A/N: Thank you all for the reviews and views for the story this far and S/O to Mike2101 for having me dying of laughter with his comment. Yeah Dana can be a piece of work… at least when it comes to here daddy.

Anyways, hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 9

*Friday*

"So, I received official confirmation from our connections in UK, France, and Spain. They have confirmed advertising space and the UK wants to see a commercial draft. They are a little worried about the language barriers, so I would suggest hiring someone bilingual after I'm gone." Sam told the board in her monthly progress report.

She looked over at Freddie, who should have even been there, but he wanted to see how progress is coming. At least that's what he claimed. He winked at her which caused Sam to smile before shifting her eyes away.

"The budget increase has done beyond what I could hope. We are still waiting to hear back from some of the other countries on the list that Anthony provided, but are hopes are high that they will cooperate as well." Sam finished taking her seat between Abby and Anthony.

Everyone began to clap and Gerald took over the meeting. After he said what he needed to say. Since he was there Freddie gave an impromptu progress report on his production team. Then the meeting was adjourned.

Sam began to pack up as everyone left out. Freddie stood on the opposite side of the room and watched her while he talked to one of the staff members. Sam told Abby what she needed for the rest of the afternoon and Abby left to get on it while Anthony approached Sam.

"Samantha," He said causing Sam to look up from her briefcase.

"Hey," She said placing it aside to talk to him.

"I just wanted to say you've done a great job and it's only been one month." He said placing his hands in his pockets.

"Thanks," Sam said. "You have a great team under you Anthony. It's easier when everyone is cooperating."

Freddie looked over and didn't like what he was seeing. Anthony was inching closer and closer to Sam as they talked and she was smiling at him. He knew he could be over reacting, but he couldn't help his thoughts.

"So, listen I was thinking that maybe we could go out and celebrate tonight. You know just drinks and dinner maybe, if you're not busy." Anthony stated. Sam knew he was clearly asking her out. He had been hinting around it since she knew him.

"Oh," Sam responded looking over at Freddie who was now no longer paying attention to who he was talking to. "Look Anthony, that sounds really fun and all, but I can't. I'm in something really complicated and hard to really define, and I think having dinner with you would only complicate things worse."

Anthony face showed a slight disappointment "It's okay I understand. I hope this guy who is making things complicated realizes what he has." Anthony stated. "However, if he doesn't get his act together… you have my number."

With that he walked away. He and Freddie caught eyes for a few seconds holding their own macho man eye battle before he left the room. Freddie made sure the coast was clear before he walked behind Sam.

He placed a kiss on her cheek. "I'll see you tonight." He whispered causing Sam to roll her eyes. She turned and looked at him.

"Nothing's changed yet Freddie. I meant what I said to Anthony this is really complicated, and I don't think I have time for complicated." She said back.

"Yeah, we'll talk about it tonight." He said. "You look beautiful today."

Sam laughed. "Flattery will get you no where Mr. Benson." Sam said back.

Freddie shook his head and headed towards the door. "Learn to take a compliment Miss Birks." He said with one final wink and headed to the workshop.

*That Night*

Sam was in the bathroom flat ironing her hair. "I can't believe I'm doing this. Am I crazy for doing this?" She asked Abby who sat on the toilet watching Sam get ready.

"I mean Sam if nothing else you can get closure from this." She stated.

"Closure," Sam hissed. "Every time I was supposed to get closure with that man it ended up as something else." Sam stated moving towards her favorite purple cocktail dress. It was a bodycon style and stopped right above her knee and had a tasteful plunging neckline.

She slid into it and turned to face her friend.

"Wow, you look hot Sam." She said. "A little too hot if you ask me. You sure you're not expecting anything from this?' Cause you look like you're trying to you know…"

"That's it I'm changing." Sam said heading to the closet, but Abby stopped her.

"Oh no you don't, Freddie will die when he sees you in this dress." She said. "And, if you don't come home tonight I'll know why." She finished with a knowing look.

"We're not having sex." Sam stated as clear as day.

"Why not, you've been in a major drought." Abby said. "Besides there is no sex like heated discussion sex."

"How do you know the conversation is going to be heated?" Sam asked going to the bathroom to put on the minimum make up necessities.

"Oh come on, after all the shit he put you through. I know it's not going to be as simple as I love you. I need you. Please baby, please, take me back." Abby said. Sam just rolled her eyes.

"I don't even think I want him back." Sam said. Abby just looked at her. "What the hell is that look for?"

"Sam, you wouldn't be willingly dressed like that if you didn't still love him." She said.

"In the words of Tina Turner, What's Love Got to Do With It?" Sam stated back heading back to her closet to put her shoes on.

"Sam, at least hear him out before you decide that it's not worth it."

"Um hello Devil's Advocate, you were just talking about all the shit he's put me through." Sam said back.

"I meant don't make it easy for him to get into your pants, not lock him out forever." Abby said.

"Is everything about sex to you?" Sam asked.

"No, but for you talking about sex is a lot easier than talking about love." She said back. Sam just stayed quiet proving the fact. "I know we're here temporary, but you can enjoy it while we're here."

"That's easier said then done. I don't want to… get my hopes up to get crushed. I've been crushed and the fact that it was by the same person, who's going to ring our doorbell any minute now, makes me a little hesitant. And, you're right it wasn't all him. I played my part kept my mouth shut too, but I don't know."

"He's trying here Sam." Abby said back.

Sam laughed and shook her head. "Yeah, thirteen years later," She commented back.

"Hey, you're the one who vanished and left no trace of your whereabouts." Abby reminded her. Sam shrugged her shoulders. "Look, stop worrying about it just got out and go with the flow. Have fun."

"I will," She said giving her a hug. When they pulled apart Sam looked her over and noticed that she was still fully dressed with makeup on. They had got home from work around five and it was about to be 8:30. "What are you doing tonight?"

Abby looked down. "Oh, well nothing much just hanging out with Gibby." She said.

"Gibby, my friend Gibby, as in Orenthal Cornelius Hayes Gibson, that Gibby," Sam said back.

"Well yeah, when he came to L.A. we talked and he said that if I ever came to Seattle he would show me around. Here I am, and I've been putting him off for work and to hang with you. But, since you were going out tonight I figured what the hell."

"Wait I thought you were seeing someone in L.A?" Sam retorted.

"Oh Miguel that scrub. He never wanted to do anything than when I told him I was coming here he flipped the hell out. He didn't want me to come so I told him to take the six months to get his shit together, and we'll see how it goes. Here in Seattle now I'm single. So, I'm going to let your friend take me sight seeing and feed me."

Sam nodded she saw her point.

They doorbell rang and Sam suddenly felt nervous again. Abby went to go answer the door. Sam heard her talking to Freddie and right behind him walked in Gibby. The whispering continued before Abby came back into Sam's room.

"Freddie's here, and me and Gibby are leaving. Remember what I said. Have fun and just go with it." She said.

Sam nodded. "Have fun, and whatever you do don't let Gibby take you to the liquid soap store. You'll never want to go anywhere else with him again." Abby nodded and left out. Sam heard the door shut. She took a deep breath and checked herself before making her way out to the main room.

Freddie was sipping on a beer that Abby must have given him and looking at the art work placed around the room. Sam bit her lip as she watched him. He was dressed in a simple pair of slacks and a dress shirt.

She cleared her throat causing him to turn around. "Hey Freddie," She said with a smile.

Freddie stood there with his jaw on the floor as he took in the sight that was Sam. "Wow, you look… wow," He said.

"Thank you," Sam said getting closer to him. She made her way over to his side of the room and stood really close to him. She did enjoy the nervous expression he made as she reached behind him to grab her bag off the table.

When she pulled back he let out a deep breath he didn't even realize he was holding. "Shall we go?" She asked innocently walking back towards the front door.

He nodded his head and ran to beat her to the door to hold it open for her. He watched her thank him and walked pass him. His eyes followed her out and landed on her ass. He closed them and faced back towards the penthouse. He looked up to the heavens. "Oh dear God help me." He whispered before following Sam to the elevator.

When they got to the restaurant they sat and ordered, but not a word was said between them. "Wow," Sam said as she sickened of the silence. "First date we couldn't stop arguing and now we can't seem to find anything to say to each other. I'm starting to think Pini's is bad luck." She said causing Freddie to laugh.

"I'm sorry, I didn't even realize I was quiet." He said back. He just stared at Sam.

"Say something Freddie," She said when she notice he was looking but nothing was coming out.

"You're very distracting in that dress Birks." He said back to her. Sam shook her head and they laughed.

"Well, I could take it off, but I'm sure that wouldn't help you any." She said before taking a sip of her wine. She stifled a laugh when Freddie's mouth drop and breathing noticeably picked up. "Besides I've kept my record clean for thirteen years, I really don't think I need to jeopardize that with a public nudity charge."

"I'm sorry which part of this conversation is supposed to be helping me focus?" Freddie stammered. Sam laughed and shrugged her shoulders. "You really haven't changed PUCKETT! You still don't fight fair."

"You don't get as far as I have gotten in my field in such a short period of time by fighting fair. Beside all work and no play makes for a very dull Samantha Birks." She said taking another sip.

"Boring was something you were never really good at Sam. At least not when you were a Puckett" He said. "You were the one who kept me and Carly on our toes with your antics." He finished with a laugh, but stopped when he realized he mentioned Carly.

He looked back at Sam, she didn't look pissed. She looked indifferent.

"How is she doing? Really?" Sam finally asked.

Freddie shrugged. "She's good. She loves being a mom and she's a great one. However, she stays mad at me." He said with a laugh trying to lighten the tension at the table.

"Why," Sam asked.

"She blames me for everything. I don't blame her though. I made a lot of mistakes. I let her believe we were more than we were. I tried to love her the way she wanted me too and for awhile I believed I did, but my head and heart were saying two different things." Freddie said. It fell silent again. They both knew what he was talking about.

"I'm sorry Sam." He said.

"Don't be," She said.

"I need to be, Sam if it weren't for me you wouldn't have left." He said. "You and Carly would still be you and Carly."

"Freddie, let's be honest you, me, and Carly had been a dangerous combination from the beginning." She said. "Yeah, we were great friends, but as we got older there was some underlining stressors to our relationship. It was inevitable that it was eventually going to affect our relationships in some kind of way."

"You dated two friends, but we let you." Sam said. "All the things we discussed and that was never one of them. Even after it happened with Shane and how we acted behind it. We let it happen again, but it was different. You don't have to apologize Freddie, because the fault is just as much as mine as it yours and Carly's too. You weren't the only one holding on to a false hope that if you date Carly all your feelings would just disappear."

Freddie just looked at Sam. "You leaving couldn't even make my feelings disappear." He said quietly. Sam heard, but chose not to comment she was tired of talking about it.

They changed the subject reminisced about the good times when they were younger. Talked about everything Sam had missed while she was gone.

After dinner was over they went walking around downtown hand in hand, to Freddie's disbelief. He didn't think she would let him hold her hand.

"I don't want to start anything we can't finish Freddie." Sam said. He looked over at her. "Can you honestly say you're going to be able to let me walk away in 4 months and 3 weeks?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, but I don't want to see you for the next 4 months and 3 weeks let you walk away again. Then, sit here and wonder what if."

"I don't know if I'm ready for this." She said stopping at a bench and sitting down.

"Ready for what?"

"This… this complication that is me, you, and Carly." Sam said and Freddie rolled his eyes. "Roll your eyes all you want Fredward, but the truth remains it was crazy as hell what we put ourselves through for those two years."

"Year and half actually," Freddie corrected causing Sam to glare at him. Freddie winced in normal fashion, when they were younger that correction would have got him hit.

"Whatever, it's all the same to me, and I'm the one who lost."

Freddie sighed and took Sam's hand. "You weren't the only one who lost. As a matter of fact you kind of surrendered." He started before he kissed Sam's hand. Me and Carly don't have that type of connection anymore Sam. Do we have a family together? Yes, but we're a different type of family now. I need you to understand this. I know it's not going to be easy on you, and if you really feel like you can't handle it. I'll let you go." He said.

"You know the thing I couldn't stand the most when we were younger." She said.

"The thought of her touching you, and vise versa; I remember when you two started dating the first time after the hit by a taco truck accident, and of course at the time I didn't know why it bothered me so much. But, every time you guys kissed I just felt sick to my stomach. I would close my eyes, look away, or try to focus on anything besides you two. Then when you two dated the second time it became quite clear. Freddie I can't handle you choosing her over me again."

Freddie leaned in and kissed her heatedly. "I didn't want to the first time." He whispered as he pulled away. Sam still doubted a little. She didn't know what she was really giving herself into, but she didn't see the harm in at least trying.

At the end of the night they sat in Freddie's car outside of Sam's temporary building. It wasn't long before there lips were on each other's again. They sat in the car for fifteen minutes neither made no moves to stop their act.

Sam finally came to her senses and stopped. She chuckled as she pulled back.

"What?" He asked as he leaned his head on his head rest as he looked at her. She simply shook her head, but when he moved back in for another kiss she stopped him.

"I'm trying to convince myself that taking you upstairs with me wouldn't be the best idea." She stated honestly. "If you keep kissing me like this I don't think I'll the will power to not do so."

He laughed. "I'm having a hard time trying not to convince you to let me do so." He said back.

"I'm sorry, I think we need to be able to think clearly about this arrangement, and if we hop into bed on the first night…"

"All clear thoughts will be out the window." Freddie finished her sentence knowing she was right. She nodded her head.

"But, I had a great time." She said back.

"Me too," He said back. "I have the kids next weekend, but maybe the weekend after that we can do this again."

"I would love that." She said. She leaned over and kissed him again. This time Freddie pulled back as he felt himself getting to a point of no return.

"You better get out of this car." He said but felt bad as he heard how it sounded. "I'm afraid that if you don't there will be no need to go upstairs." He stated looking at what he felt was a very spacious backseat, if he moved Dylan's booster.

Sam followed his eyes to the backseat and shook her head. "Alright, I'm not going to push your will power." She laughed as she opened her door. She got out and leaned over and left little pecks on his lips. "Go home. Take a cold. Shower. And, think of me." She said between kisses.

Freddie glared at her. "There you go again Puckett not playing fair." She smiled as she shut the door and headed upstairs.