My first attempt at a full-length iCarly story. Be warned, it's going to be sad. It's an angst people, what do you expect? I've actually had this idea bouncing around in my head since my eighth grade graduation, in which they played this song that made me -and half the grade- cry. I got the inspiration for this story when I was thinking about how Carly is the only real reason Sam and Freddie are friends. This is my idea of how they could be friends, and maybe (maybe) more later on. I don't own the song (Leeann Womack does), or iCarly (Dan Schneider does).

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean...

A letter from the iCarly Team

Dear viewers,

It's been all over the news, internet, and in every periodical piece of literature meant for readers over the age of ten, but we felt the need to make a formal announcement on this site. We didn't have the heart to film this announcement, hence the site link directing you straight to this letter. We regret to inform you that our dear friend has been killed in a hit and run accident. After a short -but eventful- life, a walk home from school became deadly, and we have been out of sorts since. The funeral will air live on tomorrow at noon Eastern Standard Time, and will be permanently archived as a tribute to the memory of our dear friend. We cannot assure you that the web-show will be continued, and if it is, it will not be rebooted for a very long time. This has taken a severe toll on our lives, and we're still learning to cope without the glue that held the iCarly Team together.

Regretfully yours,

Samantha Puckett and Fredward Benson

"It's posted," Freddie said softly, turning to look at the blonde that had had a steady stream of tears pouring down her face since he came to pick her up for one last visit to the studio before the funeral. He tentatively wrapped an arm around her narrow shoulders, surprised that she didn't push him away. "Sam, I swear, things will get better."

The blonde blinked slowly, raising her eyes to meet his. "How would you know? Have you ever lost someone so close to you?" Her question was not accusatory, but truly curious. She needed to know that this pain that consumed her heart would go away, or at least fade, in time.

"My dad and Carly's mom died in the same drunk driving accident," Freddie said lowly. "I thought you knew that."

Sam thought into the deep recesses of her memory, then faintly remembered Carly telling her that same fact in second grade, on Drunk Driving Awareness day. Much like Carly, it had been a hit and run, and the bastards that took so much away from the Shay and Benson families were never caught. "I remember… When does it go away?"

"When does what go away?"

"The ripping feeling. Like you've eaten too many Fatcakes and they're ganging up on you, trying to explode out of your chest?"

Freddie would have laughed at the analogy if it hadn't hit the nail on the head. That was exactly what it felt like, in some words. Like something inside of him was trying to get out. Like Carly herself was trapped in his heart, and needed to be freed. "Would you kill be if I said it didn't? That sometimes, it never really goes away? The pain becomes bearable, eventually, but it takes a long time to become a simple ache. My mom still cries herself to sleep at night."

Sam made a mental note to try to harass Marissa Benson less. She'd never once thought of why she was anal about how her baby boy was functioning. "Are we…. Will we…."

"Will we what?"

"Will we still be friends?" the blonde asked in a small voice, embarrassed, but mostly fearful.

Freddie didn't hesitate to pull the broken girl into his arms completely, her hear pressing against his heart and his head resting atop hers. "What we've been through in the last three year -hell, the last three days- will never go away. I don't think we really have a choice if we want to be friends or not anymore. Some part of me is always going to know you're my friend."

Sam nodded against his chest, his steady heartbeat reminding her that she still had some connection to her. It was Carly that wanted them to be friends in the first place, and friends they would be.

The pain the two shared filled the studio. Their new and unspoken bond filled it more. Their embrace lasted longer than either would admit, and Freddie -chivalrous as always- wiped away the remainder of Sam's tears before the left the iCarly studio for the last time in a long time.

A/N: Review please. I've been really into angst lately, and iCarly is totally un-angsty, so I wanted to toy around with this. Thoughts?

~Sidney