A/N: Last chapter, Sarah had told Chuck more about her horrible past in the CIA and, although he was angry at what they had made her do, it didn't change his feelings at all. They didn't managed to eat their next meal, being desperate for each other and ended up in her bed.

Once again, thanks for all the great reviews.

And thanks again to LetsGoRed for all the fantastic beta work.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, unfortunately.

Life After Death

Chapter 6 – Moving forward

Sarah's hotel room, next morning

She could hear his breathing. He was still asleep. She'd woken more refreshed than she could ever remember. She'd had no nightmares last night. Nightmares, her normal companions when she slept. They usually woke her and made further sleep so difficult. Thinking of what had preceded sleep was wonderful too. She knew this could not be a one-night stand. She wouldn't let it. It was more than just sex. They'd connected in so many more ways. She twisted around to look at him. He looked so peaceful. She knew she wanted this feeling to continue. She wanted to share her bed with him and wake up with him from now on.

This is the life I wanted. I need it. I vow to do everything necessary to make this relationship work.

Chuck slowly came to. He was smiling. He'd been having a dream. The girl he wanted had spent the night with him and they'd more than just slept. Such a wonderful dream. Maybe if he went back to sleep, the dream would continue, but an urge to wake suddenly struck him. He opened his eyes and looked into the gorgeous blue eyes of his dream woman.

"Hello, sleepyhead," she softly said, with a beautiful smile spreading across her face.

"Oh my God. It really happened?" he choked out.

"You thought it was a dream?" she continued to smile as she said that.

He nodded.

"Well, from the smile on your face as you woke, you seem to be continuing it and I think it might have been a good dream."

"The best!" he assured her. "But finding out it was real is even better."

Her beaming grin made his heart flutter. "God, you're beautiful!" he blurted.

She smirked, "So, you keep telling me. I might start to believe it."

He nodded, "Believe it!"

She smiled at that. "You know that I used to hate hearing that from men." He had guessed that from her comments the previous day. She continued, "Most men just see me as a prize to be won. If someone said that to me, they thought I'd respond and agree to go to bed with them. I hated how I looked, but had to, for CIA needs."

"I'm sorry about that, Sarah."

She nodded. "I know you are. But with you, I find I like to hear it." She just looked into his gorgeous chocolate eyes with sincerity.

He smiled at that. Then she noticed a twinkle in his eyes. "Well, it worked for me, didn't it!"

She frowned and punched him on his arm. "Ouch!"

"It's what you get for a remark like that, mister!" but he could see a twinkle in her eyes now, so knew he wasn't really in trouble.

He sobered up. "Sarah, I have never wanted someone so badly before."

That surprised her. "What about your college girlfriend?"

Chuck leaned up, still looking at her, "Sarah, you mean so much more to me that she ever did."

"So, you'll stay with me?" she asked hesitantly.

He briefly looked around the room before turning back to her, "When we spend the night here." His smile told her he was going to say more, so she didn't reply. "But some nights, you'll have to stay with me, at my place." He beamed.

She beamed back and reached for him wrapping her arm around his neck and gave him a passionate kiss. He returned the kiss while putting his arm around her waist. They held each other and continued the kiss for as long as they could, only breaking free for air.

"I could stay in your arms forever," she finally managed to get out.

"Well, that won't run the business and our money will eventually run out," he joked.

She laughed, "And we might have to eat, as well. I know how you like eating!"

"I do!" he replied, diving in for another heated kiss.

Sarah's hotel room, two days later

Chuck had insisted on accompanying her in her move to her apartment and had stayed the night before in her hotel room.

Once they were up and showered, he was looking around confused. "What can I take?"

She laughed. "I only have this one case of belongings, Chuck. Are you just going to carry that for me? Then what would I carry?"

He looked sheepish, "I hadn't noticed what you had in your room."

She smirked, "Otherwise occupied, huh?"

"God, yes!" and pulled her to him and kissed her.

She kissed back for a few seconds, then pushed him away. "Cut that out! I need to move out, not just fall into bed again!"

"You sure?"

The look he gave her almost made her change her mind. She picked up her case and said, "Yes, I'm sure! Come on, lover boy."

Echo Park apartments

As the apartment was fully furnished, she didn't need to bring much, but they had stopped at the Large Mart for her to get bedding and towels, then at the local grocery store for food.

In next to no time, she was settled in with bed made and clothes unpacked. They were sitting on the sofa, drinking water.

"Thanks for finding this apartment for me, Chuck."

He smiled at her, "You're welcome, beautiful."

She smiled back and remembered the earlier conversation at the hotel. She put her glass down and held out her hand. "Come on, we've a bed to try out!"

He didn't have to be helped up, leaping off the couch and ran passed her.

She giggled as she tried to catch up with him.

Sarah's apartment, Echo Park, next day

She knew she needed to do this. For both of them. This was even harder than her previous confessions. Not only had she never discussed this with anyone, but she had tried for years to push this out of her thoughts.

She looked at her man. My man, she loved how that sounded. He was still asleep. In her new bed. She smiled. This was so good.

So, why was she going to spoil it? She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. She knew why. She wanted a future with Chuck and this was part of who she was. Not just who she had been, part of what she was now and would be from now on.

Rubbing her hands over her face, she quietly groaned. It wasn't so hard, but it felt such a big deal. She just needed to tell him!

"S'matter?" She jumped at his voice and looked over at him. He looked fully alert. How did that happen? How did I not see him wake?

She loved seeing him wake up. He was so adorable. And with all these thoughts, she'd missed it.

She huffed, but decided to plunge straight in. She looked him in the eyes. "Chuck, I have something I need to tell you."

His eyes widened and he looked fearful. She realized what he might be thinking and rushed to correct that. She placed her hand on his cheek. She spoke softly, "Don't worry. I'm not leaving." Then she snorted, remembering where they were. "And I'm not kicking you out, either!" She grinned.

Looking relieved, he looked sheepish. "Sorry I'm so insecure."

She kissed him before replying affectionately, "We both are." Then she decided she was starting to stall. "I want to tell you about a mission from three years ago."

He frowned. "I thought you wanted to forget the spy life, Sarah, and couldn't tell me about missions anyway."

"This one is important for me, my life," she gulped, "my future."

This was important to her, so he wanted to take it seriously. "Okay…"

"It was one of the few missions, after my first few, where I had a handler. Graham sold it to me that the handler needed someone with my skills on his mission. I had been pacing my apartment for four days, going stir crazy, so I agreed without hesitation."

Thinking about it again made her shiver. Chuck pulled her to him and she sank into him for a few seconds, then pushed away.

"I need to tell you this, Chuck. It'll be hard for me, but just let me get it over with."

He lay there quietly, then nodded.

"There was a package to retrieve in Budapest. An armed gang had broken into a rich couple's mansion and had apparently killed them. They were still in there, with the package. Kieran Ryker was the agent in charge and my handler. He didn't know what they would do next, but had been trailing them for some time. They kept slipping away and finally ended up killing that couple and holing up there, but might leave at any time. Ryker didn't want that to happen again/ or for them to escape with the package. I was to go in in the middle of the night and Ryker would stay in the van outside guiding me through my earwig, a small earpiece. I would retrieve the package from a room on the second floor and leave without waking them. I was good at that sort of mission."

She lay quietly for a few moments, then continued, "I don't know why I never pushed him on what the package was. Ryker was vague, but told me I would recognize the package when I found it." She shivered again.

"I got in easily. They were drinking, all seemed to be downstairs. I crept up the stairs and went to the room. When I saw what the package was, I nearly gave up and ran. Then I realized I couldn't do that." She swallowed hard. "The package was a baby."

Chuck gasped, "A baby?"

She nodded. "A little baby girl. I couldn't leave without her. I thought she would be sold, or worse. I had to rescue her."

"Ryker almost shouted in my ear. 'Have you got her? Bring her to me!" I realized he knew exactly what the package was. I'd heard he had money problems. He was obviously wanting to sell the child himself. I had to get away from these men, and him, with the child."

This was hard to discuss, but thankfully Chuck let her do it at her pace.

"I'd never been around babies before, Chuck, and I'd certainly never held one." She paused. "I found a baby carrier in the room and put it on. I lifted the baby and put it in the carrier. It started to wail. That drew the attention of the men. I could hear two of them on the stairs. This was going to be a gunfight. Thankfully, I'd come in armed with a trusty pistol which I pulled out of the back of my pants, not knowing what to expect. As they burst into the room, I dealt with them. I grabbed their weapons, machine guns, and ran down the stairs."

It was a good job I got their guns, as I saw the number of men that poured out of rooms either side. I think I must have killed over twenty men as I ran down the stairs." Sarah looked away, uneasy admitting that, then looked back at Chuck. "The noise drowned out the child's screaming."

She took a deep breath. "Somehow we got out alive and evaded Ryker. I got to a cheap hotel and bought a room with cash. I couldn't go back to the room I'd been staying in. Ryker would be there. I was now on the run and knew I had to get back to the States. The child had somehow settled so I made calls to contacts who could help. I needed false identification for me and the girl who I'd call my daughter. Yes, it was a little girl. We also needed a flight, which I would arrange when I had the new passport.

"By this time, the girl was crying again. I had to go to a nearby store and buy baby food, diapers and blankets. All the time the child was screaming. People glared at me, but I just ignored them. I got back to the room and changed the diaper." She shook herself at the thought. "How does a small thing like that produce so much crap? And that color?"

Chuck smiled, but didn't say anything.

"I heated water and made up some formula. She took it and settled a bit, but not completely. I had no idea what to do, so I rang the only person who could help. My mom."

Chuck nodded. It was a sensible thing to do.

"Mom was wonderful. We'd not talked in twenty years, but she heard the crying baby. She asked no questions when she heard my panicked voice. She calmly told me how to burp the child, which I did, and how to sing to sooth the child. It was a lullaby she had sung to me. We sang it together and the child settled and then fell asleep. The silence was like heaven!" She looked at Chuck and smiled briefly.

"The next few days were a nightmare. I managed to get everything I needed and somehow got the child back to the States. I had to take a few flights to ensure Ryker couldn't find us, so an evasive pattern. I think everyone on the planes hated me. The last flight got us into Los Angeles. I then hired a car and drove to my Mom's."

Chuck looked surprised.

"I couldn't think of anywhere else the little girl would be safe. When my Mom opened the door, she looked shocked. Even though she hadn't seen me since I was a little girl and the CIA had changed my appearance so much, she instantly knew who I was, I don't know how. Seeing the child, she ushered us in.

"I spent the following hour telling her what had happened. She never asked for any details of the twenty years apart. She was wonderful." A tear dripped off Sarah's nose. "At the end, I told her what needed to happen. She's so smart, she'd already guessed. I left her with a burner phone that she could contact me with and had told her what to do with the child. She had to keep them both safe. I haven't seen the little girl again since that day and only saw my mom briefly recently."

"God, Sarah!" he breathed.

"Over the next year, alongside missions, I tracked Ryker down and eventually killed him. My final years included tracking down and killing the men he'd had with him on that awful mission."

Chuck held open his arms and she fell into them, gratefully. He held her like that for several minutes until she pushed away again.

"I didn't just tell you this as a story, Chuck. I want to take you to see my Mom and my little sister." She looked tentatively at him. "Will you come with me? Please?"

He responded instantly, without hesitation, "Of course."

She beamed and then kissed him, hard. He is wonderful!

Sarah's Porsche, three days later

He was twitching. A lot.

Sarah, driving, glanced over and asked, "Chuck, what's wrong with you?"

"I'm nervous!"

"About meeting Mom?"

"Yes."

She snapped at that, "Chuck, I'm nervous about introducing you to Mom. Your fidgeting is making it worse for me! Not good for the driver!"

Chuck hadn't thought about that. His protective instinct kicked in. All his nerves vanished. He just wanted to protect her, this time from himself. "Sarah, I'm so sorry. I was just so wrapped up in my thoughts. What can I do to make it up to you?"

Sarah smiled. "Not fidgeting is a good start!"

They both chuckled and the tension eased.

Putting the radio on. Chuck started singing and after a short while she joined in. Singing together was a great way to take their minds off what they were approaching.

Outside a house in San Diego

They stood together in front of the door, hand in hand. Neither said a word, both nervous.

The door opened and an older, shorter version of Sarah was standing in front of them. She held open her arms and Sarah dived in. As they hugged, Sarah's mom's eyes were closed, but her expression was still clear. She was happy to see her daughter.

Eventually, they separated.

Sarah turned and grasped Chuck's hand. She turned back. "Mom, this is Chuck, my boyfriend."

Her Mom's eyes widened, but she didn't hesitate. She opened her arms and he bent forward and she embraced him too, whispering in his ear, "Thank you."

He wasn't sure what he'd done to get that thanks, but hugged her back.

"Come in, come in."

As he sat on the sofa, Sarah's Mom asked, "Would you both like a coffee or some iced tea?"

Chuck replied, "A coffee would be great, please, Mrs. Burton." Sarah had told him the name on the way and he wanted to make a good impression.

Her Mom frowned, "Don't be so formal! It's Emma."

"What about you, Sama… Sarah?"

Smiling at the mistake, Sarah smiled. It would probably take a while for her mom to forget her birth name and use her current one. "Please, Mom, I'll help you." Both women walked through to the kitchen.

After setting up the coffee machine, Emma turned to her daughter. "You just said you wanted to visit again. You didn't mention that Chuck would be coming."

"Sorry, Mom. I didn't know if I could persuade him to come."

Emma frowned, "Why not?"

"He's terrified of meeting you!"

Emma burst out laughing. Then she frowned again. "Is he the one you mentioned, or is he another spy?"

Sarah realized she had a lot to tell her Mom. "No. He's not a spy. He is that guy I mentioned, but there's more to tell you, Mom. Let's get the drinks and sit down and talk."

Emma nodded acceptance.

Chuck had been looking at the photos around the room. All of two small girls, one up to seven years old. This seven-year-old must be Sarah before she left with her Dad. She was really cute. The other child looked a lot like Sarah had done in those early years. The oldest photo of her looked like she was about three years old.

Emma walked in with his coffee and handed it to him. "That one is Molly."

Sarah following her in came over to look. She was silent and Chuck looked at her. She was looking at a photo of Molly with Emma, both smiling. Emma came over to look. Sarah finally spoke. "Who took it?"

"One of the neighbors. It was perfectly safe."

"Good."

Chuck had to ask. "Where is she?"

"With a friend, one of the other neighbor's kids." Emma looked at Sarah who just nodded.

Finally, Sarah started talking, "I'm glad you're still taking precautions. He's no longer a threat, but still good to be careful."

Emma went and sat on one of the chairs and pointed at the sofa. "You had something to tell me?"

Sarah went and sat and Chuck followed. Sarah looked at her Mom and just said, "Mom, as you know, I've left the CIA."

Emma smiled. "When you told me that, I was so happy. I could stop worrying about you. I was able to sleep at night again, something I hadn't been able to do after your visit three years ago."

Sarah nodded. "In the last few weeks. I've been adapting to civilian life. It has taken all my time, so I've not called you again." She looked down in embarrassment. She couldn't look at either of them.

Emma looked at Chuck and smiled. "Adapting?"

Chuck laughed out loud. "I was part of that, but it was a big step for her. I didn't just sweep her off her feet, Emma."

Sarah snorted at that. "Oh, you did!"

Emma leaned back into the chair. "Tell me."

Chuck smiled and nudged Sarah. "I see where you get your brevity from!" Both women laughed.

Sarah sat back and proceeded to describe their meeting in the park and then the gym. She grinned at Emma at that point. "I talked to him, Mom. Are you proud of me?"

Emma smiled and just nodded.

Sarah continued to talk about their dates and how Chuck had helped her with the apartment and their decision to work together. Chuck was watching Emma's expression. She had a soft smile, except when Sarah talked about the dates. Her eyes sparkled, just like her daughter's did when excited.

By the end, Emma got up again. "Chuck…" she waved him up and when he did, she enveloped him like she had Sarah. She whispered, "Thank you for caring for my little girl."

He whispered back, "I love her, Emma."

She tightened her grip on him. It wasn't terribly comfortable. He had to bend so far, but he was happy to let her do it, as it seemed to mean so much to her.

When she released him, she noticed how much Chuck had had to bend. "Maybe next time I'll hug you when we're sitting." They both chuckled.

There was a knock at the door. Sarah tensed and started to get up, but Emma waved her down. "That'll be Molly returning." She went and opened the door and a small blonde girl ran in and wrapped her arms around Emma's legs. Emma thanked the person Chuck and Sarah couldn't see.

Picking the little girl up, she walked back in. "There's some people I want you to meet."

Molly buried her face into Emma's neck. A sweet little voice said, "Not s'psed to meet 'trangers."

"These aren't strangers, Molly. This is your sister, Sarah. Say hello."

Molly just moved her head enough for one eye to peer at Sarah. She quietly said, "'lo." She pointed at Chuck. "Who's he?"

"This is Chuck, Sarah's boyfriend."

Chuck could see Sarah had tensed up and was obviously not going to say anything. She just stared at this larger version of the baby she'd brought here three years ago. He took hold of her hand and spoke, "Hi, Molly. Lovely to finally meet you."

Molly smiled shyly and hid away again.

Emma looked at the other two and said to Molly loud enough for everyone to hear, "Go wash your hands and then you can play here while we talk." She put the little girl down. Molly ran out.

Chuck looked at her. "She's lovely!"

Emma chuckled, "She is. She's shy, but is starting to mix with the other kids now."

Sarah was starting to relax. "She's so big now!" The others could both hear the awe in her voice.

Molly walked back in with some toys. A lot of toys. She placed them on the mat between the others and started to play, ignoring them completely.

Emma looked at Sarah. "So where are you living?"

"Burbank. An apartment."

Chuck laughed. "Succinct." He looked at Emma. "Do you know the area?"

"Haven't been there in a few years, but yes."

"It's an apartment block in Echo Park. It's where I lived with my sister before she got married and I moved out."

"And where do you live now?"

"Malibu."

Emma raised her eyebrows. "That's a little way away from Burbank."

Sarah replied, "Not far."

Chuck smiled, "Especially with your driving!" Sarah laughed and playfully slapped his arm.

Emma watched the interaction and smiled. "What do you do, Chuck?"

Sarah smirked, "Are you grilling him, Mom?"

Emma looked at her, smiling, and said, "After twenty-three years, I've got a lot of boyfriend grilling saved up!" They all laughed.

Sarah broke it with an honest reply, "He's my first, Mom."

Emma managed to hide the shocked look and just nodded. Time with her Dad and as a spy had taken so much from her poor daughter. "Well, I'm glad you're together now."

Emma had gone into the kitchen to prepare some salad for lunch. Chuck slipped down to the floor. "Can I see what you're playing?"

Molly looked up at him and presented her doll. "'s her burday party."

"Oh, I love parties. Can I join?"

She reached over and grabbed a male doll. " c'n 'ave Joe. 's a boy."

"Thank you. Is he her boyfriend?"

"Not yet. Wants to be."

"Oh, so he needs to impress her?"

She smiled at him, "Yep!"

"I'll try to help him." He leaned down with his hand next to his nose and said in a conspiratorial voice, "I was never good with girls, but your sister is teaching me."

Molly giggled. "'bout bein' a boyf'end?"

"Yep!"

Sarah was watching them from the kitchen. Emma walked over and watched with her. After a minute she said to her oldest, "He's good with kids."

Sarah hummed and nodded, then quietly said, "He is."

Her Mom then surprised her. "How serious is it?"

Sarah turned around. "Oh. Mom. So serious."

Placing her arms around her daughter, she spoke softly, "I'm so glad, Sarah."

"Mom, I'm terrified of doing something wrong and scaring him off."

Emma pulled back and held Sarah's shoulders, "How much does he know?"

Sarah smiled, "I've told him everything."

"And he hasn't run yet, has he?"

Smiling, Sarah shook her head.

"Any other mistake, anyone can make. You'll be fine." Looking over at Chuck and Molly she couldn't help saying, "He'll make a great dad. You'll have one of those before you know it."

Sarah's jaw dropped. "A kid?"

"Sure. You'll be fine at that too!" With that Emma turned back to the salad.

A kid!

As she thought about it, though, it didn't sound as frightening as she expected. Chuck would make a great father and she'd like kids with him.

Emma noticed the dreamy look on Sarah's face and smiled to herself. Glad I planted that thought.

Sarah sat next to Molly at lunch and found she could easily talk to the little girl. After lunch she'd got down and played with her little sister.

Chuck was smiling while watching. He hadn't noticed Emma come and sit next to him until she spoke. "I think Molly's getting attached."

Chuck nodded. "They look so alike. They really do look like sisters."

"Or mother and daughter."

Chuck was startled at that, but then thought about it. The age difference was more appropriate than between Emma and Molly and they did look alike. He started thinking what it would be like to have her with them as a family.

Emma got up when the faraway look appeared on his face. Seed planted!

They'd had a great day, but they couldn't leave yet. Molly didn't want to let her sister go. Before going for her bath, she'd turned to Sarah and asked, "'fter bath, 'll you read me a 'tory in bed?"

Sarah was surprised, but nodded, "Sure."

Molly ran over to Chuck and wrapped her arms around his arm tugging.

He got the message and picked her up.

"bye, Chck." She hugged his neck.

He pulled away so he could give her a kiss on her cheek. "Bye, Molly."

When he put her down, she just ran off to the bathroom with Emma following.

As they waited, Sarah seemed to be in a world of her own, so Chuck kept quiet for a while.

After a few minutes, he hugged her, saying, "She's a great kid."

Sarah was only half listening. "Mhmm."

"We should visit often. They'd both appreciate that."

She looked at him and nodded. "Yes. You're right," she paused, but then continued, "I'd like it too."

A few minutes later, Emma and Molly came out of the bathroom and Emma waved Sarah to come through to Molly's bedroom.

Chuck sat quietly thinking about this domestic bliss. He knew from seeing his sister and kids, that it wasn't always this easy, but still…

He'd love to have kids of his own. Now he'd found the love of his life, maybe….

"You want kids?"

Chuck jumped and Emma chuckled.

He shook his head and asked, "How'd you do that?"

Emma smiled, "Like mother, like daughter. We're both light on our feet!"

He chuckled. "You are!"

Then he thought about her question. "Yes. I would like kids, but I don't know if Sarah would."

She raised her right eyebrow. "So, you know you'll stay together?"

He looked at her. "Emma, she's the one for me. I really do love your daughter."

She beamed at him. "Good!"

After a teary farewell, Chuck managed to pull Sarah away from her mom. As Sarah walked down the drive, she looked back. "I'll call and let you know when we can come again."

The drive home was a quiet one, with both deep in thought.

A/N: So, Chuck has now met Emma and Molly. Emma is sneaky and plants thoughts in their heads.

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