A/N 1: So we have made it to Thanksgiving. Chuck and Carina are fully in love, but now they need to meet the rest of the family.
I am close to wrapping up this story. Just working out where the happy ever after happens. This chapter is a bit longer, as I wanted all of this to be read in one shot.
I am curious if anyone has any thoughts about my writing style keeping everything in present tense. Carina sighs, not sighed. I am hoping it keeps you, the reader, in the moment and gives the feeling of watching things unfold as they happen. Assuming I have readers. LOL. I should give thanks to WillieGarvin, and Awesome Casey, for their great feedback and support.
A/N 2: I don't own Chuck, but I would be making a movie if I did.
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Oct. 31st.
Carina sighs softly, as the warmth of the water begins seeping into her bones. The heat of Chuck's body behind her, already warming her back.
Ohh this feels so good. And Chuck's arms just make it better. If taking relaxing bubble baths together regularly, counts as a boring routine, sign me up! Just another part of that altered reality known as Chuck's world.
It seems like he is enjoying it too, since his mindless stroking of my arms is his thing when he gets lost in thought. When he is in his happy place. She smirked. Fingers weren't what I used to check to see if a guy was in a happy place. In my old days, being with a guy in a bathtub was just sex in a new location. With Chuck, it isn't about sex, it's about love and caring. Which then leads to mind blowing sex. This is the foreplay, before the foreplay, before the foreplay. Foreplay cubed?
But my God! When he does take me to bed, or the couch, or the kitchen counter, wherever, it's beyond anything I have ever felt before. Her face broke out into a big smile, I've gone from thinking I have no future, to looking forward to a future full of this. God, I love Chuck.
Chuck notices her sudden big grin, and with his own smile, asks, "Whatcha thinking about, hon?"
Carina smiles even bigger. "Thinking about how much I love you, Chuck."
Chuck's body stills for a heartbeat, then two, and then he hugs her tight and kisses the top of her head. "Love you too, 'Rina"
They can keep their spooks of Halloween and their day of the dead. I'm alive and I'm going to fully live every day of my life with Chuck.
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It sounded like Chuck was falling down the stairs, rather than simply taking them two at a time.
Carina shakes her head, hearing his approach. Thank goodness he can go into stealth mode, when we are on missions. Otherwise he is like an overgrown 15 year old.
Chuck enters the living room, and his t-shirt, big goofy smile and the way he plops down on the couch next to her serves to reinforce the comparison. She can't help but smile back.
Chuck puts his arm around her, gives her a quick kiss, and tells her, "I just got an email from El, inviting me to Thanksgiving."
Carina stiffens slightly, recognizing that this is uncharted water.
"I would like to tell her that we would love to be there."
"We?" she slowly echoes.
"Yes, We. You know, you and me, the madly in love couple." He affirmed, adding a little of his eyebrow dance.
Carina, releases the breath she hadn't realized that she was holding, and sighs out, "At Ellie's.", the actuality of it momentarily overwhelming her.
Chuck laughs, and then, catching on to her nervousness, says with trepidation, "If that is ok with you?" "'Rina?"
Carina shudders slightly and shakes her head, then catches herself and starts nodding, "Yeah, Yeah, that's fine." She smiles up at him, to reassure him, and then explains. "It. That. It just makes it so real. Seeing and telling Ellie. It just struck me how that seems like a different world. The real world. Being a spy is often surreal, and I love the world I have found in your arms. But it seems like we are in our own little bubble. And thinking about California and Ellie, and us, being together there, just suddenly made this more real."
Carina encircles him with her arms, snuggling into his chest, and says. "Of course. Yes. Anywhere, with you."
Chuck holds her close, speechless, and overwhelmed by emotion, recognizing her level of commitment to him. I can't wait for Ellie to truly meet her. She is going to love Carina. Nervousness fluttered in his belly. God, I hope so.
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Nov. 22
Carina iss finished up her week, having been tasked with closing out a bunch of open, abandoned projects, indexing them for future reference if they ever, again, became relevant.
Her monitor suddenly indicates an incoming secure call. She answers, and the DEA director's face fills the screen. "Agent Miller." He greets. "Director." She replies.
"Sorry for the sudden intrusion into your workday, but I am getting ready to head out to a conference, and between that, checking in with all the regional directors, planning for next year, and the holidays, I won't have time to meet with you, and I wanted to get you taken care of, so you can get the ball rolling."
"Taken care of? Ball Rolling? I am confused?" was Carina's bewildered reply.
"Well, you should be excited! Congratulations! You are being promoted, along with your reassignment to D.C.. I am so proud of you, and I know we are going to do more great things together. This is going to be great for your career. Welcome to the halls of power."
"Promotion? D.C.? Transferred? I don't understand, I thought we were doing good here." She stammered.
Oh, you were, but this is going to be so much better!" He looks to the side, and finishes with, "My ride's here. Gotta go. Look forward to seeing you in Washington, Carina. Goodbye."
Carina is stunned. The news and all of its ramifications swirling through her mind. She grins. This is it! D.C. and the halls of power. I have finally made it! I am being transferred to D.C., and then her face falls, without Chuck?
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Nov. 25
The flights from Rome to California allowed plenty of time to think, even allowing for Chuck's company and antics. It had been decided that they would stop in D.C., after the Thanksgiving holiday, on their way back to Europe. And that fit perfectly with her decision to leave The Problem for future Carina in D.C.. She had decided to postpone telling Chuck about The Problem until after their holiday visit, to keep it as pleasant as possible. Whatever agitation and distractedness it caused, for Chuck to notice, he chalked her nerves up to worries about meeting Ellie. And postponing any discussion allowed her to stay in their little bubble of happiness, just a little bit longer, before she popped it.
But with this much seat time, Carina found herself thinking about The Problem. With a sad smile she thought Who knows, maybe I won't pop this bubble and just go ahead and quit. Her brow furrows. But I hate to lose all of the status and position that I have built as the number 1 kick ass DEA agent. Her face becomes intense, eyes burning into an empty space occupied by the seat back she is facing. With Chuck's help I have a higher position in the agency than I had ever dreamed, and now I am being offered a key to the kingdom.
Her face loses its intensity, fading into a bittersweet smile. With Chuck's help. And his support and his love, which I have discovered I need to truly live.
Her face droops in deep sadness. So, how do I leave that all behind? I can't ask Chuck to quit, and to be honest, I don't know if they would let him quit. And I don't know that he has enough pull to demand a transfer to D.C. too. We could try the long distance thing, but that is hard enough state to state, let alone continent to continent. And there are no shared bubble baths in long distance relationships.
The intense, angry face returns with a vengeance. Dammit, this sucks. Why do I have to choose between the two best things in my life? Then her face softens again, in resignation. When we get to D.C., I'll put on my big girl pants and talk to Chuck. Get his advice. Maybe there is a way to have , I have to admit to myself, Chuck is my life, hopefully until death do us part. The DEA career will be glorious, but it will eventually leave me sad and alone.
With that thought, she turns and looks at Chuck's sleeping face, amazed that he could actually sleep in that position, her face losing its melancholy, replaced by a soft smile. Carina snuggles into Chuck's side, where she fits so well, and tries to relax with happy thoughts of Thanksgiving, hot apple cider and, her eyes flying back open in realization, meeting Ellie.
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Thanksgiving Eve.
The mid-afternoon sun makes the fountain and courtyard sparkle as they enter the courtyard. Chuck is suddenly struck by the phrase, "You can't go home again."
Here I am, in Echo Park, in the courtyard of the apartment that I spent all those years at. Home. It's the same. But it isn't. Things change. Ellie, Devon, and now Clara, change. I have changed. Last time I was here, I was changing my world. And now, my world has changed again. He turns to Carina with a smile. Each of them pulling their luggage along. And every holiday to come is going to be with her.
Carina smiles back, a bit more hesitantly. She never was the one you took home to mom. Meeting the family is uncharted territory, meeting Ellie brought uncharted levels of nervousness.
Come on Miller, you have stared down gun barrels, leaped off buildings, and disarmed bombs.
She answers herself. Yeah but those could just make me dead. This is my life. My future. Our Future.
She tries to soothe herself, Ellie loves Chuck, Chuck loves me, so Ellie will love me. Right? Isn't that how it works? She didn't feel too sure.
The moment is upon them. They are at the doorway to Casa de Woodcomb. The threshold of the Real World, leaving their emotionally protected bubble behind.
Chuck's knock elicits a squeal from somewhere inside, and in a moment the door is open, and Devon's beaming smile greets them. "Awesome!"
Well some things never change, he wryly thinks with a smile. Chuck grips Devon's hand and uses the handshake to pull himself, and his luggage, completely into the apartment, making room for Carina. She steps into the doorway, and he turns to introduce her to Devon.
He fails in his effort as he is suddenly nearly tackled by an excitedly vibrating Eleanor Woodcomb. "Chuck, you're really here!" She squeals again, slightly more subdued, and gives him a tremendous hug.
She finally releases him and he maneuvers himself to pull Carina more completely in the room and into their little group. "Ellie, Devon, I would like you to meet my girlfriend, Carina."
Devon immediately responds with an enthusiastic, "Awesome. Way to go bro! Nice to meet you Carina."
Ellie is all smiles, but her eyes and manner are somewhat subdued. "Carina. It is so nice to finally meet you. Chuck has mentioned you." She pauses and looks askance at Chuck, as she lightly slaps his arm. "Whenever he actually gets around to talking to me." Addressing him more directly, she adds, "I know your job keeps you busy, but jeez."
Chuck, chagrined, replies, "Yeah, the job." Then he grins a little. "And there is the time difference." And then bursting into a wide grin, he winks at Carina and adds, "And there is the whole falling in love thing."
Carina's jaw drops, but love sparkles in her eyes.
Devon's jaw drops, and admiration fills his eyes.
Ellie's jaw drops, and confusion colors her happiness for him.
Chuck breaks the moment for practicality, "El, Carina and I have been on the road forever. We're going to use the bathroom and freshen up and then we can settle down and talk. We'll go over to the hotel after we've had some time together."
Ellie nods, "Of course, of course. I can only imagine." she adds, grinning. Her and Devon head to the kitchen, as Chuck and Carina, head to the bathroom.
Chuck stops at the doorway and says "Ladies first." Carina shakes her head and laughs. She steps into the doorway. "Someday Chuck you won't be afraid to go into a bathroom with me. You have already seen it all." She leans in and whispers, "Up close and personal."
Chuck flushes red and stammers, "Yeah, but it's the bathroom."
Tittering, Carina closes the door, as Chuck starts humming the opening theme from Star Wars to drown out any noises.
After a moment, Carina opens the door and he joins her at the dual basin sink. She washes her hands, and pats her eyes and face. Chuck follows suit and then asks, "How are you doing?"
Carina softly smiles at him and answers, "To be honest, I have some butterflies. But, I am sure it's just because I don't know them."
Chuck laughs, "Well I have butterflies too, and that is because I do know them."
Carina moves in for a hug, amazed again, at how he can always make things better.
She steps out the door, so Chuck can do his thing in privacy. Then when he re-joins her, they head back to the kitchen.
As soon as Ellie sees them, she moves to Chuck. She asks him to take a moment and look at some of his things in Clara's room, formerly his room.
Chuck looks at Carina with questioning eyes. Carina smiles, steps into him, and gives him a kiss on the cheek. "I think this is a secure location. I'll be ok." and when she pulls away she gives him a wink.
"Hey Devon," Ellie calls out, "can you pour Carina a glass of wine?" "Sure, babe," comes the reply and Carina moves to join him.
Chuck follows Ellie into his room, quickly she pulls him past her and closes the door.
Chuck stumbles momentarily at the surprising jerk, turns and exclaims, "Whoa, Sis! Is this a self defense demonstration?" assuming this is Ellie being overly excited again.
Ellie's face shows intensity more than excitement, and it isn't a happy intensity. She steps right up to Chuck and hisses, "Where's Sarah, and why isn't she here?"
Chuck takes a step back and has to catch his breath. I was expecting questions, but not with this anger and intensity.
Frowning and a bit annoyed by her attitude he, a bit curtly, explains, "I honestly don't know, Ellie." His features soften, saddened in the memory, and he repeats, more somberly, "I honestly don't know."
Ellie puts her hand to her mouth, eyes starting to glisten, taken aback by the news, but more so Chuck's response. Then her glistening eyes sharpen, angry and looking for answers. "What do you mean you don't know? Don't you care? Why aren't you chasing her?" As her vehemence loses its energy, the angry, accusatory, questions become hurt and pleading as she finishes with, "I thought she was the one?"
Chuck's defensive, angry mein, broke at that final question, and eyes brimming, he choked out, "I don't know. I thought so too." and he pulls her into a hug, needing her support, as much as he provided comfort. They share a moment of grief, over a dream apparently lost.
Chuck composes himself, and gives Ellie the best explanation he can. "Ellie I don't know where Sarah is now, I can only hope that she is happy. During our relationship, Sarah had several opportunities to choose me over her job, and other things." Chuck chokes up, but manages to say, "And she never chose me." finishing with a sob.
Speaking that truth, outloud, shatters Chuck's composure, and he leans into Ellie's arms. She holds him and comforts him. as she has for so many years.
After a few moments, his sobs subside, and he is able to pull back, and again look her in the face. "I haven't seen her for months, and now she has dropped off the map and gone off on who knows what adventure." Chuck takes a moment to steady himself, so he can finish. "Without me."
"Oh, Chuck! I am so sorry. I had hoped for so much for you two." Ellie pulls him in for another tight hug, and they hold each other for a few minutes.
Ellie, returning to the here and now, looks at the door with disdain that is evident in her voice. "And isn't that Sarah's wild, trouble-making, party-girl friend?" she finishes, looking back at his face, with an arched eyebrow.
"Now Ellie, that isn't true." He pauses, reflecting. "Well it isn't true any more."
"Really Chuck, is that your type? Sarah seemed so right for you. A calm, supporting influence." Ellie pushes.
Chuck furrows his brow and looks pointedly at her, "Yeah. Who isn't around anymore."
His face softens as he starts pleading his case. Carina's case. Their case. "Carina was around. And she was there for me, in good times and bad, and helped me through some pretty deep lows. I know I don't tell you much about this job, and all of its technical gobbeldy goop, but it can be very stressful and push all of my impostor syndrome buttons. And Carina was always a friendly, supportive face. Is always a friendly, supportive face."
Ellie again looked back at the door. "But isn't she kind of wild, especially for you"
He chuckled, "Ellie, I'm not a little boy for you to protect from that big ole world. I am not naïve. I have traveled the world, and met many people, many women. I think I have a handle on this."
"But you and Sarah just fit together so easily. Carina doesn't seem like she belongs with you, more like oil and water." Ellie insisted.
Chuck raised his voice, while still keeping it hushed. He didn't want this conversation overheard. "God, Ellie! Are you wanting me to be miserable? You keep bringing up Sarah. Get it through your head. Sarah isn't here. No matter how much I wanted Sarah, she didn't pick me!" Chuck balled his fists trying to dissipate his angry energy. He closed his eyes, looked down, and took several deep breaths, as more nervous energy shuddered away through his shoulders.
More calmly and quietly, he said, "I've accepted it, and moved on."
Chuck met Ellie's eyes again, and frowning, said, "I should have realized how much of a shock this would be to you. I thought I would explain everything to you over time, and just like how, over time, I have accepted it, you would too. I need to recognize that you will need time to accept, and get past this." Chuck pulls Ellie into a hug, kissing the top of her head. "It hurt. For a long time, it hurt. Sarah had my heart, immediately, and I kept hoping that she would learn to love me. It never happened. But, you know what did happen?" Chuck pulled back, gave her his big Bartowski grin and said, "I learned to love Carina, and Carina learned to love me."
Chuck laughs, and Ellie smiles at his happiness. "I know it seems somewhat unlikely, especially in light of who we both were last time you saw us. But we both have grown and changed. We have grown to share some things that we like, and also, to accept the fact that there are likes that we don't share."
Standing, Chuck pulls Ellie up and into a hug. 'Somehow, someway, it works for us. I just ask that you be happy for me. For us. Give her a chance. Accept her as Carina, and I think you will grow to love her just like I have."
"Speaking of growing to love, or more like learning to forgive; how are things between you and mom and dad?" Chuck asks.
Ellie's eyes get big, and she blows out her breath. "Yeah! Wow! How about that? Our missing slash dead parents show up out of nowhere. Other than it totally freaked me out and blew my mind, I am getting used to it." She finishes with a sob turned into a laugh."
"Yeah. It threw me for a loop when he showed up out of nowhere with our resurrected mom in tow." Chuck explains, reinforcing the story his parents had decided to tell. "I can't figure out exactly what she had been doing there, other than what she keeps telling me about protecting a family friend in Poland. I wonder if they got caught up in some post Communism intrigue? I suppose hiding from the KGB, or whatever, could explain part of it."
Ellie is shaking her head and staring off into space, still trying to untangle the Bartowski family mysteries.
Chuck slaps his legs and stands up. "Well, hopefully it will become clearer with time. I'm just going to embrace having them here with us now. I say ironically, recognizing that they aren't here with us now, this Thanksgiving." he notes, with a chuckle.
Ellie stands too, then gives him a quick hug. "Yeah, I guess we should take what we can get. It's so weird watching them dote on Clara. You know they are talking about getting a house around here. Dad has some crazy idea that he can get our old house back. Right now they are back East finishing something up." She grins up at him, and bouncing her eyebrows. "Something mysterious I am sure."
"Well, if they move back here, hopefully things will settle down to normal. He laughs and adds, "Or at least what passes for normal around here."
Ellie joins him in a laugh, and gives him another quick firm hug.
Stepping towards the door, Chuck puffs out his cheeks, and with big eyes, jokingly says, "Now let's see how my girlfriend is surviving L.A.."
Chuck opens the door and finds Carina chatting with Devon about the wines. Upon hearing the door open Carina spins and catches Chuck's eyes, smiling, and then concerned. She quickly steps over to him and takes his hands in hers. Noting his reddened eyes, she asks, "Is everything OK?"
Smiling in appreciation for her concern, Chuck nods. "Yeah. Everything's OK. We had to put some memories away. But, it is all good." Brightening his smile and leaning his forehead into hers, gently swinging their arms together, he shares, "And I was telling Ellie about us. She was a little thrown by this turn of events. But, I explained how and why we are together." Carina smiles at that, and Chuck leans in for a quick kiss. "And how happy I am to be with you." Carina's heart melts at that, and she pulls him in for a deeper kiss.
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Later that afternoon, while Chuck is occupied with Clara, Ellie catches Carina's attention and motions her towards Chuck's old room. Carina pales, glances over at Chuck, and then steels herself, following Ellie to her potential doom.
Ellie closes the door, and slowly evaluates Carina with her eyes.
In any other situation, with any other woman, it would be on, and Carina would be smacking attitudes off of faces. But this is Ellie, Chuck's sister/mom. So, Carina endures the scrutiny, and waits for the first salvo. It comes quickly and abruptly.
"I thought you were a wild woman, a party girl?" Ellie questions/accuses, the harshness of the words softened in delivery by Ellie's own recognition that this is Carina, Chuck's girlfriend.
"I was, but Chuck tamed me," Carina responds, smiling with a heartfelt laugh, releasing some of her nervousness. Ellie nervously laughs in response.
Carina's face becomes serious, and she reinforces, "He really did tame me."
She pulls Eillie to join her on the bed.
Carina takes a deep breath and turns to face Ellie, fully, wanting her face to show the honesty of her words. "I too, lost my parents when I was a teenager. And, I lost my brother too."
As Carina expected, Ellie reacts strongly, her breath catching, and her eyes immediately glistening. She reaches out, taking Carina's hand, and tells her, "I'm so, so sorry."
Carina squeezes Ellie's hand, and replies, "Thanks. It's been years, but I never really got over it. It was sudden, a Tornado, and I was away at a school event. I never really dealt with it. Being almost out of high school, I finished everything up and fundamentally ran away from home. And, I just kept on running, going, moving. Running away from that pain and not caring what I was running to. I was running on excitement and adrenaline, and avoiding thinking about anything too much, or stopping to feel anything deeply."
Maintaining eye contact she takes Ellie's other hand too, and squeezing them both for emphasis, she explains. "Chuck changed all of that. When Sarah…" Carina's voice catches for a moment. "...dropped off of the face of the earth, we both missed her. And, in finding comfort from each other we found a way to fit together. He slowed me down a bunch. I add some spice into his life. Somehow, we make it work."
With a smile and all of the sincerity she could muster, she says, "I love him. Truly, madly deeply. With all of my heart and for all time." The intensity of her expressed feelings, causing tears to run down her cheeks, unimpeded. Ellie's own eyes are filled with tears. The impassioned professing of love for her brother breaking all of the barriers she had constructed for this interloper into the dream she had imagined for Chuck and Sarah.
She really does love him, Ellie realizes, accepting Carina's declaration. So, she leans in to give Carina a hug. Carina accepts it, and with a soft sob finishes with, "I just hope you can accept me."
Ellie strokes Carina's hair, comforting her, because, well, that is what Ellie does. She assures Carina, "Of course I accept you, honey. And I am happy there is someone else out there for him to drive crazy." She finishes with a wet laugh, joined by Carina.
They stand, and hug each other again. Ellie, smiling, tells Carina, "Welcome. Welcome to our world."
They head out to the living room, and hearing them Chuck spins around, his face showing worry and a little bit of anger. It softens seeing the teary smiles shared by both of the two women he loves.
He steps over and pulls both of them into a hug. "Everything good with you two?", he asks from the top of their heads. "Wonderful!" is Ellie's heartfelt reply. "Yes, wonderful." Carina echo's with equal emotion.
They separate, and Ellie moves to Devin's side, while Chuck takes Carina's face in his hands, thumbs away her tears, and kisses her tenderly on the lips.
Ellie and Devon look on. Devon wordlessly inquires "You good?" and Ellie nods yes, with a growing smile. Devon envelopes her in his arms from behind as she turns to face Chuck and Carina, and she whispers, "Aces Charles. You're Aces."
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Thanksgiving Day.
In the living room, Carina is giving Chuck a kiss when Morgan knocks and quickly walks into the apartment.
Morgan stops, shocked, as his brain works to take in the scene.
"Chuck!" He happily cries out, as he has done for so many years. A happy "Morgan!" is Chuck's time tested reply. "Morgan!" Carina brightly calls out in greeting. "Carina." Morgan replies, subdued, with questioning eyes.
"Aaand?"Chuck prompts, noting the young lady at Morgan's side.
Oblivious, lost in his confusion of the moment, Morgan responds, with raised eyebrows, "Aaand?"
Chuck tilts his head towards the young lady, and repeats, "Aaand?"
Morgan, mimicking Chuck, replies. "Aaaand?" and tilts his own head, smacking right into his lady friend's head, whom he had obviously forgotten existed.
"Ow!" His diminutive companion exclaims, followed by an exasperated, "Morgan!"
Morgan, snapping back into reality, takes her into a comforting embrace, rapidly apologizing, "Oh babe!. I'm sorry, babe. I don't know what I was thinking, babe." His manner indicating that his apologizing was nothing new for the couple.
Then after a moment Morgan looks up and gleefully meets Chuck's eyes. He mouths, "It's her." Chuck silently mouths back, "The pie girl?" to which Morgan replies with exuberant nodding, almost hitting in the process his fair lady's head.
With renewed composure, and odd formality, Morgan makes the introductions. "Chuck Bartowski. Carina Miller. May I introduce to you, my girlfriend, Alex McHugh."
"Delighted," is Chuck and Carina's appropriate response.
The small group moves to join the larger group already forming around the table. Clara and another small child are in highchairs at the bar. In addition to his "family", several of Ellie and Devon's co-workers joined the gathering.
The dinner is somewhat bittersweet, as it was their last at the apartment. The Awesomes were moving into a house, closer to UCLA's campus and the Medical center they worked out of, as their careers were developing and they were making their first forays into teaching. They both loved working with young people, and everything was going right for them.
Dinner at Ellie's, as always, was satisfying for the body and spirit.
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After dinner, the three couples gather around the outdoor fireplace, as Clara has her nap.
Chuck's palm's are a bit sweaty, as he paces a little, going over what he had prepared, as the others take their seats. No need to worry, Even though it is woven with lies, this is fundamentally going to be the truth. This is good news. They are going to be happy. Even Carina, though I wish I would have known in time to tell her first. But, this is all good. They are going to be happy for me. This is my future. Clearing his throat he turns to speak to them.
"I want to let you all know about some changes coming up in my life." He turns to Carina, "In our lives."
Confused, she looks up at him with wide eyes. What the hell? What changes?
Seeing her expression, he gulps and hurries on. "My job is amazing, and has exposed me to so much, and given me so much. But it's not my dream. Morgs, you know I always wanted to write software and have my own company. Well it's time I pursued that dream.
Carina is somewhat relieved but still confused. Ok, right, the software he is working on. He's going to make it a company? Ok, but that doesn't seem that big of an announcement. Maybe to them? She realizes she is missing him saying something about the software.
Chuck is finishing his explanation about his security software, by revealing the company's name. "Castle Cyber-Security: Make your computer a fortress."
"Casey, is, as we all assumed, ex-military, and he used his contacts to connect me with some government buyers. I called him up, hoping he could help somehow, and he really came through. He is going to work for me as our government liaison. "
Ellie, Devin and Morgan's eyes are big, as some of the enigma of "Casey" is explained to them.
Chuck continues with his prepared story. "To fill you in, he was using the BuyMore to get used to civilian life. Then he was trying to figure out his next move and had gone back East to visit with some friends. He ended up in a car wreck and lost a foot." Everyone winces, saddened at the news. " So, he just stayed there and rehabbed, and got a job doing phone sales. That is what he was doing when I caught up with him. So anyway, it looks like this software company is going to start a new chapter in my life."
"I just got final confirmation of all of this, earlier this morning. I was almost certain, but didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure."
He turns to Carina, "And I know it's something that I hadn't told you yet. But I am pretty sure you will be good with it. I trust that it is a "we" thing." He looks around the room and everyone, takes a deep breath, looks Carina in the eyes, smiles and announces, "We are moving back to the U.S.. To D.C., to be near my clients."
Carina's eyes were wide. She was stunned. He was moving to D.C., too? What the hell Chuck? Carina's eyes flared, and she started slapping his arm. "What the hell Chuck?" and then she grabs him and pulls him close and starts crying tears of relief.
They all are confused by her reaction, and watch Chuck process the situation.
Chuck is hurt, then confused, then worried over the course of a few seconds, as he holds her tight and kisses her head. "Carina, honey, baby, what is wrong? I said we. We were moving to D.C.. You know, together." Chuck catches his breath and pulls back a little, in order to look down and try to catch her eyes. "Unless you don't want to?"
Carina sniffles and composes herself. She nods and then looks him square in the face, making sure she has his eyes and says, "We need to talk." Grabbing his hand, she pulls him towards the car, calling back to Ellie, "We'll be back in a bit. "
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They head to the hotel, Chuck driving and looking at her questioningly, while Carina just mumbles and twists her hands together. Once parked, she hurries to the room, Chuck close behind.
Once in the room, she turns on him, slapping his chest and breaking down crying.
"What the hell Chuck? You spring this on me now, while I have been making myself crazy for the last week?"
Chuck is surprised, confused, and pained by her reaction and obvious hurt. He reaches for her and welcomes her into his arms. Carina grasps his shirt front in her hands, as if she will never let him go, twisting it back and forth in her hands as she explains. "About a week ago, The DEA Director called me up and said something about me getting a promotion."
Chuck frowns, starting to understand, and whispers to himself more than her. "They weren't supposed to say anything."
Carina speaks softly into his chest. "It came with a transfer to D.C.."
"Oh." The situation and her reactions clarifying his mind. He softly speaks into the top of her head, "And you didn't know I was being transferred too."
Carina stiffens, slaps his chest and steps away from him, looking him in the eyes and angrily explaining. "I thought I would lose you if I took the promotion that I have been working so hard for."
She then falls into his chest, sobbing, as she continues, "But I can't lose you, Chuck. You are my life now. I didn't know what to do."
Chuck, deeply touched by her revelation, holds her close and strokes her hair.
"I didn't want to say anything until I could find out more. I wanted to talk to the Director to see if there was some way I could still have both." Carina takes a deep breath, regaining her composure. "But on the flight here, I decided that I would talk to you about it. Once we got past Thanksgiving dinner." She manages a laugh and slaps his chest lightly, and adds, "Before you dropped that bombshell."
Chuck joins her in a light laugh, and pulls her back into a hug.
His brow furrows as he explains. "I am so sorry you had to go through that. No one was supposed to say anything until it was all finalized today. I've been talking with all of the Agency heads, all of our bosses, about this for the past month, but I just got the confirmation call this morning, and since we were seeing everyone this afternoon, I just waited to say anything. I am so sorry baby! This was all supposed to be good news! And, that was before I knew you were getting a promotion, too."
Chuck leads her over to the sofa, and they sit down side by side, holding each other close.
He starts his explanation, "You know about the software I was working on, and you knew that it was my exit plan, when this all winds up. But now things are happening faster than I expected. We both are in meetings more than in the field these days. And, we are getting more involved with long term strategies and policies. Well, Dad has been lobbying for my return to Washington, so I can meet with people at the highest levels, face to face."
Chuck gently takes Carina's face in his hands, tipping her head to face him. "Well it's all actually happening." He smiles and gives her a soft kiss.
Settling back in their hug, Chuck starts laying out the plan. "Since everyone who knows about me and the intersect are either dead, or part of our team, I don't have to stay so concealed. Now I can kind of hide in plain sight. Castle Security is a legitimate company and will have real government contracts. Under that guise, I am going to be identified as a special cyber-security expert and advisor to the Washington elite. So, now I can come and go, have meetings with all the department heads, and it all happens under the business' umbrella."
He lifts her face for another kiss, adding, "And of course I planned for us to be together. You do get both. You get to keep your career, and you get to keep me. And, I get to stay with you."
Relief washes over Carina, and her anger, fear and frustration, are replaced by happiness, hope, and love. Tears keep falling, but they are of happiness and relief.
"I hope you are happy to be moving back to America?" He asks, and she nods her head in reply.
"And, 'Rina, I really want my life back. My real life. For the most part, I don't need Carmichael, and I really want to be Chuck Bartowski again. And I want you to be a big part of it."
Carina melts into him, exhausted by the roller coaster of emotions, and just wanting to return to their bubble of love. "Always. Anywhere, with you."
Chuck smiles, thrilled by her declaration, and with the way his life is going. His future looks bright, and he is going to make sure she is by his side, for all of it. Officially. And, soon.
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A/N 3: You should be part of the Chuck Facebook groups, and join in the fun there. Music videos, favorite memories, and more await you.
I appreciate any reviews, so I know that my rambling make sense to someone else.
If you haven't read Chuck & Sarah Vs Themselves, and you like Gunplay and Action, you should.