A/N: Come on over by the camp fire, I've got some more story to tell you.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck

"What's wrong?" Sarah asked. They were standing in front of the bank. Chuck was about to go inside to buy the land that he thought was still for sale.

"I… I don't know this guy, I don't know what the land's worth," Chuck said. "In my hometown, the banker knew us, was honest, and… I don't know."

"I can go with you," Sarah said.

"No, if you do that…" Chuck paused.

"Right, a woman in trousers," she said. A smile crossed her face, but there was no feeling behind it.

Chuck looked around and saw a small alley by the bank. "Come'er," he said, leading the way. They got to the alley, and she waited, patiently. "Do realize the position I'd put you in were I to take you in there?"

"You'd put me in?" Sarah asked.

"Sarah, you've said as much yourself… men – self-important men – have certain ideas about women," Chuck began. "If you were in there with me, he'd think you were married to me. And while I know right now, for protection, we're going forward with that… I know it wouldn't make you officially married to me, but… if he put your name on that deed, you'd be stuck on there."

"Right," Sarah said. "I'd be stuck on there, and you wouldn't be the sole owner."

"I don't care about being the sole owner, or being an owner with you," Chuck told her. "You have the chance to go live your life."

"What if I want to be a farmer's wife?" Sarah asked, her hands on her hips.

"Then go do it," Chuck told her. She stared at him. "Listen, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but this is my dream, not yours. Thank you for being there for me, but I have to do this."

She stared at him, as if he wasn't real. "You're welcome."

He nodded to her. "Wish me luck."

And with that, he headed toward the bank entrance.

}o{

Ten minutes later, he was sure he had made a mistake. The banker was firing words at him that Chuck was clueless as to the meaning, or how much actual money he was going to have to pay for the property.

"So, if you'll just-"

"I'm sorry I'm late, Sweetie," Sarah said, swooping into the office, interrupting the banker. She leaned down and gave Chuck a kiss on the lips, grabbed the chair beside Chuck, and scooted close to the table. "Now, where were we."

"Well, you're… Sweetie?" the banker began.

"He is just the best," Sarah said, beaming. She looked over at him and frowned. "Chuck, you didn't bring your glasses?"

"Uh, no," Chuck said.

She shook her head and turned to the banker. "Men," she said. "He can't see to read without them." She expertly plucked up the contract and began to look at it. She frowned and looked back at the banker. "Sir, I do believe you've made an error."

"No, that's not possible," the banker said.

"Oh, not only is it, but it's right here," she pointed to the contract. "That is over twenty percent higher than the price listed."

"Well, that includes financing," the banker said, grinning.

"Sir," she began, and looked down at the name plate. "Bob," she corrected herself.

"It's Robert, or Mr. Pearson to you," Bob replied, getting angry. "This deal is between us men." Bob's eyes went wide as Chuck stood up. "Sir?"

"That's my wife you're talking to," Chuck said in a low voice. "I guess my cash is no good here."

"Cash?" Bob said. "It's not being financed?"

"No, it is not," Chuck said. "And apparently I'm not buying it."

"Now, let's not be hasty, Sir," Bob said, scrambling. "What you two don't understand is there are squatters on the property and the cost of removing them is added in, plus finance charges-"

"Cut the shit, Bob," Chuck said.

"Sir, your wife!" Bob said, his eyes wide.

"Cut the shit, Bob," Sarah added. Bob sighed. "Now, you're going to not only lower the price of the land to the original amount, you're also going to lower it by ten percent for how you tried to trick my husband."

Bob began to sputter and turn red.

"And," Sarah continued.

"You're in for it now," Chuck said.

"You're going to knock off another five percent, for us to remove the squatters," Sarah continued.

"And if I don't?" Bob asked.

"Do you want me walking out of here, making a scene how my husband's hard-earned cash isn't good here?" Sarah asked. "We both know the amount you would sell for, will make you a profit."

"Do we?" Chuck asked. Sarah gave him a look, and he cleared his throat. "Oh, of course, we do."

"I know who wears the pants in this family," Bob said, ripping up the old contract and grabbing a new one.

"Both of us," Chuck said proudly. Sarah looked at him, and just shook her head.

}o{

"So, what are you going to do with your half of the farm?" Chuck asked.

"Why in the hell did you make me sign that?" Sarah asked as the wagon neared Beecher's Hope. They saw the dilapidated house that clearly needed to be torn down.

"I told you what would happen if you came in there," Chuck reminded her.

"And you think me saving you is worth half of your farm?"

"Saving me is a bit strong," Chuck muttered. She gave him an amused look. "Assist, maybe."

"Saved. You," She said, clipping each word. He grinned. "Now when we get there, do you want me to take care of the vagrants?" He looked horrified. "I didn't mean killing them!"

"Woman, I am a man, and can handle some vagrants," he told her, a grin on his face. She snorted, a grin on her own. "No, I'll-"

"Get away from my property," a voice yelled out.

"This is our property now," Sarah yelled back.

"Nope, it's mine," the voice argued.

"Great," Sarah said. "It's the former owner. Do you… what are you doing?" Sarah asked, as Chuck jumped down from the wagon. It hadn't stopped. It wasn't going fast, but it hadn't stopped. The look on Chuck's face was a mixture of confusion and hope.

"Sarah, please, trust me… Let me handle this," Chuck said. He raised his voice. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

There was silence for a second and then the voice from inside the falling down house replied. It was a sound of hope, mixed with doubt. "It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness."

Chuck looked to Sarah, grinning. Sarah was confused. He turned back to the house. "I got down to Yarmouth in the evening, and went to the inn."

Sarah saw the figure of a shorter man that appeared to have a beard appear in the doorway. "I knew that Peggotty's room… my room… CHUCK!"

"MORGAN!" Chuck yelled. The two men ran toward each other. The one Chuck had called Morgan leapt in the air, and hit Chuck in the chest. The two fell backwards, landing hard, dirt flying from the ground.

"What in the hell?" Sarah muttered.

}o{

"So, about the time Chuckster got married, I decided it time for me to do something with my life, and headed east," Morgan said. The three were sitting around a camp site they had put up. "I got here, bought the farm, and had so many plans." He reached into his bag and handed Sarah a book. She flipped it open, and he stopped her. "That house." He flipped it a few more pages. "And that barn. The materials are all there in town, and the instructions, just waiting on the money."

"But you lost the land," Chuck reminded his buddy gently.

"Yeah, they're not happy with me," Morgan said.

"And you two were best friends for years?" Sarah asked."

"Yes, Chuck was the best friend one could ever hope for," Morgan said. He looked around the land. "I was hoping that I could make something of myself and have you come visit."

"What happened?" Sarah asked.

"I forgot I am allergic to work," Morgan replied. "Do you two mind if I sleep in the old house one last time?"

"No, buddy, go ahead," Chuck said. They watched Morgan walk to the house. Chuck was silent.

"Guess we should buy that material, so Morgan doesn't get in trouble," Sarah said. Chuck looked at her. "We do need a new house and a barn."

"We do," Chuck told her.

"Probably need someone to read the directions while you and I put the house up," Sarah said.

"You and I?" Chuck asked. She gave him a look. "Not that I doubt you can do it, but… it's not your responsibility."

"My name is on that deed," Sarah reminded him.

"About that," Chuck began.

"You ain't runnin' me off, buster," Sarah told him. "It's part my land." Chuck just stared at her. "Teach you to mess with me."

"I guess you will," Chuck said. He was quiet for a second. "It was nice to see him."

"Chuck, he isn't going anywhere," Sarah said. "And after we get the barn and the house built… maybe we can build him a little one-room house, and then he can eat with us."

"You sure that's a good idea?" Chuck asked.

"I think we'll need someone to watch the farm while we finish up our work," Sarah said.

"Sarah," Chuck began. She looked over at him. "Thank you."

She reached over, took his hand, and squeezed it. "Well, can't have my husband pouting."

"Don't say that around Morgan," Chuck warned. "After learning about Jill dying… he couldn't take me losing two wives."

"Guess you better fly right," Sarah said, winking at him.

}o{

A week and a half later, the three of them were standing there as the sun set, smiling at the newly completed framework of the house. "I feel good about this," Morgan said.

"You didn't do any of the work," Chuck pointed out.

"That's why he feels good about it," Sarah said. They heard horses on the road, and all three turned.

"They're going past," Morgan said. "The Shaw gang never bothered me."

"The Shaw gang?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah, there's two or three small camps around here," Morgan said. "Okay, time for dinner." With that, Morgan headed over to the fire to cook.

"Did you hear that?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah, the inaccuracy of Lester's info isn't that surprising, considering how far away from him as we are," Chuck told her. "We can't take Morgan with us."

"We finish this house and barn first," Sarah told him.

"Are you sure?" Chuck asked.

"Oh, I'm sure," Sarah insisted.

}o{

Chuck leaned on a fencepost, staring at the stars.

"You okay, Chuck?" Morgan asked. Chuck turned toward his buddy and nodded. "So, you're absolutely not thinking about how you and Sarah posed as a married couple and you're slowly falling for her, and how awkward that's going to make everything?"

Chuck just stared at Morgan. "Why would you think that?" Chuck asked.

"Oh, I don't know, the fact you two keep making excuses for staying together here," Morgan said.

"Well, for your information, when we finish building the house and barn, we're going after the Shaw gang," Chuck told him.

"No, she's going after the Shaw gang. You're going with her, because you love her, and you don't know what to do about it," Morgan said. He clapped Chuck on the shoulder. "See you in the morning, Buddy." With that, Morgan walked off.

"Of course I don't know what to do about it," Chuck muttered.

Neither man noticed Sarah as she slipped away, back to camp.

A/N: Fire's dying. Come on back tomorrow and I'll tell you more of our tale.