iAm A Flower Child

Melanie had been gone a month, but things were better at home. Sam had adjusted to everything she said she'd always wanted – a house with Carly and free of her twin sister. This, of course, was a complete fallacy – Sam and Melanie had finally re-established the familial bond that had been so strained as a result of having grown up as Pam Puckett's little girls. It wasn't that Carly ever expected Sam and Melanie to do 'typical' sister things – they were never going to sit around and gossip while braiding each other's hair – but they had a relationship for the first time in years. For that, Carly Shay was eternally grateful.

A month in, several contestants had already packed their bags. Melanie, however, much to Sam's delight, continued to sparkle. Sam, ever impatient, yelled at Carly.

"Carls! Show's starting! Get that sweet little behind in gear, Cupcake!"

"Don't get your shorts in a twist, Mama… I'm coming…"

Sam Puckett's typical loud, abrasive personality was back. This was a good thing. Carly, ever the dutiful little wife, scampered into the living room, her hands full with a huge bowl of popcorn. Carly was happy. As long as Sam was content, Carly was content. She set the bowl down in the center of the coffee table and snuggled into the blonde's arms. Everything was right in her world. Carly loved Sam with a love that grew exponentially every day, but she knew that as growly as Sam Puckett would ever get, she was all bark and no bite. Mama was harmless.

The show started and so did Sam's running commentary. She detested the show's host and resident color commentator. Carly knew he had a radio show out in L.A., but beside that, he didn't appear to have any discernible talent. Sam started in.

"Can you believe this nub? He's such a closet queen, it's embarrassing. That boy's as queer as a three dollar bill."

Carly laughed. Six months ago, she would never have talked this way nor would she have ever expected to hear Sam use a word like 'queer'. Six months ago, she was still pretending that she was into boys and that Sam wore a rainbow ring just to be colorful. It was laughable, in retrospect, just how blind she'd been to everything that was right in front of her face. She was willing to admit that the host of America Sings was a tad-bit effeminate, but Sam's comments were a little bit overkill.

"Honey… Think about it for a second…" Carly felt the need to defend the man, for whatever reason. "I know this was always clear for you, but just think for a second. Do you think I didn't wrestle with this? It's not easy. Maybe he just doesn't care. I mean, should we have to comment on our private lives?"

Sam hadn't really thought of it that way. She immediately saw Carly's point and flushed with what Carly knew had to be a degree of shame.

This wasn't what Carly wanted – far from it. She tousled Sam's hair until it was a fly-away blonde mess. Sam couldn't help but smile.

"Cupcake, I…"

Carly kissed her sweetly on the cheek.

"Shut up. Show's on…"

MEANWHILE, IN LOS ANGELES…

Melanie Puckett paced backstage. She wasn't nervous – at least that's what she kept telling herself. She knew the material cold. She wanted to do something different. During these theme weeks, your options as a performer were somewhat limited. Given that this week encompassed the songs of the Sixties, Melanie wanted to go significantly outside the box and show off her vocal range. She wanted to send a message. She made a point, during what free time she had, to get the approval of the only two people who mattered to her. Carly and Sam were floored. Leave it to Melanie to do this the hard way. Sam knew that was the only way Mel could do it. If she was going to do this, she needed to do it on her own terms – she needed to push herself to the breaking point each and every time she picked up the mic.

The latest contestant, a twenty-something pharmacist from Minneapolis, had just walked off-stage following a rousing, bluesy rendition of Dylan's 'Blowin' in the Wind'. She knew that this would be a tough act to follow, but she was confident in her abilities. Melanie wrung her hands.

"…Puckett, you're up!..."

Instantly in the moment, Melanie walked out on stage. She was in the zone.

BACK IN SEATTLE…

Carly hadn't seen Sam this jumpy since Shelby Marx won the Women's CFC title in under one round. She knew, whether she would say so or not, that Sam's heart swelled with pride each and every time that they saw Melanie on TV. It was only a guess, but Carly was fairly sure that Sam's heart skipped a beat. Melanie looked gorgeous. Carly knew she was a natural-born performer. In keeping with the Sixties theme, Mel had gone the extra mile. While not in costume per se, she was definitely paying homage to the original songsmith. She took the stage in what looked to be a thrift store pair of bellbottoms and a flowery blouse that Carly had definitely seen before, topped off, by of all things, an oversized pair of sunglasses. Carly couldn't help but laugh.

"A little theatrical, don't you think?"

Sam didn't know or care. She knew as well as Carly did that, as long as her performance was technically solid, the outfit would only score her major style points. She was stern, she waved Carly off and shushed her all in the same moment.

"Shush Cupcake…"

Carly smirked as the band started to play. Even though Melanie had told them three days ago what song she would sing, the ballad she belted out was unlike anything either of them had ever heard. Melanie had taken yet another old song, re-worked it, and made it her own, all the while sounding sultry, bluesy, and soulful. It was enough to give Carly Shay goosebumps.

"…Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose…"
"…Nothing, that's all that Bobby left me, yeah…"
"…But feeling good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues…"
"…Hey, feeling good was good enough for me, hmm hmm…"
"…Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee…"

"…La La la, la la la la la la…"
"…La La la la la la la la la, hey now Bobby now Bobby McGee yeah…"
"…Na na na na na na na na, na na na na na na na na na na na…"
"…Hey now Bobby now, Bobby McGee, yeah…"

Her sister's performance over, Sam no longer cared about the TV. Melanie would live to sing another day. She was simply that damn good. All Sam was interested in now was her lady. She'd treated Carly pretty badly of late. Missing her sister was no excuse. She needed to be forgiven. She looked deep into Carly's eyes, searching out her soul.

"Cupcake, I'm sorry…"

"Sam?"

"Yes, my love?"

"Just shut up and kiss me, will you?"

There was a sparkle in Carly's eyes Sam hadn't seen in awhile. If this was how marital disagreements would be resolved in the future, Sam never wanted to be right ever again.