Disclaimer and Warning: See Chapter 1.

Previously – This story is part of the "iLifestyle" series and at this point in the future, Carly and Freddie are legally married and have graduated college. Second Lieutenant Freddie Benson has left for his first deployment to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan and Carly freaked out. Mrs. Benson is helping her adjust to living the military lifestyle. Carly and Mrs. Benson made a care package for Freddie. Mrs. Benson got Carly out of the apartment and Carly had lunch with Angela, where they talked about being a military wife. Freddie has been deployed about 3 weeks

Chapter 4: iTalk

Winter 2017

After completing this morning's run through the streets of Seattle, and up eight flights of stairs, I continue running around Apartment 8-C until I find Sam sitting cross-legged on the floor in the middle of my old bedroom surrounded by strips of colored paper. Breathing hard, I pull off my running gloves, toss my knit hat, and strip out of my running jacket, and collapse on my old bed from exhaustion. I look toward her, "Sam." I take in a deep breath to finish my thought, "am I a attention whore?"

Sam starts laughing hysterically, throws the strips of paper into the air, and falls backwards onto the floor, "you … just … figured … that … out," between her fits of laughter.

In one exhaled breath, "Whaaaat?"

Still laughing, Sam gets up and carefully drops down on the bed next to me, "What happened?"

I take a moment to get my breathing under control, "I ran pass some guy and he yelled out, NICE ASS! I know it's sexist, but I enjoyed hearing it."

"Well, those running tights do show off your ... assets. If you weren't wearing that jacket, and he could see that form fitting shirt, you would have also gotten a compliment of nice tits."

I tug down on the hem of my running shirt to emphasize my breast, "You think so?"

"Growing up, you were always getting praise from family and friends, who assured you that you were pretty and smart. Of course, I'll be skeptical of approval from them since they are supposed to tell you stuff like that. Then there are the compliments from the jerks we dated."

"Don't even get me started on what some of those guys said to me, just to be my first."

"On the other hand, a compliment from a stranger is proof that you are still hot. You're just feeling insecure about yourself without the constant attention that Freddie gives you."

"Wow Sam, that's ... deep."

"I'm your best friend. How was your dinner thingy last night?"

"It's called a Deployed Families Dinner," I reply as I look up at the gummy bear chandelier. "You would have enjoyed the free food…"

"FREE FOOD," Sam yells in excitement, "why didn't you take me?"

"Because you are not a military spouse or a dependent. These dinners give people like me an opportunity to meet other spouses, share experiences, talk to commanders, and support agency reps."

"And free food."

"All right Sam. The best thing was the free food. That was especially good for the families with children, so the spouse can relax for a while as volunteers keep an eye on their kids, and they don't have to cook for a night. All the cooking was done by volunteers."

"No work. Free food. Sweet deal."

"Actually, I helped take care of the kids. A few times I just held a baby while the mother walked through the serving line, and for a while I entertained the children with singing. There was also face painting, games, door prizes, and other activities for the kids."

"Sounds like you had fun. Your brother and I don't see you as much since you moved in with your mother-in-law a couple of weeks ago. So, how's life?"

"Well, this life" I emphasize the word life with finger quotes "isn't what I hoped to have when we were back in High School." I look at my left hand and the simple diamond wedding ring, "but when he asked me to walk with him away from the high school prom to the park where he got down on one knee, took my hands in his, and propose just as the full moon was rising. I was a little surprised, and I was happy with the way things were, but there was no doubt about what my answer would be."

"Yeah, Yeah. Freddie is your only true love, and even I can say that he better than all of your old boyfriends you loved. Seriously Carls, you did has a messed up view of love back then."

In my best shocked voice, while giggling at the same time, "If you weren't expecting," while poking her in the arm. "But yeah, I did fall in love with a lot of silly boys back in high school. Freddie waited years for me to figure out what true love is. Then when you hogtied him, he just looked so hot. There is something about a man being tied-up."

"Glad I was finally able to get you to see him as more than your best guy friend. If that didn't work, I was going to date him just to get you jealous."

"Thank God you didn't have to go that far. Then on the 13th of August 2012, at the courthouse with you, family, and friends, I became Mrs. Carly Benson. I couldn't have asked for more. I have my perfect husband who would do anything for me, whatever I wanted or needed, and all I have to do is ask. Of course, secretly I would do anything for him. That was the perfect day that became the start of an incredible honeymoon."

"You were on that cross-country road-trip for about a month. Melanie called and told us about that weekend the two of you spend with her and her boyfriend. Boy, did she model her lifestyle on yours after your first Goddess party."

My giggles turn into full-blown laughter. "That was a fantastic weekend! Having two wonderful sexy guys taking care of all our needs. Mel's boyfriend was a little shy at first, being naked in front of Freddie and I, but she trained him well. The guys are still good friends, both being tech guys and all. Then, when we got back, we find out that you went from practically living here to actually living here, and sleeping in my brothers bed."

"Well ..., with you and Freddie gone, we got bored. It looks like we all did okay in finding love. I have Spencer," as she rubs her belly, "you have Freddie, and Melanie, Shelby, and Tasha are all married."

"How about Wendy and what's-his-name?"

"She dumped that loser weeks ago."

"He`s a nice guy and a TV reporter."

"Sure he was. Let me count his loser ways. Spencer, Wendy, and I are waiting at the bar." She begins to count them off with her fingers. "He's late. Ignored her half the night while playing darts with some other friends. Only paid for her first drink. Wouldn't dance with her. When his friends left he looked at his phone more times than he looked at her. If that's not a loser boyfriend, I don't know what is. Reporter pursuing a big story. Yeah right. More likely pursuing the teenage daughter of our Congressman. It was just too much for her."

"Oh.., he did seem to be a nice guy. I'll ask Freddie in my next e-mail about that guy he is rooming with. Freddie said he is single and doesn't have a family. Maybe Wendy can be a pen pal for him. Okay Sam, when is my brother going to make an honest woman out of you?"

"Carly," with a sly grin, "when have I ever been an honest woman. Besides, why would we mess up a great relationship by getting married. If people knew we were together, I wouldn't be able to work the crowds at those art shows to help him sale his artworks."

"Spencer becoming a dad and a famous artists," laughing. "At least he is living his dream. There have been times when I had my doubts about Freddie and mine life together. I mean, with his college and tech experience, he could have joined Pear, Microsoft, or any of the other computer companies. Maybe, even gone into producing movies and television. But, when we made the decision that the Air Force would be a good career, I stood right beside him as the good wife. I encouraged him throughout the ROTC training program while we were in college. When he received his commission and his first assignment was here at McChord, I was ecstatic that we would be starting our new life together with family and friends nearby. I thought no one could break us apart. Unfortunately, I forget about the power of the Air Force and within a few months, we were preparing for his first deployment."

"Carly, it's only been about a month since he left."

"Sam! Easy for you to say. Even when pregnant, you can … have some fun with Spencer. It's been about a month since we held each other at the PAX Terminal, where he reminded me that I am and will always be his life. I tried staying strong, but I just started crying in his arm. He tried to reassure me that everything will be okay. So I watched him get on that C-17 with a smile on my lips but tears in my eyes."

"Well, call up one of your old boyfriends, I'm sure one..."

"SAM!" as I lightly punch her in the arm. "My nights may be lonely, but I will be faithful! I'm not in love with anyone else and I can't pretend that I am. We know he will stay faithful to me, and when this deployment is over, he will be coming home to me, but for now, those e-mails and phone calls are all he can give me. Freddie is my true love. He is the perfect husband. He is gentle, sensual, and he knows me so well."

"Yes, the sex being the most important. Spencer is a totally different kind of lover. Sex with him is almost like … consensual rape. I will jump on him, then he'll throw me on the bed, and then it's..."

"Please don't," as I cover my eyes with my hands, "that's not an image I want to have of my brother. But with my eyes closed, I can see my man wearing nothing but the leather collar and dog-tags." I bring my hands together over my heart.

"He's a nudist. He use to do that all the time before you two went to college."

"It's not like we had sex in front you."

"Sometimes, you two would get carried away and completely forget we are in the room."

"And you would throw something at us. One of the best things about having our own apartment near the college was the spontaneous sex, but what I really miss is when we would just cuddle in bed. So for now, I stay busy with auditions, the theatre, and volunteer work to get me through the days. Mrs. Benson's idea about writing letters to him and making care packages helps get me through the nights. His little e-mails tell me that he is okay. But the phone calls are few, far between, and nowhere near long enough. So in every e-mail and phone call, I tell him how much I love him and how proud I am of him. But I don't talk about the sacrifices we are making. One of those sacrifices is our time together. I now live for those phone calls."

"During that first week after Freddie left, when you were going through denial, Mrs. Benson asked Spencer and me to help keep your mind off what's going on over there."

"Thank you Sam. I expected she asked for your help. But whenever I hear that an American has been killed over there, my first thought is was it my Freddie. My world stops and I jump whenever there is a knock at the door. My worst fear is that I will open that door and see two Air Force officers in their dress blues to inform me that Freddie has been killed. Freddie told me about his 10th birthday, when he opened his front door to those two men."

"That's why he doesn't like to celebrate his birthday. His birthday is the same day his dad was killed. Man, that would suck."

"Yeah," with a nod of my head, and I wipe a tear from my face.

"Is that why you and Freddie want to be alone that weekend."

I just nod my head and look at one of the gummy bears on the wall. Sam starts poking me in the arm.

"Carls, I will keep poking you until you tell me."

"Okay. Okay. Your nails are sharp," as I rub the spot she was poking me. "You know the rules that Freddie and I live by and what the leather collar symbolizes to us."

"Sure. It represents his dedication, love, and enslavement to you."

"He's not a slave! He submissive. He loves and trusts me completely, and he just wants me to be happy. The rules are just for the games we play. He was a nudist before he met me, and he does have a great body, so rule one is for him to be naked all the time, unless it's illegal. But he does look sexy in his dress blue uniform, and I enjoy watching him take them off. But on the weekend after his birthday, I wear the collar and follow all the rules that go with it."

With a gross look on her face, "You become … submissive to him? That's one game Spencer and me won't be playing."

I grin and shake my head, "On his birthday after we made our commitment to each other, I had the idea that I would give him me as a birthday present, and I would take care of him that weekend. So while he was sleeping, I took the collar off him and placed it around my neck. The feeling is so incredible. All my worries disappeared. All I have to do is take care of the man I love. I gave him breakfast in bed, shower, massage, and all the other ways he takes care of me, I did for him on that weekend. That Saturday afternoon, he took me to the Operation Enduring Freedom display at the on-base museum, where he told me how his father was killed during a combat search and rescue operation in Afghanistan. Visiting his grave in Arlington Cemetery is one of the things we did during our honeymoon road trip. Me being submissive to him on that weekend has become an annual tradition for us."

"Are you naked all weekend?"

"Yes Sam. On that weekend, the rules that normally apply to him apply to me. I am comfortable being naked with him, but not with other people like he is. Since he would never cause me to be embarrassed, he won't invite anyone over. If he wants to go out, he will choose my cloths for me."

"Why did you let Freddie join the Air Force, knowing how his dad was killed?"

"Freddie and I, together, came to the conclusion that the Air Force is a good career move. Freddie's father was a helicopter pilot. Freddie is in a non-combat career field. He is more likely to get hit by a truck than enemy action."

"Carly, have you told him I'm pregnant?"

"In an e-mail."

"You and him don't mind Spencer and me turning your old bedroom into a nursery?"

"Dad gave you and Spencer the Master bedroom down the hall, and I haven't slept in this bed since a week after Freddie left. Your baby will be here before Freddie finishes this deployment. If we have to, we'll sleep in his bedroom while we are house hunting when he's back."

Sam and I hear Spencer yelling "MAIL...CALL..." from downstairs.

"Mail-call?" My eyes widen with excitement, "he mailed something back," as I jump out of my old bed and run downstairs.

At the bottom of the stairs, my brother is holding a white envelope. "It's from Freddie."

I take it from him, and sit on the couch. I carefully tear open the envelope and remove the letter.

A LITTLE RANT: I have been reading fanfiction since the end of 2009 when I started watching the TV series and I started writing my own story. I have read several stories where Mrs. (whichever girl was married to Freddie) Benson was notified by telephone that something happen to Freddie. It was a story in which his mother got a phone call about his firefighter father's death that started me planning a chapter to describe this event. It only took me about 20 minutes of searching the internet to find the recommended procedures for notifying the next of kin, and that includes the "We regret to inform you of your husband's death..." speech. Two uniformed people, with several others nearby, will go to the home of the family of the fallen fire/military/police member to notify them of his death. Any decent organization will have similar policies. Over the phone is the last way the family will be contacted. PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH.