Cookie

"Spencer, Sam said you make a right up here!" Carly said as her brother zoomed past the turn.

"You said a left!" Spencer exclaimed.

"I did not!"

"I definitely heard left," Gibby said from the back seat.

"Me too," T-Bo nodded.

"You guys all need to get your ears checked," Carly mumbled.

"Man, this is not at all what I thought Chicago would be like," Gibby said, looking out the window. "I thought it was supposed to be one of those really busy city places."

"It is," Carly said. "But these are the suburbs."

"I have not seen one decent smoothie shop in this whole dang city," T-Bo commented. "Where's a man supposed to get a decent drink?"

"Freddie was telling me that there's a pretty nice juice bar near their house," Spencer said.

"A juice bar?" T-Bo frowned. "That's what this country is coming to? I knew I should've run for president, I could've fixed all this chiz! Why'd my mama have to go into labor in Canada?"

"While I'm sure the problem on every American's mind is smoothies," Carly said, rolling her eyes. "Can we please focus on the fact that Spencer needs to go turn around! I told you, you missed the turn!"

"I missed it because you told me the wrong directions!" Spencer argued.

"No I didn't!"

"You know, you're driving on the way back home," Spencer said, making a U-turn. "And then I'll be the one screaming faulty directions at you and we'll see how you-"

"Turn! Now!"

Spencer turned onto a long street of houses.

"Hey, look, joggers!" Gibby said, pointing at three men wearing matching red jumpsuits. "Wow, look at those sweet suits. You think I can get one of those and go with those guys while we're staying here?"

"You do whatever you like," Carly said. "Oh! Look, that's their house!"

Spencer pulled into the driveway and parked the car as all the passengers jumped out. No sooner had they stepped out, though, did the front door of the house swing open.

"Sam!" Carly exclaimed, running over to her friend. "Oh my God! I can't believe it's been like, seven months since I've seen you!"

"I know!" Sam grinned as Carly threw her arms around her.

"Wow, you're so big!" Carly said, letting go of her best friend and noticing her largely swollen abdomen. "But not like, fat big," she added quickly. "Pregnant big."

"Thanks," Sam laughed.

"Wow, you're really nine months along now?" Spencer asked, giving Sam a hug as well.

"Yup, due date's in three days," Sam nodded. "Hey, Teebs, Gib."

"Hey," Gibby said. "Listen, do you know how I can get me one of those nice jogging suits?"

"More importantly," T-Bo cut in. "Why does this place have a juice bar instead of a smoothie joint?"

"And this is what I've been dealing with for the past twenty seven hours in the car," Carly sighed.

"I feel for you kid," Sam said. "Anyway, come on, it's like ten degrees out here. I hate Chicago weather..."

She led the four into the house. "Freddie's still at work," she said as they all gathered in the living room. "But he'll be home in a little bit. I'll show you your rooms, but first...you got the stuff?"

"Yup," Spencer said, opening one of his bags. He pulled out a large box. "Fat Cookies. From the fine people who brought you Fat Cakes."

"Give them!" Sam said, ripping open the box at once. She stuffed one in her mouth. "Oh. My. God. That was the single best thing I've tasted in my life."

"It's kind of funny how they start selling these only in Washington three months after you move," Gibby chuckled.

"Yeah, real hilarious," Sam said darkly.

"Maybe it's a sign that you and Freddie should move back to Seattle," Carly said.

"I was on the verge of doing that, just to get my hands on these," Sam said. "But Freddie wouldn't go for it..."

"So, did you guys set up the nursery for Baby Benson yet?" Spencer asked. "Wait until you see the sculpture I brought for it! It's in the back of the car, but I need Freddie to help me bring it in."

"Awesome, I can't wait to see it," Sam said. "Anyway, I'll show you the nursery now. We just finished setting up everything last night. My friend Penny from work came by and helped us put up this cool wallpaper she found at her sister's store. It has dancing ice cream cones on it!"

"Hey, I had a dream about those last year!" Gibby said. "And when i woke up, for some reason I was covered in ice cream..."

"Yeah, that would be from me," Sam said as she started up the stairs. "I got bored."

"Interesting," Carly said. "So...Penny. She sounds...nice."

"She is," Sam nodded. "She makes the costumes for the theatre I work for."

"Uh-huh...So you spend a lot of time with her?"

"Carly, she's not my best friend," Sam said. "That's still you."

"I know, I know," Carly said. "But, um, do-do you have fun with her?"

"Not nearly as much fun as with you," Sam said, rolling her eyes.

"Good," Carly said satisfied.

"Alright, here's the nursery," Sam said, opening a door right next to the stairs. It was painted a light blue with the wallpaper Sam had just described plastered all around. There was a small camping bed set up by the crib.

"Freddie and I decided that we want the baby to sleep in the bassinet in our room for the first few weeks," Sam said. "So you'll be staying in here, Carls."

"Cool," Carly grinned. "I get to be surrounded by all the little baby stuff!"

"And then T-Bo and Gibby will share the guest room down the hall," Sam continued. "And Freddie set up a bed for Spencer in the office."

"Ha ha, I get my own room!" Spencer said to T-Bo and Gibby.

"Just beware, Freddie swore he saw a mouse in there this morning," Sam told him.

"What? How come I have to sleep all by myself?"

"So, what do you think of the house?" Sam asked everyone as they headed downstairs.

"It's so nice," Carly said. "Perfect for starting a family...I just wish it wasn't so dang far away! I'm never going to get to see my godchild!"

"Carls, you guys are staying here for two weeks," Sam said. "You'll be here when the baby's born, you'll get to see your godchild!"

"I know," Carly sighed. "But I'm still not used to not having you barging into my house everyday."

"Yeah, it's so weird," Spencer agreed. "I wake up in the morning and the living room's...empty."

"Well we'll be driving up to Seattle in a couple of months," Sam reminded them. "To show Freddie's mom and my mom the baby. I promise, we'll barge into the apartment and eat all of your food without asking just like old times."

"Okay, good," Spencer said, relieved.

Just then, they heard the front door open and Freddie entered the house.

"Freddie!" Carly exclaimed, rushing over to him and giving him a hug.

"Hey, Carls," Freddie laughed, returning the hug. "Long time no see, huh?"

"Get off him, it's my turn!" Gibby said, pushing Freddie off him and pulling Freddie into another hug.

"Um, hey there, Gib," Freddie said as Gibby continued to crush him. "Sort of can't breathe hear..."

"Oh, sorry."

"They just got here about half an hour ago," Sam said as Freddie gave his wife a short kiss. "I was just showing them the house."

"I left work as early as I could," Freddie said, giving Spencer and T-Bo quick one armed hugs. "Hey, are those the new Fat Cookies Sam's been going on about?"

"Oh, yeah, we brought her a bunch," Spencer nodded.

"Are they any good?"

"They're like eating heaven," Sam said.

"Wow, mind if I try one?" Freddie asked, reaching for the box.

"You touch my Fat Cookies, Benson, and I will get rid of your train documentaries."

"Okay, okay," Freddie chuckled. "Hey, so since you guys all just got in, why don't we head out and get some dinner?"

"Not at that jank juice bar I've been hearing about," T-Bo said. "Seriously, what decent man goes to a juice bar?"

"Well they do have smoothies there," Freddie told him.

"Oh, well that's just messed up," T-Bo said, shaking his head. "You've got the people all confused..."

"Come on, there's a really great pizza place nearby," Sam said, grabbing her jacket. "I mean, all those rumors you hear about Chicago pizza are true. It's ten times better than anything you can find in Seattle."

"Of course, I haven't even gotten a chance to finish a slice," Freddie said. "Because someone always winds up swiping mine!"

"Baby, if you're going to take twenty minutes to season your pizza, you can't be surprised when I take if from you," Sam said. "Besides, I'm eating for two! Don't you want your kid to be well fed?"

"What are you going to do when you can't use that excuse to steal my food anymore?" Freddie asked.

"Since when do I need an excuse to steal your food?"

"At least we know Chicago hasn't changed you two," Carly chuckled, interrupting the couples argument.

"Nope," Sam grinned as Freddie put his arm around her. "Now come on, I'm starving!"

"Can we stop by this stupid juice bar first?" T-Bo asked as the party headed out to the car. "I need to give these people a piece of my mind..."