Disclaimer: I don't own iCarly or anything related to the show.

Carly Shay-Benson hadn't been to Seattle in five years. The twenty-nine year old was afraid of going home. She had left Seattle very suddenly.

Facing her estranged husband was going to be hard. She hadn't spoken to Freddie at all. Carly had just realized her mistake of leaving him and wanted Freddie back.

Carly sighed and took a deep breath. She entered Spencer's apartment. "Hello," she called nervously.

Spencer popped up from under the kitchen sink. "Carly?" he asked, surprised.

"Hey, Spence. I'm back," Carly told him. She had only spoken to Spencer four times in the past five years.

"What are you doing here?" Spencer questioned. He was angry at Carly for just abandoning everyone like she had. Spencer had raised her.

"I'm back for good," Carly explained. She had a lot to make up for, but could do it.

Spencer sighed. "You need to explain to Sam, Freddie, Emily, and I why you left, Carly. You hurt every single one of us."

"How is Emily?" Carly asked. She had always regretted leaving her daughter, but it had been for Emily's own good. She didn't want to hurt her.

"She's great, considering the fact that her mother abandoned her," Spencer angrily told his sister.

"I couldn't take it anymore," Carly replied, trying to defend herself. She couldn't handle being the perfect wife and mother.

"I have an art class tonight. Make yourself at home," Spencer said, changing the subject. He taught art for little kids at the local community college.

"I want Freddie back," Carly admitted to her brother. She loved her husband and daughter so much.

Spencer scoffed. "You're not going to get him back, Carly. He's moved on and wants a divorce."

"I'm not giving him one," Carly immediately decided. She would make this marriage work.

The door opened suddenly and Emily Shay-Benson stepped inside. "Uncle Spence, I'm here for dinner," the thirteen year old told him.

Carly stared at her daughter in shock. Emily had been eight when she left. She had grown up so much.

"Hi, Emily. I'm not sure if you remember me, but I'm home for good," Carly explained.

"Why?" asked the bitter and angry teenager. Emily didn't want her mother back.

"I realized that I made a mistake," Carly told her. She should have realized that Emily wouldn't be happy to see her.

Emily scoffed. "You never should have left in the first place, Carly. She thought she had missed her mother, but now hated her. Emily was conflicted.

Carly winced. "I really am sorry," she tried.

Emily rolled her eyes. "I don't believe you. You're selfish." She wasn't about to let Carly back in and end up getting hurt again.

Carly sighed. "I admit that I was selfish, but I can prove to you that I'm back for good." She hadn't been doing too well when she had decided to leave.

Emily glared at her. "I hate you," she spat.

"Emily Abigail Shay-Benson," warned Spencer. He was mad at Carly too, but would not let his niece disrespect her mother.

"Fine," Emily replied. She left the apartment and went across the hall. She unlocked the door to Marissa Benson's apartment. Her grandmother would be angry with her.

"I'm going to have so much to make up for," Carly murmured. Her daughter didn't really hate her, did she?

"Carly, why did you even leave in the first place?" Spencer asked. He didn't understand why she had up and left. Carly had never bolted like that before. It wasn't in her nature. Or at least he thought it had been in her nature.

"You've asked me that before," Carly admitted her brother. She was getting sick and tired of the question. Carly had always refused to answer, and she would continue to do so.

"And I still want to know," Spencer shot back. Maybe he'd understand better if she just explained her reasons for leaving.

"I'm going to see Freddie and then Sam," Carly informed him, trying desperately to get Spencer's mind off the subject. She had missed her best friend, and wondered what Sam was up to. Sam had refused to take her calls after she had left.

Spencer went to tell his sister that Sam was probably with Freddie, but decided not to. Carly had to find out for herself. Maybe she'd actually agree to the divorce. "See you later, Carly."

After Carly went out the door, Spencer went across the hall to get his niece. "Hi, Mrs. Benson," he said.

Marissa Benson glared at him. "Emily told me that your sister, the girl that abandoned my baby, is back in town." She had told Freddie from the beginning that marrying that girl had been a mistake, but he hadn't listened to her.

"She is, Mrs. Benson. I think she'll realize that she made a mistake leaving everyone and she'll grant Freddie a divorce," Spencer told her. He also knew that it had been a mistake for Carly to get married so young, but he really thought the marriage would work out. Spencer had been wrong and was ready to tell his sister and brother-in-law that.

"She better," Marissa muttered. Her son and granddaughter had been devastated when Carly had abandoned them.

XXXXXX

Carly nearly fell apart when she got to her and Freddie's old apartment. What was she going to do if Freddie hated her like Emily? She sighed and knocked on the door. Carly didn't want to just barge in, like she had done at Spencer's apartment.

Freddie opened the door and was shocked to find his wife standing there. "Carly, you're back," he told her in amazement.

Carly nodded. "I've decided that I'm back home and I'm never leaving again," she explained. Her heart was pounding in her chest right now, and Carly was completely and utterly nervous.

"After five years?" Freddie questioned. He could have understood if she had maybe left for a year, but five years was too long. That's why he had decided that he wanted a divorce three years ago.

"Yes," Carly replied. She should have known that returning home wouldn't be so easy. Why hadn't she thought of that earlier?

"Who's that?" Sam said, coming out of the bathroom with only a towel on. She and Carly stared at each, both wondering what was happening.

"Hi," Carly told her, suspicious about why exactly Sam was in a towel in her husband's apartment.

"Freddie and I are together now," Sam blurted out, panicked beyond belief.

Carly felt like the rug had been pulled out from under her feet.

So much had changed in five years. Many more changes were to come.

I've had this idea in my head since the summer. Since I had all week off for Thanksgiving, I decided to write it. It's going to be ten parts. Maybe more, but I doubt it.