Fic: Chuck vs. the First Night
Title: Chuck vs. the First Night
Fandom: Chuck
Characters: Chuck/Sarah and brief appearances by other characters
Spoilers: Up to 2x21
Rating: PG-13 ish?
Summary: What happened after the last scene of 2x21.
Author's Notes: I had this story in my head and I had to get it out before the finale. All mistakes are mine as I was too impatient to post it.
Chuck vs. the First Night
There are moments in everyone’s lives when they wish time would stand still. These are the moments they think about while everything around them falls apart. Chuck held onto a memory of going to the zoo at age five with his parents and Ellie when their mom left. When his dad left, he and Ellie had held each other and remembered the funny little things their dad had done through their tears.
Tonight, this moment…he wished it could last forever. That time would stand still and he could be lost in those eyes…those perfect eyes. Nothing short of a nuclear disaster could tear him away.
Everything was so different, so real now. Holding her hand on the drive up to the rehearsal dinner, pulling out her chair, catching a whiff of her perfume as they waited for dinner. He was only vaguely aware of his surroundings. He didn’t hear Devin’s parents trying to get his father to open up. He didn’t notice Casey blowing smoke rings up to the ceiling or Morgan and Anna making their plans for their future in Hawaii. He didn’t see Ellie’s look of panic or Devin taking her hand and speaking a few calming words in her ear.
All of his senses were attuned to Sarah. He gently held her hand on top of the table and it was the most natural thing in the world. They no longer had to pretend and the fake relationship was never to be seen again. Chuck could see her eyes shining back at him and knew that they mirrored his own. A half smile of contentment rose to his lips as he slowly stroked her hand with his thumb.
“Chuck.”
“Hmmm?” Chuck murmured, not wanting to take his eyes off of Sarah for an instant, afraid to break the spell.
“Bartowski,” Casey hissed at him, kicking his leg under the table. That got his attention.
“What?” he exclaimed and looked at his ex-handler.
“Would you like to do the toast, Charles?” his father asked.
“Oh…of course,” Chuck said, reluctantly pulling his thoughts away from Sarah. He lifted his glass with his spare hand and cleared his throat, suddenly nervous. Sarah gave him a reassuring squeeze and he smiled at her for a moment before starting.
“This moment…this moment is something we’ve been waiting for for a long time. Ellie, you and Devon are perfect for each other and I am so happy for both of you. Your wedding has brought together…all of the people we love. Dad…our family and friends.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “I know you two will live a happy life together and I couldn’t have picked a more awesome brother. Congratulations-in advance. To Devin and Ellie.”
Chuck clinked his glass with Sarah’s while excited conversation started up around the table. He took a sip of his wine before setting it down and resuming his study of Sarah’s face. The shape of her lips was of particular interest to him this evening.
“What?” she asked eventually.
A grin bloomed on his face. “Nothing.”
“It’s something, I can tell.”
“I just…can’t believe it…is it really real? You, me…”
She leaned in close and whispered, “Yes, Chuck.”
For a moment, he paused, dazzled by her face being a mere inches from his. Then he leaned in and kissed her, slow and sweet.
Sarah laughed before he was anywhere near finished, breaking off the kiss. It was a laugh of pure joy and Chuck couldn’t help but join in.
The conversation quieted for a moment, but the two didn’t notice.
“I think they might be next, Woody,” Honey half-whispered.
“Great,” Casey muttered.
The rest of the dinner passed by in a blur, with Sarah’s hand securely in his. It was a bit difficult to eat with his left hand, but he wasn’t letting go of her for a second. He felt giddy because this was so new. Sure, he’d held her hand before, but not like this-without a cover, without the lies, the spying, and the hidden agenda. It was just the two of them and it was real for the first time.
~*~
Later, after all the evening’s activities were finished, Chuck found himself alone in the courtyard in front of the apartment. He stopped and watched everyone filter inside. Casey grunted a goodnight at him. His father stopped and patted him on the back. “Aces Charles, aces,” he whispered in Chuck’s ear before he went inside.
He sat down at the fountain and waited for Sarah to reappear. Questions tangled in his mind and he didn’t know if he could get them out before he found himself waking up next to her in the morning.
Sarah didn’t give him much time to ponder this before she joined him at the fountain, a small duffle bag at her feet. “Well Chuck, shall we go inside?”
He brushed a strand of hair off of her face and forced his mind to think. “In a minute…there’s something I need to say first.”
“Okay.”
He ducked his head for a moment and gathered his thoughts before starting. “Sarah, you remember what I said a few month ago? About what I’d do after I got the Intersect out of my head? Well…you’re the woman that I want to…to spend the rest of my life with. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’ve tried and pretended that I could let you go, that I could settle for someone else, but I can’t.
“I know I’ve told you that I want a normal life, and a part of me still does want that. But whatever life I end up living in the future, I want to spend it with you. I would much rather spend one year with you, Sarah Walker, than a lifetime in the suburbs with someone else.
“I love you, Sarah. I don’t know what the future holds in store for you and me, but I do know that I won’t give you up. Not without a fight. I can’t imagine living one day without you in my life and that terrifies me. You could be gone tomorrow and I would never see you again. I…” his voice broke and he couldn’t continue.
Sarah placed a warm hand on his cheek and smiled at him. “One mission at a time, Chuck. That’s tomorrow’s problem…” she paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. “I can’t walk away from you, I won’t. We’ll figure it out together and…” she ducked her head, smiling. “I love you, Chuck Bartowski. No cover, no secrets, no lies. I love you just as you are and I have for a long time. I never expected to find someone like you…how could I walk away from that?”
Chuck drew her close then and their lips crashed together. He felt Sarah wrap her fingers around his curls even as he grabbed her waist with his free arm. They broke apart briefly, breathing hard and knowing what was coming. Chuck grinned at her as she grasped her duffle bag with her free hand. Then he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the door while her lips captured his in another kiss.
~*~
Shocked silence followed Chuck’s abrupt entrance with Sarah. Ellie looked at Devin in surprise and waited a few moments before speaking. “Do you think he saw us?”
“Babe, I’m positive Chuck isn’t seeing much of anything right now,” Devin grinned at her, “but that was a site for sore eyes.”
“I take it they haven’t done that before?” Steven asked.
“No, well yes, but no like that,” Ellie stammered. “I’ve never seen my brother do that. Do you think…during dinner, did Chuck seem different to you?”
“He looked…free,” her father answered with a faraway look.
“Do you think he’s going to propose to her?” Ellie asked.
“I hope so, Babe, I hope so.”
Her father rose to his feet and took his daughter’s hand. “Perhaps we should take a walk and give them some time alone?”
~*~
Chuck was in a world of sensations. The smell of her hair, the sound of her steady breathing, and the feel of her warm skin against his made him dizzy. “This is better than I’d dreamed about, Sarah,” he said, drawing circles on her bare shoulder.
In response, she nestled her body closer.
“I…”
Sarah sighed and angled her face towards his. “You know what your problem is, Chuck?”
He gave her a dopey grin and said, “I’m hopelessly in love with you?”
“You talk too much.”
“Well, I can be a man of action too.”
She smiled mischievously at him. “Prove it.”
He caught her face in his hands and kissed her soundly. When they broke apart, he said, “I thought I just proved that earlier when-“
“Maybe I need-“
“A round of cuddling, Bartowski-style?”
“Exactly.”
“And maybe a bit of sleep. There is a wedding tomorrow you know. Well, technically it’s today but--”
“Shut up, Chuck.”
He laughed, “Your wish is my command.”
“As it should be,” she smirked at him.
He wrapped his arms around her then and captured her mischievous lips in another kiss. She melted into him and he couldn’t believe how blessed he was to have her in his life. It was perfect and Chuck knew this was a moment he would hold onto for the rest of his life.
Fandom: Chuck
Characters: Chuck/Sarah and brief appearances by other characters
Spoilers: Up to 2x21
Rating: PG-13 ish?
Summary: What happened after the last scene of 2x21.
Author's Notes: I had this story in my head and I had to get it out before the finale. All mistakes are mine as I was too impatient to post it.
Chuck vs. the First Night
There are moments in everyone’s lives when they wish time would stand still. These are the moments they think about while everything around them falls apart. Chuck held onto a memory of going to the zoo at age five with his parents and Ellie when their mom left. When his dad left, he and Ellie had held each other and remembered the funny little things their dad had done through their tears.
Tonight, this moment…he wished it could last forever. That time would stand still and he could be lost in those eyes…those perfect eyes. Nothing short of a nuclear disaster could tear him away.
Everything was so different, so real now. Holding her hand on the drive up to the rehearsal dinner, pulling out her chair, catching a whiff of her perfume as they waited for dinner. He was only vaguely aware of his surroundings. He didn’t hear Devin’s parents trying to get his father to open up. He didn’t notice Casey blowing smoke rings up to the ceiling or Morgan and Anna making their plans for their future in Hawaii. He didn’t see Ellie’s look of panic or Devin taking her hand and speaking a few calming words in her ear.
All of his senses were attuned to Sarah. He gently held her hand on top of the table and it was the most natural thing in the world. They no longer had to pretend and the fake relationship was never to be seen again. Chuck could see her eyes shining back at him and knew that they mirrored his own. A half smile of contentment rose to his lips as he slowly stroked her hand with his thumb.
“Chuck.”
“Hmmm?” Chuck murmured, not wanting to take his eyes off of Sarah for an instant, afraid to break the spell.
“Bartowski,” Casey hissed at him, kicking his leg under the table. That got his attention.
“What?” he exclaimed and looked at his ex-handler.
“Would you like to do the toast, Charles?” his father asked.
“Oh…of course,” Chuck said, reluctantly pulling his thoughts away from Sarah. He lifted his glass with his spare hand and cleared his throat, suddenly nervous. Sarah gave him a reassuring squeeze and he smiled at her for a moment before starting.
“This moment…this moment is something we’ve been waiting for for a long time. Ellie, you and Devon are perfect for each other and I am so happy for both of you. Your wedding has brought together…all of the people we love. Dad…our family and friends.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “I know you two will live a happy life together and I couldn’t have picked a more awesome brother. Congratulations-in advance. To Devin and Ellie.”
Chuck clinked his glass with Sarah’s while excited conversation started up around the table. He took a sip of his wine before setting it down and resuming his study of Sarah’s face. The shape of her lips was of particular interest to him this evening.
“What?” she asked eventually.
A grin bloomed on his face. “Nothing.”
“It’s something, I can tell.”
“I just…can’t believe it…is it really real? You, me…”
She leaned in close and whispered, “Yes, Chuck.”
For a moment, he paused, dazzled by her face being a mere inches from his. Then he leaned in and kissed her, slow and sweet.
Sarah laughed before he was anywhere near finished, breaking off the kiss. It was a laugh of pure joy and Chuck couldn’t help but join in.
The conversation quieted for a moment, but the two didn’t notice.
“I think they might be next, Woody,” Honey half-whispered.
“Great,” Casey muttered.
The rest of the dinner passed by in a blur, with Sarah’s hand securely in his. It was a bit difficult to eat with his left hand, but he wasn’t letting go of her for a second. He felt giddy because this was so new. Sure, he’d held her hand before, but not like this-without a cover, without the lies, the spying, and the hidden agenda. It was just the two of them and it was real for the first time.
~*~
Later, after all the evening’s activities were finished, Chuck found himself alone in the courtyard in front of the apartment. He stopped and watched everyone filter inside. Casey grunted a goodnight at him. His father stopped and patted him on the back. “Aces Charles, aces,” he whispered in Chuck’s ear before he went inside.
He sat down at the fountain and waited for Sarah to reappear. Questions tangled in his mind and he didn’t know if he could get them out before he found himself waking up next to her in the morning.
Sarah didn’t give him much time to ponder this before she joined him at the fountain, a small duffle bag at her feet. “Well Chuck, shall we go inside?”
He brushed a strand of hair off of her face and forced his mind to think. “In a minute…there’s something I need to say first.”
“Okay.”
He ducked his head for a moment and gathered his thoughts before starting. “Sarah, you remember what I said a few month ago? About what I’d do after I got the Intersect out of my head? Well…you’re the woman that I want to…to spend the rest of my life with. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’ve tried and pretended that I could let you go, that I could settle for someone else, but I can’t.
“I know I’ve told you that I want a normal life, and a part of me still does want that. But whatever life I end up living in the future, I want to spend it with you. I would much rather spend one year with you, Sarah Walker, than a lifetime in the suburbs with someone else.
“I love you, Sarah. I don’t know what the future holds in store for you and me, but I do know that I won’t give you up. Not without a fight. I can’t imagine living one day without you in my life and that terrifies me. You could be gone tomorrow and I would never see you again. I…” his voice broke and he couldn’t continue.
Sarah placed a warm hand on his cheek and smiled at him. “One mission at a time, Chuck. That’s tomorrow’s problem…” she paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. “I can’t walk away from you, I won’t. We’ll figure it out together and…” she ducked her head, smiling. “I love you, Chuck Bartowski. No cover, no secrets, no lies. I love you just as you are and I have for a long time. I never expected to find someone like you…how could I walk away from that?”
Chuck drew her close then and their lips crashed together. He felt Sarah wrap her fingers around his curls even as he grabbed her waist with his free arm. They broke apart briefly, breathing hard and knowing what was coming. Chuck grinned at her as she grasped her duffle bag with her free hand. Then he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the door while her lips captured his in another kiss.
~*~
Shocked silence followed Chuck’s abrupt entrance with Sarah. Ellie looked at Devin in surprise and waited a few moments before speaking. “Do you think he saw us?”
“Babe, I’m positive Chuck isn’t seeing much of anything right now,” Devin grinned at her, “but that was a site for sore eyes.”
“I take it they haven’t done that before?” Steven asked.
“No, well yes, but no like that,” Ellie stammered. “I’ve never seen my brother do that. Do you think…during dinner, did Chuck seem different to you?”
“He looked…free,” her father answered with a faraway look.
“Do you think he’s going to propose to her?” Ellie asked.
“I hope so, Babe, I hope so.”
Her father rose to his feet and took his daughter’s hand. “Perhaps we should take a walk and give them some time alone?”
~*~
Chuck was in a world of sensations. The smell of her hair, the sound of her steady breathing, and the feel of her warm skin against his made him dizzy. “This is better than I’d dreamed about, Sarah,” he said, drawing circles on her bare shoulder.
In response, she nestled her body closer.
“I…”
Sarah sighed and angled her face towards his. “You know what your problem is, Chuck?”
He gave her a dopey grin and said, “I’m hopelessly in love with you?”
“You talk too much.”
“Well, I can be a man of action too.”
She smiled mischievously at him. “Prove it.”
He caught her face in his hands and kissed her soundly. When they broke apart, he said, “I thought I just proved that earlier when-“
“Maybe I need-“
“A round of cuddling, Bartowski-style?”
“Exactly.”
“And maybe a bit of sleep. There is a wedding tomorrow you know. Well, technically it’s today but--”
“Shut up, Chuck.”
He laughed, “Your wish is my command.”
“As it should be,” she smirked at him.
He wrapped his arms around her then and captured her mischievous lips in another kiss. She melted into him and he couldn’t believe how blessed he was to have her in his life. It was perfect and Chuck knew this was a moment he would hold onto for the rest of his life.