Chapter 6 – Same ol' hellos etc….let's get to the chapter

Sarah headed downstairs smiling as she looked back up at the door knowing that he had come back. When she left him in LA, she didn't know when or if he'd come back or if he would stay. She knew that it was those thoughts that were playing tricks with her mind. Making her doubt that they could actually have something here. Knowing that all their struggles to be together and all the effort it took to stay apart was becoming a regular thing and could easily end up that way again.

Sarah made some coffee then sat on the couch hoping that Chuck wouldn't sleep too long, so she could see him. She was glad that it was Saturday so she didn't have to rush off to go to work. Sarah finished looking through the paper when she saw him coming down the stairs. Her heart skipped a few beats. She loved his sleepy bed look and she honestly missed it while he was gone. She put her cup down beside her and tossed the paper on the floor when she saw that he was sliding in between her legs. She slid down resting her head on the pillow welcoming his body and his lips. "Missed you."

Sarah kissed him back. "I missed you too. You drove straight through?"

"I wanted to get back to you and there was nothing keeping me there."

"You sold the apartment?"

"Yeah, but I had to stick around till the money was in my account then I had to wait till, I could transfer half to Ellie and Devon. I know that they didn't care about the money, but I didn't need all of it."

Chuck looked at Sarah as he continued to kiss her. "Enough about me, where was I?"

Chuck leaned into her as he kissed her softly at first, remembering what her lips felt like, tasted like and how it led to kissing her more and more. He then kissed her hard, as he slid his hand up her t-shirt, feeling her naked skin. Sarah was enjoying what was happening and what was going to happen. He sat up on his knees, looking at her. "We take this up stairs?" Sarah looked at Chuck. She looked at him grabbing his shirt and pulling him forward. "I guess not."

Chuck pulled his shirt up over his head as he helped Sarah with hers tossing it somewhere. They rolled off the couch allowing Sarah to be on top. She looked at Chuck as they became one. She missed him so much and being with him now was just a small part of missing him but a very important part. Sarah slid into him and kissed his neck, chest and anything she could lay her lips on. They found their rhythm as Chuck held her close. They could feel their breath on their dampen skin but it didn't seem to bother them. Chuck eventually rolled Sarah onto her back caressing her skin and reaffirming every inch of her was his. They continued to move reaching new heights. Chuck slowly laid onto his side grabbing the blanket off the couch and wrapping them up slightly. He grabbed a pillow and slid it under his head as Sarah laid her head on his chest. "Welcome home."

"Thanks. It's good to be home."

Chuck kissed the top of her head, then brought her close. Sarah drew little circles on his chest basking in their post love making reunion. Sarah eventually sat up making Chuck wonder where she was going. Sarah grabbed her shirt then walked out of the living room. Chuck sat up leaning himself up against the couch. Sarah came back and sat down on his lap. She kissed Chuck then opened her hand showing Chuck the key he left for her to hold. Chuck looked at it as he watched Sarah pick it up placing the key into his open hand. "I have been waiting to do this. And now it's official?"

Chuck looked at her. "I told you that I was coming back."

"I know."

Chuck looked at the key and covered his hand over hers. They were quiet for a moment then Chuck leaned forward pulling Sarah into an embrace. He squeezed the key tightly holding her close. They continued to kiss.

Monday morning

Sarah went to work after a wonderful weekend of making up for lost time. And Chuck was back at mowing the lawns, and he was more than happy to do them. He walked into the garage and looked around, whoever had lived there before, Sarah moved in, must have been a handy man. There were tools, old and new all along the far shelf of the garage. Chuck grabbed his cell and dialled Sarah. "Hey."

"Hey."

"What doing?"

"Just finished mowing the lawn."

Sarah got an image of what he looked like and she smiled. "And you?"

"Inventory."

"Sounds like fun."

" It has it's moments."

"Who lived here before you moved in?"

"Why?"

"I'm standing here in the garage and I see all these tools."

"It was an older man who's wife passed and when he was selling he wanted the tools to go with the house. Your welcome to use anything, remember this is your place as well."

Chuck smiled.

"You free for lunch?"

"Sure."

"Okay, see you for lunch."

Chuck turned himself around as Sarah slid off her desk. "Well Ms. Walker, that wasn't what I had in mind but it was amazing."

Sarah kissed his nose then headed out towards the store. "So where do you want to go and eat?"

"What about that diner up the street."
"Sounds good."

Chuck opened the door for Sarah as she closed it behind her locking and making sure that it was locked. They walked past a few buildings down till they got to the corner and entered the diner. They found a seat and sat down but looked up when they heard someone call Chuck's name. They both looked at each other and feared who was calling his name. Chuck looked one way and Sarah looked at the other. Just then a small fancy walker came into view. Sarah smiled when she saw who it was. "Hi Gladys."

"Well isn't it my two favourite people. Chuck it's so good to see you. Where have you been?"

"I had some things to attend to back home."

"Well it's so good to see you. She's happier when you're here."

Chuck grabbed her hand and slid his fingers into hers. "It's good to be back."

"Well I won't take up too much of your time, but Charles."

"Yes, dear."

"Would you have some time this week to pop by and well I need some things fixed around my place. Just a few things."

"Sure I can."

"Oh good. Sarah you know where I live?"

"Yes."

"Okay how does Friday sound."

"Good."

Gladys rolled her walker out towards the counter then disappeared.

Friday

Chuck looked at the piece of paper that Sarah had given him. He turned the corner and saw a row of houses that Chuck knew right away was a seniors complex. But when he parked in front of Gladys's it reminded him of his old place but instead of fast cars and young college students. It had scooters and walkers and a lot of old people. He walked up to Gladys's door and knocked. Gladys opened the door and smiled. Chuck walked in. "Welcome, sit."

Chuck smiled and put his tools down. He had only brought a belt and a tool box not knowing what he would have to repair. They sat down and Chuck watched Gladys in the kitchen well it was a bachelor suite looking place. The walls had lots of photos and nick knacks all over the place. Gladys brought over a tray of baking and coffee. She sat down. "I'm so happy that you could come by and fix some things. But first we will have coffee."

"So, Charles tell me a bit about yourself."

Chuck put his spoon down and looked at her. "Born and raised in LA, I have a sister who's a doctor, married to a doctor. They are doing Doctors without Borders. I am a Computer Engineer on leave from the Government and decided to come here and settle down."

"And Sarah? She's very private."

'If you only knew how much and why?' Chuck thought to himself.

"She is, but once, you get to know her, she opens up. Trust me it took us a long time to get together."

"You two?"

"Yeah, I met her about three years ago."

"How did a Computer Engineer meet a business woman and art enthusiast."

Chuck knew he couldn't tell her how they met. So he kinda stretched the truth.

"We met in a local Electronic store in Burbank when she came in with phone issues. There was no one at the desk so I asked her if I could help her. So she showed me her phone and I was able to fix it. Then we met later on at an Art exhibit that we were both invited to. So that is where the art comes in."

"And she moved out here?"

"Yeah, she wanted a change and she always wanted to open her own store. I was out of the country and we broke up, well sort of and I came back here. And the rest is history."

She lifted the tray as Chuck smiled and grabbed a few cookies. "Like I said at the diner she's happier when you're here." Chuck nodded at Gladys as she sat down.

They finished their coffees and she showed Chuck what needed to be fixed. The top of her list was a leaky faucet, then she asked Chuck to fix her water hose that was leaking. And when she heard that he was interested in computers and electronics. She asked him to set up her lap top that she was given so she could talk with her family. Then Chuck went down the list. When Chuck was done he walked out of the small apartment, he set his tools at the door. Gladys was there sitting with some other ladies who she must have called to come over, all began to comment on the way he looked. When Chuck wiped his brow with his shirt, all he heard was. "You can bounce a dime off that stomach." "Did you see his girlfriend, she is one lucky girl." "He can come over anytime and fix…"

Chuck laughed to himself as he looked up to see a tray of lemonade. "Charles, I made you a drink."

"Thanks, but I must head home."

"We wouldn't want your girlfriend to wonder where you have been all day." said one of the ladies.

Chuck smiled and took a sip of his lemonade. "Yeah she might have some competition."

The ladies all laughed.

Chuck finished his drink and grabbed his tools. Gladys came walking up to him and placed some cash in his hand. Chuck looked at it. "I can't take this."

"Yes you can."

"It was my pleasure to do this."

Gladys looked at Chuck. "Then take Sarah out for a nice supper on me with this."

Chuck leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Your welcome."

Chuck grabbed his tools and headed to his car.

Sarah waited at the door of the store when she got Chucks text. She was surprised that he wasn't at home yet. She smiled as she saw her jeep turn the corner. Chuck parked and tried to move the items on the seat. Sarah saw the wad of cash. She picked it up and sat down, kissing Chuck as he leaned towards her. "Hey."

"Hey."

"So what's the money for?"

Chuck pulled into the street. "Gladys felt that she needed to pay me and when I told her that I didn't need to be paid. She made me take it and wants me to use it by taking you out for supper on her."

Sarah smiled. "Your just getting home now?"

"Yeah I was done for awhile but with all the visiting and heckling it was hard to get the jobs done."

"Heckling?"

"Those ladies are brutal, I mean the words that were coming out of their mouths."

Sarah started to get a worried look on her face. "What did they say Chuck?"

Chuck looked at her with a straight face. "They said that they could bounce a dime off my stomach." "And that my girlfriend, is one lucky girl." "And that I could come over anytime and fix…"

Sarah laughed. "Well they are right, your girl friend is one lucky girl. And your stomach is well…."

Chuck turned the corner and parked in front of their house. Chuck got out and grabbed his tools as Sarah walked backwards up to the stairs. "So they told you that they liked what they saw."

Chuck continued to walk up the sidewalk. "She had all the ladies in the complex sitting there."

Sarah reached the steps. "Oh poor baby, must be tough to be gawked at, you handsome man that you are."

Chuck looked at her then walked up to her placing his tools on the bottom step. He was face to face with her. "Well it must be hard to hear that other women are looking at your boyfriend the way that they are."

Sarah slid her hand up his bicep. "It is but they don't get to have what I have and what I can do with what I have, with you."

Chuck swallowed deeply. She kissed him softly. She headed up the stairs. She stopped at the door. "Chuck you might want to put your tools away first."

Chuck fumbled slightly as he looked down at his tools. He grabbed them as he watched Sarah head inside.

Chuck came through the back door, seeing Sarah in the kitchen. He walked up to her as he slid his arms around her waist. "Your sweaty."

"I know but I didn't get a kiss."

"I kissed you."

Chuck turned her around and kissed her. "Oh you want a kiss?"

Chuck looked at the stove and turned the burner off. "Oh my? Someone has something up their sleeve."

Chuck took her hand and headed up stairs. Sarah kissed him as she took off his sweaty t shirt and tossed it into the basket and worked his pants. Chuck unbutton her shirt tossing it as well. Chuck knew exactly how to get Sarah willing and happy at the same time. They stood under the water as it cascaded over their skin. Sarah quickly grabbed the soap and lathered Chuck's back with soapy suds. Running her hand and the bar of soap down his back continuing down to his toes. Coming up was her favourite part. Chuck reacted slightly as he grabbed the soap and did the same to Sarah. He washed his hair then helped with washing Sarah's but it didn't last long. As their arms wrapped around each other their lips dualled back and forth. Chuck picked Sarah up and held her against the wall of the shower as he moved into her. Sarah wrapped her legs around him holding him close. She held on till they were exhausted. Chuck lowered her legs slowly just to add to the already intense mood. He continued to kiss her lips and exposed skin. "What do you want for supper?"

Chuck continued to kiss her. "Chuck?"

"Hmmmm, huh?"

"Supper?"

Chuck looked at her. He loved that look she had for him, and every time it was the same. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Chuck stood straight as Sarah opened the shower door. The cool air touched their skin as Sarah reached for a towel and passed it to Chuck. She dried her face with the towel and looked at him. "That was wonderful. Those women have no idea."

Chuck wrapped the towel around his waist. "We can start over?"

"We can, definitely."

Sarah wrapped herself with her towel as she grabbed a brush and combed her hair, passing it to Chuck and heading out. Chuck followed as Sarah grabbed something to wear. She tossed Chuck a pair of shorts and a clean t -shirt.

"Pasta?"

"Sure."

The next day Chuck joined Sarah at the store and enjoyed spending time with her there as she taught another lesson. Sarah said goodbye to the group as she started to clean up. She looked over at Chuck and paused. She looked at him as he was singing along with the radio. Whether it was the song or having him back for the last few days. Something came over her and she knew that she had to hang onto it, onto him.

Sarah prepared one of Chuck's favourite, that she had made once when they were at Meadow Branch. She had to fake being his wife and along with that they each had to take turns cooking. Chuck knew that Sarah wasn't a cook but this meal seemed to turn out and they had a wonderful evening and if they weren't on a mission and things were different between them it could have ended differently.

Chuck came in due to it raining outside. He hoped to eat outside but Sarah was kinda glad that it ended up this way. "Sarah, I think that we need a firepit and lights out side. You have a wonderful yard and with a fire pit we could make use of it much more than we are doing right now."

Chuck waited for her to respond but got nothing. He walked into the living room thinking that was where she was and when he walked in he saw her standing there with a rose, almost in tears. Chuck walked up to her but she put her hand out to stop him from coming closer. She looked up at him. "Sit."

Chuck sat down and looked at her, wanting to know what was wrong. Sarah composed herself and looked at him. "Chuck, you're a gift. You're a gift I never dreamed I could want or need, and everyday I want to be able to show you that you're a gift that I deserve. You make me the best person I could ever hope to be, and I want to spend and learn and love the rest of my life with you." Sarah started to cry. Chuck stood up and walked over to her. Sarah started to cry as she looked at him coming closer to her. "That's why women don't do this."

Chuck looked at her. Then we will do this together. Chuck looked at her and wiped her cheek taking the rose from her. He was about to go down on one knee when he looked at her. "I don't have a ring for you." Sarah reached out for him. "I have one for you." She opened her other hand and showed him the ring she had. He looked at her, then ran out of the room coming back, holding a twist tie. "I guess we will do this together."

Chuck took Sarah's left hand and wrapped the twist tie around her ring finger as Sarah slid her ring for him onto his ring finger. They looked at each other. Chuck focussed on her. "Then we will say it to each other. Sarah will you marry us?" Sarah looked up at Chuck and repeated what he had just said. "Chuck will you marry us?"