A/N - Enjoy!
The next morning, Sam woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep. She went to watch TV and Freddie was already up, sat on the couch reading a book. "Morning, Sam." He greeted. Sam noticed he was still in his pyjamas, and stared for a second too long.
"Hey, Freddie." Sam said back. Freddie had the same difficulty as her seeing her outfit. Sam sat down on the couch, but with a distance in between them, not wanting to make the same mistake as yesterday.
"Is there anywhere nice round here for breakfast?" Freddie asked.
"Yeah." Sam said. "There's an all you can eat pancake house not too far… do you want to maybe I don't know maybe erm… go for something to eat together… maybe?"
"Sure, I was thinking the same thing." Freddie grinned. "I'll go get ready."
"Cool, I'm going to get a shower but I'll be quick."
"Don't rush." Freddie said. "Take your time."
_
Sam and Freddie sat down at a table. "Do you think they have any white pepper?" Freddie asked.
"You're obsessed with white pepper. Does it even go with pancakes? Wait, that's not even a question. No it doesn't!" Sam laughed.
"White pepper goes with everything."
"I've got some in my bag." Sam said, reaching into her handbag to find a small tub of it.
"You do? You don't even like it."
Sam frowned. "I know… but I've just made a habit of having some with me ever since…"
"We dated." Freddie finished, knowing Sam couldn't. "Thanks." He took the white pepper from her and placed it next to him. "So, do you want to go get a plate full of pancakes? I'll go order our drinks and pay."
"Okay… Here's some money." Sam said, reaching into her purse. Freddie held onto her arm to stop her.
"Hey, it's my treat."
"But…"
"Go get some pancakes!" Freddie grinned.
A few minutes later, Freddie saw Sam was still at the buffet. "Oi! Sam! I know it's all you can eat but you still have to put the food on a plate!" He shouted, looking at the woman who was shovelling numerous scotch pancakes into her mouth straight out of the container and shaking his head. Sam never changed. "Sam." He warned when she didn't move. He placed his food on the table and went to Sam, filling her plate with the pancakes and then dragging her by her arm back to the table.
Sam tucked straight in, and Freddie leaned across and wiped the syrup off her forehead with a napkin. "How did you even get it all the way up here?" He asked, licking the napkin and then wiping her forehead again. "And you're an adult. I shouldn't still have to be wiping your face during a meal."
Sam said something that wasn't comprehendible. Freddie just laughed and then started on his own breakfast.
As Cat and Robbie were filling their plates at the pancake house, Cat noticed her friends. "Hey, Robbie, it's Seddie."
"What?" Robbie asked, looking around.
"Oh my gosh! They're so cute. Is Freddie cleaning Sam's face? That is adorable!" Cat gushed, moving around the counter to get a better view. "He's smiling at her like…"
"Like I smile at you." Robbie finished. "He's so in love with her."
"We're moving tables so we can spy on them. I need evidence to try and get Sam to admit she likes him."
"…no way, they actually believed Cat was a toddler?" Freddie asked, laughing hard.
"Yep. We got in free by putting Cat in a pram and putting a blanket over her. We had the best day, the rides were amazing."
"That's hilarious!"
"We had some funny times… but I always did miss life back in Seattle. Carly, Spencer, and you."
"Our teenage years were crazy. iCarly gave us some great adventures, but I also loved the nights we all just watched a movie."
"You're so sappy, Benson. Hey, you want some more food?"
"I'm stuffed, thanks." Freddie laughed, wondering how Sam could continue eating.
"Sucks to be you." Sam grinned, heading back to all the food. Freddie just smiled, watching her walk away.
"He's so in love with her." Cat commented, watching Freddie. "Sam's defiantly becoming more normal with him. Well, as normal as Sam gets."
"Is she getting more pancakes?" Robbie asked. "How does she eat so much?"
Sam went back to the table. "These are gorgeous!" She moaned. "I don't get why you don't like them."
"I'm just not a big fan of kiwi pancakes."
"Please try them?" Sam asked, pushing forward her bottom lip. "Pretty please with a kiwi on top?"
"Sam."
"Please?" Sam tried, batting her eyelashes.
"No-" Freddie was cut off by Sam throwing kiwi in his face. "SAM!"
"SAM!" Sam mocked. Freddie flicked the kiwi back at her.
"That was pathetic." Sam grinned, throwing more pancake pieces at him.
"I'm mature now. I don't have food fights in public any more." Freddie said, flicking another kiwi at her face.
"You're no fun." Sam pretended to be sad, before giggling and throwing two handfuls of pancake at him.
"Sam… we need to run."
"What? Why?" Sam turned around to see an angry waiter glaring at them, moving towards them at top speed. Sam grabbed Freddie's hand and the two of them ran out of the restaurant, and didn't stop until they were back at her motorbike.
_
The manager of the apartments arrived at twelve o'clock prompt. Sam invited him inside and the three of them sat with the manager at the kitchen table. "Hello, my name is Frank Shepherd." The manager started.
Sam and Cat replied "Hi".
Freddie said "Nice to meet you."
"Right, so, as you're all aware Nona is leaving for Hawaii tonight which means she is no longer a responsible adult in change of the apartment." He said. "But you're taking over, right?" The manager pointed to Freddie.
"Yes, Sir."
"And you are?"
"Fredward Benson." He replied. The man wrote down his name at the top of the form.
"And can I have some form of ID?"
"Yeah, sure." Freddie got his birth certificate from next to him. He had brought it for this very reason, and also as ID for the college next week.
Frank skimmed it over. "Perfect." He started to write down the details. The group were silent for a moment.
"And what is your twos relationship to Fredward Benson?" Frank asked.
"Excuse me?" Sam asked. Why did the man want to know about their Freddie and hers relationship?
"What?" Cat asked.
"I mean, how do you know him? I don't want him to just be some random man off of the street you're using to trick me."
"What?" Sam asked.
"I've had it before. You know, people just getting someone to pretend they live with them just for the application process."
"Right." Sam said. "Well, I can assure you that is not the case here."
"Good." Frank smiled. "So what is your relationship to Fredward? Is he a relative or not? Because if he's just a friend of yours I'd be concerned that-"
"He's my boyfriend." Sam said quickly. The man looked at Sam, as did Freddie. "Well, my fiancee, actually. We haven't got rings or anything because we didn't have the money. But once you get that college scholarship you're going to buy me one, aren't you baby?" Sam looked up at Freddie.
Freddie coughed. "Erm.. yeah, sure baby… baby yeah. Honey. Just once I've got the books and the stationary and equipment I need and stuff. Then your ring is top priority."
Sam grinned at him. "Thanks, baby." She moved closer to him and placed her head on his shoulder.
"Wow." Frank said, stunned. "17 and 18 is quite young to be engaged, isn't it? I didn't even realise you had a boyfriend, Miss Puckett."
"Well, we know it's forever." Sam said. "He lived in Seattle, where I'm originally from, and we continued a healthy long-distance relationship. But he proposed a few months back when he came to visit me as a surprise."
"Well, well then." The manager started. "I can see you two, well, really like each other." He coughed. "I can tell this apartment arrangement will work out. You can stay in the apartment."
"Yay!" Cat cheered.
"Thank you so much." Sam grinned.
"Thank you for your time." The man collected his papers and left.
Once he was sure they were gone, Freddie turned to Sam. "What was all that about?" He asked.
"Yeah, why'd you lie to the manager man?" Cat asked. "Unless… it wasn't a lie and you and Freddie have been secretly-"
"It was a lie!" Sam said before Cat could continue. "And Freddie, it was to help us keep the apartment. I mean, he needed to know how we knew you."
"Yeah, you could have said I was a cousin or something!"
"He'd have wanted proof." Sam said. "And he didn't seem keen on the idea of you being a friend, so I just said we were engaged. It's no big deal."
"No big deal?" Freddie asked. "I think us being engaged is a pretty big deal."
"Naa." Sam shook it off. "Look, it's not like we'll see him again. We won't have to pretend or anything."
"And what about when I move out?"
"Well, then we'll just say you were too much of a nub for me and it didn't work out." Sam grinned. "Look, it's all fine. Hey, look, I'm hungry. Want a sandwich?"
"Yes please!" Freddie replied.
"Go make yourself one then."
"Right." Freddie rolled his eyes, wondering why he ever thought Sam would actually make him a sandwich.
"Make mine first though." Sam commanded, flopping down on the couch.
_
Sam was settling into bed that night when her phone started to ring. She realised it was still quite early, which is why Carly was calling her, she was just so exhausted by the days events that she thought it was much later. "Hello?" Sam answered.
"Hey, Sammy!" Carly sang.
"Oh no. Here we go again."
"So, how are you and Freddie today?"
"Please don't start."
"Have you had any moments?"
"Is this becoming a daily routine?" Sam rolled her eyes.
"Well, maybe if you two stop being so darn cute then- wait, don't stop being cute but-"
"FREDDIE!" Sam shouted, sitting back down on her bed. She put the phone on speaker.
"See? There you go again. Freddie comes to save-"
"What's up, Sam?" Freddie walked into the room.
"Carly's fangirling again."
"Carly! What have we told you about this? It's creepy." Freddie scolded.
"Fine. I'll go, but-"
"No buts. Just go."
"Cat told me about you two at the pancake house." Carly confessed. "White pepper? Food fights? Smiling? Giggling? Holding hands? How do you expect me not to think there's something going on?"
"Stalker." Sam grinned, laughing.
"I'm not done with this!" Carly threatened.
"You so are!" Sam laughed. "I'm hanging up now, Carls."
"Bye!" Carly said, satisfied with the information. Sam hadn't denied there was something going on.