Disclaimer: I own nothing!!! Nothing I tell you! Mwhahahaha!!!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chap of Love Cut Short. You guys are awesome! Oh, and WARNING: this story is not going to get updated as often because I have tons and tons and tons of homework.

CHAPTER 1

Two swords clashed in the heat of battle. One was the legendary Excaliber, the other a grand sword in its own right, possibly the only sword in existence capable of challenging the great sword of Kings, especially when wielded by a master in the art of sparring. Exacaliber blocked then lunged. The other sword parried. Neither gained an advantage. On and on the two battled, hours seemed to pass by within the confines of the Halliwell attic.

Wyatt Halliwell was getting more than a little frustrated. He was wielding the most powerful weapon in the world, and was still getting beaten by a girl half his size! After training with the new family whitelighter for over an hour, the Twice Blessed was exhausted and his palms were so sweaty he could barely keep a good hold on the hilt. Carly on the other hand didn't seem to be fatigued at all.

"Okay," he huffed, "how about we call it a draw?" He barely had time to lift his sword to block her downward slash.

The teenaged whitelighter rolled her green eyes pressing on. "You should have beat me forty minutes ago. You are using Exacaliber! That sword gives you the distinct advantage. You shouldn't ever need to call a draw."

Wyatt glared at her and lowered his sword, hoping that she wouldn't cut him to ribbons just to prove her point. "Listen. I am tired and stinky and have to get to work in like two hours. My shift is going to be twelve hours long. I don't need this. So, I'm going to shower and take a nap."

"What about the future? You going to let Peyton and your unborn baby die just because you are little tired?" Carly challenged. "You should have been practicing with the sword as soon as you were old enough to lift the thing. You are way behind. I'm just trying to catch you up for the sake of your children."

Wyatt took a deep breath trying to calm down. He didn't like raising his voice to women. Didn't really enjoy raising his voice to anyone, but this little whitelighter from the future was seriously asking for a butt-chewing. How dare she claim that he wouldn't do anything he could for his kids's safety? He was giving her all he had! What she was asking was ridiculous! No one could endure the kind of training sessions she was putting him through. He had a job that was highly demanding, a pregnant, moody telepathic wife to handle, a 20 month old daughter who discovered the benefits of orbing away from home to get what she wanted, a little sister who was a single, teenage mother, two aunts paranoid about the new source, a father paranoid about the future girl, and a younger brother going through a marital crises after only four and a half months of marriage!

Carly took a stance, readying her sword. "Let's go again."

"No. No, no, no." Wyatt orbed the sword back into the stone which was in its normal place in the corner of the attic. "Go bug one of my cousins. Pearl would love to train, I'm sure."

Carly returned her sword to it's sheath and placed it on the couch. When she turned around she was still frowning. Her hands moved to rest on her hips. "You are the only one strong enough to defeat this source. If you don't start getting serious about this training, I can promise you everyone you love will die."

"If I'm the only one powerful enough, then why do you keep on Chris? He's got enough on his plate without you making him practice the craft for no good reason."

"I have a reason." She replied briskly.

"And that would be...?"

"Sorry, future consequences."

It was at this particular moment in time that the familiar sight of orbs lit up the attic forming into Chris who looked more tired than Wyatt had ever seen him before. The youngest brother forced a small smile as he looked at Carly. "Hey, can I borrow him for just a second?"

Carly's steely resolve melted as she looked into Chris' eyes. The mask was put back on before anyone was the wiser, though. Or at least she thought so. "Make it quick." She orbed out of the attic leaving the two men in peace.

Wyatt turned to look at his brother. "I hate her." The eldest brother then collapsed in exhaustion to a seated position on the floor, out of breath and cranky. When he glanced up his little brother was covering his mouth with his hand to stop from laughing. The elder man glared. "Yeah, this is hilarious. I get worked to the point I can't stand up, and you think it's funny."

"Sorry, Wy. Just think it's funny that you finally met your match in someone as petite as mom."

"Shut up." Wyatt rubbed his right shoulder as he pouted. "Seriously, I know I haven't really trained with the sword, but I've always been guided by Excaliber. Today, it was like the power was muffled. It was weird."

Forcing himself up, the Twice Blessed groaned as his sore body moved to a standing position. "So, how's things with Binks?"

"Not good." Chris stuffed his hands into his pockets shrugging. "I don't know what to do any more. I know something is wrong, but she won't talk to me. It's like she feels she can't trust me or something. It's frustrating as all hell, so I prod and she gets mad." He sighed. "Has Emily found out anything yet?"

"I don't know. She was taking Bianca out on a girl's day or something. Maybe my persuasive wife will be able to convince her to open up."

"I hope so, Wyatt. For the sake of this marriage I hope so."

Wyatt placed a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. "It's going to be okay, Chris. You guys didn't go through hell and back just to fall apart now. You guys have something special, trust that."

Chris nodded, but his eyes revealed the doubt that was smothering his mind and heart. He pulled away from his older brother's grasp and went over to the family heirloom, the great Book of Shadows. He casually started telekinetically flipping through the pages. The younger Halliwell cleared his throat in an attempt to make a subtle topic change. "So, have you found out anything new about this source?"

His older brother smiled recognizing the fact his brother was done talking about his problems. "I haven't had much chance for research. Our lovely whitelighter has kept me way too busy."

"You know, you should be nicer to her." Chris replied absently, still flipping through the book.

Wyatt raised an eyebrow. "Why? She's a rip-roaring bi-"

"-Hey! That used to be me, all right?" The younger Halliwell shook his head. "I know what she must be going through. She left everything she has ever known to help us. She knows you guys don't trust her and that's got to hurt."

"What about you? Do you trust her?"

Chris shrugged. "I guess so. Carly just..." he struggled for the right words, "she just seems to be a lot more complex than she's letting on."

"Do you think she's the reason Bianca is pissed at you?" Wyatt asked trying to get back to the more important issue. "I mean, the kid did kind of ruin your big day. Plus she is always ignoring Bianca, and maybe your defending her is what has got your lovely wife so angry."

"Maybe. I really don't know."

Orbs appeared right next to Chris forming into Carly. She frowned at Wyatt. "You have time to talk about his marital issues, but don't have time to train?"

"You were eavesdropping?" Wyatt asked his eyes narrowing. When she merely continued to scowl at him the Twice Blessed through up his hands in disgust and orbed out of the attic.

Chris turned to the young woman folding his arms over his chest. "If you want people to trust you, you've got to stop with the games. Trust me. I know from experience that it just doesn't work. Best way to get Wyatt and the others to cooperate is to tell us all the truth."

"I have told you everything you need to know." She informed him curtly.

"Sure you have."

Her hands flew to her hips as her eyes narrowed. "I have."

Chris smiled. "Oh really. Then why do you keep looking at me like that?"

"Like what? Like this? Mostly because I'm angry with how pushy you are. How you don't take me seriously. How you always think you know everything about me. You don't. You don't know me."

"You mean to say not yet." He watched as shock appeared in her eyes for a moment before being cleared out again. His smile grew. "Listen, Carly, I get it. I really do. I've been there, having to lie to those you care about most. Pushing them so hard they hate you. I know how hard it is. It would be a lot easier if you just told us what your connection is to this family now."

Carly smiled for the first time since her arrival. Her green eyes softened brimming with unshed tears. "You have no idea how much I've wanted to tell you that-"

"-Chris!" Emily orbed in completely frantic. When she saw him upon materializing she moved towards him grabbing his hands. "Bianca needs you."

Chris' face fell as worry and panic set in. "What is it? Is she hurt? Sick?"

"Chris...I..." Emily didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to phrase it. Tears fell down her face and the only thing she could think of was to squeeze her friend's hands. "She...she isn't sick. You need to talk to her. She needs you so much right now. Bianca just didn't want to hurt you. Didn't want you to know that she..." she shook her head swallowing her tears, "go to her, Chris. Go right now and don't stop pushing for answers. I think she's ready to give them now."

Chris turned to apologize to Carly and tell her he would talk to her later, but she was already gone. He just closed his eyes and orbed to his wife, ready to hear the worst.

tbc... Sorry it is short, but the next one will be fairly long