Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Twenty-seven, Sommeil
Rating: R [violence, swearing, nudity]

Summary: Chris and Alyssa adjust to having the kids home.

Previous Chapter Je T'aime

Current Chapter Sommeil

Next Chapter Insta-family

Collapsing onto their bed, Alyssa covered her eyes. Her left leg was throbbing, but managed to hold out all day. Which surprised her, with all the chasing of Toni around. Every now and then, Toni would look to Chris to see if it was okay, playing with Alyssa, not that Alyssa thought Toni would have been any different had Chris told her to be. She might adore her father, with good reason, but she was also at the end of the terrible twos.

Hands touched her barefoot, lifting her leg. She smiled, not uncovering her eyes as she felt those familiar fingers slowly work up her leg. His soft massages helped the pain subside, whether because he was doing any good or because it was his hands touching her, Alyssa was uncertain and didn't care. His hands stopped on her thigh, causing her to peek through her fingers.

Chris's mouth met hers then, kissing her softly, "You were wonderful today. Toni adores you."

"Mmmmm, she's adorable as always," Alyssa replied. "And I'm completely exhausated."

He kissed her again, before moving to sit down on the bed beside her, "Your legs all right?"

"Tired," she stated. "Just tired and sore. Didn't give out once on me."

"That's good. Very good. Want a bath?" he offered.

Alyssa shook her head, "No, I think just sleep. Sleep in this big bed with you."

He grinned at her, "Gonna sleep in your clothes?"

"Yes. Unless you take them off. I'm not moving."

Shaking his head, Chris stood, "You're on your own taking your clothes off. I've already undressed and dressed two tonight. On your own."

"Meanie," she pouted, sitting up, propping herself up with her elbows.

"It's good for you."

"Uh huh," Alyssa pushed fully up.

Sitting for a moment on the edge of the bed, her hazel eyes watched him move into the bathroom. The door never closed but she could hear what he was doing. And that made her giggle. Apparently they were so comfortable with each other, closing the bathroom door wasn't necessary when peeing anymore.

Getting to her feet, her legs shaking at the fact that there was weight upon them once more, she held onto the footboard for a few breaths. Standing up straight, she took a few steps towards the closet.

And that's when her legs gave out, buckling under her.

A long line of profanities crowded her mouth, but she merely bit her cheek instead. Pushing up from the plus carpet, she tried to get to her feet. Her legs wanted nothing to do with her intentions.

And then Chris reappeared, "Lyssa!"

She felt his arms around her a moment later, pulling her to her feet, "I'm okay, Chris."

"Right. Because you sit in the middle of the floor when you're okay," he retorted, moving her back to the bed.

"Maybe I do," she argued, not wanting him taking care of her once again.

Alyssa slapped his hands away when he tried to re-position her on the bed. Scooting back to the edge, she moved her legs over the edge with her hands. Her knees bent without assistance, but she knew deep down that her legs weren't about to support her weight again, not with how they were burning, trembling.

"Stay right there," Chris ordered. "No need in hurting yourself more just to put some stupid PJs on."

Before she could argue, he peeled off her tee shirt and removed her bra with the deft fingers of one who had done it before. His palm went flat on her stomach, pressing gently to make her lay down. The button of her jeans disappeared through the whole before he lifted her hips to slide them down her legs. He frowned seeing how flushed her skin was. He was pretty sure it wasn't a good sign, but said nothing.

Taking her pile of clothes to the hamper, Chris disrobed and deposited his own with hers. Returning to the bed in his shorts, he noticed she had scooted back on the bed. More noteable was the fact she wouldn't look at him, meet his eyes at all.

"Love?" he pressed, moving on the bed next to her.

It was then he saw a crystalline tear on her rosy cheek.

"Oh, Lyssa," his arms folded around her, feeling her warm skin against his. "Don't cry, baby. Please don't cry."

"I'm never going to be able to do this, Chris," she muttered.

"Shhhh," he kissed the top of her head, feeling her warm tears on his bare chest. "These things take time."

"Too much time. You should be out promoting the new album. You should be preparing to tour. You should be—"

"Exactly where I am."


"Dada?" a little voice broke through the silence of dreams.

Chris stirred in the bed, trying to slip out without waking Alyssa. Kneeling at the bedroom door they had left open just in case, his eyes met Toni's. Her arms went up in the air and he scooped her up, holding her in his arms.

"Bad sommeil," she declared.

"Daddy will chase the monsters away," he declared, getting to his feet, intending to take her back to her own bed.

"Sleep with Dada," Toni declared.

Chris looked over his shoulder at the sleeping form of Alyssa, considering his options.

"Sleep with Lyss-Lyss," she added.

Sighing slightly, he carried his daughter over to the large bed. She climbed over to Alyssa, who apparently had woken and held the blanket up. Seemingly not caring that Alyssa was as shirtless as her father, Toni snuggled up against her. Just the image of it made him smile.

"Dada aussi," Toni declared, Alyssa still holding the blanket up.

Without a thought he slipped into the bed too. Toni giggled, her little eyes closing contently once the blanket was lowered back down.


There was a little hand on her breast. It was the oddest sensation to wake up to. Especially since the little hand was wiggling slightly. Opening her eyes slightly, Alyssa glanced down. She didn't want to move and wake Toni, but she really had to pee.

"Psst, Chris," she whispered.

He turned over in the bed, "Yeah?"

"Think you can do something about her for me?" she motioned to the sleeping child.

Smiling his hands moved his daughter carefully away from Alyssa. Grinning her thanks, she started to move to the edge of the bed. Her legs bent comfortably over, toes reaching for the rug, but she hesitated. After the night before, Alyssa wasn't entirely sure standing was going to happen or even a good idea at all. Slowly shifting her weight from the bed to the balls of her feet, Alyssa rose from the bed. Standing still for a couple of minutes to test her legs strength, she made her way slowly, shakily towards the bathroom, aware that Chris's green eyes were following her path to the bathroom.

Pausing to pull a shirt on after leaving the bathroom, Alyssa stopped in the middle of the room. The sounds from Nicholas's room, via the monitor, were very much sounds of a little boy being awake. His sister still slept, but he was making sounds and likely already standing in his crib.

Chris's gaze followed Alyssa's, "I'll get him."

"No, no. I will. I'm already up," she shook her head, shuffling towards the door. "I'll get him changed and you can take him downstairs for breakfast in a few minutes."

Nodding though not entirely in agreeance with her decision, he watched her leave the bedroom, Toni still sleeping on his chest.


With both of the kids playing on the floor, Toni's eyes as focused on the cartoons on the tv as her toys, Chris sank onto the couch next to Alyssa. She smiled at him when his arm slipped around her shoulders, giving her a gentle squeeze.

"Feeling all right today?" he asked.

"Chris, you've asked me six times in as many hours," she retorted. "I'm fine."

"But after last night—"

"I'm fine," she repeated. "What did you and Vicky talk about yesterday?"

He frowned, "Not much."

"Enough that you tensed up," Alyssa pointed out.

"She.... she doesn't want to take the kids back to France with her."