Author's Note: Part II of Carly and Freddie's exploits at San Francisco General Hospital. Are Freddie's fears unfounded or is Carly's early labor a pre-cursor for tragedy in the Benson Family? A tad bit dramatic I know, but I got the cogs whirring in your brain with possibilities, right? Now onto the rest of the story...
Disclaimer: I do not own iCarly or the incessant shipping wars within the fandom ; )
"Where the hell have you been?" Carly snapped furiously, her face turning beet red.
"I called you 20 minutes ago. What took you so long?" Marissa demanded heatedly.
"Whoa, whoa. One angry woman at a time." Freddie protested weakly while waving his hands in front of him.
"Since Freddie's here now, I'm afraid you'll have to leave the room, Mrs. Benson." Carly's gynaecologist, Dr. Barnes, advised apologetically.
"That's alright. I'll see you all later. Good luck, Carly." Marissa called out as she left the room.
"Thank you, Marissa!" Carly greeted back amidst her shallow breaths.
"Carly, I'm so sorry I didn't get here sooner. How are you feeling?" Freddie asked gently as he removed a clump of sweaty hair from Carly's forehead with his hand.
"How do you think I'm feeling? It feels like I'm pushing a piano out of my vagina! And you weren't even here from the start!" Carly fumed angrily.
"Baby, I'm really sorry. But I got lost on the way up here." Freddie protested fearfully.
"You got lost? For God's sake, do you need fucking GPS navigation for everything these days? One minute, you can't find the grocery store, now you suddenly can't find your way to a hospital you've only been going to for the past few years while I'm trying to have a baby!" Carly shrieked maliciously.
"Seriously, are you completely unable to comprehend that I'm giving birth here? Or am I just invisible?" she demanded in an irate tone of her husband.
"Definitely not invisible," one of the male orderlies quipped under his breath while staring at Carly's gigantic pregnancy bulge.
"Carly, I'm so sorry, but I'm here now. Everything's going to be okay." Freddie murmured comfortingly.
"Oh my God, this hurts so much! Ooh, ooh, aargh!" Carly screamed while grabbing Freddie's hand and squeezing tightly.
"Carly, you need to start pushing now." Dr. Barnes commanded gently while positioning herself in front of the bed.
Carly gritted her teeth and obeyed, her skin drawn tightly against her cheeks while she began pushing with all her might and screaming at the top of her lungs.
"That's it, Carly. Come on, sweetheart, you can do it!" Freddie cheered enthusiastically, keeping a firm grip on Carly's hand.
"Oh my God, I hate you so much, Fredward Benson! You did this to me! Do you know how good I looked before I met you? Now I look like a beached whale and it's all your fault!" Carly yelled irately.
Freddie caught the eye of the orderly standing near the door (who was trying his hardest not to laugh out loud) and grimaced.
"That's okay, sweetheart, just let it out. You're just venting." Freddie chided gently.
"She does love me…way deep down," he added uncomfortably.
Carly's eyes were shut tightly, the tears running steadily down her cheeks while she inhaled and exhaled, the excruciating pain shooting through every nerve ending in her body.
"That's it, keep going. You're doing wonderfully, Carly." Dr. Barnes stated reassuringly with a broad smile on her face.
"Breathe, breathe. That's it, keep breathing, honey." Freddie chided soothingly.
"Aaargh! Urgh, Oh God. It hurts so much." Carly wailed painstakingly.
"I know, baby. But you've gotta push for just a little bit more. Just think of our baby girl, who's gonna be with us soon." Freddie replied comfortingly.
In the midst of her pain, Carly couldn't help laughing jubilantly at the thought.
"Oh my God, our baby's gonna be with us soon. We're going to be parents, Freddie." Carly whispered, her smile shining across her face which was shining with sweat.
Without really meaning to, Freddie's heart began thumping deafeningly in his chest while he processed this information for the second time in his life. And it was no less life-altering than the first time. It felt like his heart was swelling deep within, threatening to rip itself away from the rest of his body. In the midst of his deep-set happiness, Freddie's heart literally plummeted into the depths of his stomach when he heard the unthinkable: the terrifying sound of Carly and the baby's monitor ringing and beeping shrilly behind him.
And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
"The baby's vitals are dropping, Dr. Barnes!" one of the attending doctors called out sharply.
"Dammit!" Dr. Barnes cursed aloud.
"W-w-what's happening?" Carly asked weakly, her eyes dilated with fear.
"Dr. Barnes, what's wrong?" Freddie demanded shrilly, his worst fears on the fringes of being realised.
"The uterus has stretched because there's too much amniotic fluid in the womb. The baby's going into foetal distress!" Dr. Barnes exclaimed tersely.
And so it is
Shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her scars
"Is the baby going to be okay?" Carly questioned anxiously.
"She will be if we act now. I need you to stop pushing, Carly. We're gonna have to perform a C-section to get the baby out." Dr. Barnes explained rapidly.
"A C-section? Can't you get the baby out normally?" Freddie inquired nervously.
"I'm afraid not, Freddie. The baby's already at risk because she's premature. It's now or never." Dr. Barnes advised firmly.
"Do whatever you have to do. Please save my baby." Carly begged frantically, succumbing to tears once more amidst her ragged breathing.
"Carly, it's gonna be okay." Freddie chided softly.
"Is there time for an anaesthetic?" he asked quickly of Dr. Barnes.
"Yes there is. Let's start prepping." Dr. Barnes barked out sharply of the nurses and doctors standing around her.
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes
While one of the nurses began swabbing the area of incision around Carly's belly, one of the other doctors injected Carly with an anaesthetic. Another nurse handed Dr. Barnes a gleaming scalpel, which was blinding against the light hanging above their heads. Freddie sucked in a breath as his eyes unwittingly followed Dr. Barnes' hand as the scalpel travelled along the breadth of Carly's stomach, leaving a thin line of blood across the surface of her skin. All Freddie could do at this point was grip Carly's hand, say a prayer and watch helplessly as the doctors took over. The sound of Carly's screaming was deafening in Freddie's ears as his mind began wandering:
And so it is
Just like you said it should be
We'll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
Sam's screams in his ears were deafening, her steely grip threatening to break his hand in two. Her eyes were half-closed, the sweat dripping profusely down her face and through her hair, which was almost the colour of black under the dim lighting. Freddie had to fight the urge to retch right then and there at the bloodied hands of the doctors and nurses milling around his wife as Dr. Harris reached inside of Sam's belly to retrieve their baby girl…
The doctors and nurses were all milling frantically around Carly as she continued screaming at the top of her lungs. The cry sent a shock wave through his system, as if he were drowning in freezing cold water. He would do anything to make it stop, to just end hers and their baby's suffering. Freddie watched as one of the nurses handed Dr. Barnes a set of clamps which she used to reach inside of Carly to retrieve their baby girl.
And so it is
The colder water
The blower's daughter
The pupil in denial
Sam had screamed so much that day; worse than when was excited, worse than when she was irate. She was screaming like her body was being torn in half and set on fire at the same time. There was so much blood; he had never seen so much blood in his entire life on someone who was still alive and breathing…
Carly couldn't remember a time in her life before this when she felt so much pain; it was as if the agony was piercing her very heart, threatening to paralyse her entire being with numb compliance. Then she glanced to her left and saw her husband's face, smiling broadly even though she could tell he was scared. That gave her enough courage to keep going for him, and for their baby.
Ooh, did I say that I loathe you?
Did I say that I want to leave it all behind?
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind
Sam glanced to the left and saw Freddie's face beside her, smiling and encouraging her all the while. Her heart sunk in her chest at the thought that her time may very well be running out. No one had even said her words, but it felt as though her thudding heart was trying to tell her what the doctors would only discover a few hours later.
She was dying.
But she couldn't let Freddie see; she had to keep going, for him and their baby. All she needed was a few minutes, just a little more time for hope to prevail. With one last thunderous yell, Sam arched her back and craned her neck forward, giving herself over to one final moment of exhilaration before it was gone far too soon as her baby girl entered the world for the first time…
My mind
My mind
Till I find somebody new
Both Freddie and Carly were startled into silence by the unfamiliar sound of another person wailing piercingly through the tiny room. Dr. Barnes rose to her full height, her mask no longer covering her face. She was sporting a bright smile as she held the tiniest of babies in her arms. Both Freddie and Carly began laughing in awed disbelief at their baby girl, whose minute hands were balled into fists, her little face screwed up tightly while she howled incessantly.
Can this be true?
Tell me, can this real?
How can I put into words what I feel?
"Congratulations, Freddie and Carly. You have a beautiful baby girl." Dr. Barnes announced happily, looking on the verge of tears.
Carly succumbed completely to her emotions as she began crying progressively, her shoulders convulsing violently.
"Oh my God," Freddie murmured in wonder, his face shining with fresh tears.
"C-c-can I hold her?" Carly asked tentatively through her sobs.
Dr. Barnes nodded vigorously and walked cautiously towards the new parents with a wide smile on her face while carrying their newborn baby in her hands.
How can it be that right here with me?
There's an angel
It's a miracle
"Here you go," she whispered gently and carefully placed the tiny child in the crook of Carly's arm.
Freddie leaned over Carly while she held her daughter in her arms for the first time. Everything that Carly felt as the seconds passed while she held her baby couldn't possibly be put into words; all that she knew for certain was that she'd never felt happier and more complete. It was as if the tiny baby in front of her had summed up every one of her memories and choices, yet was still immensely more valuable than anything she had ever achieved in her life. She was convinced that this day trumped any other happy moment in her lifetime: when she, Sam and Freddie had recorded their first ever episode of iCarly; graduating from high school and college; falling in love with Freddie and then eventually marrying him. She had been wrong when she thought that the first time she and Freddie had kissed had been everything. This moment in time, holding the baby that had sprung forth from hers and Freddie's deep and passionate love for each other, this was everything.
Your love is like a river
Peaceful and deep
Your soul is like a secret that I never could keep
When I like into your eyes, I know that it's true
God must've spent a little more time on you
"She's beautiful," Freddie stated truthfully, cutting into Carly's vivid thoughts.
Carly chuckled at this and her smile brightened the more she looked at their new-born baby.
"Hi. I'm your Mommy. I've been waiting for months for us to meet in person. And now that we have…I couldn't be happier about it." Carly acknowledged sincerely while staring deeply into her little girl's brown eyes, which were a mesh of both hers and Freddie's eye colours.
In all of creation
All things great and small
You are the one that surpasses them all
More precious than any diamond or pearl
They broke the mold when you came in this world
"She looks just like you," she added softly.
"No. This one's all you, Carly. She's perfect." Freddie answered seriously.
Carly glanced up at Freddie and smiled deeply, her heart swooping in her stomach like she was falling in love with him all over again.
"I love you so much, Freddie." She breathed tenderly.
"I love you too, Carly. Always." Freddie responded, matching her tone.
He lowered his head and kissed their newborn baby gently on the forehead before his and Carly's lips met in mid-air for a few seconds before they eventually broke apart.
And I'm trying hard to figure out
Just how I ever did without
"Why don't you hold her?" Carly suggested kindly when she saw the look of pure euphoria etched on Freddie's face while he gazed down at his daughter.
Freddie's smile grew wider at the prospect and he gingerly took his little girl from Carly's arms and cradled her against his chest.
The warmth of your smile
The heart of a child that's deep inside
Leaves me purified
"Hey, beautiful. I'm your Daddy. I know this is all new to you. But I promise you, your Mommy and me will be here to guide you through it, through anything. We love you so much and we're so glad you're finally here with us." Freddie whispered genuinely while rocking his little bundle of joy to and fro in a rhythmic pattern.
The rest of the delivery room could very well have disappeared because both Freddie and Carly only had eyes for each other and their baby girl. This indeed was everything that either one of them could've hoped and dreamed for in a million years. The newest addition to their family had finally arrived.
10 November, 2028
Now that Carly was a bit more rested, Freddie helped her out of bed and pushed her in a wheelchair a few meters down the hallway from her hospital room so that they could see their newborn baby. They entered the tiny room where Dr. Barnes stood monitoring their baby and scribbling notes down on her clipboard. She glanced up from her work and smiled broadly at the married couple before her.
"Freddie, Carly. How are you both feeling?" Dr. Barnes welcomed brightly.
"I'm fine, thank you." Freddie answered stoically.
"I'm okay I guess. Still a little weepy though." Carly joked lightly.
"Well, that's perfectly normal. Your hormones are bound to be all over the place immediately after giving birth." Dr. Barnes explained sympathetically.
"How is she?" Carly asked hesitantly, referring to the baby.
"Doing a lot better. Her vitals are looking good." Dr. Barnes responded optimistically.
"How soon before we can take her home, Dr. Barnes?" Freddie questioned tentatively.
"It's difficult to say at this point. I'd like to keep her in the incubator for a few more days so that I can monitor her closely." Dr. Barnes replied evasively.
"A few more days? How serious is her condition, Dr. Barnes?" Carly asked anxiously.
"As I explained before, your baby's lungs are still a little premature because she decided to come knocking a few weeks early. As a result, she's developed what's called Respiratory Distress Syndrome or RDS, which is caused by a lack of a sufficient agent in her lungs called surfactant, which stops the lungs from ultimately collapsing. What she requires most right now is supplemental oxygen, which is currently being supplied to her via the ventilator and dosages of surfactant to help her lungs develop properly." Dr. Barnes clarified by gesturing to the plastic tubes and wires attached to and running along the incubator.
"Will this affect her overall development at a later stage?" Freddie questioned seriously.
"We won't know for sure until we've monitored her closely for a sufficient amount of time. But like I said, your little girl's a fighter and she's improving progressively. You've just got to have a little faith. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask anytime; you have my number and my pager. I'll leave you two alone with her while I run down to the lab quickly." Dr. Barnes responded kindly.
"Thank you, Dr. Barnes. For everything." Freddie stated graciously.
Dr. Barnes gave both Freddie and Carly a small smile before exiting the room. Freddie placed his hands on Carly's shoulders while she began sobbing quietly.
"It's gonna be okay, Carly." Freddie stated in a pacifying manner.
"I can't help feeling like it's my fault." Carly confessed morosely while she stared at her daughter through the see-through glass of the incubator.
"How can you say that, Carly? You couldn't have known that she'd come earlier than expected." Freddie answered soothingly.
"I know. And even though Dr. Barnes said that the reasons behind premature childbirth are mostly unknown, she said that one of the factors behind it is often due to the mother's own medical background. What if something in me caused our baby's lungs not to develop properly?" Carly demanded dejectedly.
"Carly, listen to me. There's absolutely nothing wrong with you. If there was, Dr. Barnes would've told us about it at an earlier stage during the pregnancy. You are not to blame, Carly. Sometimes these things just happen." Freddie responded reasonably while giving her shoulders a reassuring squeeze.
"I just feel so helpless right now." Carly admitted sadly while she watched their baby's minute intakes of breath as her tiny chest rose slowly up, then down again.
"Me too. But Dr. Barnes is right, we've just gotta have a little faith that our little girl is going to be just fine." Freddie stated warmly, bending his head towards Carly's face and kissing her gently on the cheek.
Carly cupped the side of Freddie's head momentarily and grasped his hand tightly while they continued watching their baby's every movement through the incubator.
"I'm sorry about what I said to you in the delivery room." Carly began awkwardly after about a minute of silence.
Freddie turned to face her with a quizzical expression on his face before Carly continued.
"When I insulted you and said that I hated you. I didn't mean it; you have to know that I don't feel that way towards you. My hormones were all over the place and I was in so much pain-"
"Carly, it's okay. I was there that day when Dr. Barnes explained about the possibility of your hormones going haywire doing the pregnancy. I was more surprised than anything else. Besides, Sam said worse things to me in the delivery room." Freddie explained dryly.
"Like what?" Carly asked with unrepressed intrigue.
Freddie rolled his eyes, recalling the words as easily as the statistics in a basketball game:
"Oh my God, this hurts so much! I swear to God, as soon as I'm finished here, I'm going to beat the shit out of you, Fredward! It'll be just like old times back in the quad at Ridgeway. Don't let this robe fool you; as soon as they take me off this IV-drip, I'm fucking you up on sight!"
"No way!" Carly exclaimed in delight after hearing Freddie's version of events.
"Way," Freddie affirmed grimly.
Carly didn't even try to stop herself as she began clutching her stomach and laughing, trying her best not to make too much noise.
"That's right, laugh it up. Everybody's a critic." Freddie remarked drolly.
"I'm sorry, honey. It's just…I can picture Sam saying something like that to you." Carly wheezed through her hysterical laughter.
Freddie decided then and there that a change in subject was necessary.
"We still need to decide on a name for the baby." Freddie reminded softly.
"You already vetoed all of my names." Carly reminded back dryly, causing Freddie to chuckle.
"I'm sorry, but Francine is not a viable name for our daughter." Freddie joked emphatically.
"What's wrong with it? I think it's pretty." Carly rejoined defensively.
"Francine is Ms. Briggs' first name. You do remember Ms. Briggs, don't you?" Freddie demanded wryly.
Carly's eyes widened in horror.
"Oh my God. I totally forgot that was Ms. Briggs' first name. We almost named our baby after Ms. Briggs!" Carly hissed in mortification, cupping her face in her hands.
"Correction: you almost named our baby after Ms. Briggs. There's no 'we' in this picture." Freddie amended while sniggering loudly.
"Fine, we dodged a major bullet there. Well, my other choice was Sawyer. What's wrong with Sawyer?" Carly challenged curiously.
"Sawyer Benson? Our baby will sound like some soup made with cough syrup." Freddie pointed out scathingly.
"Okay, Mr. Tech-Wiz. What do you suggest we call our daughter?" Carly demanded expectantly with her arms folded across her chest.
"Hmm, what about Lila?" Freddie suggested keenly.
"Veto." Carly retorted flippantly.
"What's wrong with Lila?"
"What's wrong with Lila? 'Hi, everyone. My name's Lila. It's short for Delilah, the name of a biblical whore!'"
"Alright, point taken. How 'bout Sarah?" Freddie pressed eagerly.
"Nah, it reminds me of Sarah Palin. Too many jokes about Alaska."
"What are you talking about, Carly? That was more than 10 years ago?"
"So? Some people never forget!" Carly quipped seriously.
Freddie pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
"This is hopeless. We're never gonna agree on a name for our baby." He stated tiredly while pacing the small room.
Carly made no response to this, but continued gazing at their baby while she slept soundly in her miniature bed. A smile curled on Carly's lips while she studied the way that her daughter's tiny hands were currently balled into fists while she slept. She was forcibly reminded of a similar stance that Sam occasionally used to take while she slept in Carly's bed back in Bushwell Plaza; Carly's guess was that Sam was most likely conjuring up new ways to torture unwitting victims like Gibby, even when she was asleep. That's when the answer hit her like a ton of bricks.
"Freddie," Carly whispered quickly.
Freddie gazed up from his pacing and looked over at Carly enquiringly.
"I know what we can call our baby." She announced gleefully.
"We're not naming her after a character out of 'Girly Cow', are we?" Freddie questioned knowingly.
"No," Carly drawled out with a scowl on her face.
"Why don't we call her Sam?"
Freddie's eyes widened in surprise, this being the last name that he had expected Carly to suggest.
"Sam?"
"Yeah. It's a name of someone that we both love and it's not too weird either. Plus, look at her hands. She could be a 'Sam' with her fists all balled up like that." Carly pointed out seriously.
Freddie followed Carly's gaze and furrowed his eyes in concentration. On a strange level, Carly did have a point. Their newborn child's current posture reminded him a lot of Sam, especially when she was dreaming up new ways to beat him into a pulp back in middle school.
"Besides being abrasive and a natural-born bully, Sam also had some other amazing qualities too. Like her loyalty, her willingness to defend the people she loves and her resilience. Things could've easily gone wrong in the delivery room. But they didn't, and I'd like to think that Sam was there with us a few days ago, watching over us to make sure that nothing bad happened, like a guardian angel. She named her daughter after me; so why can't we name our daughter after her?" Carly pressed seriously.
"Are you sure that's what you want though? You don't have to name the baby after Sam just because she named Carly after you." Freddie stated just as seriously.
"I know that, but I want to. The day that our baby girl was conceived, I was feeling really miserable about losing my best friend; I needed you to make me forget about we'd both lost. We both needed to feel more alive again. Sam named Carly after me because it was like having a part of me in both your lives even after I had left. I feel the same way about naming our baby after her. This way, it'll feel like she's still here in some small way." Carly responded concisely.
And tell me somebody is watching
Over me
And that is all I'm praying is that
Someday I will understand
In God's whole plan
And what he's done to me
Freddie made no response, but continued staring between Carly and their daughter with an immeasurable expression on his face. When he finally glanced back down at Carly, he was smiling broadly.
Oh but maybe
Someday I will breathe
And I'll finally see
I'll see it all in my baby
"Okay. Sam it is." He answered sincerely.
Carly matched his smile as the two of them turned to face their new-born baby once more, who still had her fists balled up at her sides. They both wore looks of contentment at the sight.
No moment will be more true
Than the moment I look at you
It's in you
You see somebody is watching over you
"Hi… Sam." Carly greeted gently, testing the waters ever so slightly.
"What do you think?" Freddie asked cautiously, trying to gauge the look in Carly's eyes.
A wide smile curled on Carly's mouth, her eyes locked on the incubator all the while.
"It's perfect." She breathed.
Freddie smiled in turn and entwined his fingers with Carly's as they continued staring at their daughter, who was asleep in a world of her own.
And that is all I'm praying is that
Someday you will understand
In God's whole plan
And what he does to you
12 November, 2028
"Someone wanna tell me why we're all assembled here late at night?" Shane asked suspiciously, breaking the silence.
"I have no idea. All Freddie said over the phone was to bring Carly and come to the hospital right away. He said it was an emergency." Marissa answered quickly.
"It better be. I'm missing out on a girl-on-girl mud wrestling contest on HBO." Gibby pointed out irritably.
"You are such a horn-dog, Gibby." Shane quipped in an undertone so that little Carly wouldn't hear.
"Grandma, is everything okay with Mom and the baby?" Carly Marissa asked nervously.
"I don't know, honey." Marissa admitted honestly.
"Hey, don't worry about it, kiddo. I'm sure everything's fine with your Mom and the baby." Gibby stated reassuringly while ruffling Carly Marissa's hair affectionately.
In answer to their question, Freddie came strolling towards them while they waited near the receptionist's counter.
"Hey, everyone. Where's James, Mom?" He inquired pleasantly while bending over to kiss and hug his daughter.
"Out of town visiting his daughter." Marissa responded casually.
"Aw, that's too bad. I was hoping he'd be here too." Freddie stated meekly.
"Yo, Freddie. You're kinda freaking us all out here. What's going on?" Shane pressed urgently.
"Yeah, hot girls in bikinis aren't gonna wrestle in mud by themselves, you know." Gibby retorted dryly.
"Actually, hot girls in bikinis can wrestle in mud without you there, Gibby. Would you all please come inside? Carly and I have some news." Freddie announced brightly, gesturing with his hand towards Carly's hospital room.
He then turned his back on them and they followed him inside. Carly was sitting up in bed now, but she wasn't alone. The four visitors gasped and murmured in awe at the tiny baby lying awake in Carly's arms, staring back at them with wide eyes.
"Hi, everyone. There's someone I'd like you to meet." Carly began by way of introduction in a low voice.
"Whoa," Gibby and Shane chorused in unison.
"Wow," Carly Marissa murmured slowly, mesmerised by how tiny her baby sister was.
"Oh my God, she's beautiful." Marissa whispered, happy tears brimming in her eyes as she moved closer towards the bed.
As the four of them moved closer with Freddie standing on Carly's right-hand side, Carly beckoned to her younger counterpart by patting a vacant spot on the bed next to her. Carly Marissa acquiesced and got onto the bed slowly as she stared more intently at the baby.
"She's so cute!" someone piped up unexpectedly near the pedestal next to the bed.
Everyone including Carly glanced over towards the pedestal and saw Kelly's face beaming from Carly's cellphone.
"Kelly, I'm so sorry! I forgot that you were still holding on!" Carly exclaimed sheepishly.
"It's so nice to know how much you treasure our friendship after all this time, Carly." Kelly responded sarcastically with a big smile on her face.
"She's so small." Shane marvelled.
"She's still a little underweight. But Dr. Barnes says that she's making good progress. She's got enough surfactant in her lungs now, so Dr. Barnes said we could keep her here in the room with us." Freddie explained patiently.
"When can you bring her home?" Marissa asked quietly.
"Probably in a few days' time." Carly answered with a small smile.
"Wow, Carly. She looks just like you, thank God. Can you imagine Freddie's nose on a tiny baby?" Gibby teased, causing everyone except Freddie to giggle and snigger.
"Watch it, Gibson." Freddie warned dryly.
"Yeah, Gibby, leave Freddie alone. I happen to like his nose." Carly joined in seriously with a grin on her face.
The seven of them continued staring wordlessly at the baby while she sucked contently on Carly's index finger.
"Um, as much as I enjoy 'quiet time', it's almost midnight and I've got an early start tomorrow. What are we all 'doing' here, Freddie?" Kelly asked expectantly, cutting into the silence.
"Yeah, what's going on? You know it's past Carly's bed-time." Marissa stated seriously.
Freddie and Carly glanced at each other momentarily before Freddie answered his mother's question.
"Okay. Well mine and Carly's news is that we finally have a name for the baby. Honey, would you like to do the honours?" Freddie asked politely of his wife.
Carly gazed up at her husband with a content smile on her face before turning to face everyone else.
"Everyone…I'd like you to meet…Samantha Emily Benson." Carly introduced gently.
Kelly was the first to break the silence once more out of everyone else.
"Oh, Carly, Freddie. That's a lovely name for her." She choked through her sniffles.
"It's perfect." Marissa added sincerely through her own tears.
"Really great name." Gibby agreed readily in a strangely high-pitched voice.
"Gibby, are you crying?" Shane asked in bewilderment.
"No. I just got a little dust in my eye, that's all." Gibby protested defensively while rubbing his eye with the back of his hand.
"Awesome name, you guys." Shane stated genuinely with a big grin on his face.
Carly stared down at her younger counterpart.
"What do you think, Carly-Bear?" Carly asked in a small voice.
Carly Marissa, who had been gazing attentively at her baby sister, looked up at Carly with a distracted expression.
"I think it's a really cool name. Mom would…she'd really like it." Carly Marissa finally answered while locking eyes with her older counter-part.
"You mean that?" Carly questioned nervously.
"Totally." Carly Marissa reiterated, a reassuring smile etched on her face.
Carly smiled back at her older daughter and placed her free hand around her shoulder while Carly Marissa began idly stroking the smooth tendrils of little Sam's black hair with her fingers.
The rest of the adults, including Kelly, fell silent once more, content to just stare at Carly holding both Carly Marissa and little Sam close to her. Freddie stood nearby them all the while, just happy to stare at his three favourite girls all night long if necessary.
Musical References:
1) "The Blower's Daughter" by Damien Rice
2) "God Must've Spent A Little More Time On You" by Nsync
3) "Someday (I Will Understand)" by Britney Spears
Author's Note: Alrighty roo, all the high tension and angst was clearly for nothing because Little Sam and Carly are both A-okay. What do you guys think of the baby's name? Too predictable? I must give mad props to mrmuscle for guessing the baby's name correctly in his review for chapter 21 of 'iLost And Found' when Carly's pregnancy was first mentioned, well done. Your prize is that you get to name the next Creddie kid if they have another one (hee hee). A special thank you as well to PerennialKillJoy for composing Sam's death threats during the flashback excerpt while she was in labor, very colorful indeed ; ) Just three more chapters left in the story after this, one of which will be one final Creddie lemon (who else were you expecting?). Thank you so much to everyone for the countless reviews, it's gotten me through the past few weeks and months. Snapplelinz out, Ayoba forever!