A/N: Welcome to the final update everyone. I hope you enjoy and without adieu let's begin:

Pacific Standard Time: 0800 hours/Wednesday/Echo Park/California

Chuck couldn't remember a morning when he'd woken feeling more content and happy than he felt right now. Save, perhaps, for the first morning he'd woken on the sleeper train after he and Sarah decided to run from the CIA. Or maybe the morning they'd returned home and she'd stayed the night for the first time. Or perhaps he'd felt this way the morning after she agreed to marry him, or the time….Chuck stopped his internal rambling. As it turned out, there were too many special mornings to count, but somehow this one felt different. Not only had their night together been unbelievably passionate, but it also solidified Chuck's confidence in the fact that somewhere deep down, Sarah still remembered him. She still remembered them. There were so many things she'd known to do the night before, too many familiar touches and whispers to have him believe that she'd forgotten them entirely. They just needed the Key to unlock the final pieces of her memory. To remove the Intersect and open those pathways for good.

He felt the morning sun beginning to warm his chest as it peeked through the bedroom window. Turning his head to look at Sarah, he watched as the light crawled up her body, making her pale skin glow and igniting her golden hair. It was breathtaking. Chuck found himself mesmerized by the steady rise and fall of her shoulders. She had turned away from him sometime during the night, curling around a pillow and nestling deep into the sheets piled around them. Chuck was about to reach out for her when his phone began vibrating on the bedside table. Rolling onto his side with a groan, Chuck picked up his phone and squinted at the grinning bearded face that appeared on the caller I.D. screen.

'Sorry, Morgan,' Chuck thought, not actually the least bit apologetic as he hit decline. Setting his phone face down once again, he laid back against the mattress and turned towards Sarah, not at all surprised to see that the noise had woken her. She curled deeper into her nest of blankets before pushing them off with a long and luxurious stretch. The blankets slid just below her belly button, allowing Chuck an unobstructed and much appreciated view of her body glowing in the sunlight. His eyes followed the muscles flexing in her arms and shoulders, before coming to a rest on the curve of her bare breasts. Not fair. She sighed and curled into the sheets again, this time turning to face him with a teasing smirk on her lips. She knew the effect she had on him and she was taking full advantage. The only thing that put a dent in Chuck's perfect morning was the blindfold she still wore. It was necessary, and important, Chuck knew; but it was hiding the very thing he wanted to see most at this moment. Sarah's eyes always had a way of drawing him in no matter what situation they were in, but especially mornings like this. Her eyes were always at their bluest, so light that they reminded him of the sky. She could convey so much to him with just a look and although they'd found other ways of communicating over the past few days, he missed that expressive gaze.

"Good morning," Chuck said, reaching for her with one arm. Sarah hummed in response, squirming across the mattress and pressing herself against his side. He felt every inch of her body as she stretched against him once again, sliding a leg between both of his and using her toes to stroke the back of his calf. Her head rested on his shoulder, one hand pressed over his heart; a position familiar to him and apparently her as well, because she sighed contentedly again, her breath moving the hairs on his chest. Although he'd said it more than a dozen times the previous night, he found the words on his lips again and he wrapped his arms tightly around her, murmuring, "I love you, Sarah."

"I love you too."

Her response was immediate and Chuck grinned unabashedly because the words felt real. He felt that he held the old Sarah. His Sarah and not the one the Intersect had damaged. Not that they were two entirely different people, he corrected himself, but the part of her corrupted by the Intersect certainly felt less familiar. It was hard to explain, even to himself, and at the moment he didn't want to think about it. All he wanted to focus on was this feeling of complete and utter joy.

"Thank you," he continued.

"For what?" she asked failing to stifle a yawn.

"Just, you know." Chuck shrugged the shoulder she was not currently lying on. "For that. For loving me back."

Sarah's tone sobered slightly and she began tracing small circles on his chest before she spoke. "That's not something you need to thank me for."

"No, I guess not," he agreed. "But I'm going to anyway."

She laughed once, a single syllable that made her shoulders bounce and Chuck could feel her smiling against his skin. She opened her mouth to reply but Chuck's phone buzzed again, interrupting whatever it was she planned to say. He rolled his eyes and reached for the damned device, looking at the screen to see Morgan's I.D….again.

"Morgan."

"Answer it," Sarah prompted. "He'll keep calling until you do."

Good point. Chuck raised the phone to his ear and as he did he felt Sarah's lips against the underside of his jaw.

Oh no.

"H-hey buddy, what's up?" Chuck tried to swallow his stutter and failed. Sarah's lips curled into a smile and she continued tracing his jaw with gentle nibbles, her tongue following to soothe the spots she nipped.

"Just checkin' in on you two, man. Everything good over there?" Morgan asked.

"So…good." Chuck fought to keep his tone even, but Sarah was making it exceedingly difficult. She'd just taken his earlobe in between her teeth when Morgan spoke again. Chuck stifled a heavy groan. It wasn't fair. She'd taken advantage of this sweet spot far too many times last night and now again, but this time with Morgan on the other end of the line.

"Good! Good to hear. I was worried, she was acting so weird with the whole blindfold and the cane and it was seriously scary dude. Like old spy Sarah scary."

"Mhmm," Chuck managed a squeak. "Nope. No. It's good, it's all good. So...um...uh…is there something you needed Morgan?"

Sarah's lips weren't the only thing drawing Chuck's attention now. One of her hands was currently in the process of trailing down his chest and abdomen, just the slightest pressure of her nails had him biting his lip to keep from moaning into the mouthpiece. He was quite certain that Morgan wouldn't appreciate the sentiment as much as Sarah.

"Hmm? Oh, right! Well I filled Alex in on the details of our mission with Pierce and the Key and Sarah's memory and she was wondering if we could come visit today. It might be a good idea to jog Sarah's memory if we talk for a while, you know? Or we could all go to the park, or maybe visit a bar? We should get out together, man. Like old times."

"Um yeah, sounds great Morgan let's do it." Sarah's hand was lingering just below his navel now, her fingers teasing lower and lower while she continued peppering his neck and shoulder with languid kisses.

"Okay awesome! What time are you thinking? Because Alex and I can be over there in an hour or so if that—"

"An hour sounds great, buddy! See you then!" Slamming the phone down, Chuck reached for Sarah's wandering hand, catching her wrist and bringing it onto his chest again. "You are absolutely diabolical."

Sarah's brows rose innocently and she smiled. "I'm sorry."

"No you're not."

"Well, if you're not in the mood…" she trailed off with a nonchalant shrug and turned to roll away from him but he caught her around the waist and pulled her close.

"Diabolical, I tell you." His voice was low. Of course he was in the mood, she knew what she was doing and he was playing right into her hands; quite willingly, of course. Sarah turned quickly, lifting herself up and hooking one thigh over his waist to straddle him. She leaned down, chest pressed against his, her lips hovering just above his own.

"No more Morgan interruptions?" she said and the tone of her voice was enough to have him struggling for breath. "I have you to myself?"

"All yours," Chuck gasped, repeating himself when she teased him with a roll of her hips. "Forever. Anything. Yours."

"Good," she whispered and finally closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to his in a kiss that rivaled their morning in Barstow. Chuck was already totally and utterly lost in her when his phone buzzed yet again. Without breaking contact with Sarah, he reached blindly for the stupid thing, ready to toss is against the wall and break it if he could just have this morning with her. Chuck fumbled with the phone, using the very tips of his fingers to attempt to shut it off, but in his haste he knocked it to the floor where it lay buzzing incessantly.

Sarah sat up, folding her arms over her chest, not bothering to hide her annoyance with him…or the phone. Sheepishly, Chuck muttered an apology and leaned over the side of the bed to grab it. He was about to hit decline without even checking for the caller I.D. but his eyes registered the name on the screen before he could. Cold dread filled Chuck's stomach and he stared at the phone dumbly as it continued to buzz in his hand. Sarah was growing impatient with his continued silence. "Do you want me to tell Morgan exactly why he needs to stop calling?"

"Not Morgan. Beckman," Chuck replied with a grimace. Sarah's body went rigid. "She must be calling about the Key."

"Is it ready?" Sarah asked, her voice was nervous. "It's only been a few days."

They wouldn't know unless Chuck picked up the phone and he realized Beckman probably didn't appreciate being kept on hold this long. Accepting the call, he cleared his throat, taking a moment to gather himself before greeting Beckman.

"Morning General."

"Chuck," Beckman opted to skip the formalities. "I'm calling to update you on the status of the Key. So far we've had success imbuing the device with Sarah's dossier and mission logs. We think it would be quite helpful if we included some sort of personal file as well, perhaps something to jog the more…unprofessional parts of her memory. If you have anything to offer that may help—"

"Yes!" Chuck nearly startled Sarah off the bed with his sudden outburst. "Yes, of course. I have a video of our wedding. It's got photos and a few clips, do you think that might work?"

"If you could send us the files as soon as possible, Chuck, we'll see what we can do with them," Beckman replied and Chuck noticed that her voice suddenly sounded much more optimistic. "If all goes according to plan, the Key will be ready for use the day after tomorrow."

Chuck felt equal waves of excitement and terror wash over him. Two days didn't seem like enough time to prepare, but what else were they waiting for?

"Thank you, General. I'll send you the files immediately." Bidding Beckman a quick goodbye, he returned his attention to Sarah, who looked even more nervous than he did.

"The Key's ready?" She asked, her voice quavering slightly.

"Almost." Chuck took her hands and squeezed them reassuringly. "Beckman asked for some personal photos to add to the Key. Hopefully they'll help you reconnect with your old memories."

Sarah nodded. But it was obvious that the mood in the room had soured. It was time to get ready for the day and prepare for whatever came next regarding the removal of the Intersect.

"Come on," Chuck said swinging his legs over the side of the bed and helping Sarah up as well. "I'll help you with the shower." For once Sarah followed without protest and that alone concerned Chuck more than anything.

o0o

Sarah chewed the inside of her lip as she waited in the living room for Morgan and Alex. She wouldn't admit it to Chuck, but she was nervous to meet Alex…or reunite with her as it was. There wasn't much she could remember about the younger woman except for the fact that she was Casey's daughter, and even that was something that Chuck had to remind her of. He'd also assured her that Alex was the farthest thing from her father, personality wise. They wouldn't have to worry about a mini, female version of Casey invading their house. But even still, she wasn't sure how much Alex had been made aware of their lives as spies or of their history with the Intersect and she was even less sure of the personal relationship they'd shared. Were they close friends as she and Ellie had apparently been? Or did they mostly stick to small talk when forced to interact? Sarah was good at reading people, particularly marks and assets, but she was unsure how Alex would react if she misjudged their previous relationship right at the get-go.

She didn't have much more time to ponder because a knock at the door signaled the arrival of their guests. She heard Chuck hurry to meet them, his shoes squeaking on the floor. The lock clicked open and Chuck greeted Morgan with a loud, "Bonjourno, buddy! Long time no see!"

"If by your standards, two days is a long time, then yes, long time no see," Morgan teased and Sarah heard him clap Chuck on the back. Sarah stood aside while they talked, twisting her wedding band around her finger uncertainly as she waited to be brought into the conversation.

"Wasn't sure what you guys had planned for the day," Morgan continued. "But I did bring the entire Star Wars trilogy and the extended editions of Lord of the Rings. If you're interested in a serious movie binge, that is."

Sarah nearly grimaced at the idea of spending yet another day trapped inside but before she could voice her opinion on the matter she felt someone touch her arm.

"Hey, Sarah." The voice was soft and timid. Feminine. It could only be Alex; and from the tenderness in her voice Sarah could already assume that they had been at least somewhat familiar. "How are you doing? Morgan told me about…well about everything really. Everything that happened to your memory on the bullet train and with the Key and that guy Pierce."

Sarah wasn't quite sure how to respond, but Alex continued without her input. "I'll be honest, Morgan tends to get a little worked up when he talks about spy stuff, so a lot of it didn't make any sense. But I know you and Chuck have been struggling. And being blindfolded 24/7 must really suck. So, are you doing okay?"

Moved by the younger girl's sincerity, Sarah offered her a smile and said, "It's better now than it was but I appreciate the concern…Alex." She added the name almost as an afterthought, still trying to gauge the level of familiarity she should attempt.

Apparently, Alex was more astute than Sarah realized. It made sense, of course, she was John Casey's daughter. But she'd caught the pause in Sarah's voice and her disappointment was clear in the way she asked the next question. "Do you remember me, Sarah? You can say no. You're not going to hurt my feelings."

That was a lie if Sarah had ever heard one. Alex was astute, but terrible at hiding her emotions. Lying wouldn't be conducive to reviving their relationship, but she wanted to avoid crushing Alex at the same time. "I remember some things. I know that Casey is your father and that you and Morgan liked to visit a lot. Couples nights were a pretty common occurrence around here."

Alex giggled lightly. "It's a wonder you don't remember Valentine's Day."

"Valentine's Day?" Connecting Valentine's Day and double date nights with Morgan and Alex wasn't sitting well with Sarah, so she decided to change the subject-quickly. "Um, why don't we sit for a bit? Want anything to drink?"

"I'm alright, thanks." Alex crossed the small distance to the living room and took a seat on the couch while Sarah found her way to the nearby armchair.

"I don't know if you remember," Alex began after another moment of silence. "But Morgan went through something similar with the Intersect."

Sarah vaguely remembered being told about Morgan's struggle, but nothing in particular so she simply waited for Alex to continue.

"The Intersect started to turn him into someone he wasn't. He forgot who he was, forgot everything that made him Morgan. It was hard watching him change into this horrible stranger." Alex paused to gather her thoughts, giving Sarah too much time to focus on the guilt building in the pit of her stomach. "Things got really bad between us. It didn't take long before we split up. He dumped me over a text message, actually."

Luckily, Alex seemed to notice the effect her words were having on Sarah's mood because her tone suddenly brightened and she added, "I'm only telling you all of this because it makes me so happy to see that you and Chuck aren't going down the same path. Of course you two would stick together, even through something as awful as a broken Intersect."

Sarah relaxed a bit at that but still she wondered if Chuck had felt the same way when the Intersect first started to alter her personality. How badly had it hurt him to watch her distance herself? She remembered those weeks and months as she started to lose her memories and could not help but remember the anguish she saw in Chuck's face when he thought she was not looking, Of course it had hurt him to watch her forget their life together. But unlike Alex, there must have always been a part of Chuck that believed she would remember herself again.

"You know, I hope this isn't too weird to say, but watching the two of you gave me a lot of hope for my own relationship. You just had a way with each other that was completely natural. A look here and there, or even just the way you stood next to each other said so much about how you felt, but it was never overbearing to anyone else. It was sweet." Alex laughed nervously. "Seriously this sounds so weird. I promise I wasn't watching you guys through binoculars or anything. Just little things I couldn't help but notice when we all hung out together. God, it's just getting worse."

"No, no it's not weird at all!" Sarah interjected. She was glad for what Alex had told her. Having an outside view of her relationship with Chuck gave her a confidence in it that she didn't know she'd needed. "Thank you, Alex. It's helpful to hear all of that."

"Oh, good. Because I was worried I was freaking you out," Alex giggled.

"So, um, your mom. How is she?" Sarah changed the subject, hoping to continue exploring her relationship with Alex when Morgan interrupted their conversation.

"Ladies. Your wildly talented, gastronomically inclined men have prepared a delicious lunch that I suggested we take to the park for a morning picnic. What do you say?"

"A picnic sounds fun," Alex replied, looking to Sarah for an opinion. It was a tempting excuse to escape the monotony of the house, but at the same time Sarah was a little nervous to go out in public with the blindfold. Would people stare? What would they think? A moment later she realized how ridiculous she was being. Who cared what strangers thought; she would be with people she cared about and who cared for her in return. Safe. She wouldn't see any strange looks she got anyway. So she turned in the direction of Morgan's voice and smiled, nodding her consent.

"Great!" Chuck clapped his hands and she heard the car keys jingle. "I'm gonna go warm up the car."

Chuck ran out the door while Morgan gathered the picnic supplies and Alex helped Sarah to her feet, guiding her to the door and pulling out a pair of sandals that would be easy to slip on and off. As they prepared to leave, Morgan cleared his throat and said, "Um, Sarah do we need to take this too?"

Realizing that Sarah could not see what he was pointing at, Morgan quickly added, "The cane?" His voice rose an octave with the words, almost as if he were afraid he was going to receive a beating for asking.

"No thanks," Sarah said with an easy grin. "I've got Chuck."

o0o

The park was busy for a weekday morning. While Morgan and Alex charged ahead to search for a grassy spot for their picnic, Sarah strolled along slowly beside Chuck, holding onto his left arm for guidance. Her senses were bombarded as they walked. She could smell the grass, fresh and still heavy with morning dew. The afternoon sun warmed her face and she could hear the dozens of chirps and squeaks from the wildlife that occupied the trees over their heads. There was a gentle breeze, just cool enough to make the day pleasant but not chilly. And she could hear the occasional jogger pass by; their shoes pounding the pavement steadily, an occasional, "On your left!" wheezed as they swerved around her and Chuck. Sarah knew she had to have jogged here often, the sounds and smells were all so familiar. Had Chuck come with her? She seemed to recall a fleeting image of him trailing behind her, his long legs looking more gangly than usual as he tried to match her stride.

Chuck led her off the path towards Morgan and Alex, who had found a shady spot beneath a large oak tree. Morgan revealed their picnic lunch with a flourish; homemade sandwiches, fruit and cheese and almonds. Surprisingly healthy for a guy like Morgan, who she'd heard had once tried to live off of pizza flavored Combos. To Sarah it seemed that the morning passed almost too quickly. The peaceful sounds of the park mingled with their lively conversation and she found herself feeling more and more at home. Sarah wanted to be this person again. The one that felt completely at home with these people. Not alert for danger or enemies or putting up walls to hide her true nature; the one that laughed when Morgan told the story of how he'd been caught naked holding a bowl of fruit in Ellie and Devon's old apartment, or leaned easily into Chuck's side during a lull in the conversation, trusting him to watch out for her when she couldn't fend for herself. Every memory her friends recalled for her was pleasant, but slightly soured by the fact that she couldn't remember it herself. The longer they talked, the more she felt moved to use the Key once it was ready. The risks would be worth remembering her life with these people.

Eventually their day at the park ended and, packing up their things, they made their way back to the car. Once back at the apartment they decided to finish the night with a movie. There was a brief rebuttal from Chuck who pointed out that Sarah might not enjoy a movie that she couldn't see, but she assured him that she would be alright. She didn't want to put a damper in the fun and so while the others debated on which move to watch, she took her place on the couch waiting for Chuck to join her so that she could curl into his side. Once the movie started, Morgan turned out the lights and plopped into the armchair with Alex while Chuck stretched out on the couch, making space so that she could lie beside him, nestled between the cushions and his chest. She'd come to notice how often they took up this position the past few days. It was comfortable, always warm and she felt safe lying against him like this. The voices coming from the television grew dimmer, drowned out by Chuck's heart thumping steadily against her ear and all too soon the rise and fall of his chest had lulled her to sleep.

Sarah woke abruptly when the movie ended and Chuck lifted her gently so that he could send Morgan and Alex on their way. Everyone exchanged sleepy goodbyes and Sarah made sure to thank Alex once again for her words about their relationship. The door closed and Chuck slung an arm around Sarah's shoulder, guiding her to their room and helping her don sleepwear since she was too tired to deal with it herself. Once underneath the covers, Sarah resumed the position she'd had on the couch, snuggled against Chuck while his hands ran up and down her arms soothingly. Before she fell asleep, her mind wandered back to the Key. If this was the life that she would have without the Intersect stuck in her head then she was ready for the Key and suddenly Beckman's next call couldn't come soon enough.

o0o

The next morning Sarah received a voicemail from Casey. He'd left it sometime during the night, not particularly surprising considering the massive time difference from between Burbank and Moscow. She took a seat at the computer desk in their room and played the message. The first part detailed Gertrude's recovery and Casey's plan to take a few more personal days with her there while the business with the Key was sorted out. That was when Casey's voice softened. "Beckman updated me on the Key's status. Should be ready for use anytime now. So, look Sarah," Casey paused and Sarah heard a door close in the background; it appeared that his next words were too private for even Gertrude to hear. "The Intersect needs to come out of your head. If it stays in there it's likely to keep doing damage. But I know that you know that there are risks involved when removing it. I just want you to be careful. Really consider the effects of the Key before you use it. We don't want another Morgan incident."

There was a muffled voice and Casey put a hand over the mouthpiece to respond. When he returned he sounded much more hurried. "I'm gonna end this here before it gets too sappy. You'll make the right choice, you always do. I expect you and Bartowski to be as disgustingly affectionate as ever when I get back so don't let me down." One final pause and Sarah heard Casey take a sharp breath as if he were hesitant to continue. "Whatever happens, it's been an honor to work with you all these years, Sarah. Good luck."

The phone clicked and then an automated voice declared that she'd reached the end of the voicemail. Sarah set her cellphone down and leaned forward, propping her elbows on the desk and resting her forehead against her folded hands. Receiving such a heartfelt message from Casey was touching but also worrisome. He made a good point; they still didn't know if the Key would have any negative side effects on her psyche and it could end up doing more damage than good. But after the day she'd spent with Morgan, Alex and Chuck, it was hard not to want to give the Key a chance no matter what the consequences might be. It occurred to Sarah that what she was most worried about wasn't necessarily the fact that the Key could further damage her memories, but simply that it might not even work at all. It would remove the Intersect without fail, but Beckman had warned them the stress it put on her brain could damage whatever suppressed memories she still had and if it didn't do that then there was also the possibility that imbuing it with her old files wouldn't have the desired effect. With all that they'd gone through to collect the pieces of the Key, it was terrifying to think that it all have been in vain.

Of course, the worst thing was that Sarah knew there was nothing she could do until Beckman came to Burbank with the Key. After Chuck sent her the files from their wedding video the previous morning, he'd requested that Beckman bring what she needed to complete the procedure to Castle. Just like Sarah, he was loathe to leave home again after all they'd been through in the past week. If they were going to use the Key, they would deal with the fallout here.

Deciding it was doing her no good to sit and ponder the endless possibilities, Sarah rose from the computer desk and made her way down the hall, stopping just short of the kitchen when she heard Chuck speaking with Ellie over the speaker phone while he bustled around the room cooking breakfast. Sarah wasn't entirely sure why she didn't just join him, but part of her still felt like an intruder whenever Ellie was involved. The two siblings were close and Sarah was always saddened that she couldn't remember anything about her connection with Chuck's older sister.

"She's doing just fine, El. We both are," Chuck said in response to a question that Sarah hadn't been privy to.

"And what about the Key? The last time I heard from you, before you completely ditched my house without a goodbye by the way, was that you got a piece from some sort of base in the city?" Ellie's voice came over the speaker clearly enough for Sarah to hear her from the hall.

"Yeah, sorry about that, we ran into some trouble and I didn't want to get you involved." Sarah could almost imagine a contrite blush coloring Chuck's cheeks.

"I know I got your voicemail," Ellie snorted. "But I was still worried."

"I really am sorry! But we did manage to get all three pieces safe and sound, El. Everyone's alright." Sarah noticed he'd left out the battle with Pierce, the bomb and the hours they spent trapped in the tiny bunker, but that was probably for the best considering what she knew about Ellie's tendency to be overprotective of her younger brother.

"So what happens now?" Ellie asked.

"Well," Chuck heaved a sigh and Sarah heard the clatter of dishes die away as he turned his full attention on Ellie. "General Beckman will bring the completed Key down to Castle tomorrow and we cross our fingers and hope it works."

"Is there some sort of problem?" Ellie's voice was nervous.

"We're not sure what sort of side effects might occur if we remove the Intersect," Chuck continued slowly. "There's a small possibility that it will damage what's left of Sarah's memory."

"So…she'd forget all over again?"

"She might." Heavy silence fell over the kitchen before Chuck snapped back to his cheery self and tried to reassure his sister. "But we have to look on the bright side, El. It's only a possibility and a small one at that. There's still a good chance that it will work exactly the way it's supposed to."

Ellie didn't take the bait, her voice was clipped when she continued, "Chuck, you listen to me right now. Listen very carefully. No matter what happens, you stick with her, okay? I don't care if she forgets her own name you have to help her. Because I know you both and whether or not she'll admit it right now, Sarah needs you."

Ellie was right. Sarah had come to the same conclusion not long ago. It was a little unnerving to be read so transparently by a person she couldn't even remember and yet at the same time she knew that Chuck's sister was her family; someone that loved her unconditionally in spite of everything that the Intersect had erased. These people were willing to put themselves through hell and back for her even if the Key took away everything she'd gained over the past week. Sarah felt a lump forming in her throat as she listened.

"I know that, El," Chuck replied gently.

"I know you know, but I just want you to hear it out loud. And Chuck," Ellie continued, "If the Key doesn't work, you won't be alone. We'll be there for you and for Sarah. Because we are a family, we're Bartowski's and we stick together. You got that?" Ellie's emotions had reached a fever pitch and Sarah could hear Devon's deep voice attempting to soothe her in the background.

Chuck laughed softly, but there was sincerity in his voice when he spoke again, "I promise you, Ellie. We'll take care of each other, no matter what happens."

"Okay, okay good." Ellie was calmer now, a small sniffle the only evidence that she was still slightly emotional. "You call me if you need anything. We're going to come down to visit soon and I want to see you happy, Chuck. Tell Sarah I say hi, okay? Tell her not to worry."

Chuck promised he would, said his goodbyes and then disconnected the call with a long sigh. Deciding it was finally safe to leave her hiding place, Sarah stepped in to the kitchen, using the wall to guide herself until she knew she was standing right behind Chuck. Reaching out with one hand, she stopped when she felt the fabric of his shirt against her palm. He jumped, startled that she'd suddenly appeared behind him, but quickly relaxed once she slid her arms around his waist, resting her chin against his shoulder. Chuck's own hands fell on top of hers, his warm fingers stroking her skin softly.

"Hey there, spy lady," he chuckled. "I see you haven't lost your touch."

Sarah smiled, kissing the back of his neck before murmuring, "Your sister is sweet."

"You heard all of that." It wasn't really a question, Chuck knew she'd been listening. "Yeah, Ellie is amazing. She's always been there for us no matter what. Whatever happens with the Key, we've got her and Captain Awesome to help out."

Sarah felt her heart sink again the moment Chuck mentioned the Key. It was terrifying to imagine she might lose her memory again, but even more than that she was afraid how badly it would devastate Chuck. Part of her felt guilty for staying in his life after the Intersect had begun to damage her mind. They'd had to face so much pain since that day on the bullet train and now that their only option for recovery was the Key, it worried Sarah to know that their future was still up in the air.

"You okay?" Chuck had noticed her silence and she felt him shift in her embrace. She loosened her hold on him so that he could turn to face her, leaning back against the counter and pulling her against his chest. "What's wrong?"

Sarah wasn't sure how to put her fears into words, but telling him that everything was fine would be a downright lie and Chuck wouldn't accept that answer anyway.

"Are you worried about what might happen when we use the Key?" she finally asked, deciding to use his response to guide her own.

"Maybe a little," Chuck said after a brief pause. "But Beckman seems to think the risks are pretty minor. I think we should at least give it a try."

"What if it doesn't work?" Sarah wished she could see the expression on his face to reassure her. "What happens to us if I can't remember?"

"We both knew that using the Key might be a long shot when this all started, Sarah. Even if it doesn't bring back your memories, I'm going to be here to help you. Whatever you need," he replied easily, his shoulders bobbing up and down. "Whether or not the Key brings back your memories doesn't change the way I feel about you or our future."

As much as she knew he was trying to help, his words were only making her feel worse. Because she wanted so badly to remember her old life, and not just for her own sake, but for his too. For them. And Chuck knew that, they'd discussed it often since the discovery of the Key. But of course he would remain optimistic for her, no matter what he actually feared might happen to them if she was never able to recall her old memories.

"Sarah?" His voice drew her attention again and she leaned into him, resting her cheek on his shoulder and focusing on familiar and comforting scent.

"Don't be afraid," he continued, running a hand down her back soothingly. "We'll get through this together, just like we always have. Trust me."

She couldn't help but smile then because she knew those words to be true. Chuck had proven himself over and over again during their latest mission, but buried somewhere deep down she knew she believed those words for an endless list of reasons that she couldn't quite recall. Reasons that had imbedded themselves into a part of her that she didn't have the words to express but that she knew gave her an infinite amount of trust in the man holding her.

Pacific Standard Time: 1200 hours/Friday/Castle/Los Angeles/California

The usually calming sounds of Castle's computer systems now buzzed incessantly in Sarah's ears. She could hear Chuck pacing around the room while she sat at the central conference table; both of them waiting anxiously for Beckman's arrival. Every nerve in Sarah's body felt raw, her heart thrummed against her ribcage. They'd only been waiting an hour, but it felt as if time had come to a standstill. That was when Sarah heard the mechanical whir of the door and then the tell-tale click of General Beckman's high heeled feet coming down the main staircase. She was followed by what sounded like a dozen others, their shoes knocking against the metal as they gathered around the room

Chuck greeted the General quietly and then Sarah felt the woman's warm hands on her shoulder. "It's good to see you both. Has there been any further trouble with the Intersect since you left headquarters?"

Sarah shook her head and Chuck chimed in as well. "Everything's been fine General. Are you sure the Key is ready to use?"

Sarah could hear the anxiety in Chuck's voice rise as he watched Beckman's team fiddle with Castle's various appliances to set up their own equipment that would monitor Sarah's vital signs.

"It's as ready as it will ever be, Chuck," Beckman assured him, standing aside to allow a few scientists access to Sarah. They pushed up her sleeves and pulled back her hair, attaching a pulse monitor to her finger and multiple electrodes to her temples.

"What's all this for?" Sarah asked, even though she knew very well what the team was doing. A small part of her felt the need for reassurance while they prodded at her.

"My team will be using an EEG to monitor your brain activity while we upload the Key. If anything goes wrong, we'll be able to catch it on screen and do what we can to assist you immediately."

Chuck swallowed audibly. "And do you expect that something will go wrong, General?"

"This set up is just a precaution Chuck," Beckman's tone was light and Sarah found it unexpectedly comforting. "I'm confident that this will work. But we need to make sure we have all our bases covered."

A few more minutes were spent setting up various wires and checking systems, and then Sarah heard one of the scientists give Beckman the all clear. There was a loud squeak as Chuck pulled a chair up in front of Sarah's. He sat close, his knees touching hers and took her hands in his own, careful to avoid skewing the wires attached to them.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his voice low. And in spite of the dozens of strangers surrounding them, Sarah found herself unable to continue pretending that she wasn't petrified.

"I'm scared," she whispered and her hands began to tremble even as Chuck squeezed them tightly. Sarah struggled to swallow her fear, wishing again that she could see him; at least be able to look into his eyes once more and reassure herself completely.

He squeezed her fingers again and leaned forward in his seat. She felt his breath against her cheek then and then his lips brushed her ear as he spoke, "I'm right here. I'll be right here the whole time. It's going to be okay. Trust me."

Sarah leaned into his touch in an attempt to convey to him all she couldn't say at the moment.

"Are you ready?" he asked again, even more gently this time and Sarah finally nodded her assent. It was now or never. Chuck looked up at Beckman and dipped his chin to signal for her to continue.

"Here's what I want you to do, Sarah," Beckman began, gesturing to one of her team to begin undoing the binding on Sarah's blindfold. "We're going to remove your blindfold but I want you to keep your eyes shut until the glasses are on. I'll count to three and then you can open your eyes slowly. After the upload, we'll follow the same process. Eyes closed, we'll remove the glasses and then you'll open them again. Do you understand?"

Sarah nodded again, her voice seeming to have left her body.

"Then let's begin."

Sarah felt steady fingers undoing the binding of her blindfold and then the slight weight of it was gone. She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, as if somehow that might help the process, and then Beckman was placing the glasses on her face. Sarah's heart picked up speed as Beckman's hands drew away and she heard the General say, "Alright Sarah. On my count…One…"

Sarah squeezed Chuck's hands again and felt him reciprocate. It was all she could do to convey to him what she could not say.

"Two."

She could hear the blood rushing in her ears and her heart thumping wildly in her chest.

"Three."

Taking a final breath, Sarah opened her eyes to the near pitch black of the glasses. There was a red flash and then a thousand images sped across her vision too quickly to comprehend. Her eyes flickered back and forth of their own volition, trying to keep up with the rapid sequence of images. Some pictures were recognizable, but they were gone before Sarah had a chance to consider what they might be. Others were a jumble of people, numbers, scenes, sounds and words moving so fast that Sarah was starting to feel dizzy. And then, right before she thought she couldn't take any more, it was over and all she could see was the black of the lenses.

Everything seemed eerily quiet; the only sounds being that of her own quivering breath and the rapid beat of her heart. Had it worked? She wasn't unconscious. She remembered where she was and what was happening but nothing felt different. Were her memories back and she wasn't able to recognize it? Or had the Key failed?

"Close your eyes, Sarah." It was Beckman's voice again. Sarah did as she was told, slamming her eyes shut and trembling with anticipation as the glasses were removed. Beckman ordered one of the men on her team to dim Castle's overhead lights to avoid damaging Sarah's vision and then the room fell silent once more as everyone waited with baited breath.

Remembering Beckman's instructions, Sarah cracked her eyes open slowly. The first thing she caught sight of were Chuck's jeans, his knees still pressed against her own. Her eyes continued to roam upward as they opened, running over Chuck's blue button up shirt and collar and then following the line of his neck to his lips, slightly parted and trembling. And finally, after four long days, Sarah's gaze fell on Chuck's deep brown eyes and she remembered seeing the same look he wore now when they stood on the balcony in France and he'd told her 'Whatever. Anything. Always.'. The same look he'd had when she'd woken in the hotel room in Paris and he'd told her that Shaw was gone. The same look he'd had when he stood across from her on the altar and promised that she could always count on him.

And it was then Sarah realized that she'd remembered their wedding day without instigation. The picture was clear in her head; Chuck standing in a suit that made him look so dashing, her old CAT squad mates behind her—Zondra even shedding a few tears-and Morgan officiating the entire thing, somehow looking smaller than usual even though he stood above them. All of it pieced itself together in her mind the moment she looked in to Chuck's eyes and saw in them what she'd seen that day. The same unshakable love he'd expressed that day was now written all over his face as he waited for her to speak.

Too overwhelmed to find the words she needed to express herself, Sarah simply put a hand to her mouth, shaking her head and blinking away the tears that were forming in the corners of her eyes. Chuck looked worried now; her silence and sudden tears doing nothing to reassure him that the Key had worked.

"Sarah? Are you alright? Do you know where you are?" he asked quickly. Forgoing a response, Sarah wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him closer and letting the tears fall freely. Chuck was confused, but the affection she displayed was certainly a good sign and so he gripped her tightly in return, running a hand down her back in an attempt to soothe her. He looked up at Beckman over Sarah's shoulder and asked, "Did it work?"

The General looked just as confused as Chuck; she offered him nothing more than a slight shrug. Sarah pulled away just far enough to look him in the eye again and asked, "Was Morgan really ordained by the Galactic Federation of Planets?"

Chuck looked absolutely baffled and then an enormous grin spread across his face as the pieces fell into place. Through a voice choked with both thankful tears and laughter, he managed, "Yeah, he really was. You remember?"

Sarah nodded, not trusting herself to speak again. Ignoring the crowd of strangers still watching them, Sarah leaned forward and kissed him, running her fingers down his smooth cheek before gripping his collar tightly. Chuck was ecstatic, she could feel it as he cradled her face in between his hands and in the way his body seemed to thrum against hers. They separated only when Beckman cleared her throat to draw their attention. She was watching them with an amused gleam in her eye, the corners of her mouth twitching into a smile.

"If you don't mind, Mr. Bartowski, we'd like to run a few more precautionary tests on Sarah just to make sure everything is in working order and then the two of you will be free to go."

"Of course, of course." Chuck pushed himself to his feet, keeping one hand linked with Sarah's. "I don't know how to thank you, General."

"You don't need to, Chuck," Beckman assured him easily. "You found and retrieved the Key all on your own. If anything, it is I who should be thanking you. I know you're looking to get Carmichael Industries off the ground, perhaps there's something I can do to help you find your footing."

Chuck and Sarah exchanged eager glances, a boost from Beckman—whether financial or otherwise-would certainly put Carmichael Industries back on the map.

"But we'll discuss that in due time," Beckman said. "For now, let's focus on finally wrapping up this Intersect business."

"Couldn't have said it better myself," agreed Chuck.

o0o

3 Months Later

The Key hadn't brought Sarah's memories back all at once but as Beckman had suggested, it seemed to help her reconnect with her old life in odd ways where a certain scent, taste or word would bring a memory to the forefront of her mind, almost as if her head was clearing itself of dozens of heavy cobwebs. The night after they'd used the Key, Morgan and Alex were promptly invited for a celebration and Morgan brought a large tub of sugar free mint ice cream and the taste of it reminded Sarah of the night she'd first told Chuck that, yes, she loved him. Remembering the moment with such intense clarity and without the aid of the others made her giddy and she almost shooed their guests out of the house right then and there so that she could have her husband all to herself.

Casey returned from Moscow a few days later and Sarah was pleased to show him first hand just how "disgustingly affectionate" she and Chuck could be. In spite of his grunts of revulsion, Sarah could tell he was happy for them. And while Gertrude and Chuck began arguing the logistics of running an independent spy company, Casey helped Sarah recall many memories from the early days of Operation Bartowski. She was never more grateful to her former partner than she was that night and when he and Gertrude excused themselves and left the Bartowski's apartment, Sarah eagerly returned to showing Chuck just how affectionate she could be.

Ellie and Devon were quick to schedule a visit after news of the Key's success reached them, and upon their arrival the Bartowskis and Woodcombs spent a day enjoying the beach in Malibu. For the first time in a long time, Sarah didn't feel like she was wearing a mask for strangers, but that she was surrounded by people that she could safely call family.

Three months after they'd used the Key in Castle and six months since Sarah's memory had begun to degrade after the bullet train, Sarah was more connected with her past than she had ever been before. Some things were still foggy, but with a bit of explanation from Chuck they returned bit by bit, but what was most important to Sarah was how well she felt she knew her husband again. From little things to the way he liked his coffee, to his almost unhealthy obsessions with particular video games. A small part of her was bitter for the pain they'd suffered together since the Intersect damaged her memory, but a larger part felt that it had strengthened their relationship in a way that nothing else could have. Whenever Sarah ruminated too long on it, Chuck assured her that the hardest things in life are often the things that make an individual stronger…or in their case, two individuals.

One night, while Sarah sat at their computer and waited for Chuck to finish in the shower, she rediscovered an old file, long forgotten after Pierce had appeared in their lives. Opening the document she was greeted with a list of names:

Landon

Lane

Lawrence

Levi

Lewis

Liam

Baby boy names. An entire list that she'd spent hours collecting. The conversation she'd had with Chuck that night was a bit foggy but one thing she was certain of was that the idea of starting a family no longer frightened her. She'd wanted it back then and she wanted it now more than ever. Turning away from the computer she crossed to the side table on Chuck's side of the bed where, sure enough, she found the same drawing that she hadn't recognized six months ago. The drawing that depicted the two of them standing in front of a house with a red door and a white picket fence, and a baby cradled in Sarah's arms.

Chuck entered the room whistling, a towel wrapped around his waist, coming to a stop when he saw her studying the drawing. He moved to stand behind her, resting his chin against her shoulder and peering at the doodle they'd made together.

"You remember this now?"

"I do."

Sarah felt Chuck's lips spread into a grin against her skin as he titled his head to kiss the back of her neck. "Doesn't seem so impossible anymore, does it?"

Sarah smiled, tucking the drawing back in the drawer and turning to face her husband. She paused to admire him briefly, his short hair still damp and mussed from the shower, his clean skin and shaven face glowing in the lamplight and those bright brown eyes drawing her in like a flame. Lowering her hands to the edge of the towel still wrapped around his waist she tugged lightly on the hem, tossing it aside when it came loose.

"Hiyo!" Chuck yelped before pulling her against him, his eyes roaming over her with obvious desire. "Are we really doing this? The whole family thing? Tuesday Taco nights? Soccer practice? Diaper changes? Take your kid to work day?"

"Don't you think we've waited long enough for our future?" she asked pushing him back towards the bed.

"Yes. Yes I do," he agreed, his knees buckling as they hit the side of the bed. He sat on the edge, hands around Sarah's waist as she followed him down, poising herself just above his lap. "I am certainly done waiting to start my life with you."

"Good. Because it starts now."

And even as she lost herself to the moment and to Chuck, Sarah found herself pondering all that they had gone through to get this far and reveling in the fact that now she knew there was still so much more to come.

A/N: There we have it. An end to Losing Your Memory. I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who's been a part of this journey with me. It's been an amazing experience to be welcomed into this incredible fandom with such kindness. Not only was this a learning experience for me as a writer but I've met so many people that I've been able to connect with outside this site all because of Chuck.

The show affected me in a way that not much else has and while I do hope it reappears on our television screens someday, I'm so happy that it lives on through the fans in ways like this.

This story was cathartic for me to write and helped me give the characters I love, hopefully, more fair treatment than what they received on the show. So thank you once again to everyone who commented and supported the decisions I made for them and I hope to see you all in future stories.

Because this show and these characters still have so much potential. Here's to Chuck and future fics! Thank you everyone!