A/N: Thanks for the reviews and PMs on the last chapter. A quiet, loving return to California was obviously welcomed. Even the Inquisition team were liked. Special thanks to Dillwg, who remembers the Monty Python sketch and told me that if the four girls at Chuck's office were to be the Inquisition, they needed a comfy chair, as no one can resist that. If that means nothing to you, search for "Monty Python Spanish Inquisition" on YouTube for the sketch which introduces them, and "Cardinal Fang Fetch" for the irresistible torture tool.

Beta thanks, as always, to MarkeyDeSad. Pointing out my mistakes, giving me some enhancement ideas and helping to Americanize it. You're a star, my friend.

So, after several days apart, working, Chuck and Sarah are now to have a long weekend together …


The Novelist
Chapter 15: Weekend Meetups


Arriving in Echo Park on Friday evening and parking her car near the apartment complex, Sarah could hardly believe how excited she was to see Chuck Bartowski. It had only been four and a half days since she'd last seen him and they had talked to each other each night since then, but she was brimming over with need for her boyfriend. She was about to spend the whole weekend with him and three nights sleeping here, or at least some of the time, and then waking with him each morning.

She was sure that if her home wasn't also her work environment, as well as shared with her mom, she would just uproot and move here, whatever his apartment was like.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt like they were meant to be together more than they were currently.

Listen to yourself! she admonished herself. 103 hours apart and you're ready to drop everything and shack up with him!

Then she realized she'd even counted the hours apart. God! Clingy or what?

She got out of her car and collected her small case from the trunk along with her backpack that contained her laptop and iPad. Everything she would need for the weekend. She had to bring the laptop as Chuck might want to see how she was getting on with the new chapter. The iPad would be in case she thought of something for Rebecca's story when she was away from the laptop. Of course, that all depended on how the weekend went. It maybe that she touched neither of them.

The case was good, because it reminded her not to just run. She was staying here until Monday morning. There was no rush.

As she walked to his door, she couldn't help looking over the courtyard at his sister's apartment. Ellie caught sight of her in the window and rushed to the door. "Looking forward to tomorrow," she called over to Sarah.

Sarah let go of her case and walked over to give her friend a hug. "Me too, Ellie, but I have to tell you I'm looking forward to this evening more."

Ellie laughed. "You two lovebirds been apart all week?" Sarah nodded. "He'll be pining for you, too."

Sarah grinned and Ellie laughed again, then turned Sarah around and gave her a slight push toward Chuck's apartment. "Don't keep him waiting, Sarah."

Sarah had no intention of doing that. She hurried over and knocked on his door. Chuck must have been waiting for the knock, as the door opened immediately. He ushered her in, waved to his sister and shut the door.

Sarah had eased the rucksack off as he closed the door and when he turned around, he found her left hand in the curls at the back of his head pulling him down for the first kiss in days. As her soft lips pressed against his he was in heaven once again. When those lips parted and her tongue pushed his apart, the pleasure increased. Her tongue entwined with his pulled him further into her embrace.

The kiss was what they had both been yearning for all that time apart. Sarah never wanted it to end. She had spent years alone never needing a man, and now all she could think about was this man, these lips and amazing kisses.

After separating to breath, she reached up again for another kiss and he lifted her up and pushed her against the wall. She wrapped her legs around him and kissed him deeper.

It was no surprise to either of them when he carried her like that, straight through the living room and to his bedroom.

When they breathlessly finished making love, Sarah chuckled and said, "I have no idea what your apartment looks like, Chuck. I couldn't have been in it for more than a few minutes before we were naked and making love in this bed of yours."

He grinned. "Complaining?"

"God, no. I so needed that!"

"Well, it has been 105 hours since we last made love," he pointed out.

"You're as bad as me, Chuck! When I was parking the car, I was thinking it was a couple of hours less than that since I last saw you."

Chuck looked into her sparkling eyes, so full of love and passion for him. He truly was the luckiest man on Earth. Sarah was feeling the same way, gazing into his warm, chestnut orbs. "I love you, Chuck Bartowski."

"I love you, too, Sarah Walker."

He pulled her to him and another loving kiss ensued. When it finished, she pushed herself away and got out of bed to pick up and put on her clothes. "Come on, my love, show me my home for the next 60 hours."

His eyes visibly glazed over. "I wish it was forever, Sarah."

Her emotions overtook her on hearing his say that. Her eyes started to well up and all her thoughts about their relationship sprang to mind again. How she wished they lived together. It wasn't that simple though.

She had only managed to pick up her clothes, but not put any on yet. She turned back to him, noting that he hadn't moved and was still lying on his back looking adoringly at her naked body.

She dropped her clothes by the side of the bed and climbed back on it. In seconds she had slid her form onto his, every inch tingling with renewed desire for the feel of his skin on hers.

She captured his mouth, almost ravenously, pouring all her love into the kiss. All thoughts of a tour of the apartment completely forgotten.

Their second time was not as rushed as the first, but just as wonderful. Her cries at the end, just as loud as before, as we're his. She remained on top of him, this time resting her head in the crook of his neck. "I want us together forever too, Chuck, but the home I share with my mom is where I work as well. I can't give that up, right now."

"So, we become a two-home couple," he countered. "Just one has another occupant."

She thought about that other occupant. She and her mom both worked there. Her mom in her office and Sarah in hers. She'd not shown Chuck her mom's and he hadn't commented on the closed door at the other end of the building downstairs or her mom's bedroom upstairs, just took in all she showed him.

Her mom's rooms were not for Sarah to tidy or clean, so she had just shut the doors on them, but the office or second study, was larger than hers with as many books, but also a table with research articles spread out on it, along with photos of whatever was her current topic. She knew that room was as important to her mom, as hers was to Sarah.

However, the house was big enough for four, so Chuck joining them would not cause a problem, apart from their reticence to loud love making, although Sarah doubted her mom would really object to that.

"I like the sound of that idea, Chuck." She kissed him again. "Can I talk to Mom about it, then we can work out how to make it work, how many nights in each place etc."

The look on his face told her that he hadn't been expecting her to agree so quickly. His eyes sparkled and his grin threatened to split his face. "Really?"

She grinned back, nodding.

Suddenly, he'd shifted and she found herself lying on her back with him planting kisses down her neck heading further south. She couldn't keep her moans in. She loved what he was doing to her. Kissing her all over, but some places getting more attention than others. Even though the attention was giving her difficulty thinking, one thought did lodge in her head. Every night could be like this!


The tour of his apartment didn't take long. Sarah wasn't surprised that the second bedroom had been set up as his work space, although the games console suggested he didn't only work in there.

The size of Chuck's DVD collection in the living room was impressive. She scanned through some of the titles and had seen many of them. The titles she hadn't seen were recent ones that had yet to become free on the streaming services she used. Maybe they could watch something tonight before exploring each other's bodies again. Just thinking that sent a shiver up and down her back.

She'd never felt such urges before, but everything with Chuck Bartowski was so perfect she found she just wanted more and more. However, there was more to their relationship than amazing sex. An evening watching a movie together would be wonderful. There was plenty of time this weekend for everything they wanted to do together.

She scanned through the collection and chose one released the year she was born. She'd seen it on TV with her mom who had scoffed at the concept and the delivery, which had spoiled it slightly for Sarah. Watching it with someone who obviously liked it enough to buy it would be such a different experience.

She placed the DVD case on top of his player and went in search of her boyfriend who had left her looking at his collection. She found him in the kitchen finishing off the meal he had been preparing for their dinner when she arrived. A tasty salad. It had been a good choice as he didn't know when she'd arrive, but even more so with the delays to eating they had experienced. He was cutting up a baguette to go with it.

"I've baked a cheesecake for dessert," he told her.

"How did you know that's my favorite dessert?" she enquired as she walked to him and kissed behind his ear.

He shivered. "I didn't, just hoped you'd like it." He turned and grinned at her, "Plenty of carbs and calories in it… Fuel for tonight?"

That got a full-on kiss.

Dinner passed with casual conversation, both talking about their day.

Sarah accepted coffee to go with the cheesecake and then carried the drink through to the living room.

Chuck spotted the DVD case. "'The Thing'? Never would've thought you'd like that."

"I also loved 'Escape from New York' by Carpenter. 'Big Trouble', too. He made wonderful films with Kurt Russell back in those days," Sarah replied.

"Did you have a crush on Kurt when you were younger?" he teased.

"Maybe," she replied, then grinned, "…but in this one, I loved the monsters more."

Chuck loaded the DVD and they settled back on the couch to watch it. His arm around her and her head cradled against his shoulder.

It had been a while since she last watched the movie. Sure, the effects looked a bit dated now, but the dogs changing was still disturbing. Like before, she burst out laughing at the head, joining in with words, "You've gotta be fuckin' kidding."

Chuck loved this. It was better than watching it on his own.

When it finished, Sarah commented, "I think the ending was perfect. A sequel would still be cool, though."

Chuck nodded. "Would be good."

"The cheesecake is no longer a dead weight in my stomach," Sarah said, looking up at Chuck with a smile.

She then was hoisted into his arms and carried back to the bedroom, giggling at the start but when he reached the room and kissed her neck, that changed to soft moans. Moans that continued for some time, until they became cries of his name.

God, I love this man and what he does to me!


Waking together in his place was just as special as it had been everywhere else. She had her arm across his chest and her leg entwined with his and her body pressed against his side.

She loved his smell, his warmth and the feel of him. Maybe today they should talk about how to sleep together in alternating beds going forward and not wait to discuss it with her mom, who she could tell afterwards.

They had known each other for less than four weeks, but it hadn't taken them long to know they were made for each other, so why sleep apart if they didn't have to?

She would talk about this later. For now, she'd just luxuriate in this closeness.

She drifted off to sleep again.


She woke to find herself alone in the bed. How did he get out from underneath me without waking me?

She lifted herself up enough to see his clock. Somehow it had gotten to 9:15. How did that happen?

She rose and went to the bathroom, then padded through to his living room. Chuck was in the kitchen preparing breakfast for them both. She wandered over and kissed his neck. "Morning, gorgeous," he said, still concentrating on the omelet he was making. "There's coffee, if you want it, or juice in the fridge."

"Morning, my wonderful boyfriend," she replied. She grabbed a glass and opened the fridge. Once she'd poured an orange juice, she looked back at him.

He was already dressed in a t-shirt and shorts. She only had a robe on. She felt underdressed, so put her drink down and headed back to the bedroom.

Chuck looked round and saw her disappear into the bedroom, starting to take off her robe as she entered the door. He guessed she was dressing for the morning and turned back to his cooking.

When Sarah emerged, also in t-shirt and shorts, he plated her omelet; his was already on his plate.

They sat to eat.

Sarah broached the subject that had been on her mind. She started with, "Chuck, I missed you so much during the week, even though we talked each night."

Chuck looked up, "I missed you too, Sarah." He hesitated before saying, "We could see each other every night, if you didn't mind that being late."

Sarah smiled. It was almost as if he was feeding her lines. "We could sleep together each night, just alternating between our two places?"

The biggest smile crept across his face. "I love that idea almost as much as I love you."

Sarah was excited he thought so. "Do we alternate each night or… or each week or something else?"

Chuck thought for a moment. "I have an early start each Tuesday and Friday, when I'm at my workplace, so I'd need to be here the night before each of those."

"Or set off early?" she suggested.

He looked her up and down, deliberately. That gave her goosebumps. "I don't think I could ever leave early if I was at your place, in your arms."

"You left my arms this morning," she pointed out, with a pout.

"Only to make you breakfast. At your place I'd probably roll over and make love to you."

That was it, Sarah stopped eating and jumped up. Chuck looked surprised until she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward his bedroom. "You can do that right now," Sarah said with some urgency.

Chuck was happy to do so, finding that shorts and t-shirt were the only items of clothing on his gorgeous girlfriend.


After that interlude, breakfast was finished and a long shower followed.

Sarah thought Chuck may be right about early starts, but was sure that they wouldn't shower together at her place because of her mom. Quiet love making was one thing, but showering together was not a quiet activity.

Once they were back in the living room, they sat and discussed the future arrangement.

"Ok, so Monday and Thursday nights are here." She stopped and looked at Chuck to make sure that was what he wanted. He nodded. She expressed her thoughts on the other nights, "I suggest we alternate weekends, that's Friday night through to Sunday night."

He nodded then added, "And as there are two fixed nights here each week, the remaining two nights should be at yours."

"Sounds like a plan." Sarah beamed.

Chuck grasped her hands. "I want to start this straight away, Do you have enough clothes to stay another night?"

Sarah loved his need to make this happen so quickly. She thought about what she'd brought. "No, but maybe I could put a wash through?"

He grinned and nodded, then the thought of washing hit him. "Probably need to think about chores like that. Wash nights etc."

"That's not a problem, we just need to figure those things into our plans," she replied.

He pulled her to him. "Sleeping with you every night will be a dream come true, Sarah Walker." He then gave her a tender kiss.

When they separated, she snuggled up to him. "And not just for the sex. I love sleeping, really sleeping, with you, Chuck."

"The sex is good though, isn't it?" he commented and she could hear the humor in his voice. He wasn't really fishing.

She couldn't resist an honest reply, even though teasing him might be fun. "It so is, lover."


After lunch, the rest of the day was spent with Ellie and Devon. They decided to head to the beach and parted company briefly to change into beachwear. Thankfully, Sarah had come prepared for this possibility and had brought a one-piece swimsuit. She had remembered Chuck's inability to look at her is a bikini so thought the one-piece wouldn't make it so hard for him. She had also brought a tiny bikini, but that was certainly not appropriate in current company.

On the beach, Chuck was still mesmerized by her legs. She loved that he found her so entrancing. It made her feel so special. He, of course, looked very desirable in his trunks and his swimmer's physique on show. She did notice some of the girls on the beach staring at him, which briefly roused her jealousy until he gazed at her, full of adoration. He was hers and he would never stray; their love for each other too strong.

They played volleyball for a while. The two guys relaxed and enjoying it. The two women, however, got very competitive. Chuck knew this trait in his sister but it was the first time he'd seen it in his girlfriend.

Devon commented on it to Ellie. "Wow, babe. Maybe you've met your match."

That got a snarl from his girlfriend. When she next had a chance, Ellie hit the ball aiming between Sarah's legs, but the blonde was ready for that easily hitting the ball high in chuck's direction. He chipped it along the net back for Sarah who grinned as she had already run forward for it. She smashed it down between Ellie's legs so fast the brunette stood no chance.

"Looks like Devon's right, El," Chuck gleefully commented. Then he looked at his girlfriend. "Or maybe it's just that we work so well together."

Sarah nodded and replied a bit breathlessly, "We do, Chuck."

He could see her eyes sparkling as she said that.

"Quick, serve, Devon, while they are making googly eyes at each other," Ellie called out.

All three others laughed at that before the game continued.

The game finished with Chuck and Sarah winning but only by a small margin. It was enough for Ellie to be moody for a while.

"I never thought you were so competitive, Sarah," Chuck commented as they all sat back down on their towels.

"I don't like losing," she confessed, looking embarrassed.

"Hey, there's nothing wrong with that," Devon replied. "My beautiful girlfriend is like that, too."

His comment lightened Ellie's dark face. She smiled before giving him a quick peck on the lips.

Chuck went to the cooler and offered waters. Everyone took one. Sarah was in the middle of a swig when Ellie commented, "I'm glad you always try to win, Sarah. It comes through in your writing."

Sarah frowned. "How so?"

"Rebecca is you and she hates to fail too," Ellie observed.

Sarah thought about that for a moment, then replied, "That's a bit different. For her, failing could be fatal."

"True," Ellie conceded.

Chuck finished his water and turned to his beautiful girlfriend. "Want to go for a swim?"

She put her bottle down and smiled. "As long as it's not a competition."

He grinned. "Afraid you might lose?"

She chuckled. "Oh, I know I'd lose to you."

"Well, no competition, then," he responded.

"And no making out while in deep water," Ellie added, grinning.

Sarah laughed as Chuck held her hand and pulled her up. Neither replied to Ellie, but rushed down into the surf, laughing and splashing.

Sarah knew Chuck had a swimming background, but seeing him in the water was still amazing. He was so graceful in it. It brought Ellie's words back to her and she blushed at the thought of him pressing that sleek form against her as they kissed.

She had to focus on her swimming after that.


They had only just sat down to dinner at Devon and Ellie's place, when the editor's mind kicked in. "So, how's the new novel going?"

Sarah chuckled, "Been holding that in all afternoon?"

Ellie grinned. "Yep."

"It's going well, oh editor of mine," Sarah stated. "Rebecca has just caught Bruce and will be interrogating him next."

"So, how far through it are you?" Ellie asked next.

"Probably about a third to a half, not sure."

Sarah looked at Ellie and saw the sparkle in her eyes. She knew what was coming next. "And the love interest?" Ellie predictably asked. Sarah couldn't help glancing at her boyfriend on hearing that question. Ellie chuckled. "Not yours, Rebecca's."

Sarah quickly looked back at Ellie. "Not done anything on that yet." Then she chuckled herself and grabbed Chuck's hand. "Might have to do some more research first."

Chuck nearly choked and Devon burst out laughing.

Ellie smiled, a tight smile, but said, "I do not need to hear about that, already got an earful this morning, thank you very much."


When they staggered back to Chuck's apartment, both had consumed quite a bit of wine throughout the evening.

Neither were really up to doing anything other than cuddling together and sleeping it off. That was exactly what they did, but they did sleep naked as that just felt so wonderful not to have any barriers between them.

As Sarah drifted off, she thought that this is what their lives would be like from now on. That was such a wonderful thought.


The following morning, Sarah insisted they return to bed after trips to the bathroom, and especially brushing their teeth. The love making once they climbed back into bed was slow and gentle, but also wonderfully passionate as well. However, after breakfast, they returned to bed and it was more intense.

Afterward, Sarah commented, "I managed without this for quite a while, but now I can't live without it." She rolled of and looked at her boyfriend. "Without you."

He smiled affectionately at her, but couldn't resist commenting, "So, it's not just my repartee you need?"

She chuckled. "No, I need what you just did to me, too."

He leaned over and the tender kiss lingered. When it finished, she gasped. "I need those as well." She captured his lips once again after that.

She did get up then and collected together her dirty clothes and put them in a wash so they would be ready for Tuesday morning.


"Do you think he'll like me?" Sarah asked nervously.

Chuck stopped walking toward his friend's apartment. He grasped her hands as he turned to face her. "He'll love you. I haven't had a girlfriend for five years and keep complaining that even he can get one. Now I'm with you, I don't moan anymore."

"So, he'd like any woman who snagged you, then?" she teased. It was in jest, but part of her was serious.

"Snagged me?" he questioned.

She grinned and nodded.

"He will quickly see that the woman who 'snagged me' is exceptional," Chuck replied and started walking again.

"Thanks, Chuck," she replied, quietly.

When they reached the door, Chuck was about to knock when it burst open. Morgan was beaming at them both.

Sarah felt instantly welcomed by the bearded man, especially when he rushed to her and hugged her. It was a bit awkward as he was probably a couple of inches shorter than her, but with her heels on and him ducking under her chin, he was uncomfortably close to her breasts, but thankfully he didn't stay like that for long. He drew back and beamed at her again. "The savior!" he declared.

'A very pretty and petit brunette appeared behind Morgan chuckling. She kindly explained to Sarah, "Morgan thinks you saved Chuck from a lifetime of loneliness."

Sarah looked over her shoulder at Chuck who was standing behind her, shrugging. Sarah turned back to the woman in the doorway. "He did the same for me," she said quietly. She reached her hand out to the woman, "Probably obvious, but I'm Sarah."

"Hannah," the brunette said as she shook Sarah's hand.

"And I'm Morgan," the beard said, rather superfluously.

Sarah grinned. "Hi, Morgan, and thanks for the hug."

"He won't be doing that again, Sarah," Hannah commented with a slight glare at her boyfriend. Then she turned back to Sarah looked down at her chest and said, with a smile, "You're too tall."

Sarah laughed and even Chuck chuckled. Morgan just looked embarrassed.

"Come on in," Hannah told them.


Over dinner, Sarah was grilled by both of their hosts. Not in a bad way, but they just seemed to want to soak up every bit of information she would share.

Morgan was the first to start, "Tell us about yourself, Sarah."

Sarah grinned. "Well, I'm not sure what you want to know."

He rattled off a list, "Where you were born and grew up, past boyfriends, why you were attracted to Chuck." He grinned, "All the usual things."

Hannah slapped Morgan's arm and told Sarah, "Ignore the one about past boyfriends. That's not important."

Sarah decided she liked this beautiful brunette and grinned at her. Then she started her answer, "I was born in London, but we moved over here to Boston when I was six."

"Why was that?" Morgan asked, leaning with his left elbow on the table and his chin supported in the cup of that hand. He'd forgotten all about his meal at this point.

"Family reasons," Sarah replied and Morgan just nodded.

Chuck was impressed at her quickly stepping over that, but guessed she may have had to do this before.

"We stayed in Boston until my mom and dad had a falling out when I was seven. Mom moved us out here to LA. She got a job as a teacher at a local school and we've lived here ever since."

"Sorry to hear about the falling out, Sarah," Hannah said, "Must have been hard for a seven-year-old."

Sarah thought back. "Yeah, it was, but Mom then had to raise a child on her own which was tough for her."

"Is she still a teacher?" Hannah asked.

"No. She stopped teaching before I graduated and took up writing."

"Ohh, what does she write?" the brunette asked.

Sarah chuckled and told her about the science books.

"Sorry, not for me," Hannah replied.

"What did you study and where?" Morgan asked.

Sarah looked back at him. "I went to USC and majored in creative writing with a minor in languages."

"Impressive," Hannah pipped up.

"She's too modest. She got there on a scholarship," Chuck stated, proud of his girlfriend.

She looked fondly at him for mentioning that, although she usually skipped it as it sounded like boasting.

"Like you did, Chuck," Morgan said with sparkling eyes.

Sarah held Chuck's gaze until he told her, "Yeah, I did."

"Two super smart people!" Morgan declared.

"Thanks, Morgan," she replied.

"So did you start writing spy fiction straight away after college?" Hannah asked.

Sarah grinned. "I did and thanks to his sister," she thumbed over at Chuck, "I was successful with my first novel and the series spun from there."

Morgan's eyes narrowed and looked at his friend. "Why hadn't you met before? Was Ellie hiding her from you?"

Sarah had wondered about that too and looked Chuck's way. He just shrugged. "I don't know! Who knows what goes on in that head of hers!"

"So, you're a successful writer now," Morgan stated.

"Not rich," Sarah was quick to point out, "but comfortable, as I have a following now."

"Chuck only gave us an outline of how you met," Hannah said, to encourage Sarah to say more.

Sarah blushed. "It was a mix up."

"I didn't-" Chuck started but Sarah stopped him.

"It's alright, these are your close friends. They won't share it further." She turned to the other two. "… will you?"

Chuck knew Morgan would struggle with keeping a secret and Hannah was part of the Inquisition squad seeking out information and disbursing it. He was surprised when Hannah said, "I will make sure it goes no further." She looked pointedly at her boyfriend. "Got it?"

Morgan nodded, looking very much hen-pecked right at that moment.

Sarah managed to keep her grin to herself. "Ellie was supposed to take me for dinner on the first night in DC for my book tour and she cancelled minutes before we were to go. I wanted to know why, followed her and found her kissing a tall man. I knew her husband wasn't with her so I called her out on it. It turned out to be Chuck… her brother."

As she was telling the tale, Chuck prompted her, "And what was it you said to her?"

Sarah flushed that bit more and gave him a slight glare. "I said to her, 'Devon doesn't deserve to have you carrying on with this two-bit lothario.'"

Morgan laughed out loud and Hannah looked at Chuck. "You cad!" she said, eyes full of mirth.

Sarah laughed at Hannah's words and the situation was a lot less embarrassing for her after that.

"We hit it off as soon as that was cleared up," Chuck told them. He looked Sarah's way. "I think I fell in love straight away."

Sarah loved the look he gave her and ran her hand down his cheek. "Me too, Chuck. Me too."

"Aww," Hannah cooed. "When's the wedding?"

Both Chuck and Sarah stared at each other with surprised looks. ""W- we've only known each other four weeks, as of tonight," Sarah told the brunette.

Hannah grinned. "But you look so perfect together."

Sarah leaned over and kissed her still stunned boyfriend, then turned back to the others. "We are, so as of this weekend we are cohabiting… in two homes."

Two homes?" Morgan looked completely confused.

"Alternating between his place and mine," Sarah explained.

Morgan's face morphed into a smile. "Cool." Then he frowned. "What if we want a games night?"

Hannah answered that for him, "Sarah can come on a girl's night out."

Sarah remembered the last nightclub she tried to go to. "I won't want to go clubbing."

Hannah turned to her in surprise. "You don't like dancing?"

Sarah explained what had happened on her research night. Chuck hadn't heard this before and was looking angry.

"Wow! Sounds like you can handle yourself, Sarah," Morgan said admiringly.

"Not the same for a group of girls," Hannah explained. "I wouldn't go on my own like that. Do you like dancing?"

Sarah never danced these days, so shrugged her shoulders. "Haven't for many years."

"You are so coming with us," the brunette stated.

"Only if we are at Chuck's that night," Sarah cautioned.

"That's the same for a games night, Morg," Chuck added.

They then had to explain the arrangement.

"Wow! You really have planned this out," Hannah marveled.

Sarah grinned. "We're a couple of planners."

Hannah was desperate to say, "So, start planning that wedding," but she resisted.

"All the girls are desperate to meet you, Sarah," Hannah told her. "The woman who took Charles Bartowski off the market."

Sarah looked at her boyfriend. "Is that what people think? That he was on the market and I took him off it?"

"Hannah shook her head. "No, I was wrong. The woman who took him off the market did so by dumping him five years ago." Chuck frowned at that. "You, Sarah Walker, rescued him; brought him out of his hermit's cave."

Sarah felt sorry for her boyfriend and wished they'd met sooner. However, she placed her palm against his cheek. "Well, what that stupid woman did helped me. I doubt I could have…" she thought about what Chuck had said on the way here, "…snagged him otherwise."

Chuck beamed at her words and leaned over to kiss her lips, then said, "Happily snagged."

Sarah grinned at her lover then looked over at Hannah again, who was thoroughly enjoying seeing them together and said, "You are good for him, Sarah."

Sarah smiled and quickly glanced his way. She leaned forward and loudly 'whispered', "Don't tell him, but he's good for me, too." She heard the chuckle behind her.

Hannah looked at Morgan. "When she comes in, I'll take her around to meet people." Chuck started to object and Hannah held up her hand. "Tsk!" She looked back at Sarah. "I'll look after you. You won't get mobbed."


When they got back to Chuck's apartment, Sarah was exhausted again. Not from alcohol this time, just socializing. She just wasn't used to it.

"So, ready to face the mob tomorrow?" Chuck teased.

"Nah. Hannah's got my back," she replied.

"She took a real liking to you, Sarah."

"What's not to like?" she asked, knowing there was a lot of things she didn't like herself.

Chuck just nodded. "You're right. You, Sarah Walker, are perfect in every way."

God, that is wonderful to hear him say! she thought. Then she grinned. "Well, there are some ways, just for you to know." He scooped her up and walked down the corridor. They soon found those ways.


A/N: So, decision made and a schedule created, followed by a weekend with Chuck's family and friends. In the next chapter, Sarah will go to his office. Phew, she's meeting everyone. I wonder what his staff will think of her.

Love to see your thoughts on this chapter, if you've the time to send me a review.