A/N: For those that do not know, Yvonne Strahovski's parents fled Poland before her birth and settled in Australia. She is the first and only natural born Australian in her family, and she regularly refers to herself as a Pausie. Her family speaks Polish and she has talked about how she was scared to take honors English in high school because English is her second language. I always found the fact she was a specialist in linguistics on the show to be fascinating.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

Chuck opened the front door to the apartment, and was stunned to find someone on his couch. Well, maybe not finding someone, as much as it was finding Sarah sitting on his couch, since she didn't have a key.

"Hey," she said with a grin. It had been a little over ten months since she had first seen him at Bryce's funeral. During the last four months, they had both been hard at work; he on his bachelor's degree, and her, on getting certified to teach college linguistic classes. His was required actual classes, hers… some phone calls, to get recommendations she couldn't put down on an application because of her past.

"Hi," he replied, dropping his bag. "What's up." She held up a manila envelope as she stood, pride on her face. Joy began to cover his. "Is… is that?" He was so excited he couldn't get the words out of his mouth. "Sarah…"

"I'm a professor," she said, grinning. His arms went wide, and she bounded across the room, launching herself at him. He caught and spun her, squeezing her tight.

"You deserve this," he said softly into her ear.

She did. It had taken him ten months, but he had finally convinced her that she did. She deserved it… and more.

}o{

It was evening. They were sitting on the table, their feet on the seat of the wooden picnic table, eating ice cream and watching the waves crash in. "So, you've got your Bachelor's huh?" she asked, giving him a shoulder bump

"Yep, some friend of mine, she thought I deserved it and told me to put in the hard work," Chuck responded, grinning at her.

"Sounds like a good friend," Sarah said, grinning and not looking at him.

"She's the best, and… and she's more than a friend." Sarah turned toward him, and saw anxiety on his face. She couldn't keep the amusement off her own. "She's the most important person in my life," he said softly.

"Huh," she said, putting a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth, enjoying his squirming.

"And look at you, a college professor," Chuck said, trying to quickly change the subject.

"It's at the Center, and I'm not tenured," she began.

"A. College. Professor," he repeated. "You're gonna have so many students after youuuuuuu."

"Probably," she said, nodding, staring at the ocean, feeling the conflicting emotions flow out of him. She used every bit of her training not to smile or laugh. "Professor Walker… I don't know if I like that."

"You could just be Sarah," Chuck offered. She turned toward him. "I mean, you're never just Sarah, but that could be how they address you."

"It's not my real name, you know," she said, taking another bite of ice cream. "Sarah Walker, it's not mine. I mean, I feel like a Sarah, because of you." He smiled at that. "But, Walker… I don't know, I think it should be changed."

"Patel?" Chuck offered, making her snort. "Oh, oh, I know… Barnes."

"Eww, to both of them," she said, shaking her head.

"It's Grimes, isn't it?"

"It's the beard," she replied dreamily. "There's just something about it."

"Weird, you know, you changing your name. I didn't even know you were dating anyone," Chuck said, clearing his throat, trying to appear disinterested.

"I never said marriage," Sarah said with a shrug. She watched him shift out of the corner of her eye. "I haven't even been dating." She turned toward him. "Hey, I just realized something."

"What's that?" he asked, trying to remain cool.

"Why haven't you been dating?" Sarah asked. "I mean, you're funny, you're great, you're good-looking…"

"You don't have to stop," he told her. She shoulder-bumped him. "I've been doing a lot lately, and I've realized I'd rather spend time with you, than… than dating… and you know, there are those…" he trailed off.

"Hmmm?" she hummed, pretty sure she knew where he was going, but wanting him to eventually get there on his own.

"Some could say we've been dating," he rushed out.

"Some?" she asked, an angelic look on her face. "Chuck, do you think we've been dating?"

"Well, you see, it's not that simple," he began.

"So, it's complicated?" she asked, watching him dig the hole deeper and deeper, having no intention of relieving him of the shovel anytime soon.

"Yes," Chuck said, nodding. "We are friends, right?"

"No," she told him. His face fell. "You said I was the most important person in the world." His eyes went wide. "Was I not supposed to know that was about me?" He couldn't speak. "If we're honest, I feel the same way about you."

"Right," he said in a strangled voice. "So, the way we met, it was…"

"Different."

"Yes," he agreed, wiping his hands on his pants. It was warm, but not warm enough to warrant all the sweat on his palms. "I was concerned that the emotional connection we had-"

"Emotional connection," she repeated. "I like that," she said, nodding. "I like that a lot."

"Thank you," he chirped. "I felt like it was a lot, and maybe one or both of us could be misreading it for something it was not."

"So, to sum up, you were worried I'd be hot for teacher?" Sarah asked, grinning. Chuck ducked his head. "I just need to know one thing, and one thing only, Chuck Bartowski." He lifted his head and looked at her. "I need to know if you knew that, while I can't speak Polish, that I can understand Polish?"

The color drained from his face. "I did not," he replied. She nodded, amusement back on her face. "I need to know something, Sarah," he said. She grinned at his attempt at bravery. "Is there a certain last name you'd ever consider changing to?"

"Oh, there's one," she said. She looked off at the waves that crashed into the shore. Turning back to him, she reached over, slipped her hand behind his neck, and pulled him close to her. "Kocham Cię," she said softly, and pulled him into a kiss.

They pulled away some time later, each searching the other's eyes. "Please tell me it's Bartowski," he said to her, holding her gaze.

"It is," Sarah said. "It is, but I need to tell you something. I'm not redeemable."

"Sarah," he said, seriousness creeping into his voice.

"Chuck, you showed me that I was always a good person, and I never needed redemption." His face softened. "Thank you," she said just above a whisper, tears falling from her eyes. "I love you."

A/N: Yeah, that did it.