Author's Note: Hey ya'll, how's it hangin'? Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter, in spite of its many spelling errors. I swear on Dan Schneider's innuendos, I read through it at least twice to double-check for spelling errors, but some still slipped through the crack. I think I was half-asleep during the second run-through ; ) After all of my tiresome cliffhangers, how will things unfold in this chapter now? Will Carly get a chance to tell Freddie how she really feels? If so, will Freddie hear her out? Read to find out.
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to iCarly or Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, its various characters and depictions save for the ones I have originally conjured up myself.
24 August, 2025
San Francisco – The Benson Household
It was nearing 1pm and the Bensons were all located in the kitchen on that particular Sunday afternoon. Freddie and little Carly sat across from one another at the kitchen counter while Marissa bustled about, retrieving plates and glasses for an early lunch. Freddie watched his daughter, who was moodily drawing a bunny on an A4-sized scrap of paper without much enthusiasm while Marissa looked positively forlorn. Freddie, who had been trying unsuccessfully for the past ten minutes to lift everyone's spirits with a few well-placed jokes, sighed loudly.
"Guys, you're really killing my buzz here." Freddie complained loudly.
"What do you mean, Freddie?" Marissa asked innocently.
"We can't sit inside moping around. It's a beautiful day; we should be outside or something." Freddie replied simply.
"Don't feel like it," Carly remarked sulkily with one hand resting underneath her chin while drawing her picture.
"Oh really? And why is that?" Freddie asked lightly with a teasing smirk on his face.
"Oh, Freddie, for God's sake, how can you even ask her that? Carly married Jake a week ago and broke your heart in two. Quite frankly, I don't see any point in not moping around for once." Marissa interjected frankly and placed three plates on the kitchen counter.
Freddie sighed once more as he glanced at both his mother and daughter's morose expressions.
"Okay. I admit it, last week wasn't exactly a spa treatment for me. But it's done now and we all have to accept Carly's decision. Don't be too upset with her; all she's trying to do is find some happiness for herself after all this time. I don't hold that against her, and neither should you. The way I see it, I could be in a worse position right now. But I'm not, because I still have the two of you in my life. And that matters most to me. We're gonna be okay." Freddie stated sincerely as he got up from his chair.
He moved towards Carly and kissed her on the forehead before heading towards Marissa and kissing her on the cheek. Marissa sighed audibly as she regarded her son with a wry smile.
"I guess we could try, honey." She replied simply.
"Yeah, Daddy. We'll try for you." Carly agreed stoically.
"Thanks, guys." Freddie stated genuinely with a broad grin on his face.
"What did you make, Grandma?" Carly asked curiously as Marissa set a steaming bowl before them.
"Spaghetti and Brussels sprouts." Marissa answered quickly.
She scowled when both Carly and Freddie grimaced at this information.
"What now?" she demanded defensively.
"Grandma, Brussels sprouts are gross." Carly complained with disdain.
"Yeah, Mom. Carly's got a point. Spaghetti and Brussels sprouts should never be put together." Freddie agreed readily.
"Well I'm sorry for wanting to try something different. You don't want my spaghetti and Brussels sprouts, fine. There are plenty of cucumber cups in the refrigerator."
Both Carly and Freddie groaned and covered their heads at this.
"Gotcha," Marissa joked, causing her son and granddaughter to round on her in indignation.
But the smirk on Marissa's face was just so reminiscent of Freddie's that it made both Carly and Freddie laugh uproariously.
"Good one, Mom." Freddie congratulated lightly.
"That was mean, Grandma." Carly stated, feigning reproach.
"I know." Marissa remarked cheerily.
And so they sat down together and began eating and conversing together, just the same as always.
Carly was seated in the back of a taxi coming from San Francisco Airport, glancing out of the window. 5 hours of flying and she was still on her way. She had never really taken the time to look around her when Marissa had come to get her and Spencer from the airport the last time. But now, it was all she could do as she took in the alluring sights all around her. She idly wondered what it must be like to see all of this every single day, especially on a day like this, when there wasn't a single cloud in the sky and the sun shone overhead like a beaming welcome sign for all to see.
You
You're like driving on a Sunday
You
You're like taking off on Monday
You
You're like a dream
A dream come true
Carly had already given the cab driver Freddie's home address. She desperately hoped that he would be home so they could talk. She still didn't know what she was going to say to him after everything. But she knew that she had to try; if not just for Sam, then for herself.
And I
I'm just a face you never notice
And I
I'm just trying to be honest with myself
With you
With the world
Carly marvelled at the activity occurring throughout Baker Street. It seemed as if everyone was outside; drinking, eating, talking and laughing together under the brilliant sky. Ashbury Heights finally came into view with its array of oddly shaped houses and apartment complexes painted in faded whites and blues. They were almost there. Carly felt like she was literally holding her breath the entire time till she asked the cab driver to park a few meters away from the Benson's driveway. She shifted in her seat and gave the cab driver the money she owed him with a shaky hand. The cab driver in turn gave her a reassuring grin.
"Hey, relax. No pain, no gain right?" he asked simply.
"You have no idea." Carly murmured knowingly as she got out of the car and slowly strolled forward, a small bouquet of daisies clasped tightly in her hands.
Freddie had been in the midst of getting a pitcher of lemonade from the refrigerator when the doorbell rang. He glanced up at Marissa and Carly, who glanced back at him in confusion.
"Are you expecting anyone?" Marissa asked curiously.
Freddie shook his head and looked at Carly, who did the same.
"I'll go see who it is." Marissa announced hurriedly as she got up from the chair and exited the kitchen.
Freddie moved towards Carly's chair and poured her a glass of lemonade. He almost spilled the contents of the jug out onto the kitchen counter at the sound of an exclamation emitted by his mother a second or two later.
"Oh my God."
Carly and Freddie stared at each other with equally puzzled expressions on their faces.
"What's wrong, Daddy?" Carly asked wonderingly.
"I don't know, Baby." Freddie answered truthfully.
Just as he was about to go inspect himself, Marissa reappeared in the kitchen once more. But she wasn't alone. Carly Shay stood a few paces behind her, gazing at both Freddie and his daughter with an unfathomable expression on her face.
"Carly?!" Freddie and little Carly exclaimed in surprise.
While little Carly's mouth had curled into an elated smile, Freddie still looked positively shocked to see the woman he was in love with standing inside his kitchen while he experienced a surreal case of dejavu.
"Hi, Freddie. Hi, Carly." Carly greeted slowly while glancing intently at the two of them.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," she added hastily while staring at the array of plates, glasses and cutlery which decorated the kitchen counter.
"We were just having…" Freddie trailed off.
"Lunch. Well, more of a brunch since it's still quite early. Are you hungry? Would you like a cucumber cup?" Marissa asked all in one go.
"You still make those?" Carly demanded quizzically without thinking.
"I thought you were kidding about that, Mom." Freddie added in bewilderment.
"I honestly can't remember any jokes that I've made in the past 5 minutes." Marissa admitted sincerely with a wide and unnatural smile plastered on her face.
"Carly, what are you doing here?" Freddie asked blankly.
He hadn't even realised that he had left the kitchen counter and come to stand right in front of Carly, as if he were making sure that she was really there with all of them.
"I came to see you, all of you. Freddie, we need to talk." Carly answered seriously, her eyes locked on Freddie.
"Uh actually, Carly and I have to…" Marissa stammered before Freddie interrupted.
"It's okay, Mom. You and Carly don't have to leave. We'll talk outside." He offered simply, his eyes locked on the older Carly.
Carly nodded once and followed Freddie out of the kitchen, past the living room and through the patio door, which led to the garden. They came towards a set of swings that Freddie himself had installed in the garden for Carly Marissa when she was still a toddler that were big enough to fit an adult or two. Carly gingerly got onto one of the swings and Freddie followed suit soon after.
"I understand that you don't want me coming into your home after everything that's happened between us," Carly began uncomfortably.
"No, it's not that, Carly. I just think we'll have a bit more privacy out here." Freddie answered truthfully and cocked his head backwards.
Carly followed his gaze and watched as both Marissa and little Carly, who had clearly been eavesdropping from the living room window, quickly yanked the curtains shut again when they realised they'd been caught. Both she and Freddie couldn't help sniggering momentarily at the sight before returning to the burning issue at hand.
"So, Carly, why are you really here?" Freddie asked seriously after the longest pause between them.
Carly took a deep breath as she mentally dared herself for what she was about to do.
"I'm sorry about last week. Freddie, you have to know that I would never wilfully hurt you. I didn't even know you were coming." She began emphatically.
"It's okay. It was a 'spur of the moment' decision anyway. It was a mistake." Freddie answered hurriedly.
"No it wasn't, that's why I'm here. Even though I didn't think so at the time, I'm really glad that you came, Freddie." Carly stated sincerely.
"I can't do this," Freddie muttered abruptly and got off the swing.
"What?" Carly questioned blankly, taken aback by Freddie's sudden demeanour.
"I can't do this with you, Carly. It was different when you and Jake were still engaged. But you're married now; we can't keep doing this." Freddie clarified frankly as he turned his back on Carly slowly and dug his hands deep into his pockets.
"I didn't get married last week."
Freddie whipped around sharply to face Carly once more, idly wondering if he had just heard those words come out of her mouth.
"What?" he asked quizzically in spite of himself.
"I didn't get married last week, Freddie. Jake and I called the wedding off." Carly clarified gently, staying seated in the swing all the while as she spoke.
"Why?"
"After you left the church, Jake came into my room to talk to me. Freddie, he heard everything we said to each other from outside the door. As soon as you left, he confronted me." Carly explained soberly.
Without meaning to, Freddie sat back down in the swing beside Carly with his head in his hands.
"Oh my God. Oh God, Carly, I never meant for that to happen. How bad was it? How angry was Jake?" Freddie questioned forlornly.
"He was upset and heartbroken, but he didn't seem that surprised by what had been happening between you and I for the past two months. He seemed…resigned. It was like he had finally realised that he couldn't be the one to fix me, that he didn't want to be come between me and you anymore. He kissed me goodbye and then he went to tell the guests that there wasn't going to be a wedding. I got out of my wedding dress, left the church and went back to my apartment." Carly continued on pensively as she thought back on the past week's events.
Freddie shook his head and rested his hands underneath his chin. He had never expected Jake to react in this manner to another man being in love with his fiancée. If it had been him, Freddie wasn't entirely sure what he would've done. What Jake had done in comparison had taken enormous courage and strength of character. In that moment, Freddie realised that he had pegged Jake completely wrong. He really had loved Carly all along and had proved himself right till the end. A pang of guilt swept through Freddie's chest as he pondered on this surprising revelation.
"That's why you're here." Freddie stated unexpectedly.
"What do you mean?" Carly questioned in confusion.
"You were prepared to marry Jake in spite of everything. But then he called off the wedding and set you free. That's why you're here now, Carly." Freddie pointed out coolly as he looked Carly directly in the eye.
Carly shook her head incessantly as a fresh batch of tears began streaming down onto her cheeks. She wiped them away hastily while garnering the courage to meet Freddie's gaze.
"No, that's not it, Freddie. If I were choosing you just because Jake left me, then I would've come here sooner. But I didn't. After it happened, I couldn't face you, Freddie. I was so disgusted with myself after everything; almost marrying Jake even though I was in love with you and breaking your heart time and time again. I was sure that you'd never forgive me after everything I'd said and done to hurt you." Carly protested miserably.
"If you were so sure about that, then why did you come here? Why now, Carly?" Freddie asked seriously.
"Because I had this dream about Sam last night that opened up my eyes to everything that's happened so far between you and me; about everything that's been happening since we were in college together." Carly replied meekly, hoping that Freddie would hear her out.
"You had a dream about Sam?" Freddie asked curiously in spite of himself.
"Uh-huh. But it wasn't like any of my dreams I'd had before where she wouldn't say anything or where she'd accuse me of trying to steal you away from her. Freddie, she talked to me, I mean, really talked to me. It all felt so real; I swear, I could see her as clearly as I'm seeing you right now. She was in my apartment; I took her hand and we went to all these different places from my past, like Spokane Airport, Ridgeway and then the cemetery where you buried her. And we just had it out, me and her, like an all-out confrontation as we talked about the past and all of our various grievances." Carly explained rapidly as her excitement mounted.
While Carly spoke, Freddie glanced at her side profile like he was seeing her for the first time. He was wondering why it was it that her dream sounded so familiar to him.
"Oh my God," he murmured disbelievingly when it finally hit him.
"What's wrong, Freddie?" Carly asked in alarm, not understanding the look on his face.
"This dream that you had about Sam…is almost exactly like the dream I had a week ago." Freddie stammered weakly.
"You mean, right before you came to New York when she gave you her blessing to be with me?" Carly asked in horror as the missing pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place.
"Pretty much. Except that she didn't take me to Spokane Airport or Ridgeway, like with you. First, she took me to Moscow where we rode our bikes and kissed for the first time. Then we went to Sunnyside Parks because she somehow knew that you and I kissed and that I had fallen in love with you. Then we were in the old iCarly studio, talking about what might've happened in our marriage if she hadn't died or if you had told me you loved me that day in Sunnyside Parks. Then the beach where we got married and finally, her hospital room where she died." Freddie explained hurriedly.
"Oh, and there wasn't just one Sam, there were three," he added as an afterthought.
Carly's widened to the size of saucers when she heard this.
"Three Sam's? There were three Sam's in my dream too! One of them hit me!" Carly pointed out indignantly.
"What?!" Freddie demanded in surprise.
"Yeah, I started freaking out when they all appeared in the dream. There was younger Sam, who first came to get me, then there was the Sam you married right before she died and then there was-"
"College Sam." Freddie put in knowingly.
"Yes!" Carly exclaimed happily, marvelling at this astounding turn of events.
"Oh my God, it all makes sense now. In my dream, she was pissed off at you because you hadn't convinced me about your dream about her. That's why she came to me, to try and talk some sense into me instead." Carly mused aloud.
Freddie leant back against the swing and stared up at the sky.
"Wow," he offered after a long pause.
"Yeah, wow. This has been the weirdest week of my life." Carly mused truthfully as she too stared up at the blue sky overhead.
"So you had a dream about Sam and you just got on a plane?" Freddie asked seriously while he glanced intently at Carly.
"Well, you got on a plane when you had your dream about Sam and came straight to New York. I'm sorry I didn't believe you before about Sam. I really am sorry about everything, Freddie. And I wanted to tell you that in person." Carly answered genuinely.
"Is that all you wanted to tell me?" Freddie asked tentatively, steeling himself for her answer.
"No, that isn't all that I came to tell you. These are for you," Carly announced abruptly while handing Freddie the bouquet.
"You got me flowers?" Freddie asked in confusion.
"I should've given these to you a long time ago, on that day in Sunnyside Parks when you told me that you loved Sam. I just left them under the swings when you went after Sam and I ran away. Granted, I got these from a grocery store on the way here and not at Shopko. I should've told you everything that I wanted to say when I had you right in front of me. I've regretted not doing it ever since." Carly began cautiously as she relived the worst day of her life aside from losing her best friend.
You might think that I'm a fool
For falling over you
So tell me what can I do to prove to you?
That it's not so hard to do?
"I laughed at you years ago when you told me that you would just know the minute you fell in love with someone; that something would happen inside of you. Something happened in my heart a long time ago, Freddie. You changed me for the better. I'm not gonna run away from that anymore." Carly declared genuinely while gazing intently into Freddie's eyes.
Freddie said nothing in response, but continued listening intently to Carly.
"Kelly once told me that telling you how I felt about you was too important to blow off. She said you'd want to know. I'm not blowing it off anymore, I just can't. I love you, Fredward Benson. And now you know." Carly declared vehemently with determination reflecting in her eyes.
"You love me?" Freddie asked blankly.
"I love you, and I wanna be with you." Carly confirmed seriously.
Freddie got up from the swing and began pacing around the garden, his head a swirling mess of thoughts.
"Say something," Carly implored vehemently.
"I'm just…I don't know what to think, Carly. You've been blowing hot and cold with me for these past few weeks and it's got me all confused." Freddie admitted painstakingly.
"That's because I was confused too, Freddie. I thought that I loved Jake and that I wanted to be with him. But I was fooling myself about my feelings for you, and he knew it too. I can't change what's happened in the past. All I can do now is focus on the future. And I want a future with you, if you'll have me." Carly responded meekly as she took Freddie's hands gently in hers.
"But how can you be so sure now?" Freddie pressed urgently, his grip on her hands increasing with each passing second.
"I can't tell you on a scale of 1-10 how sure I am about any of this because this whole thing scares the hell out of me. But what I can tell you this: the only reason that I didn't wanna be with you before was because I thought I couldn't make you happy before you found Sam and after you lost Sam too. I told you last week that you couldn't make me happy, but I lied. I didn't think I could give you what you wanted and needed. I was afraid to love you because I didn't wanna lose you when I advertently found a way to screw things up between us. I convinced myself somehow that I didn't deserve you, that I didn't deserve to be happy after I left you and Sam all those years ago. I've been weighed down with that guilt for half of my life so far. But when I had that dream about Sam last night, it cleared up so many things that I had been rationalising in my head for the longest time."
"Sam showed me exactly what it would be like if I didn't have you in my life and if you finally met someone else. It drove me crazy thinking of you being with anyone but me. That's when I realised that I can't give you up and I can't let you move on. I don't want you to ever move on from me, Freddie. I was wrong to make you do it all those years ago, because I missed out on the best thing you could've ever given me, and that was your heart. For the first time in my life, I finally feel like I'm ready to deal with all of my issues and get closure on Sam's death. I can't make you any promises or guarantees, Freddie. All I know for certain at this point is that the last two months I've spent with you, your daughter and your Mom have been the happiest I've felt in the longest time. And I'm just not ready to give up on that, now that I've found you all again." Carly declared earnestly.
"A dream really changed your entire view point?" Freddie asked in amazement, a small smile curling on his lips.
"That and Sam's love for meat." Carly offered nonchalantly.
Freddie furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, causing Carly to elaborate further.
"Near the end of my dream, Young Sam said something about wanting to go to a butchery. And when I woke up, I saw a blimp outside my bedroom window. It was an advertisement for the opening of a new butchery. That's when I realised that I needed to come here as soon as possible." Carly explained eagerly.
"So let me get this straight: you changed your mind about wanting to be with me because of a butchery?" Freddie demanded quizzically.
"Sal's Butchery in Queens." Carly affirmed with a mysterious glint in her eye.
"Now you've lost me."
"Sal's Butchery in Briarwood, Queens." Carly reiterated emphatically.
"Briarwood? Like that snooty prep school you almost went to back in Seattle?" Freddie asked with dawning comprehension.
"Exactly. Freddie, it was a sign. Both you and Sam loved me enough to stop me from leaving Ridgeway back then; you came to New York last week because you didn't want me to make yet another stupid mistake. And now I'm standing in front of you, asking you (pleading if necessary) to give me another chance. Because I need you and I don't want to live without you anymore, Freddie." Carly concluded soberly.
"You really hurt me, Carly." Freddie remarked softly.
"I know." Carly answered mildly.
"You ran away from me. Not once, not twice, not even three times. Four times." Freddie continued on woefully.
"Again, really sorry about that." Carly responded awkwardly.
They were only standing a few millimetres apart now as they stared intently at each other. Carly was trying very hard to hold her breath, just in case breathing or even talking broke the spell. Freddie's expression was unfathomable as he glanced back down at Carly's expectant face.
"So…what do you think?" Carly asked tentatively when it seemed like Freddie would never break the silence.
Give love a try
One more time
Freddie cocked his head back, glanced up at the sky and sighed deeply.
"Oh, what the hell," he muttered rapidly right before pressing his mouth against Carly's.
The action took Carly completely by surprise. But once she was sure that Freddie was in fact kissing her (and quite exuberantly too), she reciprocated in kind, her eagerness matching his own as her hands moved towards his cheeks to caress them gently. She moaned softly at the feel of Freddie's hands in her hair, caressing the strands and pulling her closer to his own body. It was as if someone had removed every inch of her clothing, leaving her naked and exposed before Freddie. She had never felt more free. Carly tilted her head to the side, her lips rising and falling as they met Freddie's in mid-air; she wanted to pour every ounce of her love for him into every single kiss. When they eventually broke apart, Carly buried her face deep into Freddie's chest and just held him close, eager just to listen to the pattern of his erratic heartbeat.
'Cause you know that I'm on your side
Give love a try
One more time
"Wow," Freddie murmured in elation.
"Yeah, wow." Carly concurred, matching his tone.
"We're really doing this?" she asked slowly.
"I'm afraid so." Freddie offered with his signature smirk in place.
"Hey, hey. Why are you crying? You're supposed to be happy right about now." He chided gently while wiping away some of Carly's tears from her cheeks.
"I am happy. These are tears of joy, you nub." Carly choked hoarsely as a new batch of tears began running down her face.
Can't explain all the feelings that you're making me feel
My head's in overdrive and you're behind the steering wheel
"I love you so much," she murmured fiercely, her eyes closed while she rested her forehead against his.
"I know." Freddie replied smugly, earning him a smack on the shoulder from Carly.
"Jerk," Carly scolded lightly.
"Oh come on, you know you love it." Freddie teased back airily with a suggestive wink.
"How is this even going to work when you live in New York and I live here?" he asked anxiously while thinking it over.
Carly cupped Freddie's cheeks in her small hands and fixed him with a steady eye.
"It's not a perfect world, Freddie. But whatever happens, I know that we can make it work." She murmured genuinely with a wide grin on her face.
Touching you
Touching me
Touching you
God, you're touching me
Freddie smiled briefly before capturing her lips once more. When they broke apart after a few seconds, Freddie's face was pensive.
"There's just one more thing that I have to ask you," he muttered frankly.
"Anything," Carly agreed readily.
"If we're gonna do this, I need to have my daughter's best interests at heart too. Do you think you can find a way to love her in spite of the fact that she's mine and Sam's daughter?" Freddie asked seriously while cupping Carly's cheeks tentatively.
"No." Carly answered simply.
Freddie's heart plummeted in his chest at Carly's words.
"What?" he asked sadly.
"I can't love Carly in spite of her being yours and Sam's daughter. That's impossible, because I'm pretty sure that I fell in love with her when we first met at Camp Dreamland. That was before I even knew that she was your child. So no, Freddie, I can't love Carly in spite of her being half yours and half Sam's. But I can love her because of it. You and Sam have always been my family; both of you will always be a part of me, and now Carly is too. That's the only way I know how to love her." Carly answered sincerely while smiling broadly at Freddie.
I believe in a thing called love
Just listen to the rhythm of my heart
There's a chance we can make it now
We'll be rocking till the sun goes down
I believe in a thing called love
Freddie's lips curled into a relieved smile right before Carly attacked his lips.
"God, I love you so much," he murmured vehemently against her ear.
"I know," Carly answered with a smug smirk on her face, causing Freddie to chuckle loudly.
Freddie clasped Carly's face in his hands and placed another searing kiss on her lips.
I wanna kiss you every minute, every hour, every day
You got me in a spin
But everything is A.O.K.
"I guess we should go tell Carly and your mom now," Carly announced nervously.
"No need. Okay, you can come out now!" Freddie called out unexpectedly, causing Carly to jump slightly on the spot.
Within seconds, both Marissa and little Carly had exited through the patio door and made a beeline for Freddie and Carly.
"You knew they were eavesdropping?" Carly asked shrewdly of Freddie.
"They always do when there's something especially juicy to be heard." Freddie remarked teasingly, causing Carly to laugh openly.
"So…what's the verdict?" Marissa asked keenly, her entire body vibrating with excitement.
"Mom, would you mind getting out another plate? Carly's going to be joining us for lunch, and maybe dinner too." Freddie asked politely of his mother while smiling broadly back at the love of his life.
"Not at all. I'm so happy that you've decided to stick around, Carly." Marissa replied sincerely while smiling genuinely at Carly.
"Me too, Marissa." Carly answered truthfully.
"Shall we head inside?" Freddie asked pleasantly with his arm draped around Carly's shoulder.
"Not so fast. I have a few questions that I'd like to ask Carly first." Little Carly piped up abruptly.
Carly, Freddie and Marissa glanced at each in surprise before turning to face little Carly once more, who was standing before them with her arms folded tightly across her chest.
"Carly Marissa, what are you doing?" Freddie asked tersely.
"What kind of questions?" Carly asked patiently, intercepting Freddie's tirade momentarily.
"Oh, nothing too tough. I'd just like to play a little game with you that I like to call 'Word Association'." Carly Marissa answered stoically, an evil glint in her eye.
Both Freddie and Marissa began to protest loudly before the older of the two Carly's silenced them.
"Okay." Carly agreed simply.
"You know how to play?" Carly Marissa asked curiously.
"Oh, I know how to play. Go ahead, Carly. Do your worst." Carly urged with a smirk on her face.
"Happy to." Carly Marissa replied with a smirk on her face that made her look a lot like Sam.
"Favourite colour?"
"Purple."
"Which weather do you like better: rainy or sunny?"
"Sunny."
"McDonald's or Burger King?"
"McDonald's."
"Step-children: evil or awesome?"
"Awesome."
"Who's your best friend in the whole wide world?"
"Sam Puckett."
"Who's your true love in the whole wide world: Freddie Benson or someone else?"
"Freddie Benson."
Carly held her breath while watching the young girl before her, who gazed back at her with a severe expression on her face. To everyone's surprise, little Carly began smiling like a Cheshire cat.
"Congratulations, Carly Shay. You passed the test." She announced with satisfaction.
Carly began laughing uproariously at little Carly's words, inwardly thinking that the little girl before her truly was Sam's daughter through and through. She knelt down on the ground before little Carly and wrapped her arms around her best friend's daughter tightly. Carly Marissa in turn smiled broadly while she hugged her parents' best friend, who could very well be her step-mom in the near future. And she couldn't have been happier about it if she tried. Marissa began welling up instantly at the exchange between the two Carly's while Freddie laughingly put his arm around his mother's shoulder and kissed her cheek affectionately.
"Welcome to the family," little Carly murmured cheerily in Carly's ear.
"Thanks, kiddo. I'm happy to be a part of it." Carly whispered back elatedly into little Carly's ear with a broad smile on her face.
I believe in a thing called love
Just listen to the rhythm of my heart
There's a chance we can make it now
We'll be rocking till the sun goes down
I believe in a thing called love
The two of them then began making up their very own secret handshake on the spot.
Musical References (in order of appearance):
1) 'Give Love A Try' by Nick Jonas (the song appeared in the first ever JONAS episode, 'Wrong Song')
2) 'I Believe In A Thing Called Love' by The Darkness
Author's Note: Alright, what's the verdict? I hope no one was waiting for another crazy cliffhanger after everything we've been through together in this story. I felt it prudent to end things off on a 'feel-good' note for a change. But don't despair, there's one more chapter, an epilogue of sorts to look forward to this Friday. So please click on the little green button and drop me a line, I need validation : ) Snapplelinz out!