Hey, strangers! Remember me? :) A bit of a filler/set-up chapter. But needed to be done. Enjoy!

Sam closed her eyes while her best friend started to apply the light coral eye make up over her eye-lids, trying her hardest not to fidget.

Really, did she need all this gook on her face?

"Sam," Carly warned, half smiling, turning the swivel chair towards her more, "stop moving!"

She groaned back in response...kind of hard to roll her eyes with them closed.

"Are we done making me look pretty yet?"

Carly laughed, putting down the eye-shadaw (finally allowing Sam to open her eyes) and grabbed the blush next.

"You're already pretty, Sam," she paused appling the make up brush just so, "we're just enhancing it a bit. Come on – it's your birthday. It's okay to get all dressed up."

She smiled. "So, does that mean you won't make me do this again until next year?"

"Well, there is prom..." Carly stopped and trailed off, giving her an apologetic look right after she'd said it. "Sorry, I mean I know that-"

"Carls," she cut her off, with a shake of her head. "It's chill. Okay? I'm fine."

"Sam-"

"Carly Shay," she faux glared at her best friend, "it is my birthday and as the birthday girl – I hereby order we drop this and celebrate."

She put her hands up in surrender, resting the blush on the desk and turning back to her. "Fine. But you know I just-"

"Want me to happy?" Sam stopped and looked back up at her with smile. "I know, Kid – I've heard the spiel."

Carly rolled her eyes and turned on the lights on the mirror. "And you're going to keep hearing it."

She sighed over-dramatically before her smiled widened. "I guess I'm okay with that."

Taking a breath, she then finally looked into the mirror – Carly behind her with a satisfied grin on her face in the corner of the reflection.

So, this is what eighteen looked like.

She just hoped the year wouldn't completely suck.

...

"God dammit! "

Freddie smirked as he entered Carly's room. Sam stood over the love seat struggling with her outfit, a stream of aggravated curses escaping her mouth. Of course.

"Attack of the killer little black dress?"

He laughed as she jumped and turned her head around.

"What the hell is the matter with you, Benson?" She sighed as she caught her breath and issued a glare, pointing at him. "That is a very good way to an arm."

"Oh, believe me, I know." He continued closer as she kept fumbling with the strings behind her.

"Yeah, well, as long as you're here," she stopped to turn her head around to look at him,"you can at least, you know, make yourself useful."

He laughed silently and nodded, motioning for her to move back towards him.

"Carly abandoned," she yelled out the last word towards the door, as if somehow that meant Carly would be able to hear her, "me and left me to get into this lace...thing, by myself."

"I, uh," he cleared his throat has he started with the first string, crisscrossing it, his hand grazing against the somewhat bare skin of her lower back as he did. "I think she's on the phone with Socko's cousin who's doing the music for tonight. Darren Jacobs?"

"Ah," she nodded. "D.J."

"Yeah." He started moving his way up, continuing to maneuver the strings of the dress and as he bit his lip, his hands meeting her waist.

He felt her flinch, slightly, and it actually kind of calmed him that she was suddenly nervous at their close proximity as well.

"Stay still," he whispered over her neck.

She let out a strangled laugh. "You people really need to stop telling me that."

"Hmm?" he hummed.

She turned around meeting his eyes for a brief second. "You and Carls."

"Right." He finished lacing the lower part of the material and let his thumbs trail up her back for a second before he cleared his throat again. "Move your hair," he prodded, gently.

And without his permission, his hands started to move to just under her neck.

She let out a sharp breath and a shiver that he felt beneath his fingertips before she finally brushed her hair aside.

He shook his head clear of his thoughts ––thoughts that he most definitely should not be having–– and tied the final strings together into a loose bow.

Sam turned around slowly, facing him with those bright blue eyes of hers and he licked his lips and took in the sight of the outfit.

"...So?"

"I've seen worse." What he didn't mention, was that he hadn't seen much better. He grinned at her eye roll and she hit his arm lightly.

"You look beautiful, Sam."

A quick blush past over her face, which made him smirk slightly before she stepped towards him.

"Well, thank you. Hey-" She stopped and her eyes lit up and before she even opened her mouth he cut her off.

"No, Sammy." He shook his head, with a small laugh. "You're not getting your present 'till tonight."

"Ugh," she pouted and brushed her hair behind her ears, adjusting her stance in the high heels that Carly had no doubt made her wear. "What good are you?"

He smiled and pulled her into quick hug over her annoyed grumble. "Good things come to those who wait."

"Whatever, Benson," she mumbled into his shirt, but when she pulled back he saw that she was holding back a smile.

He brushed her bangs out of her face. "Happy birthday, Samantha."

"Yeah, yeah," she shot back, her cheeks turned pink again."Thank you."

And it made him smile that she let him get away with using her full name.

Heavy on the Sam point of few in the next few chapters, so wanted some Freddie POV here before the party.

Stay tuned, mi amors.:)