Chapter 10

Nevel was sullen and withdrawn. He did not even bother hitting on Tori, who had shortened her skirt by two inches, and her blouse by a whole size. Freddie was listening intently.

"So… Dustin, acting on some intention to get Overlord to pay attention to him again, kidnapped your daughter. You and Gibster tracked him down, and now he's disappeared?"
They both nodded. He rolled his eyes in frustration, then left.

Tori followed him. Freddie plopped down onto a chair. She wound her fingers into his shoulders, imitating Carly's technique poorly. She was riling him up. Freddie grimaced uncomfortably.

Tori stepped back in defeat. Freddie practically growled her away. Carly put a reassuring hand on Tori's shoulder momentarily, then stepped forward. Hands knowing his heartbeat touched his hair, stroking it. They moved to his neck, twirling there. He suppressed a giggle. Then the thumbs found a knot. They smoothed the area around it, taking in the tension, then alternated pushing and pulling. He let out a groan of release.

Freddie leaned back into Carly's soft hands, sighing. She flexed, he sighed deeper. The knot disappeared. His shoulders sagged out of relaxation.

"Freddie, I have something I want you to sign," Carly whispered.

Chapter Ten

The girls lined up with their daddies. Phil could hardly keep little Kara beside him. She was trembling with excitement. Sarah kept her calm, though. Freddie was going down the line, shaking hands, meeting the kids. Nevel was on his computer using a program to determine which child would be growing into a hottie.

He was withdrawn, but still a jerk.

Freddie came to Kara and Sarah. He knelt down gently and gave her a hug. She called him a 'nub' eliciting a gasp from her father. Freddie was fine with it though, it was such a Sam thing to do. Sarah was just so excited to meet Fred Benson.

I know what you feel, Gibby. I know what I am, what I have done that's so wrong. I know what it's like to not see the father of your child.

Freddie looked into Sarah's eyes as she stared into his, both of themselves losing a moment.

I know better than anyone Gibb, what it's like to have to deal with intense guilt over one night.

They connected. Sarah Hugged Freddie tighter than any stuffed animal in her room. She hung off his neck, dangling her feet girlishly from him. Their hair was an identical dark black. She sighed contentedly, lost in the strength and comfort he brought.

Flashback!

Freddie 'The Better Son' Benson, a highly respected newcomer, was announcing that he was not wearing underwear. The party, already full-swing and full of drunk college students, cheered even louder. Someone gave him a sword. It was not a terrible idea. Just as Freddie could still program drunk, he was still a good fencer. He swung it over his head. Carly, still in college, cheered him on. After winning his first national college match, Freddie was ready to party hard. And anyone who thought to try and stop them would likely be run through.

Freddie, too, had lost himself in the moment. So much loss had affected him. It had been wonderful to see Sam's daughter. Kara was Sam's, that he knew, but she was now Phil's. But Sarah no longer had a father in her life. Freddie knew that kind of pain. He knew the kind of loss she would be experiencing right now. So maybe they could hold onto the other a little while longer.

Freddie leapt from the table like a buccaneer. He landed in the arms of his inebriated friend. Carly screamed with delight. Something about seeing him out there, swinging his sword about, was attractive to her. They danced together; first, a catchy pop hit, and then a sex-laden rap came on, during which Carly displayed a surprising amount of knowledge of striptease. After displaying an in-depth knowledge of putting her 'marshmallows to the pole, and blow on the coals' she landed, puffing, and breathless in Freddie's arms, only for a slow jam to come on.

Carly watched them together. Freddie had constructed an entire town to give his daughter the best possible life. And until today, the two had not even met. He let Sarah down. Freddie had work to get to. Kara and Sarah bounced up and down.

Freddie was a bit distant now; his dancing was a bit sloppy. Carly pulled a bit of hair to make him pay attention. Sam had broken up with him, obviously, but every time she did, he felt like it was his fault. They were always conscious of the other one…

Freddie waved good-bye, and left for his offices. Kara and Sarah had already gained control of an office, and decided to put on a little show for Phil and Carly. It was awesome.

Carly could not stand to see him in so much pain. She took him by his hand into a closet, and let him cry himself into a drink. A bit tipsy herself, Carly lost a bit of control. It started as a kiss on his head, the kind Marissa gave him. Then his cheeks, like she used to.

Freddie was gone now. Nothing of him remained but his daughter. Even that was not broadcast to the public. His daughter and her friend were so good, Nevel stuck around to watch them. The application on his watch deactivated, but the smug look on his face was still apparent.

"Freddie just couldn't keep it tucked, could he?" He whispered in Carly's ear, "And people think I'm the sex maniac!"
Carly gasped, her eyes wide, oh no, not Nevel, anybody but Nevel. Somehow his computer must have told him something she herself had taken nine months to figure out. Sarah was so smart, and so practical, just like her mother. Just like her father.

That dark room stopped being cold as two friends shared a victory kiss, and so much more.

Dustin had never known Carly had cheated on him. Yes, he had been flaky, but he had not been so bad that they were not technically separated.
You're not her father!

Carly let a tear drop. Freddie could not find out, ever. She had to work for him, penance for her sins. She had to get up tomorrow morning at six and pay for cheating on her boyfriend every day by facing the man she loved, the father of her child, and not feel love in return. She had to go day to day, working as a single mother, alone, because of what she did. Cheaters never prosper. In this case, a cheater had to remain alone, and miserable, for the rest of her life.

But at least she could return every night and have Sarah. And at six in the morning, that was certainly enough.

A.N. (Exciting theme plays) Well, I hope you enjoyed. Let's get a few things out of the way, the final chapter first. If you recall from 'ISecretary', Freddie was a fencer in college. The scene described follows one of his wins. I kind of had it in mind when I referenced it in the last story, but then the whole, 'we both have significant others' came into play.

So there's that. Then I realized it was perfect. Seddie is all about conflict. They'd get together only to break back apart. As for Carly, she's not the cheating type, but she is the healing kind. When Freddie is in such deep pain, and drunk... Well, I mean that she always makes mistakes. Carly had Freddie, but lost him. I think that the writers have made her a bit crazy for boys. Every time I tune into an episode she seems to be discussing a boy.

I clearly am no teenaged girl, but it seems obsessive. So I went with it. In college, she falls for the wrong guy because the right one is with her best friend. Then tons of stuff happens behind her back.

I decided I'd leave paternity tests out of it. It makes the whole thing a mess. For Freddie, Kara symbolizes what he always wanted with Sam, but could never have. The same goes for Sarah for Carly. If Freddie knew he was Sarah's, but not Kara's, father, would he switch? It's a disgusting thought.

See, Carly realizes with Phil and Keeley that they have the secret to getting together she and Freddie don't. Freddie sees it as the secret that he never had with Sam. In this world, he isn't supposed to be with Sam, that's the secret. As for Gibby, I wanted to explain how he got into the business. With guilt (like Carly's) over screwing Sam pouring out him, he too has unfinished business. That's why he tracked down Kara for Freddie, and has been keeping an eye on her.

Now, let's get to the real question; why don't I just kill off Nevel? My version of him is a jerk, and I hope you agree that he's compelling. I love this guy. He's the devil. He turns a knight in shining armor into a shell of his former self, turns a loveable boy into an underhanded killer, and torments Carly for her indiscretions.

So why should I kill him off? What has he done that's so wrong?

Give me three reviews, and I'll write another one. This next story being the end, and I'll kill Nevel. Deal?