A/N: Hey guys (: Here is the next chapter. Again, it's one of my longer chapters (: and I'm on time! :P
Anyways...hope you enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Chuck, and all mistakes are mine.
Can you be my daddy?'
'Of course, baby.' Chuck said, without having to think twice. 'Of course.' He brushed a stray strand of hair off Molly's face.
Molly lay her head back on Chuck's chest. 'Daddy.' She repeated it once more, relishing in the fact that she finally had a fatherly figure in her life.
THE NEXT NIGHT
Sarah lay in bed, unable to succumb to sleep. Under normal circumstances, she would have tossed and turned until sleep came, but her pregnant body forbade her from doing so. Finally giving up, she reached out and turned her bedside lamp on. Propping a couple of pillows up against the backboard of the bed, she hoisted herself up and sat up against the pillows. Looking over at Chuck, she found him sleeping peacefully on his side. Unable to resist herself, she reached a hand out and ran it through his soft, curly hair. Oddly enough, it comforted her.
She'd barely gotten any sleep the previous night as it was spent at the hospital, and she had just had an extremely long day. Theoretically, she should be tired. Well, she was tired; but there were just too many things running through her mind for her to be able to sleep. She sighed inwardly as she fought back a couple of tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes. No. I've cried enough already. She thought herself. She sat in silence and willed herself to relax.
She tried to shift into a more comfortable sitting posture, trying to find a position that was most comfortable for her in her current state. As she shifted, she heard the rustling of footsteps by the door of their room. Looking up, she saw a tear stricken Molly standing by the door, clutching Rex tightly in her arms with a small blankie in tow.
Upon sensing Sarah's gaze on her, Molly turned to leave the room.
'Molly.' Sarah whispered loudly, but not too loud so as to wake Chuck up.
Molly turned to look at Sarah with a guilty look on her face.
'It's okay honey.' Sarah said gently.
Molly stood grounded to her spot in the doorway. 'Come.' Sarah motioned for her to come over.
Molly shook her head, not wanting to be a nuisance. However, Sarah repeated the request and gave Molly a small smile. 'Come here.' She scooted over to the left slightly to make room for Molly, and patted the now empty space between her and Chuck.
The little girl slowly made her way over to Sarah, and climbed up onto the bed. Sarah grabbed a couple of tissues off her nightstand and carefully wiped the tears off Molly's face. 'You couldn't sleep, could you?' Sarah asked.
Molly shook her head. Sarah wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close, allowing Molly's head to lean against her chest. She planted a soft kiss on the top of her head. Chuck had told her about everything that Molly had seen. She felt sorry for Molly, having to have experienced such a traumatizing experience at such a young age.
'Are you thinking about her?' Sarah asked gently.
Molly nodded.
'I miss her too.' Sarah whispered as she tightened her hold around Molly. After a while, Sarah looked down and found Molly dozing off slightly. She repositioned Molly, moving Molly's head to the pillow and sliding her small body under the covers. After tucking Molly in, she slid back under the covers herself and lay sideways, facing Chuck and Molly.
She reached out and switched her bedside lamp off. The room was now dark, but moonbeams shone through the slits of the curtains and danced on Molly and Chuck's faces. Using a hand, she reahed out and brushed back a few strands of stray hair from Molly's face. Sliding an arm under her, she pulled her close once more and began to sing the lullaby her mom had sung to her many years back.
'Slumber, my darling, mother is near,
Guarding your dreams from all terror and fear,
Sunlight has passed and the twilight has gone,
Slumber, my darling, the night's coming on.'
Ring. Ring. Ring. Opening his eyes, Chuck picked up his phone off his nightstand and declined the call. Replacing it on the nightstand, he fell back on the bed and turned to look at Sarah.
To his surprise, he found both his girls sleeping peacefully, Sarah with her arms wrapped protectively around Molly. He smiled at the sight, and grabbed his phone off his nightstand once more and snapped a picture of them. It was going to become his new wallpaper.
He lay there just staring at them. Upon realizing that it was almost 10 o'clock in the morning, he decided that it was about time to get started with the day. He planted a kiss on Molly's forehead, then proceed to get off the bed and walked over to Sarah's side of the bed, and planted another kiss on her forehead. Sarah stirred under his touch.
'Chuck?'
'Hey baby.' He whispered, sitting down on the edge of the bed. 'Sorry, did I wake you?'
Sarah let out a small smile. 'It's okay.'
'No.' Chuck said, stroking her cheek gently. 'You should get more rest. I'll go make breakfast.'
'Okay.' Sarah said. Chuck leaned down and planted a kiss on his wife's lips. Upon breaking the kiss, he let his lips linger on hers for a while. Sarah let out a small giggle. 'Go.' She said, taking a hand of Molly and swatting him away jokingly.
'Yes madame.'
20 MINUTES LATER
Chuck entered the bedroom carrying a tray with a large plate of blueberry pancakes, two cups of coffee, a cup of warm milk.
'Hey.' Sarah said, sliding her arms out from around Molly and sitting up slightly. Sensing the movement, Molly opened one eye.
'Good morning, Molly.' Sarah said. Molly buried her head in the pillow, but Sarah began tickling her. Molly began giggling and thrashing violently. 'No...noo...noo...I need to poo.'
Chuck and Sarah both laughed. 'Go poo, you little munchkin.' Sarah said as she stopped tickling her.
Climbing off the bed, Molly ran to the bathroom to do her business. Chuck sat down on the bed, setting the tray down on the sheets. Slipping back under the covers, he propped some pillows up and leaned up against the backboard. He placed an arm around Sarah and moved in closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. 'You okay?' He asked.
'Uhh...yeah. I think so.' Sarah said hesitatingly, running a hand slowly up and down her bulging stomach. Sneaking a look up at him, she found him staring at her with a look that clearly said that he knew that she was not okay.
Sarah sighed. 'I was never really close to my mom...but, I have no idea how to be a mom, and with these two coming along, I was kind of hoping she could be around to show me what to do...and I was hoping that through that, we could slowly build on our relationship.'
Chuck placed a hand over her hand and at the same time gave her shoulders a squeeze. 'I know for a fact that you're going to be a great mom.'
Sarah shrugged, but before she could say anything, Molly came back into the room. Hearing her footsteps, Chuck took his hand off Sarah's hand and reached out to Molly to help her on the bed.
Molly grabbed his hand as she climbed onto the bed and crawled over to him, taking care to avoid the breakfast tray. Settling herself down next to Chuck, she took Rex back in her arms.
'Do you want some pancakes?' Chuck asked.
Molly nodded. Grabbing a pancake off the plate, he ripped off a small piece and placed it in her mouth. Ripping another piece off, he placed it in front of Sarah's mouth. Sarah smiled and opened her mouth for the piece of pancake. It took them about 10 minutes to polish off the plate of pancakes and the coffee and milk.
Placing the tray off to the side, Chuck pulled Molly onto his lap with his free hand - the hand that wasn't around Sarah. 'I'm very full.' Molly announced, pulling up her shirt and sticking out her belly.
Sarah used a finger to poke Molly's stomach and made funny noises. 'Beep. Beep. Beep.' Molly giggled.
'I wonder what's growing in there. Hmm...a bear? A dinosaur?' Chuck pretended to pause for effect. 'Or a monster?' He said dramatically.
'No daddy.' Molly laughed, pulling her shirt back down. 'It's just food.'
'Really? Then what's in Sarah's belly?'
'It's two babies.' Molly smiled, proud that she knew the answer. She placed a hand on Sarah's stomach and giggled. 'They're kicking me.'
THREE WEEKS LATER
They held a simple church funeral for Emma. Sarah was a mess, as was Molly and Jack. A few days after the funeral, a package arrived in the mail. The first thing Sarah saw upon opening the package was a disc. On the case of the disc, it said 'To: Sarah, Molly and Jack.' Gathering Jack, Molly and Chuck, Sarah placed the disc in the disc player in the living room and pressed play. As she took her seat on the couch next to Chuck, she heard her mom's voice through the speakers.
'Today is Janurary 1st, 2012. This is Emma, and if you're listening to this, it means that I am no longer with you anymore. I update this recording every year, because, well, because many things can change over the period of a year. I don't know what may end up taking my life, or how my end may come, but these are my last words to the people I love.
Sarah, honey, I still remember the day you were born. You were the cutest little thing, with big blue eyes and a short layer of fuzzy blond hair on your head. That day was the happiest and saddest day of my life. I don't know if I'll ever get the chance to tell you this in real life, but you had a twin sister. But something happened towards the end of my pregnancy, some complication, and we lost her. As a result, your dad took off, unable to cope with his emotions. Once you were old enough, you started going off with him too, up until he got arrested. And then you joined the CIA.
The last time I saw you was the day you brought Molly to me 5 years ago. It is another one of those days I have mixed feelings about. I was sad because I have never seen you again since, because you said we had to break off contact in order to keep Molly safe. But it was also the day I first met Molly, and from that day on, she brought me great joy. I have been trying to give Molly normal life – soccer games, trick or treating and all that stuff, just as you asked. But if you are listening to this, it means that I have failed to keep your promise. I'm really sorry.
Sarah, I want you to take Molly in as your own child...she doesn't really know anyone else. Knowing you, you'll probably argue that Molly has probably forgotten about you by now, but I guarentee you, she still remembers. I've been telling her stories about you. Sarah, I know you love that little girl, or else you'd have never saved her. I trust that you'll find a way to keep her safe, just as you have been doing the past 5 years.
And I know this seems a bit far fetched, but I hope that someday, you'll find the perfect guy to settle down with. Someone that is kind and gentle, and that loves you to the ends of the earth. Trust me, Sarah. There is a guy for you out there.'
Sarah let a tear slip down her face, and she slipped her hand into Chuck's. 'Don't worry, Mom. I've found the guy,' she whispered. Chuck brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it.
There was a short period of silence, then the recording started again.
'Molly, baby, I still remember the day I first laid eyes on you. You were a few months old, and Sarah brought you to me to save you from some bad guys.' There was a slight hesitation, and they could hear Emma let out a sigh.
'Molly, I'm not your mommy. If you're listening to this, it means that I'm most likely in heaven, with your real mommy and daddy.' There was another long pause. 'Sweetie, do you remember Sarah? The sister I've been telling you stories about? Well, I want her to be your mommy. She loves you very much Molly, I promise. And I love you too. I'll forever be your guardian angel, watching over you always.'
'Jack.' She sighed. 'I know that we're going through a divorce now, but I want you to know that I still miss you...everyday. When you left, it hurt. It hurt a lot, and I don't think I can ever forget the pain. But underneath the pain, I know I still love you. And if you're listening to this, it means that I never got to tell you in person, but I just wanted you to know.'
When the recording finished, they all sat in silence, reflecting upon Emma's last messages to each of them.
Sarah suddenly felt the urge to cry. Letting go of Chuck's hand, she got up off the couch and rushed out the door, grabbing the car keys from the bowl next to the door on the way.
Chuck got up to follow her, but Jack stopped him. 'Let her be for a while,' he told Chuck.
Sarah sat on the beach at their spot, listening to the rhythmic sounds of the waves beating on the sand. The light breeze created by the ocean tides blew against her, whipping her hair back, making her shiver. She pulled her thin cardigan close around in attempt to keep warm. Placing a hand on her stomach, she sighed as she let her tears fall freely.
She sat in silence as she thought about how much her life has changed in the last month or so. Many things were different now - since Emma's death, they have been taking care of Molly on a full time basis, as if they were her parents. Which they sort of are as Molly has begun calling Chuck daddy, but not on a legal basis. Sarah quite liked it; she'd never been happier. Molly was like her and Chuck's long lost daughter. However, she couldn't help but feel a bit jealous of Chuck: Molly already calls him 'Daddy', but she has yet to call her 'Mommy'. Which is somewhat understandable, because Emma was her mom, and now suddenly calling someone else 'mommy' would be confusing, but it is a human instinct to feel jealous when you feel left out.
'Daddy, Daddy! Look! She's there!' Molly's voice pierced through the silence. Sarah let out a small chuckle through her tears. Although she did feel a little jealous, she still found it super cute when Molly called Chuck 'daddy.'
Suddenly, she felt a pair of small arms wrap around her shoulders from the back. 'Hi.' Molly said.
'Hey Molly.'
'Guess what Daddy and I brought you?'
Just then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chuck sit down beside her.
'Hey Baby.' Placing his hand on her hand, he found that it was freezing. 'Sarah, you're freezing.' Taking off his own hoodie, he wrapped it around Sarah. 'Thanks.'
Sarah swivelled her head around as much as possible so she could see Chuck and Molly. Chuck, seeing the tears on Sarah's face, used the pad of his thumb to wipe them away. Sarah smiled. 'So what did you guys bring me?'
Chuck reached into the shopping bag he'd brought with him and pulled out a carton of rocky road ice cream. 'The classic.'
Sarah chucked. But instead of handing the carton off to her, Chuck set it aside on the sand. 'But before we dig in, Molly has something she would like to share with you.'
Molly let go of Sarah, ran over to Chuck and whispered something into his ear.
'Don't be scared.' Chuck told her. 'She'll like it, I promise. Do you have your paper?'
Molly nodded, and took a piece of paper out of her pocket. Unfolding it, she stood in front of Sarah.
'What do you have there Molly?' Sarah asked.
'A letter.' She hesitated for a second, then started reading what she wrote. 'Dear Sarah, I love you very, very much and I really want you to be my mommy. Will you be my mommy? From, Molly.'
Sarah's heart fluttered at the mention of the word 'mommy'. 'Oh Molly,' she said, choking back a couple of tears. 'Come here baby.'
Molly took a step towards Sarah and Sarah pulled her into a tight hug. 'I love you very much too, and I would love to be your mommy.'
'Hi Mommy.' Molly whispered.
Later on that night, after they finished the ice cream, Molly fell asleep in Sarah's arms. Chuck ran to the car and grabbed a blanket out of the trunk, and lay it out on the sand for Molly to sleep on. Taking Molly from Sarah's arms, he laid her down on the blanket. After doing so, he returned to his spot next to Sarah.
Sarah had a silly grin plastered on her face. 'Hey mommy.' Chuck teased as he gave her a bump on her shoulder.
'Hey.' Sarah let out a small chuckle, and rested her head on his chest.
Wrapping his arms around her, he chuckled himself. 'Can you believe we've started our own little family already?'
'Nope.' She paused. 'But I love it.'
ONE DAY LATER
Chuck and Sarah walked hand in hand out of the adoption agency where they'd just dropped off Molly's adoption papers so they could become Molly's legal parents. Molly stayed with Ellie for the day.
'I need the bathroom.' Sarah said. She was around 8 months along now, and the babies had been growing exponentially, leaving virtually no room for her internal organs.
'I'll wait here.' Chuck said, taking her handbag from her.
'Okay.' Sarah replied, before making her way towards the toilet.
After about 10 minutes, Chuck began to sense that something was wrong. Sarah usually never took that long. Suddenly, there was a large commotion in the bathroom. A woman came running out screaming for help. 'SOMEONE CALL THE AMBULENCE. QUICK. THERE'S A PREGNANT LADY IN THE BATHROOM THAT NEEDS HELP.'
Chuck ran into the women's bathroom, not caring that he was not allowed in there. Pushing through the crowd of people that had gathered, he found a person trying to help his wife off the ground. 'SARAH!' He shouted, running up to her and helping her up.
'Chuck.' She whispered, falling limp in his arms.
WESTSIDE HOSPITAL, 10 MINUTES LATER
Chuck paced back and forth in the waiting room, waiting for an update regarding Sarah's condition. Sarah had been transported to the ER by an ambulence.
A doctor and a nurse emerged from behind the set of curtains. Chuck rushed up to the doctor and grasped onto his arm. 'How is my wife?'
'Mrs Bartowski fainted of exhausion, most likely caused by the stress of a recent traumatic event. Her blood pressure is high, which is bad her preganancy. In order to guarentee the safety of your chilren and your wife, we are going to have to perform an emergency c-section.'
'Can I see her first?' Chuck asked.
'Of course. The c-section has been scheduled for 4:00, and it's just past 3:30 right now, so you have a little less than half an hour.' The doctor looked down at his clipboard for a moment. 'Would you like to enter the operating room with her?'
'Yes.' Chuck said.
'Okay. I'll get you set up with a set of scrubs in a moment. In the meantime, I'll have my nurse take you to your wife.'
He followed the nurse down a set of corridors, into the small room Sarah had been transferred to. Upon entering the room, he saw Sarah lying on her back with her eyes closed.
Rushing up to her, he ran a hand across her forehead and grabbed her right hand with his other hand. Her eyes fluttered. 'Chuck.'
'Hey Baby.'
'What's happening?' She asked in a small voice.
'The doctors said you fainted of exhausion, and your blood pressure is really high so they're going to have to deliver the babies today by c-section.
Sarah took a deep breath. 'But they're not ready to come out yet. There's still a month to go.'
He ran a hand through her soft blond locks. 'I know Baby, but it's going to be okay.' He paused as he sat down on the edge of the bed. 'And you're going to be too. I'll be with you the whole time, I promise.'
He planted a kiss on her lips, then moved down and planted two kisses on her stomach. 'I love you Sarah.'
WESTSIDE OPERATING ROOM
Chuck could hear the steady beeping of the heart monitor, and the occasional chattering of the doctors and nurses. He watched as they cut open his wife's stomach. He wanted to look away, but he willed himself to be strong for Sarah. Sarah had been put on general anesthesia, but Chuck still held her hand tightly.
The doctor reached his hand in and pulled the first baby out. He held the baby up and the baby let out a large wail. Waaaaaa. 'It's a boy.' The doctor announced, before cutting the umbilical cord and handing him off to a nurse. He then reached in again, and pulled out the second baby. Repeating the same routine, he held the baby up and examined it. 'This one's a girl.'
Chuck could feel tears of joy running down his face. He gave Sarah's hand a squeeze. 'Sarah, we have a little boy and a little girl.'
As they began stitching Sarah up, a few machines went off. 'Her blood pressure is spiking.' A nurse announced.
'Her heart rate is dropping.' Another nurse announced.
Chuck knew something was going wrong. 'What's going on?' He asked.
'Mr Bartowski, I'm going to have to ask you to leave the room right now.' The nurse closest to him told him.
'Is she going to be alright?' He asked worriedly, disregarding the nurse's order.
'It's hard to tell at the moment. But I need you to leave the room now.'
All he could hear was the irratic beeping of machines as he was forced to leave the operating room.
AN HOUR LATER
Chuck sat outside the waiting room with his face in his hands. Nothing can happen to her. He thought to himself.
The 'operation in progress' light finally went off, and the door of the operating room opened. 'Mr Bartowski.'
Looking up from his hands, he found the doctor standing in front of him. 'Doctor, how is she? She's alright, right?'
'Yes. Mrs Bartowski is fine - we managed to get control of her vitals. She's resting room 511 upstairs. The anesthesia will run off in a few hours or so.'
'What about my kids?'
'They're prefectly healthy, though they are a little premature. I'm going to keep them in the NICU for the night just in case any problems arise, but after that, I can get them transferred to your wife's room.' The doctor gave him a smile and stuck out a hand. 'Congratulations, Mr Bartowski.'
Shaking his hand, Chuck let out a sigh of relief. 'Thank you, Doctor. Thank you.'
A/N: So...the baby Bartowskis have arrived (:
Coming up next: Molly meets the two new babies, and lots of cuteness ensues (: Stay tuned!
And don't forget to drop me a review on the way out! They really do make my day! :P