A/N

Time for the disclaimer…

I do not own Charmed or any of the original characters from the television series. The story below is completely original and thought of out of my own little brain. And when I say little, I'm not kidding!

This story takes place in the alternate past that Chris came back from in season 6. Piper is dead, Leo never left the Avatars, and Wyatt has not yet turned evil. Please R&R Your comments and criticisms are always welcomed.

Chapter One

February 20, 2019

"Dear Journal,

It has been a year today since Mom died. For 365 days now I have called up into the Heavens begging her to come and see me, but she still hasn't. I know that she has moved on to the other side, but it's not like I've never spoken with ghosts before. Wyatt won't come out of his room, and Dad keeps knocking at his door incessantly. He's popped his head in my room every so often to ask if Wyatt is alright, but he hasn't once asked how I am doing. He seems to be drifting further and further away from me since Mom was killed, and he keeps trying to latch onto Wyatt. I wonder sometimes if he ever really wanted me, or if he even cares that I am alive. I'm sure he blames Moms death on me, I can understand why. After all, it was me who finally convinced her and my aunts to leave the Avatars and fight for good like they did before HE became one. Mom swore to me that Dad was a good man, but I have yet to catch a glimpse of the man he used to be."

Fifteen year old Christopher Perry Haliwell saved his computer journal entry, sighed, and plopped down on his bed. He could hear his father, Leo, pacing in the hall outside his older brothers room. Chris looked at his wall clock and grimaced; another two hours before Grandpa Victor was due to arrive to save him this Hell that he called home.

"Hello Leo," Chris heard a voice in the wall. Chris grimaced, knowing who it was.

"What are you doing here?" he heard his father hiss. "I've told you time and again not to come to my home with my son here!"

Inwardly, Chris flinched because he knew that Leo meant Wyatt, not him. All Leo ever cared about was the well being of Wyatt's safety.

"We know that you have sensed this new threat. The remaining sisters are planning to finish what your deceased wife planned to start. You must take care of this, and quickly," the other voice said calmly.

Chris jumped off of his bed and pressed his ear to his door so that he could hear the exchange better. He hoped that he would find out more about Pipers mysterious, and untimely, death.

"No!" Leo exclaimed. "I told you before; I will not harm the sisters. I told you after Piper was murdered that I would do nothing more for you!"

"Tsk tsk Leo," came the calm response, "Your wife was not murdered, and she simply waged a battle she could not win. A demon got to her, remember? We've been over this."

"Well, I'm not going to lead the 'demon' to the sisters," Leo scoffed.

"That is your choice, old friend; however... that particular demon may focus his attentions on your son. We wouldn't want anything bad to happen to him again, now would we?"

Chris pressed his ear harder against the door but all he could hear was silence. What did Alpha mean by again? What were they planning to do to his older brother if his father didn't comply with their wishes?

Chris heard the familiar jingle of orbing as his father gave into the will of the Avatar, and he threw his bedroom door open at the same time as Wyatt did from across the hall. Chris stared at his big brother that he idolized with his big green eyes. For a moment they stood in silence not knowing what to say.

"Dad is going after Paige and Phoebe, isn't he?" Wyatt asked.

"It sounds like it," Chris answered quietly.

"We can't let that happen," Wyatt protested.

"What are we supposed to do about it? They know EVERYTHING," Chris replied, feeling a bit defeated.

"Maybe so, but they're not invincible. The only reason Mom, Aunt Phoebe, and Aunt Paige didn't take them out in the beginning was because of Dad. The Charmed Ones could do anything they wanted to," Wyatt replied.

"But Mom is dead," Chris replied simply. It was the first time he had ever said those words out loud, and oddly enough it felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"Yeah, she is," Wyatt said. "But, we're a part of her. We can do something, or we can try anyway. He can't get to her sisters too. Help with this little brother."

"Okay," Chris said, feeling invigorated, "I will. Let's do it! Where do we start?"

"The attic!" Wyatt replied enthusiastically.

"Uh, Wyatt... have you been living under a rock? Nobody has been able to get into the attic since Mom died. We can't get that door open."

"Well, neither of you can get it open, but I can."

Wyatt and Chris jumped. Despite their upbringing, they were still a little jumpy when it came to the supernatural. They looked around to see where the voice was coming from. Standing right in front of them was a slightly transparent Piper. She smiled lovingly at her two sons, pride written all over her face.

"You'll find what you need up there, and I'm here to help you along the way," she said to them as she headed in the direction of the attic stairs.

Chris and Wyatt found themselves in front of the attic door and a light glow emanated from around it. Leo had cast some sort of powerful magic that would not allow any living being beyond this point, which left the boys yearning for their heritage. They knew that the book, and all the other magical artifacts, that their mother had inherited from her ancestors were still up there. They felt their hearts beating faster in their chests, and their breath became shorter and more rapid.

"Mom, how are you going to get past this?" Chris asked doubtfully.

Piper just smiled. She closed her eyes and traced the door jam with her fingertip. The image seemed surreal to the boys. Their dead mother stood before them, in front of a glowing door that had been locked for a year now. A golden light flooded from under the door and filled the stairwell. A howling wind kicked up in protest, Chris and Wyatt shielded their faces with their arms, but Pipers spirit stood in front of the door calmly and unaffected. She placed the palm of her hand in the center of the door as the light started to fade, the wind died down, and the door opened invitingly.

Chris and Wyatt tiptoed past their mother's spiritual being into the confines of the attic. Everything was as they remembered it, the Book in the center of the room, worn furniture scattered around the perimeter, and boxes filled with things that had been collected over generations of Warren and Haliwell witches. Light filtered in from the window, and the dust that had been disturbed slowly wafted down to settle itself once again.

Piper glided over to the Book and stood tracing the triquata with her fingertip. She stared hard at her eldest son as she wondered if she was doing the right thing. She feared that history was repeating itself, but she was sent here to perform a duty that she could not deny. Perhaps it would be different this time, perhaps Wyatt wouldn't turn evil, perhaps Chris wouldn't have to go back to the past and risk his life again.

"After Chris was born, your father and I hid something that was meant for you, Wyatt." she told her son. "We were afraid that you would misuse your power, and that horrible things would happen if you got it in your hands, but the time has come for me to give you back what was yours. Promise me, please son, promise me that you will use it for good. Promise me that you will work alongside your brother to restore good, and to save the world from the twisted view of the Avatars."

"And Dads," Chris muttered under his breath.

Piper shot Chris a sad look, but she understood why he would feel that way. Leo had distanced himself from their youngest son since shortly after he was born. He always seemed to favor Wyatt. When she would confront her husband he would merely tell her that they already knew what they would be like when they grew up, and although he loved Chris he had to focus on Wyatt to ensure that Chris would remain safe.

Wyatt looked at his younger brother. He couldn't remember a time when he and Chris weren't thick in some sort of mischief together, and he couldn't imagine not including him in whatever endeavors came his way. He stepped forward and put his hand on Chris's shoulder. Blue eyes met green eyes in an intense moment, and then Wyatt turned to Piper and nodded.

"I've shared everything with my brother for as long as I can remember, whatever it is you want to give me, I won't accept unless it is given to both of us," Wyatt told his mother.

Piper smiled, "Very well then. I'm so proud of you both, no matter what happens, remember how much I love you, and how proud I am of you at this very moment."

Piper stepped forward and kissed both of her sons. They felt a sensation never felt before, and almost indescribable. Warmth filled their cheeks, but a cool wind blew across their faces. They felt connected, and disconnected all at the same time. As their mother started to fade out of existence once more, they heard her soft voice echo throughout the attic.

"The fear I had is all but gone,
I call to bring forth a coming dawn
A bond they have sworn to forge,
Bring to them the master sword"

The room started to shake, and the boys held onto one another to keep themselves steady. Trinkets in shelves teetered dangerously close to the edge, threatening to shatter into a million pieces. Everything seemed to spin in circles at a furious rate, and Chris feared he would be sick. Mist started steaming from the furthest corners of the attic, and it gathered together in a fog in the center of the room next to the Book of Shadows.

"Wyatt?" Chris called anxiously. The fog had engulfed them, and Chris couldn't see in front of him. Despite the fact that Chris could feel Wyatt holding onto his arm, Chris was fearful that his brother was gone. He needed to hear his voice; he needed to know that they were still together, still a team.

The house became silent and still. The only sound to be heard was the breathing of the two brothers. The mist was gone, and in its place was a huge rock with a might sword entrapped within it. Chris and Wyatt couldn't believe their eyes. Their whole lives their parents, aunts, and grandfather had insisted that the story of King Arthur and Excalibur were merely fairy tales.

"Excalibur? We're going to use Excalibur to defeat the Avatars?" Wyatt asked incredulously.

"Mom said it was yours," Chris said quietly.

"I told Mom I wouldn't take it without you," Wyatt answered.

"Well, if it's yours you need to pull it from the stone," Chris said matter of factly.

"Lets pull it together," Wyatt said. He didn't want to bear this burden on his back alone; he needed his brother to keep him strong. He knew that Chris would be the one to keep him strong, and to keep him sane throughout the battle that their teenage souls would have to endure soon enough.

The stepped up to the stone together and grasped the hilt of the sword with their right hands.

"On three," Chris said.

"One, two," Wyatt said.

"THREE!" They said in unison.