A/N: Hi. We're back.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck
"Seriously, why are you two wasting your time here?" Mark asked. He looked around and leaned in. "We both know nothing is going on, so why don't you guys go enjoy the sights? You've got your women here, right?"
"Women?" Chuck mouthed.
"Wouldn't be right, not finishing the job," Casey said. Chuck glanced at Casey. He had expected Casey to lay into Ratner. Who was this guy? Why was he here? The whole thing was making Chuck suspicious. "Besides, we aren't made of money to do things."
"Oh?" Mark asked, grinning. "I'm sure we can find someone I know to help you two out." There was a knowing look on Mark's face.
Casey walked over to Mark, and the two walked away from Chuck, Casey's voice lowering. "Listen, I'd love to, but that nerd over there, he's a hard ass. He accounts for everything. There is absolutely no reason for us to be here."
"Sorry, partner," Mark told him. He handed Casey his card. "If you decide you'd like to try out the sites, let me know."
"Will do," Casey said. Mark nodded and walked off, grinning.
"What in the hell is going on?" Chuck asked.
"Gather you shit, we're going back to the hotel. I'm afraid we're going to have to stay a few extra days," Casey told him.
"I've obviously missed something," Chuck said, gathering his stuff and following Casey.
}o{
Beckman was on-screen, and Chuck was standing there, amused. "Mamma," Casey said, making Beckman smile. "We have a serious problem."
"You've found the leak?" Beckman asked
"Maybe," Casey replied. "I have reason to believe Mark Ratner might be our leak."
"Shit," Beckman muttered, looking troubled. "Why would you think that?"
"Honestly, we had found nothing, until Ratner showed up. Even then, we didn't find anything as much as… something felt… off. Really off."
"You are such an emotional boy," Beckman muttered, shaking her head. Chuck's eyes widened at that. "What happened, Johnny?"
Casey looked constipated at being called "Johnny". "He showed up and asked us why we were wasting our time here. He was dressed quite flashy, like he had more money than sense."
"He is well compensated," Beckman replied.
"Not that well," Casey groused. "Permission to do a deep dive?"
"You think this is necessary?" Beckman inquired.
"I do… Mamma," Casey answered.
"Okay," Beckman said, blowing out a breath. She turned to Chuck. "Mister Bartowski, one of the forms you signed, gives you protection to do what you're about to do."
"What am I about to do?" Chuck asked, concern on his face. He turned to Casey. "What are you about to ask me to do?"
"I need you to dig into his bank accounts," Casey replied. "Bartowski… this is national security stuff. On paper, Ratner builds F-22s. He doesn't. What he's working on is known as a version of the SR-72. Lockheed Martin came up with the idea in 2013. Basically, the military is trying to build a version of a hypersonic, unmanned craft."
"You can't tell me the name of it?" Chuck asked. Casey glared at him. "Which means it's a black site item." Casey glanced at his mother.
"Would it help to tell you that Ratner lives in Las Vegas?" Beckman asked.
"Mamma!" Casey blurted out.
"Relax, and quit getting so emotional, Johnny," Beckman scolded. "Chuck is extremely intelligent. He can figure out that Ratner works at Area 51, and has no business being in the office in San Diego."
"Unless he was trying to keep us from learning something," Chuck added.
"Now you're catching on," Casey told Chuck. "Admittedly, he has the cover of going to the reunion to play off being here."
"Yeah, but the money?" Chuck asked.
"That's why we need your skills," Casey told him.
"This does raise some questions though," See Three Pee Oh cut in. "Area 51 attracts the attention not only of the public, but also militaries around the world."
"That is true," Beckman conceded.
"If the U.S. were preparing to test their next-generation fighter jet, why put it in a place where it was most likely to be found. More importantly, why put it out in the open? Unless you wanted adversaries to spot it, and make note of it," Three Pee Oh summarized.
"Or, you want to feed the belief in UFOs," Beckman replied, grinning.
"I don't understand," Three Pee Oh admitted.
"No, it's kind of genius," Chuck said, catching on. "People think there are UFOs around Area 51 all the time, and if they see these unmanned craft, doing maneuvers that piloted-craft cannot, you think it's a UFO."
"But to what end?" Three Pee Oh asked.
"If everyone is looking there," Chuck began.
"Then you can test other aircraft at other fields," Three Pee Oh finished.
"Exactly," Beckman replied. "Chuck, that craft is important to our security. We need to make sure Ratner isn't selling our plans."
"I'll do what I can, ma'am," Chuck replied.
"Johnny," Beckman said, "lighten up." Beckman cut the feed.
"Your mother is an interesting person," Chuck admitted.
"You're telling me," Casey grumbled.
}o{
"You okay, baby?" Sarah asked. Chuck looked up at her, tiredness covering his face. "Oof, did you not get enough kisses today?" Chuck shook his head, and Sarah leaned over and gently kissed him. "I can't do more than that, or I might damage you."
"Hey, buddy, I need you to take care of yourself," Zondra said. Everyone looked over at her. It was the first thing she had said all night. They were back in the bar, at a corner booth. Carina and Casey hadn't joined them. Apparently, Casey was still upset about being called emotional by his mother.
"I'm okay, I'm just mentally tired from all I did today," Chuck told her. "I've never seen so many shell corporations in my life."
"Did you get to the end of the trail?" Sarah asked him.
"No. And what's more bothersome is the more Casey and I think about it, the more we wonder, why is Mark Ratner here? There's been chatter of a deal taking place for something in this area. Is it going down soon?"
"At the reunion," Molly said. Everyone turned to her, and she shrugged. "What? Think about it. How many people will be there, and you legit won't remember?"
"Sort of brilliant," Chuck agreed. "Got yourself a smart one there, Z."
"I know," Zondra said. She sighed. "What in the fuck is wrong with me?" she grumbled. "I mean, I got my dad back, I have a great career, a partner who loves me for me. Great friends…" She looked over at Chuck and winked. "A decent guy friend."
"Calm down, Missy. Ya gushin'," Chuck said, making her grin.
"It's just, there's been so much bad happen here to me, and I just…" She trailed off and sighed. "When I was a little girl, and I would help dad with the bakery, I guess I got it in my head that one day I would get married at the beach here. That this would be my safe space, and… well…"
"Baby, we can get married here," Molly told Zondra. "And if you want, I will be your arm candy at the reunion."
Chuck began to sing.
Someday soon I'll make you mine
Then I'll have candy all the time
I want candy
Everyone looked over at him and he cleared his throat. "Sorry."
"Not gonna lie, part of me wants to go to the reunion," Zondra told Molly. "As your wife."
"Baby," Molly said softly.
"Do we need to leave?" Chuck asked Sarah softly.
"Shush," Sarah said. "I need to see this."
"What, the wedding at the beach?" Chuck asked. Sarah gave him a look, but he felt four other eyes besides Sarah's on him. "Sorry."
"No, nothing to be sorry about. I just realized that's what I want," Zondra said with a shrug.
"To marry me, and show off my fine ass at the reunion?" Molly asked. Zondra laughed then nodded. "Okay."
"Wait, what?" Zondra asked, confused. Molly was pulling out her phone. "What are you doing?" Molly was dialing.
"Meet my sister," Sarah said, sighing. "A woman who gets what she wants, when she wants it."
"Is this code for saying you want a beach wedding?" Chuck asked.
"No," Sarah said shaking her head. "But this is right, for them. Getting married here, where it all started, and they couldn't be because of what they thought everyone thought."
"But some did think it," Chuck countered.
"Daddy," they heard Molly say. "How quick can you and Mom get to San Diego?"
}o{
"I can't believe this," Zondra said a little while later, the group sitting outside of the bakery. "We have less than 48 hours to get this together to get married."
"And then the next day go to the reunion," Molly reminded her.
Zondra stood there, looking nervous. Chuck glanced at Molly, who nodded. Chuck turned to Zondra, and began to pull her in for a hug. "What the hell are you doing, Curls?"
"Giving you a hug," Chuck told her softly.
"Will you be my dude of honor?" she asked, holding him tight.
"I think my honor's been a little sullied since I met Sarah," Chuck teased.
"You enjoyed every minute of it," Sarah bantered.
"Damn straight I did," Chuck replied, making Zondra laugh. He pulled away and looked her in the eye. "Are you going to pick my clothes out for me?"
"Nope, just wear a tee shirt and cargo shorts," she told him. She turned to Molly. "Right, Mol?"
"Yes, baby," Molly replied. "Now, let's go inside."
"Okay," Zondra said. She walked over to the door, opened it and stepped inside. Chuck and Sarah hung back as they heard Zondra call out, "Pappa."
"Get your asses in here," Molly growled at Chuck and Sarah. The two moved quickly to join the two women inside.
"What is going on?" Sam asked, looking surprised, but happy to see all four.
"What's going on is, I'd like your blessing to marry your daughter," Molly said to Sam. Zondra's jaw dropped as she stared at Molly. "You need to know, even if I don't have it, I will marry her, but… I'd like it, Pappa Rizzo."
Sam locked eyes with Molly and the two stared at each other for a few seconds. Chuck started to say something, but Sarah stopped him.
"You love her?" Sam asked.
"With all my heart," Molly admitted. Zondra was fighting tears.
"Of course you have my blessing," Sam said softly, holding open his arms. Molly hugged him, reached back, grabbed Zondra, and pulled her in. "You didn't have to come here for this."
"Oh, we didn't," Zondra admitted. "We came for something else, this was just… a surprise, to me even."
"Then why are you here?" Sam asked.
"Your daughter has a dream, that she has finally admitted," Molly told him.
"What is it?" Sam asked, grinning.
"She wants to get married on the beach," Molly told him.
"Perfect!" Sam exclaimed, smiling from ear to ear. "I know plenty of people to help."
"By Friday," Molly added.
Sam looked at Molly and then over to Zondra. "This is what you want?"
"Since I was little… and worked with you in the kitchen. I always wanted to get married on the beach the way so many couples did that were in love and were here," Zondra began. Sam nodded, understanding. "And then… then as I got older, and realized that I like women, along with men… I began to wonder if I would get the wedding I wanted."
"Zondra," Sam said softly.
Zondra shook her head, trying to hold back tears. "And then," she said, fighting tears. "After what happened with you and Mom… I just gave up on getting married, here, because… why? You know?"
Sam gathered his daughter up in his arms. "I know she won't be here, and I hate it, but I can have you, and the Walkers-"
"Jack and Emma will come?!" Sam asked, pulling away, surprised.
"They wouldn't miss it for the world," Molly told Sam.
"It will happen," Sam promised. "It may be the final straw, and your mother divorces me, but… eh, at this point, we don't even speak civilly."
"I'm sorry, Pappa," Zondra began.
"Do not be sorry," Sam told her. "You will get your wedding."
Sarah handed Chuck a tissue. "You're going to cry the entire ceremony, aren't you?"
"Yep," Chuck admitted, blowing his nose. Molly and Zondra turned to watch him. "Sorry."
"Don't be. You did this you know," Zondra told him. "I'm never going to forget it."
"I'm never sure what's a threat, and what's not, with her," Chuck admitted softly to Sarah, making her laugh.
}o{
For the next forty-eight hours, Jack, Emma, and Sam went to work arranging a wedding. Sarah, Molly, Zondra, and Carina continued their conference. Chuck dug through shell company after shell company, trying to find out who was supplying money to Mark Ratner's bank account. It was obvious the man was being compensated from somewhere other than his job.
"Could he just have a hell of an Etsy store?" Zondra asked, listening to Chuck and Casey. Chuck and Casey had been responsible for making sure Zondra was nowhere near Molly.
"What in the hell is he selling to make that kind of money?" Chuck asked.
"Drugs?" Zondra offered.
"It'd be a shit-ton of drugs," Casey muttered. "Hey, no, we aren't doing this." Chuck gave Zondra a surprised look and they both turned to Casey. "This is your day."
"And tomorrow is going to be your night," Chuck reminded her. "We're all gonna be there to support you and Molly."
"And watch Ratner, to see if anything is going on," Zondra reminded him.
"I mean… you're right, but for me, it's more about you, than Ratner," Chuck told her. Casey cleared his throat, giving Chuck a look. "Fine, I also need the paycheck," he grumbled. Zondra laughed, came over, and gave him a hug. "A hug?"
"You're my dude of honor, I feel I owe you a hug," Zondra told him.
"We're ready," the officiant said, as Sam walked into the tent.
"Guess I'll go be a guest," Casey grumbled as he left.
"Is he okay?" Zondra asked.
"I have no idea," Chuck admitted. He kissed Zondra on the cheek. "Go get your girl," he told her, hugging Zondra tight. He walked out and took his place on one side of the officiant. He looked over and saw Sarah, standing opposite of him.
"Hey," she said softly. "One day soon, this is us."
"Don't tease me with a good time, Sarah Walker," Chuck told her.
"You're lucky your parents aren't here, or we'd do a two for one," Sarah replied.
"I can make a phone call," Chuck countered.
"If you two could tone down your bantering, I'm trying to marry off my baby girl," Emma said, giving them both a look, and then laughing. The wedding march began to play, and Emma made a noise. Chuck and Sarah turned and saw Molly coming down the aisle with her father. She was wearing a simple white shirt and cargo shorts. Everyone was dressed casually, a Zondra rule. When Molly and Jack got in front of the officiant, they stopped.
"Who gives this woman?" The officiant asked.
"Her mother and I," Jack said proudly. The officiant nodded. Jack kissed Molly on the cheek and went to stand beside Emma. The wedding march began to play again, and everyone turned to watch Zondra walk down the aisle with Sam. Chuck let out a low whistle. Zondra rolled her eyes at him, and gave him an amused look. They came to the officiant, and stopped.
"Who gives this woman?" The officiant asked.
"I do," Sam said proudly. The officiant nodded. Sam kissed Zondra's cheek, and stepped to the opposite side to stand beside Casey and Carina.
The officiant smiled at the group and spoke. "Thank you all for making the commitment to be here today as Molly and Zondra pledge their love for one another and make a truly wonderful commitment of their own.
"Life is made up of a series of commitments: work, friends, family, community, even to ourselves.
"But making this marriage commitment to the one you love can be the most fulfilling of one's entire life.
"Yes, it is a commitment of time, resources, and emotion to another, but
marriage is the commitment you also make to yourself.
"You commit to bettering yourself each and every day, working to be the best possible partner you can for your beloved.
"And It's not just a commitment to give love, but also to allow yourself to be open enough to receive it back.
"Many of us have experienced the seemingly counterintuitive feeling, that giving feels a lot more rewarding than receiving. Your whole body, your mind, your heart, is filled with contentment and joy when you give, and see how positively it affects those who are receiving. A healthy, happy marriage consists of two partners who are wholeheartedly ready and willing to give and receive, just as Molly and Zondra so obviously are.
"And so now is the time for Molly and Zondra to officially make the marriage commitment." He looked from one to the other, both looking nervous. The officiant turned to Molly.
"Do you, Molly, take Zondra, to be your wife? To not only give love, support and understanding, but also to fully accept these things as well?"
"I do," Molly said.
"And do you, Zondra, take Molly to be your wife? To not only give love, support and understanding, but also to fully accept these things as well?
"I do," Zondra said.
"You have both requested to say your own vows," the officiant said. "Molly?"
Molly took Zondra's hands and looked into her eyes. "Zondra, I love you because you always find a way to make me feel calm at life's most stressful moments. Loving how we fit so seamlessly into one another's families." She paused, and grimaced a bit. "Well, the families that accept us." Zondra nodded. "I love that you unpack your suitcase right after a trip, even if it means repacking it a week later. And I love you for always wanting to pack that bag the second it's empty." Zondra laughed out loud at that.
Zondra was clearly fighting tears and embarrassed over it. Knowing her partner, Molly grinned and continued. "What I love about you most is how you continuously go out of your way to put others first. You are the most selfless person I have ever known… and you want no one to know it."
Zondra ducked her head, and Molly stooped a bit, to look her in the eyes. Zondra raised her head back, and Molly continued. "For the rest of our lives, I promise to never stop challenging you. I promise to communicate with you, and to be the light during your darkest times. Also, I promise to be the brave one when it comes to unwanted insects in our home." Everyone laughed out loud at that. "For someone to be the badass they are…" Molly shook her head.
Zondra blew out a breath, tears now flowing down her cheeks, but smiling happily. Molly continued. "I promise to work my hardest to be the best mother to our future children someday. And I promise to always be by your side as we adventure through this crazy thing called life. The happiness and fulfillment you bring me is nothing I could have ever dreamed of. You are absolutely perfect for me, and give me something to look forward to every single day. You are my world, and I can't wait to love you forever."
Chuck looked over at Sarah, who was crying as hard as he was. They heard a honk of someone blowing their nose, and everyone turned to Casey. "Mama was right, I'm too damn emotional," he muttered.
"Zondra," the officiant said when everyone had quit laughing.
Zondra took a deep breath, and looked Molly. "Mol, our love story is something I've dreamt of finding my entire life. You love me, Molly, in a way that I've never been loved before. In a way, I didn't know I was worthy of being loved. It is the way you hold onto me at night like it's the last time you'll ever see me. It's the way that you support my dreams, even if it means spending weeks apart while I run across the country, at conference after conference. It is how you are quick to forgive and never too stubborn to say I am sorry… although you can be stubborn."
Molly shrugged as if to say it's true.
Zondra shook her head and continued. "It is the way you make me feel secure after we've argued – making sure I know you will never leave my side, even at our most challenging times. It's the loyalty you bring to every friendship you have, and the way you love them as if they were family. And above all else, it is how safe you make me feel in this love story."
Molly began to cry, as did Zondra. "For many reasons, I never felt like who I was for so long."
"I'm so sorry," Sam said softly. "I'm so sorry, Zondra."
"It's okay, Pappa," Zondra told him.
"It's not, but thank you," Sam told her.
Zondra turned back to Molly. "See, you love me so fiercely and so profoundly. And make me feel like I'm the most beautiful person, every single day. I never had that before. I never felt okay to be me. And with you… I can be me, and you love me for it."
"I do," Molly said softly.
Zondra squeezed Molly's hands, and continued. "It's for these reasons, this type of love story, that I feel confident looking you in the eyes today in front of our closest friends and family and promising you a forever."
Zondra smiled at her. "I know our forever won't be easy. But I also know we are fighters, and we're going to fight like hell for this marriage. I know our forever together will be filled with compromises where I promise to be as brave as you are and help you kill the spiders." Molly laughed out loud. "And many days where I remember to take my shoes off before coming in the house. And many nights where I remember to rinse the toothpaste out of the sink. Our forever will be filled with loyalty and putting each other above all else. I will always choose you, even at our toughest times. Our forever is finding every moment to remember why we fell in love in the first place. Creating new memories together, spontaneous date nights, never being too busy for morning cuddles, and reminding each other often how we feel in this moment today."
Zondra paused, gathering herself. She continued after a few seconds. "Our forever will also be filled with family, and hopefully creating one of our own someday. I promise to walk hand-in-hand through motherhood with you, but I promise never to lose sight of us in that process. And lastly, our forever will be filled with honesty. The same quality that drew me to you from the very beginning. I promise always to speak my truth and listen to yours. I am not perfect, and know that I'll make mistakes along the way, but I promise that I'll always give you honesty, and never stop fighting for us. I love you so much, Molly. And I can't wait to start this forever with you."
"Do you have the rings?" the officiant asked. Chuck and Sarah handed the officiant the rings. "Wedding rings are our emotions brought into the physical world. They are a symbol of everlasting love, as well as a symbol to show the world that you have been fortunate enough to enter into this marriage commitment."
The officiant looked at Zondra then Molly, and smiled. "Each time you slip your ring on or off, remember this day and how you feel now, and let each and every day of your marriage be full of the same love and adoration for each other you experience now. Now the future couple will present each other with their rings, as they repeat after me."
The officiant handed each of them a ring. "Repeat after me, Molly." Molly nodded. "Zondra, please accept this ring as a symbol of my love for you above all others. It's my promise that wherever our journey takes us, I will be there for you wholeheartedly. With this ring, I thee wed." Molly repeated after him, as she slid the ring onto Zondra's finger.
"Zondra, please repeat after me," the officiant said, and repeated the same phrase, substituting Molly's name for Zondra's. Zondra repeated the vow, as she slid the ring on Molly's finger. The two stared at each other, loving smiles on their faces, fighting tears. "I love weddings," the officiant said softly, making both women laugh.
"It is by the authority vested in me, by the State of California, that I now pronounce you partners in life, love, hardship, and good times. My friends, I give you Mrs. Zondra, and Mrs. Molly, wives… what?" The officiant said, seeing Chuck bouncing and waving.
"Can I?" he asked. The officiant sighed and nodded. "Molly, you may now kiss your Zondra."
"Buddy, I'm gonna kiss my Zondra whenever I want," Molly told him. Zondra had a happy, shocked look on her face, as Molly kissed and dipped her.
A/N: I wanted these vows to be special, so I went looking for some ideas. I came across two women who had shared their vows, and as I read them, I just saw Molly and Zondra. I tweaked them here and there, but they felt perfect.
There was no plan for these two to be married here but I got to thinking about the marriage Zondra watched on the beach in Hawaii, looked up San Diego and saw how popular the marriages on the beach were, and it just clicked, you know? I hope you enjoyed it. More soon, pinky swear. Take care of yourself fam.