Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter One - 1999

"Come on Sam we're gonna be late!" The small brunette boy said as he walked down the path.

"Calm down Freddie. We're early, don't worry," The equally small blonde said as she quickened her pace to catch up with her friend.

The September breeze rustled the leaves of the trees that decorated the quiet suburban street.

Freddie Benson loved autumn. He also loved Summer. And Winter. And Spring. In the autumn he loved the crunchy leaves and the mass of oranges, yellows, reds and browns. In Summer he loved the heat and the blazing shine of the sun. Winter Freddie adored how every little snowflake was different. And in spring he loved the baby animals, the pretty little flowers and the April showers. Freddie Benson loved it all.

Unlike Sam who simply didn't care. Her favourite season was Spring because it was the season which her birthday was in, and birthdays meant presents. Of course, Winter had Christmas and that meant presents to, but Sam hated the cold, so that ruled out the winter.

Sam soon caught up with her friend, Freddie took her tiny hand in his and they continued walking down the street.

Pam Puckett and Marissa Benson smiled at their children walking hand in hand ahead of them. The friendship was so sweet at this age.

The moment the foursome entered the park gates, Sam and Freddie bolted for the swings only to be grabbed back by their mothers who slapped sun screen all over them.

Sun screen was another thing Freddie Benson loved. It smelled like coconuts and reminded him of the beach. Sam did not mind sun screen as it stopped her skin from becoming damaged but he did not love the stickiness of it, nor did he like the fact that it cut down his playing time.

The moment the two women released the children, Sam and Freddie made a mad dash for the swing set. The park was surprisingly empty for a breezy, sunny day like today, but then again it was nine in the morning on a Sunday, and anyone with sense would still be asleep.

"Bet I can go higher than you," Sam challenged.

"Nu-uh."

"Yu-huh."

"Nu-uh."

"Yu-huh."

"Nu-uh."

"Yu-huh."

"Nu-uh."

"Nu-uh."

"Yu-huh."

"Ha! Gotcha!" Freddie laughed triumphantly.

Sam scowled but carried on swinging, desperately trying to get higher and higher.

Somedays Sam and Freddie would play areoplanes on the swings. They would pretend they were soaring high over oceans and mountains. They would pretend they were being chased by spies and they had to fly higher and higher so they could escape. Today wasn't one of those days.

Sam stopped swinging suddenly and sat staring intently at the tarmac under her shoes, a small frown on her face.

Freddie slowed down and looked at his best friend.

"What's wrong Sam?"

She didn't say anything for a moment or two, but she finally she looked up from the ground and looked at the boy beside her. "I'm scared."

"Of what?" He said, feeling confused. What reason did Sam have to be scared? She most crazy, random, fearless girl he knew! Well, she was the only girl he knew, excluding his Mom, Pam, and Grandma.

"I don't wanna go to school tomorrow..."

Freddie didn't say anything, he sat and listened intently.

"Do you think the teacher will be nice?" Sam asked.

"Teachers are always nice, like policeman or doctors," Freddie told her.

Neither of the pair said anything for a while. Sam sat tugging at the end of her blue 'Pauly And Pals' t-shirt, "What would Pauly do?"

"You sound like Pauly."

"Do not!"

"You do to when you do the voice!"

Sam laughed her eyes shining, "I wanna watch 'Pauly And Pals'!" And on that note she ran across the fresh green grass and ran towards the bench Pam and Marissa were sat chatting on. Freddie got up from the swing and hurried after her.

"Here comes the bus!" Sam sqealed, whatever fear she had yesterday had evaporated and she was now excited about school. "Bye Mommy!" She called, turning and waving at Pam and Marissa who were stood at the end of the street watching their children. Pam waved back and wiped a proud tear from her eye. Sam turned back to Freddie and said, "Mommy wanted to hold my hand but I said no way."

"I'm scared Sam," Freddie confessed, looking in to Sam's ocean blue eyes.

"Me too..." Sam whispered.

As the children all filed onto the bus for their first day of kin kindergarten, Sam reached for Freddie's hand and held it tight. If anybody laughed at them she would make them sorry.

Sam and Freddie entered their new classroom and stood in awe at the wonderful room filled with pictures, colours and other wonderful things galor.

A woman with white blonde hair instructed them to find a seat at a table and sit down.

Sam made a bee line for a desk near the back of the room and Freddie quickly snagged the seat next to her.

Sam and Freddie sat in silence for a moment. Neither quite sure what to do.

Freddie couldn't deny the panicky feeling that was pulsating throughout his veins. This happened when he was scared or nervous and right now, it was both. The feeling soon went away when he noticed Sam scoot her chair a little closer to his. A smile appeared on his face and he looked over at his friend, knowing that there was nothing to be afraid of.

They soon learned the woman with the white blonde hair was their teacher, Mrs Lowe. Mrs Lowe intorduced herself to the class then askled them all to do the same. She went through them one by one then she got to Sam and Freddie's table.

"Okay Samantha, it's your turn to introduce yourself to your peers," The smile on Mrs Lowe's face was sickly sweet and it showed of her large pearly white teeth.

Freddie looked at his friend. She was sat there frozen in fear. This was not the Sam Puckett he had know his entire life. He was going to help her, "Sam. Sammy. Come on. Your brave Sam. If you can do it so can I."

Sam looked at him and he finally saw the terrified look in her bright blue eyes. He knew what he had to do.

"Mrs Lowe?"

"Yes... Fredward?"

"Can I intoruce myself before Sam, please?" There is nothing wrong with manners, is what his mother had told him. Freddie agreed, he had also learned that manners get you a lot further in life than no manners.

"Sure, but once we're done with you we're going back to Samantha."

"Okay," Freddie stood up from his seat and the class looked at him expectantly. "My name is Fredward Benson but I like Freddie better. I live in Bushwell Plaza with my Mommy. My Daddy died when I was little because he was very sick. But my Mommy tells me that he loved me very much. Which is good because I loved him lot! My favourite colour is blue and my favourite animal is a duck. I love Galaxy Wars because it's so cool! And... my bestest friend in the world is called Sam. She's sitting by there, look. She's awesome but kind of annoying when she steals my food," Freddie finished, a proud beam on his face.

"Well done Freddie! I'll be over in a minute to give you a sticker but we have to listen to Samantha first."

Freddie took his seat and turned to Sam, "See Sam. I did it, and so can you! Your the bravest person I know!" He smiled at her and one look at his smile made Sam smile.

Sam with a small smile on her face got up slowly from her seat and looked at the other kids in her class. Taking a deep breath she spoke, "My name is Samantha Puckett, but you better call me Sam. I live just down the street with my Mom, I haven't seen my Dad since I was little he just left one day. But oh well, Mom says he's a deadbeat anyway. My favourite colour is red and I love pigs! And meat cause it tastes really nice! I also love fried chicken! Ham is my favourite. My bestest friend in the world is Freddie. He spoke before me so you just saw him. He's cool and he gives me food," Sam looked over at Freddie and he gave her a thumbs up, Sam grinned and looked back at Mrs Lowe.

"Well done Sam! I'll be over to give you and Freddie your stickers now."

Sam sat down next to Freddie and he hugged her, "Well done Sammy," He whispered.

"Thanks Freddie," She said hugging him back.

Once Mrs Lowe had given them their stickers, she started handing out paper and paints, "Okay class. We're gin to paint our favourite things."

"Sam, what are you painting?" Freddie asked as he dipped his paint brush in water.

"A pig," She grinned. "What are you gonna paint?"

"I don't know..." Freddie said, but a smirk soon formed on his lips.

"What?"

"I know what I'm gonna draw."

"What are you gonna draw?"

"Wait and see..."

"Freddie!" Sam whined.

"No your not seeing it 'til it's done," Freddie told her, poking his tongue out teasingly at her.

"Fine, then you can't see what I'm drawing 'til I'm done!" Sam said trunig her chair away from him.

"Sam, I already know what your drawing," Freddie pointed out.

Sam merely stuck her tongue out at him and continued her painting.

"Hey kids how was school?" Marissa asked as the two kids walked into the Benson's apartmment.

"It was really good. We did painting!" Freddie beamed.

"Yeah! But Freddie was being mean and he won't let me see his painting!" Sam pouted.

Freddie grinned and ran off into his room, Sam charged off after him.

Marissa laughed at the two kids and called after them "Dinner will be ready soon. We're having Ham Sam!"

Freddie ran into his room and onto the bed, Sam following close behind.

Freddie's room was decorated with mostly Galaxy Wars stuff. Sam liked it because it was a fun room. She stayed over the Benson's most weekends and she and Freddie would watch Galaxy Wars at night. Sam loved the Red Skynauts whilst Freddie's favourite character was Nug Nug.

"Freddie! Show me your picture!"

"Fine!"

"Fine? Fine? Your giving up that easily?"

"No, I planned on giving it to you when we got home anyway cause I painted it for you, but I got scared you might lose it. Mommy says it's nice to give presents to the people you care about. And I care about you so here," Freddie handed her the painting.

Sam looked down at the picture before her and smiled. Freddie was proud of his drawing, it was something fabulous that he took great pride in being able to achieve. Freddie had chosen just the right shades of colours. And Sam knew instantly who was on the painting. It was her and Freddie. With the words Best Friends written carefully above. Marissa had noticed Freddie advancing academically from a young age and had encouraged him in reading and writing. Sam couldn't write a lot yet. She could write her name, Freddie's name, ham and pig, along with a few other words.

Sam looked up at her friend a smile on her face, she lunged towards him and wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace.

"Thank you," She whispered.

Freddie kissed her cheek, and Sam blushed.

"What was that for?"

"That's what people do in the movies when they care about each other. They kiss,"

"Yeah, but don't they do that on the mouth?"

"Well, yeah, but that's just yucky."

Sam giggled and kissed Freddie's cheek, "Your such a dork."

** Author's Note **

Hey Guys! Hope your enjoying this story! It's my first iCarly fanfic in a while.

For anyone who can guess the 'Pauly and Pals' referance you shall get a special shout out next chapter :D

Peace Out Suckahs!

Evie xx