In the morning …

Burton house (8 AM)

Emma was preparing breakfast for herself while Molly watched her morning cartoon. Sarah was still in her room, and Emma thought, probably in a deep sleep.

Her daughter had never been a morning person… her mother smiled, but then…

If someone is a trained soldier, with the kind of lifestyle that goes with it, everyone logically assumes certain habits. Her super spy girl just seemed too normal, too ordinary, to fit those assumptions. It was scary and comforting at the same time. Emma wouldn't mind if her child was ready to quit spy business. Chuck had given her a pretty good idea of a normal life with Sarah before the accident. The idea of her child quitting the spy life was something that any mother could get used to. Perhaps the fact that Sarah came to her was a sign…

...She wants peace but to do that she has to come to familiar grounds.

As much as Emma wanted to help her daughter she wasn´t quite sure at what point to bring Chuck up.

If Sarah didn´t want to see him, did she have a right to convince her? Was the idea of no contact just an obstacle for their relationship completely made by her?

She got lost in her thoughts for a moment. As she tried putting some jam on bread with her knife she cut her finger.

Damn…

She couldn´t focus with her finger was bleeding. She was so concerned about her child´s well being before and she had thought that Chuck and Sarah were on the right path, but she wasn't as sure now.

How could she freak out like this on the first day? What would happen if she couldn´t support my own daughter? What does it say about her as a mother?

Those were questions that bothered her the most; to somehow unintentionally sabotage Sarah´s relationship by making it unfixable. This was her greatest fear and of course the last thing Emma wanted to do. She realized that at some point Chuck Bartowski has to make it his role. Her only wish now, was to be the best mother she could be and somehow help her girl to put her mind at ease.

"Mommy, here you go." Molly gave her mom a tissue paper.

Thanks." she replied.

15 minutes earlier…

Burton´s House (7:45) AM – Sarah´s room

Her dreams were confusing when she was sleeping and she was even more confused when she opened her eyes. Images of her past life passed before her. She just instinctively reached under her pillow to grasp her knife. But to her chagrin she discovered there wasn't one there. She started slightly as the alarm clock on her bedside table chose that moment to come to life.

You are some softy Sarah Walker and no one has to put an ammonia needle to your neck.

She had no idea where this was coming from. She was feeling rage and desperation and it wasn´t just a blurry memory. Her soul just desperately tried to tell her something and her brain played was providing corrupted evidence. The spy in her mind wanted to know more but there was also a part that was fully enjoying everything what she had right now.

Is it worth a try? Did he forget me?

These feelings in there were real and she could feel that. Cold spy Sarah Walker feeling love? With Bryce it was something but their romance wasn't officially approved by the CIA. And her feelings for Bryce were so unlike her current feelings for this man she could hardly remember. She also knew that she wasn´t a type of girl to readily admit to her own feelings, but with Chuck it just all seemed easy and right.

She got up from bed to do her morning rounds. She chuckled at herself in the mirror while brushing her teeth. It reminded her of times when she was a kid and couple times also with Chuck. And for some reason she felt really good about it, as matter of fact she felt great. When she dealt with everything she wanted to, it was time to go downstairs. Something stopped her on the way down.

Emma noticed that from her body language. Something was bothering her, and at that moment, the knife slipped and she slightly cut her finger. Molly instantly came to her aid with a Kleenex. Sarah could tell that that was something wrong. Her brain started spiral.

Did I do something wrong? Has something happened to Molly?

But her mom turned to her with a smile.

"Hello honey, strawberries?" she asked.

I'd love some." Sarah replied.

After a while, when the cartoon ended, Molly decided to run to her bike. Sarah and Emma moved to the living room for a moment after washing dishes, and they sat down on the couch. For some reason this current situation seemed like a good time for honesty. Deep in her heart everything felt like it was just falling into place. She had to do something that Sarah Walker, as she knew she had been, would never do or never admit. She would be trying to hide it under a beautiful smile and walk away but not now.

She took a deep breath. "Mom, I have to tell you something. I don´t want to lie to you and I know it´s bugging you. I can see it. I know you.

She continued after she was sure that her voice wasn't going to shake. "I don´t remember anything from the last 5 years. I had an accident. I ended up on a beach ditching the only guy who ever truly loved me, just because I lacked the self-confidence to try and make it work. I feel terrible."

Emma put the bravest face she could. Her daughter had just turned on her emotions full blast in a matter of seconds. She ended up with her head on her chest. Sarah's decision to tell her mom at least part of the truth wasn´t hard at all. At least it wasn't as hard as she had expected it to be. For her part, Emma was thankful that their 'guardian angel' hadn't put the security cameras and microphones inside the house.

"I called Chuck before he found you on the beach." She said.

Sarah looked at her mother in amazement. Chuck knew about her mother, and Molly! It was clear that he had broken down her walls to the point she had shared her most closely guarded secret. She found it hard to imagine how he had managed what she would have thought was an impossible task. If nothing else, it proved just how much Sarah Bartowski had loved Chuck. For Sarah Walker, the thought was somehow both frightening and comforting at the same time.

"He didn´t tell me much but he was ready to do anything to get you back. I told him that would I call you and watch over you if you decided to come here. He promised me to wait, until you made the decision on your own. I'll admit I wasn't too happy with the whole situation, but all of your friends and I wanted to respect you and your wishes."

Sarah stood in silence. She couldn't believe that he was willing to do all this for her. Willing to wait for her when she wasn't even sure she deserved him. Willing to give her the time and space she needed to come to terms with the new life in which she found herself suddenly immersed .He knew her so well, and it was clear that her mother was on, not his side, but their side.

"Thank you." She whispered.

Emma smiled: "Any time."

Outside of Burton´s house (8:45 AM)

On her fifth attempt, Molly was finally able to drag her mom and sister outside. She wanted to show them some of her bike skills. While she was cheering, Sarah found Chuck´s number. The picture was a bit surprise. Chuck had apparently had a rude awakening. He was lying on his side of the bed. His chest was uncovered and his look was embarrassed. When she did a search on the file, she found a note.

More sexy ideas! BTW,

that look is priceless!

-Morgan

Sarah started laugh instantly and she was laughing even then when she pushed a button to make the call. It took quite a while longer than she would have expected. Then, Chuck finally answered.

"Hey Sarah, how are you?"

"I´m fine, Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah sure, give me a minute I just got out of the shower." Chuck lied smoothly.

There was silence for 10 seconds while Chuck settled his nerves and took a deep breath.

"Ok, fire at will!

"Could you come for a dinner tonight? I want to see you."

"Is this a date?"

"You could say that."

"And your mom approved this?"

"She and Molly are going to be out with some friends."

"Ok then."

"What about five?"

"Five it is."

"Ok, I can´t wait."

"See you soon Sarah."

"See you Chuck."

A few minutes later…

Apartment Rented by Chuck (9 AM)

"So mamma Walker gave you the green light?" Morgan was happy about it; Chuck on the other hand wasn't convinced.

"Morgan she seemed so happy. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be, maybe it's all for the best. " They were sitting on a bed and his bearded friend obviously didn´t buy Bartowski excuse.

"You´ve had been through this before. Hell you even brought up this shower nonsense and you can tell she wants you man!"

"I just don´t want to take an advantage of Sarah in her weakest hour like that."

Morgan forced a laugh: "Dude, this ninja-girl can kick your butt anytime she wants I would never consider her weak at any point."