A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry it's been a little while for this chapter to make it's way onto your screens. I had to go back and read the other chapters because I'm writing a few stories right now and they can get pretty jumbled in this brain of mine. This chapter has a darker tone to it, which is something I rarely do, so bear with me. Thank you for all of the support and feedback. As always, please enjoy this next installment!

-Charahfan44

Present

It had only been a few days that Chuck had been home, but to Sarah it felt like an eternity. He wasn't the same man that had left the house the day of the accident. The doctors had no idea why the nerve connection to his legs had been cut, and it wasn't looking like he'd get feeling back anytime soon.

"You're up early." Sarah found him in the living room, staring out the window.

"I've been asleep for a while, I'm not tired." His reply was dry.

"Cracking jokes, that's a good sign." She smiled.

"Does this look like a joke to you?" He rounded on Sarah.

"I wasn't trying to-"

"Can I just get some time alone?" He cut her off.

"Sure. I'll just...go paint."

"Sarah."

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry." He hung his head.

"It's okay-"

"No, it isn't."

"We'll figure this out, we always do." Sarah tried to stay positive.

"I hate waiting."

"I do too, but at least we're both here."

"And I keep forgetting that. I keep forgetting what you've been through."

"You've been through something, too. We just need to take baby steps."

"I can't believe you didn't listen to them." Chuck laughed for the first time since he had been back home.

"What? Why?"

"We all know how my mother can be."

"Yeah, well, I can be just as tough."

"You don't have to tell me." He smiled. "It's one of the many reasons why I love you."

"You know, I haven't really worked in my studio since you woke up."

"I noticed."

"I don't know if I'll get it back."

"Painting?"

"I haven't been able to. It's like my mind won't let my hands remember how."

"Maybe you just need a little inspiration."

"Maybe." She smiled, staring at the man she had fought so hard to keep alive. He was here, but it didn't really seem like he was here at all. Sarah spent the next few hours in her studio, trying to make something come to life.

"Doesn't look very promising." Carina's voice sounded from the doorway.

"It's not supposed to." Sarah sassed back.

"Well, we're gonna need something soon."

"Great."

"I'm just kidding. Take all the time you need, okay? I'm here to make sure you aren't going insane." She stepped into the room.

"Well then you're too late." Sarah sighed.

"That bad?"

"It's like he did die. That man out there is not my husband."

"He's been through a lot, and so have you. Just give it some time. Come out with me tonight, get wasted, party."

"Very funny." Sarah let out a small laugh.

"I was being dead serious."

"Carina, I have to be here. What if something happens?"

"Then he can call 9-1-1 and everything will be fine."

"I can't."

"You can, you just won't. But I get it, it's fine. When you do want to get out of this depressing place, call me."

"I will."

"I'm glad you're okay."

"Thanks."

"Look, I gotta run, but take care of yourself, okay? You can't be worried about him every second." Carina left as soon as she had entered, as always. Sarah stared at her blank canvas for a while, trying to see things flying across it. After what seemed like forever, she put down her brush and left the room. Painting was starting to become something she dreaded.

July 7th, 2014

Two months had gone by since the news of the pregnancy, and Chuck made sure to fuss over Sarah any moment he could. Whether it was making sure she didn't walk too far, drink anything other than tea, or do any strenuous activity, he was beside her every moment.

"Sarah!" Chuck called from the doorway of her studio, rushing to her aid. "What are you doing?"

"Moving my canvas." She mumbled.

"It's heavy, you should've called me in here."

"Chuck, I can move a five pound canvas by myself."

"What if something were to happen?"

"Like what? I stub my toe? You have got to calm down about this pregnancy."

"I'm just trying to be cautious."

"Honey, you've been so cautious that you've barely looked at me." She took his face in her hands. "Pregnancy hormones are no joke. One minute I feel like crying, and the next I feel like ripping your clothes off. It's not a fun time."

"I just want everything to go perfectly. In about seven months we're going to be responsible for this tiny little life. We could screw it up so bad that he becomes a mass murderer. Or worse, a republican."

"We don't even know if it's a 'he' yet, let alone a killer. Everything is going to be fine."

"I want to believe you, I really do."

"Then do it. It's easy."

"We have our sonogram appointment in an hour, we should get ready and go a little early." He pulled away.

"I had something else in mind." Sarah grabbed his arm before he could get far.

"Like what?" He asked. It wasn't long before Sarah started unzipping her sweatshirt. "Sarah-"

"Yes?" Her voice was soft an sultry.

"We have to go."

"In an hour." She kept her voice low, kissing Chuck's neck softly.

"No, we have to be there in an hour." He tried hard to hold his ground.

"That gives us plenty of time."

"You're evil." He broke.

"I know." She smiled before kissing him, feeling him kiss her back. After they were finished, they layed on the floor of the studio for a bit, knowing already that they would be late for the ultrasound. Their doctor was less than enthused when they showed up a half hour late.

"I was wondering if you were going to show."

"Sorry, Dr. Beckman, we lost track of time." Chuck let out a slight laugh.

"Well, let's see what's going on in there." Dr. Beckman nodded towards Sarah's stomach. "This may be a little cold." She placed gel onto Sarah's stomach, moving the transducer probe around.

"Where's Nurse Carol? We like her." Sarah smiled at Chuck.

"She left early today, which is why I'm still here." Dr. Beckman grumbled.

"She's such a friendly doctor." Chuck whispered into Sarah's ear, causing her to laugh. She looked at Dr. Beckman, noticing her facial expression change.

"Is everything okay?" Sarah asked.

"I'm sure it's fine, I'll be right back." The doctor left the room.

"That doesn't sound promising." Chuck frowned. Dr. Beckman reappeared moments later, with a fellow doctor in tow.

"It's been a while since I've done one of these, I thought I'd ask someone more experienced." Dr. Beckman said.

"Let me take a look." The other doctor did the same as Beckman just had. He stopped after a few minutes, and put the probe down. "This is my least favorite part." He sighed.

"What? What is it?" Chuck held Sarah's hand tightly.

"I'm afraid there's no baby."

"What do you mean? I took a test. A blood test." Sarah's voice cracked.

"There was a baby, but there isn't anymore. You've suffered a miscarriage."

"I know this is an incredibly difficult time, we'll give you a minute." Dr. Beckman said, leaving the room with the other doctor. Sarah took a deep breath in as soon as the door closed.

"Sarah-"

"Don't." She let go of Chuck's hand and got off of the examination table. "I have work to do at home."

"Work? You're thinking about work?"

"I have another show next month." She had her shoes on in seconds.

"Sarah!" Chuck shouted, watching her reach for the door. She let her head fall, her hand still on the doorknob. "We need to talk."

"No Chuck, I need to paint." With that, she left the room, leaving Chuck standing there alone.

February 11th, 2012

Although she hated it, Sarah decided to give Chuck a few days to himself. After storming out, she figured he'd have all sorts of scenarios of she and Daniel together flowing through his mind. She wasn't exactly sure how she was going to explain the fact that she wasn't wearing her ring on what seemed like a date with her ex. After two days, she decided to show up on Morgan's doorstep, where she was sure he was hiding.

"Oh, hey Sarah." Morgan opened the door after she knocked.

"Hi, Morgan." She gave him a slight smile. "Can I talk to him?"

"Who?"

"I know he's here." She stared him down.

"Yeah, he's on the couch." Morgan couldn't stand his ground with Sarah.

"Really?" Chuck's voice echoed through the apartment.

"You really though he'd be able to stand guard?" Sarah asked him.

"I had high hopes, yeah." Chuck didn't look at her.

"Chuck," She grabbed the remote and turned off the TV in front of him. "I need to tell you what really happened."

"Great." He stood up and made his way into the kitchen.

"I get it, okay? I should've told you that Daniel was the buyer, but you were so upset-"

"Don't give me that crap, Sarah." Chuck cut her off, raising his voice. "You went behind my back and had dinner with your ex-almost-fiance, not to mention bare-handed!"

"I know, and it was a mistake!" Sarah raised her voice back at him. "I didn't think, and I'm sorry. All I can say is I'm sorry!"

"Yeah, well, sorry isn't enough."

"Nothing happened!"

"For seventy-five thousand dollars, nothing happened?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"He just paid you seventy-five thousand dollars?"

"For my art! He paid me for my art."

"Like anyone would pay seventy-five thousand dollars for your paintings." He scoffed, not realizing what had just come out of his mouth. "Sarah, I didn't-"

"Save it." She turned to leave. "You just ruined everything."

"No, you did that when you went on a date with Daniel. Don't pin this on me."

"Do you even love me?" She asked, tears forming in her eyes.

"Of course I love you." Chuck responded without any hesitation. Sarah looked at him, remembering the last time she had a fight like this with the man she loved. But unlike this time, that man did not love her back.

"Then trust me. Nothing happened." She inched closer to him. "I didn't take my ring because I thought that if he saw it, he wouldn't buy the painting."

"And I don't understand that."

"I don't either. It was stupid."

"Do you want to marry me?"

"Yes." She threw her arms around his neck. "I've never wanted anything more in my entire life. We needed the money and I made a bad decision."

"It was just dinner?"

"It was just dinner." She pleaded.

"I can't do this again, Sarah. I can't be worried that you're off with someone else. I hate it, but I'm a jealous guy."

"This will never happen again, I promise." She kissed him softly. "Do you really think that no one would ever pay that much for my art?"

"I'm sorry I said that. You're extremely talented, and I think your art is worth way more than that." He kissed her back.

"So we're okay?"

"We're okay." The two hugged, but it felt different. It felt cold. Everything was definitely not alright.