AN: Chapter 50! I'm so happy right now. It's my one year anniversary of posting Fanfiction today, and I'm beaming. I can't believe I managed this. I managed it with your help, guys. All your comments, reviews, PMs, feedback, roleplays, requests, favourites, follows. I love you all so much! This is such a big achievement to me, and I thank you all so much for the support throughout this past year. So I only thought it was fair for Chapter Fifty that I do a meaningful and future Seddie chapter. Now, I was planning to do both parts of the time period for this chapter, but then I decided to just do the last part because that's more relatable. x

Okay, so, story time. I came out to my parents about being bisexual in June, after I found out I have a crush on a girl. At first, I wasn't sure how anyone would take it. I mean, I'd been boy-crazy since the age that I realised boys didn't have cooties. And then for me to suddenly like a girl, the sudden change was weird for me. It's still weird. My parents took it well. They told me that they love me however I am, and as long as I was happy and that they got grandkids, they were happy. I asked the girl out a few days ago, and she said yes. It turns out that she likes me too and has liked me since she first met me only two months ago. So, anyway, the point of this is to say that you shouldn't be afraid to be yourself. Coming out may seem big and scary, but to be honest, it's almost like telling someone you hate their favourite food. They might question it or even make a big deal out of it, but they'll accept it because they love you. You'll be nervous, scared, but it'll turn out fine. Your happiness is all that matters, after all. Never be afraid to be yourself. People will accept you for you. And if they don't accept who you are, they're not worth your time. Your parents love you, and they'll accept you even if it takes some consideration. They just want you to be happy. I saw Love Simon a few months ago as an early birthday present, and it opened my mind to many different things. Why don't straight people have to come out? x

So, I hope you enjoy the chapter. I've never been the best at giving advice, especially when it comes to something as personal as sexuality, but I've been through it and I hope my advice can help you guys, too. x

Disclaimer: Even after fifty chapters, and two other stories, I still don't own iCarly. x

….

Sugarcoat

(Thursday 10th, Friday 11th, Saturday 12th, Sunday 13th March 2039 - Time Period: Jennette and Carla's Relationship)

"Hey," Jennette smiled as she opened the front door. It was a surprise when she realised that her friend from school, Carla, was standing there. They didn't really hang out much outside of school, which was a disappointment to them both - more so to Jennette, though she had no idea why she felt that way. And now, since Jennette knew Carla's biggest secret, they both felt nervous about being around each other; about being with each other. "What's up? Would you like to come in?"

"Did you tell anyone?" Carla asked instantly, leaning forward.

Jennette was slightly taken back by the girl's bluntness. She knew for a fact that Carla hated to sugarcoat stuff. "No," she said, shaking her head. She held a hand to her heart. "I promise - I didn't say a word to anyone."

Making Jennette jump, her mother placed a hand on her shoulder with a smile. "Dinner's almost ready." She then spotted the visitor. "Hey there. Jenny, sweetie, who's your friend here?" she asked.

Jennette now felt obliged to answer, even when she saw the brunette freeze visibly in front of her. "Um, this is Carla, a...friend from school. Carla, this is my mum, Sam."

"Lovely to meet you," Sam said, to which Carla just nodded in fear. "Would you like to stay for dinner, Carla?"

"Um, maybe," Carla said quietly. "I'll have to ask my mum first."

Sam nodded. "Come in when you two girls are ready."

Jennette waited until her mother had gone inside before she turned back to Carla, a question stuck in her throat. "Why don't you want anyone to know? Is it because you're yet to tell your parents?"

Carla crossed her arms over her chest defensively. "It's nothing to do with my parents," she snapped. "And it's none of your business."

"I'm the girl you like!" Jennette couldn't help but yell. "Of course it's my business!" What she didn't realise was that her older sisters were both standing in the doorway of the kitchen, and they couldn't stop themselves from hearing every word of the conversation. "And if you can't even accept the fact you're going to have to tell your parents at some point that you like a girl, then you're clearly not able to accept the fact I like you too!"

Carla walked away in a huff, barely noticing how Jennette had just confessed her feelings for her. But just when she realised, she turned back around, but sadly then realised that the front door was now shut. She sighed - little did she know that was exactly what Jennette was doing on the other side of the door: sighing and wishing the other hadn't walked away.

….

"Who was that girl?" Mia asked her little sister later that night as the two got ready for bed. Kallie had long ago given up pestering Jennette for answers. She had accepted that if Jennette wanted her to know, she'd tell her soon enough. Mia plopped down on her bed, letting out a huff. "Ignoring me won't help, Jenny."

Jennette looked up from the book she was reading with a frown. Why couldn't her sisters just let it go? It didn't matter anymore. She knew where she stood with Carla and that was all that mattered. They couldn't be together, and she knew they both knew that. "She's a friend from school," Jennette replied, shrugging her shoulders. "No big deal, sis. Just drop the subject please."

Mia groaned exasperatedly. Her sister was a nightmare sometimes. "Yes, it's a big, big deal," she insisted, crossing her arms over her chest. "Jenny, you like her, don't you?"

Jennette blinked. Mia had it. She'd guessed it. "No," she denied sheepishly. She had waited too long to answer, and that had just confirmed her sister's suspicions.

She sighed. "Just let it go and move on. It doesn't matter." And with that, she reached over and turned her bedside lamp off, leaving her sister in darkness.

Jennette was asleep within seconds.

"There's something up with her," Sam told her husband, as she continued to flip pancakes. She had cooked Jennette's favourite breakfast in hope that it'd lure her out of her bedroom: pancakes, golden syrup, and strawberries. The delicies could be smelt from houses away, so the family was surprised when Jennette didn't come downstairs like they thought she would've. "I mean, she hasn't left her room in days. Something's got to be up. Ever since Carla's visit, she hasn't been herself. Do you think she's being bullied again? Or-"

"She'll tell us in her own time," Freddie said, helping himself to a portion of pancakes. He kissed Sam on the forehead, before using one hand to hold his plate while he fixed his tie with the other hand. "I'll see you after work, okay?"

Sam sighed. "Alright," she said. "See you later."

Just as Freddie left the house, pancakes still in hand, Carly and Blake let themselves in. "Sam!" Carly beamed, rushing over to her best friend. They embraced in a hug for a moment, while Blake was greeted by the twins and by Kallie. "Oh, I missed you so much."

Sam smiled. "How was Spain?"

"Amazing," Carly replied. "We were out in the sun while filming for the show every single day!" She then held up the large bag she had in her hand. While in Spain, she thought of Sam and Freddie and their kids. It was hard not to, considering they were all practically family. And she thought that it'd be nice to buy them each something. "I have presents!"

Blake chuckled to himself. "That's the one thing Carly was excited for," he told Liam and Mia. Mia laughed, wrapping her arms around her boyfriend. It had been a while since she had seen him, since the school work had been piling up, and they were finally home for the holidays. "She was all 'I bought presents!' down the phone for the past week."

Once Carly had handed out the gifts - a pair of earrings for Kallie, a new circular fan for Mia, a football shirt for Liam, a bottle of wine for Sam, and a new laptop case for Freddie - she looked around. "Hey, where's Jennette?" she asked.

Sam averted her eyes and stayed focused on the fourth batch of pancakes she had cooked that morning. "Upstairs," she told her. "She hasn't left her room for days. I'm really worried about her, Carls."

"I'll go check on her," Carly said, holding a gift bag in her hand. She smiled as she trailed up the stairs, ignoring the protests from the family. She got that maybe Jennette wanted to be alone, but she was worried too at the news that Jennette hadn't left her room. She knocked on the door twice.

No answer.

Carly didn't bother to knock again. She just sighed, before retreating back downstairs. She left the giftbag outside the door, hoping that Jennette would find it and thank her for the gift later.

….

Jennette stayed in her room again that day. She had found the food and gift that Carly and Sam had left out for her, which consisted of pancakes, golden syrup, and strawberries, along with the gift which just so happened to be a Spanish copy of Fashion World. She had been obsessed with Fashion World magazines for months now, and she couldn't wait to start reading it in Spanish.

Just then, the doorbell rang. She didn't move at first, but she jumped to her feet when it rang another few times. Expecting somebody else to answer, she didn't move. But then when her phone pinged with a text from Mia saying that the family had to stop at the supermarket for dinner, she sighed and left her room. She swung open the door, thinking it'd be the family saying that they forgot their keys. But no.

Standing in front of her was the brunette.

Carla.

Blinking a few times to check she wasn't just seeing things, before realising she probably looked ridiculous in that very moment, Jennette plastered a smile across her face and acted as if nothing was up. "Hey," she greeted. "Are you-"

"Cut the chit-chat," Carla interrupted, putting her hand in the air. She let out a sigh. "I came here to tell you that I just came out to my parents."

Jennette blinked again. "Wait, really? You did?"

Carla took a step forward. "Yeah," she spoke softly. "I-I thought you deserved to know. And well, I told them about you."

"About me?"

"It's all good," Carla said quickly, noting the sudden look of fear on Jennette's face. She smiled, and it was clearly contagious because Jennette found herself smiling too. "So, I stopped by to ask you something."

Jennette stayed quiet, but she gestured with her hand to continue.

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

The blonde gaped for a moment. She didn't know what to say. It all felt so sudden, but she couldn't help the words that next come out of her mouth. "Yes," she beamed, her face now going back to the usual happy expression she always showed. "Of course I'll be your girlfriend."

Carla pulled her into a tight hug, telling her quietly that she was sorry and that she never wanted to let her go. She left a few minutes later with a promise that she'd message Jennette later that night and that she'd see her when school started again on Wednesday. The family found Jennette staring off into the distance through the lounge room window when they got home.

"Jenny?" Sam asked cautiously.

Jennette broke her staring contest with a nearby tree, turning her head towards the doorway where her mum and dad were standing. She had had plenty of time to think, and she knew what she had to do. "Mum, dad," she said, her voice weak. "I have something to tell you."

A single tear slipped out of her left eye and rolled down her cheek, never to be spoken of again.

"Jenny," Freddie said, as him and his wife sat down either side of their daughter. "You're scaring me."

Jennette sighed deeply. "I'm only going to say this once," she told them. She then took another deep breath. "I'm bi."

The two looked at their daughter, smiles breaking out onto her faces. Sam hugged Jennette tightly. "Aw," she smiled. "Sweetie, I'm so proud of you."

Freddie then gave his youngest daughter a hug. "We love you just the way you are, Jenny," he promised her. "Whether you're bi or not. You can tell us anything, remember?"

Jennette nodded, just as Sam spoke again. "Oh, but I'd still like some grandkids," she told her.

Jennette laughed.

She left the room a little after that, promising that she'd be back downstairs for dinner that night since Carly and Blake were coming. She was about to reach the stairs when Sam said something else. "Sweetie," she called after her. Jennette turned on her heels and lingered in the lounge room doorway. "Invite Carla over tonight for dinner. We'd love to meet her properly."

….

AN: So, what did you think? Did you love it? Did you hate it? :) Once again, thank you so much for all the support throughout the year. I love you all so much! The next couple of oneshots are going to be future chapters, I think, and they will all have a date and time period, meaning we can all keep track of the storylines and the ages and dates of the family. I hope you have a lovely morning, afternoon, evening, night, wherever you are in the world. And thank you so much for everything, guys. I couldn't have got this far without you. x