Author's Note: Did you notice in my last chapter, that Freddie's boss' name was Drake Parker? Now where exactly have we heard that name before? And he was the head of the Parker-Nichols Enterprise? You guessed right; Now can you spot the next little Schneider character mention in this chapter? ;)

Chapter Five: Our Time Together

Freddie slowly dragged his feet up the stairs of his apartment, the hour very late at the time. He had worked through the entire day and just wanted to get home to sleep. His eyes were heavy and Freddie could've sworn he was sleep-walking up those stairs. As he reached his floor, he pulled out his keys, ready to unlock his front door.

Except it was missing.

Freddie's eyes shot wide open as he saw that his apartment's door was now lying inside the apartment, as well as what he could only identify as blood on the floor.

Sam.

Freddie quickly whipped out his PearPhone and called Sam. He let it ring three times before hanging up. Freddie wondered if Richard would be responsible for this as he ran out to the fire escape to call up the police parked outside.

Except they were missing, too.

Suddenly, his phone rang. Maybe it was Sam. He answered it swiftly.

"Hello?" Freddie shouted, very worried.

"Jeez, shatter my eardrum why don't ya." Richard's voice came through the receiver instead of Sam's.

"Oh. It's you."

You got it, Fred. Now, about our deal..."

"Listen, I don't have time to play games. Where's Sam?"

"Hell if I know. I haven't been anywhere near her."

"Don't mess with me, you scumbag. Our front door's broken down and she's not answering her cell phone! I know you had something to do with this!"

"Freddie? Who're you talking to?"
Freddie quickly spun around to see his fiancée standing in the doorway. A wave of relief hit Freddie as he wrapped his arms around her, but she pushed him away. Freddie just looked bewildered by Sam's sudden repulsion.
"Sam?" Freddie called out, trying to make physical contact with her. She took a step back, as two men in suits suddenly rounded the hall and appeared in the doorway. The two dark-skinned men in suits looked tough enough, except both had an injury on their faces. The bigger one had a slight bruise near his left eye, while the taller one was trying to dab at a bleeding wound on his forehead with a handkerchief.

"Who're these guys?" Freddie asked, pointing.

"Detectives. They were the ones watching me in their cop car." Sam said, rather matter-of-factly. "They're also the idiots who broke down the door, thinking I was in trouble."

"Rockmore and I said we would pay for it!" the bleeding detective shouted, as if in defense for himself.

The other just pulled him back, into the hall. "Shut up, Kimble, don't be idiot!" The more level-headed and intelligent of the two detectives turned to Sam. "Ms. Puckett, we'll be on our way. Again, sorry for the trouble. We'll get someone to fix that door for you right away."

With that, the two backtracked back down the hall. As soon as the two detectives were out of listening range, Sam locked eyes with Freddie, an angry expression written all over her face.

"You lied to me. Fisher told me he told you about my dad breaking out."

Freddie looked at Sam in shock. "Uh, I was gonna tell you. I only just found out this morning and I was going to tell you tonight, really."

"What else are you lying to me about? Who's on the phone?" Sam asked, pointing at Freddie's PearPhone. Freddie put the phone to his ear and heard a slight chuckle.

"I'll call back tomorrow. Sounds like you got a lot on yer plate, Fred."

Freddie ended the call and put his phone back in his pocket. He locked eyes with Sam and sighed deeply. "Nothing else, Sam. The only reason why I didn't tell you was because I didn't want you to worry... I didn't want you to be afraid."

"Well, I'm afraid now." Sam said softly, her voice now a quiet whisper. "My dad went after my mom and now he's coming back for me."

Freddie instinctively wrapped his arms around Sam, bringing her into a warm embrace. "There's no way I'm going to let that happen. I would die before I let him kill you."

"I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

"...I will never leave you."

Sam opened her eyes, the cool Seattle morning air breezing in through the open window. She looked over to the front door and saw it was no longer broken. She found that instead of being left alone on the futon bed, two strong but gentle arms were wrapped around her.

"Freddie?"

Freddie stirred in his sleep, the sun's rays peeking into the apartment. "Urrhnnghh..." Freddie moaned, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He slowly opened his eyes and smiled at the blonde lying next to him.

"You don't have to leave early for work today?" Sam asked, hopeful that Freddie could stay.

Freddie just shook his head, a smile still plastered onto his face. "Nope. I'm all yours today, Princess."

"Shut up!" Sam shouted, doubtful.

"True chiz."

Sam smiled, curving her lips. Freddie quickly took the initiative and placed a quick kiss on her lips. Freddie then lazily rose out of bed, throwing on a shirt.

"Breakfast?" Freddie offered, taking a carton of eggs out of the refrigerator.

"Only if you're making a plate of luncheon meats with those eggs." Sam teased.

"I believe we do have your favorites..."

"Smoked ham and salami?"

"That's right!" Freddie smiled, pulling out the assorted luncheon meats from the fridge.

Sam eyes Freddie and the plate of meats suspiciously. "Alright, you. What's going on here? Trying to butter me up after everything that's been going down recently?"

Freddie looked sure of himself. "Maybe. Is it working?"

Sam playfully pushed Freddie away, taking the plate of luncheon meat from him. "Maybe."

Freddie took it upon himself to cook breakfast for his fair maiden and the two laid lazily on the futon, watching television after their hearty meal.

"I feel like a beached whale." Sam grunted, poking at the slight bulge in her stomach.

Freddie turned his head to face his bride-to-be and smiled goofily. "Hey."

"What's with the smile, dork?" Sam joked, Freddie's smile contagious.

"Let's go out, just the two of us. For like, the whole day." Freddie suggested. "We haven't gone out on a real date in forevers ago."

"Your grammar is fantastic." Sam laughed, rolling off the edge of the futon. "But I'm too lazy to ever go anywhere ever again."

"We could go to that park- The one you love so much."

Sam grinned at the idea. "Maybe. Sounds tempting. What about your job?"

Freddie rolled over to the same side of the futon and wrapped his arms around the tiny blonde. "I'll go to work tomorrow. I have to start going to work early and staying late a bunch, so we should spend this free-time wisely, right?"

"Hmph. I guess." Sam replied, sounding a little disappointed. "So, the park?"

The nearby park was within walking distance of the apartment so Freddie and Sam decided it would be nice to walk there. The strolled together, hand in hand, a playful push here and there, the simplicity reminding them of simpler times of their childhood.

"Remember that time we went ice skating?"

"With Spencer and Carly?"

Sam looked up at Freddie, with a smile on her face. "Yeah. I miss those times when we could just go somewhere and have fun. But now Spence is always busy with his artwork and Carls is always going away for her acting job..." Sam looked down to the pavement, averting her eyes from Freddie. "And now you're busy with school and work, too."

"Well don't worry, Puckett. In a few short years I'll be done with school and maybe we'll get enough money to buy a better place, closer to Spencer and Carly; So we can hang out with them more often." Freddie replied, letting go of Sam's hand and wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

"Oh, about that... Carls told me she might move to California," Sam remembered. "Hollywood, to be exact."

"Snap. To be with that actor guy?"

"No, to be in movies and stuff."

"Ah."

Sam found the conversation between Freddie-although simple—pleasant. The two hadn't been able to spend any real time together what with the stress of school, work, and now Richard's escape; But this moment belonged to them and no one else.

The two sat on a secluded park bench and watched the various people at the park. The couples walking side-by-side, families having picnics, joggers and others. Freddie laced his fingers with Sam's and looked down at their two hands. Sam did the same and then the two locked eyes with one another, an identical smile on each of their faces.

Suddenly, a slight buzzing sound interrupted the two's moment. Freddie took out his PearPhone and saw the call was coming from an unlisted number. Freddie knew without a doubt that it was Richard.

"Who's that?" Sam asked, as Freddie tried to decide whether or not to answer the call.

"Unknown number." Freddie simply stated, knowing full-well that he was terrible at lying. He slid his finger on the touch-screen and answered the call. "Hello?"

"So, Fred. We got us a deal or what? Time's a wasting here, kid."

"There's no one by that name here." Freddie responded. "You must have the wrong number."

"What?"A slight pause. "Oh I get it. She's there, ain't she? You don't want her to know you're messing with the likes'a me? Here's the deal, I'll call again next week Friday with information on where to meet to exchange the cash. If I like what I see, I'll give Pam back to you, safe and sound. We have a deal?"

"Alright."

"Great."

Freddie quickly hung up the phone and shrugged at Sam. "Wrong number."

Sam just eyed Freddie suspiciously, but decided to trust him since he promised he was no longer hiding any secrets. Freddie put away his phone and smiled back at Sam, although on the inside he was fearful for the days to come.

Author's Note: Just a heads-up; This is the fluff before the angst storm.