A/N: My thanks to those who have found this story and read it as well as those forgiving the long interruption. This was going to be the last chapter for this story; but I needed to give Steve and Peggy another chapter. There are moments within both the Chuckverse and MCU where this 'modification' can create some interesting changes to canon and I do plan on creating a few. Either as independent stories or additional chapters is yet to be decided, but there are two that are in my head as I write this.

Chuck vs. Agent 13

Chapter 4: Meeting the Mother-in-Law

After the three made their way into the elevator there was silence. Neither man wanted to be the one to disturb Sarah as it was obvious she was debating internally about something. What had felt like minutes was only seconds as Sarah snapped her head up and once again clicked on the device Maria had handed her.

"I have cut off all video and audio surveillance. There are two life changing situations you need to know about and I wasn't sure which one to say first," she paused looked over to Chuck who guessed with what she was going to start with and smiled at her which gave her the strength to continue. She walked to where she was facing Steve and cautiously looked into his eyes before croaking out, "Daddy…"

Steve's brain had been working overtime, acclimating himself to his surroundings and trying to determine friendly or hostile; but after Chuck's shield-handling and Sarah/Sharon's earnestness in that things are ok. Her eyes and smile are eerily reminiscent of his mother, plus Chuck's unknowing slip after dropping the shield and her name all lead to that as a probable conclusion. Regardless he knows he must remain vigilant because this still could be a trap, but the look she had earlier with the set of her jaw was pure Peggy when she thinks I am overanalyzing a situation.

Steve takes a deep breath and places his hands on his daughter's (?!) shoulders and stares into her eyes trying to find anything to contradict what his heart hopes to be true. Granted it would mean he had been lost for around two and a half decades, and Lord knows that he would never begrudge Peggy for moving on. She deserved all the happiness the world could offer; he only hoped there would be a place where he could fit in without it being anymore awkward then having a daughter who appeared around the same age as you. First though he had to determine if he was going to go all in. Contrary to Peggy and his superior officers' beliefs he did not rush into battle without thinking first. He sees nothing but hope and longing in the blue eyes and in a move that shocks the other two with the swiftness of it picks her up and twirls her around once, bringing her into a hug and asking, "Peggy named you Sarah?"

Sarah pulled her head back to look into her father's eyes, but couldn't bring herself to answer. Instead she just nodded her head as she started crying and burying her face into Steve's neck, "Daddy".

The two were so wrapped up in their joy that they hadn't noticed the third person in the elevator go to the panel and halt their downward movement. The stop forced the two out of the 'cocoon' they were in and look to Chuck, whose eyes were definitely moistened as well. "I was only trying to give you guys as much time as possible," he walked over to Sarah who found her way back to the ground and wiped one side of tears while kissing her other cheek.

Steve noticed this and wondered if this was what the Commandos saw whenever he and Peggy 'stole' a moment. "That's fine Chuck, I know there's more going on in order to explain why the other agent called you Sharon, but you said there was another life changing… Peggy?" The last word came out in a painful moan that caused Sarah to break away from Chuck and go to her father shaking her head.

"No, she is alive and is waiting for us to meet her where she is staying just outside of Washington D.C…. Oh, we are in New York as Andrea did state earlier and there is a reason why with very few exceptions SHIELD knows me as Sharon Carter. Dad, we are both much older then we look. Uncle Howard was able to chart my age 'slowdown' when the serum started to kick in during adolescence and basically it takes me about three and a half years to age one year for a normal person. I wish there was an easier way to tell you this but you were stuck in that frozen hell-hole for six and a half decades. The year is 2010."

The disconsolate look on the soldier's face almost broke the other two as Chuck made his way back to Sarah. Steve closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he tried to fathom something he would never have expected in his wildest dreams or nightmares. "Are any of the Commandos or Howard…," Sarah shook her head, "How different is it out there?" came out in a more subdued voice.

Sarah was trying to figure out how to answer, but Chuck stepped in and pulled out his phone and placed it in front of him so Steve could see it before speaking, "It is very different. What I'm holding is called a smartphone. It is a phone, telegraph, library, newspaper, radio, movie theater, and bank all rolled into one device you can hold in your hand. It can do even more, but this is essentially the life line for a large percentage of today's population. There have also been a number of social revolutions, that has resulted in more open expression of things and ideals that were not really talked about in the past. In essence there is more freedom, but there was a trade off: people are more rude, even with the freedoms we are probably more isolated, individually, concentrating on our e-mails and social media… don't worry about not knowing what those things are I'll have the chance to go over that, if you want, while we make our way to Sarah's mom," Chuck showed a little bit of nervousness as he rambled out the last phrase which both Steve and Sarah caught.

Steve was trying to not look as lost as he felt, but couldn't decide how to start digesting this brand new world. After a tense release of breath, he opened his eyes and found both Sarah and Chuck looking at him with empathy and not pity. Growing up as he had there were innumerable times where he learned the sometimes subtle differences between the two. "Okay, so it is going to be another shock when I see the outside… Did Howard at least create a car that can fly?" His tone at the last part relaxed the couple and Chuck started the elevator again and they made it down to the garage where their car was sitting there parked in front of the elevator.

Sarah looked at the two men and simply said, "Fury," and glided into the driver seat as Chuck went to the back seat and motioned for Steve to follow him in which he did.

At Sarah's glance in the rear view mirror Chuck stated, "I can give your father a brief tutorial while you're driving. Also Steve to your unanswered question, 'no' cars do not fly yet, but with your daughter behind the wheel it may feel like it."

Sarah gave a brief glare as she turned around and muttered something along the lines of, 'you're lucky you're cute,' when she turned back and started on a different tunnel then the one they came in through. Chuck started to say something, but the look she gave let him know she knew what she was doing.

The trip to DC was uneventful over the first hour as Chuck was showing the Major how to operate a smartphone and some of what it is capable of. Another item that was checked off was picking up food via 'drive-thru' as they all needed sustenance. They made it to discussing the internet and Chuck showing how to look up information starting with Steve Rogers as the initial search, after adding World War 2 to it still did not narrow the search Chuck typed in Captain America and Steve was shocked by the amount of information available and that the vast majority of it was incorrect. When Chuck asked what Steve would like to look up next, upon hearing 'Peggy Carter' made Sarah blurt out, "No!"

Sarah looked into the rear view mirror and saw her father and Chuck give a double dose of puppy pout eyes she quickly averted her eyes back to the highway, "While it makes sense, I think it's best if Mom gets to tell you her story without any preconceived notions fueled by the internet."

She ventured a glance and saw her dad nod and felt some relief until, "Brooklyn Dodgers" was the next item uttered from his mouth.

The last fifteen minutes before pulling up to the retirement village Sarah was trying to figure out a way to allow Chuck to meet Mom before the reunion that was so long in coming. She also was feeling a tremendous amount of guilt in delaying it, just so Peggy would have a better chance at remembering meeting the man who had secured her daughter's heart. She had gotten word that it was a good day for her mom thus far and that Peggy had made an emergency appointment to the beauty salon which she just finished.

Steve had given Sarah the break she needed when he asked if there was a florist nearby. Once she parked the vehicle she pointed across the street to the strip mall while handing him a hundred dollar bill. The shock on her father's face was not as severe as she expected. "Sarah, we did spend over $40 for lunch and Chuck told me that 'fast food' is often the cheapest food available. I also was able to see the price of gasoline as we were driving and even though there weren't a lot of cars in my neighborhood I can extrapolate how much everything else is now. Plus I'm guessing this will be the first meeting between Chuck and Peggy." Sarah nodded without adding anything verbally, "I need a few minutes as well… right now if I went up there I am scared we'd fall into our banter and I don't want to break down when she'd state that I was late."

Sarah swallowed at that and after giving a quick hug whispered, "Don't be too long, for some reason I had forgotten the interrogations Mom would give to any boy who showed any interest in me." Apparently she had said it louder than she intended as Chuck paled.

Steve couldn't help but smile which turned sad as the full aspect of what she said settled in, "I'll try to be quick Sarah. However I think she'll be easy on Chuck when she sees the two of you look at each other." His eyes moved off her and he smiled as he handed back the money, "Don't worry, I've found what I needed. I'll give you guys five minutes, do you want more… or less?"

"Five should be fine. Thank you Daddy." Sarah beamed then frowned as she thought about her chosen term of endearment and that she was way too old to be using it. Somehow her father sensed this and brought her in. A few seconds later she was calm and looked up to see him smiling down. Steve released her and watched as Chuck and Sarah clasped hands and made their way into the building as he walked into the field next to the parking lot.

After checking in and walks down two long hallways the duo made it to Margaret Carter's room. Chuck could feel the anxiety rise in Sarah as they stepped closer which in turn caused his to rise leading to the inevitable sweaty palms. Chuck released Sarah's hand leading her to pout at him while he wiped them off on his jeans. He placed his hands on her cheeks and used his thumbs to turn her frown upside down. Sarah attempted an eye roll and was about to say something when Chuck placed his lips upon hers attempting to pass on how much he adored her. It consumed the both of them as neither noticed the door opening and the heel tapping the linoleum floor the first fifty times. The fifty-first somehow caused both to look over at eyes that were glaring that caused the two to immediately separate, except for his left hand and her right which remained interlocked. As the two looked down from the glare they could see twitching to resist going into a grin.

"Do you think this is appropriate behavior young man?" The English accent lent a more authoritarian tone to the question.

"Yes." Sarah's eyes widened and her grip on Chuck's hand grew tighter, "No?" came out a half second later as he looked towards Sarah who just shook her head. Chuck turned back, "While I am not a fan of PDA… personal displays of affection," he explained as the older woman looked slightly puzzled by the acronym, "It was just that Sarah seemed to be getting nervous as we were approaching the door and from the moment she walked into my life I've learned that almost nothing fazes her, but if it does I should be completely terrified. For some reason I wasn't so I tried to reassure her that I am there for her always, but because she is so beautiful, inside and outside, I tend to sometimes wonder how did I get so lucky and …"

"Does he always ramble so?" Sarah nodded affirmatively, but still looked at her Chuck with complete adoration. The SHIELD foundress didn't attempt to hold back the smile, "It would figure your right partner would be so much like your father."

This stopped Chuck's ramble, "What?" looking to Sarah to make sure he had heard it correctly, when her reply was to simply shyly smile back and shrug her shoulders Chuck turned and attempted to spout out all the reasons why that was absurd, but he didn't want to insult Sarah's mother so he was in a quandary in a way to continue which caused him to begin and stop speaking a few times.

"Charles, don't you dare try to contradict me and since your PDA prevented us from having a civilized introduction," Peggy took the time to amusedly look at Sarah before continuing, "Let me do so now. I am afraid I do have you at a disadvantage Mr. Charles Irving Bartowski as I have been informed of all your escapades with my daughter and Colonel Casey. You may call me Peggy; however without pressuring you too much I hope you will be calling me Mom soon."

That caused an exasperated, "Mom!" to come from Sarah which amused her mother even more.

"Now Charles; just know she has referred to you as 'her Chuck' ever since your impromptu save of the General after your first date." Peggy continued as she wrapped her arm around Chuck's and brought the both of them into her room, "Would you be a dear and grab a second chair and bring it next to the first one by the bed."

Sarah had a note of concern as she asked, "Are you not feeling well? Did you have a spell or overexert yourself? I can go get Daddy he said he would give us five minutes, but…"

She stopped as her mother raised her hand, "I am fine Sarah, it's just if we sit by the table I will catch my reflection and I am not happy. I asked for Scarlett O'Hara and they gave me Lucille Ball!" traveled out into the hallway.

Sarah's countenance went from relief to amusement back to concern as she knew stress would exacerbate her condition and the last thing she wanted was for her parents' reunion to be marred by an episode where her Mom lost time. The concern grew as she saw her mom look back at her wistfully and smile. It went away as Peggy shook her head and mouthed 'I'm fine'. The quiet was interrupted by a knock on the doorframe.

"Scarlett was played by an English woman and Bucky had this major crush on her thinking she was the most beautiful woman in the world."

"And what did you think, soldier?"

"There was no doubt that she was an attractive dame, I mean woman, but I could never see her being the right partner." Steve gulped as he wondered why he was talking about Scarlet and not being able to move as Peggy was content to just look at him.

Peggy forgot about the rest of the world as she could only marvel at how her soldier looked at her the way he always had, that 'she hung the moon' was an expression he had used once and became embarrassed after he did so until she kissed him on the cheek. She was content just to view him, to see if her now somewhat fallible memory had done him any injustices or if he had suffered any injuries during his hibernation. However after a few moments she needed to confirm that he was not some sort of mirage. She could tell by his look that he shared the same sentiment, but found himself unable to move towards her. "Step forward soldier."

Steve remembered hearing that and followed her order while determining that it was among the first words he had ever heard her say, albeit directed towards another person. He stopped when he was within a foot of her and although it was obvious that a lot of time had passed he was still in awe of how much of her had not changed. As much as he wanted to hold her he was scared of not being able to control his strength and subsequently hurting her.

Peggy had an inkling of what was preventing him from getting closer and uttered a sigh. Her next order was stopped at, "Place," as he immediately presented to her a wildflower. Peggy's eyes misted over and she turned to her daughter, "Sarah, please grab my Bible from the nightstand drawer and carefully turn to 2 Corinthians 5."

Sarah immediately got up, responded, "Yes, Mom," and did as her mother requested. She turned to the page and saw an old flower, in plastic, resting on the page.

"Your father brought that to me after he rescued your Uncles and many other men at Azzano. Thankfully he presented it to me after the adulation from the camp died down and we were alone." Steve nodded to that and a tear slipped out as he saw the flower in the book of Books. Peggy placed the new flower on top of the old one, carefully closed the book, handed it back to Sarah, and waited for Steve to take her in his arms. When a few seconds passed and the last item still had not happened a small amount of frustration crept in as she announced, "I am not made of crystal, Steven."

"I know, you're far more valuable than that," He responded staring directly into her eyes. Knowing she would have to instigate physical contact she pressed herself into the super soldier. They both instantly relaxed. The two stayed like that for a few minutes with neither speaking, but it was obvious to the other couple in the room that they were somehow communicating with each other. Eventually Peggy somewhat broke the contact as she took her hands and as a blind person would do she trailed them down Steve's face. At his bemused expression she simply shrugged then shocked the other occupants of the room with her request, "Take me to bed, Steve."

"MOM!"

I know; wtf was that. This was not where I planned to end this chapter, but it was starting to get a little longer than I wanted it to. This is not going to an M story and Sarah will not be scarred by her parents actions… well I'll rephrase by saying they won't do anything untoward in front of her. As I said above the next chapter will be the final one for the story with no epilogue, but there are two one shots: one from Chuck and the other in the MCU that I would like to change canon with the developments created by this story. As always I am happy to receive reviews and any questions you can direct in a PM. There are a number of people I would like to thank who have 'favorited' a story or myself. I apologize as I normally will send a direct thank you for that, but I placed the notices in the wrong folder. I have started 12 different stories, within 9 different series/movies, but I will finish this one before posting anything else. Then my priority goes to Eliza Doolittle. My credibility is zilch, but I will try to get the final chapter up ASAP.