Carly fussed at Sam, despite knowing that Sam had her best interests at heart.

"Samantha, honestly, I really don't see – …"

Sam interrupted. She was used to this. There were simply times when her precious Cupcake was ridiculous.

"Carls, Sweetheart… I don't think it's that unreasonable…"

"Oh, you WOULD say that!"

Carly realized that her tone was harsher and more clipped than she'd ever intended. She knew that Sam meant well. All Sam wanted was what was best for Carly, and she knew it.

"Sam, I'm…"

Sam Puckett held her precious little brunette. She knew how overwrought her Cupcake could get. She wanted Carly to know that everything would all be okay.

Carly buried her face in Sam's shoulder. She loved Sam more than anything in the world. She could feel her eyes tearing up again, but she didn't want Sam to see. She began singing. It was what soothed her. It took just a moment, but Sam finally understood.

"…I might be crazy…"

"…but have I told you lately…"

"…That I love you?..."

"…You're the only reason…"

"…That I'm not afraid to fly…"

Moments later, four teenagers meandered into the Pucketts' living room. Carly surveyed the four young female faces. It finally dawned on her that Sam had taken some liberties with the term 'Family Therapy'.

"Oh No, Sam… I didn't say this was okay…"

Sam Puckett simply kissed the brunette on the crown on her head. She was sarcastic, but in that sweet Sam sort of way.

"Oh yeah, Cupcake… like we'll get rid of them that easily…"

A SHORT WHILE LATER…

The door opened and the tall, slight, well-manicured man admitted them to his home, which also served as the office for his psychiatry practice. He smiled at the brunette who had been his patient for years. He gently touched her on the arm, welcoming them inside.

"Hello, Carly… Hello, Sam…"

Carly smiled. Sam nodded, speaking for them both.

"'ey, Doc… you know our girls…"

Doctor Niles Crane smiled at the two blonde girls, who bore a striking resemblance to Carly's partner. Each of the young ladies escorted another young woman inside. Carly and Sam held hands as they followed the good doctor through his home into his private study and office.

Carly took a seat on the sofa, as per usual, with Sam settling in beside her. Ashley and the redhead took side-by-side chairs, while Melanie and Bridget cozied up on the adjacent loveseat. Doctor Crane, for his part, simply sat back, scribbling on his notepad. He knew Carly's history very well, having seen her since her teens. He spoke softly, asking simple questions and making general statements. He didn't want to break confidentiality in even the slightest respect. Her spouse and children were here.

"Carly, Sam told me you were having nightmares… am I correct in assuming it is the same one you've shared with me recently…" The doctor paused, not sure of how to continue. He finally found a way that would not compromise his ethics.

"…about your father and that flight?..."

Carly nodded, barely giving the words voice.

"Y-ye-yes.."

Sam patted Carly's knee as she typically did.

"It's cool, Cupcake… We're all here for ya…"

Carly swallowed hard. She recounted the story from memory, as best she could. She looked across the room, locking eyes with her eldest daughter. She wanted her girls to know the truth. This was her truth – Carly's and Carly's alone. This truth was – indirectly – at the core of her girl's lives. If nothing else, she needed them to understand.

"I… I… I wanted so badly to make my Dad happy, especially since he'd been gone for so long. When he said he was leaving the same night, my brain kind of left my head, and I was so desperate to make the Colonel happy, I said I'd go… and… and…"

Carly choked up. It still pained her deeply, even after all these years. Sam knew, instinctively patting the brunette's knee, picking up the story from its most important part – the climax.

"…and next thing I know, this beautiful brunette mess was running out of SeaTac and hopping onto the back of my motorcycle…"

Identical pretty blonde mouths hung wide open. For the first time in years, they operated as one symbiotic mind, finishing each other's statement.

"Motor...?"

"…cycle?..."

Sam and Carly both chuckled. Sam's face broke into a broad smile.

"There's a lotta things I used to do that you two don't know about…"

Carly giggled, poking Sam playfully in the stomach. She didn't particularly care that they had an audience. She felt happy again.

She continued talking. It felt good to clear the air. Having her doctor and her family here made it easier to speak her mind. She knew her girls would never judge her.

A SHORT WHILE LATER…

Doctor Niles Crane continued to scribble his notes, glancing up briefly to offer a nod or a smile to whichever member of the group was speaking. He let Bridget Xi finish speaking, asking his next question of her in fluent Korean. The young girl glared across the room at the muscley redhead.

"SEE? He knows the difference…"

Megan, obviously playing around, smirked. She was her gruff, typical self.

"Yeah, yeah… you're Korean, I get it…"

The doctor, sensing even playful animosity between the two, asked a question of Megan. It was what he did best.

"Miss Marx, do you ever feel any undue frustration or anger towards Miss Xi here? It seems that you may be suffering from what we call Transference… Are you sure you don't have any issues you might care to resolve?"

Megan blushed slightly. She blushed simply because the words finally sunk into her brain. The wheels were beginning to turn.

"Transfer—whoa, whoa, whoa… like I've got a thing for her, so I give her hell? Yeah, no, not so much…"

The doctor did his best to backtrack, but he let the young girl talk.

"I've busted her chops since we were kids, but we're cool now, really…"

A SHORT WHILE LATER…

The doctor had concluded their session. Carly and Sam had agreed that they would get together again in a few weeks time, should things not resolve themselves. Those were the least of Carly's worries at present. She hoped her eyes were playing tricks on her, but she couldn't be sure. All she knew was she recognized that way that her little girl was fidgeting, her fingers intertwining with her girlfriend's. She didn't yet know what, but she knew that something was up.