iSpring Ahead

THE FOLLOWING SPRING…

Sam and Carly walked with the girls in Freddie and Melanie's spacious backyard. It was, of course, identical to their own, but this simply felt like home. They had learned, over the years, that it wasn't a house that made a home, but who you shared it with. Sam held Carly close, looping her arm low around her waist. They let the girls walk ahead of them, content in the company of their little friends, whom Freddie and Mel had invited. In Melanie's world, you didn't need a reason to throw a party.

Wendy and Shelby Marx had brought Megan. Rounding out the group at the Bensons' oversized picnic table was Karen Xi, single mom of Bridget, Melanie Puckett's closest friend. Freddie had made sure that their own twins could relax in the playpen, which he'd set up just far enough away from the deck. Their first birthday was still several months off, but it certainly didn't look it. The children, it seemed, had inherited Auntie Sam's appetite.

Mrs. Xi was polite, but it still felt awkward to her, these two women raising children. She really didn't feel one way or the other about it – it was simply outside of her frame of reference, besides, her own little girl was the product of a very private adoption, so she knew she had no right to say anything without being branded a hypocrite. Her daughter had found a friend, and these women had obviously instilled good values in the quiet, studious little girl. That was all that mattered.

Freddie Benson was focused on playing host, particularly concerned with impressing the mother of his niece's little friend. He was the man of this house, which, he knew carried extra weight with this woman, whose culture dictated a different way of doing things. He carried the weight of three families – the Bensons, Pucketts, and Marxes – all on his shoulders. It was important that they all be seen as a family – unconventional, perhaps – but a family nonetheless.

Melanie made small talk with Bridget's mother. She hoped that Karen Xi could respect her as a mother, as well as a successful, professional woman.

"It's so nice to have you join us… I hope you feel comfortable here in our home. I know my niece thinks the world of your little girl…"

Mrs. Xi didn't know what to say. This pretty blonde was certainly very nice. She had small children of her own and had decided to entertain solely because it was a beautiful spring day.

"Your hospitality is completely unnecessary…"

Melanie laughed. That was sweet, but she completely disagreed.

LATER THAT AFTERNOON…

Wendy Marx gushed over Melanie's twins. She thought they – particularly Freddie Jr. – were the most adorable things she'd seen since Megan was that age.

"Oh Honey, they're adorable! Are you and Freddie… I mean… would you want more than two?"

Freddie overheard and turned white as a sheet. Shelby playfully punched Wendy in the arm.

"Wendy Sue! Give the pretty lady sometime to think about it…"

Wendy and Melanie both blushed. Shelby was so like Sam, sometimes.

Sam, for her part, was berating Freddie for choosing a gas grill over charcoal as they served lunch. Sam smiled, watching Carly play with the kids on the grass. It made Sam all warm and gooey inside. She was a lot of things, but first and foremost, she was Carly's wife and Mama to twin girls. They were her entire world.

Flipping burgers, she had about as close to a heart-to-heart conversation as she'd have with Freddie – in public, anyway.

"So, FredNub… How's everything in the baby department?"

Freddie, considering that this was Sam, took things completely the wrong way. Sam was always, well, Sam.

"Sam… Jesus!"

It finally dawned on her that the Nub thought she wanted to know… that. Nothing could be further from the truth. She hit him upside the head.

"Ew, gross, you Nub! Like I want to picture you and my sister doing… that… I'd wake up screaming every night til I die!"

Freddie simply shot his sister-in-law, formerly the blonde headed demon of his childhood, a bright smile. He held her around the waist, the way he did with her sister and she did with Carly. They would never say so in so many words, but the fact remained that Freddie Benson had grown to love Samantha Puckett.

"Love you too, Sam…"

LATER, IN BETWEEN CHEESEBURGERS…

Shelby Marx and Carly Puckett chit-chatted, looking longingly at their girls, who were cuddled together on the grass, laying out in the Spring sunshine.

"Amazing how fast time goes, isn't it, Shay?"

Carly smirked. Shelby Marx hadn't called her by her maiden name in ages.

"Yeah… I don't want to think about it, but you're right… next thing we know, it'll be high school and boys and…"

Shelby laughed.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself there, Cupcake…"

Carly fussed.

"I'm not your Cupcake, Shelby Marx! Only Sam gets to 'Cupcake' me…"

Wendy laughed a few feet away.

"Tickle her on the…"

Shelby yelled, cutting off her partner.

"Don't you dare, Wendy Sue!"

Carly laughed.

"You guys are like a couple of teenagers…."

Sam snuck up behind her partner and planted a big wet kiss on her neck, in that special spot that Carly liked. The brunette yelped, never seeing it coming.

"Say hey, Cupcake…"

"Sam…"

The two couples cozied up together at the picnic table. They loved their time together. Their kids were the best of friends, which made them feel even closer. They had all grown up together, and now their children were doing so. It made them all feel good.

Sam poked Carly gently in the stomach. She needed her wife to see.

"Carls, look…"

It was adorable. Melanie had fallen asleep in the middle of the grass, her head lolling against little Bridget Xi.

Mrs. Xi spoke, clearly meant for her daughter and her daughter only. They were the only two who spoke a word of Korean.

Bridget was cranky. She ignored her mother and let the pretty blonde rest.

Freddie and Melanie joined their extended family, their own children in tow. They filled in where they could. Sam Puckett turned to her sister, more in awe of her today than ever before.

"Mel, I want you to know… you're… you're amazing, you know that?"

Melanie Benson smiled. She loved her sister more than life.

"I love you too, Samantha…"

They sat there, all four families, enjoying the sunshine and each other's company, united by the love they had for their children, and wondered silently about the future.

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