Double Life

Disclaimer: Don't own Wendell and Vinnie, don't own iCarly

A/N:

Chapter 10 (Family Dinner Part 1)

"Uncle Vinnie could you turn down the video game I'm trying to do my homework!" Spencer rolled his eyes and looked over his shoulder and past the couch. Wendell was at the kitchen table, scratching his head as he studied a textbook full of mindless drivel. Currently Spencer was playing the Star Wars game he owned, and was trying to get Wendell to take a break from his homework.

"You've been working for two hours now. I'm trying to get you to take a break. That's the point." Wendell moaned as Spencer shook his head. "Rhonda must have been the smart one. I can't tell." There was a chicken roasting in the oven and Spencer had to get to work on the vegetables and potatoes soon, but until then, he wanted Wendell to stop working on homework. "Wendell, studies show if you work on homework for long periods of time without taking regular breaks, you're doing more harm than good."

"Are you sure about that Uncle V?" Wendell set his pen down and started walking over. He leaned against the side of the couch and folded his arms over the top of it. "What's so bad about continual study?"

"Nothing! But if you don't take a break, you're going to literally exhaust your brain. Plus the more you cram, the more you're going to forget later on. About every thirty minutes or so you need to take a break for at least ten minutes. Sort out the details and relax, then go back into the studying game."

"Oh. Well I guess that makes sense. I'll try that, Uncle V." He beamed with pride as Wendell took the game controller from his hands. Finally, something had gotten through to him! Though, hearing 'Uncle' was starting to feel rather scathing. It had been a couple days since the visit with his family and he'd been trying to think of a good time to essentially bring up that he was Wendell's real father.

As he got up from the couch and moved to the kitchen, he muttered under his breath. "Uncle V this Uncle Vinnie that…" He did want to be called 'dad' by someone, even if he didn't deserve to be called 'dad'. For some reason still, however, being called Uncle was beginning to break his heart.

He had to find out how to break the news to Wendell. Not to mention, the harder part, telling Wendell he had an older sister who he knew nothing about. His eyes went skyward and he let out a groan as he leaned against his palms on the countertop. "How in the hell do I approach that subject? Especially the questions it would produce…" How could he face the 'why isn't she here' questions that were more than likely to come?

He looked to the television as Wendell fought off Darth Vader. His lip turned into a cocky grin as he mocked the famous line. "Wendell. I am your father." Wendell paused the game and looked over with arched eyebrows, then let out a laugh.

"Ha-ha, very funny Uncle Vinnie! You're quoting Darth Vader and putting a twist to it! I love it." He lifted his eyes upwards once more as Wendell returned to the television.

"Yep you got me. That's exactly it…sometimes I think you're too smart for your own good." Wendell snickered and lifted his shoulders.

"I think if you were my dad, it wouldn't be so bad. I'd just wonder why my dad told me he was my dad and why you weren't around. Then I know Wilma found you, so I guess I'd wonder if you wanted to come, if you even knew about me. Sometimes I wonder that anyway, Uncle Vinnie, if we're being honest…" Spencer furrowed his brow and parted his lips. His heart grew heavy and his head bowed.

"I'm sorry you feel that way. Of course I wanted to come for you, not just because my brother wanted me to take care of you, but…for varying reasons…"

"I guess so. Though I'd wonder how it'd be possible because I don't think Mom ever met you, did she?"

"Um…" He looked to the oven, seeing that the chicken was almost ready to come out. "I'd better start on those vegetables and the potatoes!" How in the hell was he going to explain to Wendell that yes he'd met Rhonda, both got drunk and had an affair? He really didn't want to lie to Wendell either by saying that he never met the woman. Wendell looked over, raising an eyebrow.

"You want me to help? I can take care of the green beans and you can work on the mashed potatoes."

"Sure, I'd appreciate that." Wendell hopped from the couch with enthusiasm and rushed over, practically dropping the controller on the ground. He grabbed the can of green beans off the counter and made his way to the can opener.

"You know, I admire you a lot Uncle Vinnie. You came from Washington to take care of me after Mom and Dad had their accident. It takes a lot of responsibility to do that, right?"

"It does." Spencer leaned against the counter, admiring his son. "It takes a lot of responsibility to own up to things you've done wrong too." He hated the term 'mistake' for the fact that yes he had done something stupid twice, and almost a third if he counted Taryn's mental break down a while back, but he didn't regret either child. So far he didn't have good luck with sexual activity, both times wound up with a pregnancy! "I know I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, but you know what? I don't regret a single one."

Wendell pulled his lip back and watched the can opener. The machine hummed as it sliced through the lid. "Why not?" Spencer grabbed a large bowl from the upper counter, then went to the fridge for the butter. "Wouldn't you wish you could go back and redo whatever went wrong?"

"No. Because that means two things I love wouldn't be here. Sometimes mistakes can result in the greatest things that are in your life, and those events become a part of who you are. Do I wish I hadn't done some of the things that I have done, sure, but I could never regret them. That doesn't make the result of actions a mistake either, Wendell. One day, I think you'll learn that…"

Wendell shook his head and moved the open can over the bowl. "Yeah well, until then, I think I'm going to enjoy just being a kid." Spencer put his hand to his stomach and laughed, he was happy to hear that. "What's so funny?"

"When I was your age, I was in a hurry to grow up. Wilma was the successful one, Gary was the 'world's number one son', and I was jealous of them both." Wendell snickered at him as he poured the beans into the bowl. While doing that, Spencer went for the jar of mashed potato flakes by the stove and began to pour them into the pot next to him. "I was in such a hurry to grow up. Maybe if I had just slowed down a bit, enough to take a look around me, but who's to say anything would have been different? Things do happen for a reason, I think…and inevitably I got what I wanted. A huge bundle of responsibility."

"So you missed out on being a kid? That must suck. I'm sure Aunt Wilma wasn't so perfect and Dad wasn't as great as everyone thinks. They have their faults and hard times too. Aunt Wilma's lost a few cases, hasn't she?"

"Yes."

"And Dad? Well, he and mom didn't always get along. I used to hear them talking about her having an affair or something, so he was always accusing her of that." Spencer started coughing and Wendell looked over, concerned, as he began waving his hand in front of his face. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just the steam from the stove, that's all."

"Oh…" Wendell dropped some slices of butter onto the green beans and moved to the microwave. "Well step back and breathe where the steam isn't."

"Right." He smacked his chest a couple times and shook his head. He didn't realize that Gary and Rhonda argued over what happened, that was devastating! "So, your mom…" Wendell scrunched his face while striking the buttons on the microwave.

"Mom and Dad both cheated on each other. I remember. I was about seven when I saw Mom outside my school. She was waiting for me to pick her up and I got out of class early, she was kissing someone else." Spencer's eyes widened as Wendell moved took a step back from the microwave to watch it. "I was about nine when Dad started getting these calls from some woman. I answered the phone once and she just started talking, think I was him, and…"

"Okay no more of that!" Spencer clapped his hands and Wendell looked up with a wry chuckle. It was horrible that they were cheating on each other, but at the same time, he was grateful it wasn't just the one night stand they argued over. "I'm starting to wonder how much parenting those two did…"

"Oh plenty! I mean aside from the cheating and the strange one night stand that they were talking about once, they were great parents." Spencer smacked his forehead and Wendell looked up to him once more with great confusion.

"I can't believe you know what a one night stand is."

"I don't. Do you?" Spencer narrowed his eyes and his voice fell flat.

"You seriously want an answer to that?" Wendell shrugged his shoulders and Spencer glanced to the door. "Well…I was twelve and I learned the hard way. I'm guessing Gary never had 'the talk' with you."

"What's that?"

Spencer closed his eyes and leaned over the counter, sighing heavily, "A part of the parenting process I'm going to have to deal with once you start 'changing'."

"Changing? You mean like body stuff? 'Cause I have been experiencing some strange things lately…"

"Lovely." That was how it always begun, even with Carly he had to try and explain puberty to her. It was less pleasant than he would have liked, especially since when she started to go through it, he had to have the neighbor kid's mom help explain some of it! Wendell would be a little easier, being a guy, but it was still not something to discuss at dinner. "We'll uh…we'll discuss that later…not too much later, because if you're anything like your father…" His eyes widened and his hand moved over his eyes. He did not need to visualize his son making the same mistakes he did! Though wasn't that always how it goes? Like father, like son? "Have you seen Lacy around lately?"

"I've been avoiding her actually."

"Why?"

"Um…it's complicated."

"Oh no…"

"It's nothing to worry about though." Wendell laughed nervously and waved his hand in the air. The microwave went off and he quickly went to retrieve the bowl of beans. "She's been changing kind of, more attractive, and I keep having these weird feelings."

Spencer wagged his finger at Wendell, clearly knowing what was going on. "Okay we are going to want to talk about those. Preferably not at the dinner table. I never talked to my dad about it when it happened to me and my girlfriend at the time, and well…we'll discuss this after dinner."

"Why are you being so weird, Uncle V? It's not a bad thing is it?"

"No! No it isn't bad at all. It's just a heavy topic that needs very careful explanation. Meanwhile, you don't have to be afraid of Lacy. She's also going through a similar phase as you, and if you avoid her she's going to think something's wrong with her. Nothing is wrong with either of you."

"Oh…okay…So that's what, a spoiler alert?"

"Sort of." They moved to set the table, clearing away Wendell's books and setting the food down. The table had four chairs around it and was a medium sized circular table, so enough to fit a family if he could ever find a way to get Carly here.

Wendell rubbed his hands together as he eyed the chicken in the middle of the table. "I call the legs."

"Good, I'll take the breast."

"Can you not say breast?"

"What?" He raised an eyebrow, then moved his hand over his eyes while propping his elbow onto the table. "Chicken breast. As for breasts…there are nothing wrong with…oh boy…"

"Don't worry, you can explain after dinner, right?"

"Yes. There's actually some stuff I've been meaning to tell you, I just haven't found a way or a time…" He shifted nervously in his seat as Wendell carved up the chicken. He was proud that Wendell seemed to be taking the idea of puberty well, thus far. Though, that was probably the least of his worries with all he needed to say. "It sort of involves Gary and Rhonda…okay, strongly involves them."

"Okay?" Wendell moved a leg to his plate, then forked part of the breast and moved it to Spencer's plate. "What's up, Uncle V?"

"First, just stop calling me uncle for a bit…" Wendell frowned as Spencer rubbed his temples. "I actually need to process, because I have no idea how to bring up any of this."

"Oh…so it is something serious…" The boy's shoulders slumped and his hands moved down onto the table. Spencer closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Yeah, I just have to think of how to…hypothetically speaking, say you had a sister and-"

"Spencer?!" He flinched at the mention of his created name, one which he didn't tell anyone here besides Taryn. His eyes shot open and he looked to Wendell, who was now looking past him. No, the voice was feminine, and highly familiar to him.

He slowly turned around, beginning to tremble as his eyes connected with none other than his daughter. Carly was standing in the doorway with several bags of luggage around her. Behind her was Taryn, who was looking at him apologetically.

"Oh hi!" Wendell greeted Carly cheerfully and the girl raised her eyebrow. "I recognize you from that old webshow, iCarly. I've only seen a couple videos, but it's great to meet you. Have you met Uncle Vinnie?" Spencer hadn't known Wendell to watch the show, so it was a bit of a shock. At the worst possible time, Wilma came up behind Taryn and Carly. She looked like she had something important to discuss, but stopped when she saw the visitor.

"Uncle?" Carly tapped her finger on her arm and shifted her gaze towards Spencer. "What Uncle? That's my brother, Spencer." Wilma's eyebrows shot up and her hand moved to her chest. Spencer winced as his real sister walked into the room and leaned to the side, crossing her arms and glaring at him.

"Oh wow, and here I was coming to talk about you seeing mom and dad, but this looks like it'll be interesting." Wilma turned her head to Carly, smiling pleasantly. "Good to meet you, I'm Vin-Spencer's sister, Wilma." She narrowed her eyes and slowly turned her head to Spencer. Everyone else remained silent and the room grew cold. Wilma cracked her jaw and Spencer watched her finger tap her arm, each tap seemingly echoing loudly and pounding in his head. "It looks like you've got some explaining to do, Vincent."

"Wendell?" Spencer began nervously, never tearing his eyes away from his sister and Daughter. "Could you grab some extra plates? I have a feeling this is going to be a long dinner…"

Does look like it's going to be an interesting supper, that is true. Told you Carly would be here soon. What are your thoughts and predictions on how this is going to play out?