A/N: It's be a while in coming, but alas I bring you Chapter 19. I was hoping to get this in sooner, before the deluge of Christmas fics hit, but no such luck. I found myself too wrapped up in reading to do too much writing. What a wonderful problem to have. Kudos to all the writers putting out new stuff. Really looking forward to the Christmas Challenge this year.
Disclaimer: Don't own Chuck
Chapter 19
"Awwwww. I wanted to stay up and watch the ball drop," Molly whined as she wiped the sleep from her eyes.
"Peanut, you were already asleep on the couch and it's only 9:30. We'll record it and you can watch it tomorrow. OK?" Chuck reassured her as he finished tucking the girl into bed. She let out a sigh of resignation, but her eyes were already closing again as she sleepily nodded her agreement. He leaned in and placed a kiss on the side of her head. "Night," he whispered.
"Night...love you…" Molly murmured before snuggling into her pillow even further, humming in contentment. Chuck simply smiled down at her, his heart overflowing. He brushed a few stray hairs behind her ear, and leaned down, kissing her on her head once again.
"Love you too," he whispered, slowly standing to his full height before quietly backing out of the room. After her bedroom door was pulled closed, he let out a contented sigh, standing in the hallway for a few seconds.
"You're such a good dad," came a soft voice from just behind him. Startled, he was jolted out of his musings and spun to see Sarah leaning against the wall, her arms wrapped around herself with an adoring smile. The words finally hit Chuck and he tried to stammer out a response.
"A da- what? I… I was just… but.." He gestured over his shoulder with his thumb toward Molly's door, his words barely coherent. The term "dad" surprised him, having been the first time he had heard it aloud. When Molly began calling Sarah 'Mommy', a part of him wished that one day he could hold the matching title. If not from Molly, then perhaps one day from a child of his own; their own. He loved that little girl like she was his own, at least he couldn't imagine loving her any more than he already did. For Molly to offer her love meant the world to him, but to be a father to her, that was something else entirely.
"You do realize that is how she sees you right? Just as she sees me as a mother, she's accepted you as her father. She may not have said as much, but I can see it. She loves you and you treat her as a father would a daughter. Well, far better than any father I've ever known. Certainly as well, or better, than her birth father. Does that…. scare you?" She seemed a bit apprehensive as she asked the question, almost fearful of the answer.
"What? Does what scare me?" He gave her a genuinely puzzled look.
"Being her father? … A father?" She looked down at the floor, not wanting to see his expression when she asked that question.
"What? No! No. No. No. No to both. I mean, I guess I have … concerns. Concerns that I … I might not do a good job. That I can't be the type of father that they need. I mean… I didn't have a great role model in that area when I was growing up. What if… what if I'm no better? What if I'm…" Before he could finish, Sarah closed the distance and placed two fingers across his lips, halting his spiraling.
"Baby. You are … the greatest man I've ever known. On the first day you met that little girl, you showed more love, kindness and compassion than many fathers will in a lifetime. Since that day, you've always been there for her, cared for her, supported her and provided for her future." She removed her fingers from his lips and caressed his cheek.
"I don't know how else to be around her. When you love someone, those are the things you're supposed to do. Right?" Chuck shrugged, his brow furrowed in contemplation.
"You see? That…" She pointed at him, her eyes started to tear up and her voice sounding choked. "That right there... That's what fathers are supposed to do. Love their children. Love them because it's what feels natural. That's what makes you a good father, Chuck. Not because someone gives you the title, but because you earn it through your deeds and actions." Realization slowly overtook him and he gave her a sheepish smile. She gave him a tight smile in return and wrapped him in a hug, laying her head on his chest. He kissed the top of her head, nuzzling her hair with his nose.
"Thank you," he whispered. "You're an amazing mom and an amazing wife." Sarah lifted her head to look up at him in confusion. "As a wise woman once said, 'not because of the title, but because you earn it through your deeds and actions'." He gave her a sly smile and she couldn't help but blush at her words thrown back at her.
"Alright, Mr. Bartowski. I'm cold and there's lots more Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve to watch. So get your cute butt back down on that couch so you can keep me warm." She gave him a smack on the butt and quickly started down the stairs, trying to avoid any retaliatory butt smacks of her own. He just shook his head, watching her rush down the stairs. He soon followed but at a much slower pace, taking his time. Once he reached the living room, she was already on the couch, a quilt pulled up around her.
"Ha, ha. I win," she chided, in a teasing tone. Her broad, toothy grin and sparkling blue eyes made her look so happy.
"My dear, I'll let you in on a little secret. Watching your butt as you raced down those stairs was its own reward. So I am most certainly the winner." He gave her a devilish grin, as his eyebrows danced. She let out a mock gasp of offense before giggling at his antics.
"You're incorrigible." She shook her head at him but then her whole body shivered. "And I'm freezing. I need my personal furnace, so get under this quilt and keep me warm." She lifted up one side, allowing him to slide in beside her before being wrapped up with her. She snuggled up to him, molding herself against him. She gave one more shiver before her body relaxed, his closeness and warmth soothing her. Her contented sigh spoke for both of them as they sunk into the couch to enjoy the show.
A couple of hours later, they were still sitting on the couch, a bowl of popcorn now between them. They had been flipping through the various nationally televised New Year's Eve parties, enjoying the performances. It was on a commercial break and Chuck looked at Sarah for a moment before speaking.
"Sarah. There's something I'd like to talk to you about."
"Uh oh. This sounds serious," she replied playfully. When she caught his expression her smile faded. "This is serious. What is it?" She placed the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table and turned her body to face him, concern etched on her face.
"It's important, but not 'life or death' kind of important." He raised his hands up, gesturing for her to calm down, trying to reassure her. "It has to do with my companies. I'd like to make some … changes, but I wanted to talk with you first."
"Why? They're your companies, Chuck. You should do whatever you feel is right." She gave him a perplexed look, uncertain why he was asking her.
"Sarah, you do realize that when we get married, they'll no longer be my companies. They'll be our companies. Together. You know that right?" He looked at her intently, an eyebrow raised waiting for her to acknowledge.
"I… I don't know. I guess I never really thought about it. I guess I thought you'd want a … a prenup or something. To protect your companies." She shrugged, looking a little crestfallen.
"What? Really? You think I'd… Sarah, I asked you to marry be because I want to share my whole life with you. Not just parts of it, but all of it. Everything I have will be yours too. I love you and trust you completely. If you ever decide to leave me for some reason, then I deserve to have all of that taken away from me for whatever I did to run you off." He never raised his voice but looked a little upset, even hurt. Sarah had never seen that look on his face before, and she hated that she was the cause. She reached across and grabbed his hand.
"Baby, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I just… I guess I figured that's what wealthy people did when they got married. I didn't mean to imply that you would do it to be greedy or anything. I… don't know what I was thinking. I'm sorry. What… what were the changes you wanted to talk about?" She asked, looking at him sheepishly. He relaxed his features, rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken it so personally. Anyway. The changes. Well, the changes are… I want to sell them." Sarah's mouth dropped open and her eyes were as wide as saucers.
"What?!"
"Well, not all of them. Just… just most of them."
Wh-wh-why?" Sarah was clearly in shock at this news.
"Well, several reasons. First, the companies have grown so much that it's hard for me to manage them all. The amount of time and effort that it takes is daunting."
"It's because of me, isn't it? You're spending all your time here, helping me, and you're neglecting your work. I've been so selfish to keep you here-" It was Chuck's turn to stop the spiraling this time, placing a finger over her lips.
"Will you please let me finish?" He gave her 'the look' and she seemed to deflate a little, nodding her head in agreement. He removed his finger and continued.
"Thank you. Now, as I was saying. The companies have gotten too large and diverse for me to manage them myself. So I want to take some of the divisions and sell them off to other companies. I've been in talks with some very interested parties and have worked out preliminary agreements that would allow all of the affected staff to keep their jobs for a minimum of three years. Now, to your concerns, No. I'm not doing this because of you. Well, not entirely anyway. It's because of you that I've found something else to live for instead of just work. I want to reduce my workload so I can be here for you, with you, without feeling guilty about not doing work. And you haven't been selfish. If you recall, I'm here because I want to be. I volunteered for this. It's not as if you've chained me here against my will. Although…" The little smirk that was starting to form on his face warranted a playful smack on the arm from Sarah.
"Another reason I want to do this is to get back to my roots. The things that started it all. Coming up with ideas, writing the code and creating things. I feel so far removed from all of that now. I spend so much of my time working at the 'business' of my business that I don't actually create things anymore. Now that I have the means, I can focus on the things I 'want' to do, rather than what I 'have' to do. I plan on keeping a few of the divisions under my control and relocating the headquarters here, but allowing staff to telecommute if they choose. This way I can be with my family and help with the family business."
"The family business?" Sarah tilted her head in confusion.
"Well, yeah. The diner. That's your family business. Soon, I'll officially be part of your family, ergo, 'the family business'." He was surprised she didn't understand, it seeming so simple.
"Chuck, to give up all of that, all you've worked for…" She shook her head in disbelief, still trying to wrap her mind around it.
"This isn't some Hallmark Channel movie, where I'm torn between life in the big city and life in the small town, having to give up 'success' for happiness. Sarah, I have success. I have more success than I probably deserve, and certainly more than I know what to do with. My life goals are not acquiring wealth and fame. My life goals are… well, you. You, Molly and wh-whatever the future holds for us. I don't feel like I'm giving anything up, but rather gaining something so much more meaningful." Sarah gave him a teary smile, reaching up to caress his cheek.
"Can… can I confess something to you? Promise not to be mad or freaked out?" His words sent a chill down her spine. After so many revelations over the past few weeks, she was a bit apprehensive. Placing her faith in Chuck, she nodded her agreement, encouraging him to go on.
"So, I've been thinking about doing all of this for a long while now. You know, settling here? I… I used to sit in my car at night, u-up the street from the diner. I used to … to wait for you to get off work." He winced at his words, realizing how terrible it sounded. Sarah's eyes grew wide but he pushed on, not letting her berate him just yet. "I know. I know. It's super stalkery. I just… I worried about you. Closing up the diner alone, walking to your car after dark, I was afraid something might happen to you. Especially after those drunken idiots hassled you a few months back. I was about to foolishly jump in to help you, but when I saw how you handled yourself, I realized you didn't really need me. I'll admit, it was a hard pill to swallow. I … I wanted so badly to be … needed ... especially by you. I know, it was a childish, stupid notion. I at least took some comfort in believing that I was somehow watching over you, keeping you safe, even if it was from afar. When I sat in that car for hours at a time some nights, waiting for you to come out, I thought a lot about you and this town. How kind you were to me, to everyone really. I thought about how welcoming the town was, which was quite a change from what I was used to in LA. It may sound corny, but the first time you asked me for my order, the smile you gave me, it was at that moment that I knew I wanted to stay. I wanted to have that ... that smile in my life. The night I gave you that tip. You know? "The tip"? Anyway, that was the last night that I watched over you. The next morning you…"
"Yeah. I-I remember," she interrupted, raising a hand to stop him. She thought for a moment before continuing. "So… that was you?" It was Chuck's turn to give her a quizzical look, tilting his head with a furrowed brow. "In the car? Sitting out in front of the Ace hardware store?" Chuck's ears turned red as he gave her a sheepish smile and a shrug.
"That makes so much sense now. So let me get this straight. From the day you met me, you've thought about moving here? Permanently?" He just nodded in agreement, not speaking.
"And since that day those drunk college guys were causing trouble, you've been looking out for me?" She studied him for a long moment. "Did you follow me home too?" With that his eyes shot open wide, shaking his head vehemently.
"No. Never. I swear! I only wanted to make sure you got to your car safely. Once you drove off I went home." She continued to study him, her expression unreadable.
"So, somebody could have, say… mugged me when I got out of my car at home and you wouldn't have been anywhere near to stop it?" Chuck's mouth dropped and his face grew pale. Quickly, Sarah reached out with both hands, grasping his cheeks and pulling him into a kiss as she chuckled against his lips.
"Oh, Baby. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. That was mean. I was just joking. Don't be mad." Chuck was bewildered at what was happening, not sure how he should feel.
"No. You're … you're right. That's all true. I wouldn't have been there-" She interrupted his spiraling with another kiss to shut him up, this one much more impassioned. After about thirty seconds she pulled away and looked into his eyes.
"Have I washed those thoughts out of your head yet?" Her smile was pleading, remorseful for the rather mean joke she'd played.
"What um… what thoughts?" he stammered out, looking a little dazed. Sarah giggled at his response, resting her head on his shoulder.
"You're really good for my ego, you know that? I love that you still get that starry-eyed look when I kiss you like that." She sighed in contentment, leaning more of her weight on him.
"Well, I'm just glad you still want to kiss me like that. You sure you're not mad at me? For the… you know… whole spying, stalkery thing?" He kissed her on the head, then leaned his cheek against the top of her head. She hummed at the sensation, slowly shaking her head.
"No Chuck. I'm not mad. I'm glad you told me. Sure, it is bordering on stalking I suppose, but I know now that it was out of love, or at least what would become love. In a way, it's kind of nice to know that someone was watching over me, especially in those times when I felt pretty alone. So… thank you." She craned her neck up to kiss him on the cheek, peppering a few kisses along his jaw line. She stopped there before things got carried away. She still wanted to watch the ball drop.
"So, about your companies. You're sure this is what you want to do? You won't be...bored here? I'd hate to think you're ... settling by staying here with us." She stretched her legs across his lap and pulled the quilt over them, looking up at him, awaiting his response.
"Of course I'm settling." Her eyes grew wide at his response, beginning to look crestfallen. "Wha- no. N-not like that. Not like I'm... resigning myself to something I don't really want. No, just the opposite. It's more like… like… sinking into a warm bath at the end of a hard day. It's so soothing and comforting the way it envelops you. It makes you feel safe and warm, dreading the mere thought of getting out. It also means, settling down, planting roots. A place I can call home, and that's only because you're here. For that simple fact alone, there is no place I would rather be. So, Yes. I am settling, but in all the best meanings of the term." Chuck leaned down and kissed her. She smiled into his kiss, which turned into a giggle as he slid his way between her and the back of the couch, deepening their kiss.
"You're… going… to make me … miss my … show," she mockingly protested between kisses. Without missing a beat, Chuck pulled his phone out of his back pocket, and with only cracking one eye, he swiped through some apps, pressing some buttons.
"DVR," he retorted, wiggling the phone at her before tossing it on the coffee table. She laughed against his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck as they found their own way to usher in the new year.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"OK. What am I looking at, Chuck?" Sarah stood bundled up in her coat, trying to fight off the cold winter air, and not looking excited about it. They were standing in front of an old, three story building, a few doors down from the diner. It was once a mercantile of some sort, as could barely be made out from the ghost-like outlines of the letters long since removed. The ornate, late 1800s architecture had withstood the test of time, though what little interior they could see through the boarded windows certainly showed some neglect.
"This is the old Evans Mercantile building. It's been empty for a number of years. Ever since the Walmart went up, out by the Interstate. That's probably been ... 15 years or more. Why are we staring at it… in the cold?" Sarah was bouncing in place trying to keep warm.
"Well, I noticed that it's been kind of an eye-sore, what with all the boarded up windows and whatnot." Sarah was slowly nodding at him, but her expression was screaming 'get to the point'. "It's such a beautiful old building, it seems like such a terrible fate. So…. I bought it," he rushed out, wincing for fear of her reaction. Sarah's eyes went wide with surprise, darting back to the building to take it all in.
"You… you bought it? The whole building?" She finally looked back at Chuck, the shock still written across her face.
"Yeah. I bought it. You're looking at the future headquarters of Orion Technologies." He smiled and gave her a shrug. "And the best part, there's this awesome diner right across the street." He pointed down the street at Emma's with a wry smile. "The lady that owns it… smokin' hot." She gave him a tsk and a smack on the arm.
"You're damn right she is, but she's taken. I hear she's marrying this really sexy dork of a guy." She smirked at him as she seductively wrapped her arms around him.
"Oh. I see. Into the tall, dark and nerdy type, huh?" He bounced an eyebrow, giving her a smirk. She could only grin in return, standing on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on him.
"You have no idea." It was her turn to smirk and bounce an eyebrow as they kissed again. A car honked as it drove by, causing Sarah to smile into the kiss. Without breaking the kiss, she waved at the passing car, certain she'd hear about it in the diner someday soon from whoever that was. She broke the kiss and pulled away slightly.
"Do you really need the whole building for your company? I mean… how many people do you plan to hire?" She gestured to the large building with its wide storefront.
"Oh, no. I don't need the whole building. I plan on using the third floor for Orion Tech. The second floor I'd like to turn into day offices. Small offices that you can rent for a day or a week. They would be great for telecommuters to have a quiet place to work or for the small business owner that wants to have an office space to meet with clients. They would be private, fully furnished offices that people could just come in and start working. Maybe even a larger conference room for groups to meet, that sort of thing." Sarah looked impressed and gave him a nod of appreciation.
"I like it. I know there are a lot of people that commute to the larger cities for work, so something like that might be nice. What do you plan to do on the ground floor?"
"I'm glad you asked. I want to set that up as a meeting place or banquet hall. We could host wedding receptions, birthday parties, fundraisers or family reunions. There's enough room that we could put in a full commercial kitchen, so we could attract catered events. There is at least 10,000 square feet on the ground floor, plus nearly as much space for storage in the basement. We would charge a modest fee for the rental. I'd like to make this accessible for everyone in the community. That way, even small groups or families with limited funds can still find a nice place to meet. I also bought the vacant lot behind this place to allow for ample parking. What d'you think?" He looked down at her with anticipation.
"I...it-it's brilliant. This would mean so much to the community, Chuck. As it stands now, if you don't want to drive thirty minutes in either direction to rent a banquet hall, you're relegated to a church basement or somebody's barn. And the office space idea? You've seen all the people that grab a coffee to go before they head off on their commute. Even if they had an office where they could stay in town just a couple of days a week, that could make a huge difference in their lives. More time with their families, less stress, not to mention… they'd have more time to stop in and eat breakfast at Emma's," she added with a crooked smile. "In all seriousness, I think it's an amazing idea." She reached up and kissed him again. "Now can we PLEASE go back inside? My frostbite has frostbite." He let out a chuckle and shook his head before wrapping an arm around her to lead her back to the diner.
"It's only 45 degrees, and the Sun's out. I thought my thin California blood would have a hard time with this weather, but you've lived around here all your life." She smacked him in the stomach with a pout.
"Shut up! I don't like to be cold. A fact that you have benefited from greatly, I might add, so stop teasing me." Chuckling at herself, she snuggled into his side more as they walked. Strolling down the sidewalk, arm in arm, it felt so normal, so perfect. She had to laugh at herself internally. She used to see people do this on TV or in movies and thought to herself how contrived and unrealistic it all seemed. Yet here she was, happily proving herself wrong. She relished in the fact that someday soon she would be married to this man. That this was only the beginning of experiencing things just like this, and it made her heart soar.
"Hey. Do you think you could get this done in time to have our wedding reception there?" She smiled up at him.
"Really? If-if that's what you want, you'd better believe it. Wait. When is the wedding? We haven't set a date yet. Well, at least if you've set a date you didn't tell me. N-not that I mind, it would just be nice to know when I need to be there is all." Sarah snorted at his spiraling and gave him a playful smack on the chest.
"No, there's no date yet. But I don't want to wait. I don't need a long engagement. I think a spring or early summer wedding would be great. Not too hot and all the trees and flowers will be blooming." She trailed off in thought, envisioning the wedding.
"Ok, this may be a terrible idea, so feel free to tell me so. What if we didn't have the ceremony in a church? What if we had it at… at the park you took me to? You know, where we had our 'talk'? I can just imagine that boardwalk overlooking the forest, beams of sunlight shining down through the canopy. W-what d'you think?" He stopped walking to look into her eyes, trying to gauge her reaction. She met his gaze but her expression was unreadable.
"If I say yes, can we please go inside where it's warm?" Chuck huffed a sigh in resignation, believing that she wasn't taking him seriously. He began to walk again, but was stopped when Sarah pulled him back by the sleeve of his jacket. Turning to look at her, he could see the corners of her mouth beginning to turn up and a sparkle in her eye.
"Baby, I think it's a wonderful idea. The wild flowers in that area are so beautiful that time of year. If that's what you'd like to do, I'm all for it. One hundred percent." She reached up, cupping both of his cheeks and kissed him soundly. "Now, for the love of God, can we please go inside?" WIth that, Chuck scooped her up in his arms and marched her to the diner, Sarah kicking her legs and giggling the entire way.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Ellie!" Sarah exclaimed, as the two women wrapped each other in a bear hug. "What are you doing here? N-Not that I'm not excited to see you, but this is a surprise."
"We've come to steal you away," she declared, pushing past Sarah and into her front foyer. Following just behind were Gerty and Alex.
"Steal me away? What's going on? Is this an intervention or something?" Sarah seemed perplexed as the three women surrounded her.
"This, Miss Walker, is a kidnapping. Welcome to your bachelorette party!" All three women gave a loud 'woohoo', leaving Sarah standing in wide-eyed surprise.
"Oh, ladies, I-I dunno about that..." Sarah shook her head looking concerned. "I've got so much stuff to do before the wedding and I have work tomorrow…"
"Nope! You, my dear, are coming with us. Get your shoes and your purse. We're leaving now." Sarah tried to object again, but Ellie was having none of it. ' .Ahhh. Nope. No arguments. It's all been arranged. Get your shit and let's go." Sarah's friends ushered her out the door, helping her collect her things and lock up. In mere moments, they were all in the back of a large black SUV, the driver speeding off.
"Guys I'm not really much of a partier. You know, that whole drink yourself stupid, ending up with a string of poor life choices. That's not really my thing," she frowned, fearing that she was spoiling the plans that her friends had dreamed up.
"Good. Cause none of us feel like holding your hair," Gerty quipped, causing the other ladies to laugh.
"No, this isn't going to be that kind of bachelorette party. Think of it as a long weekend with the girls." Ellie smiled, giving Sarah a wink.
"W-weekend? Ellie, it's Wednesday! Where the hell are you taking me? I have to work tomorrow, and there's Molly and Chuck-" Ellie put a few fingers across Sarah's lips and handed her a champagne flute that looked like it contained orange juice.
"Stop spiraling. You've been around Chuck too long," Ellie snickered. "Drink this. It'll make you feel better." Gerty held Sarah's hand for a moment to give her some extra comfort.
"Sarah, everything has been taken care of. Judy is going to watch out for Molly while Chuck is helping out at the diner. The two new girls you hired will be there and if things get really crazy Chuck has a line on a temp service that can send additional staff over. Between John, Chuck and Wade, I'm sure they can handle it." Gerty could see the stress starting to lessen on Sarah's face. She nodded at the older woman.
"Wade? Oh, the new cook. How's he working out?" Ellie looked between the women, wanting to get the scoop.
"Oh, I'd like to watch him work out. That man is fiiiine," Alex chimed in, blushing a little at how direct her confession was.
"Oooo. Really? Do I sense a potential for some … inter-diner romance?" Ellie teased the younger woman, the others following suit.
"I'm sure Sarah would frown on that sort of thing going on at the diner," Alex replied a little dejectedly.
'Really? In case you haven't noticed, more than half of the employees are in a relationship with one another. If you and Wade want to date or ...whatever… just don't violate any health codes in my diner. That's all I ask. Oh, and keep the PDA to a minimum around the customers. Can you do that?" Sarah grinned at Alex, relishing in the blush that was now racing up her neck. Once the laughter died down, Sarah turned to Ellie, a look of uncertainty on her face.
"Are you sure that Chuck is OK with all of this? I mean, he's still overseeing the renovations on the new office, there's the diner and Molly and..."
"Sarah! Stop spiraling. This was mostly Chuck's idea. In fact, when we land, he's set up a concierge for us that will handle all our needs." Ellie pulled a business card out of her pocket and looked it over. "Uh… Megan is her name. I didn't know that Chuck knew any other women besides us," Ellie commented incredulously.
"Megan? As in the Amex Black concierge, Megan?" Sarah sat up a little straighter, craning her neck to get a look at the card that Ellie was holding.
"Yeah. I think that's her. Do you know her?" Ellie studied Sarah for any signs of anger or jealousy. Not seeing any, she felt a little better about the situation.
"Um, not in person but I've talked with her on the phone. I called her when I had some car trouble back in January and she was so wonderful. She thanked me up and down for the generous gifts that Chuck had given her family for Christmas. I, of course, had no idea what she was talking about, but I wasn't surprised in the least that Chuck would think to give her something. I played it off and assured her that Chuck thought she deserved it. I cornered him later that night and made him spill the details. Her husband is on disability and unable to work, trying to take care of him and the kids AND work in that high stress job as a concierge, she was having a tough time. Chuck sent them all Christmas presents and some generous checks as stocking stuffers. I could hear her almost break down on the phone she was so grateful. She had me in tears and I've never met the woman. If I didn't already love that man with all my heart, I'd have been a real goner after hearing that. Well… anyway, if that is the same Megan, I'm so excited to meet her… wait a sec. Land? You said 'when we land'?" As if on cue, the SUV pulled onto the tarmac of the county airfield, where a small private jet was parked, the stairs down awaiting their arrival.
"Yep. We're going to New York City! Not only are we going to paint the town red, but we're going to put a hurt on my little brother's Amex Black card. We have dress shopping to do!" Everyone got excited with that, especially Sarah. That was one of the big things on her to-do list for the wedding and she was running out of time. Being able to shop in New York City would offer up so many options.
"You guys ... I…" Sarah trailed off as the happy tears started to well up in her eyes. She tried to fan them away, but that only managed to elicit 'awwws' from her friends as they brought her into a group hug.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Relax Bartowski. Judy's gonna watch over short stack until we get back." Casey grumbled as they pulled out of the driveway of Sarah's house.
"Now, where is it we're going again?" Chuck asked, still feeling a bit uneasy.
"Just keep your shirt on. It's only a thirty minute drive. Sit back and enjoy the ride." Casey put a cassette tape into the tape deck of his Crown Victoria. He had to admit the land yacht of a vehicle rode pretty smoothly. Chuck enjoyed the music, and although classic southern rock was not something he grew up on in southern California, he had great appreciation for the genre. He was content to just listen to the music, and knowing that Casey was not the conversationalist, he didn't bother him with small talk. About thirty minutes later, they pulled into the gravel parking lot of a building that was well off the beaten path, nestled in the woods. Chuck was perplexed and maybe a little concerned at the plywood sign that simply read 'Splatter' in sloppy red paint.
"Um… Casey? What uh… what is this place?" The two men got out of the car, Chuck looking a little apprehensive. The sound of tires on gravel caught his attention as he watched a car pull up beside them and park. In amazement he watched as Devon, Wade, Ian and Brian piled out of the car.
"Dude! This is awesome, Bro." Devon greeted Chuck with a hug, as did Ian and Brian, each exchanging their greetings. Chuck gave Wade a firm handshake and a pat on the shoulder. Wade was new to the Emma's Diner family, having worked there for only two weeks, but he was a great cook and a stand up guy. He was a few years younger than Chuck, slightly shorter and very athletically built. He was a kind, gentle, very soft spoken young man that seemed to get along quite well with everyone. Chuck had noticed on more than a few occasions that Wade had stolen glances at Alex, and always seemed to act shyly around her. He had noticed Alex eyeing Wade from time to time as well. Maybe there was something in the water at Emma's Diner that seemed to bring people together.
"Guys, this is a huge surprise. What are you all doing here? For that matter, what are we doing here?" Chuck turned to look at Casey, giving him a questioning look. Casey just pointed to the sign.
"Splatter. It's a paintball park, numbnuts. Thirty-five wooded acres of paintball heaven on Earth, complete with buildings, bunkers and trenches. Welcome to your bachelor party. Now, let's go ladies. Time's a wastin'." With that Casey lead the way into the building. Chuck had to admit, it sounded amazing. He had played a lot of laser tag back in LA, but never managed to play paintball. This was on his unofficial bucket list, so he was excited that he was getting to do this, especially with all the guys he now considered to be his friends. He was a little fearful that he'd be dragged off to some pub crawl or strip club for his bachelor party. Neither of those was his cup of tea, but this? This was right up his alley.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
When they exited the plane, the ladies were in high spirits, the mimosas having loosened them up. On the tarmac was a black SUV limo, a burly looking driver standing at attention beside the back door. Just at the bottom of the stairs to the plane was a short, petite brunette woman in business casual attire. She was holding a leather portfolio and seemed to be fidgeting. She was wearing a nervous smile as she watched the women step out of the small jet. Somehow Sarah knew this was Megan, despite never seeing her before. She perfectly fit the person she envisioned in her mind's eye. Sarah stopped in front of the woman when she reached the tarmac.
'You must be Megan." Before the woman could finish nodding Sarah had wrapped her in a hug. Maybe it was the mimosa or perhaps it was Chuck rubbing off on her, but knowing what she did about Megan, a handshake just wouldn't do. Megan was definitely surprised but, after a brief moment, she returned the hug, tears beginning to form at the corners of her eyes.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you Miss Walker-"
"Oh, no. It's Sarah. Please. There's no need to be so formal with us. We're very much… 'informal' people. This is Chuck's sister Ellie, and my very good friends Gerty and Alex. Everyone, this is Megan, the woman I was telling you about." Megan was speechless at the outpouring of kindness from these women, each giving her a hug and expressing their joy at finally meeting her.
"You were telling them… about 'me'?" She asked incredulously. In this business, the client was the center of the universe, you were there to serve them and be as invisible as possible. For them to actively discuss you, not to mention hug you, was such a foreign concept for her.
"Well, yeah. After what you did for us at Christmas? Decorating Gerty's new house and getting all those wonderful gifts. Chuck told us quite a bit about you. I'm just so glad we get to meet you in person. Tell me, how's your husband? And the kids?" Megan was stunned for a moment, finding it hard to find the words.
"They're… they're good. Thank you. Since Christmas, things have been so much better. My oldest, Lizzy, she was finally able to get braces. My husband, Stephen, he's in physical therapy, making great progress. Things have really turned around for us." The tears were beginning to pool at the corners of her eyes, her voice quivering a bit as she continued. "I can't thank you enough…" It was finally more than she could bear and the tears began to fall.
"Awww, Sweetie," Sarah cooed as she wrapped her in another hug. "You do good things and good things happen to you. That's what Chuck believes and he's made me a believer too. So, no more tears. OK? I hear you have a long weekend planned for us." Sarah pulled away and wrapped an arm around Megan's shoulders, following the other women to the waiting limo. Once they were all seated and the limo in motion, Megan opened her portfolio and swiped through the iPad that was attached inside.
"So, first, I have lunch reservations for you at City Vineyard. They have a great wine selection and amazing shared plates. It might even be warm enough to eat outside, overlooking the Hudson. I think you'll love it." She closed the portfolio and looked between them all.
"Whoa. Wait a minute. What d'you mean 'us'? What about you? Where are you gonna be?" Sarah gave the woman a stern look, a single eyebrow raised. Megan was a little taken aback, and honestly a little frightened by the look. She swallowed thickly, stumbling over her words.
'Well, while you eat, I'll wait in the limo until you're finished. Then we'll pick you up and go on to the next-"
"Oh, No! No. No. No. No. Unh uh. You're comin' with us sister," Ellie exclaimed, beating Sarah to the punch.
"But, this is supposed to be Sarah's day. Her bachelorette weekend. I'm merely here to make sure that-" She was interrupted again, clearly not realizing who she was dealing with.
"You're right. This is my bachelorette weekend. And this little black card here says that I get whatever I want, right?" Megan shrugged, not having much of an argument against that. The Amex Black card could get you pretty much anything you wanted, within reason. "Well, I say, you're going to hang with us every step of the way. The more friends the better." All of the ladies were in agreement, not willing to take no for an answer.
"Al-alright. Thank you. I'm … I'm really honored." Megan gave them all a sheepish smile as a glass of mimosa was shoved into her hand.
"You've got some catching up to do. Drink up girly." Gerty raised her own glass in a toast to the newest member of their cadre. They all chuckled and drank together.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"I still don't get how a lanky nerd like you can move like that. The way you flanked that other team and took out three of 'em while diving through the air. That's some next level, Matrix bullshit right there." Casey shook his head in amused disbelief, taking a large gulp of his beer.
"He's right, Bro. That was pretty awesome," Devon interjected, raising his beer in a toast. The rest of the group did likewise. Chuck just gave an embarrassed shrug.
"It was no big deal really. You guys were distracting them, so it was pretty easy. I guess all those years of laser tag paid off. Though, I'm sure landing on that tree root is gonna leave a nasty bruise. Forget about me though. Casey, I knew that you'd be great out there, but the rest of you guys were awesome too. Really impressive." Chuck raised his glass to them as a sign of respect.
"We may live in the big city now, but Devon and I were born and raised in Grady. We probably learned to shoot before the training wheels came off our bicycles," Ian chuckled, shoving Devon in the shoulder.
"Guys, this day has been great. I couldn't have thought of a better way to spend my bachelor party. Seriously. Thank you, guys. And this BBQ place … is amazing! It's like taking a pilgrimage to whole hog heaven," Chuck mused, warranting a chuckle from those around the table. As they continued to devour their food, they reminisced about the adventures of the day, joking and laughing. Chuck had to stop and take it all in. He had never had many friends, both growing up and into adulthood. The ones he did have were either gone now or had stabbed him in the back. But now, now he had a real group of friends for the first time. He had missed out on this type of bonding or comradery, but was happy to have it now. It wasn't just the people at that table, but everyone he'd met since arriving in Grady. They all treated him as a friend and felt the same in return. On top of all that, he would soon be married to the most amazing woman he'd ever met. If he had taken a different turn, or any number of different choices along the way, he wouldn't have any of this. Maybe it was fate, or whatever else you want to call it, he was just grateful.
After another hour of eating and talking, they were all leaning back in their chairs, moaning from their gluttonous feast. Each made some recommendations of what to do next, mostly some bar or another. An idea hit Chuck and he had to chuckle to himself. It had been years, but it might be fun.
"Let's go bowling," Chuck exclaimed out of nowhere. The others at the table looked at Chuck then at each other. It was finally Devon that broke the awkward silence that had built.
"Dude! We SO need to go bowling!" He reached across the table and gave Chuck a high five. The rest of the table agreed that it sounded better than what they had come up with so far, so they settled up the bill and headed out. Chuck had tried to pick up the tab, but Devon insisted, going so far as to pay the bill in secret as he pretended to visit the restroom. Not to be outdone, Chuck left a sizable tip for the waitress, and deservedly so after dealing with their unruly group.
Walking into the bowling alley, the five of them stood and surveyed the place. It was a Wednesday evening and it was packed. There were still a few lanes open, so they made their way to the counter and were greeted by an older gentleman, whose name tag indicated "Roy - Owner".
"Hi ya, Roy. Looks pretty busy in here tonight. You have a free lane we could rent? We'll need shoes all around too." Chuck gave the man his typical winning smile, but the man seemed barely phased by it.
"Yeah. I can rent you a lane, but you'll have to be civil-like. No carrying on or swearin' up a storm. These folks are here for a charity drive." Roy pointed to a flyer on the counter. Reading it over, it seemed that a local family, the McHenry's, had fallen on hard times, one of their children battling cancer. The community was trying to raise funds for the family to help with the medical bills. It immediately struck a nerve with Chuck, who showed the flyer to his friends. Casey gave him a nod of understanding.
"Hey Roy. Is the family here by chance?" Chuck looked around the area as he waited for a response.
"Um. Yeah. They're over near lane 5. The little boy, Brandon, he's the one in the wheelchair," the older man pointed in the general direction. Chuck could only get a glimpse of them, the sea of people blocking his view.
"Will you guys excuse me for just a second?" Chuck held up his hand with a finger extended as he backed away. He turned and waded through the crowd, making his way to the McHenry family. As he approached, he could see the young boy, about the same age as Molly, looking frail and weak. Despite that, he had a smile on his face and was cheering on the people bowling on the lane in front of him.
"Can I help you?" A woman asked, pulling Chuck from his thoughts. The woman was about the same age as Chuck, but looked very tired and worn, likely the toll of dealing with the stress of her situation. Since she was sitting in a chair beside her son, he kneeled down to be closer to her.
"Hi. You don't know me, but my name is Chuck." He extended his hand to shake the woman's and then the man beside her. "I saw the flyers and learned of your situation. I'd like to help." He pulled out a small metal box from his pocket and withdrew a business card from it. He handed the woman the card with a smile and pointed to his name as he spoke.
.
"The number at the bottom there is to our corporate headquarters. You call them tomorrow and tell them that 'Charles Carmichael' referred you. I think we can get you in touch with some people that can help. OK?" The woman looked thoroughly confused as she shared a glance with her husband.
"Cool! Do you work for Intersect games?" The voice came from the young boy, Kevin, who had turned to look at them. He was pointing to the back of the business card, which carried the company logo. The woman turned it over and examined it, looking between Chuck and her son. Chuck, with his hand near his mouth as if preparing to whisper, leaned toward the boy.
"I own the company," he whispered loudly.
"No way!" Kevin exclaimed, his eyes growing wide.
"Yes way!' Chuck replied with equal enthusiasm. He gave the woman a smile and pointed at the card. 'Tomorrow. Call them. Trust me." He gave the boy a wink as he stood and waved his goodbyes. As he walked back to his group, he fired off a quick text to ensure that the office would be expecting their call. When he returned to the counter, his group was collecting their rented shoes, handing a pair to Chuck.
"Hey Roy. Who's covering the bill for the lane rentals and food?" Chuck inquired.
"Um, well, I'm donating the use of the lanes but we had to cater in food 'cause my kitchen can't handle this many people. That's coming out of the donations unfortunately." The older man shrugged, looking a bit sorrowful. As Chuck looked the man over, he had a strong resemblance to the woman he just spoke with.
"Is… is that your grandson? Kevin?" Roy nodded with a half-smile, stealing a look over toward the little boy. Chuck studied the man for a moment and then reached in his jacket pocket to pull out his checkbook. Borrowing a pen from the counter, Chuck began to fill out the check.
"Uh, Mister. I'm sorry, we don't take personal checks here for lane fees and shoes." Chuck just ripped out the check and handed it to the man.
"I think this should cover the costs and then some. Make sure it's put to good use. Huh?" Chuck just gave the man a smile and a pat on the shoulder. Dumbfounded, the man looked down at the check for ten-thousand dollars made out to the charity account mentioned in the flyer. His jaw nearly hit the counter, standing frozen in shock. When he pulled himself together, Chuck and his friends were gone.
Sitting down beside Casey to put on his bowling shoes, the older man gave a grunt, his typical preamble to the start of a conversation.
"That never gets old does it? That feelin' of helpin' out folks that need it." Chuck shifted his gaze to Casey, who was taking a swig out of his beer, staring out at the lanes in front of them.
"No. No it doesn't. I can remember a time when I had next to nothing. I can't imagine how hopeless these people feel when their child is sick and the only thing that stands between them and the help they need is money. I know it's not enough, but it makes me feel a little better about having money if I can do some good with it." Chuck gave a shrug as he finished putting on his shoes. Casey handed him a beer and went off to pick out a ball to use.
'OK guys. Let's bowl." Chuck looked at the lane quizzically before turning to his friends. "Do we get the bumpers? Or does that cost extra?"
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Um, Sarah. Dear. I don't quite know how to say this…." Ellie started, a wince on her face.
"You look like a cream puff!" Gerty shouted out, perhaps a little louder than was necessary. The ladies all burst out into laughter, including Sarah, who was standing on the riser, showing off the eighth dress of the day at Kleinfeld's.
"I know, right? Gahh.. this is hopeless," Sarah huffed, blowing a stray hair out of her face.
"OK. That's it. I'm going back there and we're going to find you a damn dress," exclaimed Ellie, taking Sarah by the hand and dragging her back to the fitting room. The fitting consultant was trying to keep up, spluttering about how she couldn't go back there. The friends who were sitting just laughed among themselves, knowing that the consultant was never going to win that argument. Twenty minutes later Ellie came out and plopped into a seat with the other ladies.
"OK. She should be out in a minute. If this isn't the one, so help me…" Ellie trailed off as Sarah came out of the dressing room. Everyone gasped as she walked out, cautiously stepping up onto the riser to parade herself. She looked at everyone with an expression of fear and apprehension as she slowly turned to face the mirror. Sarah, too, gasped and covered her mouth.
"Oh Wow. It's… it's perfect!" She turned to look at her friends, happy tears in her eyes. All of her friends, Megan included, were returning the same teary smile as they nodded in agreement.
"You do realize you're going to break my brother wearing that dress," Ellie offered, chuckling at herself. Sarah joined her in laughter, a wry smile spreading across her face.
"That's the plan, right?" Her smile turned more devilish. With that they all chuckled.
"OK, Miss Walker. Let's get that pinned up for you and we can take it to our alteration department. However, there is the matter of payment before we can begin the alterations." Her condescending tone made Gerty want to get up out of her chair. Surprisingly, it was Megan who was first to jump up.
"I'm sorry… 'Courtney' was it?" Megan's tone oozing charm with a hint of snark. "That won't be a problem." When she flipped out the black credit card it was as if someone smacked the pretentious look off 'Courtney's' face. It was so satisfying to see the consultant stumbling over herself, the whole group of women snorted as they tried to cover up their laughter. Megan took care of the purchase while Sarah was properly fitted for alterations. Walking out of Kleinfeld's, with a sense of relief, Sarah seemed much lighter.
"So now where to?" Sarah inquired, looking at Megan for a response.
"I thought you-" Sarah gave her a raised eyebrow at the word 'you', giving Megan pause. "Sorry, 'we' are going to the hotel to get freshened up for dinner." The limo pulled up and whisked the women off to their destination. When they pulled up to the hotel and got out, they all marveled at the building. Megan just smiled as she stepped up in front of them, much like a tour guide.
'Ladies, welcome to The Plaza!"
A/N2: Bachelor and bachelorette parties underway. We've said 'Yes' to the dress. Things are moving along quickly. You have the wedding jitters yet?
Your kind words are appreciated. If you want to leave a review or drop me a PM, I'd be grateful to hear from you.
If you are not already a member, I encourage you to join the "Chuck Fanfiction" group on Facebook. It is an amazing group of authors, readers and then there's me. This group is only for Chuck Fanfiction discussion, as the name suggests. Share links to your own work or discuss your favorite fics. Maybe even post a request or fic challenge to shake things up. Look forward to seeing you there.