A/N: Again, if you're taking this one seriously…..

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck


"I am so sorry, Sarah," Chuck said, as she led him away, grinning. She gave him a look, and steered him outside. Spying a gazebo, she led them to it. They sat, and she turned to him, looking him in the eye.

"Why exactly are you sorry?"

"Because the one thing I was trying to avoid, you now are saddled with. Everyone thinks that you and I are… well… you and I," Chuck explained.

"I see," Sarah said. "So, you're not upset that someone might find out that you were lowering your standards for me?"

"Lowering my standards for you?" Chuck asked, standing as the shock from her statement hit him. "I mean, have you met you? Smart, funny, you like my jokes," he began.

"No need for such low blows," she muttered.

"I've never felt as at ease around someone, as I do you," he continued.

"At ease? Or easy?" she asked, making his jaw lock up. "God, you are so fun to kid."

"Well, I'm glad you're enjoying me," Chuck replied.

"Nice," she said, grinning. "I am enjoying you, and I can't wait to birth-"

"Oh God," he said, sitting, his head in his hands. Sarah laughed. He looked up at her, shaking his head. She rubbed his shoulders. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For getting me out of that mess in there," Chuck said. "Although, don't think I didn't see your father's face, as Lester talked." Sarah grinned. "You enjoyed that a little."

"Hell, I enjoyed that a lot," Sarah retorted, her tongue between her teeth, laughing. "Listen, there are some trails that lead to the cliff where we could watch the sunset… if you're into that sort of thing."

"Sounds like something a boyfriend and a girlfriend, or two people in a semi-serious relationship, would do," Chuck replied.

"Or even a serious relationship," Sarah countered, turning to him and playing with the hem of her shirt. She looked up into his eyes. "Wanna go on a hike with me?"

"You know that you could tell me you're taking me up there to push me over that cliff, and I'd go, right?"

"Yeah," Sarah admitted, titling her head and giggling. "So be honest, is there something else that you wanted to do, because…"

Chuck thought for a second. "Well I was really looking forward to this panel that was going to discuss heart problems," he said, looking as serious as he could.

"I feel like I shouldn't ask, but it's like a car wreck, I can't look away," Sarah replied, watching him grin. "What's it called?"

"The Angina Monologues," Chuck replied with a straight face.

"I am pushingyou over that cliff," she said, walking back to their room.

"I've already fallen over the cliff," Chuck muttered to himself.

}o{

The two changed into clothes and shoes for a hike up the hillside. As they walked, side by side, their pinkies kept brushing the other, until Sarah took Chuck's hand into hers. He didn't say anything, but the grin on his face made her heart sing. They got to the top of the cliff, and Chuck pointed out a higher spot. The problem was they couldn't stand side by side.

She grinned at him, tugged on his hand, and lead him toward the spot. She stood in front of him, pulling his arm around her stomach, her hand over his. She reached and got his other hand, doing the exact same thing to it. They stood there, his mouth close to her ear, watching the sun set.

"Beautiful," she said softly.

"Yeah, you are," he replied. She looked slowly over her shoulder at him, and he shrugged, making no apologies.

"I think I might keep you," she said.

"Ha, jokes on you, no-return policy on me," Chuck replied. "Although you could just leave me on the side of the road."

"That turned dark," she muttered.

"Sorry, probably something to do with my parents abandoning my sister and I," Chuck replied.

"Wait, what?" Sarah asked spinning. Chuck locked his fingers behind her back, and she grinned at him. "Looking out for me, huh, Bartowski?"

"That is what retreat partners do, isn't it?" Chuck asked. Sarah tilted her head, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Really selling the cover here, aren't we?"

"What cover, Chuck?" she asked, pulling him towards her, their lips connecting. She pulled away, and searched his eyes. "Chuck," she began.

"Sarah," he replied, grinning. "We need to go."

She flushed, and her breath hitched as she nodded. "Back to the room?" she asked timidly.

"Well, maybe not there, but we don't want to be here when the sun goes down," Chuck told her.

"Right," she said, nodding, disappointment in her tone and on her face. He started to back away, his hand still on her, protectively.

They made it to the trail, when he added "Plus, we don't need any pine cones or needles or anything like that to poke us when we… well…" he trailed off, and for the first time since she met him, she stumbled, and he didn't.

}o{

When they got back, Chuck led her into the bar, and got them a table. She watched him, silently, studying him. He quit looking at the menu and turned to her. "Is there something in my hair, falling out of my nose, what?"

"Just wondering if I got played," she said, shrugging.

He got a serious look on his face. "Do you feel like you've been played?" She shook her head, the smile returning. "Then what do you think happened?"

"I think maybe I've found the real Chuck Bartowski," she said, as the waitress walked up, setting down waters for them. She took their orders and headed to the back.

"And what do you think of him?" he asked, taking a sip of his water.

"He's pretty damn hot," she said with a shrug, making Chuck nearly choke on his water.

"Wrong hole," he choked out. "Wrong hole." She watched him, amusement on her face. He brushed off any water droplets on his shirt, and held her gaze, his own amused smile gracing his face. "Thank you?"

"Not been told the truth much, have you?" she asked him.

"I don't know how to answer that," he admitted. "I don't feel…." He trailed off, not able to call himself that.

"Hot," Sarah said. "Three letters, but there are so many other words I can think of."

"Really?" Chuck asked. "I mean, that sounded super needy and I'm not-"

"I know you're not," Sarah said. "You're kind, considerate, thoughtful, sweet."

"Those all sound like you're describing a puppy, or an eight-year-old," Chuck pointed out.

"Hence, hot," she said, biting off the last letter. Chuck swallowed. "Too much for you?"

Chuck was silent for a moment. "No," he replied, looking up into her eyes, his face serious. Her face lost the grin, replaced with a look of shock and a little bit of awe. "I don't know why you think of me like you do. I don't know why we click like we do. But I'm not blind, and I've got degrees to prove I'm somewhat intelligent." She grinned at that. "There's a lot here, and I figure we're both adults, who are capable of dealing with whatever decisions the two of us decide to make… good or bad."

"You think I'm gonna make a bad decision?" Sarah asked, playing with her straw, watching him.

"I think it might be a bad decision on your part, but you seem to think it's a good one, hence me being torn," Chuck admitted. She pulled back her chin, confusion on her face. "Look, I can't get why someone as amazing as you wants to be with me."

"I think I named them," Sarah told him. "Chuck," she said, reaching over and taking his hand. She started to speak, when it began.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Lester said in his low, creepy voice. "JEFFSTER!" They began to play and… sing?

"That sounds like cats having an orgy," Chuck said, making Sarah snort. He looked across the table at her. "Wanna get out of here?" She nodded. Chuck signaled the waitress. "Can we get that delivered to our room?" The waitress nodded, wincing at the caterwauling from the stage. "Put it on my bosses' bill."

Sarah gave him a smile. He held out his hand, and she took it. He rose, and she did as well. Walking to the stairway, they went upstairs, to their room. Chuck pulled out the key card, and opened the door for her. She entered and held it for him, as he walked in after her. She shut the door, her back resting against it.

He moved toward her, leaning over her, searching her eyes. "Sarah, how do you feel about me pleasuring you the rest of the night?"

She gulped.

"HOT!" she replied, as she grabbed his neck, and pulled him into a kiss.


A/N: Wow, everything looks to be…well…good. So is this over? Hehehehehehehehe *sips tea*