A/N: When last we left our friends, they were recovering from an impromptu kiss which, in turn, was interrupted by Ellie. Maybe it's payback for all the times Chuck annoyed her when she had dates over in high school? Regardless of the reason, the moment seemed to be lost. Can they get it back or is it going to be weird? Scroll down past that little line down there and find out.
Disclaimer; Don't own Chuck. I also don't own Christmas. Unfortunately, the financing fell through. Who knew a major holiday would require such a large down payment? I've got my eye on Ground Hog Day. We'll see how that pans out.
Chapter 7
Previously
"I… I know that we said this was just … just pretend, a cover to convince your family but …" Sarah's pulse was racing. She rarely got nervous, but then she'd never felt like this before, like so much rested on what she was trying to say. Before she could voice another word, she was caught completely off guard as Chuck quickly closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers. She was frozen in the moment, a kaleidoscope of emotions, hopes and fears swirled through her. Almost as quickly as it had happened, he pulled away with a gasp.
"Oh, God. I'm … I'm sooo sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. I just …. And you… and-and the fire and…" he stammered out, looking completely mortified. She definitely hadn't expected that kiss, but now that it was over, she realized that there wasn't anything she wanted more in this moment than to taste his lips again.
Forestalling his downward spiral, Sarah grabbed Chuck's face and kissed him back, this time though, she was prepared. She kissed him like she wanted to be kissed. She put all of the emotions that had welled up in her into that kiss. The intensity began to build as Chuck tightly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. When Chuck opened his mouth ever so slightly, it was all Sarah needed to move their kiss to the next level. Their tongues caressed slowly as soft whimpers escaped both of them in concert.
Sarah couldn't help but start to giggle against his lips, her happiness bubbling out of her. Chuck began to chuckle under his breath as well, as they continued to kiss under the stars, by the light of the fire.
"Ut-hum…" came the very deliberate clearing of a throat, causing Chuck and Sarah to jump apart to the opposite sides of the bench. Ellie stood by the bench she'd been sitting at, biting her bottom lip with a pained expression on her face.
"Soooorry," she whispered apologetically. She waved a plastic room keycard, almost like a white flag of surrender. "I dropped our room key. Please don't mind me. Just…. go back to… you know…" She gestured for them to continue as she backed away sheepishly. All the while there was an underlying gleefulness about her that didn't go unnoticed by the couple. Once she was gone, the silence returned and both of them sat ridged, staring at the fire.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Now
Chuck could feel the shaking of the bench, causing him to peek at Sarah out of the corner of his eye. He was shocked to see that she was sitting with her lips pulled between her teeth, bouncing from the laughter she was trying to keep in. Chuck turned to look at her in wonder as to how she could find any of this humorous. When she noticed him looking, she cleared her throat, shifting in her seat to double her efforts at holding back her laughter. That lasted for all of three seconds before a snort escaped. Sarah started shaking her head as tears streamed down her cheeks. Chuck just watched in fascination, one eyebrow raised as Sarah's dam broke.
As Sarah bent over, all Chuck could hear was the staccato wheezing, as her body shook uncontrollably. Soon, Chuck joined in, the laughter slowly starting to bubble out of him. Finally, Sarah sat back in her seat and howled with laughter, which echoed against the buildings. The two laughed for several minutes before the laughter became staggered and they let out long sighs.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, wiping the tears from under her eyes. "Oh, God. That was so priceless. I imagine that's what teenagers that get caught on their parents' couch must look like." Chuck snickered in response, nodding his agreement.
"I imagine so. I never had the misfortune growing up, but I have to believe it would have been just as embarrassing," Chuck replied.
"You never got caught making out with your girlfriend on your parents' couch? I thought that was sort of a rite of passage for most kids. I mean, I didn't really have parents, as such, so I didn't have that problem, but you… I'd figured you might have."
"Um… well..." he stammered out, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know this probably comes as a shock," he began, the sarcasm already evident in his tone, "but nerds like me weren't exactly a hit with the ladies. I'd never even had a girlfriend until college," he confessed, looking down at his lap. Sarah regarded him for a moment, watching him slump with dejection.
"For what it's worth, neither did I. I mean boyfriends. I've never really had a boyfriend. Not really. Just guys that were … convenient I guess, before we moved to the next town." Chuck nodded his head in understanding but didn't turn to look at her.
"What umm… what do you say we go inside? It's getting a little cold," Chuck asked, sparing a glance toward Sarah.
"Yeah. Let's go in." With that, they stood and walked into the hotel and took the elevator to their floor. They walked in silence, both lost in thought. Chuck unlocked their door and held it open for Sarah to step inside. Helping her off with her coat, and hanging up his own, he followed Sarah into the bedroom, where she was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring off into space.
"I'm sorry about earlier," he began. "With the… the kiss thing. I… No. You know what? I'm not sorry," he stated, standing up straight with a newfound determination. "I've wanted to kiss you so badly. So I'm not going to apologize. Unless you were offended, then I'm so sorry if I took advantage of the situation-" Sarah stood, placing her fingers over his lips.
"If you recall, I kissed you back, remember? You're not alone in this, Chuck. I've … I've wanted to kiss you too. I… I can't explain it, but I really like you, Chuck. A lot. And I know that this was all supposed to be a cover, that we were only supposed to be pretending. But, I can't do this anymore," she confessed, looking up at him with uncertainty. She watched the light in his eyes dim as he nodded in understanding.
"I get it. It was too much to ask of you to begin with. I… I shouldn't have-"
"Will you stop! That's not what I'm saying," she interrupted, grabbing the front of his shirt. "I mean that I don't want to pretend anymore. I… I don't need to pretend. Not with you," she choked out, forcing a smile to cover her fear.
Chuck stood dumbfounded, blinking at Sarah as she stared up at him. "R-really? Like um… you and me..." he trailed off, gesturing between them.
"I'm not really great at this, but … yeah. I think so," she confirmed, nodding her head.
"Let me come out and say… that thing out there," he said, pointing out the window, "that's not normally me. I… I don't generally do those kinds of things. What I mean is, I'm never the one to make the first move, as it were," he confessed sheepishly.
Sarah grinned up at him, then looked at his shirt, smoothing out whatever wrinkles might be there. "So why did you?"
"N-nobody has ever made me feel the way you do. I know it's completely insane, but there's something deep down that makes me feel like I've known you my whole life. That I've finally found you after being apart, and I was so afraid that if I didn't do something, you might slip away again. I'm sure it sounds ridiculous, but I don't know how else to describe it," he huffed, shaking his head at himself.
Sarah thought she might melt on the spot. Chuck's confession resonated with her so much, it was a bit scary. Not knowing what to say in response, she followed her instincts and reached up to place a kiss on his lips. It was soft and slow and lasted for an eternity. They explored one another, caressing the other's back, sides and arms. As Sarah glided her hands down Chuck's sides and across his hips, she felt the distinctive outline of a box in his front pocket.
Humming in amusement, she pulled away just barely, pressing her forehead to his. "Is that a box in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" Chuck chuckled nervously, clearing his throat.
"I'm sorry. It's just, you know… with everything- OH! That-that is a box!" he exclaimed, with the sudden realization. Stepping back, he dug into his jeans pocket and pulled out a small white box. "I've been trying to find the right time to give this to you. I thought maybe for Christmas, but I wasn't sure I wanted to wait that long." He stared down at the box, turning it in his hands.
"You… you got me something? Chuck, you didn't have to do that. You've already done so much," Sarah assured him.
"Oh, it's nothing big, really. It's just… well, here," he said, holding out the box for her to take. Tentatively, she took the box, looking between him and the small box as she removed its lid. Lifting aside the tissue paper revealed a set of silver snowflake earrings. She immediately recognized them as the same set she had looked at when they were at World Market the day before. Gasping, she covered her mouth, overcome with emotion. They weren't a lavish, expensive gift, but it meant so much that he had noticed and, without her seeing, had picked them up and purchased them. He had done that even before their agreement.
"Oh, Chuck. You… this is the best gift I've ever gotten. Thank you," she choked out before wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his chest.
"You're welcome. It's nothing fancy, but I saw the way you looked at them when we were at the store. I just… I had to get 'em. I was gonna give them to you when I dropped you off, but, you know… with everything that's happened since then, I just couldn't find the right time," he confessed, rubbing her back and placing a soft kiss to the top of her head.
Pulling away enough to look up at him, Sarah sniffled and wiped a tear away. "They're perfect. I can't believe you got these. They really are the best gift I've ever gotten. Thank you. I wish I had something to give you," she grumped, feeling a bit sad.
"Are you kidding me? You're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. You're better than any gift I could've ever asked for; far better than I probably deserve. But, I'm so grateful you came into my life."
"I'm already in your hotel room, Chuck. You don't have to keep trying so hard," she teased, tracing her finger down his chest. Chuck let out a strangled gasp, his practically bulging out their sockets. Sarah tried to hide her smirk, thinking she'd never grow tired of the way he reacted to her.
"What? No. Nononono. That-that-that's not what… I would never try to-" Sarah set her gift down and placed both hands on his cheeks, pressing a kiss to his lips to get him to stop. She giggled into the kiss as he was still trying to make his plea against her lips.
"I was just teasing you. I know that's not you. But, it's getting late and I'm sure Ellie has plans for us tomorrow, so we should get some sleep," Sarah said, looking up at him through her lashes.
"Right. Sleep. Sleeping. Some good ole shut eye. Sawing some logs…" he trailed off, seeing Sarah's raised eyebrow and pursed lips.
"Stop freaking out. I'll tell you what's going to happen. We're gonna get changed into our pajamas, climb into bed and I plan on snuggling into my … my boyfriend's side and getting an amazing night's sleep. Are you OK with that?" she asked with an apprehensive smile. She wasn't sure if it was too much, the snuggling and the labeling all at once, but it felt right to her.
"B-boyfriend?" he asked, his voice an octave above his normal register. Sarah just shrugged her shoulders, blushing even more.
"I mean, that's what everybody thinks we are anyway. And I… I kinda like the idea. Unless it's too much for you. If you don't want-"
"No! I'm-I'm totally, one-thousand percent onboard with that idea," Chuck rushed out, waving his hands. Sarah couldn't help but giggle, shaking her head as she walked into the bedroom.
"Ok, then. Come on," she beckoned, motioning for him to follow. Chuck blew out a shaky breath and followed after her.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
When Sarah's eyes fluttered open, she immediately began to smile. Her head was rising and falling with every slow breath Chuck took. This was exactly how she'd remembered falling asleep the night before, snuggled into Chuck's side with her head on his chest and her feet tangled with his for warmth. The one thing that was different was that sometime during the night, her hand must have snaked its way inside his t-shirt as she found her fingers laced through the light curls of his chest hair. She bit her bottom lip, trying to stifle her giggle as she moved her fingers, eliciting a soft moan beneath her. For the past three nights she'd wound up snuggled with Chuck, and each morning she marveled at how well rested she felt.
Sarah closed her eyes and tried to melt into him even further. She lay there for a moment, trying to go back to sleep when she heard his whisper. "I'm sorry you're awake."
Sarah smiled in response but kept her eyes closed. "How do you know I'm awake?"
"Well, you just answered me. Plus, I could feel your eyelashes fluttering on my chest," he replied with a soft chuckle. "I was hoping you'd sleep in longer."
"Oh yeah? Why's that?" she asked. Even though she knew she was fishing, she didn't care. He must have detected it too, because he hummed in amusement.
"Well, for starters, you're on vacation, so you deserve to sleep in. And… lying here with you is pretty damn amazing. If you're awake, that means you're undoubtedly going to get up and that makes me more than a little sad. I could spend the entire day like this," he chuckled. She couldn't help but chuckle as well, sighing in contentment. The thought of staying like this did sound appealing. For a brief moment, her mind began to wander, entertaining what staying in bed all day might lead to, and her cheeks warmed at the thought. It was too soon for that, even though the prospect made a warmth grow inside her. If they were really going to be in a relationship, she knew that she would have to come clean to him about her past. If things got more serious and he found out later, it could ruin everything. That thought was like a bucket of iced water over the warmth she had just been feeling.
She swallowed back that fear, stuffing it down. She didn't want to spoil things just yet. She was having the time of her life and, selfishly, she didn't want it to end. If he learned about her past, or god forbid his family did, he might not see her the same way anymore and she didn't know if she could handle that rejection. She'd gotten a taste of what it was like to be a part of this amazing family and the prospect of being shunned by them caused her chest to tighten.
"Urrrgh," Chuck groaned, huffing in frustration, distracting Sarah from her inner turmoil.
"What's the matter?"
"You know how I said that I didn't want you to get out of bed and how I wanted to lay here all day?" he asked, his voice sounding apologetic.
"Yeaaah," she answered, trying to hold back a giggle at his antics.
"Well… I gotta pee," he confessed at just above a whisper. Sarah buried her face in his chest as she cracked up laughing. She could feel Chuck's chest bouncing with his own laughter and it just made her laugh all the more. She couldn't get over how wonderful all of this felt; how comfortable. Finally, Sarah rolled off him, allowing him to slide out of bed. He padded around the bed to her side, heading toward the bathroom.
"Hurry up, 'cause I gotta pee too," she called after him, giggles still bubbling out of her. When the bathroom door closed, she flopped her head back into her pillow with a long, contented sigh, staring up at the ceiling. She couldn't remember ever feeling this way. Truth be told, she'd never woken up in bed with anyone before, until she'd met Chuck. The few physical entanglements she'd had over the years had been just a way to … scratch an itch. Once she had gotten what she wanted, she was gone. It was less messy that way. Now, with Chuck, this was entirely new territory. She didn't know how to be a real girlfriend. Although, the more she thought about it, she hadn't known how when they started this endeavor either, but yet she seemed to be pulling it off. Come to think of it, she hadn't even been trying. It all just seemed somehow … natural when it came to Chuck. Maybe that was it. Maybe she'd never been pretending, she just hadn't realized it. But what about Chuck? He confessed that he had wanted to kiss her for some time, but had he always been interested in her or was there a moment sometime later that he realized?
The bathroom door slid open and Chuck stood there, sighing dramatically in relief after having finished his business. She couldn't help but snort and shake her head at him. He gave a goofy grin before stepping up beside the bed and leaning down to press a kiss to her lips. Sarah involuntarily hummed in response, kissing him back. She could taste the mintiness of his toothpaste, which made her a little self-conscious about her own breath. He made no effort to stop kissing her, which she took as a sign that he didn't much care. It lasted only for a moment longer, but when he pulled back, he still hovered over her, staring into her eyes with a dreamy expression. She swore she might melt into the mattress.
"Good morning beautiful," he purred, giving her a million-watt smile. She groaned, rolling her eyes at him.
"I'm sure I Iook terrible. My hair's a mess, I probably have the wrinkles from your t-shirt imprinted on my face and I haven't brushed my teeth," she argued playfully, sounding a bit embarrassed.
"I've never seen anything more beautiful in my whole life," he replied, looking at her with complete sincerity. Sarah began to have serious misgivings about her plan to wait, as that warmth inside her grew tenfold.
"God, you're killing me right now," she murmured, biting her bottom lip. Steeling her resolve, she grabbed his cheeks and planted a firm kiss on his lips. Pulling away, she patted him on the chest and threw off her covers. "Now I gotta pee," she proclaimed. While it was true, it was still a much needed escape. Sarah had to flee the situation before she did something that he might regret later once she confessed the truth to him.
With a chuckle, he stepped out of her way to make room and sat down on the bed. Once the door closed, he fell back with his arms splayed out. He was so happy he was practically vibrating. Chuck stared at the ceiling, basking in the feeling. After a couple of minutes, he was roused from his daydream by the Imperial March ringtone, signaling his sister was calling.
Rolling over, he crawled to his nightstand and grabbed his phone, swiping to answer. "O-llo," he greeted joyfully.
"Wow! You're in a good mood. Did I … interrupt something?" she asked with a mischievous tone. "A continuation of last night perhaps?"
"Noooo. You didn't interrupt anything," he retorted, sounding slightly annoyed.
"Oh, so you guys finished already?" Ellie asked with a grin that could be heard.
"Finished wha-" Chuck finally caught on and groaned, causing Ellie to hiss with laughter. "I'm glad you're amused. Did you have a reason for calling besides giving me shit?"
"Ooooh. You're no fun." She blew a raspberry at her brother, chuckling at herself. "I called to see what you two were up to for breakfast. And by 'up to' I mean…"
"God. Are you twelve?" Chuck asked in exasperation, though he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Maaaaaybe. But seriously, do you guys have plans? You want to meet us in the restaurant downstairs? I think Mom and Dad are gonna join us."
"I uh… I don't know." Chuck looked at the closed bathroom door and heard the shower turn on. "Sarah's in the shower. I can ask her when she comes out."
"Why aren't you in there with her?" Ellie teased. "Just go in there and ask her."
"I'm not going in there!" he exclaimed, his voice going up an octave.
"Oh my God. You're such a prude," she chided playfully, chuckling.
"I'm not a … prude. I … I like to respect her privacy. There's nothing wrong with that," he challenged, getting a little defensive.
"I'm just teasing you, Chuck. I get it. And I'm sure she's very appreciative. Just text me when you find out. OK? But don't take too long, I'm starving and we've got a lot planned today."
"Alright. Alright. Nobody likes you when you're hangry," Chuck joked, snorting at his own comment. "I'll let you know." Chuck and Ellie said their goodbyes and hung up.
"Hey Chuuuuck?" Sarah called from the bathroom.
'Uh.. Yeah?"
"There's a small vinyl bag in the side pouch of my duffle. It has my shampoo and conditioner in it. Could you bring it in?" she hollered over the din of the shower
"Um, I'm sorry. What? You… you want me to take it in there?" Chuck asked, his voice jumping an octave at the end.
"Yeeaaaah. How else is it gonna get in here? Please?" she pleaded, chuckling. Chuck huffed, nervous about the implications, but wasn't about to tell her no. He carefully felt the sides of her duffle, searching for the bag in question. He felt and heard the rustle of a plastic or nylon bag, but there was no pocket or zipper on the outside to get to it. Cautiously, he felt inside, not wanting to touch things he shouldn't, and found a zipper. Inside was a small bag that could fit the description of what she was after. He pulled out a black, zippered bag and unzipped it to check its contents. Pulling it open, he was perplexed by what he found inside. There were driver's licenses for various states, passports, some credit cards, and other IDs. At first glance he didn't think much of it, since Sarah mentioned she traveled, but, then he noticed that some of the photos had different hairstyles and colors, so he looked more closely. They all looked like Sarah, but there were different names; Elana Truffaut, Jennifer Burton, Rebecca Franco and Katie O'Connell, among others.
"What the hell?"
Chuck's head was swimming. Quickly, he stuffed the items back in the bag and returned it to its hiding place. With his mind racing, he frantically searched the rest of the duffle and, on the other side, found the vinyl bag with the shower items Sarah had asked for.
Standing in front of the door, he needed to collect himself and play it cool. There had to be an explanation but he wasn't ready to confess that he'd been digging through her private stuff, whether it was unintentional or not. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. "I found it. Can I uh… come in?" he asked, swallowing the lump in his throat.
"Yeah. It's OK," she called out. Chuck opened the door, one eye closed in an abundance of caution. He stepped into the bathroom, and while the walk-in shower had frosted glass, he tried to avert his eyes as he walked to the shower. With his back to the shower, he stuck his arm in, holding the vinyl bag at arm's length.
"Ah. Thank you. You're the best," she chirped, taking the bag from him. He began to make a hasty retreat when she called to him again. "Would you mind handing me another towel too, please? I hadn't planned on washing my hair but after that fire last night it smells a little smokey. Hence why I need the shampoo." Chuck froze, searching, and finally found the stacks of towels on some shelving beside the vanity. Grabbing one, he took it to the shower, still facing away, he stopped, unsure of what to do with the towel.
"Uh...here ya go," he offered tentatively. He heard Sarah snort behind him. She took the towel from him and poked her head out to give him a kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you. And thank you for being a gentleman. Not that I expected anything less," she confessed, giving a small chuckle. Chuck wasn't sure if it was the heat from the shower, the mental image of what was behind him or everything else, but he was beginning to feel flushed and needed to make a quick exit.
"If you don't need anything else, I'll just…" he trailed off as he started toward the door.
"No. That's it. Thanks again. I'll try to make it quick." Chuck nodded in response, rolling his eyes at himself as he realized she couldn't see him. He closed the door and leaned back against it, blowing out a long breath. After several cleansing breaths, he pushed himself away from the door and started to pace the room, his mind a blur of thoughts and emotions. What did all of those other identities mean? Were any of them real? Was 'Sarah Walker' even real?! Chuck had seen enough TV and movies to understand that this looked bad; really bad. Was all of this just an elaborate con to get his money? A "honey trap"? He didn't want to believe it, but it was hard to overlook the evidence.
Chuck's heart was in his throat as he walked into the living area, mumbling to himself, running his hands through his hair, as he tried to sort things out. His mind continued to spiral when he noticed her new winter coat hanging on the chair and it gave him pause. Just yesterday, she had practically berated him for wanting to give her his credit card. When she talked about how easy it would be for people to "fleece" him, she seemed legitimately upset. Was that just reverse psychology, trying to lull him into a false sense of security? He just didn't know.
He played over the events and conversations of the past few days, trying to glean some evidence one way or the other. He had been the one to approach her, not the other way around. Although, maybe the car breaking down was staged. Was it really broken down? No, the tow truck driver that he had called confirmed that the car was a loss, so that much was true.
Since they'd met, Sarah had never really asked him for anything. In fact, he had to insist on buying lunch and helping her with her car. It could have been all part of the ploy, but it seemed unlikely. Chuck had been the one to invite her home for Christmas after hearing her sad tale. Had that been all a ruse to ingratiate herself? It had worked, but it wasn't just about the story. He had liked her from the beginning. There was something that drew him to her. It could be her looks, which were understandable, but it felt like so much more than that, even then.
Recalling their talks in the car, she had warned him about her, hadn't she? She said he didn't know what she was capable of, that she had a "bad past", which definitely could explain the cache of identities he'd found. If she was trying to con him, why would she confess those things to him? At every turn, Sarah had pushed back on his attempts to do things for her or spend money on her. She'd said she didn't want his family to think badly of her. If she was really a con artist, or at least currently a con artist, why would she care what people thought of her once the "con" was over?
Why else would she have all those other identities? Was she a con artist or career criminal of some sort? What other explanation was there? Chuck supposed she could be a spy of some kind, but that was a ridiculous notion. Why would a spy have any cause to insert themselves in his life? A con artist, now that made sense. He knew that more than a few people in his life had taken advantage of his good nature. For a gorgeous woman who had her eyes on his money, he was a pretty easy mark, admittedly. The question was, if all of this was true, what would he do about it? Did it change the way he felt about her? So far, she hadn't done anything wrong. She hadn't taken anything that he didn't give to her freely, even when she had ample opportunity.
The truth of the matter was, if he hadn't found those documents, he'd have no reason to question her, apart from how unlikely their pairing seemed on the surface. When she confessed she'd had a bad past, he told her then that it didn't matter, that she was an amazing person. Now that he was faced with this new information, was he going back on his word? Was he lying when he said it didn't matter?
The one truth that he knew was that she made him happy, and it seemed that he made her happy as well. He'd kissed her, and she kissed him back. Boy, did she kiss him back. Sarah seemed so sincere when she revealed she didn't want to pretend any longer. What he saw in her eyes, that look, seemed more real than anything he'd ever experienced before. They'd only known each other for three days, so it was ludicrous to think that they would share every detail of their past with one another. If she was some sort of criminal, and she had put it in her past, it would stand to reason that she wouldn't be that proud of it. Nobody wants to talk about their darkest secrets on a first date. There were things about himself that he hadn't revealed either. He'd done things that were technically illegal, regardless of the reasons. It would be pretty damn hypocritical of him to condemn her, especially without knowing the whole story.
Chuck could hear the shower turn off and he knew he didn't have much time. He needed to do one thing to help set his mind at ease. Grabbing his messenger bag, he pulled out his laptop and got to work, his fingers flying over the keys. After connecting to his VPN and making the necessary connections to his remote server, he began setting up a targeted query for one "Sarah Walker". Given that he knew her age and month of birth, that she had just lived in San Diego and what kind of car she drove, it would narrow the search considerably. Yes, it was very stalker-ey, but he wasn't looking to uncover every intimate detail of her life. He just needed to see if she was a real person, with a real history. Just as importantly, he wanted to make sure she wasn't in some sort of trouble.
His finger hovered over the "Enter" key as he took pause. "What are you doing?" he asked himself aloud. If he went through with this, regardless of what he found, it would mean that, ultimately, he didn't trust her. And in doing so, he would break whatever trust she might have in him. If they really were going to have a chance at a relationship, as crazy as this all was, he couldn't do this.
Chuck closed his eyes and blew out a breath. Opening them again, he closed his query window and disconnected. Just then, the bathroom door opened and Sarah stepped out, her body and head both wrapped in towels. She looked around the bedroom, and not seeing Chuck, looked into the living area.
"What are you doing? You're not doing work on vacation are you?" Sarah asked with a smirk as she stepped into the doorway of the bedroom.
"Wha- who me? No! No, no. Just uh… just checking my email really quick. N-no biggie," he stammered, chuckling a little nervously. He closed his laptop and put it back in his bag, wiping his hands on his pants legs as he walked toward her.
"You OK?" she asked, furrowing her brow in concern. "You look like something's bothering you. Did I take too long in the shower?"
"Of course not! No. You take as long as you want. No, I'm good. Hungry! Just hungry. That's probably it. I'm just gonna go… hop in the shower so we can…" he trailed off until his eyes shot open.
"Ellie!" he practically shouted, wincing at himself. "Ellie. She called while you were in the shower. She said she and Devon, and likely my parents, were going to meet up for breakfast downstairs. She asked if we wanted to join them. I-I didn't say one way or the other. I told her you were in the shower and I'd ask once you got out because I didn't want to go in there and ask you while you were taking a shower, but then there was the whole shampoo thing and the towels-" Chuck was stopped abruptly by Sarah's fingers on his lips. She gave him a curious look, blinking as if the flurry of words he'd just hurled at her had dazed her. Slowly, she removed her fingers, still looking up at him in surprise.
"Holy cow. Wh-what's with you? I've seen you spiral before but that was almost frightening. Do you not want to go to breakfast with them? If that's what's bothering you, we don't have to go. Or … if you'd rather go be with your family by yourself, I… I could just stay here or go find something else to do."
"What? That's ridiculous! No. No, I don't want you to-" Chuck cut himself off, taking a calming breath to try to relax himself. "I just didn't want to speak for you. That's all. I didn't want to drag you around to all these things with my family. I want this time to be about you. Remember that whole 'Christmas arrangement'?" he asked, giving her a wry smile.
"Chuck. I… I thought that we were done with the… the cover thing? Aren't we?" she asked hesitantly.
"I promised you an amazing Christmas. I still plan on holding up that end of the bargain. Being my girlfriend for Christmas… I… I guess that title can still fit, if-if you want it to. You know, with-without the pretend part…" he trailed off tentatively, wincing a little in fear of how she might take it.
"Charles Bartowski, are you officially asking me to be your real girlfriend? Is that what I'm hearing?" she questioned, folding her arms across her chest, with a mischievous grin.
"Well, I … I mean if… it's just that…. Yes. Yes, I am," he finally declared, finding courage as he stared into her cerulean eyes. He watched her eyes grow brighter as her smile widened. Sarah closed the distance between them and slid her arms over his shoulders, pulling him into a deep kiss.
As the kiss deepened, Sarah pressed her body against his and Chuck in turn began to caress her back and sides. The soft terry cloth towel was slightly damp, but Chuck didn't mind, his mind void of any cares, save for the way she felt against him and how incredible she tasted. As the kiss continued to build, and Chuck's caresses more firm, Sarah hummed against his lips, running her fingers through his hair. It was at that point that she let out a surprised yelp against his lips, her eyes opening wide. Chuck's caresses against her towel suddenly made contact with the bare skin of her back.
Chuck immediately froze, his eyes flying open as well. The kiss halted, though their lips were still pressed together. Sarah slowly pulled away, looking a bit embarrassed. "My towel seems to have come undone," she confessed, looking up at him through her lashes. Chuck could only muster a strangled, choking sound as his mouth dropped open in shock.
"I'm gonna have to take my arms down from around your neck, but then my towel might…" Chuck closed his eyes tight, raising his head to face the ceiling as he nodded his understanding. Sarah couldn't help but giggle as she slid her arms from around him and caught her towel, fixing it back into position. "OK," she said, taking a step back.
Chuck cautiously opened an eye, looking down to see that she was, in fact, covered and then opened the other in a mixture of relief and a little disappointment. Sarah gave him a shy smile as she held her towel tight around her. "I should probably go get dressed."
"Right! Right, yeah. That's a… a good idea. I'm gonna go take a shower. A really… really cold… arctic shower," he stated as he made a beeline for the bathroom. He caught the distinctive giggle as he passed by Sarah, but hastening into the bathroom and closed the door.
Standing in the relative safety of the bathroom, Chuck contemplated all that had just happened. His concerns about her identity seemed to pale considerably given their conversation and that heart-stopping kiss. Realizing that he hadn't actually gotten an answer, he turned and opened the door, peaking his head out.
"Oh, uh… about the uh… the g-girlfriend thing. Was that a yes or …" he trailed off, looking hopeful. Sarah shook her head, chuckling as she rolled her eyes.
"That was definitely a yes," she replied, giving him a smile that made his knees buckle. Chuck's face lit up, his eyes crinkling at the corners as his smile nearly reached his ears.
"Ok then," he nodded, pulling his head back in, only to pop out again. "Oh! Ellie. Do you want to do breakfast with them?"
"Text your sister and tell her that if you ever get your ass in the shower, we'll meet them for breakfast," she teased, giving him a pointed look. Taking the hint, he closed the door, and texted his sister. As he reached for the shower handle, he paused, taking a moment to enjoy a fist pump and a little celebratory dance.
Sarah stared at the bathroom door in deep thought. Something had been bothering Chuck; spooked him even. Was he freaking out over the change in their relationship? After talking about it, kissing about it and making it "official", he didn't seem so freaked out any more. Sarah hummed to herself, smiling as she touched her lips as she recalled that kiss. Was that it? Was he so nervous because he was trying to find a way to broach the subject with her? Or was it something to do with work? He'd been on his laptop checking email, or so he said. Did something happen with work? Was he in some kind of trouble? She didn't want to push, understanding that their relationship was very new and it might take some time to open up about things. She, of all people, could understand that. He wasn't pushing her to open up about her past, the least she could do was return the favor. But, now that they were in a relationship, as positively bizarre as that sounded to her, she knew she would have to come clean soon. She just needed to find the right time, if there was such a thing. Hearing the shower turn on, she shook herself from her thoughts and took the opportunity to get dressed.
A/N2: It's Christmas Eve as I post this, so I'm not sure when the next update will be. I want to thank you all for your support of this story. Your kind words are truly humbling. I'm glad that you've found this story as enjoyable to read as it has been to write.
No matter what you celebrate or where you are in the world, I wish you peace, love and happiness. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays !
Joe Watkins
