Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, but this fic has proven that I can do angst every bit as well as the guys that do *evil laugh*

A/N: Okay, this is it, folks. The long, well not that long, but the journey comes to a close. Hopefully you've enjoyed the ride, or if not enjoyed it, I hope you were at least entertained. Thanks a million to the super talented MXPW for his wonderful insight on this chapter, and throughout this fic. You are an amazing, amazing help, my friend. Okay, I'll wrap this up and let you get to reading. I hope you enjoy it, and please review. Thanks!

Agent Erica Ellison is written as though the character was played by Erica Hubbard.

The Epilogue

It took six weeks of intensive, four day-per-week therapy before Sarah had her first breakthrough. It was small, but she was proud of herself, nonetheless. What she learned about herself was actually related to the reason her first breakthrough took so long. It was an issue of self-worth.

When Sarah first came to therapy, she wasn't there for herself, she was there for Chuck. The blonde discovered that it was her desire to get Chuck back that was driving her to try to get better. But, as she found out, she could never really get better until she thought it was important, until she realized that she was important.

That day, she rushed home to tell Chuck about her discovery like a child that had earned high marks on her report car. Her one-time fiancé (and it still killed her inside to think of him in that light) had been tremendously helpful while Sarah has tried to get back on her feet. He'd opened his home to her until she could find a place to live, and he'd helped out with Jonathan beyond anything she would have expected whenever Sarah had therapy or a job interview.

It warmed Sarah's heart how quickly they'd fallen back into a comfortable friendship. She still wanted more, and if Chuck were to press her on the issue, she would admit that. But that didn't stop her from enjoying the benefits of having, and living with her best friend.

"Chuck!" Sarah shouted as she walked through the door.

"Shhh!" Chuck admonished her, pointing towards the back bedroom that was being occupied by Sarah and baby Jonathan.

Sarah grinned sheepishly. "How long has he been asleep?"

"Not ten minutes before you came home," Chuck answered. He took in the clearly excited expression gracing Sarah's lovely face, and he couldn't help but ask. "So what's got you so happy?"

"Guess who had a major breakthrough?" Sarah said.

"Casey?" Chuck asked mockingly.

Sarah slapped him playfully on the arm, a look of feigned indignation on her face.

"So I think this calls for a celebration. What say you, Mr. Bartowski? Dinner? On me?"

Of course she knew he would say yes. And maybe, just maybe, dinner would lead to talking, would lead to drinks, would lead to bed, would lead to them getting back together. It was all coming up Sarah. Or so she thought. That is until Chuck dropped the bomb on her.

"Um – I kind of have plans tonight. I'm really sorry, but we'll do something another night. Okay?" Chuck asked apologetically. He really was sorry for having to say no to Sarah, but this was part of the "not putting his life on hold" plan he'd discussed with her at the beginning. He couldn't just drop plans for her. Not yet, anyway. He needed to know if she could be dependable.

"Oh," Sarah said, her face falling. "Mission?" she asked wistfully.

"Not exactly. I kind of have – well, I kind of have a date," Chuck said wincing.

"A date?" Sarah asked in a threatening tone. Realizing that she was coming off as the incredibly jealous ex, and realizing even more so that she had no right to be jealous, she forced herself to relax before continuing. "But why wouldn't you have a date? You're a single guy. So have I met this girl? Is she nice?" Sarah asked, feigning interest.

"Well, we've kind of been seeing one another for awhile now," Chuck admitted nervously. He had really been dreading talking about this with Sarah. He knew it would come up eventually. After all, she may have left the business, but she was still Sarah Walker, former super spy.

"Oh?" Sarah asked through clenched teeth.

"Uh – yeah. When you, well, when you turned in your resignation, Beckman assigned a new girl, err, female agent, I mean, to our team. Her name's Erica, and I really think you'd like her," Chuck said, though he was pretty sure that wasn't true. It was clear, even to the sometimes naïve nerd that Sarah still carried a torch for him. And regardless of how nice his new partner was, there was no way Sarah would like her, on principle alone.

"So it's just a cover then?" Sarah asked hopefully.

"It never was a cover, Sarah. She asked me out during her first week on assignment, and I said yes. We're having a lot of fun together," Chuck explained.

"Erica?" Sarah asked, dejectedly.

"Erica Ellison," Chuck answered.

Sarah had never heard of this Agent Ellison before, but already the blonde knew she didn't like this woman. She'd put in some calls to her few remaining contacts to dig up whatever dirt she could on this woman that was clearly, at least to Sarah, standing in the way of what was meant to be: Chuck and Sarah together.

"I've never heard of her," Sarah admitted. "Are you sure she has enough experience to be working on your team?" she asked, taking whatever shot she could get at this unknown rival for Chuck's affection.

"She's kind of new, but she's good, Sarah. And her role is more along the lines of analysis anyway. Casey and I are bringing her along as far as field work is concerned," Chuck said, defending his teammate. She wasn't Sarah, but then, Chuck rationalized that no one would ever compare to Sarah. Neither as an agent, or in his heart. But he needed to move on. He had to try to get better himself. And while Erica might not be Sarah Walker, she was a good partner, and Chuck had really come to enjoy her company.

"Well if you're happy, I'm happy," Sarah lied. She smiled, but it was clear that the smile was forced.

"Thank you," Chuck said genuinely. He knew Sarah didn't really mean what she said, but he hoped that in time, she could actually be happy for him. He also hoped that Sarah would find a way to be happy someday. As long as she tied her happiness to him, however, Chuck knew it would be a long, slow road to recovery for her.

One Year, Five Months Later…

Nothing in the world of international espionage is intended to last, and such was the case with Erica Ellison.

So less than a year after joining the Intersect Project, Agent Ellison resigned. Her resignation came the day after her boyfriend and partner, Chuck Bartowski proposed marriage to her. She reasoned that she couldn't be a bride, and an agent.

Six months later, the two were married. Sarah Walker was a part of the wedding party, because she couldn't see not being there for her best friend, even if he still held her heart, and always would. The bride looked exquisite in her form-fitting white dress, and there were parts of the ceremony that Sarah couldn't help but think about how at one time, it could have been her exchanging vows with Chuck.

Some things just aren't meant to be, however, and such was the case with Chuck and Sarah. But she'd learned a lot over the past year. She'd found out a lot about who she really was, and had begun to carve out a life for herself. Maybe one day, she could have the type of happiness with someone that Chuck had found with Erica.

And as hard as it was to admit, Sarah could see that Erica made Chuck happier than she'd ever seen him. The slender, African-American woman really appreciated Chuck for the man he was. It was everything that Sarah knew in her heart that her ex deserved. It was everything that she didn't know how to give him when they were together. Sarah lost her chance with him because of that, but she had come to a certain inner peace with how things turned out in the end.

Even if she never found anyone that she could love the way that she loved Chuck, and even if she never found a life partner, Sarah couldn't help but feel that her life was finally full. She had a great group of friends. There was Chuck, Devon, Ellie, Morgan, Anna, Casey, and yes, begrudgingly so, she considered Erica to be a friend. And she had a wonderful little boy who, although he may have been brought into the world under less than perfect circumstances, had become the light of Sarah's life. It wasn't perfect, not by a long-shot, but when she really thought about it, she really was happy.

A/N: I know it's not the ending you might have hoped for, but it WAS a happy ending. Everyone was happy. Chuck found love, and Sarah got her family. Anyway, thank you for reading, and I look forward to your feedback. You guys are awesome. Peace.