Hey everyone! This is my first story in the Chuck fandom. I'm hoping it turns out pretty good. I don't have a beta but I need to thank my friend, Stephanie for helping me out here.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck. I never will.
He was woken up by something . . . someone shaking him. Chuck swung his hand at what was shaking him but it wouldn't go away.
"Daddy" he heard a little voice whimper, "Daddy!" the little voice said a little louder. The source of the sound was coming from the area where he was being shaken. He rubbed his eyes and looked up. Above him looking down on him was two clear blue eyes he knew all too well but these had tears pooling in them. He never ever liked seeing that.
"What's the matter Steph?" he sat up in the bed and reached up to rub the little blonde head of hair.
"I had a bad dream Daddy" she sniffed.
"Well," he said reaching over and pulling the little girl onto his lap "tell me what happened and we will try and make it all better" he pushed back her hair and offered her a reassuring smile. She looked up at him with big wet eyes.
"I woke up and walked around and you, and Mommy and Andy were gone. I couldn't find you anywhere!" she looked up at him with wide eyes. He sighed. This wasn't the first time she had this dream. He knew it wouldn't be the last and the only thing that could fix it, well he knew that too.
"Do you want to sleep in Mommy's spot tonight?" he said brushing her hair on the back of her head to try and calm her down. She nodded through the tears that pooled into her eyes. He lifted the blanket up and motioned for her to get comfy. She climbed over her father and laid down, plopping her head on her mom's pillow.
Chuck was now more awake than before as he stretched out underneath the covers. He reached and pulled up the covers up to her chin. He got comfortable as he rolled over to face his daughter.
"I love you Daddy" yawned the little girl as she closed her eyes.
"Love you sweetheart. Sweet dreams." he whispered to her as her breathing started to even out. He watched her fall asleep. He hated when nights like this happened. It broke his heart yet he had to admit it, he had those dreams to.
It wasn't easy waking up alone but on nights like these when he looked at what he and Sarah created it made it a little bit easier. He had a bit of Sarah. Even a little bit made life easier. He reached up to push back a piece of blonde hair that had fallen over the little girl's face and rubbed her cheek lightly. Stephanie looked exactly like her mother but in personality she was 100% him. She showed that at an early age when she corrected her own mother about one of her favorite Disney princesses. She was barely even 3 yet and already correcting them on facts of her favorite fandom. She was turning into the little Daddy's girl.
Not that Chuck minded. He loved it but sometimes it drove Sarah up a wall. They would always make up for it later teaming up together to apologize. Even if Steph did not realize that was the intent. Plus they made up for it later when little Andrew came along.
Speaking of Andy, I should check up on him Chuck thought to himself. Making sure Steph was fast asleep and was not going to wake up, he slowly climbed out of the bed. Walking slowly he made his way to his son's room. There sleeping soundly in his bed curled up in a tight ball was his son. The blanket had fallen off of the exact miniature of himself so Chuck walked over and pulled the blanket over him. His son stretched out underneath the blanket. He reached down and brushed his hand through his son's hair. It was interesting while his daughter looked like her mother and acted like him, his son was the complete opposite. While Andy looked like Chuck, there was no doubt about that, he was his mother through and through. It always made him smile and frankly he was grateful for it.
As he turned and walked out of the room, he smiled to himself. Every night he counted his blessings and never took what he had for granted. As he climbed back into the bed as slowly as he could without waking up his daughter, he thought to himself that at this moment things were near perfect. There was one thing missing at that exact moment and he said a silent prayer out loud to anyone willing to listen "Please, let Sarah be okay and bring her home soon"
"Hurry up! Or you're going to be late!" yelled Chuck up the stairs to his oldest child.
"Coming dad!" She hollered back.
"Dad" Chuck turned to look at his son, "can I have more cereal?" Chuck had to laugh. His son's mouth was full of the stuff and the bowl was filled with leftover milk.
"Sure there kiddo" he reached over and poured more milk into his son's bowl. As he put the box back down on the table he had to laugh "whoa tiger that food isn't going to disappear" as he reached over and wiped milk that slopped down Andy's chin. Andy did not respond but just looked at his dad as he chewed. Andy was a child of few words unlike his sister.
At that moment chaos erupted around the room, in a flurry Stephanie came running down the stairs and raced into the kitchen. The exact same moment Chuck's older sister Ellie came rushing in with her three children.
"Stephanie! We need to get moving, sweetie" Ellie said and then she turned to her brother and gave him a hug "Morning Chuck"
"Morning Sis!" he responded giving her a hug back "did you eat breakfast?"
"We live with Devon," she answered giving him a big smile "of course we did!" she then turned to her niece "Did you get breakfast?" At which the six year old looked up at her dad as he passed her a toasted peanut butter and jelly sandwich. At that Ellie just looked at her brother with a look.
"What? I'm giving her milk to drink along with it in this cup" which he handed to his daughter. "She'll eat it on the way and be fine. I could be sending her with worse!" he said making a face that Ellie knew he was right.
"Whatever," Ellie sighed "Alright gang, we need to get moving!"
"Love you Daddy!" Stephanie wrapped her arms around her dad's waist and gave him a hug. He kissed the top of her head and with a have a good day, as fast as the storm of the Awesome clan came in they left.
All the while Andrew had not moved from his spot and had continued eating his breakfast like nothing had happened. Chuck looked at his youngest with a laugh. Then moved on to start getting his own breakfast together. Once the two boys of the house had eaten their breakfasts, they both went upstairs to get dressed. While Chuck was upstairs moving about his morning routine, he heard the front door open upstairs.
"Hey Chuck!" he heard a female voice call up the stairs.
"Hi Andrew!" he heard a much younger voice scream up the stairs.
"We'll be down in a minute!" Chuck yelled back to the ladies downstairs. He grabbed his cell phone from the top of the dresser as he dash out of the room and into the hallway. As he passed his son's room, he peeked his head in to tell him he was headed downstairs and then proceeded on his way. Chuck walked down the steps and was attacked by the youngest member of the Grimes family.
"Hi Chuck!" said the little voice coming from Emily.
"Hey Em! How are we doing this morning?"
"Awesome" shouted the four year old "where is Andrew?" she stepped back and looked up at the very tall man next to her.
"He is on his way down soon" he said ruffing up the little girl's hair. "How are you today Alex?" he turned and looked at her.
"As to be expected" she reaches across her very large and ever growing pregnant stomach, "I feel like I can pop at any moment." She said with a laugh as she rubbed her stomach with affection.
"Yeah, well being 8 months pregnant will do that to you" Chuck stated with a laugh. Next thing he knew a squeal is hear from the girl in front of him.
"Hey Em" called out Chuck's son as he came down and walked right up to Emily. She threw her arms around him in a hug and then they run off to the couch.
"Is Morgan already at the Buy More?" Chuck asked Alex as they walk around.
"Yes," she responded "he left pretty early to get things taken care of over there. He said he wanted to make sure everything was in order and ready for when you come in later. He's also getting nervous and I think that is what sent him out early."
"Morgan? Nervous about what?"
"Nervous about the baby" she rubbed her hand over her stomach again "I told him we've been there once before and it isn't like things will be different but it is Morgan. I can't convince him otherwise"
"Well, I was a mess when both of my kids were born. Just ask Sarah" Chuck smiled at the memory.
"Oh I remember" she laughed "I think he just wants everything to be perfect and he's nervous I'm going to go into labor before my dad gets back." Her eyes darted toward the computer that was sitting open on the table that she could see. This did not go unnoticed by Chuck.
"I haven't heard anything yet today but . . ." before Chuck could finish his statement the computer started to ding "but maybe I spoke too soon." At that the two rushed over to the table and Chuck saw the incoming call. Alex sat down at the table while Chuck set up for the call to come through and there before they knew it was the familiar face of his wife.
"Hi Chuck" Sarah said with a smile.
"Hey Sarah" he replied with a smile of his own. Alex didn't mind the moment and it made her smile. She loved to see two of the closest people in her life smile like still to this day. Sarah pulled out of the moment first and looked directly at Alex.
"Hi Alex. How are you holding up?" she asked with a concern look.
"Honestly?" she said with a shrug of the shoulders "I'm just ready to get this baby out of me. You know how it is"
"Oh more than you know" Sarah said with a laugh, "but don't get that baby out of you now because I think Casey here will freak out" Sarah looked up above the computer screen to what they could hear in the distance was a growl. Soon they were greeted with the face of one John Casey.
"Alex" he said.
"Hi Dad" she said with a soft smile "how are you?"
"Nothing to report" he responded in his usual manner "how are you? How is the baby?" he seemed anxious.
"Nothing new to report here either, Dad. We're doing great. Morgan though on the other hand . . . " she trailed off with a giggle. Casey rolled his eyes on the other side and Sarah and Chuck laughed softly.
"How are the kids?" questioned Sarah with a anxious voice. No matter how many times she had to go away it was never easy being away from her family.
"Andy is doing great. He is just his normal self but Stephanie . . ." he trailed off being sighing. Sarah gave a concerned and yet questioning look to Chuck waiting for him to continue "she had one of nightmares again last night" Chuck cautiously looked up at Sarah. They always hated sharing that news with one another. It never made them feel good because they knew their jobs were the cause of it but they promised they would keep each other updated on everything no matter how small. Sarah sighed.
"How did she seem this morning?" Sarah questioned.
"She seemed her usual smiley self this morning" Chuck offered a shrug "I'll try and talk to her again tonight about it when she gets home from school." Sarah offered Chuck a sad smile.
"How's Emily?" asked Sarah looking at Alex.
"Driving me crazy" said Alex with a laugh "she keeps asking me when her baby sister is getting here and when I'm not going to be fat anymore" just then they heard feet running into the room and Chuck and Alex looked behind them.
"Mommy! Can we . . ." Emily titled her brown topped head to the side and totally forgetting what she was going to ask her mother originally she asked "who are you talking to?" she asked as she couldn't see the screen from where she was standing.
"Your Grandpa and Sarah sweetie" Alex replied and with that Emily's eyes became the size of golf balls. Andy eyebrows lifted and smile was on his face.
"OH! CAN I TALK TO GRANDPA!" shouted the younger of the two.
"Mom?" was all Andy could say.
"Oh come on hobbits, come on over here" Chuck leaned back and offered the two children to come up. Both took off running towards them. Alex moved back a little and offered what little lap she had left to her daughter. Emily climbed up slowly up onto her mother and sat the best she could on her mother's knees. It wasn't the most comfortable position for Alex but for her daughter and father, there wasn't much she wouldn't do and knowing Emily it wouldn't be for long. Andy ran over and Chuck pulled over a chair for his son. Andy climbed up onto the chair and Chuck leaned over and was looming over his son. Sarah and Casey couldn't help the smiles that were on their faces as they looked at the family members they never ever dreamed they could have.
"Hi mommy!" Andy gave his mother his mega watt smile.
"Hey Andy" Sarah responded with a big smile of her own.
"Grandpa!" was all Emily could say.
"Hey short stack" Casey replied which sent Emily into a fit of giggles like it did every time he called her that.
"Whatcha doin? " asked the bright eye four year old. All the adults laughed.
"We're doing work" Casey replied. The conversation flowed between the two on the opposite end of the screen and the two small children in the room. The kids told them about they did in preschool and the adults listened. It was mostly Emily that did the talking but Andy got to talk and share his stories as well. Sarah and Casey could not wipe the smiles off their faces as they listened to the two of them. Alex and Chuck kept glancing at each other with a smile at the antics of their small children.
"Hey guys why don't you say good-bye so we can finish chatting here and let them Mom and Gramps get back to the work" Chuck said a few minutes later. Casey grunted and rolled his eyes. He never liked when Chuck referred to him as "Gramps" but part of the reason Chuck did it was to get a reaction out of the big guy. Once good-byes and I love yous were said all around the two kids jumped off, went running into the living and flopped on the couch. Chuck sat down in the chair that Andy just vacated.
"So how are things going?" Chuck asked getting to the business end of things.
"They are going well we are hoping to be finishing up soon. We didn't think it would take this long but complications arose." At that statement from Sarah, Alex's eyebrows lifted.
"Are you guys okay?" she asked concerned for her father and friend.
"We're fine Alex. This extraction for Beckman is taking longer than we originally thought or planned" Casey told her.
"We thought it was going to be a basic get in and get out situation but it turns out it is more than it seems. It looks like we go in tonight and should be home soon." Sarah stated.
"Do you need back up? Any help?" Chuck shifted anxiously in his seat and start to wring his hands a little bit.
"We got this Bartowski" Casey went to move away and then he looked back at the screen and nodded "Alex."
"Love you, Dad" she said with a smirk back to him then Casey disappeared from the screen. Alex looked at Sarah and then looked back at Chuck "I think I'm going to go check in on the kids. I'll see you Sarah. Be careful" Alex looked at the screen on last time before she slowly hoisted herself out of the seat and left the room. Chuck and Sarah just look at each other for a moment.
"I miss you" Chuck said to break the silence.
"I miss you too, Chuck" Sarah offered a small smile "Stephanie had a nightmare last night?"
"Yeah" Chuck sighed "It was the one where she wakes up in the dream and looks around for all of us and we're all missing."
"That one again?" Sarah casted her eyes down and Chuck saw the guilty expression on her face.
"Sarah" Chuck said softly "she knows we love her and that will we will always be here for her and her brother." Sarah lifted her eyes to look at her husband "Stop feeling guilty. Just do what you need to do and come home safely." Chuck looked at her with a small smile. "Speaking of which, when should that be?"
"You really do miss me don't you?" her tone turned to a teasing one and with a smile she added "We are hoping to go in tonight and then fly home straight after that."
"Don't rush things. I would rather have you safe then rush things" Chuck looked at her "but I can't wait until you get home."
"I can't wait to get home," Sarah glance up behind the computer "I should get moving. We have some things to take care of," she sighed "Give a hug to Stephanie and Andrew from me?" she asked.
"Absolutely" Chuck said "I love you."
"I love you too." And with a smile and one last looked the computer called ended. Chuck looked at the computer screen for a moment after the call ended and then with a sigh stood up and went to the other room.
"Alright, who wants to go to preschool?" he shouted as he put a smile on his face.
Chuck was standing in the kitchen and rising off the dishes as the kids helped bring them in from the table. Loading up the dishwasher, he looked at his two children. Stephanie was bringing in the plates and Andrew was bringing in the other smaller items. Only being four years old he still couldn't handle the bigger items like his sister but oh did he try. He hated being the weaker one but he was working on it. Chuck reminded him to just hold on. The time would come when he would be taller and stronger than his sister. It might take awhile he would also remind his son but it would happen. He smiled as he remembered when it happened to him when he was in the tenth grade. What a great year for him. As he was getting lost in his thoughts doing the motions he did every day, Chuck felt a tug on his shirt.
"Dad, can I go and watch TV?" Andy looked up at his father. Chuck looked around the room.
"Is everything cleaned up?" Chuck questioned and Andy nodded "Is the table wiped off?" Andy nodded.
"Dad" Stephanie stepped in with a wet rag in her hand "everything is taken care of besides your job." She raised her eyebrows at him.
"Oh well then" Chuck exaggerated "I guess I'm holding us off from this" and with that he turned the little hose at the sink on his two children. Both squealed and screamed. Stephanie went running and attempted to hide on the opposite side of the refrigerator and Andrew ran into his father and attempted to jump up and grab his dad's arm. Laughter and yelling was heard all around as Chuck gave his son an impromptu shower.
"Surrender!" Chuck shouted.
"Dad!" Andy yelled as he dropped his arms and looked straight up at his dad. Steph poked her head out from around the refrigerator and giggled. Chuck looked down at his son as he stopped the water.
"Give up?" he asked with a big smile. His son looked up at him with a scrunched up nose. "I will take that as a yes" he said as he put the hose back and turned around back to Andy. Andy had not moved an inch from his spot and looked at his dad with wide eyes. Stephanie walked out from behind the refrigerator and she had a big smile on her face. She barely got wet as she had run away from her dad and brother but her blonde hair and clothes had signs of getting wet. Andy on the other hand had brown hair mopped down on his head and his clothes were dripping.
"You can't go into the living room like that. Mom would kill us" Stephanie giggled at him. Andy just looked at her and then looked back at his dad. Chuck laughed at that thought oh how little you truly know.
"Well Andy" Chuck said looking at his kids "I think I know how to fix this and this works because it is bath night" and with that he bent over and hoisted his son up over his shoulder and held him by his legs. Andy was thrown over Chuck's shoulders and looked behind him and smiled at his sister and yelled dad.
"What?" Chucked turned around and looked at his daughter "That sounded like Andy" he said with a big smile "Where did he go?"
"Dad!" Stephanie said "he's right there" and she pointed behind him.
"What? Where?" and he turned around swinging Andy in the process. Andy finally gave it to his dad and shook his head like a dog which sent what little water was left on his dad's back. After that he reached his arms out and wrapped them around his dad. Chuck, who was already wet on his front from the water fun was now all wet on his back.
"Dad!" Andy laughed and Stephanie couldn't stop giggling at her family's antics.
"Alright! Alright! Let's head upstairs." Chuck still carrying Andy walked up the stairs very carefully trying not to knock his son even though he did psych his son out a few times with it. Stephanie skipped behind the two of them. After Chuck had taken care of Andy in the bath, he got him into a clean pair of pajamas. He sent him downstairs to watch his show on the TV. Chuck then left Stephanie in the bathroom to take care of herself and to get changed into pajamas himself. While he was in the bathroom helping Andy he received a text from Sarah saying everything had gone well and that they would be coming home soon. Chuck responded with a quick be safe text back. He smiled to himself. The family would be all together soon. It had taken longer than they expected lasting a week but they were coming home. Now they just needed to travel across the globe and come home. Picking up his phone in case they called him, Chuck stopped by the bathroom, told Stephanie he was heading downstairs and then went down and joined his son.
Chuck flopped on the couch and sat next to his son as they watched the show that was on the screen. Having explored the many avenues to watch movies and TV shows, Andy had found a cartoon that was a few years old about two brothers just trying to have the best day ever every day. Andy loved it and Chuck didn't mind watching this show with his son. They actually enjoyed the story lines together. After the first episode wrapped up they started a second one and during the second episode Steph came down and flopped on the other side of Chuck on the couch. It was moments like this that Chuck never took for granted.
As the episode ended "Alright gang, let's head upstairs to bed" whines came from both of his children. "Nope we have to be well rested for when Mom gets home" and at that both children turned to look him with big eyes.
"Mom's coming home?" Andy asked and Steph couldn't stop the huge smile on her face.
"Yep" Chuck said popping the P at the end, "so in order to welcome her home properly we have to get to bed. Why don't you two run upstairs, climb in bed and I'll be up to say good night" he said to them. Nothing more needed to be said as both children ran quickly up the steps. Chuck pushed himself off the couch and followed his children up to the second floor. He walked into Andy's room first. Andy was sitting on the floor in front of a toy chest of his. He was going through trying to figure out what stuffed toy to sleep with that night. Chuck walked up behind his son, looked over his shoulder and pointed at a toy.
"I think that one tonight buddy" Andy looked up at his dad and then back at the suggestion. And shook his head "No? Oh Andy, you're breaking my heart" Chuck said dramatically as he put his hands over his heart. Andy looked around the toys with a laugh and then bit his lip and picked out a little stuffed brown dog.
"No! This one" Andy jumped up and climbed onto his bed. Chuck stood up.
"Are you sure that one?" he turned to look at his son.
"Of course!" Andy pulled the covers back before he snuggled himself in.
"Why that one?" Chuck questioned.
"Mommy won it for me last time we went to the fair, member?" Andy told him.
"Well then if that is then I think that is a great dog to cuddle with tonight" Chuck pulled the covers up and kissed his forehead, "I love you Andrew."
"I love you too Dad" with that Chuck stepped over to the door. Chuck glanced at his son before turning off the lights and pulling the door until it was only open a crack. He walked over to Stephanie's room next. He found her under the covers, hugging her favorite stuffed toy which was a chameleon from one of her favorite movies and looking at the door. She was waiting for Chuck to walk into the room.
"Hey Steph" Chuck walked over and sat on the edge of the bed "you going to sleep better tonight sweetheart?" he asked.
"Of course" she said with a smile "Mommy is on her way home."
"Alright then" he leaned forward and kissed his daughter's forehead "I love you Steph."
"I love you too, Daddy" she said as she burrowed into her pillow. Chuck stood and walked to the door, turned off the light and swung the door until it was just a crack. He walked his room, placed his phone on the night stand and climbed into bed.