CHARMING'S AUTHORS NOTE #1: Have no fear, this story is not abandoned! I promised an update to this story during this holiday season, and I am keeping that promise. Now, i'll be the first one to admit that this chapter is by far the shortest chapter so far and does not do as much to advance this story along as I would have liked, but I needed to update this story to keep the momentum. Originally, this chapter was three parts that were to start the original three part finale of the second season of Desire. Instead, I took those little snippets, stitched them together and crafted them into a chapter to give to y'all.
CHARMING'S AUTHORS NOTE#2: Once again I've got to thank my friend Nev for beta reading this chapter, he always helps me hone my work into the finished product that all of you seem to enjoy so much. Thanks Nev!
Desire
A Story by
CharmingCharles2896
Chapter Twenty-Three
What's in a Name?
Chapter Inspired by the Song
On My Way Back Home by Band of Horses
Maison23, Room 832
Burbank, California
Friday, June 5th, 2009
11:45 PM PDT
It was the quiet moments alone with her husband where they could simply be themselves, those were the moments that Sarah Bartowski loved the most. The two of them were simply soaking in the afterglow of their latest lovemaking session. Sarah was tucked in close to her husband, her body against his left side, her head nestled just below his chin. The feeling of his arm around her, their legs intertwined, it was all so peaceful. These moments were something that she'd never known she desired, but being around Chuck had shown her all that she'd been missing her entire life. Sarah's fingers was tracing little circles on Chuck's chest, his tracing circles on her back. She could feel his heartbeat through his chest. His heart was so strong, both physically and metaphorically.
"Chuck?" Sarah's voice called quietly, almost cautiously, as if she was afraid of waking Chuck.
"Hmm?"
"I've been thinking," she began.
"What about?" he replied.
"What should we name the baby if it's a boy," Sarah said. "Part of me likes the name Charles Irving Bartowski Jr., but another part of me thinks that sounds cliché. Since I was a kid, I always wanted a kid I could call Junior, but as I've gotten older, I've realized how cliché and uncreative that is. With a baby coming, I want them to have a good name, I don't want them to be judged if they have the wrong name, I…" Sarah said quickly, until she felt Chuck's lips on the top of her head.
"Babe, you're spiraling," Chuck said calmly, giving her body a comforting squeeze. "I should start fining you when you steal my role in this relationship," Chuck said with a chuckle. Sarah blushed as a small smile broke through onto her face. "Charles Irving Bartowski Jr., huh?" Chuck said, the two of them having fallen silent.
"Yeah," Sarah said softly into Chuck's chest. "A little baby boy named Charles. Hair like his father's; blue eyes like his mother," Sarah said warmly, a longing and adoration for the son she imagined.
"Chuck Jr.," Chuck said softly, as if he was trying it out. "Junior does have a nice ring to it," Chuck said excitedly, as if he'd come to a sudden realization.
"Nerd, you're just thinking of the third Indiana Jones movie," Sarah said to her husband, teasing him for his nerdiness. Sarah didn't see it, but she knew her nerd was blushing like a tomato.
"I admit nothing," he said quickly, making her laugh heartily into his chest.
"Sure, you don't, Sweetie, sure you don't," Sarah said sardonically. Chuck laughed, squeezing Sarah tight once more and kissing her on the top of the head once again.
"More seriously, Charles Junior is an interesting name, for a boy. I will be honest and admit that the thought of a Chuck Jr. has gone through my head once or twice over the years. I do worry about the confusion if you call out our name, you know how easily I get confused," Chuck said, making Sarah giggle and nod.
"I don't know, Sweetie, you seem pretty sharp for a nerd." Sarah said, getting a faux gasp from Chuck.
"You wound me, Mrs. Bartowski, you wound me deeply," Chuck says in an exaggerated tone.
Sarah giggled and got up onto her elbow to look down at her husband. "You know I love it when you show off how smart you are." Sarah paused for a moment, looking lovingly into her husband's eyes. "I do see your point though. Having one Chuck in my life is exciting enough, I can't imagine your nerd powers if you had a mini me." Chuck huffed a laugh as Sarah smiled a cheeky smile, before leaning down and kissing him on the lips. As their tongues danced, Sarah reveled in being able to just kiss him. For so long she'd been denied this ability, this agency to love who she wanted. Now, she was free to live and love how she wanted, and she was thriving.
Sarah pulled her lips away from Chuck's and spoke softly, honey in her tone. "Charlie, we'll name him Charles Irving Bartowski Jr., but we'll call him Charlie." Chuck smiled up at her, his hand moving to her face, caressing her cheek lovingly.
"I like it, Charlie Bartowski of the Burbank Bartowskis; child of a badass spy and her nerdy companion." Sarah laughed and snuggled back down into Chuck's side, sighing comfortably as she relaxed into his side.
"Charlie Bartowski… I can't wait to meet him," Sarah said softly.
"Neither can I," Chuck said just as softly. The two of them settled into a comfortable silence. He heard Sarah sigh into his chest, her breath just barely kissing his neck. "What if it's a girl?" came Chuck's voice after a prolonged silence.
Sarah stirred beside him, shifting slightly as she spoke with an obviously sleepy tone. "What?" she asked, obviously out of it.
"What if the baby is a girl? What should we name her?" Chuck asked, looking up at the ceiling. Sarah laid there against Chuck, pondering his question.
"I don't know," she began, snuggling deeper into Chuck's form. "Since I was little, I've only ever dreamt of having a little boy." Chuck nodded, his left hand still tracing circles on her back.
"What about Magdalena?" Chuck offered, feeling Sarah tense and shift against him.
"What?" she asked as she got up on her elbow to look down at Chuck.
"What if we name her Magdalena, we can call her Maggie," Chuck said with more certainty in his voice. Chuck could see the conflict in Sarah's eyes.
"Why would you want to name her after me?" Sarah asked, obviously uncomfortable with the idea. Chuck thought about that for a moment, knowing that his answer would go a long way towards convincing his wife.
"I don't really know why I'd like to name her Magdalena. All I know is that it is a family name, a name from your past that meant something to you. Magdalena never got to be a kid; forced to grow up too soon." Chuck sighed, unable to describe his thinking. "I just have this feeling like Magdalena as a family name, needs to be avenged, or redeemed, or something." Sarah gave her husband a small smile, he was so thoughtful, so warm-hearted.
"Things were simpler when I was that age. My parents were still trying to stay together, my father hadn't started taking me out on his so-called adventures. It was a more innocent time." Sarah paused for a long moment, reliving those nascent days. "I'll think about it, I'll think about it," she said with a hefty sigh, her mind unsure if she wanted to put that curse on another generation of her family.
"Tomorrow's going to be a long day," Chuck said with a yawn, exhaustion creeping in.
"It's a Saturday, nothing ever happens on Saturdays at the Buy More," Sarah mumbled into his chest as she began to succumb to sleep. Chuck just laid their silently, his mind unable to shake the feeling that something was out there, waiting. He couldn't shake the feeling that none of them could see what was coming, and it scared him.
CHARMING'S AUTHORS NOTE #3: What did all of you think of this one? I know it was too short and doesn't add much, but I wanted to give something to y'all this Christmas season. I have no time table for an update for the next chapter, but i'll continue to work on this thing, I promise. If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider leaving a review, I always enjoy hearing from you, seeing your thoughts and ideas.
Until Next Time :D