A/N: So far, Sarah has meet all of the Bartowski clan and things have gone surprisingly well. Now, they have an unexpected trip to a snowy mountain resort to look forward to. It sounds like they're pulling out all the stops on this Christmas season.
Disclaimer: Don't own Chuck.
Chapter 5
Early morning light spilled in through the bedroom window, slowly waking Sarah from her slumber. That had been the best sleep she'd had in… she couldn't remember. Ever? She was so comfortable that she didn't want to move or even open her eyes. She just laid there, reveling in the warmth. As her sleep addled mind began to wake, she became aware of why she felt so warm and comforted. Laying on her left side, her hand on her stomach, her thumb was brushing absentmindedly over soft skin that was not her own. Quickly the picture became clear.
The warmth she was feeling was from a body, spooned close against her back. An arm draped over her rested on her stomach, her own hand laid on top. Sarah's normally cold feet were intertwined with a much larger pair, also explaining her uncharacteristic warmth. Everything that had happened the day before came flooding back. Losing her job, her car breaking down… Chuck. Somehow, in their sleep, he had rolled over and cuddled into her. Cracking her eyes open, she could see that was not entirely true. They were in the middle of the bed, which meant that she had also moved at some point in the night, the two of them converging in the center.
A panic hit her, preventing her from moving, fearful she might wake him. She had never been one for cuddling. In her limited relationships, she never allowed herself to be that vulnerable or intimate with someone. Sex was sex, but this was intimate and required a great deal of trust, which she didn't have with most people; anyone really. That made it all the more disconcerting that she found herself in this predicament and yet didn't feel the urge to claw her way out. Almost from the moment she first stood face to face with Chuck the day before, she felt a sense of trust in him. Since then, that feeling hadn't faltered. Maybe it was that he had placed so much trust in her. He had offered to let her drive his car, he'd taken her home to meet his family, and in a moment of vulnerability, he'd shared one of the most painful moments in his life with her. Nobody had ever been this open and trusting with her before and maybe that was why she was so willing to trust him in return.
Her concern then shifted to Chuck. How would he react to this situation? Would he take their current entanglement as a green light for … other things? Or would he be mortified? Her panic ebbed as she took comfort in knowing what type of man Chuck Bartowski was. She could imagine him jumping away, as if he were on fire, apologizing profusely. As awkward as this situation might be, she found she wasn't in any hurry to extricate herself. She had to chuckle at herself inwardly as she realized she was still stroking his hand gently. Lost in her own thoughts, she hadn't noticed the change in his breathing, signifying that he was no longer asleep.
"I'm so, so sorry," he whispered into her hair, not moving from his current spot. Sarah could hear him swallow thickly, his eyelashes flicking at the hair behind her ear. His breath was warm on her neck, which was beginning to create feelings in her that she knew would not help matters.
Sarah's mouth got ahead of her brain, answering before she could filter herself. "I'm not complaining," she whispered in response. Sarah closed her eyes, wincing as she berated herself internally. Silence fell over them for a long moment. It wasn't until she felt the rush of warm air over her neck that she realized that he'd stopped breathing altogether. Sarah bit her bottom lip, trying to stifle her giggle. She couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through her from the way he reacted to her.
"I should uh… I should probably move," Chuck suggested hesitantly.
"Hmmm. Probably," she replied reluctantly, neither of them moving an inch. After a long moment, Chuck finally slid his arm from around her and pulled his feet away as he rolled over and sat up on his side of the bed. Sarah immediately felt disappointment at the sudden loss of warmth. But it wasn't just the warmth, was it? It was the connection she felt with him. For probably the first time in her life, she felt comfortable in someone's arms and was now saddened that it was over so soon.
He sat with his back to her and she could practically hear him thinking as he sat in silence. Sarah rolled over onto her right side so that she could see him more clearly and waited for him to say what was undoubtedly on his mind.
"I hope you know, I had no intention of taking advantage of our… situation. I'm really, really sorry about… that," he apologized, gesturing toward the bed. "If you aren't comfortable, I totally understand. I can sleep on the floor from now on."
Sarah shook her head, feeling rather proud of herself that she knew him so well after such a short time. "Chuck, I'm as much to blame as you are, if there's any 'blame' to go around. It's just human nature. Plants grow toward the sun, people gravitate toward warmth. It happens. If it makes you feel any better, … that's the best night's sleep I've had in a really long time," she admitted, feeling a little vulnerable by revealing that fact. Chuck turned around to look at Sarah, his disbelief evident on his face. She just shrugged, nodding to confirm what she'd said. Sarah could tell that he was battling the smile that was trying to spread across his face, a hint of a blush coloring his cheeks.
Thankfully, a knock at the door broke them from their awkward silence. "Morning!" Mary called through the door. "The shower's free and breakfast will be ready in about thirty minutes. See you down there."
"Thanks, Mom," Chuck replied, trying to interject some brightness into his tone. "I'm surprised she didn't just walk in and throw open the curtains like she did when I was a kid," Chuck mused, in a quiet voice, just in case his mother was still within ear shot. "That would have been especially awkward if she walked in when we were… you know," he gestured with his hand, between Sarah and himself.
Sarah snorted and rolled her eyes at him, good naturedly. "Chuck, we're supposed to be a couple, remember? That's the sort of things that couples do, or so I'm led to believe. And that's probably exactly why she didn't just walk in on us."
"Oh. R-right. Right. Well… I suppose we should get a move on before they do barge in here. You go head and take the first shift in the bathroom. That way you're sure to have enough hot water," Chuck stated, motioning toward the door.
"Ever the gentleman. You're a good one, Chuck Bartowski," Sarah replied, giving him a smile and a quick wink. He shook his head, waving her off, but the blush on his cheeks was back. Sarah rolled out of bed and grabbed her duffle bag, heading for the door. "I'll be quick," she called over her shoulder as she stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind her.
Alone in the room, Chuck puffed out his cheeks and blew out a long breath. Closing his eyes, he fell back on the bed with a thud, groaning in frustration. "This is going to be a really long week." He couldn't believe that any of this was happening. Before yesterday, Chuck had felt like a part of him was broken, like a piece was missing and he didn't think he would ever find anyone to fill the void. In truth, he was afraid that if he tried, it would only leave him feeling more broken with their inevitable betrayal.
But now, after meeting Sarah, he didn't feel that emptiness anymore. It was like her coming into his life had been a balm that soothed the ache he felt in his chest. Sarah made him feel happy again. The problem was, this was all make believe and she would be gone from his life just as quickly as she'd entered it. It was make believe, wasn't it? Chuck was beginning to question that the more time he spent with her. He knew that this was the most real relationship he'd ever had with a woman, including with Jill. It seemed rather pathetic when he thought about it, but it was true. He felt happier and more at ease with Sarah than with any other woman. If there was even a remote chance that she might feel the same, didn't he owe it to himself to take a chance?
For the time being, he would just have to go along with the plan, otherwise it could complicate everything. He didn't want to put her into an awkward position and have her leave in the midst of all of this. They still had an agreement. He owed her one magical Christmas. So far, she was holding up her end of the bargain with the perfect performance she'd given the night before for his family. He just needed to keep focused and if it was meant to be anything else, then it would just happen.
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Sarah stepped into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind her. Leaning against the door, she blew out a breath. "This is going to be a really long week," she whispered, shaking her head. She was beginning to feel like she was losing control of the situation. On a con, she would be totally focused, thinking ten steps ahead and prepared for any contingency. Now, she felt like she was walking through a fog, and the only thing she could see was Chuck. It was all her mind would allow her to focus on. That, and his family and how great this all was. She was getting lost in the cover and part of her didn't even care. It just felt good, even if it was pretend. It was still pretend, wasn't it? The lines were getting so blurred it was hard to tell anymore.
She turned on the shower to add to the white noise of the bathroom vent fan. She placed her hands on the vanity and stared at her reflection. "What are you doing, Sarah?" she asked herself. For a long moment she stared at her reflection. Slowly, a grin formed. "I'm having fun. For once in my life, I'm having fun, and I'm not going to overthink it. So …" she stuck her tongue out at herself and then snorted at how ridiculous she felt. Jumping in the shower, she let the warm water wash over her as she prepared herself for a new day.
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It was nearly lunchtime when they arrived at the Squaw Valley Resort. It was fascinating to watch the scenery change to the snowy alpine wonderland as they traveled further up the mountain. A thick blanket of snow covered everything, the pine boughs sagging from the added weight. While Sarah had seen her fair share of winter weather from her time in the midwest, this was something else entirely. Snow covered mountains, dotted with evergreens as far as the eye could see; it was simply breathtaking.
Chuck and Sarah had ridden with Devon and Ellie in their SUV. It was much more practical than Chuck's car, given the wintery conditions they would undoubtedly have to drive through. Mary and Stephen followed in their own car, giving them the option of leaving earlier if the group decided to stay longer. The drive itself had been an interesting one. Sarah was quite amused with all the stories that Ellie felt duty-bound to share, thoroughly embarrassing Chuck the entire time. Sarah could see that as the stories went on, he found them less and less humorous. Chuck's jaw was set and he stared out the window with a furrowed brow. She supposed that she might feel the same way if somebody were telling all of her embarrassing life stories to a stranger.
As Ellie continued, Sarah reached across and took Chuck's hand, giving it a squeeze. That seemed to break him out of his funk, snapping his head to look at her. She gave him a sympathetic smile and squeezed his hand again. Glancing between Sarah and their joined hands, his frown gave way to an appreciative smile. It seemed to buoy his spirits for the remainder of the trip, which had the added benefit of making Sarah feel pretty good as well.
While holding hands was good for the cover, since Ellie frequently turned to face the back seat during her storytelling, Sarah knew she was kidding herself by trying to think of it as only for the cover. The truth was… she enjoyed it. All of it. The handholding, the closeness and the feeling of belonging she got from just being around Chuck's family. Waking up that morning, wrapped in Chuck's arms, had scared her at first, but the more she thought about it, reliving it in her mind, it was really the best she'd felt in a long time. She had no idea what she was going to do about it. Once this holiday was over, she'd be on her way, likely never to see him or his family again. The thought pained her, but if her life with her father had taught her anything, it was to appreciate the here and now. So, she would push the future out of her mind and just try to live in the moment. And at that moment, she was about to spend a couple of days in a snowy mountain resort and not second guess it. This was just the escape she needed and she wasn't going to waste it by thinking about the things she couldn't change.
After checking in, they made their way to their respective rooms. Since Ellie had booked their reservations, she dealt with the staff at the desk and handed each couple the envelope with the keycards to their respective rooms. They were all on the same floor, which made things convenient, Chuck's parents and his sister and her husband having rooms side-by-side. When Sarah looked at the number on the envelope for her and Chuck's room, it was further down the hall. Before separating, they made plans to meet in the lobby in thirty minutes to get some lunch and do some much needed shopping.
At the end of the hall, they found their room, Sarah scanning the keycard. With the whirring of the lock, she opened the door and gasped as they walked in. Chuck let out a low whistle as they both looked the room over.
"Chuck this is absolutely gorgeous," Sarah breathed out, stepping further into the room. There was a small kitchenette area to one side, which then opened to a living room space, with a couch and chairs facing a gas fireplace, surrounded by stacked stone. The most breathtaking part was the view through the wall of windows. They had an unobstructed view of the valley, a portion that was not being used for skiing. That meant that it was largely untouched, offering a picturesque backdrop for relaxing.
Off the living room was a separate bedroom with a large king-sized bed, featuring a distressed wood headboard that matched the other bedroom furniture. The bedroom had an attached bathroom with a large jacuzzi soaking tub, walk in shower and a separate water closet. Sarah couldn't recall staying in a room this nice, even when she was on a con with her father. The room must have cost a pretty penny, as well it should with amenities it had, including the stellar view.
"Wow," Chuck finally said, shaking himself from his stupor. "This place is pretty incredible. Ellie sure knows how to pick 'em," he admitted, setting their bags down in the bedroom. He stared at the bed for a long moment before he chanced a glance at Sarah. "You know… that couch out there looks pretty comfy. I could just-"
"Will you stop," Sarah interrupted, giving Chuck a stern look. "You're not sleeping on that couch. Your legs would hang off the end for one thing. It would make more sense for me to sleep on the couch. So, why don't I -"
"You are not sleeping on the couch!" he exclaimed, looking appalled.
"See," Sarah exclaimed, pointing at Chuck with a vindicated look. "You won't let me sleep on the couch, so why is it different for you? Huh?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she waited for his response. Chuck opened his mouth to retort, but huffed in resignation.
"Well, what if the same thing happens as last night?" he asked, looking a little dejected.
Sarah considered him for a moment, recalling that sensation for the hundredth time that day it seemed. "Would it be so bad?" she inquired, before she really thought about the ramifications. Chuck's eyes grew wide and she swore she heard him choke on whatever words he was about to say. Twisting her lips to the side, she turned and made her way into the bathroom to check herself in the mirror. After adjusting her hair and touching up her lip gloss, she came back into the bedroom. Chuck was sitting on the edge of the bed staring blanking at the floor, lost in thought.
"Come on," she called, trying to get his attention. "Ellie and the others are going to be waiting." Chuck pulled himself from his daydream and gave her a small smile with a nod. As they were about to walk out of the room, Chuck stopped, placing a hand on Sarah's shoulder.
"Hold on a sec. Here," he said, pulling his wallet out of his front pocket. He slipped a black credit card out, the same one he'd given to Ellie to reserve their rooms, and handed it to Sarah. "Take this. We're going shopping and you'll need to buy a winter wardrobe for when we're here."
Sarah pulled her hands back, seemingly afraid to touch it. "What are you doing? Chuck, are you crazy? You can't give that to me," she stated incredulously.
Chuck looked at it in confusion, turning it over to see what was wrong with it before giving Sarah a puzzled look. "Why not? What's wrong with it?"
'What's wro-... Chuck, you can't give me your credit card!" she exclaimed, in a harsh whisper. The confused expression hadn't left Chuck's face, so Sarah huffed in exasperation before continuing. "You barely know me. What if I … charge a bunch of stuff to your account?"
'Well, that's the idea," he said, giving her a "duh" expression. "I give you the card, you go buy stuff you need. You have been shopping before, haven't you?" Sarah just gave him a flat look and he winced, realizing how snarky that sounded.
"I don't want to take advantage of you, Chuck. You're an incredibly kind and generous man and I don't think you realize how easy it would be for someone to fleece you for everything you have."
Chuck's expression turned serious, his brow furrowing. "So, you think I'm naïve and ignorant? That I'm too trusting and gullible? Little ole me is gonna get robbed blind?" he challenged defensively.
Sarah had spent most of her life doing that exact thing, so she knew far better than he did just how easy it would be. It made her a little angry, both at him for not seeing that and at herself for the parts she played in those schemes in the past. "Well…. Yeah. I mean… I wouldn't put it exactly like that, but yes," she admitted, standing her ground. Chuck locked eyes with Sarah, neither seeming willing to budge. Sarah could see the flecks of gold in his eyes sparkle from the reflection of the snowy valley outside their window. It was mesmerizing. The longer she stared, the more she began to forget what they were arguing about. As she felt herself losing this staring match, it was Chuck who was first to break eye contact, dropping his gaze back to the card in his hand.
"I know I'm a ridiculous man," Chuck stated, tapping the credit card on his finger. "But despite that, I'm not as ignorant as you might think."
It was then that Sarah realized how she must sound. She was just trying to protect him from… from people like her. People who devoted their lives to conning kind people like Chuck and leaving their lives in ruin. "Chuck, I don't think you're ignorant. I just know, first hand, how unscrupulous people can be. How easy it can be for them to take your kindness and use it against you. I just… I don't want that to happen to you. And when this is over and things… well, when people hear we're not together, I don't want them to think that I was one of those people. It would break my heart to have your family think of me that way," she confessed, at just above a whisper.
"Sarah, I'd never let that happen," Chuck declared with conviction. "No matter what happens between us or what story we have to give my family, I'd never let them think ill of you." His statement both warmed her heart and broke it at the same time. She didn't want his family to hate her when this was all over, but the fact that it would be over, far too soon, hurt more than she would have thought.
"I trust you. I wouldn't bring you into my life, into my family's home, if I didn't. Do you get that? I don't take any of this lightly. Now, please take this card and use it. If you don't, my sister is going to jump my shit and call me some kind of Scrooge," Chuck said, handing the card over to her again.
Sarah looked up and saw the wry smile on his face, but she knew there was some truth in what he'd said. Not just the overwhelming fact that he trusted her that much, but that Ellie would undoubtedly berate him for not buying his "girlfriend" whatever she wanted.
"OK. But," she said, pushing the card back at him. "Give it to me in front of them, so there's no misunderstanding. That will make me feel better, that they won't think I took it behind your back, and it'll put you in good standing with your sister. Fair enough?"
Chuck mulled over what she said, moving his jaw back and forth in contemplation before nodding. "Deal. But, just so we're clear, I have no reservations about this. And whatever you buy is yours to keep when this is done. Nothing would fit me anyway," he joked, giving her a wide smile. Sarah snorted, shaking her head at him, patting him on the stomach.
"Come on. Your sister's going to think we're in here putting that jacuzzi tub to good use if we don't hurry up," Sarah teased, heading toward the door.
"Oh, God. That's just what I need," he grumbled jokingly as he quickly followed after.
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Chuck tagged along with Ellie, Sarah and his mother as they shopped. He had no idea where his father and Devon were, but he suspected that he was offered up as the sacrificial lamb so they could go have fun elsewhere. It was just as well. Chuck wasn't complaining. He found he enjoyed watching Sarah with his family. She seemed to fit right in, laughing and joking; just having a good time. He tried not to make it obvious, but he was certain Sarah had caught him looking a few times. If he didn't know any better, Chuck could have sworn he caught her looking away on occasion as well, but that seemed unlikely.
Sitting in a chair near the fitting room, holding the women's purses, a feeling washed over him as he watched Sarah trying on a heavy coat, turning side to side so she could see it from all angles in the mirror. The feeling was almost like a flash forward, as if what he was seeing was a glimpse of a possible future. As crazy as it was, a part of him was not only excited by that prospect, but comforted by it as well. He'd known Sarah for all of twenty-four hours but yet he felt a deep connection to her. He'd felt more at ease with her than any other woman he'd known. While true, she was unbelievably gorgeous, his attraction to her went far beyond the surface. He knew it was entirely too soon to be feeling this way, not to mention the fact that none of this was real.
He suddenly realized that Sarah was standing in front of him and he was staring at her like a fool, not having heard a word of what she'd said. He shook himself back to the present and gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry. What was that?"
Sarah gave him a smirk, shaking her head. "I asked, what do you think?" She turned in a circle, modeling the coat.
Still coming out of his daydream, he rushed to answer. "You're absolutely gorgeous," he replied, almost breathlessly. Sarah stopped in mid turn and looked at him with a surprised expression. Doing her best to hide her blush, she cleared her throat.
"I meant the coat," she corrected. Chuck gave a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Right. Right. The coat. It looks great, and great on you. I guess the question is, do you like it?" Sarah turned to look in the mirror again, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth as she considered it. She reached for the price tag and Chuck stood, gently grabbing her hand, enclosing the price tag inside.
"Do you like the coat?" Chuck asked again, this time slower and with more conviction. Sarah looked between his hand and his eyes, and he could see a battle waging inside her. "It's not a trick question. If you really like it, get it. If not, we'll keep looking." Finally, Sarah gave him a warm smile, nodding her response.
"I like it," she confessed a bit sheepishly.
"Then we have a winner. I'll hold it while you keep shopping." Chuck tried his best to be the gentleman and help her out of the coat, but with having to jockey the three purses he was already holding, it was a bit awkward. Nevertheless, she handed him the coat to hold with a grateful smile. They both turned to see that Mary and Ellie were standing nearby watching, both wearing wry smiles.
The older women whisked Sarah off throughout the store, on what felt like an epic shopping spree. When shopping for himself, to say Chuck was frugal was an understatement. But, when it came to shopping for others, he had no misgivings about spending his money; even before he had money to spend. When it came to Sarah, seeing the look of joy on her face, he knew he'd pay any price to see that. The best part was that he knew she didn't expect him to lavish her with gifts, and that somehow made it all the more meaningful.
Some time later, the women made their way to the clerk to make their purchases. While Sarah was in the fitting room, Chuck had handed Ellie their purses and garments, stating he needed to take care of something. After Ellie and Mary had paid for their things, Sarah looked around nervously for Chuck. Despite his considerable height, there were too many displays and decorations in the store to see him. When the clerk was finished, Sarah blanched at the total. All of the clothing and accessories that she'd picked out, or were picked out for her, came to more than six-hundred dollars. Sweating, Sarah looked around the store once more, desperately hoping to see Chuck. When he was nowhere to be found, she began to search her purse, even though she knew she didn't have the money to pay for the items if she wanted to.
"Oh! I forgot," Ellie exclaimed, interrupting her conversation with her mother. "Here," she said, pulling a credit card out of her purse, handing it to Sarah. Sarah tried to wave her off, but Ellie just rolled her eyes at the attempt. "This is Chuck's. He handed it to me while you were trying on those blouses." Seeing Sarah's apprehension, Ellie just chuckled, shaking her head.
"When your boyfriend gives you his credit card to go shopping with, then by God, you go shopping with his credit card!" Ellie proclaimed, snickering at her own comment.
"I... I just...I feel wrong, I guess. I mean… that's a lot of money for clothes," Sarah whispered so the clerk couldn't hear. "I'm not … with him so he'll buy me things," she admitted, looking Ellie in the eye. That statement was very true. She wasn't there because of his money. Taking his money hadn't even entered her mind until the whole credit card situation in their room. Especially with him not there with her, to get his approval, she felt like she was stealing even though he had basically given her permission already.
Without another word, Ellie slapped the card down on the counter and the clerk snatched it up before Sarah could object. "If I thought you were after his money, believe me, this wouldn't be happening right now," she stated plainly, gesturing to the situation they were in. Ellie raised an eyebrow, silently asking if Sarah got what she meant. Sarah sighed, giving her a smile and nodding. Sarah had to admit it felt pretty good to have Ellie's confidence, though if Chuck's sister knew the truth, all of that might fly out the window. For now, she'd take the win. As the clerk handed the card back, Ellie pointed at Sarah, who reluctantly took the card and placed it in her purse. Sarah scrawled her signature on the credit card receipt, sliding it and the pen back to the clerk.
Collecting all of their bags, they stepped out into the crisp mountain air and onto the sidewalk of the resort village. The area was teeming with shops and restaurants, not to mention the numerous tourists visiting this time of year. The light posts were wrapped in garland, with red ribbons and white twinkle lights. Evergreen trees throughout the village were decorated with lights and ornaments, only partially obscured by the newly fallen snow. Christmas music filled the air, as carols played through outdoor speakers placed throughout the village. It truly was a winter wonderland.
"Hey! Guys!" came a voice from behind them, sounding a bit winded. They turned to see Chuck, huffing his way up the sidewalk, carrying a drink carrier with four cups and a paper bag on top. "Sorry it took so long. There was a line." Stopping in front of them, he lifted the bag and held out the tray toward his mother, then sister, going down the line. "I thought some hot chocolate might be in order."
"Aww. Aren't you sweet," Mary cooed, taking a cup and giving Chuck a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks, little brother. You're the best," Ellie said, grabbing a cup and giving Chuck a kiss on the cheek as well. He just shrugged, giving them a dopey, embarrassed grin. He then turned to Sarah, offering her the tray to choose a cup for herself. Gratefully, she took a cup, brandishing a broad smile.
"Thanks, Chuck. It smells wonderful." There was a long pause as Chuck and Sarah looked at one another, all the while Mary and Ellie were watching the two exchange glances.
"Oh, uh…" he stammered out, holding up the bag. "I figured a snack to go with it might be a good idea. And what goes better with hot chocolate, than more chocolate? Right? Am I right?" he asked, looking between the three women. They all gave him a smile, shaking their heads at his goofiness. Chuck held out the bag for Sarah, who fished inside and pulled out one of the pastries for all to see. "Chocolate croissants," he declared, watching as Sarah's jaw dropped and eyes widened with surprise.
"Oh my God! I love chocolate croissants," she confessed, a hunger in her voice. Without thinking, she also reached up and gave Chuck a kiss on the cheek before taking a bite. Chuck stood frozen for a moment as he blinked, watching Sarah eat her croissant.
Clearing her throat, Ellie broke the silence. "Did you bring enough for the whole class?" she asked, giving her brother a wry smile.
"Oh. Oh, right. Sorry," he said, sheepishly, offering the bag to his sister and mother.
"Thank you, dear. Isn't he sweet?" Mary asked, taking a bite of her pastry.
"I tried to tell him that once, but he got offended," Sarah replied, smirking at Chuck as they started to stroll down the sidewalk.
"Well, in my defense, she's my mother. It's her job to make me feel like a child," Chuck argued, failing to hide his grin. All three women broke into laughter, which only served to broaden Chuck's grin. "So now where to?" he asked, walking amongst the three women.
Ellie looked up at him as if he'd lost his mind. "Uh, more shopping. Duh." Chuck let out a whimper as his shoulders slumped, causing the women to burst into laughter again.
A/N2: I hate to say it but this story isn't going to get finished by Christmas. I bit off more than my schedule would allow for, so I haven't been able to write as much as I'd like. Fear not, I'm going to finish it. It just won't be finished by Christmas is all. I hope that's not too much of a let down.
Thanks again for all of your reviews and PMs. It means a lot that you take the time out to drop me a note. I enjoy hearing your thoughts.
Merry Christmas
JW
