Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Twelve, A Blessing
Rating: PG-13 [mild swearing]

Summary: Daddy's approval.

Previous Chapter Where It All Began

Current Chapter A Blessing

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An old man with a face aged beyond his years, turned slowly away from the window at the sound of a voice behind him, a recognizable voice. His eyes settled on the woman's face and there was a lit of recognition in them. A smile attempted to make its way to his mouth, struggling some with translation from mind to mouth.

"A-a-a-a," he struggled to say much.

"Yes, Daddy," she slowly approached him. "It's me, Alyssa."

His right arm raised slowly, his left arm remaining limp at his side. Alyssa wasn't entirely sure what he wanted, but she knew what she did. And so she bent over and hugged him, gently at first, afraid to hurt him. But when his one arm wrapped tightly around her, she smiled and squeezed him more.

It had been years since Alyssa had ventured to the home to see her father. Then she had still been filled with angst for her mother. And to see her father, the one who had always been gentle and supportive, in such a weakened state, had torn her apart. It had been early after the stroke and the doctors had not been optimistic at all, telling her he would probably never even make a partial recovery. That day her father had died in her mind as well and she did not visit again.

Chris had been with her that day as well. They never talked of that day, that trip, or of her father after that. She hadn't wanted to and he had been nervous to push her to do so, though he was certain she was in great pain from seeing the one family member who did not shun her so... vacant.

Sitting in a chair next to his, Alyssa's hand enfolded her father's. He squeezed her hand tightly for a moment, the funny half-smile on his face again. As her hazel eyes looked into his, she could see her father was still in there, struggling to get out, but there all the same. Because of that she could not help the glittering tears in her own eyes.

"Oh, Daddy, I'm sorry I stayed away so long," she quickly. "I.... I.... I didn't know what to do. And so I ran away again. I'm sorry, Daddy. I should have been here for you."

"O-o-o-o....k-k-kay," he squeezed her hand. "U-u-u-nd-d-derst-st-stand-d-d."

"But, Daddy, it wasn't right by you. I should have stayed and taken care of you. I'm sorry," Alyssa argued. "You were always so good to me. I should have been good to you."

"H-h-h-her-r-r-re n-n-n-now-w-w-w," he replied.

Alyssa nodded, looking away from his eyes for a moment, "You remember Chris, right? Chris is here."

The old frail man looked behind Alyssa, noting Chris standing near the doorway, inside but not forcing his presence. Her father nodded, his half-smile on his mouth again.

"C-c-chris-s-s," he stated. "G-g-g-g-good-d-d-d. T-t-t-tak-k-ke c-c-c-car-r-r-re A-a-a-a-alysssss?"

"Absolutely, sir," Chris responded. "Just as she has taken care of me these past years as well. Your daughter is very remarkable and I'm a very lucky man to have her in my life. I thank you for her."

He nodded, "V-v-v-very sp-sp-special. H-h-h-her m-m-m-mother-r-r-r sc-sc-scared-d-d-d of-f-f th-th-that-t-t."

"Mother was scared of me?" Alyssa asked, bringing her father's attention back to her for the moment.

"N-n-n-not-t-t-t-t y-y-y-you, b-b-b-ut..." he struggled to get the words to his mouth.

"Maybe she was afraid Alyssa would be greater than just a wife and mother?" Chris suggested. "Afraid Alyssa would go out into the world and change it?"

Her father nodded crookedly, "A-a-af-f-fraid of-f-f-f ch-ch-ch...."

"Change," Alyssa finished for him.

She wanted to ask him so many other questions about her mother, but she didn't want to upset him. And she could already sense the frustration of not being able to fully say and explain what he was thinking. So she chose to not ask any more of her mother. It's not as if the woman was much of a force in her life now that she was buried in some cemetary.

"Daddy, Chris and I...." she started but couldn't quite figure out what she wanted to tell him. "Chris and I are living together."

There was a moment of shock on both men's faces. Even though Alyssa had spent more time at Chris's house than her own, she'd never claimed to be living with him. But now to her father she had, and that made Chris smile once he accepted her declaration.

"G-g-g-good-d-d-d," her father stuttered. "C-c-c-c-chris-s-s-s-s g-g-g-good-d-d-d-d."

She smiled, "Yes he is, Daddy. Chris is very good. In so many ways. He's a very good friend. A very good father. A very good man."

"F-f-f-f-fath-th-th-ther?" his one eyebrow arched.

"Oh no, Daddy. You're not a grandpa. Not yet," she smiled crookedly. "Toni and Nicholas are his kids from a previous relationship. They are the cutest things alive. You'll just adore them."

He nodded indicating his understanding, "Y-y-you m-m-m-marry?"

"No," Alyssa shook her head. "I've never been married."

His eyes went to Chris again, "Y-y-y-y-you g-g-g-g-g....."

"Actually," Chris stepped over to the familial pair, "I came here with a purpose, besides to be at Alyssa's side. I would visit you even if I was unable to convince her to."

"Chris?" she looked at him, not entirely sure what he was talking about.

"Mr. Morgan, I would like your blessing to ask Alyssa's hand in marriage," he requested, eyes unwavering upon the old man's. "She is not only my best friend, but my soulmate. Nothing makes me more complete than to walk in a room and find her there. She is beautiful, intelligent, caring, loving. She is the one I'm meant to be with all of eternity. And I would like your blessing to marry her."

Alyssa's free hand covered her mouth, trying to quiet her gasp. Her eyes darted from Chris's to her father's and back again. He was serious, very serious. And her heart no longer functioned.

"Y-y-y-yes-s-s-s," the older man replied. "Sh-sh-she n-n-n-need-d-d-s love. Y-y-y-y-y-you g-g-g-g-good-d-d."

"Thank you, sir. I can assure you Alyssa will never want of anything in this world, love or anything else. She will be well cared for," Chris claimed softly, inclining his head slightly in reverance to the older man.

"D-d-do y-y-y-y-y-you w-w-w-w-want-t-t-t h-h-h-him, A-a-a-a-alysssss?" he looked back at his daughter.

Her eyes remained on Chris a moment longer, "All my life."


Snuggling up to Chris as they sat on the deck, the light Seattle rain kissing their skin, Alyssa smiled softly, "I think LA will be good for Daddy. He'll be able to see the kids too, that will be good for him."

"Are you sure about this, Lyss? Moving him down with us?" Chris asked.

She nodded, rubbing her cheek against his shoulder, "I've been gone too long from him, Chris. And I can't expect you and the band to move back up here. And he seemed all right with it. Though he could just want out of that home."

He rubbed her arm slightly, "Are you sure you aren't taking on too much? Taking care of your father and my two kids?"

Shaking her head, Alyssa replied, "No. I'll get nurses for Daddy, because I don't know the first thing about taking care of him. But I think being around us will be good for him, really good for him. Even today the doctors said they had not seen him so animated before, so talkative. It will be good for him."

"Whatever you think is best, love," he kissed the top of her head. "I'll do whatever you need."

"Thank you, Chris. I hadn't known that this would be so... this trip would.... change my life like this," she admitted, eyes turning to meet his. "Everything's changed. I have my father back. I have you. Things have changed."

"Ah. About that," he smirked. "I owe you something."

He pulled away from her, sitting fully up. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a small flat box and moved to kneel before her. Opening the box, Chris revealed a simple diamond solitaire on a platinum band.

"Marry me, Alyssa," his green eyes locked with hers.

"You're still married," she teased.

Chris snapped the box close, "Wait right here."

Entering their hotel room, she heard him shuffling through pockets of his luggage. A few minutes later he returned, the ring box in one hand, a piece of paper in the other. He held the paper out to her first.

"It came while you were packing for the trip," he declared.

Unfolding it, Alyssa quickly scanned it. A smile played with her lips. Slowly her eyes raised to his.

"But this is only half of it. The French government has to claim it too," she argued.

"Vicky assures me that should be finalized in the next week or so," Chris answered, returning to kneeling before Alyssa. "Sooo..... will you?"

The box opened with a crack again, revealing the pretty ring.

"I dunno...." she wiggled on the seat. "I don't usually buy used items....."

A look of faux-shock filled Chris's face, "You're kidding."

Alyssa beckoned him to her. Their lips met in a brief kiss before he returned to where he had been sitting. She held her hand out to him, allowing him to slip the ring onto her finger.

"You realize I can't wear this," she stated, looking at the jewel on her finger.

"Why not?" concern filled his voice.

Her hand found his, "I would rather keep the story of us silent from the world a little longer."