She sees the concern in his face, see her father standing right in front of her, and yet all Allison can manage to do is stare. Stare, and watch, and wait, like she does with all the other events that seem too good to be true. Entirely too good, because there's no way, no way at all that-
That's when Chris walks forward, and that's when Allison has to fight the urge to step back. She has no reason to believe it really is him, but at the same time no reason to believe it isn't. Why is she so afraid to just accept it? Like she does when Scott shows up? Lydia? If this were anyone else she would have been running towards them, excited, already in on the explanation and the this is crazy, you'll never believe it. But with her own father? She waits.
His arms wraps around her like every other hug. They feel normal, comfortable, with a sharp pain in her gut when she realizes just how long she's been missing them. Him. It's only a brief moment that she stands in the embrace, not moving, before the bow drops from her hand (she couldn't care less about it in this moment) and her arms lift. Shake, yes, but she doesn't notice that, just knows that she's reaching up and her hands are bunching in the fabric on his back and oh god, daddy.
If she melts a little into his arms, drops her weight because she can, because her dad is here, she doesn't notice. Doesn't notice anything except for how she tucks her face into his shoulder, or for how she doesn't think she really wants to move. Ever. Because pulling away would give this moment a chance to disappear. Give her father a chance to disappear.
But then there's that internal check, that realization a few moments later of how weak she's being. How childish. She wants to just sit here and let Chris hold her for however long she can manage, but she knows that's not what's best. Not helpful. So with one last squeeze, a tightening of her arms around his middle, she pulls back. Pulls back and wipes off her face, as quickly and discreetly as she can.
She's been living in Wonderland for eight months. Has gone through Hell and back, multiple times. She's not going to cry in front of her dad.
"How..." or let her voice crack. Allison takes a breath, giving Chris a small smile. "How long have you been here?"
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That's when Chris walks forward, and that's when Allison has to fight the urge to step back. She has no reason to believe it really is him, but at the same time no reason to believe it isn't. Why is she so afraid to just accept it? Like she does when Scott shows up? Lydia? If this were anyone else she would have been running towards them, excited, already in on the explanation and the this is crazy, you'll never believe it. But with her own father? She waits.
His arms wraps around her like every other hug. They feel normal, comfortable, with a sharp pain in her gut when she realizes just how long she's been missing them. Him. It's only a brief moment that she stands in the embrace, not moving, before the bow drops from her hand (she couldn't care less about it in this moment) and her arms lift. Shake, yes, but she doesn't notice that, just knows that she's reaching up and her hands are bunching in the fabric on his back and oh god, daddy.
If she melts a little into his arms, drops her weight because she can, because her dad is here, she doesn't notice. Doesn't notice anything except for how she tucks her face into his shoulder, or for how she doesn't think she really wants to move. Ever. Because pulling away would give this moment a chance to disappear. Give her father a chance to disappear.
But then there's that internal check, that realization a few moments later of how weak she's being. How childish. She wants to just sit here and let Chris hold her for however long she can manage, but she knows that's not what's best. Not helpful. So with one last squeeze, a tightening of her arms around his middle, she pulls back. Pulls back and wipes off her face, as quickly and discreetly as she can.
She's been living in Wonderland for eight months. Has gone through Hell and back, multiple times. She's not going to cry in front of her dad.
"How..." or let her voice crack. Allison takes a breath, giving Chris a small smile. "How long have you been here?"