A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who reviewed for my last story, Time Loop! I appreciate it SO much!
This is one of a series that takes place in the changed future. I have a character list on my profile if anyone gets confused. This story takes place 2 months after Time Loop ends.
General story disclaimer: Obviously, I don't own Charmed. If I did, Chris would not be a victim of "ignored baby syndrome" and Drew Fuller would still be a regular cast member.
Anyway… onward! (And Please review if you like it!)
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"Aunt Piper, are you really getting Rascal Flatts for P3 tonight?" Peyton asked her aunt eagerly. Country music in her mind was the only real music, so whenever Piper had a country act play P3, it was doubly exciting.
Piper smiled at her niece. "Yep. Who else would I get to play the night of Chris' birthday, silly? They're his favorite! But remember, it's a secret! Chris doesn't know, and we can't tell him, right?"
"Aunt Piper, he already knows you're giving him a party. I mean, you do it every year at P3. The only part he doesn't know is who's playing."
"And he's not going to. I don't want anything to mess up this party for him. Everything has to be perfect. He's turning 21; he can't just have anyone for his party."
"I guess." Peyton nodded. "So, is his cake done yet?"
"Not quite. I still have to finish frosting it." Piper answered remotely.
"It looks awesome, Aunt Piper. If he doesn't like that, he's nuts!" Peyton gazed at the triple tiered chocolate fudge cake with peanut butter frosting. Piper had spent hours decorating the top of each layer with crumbled peanut butter cups. It was truly a masterpiece.
"He deserves a good cake, don't you think, Pey? After everything he's done. The least he deserves is a nice cake."
Both of them jumped at the sound of orbs entering the kitchen. They formed into a familiar form with shaggy blond hair and crystal blue eyes.
"Wyatt! I said no orbing into this kitchen today! For anyone. How am I supposed to keep this cake hidden from Chris is you guys just orb in unannounced? Didn't you have your listening ears on?" Piper scolded her oldest as if he was 5, not 25.
"Yeah, mom, I had my listening ears on. But this is important! I just left a charge that needed to be healed after fighting with some pretty nasty demons. My charge is a Russian witch who has the power to freeze things. Not like you where you stop them in their tracks, but she literally freezes them to death, as in encase them in ice. These demons stole her powers with an athame, and told her that her powers would go to good use defeating the Charmed Ones." Wyatt's blue eyes bore into hers.
"You know what Future Wyatt told you about Chris' birthday this year. He said for you to be extra careful. What if these demons attack you today?"
"Wyatt, honey, we don't have control over when they attack. It wouldn't surprise me if they do attack today. You know that all the demons love to crash our special occasions. But we'll deal with it. Phyra's been busy creating a stockpile of potions for P3 that we're keeping behind the bar, so that we'll be better prepared while we're there. Chris knows the book backwards and forwards, so we don't have to look things up. Paisley is even better than Phoebe about coming up with a great spell under pressure. You are working better than ever with Excalibur. And all of the kids, Chris and yourself included, have an amazing grasp of their powers. You are all extremely capable and can defeat any demon out there. I know that, because you've all proven it to me over and over again. Plus, Wy, I know the Power of Three is getting older, but we are still kick ass witches. I'll be fine, I promise."
"Mom, I can't believe you're saying that you want to just go in blind. We have to be ready for them. Get them on the defensive instead of us!" Wyatt cried out in frustration.
"Wyatt. Stop yelling at me to start with. I am your mother, not the other way around. Now, listen to me. I'm not saying run in blind. I'm saying we're not going to run away. Ok?" She waited for Wyatt's reluctant nod. "Now, do you know what these demons are?"
"She didn't know. Just that they were extremely powerful, and dressed like dark lighters. Instead of cross bows, they carried athames." Wyatt answered.
"Where is your charge, Wy? You didn't leave her powerless did you?" Peyton broke in.
"Of course not, Pey. I left her at Magic School. She'll be safe there. Have either of you heard of something like this?" He replied evenly.
"Nope. You should ask Chris though. He's the demon dictionary, you know." Peyton grinned, and grabbed an apple off the counter, taking a big bite.
"Gee, Thanks… You're so much help." Wyatt drawled out, then quickly leaned in and stole a big bite off the opposite side of her apple.
"Hey!" Peyton's voice was drowned out by the sound of Wyatt's chuckles disappearing into orbs.
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"Yo, Chris! I need to pick your brain!" Wyatt orbed into Chris' room.
"Wyatt! Get the hell out of here!" Chris yelled, throwing a pillow at him and pulling the blanket up over Maya's half naked body.
"Oh, shit! Sorry, sorry! Demon issue, I'll wait outside." He orbed quickly outside.
Chris muttered to himself as he pushed off the bed. "Sorry, baby. I'll be right back." He ran a hand tenderly along Maya's jaw.
"Chris, I think I should go. It sounds like you might be busy for a few hours at least anyway. I'll go get myself all pretty for your party later." Maya shoved the covers off, and grabbed her top and skirt from the floor.
"No, no, baby, you don't need to leave. Really, this will only take a second." Chris pleaded.
"Chris. These things never take just a second. It's ok. We'll have all night to play, remember? Happy Birthday, babe." Maya kissed him, and slipped her feet into her sandals. Chris stood there with a brooding, pouty look on his face. Maya giggled. "Don't be too hard on Wyatt, Chris. He's really worried about your mom, that's all."
Chris grumbled under his breath, shoving his legs into his jeans, not bothering to put underwear on. "He could have at least knocked, or warned me. Jesus!"
"But just think, maybe it's payback for you orbing in on him and Abby a few weeks ago." Maya grinned.
Chris' cheeks flushed pink. "Oh whatever… Abby went invisible. It's not like I saw anything other than Wyatt's naked ass."
"Yeah, and it's a good thing. I'd hate to have to kill you. You're too cute to kill." Maya teased, grabbing his chin playfully.
Wyatt knocked on the door lightly. "Chris? I um, could really use your help." Chris growled loud enough in response for Wyatt to hear him. "Or I can just keep waiting. That works too."
Maya and Chris stared at each other for a second and both dissolved into giggles. Chris sighed, and opened the door, still working the buttons on his jeans.
Maya waved her fingers at Wyatt. "See ya Wy. Hope you got a good show!" She laughed and ran down the hallway. She turned at the top of the stairs, and shimmered back to Chris. She kissed him one more time and giggled again at Wyatt's obvious discomfort. "Love you babe…Happy Birthday & I'll see you later." She shimmered out again, this time out of the manor.
"Well. What was so important?" Chris snapped.
"Chris, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were… otherwise occupied. I should have knocked." Wyatt apologized.
"Yeah, whatever. It's ok. But, Wy, I swear on everything I own, if you orb in on me again tonight when I'm with Maya, I will take you apart cell by cell." Chris warned ominously.
Wyatt chuckled low. "Yeah, I get it. So, things are getting pretty serious, huh?"
"Yeah. Can I show you something?" Chris asked shyly. At Wyatt's nod, they walked back into Chris' room. Wyatt couldn't hide a smile at the wreckage of the bed. "Shut up. Don't even think it."
Wyatt laughed. "Wouldn't dream of it, stud." He laughed.
Chris opened his bedside cabinet and pulled out a small box. He opened it clumsily and showed the contents to Wyatt. Inside lay a beautiful intricately braided gold and silver engagement ring with a large sapphire stone.
"Wow… Chris, this is beautiful. Why the green stone though?" Wyatt asked.
"It's a sapphire. It's the ancient Hindu birthstone of July. Since we met in July while she was possessed by a Hindu goddess, I figured it kinda fit. Do you think it's too mushy?" Chris asked tentatively.
"Damn you. Do you have any idea what you're doing to me? Christ, I just gave Abby a simple diamond, no meaning other than I wanted to marry her. Now here you're going to go, all romantic and shit. I'm gonna look like an ass. I've gotta go buy flowers. Maybe that will help with Abby."
"Wy!" Chris raised his hands in frustration. "Do you think she'll like it?"
"Dude…you're giving her a romantic ring with a background story, plus you're going to ask her in front of your entire family and all your friends. Yeah, I'd say she'll like it."
Chris signed in relief. "Ok, so back to business. You said something about a demon?"
"Yeah, they look like dark lighters, but they're stealing witches powers with athames to go after the Charmed Ones. I had a charge attacked earlier. She's okay, I healed her in time, but they got her freeze power.
"Damn" Chris breathed. "It's a long shot, but it's possible it's the terror squad. They're basically hit men who work for Juklay."
"Juklay? What is a Juklay?" Wyatt asked, confused.
"Juklay is a high level demon. He collects the powers of witches and uses them to raise his own powers. Once his powers get up to a certain point, he gains the power to mutate personalities. You know the story of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde? It's real…Juklay mutated his personality, until he had 2 that eventually drove him crazy. He's not a demon to mess with." Chris finished.
"So… how we do we get rid of him?" Wyatt asked.
"There's no known way. The only good part about him is that once he uses his power to mutate, his power level depletes, and it takes him a good 10 years to build it back up to that level again. But the book said his last mutation was on a good witch, a powerful one that ended up vanquishing herself rather than turn into an evil beast. That was about 10 years ago."
"So, he's going to strike soon."
"I'd say so, Wy. And chances are someone in this family is his next target."
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A/N: Sorry for all the conversation, but I just can't help myself. I love writing the brother to brother conversations. More coming soon. Please review whether you love it or hate it!