Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Forty-six, Big Sister
Rating: NC-17 [violence, swearing, nudity, sexual situations]

Summary: Chris and Alyssa spend quality time with Lily.

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Current Chapter Big Sister

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Alyssa leaned against Chris, his arm draping around her shoulders. He kissed the top of her head, fingers stroking her upper arm.

"We should consider taking Lily shopping," Alyssa declared.

"For?" he asked.

"Things for her room," she replied.

Chris pulled away enough to look fully at her, "But Susan has full custody of her."

"What if I were to say that I talked her into giving you partial custody?" Alyssa responded.

His green eyes lit up, "Really?"

She nodded slowly, "Every third weekend, every other holiday, and every third week during the summer. And any other time I request."

"You request?" he flinched at the implications.

Alyssa nodded again, "This is really a deal between me and Susan, Chris. She doesn't want to talk to you about it at all. And her attorney has told her not to talk to you about anything. Technically Lily's in my care during those times."

He frowned and sighed, "I understand. At least I get to see her."

"Exactly my point," she smiled, snuggling against him again. "So back to my original statement, I think we should take Lily shopping. And it should just be a thing we do with just her. No Toni or Nick around."

"That's a good idea. How long do we have her?"

"I take her back Sunday evening," Alyssa answered. "We'll have her again in two weeks, since summer vacation will begin then."

"Then tomorrow it is," Chris nodded.



"But I wanna go! I promise I be good, Lyss-Lyss!" Toni whined, holding onto Alyssa's leg.

Alyssa squatted, putting her eye-level with the three year old, "But I need you to stay here. I have some very important things getting delivered here this afternoon. Someone needs to be here to make sure the right princess dresses are delivered."

"Pricess dresses?" she asked.

"Yes," she nodded. "I need you to stay here with Brad and Selene, just to make sure everything is perfect. Can you do that for me, Toni?"

The little girl nodded determinedly, "Yep. I be good."

"That's my girl," Alyssa declared, kissing her nose. "We'll be back in a little while."

Hurrying out the door, she slipped into the car before Toni or Nick could start crying for them again. Chris grinned at her before winking at Lily as he backed the car out of the driveway.

"Well handled, Mom," Chris complimented.

"Thanks," Alyssa chuckled, before turning to Lily. "Tell me, Lily, what do you want your bedroom to look like?"

The girl's bright eyes went to Alyssa, "I get my own room?"

"Of course. And it can look like anything you want it to. We'll get everything we need today. And your dad and I will paint the walls before you come and stay with us in a couple of weeks," she answered.

Lily grinned, "Green. And I like ponies."

"Perfect," Alyssa turned around.



Adding the cans of paint to the bags of goodies in the trunk, Chris waited for Lily to pull her hands out of the way before closing the lid. He ruffled her hair and headed to open the door for her.

"Daddy?" she said softly.

He turned to her, causing Alyssa to pause just within earshot.

"Can we go one more place?"

"Sure. Where do you want to go?"

"I want to get a present for Toni and Nicky," she said, looking at her feet. "Auntie Lyssa gave me two dollars to spend however I wanted and I want to get them presents."

Chris grinned, "Of course you can. There's a toy store we can go to, or do you have something else in mind?"

"Toy store is good," Lily nodded.



Trailing a few feet behind the six year old, Alyssa watched the girl look over toys intently. First they went down the baby aisles, so she could find something for Nick. It took her quite some time to decide on a puzzle-ball that helped a young child learn shapes. It was more than a dollar, but Alyssa wasn't about to point that out.

After that, Lily lead them down the stuffed animal aisle. Her little fingers picked up a few different stuffed kittens and puppies, returning each of them after turning them over a few times. Frowning the girl left the aisle, heading towards the dolls.

Her little fingers trailed over the boxes, her eyes intent on the doll's faces. Finally she stopped in front of a doll. Picking up the box, she turned it around and looked at the pictures on the back of it.

"Is this doll too big girl for Toni?" she held the box towards Alyssa.

Handing the puzzle to Chris, she accepted the box and looked it over, "Nope. I think it would be perfect for her. Is this the one you want to get her?"

Lily nodded, "I think she'll like it."

"I think you're right," Alyssa grinned. "Do you want to carry it?"

She nodded again, taking the box back. Tucking the box under one arm, her hand reached up for Chris's. Alyssa couldn't help but smile as the pair walked hand-in-hand up to the registers. Lily placed the toys very carefully up on the counter. Her fingers went to a little purse that Alyssa had given her, which had lead to the gift of the two dollars so 'that the purse wasn't empty.' Pulling the bills out, she set those on the counter too.

Luckily the checker was perceptive as to what was happening, "Are you buying these for your sister?"

"And brother," Lily nodded.

"What a good big sister you are," she smiled, slipping the purchases into a bag. "You hold onto this for me."

With Lily distracted with the bag, Chris handed over his card for the remaining of the purchase, thanking the checker silently for not breaking his little girl's bubble by telling her she didn't have enough money.

"That was very nice of you, Lily," Alyssa stated as they headed to the car. "I'm sure they will love your gifts."

"I hope so," she grinned. "And Auntie Lyssa?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for you too," she said shyly.