I re-uploaded the chapter and I added some changes that were suggested by my beta reader, Lady Black-Malfoy, who I'd also like to thank: without her my story wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable as it is now

Chapter I

Burbank, California

It was not a nice day. The sky was cloudy and it looked like it was going to rain. The traffic was bad and every driver seemed to be particularly nervous. However, for one man, this morning was one of the happiest of his life. Chuck Bartowski was on his way to work and nothing, neither the bad weather nor the insults that fellow drivers were throwing at him, seemed to affect his mood. After all, how could one person not help but feel tremendously happy when your loved one had finally accepted your proposal?

Well, if he was honest it had not really gone that way. When she thought he had not been listening, Sarah told him that if he had proposed to her, she would have said yes. But just knowing that she loved him and that one day they might be able to start a family together was more than enough for him to be in seventh heaven.

On autopilot and seemingly lost in his thoughts, Chuck barely noticed that he had arrived at the Buy More. He found a parking spot and got out of the car, walking slowly towards the entrance. The world appeared to him as unreal as he felt a little dazed still from the revelation of earlier.

He ignored the creepy duo that was Jeff and Lester and continued right on by. Although, to be fair, that was probably what he would have done even if it had been a more normal day. He didn't pay much attention anymore to the strange contrast between the "veteran" employees of the store and the new ones; a contrast that usually amused and preoccupied him at the same time. After all, what if anyone noticed the exaggerated perfection of some of the workers?

He surely would have spent all morning in this ecstatic state, if something strange hadn't struck him- Morgan was behaving exactly like him.

Driven by curiosity, Chuck approached Morgan and said, "Hi buddy!"

"Oh, hi Chuck!" replied his friend absentmindedly.

"So, what's the good news?"

"What?"Morgan, startled by this question, focused his attention on Chuck

"C'mon, you are particularly happy today. I can tell by the look on your face," Chuck said.

"Well, it's nothing important, you know. I'm just happy that the new Tron film will come out soon, and then we'll go to the cinema together and-"

"Morgan, how long have we known each other?" Chuck interrupted his best friend.

"What kind of question is that?" the bearded man asked incredulously, before he reluctantly answered the question. "Since fifth grade."

"That's right," Chuck replied smartly. "So, do you really believe that after all this time, I can't tell when you're lying to me?"

"All right, I'll tell you the truth."

Morgan grabbed Chuck by the arm and pushed him in his office. Chuck could see the tension on his best friend's face.

"What I'm about to tell you must remain between us. Promise me you won't tell anyone."

"O-Ok. You can trust me; you know I'm good at keeping secrets." Chuck replied, shocked by this sudden change of mood. After checking that no one was eavesdropping behind the door and the windows, Morgan finally gave up his secret.

"Yesterday I kissed Alex."He sighed with relief, finally happy to free himself of that weight.

"Wow, I'm really happy for you buddy. That's really terrific," said Chuck.

"I know! I think I've never been more excited in my life! She's the right one, I can feel it," exclaimed Morgan.

"I just don't understand why you are so secretive about this."

"Well, I'm not keen on making my private life public. I prefer it to remain, you know, private."

This time Chuck didn't even have to talk. All it took for Morgan to admit the truth was just a sarcastic glance.

"You know the scene where the Thuggee high priest rips a man's heart out of the chest while chanting 'Kalima, Kalima'?" Morgan asked. "From the scene in the second Indiana Jones. Come on man, you know what I'm trying to say, right?" he added when he caught the confused look from his friend.

"Well, apparently I don't," answered Chuck sarcastically. "Enlighten me."

"Well, I think that's exactly what Casey'll do to me if he ever finds out. Obviously minus the 'Kalima' thing."

"Whoa, don't you think you're overreacting a little bit?"

"No, I don't. It's Casey we're talking about! I risk my life every day just by having his daughter's phone number."

"Look, I think you should tell him. Casey might not be the brightest man in the world, but he's not stupid. He will eventually find out and believe me when I say that you don't want him to discover that you've been lying about someone he cares so much about,"

"I don't know. I'll think about it," Morgan replied. He started saying something else when suddenly the door opened and Casey made his entrance in the room. As soon as he was in, Morgan's lips closed and he pretended to be looking for something inside his desk in order to avoid eye contact with the man he feared the most.

"Bartowski. Castle. Now," said Casey when the man did not move right away. Then he left the room as quickly as he had entered.

"Good morning Casey. I'm fine, thanks for asking," Chuck muttered under his breath. Then he turned to his friend and saluted him. While he was heading to the entrance of the castle, he thought he had been lucky to have this conversation with Morgan. He was not sure whether his friend was going to follow his suggestion or not, but at least the quick exchange of words had helped to clear his mind. Though still present, Sarah's words about a wedding were not the center of his attention anymore.