Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Twenty-six, Je T'aime
Rating: R [violence, swearing, nudity]

Summary: Chris and Alyssa prepare for the kids' arrival.

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The pile of sheets hit the floor. His eyes went to hers, his mouth unable to function. Chris merely started at Alyssa for a few moments or maybe it was only a few seconds.

"What?" he asked, certain he had misheard her.

Alyssa slowly bent over to pick up the sheets, "Why haven't we had sex yet? I mean I understand why not since the bank thing. And I'm not saying let's go roll in bed right now, because I don't even think I'm ready to.... but before.... we never even came close."

"I... I...." he stuttered, still trying to wrap his brain around her question.

"Am I not attractive to you?" she asked softly.

Realization hit Chris and he struggled to not not mutter, "Ahhhh."

Instead he replied, "Of course you are, Alyssa. It just wasn't time for us to."

"I find that hard to believe," she moved slowly to the little girl bed. "Did you not tell me that you and Vicky hadn't fucked since your son was conceived?"

"Well yeah," he replied, moving to the opposite side of the bed as Alyssa. "But that doesn't mean I was going to jump you as soon as you decided we could be more than friends."

"But—"

"Lyssa, I love and respect you too much to push for that just because I haven't gotten any in ages. I can wait for you forever, if need be. We'll come together like that when the time is ready, not a moment sooner," Chris interrupted, reaching for the sheet after she tossed half of it towards him. "Don't confuse lack of sex with lack of love, Lyss. Or even lack of desire. Sometimes I look at you and.... shit, for some time now, even before....."

"Before what?" she tucked the sheet under the small mattress.

"Let's just say you've been in my dreams for some time."

She certainly didn't want to let him go that easily. And yet a part of her was laughing that she had even brought the subject up, even if it was better to get it out in the open rather than wallow in her questioning thoughts.

"I .... you've been in mine too," Alyssa admitted.

He smiled at her, "So there you have it. When our time to make love comes, it will be as perfect as our dreams. No need to rush it."

She was content with his explanation, it certainly did resolve some doubts in her mind. And it certainly confirmed thoughts that their friendship made their romantic relationship that much stronger. And oh how grateful Alyssa was for that.

"Chris?" she uttered, smoothing the pink comforter in place.

For a moment worried what next she would ask, he hesitated before replying, "Yes, love?"

"I don't want to sound sickenly sappy or anything, but... I love you and I'm so very grateful for you," Alysa breathed, sitting on the bed as her legs began to shake slightly.

He leaned over and kissed her forehead, "I love you too..... any chance I can talk you into sleeping now?"

She shook her head, smiling, "Nope. I still have to finish Nick's room. His blankets still need to be—"

"Lyssa, love, the kids won't be here until late afternoon. You're exhausated. And you know that isn't good for a healing body. Let's to bed now. It's after one in the morning," Chris pointed out.

"But I haven't even touched our new linens," she argued.

Moving to her side of the bed, Chris pulled her up, "We can sleep downstairs tonight. One last time. Tomorrow we'll sleep up here with the kids."

"But....." a large yawn interrupted her thoughts. "I'm not sleepy."

"Yes, you are," he declared, picking her up before she could argue more.

Alyssa leaned her head on his shoulder, not fighting it anymore, "Promise not to drop me down the stairs?"

"Promise."


If she could she would be running around the house trying to perfect things. They had slept too late, Chris refusing to set an alarm before snuggling against her in bed. Granted she was well-rested but the kids would be at the airport in three hours, at the house in four. That wasn't nearly enough time to get everything done.

Granted, their beds were made, their rooms finished, the kitchen well-stocked with their favourite foods (confirmed by a phone call to Vicky before they left Paris), the rest of the house child-proofed. But Alyssa was still very, very nervous. It had been about two and a half months since Chris saw his kids. It had to be perfect. It just had to be.

His arms circled around her waist, catching her in the hallway, "Alyssa, relax. There's nothing more to be done. Everything is perfect."

"But I need to wash the towels for their bathr—"

"Baby, the towels are all folded and in the closet."

"What about Toni's dolls? Have they all been removed from the boxes and allowed to air out? Little girls notice when their babies are different," she declared.

He smiled, kissing her throat, "Everything is ready for the kids, Lyss. Relax. Maybe we should go and sit out in the sun."

"I'd prefer rain," she declared, squirming to get out of his arms. "I should bake cookies."

"You've never baked cookies before," Chris pointed out, not letting her go.

"So! The recipe is on the back of the package," Alyssa stated.

He chuckled, "So wait and do it with the kids."

She thought a moment, "Yeah. That's a good idea. Get Toni's little two year old hands all covered with cookie dough."

"She'd like it. Vicky says she has a kitchen set she plays with all the time," he stated.

Alyssa nodded, "She told me the same thing. Chris?"

"Yes, Lyssa?"

"Do you think we can handle this?"

"Absolutely."


Sitting in the airport, Alyssa's legs shook with nerves. Chuckling, Chris's hand rested on her knee, stopping the jiggling. His eyes met hers, smiling, before he leaned in and kissed her softly. Just his touch calmed her. She knew she had nothing to worry about. She loved the kids, they seemed to like her well enough. But she was still nervous about it. It had been ages since they saw each other. Months seemed like forever in kids eyes.

But all her doubts disappeared when Vicky and the kids stepped out of the terminal. Toni's face lit up and she reached towards Chris, squealing 'Dada!' He embraced his daughter, swinging her up in the air before kissing her loudly, causing the little girl to giggle.

"How are you feeling?" Vicky asked, embracing Alyssa cordially before handing Nicholas over to her.

"Sore but all right. How was the flight?" she asked, her eyes on the dozing little boy who seemed to have doubled in size.

"Long," she declared, before turning to Chris.

They embraced just as platonically as Vicky and Alyssa had, their daughter between them, squirming in excitement for being with her dad once more.

"You look well, Vicky," he stated.

She chuckled, "After such a flight, I find that hard to believe."

He smiled, "Well you do. Believe it or not."

"Lyss-lyss!" Toni cried, reaching towards Alyssa.

"Ah! Time to trade," Alyssa grinned, holding his son out.

The toddler told Alyssa all sorts of mismatched stories as they headed down to get their luggage. Paying all of her attention to the young girl, Alyssa didn't note the strained conversation concerning the children between Vicky and Chris, but she would certainly hear of it later.

Reaching the carousel with the luggage, Toni wiggled down, wanting to grab her suitcase herself. Her vocabulary was limited, French mixing with English, but she was definitely a talker. Perhaps that came from being away from Chris and Alyssa so long. Her little fingers grasped the metal edge, peering over at the suitcases that went pass.

"Tha! Tha!" she pointed at the bright pink bag.

Alyssa reached forward, stopping the suitcase with her hand and turning it so that Toni could grab the handle. The little girl's stubby fingers wrapped over the handle and she pulled hard on the suitcase. Discreetly Alyssa lifted the case so that it would slid over the edge of the carousel, holding onto the wheel so that Toni and the suitcase didn't topple over.

The triumphant look on the girl's face was priceless.

"Regard, Lyss-lyss!" she exclaimed.

"Good job, Toni," Alyssa smiled down at her. "Hold my hand while we go to the car?"

The little girl nodded, holding her suitcase with one hand, the other slipping into Alyssa's offered hand.

Out at Chris's car, Nicholas was buckled into his carseat and soon dozed off. Toni had to buckle her own belt, receiving a little assistance from Alyssa.

"Now be a good girl for Daddy," Vicky instructed, before the car door was closed. "And I'll see you in a week."

Moving to get in the car, Alyssa could feel the tension between Chris and Vicky. She hadn't paid much attention to them on the walk from the terminal to the baggage claim area, but they must have shared some harsh words. That was the only explanation of the tension.

"Lyss-lyss?"

"Yes, sweetie?" she turned in her seat to look back at the little girl as Chris was getting in the car.

"Je t'aime."