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A Charmed Story - Part Eleven:
Enemy In My Mind
Chapter 1

The sun was shining through the windows while three figures - two larger and a small one - were standing at the diaper-changing table, with a half naked baby lying on each of these.
"Mmmmm," Cole was wrinkling his nose, "seems you had a great lunch today, Christopher." Then he put the used diaper into the trashcan.
Chris chuckled as he spread some powder on his girl's butt and gave the bottle to Wyatt who was observing the two men attentively. "Could you give the powder to uncle Cole?" he asked. Wyatt nodded and went the two steps to his uncle, offering him the bottle. Meanwhile Chris took a new diaper and redressed his daughter smiling.
"Thanks, little worrior," Cole said as he took the powder.
Wyatt smiled proudly. He always felt like a real big boy when he could help in any way. Chris felt the joy of his brother and couldn't help smiling even more. He really loved to be with his family.
Every second he could find, he spent with them. But lately it was difficult. There was this Christmas-party they planed for the magic school and there were only six weeks left, then his work as Elder, even if Leo was the one in charge at the moment, and of course... the demons.
Sometimes he felt he would neglect his family. But every time he felt that way, everyone assured him that he was a great son, a great brother, a great husband and of course the best father in the world.
Still he wished he would be able to spend more time with them. Especially when he looked at his cute girl who was lying on the diaper-changing table, smiling at him.
"You're so silent, what's wrong?" Cole asked, turning to him while he closed the new diaper around Christopher's butt.
"Nothing... the usual feeling of having not enough time for her, you know..." Chris admitted.
Cole sighed: "Man, you are a great father, and you spend all the time with her that you have...And in addition you sometimes spend even more time with all three kids then your own mother... You are a great daddy... and Hope knows that! And the fact that you worry about this, proves that I'm right."
Chris nodded, still not really convinced: "I know..."

°°°°°°°°°°

Bianca and Piper were in the kitchen. Surrounded by several boxes and bowls and pieces of food, they were preparing the meal. "Who will be there for dinner today?" the Phoenix asked.
"You, me, Phoebe, Cole, Chris and the kids..." she answered, "so just the small amount..."
Bianca chuckled, remembering the last time the whole family was there for dinner and Piper felt like cooking at a canteen kitchen.
But even if it wasn't such a huge dinner, it was a special one. Because today it was the first day without any obstacles left by the craftsmen. Today they had put the last piece of furniture at it's new place. The enlargements of the manor were finished! And if this wasn't a reason to celebrate, than what else would be?
It was really funny for Bianca, to cook with Piper. The two women had become really close friends, to Bianca's relieve. She was happy that she was so close to her, to all of them. She had always dreamt of such a huge family, and now this dream had come true.
"Could you set the table?" Piper asked then.
Bianca nodded: "If Phoebe will let me... The last time I was in the dinning room, she had occupied the table with her laptop, working on her next column.
The oldest Charmed One smiled and was about to reply when they heard a scream from upstairs. Startled they turned their heads to the ceiling. But at the same moment, bluish orbing light filled the kitchen, when Chris orbed in with his daughter on his arms.
"What the hell happened?" Bianca exclaimed confused, when she saw the huge smile on Chris's face.
The proudly smiling daddy, ignoring Piper's disapproving look, cleared half of the table and then laid Hope on it on her back. "Just look and see..." he said. But nothing happened.
"Chris..." Bianca said, still not understanding. But then the giggling Hope started to flounder and moving and finally she turned herself - without help - on her stomach.
"Oh my God..." the Phoenix exclaimed excited and now as proud as Chris, "you can turn around yourself... you're such a clever girl." She smiled widely and took the little girl to her arms holding her tightly.
Piper chuckled turning to her son: "Ok... I know this is huge... But please... when she begins to sit, don't scream again like a demon is about to kill you honey, ok? You almost gave us a heart attack."
Chris lowered his eyes blushing. "Sorry," he muttered.
Meanwhile also Cole and Phoebe and the other kids arrived in the kitchen all smiling and giggling with the proud parents.

°°°°°°°°°°

An explosion was heard through the whole building. Everyone turned their heads around startled, but then they went back to their usual calm work.
Steve smiled, looking at the broken figure which once was made of china, before he had blown it into pieces. Then he thought, that this must have sound like a huge thunder down there.
Elenia patted his shoulder, and looked at him with pride written on her face: "You are really talented, son." She was so glad to have him around. After all this time it felt good to be able to openly care again.
Steve chuckled. It was so good to talk to her again, to have her around when he needed her. Even if he still felt a little weird up there. But it was the best place to train the powers which lie in his genes. He could throw those energy-flashed and he had his forcefield... both was working fine for him now. And his mom said that he could also sense the state other people are in, that's why he always knew when someone was lying.
"And I'm sure... now that you know, you'll discover more with the time," she had said. First Steve was a little scared by that. He never wanted to be powerful. But the fact that he was half-Elder was something he couldn't deny, now that he knew it.
"Thanks mom," he said and hugged her. He was happy that she helped him to understand and to control his powers. It was a lot easier this way.
Then he looked at his watch: "Oh... it's already late, I have to go back." And when he saw the hint of disappointment on his mother face he added: "Nicki is waiting for me... you know..." He smiled, blushing.
Elenia chuckled: "Don't worry Steve, I understand..." He nodded, then lowered his head to look at his shoes. "What's wrong?" his mother asked caring.
"Nothing... I just wish I could orb, because then you wouldn't have to orb me up and down all the time..."
Now she was the one who sighed: "You can't have everything, honey."
He smiled: "Thanks God..." Then they both laughed and hugged again.

°°°°°°°°°°

Tom and Veronica were walking along the commercial streets in San Francisco, completely engrossed in themselves and ignoring the others around them. It was quite a cold day for a city like San Francisco. But it was sunny, also weird for that time.
They were completely wrapped up in their coats, and scarves, and she was even wearing a hat, but just because 'it's cool and matches with the coat, and gloves'. Tom has smiled at those words: "Girl you prefer dying from the heat than not being fashionable."
"What, you don't like it??" she said, feeling angry at him.
But Tom just shrugged and smiled: "I like you all. Everything that means you and that is you, no matter what."
She chuckled and grabbed his arm playfully, at which action, he cupped her chin lovingly and kissed her, pushing her towards a wall, by a shop window. They kissed each other, hugged and chuckled, ignoring the disgusted looks of some passers-by, especially those who were older.
"Have you seen this green dress?" he asked, still gripping her chin to keep on kissing her.
She chuckled. "Which one? I can't turn to see it..." she said.
"Oh, you can't?" he laughed. "Or maybe you don't want..." He kissed her softly, and she closed her eyes.
Once they separated again, she whispered: "Maybe I don't wanna look..."
"Are you sure? It's a beautiful dress..." he teased, freeing her chin, but she opened her eyes and stared at him, smiling full of love.
"Sure. But if you want to see it on me... You can just buy it."
This time it was him that chuckled. "I don't need to see you in a beautiful dress to think that YOU are beautiful," he said.
Veronica frowned and slapped his cheek softly, playfully: "Bad boy... That's a bad excuse to say that you don't want to buy me the dress." Tom laughed even more, and put his hands around her neck, kissing her again.
Little by little, they were turning around, until he was against the wall instead of her. At that moment, she opened her eyes again to see the dress, and when she saw it, she pushed Tom against the window and cried, pretending to be angry: "You lied to me!! You were making fun of me, man!"
Tom laughed heartily now: "I knew you'd not be able to resist the temptation of looking at the...'dress'!" Behind the window there was a disguise of elf. A green one, with a long pointing hat, also green.
Both of them laughed, holding hands, and resumed their walk. "I hate you..." she said, smiling.

°°°°°°°°°°

A few minutes later Steve and his mom walked down the hallway to Elenia's room, to pick up the boy's bag. It was really impressing how much things had changed since the young man was up there for the first time.
Chris's bottled-plant-project was really a beautiful thing, because now there were plants everywhere so that the boring white was disturbed by a lot of green leaves and some brightly colored flowers. Jeremiah quickly began to like to take care of those things, that's why everything was growing so well.
"Alright," Elenia said another couple of minutes later, when Steve had all his things packed together. "When shall I pick you up the next time?" she asked.
Steve shrugged. He had spend quite a lot time up there lately. And... he was missing his girl a lot. "Well," he said hesitantly, "actually I wanted to spend some more time with Nicki the next week and..."
His mom smiled. "I see," she said, "don't worry... Take the time you need... Just call me when you want to come, ok?"
He nodded, smiling relieved that she wasn't disappointed.
But then he suddenly heard something... a voice in his head. Also Elenia tensed, she had heard it too.
"STEVE!!!! OH GOD, STEVE!!!!"
"Nicki!" the young man exclaimed, more worried about her than surprised that he in fact could hear her.
Elenia quickly grabbed his hand and orbed with him down to where the desperate yell came from.

°°°°°°°°°°

The Elder orbed with her son right into the living room of his apartment to see Nicki flying into the cupboard. Steve turned around to face the intruder. It was a huge demon, with grey skin and a few bumps in his face. His red eyes were staring at the half-Elder. He grinned evilly showing his yellow-black teeth.
Steve quickly turned to his mother, but Elenia was already taking care of Nicki who lay among the pieces of the cupboard unconscious.
When he turned back, he saw how the demon prepared a fire ball in his hand. But before the creature could throw it, Steve rose his hand, sending out an energy flash.
The last thing the demon felt was a burning pain in his chest before he turned to a pile of ashes.
Steve took a deep breath and then went over to his girl. She started to open her eyes, while Elenia finished the healing. Worried he took her hand and caressed her hair. "Baby, I'm sorry that I wasn't here..." he said when she looked at him.
She smiled weakly: "Don't... It's not your fault..." she whispered. He smiled back and then just kissed her softly.
Elenia smiled at that sight. She was so glad that her son had found someone he loved. Being happy was all she wanted for him. And that woman made him happy. "Finished," she announced then.
Nicki sat up, blushing a little. She knew it wasn't very polite to kiss the man you love like that in front of his mother. "Thanks," she said then.
"You're welcome," Elenia replied. "Of course I help you. You're part of the family, right?" Steve smiled at the words of his mother and hugged Nicki even closer. He never had doubted it, but to hear that his mother accepted his girl was relieving, somehow.
"Thanks," Nicki replied, smiling. Then she asked: "Do you like to stay for dinner?"
But Elenia shook her head: "No, not today. I have to return, there is still a lot of work to do."
Steve nodded and both rose from the ground to say goodbye.

°°°°°°°°°°

The whole family finally had sat down to the long-awaited dinner. Piper glanced over the table proudly, now it was more like cornucopia and it was the merit of Bianca and her. There were a lot of appetising dishes and plenty patties with different stuff.
Chris couldn't help smiling when he saw how Wyatt picked out some pieces of apples and apricots from his fruit porridge. The other kids were sleeping in their cribs.
Cole and Phoebe both were sitting with happy faces, especially Phoebe. She so had missed those nice family dinners and she actually couldn't choose something to eat, because all was smelling so tasty!
As for Chris, he just enjoyed to be together with people he loved so much. He was giving salt to Cole, when suddenly he had a weird feeling in his mind that something was wrong.
It was as if something was kind of yelling inside his head, short, strange and the same time familiar. It felt like the Elder-witch should know what this was... It felt like when you know that there was something you knew, something important, but you can't remember what it was. Still it kind of called him too... it was weird.
"What's wrong, sweetie?" Bianca asked, noticing the worried expression of her husband's face and held his hand tightly.
"Don't know..." he said slowly. "Something's calling me... I guess I better check it out."
"Chris?" Cole asked. "Maybe I should go with you? I could..."
"No-no, I'm sure, there's nothing serious," now his voice sounded very upset cause he had to leave his family again, when he only just began to take a delight in peace and comfort. "So sorry, but I need to go now. I'll come back as soon as I can." He kissed Bianca and disappeared in a shower of blue lights.

°°°°°°°°°°

Kyle couldn't believe his ears. He sat next to Darryl in his office, talking to a woman, who said that she was robbed by a monster. She could describe it very well, what made the things more complicate.
If there would have been only one case like that, they could have said that the victim was confused and shocked... But this time? This was the fifth robbery in the last two weeks. That was far too much for covering it...
And it was every time the same: A woman in her thirties was ambuscaded in a side street and chained by a "living" rope. Then a person looking like a monster came and took her money and jewellery if there was any... Then the demon left and the rope "followed" him...
Kyle made notes while Darryl kept asking. Then he guided the still shocked woman to the exit, with the words: "We'll take care of that..."
When the young man returned to his friend's office and closed the door, Darryl sighed deeply. "That's not good..." he muttered then.
"Shall I call Paige?" Kyle asked.
His friend nodded: "I think there is no way to avoid it... Sadly"
The younger one frowned: "Why? I mean it sounds pretty much like a demon... that's actually a magical thing, so why not calling them?"
Darryl nodded again: "I know, it's just... There are already too many people asking about this... I'm afraid to expose them."
Kyle sighed. That was true. The press had already picked up the news as it seemed. There had been two journalists in the office this afternoon, and there would surly be a huge article in the newspapers tomorrow. And of course the whole department was searching for that monster. "But without them, magic will be exposed anyway... if things go on like that. "
Darryl nodded: "I know. "

°°°°°°°°°°

Chris had orbed on top of the Golden Gate Bridge. He wasn't sure why he was there. He sat down on the cold metal with a sigh, staring onto the city in front of him. Then he shook his head. That was all so... weird. When he had sat together with his family, enjoying his meal, he felt like something was calling for him. Not like the call of a charge or something. It was more subconscious. Still it seemed to call him to the bridge, but he couldn't tell what, or who... even if he felt that he would know... that he just had forgotten. But the more he thought about all that, the more weird it seemed to be. 'Am I losing my mind now?' he thought to himself. All the powers he had to handle, his witch-powers, the huge Elder-powers and now also Excalibur... Maybe he just would go nuts about all that. He chuckled about that thought.
"What are you doing here, my King Christopher?"
The Elder witch turned around, just to look at Julian who took a bow in front of him. "Cut the crap, Julian," Chris replied then and turned back to the sight in front of him. "And it's just Chris."
"Is our Majesty in a bad mood today?"
Chris didn't answer so Julian sat down beside him. For a moment none of them said a word, they just sat there side by side.
"So you already know it, too," Chris finally broke the silence.
Julian nodded: "Yeah, and Belthazor is actually quite glad about it."
Chris chuckled: "Really..."
"Yeah..." the colored witch said, "you know, the demons respect Excalibur as much as the witches do... If now someone will ever find out about our deals... well, then he has an excuse."
The Elder-witch looked at him surprised. "Shall that mean, the demons won't attack us anymore?"
"No... it only means that if you're asking for help, you will get it from whoever you ask... That's all." Chris nodded. And when Julian noticed that the Elder-witch wouldn't say anything he asked: "So what are you doing here? It's cold and you only wear a shirt... and actually you should be enjoying your family dinner..."
Chris turned to him again: "Do you really have to watch us all the time... You don't have a camera in my bed room, have you?"
The other one laughed: "No... really not... But hey, I saw your daughter turning... really cute!" Chris couldn't help smiling proudly, and both started to laugh a little about that. Then Julian turned serious again: "But that doesn't answer my question."
"Well," Chris said hesitating a little. Should he really tell him? He was the source's spy... in a way... But on the other hand he knew a lot about the things happening. And he had said if he would ask... "I don't know... I felt like something is calling me, and that call came from here. But here's nothing. I have the feeling that I know what this is about, but I can't remember, you know... It's weird. "
Julian rose his eyebrows: "Yes man, that IS weird... more than you know."

°°°°°°°°°°

Veronica and Tom opened the door of Veronica's house laughing, playfully. They had had so much fun!! They had gone shopping and then to the movies, but they had not paid attention to it at all... On the contrary, they had spent the whole time giggling and kissing, and bothering the rest of the audience, but they did not mind. They were in so much love!
And they were still so focused on each other that they did not realise how the house had changed, until Tom tripped on something on the floor and fell. At that moment, Veronica gasped, startled by the sudden movement of her boyfriend, and then she saw it... The whole house was a mess.
And now Tom was on the floor, also pale. "What the hell...?" he started, seeing the broken furniture, the tore cushions and all the feathers on the floor, as well as the pieces of glass everywhere. Tom took his hand to his mouth. When falling and placing his hand on it to support himself, he felt a sharp pain in his palm, and now he could see why... The glass had cut his skin.
"Dad is gonna kill me..." Veronica muttered, trembling a little bit. Everything was destroyed. Her parents had left for the some days, and whenever this event took place, the best hobby for the couple was actually spending those days at Veronica's home. They loved it, with all those modern things, and that technology. They could open the fridge with a remote, and control all the devices with a computer. That was really funny and chick, and Veronica loved that stuff. But now, everything was broken.
Tom stood up slowly, still sucking the blood of his hand as he turned around himself to have a better look at the lounge. Then he looked at Veronica. "We can fix this, don't worry about that. However, I would be more scared for WHO did this," he said, trying to think what had happened.
She nodded, still looking like absent. He noticed that her hands were trembling and also her legs, so finally, in spite of the blood on his hand, he took her arm and led her to the sofa, or what was left of it, helping her sit down: "Everything is gonna be ok..."
"But... how??"
"I don't know..." Tom answered, staring at the void in front of him, and sucking the blood again.
At that moment Veronica noticed: "Oh, my God, Tom... you're bleeding." She immediately grabbed his hand and started to clean the wound with her handkerchief.
Tom grimaced in pain, but tried to laugh: "This is just a war wound, girl, nothing bad... Don't worry, ok?" But Veronica was still cleaning it frantically, then wrapping it up with the handkerchief, her hands moving very fast.
Tom, noticing her nervousness, retired the hand and placed the other one on her hair: "It's ok... Veronica, look at me... Calm down, alright? We are gonna go to my house, and forget about this. Just calm down." She looked at him with watery eyes, and then she nodded. Tom kissed her on the forehead, sighing at the same time: "It's gonna be fine..."
"Who did this? And why?" she asked, nervous.
Tom shrugged, trying to show himself calm, but actually a little bit worried: "Mere thieves, I guess. They just came to the wrong place, honey. We'll fix it tomorrow, I promise. Now, let's go..." And taking her lovingly, and leaving all the bags behind, he shimmered. He did not know whether it was better to wait and fix it on their own, or if he should tell someone else. He did not think that was actually magical... But at least, he thought, he had to phone the police, as soon as Veronica fell asleep, not to worry her more.

°°°°°°°°°°

Chris frowned looking at Julian. The demonic witch was suddenly silent and that worried the Elder-witch. "Ok, What's going on?" he finally asked.
Julian sighed, not sure if he should tell him. But at least he was the new king, he was supposed to be fair and to decide wise... And Julian knew very well that those traits were deeply embedded in that young man's character. "Well... Actually, Belthazor send me here..." he started to explain. And when he saw Chris looking attentively at him, he went on: "He had a weird feeling... like something was calling him... Like he would know what it was, without being able to put a finger on it. But something about that felt also wrong, therefore he send me here, invisible, to see what's going on..."
Now Chris looked at the man with mouth wide open: "You mean?"
Julian nodded: "Yeah, it a sounds exactly like whatever it was that brought you here..."
"Wow..." the Elder-witch muttered.
Julian looked around, same as Chris did. Then he said: "But I guess here's nothing to find so... I think you should go back to your family, before you get a cold..."
The young man nodded: "But I will come down to you later if that's ok... I think we need to talk about this."
"Ok," Julian agreed. "Ask Cole, he knows where to find us... at least I hope he does."
"He knows where your lair is?" Chris asked surprised. Why had his uncle never talked about that.
Julian grinned: "Let's say, we gave him a little hint." Then he stood up, just to bow again in front of Chris.
The Elder-witch shook his head smiling: "Please stop that... that's embarrassing!"
Julian winked as said: "I know..." Then he shimmered away.
Chris meanwhile looked around one last time, and then he orbed back to his family.

(Chapter 1 written by Chrissy.W.x, Belén and Lidia)