iDaydream

In the week since making her announcement for the entire world to hear, Carly Shay had become a woman possessed. Her world had turned inside out and upside down.

While her private life was in a tailspin, it seemed like business as usual for iCarly. Viewership had stayed essentially flat – no doubt her newfound gay fans were more than compensating for any fans she'd lost.

Carly wanted to do only one thing with each and every free moment. She wanted to spend every second she could with Sam.

The transition from a platonic relationship to a romantic one was effortless, or at least it seemed so to Carly. It would be more difficult for some people to come to terms with, she knew, but she couldn't let that bother her now.

She and Sam both had spent much of the past week talking to Spencer. He had found out online, along with the rest of the world. His response to this newfound information surprised even Carly.

"Hey Kiddo, who am I to judge? Besides, it is kind of obvious. Just know that I love you both, OK?"

God, did she love Spencer – sweet, goofy, wonderful Spencer. He had a lot of their mother in him.

Carly suppressed a sob.

"Mommy…"

She knew she couldn't dwell on that now. It had been eight years. She could fight off the sadness a little while longer. She pulled her PearPhone from the pocket of her hoodie and prepared to text Sam.

She couldn't bring herself to delete her father's text message from her phone for several reasons. First, it was a tangible reminder of all the reasons in the world that he'd given her over the years to hate him. It also reminded her of something she remembered him saying to her years earlier about terrorism: "Not only does it have a 100% failure rate, but it almost always succeeds in strengthening whatever it's against". Most importantly, her father, the ever-obsessive military strategist, had inadvertently tipped his hand and had given Carly exactly what she needed. Giving her father's hate speech only a second glance, Carly got to work.

TO: Sam

Hey Mama, Where R U? I'm cold and need U 2 keep me warm. You're my furnace.

XOXO

~ CC

She had taken to signing her text and emails 'CC' lately, since it was short for her nickname. She was now, and would always be, Sam's little Cupcake. Within thirty seconds, her phone was vibrating. It was Sam.

NEW MESSAGE

FROM : Sam

Sent: 9:37 AM, PST

Fat Cakes. There soon. I luv U, Cupcake.

Typical, Carly thought. Sam was always thinking with her stomach.

She loved Sam so much that it hurt to be without her for very long, this past week especially. School was never really an uncomfortable place for 'Straight A' Carly Shay – except for that first day back. Granted, it wasn't all bad: Ridgeway's Gay-Straight Alliance had immediately sought her out.

"You're among friends" they said.

The rest of the day? Not so much.

She remembered that day vividly.

"Carly Shay to Principal Franklin's office. Carly Shay…."

So much for Third Period, she thought. She quietly excused herself while she felt nineteen pairs of eyes stabbing her.

"Et tu, Ridgeway?" she thought. She hadn't yet reached the door to Franklin's office and she knew exactly what this was about. Sam. She open the door and was immediately in the eye of the storm – a full-on screaming match between Sam and Principal Franklin.

"I don't really give a good goddamn, Ted!"

Carly found new reasons, daily, it seemed, to love Sam. She had defended her honor so valiantly that day – so what if she broke some jock's nose in the process – for calling her… THAT. Sam was staring squarely at a five day suspension, until she reminded Franklin of something Carly herself had forgotten.

"We have hate crime laws here, Ted… if someone lays so much as a finger on Carls, BELIEVE ME, we'll sue!"

"Miss… Miss… Puckett… Sam…." Principal Franklin tried to reason with her; to get a word in edgewise. Carly knew that if she didn't intervene, Sam might well talk herself into expulsion. She reached out and gently touched Sam's back.

"Sa…man… tha…" Carly spoke gently.

"Yes, Cupcake?"

Sam's voice broke Carly's absentminded daydream.

"I… I… uh…" Carly stammered.

"Love. Me. You love me, Carls."

Carly laughed.

"Of course I do. I don't feel like doing anything. Can we just chillax?"

Sam wrapped her into a suffocating bear hug.

"Anything you want, Cupcake."

"I'm scared, Sam…" her lip quivered.

Sam shot Carly a look. She wanted Carly at ease.

"Sam, you don't understand. My fath—…"

She rephrased.

"The colonel is not a nice man. He's cruel, Sam. He's trained in combat. If he wanted to, he could ki…"

Sam laid her finger across Carly's lips.

"Hush, Cupcake… None of that."

Sam pulled back, allowing Carly to speak.

"But…"

Sam interrupted her.

"Who am I, Carls?"

It sounded like an odd question, but Carly answered anyway, her voice timid.

"Sam."

"Whose Sam?"

"My Sam…" Carly said, suddenly flushed with embarrassment. She stared down at her toes.

"And you are?"

Carly knew exactly the answer that Sam wanted. She gave it to her, using her very best little girl voice.

"Sam's Cupcake…"

Sam stared deep into Carly's warm, inviting chocolate eyes. She spoke coldly, matter-of-factly.

"I will always protect you, Carls. You're too important. Now, Upsy Daisy, Cupcake…"

Sam slid her hand down Carly's back, over her butt, and behind her knees. Carly reflexively looped her

hands behind Sam's neck, allowing Sam to sweep her off her feet – like a bride on her wedding night.

They both knew they needed clear heads for what was to come.

The couple crossed the room in stride; Sam laying Carly down in the center of the bed. She didn't even bother with the blankets. She simply gathered them in her fist and pulled – destroying the crisply tucked sheets. She drew them close and laid down. Carly Shay was safe and sound, warmed by her own personal furnace.