Birthday Present

AN1: There were no betas for this, so if there's a grammatical mistake, OOC moment or something I should address, please DM me.

Feedback is appreciated.

—

It was Chuck Bartowski's birthday. Which meant another year where Ellie has been throwing another birthday party for him. Another year where his Buy More colleagues would be giving him half hearted birthday wishes. It seemed like it would be just another year in his life as usual.

That wasn't the case this time around.

In the previous year, when his former college buddy turned nemesis Bryce Larkin sent him government secrets without warning, his life changed forever. Not only because he now lived in a constant state of paranoia. But also because of one woman who entered the picture.

So at lunch time, Chuck decided to make his way to the Orange Orange to see that woman. Talking to Sarah was always the highlight of his day ever since she entered his life. He knew his relationship with her was just a cover, so she could protect him since he was the Intersect. She said just as much to him.

Despite that, they had such an earnest bond for something that was supposed to be just a cover, he always wondered if there was something beneath that. Something that is actually real between them.

He opened the door of the yoghurt shop, to find it empty, save for the girl he was actually looking for behind the counter.

"Hey."

"Hi, Chuck. Happy birthday."

"Wow, I don't think I ever told you that. You must be a genuinely amazing spy." He responded to her with his lighthearted humor and a grin on his face, causing her to cackle. "Seriously, thank you. It means a lot to me."

"I'm sorry, I don't have any present for you. I was too busy with spy stuff."

"It's okay. I don't think I'd have time for presents after the shift, since Ellie is throwing me a birthday party."

"Really?" Sarah responded with a grin on her face.

"Yeah. She's been doing this ever since I've been kicked out of Stanford. Mostly as an excuse for me to find me a new girlfriend after the Jill debacle. But it became so much of a tradition for her to do that, she felt like she needed to throw another one."

They both stayed in silence for a bit. Then Chuck decided to ask her something Sarah was waiting for him to ask.

"Do you want to go to the party tonight? Look, I know you're busy with the spy stuff but…"

"You don't need to say anything more. When do I need to be there?"

"At 6pm. After I return to my shift. Ellie and Awesome would love to know that my new "girlfriend" actually made it to my birthday party, you know."

"You don't have to worry, Chuck. I'll be there."

"Thanks."

Chuck then made his way to the door. Sarah observed him as he was reaching for the door, feeling like she had to do something for him. Even though she always told him that their relationship was a ruse, deep down, she felt that Chuck had become the most important thing in her life ever since she met him.

And even though she couldn't pursue something real with him, she wanted to show him how special he was to her. So she headed towards him before he exited the shop.

"Chuck, wait."

"What's wrong?"

"I want to make up to you."

"Sarah, you really don't have to…"

"But I want to. After everything you have done for this country, I feel like you deserve something special."

Sarah was staring at him longingly, with her blue eyes looking at his hazel orbs. Her mind was warning her that it was a mistake but she pushed those thoughts away as best as she could and decided to do what she was intending to do.

"I want you to close your eyes, please."

"Why?"

"Just trust me."

As Chuck shut his eyes, Sarah tiptoed and moved close to him and started to kiss him. She put her tongue on his lips, hoping that he would respond, which he happily did.

The kiss was tender compared to the one in the warehouse, but it still sent a spark between them. Chuck couldn't believe that the woman of his dreams was kissing him, on his birthday no less.

As they both broke from the kiss, they both gazed at each other, in awe of what had happened in that moment.

"Sarah…"

"Chuck, I want you to understand that our relationship is strictly professional."

"But…?"

"But I needed to give you something real. Something that would brighten your special day. I felt like this was the best thing I could come up with."

"Thank you, Sarah."

"Do you want another one?"

"Yes."

Chuck put his hands on her cheek and both initiated another kiss, less tender than the previous one, but not forceful. Sarah responded right away, feeling a jolt in her spine, and as the kiss deepened, she put her hand on his neck, which slowly made way onto his curls, in which she tenderly caressed them.

As they both slowly parted from the kiss, their eyelids opened, looking at each other with either one grinning afterwards, feeling their hearts beating fast and feeling very comfortable with what was happening.

"So, the party, at 6 O'clock?" Sarah asked him with such warmth in her voice, with a hint of sultriness.

"Yeah."

"I'll see you there, then."

After she responded to that, she gave him one final kiss, which lasted a few seconds, but it still felt just as lovingly as the previous kisses were.

"Happy birthday, Chuck."

"Thank you."

Chuck parted to the door, and as he opened it, he looked at her and said "Sarah." She looked back at him, in which he added "See you there."

"See you there, Chuck."

Both maintained eye contact with one another. They gazed with a sense of longing for something they always wanted ever since they met each other. Something more, a future that they both wanted.

As Chuck made his way back to the Buy More and Sarah returned to her cover job, both had a very joyful smile in them in the aftermath of their encounter.

Chuck knew that no matter what happened, Sarah's presence would have made his birthday special no matter what. And Sarah knew that as well, and she wanted to be there for the most special man that she has ever known. Her Chuck.

It would be a special day, no matter what.

—

AN2: Based on a concept from a different story I made but scrapped because I wasn't satisfied with it.

As said above, feedback is very much appreciated. Thanks for reading.