Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Ten, Domus
Rating: PG-13 [mild swearing]

Summary: Chris and Alyssa discuss how to handle the kid situation and whether or not Alyssa should move in

Previous Chapter Ripe circumstances

Current Chapter Domus

Next Chapter Where it all began

Alyssa sat on the couch playing with her hair while Chris spoke to Vicky on the phone in the other room. His voice remained steady, not raising or even changing tempo. She wasn't entirely sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but she assumed she would figure it out soon enough.

And just as that thought crossed her mind, Chris returned to the room and sat on the couch next to her. Silent they remained, minutes passing until her hand snaked across his thigh to grasp his. He offered her a small smile, but still didn't speak. Her eyes searched his, looking for something, anything that would prepare her for whatever he wasn't saying.

"Chris?"

"She's bringing the kids by," he stated slowly. "And then she's getting on a plane to France."

"Wait. She's going to France without the kids? She's just leaving like that?" Alyssa asked quickly.

Chris nodded, "I don't think this will be... as ugly as the last one. She knows the kids mean the world to me. And... I don't think she bonded with them as well as I did. That sounds wrong. I don't want to sound like she's a bad mother or anything but..."

She squeezed his hand, "It's okay, Chris. With you as their dad, they have more love than most everyone else in this world. We'll do right by your kids. Not ever going to be an issue."

He smiled crookedly at her, "I know. I just... I promised myself I would never speak ill of my kids' mothers in front of them. And I don't want to speak ill of them in front of you or...."

"Love," Alyssa began, "don't hold anything back from me. That's what makes us so good. We know each other better than anyone in the world. You start changing that because we're growing to be more than friends and we lose our foundation."

"I know," he nodded, noticing what she had called him. "And that's the last thing I want to do. I promise to ... not let us fall apart."

She briefly kissed him, "Good. Now let's get things picked up. The kids will be home soon."

Alyssa stood, pulling Chris up with her. They shared a brief kiss, before she led him out of the room.


Laying on her back with Toni sitting on her stomach, she grinned when the little girl giggled and tickled her again. Holding onto the toddler's hands, Alyssa moved so that Toni was balanced on her feet and pushed the girl up into the air. That made her giggle again. Alyssa lowered her quickly and returned her to the sky, causing the girl to hop a little on her feet. A few times Alyssa did this before lowering Toni completely back down, holding the girl to her chest. She giggled and wiggled until Alyssa released her, letting the girl toddle off, her eyes ever so watchful.

"You're so good with her," Chris commented from his seat in a lounge chair as he fed a bottle to his son. "She adores you."

"She better," Alyssa grinned. "Since you know how much I love her."

"I do," he smiled, moving the baby to be burped. "Makes loving you that much easier."

She giggled before getting up to catch Toni before she attempted to climb on the fencing around the pool, "Wouldn't want to make loving me hard on you."

Alyssa scooped up the toddler and blew a raspberry on her momentarily exposed belly. Another peal of toddler giggles filled the air, making Chris grin even more. Swinging the girl to balance on her hip, Alyssa returned to Chris.

"Trade ya," she declared, shifting Toni on her hip.

"Sure. He probably needs to be changed before going down for his nap," he declared.

She scrunched her nose, "Damn, that's why I was trying to trade."

He laughed, standing, "Then it would seem we're both on diaper duty."

"So it would," Alyssa frowned, heading up to the house with him.

With both of the kids changed and in their rooms, Alyssa and Chris sat on the couch. His arm easily went around her shoulders. She leaned on him, sighing contently.

"You play domestic rather well, Lyss," he teased.

"Mmmm. Maybe," she replied. "But we'll have to figure something out during the week. I can take care of them every day except Tuesday and Thursday. I've got meetings those days."

"I'll just tell the guys on Monday that we can't record those days," Chris shrugged slightly. "We'll make it work."

Alyssa nodded, "I should go to my place and get some things to tide me over for a few days."

"When the kids get up, we'll go over there," he decided. "Maybe you should think about—"

"—moving in?" she interrupted. "Not entirely sure if that's a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Vicky just left today. Don't you think it would look rather... wrong if I were to move in the very day she left the country?" Alyssa queried.

"I don't give a shit what anyone thinks. Besides I don't want you that far away now that we're getting to where we should be," he replied. "I need you today, tonight, tomorrow, always. It just seems natural for you to move in."

She shook her head, "Not yet, Chris. Not until it's all said and done. In fact, as long as the kids are here, I don't think I should even sleep in this house. I'll just come back in the morning."

"But—"

"Not yet, Chris," she repeated. "There's bigger issues to overcome first."