A/N: Sorry for the delay. Fair play to you if you stuck around :)

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Castle, BuyMore Plaza, 14:26:

Sarah, Chuck, Cole and Casey occupied the main conference room of the underground facility. Sarah sat in an office chair adjacent to the main table, stealing subtle glances at Chuck, who sat across the table from her. They were both having a hard time not grinning at each other.

For Sarah, it was the first time in a long time that she felt at ease, the first time EVER that she felt truly happy. Confessing her love for Chuck was the best decision she'd ever made. Looking at the charm bracelet once again on her wrist, proudly showing, she'd promised herself that tonight, she'd prove to Chuck just how much she loves him - she grinned unconsciously at the thought: the things she'd do to him! He won't remember WHAT hit him! God, she loved her Nerd.

Chuck, sitting across the metal table with his arms folded across his chest, was sporting a goofy grin, despite his efforts to hide it. He knew that this "secret relationship" thing that he and Sarah had going on was very serious - the consequences of being discovered would be astronomically terrible - but inside, he was brimming with joy.

He didn't have the chance to tell Sarah yet, but he thought he had a plan to remove the last obstacle to their full relationship - the government protocols. Unbeknownst to the CIA, NSA, and his two handlers, he wasn't as clueless as some of them might imagine. A few days ago, out of curiosity more than anything, he'd read up on the dynamics of a government asset's relationship to the government itself.

It turns out that an "asset" is a very helpless person indeed. An asset is essentially property of the powers that be, in every sense of the word. Expendable. Whilst researching this particular topic, Chuck fell down a rabbit hole of looking up ways to combat this - he eventually came to the conclusion that if he applied for a legitimate job, perhaps became an ANALYST legally working for the US government, instead of an ASSET who was essentially a slave to them, he could avoid the looming fear of becoming "expendable". Maybe he could get paid too, wouldn't that be lovely? He'd have to talk to Sarah about that later.

Cole Barker stood at the far end of the table, his gaze diverting between Sarah, Chuck and the screen on the wall, which was at present showing static - they were expecting a conference call with General Beckman. Cole really did not understand the nature of this Sarah Walker. Well, he did. She obviously had feelings for this bumbling idiot, Chuck. He couldn't quite grasp the idea that someone like Sarah would choose a fake relationship with Chuck, over him. She'd said she "wasn't the type of girl to cheat on her cover boyfriend." It was very weird, and he felt jealous.

But he did have to admire Bartowski for being able to reel in the interest of a smoking hot woman like this one. He wasn't sure how he did it, but he gave Chuck some measure of respect, at least for that.

Casey stood away from the table, his arms crossed, his face staring directly at the static-filled TV. 'Those two, they'd better not screw this up. If Walker gets transferred, this team falls apart, that's for sure.' He wasn't blind. He could easily see that something changed. Walker probably acted on his advice, and succumbed to her feelings for the moron. Good for them, he thought.

The TV screen came to life, after the NSA logo briefly flashed across it. General Beckman's unsmiling image appeared, and she eyed the team sternly for a moment, as she always does.

"Good afternoon, team," she said in her usual abrupt tone.

There was a messy chorus of "Afternoon General"s and "Ma'am"s.

The General looked at each member of the team individually, as well as Cole Barker, and began their briefing;

"You have a new mission. You must capture a FULCRUM scientist, code-name Perseus."

"Perseus is the lead scientist in charge of FULCRUM's rebuilding of the Intersect," Cole interjected smoothly, looking around at the rest of the team.

Beckman eyed Cole cautiously. "Indeed. We have information detailing that Perseus will be attending a formal event at the Swiss consul's office tonight.. I want you to ascertain the identity of Perseus, and bring him in if possible. It is vital that we stop FULCRUM from building their own Intersect," she gazed around at the group with a nearly reptilian look.

'Another one of these missions, and so soon? Huh. At least I'll get to spend more time with Sarah,' thought Chuck.

Beckman continued;

"The State Department has arranged invitations for the two of you."

Chuck's heart froze for a moment. He immediately feared the worst.

"Um, uh… the two- the two of who?" he asked, looking at Beckman.

Beckman looked at Chuck for a second, then decided to grace his question with a response.

"Agent Walker and Agent Casey," she drew out slowly, as if to a small child.

Chuck noticeably sighed in relief. It wasn't him going, but at least he wouldn't have to put up with Barker salivating all over Sarah even more. The thought made his skin creep.

Sarah had much the same thoughts. She was disappointed it wouldn't be Chuck going in, but could see the advantages of going in with Casey instead. Unlike Chuck, Casey was a spy and would respond to threats better. She was also secretly glad that Chuck would not be put in immediate danger, the idea of any harm coming to her boyfriend made her sick.

"Are you sure General, I'd be happy to accompany Agent Walker," said Barker, his hands on his hips, glancing at Sarah for a moment before looking back at the screen.

"I bet you would," Chuck muttered with a false smile, slowly turning towards Cole, then Sarah. He noticed her looking lovingly at him from across the table, her golden blonde hair draping her shoulders, her azure eyes stunning him for a moment with their beauty.

Sarah loved the effect she had on him. She was used to being "admired" by nearly every man around her, but she always found it revolting. Chuck was the only one who could make her feel truly beautiful, and it made her heart flutter. She gave him a small reassuring smile.

"Uhh, I'd be happy to go too," Chuck turned towards the General with a sudden grin on his face, hopeful.

Casey growled. "Mm, aren't you popular," he grinned.

"I mean, I am the Intersect - and everything. Y'know?" Chuck said, still looking at Beckman.

"Neither Agent Barker nor Bartowski will be going on this mission! FULCRUM is still actively searching for the two of you. Both of you will stay in Castle and monitor by remote feed. If you recognise anyone, you'll have radio," Beckman retorted, clearly irritated with Chuck and Barker's comments.

Chuck sighed, resigned to the situation.

"Well, at least no one-"

"You heard the General. Stay in the bunker," Casey drawled in his gruff tone.

"And there it is," Chuck replied with a half-smirk.

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Casa Bartowski, Echo Park

The team was given a few hours to themselves before the big mission that night. Chuck and Sarah went over to his place to "work on the cover" before they'd head over to Sarah's apartment to prepare for the mission.

When they arrived at the apartment, Ellie greeted them with her usual warm enthusiasm, her arms thrown wide as she pulled both Chuck and Sarah into a hug. "There you two are! I was wondering if you were going to make it home in time for dinner."

Ellie's excitement was palpable as she led them into the kitchen, where Devon was already preparing a meal. "I'm so happy for you guys. You've been together for so long now, and it's just… so nice to see everything working out."

Chuck tried to suppress a chuckle, glancing briefly at Sarah, who smiled but said nothing. The complicated nature of their relationship wasn't something Ellie could ever know, but now they truly knew how the other felt, and it was the greatest feeling in the world.

Dinner was a laid-back affair, filled with light conversation and laughter. Ellie beamed throughout the meal, commenting more than once on how happy she was for Chuck and Sarah. "You've been through so much, Chuck," she said, her eyes sparkling as she looked between them. "And ever since this woman showed up in your life… look at you - so in love, so committed. I'm really proud of you."

Chuck glanced at Sarah, and she grinned happily at him.

Devon, ever the supportive brother-in-law, chimed in, "Dude, you're seriously killing it. It's like there's electricity passing between the two of you whenever you're in the room! What happened to that lonely guy from a year ago?

Chuck felt the heat rise to his face, but he grinned sheepishly. "I guess I've changed."

Ellie laughed. "Well, it's nice to see you happy, Chuck. You both deserve this."

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After dinner, the four of them settled in the living room to watch a movie. Chuck and Sarah sat on the couch together, with Ellie and Devon taking the loveseat nearby. As the opening credits rolled, Sarah leaned into Chuck, resting her head on his shoulder. Her hand slipped into his, fingers intertwining naturally.

Chuck leaned closer, whispering softly, "We need to sell this, right? For the cover?"

Sarah smiled, her eyes twinkling as she glanced up at him. "Right. For the cover."

With that, Chuck turned slightly, his lips finding hers in a kiss that started soft but quickly deepened. There was a raw intensity between them, a need to communicate without words. Under the excuse of selling their cover to Ellie and Devon, they were really showing each other how much they felt. This was their only chance without prying eyes - no Castle cameras, no mission briefing interrupting them, just this moment of freedom.

The kiss became heated, and Chuck's hand moved to Sarah's waist, pulling her closer. Sarah responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and grabbing his shirt from the back, their bodies pressed tightly together.

Ellie, who had been watching the movie, glanced over at them and chuckled. "Well, okay then! Someone's getting a little carried away."

Devon grinned widely. "Whoa, bro! Look at you go! I didn't know you had it in you, Chuck. I mean, seriously - what happened to no PDA?"

Chuck and Sarah pulled apart just enough to look at each other, both laughing softly. The flush in Sarah's cheeks wasn't just from the kiss - it was from how real this felt, how much she loved being in this moment with Chuck, without the usual walls between them. She was also experiencing a very hot, burning fire down in the centre of her body, courtesy of the kissing Chuck was doing. The amount of pleasure she experienced from simply feeling his body against hers was insane. How was he able to do this to her?!

Chuck gave a playful shrug. "I guess things change. Maybe I'm getting more comfortable with it."

Sarah smirked, leaning in to whisper in his ear, "Or maybe you're just getting comfortable with me."

Chuck's heart raced at her words. "Yeah, maybe."

They stole another quick kiss before settling back into the couch, their hands still linked as they watched the movie. It took all the self-control Sarah possessed not to devour Chuck right then and there. She really wanted to.

As the movie played on, Chuck glanced at Sarah, squeezing her hand gently. Sarah leaned into him again, resting her head on his shoulder with a contented sigh. In this moment, with Ellie and Devon's laughter filling the room and the warmth of Sarah by his side, Chuck felt contented, happy.

Sarah felt home. She'd never had a real home in her life. Not with her parents, as that family never really felt like a real family, from the very start. Not with her dad. And certainly not with the CIA. She was unfamiliar with the whole concept of home. Until now that is. She realised with a loving gaze at her amazing boyfriend, that she was Home. Chuck was her Home.

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Maison23, 21:34:

Sarah sat in front of the vanity in her dimly lit apartment, carefully applying makeup with the precision of someone who'd done it a thousand times before. The soft glow from the mirror lights illuminated her features, casting a warm, intimate glow over the room. She was focused, her hands steady as she worked, but her mind wandered back to her lovable Nerd.

Behind her, Chuck sat on the edge of her bed, watching her intently. He couldn't tear his eyes away. It wasn't the first time he'd seen Sarah put on makeup - after all, it was a crucial part of their cover and missions - but something about watching her now felt different. More personal. She wasn't doing it for a cover this time. This was real. She was real.

Sarah caught his gaze in the mirror and smiled softly. "What?" she asked, her voice a little playful, but there was a vulnerability behind it, too.

Chuck shook his head, still lost in his thoughts. "Nothing, I just… I could watch you do this all day."

Sarah raised an eyebrow, setting down the mascara wand. "Watch me put on makeup? Pretty sure that's not the most exciting thing in the world."

He grinned, his eyes soft as they locked with hers in the mirror. "Maybe not to everyone. But I don't know… there's something about it. It's like I'm watching you transform into all these different versions of you, but at the same time, you're always just… you."

Her hand paused, her lips twitching into a small smile. "And you like watching me turn into different versions of me?"

"No," he said softly, standing and moving closer to her. "I just like watching y o u. You're beautiful, Sarah. And you always are - makeup or no makeup. But there's something about seeing you like this… in your element, getting ready. It's just... mesmerising."

Sarah felt her heart skip a beat at his words. He always had a way of disarming her, saying the things she never expected, but needed to hear. She turned her attention back to the mirror, though her mind was now fully focused on Chuck.

He moved to lean on the wall next to her, his face close to hers as he watched her finish applying the final touches. After a moment of quiet, he cleared his throat. "Sarah, I've been thinking..."

She glanced at him, curious. "About?"

Chuck's expression grew serious, though there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "I've been thinking… maybe I should become an analyst. Stop being the government's asset. If the government's not on our back anymore, there's nothing stopping us. No more covers. No more pretending."

Sarah's hand froze mid-motion as she absorbed his words. She blinked and turned fully to face him. "An analyst?" Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper, as if she couldn't quite believe what she was hearing.

Chuck nodded, his eyes searching hers for a reaction. "Yeah. I mean, I'd keep going on missions and saving the world and stuff, but I wouldn't be at risk from my own side anymore. And, well… Beckman wouldn't be able to use the whole 'no dating the asset' thing against us, either."

Sarah's heart swelled with an unexpected rush of emotion. She'd dreamed of this - of a way they could be together without the constant threat of reassignment or danger hanging over their heads. But she knew they couldn't rush into this without a plan. She reached for his hand, her thumb brushing over his knuckles.

"That's… Chuck, that's incredible," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I never thought you'd be willing to step back like that, but it makes sense. It would solve so many problems." She paused, her brow furrowing slightly. "But we'll have to be careful. Beckman won't make it easy. We'll need a solid case, something that proves you'd be more valuable as an analyst."

Chuck smiled softly, relieved that she wasn't dismissing the idea. "I know. We'll figure it out, though. Together."

Sarah's heart fluttered at the word. Together. She turned back toward the mirror, trying to compose herself, but Chuck's gaze remained locked on her. His hand reached up, gently tracing a line down her arm as he leaned closer.

"You're really beautiful, you know that?" Chuck's voice was low, sincere. "I mean, you're always beautiful, but watching you like this, it's... different. It's real."

Sarah felt her pulse quicken. His touch, his words - everything about him had always had this effect on her. She set down the makeup brush she'd been holding, her eyes meeting his in the reflection. There was something in his gaze that sent a shiver down her spine - something raw and unguarded.

She didn't even realise she'd turned to face him fully until their lips met. The kiss started soft, tentative, like they were still testing the waters, but it didn't take long for the heat between them to flare up. Chuck's hand slid around her, gently pulling her closer, and Sarah responded in kind, her fingers running through his curls as the kiss deepened.

There was an urgency between them now, one they couldn't hold back anymore. Chuck's lips moved against hers with a mix of tenderness and hunger, and Sarah felt herself melting into him, her body pressing closer as she lost herself in the moment.

She let out a soft gasp as his hands slid down her sides, pulling her even closer, and in response, her hands tightened their hold on his hair, pulling him to her with the same intensity. The heat of their kiss was overwhelming, all-consuming, as if every emotion they had held back was pouring out now.

Chuck pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers as they both caught their breath, but neither of them pulled away entirely. Their noses brushed, their breaths mingling in the small space between them.

"I love you, Sarah," Chuck whispered, his voice hoarse but filled with emotion.

Sarah smiled, her hands gently cupping his face. "I-I love you too, Chuck. So much," she frowned slightly "I'll need to fix my lipstick again," she pouted, "but not before I'm done with you," she eyed him hungrily. Chuck's presence was doing things to her body that she didn't feel were possible before. She pulled him towards her again, meeting his lips.

Chuck's forehead was still pressed against Sarah's, both of them suspended in the intensity of the moment. The kiss they shared felt like it had broken open a dam, years of tension and unspoken desires finally flooding out. Sarah's fingers slid up the back of his neck, finding a firm yet soft grip in his curls again, gently tugging at the soft waves, pulling him even closer.

Chuck's pulse quickened at the feeling of her touch, the sensation of her fingers threading through his hair sending shivers down his spine. His hands, which had been resting on her waist, began to move instinctively. One hand traced the curve of her back while the other slowly moved upward, stopping just beneath her chest. His fingers trembled for a moment, hesitating, but when Sarah's hands tightened their grip in his hair and she pressed her lips to his again, he knew there was no need to hold back anymore.

Their lips collided with more heat this time, more need. The kiss deepened, their mouths parting as their tongues brushed against one another, exploring, tasting. Sarah gasped softly against him, her hands sliding down from his hair to his shoulders, pulling him closer, needing him closer.

Chuck's hand slipped higher, cupping her breast gently through the fabric of her shirt. Sarah moaned softly into the kiss, her body arching into his touch, wanting more. His thumb grazed across her nipple, even through her clothes the sensation was electric, and Sarah's breath hitched. She pressed her chest more firmly into his hand, silently urging him on.

The heat between them was palpable now, and Chuck's free hand slid down to her hip, gripping her tightly as he pulled her into his lap, needing to feel her weight, her body pressed firmly against his. Sarah straddled him without hesitation, her knees pressing into the bed on either side of him, her hands now cupping his face as their kiss became even more urgent, more desperate.

Her lips left his mouth only to trail down the side of his neck, nipping gently at his skin as Chuck let out a low groan, the sound sending a thrill through Sarah. He felt like he was burning alive under her touch, his hands roaming her body now, sliding up and down her back, pulling her closer, needing to feel more of her.

Sarah's breath was coming in shallow gasps now, her heart racing as Chuck's hands slid beneath her shirt, the warmth of his palms against her skin sending a jolt of heat through her. She leaned into him, her fingers still tangled in his hair as she whispered against his neck, her voice breathless.

"Chuck…"

It wasn't just his name; it was a plea, a need, and Chuck responded without hesitation, capturing her lips in another searing kiss, his hands moving with more urgency now, sliding across her skin, memorising every curve, every inch of her. Sarah's hips moved instinctively against his, and they both gasped at the sensation, the heat between them building to an almost unbearable level.

Chuck's fingers traced the edge of her bra, the delicate fabric barely a barrier between them. He paused, his lips still brushing against hers as he whispered, his voice thick with emotion and desire, "Are you sure?"

Sarah met his gaze, her eyes dark and filled with the same need he felt. She nodded, her hands cupping his face as she kissed him again, her answer clear in every touch, every kiss.

"I've never been more sure of anything," she breathed, her voice soft but filled with certainty.

With that, Chuck's hands slid further up, gently cupping her breasts again, this time with nothing but the thin lace of her bra between them. Sarah gasped, her body arching into him as his thumbs brushed over her hardened nipples, the sensation sending sparks of pleasure through her.

They were lost in each other now, in the heat of the moment, in the overwhelming need they both felt. The world outside didn't matter. All that mattered was this - their connection, their love, and the undeniable chemistry that had been building between them for so long.

As their kisses grew more heated, more desperate, Sarah felt herself being pulled deeper into the moment. She couldn't think, couldn't focus on anything but Chuck - his hands, his lips, the way he made her feel like the only thing that existed in the world.

Chuck's grip on her tightened, his hands moving back down to her waist as he laid back slightly, pulling her with him until she was lying against his chest. He then surprised her by flipping her over in an instant.

Sarah gasped audibly. They were tangled together now, lips still fused, hands exploring each other as the heat between them continued to build, until it felt like they might both combust.

Just as they were about to take it to the next level, there was a sharp knock on the door. Neither of them noticed on time, they were too wrapped up in each other. The door to the apartment burst open, and John Casey's imposing form stood in the doorway.

"Walker, did you forget we have a missi-" his shocked, disgusted expression explained how he felt. He stared at the form on the bed; Bartowski pressing Walker firmly down, while Walker had her legs around his back. Chuck's hands were halfway up Sarah's shirt. It was disgusting. Casey began to gag.

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A/N2: Love it? Hate it? Drop a review. Criticise me as much as you want, I've got my big boy pants on, I won't cry.