Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Info: Freddie studied for three years at University, then got a job at a computer company in Nebraska. He is quite highly paid, due to his reputation from iCarly. Sam and Carly both Studied for four years at University and they have just finished their final year.

"Sam, have some patience." Carly chastised, the engagement ring on her finger glittering as she grabbed her best friend's hand before the blonde girl could dart forward.

"Carlyyyyy" Sam whined, yanking her wrist out of the taller girl's grasp.

"Let Mrs Benson say hello to her son before you steal him away okay."

"Watch it Shay, I don't like what you're inferring."

"And what might that be?" Carly asked innocently. Sam shoved her shoulder playfully and laughed "I still can't believe you're engaged."

"I know, it's kind of strange living with Liam, but I'm in love with LA."

"And Liam too I hope," Sam smirked.

"Of course," Carly laughed, tugging the bobble from Sam's plait and running her fingers through the strands, loosening them.

"Freddie prefers your hair down."

Sam shrugged and watched Freddie step into the pickup area to be swept into a crushing embrace by his mother. He was searching over his shoulder, his forehead creased as he scanned the waiting area. He spotted Sam and Carly and his face smoothed out, breaking into a warm smile. Sam grinned back and broke into a run with Carly close on her heels, the brunette's eagerness to see her friend overruling her politeness. Freddie squirmed out of his mother's grip and threw his arms around the two girls.

"So how's our official tech genius?" Sam asked. "I missed you two." Freddie answered. "We missed you too." Carly replied kissing his cheek and worming out of his hug. He wrapped both arms around Sam and lifted her up, spinning her round. She laughed joyously, oblivious to the disapproving frown Mrs Benson was giving her.

"Alright put her down Freddie, time for that later." Carly admonished gently, glancing covertly at the cameras trained on them. While they never had specific trouble going out in public, iCarly had made all three of them known and mildly famous throughout America, which lead to paparazzi. Freddie laughed and placed Sam on her feet.

"Come along Freddie, let's get you home, I bet you're starving." Marissa fretted, pushing Freddie forward. He picked his bags up and followed the three women to their cars. Carly and Sam had driven up in Sam's car so Freddie hugged them goodbye temporarily and got into the passenger seat of his mother's navy car.

"I'm going over to Carly's now." Freddie informed his mother and was out the door before she could protest. He let himself into the Shay's apartment and looked around.

"It's great to be back." He smiled.

"Hey Freddo, how are you?" Spencer beamed, getting up from the couch to pull Freddie into a hug.

"I'm good Spence, you?"

"I'm awesome."

"Cool." Freddie chuckled. Spencer was and always would be the same overenthusiastic eccentric artist.

"It's great to see you Spencer." Freddie released the older man just as Sam bounced into his arms.

"Well, hey there." He greeted the top of her head. She tilted her head back to look up at him. "Hi." Her calculating blue eyes focused intently on his warm brown ones and he wondered what she was up to this time.

"So did you bring presents?" she asked eagerly. "I got you and Carls gifts and Carly brought me chocolate and you some weird techy stuff." She added.

"You bought me a gift, with your own money?" he raised a sceptical eyebrow.

"Yes!" Sam chimed, pretending to be insulted and making to move away. Freddie tightened his grip around her waist and kissed her forehead. "Of course I brought you gifts." He lifted the carrier bag he'd been holding into the air and Sam grabbed at it. "Ah ah ah, manners missy" he chided. Sam rolled her eyes and Carly joined them, as Spencer headed out to get art supplies. Freddie pulled a package wrapped in purple paper with silver swirls from the carrier and handed it to the brunette. Carly opened her present delicately to find a black leather handbag. "This looks expensive Freddie." She said, biting her lip, "It wasn't that much," Freddie assured her. "I love it," she told him, squeaking when she opened the bag to find a silver charm bracelet and a pair of red crystal earrings inside. "Thank you!" Carly sprang forward to hug Freddie, crushing Sam in the process. She squirmed out from between them and grabbed the carrier from Freddie.

"Hey!" he cried, letting go of Carly and stumbling as he raced after Sam who danced around the sofa and hid behind the kitchen counter, leaping over it when Freddie made a grab for her. She pulled a small parcel wrapped in numerous layers of all shades of blue tissue paper from the carrier and threw the plastic bag at Freddie.

"How come mine is so much smaller than Carly's?" Sam asked, mock pouting and allowing Freddie to catch her arm. He pulled her back into the living room. "Because it was more expensive. I hope you don't mind Carls, I was going to get you something else, to make them the same, but there wasn't really-"

"Freddie, I already don't want to think about how much you've spent on us, and anyway I expected you to spend more on Sam." Sam turned to glare at Carly.

"I don't-"

"Open your present Sam." Freddie slung his arm around her waist and turned her away from Carly who skipped around in front of them once more. Sam tore the paper excitedly, tossing it to the floor to reveal a silver necklace with a teardrop-shaped sapphire pendant.

"Oh," Sam breathed.

"Can I?" Freddie asked, taking the necklace from her hands.

"Sure," she nodded, holding her hair up as Freddie slipped the necklace around her neck and did the clasp up.

"It's beautiful." Carly murmured. Freddie kissed the back of Sam's head and moved to her side again, "Do you like it?" he asked tentatively.

"It's amazing."

"But?"

"I..." Sam reached up to unclasp the chain and dropped it into Freddie's hand.

"I can't take that Freddie, you should return it, it must have cost a lot."

"Sam-"

"I have to go." Sam whispered, flying towards the door and slamming it shut behind her. Freddie sank onto the couch and Carly sat beside him, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry Freddie."

"I think I scared her. Why am I such an idiot?" he groaned.

"Probably because you've been in love with her for the last five years." Carly answered him, taking his hand. "She'll come back once she's calmed down."

"I should go and talk to her."

"She'll be on the fire escape, I think. She started going there when you decided it was too expensive to come home on the holidays. Was that so you could save money for our presents?"

"Yeah, I wanted to get you both something special. I missed you like mad. Don't get me wrong, all the new people I've met are great but they're just not you or Sam."

"Sometimes I think neither of us deserves a friend as good as you." Carly laughed softly.

"I'm glad to be with you both." Freddie wrapped his arm around Carly's shoulders fondly.

"Did Sam tell you that I leave for New York in a month? I've got a small part in a play that opens for Christmas and I have to be at rehearsals."

"Wow, that's great Carly, congratulations."

"We're only now all back together and I'm breaking us apart so soon."

"Sam's pleased for you I'm sure, and we can come visit you; maybe we could even see you perform."

"I'd like that."

"I'm gonna go talk to her."

"Good luck."

"Thanks," Freddie kissed her cheek and left the sofa making his way slowly out of the apartment.

...