A/N Here we go again, another scoop of Charah to hopefully sweeten your day.

I've given up on trying to limit my writing time, it's been a long week. No betas were harmed during the ensuing episode. And yep, I still don't own Chuck.

Chapter 3

Sarah drove without purpose, or destination, the sun warming her face. Letting the sounds of her engine and the wind blow away the remnants of the confusion she'd felt. Whilst she was certain about the man Chuck was, she hadn't been able to reconcile her past with the feelings that coursed through her. The emptying roads quickly leading her thankfully away from downtown, winding towards Santa Monica. Eventually as the sun neared the horizon, she decided to pull over and watch the sunset, the raucous sounds of the boardwalk in the distance drifting with the wind.

Rolling up her jeans and taking off her shoes, she stepped onto the cooling sand, finding her way down to the water's edge. Wandering, absent-mindedly in silence for a few minutes, the waves lapping her toes as she walked, a tiny shiver going through her feet at their touch

As the light began to fall, so did the temperature, a breeze coming in from the ocean turning cold. When a shudder coursed through her body she realised that it wasn't only the change of environment that chilled her insides. Feeling much more melancholy as memories assailed her.

Her father, Jack Burton, had been an old fashioned conman, able to charm anyone with his confident attitude and crooked smile. Moving them from town to town every few months to avoid capture, he never allowed them to settle long enough for her to form real bonds with anyone. Emma, her mother had vanished when she was only five, leaving Sarah without female support, or role model of any kind as she passed through her early formative years into adolescence. Jack wasn't uncaring, or callous but whenever the subject arose he'd fed the girl a continuous stream of vitriol towards his 'runaway' wife. For years, Sarah accepted his words at face value, having no memories of the woman as comparison. It was a number of years, and many fatherly disappointments later that she'd opened her heart to the idea of a maternal reconciliation. The decision to search for Emma straining and then ultimately terminating hers and Jack's relationship. He'd still be out there somewhere, bad people always tend to hang on somehow, but she'd given up caring about his wellbeing years ago.

A large splash brought her back from her memories as a freak wave hit her calf, soaking her jeans, having walked a little too far into the water. A shiver overtook her body as the wind began to pick up, her wet legs and feet growing numb with the cold. Beginning the walk back towards her car, she suddenly missed the tenderness and comfort she'd experienced around Chuck, even the thought of it drawing a subtle warmth from within. Reaching into her pocket, Sarah took out her phone along with Chuck's card, a tentative smile appearing on her face as she leaned against her car, trying to summon the courage to call him. A flush of colour touched her cheek at the memory of his charming smile, the intensity of his gaze. Those luscious golden chocolate eyes holding her almost intimately as they'd talked. What she'd initially decided was harmless flirtation, turned quickly into something she had no words or explanation for. An inexplicable energy pulsed between them causing everything but his subtle touch and penetrating gaze to peter out, the warmth held within his soothing voice tearing away years of loneliness. The world around her obliterated by the explosion of warmth that bloomed within her as they'd sat, innocently eating iced cream. She found herself craving that feeling now, her pulse quickening with nervousness and a burgeoning hunger. Welcoming the constant flutter within her chest as it warmed her chilled body from within.

Quickly typing in his number and touching the screen, she felt herself smile as she waited for him to pick up.

"Err, hello?" he answered distractedly, a constant background music almost drowning out his voice through the phone.

"Chuck? Chuck Bartowski?" she asked loudly, feeling a little ridiculous as she sat virtually shouting his name, the parking lot around her car now mercifully empty.

"Yeah, that's me, but I'm not interested in a mobile upgrade thanks." Chuck answered quickly, causing Sarah to chuckle.

"Chuck, it's me, Sarah" the blonde climbed into her car, closing the door to escape the ocean breeze.

"Sarah? Sarah Walker?" he choked out, his voice rising in pitch, having to clear his throat a little. "So what's up? Did I leave my Tamagotchi at your office? It's my third one this year…" he exclaimed contritely, causing Sarah to roll her eyes at the pout she imagined he wore. Fighting herself not to snort at his nerdy rambling "…You have no idea how many times I've gone to feed the little critter and I'd left him at the TV station, or Morgan's place."

"Chuck, you're spiralling. You didn't leave anything at the Kingdom but your card. Which is right here in my hand, so…" Just felt like hearing your voice.

"…I'm sorry, I can barely hear you. Give me a second" the boisterous background music suddenly became muffled, sounding like he was covering the phone as he obviously sought for a small sanctuary from the cacophony. A few moments later his voice re-emerged, much clearer. "Sorry about that, I'm over in Santa Monica, at the pier. It's always loud here, but at night when the lights go up…WOW! Guess they people round here wanna be seen AND heard." He chuckled to himself a little.

"Guess so…" she chirped back, enjoying his soothing voice, her smile widened as she realised he was only about a fifteen minute walk from her, a wonderful thought sparkling within her mind.

"Was there a problem? Something you wanted to talk about from earlier?" Chuck asked, genuinely concerned.

"Nope, everything's OK. I left the Kingdom not long after you, just jumped in my car and got out of downtown, decided to enjoy the sunset at the beach so I parked up …

Now the suns gone down I was about to head home before it gets too cold, I found your card in my pocket a few minutes ago... so right now I'm sat in my car, with my pants all wet, talking to you." She heard him inhale sharply, running her words back through her head, realising how that sounded, cursing herself inwardly before blurting out "…a wave hit my legs, it soaked my jeans. The waters are cold tonight…" she tried to stop herself from further embarrassment by taking a few breaths.

"You know, I've never met a woman who can beat me when it comes to spiralling…" briefly chuckling to himself, cheerily. Taking on a jaunty 'Mary Poppins' accent he concluded "…I doff my cap to you."

"Doff? Seriously, where did that come from?" she snorted a little, chirping with laughter as she was drawn into his delight, quickly feeling better about the unexpected slip.

"Wow, I'm so not doffing it now…" she could hear him laugh in mock annoyance through the handset, causing her to giggle for a moment before calming herself again.

Sarah tried in vain to regain control of her swirling thoughts as her own filter seemed to be temporarily broken. "It's OK Chuck, it was sweet." She offered, finding his fake annoyance incredibly charming.

"Sweet? Gee, way to make me feel like I'm eight." She could imagine him pouting at the end, finding his openness just as charming as during their earlier chat.

"Oh come on, that was funny, and I know you're not eight, more like an eight point five, maybe?" The blonde couldn't stop herself from giggling a little, amused by the almost childlike huff he blew out. She noticed that since meeting this man she'd laughed more than she had with anyone but her closest friends in months, and even then she had trouble making them laugh at anything other than herself.

Chuck snickered a little "I thought you said earlier you weren't funny… the survey says nah-ah. Were you kidding me then too? Right?"

While she was thoroughly enjoying their playful back and forth, Sarah wanted to see him, feel herself being warmed by his smile, devoured by his gaze. The intensity of that feeling threatened to unhinge her mind, as her body forced her to pursue a path toward that tantalising demise. Eventually finding some level of control, she answered "I'm not, really. Anyway, why are you at the pier?"

Sarah attempted to change the subject, suddenly nervous that he was on a date, or something. Determined to know more about the tall nerd, like if he had a girlfriend. Of course he has a girlfriend, he's stupidly handsome and so unbelievably sexy with that million watt smile and the golden flecks she'd spotted within his wondrous eyes

"Well, some of Morgan's old co-workers meet up here once a month, have a few beers, some laughs. I was just kinda dragged along one time and now it feels like I'm their designated wrangler, chauffeur, I don't know what really… But it's fun hearing all of their stories. I never used to believe Morgan when he talked about the Buy More but WOW" Sarah could imagine the expansive look of awe, his strangely expressive eyebrows lifted.

Swallowing loudly, she bit the proverbial bullet "Want some company?"

"Uh, ok. Yeah, that would be amazing." Chuck's voice lifted with genuine joy.

Sarah found the raised pitch in his voice endearing "Well I am just down at the beach, where do you wanna meet?" she offered.

"How about the iced cream stand? …seems kinda fitting" he offered sincerely.

"I'll need to move my car, try to get a space. Twenty minutes OK?" She cut in, her own nerves forgotten in the rush to set off.

"Sure." He breathed out dreamily, making Sarah smile to herself as the line went dead.

Sarah pulled up to parking lot, thankful that a space opened up near the entrance to the funfair. She quickly used the rear view mirror to check her makeup, taking out her ponytail and pulling her hair up in a messy bun. Getting out of the car, the now almost familiar butterflies cascading within her stomach. At first passing a hotdog stand, then an arcade, she instantly recognised the music coming from a nearby bar, it had been in the background of their call, this time it was accompanied by the hoots and cheers of an apparent army of customers.

Ahead of her she spotted a small Indian woman getting her short hair tousled by a scruffy looking middle aged man who wore a white shirt and grey tie, holding a beer high above his head, hooting in apparent victory. Surrounding them were a group Sarah would usually just call idiots, but seeing Chuck shaking his head at them a few yards further away, realised were Morgan's 'friends'.

"JEFFREY..." the girl almost screamed "…don't mess with the do." she hissed angrily, swatting at his hand. Turning to escape the older man's repeated attempts to continue doing exactly the opposite. As Sarah approached them, eyes constantly drawn back to Chuck's, she noticed the girl had a hint of stubble, realising it wasn't a woman after all. Ooops.

Stepping past the two guys hurriedly, 'Jeff' as she now knew him thrust the beer towards the smaller man, yelling "Lester, START YOUR ENGINE." A diminutive Asian woman who stood just off to the side of the pair, suddenly gave him a harsh slap on the chest, frowning at the pair's antics.

A few yards ahead Sarah saw Chuck's little bearded friend, he'd been behind the camera during the interview, waiting alone for them to return from their trek through her kingdom. Moving towards her, he stopped just a couple of steps away, calling to the group "Guys… Guys… My boy's friend just got here. Everyone, this is Sarah" Morgan gestured with his head towards the blonde, waving at the group quickly in a 'calm down' manner at their sudden hoots and cat calls. He gave Sarah a wink as he nodded at her, smiling widely as he shook his head again. Sarah wracked her brain trying to remember his name, the beard being the only thing she could recall from their earlier encounter. Other than the obvious connection to Chuck and later apology for leaving him in the conference room alone, she'd virtually ignored the little man, having been entranced by his much more charming friend.

The Indian 'man' quickly retorted, "Chuck's got a friend, other than you?" seemingly proud of himself, he puffed up his narrow chest.

Focusing on the conversation around him for what Sarah thought might be the first time in years, the obviously drunk Jeff suddenly chirped "A lady friend? About time…" he began eyeing her almost hungrily, causing Sarah to shudder involuntarily despite the relief she felt as his words about Chuck.

The bearded man looked at his older friend sternly, pushing a finger into the chest of the much larger Jeff, "Do NOT finish that thought, or on my pretty floral bonnet, I WILL end you." Morgan heard a number of snickers from the others at the obvious TV quote. Jeff had already zoned out, staring blankly past Sarah into the lights of the nearby Ferris wheel, having instantly lost interest during Morgan's rebuke.

"Thanks buddy, I got it from here." Chuck nodded thankfully at Morgan, stepping through the group, his eyes fixed upon Sarah. A wide toothy grin blazed across his face, mirroring the one that suddenly appeared on the blonde's. Gesturing with his index finger "Come with me if you want to live." he intoned in a deep faux Austrian accent. Hearing the group burst into laughter around them as she hurriedly thrust out her hand. Giving Jeff and Lester a subtle glare Chuck took her now outstretched palm. Looking into her gleaming sapphire eyes as their fingers touched, Chuck noticed a subtle widening of her eyes, a sudden intake of breath as she accepted his grasp, he subtly tried to hide the fact that he'd done exactly the same.

Despite many years of male disappointment Sarah already found herself wanting to open up to Chuck, revelling in a freedom she'd refused herself for years. Recognising the anticipated current as it flowed between them, returning just as intensely as she'd hoped. Sarah let the energy flow through her for a moment, briefly holding her breath as she welcomed its warmth, beginning to close the distance between them as his smile drew her forwards like a magnet. The look she flashed at him briefly as they stepped quickly away from the now cheering group, could only be described as scorching, her heartbeat racing as a flush graced her cheek.

"So that was… interesting?" Sarah gave an enigmatic smile, her brows lifting as she gestured towards the retreating group.

"Yeah, sorry about Jeff, I don't think he's ever even heard of a filter, there's definitely not one between his mouth and brain." Chuck shrugged a little, looking away sheepishly.

"It's ok, I suppose. I just never knew someone like that even existed." Her eyes discovered his again and again, finding herself drawn towards their depths.

Greedy for the ever present energy that rolled over her in growing swells, she refused to let go of his touch, deciding that she really enjoyed the way that their hands seemed to be perfectly matched, fitting together like Russian dolls. The mixture of his thumb absent-mindedly stroking the back of her fingers and the way he often gazed intensely into her eyes as they walked, triggered more than the earlier level of intimacy and comfort she'd felt as they sat eating iced cream, the gentle warming of her chest growing to a fervour.

The couple walked side by side for a couple of minutes as Chuck guided them, hardly paying attention to the crowd, or flashing lights as they moved past. Sarah's heart pounded rapidly in her chest, her pulse drowning out all thought for a moment as her brain lost its battle for control. Forcing herself to look away from his eyes as they walked through a particularly dense group of revellers, she focussed instead on his caramel soaked voice, the sweetness of his childlike enthusiasm fixing a million watt smile to her face. Is there anything about this man that isn't perfect? Turning at the corner of a nearby arcade, they stood in front of the local iced cream stand. A glowing sign above declaring "BEST ICE CREAM IN TOWN."

Chuck turned towards her glowing visage, his own wide smile quickly crinkling his nose. Feeling his palm beginning to sweat from the heat permeating through them, he blew out a long breath, retreating into himself a little as he let her hand fall, something that instantly caused Sarah to pout. Pointing with his now free hand at the sign as he cleared his throat "Well, I guess they don't know you're in town." He chuckled briefly at his own joke, placing his hand into his pockets to dry them a little. "Should we give it a try? I mean it definitely won't be as good as the one you let me try earlier, but I mean…" he pointed at the sign again. Noticing the way she quickly moved to grip his other hand as he reached around her, the flush of her cheek evident in the lights from behind the counter.

"Challenge accepted." Sarah smirked, grabbing both of his hands and pulling him towards the vendor, hungry for more than iced cream as she devoured every second of their contact. Looking at the list of flavours she quickly asked the owner for a double scoop, vanilla and mint, with added chocolate sprinkles. Tilting her head towards the server, she teased Chuck with a cheeky smile, letting out a small moan after her first slow lick of the now rapidly melting treat.

Chuck was caught like a deer in headlights, unable to tear himself away from the spectacle of Sarah's tongue lapping at the softening iced cream, as she looked up at him through her lashes, obviously flirting. Realising that they were now holding up the queue, he forced himself to calm down, clearing his throat loudly and ordering himself a double scoop of hazelnut chocolate, with strawberry chunks, drawing a few frustrated sighs from the others in line.

Glancing at the glowing sign again as he took the cone, paying quickly. A question jumped out of his mouth as they walked away "…one thing I forgot to ask earlier is why you spell it "Iced Cream?". I mean almost everyone got rid of the "d", decades ago. But you still use it."

"Wow, you really want all my secrets, don't you?" she looked at him curiously, tapping him on the shoulder playfully as she contemplated giving him the real reason. Taking another taste of she thought was surprisingly good iced cream, she smiled. Maybe if it were Madagascan vanilla this would be perfect.

"No, I'm just curious." Chuck tilted his head, giving her a small wiggle of his brows.

Licking her lips and clearing her throat, Sarah decided to give him a sincere answer, finding herself not wanting to lie to him "Well, to be honest it's a family thing. My grandma always spelled it that way and I like to remind myself of her. I never really got to know my mom so my grandma became very important to me." She replied candidly, having never revealed so much of herself, so quickly.

Chuck briefly thought of the many women his sister had tried to set him up with over the years, doctors and lawyers, every one, a professional. Very clever women. He'd found them all totally superficial, vacuous, and ultimately a waste of his time, much to Ellie's chagrin. Morgan's earlier comment about Sarah being a 'mystery woman' ran through his mind briefly. Finding a woman that intrigued him was a rarity, that Sarah was so stunning was an added perk, the fact that she seemed to return his attraction felt like the holy trifecta. Sarah was the polar opposite of those hollow women. There was so much about her that would always be an enigma, but she was very real. Chuck gave her a sympathetic smile "I think she'd like that" he reached out and gently wrapped his arms around her, carefully holding his cone away from her slim body.

"Yeah, she would." Sarah returned his smile, accepting his embrace and leaning into his chest briefly. Offering his arm to her as he pulled back, the couple walked to the end of the pier, slowly eating the remnants of their iced cream, both enjoying a growing tenderness that seemed to harmonise with their constant physical connection.

Standing at the end of the pier a few minutes later, the ocean lapping at its struts, Chuck turned to her "You know what? I just realised we've had dessert twice but we've never actually had dinner." He gave her a megawatt smile, "Wanna?"

Returning his smile and offering a hand, she eagerly replied "Sure."

A/N I hope you enjoyed this, I've got to admit writing this has been a lot of fun. I know they haven't even had a date yet (technically) but I promise that'll be soon. I decided to make my spelling of the word "Iced cream" deliberate from here on, as Sarah's reason is exactly why I have used it, minus the having no mom thing.

Please R&R etc. they are very much appreciated. Take care, stay safe. D.