A/N: I still don't own Chuck. Do you?
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Late the next morning, they were sitting comfortably in the sitting room of Villa Palone, drinking Ginni's excellent coffee. Luciano Monte, flanked by Grillo and Volta, began, in English, "First of all, I understand that the group here in this room saved not only my life and Enzo's freedom, but is also responsible for the destruction of Rosetti's operation and plans..."
"Some more than others, Luciano," said Tony.
"Yes. Our visitors … here on vacation. Both personally and as a representative of the Government of Italy, I offer our most profound and deepest thanks."
Chuck and his team nodded their heads in response and murmured, "Happy to help."
"So, let me explain the successes we have had. Rosetti is being held. The charges are still being compiled, but the easy ones are the kidnapping of Angelica Puma, the attempted murder of her father, the involvement with the murder of the unfortunate Ms. Ricci, and the bombing attempt on my life. We have arrested Greco, the computer fabricator of the faked footage, and Franco, the true murderer. The actual footage that Greco prepared was found in a hidden file on the Cinebrava main server. We have arrested most of the men in Rossetti's organization, except his right hand man, Leonardo Lupo. His car was found in the airport parking lot, but he is absent from any surveillance footage at the airport and is not listed as departing on any flights. He seems to have escaped..."
Pietro spoke up, "Judge Monte, I wouldn't spend too much time looking for Lupo. I mean, I wouldn't make it a priority or anything." Pietro was expressionless as he made the suggestion.
Monte looked at Pietro for a moment or two and then turned to look at Volta. Whatever unspoken communication passed between them, Monte turned back to Pietro and said, "I'm sure that is very good advice, Mr. Caron. Very good indeed. Thank you."
Chuck said, "There would probably have been more people involved in setting up the garage than just Greco. Cameramen. Lighting. Stuff like that."
"Yes," said Monte. "We expect so. We are questioning Greco now to get more names. He appears to be very cooperative at the moment."
Sarah spoke up, "Do we know where the leak in your own security was? That allowed them to get the car bomb in place at the end of the driveway?"
"Yes. It wasn't one of my security team. The leak was a secretary in the office who was in the pay of Rosetti. She has been arrested as well."
"What will happen to Puma? He lied about Enzo, but under incredible duress," asked Chuck.
Volta answered that one, "I don't know yet. He engenders tremendous sympathy for the plight he found himself in, and his performance in front of Rosetti at the end was incredibly brave and well executed. He'll probably be alright."
"I have told the Carabinieri that I would be honored to have him back on my security team when he recovers," said Grillo.
"And that endorsement will help him as well," said Volta. "The truth is, he really should have trusted us to get Angelica back. That was his biggest mistake...but, as you say, Chuck, he was under incredible duress." Volta shrugged.
"And he's a hell of an actor," said Chuck.
"That he is," agreed Volta nodding in agreement.
Grillo said, "The bottom line is that we have...you have...averted a war among the criminal element here in Italy. Thank you."
Monte said, standing, "As Enzo says, thank you for all of your assistance. Major Volta has explained to me your affiliation and I will make certain that thanks are passed along through appropriate channels."
Lou thought about the FDA and looked quietly amused.
Morgan said, "You aren't leaving yet, surely? You're not staying for lunch?" When Grillo and Monte paused, he went on, "Ginni has been teaching me to cook stuffed veal. It's gonna be great. She's the best."
Pietro said, "I must suggest that you take Morgan's advice. He is a man of uncommon wisdom."
Everyone laughed and, including Monte and Grillo, went into the now cleaned up dining room for lunch.
Morgan had been right and the meal was wonderful.
Sarah found herself sitting next to Megan and, when the opportunity presented itself, said, "I've only known Chuck and Morgan since the end of the summer, but they have been friends forever, ever since they were little kids. I've gotten to know Morgan since then and there's no one with a bigger heart. He's really a wonderful man. He's warm, generous, kind..."
Megan laid a light hand on Sarah's arm and said, "I know. You don't have to sing his praises. You are a good friend to him. It's sweet, Sarah, but not necessary. I like him. Tony likes him. We can see he's a good, kind man. All of us." Megan smiled softly. "That's not the issue for me. The issue is, he's California."
When Sarah looked startled, Megan continued. "I screwed up a couple of years ago, Sarah. I drove off my daughter. I was such a pain in her ass about her love life, I drove her to the other side of the world. I want to try to lure her back here. It's not that I dislike Morgan...quite the opposite, actually. But he's California and I want her to abandon that and come home. I know it's selfish of me, but at least I'm honest about it." Megan shrugged, and said, "But it doesn't seem I'm too persuasive. Even on this visit I messed up right away by inviting Enzo to the party." With a rueful smile at Sarah, she said, "I think I have to work on my subtlety."
"Well, please don't take this the wrong way, Megan, but I have to hope you aren't too successful in your mission. Lou is my friend and Morgan likes her a lot, so I'd hate to see her move back here, but that's selfish of me too, I guess," said Sarah with a smile and a bit of a shrug.
After lunch, Grillo and Monte headed to the office to continue working on closing down the Rosetti organization. Grillo's and Monte's bodyguards were waiting for them outside with Monte's new Audi A8 armored to withstand military rifle rounds, grenades, and IED's...it even had a switch to blow the doors off if they wouldn't open normally. Tony gave Luciano a hard time about it...something along the lines of closing the barn doors after the horse had already left.
Volta said his goodbyes, but spent a few extra moments with his friend Casey. "Well, my friend, it looks like the Italian Government now owes you...and your team...for another spectacular job."
"Don't mention it, Bert. Always happy to help. Here, by the way," Casey said, handing Volta the small black duffel. "All there, minus two rounds. I cleaned that weapon for you."
"Thanks, Casey. I know you. Cleaning the weapon must have been a relaxation for you."
"Always is. Take it easy, Bert." They shook hands.
"You too, my friend. I have to say, the rumors circulating in the international intelligence circles about Chuck's team are, if anything, understated."
"Chuck's team? Chuck's? Don't start, Bert. Don't start," said Casey. Volta laughed heartily.
With Volta's departure, Casey and Marie said their goodbyes to head back to Nice and resume their vacation. Sarah and Marie gave each other especially fond goodbyes. They had worked together as partners very well and each had enjoyed the experience.
With Pietro driving Casey and Marie to the airport, Morgan and Lou were going to stay at the Villa cooking with Ginni. Chuck and Sarah decided to head into the City center and walk around a bit. Before they left, Chuck had a few quiet words with Tony.
They caught a cab into the center of town, having it drop them off near the Trevi Fountain. As romantic a spot as that was, Chuck had other plans in the works and, after admiring it once again, they began to meander through the cozy streets of Rome. Chuck had his arm around her shoulders and she had her hand tucked into the back pocket of his jeans.
They turned this way and that through the streets. They found little shops and bought gifts for Ellie and Devon. In a tiny dress shop in a street no larger than an alley Sarah found a sun dress that she loved, and seeing her smile while trying it on, it immediately became one of Chuck's favorites as well. Chuck found a pair of shoes that Sarah thought would look great when he was all dressed up in a suit.
With their bags of purchases, they found a sidewalk café and sat arm-in-arm sipping beer while watching people walk by. They spent their time making up funny stories about the people passing. For a very fat man, he's an action movie star going incognito in a fat suit. A stuffy looking older woman spends her weekends doing freestyle skateboarding. The buttoned-up accountant looking guy was actually a director of pornos. The young couple in love were actually undercover paparazzi come to take Sarah's picture surreptitiously for a fashion magazine. The time together passed effortlessly. Sarah, once again, couldn't imagine how she had lived her life before Chuck with so little laughter. It felt to her that her pre-Chuck life was in black and white and she only learned of color when she met him, like Dorothy finding Oz.
With a glance at his watch, he said, "Time to go."
"Don't be silly. There's no place we have to be. We can stay as long as we want," she said.
"Nope. I have a surprise," he responded, signaling the waiter for the check.
"Chuck," she said with a tiny frown, "spies hate surprises."
"Well, I hope you don't hate this one," he said, kissing her on the tip of her nose.
He consulted his phone for a map and off they went.
After a few minutes they arrived at the entrance to the Mercurian Roma, Tony Palone's luxurious establishment in the center of his hometown.
"Chuck, what did you...?" she began to ask.
Chuck went right to the front desk and said, "Hi. I'm Chuck Bartowski."
The woman behind the desk said, "Good evening, Mr. Bartowski. One moment, please, while I get Mr. Leone."
Sarah was looking at Chuck with amused confusion. He just looked pleased with himself. A few moments later Mr. Leone came around from behind the desk to them. His name tag said, under his name, 'Manager.'
Mr. Leone said, "Ah, yes. Mr. Bartowski. Ms. Walker. Welcome. Please come with me."
Mr. Leone led them to an elevator which they took to the top floor. Leading them into a suite of jaw dropping luxury, he moved immediately to a wine bucket. He took out an already opened and chilled bottle of Pinot Grigio and poured them each a glass.
"Thank you, Mr. Leone," said Chuck.
"You are very welcome, Mr. Bartowski. When you and Ms. Walker have decided on dinner, please press the button on the phone marked with a knife and fork, that will get you to room service. They are expecting your call."
"Thank you again, Mr. Leone. We will be sure to mention to Mr. Palone just how welcoming you have been."
He smiled and thanked them before leaving them to themselves.
Sarah looked at him with happy eyes and said, "What did you do?"
"I just asked Tony for his help in setting up a romantic evening. He took it from there." Night had fallen and they stood looking out at the Roman skyline from the huge picture windows. The lights glittered. They could see the illuminated dome of St. Peter's Cathedral in the distance and the shiny black of the Tiber River winding its way through the ancient city with the arched bridges here and there along its length.
Once again, Chuck was struck by the age of the classic city and their place in its timeline dating back thousands of years. How many men and women had inhabited this place? Lived and died here? How many had looked upon the river? How many men had stood in this Eternal City and known that the woman standing next to them was even more beautiful than the beauty of Rome at night? How many of them had screwed up their courage to ask that woman to become his wife? Millions, without a doubt. Somehow, Chuck felt a comradeship with all those Roman men stretching back through the generations. It felt as if they were with him in spirit and they had his back. The thought made him smile.
"It's beautiful, isn't it? I've never been to someplace as beautiful as this," Sarah said, gazing at the view.
He looked at her seriously. "I have. Every single day. Every morning I wake up and I look at you...when we brush our teeth tandem style..." She giggled. "...when we watch tv together...whatever, always, every time I look at you, it's the most beautiful place I've ever been." She smiled at him with love and happiness. "I feel I should be James Bond right now, the guy standing with you in this fantastic suite looking at the Roman skyline ..."
"I didn't fall in love with James Bond. I fell in love with you," she said, reaching for his hand and giving it a squeeze.
She kissed him and they both felt the passion rise. She pulled away, "If we get started, we'll end up missing dinner and I have a feeling dinner is going to be pretty spectacular."
Chuckling, he said, "Yeah. You know us too well. Let's take a look at the menu."
They settled upon a first course of a spinach salad and an order of fried artichokes (which dishes they split), followed by branzino (in a butter and caper sauce) with broccoli and fennel, and, of course, ricotta cheesecake for dessert. A delicious bottle of Vive Cliquot champagne accompanied dinner.
With the candlelight and the view of Rome and the wonderful food in the luxurious surroundings, the evening was everything and more than Chuck had hoped to arrange. He really did have to thank Tony.
But...it was time.
Chuck put his napkin down on the table. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves and looked at her with all the love in his heart. Her eyes sparkled in the candlelight and her hair shined like a halo around the most beautiful face he could ever imagine. "Sarah, I'm a nerd. I have a lot of imagination. Maybe too much." She gave a tiny snort of laughter. "I dream of things... I dream of my life in the future and what it may be. Different dreams. I'm on the run from Fulcrum...I'm a spy...I'm a computer guy. Maybe I still work at the Buy More, I don't know. I get the Intersect out of my head...I don't. In every single dream I have of tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that...every single one...I'm with you. There isn't a single version of my future that I can see that doesn't include you...where we aren't us, where you aren't with me sharing the joy and the hardship...the laughs and the adventures...the sunsets and the cold mornings snuggled up under the bed covers. I just cannot see my life without you in it, Sarah. Not now...and not ever."
Chuck got down on one knee and took a small red box out of his pocket. Sarah's eyes were shiny and she put her hands to her mouth with the emotion of the moment.
Chuck continued, "Sarah Walker, I love you more than I've ever loved anyone or anything. Will you do me the greatest honor of my life? Sarah, will you..."
Sarah reached out and put a gentle hand on top of the red box to keep it closed. "Chuck, stop."
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A/N2: Let the hate reviews and PM's begin. I'm ready for it. Ever since I planned this, more than a year ago, I have braced myself. Come back next Saturday, please. Sarah's got something to say.
A/N3: Luciano Monte can thank my friend Kacper983 for his new car. Seems Kacper is a car guy and wanted to upgrade the judge's protection. It is, of course, a real car.