A/N: For those of you who didn't know, the reason I didn't post to this story yesterday is because I started a new fic, Sarah vs the Life Unexpected: Christmastime is Here. Feel free to click my name and check that one out. I will warn you it does slightly spoil this fic, but if you can't figure out where this is headed (and according to some of you I'll have them married in the next 3 chapters!) you really haven't been paying attention. I hope you enjoy today's chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, but I did/do sometimes write for NerdHQ which Zac owns…
Sarah was excited, and trying her best to hide it. After the meeting adjourned, Chuck invited everyone over to his place for a cookout. When Casey asked what kind of grill Chuck was using, Chuck realized that all he had was a little $20 special square black one. He wasn't even sure he had charcoal. Casey gave him grief for a few minutes, but went to his apartment to get his Beastmaster 3000. Casey also informed Chuck that Chuck was not allowed to touch his grill. Something about that being akin to touching another man's wife. Chuck just shrugged.
Sarah had called her Mom and Emma was going to pick up the girls. Sarah learned that Emma had a date for tonight, so it would just be her, Chuck, and the girls after the party. Sarah smiled at the thought. Years ago, that would have terrified her, now, it just felt perfect. She had run home to pack a bag, while Chuck wandered around his old apartment. When she came out with her bag, he was looking at a wall with his head cocked to the side, remembering years gone by. She surprised him by coming up behind him and slipping her arms around him.
"Do we need to get anything for the party tonight?" she asked. She felt Chuck tense. "You don't have anything do you?" she asked, pulling away. Chuck turned around, a little embarrassed.
"Clara doesn't eat much, and I kinda make do with what we have," Chuck admitted.
"It's okay, we'll go to the store. Together." Chuck smiled at that.
"Is it weird that I think that sounds fun?"
"No, because it does to me to," she admitted.
"Tell me the truth, you've just been bored the past five years, and have a thing with tall guys," he said grinning.
"Especially ones who hair makes funny animals shapes." Chuck put his hand on his head.
"Ellie would kill me if she knew it was this long."
"I kinda like it like that." Chuck's smile could have lit up the entire complex.
"I'm thinking about leaving it like this." She shrugged and picked up her bag. As she turned away, she smiled where he couldn't see her.
"Do what you want, you're a grown man." Chuck snorted.
"The same grown man who didn't buy any food for me last week, so tried some old baby food?" Sarah turned around.
"You're joking, right?" Chuck stuck his hands in his pockets and looked down.
"I ordered Sizzling Shrimp to be delivered," he said, not able to look her in the eye. She couldn't help but grin.
"You're not just dating me so someone will make sure you have food are you?" Chuck couldn't help himself.
"I mean that's not the only reason," Chuck said, smiling. Sarah rolled her eyes.
"Ugh, I'm dating the biggest nerd," as she walked out the door. Chuck stood there smiling.
"And, I'm the nerd," he said happily to himself as he followed her out. Chuck stood by the door of the vehicle, and wiped his hands on his pants several times.
"You okay?" she asked when he got in.
"Yeah, well, I don't know. I did something and I didn't think anything about it, and then I started thinking that you might think it was something, and then I started thinking you might be upset it wasn't something, and mrpphhh." Sarah had put her hand over his mouth to stop him.
"Breathe," she said. He took a breath and nodded. "I'm going to take my hand away slowly, but if you start to spiral again, I'm putting it right back." Chuck nodded. She slowly pulled her hand away. "Now, whatever it is, it's fine." Chuck reached into his pocket and pulled out two keys and handed them to her.
"It's keys to my house. One for you and one for Emma. I figure if you're going to be staying you'll need them. You are welcome to keep them after this weekend as well." Sarah looked him in the eye.
"Did you just ask me to move in with you?"
"No, but I didn't not ask either."
"This should be freaking me out. I should be saying this is all happening too fast."
"We said let's take the weekend and then talk. Let's just do that." Sarah nodded.
"Grocery shopping?"
"Absolutely," Chuck said. "I don't see how anything there can go wrong."
}o{
"Woman, I said no!" Chuck said. "I have said nothing about the lowfat meat, the gluten free bread, and even the insane amount of vegetables, but enough is enough." Sarah's mouth had dropped open. "I am a grown man and if I want Frosted Flakes, then I shall have them," he said, as he put them in the cart."
"Fine!" she said, as she pushed the cart down several aisles and Chuck had to hurry to keep up with her. She stopped in the bakery, turned, looked him right in the eye, and picked up a premade chocolate cake. "Then I will get this instead of making it from scratch."
"Those cookies over there would be good as well," Chuck said in a softer tone. Sarah turned saw them, turned back and nodded, and put them in the cart. The two were trying not to laugh.
"It is quite ridiculous how much I am enjoying shopping with you," Chuck said.
"What's going to be ridiculous is tomorrow morning when Molly sees you eating those Frosted Flakes, and you let her have some, because we both know she has you wrapped around her finger."
"So does her mother," Chuck muttered. Sarah winked at him.
"And then she bounces all day from the sugar high," Sarah continued.
"Ah, there's where you're wrong. She'll collapse at the most inopportune time from the sugar crash," Chuck said. Sarah nodded slowly and graciously.
"You are correct. And, being that you know exactly what is going to happen, I'll let you take care of her."
"You just want Clara because she calls you Mommy." Sarah shrugged, grinned, and didn't deny it. They looked at each other and both started to speak. They laughed and realized that a new song started to play over the store intercom. Elvis Presley's Can't Help Falling in Love came on and they both laughed. "I feel like the universe is trying to tell us something." Chuck shrugged, grinning.
"Who am I to fight the universe. This is probably a pretty serious discussion to have over baked goods."
"Is the freezer section better?"
"Housewares," Chuck replied.
"Well done," she said nodding. "Well done."
"You know, anything you didn't pack, you might need to pick up," Chuck said, slightly embarrassed.
"I'm not judging, but besides work, and watching Clara, have you done anything since Ellie and Devon passed?" Chuck shook his head.
"I mean I'd stop by for food for Clara or diapers or formula, but I just didn't see the reason to do anything else. Ellie and I are both cleaners so there were already plenty of cleaning products. It was just me, so I didn't use a lot of plates and things. I never fixed anything fancy, or even proper. It's not that I was being a slob, I just didn't care. My life consisted of one thing, Clara, and then I realized it was a little more than that."
"When was that?" Chuck looked away, and shook his head.
"You're gonna think I'm lying."
"No I won't, what happened."
"I met a little girl that was upset that she was adopted, and I told her how special she was, and I realized Ellie didn't give up on me, and raised me. I realized she'd be mad if all I did was mope. So I started to get better. It took some time, and I'm not saying I'm 100% there yet, but I'm getting there."
"Molly has a way of getting to people," Sarah said. Chuck just looked at Sarah like she had grown a second head.
"I love that kid, but she's a force of nature. We're going to have problems with her when she's a teenager," Chuck said. Sarah's eyes did something. Chuck thought he had messed up and said something wrong.
"We are when she's a teenager?" she asked quietly.
"Sarah, I told you I'm there for her, no matter what. That kid changed my life, and I love her like she was my own."
"What if I'm married?"
"I'm there," he replied. "Is it wrong to say I hope it's to me?" he asked softly.
"No, it's not wrong, in fact it's right." Chuck realized they were having the discussion in the baby aisle. He picked up a box of diapers, dropped them in the cart, and started to walk away, when her hand came down on her forearm. He turned and looked and her eyes were still indescribable. "You've thought about our future?"
"I don't want to lie to you. No, I haven't," Chuck said, noticing the sadness that covered her face. "But, I can't think about things in the future without thinking about how they will affect you, Molly, and Emma. I haven't really thought about the future itself in a long time. I know it's only been 3 days, but I can't imagine you not being in my life." Sarah nodded. "You know the one thing I do keep thinking about?" Sarah shook her head. "I keep wishing you could have met Ellie. I keep thinking how much she would have squealed when first meeting you, and how much she'd love Molly and Emma. I wish you'd have gotten to meet my family." Sarah took his hand. They didn't say anything else as they went and paid for the groceries. Chuck went to pull out his wallet, and felt a hand on his arm and saw a smile on Sarah's face. He'd give her money later. Okay, he'd try to. He had a feeling anything Sarah didn't want to happen, didn't.
}o{
On the ride back, the two began to loosen back up. They began to talk about anything and everything. When they got to the house, they carried in the bags, and Chuck began to put out paper plates, silverware, and napkins. He walked into the kitchen to help Sarah prepare things. He looked around and noticed everything that needed to be cut up was.
"Culinary school?" Chuck asked. Sarah turned toward him, smiled, and twirled a knife.
"CIA," she replied.
"That's impressive and a little terrifying," Chuck admitted. "Do. Never mind."
"I always have at least one knife on me," Sarah said, smiling, anticipating Chuck's question. Chuck grinned.
"Place strategically? You know, it's probably best not to joke about something like that with your former CIA girlfriend."
"I'm your former girlfriend?"
"This is going downhill quickly."
"Well, then there is something I should go ahead and tell you to make you all sorts of uncomfortable. I used to sleep with a knife under my pillow, but having a daughter wake you at night, makes you realize that's not a good idea. I put my knife in the nightstand beside the bed, and I saw something in there." Sarah was grinning. "You're going to make tell you?" Chuck stood there. "It was an entire box of condoms. Not a little box, but one you buy at LargeMart." Chuck's eyes were closed and he looked like he was trying not to throw up. He opened his eyes.
"Those were probably Awesome's," he said. Sarah looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I haven't completely gone through everything of theirs." Chuck turned to leave the room.
"I'm sorry, please don't leave."
"Oh, I'm not mad, I'm just going to go hide the box I got since apparently that's bad form," he said. The smile on his face said he was completely joking, and Sarah threw a plastic spoon at him, missing. "I thought you were an excellent shot Miss CIA." He hid behind a wall. "Ouch!" he yelled as the spoon was expertly thrown to curve and hit him.
"I missed on purpose the first time," she replied.
"I'm not for sure which is scarier, that you can do that, or that I find it attractive." Sarah rolled her eyes. There was a knock on the door and Chuck went over and opened it.
"I'm hommmeeee!" Molly yelled, walking in followed by Emma carrying Clara. Chuck looked at Sarah. All she could do was shrug.
"You don't have to knock," Chuck said, giving Emma a hug.
"Well, I don't have a key," Emma replied. Sarah handed her one. Emma looked at Sarah and Chuck. Chuck opened his mouth to speak, and Emma held up her hand, shushing him. "I'm not paying for a wedding," she said, and walked off, smiling. Molly came over and hugged Chuck's leg.
"I've got $22 in my piggy bank if it will help," Molly said. Chuck looked at Sarah, who grinned.
"I've got at least $22 in mine," she added.
"You've seen how I run my company, you probably have $21 more than I do," Chuck admitted. Sarah belly-laughed at that one.
"Do Clara and I get to share a room?" Molly asked.
"For the weekend," Sarah said, and winked at Chuck. "After that, we'll see."
"The playroom is HUGE!" Molly declared. "I can't wait to sleep in my Star Wars bed!" and bounded off. Sarah walked over and wrapped her arms around Chuck.
"I understand if this is too much or you want to take it slow," she said softly.
"What if that's the last thing I'm thinking?" Chuck asked. Sarah smile grew. "I have one more thing to give you." He left the room quickly, and came back with a small box. He handed it to her nervously. Sarah looked at him. "Open it." She opened it, looked inside, and back at Chuck. "It was my mothers," he said. "She left it for Ellie when she left, and I want you to have it."
"Chuck, this is something you give to someone really special," she replied, tears in her eyes.
"Yeah, I know," Chuck replied. "That's why I'm giving it to you." Chuck helped her put the charm bracelet on her wrist. She leaned in and kissed him as the doorbell went off. They broke the kiss and Chuck went and opened the door. The entire crew was there and came in. For the next several hours the house was packed like it hadn't been in months. Chuck and Sarah worked in the kitchen together, bumping hips every once in a while after a badly told joke. Guests came and went through the house. Food was made, devoured, and people laid on furniture. As the afternoon turned into evening, Emma left for her party, the guests went on their way, Chuck and Sarah put the two little ones down to watch a movie, and cleaned up. When they finished they came back in the living room, and both were asleep. Sarah grabbed Clara grinning, because she was lighter and began the trek upstairs. Chuck grabbed Molly and did the same. Soon the two kids were in their respective beds, and the two adults were downstairs, snuggling on the couch, with the TV on, watching nothing.
"You sure do know how to show a girl a good time, Mr. Bartowski," Sarah said as content as she had ever been. Chuck pulled away and looked at her.
"Be honest with me, aren't you bored? You were a CIA agent, jet setting and trotting around the globe. Now you're taking your daughter to preschool, you haven't been on a date in forever, and even thought we are dating, we haven't left each other's house. How can this be enjoyable for you?" Sarah ran her hand across his face.
"I'm not saying I didn't enjoy that. I'm not saying I didn't have girlfriends that I used to go out with, party until 5 am, go to sleep for an hour, and then have a 24 hour mission. What I am saying, those days are gone. I get to do so much with my company now. I get to make a difference, I can go on some small missions, but I get to come home and see my little girl, and now my littler girl, and my nerdy boyfriend. I have it all."
"When's the last time you left California?" Sarah put her other hand on the other side of his face, and pulled him in for a kiss.
"You just don't get it, do you?" she asked. Chuck shook his head. "That life was stealing my soul, and Molly gave it back to me. She let me have the life I wanted, and still do the things I'm good at, and because of that little rapscallion, I met the man of my dreams when she stole his heart. Chuck, she saved me more than I saved her."
"You both saved me," he replied. Sarah smiled coyly.
"It's late. Why don't you give me 10 minutes and come up to bed," she said. She gave him a peck on the lips and a wink, and headed up the stairs. Chuck sat there on the couch, and found he couldn't breathe or swallow. After the allotted time, he stood up, and headed upstairs. He walked in, saw the bathroom door was still shut, found his nightclothes, grabbed them, went to the hall bathroom, and changed. When he came back in, he saw Sarah standing there waiting for him with a black coat on that fell just past mid-thigh.
"Chuck," she said softly as she walked toward him. She pushed the door shut, looked him right in the eye, and took off black coat. Underneath was a purple negligee. Chuck made a choking/moaning sound. She walked up and kissed him on the right side of his jaw. "Remember earlier today," she began and switched to the other side of his jaw. "When I told you that there would be consequences?" Chuck's brain was gone, but the words seemed to mean something. Sarah backed away as it hit him. "Chuck, after tonight, I really hope you never keep something from me again. Because this is punishing me as well."
"Sarah," he half whispered/groaned. "I swear I never will again." Sarah nodded.
"You won't, because if you do….just don't." Chuck nodded smiling. "Now, you said you will be a perfect gentleman and you will, right?" Chuck nodded, a look of pain on his face. "I expect maximum cuddling, and tomorrow…well, that's a new day isn't it." Chuck got a grin on his face. "And, I'm not talking 12:01 AM either." Chuck hung his head, walked over, opened the door, and got into bed.
"What are you doing?"
"Molly's in a new place," Chuck replied. "I thought about turning on the baby monitor, but this way I can hear her fine." Sarah stood there looking at him. She smiled and shook her head.
"I really wish you had just told me the truth today." Chuck closed his eyes.
"I really hate the CIA right now."
"Chuck, open your eyes." He did. Sarah crawled into bed, and got to where just inches separated their faces. "This is not Agent Walker. IF it was, you would gladly do this. This is Sarah Walker, who's pissed that Chuck Bartowski didn't trust her enough to tell her the truth when he had the chance. Do you understand?" Chuck nodded. She leaned down, kissed him, and didn't even bother starting on the other side of the bed. She looked up at him for a second. "Please, don't ever keep something from me again," she said softly.
"There's something you should know then," Chuck said. She looked at him.
"I love you," Chuck said. Sarah smiled, snuggled into Chuck and feel asleep.
}o{
Sarah slept like a rock. Chuck heard Emma come in and go to her room. Sleep came in fits. About three, Chuck was sure he heard something. He slipped out of bed, not really sure how'd he'd get back in because of Sarah, and went to the girls' room where he heard muttering. He opened the door, and saw Molly shivering. He walked over to her, and felt her forehead. She was burning up. He scooped her up, and started downstairs with her. Emma met him at the door to the room.
"What's wrong?"
"She's got a fever."
"I'll get the medicine bag."
Chuck got her downstairs and laid her on the couch. He got some washrags and put cool water on them. He put them on her forehead, and waited for Emma. She brought Ibuprofen and Tylenol. Chuck picked up the Ibuprofen first.
"I always use this first, it seems to knock out the fever the quickest," he said. Emma smiled at him. He poured out the recommended dosage, and gave it to Molly.
"Daddy, I'm cold," she said. Chuck picked her up, sat on the couch laying back the best he could and laid her on his chest. He pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and put it over them.
"I'll set an alarm for two hours to wake you up for the Tylenol," Emma said. "Unless you want me to stay with her."
"No, I've got her, if you would just listen for Clara," Chuck said. Emma rubbed Molly's head, and bent down and kissed Chuck's forehead.
"Thank you," she said simply. Chuck just smiled. She went upstairs leaving the two in the dark. Molly stirred, and Chuck sang softly to her. She finally settled down, and went to sleep. Chuck just laid there in the dark, softly stroking her hair. "How did I get here, Ellie?" he asked the room. "How did I go from no one to two daughters?" No answers came, but sleep finally did.
}o{
2 hours later, a slight buzzing woke Sarah. She saw Emma go by her room, and she noticed she was alone. She wrapped her coat around her, went down the stairs and stopped when she got to the bottom. There stood Emma watching the couch.
"What's going on?" Sarah asked.
"Molly has a fever, and Chuck is taking care of her." Sarah looked at her.
"When did this happen?"
"A few hours ago," Emma said, looking at her daughter knowingly. Sarah turned back to the couch and may have let out a noise that sounded like hnnnnng. "I think I'll order some tomorrow," Emma said, still looking at Sarah.
"Some what?"
"Bridal magazines," Emma replied. Sarah turned back to her, and held her gaze.
"Get the ones online, that way you don't have to wait for them to be mailed." Emma nodded, smiled, and went over to Chuck to wake him up. Sarah watched as he cared for their daughter. It hit her like a ton of bricks what she had just thought. After a bit the two settled back down on the couch and Emma came back to her.
"You should really know voices carry at night down here," Chuck said just as Emma got to where Sarah was standing.
"Good to know," Sarah said. "You need anything?"
"I've got all I need right here," Chuck answered. "Get some sleep, I love you."
"I love you, Chuck. Good night."
"Night, Momma, night, Daddy," Molly said sleepily. "I love our new home. Chuck looked over to Sarah who he really couldn't see in the dark. He saw her walk over. She hugged him, kissed him, and bent down to whisper into his ear.
"Forget Sunday, we're talking tomorrow," she said, turned, went back upstairs, and went to bed.
"Daddy, does she know that tomorrow's Sunday?" Molly asked. Chuck really couldn't answer, because his brain was spinning. "Daddy, I think I'm going to be sick." Chuck found his brain suddenly worked just fine.
A/N: The fun of trying to spend a romantic evening with someone when you have kids. Thank you all for all the love on both of these Sarah stories. See you soon. Probably update Christmas next.
DC
