Chapter 7

Disclaimer: Dan Schneider is much older than I am.
Thoughts are in italics.

Freddie and Sam's alarm beeped. The green numbers on the clock read 5:30 AM. Freddie was trying to leave by 6. He turned off the alarm. His wife let out a few moans and tried to go back to sleep, but Freddie shook her.

"What, Frednerd?"

"I'm leaving for Mexico in thirty minutes."

"You're all packed?"

"Yup. Have my passport, clothes, food, and a GPS." Freddie said as they went downstairs.

"Looks like you're ready then. I'll see you in a couple days. What city are you going to?" Sam asked, opening the door to the garage.

"Tijuana, which is just inside the border. 19 hour drive each way. Still taking the Fiero."

"Come back as soon as you can." Sam said, standing on her toes to her husband a kiss on the lips.

"Will do."

Freddie then got into his primer gray Fiero and drove off.

Later that day, Sam was at WSU working when she heard the PA system come on, with someone in the main office speaking.

"Attention to the student body, faculty, and administration: There is a swine flu bug going around the college. We would advise all students to stay within their dorms, and give everything a good wipe down. All classes for the rest of the day have been cancelled. Faculty and administrators, if you do not live on campus, go home immediately. If you live on campus, move to staff quarters. We will give everyone 45 minutes to get where they need to go. Medical assistance is on hand. Thank you."

Looks like I'm going home early...

With that, she locked up and drove her Geo home.

"Let me call Freddie and tell him I'm okay." Sam said to herself as she dialed his number.

"Hey, Princess."

I love it when he says that.

"Same to you, dork."

"What's up?"

"There's a swine flu bug going around the college. I was sent home early."

"Did you catch it?"

"Pretty sure I didn't..."

"Alright, well I'm in Oregon now. Everything's going smoothly."

"Glad it is. Call me later tonight, okay?"

"Sure thing, Sammy."

"Bye Freddie."

"I'll talk to you later Sam."

Freddie had just crossed over into Mexico. He was to meet his mother at Grand Hotel Tijuana.

Shouldn't be too long before we can head back.

As he drove up to the hotel, he sees a window break and a man/woman fall out and to her death. Then he sees another person get pushed out and fall.

*New text from Marissa Benson*

Marissa: Fredward! Please hurry! Someone's throwing people out a high window! I'm in the parking garage.

Freddie: Glad u r ok! Im driving in now. Im in my gray Pontiac.

Just then he saw his mother. Freddie quickily got her luggage and put it in the back while she got in the passenger's seat.

"Hello, Mom. Let's get you another passport."

"Fredward! Why don't you have covers on the seats in this car? Someone owned it before you and could have been sick!"

"Mom, I wiped everything down and cleaned the seats when I got the car. We need to get out of this hotel before it gets crowded."

Freddie drove to the US embassy, got her processed, got her photos taken, and got her passport. Now they could drive back to Seattle. Freddie decided to text his wife while they were sitting in the parking lot.

Freddie: We got mom's passport and we're in the parking lot of the US embassy.

Sam: Great! See you when you get back!

He then drove out of the parking lot, his next destination being the border.

"Is Brad still in jail?" Sam asked.

"Yup, I guess his family decided to teach him a lesson." Carly replied with a smile on her face.

Carly's house phone rang. It was Tasha.

"Carly!"

"Yes, Tasha?"

"Come see the new baby!"

"What baby?"

"My baby, silly!"

"Why didn't you tell us you were pregnant?"

"I didn't think you'd care..."

"Not care? That's crazy Tasha! Of course I would! We'll be over very soon."

"Okay, bye Carly."

"What happened?" Sam asked.

"Tasha and Gibby had a baby..."

"And we never knew!"

"Yeah, but we can at least go see it now. Damn, I completely forgot to ask about the gender!"

"Language, Carlotta."

"Psh, like you don't swear." Carly scoffed.

"Let's just get over to the hospital." Sam laughed.

They decided to take Carly's Jetta wagon. Sam called Freddie for a status update while they were driving over.

"What's up, babe?"

"Don't call me that." Sam could almost see Freddie rolling his eyes.

"Anyways, whatcha doin?"

"Gibby and Tasha had a baby."

"WHAT? Why the hell didn't they let us know?"

"Carly said that they didn't think we'd care. Absurd, right?"

"Big word there, Sam."

"Oh shut up! Where are you?"

"We're about to stop at a hotel for the night. We really hauled ass and are heading for the same place in northern Cali. We should be home tomorrow."

"Awesome Freddie!"

"Miss me?"

"You bet, dorkwad."

"Thanks for checking in. Send some pics of the baby, okay?"

"I will. See you later."

"Bye."

"Freddie and Marissa are stopping in Oregon. They'll be home tomorrow." Sam informed.

"Nice. It'll be good to see him again after this whole incident." Carly replied.

Sam and Carly ran into the hospital and found Tasha's room.

"Ready to see the baby?" Tasha asked.

"You bet!" Carly and Sam said.

Tasha let them hold the baby, and then they went home. Sam called Melanie to tell her about the baby and Freddie's Mexico trip. Mel was about to move back to Seattle. She was still single.

At about 10:30 PM that night, Sam heard the sound of a V6 engine. Freddie had made her ride in the Fiero a few times, and she immediately recognized it. Sam ran to the other side of the garage, and Freddie pulled in. He had already dropped Marissa off at Bushwell.

"Hey, demon!" Freddie greeted his wife.

"Nice to see you, nub." Sam replied as she hugged Freddie.

"You up for some alone time upstairs?" Freddie asked with a wink.

"I'd love that." Sam said, smirking.

Sam awoke to find the other side of the bed empty. Freddie then came out of the bathroom.

"You still don't have to go to work right?" Freddie questioned.

"I got an e-mail telling me not to go to work today." Sam told her husband.

"My boss is letting me take a week off. See, being responsible has its rewards!"

"Good to know. Melanie's flying in at 12:09." Sam said, looking at the computer screen.

"What time is it now?"

"11:50!" Sam exclaimed.

"Oh shit, we need to get our asses over to the airport!" Freddie said as he put some Converse shoes on.

"You got that right!"

"We'll take the van."

It was a rare sunny morning in Seattle. People were actually outside doing things.

"I wish it was like this every day." Freddie began.

"At least people get out on the sunny days. I heard that Brad was finally released."

"Carly hasn't been having any problems?"

"No, he went with his family all the way to Pennsylvania."

"That's good."

"Yup, it should be smooth sailing until I have the baby."

"Then it'll get a lot harder. One of us we'll have to take him to daycare every day once you have to go back to work."

"Can we not worry about that now? I still have to go through the pain of labor." Sam whined.

"Alright, just facing the facts."

"I hate it when you do that."

Freddie rolled his eyes.

Freddie pulled up to the curb and waited. It was now 12:14.

3 minutes later, they see Melanie walk out with her suitcase and some other bags.

"Geez, how much stuff does she carry?" Freddie asked. "I mean, we'll still have enough room, but damn!"

"Lets just say she carries much more stuff than me." Sam chuckled.

After greeting her and getting her stuff loaded, they started to drive home.

"Sam, have you been eating healthier because of the baby?"

"Yes, actually. Decreased my meat intake and increased my vegetable and grain intake."

"Have you tried a vegan diet?"

"I am never, ever going full vegan Mel. It's just not for me."

"I understand, but it's fun!"

"For some people."

"Maybe we should go to the Groovie Smoothie?" Freddie suggested, trying to change the subject.

"Not now, Fredweird. I'm trying to fight for meat eaters here!"

"Sometimes I don't understand your relationship."

"Insults are Sam's way of showing affection."

"So all those insults and pranks when we were little were just you showing me you care?"

"Yes..." Sam moaned.

"Awwwww!"

By this time, Freddie pulled into the driveway and parked.

"Which car is yours Sam?"

"The green Geo wagon here. Only automatic."

"Why does Freddie have two cars?"

"Technically we bought the van together, but it's a stick shift so I can't drive it."

"Freddie, why don't you teach us how to drive a stick?"

"We can do it once you're settled Mel."

"Alright! Sounds like fun."

-3 hours later-

Surprisingly, the van was still in one piece by the time Freddie finished teaching both girls. The trio was now sitting in the living room after dinner, with the news on.

"Now for more information on the Swine Flu outbreak at WSU. 7 people have died, and over 200 are sick. High traffic areas of the college are being cleaned several times a day. The reason why so many people are sick is because that few people believed anything would occur because of the disease, an administrator says. There are no traces of the sickness outside the college."

"Glad you got out of there fast!" Freddie exclaimed.

"Sure am. Would not be good for the baby at all."

"Mel, how about you go to a bar to find a boyfriend?" Freddie asked.

"I don't drink."

"Damn!"

"What?"

"Have you tried it?"

"Yes, didn't like it."

"Whatever floats your boat, then."

"Why don't we go do something?"

"Noooo. My evenings are my lounge time." Sam said lazily.

"Late night tennis Freddie?"

"I guess I could play a few games. We'll be back Sam."

"Have fun guys."

"Say that again."

"No."

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