Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Seventy, Against the Passion
Rating: NC-17 [violence, swearing, nudity, sexual situations]

Summary: The couple arrive at their honeymoon locale, but relationship complications arise.

Previous Chapter Let the Game Begin

Current Chapter Against the Passion

Next Chapter Hands On Skin

Snuggling against Chris, Alyssa dozed on the airplane. She still had no idea where they were going, only that it was taking forever to fly there. When the pilot had announced their descent, she had been distracted by the view out the windows, trying to determine their location from the view alone. Unfortunately Singapore had not been their destination, rather just the major city they were routed through. Now they were seated aboard a smaller plane, destined for... wherever they were destined for. At that moment, Alyssa didn't even care. Jetlag had caught up with her already. All she wanted to do was crawl into a bed and sleep.

"Baby," Chris kissed her, trying to wake her enough to look out the window at their descent. "We're here."

"Wherever here is," she muttered, rubbing her eyes before looking out.

Her breath caught. Tiny freckle-like islands dotted the deep blue Indian Ocean. White sandy beaches sparkled in the sun. She had thought their venture to the Caribbean had been paradise, but this was quickly rivaling that.

"Chris," she breathed, looking away from the window as the small plane neared the runway, "where are we?"

"The Maldives," he answered. "A nation of coral islands, making something like twenty-five atolls."

"As if you know what that means," she teased.

"Shut up," Chris stuck his tongue out. "What I do know is that it's very beautiful and you're going to enjoy the next two weeks here very much."

"I don't doubt it," her eyes went back to the window as the plane rolled to a stop.

After disembarking the plane, Alyssa closed her eyes and inhaled the sea air, feeling the sun kiss her cheeks. Chris's arm slipped around behind her, his lips touching her warmed cheeks. She smiled, eyes fluttering open to look at him. For just a moment they stood there, trying to wrap their minds around where they were. And they hadn't seen anything yet.

"Mr. and Mrs. Cornell?" a young man approached them.

Chris nodded, "We are."

"I am your thakuru and will be taking care of all of your needs while you stay with us at Huvafen Fushi for the beginning of your honeymoon," he explained. "If you would follow me, our boat awaits."

Alyssa looked for their luggage but spied it being carried down to a boat not far from the small airport. Falling instep with her husband and their thakuru, her brown eyes glanced about. For a brief moment she wanted to venture into the city of ... well wherever it was. But that was overpowered not only by Chris's hand on hers, but the desire to see where they were headed, where she would be able to sleep soon enough.

The boat soon reached their resort. Alyssa was completely speechless, completely uncomprehending their host's speech. While he detailed what was available at the resort, she looked around, trying to absorb the beauty of the resort. She didn't even notice when Chris signed them in and received the keys, didn't notice their host point out areas of the main building. It was all so very overwhelming.

Lead away from where everything centred around, their host inserted a key into gate that barred access to the walkways out to one of the two ocean pavilions. Passing through the screens, Alyssa focused on the bungalow at the end of the walk. They were lead into the exclusive Pavilion, their luggage set in the master bedroom. After assuring Chris he was available any time during their stay, their thakuru bowed and disappeared from sight, heading back down the walk, leaving the two newlyweds to their own devices.

Wandering through the pavilion, Alyssa's eyes remained wide. An infinity pool had greeted them, stretching the border between inside and out, surrounded by fibre-optic lights. Her fingers trailed over the small dining table, over the back of the chairs, still looking out over the ocean. From there she moved through the smaller bedroom, though didn't linger long, finding only a day bed and a private deck there.

Stepping into the master bedroom, Alyssa could practically feel Chris's grin behind her as she wandered in. It had an interesting open plan layout, not separating the bath and bedroom, though the toilet was hidden behind a frosted glass door. Alyssa could already imagine lounging in the large infinity edged bathtub, relaxing as the sunset outside the windows.

"Chris, this is amazing," she breathed.

His arms slipped around her waist, "It is. Almost as amazing as you."

She smiled softly, arms folding over his, "Let's take a bath and then go to sleep."

He chuckled, "As you wish. Though it is only four in the afternoon here."

Alyssa sighed, "Be as that may, I need to in the very least nap before I do anything else. I fear my body will collapse otherwise."

"You should have slept more on the plane," he declared.

"You know I can't sleep on planes," she responded. "So let's take a bath and a nap. No. Let's just take a nap."

He laughed again, "As you wish."

Pulling out of his embrace, Alysa turned, her fingers finding his and pulling him towards the large, white-covered bed. Falling backwards onto it, she pulled him with her, laying just like that for a moment. With a smile, Chris's fingertips ran down her neck, the outline of her body, before slipping under her hips to help move her towards the centre of the bed.

With both readjusted, Alyssa snuggled against Chris once more, eyes dropping close, "This is going to be the best honeymoon ever. I just know it."



Seated across from Chris at a private table on sandy beach, set just for them, Alyssa grinned at him. Their host had seen to every detail, the candles lit, the wine chilled, the food prepared just right. And he remained out of earshot of the couple, at attention for any luxury the pair requested.

As the sunset, their fingers intertwined, their dessert forgotten, untouched. Sparkling eyes said all that was needed, all that words would not suffice to say. All of the headaches and stresses of preparing for the wedding were gone. All that was left was how they felt for each other. And for a moment that's all the world was to Chris and Alyssa.

But then a yawn from Alyssa's lips disrupted her thoughts.

"Two hour nap wasn't enough?" Chris teased.

"No," she replied, honestly. "I can't really sleep all that well with you watching me."

"I couldn't help it. You're so beautiful."

Alyssa grinned, "I married you, Chris. You don't have to charm me into your bed anymore."

He laughed, "Good to know. But I'm not going to stop. Pretty women deserve pretty words."

"Mmmmm, well if you insist," she replied, moving to stand. "Let's go back to our bed. Maybe with a full night's sleep I'll be more willing to see what else this resort has for us."

Kissing her hand as he stood, Chris agreed, "Perhaps a massage in the underwater spa after some yoga?"

"Let's forget the yoga and just go for the massage," she decided.

"Two weeks without exercising? You sure about that?" he teased, slowly heading the walk that lead to their pavilion.

"Baby, once I've got energy again, I don't think we'll be worrying about keeping up with our exercise regime. I'm pretty sure we'll get enough exercise in another manner," she winked suggestively.

With that Chris increased his pace, causing Alyssa to laugh as they passed the lagoon side bungalows. Glancing at the passing buildings, she didn't even wonder why Chris had chosen the pavilion instead. She knew from the very fact that they had to have a special key just to access the boardwalk to their accomadations that Chris chose based on privacy, exclusivity. They didn't really need the extra space, the extra bedroom. But the fact no one could get to them, see them, lead Chris to choose it, probably even specify the very end one. And she loved that. It made it their own private... dream.

Leading her into their current home, Chris pulled her to him, kissing her gently before turning back to leading her to the bedroom. Alyssa giggled softly, knowing his excitement meant Chris wouldn't be sleeping anytime soon, which likely meant she wouldn't be either. At least she would get that bath she wanted earlier.

Or so she hoped.

Reaching the bedroom, he stopped. Pulling Alyssa around him, Chris kissed her again, this time not as gently. She smiled against the passion, but didn't return it. Not yet.

"Let's take a bath," she declared, pulling away from him.

He pouted, but aquiesced to her desires. Alyssa however grinned, holding her arms up much like Toni would when asking to have her shirt pulled off. It took Chris a minute to figure out what she meant. With a smirk he pulled off her cotton tee shirt. Dropping the shirt, his hands ran over her newly exposed breasts, cupping them gently. She giggled and pulled away from him, moving towards the bath tub to turn on the water.

With the water pouring out of the ceiling, Alyssa dropped her shorts, tossing them over her shoulder in Chris's direction. He chuckled, adding her clothing to the pile of his own, waiting for her panties to fly as well. However the pink lace thong she kept on, turning around to sit on the edge of the tub. Her eyes went to Chris's trying to not pay any attention to his obvious nudity. Her eyes glittered, holding his gaze.

"What do you suppose the kids are doing right now?" she asked, trying so very hard to distract him.

"Missing us," he replied without missing a step towards her. "But let's not think of them right now."

Alyssa moved out of his outstretched arms, "Just a bath, Chris."

"But we're on our h—"

"Just a bath. Or I'll go use the other bathroom," she declared.

His mouth shut instantly and he nodded.

Standing she removed her panties and reached over to turn off the water. Stepping into the tub, she held her hand out for him, waiting for Chris to join her before sitting. With his arms wrapping around her, Alyssa settled into the water, her eyes focusing on the ocean view outside their window. His lips touched her shoulder, kissing her softly.

"Chris?" Alyssa breathed.

"Yes, love," he replied, fingers tracing down her arms.

"This is forever, right?"

"Of course it is," he answered flatly. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"I don't know," answered Alyssa. "I just... I dunno. It doesn't seem... real. I'm waiting to turn over in bed and find it empty, find this all just a dream."

"Sometimes I wonder along similiar lines. I can't believe I'm so blessed to have you in my life. Nevermind the being married part. Just you in my life is... amazing itself. Nevermind that you stole my heart in the past two years completely. So yes, this is forever."

"It feels like yesterday when you and I sat on a beach alone, talking about your marriage falling apart," she stated. "The past two years are totally just a blur. I can't believe we're here, we're married. I've always been meant for you, that I know. But I never thought we'd actually get to this point."

"Ye of little faith," his hands flattened on her stomach. "We were meant to be. I just had to get un-stupid first."

Alyssa laughed, "Yes, you did."

"I see no reason for us to have a lifetimes of happiness together. Music, babies, whatever you wish," Chris stated.

She frowned slightly, an expression he couldn't see with the back of her head on his chest. But he felt it, felt the air change around her.

"Baby, what is it?"

"Is that all I am to you, Chris?" she asked, sitting up and pivoting in the tub to face him. "Another mother to more babies?"

"No no no no no," he quickly answered. "You should know better, Alyssa. You're my best friend. You're my everything. Babies or not."

"But you define me as someone able to bear your children."

Chris remained silent for a moment, "As a woman, yes, I define you with the ability to bear children. But that isn't what defines you wholly. You're more than that."

"Am I? Name five things I'm interested in. And none of them can be the names of your children nor yourself."

She saw it swim in his eyes, the phrase 'oh shit'. Each tick of her pulse that passed without an answer from him didn't make anything any better at all. He didn't know. He didn't have anything to answer. She was just his wife, not a person.

Her hands went to the sides of the tub and she quickly rose, water streaming down her body. Chris moved quickly, reaching for her, trying to pull her back to him. But his fingers slipped over her lubricated skin. With a fluffy towel wrapped around her body, Alyssa padded away from the tub, away from Chris.

She didn't stop at the door, heading straight out to the ocean. The towel fell to the deck and she continued down the steps from the deck, which descended directly into the ocean. Sitting nude on the very bottom step, her toes tickling the water, Alyssa frowned at the moon. She felt Chris get closer, but he wisely stopped a distance from her, biting his tongue. She knew, just knew, he was already racking his brain for the answer to her question, or in the very least some way to make up for not knowing.

Only she didn't know if he could.

"Alyssa—"

"Don't, Chris," she cut him off. "Don't apologize. Don't try to make things better. Let's just forget this."

"No," he stated, slowly moving to sit next to her. "This is our honeymoon. We're not going to start our marriage off by avoiding something merely because neither of us have a good answer to it. We're going to talk about this. Then and only then can we go to bed."

"But—"

"No, Alyssa. My last two marriages failed because we didn't discuss things the way you and I do. I'm not about to start that with you," Chris stated strongly.

"Fine," she sighed. "What am I going to do now? I don't have a massive wedding to plan."

"We're going to be on tour. You'll find ways to keep busy. You always did before," he pointed out.

"Before was different. Before I would fly out to hang out with you on a few tour stops, then return to LA for school or work or something," she responded. "I don't have work. I don't have school. I don't have anything. My life revolves completely around you now."

"And how is that b—"

"Because defining yourself by someone else is not only risky but stupid. I can't just be another part of you. I need to be myself too," she claimed. "I need to be Alyssa Cornell, something. Not just Alyssa Cornell, wife of Audioslave's frontman."

"Do you want to return to interior design?" he asked gently.

She shook her head, "No. I was content doing that, but not really happy. It was something to focus on, something to fill up time. But not really my passion."

"What's your passion?"

"Besides you and the kids," she qualified.

He nodded.

"I don't know anymore. I've lost that."

"Then we need to find it," Chris stated. "What have you enjoyed the most recently?"

She thought for a moment, "I liked doing the calligraphy for our wedding. And designing the centrepieces."

"And what classes did you like the most in school?"

"Metalworks and calligraphy," she answered. "And my writing classes."

Chris nodded, "Then I think we should look into options with that. Perhaps you would be interested in designing something for the tour?"

"Isn't that already all decided?"

He shrugged, "It's never hard for me to pull strings, Lyss. You know that."

She turned slightly to look at him, "I think I might like to do something along that line. Get back into the things I learned in school. But only if the guys agree to it too."

"We'll talk with them when we get back," he stated.

"All right."

He paused a moment, "What else do you like?"

"Books. I miss reading. I miss being a book store or a library," she replied.

"Fixable. What else?"

"Flowers," she stated. "But I'm not any good at growing them."

"We can sign up for a gardening class," he suggested. "What else?"

"Astronomy," Alyssa answered.

Chris nodded, "I think we've hit five then. We'll work on working those into our lives in the next few weeks, help you re-find yourself. On one condition."

"What's that?"

"You don't lose me in the search."