A/N: Here is Chapter 2, basically the rest of the evening after Creddie became official.
Spencer, Harper, and Millicent were all across the hall with Marisa and the four of them seemed to be having a spirited debate about how things turned out for Carly and Freddie.
Spencer was adamant things turned out well. "I'm telling you they are together I would bet every bit of money I have that Creddie is finally official."
Millicent rolled her eyes. "Don't call them that, it's so cringe. Unfortunately, I agree with Spencer, the way dad looks at her the rest of us might as well not exist." She was clearly annoyed at the now very real possibility of Carly one day being her stepmother.
Mrs. Benson was skeptical. "Sorry Spencer, but you're sister took 16 years to notice my son. I don't trust that she won't hurt him again."
Spencer was unusually blunt. "Freddie is the last person that my little sister ever intended to hurt."
Harper shrugged. "I don't usually agree with Spencer but he's right. Carly wants Freddie now the past shouldn't matter and Freddie won't hold anything against her."
"You all didn't see him after he got home from visiting Carly in Italy." Marisa said bluntly.
Harper was serious. "I wasn't around when they were kids, but I saw Carly depressed over Freddie and trust me, she is head over heels for your son."
Marisa didn't hide her skepticism as it was all over her face. Spencer eventually texted Carly knowing a response would settle this split debate.
Carly and Freddie could hear the others as soon as they were in the hallway. "Oh boy…" He said, shaking his head.
"Spencer probably set something on fire again," Carly said shrugging, her expression was detached.
As soon as the apartment door opened the room went silent with anticipation and everyone looked at them expectantly.
"You were talking about us," Freddie said bluntly.
"Why doesn't that surprise me at all," Carly said impatiently.
"What happened? I said you are together and I know I'm right." Spencer asked. They said nothing but the barely contained grins gave them away. "I knew it!" Spencer shouted eagerly.
"It's my worst nightmare!" Millicent said quite melodramatically.
"Well, no better cure for depressed overeating than getting together with someone who makes your knees buckle." Harper congratulated them both cheerfully.
"Your knees buckled." They said at the same time. "I definitely want to hear when I started making your knees buckle." Freddie whispered intrigued.
She leaned her head on Freddie's shoulder. "I finally saw what I was missing all these years." Her eyes were full of adoration and desire, Carly hoped that a single look conveyed everything she felt, but didn't want to say in front of everyone else.
"I'm still not used to you looking at me with lust in your eyes." He was full of pride.
"Then I'd be happy to spend tonight staring deeply into your eyes." She said flirtatiously.
"Excuse me while I barf," Millicent said anxiously, rushing to the kitchen sink to throw up, though she seemed to be faking for dramatic effect.
Freddie sighed with indifference. "I'd be offended, but Sam felt the same way so it's nothing new."
Carly suddenly felt strange and it had nothing to do with Millicent's acting job over her disgust with watching them flirt.
"What? Sam never told me that?" It came out higher than Carly meant it to sound, hurt maybe even a little angry at Sam.
"You know Sam, insulting and assaulting people is her love language. I've got the scars to prove it." He laughed. "Are you okay? You're not blinking." He said with concern.
"I-I have to go," Carly said abruptly, her voice breaking as she ran from the room.
Marissa finally spoke after staying silent for several minutes. "Sounds like trouble in paradise already." She said a bit too cheerfully.
"I don't think that had anything to do with Carly and me," Freddie said ignoring his mother and leaving to console his girlfriend.
Carly was upstairs in the studio, sitting in the dead remains of Vin Diesel the car that Spencer had turned into furniture. The last remnants of her friendship with Sam. She looked up and the untouched memory lane Spencer had helped her create as a backdrop to confess her feelings to Freddie. Pictures with Sam cycled by every so often, and it hit Carly that not a single picture was from later than 2015. They kept in touch less and less once Carly finished college and Sam went off with The Obliterators. The latter was in 2017. They hadn't so much as texted in at least a year, maybe more and that was normal at this point, but as Carly stared at the childhood photos of Sam she realized not seeing Sam had very little to do with why she was upset. No, this was something else something that gave her emotions she couldn't identify, but then again recognizing her emotions had always been a struggle.
"I thought I would find you back up here," Freddie said as his voice floated softly into the room.
"I'm sorry I ran away like that." She sniffed. "I'm just really upset." She wailed loudly.
Freddie seemed to be looking for something because she heard rummaging but didn't bother to look up, it wasn't until Freddie's hand was on her back and he was sitting right next to her that Carly raised her head and burrowed into his embrace.
"If I can make you laugh will you tell me what's wrong?" He asked softly.
"It's just…How could she have said that about us dating." Carly couldn't help but take this personally.
He took her hand. "Carly what's really bothering you? Millicent has the same attitude about us being together and you've never reacted this way."
"The only reason Sam ever knew what it was like to have a boyfriend is because I made sure she didn't run away from how she felt about you and I guess now that we're together… It hurts knowing that she hated the idea of you and me as a couple." She began to spiral, talking higher and faster with every word. "I was nothing but supportive of her falling in love, even after I found out that you were the one she fell in love with, which is just ridiculous, and not because it's you but because that's not just toxic behavior." She was out of the car, and pacing up and down in front of it now. "We could have her arrested for all the times she assaulted you, but we didn't because we were friends!" She was furious now. "I could have been selfish, I could have told her that she shouldn't ever be in a relationship with you because you deserve better than her, but I didn't, and now I'm wondering why?"
"Carly…" Freddie was calm. "Calm down, you're stuck in the past just like I was." He reminded her bluntly.
"I know, it's just I was happy when we dated back then and to find out all these years later that Sam wasn't happy for me, for us. What else did she say to you that she couldn't say to my face!" Carly asked sharply.
"It doesn't matter." Freddie knew as the words left his mouth that didn't believe what he said.
"That look on your face, you only get that look when there is something you know I should know that I don't. Tell me! Tell me what that backstabbing son of a— "
"Carly!" Listen to yourself!" Freddie said fiercely.
"I can't handle it." She croaked weakly.
Freddie embraced her, and whispered softly. "What can't you handle? Talk to me Carly."
"She's never coming back." She sobbed angrily.
"No, probably not." He said squeezing her tightly.
"I just wish I knew why." She sobbed.
Freddie sighed. "Sometimes, when people grow up they grow apart." He said.
"But she's been my best friend since we were kids." She said emotionally.
Freddie sat down with her on another piece of furniture and though he knew his next words would be difficult to hear, he knew that they were true, and Carly needed to hear them.
He cupped her face and spoke delicately. "Are you sure? Or is it actually that because you were kids, Sam was your best friend."
"What do you mean?" She asked puzzled.,
He thought for a moment. "Let me phrase it differently, if you met Sam when you were a teenager or an adult would you be friends with her?"
Carly watched the pictures of Sam again considering the question. "No…" She sniffed, swallowing a lump in her throat at the realization. "I used to wonder why we were friends even as kids."
"Don't you see Carly? You and Sam drifted apart for the same reason that she and I didn't work as a couple. You are nothing alike, it isn't just that you're fundamentally opposite. Being her friend takes a lot of patience, trust me I know, because if it weren't for Icarly there is no way I would have become her friend let alone her boyfriend." Freddie knew this was true and he didn't feel guilty or ashamed to admit it.
"We haven't been close for years." Carly said somberly.
"It's alright Carly, you and Sam being childhood friends doesn't have to be a bad thing. Without you, Sam's childhood would have probably been spent in Juve. Sam would never say it, but I know that no matter where she is with The Obliterators, she is grateful for your friendship." Freddie said seriously.
"You think so?" She asked.
"Yeah, she left this with you remember." Freddie pulled out the remote that they had used for sound effects every week and clicked the button for laughter.
Carly took the remote and smiled at him. "Thank you, Freddie." She went back to the car and put the remote in the preserved glove compartment. "Have a good life Sam…" Carly could finally accept that Sam Puckett probably wasn't coming back, she was happy riding the road. Carly sat down and embraced Freddie again. "After you saved my life, Sam was the one who convinced you that I was in love with what you did and not who you are. Right?" She said abruptly.
"Yeah." He said frowning.
Carly felt her heart balloon in her chest. "Sam was wrong you know, she was wrong because what you did is exactly who you are, Freddie Benson." She kissed him slowly and intently until they needed air.
"Wow." He whispered catching his breath.
"Yeah, I'm getting used to this boyfriend-girlfriend thing." She said eagerly.
The others eventually showed up in the studio and Spencer showed off more of memory lane and Carly's many photos which carried conversation for a while amidst also eating food, eventually Freddie walked Carly back to her apartment.
"Hey, want to stay over and watch a movie, or Law and Order? Snuggle up on the couch…or in bed?" Carly blushed at her own forwardness.
Carly didn't plan on having sex, it was way too soon for that. Still, they had 'shared' a honeymoon bed two years ago and now there was just something about falling asleep with Freddie in her bed next to her that felt right and she hoped he felt the same way.
"I better not hear y'all getting busy no matter where you end the night," Harper called from the kitchen.
"When you say stay over…? He asked his stomach quickly in knots.
"Not for intercourse sex…I just really want to fall asleep with you." Carly said, pulling Freddie inside to the couch by the hand.
"I have never seen two people that on the same page, how the hell did it take you a decade and a half to get together," Harper said in amazement. "All that time and you make the rest of us look bad." She said enviously.
"I'll join you in a moment with wine." Carly said to Freddie as she smiled, but the next moment she was pulling Harper aside in a venomous hiss as she poured two glasses of wine. "Listen, I know that you and everyone else we know, and people from the internet to old Italian men love to comment about my squiggle of romantic history with Freddie and joke about how long it took us to get here, but he has loved me since we met as kids and all I'm trying to do is show him that I was worth waiting 16 years for, so as much as I love you, either shut up or get out."
"You're doing that crazy spiraling thing so I think I'll just leave you in your chaotic energy." Harper said, understanding that Carly was not in the mood for relationship commentary.
Harper quickly announced that she was going to stay with Tinsley for the night and left closing the door behind her.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, handsome," Carly said softly, giving him wine. "It's Rose. Our girl's trip compelled me to buy it." She grinned and they clinked glasses, taking a sip before seating themselves on the couch.
"I have to admit I'm not used to you looking at me that way, with physical attraction." He said, feeling both pride and nervous excitement. "What's that like for you?"
Carly considered the question. "It's like getting Lasik surgery after years of wearing glasses on a bad prescription. I see everything, I see you clearly." She said earnestly. "Oh, and I have constant butterflies around you, and then of course my knees buckled which I won't ever forget." Carly couldn't keep the lust out of her voice with the last of her words.
"So then, I'm sure you can tell me when I made your knees buckle. If you stand up right now would it happen?" He asked, a curious smile on his face.
Carly smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, but I've been drinking and I'm a lightweight."
"I'll always catch you when you fall, Carly." He said earnestly.
She set down her wine. "Freddie Benson, it's lucky I'm sitting down because you don't just sweep me off my feet, you knock me off of them." Carly was fighting back tears.
"What's wrong gorgeous?" He asked with concern.
Carly was emotional. "Nothing, I'm just sure that you are the one for me, just like I was when you came to talk to me after doing the show that day. That was the moment I understood how you felt all these years because I felt it too, I feel it right now."
"What?" He asked quietly.
"You're my soulmate, Freddie Benson and I'm sorry that it me so long to realize that." She said.
"Carly, you are my soulmate too and I can't think of anything or anyone more worth waiting for than you." He said it so calmly that they might as well be talking about the weather, somehow that made it even more special.
Carly wasn't sure if it was possible to have an orgasm off words alone but it must have been because she let out of heated breath, before composing herself. "How about we get changed and go to bed, because I don't think my heart can handle any more of your wonderful words tonight. You incredibly sweet man." She said emotionally.
Freddie knew that Carly was feeling quite turned on and though it filled him with pride, tonight was not the time to cross into a sexual relationship. That was too much pressure far too soon.
Freddie decided to lighten the mood. "Well then milady, lead the way to your chambers," He said in the old-world accent they so often flirted in these days.
"Good sire, I can't think of anything better than snuggling into my bed together." She said, before taking him by hand into her bedroom. "Let me just run to the bathroom and change into some PJ's."
"What about your sleep apnea. Can you go without your CPAP machine? "
"A night without it here and there won't kill me, but I might suddenly gasp for air and wake up abruptly." She said sheepishly.
"That doesn't sound good?" He asked concerned.
"I'll be fine I promise, besides I keep the CPAP machine on my nightstand just in case." She assured him. "I'll be back!" She kissed him and walked off to the bathroom.
Freddie decided his t-shirt and boxers were comfortable enough to sleep in and when he was done taking off his suit and pants, he sat down, needing to pitch himself to make sure that this was real. Yup…he was going to share Carly Shay's bed with her and she wanted him next to her. Tears welled in his eyes and he was so happy he thought his cheeks would break from smiling so hard, he laid down, noticing immediately that the bed smelled like her…pleasant, inviting, wonderfully sweet…
"You're on the quilt." Carly's voice whispered softly in his ear. "It'll be more comfortable if we're under the covers and snugglier too." After they got properly into her bed, she noticed his watery eyes. "What's wrong? Did I do something wrong?" Carly worried that this was too much too fast.
"No, I'm just still trying to wrap my head around that my best friend is also my girlfriend and I'm sharing her bed with her." He said in amazement.
Carly was serious. "I know there is a tiny part of you that doubts how I feel about you now and I don't blame you, Freddie. 15 years of unrequited feelings aren't something you'll get over."
Freddie turned on his side and laid one hand on her face "Carly, those wounds healed the moment you gave me your heart and these tears are joy because I finally get to start the mornings and end my nights with you. That makes everything worth it, even my emotional scars."
"You're right, it's all a part of us, good bad and the messy in between." Carly kissed him then laid her head on his chest and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Freddie waited until he was sure Carly was sound asleep and then whispered, mostly to himself. " I promise I'll find the right time to say this to you when you are awake, but this time, well it's mostly so I can finally admit it seriously. I love you, Carly Shay." He said it gently and simplistically. It was fact, nothing more or less than that. It had always been. He loved and lived for this girl and he only wanted to show her.
Not surprisingly Freddie fell asleep shortly after the confession he knew she didn't hear, but part of him hoped that maybe she did.
A/N: I figured it would make sense for Freddie to admit that he loves Carly to himself immediately. You can debate if it breaks episode 4 but I don't think it counts until they say it to each other so no I don't think this affects the official exchange at all.
Also, I really wanted to take the time to dig into the fact that Carly and Sam have drifted apart and rarely talk. That happens in real life and I know we all have that childhood friend who we lose touch with and realize that maybe it was more one-sided than it should have been.
I can't believe this was just the beginning. I'll have more within a week or two hopefully.