Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Twenty-eight, Insta-family
Rating: R [violence, swearing, nudity]

Summary: Chris and Alyssa become the children's only providers.

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Current Chapter Insta-family

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Staring at Chris for a moment, she tried to figure out what he meant. But his words didn't really seem to make any sense.

"She doesn't want to take the kids back to France with her? As in....?"

"We would have full custody of them," he answered. "Vicky could visit whenever she was in the area, or we could visit her if the tour was nearby her."

Alyssa frowned, eyes flicking to the kids, "How could she.....?"

"That's what I thought," Chris agreed. "I thought our kids meant... I mean..."

She put on a smile, "Well nevermind that. We'll be a good family. They'll grow up loved and happy and all of that. It's what's best for them. If she wants a life without them, then I will gladly be mother to both of them."

"Really?" he looked down at her.

"Absolutely. You know I adore them," Alyssa kissed his mouth softly. "But don't you think for a moment they'll be a substitute for the kids we'll have together."

A grin immediately lit his face, "You want kids."

"Duh," she teased. "With a Daddy like you, who wouldn't want kids? You dote so much on them. I'd be very lucky to parent kids with you."

Chris kissed her, losing track of the fact his son and daughter were there for a moment, at least until Alyssa pushed him away, "You are wonderful, Lyss."

"I know. You better not forget it," she smiled. "And... I'm getting hungry."

"I suppose that's my hint that I need to figure out what we're doing for dinner?" he arched an eyebrow.

"Good boy," she patted his leg. "You get a reward for that."

"Oh? What kind of reward?"

"You'll know when I do," Alyssa winked before sliding off the couch to crawl to Toni and play with her.

"Lyss-lyss!" Toni giggled, offering her toy to the woman.

"I have a question for you, Toni," she stated seriously.

"Wha?"

"Do you want to stay here with me and Daddy or do you want to get back on the plane and go with Mommy?" she asked.

"Dada!" Toni exclaimed. "Lyss-lyss!"

Alyssa giggled and reached over to tickle the little girl. She glanced over her shoulder at Chris, still sitting on the couch, watching the two of them. Winking at him, she turned her attention back to the little girl.



Standing waist-deep in water, Alyssa held her hands up while Toni kicked her little legs in the water. Squealing, she reached for the little girl's toes, trying to stop her kicking. Toni giggled more as soon as Alyssa caught her toes, her little hands letting go of Chris's neck to reach for Alyssa. Making a face, Alyssa moved out of the little girl's reach, causing her to squeal more.

"Lyss-Lyss!" she shouted, reaching for her.

"I dunno," Alyssa teased. "I don't think I could hold you."

Accepting the toddler, she let go of Toni for a moment. The toddler floated before she kicked her legs and made herself sink. Lifting her back up, Alyssa set her up on the concrete. A moment later Toni jumped back into the pool, giggling and getting a mouthful of water. Coughing she kept smiling.

A few more times Toni jumped into the pool, half the time into Alyssa's hands, half the time into Chris's. It was a great way to exhaust the little girl as it didn't put any strain on Alyssa's sore bottom half and Toni hadn't a clue of that, just thinking they were having fun.

Wrapped in a bright pink towel, Toni yawned, her little head resting on Chris's chest. Father and daughter lounged peacefully under shade of an umbrella.

Tucking her own towel around her, Alyssa leaned down and kissed him briefly, "I'm going to go and check on Nick."

"I'll do it," Chris declared, the muscles in his neck flexing as he moved to sit up.

"Don't worry, Chris. You and Toni just relax. I can handle the little monster," she grinned. "I won't be long."

He relaxed again, "If you say so...."

"I do."


With both the kids in their own beds, though Toni was likely to come and join them, Alyssa snuggled up against Chris, "We need to figure out what to do with my dad, too."

He sighed, "I know. I've been thinking about that."

"And?"

"I was thinking we could build something on the lot next door. Something just for him and his full-time care. That way he's close but you won't have to worry about caring for him all the time. And we wouldn't have to worry when the tour comes about," Chris suggested.

"That sounds all right. I'll see what he thinks when I call him tomorrow," she said.

"Why tomorrow?"

"I call him every Friday afternoon," Alyssa yawned. "Let him know how I'm doing, how we're doing. He keeps asking when the wedding is."

Chris smiled, his hand brushing her back softly, "When is the wedding, Lyss?"

"Sometime.... in the fall," she yawned again. "I'll get back to you on that."


Alyssa's forehead wrinkled with confusion, "I just sign here?"

"And here and here," the lawyer pointed at separate blanks.

"And what exactly does this do?" she scribbled on the lines.

"Gives you joint legal custody of Toni and Nicholas," he responded. "That is until you and Mr. Cornell wed. Then this document does not really matter, since he is the one you share custody with now."

"And this is necessary why?" her eyes rose to look at the lawyer.

"In the event any decisions need to be made concerning the children and Mr. Cornell is unavailable, you can make them," he answered. "In a nutshell, that is."

"Um, okay," she pushed the document back across the table, feeling Chris squeeze her leg slightly.

"As Ms. Karayiannis has already relinquished legal custody of the children, it's just a legal safeguard," he assured her. "It doesn't change you or the children at all. Just the way the law looks at you."

The lawyer's eyes looked over he piece of paper. He scribbled his own name on a line, dated it, and pulled out a stamp.

"Congratulations, Miss Morgan. It's a girl.... and a boy."