A/N: Welcome to Christmas morning.
But it's February 10th-
Shut up! I said it's Christmas!
Ahem. As I was saying, it's Christmas morning, the first Christmas that Sarah will be celebrating since she was a small child. Sarah's mother, Emma, will be joining, adding to the importance of the day as they work to rebuild their relationship. The entire Bartowski clan is making it their mission to make this the best Christmas on record. I'll leave you to be the judge of that.
Disclaimer: Don't own Chuck
Chapter 14
Chuck languidly stretched, causing a delicious crackling and popping sound to emanate from throughout his body. "Mmmmm. God, that will never get old," he groaned in satisfaction, his voice hoarse. Sarah chuckled against his chest, her face buried in the dip below his sternum.
"No," she sighed, contentedly. "No, it most certainly will not," she admitted sleepily, grinning from ear to ear. Chuck began running his fingers through her hair, brushing it away from her face and behind her ear. He gently caressed her cheek as he stared down at her in silent adoration.
"Merry Christmas," he whispered, smoothing her hair down.
"Hmmmmmm," she let out in a long moan. Chuck could see her grin grow even wider, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "Merry Christmas," she murmured, turning her head slightly to place a kiss on his stomach. His skin and muscles twitched at the touch, his body still tingling from their early morning celebration. She giggled at the reaction, rubbing the spot lightly with her fingers. "Sorry. Didn't mean to tickle."
"Mmm. S'okay. I'm just a little sensitive I guess. I feel like my… my whole body is vibrating or something," he chuckled, returning to stroking her hair. The two laid in comfortable silence for several minutes, just enjoying the closeness.
"What time is it?" Sarah asked, her own voice a little hoarse. Chuck's free hand flopped on the nightstand, blindly feeling for his phone. Finding it, he brought it to his face, tromboning it in and out several times before he could focus enough to make out the numbers.
"Oh, shit," he chuckled, causing her head to bounce on his stomach. "It's almost 8:40. How the hell did that happen? It was like… six o'clock a minute ago."
"That would have been about the time you decided to go spelunking under the covers," she teased, scratching her nails playfully against his stomach.
"Oh. Yeaaaah…." he trailed off dreamily, his grin broadening.
"Yeaaaah…" Sarah parroted, recalling the event quite fondly, as a blush graced her cheeks.
"Can I…. can I confess something?" he asked shyly after a long moment.
"Mhmm," she hummed, nodding but not lifting her head.
"I've never really liked my name. 'Chuck'. I always thought it sounded like the noise you made when you get a popcorn hull stuck in your throat or something," he joked, causing Sarah to snort, her body shaking from her silent chuckle. "But, quite recently, I've been hearing it a lot and in a … completely new light, and I gotta say…. I really like the sound of it." Sarah gasped, turning her head to look up at him in shock, her mouth agape. He bounced his eyebrows at her, a smirk on his face. Sarah's gasp quickly turned into laughter as she playfully smacked him on his bare chest.
"You just think you're so funny don't you?" she questioned rhetorically between giggling and swatting at him. Chuck lamely tried to protect himself, holding up his hands in defense as he laughed. "I recall you using my name quite liberally as well, mister," she challenged, ceasing her assault and plopping her head back down on his stomach in a faux huff.
"Oh, I definitely did! I have no shame. None whatsoever. You are so beyond incredible. I'm sure I paid homage to a number of deities in there too. Whoever I have to thank for having you in my life," he chuckled, sighing in contentment. Sarah hummed in amusement against his chest, filled with warmth at hearing his confession. She'd paid homage too. A lot, and for the same reason. While making love to Chuck was easily one of the single greatest experiences of her life, the moments between, just being with him, feeling loved by him, were equally as gratifying.
"I have something else to confess," he added a short while later, breaking Sarah from her thoughts. She didn't speak, only nodding her acknowledgement as she remained snuggled on and against him. "I… I don't normally stop alongside the road to help people. I mean, I've done it once or twice maybe, but not… not as a regular habit. Everyone in LA just stays in their own bubble, minding their own business, not wanting to get involved. We always tell ourselves 'I'm sure they have a cell phone. They can call somebody.' to help ease our guilt. So, I don't know why I stopped when I did. Maybe it was because of the holidays or … or maybe I was subconsciously finding excuses to avoid coming here. I dunno. I don't generally believe in this sort of thing, but I can't help but think… maybe there was some… some force...a power of some kind that guided me. Like fate or, I dunno… like … like this love I feel was always there and it was just… looking for you, always searching and it finally found you.
"God, I must sound like a complete basket case," he groaned, running his hands through his hair. "I mean, how corny was that? Please ignore me." Sarah pushed herself up and crawled up to look down at Chuck, not saying a word. As her hair cascaded down around him, almost creating a curtain around their faces, he could see the tears in her eyes.
"Chuck, that was so sweet. Corny? Ummm, maybe a little, but I don't care. I could use a little corny in my life. I don't know what's responsible for bringing you into my life, but God am I glad you are. You've changed my life so profoundly in such a short time. Now that I have you, I don't know what I'd do without you," she confessed staring lovingly down at him.
Chuck smiled happily up at her, reaching up and brushing his thumb against her cheek. "Hopefully you never have to find out." Chuck winced slightly, giving her a sheepish smile. "Too much?"
Sarah let out a one note chuckle, shaking her head as a brilliant smile broke out across her face. "Perfectly cheesy," she whispered, leaning down to press her lips to his in a long, passionate kiss. After a couple of minutes, they were interrupted by a notification from Chuck's phone. Pulling apart slightly, Chuck grabbed the phone to look at the message.
Morgan: Merry Christmas Buddy!
True to form, the text was followed by a number of Christmas tree and present emojis. Chuck showed the text to Sarah before typing out his reply.
Chuck: Merry Christmas Morg. Give my love to Alex and Momma G
Chuck was sharing his screen with Sarah so she could see the conversation. The reply came back quickly.
Morgan: Will do. Give our best to the Bartowski/Woodcomb clan. Oh and Sarah too. We still need to have a talk about her BTW. We might swing by later. After we're done here we gotta stop by Alex's folks' place. Then we'll be over.
Chuck winced, glancing at Sarah, who had the same expression. "Yeah, I've been kind of avoiding that chat with him. Thankfully he's been busy with his family and Alex."
"I like him, and Alex. They were both great. Although, when he first saw me he called me… what was it…? Oh. Vicki Vale, I think it was. I'm not sure-" Sarah was interrupted by Chuck's laughter.
"Oh my God. I can soooo see him saying that, too. He's not wrong. God, that's funny. 'Vicki Vale'," he sighed, chuckling. "Kim Basinger was great and all but… you've definitely got her beat," he admitted, staring up at her wistfully.
"Batman! Ah. That's where I know that name from. Ok, I get it now. I knew I'd heard that name before. Thanks for the compliment, but she was a beautiful model and actress. I don't think we're in the same league."
"Pffft. You're right about that. You are sooo much hotter than she is. Mmm," he grunted, looking her naked body up and down appraisingly. She could see his expression change from admiration to one of concern. "I'm sorry. I was kind of objectifying you there."
Sarah let out a giggle, bending down again to place a quick kiss on his lips. "I think it's safe to say that when I'm laying naked on top of you, it's alright if you objectify me, just a little bit," she teased, giving him a wink and giggling at his blush. "Plus, with you I know you're not really objectifying me, because you don't see me as just an object. That's not who you are. It's one of the many things I love about you." Chuck smiled widely, his nose and the corners of his eyes crinkling.
Pressing another kiss to his lips, she hummed in contentment. When Sarah inhaled through her nose, she could smell a heavenly aroma wafting into the room, eliciting a different sort of hum. Pulling away, she looked at Chuck's phone for the time. 8:58AM
"Crap!" she exclaimed, flipping her hair out of her face. "Smells like breakfast is almost ready. We should get downstairs before they come looking for us."
"As much as I love lying here with you in all your delicious … nakedness, I think you're right." Chuckling at his antics, Sarah gave him a quick kiss before jumping off him to find their Christmas pajamas, which had been hastily stripped off and flung around the room the night before.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The kitchen was a buzz of activity. Fresh baked cinnamon rolls were cooling so they could be glazed and Sarah was slicing fresh fruit to go along with it. Mary was putting the finishing touches on an apple pie before putting it in the oven, and Stephen was helping with 'quality control' by stealing some apple slices. Chuck was dicing vegetables for the bread stuffing, trying to get a jumpstart on dinner preparations so there wasn't as much to do later. Ellie was straightening the living room for the fifth time and Devon was doing the same in the family room, as he'd been instructed.
The doorbell rang and everyone immediately stopped their tasks. There had been excitement in the air since Sarah and Chuck had come downstairs that morning. Everyone was bubbling with anticipation at the prospect of meeting Sarah's mother. The Bartowskis knew there was so much riding on this day, a lot of pressure for things to go well, and they all wanted to make this day as special as they could for Sarah and her mother.
"I'll get it," Ellie called out from the living room. Everyone started to make their way toward the front door, Sarah leading the way, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. Ellie pulled the door open, and sure enough, a middle aged woman with blonde hair stood looking rather apprehensive. There were enough similarities that nobody would question that she and Sarah were related.
"You must be Emma. I'm Ellie, Chuck's sister. It's so wonderful to meet you." Emma nodded, but before she knew it, Ellie had wrapped the older woman in a patented 'Ellie hug'. Sarah could see the look of surprise on her mother's face over Ellie's shoulder, but it quickly turned to a smile as she used one arm to hug Ellie in return.
"It's so nice to finally meet you Ellie. Sarah and Chuck told me so much about you," she confessed as she and Ellie pulled away from their hug. "Thank you so much for having me here. I hope it's not too much of an intrusion."
"Don't be ridiculous. We're so happy you could come. Please, come in. Come in. Can I take those bags for you?" Ellie asked, gesturing to the large canvas bags Emma held in her right hand. Emma stepped inside and Ellie closed the door behind her. Sarah's mother handed one of the bags to Ellie, although a bit hesitantly.
"These are just some baked goods I brought along. I hope that's alright." Emma's attention turned to Sarah, who was standing in the foyer, waiting. The room fell silent, everyone slipping behind Sarah to give the two of them a moment.
"Hi, Mom. Merry Christmas," Sarah said, her voice tight with emotion. Emma smiled with glassy eyes at her daughter, slowly closing the distance between them.
"Merry Christmas, baby girl," Emma choked out, before the two embraced. Emma and Sarah weren't the only ones sniffling, everyone present getting caught up in the emotion of the moment. Mother and daughter eventually pulled apart, chuckling as they wiped their tears away. Emma turned to see Chuck standing near them, wiping away the remnants of his own tears.
"Merry Christmas, Chuck," Emma breathed out, stepping up to give him a hug. She squeezed him tightly, which Chuck returned in kind. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Chuck understood the weight of that statement, what she was thankful for, and he couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed with emotion himself. Not trusting his own voice, he simply nodded, giving her an extra squeeze.
When she and Chuck separated, Sarah went around and introduced her mother to Devon and Stephen, who took turns shaking her hand and welcoming her. Sarah didn't get a chance to introduce Mary before the matriarch of the Bartowski clan stepped up to Emma, the two silently acknowledging one another before hugging.
Mary pulled away, holding Emma by the shoulders, smiling broadly. "I'm Mary, Chuck's mother. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have you here. Sarah … well, we love her to pieces. Even after such a short time, we consider her to be family. So, by extension, that makes you like family too. Please, let me take your jacket and we can get started with breakfast." Emma thanked her, slipping her jacket off and handing it to Mary to hang up. She looked down at her outfit apprehensively, then looked at everyone else with a small sigh of relief.
"I was afraid Sarah might have been pulling my leg about wearing pajamas to Christmas, but I took a leap of faith," she chuckled, gesturing at her flannel pajama set. Everyone was wearing their new flannel pajamas they'd gotten the night before, so she realized she was in good company. Sarah gave her mother a side hug, complimenting her wintery-themed red pajamas with white snowflakes.
"Oh, I have a bag here with a few gifts. It's not much, but is there some place I can put these?" she asked sheepishly, holding up a large canvas bag with wrapped presents inside. Ellie jumped in, ever the consummate hostess, and took the bag from her.
"I'll just set it around the corner here in the living room beside the tree." Emma followed Ellie around the corner, curious to catch a glimpse of the tree for herself. Her eyes widened in surprise at the massive collection of gifts.
"Wow," she exclaimed as she tried to take it all in. Ellie looked back at Emma and followed her gaze.
"Oh. Yeah. We go a liiiiiitttle overboard sometimes. This year especially. It's a very special Christmas after all," Ellie admitted with a shrug.
"Really? How so?" the older woman asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
"You and Sarah are here, for one. That makes it pretty special. Plus, it's the first time Chuck's ever brought someone home for family Christmas. We're just so excited that he finally has someone in his life," she whispered conspiratorially, checking to make sure the others weren't close enough to overhear. "He's been alone for a long time. We're so happy that they found one another. Sarah's really amazing. You should be proud." Emma gave her a tight smile, nodding her head as tears began to form again. Ellie, realizing how heavy things were getting, quickly changed the subject, gently taking Emma by the arm.
"Let's go join the others and have some breakfast." Ellie gestured toward the kitchen, allowing Emma to go first. People were starting to form a line to serve themselves of all the breakfast items laid out on the kitchen island. Sarah waited for her mother, leading her into the line, Chuck following behind, as if shielding Emma on both sides.
They began loading their plates when Ellie called out, "Who wants mimosas?" Emma looked between Chuck and Sarah, prompting all three of them to burst out in laughter.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Ellie, those cinnamon rolls were heavenly," Emma praised, patting her stomach in contentment. Others parroted that sentiment as they made their way into the living room. There was a fire going in the fireplace, making the scene all that much more warm and inviting. Stephen and Mary took seats on one of the couches, gesturing for Emma to have a seat in the overstuffed chair adjacent to them. Chuck and Sarah opted to sit on the floor near Emma, while Devon sat on the loveseat nearest the tree where he could help Ellie hand out the gifts.
"OK. Wow. Where to start?" Ellie asked herself as she looked over the mountain of gifts. "Emma, how about we start with the ones you brought. Would that be alright?" she asked, turning to look at Emma. Finishing a sip of coffee, Emma looked a bit surprised.
"Oh, um… sure," she replied tentatively. Ellie handed her the large bag with all of the gifts she'd brought, allowing her to pass them out herself. Setting her coffee down, Emma started pulling items out of the bag.
"I'm sorry I didn't have a lot of time for shopping, but I wanted to get you all something; a small token of my thanks," she confessed sheepishly. Everyone assured her it wasn't necessary but they were appreciative of the gesture. Handing a gift to Sarah, the size of a shoe box, she sat waiting anxiously for her daughter to open it, her bottom lip between her teeth.
"You didn't need to do this, Mom," Sarah assured her again, pulling at the wrapping paper. Emma just motioned her on, watching in anticipation. The box was, in fact, a shoe box, and Sarah looked between her mother and the box with curiosity. Lifting the lid off, she pulled the white tissue paper aside. Sarah gasped, covering her mouth with both hands, her eyes instantly tearing up. Emma smiled warmly at her daughter, her eyes beginning to tear up as well.
"It's Bunny," Sarah choked out, gingerly lifting the old, well-loved stuffed animal that resembled a dog more than a rabbit, as the name might suggest. Sarah hugged the dog tightly to her chest, large tears dropping from her checks.
"You kept him all this time?" Sarah asked, turning to look at her mother.
"Yep. I've kept it on my bed since the day you left. I hoped one day I'd be able to give it to you. I was beginning to lose hope, but… here we are," she said, shrugging with a tight smile. Sarah stood up on her knees and scooted to her mother, wrapping her in a hug.
"Thank you, Mom. It's absolutely perfect." The two hugged for a long moment, everyone trying not to stare, but too moved to look away. Sarah sat back down, holding her dog rather possessively, much like a small child. It was rather adorable. Chuck leaned over and placed a kiss to the side of Sarah's head, which she leaned into, enjoying his touch and affection.
"OK, Chuck. This is for you. I hope you like it." Emma offered him a wrapped box, and he took it graciously. He started to peel the paper off, revealing a portion of the box beneath. He let out an exaggerated gasp, stopping to look at Emma.
"No… way…" He immediately dug into the present with fervor, stripping off the remaining paper and looked at the box reverently. "Oh my God! It's Forky!" he exclaimed, turning the box around to show his family. They returned confused but amused looks at Chuck, clearly not understanding.
"It's a… a spork?" Ellie asked, trying not to sound judgmental.
"A sp- No, it's Forky! You know, Forky?" he asked, looking around the room to blank stares. "Forky Asks a Question?" he added in a rather poor New York accent. They still had no idea, though they had the decency to look contrite.
"Oh, come on! He used… the mon-ey…. To pur-chase…. His hair!" Despite Chuck's spirited re-enactment, nobody got the reference, though they chuckled nonetheless. "You guys must live under a rock," he teased, shaking his head. Chuck leapt up to his knees and crossed to Emma, surprising her with a hug.
"Thank you, Emma. This is so awesome. He's going right in the middle of the desk in my office." Emma chuckled, patting him on the back as he pulled away.
"Well, I'm glad you like it. I've heard the kids at school talking about him and for some reason I thought of you." Emma's comment caused a number of snorts throughout the room.
"You must teach elementary school then," Mary chimed in. "That makes perfect sense as to why Charlie would like it." Everyone had a good laugh at his expense, even Sarah. He tried to give them a scathing glare but his lips kept curling into a smile as he chuckled along with them. Once the laughter died down, Emma handed the last of her gifts, a larger box, to Ellie.
"This is sort of for everyone, but mostly for you, for hosting Christmas and all." Ellie opened it, with Devon beside her, his arm around her. Once the paper was removed, she began to open the end of the plain, brown, cardboard box. Reaching in, she slid the contents out and squealed in delight.
"A charcuterie board! Oh my God! I love it! Look, Devon," she exclaimed, showing him the wooden board. Ellie was over the moon as she explored the item, pointing out all of the features. The entire family drew near to get a better look. The large wooden cutting/serving board had a trough around the outside edge for holding crackers and the like. There was also a drawer that slid out, revealing all of the cutlery that came with the board for cutting meats and cheeses.
"I hope it's alright. Chuck mentioned how you enjoy entertaining and I thought that might come in handy," Emma confessed. Ellie stood and walked to Emma, giving her a hug, as they'd seemed to be doing a lot of today.
"Are you kidding? It's perfect. Thank you so much. I'm putting this to use today." Emma chuckled, pleased and relieved that her gifts were well received. Ellie set the board aside and began passing out other gifts, giving everyone a turn. Each person opened a gift while the others watched, going around the room.
"Emma, this is for you, from Sarah," Ellie called out when it was Emma's turn. Sarah's mother looked surprised, glancing between her daughter and the gift. Sarah gestured for her to go ahead. Carefully, Emma removed the wrapping paper and lifted the lid off the small box. Inside was a small photo album, one designed to fit 5"x7" photos. She opened it, slowly flipping through the pages. She covered her mouth with one hand, her eyes filling with tears as she chuckled to herself, shaking her head. She let out a quiet sob as she took in all of the captured moments of Sarah's youth. All the moments she'd missed and could never get back. It was a painful reminder for Emma, but Sarah sharing these with her meant the world. She could finally get to see her daughter grow up, even if just in pictures.
"I'm sorry I don't have more. Jack wasn't much for nostalgia, so these are the only pictures I have."
Emma pulled her daughter into a hug, sniffling into her shoulder. "It's perfect. Thank you, sweetie," she whispered. The two hugged for another moment before pulling apart, chuckling at one another as they wiped tears from their cheeks.
"Do Christmases usually involve this much crying," Sarah asked, laughing at herself as she dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.
"Only the best ones," Mary replied, giving her a glassy-eyed smile. The emotions that many of these gifts had stirred up were not lost on the Bartowski/Woodcomb clan, as they too shed some sympathetic tears.
"I uh… I have a little something for you too, Emma," Chuck chimed in. Sarah's head snapped to look at her boyfriend, a moniker that she was still trying to get used to. She wasn't aware that he had gotten her mother anything. He was with her the day before when they stopped at the store to buy the album and she hadn't noticed him purchase anything. They'd even argued about her paying for it herself, to which he eventually relented.
Chuck pulled what looked like a Christmas card out of the tree, where it had been tucked away unnoticed. He walked it over to her and presented it, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his pajama pants as he waited. Emma thanked him and eyed him curiously as she opened the card. It was indeed a Christmas card, one that featured a snowy country scene, with evergreen boughs hung on aged split-rail fencing.
"Before you look inside, I know how much your students mean to you, and how much you try to give back to the community. I just thought that you might be able to make good use of that, maybe even do something for yourself," he said with a chuckle. He nodded, encouraging her to continue, so she opened the card and read the short verse inside. The card was nice but otherwise unremarkable, likely one that came in a box set. What she found inside, though, took her breath away. Emma's jaw dropped, her eyes wide as saucers as she gaped at the slip of paper inside.
Slowly she lifted it, blinking away tears. "Oh my God! Chuck….. I… I-I can't accept this. This… this is too much. This… I..." She tried to hand it back to him, but he gently refused, pushing her hand back toward her.
"I like to think of it as an investment," Chuck replied, giving her a kind smile.
"But… this is for fif… fifteen-thousand dollars, Chuck," she whispered, imploring him to see reason as to why this was too much.
"Could you do great things with that money in your classroom or your school? What about programs at the youth center you volunteer with? Could you find ways to make the most of that money, using it where it'll do the most good?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Emma thought about it for a moment and everyone could see her resolve failing as she nodded in resignation.
"Good. Then that's what you do. I do have one stipulation though," he stated, holding up a finger. "You need to do something for yourself with that too. Deal?" Realizing that resisting was futile, especially given his powerful arguments, Emma rolled her eyes as she stood, wrapping Chuck in a tight hug.
"Deal," she agreed, laughing wetly. "Thank you. This will mean so much."
"You're very welcome. Maybe in the new year, we can talk about other investment opportunities in your community." The older woman just chuckled, overwhelmed by it all. It had become clear that Chuck was more successful than they'd led her to believe when they'd come to visit.
Emma and Chuck both sat down, prompting Ellie to continue passing out gifts. There were gifts from Sarah for all of the Bartowski clan. A scarf for Mary and a blouse for Ellie, both items that they'd gushed over while out shopping with Sarah. They playfully chastised Sarah for being so sneaky, purchasing them right under their noses. Sarah was quite pleased, beaming with pride and warmth at seeing the happiness she was able to bring to them. It was a far better feeling than any con or score had ever given her. The old adage that it was better to give than receive struck true for her for the first time.
Sarah had gotten Devon a new shaker bottle for his protein shakes, getting her an "Awesome!" in response. For Stephen, she'd gotten him a desk clock that used a moving arm to give the illusion of the numbers floating in air. He was quick to point out how it worked, taking advantage of the way the human eye perceives movement. His wife rolled her eyes and nudged him with her elbow to halt his rambling. Like father like son, Sarah thought. Stephen was genuinely appreciative of the gift, thanking her sincerely.
"Here's one for you, Chuck. It's from Saaaaraaaah." The childish, teasing tone Ellie used was reminiscent of their days growing up. Coming from his now grown, board certified neurologist sister made it all the more comical. Playfully snatching the gift from Ellie, he gave her an exaggerated scowl. Sarah couldn't help but giggle at their exchange.
"This is kind of a two part gift," Sarah interjected as Chuck began to open the present. "Part is for you and part is for… well, both of us," she smirked, giggling at the raised eyebrow he gave her. Diving in, Chuck ripped off the wrapping paper and pulled the lid off of the shirt box. Lifting a shirt from inside, he held it up, flipping it around so he could see what was on the front. It was a black t-shirt with images depicting the evolution of man, ending with a man hunched over sitting at a computer. Chuck broke out in laughter, falling against Sarah as he shook.
"Oh my God. That is so hilarious and so… me. I'm sure that's exactly what I look like. God, that's funny. Thank you. I love it," he confessed giving her a quick kiss on the lips.
Sarah smiled from ear to ear, both from the kiss and from her boyfriend appreciating the gift. "I'm glad you like it, but there's more," she said, gesturing to the box. Curious, Chuck moved the tissue paper to find another folded shirt. This one was gray, and as he unfolding it, holding it aloft, he could tell that it was much smaller, maybe even too small for Sarah. Across the front were the words "Talk Nerdy to Me" in a script font. Chuck's mouth fell open as he stared at the shirt, unable to formulate words.
"And that one is sort of ... for both of us," Sarah whispered, her bottom lip between her teeth as she regarded the awestruck expression on her boyfriend's face. People around the room called for him to turn it around so they could see it as well, curious as to what had him so surprised.
"Oh my…" Stephen remarked, blushing slightly.
"That's awesome!" Devon exclaimed. Leaning off the loveseat, he extended his arm toward Sarah. "Up top!" Giggling at his exuberance, Sarah gave Devon a high-five.
"Sarah, don't encourage him," Ellie jokingly admonished, chuckling at the exchange. "As much as that shirt may be for Chuck, I suspect both of you will get some … enjoyment out of it." Chuck turned three shades of red, groaning at his sister's insinuation. His reaction only served to prove her point, causing everyone to burst into laughter. Chuck put the shirts back in the box, setting it aside, giving his embarrassment a moment to subside.
Sarah tugged on the sleeve of his pajamas, trying to get his attention. She wasn't sure if the gift had been too much, or perhaps something better shared in private. When he turned, she looked up at him through her lashes, hoping that he might forgive her for overstepping. The wry smile he gave her dispelled any worry she had, as did the kiss he gave her.
'Thanks, babe. I love them." Sarah couldn't help but grin like a fool, especially at his use of the term of endearment. Before they got lost in each other any further, Ellie tossed another present at Chuck, breaking them from their moment.
"That one's for you too, lover boy," Ellie teased, chuckling at her own joke. Shaking himself a little to get his mind back on task, he looked at the label on the gift.
To: Chuck
From: Sarah XOXO
Chuck grinned at the use of the Xs and Os, turning to look at Sarah, intending to comment on them. He was surprised to see that she was looking particularly nervous, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. It seemed to be much more serious than the gift of the t-shirts, so he sobered a little. Carefully, he unwrapped the package, finding a small brown cardboard box inside. Tearing the tape off the box, he opened the flaps and pushed aside the tissue paper to reveal a small black zippered pouch. Chuck's eyes grew wide, snapping his head up to look at Sarah. He recalled the pouch, the one that contained all of Sarah's other IDs.
"Is… is that?" he tried to ask, not wanting to say it outright. "I… I don't understand." He searched her gaze, trying to discern what she was implying with this gift.
"Chuck… I… I've given up my old life and I'm never going back. Those are the ghosts of my past and I don't want them to haunt me anymore. You're the only one I've trusted with these secrets; trusted with … with all of 'me'. So, take them. The only person I want to be is the … the woman I am when I'm with you." Chuck struggled to keep it together, but her words meant so much to him. They carried with them so much weight, full of hope and promise, they threatened to smother him. Under this immense weight, his levees broke and his face reflected it as he choked back a sob. He pulled Sarah into a crushing hug, burying his face in her neck as he clung to her. Chuck felt so much love and heartache for her, he couldn't find an adequate way of expressing it. Perhaps if he squeezed her enough, if she was close enough to him, she might be able to feel it through his skin, through the warmth emanating from him.
Taken aback by his forceful embrace, Sarah tried to sooth him, stroking the back of his head and kissing him at his temple. Thankfully, Ellie had the presence of mind to create a distraction, passing out more gifts. After a moment, Chuck was able to pull himself together, wiping away the few tears he'd shed and released Sarah with a sheepish grin.
"Sorry," he whispered, wiping at her shoulder in a vain attempt to remove the small wet spot on her shirt. Sarah shushed him, caressing the backs of her fingers against his cheek.
"It's OK. I… I hope you understand what I was trying to say. What I meant by giving those to you," she added, looking at him with hope in her eyes. In response, he nodded emphatically.
"You have no idea how much I loved hearing that. Thank you." The two shared a smile and a thoughtful gaze before turning to watch the rest of the family as they continued opening gifts.
Mary and Stephen (which meant Mary) had given Ellie, Emma and Sarah certificates to a day spa in San Francisco with the hopes they might all have a girl's day out. All the women were excited and were already making plans for after Christmas.
The presents under the tree were dwindling, but it would seem that Chuck had strategically placed a few of his gifts in the back, wanting them to be last. Even though Ellie had seen the presents, she allowed her brother to have his way and saved them for among the last. Holding up one of them she called out, "Sarah. This one's for you."
Sarah took it and glanced at the tag. Turning her attention to Chuck, with a soft smile. "Chuck. Don't you think you've done enough? I mean… you already got me a car for God's sake," she whispered, trying not to broadcast it to the whole room. She assumed they probably already knew, but she still felt guilty about it.
"Yeah, but I thought it was just a loaner. Remember?" he teased, sticking his tongue out between his teeth. Sarah huffed, smacking him lightly on his arm.
"I'm serious," she whined, pouting slightly. "All I could get you was a stupid shirt and -"
'Hey! Don't you go trash talkin' my presents!" He admonished, pointing at her sternly. "I love them. Besides, this isn't a competition. There is no score keeping here. I wanted to get you just a few little things, so you're just going to have to deal with it. Now, open your present. There's probably not much air left in that box." It took a second but Sarah's eyes shot open, looking almost panicked. "I'm kidding! I'm kidding. Maybe..." The smirk he gave her earned him another smack on the arm before she started to open the small box, shaking her head in amusement.
Removing the lid from the small white box, a layer of cotton padding lay on top. Carefully removing it revealed a flat, round ornament. Pulling it out of the box, she held it up by its ribbon to see it in the light. The disc-shaped ornament had a picture printed on it, allowing the light from the tree to shine through. Her heart melted when she took it all in. The picture was of her and Chuck, from their time skiing at Squaw Valley. She remembered when Ellie took that picture and how many times Chuck had fallen in the snow. Sarah couldn't help but smile back at the two, clearly happy, people in the picture. Below the picture was printed "Chuck & Sarah - 2020 - First Christmas".
"Chuuuck. When did you do this?" she asked, trying to keep her emotions at bay. There were so many firsts on this Christmas, and now they were immortalize in this ornament. She imagined that years from now, putting this ornament on her own tree - hopefully their tree- she'd take joy in re-telling their story.
"I hope you like it."
"No, I love it!" she exclaimed, cupping his cheek with her free hand and pulling him into a kiss. "Thank you. I love it so much."
"Put it on the tree," Mary interjected from her spot on the couch, gesturing toward the Christmas tree. Sarah looked a bit hesitant, but with everyone's urging, she took great joy in hanging it on the family tree. It was almost like there was tangible proof that she was accepted as part of their family. Backing away from the tree, she watched the ornament the whole way, loving how it sparkled. Before she could sit down, Ellie was handing her another present.
"This one's from Chuck too." Sarah took it, sparing a glance at Chuck, who looked excited. Sitting down, she tore open the wrapping and lifted the lid off the shirt box. From the weight, she could tell it wasn't clothing, so she was only partly surprised to see a large picture frame. Pulling out the tissue paper, she could see that it was a certificate of some sort. She chuckled as it seemed odd but she lifted it out of the box and began to read it. Upon closer examination, it looked like a diploma, although it was evident that it was doctored and likely printed on a home printer.
Across the top read "The University of Her Choosing" and below indicated that the degree of "Whatever She Wants" was being awarded to "Sarah Lisa Walker on the twenty-fifth day of December, two thousand twenty". To complete the document, on the signature lines across the bottom, were signatures of all of Chuck's family members. It was very sweet but she was more than a little perplexed at what it was supposed to mean.
Sensing her question, Chuck spoke up. "When we first met, you told me that you never had an opportunity to go to college, but that you might consider it now that things had changed. Well… I want to help you make that happen. I didn't really know how to 'wrap' that idea, so I came up with this. It might be a little silly, but what it signifies is that me, we," he corrected, gesturing around the room, "want to help make that dream become a reality."
Sarah was stunned, blinking in shock at what she was hearing. College? It was something she'd wanted to do for quite some time, but now that she was faced with the prospect, she was more than a little scared. The work involved, the money for tuition, plus having to work some job on top of all of that. She could barely make ends meet now.
"Sarah, you will be the one, and only, recipient of the 'Chuck Bartowski Grant'," he proclaimed, spreading his hands through the air as if the name were up on a marquee. "A full-ride to any college or university your heart desires." Seeing the deer in headlights expression on Sarah's face, Chuck tried to reel himself in a little bit, realizing he was throwing a lot at her.
"This is just something to think about. If-if you still want to go to college. There's no pressure, I just… I want you to have the kind of life you've wanted for yourself. For you to be able to do something you enjoy and that brings you happiness. If the path to your happiness doesn't involve college, that's fine. Whatever I can do to support you, to help you on your way, I want to do that for you." Recognizing that he was rambling, Chuck stopped talking, giving Sarah a chance to process it all.
"You… you want to send me to college?" she asked, finally finding her voice. Her head was swimming with all Chuck had said, but it was clear that her happiness was important to him, and he wanted to play a part in finding her that happiness. To his credit, Chuck simply nodded in response, knowing that he'd said enough words already. "Just... just like that?"
"Well, I mean… you'd have to do all the work. I just want to help remove any obstacles from you achieving your dreams; of being happy." Chuck shrugged, giving her a shy smile.
A broad smile spread across Sarah's face as she reached up and caressed his cheek. "You know, I'm already happy, right? You've already given me that. This," she continued, holding up the diploma as evidence, "this is a lot to think about, but I'm so incredibly grateful that you, all of you, are willing to support me in this. I can't tell you how much that means. So, thank you. I'll definitely think about it." Chuck blew out a sigh of relief, thankful that she wasn't dismissing his help immediately.
"Looks like that's all the presents," Sarah pointed out, gesturing toward the tree. "Thanks so much for everything. Really. It's been -"
"Um, actually…" Chuck broke in, interrupting Sarah. "I do have one more small thing for you to open," he confessed. Reaching inside the back of the tree itself, he came back with a small square package, the bow almost as big as the box itself. He kneeled down beside Sarah and handed it to her, looking even more nervous than he had with the previous gift.
Sarah eyed the box, noting the shape and size, then turning her gaze back to Chuck. Her heart was beginning to race and her palms started to sweat as she worried what might be in the box. Tentatively removing the wrapping, the box looked like something that would hold a small piece of jewelry. Perhaps her hand was shaking or he could sense her anxiety, but whatever the cue, he placed his hand on top of hers.
"It's just … it's just a box. It's not…. No. It's only a box," he tried to reassure her. The sigh of relief she let out, one might think she'd just defused a bomb. Realizing how he might interpret that reaction, she turned to try and explain, but he was waving her off. "I... no… I-I get it. You're fine. Really. Just… just open it." Thankful that she didn't have to explain, and that he didn't take offense, she took a steading breath and opened the box. The room was so silent as everyone watched, the snap of the box's hinge practically echoed in the large room.
As Chuck had indicated, there was no jewelry, only a sliver key, resting in the crease where a ring might sit. Surprised, Sarah turned to meet Chuck's gaze with a questioning look. She watched him swallow thickly, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"I think it's the one Christmas present you asked for." Sarah's brow furrowed further with his statement, so Chuck continued. "At karaoke, you sang 'I'll be Home for Christmas'. So, I… I got you a…a home. A home for Christmas. More specifically, my home. That's the key to my condo. Well, hopefully… 'our' condo. If you'll stay with me, that is."
Sarah's hand was covering her mouth, too overcome with emotions to speak. She'd already cried so much over the past few days, she didn't want to cry anymore, but this was all just too much. Despite her best efforts, her body began to shake as she failed to hold her sobbing at bay. She'd been putting off thinking about what came next, where she would go and what she would do. The truth of the matter was that she was too scared to face the fact that she had no idea. She'd come to the end of her rope with no job, no home, no car and no money. Now here was this incredible man that had given her a car, despite her protest, had offered to send her to college so she could get the job of her dreams, and now he was offering her a place to stay. No, he was offering her something much greater: a home. A home with the man she'd grown to love. A part of her was hoping, praying, that he might ask her to stay, that she wouldn't have to leave him, and here it was.
Not trusting her voice, she just nodded her head, falling against his chest as she cried, all the while still nodding. Chuck pulled her into his tight embrace and just held her, rocking her gently until she recovered. Sarah let out a shaky sigh, sniffling as she slowly pulled away from Chuck, trying to wipe the tear stains from his shirt.
"Ok. Now, that was the last gift," Chuck declared, causing Sarah and others to chuckle.
"Not so fast," Ellie corrected with a wry smile. "I think Mom has one more." Everyone turned to Mary, who was twisting her lips to the side to try and hide her smile.
"I do have one more present," Mary admitted, pulling a small, rectangular present from behind the couch cushion. "Sarah, can you come and sit with me?" Mary asked, patting the cushion beside her. Sarah looked at Chuck, but he just shrugged, seemingly as much in the dark as she was. Tentatively, Sarah stood and moved to sit beside Mary on the couch. Wordlessly, Mary placed the wrapped box in Sarah's lap and waited.
Sarah spared a glance at Mary, then around the room, everyone nodding with encouragement. Gingerly unwrapping the gift, Sarah was presented with a long, narrow, dark blue velvet jewelry box. Once again, she looked at Mary for any signs, but the older woman just smiled and gestured to the box. Carefully Sarah opened the box, revealing a silver bracelet decorated with a number of charms. Sarah gasped slightly, running her fingers over the items as she admired it.
"Mary it… it's beautiful."
"Stephen gave me that bracelet when Ellie was born. That charm on the end represents her. Then, when Charlie was born, we added another," she said, pointing to the next charm. "Then we added charms for anniversaries, special events, holidays; memorable moments in our family. He doesn't know this yet, but I had always planned on giving this bracelet to Charlie, so that he could give it to the woman he loved, and they could start adding charms of their own; building on our family's story. I, or I should say 'we'," Mary corrected, gesturing to Stephen and Ellie, "decided that we'd skip the middleman and just give it to you ourselves. I hope that's alright," she asked Chuck, who vehemently agreed.
"But Mary, this should go to Ellie, n-not me," Sarah contested, feeling undeserving of such an honor.
"No," Ellie protested, "I think it belongs to you. I've got my own bracelet that Devon got me," she illustrated, holding up her arm to show off the item around her wrist.
"This is a family treasure. It should stay in your family," Sarah argued, still unwilling to allow them to make this kind of mistake.
"Sarah, dear, I have no doubts that this bracelet will be worn by a Bartowski woman for many years to come." When Sarah opened her mouth to protest further, Mary just held up a finger to forestall her, followed by a wink. It then became clear to Sarah what Chuck's mother was saying, causing a blush to cover her cheeks. While it was too early in their relationship to make that kind of commitment openly, Sarah felt it in her heart that she was where she belonged. She didn't need to look any further then the man sitting on the floor across from her, or the people that surrounded her. Sarah knew that she had finally found her family. She was … home.
The End?
A/N: Annnnnd fade to black. I know this story went way past Christmas in real life, but I hope it wasn't too much of a hardship to keep reading it. Now I can start a Valentine's Day fic and finish it by Memorial Day. Kidding! Kidding! (Maybe)
I know that there are lots of avenues to explore in this story-verse, questions to answer. I'm deliberately leaving them unanswered. That gives me room for an epilogue or even a sequel down the road. Home for Christmas II: Red Doors and White Fences? I honestly don't know. I have so many other irons in the fire right now and I need to refocus on those. Perhaps I can revisit this next Christmas. We'll see.
Thank you all so much for your support of this story. It means so much that you are willing to take a moment out of your day to share your thoughts. I hope you find it within yourselves to continue that.
As always, be safe and stay well. See you in the next story.
JW
