Time After Time || Chris Cornell

42. As The Seasons Roll On By...

Seattle Washington, December 15 1990

(Andi is 20, Chris is 26)

ANDI: "Chris, don't you think that tree is maybe just a bit to big?" I ask raising my eyebrow as I follow behind him being careful of my footing as he drags the enormous pine tree across the living room floor. I wince a little as it drags across the hardwood so I reach down and pick up the end and help him carry it.

"Nah babe, it's... perfect," He winces as I help maneuver the dark pine onto it's base with water, then into the corner I had cleared for the object in question. He then begins to untie the ropes that held the branches up and close together so that the pine needles didn't just end up all over the floor. I help him as he does so, being careful that the branches don't end up hitting him in the meantime.

It's our first Christmas together as husband and wife and the first time having an actual Christmas tree to decorate. We never bothered to get a tree before because Chris was always so busy with the band, but now that we have our own little home - and a bit of time for the holidays - it seems fitting that we spend Christmas here, and since we are spending it here, we are having some of the boys over tonight for a little pre-Christmas party I guess you could say. I hate calling it a Christmas party when really it's just everyone we know and love just basically coming over to jam and hang out.

Chris has just finished recording the Temple Of The Dog album, which is set to be released in early Spring, so now he'll have some more time to work on material for the next Soundgarden record. Yea, I know... even when he's on a break, he's always working.  But he always says it's not really work, or at least it never feels like it, especially when it's something you live for.

I just hope that I'm able to stay in one place long enough to enjoy the holidays with my husband.

Ok, I shouldn't say that, I mean I haven't had a slip since our wedding, but I'm always worried about when the next slip will happen. 'Cause let's face it... it always ends up happening no matter what I do to try and stop it. I shouldn't worry though. The medication has been working a lot better than the previous one I had so maybe - just maybe - I'll be able to see what it's like to be a normal person... whatever that means.

Once Chris unties the last rope around the tree, letting the branches flick back to their rightful position, he takes a step back to observe the pine while the room begins to fill with its scent.

"Maybe it is just a bit too tall?" Chris says as he looks up at the top, realizing there isn't enough room to put up the star.

I guess that's what you get when you buy a house with only 7 and a half foot ceilings.

"Yea," I say as I look up at the tree and then glance at him with his dark curls pulled into a low ponytail through his black baseball cap, his silver hoop earring catching the light from the dim winter sun shining through the living room window.

"What?" He says glancing down at me with that smirk he gives when he has no idea just how cute he is.

"Nothing," I smile back shaking my head as a curl falls across my eyes. He chuckles and leans down to me giving me a quick kiss on my lips, then breaks away moving over to the box of decorations as I flip my curls out of my eyes.

It wasn't long before we began to place some decorations on the tree. A lot of them were pretty much 'hand-me-downs' from when I was a kid. My dad brought them over last week when he was going through his storage unit and asked if we needed any Christmas stuff. At first I didn't think we needed them but Chris was wanting to get a tree so we decided to take them off his hands. 

My dad finally decided on moving to Seattle, to be closer to me and because he seems to be getting a lot more gigs with his band out here on the west coast. He's always had dual citizenship since he had to travel back and forth from Toronto to New York, playing gigs with his band when I was a baby, so it was pretty seamless for him to move here. He found a little house on the outskirts of town - about a 45 minute drive from here but it's still considered inside Seattle. 

It seems strange to think that Toronto is no longer my home - my childhood home. It was always comforting to think that I could still go home since my dad still lived there. Even though I've been in Seattle since I was 18, I'm always going to be a Canadian girl at heart. 

I haven't had the chance to see my dad's new place, but we've made plans for Christmas eve, and then Christmas day we are spending time with Chris's family. I can't wait to see his mom, Peter and Katy, Suzie too if she can make it. She's been pretty elusive for the most part. I've only met her once in the entire time I've been with Chris. She's happier living in California though.

"I'm thinking maybe we should have sprung for new Christmas lights," Chris says as he reaches in the box and pulls out a clump of horribly tangled lights.

"Maybe, but it wouldn't really be an authentic decorating experience if all we had to do was just open up a package and place them on the tree," I smirk as I hang a shiny little Christmas ball  on one of the branches.

"Will you just... help me here?" He smiles sarcastically at me, his gorgeous blue eyes squinting at me while I giggle.

"You sure you wouldn't just... wanna tie me up instead?" I ask, walking over to him and coyly taking some of the lights from him, nonchalantly untangling them. He smirks at me again with a chuckle, shaking his head and I could tell he was pondering my question.

"You... huh... well...?" He stutters for a few moments and I giggle, loving the fact that I caught him off guard.

"Or I could tie you up..." I shrug as I continue to untangle the lights, then give him a quick glance biting my bottom lip. Once again I can tell that the wheels are spinning in his head

"We just might need to discuss this upstairs," He clears his throat still looking at the mess of tangles that he was working on then gives me a glance under his brow.

"You'll have to catch me first though," I counter as we continue our flirting stand off. Then after a few seconds, I quickly drop the mess of tangled lights and take off towards the stairs as Chris chases me, our laughter filling the room when he suddenly catches me around my waist just before I'm able to climb the first step.

"Well, well, look what I caught," He laughs and I squeal as he turns me around.

"Chris! No!" I yelp with laughter as he crouches down and bends me over his shoulder, picking me up and smacking me on my butt with his palm.

"Looks like I'm gonna be the one tying you up," Chris chuckles and I continue laughing as he carries me up the stairs.

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A/N: Hello lovelies,

A bit of a shorter part but I was finally able to come up with something. It's not much but I hope you like it. This new job is kicking my butt lol but I'm getting more comfortable with it each day. 

I have a few ideas rolling around in my brain for the next part so I'm working on that as I write this. Thank you for sticking with me, I appreciate you all so much.

-love templeoftheslavegarden