A/N: Hi! First of all, I want to apologize if it seemed like the previous chapter was the last chapter. I didn't mean to make it seem that way and I apologize for the confusion and worry (although I doubt anyone lost any sleep over it lol). This story is far from over! Come on now, Sam and Freddie just got together, the story has yet to earn its M rating. ;) And I still have a few twists and turns up my sleeve. Speaking of rated M...I meant to make this chapter the 'lemon' chapter, I really did. It just got really long so I had to split it. Next chapter, really, I swear. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this one.
Chapter Ten
Sam awoke to an empty bed, reaching for a warm body and her hands landing on messy sheets. She sat up abruptly, looking around her. She was still in Freddie's bed in the living room but he was nowhere in sight. The wonderful scent of bacon filled her nostrils and she looked behind her to the kitchen but he wasn't there either.
She pushed the blanket away and got out of bed. She was still wearing her dress from last night and it had ridden up around her waist. She pulled the hem down, blushing at the thought that Freddie might have seen her like this. If he hadn't left, that is. Her heart pounded nervously at the thought. Where was he?
She headed down the hall and breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Freddie's voice in Charlie's room. She peeked into the open doorway, her heart melting at the sight of Freddie holding Charlie in his arms and feeding her her bottle, his back to Sam and unaware that she was watching while he babbled on to Charlie about some new software update for the PearPad. She wanted to go in and wrap her arms around him but became aware of her very full bladder and the sour taste in her mouth that very likely smelled toxic. Without making a sound, she crept away into her own room.
After taking care of her ablutions, Sam brushed her teeth and washed away her make-up from the night before that smeared itself across her face and made her look like a raccoon. So not attractive. Next, she attempted to detangle her hair and peeled off her dress, grabbing another one of Freddie's shirts that she had nicked from his laundry basket. Once she felt like a presentable human being, she made her way back to Charlie's room where Freddie was still feeding the baby but had thankfully stopped his technobabble.
Sam wrapped her arms around his stomach from behind and put her chin on his shoulder, right on top of the burping cloth.
"Hey," he said, grinning at her.
"Hi," she said, kissing his neck.
"Charlie woke up early and I didn't want to wake you. I made you bacon."
"I smelled."
"Give me a minute and I'll make you eggs."
"Mmm…" she mumbled, burying her face in his shoulder, happy to stay right there all morning.
Until Charlie kicked up and her little foot hit the top of Sam's head.
"Ow," Sam said. "Charlie!"
The baby began to get fussy, pulling away from her bottle and squirming in Freddie's arms.
"Looks like someone doesn't like sharing your attention," Sam observed.
Freddie shrugged helplessly at her, trying to get Charlie to stay still.
"I'll go make the eggs," she said. "You better not let her finish that bottle, she gets too full."
"Why don't we buy a smaller bottle then?"
"I forgot to put it on the list."
"You don't make a list."
"Hence forgetting to put it on the list," Sam said in a 'duh' tone. She leaned in to kiss him, wiping that adorable exasperated expression off his face.
Charlie started crying, her shrieks piercing their eardrums.
"Okay, okay," Sam said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I'm going. You're a temperamental little princess, aren't you?"
"I wonder where she gets it from?" Freddie smirked.
"Watch it, boy!" Sam pointed at him as she backed out of the room.
She wandered into the kitchen, feeling light and happy as she took out the carton of eggs. She even caught herself humming as she heated the pan and she didn't have to look into a mirror to know that she had a stupid grin stretching her face.
Freddie came out just as she was plating the scrambled eggs, setting it beside the bacon. He was grimacing and holding the wet collar of his shirt away from his body while he held Charlie in one arm.
"What happened?" Sam asked, biting back her laughter. She could already guess.
"She spit up and missed most of the cloth."
"I told you not to let her finish her bottle," she sing songed.
"She kept crying every time I took it away! It's like trying to take food away from…well, from you. Except she doesn't punch me."
Sam shrugged. "Give her a couple of years."
He handed her the baby and Sam cooed at her, holding her close. Freddie peeled off his shirt and used it to wipe his neck. Sam struggled to breathe, her heart rate speeding up as she watched his biceps flex.
Freddie caught her looking and grinned, then he took in what she was wearing, his eyes raking over her from head to toe.
"Sam," he said, his voice low. "Put the baby down."
She put Charlie into her carrier, which was sitting on the counter. As soon as she had Charlie settled in, Freddie grabbed her and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him, practically clawing his bare back, trying to get closer. Freddie's tongue traced across her lower lip and she parted them willingly.
"God, I love it when you wear my clothes," he said when they parted for air, his hands on her hips bunching up the fabric and hiking it up higher and higher…
Sam slapped his hands away. "Charlie's right there!" She giggled.
He pulled her close and buried his face in her neck. She moaned when he started nibbling on that spot right below her collarbone and then Charlie started crying, making her presence known.
Sam reluctantly pulled away and picked the baby up. "Shh…we're not ignoring you," she said.
"We were, kind of," Freddie said as he passed behind her to get some plates and Sam hit him.
She took Charlie's pacifier out of the dishwasher and sat down with her on the stool while Freddie set the table. She smiled into Charlie's hair when Freddie put all the bacon on her plate and she transferred two pieces onto his. He grinned at her and they settled down to eat, Sam now having mastered how to eat one handed with Charlie in her lap.
"I have to get ready for work," Sam said when they had finished eating. She put Charlie down in her playpen and went to take a shower, stopping to give Freddie a kiss on the way. She paused in the hallway and turned to look back at Freddie washing the dishes, thinking that she could get used to this. Saturday mornings spent with her baby and with Freddie, it couldn't get more domestic and it would never cease to surprise her how much she loved it.
When she came out forty minutes later, ready to leave, Freddie was on the phone.
"You're kidding, all six movies?" He said. Sam watched amused as he practically bounced in excitement, his back to her. "That's amazing! Why wasn't this advertised?"
His excitement faded at whatever the other person said and his shoulders slumped. "Today? I can't today. I'm…" He looked at Charlie. "I have work stuff. Yeah, I know. Well, you said it's a preview. I guess I'll catch it when they release to the public. Yeah, okay. Thanks, man. Bye."
Freddie sat down heavily on the couch and Sam walked over, leaning into his chest as she sat down beside him.
"Who was that?"
"Just Mark, a friend from school."
"What was that about?"
"Nothing, he was just asking me to do something with him today."
Sam looked at him. "Freddie…"
He sighed. "They've digitally remastered all six Galaxy Wars movies and are releasing it in theaters in 3D. But it won't be for months, they're doing a special marathon preview here in Seattle today and Mark won tickets in some contest."
"Galaxy Wars? God, how many times have you watched that movie?" Sam laughed.
"It's 3D!"
"Then go," she said.
"But…it starts in two hours and I won't be home until like midnight…"
"Yeah yeah, go have your nerd fun."
"What about Charlie?"
"I'll take her to work."
"But you work in the kitchen," he protested.
"So I'll leave her in my office and have someone watch her." Sam shrugged.
"You can do that?"
"I pay them. Waitressing…baby-sitting…what's the difference?"
"But…" Freddie struggled to come up with another reason that Sam's plan wouldn't work.
"Come on, Freddie, you can't tell me you don't want to go. I saw how excited you were. Plus, you've been cooped up here way too long. Go on and have your nerdy day out."
He kissed her. "You're amazing, you know that?"
"I've heard things," Sam smirked.
Freddie kissed her again, his hands tangling in her hair. She clutched his shirt and deepened the kiss before regaining her head and pushing him away.
"I'm going to be late," she said. "And you need to call Mark and tell him you're going."
"Mmm…" He kissed her neck. "Just a few more minutes?"
It took all of Sam's strength to push him away and stand up. Freddie groaned but stood up as well, picking Charlie up from her playpen.
"I guess you're going to work with mama," he said to her, kissing her cheek. "I'll miss you. Be a good girl."
Sam's stomach fluttered. It was the first time she had heard the words 'mama' spoken out loud in reference to her. Of course, she'd been calling herself 'mama' on a daily basis for years, but this was different. She was now actually someone's mother and it occurred to her that Charlie was going to grow up calling her mama if she let her. As she took Charlie from Freddie, she found that she didn't mind. She didn't mind it one bit.
Sam pushed Charlie's stroller into her office, Jane following behind her.
"Charlie's asleep right now," she said. "I just need you to stay in here with her and call me if she wakes me up."
"Not that I don't mind a break from waiting tables," said Jane, twirling a piece of her long black hair around her finger. "But if I'm in here then I'm not making any tips."
Sam sighed. Jane was a junior at Ridgeway and reminded her far too much of herself. She got by just barely pulling her weight in work and while Sam would have preferred to have Abby or Tom watch her baby, she needed her best wait staff for the lunch rush. She walked over to her computer and logged it out of her personal server, switching it to the guest one.
"You can use my computer to check your Splashface, watch videos or whatever," she told Jane. "Just don't ignore Charlie when she cries."
"Sweet," Jane said, settling down in Sam's chair.
After fussing with Charlie's blanket, Sam made herself leave the office, telling herself that she was only a few feet away. It was odd how protective she felt of Charlie already, it was hard to trust her with just anyone. She wondered if all mother's felt this way, and then thought about her own mom and decided on no. Her mother certainly didn't care who came and went in Sam's life.
She walked into the kitchen, greeted her chefs, and joined Julie in the baking section of the kitchen.
"Hey Jules, need help here?"
"Yeah, sure," Julie looked up at her. "I'm making the cheesecake. Help me measure this stuff out."
Sam did as Julie instructed. She didn't usually like baking, she didn't have the patience for all of the measuring and more often than not she found herself eating the dough or candy ingredients, much to Carly's frustration back when they used to bake together. But Sam felt like being in Julie's company today and she was in such a good mood that the task of measuring and mixing seemed much more fun than she remembered it being.
"Okay, I can't stand it anymore," Julie said. "What is up with you, Sam Puckett?"
"What?"
"You haven't stopped smiling since you walked in here and you're humming. Humming!"
Sam didn't realize that she was but she shrugged it off.
"I'm just happy."
"Don't tell me that date you went on last night actually went well?"
"No, that was a bust. But after the date when I went home…" Sam trailed off, smiling in reminiscence.
Julie's eyes widened. "Freddie?"
Sam nodded.
"Oh my god!" Julie grabbed her shoulders with flour covered hands. "You're together! Are you finally together?"
"Yes," she said, laughing at her friend's exuberance.
"Oh mother of all that is good and holy," Julie spread her arms out wide and tilted her head up to the sky. "Finally!"
Sam smacked her lightly with a cloth. "Stop making a scene, geez."
"You have to tell me everything!"
Sam did, starting with the fight and culminating in her amazing morning with Freddie. Julie barely resisted the urge to squeal at some places in Sam's story.
"So how was it?" Julie asked, nudging her.
"How was what?"
"You know...last night?"
Sam blushed. "We didn't..."
"Oh." Julie looked disappointed. "But you're going to, right?"
"That's kind of private, Jules," she said, looking around and making sure no one was listening.
"Freddie kind of looks like he'd be good in bed. Believe me, nerdy boys can be wild on the inside. There was this one guy I dated in college..."
"Julie!" Sam exclaimed. "We are not talking about this here. Or...ever."
This was the difference between talking with Julie and with Carly. Julie tended to be more crude and normally Sam didn't mind but this was her and Freddie.
Julie laughed at Sam's red face. "Okay, okay, I'll drop it."
Jane burst into the kitchen, out of breath, and Sam immediately dropped what she was doing, her pulse racing in fear.
"She's crying," said Jane.
"Who's crying?" Julie asked but Sam barely heard her, she was out of there and racing to her office, Jane and Julie at her heels.
Charlie was wailing in her stroller and Sam picked her up, rocking her gently.
"Charlie's here?" Julie asked.
"Why did she start crying?" Sam asked Jane.
"I don't know. She just woke up and started crying."
"Did you change her diaper?" Sam cupped Charlie's bottom. It didn't feel wet or heavy and there wasn't a smell.
"You just said to call you if she starts crying," Jane said, looking so unconcerned that Sam could have ripped her face off.
Fortunately, Charlie settled down, her cries stopping as her little hand clutched Sam's shirt.
"You can go," Sam told Jane, who breathed in relief and left the office.
"You left the baby with her?" Julie said.
"She was sleeping. Besides, I couldn't pull away one of the waitresses that are actually useful during the lunch rush."
"Why is Charlie here anyway?"
"Freddie went to a Galaxy Wars marathon."
Julie's face scrunched up. "Aren't those movies, like, a hundred years old?"
"I don't know, they re-released it or something," said Sam. "And don't let Spencer hear you talking about those movies that way. He's just as hopelessly nerdy about it as Freddie."
Julie seemed to think about that. "Do you think he'll notice me if I dress up as the princess slave girl from the movie?"
Sam laughed. "I think he'll have a heart attack."
"You should do it for Freddie too," she said, slyly. "I bet he'll rip it off you."
Sam looked down at Charlie and covered one of her ears. "Boundaries, Jules. Boundaries."
"Oh Sam, you're turning into such a prude," Julie sighed. "Motherhood really is catching up to you."
Freddie walked into the apartment at past midnight, feeling happier than he could remember being. The marathon was amazing and hanging out with his friends was great but he wasn't ashamed to admit that he was eager to get home. He was surprised at how hard it was to be away from Charlie. Even during the movie, he'd find himself checking his watch at the time that she usually woke up from her nap, and he'd wonder if she'd eaten. There were times when he could barely resist getting up from his seat to call and check on how she was doing. But he knew that if he did Sam would tease him mercilessly about being like his mother.
Sam had left the light on in the kitchen for him and Freddie crept quietly down the hall and into Charlie's room. She was sleeping like an angel and Freddie kissed his fingers and lightly stroked her cheek, not wanting to wake her.
His next stop was Sam's room and he paused outside of her door, wondering what the protocol now was. She slept with him last night but did that mean they were now sleeping together...in the literal sense? What if she was asleep? Did he join her or go back to the couch? Freddie didn't want to sleep by himself again but he didn't want to overstep any boundaries and push Sam for too much, too soon. He stood there for several minutes, debating in his head, and finally decided to just let Sam know that he was home and go back to the couch, like the gentleman he was raised to be.
Sam was asleep and Freddie couldn't help but notice that she looked a lot like Charlie when she was sleeping and it made him smile. He sat on the edge of the bed and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"Sam," he said softly.
She moved and turned her head but didn't wake.
"Fried chicken," he said, a little louder.
Sam's eyes opened."What...chicken where?"
Freddie chuckled. "It's me, Sam. I just wanted to let you know that I'm home."
"Mmm..." She said blearily. "Did you have fun?"
"Yeah, it was amazing." He leaned down and kissed her.
"Go back to sleep, I just wanted to say goodnight."
She grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him back when he started to get up. "Where are you going?"
"To...the living room," he said hesitantly.
Sam let go of him and he saw the disappointment in her sleepy and tired eyes.
"I wasn't sure...I didn't know if you'd want me to stay."
"I want you to stay," she said simply.
Freddie smiled. "Okay."
He bent down to take his shoes and socks off and then moved to get under the covers.
"Freddie?"
"Yeah."
"You're still dressed."
He blushed. "Oh. I didn't...I, uh..."
Sam sat up, fully awake now.
"Oh, stop being such a dimwit," she said. "Just take some clothes off. You can't possibly be comfortable in your jeans."
He wasn't going to argue with that so he stood up and took off his polo shirt and pants, climbing back into bed in just his undershirt and boxers.
"Better?" Sam asked, a twinkle in her eye and her hand slipping beneath his shirt and up his chest.
Freddie nodded dumbly.
She kissed his nose, the side of his lip, his cheek, trailing down to his ear. She laid her head down on his pillow and Freddie turned on his side to face her, his hand coming to rest on her hip.
"So, I was thinking," Sam said. "It seems silly to search for a three bedroom apartment when Charlie's bedroom is all painted and decorated."
"It does?"
"We'll have to re-paint her room and then ask Spencer to paint her new room. Plus, we'll have to pay more for a bigger place..."
"What are you saying, Sam?" Freddie asked, his heart already leaping high with hope.
"I think we should stay here," said Sam, looking down and tugging at the bottom of his shirt. "And I think you should move in here to this room...with me."
He was flabbergasted. He had been hoping that she would say that but he didn't actually expect her to say it. Freddie's shock froze his brain and prevented him from speaking.
Sam seemed to mistake his silence. "Unless you don't want to," she said softly, rolling onto her back.
Freddie held her by the waist and pulled her back to him, kissing her fiercely and with all the passion he had in him.
"I want to," he said against her lips. "God I want to."
Sam smiled and resumed kissing him, her hands tangling in his hair, and pulling him on top of her. He trailed kisses down her neck, his hands tracing the curve of her hips down to her thighs. She tugged on his shirt, frantically pulling it up and Freddie broke away from her to slip it over his head and carelessly throw it to the floor. He looked down at Sam beneath him, her chest rising up and down as she took heavy breaths, her wild blonde curls spread out over the pillow. She was so achingly beautiful and she was finally finally his. Sam ran her hands down his chest, tracing every curve and muscle and Freddie was grateful for the fencing that he still did. She looked up at him shyly.
"I haven't...before..." She admitted.
He brushed her hair back, tucking it behind her ear. "I haven't either," he said.
She breathed out and smiled up at him.
"We don't have to...you know. Not right now," he said even though his body protested every word. Sam pulled him down to rest his weight on her, and he groaned as his very prominent erection met her center.
"I want to," Sam assured him, grinding her hips against him. "Make love to me, Freddie."
He kissed her, ready to do just that, his hands lifting up his old Penny Tee that Sam was wearing. He hadn't pushed it halfway up her body when Charlie's cry pierced the air around them, the sound bursting through the monitor on the nightstand. Freddie dropped his head down to her neck and groaned.
"She needs a diaper change," Sam sighed, gently pushing him off her and he rolled onto his back.
He watched as she stood up from the bed, getting a glimpse of her small black cotton panties before she tugged the shirt down. It did not help his situation down below any. Normally, Freddie would offer to tend to the baby but at the moment he thought it best to stay where he was. He could hear Sam in the other room through the monitor, talking to Charlie and trying to soothe her though he couldn't understand what she was saying over Charlie's crying. Several minutes passed and Freddie's 'situation' settled down but Charlie's crying didn't stop. Sam should be done changing her diaper by now and he could hear her singing, which usually soothed Charlie to sleep. He sat up, worried that the colic might be making a reappearance.
He was about to get out of bed when Sam walked in with Charlie, who was still crying.
"She has a big red rash on her butt," said Sam, worry etched all over her face. "It probably itches, that's why she won't stop crying."
"My mom has diaper rash ointment," Freddie said.
Sam gave him a weird look.
"Not for me!" He exclaimed. "It's just an emergency stash for when she has to baby-sit any of my cousins."
"You sound defensive there, Fredward," Sam smirked. Charlie wailed louder. "I know, I know, baby," Sam said, kissing her head.
"I'll get it in the morning," Freddie said.
Sam looked down at Charlie. "What if it burns?" She asked worriedly. "Sometimes those rashes burn, right?"
"Or I can get it now."
Sam's head snapped up to look at him. "It's one am, Freddie. You can't walk to Bushwell."
"It's two blocks away."
"I'll go."
Freddie shook his head. "It'll take you longer because you don't know where the ointment is and what it looks like. Plus, you'll probably wake my mom."
He got up and pulled his pants on. Sam looked like she wanted to protest more but was stopped by Charlie's insistent crying. Freddie put his shirt on and buttoned it up.
"Take the baseball bat in the front closet," Sam told him. "And be careful."
He kissed her and then kissed the top of Charlie's head. "I'll be right back."
Freddie walked the two blocks to Bushwell Plaza without incident. But for all his bravado with Sam, he actually was a bit nervous and gripped the baseball bat tightly in his right hand and walked quickly. He got to his mom's apartment and opened the door with his key but the chain lock was in place, which meant he had no choice but to knock and wake his mom. Maybe Sam should have been the one to come over after all, she would have gotten in with no problem.
"Mom!" He called as he rapped on the door. "Mom!"
The light in the living room came on.
"Freddie? Is that you?"
"Yeah, mom, it's me."
The door closed and then opened a second later. His mom was in her bathrobe and rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"What is it, Freddie?" She grabbed his face and inspected him. "Are you alright?"
She caught sight of his baseball bat and gasped. "Did you walk here? At this hour?"
"Yeah, but mom, I'm fine," he said, knowing that she could start in on a lecture that will last until the sun rises if he doesn't head her off. "It's Charlie."
"What is it? What's wrong? Do I need to call Doctor Evans? Or take her to the hospital? Let me get dressed..."
Freddie grabbed her arm to keep her in place, he didn't think he's ever loved her more than in this moment as he sees the very real and frantic worry for Charlie on her face.
"No, it's okay, mom. It's not a big deal," he assured her. "She just has a diaper rash and she's crying a lot so it must be uncomfortable."
"Oh. Well, I have ointment and a really nice soothing lotion for your hands that you and Sam should use when you change her. I don't know why I didn't think to give it to you before..."
Freddie followed her into the bathroom and watched as she rifled through the cabinet.
"Sorry to wake you, mom," he said.
"Nonsense. You know you can come to me anytime." She turned to him with several boxes of ointment and cream in her hands. "Alright, what does the rash look like?"
Freddie looked at the pile of creams warily. "I don't know, I didn't see it. Sam said it was big and red and on her butt."
His mom looked at him in exasperation. "What's the shape? Does it have bumps or lesions?"
"I don't know."
"And you didn't notice it before tonight?"
"No."
"Well, I'll have to come with you then. Let me just put these in a bag and I'll get dressed."
Freddie's eyes widened. "Come with me? I don't think that's really necessary, I'll just take all of that to Sam..."
"And how will you know which cream will be the most effective? What if she has a reaction to one of them? A baby's skin is very sensitive, Fredward," she told him sternly. "It's better that I see it for myself."
Freddie knew that there was no winning this argument and he resigned himself to the fact that there was now absolutely no chance that he and Sam would be resuming their previous activities tonight. He watched as his mom placed various things in the bag and flash of green caught his eye. He immediately reached into the bag and pulled the offending green bar of soap out. The same bar of soap that had haunted his pre-pubescent nightmares.
"Mom! You are not giving Charlie a tick bath!"
"But Freddie!" She protested.
It was going to be a long night.
Sam sat with Charlie in the rocking chair, rocking her and singing to her but all Charlie did was squirm and cry. She considered taking the diaper off her, thinking that it might be chafing but decided that the danger to her own self was too great. The last thing she needed was for Freddie to see or smell her covered in baby pee. That was definitely not sexy. Thinking of Freddie, it was taking him longer to get back than she expected. She wondered if something had happened to him and the worry made her nervous and edgy, which made Charlie cry harder. Sam stood up and jiggled her around, cursing Freddie and at the same time praying that he was alright. She thought she could maybe understand Marissa's craziness now, the thought of anything happening to Freddie or Charlie filled Sam with more fear than she ever felt facing down cops or dangerous thugs.
Just as she thought that, she heard the front door open and Marissa's unmistakeable high pitched voice. It was like she was summoned, an unwanted magic genie.
Sam looked down at Charlie. "I think that was my fault."
Freddie came in to the room with his mom following behind him. He looked at Sam apologetically.
"I have ointments and creams," said Marissa briskly, placing her bag on the changing table. "I need to figure out what type of rash it is and see if it's likely to spread. Let me see it."
Sam gingerly handed over Charlie, who cried harder with Marissa but that didn't phase the older woman; she was used to prying screaming infants from their mother's arms at the hospital. Marissa brought Charlie to the changing table and Sam pulled Freddie into the hallway.
"Why did you bring her here?" She demanded.
"I had to wake her up to get into the apartment and when I told her about Charlie's rash I couldn't talk her out of coming."
Sam opened her mouth to say something but stopped when Charlie's wails turned into little whimpers. They walked back into the room to see Marissa gently spreading cream on Charlie's rash with a cotton earbud.
"There you go, isn't that better?" She said gently to the baby.
"Is she okay?" Sam asked.
"She's just fine," Marissa assured her. "It's a simple irritation, that's all. Not yeast or bacteria like I feared. I'll need a soft cloth, Sam. We'll use that in place of her diaper tonight, it'll be more comfortable for her. Though a bit more messy for you, I'm afraid."
"That's okay," Sam said quickly, handing her one of Charlie's clean burping cloths.
Marissa took out some safety pins from her purse and expertly turned the cloth into a diaper.
"I had Freddie wear these all the time," she told Sam. "Cloth lets more air in than diapers do and they kept his little baby bottom nice and soft."
"Mom!" Freddie protested, his face heating up while Sam burst out laughing.
"I'm going to...kitchen," Freddie mumbled and darted out of the room.
Charlie cried again and Sam sobered up and took her, rocking her and whispered soothingly to her until she calmed down and her cries turned into whimpers. Despite the relief from the ointment, Charlie was still in a fussy mood and Sam knew there would be no putting her down to sleep for hours.
"You're very good with her," Marissa observed as she watched the two of them. Sam suddenly became aware that she was wearing Freddie's shirt and not much else. She thought of the events of earlier that evening, how she had completely ignored what Marissa had told her during their talk a few days ago, and found herself unable to meet Marissa's eye.
"Freddie's better, I think," she said. "I always feel like I'm screwing something up."
"Want to know a secret?" Marissa asked conspiratorially and Sam reluctantly looked at her.
"Every new mother feels that way." Marissa smiled kindly at her. "You're doing very well."
"Thanks," Sam said shyly, pressing her nose into Charlie's hair.
"I take it that you and Freddie are..." Marissa trailed off, looking uncomfortable.
"Yeah, but I did listen to what you had to say. I just..." Sam shrugged helplessly.
"You love him," Marissa finished.
Sam nodded, holding Charlie closer.
"Well, I guess I can't argue against that," Marissa said, looking resigned. "Just...be good to him, Sam. Even in your own way."
She smiled. "I will."
"I'll give you this ointment," Marissa said, holding it up. "And I noticed that Charlie's diaper seemed a little tight. You'll want to buy a bigger size, she needs a little breathing room, but not so big that everything comes running out. I think you should try the hypoallergenic diapers, the ones for sensitive skin, and see if that's better."
Sam nodded, taking a mental note of everything she was saying.
"And when that cloth gets soiled, rinse it with half a cup of vinegar when you wash it."
"Vinegar?"
"It gets rid of alkaline irritants."
"Okay..."
"Well, I should go." She leaned in and kissed Charlie's forehead.
"Thank you for coming here, Mrs. B," said Sam, feeling genuinely grateful. "Sorry that we bothered you."
"Oh please. Like I told Freddie, you can come to me anytime."
"Thank you," Sam said again.
They went out to the kitchen, where Freddie was sitting at the counter drinking tea.
"Do you want some tea, mom?" He asked.
"No, that's alright. I should get home, I have a late morning shift at the hospital."
"I'll walk you back," Freddie offered.
"Absolutely not," she said. "It's bad enough that you were out on the streets twice tonight, Freddie. I won't have you out there again."
"Mom, I don't want you walking back by yourself."
"I can take care of myself, Fredward."
"And yet you don't seem to think the same of me," he argued.
Charlie began crying and Sam shot them both a glare.
"You guys are upsetting her."
Marissa looked shamed. "You're right, we shouldn't argue in front of the baby."
"Why don't you just stay here, mom?" Freddie reasoned.
"Yeah," Sam agreed. "You can sleep on the sofa bed."
Marissa looked warily at the crying baby. "It's a nice offer but I really do need to sleep."
Sam got her point. "Well, Freddie, you've gotta let her go."
"But-" He tried to protest.
"Give her the baseball bat. I've seen her handle a sword, I feel bad for any mugger out there that tries to cross her path."
Marissa smiled, looking pleased at the compliment. "Thank you, Samantha."
"Fine," Freddie grumbled. "I've been outnumbered."
"Get used to it, Fredly," Sam grinned.
"Just call me as soon as you get home," he told his mom as he walked her to the door.
Charlie kept crying and Sam rubbed her back, whispering and murmuring to her.
"I don't think she's going back to sleep anytime soon," she said when Freddie came back over.
"Good thing tomorrow - or today - is a Sunday," he replied.
"Speak for yourself. I have to go out with Carly," Sam grumbled. It was their monthly girl's day and normally Sam would be looking forward to spending quality time with Carly but a day of girly activities with next to no sleep was not going to be her cup of tea.
"Here, let me take her for a bit." He reached for Charlie and Sam handed her over. She leaned back on the counter and watched Freddie rock her, having as much success in stopping her crying as she did; which is to say, none.
They took turns holding and rocking her for the next hour. When she finally settled into whimpers they tried putting her in her crib, which was a mistake because it only started the crying all over again. When it was near dawn, both Sam and Freddie were so tired and sleepy that they lay down in Sam's bed with Charlie in between them. Her cries turned to whimpers until finally, mercifully, she fell asleep.
Neither of them dared move her, in case she woke up, and Sam and Freddie stared at each other from across their pillows.
"This is how it's going to be," Sam said softly. "We're not going to have much time to ourselves."
"I know."
She laughed, rolling onto her back and throwing an arm over her eyes. "Who would have thought that I'd end up with a baby?"
Freddie smiled. "I wouldn't have guessed it."
"It changes you, you know? Nothing's been the same since Charlie got here."
"I know," Freddie said. "She's changed me too."
Sam turned back to him. "Don't you want a normal life, Freddie?" She sighed. "You could finish college, get a job, marry a girl and then have a baby. You know, the way it was written in your Freddie Benson Ten Year Plan. The way that it's supposed to be. You don't have to get dragged into my family baggage."
Freddie sat up. "Sam," he said so angrily that she looked up at him and the blaze in his eyes made her sit up as well. "Stop trying to get out of this. I'm here and I love you. I decided a long time ago that I don't want any of that if it doesn't include you."
"You did?" Sam asked quietly.
"Yeah. And if Charlie is your baby then she's mine too. I don't care if it's not the normal path most people take. Screw being normal, that's what I should have said that night in the elevator. Your baggage is my baggage because I..." He cupped her face in both hands and kissed her. "Love..." He kissed her again. "You." And again.
Sam twined her fingers in his hair, pulling him as close as she could without jostling the baby between them. After a few minutes they broke away, both panting for breath and making the silent agreement to stop before they got carried away. They lay back down, being careful not to disturb Charlie. She was sleeping soundly, her chest moving up and down with her little breaths and Sam gently brushed her hair back from her forehead.
"She's so beautiful," Sam said.
"She is," Freddie agreed.
"I didn't think it was possible to love anyone this much and in this way. I used to live to survive, you know? I had to look out for myself. But now..." Sam grasped one of Charlie's hands, not taking her eyes off her during her whole speech. "Now I don't care what happens to me as long as she's okay. She's my first priority and if we're going to be together," Sam looked up at Freddie. "Then she has to be yours too."
"She is," he assured her. "Sam, the way you feel about Charlie, I feel it too. I love her so much."
"You have to promise me, Freddie," Sam said. "Promise me that you'll always be there for Charlie. I won't let her go through what me and Mel did when my dad left. I won't. If you're going to be in her life then you have to always be there, no matter what happens between us."
He placed his hand over hers where it was resting on Charlie's chest. "I promise," he said. "And I'm always going to be here for both of you, Sam. Always."
Sam lifted their hands and kissed his palm, the sincerity and pure love in his eyes eased her doubts and fears and filled her with warmth and happiness. Freddie had stuck by her for nearly a decade now, maybe it wasn't so crazy to believe that he'd be around for many more.
"Alright," Carly said, walking into her room with a tray of food. "I've got cookie dough ice cream, popcorn, two extra large ham sandwiches, and Spencer is going to bring the pizza up when it gets here."
"Excellent." Sam sat up on Carly's bed and rubbed her hands eagerly as Carly carefully laid down the tray and took her place beside Sam.
"Did you put the movie in?"
"Yep." Sam picked up the remote and pressed play. After much arguing and debate, Carly wanted to watch a romantic comedy and Sam wanted to watch a horror movie, they had settled on a comedy.
Sam leaned back on the pillows and yawned. She hoped Carly wouldn't take offense if she fell asleep halfway through the movie.
Carly glanced at her. "You okay, Sam?"
"Yeah, just tired. Charlie kept me awake last night."
"Oh no, is the colic back?" Carly asked in concern.
"No, she had a diaper rash and she kept crying," said Sam. "Freddie even brought his mom over with her barrage of creams and ointments."
Carly laughed. "Sounds like you had a busy night."
You don't know the half of it, Sam thought.
She took a bite of her ham sandwich and wondered how she should broach the subject of her and Freddie. Somehow it was harder to tell Carly than Julie. Julie didn't know every little detail of her history with Freddie and she didn't have a front row seat to their attempt at a relationship three years ago. Telling Carly that they're back together makes it completely, one hundred percent official.
"Um, Carls?"
"Yeah?" She asked, taking a handful of popcorn.
"Freddie and I are sort of...together now," Sam said, watching her friend carefully.
The popcorn that was aimed for Carly's mouth fell onto her lap, she turned to face Sam completely.
"Oh my god! Finally!" She grabbed Sam's arm and shook it. "When? How? Details! Tell me everything!"
"Okay, okay. But you have to calm down first, Carls. Geez," Sam laughed.
"I'm just glad you two have finally come to your senses," Carly said. "How did it happen?"
Sam told her the entire story, the movie volume having been turned way down and now completely ignored. Sam ended the story by saying that she and Freddie were now living together and not in the roommates sense and Carly pounced on the subject.
"So are you guys...you know..." She asked.
Sam rolled her eyes. "What is it with you and Julie wanting to know about my sex life?"
Carly's eyes widened. "So you do have a sex life! You and Freddie have-"
Sam hit her arm lightly with a pillow. "No! We haven't."
"Sam?" Carly said, sounding shy. "Remember that pact we made in senior year?"
"That neither of us would marry Andrew Garfield because it would turn into the Shane thing all over again?"
"No! The serious one," said Carly in exasperation. "Remember we said that we'd tell each other when we think we're ready to...you know...and we'd go with each other to the doctor..."
"Oh." Sam realized that was a good idea considering what she and Freddie had almost done the night before. "Wait, does this mean you're also ready? With Ian?"
Carly blushed. "I think so. I love him and he's not like the other guys I've dated before..."
"At least you don't have a baby around to interrupt you," Sam said. "You guys can do it whenever you want."
"Not whenever we want," Carly interjected. "We do have roommates."
"You can tell your roommates to get out, hang a sock on the door or whatever. I love Charlie to death but she's a real mood killer."
Carly looked at her sympathetically. "I didn't even think of that. That must be tough."
"No kidding. We almost did last night but then Charlie started crying and then we had her between us in bed all night. Ugh," Sam groaned, falling back dramatically against the pillows. "We haven't even had sex yet and we already have baby problems."
"A baby is keeping you from having sex but sex is usually needed to make a baby," Carly giggled. "It's like you got an egg without a chicken."
Sam stared at her. "I swear sometimes it's like talking to Spencer."
Carly threw popcorn at her and Sam happily caught a few in her mouth.
"What you guys need is a night to yourselves, without Charlie," Carly said.
"Yeah, like that's going to happen. And where exactly would we leave her for a night?"
"How about with me?"
Sam sat up, brushing popcorn out of her hair. "You would do that?"
"Yeah. What are best friends for? Plus, I'm kind of Charlie's aunt, it'd be nice to spend time with her."
"You are Charlie's aunt," Sam said seriously.
Carly smiled happily. "Why don't you and Freddie get out of the apartment? Forget about being parents for one night, go book a nice hotel room and I can stay over at your place."
Sam looked at her gratefully. "That'd be great, Carls. Thank you."
"But first, a trip to the lady doctor," she said. "I don't think you want another Charlie right away."
Sam made a face. "Definitely not. One baby is enough right now. And you don't want a little rugrat of your own either."
"Is it really that bad?" Carly asked.
"Yes," said Sam seriously and then she smiled. "But at the same time it's also really really amazing."
A/N: I want to thank you all for the reviews, the previous chapter had the most yet. :) Also, follow me on Twitter: heartlines12. I'm quite lonely there, keep me company and we can chat about the story if you'd like. Or I could post little previews once in awhile since I'm aware it takes me quite awhile to post chapters. Well, that's enough self-promotion for now. Hope you enjoyed the story!