A/N: Welcome back.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

"Think you can take Jeff and Lester as well?" Big Mike asked, as Chuck continued to wait on Anna and Morgan by the Nerd Herd desk. Chuck turned toward Big Mike, a knowing grin on his face. "I know what you're gonna say; it's not your call, that it's your mom's, but you have some sway." Chuck shook his head. Big Mike shrugged. "I had to ask, Bartowski, you know I did."

"I do," Chuck agreed. "And I'm not gonna ask mom, it's not my place." Big Mike nodded. "But you might bring them to the party, and see if they can behave enough to prove something to me or my mother."

Big Mike narrowed his eyes at Chuck. "What are you playing at Bartowski?"

Chuck shrugged. "Maybe I'm just trying to give people the same chance that I got… the same chances I got," he corrected. Big Mike shook his head, somewhat disgusted.

"They ever get that band off the ground?"

"What, Jeffster? Hell no," Mike said, making a face. "You're not suggesting they play at the party, are you?"

"No, but maybe they could DJ, and you could be in charge of approving the playlist," Chuck said. "And maybe we'll see about making this Buy More an Authorized Dealer of Orion Industries Products."

"That's blackmail," Big Mike said, giving Chuck a look. He chuckled and grinned. "Damn, boy, I am so proud of you."

"It's not, blackmail, Big Mike," Chuck told him. "I was going to suggest it anyway, because it's a win-win. You are known as an Orion repair specialist, and they have sent you quite a bit of business. It makes sense."

"Yeah, but who's gonna repair the Orion equipment now?"

"Maybe it's time you hire some actual competent employees," Chuck suggested.

"Are you saying the way this whole place is being run is my fault?" Chuck didn't say anything. "Well?"

"I think you said that, not me," Chuck said gently. Big Mike winced and looked away. He turned back to Chuck.

"It was easier," he began.

"Hey, I get it, trust me," Chuck told him. "But this place could be a lot better."

"It can," Big Mike agreed. "I need to go do some work. Some actual work. See you this weekend, Bartowski." With that, Big Mike turned and left.

"What are you doing?" came a voice behind him. He smiled and spun around, seeing Sarah standing there, an amused smile gracing her face. "Did you just figure out how to get more productivity out of the manager of the Buy More?"

Chuck just shrugged, grinning. "You know how they say sometimes you need a new coach?" Sarah just stood there. "I'm not much of a sportsball person."

"So you didn't hit a touchdown?" Sarah asked. Chuck narrowed his eyes at her. "I'm just messing with you. I know you have to pitch a touchdown."

"You are too much," Chuck muttered. Sarah nodded quickly, grinning. Chuck snorted and shook his head. "Everyone who has been a main part of this culture has been removed except for one person: Big Mike himself. It's up to him to see if he has what it takes to be more than what he has been."

"You trying to seduce me with all of this psychoanalyzing, Chuck Bartowski?"

"We both know I don't have to do or say anything to seduce you," Chuck retorted, grinning. Sarah gave him a look. "What? You said in Hawaii-"

"I am well aware of what I said in Hawaii," she said, stepping up to him. She smoothed away a non-existent wrinkle on his shirt, feeling his skin shivering at her touch through his clothes. It made her wonder how hard he would shiver if the touch was skin-to-skin. She nearly shuddered from the thought, herself.

"You okay?" Chuck asked.

She looked up at him through her lashes, holding his gaze. "I am, and I'm not. I'm sort of wishing we had time to go home for a bit."

"We do," Chuck told her, glancing at his watch. "Did you forget something?"

"No, I remembered something that would require us to go home," Sarah explained. Chuck ran that through his head, and gave her a confused look, not following. "Chuck, I need you."

"You have… oh," he said, as it dawned on him. "Yeah, we probably shouldn't abandon work to do that."

Sarah nodded.

}o{

A few hours later the two, along with Mary, sat in a conference room with Anna and Morgan, who had changed from their Buy More attire.

"But I don't understand why you're so late, if you had to see if the oven was on," Morgan said. "And you have on different clothes." He paused, leaned in and sniffed. "And you smell freshly showered…"

"Probably had to make sure it… they…" Mary paused, trying to keep a straight face, "cooled off properly." Mary tried to hold in laughter, while not looking at Chuck and Sarah.

"But-" Morgan began again.

"Drop it, Morgs," Anna said. "Their job is not to babysit us."

"Correct," Mary replied. "It gave us plenty of time to get your paperwork done." She slid each of them their new employee badge. "Welcome to Orion Industries."

"Can I say I'm really proud of you two." Morgan and Anna turned toward Chuck. "I think you two are going to do amazing things here, and you're going to have management behind you, so you can succeed."

"Thank you, Chuck," Anna replied. "I'm going to do my best to not let you or your mother down."

"Anna, do your best to not let you down," Chuck told her.

"Well said, son," Mary said. "Now, it is time for the tour, but I'm thinking this is something that Sarah never got to experience, so… Chuck, would you mind giving the tour while I make sure their offices are ready?"

"My pleasure," Chuck replied, standing. He paused, and grinned. "The full tour?"

Mary nodded, returning his grin.

}o{

"No!" a man yelled, as he saw Chuck coming. "No, no, no!" He pointed to a sign indicating No electronics past this point! "No!"

"Does he need to switch to decaf?" Sarah murmured.

"No, Chuck Bartowski, you are not entering the Thunderdome with your cheat device," the man continued, staring daggers at Chuck.

"Last time I beat you, it was all me, Brad," Chuck retorted. There was a smile on his face, one that Sarah hadn't seen much, unless it was directed at her and their relationship. She loved him, and knew he had been through a lot. And that smile did her heart good, seeing him enjoy things that weren't just them. He deserved to enjoy everything, especially those things that were his before they met.

"Besides, I'm giving a tour… I don't have time to beat you."

"Figures, since you're chicken," Brad said. Chuck paused, and turned back to Brad. "What, afraid I'll beat you in front of your friends?"

"I don't care if you beat me in front of them or not," Chuck told him. "Well…you won't, but it wouldn't bother me if you did."

"Normal bet?"

"Normal bet," Chuck replied. Sarah's eyes went wide.

"Wait, a bet?" Sarah asked.

"Oh, I see how it is, now that you got the girl, she's making you wear the skirt."

Chuck glared at Brad.

"Was that too far? You know I'm not good at trash talk, man. I'm just super-hyped to see you and face anyone that can challenge me."

"Wait, this is all… what?" Sarah asked Chuck, confused.

"Brad and I are sort of the kings of laser tag here," Chuck admitted. "And yes… the skirt thing was too far."

"Sorry, I won't do it again," Brad replied, embarrassment on his face.

"It's fine, Brad," Chuck assured him. "And you're on."

"How much is the bet?" Sarah asked.

"A dollar," Brad told her, grinning proudly. "It's not about the money, though. It's about the satisfaction that you know you have crushed your opponent, seen them driven before you, and heard the lamentation of their women!" Brad paused. "Was that too much? It felt like it might have been too much." Sarah was laughing.

"It's fine," Chuck assured Brad. "Nice Conan blast. You know, Morgan and Anna have been hired, and they're pretty good…"

"Really?" Brad said, glee in his voice. "What say the five of us go at it?"

"Well, I don't want to speak for Sarah," Chuck began.

"You're a dead man," Sarah said in a low dangerous voice, staring at Brad. Chuck's eyes widened. "Too much?"

"Just perfect," Brad told them.

}o{

Chuck pulled Sarah off to the side as the others got ready. "Hey, so, I need to tell you something."

"Everything okay?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah," Chuck said, helping her into her chest-plate. "I know last time you think I cheated, but I didn't."

"You didn't use C3PO?" Sarah asked, her eyebrow raised and doubt dripping from her voice.

"Of course I did," Chuck told her, making her chuckle. "But I had to make sure I won."

"Why?" Sarah asked, confused.

"Because I'm in it to win it as well, and you shot me in the chest the first time," Chuck said, doing the same to her, making her eyes go wide as he grinned. "I am serious about two things, and the second one is laser tag," Chuck told her.

"The first?" she asked. He leaned in to kiss her, and felt his chest protector hum. He looked down and saw her gun pointed at his chest. He looked back at her, as she grinned up at him.

"Sarah!" he protested.

"That is the right answer," she told him. "Now what shall we do while those three compete in laser tag?"

"You know you cost me a dollar, right?" he asked her. She gave him a look.

"I'll cover it," she groused, pulling him in and kissing him soundly.

}o{

"So, what did you think?" Mary asked.

"I was quite disappointed in laser tag," Morgan groused. Anna rolled her eyes. Mary looked over at Chuck.

"Son, what happened in the… what is it that you call it?" she asked him.

"The Thunderdome," Morgan said using air quotes. "He and Sarah kept getting knocked out as soon as the match began, and I never got to play with him. He's supposed to be some big shot at laser tag-"

"Morgan," Anna hissed.

"What?" Morgan asked.

"Morgan, perhaps they needed to… discuss things?" Mary offered. Chuck was turning a bit red while Sarah was grinning.

"I don't think they were talking," Morgan argued.

"Master Grimes," C3PO cut in.

"Oh, Lord," Chuck groused.

"Has it occurred to you that Master Chuck and Mistress Sarah could have been… performing osculation?" C3PO continued.

"Isn't that what a fan does?" Morgan asked.

"Morgan," Anna said in a clipped tone, her eyes piercing into him.

"Yes, honey-boo," Morgan replied, going quiet.

"Are there any other complaints?" Mary asked.

"The ball pit and the bouncy house, do we get to use them?" Morgan asked. Anna groaned.

"Of course," Mary said. She glanced over at Chuck, who was looking at a painting on the wall. "Chuck and Sarah busy doing other things?"

"It was my fault," Anna cut in before Morgan could go on another tangent. "I really wanted to find out about my job responsibilities, and hurried us back as quickly as possible."

"I apologize if I have been unprofessional, Mary," Sarah began.

"Sarah, can it," Mary told her, making Chuck laugh. "I should have been showing them around. I am sure you have plenty of other suggestions, besides the ones you have already given me."

"Wait, Sarah suggested you hire us?" Anna asked.

"No, Chuck did," Sarah told her. She winced and turned to Mary. Mary nodded her head, telling her it was fine. Sarah turned back to Anna. "He saw something in you, championed you, believed that you could do more in a position that expected more out of you."

Anna turned to Chuck. "Thank you, Chuck," she said softly. "No one's ever…"

"Hey, it's fine," Chuck told her. He stood up. "I think Sarah and I have done enough damage for today." Sarah just shrugged and grinned, making Chuck blush. Mary and Anna laughed, as Morgan continued to sit there, confused.

}o{

Chuck found himself a short time later at Jack and Emma's. They had been invited to dinner, and Chuck had excused himself to the back deck while the family had been chatting. He tried to help make dinner, or set the table, but was shooed away.

"You following me, Curls?" Zondra asked, sitting in a chair, soaking up the setting sun, enjoying the view.

"I think you have hacked C3PO to find out where I'm going, and got here before I did," Chuck countered. She snorted at him. "Yeah, it sounded ridiculous coming out of my mouth, but I had to roll with it." He paused, looking out at the view, and then back to her. "I mean you can barely turn on your laptop."

She gave him a look.

"There's the line. Or rather, it's a foot back, I'm clearly over it now."

She shook her head and patted the seat right beside her. He sat down, and she grabbed his arm, threw it over her shoulder, and put her head against his chest.

"Zondra?"

"Hush," she told him, chuckling. "Your girlfriend told me to do this."

"What?"

Zondra sighed. "She saw me earlier, and asked me what was wrong. I told her that I was just trying to think things through. She told me I should go hang out here, she'd run you out of the kitchen, and I should lay my head on your shoulder and watch the view. I told her it was insane."

Chuck didn't say anything, he just squeezed the shoulder his hand was resting on.

Eventually, he cleared his throat. "Anything I can do?"

"Nope, you're doing it," Zondra told him.

"Hey, I never thanked you for saving my dad. And Sarah, but mostly my dad." He was silent for a second. "I'm pretty sure Sarah could take care of herself, in that situation."

"Damn skippy she could," Zondra told him. She patted his chest and sat up.

"Did it help?" She shook her head sadly. "Did I do it wrong?"

"No, it's not you. It's the world, it's me, it's just…"

"Life?" Zondra nodded. "Yep, it's something, isn't it?" She continued to nod.

"Serious question, would you ask Sarah's mom or dad for permission to marry Sarah?"

Chuck let out a low whistle. "Wow… lot there to unpack," Chuck replied. "No, not permission. I might tell them I am going to ask, and would like their blessing, but tell them whatever she and I decide to do is whatever we decide to do." He gave her a look. "Are you going to ask Jack?"

"Should I?" Zondra asked. Surprise covered Chuck's face. "What?"

"I'm just surprised by that," Chuck admitted.

"Have you ever thought that some of my bluster, that my brooding… it covers up things?"

"I'm sorry," Chuck began.

"No, don't," Zondra said, holding up her hand. "God, Chuck, my parents messed me up, and I don't want to do that to Molly." Chuck began to laugh. "Why are you laughing at me?"

"I'm not laughing at you," he rushed out. She glared at him, giving him the distinct impression that she didn't believe him. "Zondra, do you think you could actually do something to mess that girl up? Their family dynamic is so much different than yours."

"I know," Zondra admitted. "It's just… gah."

"What are you gah-ing about?" Jack asked, walking out, a beer in hand. He paused. "You two want anything?"

"Nothing for me," Chuck replied. He looked over at Zondra who shook her head. Jack nodded, and sat in a chair. "Think it's coincidence you were sent out here?"

"How did you know I got sent out here?" Jack asked, impressed.

"You had that look on your face, like when Emma tells you to do something you don't think you should, but you do it anyway because it's Emma telling you to do it," Chuck pointed out.

"Remind me not to play poker with you, Charlie," Jack said, chuckling. "Any idea why I was sent out here? Excuse, me; suggested to go enjoy the patio and let the girls talk."

Chuck and Zondra shared a look, both with trepidation on their faces. "What the hell did you two do?" Jack started to chuckle and then full-on laugh.

"What?" Chuck asked, confused.

"You two," Jack said, shaking his head. "You're both worried about being accepted into this family." He gave both a soft smile. "What you seem not to realize, or be gripped by anxiety and doubt over and forgotten, is we're very open. We say what we feel. We love, we fight, but we're family." He took a pull of his beer. "I get it. You've both been through some family stuff… one of you more than the other." Zondra ducked her head. "But you're both loved here."

"Thank you," Zondra said softly, after she had raised her head. "Listen, if I were to one day propose to your daughter-"

"What do you mean, if?" Jack asked, straightening up, concerned. "Is something wrong?"

"No, but you don't know the future, Mr. Walker…" Zondra began.

"Zondra, for the last time, it's Jack… or Dad, if you absolutely insist," Jack told her. She nodded. "I don't know the future, but I do know love. And what you two have with my two girls…" He shrugged. "What else could a dad ask for?" He was silent for a moment. "And please, for the love of God, whenever you two get ready to ask, just ask. You don't need my or Em's permission."

"Understood," Chuck said.

"Okay… Jack," Zondra replied.

"Good," he said, taking another drink. He grinned. "And both of you better figure things out quick, or my daughters might be asking you a question."

Zondra snorted. "I wouldn't put it past Molly."

"I wouldn't either, but it was the other one I was talking about, more than Molly," Jack told her.

Chuck's eyes went wide.

A/N: So who do we have in the pool asking who to marry who? I apologize. I have nothing more…well, that's not true. I have part of the BBQ written but I'm not sure when that will be. I wonder what happens at that BBQ? You think I know? Take care of yourself friends, reviews, PMs, always welcomed.