I wanted to put things into my own hands after the terrible day I've had. Seriously, this is mostly character development because of the amount of pregnancy fics there are but I haven't read any of them. Hopefully I haven't stolen any other author's works but when I read a certain type of fic, it gets in my head for days and even if I want to write something in the same category, I feel as if I would somehow plagiarize someone else's writing. So call me cliche for this category but I have tried my hardest not to plagiarize anyone. That being said, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own a thing but my own imagination that has been creating this characterization for a long time now.
Chapter 3 Life Choices
*Five Years Later*
"Sam, did you pay the apartment yet?" Melanie called from the kitchen table. Sam shifted around the kitchen, staring blankly at the unopened bills on the counter. Her eyes shifted towards the window and glanced at the beach filled with bright colors across the horizon as the water lapped the bright sand.
Grabbing her plate with half a sandwich, Sam turned and dropped it on the kitchen table next to Melanie. "It was done yesterday afternoon on my way home with Charlie and Topher." Sam pulled out a chair and sat down next to Melanie.
Melanie had her books spread across the table, making little room for the two small plates; Melanie's plate only contained with a single bitten bagel. Hastily scribbling in a notebook, Melanie shut the textbooks and looked at her twin sister. "Cool."
Sam, finishing her lunch, watched as her replica rose from the table, making the chair shriek across the wooden floor, and packs an empty backpack next to the door. "Are you going to class?" Sam asked, raising to empting the table of whatever was left of lunch.
Running into the kitchen to grab her wallet, Melanie stopped at the counter topped with unopened bills. Separating the sea of white envelopes, her eye caught a slightly crinkled pink envelope that had been ripped open. Seeing the address, Melanie groaned with frustration. Turning on her heels, she was quick to approach Sam. "When were you going to tell me that Carly had sent the invitations to her wedding?"
Sam refused to make eye contact with Melanie and busied herself with washing the dishes. "SAM! WHEN WERE YOU PLANNING ON TELLING ME?" Melanie slammed the envelope on the counter, making Sam cringe.
Sam sighed and dried her hands on her tattered t-shirt. "I wasn't going to tell you, okay? I don't want to go. I don't think it's wise to go, Melanie."
Melanie's stare softened. "Sam…this is your best friend's wedding…"
Sam grumbled, "It's not because of Carly…it's…look I just don't want to face him after five years of avoiding him!"
"You're ridiculous. It's time you two spoke to each other. Charlie and Topher will-"
"Leave them out of this. I refuse to have him know. I had my reasons to have them alone and not tell him."
"Reasons you never shared with me…Sam, I'm your sister and yet you never told me why you didn't want Freddie to know he had twins."
"I…I didn't want to ruin his future, okay? I knew that what he wanted to do would take longer and more focus than becoming a chef. Besides, we're doing perfectly fine without him!" Sam glared.
"It's still Carly's big day. I don't think you want to miss being the maid of honor. She would kill you," Melanie chuckled. Shoving a hand in her bag, she pulled out a small square box. Opening it, Melanie pulled out a thumbtack and placed the invitation next to the calendar in the kitchen, circling the date with a red sharpie from her bag as well. "There. Now we won't forget." Melanie turned to face Sam and tried to give her a supporting smile.
"Look," Melanie began," I'm not going to make you go. Just think of Charlie, Topher and Carly. What would they want? Don't you want to see how old Spencer looks? Or how cool his sculptures look in person instead of pictures on SplashFace?"
Sam groaned. "I'll think about it."
Melanie playfully pushed Sam's shoulder. "That's my Sammy." Sam laughed at her twin and shoved her back.
"Don't call me that," Sam chuckled.
"Whatever you say… Sammy." Melanie laughed evilly as she grabbed her bag and swiftly stepped to the side as Sam leaned over to shove her once again.
Jumping to the other side of the counter, Melanie smiled. "I'll be home later, I'm heading off to my Chemistry lab and I'm running late now."
Sam turned back to the dishes with a smile. "What time do you have to be there?"
"Uh…one…" Melanie said slowly.
"It's twelve forty-five…" Sam spoke clearly as she checked the clock.
"WHAT?! FUUUUUCK!" Melanie sprinted to her room and came out with shoes in her hand and backpack slung over her shoulder. Slamming the door closed, Sam rolled her eyes. On cue, the Master bedroom door opened from the hallway, followed by light footsteps.
"Shit." Sam cursed under her breath as the footsteps approached.
"MOOOOOMMMYYYYY!" Dropping the dishes back in the soapy water and drying her hands on her shirt once again, Sam turned on her heels to smile at the small sleepy girl at the entrance of the kitchen.
"Charlie, what is it?" Sam spoke softly.
"I woke up from my nap and I can't find Wombi," Charlie sniffed. She rubbed her tired deep blue eyes with the back of her small hand. Sam picked her up, brushing her golden brown curls over her shoulders as she made her way back to the master room shared.
Charlie and Topher went to morning pre-school at the neighborhood elementary school. Every day at precisely twelve, Sam stood outside the school and waited patiently for them to be dismissed. The trio would walk home to their usual schedule of eat lunch and take a nap with Charlie's stuffed Giraffe, Wombi, and Topher's stuffed Penguin, Louis.
Getting on her knees, Sam crawled under the small bottom bunk bed that was pushed against the wall opposite of her Queen sized bed. Groping blindly, Sam felt something soft and furry. Pulling it, she dusted the giraffe and smiled at Charlie.
Charlie instantly brightened and squeezed the giraffe. "WOMBI!"
Sam smiled. Glancing at the top bunk, she made sure the younger boy was asleep. "Great. Now you have Wombi, you can take your nap."
Charlie looked up the elder mom. "But Mommy, me and Wombi aren't tired anymore. We want Fat Cakes!"
Sam sighed. "Charlene…you know the rule about Fat Cakes."
"No Fat Cakes unless Alannah is here," Charlie sulked.
"Good. Now get in your bed and let's go back to sleep. When you wake up, Alannah will be here and you can have one Fat Cake," Sam smiled.
"Only if you get in bed with me!" Charlie jumped gleefully.
Sam brushed her long blonde curls back and sighed. Swallowing her ego she nodded and Charlie squealed. Picking up the small girl, Sam laid Charlie beside herself and the wall. Charlie curled up to her mom, gripping onto her stuffed Giraffe. Sam pulled the small Disney blanket over both of them.
"Story!" Demanded a muffled voice from under the blanket; Sam sighed but smiled.
"Which one: Princess Charlie Saves the Kingdom or Princess Charlie Meets the King?" Sam spoke softly.
Charlie began to think for a bit. "I want Princess Charlie Meets the King!"
"Are you ready?" Sam asked the small girl. Charlie nodded in glee and nestled into the small bed. "Okay here we go:
"Once there was a kingdom unlike all the kingdoms. There was no King, only a Queen. The Queen had a daughter named Charlene. The kingdom adored her and called her Princess Charlie. Princess Charlie loved to go on fun adventures. Today, the Queen had to work all day in the castle and Princess Charlie wanted to go passed the castle walls and into the forest to play. While everyone helped the Queen work, Princess Charlie snuck out through her secret passageway and out into the forests of wonders. There she met all her friends. Her best friend, Wombi the Giraffe, was there waiting for her by the creek where he waits for her every day.
"Today, he was there with a boy. Princess Charlie had seen this boy around the kingdom before. He was always causing trouble where ever he went. The boy turned and gave Princess Charlie a sneer. With a hand, he pushed Wombi into the creek and laughed. Princess Charlie began to scream with fear. She watched as Wombi sat confused in the creek. The boy laughed and laughed. He began to yell at Princess Charlie for not having a dad. Now, Princess Charlie had never asked the Queen why she never had a father.
"Princess Charlie helped Wombi and turned to the boy. She calmly talked to him about how Mommy's are better. The boy left angry and stomping away. Princess Charlie sat down with Wombi and began to play happily after the boy left. When she said goodbye to Wombi, she made her way through her secret passage and into her room. As soon as she made it into the room, the door opened. The Queen stood there, happy to see Princess Charlie, for she was worried something bad had happened to her. The Queen said someone important had come to visit her and she wanted the Princess to meet him.
"The Queen pulled the small princess down long corridors of the castle until they arrived at the throne room. There a tall man stood near the Queens throne with a soft smile. The Queen introduced him as the old King who had disappeared. He had messy brown hair and deep brown eyes. He bore the same nose as the Princess and the same crinkle in the corner of his eyes. The Princess ran up to him as he held his arms out for her. He told her that he found them when his nephew had gone missing earlier that day and followed him to the forest. There he hid as he watched the boy socialize with the princess and followed the trees to the wall of the castle and found the main entrance. The Queen and the princess were now a happy family and no one made fun of the princess without a dad again." Sam finished. Charlie's breathe evened. The grip on the giraffe had loosened as her body had relaxed into the bed.
Sam slipped out from under the covers. She reached on her toes to brush back some stray brunet locks from the young boy's sleeping face and clicked the door closed silently behind her. She went through the next three hours in her thoughts, mindlessly doing her chores. Every time she told Charlie or Topher a story to fall asleep, Freddie would stay in her head like a nasty bug. Sam hated to remember the times she had with him growing up, the good and bad. He always stayed there, even when she didn't want him.
The loud echoing knock woke her from her zombie state. She realized that she had been sitting in front of the television with it off. The reflection of her sad self-bore back at her in the darkness. Rising from her seat, she went to unlock the chain from the door and slap on a smile.
A heaving, slim girl stood there, smiling back. She was tall, with glowing features against her fair skin as the long, flowing brown hair fell against her shoulder in a fish tail braid. Glittering brown eyes stared back in glee with the full lips accentuating the creases against her cheeks. Her black blazer sleeves were folded to her elbows and open to show the white blouse she wore over her knee-length black skirt; the usual uniform for the private schools in their neighborhood.
Next to her stood two small boys wearing the same uniform colors but elbow length fold white button-up shirts, black pants and loosened black ties. The taller, older one was tall and gawky. He smirked at Sam behind black glasses and messy, spiked brown hair. His dark gray eyes bore an expression of mischief. The smaller boy wore an innocent expression. His gray eyes smiled, while his short brown curly hair spewed everywhere.
"Sorry we're late. I had to stay after for a bit because Ryder's teacher wanted a word with me," the girl spoke as Sam let the kids in. The girl shot a look at the older boy as he smirked at her.
Ryder, the older boy, scoffed at his sister. "You make it sound like what I did was a crime, Alannah."
"You pushed a kid down the slide, Ryder!" Alannah said exasperated.
Sam sighed. "Alannah, you know Charlie and Topher are going to wake up if you keep raising your voice. Now you know the rules. I'm going to get changed into my uniform and be right out. Melanie should be home by six and you guys can stay here until your mom and I come home from work later tonight at eleven."
"Liam, go sit at the table with Ryder and start your homework," Alannah stated as Sam made her way to change. The three kids were settled in by the time Sam was out the door in her usual khaki pants, white blouse, and navy sweater in her arms; on her way towards her job as a chef at P.F. Wang's.
OoOoOoOoOo
Sam's feet ached as she crossed the street on her way home. The streets were lit by the streetlights as cars drove by casually. Sam walked side by side with Alannah's mother, Irene. Irene was a thirty year old who was an old soul. She was instant friends with Sam when she started working at P.F. Wang's as a waitress while Sam worked her way through college with twins; their feet hitting the concrete in a steady rhythm.
"Sam…there's something wrong," Irene spoke softly behind the brooding blond. Irene was the same height as Sam. Alannah looked exactly like her mother, slim, long, and beautiful. They had the same gentle features in body language and facial expressions.
Sam sighed. "Nothing's wrong, Irene. What gave you that impression?"
"Alannah texted a picture of the invitation for Carly's wedding. I texted Melanie about it and she says you're not going. I can tell it's been on your mind all day because you had to redo an order earlier and you never mess up," Irene pointed out.
"No, I'm not going. I don't want to see him. I don't want him to take Charlie and Topher away from me. If he sees her, he's going to guess correctly that he's the father and he's going to want to be in their life. I don't think I'm ready to share them with anyone," Sam spoke softly, her hands pinching the navy sweater she wore.
"Sam…I understand what you're saying but don't you think he deserves the right to know? He's already missed the first five years with them, their first day of school, what else is he going to miss in their life?" Irene said. The girls started climbing the outside stairs to their apartment building.
"Irene…I just don't know what to do. I'll send your kids home with Melanie in a few minutes," Sam spoke to Irene with an uncertainty in her wavering voice.
When Sam opened the door to her apartment, sleeping bodies littered her couch. Melanie sat at the kitchen table, open textbooks across the entire top. Alannah rose from her spot on the floor next to her sleeping brothers and towards Sam; closing the book the younger girl held across her lap.
"Charlie and Topher went to bed on time and we went to the beach for a bit," Alannah reported to Sam. Sam smiled and thanked her as Alannah proceeded to get her sleeping brothers to leave the apartment and towards the stairs to go to their own.
Sam slouched on the couch as Melanie closed the door. Shuffling behind her, Melanie approached Sam with a paper in her hand. "Sam, I think you should have this."
Sam glanced at Melanie's hand and gasped. She gave a loud inhale and choked down sudden, heavy tears. In Melanie's hand was the most memorable thing from Sam's past. It was the picture Melanie had mocked Sam with that was taken the last summer the gang had actually enjoyed ever since the Puckett's move to California. It was the summer and the same day Freddie and Sam were unofficially together. It was the last day they held an intimate moment. It was the picture of the couple when Freddie had lifted Sam at the shore of the beach at Wendy's party. There was a glint in both of their eyes and a happiness that they held that was locked forever in the picture. Sam dropped the picture and threw herself on her twin. Emotions charged through Sam's body as her body shook with each heavy intake of breath. After a few more sobs, Sam's breathing evened and she sat back from Melanie.
"Thanks," Sam whispered hoarsely.
"I thought you might enjoy seeing a fond memory after so long," Melanie smiled.
They stayed in an embrace for a little while, as Sam fell into her memories.
*Flashback*
"Dork! That's my piece of bacon!" Sam screamed across the table, leaning over her plate full of Thanksgiving goodies. She was glad to be home from California for two weeks. Sam was currently sitting across the table, facing Freddie. Since their rendezvous before he left for Texas, they had been playfully flirting the entire time they were together.
"Too bad, Princess Puckett," She watched him smirk and taking a chunk out of the last strip of bacon between them. She growled and hmph-ed at him.
Sam heard Carly laugh next to her as she watched the pair in amusement. Sam heard Carly shift her weight in the seat and watched as Carly faced her from the corner of her eye. Turning her head, Sam watched as Carly spoke, "You still haven't touched your Turkey, Sam. Are you sure you're feeling okay?" Carly put a hand to Sam forehead as she felt her ears burn.
"Um…yeah…totally fine…really Carly…I had some, um, food earlier and I'm not as hungry as I was. I just got over the flu last week, remember?" Sam mentioned. She felt all eyes on her and her plate as she came up with some excuse off the top of her head. It was true that Sam had been feeling a bit sick for the past couple of weeks but Sam was convinced it was just a bug.
"Oh, in that case, let me take your plate and you can go upstairs. I hope you feel a bit better." Carly smiled at her as she took Sam's plate and put it in the kitchen. Sam rose from her seat and made her way to the stairs. The entire time she climbed the stairs, she had the urge to see her dinner again. But by the time she reached the guest room, she was dizzy. Lying down, Sam felt time pass slowly until the door creaked open and she cracked her eyes open. Sam watched Freddie grimace a smile as she lay on the bed, realizing how much colder the room had gotten. Time lapsed and Freddie was now standing next to her bed, raising the covers and slipping in next to her.
Sam snuggled up to his side as he threw an arm around her cold body and covered them with the blanket. She moved her head onto his chest and felt his body's rise and fall with every breath he took. They lay like that for some time. She felt him shift under her and a grunt escaped his lips, making his chest grumble.
She put a hand on his chest and looked up, "What's up?"
"Are you keeping something from me?" He asked, staring straight into her eyes.
Sam was baffled. "Wha-what are you talking about, Freddie?"
"Earlier during dinner, you said you had just gotten over the flu but you've been a bit off. You think no one's watching, but I notice the slight change in mood when you're alone, Sam. What's going on?" He asked her sure of himself that he had all the facts right.
Sam sighed. She didn't want to tell him the truth. Not even Carly knew. She was sure as fuck she was not going to tell him now. Smiling at him, she reached up and kissed his cheek. "Don't worry about it. I'm fine."
She felt his body relax under her. His hand began to brush her hair away from her face and she hummed. "But you would tell me if something was wrong, right?"
She giggled at his thoughts. "Of course; you're my best friend."
"Because you're my princess and I can't stand it if something happened to you." Sam felt his chest vibrate as he spoke. She leaned up and pressed her lips lightly on his.
*End Flashback*
"What was that, Sam?" Melanie pushed Sam to repeat.
"I want to go back to Seattle…I want Freddie to meet Charlie and Topher…I want to be happy again…I just want to see him again."
I introduced Melanie into the story last chapter and I really see her making a difference in Sam's life out of high school. They're still technically sisters so it just seems like the best logical option to help Sam out in a situation like the one she got herself in than any one else. Well, next chapter has some familiar characters! THE DRAMA IN THE NEXT EPISODE! and the denial continues. I've got it mostly typed, fleshing out the minor details. Hope you guys liked it! As always, leave a thought out review, those are the ones that I enjoy the most but even a quick one would be great as well. MORAL SUPPORT PEOPLE! Love ya'll!