The Greatest Secret
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own iCarly
A/N: As you know, thoughts are in italics and speech is in regular font.
Chapter 115 (Reunion: Sam's Presentation)
Sam stepped up to the stage and set up all her papers, which consisted mostly of the family tree and the report she'd be reading off. Her breathing slowed as she began to try and calm herself down. She could feel everyone's eyes upon her, burning a hole into her body. Never had she had stage fright, especially not when she had done iCarly for nearly three years. Only now, it seemed like the whole world could be made or broken. "Hello…I'm Sam Puckett-Benson. Well not quite Benson, but I will be!" When there was no response, Sam chuckled nervously and ran her hand through her hair.
"Okay, on to my report…" She swallowed and pressed her well typed out report onto the podium. She wanted to make sure everything was done well. She wouldn't allow for any slipups or any mistakes whatsoever, everything needed to be perfect. She could see both Era and Arian in the front row, they had helped mostly. She could see their calm smiles, it was as if they were telling her that she could do it. "I'd like to first off thank Mr. Arian Davidson and his Aunt Era Davidson for helping me on this."
She closed her eyes and slowly exhaled, she couldn't let nervousness get the best of her. She would do this. "This is the Davidson family history, full of mystery and intrigue. Together with Arian and Era, I was able to trace everything as far back to 1789, the birth of Arbor Elira. He lived in the country of India, a beautiful country filled with fantastic culture!" Sam saw that currently the relatives were all smiling, eager to hear. That they accepted her, that was the thing that calmed her. She knew they welcomed her with open arms, no matter what.
"The plan to get married at twenty was there all the way back then, however Arbor didn't want to marry the woman that was chosen for him." Sam frowned and her eyes briskly ran over the words on the page. "He met a sparkling beauty, her name was Besa." Sam described how beautiful she was. The girl was stunning, golden hair flowed down past her waist and how her brilliant opal colored eyes seemed to lull Arbor into a trance. "When they met, it was like nothing could tear them apart…they eloped and waited ten years before having their first child." Sam spoke a little more before she reached the really important aspect. The beginning of life in the US.
"In 1894, under the desire to see more of the world outside of India, Dirdan 'Dan' Davidson took his wife and immigrated to the United States." Sam spoke of how Dirdan wanted to travel more, but his wife wanted to settle down and have a family. He had no choice, and their first child, Birim Davidson was born in 1897.
"Sadly, Dirdan's family had encountered trouble with a vile, disgraceful, deceitful, vicious man named Brandon Shay. This man was so foul and so ignorant…he hated Dirdan for coming to America. He hated Dirdan for the culture he had…at only three years old…Dirdan's first child Birim had been murdered by Brandon Shay." Sam spoke of the death as she remembered hearing it. She felt so much pain for the family at that moment. What kind of man would kill an innocent child the way Brandon had? Birim's body had been found with a wire tightly wrapped around his neck, arms, and legs. His torso was separated from his body and his upper body hung on a pole. There were words etched above him. "Leave the country Davidson, or this will be you."
Sam spoke of the bravery Dirdan had, the ability and strength he had to not succumb to that threat. He wasn't afraid of Brandon, not one bit. He refused to leave the country. He had several bouts with Brandon after that, and had come close to death several times, but still, he pressed on. Brandon was the first and possibly vilest of the Shay family. "Thank god Tyrone didn't produce children and have someone like him come out…"
"His second son, born in 1901 was Dalmat Davidson. He married a woman named Ciara Ellison. They wed at twenty, as that custom was still going strong. They never had a child though…" A tear fell from Sam's eye as her hands gripped the podium tightly. She spoke of how Dalmat died of an assumed illness at twenty nine, leaving his pregnant wife behind. Only, a year later, Brandon had returned with his son Devlin. Together, they murdered Ciara. The baby had come from the womb, but was dead.
"Next was Drita Davidson, born in the year 1906. She lived until 1980, but never married nor had children." Sam saw Era's face tighten slightly and frowned, she wondered what the trouble was. She swallowed and let out a small sigh. "Nobody knows why. Era told me that Drita had a great tragedy happen to her, one which nobody in the family knows about." The events surrounding Drita were a mystery indeed. Only Era knew the events that happened, but the question was whether or not she would ever reveal those events. "Next was Edon, but I'd like to get to him in a moment and talk about the woman you all know and love."
Era smiled as Sam began to speak about her, there were nothing but pleasant things to say regarding the woman. There was one tragedy that befell her family, but the Shay's were not behind this one. The eldest of Era's grandchildren had passed on at the age of ten. She had been pedaling on her bicycle when she'd been hit by a speeding vehicle. Sam decided not to touch on too much of that unfortunate event. She didn't want to talk much about the tragedies that befell the family, because she didn't want to anger anyone. "And at 100 years of age, she can still do more than some seventy year olds can! She's a spry lady!" Sam did speak mostly of Era's second granddaughter, and she spoke of all the achievements made by that section of the family. "Currently, Kendal, Era's great granddaughter, lives with Era and takes care of her from day to day. Although, I'm not sure how much she needs that." The relatives laughed and murmured their agreements. While true, Era could use all the help she could get, she could probably still take better care of her than most can.
"Now, on to Edon Davidson. He's the man that's directly linked to my soon to be husband, Freddie Benson. He is Freddie's great grandfather. He was born in 1907 and he died in 1980." Sam spoke of all the positive achievements of Edon and them moved onto his eldest child, Zamira. Upon speaking of Zamira and her family, she couldn't help but notice some tension coming from Zamira's children. When she spoke of Zamira's second and unknown husband, she saw that Zamira had a very distant and saddened expression on her face. "To this day, only she knows anything about the man…"
Since Arian had requested Sam talk about him later on, she immediately moved to Besim. She spoke of all his trials and tests that he'd been through throughout life and how he'd personally stood up to a Shay and won. "When he was only twenty three, he'd squared off with Devlin Shay. The man wanted to take his wife away from him, but Besim wouldn't hear it." Sam smiled as she spoke of his courageous act, she knew Freddie would be the same way for her when it came to Tyrone. "He fought Devlin and fought him hard, he didn't really care that the man was fifty eight at the time. Eventually, Devlin lost the fight and starting from 1961, Devlin always had a little trouble with his back." Sam went on to talk about how Devlin's son in law and grandson owned a thriving business and then how Arian saved Amanda, Besim's other grandchild, from Tyrone Shay's grasp.
"Vera Davidson, she'd lost her husband in 1966 and her son, Carlos had specified no desire to be married." Carlos never explained why he didn't want to marry, and Vera never questioned it.
"Now I wish to discuss Agim Davidson…" Sam spoke of the great tragedy that befell the youngest of Arian's siblings. Sam couldn't help but to shed tears for him. It was sad, horrible the crime that befell Agim and his family. After explaining some on him, she moved to talk about Arian. "Now I'll discuss the current patriarch of the Davidson family, Arian." Sam went on to discuss several positive aspects of Arian's life. He'd done much and been a model brother to his other siblings.
As she went on, she eventually came to Emily. She spoke of how Emily met Robert and then spoke of the news she learned about Robert, how he was not a Shay by blood, which meant he was accepted more. She spoke of how Tyrone tore Spencer away, but after thirty years, Spencer finally met Emily. After that, she spoke of her days with Freddie, how she had to face Carly from day to day and pray that Carly would not steal Freddie away. When she mentioned Carly's mother, Linda, Zamira's face paled considerably. Sam hadn't noticed, nobody really noticed. When she finished, all of the 'pillars' of the family walked up. Era, Arian, Zamira, Vera, and Besim all thanked her and sent her back to their seats. Sam couldn't help but notice some of Zamira's children on the phone and that Vera's son Carlos was missing.
I hope you liked that chapter, it seems we learned a little more about the Shay family. Next chapter is going to be BIG, you will learn a lot of secrets, so hold on tight. You're going to find things out that you never even imagined possible, even things about Tyrone...and a very very exclusive, dangerous, and not very well known Shay relative. That's all I can reveal, stick around. Review as well ^_^