Just Out of Reach AKA Avocados

A/N: If you’re reading this on ff . net, please consider joining us over at chuckfanfiction . Org It’s an author first website created by us to protect authors from some of the hate reviews that have run off what few writers we have. Thank you for reading, and hopefully this story will pick up the pace here soon. Life…you know…

Disclaimer: I don’t own Chuck

“I need to talk to him for a minute.” Sarah turned and saw the grin on her mother’s face. Her and Chuck had been taking care of the kiosk for the past little bit, Sarah trying to figure out what to say to Chuck.

“Mom,” Sarah began.

“I’m sorry, Sweetie,” she said, a grin on her face. Sarah blew out a rough breath, knowing that while everyone thought she got her stubbornness from her father, they were wrong. Her mother would argue with a wall and win. Her mother could make mules think they were pushovers. Long story, short, Emma always won…until that time she didn’t, but that…that was a lifetime ago.

Sarah walked off, and Chuck, having heard none of the conversation between the two women, turned, and wondered what was about to happen.

“I had a dream a long time ago,” Emma said softly, a tear in her eye that she wasn’t going to fight any longer. “My family, running this. My family, together.”

Chuck didn’t know what to say.

“Because of you…you gave me this chance,” Emma continued. “So, you have to know, that you are now, and forever part of my family.”

Chuck stood there, stunned. A man…a little boy….who’s mother had left, then his father had left…. This woman…this woman said he was family. He barely knew her, but he knew the look on her face…in her eyes. She meant it. She had never meant anything more. “I…” he couldn’t form words.

“Whatever happens between you two,” Emma said softly.

“Uh,” Chuck began, unable to put together a coherent thought with everything Emma had said.

She smiled, reached over, and took his hand. “Chuck,” she said simply, and he looked down, a slight blush on his cheeks and his ears beginning to slightly pinken. “You’re good for each other.” He looked up at her. “Now, I have to ask you a favor.”

He stood there, worry crossing his face. He couldn’t help it. It was what his childhood had done to him. People left him, and now, now someone he barely knew had told him he was in their family, but wanted a favor. It felt transactional.

“I would like to run this with my husband for a bit,” she said, a shy look on her face. “Could I get you and Sarah to take Molly and give us some time.” She looked around the kiosk. “It’s been a dream of mine forever.”

“Of course,” he blurted out, ashamed of himself for thinking Emma would want something from him in the way he had been thinking. “Absolutely.”Emma squeezed his hand, and turned and looked at her husband. “Jack,” she said simply. He was a ways away, but he looked up and grinned at her. “Wanna help a girl sell some avocados?”

}o{

Chuck found himself with one small blond nestled in his arms and another much taller one standing right beside him, a smile on her face that he had no idea what it meant…well, he might have had an idea, but he refused to think about it, because that would drive him insane. Because there was no way…he shook his head, and had to stop.

He saw a woman touch the shoulder of the man he was with and point at the three of them. His breath hitched. He didn’t need this, Sarah didn’t need this. He didn’t know what they were, but they weren’t…well…THAT!

“Knock it off,” he heard the voice beside him say. He looked over at her to agree with her, and saw her looking at him, an amused look on her face.

“Me?” he asked, pointing at himself.

“Yes, you,” Sarah said. “Look, we look a certain way, and someone saw us, looking happy, and it made them happy.”

“Okay, but-”

“Chuck,” she said, cutting him off. She took a deep breath. “Come on, let’s go in here,” she said, pointing toward the barn that had been refurbished. The two walked inside, what used to be a barn, but was now a store. There were vendors set up everywhere. “We need apple butter,” she muttered.

“Why do we need apple butter?” Chuck asked. “What is apple butter?”

“The fact you have to ask is why we need it,” Sarah told him. “And it is mana from the Gods.”

“Ma’am those are some lofty standards you just laid out there,” Chuck told her.“And you meet them everytime,” Sarah told him, looking him right in the eye. He quickly realized that she was not having the same conversation about apple butter that he was. “Now, before you do what you do-”

“What does that mean?” Chuck asked.

“Deflect and dodge like the “Whoa guy” in the movie that’s not about killing the dog,” Sarah continued.

Chuck pulled his chin back. “Wait, you think I’m like Neo in the Matrix?” Chuck asked. “You think I dodge and deflect that much?” Sarah stared at him. Chuck sighed. “Neo is played by Keanu Reeves who played John Wick.” Sarah continued to stare at him. “John Wick is the guy who’s wife had cancer, had left him the dog, the dog got killed by bad guys, and he killed all of them for killing his dog.”

“Yes,” Sarah said, satisfied with his explanation. Chuck shook his head grinning at her. “What?”

“I have no idea why I feel for you the way I do with you knowing that little about pop culture,” he said to her. It was then, his brain heard the words that had fallen out of his mouth. “I…uh..”

“Come on,” she said, the amused smile growing, gently grabbing his free wrist and pulling him over to the counter. Chuck followed, his mouth still trying to form words. Molly lifted her head up to look at Chuck. “Silly isn’t he?” Sarah asked the little girl.

Molly cooed happily. “Can we get two iced ciders and a jar of apple butter?” Sarah asked the vendor.

The vendor poured two cups and handed them to Sarah. He then went over to grab the apple butter. Sarah turned to Chuck and handed him a cup. He took it, still reeling from what he had said. “Drink this. Maybe it will freeze your brain of all the crap in there that’s getting in the way.”

The vendor came back, gave Sarah her apple butter, and Sarah paid. She turned to see Chuck taking a drink, all while trying to keep the drink away from Molly. “There’s no seeds in there,” the vendor said.

“It’s really cold,” Sarah warned Molly. Molly continued to grab at the cup. “Go ahead, and don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Chuck held the cup up to her mouth and gently let her have a drink. Molly was expressionless for a second, and then her eyes went wide. She shook and shrieked in job. Sarah turned back to the vendor. “Can I have about a quarter of a cup?” She asked. “I’ll pay full price.”

“On the house,” the vendor said, smiling.

}o{They were sitting at the table, Molly asleep in her stroller, Chuck and Sarah splitting an apple fritter, enjoying their frozen apple cider. Sarah tilted her head and looked at him. “Want to talk?”

“Not really,” Chuck admitted. “But, according to this therapist I know, I should.”

“Just imagine if she was your mother,” Sarah countered, backing Chuck giggle. “I need you to quit running away, and I know, that’s RICH coming from me.”

“I’m not running away,” Chuck said. Sarah gave him a flat look. “I’m not.” She continued the look. “Strolling, maybe.” Sarah twisted her lips so not to smile. “Moseying, possibly.” She fought back the chuckle. “Moonwalking-”

“No,” Sarah said shaking her head. She reached over and laid her hand on top of Chuck’s. “Please, stay with us tomorrow. This is me, asking.”

“I feel like you don’t ask very often,” Chuck said softly.

“I don’t,” Sarah admitted.

“Well, I am honored to be asked, and grateful,” Chuck told her.

“Don’t get carried away,” Sarah replied, grinning at him.

“No, you don’t understand,” Chuck said. “My sister and Devon have to work tomorrow, and I…I was probably going to have to find something to do and…” he grinned, watching her trying not to laugh. “You’re laughing at me.”“Well, you deserve it,” Sarah said.

“I do,” Chuck said, shrugging. “It’s not you, I promise, it’s…I…”

“It’s a lot,” Sarah said. Chuck nodded. “Being pulled into a family,” she began.

“I’m not family,” Chuck began.

“Chuck,” Sarah said, cutting in before he could go on. “You are, you just need to accept it, and that’s what’s your struggling with. You don’t want to get hurt.”

“No, I don’t,” Chuck admitted.

“I won’t let you,” she said.

“Sarah, you can’t promise that, you don’t know what might happen,” Chuck said softly. “I work for you and your dad…if something were to go wrong with us….” He took a deep breath. “I don’t want to ruin this opportunity. And not for me. For you.” She stared at him. “You have your chance to do something that’s important to you, and you haven’t had that before. Not like this. I will not be the one to mess it up for you.” He was silent for a moment. “You’re too important to me to mess it up.”

“That’s how you feel?” Sarah asked.

Chuck nodded. “That’s how I feel.”

She sat back. “Okay,” she said.

“Okay,” Chuck replied. The thing was, he thought it was okay, but what he didn’t realize, it still wasn’t as far as she was concerned.

}o{

“Bonfire?” Jack asked as they pulled up to the house, the sun setting on the gorgeous day. Sarah had been thinking about what Chuck had said all day long, and she had made some decisions. And the decision she came to was that she was about to let Chuck Bartowski into said decisions.

“Absolutely,” Chuck replied. “Wait, sorry, that’s a you two decision.”

“It’s fine,” Sarah said. Chuck got out of the truck and headed to begin to build the bonfire.

“He still doesn’t get it, does he?” Jack asked.

“No,” Sarah said softly, watching him walk away.

“Do I need to talk to him?” Jack asked.

“No,” Sarah replied, shaking her head getting out of the truck. “I will, it’s just been a day.”

“Bad?” Jack asked, walking around the truck slinging his arm over his daughter’s shoulders, pulling her in for a hug as they walked.

“No, but a lot,” Sarah said, leaning her head against him. “Thanks, Dad.”

“I probably didn’t do that the right way, about your mom meeting us there,” Jack began.

“No, totally did, cause you know me,” Sarah said.

“Yeaaaahhh,” he drawled, making her laugh. They came around the house and saw the fire was going. “That boy enjoys starting fires.” He gave Sarah a look, and she narrowed her eyes at him. “Look, I’m not implying he’s starting one with you-”

“No, nope, we’re not doing this,” Sarah said, going over to the cooler getting two beers and handing one to Jack, making him laugh.

“Doing what?” Chuck asked, joining the two.

“Having deep philosophical discussions tonight,” Sarah told him. “Tonight is enjoy stars, the peace and quiet, and each other’s company.”

“Here, here,” Jack said, lifting his drink.

They sat there a while, talking about nothing, relaxing, and bonding.

After a few hours, Jack stood. “Time for me to head in.”

“Before you go, Sir,” Chuck began. Chuck missed the look on Jack’s face of being called Sir. “I just want to thank you for letting me be a part of this, and I like to make you two a promise.” Sarah knew this was going to be bad. “To being the best employee to help you two meet your dreams,” Chuck said, his beer raised. “To giving you and your daughter the dream the chance that you want, and deserve. He went to take a sip, but paused seeing the look on Jack and Sarah’s face. “Uh,” he began.

Jack stared at Chuck for a second, and then spoke. “You’re not an employee, Charlie,” he told Chuck. Chuck didn’t know what to say. “I’m heading to bed. Night, Charlie.” He turned to Sarah.

“I got this,” she said. Tonight wasn’t the night she had planned to have this conversation, but it seemed that this was where they were now, and she really had no choice.

He smiled, and nodded. “Night, Darlin’,” he told her and headed to the main building. He paused, and turned back to the two. “You’re our partner, Charlie.” With that he left them alone.

Chuck sat there, not sure how to make things right. “Hey, can I borrow your phone? I want to listen to some music.”

“Yeah,” he said, digging it out of his pocket. “It won’t reach the speakers out here,” he said, handing it too her.

“That’s fine,” she said. She messed with it a second, and laid it on table between their chairs. Chuck heard a familiar drum and guitar begin, and looked at Sarah, stunned at what he thought the song was. She stood, walked over to him, and held out her hand. “Would you join me?”

He stood, not sure what was going on, but sure this was important. There was something in the air. And…and it didn’t feel like a bad something, but an important something. He put his hand in hers, and felt that pull…that tug…that connection that they had always had, but now…now it felt like it was pulsating through them so strongly, that he should be able to see it.

She stepped up to him and they began to sway to the music. Not dance…in fact, if someone glanced, they would think they were just holding each other. This was no middle school dance with space between them. There was no “space left for Jesus”. She was molded against him, his hands on her back, both unsure about where to be, and not…all at the same time. The words slowly poured over him and he took them in.

We could leave the Christmas lights up 'til January

This is our place, we make the rules

And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you, dear

Have I known you twenty seconds or twenty years?

Can I go where you go?

Can we always be this close forever and ever?

And ah, take me out and take me home

You're my, my, my, my

Lover

She pulled away from him just enough to look up at him, but she was still in his embrace. She was holding him loosely, but he also knew he was in her grip. “Chuck, I need to tell you something, and I need you not to speak until I’m done telling you.” Chuck nodded. “Chuck, you’re our partner.” He nodded. “You’re our partner in this as long as you want to be.”

We could let our friends crash in the living room

This is our place, we make the call

And I'm highly suspicious that everyone who sees you wants you

I've loved you three summers now, honey, but I want 'em all

She hadn’t loved him three summers, but she wanted them all. She knew that. “And as far as I go,” she paused. She was doing this. Right here, right now. She had to. She deserved it. Was there meeting contrived by Bryce? Hell, she didn’t know, she didn’t care. He wasn’t Bryce.

He was Chuck.

“You’re my partner in every way you want to be. I’m not scared of being hurt. Not by you.” She was silent for a second. “Not by us.” His eyes went wide and he started to open his mouth but stopped as an amused smile crossed her lips and she shook her head. “I’m not done.” He shut his mouth and swallowed. She laid her head against his chest and felt his mind working. She decided to help him out. She stepped back. “Let’s go inside,” she said softly. He nodded. She pulled away, grabbed his phone, and paused the song. She took his hand and led him inside their building that was becoming their home. He knew it, she knew it, and it was time they admitted it out loud.

She pressed a few buttons and the song continued over the inside speakers connected by bluetooth. She moved up against him again, but this time, looked him in his eyes, and as the music played, she mouthed the words to him.

Can I go where you go?

Can we always be this close forever and ever?

And ah, take me out and take me home (Forever and ever)

You're my, my, my, my

Lover

She loved the look of shock on his face, and she found she wanted to shock him for the rest of her life. She wanted this kind good man to understand exactly what he meant to her. And right now, she didn’t have words, but she had this song, and she had…them. She continued to mouth the words to the next part.

Ladies and gentlemen, will you please stand?

With every guitar string scar on my hand

I take this magnetic force of a man to be my

Lover

My heart's been borrowed and yours has been blue

All's well that ends well to end up with you

Swear to be over-dramatic and true to my

Lover

And you'll save all your dirtiest jokes for me

And at every table, I'll save you a seat

Lover

He started to speak and she shook her head again, a grin on her face. Her hand made its way behind his head and gently tilted his head down. She watched all the emotions on his face, the conflict. “Trust me,” she said softly. He blew out a breath, and nodded. “Chuck? May I?” she asked softly.

“Yes,” he said, his voice horse.

Their lips met and she heard a moan. She thought it was him, but if it was her, she couldn’t blame herself.

Can I go where you go?

Can we always be this close forever and ever?

And ah, take me out and take me home (Forever and ever)

You're my, my, my, my

Oh, you're my, my, my, my

Darling, you're my, my, my, my

Lover

The music continued. She had put the song on repeat. She felt his hands on her back, at first cautious, but becoming less so by the moment. She felt safe, she felt loved, she felt wanted. She felt wanted because he loved her. Not because he was attracted to her. He was, she knew that, but like he did her, there was a need in him for her. Not a sexual, though there was that. No, a deep need. A connection she had never felt with another human in her whole life, and when she was with him, she felt…right. She felt like herself.

Her fingers found his hair with one of her hands. The other was wrapped around him, pulling him in to her. His hand brushed the place on her back where her undershirt was tucked into her bluejeans. She pulled back, getting a breath, and licking her lips. He looked at her, unsure. She nodded, and he pulled her slowly to him.

She felt his hand slip under the undershirt, and make its way up her back. He spread his hand as if trying to feel every inch of her, and if she thought she was burning with a fiery need before, it was now a raging inferno. She winced as they crashed into the bedroom door frame.

“Sorry-sorry!” He blurted out, pulling away.

She cupped his cheeks with both of her hands, and continued to kiss him. “Don’t be,” she said, between kisses. He still seemed a bit panicked and she pulled back a bit to look him in his eyes.

“I just didn’t want you think I thought that we were gonna…” he paused, and looked unsure.

She realized she had crashed into her…their…. bedroom door frame. “I didn’t think we would,” Sarah told him. She held his face in her hands and looked him right in the eyes. “Unless you have a problem with it, I was sure we were going to.”

“NOPE! No problem!” he rushed out.

She smiled at him, and leaned back up to kiss him, but he crashed into her, all panic and worry gone. This time she KNEW it was her that moaned. He moved his mouth off of hers, to her neck as she was trying to get his shirt off. “Sarah,” he said into her ear. She lost it. She pulled the shirt, hearing the buttons pop off. She didn’t care. She buy him a new one. She buy him as many as he wanted. She would do whatever he wanted to hear him say her name like that again. Hopefully for the rest of her life.

“I’ll buy you a new shirt,” she said, between attacking his face as she grabbed her shirt to yank it off.

“Didn’t even like it,” he told her, as they crashed onto the bed together, both shirtless, trying to not let go of the other and removing their jeans.

“It was your favorite,” she said, looking him in the eye.

“No,” he told her, shaking his head. “You are,” he added softly.

She stared at him, and his eyes went wide as he heard his jeans being unzipped. “Chuck me,” she said, never breaking eye contact.

“My pleasure,” he told her.

A/N: If you’re wondering about the song, it’s Lover, by Taylor Swift.