37A/N: I have returned to the universe I can't leave. This one I had been working on before the pandemic went nuts and returned to today. No beta, all mistakes are mine.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck.
Molly was a senior. Chuck found himself constantly shaking his head in disbelief at that prospect. As insane as that was, her and Jerry… they seemed to be happy together. Chuck was sure the L word had been said a few times, but Molly insisted whatever happened it would be after college was over. Chuck and Sarah kept their mouths shut, but exchanging knowing looks each time Molly proclaimed it.
As good as life was, there was another milestone that had hit the Bartowski household, Clara had turned 13. Chuck had to admit she was a beautiful combination of Ellie and Awesome and every day his heart broke a little that they didn't get to see the amazing young lady she had grown into.
Over the past few days she had seemed a little withdrawn. She wasn't sullen, or upset, just…her mind was miles away and he wasn't sure what was going on with her. Chuck asked Sarah and she shrugged. Chuck went and found Jason, muttering something about being unfairly out-numbered.
It was Friday morning and the girls were running behind. Chuck had noticed Clara had asked Molly into the bedroom to have a talk and they were still in there. "It's a boy, isn't it?" he asked Sarah, downstairs, conspiratorially. "She has a boyfriend and she's scared to tell me."
"If she is, she's scared to tell me as well," Sarah replied with a shrug.
Chuck eyed her, wondering who she was, and what had happened to his former spy wife. "You're okay with this?"
Sarah laid her spoon down she was using to eat her cereal and gave Chuck a level look. "Chuck, we have raised those girls to know they can come to us for anything. IF there is something going on, they will tell us, so calm down. Besides, she's obviously telling Molly now, and if something is wrong Molly will tell us. Maybe she needs someone to confide in and talk to about stuff?"
"You make a good point," Chuck replied, studying her. "You're really not going to get involved?"
"Nope," Sarah said. "And neither should you." She pointed her spoon at him to make a point.
"I'm driving Clara to school today," Molly said, as she came down the steps, Clara behind her.
"You okay, Clara, you look like you've been crying?" Chuck asked.
"She's fine Dad, she's just got stupid girl drama at school to deal with," Molly said. "Can I have some cash to get us some breakfast?" Her hand was out, and Chuck gave her five. She glared at him and he turned to Sarah.
"Help me out here," Chuck began. Sarah shook her head, got up, and got money out of her wallet. "That's not what I meant." Sarah grinned at him and gave Molly a hug, and Clara an extra long one. "What am I, chopped liver?"
"No, you're Dad," Molly said, hugging him.
Clara came over and squeezed him tight, Chuck returning the squeeze. "You really okay?"
"Yeah," Clara said. "Love you, Dad."
"Love you," Chuck said, watching them go out the door. "Something's up," Chuck said turning to Sarah.
"Maybe, but they'll tell us when they're ready," she replied. "Now, are you riding with me and Jason?"
"Yeah," Chuck replied, wondering what was going on.
}o{
"I think I know," Chuck said, walking into Sarah's office later.
"Know how lucky you are to have me?" Sarah asked, as she slow turned in her chair away from her computer to him.
"Pfffth," he replied, and his eyes went wide as she raised an eyebrow. "I mean, I KNOW I'm lucky to have you. I've known that for a looooooong time. No, I think I know about Clara."
"Well, what is it?" Sarah asked.
"It's coming up on Ellie and Devon's anniversary of their death," Chuck explained. Sarah didn't have anything to say.
}o{
Chuck looked up from his desk a little while later, four eyes peering into his office. "Ladies, where's your brother?"
"He's out front with Morgan," Molly said. "Dad, Clara needs to talk to you."
"I know," Chuck said, noticing Clara's eyes widen. "It's about Ellie and Devon, isn't it?"
Molly didn't say anything but gave Clara a look. "Kinda," Clara answered.
"I'll take Jason and go home," Molly told them, turning to leave.
"Go tell your mother what's going on," Chuck said. Molly turned to him, confused. "What? I'm skipping out on work, I'll get in less trouble if she thinks you told me too." The look intensified. "Well, it's true." Molly walked off.
"She scares me sometimes," Clara said softly.
"She scares me most of the time," Chuck admitted.
}o{
They found themselves standing in front of the graves a little while later. Chuck looked at his daughter, saw the tears in her eyes, and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her in tight. "They'd be so proud of you."
"Would they?" she asked, just above a whisper. "Or would they be disappointed?"
Chuck spun, and squatted down, not a lot, but he needed to look her in the eye. "Sweetie, why would they be disappointed in you?"
Tears were in her eyes, fear was on her face. "I just think they'd be disappointed."
"Clara, listen to me, you have become a wonderful young woman, you have been an amazing person, you are a hard worker, and we love you," Chuck began.
"I know," Clara replied, but stopped.
"Clara, what is it?" Chuck pleaded. She looked terrified. "You can tell me anything. Is it a boy? Oh, God, are you pregnant?" Clara quickly shook her head. What in the world could make his daughter so scared? He racked his brain, thinking of what could worry her this much. "What, are you gay?"
"I'm bi," she whispered.
Chuck's gave her a soft smile, stood, and pulled her against him, into a hug. "Okay," he said softly. "Is she treating you right?"
"Is who treating me right?" she asked, pulling away looking at him.
"The girl you like, are dating…ohhhhh," he said knowingly. "It's an unrequited type huh?"
"No, dad, there's no one, I'm just…bi," Clara explained, looking like she was expecting more.
"Okay," Chuck replied. He turned toward Ellie and Awesome's grave. "So, Clara is bi," Chuck told the tombstone, as Clara blinked. "Ellie, I believe this is where you say something about you can't go far enough for love. And Devon, I would expect an, 'Awesome,' right now."
"That's it?" Clara said.
Chuck turned to her. "No, that's not it." She steeled herself. "In our house, you love who you love. But whoever that is, must respect you. They must care for you, as you, and not as what they want you to be. So who am I if I tried to make you into who you're not."
Tears were running down her face as she hugged him. "Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?" Chuck asked, truly mystified. "Did you think I was going to be upset? I mean, I am concerned how others might treat you, but I'm always concerned about that." He squeezed her tight. "I'm guessing Molly knows?"
"Of course Molly knows," Clara said in a huff, and then chuckled.
"And she is one MILLION percent in your corner," Chuck said, not asked. Clara nodded. "Well, I feel for anyone who tries to give you crap." He was silent a second. "What about Sarah?"
"I need to tell her, I was scared, you know, adopted kid…." She trailed off, tears flowing again. "Sandra…" the tears grew stronger. "She told her parents she was gay and they kicked her out of the house. She's living with her grandmother."
"That's awful," Chuck told her. "But, back up a second." Clara looked at him. "Your mother and I will fight for you, just like Ellie and Awesome would have. Clara, you're not an adopted kid. You're our child."
"Dad, Jason is your child," she said.
"No," Chuck disagreed. "You, Molly, and Jason are OUR children, and that is the only thing today in our conversations that I am upset about, that you don't know it."
"I know," Clara said. "It's just…" she blew out a breath.
"You're very brave," Chuck told her. She turned to him. "I mean you told Molly, that had to be terrifying….how hard did she hug you?"
"I think she broke a rib," Clara admitted.
"And then you worried about us and Ellie and Devon…"
"Thank you," Clara said.
"For what?" Chuck asked.
"Loving me," she said, tears flowing again.
"Kid, it is absolutely my pleasure, and I will always love you, know that, okay?" Clara nodded her head. "Let's go tell Sarah." Clara nodded and turned to the gravestone.
"Thank you two for leaving me in such good hands," she said. She turned and headed to the car.
"You're kid….Our kid is pretty awesome," Chuck said, grinning at the stone in front of him. "Miss you two."
}o{
"Told ya, you were being dumb," Molly said at the dinner table.
"Don't call your sister dumb," Chuck said, giving Molly a look.
"She's not dumb, she just did something dumb," Molly explained. "Why am I the only one in this family that understands love?"
Chuck opened his mouth to respond, glanced at Sarah and just shook his head.
"She's right," Sarah said, shrugging. "Molly's entire life has revolved around love."
"Does that include Jerry?" Chuck asked.
Molly looked him straight in the eye. "Do you really want me to answer that?"
Chuck sighed and laid down his fork. "Yes," he said softly.
"Yeah, I love him," Molly said.
"Good," Chuck said, taking Sarah's hand. "Love is hard to find and even harder to hold onto."
"He's done a good job holding on," Molly said.
Chuck started to answer but Sarah squeezed his hand and he knew better.
"So does anything change?" Clara asked softly.
"Maybe," Chuck said. "Sleepovers may have to be reevaluated."
"Daaad," Clara protested.
"What?" Chuck asked. "I'm not letting Jerry sleep over, so I can't let your girlfriend."
"Let," Molly said, snickering. Chuck closed his eyes.
"Molly, quit picking on your father," Sarah told her, grinning.
"Sorry Dad," Molly said with a wink. "You know I love you."
"Yeah, and you all should know I love you, just the way you are," Chuck told them, turning to Clara, and looking her in the eye. She grinned and blushed.
"Baby girl," Sarah said softly, making Clara look up at her. "I love you and am proud of you."
"Thank you," Clara said softly.
"So, who are you crushing on?" Chuck asked. Clara shook her head and got up from the table. Molly rolled her eyes and joined her. Chuck turned to Jason.
"Don't look at me," Jason said. "Girls are gross."
"They are," Chuck agreed, grinning. His grin fell as he turned to Sarah. "Except you, you're only kinda gross."
"Just for that, next time I get paint in my hair you don't get to help me get it out," she said getting up and leaving. Jason left as well, leaving Chuck alone.
"You know Mom's lying," Molly said, walking behind Chuck, scaring him. She came back into the room. "You two are being careful, right? I don't need any more brothers or sisters." With that she turned and left the room.
"You don't get to decide that!" he yelled after her. He sat there a moment. "Why do I feel like I have no control over anything in this house?"
A/N: In the past several years, I've had many students come out to me and tell me of the horror story of their home life when they came out to their parents. The suicide rate of LGBTQ youth is astronomical. If you're interested in helping, The Trevor Project is a foundation near and dear to my heart. This story spoke to me, it needed to be told. Take care, see you soon. DC
