AN-This piece is a follow up to chapter 146, where Freddie sang to Sam on iCarly to get back together with her during iOpen a Restaurant. It's showing their date following the song.

...

Tying

"And remember, Gibby, there needs to be roses on the table," Freddie said into his cellphone, tying his tie as best as he could with one hand. "And candles. Candles are good. All girls love candles, right?"

"Relax, Gibby will take care of you," Gibby said.

"And remember, when you bring us our lasagna, you put a whole tub of parmesan cheese in front of Sam," Freddie said.

"I'm shredding it now," Gibby said. "And do you know hard it was to get Principle Franklin to let me keep the restaurant open late just for you two? I had to promise the man free Gibby Subs for a month!"

"I really appreciate you helping me with this," Freddie said, frowning at his horribly tied tie in the mirror. "It means a lot to me. You're a real friend."

"Yeah, just remember that when it's kachi pants day and I need someone to dress up with," Gibby said.

"Sure, sure," Freddie said. He looked at his watch. "Okay, I'm going to pick up Sam from Carly's now. We should be there by seven."

"Got it," Gibby said.

Freddie hung up his phone, looked at his nervous reflection one last time in the mirror and then headed across the hall.

"Hey," he said to Carly and Spencer, who were huddled by the counter, watching something on the computer.

"Oh, hi," Carly said, quickly closing the window that had been on the computer. "What's up?"

"Lovely weather we're having, isn't it?" Spencer asked.

"You were watching the video of me singing to Sam again, weren't you?" Freddie asked, rolling his eyes.

"Yes, fine, we were," Carly admitted. "But it's just so cute!"

"All the ladies in my book club think so too," Spencer nodded.

"Right," Freddie nodded. "Is-Is Sam ready yet?"

"She's just finishing up her makeup now," Carly told him.

"So where are you two going?" Spencer asked.

"He got Gibby to keep restaurant in the school basement open for just the two of them," Carly said before Freddie could you answer. "Can you believe that? Gibby gets to be there, but not me!"

"You got wazzed off when Sam and I took you on our date to Pinni's," Freddie pointed out.

"Yes, but that was because you two were fighting non-stop on that date," Carly said. "This one's going to be all romantic and sweet and-wow. I really need to get a boyfriend."

"I've already told Gibby to act like he's not there," Freddie said. "He promised he's just going to bring us our food, and then he's going to across the street to his aerobics class, so you're really not missing anything."

"Don't worry about me," Carly smiled. "You guys just have fun. I'll go see if Sam's ready."

"Okay, thanks," Freddie said as Carly climbed upstairs. He turned to Spencer. "So, any plans for you tonight?"

"Nope, it's just me and my boxed set of the complete series of Lovely Little Fibbers-I mean, truck races," Spencer said. "But, before the girls get back down here...I know the 'official' story is that Sam dumped you back when you were first dating, but I'm not a total idiot. I know your heart wasn't the only one that got stomped on that night. So just...just don't-"

"Don't worry, Spencer," Freddie said. "I won't."

"Carly for the twelfth time, enough with the hairspray!" Sam said, hurrying down the stairs, Carly at her heels.

"Just a little more, please!" Carly begged.

"No!" She turned to Freddie. "So, um, should we get out of here? Before Carly starts trying to attack me with mascara again?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, um, sure, let's-let's go." Freddie had been so busy staring at Sam that he had barely heard a word she was saying. She was wearing a dark pink dress with black heels that looked stunning on her.

"I'll wait up!" Carly called after the couple. "I want details!"

Sam and Freddie walked downstairs silently. Freddie stared at her hand hanging loosely at her side, wondering how she'd react if he held it. Was it too soon for that? Or was she expecting it? And was his hesitation making him look bad?

"Are we taking the bus?" Sam asked finally, once they reached the lobby.

"Er, no," Freddie said. "I talked T-Bo into letting me borrow the keys to his van."

"He let you borrow his Smootiemobile?" Sam asked.

"Well, I told him if he did, I'd give him the password to unlock all of the channels on our T.V.," Freddie said.

"Impressive," Sam smiled. "You know, you've had your license for how long and you've drove, what, one time?"

"Yeah, well, crazy mom," Freddie grinned. "Come on."

The couple headed out into the parking lot, and silence had once again befallen them.

Think of something to say! Freddie said desperately. You've talked to her before! You've yelled at her, argued with her, kissed her and sang to her before, and now you can't think of one dang thing to say to her? Come on, Benson! You're better than this!

"So, um, I heard the city council's issuing a new water limit for households of over four to try and help us through this dry season," Freddie blurted out.

"Neither of us live in a house with more than four people in it," Sam frowned.

"Oh. Well, you know, just a fun fact..."

Freddie was thankful when he finally pulled into the school parking lot. Him and Sam walked through the dark hallways down to the basement, where Gibby had cleared all the tables away except for one, which had a vase of fresh roses on it.

"Good evening," Gibby said. "May I escort you two to your table?"

"Why's Gibby being, well, weirder than usual?" Sam whispered to Freddie as they followed him to their table.

"I told him not to act like our friend Gibby tonight, but our waiter," Freddie explained.

"Oh, I thought he drank from water fountain on the second floor again," Sam said.

"Your dinner will be here shortly," Gibby said, setting down a basket of biscuits on the table.

Freddie stared at Sam, who was playing with the end of the tablecloth, racking his brain for something to say to her that didn't involve city water restrictions.

"So, um," Sam said. "How-How long did it take you to write that song you sang on iCarly?"

"About a week," Freddie told her. "It took me awhile to make it rhyme."

Sam nodded. Freddie knew it was his turn to start the conversation this time, but what to say...?

"I'm sorry," he finally said.

"For what?" Sam asked, confused.

"For everything," Freddie said. "For not taking the hams out of my pants fast enough and getting your cousin and uncle in trouble, for not appreciating it when you would get revenge on the teachers who gave me unfair grades, for not buying you one of T-Bo's huge Love Smoothies everyday, and, well, for making this the most awkward night you've probably ever had."

Sam said nothing for a moment, and then burst out laughing.

"What?" Freddie asked.

"Dude, you sang me a cheesy love song live on the Internet and you're apologizing?"

"Well...yeah?"

"Come on," Sam said. "Look, all night I've been trying to think of a way to say sorry to you for all the things that I screwed up when we were dating for the first time."

"Like what?" Freddie asked.

"Oh, I don't know," Sam said, rolling her eyes. "For making you spend your entire savings buying me food, for getting you kicked out of your train club, and for forcing you stuff hams in your pants?"

"Yeah, well, I kept trying to correct your table manners on our dates," Freddie said. "I mean who does that?"

"I threw your phone at a kayaker!" Sam said.

"I made us take the long way home from the ice cream place before my mom found out about us just so we wouldn't have to pass the hospital where she works!"

"I made you carry me on your back those two extra miles!"

"I-wait," Freddie said. "Are we really arguing about who messed up our relationship more?"

"Wow, we are," Sam nodded. "And Carly said one day we'd run out of things to fight about..."

"Look," Freddie sighed. "Maybe...maybe it would be best if we just admit that we both did things our first time around in this relationship that weren't...the best."

"Yeah, maybe," Sam agreed.

"But you know," Freddie smiled, feeling a surge of courage fun through his body as he slowly picked up Sam's hand that had been resting on the table and cupping it in his. "There were some pretty great times."

"Like when you spent a whole twenty minutes brushing my hair that one day?" Sam grinned.

"Or when when you would cuddle up next to me when we would watch T.V," Freddie nodded.

"And what about all the kissing?" Sam asked.

"That was definitely fun," Freddie laughed.

"You know," Sam said softly, looking down at her silverware. "I really liked that song of yours, but...I really wished we would've just stayed together."

"But you seemed fine after the breakup," Freddie reasoned. "I thought I was the only one who was a mess after."

"You know I have a reputation to protect," Sam said, smiling a little bit.

"I wish we would've never broken up either," Freddie told her. "But-But you know I meant what I said after. And I still do mean it."

"I still mean it too," Sam said, her cheeks turning red.

"Aw!"

The couple looked back at the kitchen, where they had both forgotten Gibby was preparing their meals.

"Sorry...it's just this face I drew on this tomato is so darn cute," Gibby said.

"Um, how's our lasagna coming along?" Freddie asked.

"Oh, right, here it is," Gibby said, rushing over with two plates. "Now, here's the key," he tossed it to Sam and began to unbutton his shirt, revealing a bright purple, and unnaturally tight, tank top. "You two lock up. I've got my aerobics class in ten minutes and I need to get there early or all the women wind up taking the good spots."

"Have...fun," Sam said, still cringing at the sight of Gibby's tank top.

"Yeah, and thanks again for helping me with all of this," Freddie said. "I owe you one."

The two watched Gibby disappear upstairs.

"Wow, Gibby gave me about five pounds of parmesan," Sam said happily, biting into her lasagna.

"I made sure of that," Freddie told her. "I'm not about to try and change your cheese habits."

"Smart man," Sam laughed. "Smart man."

"Hey," Freddie said, smiling at her. "I love you."

Sam grinned. "I love you too."