iDouble Date, Redux

Sam hadn't enjoyed male company this much in ages. It, obviously, had a lot to do with the fact that it was Fredduccini. She regretted keeping those walls up between them all these years. At the time, she thought it was necessary. She realized now that it had never been. At the time, she had seen him as a threat. Sixteen year old Sam had seen him as a threat to her happiness, and threats needed to be neutralized. He was a boy, and boys could take her Cupcake away. Boys could offer the Cupcake things that Sam couldn't…

"Sam? Where's the Oregano?"

Sam awoke from her little daydream to find Freddie Benson rooting around in her spice rack. That just tore it.

"Look, just because you're family now doesn't give you the right to violate my sister and my spice rack… Out!"

He knew Sam was playing. This was probably the first time they'd truly been alone together since the debacle that had been their first kiss. He had to love her. She was identical to his love. That part was weird to him. He knew they weren't completely identical, but it still gave him pause. He didn't hold anything from their childhood over her. It was all predicated on a perceived threat to her love for Carly. That much had become abundantly clear. He chuckled to himself and made his way to the living room sofa. If she didn't want his help, he could surely find something on the Science Channel that would be intellectually stimulating.

Sam was the consummate chef. Carly only cooked because she seemed to enjoy it and Sam certainly enjoyed watching her wiggle her little backside back and forth in the kitchen every night. It was a nice added bonus.

Dinner tonight would be a giant affair. Since Freddie was here, Sam had decided that it was about time to atone for the double date she felt she'd ruined the year before. If Freddie was going to be here, why not do her good deed for the year, put out a great big spread, and spend the evening together – the four of them – even if Frednub would end up seeing her sister's naughty places by the end of it? She turned her attention back to jazzing up last night's spaghetti. She was going to add onion, at least three kinds of peppers, and cheese plus a new batch of meatballs. That should about do it. Then it was on to two pounds of baked macaroni and cheese. It was her ultimate homemade comfort food. If there was a recipe, she could cook it. If there wasn't a recipe, she could make it up on the fly. This, however, didn't even need a recipe. She'd made it the same way so many times that a recipe didn't even need to exist. She'd first made it for Melanie years ago, when she was home sick. Pam was… well… out, so it fell to Sam to be her sister's nurse. It wasn't normal, but the Puckett sisters thrived on abnormal. Abnormal was their normal.

Sam smiled to herself as she glanced into the living room. Freddie had kicked off his shoes and was now sprawled out across their sofa. She was strangely happy. It was as though the final missing piece to the puzzle that was Sam Puckett had finally fallen into place. It was now only a matter of time until her two little lost sheep found their way back home.

AN HOUR LATER…

Sam heard the front door creak open. Sam had made sure to adjust the 'mood lighting' appropriately. As she walked through the door, Melanie was too dialed in to the delicious aroma coming from the kitchen to focus – until she heard his voice.

"Hey there, Gorgeous…"

Melanie squealed like a little girl, dropped her bags and ran to him. It was Cuddle Time. Carly Shay simply rolled her eyes and continued on into the kitchen. She leaned in and gave Sam a subdued peck on the cheek. She tasted tomato sauce. Her tone was quiet and even, matter-of-fact.

"Hey, Honey… How was your day?... and what's – …"

She was immediately quiet. She took the tip of Sam's now-extended index finger into her mouth. Fresh tomato sauce. It was delicious.

"Mmmm…. Spicy. Carly likey."

Sam dotted the tip of Carly's nose with tomato sauce. She smiled.

"Okay, Cupcake… Go be a good little social butterfly while Mama finishes dinner."

Carly giggled. She loved when Sam was like this. She was her one and only love, but she constantly treated Carly as though she were still a little girl. She most certainly didn't mind. It was simply Sam's way. She stole one more smooch from her lady before interrupting Happy Time on her living room sofa.

AFTER DINNER…

Sam had put on a fabulous spread. None of the four of them could eat another bite if they tried. It was a peaceful evening, save for the fact that Freddie was a little bit too close to Mel for Sam's liking. She knew what she had to do. She reached for a meatball out of the bowl. Like any good Italian, she believed in keeping her meatballs separate from her sauce. She grabbed one and pitched it at Freddie. It hit him square in the forehead. He was momentarily stunned. Everyone at the table laughed – except Melanie.

"Sam!"

Sam could do nothing more than shrug her shoulders.

"Sorry, Sis… Force of habit. He was invading your Personal Space bubble… You know how I don't like that."

"Frankly, Samantha, he can invade my personal space as much as he likes…"

Sam shot the Nub a look. He immediately shushed Melanie.

"Honey, she's not serious. She was just playing around…"

He brushed a strand of blonde hair from her face. He loved her more than words. She looked back at him with those weak, shimmering little girl baby blue eyes. She turned to her sister.

"Is that true, Sam?"

"Come on, Princess… How well do you know me? Fact is I kinda like the kid. Kinda grows on you after, you know, a dozen years or so…"

Carly glanced at Melanie, as though to psychically confirm her partner's account. Melanie had no reason not to trust Carly Shay implicitly. The fact that she was Sam's wife was immaterial. She was incapable of lying. Mel was hurt.

"Sam… I'm sorry."

Sam just rolled her eyes.

"Come on, Kid… It's no big thing. It's just how I roll."

The quartet all laughed. Melanie tried to speak, only to have her sister jump in and cut her off.

"Okay, Children, I could be wrong, but isn't it past your bedtime?"

Melanie was shocked. If it were up to Sam, she'd be wearing a chastity belt. It wasn't that she was promiscuous, it was just that Sam could never reconcile in her own mind that her sweet angel, goody-goody sister got all hot and bothered over Freddie Benson. Melanie knew Sam inside-out, forward and back. There was some devious Sam Puckett ulterior motive here.

There was. Sam's motivation was Melanie's happiness.

Before his lady could open up a can of worms that would take the rest of the weekend to shut, he gave her hand a squeeze, signaling retreat was the better option. She melted like warm butter and allowed herself to be led away. He bade the ladies – Sam included – Good Night and withdrew, Mythical Melanie in tow, from the kitchen. Lost in their own little world, they quietly ascended the stairs.

Once Freddie and Melanie were safely out of earshot, Carly Shay turned to her lover. She knew Sam far too well.

"You two had the little talk, didn't you?"

Sam leaned forward and kissed Carly flush on the forehead. Their little family was complete.