A/N: Thanks to those that liked this story enough to review and PM about it. Thanks also for waiting for this update.

Beta thanks to my friend, MarkeyDeSad. As always, he helped me make this chapter as good as it could be.

So, to recap, Sarah Walker is not only staying at Chuck Bartowski's apartment, but the two of them are now boyfriend/girlfriend, and their relationship is deepening. She now needs to decide what to do about her education…

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Chapter 6: Planning

Sarah rose early. She went into the bathroom to brush her teeth, ready to kiss her boyfriend as she'd planned the night before. That made her grin at her reflection in the mirror. Then, she saw the shower behind her and decided she wanted to smell good for him, so she should shower as well.

She was out and dressed in no time and headed to the kitchen.

Using the coffee machine was new to her, but she'd watched Chuck use it, so had no problems.

When Chuck walked in, she handed him his coffee. "Morning, boyfriend," she said, with a smile. She stood on tip toes to give him a peck on the lips.

He grinned. "Good morning to you, too, my wonderful girlfriend. And thank you for the coffee."

Before he could take a sip, she said, "Chuck, there's something I need to tell you." He instantly looked worried, so she hastily said, "Nothing for you to be concerned about, it's something good."

Chuck relaxed. "Should I sit down?"

"No, no. Stay there," she quickly said.

He put his coffee down and stood there waiting.

She moved closer to him. "Last night I realized something." She was really close now and had to look up into his eyes. "Chuck, I love you."

The eyes she was gazing into widened, at least until the smile on his face scrunched them up a bit, as well as causing his nose to wrinkle. He still looked fantastic, though. "Thank you, Sarah. That's wonderful to hear."

"Are you going to kiss me?" she asked. "I brushed my teeth specially."

She knew her eyes would be sparkling. She felt so excited to have told him that.

Suddenly, her feet were off the floor. He'd lifted her up. His arms were around her and he was pulling her in.

She leaned forward and tilted her chin up so they could kiss. When she opened her mouth, he did too, and soon their tongues were caressing each other.

She was a bit embarrassed when she moaned into the kiss, but squashed that down. This kiss was worthy of such a reaction. The best they'd had yet.

When she needed to breathe, she pulled away and gasped out, "Wow! I loved you before, but that kiss!"

He pulled her back and kissed her again.

Breathless again, she pulled back to just gaze at the man she loved. "These feelings are almost overwhelming, Chuck. When you kiss me like that, I can't think. I'm so wrapped up in how wonderful it is."

He beamed at her. "I love kissing you, too. These kisses were more sensual than we've done before, so we're not used to them."

She smiled, but was a bit sad. "They are having an effect on me. My body wants to take it further, but I don't feel ready yet. I'm sorry."

Chuck pulled her in for a hug. "Just being with you is wonderful, Sarah. We go at the pace you decide."

Chuck already knew, but she felt she had to remind him, embarrassing though it was. "You know this but… I… I've never been with a man before," she confessed.

He just held her gaze for a minute, saying nothing. Not surprisingly, that made her uncomfortable. "Chuck, I'm telling you that I'm a virgin. Don't you have anything to say?"

Chuck coughed. "I don't know what to say to that, Sarah. You had mentioned it to Ellie, but I'd not really thought about it. When… No, if we… do… I won't rush you. I understand it can be painful initially. I don't like the idea of hurting you in any way."

She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Thank you."

They hugged for several minutes before she pulled away again.

This time, she stepped away from him and went to sit down. Time to talk about other things. "You suggested two things to do today, Chuck. I'd like to drop that to just one. I want to focus on my education, before tracking mom down."

"Okay," he said. "Let's get started after breakfast."

They spent a couple of hours researching online to work out the approach to take once Chuck had enough background information. To give him that, she spent some time telling him about the education she had received, little though it was.

She'd been at High School in San Diego between sixteen and seventeen. She'd gotten good at some subjects, being very attentive and bright. However, she had nothing to show for it, as she'd had to leave before graduation.

When they started on the Internet, with Chuck guiding her, they found that There did seem to be a way forward in California. After the time they spent studying all the information, Sarah looked at her boyfriend to summarize what they'd found. "So, it looks like my best bet is to pass this California High School Proficiency Examination, or CHSPE for short. Then, use that to get enrolled on a course in one of the Los Angeles universities."

"That's if you don't want to study away from Los Angeles," he said.

She looked at him. "I don't want to be apart from you at all, so I certainly won't stay away."

He grinned. "So, what do you want to study?"

"Business administration," she said firmly.

That surprised him. "Why that?"

"Why not?" she challenged. She sighed. "Dad always told me to know how my targets ticked. This feels like that."

"But you're not specifically targeting anyone," he pointed out,

He was sickened at the thought that appeared in his head. In business you target your customer and Sarah's instincts and training might do well in sales, especially corporate sales. In some places, she could show a little leg, where a form fitting dress and flash a smile. He had to bury that thought.

"No," she replied. "I'll hopefully be on the inside, stopping con artists like Dad and me."

He laughed. "Well, there are places you can go for Business Administration courses in Los Angeles. You could also work in my company and maybe get some useful experience to help with the application."

Sarah was dubious. "Won't that look like… no, actually be, me getting a job because my boyfriend is the boss?"

"We're not that formal," he replied.

She frowned. "Well, maybe you should be. You don't know who you'll be letting in."

She then stopped frowning, pointed at herself and put on a look of innocence. "Could even be a con artist."

"God, you're adorable," he blurted out.

She laughed. "That's how you get conned."

"In this relationship," he said, "You could con me out of anything. I'm so in love with you."

That took all the humor out of the conversation for Sarah and stopped her smiling at all. She grabbed his hands, making him look at her. "There is absolutely no deception here. I have fallen for you completely. You have my heart in your hands. I would never betray you, Chuck. I love you."

He smiled. "I know."

She held his gaze to make sure he really meant that before kissing him again.

Having decided her chosen path, Chuck helped her with the CHSPE application.

She knew it was ridiculous, as nothing really had changed, but it still felt like she'd made some significant progress.

All she'd done was completed an application to take a test! And on top of that, Chuck had to pay for it for her! She should feel bad about that, but instead felt on top of the world.

"It's your mental state, Sarah. You've shifted from feeling you were stuck in the life you were used to, or needed to follow a path you really didn't want. Instead, you've now embarked on a different path. One of your own choosing."

She had to agree with that.

After lunch, Chuck suggested they start the other search. The one for her mom.

All the jubilation she had been feeling over the application was washed away on hearing those words. It wasn't that she didn't want to see her mom, it was more that she felt she was such a disappointment for the woman who brought her into this world. She hoped that would change when she started her education again.

"Can we not do that today?" she asked.

"Okay. Sure." Chuck was, however, clearly taken aback by her reticence.

She explained her reason and, although he told her that her mom would probably be overjoyed at seeing her, Sarah wasn't going to change her mind. Besides, he didn't know her mom or what she actually thought of the con life.

So, they decided to go out, rather than stay in any longer. Sarah immediately asked to go to the beach again. This time, Chuck suggested changing that slightly, as they could go to the arcade at the beach and she could experience some of the games there.

She grinned. "Are you going to teach me, or just show me how I will never be able to compete with you?"

"No, no," he said. "I'll teach you…" Then he teased her, "So you understand better how I beat you!"

She swatted his arm, but actually liked the idea.

Sarah went to her room and stripped off, then put on her bikini, shorts and t-shirt. When she returned to the living room, Chuck was wearing his t-shirt and shorts, ready to go.

Because they would be going to the arcade first, Sarah didn't need any suntan lotion on initially, but they took it with them for later.

Chuck staggered out of the arcade. He was amazed at what had happened.

It seemed that Sarah was very observant and, as a result, noticed threats very quickly in the games that needed it. In addition, her hand eye coordination was excellent and she seemed to have preternatural reflexes. Consequently, once she knew the rules and how to use the controls, she easily beat him. That was another thing he learned. She picked things up really quickly.

Even the driving games went like that. She had never driven in her life, but that didn't matter. She quickly picked up how to use the different controls and the effects of momentum on entering turns. In no time, she was entering the high scores for the game. Chuck was left way behind. He wondered if the same would be true with real-life driving. That was something else for her checklist. Learning to drive.

They bought ice cream cones, single scoop this time, and wandered down onto the beach.

There was something very relaxing about walking along with her feet splashing in the water with an ice cream in one hand and Chuck's hand in the other. She felt completely at peace here.

After finishing her ice cream cone, Sarah remembered the sun-tan lotion. She stopped and said, "I need to put some of this on. Will you help me?"

Chuck instantly blushed. She realized that was because he would have to apply it on her back.

She took her towel out of her bag and walked up the beach a little way. She put the towel down and then quickly took off her t-shirt and shorts.

Chuck just stood there staring at her in the bikini she was wearing. "Oh. My. God," he said.

She looked at him and smiled. "It's lovely to have that effect on you, Chuck, but not helpful."

She sat on the towel and directed him to put the lotion on her back. Once, he'd done that, tentatively at first, she took the lotion off of him and put it on her front, arms and legs.

"Good, I'm ready," she said. She left the towel where it was. "I've never sunbathed before, Chuck, so I want to do that today, as well."

They walked back to the water and continued walking along the shoreline. She felt even better in just her bikini. She had never felt so free, or, come to that, exposed, but holding Chuck's hand made her feel safe.

Eventually, they returned to the towel and she lay down to try sunbathing.

After a while, she realized Chuck was sitting on his towel he'd just put down and couldn't stop glancing at her.

"What is it?" she asked.

He flushed but answered quickly, "I have never seen a more beautiful vision in my life."

She wanted to get up and wrap herself around him to show how that made her feel, but she realized that wasn't appropriate with how she was dressed. "Thank you. You're a vision to me too, Chuck." She looked at where his towel was located. He'd put it down a little way away from hers. "Chuck, bring your towel over next to mine and then lie down next to me. I want to hold your hand."

After some shuffling around, he finally had his hand in hers. She hummed her approval.

They talked about the fact that as a homeless person she would have been eligible for a fee waiver for the high school equivalency test, but she said, "A month ago, that was me, but now I can't claim that, and will have to pay for the test. Or rather, my wonderful boyfriend will."

He nodded. "That's not a problem."

She looked at him. "I don't like sponging off of you, Chuck. Relying on your generosity."

He nodded. "I know. Let's look at what you could do at my company to earn money and experience."

She did then get up and give him a kiss. "You wonderful, wonderful man."

"Please don't, Sarah," he said.

She felt a bit hurt. "Why?"

"I just want to hold you when you do that, which I shouldn't when you're dressed as you are," he explained.

She looked up and down the beach at all the couples in swimwear hugging each other. She looked back at Chuck. "This is your PDA aversion, isn't it?"

He blushed, but nodded.

"So, if we were back home, you would?" she teased.

He groaned. "There, I'd have a different problem with you dressed like that."

He obviously wasn't going to say more, but she realized how cruel she was being, teasing him like this. He obviously wanted to make love, but she'd thought she wasn't ready for that yet.

She lay back and thought about that. Why wasn't she ready? She was getting these strong feelings at times when she was with him. She realized it wasn't that she didn't want to do it at all, but that she was frightened about the first time. She also worried that she might not be any good at sex. After all, Chuck was more experienced than she. What if she wasn't good enough for him and it ruined their relationship.

She decided that all her concerns were probably ridiculous. Her inexperience could only be corrected by doing it. And she would probably love it because it was with Chuck.

She rolled onto her side and said, "Chuck, could we make love when we get home?"

He gasped and then looked seriously at her. "Are you sure?"

She held his gaze. "I want to, but you will have to be gentle with me."

He returned her gaze and softly brushed the back of his fingers on her cheek. "Sarah, I'll always be gentle with you, my love." He settled back down to catch some rays.

When they decided they'd had enough time on the beach, they headed back to his car.

Sarah was now feeling nervous about what she'd suggested, but didn't say anything. She knew Chuck would cry off doing anything that he thought might be upsetting her, in his desire to protect her. She might be nervous, but she really wanted this. It was going to be the most intimate and wonderful experience that two people who loved each other could have. She was sure of that.

A/N: Moving forward with her future and their relationship. More next chapter…

I'd love to know what you think of this one?