Paternal Bonds

Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly. I keep it simple.

A/N: Thoughts in "Italics" and regular speech in "Regular font." Only applied if in quotes.

A/N: By the way, everybody is 26 in this story, except Spencer who would be older. I doubt he'll be mentioned much. Please read this regardless of their age. It will all make sense, I promise. They have to be this old in the story.

Chapter 5 (What Being a Dad Takes)

Freddie and Tina walked through the mansion and decided to check the guest room for the girl, they walked in and found her lying in the bed. "Hey there," Tina said softly. The girl looked up at Tina and then at Freddie, she didn't withdraw that time. She knew that Freddie knew her mother in the past, and she recognized his name, her mom always told her about Freddie, so she could trust him more.

"Hey, I'd ask you how you were, but it's so noisy that I don't think I'd hear you," Freddie said with a smirk. The girl blinked and stared at Freddie, her lips twitched slightly and Freddie grinned. "You like ham? Your mother loved ham, I wonder if you would enjoy ham or any kind of sweet foods." The girl's lips twitched again and Freddie put his arms to the side and chuckled. "Sometimes I think your mother got her sweetness from the sweet foods she ate. Of course, that's another beautiful thing about her. You know, Sam was really strong, I bet you didn't know this about your mom, she loved squirting me with sauce!"

"She did?" Tina asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes! I remember one time I made a joke, a simple little joke about something and the next thing I know, Sam's squirting ketchup and mustard down my shirt!" Tina laughed and the girl's lips twitched again. "Oh and another time was when I said my mother finally stopped putting some crazy lotion on me, Sam said that was a pity and she had another lotion that would work. What does she do? She takes a jar of honey and squirts it all over my head! There was one time that she said I was sweet and I said I wasn't, so she takes a cake and slams it into my face. 'Now you're sweet' she says!" Freddie shook his head and smirked. "And now I know how those clowns feel when they get slammed by pies."

"Wow, Sam seems pretty fun."

"Oh yeah, she can definitely hold her own, she was very independent! Tough on the outside and beautiful on the inside."

"Like a Pirouette cookie, right?"

"Huh?"

"Pirouettes, they're hard and crunchy on the outside but soft and creamy on the inside."

"Well okay, but I don't think she'd like food analogies. Though if you want to go there, I could tell you what sauce she is!"

"What?"

"Sweet and sour sauce."

"Man, she must have loved you."

"I'm sure she did. I mean heck, she did say that she'd let me marry her when the day comes. Of course then she left…but the memories I have of her will always be great."

"Yeah, what about that one time when you dated that girl, Valerie and when you and Sam made up after you broke it off from that girl that was using you, didn't you say Sam did something to you then?"

"Yes." Freddie's eyes narrowed and he let out a sigh. "She usually picked on me, well we hugged and during the process of said hug, she pulls my underwear up!" This time the room was filled with laughter, Tina and Freddie stopped laughing, there was a foreign laugh in the air. Both looked over to the little girl and saw that the laugh had come from her. Freddie smiled softly, it reminded him of Sam's laugh, very gentle and soft.

"She laughed." Tina smiled and crossed her arms, maybe they finally reached a spot in the girl.

"Oh, so my pain is funny to Sam's daughter is it?" Freddie crossed his arms and smirked. "That seems natural. Sam enjoyed my pain as well." The girl stopped laughing and looked down.

"Sorry," The girl said in a very low and quiet voice. Freddie and Tina looked at the girl with wide eyes, they thought she could speak but they were still surprised when she did speak.

"Don't be sorry, it's a very good thing," Freddie said with a smile. "These are some good memories of Sam, hey, you have a great laugh."

"I don't…"

"Sure you do, who wouldn't think you had a good laugh? It's beautiful and Angelic, just like your mother's laugh." The girl looked away and a tear fell from her eye. Freddie and Tina looked at each other with a frown, they sat on the bed with the girl in between them. Freddie was starting to wonder more about this girl, a lot of things just seemed to point toward this girl being neglected and abused somehow. The girl held up the bear and looked at it.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, for the bear." Freddie smiled and Tina let out a sigh.

"Do you mind if I ask what your name is?" Tina asked quietly.

"No name."

"Surely, you must have a name," Freddie stated. The girl shook her head and held the bear close. "Are you sure?"

"Just…Bitch…Kid…" Freddie's eyes widened and Tina paled.

"Not good names," Tina said quietly. "I don't suppose you'd want to talk about it?"

"No."

"Well whether you want to talk about where you've come from or not, you need a good name," Freddie said with a nod. "I know it's not my place to name you, but as long as you're here, I'm going to give you a new name."

"Okay." Freddie rubbed his chin and smiled.

"How about….Angie?"

"Angie?"

"Yes. That is what you are, you're an Angel. You're a sweet young child who is a blessing in this world, therefore you are an Angel."

"That's not what my dad says…He says I'm a bitch."

"Well, Angie, Your father is wrong." Freddie's mouth formed a straight line and his eyes narrowed. "Plus, I never want to hear you say the word 'bitch' again, that is a bad word. How does your mom handle this? I'm sure she wouldn't have called you that." Angie sighed and looked to the side.

"I haven't seen her."

"What? What do you mean?"

"Two years."

"What about two years?" Tina blinked and looked up.

"I think she's saying she hasn't seen her mom in two years," Tina stated with a sad voice.

"If I had another name…I wouldn't remember."

"You've seen your dad these last two years?" Freddie asked with a raised eyebrow. Angie shook her head slowly. "Then who were you with?" Angie shrugged and held her bear close. "This person you were with, did they abandon you? Why?" Angie shrugged again and Freddie let out a sigh. "Did your mother let your father leave you with someone? We're assuming this was your father that hurt you…"

"Mom didn't do it…"

"Didn't Sam stop him from giving you away two years ago?"

"Tried." Freddie's eyes widened and he started to think the worst.

"Sam…is she alive?"

"Maybe." Angie buried her face in the bear and sobbed, Tina rubbed the girl's back and Freddie rubbed his chin. It seemed the girl didn't want to talk about the past very much, and it sounded like she was saying Sam was in danger. He wanted to find her even more so now, but didn't know where to start.

"Angie, do you trust me?" Angie looked up at Freddie and blinked, Freddie was staring at a wall. He turned his head and looked into Angie's eyes. "Do you trust that I will not harm you in any way, as long as you're with me, you will be safe." Angie slowly nodded her head and Freddie smiled softly.

"Does that make you my new father?" Freddie raised his eyebrow and his mouth opened slightly. Freddie closed his eyes and sighed, the tone in her voice was almost pleading, she hated the man that was supposed to be her father.

"A father is a father, a dad is a dad, but a father may not be a dad."

"What?" Freddie placed his hand on his chin and his brow furrowed in thought.

"A man once said that it takes anybody to be a father but a man to be a dad. A father is the man that gave birth to you, the man that may or may not be married to your mother. When does a father cross over to being a dad? It is when he earns the right to be called 'dad' and nothing else. A dad is someone who will be there for the child and nothing more."

"But…"

"Here's what it takes to be a dad," Tina said with a smile. "Freddie doesn't think he has what it takes, but a lot of us think otherwise."

"Tina…"

"A dad spends time with his children, he has to earn the right to be heard, he disciplines with love, he's a role model and a teacher, he will always be there with the family, he must show affection, he must respect the mother, and he must realize that a dad's job is never done."

"Tina, why do I get the feeling you were a counselor at one point of time in your life?"

"Because I was." Tina smiled and Angie blinked.

"But a father and a dad are the same, aren't they?" Angie asked.

"Heh, there's only one thing it takes to be a father," Freddie said with a smirk. "You're far too young to know what that is though. As for whether I would be a dad, I have done nothing to deserve that title. I am no dad until I have proven myself worthy to even be one."

"You're spending time with her, are you not?" Tina stated with a smirk. "How a father spends his time tells his children what's important to him. If you always seem too busy for your children, they will feel neglected no matter what you say. Treasuring children often means sacrificing other things, but it is essential to spend time with your children. Kids grow up so quickly. Missed opportunities are lost forever."

"I know all that."

"You seem to be doing the right thing as talking to her. All too often the only time a father speaks to his children is when they have done something wrong. That's why so many children cringe when their mother says, 'Your father wants to talk with you.' Begin talking with your kids when they are very young so that difficult subjects will be easier to handle as they get older. Take time and listen to their ideas and problems."

"I know…" Freddie narrowed his eyes and smirked slightly.

"And remember, all children need guidance and discipline, not as punishment, but to set reasonable limits. Remind your children of the consequences of their actions and provide meaningful rewards for desirable behavior. Fathers who discipline in a calm and fair manner show love for their children." Freddie sighed and shook his head slowly. "You also are a good role model, probably. You know what it takes to be one."

"That I do…"

"Children need the security that comes from knowing they are wanted, accepted and loved by their family. Parents, especially fathers, need to feel both comfortable and willing to hug their children. Showing affection every day is the best way to let your children know that you love them."

"Tina…I know these things!" Tina smirked and Angie chuckled. "I know what it takes to do all of this, you don't have to tell me these things."

"Did you know-"

"Tina, if you give me any more advice on being a dad I'm going to dock your pay." Freddie narrowed his eyes and looked at Tina, she chuckled and patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, I'm done."

"Good." Tina smiled and Freddie stood up slowly. "Now, I have another question, Angie." Angie looked over at Freddie and smiled, it was because she liked the name and felt good to be called something good for once. Freddie took note of the smile that she had, he almost wished for a camera. "Do you like ice cream?"

"Will she go?" Angie asked. Freddie looked over at Tina and she shook her head.

"I have to spend some time with Robert, sweetie," Tina said with a smile. "But don't worry, you and Mr. Benson will have a lot of fun I'm sure."

"…Okay." Angie was a little nervous to admit that she hadn't really had ice cream very often, it had been a rare treat and the last time she had ice cream was when she was with her mother. It had been Sam that managed to talk her father into getting the girl ice cream, Sam had always been protective of her, she took many blows for her child. Angie knew that Freddie and even Tina would want to know about the past she had, but she wasn't ready to talk about it. Freddie understood this and decided to let her tell him what she knew when she was ready.

In case you've been wondering and you missed the part about Tina being engaged, Freddie and Tina have NEVER had a relationship, it's strictly platonic. That actually should be slightly obvious since there's only been one girl on Freddie's mind, and you do know who that is, I think. Hope you liked this chapter!