Having Chuck back really helped Sarah clear her mind of all the stressors in her life. She slept better, she had more time for things other than work, and her mood was generally better. She hadn't seen Bryce since the living room incident, and she hadn't really thought about it until now.

"What're you thinking about?" Chuck's voice broke her thought. They were laying in bed, way past the normal wake up time of 8:00am.

"Your eyes aren't even open, how'd you know that I was awake?"

"Because I know you." He opened his eyes and smiled at his fiancé.

"I guess I'm just thinking about everything." She smiled back.

"Are you thinking about when you want to get married?"

"That may have crossed my mind."

"I was thinking maybe a summer wedding? I know they're popular, but we wouldn't have to worry about bad weather."

"And how would you know that summer weddings are popular?"

"I may have done some research..."

"Oh please tell me you read my bridal magazines."

"I grazed them, okay?" Chuck tried to defend himself, but lost to Sarah's burst of laughter. "Oh, you think that's funny?" Chuck rolled himself on top of her, pretending to pin her down.

"I surrender!" Sarah got out between laughs.

"Too late now, you make fun of a Bartowski and we have to take you out." He hovered over her, staring into her eyes.

"I'm really glad you're back, Chuck." She stroked a hand along his cheek softly.

"Me too." He smiled once more, kissing her gently. But with Sarah, after starting a kissing session, she turned it into something much more serious. She pulled Chuck closer, making sure that there was absolutely no space between them.

"Jeez! You could at least lock the door." Katelyn came into the room, covering her eyes as she found the two on the bed, nearing something more than just an adult make-out. Chuck and Sarah jumped apart, fixing their hair and clothing.

"Katelyn, what do you need?" Chuck asked.

"Food. You know, because I'm a growing teenager and all." She rolled her eyes.

"Fine, go pull out what you want."

"Dad, could you please not say 'pull out' in this particular moment?"

"Out!" Chuck got up and ushered his daughter out of the room. He slammed the door shut and turned back to look at Sarah who had started laughing yet again. "Not funny."

"You're right, sorry." Sarah smiled.

"Stop smiling." Chuck demanded playfully.

"Just go get dressed and quit telling me what to do." Sarah responded with a smile. She threw on a sweatshirt and headed downstairs, meeting Katelyn in the kitchen.

"Oh hey, so...I was thinking waffles. Or pancakes. Or maybe crepes?" Katelyn pointed to four different boxes of food mix sitting on the counter.

"Are we feeding an army?"

"An army of one."

"Oh boy..."

"Oh uh, I know I'm still grounded..." Katelyn started shyly.

"But?" Sarah knew there was a second part lingering in the air.

"But there's a winter dance coming up, and I may or may not have been asked."

"And you really think your dad is going to go for that?"

"Not at all."

"So you're asking me because?"

"Because technically you have a say now too."

"Hold on a second there. Please don't tell me you're asking me to lie to your dad?"

"Not necessarily lie..."

"Katelyn."

"What? I've never wanted anything so badly in my life! Well, except maybe a mom, and I already got that...but still. Please Sarah, even if you just talk to him. Look, I know I screwed up, but its been two weeks already. Don't you think I've suffered enough?"

"Honestly, no I don't. I don't think you fully understand what you did."

"You're still not over it?" Katelyn rolled her eyes.

"You know what? I wasn't going to tell you, but what the hell. Do you know what I was doing when I got the call from the police station?"

"No?"

"I was about to record a demo tape for ABC Nightly News, and then I received a call from a certain police officer, telling me that my kid landed herself in jail for underage drinking." Sarah's voice escalated.

"Wait, like, global ABC Nightly?"

"Yes, exactly like global ABC Nightly."

"And you didn't get to?"

"No."

"I..." Katelyn lost her words as she stared at Sarah. "I'm not really hungry anymore." Katelyn turned on her heels and quickly bounded upstairs, slamming her bedroom door. Sarah sighed, and turned around to see Chuck looking at her.

"I get that you're still mad, but did you really have to tell her like that?" He asked with hurt in his voice.

"It just kind of came out..." Sarah looked down.

"I just got called into the office, I'll see you after." Chuck didn't make eye contact as he quickly kissed her on the forehead and left. Sarah didn't know how she was going to get over this, be she wanted to.

"The prodigal reporter returns." Bryce walked up to Sarah as she entered the elevator on the first floor.

"Really?" She rolled her eyes at his dramatic remark.

"We haven't seen you in over two weeks."

"So maybe I needed some time away."

"I'm sure you did." He said quietly.

"About what happened..." She trailed.

"Don't mention it." He replied flatly. At this point, they had exited the elevator and were entering their neighbored dressing rooms.

"Bryce. I'm getting married. What did you think was going to happen?" She asked sincerely.

"Honestly Sarah, I thought that maybe you'd realize how bad those two are for you. What kind of fiancé goes away on business for nearly a month, leaving his teenager with a woman who has never had a kid let alone likes them. That kid ruined your career, and you're just going to let it go?"

"Yes, I am. You know why? Because I love them, Bryce. I love them with everything that I am. You were too late, and we can either be friends or you can let me go completely."

"I think that's best for everyone." Bryce looked at the floor and spoke with barely a whisper. Sarah stared him down in shock.

"You're being serious?"

"We shoot in an hour. We should get ready." Bryce turned on his heels and entered his room. Sarah had no idea what to think, she had just lost her best friend. Her world kept crumbling around her, and she didn't know how much more she could take.

"Okay, look. I don't think you understand what I'm saying!" Katelyn yelled into her phone.

"Ms. Bartowski, was it? I'm sorry, but we've filled the position." The voice on the other line sighed irritably.

"Sarah Walker is the best reported you've seen in years, admit it." She demanded.

"Of course I'll admit that she has tremendous talent, but she failed to submit a demo tape for the job."

"And that was my fault. Please, let her submit a late entry." Katelyn begged the head of the ABC Network.

"I can't allow that. She should've been prepared."

"Do you have kids, sir?"

"What?"

"I said, do you have kids?"

"Yes, I do. But I'm not sure how that's relevant here."

"It's relevant because Sarah Walker has never had children. I'm not sure that she even likes kids."

"Are you going somewhere with this?"

"My dad goes on trips all the time, and when he went on this last one, Sarah was here with me. She stepped up, took me to school, made sure to be home for dinner, drove me to practice, while still fulfilling her duties as a reporter. She may be flawed, but who isn't? I sure am. I got into some trouble and I needed her. Sir, wouldn't you choose your children over your job? My mom left me when I was eight, and it ruined me. Sarah Walker is doing the best she can as a mother and a reporter, and even though it's her first time with the whole mother thing, she's already ten times better than mine ever was. So please, I'm begging you. It's my fault, not hers. Just give her a chance to show you what she can do."

"She has until Monday to send in the tape." The voice said roughly.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously. And kid, give me a call when you're old enough to work. You'd be one helluva reporter." With that, he hung up the phone.

"Oh my god. I actually did it. I actually did it!" Katelyn screamed and jumped on her bed. She had just gotten Sarah a second chance at the job of a lifetime. She threw on her jacket and rushed out the door to the bus stop at the end of the street. SHE was going to deliver the news to Sarah if it was the last thing she ever did.

"Walker, Beckman wants to see you in her office asap." A camera man said to the blonde.

"What for?" She responded.

"No idea." He said. Sarah sighed and headed towards her boss' office. When she arrived, she knocked loudly.

"Come in." Said the voice of the uptight red-head.

"You wanted to see me ma'am?" Sarah asked.

"Sit." Beckman gestured to the chair in front of her desk with her eyes.

"Am I in trouble?"

"No, just the opposite actually. It seems as though the gods are on your side today."

"Why is that?"

"SARAH!" Katelyn burst through the doorway, screaming her soon-to-be-mother-in-law's name, "You got it!" She stooped to the right of Sarah and smiled widely, panting.

"Got what?"

"I called Charles Rosenbaum and explained to him what happened and that you were just doing the right thing by picking me over the demo tape and he said that it was too late but then I pulled the kid card and-"

"Katelyn, breathe." Sarah cut off the teenager. Katelyn took a tremendous breath, and then spoke calmly.

"He agreed that you should have a second chance. You have until Monday to turn in a demo. You still have a shot at ABC Nightly!"

"What?" Sarah's eyes widened as she turned to her boss once more.

"It's true. I just received the call myself. Thank this child for what she's done, this possibility could launch your career Ms. Walker." Beckman smiled. Sarah and Katelyn exited the office and headed into Sarah's dressing room. Sarah closed the door once the two were alone inside.

"You called the head of ABC?" SHE asked, still astonished by the news.

"It wasn't easy, trust me. But after a while, he totally fell for it." Katelyn smile with pride.

"I don't think you get what you've done." Sarah said seriously. Katelyn's face mirrored Sarah's harsh demeanor for only a split second before Sarah said, "You've just become the world's greatest daughter." She smiled widely and wrapped Katelyn in a tight hug.

"I ruined everything, Sarah. I couldn't just let it happen. I'm so sorry, I really am, and I need you to know that." Katelyn said.

"You didn't ruin everything. You made a mistake, people do that. I was too hard on you, and for that I'm sorry. Most adults can't even do what you just did, thank you."

"So does this mean I get to go to the dance?" Katelyn let go of Sarah and looked at her.

"This means that I'll try to convince your dad to let you go." Sarah raised an eyebrow.

"Close enough." Katelyn shrugged.

"Wanna stay and watch the segment?"

"You bet!" Katelyn laughed, quickly turning serious.

"What?" Sarah asked.

"You and Bryce...there's nothing there, right?"

"Not at all, I promise." Sarah took Katelyn's face in her hands, "Nothing is stopping me from marrying your dad and becoming your mom. Okay?"

"You already are my mom." Katelyn smiled once more. Sarah smiled back, leading Katelyn out of the room. This girl had turned her crumbling world into one of solidity and clarity, and she couldn't have been happier with the choice of becoming her mother forever.