A/N: I love the reactions to Teddy, and while what I may do may be a curveball at first to many of you, I think by the time I finish it, you'll be happy. Jill… eh, whatta you do?

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

Sarah opened the door to their room and Chuck followed behind her, shutting the door. He turned to watch her sit on the couch, grinned, and started toward her. "So, we're seriously making out on the couch?" She winced. "We're not making out?"

"We can… but first, I just want to see how you are," Sarah told him. Chuck sat beside her, propped his elbow on the couch, his head in his hand. Sarah mimicked him, pulling a leg under her. "So?"

"Are you referring to my ex-girlfriend, Ted, my Dad, Zondra and Molly's issue, or the fact that you haven't properly made out with my face in hours?" Chuck asked.

"So, we're deflecting," Sarah replied, grinning.

"You have to admit, making out with your face is a hell of a deflection."

"Oh, it is, and I will correct that issue very shortly, but…" She scooted as close to him as she could. "Chuck, you seem to keep getting…"

"Shit on?" Chuck asked. Sarah sighed and nodded. "This may surprise you, but knowing that some of what she did was for money… it wasn't me, you know?" Sarah nodded, a sad smile on her face. "She's a messed-up human, Teddy is a messed-up human, but I have to get their claws out of my dad. The problem is, it's gonna be… bloody."

"Very," Sarah agreed. She took her right-hand index finger and laid it gently on his chest. Chuck looked down at it, then back to her. "You do know I'm here for you, right?"

"There's not much I know, Sarah Walker, but one of the things I do, is that you are with me," Chuck replied. She beamed at him. "God, I love that smile," he blurted out.

"Thank you," she said shyly. "No one has ever made me smile like you before."

"You know, we're lucky Molly isn't here. She'd be mercilessly mocking us right now," Chuck pointed out. He shook his head. "Zondra told me a lot. Sarah, it's not right."

"Nope," Sarah agreed. "It is not. Plus, you add in the whole Molly working for Dad, does she want to work with Zondra full-time, should she… it's a lot."

"I don't see why your dad doesn't have Zondra's company on retainer, or have a contract with her," Chuck said, looking out at the ocean past her shoulder. He looked back at Sarah. "What?"

"Go on," she said.

"I mean, you two go in, do a once-over, figure out what they need. Zondra, Carina, Molly, and you go in afterwards and do presentations to show ways to make things better," Chuck said with a shrug. "Pointing out you have bad practices is one thing, but with this group doing workshops, showing them how to fix it… it just seems like a natural union."

"I knew I loved you," she said, taking his face in her hands, kissing him soundly. She pulled away. "Look, I owe you serious make-out time…"

"How serious?"

"Super serious. If it was cereal… we're talking frosted flakes," Sarah told him.

"Eh, not that serious," Chuck replied. Sarah tilted her head at him with aReally? look. "I mean I get why you might think that a sugar-infused cereal would be at the top of my list-"

"Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Honey Bunches of Oats, serious," she cut in.

"Damn," Chuck said, his eyes wide. "That's… serious."

"You bet your cute ass it is," Sarah told him. "I need to call Dad."

"Okay," Chuck told her. "Make sure and take all the credit."

"No," Sarah told him. "I will not."

"Sarah," Chuck began, grinning.

"Charles Irving Bartowski," she said, looking him right in the eye.

"Eep," he squeaked.

"I will not take your amazing idea and take credit for it," she told him. "I will not have you miss out on recognition as the genius you are, to prop myself up. That shit may have flown with Jill, but you are in an adult relationship now. With me. And we don't roll that way."

"So, to be clear, what you're saying is, if we're ever at a big party, and I have to go take a phone call or talk to someone, you wouldn't eat my dessert and blame it on Morgan?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Chuck," Sarah replied. She tried to keep a straight face. "Of course I would. It's dessert."

"My bad," Chuck said, laughing.

"Priorities, Chuck, priorities," Sarah continued, standing. She reached out, took his hand with the intent of helping him up. Instead, she felt herself tugged lightly, and she plopped into his lap. "Now why would you do that, Chuck?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Do you need to make that call… right now?" Chuck asked, as he leaned in, kissing her neck where it met the shoulder.

"I mean," she tried to say, her eyes fluttering from the feelings. "Uh…"

"What, you can't answer me?" he asked, pulling his lips away from her skin for a moment, then attacking it again, as he headed for her earlobe. "Mmm," he murmured, as his lips gently began to kiss it.

"Chuck," she said, pulling away. "If you don't stop, I won't be able to call my father until tomorrow."

Chuck leaned in, as she grinned at him. "Is that a threat, or a promise?"

"I forget," she admitted, making both laugh. She shoved him backwards, turned, straddled him, and cupped his face in her hands as she began to kiss in earnest.

"What about your father?" he asked, when he finally managed to pull away.

"You want him to kiss you?" Sarah asked, concern on her face.

"No," Chuck replied. "He's really a lovely man, but… no." Sarah threw back her head and laughed. Chuck launched forward and his lips connected with her neck, making the laughter turn to a moan.

"Chuuuuck," she moaned.

"God, I love it when you do that," Chuck admitted. She finally pulled away, and stood. "Where are you going?"

"The bedroom," Sarah told him, a sultry look on her face.

"Well, why are you going in there?" Chuck asked.

"More room to work on you," Sarah told him, going inside. It took a second for Chuck's brain to reboot, then he rushed in, making Sarah laugh.

}o{

The next day found Chuck walking along the beach. Sarah, Molly, and Zondra had been talking during breakfast, constantly giving Chuck looks, to the point he started to get up and leave. They begged him not to, but Zondra just kept smiling at him, and shaking her head.

The three went to call Jack. Chuck asked where Carina was, but was told he was too young to know. Chuck decided a stroll would be in order, and off he went. He had gotten lost in his thoughts about college, Jill, and just how much Teddy had tried to control his life. It angered him, but if he were being honest, he more felt sorry for Jill.

He felt sorry that she felt her best use was to basically be a con artist, to get people to do what she wanted. She was a genius, in a field Chuck couldn't even wrap his head around, and all she could see to do was to influence others, and not in a positive way.

He was angry at himself for even being upset at what Jill had done to him. He knew others would want revenge, or some sort of closure, but seeing her, for what she was… it was plenty. Teddy, on the other hand….

Chuck got pulled out of his thoughts by sounds, and as he looked around, his sense of smell was assaulted. His stomach growled, and he saw the offender off in the distance; a food truck. He headed toward it, and saw a crowd of people waiting to order. Picnic tables were positioned all around, at capacity.

He walked up, got in the back of the line, and wondered what it was that smelled so good. "Excuse me," he said to the man in front of him. The man turned, and Chuck thought he looked very familiar. He was what some would call classically handsome. He wasn't quite as tall as Chuck, and had model-esque brown hair. "What is it that I'm smelling?"

"You won't believe me," the man answered. "But it's Spam." Chuck's eyes widened. "I know, but it's good. Trust me, you'll love it."

"Okay," Chuck replied, his voice betraying how he really felt.

"Tell you what; if you don't like it, it's on me," the man told him.

"Deal," Chuck told him. "Chuck Bartowski," he said, offering the man his hand.

"Bryce Larkin," the man replied.

}o{

"Okay, this is ridiculously good," Chuck admitted to Bryce a little while later. Bryce had paid for Chuck's food over Chuck's protest, and the two of them found an empty table. Chuck had ordered the Spam burger, and was shocked at how good it was.

"The chefs here are geniuses," Bryce replied, lifting his burger to take a bite. That was when Chuck noticed the ring on Bryce's fourth finger. Bryce paused. "Just married," he said.

"Sorry," Chuck told him. "I wasn't staring, I just think I saw your wedding yesterday." Bryce's expression didn't change. "God, that sounded even worse," Chuck muttered, making Bryce chuckle. "I was at the hotel with my friend, on her patio, and we saw the ceremony." Bryce nodded. "That still sounded a little creepy. My friend, her girlfriend wants to get married, have a big wedding. And she has no one that will be there for her when she marries."

"Oh," Bryce said, nodding.

"She was watching you two… not crying," Chuck added quickly, making Bryce give him a confused look. "She refuses to cry."

"Got it," Bryce replied.

"And she wondered, did either of you have to give up your dream wedding, and did you regret it? Was there any… I don't know, resentment?" Chuck continued. "I told her I'd be there for her, but… it's not fair."

"It's not," Bryce replied, nodding. He chewed for a moment. "I used to say I was from Connecticut, but now I just say I'm from LA, because no one in Connecticut claims me."

"I'm sorry," Chuck said.

"It's okay," Bryce assured him, smiling. "I'm in love, and sometimes with everything else that goes on in life, we miss that. And I'm not just talking about those of us in a same-sex marriage. Everyone has stuff, sickness, family drama… you made a face."

"Yeah, I have some family drama," Chuck admitted.

"And you're straight, right?"

"Yup," Chuck replied. "And it has affected my relationship some, but I'm doing everything I can to not let it."

"That's literally all you can do," Bryce told him. "No matter who you love, there are going to be obstacles. We can get caught up in work, in self-worth, in everything. There's this woman married to a member that Cole serves with… Cole's my husband." Bryce smiled. "That feels so nice to say."

"I know what it was like to call Sarah my girlfriend, I can't imagine what it will feel like to call her my wife," Chuck replied.

"You get it," Bryce said. "So, there's this woman, Jill-"

"Jill Roberts?" Chuck asked.

"Yeah, do you know her?" Bryce asked. Chuck paused for a moment. "Wait… Chuck Bartowski… oh my God, you're the one she was talking about!"

"Oh, God," Chuck groaned. "How bad?"

"I mean, she basically said you were wasting all your potential," Bryce admitted. Chuck lowered his head. "But the entire board is so used to her, that we all figured there was some back story as to why she was so down on you, and we bet you had somehow one-upped her."

"I used to date her… well, I guess I did," Chuck admitted.

"You don't know if you dated her?" Bryce asked.

Chuck was silent for a moment, and then decided what the hell. "She was paid to date me, in the hopes she would drive me to work for my father's company. It's a long story, but there's a guy in my father's company that I'm going to have to confront when I go back."

"Oh my God, he paid her?" Bryce asked, his eye wide. "I wish that surprised me." Chuck nearly choked on his drink. "What?" Bryce asked. "If you spend twenty minutes around that woman… listen, we all think she's only with Guy because he supports her financially."

"I can't argue that logic, at this point," Chuck agreed.

"I mean, she's my perfect example; she'll never be happy, and have love, because she's too busy trying to get everything she thinks the world owes her, instead of finding who and what makes her happy."

"You don't think money makes her happy?" Chuck asked.

"Money can't buy happiness," Bryce said. "Now, it can buy so many things, and it helps. But at the end of the day, it alone cannot." He tilted his head to the side. "But it does help."

"It does," Chuck agreed. "You said Cole was your husband?" Bryce nodded. "So, how did his family take it?"

"Don't know," Bryce replied. "They've passed."

"So, one of you has no family that will claim you, and the other, no family at all," Chuck said. Bryce nodded. "I'm glad you two found each other."

"Thanks," Bryce replied, with a grin. "Me too. So, Chuck Bartowski, when you're not slaying the harpy that is Jill Roberts, what do you do?"

"I just started my own business in computers," Chuck told him.

"Careful," Bryce said, sipping his drink, grinning. "Orion might come along and scoop you up." Chuck looked away. "Wait… Bartowski? Ah, shit, did I just stick my foot in my mouth?"

"No," Chuck assured him, and saw the smart watch on his wrist. "But chances are the code in that watch is my tech."

"I'm confused," Bryce told him.

"I may have said too much," Chuck muttered. "I'm sorry-"

"No, no, that's completely fair. You don't know me at all, and here I am, trying to find out your life story, and your life obviously intertwines with many other people and their story."

"It does," Chuck admitted. "After college I went to work for my dad at Orion, but he wanted me to be the programmer extraordinaire. And while I was good at it, I wasn't happy. I wanted to be out among people."

"Well of course you should," Bryce said, like this was a no-brainer. "You're charismatic, a people person. And while you're obviously brilliant to create this, you have not one air about you."

Chuck ducked his head. "Thank you," he said, trying not to blush.

"Sorry, just calling it like I see it," Bryce replied, shrugging. He took a drink. "So I'm guessing you and your Dad didn't see eye to eye… wait, did he know about Devil-Harpy being paid to date you?"

"Devil-Harpy?" Chuck asked. Bryce grinned. "No, not that I know of. But I did leave, met my girlfriend and it's been a whirlwind ever since. Now I'm working with Zondra and her group as their IT guy."

"So, you're the one who saved Guy's ass," Bryce said. "Makes complete sense." Bryce was silent for a moment. "It's Zondra you were with yesterday, wasn't it?" Chuck looked away. "I saw her and her girlfriend dancing. Cole pointed them out to me."

"Yeah," Chuck replied.

"She rocked that suit," Bryce added.

"She did!" Chuck agreed. "Her, Molly, and I went suit shopping for me, and… it was an adventure."

"I bet it was," Bryce agreed. "You coming to the luau tomorrow night?"

"I have no idea," Chuck admitted. "All I know is tomorrow my work starts in earnest."

"Try to," Bryce encouraged him. "And please, bring your girlfriend and friends. I'd like to meet them."

"I will," Chuck replied. "Are you part of the science group?"

"Who, me? No," Bryce answered. "I'm a plus-one, that became a permanent plus-one." He smiled at the thought. "I'd love to stay and talk, but this afternoon is the last time I get to spend with my husband before the conference starts annnnddddd-"

"Go, go," Chuck said, making a shooing motion. Bryce stood and Chuck did as well. "Nice to meet you Bryce," he said, holding out his hand. Bryce tilted his head, smiled, and coming around the table, hugged Chuck. "Everyone I meet is a hugger these days."

"It's who I am," Bryce said. "Now this will be awkward, but we're actually both walking the same direction, if we're going to the hotel."

"Actually, I'm heading up there," Chuck said, pointing toward the shopping center, "to the pharmacy. Need my eczema cream."

"Seriously, stop by tomorrow night, and bring your friends. I'd love to meet them," Bryce said, and then he turned and headed back to the hotel.

"What a nice guy," Chuck said to himself. Chuck turned, and headed toward the pharmacy up the road.

}o{

Chuck opened the door to the hotel room and was met with a song he recognized.

You don't have to be beautiful to turn me on

I just need your body, baby, from dusk 'til dawn

You don't need experience to turn me out

You just leave it all up to me, I'm gonna show you what it's all about

Chuck walked to the bedroom door to tell Sarah he was back, to find her dancing, wearing his dress shirt. He leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms and smiling. Sarah spun, and stopped, her eyes wide, seeing him.

"Please, don't stop on my account," Chuck said, grinning at her.

Sarah smiled and moved toward him in time to the music. She began to sing along.

You don't have to be rich to be my guy

You don't have to be cool to rule my world

Ain't no particular sign I'm more compatible with

I just want your extra time and your kiss

"I believe you just changed a word in there," Chuck told her. She reached over, grabbed his tie off the nearby dresser, and tossed it around his neck. She was grinning as she held onto both ends and looked right into his eyes.

"Dance with me," she said softly.

"Okay," Chuck replied, his hands going to her waist, as she dropped the tie, and crossed her wrists behind his neck, swaying to the beat. The next line played, and they continued to dance. The chorus hit, and Chuck sang, this time.

You don't have to be rich to be my girl

You don't have to be cool to rule my world

Ain't no particular sign I'm more compatible with

I just want your extra time and your kiss

"Uh, question," Chuck interjected. Sarah raised an eyebrow. "I know the line is You can't be too flirty, mama, I know how to undress me. How do we feel about that line?"

Sarah grinned, lowered her hands from his neck, and grabbed the bottom of his shirt, lifting it up. "Is this too flirty, Chuck?"

"Lord, no," he replied, a little out of breath.

"Wanna help me with your shirt?" She asked.

"I was thinking, why don't you keep that one, and we go buy me a replacement?" Chuck asked.

"If we did, I'd just wear it as well," Sarah told him. Chuck smiled at her, and leaned in, capturing her lips with his.

"I'm okay with that," he said softly, and then dove back in for another kiss.

"That's probably best," she replied, giggling. "Love you, Chuck.

"Love you, Sarah," he replied. "Can I unbutton my shirt?"

"It is your shirt," she told him.

Chuck reached for the first button.

A/N: If you've not seen Doom Patrol, and the job Matt Bomer did playing Negative Man, I cannot encourage you enough to go see it. That being said it is a mature show, but Matt's story arc is INCREDIBLE. Some of this was influenced by him and the amazing job he did.

Also I know I don't write Sarah wearing Chuck's shirt as well as Steampunk Chuckster, but her past couple of chapters of Yuletie may have influenced me with adding some music and Sarah in Chuck's shirt.