A/N: The final day at the ski resort before the Bartowski Christmas Spectacular commences.
To get something out before the new year, this chapter is hot off the presses and my beta hasn't had a chance to clean up all my mistakes.(Commas and I have a love/hate relationship.) So, excuse the mess. :)
Disclaimer: Don't own Chuck
Chapter 8
After breakfast with the Bartowski clan, Ellie and Devon planned for a couple hours of skiing before they all checked out of the hotel. Chuck had begged off, opting to hang with his parents but encouraged Sarah to go. Sarah was hesitant, both at going without him and being alone with Ellie. She really liked Ellie, but the woman scared her more than a little. She was smart and observant and Sarah was afraid she might let something slip that Ellie would catch. Between Chuck and Ellie's pleading, she relented.
Chuck and his parents sat in a lounge near a roaring fireplace, looking through the windows overlooking the slopes. Chuck was still sore from the countless times he'd fallen yesterday, so he was more than happy to sit this one out.
"I really like her," Mary confessed, interrupting the silence that had fallen over them. "I'll admit, I had my misgivings," she admitted, raising her hand, as if to forestall any comment. Stephen still snorted, earning a look from his wife.
"What?" he asked, with an innocent expression. "It's not like you were stewing in the car over the prospect of meeting 'another harlot that was going to break your son's heart,'" Stephen confessed, trying to hide his amusement. Mary gasped, clearly embarrassed, and smacked her husband on the thigh.
'Mom!" Chuck chided playfully, smirking at their exchange.
"Well… in my defense, I hadn't met her yet," Mary offered, looking properly chastised. "I was just afraid of a repeat of that succubus from college. I'm a big enough person to admit when I'm wrong. Sarah's lovely and I'm glad you brought her with you so we could spend time with her. And you too, of course. I can see how happy she makes you. And I can see that you make her happy too." Chuck opened his mouth to interject but Mary talked over top of him, not letting him get a word in edgewise. "Now, I know I don't really know much about her, but there is no mistaking the way that she looks at you, and you at her. I'm just so happy that you've finally found someone."
Chuck gave his mother a soft smile, averting his eyes down to his coffee for a moment. "Thanks, Mom. I… I do like her. A lot. It's still new and we're getting to learn more and more about each other…" he paused, the morning's discovery playing through his head, "but I have a good feeling about her...us."
"So do I, son," Stephen added, smiling warmly. "I was a little worried when I first saw her. I mean, you've a very trusting person and you came into a great deal of money. That can attract a certain type of person, if you know what I mean? Sarah's a very beautiful woman, but... she's also very smart, and humble about both. She seems very genuine, unlike 'she who shall not be named'." Stephen rolled his eyes and shivered a little.
"I-I know what it might look like. She… she doesn't look like somebody that would be interested in me," Chuck admitted, giving a weak smile. Chuck waved off his parents, who both started to protest. "I know what you're gonna say, and thank you, but I have no illusions of who I am and what I look like to people around me. So, believe me, nobody is more surprised that she's willing to be with me than I am. But, you're right. She is smart, incredibly smart … and funny and… and kind. From what she's shared, she's had a hard past. What that is, I don't know … exactly, but I like to think it's helped her to look past the surface, to see through the nerdy exterior and take a chance on the guy inside," he stated, tapping his finger on his chest.
"Oh, Charlie. If only you could really see yourself like others do. Then you wouldn't find it so hard to believe what a gift you really are. Ooo. That reminds me. Have you gotten her anything for Christmas yet?" Mary asked. Chuck's eyes shot open in panic.
"Oh my God. No! I...I already gave her a little pair of earrings that I got on our way up here. Nothing fancy. Just something she was admiring in a store we stopped at."
"The snow flake ones she was wearing this morning? Those were so cute," Mary said with a pouty smile.
"Well, she picked them out, so I can't take any credit for style. What the hell am I going to get her for Christmas? There's only... two days until Christmas Eve!"
"Well, what are some things she likes? She doesn't seem to wear much jewelry. At least I didn't see any rings or necklaces or …" Mary trailed off, tapping her chin with her finger, lost in her thoughts.
"No. She … she doesn't really come from money or anything, so she probably doesn't have much jewelry to wear. We got her some clothes, but that hardly seems like a Christmas present. That was just so she could go skiing." Chuck's knee was bouncing as he racked his brain to think of something to get her.
"I mean, you did take her to a ski resort for Christmas," Stephen chimed in with a shrug and a wry smile.
"If it were a romantic getaway for just the two of them, maybe," Mary replied, "but not when you bring your sister and your parents." They all chuckled at that, realizing how right she was.
"We'll be back at Ellie's house this evening and then maybe tomorrow we can all go shopping. I can keep her occupied while you look for something." Chuck nodded at his mother, sighing with some small relief.
"I just… I want this to be a really special Christmas for her," he confessed, pulling his lips in a tight line.
"Look around you, son. It doesn't get much more magical than this. I'd say you're off to a great start. And we'll all do our part to make this a special Christmas for Sarah. I suspect that in the process it'll end up being special for all of us," Stephen assured Chuck, giving his son a pat on the arm.
"Thanks Dad." Chuck gave both his parents an appreciative smile before turning his gaze to the slopes, wondering which of the tiny people was Sarah.
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Sarah jolted awake when the car came to a stop, blinking as she surveyed her surroundings to get her bearings. Still dazed from her nap, she, not so gracefully, wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth. The soft chuckle from beside her caught her attention, causing her to turn. The dome light of the SUV turned on when Ellie and Devon got out, both stretching and groaning after the long drive. Chuck sat gazing at her, a wide smile on his face, and a sparkle in his eyes. It was then that she noticed the large wet spot on his shoulder, and she immediately began to blush. She hadn't even remembered falling asleep. The last thing she recalled was Chuck talking about work and evidently the time spent on the slopes caught up with her. She felt really bad for falling asleep on him, in all senses of the term.
"I'm sorry," she apologized with a wince as she ineffectively wiped at the wet spot on his shirt, her cheeks turning rosy. Chuck caught her hand, gently holding it in his.
"Don't be. You're incredibly adorable when you're sleeping. Especially with that little bit of drool at the corner of your mouth," he pointed out, biting his lip to keep from laughing. Sarah was even more embarrassed, but couldn't help but chuckle as she swatted him on the leg.
"Stop makin' fun of me. Now I don't feel so guilty about falling asleep on you," she huffed good-naturedly. Chuck barked out a laugh and she had to admit she liked the sound of it, bringing a smile to her face. Collecting her coat, she opened the car door and slid out, the cool air helping to wake her up. It wasn't nearly as cold as it had been when they left the resort, but after hours in the warm car, snuggled into a warm body, it still felt brisk. The sun was beginning to set, and the outside Christmas lights were already on, likely set up on a timer. Stephen and Mary pulled in next to them a few moments later and the gang all migrated into the house, dragging their luggage with them.
After a dinner of Chinese take-out, and a couple glasses of wine, everyone was exhausted, the day of skiing and travel having worn them out. Sarah had already taken a quick shower before they'd left the hotel, sweaty from her work out on the slopes, so she let Chuck have the bathroom to take a shower.
Searching through her duffle, she realized that all of the clothes she had for sleeping in were dirty, not having had time to do any laundry with their impromptu retreat. She sighed in exasperation, then caught sight of Chuck's duffle sitting open on the chair in the corner of the room. She debated for a moment but eventually decided to "borrow" a t-shirt from his bag. When Chuck came back, she took her turn in the bathroom, sneaking her contraband with her. Slipping his shirt on, she looked herself over in the mirror. As with most of his t-shirts, there was a saying on the front, but she didn't know what it meant. There's no place like 127.O.O.1 She assumed it was something nerdy that she wouldn't understand, but she was OK with that. Just wearing it made her feel closer to him; it even smelled like him.
When Sarah came into the bedroom, Chuck was already under the covers, but on what had been her side of the bed. He just lay there staring at her, much like the last time he saw her in his t-shirt and she had to bite her cheek to keep from grinning like a fool. When his eyes fluttered, shaking himself from his daze, she gave him a curious look. He quickly moved back to his side, pulling up the covers for her to get in.
"I was warming up the sheets for you so they wouldn't be so cold," Chuck confessed, giving her a shy smile. She slid under the warmed covers, and sighed in contentment. Sarah kept sliding over until she was pressed against Chuck, reaching up and giving him a soft kiss on the lips.
"You didn't have to do that, but it was very sweet and greatly appreciated. The sheets are warmed to perfection. I'll be sure to note that on the comment card when I check out," she teased, giving him a wry smile.
"Well, be sure that you do. We pride ourselves on our service," he replied, trying to sound dignified.
"Oh do you now? And what types of… 'services' do you provide, exactly?" she asked salaciously, bouncing her eyebrows at him. Chuck was speechless, his mouth moving but nothing coming out. Sarah pressed her face into his chest as she burst into a fit of giggling. Letting out a heavy sigh once her laughing subsided, she snuggled in closer, her head on his chest and arm draped over his stomach. As if by habit, Chuck moved his feet to find hers, intertwining them to help keep her warm.
Sarah was still trying to come to terms with all of this. She absolutely loved being this close to him. Never would she have imagined that she'd love to snuggle up in bed with someone, much less someone that she didn't have an intimate relationship with. That wasn't true though, was it? Her relationship with Chuck, as new as it was, and what she was doing right at that moment, was infinitely more intimate than she'd even been with anyone. Her heart began to race as she wondered what it would be like to add a physical aspect to their relationship. She forced that thought away, not wanting to get her hopes up too much. She would have to come clean to him first, and after that he may not want anything to do with her. That stupid knot was forming in her stomach again.
"Hey," Chuck whispered into her hair. "Are you OK? You seem really tense." He rubbed her back with one hand, pulling her closer, as he rubbed her arm with the other. She hadn't realized she was being so obvious, but then again, he seemed to pick up on her tells pretty easily.
"I'm alright. Just a long day I guess," she confessed, which wasn't entirely untrue. She was worn out, despite her nap in the car, and the warmth and comfort Chuck was providing was making it difficult to stay awake. Almost as if on cue, a huge yawn escaped. "I'm sorry. I keep falling asleep on you," she murmured sleepily.
"Hey. That's what you're supposed to be doing. That's what beds are for, right?" he asked, giving a light chuckle.
"Well… not the only thing…" she trailed off, closing her eyes in a wince. She really needed to do a better job of filtering her thoughts. She didn't want him to think she was teasing or taunting him. That would be too cruel.
"Yeah. Well… maybe someday. Whenever you feel you're ready. I'm happy right here," he said, the conviction clear in his voice as he gave her another soft squeeze. She hummed against his chest, tracing small circles on his t-shirt with her fingers. Sarah was quickly learning how incredibly lucky she was to have found him, or for him to have found her, as the case may be. Every fiber of her being was attracted to this man and she wanted nothing more than to get completely lost in him. But, he deserved to know the truth before they took that step, and she wasn't quite ready to risk losing what they had just yet.
"Thank you," she whispered, turning her head just enough to give him a soft kiss on his chest. She snuggled deeper into him, deeply breathing in the smell of him as she dripped off to sleep. The last thing she remembered was Chuck pressing a kiss to the top of her head and holding her tight.
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The following morning, Sarah awoke to the smell of fresh brewed coffee wafting through the air. She was warm and cozy, as she had been every morning she woke up next to him, but with one big difference. Sarah was on her back with Chuck's head laying on her shoulder. She could feel his warm breath on her neck and the weight of his arm draped over her stomach and his leg over top of hers. This was a level of vulnerability and intimacy that she had never experienced before. She couldn't think of any man she'd ever known that would allow himself to be in this position and it made her heart swell. Sarah knew that if she didn't get out of that bed, and soon, her resolve would fail and it could ruin everything.
Chuck groaned as Sarah kissed the top of his head and gently shook his arm. "I'm awake," he grumbled softly into her neck. He could feel the distinct shiver run through her body beneath him, pulling him to full consciousness. Realizing the rather compromising position he was in, as well as Sarah, he began to push away, trying to give her some space. "S-sorry about that."
"Don't be sorry," she replied, rolling over to follow him. She reached out and placed a gentle hand on his cheek, showing him a soft smile. "It was really nice. You breathing on my neck like that… well, let's just save that nicety for another time." She chuckled, fighting to keep the color out of her cheeks. Chuck wasn't so fortunate, losing that battle as his cheeks and ears began to turn crimson. Sarah grinned and, leaning forward, pressed her lips to his for a moment before pulling away and sliding out of bed.
"Are you coming? I think breakfast is almost ready. That coffee is calling me." Sarah slipped on a pair of jeans, while Chuck made a point of averting his eyes.
"I'm uh… I'm just gonna lay here for a few," Chuck managed to get out, staring at the opposite wall.
"Are you sure? Is… is everything OK?" Sarah asked, concerned that maybe she'd said or done something wrong.
"Oh Yeah. Peachy. You uh… you go ahead. I'll be down in a while," he rushed out, trying to reassure her, though still unable to look at her. That didn't set Sarah at ease, prompting her to climb onto the bed on her knees.
"Did I say something wrong? If I did I-"
"No! No,no. You didn't do anything. Well, not exactly. I just… I … I can't get out of bed right now," he stated timidly, still unable to face her.
"Oh. OK," she replied, sounding a bit confused and dejected. Sarah was certain that she must have offended or embarrassed him, especially the way he pushed away from her. What other reason would he have for wanting her to leave him alone? Then her eyes shot open with realization, her lips pulled in between her teeth to keep from laughing. "OH! Right. OK then. Well, I'll just um…" she trailed off, climbing off of the bed and grabbing a pair of socks. "I'll see you downstairs in a … a while then." She quickly opened the door and closed it behind her, leaning her body against the wall, covering her mouth.
Sarah's first response was to burst into a fit of giggles, but the more she thought about it, she realized that she was in the same boat. She was just fortunate enough that she could freely walk around without making it known to everyone around her. She really needed to find the right time to tell him, and soon, otherwise one or both of them were going to explode.
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After a minute or so, Chuck snuck to the bathroom and promptly splashed cold water on his face. A lot of cold water. Once he was sufficiently doused, he stood with his hands resting on the vanity, staring at his reflection in the mirror. Droplets of water were dripping from his nose and chin as he tried to get his breathing under control. His mind was racing, trying to work out all of his emotions. Desire was the most vocal at the moment, but he knew those thoughts were irrational, so he tried to set those aside for now; hence the cold water. He still had so many questions about "Sarah" and these small nagging doubts as to whether all of this was real or just some elaborate ruse. It certainly felt real; she felt real. The way she looked at him, kissed him, if she was faking it all, she was incredibly good at it. If her goal was to gain his confidence so she could take his money, she could have easily done all that by now. She didn't have to use sex as a motivator, and so far she hadn't. In fact, she was taking it slow, they both were, but one would suspect that she'd want to either push the issue to gain more control over him or she'd avoid it at all costs because she just wasn't into him. Neither of those seemed to fit, so he came full circle back to where he started with this all feeling so real.
Chuck just had to hold out hope that Sarah would eventually want to tell him the truth about her past. The only thing he knew for certain was that her mother lived in Modesto and they hadn't had a relationship in a long time. He couldn't imagine what that would be like, to be without any family. He'd relied on his family, and Morgan, to get him through tough times, especially during college. If he didn't have them he would have truly felt lost and alone. He wished that he could give that to Sarah, so she wouldn't feel so alone in the world. Then it struck him, his eyes growing wide.
Quickly, Chuck brushed his teeth and tried to fix his bed head before rushing back to his room to get dressed. After pulling the last of his clothes on, he grabbed his laptop and sat on the bed. He flipped it open and began to feverishly type away. He wasn't going to use any hacks or backdoors for this. He wanted to keep it all above board. That way if she questioned him later he wouldn't have to lie about it. He began searching California public records for "Sarah Walker", assuming that was her real name. The name was not uncommon, so he had to filter those results based on what he thought her age was, which was relatively close to his, he guessed. That still yielded far too many results, so he narrowed it further to Modesto, where Sarah said her mother lived. He had no way of knowing if that was where Sarah was born but he didn't have much else to go on. Then he found something.
There was a "Walker, Sarah L. born to Walker, Emma M. on May 12th 1995" in an archive of hospital birth announcements from Doctor's Hospital in Modesto. That would make her twenty-five, which seemed reasonable and if this was correct, he had a name for her mother: Emma. He then turned his attention to searching for "Emma M. Walker" in Modesto. He hoped she hadn't re-married and changed names, otherwise he'd have to resort to "other means" of finding that information. Thankfully, the resulting list was much shorter. In fact, there was only one "Emma Walker" in the right age bracket to have been Sarah's mother. A white pages hit gave a home address, which he sent to his phone. When he found a picture of her on the Independence Elementary School website, there was no doubt in his mind that this was Sarah's mother. She was a beautiful woman in her mid-forties, but with her eyes and smile, he felt like he was looking at a picture of Sarah twenty years from now. That thought alone caused the corners of his lips to curl before he shook that thought.
Emma Walker was a kindergarten teacher at an elementary school in Modesto and lived in a modest house on a quiet street, at least it appeared so from the street view images. With this new information, he had a plan formulating. He knew this was a huge leap, and he hoped it didn't come back to bite him later. He just couldn't help himself.
About fifteen minutes after Sarah had sat down, Chuck had joined them downstairs. His hair was mostly tamed and his breath smelled of mint when he kissed Sarah on the cheek. She gave him a questioning look, as if asking if everything was OK. He just smiled and gave her another kiss on the cheek. Thankfully, there was plenty of conversation between the family members so they didn't seem too bothered by the fact that he'd taken so long to come downstairs.
"Sarah, Mom and I were thinking we should head to the bay area and do some shopping, maybe grab some lunch. What d'you say?" Ellie asked before taking a sip of coffee. Sarah's eyes went wide, glancing between Ellie, Mary and finally Chuck. He gave her an encouraging smile with a small nod, showing his approval. Still, she wasn't so sure.
"What uh... what about you, Chuck? I don't want to leave you alone," Sarah confessed, although she was more concerned about being alone with Chuck's family than for Chuck himself.
"Oh, he's a big boy," Ellie chimed in with a wry smile. "Aren't ya, Chuck. You're a big boy," she teased with a pouty, baby talk tone. Chuck huffed, rolling his eyes as the color began to rise in his neck and cheeks.
Mary could obviously see the perplexed look on Sarah's face so she came to the rescue. "It's a long story dear. We'll tell you at lunch," the older woman assured her, giving a grin and a wink.
"Oh, great," Chuck grumbled. "I'll be fine, thanks. Maybe Devon and I can hang out?" he questioned, gesturing toward his brother-in-law.
'Sorry. No can do, Chuckster. I gotta run to the hospital. Duty calls," he declared, grabbing an apple from the bowl of fruit and kissing Ellie on the cheek.
"Alright, well… Dad and I can hang out, binge watch some Quantum Leap or something."
"Ehh. Sorry son. I'd love to, but I have to meet with some contractors at the lab for a few hours," Stephen said, giving Chuck an apologetic shrug.
'Well, I could drive you in. It'll give me a chance to look the campus over again. Plus, I can get some shopping of my own done while I'm waiting. Just text me when you're done and I'll pick you up," Chuck offered.
Stephen nodded, patting his son on the shoulder. "Thanks, Charles. That'd be great."
"It's all settled then," Mary stated, clapping her hands together. "Let's clear the table so we can get going." Mary and Ellie began clearing the breakfast items from that table just as Chuck was about to grab for something. He just sat, dumbfounded, looking at the empty table in front of him. Sarah slid a plate in front of him with some scrambled eggs, sausage links and buttered toast.
"I saved some for you. I'm sorry, I didn't know what you liked on your toast…" she trailed off, looking at him through her lashes.
"You're amazing. Thank you," he breathed out, leaning over and giving her a quick kiss on the lips. He wasn't much for PDA, but right now, he didn't care. "And I like strawberry jam, if it ever comes up again," he stated with a wink. Sarah chuckled, her smile widening.
"Got it," she declared, tapping the side of her head. "I'm gonna go get ready. Finish your breakfast… like a big boy," she teased, with a devilish grin. Ellie began to cackle, having overheard the remark. Mary, for her part, was trying not to laugh, but her muffled snort could still be heard. Chuck just sighed, sinking into his chair. Giggling, Sarah squeezed his shoulders and kissed him on the head before heading back upstairs.
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It was approaching lunchtime and they had been to nearly a dozen shops it seemed. Sarah didn't have much money but she wanted to buy something for everyone, even if it was just something small. She felt like she owed it to them for accepting her into their home and their family. She'd never really had to do Christmas shopping for anyone before, but if there was anything that her previous life had taught her, it was to be observant. She paid attention to how Ellie and Mary reacted to items they found and showed each other. She noted when they said Devon or Stephen would love a particular gadget or novelty. Sarah had been sly about it, and had snuck back and purchased items for everyone, except for Chuck. Her funds were slowly dwindling, but she still had the money she'd gotten from her car. That would be enough to tide her over long enough to find a place to stay after… She shoved that thought down, not wanting to face that cold, hard truth just yet. She was going to enjoy her time this Christmas. Her crappy life would still be there afterward.
They stopped at a bakery cafe for lunch, the smell of the fresh baked sourdough wafting through the air like a siren's song to the three hungry shoppers. All three got soup in a bread bowl; clam chowder for Ellie, Garlic Tomato for Mary and Sarah chose the broccoli cheddar. Sliding into a booth, the three women ate, imbibing in small talk as they did. Half way through their meal there was a lull in the conversation which Mary took an opportunity to pose a question that had been on her mind.
"Sarah, I hope I'm not prying but you haven't really talked about your family. Are you still in touch with your parents? Do you have any siblings?" Mary asked, taking a sip of her soup.
Sarah tried to control her reaction, doing her best to hide the fear in her face. Clearing her throat and finishing chewing her food gave her some time to collect her thoughts. "I'm an only child. My uh… my parents separated when I was young. I went to live with my dad. We traveled a lot for his work so we never really put down roots and I never got to see my mom. My dad and I … you could say we had a falling out. I have seen or heard from him in over a year. So, I guess you could say we aren't close," Sarah concluded, taking a drink to quench her now dry mouth.
Mary reached across the table and put her hand on Sarah's, offering her condolences. "Oh, dear. I'm so sorry. That has to be hard especially at this time of year." Sarah almost jumped at the action but stilled her hand. It wasn't quite the electric feeling she got when Chuck touched her, but there was still a warmth that emanated from it, helping to put her at ease. Not to be left out, Ellie slid into Sarah's side of the booth and wrapped her in a side hug.
"I'm sorry Sweetie. I know it's not the same, but ... I think I speak for all of us when I say you're part of our family now," Ellie confessed, looking at her mother who nodded emphatically. Sarah was struck with such strong emotions that she audibly gasped, covering her mouth with her hand belatedly. Sarah had felt their acceptance from the very beginning and she'd grown so fond of the whole Bartowski family in the short time she'd known them. But, to hear them actually state that they were welcoming her into their family, filled her with both incredible warmth and smothering guilt. She didn't deserve their acceptance, not after lying to them from the start, hiding her corrupt past from them, from Chuck. Regardless of the act that she had feeling for Chuck now, she had still come into their home under false pretenses.
Sarah choked back the tears that burned at the back of her eyes and gave them a smile that tried to show how appreciative she truly was. "Thank you. I…" she paused not knowing what to say. What could she say? Sarah needed a moment to collect herself before she came apart at the seams. "Could… could you excuse me for a moment? I just need to…" she trailed off, gesturing toward the aisle way beside their booth.
Ellie made her apologies and slid out, allowing Sarah to do likewise. She made a beeline for the restrooms, and once inside, locked herself in one of the stalls. Taking long breaths in through her nose and slowly blowing them out through her mouth, she tried to calm herself. Her father's words echoed in her head. Never get too close to your mark. Emotions just complicate things. While she never saw Chuck as a mark, she supposed in some way his family was. Not that she ever wanted to take anything material from them, but it felt like she was stealing their love and acceptance.
As if by instinct, she pulled out her phone and hovered her thumb over Chuck's name in her contacts. Before meeting Chuck, she never had anyone she could call when she was troubled or needed to talk. Now, only a few short days after meeting him, he was the one person she knew she could talk to. She had begun to feel the same for Ellie, like she was the sister she never had, but in this instance, she couldn't offer any help. Neither could Chuck, really. She sat there, staring at his picture, his broad, goofy grin making her smile.
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Ellie and Mary sat finishing their lunch while Sarah was in the restroom. Neither of them spoke, both lost in their own thoughts about Sarah. The little information she provided seemed to shed some light on her apprehensions when they first met Sarah.
"Mama B! Ellie! What are you guys doing here?" came an excited voice from beside the booth. Startled from their thoughts, they turned to see a short, bearded man standing beside them, holding a tray of food.
"Morgan!" Ellie exclaimed, sliding out of the seat to give him a one armed hug, careful not to spill his try. "What… what are you doing here?" she asked, looking around for any signs of other people she might recognize.
"We're in town for the holidays. Alex and I are staying with my mom and her boyfriend. Then Christmas Eve we're heading her parents' place to stay for a couple days. We're just out doing some last minute shopping, grabbing some lunch," he added, lifting the tray as evidence. Just then, an auburn-haired woman, about Morgan's height stepped up holding a drink up in each hand. Ellie let out a stifled shout of excitement as she wrapped the woman in a hug, which the shorter woman returned as best she could.
"Alex, it's so good to see you. I can't believe it. Of all the places to run into each other." Ellie sat back in her booth, sighing with a huge grin.
"I know. That's so crazy. Mrs. Bartowski, it's great to see you again," Alex said, nodding her head as her hands were full.
"Alex dear. How many times do I have to tell you to call me Mary?" the older woman teased with a warm smile.
"At least one more time," she retorted, causing all four to laugh.
"Ooo. You have to wait," Ellie rushed out, clapping her hands in excitement. "Sarah's here. She just went to the restroom. I'm sure she'll be glad to see you guys." Morgan pulled his chin to his chest looking confused. He turned to Alex who seemed to share the same expression
"Sarah? Sarah who?" Morgan asked, looking between Ellie and Mary.
"Sarah. You know? Chuck's Sarah? Sarah Walker, his girlfriend," Ellie stated, incredulously.
"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Hold the phone! Chuck has a what?" Morgan questioned, his eyebrows nearly lost in his hair. Ellie turned to her mother, both women exchanging looks of concern.
A/N: Ruh Roh, Raggy. Somebody's gonna have some explaining to do.
I look forward to reading your thoughts on the story, so please feel free to share them in a review or PM.
I hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year .
JW
