iPanic Attack

It was a quiet evening in the Benson household. Carly's girls and their respective partners had taken the Benson twins out for the evening. Freddie and Melanie needed time to themselves.

Sam's famous, beautiful sister was bright and cheerful as always, lounging on the sofa, her head resting gently against her husband's chest.

"Freddie?"

"Yes, my love?"

She smiled. She loved him more than anything in the world. It had been far too long since they'd gotten the house to themselves like this.

"You know, it's just nice and quiet…"

His arm looped around her waist, his fingers falling on the soft, supple flesh of her stomach.

"And…?"

She laughed.

"…AND I love you…"

The couple exchanged their typical sweet I love yous before Melanie began freaking out. She had glanced up at the television and had a conniption. Ben Huebscher on Channel 5 had just done a follow up story on Shelby Marx's comeback. This story fleshed out the former champion's plans in greater detail and it bothered Mythical Melanie immensely.

"…HOLY CHIZZ ON A CHISEL!..."

Freddie laughed. This was about as close to a curse word as was in his wife's vocabulary. He truly hadn't been paying attention. He glanced at the television. The graphic at the bottom of the screen explained it all. He spoke matter-of-factly, having read his wife's thoughts.

"…I'll get your coat…"

MEANWHILE, NEXT DOOR…

Carly sat in the recliner, hugging her knees to her chest. Sam knew exactly what was wrong. She attempted to get a word in edgewise, in between the bleating sheep noises.

"Carls…"

"MEH!"

"Cupcake, please…"

"MEH!"

"Carls, honey, please…"

Before Carly could fuss again, Carly and Sam's front door flew open. Freddie and Melanie Benson burst in like they owned the place.

"Oh great, YOU'RE here!"

It was Sam's way of saying she was thankful that her sister had decided to put in an appearance. Melanie knelt at the foot of the chair, speaking sweetly to Carly. She could be what Sam was attempting to be.

"Carly… let Sam talk, sweetheart… you know she loves you…"

Carly smiled. She knew Melanie spoke the truth. Carly's blonde looked to her sister. They spoke between one another with nothing more than a glance. They didn't need words. Sam's eyes said it all.

"…I love you…"

It took a second, but Carly stopped rocking and the sheep noises died away. Sam had kept an awful secret from her, but she understood why. Sam had neglected to tell Carly because she knew fully well that this would be the result. Mythical Melanie wanted to stay by Sam's side, lest her sister need her. Freddie knew all too well. His precious little angel was loyal to a fault. Melanie was a sweet and gentle soul, but she would follow her twin sister to the gates of Hell itself if Sam needed her to. He took her by the wrist and gently led her away.

"Come on, sweetheart… I'll make you some tea…"

She didn't want to, but the look in Sam's eyes – the one only she and Carly knew how to read – told her it was okay.

MEANWHILE, ACROSS TOWN AT IL TERRAZZO CARMINE…

The twins had brought their cousins here simply out of habit. It had been voted as serving the best pizza in Seattle for seven years running and they did not deliver. That, plus the fact that Sam had put all four teens on the payroll, meant that it was simply a foregone conclusion.

Freddie Junior had wrangled the corner chair at the long table, ensuring him of a seat next to the gorgeous Korean girl he'd had a crush on for the past two years. His sister kicked him underneath the table, rolling her eyes at him, looking ever so much like her namesake aunt.

"You are such a nub!"

Bridget overheard. She thought the young boy's infatuation with her was absolutely adorable. Nothing could sway her heart from the quiet, yet curvy blonde, but it felt nice to be appreciated as beautiful, even if he was just a little boy. She patted his hand in a sweet, gentle way, which could be seen as slightly flirtatious, but it was all in good fun. They were all having a good time.

Megan Marx pulled a roll of cash from her front pocket, slipping several large bills in with the check. They were now paid up. They would simply sit here, take up space, and stuff themselves. Sometimes, that's all you needed – time alone with friends and good food. Sometimes, that was all it took to make your troubles melt away.

BACK ON MERCER ISLAND…

Wendy had calmed down. She and Shelby cuddled on the sofa. It was all okay now.

"Shelby, you know I hate this, but…"

Shelby interrupted.

"Wen, I promise, I'll play it safe…"

Wendy cut her off, mock annoyance in her voice.

"…and why do I love you again? I hate that you're doing this, but you're a fighter… I may not like it, but you do what you do…"

This was Wendy's way of acquiescing to Shelby without appearing to be a total daffodil. She didn't want Shelby to fight again, but she knew that Shelby was so bullheaded that once her mind was made up, that was it. There was nothing she could do. It didn't much matter anyway. She knew that Shelby would be safe. She was making the absolute best of a bad situation.

A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY…

It was a tense moment, although short-lived. Sam had shooed her sister and the Nub back home with the love she could only show them here – in this place. Their hearts were in the right place, though Mama had this well under control. Carly snuggled into Sam on the sofa, watching TV. It was as though nothing had ever happened.

"Ya know Cupcake, it's really all gonna be okay…"

Carly smiled. She sounded less like herself and far more like the Idiot Farmgirl.

"You're so stupid…"

Sam laughed.

"Never said I made good decisions…"

Carly stretched out slightly, allowing her head to rest in that soft, special place where Sam's stomach gently gave way to her lower extremities. Mama made an excellent pillow. She could finally relax.