Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Thirteen, Just a Quick Deposit
Rating: PG-13 [mild swearing]

Summary: Alyssa is moving in with Chris, but needs to stop at the bank to deposit a paycheck...

Previous Chapter A Blessing

Current Chapter Just a Quick Deposit

Next Chapter Precious

Seated next to Chris on the plane, Alyssa twirled the ring around her finger. She had wanted to remove it, tuck it away on a chain or something. But he would have nothing of the sort. If they were asked the nature of their relationship, he would answer truthfully. But there would be no public announcements. At least not yet.

"It will take me a few days to get all my things packed up," she said suddenly, looking at him. "And give notice to my landlord."

"I don't have to go back into the studio right away. I'll help," he offered with a smile.

Alyssa opened her mouth to decline the offer, but changed her mind before speaking, "That would be great, Chris."

She looked back out the window, still nervously twirling the ring. Her thoughts were racing from one thing to the next. Maybe they shouldn't move her father in with them. Maybe they could find a home for him near them. That way when she was away with Chris on tour... was she going to go with Chris on tour?

"Chris?" she looked back to him.

"Yes?"

"What are we going to do with Daddy when you go on tour? I mean, I suppose I could stay home with him then, but I would rather—"

"You're second guessing moving him in with us?" he cut her off.

Alyssa nodded, "Maybe if we just find some assisted living place near us?"

"That's a good possibility. We can look into it when we get home," he responded.

"All right," she paused. "About touring...."

"I'd like you to come along, if you would," he replied.

She smiled slightly, "I would."


Taping up the last box, Alyssa looked around her apartment. She'd like to say there were lots of memories in that apartment. But there weren't. All her good memories happened elsewhere. And most involved Chris. Moving in with him was way overdue. Standing with the box in her hands, she headed out to add it to the truck. All that was left was larger pieces of furniture, which would be moved in the next trip, since its destination was not Chris's house but rather a thrift shop ran by a support group for victims of domestic violence.

"Is that everything?" Chris asked, packing the box into the truck.

"Yep. Let's go start our new life," she grinned at him.

He pulled her to him and kissed her briefly, causing her to giggle, "Have I told you how rich you make me feel?"

"Nope. But why not tell me while driving my stuff to your house," she teased, heading to the passenger side of the truck.

Chris started the truck and soon they were on their way towards his house. Reminding him to detour to the bank so she could deposit her last checque, Alyssa teased him when he sang along with the radio, claiming the radio sounded so much better than him. Arguing that the person on the radio wasn't really singing didn't help Chris's point at all, especially since it only made Alyssa laugh. The song on the radio was an old Soundgarden track.

"I'll be right back," she claimed, clamoring out of the truck. "Try not to miss me too much."

Slinging her purse over her shoulder, Alyssa entered the bank, still smiling from their little faux-arguement. Surprisingly there was an actual line at the bank. But then again there were only two tellers and it was Friday. A lot of people had paycheques to deposit or fun money to withdraw.

Joining the slow moving queue, she shook her head when her cell phone rang with Chris's ringtone. Opening her purse, she shuffled through it, but didn't find her phone before it stopped ringing. Waiting a moment for his message to hit voicemail, she dialed in and took a step forward in line. It would be her last step. So absorbed in listening to Chris's silly message, Alyssa didn't realize what was going on until a masked man stood in front of her.

"On the floor, now," he demanded through the Martha Stewart mask, snatching her phone out of her hand.

Alyssa's eyes widened and she dropped to the cold tile floor. She didn't dare look up at him, knowing full well what was going on now. The dead silence of the bank should have given it away. The only sound, besides her pounding heart, was the muzak channeled into the lobby.

"Listen up. Everyone do as I say and no one gets hurt," the tallest Martha Stewart announced. "You, pretty girl."

She ventured a guess to look up, having sorta noticed the crowd had been mostly businessmen when she entered. He was looking down at her, his eyes dark through the mask.

"Get up."

Finding that rather stupid as she had just been ordered down, Alyssa resisted a moment. The next moment she was yanked to her feet, her wrist certainly bruising. A bag was thrust into her hands.

"Everyone will empty all of their valuables into this bag. This includes all watches, rings, earrings, broaches, and the like. You will also include any cash in your wallets and purses," he instructed, pushing her towards the majority of the customers. "All cell phones, PDAs, Blackberries, and the like will be surrendered and tossed here."

He kicked a trash can in the centre of the room, depositing Alyssa's phone in the can. She slowly moved about the room, doing as bid, taking her time so that she knew where everyone involved in the heist was located. Not that she intended to play hero, but it was better to not get hurt if one knew where all tha meant harm were. When she got near the door, one of the masked men pushed her away, along with the bank employee who was trying to crawl towards the door.

"Thank you, precious," the tallest Martha declared, fingering her hair for a moment. "Go sit with the others."

Complying, Alyssa sat on the floor with the others. The tellers had all been forced from behind the counter by gun-wielding Marthas. Only one non-masked person was left standing, and that was the bank manager who had been shoved towards the safe.

"For those who haven't figured it out yet, this is a bank robbery. And you are all going to do your damnedest to help us get out safely, aren't you?" his eyes looked over the group on the floor. "Precious, I believe you forgot something."

Her eyes wide when he addressed her again, Alyssa hadn't a clue what he was talking about. What had she forgotten? She'd given him the bag of personal effects as instructed. She hadn't spoken or anything. What could she have forgotten?

In her thoughts he had stepped forward, towering over her and the others. He reached down and snapped up her left hand. He pulled at the ring on her finger, causing her to wince in pain.

She had forgotten her engagement ring. Chris's ring.

With her ring in his possession, he let go of her and stepped back, "Any who attempt to contact those outside the locked doors will be shot. Those who attempt to escape will be shot. Welcome to hell. I'm your tour guide today. Sit back and enjoy the ride."

Apparently done instructing them for the time being, he headed over to the safe. Alyssa could not see what happened after he entered the safe room, but she didn't care. Her thoughts were all focused on getting out and doing so safely. She had a man waiting for her. She was not dying in some stupid bank heist.

"Bide your time, Lyss," she muttered to herself. "The police can't be too far off."