Freddie and Sam took the stairs- which had indeed been refurbished. They now consisted of glass steps lit up but blue spot lights. Freddie briefly glanced down at the tiled floor of the Lobby visible through the transparent staircase. This only added to his light headedness, he had only been in the country for 35 hours, and now all of this drama, all of these people he had to make amends with. It was becoming too much.

Maybe those two years of social isolation had affected him more then he thought, because suddenly all he wanted to do was run away and hide somewhere where no human could get to him.

Soon he tuned into the sound of Sam talking, had she been talking all this time? He hadn't noticed...

"Hello? Earth to Fredward"

She snapped waving her hand in his face, Freddie virtually walked into her as she stopped halfway down the staircase.

"Uh, Yeah I'm fine, just lost in thought"

He said smiling shakily, Sam nodded clearly unconvinced, and she then to Freddie's surprise linked arms with him and began to lead him down the stairs.

"You've changed a lot more than growing like five feet"

"5 feet... Hey I wasn't that short was I?"

"I'm not saying anything...though in my memory you're a midget"

Sam smirked as her body trembling with laughter; Freddie couldn't help but join in as he looked at the girl from the corner of his eye. She was so different, in a good way. Sam suddenly grew serious

"But anyway...it's more than a physical change with you; you seem a lot more angsty, it's like all of the geeks been sucked out of you, which is really the opposite of what two years in front of a computer should do...sorry I'm kinda rambling"

"Just a bit"

Freddie smirked as he opened the door of the building for her, once he stepped out in to the fresh air Sam awkwardly let go of his arm, as though she just released how she had been behaving.

"Err sooo Benson, my cars just around the corner, you excited about seeing your mummy?"

She said as they walked around the building, brushing shoulders with crowds of pale faced business men on their way to work. Freddie sniggered

"So you FINALLY passed your divers test?"

He grinned, swiftly changing the subject, Sam without any hesitation got Freddie in a headlock in the middle of the street

"Actually I passed the test the day you left"

"That is such a lie"

Freddie laughed as Sam dragged him around the corner by his head; ignoring all of the people shaking their heads in disapproval, suddenly Sam cried in mock amazment as she tightened her arms around his neck

"Freddie! Why aren't you crying and begging me to let you go? Have you finally grown a set of balls? What the hell will I do for fun now?"

"Truth be told I'm just enjoying being so close to your chest...and you said I'd grown a lot"

Freddie said with a devious smile, Sam looked down at him stunned by his boldness before she then released him from the head lock and marched off blushing furiously, as she self-consciencely folded her arms over her ample breasts.

"My cars here"

She grumbled as she pulled a key of her coat pocket and unlocked a rundown Volkswagen camper van, Freddie climbed into the passenger seat. The van had Sam written all over it, left over fast food wrappers, magazines, and blankets and pillow chucked over the back seats.

"Nice ride"

Freddie commented as he sat back on his seat, but just as he was starting to feel better, Sam pulled out on to the road...and Freddie was reminded of where he was going. He then turned to Sam and said quietly

"Do you think my Mum will understand? Will she forgive me?"

The girl shrugged and said honestly

"It could go either way, but you've got to go and see her or you'll spend the rest of your life wondering what would have happened..."

Freddie smiled softly at her

"I can't believe I'm saying this but thanks Sam, you've really made me feel so much better today"

The girl raised her eyebrows, but for once she couldn't think of a suitable reply she just grinned like an idiot.

As they drove around the back streets of the city Sam chatted away about all of the trips she and Carly had gone on with their friends in her van. Freddie was envious but grateful for having someone put his mind of his problems for a while.

"Oh and last summer we went to Cape Cod, and while everyone went clubbing in town, Toby and me stayed on the beach, he lit candles and cooked me a rack of ribs on the BBQ, and then we had se-"

Sam suddenly stopped, and laughed nervously

"Sorry I'm going on a bit!"

But Freddie was already interested, he lent forward and cried the same sort of way a little kid would if he discovered a secret

"And then you had sex?"

Sam turned a corner sharply causing Freddie to bump his head on the car window

"What of it?"

She hissed, growing irritated as the boy started laughing

"Is it because he cooked you a rack of ribs? I always knew meat was the way to your heart!"

Sam tried not to smile and just mumbled

"It wasn't just that, Toby was err...a cool guy"

They were silent for a moment and then Freddie said casually

"Is it bad that I'm jealous?"

Sam turned to him a look of surprise on her face, Freddie just grinned charmingly at her, she looked away as said abruptly

"Well since you've just been making out with my Best Friend, Yes"

Freddie sunk back into his chair

"Sorry... my feelings are just a bit messed up right now"

After a pause Sam muttered softly as she squeezed his hand which was resting on the arm rest

"It's okay Freddie..."

Primrose drive was the street Mrs Benson lived down, it was one of those suburban streets were every house looked identical and the front lawns were luminous green and perfectly trimmed.

"It's almost as creepy as it was a year ago"

Sam shivered as she peered over the steering wheel looking for the right house number. Freddie was silent as he stared hopelessly at the rows of perfect houses

"There it is number 32!"

Sam said triumphantly as she parked her car in front of a bland cream house, it had flower baskets hanging beside the front door and two smart looking cars parked in the driveway.

"It's her dream house in her dream neighbourhood"

Freddie commented as he climbed out of his car seat, Sam could see his legs were shaking

"Do you want me to come with you?"

She asked actually sounding concerned. Freddie looked as though he was considering it, but he just shook his head and smiled meekly

"No I've got to do this myself...why don't you drive around the block? If I'm not out when you get back go back to the apartment"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'll call you if I need a ride out of here"

Freddie said as he tried to give a relaxed shrug, and then closed the door before Sam could argue with him, she just rolled her eyes and waved sarcastically as she pulled out and drove off down the street.

Freddie turned around and looked at the house; there was no going back now

"Shit"

he sighed