A/N: Last chapter, Sarah was grilled by Ellie about her old job and her relationship with Chuck. Chuck had to rescue her from The Inquisitor. Sarah's lack of skills in the kitchen helped the two women recover from that. Then, it became clear that Chuck hadn't told his sister about the business either, which is where we pick up here.

Thank again for all the reviews. I love seeing what people think and reply to all the reviews.

And thanks again to LetsGoRed for being my beta. I am able to beta for others, but that doesn't remove the need for someone to do the same on mine. LetsGoRed makes this a much better work.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, sadly.

Life After Death

Chapter 9 – Revelations

Chuck and Sarah's house (continued)

Devon had asked Chuck, "If you're spending all your time together, how are you starting up your new company?"

Sarah was annoyed that Chuck hadn't mentioned that they were working together on it.

Looking at her, Chuck shrugged his shoulders. He turned to the other two sitting opposite him, "I guess that's another thing I haven't told you." He could feel the glare from Sarah as he said this. He gulped and looked at her. "Sorry, Sarah."

Turning back to the others, he shared the missing information. "Sarah has a degree in Business Management from Harvard. She's helping me with a business plan for the new company. She's also going to run it with me."

Ellie looked shocked. Sarah didn't know which revelation brought that on.

Ellie's next question clarified, "Putting aside the working together for now. A degree from Harvard?"

Sarah nodded. "It was an abbreviated course that I had to fit in around other studies when I joined the CIA, but yes, a degree from Harvard."

Devon exclaimed, "Wow! Brains and beauty!"

Sarah blushed and looked down.

"And modesty, it seems," Ellie quipped.

Chuck continued, "You know how I struggled with getting my first company set up."

Ellie groaned, "God! Yes, I do."

Sarah smiled at that.

"Well, with her training and her experience when she's had to use it in her job, Sarah's making all the difference this time."

Ellie looked at Sarah. "And you're going to work with him, when it starts?"

Sarah spoke quietly, but Ellie could still hear it. "Yes, Ellie. He's not great at running a business, just the solutioning and creating the software."

Ellie snorted. "You've got that right!"

Sarah smiled and continued, "I'll run the business side and he'll do the technology side. We're a good match."

Ellie looked at her brother, who nodded. "And what is this new solution?"

Chuck smiled, "Language training for kids."

Ellie frowned again, "What do you know about languages, other than computer ones?" Then she obviously guessed the answer and looked at Sarah. "That's you again, isn't it?"

Sarah nodded. "I know a few languages."

"A few?" Ellie questioned.

Chuck repeated what Sarah had told him, "A dozen fluently and a few more in passing."

Sarah watched two jaws drop.

"Awesome!"

Sarah remembered what Chuck had said about Devon and chuckled.

Ellie chuckled too. "Well, I guess that answers my question. So, when will you start?"

Sarah responded, "Business planning is the start, but officially starting a new company? Not for a few more months. We've a lot to do before then."

Ellie leaned back. "I'm impressed, Sarah. You have him well under control."

Sarah smiled. "Hardly! Keeping him focused on what's needed is a major challenge!"

Ellie chuckled. "Beaches and restaurants?"

Sarah laughed out loud. "God, yes!"

Devon stood up. "It's getting late. Bath time for one little one and then it will be the same for someone else," he said, looking at Clara.

Clara nodded, then turned to her uncle. "Will you read me a story when I go to bed?"

"Wouldn't miss it. Let's go and choose a book." He held his hand out and when Clara grasped it, they went off together.

Sarah was watching the interaction, thinking how great he was with children. She didn't realize Ellie was watching her, noticing the adoring look in Sarah's eyes.

"He's always been good with kids."

Sarah looked at her, "I can see that."

Ellie then chuckled. "Sometimes I think he's never grown up himself." Then she looked at Sarah. "Do you want kids?"

Sarah looked down at her hands. "I don't think I'd make a good mom."

"Why not?"

Sarah looked at her. "My past."

Ellie then asked, "Have you ever held a baby, or a child for that matter?"

Thinking about those awful few days three years ago, and how much she'd struggled, she looked down, "Yes. A baby, a few years ago, but I wasn't good at it. Recently, a little girl, but I wasn't good then either, not like Chuck."

Grasping her hand, Ellie made her look up, "Sarah, please spend time with my two. You might find you're better than you think."

Sarah was taken aback by that, but just nodded. I'll try. She knew she was going to try with Molly too.

Ellie continued, "No one knows whether they will be good parents. Sarah. I know I worried. We all just do our best."

"Thank you, Ellie. Your advice helps. I'd like us to be friends and that I could always ask for your advice." She then smiled. "Not just in cooking."

Ellie laughed out loud. "I'd like that too, Sarah. Sorry about how I acted earlier."

Sarah grimaced, "I won't deny it. It was hard being on the end of that grilling, but I understand why you were like that."

Ellie patted the back of her hand and they sat quietly, listening to Chuck and Clara discussing books in the other room.

Lying in bed waiting for her boyfriend, Sarah thought back over the day. It had both been harder and easier than expected. The grilling had been terrifying as so much depended on success and she was so out of her depth. However, once passed that, Ellie had been wonderful. Sarah was still a bit annoyed with Chuck over both failing to keep his promise to be with her all the time and for failing to tell Ellie and Devon, well, anything. It had felt like they were springing surprise after surprise on them both, which was true, but in the end everything cleared up and the important people in Chuck's life seemed to have accepted her. That felt good, really, really good.

The door opened and Chuck quickly walked to the bed.

He climbed in and held her and immediately started to apologize, "I'm so sorry, Sarah…"

She placed her finger on his lips. "I was annoyed at you for deserting me and for not telling Ellie about what we are doing, with the company and our lives. However, it all worked out okay, eventually."

He winced at that last word.

She looked seriously at him. "Please don't fail to do what you promise in the future, Chuck. I don't cope well with being let down. Okay?"

"Yes, Sarah. I won't let you down again." She could tell he felt awful.

"Good. Now make me feel better."

He wrapped his arms around her pulling her in for a long, deep kiss, their tongues fighting for supremacy.

As he pulled away to breathe, she murmured, "That's a good start. Keep going."

He did and she did feel better. For hours. Until she eventually fell asleep.

Chuck and Sarah's house, next day

Sarah had been up for an hour before she heard any movement from the other rooms.

Chuck had just made them coffee and had started making pancakes. She was leaning on the kitchen table watching him. She loved just watching him. Her life was good.

She started thinking about the changes she'd gone through since she'd come to Los Angeles. She hadn't known what she would do with her new life, but being in a serious relationship and moving in with that person was so far from any possibilities she could have imagined.

As she watched him moving around the kitchen, she hummed to herself. Not just anyone. This wonderful man, Chuck Irving Bartowski. He hadn't swept her off her feet. Well, maybe a bit, but they'd been in this together. She'd swept as much as he had. They'd just fallen for each other so quickly and so deeply. Now, she couldn't imagine being without him and she knew he felt the same about her. He'd said it. To his sister.

This was contentment!

Then she heard a door opening. She looked over and a sleepy Clara was peeking out. Without thinking, Sarah walked over to her and crouched down. "Hello, sleepyhead."

Clara lifted her eyes to look in hers and looked nervous. "Hello."

Sarah gave the little girl a big smile. "Don't be nervous. I don't bite."

Clara smiled. "You sure?"

Sarah laughed and held out her hand. "I'm sure."

Clara held back. "I need to pee."

Sarah felt she should have thought of this. "Oh! The bathroom is over there." She pointed at the bathroom door. "You okay reaching everything?"

Clara nodded. "I'm a big girl now."

Sarah smiled, "Well, Big Girl, when you've finished, come through to the kitchen. What'd you like to drink?"

"Orange juice? Please."

"Sure, I'll have it ready for you."

They separated and Sarah went through and poured a glass of orange juice, putting it on the table next to her coffee.

Clara came over and reached up to Sarah, who lifted her to the high stool. "Thanks."

Sarah found she liked this polite, mini-Ellie. "You're welcome. Do you know what's planned for today?"

Clara looked hopeful. "Beach?"

Sarah grinned. "Yep. Beach. Do you like the beach?"

Clara nodded and said, "I miss it."

Of course. They'd lived here until recently. Sarah frowned. "There's beaches in Chicago, isn't there?"

After sipping her orange juice, Clara replied, "They're not the same as this beach."

To Sarah, a beach was a beach. "Oh. Why's that?"

"'Cuz Chuck's not there." That explained everything.

Sarah put her arm around this lovely little girl. "I can understand that. He makes the beach much better for me, too."

Clara looked at her and nodded.

Sarah smiled, "I'll share him with you."

Clara beamed. "Thank you. Thank you!"

Sarah gave her a serious look, "But you'll have to share him with me, too. I'd be lost without him."

Clara looked a bit conspiratorial. "Okay. We can both hold his hand."

Sarah pretended to look shocked. "But what if we both want to hold your hand and swing you?"

The beaming smile reappeared. "Yesss!"

"You do have a way with kids, Sarah." Sarah hadn't heard Ellie walk up behind her.

"And you have spy-like skills, sneaking up on people like that," Sarah replied. She turned into a hug from Ellie, who was now chuckling.

"Devon's getting Liam up and will be through soon," Ellie commented to Sarah and to Chuck who looked up.

"Oh. Hi, El."

Ellie wandered over to him and gave him a hug, too. "Hi, Chuck."

He smiled. "Just made some pancakes and coffee's brewed over there."

"Awesome," boomed Devon as he walked in with Liam trailing behind.

Chuck looked up, "Want to go to the beach, Liam?"

The two-year-old just grinned and nodded.

"Me, too!" yelled Clara.

"Me, too!" Sarah joined in, grinning.

Clara turned to Sarah. "Will you paddle with me?"

Sarah was surprised at this, but beamed at the little girl, "I'd love to, Clara." She looked up to see Ellie holding her coffee and smiling at her.

= ! =

After breakfast they all went to get ready for the beach.

After her shower, Sarah changed into her bikini and was selecting shorts and a t-shirt to wear on the top.

Chuck came into the room from his shower and froze.

Sarah looked up and spotted him. Worried, she asked, "Are you okay, Chuck?"

"Yo… you're gorgeous!" Chuck shook himself. "I may not be able to take my eyes off you all day in that!"

Sarah beamed. "Thank you for boosting my ego, Chuck, but you have a nephew and a niece that will need some attention, too."

He walked over and put his hands around her bare waist and pulled her in for a passionate kiss.

She pushed at his chest, breaking the kiss. "We haven't got time for this, Chuck! Save it for later."

He separated from her, grumbling, "Later's a long way away."

"Well, you'll just have to behave yourself or it may be longer than you think," she smirked.

"Oh, I know you're as bad as me. You'll want it tonight too," he smirked back.

She put on an affronted look. "You think I'm easy?"

He pulled her back into his embrace. "No. I think you're in love, just like I am."

She stayed with her head against his chest for a while, nodding and humming. Then she pushed away and pulled on her shorts, t-shirt and sandals. As she opened the door, she turned back, "Come on!"

The beach by Chuck and Sarah's house

Being right on the beach meant it would be easy to get set up, or so Sarah thought. However, she learnt that morning how much work there was getting a four-year-old and a two-year-old ready for and settled on the beach.

Devon had held Liam, while Ellie laid out the towels and took the changing bag from him after putting down the full bags she'd carried. Chuck placed the bag he'd carried next to those, his containing several buckets, two plastic spades and a large ball.

Sarah was amazed. So much stuff for just two children!

Ellie got Clara to sit on her towel and started applying sunblock lotion. Clara was used to this and sat still for her mom.

Devon was doing the same with Liam.

"You'll need some, too, Sarah."

She turned to her boyfriend and grinned. "Can't keep your hands off me?"

Chuck laughed. "Just protecting my beautiful girlfriend!"

Sarah took off her t-shirt & shorts and sat on the towel she'd just put down. "Okay, protector. Go ahead."

Feeling him gently rubbing lotion onto her skin was amazing. It felt like he was massaging her. She closed her eyes as he coated her shoulders, arms and back.

"You'll have to stand for me to do your legs," he whispered in her ear. That sent a shiver through her.

She stood and he treated the back of her legs with the same soft touch. It was heavenly, but she couldn't take much more. She turned to him and quietly said, "Much as I love this, I'll have to do my front myself. Otherwise, I'd have to drag you back to our room and forget about the beach."

He grinned at her and handed her the lotion.

Once she was fully coated, she looked over at the others. The two adults, like Chuck, already had tanned skins and had obviously decided they didn't need any sunblock lotion. Ellie was emptying the bag Chuck had brought down, with Clara watching her. Devon had put Liam down and the two-year-old was just running in circles grinning, obviously enjoying the feel of the sand in his toes.

Clara spotted that Sarah was done and reached her hand out to the tall blonde, saying, "Come on, let's paddle!"

Sarah chuckled and said, "I'll race you there!"

Clara grinned and took off down the beach as fast as she could go.

Sarah grinned as well and followed, deliberately not running as fast as she could, staying behind Clara, but slowly catching up.

The other three adults grinned at their antics.

Ellie looked at her brother and commented, "She's a natural!"

Chuck just nodded. He was now thinking something he'd not expected. He'd love to have kids with that amazing woman.

Ellie noticed the glazed look and smiled, nudging her husband and nodding in Chuck's direction.

Devon smiled at his wife, knowing what she was thinking.

Paddling was over, but Clara wasn't finished with her new friend. She looked at her as they walked back up the beach to the others. "I like you, Sarah."

Sarah smiled down at her small companion. "I like you, too, Clara. A lot."

Clara beamed. Then commented, "We agreed to share Chuck today. Let's take him for a walk."

Sarah grinned. "We could swing you, like I suggested earlier?"

Clara's eyes lit up. "Ohh! Yesss!"

When they reached the others, Sarah reached out her hand to Chuck who was sitting on his towel. "Come on, Buster. We've a girl to swing!"

Chuck let her pull him up and, grinning, reached out to Clara's free hand; the other was already gripping Sarah's.

Both adults stood pulling the small child into the air.

"See ya later," Chuck called out to the other couple as he and Sarah swung Clara between them, giggling like mad.

When Clara's arms started to tire, they lowered her to the ground. "That was soo good," Clara chirped.

Sarah dropped down and whispered, "I used to love that when I was your age."

Clara just grinned at her and wrapped her small arms around Sarah's neck and gave her a big kiss on the cheek. Sarah was taken by surprise, but hugged the little girl. She was thinking how much she liked holding her.

Chuck loved seeing this interaction, and thought, One day.

The three of them slowly walked back to the others, each of the adults deep in thought.

Shortly before lunch, Sarah got up and pulled Chuck up. "Come on, we're going for a swim."

He grinned at her. "Race you!" and took off down the beach.

She hadn't expected that, but sprinted after him, grinning.

His legs were longer than hers, so she struggled to catch him. She had almost reached him when he splashed into the water. He kept going and by the time she got to him, he was waist deep.

She growled, "Not fair! You didn't tell me before you ran!"

"You're just a bad loser!" he teased.

She huffed, "I don't like losing. Especially to cheats!"

Sarah then moved close to him. He was expecting a kiss, but she pushed him backwards and he fell into the water, completely submerged.

Sarah burst out laughing, but then realized he'd wrapped his arms around her legs and found herself being lifted out of the water and thrown backwards. She let out a shriek.

When she surfaced, Chuck was grinning at her. "All's fair…"

She launched herself at him and, as her lips hit his, they both fell backwards into the water.

She continued kissing him while they were submerged and he wrapped his arms around her waist. Her arms around his neck.

Coming up for air took on a different meaning as they had to emerge from the water to breath as their lips separated.

She knew they couldn't take this further, as did he, so they just held each other and gazed into each other's eyes.

"God, I love you, Sarah."

"And I love you, too, Chuck."

She then realized they were probably being watched. "Come on, let's swim." She started to, and he swam alongside her. They continued for twenty minutes and then swam back to the beach.

They held hands as they walked back up, both as happy as they had ever been. Both knowing that they never wanted this to end.

Sarah was lying on her towel watching Chuck helping Clara build castles. Devon and Ellie had taken Liam down to the water's edge,

She was experiencing a number of feelings she had never expected.

She felt like she was part of a family. Her time before leaving with her dad was so long ago, she had almost forgotten it, but today, on the beach those memories were coming back. But it was more than that. She'd been an only child; today was different. She enjoyed Ellie's company, and Devon's. They both made her feel part of their family.

Clara was adorable. That had made her feel differently too. She'd never thought she'd ever have kids, but being with Clara, and certainly watching Chuck and Clara play together as they were now, made her realize she wanted kids of her own. Kids with that wonderful man, who obviously loved kids.

It had certainly been a day of revelations!

A/N: So, this time it wasn't just Sarah sharing information with Ellie and Devon; Chuck did too. Sarah's second day with the Woodcombs was a happy one, with her realizing some things about herself along the way. Next chapter is called "Starting Up"

Please leave a review to let me know what you think of this chapter.