They were standing in front of a lovely little house with wood trim around the window. The railing on the steps up to the house were made of a similar natural wood. A carport ran along the left side of the house. The rest of the house was covered in a light green siding.

Sarah followed Chuck as he walked through the door and down the hall. She tried to take note of the family photos on the walls as they went. The whole place had a very homey feel. The decorations spoke of the sea, like everything else here, but also gave the impression that it was someone's job to make it homey.

"Anybody home?" Chuck called as he entered. He heard his sister's voice answer.

"If Ellie is home that means Awesome took her closing shift," Chuck told Sarah. "I bet Mom is in the garden." Without a word, Chuck continued through the narrow halls of the house and out the backdoor.

There was Mary, kneeling down in front of the flower beds wearing overalls, her brown hair up in a loose bun.

"Hello," Mary said, turning to face them as she wiped the soil from her hands onto her gardening apron.

"Hey, mom," Chuck said. "This is Sarah. I know you met before, but I wanted to make it more… um official."

"That sounds serious," Mary said with a smile.

"Yep," Chuck replied. "Sarah is my date."

"Hi," Sarah said, raising her hand to wave.

"Hello," Mary smiled back at her despite the awkward wave that Sarah was now regretting. "And how has my son been so far?"

"Wonderful. He's a great tour guide," Sarah said with genuine appreciation. "We went kayaking first. Then, he took me on a bike ride and we had a picnic."

"I am very impressed you got him to go outside so much," Mary chuckled. "It's been a while since I saw you off that computer." She grinned at him, but Chuck just rolled his eyes.

"I'm not much of an outdoorsy person myself," Sarah confessed. "But Chuck was worth it."

"Oh, I like her," Mary smiled, elbowing Chuck in the ribs to make her point. "Don't let this one get away."
"Ouch," Chuck grumbled. "Mom!"

Sarah couldn't help but laugh. The dynamic Chuck had with his family was so beautiful. Family bonds were something quite foreign to her, but even in her wildest dreams she'd never imagined them quite this beautifully.

"You must stay for dinner, my dear," Mary continued. "It's in the oven already, so it's no trouble."
"That would be lovely," Sarah smiled. "Thank you."

"Now I really must get back to those weeds," Mary sighed as she returned her attention to the garden. "They're trying to outwit me, I'm afraid."

"Would you like some help?" Sarah asked.

"If you don't mind," Mary replied kindly. "I would greatly enjoy the company."

"It's been a long time since I've gardened," Sarah smiled. "Come on, Chuck."
"Are you really going to garden with my mom?" Chuck asked as if the concept was an impossibility.

"Why not?" Sarah replied. Chuck seemed to have no argument for this.

"I think I have a spare pair of gloves here," Mary said as she rummaged through her supplies. "Ah yes, here they are." She handed Sarah a pair, and moments later, Sarah found herself elbow deep in the dirt.

"This is oddly satisfying," Sarah observed as she pulled a dandelion up by the roots.

"I've always thought so," Mary agreed.

With a great sigh, as if being asked to do something far worse than pulling weeds. Chuck picked up a pair of gloves and got down in the dirt with them.

"And look at this," Mary exclaimed with an air of teasing affection. "I don't remember the last time Chuck helped me with the garden. You're a miracle worker, Sarah."

"I help," Chuck said defensively. Mary just laughed.

The soil was soft and very satisfying to work with. Sarah asked questions about which weeds needed to be pulled, scared of pulling up one of Mary's plants by accident. Mary was endlessly kind and patient.

The sound of the screen door opening made everyone turn to see Morgan walking towards them.

"Ellie said you were out here," Morgan directed his remark at Chuck as he approached. "But I almost didn't believe it." He then noticed Sarah. "Ah, makes sense."

"What ya doing here, buddy?" Chuck asked.

"I smelled dinner," Morgan said.

Sarah couldn't help but wonder if Morgan's just randomly showing up was a normal occurrence. She turned to see how Mary reacted to try and find out.

"Your nose has not led you astray," Mary told Morgan.

"Excellent!" Morgan said. "Mom's working late and your food is always better than anything in my freezer."

"That's because your freezer is filled with nothing but frozen pizzas," Chuck reminded him.

Mary turned to check the watch on her wrist before standing up and dusting the soil from her gloves. "Right on time as usual, Morgan. Dinner should be ready any minute. Shall we all go inside?"

There was a general murmur of agreement and everyone took off their gloves before heading indoors.

As Sarah walked over the threshold, she could smell something delicious. It smelt of tomatoes and bubbling cheese. She wasn't surprised Morgan's nose had led him here. It smelled absolutely amazing. Ellie had even come downstairs in anticipation of dinner.

Sarah watched as Mary pulled a huge lasagna out of the oven. Rather than turn the oven off, she put a package wrapped with tin foil in the oven.

"The garlic bread should take about ten minutes," Mary explained. "Chuck, could you get the plates down. Morgan, you know where the cutlery is and Ellie, napkins: I want to use the good napkins today. I'll get the water glasses. Would anyone like something other than water?"

It was a very organized affair, and Sarah found herself quite superfluous, so she sat down and watched the family set the table. A green salad found its way to the table, along with the sliced garlic bread fresh from the oven. Then the lasagna was set in the center. Just as she was wondering who the extra place setting was for, Devon arrived having just finished closing out the store for Ellie.

"Thanks so much, babe," Ellie greeted him with a kiss.

"No problem," he replied.

"Is your dad not joining us?" Sarah asked when she realized who else was missing. She only remembered after she asked, that Chuck had said he was on a business trip.

"He's away on a business trip, I'm afraid," Mary replied. "But he'll be back on Friday. You should come over for dinner Friday, too. I'm making pizza."
"Can't wait," Sarah answered with a smile.

Sarah had never felt so welcomed into someone else's life before. Chuck's family was treating her like family and it felt wonderful.

The food went around the table and then everyone was silent as they began to eat. Sarah couldn't believe how amazing it tasted. The noodles were just right, and Mary had added spinach which complimented the cheese and the tomato sauce perfectly.

"That was possibly the best thing I've ever eaten," Sarah moaned once her plate was clean.

"That is high praise," Mary smiled. "Thank you."
"No, thank you for dinner," Sarah disagreed. Everyone was leaning back in their chairs, full and sleepy, except for Mary who stood up and asked everyone to pass their dishes forward, then disappeared into the kitchen.

"I wonder if she made dessert," Morgan said looking hopeful.

"She usually does," Chuck replied. "Especially if we have guests."

"Pfft, I don't count as a guest," Morgan said. Chuck gestured to Sarah and Morgan added, "Oh, right. We do have a guest."

Morgan didn't turn away and suddenly he was looking at her again like at the restaurant. Sarah thought maybe she'd be outed right here and now.

"Are you an actor?" Morgan asked her.

"No," Sarah replied.

"It's just I swear I've seen your face somewhere before," Morgan remarked. "I just can't remember where."

And then suddenly it wasn't just Morgan turned in her direction. Everyone's attention was on Sarah. She wasn't sure if she should wave, duck or run for it.

"No need to strain yourself trying, Morgan," Ellie teased him. "I'm sure you are getting Sarah mixed up with an actress in your head."

"I'm more of a brunette kinda guy," Morgan replied.

"Anyway," Ellie said pointedly as if trying to ignore Morgan. "Bringing a girl home to meet the family calls for a few childhood Chuck stories."

Chuck turned a pink colour and buried his face in his arms.

"I was thinking of the summer camp one," Ellie began.

And just like that, Chuck sat bolt upright and snapped at his sister.

"Oh no!" Chuck interrupted her. "No, not that one. Please talk about anything else."

Ellie turned to Sarah and asked. "Do you want to hear the summer camp story?"

Sarah was torn. She did really want to hear it, but she didn't want to make Chuck uncomfortable.

"Umm, I don't want to upset Chuck," Sarah answered.

"Chuck's fine," Ellie waved away her worries. "Besides we've never had someone to share all his embarrassing stories with before, and he has some really good ones. Don't spoil this for us." She directed the last remark at her brother.

"This isn't about you," Chuck groaned. "No stories."

"How about just one?"

"My favourite story is when your sister and I almost convinced you that your name was actually Pickled Cabbage," Morgan pitched in.
"I was like seven," Chuck replied defensively.

"Or what about the time he threw a temper tantrum in the middle of the supermarket," Mary said with a grin as she reappeared through the kitchen door to add to their conversation. "Screaming like he was dying just because I wouldn't buy him the good cheerios."

"I don't even remember that," Chuck whined. "How old was I?"

"Oh, about three, I think," Mary replied before retreating back into the kitchen.

"What about the whoopie cushion incident?" Morgan added.

Chuck just laughed. "That was you," he said.

"I remember the time he got into mom's make up," Ellie said, giggling. "He looked like a clown! All red in all the wrong places."

"Oh, I remember that," Morgan said. "He was just lucky you saw him, or he'd have gone to school like that!"

"I will pay you to stop," Chuck whined. When no one replied, he laid his head down against the table.

"I suppose we could spare you this time," Ellie said with a sigh as if being asked to skip Christmas this year.

"Thank you," Chuck said, lifting his head.

"After just one story!" Ellie exclaimed with glee. "Summer camp in eighth grade so really it all comes down to a pair of swimming trunks that were too big, a huge wave and-"

But she didn't get a chance to finish before Chuck moved around the table and attacked his sister… with tickles.

"Stop," Ellie gasped paralyzed with laughter. "Can't- air- need- breath-"

"Say no stories," Chuck ordered.

"Okay," Ellie gasped, still laughing uncontrollably. "Okay. No- stories."

Chuck stopped the tickles and turned to head back to his seat beside Sarah.

Ellie hadn't quite caught her breath when Mary reappeared carrying a plate covered in what looked like dessert squares.

"Do you eat this well every night?" Sarah asked as she marvelled at the tray of homemade cookies, brownies and squares.

"Oh, this is nothing," Mary shrugged. "I pulled these out of the freezer around lunch time. They defrost beautifully on the counter."

"Hardly nothing," Sarah disagreed as Mary placed the tray in the center of the table that was now clear of dinner and everyone reached forward to grab one.

"I usually bake more in winter," Mary explained. "Then we eat them out of the freezer all year." As the plate of dessert squares slowly vanished, conversation started up again.

"If we can't tell embarrassing Chuck stories," Ellie began. "We should play cards."

There was a murmur of agreement between all the Bartowski's. Sarah wasn't going to go against the group, but she didn't have a lot of experience with card games.

She quickly learned that the Bartowski's took their card games very seriously. They were playing a game called 'Spit in the Ocean' but as far as Sarah could tell it didn't involve spit or oceans. They'd explained the rules to her before they started, but she was still quite lost.

"I knew you secretly hated me," Chuck glared at his sister who stuck her tongue out at him. He picked up a card from the deck, now unable to move due to his sister's play.

"Secretly," Devon scoffed as he played his card.

Then it was Chuck's turn. The second his card was visible his sister groaned. "No, don't play that," Ellie said. "You've ruined my plan."
"Good," Chuck replied with a laugh. His sister did not look amused.

"Your turn, Sarah," Chuck said. Sarah had no idea what she was doing and played the first card in her hand. No one complained that she'd ruined their plan, and the round went to Devon.

In Sarah's opinion, watching the family interact was far more fun than the game itself. Morgan was treated more like part of the family than merely Chuck's friend. Though Devon fit into the group, it was evident that he hadn't been around them as long. Sarah found herself wishing she could have a quick word alone with him to inquire after the pros and cons of fitting into the Bartowski family.

By the time they played the third round of Spit in the Ocean, Sarah thought she almost understood the rules. The same seemed to revolve around guessing how many points you could get in a round and then trying to actually get that number of points. If you were off, even by one, your score went down instead of up.

When they told her the other name for the name of 'Oh Hell,' she understood why at once. The point gathering system was extremely frustrating.

"Okay, so now I have three points and I guessed three," Sarah said with satisfaction.

"But there is still one more play this round," Chuck reminded her. "And you are leading."

"Oh, right," Sarah said and she laid down her card. Surely she couldn't win the round with just a ten of spades.

But it turned out no one else had any spades, so she won by default.

"I kinda hate this game," Sarah stated as she wrote down her minus one point score for this round.

Chuck laughed. "That's what's so fun about it."

"If you say so," Sarah laughed with him.

Despite losing by a huge margin, Sarah had a fabulous time playing cards. She would have been up for another game, but Ellie and Devon said they had to study and Mary disappeared into the kitchen again.

Sarah wondered if she should offer to help Ellie clean up, but then she remembered how long it had been since she did dishes and wondered what help she'd actually be. Surely, it was like riding a bike.

"Have you shown Sarah your gaming setup yet?" Morgan asked.

"Why on earth would I show her that?" Chuck replied.

"Because it's awesome!" Morgan said.

"To us," Chuck reminded his friend. "I somehow doubt Sarah wants to play 'Elite Spies III: Corruption Dies.'"

"I'd love to," Sarah said suddenly. She didn't really want to play video games, but she very much wanted to know more about what Chuck cared about. Watching him and his friend play this game sounded like a great way to get to know more about Chuck.

"You do?" Chuck said, clearly stunned.

"Yep," Sarah said. "I'm full of food and very interested in sitting and watching you two be Elite Spies."

Chuck blinked at her for a moment, but in the end, he seemed to take Sarah at her word.

"This way then," Chuck said and he got up from the table. Morgan followed and the three of them went upstairs to Chuck's bedroom.

I always thought Ellie's more 'mom than older sister' relationship with Chuck was caused by their parent's abandonment. In a world where they both kept their parents, I had to imagine her more sister-like and less mom-like. I hope you like this more laid back, lighter, version of Ellie. The responsibilities of being a mother to a younger sibling, when you yourself are still a kid, can be a heavy burden.

Also if anyone is curious: yes I did make up the name of the video game.