her place next to Sam, "Let's not get into it now. We have a show to do, let's worry about that." Carly tried to sound calm and relaxed. Even if she felt put out by Sam right then, she didn't want to add to the growing tension in the room.

Freddie spoke through gritted teeth, "In 5, 4, 3, 2….."

That week's show wasn't the best iCarly ever; Sam had been late to the rehearsals and never did make up the time. Her performance showed and Carly had to cover for her several times. Finally the last skit was finished; the show ended with Carly and Sam's goodbyes.

"And we're clear. Good show Carly." Freddie pointedly did not mention Sam. He began packing up his equipment while he ignored Sam's fierce glare.

"Hey, Fredpuss, what about me?" Sam couldn't keep her silence any longer.

"I stand by what I said," Freddie went back to packing up his equipment.

Carly quickly interjected, as cheerfully as she could, "I've got some yummy red velvet cupcakes downstairs. Come on." She took Sam by the hand and dragged her out the studio door. She called back to Freddie, "Come down when you're ready."

Freddie finished with his equipment, but he waited a few minutes to try and calm himself before he joined Carly and Sam. Sometimes he couldn't fathom how inconsiderate Sam could be. She might just barely tolerate him, but Carly she adored. How could she be like that to Carly?

Freddie felt sufficiently in control and exited the studio and descended the stairs to the first floor. As he turned towards the kitchen Sam called out, "Hey tech-monkey, we saved you a cupcake." Without warning she took the remaining cupcake and whipped it at Freddie's head. Her aim was good and the cupcake hit Freddie square in the face, covering him with frosting, filling and cake crumbs.

"Sam, what did you do that for?" Carly asked, very clearly annoyed.

"It's not like he didn't have it coming. Besides, it was a perfect shot, bulls-eye!" Sam actually sounded proud of herself as Freddie cleaned himself at the kitchen sink.

Freddie hadn't said a word; instead he just fixed Sam with a death stare. He didn't even notice when Carly asked if he was ok. Carly could tell Freddie was upset and let it go. As he began to leave the apartment, again without speaking or saying good-bye, Sam decided to twist the knife in a little deeper, "Aww, going to cry to mommy? Maybe she'll kiss your boo-boo."

Freddie didn't know if it was what she said, or the mocking tone of her voice, or a combination of the two; but that was it. Freddie had reached his limit. He stopped and turned around as he reached the end of the couch. "Fuck you Puckett."

Spencer had been working on a sculpture near the window and had only been sporadically paying attention to what was going on. When he heard Freddie say that, however, he stopped what he was doing and paid closer attention. Carly, for her part, was utterly shocked. Her mouth was agape; she didn't notice until bits of cupcake started to tumble out. In all the years she had known Freddie she had never, ever heard him curse. In fact she could count on one hand the number of times she had heard Freddie raise his voice or lose his temper. To hear him use what she always referred to as the "F-Word" was absolutely shocking.

"What did you say?" Sam was growing angrier. She started moving towards Freddie.

In turn, Freddie began moving towards Sam. "You heard me, or are you too goddamn lazy to even listen now."

Sam and Freddie were now face-to-face, halfway between the couch and the kitchen. Spencer stayed by his sculpture and Carly remained in the kitchen near the refrigerator.

"What the hell is your problem Benson?"

"You're my problem. You're everyone's problem. You're mean, lazy and inconsiderate. Do you even realize what a selfish bitch you are? You don't show up for rehearsal even half the time and then give a lousy performance like tonight. It's not fair to me and it's certainly not fair to Carly."

Carly called out from her spot in the kitchen, "Leave me out of this," but nobody paid her any attention, assuming Freddie or Sam actually heard what she said.

"Like you can tell what's good and what's lousy. You're just our stupid tech-stooge. Stick to what you know, which isn't much."

"What I know? I know you're a miserable human being who leeches off her so-called friends. When do you even go home?"

Sam's eyes grew colder; Freddie was wading into dangerous territory. "Don't go there Benson. You know how I am about my mother."

"Oh, that's right, the all-purpose excuse for your shitty behavior. Yeah, it's so tough growing up with only one parent."

"Sorry, Fred-nub, we all can't have an obnoxious super-mom like you. It's not easy going without…"

Freddie cut her off, "Not easy growing up without a Father? Look around, Sam. Where's my father? Where's Carly's father? Where's Carly's mother for that matter? Face it Sam, you're just a mean bitch. Carly had the same disadvantages and she's a respectful, kind person."

Carly called out again, "Please leave me out of this," and again she was ignored. Right now the only two people in the entire world to Sam and Freddie were each other.

"Why are you doing this Freddork? Did you finally grow a set?"

Freddie was growing more animated as Sam grew colder. It appeared as if Freddie was doing everything he could to keep from smacking Sam. Sam, for her part, looked like she was ready to kill Freddie with a sharp object.

"Why am I doing this? Because I am sick and tired of all your bullshit. I'm tired of your bullying and selfish behavior. I am doing this because I am tired of putting up with you. I've done it for Carly's sake so far, but not anymore."

"Just give it up Benson; Carly's never going to go out with you."

Carly was about to say something but thought better of it. "Go fuck yourself Puckett." Sam had waded into her own dangerous area.

"Funny, I was going to tell you the same thing. It's not like Carly's ever going to do it with you."

"I really mean it, leave me out of this," Carly pleaded.

Freddie's face was red and there was a fury in his eyes that had never been present before. With barely contained fury he said, "Sam, you are the worst person I have ever met. All you do is spread misery everywhere you go. You're like the goddamn bubonic plague. Go eat shit and die. Eating is all you're good for." Freddie turned around to leave.

As Freddie grabbed the doorknob to leave, Sam called out, "You are such an asshole Freddie. You are such a sanctimonious asshole who thinks he knows everything. Well you don't! GO FUCK YOURSELF!" Sam stormed up the stairs as Freddie left the apartment, but not before giving Sam the finger without turning his back.

Carly and Spencer slowly drifted towards the center of the living room without saying a word. An eerie silence had descended; it was if some natural disaster had passed through their loft. Carly and Spencer tried to say something to each other, but neither could find the right words. Sam and Freddie had probably hundreds of fights in their shared past together, but this was different. Carly thought they might start coming to blows. Spencer had been prepared to break it up at any moment. He thought Freddie might have started choking Sam at any second.

Carly finally found her voice, "What should we do?"

Spencer looked puzzled, "I don't know, maybe we shouldn't do anything."

Carly disagreed, "I don't think so. This was different, this was really bad. I think we need to talk to them."

Spencer sighed, "Ok, who's talking to whom?"

"Can you talk to Sam and I'll talk to Freddie?"

"Why do I get the hard one?"

"Sam respects you as an authority figure." Carly noticed the look of doubt on Spencer's face. "Ok, as much as she can respect any authority figure."

Spencer thought about it for a moment, but finally acquiesced. He made his way up the stairs as Carly left for the Benson's apartment across the hall.

Spencer found Sam pacing in the iCarly studio. Her fists were clenched as she walked from one end of the room to the other. She looked like she was about to explode. Spencer knocked softly on the glass of the door and entered the studio with Sam.

Sam took the initiative and started talking first, "I am not apologizing to that stupid nub."

Spencer held up his hands in front of him. "Nobody's asking you to. I just wanted to talk and see if you were ok."

"I'll be fine once I can beat the crap out of Freddie."

Spencer had to go into "parental mode" which was something he wasn't really comfortable doing. He much preferred "big brother mode". "No, you're not going to beat up Freddie. Freddie's not gonna beat you up either."

"Hah, I'd like to see him try."

"Sam, what happened down there? You and Freddie have been fighting with each other for years now, but I have never seen or heard about you two doing anything like that. I was scared you were going to start hitting each other."

"Ask Freddie, he started it."

"Well, you did throw his cupcake at him."

"Freddie can be such a know-it-all, like he's Mister Perfect. He always looks down on me." Sam had stopped pacing and was leaning against the prop car. Spencer crossed the room and leaned against the car next to her.

"I don't think Freddie looks down on you. He was just upset."

"No Spence, he really thinks I'm not as good as him or Carly. Like I'm less of a person because I don't live in a nicer part of town." Sam started to cry a little bit. Spencer put his right arm around Sam and held her in a sort of half-embrace. Sam continued, "He has no idea what it's like to have my life. He doesn't know what my mother's like or what it's like to not have everything you want."

"Why don't you tell him?"

"Yeah, right. He wouldn't believe me if I did. Besides, I never want to see his self-righteous face again. Unless I'm bashing it in with something heavy."

Spencer hoped Sam was just venting. Maybe she would be calmer after a night's sleep. "Are you spending the night?"

"Uh, yeah, I was…if Carly will let me now. Is it ok with you?"

"It's ok with me and I'm sure it will be fine with Carly. How about you pick out two or three of the scariest movies in my DVD collection and I'll order some pizza? I'll be sure to order extra meat. Will that help you feel better?"

Sam finally cracked a smile. "You know me all too well Spencer."

Carly knocked on the front door of the Benson apartment. After a few moments Mrs. Benson answered the door.

"Hi Mrs. Benson. Can I see Freddie please?"

Mrs. Benson hesitated, Carly worried that she would get grief over the taco truck incident, but it turned out she hesitated for an entirely different reason. "I don't mind, but I don't know if he wants to see anyone now. He went straight to his room, slammed the door, and seemed…pretty upset."

"I know, he and Sam got into a pretty heated…argument. I just wanted to see if he was ok."

"You're welcome to try and see him, but I can't promise anything." Mrs. Benson stepped aside and let Carly into the apartment.

Carly quickly made her way to the door of Freddie's bedroom. She couldn't hear any sounds from within; with some trepidation she knocked on the door. "Freddie, it's me Carly. Can we talk?"

She could hear Freddie's voice clearly through the door. "Go away, I don't feel like talking now."

"Come on Freddie, I think we need to discuss what just happened."

"What part of 'Go Away' do you not understand?"

It was unlike Freddie to take that tone with her, Carly wished she had taken Sam for a second, but she pressed on. "Freddie I really want to talk with you, can I come in? Please…..for me?" Carly pulled out the big gun.

"You know I really hate it when you do that."

"Did it work?"

"All right, you can come in."

Carly slowly opened the door; inside the bedroom it was pitch black. Freddie's voice came from the general vicinity of his bed. "Turn on the light switch to your left. I don't want you to trip over something."

Carly found the light switch and turned it on. With the ro m fully lit she could see pieces of what used to be his jewelry box strewn on the floor. She also thought he had destroyed a Galaxy Wars statuette as well. She had never known him to be this angry. Freddie was lying on his bed with his back against the wall. Carly sat down in front of one of his computers.

"Ok Freddie, what was that all about?"

"Carly, I'm sorry I lost my temper and I'm sorry if I scared you, but Sam had it coming. She doesn't care about anyone else and she makes it her personal mission in life to make me miserable."

"Sam's been like that for years."

"Yep, and tonight I reached my limit. I'll work on finding a new tech producer for you before the next show in two weeks."

Carly grew alarmed; she didn't want Freddie to leave the show. "Wait, it's not like you have to leave the show."

"Come on, you don't expect me to work with Sam again, do you?"

"Look Freddie, you had a bad fight and you both said some nasty…things, but you might feel different in a few days."

"I don't think so. Sam is such a selfish bitch, she's always going to be like this and I won't change my mind."

"Why tonight?" Carly asked.

"What do you mean, why tonight?" Freddie replied.

"Why did you reach your limit tonight? What's different about today?"

"Nothing, I just couldn't take it anymore."

"You jumped in pretty quick with that father stuff. Is it about your father?" Freddie shot Carly an acid-like look that said he didn't want to discuss it. Carly didn't take the hint. She knew absolutely nothing about Freddie's dad and was genuinely curious. She just didn't pick up on the fact that it was a sore subject with Freddie. "Well, is it?"

"Shut up Carly, I don't want to talk about it."

Carly was taken aback, Freddie had never told her to shut up before. She looked hurt, "Look, I'll go. I'm sorry."

Freddie realized he had gone too far with his pique of anger. "No, stay a sec. I'm sorry I told you to shut up. I'm a jerk."

"You're not a jerk Freddie."

Freddie sat on the side of his bed facing Carly. "Look, I had a really bad day, ok? And yes, my father is involved, but I really don't want to talk about it."

"I thought we promised no secrets."

"I did, but this falls into a different category entirely. When I'm ready to talk about it I will, but I'm not ready yet. Ok?"

"Ok, Freddie, just know that if and when you do decide to talk I'll be here. Now what about Sam?"

"What about her? She has no respect for the feelings of other people. It's like she lives in her own little world. She has no idea how she hurts people, or what it's like to be someone else. She he has absolutely zero empathy."

Carly did not know what a few of those words meant, but it didn't sound positive. Perhaps, Carly thought, Freddie would be a little more amenable after a good night's sleep and a day or two away from Sam. "Look Freddie, I know Sam can be abrasive, but give it a few days. Maybe you'll both feel better and be able to work things out. Please, though, stay on as iCarly's tech producer for at least another week. Please?" Carly thought about adding "for me" to the end of that but decided she might be pushing her luck.

Freddie sighed; he always had a hard time saying no to Carly. "Ok, I'll stay on as producer for now, but Sam is going to have to learn to treat people better if I'm going to stay."

"Thanks Freddie, I really appreciate it. Look, I'll let you go now. I should get back and check on Sam. Make sure she hasn't killed Spencer." Carly chuckled at her small joke, but Freddie did not join her.

Freddie got up and walked Carly to his front door. Before leaving to go back to her own apartment, Carly gave Freddie a quick peck on the cheek. "Keep your phone handy. I'll check on you tomorrow." Carly smiled and left; Freddie closed the door behind her and went back to his bedroom. He was suddenly feeling pretty tired.

The universe is a very large place where truly anything is possible. Sometimes the most incredible things can happen; things that defy any rational description or explanation. Some believe these occurrences to be miracles, the work of God, others attribute them to fate. Still others believe in the philosophy that "shit happens". Whatever the truth is; and it is certainly possible they are all true, something happened to Freddie and Sam on that fateful night while they slept.

Sam awoke the next morning in a rather comfortable bed. She was groggy, her head felt like it was full of oatmeal; it took her a few minutes before she realized she was in Freddie's bedroom. "What the…." She said quietly aloud.

Sam wondered how she got into Freddie's room in the first place. The last thing she consciously remembered was engaging in a belching contest with Spencer, much to Carly's dismay. Sam smiled with pride; she had managed to win, again to Carly's dismay.

Eventually she sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, at least Frednub wasn't around. She had to pee badly; she got up and slowly walked over to his bathroom, feeling her way with her hands because of the darkness. Her body felt strange to her, heavier and maybe even more…dense. Was that the right word?

After fumbling her way into the bathroom she turned on the light switch. She was walking over to the toilet when she passed the mirror over the sink. She caught sight of her reflection and screamed. "WHAT THE HELL?"

While Sam was groping around in the dark of Freddie's bedroom, Freddie was waking up on the couch in the Shay's living room. He wondered just how the hell he got there when he clearly remembered going to bed in his own room. There was a light on over the sink in the kitchen; the light was faint over by the couch, but enough to illuminate the immediate area around Freddie.

Freddie felt strange, very light-headed. He sat up slowly and looked down at his feet. At least he attempted to look down at his feet, instead his eyes focused on the pair of breasts he now had. This had to be a nightmare Freddie thought. He slowly got up and carefully walked to the bathroom on the first floor next to Spencer's room. His body felt much lighter than normal. He closed the door behind him and turned on the light over the sink.

To his credit, Freddie did not cry out or scream. Despite his nasty fight with Sam the night before he normally had excellent control of his emotions. Freddie just shook his head slowly and, grateful that his mother could not hear him, looked up and said, "God, you can be such a jerk sometimes." He then looked back in the mirror while Sam's face stared back at him.