A/N: Special shout out to Zyfr again for being the 141st review. She couldn't have planned it any better if she tried although she claims she didn't. =)

So this chapter is kind of a pointless chapter really. It's more because I've realized that I will be going on a road trip to my cousin's wedding (told you there are tons of these this year) and I probably won't be able to update for a couple weeks so I threw this short little chapter together for you guys cuz you're all so awesome. I'm going to try to make it sooner than that but you never know how these things will go sometimes. It's short and fluffy but hopefully it will tide you over til I can do the real update, well I guess this is real but . . . oh you know what I mean . . .

Chapter Thirteen

When Sarah awoke to a dark apartment, her body bolted up in alarm. Looking over to the clock, it read nine seventeen. She and Chuck were supposed to meet Ellie and Devon over an hour ago and Chuck said he would wake her to get ready. Her heart beat raced as her mind ran rabid with thoughts of Chuck's well being, or lack there of. She sat up quickly and started to move to a standing position when a glass of water sitting on the table next to a note with two aspirins on top of it caught her eye. She immediately grabbed for the note, disregarding the pills and almost spilling the water. Her eyes scanned quickly over the note and she let out a breath of relief when she noted the signature was Chuck's.

Hey Sarah,

I'm outside at the pool with Ellie and Devon so don't freak out. We decided to do date night another night so you could rest some. Ellie left some aspirin for you to take for your shoulder. You can come out and join us if you'd like.

Chuck

Oh, p.s. I left a turkey sandwich with extra pickles and the works for you in the fridge. It's not toasted how you like it since that might taste funny . . . I wasn't sure when you'd wake up, and you should eat something if you take the pills. I hope you slept well . . . Wow, I even babble in notes. Sorry! I'll just . . . yeah

Sarah smiled widely at the note. He was always so thoughtful. As she bent to grab the fallen pills, her sore shoulder protested the movement causing her to grimace. She hadn't noticed before in her state of worry for Chuck, the state of her shoulder. She stretched and rolled the stiffened limb, testing its range of motion. Satisfied it had been loosened up enough, she popped the medicine into her mouth, taking a swig of water. She took the glass with her to the kitchen where she went straight for the fridge.

Sure enough, a plate with a turkey sandwich covered by saran wrap rested on the top shelf. The smile was once again brought back to her face as she took the plate out and set it on the countertop. It was nice being taken care of for once. She hopped up next to it and unwrapped the prize in delight. The first bite caused her shoulders to drop and her eyes to close in bliss. 'Why do these always taste so much better when Chuck makes them?' she thought to herself. Even without it being toasted, she still liked it.

It didn't take her long to finish up the sandwich. She put the plate and glass in the sink and then went back to her bedroom to grab a sweater. She needed to check on Chuck to make sure he really was where he was supposed to be. She wasn't too worried because it had to have been Chuck that left the note since no one else knew what her favorite sandwich was let alone how to make it properly. In fact, excluding Chuck, no one made it more to her liking than herself. One bite and she would have known.

She walked out the front door and through the courtyard to the pool area, still a little cautious at what she might find. Ellie and Devon were on one lounge chair and Chuck was on another, his long legs stretched out in front of him and his arms rested across his chest. Both chairs rested in the second notch allowing all parties to sit back, lazing comfortably. Chuck was smiling at something Devon was explaining. It must have been a joke or something because when the punch line came, he threw his head back in laughter and clapped his hands together once. His eyes twinkled underneath the dim string lights around the pool. He fit there with his family. Sarah wished he could always be this happy. She stepped around the bush she'd kept herself hidden behind and opened the gate.

Chuck turned when he heard the sound of the gate opening. The sight of Sarah standing there caused his smile to widen to impossible proportions. "Hey, Beautiful," he said cheerfully as she turned around.

"Hi," she said with a bashful smile, making eye contact with Chuck as she crossed the last few steps and stood next to the group, almost a part of it but not quite, an outsider looking in. "I'm sorry we didn't get to go out tonight."

Ellie looked up at Sarah with a smile, "Don't even worry about it. This is just as much fun. In fact, Devon and I did get some drinks. Would you like one?"

Sarah tilted her head to the side as she replied, "Probably not a good idea since I just took that aspirin. Thanks for that by the way."

"No problem, but by drinks we meant water and powerade."

"Oh. I'm okay, thanks." Sarah shifted her feet awkwardly as everyone paused in the conversation. All the chairs had been taken so she just stood there strangely. She felt like she was intruding or ruining their good time with her presence since no one was conversing any more. She was about to say good night and go back inside but Chuck seemed to sense her discomfort and uncrossed his legs and held open his arms for her, an inviting smile across his face.

"Wanna sit?" He figured she was going to retreat by the look in her eye but he couldn't resist the offer of being able to 'fake' cuddle with Sarah. It was one of his most favorite things to do and he always liked having her around. Always.

Sarah bowed her head sheepishly and gave a slight nod, "Sure." Some part within her that had long been dormant or perhaps never even existed before this very moment said to her, 'When are you going to get it through your thick skull that these people want you around? Unconditionally.'

Chuck sat up and bent his legs to straddle the chair so Sarah could get settled without them being in the way. He fixed the chair so it rested a little more upright. Once she was comfortable and resting back against his chest, Chuck brought his legs up and wrapped his arms around her stomach, rolling them back to relax against the chair. "Are you comfortable? I'm not hurting your shoulder, am I?"

The worry evident in his voice and immediate concern for her well being made her smile, "I'm just fine."

"Good," Chuck said leaning down to give her a kiss on the top of her head.

"Yeah, how is your shoulder feeling, Sarah?" Ellie asked, remembering the day's events.

"It's pretty sore but nothing a good massage and a couple days won't fix. I'm sure I've had worse at some point."

Chuck's brow furrowed as his lips tightened knowingly, but said nothing. He seemed genuinely pained by the things from her past, things he had no control, even though he never knew her then.

"Okay. We have some IcyHot if you'd like. It'll help with the tension."

"Thanks, Ellie."

With Sarah now immersed in the conversation, Devon started recounting old stories from his frat days and the crazy things they tried with cars like pushing shopping carts around parking lots and riding on hoods at high speeds.

Chuck whispered to Sarah, "Did you sleep okay?"

She turned her head and nodded but didn't offer a verbal response, just as relaxed as she could ever remember being. She had stopped paying attention to Devon's story, loosing herself in thought while absentmindedly drawing lazy circles over Chuck's wrists. She really thought she could do this, live without spying and sit outside after a long day conversing with friends, relaxed, not wondering if it would all end the next moment or worrying about their motives. A deep peace overcame her as she listened to the beat of Chuck's heart and felt his chest rumbled with laughter as they shared crazy stories from the hospital and Buy More.

Devon started with a different story about when he went white water rafting with his brothers. He got really animated as he was explaining the trip and describing the conditions of the water, which Ellie got a horrified look at some things mentioned. She was hearing what he was saying just not really listening. It wasn't until he was coming to the end that she started paying attention again because he'd mentioned something about Chuck going.

". . . anyway, it was an awesome trip! You should come next time, bro. You'd have a lot of fun."

Chuck tightened his lips in response, "I don't know, Devon. The idea of flying fifteen feet in the air and possibly landing on a sharp, pointy rock in freezing cold water just doesn't sound all that appealing."

"But that's the fun of it!"

"Yeah, well, forgive me if I don't share that sentiment."

Ellie laughed and yawned, snuggling into Devon's side a little more as she let it out a sigh. Devon brushed her hair a little and watched her for a little bit. He bent down and gave her a kiss on her forehead and whispered, "You wanna go inside, Babe?"

"In a little while. Sarah just got here."

"Okay," he said rubbing her back a bit.

"It's fine if you want to go in, Ellie. I'm kinda tired myself."

"You sure?"

Sarah nodded once, "I'm sure."

"Hmm, okay. Let's go in, Devon."

Devon slid out from underneath her and helped Ellie to her feet. They turned to the remaining couple and bid them good night. Sarah felt Chuck lean his head back to rest against the chair. He let out a contented sigh causing Sarah to look up at him awkwardly. His gaze was directed toward the abnormally clear sky above. Tonight it was much easier to see the stars. She had to admit, she missed being able to see them. "What are you thinkin' about?"

"Hmm?" he said as he looked down, "Oh, nothing. Just taking a moment to appreciate the stars. We don't get to see them very often because of all the smog and everything, so it's nice to take a moment when you get the opportunity."

"Yeah. They're pretty awesome."

Chuck let out a small laugh, "Hmm, hmm, you've been around Devon way too much."

"Hey, I like the word awesome. It's awesome."

"As implied by the word itself."

"Alright, Professor. I thought you went to school for computers not English."

"Hey now, I may not know . . . however many languages you know but I'd like to think a have a pretty good mastery of the one I use everyday."

Sarah chuckled but offered no response causing a slight lull in conversation. In that short time, Sarah decided to do something she never willingly did before. She wouldn't be able to tell you why she did it, but for some reason, she let him in a little, "Twenty-four."

"Huh?"

"Languages. I speak twenty-four different languages and can get by in several others."

Chuck looked down at her in surprise, "No kidding? Twenty-four?"

His tone had a bit of confusion mixed with it. She knew he had to be impressed but she couldn't resist a little ego rub. She turned slightly in his arms so she could see him better as she said, "What? Were you expecting more?"

"No, no, no, no, God no. Twenty-four is a hugely incredible amount. I don't know anyone that comes even remotely close to that." Chuck had been more flabbergasted by the fact that she would share something like that, even if the number was impressive. Granted it wasn't anything specific about her past- actually it probably pertained more to her job than anything else- but it was something true. Carina had said that's how he would know he was important.

"Did you ever learn another language?"

"No. Although, I do know how to sing part of one song in French with a terribly obvious American accent."

"Really?" Sarah asked with a spark of interest, "What song?"

"La Vie en Rose by Edith Piaf."

"Oh. I like that song. Sing it."

"No, I don't think so."

"Oh, come on, Chuck. Sing it."

"Absolutely not. If you know twenty four different languages, I would imagine it's a safe bet to say French is one of them, especially after the French assassins' thing, and I'd rather not be made fun of."

"I won't make fun of you," she said softly, "Please?"

Chuck grumbled a little. There she did it. She just had to say it. "Oh the things I do for you. You just had to go and say please and now I have to do it." Sarah laughed as he let out a sigh before starting, "Des yeux qui font baiser les miens, Un rire qui se perd sur sa bouche, Voila le portrait sans retouche, De l'homme auquel j'appartiens."

Sarah started with a small smile and it slowly grew larger the further along he went into the song. He wasn't doing too bad. Actually, he sounded quite good. So the American accent was there a little bit. She found it kind of endearing.

Chuck stopped singing after he looked down at her smiling face, "Satisfied?"

"Yes, thank you." She settled her cheek against his chest, looking out across the water in the pool. The moonlight glistened off the water, its reflection uninhibited in the dull lighting around the area. A comfortable silence nestled around them as they both spent the time basking in a rare moment of ease. "Do you know the rest?"

Chuck had closed his eyes with his head resting against the chair, happy to stay out as long as Sarah wanted. "In English."

"Well, by all means, continue, please."

"Really, Sarah?" he groaned, "Do I have to?"

She looked up at him, laughing at his expression of distaste, "By your rules, I said please so yes."

"Oh, fine." His shoulders drooped a little and he bobbed his head from side to side, speeding up the tempo a little. Every so often he would tap a beat against her hip, "Hold me close and hold me fast, the magic spell you cast, this is La Vie en Rose."

Sarah smiled copied his actions, tapping against his chest when he would against her hip starting to sing along with him, "When you kiss me heaven sighs, and though I close my eyes, I see La Vie en Rose."

"When you press me to your heart, I'm in a world apart, A world where roses bloom . . ." Sarah trailed off looking at Chuck expectantly, not knowing rest of the words herself. She let out a laugh as Chuck continued unknowingly, "Something about speaking and angels singing and then words turning into love songs and da do da . . ."

They both came back for the last part as they now remembered from here on out, but they did it in a joking fashion, each sticking their free arm out- well, Sarah as best she could- singing, "Give your heart and soul to me, And life will always be, La vie en rose."

Sarah laughed and burrowed deeper into Chuck as a gust of wind passed through the clear night sky, a small tremor going through her. Even though he'd been having a good time with it and not really trying, she still thought he had a pretty good voice. She'd really like it if she could hear him when he was trying though. "You, Mr. Bartowski, have a nice voice."

Chuck tightened his grip in an attempt to warm her, "As do you, Ms. Walker." He rubbed her back and arms a couple more times before asking, "So what does that even mean? La Vie en Rose?"

"Literally or-"

Chuck shrugged, "Both."

"Well, literally it means 'life in pink,' but its most commonly translated as 'life through rose-colored glass.'"

"Ah," Chuck said with a nod, "Look at you, smarty pants."

"Hey, you asked."

"I know. I'm just admiring your brain. It's quite lovely if I do say so myself. And it's nice to know that not only do I have a hot fake girlfriend but a smart hot fake girlfriend."

Sarah chuckled at his comment. Little did they want to admit, the line between real and fake was fading quickly. Each moment they were together was bringing them closer and closer, allowing them to explore and reveal different sides of their personalities, causing them to be more and more drawn to each other. They were both still in denial about it, thinking it was too good to be true and that they were putting way too much hope into something that couldn't happen, neither wanting to put all their eggs in one basket. But it was happening, slowly but surely.

In moments like this, it was nice to hold on to the idea that they could view things through rose-colored glass.

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That's all for now. By the way, in case you're wondering, the saying 'viewing things through rose colored glass' basically means that your choosing to view the glass as half full instead of half empty.