Hey I got sudden inspiration and I wrote 6 chapters last night. I just haven't had internet access to post them all. But I will! Read & Review please. The more the merrier! :-)

Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly or any thing pertaining to it.

Carly's P.O.V.

After talking to Spencer, there was no way I couldn't go back to Seattle. I needed the time away and he needed me. I caught the next flight back and told Spencer that I'd meet him at home, not wanting to cause major issues at Bushwell Plaza. That was the last thing I needed at the moment.

So when the taxi pulled up to Bushwell, I looked up at it and smiled. I am finally back home. Getting into my place would require some major sneaking but I've done it before and I can do it again. I pulled out my phone to let Spencer know to let me in so sneaking will be easy. I wasn't quite sure why I didn't want to talk to Freddie right now. I mean, there's no real reason for it. It's not like I'm scared of him or anything. It's just I'm barely coming home as it is; I just don't need drama right now.

Leave the door open for me. I'll be coming soon. DON'T TELL ANYONE. -Carly

Putting away my phone, I waved hi to Lewbert who just rolled his eyes and looked away. Some things just don't change around here, do they? When I got up to my floor, I realized that Freddie could possibly be looking through that peep hole if Sam had told him that I was coming home. I did tell her I was coming back but I told her specifically not to tell anyone either. And hopefully she kept that secret.

So I avoid Freddie's peep hole as much as possible and sneak into my place. When I walk in, I am immediately shocked. The place is a catastrophe. There is almost no floor to walk on. It's covered in art supplies, dirty laundry, old dishes, and more things that I'm not even sure I want to figure out what they are. I look around more and try to find a place to put down my bags, and hoping the couch is the safest bet.

"CARLY!" Spencer comes in, almost tackling me to the nasty floor. He hugs me so tight I can barely breathe.

"Can't breathe…help…Spencer!" I struggle out of his arms and smile. "I need to breathe you know."

"I know! I just can't believe you're here! I mean, I knew you were coming but it just didn't hit me until now. Hi Carly!"

I shake my head in amusement and then point to all of the mess. "What happened here? Did you forget to like do anything around here?"

"Well I just sort of didn't think it of any importance. It's not like anyone would come over here anyway."

"Girlfriends? Friends?" I asked, crossing my arms together, giving him the 'I don't believe you' look.

"Carly, for real I promise. I just gave up on cleaning. Now that you're here…help me clean up?"

"No way. I didn't come here to clean Spence."

"Then what else are you going to do?"

I sadly realized he's right and, although this may be disgusting, it was a way to bond with him after all this time. After about a half hour of cleaning we finished just a quarter of the living room. I was exhausted and absolutely disgusted. I was beginning to think of buying some disinfectant spray that Mrs. Benson used to carry around everywhere she went. I pushed away that thought though and went into the kitchen to get a drink when someone jumped out and grabbed me. I screamed at the top of my lungs, trying to wriggle out of the stranger's arms. He put a hand over my mouth and turned me to see him. My eyes opened wide as I figured out who had grabbed me. He let go and smiled at me.

"DAD!" I hugged him back this time, tears coming to my eyes. "What are you doing here? Oh my god, why are you here? Spencer, why didn't you tell me Dad was here?"

"That's because until a few hours before you came, he didn't know I was coming either."

"So it's a game of Shay's coming to visit Spencer, huh?" We laughed while Spencer just smirked and went back to cleaning.

"I'm here for a few reasons Carly. One of them is because I missed you both so much. I've given Spencer my time already, but now it's time for my little girl." He gave me another hug and kissed my forehead. "Carlotta, how you have grown since I left last." Spencer snickered at hearing my real name and I glared at him, wanting to smack him for snickering at it.

"I don't go by Carlotta, Dad. It's Carly and Carly only."

"Ok good to know," he smiled and kissed my head. "I have missed you so much…"

"I know Daddy. I've missed you too. Not to be impatient or anything but why else are you here?"

"I'm here because of a meeting tomorrow. But I did find out something important earlier Carly. I heard about your college in California. An arts college?"

"Yeah…" I trailed off, really not wanting to talk about that college right now. My dad was home and I didn't want to ruin the mood. "Can we not talk about it?"

"Nope. Not with what Spencer told me."

"Uh…what did he tell you exactly?"

He took my hand and brought her to the kitchen table, to which we both sat down. He had his serious face on. I knew this face because it was always the one that he'd give me before he was going to tell me he was leaving again. And it was this particular expression that I hated the most. I just looked down and focused on the table mat in front of me. Then my dad took a finger and lifted my chin to look at him.

"You ran away," he stated plainly. "That's something I didn't think you were capable of."

"Things change Dad. I'm not little anymore."

"Yes this is true. You're 19 years old now and I was proud of you."

"Was?" I asked, kind of curious as to where this conversation was going.

"I was proud of you. Strong, independent, full of spirit. I remember you at graduation, so full of energy and also stubborn as heck." He laughed a little at that one. I just rolled my eyes and looked down once again.

"But now, you're hiding. I'm disappointed in you. Running away like that Carly. That's not what I thought Carly Shay would do. That's not what I thought my daughter would do."

"Dad you don't understand. This came out of nowhere. I wanted to see what that college was like. And it was great…" I trailed off, trying to hide the fact that I really wasn't too happy at that college. But my dad knew me better and he put his hand over mine.

"You aren't a good liar. I can tell you that much. And I can tell you weren't happy over there either." "How do you know me so well? You're never around anyway. Even when I still lived here. Granddad visited me more than you did." And it was there I struck a nerve. My dad grew silent and I heard Spencer get up and walk over to the table. He glared at me, silently telling me I had gone too far.

"Well I'm sorry but I'm telling the truth! The truth hurts sometimes."

"I know, and the truth is that I haven't been around much. But I'm not running away from you both. It's my job. There's a difference and you know it Carly." My dad stated firmly, looking at me and then at Spencer. "I'm sorry to you both."

"Dad, come on. We get it," Spencer piped in, hating to see all this happen on such a happy reunion.

"I promise I won't keep running away Dad. I needed to find myself."

"Well find yourself here Carly," Spencer said to me, half smiling. "I'll help." It was irresistible; we had to laugh at that.

"I'll look at the college here. I'll do that for you and Spencer," I told my dad, trying to make myself believe it as much as I was trying to convince them.

"Do it for you too Carly." My dad held my hand and squeezed it. "You're my number one girl. And I need you to be happy."

"GROUP HUG!" Spencer yelled and so we got up and did just that.