A/N: The end of our journey. Lord what a year. Happy holidays to everyone. Take care of yourself.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

One year later, the anniversary of Morgan's last conversation with Chuck

He woke up like he did every morning since he had become Sarah's "roommate," in their bed, but unlike most mornings, he found himself without his snuggle buddy. He looked around and saw her sitting beside him, wide awake, watching him, concern on her face.

"You have to know, whatever name I said, if it wasn't yours, it wasn't some subconscious want of mine, I have everything I need right here."

"Aw," she said, smiling at him. "Don't want your ass kicked over a dream is what I'm hearing."

"Exactly," Chuck replied, making her giggle. "But seriously…is something wrong?" She didn't say anything for a moment. He knew that look. It was the look of something she knew that was going to hurt someone…someone she cared for…loved. "Are we breaking up?"

"What, no!" she told him, shock on her face. "Chuck, I love you, and this…" she gestured between them. "Baby…this is it for me." She shrugged. "I mean, I know it's just been a year but…when you know, you know….you know?"

He just nodded, dumbstruck. He knew how he felt and while he had a certain inkling how she felt…

Sure she had told him she loved him, he knew she loved him, but Chuck had loved Jill, and he was pretty sure Jill loved him. As that old Bonnie Raitt song said, sometimes, love just ain't enough.

"You with me there, buddy?" she asked, pulling him out of his thoughts. He looked at her, smiling as he blinked.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about what you said," he admitted. The smile that permeated her face lit the whole room. "That just kinda slipped out, it wasn't too much was it?"

She shook her head, shyly, but held his gaze. "You think about that any time you want to if it makes you look that happy," she told him. She was silent for a minute and then sighed. "Chuck, I hate to do this but…do you know what today is?"

"Uh, Tuesday?" he asked. He sat up. "Crap, do we have a big project and I overslept?" Sarah shook her head. She started to speak when her phone went off. "Go ahead, I'll be right here."

"Okay," she told him, grinning taking the call.

"Forever if you'll have me," he muttered to himself. She glanced at him, and he wondered exactly how loud did he say that. She stood up, left the room and Chuck lay there, wondering what the big deal was. He started to get out of bed when he saw the clock. 7:15. He grabbed his phone and checked the date. "Holy shit," he muttered.

"Chuck," Sarah said as she entered the room. She stopped talking as she saw him, and rushed over to him.

"I'm okay," he mumbled, but he gladly accepted the hug. "What does this mean?"

"That maybe you've quit blaming yourself," Sarah offered, squeezing him tight. "That maybe you're doing what your heterosexual life partner would want you to do."

"He would be so happy to hear you call him that," Chuck told her, not stopping the tears that were forming, but knowing it wasn't the normal sorrow of his guilt, but from the loss of his friend. He pulled away. "Listen, I have a favor to ask-"

"I'm coming in and I don't care if you're decent," Carina said, opening the bedroom door. "Oh, come on, Zondra, he doesn't have anything that you haven't seen before."

"Maybe not, but that doesn't mean I have to see it," Zondra said, sounding like she was in the hall, right past the doorway.

"He's fine," Carina said softly. Zondra came around the corner, a quizzical look on her face.

"Oh," Zondra said, seeing him. She looked over at Sarah. "And you say he just woke up." Sarah nodded. Zondra looked over at Carina. "You know this is our doing."

"Oh, absolutely," Carina replied. "If we hadn't introduced the two-"

"Wait, what?" Chuck cut in.

"If it wasn't for us Sarah wouldn't have met you that day in the house when you faked an injury," Carina began.

"First, we had met before that, and second, I have a scar from the stitches," Chuck retorted.

Carina rolled her eyes. "Why is he always so dramatic?" she asked Zondra.

"And women are supposed to be dramatic," Zondra agreed. "I guess next, he'll say it wasn't our idea he get rid of the house so Blondie knew he was trying to grow up."

"I called you about selling the house," Chuck sputtered.

"And after that, he'll say that it was his idea to fix it up for Emma and have Sarah decorate it," Carina added.

"Sarah decorating it was your idea," Chuck relented.

"Listen, I appreciate everything you two did for us, even if he doesn't," Sarah told them, watching the shock on Chuck's face while fighting her own laughter. "But, we need to let him get dressed, he has a few stops to make today."

"No, I don't," Chuck said. "I-"

"Chuck, you're going to visit his grave…without the grape soda-"

"Thank God," Chuck muttered, making Sarah smile.

"And then afterwards, we have a surprise for you."

"There won't be any wrenches falling on my head will there, because as grateful I am that it did, I don't have a very high pain tolerance," Chuck admitted.

"We know," Carina and Zondra said at the same time, making Sarah laugh. The two left the bedroom to let Chuck get ready.

}o{

They went to the gravesite, and the three women gave Chuck some space to have his conversation with Morgan. It wasn't as long as most, and as he rejoined them, while evidence of tears were on his cheeks, there was joy on his face, and a sense of peace.

As he rode in the vehicle, his hand snuggly placed in Sarah's, he thought about the difference a year made, and the people in his life now…truly in his life, and he made a decision.

He was deep in thought and didn't notice as they pulled up to his old house, the one he sold just under a year ago. "What are we doing?" Chuck asked.

"You'll see," Sarah said, as she took his hand, and pulled him into the house, grinning the whole time. Chuck was stunned to see his family, Emma, and many former employees of his old company.

"What is going on?" Chuck asked.

"This is my doing," came a gruff voice, that made Chuck's eyes bulge out. Casey stood there, looking a little embarrassed. He was silent for a second, and Chuck noticed Carina had slid next to Casey. She put her hand on his forearm in support, and he made a small grunt and smiled at her. The smile she gave him let Chuck know she was quite in tune with the big man's grunts.

"We've been using your product in the federal government for some time and while we have done nothing illegal, or immoral or-"

"Get to the point big guy," Carina said softly.

"We owe you and all your former employees some compensation," Casey finished. "I know you're never going back into that field because of what you lost, but we do hope that this can make up for the monetary compensation you lost. Also, anyone not here, I will find and give them their check as well."

"That didn't sound creepy at all," Chuck muttered to Sarah. She stifled a laugh and squeezed his hand. Chuck watched as Casey gave out envelopes to each former employee. It took longer than Casey thought it would as many would go after him and hug him after they opened the envelope and saw how much the check was for.

Chuck felt love in this house, and as he glanced at the hallway that led to Morgan's old room. He swore he saw his friend leaning against the door frame, a grape soda in his hand. He lifted it to Chuck and Chuck nodded at him. Someone passed in his line of sight to hug Casey and when Chuck could see the door frame again, Morgan was gone. "Miss you buddy," he said softly. He felt his hand squeezed and looked down at his girlfriend, smiling up at him. "I love you."

"I love you," she told him softly.

}o{

It was a party full of food that Morgan would have been proud of. There were sandwich trays, sizzling shrimp, critical side dish #2, and something Anna made that she said had been Morgan's favorite. No one ate any, they all had told her it was out of respect to Morgan.

Chuck found himself in the kitchen, cleaning dishes, whistling happily when Emma entered. "I see why my daughter likes you." Chuck chuckled at that.

"Emma," he began.

"If you're about to ask for my daughter's hand in marriage, don't even think about it," Emma told him, cutting him off. His eyes went wide. He nodded, a sad look on his face. "Chuck Bartowski, if you think I said that because I think you're not good enough for my daughter, then you are the stupidest, smart man I have ever met.

"Huh?"

"Chuck, she loves you, and when you two feel it's time, of course you have my blessing, but if you think I'm going to follow some ancient tradition, after all her and I have been through-"

"I just was going to do it because I wanted you to approve of us," Chuck told her, shrugging.

"And if I didn't would it change anything between you two?" Chuck shook his head. Emma shook hers, walked over, and pulled Chuck into a hug. "Chuck, thank you. You saved her life."

"It was more Carina and Zondra and Casey," Chuck began.

"Chuck…you know damn well what I mean," she told him. He did.

}o{

"Don't touch me, just let me lay here and die. The hypothermia will take me eventually, if not the internal bleeding will."

Sarah stood over his prone figure, waving away the attendant. "Are you done?"

"No, I wanted to lie here another ten minutes or so, wallowing in my own pity and self-deprecation, but apparently you're not having any of that today," Chuck replied, trying to get up.

She reached down and helped him stand. "You okay?"

"You mean other than falling on my ass ten times in half an hour ice skating beside the most beautiful woman I ever met, who is also grace on skates, AND has insane balance and can help me up each time I fall?" She was trying not to laugh. "Other than that…peachy."

It was a week before Christmas and the two of them were ice skating…well…trying to ice skate…Sarah was ice skating, Chuck was falling a lot.

"What can I say, I'm amazing," Sarah told him, smiling sweetly at him. He stuck his tongue out at her, and then had to grab her arm because he lost his balance. "Here, let's sit."

"Let's not," Chuck told her. "My backside…it's sore, Sarah." Sarah guided him over to a wall with a rail to hold onto. "Thanks."

"What's wrong, Chuck?" She had a serious look on her face. "I know, you have issues with balance on these things with your insanely long legs, but you also seem distracted. Have I done something?"

"No-no," Chuck rushed out quickly. "It's more…Someone very smart told me that I have to live, which means moving forward in life."

"Very smart, huh?" she asked, grinning.

Chuck nodded. "So, here's the problem." He took a deep breath. "There's something I want to do, there's something I think I should do, but if I'm wrong, it could cost me everything, and I love what I have in my life. I love my life, but this…could make it better, or it could make it worse."

"You're talking a lot in circles baby," Sarah said to him. She reached over and laid a hand over his. "Why don't you just come out and say it."

"But what if it's you that this decision affects, what if I destroy us?"

Sarah was silent for a second. "Are you in love with another woman?"

"You mean besides Ellie and my mom?" Chuck asked.

"And my mom and Carina and Zondra…scratch that, are you in romantic love with any other woman?"

"I mean I don't think I still love Jill, but I know if she showed up tomorrow it wouldn't mean a damn thing to me," Chuck replied. He started to shrug and that caused him to lose his balance. He grabbed the hand rail as Sarah tilted her head, and gave him a "really" look over the shrugging, all while trying not to laugh at him. "Then there was Becky in the third grade…she had a beret…dear god was that hot."

"I could wear a beret," she told him. She quickly grabbed him as his legs nearly buckled. "You seriously just pictured me wearing only a beret, didn't you?"

"Obviously," Chuck replied, making her nearly howl with laughter.

"Okay, are you leaving me?"

"I mean I have said and done some stupid things in my lifetime but I take offense that you would even suggest that," Chuck replied, trying to look offended.

"Well, you think I might leave you," Sarah reminded him. Chuck pressed his lips together. "Is that what you need to hear, that I won't leave you?"

"I mean…but what if I asked you something, and you say no, and then you realize that one day you will?"

Sarah was silent for a moment, making Chuck uncomfortable and then he nearly fell. "I thought you were holding on to the rail?"

"I am, but my hands are sweating," Chuck admitted.

"Chuck…am I making you nervous?" Chuck nodded. "Chuck, why would I make you nervous?" Chuck gulped. "You know," she began, as a mysterious smile began to grow across her face. "The way you're talking…you could make a girl think that…that maybe you're thinking about asking me a question that might define my future."

"I mean…I could see how you think that," Chuck admitted.

"Have I told you how many name changes I've had over the years due to us having to move?" Chuck shook his head. "I've lost count," she admitted. "There was Katie, Rebecca, Sam…hell, one time I was a Mildred."

"You don't look like a Mildred," Chuck blurted out. She chuckled. "Well, you don't."

"What do I look like to you, Chuck? What's the perfect first and last name for me?"

Chuck stood there, his throat dry, his lips cracking, his hands pouring sweat. "It may not be the name you think is perfect for you."

"But what if it is?" she asked softly. He couldn't speak. "You know, it's not fair is it?" Chuck was confused by the shift. "Society says that the guy has to be the one to lead in these things, but you know what I think?" Chuck shook his head. "I think these things should be done together, as a couple."

"But someone has to broach the subject," Chuck added.

"Someone does," Sarah agreed, nodding. "How about this, on three, we both say what we think my perfect name, first and last, would be, and then we discuss the findings, no judgment from either side."

"One question," Chuck cut in, before she could start counting. "How do you feel about Hilda?" She tilted her head at him slightly, giving him a look that questioned if he liked the sex they were currently having on a regular basis. "Got it."

She couldn't fight the grin. "One."

"Do you think you could hold my hands so I don't fall?" he asked, being completely serious.

"Two," she continued, taking his hands, squeezing them and holding them tight.

"I love you," he told her, worry on his face, but determination there as well.

"I love you," she told him. "Three."

"Sarah Bartowski," they both said at the same time. There was silence for a second, and then Sarah spoke.

"So, I'm guessing the ring is in your pocket, because each time you fell I've seen you reach for it to make sure it's there," she told him. He blushed a little at how easily she had figured him out. "But my question…did you really plan on getting down on one knee and proposing on the ice."

"Well, to be fair, Morgan had helped me with a proposal plan years ago," Chuck began. "There were horses, and cars….we were eight, Sarah. There had been a lot of revision since then." She was smiling and fighting tears from the thought of the two young men trying to figure out how Chuck would propose to his future wife some day. "Anyway, he knew Jill hated the cold and figured a skating rink would be out because of her, but he always said if the right woman came along…he never really liked her."

"I like Morgan more and more each day," Sarah admitted.

Chuck smiled at her. "Anyway, Morgs thought…he thought that because I had long legs I could skate just fine…he was wrong, Sarah." Sarah had her head on his chest, leaning against him, all while holding him up. "Are you sure?" She looked up at him. "Are you sure you want to marry some guy who can't even stand while wearing skates."

He watched as the laughter drained from his face and surprise and horror covered it. "Married?"

"Yeah, we've been talking about your last name, the proposal plan and…Sarah?"

"Chuck, I just meant you were family, who said anything about getting married?" Chuck's jaw dropped and then he realized the tears threatening to come out of her eyes, that he thought was shame or anger, was actually her holding in laughter. "Son of a-"

She was holding on to him again, laughing as hard as he had ever seen her. "You actually thought…" she trailed off, still laughing.

People skated by, Chuck nodding at them, and having to say things like, "she's fine." "Too much caffeine." "She took the wrong pills today." Her laughter just intensified and he found himself pulled into it.

"You are the dumbest smart person I've ever met," she told him when she had somewhat composed herself.

"Your mother may have said the same thing," he admitted. "So, Sarah Walker, will you marry me?"

"Only if you promise not to get on one knee because I'll probably laugh too hard to pull you up," she told him. She reached up and pecked him on the lips. "Yes, Chuck, I will marry you."

"Yes," he said, pumping his fist, which caused him to lose his balance and crash down, pulling Sarah on top of them.

They couldn't help it, they both lay there, laughing, together.

A/N: Merry Christmas everyone.