"Do you like it?" Chuck gave her a hopeful smile, lifting the charm from the box by its loop. The small silver treble clef dangling from his fingers.
"I love it," She grinned at him, watching as he pulled a multi-tool from his pocket, and pulling out its needle nose pliers. He gently eased open the loop of the charm until it was open enough to fit over the chain of the bracelet before closing the loop once more, examining it closely to make sure it was secure in its new home.
"May I?" He asked, unclasping the bracelet and holding it open for her.
Sarah nodded her approval as she held out her right hand, watching as he wrapped the delicate chain around her wrist before claiming her hand in his own and lifting it to press a soft kiss to her knuckles. "I love you, Jen," He whispered low so only she could hear.
"I love you too," She smiled warmly up at him, leaning in to press an appreciative kiss to his lips.
"Can I see?" Ellie requested, moving from her seat on the loveseat and perching on the couch next to Sarah who held out her hand for the older woman to see the charms better.
"I remember Chuck used to play with these charms when he was little," Ellie smiled softly at the memory, "We would all snuggle into Mom and Dad's bed to listen to a story before bed, and Chuck would spend the entire time swatting at them to see them rock back and forth as Mom or Dad read to us."
"That's so cute," Sarah smiled over at her boyfriend.
"Maybe someday your own child will play with your bracelet as your or Chuck read them their bedtime stories." Ellie grinned at her brother's girlfriend. "This bracelet is really important to us. He didn't even give it to Jill, and he was going to propose to her before she screwed that asshat of a roommate of his. I think he knew on some level she wasn't his forever girl."
"How could she be?" Chuck asked softly, wrapping his arm around Sarah's shoulder and pulling her in to lean against him, pressing a kiss to her cheek., "I'd already met my forever girl five years before."
Ellie cooed at the picture they created while Devon was still looking a bit miffed. While he had known Chuck was planning to give Sarah the bracelet, their safety deposit boxes were kept at the same bank, after all, the younger man had kinda stolen his thunder. Devon quickly reorganized his plan and hoped nothing else would cause the day to go sideways for him.
The rest of the day went as it usually did, they snacked throughout the day as they watched their favorite Christmas movies, saving their traditional Twilight Zone marathon until Morgan and Alex arrived, not that they would admit they always waited until Morgan arrived to start watching the old show. As always, Morgan arrived with a huge Tupperware container of tamales and several small tubs holding sour cream and homemade red and green salsa. Alex likewise had a box filled to the brim with bunuelos de viento and chocolate crinkle cookies courtesy of Senora Grimes.
Morgan, as he had in years past went directly into the kitchen and pulled out Ellie's crock pot. After plugging it in and setting it to high, he began to add the tamales, open end up, to the pot. He pulled out a measuring cup and drizzled them with a little water and covered the pot to allow them to steam as they watched the first episode. While Morgan was in the kitchen, Elie plated up the cookies and bunuelos and set them on the kitchen table as Chuck set up the Twilight Zone DVDs to play as soon as everyone was back in the living room. Devon also went to work putting out an ice bucket filled with beer, the hard strawberry lemonade he knew Ellie enjoyed, as well as grape, cola, and lemon-lime sodas.
This routine was old hat to everyone but Sarah and Alex, who watched the central four that tied their ragtag family together set up to continue their Christmas celebration. Soon, Morgan emerged from the kitchen announcing that the tamales should be warmed up in about an hour, and the family converged on the living room. Devon and Ellie claimed the love seat, Chuck and Sarah took the couch, and Morgan and Alex sat on some pillows on the floor. Chuck, who had the remote for the entertainment center started the DVDs and turned on the surround sound as the opening monologue began.
After the first episode ended, Morgan checked on the tamales, adding a little more water to keep them from drying out as they continued to warm up and returned to the living room, pausing to grab a grape soda for himself and one of the hard lemonades for Alex. Chuck and Devon had claimed beers for themselves and a couple hard lemonades for their ladies, as well. Once everyone was settled back in the living room, they resumed their marathon.
As the afternoon ebbed into evening, the three couples were relaxed, sated with family and food and drink. The sun had just set as Morgan and Alex thanked their hosts and departed to make their way home for the night. Chuck and Sarah offered to clean up the kitchen since Ellie and Devon had made and cleaned up after breakfast that morning. Ellie was comfortably snuggled into Devon on the love seat, content and reveling in another enjoyable Christmas spent with their friends and family.
Devon looked through the pass-through, from his seat, to make sure Chuck and Sarah were still occupied before getting Ellie's attention. "Babe, let's take a walk."
Ellie eyed him curiously and shrugged, slowly standing and stretching before slipping her feet into her shoes and grabbing her coat to ward of the cool winter air. Hand-in-hand she and Devon made their way our of Echo Park and strolled down a few of the neighboring streets, taking in the decorated homes along the way. Eventually, they made their way back home and entered the courtyard where strings of fairly lights had been strung up from the awnings of the second floor of the building. Making the whole area around the fountain look magical.
As they got to the fountain, Devon stopped, squeezing Ellie's hand gently in a silent request for her to stop as well. Again, Ellie's curiosity was piqued.
"Are you okay?" She asked softly, "You've been a little off all day."
"Just had something on my mind," Devon shrugged, "Truth be told, I was hoping to take care of it earlier in the day, but I guess it's true what they say, 'Man plans, and God laughs.'"
Ellie's brows furrowed in confusion as she waited for Devon to continue.
"Elle, we've been together a while now," He turned to face her and took a deep breath to try to calm his nerves, not noticing the curtains in their living room flutter as two sets of eyes peered around the drapes. "And it's been awesome. I felt drawn to you from the moment we first met in medical school, and every day that hold you have on me grows stronger. It kinda makes me wonder in what other ways we might someday grow." He not so subtly grazed their joined hands over her lower abdomen and grinned at the dreamy smile that played across his girlfriend's lips. "I want a future with you, a family, and I hope you do too." He reached into his pocket and withdrew a small grey box. Opening it, he withdrew a small item from inside and held it up so that the lights above them could set it sparkling.
Ellie's hand rose to her lips, tears glimmering in her eyes, as she gasped at what Devon was presenting to her.
"My great-granny gave me this ring a few days before she died," He explained, "Told me to give it to you when the time was right. We'd only been together a few months by then and she already knew you were it for me. I've had it in my safety deposit box ever since. I spoke to Chuck after Thanksgiving when we were on our way to the bank to grab your mother's bracelet and this," He wiggled the small gold time in his fingers, making the inset jewels twinkle in the low light, "He is, after all, the man in your family since your dad took off. I know you are your own person and we don't need anyone's permission, but I at least wanted his support and he gave me his blessing."
Ellie watched in awe as Devon lowered himself to one knee there by the fountain, his great-granny's ring securely held between the thumb and forefinger of his hand as his other held her left hand, running his fingers over her knuckles as he smiled up at her, "Eleanor Faye Bartowski, would you do me the great honor of being my wife?"
Ellie's smile was radiant as she nodded her head emphatically. "Oh my God, yes! Devon, yes, I will marry you."
"Awesome," Devon grinned as he slid the ring over her fourth finger and stood to his feet. Wrapping his fiancée in his arms, he lowered his lips to hers in a soft, celebratory kiss that was rapidly growing more passionate.
The newly engaged couple were so wrapped up in each other that they barely registered the faint whoop and cheer that emanated from the apartment behind them. A moment later Chuck, who was holding an overnight bag, and Sarah joined them in the courtyard. Chuck handed the bag to Sarah before pulling his sister in for a Bartowski hug before turning to Devon and shaking his hand. "We booked you a room at the Grand Ambassador." When Ellie eyed the bag suspiciously, "Don't worry, Sarah packed the bag, there are certain items of clothing a brother does not need to know his sister owns."
"Thanks, Bro," Devon clapped Chuck on the back before his grin widened, "Hey pretty soon I'll mean that literally."
"Congratulations," Sarah smiled at the woman who was rapidly becoming her best friend, "I'm really happy for you."
"Thanks," Ellie beamed, wiping the happy tears from her eyes as Sarah hugged Devon and handed him the bag.
"The room is already paid for," Chuck assured them, "Go have some fun… just don't tell me about it in the morning."
"You can tell me though," Sarah gave Ellie a cheeky grin, which caused everyone but Chuck, who grimaced at the thought, to laugh.
"We'd better head out then, Babe," Devon wrapped her newly adorned left hand in his right, "We have a lot to celebrate."
"Okay," Ellie nodded, "Thank you Chuck."
"It was nothing," Chuck shrugged, "I think we all know if it wasn't for my failure to launch, this day would have come much sooner."
"Well it all works out in the end," Ellie gave her brother a reassuring smile, "Who knows, maybe in another few years it will be your turn."
Chuck turned and gave Sarah an adoring smile, "I hope so."
"Me too," Sarah spoke softly, returning his smile.
After one last round of hugs and kisses, Devon and Ellie took off to celebrate their engagement as Chuck and Sarah made their way into the apartment once more.
"Do you really want that in a few years?" Chuck asked, pulling Sarah down on the couch with him to cuddle.
"No," Sarah shook her head, but before the dejected look fully settled on Chuck's face. "In a few years, I want to be past that point. If we are able to get those glasses up and running quickly and can get your folks and their friend home safe again, we can focus on finding Ryker and making it so he's no longer a danger to Molly so all our family can finally be together and safe. Optimistically, I'd like to have that all done by next Christmas. Married by the Christmas after that, and maybe working on giving Molly a little brother or sister the year after that." She sighed, "Realistically, it could be years before it's safe enough to bring Molly home."
"Let's just focus on the optimistic plan," Chuck kissed her head, "And I think making you and Molly Bartowskis, sooner rather than later, is a great plan. One I can really get on board with."
"Sarah Bartowski…" She mused, "I like it."
"I was thinking more Jenny Bartowski, at least when we're at home" Chuck countered, "And Sarah Bartowski at work. That is, unless the company has an objection to that… how would that work?"
"I would just have to submit some forms and a copy of our marriage license to have them update their records," Sarah shrugged, "But I'd probably retire instead."
"No!" Chuck blushed at how emphatic his reaction was, and the look Sarah shot him, "I mean, I don't want you have to give up your career just so we can have a family. Yeah, my parents didn't really navigate the whole raising a family while working for the CIA thing the best, but we aren't our parents. I know I certainly don't plan on turning Morgan into some crazy evil dude straight out of an Ian Flemming novel. If you want to keep working for the CIA, you can still work for the CIA. Personally, I'm kinda stuck until the data in my head is no longer relevant or they let me modify the override glasses - after we fix Hartley, of course – to remove my intersect. Even then, they made it pretty clear they would still like me as an analyst, or a recruiter."
"We can cross that bridge when we get to it," Sarah assured him, snuggling in closer to him, "The CIA is the only career I've ever known, and I only joined to avoid being arrested. I do know that once Molly is safe and can come home to us, I don't want to go on active missions anymore. It's too dangerous and those missions have a way of following your home. Usually when an agent takes a step back from being an active field agent, they will either teach at the farm, become an embassy attaché, and some will do recruiting.
"After what Fleming pulled, he's likely to be out on his ass," She pointed out, "They'll be looking to replace him, and by 'they' I mean both Stanford and the CIA. It's entirely possible that if the timing works out, and you want to pursue grad school, we could be his replacement. We could recruit from a peer level, then if Stanford's offer for tenure is still good, from a faculty or mentor level. But like I said, that's a bridge with a crossing far in the distance."
"It would be safer," Chuck mused, "And would give us at least a semblance of a 'normal' life, whatever that is, although I doubt we'll ever really be 'normal.'" He chuckled, "I have to admit it's tempting, and perhaps something we should consider for when the time comes. But you're right, the time to make that decision is still a ways off."
They sat silent for a moment before Chuck snickered, "Of course, all that is dependent on whether or not Ellie kills me when she finds out who I've actually been working for all these months."
"True," Sarah chuckled, "Let's just take all of this one step at a time. Starting with this," She leaned up and kissed him, "Then finding an office space, and a place to live. One place, not two places, I've already decided we're going to live together… for the safety and protection of the intersect, of course."
"Oh, right, of course," Chuck played along, a goofy grin on his face as he leaned down to kiss her.
"Then once we're settled, we can broach the subject with Ellie and Devon, see if there is any way Ellie can help us," Sarah continued.
"Pray, she doesn't kill one or both of us," Chuck added, "Then contact mom, fix Uncle Hartley, make it safe for Molly, then see where our future takes us."
"Maybe with a few pieces of new jewelry thrown in here and there," Sarah teased him.
"Yes, yes, I know, I get it" He playfully huffed, "You want to tie me down and have your way with me."
"Please, I can do that now," Sarah scoffed, "But I think we both felt the same sense of rightness when we wore those rings in Hungary. It may have been pretend, back there, but we both know that one day, we'll be for keeps."
"Wow, a pop culture reference," Chuck whistled, "I'm impressed."
"Chuck?" Sarah reached out and gently turned his head toward her.
"Yeah?"
"Shut up and kiss me." She smiled up at him.
Chuck didn't have to be told twice and promptly lowered his head to capture his lips in a sensual kiss. One that grew more passionate by the minute, and it wasn't long until they were completely wrapped up in each other. Sarah had shifted to straddle his lap as their make out session continued, but when Chuck felt her hands start drifting toward the button of his jeans, he quickly stood, using his hands to encourage Sarah to wrap her legs around his waist as he carried her into their room. "The bed is much more comfortable," Was all the explanation he gave.