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Today was the first time in almost two months that I've seen or talked to Sam. It's Christmastime, and the end of my first semester at M.I.T. Finals were quite something, but I relished the challenge. Being challenged is the reason I chose M.I.T.

There was an extra credit question on my psychology final. "Was it everything you thought it would be?"

And I answered, "All that and more."

And it was the truth. Disregarding everything that happened with Sam and all the chaos Ashton caused, M.I.T. was the academic experience I'd dreamed of my entire life. It gave me a chance to expand my knowledge, exercise my brain, and explore all the possibilities within me. And, despite everything, I'm glad I came. M.I.T. has been such an amazing opportunity. It's crazy to think I thought of canceling on M.I.T. and going to community college for two years. Of course, that was because of how I felt about Sam, so it's maybe not quite so crazy.

In the past weeks, Sam and I still have not really spoken. I don't really know why, except to say that feelings on both ends were quite hurt when Sam left. Even though it wasn't a fight, it felt as if it was, and the physical distance between us suddenly became too big an obstacle. And I wondered if that's just how it might be for us. Who's to say we can keep up a long-distance relationship? As much as I care for Sam, we are very different people, and being so far apart is quite the cross to bear. I wasn't sure what it would be like to see Sam again. Would she be angry with me? Upset? Had she given up on us? I was glad to have just my mom and Ashton with me when I got home.

While Ash and I studied for finals, he finally told me his story. His dad was a drug addict, like my grandfather and my father and Ashton himself. When Ashton's dad was under the influence, which was often, he beat Ashton. His mother would try to protect him, and she would get it even worse. By the age of ten, she had turned to drink, and would simply watch, crying, as Ashton's father beat him. When he was twelve, Child Protection Services got involved. He was ripped away from his family, though you could barely call it that. Ashton's parents were put on trial. His dad was sent to jail, and his mother was granted supervised visits once a week. She was told that she could have Ashton back if she cleaned herself up, but she never did. Ashton was in foster care for three years before she put a shotgun in her mouth. After that, his father's rights were suspended and he was up for adoption. But by that time, Ashton was fifteen, and nobody wanted him. He lived with various families until eighteen, and then he got into M.I.T., albeit illegally. Freshman year of college, since he didn't have anyone to come home to, he spent Christmas break alone in his dorms. Summer break, he was homeless. I told him that this year he should come to my house, and that he can do that every year after. I know what it feels like to have a broken home. I told Ashton that there's a vacancy in my family, a hole my dad left behind him, and even though nobody can fill it completely, he could try to fill in some of the cracks. Ashton teared up, and I think that was the first time someone has ever made him feel like he mattered to them. It was one of the moments I will always remember. My mom was more than happy to take him in.

Bailey, as it turns out, was just what Ashton needed to do what his mom couldn't and clean himself up. He's been pretty consistently sober since he started dating her, though he still has a beer from time to time. Bailey's parents really liked him, and I think seeing her family gave him some hope that he could find that kind of happiness. Things are finally coming together for Ashton. He's finally declared a major, and he's even got a job at the diner where Bailey works. She's good for him, like Sam is for me.

So, anyways, Ashton was dying to meet Spencer, so I took him across the hall to say hi. I was excited to see Spencer too, he's like the brother I never had. I was also all kinds of nervous about seeing Sam, who I knew was living with him. Carly would also be there, as she'd gotten back from Florida a few days before me.

When I opened the door, Carly's familiar form leapt up from the couch, and I was overwhelmed with happiness. I'd missed her. Though she was closer to Sam than she was to me, Carly had once been the glue that held us three together. Without her, Sam and I wouldn't have ever gotten together, and couldn't have possibly made it this far. Seeing Carly gave me hope, made me remember all the crap Sam and I've gotten through before. She ran straight over and hugged me.

"Freddie! It's been so long!"

"It's so good to see you", I said, grinning.

Ashton looked on curiously, and a look of recognition crossed his face, "You're Carly, right? I remember you from Freddie's webshow."

I laughed, "I don't think anyone has ever called iCarly my webshow before."

Ashton shrugged.

"Who's this?" Carly asked curiously.

"This is my roommate, Ashton."

She laughed, "THIS is your roommate? Not really what I expected."

Ashton smiled at her cheekily, "And what did you expect?"

She blushed a little bit, and I recalled my early descriptions of him. I'd pretty much written him off as a brainless stoner. I remembered the time Ashton filled our tub with KFC mashed potatoes and said, "I imagine she expected you to walk in eating some mashed potatoes. Remember the bathtub incident?"

Max laughed so hard, he snorted, and Carly and I joined the laugheter.

"What are we laughing about?" asked another familiar voice.

"Spencer?" I looked up and, if possible, smiled even wider. "Spencer!"

"Hey, kiddo! Long time, no see."

"No kidding."

I walked over and hugged him before introducing Ashton.

"Ah, the infamous roommate. You know, I once filled a giant Skybucks cup with coffee and swam in it. It was an enlightening experience. I highly recommend it."

Ashton shook his hand and said, "I'll take it under advisement", and the two grinned at each other as if sharing a private joke, like they'd known each other for years.

"Where's Sam?" I asked, without really thinking about it.

"She's probably still asleep", Carly answered, "I'll get her."

I started to protest, but Carly ignored me and went upstairs. A few minutes later, a sleepy-looking Sam plodded down the stairs yawning.

"Freddie?" she asked quietly, when her eyes found mine. Those damn blue eyes melted me.

"Sam." I went over and, after a brief hesitation, wrapped Sam in a hug.

"Freddie", she breathed, "God, I've missed you."

"Me too."

We pulled apart and Sam spotted Ashton.

"Ashton! How are you?"

"Pretty good. You?"

"Great," she answered with a wide smile. She trotted over and hugged him. "It's good to see you."

"Same."

Sam looked over at me and then at everyone else. "I'll be right back." She came back, took my hand, and led me upstairs.

We stopped in the iCarly studio, which now had a bed in the corner.

"Yours?" I guessed, and Sam nodded. She sat down on our old iCarly car couch.

"Listen, Freddie. I'm so, so sorry. I really should've told you about… about what happened with my mom. It wasn't right to keep it from you. I've been feeling awful ever since I left, and I just didn't know what to say to you."

"You thought I was mad?"

Sam looked up at me, slightly confused.

"Oh, Sam. I… I wasn't mad at you. I…" I laughed a little, "I thought you were mad at me!"

Now Sam grew even more confused, "Why would I be mad at you?" and then she amended, "You know, I guess that doesn't matter."

"We haven't spoken for almost two months," I said shaking my head. And… neither of us was mad. We stopped talking to each other for no reason."

Sam sighed and leaned into my chest.

"That was awful."

I stroked her hair and muttered, "It was hell."

She turned to look at me and, with a tiny smile, pressed her lips to mine. I closed my eyes and savored the soft feel of her lips, knowing it would only be so long before I'd have to go back to Massachusetts. I pulled Sam close to me and our kiss deepened. Running my hands through her soft blonde hair, it was like no time had passed. Her arms encircled my neck and I broke away to place a small kiss on her jaw. Our lips came together again, as if magnetically drawing towards each other, before Sam finally admitted, "We should go back down before they start to miss us."

I sighed and stood, pulling Sam up with me. "I guess so," I said mildly.

I placed one more kiss one her lips, and then we returned to our friends.

It's funny how quickly we just fell back into our old roles after that. Once we realized that the past months of silence were for nothing, we found that we didn't want to waste any more time.

REVIEW!

I'll be updating with two chapters every day for the next few days, until the end of the story.

29-30 on Tuesday 7/22 (Today)

And 31 {the epilogue} on Wednesday 7/23