Disclaimer: I do not own iCarly, or any of the characters portrayed on this television show and this story.
Author's Note: So, this is the last chapter. In this chapter, obviously, they are eighteen years old. I may be writing more stories after this, but I'll have to get the inspiration- I hope you all enjoyed this one. )
Five long years had passed since that iCarly web cast. Carly, Sam, and Freddie were all eighteen years old now- and preparing to head into different directions in life.
But some things never change.
Bursting easily into the Shay's house, Sam walked smugly past the always bewildered Spencer and Carly, heading to the kitchen. "Hey, do you guys have any ham?" she asked curiously. Spencer and Carly exchanged a grin as Spencer called out, "Top shelf, to the right."
Sam took a second foraging, appearing victoriously with a slice of ham held tightly. Carly laughed and both girls took a seat next to each other on the couch as Spencer went off to work on a sculpture that was to be photographed and put into an art magazine soon- it was called "An Ode to Toads"- and so far, nobody had been allowed to see it. All they had seen was a lot of toy frogs left throughout the house.
"Do you think you're ever going to stop loving ham? Or even bursting into people's houses uninvited?" Carly asked, though they both knew the answer. "Well, Carly," Sam said, folding her legs as she took the last bite of ham. Everyone in Sam's life had noticed the newfound maturity- but old habits die hard.
With a small cross between a smirk and a grin playing at Sam's lips, she told Carly a few of the words she would possibly remember forever.
"In our…maybe short, maybe long…lives, I've learned a few things. There are only three things in this world I can count on- you, and change included in this. Things are going to change- one day, I might hate ham," Carly raised her eyebrows at this; surprised those four words escaped Sam's lips.
"But things like bursting in unannounced- that kind of rudeness never goes out." The girls laughed quietly, embracing for a short moment. "Tomorrow I'm leaving for Stanford," Carly murmured quietly between her lips. It was something Sam already knew, but she still hung her head slightly. "I know," she whispered, and then added on, "I'm going to be down there next year-I promise. I just need to earn enough money first." Carly grinned widely. "I can't wait until my best friend gets there. You'll visit, right?" she asked, and Sam nodded.
A short, silent moment passed between them. Silence is one of those things you can love or hate- but Sam and Carly didn't need to talk. Carly thought if she talked, she might demand that Sam just go to school that year. If Sam talked, she knew she just might cry at the thought of staying behind- even for just a year.
But silence always comes to an end at sometime.
"What's the third thing you can always count on?" Carly asked curiously.
A loud knock disrupted Sam's answer, and Sam- though it wasn't even her house- called out, "Come in." When she looked at Carly, her friend merely rolled her eyes, laughter escaping her as Fredward Benson stepped in the door.
"Hey Carly," he nodded to the girl. "You're leaving tomorrow, huh?" he asked. Carly glanced at her feet and then nodded. "I haven't seen you a lot lately Freddie. What are you doing this year?" she asked curiously.
That was when Freddie stepped over to Sam, hanging his arm loosely around the girl's shoulder as they looked at each other, smiles wide on each of their lips. "I'm going to hang around with Sam and raise some money too." "But Freddie, you were offered a scholarship to Stanford," Carly laughed, and Freddie shrugged. "It'll be there next year. Who knows where we'll be, though?" he asked, and Sam leaned her head on his shoulder.
"We'll be there next year, kid," Sam told Carly, and the brunette merely smiled at them. "I'll be right back- I'm trying to finish packing," she grimaced, though it was obvious she was giving the two a moment together. Sam took a seat on the couch again, curling her knees up against her chest- but Freddie did not sit down yet.
Giving him a puzzled glance, Sam called out, "Hey, Freddo- you're blocking my vision," referring to the TV. Freddie merely rolled his eyes- he didn't expect the insults to stop after he told her how he felt about her.
"You know what tomorrow is, right?" he asked. Sam thought for a moment, and then said, "The day Carly's leaving?" Freddie's face fell immediately, but she jumped up with a smirk on her face, placing her hands on his chest. "It's our five year anniversary, I know, I know."
Freddie grinned at her, staring into the blue eyes that had showed to him what he wanted most five years ago. He lifted up a tape, placing it into the VCR the Shay's still had, and he and Sam plopped down onto the couch together as she folded her arms, confused by what he was doing.
"Hello, all viewers," Carly's voice called out, and a laugh escaped Sam as she watched the frustration light up her young face on the television screen. "I hope everyone is ready for an awesome, action packed episode of iCarly, 'cause I'm sure not!" her sarcastic voice yelled.
Freddie pushed the fast forward button, and there was Sam, tears brimming as she opened her mouth to tell Freddie exactly how she felt about him. "How'd you…that's where the tape stopped!" Sam protested when Freddie pushed the pause button before Sam spoke. "My back up camera was still filming- Carly turned off the main camera and ended the show, but my back up still filmed it- it just didn't broadcast it to our viewers." A smile lit up Sam's face as Freddie spoke. Though of course she didn't want everyone who watched their show to see that private moment, she always wished she had a copy of it.
"Consider it an early anniversary present," Freddie laughed, and Sam grinned up at him. She noticed Carly watching from upstairs, and decided to answer her question then.
"Freddie, I can always count on you, you know," she whispered, and Freddie smiled down at her, pushing the play button as Carly grinned, heading back upstairs. She knew what was going to happen next.
"I'm not in love with you Freddie," Sam's confused voice started, and Freddie's face fell immediately. "But I…I really, really am in…like….with you." Her voice stumbled over the words, and Freddie's face lit up again.
As Freddie and Sam sat on the couch, watching this happen, Freddie pushed his lips to Sam's- at the same time as he had those five years ago, when Sam had finally admitted her feelings for him.
And just like that moment and every other moment he had shared with Sam- it seemed perfect.
