A/N: It never occurred to me that some of you don't know who EDC is. It all started when Steampunk . Chuckster once referred to herself as Evil Steampunk . Chuckster or ESC. We had worked together (I'm her prereader on her stories) for about a year before we decided to team up for Chuck vs The Nerds Rewrite (Which I swear to God is about to do everything you all are screaming for just give it two more chapters, okay?) During that time I renamed myself EDC because I was accused of not being fluffy and when I'd do something on my account that wasn't fluffy, I'd blame it on him. DC is fluff, EDC lets a plot out and puts Charah in danger only to find out they come together stronger than ever (See When Chuck Met Sarah for EDC on steroids, but bring kleenex) So for those who don't know EDC is "banned" from this fic….*glances toward the basement, hears chains rattling* Yep…we're good…

Disclaimer: I STILL do not own Chuck

Sarah Walker was standing over a fryer, refusing to look over her shoulder. It was a silly thought; there was the Weinerlicious building, then the Buy More building, in the way. But he was in that Buy More somewhere, and she wondered: Was he as confused as she was? What was she doing? Why in the hell would someone like Chuck Bartowski want anything to do with someone like her?

He saw more than her outer shell. He saw something inside of her, and that's what she couldn't get past. Chuck Bartowski had looked inside her heart and soul, and he liked what he saw. How? How did this kind man, who she had very nearly run over, find anything inside of her that he could like… or whatever feeling she was seeing on his face when he looked at her?

"Miss Walker," Scooter said, interrupting her thoughts. "You are burning the corndogs."

"Oh," Sarah replied, not really listening to him, and then it clicked. She yanked them out of the grease. "Why do I keep doing that?"

"Because you're not paying attention?" Scooter surmised.

"I'm going on lunch," Sarah said, shaking her head and taking off her apron.

"It's not your lunch time yet," Scooter retorted.

"And yet, I'm taking it anyway," she said, walking out the door. She dreamed some nights of putting him in a deep fryer. She didn't have to work, there was no cover, but… she shook her head and walked through the doors of the Buy More, peering around, trying to find the object of her distraction.

"It's her," she heard a voice that might have attempted to be quiet. "Now's my chance, Jeff. She's already had a kid, so you know she's easy."

Sarah blinked at that, and suddenly Chuck was beside her, leading her away from where she had heard the voice. "Listen, I know he deserves to die, but you just can't kill him. You'd go to jail."

"I'd make it look like an accident," she muttered.

"That is terrifying and ridiculously hot, all at the same time," Chuck muttered. Sarah glanced at him, amused. "It's the truth," he said with a shrug. "Now, what can I-"

"Ah ha," she heard, and she saw Chuck stiffen. "How interesting." Sarah looked around, and saw Morgan walking toward them. "First you collided with a car."

"More like I collided my car into him," Sarah corrected.

Morgan kept going. "And now you are colliding socially."

"Listen," Sarah began, making Morgan's eyes widen. "If I chose to go out with Chuck, the last thing either of us needs is people dissecting our every move, and deciphering what it means."

"Not so much a dissection, as a probe," Morgan muttered.

"And not only that, neither of us owes anyone besides the other an explanation of what we are doing. So can you please lay off of him, and let us just enjoy whatever it is we decide to do?"

"Ellie?" Morgan asked. Chuck nodded. "Got it." Morgan took a deep breath. "I just came over to say that if you'd like to go to lunch early, I'm pretty sure we can cover it." He turned to Sarah. "Nice to see you again, Sarah," and with that, Morgan walked off.

"I was mean, wasn't I?" Sarah asked, frowning. "See, my old job… I didn't have to deal with people much, and when I did, it was more of me telling them what I was going to do."

"How about we go grab a sandwich at that new sandwich shop, Lou's?" Chuck offered.

"Fine with me," Sarah replied, looking around, feeling the eyes on her.

"Come on," Chuck said, hurrying her along. He wondered if he really should've made the effort to save Lester's life.

}o{

"You are stressed," Chuck said, watching Sarah take a bite of her sandwich. He knew it was a bit rude, but it was a tactic that hopefully with her mouth full, she wouldn't interrupt him. "You're raising a child, that's not blood, but you feel some attachment." Sarah nodded. "Your living with your mom, and I suspect perhaps that's not been the best relationship?" Sarah nodded again. "And, apparently, you've had some job, not near people, for many years. Oh, and that somehow got you close to Bryce, and you dated and then he dumped you."

Sarah had finished chewing. "I don't know that Bryce and I 'dated.'"

"Oh," Chuck replied, and reached for his sandwich. That's when he realized she was still looking at him. He turned those words over in his head. "OH!"

"Bryce was… convenient."

"I'm sure he hated that," Chuck muttered.

She pressed her lips together and faux glared at him. "Chuck, do you know we've had more… and deeper… conversations, than Bryce and I ever did?"

"Would it shock you to know, you are not the first person who has… ahem… had the 'Bryce Experience' to tell me that?"

She had shut her eyes at 'Bryce Experience'. She opened them, and took a deep breath while he was laughing. "What?"

"This seems to worry you, or bother you or… something," Chuck said. "I mean, we met, you told me about him, and… what? Sarah, what is going on here?" He gestured between them. "Please understand I am enjoying getting to know you, but…"

"I can't do relationships," she blurted out.

"What does that mean?" Chuck asked. "You can't… what, be faithful?"

"What? No!"

"You can't tell someone how you feel, you can't be there for someone because you're oh so selfish?" There was a grin on his face, and she would have punched his shoulder if she could have reached. She settled for a wadded napkin skillfully bounced off his curl-covered head, instead.

"No," she said. "I don't know how, I don't know…."

"Okay, stop," Chuck said. "What is it you want?"

"I have no idea," she admitted. "I had this career," she looked down at her hands in her lap.

"That you can't talk about," Chuck added, trying to help her. She nodded. "And then, what?"

"Molly," Sarah said.

"So, Molly came along, and you can't tell me that either." Sarah nodded again. "So, you quit your career, and you're mad at Molly?"

"God, no!" She said, snapping her head up to look at him. There was no malice in his words or on his face. He was trying to understand. "No," she said in a much calmer voice. "But… I don't know how to be a…."

"Sister?" Chuck offered. Sarah shook her head. "Maybe it would help if you said it." Sarah put her hands on the table, and took a deep breath, but no words came out. Chuck reached out, gently taking hers, and her head snapped up to look him in the eye. "I can spot you the first letter, if it will help."

She couldn't help the grin that came to her face. "Mother."

"Okay, so help me understand since you can't tell me what you used to do," Chuck began. "You never thought of having a family?"

"No, never," Sarah admitted.

"Because of the job?" Sarah nodded. "What about a husband or-"

"No," she said, cutting him off. "I never saw Bryce as husband or partner or any other kind of material. He was someone who understood what I was going through, and…"

"A port in the storm?" Sarah nodded. "There's nothing wrong with that."

"Yeah, but there was with him," Sarah countered.

"That, I cannot argue," Chuck replied, nodding. "Okay, so basically your life is in total upheaval." Sarah nodded. "So, it kind of calms down, you run over me-"

"Bumped," she insisted, squeezing his hands, and realized she had been holding them the entire time.

"Gave me brain damage," he went on with a grin. "And then you learned of the hole in Molly's heart. What was the first thing you thought, when you learned that?"

"I can't lose my daughter," Sarah said softly. Chuck leaned back, a soft smile on his face. "I can't, Chuck, I can't lose her."

"And you're not going to," he insisted.

"You forgot one part," Sarah said, almost shyly. "I keep finding myself spending time with this nerd who seems to be attracted to hitting my car with his body."

Chuck sat forward, a serious look on his face. "Are you calling me a port?" He grinned as soon as he said it, and she snorted and started laughing. He pulled his hands away, sat back, and crossed his arms in front of his chest. "It wasn't that funny." Sarah roared with laughter.

}o{

Chuck pulled up to the apartment complex, and looked around to see if any minivans or Porsches were bearing down on him. Chuck got out of the Tylenol-capsule-on-wheels, shut the door, turned, and nearly jumped into the bushes as Sarah Walker was standing there, smirking.

"You sure are jumpy."

"I wonder why," he replied, grinning up at her from the ground. He accepted the hand she offered, and pulled himself up. "So, any particular reason you wanted to see how many ways you can frighten me to death?"

"Yeah, I thought I should give you a heads up… I'm moving," she said, walking beside him. She caught the look of disappointment on his face, and something in her really liked that. "We're going to be neighbors."

"Wait, what?" he asked, spinning toward her. Sarah was nodding. "The corner apartment? It's huge!"

"I am aware," she replied. "I was given a tour earlier." She twisted her lips and looked away. "There's more."

"I'm expected to help you move," Chuck said. Sarah slightly tilted her head and gave him a look that read, "duh." "Okay, so what am I missing?"

"Ellie's throwing you a birthday party." Chuck lightly groaned. "She said to me, she's really sorry, you were single at the time." Chuck groaned a little louder. "But, if I stay by your side…"

"Good grief," Chuck muttered. "Do you think Ellie has given your mom my dowry yet?" Sarah snorted.

"I think it's the other way around," Sarah offered.

"Well, back in those days, the man had everything, and women had nothing, were allowed to have nothing… which isn't right, but I digress. So if you look at us today… it's obvious who has what."

She stopped him, with a hand lightly on his chest. She moved directly in front of him, looking him in the eye. "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Don't put yourself down to push me up. You don't know some of the things I've done in my life," she said softly.

"Hey, I…" He huffed, and ran a hand through his hair. "I got really hurt, and one of the things I learned to do was make jokes about myself. To deflect that way."

"Not with me," she said, shocked to her core at the sincerity in her voice, how much she truly meant it. "You don't do that, Chuck. You're a good person. You've been done wrong, but you do not tear yourself down around me. I wish you wouldn't anywhere, but this is all I can control."

Chuck had a small grin on his face. "You think you can control me?"

She smirked at him. "You have no idea," and walked toward his apartment. He was still standing there, his shoes as if in concrete. "You coming?" she called, going into the apartment.

Chuck stood there grinning for a few seconds more, and then headed toward the apartment.

}o{

Chuck was standing at the Nerd Herd desk the next morning, telling Morgan about the birthday party, when it happened.

"Did I overhear you say you are having a party, with many ladies who are single and willing to mingle?" Lester asked, as he sidled up beside Chuck and Morgan. Jeff followed close behind.

"No, you definitely did not hear me say that," Chuck replied, rolling his eyes.

"Obviously you would like to have Jeff and I as guests," Lester went on, ignoring all social queues.

"I cannot invite you to my sister's party, guys," Chuck said, and took off.

Jeff and Lester stood there, seething. "What's he got that we don't?" Lester asked.

"You mean besides tall, hair the ladies all want to run their hands through, and he's a nice guy? Nothing," Jeff answered.

"Wrong. He's got a nice computer at home he's always going on about," Lester replied. "The night of that party, we're gonna steal that computer, and we're gonna screw it up, return it, and then he'll know how it feels."

"That makes no sense," Jeff pointed out.

"Jeff, I am the brains of this operation," Lester reminded him.

"Oh, right."

}o{

Chuck knocked on Sarah's door when he got off work, to see if there was anything she absolutely wanted to do tonight that he hadn't thought of. The door opened, and there stood Sarah, Molly snuggled up against her mom. Chuck wasn't going to say that out loud, but he knew it was true.

"Uh, we have a situation," Sarah said, a sad look on her face. "Mom wanted all the beds here, tonight, found someone with a truck, and moved everything. Now her back's locked up, and we have no sitter."

Chuck stood there, thinking. "Have you got a bouncy seat or swing for her?"

"Yes," Sarah replied.

"Then, how about the three of us have a nice quiet evening at my apartment, and we watch a movie?" Chuck asked. Chuck leaned in, peering at Molly. "You look like a Beauty and the Beast kind of girl."

"That might scare her," Sarah protested. Chuck gave Sarah a flat look. "What?"

"Oh, come on, it's obvious that she's as badass as you are."

"Chuck, this is not my blood daughter," she replied. Chuck leaned back, a grin on his face. "What?"

"You said my daughter," he pointed out.

"I said… I…" she turned and looked at Molly. "You are, aren't you, my daughter?" Molly clapped her hands together and giggled. She turned back to Chuck. "Look, if you want to not have the date, I understand."

"Have I said anything about not having the date?" Sarah shook her head no. "Remember before when we talked about how if two people do something, it's their business? Well, me deciding to go out with you, and your daughter is something I'm going to have to accept if I decide to date you, or go on dates with you… gah! This is coming out poorly."

She shook her head. "No, it isn't," she said softly, if not shyly.

"Here's the thing: Maybe it's not traditional, but it's worth it." Sarah smiled at him. "Now, I need you to give me a bit, and I will be back, okay?"

"Okay," she replied. He started to go. "Chuck, wait." He turned around and started to ask what was wrong when her lips were on his cheek, not far from his lips. "Thank you," she murmured.

"My pleasure," he reassured her. "Okay, be back soon." Chuck snapped his fingers, and pointed to Molly. "How many margaritas can she have?"

"Chuck," she said in a low dangerous voice, with a smile. He held his hands up and she watched him leave. "Do you like him?" Sarah asked quietly. Molly cooed. "I swear girl, you aren't even a year old yet." She sighed and laid her head on Sarah's shoulder. "But he is a good one."

}o{

They ate takeout from the restaurant Chuck had recommended, and put on Beauty and the Beast. Molly fell asleep in her swing seat, and the two adults sat there watching the movie. Angela Lansbury began to sing, and Chuck stood, offering her his hand.

"I know I said an indie night club, but will this do?"

"It's perfect," she said, standing and molding herself against him to dance.

The music played. Tale as old as time, true as it can be. Barely even friends, then somebody bends, unexpectedly. Just a little change, small to say the least. Both a little scared, neither one prepared, Beauty and the beast.

Sarah leaned in to kiss him, lost in him, the mood, the goodness of him. Just as she did, she heard a familiar sound, resulting in them jerking apart. "Molly!" Molly had spit up her milk from earlier all over her shirt. Sarah turned to Chuck. "I'm so sorry."

"No problem," he said, rushing for the diaper bag. He handed her a cloth, as she began to repair the damage. She cleaned everything up, and sighed as she looked up at the ceiling, still squatting beside Molly. Chuck reached over and took her hand. "Sarah, it's fine."

"I know, but, my life…"

"Sarah," he said softly, smiling at her. "We'll figure it out… if you want to, that is."

"What?"

"I mean, I've been assuming…"

"Wait, what did we say about this?" She asked him. He looked away. "Chuck, it's not you, it's me, Molly, my life. Don't you see? It's too much."

"Then let me help," he said softly. She swallowed, and looked at him. "Sarah, I wouldn't offer if I didn't mean it."

"I know," Sarah replied. She looked at the towel in her hand, and wrinkled her nose. "That is a foul smell." She looked up at him. "Look, let me get her home, bathe her, and get her to bed."

"Can I help?"

"Not tonight, Chuck. We have no furniture, other than beds," she said with a grin, and he turned red. "Or maybe you should."

"Hi-yo," shot out of his mouth before he could stop himself, and then a set of lips were on his, gently. She pulled away and looked at him.

"This is gonna be weird," she said, shaking her head.

"So weird," he agreed. "What time in the morning?"

"Eight," Sarah said as he groaned. "I'm gonna leave the swing here tonight, if that's okay."

"Yeah," he said, standing, helping her get everything together. He walked her to the door. "I'm going to walk you home, if that's okay."

"It is," she said, grinning. They got to her door, which Chuck opened for her. Sarah gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, for everything."

"It was nothing, Sarah, really."

"No, Chuck," she said, looking into his eyes. "It was everything." She squeezed his hand and went inside. Chuck stood there grinning at the shut door. He turned and headed home. Sarah Walker said his little date with her was everything. Could things get better?

A/N: Is that… is that like saying one last mission? *yells out to the editor* IS HE LOOSE!?

Ed. Note: *checking* CRAP! He's loose… *grabbing the net-gun, zip ties, and duct tape*