Author's Note: Hey look! Finally some forward movement with this story! Sorry about the long delay. Stuff happened. Anyway, at this point there are only three chapters left to go. That's weird to think about, considering the actual show is also coming to an end soon. Here, at last, is chapter 17:

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Thanksgiving

Walker/Bartowski Residence

November 24, 2016

9:36 pm

What was he thankful for? Mainly, for the fact that they got through Thanksgiving dinner without some kind of blowout happening. Ellie and his mom had been courteous enough with each other. Maybe they were turning a corner... well, one could dream. But, considering Ellie and Sarah's breakthrough earlier in the day, it didn't seems as out of the question as before. Chuck opened the fridge door and then started putting away the leftovers.

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Walker/Bartowski Residence

November 24, 2016

4:00 pm

It was another holiday, and yet another family dinner that they were going to be hosting. Sarah wanted to make things easier for Chuck and his family, namely Ellie and Mary, so she once again volunteered their home to be neutral territory and host dinner. Chuck honestly hoped his mom and sister would work out their issues, but he could do without having them over until they did. There was too much potential there to ruin the night. He would've been fine with it just being him and Sarah, but it was too late to do anything about it. He was in the dining room with Devon setting up, while Ellie and Sarah were in the kitchen preparing the food. That filled him with no small amount of trepidation. He didn't want Sarah to get hurt and he knew damn well his sister could be brutal when she wanted to be.

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Walker/Bartowski Residence

November 24, 2016

4:00 pm

Ellie had just checked on the turkey. She turned from the oven, still debating over whether she actually wanted to have the talk or not. She felt justified in the way she had been acting but knew things had to change, for her brother's sake; maybe for her own, too. There were too many bad feelings going around and it was making her a person she didn't want to be. After all, it was Chuck that had actually gone through everything and he seemed to be moving past it all. Swallowing her pride wasn't going to be easy, but she had to try. "Hey, Sarah?"

Sarah looked up from the counter where she was peeling potatoes. "Yeah?"

"I think it's about time we had a little talk," Ellie said firmly.

Sarah put the peeler down. Ellie hadn't done anything overtly hostile towards her, but Sarah knew there was no love lost there. She was justifiably apprehensive about having any kind of talk with Ellie; it might end up wrecking things with Chuck. "About what?" She asked in her most nonchalant tone.

"You and me," Ellie responded flatly.

Sarah's eyebrows rose in surprise of Ellie's answer. "I—uh..." She didn't know what to make of it.

"You don't have to say anything, just listen," Ellie directed. Sarah did the only thing she could think of: she nodded. "Chuck has been hung up on you for the last nine years and it doesn't look like that's going to change anytime soon." Sarah said nothing. "I've seen the changes that he's gone through since he's been back and I have to admit that it's thanks to you."

"Chuck has worked hard to get to where he is," Sarah quickly remarked.

"That's nice of you to say," Ellie replied, "but I know my brother, he's a stubborn jackass when it comes to talking about what's bothering him." Sarah was ready to protest. "Uh-uh!" Ellie raised a hand. "Don't argue with me, just listen. This next part is going to be hard enough as it is." Sarah relented. "You two seem to be building something real here and before everything happened, I did... like you." Ellie regarded Sarah for a moment but, for once, the other woman didn't dare interrupt. "I can't pretend to be able to just forget what you did... but... I am willing to leave all that in the past."

"What?" Sarah asked softly.

"I'm willing to start over with you, from the beginning," Ellie said. "I'm not promising anything, I don't know how long it will take, but... maybe... we can be friends again at some point."

Sarah stared blankly at Ellie for a couple of seconds before darting out of the room.

Moments after Sarah left, Chuck came into the kitchen with a questioning look on his face. "Hey, what did you do to Sarah?"

"Me?" Asked Ellie defensively. "I didn't do anything!"

"Then why did she run out of here sobbing?"

"She was crying?" She asked, surprised.

"Yes."

"Well, all I know is we were talking, I told her we could start over, and then she took off."

"You sure that's all?"

"Yeah," Ellie affirmed. "Are you sure she was a spy? Crying doesn't seem like a very spy thing to do."

"Yes, I'm sure," Chuck replied. "But she's not a spy anymore... she's changed." He began to turn around.

"Then I could probably kick her ass now," Ellie mumbled.

Chuck stopped, mid-turn, and faced his sister again. "Ellie..." he warned.

"What?" She asked dismissively. "I said could not that I would."

"Yeah... I'm going to go check on her."

"Bye."

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Walker/Bartowski Residence

November 24, 2016

4:10 pm

Sarah had run to the bathroom. Chuck stood just outside the door and knocked softly. "Sarah? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine... just give me a few minutes," she responded between sniffles.

"I can hear you crying," Chuck countered. "What did my sister say to you?"

"Nothing."

"I know she said something," he insisted. "I'm coming in." Chuck opened the door and walked in to find Sarah sitting on the toilet with a tissue in her hand. "Sarah?"

"It's nothing, honestly," she insisted.

He took a knee in front of her. "Come on, talk to me." Chuck waited for her to say something but she kept silent.

Just as he was about to get up, Sarah spoke. "She said we could maybe be friends again."

"What?"

"Ellie," Sarah sniffled, "she said she wanted to talk."

"Okay."

"She told me we could leave everything in the past and start over," she added. "Then she said that maybe we could be friends again at some point."

"And... that's why you're crying?" Chuck was a little confused.

"Chuck..." she looked him right in the eyes, "she's successful and she has a family and they're happy..." she said in quick succession, "and she was the closest thing I had to a real friend, until she started to hate me."

"What about Carina?"

"I love Carina, but it's not the same, she doesn't understand," Sarah replied. "She's who I used to be, Ellie's who I want to be."

"Um... okay."

Sarah could see Chuck didn't quite understand. "Look," she started, "just know that Ellie's friendship means a lot to me, I can learn from her," she told him. "I thought she would hate me forever but now I know I have a chance to be her friend again. It was just a little overwhelming."

"So... that makes you... happy?"

"Yes." She offered a smile.

"Well, in that case, I guess I'm happy for you?"

"Yes... and thank you." Sarah stood up, pulling Chuck up with her. "Go back out there; I'll be out in a minute."

"Okay." Chuck caressed her cheek. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

He kissed her softly before walking out and closing the door behind him.

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Walker/Bartowski Residence

November 24, 2016

6:11 pm

Everyone was now seated at the table. Ellie brought the turkey from the kitchen and set it down in the center.

"That looks delicious," Stephen complimented.

Ellie gave a disingenuous smile in return.

Devon decided it was best if he stepped in. "Okay! Time to eat." He clapped his hands together. "Honey, ready to carve the turkey?" He handed her the carving knife.

"Actually," Ellie replied, "Sarah, why don't you do the honors?"

Everyone's heads snapped to Ellie, who had a small smile on her face.

"Really?" Sarah asked.

"Seriously?" Chuck asked.

Casey choked on his vodka.

"Yes, you worked just as hard as I did... and, this is your house," she added.

Stephen and Mary shared a begrudging look with each other.

Morgan was oblivious to the whole thing, making faces at Clara the entire time.

His wife and Ilsa picked up on things but decided it was none of their business.

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Walker/Bartowski Residence

November 24, 2016

9:36 pm

The rest of the dinner had gone well. Chuck and Sarah were putting away the leftovers and clearing the table.

Sarah was humming as she put the dishes in the dishwasher.

"What's with you?"

"Huh?" She looked back at Chuck who had just closed the fridge. "Nothing... I just felt like humming."

"You're really happy about this Ellie thing, aren't you?"

"Maybe." She grinned.

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Author's Note: I have three weeks before school starts up again. We'll see what I can get done in that time.