A/N: You might need a hanky…and if you listen to The Story by Brandi Carlile, softly, on repeat, in the background, you might need a whole damn box of tissues….just sayin'.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck
"Everyone, I'd like to welcome you to our home," Stephen said from the stage. Chuck looked over at Sarah. She took his hand and squeezed it. They had arrived early to help prepare, but Ellie (being Ellie) had organized everything, including hiring caters and an entire crew.
"Normally I'd be right in there with them, helping," Ellie told Sarah. "But, today, the family is going to have to deal with some things, so it's probably best if I'm here."
"If you start yelling at Mom or Dad, they may wish you were helping with the party," Chuck kidded her. She gave him a bit of a glare, but the smile on her face told him she wasn't upset.
"Uh, Charles, Sarah? May I speak to you for a moment?" Stephen asked, walking up to them. Ellie excused herself. "So, thank you for coming."
"Our pleasure," Sarah chirped.
"And thank you for saving my life," Stephen continued. Sarah shrugged.
"She's kind of awesome," Chuck said.
"She is," Stephen agreed. "And so is her sister, and Zondra. They all are. Which is what I wanted to talk to you about. Ellie has told me about Zondra's problems with her family, and I know how close you and Zondra are, but…" Stephen trailed off, looking uncomfortable. "I was told you might be walking her down the aisle."
"I am," Chuck said, straightening. "Is that a problem?"
"Yes, it is," Stephen replied. Chuck's face resembled a thundercloud and Sarah drew up beside him.
"Wait! I think you two misunderstood me! I was just saying that's more of what a father would do, a paternal thing. You're her friend, Charles. You shouldn't be walking her down the aisle, you should be up there with her, if that's what she wants."
"Mr. Bartowski," Sarah murmured, and then she moved away from Chuck's side, and hugged Stephen. "That is the kindest thing."
"Well," Stephen said, a little embarrassed. "I'm just trying to do what's right."
"That's all anyone can do," Sarah said as she pulled away, beaming at him. "If… when they finally decide to get married, I will talk to Zondra and see what she wants to do."
"Thank you," he said to Sarah. Sarah squeezed him again, and then moved back beside Chuck. "I hope you know that I am very glad that one day soon, you will hopefully be a part of our family." Chuck swallowed, making Sarah chuckle. "In fact, if I may be so bold-"
"Maybe you shouldn't, Dad," Chuck cut in.
"Shush," Sarah said, swatting Chuck.
Stephen smiled at them. "I already think of you like a daughter, and I know Ellie thinks of you and Molly like sisters. For that matter, Mary thinks of all you as part of the family."
"Well, look at that, just one big happy family," Chuck muttered.
"Thank you for being here," Stephen said, starting to move away. He paused. "Son, thank you, for not giving up on me."
"You're my dad," Chuck said simply. The two hugged, and the Stephen nodded and stepped away, albeit a bit awkwardly.
"You don't want me to be a part of your family?" Sarah asked Chuck. Chuck spun to her, finding a teasing look on her face.
"I do," Chuck told her. "I just hate that he may have put you in a spot. I don't like it when you're uncomfortable."
"Totally comfortable on my end," she said, patting his chest, and smoothing a non-existent wrinkle. "Come on, this thing is gonna start soon, and we need to be in the audience for your family."
"Don't you mean our family?" Chuck asked.
"Good," she murmured.
"What?"
"You're finally figuring it all out."
He was jarred out of his thoughts by his father's voice.
"I know there have been rumors around the company for the last few days, so let me address them." Chuck looked up at the raised platform on which his father stood. "There were some things happening within this organization that were wrong, that I allowed to happen. And for that, I am sorry." Stephen took a breath, and locked eyes with Chuck. Chuck smiled at him encouragingly, and nodded. Stephen returned the nod, then lifted his head.
"I have learned many things from these incidents. The first is that I am not a good CEO, and never have been. I will be stepping down." There were murmurs amongst the crowd. "Now, don't worry, because the woman who has really been running this company for years is taking over, officially. Mary." There was thunderous applause. Stephen waited for it to die down before he continued.
"For anyone thinking I'm saying these things because Mary is my wife, let me assure you; I am not." Stephen looked over the crowd. "She has basically been running this company since it was founded. I am a great inventor, a great idea guy, but as a CEO… I am God-awful." Stephen chuckled. "I will be remaining with the company, doing what I do best; creating, and I am excited about that. My last act as CEO is to track down every single defective product, replace the item with an upgrade, or if the customer prefers, the same product, and give a partial refund." There were murmurs again in the crowd. "Will it hurt the bottom line? Absolutely. But this is something I and the incoming CEO are in lockstep over. This company is about quality, and our word. I have sullied both, and I need to do what I can to fix it."
Stephen sighed, and turned to his wife. She rubbed his shoulder in support. "So, I give to you, the new, but in reality, continuing as she has always been, CEO of Orion Industries… Mary Bartowski." There was another thunderous ovation, as Mary stepped to the podium.
"Thank you all so much," Mary said, smiling at everyone. "There is one other rumor to deal with. Ted Roark is gone from Orion Industries. We have been restructuring things on this end. We have no plans on anyone's job being affected in any negative way. Please know you are the backbone of this company, and we are doing everything within our power to make the workplace the best place it can be. That includes bringing in Burton Consultants." She smiled down at the Walker family. "You may know one of the people who has been assisting them… Chuck Bartowski." There were some cheers in the crowd, and several near Chuck slapped him on the shoulder. "So that's it… today is about one thing: enjoy yourself. Eat food, party, enjoy yourself, and know on Monday, we are going to go back to being what we are known for…. Making quality products. Have a great time, everyone." The crowd roared its appreciation.
"Sarah." Chuck turned to find Ellie. "I need to talk to you for a minute," she said to the younger woman.
"I'm going to head down to the pond," Chuck told them. "Last time I was here wasn't the best experience. Sarah smiled and nodded, as Chuck walked away. He moved through the crowd of people and made his way down to the pond.
Chuck stood there, looking out over the water. He took a deep breath, reached into his pocket, and felt the ring box. Everything had been taken care of. He could hear the music from the party. Anna managed to convince Jeffster not to play the song he requested on their instruments, but instead play the original over the speakers. All she needed was the signal.
This was it, the moment he never truly thought he would see after Jill. He had given up on love. He thought about what had been said to him in recent weeks, regarding his relationship with Hannah. They were a perfectly fine couple; they liked each other, they cared about each other, and they had a love for each other. But they weren't inlove with each other… at least, Chuck wasn't. He didn't want to speak for her.
His hands were shaking, his heart was racing, and he didn't know why. That wasn't exactly true, he did. He was nervous she would say no. After everything they had been through part of him knew… knew there was no way she would. At worst, she would say not yet, but he doubted that would happen. He couldn't lie to himself, though. After everything he had found out about Jill, he had doubts deep down. Doubts if he was truly loveable, and someone would want to spend the rest of their life with him. And while Sarah had indicated many times she would, all the hurt from Jill resurfaced and begged a question that was at the root of this anxiety.
She says she would, but you've not asked. And in the moment, does that answer change?
Normally that would be something he would push away. Normally that would be something he would laugh at, looking over his and Sarah's history, and their honesty with each other about everything.
Normally.
However, this was the biggest step of their lives, and with it came absolute trust in someone else. He couldn't kid himself; he'd believed before in someone. And while the truth of the matter was that Sarah wasn't Jill, what had happened – what had truly happened – had both convinced him he and Sarah were forever, and that conversely, one day she would leave him.
He knew both things could not be true, but he also knew he was in a different place than ever before in his life. He had considered proposing to Jill before, and when he thought about it, it felt safe, content, and happy. He never had thought about her saying no.
"Why is that Chuck?" he muttered to himself softly. He knew the answer now. He didn't then, but now he did. If she'd said no, it wouldn't end him. Would it have sent him into a tailspin? Yes. Would it have hurt? Sure. Would he have hidden for a long time? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, when she walked into his life, he acted.
If Sarah said no…
"She wouldn't," he told himself out loud. He cleared his throat. "She won't," he said more clearly.
He pulled out his phone, placed an ear bud in his ear, and hit play on his music app. He listened to the lyrics of the song he was going to play when he asked her.
All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true, I was made for you
I climbed across the mountain tops
Swam all across the ocean blue
I crossed all the lines, and I broke all the rules
But, baby, I broke them all for you
Oh, because even when I was flat broke
You made me feel like a million bucks
You do
I was made for you
"You okay there, Chuck?" he heard a voice ask. His head whipped to see Zondra. Chuck raised an eyebrow. She was always stunning, but today she seemed… even more so.
"What?" she asked. "Can't a girl get a little dolled up for one of these things? It's sort of a big deal."
"Zondra, you don't dress like this for any of your professional events," Chuck pointed out.
"Maybe I just wanted to look good for my girl," she replied. Chuck studied her, and then figured out what it was he was seeing. "What?" she nearly snapped.
"You're nervous," he said softly, reverently. It was something he had never seen before in Zondra.
"Yeah," Zondra said. She was looking at the pond. "It really is pretty here." A lightbulb went off in Chuck's head. Zondra looked over at him. "Your sister said it was romantic here."
"She can be a little insistent, sometimes," Chuck admitted. "Now I'm really starting to understand what was going on at the Walkers the other night. Let me guess, after I left to deal with my dad that night, my sister said some things?" Zondra nodded. "Zondra," he began.
"She said some things that made some real sense," Zondra said, tears in her eyes. "She said people always talk about love being complicated, but it's not. The reasons around it, sure… but love, it's quite simple."
"It is," Chuck agreed, wondering how his sister would react if right now he was taking her words to heart.
"I don't need this setting, I don't need anyone but Molly," Zondra began.
"But you both deserve it," Chuck said. "Listen, I have an idea. Do you trust me?"
She stared at him for a second. "Always, Chuck."
"I'm gonna get her over here, and don't be shocked to hear some music," he began. Zondra's eyes widened. "And then you are gonna ask that wonderful Walker woman to marry you. We can do it here if you want, and I will walk you down the aisle… or Casey, or Cole, or Bryce, or whoever you want." He didn't think this was the place to bring up his dad. Zondra couldn't stop the tears from flowing down her face. "And you two are gonna be happy for the rest of your life together, and fuck everyone else who says otherwise… do you hear me?" She launched herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. "I know, we're not hugging."
"Yes, we are," she said softly. Chuck squeezed her back, hard. She pulled away and blew out a rough breath. "Damn it, I wasn't supposed to cry until after I proposed." She opened her bag, found a tissue, and wiped the tears.
"Listen, how much time do you need?" Chuck asked her.
"By the time you find her and get her back here, I'll be good to go," Zondra said. Chuck took her hands, surprising her.
"All you need is the girl," he said softly. Zondra smiled at him. "Go get her."
With that, he winked, turned, and nearly skipped away. A small part of him was disappointed; this was going to be his big moment, but he had many other opportunities. And maybe Zondra did as well, but he wanted this for her. He found Molly. "Hey, Zondra wants to talk to you."
"She okay?" Molly asked. Chuck nodded, grinning. She raised an eyebrow. "What are you up to?"
"Me?" Chuck asked innocently. "Come on," he said, grinning. Molly shook her head, but followed him. As they neared the pond, he pulled out his phone and hit the button, directing C3PO to send the message to Anna.
"Go on," he said, gesturing toward the pond, and Zondra. Molly gave him a look, smiled at him, and turned toward Zondra. She walked towards her and stopped right in front of her.
"Hey," Zondra said, almost shyly.
"Hey, yourself, sexy," Molly replied. She could see the nerves radiating off Zondra. An unfamiliar, soft folk rock-style song began to play. "What's up?"
"So, I've been in my head for a bit, about what all you deserve," Zondra began. Molly pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, forcing herself not respond and let Zondra say what she wanted to say. "But at the end of the day, it's about what we deserve, isn't it?" Molly nodded. "I don't know if I deserve you." Zondra looked at the pond, trying to will her eyes not to tear up. She turned back to Molly, who was fighting a grin. "Shut up," she groused, making Molly's grin grow. "I love you."
"I know," Molly replied quickly. Zondra gave her a look. "What? You know I love Han."
"Fine," Zondra said, chuckling and shaking her head. She started to speak as she heard the next line of the song:
You see the smile that's on my mouth
It's hiding the words that don't come out
And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed
They don't know my head is a mess
No, they don't know who I really am
And they don't know what
I've been through like you do
And I was made for you
"That's us, Molly," Zondra said softly. Tears began to well in Molly's eyes as she smiled. "I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And-and I know it's gonna be tough, and messy, and complicated. But what I feel for you isn't. What I feel for you is real and everlasting, and if you would…" she paused, and sank to one knee.
"Oh hell no," Molly said, making Zondra's eyes go almost comically wide, but then confusion filled her face as Molly went down to one knee across from her. "No, we have fought too hard to be together, overcome too much; if you take a knee, I take a knee. That's how we do this. Together."
"Together?" Zondra asked, tears falling.
"Zondra Rizzo," Molly began.
"Molly Walker," Zondra countered.
"Please make me the happiest woman and luckiest woman alive and marry me," Molly asked.
"Only if you'll marry me," Zondra replied. Molly nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks. She went down to both knees, leaned forward as Zondra did the same. The two kissed as the music continued.
All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
Oh, but these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true, I was made for you
Oh love it's true, that I was made for you
}o{
Chuck's POV
Chuck turned to watch Molly walking toward Zondra. He heard a melodic voice by his shoulder. "Am I late?" He turned to see Sarah standing there, grinning. "I'm not missing this for anything."
"Me either, angel," Jack said, coming to the other side of Chuck with Emma by his side. "Ellie tipped us off," he said in a low voice.
"We're really gonna stand here and watch this?" Chuck asked.
"Look at them Chuck," Sarah said, encircling his right arm with both of hers. "They are lost in each other right now."
"I wonder what colors they'd want?" Emma asked. Emma then sniffed as Molly stopped right in front of Zondra. "Look at them," she said, joy and wonderment in her voice.
"We did good, Em," Jack said. "Both of our girls have amazing partners." Chuck glanced at Jack, who had a tear sliding down his cheek, a huge grin on his face.
"We sure do," Sarah murmured. "Oh, she's going to one knee… Look at Molly!" Sarah was nearly bouncing from excitement. "Oh my God!" she said, her hand over her mouth, tears falling from her eyes. "My little sister is getting married."
"Still want a dog?" Jack asked, making Sarah chuckle. "Come on, when they come out of that kiss, they will notice us." Emma and Jack headed back to the party, but Sarah pulled on his arm as they walked the other way, away from everyone.
"Find it really interesting how quickly Zondra pulled that all together. The music, that is," Sarah said, grinning at Chuck.
"Well, I may have helped her," Chuck admitted.
"Huh," Sarah said, stopping and facing him, a knowing smile on her face. "So, how did you have that song ready to go, that quickly?" Chuck realized he was caught. "You know what I really like about that song?" She began to sing.
You see the smile that's on my mouth
It's hiding the words that don't come out
And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed
They don't know my head is a mess
"You do," Chuck said softly. Sarah nodded. "You know, some might think that song would be pretty good background music for a proposal."
"Yes, they might," Sarah replied. "But I know you're not." Chuck blinked, and he tried not to look crestfallen. "Because I know my Chuck," she continued, a smirk on her face. "My Chuck would refuse to propose to me, because that would take away from Zondra and Molly and how much of a moment they deserve to have. My Chuck would think it's stealing their thunder."
"Sound like you know your Chuck," he replied softly, not really trusting himself to speak.
"I also know how he gets in his head, and is wrong," Sarah continued. "He wouldn't see that Zondra and Molly would be devastated if they found out your happiness was postponed by their happiness."
"But," Chuck began.
"He wouldn't see that it's a joy for everyone, that everyone deserves love. That everyone deserves to know that there is someone in their corner for the rest of their life. That someone is there for them, no matter how crazy or insane they think their thoughts are," Sarah continued. She looked him right in the eye. "There's also something else."
"You really know your Chuck," he blurted out.
"I do," Sarah said. She paused and let those two words hang in the air between them.
"Here's the other thing: He would make this much too complicated. He would think he needs the perfect place, because of what he thinks I deserve. But he'd forget the most important thing."
"What's that?"
"That all I need is him," Sarah said. Chuck was silent, wanting to ask, but hesitant for all the reasons she'd said.
"But here's what I also know," Sarah continued, taking his hands in hers. "I know he wants to do the right thing, and he doesn't think asking right now is the right thing. So I'm going to let him off the hook."
"You are?" he asked, trying to keep the disappointment off his face. Sarah's smirk intensified, seeing that.
"I am," Sarah said. "I'm going to take the mantle, the anxiety, the worry. Because that's what partners do."
"Partners?" Chuck asked.
"Partners, Chuck," she said. "Chuck Bartowski, will you be my partner the rest of my life?"
"Yes," he replied quickly.
The smirk turned to a full-blown smile. "Chuck, will you marry me?"
"Yes," Chuck told her.
"Okay," she said, nodding. "Hold off on giving me the ring until later… we don't want to steal from their moment." With that, she turned and headed toward the party. She mentally began counting down in her head for his brain to reboot, before he ran to catch up with her.
A/N: I wish I had something to show you for next time but I don't. I do know I'm thinking about Chuck and Casey having to do something for a company, but what words will I write? You tell me and we'll both know. I'll be back soon. Take care my friends, hug those you love.