A/N: Hey everyone. If you read my story "Happy Birthday, Sarah" which I recently posted, you would have noted that I mentioned a volcanic eruption in the neighbouring island of St. Vincent. Things have been relatively quiet these last couple of days and the ashfall has decreased but scientists have warned that the volcanic activity may last months. Thanks for the concern.
I love Charah pregnancy/baby stories. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.
First Trimester
She's eleven weeks pregnant when she notices the roundness of her stomach. It's not that noticeable but she knows her body and the change is apparent to her.
Absentmindedly, her fingers gently drew circles on her stomach. She was still able to wear the items in her wardrobe. Well not everything- she had discovered last week that some of her lingerie now fit a bit snugger- especially the bust part. Chuck didn't mind that though, in fact he quite relished in her bigger bust.
She knew she'd have to accept her mother's and Ellie's offer to go shopping soon. They were the only two members of their family who know that she and Chuck are expecting. They'd decided not to share the news of their impending bundle of joy with the rest of the family until she was at least thirteen weeks.
Sarah had told her mother almost immediately after she'd found out. Even though she and Chuck had discussed having a baby and had decided to start trying, when she found out that she was pregnant, she'd felt scared and anxious and had greatly needed her mother's comfort and counsel. Emma had been wonderful and helped to calm her down considerably. In the back of her mind, Sarah had felt disappointed that she'd missed out on her mother's comfort and counsel throughout her childhood and teenage years. She could have used it when she developed her first crush and when she experienced her first heartbreak. But, she hadn't let herself dwell on the missed opportunities, focusing instead on the fact that she had her mother back and she would be there to help guide her as she navigated motherhood. That had been when she was eight weeks pregnant.
Ellie on the other hand had found out when she was ten weeks pregnant. She'd been experiencing severe vomiting and nausea and Chuck had insisted they go to the hospital after she complained of being lightheaded, dizzy and weak. Ellie had been passing through the ER when they arrived and upon seeing her sister-in-law looking so sickly and pale, she'd sprung into action and stayed with them unless there was an emergency in her department. Following some blood tests and an examination, her doctor had diagnosed her with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Ellie had been excited about the news of having a nibling but she sympathised with what Sarah was going through and understood their desire to hold out on sharing the news until Sarah had cleared her first trimester.
Feeling the unwelcome but familiar sensation of bile rising in the back of her throat, Sarah took deep breaths and grabbed the edge of the sink. Her mouth began to spring water and Sarah made a bee line for the toilet, retching into it.
She hated throwing up and she had done it way too often in the past few weeks. Counting to ten, Sarah went through some breathing exercises, desperately trying to keep what little of her lunch was left in her stomach. It seemed to work and she sighed. She desperately hoped that the HG would not continue for the duration of her pregnancy. Her OB/GYN had prescribed anti-sickness and B-12 steroids to help treat it and was hopeful that by the time she hit twenty weeks, she'd be over this hurdle. Perhaps though right now, she could be thankful that since starting the treatment, she hadn't felt as sick and weak as that day when she had to be admitted to the hospital.
Sarah lifted her eyes to look at her reflection again, wondering if she even recognised herself anymore. Her skin was pale and her face looked sickly.
She could not do this. How could she ever think she could? Yes, she could quell a revolution with a fork, fight her way through Thailand...but this? Having a baby? Her stomach began to feel queasy and the current turmoil of emotions definitely didn't help.
"You're Sarah Bartowski. You can do anything," Sarah spoke to herself in the mirror, trying to pull herself together.
'Besides, I took care of Molly and I've watched Clara a couple of times. I will be fine.' Sarah thought.
The doubtful voice in her head was incredulous. Molly?! You had her for a couple of days! And even then you had to call your mother for help. As for Clara, remember when she was a newborn and you used to look at her like she was a ticking time bomb whenever you held her? And even though you watch Molly and Clara now, you get to hand them off when your babysitting duty is done. This isn't the same.
Sarah shook her head, trying to clearing her mind of the pessimistic thoughts. "Gosh I hope I don't mess this up," Sarah spoke aloud.
-/0\-
Second Trimester
Chuck came through the door, whistling and with a bouquet of gardenias in his hand. When he saw Sarah sitting with a book in her hands, he smiled brightly and made his way over to the couch.
"Hey honey." Chuck sat down next to his wife and kissed her softly. "I had to stop at the grocery for Ellie on the way home and they were selling flowers outside. I couldn't not buy a bouquet for you."
"They're beautiful," Sarah smiled, accepting the flowers. "Thank you."
"Anything for you babe," Chuck said sincerely, causing Sarah's heart to flutter. Gosh she loved this man. "How are you feeling?" Chuck asked, lifting her legs and letting them fall on his lap. He began to massage Sarah's feet, taking special care around her swollen ankles.
Sarah hummed. "I'm great now that you're home."
"Sorry I had to stay back late."
"It's okay," Sarah shrugged.
"Are you hungry? I can get started on dinner soon. I'll just take a shower real quick."
"You don't need to rush to make dinner just yet. I was feeling hungry when I left work so I stopped by that Italian restaurant opposite the mall. I ordered their lasagna and garlic bread."
"Oh yeah," Chuck smiled. "Did you save any for me?"
"Originally I did," Sarah began, causing Chuck to laugh. He knew all too well how Sarah's appetite had increased. "I couldn't eat it all so I had them put it in a takeaway box but then I walked around the mall and by the time I got home, I was hungry so I finished it all."
"That's okay. I'm just glad that you seem to be getting back your appetite."
Sarah laughed bitterly. "Yeah, well I guess we'll see how long that lasts."
Chuck hummed, choosing not to continue the line of conversation as he knew Sarah was anxious about her lack of appetite and her inability to keep anything down. "How was your trip to the mall? Did you see anything you liked? Did you get anything for our little peanut?"
"No," Sarah sighed, abruptly pulling her feet away from Chuck. She swung them back to the ground and hopped up from the couch, moving to the kitchen. Chuck watched her in curiosity as she filled a vase with water and placed the bouquet in it.
"Sarah?"
She ignored him, fiddling with the vase on the counter.
Chuck came up behind her and placed his hands on her waist gently, his thumb trailing around her belly. "What's wrong?"
Sarah turned in his arms and she found herself staring into her husband's warm brown eyes. "I hope the baby has your eyes. And your smile. And your...warmth. You're so good to me. And I love you, you know that? I love you so much and I want to be the best wife and mother that I can be. You know that, right?"
Chuck pursed his lips, wondering where all of this is coming from. "I know baby. And I love you too." He pressed a kiss on her forehead. "What's on your mind?"
Sarah sighed, and her fingers idly traced patterns along Chuck's forearm. His fingers gently grabbed her chin and lifted her head so that their eyes met once again. Sarah felt her stomach begin to churn again and she turned her eyes away momentarily before looking at her husband again. She bit her lip as she felt the tears welling up in her eyes. She hated when her insecurities peaked. She hated feeling like she wouldn't be able to take care of their baby. He believed that she would be a good mother and she hated the thought of disappointing him or failing their child.
"I just feel tired and ugh, I feel sick. And I'm in my second trimester now and I'm still barely able to keep anything down...What kind of mother will I be if I'm not even able to give our baby enough nutrition during this pregnancy?" she asked desperately, her eyes wide.
Sarah wriggled away from Chuck's embrace and went back to the couch. Chuck followed after her. "Sarah," he began, taking her hands into his and squeezing them gently, "it'll be okay."
"You can't say that, Chuck," Sarah shot back. "What if my HG symptoms last the entire pregnancy?"
"Then I'll be here with you the entire time. I'll be here to feed you ice chips or give you your medication or make your meals or hold your hair up when you're vomiting...it doesn't matter what you need. I'll be here. You're not in this alone, Sarah and I hope you know that you can count on me."
Sarah's eyes grew misty as she heard the conviction and sincerity in Chuck's voice as he spoke. "I know, I know," she sniffled.
"And Sarah, not that I am trivialising or invalidating your feelings or your fears anything, but what if it doesn't? What if your HG symptoms go away by the time you're twenty weeks? The doctor did say that in ninety per cent of the cases, the symptoms go away by then."
"I'll be twenty weeks pregnant in two weeks Chuck," Sarah said.
"I know. So let's not focus on the bad that could happen. Maybe we can focus on a positive 'what if'. Can you do that for me?"
"I can try," Sarah said softly.
Husband and wife were quiet for a few moments, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Chuck," Sarah began, her voice small and uncertain.
"Yeah baby?"
Sarah took a calming breath "I'm not sure I'll be a good mum to our baby. I don't feel as excited as I should be feeling. I… Of course I'm looking forward to it, but I thought… I thought it was supposed to be more magical...But I don't feel the magic Chuck," Sarah sighed.
"It's okay. Pregnancy is different for everyone. Remember how you felt out of depth with the wedding planning until you tried on those dresses in Castle? Who knows? Maybe when we put together the crib or something, you'll have your 'eureka' moment and everything will feel as though it's clicking into place."
"You're probably right," Sarah mumbled, touched that Chuck was doing his best to reassure her.
"And hey, even if it doesn't click, what matters most is that we'll get through it together."
She blinked back her tears. "This is silly, right? Me breaking down over my insecurities? I don't even know why I'm bothering you with this." She sniffed and ran her hand through her hair. "Oh gosh, I'm a mess."
"But you're my mess," Chuck whispered, cupping Sarah's cheek. "And no, this isn't silly. You can let me know how you're feeling. Always. It's never a bother."
Sarah nodded and gave Chuck a weak smile. He was always there. Chuck was looking at her with such compassion and love that despite her current worry, Sarah grabbed his hand, pulling him to her and crashing her lips into his. When the kiss ended, Sarah kept her forehead against her husband's. How she loved this man- endlessly and unconditionally.
"I love you, Chuck," Sarah whispered against his lips.
"I love you too. I promise to be there for you and help you in whatever way I can."
"I know," Sarah nodded, pulling away. "It's just that sometimes...Sometimes I feel like the universe is trying to tell me I'm in over my head... In the store all these women were fawning over baby stuff and I felt so uncomfortable."
Her mind raced back to how she had felt in the baby store in the mall earlier today, watching as other expecting mothers walked around the store, occasionally picking up various baby items. She had watched with a little jealousy as their eyes lit up, having found the cutest item for their baby. Why didn't that happen with her? Why had she stood in the store, surveying other pregnant women when she should have been doing the same thing they were? What was wrong with her? And it wasn't that she hadn't tried. Because she had. Looking back she found it almost silly how long she had stared at an assortment of baby onesies and rompers, willing some sort of elation...some sort of excitement to wash over her. But it hadn't, and she had felt an overwhelming sense of dread begin to stir in the pit of her stomach. In the end, one of the sale assistants had come up to her and asked if she needed any help. She'd only been able to plaster a meager smile on her face as she told the younger woman 'no thanks' and basically fled out of the store.
"Oh Sarah," Chuck said softly, reaching out for her and pulling her into his side.
"I don't want to be a bad mother, Chuck," Sarah stated. "I desperately want this baby and to be the best mother that I can be. I don't ever want to fail him or her or come up short."
"You'll be a good mother, Sarah." He smiled warmly at her. "And we might not get everything right...We'll probably misplace a pacifier, forget to pack diapers when the baby is staying over at Grandma's or forget that it's our turn to bring the snacks to a practice football game or something...but the important thing is that we'll be doing it together."
"Thank you Chuck," Sarah whispered, leaning in to kiss him again.
"And let's not forget, we basically raised Morgan!"
"And he turned out alright," Sarah chuckled, wiping the last set of tears.
"Welllllllllllllllll," Chuck drawled, his eyes dancing, "I don't know if Casey would agree but at least he's on solid foods now."
Sarah laughed then, feeling the worry dissipate. As she snuggled into her husband's side, she found herself believing that everything would be fine.
-/0\-
Third Trimester
Sarah slowly eased herself onto the couch, and then, with some effort, she managed to raise her legs, resting them on the centre table. She tilted her head back, closing her eyes and breathing slowly. She stayed like that, trying to relax. The breathing exercising were not as effective as she had hoped and Sarah was once again tempted to shatter the full length mirror in her bedroom...and maybe the one in the bathroom too. But no, she told herself. She wasn't mad. She didn't care. Yet, she'd spent the better part of ten minutes staring in the mirror, switching from one side to the next, examining her body. Oh, she did care.
Huffing, Sarah decided to turn on the TV to get her mind off of her current predicament. The first channel she clicked was showing a pageant, the second was showing reruns of a 70s sitcom. By the time she reached the third channel, and had not found anything she was interested in, her patience had grown thin and Sarah clicked the button to change the channel with such force that the button stuck into its space. Glaring at the remote and then at the TV, Sarah turned it off and threw the remote to her side, extremely annoyed.
She checked her phone for the time and groaned. She was supposed to be getting ready by now but instead she sat in a pair of yoga pants and her sports bra.
Sarah quickly unlocked her phone and sent her mother a quick message which consisted of two angry emojis. Emma responded immediately, sending a question mark in reply.
- You didn't warn me about this. -
Sarah watched the 'Mom is typing' pass across the screen for many moments. She figured her mother was probably typing and deleting, trying to word her sentences properly.
-I'm confused dear.- finally came her mother's response.
-I'm beginning to look like a freaking elephant, Mom-
-Oh honey, well at least you can be glad that you're not pregnant for an entire year like an elephant lol -
Sarah narrowed her eyes when she read the text. - Wow, Mom, thanks a lot. You sure do know how to make me feel better *eye roll* -
With that last text, she threw the phone to her side. No sooner had the phone landed on the cushion, bouncing a little from making contact with the couch, it began to ring. "Yes Mom," Sarah answered.
"Oh honey, I'm sorry if I upset you," Emma really did sound contrite. "Tell me what's got you all worked up."
"I don't like how I look in my clothes anymore."
"Ah honey...It's okay," Emma tried her best to be comforting. "These last couple of weeks can be a bit uncomfortable but-'
"A bit?" Sarah challenged.
"Okay, okay...Very uncomfortable," Emma amended, "but you're almost there. In a couple of weeks, you'll have your baby in your arms and you'll say to yourself that all of this was so worth it."
"Yeah, you're right," Sarah huffed. "Mom, your grandchild is squeezing my bladder like it's some sort of toy. I'll call you later okay? Tell Molly I said good night and I'm looking forward to her spending the weekend."
"Oh, trust me, she's looking forward to it more than you are. Helping to decorate the nursery is all she's been talking about," Emma laughed. "I'll call you tomorrow. You and Chuck have fun tonight."
"Okay, bye Mom. I love you."
"I love you too, honey."
They hung up and Sarah set the phone aside and struggled to get off the couch. Eventually she was successful and she quickly waddled to the bathroom, a hand on her back to ease the pressure she felt there. Minutes later, she returned to her spot on the couch and thought about what her mother said. Her mother was right. Sarah closed her eyes, enjoying the quietness. Her HG symptoms had stopped when she was twenty-one weeks and since then, she'd had a healthy appetite and her weight gain was within the expected range. "You're getting bigger because your baby is growing and that's great," Sarah said to herself, waiting for the logical part of her brain to convince herself that she was overreacting.
A few minutes later, the door opened and closed. Chuck strolled in, a spring in his step. "Hey honey." Sarah grabbed a throw cushion and pulled it to her stomach, suddenly feeling exposed. "I thought you'd be getting ready," Chuck walked over to her, bending to kiss her temple. Sarah hmphed and rolled her eyes in response. "Baby, what's wrong?"
"I'm not going."
"You were so excited about going an hour ago when I left," Chuck mused. "What changed?"
Sarah threw Chuck a side glance. True, she'd been wanting to go this restaurant for months but she didn't care. Not anymore. "Can't I change my mind?" Sarah snapped.
"Okay, okay." Chuck backed away, holding his hands up in a defensive position. "I guess I'll just go by myself then."
"Yeah, you do that." Sarah crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I'll stay right here on this couch until I feel like moving."
"And I guess I'll have to enjoy the jazz band all by myself," Chuck taunted, trying to lighten the mood. "Or who knows? I might find someone who appreciates it as much as I do there tonight.
Sarah sent a withering glare toward her husband and he gulped. "Chuck Bartowski, if you think that just because I am pregnant I won't go adorable psycho on some brunette skank's ass and then yours, then you are sorely mistaken."
"Sarah!" Chuck cried, "Eardrums develop in week 12!"
"I remember, thank you very much," Sarah arched her brow. "And you should remember that I know many ways to hurt you. Do you really want to come up with another joke dear?"
The look on her face and the stress she'd placed on "dear" sobered Chuck. "Okay, that was a bad joke and I'm incredibly sorry," he placatingly said. "I was just trying to get you to talk to me."
"No Chuck. It wasn't funny at all. Joking to your pregnant wife about finding another woman isn't funny in the slightest."
"You're right, you're right. I'm truly sorry." Chuck observed the blonde with an apologetic gaze. He didn't say anything for a few moments. "Sarah," he ventured, his voice questioning. He closed the distance between them and sat on the centre table. Sarah made sure to avoid eye contact. "Baby, why are you sulking?"
"Oh? You mean besides your little faux pass just now?" She arched her eyebrow, challenging him.
Chuck ran his fingers through his hair. "Yes, I know, I put my foot, or maybe both my feet in my mouth over that one and I really am sorry," Chuck rested a hand on one of her thighs, occasionally running his hand against the exposed skin and gently squeezing said skin. "But is that all that's really going on?"
She sighed and grabbed Chuck's hands, pulling him toward her. Then she placed her hands on the sides of his face, guiding his lips to hers. Chuck ended up with his knees pressed into the carpet as Sarah locked him into position between her thighs. Pulling away from the kiss, Sarah rested her forehead against Chuck's. He opened his eyes to find Sarah staring intently at him with tears in her eyes. "Baby," he tried to pull away. But then she was running and hand through his curls and one hand rested at the nape of his neck, pulling him back into another kiss. Ordinarily, kisses by Sarah Bartowski drew her husband into a haze, a haze that he was happy to completely envelope him but this time, knowing that something was wrong, with great willpower, Chuck managed to stop himself from being drawn in. "Sarah?"
"Chuck?" She breathed, daring him to not continue their kissing. She lightly traced a pattern from his jaw line to his lips. "Just kiss me, Chuck. That's all I need."
He didn't protest and so Sarah directed their kiss once more, deepening it and growling in disapproval whenever Chuck tried to soften it and ease them to a halt. Chuck finally relented, allowing Sarah the moments she seemed to desire. When his hand rested on the side of her stomach and he gently squeezed the smooth skin there, Sarah gasped and pulled away from him.
"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?"
Sarah scooted back on the couch until her back touched the cushions. "No," she replied, not meeting Chuck's gaze.
"Sarah." Their eyes locked and Sarah shifted uncomfortably. She pulled the cushion closer to her belly. It was a slight action but Chuck noticed it. He kept his hands on her thighs, his eyebrows now raised in question.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"Stop apologising," Chuck said gently. "What's with the cushion?"
"I've gotten," she began to mumble before swallowing thickly. "I've gotten bigger."
Chuck hummed, brushing his thumbs across her thigh. He remembered last week, Sarah had thrown on one of her newer dresses which hugged the bump perfectly and asked Chuck to take many photos- some with her by herself cradling her bump- and thanks to the tripod he had set up, some with them in all the cliché expecting parents photos. Her eyes had danced with delight as Chuck had wrapped his hands around her, his hands resting on her bump. Following their impromptu photoshoot, they'd decided to contact the photographer who had taken their engagement and wedding photos. Their maternity shoot was two weeks away. Her dress- a champagne coloured off the shoulder maxi dress- and his matching shirt had been ordered online and were to arrive any day now. Ellie was working on a selfie board and other props since they had given her free reign with the decorations. Everything seemed to have been going according to plan but given Sarah's current demeanour, Chuck wondered if Sarah was even still interested.
"Oh baby," he smiled, his eyes were gentle and warm.
"I feel so uncomfortable Chuck," Sarah admitted with tears in her eyes.
"Oh babe," Chuck soothed, kissing her temple. "Everything will be okay."
Sarah sighed. "I don't even know where it's coming from...I just don't feel myself today."
Chuck took her face in his hands. "You. Are. Perfect." He punctuated each word with a kiss. "And trust me, I should know because I have spent hours kissing and exploring every inch of you. I've held you in my arms many times and each time I still get that intense mix of love and appreciation which basically makes me want to wrap myself up into a cocoon with you." Chuck then began a trail of kisses, kissing her forehead, then both cheeks, her nose, her neck and then her lips.
Sarah giggled. "That was quite...sweet."
"Golly gee, thanks for making me feel like I'm eight," Chuck crinkled his nose. "I get that you're a bit uncomfortable but please remember that I love you."
Sarah sighed. "I can't even see my ankles anymore"
"Yeah," Chuck agreed, "but it's all worth it, right?"
"Right," Sarah nodded. It absolutely was worth it. Even though her pregnancy hadn't been the easiest, especially in the earlier months, Sarah knew she would do it ten times over. The changes in and to her her body were nothing compared to the joy and beauty of motherhood she expected to experience.
"I hope you know that there's absolutely no pressure on you for you to bounce back within three days of delivery like those celebrities do."
"I believe they call it a 'snap back'" Sarah shrugged, remembering the various posts she saw on social media. "But yes, absolutely no pressure," Sarah agreed. While she would work to lose the weight gained during her pregnancy, she would not put undue pressure on herself to lose said weight in an unrealistic timeframe.
"And besides, some of the changes that came with the pregnancy aren't that bad." His fingers lightly scraped the edge of her breasts, causing Sarah to blush.
"Chuck!"
"I meant the way your skin glows!"
Sarah laughed. "It's probably just sweat. You know how hot I can get."
"I know," Chuck wiggled his eyebrows. "Baby, I knowwwwww. You, my fine lady are sizzling hotttt."
Sarah giggled. "You really know how to stroke my ego."
"There's some innuendoes I could make but I won't," Chuck winked at his wife.
"Chuck Bartowski, you are something else."
"And so is your libido," Chuck quipped. "Not that I am complaining. Nope, nope, not in the slightest."
Sarah slapped him on his chest and giggled. "Thanks for cheering me up, babe."
"Any time."
"You've been my rock for this entire pregnancy. Whenever I felt down or panicked about being a mom, you helped me to work through what I was feeling and you reassured me that everything would be fine," Sarah smiled gratefully. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Chuck kissed her knuckles. "On our wedding day, I promised that you could count on me and that I'd prove it to you every day for the rest of our lives. I meant it. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you."
"I know," Sarah replied. "And it goes both ways. I'd even tear apart a country for you."
"You already have babe," Chuck smirked.
"Do you think we can still make the reservation?" Sarah asked.
Chuck checked his watch and hummed thoughtfully. "We should be able to. Are you sure you're up to it though?''
"Yeah," Sarah confirmed, outstretching her hand so that Chuck could help her up. "I've decided that I wanna be wined and dined tonight."
"As you wish milady. As you wish."
/\
Choosing an outfit was shaping up to be difficult. Sarah was looking at the various pieces of clothing in her wardrobe in annoyance when Chuck entered their bedroom with a garment bag over his shoulder. He walked over to her closet and hung the bag up.
"What's this?" Sarah asked.
"Something I got for you. Open it," Chuck urged.
She complied and her breath caught in her throat when she saw the dress inside. It was an off the shoulder full length blue ombre gown and she loved it. "Chuck, it's beautiful," Sarah breathed.
"Mhmm," he agreed. "I saw it in a store window and thought of you immediately. I thought the shades of blue would bring out your eyes."
"You're the best husband ever," Sarah smiled and kissed him soundly.
Her wardrobe predicament now being resolved, Sarah sat down in front of her vanity to begin applying her makeup.
"I'll be in the living room waiting. Try not to take too long, okay? We don't have all year."
Sarah laughed. "Now Chuck Bartowski, you know I don't take that long to get ready!"
"Yeah, yeah," he drawled as he left the room.
Twenty-five minutes later, Sarah stood in front the mirror, admiring the way the soft waist pleats of the dress cascaded over her bump. Chuck really had picked a beautiful dress.
"Sarah, we need to get going soon so we don't lose our reservation," Chuck yelled from the living room.
"I'm almost ready!" She called back as she put in her earrings. "Come here for a second."
"I'm at your service ma'am," Chuck said when he entered their bedroom.
"Zip me up please," Sarah requested, sweeping her hair to one side so that it would be out of Chuck's way. Chuck fumbled a bit with the zip, muttering about how complicated concealed zips were. "Everything okay back there?" Sarah laughed.
"I don't know what's up with this darn zip. Or maybe it's my fingers."
"How odd," Sarah mused, "you're usually quite...adept with your fingers," she added saucily.
"Sarah!" Chuck cried, blushing. "You're not helping!"
Sarah shrugged innocently, "What? You should take that as a compliment."
"Let me concentrate!"
She giggled and waited patiently as Chuck finally managed to get the zip up. "Thanks babe," Sarah said. Sarah smoothed her hands down the satinesque fabric that draped to the floor. She then turned to her husband, "Sooooo, how do I look?"
Chuck's mouth hang open. "Pulchritudinous," he was finally able to say when his brain rebooted and he remembered how to speak.
"You're quite handsome yourself," Sarah smiled. "Now let's go. The sooner we go to dinner, the sooner we can see if this dress looks as good when it's on the floor."
A/N: That's a wrap. I'd love to hear what you think. If you can, please leave a review.
Until next time,
Xoxo
Barbadiangirl.