Chuck VS The Dry Spell
Note: This is set in the Grace/Jake universe.
***555***
Chuck was not one to count these sorts of things, but as he drove home he realized he and Sarah had not had sex in over 5 weeks and that last time barely counted as they were interrupted 3 times by work or children. It wasn't as if they had not gone this long without in the past: after each of the babies were born, when Sarah was away on missions or that awful time as she struggled to get her memories back, but this dry spell had no real discernible reason beyond the general exhaustion that goes with raising 2 small kids.
As he entered the quiet house he was surprised Sarah wasn't still up, it was only 9:30. He wouldn't wake her if she was sleeping, but he hoped to slide in to bed and convince her they needed some quality time without their clothes on.
His optimism was ratcheted up by the light spilling out their bedroom into the hall in a buttery yellow pool. He tried not to skip the rest of the way and he entered the room with a big cheesy grin on his face. The grin shifted its tenor from funny to sweet as he realized his hopes were dashed by the little person snuggled in to his pillow.
"Hey babe," Sarah looked up from her book.
"Hey," he turned his grin back to her, "she OK?"
"I think so, she's been a little clingy lately, now that Jake is crawling and more interactive I think she feels replaced. Said she had a nightmare, so I brought her in here," Sarah explained.
"Think she'll go back to her own bed?" Chuck asked as he saw the amount of space the toddler was currently occupying.
Sarah just raised an eyebrow and shrugged.
Chuck scooped Grace into his arms and the child startled and then melted in to his arms, her long eyelashes fluttered as she looked at him.
"Daddy," she murmured.
"Time for bed, Gracie."
"I sleep with you," she nuzzled against his shoulder.
"You sleep in your bed Grace," Chuck reasoned.
"No," she shook her head.
"Big girls, sleep in their own bed," Chuck ventured.
"No, here, with Mama," realizing Chuck was trying to be firm Grace lunged out of his arms back towards the bed and her loving mother.
She was working up to an increasingly loud whine and Chuck dropped her gently on the bed and closed the door to try and preserve the sleeping of one of their children.
"Grace," Sarah looked down at the three-year-old who was sprawled on the bed, her blonde curls all over the place.
"Mama," Grace held out her little hands, her blue eyes brighter with the unshed tears she had mustered.
"Oh Grace," Sarah sighed and Chuck knew the battle was lost.
Grace snuggled against her mother's side and seemed to fall right back to sleep despite her supposed distress mere moments before. Sarah looked up at Chuck and said silently 'just tonight' and Chuck smiled and nodded. He hooked a thumb towards the bathroom to indicate he was going to wash up and change and by the time he emerged Sarah had turned off the lights and put aside her book.
"She feels a little put aside by the baby," Sarah whispered startling Chuck as he thought she was asleep.
"I know, it's normal I assume. I'm sure Ellie was put out by me at first. Or still," Chuck laughed quietly.
"I know things have been busy and exhausting," Sarah reached over Grace to place a cool hand on Chuck's arm, sliding it up to his chest.
"Yeah," Chuck put his own hand over hers and squeezed.
"Things will even out, we'll get a handle on it all."
"I know," he smiled in the dark and she could see his white teeth.
Sarah leaned over their sleeping daughter and kissed Chuck tenderly before curling in to her own pillow and falling asleep.
Chuck woke the next morning on his own, no alarm, and when he opened his eyes there was a 3-year-old looking back at him.
"Daddy," she said quietly.
"Gracie," he grinned.
"Mama said you sleep, me not to wake you up."
"You didn't wake me up, baby," he corralled the toddler into a hug and closed his eyes again.
His eyes popped open then realizing his alarm hadn't gone off, the clock read 7:46 am and he had a meeting at 9:00. Just as he was about to panic and fly out of bed Sarah appeared in a sharply tailored suit, Jake in her arms also dressed quite nicely.
"Oh good, you're awake," she smiled and kissed a confused Chuck.
"What's happening?" he reached out and played with Jake's foot.
"I am giving you the day off. Well, you have to take care of Grace, but that is all. I am taking your meetings and I have hidden your laptop so you cannot work. I'll take Jake with me, you and Grace have a fun day together. I'll be home at 6:00, my mother will be here at 7:00 and we are taking a night off from parenting."
"Date night?" Chuck waggled his eyebrows.
"Something like that, I made a reservation at the Carlyle."
Chuck scoured his mind and could not for the life of him think of a restaurant by that name, but there was a….
"That's a hotel," he pointed out.
"Oh, I know it is," Sarah smiled.
"But…" still slightly sleepy and tired, Chuck looked adorable.
"My mother is spending the night here with the kids."
"She knows we are going to a hotel? Right here in town? Very suddenly?"
"Yes, she knows all of those things."
"She knows we are going there to have sex," Chuck whispered.
"I didn't specify that, but I imagine the thought crossed her mind."
"I don't want your mother to know we have sex," he whispered again.
"Chuck, we have 2 children, I am pretty sure she already knows."
"You know what I mean," he sighed.
Sarah just rolled her eyes and handed Jake off to him.
"Hold him for a sec," Sarah walked over to the closet.
Chuck made faces at Jake until he squealed and Grace wormed her way into his arms too, definitely feeling a little needy.
"This is your suitcase. Pack it. The Carlyle has a lovely indoor pool, we can swim and relax tomorrow before we come home."
"Where is your stuff?" Chuck looked around the room.
"In the car, already," she took Jake back.
"When did you do all this it isn't even 8:00 am?" his eyes were like saucers.
"I am very efficient."
"And beautiful. You are very efficient and very beautiful."
"Thank you," she smiled and kissed him and Grace, "Be good for daddy," she instructed the 3-year-old who nodded.
With a wave, Sarah and Jake were gone.
"Looks like it is just you and me kid," Chuck said as he leaned back against the headboard with his arms folded behind his head.
Grace looked at her father and mimicked his pose, her tiny elbows barely poking out from her mass of hair.
***555***
"Hey guys," Sarah greeted as she entered the office.
Morgan and Alex were having coffee and going over the day's schedule.
"Morning, Sarah and hello Mr. Bartowski," Alex greeted Jake who giggled and smiled his toothless grin.
"As adorable as his father," Morgan said and the women both looked at him a little funny.
"What? He is," Morgan took Jake and headed back to Sarah's office.
"I got your email and everything is set for the day. I emailed you the files you need for the meetings and Morgan and I will cover with Jake while you are in there," Alex handed Sarah a small pile of mail as she spoke.
"Thanks, Alex."
"My pleasure, Chuck really needed a day off."
"I know, he needs more than that, but I won't go in to details," Sarah wrinkled her nose with a smile.
Alex held up a hand to staunch any further comment, "I got it."
"He's a little tense…."
"Yep, got it," Alex's voice went up a bit and Sarah let her off the hook.
"I'll let you know if I have any questions about the files," Sarah winked and walked back to her office where Morgan had deposited Jake in his playpen and was currently flying planes over said playpen to Jake's delight.
"You're good with him," Sarah smiled.
"He's less scary than Grace," Morgan admitted.
"Because he's a boy?" Sarah didn't accuse but arched an eyebrow.
"No, no, because he is the second. I was terrified of holding Grace of breaking her, but she seemed to survive and this time it was all just easier," Morgan shrugged.
"I get that. I am much less fussy with, well, everything with Jake."
"Oh, I know," Morgan agreed quickly and Sarah scowled, "not that you were unreasonable, Sarah."
"Better," she grinned.
"I'll let you get to work and will come to collect this little guy before your first meeting."
"Thanks, Morgan," Sarah smiled, truly glad to have family here at the office.
***555***
The doorbell rang and Chuck struggled to his feet.
"I'll be right back, Grace," he promised as she frowned.
Chuck jogged to the door and saw Emma through the beveled side pane.
"Hey there," he greeted.
"I know I am early, but I was on this side of town dropping Molly off for her sleepover and it seemed silly to go all the way back home," Emma explained.
"No problem, come on in," Chuck stepped aside to allow his mother-in-law and her small suitcase into the foyer.
"Daddy, we not finished!" Grace called.
"We're having a tea party, please join us," Chuck explained as he pointed to the tiara on his head that Emma had been tactful enough not to laugh at.
"Coming, Grace! I am bringing a guest; do we have enough cookies for…."
"Gremma!" Grace exclaimed.
Somewhere along the line Gramma Emma just became Gremma.
"Grace Eleanor, you look so beautiful," Emma delighted as Grace stood up and twirled around in her princess dress, tiara and inexplicable feather boa.
"Thank you, please have a seat," Grace pulled out a tiny chair and Emma managed to sit much more gracefully than Chuck, whose knees were up around his ears.
Tea was poured and cookies passed around.
"They are just slice and bake," Chuck cringed as his mother-in-law nibbled a pink sugar coated cookie.
"They are delicious," Emma assured, "have you two had fun today?"
"Yes, Daddy spent all day with me," Grace announced and Chuck frowned realizing how busy he had been and how much of his home time was taken up with Jake lately.
"Well, that is wonderful."
"We went to the park and the Buy More and made cookies and took a nap," Grace listed the myriad things they had accomplished on their day together.
"Amazing," Emma agreed as she continued to nibble her cookie.
"You and Jake are going to have a slumber party with Gremma tonight," Chuck started to ease in to the impending departure.
"With you and mama?" Grace looked confused.
"No, mama and I are going out," Chuck sipped his cold tea.
"Is that why mama packed her little pajamas?" Grace asked as she poured more tea.
"Hmmm?" Chuck asked, confused.
"She packed these tiny pajamas, I saw her, she thought I was sleeping, it was like a nightgown only really little, teeny…."
"Uh huh, OK, got the picture there Grace," Chuck blushed and stood up suddenly toppling the chair he had been perched on.
For her part, Emma, just grinned and sipped her tea.
"I bet they are going to kiss, they kiss all the time," Grace lamented to her grandmother.
"Grace…" Chuck nearly whined.
"It's a lot, my friends' parents don't kiss that much. And hold hands. I mean I understand why I have to hold your hand because I am small and I could get lost or fall down, but mama doesn't need to hold your hand she is all grown up."
"You have clearly given this a lot of thought," Chuck crossed his arms and ran a hand over his flushed face.
"Grace, you are very lucky to have 2 parents that love each other so much. It is a very special thing, your mommy and daddy are very special people," Emma said with a smile to Chuck.
"I guess, but it is still gross," Grace conceded.
"I'm going to finish packing. I'll put your bag in the guest room, Emma," Chuck picked up the small case as Emma smiled her thanks.
As he approached the stairs he heard Emma say to Grace, "Just how much do they kiss?"
***555***
Sarah came home shortly before 6:00 with a happy Jake in her arms. She caught up on all of Grace's adventures as she changed into something less work and more date with her husband. Sarah thanked her mom profusely for the short notice and went over all the details of where they would be if anything came up and by 6:30 the Bartowskis were saying good-bye and heading out the door.
"Not too much kissing!" Grace yelled.
"What was that about?" Sarah laughed as she hit the button on her key fob to open the trunk.
"Apparently, we kiss too much," Chuck dropped his bag in beside hers and closed the trunk.
"Really?"
"Uh huh, she has very strong opinions about how gross all our kissing is."
"Kiss me," Sarah whispered.
Chuck just gave her a look.
"I bet you all the money in my purse she is spying on us right now, kiss me. And make it good."
Chuck looked affronted.
"OK, it's always good, hurry up before she gets bored."
Chuck pulled Sarah close and kissed her thoroughly, one hand curled around her waist and the other in her freshly brushed hair. Sure enough the high-pitched giggle of their 3-year-old permeated through the living room window.
***555***
Somehow the Bartowskis managed to make it through a long leisurely dinner before heading up to their room. The meal was laced with heated looks and tender touches, but neither of them rushed knowing that barring some sort of emergency they had a whole night to themselves.
Sex wasn't the only thing they had missed out on lately. A meal of this caliber and at this slow a pace was as foreign to them as sleeping in and a whole bottle of wine was rarely consumed at the Bartowski house any more.
"Do you mind if I get dessert?" Sarah asked shyly.
"Of course not," Chuck said as he played with the rings on her left hand.
"I just read about this chocolate cake thing they make here, it is supposed to be amazing."
"I'm good," Chuck smiled and there was light in his eyes.
When the waiter returned, Sarah ordered the cake with 2 forks and the waiter poured out the last of their wine.
"I had a good day, Sarah, thank you."
"You needed a break."
"I needed a day with Grace."
"We can do this more, share the load at work. Jake is much more agreeable to things, he had a blast with Morgan and Alex today. You don't have to carry the company on your own. I have to admit, I liked dressing up like a grown up today," Sarah smirked.
"I liked wearing a tiara to a tea party," Chuck squeezed her hand as their dessert arrived.
As they strolled up to their room hand in hand, the couple were silent. Once behind the locked door of the lushly appointed hotel room Sarah rolled her suitcase into the bathroom and left Chuck to toe off his shoes and unbutton the cuffs of his shirt.
In a relatively short amount of time, Sarah emerged to a dimly lit room, the bed turned down and her husband standing next to it removing his watch. The pink silk nightgown she wore was slight and left her long legs completely bare to Chuck's gaze. He didn't mention that Grace had seen her pack the "little pajamas" but he smiled at how accurate a description his daughter had come up with.
"You look beautiful."
"I feel beautiful. I know I've been the frumpiest frump lately," she sighed as she reached up and ran her hand through her hair.
"Sarah…."
"I know, you always think I'm beautiful and I know you mean that, but it is hard to feel beautiful with baby vomit in your hair," she smiled when he grimaced.
"No babies here tonight," he stepped around the bed to meet her and pulled her close, kissed her deeply, felt her hum against his lips.
She took her time with his buttons, his belt, kissing skin as she exposed it and giggling when he squirmed away from a ticklish spot.
As patient as they had both been all night, Chuck was the first to break when Sarah turned to hang his pants on the back of a chair.
"Just leave them," he whispered, his hand reaching out to cup her hip.
"Yeah?" Sarah was breathless when she saw his eyes.
He couldn't speak any more so he just nodded once and she dropped the pants on the floor at her feet. When he kissed her this time it was coupled with a tug on her thigh that gave her the incentive to hop into his arms. Chuck caught her and turned back to the bed, getting one knee up on the sumptuous mattress and maneuvering them to the middle with ease before allowing Sarah to let go and melt into the sheets.
Hours later when they finally found their words again Sarah laughed.
"Remember before Grace when we could just have sex whenever we wanted?"
Chuck smiled, he loved when Sarah said things like this that alluded to their life before her memory loss, but in this case, she was misremembering.
"Sarah, there was always something though. At first it was Morgan literally right down the hall and if it wasn't him it was Casey or Ellie and Devon dropping by or worse, knocking on the window. If not human intervention than a mission, remember that Valentine's Day?"
"Yes, the only reason I wasn't mortified in front of Beckman was Morgan's outfit was more revealing than mine," she laughed.
"Life is life and sometimes it gets in the way, but according to our very precocious daughter we do plenty of affectionate things that she is appalled by on a regular basis," Chuck rubbed her back so gently Sarah almost purred.
"She's lucky she has parents who love each other so much," Sarah said the exact same words, with the same slightly bittersweet tone as her mother had earlier.
"Yeah," Chuck agreed, "she is."
The End
