Chapter 21

Freddie and Sam walked across the hall and knocked at Spencer's door. Carly opened the door and invited them back inside, still wiping the tears from her face. She was surprised, though relieved, to see them.

"I'm so glad to see you guys. Spencer just sent me a text. He took Freddie for some ice cream. Honestly, I'm kind of surprised to see you guys. I was afraid you'd never talk to me again."

"Hey, I told you I'd be back for the food." Sam smirked at her. "And we really need to sit down and clear some chiz up. Like what we're going to tell the kid. This is going to blow his poor little mind."

"I'd like to simply tell him the truth." Freddie began. "My mom told us all about what happened with your dad, Carly. She went to see him the other day and he admitted to her what a stub rag he was with you. No offense."

"Yeah. I always thought your dad was so cool, I can't believe how he treated you." Sam put her hand on Carly's knee. "It's not fair. You went and moved halfway around the world to be with him and wound up being treated like you had a disease. Why the hell didn't you just run away or something?"

Carly shrugged. "That's all behind us, now. Dad and I patched things up after he finally gave up on the idea of making me give up my baby. I just knew I could never have lived with myself if I gave him away."

"I'm so glad you didn't Carly." Freddie sighed. "You know I would have never asked you to do that, right?"

She nodded and continued talking to Freddie. "My friend even helped me find you online one time a couple of years ago but then I discovered you guys were getting married and I was afraid that it would eff everything up for your relationship if I came at you with all this. And the longer it went, the harder it was to find a way to say anything."

"I guess it was kind of like that whole first kiss thing only way more complicated." Freddie said with a chuckle.

"As long as you guys don't want to lynch me, the biggest problem we have is finding a way to make Freddie understand all this. He's asked about his dad more than once, usually after some other kid at school would say something to him about it. But all I ever told him was that his dad lived in America; heck I really didn't know what else to tell him. The older he gets, the harder it's been to keep it from coming up. Especially around his friends. Kids can be so tactless."

"Yeah, I remember how everyone always got on my case about where my dad was, why my dad left and all that. They didn't stop until fifth grade when I kicked Becky Johnson's ass one day for it." Sam said with a crooked grin. "Never heard another word about it again and it was the only time I ever got a warning from a principal for fighting and not a couple weeks in detention."

"I heard the same thing. And some of the stuff wasn't all that kind either." Freddie frowned. "You know, I'd really like to actually meet him. Freddie, that is, not your dad."

"I guess the first step is coming up with a way to know who we're talking about. This is going to get really confusing, having two Freddies around. So how about we call the boy Freddie and this one Fredwad?" Sam motioned to her husband with a smirk. "Or maybe Frednuts."

Carly shook her head. "I don't really think that's appropriate, Sam. Especially around a kindergartener. Maybe we can come up with something else? Hey, I know, how about something like Big Freddie and Little Freddie."

Sam snickered. "Nah, I can't say Little Freddie without thinking about other things, that's what I call his, um, uh, never mind."

"Sam!" Freddie hissed with a blush. "Carly doesn't need those kind of details."

"Agreed!." Carly quickly replied. "Hey, I know. How about Freddie can still be Freddie and little Freddie can be Junior. That's what my dad calls him sometimes. I don't know why."

"Eh, sounds kind of lame, but I guess it'll work, I'm too hungry to argue. When do we eat?" Sam looked toward the kitchen. "I can't think any more on an empty stomach and something smells pretty good."

"I'll text Spencer and tell him we've talked and it's OK to come home. All we'll have to do is heat up a few things in the microwave and we can all eat."

"Tell them to hurry up." Sam added. "I'm sure you remember what's it's like to eat for two, right Carls?"

Carly simply rolled her eyes and called for Sasha to give her a hand in the kitchen.

"Freddie. There's some people I'd like you to meet." Carly began as soon as the boy and Spencer returned. "This is Sam. She and Mommy were best friends growing up. We did everything together. And she even works at the same place I do. Just in a different department. She helps people who are really sick or hurt."

"Hi." The boy replied shyly.

"And this is my other best friend from when we were kids. His name is Freddie, too. I sort of named you after him."

"Wow! Your name's Freddie, too. Cool." The kid got all wide eyed.

"Yep. I grew up in the apartment right across the hall. Your mom and I were really good friends. Well, and Sam too of course." He took Sam's hand. "And now we're married."

"Across the hall? That's where Uncle Spencer says Mrs. Clean lives."

Sam stifled a laugh with a slight snicker. "Yeah? I guess Uncle Spencer's pretty smart sometimes after all."

Carly drew in a deep breath. "Do you remember when you went to Jayden's for his birthday party that time and when you came home you asked me about your dad because your friend said you didn't have a dad?"

"Oh, yeah. His mom thought maybe my dad was away in the army or something."

"Well, do you remember what I told you. How your dad lived in America?"

"Uh-huh. Hey, I know, can I maybe meet him now that we live in America?"

"Freddie, this Freddie is your dad." Carly explained. "I'm sorry it took so long for you to get to meet him."

"But aren't dads and moms supposed to be married. Well, except for Trisha at school, she just has two dads for some reason. Oh, and Paulie, his dad doesn't live with his mom anymore because he has a new girlfriend."

"Well, you see. It's kind of like that. Freddie is your dad, because he and Mommy were more than just friends at one time. We weren't married or anything, but we . . . "

"Uh, Carls. The kid's five not fifteen. Does he really need so many details?" Sam mumbled to her friend through clenched teeth.

"Right." Carly continued. "But after Mommy moved to Italy to live with Grandpa, your dad married Sam. So you really have both a mommy and daddy, even though we're not a couple or anything."

"And even if we don't live together, we can be your mom and dad just the same." Freddie added. "And do all kinds of stuff with you just like all the other kids' parents do. And you know, technically you even have another mommy, since Sam's married to me."

"Whoa. I can't wait to tell Trish. She thinks she's so cool because she has two dads, well I have two moms and a dad."

"And don't forget the little half brother or sister on the way." Sam rubbed her belly. "Right after Christmas, he'll be here. Or she."

"A half a brother or sister? Can't I just get a whole brother and no sister?"

"That's not what it means." His father chuckled. "We don't know if it'll be a boy or a girl yet, but I'm sure we'll all love him or her either way."

"It means that the new baby will have the same dad as you but a different mommy." Sam tried to explain. "Understand? And you know what, that means you get to be a big brother, just like Uncle Spencer is to your mom."

"That's kind of cool but I'd still rather have a brother. Girls are gross."

"Some are worse than others." Freddie made motion to Sam, earning him a slap on the back of the head.

"After we eat, maybe we can go across the hall and meet your Grandma." Freddie suggested.

"And lets just forget all about Uncle Spencer's little nickname for her." Carly sent her brother a dirty look.

"What?" Spencer replied. "What did I do?"

Months later, the holidays drew near and Sam's belly grew bigger. She was due right after the new year but being eight months pregnant didn't stop Sam from pulling out all the stops to make sure she and Freddie as well as his son and even the boy's mother, her best friend, had a memorable holiday. It took a few months, but things eventually got back to normal with the girls' friendship. Carly even threw Sam a surprise Halloween party/baby shower and they spent a lot of time together, especially after Sam's maternity leave started.

Of course, Spencer couldn't help but turn his entire apartment into a winter wonderland for the holidays. He bought the biggest Christmas tree he could find and spent every free moment decorating and making cookies. The whole holiday season was topped off by his proposing to Sasha on New Year's Eve.

Christmas itself was otherwise the typical fare, Sam got some bacon inspired items, Freddie got tech stuff and thanks to Uncle Spencer, Junior ended up getting a huge collection of Galaxy Wars collectibles, much to his step-mother's annoyance. The little boy spent the night with his father and step mother and even his grandmother on a regular basis and began to look forward to the idea of being a big brother. Sam & Freddie were both happy to have him at their place and Freddie took great pride in even attending a Christmas pageant at the boy's school and videoing it.

Just a couple more chapters to go. Thanks to all for sticking with this one and following / favoriting it.