A/N: Thank you for all the reviews! It's really interesting to read all your thoughts on Sam/Freddie vs. Melanie for Charlie. I have about two more chapters plus an epilogue planned out for this story and I'll try to get it all done before I go back to school in two weeks.

P.S. Don't hate me.

Chapter Sixteen

"Sam?"

Sam looked up from her ham sandwich to see Garrett Anderson standing over her. Not a person she particularly wanted to see but she supposed there was nothing she could do about it now.

"Stalking me?" She asked.

"No, I just wanted some roast beef," he said, indicating the plate he was holding.

"Around the corner from my school?"

"I came from a meeting with a client. Believe it or not Sam Puckett, my days don't revolve around you. Especially since I haven't heard from you in over six months."

Sam sighed and gestured to the empty seat across from her, which Garrett readily took.

"I said no to franchising, I didn't realize I was supposed to keep in contact beyond that."

Garrett smiled. "How's business? How's life?"

"Business is good," Sam said. "Life is...complicated."

"That doesn't sound good. Anything I can do?"

Sam laughed. "No, I don't think so."

"Well, whatever the problem is, maybe you need an unbiased opinion. You know, from someone who isn't close to the situation."

She looked at Garrett as he bit into his sandwich. They weren't friends, they weren't anything really. Their relationship had stopped over six months ago when she had called him to give him a definitive no on franchising. But the situation with Melanie was slowly driving her insane with anxiety and worry and she couldn't help but think that getting an outside opinion wasn't a bad idea.

"You know Charlie, my sister's baby that I sort of adopted?" She asked. Garrett nodded. "Well, Melanie, my sister is back and she wants to see Charlie and I don't think it's a good idea."

"Why not? Technically, she's her baby, right?"

Sam frowned. "She abandoned her for a year!"

"Point," he granted. "But she's back now, maybe she wants to set things right?"

"And when she decides to leave again?"

"Is it a foregone conclusion that she'll leave again?"

"It's Melanie. She left for boarding school when she was eight and never looked back. Her ambition has always come before everything else. I can't let Charlie get attached to someone who just drops in and out of her life."

"Okay, I don't know your sister or what the history is between you two. I'm guessing that's a long story?" He asked and Sam nodded in confirmation. "But the way I see it, Melanie willingly gave her baby to you, forfeiting her own custody rights. As Charlie's true acting mother, you have the right to set the boundaries around her. Legally, you could be able to sue for closed adoption and keep Melanie from Charlie forever."

Sam thought about this. Is that what she wanted? To keep Melanie from Charlie's life and her own life forever? Even as angry as she was at her sister, it seemed harsh.

"It doesn't look like you like my answer," Garrett said.

Sam looked up, drawn out of her troubled thoughts. "It's just...Melanie is my sister."

"And there's the rub. Sorry, I'm probably not much help. You weren't kidding when you said it's complicated."

"Yeah." Sam breathed out and let her eyes wander to the passing Seattle traffic on the road beside them. It was a rare sunny day and she had chosen an outside table at the deli.

"Look..." Garrett said. She drew her attention back to him and she was surprised to see him looking nervous. "I'm glad I ran into you today. Are you by any chance still with Freddie?"

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She couldn't believe he was trying to hit on her again. "Yes, I am."

To her surprise, Garrett looked happy about it.

"Good. I actually, uh, quit my job."

Sam raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"I started a business with a good friend."

"Good for you. What does this have to do with me and Freddie?"

"I want Freddie to design our website and I'm hoping you could put in a good word for me. He did a really good job on Gibby's website, by the way."

"Thanks."

"I showed it to my partner and it's what sold him on letting me hire Freddie and not going to some company or whatever. So here's my new card." He reached into the inside pocket of his blazer and pulled out a card.

"What?" He asked when Sam smiled and shook her head as she took his card.

"How do you manage to turn everything into a business opportunity?"

"I guess it's just a gift. So, I have to go. It was nice seeing you again, Sam. And I wish you luck on your complicated situation." He stood up and started to leave but suddenly turned back. "And for what it's worth, you seem like a great guardian to Charlie. Your sister left her with you for a reason, don't doubt yourself."

Before Sam could answer, he walked away.

X

"Thank you for meeting with me, Mr. McBride," Freddie said as he took the seat opposite him in his office.

"It's not a problem. So Melanie is back, is she?"

"Yes."

"I was afraid of this. Lines of custody are never clear when unprepared, frightened teenagers leave their babies with family members. It's why I was happy to get her signature on the custody papers. If she plans on taking Charlie back, she'll have to take us all the way to trial and convince a jury."

"And she won't win, right?"

"I can't promise anything, Freddie. She is the biological mother, that holds weight with a lot of people. But she gave her baby away almost immediately after birth, she didn't attempt to get back in contact with Sam until after a year...the odds in her favor are slim but if the case goes to trial...well, juries are just people and they can be unpredictable."

Freddie nodded in understanding. "Listen, the reason I wanted to meet with you without Sam is because I wanted to tell you that I plan on proposing to Sam. And I don't know if she'll say yes or anything," he said quickly. "I just wanted to know if that would help...you know, if we were engaged or married."

"It would help," Attorney McBride said slowly, leaning back in his chair to take in this news. "It's always good when it can be shown to the judge and jury that the child is in a stable household with two parents. But I hope you're not doing this just for Charlie's sake."

"I've been thinking about this long before Melanie came back. I love Sam and I want to marry her. I also want to make Charlie legally our daughter."

Attorney McBride studied him hard and long. Freddie met his gaze and didn't waver, he was sure of himself and his decision. He didn't need skeptical older people doubting him at every turn but he knew that because of his age it would happen frequently. It didn't matter though. Nothing mattered except that he loved Sam and she loved him and together they loved Charlie more than life itself.

They sat there in silence until Attorney McBride found whatever he was searching for in Freddie and nodded in satisfaction.

"Freddie, I'm a divorce lawyer," he said. "I can't tell you how many couples I've represented that married too young, too fast. Sometimes it takes them a few months to see the error in their decision, sometimes it takes fifty years."

"It's not like that with Sam and I," Freddie interrupted.

He held his hand up. "I know, I know," he smiled. "I've only been around you and Sam a handful of times but I think I know real love when I see it. And I know the look of a boy foolishly in love. I was you twenty-seven years ago, albeit in a less complicated situation. I wish you luck, Freddie. And I'll do everything in my power to make sure Charlie stays yours."

"Thank you, Mr. McBride," Freddie said, standing up and shaking the Attorney's hand.

X

"Dada..." Charlie said.

Sam took her out of her stroller. "I know, I know you're used to being with daddy right now but he just needs a little break. You'll see him tonight, baby," she promised.

"Dada!" Charlie yelled.

Sam blew out a breath in frustration. The elevator doors to the Shay loft opened and she pushed the stroller out with one hand.

"Hey." Carly greeted. "Hi Charlie!"

"Sorry, Carls," Sam said. "She might be a bit difficult today. She's used to being with Freddie at this time of day. She's been screaming for him since we left the apartment."

"Well, I'll try to keep her entertained. How did Freddie take the idea of giving him a break?"

"He was pretty chizzed off at first but I got him to come around to the idea. He might not want to admit but he does need some peace and quiet to do his work. Thanks for doing this, Carls."

"Sam, I'm happy to."

"It's just once or twice a week until Freddie catches up with his schoolwork. Did you know that he got a C on his last test in his Computer Science class? That's the lowest grade he's gotten on a test, ever. And the nub tried to hide it from me! I found it in the trash when he told me he threw away a box that still had a half eaten chicken leg in it."

"Sam, what did I tell you about digging food out of the trash?" Carly started to lecture but then stopped herself. "Wait, Freddie got a C in a computer class?"

"Yeah! Which means that all the stuff he has to do is getting to him even though he's too stubborn to admit it."

"Well, I'm happy to take Charlie off his hands for a few hours," Carly said, taking the baby from Sam.

"Hi Charlie! You're gonna have fun with aunt Carly, aren't you?"

"Lolly..." Charlie said.

"Aunt Lolly." Carly looked at Sam, who grinned back at her. "Well, close enough, I guess. Do you have to leave right now?"

Sam looked at her watch and shrugged. "I can stay for a few minutes."

Carly sat down on the couch and arranged Charlie on her lap. Sam sat down beside her. "How's the Melanie thing going?"

Sam sighed. "She went by the restaurant the other day. She really wants to see Charlie but...I don't know. She'll probably give up and leave eventually."

Carly pursed her lips and looked down at Charlie, playing with the baby's hands.

"What is it, Shay?" Sam asked.

"What?" Carly asked innocently.

"You've got that face."

"What face?"

"The 'I want to say something that you don't want to hear' face."

"I don't know what you're talking about..." She said in a high pitched voice.

"Shay..."

"Okay, but you can't get mad at me. This is just what I think."

Sam was starting to get impatient. "Well, what is it?"

"I think that maybe...Melanie should see Charlie."

Sam's eyes widened and Carly quickly rushed to add: "I know, I know. She left her and hasn't been in contact for a year and it is awful but Charlie is her daughter. She should be able to at least see her."

"And what if she doesn't want to stop at just seeing her? What if she wants to take her away?"

"She signed over custody rights to you, Sam. I think that Melanie knows that being with you is the best thing for Charlie. She wouldn't have left her with you otherwise. But, you know, she's still her mom and she loves Charlie...I think that maybe you're punishing her for leaving Charlie...and you. And I know you don't mean to! I know you want what's best for Charlie. But put yourself in Melanie's position, Sam."

Sam took the baby from Carly and held her close. "I have, Carly," she said. "I've been in her position for the last year, raising this baby."

"I know you're protective of Charlie. And you have every right to be. But I don't think you should block Melanie out of Charlie's life or yours."

"I know you're right," Sam admitted. "But I don't want Charlie to get attached just to have Melanie leave again. She's always been like this! She disappears, gets a random attack of guilt, comes back and then disappears again. I don't want Charlie to grow up with that kind of unreliability."

"Maybe you should just give her a shot. You know, while Charlie's still young."

Sam kissed the top of Charlie's head and passed her back to Carly. "I have to go. Thanks again for doing this."

She stood up and gathered her bag.

"Sam, you're not mad, are you?" Carly asked worriedly. "You promised you wouldn't get mad."

"No, I'm not mad, Carls. I'm just running late. Have fun with Aunt Lolly, baby," she said, running her hand through Charlie's hair as she walked past them.

The door closed behind Sam and Carly stood up with the baby.

"Wow, you've gotten heavy," she said. "So what do you want to do?"

"Shiz!"

Carly stared at her. "Well, that's not an activity."

X

"Hi."

Sam rolled her eyes as she trudged through the hallway, her books wrapped in one arm so that she could hold her phone up to her ear.

"Aren't you supposed to be working?"

"It's so quiet here in the apartment," Freddie complained.

"Well, that was the point in having Carly baby-sit for a few hours. So you could work in quiet."

"I'm not used to it. I think I need Charlie around to concentrate."

"Yeah, that's why you got a C on your test," Sam shot back.

"I miss her," Freddie sighed. "And I miss you."

"You'll see us both tonight, nub." Sam fought back a smile.

"Do you need to go by Gibby's today? How about if you just pick up Charlie and I'll make us dinner tonight?"

"Freddie! You're supposed to be working, not cooking dinner."

"I'm almost done, I swear. You can check my homework tonight if you want to."

"If I do then I expect an A," she said sternly.

"You can punish me if doesn't live up to your standards, Ms. Puckett," he said in a low voice.

A shiver ran down Sam's spine and she had to lean against the wall beside her classroom door.

"Promises, promises," she whispered.

"I keep my promises," Freddie said.

She closed her eyes and took a moment to gather herself. She could practically feel Freddie's smirk through the phone. The jackass knew what he was doing to her.

"Dammit Freddie, I have to go to class."

"I know. Have fun, baby."

She wanted to punch away the smirk that she knew was on his face.

"I hate you," she muttered.

"Hate you too."

She smiled in spite of herself.

X

Sam felt the vibration in her pocket and tried to ignore it and focus on her teacher's lecture. It was probably Freddie again, bored and calling to torture her some more.

When it wouldn't stop for two minutes straight, she dug it out and saw Carly's face on her screen.

Her heart dropped. Carly would only call so insistently if something was wrong with Charlie.

She pushed her notebook into her bag and walked right out of class, not caring if she was making a scene.

"Hello," she said into her phone as soon as she was in the hallway.

"Sam!" Carly sobbed. "I'm so so sorry. Charlie was taking a nap in her playpen. I only went upstairs for a minute to get some of my books...I'm sorry..." she broke down sobbing.

Sam forced down the panic rising in her chest. "Carly!" She yelled. "Carly, what happened?"

"She's gone, Sam," Carly wailed. "Charlie's gone!"