"THANKS FOR HELPING me with dinner, girls. God knows what Spencer is doing to help out."

After they did their show, Carly, Sam, and Freddie (who was in the bathroom) came down to help Daphne with dinner because Spencer was busy doing who knows what. The younger teens didn't mind helping out the young woman, as they love her cooking.

"No problem, Daphne," Carly smiled as she mixed the salad. "We don't mind helping out."

Daphne returned Carly's smile as she and Sam began setting up the dinner table with plates and silverware. As they were doing so, Freddie returned from his bathroom break.

"What up, my peeps?" he greets with a smile.

"Wow, that greeting was uncool in so many ways," Sam deadpans the boy. 

"Yeah, well uncool is the new cool."

"Wow, that comeback was uncool in so many ways."

This caused another argument between the two as Carly and Daphne shared an annoyed look with each other. Daphne loved them both and knows they're good friends with one another (sometimes) but she never understood why Sam hated Freddy as much as she did. Carly, having enough off the two arguing, grabbed a spray bottle and sprayed them both, causing the two to stop and stare at Carly in surprise.

"What did you just do?!"

"What was that?!"

"Oh, see, when you have a cat, that's how you get him to stop misbehaving," Daphne explained like it was nothing. "You just spritz him with some water."

"Well, she can't do that to us," Sam said.

"We're not cats," Freddie agreed. "Why don't you just take the bottle away from her-"

Carly ignored them and sprayed them again. Daphne smiled, shaking her head before grabbing the bowl of spaghetti.

"Spencer, dinnertime!" Daphne called as she placed the bowl on the table as Carly placed the dinner rolls next to it. Daphne looked between Sam and Freddie. "You guys staying for dinner? We've got plenty."

"Yeah," Sam shrugged as she and Freddie joined the two at the table. "I got no place to go and I could never turn down your cooking."

"I'm here. One sec," Spencer greeted, running into the kitchen with a toilet seat. He placed it down before returning. "So, what's for dinner?"

"I asked Daphne if she could make my special spaghetti," Carly smiled as they all sat at the table. The other three let out deflated excitement, stopping once they saw the look Daphne was giving them.

"Hey, nice meatballs, Daph," Freddie complimented, serving himself some spaghetti. 

"Hey, your guys' web show was pretty awesome tonight," Spencer praised the young teens. "I loved how you zoomed in on Lewbert's big old wart! I wonder what would happen if you squeezed that thing? You think some kind of Lewberty goo would squirt out of it?"

Freddie, who was about to take a bite of his food, stopped mid bite before he lowered the fork. Daphne gave Spencer a disgusted look as well, immediately loosing her appetite. One of her biggest peeves at the dinner table was talking about things that are disgusting. She refused to eat anything if conversations like that was brought up.

"And I lost my appetite," Daphne grumbled in frustration. She stood up, grabbing some juice for the kids before returning to the table. 

"I just wish we could get more people watching the show," Sam sighed. 

"The same number of people watched "iCarly" this week as last week," Freddie explained to the blonde, passing the bowl to Carly.

"That's the problem," Sam grumbled to the tech producer. "Our show is getting better and better, so more people should be watching it."

"Why do you guys care how many people are watching?" Spencer questioned the kids.

"Why do we care?" Freddie repeated.

"You're an artist and Daphne's a future writer," Sam adds on to prove a point. "When you create a new sculpture or write a new book, do you want two people to see it or do you want two-million people to see it?"

"Two million," Daphne and Spencer responded sheepishly, after sharing a look with one another. 

They understood what the kids were coming from. Daphne was for sure Spencer wanted more than two people to see his work and she definitely wanted more than two people to know about her writing. 

"So, ideas?" Carly questioned, looking around the table.

"Yeah. No offense, Daph, but the spaghetti could use more garlic," Sam told Daphne, causing the older woman to give her a look.

"I think Daphne's spaghetti is great," Freddie complimented.

"Thank you, Freddie," Daphne grinned at the young boy before giving Sam another look. "At least somebody appreciates my cooking."

"If you think her spaghetti's great, then why don't you put some down your pants?"

"Because maybe I don't want to put pasta down my pants!"

Another argument started between the two, causing Carly to pull out the spray bottle and sprayed them both again. 

"All right, look," Carly says, looking around the table. "We all know that making a good show is important."

"And so is getting more people to watch," Sam adds.

"So what if we each come up with a cool way to get more people to watch?"

"Yeah."

"And then we show our ideas to the "iCarly" audience?"

"And we let them vote on who came up with the best idea?" Freddie asked, catching on to Carly's idea.

Carly nods in response. "Right, like a contest. That way we do a good show and get more viewers."

"I'm on Carly's team," Sam says immediately.

"I thought she said "each"?" Daphne cuts in, giving Sam a confused look.

"Yeah! She did say each!" Freddie exclaimed and looked at Sam. "And why do you get to be on Carly's team?"

"Because "each" sounds like a lot of work," Sam replied as if it were obvious. 

Spencer shook his head at the blonde, patting Freddie's shoulder. "Relax, buddy. I'll be on your team." He reassures the boy.

"Seriously?" Carly asked her older brother with a surprised smile.

"Yeah, I've got time."

"Aren't you dating that one girl?" Daphne questioned her best friend. "I thought you two had a date tonight."

"No, she only liked me for my socks," Spencer replied and Daphne gave him a sympathetic smile.

"I'm sorry, honey."

"Don't worry, Bubbles. She wasn't the one for me, I guess."

"But that is a little weird," Sam says with a weirded look. 

"Is it?" Spencer smirked. 

The man proceeded to place his foot on the table, lifting pant leg to show his light-up sock. Daphne giggled, shaking her head, knowing that their buddy, Socko, designs the socks and she loved his wacky designs, as well as Socko himself. The three of them had been friends since high school and keep in touch from time to time. 

While Freddie and Carly looked at his sock with impressed looks, Sam was not so impressed. Spencer shrugged, putting pant leg back down and bring his foot down.

"Well, okay, then," Freddie smiled at Spencer. "We're partners."

"Partners," Spencer agreed, fist-bumping with Freddie.

"If that's the case, then I'll partner up with the girls," Daphne says, looking between the younger brunette and blonde. "If that's okay with you girls?"

"Of course, it is!" Carly smiled.

"Yeah, less work I have to do," Sam agreed with a shrug. Daphne playfully rolled her eyes.

"Perfect. So it's me, Daphne, and Sam versus Freddie and Spencer," Carly explained. "Team with the best idea to get more viewers wins."

"Okay, but I think the team that loses should have some penalty," Freddie chuckled deviously.

Sam chuckled over at him. "Hasn't life already penalized you enough?"

"Sam," Daphne scolded.

Carly took out the spray bottle again, spraying the blonde. "That's for being mean."

"It was worth it."

"All right, come one," Spencer spoke, gaining the attention. He, too, had a devious smile on his face. "What should the losers have to do?"

After thinking for a view seconds, Daphne grinned. "I think the losing team has to touch Lewbert's wart."

"Yeah!" Everyone gave Spencer a weird look and he retracted his excitement. "I mean, aww..."

"You really are weird, Spencer."

♘

Daphne sat next to Carly on the couch as the two tried to come up with ideas for the contest. While doing so, Sam came in from using the restroom.

"I got it. I got it."

"You thought of an idea for the contest?" Carly asked as she stood up, smiling at her best friend.

"No," Sam scoffed. "You remember at lunch that piece of corn that got stuck in my teeth?"

"No."

"Gross."

"Well, here it is," Sam smiled, showing a piece of corn. She then flicked it onto the ground.

Daphne gave a disgusted look, looking up at the blonde. "Really, Samantha? You couldn't have at least thrown it in the trash can?" She scolded. She loved Sam but she hated that the latter had no manners.

Sam shrugged, grabbing a magazine. "I could but I won't," she said as she and Carly both sat on the couch.

"Give me that," Carly says, snatching the magazine back. "You've got to help us think of an idea."

"All right," Sam sighed before grinning, grabbing the remote. "Right after we watch "Seattle Beat"."

As Sam tried to grab the remote, Carly tried to take it back, telling Sam that it wasn't the time to watch television. Daphne watched the girls fight over the remote and arguing, finding it amusing. 

"Okay, fine," Carly finally gave in, handing Sam the remote.

"Yay!" Sam grinned in victory, turning on Seattle Beat. 

" Okay, you may like the old drummer better, but I still say they're the best band happening in Seattle today, " the host announced. " And to prove it, you're going to see them right here on "Seattle Beat " live coming up in less than a half hour. Is that cool?"

As the audience on Seattle Beat cheered enthusiastically, Daphne, Sam, and Carly weren't so thrilled. 

" And how about you people outside of the Seattle Beat window?"

The camera then panned to the audience who were standing outside, holding colorful signs. Getting an idea, Daphne grabbed the remote from Sam and paused the show.

"I got it. I know a way to get more people watch your webcast," Daphne smiled, looking at the girls.

"Does it involve dental floss?" Sam questioned the older brunette.

Daphne furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "No. Why do you need dental floss?"

Sam picked at her teeth. "I think that piece of corn had a friend."

Carly rolled her eyes at Sam before looking at Daphne in interest. "What's your idea, Daph?"

"You see those people outside the window in "Seattle Beat"?" Daphne asked the girls, pointing at the audience holding the signs. 

"Yeah."

"The three of us can make a big banner."

"I enjoy big banners," Sam nods.

 "And we're going to take it to "Seattle Beat" and hold it up right in front of that window for this whole city to see," Daphne continues to explain. "You guys will get more viewers in no time and we won 't have to touch Lewbert's wart."

"That's a great idea, Daphne!" Carly exclaimed with a smile. "Everybody watches "Seattle Beat"."

Sam smiled, agreeing. "Well, say thank you."

Daphne frowned at the girl. "I thought of the idea. I think you should be thanking me," she says.

"Yeah, but I thought of watching TV."

"Let's just go make the banner," Carly giggled as she and Daphne stood up.

"All right," Sam says, standing up as well and following the girls to the stairs. "Let's banner it up."

As Daphne was about to head up the stairwell, she turned and noticed Sam went back to the couch, turning the TV back on. She nudged Carly, gesturing to the blonde. Carly groaned, grabbed the spray bottle and began to spray Sam.

"Okay, okay! I'm coming, I'm coming!" Sam shouted as she got up. "I'm hurrying! I'm going up the stairs!"

Daphne giggled as the three went up to the studio to get to work on their banner.

♘

"Hurry! It's about to rain!"

"We're right behind you," Sam spoke, lifting her hand to feel the drizzling of rain coming down. "And it's already raining."

"Don't worry," Daphne reassures the girls as they make it to the crowd. "People will see the sign before it starts raining bad."

The girls made their way to the front of the crowd with their banner that says 'GO TO ICARLY.COM', using the 'we're from the internet' excuse. Of course they were from the internet but Daphne still thought that the other two could be a little more nicer about it.

"Hold it up high!" Carly instructed the other two and they followed her instructions.

"Let's spread the word, baby," Sam nods before noticing a boy still in their way. "Move! We're from the internet!"

Daphne rolled her eyes as the boy gave Sam a look, walking out of the way and to the back of the crowd. The girls held up the sign as high as they could as Disco Ball by Saucy Monky played from inside. The rain started to poor heavily now and Daphne was not a fan of it but she didn't want to let the girls down, as she knew it was important to them.

"And if you like what you just heard, you can catch that band live at the Showbox next weekend," the host said, trailing off when she noticed Carly, Sam, and Daphne's banner was ruined from the rain. It was then the girls noticed it too. The host turned back to the camera. "That sign is messed up."

The girls lowered the sign with upset frowns on their faces. It pained Daphne to see the girls sad.

"We're going to have to touch Lewbert's wart," Carly cried.

"Come on, girls," Daphne said, dropping the sign and wrapping her arms around the girls. "Let's just go home and get dried off."

Sam and Carly agreed and the three girls left Seattle Beat.

♘

Daphne opened the door to the apartment, walking in with the girls behind her. All three of them were soaking wet from the rain. 

"Hey," Carly greeted Spencer and Freddie, who were in the kitchen and Spencer was wearing goggles. She sniffed the air, noticing it smelled funny. "Do I smell barbecue?"

"No, that's my burning flesh," Spencer replied, rubbing his hand.

"What'd you do?" Daphne asked, walking up to him and inspecting his hand. "Were you playing with matches again?"

"Uh, no," Spencer scoffed but noticed the look on Daphne's face. "I electrocuted myself while messing with the wires on the jumbotron."

Daphne shook her head at the man before getting the burn cream from the fridge. She then began to rub it on Spencer's hand to help the pain. 

"Why are you guys soaking wet?" Freddie questioned the girls.

"We in front of Seattle Beat trying to get more viewers but it didn't go too well," Carly explained to the boy.

Sam nods in frustration. "Yeah, like how the "Titanic" staying afloat didn't go too well," she retorted.

"Oh, come on," Daphne reassured, pausing to help Spencer and looking back at the girls. "Like I said before, hopefully a few people read the sign before the rain ruined all our hard work and made us sad."

"Yeah, we could still win," Carly agreed.

"Yeah," Sam says, giving Freddie a look.

"Yeah, I don't think so," Freddie chuckled, pointing between himself and Spencer. "I think me and Spencer are going to win and you two and Daphne are going to have to touch Lewbert's wart. I feel bad for you, Carly and Daphne. Not for you, Sam."

Sam gave another glare to the boy before wringing her hair on him. Freddie swatted her away and walked past the grown-ups, grabbing himself a towel to dry him off. 

"Sore loser."

"You haven't won yet."

"What are you guys planning to do?" Carly asked, looking up at Spencer.

"Oh, you'll find out," Spencer replied as Daphne finished his hand. "Thank you, Daphne."

"Anytime, sweetie," Daphne smiled, putting away the cream.

"Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a contest to win," Freddie bragged before looking at Carly. "No offense, Carly. You too, Daphne."

"Come on. Let's go dry off," Carly tells Sam and Daphne. The three began to walk away before Carly turned back to the boys. "Remember, iCarly goes live in three hours."

"We'll be ready," Spencer reassured her.

"To win!" Freddie adds, noticing the girls' faces. "Still no offense, Carly and Daphne."

"Be careful, you two," Daphne warned as she and the girls walked off.

"We will, Daphne, now go dry yourself off," Spencer waved off his best friend. "I don't want you to get sick."

Daphne gave him a small smile before she and the girls finally left.

♘

Later that even after watching iCarly, Daphne stood with the teens around the computer, reading comments on iCarly.com. Spencer and Freddie's plan was hanging a big lit up sign that read 'PLEASE GO ONLINE TO ICARLY.COM' on the highway. However , drivers were getting too distracted by the sign, causing accidents. Spencer tried to turn it off but didn't go too well and the sign ended up reading 'PEE ON CARL'.

As the four laughed at the comments they were reading, the doorbell rang. Daphne went to get it and it revealed Spencer being geld by two police officers in handcuffs. Spencer waved at her sheepishly.

"He belongs to you?" One of the cops asked her.

"Yes, sir. I live with him and his younger sister," Daphne informed, gesturing over to Carly, who walked over. 

At her response, the cop took out his keys, unlocking the handcuffs.

"Thank you, officer," Spencer thanked, rubbing his wrists. "Do you have any lotion?"

"No," the officer snapped. "Now, I'm letting you off with a warning, but the next time you cause one of the worst traffic jams in Seattle history, you will get arrested."

Carly nods in agreement as Sam and Freddie joined. "I think that sounds fair."

"What were you thinking, putting up a sign telling people to pee on Carl?"

"I-it was a terrible mistake, Officer... Carl," Spencer trailed, noticing the officer's badge. The two officers gave him a look before walking out. Spencer quickly shut the door, turning to the others. "Well, that was-"

Spencer was interrupted by the doorbell and he opens the door again. Officer Carl came up to his face.

"And just so you know," the cop sneered, holding up a bottle of lotion and putting some in his hands, rubbing it in," I did have lotion. Cucumber melon."

Daphne rolled her eyes at the cop as they walked away. Spencer shuts the door again.

"That was weird," he mutters to the group.

"Yeah, that was..."

"Anyway, I'm sorry I kind of ruined your webcast tonight," Spencer apologized to the teens.

"You didn't," Freddie grinned up at him.

"Come here."

"What?"

Daphne grabbed his hand, pulling him to the computer with the kids following them. 

"We were just reading comment boards," Carly explained as she sat in the chair. She clicked on a comment. "Listen to this one: "The spaghetti in the blender made me LOL, but I swear when your brother's banner said 'Pee on Carl', I almost peed myself"."

"Now read the one below it about "Seattle Beat"," Sam tells her.

"Oh, yeah. Here," Carly clicked on another comment. ""Carly, loved seeing you, Daphne, and Sam on "Seattle Beat." Sorry about the wet banner, but that was hilarious. I'm going to forward that clip to every kid in my school. Rock on, iCarly!""

"Sweet!" Spencer grinned. "How many comments like that?"

"Tons," Sam replies.

"People are linking to us..."

"Telling their friends."

"Okay,Okay, so wait, wait, wait. We all failed miserably trying to get you guys more viewers for iCarly," Spencer began and they nod as he contiues, "and yet, it is precisely those miserable failures that are getting you guys more viewers for iCarly?"

"You got it!" Daphne exclaimed as the kids agreed with her.

"Insanity!"

"Oh, hey, we almost forgot the best part," Carly adds with a smile. "Since all of us pretty much lost the contest, none of us have to touch Lewbert's wart."

Everyone began to cheer, hi-fiving each other in victory. 

"Hey, why don't go out to eat to celebrate?" Daphne suggested.

"That sounds fun!"

"Let's do it!"

As everyone headed for the door, Spencer stopped, looking down at his best friend.

"And can we get cucumber lotion?" he questioned, giving her puppy dog eyes.

She giggled, patting his arms. "Anything for you, Spence."

"Yay!"

Spencer gave her a kiss on the cheek, pulling her out the door with the kids following after them.

♘

Author's note!

Not that many #daphner (daphnexspencer) scenes but a few fluffy ones! I'm trying to get back into writing but it's been hard because of this funk that I'm in but I appreciate you guys being patient with me <3 Hope you enjoy!