Chapter Two

Chris orbed into Honey's living room and was greeted by a squeal and a load bang. Honey popped up from behind the couch rubbing the side of her head ruefully. "You have got to stop doing THAT!" she said crossly. "Can't you announce your presence pre-orb? Ring a bell? Rattle some chains? Or knock at the door like a normal person!"

"You know I don't do normal very well."

Honey laughed softly. "Yeah… Look have you seen a resume anywhere?" she picked up a pile of books and moved them over.

He bent down and rifled through a sheaf of spells. "You're looking for a new job?"

"Yeah. I had to, er, leave."

"Oh, yeah? Why?" he asked.

She ducked back down again. "Well… er… I may have accidentally… blown up the restaurant's kitchen." She mumbled.

"What?!" he cried.

Honey shot back up again "I didn't do it on purpose! I was attacked by a demon there and I defended myself. Of course I couldn't tell them that so I told them it was a gas leak and I had been smoking and so they fired me!"

"You don't smoke." Chris said.

"Yeah, well somehow I didn't think that they would buy that whole demon excuse. So now I need a job and I am going completely insane because…"

"You're rambling again!" Chris said as he picked his way through piles of books and papers to Honey and held out a hand. "Look, you need a job you could waitress at the restaurant. They always need extra help and as you're a witch there'll be fewer awkward explanations."

Honey smiled up at him and took his hand as he pulled her up. "You're sure that's ok?"

"Positive. Now I actually came over because Melinda asked me to invite you to dinner. She's making spaghetti."

"Yum! I'll just grab my coat."

Chris, Wyatt, Melinda and Honey all lay sprawled on various chairs. "Lil' sis that was soooo great. I think you've killed us all!" Wyatt moaned.

Honey smiled, "I should be off." Chris stood up and offered her his hand. "No, thanks. I'd like the walk." She stooped to hug Melinda and ruffled Wyatt's hair. Chris walked her to the door. Honey kissed him quickly on the cheek, "I'll be at the restaurant at four tomorrow. See you then."

Ellia was a trickster demon. She liked to hang around San Francisco this time of year and she just so happened to be shimmering by when Honey walked past her. "Hey? What the…" Giggling madly she skipped past Honey and right into her body. Honey glowed bright red and stumbled into an alley were she fell down in a faint.

***

It was half past three when a persistent beeping woke Honey up. Rubbing her eyes she answered the call. "Hey it's Chris."

She smiled, "Hey you."

"So you're still good for four? I rang your home and you were out…"

"Oh I wouldn't miss it for the world." She cooed.

Honey looked down at herself, "Well, this simply won't do!" with a flick of her hand she turned her jeans and jumper into a slinky black dress that flared out at her knee and plunged low at her back. Killer red heels and lipstick finished off the ensemble. Honey glanced at her reflection in a window and smiled sensuously. "Much better."

Chris spun round and round on one of the bar stools and abruptly stopped when Honey walked in. His jaw dropped. "Wh…wha…what are you wearing?"

Honey grinned coquettishly and twirled around, "D'you like it?"

"Um…" Chris looked completely dazed.

Honey sashayed forwards "I thought you would." She perched on the stool next to Chris and ran her foot up and down his leg.

Chris squirmed, something was not right. Honey was acting completely out of character and there was something different about her voice, it was breathier and huskier and when had she ever worn a dress like THAT? "Are you ok?"

"Me?" Honey coiled a lock of hair around her finger, "Never better."

"You're sure? You seem… a bit different."

"D'you not like different?" Honey stood up and moved closer to him her lips only a breath away from his.

Chris jerked back. "Is this a joke?"

Honey laughed softly, "I've never been more serious in my life."

"So… you're wearing that for waitressing?"

"Waitressing? No. I thought we could do something more… fun." She whispered. "We just need to relocate." She grasped Chris's hand tightly and shimmered out into… a room? A tent? Outside? The walls were hung with silks, but you could see the night sky above, candles floated in mid air and cushions were scattered all over the floor.

Chris balked. "How the hell did you do this?"

"Magic." She whispered.

Chris grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. "This isn't you! Honey, listen to me! Are you under a spell?"

Honey just smiled and kissed his neck. Chris pushed her back again, "No! No, no, no, no! C'mon."

Chris orbed them into the attic. Wyatt and Melinda, who were staying in the manor while Leo and Piper were in Hawaii, heard the crash and burst in to find Honey wound around Chris and Chris looking extremely uncomfortable. "Help me!" he called to Wyatt.

"Don't know why you're complaining bro." said Wyatt as he helped pull Honey away. "It's been long enough since your last date."

"It's not her!" Chris huffed as Honey ruffled his hair. They got Honey into a chair and fastened her down.

Melinda stood in front of the bound Honey. "Who are you? I'm talking to the thing inside. Who are you?" Honey just tossed her head defiantly. "Answer me!"

"Why should I?" she sneered.

Melinda shot fire at the floor creeping closer and closer to Honey she was about to hit her when Chris yelled, "Stop! Honey is still in there!"

The demon in Honey laughed. "You see! You are too weak. I am safe." Then she shook violently. Chris reached for her hand. "Chris." Honey whispered in her own voice. "Help me. She's hurting me." She screamed. Her eyes went black. "You wouldn't!" the demon screeched. "You'd have to kill me! Kill her!"

Chris kept tight hold of her hand. Honey whispered again. "Chris. Please."

Tears welled up in Chris's eyes. "No, you can fight her. You are stronger than her."

Melinda had tears running down her cheeks, "We can't let her die!" Chris jumped up and started rummaging through boxes he pulled out an athame. "What are you doing?" Melinda cried.

Chris's face was set. "You stab her. Wyatt, get ready to heal her. I'll hold her steady." The demon inside Honey was screaming and swearing at them. Melinda took a deep breath, closed her eyes and plunged the blade into Honey's heart. The demon screamed piercingly and Honey's anguished moan could be heard at the same time. Then the demon stopped screaming and Honey went deathly still, her head lolled against Chris's shoulder. "Now!" Chris yelled at Wyatt. He placed his hands over the wound and it knitted back together. Melinda untied Honey's wrists and Honey fell into Chris and Melinda's arms still and cold. Melinda covered her mouth with her hands and turned her face into Wyatt's chest weeping. Chris held Honey closer, her blood staining his shirt. "No." he mumbled. "Honey. Please. Please." They sat there for what seemed like forever, the only sound was their breathing and Melinda's faint crying.

Chris lay Honey down. She looked so peaceful. If it hadn't been for the blood all over her he could almost have kidded himself that she was sleeping. He brushed a lock of her hair off her face. "I'm so sorry."

"Wait." whispered Wyatt. "Look." Honey's chest rose and fell slightly with her light breathing.

Melinda listened to her heart. "She's alive! Chris! Bring her downstairs." Chris scooped Honey up, holding her as if she was made of glass. He settled Honey into a bed and tucked her up. Wyatt and Melinda concocted every remedy that they could think of and placed amulets and crystals all round Honey while Chris just sat in a chair pulled right up to Honey's side and held her hand and listened to her laboured breathing.

It was past midnight when Honey woke up. She looked around the darkened room and saw Chris, his head resting on the bed next to her, his hand holding tightly to hers. Honey moved slightly and Chris woke up his face breaking into a smile. "You're ok!" he breathed.

"Thank you." Honey whispered.

"I wouldn't let you die." Chris said and he very gently kissed Honey's mouth. She smiled up at him and pulled him down for another kiss.