Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Two, Waves
Rating: PG-13 [mild swearing]

Summary: A simple conversation between friends on a secluded beach.

Previous Chapter Ice Cream

Current Chapter Waves

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A moment later they were back on the road, Alyssa's arms wrapped around his waist. She closed her eyes this time, trying to let the feeling of the breeze on her face and the road under carry away the feeling in the pit of her stomach. Chris was going to drop a bomb on her. She knew it. Just as she had known before he told her he was divorcing his first wife. Just as she had known he was asking Vicky to marry him. Just as she had known about the pregnancies. He was going to drop a bomb. She couldn't avoid it. She only hoped she survived it.

Because of that it was no surprise to her that they ended up leaving the city behind. For the next time she opened her eyes they were on the highway, headed to a fairly seclude beach she and Chris would go to get away from everything. Usually they had his family in tow or some of the bandmates. In fact she couldn't recall going there alone before....

The Harley rumbled to a stop. Alyssa hesitated getting off the bike. But he patted her hand reassuredly, bringing her back to life and causing her arms to slip from around him. Leaving the helmets stowed, she was a bit surprised when Chris took her hand to lead her down to the beach. Silent they still remained, the tension tying her stomach into more knots.

"Chris, just tell me already," she declared, her sandals filling with sand as he lead her closer to the water.

He shook his head, stopping to sit. As his hand still clutched hers, Alyssa had no choice but to sit next to him. His thumb rubbed the back of her hand as his green eyes focused on the waves crashing in front of them.

Alyssa's own gaze only briefly touched the ocean before settling back upon Chris's face. It was only after a few moments of watching him, that she noticed the sadness underneath everything. And it wasn't an easy sadness, but rather something more profound. The knot in her stomach turned upside down.

"My marriage is failing," he finally stated, barely loud enough to hear over the waves. "And there isn't a damn thing I can do about it."

When his green eyes flicked to hers, Alyssa noted the clear emotions in them for the first time. It was almost as if he had finally lifted a veil for her to look beyond.

"I'm sure that can't be true. You just have to re-adjust the relationship now that there's another baby in the house," she assured him.

"I thought that might be the case as well, but this has been going on long before Nicholas's birth," Chris admitted. "We.... She hasn't let me touch her since... since he was conceived I think, actually. And that was the first time she allowed me to touch her after Toni was born."

Her mouth dropped open at that admission, "You mean... you guys... haven't... wow, Chris. I had no idea."

"Our lives revolve around the children, which I'm fine with. But when the kids aren't around.... there should be some us time, shouldn't there?" he stated. "When the kids aren't around, Vicky goes off into her own world. Sometimes I try to follow, but that usually leads to a door shutting in my face."

Alyssa turned slightly, to face him better, her back facing the waves now. Her other hand grasped his and both squeezed slightly.

"We'll find you the best counselour out there, Chris. This is saveable," she declared.

He shook his head, breaking eye contact for a moment, "It's not. This morning...... this morning before I talked with you... she said those words...."

"What words?" she found herself asking before even thinking it.

"She wants out, Lyss. She wants out," his eyes went back to hers, struggling to not fill with tears. "I really thought this would... work."

Alyssa released his left hand. That hand reached up and touched his cheek softly. His eyes closed, leaning into her touch for a moment.

"I...."

"Shhhh," Alyssa breathed. "You don't have to say a thing, Chris."

Another word wasn't uttered. Instead he pulled her into his lap and buried his face on her shoulder as her arms wrapped around him. She knew he was crying, as she knew she was one of the few who ever saw his tears. Her hands gently rubbed his back, letting him know with her touch alone that it was all right to mourn the loss of his relationship with his wife.

For a few minutes they sat like that. Or maybe longer, she couldn't tell time any more. Ever so slowly, Chris pulled away from her. His green eyes met hers. Alyssa raised her hands to wipe his tears from his cheeks before leaning in and pressing her forehead to his.

"Everything will be all right, Chris. I promise you," she muttered.

"I believe you," he uttered in return. "Always true to me you've been."

She wanted to ask all of the detail questions, whether it was a separation or a divorce, would they have joint custody of the kids, had he actually signed the pre-nup Alyssa had pushed for? But she didn't. It wasn't the time for that. Chris needed to settle his emotions about the affair first.

"Lyss?" he breathed, pulling away from her a bit, so their eyes locked better.

"Yes?"

"Would you..... thank you. Thank you for being...you," Chris stated.

She didn't press the question. Instead she smiled softly at him and hugged him again.

"Anytime, Chris. You know I would do anything for you," she stated, her smile growing some. "Afterall I left my beloved Seattle to come here with you."

A little bit of the twinkle came back to his eyes, "Oh because sunshine is so awful to you."

Alyssa chuckled, "Damn straight it is! I'd take my drizzly days over smog and bad traffic any day."

Chris shook his head, "You didn't have to come."

"Oh? Where would you be if I hadn't? Hmm?" she raised a brow. "Besides it was just chance that I happened to enroll in UCLA. Chance, my dear friend."

"Sure it was," he retorted, his eyes brightening a little more. "I'm glad you came anyways. You've been my.... salvation, Lyss."

"Oh that I can't handle," she teased, getting out of his lap. "Best friend, sure. Salvation, not at all."

"You have no choice in the matter. It's already done and over," Chris declared. "And I owe you for it."

"Yeah?" she grinned, kicking off her sandals. "Then prove to me how this beach is better than my piers in Seattle."

"Is that a challenge?" he arched a brow as he got to his feet, removing his shoes as well.

"Damn straight it is," Alyssa grinned.

"Accepted."

Without another word he lunged towards her. Alyssa hadn't really expected that and so Chris's arms easily encircled her. Chuckling slightly, he lifted her and practically flung Alyssa over his shoulder. She squealed, knowing his intentions even before he took a few steps towards the water.

"You wouldn't!?" she gasped, wiggling on his shoulder.

"Wouldn't I?" retorted Chris.

A few more steps and the waves were lapping at Chris's toes. Before too long the seawater darkened his pants. And then without further adieu, he dropped the squirming brunette into the surf. She squealed and struggled to get to her feet. A glare was exchanged and a moment later, she was chasing him back towards the beach.

Tripping on seaweed, Alysse flew forward, tackling Chris to the sand, unexpected by either of them. He coughed as she moved off him, allowing him to turn over. His frown was replaced by a large grin at that point.

"You know this isn't finished, right?" he questioned, turning on his side so he faced her, the waves tickling their toes.

"It never is."