The Love Boat

A/N: You know, I got to thinking. Wesley, when he becomes the pirate, he becomes…suave…charming. Now Chuck can be charming…and has certain…nerd chic…but suave….we’re missing…suave…IF ONLY there were someone…suave. What’s that? Do the freaking typity typity? FINE.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Chuck

Then [redacted] *writer’s note* I asked Carina where [redacted] was. She told me I was too young to know.

Chuck found himself in the bar. Carina had not only gotten herself on the ship, but somehow got two complimentary spa sessions. Chuck was pretty sure they were free on the cruise, but he could also see the captain promising Carina anything to get her to leave him alone.

“There he is,” a voice came from behind him. Chuck turned, not sure if he was being talked to or not. There stood the bartender, cleaning a glass. He was tall, with gray hair, and Chuck just found the man…suave. “Started the cruise as a bachelor, and now a happily married man.”

“Well,” Chuck began, but didn’t know what to say.

“But, it’s creeping up, isn’t it?” the bartender continued.

“What is?” Chuck asked.

“Hurt.” Chuck couldn’t answer. It was true. He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Jill. “You always hear people say, ‘well, what if it doesn’t work out.’ The bartender continued to clean the glass, lift the glass into the light to examine, and set it down, satisfied. He looked at Chuck. “But what if it does?”

“It has,” Chuck answered.

“It has,” the bartender parroted, nodding. “But yet…the past.” Chuck didn’t know what to say. “Is she playing me? Am I being used? Am I convenient? Is she here until she finds someone better?”

“You must see a lot of that,” Chuck said, looking down at the bar.

The man gave a deep laugh. “Oh, I do.” He paused. “I do.” He poured a glass of ginger ale and gave it to Chuck. “Drink that, it will help settle your nervous stomach.”

“Why would you think that?” Chuck asked. The bartender tilted his head, an amused smile on his face. “Okay, let’s say some doubt is creeping it.”

“Let’s,” the bartender agreed.

“What do I do?”

The bartender had an amused smile on his face. “You know why I love this job?” Chuck shook his head. “No one notices me.” He walked over picked up a jar, and poured some nuts into a small bowl, brought them back and put them in front of Chuck. “Almonds, good for you.”

“Thank you,” Chuck said, taking a bite.

“They don’t see you walking the ship, and watching people,” the bartender continued. “They don’t see you when you look and think no one is watching.”

Chuck was silent, and drawn in.

“They don’t notice when the object of their desire has looked away and they look at him,” the bartender said. “They don’t notice the smile on their face. The real smile. Not the practice smile. The one they don’t show anyone because they’ve been through something as well. They’re guarded.”

“She would notice you,” Chuck said before he thought.

“Not when you’re around,” the bartender countered. “I’ve seen hundreds of people like this. When they were young they believed in the love, and fairy tales, and then real life happened.”

“It destroys a lot of people’s hopes,” Chuck agreed.

“It does,” the bartender agreed. “But, that little girl, or little boy, they still exist. They are still buried deep within, imprisoned. Now, each person tells themselves they are protecting themselves.” He shook his head.

“Imprisoned,” Chuck said softly.

“So when they are allowed to be safe, and show who they are…” the bartender shook his head, smiling. “It’s beautiful.”

“It is,” Chuck said, nodding. He stood. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” the bartender said, and watched Chuck leave. “Go get her, Charles.”

}o{

Sarah opened the door to her cabin, and saw Chuck sitting on the bed, working on the computer. “Hey,” she said.

“Hi,” he said, his whole face lighting up with a smile. “Sorry, I was trying to figure out our next target.”

“Okay,” Sarah said, sitting down her bag and walking over to the bed to sit next to him.

“I’ve been thinking, do you prefer a formal introduction to Edward or just walk up to the window and start talking to him?” Chuck asked. “Because, while we do talk, it really is no business of his who is in my house.”

She couldn’t stop the happy look on her face.“I was also thinking about the first meeting of Wesley and Inigo,” Chuck continued. “You know, their famous exchange?”

“Who are you?”

“No one of consequence.”

“I must know.”

“Get used to disappointment.”

“I’m familiar,” Sarah told him, busy trying to ‘sush’ the eight year-old who had perked up.

“I’m rather excited that I won’t get disappointed,” Chuck said, looking at the screen he was working on, instead of her. He then lifted his head and looked her right in the eyes. “I am going to get to know you, that is, if that’s okay with you.”

“I mean, it depends, doesn’t it,” Sarah said, an amused smile on her face. “Am I just…”

“I don’t think you’re ever just,” Chuck cut in. She felt her breath catch. She thought the eight-year-old had just passed out on the floor. “I would love to get to know everything my wife is willing to share with me.”

She straightened and tried to keep her face neutral. She used to have a smile mask.

It.

Was.Shattered.

Everywhere.

Chuck smiled at her.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“That’s not a nothing smile.”

She shook her head. “You really want to know everything?”

“Everything you want to tell me.” He paused. “And maybe some of the things you don't think are baggage.”

“Why?”

“Because they're part of you.”

Sarah stared at him for a moment. “That sounds like a lot of work.”

Chuck shrugged. “You're worth being a baggage handler.”

The eight-year-old Sarah went completely silent.

Sarah's smile softened.

“You know,” she said quietly, “I think I might actually enjoy this.”

“Me getting to know you?”

“Getting to know us.”

Chuck's smile grew.

“Yeah,” he said. “Me too.”

She reached over and took his hand.

“For the record, husband…”

“Yeah?”

“You're doing pretty well so far.”

He squeezed her hand. “Good. Because I plan to keep on studying very hard.”

“And,” Chuck continued. “If I am not being too bold as your husband, I would very much like, when you are ready, to continue our discussion about your socks.”

“But what about your socks?” Sarah asked. Chuck’s eyes widened. “Can we discuss…them?”

“YEP!” he replied, his voice heading to an octave he didn’t think he had possessed since puberty.

She leaned in, cupped the side of his face, and began to kiss him. This time…this time there was no stopping what was between them. He turned his body, and she hers, and suddenly they were pressed against each other. She pulled away and looked him right in the eye. “You sure?”

“I’m not for sure if I’m supposed to answer yes, or As you wish,” Chuck admitted.

“That works,” she said, over the joyous screams of the eight-year-old. She leaned back up, to meet him, and that’s when it happened. The door slammed open. “We really need to use the lock on that door,” Sarah told him.

“Damn it, too early again!” Carina said, shaking her head. “What’s shaking kids?”

Carina looked at Chuck.

Then Sarah.

Then Chuck again.

“You really are in trouble.”

Chuck frowned. “What?”

“You married Sarah.”

“I’m aware.”

Carina smiled.

“No, Chuck. You don't understand.”

Sarah sighed. “Carina.”

“Oh, I'm enjoying this so much.”

}o{

Now

“So, you, Carina, and…Chuck,” Graham said, shaking his head.

“Well,” Chuck said, scratching the back of his head.

“To be fair, you didn’t know,” Sarah said. “Hell, I didn’t realize. I wasn’t paying attention to the pictures of the staff.”

“I’m sorry, what is going on?” Graham asked.

“Did you know Roan was on that ship?” Sarah asked Graham.

“ROAN MONTGOMERY?” Graham asked.

“Sounds like a no,” Chuck said to Sarah.

Graham was typing furiously on his computer.

“Yep, sounds like a no,” Sarah agreed.

A/N: Does anyone have a clue what’s going on? If you do please let me know.