A/N: Another one-shot triggered by the kiss on the beach. This one is a bit longer than my last! I never believed in the concept of the magical kiss bringing all her memories back, but wondered about what it did achieve. So, did Sarah remember anything? If so, what? Charah one-shot.

Thanks to Capt LiL for the beta. Much appreciated. If you find any mistakes, that'll be because I added some more after he saw it.

Remembering

Chuck had just pulled away from me after that wonderful kiss. In my head, I could still feel his sensuous lips on mine. I nearly grabbed him to pull him back for another kiss, but my brain needed time to adjust to what had happened.

Surprisingly, I did get some memories back as we kissed. Not everything, as Morgan had suggested, but some significant ones. Memories of kissing him in those missing years returned. I knew about some of them, both from my video log and from what he had told me about our life together, particularly the early significant ones, so that was probably why they came back most vividly.

I remembered kissing him in the warehouse, when we thought we were going to die in an explosion. That he definitely told me about, and it was also in my video log. It was one that I initiated, so very significant. He obviously remembered that significance and had talked about it. Now, I can feel the overwhelming need to kiss him that triggered it. It wasn't just the imminent death that drove that desperation, I'd wanted to kiss him like that for some time. It was good to kiss those lips I'd been yearning for, and even better when he kissed me back.

Chuck had told me why that didn't change our relationship, the whole asset / handler situation and my fear of being sent away, but I am sure we could have worked around that. The other problem then was the return of Bryce, who apparently affected us both, more than once. I know I thought Bryce was still my boyfriend when Quinn brought me back, but everything I've heard and thought since then convinced me that I really had moved on from him. It had both surprised and confused me when I kissed him in that warehouse, , but it was clear to me now that when I did, Chuck was the owner of my heart. That must have frightened me, losing control like that. I still feel it now. I had never been in love or lost control of my emotions before. I feel that now too. That must have been the reason for the continued time apart.

The next kiss was in a seedy motel room. That one was definitely full of passion… and expectation on my part. I was filled with desire and convinced we were about to have sex. No memories of that happening returned to me, which didn't surprise me after Chuck telling me that part of our story. It didn't happen, which caused us both a lot of frustration. Surprisingly, again, we slipped back into a hands-off relationship. Were we both so incapable of moving to that next step?

Sex did happen after the next kiss, though, in a luxurious hotel. He'd told me about what happened in Paris after he saved my life. It was our first time. I was grateful, but it wasn't just gratitude that drove that kiss, desire was there in abundance. The kiss was glorious but separated from the sex that I know followed, which I don't remember, frustratingly.

I remembered other kisses after that, but none of our lovemaking. I wondered if this was because the memory was triggered by the most powerful feelings, and so the kisses, wonderful though they were, were insufficient to bring the memory of sex back.

Chuck was now looking at me, with sadness in his eyes. I realized that my silence, while thinking about this, had made him think the kiss was a failure. I grasped his hands and got him to look at me.

"Chuck, I didn't remember everything…" His eyes dropped and I instantly realized that was the wrong way to start, as I could feel his hand tense and try to pull out of mine. I didn't let that happen and pulled them closer to me. "I haven't finish, Chuck."

He looked at me and spoke what he was thinking, "So, are you leaving?"

I hadn't even thought about that, so I did. The way I was feeling convinced me that I didn't want that. However, I didn't want to focus on that, but everything that the kiss had done.

"No, Chuck," I replied and his eyes brightened. Good, he would now be more focused on what I wanted to say. "I've other things to tell you."

He sat and waited.

"Chuck, as we kissed, I remembered other kisses we had during our time together. Some you told me about, but not all. It wasn't just the memory of the kisses, but the feelings I had at the time, as well." I looked him in his eyes. "How you made me feel, Chuck."

Chuck was very surprised and got me to tell him about them. The joy in his expression was wonderful to see. Even without the kisses, I could fully understand how I could have fallen for him.

Then, he frowned. "But it's only kisses you remember?"

I could see that he was focusing on what was missing, rather that what I'd gained. To stop him spiraling down into despair, I had to get him to see the positives. I squeezed his hands again.

"It is only the kisses, but they were so filled with wonder and…" I wasn't sure if I should say this but decided I would, "… and passion. Chuck, I felt all that desire for you. Affection, too." His face lit up again, so I added, "And all that has remained, Chuck."

He suddenly pulled his hands away and they clasped my shoulders as he pulled me to him. The kiss he gave me was even better than the last. I certainly didn't want this one to end. Maybe it was because I really do love him, but his lips on mine and, this time, our tongues caressing each other, made me want it to never end. God, he was great to kiss!

No new memories returned, but my desire for him increased. However, I needed to tell him what I had thought earlier about the memories returning. I wanted to know his thoughts about what had happened. So, I pulled away and caught my breath.

I told him about my theory about the strongest feelings driving the return of memories.

"That could be true," he said. I expected him to be as pleased as I was, but he wasn't. He frowned and looked upset. "If it is, that means most of your memories will not be retrievable unless bad things happen."

I frowned then, too. He was right.

He must have thought my frown was due to not understanding, so he tried to explain. "Most of our missions were driven by threats and dangers. They were certainly full of tension. You were constantly worried about my safety. Unless we get into situations like that again, nothing will trigger the memories."

I had worked that out. He was right, but then, for some reason, I thought of something lighter to help us get over this. "We could always get Ellie mad at you. She's pretty scary."

He stared at me for a moment, and then laughed. "God, I've always loved your sense of humor, Sarah."

That made me smile, particularly as it brought back a memory. "I remember telling you I'm not a funny person."

He grinned. "Oh, but you are. Wickedly so. You just never had reason before… us."

Thinking back on the life that I do remember, he was right. It wasn't a life containing humor. The fact that he brought it into my life was also one of his abilities, endearing in a way. Endearing. I have never used the word before.

However, this was all off track. I braced myself to tell him where the thoughts had taken me as we kissed. I was sure I wanted this, but I was still nervous saying it.

"Chuck, I am sure we will have kissed whilst having sex, but none of that came back to me." I paused wanting to watch his reaction to that statement.

He flushed, but visibly came to the same conclusion as I had. "Making love gives much more powerful feelings than just kisses."

I wasn't going to let the kisses be dismissed so easily, so I placed my hand on his arm and said, "Your kisses are not just kisses, they are the best kisses I have ever had, Chuck,"

That brought a smile to his face.

I had noted that he said making love, rather than sex. I thought about that. Sex is just raw passion, but making love involves emotions and feelings too. I liked that.

I held his gaze and tentatively asked, "Chuck, will you make love to me? Bring those memories back, too?" The way I felt now, I wanted it even if I knew that wouldn't work. My desire for him had come back full force.

I could see the desire in his eyes, but hesitation too. He must remember what it was like and probably missed it, so why the hesitation? I got the answer to that with his next words. "So, we'd just be doing it to get your memories back?"

I gasped. He couldn't think that little of me. Could he? That was not something to focus on. I corrected him. "I'm not that shallow, Chuck." That brought a blush and he was clearly going to apologize, but I continued, "All my feelings for you are back, Chuck. This kiss didn't just bring those memories back. I love you. The desire is back, too. I want to make love to you anyway. If it triggers a memory, that is a bonus. A huge bonus, though."

He still apologized. "I'm sorry, Sarah. I have been so confused. I don't really know what you're thinking anymore. I wasn't thinking clearly when I asked that."

I forgave him. I had been sending a lot of mixed signals for weeks now.

However, I now started to wonder about our love life, so I had to ask, "How often did we make love, Chuck?"

He looked bashful. I had to poke him to get him to tell me. "At least once a day. Usually twice. Once in the morning and once at night. Or more when…" He stopped and blushed more.

"Go on," I prompted.

"When you were particularly… driven."

I sat back. So, I was the one driving our love life. However, he obviously enjoyed it and, I guess, must miss it terribly, if we had been doing it so often back then. God, I don't remember it, but now I feel the desire for it even more!

I stood and held out my hand to him. "Come on. I want those memories back, but even if they don't return, I want to experience it anyway. If I wanted it so much back then, it must have been very good. I need that now, Chuck." I'm pretty sure that he could see that in my eyes.

He did take my hand but leaped up on his own. We ran to our cars, laughing all the way up the beach. Two people running, desperate to make love to each other. This was nothing like how I felt as I walked down the beach!

He couldn't keep up with my driving, so I waited for him when I got to the apartment complex. Then, we walked, briskly, hand in hand to our apartment. Yes, our apartment. I saw it that way now.

When we got there, we quickly made our way to our bedroom.

We made love as soon as we managed to get our clothes off, and it was absolutely fantastic. Breathtaking, in fact. He obviously knew his way around my body and how to make it wonderful for me. It also triggered a series of memories, starting with that first time in Paris.

However, I felt there was more that I hadn't remembered.

I had no intention of leaving this bed until I remembered everything. In every position.

Hmm. Maybe some of those memories and positions would need us to leave the room. The dining table and shower were also calling to me.

I know I had wanted my memories back, but hadn't expected the triggers to be such a pleasurable experience!

What I did already know, was that my feelings for him, not just sexual, were back. I knew I couldn't walk away from this love between us. I was going to stay with the man who had captured my heart, twice now.

Of course, the other parts of my body agreed with my heart, all wanting more of him. I needed to find out if he was ready for round two, because I was.

A/N: So, feelings definitely returned, along with some memories. They're not everything needed, but significant foundations on which to build.

I won't be expanding this, as it covers all that I think is needed, but I hope you liked it.