iFirst Date

Carly cozied herself into Sam's lap that evening, her head resting on Sam's navel. Sam was in shape, but her stomach felt fuller and rounder than normal.

Carly laughed.

"You're all… squishy…"

Sam chuckled.

"That happens with Uncle Carmine's lasagna, remember, Cupcake?"

Sam stroked Carly's hair gently.

"Thanks for gettin' the girls outta our hair, by the way…"

Carly blushed. She loved her babies – and other peoples' – but she needed cuddle time with her partner.

"Sam… Honey…"

Sam knew what Carly was asking.

"Carls, you know there isn't enough time for all of that… My guess is the girls'll be back in maybe an hour, tops… Why we constantly have to take in those other two, I don't know…"

Carly shifted her weight and poked Sam.

"Sam… you know Megan's having a rough time dealing with Shelby and Bridget…"

Carly paused. She didn't want to betray her daughter's confidence, but Sam was her other half.

"…Bridget's having some… problems at home…"

Sam was crude and to the point, as always, but Carly knew her heart was in the right place.

"Her Mama still hatin' on Q?"

Carly sighed.

"Given that our daughter is our daughter, I think she tolerates it and knows there's nothing she can really do to separate them, but apparently things aren't, ya know, rosy…"

Sam, in her own way, took a negative and spun it around a hundred and eighty degrees. She knew what it took to make the love of her life laugh and forget life's trials and tribulations.

"Ya want I should break my butter sock outta the freezer?"

"Samantha!"

"Have Uncle Carmine's boys shake her up a little? Go to that little restaurant and shake them down for protection, just to prove a point?"

"SAM! Her grandparents run that place!"

Sam knew she'd gone just a bit too far. She couldn't help it. She was one protective Mama Bear. She took a deep breath. It certainly made Carly feel better.

"Sorry, Carls…"

The brunette chuckled slightly.

"It's okay, you hooligan… I know your heart was in the right place…"

MEANWHILE, AT IL TERRAZZO CARMINE…

Wendy Marx, in Sam Puckett's stead, had Carly and Sam's youngest up at a table just off the formal dining room. The elder Puckett had chosen to take Wendy's little girl and go for a walk. Wendy, being a mom, was fairly sure that her daughter had other plans.

Melanie glanced up from her lobster and cheese ravioli, nearly swallowing it whole.

Bridget worried.

"What's the matter, Sweety?"

Melanie took a quick swallow of iced tea. She couldn't believe her eyes. Three tables away, she spotted a Ridgeway High teacher – on a date.

"Oh God… Oh God… Oh God… Oh God…"

Bridget noticed, blushed, and giggled. Her girlfriend was being ridiculous.

"So what? Miss Merrow and Senora Moya have been together for, like, forever… They're just having dinner…"

Melanie felt silly, but this was the last place she expected to see a teacher.

Bridget patted her girlfriend's hand. It was their Date Night.

"Relax, Cupcake… It's not like they can exactly 'out' us…"

Melanie's pulse quickened. Her teacher had seen them and was headed this way.

Melanie did her best to smile and keep a low profile. Discretion was the better part of valor. She'd let her love do the talking.

Bridget smiled at their English teacher, trying to appear at ease.

"Hi, Miss Merrow…"

"Well, Miss Xi and Miss Puckett, what a nice surprise…"

Bridget squeezed her partner's hand a little harder than necessary. The pretty blonde swallowed hard and spoke.

"Hi…"

The older woman made small talk.

"So, how are you ladies tonight?"

Melanie blushed.

"It's kinda… our first… official date…"

Bridget blushed, beaming.

"Yeah…"

It took a second for reality to sink in, but when it did, a huge weight lifted off the little girl's shoulders. This woman wasn't her teacher tonight – just a lady having dinner with the one she loved.

The striking Latina made her way to her partner's side. She chose to be funny.

"This doesn't look like the ladies' room…"

"Hey, Chica!"

The teens giggled.

MEANWHILE, OUTSIDE…

Ashley and Megan truly had never left. They had told Wendy the truth – from a certain point of view. They had gone for a walk, but only from the restaurant's front door to the sporty little car that had been the twins' Sweet Sixteen gift from Melanie and Freddie Benson. Ashley had cranked on the heater, locked the doors, and shimmied her way into the back seat with Megan. They knew they had plenty of time while Mel and Bridget enjoyed their little Nerd Date.

They both knew to be careful. They both had parents who'd knock them upside the head if they suspected anything funny had gone on. Ashley kissed the champion's neck just the same.

BACK HOME…

Carly and Sam cuddled on the sofa with their traditional bowl of popcorn. They were watching old iCarly episodes on a loop, all pulled from Freddie's custom-built server next door. They felt nostalgic and it felt fun.

Carly tickled her partner's now-bare stomach. After a few 'extracurricular activities', they'd gotten cozy for the night.

"God, I wish we've never ended the show…"

"I know, Carls, but remember… You're always my little Space Cheerleader…"

"SAM! If the girls ever snooped in our bedroom… God!"

Sam grinned.

"Be thankful they don't."

Carly was. If her children knew even a quarter of their misadventures, Carly was sure the girls would never be able to look neither her nor Sam in the eyes ever again. She and Sam had quite the healthy intimate life, but they did their best to keep it hidden. Teenagers had enough to worry about.

Sam leaned close and pecked the brunette gently on the cheek.

"You're the best, Cupcake. I love you so much…"

"Tell me something I don't know, Samantha…"

They had a healthy love life and would never apologize for it. What worried Carly, of course, was the fact that both of her little girls were nearly grown and embarking on love lives of their own.

Sam could read her partner's thoughts.

"Chillax, Cupcake… It'll be cool. Now, come 'ere and give Mama some lovin'…