And I'm back to my normal Monday updates! This chapter is filled with more guilt, denial, and an unexpected surprise for Sam! Make sure to read my final Author's Note at the bottom!
6/17 I fixed any inconsistencies within this chapter pertaining the twins. I do read your reviews guys!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything paralleling to the original show. Thanks.
Chapter 9 The Birthday Surprise
"Are you still paranoid that he's going to call you?" Melanie called from the couch in the apartment.
Sam sat at the table, clicking away at the keyboard of the laptop. "What if I am? I have a good reason to be paranoid. What if he got some sense to come here and take them away from me?"
Melanie sighed, "He doesn't even know where we live, Sam; quit being so unreasonable."
Sam peered over the top of the screen, glaring she spoke harshly, "You're not the one with kids on the line!"
Melanie lay sprawled on the couch with her phone resting on her t-shirt. "Nope, but who's the misguided person who kept everything from the one person that could have helped raise them?"
"You know, I'm sick and tired of hearing the same shit from everyone. Unless you have something new to add to the mistake's I've made, shut the fuck up," Sam spat.
"It's been a month since the wedding, I'm sure he's moved on like he always does. He's a Benson; they bounce back pretty fast," Melanie said with a laugh.
Sam sighed and shook her head. She kept scrolling on the page she was on. SplashFace was the only way she kept in contact with the people back in Seattle. She saw a new message from Carly and read it with a smile.
From: Carly Davis (Shay)
SAMMY-KINS! It's almost that time of the year again! I'm keeping my promise and coming in a week to see my dearest niece and nephew. Send hugs and kisses to those wonderful mixes of my two best friends! I'm bringing Caleb with me Kay? I'll see you next Monday!
"Momma, Liam won't play the game right!" Charlie came running through the hall of the apartment. She held a crossed expression as Liam and Topher came walking behind her, Liam with an apron tied crookedly. His gray eyes smiled at Sam as pink dusted his cheeks from embarrassment.
Sam chuckled and pulled out her phone. Snapping a picture, she laughed at the angry face Charlie wore while Liam smiled wide and Topher looked amused. Looking up, Charlie crossed her arms over her purple sun dress. "What's going on, Charlie?"
Charlie groaned in frustration, "Liam won't play right!" Liam shrugged his shoulders in confusion.
"What are you guys playing?" Sam smiled through a grin.
"We're playing House and he won't leave to go to work!" Charlie huffed.
Sam laughed, "How about you two stop playing house and help me make some Chocolate chip cookies?"
Liam's expression perked behind Charlie as he took big steps to walk towards Sam. Nodding his head furiously, his brown curls bounced everywhere. "I love cookies!"
Topher smiled and ran towards the kitchen. "I'm racing Liam to the cupboard!"
Sam smiled and glanced at Charlie, "Charlie…will you help us make cookies?"
Charlie pouted and crossed her arms. Stomping away, Charlie made her way towards the couch where Melanie lay. Sam snorted and stood up, closing the laptop shut. "Are we still making cookies even if Charlie doesn't want to?" Liam asked innocently. He and Topher, of all people, knew Charlie's full wrath in its finest.
Sam nodded and made her way with the young boys trailing behind her. Topher had pulled a chair from the table and was reaching up towards the cooking utensils on the higher shelves. Sam grabbed Topher from his waist and put him on the ground as she busied herself with Liam. The trio grabbed the ingredients to make the cookies. They finished mixing the batter and Sam handed Liam and Topher a spoon full. Making a last attempt to lighten her daughter's mood, Sam called out, "Last chance, Charlie! Topher, Liam, and I are almost done making the batter. I need extra help to lick the spoon."
A brown head bobbed up from the edge of the couch. Charlie was peeking from the corner with a jealous glance. Scrambling up from the floor, Charlie ran towards the kitchen and Sam handed her the wooden spoon full of batter. Charlie gleefully took it and smiled, "Mm I love your cookies Momma!"
Sam smiled at Charlie. After putting the cookies in the oven, Sam popped in a movie for Topher, Charlie, and Liam as the two sat on the floor attentively.
Melanie had moved from the couch to the kitchen and sat at the table texting with a wide grin. Sam sat across from her and put her chin in her hands and batted her eyelashes. "Who's that Melanie?"
Melanie looked up from her phone and blushed, "Adam."
"Ooh! How's the relationship going?" Sam grinned.
"Good. He wants to come over for dinner one of these days. I'm thinking he can come over for the twin's birthday."
After a moment of silence, Sam looked at her hands as she asked, "Did I tell you my dream?"
Melanie closed her phone and put it down on the table. Her lips pursed as she shook her head, "No you didn't, actually. When were you going to tell me you had a serious dream?"
"I'm telling you now, aren't I?" Sam spoke out.
Melanie sighed, "What happened?"
"It was on the plane ride home. Charlie was in it but she was older. She was furious with me that I never told her who her father was. She became an artist and she was beautiful. In my dream, she made a painting of the picture you gave me of Freddie and me from senior year. When I asked her where she got it, she told me you gave it to her when I died. When I woke up, Charlie was drawing the picture that she posted on the fridge behind you. I didn't know how to tell you without setting off any alarms."
"That's one hell of a dream, Sam."
"I had another one on our way to Seattle. It was Freddie and he wanted to cause me and the twins pain in our lives," Sam swallowed the lump in her throat.
Melanie gave her a sympathetic glance. Reaching across the table, she grabbed Sam's hands, "Sam, I promise those are just dreams. Freddie would never do that to you or the twins. I have told you before that you should tell Charlie and Topher about their father but it's up to you how you want to break it to them. I can't make you do it but I don't want to be the one to tell them either."
"I understand, Melanie. I don't want to be like mom," Sam declared.
Melanie nodded in agreement, "I promise you won't be like her, either."
"How do you know?"
"It's because you're not her! You're Samantha Puckett, not Pam Puckett."
"It just scares me that I could become a shadow of the mother she was to us," Sam said dejectedly.
"You won't be like her, nor are you anything compared to her," Melanie smiled at Sam.
Sam moved to sit up and move to the living room to sit with Topher, Charlie, and Liam. "By the way, Carly and Caleb are coming in a week for the twin's birthday. Bring Adam over then so he can meet everyone."
"Fuck," Melanie slammed her hands down on the table. Sam smirked.
OxOxOxOxOxOxOx
"I need to run some errands so I'll take Charlie and Topher with me. Can you meet up with Carly and Caleb at the airport?" Sam called out from the bedroom. Melanie was adjusting her shoe laces as she walked into the master bedroom.
"Yeah, I was on my way out right now anyway," Melanie smiled.
"Are those my boots?" Sam smiled.
Melanie looked down at her outfit; black combat boots, black and white horizontal striped box pleated skirt and a hot pink sleeveless button up with black hem lines; her golden tresses in their usual high ponytail. "Topher picked them out for me. I thought they complimented my outfit."
Sam snorted, "I was actually going to wear them but I guess not anymore. I'll dig for my brown ones instead. They look good."
Melanie blushed, "Thanks…I'll go and pick up Carly then. I'll text you when we get home."
Sam nodded and went to her closet to search for her boots. Finding them scattered in a pile, Sam caught her reflection in the mirror and smiled in approval; jean shorts, three quarters off the shoulder navy blue smurfette t-shirt and brown combat boots. Walking down the hall, Sam called out for Charlie and Topher. She could hear the television playing from the living room. "Guys, are you ready to go?"
Charlie was laying belly down on the wooden floor coloring with the television on; wearing a soft pink with brown polka dotted sun dress with a brown sash at the natural waist. Craning her neck to make eye contact, Charlie smiled and rose from the ground. Closing her book, she ran towards her room she shared with Sam and came out with her brown flats on. Topher had climbed into the couch and sat there with the remote. He flipped the television off and slid down the couch to meet Sam in his jeans and green button up shirt. Sam grabbed her keys as the twins raced to meet her at the door. Walking up to the exit, she turned and faced the twins with a smile.
"Ready?" Sam asked as the twins grabbed each other's hands. The younger girl began to skip out of the apartment, slightly dragging Topher behind. Sam laughed lightly at her daughter.
"What are we getting, Momma?" Charlie asked as Sam locked the door shut.
"We're going to pick up the cake and come back home to meet a special person," Sam smiled. They began descending the stairs with distinct voices echoed off the walls. Sam could hear steps coming from the opposite direction as them. A male voice made her stop in her tracks.
"Momma, what's wrong?" Topher tugged at Charlie's hand to stop. The younger girl stopped and turned.
Sam glanced at her daughter, "Nothing Topher. Let's go."
They reached the bottom of the stairs as a Sam froze in her tracks. Charlie let out a delighted scream.
"Freddie!" Charlie slipped her fingers from Topher's hand and ran towards the taller man. Freddie stood at the base of the stairs with a smile as he wrapped his arms and lifted the small child in the air. Charlie giggled and shrieked. Keeping Charlie in his arms, Freddie placed his arm under her bottom and kissed her on the cheek.
"Happy birthday Princess Charlie," Freddie smiled. Topher slowly approached Freddie. Tugging at his shirt, Freddie looked down and acknowledged the smaller boy. "Happy birthday, Topher."
"Thank you Freddie! How did you get here? Why did you leave so fast from Aunt Carly's? Did you know Aunt Melanie went to get Aunt Carly and Uncle Caleb? They're coming for my birthday! How did you know it was my birthday?" Charlie babbled.
Freddie laughed. "Slow down Charlie. You look beautiful in your dress."
Charlie laughed at Freddie's comment. Turning her body to face Sam, Charlie smiled, "Momma look! Freddie came for my birthday! Is he the special person for my birthday?"
"He didn't come for just you, Charlie. He came for me and Momma, too," Topher argued. Charlie frowned at her twin and stuck her tongue out.
Sam was frozen in her spot. "W-what are you doing here?" Topher stood quietly, tightly holding Sam's hand in his own and looking between Sam and Freddie. Topher knew how Charlie could be; she would rather ignore the facts and stay in her own world rather than see what's in front of her. Sam had raised Topher a little different with how to perceive things, something Sam found rather odd for a small child to pick up so quickly.
Freddie's smile was wiped from his face as he put Charlie back on the ground. Charlie patted her dress down and smiled at Topher. "I thought I would surprise you. Besides, I have the right to see Charlie and Topher."
"How'd you get my address," Sam spoke.
"I have connections, it's not like you fell off the face of the Earth this time," Freddie smirked.
Sam crossed her arms and cocked her hip. "What do you want, Freddie? I know you didn't just fly from Texas all the way here for Charlie and Topher's birthday."
"What if I did, Sam?" Freddie said quickly.
"Shut up, Freddie. Please don't speak like that in front of them," Sam spoke sternly.
Freddie chuckled, "I'm sorry. I don't want to over step your boundaries with the twins. But I missed you."
Sam stared at Freddie. "W-what?"
"I said I missed you."
"Shut up. You don't mean that."
"What if I did?" Freddie took a step towards her. Sam's face flushed as she took a step back.
"Momma, we need to get the cake before Aunt Melanie comes home!" Charlie bounced excitedly.
"I want it to be green icing," Topher smiled.
"No, it should be pink!" Charlie pouted.
"Not everything is about you, Charlie," Topher scowled.
Charlie's eyes began to water, her bottom lip quivered. "Momma!"
Sam stared dead into Freddie's eyes. "I don't have time for you. I have things to do."
"Let me come with you," Freddie stared right back.
Sam glanced behind him; he had no bags with him. Topher approached Sam and nudged her. "Please, Momma. It's our birthday."
Sighing, she let out a frustrated groan. "Come on, then." Kneeling down to Topher's eye level, she glared the boy down, "You, Mister need to be nicer to your sister. Apologize. NOW."
Sighing and with a pout, Topher grumbled, "I'm sorry, Charlie."
Charlie squealed and threw her arms around Topher's neck, "That's okay. I still love you, Topher." She moved towards Freddie and grabbed his hand. "You can see my favorite bakery! Ms. Kyra always has a donut ready for me when I visit her. She's funny too!"
Freddie laughed at Charlie's free spirit. He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her over his shoulders. Charlie squealed as she sat across Freddie's broad shoulders. Laughing, she played with his hair. Freddie naturedly held her ankles to keep Charlie steady as the trio walked down the busy streets of Los Angeles. Topher never let go of Sam's hand as the four walked down the crowded streets of Los Angeles.
After walking down the streets in silence, Sam's phone began to ring. Picking it up, she recognized the caller to be Melanie.
"Hey, is Carly with you?" Sam spoke into her phone.
"Yeah, they're both with me. Carly's really excited too. She says you should have received a surprise from her a little while ago. Are you still home or something?" Melanie's voice was heard from the other end.
"No, I'm a block away from Kyra's bakery. I'll text you the details. Just get them both to our place as fast as you can," Sam said with a stern face towards Freddie, who smirked back at her. Sam ended the call and stuffed the phone back into her pocket.
"Carly and Caleb know I'm here already?" Freddie leered at Sam.
"They're going to find out eventually; just like you're going to tell me why you're really here. We're not discussing this with certain someone's around though, so you can forget about that," Sam glared as she reached to push open a glass door.
Topher tugged at Sam's hands and motioned for her to kneel down to him. She smirked and kneeled as he reached up on his toes. "Is Freddie my daddy? Like in the bed time stories?" Sam stood there baffled at his theory.
Brushing his hair back with a smile, she whispered, "We'll talk about this at home, after your party. Is that alright with you?" He nodded and they stepped fully inside the bakery.
Topher was silent for a moment more before tugging on his mother's hem. Sam smiled and leaned down. "Charlie wants Freddie to be our dad. He's nice, but he makes you cry. Is he nice to you, Momma?" Topher cocked his head to the side with a pensive look.
Sam felt her bottom lip quiver slightly at the young boy's words. With a deep inhale, she breathed out, "You know what, Topher? Freddie is a very nice man. I cry because I've known him a long time, as long as I've known your Aunt Carly. But Freddie is different. Don't worry, he doesn't make me cry bad tears." Topher nodded and slipped out of Sam's grip to walk around the room.
The room was spaced out with glass doors showcasing pastries of different varieties. Behind the counter held an older woman with long brown hair and light brown eyes. She wore a messy apron over a simple blue dress. Sam walked over to the brunette and smiled, showing off the wrinkles at the corner of her weary eyes.
"Hey Sam! You're here to pick up the twin's cake, right?" the woman smiled.
"Yes Kyra, Charlie's been over the moon to see how her cake turned out. And Mister Topher wants it to be blue icing," Sam whispered.
"No Momma, I said green! Not blue!" Topher cried out in despair.
The older woman let out a delighted laugh. Her brown eyes gleamed over the Freddie, who held Charlie on his shoulders. "And who is this young man holding our dear birthday girl?"
Freddie took a step forward and extended his hand with a smile. "I'm Freddie, ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Kyra took her free hand and placed it on her chest and huffed. "My, what a handsome man you are dear. Sam you caught a good one!"
Sam's face began to glow from embarrassment. "Oh we're not dating Kyra. He's just visiting for the twin's birthday."
Kyra's face fell slightly. Taking her hand back, Kyra took a short breath and smiled even brighter. "Well, why don't you go out and pick something sweet, Charlie, Topher? Freddie you'll take them, won't you dear?"
Freddie nodded and smiled at the older woman. As his body turned and faced his back to them, Kyra slipped her hand inside Sam's and pulled her slightly away from the retreating bodies. Sam silently stared at Kyra.
"I see you're not going to outright say it," Kyra crossed her arms, letting go of Sam's hand.
Sam's lips tightened. "What do I need to say?"
"Sam…Topher looks just like him. How am I not supposed to notice?" Kyra huffed.
"He wasn't supposed to know where I live," Sam muttered.
"Well he's here now and from the looks of it, I don't think he plans on leaving any time soon," Kyra motioned to the trio near the pastries. Sam watched as Charlie pressed her face against the glass and Freddie laughed gently with her as they made their choice in pastry. Topher would occasionally turn and glance at Sam, thoughtfully.
"I don't want him to take Charlie and Topher from me. They're the best thing that has ever happened to me," Sam whispered.
Kyra sighed. "Sam…I know raising the twins as a single mother has been hard but let someone help you."
"Someone has helped me and I'm a damn good mother," Sam growled.
"I'm not trying to criticize but Melanie isn't the best to help you. She has her own life. Let her get back to it and try to let him back into your life," Kyra smiled at Sam.
"I want the pink one with sprinkles please!" Charlie called out behind them. Sam turned her body to watch the interaction between father and daughter.
"Why not the white one?" Freddie laughed.
Sam watched as Charlie's face set as she tried to make Freddie understand her reasoning. "Because it's not pink, silly!"
"I want the blue one!" Topher smiled.
"But I thought you liked green?" Freddie asked, a little confused.
Topher shook his head. "No, Freddie, I want the icing on the cake green but my doughnut to be bluuue."
Freddie laughed again and moved to open the glass door to grab the pink pastry. Charlie squealed with delight as Freddie pulled it out from behind the glass. Topher smiled at Freddie as he handed the young boy a blue iced doughnut. Turning back to face Kyra, Sam sighed. Kyra smiled back at Sam as she pulled the blonde into a hug. "Let someone help you for once. You don't always have to do it yourself," Kyra whispered into Sam's ear as the brunette pulled back from the hug.
I am currently trying to finish the next chapter, which will be THE FINAL ONE. I haven't been able to write an epilogue for this story in the way I want it to work outwith the plot I have fished out. But to let you all know, the next chapter will be longer than any of the other chapters. I WILL MAKE SURE OF IT. Heads up, I will be traveling across the states to see some family this Wednesday, so my Monday update might be delayed or shortened to this weekend. It all depends on how my vacation goes. See you all next Monday! (Hopefully.)
PS Hope that satisfied those who felt I was leaving Topher out. I had originally written only Charlie so when I decided to integrate Topher, I had most of the story fleshed out and detailed. But I guess I forgot some scenes to include him in. Thanks so much everyone!