The Greatest Secret

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own iCarly

A/N: This story details what it would be like if Sam and Freddie were secretly together during the series. Read it, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Chapter 31 (Understanding Emily's Culture)

Sam made her way back to the apartment, she didn't really want to spend time with Carly while Freddie was sick, but she was going to have to do that in order to avoid suspicion. She knew she would be in trouble if Carly saw her, but at the moment, she didn't really care. She knew she needed to see if Carly's opinion on arranged marriages was still the same, since after all, Tyrone Shay was probably giving her some bias.

She checked the hall to make sure Carly wasn't anywhere around, she needed to make sure not to be spotted. She opened the door and made her way inside, closing the door quickly and moving toward the kitchen where Emily was drinking some tea. She was leaning forward on the counter and staring ahead at the wall, she glanced over at Sam and smiled as she straightened up. Sam set her backpack on the counter and started to pull out Freddie's homework for the week.

"How is Freddie?" Sam asked as she set the papers on the counter.

"Freddie's not doing to well, he's still very sick," Emily replied while glancing at the papers. "That's a lot of papers, but I guess the teachers have a lot of work for the week." Sam stared at the papers and sighed, most of them were from a specific teacher.

"Yeah, most of his teachers have like one or two assignments for the week, but Mrs. Briggs has like a truckload." Emily laughed once and slowly shook her head.

"That's one rough teacher." Sam nodded and glanced over at one the wall above the cabinets, there used to be a photo next to it with the four of them. Emily saw her glance and took a sip of tea. "Anything pointing to the fact that you live here I moved into another room and locked the door. I did that because I'm pretty sure Carly will want to visit Freddie every now and then and see how he's doing."

"Oh, okay, that sounds like a good idea." She was going to actually suggest that, but it was fine since Emily thought of it already.

"Freddie doesn't have to do the homework now, does he?" Emily shook her head and Sam glanced over toward the toaster on the counter, it seemed to be in use. "Are you making some toast for him?"

"Yes. I would like for you to go ahead and feed him, get used to taking care of him when he's sick, you know." Sam nodded and walked over to the toaster, there was a plate sitting there and some yogurt on the side. She thought yogurt was a bad thing to feed to someone with food poisoning.

"Isn't yogurt bad?" Emily took a drink and shook her head.

"Generally you should take some probiotic supplements or eat yogurt with live cultures."

"What are those?" Emily stretched and crossed her leg over while leaning against the counter.

"Probiotics are live microorganisms that are beneficial for your body and can help prevent or treat symptoms caused by the harmful bacteria that cause food poisoning and other things. They are also praised for their ability to boost the immune system and prevent infections."

"Oh, uh…where would I find those things?"

" You can find these things in pills, however…" Emily smiled and pointed to the yogurt on the counter. "There are some yogurts that contain live cultures of it." Emily walked over to Sam and picked up the yogurt, showing her the label and pointing to it. "Brand-name yogurts that contain live cultures will usually specify it on a label and frozen yogurt stores tend to display such information on signs. It's good to remember to stay away from the kind that contains a lot of sugar, since it can irritate the stomach."

"I should be writing this down?" Emily laughed lightly and patted Sam on the back. "What? You're saying I don't have to take notes?"

"Sam, I think you can remember this stuff. Besides, you can always look up whatever you need to know." The toaster popped the bread out and Sam carefully put it on the plate. She stared at the yogurt and then at the bread, smiling as an idea came to mind.

"Can I try something original?"

"Go ahead." Sam smiled as she took a butter knife from the draw. She opened the yogurt and slipped the knife into it. Emily watched with a raised eyebrow as Sam spread the yogurt onto the toast. "Never seen that before."

"Well I know the toast is probably pretty dry and all, and since this yogurt is good for him, I think it will make it a little better. Then he has the Gatorade that he can drink. Speaking of which…" Sam looked around and grabbed a cup, she then walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of Gatorade. "We need some of this." Emily gave her a nod and watched as Sam poured the drink into the cup. "At this rate, I'm sure Freddie will be up in no time!" Sam placed the yogurt cup onto the plate and took the Gatorade in her other hand.

"You're a natural, I think Freddie's going to enjoy having you as his nurse." Sam blushed and Emily gave a slight laugh. "You're doing well."

"Can I ask a question?"

"Ask away." Sam picked up the items and looked toward Emily with a questionable look. There was one particular question she had in mind since the arranged marriage had been placed, but she never got around to asking. It was about the women's role in the arranged marriage, and she had done a lot of research about it.

"What is the wife's role? I mean, with all the research I've found about it, I think the woman is pretty much…not valued all that much." Emily frowned and gave a slight sigh, she thought it would come up.

"Just take the stuff to Freddie, then come out and we'll talk about it." Sam nodded and walked toward his bedroom. She opened the door and entered, smiling at Freddie. He opened the door and smiled back at her.

"Oh look, it's my all time favorite nurse." Sam blushed and took the plate toward him, she sat down in the chair next to him and made sure not to look into the bucket.

"I have food for you." Freddie sat up and looked at her.

"Thanks…you know, you don't have to do this for me."

"I want to. Besides, you're bedridden, it's not like you can do this yourself." Freddie sighed and felt Sam place the bread at his mouth. "Eat it, and yes, that's yogurt on it." Freddie blinked and shrugged as he opened his mouth. Sam slipped the bread into his mouth and he took a bite. She set the bread on the plate and lifted up the Gatorade drink as he chewed and swallowed.

"Thanks, but seriously…I think you could just leave the plate…"

"Leave the plate and make you do this yourself? Yeah, I could do that, but I don't want to." Sam placed the drink at his lip and let him take a small sip from it. He was thankful for the liquid drink, but the yogurt did actually take away from the dry taste of the bread. "See, I can tell you're enjoying this, so to see you happy makes me happy. Therefore, I want to help you out here. I hope you're not feeling guilty about this or something, Freddie."

"Yeah, I guess I shouldn't feel guilty…" Sam smiled and lifted the bread to his mouth once more. Emily stepped in the doorway and leaned against the wall, watching the action closely, she had a small smile on her face. She knew Sam loved Freddie and hoped that she wasn't afraid of the culture. Given what people read when they research arranged marriage, it does tend to put the men on a pedestal. However, not all of the cultures made the women appear as though they were slaves, but it did dare to come close.

She watched as Sam continued to alternate between the bread and the drink, she knew Freddie seemed uncomfortable with it at first, but he seemed to be easing into the idea of Sam treating him in such a manner. "You know, Mrs. Briggs gave me hell when I tried to get the homework from her," Sam said while giving a soft chuckle. "I don't know why that lady doesn't like me." She smirked and Freddie rolled his eyes while giving Sam a smile. "Okay, so I've played a few pranks on her, tossed cartons of milk and eggshells on her car a couple times, but hey! I'm a very lovable girl!"

"Yeah, that's true, you are very lovable. I wouldn't have a clue why she doesn't like you, you're a very sweet and precious angel. I don't ever want to lose you." Sam smiled and placed the last piece of the bread to his lips, he took a bite of it and swallowed. "You know, I can't say I've ever had yogurt on bread before, and that right there was just perfect. You just wait, when you're sick and bedridden, I'm going to stay right by your side the entire time!"

"You don't have to do that…"

"But I will, because I want to do that for you." Sam smiled and gave Freddie a soft kiss on the forehead. "I love you, Sam."

"I love you too." Sam set the cup of Gatorade on the table and took the plate as she stood up. "I'm going to put this in the sink, I'll be back to check on you periodically." Freddie smiled and nodded as Sam started to walk out of the room, she saw Emily and smiled at her. Emily smiled back and walked out with Sam.

"Sam, come sit down," Emily said while gesturing for the couch. Sam nodded and walked over, setting the plate on the coffee table. She sat down on the couch and Sam sat next to her. "Okay…" She took a deep sigh and looked into Sam's eyes. "You wanted to know about the woman's role in arranged marriage. You're right, in other countries, the woman is required to take care of the man and often she can not speak out of turn. She is often required to just sit there and let the men do what the men wish to do. That can often be different when love is in place…"

"So, I don't really have much say?"

"It is in some cultures, but not the Indian culture. Also, you love Freddie and he lets you have your say. He lets you do just about whatever you want. Also, in cases where the husband dies, the brother is required to marry the wife, but that's not the case in my family's culture it is a bit different. The father is usually supposed to negotiate, and often there may be cases where the wife is 'bought' or sold." Sam's eyes grew large and Emily crossed her arms over. "Usually there is no choice that the young people have, it is all the fathers. If the young do have a choice, it is most often the man."

"So…I don't understand, you didn't follow the rules?" Emily raised her eyebrow and shrugged her shoulders.

"You don't see my husband around anywhere, but he wouldn't have followed that way either. We are in America after all. When my family came over here, my great grandfather wanted to keep his culture entirely intact, but he realized that he couldn't. Therefore, he bent the traditional rules a bit. Both young people and both families have to make the decision. Generally the parents are going to choose the mate, but we have to do plenty of research."

"So, ever since I moved in with you, I was one of the girls in Freddie's life that you were watching closely and researching?"

"Actually I made the decision to include you in the research back when you and Freddie first met. That was when I talked to your mom and she told me she wanted me to include you. Then I waited to see if Freddie was going to start dating, I would have been lenient and not chosen to deal with right when he hit puberty, but he was already dating the person who was already the prime choice."

"Me?"

"Yes, that was you."

"Oh." Sam smiled and sighed, still slightly confused. "You asked us if that was okay, but does that mean you broke the rules and let us choose?" Emily shook her head and placed her hands in her lap.

"No, I still chose. However, if both you and Freddie said you didn't want that, then I would have gone for something else. Now it would be too late for you two to decide against it. I don't think you would, since I can see that you are starting to fall in love with one another."

"I do love him, Emily. I love him with all my heart." Emily smiled and nodded her head.

"I realize that. Listen, when you're in America, you still abide by the cultures of this country while at the same time abiding by the traditional cultures of our family. Freddie also realizes that. That means that he's got to practice chastity, love, honor, and all of the other things that a marriage needs. In some cultures, a man can buy another man's wife."

"What!" Sam's eyes widened in shock and fear, she couldn't believe it. Emily gave her a nod and sighed.

"Yes, but Freddie loves you, therefore he knows not to do that. Of course, in some cultures, a man can have various wives, or concubines as they call it. One, it is not my culture that does this. And two, you're in America, you will not be doing that. You see, all of these things that I'm telling you about are things that the Shays know but don't understand, and that is why they're against me. There is a lot of intolerance around, so there's not much you can do about it. Just remember, you're not meant to be Freddie's slave, you are meant to be his wife and lover. He knows this, and he knows that he's not a slave master but a husband and lover."

"So, you mean that even if I were angry at him for something or maybe I had my own opinion about something, I could still discuss it with him?"

"Of course, you can do that in a lot of cultures. I'm not saying every culture is the same, it's not. In fact, there are some cultures, not mine, where there is a 'blood test' so to speak."

"Do I want to know about it?" Emily sighed and took a sip of tea.

"The couple do not officially meet until they are married, and on the day they are to be wed, they are required to sleep with each other on a bed made of white sheets. In the morning, there must be blood from the wife. That will signal that she is a virgin." Sam blinked and tilted her head, listening with interest. "If there is blood, her family will be highly praised for her remaining clean. If there is no blood…she is regarded as a disgrace to her family and her family is disgraced as well. Then she is to not be trusted and will probably have a little trouble earning her husband's trust." Sam paled slightly and Emily took note of the evident fear. "Well we know you're a virgin, but at least you'll never have to go through that test. Besides that, you wouldn't be disgracing anyone here anyway."

"The man doesn't have to go through that?"

"No. The man could probably have had sex before and he wouldn't be disgracing anyone. As said, the woman would be required to stay by the man's side. She couldn't do much without his permission or say. Here, in America, I'm not going to practice that, obviously."

"Yeah, thanks for that one." Sam chuckled and Emily pat her on the shoulder.

"You and Freddie pretty much have a free relationship. The thing with you is that you have to love and obey each other equally. You can never part from one another and you will be married. I believe you will fall in love, and that's why I chose you. Love signals a happier marriage. Anyway, you can see why the ignorant people like Tyrone are so intolerant."

"Yeah, if only he would listen to you and hear what you had to say, then he might understand!"

"Yes, but he's old, he'll never really be willing to listen…hmm, normally we're supposed to respect our elders." Sam laughed and Emily gave her a small hug. "I hope you understand this better."

"Yeah, the things I do for Freddie are out of love and not because I have to!"

"Exactly, and Freddie does the same thing. In some cultures, the man doesn't have to do crap for his wife but she has to do everything he wants."

"Wow. I'm glad I know you!" Emily chuckled and nodded her head. A rapid knock was at the door and she looked over.

"Ms. Benson, it's me! Carly! I'm here to see Freddie."

"Uh oh…Sam, go into your room, I'll tell you when you can come out." Sam nodded and hurried to her room as Emily walked toward the door. "I'm coming!"

I hope you liked this chapter. I must let you know, I had to do a research project in my College English class on Arranged Marraige, lol. It was this story that actually gave me the idea to do it.

BY THE WAY: I have uploaded my original story onto fictionpress, you can find it under my usual penname. It's the same as it is here. The story is called Dilemma. Please check it out, and review it too por favor.