RE-EDITED! If you read this before, it's been re-written so I suggest re-reading. Thanks:)
I'm fourteen today, was Chris's first thought. His second was "Dad's coming today!" His father hadn't been able to make it to his thirteenth or twelfth birthday, but he had promised he would come today.
He dressed as fast as he could and ran downstairs, but stopped when he heard arguing voices; it was his mom and dad.
"Leo! How could you do this again? Chris needs you here today! He's your son too!"
"Look, Piper, I'm sorry, but the Elders have felt a threat looming, and we need all the power to try and figure out what it is. I'm sure Chris will understand. I'm doing this to protect him. Nothing's more important than that!"
Chris felt his heart sink. Dad wasn't sticking around for his party after all. Just like last year.
"Well, tell him yourself. I'm sick of watching my son's face fall every year on his birthday, because his father can't spare one day to spend with him!"
"I can't…" Leo started to say but was interrupted by Chris making a sudden appearance in the kitchen.
"Morning Mom," he said ignoring his dad completely.
"Morning, Peanut. Happy Birthday." She tried to sound happy, but mostly just sounded pissed.
"Hi Chris," his father interjected quietly, "look, I know promised I'd come to your party this year, but…"
"Hey, dad its okay. I don't know why I thought it'd different this year, you promised last year too." He acted as if he could care less, but the slight tremble in his voice gave him away.
"Maybe next year. Happy Birthday Chris." Leo whispered as he orbed.
"Chris," his mother said, gently, "You know he tries, but…" even his mother couldn't think of a way to make him feel better.
"It's okay mom," Chris said, "I finally learned not to rely on Dad."
"What?"
"I realized I can't count on Dad for anything, and I am never going to trust him again."
"Peanut, He loves you, he really does, but…"
"But not as much as he loves Wyatt or even you Mom."
"Chris! You know that's not true. Your father loves you!" she reprimanded him.
She breathed quickly, "I'm sorry Peanut… your dad really does love you. You have to believe that."
They both turned at a sudden shout from the hall, "Where's the birthday boy!"
Wyatt entered the room and promptly engulfed Chris in a giant bear hug.
"Wyatt!" Chris protested while his burly, linebacker of a brother was smothering him. "C'mon let me go!"
"Wyatt." Their mother chastised, laughing.
He let Chris go and surveyed the room critically. "Where's Dad?"
"He couldn't make it." Piper answered, her manner a forced calm.
Wyatt seemed to realize it was a sore subject and turned to his little brother.
"Hey, don't worry about it buddy. Why do we want that pompous ass hanging around here anyway? It's your birthday, let's have some fun!"
"Wyatt!" Piper reprimanded him. "Let's refrain from calling your father a pompous ass, please."
"Chris, if you want hang out with your brother today that's fine, but your aunts will be here at six for dinner." She said turning to Chris.
"Actually Mom, I already have plans today." Wyatt said looking sorrowfully at Chris. "I thought Chris would want to spend the day with…Dad."
"Well...could you take your brother with you?" Piper asked Wyatt, pleading with him to salvage Chris's fourteenth birthday.
"It's okay Mom," Chris interrupted, "I can help you make dinner."
"Are you sure, peanut? I'm sure you'd have more fun with Wyatt."
"No, I wanna stay with you." He actually would have loved to go with Wyatt, but could tell that his brother didn't want him come.
"Thanks kid." Wyatt smacked Chris on the back before orbing out.
"Be back time for dinner!" Piper yelled after him.
"Got it Mom." His reply echoed through the room.
"Looks like it's just you and me." Piper looked at Chris. "Let's get to work."
Piper bustled around the kitchen, making a pot roast, while Chris laid out the ingredients for his cake. He had finally decided on a yellow cake with white frosting, even though Wyatt had been pushing for chocolate.
"Sweetie would you come make the potatoes for me? I'll start on the cake."
"Sure Mom." He began to peeling potatoes and dropping them into a pot of water.
While the potatoes were cooking, Chris walked over to where his mother was sliding the cake into the oven. He dipped his finger into the mixing bowl and tasted a bit of the batter.
"Hey!" Piper yelled, playfully smacking him with the spatula. "Keep your fingers out of my batter."
There was a sudden knock on the door, and Chris scampered to answer it since his mother's hands were covered with flour. He opened the door expecting one of his aunts, or even his mom's good friend Shelia, maybe even with a present. However what waited behind the door was nothing like a birthday present, it was the barrel of a rifle pointed right in his face.
Chris forgot he had magic, and for a moment just stood there stunned. The owner of the rifle spoke, "Do any of that crazy shit your family can do, and my partner will put a bullet through your skull."
Chris gasped, his worst fear realized, magic had been exposed! "Mom!" he called, his voice merely a squeak. Piper walked through the door smiling and wiping her hands expecting anyone, but who was there.
"Oh my God! Chris!" she exclaimed, before quickly freezing the men standing in the doorway. "Who are they?" she demanded, while pulling her youngest away from the gun pointed at him. Chris could only shake his head as he allowed his mother to pull him away from the open door and push him toward the attic. "Orb to Magic School! Call your father and tell him about them. I'll…" Piper never finished her sentence as the gunman suddenly unfroze and shot straight through Piper's back.
She gasped and stepped back looking down at the red that was blossoming through her simple white shirt.
"MOM! NO!" Chris screamed, and with a mighty telekinetic blast threw the two men standing in the house against the wall in a fit of agony. Both men smacked into the wall and were unconscious instantly, but Chris's only thought was for his mother who had collapsed on the staircase. He gingerly raised her head into his lap and noticed with relief that her chest was faintly rising and falling, indicating life.
"P…pea..nnut." she managed to gasp out. "Mom! Mom don't worry. WYATT! Stay with me mom, c'mon. WYATT! AUNT PAIGE!" he called desperately trying to keep his mother awake. "It's okay mom. Wyatt'll be here and he'll heal you, I promise, just give him a minute. WYATT!" he screamed again, but no one orbed into the manor, and Chris was left cradling his mother's head.
"II.. ..ove..y" Piper tried to say, but her eyes widened in anxiety as she managed to raise her finger to point. She attempted to yell a warning, but not soon enough. Chris turned just in time to see one of the gunmen aiming at him. The next thing he felt was a scorching pain in his shoulder. Unlike his mother, Chris didn't collapse to the ground; he clumsily made his way to his feet with a roar of pain and anger.
His magic burst out in an almost uncontrollable rage as he used his telekinesis to wrap around the shooter's heart. He squeezed his hand into a fist and felt the pulsing heart slowly cease beating, until the man fell to the ground, dead.
Chris's murderous rage wasn't appeased, however, and he turned to the still unconscious man, quickly doing away with him as well. It wasn't until after the second man was dead that Chris became aware of the splintering pain in his shoulder. He looked down and wasn't surprised to see his once green shirt, was now a dark scarlet.
He quickly made his way over to his mother's prone form, but before he could reach her he collapsed, "Dad!" he managed to call softly before losing consciousness completely.
"Dad! Dad! He's waking up!" Chris looked up into his brother's tearstained face and glowing hands.
"Easy Chris." Wyatt cautioned him, as he sat up and looked around the crowded room.
"Mom?" he asked, but it really wasn't a question. He could tell from his family's tears that his mother was gone.
"MOM!" he yelled when he saw her body on the ground. He also glanced around and saw the two other bodies littering the ground, but gave them no mind. He scampered over to his mother and started to shake her.
"FIX THIS!" he screamed at his father.
"Chris…" Leo looked truly heartbroken, "I….I can't." he broke down in sobs. Chris looked around frantically, waiting for somebody, anybody to do something.
Aunt Phoebe was on the floor sobbing as if she would never stop. Uncle Coop was there too, holding her and trying to keep her from running to the body. Aunt Paige was just standing there with tears running down her cheeks.
"She's dead." Wyatt's voice was emotionless, but his face betrayed him, showing that he was on the verge of tears.
Chris ran to his brother. Wyatt hugged him tightly. "This is all your fault." Wyatt accused Leo. "If you came today like you were supposed to, none of this would have happened and she," he pointed at Piper, "would still be alive."
"I think you should get them out of here," Leo said to Aunt Paige.
She shook herself, and held out her hand, "C'mon boys."
Wyatt shook his head, "Take Chris. I'm staying." His tone left no room for argument.
Chris stood up and made his way to Aunt.