At Last

A/N1:With David Carner, Steampunk Chuckster et all doing so much heavy lifting giving us some feel good stories during this not so good time, I wanted to do my part and contribute a little something. I asked for a song prompt on the Facebook page and Joe Watkins gave me At Last by Etta James. Wow! There is soooo much I could do with that song - post finale, introducing her to "their" music again, Paris after Shaw, dancing at the High School reunion, Ellie's wedding reception, their wedding reception. All of these were good – very good – but none really spoke to me quite like the one I chose. Hope you like it.

I don't own Chuck or At Last, but I sure wish I did 'cause that would be a dream I could call my own.

Echo Park

Chuck & Sarah's Bedroom

The morning after Sarah first tells Chuck she loves him

At last

My love has come along

Warm golden bands of sun found their way through the bedroom shades, gently waking her from a blissful sleep. Her arms and legs were intertwined with Chuck's in such a way that she felt as if two had become one. She was cradled in his arms and she felt safe. Whole. Complete.

Untangling herself from Chuck with a sigh, Sarah rolled onto her back stretching her arms over her head, stretched her entire body out, stretched her senses and pulled everything to her feeling the warm tingling sensations pulsing through her.

She had done it. She told Chuck she loved him.

My lonely days are over

And life is like a song, oh yeah

She told him! The memory brought a warm smile to her face.

Over and over she told him. She told him when he carried her to bed, nibbling and whispering it in his ear.

She told him in between kisses – between sweet kisses, passionate kisses, kisses like no other she had ever had in her life.

She told him as she wrapped herself around him, holding on to her one true love as if her life depended on it.

She told him as they made love, gasping the words out as if her very life depended on it.

She screamed it in the end, an incredible climax to the entire evening.

God! she thought those three words made sex so different, so much better, so incredible! Now I know what it means to make love.

At last the skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped up in clover

the night I looked at you

He said it too. A lot.

She loved hearing him say I love you.

It was addictive.

He said it with such reverence, such sincerity, she melted just a little more each time. No one had ever said it to her in such a way because no one had ever loved her in such a way.

Each time he said it, it swept over her like a soft warm blanket, caressing her, warming her heart, melting her a little bit at a time.

The Ice Queen was being melted by love. By the love of Chuck Bartowski.

She knew for certain, in her heart, she would never be alone again.

I found a dream

that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own

Sarah shook herself a little to make sure this wasn't a dream. Oh, but he was a dream alright.

Her dream lover.

Love had always been a dream while her life was certainly a nightmare. When she was young, she dreamed about love, romance, someone special – someone perfect for her. As she got older, the dream became more of a fairytale, so unreal, so out of reach. She was sure it would never come true and it hurt to dream that dream.

So she didn't. She stopped

Until she met Chuck.

Slowly, carefully, tenderly, Chuck brought the dream back. Chuck brought the dream alive.

The day she realized that Chuck was the dream was the day she realized that she loved him – and she didn't know what to do about it.

So she did nothing.

The longer she did nothing, the further she watched her dream slip away. It slipped so far away until it was almost completely out of sight, out of reach. And it would have been gone completely if not for Chuck. He would not let the dream die. He fought for her. He was determined to be the dream she could – and would – call her own.

I found a thrill

to press my cheek to
A thrill I've never known, oh yeah

No one had ever fought for her before Chuck. No man, ever. Men had fought over her like some sort of prize to be won. To the victor go the spoils. But no one had ever fought for her before Chuck. And it unsettled her.

No, that wasn't true.

It made her stomach do back flips. It made her itch and twitch in ways she had never itched and twitched before. It made her light headed. She would say it made her swoon, but Sarah Walker did NOT swoon.

It thrilled her.

It thrilled her in ways she had never known – had never thought possible. Maybe that's what love does. Maybe love is not something you go out and look for. It finds you. Love finds you, and when it does, ready or not, it'll be the best thing to ever happen to you! She was in love – and it was the most thrilling experience of her life!

You smiled, you smiled

oh and then the spell was cast

She remembered his smile when she first told him she loved him. She watched it sink in. She felt his entire body tense and then relax. And he smiled. Oh and what a smile!

The one that starts out small and slowly grows impossibly big and beautiful all at the same time. The smile that squints his eyes, that crinkles his nose. The smile that she has never seen him give anyone else but her. The smile she silently vowed to earn every single day.

And here we are in Heaven

He called her his angel last night. Before him, before Chuck, the only angel she would have called herself was an angel of death. That's what Premier Alejandro Goya, the dictator of Costa Gravas called Casey - ángel de la muerte. It could apply to her as well. She had as much, if not more blood on her hands. So much, she thought she would never get it off, could never have a life, a real life or a love, a real love. She didn't think she deserved it and she condemned herself.

But Chuck didn't see that. Chuck saw her, a woman full of love and compassion bottled up inside her waiting to explode out like a champagne cork from a vigorously shaken bottle. That's what Chuck did. He shook her. He shook her to her very core and her love joyously burst out. He saved her from herself.

She was Chuck's angel. Chuck was her savior.

This must be heaven.

For you are mine…

Chuck was beginning to stir, a soft blissful smile gracing his lips. God she wanted to kiss that smile right off and claim it as her own.

"Good morning beautiful" his gravely voice sending shivers throughout her entire body.

How was it possible for her to want to be his more and more each day.

"I love you" he said, his eyes open, clear and looking into her in such a way she swore he saw her heart and soul.

How was it possible for her to want him to be hers more and more each day.

"I love you Chuck. So very much" she said with a shy smile that turned worried "You know that don't you?"

Chuck wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in to his embrace.

"Baby" he whispered "I know for certain you are mine …..."

at last

fini

*"At Last" – single sung by Etta James from the album of the same name – Release November 15, 1960 – Written by Mack Gordon & Harry Warren; Produced by Phil Chess & Leonard Chess. it became her second number two R&B hit single (Argo 5380) and crossed over to pop radio, reaching number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is her most enduring song, but is not typical of her work. Many of her songs have more of a blues feel and often contain darker lyrics that reflect the challenges she faced. James never gained massive popularity, but she eventually beat her two-decade drug problems and has been cited as an influence by many younger singers, including Christina Aguilera. She was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, and continued to tour and record into the '00s. She died on January 20, 2012.

A/N2:I warned David Carner that this was gonna get sappy and he replied "Goody. I need sappy." I think we all do. I really hope you like this bit of escapism and while I don't want to hold you hostage for reviews, I do promise that if there is enough of a response I'll make this At Last – Now & Then, adding a second chapter for a second time this song fits Chuck & Sarah's life.

Let me know….