Author's Note – This chapter is so long overdue. I'm sorry, guys! I had a bit of writer's block. In exchange, this chapter is kind of super long. For me, at least.

I felt that Sarah was a good deal OOC so I had to rewrite some of what I had written. However, I also realized that Sarah's pretty bipolar on the show so my back-and-forths of her emotions isn't that OOC after all.

-xx-

"You're what?" the tiny red-headed director general exclaims two days later following Sarah's release from the hospital. All that are left are bruises but Sarah and the baby would be fine. Of course, this was before Sarah told her superior officer.

"Ma'am, I'm having a baby", Sarah repeats.

The team is in Castle, Sarah sitting in a chair and Casey and Chuck standing protectively on either side of her.

"Who is at fault for this?" General Beckman asks.

"I am, General", Chuck says after glancing reassuringly at his female handler.

Beckman says, "Of course you are. Walker, you know this is highly against protocol. Having romantic feelings for your asset is one thing. Having a sexual relationship and getting pregnant is another matter entirely. I will talk to the director of the CIA as soon as possible but you may be looking at immediate dishonorable discharge."

The three in Castle are shocked to say the least, but as Beckman's hand nears the "disconnect" button, John Casey speaks up.

"If I may, ma'am, Sarah Walker has served this country honorably and proudly for the past ten years. The CIA made her one of their own when she was 18 and had nowhere to go. Surely something can be worked out to avoid ending her career." Casey is firm in his words and he and Chuck and Sarah wait patiently for any kind of change in Beckman.

"We'll be in touch", the General finally says, ending the video conference.

The gang stands in silence for several minutes, yet again, until Sarah speaks.

"I'm sorry", she says. It's only a whisper but Chuck and Casey can hear it as plain as day. Sarah quickly gets up from her chair and walks out of Castle.

"Let her go", Casey says to Chuck who is making moves to the stairwell.

"When have I ever listened to you?" Chuck asks, turning around and racing up the stairs to find Sarah.

"Good point", Casey mutters. Once he sees that Chuck has left, he looks towards the computers and turns off the surveillance on the Orange Orange. Though tempting, he can't bring himself to spy on this conversation.

When Chuck emerges from the "freezer", he finds Sarah sitting in a booth, staring into space. He notices that she has flipped the "open" sign on the door to "closed".

"Sarah?" Chuck says quietly, walking towards his handler. He sits down next to her and puts a fallen strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers linger there until Sarah turns to face him.

"I'm sorry", she says again.

"For what?" Chuck is genuinely curious and seriously concerned.

"I messed everything up. The CIA was my family. They are all I have." Sarah's eyes fill with tears, something Chuck is not used to seeing. In a way, he's glad she's opening up but it still scares him.

"I get that, Sarah. I do", Chuck says. Sarah can tell that he's being genuine and she can't help but smile a little at the sweet man in front of her. "But we can be your family now", he continues. "Me and…it?"

"It?" Sarah asks. "I don't like the way that sounds."

"Okay, me and Baby Charah. And even Casey…"

"Charah? Really?"

"Well, I'm not sure that Baby Suck has the same ring to it."

"Chuck, no swearing!" Sarah says, putting a protective hand on her abdomen. Still a new thing that she's not quite sure why she's doing but has noticed that she does a lot lately.

"The baby doesn't have ears yet", Chuck says. Confident in his assertion.

"How do you know?"

"I may or may not have read things."

"See! You've read things. I haven't done anything. I'm going to be such a terrible mother", Sarah says. How could anyone say she'd make a good mother when all she's good for is seduction and good aim?

"Well, to be fair, last week you didn't even think you were going to have the baby", Chuck replies. Foot, meet mouth.

"You just made my point, Chuck."

"That's not what I meant, Sarah."

"I want this baby, I swear that to you. There's something about the prospect of a family that's been haunting me for years. I'm not just a CIA robot", she says. Both to reassure Chuck as well as herself.

"I know that", Chuck says. He rests his hand on her leg now, trying to control the fidgeting that Sarah didn't even know she was doing.

The damn hormones are going to be the death of her and the ride has barely even started.

"Can I tell you something?" Sarah asks.

"Of course."

"I've never had a real family. You met my dad, you know that I've just been a pawn in his games. He started conning when I was 7. My mother had left the year before. She took my sister with her. I'm still not sure why. So I never had a mother and I've never really had a father, either. I have no idea how to be a parent." Sarah's eyes are glistening with tears again and she ducks her head down, ashamed of her admission.

"Everyone has these fears. But you're going to be a great mother. I could make an endless list of reasons why."

"Name one", Sarah insists.

"Well, Lord knows you'd fight off any guy who came near her", Chuck teases.

"Stop. Seriously, Chuck."

"You are the sweetest person I know. You care about people, you protect them."

"It's my job."

"Maybe so, but that's not why you do it. And you know what? Very few parents go into this thinking they'll be fantastic. It's okay to be a little scared, Sarah."

"What about a lot scared?" Sarah asks.

"That's fine, too. But I'll be right by your side, as much as you'll let me."

"Thanks for the pep talk, Chuck", Sarah says as she wipes tear stains from her cheeks.

"Any time. Now, I have a serious question to ask you", Chuck says as he sits up straighter in his seat and begins to look uncomfortable.

Always on alert, Sarah asks with a hint of panic in her voice, "What is it?!"

"We have to tell Ellie."

At his benign comment, Sarah begins to laugh and then slaps his shoulder. "What the hell? You scared me!"

"But Ellie is scarier."

"She'll probably be ecstatic", Sarah says. "Do I have to give you the pep talk now?"

-xx-

Kicking and screaming is how Chuck has come to Ellie and Devon's apartment door. He also whined…a lot. Sarah laughed the whole car ride, glad that Chuck is finally back to being the nervous wreck of the two.

"Chuck, stop dragging your feet", Sarah says as the two walk up to the apartment.

"I'm nervous", he replies. "I mean, have you met Ellie? She's either going to yell or crush us with hugs. Either way, not a pretty picture."

"Would you like me to do all the talking?" Sarah asking, a smile playing on her lips.

Chuck snaps his head up to look at Sarah (and her sarcastic smile). "Would you?"

Sarah nods and grabs Chuck's hand in hers. Chuck knows this is just part of their cover relationship but he has desperately been wanting to talk to Sarah about what all of this will mean for their real relationship. That'll be the next conversation to be had. If he survives tonight.

Sarah raps lightly on the door and it takes just seconds for Ellie to appear – she's clearly excited for the couple's arrival.

"So, Devon keeps smiling like he knows something and you know that I hate secrets so will either of you please tell me what's going on?" Ellie says, always the rambler. Sarah smiles, finding the Bartowski siblings don't just share the brown hair.

"Ellie, calm down", Chuck says, suddenly finding an even tone to his voice. "Sarah, should we tell her?"

"Now?" Sarah asks. "We're standing in the doorway."

"Oh, I'm sorry. My manners escape me when I'm being kept out of the loop", Ellie says. She walks inside, leaving the couple to steal a glance at one another. Sarah squeezes Chuck's hand and he squeezes right back. They walk into the familiar apartment and find Devon and Ellie already seated on the couch.

"So?" Ellie says.

"Well…" Chuck starts.

"I thought I was going to do the talking", Sarah says.

"If you really want to, go ahead."

"Okay, Ellie…Devon already knows because I saw him at the hospital…"

In true Bartowski fashion, Ellie interrupts, "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. I'm…great, I think."

"You think?" Ellie asks, raising her eyebrow questioningly.

"Chuck and I are…having a baby", Sarah finally spits out.

Ellie is silent for quite some time. For Chuck and Sarah, it begins to feel like an eternity. Chuck swears that he's only seen her blink once.

"Ellie?" Chuck asks. He turns to Sarah and says, "See, I told you she would freak out."

"Chuck", Sarah chastises.

"You're pregnant, Sarah?" Ellie says, as she stands up from the couch. She walks closer to the couple and they visibly flinch.

"Yes, I am…" Sarah says. "I saw Devon after I had a, uh, fall. But everything is okay with the baby."

"In fact, everything is awesome", Devon says, chiming in to try to get his wife to react.

"Oh, my G-d…" Ellie says, first quietly and then again loudly. "Oh my G-d!"

Before Chuck and Sarah can register too much fear regarding Ellie's exclamation, she envelopes the couple in a tight embrace.

"This is incredible!" Ellie says. "And everything is okay with the baby?"

"Yup", Sarah says.

"Everything is great", Chuck adds.

"How far along are you?!" Ellie asks as she grabs Sarah's hand and pulls her to the couch.

"Just about three months", Sarah says as she sits down next to Ellie.

The brunette woman smiles widely at the blonde and then turns to the two men still standing idly. "You guys shoo. I want to talk to Sarah alone."

Chuck steals a glance at Sarah and she smiles warmly and mouths, "It's okay" before Chuck turns to Awesome and suggests dinner out – healthy, he promises.

Once the men leave, Ellie looks to Sarah and smiles. "Wow", she says.

"You're telling me", Sarah replies.

"How do you feel about all of this?"

"I'm not going to lie; I was not happy at first and was probably going to get an abortion."

"Really?" Ellie asks, shocked at Sarah's admission. Sarah hadn't even realized how candid she had been, what she had said, until Ellie's reaction.

"I'm not the mother type. I didn't think I was ready…"

"What changed?"

"Well, I told Chuck. And then I had that…fall. I was unconscious for a good few hours and all I kept seeing was this little girl playing on a swingset. She had Chuck's wild curls and my eyes. And then I woke up and got to see the baby and hear the heartbeat and I had no idea that I would react the way I did."

"What happened?"

"It was almost like shock. I can't explain it. I still don't think I'm ready in the slightest, but I think it'll be okay."

"What about Chuck? What will this mean for you guys?"

If only Ellie knew…Sarah's been thinking about this for days. Everything is so up in the air and she knows that she loves Chuck, but has no idea what will happen from here. The next conversation to be had, Sarah thinks.

Finally, Sarah speaks, "We haven't really talked about that yet…"

"Sarah, are you okay?" Ellie asks after the blonde agent awkwardly trails off and looks towards the door. "You know you can tell me anything."

Oh, if only that were true.

"Yeah, I'm fine", Sarah replies, just a little too quickly. "Okay, no. This is very new to me. I'm terrified."

"Oh, Sarah…you're going to be fine! You have me and Devon for support and you will always have Chuck. He loves you so much."

Sarah smiles without teeth, happy to hear Ellie's words but contemplating their meaning at the same time. Does Sarah want a real, non-CIA related relationship with Chuck? Under all of her bravado and innate skill at emotional detachment, yes- Sarah very much wants to be with Chuck. But can they manage to get through all of the governmental hoops? Think with your heart, Sarah tells herself, not your brain!

"Thank you, Ellie", the agent says. "That means a lot. Do you mind if we continue this another time? I really need to see Chuck." So much needs to be said and it needs to be said now, before Sarah loses her nerve.

"Of course. Go ahead. Oh, and Sarah – congratulations."