Meant to mirror Ch.2. :)

You hold me without touch, you keep me without chains.

"Shoes off," he reminded her as they stepped inside his apparent.

"Yeah, yeah," Sam answered following him into his room. "I know the drill."

He laughed. "Knowing it, and following it –– two different things."

"Fair."

He sat on his bed and looked up at her as she riffled through his closet looking for something she deemed suitable date attire.

And for whatever reason her opinion mattered.

"No," she said tossing a shirt to the floor. "No again." He shook his head in amusment, not even bothering to tell her that she was making a mess. "Ah," she smiled in satisfaction taking off his navy blue polo off the hanger and turning around to him. "Think fast."

He caught it right before it hit his face and smiled. "Thanks."

"Oh," she stopped and attempted to grab a pair of jeans off the shelf, stepping onto her tip toes.

Smirking, he tilted his head at her. "Need a little help there, Sam?"

She got it just as he stepped up behind her and she shoved it to his chest. "Shut up and change, dude."

He laughed and started walking backwards towards his bathroom. "Yes 'mam."

...

Freddie looked over at the night stand next to him to read the clock.

1:32

He looked up in exasperation and pulled his sheet over him. Nights like this when he couldn't sleep or honestly, just didn't want to (after years of a nine-o'clock bedtime he tended to over comensate just a bit) Sam would be the first person he'd think to talk to.

Whether it was a video chat or a text conversation, after she sufficiently berated him for waking her up, they'd spend a couple of hours talking about everything and nothing until he finally drifted off.

This particular night it had been a nightmare that'd woken him up. Sam would tease him mercilessly about having them and joke that he should break out his night light. Though it calmed him somehow...seeing her face on the computer. Hearing her voice (even when she was mocking him).

As merciless and irrational as she was, she was always there when you needed her.

(Though sometimes, unfortunately, that came in the form of bees in a teacher's car...)

Still feeling restless, Freddie sighed and stood up off the bed towards his PearBook. Taking a chance he opened up a video call request, hoping she still kept the sound on like she used to.

...

"So, how is Sir Parker?" he called back at her through the bathroom door.

"He's...fine," was her muffled response. He nodded (kind of pointless because she couldn't actually see him at the moment) and didn't push any further. Knowing when to ask questions and when to shut up was a skill best acquired around Sam.

When he finished changing, he found her sitting on his bed staring up at his glow in the dark stars on the ceiling. The ones she of course had mocked him for, though he knew she didn't want taken down.

"What do we think?"

She bit her lip in thought, and stood up to meet him. "I've seen worse."

"Oh, have you," he asked, and poked her stomach starting to tickle her, and he beamed at the sound of her laughing.

"Stop! Stop," she cried, swatting at his hands.

Though she wasn't really putting up too much of a protest until he uttered the words that he knew always set her off.

"Make me."

And just like that, still laughing, she grabbed his arm and swung him around in front of her, locking his wrists."Too easy," she whispered up to his ear.

He turned his neck to look at her with a sly grin. "You know I could take you if really wanted to."

He's come pretty far since their arm wrestling days – okay, maybe not that far – but far enough that he's evenly matched with the tiny but fiercly strong blonde currently squeezing his wrists.

She shrugged and let him go, allowing him to turn around to face her. "That ship has long sailed, Benson."

She was joking and they both know it, but something in the tone of her voice made him stop and take notice. "So...thanks," he announced, finally, motioning to the outfit.

"One more thing." She stopped and mussed with his hair until it was partly over his face. "Go get her, Romeo."

He nodded and smiled as she turned to leave. "I shall do my best." She waved and made her way to the door. "Best ex ever," he called out, looking up from his collar, addressing her again.

Even with her back turned he could tell she was smiling.

"Mhm," she laughed, with a wave of dismissal."I bet you say that to all your exes."

He smiled and grabbed his keys to leave. "Only mean it with you," he said aloud as he heard her close the front door.
...

He held his breath for a second before he saw she'd finally excepted the call. Her face appeared on the screen, full of sleep with her hair in a loose pony-tail and wearing her rose colored night shirt.

"What's a girl gotta do to get some sleep around here?"

He'd expected way worse.

She yawned and settled the computer on her lap, leaning against the head of her bed before adjusting her blanket.

"Can't sleep," he answered, simply.

"Penguin dream again?"

"No..."

She tilted her head at him and sighed.

"Maybe."

Aaaaand right about now is where the mocking would usually begin.

She rolled her eyes and yawned again. "Dweeb, " she shot back, half smiling. She ran her hands through her bangs. "You know, Benson, this really shouldn't be my problem anymore."

He cleared his throat, ready for her to tell him to just 'get a grip' and let her sleep. Honestly, she was right this time and he wouldn't have blamed her if she told him just that.

She just held his gaze and after a long pause she fluffed the pillow behind her, sinking down further under her polka dot comforter.

"Hey, so, did you know the word "nerd" was used first by Dr. Seuss in If I Ran the Zoo?"

His eyes widened and she gave him a small grin. He sat back in his chair. " Uh, no. Did not know that."

"Yeah," she continued. "Read that somewhere and you know, of course, I thought of you."

He laughed tiredly and nodded. "Well, naturally."

The next forty minutes or so went on like that; sleepy musings over random facts until his eye-lids started to grow heavy.

"...He's still a mermaid," she finished, and he half halfheartedly glared, stifling a yawn.

"Yeah, yeah."

He closed his eyes for a second, resting his hand to support his neck.

"Go to sleep, Freddie," she half whispered, half ordered. "If I can't stay awake tomorrow, the penguins will be the least of your worries."

Nodding absently, he opened his eyes back up again. "Of course."

"Night, Benson."

"Thanks," he smiled with a shrug, "you know, for the company."

"Yeah, well. You know where I am if you need me," she answered on a loud yawn. "Unless I'm eating. Or watching T.V. Or generally have something better to do."

He laughed silently and shook his head. "G'night, Sam."

I never wanted anything so much, than to drown in your love and not feel your reign.

Thanks so much for the love so far.:) Thrilled you're enjoying.