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.

A/N: FINALLY IT'S BACK ON! PLEASE NOTE, HUNTING FOR ORIGINS WAS UPDATED JUST PRIOR TO FANFICTION GOING OUT

Chapter 64 (Web of Lies?)

Freddie hadn't been angry with Carly at all when she cut off the fencing with Spencer and apparently pulled his mom in on it. Emily didn't do much of anything, it was all acting on her part. However, Carly did feel bad when she did it, so she talked to him at school. He told her not to worry about it and offered to have a smoothie with her after school, but he made sure it wasn't a date and that it was only on friendly terms.

Sam had accepted the terms on the basis that Freddie needed to spend some time with Carly too. Despite the crush she had on him, he was still her friend and Carly deserved to know that. However, he needed to be careful, since Tyrone could always be spying on her. It was clear as well that Tyrone could get Carly to talk; he had ways of doing so. Freddie could only hope nothing bad happened while with her.

As he walked toward the smoothie shop, he thought about what could possibly be the worst thing that could happen. Well, for one, Carly could kiss him. Yet, he'd already been down that road before, there was no way that he and Sam were going to let that bother them. They knew Carly didn't know or understand, and as much as they wanted to tell Carly they were together, Tyrone was too great of a threat to do that. Could Carly Shay really be trusted? He didn't know, but he wasn't going to risk that and have Sam taken from him.

The only one that exhibited unease toward Freddie spending time with Carly was Jonah. Jonah just cared for his friends to the point that he despised how much control Tyrone had and how Carly would most likely tell Tyrone everything if she knew, whether she wanted to or not. Tyrone had ways of getting people to talk, that much was clear. Whatever Freddie told Carly, Tyrone would most likely figure it out one way or another.

Freddie saw Carly halfway to the smoothie shop, so he quickly called out to her. Carly stopped walking and smiled as she looked to Freddie, she knew well that it wasn't a date they were going on, just an outing between friends who really hadn't spent a lot of time together. "Hey Carly…"

"Freddie, how was school today?" Carly asked with a tiny smile. Freddie shrugged and folded his arms over his chest. School had been rough, he and Sam couldn't do anything together during school because of the possibility of people being under Tyrone's thumb. So, every time he saw Sam, he wanted to hug her or kiss her, but could not. Carly's day had gone fine, she spoke with her grandfather, and even her dad.

"School was fine for me. A little stressing at moments, but all in all, I had a fun day." Carly nodded and the two continued their walk in silence, both of them were unsure of what to talk about. Freddie glanced over at Carly and let his mildly paranoid mind start the conversation. "So, did you talk to Tyrone today?"

"Tyrone?" Carly looked over with confusion, but quickly realized Freddie was talking about her grandfather. "Oh, you mean Grandpa! Yeah, I saw him today. I told him I'd be spending some time with you after school." Freddie narrowed his eyes with suspicion and looked around, his eyes were searching for Tyrone. Carly tilted her head slightly and stopped walking. "What are you looking for?"

"That ba-your grandpa…" Freddie had caught himself there, he didn't want to upset Carly by calling her grandfather a bastard. Though the thought that she spoke to Tyrone perturbed him greatly, he had to be extra careful about what he said to Carly. He also had to wonder if she would try to get him to reveal anything about who his bride was. Though, Carly didn't know that his mom had chosen someone yet. Freddie sighed and continued walking. "Come on, let's get moving."

"Right…so…" Carly pressed her index fingers together as she began walking with Freddie. He eyed her suspiciously and watched as she took a deep breath. "How goes your mom's search for a bride?" He inhaled sharply and glanced to the side, he couldn't be sure if it was Carly asking that question for her own edification or if it was Tyrone asking that question through her, but then Tyrone already knew Freddie's bride was chosen.

"Carly…you know what? I can't tell you…" Carly frowned and stared at Freddie as he walked in front of her. Why couldn't he tell her? What didn't he trust about her? He saw her sad face and frowned, he did feel bad about leaving her out of the loop, but it had to be done. He took a deep sigh and slowly shook his head. "Carly, you'll tell Tyrone anything, wouldn't you?"

"He's my grandfather! He's always right, anyway…I mean, he's been through life, he knows things." Freddie scoffed and Carly raised her eyebrow.

"Your grandfather is an old and ignorant bastard. He's feeding you lies about my mom's culture."

"Freddie!" She was shocked, appalled that Freddie would say such things about her grandfather. "My grandpa has a lifetime of experience! He knows what he's talking about!" Freddie rolled his eyes and continued to stare ahead. It wasn't Carly's fault that he was annoyed at the moment, it was Tyrone. It was always Tyrone.

"The fact that you instantly defend him without knowing a thing about him tells me how truly loyal you are to him." Freddie narrowed his eyes and glanced to the side as Carly placed her hands to her hips. "Go on, what has he told you about my mom's culture?"

"Everything from the fact that the bride barely even knows you once she's been selected to the fact that she practically has to wait on you hands and feet…" Freddie scoffed once more and entered the smoothie shop with Carly, she was already too far under Tyrone's thumb to realize the truth of the matter. He'd been feeding her lies and she would never ever realize that fact.

"Your grandfather is wrong Carly."

"No he's not!" The two sat down at a table and stared into each other's eyes. If Carly wouldn't listen to him, the one involved in arranged marriage, then what was the point of talking to her? "How much of your mom's culture do you even know about? I bet she doesn't tell you these things…but grandpa knows because he's dealt with arranged marriage before!"

"Okay, and when has he ever dealt with it?" Freddie raised his eyebrows, crossed his arms, and leaned forward. He was honestly growing more amused with where the conversation was going. "Tell me, you've got me interested now. You're calling my mother a liar."

"You're calling my grandfather a liar!" It seemed tears were starting to come to her eyes, but they were frustrated and confused tears, angry tears.

"That's because he is a liar!" The two didn't even realize that the waitress had walked up to the table and was trying to get their attention.

"I'm sorry, but we don't have liar smoothies available today!" The waitress called out, trying to gain their attention. Freddie and Carly looked over and chuckled nervously, it was an embarrassing moment for them. The waitress smiled kindly and put a pen to her notepad. Every patron in the place was staring at the group with interest. "Now, what can I get for you?"

"I'll have a Peach smoothie…"

"I'll have the kiwi," Carly said with a slight chuckle. Freddie scrunched his face in disgust and Carly rolled her eyes. She was already starting to get annoyed with him, but they could always work on that. The waitress nodded and left the table, but not before asking the two to keep it down. Carly turned toward Freddie and crossed her arms. "Well, I don't think we're getting anywhere by calling our relatives liars…"

"No…" Freddie had to admit, he did feel bad for the fact that he and Sam had to lie to Carly, but it was all for a good reason. "Carly, you'll tell your grandfather anything, won't you? Have you ever kept a secret from him?"

"No, never…" Freddie raised his eyebrow and Carly sighed. She had never kept anything from him because he could always get it out of her if he needed to know. "He has ways of making me tell him stuff…" Freddie leaned back and slowly exhaled, he could see that he wouldn't be able to tell Carly anything about Sam being his wife or living with him. After all, if he did, then Tyrone would definitely figure it out.

"I'm sorry that you have to deal with that, Carly. You must realize that he's very manipulative…" Carly nodded and Freddie slowly closed his eyes. Maybe he could tell her some things, but nothing that Tyrone didn't already know. "Carly, your grandfather hates us." Carly raised her eyebrow and waited for Freddie to continue. "He wants my mom to move to India, despite her being raised in America."

"Well Grandpa always says that in the United States, people shouldn't practice arranged marriage."

"People practice it anyway. Tyrone just hates my mom. In fact, it goes all the way back to my ancestors who came over here and his ancestors who were already here. His ancestors hated my ancestors for what they practiced, they were just that intolerant and ignorant."

"I…My grandfather would never-"

"Your grandfather has the city gangs under his thumbs, he has people everywhere who trail my family around. Even at school…You know that teacher, Mr. Stern?" Carly nodded slowly and Freddie glanced out the window. "Mr. Stern is under Tyrone's control too. That's why if my mom chose my bride, we would have to keep our relationship secret no matter what."

"I don't understand, why would you need to keep it a secret?" Freddie narrowed his eyes and turned his head toward Carly. She was staring at the table, unsure of what to make of everything Freddie was saying. She refused to not believe her grandfather, but she wanted to know that her grandfather wasn't truly doing any harmful things.

"We would have to keep it a secret because Tyrone will, and has threatened, to take my wife away from me."

"It would only be helpful for her…I mean, she would be thrust into something so forced…she wouldn't even see her husband until the day she married him!" Freddie laughed slightly and shook his head.

"He continues to refuse to be open-minded, I see. My mom isn't like that. I would know my wife, I would date her, fall in love and marry." He knew he probably couldn't make her understand, but that wasn't a problem at all. When choosing to believe her grandfather, someone who she knew all her life, or Freddie, someone she knew for a little over a year, it was quite clear who she would believe. Freddie just didn't like how it was turning out.

"What if you didn't like each other? Could you leave each other?"

"No, we wouldn't be allowed to separate."

"Aha! So you'd be stuck with someone you hated!" Freddie closed his eyes and shook his head. The last time he checked, he loved Sam with all of his heart.

"That's where you're wrong. My mom is extra careful, does all her research, and waits until I have dated the girl before officially choosing. When she does choose the girl, she'll ask us both whether we want to be together or not, then we'll let her know…inevitably, she does choose who my bride is, but it is my bride and I that decide to accept her agreement."

"I've never heard of that happening…" Freddie raised his eyebrow and chuckled, of course she hadn't heard of that, she had only heard what her grandfather had told her.

"Well, that's the way my mom does it, at least."

"So…" She had to wonder if her mom had chosen Valerie. After all, Freddie did say they would have to keep it secret, and she'd seen Valerie around more often. The waitress brought the smoothies to the table and walked off, Freddie took his smoothie and started to drink it. "Did your mom choose Valerie as your bride?" His eyes widened and the drink went down his throat at a high speed. He began to cough and beat his closed fist to his chest.

"No! Valerie is not my bride." Carly tilted her head and gave Freddie a look of concern. She hoped he would be okay. Freddie slowly sighed and shook his head, maybe it was time to tell Carly the truth about Valerie. "Carly…while we're speaking about lies…" Freddie stared at his drink and Carly furrowed her eyebrows, waiting to see what Freddie had in mind. Had the whole ordeal with Valerie been a lie? Was that what he was about to say? "In order to shake Tyrone off of my tail and keep suspicion away…I had Valerie pretend to be my girlfriend."

"What?" Carly blinked and her mouth fell open, Valerie had been faked! Freddie didn't want to say that it really was Sam and Valerie's idea. After all, it would make Carly angry with Sam, and he didn't want to do that to them. Not only that, there was a chance that Tyrone would figure it out. "Y-You mean that Valerie…was it all…"

"It was a lie, it was faked in order to throw off any suspicious people, Tyrone included. Anyone that thought I had a girlfriend, since I never seemed to be interested in any girls…So everything with Valerie was set up, from when she called up on iCarly to the point that she broke up. It was all a big plan…you were just caught up in it all, I'm sorry that I deceived you like that."

"I…I understand." Carly closed her eyes and frowned, she could accept that. After all, Freddie didn't want intolerant people attacking himself or his family, so he needed to deceive everyone, including herself. That also meant that Sam was probably being deceived. "You might want to tell Sam that Valerie was faked…I'm just surprised you used a random person you didn't even know." Freddie chuckled and crossed his arms.

"Valerie wasn't a random person. She's a friend, and a close one at that."

"So does that mean she knows about your culture?"

"Carly…everyone knows my mother's culture. With how Tyrone's going about, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole world knows her culture. Hell, he's even attacked her before! Remember that time she was at the hospital? It was one of Tyrone's goons that slashed her tires." Carly gasped and shook her head, she refused to believe it, she didn't want to believe that her grandfather was so crooked.

"How many other things have you faked, Freddie?"

"…More than you know, and more than I can tell you…and if that makes you not want to trust me anymore, then I'm fine with it." Carly smiled and shook her head, she understood just fine.

"Don't worry Freddie, I'm okay with it. However, I would still like to know…" She still had that crush on him, she wanted to go out with him, but she didn't know if his bride had already been chosen. If she had, then why did he act like he had a crush on her? Then again, that was most likely faked too. "Freddie?" Freddie raised his eyebrows and looked to her, awaiting her question. "Tell me the truth…" She took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. "Do you really have a crush on me, or is that faked and pretend?"

"I…" He bit his lip and glanced to the side, he couldn't reveal that Sam had been behind that. He didn't want to tell Carly that how much it pained Sam and how her heart ached whenever Carly spoke of her crush on him. Yet, he did want to tell her, but he couldn't because he was sure Tyrone would learn of it and take her away from him. Freddie would have to lie to Carly again, but it was for Sam's sake.

"Freddie, tell me…please. I want to know if there's a reason you act so pushy."

"It's my own selfish pride…" He stared at his cup and felt Carly's eyes staring back at him. He was going to place the blame on himself, and if he didn't, then everything could be jeopardized. "I chose to do it because I wanted people, including you and Tyrone, to think that maybe I wasn't following my mom's culture. However, Tyrone knew from the start, and like they say…habits die hard. Yet, I still do it because I also realize that I'm not sure if my mom would choose you or not. But whether she did or not, I would still have to do it, in order to throw off any suspicious people."

"Oh, I see…so, that's why." Carly felt her tears coming to her face, Freddie didn't really like her, and it was hard for her to accept. "So, you don't actually have a crush on me?"

"I'm sorry, I deceived you again, but it was only because-"

"Only because you found out I had a crush on you, am I right?" Freddie slowly nodded his head and Carly glanced toward the side. "You know my grandpa will probably beat that out of me somehow." Freddie shrugged and glanced out the window, he could care less if Tyrone knew that he didn't really have a crush on Carly.

"You know, I could care less if Tyrone knew that or not. You listen to your grandfather, and I listen to my mother. I should let you know, I'm still going to have to pretend…"

"Yeah, I figured as much. You know I still…Maybe there's still hope that one day you'll actually like me." Freddie remained silent and Carly frowned, she wished she knew what was going on in Freddie's mind. He couldn't tell her anything more. If he could, he would tell her that he couldn't ever like her as more than a friend. He would tell her that his wife had already been found and that he loved her with all of his heart. He was not only afraid of Tyrone taking Sam from him, but he was afraid of Carly breaking off her friendship with Sam. In the end, despite everything he had just told Carly, she still knew nothing about him that she probably hadn't already heard from Tyrone.

"All I can say is who knows what the future will bring." Carly nodded in agreement. She knew that it really was all on Ms. Benson's shoulders, she would be the one to choose Freddie's bride. If that was the case, then maybe Carly still had some hope. She didn't know if Freddie's bride had already been selected, and she hoped maybe the girl hadn't and that she could convince Emily to give her a chance. Though, she didn't know if Tyrone would accept that or not, and whatever her grandfather said was the law for her. Freddie watched as Carly took some money out for her smoothie and set it down on the table.

"Here, this will pay for my smoothie. I…I need some time to think, and I'm going to ask Grandpa about what you said. I'm going to see if he's really doing all that you say he is. If he's not, then…"

"Then you'll believe him, I'm perfectly fine with that." Carly nodded and left the building. Freddie took a sip of his smoothie and sighed. After all that had been said and done, had anything actually been accomplished just then? No, probably not, since nothing really would change. He closed his eyes and leaned back, he couldn't really care. As long as Carly's relationship with Sam was still intact, everything was fine. "Why is it so hard?"

"Why is what so hard?" A voice asked. Freddie opened his eyes and spotted Robert Shay standing next to him. His lips pressed together and his eyes narrowed.

"Oh great...what do you want?" Robert sighed and crossed his arms.

"I'm not a bad person, you know. I saw you talking to my daughter and then she left, so I thought I'd see if everything was all right…do you want to talk?"

"I'm sure you're a busy man with a lot of stuff to do, so go do it." Robert smiled lightly and shrugged his shoulders.

"Nah, at least not at the moment…I could use some relaxation." Robert did want Freddie to know that he could be trusted, but he didn't know how that would happen. He figured maybe it'd be best to talk to Freddie and build up that trust. As he sat down, he heard Freddie give out a loud sigh of annoyance. This was going to be a long day. But either way, Freddie was like a son to him as Carly was like a daughter to Emily. Both parents decided maybe it would be best to get to know the other kid a little better. Therefore, this was the best way to go about doing such a thing.

And next chapter will be one of the crucial moments with Freddie and Robert. Seems that Freddie told Carly some things, but still didn't even scratch the surface of all the secrets and spoke nothing that Tyrone didn't already know. Way to go Freddie. Hope you enjoyed that, stick around for the next chapter!