A Charming Family Christmas

(Pretend Chris is in the past for another extra year, meaning he's got 2 and a half years to find out who turns Wyatt instead of 1 in a half. Just thought the guy deserves a break, plus eh he 'left' before Christmas.)

-/Chrishalliwell11\-

Snow falls softly, blanketing the city in an amount of snow never before seen to the residents. One of the only White Christmases on record and Chris is in the past to experience it, just great! In fact in the last 150 years (current date, not his future) there has only been 6 recorded snowfalls, it figures this was the year San Francisco's amount of snowfall broke records for the state. It was the year 2003 and Chris is about to witness San Francisco's only snowstorm in history.

-/Chrishalliwell11\-

Chris trudges through the snow, his arms full of bags, which were too heavy for him to orb with any accuracy. Chris pulls open the heavy door to P3 and it slams shut behind him, trapping the surprisingly cold air outside. Chris clomps down the stairs and into his 'room', wiping snow off his bags before shoving them in the corner, Chris tosses a blanket over the bags, grabs his bathroom bag and orbs out.

-/Chrishalliwell11\-

DING-DONG!

"I got it!" Phoebe calls out, walking towards the door.

"Thanks Pheebs!" Piper yells from the kitchen, where delicious holiday smells waft out, Wyatt gurgles happily.

"No prob." Phoebe says, reaching the door.

Phoebe pulls open the door to a gust of artic air and a very grumpy, soggy, shivering witchlighter, "Chris? Come in before you catch a cold."

Chris steps inside and Phoebe forces the door shut, "Thanks, is Piper here?"

Surprised by the sudden appearance of her whitelighter on the doorstep all Phoebe can do is point towards the kitchen.

Chris nods in thanks and heads down the hall, Phoebe trailing behind him uncertainly, "What's up with this weather? Don't tell me it's a demonic thing."

Chris doesn't answer but enters the kitchen, where Piper is mixing something in a bowl, Leo is feeding Wyatt and Paige is drinking some milk and reading the news.

"Hey guys." Chris says upon entering the happy family scene.

"Don't tell me we have to go fight a demon." Paige says between sips.

"Yes, that's exactly why I'm here, we have to go vanquish the blizzard demon because this weather is demonic." Chris says, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Seriously?" Leo asks.

Chris looks at him like, 'Dude, The Elders inability to detect sarcasm is wearing off on you.'

"No I was joking don't you Elders know what humor is? I just came to ask Piper a favor and give you some news." Chris says, his mouth twitching in amusement at the annoyed look on Leo's face and the snickers from Paige and Phoebe.

"And?" Piper asks, adding milk to the bowl.

"A. Can I use your shower? And B. If you still have to do any shopping I would hurry, Just a heads up."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Phoebe asks.

Piper looks up from her bowl, "Not that I mind, but why come all the way over here to shower, why not at P3?"

"Uh, the pipes froze." Chris says quietly, bracing himself for the outburst he knows is coming.

"What! The Pipes Froze! Please tell me you're joking." Piper shouts.

"Fraid not, sorry." Chris says meekly.

"Oh that's just great! Got any other news you'd like to share?"

"What do you want first, Bad news or Worse News?"

"Chris! Just spit it out all at once, instead of drawing it out for dramatic effect!" Piper exclaims.

"Don't you mean dragging it out?" Leo asks.

"Shut up!" Piper retorts and Leo cringes.

"The powers out at P3 already, and this storm is going to turn into a blizzard, that'll probably knock out power all over the place." Chris says as the wind picks up outside.

"Oh... Joy!" Piper says sarcastically.

Leo stands, "Thanks for the heads up, I'll go warn them 'Up There'." Leo orbs out.

"Paige you wanna give me a lift to the mall?" Phoebe asks, heading towards the stairs.

"Good idea, let me see if I own a winter coat." Paige says orbing out, presumably upstairs.

Paige orbs back in moments later holding a sweatshirt and work gloves, she sits down and pulls on a pair of tall boots, "I can't find my rain gear, which would've worked better, oh well."

Phoebe returns pulling on similar clothes, "Funny I can't find mine either."

"That's odd, I was looking for mine and Leo's gear too a little bit ago and couldn't find ours either." Piper adds.

Chris tries to be invisible, to no such luck, "Are you missing anything Chris?" Piper asks.

"What? Huh, me no, uh no I don't think so no." Chris says hurriedly, "About that shower, I'd really like to get into some dry clothes here." He motions to his wet, frozen clothes.

"Right," Piper drags out the word in disbelief, "My shower works."

"Thanks Piper." Chris says and hurries out of the kitchen.

"Not so fast mister!" Phoebe calls and Chris stops unhappily.

"Yes?"

"Just out of curiosity, why are you so wet, why didn't you just orb? And why did you use the front door, if you don't mind me asking."

"You're going to laugh at me."

"No we won't." Paige says joining the conversation.

Chris sighs, "If you really want to know, I don't have a coat and I caught a magical chill, it basically means my powers are frozen."

"Oh, thanks for the tip." Paige says, and orbs out with Phoebe, "Try Piper's hot cocoa."