Chapter 36 (No Regrets Part 2)

Sam and Freddie had finished, and headed over to Sam's house. She hadn't seen much of her mom during spring break, and even though she wasn't real thrilled with the idea of being around her for long periods of time, she figured popping in with Freddie would make it easy for her to make up an excuse if she needed to get out.

"Ready Fred Nub?" Sam said as she pointed to her front door.

"Sure." He said simply.

Freddie opened the door for her, and even though she didn't like the knight in shining armor thing, she didn't say anything about it. Inside, she kind of liked it; besides it didn't bother her when it was Freddie; not as much anyway. As Freddie walked in behind Sam, he was stunned a little. Pam was sitting on the couch, and actually dressed like a normal person.

"Sammy…I see you brought your boy toy over finally." She said almost ruining the experience Freddie was having at the possibility her mom was starting to change.

"MOM! REALLY?" Sam yelled as she felt embarrassed at her mom's comment in front of Freddie.

Sam stood there looking at her mom with a death glare. To her it was one thing for Freddie to hear how her mom could be. But it was another for him to see it firsthand.

"C'mon Sammy. I've heard how you talk to Carly about him. It isn't hard to tell." She said with a sly smile on her face; knowing it was irritating Sam.

"You and Carly talk about me? What do you talk about?" Freddie asked amused.

"Oh…look at the time Dork…we have to get going. Don't want to miss Carly and Gibby at the Groovy Smoothie. You know how they hate it when we're late." Sam said as she was trying to quickly herd Freddie out of the door.

Sam was just about out of the door with Freddie when her mom stopped them.

"Samantha…can I talk to you over here?" Her mom asked.

"Can it wait mom…we're kind of in a hurry." Sam said desperately wanting to leave before her mom could embarrass her any further.

"No…it can't wait." Her mom said in a serious tone of voice.

Sam reluctantly went over to where her mom was still sitting on the couch. Freddie never left the door way; he just stood there curious about what her mom had to say.

"Samantha…sit down next to me." She said; patting the couch cushion next to her. Sam walked over to the couch and sat down next to her mom.

"Do you love him?" Her mom said out of the blue.

The question threw Sam a curve ball. Her mom never seemed to care about anything before she and Freddie were a couple, and here she was, asking a very personal question; in front of Freddie.

"Mom…I don't see why I need to answer that question…it's not like it's any of your business anyway." Sam said matter of factly, and just about to get up to leave.

"It is my business. Freddie can you step outside a minute…I need to talk privately with Samantha." Her mom said; unusually polite; with her hand resting on Sam's shoulder.

"Um…sure. I'll be outside Sam." He said as he gave Sam a curious look, before stepping thru the door; closing it behind him.

Sam spun back around to face her mom. "MOM! WHAT THE HELL?" Sam screamed.

"Before you get all defensive…hear me out."

"There's nothing to hear…goodbye!" Sam yelled as she got up to return to Freddie. But Sam was stopped by what she heard her mom say next.

"I'm Proud of you Sammy." She said sincerely.

"What did you just say?"

"I said I'm proud of you. You managed to do something I haven't." She repeated.

"Do what?" Sam asked; now completely calm, and still trying to digest her mom's comment.

"Samantha…we both know my track record with guys. And well…you have what I have always wanted. A man that looks at me the way Freddie looks at you." She said as she seemed to be chocking up. Before Sam could respond, her mom continued.

"Don't let him get away…from what I can tell…he was worth the wait. I see the change in you. It's a good change. I know telling you right now was kind of bad timing on my part."

"Ya think…?" Sam said sarcastically.

"Believe it or not Sam…I want you to have a better life than I have had the last few years. I want you to be happy; and I can see clearly he makes you happy."

"Thanks mom…he does; but can we talk about it later; right now I have to get going. Don't want him to get away." Sam said; smiling as she made her way to the door.

"By Sammy!" Her mom yelled as Sam was closing the door behind her.

Sam walked down the sidewalk to where Freddie was now standing; with a different look about her, Sam felt different. For the first time, she had her mom's approval. Not that she cared whether or not her mom approved of anything. It was just nice that it wasn't something her mom had to force herself to say…it was something she wanted to say. And the feeling Sam was having, was showing on her face, a look Freddie had never seen before.

"You okay Sam? Is your mom still alive or should I call someone?" Freddie asked smartly.

"No…she's fine, just had a heart to heart…that's all." She said as she wrapped her arm around his; laying her head down on his shoulder.

XXX

Carly and Gibby were sitting in Carly's living room on the couch finally alone after Spencer went over to Socko's for some kind of experiment. Carly laid her head up against Gibby…thinking about what he was asking her before Spencer burst thru the front door.

"Hey…Gib. What was it you wanted to do after prom?" She asked.

Gibby's eyes got wide. He wasn't expecting to hear Carly want to talk about the subject; especially after the shocked reaction he got from her earlier.

"Ah hum…well you know…something other than the Groovy Smoothie; a little alone time; no distractions; just us." He said; holding his breath, and waiting on her response.

"Sounds fun. Any place in mind?" She asked, with a coy smile on her face.

"Well…My mom is letting me use her car. So why don't I make it a surprise." He said.

Carly smiled. She knew wherever he was going to take her, she knew it was most likely going to be a good time; or at least she was hoping it would be.

er mom said unusually politelyH