A/N: Thanks for the outpouring of support for this story. It really means a lot to me that you take the time out to share your thoughts. And a special thanks to those in the Chuck Fanfiction Facebook group that voted in the 2019 Chuckie awards. It was a very humbling experience. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
It is with a heavy heart that I turn off the "Open" sign on Emma's Diner. It has been a learning and growing experience for me. Thank you for coming along with me on this journey. So, without further ado, I give you "The Epilogue".
Disclaimer: Don't own Chuck
Epilogue
Sarah watched as Chuck danced with Molly, her feet on his, holding her hands to steady her. They were both smiling and giggling, filling Sarah's heart with so much joy. The song was 'Daughters' by John Mayer, and although they had not purposefully chosen this song to start dancing to, the meaning wasn't lost on Sarah. Up to that point, Molly hadn't called Chuck her father, not in so many words, but she had alluded to it often when it was just her and Molly talking. She couldn't get over how happy the two of them looked. Her little family. The tears were now cascading down Sarah's cheeks, falling to her chest. She used a tissue to blow her nose and made a futile attempt at wiping away the tears.
"Baby, are you alright?" Chuck asked, leaning over the back of the couch to kiss her on top of her head. Sniffling, she let out a small chuckle. She grabbed the remote control from beside her and paused the movie.
"Yes. I'm fiiiiine." She used another tissue to wipe at her cheeks, sniffling once more then discarding it into the pile of used tissues already on the coffee table.
"I should have known better than to get out the wedding videos," she admitted, rolling her eyes at herself. Chuck hummed in amusement as he rounded the couch to sit next to her.
"And how are we feeling today?" he asked as he bent down, placing a gentle kiss on her rounded stomach, then moving up to place one on her lips.
"We? Well, I've had someone's butt pushing on my diaphragm all day, but I suppose 'we' are doing fine otherwise. I was just putting my feet up for a little bit and thought I'd watch something. Boy was that a mistake." She looked a little sheepish, her eyes slightly red and puffy from all the crying.
"I'm sorry, Baby. It's hard to believe it's been almost two years already. Not that it should make you any less emotional. I'm sure all the hormones don't help either. Hence the rather... impressive pile of tissues you've got going on over here." He looked at the mountain of used, wadded up tissues and his eyes grew wide for a moment, earning him a smack on the arm. He chuckled and gave her an adoring smile. "Can I get you anything? Something to drink? A foot rub maybe?" Sarah shifted on the coach trying to make herself comfortable… well, as comfortable as one could be when nearly thirty-eight weeks pregnant.
"A glass of water would be good. Then I'll let you rub my feet," she added with a smirk. He beamed at her as he rose to his feet.
"As you wish." She gave him that smile. The smile that still made his heart skip a beat. He walked to the kitchen and pulled a water bottle with a built-in straw from a drawer and began to fill it from the refrigerator door. "I stopped by the diner on my way home," he called over his shoulder. "Gerty wanted me to tell you that everything was under control and not to worry. She said she and Casey are on for dinner tomorrow night, if you're still up for it."
"Yeah. That sounds good," she replied. She fought to catch her breath for a second as the baby moved, putting extra pressure on her diaphragm for a few seconds.
"I talked with some of the customers too," he continued, the large water bottle still filling.
"Oh yeah?" she called back over the couch, tilting her head to the side in an attempt to hear better.
"Yeah. They all miss you and send their love. Ernie says he's still waiting on his coffee." Chuck gave a chuckle, remembering the teasing he'd received from the frequent customer. Sarah chuckled as well, knowing what a character Ernie could be. With that chuckle the baby moved again, but this time it felt very different. Just as the baby shifted she felt a gush of liquid, but it ended as soon as the baby settled. She tried to both peer around her stomach and feel her pants for confirmation. To her surprise, her yoga pants were indeed wet. Sarah's eyes flew open as she let the moment settle over her. All she could think to say was, "Water."
From the kitchen, Chuck heard her response to his joke about Ernie and was perplexed. He was certain he had said 'coffee'. He was always asking for refills on coffee; it was a running joke. "No, I'm pretty sure he said coffee."
Sarah just leaned her head back staring at the ceiling, shaking her head in exasperation.
"No! My water," she shouted. Chuck was putting the lid on the water bottle and sighed to himself a little. She was understandably grumpy, being pregnant was no picnic. He tried to cut her some slack when she got a little agitated with him.
"I know, Dear. I have it right here. I'm sorry. It took a while to fill it-" He rounded the couch to hand it to her and immediately noticed the dark spot on the crotch of her light gray yoga pants. Sarah was trying to maneuver herself to a standing position while Chuck stood like a statue glancing between her face and the wet spot. It wasn't until Sarah grunted, 'a little help here' that Chuck shook himself back to reality. "Right! Right. Sorry. I'm here." He set the water bottle down and took her hands to help her stand.
"Have… have you felt any contractions yet?" he asked, trying to take steady breaths in an effort to not freak out. Sarah just shook her head, blowing out a breath as it was still difficult to breathe with the baby's foot or butt pressing into her diaphragm. "OK. Alright. So, we have time. No problem. We got this. This is what we've been preparing for, right?" She squeezed his hand a little tighter as they made their way toward the stairs. "Right. Right. I know. I know. I'm spiraling. I'm sorry." She stopped walking and pulled him gently to face her.
"Baby, I'm a little nervous too. It's OK. You're right though, we've planned for this. We'll go upstairs so I can change into some dry clothes. You grab a towel to put on the seat just in case and get the bag we already packed." She looked up at him through her lashes, nodding her head at him, waiting for his response. He blinked a few times then blew out a breath, seeming to relax a little. He nodded, giving her a kiss on her forehead. Leading her upstairs, he helped her change into dry, comfortable clothes. Chuck went through his laminated checklist that he had on left on the dresser, making sure he had not forgotten anything. Putting their tablet and cellphone charging cords, headphones and a couple of books into Sarah's bag, they were ready to go. While Chuck finished packing, Sarah called Judy, their neighbor from across the street, to have her come over and watch Molly after school. Chuck escorted Sarah to the car, helping her into the passenger seat before buckling himself in and speeding away toward the hospital.
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Chuck paced the waiting room, running his hands through his hair. Finally the doors swung open and Casey stepped through, an apologetic look on his face.
"Well?" Chuck asked expectantly, sounding desperate. The older man cast his gaze to the floor for a moment, shaking his head.
"I'm sorry kid," he began. "The vending machines only have Coke products. Apparently they have a contract with the hospital. They did have Dr. Pepper though," he added with a weak smile, showing Chuck the bottle of soda. Chuck huffed in resignation, reluctantly taking the offered beverage.
"Tell me they at least had Doritos?" Casey winced, causing Chuck to throw his arms in the air in exasperation. "GAH!"
"They only had baked Doritos and they were Cool Ranch." Chuck had a violent shiver run through his body at the thought of it. "But… they did have Funions and…. Sweet and Salty mix. So it's not a total loss." Chuck eyed the snacks for a few seconds and then shrugged in acceptance, taking the small bag of Funions. The two sat down and began to each their snacks, an infomercial about some spray on rubber was playing on the TV in the background. It was nearing two in the morning and his nerves were frayed. He had been by Sarah's side since they got here almost eleven hours ago. He'd been trying to keep her spirits up, make her comfortable however he could, but he knew he was just wearing on her nerves. When Gerty came to the room, Sarah was relieved to see her, suggesting that Chuck take a walk.
So here he sat, wanting so much to be with his wife but knowing that he wasn't what she wanted or needed right now. She needed a break from him, which he completely understood. He was being overly attentive, he knew, he just couldn't help it. He felt so useless, he needed to do something. He needed to be of use somehow, but he was trying too hard. Staring at the floor he let out a soft sigh. Casey was not one for a lot of small talk, not really knowing what to say in times like this. Thankfully for him, the doors opened with Gerty strolling into the waiting room. Chuck quickly stood to face her, looking hopeful.
"Hey Chuck. She's asking for you." Chuck's expression was a mixture of relief and concern. He was thrilled that she was asking for him, but why? Were there problems? Giving him a soft smile, she grabbed his wrist to stall the thoughts racing through his head. "They gave her some Pitocin a while ago and things are starting to move along. She's gonna need you now."
Chuck smiled, sighing in relief and started toward Sarah's room. Gerty held his wrist though, halting his departure. He gave her a quizzical look, sensing that something was wrong.
"She's a little scared. She's gonna need you to be strong. Don't freak out, huh?" The older woman gave him a knowing look, causing Chuck to chuckle to himself. She knew him too well. He nodded his understanding and gave her a warm smile. Taking her hand, he gave it a squeeze.
"Thanks. You guys should go home, get some sleep. It's really late...err.. early, I guess. I can call you when we have news." He looked between his friends, both smiling back at him. Gerty gave him a quick hug and then Casey followed with a firm pat on his shoulder before Chuck started back to Sarah's room.
He found the door ajar, so he slowly pushed it inward, quietly peeking inside. He crept into the room until he was far enough in that he could see her. Lying in that hospital bed, all the wires and monitors hooked up to her was a little unsettling, but he knew it was for a good reason. When she caught sight of him, her face lit up. She looked tired and worn, her hair tousled a little, but he'd never seen anything more beautiful. He returned the smile, quickly closing the distance to her. She reached out her hand and he took it eagerly in both hands, kissing it softly.
"Hey Baby. How you doin'? Can I get you anything? Some ice?" She gave him a soft, drowsy smile, shaking her head.
"I'm OK. Getting sleepy. They gave me something to help me sleep between contractions. It's starting to kick in." She squeezed his hand for a long moment. He figured it was to reassure herself, but it was certainly helping him too. "Sit with me?" she asked, almost pleading. Chuck nodded, immediately grabbed a chair and pulled it up beside her bed. He took her hand again, just holding it, caressing it like he usually did when she had a hard time falling asleep. He sat with her, watching her sleep, offering her words of comfort and assurance when the contractions woke her. Eventually, he relented to resting his head on the side of her bed when she slept, the long day catching up to him as well. Unfortunately, those little naps didn't last long for either of them, the contractions coming more and more quickly as the night wore on.
It was nearly dawn before she was far enough along to start pushing. The enormity of the situation was finally settling over him. The hissing through gritted teeth of her labored breathing and seeing Sarah in such pain was all making him an emotional wreck. To add to it, there was the doctor giving instructions, nurses rushing about and the occasional alarm going off. It seemed so chaotic his head was swimming. Chuck stood beside the head of the bed, one hand on Sarah's head, the other gripping her hand. He tried to push all of the other distractions out of his mind and just focus on her. He was so proud of her strength, her courage, to go through all of this. He would do anything for her, but he didn't think he had it in him to weather something like this. He always knew she was much stronger than he was, and he was not ashamed to admit it.
At 5:37 AM, the angry wail marked their baby's, their daughter's, entrance into the world. The nurses whisked the baby away, cleaning her, wrapping her in blankets and the tiniest hat Chuck had ever seen. The tears were flowing before they even placed their little girl in Sarah's arms. When Chuck saw Sarah holding their daughter, checking all of her tiny fingers and toes, the feeling that overcame him was so strong, he just couldn't hold back his own tears any longer. After several minutes, Sarah offered the little girl to Chuck. Hesitant at first, she nodded her encouragement and he took the small bundle into his arms. Holding her as if she were the most precious thing on Earth, he cooed and talked to her. Within moments, she began to settle, the warmth of his body, the vibration from his chest, comforting her. Looking at his amazing wife, he could see the tears in her eyes, tears of joy at seeing the fruit of their love manifested.
"So, Daddy, what will her name be?" They had discussed it, researched books and websites, even formed exhaustive lists. In the end, they decided that they would just wait until the baby came, to see what felt right once they met her. Chuck returned the baby to Sarah's arms, leaning in close to both of his girls.
"How about… Emma Faye?" Sarah gasped, turning to look at him, her lips pursed as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Re-Really?" she choked out, barely above a whisper.
"Yeah. I think 'Emma', in honor of your mother, is quite fitting. I mean, we met at Emma's, so it's a pretty important name for that reason alone. Faye is Ellie's middle name. 'Emma Eleanore' doesn't sound right, but I like 'Faye'. Emma Faye Bartowski. What d'you think?" Chuck caressed his daughters foot through the blanket, glancing up at Sarah. Through her glassy eyes, she gave him a brilliant smile.
"It's perfect," she breathed, sniffling as she looked adoringly at her daughter. "Welcome to the family Emma Faye Bartowski. There are gonna be so many people excited to meet you." It was at that moment she heard the unmistakable shutter sound of a cell phone taking a picture. Sure enough, Chuck had snapped a picture of Sarah talking to Emma.
"Charles Irving Bartowski! You'd better not share that picture. I look like a complete mess," she scolded, trying in vain to smooth her hair down. He chuckled, leaning down and kissing her on the cheek.
"I've never seen anyone more beautiful in my whole life," he declared, showing her the picture he had taken of them. She had to admit that while she looked exhausted, her hair was a little mussed and her eyes pink from crying, she looked so incredibly happy. Begrudgingly, she relented and gave her consent to share the picture with their friends and family. Eagerly he tapped at his phone for a couple of minutes before hitting send. Accompanying the picture read the message:
"Welcome, Emma Faye Bartowski. Born 5:37am, 8lb. 9oz."
It didn't take long before the replies started pouring in from their 'family" all across the country. Even Devon and Ellie replied, perhaps working the late shift. He shared the messages with Sarah for a few minutes before the nurses took the baby to the nursery so Sarah could get some much needed, and well deserved, sleep.
"Chuck, you should go home and get some sleep. I'm gonna be sleeping and I have the nurses here to take care of me. You've been up all night and I'm sure Molly would like to see you and the picture of her baby sister." Sarah caressed his cheek, giving him a pouty lip as she could see his reluctance to leave her.
"You're sure? I can stay. I can take a nap in that chair in case-" he could tell by the look on her face that he was not going to win this argument, so he relented. "OK. OK. I'm goin'. But just for a shower and a little nap. Then I'll be back." He leaned in and kissed her softly. "I love you so much. Thank you for our beautiful baby girl." She returned the kiss, giving him a warm smile.
"Love you too. Now, go home. Get some sleep and give our other little girl some hugs and kisses for me." Nodding his agreement, he reluctantly left his wife to allow her to get some rest.
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Sarah woke, feeling a slight chill in the darkened room, her feet felt like icicles. Rolling over, she attempted to snuggle into her personal furnace, hoping to drape herself across him for warmth. Unfortunately, all she was met with were the cold sheets of a long empty bed. She stirred, pressing herself up enough to see the clock on the nightstand. 3:47 AM. She groaned and fell back down to the bed, laying there for a long moment, contemplating if she should get up or just go back to sleep. As she lay there, face pressed into the mattress, she could hear a faint sound, so quiet she questioned whether it was just the 'white noise' her ears perceived in the silence. Gradually, as she focused, she could make out the soft sound of voices. Likely, she had slept through Emma waking in the middle of the night again. For the past six months, Chuck always covered the night shift, allowing Sarah to sleep as much as she could. His argument was that she had to take care of Emma all day while he was working, so she needed a good night's rest to be able to deal with the challenges of life as a mom.
Sarah sighed, pushing herself up and climbing out of bed, putting on her robe. She quietly padded out of their bedroom and down the hall toward Emma's room. As she approached, she could see the door ajar and whispered voices coming from inside. When she reached the door, she gingerly pushed the door open, hoping the door wouldn't creak or groan. Thankfully, her presence went unnoticed as her head peeked into the room. The nightlight blanketed the room in a warm amber glow, giving Sarah a good view into the room. What she saw pulled at her heartstrings. Chuck was sitting in the glider rocker with his feet up on the matching rocking ottoman. Molly was snuggled into his lap, her back leaning against his chest while Chuck's arms were wrapped around her with Emma laying in Molly's lap, supported by his large hands. Molly's head was leaning to the side and while Sarah couldn't see her face from this angle, she seemed to be asleep or nearly so. Chuck was rocking slowly, rhythmically as he sang to his two little girls.
"...Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of a dark black night
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of a dark black night
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise"
As he finished, the room grew silent, save for the sniffling that came from the doorway. Turning his head abruptly, he could see Sarah leaning against the door frame, her arms hugging her body with tears glistening on her cheeks. For a split second, he was fearful that something was wrong, until her brilliant smile showed through the dim light. She moved silently across the room, stepping behind the rocking chair to envelop him in a hug. She pressed a kiss to the top of his head before she laid her cheek against his soft curls. His quiet hum of contentment mixed with the soft snores of their little girls, now asleep on his lap were the only sounds. After a moment, Sarah broke the silence.
"For someone who says they never had a good, male role model growing up, you're an amazing father. You know that? I'd say they have no idea how lucky they are,.. but I think they know… I know." Sarah placed a series of soft kisses into his curls, breathing in the scent of him. Chuck freed his right hand, reaching up and gently caressing her cheek. These girls weren't the only lucky ones and she took every opportunity to show him how much she appreciated him.
"How about I help you put them to bed, then we can go get some sleep?" He nodded in agreement, so Sarah scooped up Emma and placed her in her crib, tucking her in. Chuck lifted Molly with ease, carefully taking her back to her bed. As he left their daughter's room, Sarah quietly pulled the door closed behind him before they made their way to their bedroom. The two slid into bed, Chuck holding the covers up to allow Sarah to snuggle into him before covering her up. With her head nestled under his chin and her arm and leg draped across him, she let out a contented sigh.
"I love you," she whispered into his chest, squeezing him tightly. He hummed, the vibration a happy buzzing in her ear.
"I love you too, Baby," he whispered, kissing her on top of her head. A wry smile played across her face that he thankfully couldn't see.
"I love you more," she replied, a slight challenge in her tone. He scoffed at her assertion, sounding indignant.
"Um, I don't think so, Miss Thing. It's a scientifically proven fact that I love you more. I should know. Nerd, remember?" His playful tone fueled her to continue their little game. He was falling into her trap perfectly.
"Is that right? Nerd, huh?" Sarah slid fully on top of him such that she was now straddling his hips, her hair cascading down, draping around his face like a curtain. "Well, Nerd, I can't just take your word for it. For it to be a proven fact, your experimentation must be repeatable… over… and over," she kissed his jawline, working her way up toward his ear, "...and over." She could hear the strangled groan escape his lips as she ran her bottom lip along his ear.
"D-damn you, woman. Using … the scientific method … against me," he choke out, starting to get a little short of breath. She snickered in his ear, pleased with herself for the effect she still had on him. Just as she was beginning to gloat, she was abruptly flipped onto her back, gasping in surprise. Chuck now positioned between her legs, his hands on either side of her head, she stared up at him in surprise. "I've got your experiment right here. How about I analyze your data and we can both draw some…. conclusions?" Sarah burst into laughter at his antics, further fueled by his dancing eyebrows. The laughter was short lived however, as Chuck's lips crashed into hers. Soon the laughter was replaced by soft moans as they continued into the early morning hours. As dawn approached, both having reached their respective "conclusions", they fell asleep in each other's arms.
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She sat at the counter, her feet swinging absentmindedly as she colored a picture on the back of a paper placemat. This place was like a second home to her. She had been coming here, to her mother's diner, for as long as she could remember. She would sit at this counter for hours just coloring, talking with the customers or helping to fill salt and pepper shakers. Her blonde hair bouncing as she nodded, singing along to "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley that played over the diner's speaker system. She was pulled from her musings by the ringing of the bell over the door. She turned to see which of her 'diner friends' it might be and saw Ernie, one of the regular customers walking in.
"Hi Emma. Hi Sarah," the older man called, waving as he headed toward his favorite seat. Her and her mother both waved in response, returning his greeting. Her mother soon followed him with a coffee mug in one hand and the steaming coffee pot in the other. He settled into his seat, thanking her for the coffee, taking a sip as soon as she finished pouring. "Wow, that girl of yours gets bigger every time I see her," he chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Ernie, you saw her yesterday morning...and the morning before that," she chided, mirth evident in her voice. The older man laughed out loud, the two slipping into the playful banter they've had for years. He sobered up a little, leaning in close, conspiratorially.
"How's… how's she doin'? I know yesterday she…" he trailed off, gesturing his head toward the little girl, whose back was turned to them. The waitress following his gaze, nodding in understanding, before leaning in to meet him.
"She's alright," she offered, a sad smile on her face. "She just misses him. She's always been a daddy's girl, and without him around, she gets sad sometimes." Ernie shared a sad smile, nodding his understanding before sitting up in his chair. He opened the menu and began to peruse it, humming contemplatively. Letting out at exasperated sigh, she rolled her eyes.
"Why do you even open that thing? The menu hasn't changed and you get the same damn thing everyday," she berated him, her usual playful tone evident.
"Well…. Maybe I wanna try somethin' different today? Ever think about that?" He rebutted, trying his best to look indignant. He only received a flat look in return, her arms folded across her chest, impatiently waiting for him. After a moment, he slumped in amused resignation.
"Fine. Give me the usual…" he huffed, tossing the menu down on the table. She chuckled to herself, collected the menu and turned to head back to the kitchen. "On second thought," he called after her, "make that wheat toast!" She didn't show any sign of acknowledgement as she continued to walk away. "You know what… just… just keep it at white toast after all." The waitress shook her head in amusement, still not bothering to turn around. As she passed by the front counter, she stopped behind her little girl, giving her a quick hug and a kiss on the top of her head.
"How you doin' Sweetie?" she cooed into her daughter's ear, peering over her shoulder to admire her artwork. The little blonde girl just shrugged a shoulder.
"I'm OK," she sighed, a hint of sadness in her voice. It broke her heart to see her daughter so sad, even though the little girl tried to put on a brave face.
"How about I see if I can wrestle us up a piece of peanut butter pie? How's that sound?" Her daughter nodded wordlessly, but her usual excitement over that treat was muted. Sighing, she stood to her full height and rubbed circles on her daughter's back. When the doorbell chimed, neither bothered to look, both lost in their own thoughts.
"There are two of my favorite girls," came the warm voice standing beside them. The two ladies spun in surprise, mouths agape.
"DADDY!" the little girl shouted, leaping from her perch on the stool and rushing toward him. Scooping her up, Chuck spun her around, wrapping her in a tight embrace, chuckling warmly at the reception.
"There's my little Emma 'n M. I missed you so much," he confessed, growling as he feigned a crushing bearhug. The little girl giggled, trying her best to wrap her arms around him to return the gesture. "How old are you now? Twenty-seven? You got so big while I was gone," he teased, tickling her sides. Emma giggled even harder, as she wiggled in his grasp.
"No! I'm four and a half, Daddy," she retorted, laughing out loud at her antics coupled with his tickling.
"What? Is that all?" he asked incredulously. He placed dozens of little kisses into her curly blonde hair, making the little girl scrunch her shoulders and giggle even more. He stopped and shifted his gaze to the woman beside him, his warm hazel eyes meeting her deep azure pools.
"Hey Baby," he breathed, stepping closer to her without breaking their eye contact. Extending his arm, he brought her into the group hug, pulling her tight against him. He placed a sound kiss on her lips, which she eagerly returned, lacing her arms around him. The 'eww" coming from their daughter made them both smile into the kiss, chuckling to themselves.
"God I missed you. I thought you weren't supposed to be back for another two days?" Sarah inquired, pulling back just enough to be able to look into his eyes again.
"Yeah, well... I was miserable. I missed you guys so much, I couldn't stand it anymore. So, I hopped a plane and here I am," he shrugged, his wry smile stirring something in her.
"You can just do that? Up and leave like that?" She asked, shooting him a dubious look. His sheepish grin and playful shrug made her smile. It had only been a few days but she had missed this, missed him, so much.
"I do own the company. Besides, Megan has things well in hand. That's why I poached her from American Express after all. She's doing an amazing job. I doubt they'll notice I'm gone," he chuckled with his signature self-deprecating grin.
"Well, we're glad you're home. Molly will be excited to see you too, when she gets home from school. All your girls have been so sad without you around," Sarah pouted, looking up at him through her lashes.
"All my girls?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, a small smile starting to curl the corner of his mouth.
"Tsk. Yes, ALL your girls," she confessed, huffing in amusement. "You goof". She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him again. "As much as I'd like to stand here and kiss you all afternoon, I have some work to do. What d'you say we have everyone over for dinner? When I talked to Ellie last night, she said she and Devon didn't have any plans. She did sound a little stressed. With starting their new jobs, having to unpack at the new house, especially now that Clara has gone straight from walking to running, I think she could use the break. I'm sure Molly and Emma would like to keep Clara occupied for the evening. " Emma nodded emphatically, clapping her hands with excitement.
"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Can they? Can they come over Daddy? Pleeeeeaase?" The mirror image of her mother's pouty face, long lashes batting at him, was too much to bare. He was hopelessly outnumbered by the tribe of beautiful, blonde women he shared a house and his life with.
"Alright. Alright. I give. Uncle," he exclaimed, raising a hand in surrender. "Speaking of, I suppose you want Uncle Casey and Aunt Gerty to come over too." The little girl rolled her eyes, giving him an exasperated sigh like it was the dumbest question ever asked. She was definitely her mother's daughter. "I'll take that as a yes. Well, go back in the kitchen and ask them then. You know they can never say 'No' to you. You're their kryptonite," he mused, setting his daughter down, she raced off to the kitchen, throwing open the door like a gunfighter bursting into a saloon. Chuck and Sarah turned to one another, amusement and adoration spread across their faces.
"You'd think she owned the place or something," Chuck spoke, chuckling at his daughter's antics. "I mean, she's already got a big head about the fact her name is on the sign out front," he mused. Sarah just smiled, a far off look on her face.
"Yeah. Who knows? Maybe someday…"
The End
A/N2: And there we have it. Thank you all for joining me on the journey of these wonderful characters as they lived and laughed and loved together. Your support throughout has been overwhelming. I hope that this offers enough closure that nobody feels cheated. If there is a happily ever after, they've got a good start on it.
Until the next story….
Joe