thanks so much writing this beautiful story

Finished it. Great story! The perfectly balanced mixture of spy action, good dialogue and individual character thoughts for me. I especially liked the circus maximus arc. Very good original characters and Sabre and Chesko are really memorable.

First time in quite a number of chuck fanfics where I feel the stakes being so high, that as a reader right now I wouldn't rule it out if Chuck or Sarah actually died. All this talk and foreshadowing about leaving the spy life after the next mission. But what if it ends in a catastrophy? Well, many readers would probably cry out and protest, but it would make the story even more gripping.

"My son loves you. You are his number one priority—not just professionally, not just—if this makes sense—personally. You are his number one priority existentially."

Beautifully written. This is essentially Charah in one sentence, expressed by a professional spy.

Not sure though how Mary is seeing this, but maybe this AU Mary is closer to Chuck than usually.

This is the second time I have read this story. I still love it. I am also looking forward to reading your other stories as well.

I'm a bit shocked at the lack of grief for the deaths of Carly and Norman overall, except for Martin. For everyone else it's a shoulder shrug. Considering the fondness with which you wrote them...their deaths seem hollow.

I love this story and your writing and the stories you craft, but...

Chuck locks up more than my PC. I guess he failed the "Rolling With The Punches" class at The Farm. Hell, Julie was more together than Chuck for awhile there. IMO, if you're going to say Chuck graduated from The Farm...he needs to be a bit more competent and self-possessed than as written here. Otherwise, maybe Frost faked all his grades? I mean, how did he not blush himself to death in "Seduction" class? It's like if meek Chuck B. stayed at Stanford, graduated, and enrolled at The Farm. Sarah comes out of there as an assassin. Chuck rolls out as a Nerder Header with a super good memory... pretty uneven results for a program to make spies.

Chuck picks at his past like most people pick at an itchy scab...until it bleeds. Julie has no place in his life. Why the fuck does he even need answers? What puzzle do those answers solve in his future with Sarah? It just leaves him exposed. This is his Achilles Heel.

A shout out to us geologists! And I've determined I need to keep Dr Google's dictionary handy when reading your stories. Lol

You weave excellent tales. Thank you for sharing.

Chapter 2 -

The only real explanation for Chuck's coworkers in the Buy More, explained by Zettel:

"The store's staff was to be composed of agents and actors contracted by the CIA."

LOL! How else do you explain The Mystery Crisper, Lester, or Jeff?

You're the best, Z!

(MicroGirl1225):
It’s like you pulled on one thread from the tapestry that is Chuck, until it was all unraveled, then wove it back together to make a new pattern—this time the juxtaposition of colors make every other color look a different shade. Magnificently genius and I loved it.

I always love your Sarah

You can probably guess how much I'm loving this story. I can't wait to read more.

The end of Graham. I honestly can say I won't miss him. Great story so far. I really like how Chuck and Sarah have gotten to this point.