A/N: Yes, this story AGAIN. Just upholding my end of the bargain….and the poll apparently, because this one crushed the competition, surprisingly enough. In the reviews, I'd noticed that a lot of you were surprised I updated, saying I hadn't in a long time…..I updated this the week before….hence the 4 chapters, so if you missed that, you may want to read chapter three to avoid getting lost. Anyway, here's quite a milestone for Sarah in the story, and we'll see how everything plays out. Thanks a million for reading; I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Chapter Five:

"Sarah? What is it?" Chuck repeated gently, as she slowly loosened his hold on her hand, feeling the need to distance herself from him while confessing.

Sarah took a deep breath. "There's…..a lot I need to tell you."

Chuck's eyes reflected worry, as possibilities ran through his head. Was she disguised media? Was she there to take pictures and get inside stories on him?

"Chuck…..I'm not a lawyer." She told him slowly, as if taking small steps towards the whole truth.

"Let me guess, you work for the magazines…..the tabloids?" he asked, as she could feel a hint of disappointment and disgust.

"What? No, of course not!" Sarah defended, causing Chuck to sigh in relief, and then glance back at her in confusion.

"Then what's going on? Who are you?" He asked, wondering who the hell he'd just brought into his home….his life.

"My name….is Sarah Walker." She assured him. "I'm not a lawyer…..Hell, I don't even have a job, Chuck." She began. Chuck was about to cut in, but she refused to let him.

"These past years…..I've spent my life with my father…..running from the law." She got out, heart rapping anxiously in her chest. She had no idea where this was going.

Chuck remained silent, for what seemed like the first time. He simply motioned for Sarah to continue. Afraid, she did so.

"I left my father, Chuck. I regretted leaving with him in the first place. I'd missed my school life, my mother….." she sighed wistfully, holding back any tears that threatened her. "So I found myself beside you, at a bar." She told him, allowing the memory to seep back to her. "I didn't know who you were until now, with all the cameras…..I just wanted to experience a real date…..I wanted to be normal." She finished, hating the eerie quietness that took over from that point forward.

She half expected him to hit her, or throw her out, or something. Anything would've been fine….she deserved it.

"Sarah…." Chuck finally murmured with a sigh, hands pinching his nose. Stress was already bad enough, but this? This was unheard of. "I'm going to ask you some questions, and I expect the whole truth, okay?" Chuck began.

Sarah nodded, blinking. She felt like she was caught by the cops, being interrogated. But the difference here was….she felt like she wanted to tell him everything, to live cleanly without the heavy burden of all her lies crushing her.

"What exactly did you and your father do?" Chuck asked slowly, calmly. Sarah was an expert at reading people, and he…..he was impossible to crack.

Sarah leaned back in her chair, thinking. What was the harm in telling him at this point? With her on the cover of every damn magazine in the city, she was bound to be caught anyway. At least this way, she'd have a good confessional beforehand. "He and I…..we conned people, Chuck. We did it for years, and we made one hell of a living off it. No, we never stayed in one city, and yes, it was stressful and scary at times but…..we had dinner and some sort of roof over our heads at nights, so It's better than a lot of people have it." She finished, though he could simply hear the shame that radiated from her tone, and her look.

Chuck gave an affirmative nod, showing he understood. "And you were freaking out because those pictures could get you into a lot of trouble, huh?"

Sarah only nodded this time, satisfied to not talk for the rest of her life, if that was the case.

Chuck nodded once more. Almost five minutes passed in utter silence as she glanced at him anxiously from time to time. He held his gaze out to the moonlit ocean, thinking deeply. Finally, he glanced straight in to her blue, almost tearing eyes.

His next words surprised her, changing her view of him almost entirely.

"Don't worry, Sarah." He told her softly, smoothly…..and yet, there was such power and strength behind his simple promise. "I won't let anyone touch you, okay?"

Sarah felt her heart hammering in her chest, and she felt butterflies flit in her stomach. Nodding, she murmured. "Thank you, Chuck…"

"Sarah…." Chuck interrupted with a smile. "I'm afraid it comes with a punishment."

Sarah's heart dropped.

"And that is…..?" she asked slowly, gently.

"You have to become my official new love interest from now on, with our faces on the cover of every magazine and newspaper to prove it." He offered her his same playful smile.

Sarah actually managed to laugh, breaking out in to a grin. "I think I can suffer through it…."

"Me too, Sarah…..me too." Chuck replied, smiling. Gently taking her hand, he offered it a gentle squeeze. She needed him to be calm, and though his mind was reeling…..he was ready to be there for her.

For the first time in a very, very long time, she felt safe…..at ease. And yet, excitement sparked and flew through her just by a mere glance from him. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world.

-0-

"Good Morning, Sarah-"Sarah smiled as she woke up from Chuck's comfortable guest bed, remembering last night. Not much had happened after that, but she still regarded it as one of her best memories. Currently, she was reading the curious note he'd been kind enough to leave at her nightstand.

"-I just went out to grab some breakfast and go for a quick run. Morgan should be up soon and we can all have breakfast together." –Chuck

Upon reading his name, Sarah felt the familiar flutter it wrought upon her, causing her to fall back onto her bed with a smile. She'd stumbled into a little piece of heaven. She'd slept in Chuck's t shirt he'd lent her, so she quickly showered and changed back to the clothes she'd worn yesterday, comfortably making herself presentable for Chuck.

Stepping out into the kitchen, her nose was greeted by the luring smell of fresh bagels, donuts, and coffee. Sarah glanced around, just as Morgan walked in, dressed in an expensive business suit.

"Good morning Sarah." He greeted kindly, a smile forming as he saw her. Holding up a cup of coffee, he offered her some. Agreeing, she thanked him and accepted it gratefully, finally waking up after her first sip.

"Where's Chuck?" she asked curiously, as Morgan took a seat with her at the table. Sarah glanced around, noticing how bright and beautiful the house was in the daylight.

"Oh, he ran to the bagel shop, so I'd guess he's showered and coming down….right about now." He glanced at the staircase where Chuck was no doubt coming down, freshly showered and clad in a flattering pair of jeans and a clingy t shirt. Sarah almost burnt herself trying to swallow upon seeing him in mid gulp. No wonder he was the number one bachelor.

"Morning guys." Chuck smiled cheerily, setting out the food.

"Sarah, did you sleep well?" he asked kindly, taking a seat by her.

"Wonderfully." She replied, nodding. He smelled so wonderful.

"Well, I managed to pick up one of these early…." Chuck handed her the weekly magazine, and there they were on the cover.

The picture turned out to be…..perfect. Sarah and Chuck were in nice attire, and the two were smiling genuinely up and down at each other, while Chuck's arm secured her to him. The headline read: Chuck Bartowski, Millionaire extraordinaire, with a possible new fiancée! People Magazine tells all!

"Fiancée, huh?" Morgan grinned, reading the paper. Glancing up, he noticed the awkward looks exchanged between the two, and then the glare from Chuck. "Uh….sorry." he tried to contain his laughter.

Sarah glanced back down at the cover, biting her lip. It did look good…..maybe she didn't mind being Chuck's public girlfriend after all…they did look perfect together…..and the way his arm wrapped around her….how could that be fake?

Chuck tossed the magazine up onto another chair, done with it.

"Could've been worse, buddy." Morgan tried consoling him. Sarah froze, did he not want to be publicly dating her? Why was he worried?

"No, I don't mind the cover at all." He winked at Sarah, who inwardly sighed in relief.

"Then what's the problem dude?" Morgan asked, biting his donut. Sarah waited curiously, wondering what was next on the busy agenda.

"El…..she's going to skin me alive." Chuck confessed. Both he and Morgan gulped. Whoever El was…..Sarah was genuinely scared.

A/N: I've come to realize that I just suck at writing long chapters, so short and often is the way to go for me. Anyway, what do you think? I went for the truth, as you can see, and I'm seeing a lot of directions this story could take. Let me know what you thought! As always, thanks a million for reading and reviewing! I look forward to reading them, and as always, have a good one guys.

-LLC