I See The Light (Chris Evans AU Fanfiction)

Chapter 18

"Oh my god... that's.... My dad."

Chris quickly turned his head and looked down the street. There were a few people here and there but his eyes quickly locked where Allie was looking. A blonde woman was holding the hand of a short grey haired man. He could see the resemblance the shape of their eyes and the curl in their hair. Chris then looked back at Allie standing there in shock.

He watched as Allie just stood there with a blank expression while her father and the woman walked right by them. Chris just couldn't understand it. When he thought about his own father who had passed away a few years ago, if he had a chance to see him again, he'd leap at the chance, so he just couldn't understand Allie's reaction.

"Allie... why didn't you say anything," Chris' forehead was wrinkled in confusion as he looked at the man who had passed them by. "Why didn't he say anything to you?"

She stood there completely silent for a long moment, just staring at the ground before muttering, "I haven't seen my dad for more than 10 years... he didn't recognize me."

"But... do you want to see him? Do you want me to go stop him?" The loyal man who adored his family was having a hard time comprehending the situation.

Allie shook her head.

"Chris, I really don't want to talk about it. Just please take me home," Her voice was soft as she tried to fight back tears.

He nodded while he rested his hand on her lower back while they walked toward where he had parked his motorcycle. Chris got one and Allie climbed on the back, holding on and laying her head down as he started driving. He could practically feel the energy drained from Allie and it broke his heart.

Chris didn't really know what to say or do for her, especially when he didn't really know much about her family other than the little bit she had shared. He tried to think of what to say to make her feel better but came up with nothing. He never was the best with words but right now he wished that he was.

He ended up driving to his house and parked the bike in his garage. Allie's apartment was tiny, a bit dark from the lack of windows and noisy from her neighbors. He remembered when she had come to his house the day after they started dating and how she had described the small house he owned.

Allie had walked through the home and was in love with the open floor plan and all the beautiful California sunshine that poured in the big windows. She had turned around and smiled at him with that wide shining grin, telling him, "Your house is perfect. It's exactly what I envisioned, it's just like you."

"How can a house be like me?" He had chuckled and wondered.

"Well," He still remembered how she put her hands on her hips and looked around, "It's cozy and comforting. It's open and honest... authentic. It's unpretentious and inviting and it just makes me feel safe, just like you do."

Chris had remembered her description and because of that, he decided to ignore her request to go home and brought her here. When they had parked in the garage and climbed off the bike, he could tell Allie was withdrawing into herself.

"I really don't want to talk about it, Chris," She quietly told him while standing in the garage.

"I know," He nodded, taking her hand and leading her into the home. "I just don't want you to be alone tonight."

Her whole life, Allie mostly had to take care of herself, at least emotionally speaking. Nobody had ever really looked after her, well... until now. Once the pair had climbed into Chris' comfy bed, he held her tightly and rubbed her back without a single word, other than telling her that he loved her, until he fell asleep.

What Chris didn't know is that after he was asleep, Allie still laid awake staring at the ceiling. She was feeling so many emotions at the moment that she could barely even comprehend, but when she looked over at Chris' sleeping face, a comfort washed over her and she snuggled a little closer to him before falling asleep.

The next morning, the couple was fairly quiet as they got ready for work. Chris wouldn't lie, it hurt him to hear so much silence. Normally Allie was always chattering away in her happy voice, making him laugh or telling him a story. He loved her joyful personality and her amusing commentary on the way to work, but today was a much different story.

She just sat in the passenger seat and stared out the window without saying a word. Chris asked her if she wanted to come work in his office but the curly blonde just shook her head and said, "No, I just want to be alone."

He gave her a long look before leaning down to kiss her forehead and told her, "I love you Allie."

She gently took one of his big warm hands and lifted it up, pressing a kiss to his palm while telling him, "I love you too," wanting to reassure him she wasn't withdrawing from him, but rather just needed some time alone with her emotions.

Chris still just felt helpless though. The woman that he loved was hurting and he felt like there wasn't anything that he could do. Throughout the day as he was in and out of her office, he found himself just looking at her closed door and feeling his heart ache. He wanted to give Allie her space but he just couldn't help but draw a little sketch for her and slip it under her door before going back to his office to work.

A long sigh came out of him while he sat down at his desk and slipped on his glasses. He slowly started working his way through his emails when he heard his office door creak open. When he looked up, he saw Allie's petite frame standing there, holding the picture he had drawn her. It was an illustration of the two of them with him holding Allie tight and a little heart above their heads. He knew he wasn't the best with words but he figured he could better express what he was feeling to her with art, and by the look of her glossy eyes, it seemed to get the point across.

Allie didn't say a word, she just walked over, putting the drawing on the desk before coming to sit on his lap. Chris instantly enveloped her in his strong arms and she nuzzled her face in the crook of his neck while her arms came to drape around his hunky shoulders. He rested his chin on the top of her head and held her tightly and it was only then, that Allie felt truly safe and could let out her emotions and sob against him.

He felt his own tears stinging at his eyes as he heard and felt Allie sobbing in his arms. Chris wanted nothing more than just to take all her pain away and he hated that he couldn't. All he could do was rub her back while she cried. Allie clung to him as she cried until she didn't have any tears left. She practically was shaking when she finished crying and she tried to sit up, but Chris kept her tucked against him while he rubbed his hands on her to help soothe and calm her.

"Times like this I really wish I was good with words. I wish I knew the right thing to say to you right now to help you, Allie, but I don't," Chris softly confessed.

"I don't need the right words, I just need you," Allie replied.

That, Chris could do.

He kept her on his lap and Chris held her tight until he could hear her breathing return to normal. She eventually lifted her head and Chris put both of his hands on her tear stained cheeks. His eyebrows were arched as he looked at her red, swollen face, and he didn't quite know how she still looked so beautiful, but she did. Chris leaned in and kissed her lovingly before he assured her, "I'll always be here for you."

Tears gathered once again in her eyes, this time from happiness rather, as she softly smiled, "I know you will... and that means more to me than anything."

She loved the sweet grin that crossed Chris' lips before he pulled her back against his chest and gently rocked her and rubbed her back. He never pushed her or forced her into anything, he simply was there for her to comfort and love her, and that's all Allie could ever want. All she had to do was look at him, and she knew everything would be okay.