A/N We're getting closer and closer to the reunion of the three friends. Sorry about the lack of Seddie in this one, we needed to get some more perspective from Carly's POV.
Disclaimer: I wish I owned iCarly so Sam and Freddie wouldn't have broken up. But, alas, I don't
The following week the gang all made it through the first round of their finals. Sam had just one more test for culinary school in economics. Freddie had two tests remaining for Coding and Advanced Electrical Engineering. Carly had three more and a thesis to submit about French Literature.
Despite her hard week ahead, Carly was anxious for her weekly chat session with her brother. Colonel Shay's promotion had been approved by the Air Force and he had given Carly permission to tell Spencer about it. She was trying to work on her term paper while waiting for time to chat but just couldn't get the fantasies out of her mind of how this summer would be the year she and Freddie finally got together. She was almost positive he and Sam would be split up by the time she moved back to the U.S.
Spencer was already signed on and waiting when Carly looked at the time and logged on herself.
"How's my favorite little sister?" He asked, his usual greeting for Carly.
"How's my favorite big brother?' Carly's typical response. She could hardly contain herself. "Spence, I need to tell you something. Something really big. Are you ready?"
"What's his name, Kiddo?" Spencer asked, figuring she would only be this excited about some tall, dark and handsome Italian guy.
"It's not a guy, Spencer." Carly informed him.
"A girl, then? Well, I'm happy for you Carly, but is Dad cool with it? You know, his generation isn't as open minded as we are."
"Spencer! First off, I'm not gay. Not that there's anything wrong with being. . . uhhh!" Carly was a bit puzzled at her brother's thought process. "Daddy got a promotion to brigadier general and a transfer, stateside. And you're never going to guess where. Give up?"
"I Guess so." He responded.
"To Edwards."
Spencer's blank expression told her that he was clueless as to where Edwards Air Force base was.
"In California. Los Angeles. Where Freddie lives. Uh, an, and Sam"
"Hey, is that where they used to land the space shuttles?" Spencer was finally catching on.
"Yep. But anyway. I'm coming back with him. I talked to the placement office at school and they said I can transfer my credits to a school in L.A. and then I can be with my friends and Dad both."
"Wow, Carls, that's gonna be so cool." Spencer was excited himself. "We'll actually be able to have holidays like a family again. I mean, now that I'm with Sonja, I'd like for her to meet you and Dad."
"Oooh, and you guys can come to California for Thanksgiving. And then we can come up to Seattle for Christmas. You and Sonja and me and Freddie all together."
"And Sam." Spencer added. "If Freddie's coming, I'm sure he'll bring Sam along, too."
"Oh, Uh, Yeah, Sam, too. Heh-Heh, how could I forget Sam." Carly quickly added as her face turned red and she looked away from the camera.
"Carly, you're not suddenly starting to develop feelings for Freddie are you?" Spencer asked, clearly he picked up on what she implied with her statement. "You know, Freddie and Sam are happy together. Veerrrry happy."
"N, No! Oh God, no and yes, I know Sam is with Freddie. They've been together for what, almost a year now?" Carly was quickly backpedaling, she had unintentionally opened up about her secret feelings to her brother.
"Actually, I almost think Freddie may have sort of moved to L.A. to be with Sam, Carls." Spencer knew this for a fact, but he had made a promise to Freddie and Sam to keep his sister in the dark about exactly when they got back together. "That would mean, they've been back together for almost 2 years."
"Well, they didn't start dating again until last spring." Carly was quick to defend what she thought to be the facts. "And the way they've always been so aggressive with each other, I guess what I'm just thinking is, how much longer will it be before they kill each other, honestly?"
"I don't know, Carly, they seem pretty happy together from what I've seen."
"Yeah, but Spence. They're Sam and Freddie. Sure they might be happy right now, but they've been fighting like cats and dogs since we were in elementary school. Anyone who thinks they'll last is only fooling themselves."
"And what if they've matured and they end up together forever, Carls?" Spencer knew the way Freddie felt about Sam, he had told him even before he moved to California. "Carly, please promise me that you're not going to do anything, they're happy together. Sam's your best friend and Freddie's like another brother to you, it would be terrible to come between them."
Carly was a bit insulted that he would even think that. "Of course not, Spencer. But when it happens, I mean, if it happens, there's no reason I can't be there to comfort either one of them, especially poor Freddie. And if he's vulnerable and lonely, there's no telling what kind of feelings it may stir up deep within him. I've known for a while that I was wrong for rejecting Freddie all those years when we were younger. Heck, I practically drove him into Sam's arms in high school with the way I constantly trampled on his heart. If karma gives me the chance, I intend to make it up to him. "
Spencer was both shocked and worried by his little sister's confession. He needed to change the subject and fast. "So when are you moving and the bigger question, when can I see my little sister again?"
"Well, Dad's transfer is effective in 15 days, so he's got to leave before my last final on the 27th, but as soon as that's over with, I'm on a plane headed for L.A."
"So you're going to be there by the 30th? Then I guess we'll see each other when I come to L.A. for an art exhibition the first week of June. I was going to ask Freddie if Sonja and I could stay at his place instead of trying to find a hotel room. This is the biggest art show on the west coast and I got invited this year. Since Sonja's got the summer off, I was going to invite her along."
"I'm not sure how much room Freddie has. I was actually going to see if I could crash there until I get things squared away with school rather than moving onto the base with Dad. I guess you could ask him. Ooh, I know maybe Sam and Cat have room at their place."
"Uhm, Carly, you know they keep little kids for a living." Spencer almost sounded scared, he was always a bit intimidated around little kids.
"What's the matter, don't you think Sonja will want to be around a bunch of little kids or is something else." Carly inquired a bit of devilishness in her tone.
"She's a kindergarten teacher, Carly. I'm pretty sure she won't mind a few kids, but you know kids don't like me. Anyway, I'm so excited for you, Carls. Do me a favor and tell dad I said congratulations."
"Will do, Spence. Hey, I've gotta go, it's getting late and I've still got this term paper to work on."
"Right, Carls. I guess I'll be seeing you sooner than we thought. Good luck with your tests. I miss you, kid."
"Miss you, too, Spencer. See you in a few weeks."
The next day, Spencer called Freddie to see about staying with him during his trip to L.A. Sam had kids to watch at Cat's place and Melanie went along with her while Freddie was at the library studying for his test with a group of electrical engineering students. Freddie saw Spencer's name on his caller ID and excused himself from the group. He retreated to the hallway to talk on the phone.
"Hey, Spencer. Did you hear from Carly lately?" Freddie answered the phone just as Spencer was about to give up and try calling later.
"Yep, just last evening. I guess she already called and told you guys that she's moving to L.A.?"
"Actually, she said your dad was still waiting for confirmation of his promotion the last time we talked." Freddie answered. "So is it official now she's moving?"
"Yep, and she's just all beside herself. You guys had better get rested up because when she gets there, she's going to keep you up for a month." Spencer was still a bit worried about the secret that his sister had let slip during their conversation, but figured it best to just not say anything to Freddie. Not yet, at least.
"Hey Spence, I've been meaning to call you, I need to ask you something."
"Ask away, Freddo."
"It's about Sam, I need some manly advice." Freddie was nervous about asking Spencer for advice, but not nearly as nervous as he was about proposing to Sam.
"Freddie, you know Sam's like another sister to me, so maybe I'm not the best one to give you 'that kind' of advice."
"Uhm, no Dude, not that kind of advice. Pretty much have things covered there."
"Oh, well, then fire away." Spencer was relieved that he wasn't being asked for love advice.
"Spencer, you know Sam and I, we-we've been together for a while, now, right? And, well, I've been thinking of, well, . . . um, you see, I'm going to be getting a pretty nice bonus from Radio Hut and I'd like to buy her a ring."
"What kind of ring are we talking here, Freddie?" Spencer was pretty sure where this was going, but he just wanted to hear Freddie say it.
"Um, well, I was thinking of kind of a, like, well I guess you'd sort of call it, like an engagement ring."
"Fredward! Are you saying you're going to propose to Sam, our Sam?"
"Well, sort of, uh, yeah, I guess. And Melanie says she thinks Sam is ready, but I just wondered what you think about the idea."
"As I see it, you'll know when the time is right. But if you're asking for my blessing, you know you've had it all along." Spencer truthfully answered his young friend. "Like I told you before you moved to L.A., Sam's like another sister to me, and I don't think there's anyone else I'd rather see her with."
"Thanks, Spence. That means a lot to me."
"Oh, hey Freddie, I almost forgot. How are you set for space at your apartment?" Spencer finally remembered why he had called Freddie in the first place. "I'm coming to L.A. for an art show the first week of June and I was just wondering if you'd maybe be able to put Sonja and I up for a few days."
Freddie wasn't sure what to say. They already had Melanie staying in their spare room and Carly was planning on spending the summer with them. "Uh, let me check with Sam and Mel. I mean, it's fine with me, but I'd better make sure they don't have anything planned. You know how girls are."
"I understand, Freddie. Just let me know as soon as you can, because if we need to find a room, I'd better get hunting one before too long."
"Will do, Spencer. I'm sort of in the middle of a study session for finals, could we maybe talk a bit more later?" Freddie was sure if he didn't soon get back his study group would be done.
"Sure, kid. Just let me know on the room thing, OK."
So now Carly's let her secret slip, and we know Spencer's going to be visiting L.A., who else might show up? Don't despair, lots of laughs with Seddie in the next chapter.