AN/ Hey gang! This is a quick update since Chapter Five so if you haven't read it yet, then please do! Also review it too! :) I think this might be my best chapter, probably across all of my fics. I loved it. I loved it so much I couldn't wait to share it! So there will be no Doctor's this chapter nor Sarah & Morgan, nor the four way conversation between Chuck, Sarah, Molly and Emma. But it is all coming in Seven, I PROMISE!
Anyway, that's enough of this AN, I just want to share my most favorite chapter!
All Roads Lead Back Home
Chapter Six
Four days since the beach
Sarah has just finished drying herself after what started out as a lovely relaxing bath but quickly turned into something a million times more powerful and eventful after having experienced yet another memory of her past life with Chuck. Only this time, she was able to share it together for the first time in person with the man with whom she has spent the past five years of her life with. This was part of the reason why she had returned to him yesterday, as when she gets these memories, of which she is now sure that many more will return at some point, then he deserves to be present with her on her experiencing them. The moment did turn slightly awkward at the conclusion however, on them both coming to the realisation that they were sharing the memory together whilst Sarah was stark naked in the bathtub merely concealed by just soapy bubbles in the warm water she was bathing in.
A wry smile starts to escape Sarah's lips as her mind starts to recall her encounter with her husband just a short while ago. Laughter then briefly threatens to escape her lips as she then re-imagines and fondly re-pictures the look of embarrassment present on her husband's face on them realizing the position that they were in.
He's so cute when he's embarrassed. But I hope dinner is ready soon. I'm really hungry. Though I had better hurry, or I won't be ready in time which is not fair, as he has spent a long time preparing it for us.
Standing in the centre of the bathroom, Sarah then moves to wrap the towel she had used to dry herself with completely around her before right on cue, her stomach begins to rumble and she takes that as the necessary indicator for her to seek out her husband to enquire as to just how much time she has to change before it's served. If their dinner is ready or near to be ready then she will have to change faster than she ever has in her life because he has spent the past ninety or so minutes preparing and cooking dinner for her and the very least she can do is show her gratitude by not letting the meal go cold while she takes an ice-age to get herself ready. She then departs the bathroom, to see out Chuck...
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Chuck is presently inside of his kitchen and he is now just applying the finishing touches to tonight's meal. He is very much looking forward to eating dinner with Sarah again tonight.
He has been very careful to ensure that he cooks tonight's dinner and his wife's favorite meal better than he ever has before. He wants everything to be perfect for her. He knows that his wife is uncertain as to whether she will like it or not, but he is one hundred percent convinced that his wife was being genuine on previous occasions when she had stated that she loved it, and that she wasn't just trying to make him feel better in saying so.
The only brief mishap in his routine this evening was when his wife screamed out to him causing him to think something had happened to her as he instantly abandoned his cooking activities and he rushed to her aide faster than he ever had before only to learn that she was completely safe and that she instead had, had another memory of him and of their time together, causing him to feel so happy that he could scream with joy. His insides in fact are still screaming with joy right now over the moment shared together with his wife, the massive grin on his face a clear and evident indicator of his happiness and joy. Thankfully however, all of the preparation of the cooking was over and their dinner was slowly cooking when he had rushed to her aide, otherwise the dinner would have been ruined and quite possibly the upcoming night spent with his wife along with it.
However, on returning to the dinner after coming to his wife's aide, it was still coming along fine. And his wife's latest remembering of their time together has given him fresh hope that he will one day be able to win his wife back. Moving back and forth as he whistles happily away to his favorite present tune he glances briefly down the hallway and oh boy what a mistake that just was as he stops dead in his tracks and all former thoughts and the tune he was formerly whistling to clear and evaporates from his brain. What used to consist of his brain is now mush.
Crikey! Is she trying to kill me!
His eyes can't help but gape as his wife is now walking towards him. Normally that action wouldn't cause him to be rendered speechless, though he's not sure about that fact, as any time he had ever looked at her he mostly felt like that, but that's a debate for a different time... The exact reason for his loss of functioning right now is that his wife heading right towards him in nothing more than a towel which only seems to cover from the top of her thighs to the top of her chest.
He starts to blink rapidly in succession, with his stare not leaving her once in what feels like an eternity until she stops dead in the kitchen close to him.
You're so beautiful...
He allows his eyes to linger on his wife for a short moment longer though it feels like an lifetime and he only stops his stare when she begins to wave her hand in the air at him.
He immediately snaps out of his stare on noting his wife's physical action and he gives his head a good wobble in fear of his wife deeming him to be a stalker.
Don't gape at her, Chuck… You promised to take things slowly with her. But surely she must know what she is doing to me? This is so unfair. How can I stay composed and respectful when she comes out like that! I don't know how much longer I can go concealing my thoughts, emotions and desires from her before I spontaneously combust! This is torture of it's highest kind. I would sooner be in Thailand again right now!
Chuck then fixes to meet his gaze together with his wife's as he makes proper extended eye contact with her and he smiles embarrassingly at her.
"There you are," he hears her joke in a humorous tone causing his fluster to extend further.
He pauses his response, as he has the sudden urge to nervously cough. "Sorry, um," he pauses as he coughs in guilt over his behaviour once more. "Got kind of a little bit distracted," he says sheepishly as he makes an awkward grimace over his actions. Right now he feels pretty shameful, in a kind of way as if had been peeking on his neighbour that was in the process of visibly changing and was caught doing it.
"A little?" She jokes and he can once more detect the playful humour in her tone.
"Ok, a lot," he concedes as he begins to chuckle slightly in acceptance and he watches as she laughs and a cute smile forms on her face.
"But was there something you need?" he enquires as he waits, his eyes now locked in continuous eye contact with his wife, daring not to lower it in fear of gaping once more.
He watches as she nods her head.
"I was just checking how long it was until dinner is ready? Do I have time to change?" she asks.
No, don't change. Stay like that forever.
"Oh you have plenty of time," he says reassuringly.
She smiles.
"Are you sure?" she asks.
He nods his head.
"Yeah, I'd say it has at least," he pauses momentarily as his glance shifts to check his wristwatch briefly before fixing his glance back on his wife once more. "twenty minutes left."
Does it? I don't know, I can't think straight. I don't know what two plus two is right now. I don't think my wife being a deadly spy will kill me. Her beauty will. She absolutely is my 'Fatal Attraction'
"Ok then, I'd better be quick though, or it will go cold," she states.
He nods his head acceptingly. He is unable to think of any logical, coherent sentence to breathe out to her right now so it's safer to not speak at all.
I love you, I love you, I love you! Marry me! You idiot! We're already married. No biggie, marry me again!
"I'll be quick," she informs him and he nods his head once more and he watches as she then turns and begins to backtrack away from him.
Chuck quickly turns away as soon as Sarah did so as to not stare at his wife's rear as she walks away from him. If he did that, his blood pressure might quickly explode and he may die on the spot before having the chance to eat his world famous Chicken Pepperoni…
On now facing the oven, he gives his head a good final shake in an attempt to restart his brain, or else he'll have a serious accident in the kitchen that will send him to the ER and keep him away from her which would not be cool.
My beautiful wife is so deadly in every single sense of the word!
A short while later…
Sarah has just sat down in the dining area of her home shared with Chuck. She had taken almost the full twenty minutes to dress and she is wearing casual jeans and a blouse. The dinner table had already been set with two plates and typical dining room accessories such as cutlery and seasonings available on the table. Sarah has no time for any kind of thought or reflection as Chuck has just appeared in her view. She smiles at him as he continues walking in her direction.
"Dinner is served, M'lady," he says humorously and she begins to laugh on hearing his words as her glance shifts between Chuck and the dish of food that he is carrying in hand. Her eyes can't help but widen on how delicious it really does look.
"If it tastes as good as it looks, I'm going to love it. It looks delicious, Chuck," she informs him, a wide smile now present on her freshened up, elegant young face.
She watches him grin in response to her words. "Sarah, it's your favourite, trust me," he says, confidently.
She nods in acceptance of his request. "I do," she admits as her glance continues to shift between Chuck and tonight's dinner as her appetite suddenly increase ten-fold.
Wow, I really am hungry! This looks delicious
She watches as he arrives at the table and he places the dish in the middle of the table as he then moves to sit down opposite her.
A brief silence ensues, as an anticipation of what to expect takes hold. The young couple are moments away from what feels like an important moment in the rekindling of relationship. If Chuck is right, and this really is her favorite food, then it will further cement her need to trust him.
They continue to look at each other, as Sarah feels butterflies begin to build up in her stomach as she recognizes how important the moment is.
He then starts to speak, and she interprets his desire to do so stemming from that he can probably not bear the anticipation and anxiety of whether she is actually going to like it or not any longer. "Tuck in then," he says with a smile.
"Ok," she agrees with a nod of her head, before she then takes her fork in her left hand and she slowly begins to edge it towards the dish before connecting the fork solidly onto a piece of chicken, before retrieving it and lifting it up into the air, before finishing with it now on her plate.
She pauses briefly, to smile at him, who returns the smile and gaze as he takes a portion for himself.
Please taste delicious. I don't know how he will react if I don't like it. I could fake it maybe, to not break his heart if I don't like it...
Moving to take her knife into her right hand, she then brings them both together as she grips the chicken with the fork in her left hand and begins to cut it with the knife in her right. On separating the portion she is about to sample, she looks anxiously at Chuck a final time before raising the fork up to her mouth. She pauses briefly, with it at her lips as she takes in its smell, before finally taking the leap of faith and placing it into her mouth and releasing the fork with the contents now firmly in her mouth. She pauses, as her sense of taste begins to work overtime to establish whether she likes what she has just placed into her mouth or not, she won't know that for sure until she begins to finally chew the contents, which she now does. It takes her a few chews until she can ascertain whether she likes it or not and by god, this may possibly be the most delicious thing she's ever tasted in her life.
He was right she thinks as a sparkle begins to take form in her eye.
Unable to control his gaping curiosity, he asks, "How is it then?"
Hearing his question to her, she pauses all thought as she had become lost in one of the best dishes she has ever tasted as she raises her eyes stares into his eyes and a smile forms from her face from her now empty mouth.
"It's nice."
Nice? This might possibly be the most divine thing I have ever tasted in my life!
She watches as a wide grin forms on his face.
"I knew you'd like it," he declares lovingly with his wide smile formed.
She laughs briefly. "Like? I love it," she confesses and pauses as he chuckles approvingly at her for a moment.
"Chuck this is lovely, thank you so much," she says sincerely and watches as he maintains his loving grin.
I can get used to that smile. I already have.
"Heh," he laughs out cutely.
Hearing his loving outburst, she smiles at him before averting her glance away from his eyes to look down at their plates.
"Aren't you going to eat yours?" she asks, on noticing he hadn't taken a bite of his own serving yet.
"I was waiting to see if you liked it or not otherwise I was going to order something else," he admits.
A sad smile forms on her face over his revelation and she pauses and distracts herself from eating momentarily to reply to him instead.
"Chuck, you don't need to pause your life and wait around on me." she pauses, as she gazes into his eyes and tries to reinforce her point with warm, loving facial gestures. She continues, "Please, live your life how you normally do. Please don't change who you are just to accommodate my memory loss. Even if it makes me feel uncomfortable, don't hesitate to be yourself around me. The Sarah that you know and love and not the one present right now wouldn't want that ok?"
She watches as he nods his head. Though she's sure that her pleas hadn't registered with him and his nod wasn't a genuine confirmation that he actually agrees with her words so she continues further. "No Chuck, please promise me,"
He pauses, before grinning widely at her. "I promise, Sarah."
She can still detect that her point still hadn't registered with him. But she decides to let it lie otherwise their dinner will go cold.
"So tuck in then," she encourages him and he nods his head as both the husband and wife then start to eat their dinner together...
It has been a few minutes and Chuck and Sarah are about halfway through eating their dinner together. Chuck is deliriously happy and on cloud nine right now on learning that Chicken Pepperoni really is his wife's favorite food. Tonight couldn't have been more perfect thus far for Chuck. First his wife had, had another memory of him and of their time together and now he has just been blessed with being able to bring joy and happiness to his wife in providing her with her favorite food.
"Oh shoot, I knew I forgot something!" he says suddenly and he watches as his wife pauses from eating to look right at him over his outburst.
"What?" she asks.
"One moment," he replies, before taking a stand. "I'll be right back!" he says as he quickly rushes out into the kitchen and he opens the refrigerator before retrieving a bottle of red wine and closing the refrigerator door before hurrying back to the dining area in the presence of his wife once more who had now paused from eating and was watching him intently.
"I'm sorry, I don't know if you want to even drink right now but we usually have red wine with our meal," he informs her.
She smiles warmly at him before replying, "It's fine. I actually feel like a drink right now."
Hearing her response, a grin forms as he then retrieves the corkscrew laid out on the dining table as he prepares to open the bottle of wine but stops when she interrupts him and he pauses his actions.
"I suppose this is my favorite too?" she asks humorously.
He nods his head as he emits a brief chuckle before jokingly replying, "Yeah. It's our favorite. Don't worry, it's not poison"
He watches as a wide grin forms on his face before she sarcastically replies, "Har, Har!"
On hearing his wife's humour, Chuck starts to laugh and he watches as his wife's smile continues and they gaze into each other's eyes. On finishing opening the contents of the wine, he then moves to pour his wife a glass and then one for himself.
On sitting back down, his joyful persona turns serious. "I shouldn't joke, I can't imagine what its like to lose my memory," he admits.
She smiles warmly at him. "Chuck, its ok. If I can't laugh about it, then I'll cry," she admits.
A sad smile forms on his face on hearing her declaration and he watches as she picks up her wine glass in her hand, causing him to do the same. "You can talk to me any time, about anything Sarah, I really mean that," he says sincerely.
He watches as his wife pauses her actions and they gaze at each other once more and she smiles at him before moving her free arm to touch his own briefly from where they are seated.
"Cheers," he says in a change of topic on his wife not responding to his offering.
"Cheers," she replies as they move to touch their glasses together before they shift their attention back to eating their dinner once more.
A short moment passes and the husband and wife are still eating together when Chuck breaks the brief silence and Sarah looks at him as he begins to talk once more. "Um, Sarah, can I ask you something" he asks as he pauses from eating once more and watches as she does the same.
"Chuck, you can ask me anything, what is it?" she quickly responds.
He pauses for the briefest of moments to gather his thoughts before asking, "Um, you can tell me to mind my own business if you want. But um, have you thought about seeing a doctor over your memory loss. Maybe they could help?"
He waits as she pauses to likely gather her thoughts and Chuck takes the time to nervously take a sip of his wine in fear of her telling him to mind his own business.
"That's actually a good idea, Chuck," she pauses as a huge Bartowski grin takes shape on his face, to which she responds with a weaker version. "I was actually thinking about it in my mom's,"
"Great!" he replies immediately with pure, uncontrolled enthusiasm. "I can go and arrange that for you right now!"
On finishing speaking, he begins to stand but is stopped when Sarah grabs his arm causing him to freeze in place.
"Easy, Chuck, it can wait until after dinner. We'll speak about it then, ok?" she warns.
With pure excitement now running through his veins, he protests, "But Sarah," he pauses to check his watch, "if I hurry, I could get you an appointment for tomorrow."
She continues her grip on his arm. "Chuck, you haven't finished your dinner. I won't feel comfortable or at ease if you don't eat what you have spent the past two hours preparing and cooking. We don't need to rush. I can wait to see a doctor until next week. All that matters to me in my mind right now is watching you enjoying the lovely meal that you have made us, ok?" she stresses once more but is talking on deaf ears causing her to get a bit visibly frustrated.
He attempts to protest once more. Still built up with pure excitement on Sarah agreeing with his suggestion. "But Sarah..."
She responds more sternly this time, with a wide stare that is enough to unsettle him as he knows that stare his wife has just given him. "Chuck, I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. I won't hear any more talk of me visiting a doctor until after dinner so sit back down and eat like a good boy,"
He gulps on his wife finishing talking and he reluctantly moves to take his seat at the table once more.
"Good boy," she says smugly, he can see the look of satisfaction now present on her face.
"I'm not a boy, I'm a man," he playfully but proudly protests on sitting back down as ordered.
"No, you're a nerd," she responds and he watches as a wide grin forms on her face and he winces in mock hurt.
"Ouch, that's about the thousandth time you've done that to me," he protests causing her to laugh at him satisfactorily.
"Oh, I'm sure," she states causing him to smirk in response, before he continues to resume eating because the faster they finish, the quicker he can start to talk about helping Sarah in any way that he can. When Sarah admitted she had wanted to and agreed to seeing a doctor, the joy and relief on Chuck was evident for all to see. Yes, he had gotten a little carried away with himself but that was an understandable reaction for a man whose wife had just had all known memory of him forcibly suppressed. Chuck is feeling so elated right now that she has agreed with him.
He pauses from eating himself as he gazes at his wife as she takes yet another mouthful of food into her mouth and a smile of satisfaction forms on his face.
"I told you that you'd love it," he declares and he watches as she pauses eating to look at him and a smile forms on her face once more.
"You were right." she concedes to him.
"Actually, I think you owe me an apology. Several actually, as my feelings are still hurt from being called a boy and a nerd," he states and he watches as his words cause her to laugh.
"Don't push it buster. You're getting just one apology from me tonight," she warns causing him to grin.
"Fair enough. Let's hear it then."
She concedes. "I'm sorry for being so apprehensive about Chicken Pepperoni. I can't believe I even doubted you, Chuck, I love it."
Hearing his wife's apology causes his wide grin to extend further still. He can't resist adding in another playful jab at her. "How about the wine?" he asks causing her to snort briefly at his humour.
"Lovely too. Perfect actually. I didn't doubt that one though, so you're not getting an apology for that," she says with a smile.
He smiles in response, before jokingly replying, "Only because you had no time to doubt it. Maybe that's why I pretended to forget about it,"
He watches as his wife laughs out a suppressed laugh. "Touche," she then admits.
Deciding to continue engaging in playful banter, he continues, "By the way, I hope you know that you're doing the dishes after all of the complaining you've been doing all day about my famous Chicken Pepperoni!" on finishing his joke, he takes the final bite of his food and watches as she nods her head acceptingly.
"Gladly! This was so nice that I wish there were seconds," she admits and he watches as her gaze shifts between the empty plates and the dish and then back at him with a wide smile.
A look of amazement forms on his face on hearing her words. "Wow, you really enjoyed it that much huh?" he asks and pauses as she nods at him. "I don't think you've taken seconds before."
She laughs briefly. "Well this time I wish I could. I really need and should learn how to make it myself,"
On hearing her words, Chuck begins to vehemently shake his head in disagreement before replying. "No chance, it's my secret dish. I'm going to use it to keep you with me for the rest of your life."
He watches as she starts to laugh deeply at him causing him to fill up with happiness. "I'm not joking," he then says humorously which causes her to smile.
"I could always torture you to extract the recipe out of you," She states, playfully.
"I won't talk," as he furiously shakes his head sideways to reinforce his point.
He watches as a smile forms. "Everyone talks," she states and he continues his head shaking.
"Not me," he states confidently.
"We'll see," she replies as they continue to stare at each other, smiles as wide as bananas.
"You won't hurt me, you kinda agreed to that when we married," he jokes before continuing further, "You can't break your wedding vows, Sarah, cardinal sin."
Their stare and smiles at each other continue.
"I'm sure there's a loophole somewhere," she states playfully.
He starts to shake his head sideways once more, before humorously replying, "Nuh-uh. It's locked and sealed, Missy, you're trapped."
He watches as she laughs on hearing his response, and he continues to grin lovingly at her for a long moment, before attempting to turn the conversation serious once more.
"But Sarah, now that we've finished, can we talk about arranging a trip for you to see a neurologist?" he asks and he watches intently as she nods her head in acceptance.
"Ok," she then agrees verbally causing the biggest grin of the night to shrine through his young face.
"Thank you. Look, Sarah, I shouldn't have tried to force that on you a little earlier but I care about you so much." he pauses, as he stares right into her eyes to reinforce his declaration. "I can't put into words how much I care about you but moving on because I know you'll get uncomfortable if I carry on, I really think you can benefit from seeing a neurologist, even if you get nowhere, at least you'll have some clarity and know where you stand," he states, passionately.
He watches as she nods her head in agreement, before responding, I agree, Chuck. And so does my Mom, actually."
He begins to quirk his eyebrows on hearing his wife's admission before querying, "Does she?"
She nods her head before admitting, "Yeah, actually she suggested that I see one too."
Chuck takes a moment to process the information given to him before replying, "So can I arrange it for you then?"
He watches as she takes a moment to process his question to her. "Chuck, I could arrange it myself," she protests.
He responds almost immediately. "Sarah, I don't want to belittle you and this isn't me doing that so please don't think it…" he pauses and she nods. "But you are no longer a CIA employee and so you don't get healthcare any more. And all of our accounts are joint. I don't know your money situation right now but I don't see how you can pay for it,"
She interrupts him in an attempt at protest over his blunt facts, "Chuck..."
He quickly interrupts her once more. "Sarah, please let me finish and then you can speak all you want," he stresses and she concedes and nods. "You're my wife, Sarah. Let me tell you right now: I would spend every last cent I had to make you better."
She interrupts him again "Chuck, it doesn't have to be expensive."
He interrupts her again. "Sarah, please," he pauses, as his eyes begin to plead with her. "Please, allow me to do this for you. I don't even have to come with you. Just please, can you allow me to do this one thing for you?"
There's a pause, and he watches as his wife begins to fight an inner battle. She was always too proud to ask for or accept help. He watches as a resigned smile begins to then form on her face, and he knows that he has now got his own way.
"Ok," she agrees and pure happiness erupts on his face and his mood instantly changes to that of euphoria.
"Oh Sarah, thank you!" he pauses, as he reaches out to take her hand and sports her the most loving grin that he could ever possibly muster. "I'll get you the best neurologist in the country!"
"Chuck... You don't have to do that," she protests once more.
Chuck shakes his head in disagreement, before responding, "Sarah, I do. Money doesn't matter to me. I am looking right now at what matters most to me in this world," he states, as he stares right into his wife's eyes until he notes that it begins to get a little uncomfortable for her and he lays off on the intensity a little in fear of undoing everything that has just happened and lets go of her hand, though reluctantly.
"I'll arrange it for you," he says but pauses to look at his wristwatch. "In fact, I'll go and do it right now, whilst it's still reasonably early. They may be able to get you an appointment for tomorrow or at the latest the next day."
He watches, as his wife processes the information he had just told her. "Ok," she then responds and they smile at each other a final time before Chuck moves to stand up.
On standing, he then says, "I'll try not to be too long,"
"Take your time," she responds almost immediately and he nods his head before then turning and quickly heading off to arrange to have his wife professionally seen by the best possible neurologist that he could possibly find...
An hour later
Sarah has just finished cleaning up from the most delicious meal that she can ever remember eating and she is now in the process of putting back away all of the plates, dishes and cutlery and she is starting to get a little tired and Chuck has been gone for roughly an hour. She is getting ready to turn in for the night though she is not sure where she will be sleeping tonight, nor if she will be sleeping alone, or next to him in some capacity. They had slept together on the sofa the previous night, and she has to admit, she liked it a lot. She's sure that if she is to sleep alone in their bedroom tonight, she won't enjoy or feel at home anywhere near as much as she felt last night, that is once they had made their way out to the sofa together. She had attempted to get off to sleep in their master bedroom on her own, but she had been tossing and turning for a long time before deciding that she needed to get herself a drink and to try and get off to sleep before it became daylight only to find her husband not in the guest room but out in their lounge on the sofa instead.
I hope we can sleep together again tonight. But Preferably in a bed again too, like we had when Quinn sent me back here. Only this time it will be so much different. He thinks that I need space from him right now. But I don't think that I do. He's the kindest, most compassionate and funny guy that I've ever met. I really like him. It would go a long way if I told him this. But I'm not good with emotions and stating how I feel...
Just as she is in the process of putting away the last plate, she can see movement out in the hall. She quickly puts away the plate, before turning her attention to look into the hallway and she can see Chuck walking back towards her. On him arriving in close talking distance, he smiles at her, which she returns, as she watches as he stops dead in his tracks.
"I'm sorry I was so long. I had to do a bit of research into which neurologists are available and their backgrounds and such. I then retrieved the contact details and I've arranged it all. You have an appointment tomorrow at 5pm with a one Dr Jake Williams, MD," he informs her with a wide grin and she takes a brief moment to process his information given to her.
"Wow, that soon?" she asks in amazement and he nods his head at her. "Chuck, I'm sure that has cost a lot. You didn't need to do that."
He responds instantly without any hesitation, "Yes I did. I'm glad I did it and I don't regret it. I will do anything for you, Sarah."
She pauses, as she begins to fill up with a wide range of emotions ranging from happiness to admiration, to joy, to love...
A sparkle forms in her eye and she almost feels as if she is about to well up which causes her to speak immediately to prevent any form of extreme emotion from showing. "Thank you, Chuck," she states emotionally. She'd thought that she had done a good job of concealing her emotion, but she hadn't. And she knows that he had noticed it too, but he let it slide.
"You're welcome," he states, a wide loving grin that she is becoming so used to seeing present on his face.
She smiles back.
"I have really enjoyed tonight, Chuck," she states warmly.
"Sarah, I have too," he responds, using the same tone.
She watches, as he then averts his eyes away from her for the first time since he returned and she watches him intently as she notes him surveying their dinner table and a wry smile forms on her face on knowing that he'll likely now enquire why she did all of the dishes without his help.
It's my home too, Chuck.
"Um, Sarah?" he starts and she can't help herself from a brief suppressed laugh. Here it comes. I'm starting to get to know him as much as he knows me.
"Yes, Chuck?" she asks with a wry smile.
"Why did you do all of the cleaning up? I could have helped you," he states, his tone sincere and full of truth.
She laughs briefly, before responding tongue in cheek, "You told me that I was doing all of the dishes tonight."
He responds instantly, "Sarah, I was just joking. I could have helped you."
"Well I wasn't joking. If you cook, I clean," she states bluntly with a loving smile.
It's my home too.
She watches as a grin forms on his face, she continues her smile. "Well in that case, the same applies to you. If you cook, I clean," he states playfully.
"We'll see," she retorts playfully.
"We won't see anything, Missy. It's not up for debate." he states causing her to smile in response to him.
"Oh, Sarah?" he then says.
"Yeah?" she asks as she continues to gaze at him and watches intently as he averts his glance away from her slightly and she watches as he moves to pick up some information.
"I've been meaning to do this since you got back. This paperwork here is all of the necessary information required for our joint accounts," he pauses, as he attempts to pass over the paperwork to her.
On his words to her, coupled with the paperwork he is attempting to pass to her, she immediately attempts to protest "Chuck..."
He interrupts her, his eyes pleading in a way that she finds hard to resist. "Sarah, please. It's yours. Even if things don't work out between us, half of it is yours," he states matter-of-factly.
Feeling too exhausted to argue with him, she takes the paperwork in hand and immediately begins to gasp on reading how much money is in the account.
"Chuck, I can't," she protests, her mouth agape.
"You can, and you will," he states, confidently.
She is about to protest once more and he continues, "Sarah, if you refuse then I'll just continue nagging on and on and on and on at you until you either give way, or remove my tongue, heh, so please save me from the pain from having my tongue removed and just accept that this is going to happen."
A smile forms on her face and brief laughter starts to emit on hearing her husband's words.
"Have I ever won an argument with you?" she concedes as she looks at him in amazement over his persuasion skills.
"Plenty," he retorts immediately, a wide grin formed on his face.
"I wish I could remember them. I could use a victory right now," she laughs and she watches as he begins to chuckle with her.
"Oh I'm sure you'll remember plenty of them, in time," he jokes causing her to laugh again.
"I hope so!" she retorts, as they gaze at each other adoringly from where they are stood together.
"It's getting late though, I should probably turn in for the night," he admits.
She nods her head in complete agreement before responding, "Me too."
Are we going to sleep together again tonight?
"Oh hey, Sarah, um by the way, have you spoken to your Mom since you got back?" he asks causing Sarah to pause from her thoughts of any kind of intimacy with Chuck as her brain begins to contemplate his question to her instead.
"Not yet," she admits. "It's still kind of a surprise that she's now safe. Is she truly one hundred percent safe though, Chuck? I'm sorry for asking you again, it's just..."
He replies immediately, his tone honest and powerful "Sarah, I understand. Look at me," he pauses, as she does as instructed and gazes into his alluring eyes. "On my life, I promise you that your Mom is safe from any further harm, and Molly too, ok?"
She nods her head, with no doubt in her mind whatsoever that her husband is telling her the truth. Her brief feeling of concern for her family members being replaced with admiration and warmth for the man standing infront of her. "What about you, have you spoken with her since I arrived?" she asks him as her own curiosity is now interested to know if he has spoken to her mother.
He shakes his head no, before responding, "No, I was worried about going behind your back. You may not have liked it."
Sarah starts to frown in minor annoyance briefly. "Chuck, what did I tell you when we ate dinner? She is your family. Please don't change to accommodate the present me."
"You're right. I just don't want to do something to upset you," he admits and she can't help but take hold of his hand with her own once more.
Taking hold of his hand is becoming a common occurrence.
It's now her turn to request he make eye contact with her, "Chuck, look at me," she pauses as he makes eye contact with her "You're not doing anything to upset me. The only way I am going to get upset is if you change who you are to accommodate me, ok?"
He nods his head in acceptance of her request.
He's scared of losing me. Of me walking out on him. He's the nicest guy I've ever met. By quite some margin. I don't plan on going anywhere. I'm enjoying all of my time with him. It would go a long way if I actually told him this though… Maybe if we went out on a date or something then I could show my actual interest in him without actually telling him. Surely he would then know how I'm feeling right now...
She watches as he then begins to yawn. "Maybe it's time for bed," he says.
She nods her head in acceptance as she awaits any further comment from him.
"I'll see you tomorrow then?" he asks and Sarah can't mask the disappointment now evident on her face. I guess we'll be sleeping alone tonight then... Can I at least get a kiss from you, maybe I'll be able to sleep better alone if you can at least give me that?
"Yeah..." she replies dejectedly over their evident sleeping arrangements for tonight. She continues to gaze at him, as he begins to walk into her vicinity and she doesn't flinch as she holds her ground and invites him to do whatever he is wishing to do. He moves to embrace her, to which she reciprocates as her hands find their way up his back until landing on his shoulders. They stay locked like this for a long moment, until pulling back and he smiles at her, which she returns.
Hell, if he won't do it, then I sure as hell will!
Just as he is about to pull back and put some distance between themselves, she pulls him right back in place, and she locks her eyes with his own once more, before moving her head in motion towards his. And after a brief hesitation, she watches as he adjusts himself until their lips connect themselves together. Sarah closes her eyes on feeling the touch of her husband, and their lips stay locked together for a long moment and as she is just about to deepen it, he pulls back and smiles lovingly at her.
"Goodnight Sarah," he says adoringly.
"Goodnight," is all she can reply, her breath taken and a fire lit deep inside of her for the man now separated from her proximity.
She watches him as he walks along the hallway, before disappearing out from sight and into the guest room.
Yes… I'm very much going to need to take control of this relationship if it's to progress to where I want it to right now...
End of Chapter
AN/ I hope you enjoyed today's chapter. There is only one way for me to know: Leave a review and let me know!
Next Chapter; Morgan and Sarah, Sarah's Doctor's Appointment. Should I give way and tell you if Chuck gets his own way and gets to go with her? Of course I should! Of course he does! Also there will be a moment between Chuck & Sarah similar to when Chuck helped the Ballerina girl in canon, and finally, a four way conversation between Chuck, Sarah, Emma and Molly.
See you all soon :)