Hey everybody! I'm so sorry about the lack of update, but as I told you before, my research project isn't really giving me much time. But I did manage to finish this chapter. I might add another chapter later tonight or tomorrow, but I'm not sure. My muse for this story has kind of been out of it and is currently running rampant from idea to idea in my head. On the plus side, I did just come up with another Chuck fic and a Hawaii Five-0 fic, so...

Anyways, enjoy~

Disclaimer: I do not own Chuck or any of the characters, except for my own.

The restaurant that Chuck had chosen was very high class, but it had such a mellow and chill vibe; it felt as if time stopped at this place. The walls were made of wooden panels and lined with beautiful paintings and artistic décor. The lighting was a dim yellowish color as it bounced off the wooden panels. The ceiling was low, but the place as a whole was huge.

People were dressed casually and Team Bartowski quickly realized how devoted the owners to this restaurant was to music and their customers. Chuck didn't have to act like a pretentious, wealthy, jack-ass here like he had to when he was dining at other five-star restaurants. This place was certainly becoming one of Chuck's favorite.

His laughter vibrantly filled the place as an unknown band played softly on the stage behind them. Their table was placed right next to the wall and a small tree stood strong and healthy behind Morgan. Morgan sat next the wall as Casey sat across from him and Alex sat next to him. Sarah sat next to Alex as Chuck sat across from Sarah, a seat away from Casey.

Casey had ordered the Beef Bourguignon (Beef braised in red wine, flavored with garlic, onions, carrots, and mushrooms), Alex had ordered the Lemon Risotto with Asparagus and Shrimp, a side of salad, Morgan had ordered the Classic Coq au Vin (Chicken in red wine, onion, and mushroom sauce), Sarah had ordered the Halibut with a Rosemary Maple Glaze, and the Farmers' Market Salad with Spiced Goat Cheese Rounds to share with Chuck, and Chuck had ordered the Chicken Parma. In addition, Chuck had asked for a bottle of 2003 Chateau Latour costing at around $500 and a glass of a fifteen year old Laphroaig single-malt scotch for Casey.

After the CIA dropped all charges on Team Bartowski, General Beckman had unfrozen and returned all of their assets back to them and for that he was eternally grateful. He had money to last two lifetimes and then some, so why not use it right? Chuck wasn't one to spend his money so wildly, but today was a special occasion. Today marked the day that Carmichael Industries would officially start as a firm that counters cyber-terrorism - metaphorically, of course. He still had a bunch of paperwork to fill out, equipment to buy, personnel to hire, people to interview, a website to redo, and an office space to acquire.

As Morgan started to tell a childhood story, Chuck absentmindedly played with his wedding ring. Next week was going to be his and Sarah's first wedding anniversary and he was planning to surprise her by showing her the new piece of land they'd acquired. Specifically, a two-story, five-bedroom, three-bathroom white house with a red door, and a white picket fence, complete with a large backyard for their maybe-babies to play in. Things were starting to finally settle down for the two of them and Chuck couldn't be happier.

That reminded him.

"Hey, I'm gonna go to the little boys room for a second."

Sarah nodded and as Chuck stood up to go, Morgan called after him, "Oh, come on Chuck! We were just getting to the part where you and I tried jumping off the roof and into the pool!"

Chuck just laughed and continued walking to the bathroom so he could call his real estate agent.

"You're serious?!" Sarah laughed.

"Yeah! Chuck jumped off the roof and into the pool with a cape on, but while he was jumping, his cape got caught on a tree branch and he had to stay there for like an hour until his parents got home. It was hilarious!"

Everybody laughed as he told the tale of how his parents got him down when something, rather, someone, caught Sarah's eye.

Her eyes flickered to the person and back, before flickering back to the person and staying that way. Quickly, she stood up, pushing her chair out of the way, startling everyone.

"Walker? What's wrong?" Casey looked up at her from his seat, concern showing on his face.

"Bryce?"

A/N: Thanks for reading! Reviews are much appreciated and highly encouraged. *wink wink*