A/N: Today's chapter was 95% plotted and 50% written by Angelgurl0. I don't know what I'd do without her. This chapter is fluff, but fun. For the record, halfachance has read, and approved this chapter. I have never been to the Long Beach Aquarium, but Angelgurl0 and another fanfic writer has. It's time for some family bonding. Thanks to Michaelfmx for his amazing betaing. Welcome to Wanting It All Ch 6, The Aquarium

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, I have carried Grace on my shoulders at a Zoo...a long time ago.

The next morning found the three of them in the car and arriving at the Long Beach Aquarium parking lot, with Chuck driving. It had been a different ride than Sarah was used to with Chuck behind the wheel. Usually she drove while he chose songs from his playlist, giving out bits of trivia, and she just enjoyed herself. Last night had been wonderful. The three had enjoyed the pool, Sarah had dunked him once when he wasn't paying attention, and they had just been together, happy. Jordan had fallen asleep quickly from swimming and Chuck and Sarah had planned on talking, until her yawns threatened to dislocate her jaw. She went to her room she was staying in for the weekend to get some sleep and she assumed he went to his, but she wondered. She had a feeling he had sat up for a lot of the night, thinking. That's what he did, think. This morning he had looked no worse for wear and they piled into the car and headed to the aquarium. She told him the story about what had happened to her after she left him and before she joined the CIA. He had been quiet for a few moments, processing.

After parking the car, Chuck sat there for a second, shaking his head. "So, you had to work for the CIA for seven years." Sarah nodded, watching Chuck's face. There was real sorrow and understanding there, not pity. It may be eight years later, but some things about him hadn't changed. "And if you didn't work for them, you'd go to jail?" She nodded again. "Good grief, Sarah, I get it. You couldn't leave, so why would you call?"

"But I should have," she insisted. Chuck turned to her, and took her hand.

"No, we're not gonna dwell, someone incredibly smart once told me we've wasted eight years. She's right, this is about moving forward."

She smiled at him. "Using my own words to get ahead, very smart, Bartowski." He waggled his eyebrows and got out of the car. They got Jordan out, headed to the entrance, and made their way inside.

"Now, here's a very important piece of information." Chuck had been to the Long Beach Aquarium before, so he quickly became the defacto tour guide. Jordan was quite excited. They had rented a stroller for him, because Chuck was quite sure today was going to tire the little guy out. "These first few exhibits have a blue diver, named Bob. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to try and find him in those exhibits."

Jordan, excited to the point he was about to bounce, looked over at his mom. "MOM! Can we do it? Please?"

Sarah gave Chuck a smile. Chuck thought he couldn't handle this, the three of them. Was he ever wrong. "We should do it together."

Jordan nodded, and looked at Chuck. "Yeah, like a family!" Chuck's eyes got wide but he saw Sarah's smile, and knew it wasn't bothering her. He helped Jordan into the seat, buckled him in, and offered to push. Sarah stepped away and made the gesture of "be my guest."

Chuck took off, pushing Jordan in front of him, and Sarah walking beside him. "Okay, so we're headed to the Southern California / Baja Gallery where the sea jellies are first."

"Ooh." Jordan was mesmerized with them and their colors. Chuck thought Jordan was watching the jellies when the little guy spoke up. "I can't find Bob."

"I think I see him." Sarah squatted down to his level and pointed out the blue diver.

"There he is!" Jordan was excited and nearly bounced out of his stroller. Chuck grinned, so far so good.

Chuck squatted down beside Jordan. "Where is he, Buddy? I don't see him." Jordan took Chuck's face in his hands and pointed it toward the diver. Sarah had to put her hand over her mouth to stop the laughter. He still had his hands on Chuck's head when Chuck spoke. "Yep, there he is!" Sarah had to laugh at the sight. "So Sarah's in the lead finding them."

Jordan, with his hands still on Chuck's face, turned Chuck's face toward his. "No, Chuck, we're doing it together."

Chuck nodded. "Got it." Sarah gave him a grateful smile. They wandered along, and found seals and sea lions, Jordan finding Bob with the seals, and Chuck pointing out the one with the sea lions. They made their way outside, and Sarah grinned.

"If you don't mind oh great tour guide, might I take this part?" Sarah asked.

Chuck bowed deeply at the waist. "M'lady, it would be my pleasure." Jordan laughed at the two. Chuck straightened back up, and then squatted down to Jordan. He put his hand by his mouth as he faux whispered to the little boy. "She's got a lot to live up to, my tour has been top notch so far." He winked at her.

They were about to head outside and Sarah was trying hard to contain her excitement. She had a good idea what was about to happen. Last night, she had done some research on the aquarium and knew this was where Jordan could pet a bamboo shark, corals, and even the jelly fish he thought were so cool from the earlier exhibit. As they walked, she decided she needed to spice up her tour guide routine. She mimicked Chuck and pointed out a small outdoor gift shop…which quickly backfired because Jordan wanted to buy everything inside. She saw Chuck reach for his wallet, and flashed him a look. He pulled his hands back, palms up, grinning. Sarah laughed, and told Jordan if they had time they'd come back later. She caught Chuck's eye and shook her head no, earning a laugh from Chuck. Chuck bent down to unhook Jordan's straps when Jordan realized what they were about to do.

"Can I really touch them?"

Sarah squatted down in front of him, soaking up the look of wonder on his face. "Mmmhmm. Now the Bamboo Shark," she began.

"WILL HE EAT ME?!"

Sarah put her hands on his shoulders to calm him. "Do you think I'd let you touch him if he would?" Jordan shook his head.

Chuck squatted down beside him as well. "Hey, I've know your mom for a long time, and there is no way she'd let someone she cared about get hurt."

Sarah flinched at those stinging words. She didn't think Chuck was trying to be hurtful with them, but she had let him get hurt, and there was no one she had cared about more before Jordan had come along. Chuck saw her flinch, replayed the words in his head and realized what he had said. Before he could apologize to her, Jordan spoke up.

"I've known her for four years," the little boy said, tilting his head to look at Chuck. Chuck blinked, thought about it, and realized he was right.

"Welp, you got me there, kiddo." Jordan giggled, and walked over to the tank with the both of them. Chuck picked him up to get a better angle and he gently touched the shark. He touched the coral as well, and then very hesitantly, touched the jelly. Jordan laughed and yanked his hand away. Sarah beamed as she watched the two together and felt something stir in her that she thought was long dead.

After they had touched all the cool stuff outside, the trio headed upstairs to the tropical pacific gallery, where there were all kinds of frogs. They were colorful and exotic, but an issue quickly arose when Jordan couldn't see some of them, because they were too high up.

Chuck squatted back down in front of Jordan, and pointed to his back. Jordan's eyes grew wide. Chuck nodded and Jordan wrapped his arms around Chuck's neck and threw his legs around his chest. "Higher," Chuck said softly. Jordan put his hand on top of Chuck's head and began to climb. Sarah covered her mouth at the sight in front of her, watching the two men she loved, especially the tall one that had one eye closed in a wince. Jordan threw one leg over Chuck's shoulder, grabbed hold of the far ear and pulled. Sarah looked on in a mix of horror and laughter as Jordan pulled himself up into a sitting position on Chuck's shoulders. Chuck winked at Sarah and slowly rose, with Jordan sitting like he was king of the world.

"Mom! I'm taller than you!"

Sarah giggled and looked at the two of them. She found that feelings were erupting in her that she was having trouble controlling. Chuck gave her a questioning look, making sure she was okay. She nodded, tears pooled in her eyes. Jordan studied the frogs, while Chuck held one of his legs with one hand, and Sarah's hand with the other. Sarah noticed a few people glance and smile in their direction. She wondered how Chuck would react to those looks, she didn't mind, in fact, she enjoyed them. They continue through the exhibit and came upon a huge tank with sea turtles. Jordan's eyes widen.

"Aren't they awesome, Jordan?" Chuck felt the boy nod to his question and grinned. Jordan was in absolute awe. In fact, as they explored the entire gallery, Jordan barely spoke a word. His mouth just remained open, taking in all of the sights. Chuck grinned and appreciated the boy's wonder. "It's different then what we're used to seeing on land isn't it?"

"It is." Jordan was quiet for a moment and when he spoke, there was something to his tone that was different, kinder, warmer. Not that Jordan had ever been anything but friendly to Chuck, but this time there was just….more. "Thank you for bringing us here, Chuck."

"Hey, it is my pleasure, Buddy."

The tour continued as Jordan pointed out things like the sea dragon that looked like a twig, and then, he saw it, his eyes grew wide as he could barely contain the excitement. "MOM! NEMO!" Sarah laughed at his excitement and looked at him. She glanced up at Chuck. The smile on his face was like stumbling upon a hidden treasure. After all they had been through, after all that had gone wrong, it was like things were finally clicking. They passed a nice little cafe with an outside patio as they made their way to the North Pacific Gallery and that was where Sarah made a decision.

"Jordan, why don't you give Chuck a bit of a break, his back has to be tired." Chuck hadn't said anything or even made any face to indicate he was hurting, but the thankful look he gave her told her she was right.

"How do I get down?"

Chuck grinned at Sarah as he tried to look up at Jordan. "Oh, Buddy, this is the best part."

"Chuuuuuck," Sarah was very leery about what she thought was about to happen.

"Hey, we're family, right?" He winked his eye when he said that. And with that, Sarah knew he hadn't meant anything by his earlier comment.

She grinned, and tears pooled again in her eyes. If he was game, she was game. "Right. What do I do?"

"That's the spirit, Sarah! Jordan are you ready?"

"Yep!"

"Okay, Sarah, behind me. That's it, now, Jordan, Sarah is going to reach up, that's it, just like that and you are going to let go of my ears, andmyhairow!" Jordan was giggling, and Sarah was trying not to. "Just let go buddy, your mom's got you." He did, and he tumbled right into Sarah's arms. He smiled up at her.

"That was fun!" Sarah put him down on the ground and Jordan ran over and hugged Chuck's legs. Chuck had a surprised look on his face that turned into a grin. He reached down and patted him on the back, rubbing his shoulder tenderly. After a moment, Jordan let go and took Sarah's hand as Chuck went back to stroller duty. He didn't say anything, but Sarah was pretty sure he was wondering if they'd made a mistake renting it. Sarah glanced over, saw the look on his face and just smirked. When Jordan tired out in a bit, he'd be glad they rented it. "Look at that bird's face!" They had come upon the Diving Birds and Jordan couldn't believe what he was seeing. He was in awe of the orange beak on the Horned Puffin, and just stared at it. Sarah started to respond but couldn't help but laugh as Chuck walked right up to the glass to look at it.

"Sarah, it's got an orange beak!"

She shook her head. She went from having two children to one and then back to two. "It does, Chuck, now back away from the glass."

He grinned at her and the tour continued. Sarah saw more and more couples give them looks and couldn't help but wonder what was going through Chuck's mind. If she were honest, she was getting what she'd always wanted, and what she'd wanted with Chuck before she met Daniel. She wanted a family, she wanted her son to have a dad that cared. That wasn't Daniel, and she now knew it. She'd promised herself she wouldn't do to Chuck what she did to Daniel, to force him into something, but a part of her hoped, dreamed, that they would be a family. She knew how Chuck could freak out, and a part of her worried he would. A part of her worried this was too much, way too fast, and there were still scars from what happened between them in the past, but if she was honest, she was hoping with every fiber of her being that Chuck Bartowski was loving this as much as she was. It was everything she could hope for, and yet she didn't dare dream it.

"Can I be honest with you?" The question he asked softly yanked her out of her thoughts.

"I wish you would…always."

"I'm a little mad at your dad right now. We could have been doing this….I know you said we're moving forward but this….this is…"

"I get what you're saying, but you're right, this is." She grinned at him.

"Yeah?" A slow smile spread across his face.

"Yeah," she replied, the grin growing into a smile. She decided to be as honest as she could. They both deserved that. "Chuck, we get to make this whatever we want. And right now I have the two guys in my life I want, so I hope you're good with that."

"Just to be clear, I am one of those guys, right?" He waggled his eyebrows and she snorted.

"Yes, Nerd Boy, you're one of them, and your little buddy is the other."

Chuck looked over at Jordan. "He is, isn't he?" The grin on his face made her heart swell. They continued to walk in silence until they reached the Giant Octopus. They all stood there together watching the octopus as she moved about, changing colors to match whatever she touched. Chuck didn't even think as he just slipped his arm around Sarah's shoulder and she just as naturally leaned into him, Jordan's hand securely in hers. They watched the marvelous creature and stood there as the volunteer talked. When the volunteer finished telling them all about the octopus, they continued on to the Coral Touch exhibit. Sarah lifted Jordan onto her hip so he could reach into the pool to feel all the different things.

"I want to feel all of them, Mom." Sarah grinned at her son and his bravery. "Now you."

"Yeah, now you, Sarah," Chuck teased.

She gave Chuck a look, but it wasn't unkind, more playful than anything. "Hush, you," she replied, but the grin made it clear she enjoying the back and forth. She took a deep breath, reached in, and quickly pulled her hand back.

"Mom! Why didn't you touch more?"

"Yeah, why Mom?" Chuck added, grinning.

She spun on Chuck and spoke with a low, husky voice. "You don't get to call me that unless I have one of yours, and even then, I find it a little weird." Chuck began to process what she'd said, sputtered, and had no clue what to say, as Sarah and Jordan exited the coral touch lab. Chuck realized quickly where they were going and hurried after them, excited. What they didn't know was that Chuck had a possible surprise lined up, Otters. As they walk up to the otter exhibit, Jordan's eyes lit up. He edged right next to the glass and one of the sea otters swam right over and waved at Jordan.

"MOM AN OTTER WAVED AT ME!" He was beside himself.

"Sweetie!" She was waving back with her son at the otter and neither noticed the grin on Chuck's face.

Chuck got right behind Jordan and bent down. He spoke softly. "What if we fed the otters?" Jordan spun to look at Chuck, his eyes huge. Sarah looked down at him, in disbelief. Chuck realized he hadn't cleared it with Sarah, stood, and began to open his mouth.

"I don't know how you pulled this off, and I don't care, thank you," she said. Jordan gave him a thumbs up and a wink, making Chuck laugh.

"Come on, Sarah, it's no big deal. Besides, doesn't everyone want to feed them, because, well, OTTERS!" Sarah threw back her head and laughed. Some things never changed with this guy.

"So, is this the otter feeding family?" A worker they hadn't noticed before asked. She grinned at Chuck and Sarah wondered if the worker knew him.

"Did we time it right?" Chuck may have been even more excited than Jordan, which Sarah wasn't sure was completely possible.

"Absolutely, Chuck." Sarah was certain she knew him. "Come on, we'll go meet Ollie and Brooke."

Jordan's eyes about popped out of his head. "We're gonna really meet them and feed them?" He threw himself at Chuck's legs. "Thankyouthankyouthankyou." Sarah just laughed as Chuck shrugged. She reached over and put her hand around his neck, her thumb rubbing him under his ear. She knew he loved that, and she grinned.

"You did good, Bartowski."

"Yeah?" he asked softly. She nodded. They followed the employee until they reached the feeding area.

"Mom! Brooke, that's the one that waved at me earlier!" Sarah just shook her head. The volunteer led Jordan over. They appeared and acted gentle, but Chuck and Sarah were nearby, just in case.

"Jordan, say paw before you feed Brooke next time." Jordan looked at Chuck like he just gave him the secrets of the universe.

Jordan got close to the opening with his hand, and with excitement almost spilling out of him said, "Paw". The otter reached out and touched Jordan's hand. Sarah had instant tears in her eyes. Her son was beside himself, and it was because of one amazing man. She was pretty sure Chuck's arrangement of this had nothing to do with his money. There was one reason and one reason only, there was no one on Earth like Chuck Bartowski, and that was why she couldn't forget him for all those years. She and Chuck both fed the otters, and after having waved good-bye and thanked Debbie for the wonderful time, they headed upstairs to the outdoor area. They made it to the penguin enclosure and watched them for a while, but Sarah knew that Jordan was fading, fast. The otters had been the high point, and it had been a long day, but there was one more thing to see. The trio headed over to the Ray Habitat touch pool, and, Sarah included, pet the bat rays and the guitarfish.

Sarah looked at her little guy about passed out in the stroller and her big guy, exhausted himself, but suddenly he perked up. She followed his line of sight, and rolled her eyes. The gift shop. She followed him inside, but quickly lost him. How did someone so tall and lanky disappear like that? She found him again and he had six shirts in his hands. Three of one kind, all in their sizes, three of the other, again, all in their sizes.

"Chuck," she began.

"Sarah, come on, we need these!" The first shirt said The Otter Strikes Back, made in the cartoonish style of The Empire Strikes back. She rolled her eyes and glanced at the second set of shirts. On them was a shark, like out of Jaws, but the lettering around it said, Come to the Shark Side. She gave him a pleading look, he pouted, and she relented. She knew she was in trouble if he ever figured out how far he could go with that pout. He bought the shirts, returned the strolled and the three, with Chuck holding Jordan against his chest, Jordan's head on Chuck's shoulder and Chuck holding Sarah's hand with his free one, exited the Aquarium, and loaded the car. Sarah realized that she was on her way to getting what she wanted. Peaking over at Chuck's face, she was pretty sure he was as well. As they pulled out onto the highway, Sarah snuck a peak in the back at her sleeping son. She turned and looked at Chuck, focusing on the road as he drove, and the image of the family she had always hope for snuck into her mind. He noticed her looking at him and smiled back warmly, reaching over and taking her hand. "Did I do okay?"

"Bartowski, that was just about perfect." She was quiet for a second. "You know what, I'm wrong, it was perfect." He nodded. "What about you?" He glanced her way. "Was it…too much?"

He smiled, his nose crinkling. "No, I had a blast. I mean, I think some people thought we were a family."

"I told you I was with the two guys in my life I want to be with, if that's not family, I don't know what is." He squeezed her hand and as they rode, she thought about the life she left behind. The life she thought she could never have. The life she thought impossible given all their mistakes, but now it was not only obtainable, but it was going to happen, it was just a matter of when.

A/N: Now wasn't that fun? Come on back next chapter for the fallout of this one, and oh, there is fallout. SO much fallout. Ellie and Sarah talk, Daniel and Chuck talk, and three characters make an appearance. Ch 7, Conversations...Hoped you liked it, reviews are always welcomed…til next time.

DC