A/N 1 Some things you need to know, and you may have forgotten.

First the underlying concept is could Charina exist. In canon, they don't seem to be compatible at that level. So, in fanfic, people seem to change Carina, make her more Sarah like.

I thought what if it was Chuck who changed.

This is not action or intrigue. This is drama, exploring personalities and personal journeys.
Action and missions tends to happen off screen, and large periods of time we be jumped over and referred to as needed.

So this AU diverts after Chuck was offered the Rome assignment. Also circumstances, such as they are, never led to Other Guy and American hero, or Tic Tac, which occurs later in Season 3.

There are 2 main premises to this fic.

1 Chuck is a Human, not a Saint. He is a fallible human, imperfect, and capable of making big, stupid mistakes.

2 Chuck firmly believes, in his core, that he has to be a real spy to be with Sarah. She seems to prefer them, and he feels he will always be inadequate otherwise. Charles Carmichael is who he feels he must be. Ain't it a bitch that becoming a spy lost him Sarah.

A/N 2 Chuck makes it back to L.A. More will come. Let's see how Charles Carmichael's life proceeds.

Standard Disclaimer – Don't Own Chuck or any of the characters. Just own an active imagination. Not making any money off this. Wish I was making more with my imagination, elsewhere.

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Chuck's eyes flickered, but he kept them closed, listening. Someone was in the room with him. His room, he remembered, and realized the opening of the window must have been what woke him. In seconds, he sensed and heard someone some rapidly take the few steps to the bed. In those same seconds, he rolled out of bed and assumed a defensive posture.

"Chuuuuck", a voice called out. Chuck's open and now awake eyes took in a silly scene. Morgan, finished a leap by landing on the bed, getting tangled in the sheets, and bouncing off, falling to the floor on the other side.

"What the hell, Morgan!" Chuck cried out, his annoyance replaced by humor, evidenced by the deep belly laughs he produced. Only Morgan, he merrily thought, God I miss that. For a moment, there were no spies, no danger, no responsibility, only carefree joy filled his mind, and he reveled in it.

Meanwhile, Morgan's head peeked up from the other side of the bed, Chuck's t-shirt from the night before removed sometime during the night, covering his head, revealing only his lower, bearded face.

Morgan pulled the t-shirt off his head, standing and hurrying around the bed the pull Chuck in a big hug, prompting renewed laughter.

"Man I've missed you. The Buy More, heck L.A. isn't the same without you." Morgan rushed out, excited and breathless. "I know it's early, but I wanted us to spend all day together."

"Ok, Ok, buddy, but can I least be wearing pants for the duration?" Chuck jokingly inquired, returning Morgan's hug and patting his back before releasing the hug. "We've done the "Night of Morgan", today I want to do "A Day of Chuck", and I want you by my side for the duration."

Morgan's face split into a huge grin, obvious even under the beard, his eyes glistening from his barely restrained emotion.

"But first I need the bathroom and a shower. Then we'll grab some cereal and fire up the gaming system. It may be dusty, but I'm sure it still works." Chuck's good spirit imbued in the words.

"Cool," Morgan said, heading towards the bedroom door, "I'll make breakfast."

"Stop," Chuck snapped. He softened his tone, as he explained. "Morgan, buddy, I am always happy to see you, even in the wee hours of the morning; Ellie not so much. She's probably half awake and half dressed (Morgan's eyes widened at the thought), and won't be in any the mood for any Morgan time, right now."

He continued, with a heart-felt smile, "Just stay here, get the game system fired up, and when I am ready, WE will grab some cereal and then jump into a morning of gaming. Be aware we are also going down to the pier this afternoon."

Morgan vibrated in excitement. "Fantastic! This is just like old times. Well, except we would still be asleep after a late night of gaming, then a trip to the beach in the afternoon, followed by another night of fragging n00bs. It may be out of order, but it is still going to be great!"

Soon, bowls of overly sweet cereal in hand, they fired up the system and logged on to the COD server, and prepared to school the next generation of teenagers. They spawned into the middle of a firefight and Chuck froze. His mouth went dry, and his stomach knotted. The sound of fake gunfire, immediately reminded him of real gunfire. His mind's eye filled with images of bodies, blood, and blackness. He was dead in seconds, and Morgan, surprised at his quick demise, called out. "Chuck! Chuck! What happened? You need to respawn and get back in the battle."

Chuck set the controller down, and quietly said, "I don't think I want to play this."

Morgan looked at his friend, concerned and confused by his friends pallor. "You Ok, man? I thought we would rule the battlefield like in the old days."

Chuck was reminded that Morgan was still an innocent, and shook off his sudden melancholy. "Sorry bud, not today, I'm just not into it." "How about Mario Cart, he said, his tone brightening. I could use something silly." He shoulder bumped Morgan adding, "Well, in addition to you."

He smiled at his friend, who chuckled and smiled. "Whatever you want man, like you said, this is 'A Day of Chuck'."

So they fired up some Kart, and spent the next several hours in silliness; silly characters, silly worlds, silly banter. No guns or death in sight, allowing Chuck to lose himself in play.

Soon their stomachs rumbled, reminding them of lunch time, so they took their activities to the beach.

An afternoon spent at the arcade, at the pier, and at the beach was just what he needed to replenish his soul. He avoided recognizing any awkwardness in being a grown ass man, acting like a 15 year old. They played many of the games, though he pointedly avoided the first person shooters. He needed to remember fun. He needed to get a dose of belly laughs. He needed to throw on a t shirt, some board shorts and his Chuck Taylors. (The pair's semi matching outfits, reminded him of a scene in "Twins" with Arnold and Devito.) It was just like when they were in high school.

Well, it wasn't just like in high school. He never got the attention from girls he seemed to be getting now. He was definitely, maybe sure that some of the young ladies on the pier checked him out. His training had filled out his shoulders and chest, his t-shirt fitting tighter than it did on his teenage frame, so it shouldn't have been surprising, but it was weird.

He had picked up women at the clubs and Carina had taught him world class flirting, but that was Charles Carmichael, suave superspy Charles Carmichael. Right now he was just Chuck. Chuck Bartowski, formerly of the Nerd Herd. This definitely feels weird, he thought reflecting on the attention. But it's a good weird.

Speaking of weirdness and women, he had discovered that Morgan might have found one.

"She serves pie." Morgan explained. "She feeds my stomach and she feeds my soul." he waxed poetic. "On the nights I don't have to close the Buy More, I go hang out at her pie shop. I found it on one of my quests for good, budget meals. Now I know that pie isn't a meal, but my sweet tooth demanded to be satisfied. And, I found something sweeter than pie." Chuck's grin grew as Morgan's tale of love, well at least infatuation, continued.

"Her name is Alex," Morgan giddily continued. "She is a perfect little armful." Well I assume she would be an armful," he stammered, "'cause I haven't actually held her." his voice quietly added and then came roaring back with, "She laughs at my jokes. My jokes, man." He explained wistfully. "And she seems to spend what time she can with me. I've started staying until almost closing time."

"That's great, man! I am so happy for you!" Chuck encouraged. "Are you going to take her out of the pie shop?" he inquired.

"I want to, Chuck, but our schedules make it tough," was Morgan's reply. And, he quietly admitted, "I don't know if I am good enough for her."

Chuck was stung by, but quickly suppressed his own feelings related to that sentence.

"Buddy," he said in a reassuring tone, "to steal a line, you are awesome. But, maybe it is time to act a little more mature."

"I know Chuck, and she makes me want to. I want to be someone she can count on. Someone she can have confidence in. Someone who can offer her more than Grape soda and take-out, on my Mom's couch."

"Even if it is sizzling shrimp?" Chuck teased.

Morgan smiled at the comment, and suddenly spoke up, as if having an epiphany, "I'm gonna become the Ass Man."

Chuck's brain froze a minute, considering that comment and wondering how that predilection would appeal to this Alex girl.

"Emmitt is finally transferring out of the Buy More, and the Ass Man position is opening up."

Oh yeah, "Ass Man" Assistant Manager. All though Ass Man was a more apt description when Emmitt held the position, he acknowledged, grinning.

Morgan hurriedly continued, the thoughts coming to him, an instant before he spoke them. "I'm just going to have to suck it up, and give up my work avoidance skills, but I think I can do this." he considered, momentarily staring off into the distance.

"I know you can, buddy. I have always believed that you hide away a truck load of amazing potential." Chuck supportingly offered, thrilled with his friends new attitude. "You are right. It is time we grew up." Though I hope you never have to learn the lessons that I learned. "And, I am sure that Alex would be proud to be dating the Assistant Manager of Burbank's renowned Buy More."

Morgan blinked away tears and turned to hug Chuck. His voice cracked, as he earnestly stated. "Thanks, man. It has always meant so much to me that you believe in me, as much as I believe in you."

"So, we're grown-ups now?" Morgan asked, clearing his throat, looking down at their outfits, and looking back up at Chuck, smirking and raising an eyebrow.

"Well, mostly grown up. I think it would be good to always remember our goofy 15 year old selves. Please let me never lose that. Charles Carmichael can't be allowed to completely sweep away Chuck Bartowski, he reflected.

The rest of the day was spent enjoying the ocean and the beach, reminiscing on earlier fun times they spent there, and just being Chuck and Morgs, a couple of buddies, watching the world and blowing it raspberries.

But, night's fall brought its somber tones, its adult tones, the end of the day, when the toys are put away.

They were adults now. Expectations and responsibilities could not be ignored.

Morgan's adulthood would start tomorrow with a submitted application for Assistant Manager.

Chuck's returned tonight when he boarded the red eye to D.C.

No more time for games. He needed to put away childish things, like Chuck Bartowski. Tonight, Charles Carmichael started his journey back to Rome. He had a job to do. Saving the world.