Without You

Did You Say No?

Freddie got home before Sam and hurried to make the table look fancy. He knew he couldn't put the ring in food because Sam would just hoover it down without looking or thinking. He still wanted it to be romantic and hidden though so he put the ring in one of the roses in the center of the table. He rushed up the stairs to put on a nice suit and heard the door open as he was fixing his purple tie.

"Shit." Freddie looked at his watch. "Sam's early. I don't have time to call Carly and show her my set up." He muttered to himself as he pulled on his shoes and rushed down the stairs.

"Hey, nice set up."

Freddie sighed with relief. "Thanks man, but what are you doing here?"

Beck rubbed the back of his neck. "It's just my bad luck. I lost my key to our apartment. I know Sam has a spare."

Freddie nodded. "Oh yeah. It Should be on the key ring by the door, but Sam was probably too lazy to put it back so check by the remote to the tv."

Beck looked over and smiled. "Got it. Thanks man! Good luck!" He yelled out as he opened the front door.

"Yeah, you too!" Freddie yelled. As soon as the door closed he called up Carly. "Come on Carly, pick up, pick up, pick up." Freddie was nervous and he was worried if Carly didn't answer soon then Sam would walk in and he wouldn't have enough time, but then he saw his friend's smiling face.

"Hey Freddie, I just got out of class. Ooh, you look fancy! Date with Sam?"

Freddie took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "Yeah, I, um, I have some news and I wanted you to see everything before I show Sam. Carly, I'm gonna propose to your best friend tonight." Freddie gulped and waited for her response. At first Carly looked confused, but then she squealed.

"Oh my God! Fredward Benson! Are you sure that you're ready to get married?!" She yelled into the phone.

Freddie chuckled. "At this point in my life I'm only sure of two things. The three of us will be friends forever." He said making Carly smile. Then he grinned widely. "And I'm in love with Sam Puckett." He sighed happily.

"I know you love Sam, but are you sure you're ready for such a huge step?! Do you think Sam is ready?!"

Freddie blushed a little. "Honestly, I wasn't sure at first, but then Sam told me something that made me realize I want her to be my wife." He smiled.

"What did Sam tell you?"

"That I'm a huge part of her life and she loves me, and I know she's said I love you before, but this time there was no hesitation or muttering. She just said it outright and it made everything so clear to me. I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

Carly awed loudly making him blush. "Freddie, that is so sweet and I am so proud of Sam for opening up to you. You guys have really come a long way and I can not wait to be the maid of honor at your wedding. Now show me the ring before Sam gets home!"

Freddie turned the camera towards the set table and heard Carly squeal again, even louder than before.

"Oh my gosh! Roses?! Candles?! Ham and a bucket of fried chicken?! You really went all out Freddie!"

"Yup! Only the best for my food lovin' demon!" He grinned proudly even though Carly couldn't see him.

"But where's the ring?!"

Freddie moved his phone closer to the roses. "Do you see anything shiny?"

Carly let out the loudest squeal he ever heard her make. "It's in the roses!! That is so romantic, Freddie!"

He zoomed in. "Think she'll like it?"

"And it's so pretty! Sam will love it! I can't wait for her to call me and tell me all about it! I'll let you go so you can enjoy your night of romance!"

"Okay, talk to ya later Carly!" Freddie shouted. He turned the phone back towards him to give her a quick wave goodbye then hung up. When he moved his phone down he saw his beautiful girlfriend enter their place.

"Woah, did you get a promotion or something?" Sam chuckled. "What are we celebrating? And why didn't you text me to dress up, not that I would, but you still could have texted me."

Freddie just grinned at her. "You look beautiful just the way you are, Sam."

Sam scoffed. "Yeah right, I'm in my workout clothes after beefing up at the gym with my girls. Do I smell ham? And fried chicken?!" Sam yelled excitedly rushing over to the table.

Freddie grinned and pulled out her chair so she could sit down. "You do."

Sam grabbed a chicken leg and started chomping down on it. "Yum! Klucktucky Big Bucket O' Chicken! My favorite!" She yelled with her mouth full. "Nice roses, Freddork."

Freddie sat down across from her with a smile on his face. "Glad you like them. See anything inside of them?"

Sam dropped her chicken leg, then she tilted the vase towards herself making little droplets of water splash out onto the table. "Some shiny thing."

Freddie chuckled. "What is the shiny thing? Why don't you take it out?"

Sam shrugged and grabbed the ring. She stared at it with wide eyes. "Uhh."

"Sam." When she looked over at Freddie again he was down on one knee beside the table. "I've been thinking about this a lot and I-"

"No." Sam shook her head. She put the ring down next to the half eaten chicken leg on her plate and stood.

Freddie's face dropped. "N-no?" He slowly stood up beside the table. "Did you just say no?" He frowned. He took a step closer to Sam, but she backed away almost like she was scared of him. "Sam, what are you doing?"

Sam slowly backed up until she felt the knob of the front door behind her back. She reached behind herself to turn the handle. "I-I'm- I'm leaving."

Freddie stared at her with wide eyes. "Sam, wait-" He called to her, but she had already walked out the door.

Freddie felt like the whole world was collapsing around him. Suddenly his chest hurt and he couldn't breathe.