Title: Chuck vs. Life

Author: marybr

Characters: mainly Chuck/Sarah (but the regulars are there – Casey, Ellie, Morgan, Awesome, etc.)

Chapters: 5/?

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters portrayed in this fic. I'm gaining nothing with this, except the sheer joy of being Chuck/Sarah's puppet master. I do own Julia, 'though :D

Summary: First of all I suck at summaries, so regard this fact as you read this. The fic fits right after the last episode aired (1x11), and it basically picks up after those events. It's nothing more than Chuck and co. moving on with their lives, and especially centering on how Chuck and Sarah will deal with their mutual feelings. I know, this summary blows… Just read the first chapter, and you'll get a sense of what is actually about.

A/N: Federaldragon, sorry, I don't watch Bones. I've seen one, two episodes at most. So, I don't know this Emily well, therefore can't tell if they're related; but I'll google it later.

nattylovesjordy, your reviews make my heart soar lol But watch out! I don't want to feel responsible for some injury you may get from falling off of bed :D

Saucy-Duck, glad you appreciated my actress choice. I'm sorry you had to re-read to picture Zooey in it. I thought about putting that note before the chapter, but then, I didn't want to spoil Julia's appearance. Anyhow, thanks for the review.

gaaddict67, glad you liked Julia! I like you for liking Julia :) Anyway, I think you might be getting where I'm headed.

cowgirl08, don't worry. Chuck and Sarah are my #1, too. I promise everything will turn out okay.

Thanks for all the reviews, and let the fun begin!

Chapter V

"The food was great, sis," Chuck said, wearing his megawatt smile.

Ellie smiled back at him.

"You totally have outdone yourself this time, Ellie! This meal was the best I've ever had," Morgan enthusiastically added.

Anna shot him a death glare, and without any words he knew he was in trouble.

"Right after your bean casserole, dear," he quickly recovered.

Anna didn't seem that convinced, but he kept making eyes at her; so, she caved and smiled at him. A half-smile 'though. But, there was no way she would compliment the other woman's food. That was for sure.

"From someone who was about to order the Xmas special at her neighborhood restaurant, I can honestly say 'thank you'! You are an amazing chef, Ellie," Julia stated.

"Yes, the lady's awesome!" the Captain added, kissing his girlfriend's cheek.

"Everything was amazing, Ellie," Sarah said softly.

Casey, on the edge of his seat, nodded vehemently after Sarah's statement, to escape this triviality of praising the woman's cooking. Even 'though he really did enjoy the meal.

"Why, thank you all! You're far too kind," she modestly put it.

Although she knew very well that she really knew how to cook great food.

"Now, enough with polishing my ego. Let's open some presents!" the brunette exclaimed.

Casey really wasn't the type of guy to seat in front of a Xmas tree, and start gushing at every present that got opened. He'd rather have some criminal pluck out tooth by tooth from his mouth, slowly and painfully, than having to set through that. He decided it was time to vanish from the scene.

"Hey, thank you for dinner; but I have to, uh, I think it's time for me to go," he said softly, more to Ellie than the rest.

"No way! This is the best part of the night, you can't leave now. Plus, I got a little something for you, too. You won't leave empty handed," Ellie tried.

"If the dude wants to go, I think we should let him go," Morgan stated.

Lately he had felt a bit of jealousy towards John Casey. It seemed like the dude wanted to steal his best friend. He was always hanging around Chuck, and crashing all the Bartowskis' events. Well, that is my thing, he thought.

"No! I think Ellie is right," Chuck intervened, staring directly at Casey.

"I think Casey has to stay until we open all the presents in this tree. One by one. It will be so much fun. Won't it, Casey?" he added, clearly trying to bait the NSA agent.

Chuck didn't know when, but he had actually started to enjoy this little teasing/baiting contest with Casey. It was their thing. And, much to the agent's dismay, he had also.

Casey took the bait alright. 'Cause he pursed his lips, and gave Chuck his best menace-stare.

"Well, if you insist," he managed to say, while getting a hold of his temper.

Sarah had a smile on her face throughout the whole exchange, she couldn't contain it. She was the only one in the room who really got the real meaning behind it.

Some people set on the couch, which had been strategically maneuvered to face the tree and all its presents; some on the armchairs, wherever one could fit, really. Ellie handed Chuck and Awesome their presents. Both loved the pieces of clothing, and electronic gadgets. The other guys – mostly Morgan – commented on how cool the gadgets were. The three other girls commented on how beautiful the clothes were.

It was time for Chuck and Awesome to give Ellie her gifts. She got some pieces of clothing that were strategically circled on several catalogs. Catalogs that were conveniently sprawled all over the Bartowskis' home. She learned the hard way many Xmas before that her boys had no taste in women's clothing whatsoever. She also got bath oils, and fancy soaps. She couldn't have asked for better gifts.

Chuck handed Morgan his gift. It was a game that Morgan really wanted, but had sold out when he went to buy it. Chuck had ordered his copy weeks ago online. Morgan was so thrilled that he looked like he could cry.

"There's no need to cry, buddy," Chuck joked, smiling.

"So, where's my present?" he asked Morgan.

"Here it is," Morgan said, taking it from under the tree and handing him the box.

Chuck opened the box, and a puzzled look took over his face.

"What the heck is this?" he asked, taking the thing out of the box.

In his hands was this black, skimpy, lace halter babydoll. Everyone in the room matched Chuck's puzzled look now. Well, except for Casey. He was laughing as he mentally came up with several sissy jokes to torment Chuck later.

"Oh, yeah…" Morgan calmly said.

"I bought this gift so many moons ago that I even forgot what it was, dude. I got it as a present for you that would also be a present for Sarah, you know, killing two birds with one stone. Tough times for a Buy More salesman, bro…" he added.

Chuck now was the picture of awkwardness. He couldn't get any more red. Sarah was also mortified. If she could dig a hole right there in the living room, she would do it, and after that she would crawl inside it… to never come out again.

Julia didn't know why that piece of information bothered her, but it did. Was she interested in this Chuck guy? She hadn't thought about that until now. She sure found him quite charming, in his own geeky kind of way, from the getgo. Plus, he was funny, smart… Oh, boy! She thought.

It was safe to say that the main reaction to the whole ordeal was awkwardness. Even Anna couldn't believe Morgan did that, actually she could, but even so… this was bad. Casey didn't seem really affected 'though, he was quite blasé. And Morgan, the centerpiece of the "scandal", couldn't be more relaxed. It was like nothing embarrassing had happened.

"But this thing is from Victoria's Secrets, man. I pictured -- no offense, bro -- Sarah in it, and she'd fit right in with the other Angels. I can clearly see her walking down the catwalk with Gisele, Tyra, Heidi… Can't you?! I'm telling you, it would be a treat for you to see it live," he continued to poke the wound, looking at Sarah.

"I think we should just…" Chuck stumbled on the words, while nervously stuffing the babydoll back in the box.

He stole a quick glance at Sarah. He didn't need to be a specialist to see that she was embarrassed as well. But Morgan wasn't finished yet.

"No, buddy. You should keep it, now that the two of you are no longer; I'm sure you'll find another Angel," he said looking without any discretion at Julia.

The woman blushed, and grinned nervously. Sarah didn't found that little comment amusing and her face showed that. Chuck was beyond embarrassed. Embarrassment he was minutes ago, they would have to come up with a new word to describe what he was feeling.

"Yes, I saw the two of you talking. There was something there…" he added in a typical Morgan-is-onto-you tone.

"Shut up, Morgan," Chuck said muffling the words.

"What did I do?" he asked naively.

Ellie thought it was time to intervene. This was getting too awkward.

"I think it's time to give our guests their gifts," she exclaimed.

"Yes! It is time!" Chuck reinforced, shoving the box back under the tree.

Ellie went to the kitchen with Awesome, and brought back four little baskets filled with homemade cookies.

"Here they are. One for Julia, Sarah, Casey and Anna," she said, handing each their own basket.

"I made them myself, from scratch. I hope you guys enjoy. Merry Xmas!" she added.

"Don't I get one?" Morgan whined.

Ellie directed a pointed look at him.

"No cookies for Morgan. Got it!" he said.

"Now, you guys wait a bit; I'll bring some hot cocoa and cookies to wrap up our evening," she stated, and off to the kitchen she went.

Julia went to talk to Chuck.

"So, I guess my previous foot-in-the-mouth moment was worst than I thought, huh?" she asked smiling.

He laughed. The girl was definitely funny… and charming, he thought.

"Yeah, well. Things are, uh… were complicated. We dated for a while, but recently we mutually decided that we're better off as friends," he told her.

"I'm sorry my friend pulled that one at you, by the way. Common sense isn't one of his qualities, as you might have already guessed," he added grinning.

"Yeah, I've gathered that much," she said laughing and nodding.

Sarah -- who was talking to Casey -- was more captivated by Chuck and Julia's conversation than her own. She noticed how they were all talkative and laughing together. To her annoyance, that really bothered her. She shouldn't let this bother her, she should be stronger, she felt like she was losing that battle; and Sarah Walker hated losing.

Casey brought her back from her thoughts, and she finally deviated her eyes from Chuck and Julia.

"Jealous much?" he asked sarcastically.

"I'm not jealous. Who said I was jealous?" she asked defensively.

"You don't have to say anything. It's written all over your face," he reprehended.

"I don't have to listen to this," she fumed.

But as she was leaving Casey grabbed her arm, not violently, just firmly.

"Be careful, Walker!" he alerted the blonde.

She got out of his grip, and left him alone. She crossed paths with Chuck and Julia.

"You caught him live?" he asked interested.

"Yes, he did this gig at a small bar near my place in New York. It was amazing!" she said enthusiastically.

"Damien Rice live at a small bar… that is 'wow'!" he exclaimed.

He saw Sarah passing by.

"Hey, Sarah," he called out.

She stopped on her tracks, but she secretly had been listening to their conversation. They were talking about music. She remembered their first "date". She didn't understand one thing about music. If she was to be honest, her job didn't leave much room for any other interest.

"I need to talk to you," he said softly.

"Can you excuse us for a bit?" he asked Julia.

She seemed a little disappointed to end the conversation. Chuck saw through that. He noticed that she was so much more transparent than… Well, he liked that. He knew where he was stepping into for once.

"Of, course. I'll go have some words with this Morgan guy. Maybe I'll fake outrage at his little gift stunt. Mess with him a little," she said smiling.

"I encourage that," he said laughing.

The girl is cool, he thought. Sarah, on the other hand, could feel the palpable chemistry between the two. And it made her feel a little blue.

"Can we go to my room?" he asked softly.

She nodded. He took the lead and she followed. They entered his room and he closed the door behind them. She wasn't really sure what all this was about.

"Sorry to drag you here. But I wanted to give you your gift, and I thought it would be weird to do it in front of them," he started.

"Oh, Chuck. You shouldn't have…" she tried.

"It's no big deal. I got it before our fake break-up; it would be pretty weird for a boyfriend not to give his girlfriend a present on Xmas. Don't you think?" he asked, reaching for the gift inside his closet.

"But, we're not…" she tried.

"I know we're not boyfriend/girlfriend anymore. But since I already have this here, I figured… Plus, it's not something you can return, or exchange, anyway," he interjected, now holding a rectangular, kinda shallow, medium sized, red box.

"Merry Xmas, Sarah," he said, handing her the gift, and with a Chuck megawatt smile on his face.

She didn't notice, but she was with her full-blown Sarah smile on her face, too. She stood there, holding the red box that was tied with a beautiful, wide, green ribbon.

"Go ahead, open it!" Chuck rushed her.

"Okay," she said smiling.

She sat on his bed. He came closer but remained standing up, hovering over her. She felt like a little kid opening that gift. She untied the ribbon, and pulled the top off. She gently removed the delicate white paper that was involving it, and there it was…

TBC

A/N: Hope you liked the chapter. Sorry to leave you guys with a cliffhanger, but, again, it was getting too long. I can't seem to put Xmas to bed lol Anyhow, at least you can have some fun guessing what his present to Sarah will be, 'cause I already know the answer. The lucky winner will win a beautiful basket of delicious cookies, an Ellie Bartowski original! lmao

The next chapter will take longer to be written and posted, I must warn you. My friends are starting to call me a.s. (anti-social); so, I'll be pretty much busy hanging around in the club with them, swimming, and working on my tan. Yeah, it's a harsh life… It's too hot in here to be staying home sitting in front of the computer, anyways. But I promise to try my hardest to be quick.

Officially I can say now: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! And enjoy this chapter!