A/N: This is the last chapter. I'm not sure I gave it the best ending, but I tried. I wrote this along the time my health scare began, so I'm not sure it's the best it can be, but I tried. I'm still trying to figure things out. I've has a ton of support on this and I can't thank you guys enough. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, or however you celebrate.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck
"Do you not want to move in with me?" came the voice beside him.
The two had spent the night together at Sarah's, and Chuck found himself that morning looking at the ceiling. He was thinking how his life had changed so much in such a short time. Looking over at her, he saw her there, vulnerable, scared, worried. The lyrics jumped into his head:
You let me fall apart without letting go. Then you pick up the pieces and you make me whole
"Sarah, I don't want to rush you, I don't want you to react based on my actions, and I just worry that you said what you said because you thought you should," Chuck began. "Given how my last relationship ended, I hope you can appreciate why I would worry about that."
Sarah nodded.
"But, God, yes, I'd love nothing more than to wake up and see your face every morning." A smile grew across her face.
"I want this, us," she said taking his hand. She cleared her throat. "Chuck… I need to ask you something."
"Okay," he replied, a little concerned.
"It's nothing bad, but do you remember when you said how I looked on Christmas Eve night?"
Chuck nodded. "Yeah, that was a good night."
She grinned salaciously, leaned over, and kissed his bare shoulder. "Such a good night." Chuck leaned in to kiss her, but she pulled away, making Chuck raise an eyebrow. "I know you, and if you start kissing me, I'll kiss back, and that will lead to things."
"So, you admit you have no control around me," Chuck asked, teasing.
Her face went serious, but playful, as she ducked her head a little, but looked at him through her lashes. "None," she said, in a voice that was nearly a whisper. "For a long time… for a long time I've been in control of everything… until I met you."
"I'm sorry?" Chuck replied, looking confused. "Or should I not be."
She cleared her throat. "You shouldn't be… okay, so… that night on the mountain, you said something about… about how I looked different than when I was competing."
"Yeah, you looked as though you would bend the mountain to your will to go as fast as possible in a competition." A slight blush came to her face, but she didn't deny it. "But… but when we skied the Christmas lights-"
"They're actually New Year's Eve lights," she corrected him. "We just tested them that night."
"And I am so glad we did," he replied, looking into her eyes. Sarah thought she might melt from the heat she saw in them. He cleared his throat, bringing them both back to the present. "When we were skiing the New Year's Eve lights, you looked in sync with the mountain, taking joy in going where the mountain wanted to take you. You looked at peace, you looked… free."
Sarah nodded. "I kept thinking about a line from that song last night." And then she shocked him. She began to sing. "You are, the only one, the only one that sees me, trusts me and believes me."
Chuck's mouth had dropped, and he looked at her in awe. "I think my ovaries just exploded." Sarah snorted from laughter. "Great, get me to move in with you before I find out you snort." That brought on another round, as she rolled on the bed, her tongue sticking out between her teeth. Chuck just watched her, admiration covering his face. "You've never been this free with anyone else?"
She shook her head. "You?"
That made Chuck snort. "Are you kidding me? Jill's idea of cuddling was grabbing her pillow and turning her back to me, when she did stay."
"I don't know if I ever did stay," Sarah admitted softly. "I don't know if I trusted anyone to be in that vulnerable of a spot."
He reached over and laced his fingers through hers. "Thank you for trusting me."
"Thank you for being trustworthy." The two lay there for a minute, enjoying the company, and not minding the silence. "Is it okay for me to ask who you sold your company to?"
Chuck just grinned. "Volkoff."
}o{
They spent the day together skiing, and talking about what to do about Chuck's stuff, which got them talking about maybe they needed their own place. It was at that time Chuck realized he hadn't actually told his sister what was about to happen.
Chuck stayed at Sarah's again, but woke in the morning to a text telling him that he and the Walkers were all invited to dinner that night. Chuck didn't feel it was so much an invite as much as a summons.
They had been in the kitchen talking, when Sarah led Chuck out into the hallway. "You need to tell her," Sarah said, laughing at her boyfriend's predicament. "Or, I can."
"God, no," Chuck said, spinning and guiding her further away, while she laughed at him. "No, no, no, I need to do this." He paused and gave her a funny look. "Hey, you know this is nothing to do with you, and everything to do with my insecurity and fear of my sister's wrath."
"First, there won't be any wrath by your sister," Sarah assured him, rubbing his arm with her hand. "Secondly, I do know, but the reassurance is appreciated."
"She loves you," Chuck insisted. "Not the same way I do, but she does." Sarah grinned at him.
"You two okay?" Ellie asked, coming around the corner and seeing them. "I mean, I know soon… never mind," she said waving her hand. "We won't talk about leaving."
"I'm staying, sis. I sold the majority of the company," Chuck told her, holding Sarah's hand.
"I love him Ellie," Sarah said softly, making Ellie's eyes go wide. "But I love what I do, and I can't take that with me."
"And I can," Chuck jumped in, making Ellie turn. "Ellie, I love her, and she loves me for me… even if I tell bad jokes."
"Chuck, don't," Ellie began.
"Do you know the answer to the song, How Do You Talk to an Angel?" Chuck asked.
"Chuck, don't, you'll run her off," Ellie protested.
"I don't know," Sarah replied, mirth on her face.
"Halo," Chuck said. Sarah snorted.
"Oh, God, not you too," Ellie said, smiling and crying.
"Ellie, I promise in the summer, we'll come visit, a lot," Sarah reassured her.
Ellie waved her hand at that, and pulled them both into a huge bear hug. "Thank you, Sarah. Thank you."
"My pleasure, Ellie. Seriously, my pleasure."
}o{
"So, we'll move out," Emma began as soon as dinner was over.
"No, you can't," Sarah protested.
"Fine, you can go," Emma countered.
"It's my house." She turned to Chuck. "Chuck, tell them, it's mine."
"Do you want Molly to have to find a new bedroom?" he asked.
She turned away from him, a slight pout on her face. "That was low," she muttered. "Now I have to go and find somewhere to live."
"Uh…" Chuck began, as he glanced around the table. "I have a place."
"Yes, in Echo Park, but that's not helping the situation," Ellie said, giving him a pointed look. Her eyes grew big as she saw his grin. "Chuck, what did you do?"
}o{
The next morning saw Chuck and Sarah looking over Chuck's new place. "As part of Volkoff buying me out, this place was part of the deal." He glanced over at her, as she was looking into the bathroom. She made a sound, similar to the one he had made when he saw the waterfall full shower with four shower heads. "So, I haven't signed the papers on this, and if you don't like it…" he trailed off and shrugged.
"Chuck, you can't just let me own half of this," Sarah told him.
"Why not, you own all of my heart," he countered. She stared at him. "Too cheesy?"
"No, just right."
}o{
"Here," Chuck said. It was New Year's Eve day, and the two were at Heavenly, waiting for the charity event to begin. He had a cup in his hand, offering it to her. "It's hot chocolate. I nearly drank yours by mistake, and that would mean it would then be mine."
Sarah took the drink from him, took a sip and gave him a questioning look. "What do you mean?"
"Everyone knows that if you take a bite out of food, or lick a piece of food, in your instance hot chocolate, it then belongs to the person who bit it or licked it," Chuck explained. "I don't make the rules, baby, I just explain them."
"That's the rule huh?" she asked. Chuck nodded. "Baby?" Chuck's face began to turn red, and she couldn't resist herself. She lifted up on her tiptoes, and licked the side of his face.
"What the hell?" Chuck asked, wondering what was going on.
Sarah shrugged, a gleam in her eye. "Those are the rules… baby. Once you lick something, it's forever yours." Chuck stood there as she walked over to where she was getting ready for the event.
"I'm hers, forever," he muttered, grinning. Chuck went over to her tent where she was putting on her skis. "Hey," he said, making her look up. "I love you."
"I love you," she said.
"So, I'm yours… forever?"
"Do you have a problem with that?" The look she gave him, it was one-part fear, one-part hope.
"No, no problem," he replied, slowly shaking his head. The look of fear left, and so did hope. What was left was a happiness and certainty Chuck had only seen on her face when she was skiing. Something in him melted, and he realized what it was. His fear had left him, as well. She loved him.
Sarah Walker loved Chuck for himself. Not because he was a tech wiz, not because he had money, not because of any other reason except he was Chuck Bartowski. She had given him the Christmas gift he had always wanted: She loved him for him.
"Hey, you okay?" she asked, a smirk on her face.
"Baby, I'm perfect," he replied. She nodded, began to ski past him, and paused. She reached up, and booped him on the nose.
"Boop," she said softly. She had done that to Bryce once, when she was feeling playful. She was about to go out and compete, he wasn't, and he reacted like she had broken his concentration. Chuck… Chuck had a smile grow on his face that showed all of his teeth.
"Feel free to boop me any time you need," he said softly. "On the nose that is, for luck, or whatever."
She couldn't help herself, she felt so happy for the first time that she could remember. "And what if I don't want to boop you just on the nose?"
Chuck's eyes went wide, and he glanced around making sure no one was too close. "I mean, if you do that in public we might get arrested." He leaned down as if to kiss her and then quickly moved to the side of her face, licking it as she squealed. "I guess that means your mine forever, as well."
"Promise?" She asked. He nodded, and she gave him a quick kiss. Sarah winked at him and slid out of the tent. She had never felt so excited and loved all at the same time. Sarah didn't know exactly how to be a girlfriend, but she was sure she could figure out how to be what Chuck needed.
}o{
She stood at the medal ceremony, beaming. She knew she would win first place, but it was so much fun to just ski. If she had come in last, no big deal.
She saw Chuck in the crowd, waving at her, and she winked at him. The announcer got on the mic, and she turned to listen to him.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to thank all of you for your support of Operation Smile," the man in the UK sweatshirt and hat began. "I need to make a special announcement." Sarah just happened to look into the crowd at that moment, and caught Chuck swallowing, not even looking in her direction. "Someone has been kind enough to match dollar-for-dollar all donations to Operation Smile raised by this event. They requested anonymity, but can I say, thank you!" The crowd roared, and Chuck was standing there clapping, looking… uncomfortable.
The award ceremony ended, and she heard him behind her. "You were amazing on those slopes." She spun around, and there stood Chuck with a look she could only call adoration on his face. "That was so awesome, Sarah. Just awesome."
"Thank you," she replied, with a tip of the head and a bit of a blush on her face. "Do you know what I think is really awesome though?"
"What's that?" Chuck asked, falling into her trap.
"The mysterious donor," she said. "I mean… that's just a great guy or woman."
"I mean… if someone had that kind of money, I suspect he… or she… would think that's the very least they could do," Chuck countered.
Sarah reached up and grabbed his coat with one hand. "Chuck, I think we need an agreement on something."
"What's that?" he asked, his voice threatening to go up an octave.
"You and I have to tell each other the truth for this to work," she said, looking him in the eye. "We were both in relationships, where our partners, and ourselves, didn't tell the whole truth. We need to face those truths, as ugly as they may be."
"No secrets, no lies?" Chuck offered. Sarah nodded. "I used the money from the sale of BarTech to make the donation.
"Whoa, hold up," Sarah said. "It's your money, not ours." Chuck shrugged. "I mean, it's not like we're married… yet." Chuck's head jerked up at that. "Furthermore, you gave money to help needy children around the world who might die without these surgeries. If there is anybody here who is an expert on superheroes, it is this guy. And you are a hero. Again."
She pulled him in for a searing kiss. Chuck's mind was reeling. Married… yet? He grinned into the kiss, and could care less who saw them.
}o{
Chuck and Sarah had everyone over to their new place for New Year's Eve Night. Chuck and Sarah were constantly pulling the other to the living room floor to dance. Chuck at one point heard something muttered by Ellie to Emma about a summer wedding.
"I love you," Sarah said softly, sticking a finger in his chest as they swayed to the music.
"I love you," he replied, bending down and rubbing her nose with his.
"That could be considered a wedding vow in some places, Mr. Bartowski," Sarah said, grinning.
"Do I have to change my last name?"
"Nah," Sarah replied, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Hey," Chuck said softly, making her lift his head. "I had been waiting on this to get here," he began. She noticed he looked a little nervous. He walked over to a shelf and pulled out a small box from behind some books that must have come with the place, because she didn't know when he would have had time to go buy them.
"What did you do?" she asked, an eyebrow raised teasingly. He held out the box to her. She took it, opened it, and gasped.
"It was my mother's," he said softly.
"Chuck, this is something that deserves to be kept in the family," Sarah said, touched that he would give her something like this.
"I know," he replied. Her head snapped up, her eyes wide. "Sarah, you're family."
"Put it on me, please?" she asked, holding out her wrist, her eyes watery. Chuck clasped it on, and they were hit by a brunette blur.
"Welcome to the family," Ellie said, holding on to them both.
Emma came up and hugged Chuck. "Welcome to the family."
"AWESOME!" Devon boomed. "It's almost midnight!"
As the countdown began, and Auld Lang Syne played, Chuck kissed Sarah. "Here's to us this year," Chuck said softly.
"And the next, and the next," Sarah said, peppering him with kisses as she spoke. "Thanks for taking my ski class."
"My pleasure."
"Admit it, you were totally crushing on your teacher."
"Not as much as my teacher was crushing on me," Chuck retorted. Sarah snorted, and Chuck pulled her close. He looked over at Ellie. "Thank you," he mouthed. She smiled at him, as he laid his head on top of Sarah's.
"You know I could have taught him how to ski, right?" Devon asked, grinning.
"I could have," Ellie replied, with her own grin. "Seems like staying out of it was the best thing we could do." She looked over at Chuck. "I'm going to miss him, but it's time."
"It is," Devon agreed. "Maybe it's time for us to think about our future." Ellie turned to him as he dropped to one knee and her jaw dropped. "Ellie, will you marry me?"
"YES!" She squealed.
Chuck listened for the sound of an avalanche, but heard none. He joined in the celebration, amazed at what a difference less than two weeks made.
A/N: In case you're wondering, yes, that was Kentucky Dave (no not me, and I don't "know" him although we have spoken on social media several times) as the MC at the event. I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you Dillwg for all the help, thank you MySongStory and Joe Watkins for looking over it, and to my beta, thank you brother. Your help means the world to me. More soon, watch these boards.
Also, if you enjoy fanfic, come on over to the Chuck Fanfiction private group, where we talk about everything fanfiction related, I make a stupid amount of polls, and Joe and I argue about which Christmas movie is better. When you click the button there are three questions, please answer them. I'm the one who approves a lot of the requests so I have to know it's a real person, and not some bot. See you soon here and/or on the Facebook page.