Disclaimer: I am neither Nick nor Dan. I have no rights to the characters, plot similarities, concepts, etc. related to iCarly. I am just a fan writing it in little relation to the actual events occurring within the actual show. Thank You :)
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2 months Later
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Freddie was walking Sam down the hallways and barely making it to classes on time. He carried her bags and got her lunch trays. He made sure she took her prenatal vitamins before school and that she only ate prepackaged, low-carb, low-sugar foods. They took the bus home and when she was home she never lifted anything. He even convinced his mom to stand in the bathroom while Sam showered to make sure she didn't fall and hurt herself.
See, Sam was showing now. She was four and a half months along and her bump was extremely small but it was round and obvious on her body. She wore loose t-shirts and baby-doll style tops so that nobody noticed. It took everything in her not to rub her belly in class. She couldn't feel movements yet but she had grown accustom to always rubbing small circles on her tummy. She was gaining her maternal instinct in leaps and bounds and it was getting difficult to separate those emotions from the ones she was supposed to have at school.
Freddie was doing repair work on computers after school to bring some extra cash aside from the small pittance that they got from iCarly ads. Sam didn't know what to do to bring her own money in to help buy baby items. Freddie had bought a dozen yellow and green bottles, binkies, and outfits. His mother was buying little socks and large shipments of diapers. All of these things were bought online so that nobody caught them buying stuff because Mrs. Benson and Freddie were still the only people to know about Sam.
Although, Carly seemed a tiny bit suspicious.
Sam was thankful that Carly decided to keep iCarly going. They were making it longer to include self-manufactured commercials to bring extra money for all of them. She said that they were heading into 'big changes in their lives' and that they 'needed the extra cash for more mature things' that are 'necessary to survive.' She asked Gibby if he would be a good boyfriend like Freddie. Then she would correct herself calling him her fiancé. A couple months ago Gibby proposed to Carly over a huge plate of Pini's pasta. Then she'd ask Sam if she and Freddie had any plans. Sam would quickly tense up and say 'not really' and pretend that she didn't have a baby growing inside of her.
Carly always tried to get Sam alone but Freddie never let it happen. He even went as far as quitting his AV club so that he was with Sam all hours of the day that he could be. Carly tried getting Freddie alone and he'd insist that Sam needed to company.
Oh, and when she asked why Sam moved in with the Benson's all they said was that Sam and her mother couldn't stand each other anymore. One thing lead to another and Sam found herself homeless. Mrs. Benson always went along with it whereas Sam's mother thought it was true. She spent her days in a haze ever since Melanie got her starring role in Gleam, a show about singing cheerleaders and their football star friends who can only deal with their problems through music.
Sam never did tell her mother about the pregnancy. She just started an argument and was moved out in the matter of three days. At the Benson's she still kept her own room and rarely ever slept in Freddie's room because now that she was starting to show she needed more space in order to be comfortable. Instead, Freddie's mom bought a futon that Freddie would often go sleep on to make sure that Sam was still alright.
It was the end of the school day and Freddie was stressed because he had five errands to run for computers, three for computer parts, and one house-call diagnostic. He had originally wanted to take Sam home but Spencer invited Mrs. Benson to a live taping of a cookie competition in town and Freddie refused to let Sam be home alone.
"I can go home, Freddie. I'm not a porcelain doll!" She was fighting his decision because she wasn't at a stage in her pregnancy where she needed to be guarded every minute of every day. She didn't need a text every half hour asking if she was alright and did she think she would be ok for the rest of the class period. Was she hungry? Did she need someone to talk her to the bathroom? What does she want for lunch today? Do you feel kicking yet? What do you want to do tonight? Maybe we could do some maternity exercises in the living room. Sam was sick of it. She just wanted to go home and lay down undisturbed and relax for one second and maybe just stop worrying about people finding out she was pregnant. Just for a little bit. Sam didn't think it was too much to ask.
"I don't want you to go home. I want you by my side so I know that you're safe." Sam loved that he was so protective but it royally peeved her off when he acted as if she couldn't make logical decisions.
"I'm pregnant, not incompetent." She grumbled in her seat not caring who heard or saw. She put her hands on her belly and pouted as Freddie tried to hush his own voice, which was terrified. There were a few students from school sitting around them. They were sure at least one of them heard. Freddie was angry but Sam was fine by it. She didn't want to hide it anymore. It was causing to many problems and if Carly was engaged to Gibby with no insults then she might be able to get away with being pregnant. It was an unlikely stretch but Sam handled the unlikely with poise. Freddie, well, he did not.
"Sam, please don't do this here. I love you and I just want you here with me." He was almost begging her to be understanding. However understanding wasn't Sam's mood that day. She hadn't been approved for the insurance yet but when it came in she would be meeting her OB for the first time. Until them she was visiting Timed Transitions and speaking with the nurses there about what she should be doing and what she could expect. Mood swings was definitely one of those things.
"If you love me than please just let me go home and go to freaking bed. I want to go to sleep. I want to rest. I want to have one evening where I don't have to worry about anything. I want to go somewhere where I don't have to make sure my arms are by my sides all day. It'd be nice to move freely for once." Again she spoke just a little too loud of Freddie's comfort. At this point he could hear people whispering about Sam and the fact that they thought her say she was pregnant. Freddie tried to close his ears by he kept hearing the conversations.
Did you hear Sam Puckett? I think she said she was pregnant. That's a disaster!
Sam Puckett? Pregnant? She can't even take care of herself! Poor Freddie…
Freddie and Sam as parents is a bad news…I hope they aren't keeping it.
And Freddie's personal favorite by the end of the ride, I didn't ever think someone would sleep with Sam. She's a scary chick. And she eats everything in sight. I wonder if she bit his penis off when she was done with him…like a praying mantis! Sam must have been pleased with her handiwork because she ended up going to Freddie anyway. She was calm and collected and even somewhat helpful. Freddie even would let her go to the hardware stores if they were just down the street.
Finally, they were at their last stop and it was six in the evening. It wasn't a fantastic way to start the weekend but it was part of being a grown-up. He was just thankful that for now he could have Sam near him always. It was the diagnostic. When he showed up with Sam they were more than understanding. At first he didn't see why or what it was to motivate them to cater to Sam so precisely. They had a small sandwich and a drink within minutes. They offered her a seat at their couch. Freddie was suspicious when they started asking how she was doing and if she needed a ride back home, Freddie included, and where they were staying. Even Sam started beating around questions because they seemed so forward. That's when a teenager with a baby in her arms came down, a guy from their school close behind. He had been sitting directly across the aisle from them on the bus. He waved shortly. Now they knew why.
"Oh, your kid had a kid. I was wondering why you were giving me the 21 questions bit." Sam let herself finally relax and let go. She put her hand on her belly and started really answering questions. She was fine, and the baby seemed to be fine. She was living with Freddie and his mom, and that Freddie was trying to bring extra cash to buy some supplies before the baby comes. She explained that they rode the bus everywhere and any walking she did was small but still safe for the baby. They were nodding and telling their story. The boy was their son but found himself with a pregnant girlfriend a little more than a year ago. His name was James, someone they had seen in the halls many times. He always looked so normal. His parents watched as his girlfriend was kicked out of her home, forced to work 40 hour weeks and drop out of school waiting for their son to tell them the truth. They explained how hard it was to adjust to the reality of having a teen child become a parent but how wonderful it was too. Sam found sanctuary in the walls. She was somewhat normal there.
"Well, Sam, I think it's safe to say you'll be the talk of the school tomorrow." Freddie still wasn't pleased with the possibility that tomorrow she would be called nasty names and be picked on. Only in brevity did he think of what it would do for iCarly. Hell, he wondered what it was going to do to Carly. She would have a choice to make. Defend Sam and be ridiculed the ways she used to be in the early days of their friendship, or finally make the decision to not be friends with Freddie and Sam and join in on the insults. This was ill-timed and completely horrific.
Sam dismissed herself politely to go see the baby in the next room. James' girlfriend was a move-in from L.A. and her name was Victoria. At the time she had been living in Seattle for a short period of time. Her sister had gotten television deal to be in a comedy show and the family uprooted from L.A. to be there. Since then her family moved out of Seattle leaving Victoria behind with her daughter, Justice, and nothing to build her life up from. They were lucky that James' parents were so understanding.
"Is being a mom hard? You guys seem completely normal. You don't look tired or disgruntled, nothing." Sam asked with her hands on her hips. Her bump was small and unseen but she could feel the difference around her belly. The sweater was a little more flat where her tummy protruded the most. Onlookers wouldn't have seen a difference but to Victoria and James it appeared pretty obvious.
"Of course it's hard. Being a parent is the hardest thing you'll ever have to do! Ten times worse than going to high school, but when you see that smiling face in the morning it seems so easy. Everything is worth it at the end of the day when I put my head on the pillow and finally she's not crying for me to get right back up." Sam and James both cracked a smile. She had a naturally funny and kind demeanor about her. Sam looked her up and down as she bounced the baby on her knee. She looked like a stick. There was no roundness to her body, no extra koosh, no extra weight. She looked slender and fatless. Sam admired her post-baby body and hoped she looked that good after she had her child.
"As far as looking tired, we both just take good care of our bodies. We take different pills and vitamins to make-up for the all the stuff we miss. Victoria gets up early with the baby and I stay up late. On top of that, Tori is taking an online High School set of classes to get a basic diploma and works a thirty-five hour week at the local Coals Department Store. I go to school, as you know, and work in a car shop on the weekends. My parents help out a lot by letting us live here and babysitting for free but don't be mistaken. We are exhausted all the time." It was the most Sam had ever heard James speak before. She had heard him answer a question in classes or something like that, but hearing him now was awkward and definitely the first time. Sam had to spend a few moments reviewing what he was saying to her.
"Can I hold her?" Victoria nodded and moved Justice toward her arms. Sam cradled the baby and bounced her as she swayed side-to-side. Justice began making cooing sounds and kicking her legs. At first Sam thought she was throwing a fit and didn't like her but James reassured her that the only person she did that for was 'mommy.'
"She must sense the mommy in you. Babies know when someone is calm and kind like a mommy and when someone is mean and unpleasant like some of James' friends." Victoria went on to complain that for some time James didn't let his friends know he was having a baby and never let them come over to visit. It happened that one day when he was sick one of them brought his homework by and saw Victoria with the baby in the background. After that James' friends all showed up and started asking questions and wanting to hold Justice. They wanted to be friends with James' understand his situation, apparently. However, Victoria promised that Justice knew the bad friends from the good.
"She's done a good job of scaring off the bad influences. Mostly it's only this kid named Gibby and his girl Carly who come to visit. Gibby lives just down a couple blocks and he always buys James a hot dog when he sees him taking Justice on a walk. Always gives Justice a dollar, too. Justice loves him!" Sam felt herself get a tiny bit cold and uncomfortable. Gibby and Carly were friends with someone who had a baby? Suddenly she remembered that James was one of Carly's final picks when she put her up on the speed dating thing. He eventually didn't beat out Mr. Gabs-a-lot but Sam still found herself shocked.
"She's friends with Carly, Tori. Sorry Sam, she doesn't watch iCarly and usually Carly doesn't talk much about the show. She loves Justice so they usually talk mommy-talk when she's over." Victoria looked a little hurt that she hadn't recognized Sam but Sam didn't care. It was nice having someone not know her as the Carly's sidekick. She insisted it was fine but Victoria went on to pull up and episode on her phone.
By the end of the visit Sam had changed Justice's diaper, learned to make formula, and obtained a list of the best baby products for diaper rash, baby acne, and clothes cleaning. She got Victoria and James' numbers so that they could keep in touch. She also made sure to text Carly asking her if she wanted to hang out. Even Freddie agreed approaching Carly alone after hearing of her friendship with Victoria might be a good idea. Carly accepted the invite and told them Spencer had made spaghetti tacos and homemade sherbet ice cream.
"Sam, Freddie!" Spencer was plating the food when they got there and Carly was stuck to her phone texting Gibby. For the first time Sam could clearly see the ring that Gibby had given her. It was a family heirloom that had been used to propose to women for five generations or something like that. It was a simple square cut diamond on a golden band with the last name Gibson on the inside. Well, that engraving bit was something she remembered Carly hyping up. Carly Gibson? Samantha Benson? Strangely enough both names sounded pretty nice together.
"Spencer." Freddie did the honor of greeting him for he both of them. Quickly then got into their seats and started digging in. Freddie asked Carly about the rehearsal and if they could do it one night earlier since he had some errands to run for his 'business.' Carly agreed. Freddie asked Spencer if he saw some nerd show the night before and they continued nerding it up until a lull in conversation again was present and Sam was the only one who hadn't really spoken.
"We met Victoria today, Carls. Freddie had to run a diagnostic on the family laptop." Sam hadn't gotten very good at easing into topics despite the fact that she was progressing in every other area of life. Carly smiled and seemed completely unbothered by the bluntness of her statement. Instead, Carly sighed and looked up innocently.
"Isn't Justice adorable? She's just an absolute angel!" Spencer seemed to be aware of Carly was talking about and didn't seem too uncomfortable discussing it. He even went onto say that she looked like she would be a cute kid and could maybe model or something. Freddie started double-taking on Sam waiting for her to break the news. It was ten minutes of talking about how Carly met Victoria and Justice and how fun it was being friends with someone who had a baby. Sam went on to say how great it was chilling with them while Freddie worked on computers and that she got to hold Justice.
"She was the good for you? But don't you hate kids?" Carly seemed genuinely surprised and somewhat hurt that Justice didn't do that for her. Freddie saw Sam's grin. She gently put down her fork and crossed her arms over her itty-bitty baby bump.
"Actually, Carly, I have something to tell you about kids." Spencer and Carly both were a little surprised and confused by what Sam was trying to say. Freddie watched Sam stand up and removed her sweater. Underneath these she wore tight white shirts, typically, and exposed her rounded stomach. Carly's jaw dropped but found itself again grinning and squealing with happiness. Spencer made a 'yucky' sound before running and screaming into his room – naturally acting childish.
Freddie watched Sam and Carly become the real friends that they should have been for years. They talked all about how it happened, when she found out, how come she had been hiding it, the real reason she moved in with the Benson's, her plans, about gender and names, and when Freddie and Sam would get married. Sam wasn't faking it and Carly had become a tolerable and nice person once again. It had taken half a year for them to reach this point but finally, for the first time, they were all really friends with no strings attached and no secrets. Just friends. It was one less stress that Freddie had to worry about. And one less person who would be calling Sam names at school Monday morning.