Disclaimer: As usual we don't own anything, although, there are quite a few members we would love to own, or something like that.

A/N Hey guys thanks for all your feedback. Sorry this took so long, but school has literally been hell. Anyway, we enjoyed writing this part, so we hope you like it as well.

Confusion of a Future Past

Chapter 2 - The Arrival

Chris's eyes remained locked on Liz while the noise in the room went from a dull roar to utter pandemonium. She froze, unable to comprehend her surroundings. Max went into "hero mode." He grabbed Liz's arm trying to pull her behind him; his hand stretched out as a green wall shimmered between his friends and Chris. Instantly Michael was next to Max.

"Watch it, man," Michael's hand was extended toward Chris, "or I'll shoot." Max coughted and gave Michael a hard look. Piper rose and stood protectively next to Chris with Wyatt in her arms. She opened her mouth to speak as Wyatt started to cry. A blue sphere formed around Chris and the Halliwell sister. Maria started to shriek hysterically, running back and forth behind Max's shield. Kyle grabbed her, struggling to hold her still.

"Kyle, let me go!" she screamed. She swung her arms against Kyle's grip, trying to break it.

"Budda teaches us enlightment through calm. No! Calm down. Maria..."

"Kyle shut up!"

"PLEASE!" Liz screams. "Put down the shileds and shut up!" The room rell into a stunned silence. Wyatt dropped his shield and began to play with his mother's hair. Max slowly dropped his hand. "I don't know what is going on but somebody better start talking."

"Just calm down sweetie, I know this may seem a little weird. Chris? Can you just take him for a minute? Thanks. I guess you're wondering about...well Wyatt for one thing." Piper took a deep breath before continuing. "We're ...supernatural beings."

"Piper!" Paige slapped Piper's arm. "That makes no sense."
"Well I was trying to put it in a way that was subtle yet to the point."

"What my sister meant to say was," Phoebe continued, "we are witches." A heaby silence fell over the cafe.

"Excuse me?" Everone turned their head to the source of the voice, Maria. "What? Someone had to say it."

"But ... that's scientifically impossible. I mean... Dad?" Liz said breathlessly, a breakdown looming iun the horizon.

Jeff decided to finally speak up. He fussed in his booth before finally standing up and walking over to his daughter. "Honey you already dknow that you Grandma Claudia's half sister was your great Aunt Penny, their grandmother. They both were witches as well." Liz's jaw dropped, her eyes felw between the Charmed Ones and her father.

"So what does that make you, Dad?" she cringed in anticipation of Jeff's answer.

"I...well I don't have poser like your cousings. I can sense power of ... supernatural beings." Michael punched Max's arm to get his attention.

"What!" Max exclaimed a bit too loud. "Sorry, everyone. Continue." How could they have missed this, Max thought, and did Jeff know about them?

"Dad! How could you hide something like this from me?" Liz threw her hands up in frustration before running up the stairs to her room. the room fell silent, each person sizing up the strangers around them. Paige slowly cleared her throat.

"Now that wyatt's little trick is okay with everyone is anyone going to ask them how they conjured a shield?" Max shifted his feet and smiled sheepishly.

"I don't know how to ex-"

"We're aliens," Michael blurted out. Max shot him a look.

"Actually we prefer the term 'not of this earth,'"

"Should I talk to her?" Jeff whispered, his eyes still on the stairs. Phoebe touched his arm.

"Just give her time, Jeff." she gave him a calming smile. "She'll talk when she's ready." Jeff nodded and mumbled something about unfinished paperwork before he disappeared into the back of the cafe.

Max watched dejectedly as Liz left the room. He gestured towrd the stairs. "I'll just...year." and Max flew up the stairs after Liz. Tess tried to follow but Kyle stopped her.

"Don't. I think they need some time alone." Tess sat back down unwillingly and closed herself off to the rest of the group. Antoehr sticky silence gripped the group, again broken by Paige's voice.

"Excuse me? Piper, Phoebe, Chris, can I see you over here for a moment?" Paige tried to control her breathing as her sisters and Chris joined her in the far corner of the cafe out of earshot of the Pod Squaders. "What's going on here?"

"Paige," Piper began. "You need to calm down. Did anyone know about this?" The sisters shook their heads; Christ quickly dropped his eyes to Wyatt as if the occupied child need immediate attention. The notion was subtle yet Piper wasn't fooled. "Chirs, what is it?"

"You know them, don't you, Chris?" Phoebe tried to search his eyes.

"Don't use your power on me, Phoebe! I don't know anything." Chris met Phoebe and Paige's eyes but couldn't look at Piper.

"You're lying... CHRIS!!!" Phoebe stared at Chris impatiently.

"Listen it has to do with the future. I can't tell you guys, but just know that they're ok. Try the book if you want. Alright, happy now? Good, 'cause I', here to tell you there are demons outside the house. Now are you going to go take care of them or what?" Chris looked at each of them expectantly.

"Chris," Piper said, reaching out to touch his shoulder. "We need to stay here and take care of Liz. So why don't you take Wyatt to his father and we'll deal with things here."

"But... what about the house?"

Phoebe closed the distance between her and Chris. "Oh that old thing?" she said patting him on the shoulder."It can take care of itself. Now get out of here befroe you almost say someting that you're not supposed to." Chris shook his head. "Uh... you better just walk."

"But they already know!"

"Don't talk back to your elders. Now get going!" Phoebe pushed him toward the door. He cast them another impatient look before heading outside. "Ah that nephew of mine."

"You know, I could swear he's becoming more and more stubborn everyday... reminds me of his father." Piper mused, wrapping her arms around her sisters. Paige laughed into Piper's hair as Phoebe smiled broadly. The three sisters fell into familiar conversatioin moving slowly to joing the rest of the group. A door slammed upstairs hushig the room. Everyone listened as heavy clomping footsteps descended the stairs. Max reentered the cafe, a confused and slightly dejected look on his face. Max looked at his friends. Tess lifted an eyebrow in question.

"She..." Max took a breath. "She told me to go away." Michael lost all restraint. He broke into histerical laughter.

"Man," he put a sarcastically sympathetic hand on Max's shoulder. "It happens to the best of us... only not a stud like me. OW!" Maria's hand shot out and slapped Michael across theback of his head. Nichael scowled down at Maria who defiantly stared back. Michael sighed. "As I was saying Maxwell, this goes for you too Kyle, if you want happiness you have to be able to control your woman. You see, look at me. I am the ladies man, every girl wa- OUCH!" Maria laughed as she hit him again.

"Please continue. I need an excuse to beat you." Max and Kyle struggled not to laugh, both fighting a losing battle. "Sorry, you were saying something, Max, before Macho Man opened his trap." A sense of familiar joy passed over the Pod Squaders as for a moment their sadness was pushed away. Phoebe felt Paige's hand on her back. They stepped togethe,r cheek to cheek, so Paige could whisper into her sister's ear.

"Maybe Chris gave us a clue after all," Paige whispered, casting her eyes around, "the book." Phoebe pulled back to search Paige's eyes. "Before he changed the subject, he mentioned checking the book. I didn't realize until now but maybe it's time we got the book, huh?"

"Should we go back home?" Phoebe asked, flicking her wrist to command Piper's attention as well.

"No," a slightly mischevious grin appeared on Paige's face, "The book will come to us. Cover me." Paige turned her back to the group. Piper and Phoebe stood around her, exchanging toubled galnces. "Book!" Paige commanded holding out both her hands. Several blue twinkles swirled around her arms slowly multiplying. Finally the Book of Shadows crowned in neon blue light appeared in her arms.

"Since when have you been able to do that?" Piper asked

"Go hide it in our room." Phoebe said at the same time. Paige winked and sprinted to their room, clutching the Book to her chest. The Pod Squaders were so engrossed in forced normality, they never noticed the exchange between the sisters. Paige returned and everyone continued their conversations for some time until Jeff reappeared.

"I have an unusual request." He cleared his throat. "Would you kids call you parents and ask them to come over. We can all have a camp-in typpe thing." Jeff sniffed. "I don't think any of us should be alone tonight." He handed the phone to Kyle who was nearest to him. Jeff walked over to the Halliwells dragging his feet. "I never realized..." He wiped a tear off of his cheek. "I never realized how hard it is to live the way you do. Ho hard it is to find love and respect the fear you see in people's eyes." Jeff's voice started shaking. The three sisters watched him carefully, uncertain of how to respon. " I was so cold to you becasue I didn't want my daughter to think me a monster. I can't help but think it's my fault. If I had told her... let her know from the beginning... maybe I wouldn't have driven her away." Jeff broke into unrestrained tears. The sisters stood silent for a moment before Piper opened her arms to Jeff. He collapsed into her. Paige and Phoebe joined the embrace. They remained like that for several minutes before Piper insited she take Jeff upstairs for a moment. Phoebe and Paige stood watching them.

"Phoebe, something here feels wrong." Paige found her eyes shifting back toward the Pod Swuad.

"I know," Phoebe squeezed Paige's hand. "There's this feeling I get... it's strange. But whatever evil that's trying to get these kids is in for one hell of a suprise."

"I hear you . Let's hit that Book. It's time for super witch ass kickin' time!" The sisters sprinted up the stairs and crowded around the book.

Phoebe started turning the pages frantically. She threw up her hands in frustration. "What are we even supposed to be loking for?" Invisible hands began to turn the pages. "Thanks Grams!" The three crowded in closer to see what page the book had opened to. "Four Square? What's that? Chris!! Get down here!" Chris appeared in the oh so familiar swirl of blue twinkling lights.

Piper took the lead. "Chris, sweetie, what's a Four Square? And what is it doing in our book?"

Chris's eyes widened in shock. "WHAT? I mean... um... yeah... I don't know. So about those demons outside the house." Phoebe draped an arm over her determined nephew.

"Chris, honey, don't worry about it. The house will be fine, you have Wyatt and we have the book. Everything is fine."

Chris sighed, his deep blue eyes shining with impatience. "Fine, whatever. Where's Jeff, I figured I should let him know...about me..."

"Maybe we should talk to Leo," Paige asked. Piper looked at Chris.

"Honey, perhaps we should-"

"Fine, you know what, fine. I'll go find him, alright." Piper grabbed his arm.

"We'll talk to Jeff soon, I promise." chris wrapped his arms around her.

"I know." He allowed a tiny smile. Piper slapped his shoulder playfully.

"Let's get your father. Leo! Get down here will you?" In the same blue swirl as Chris, Leo materialized in front of Piper. Paige and Phoebe occupied themselves with the book. Leo caught the activity and slight alarms in Piper's eyes. "Hi. Nice of ya to fit us in."

"Why is the book here? Why are you three here? There are demons back in San Fransisco tha-"

"Save your breath. I tried that already." Chris muttered under his breath.

"Alright Piper," Leo sighed. "What is going on?"

"You tell me, Leo. We came down to look after Liz when we found out Alex died." Chris started coughing.

"I'm good. It's fine. Keep talking."

"Alright... Then we find out these kids aren't human, the book's adding pages to itself, and Liz just found out about Jeff. There's something we're missing isn't there." Piper searched Leo's face.

"I'll find out what I can."

"Wait!" Piper spoke as blue light consumed Leo's body and he vanished. "But... what about... I hate it when he does that!" Piper threw her hands up in exasperation.

"Chris," Phoebe looked up from the Book, "I think it's time we relax. With everyone here tonight, there's no way we could miss anything. You go see about Wyatt and the Manor."

"Okay. Mom..." he looked at Piper uncertainly, "Call me if... you know." He turned around and disappeared.

"Like father..." Piper sighed. "Anyway, let's wait until 'lights out' before working any magic."

"No reason to overstimulate the young ones."

"Something like that, Paige. Oh I'm going to take a nap, little Chris and I are tire." She touched her stomach and smiled.

"Paige," Phoeve turned to her other sister, "I think we should take a power nap as well bacease, if I'm reading these vibes I'm getting right... tonight's going to be rough."

Jim was worried. His mind had been distracted all day. What was he going to do? Jim hadn't even payed much attention at the funeral. But as he reached the doors of the Crashdown, he'd seen them sitting inside the cafe, and all his fears and come to a head. Now he was pacing in the ally just outside the Crashdown, frantically trying to decide how to handle this. As he turned towards the street, Jim was startled by the man who had suddenly appeared in a flourish of blue lights.

"Leo! What are you... What are THEY doing here!"

Leo took a deep breath before he responded, closing his eyes in sorrow for his friend. "Jim, it's time."

Back in the apartment, the three sisters sat in the guest room frstrated and confused. They stood as they heard a knock on the door. The three scrambled to hisde the Book of Shadows as Leo appeared seconds before Liz entered the room.

"Hey! I thought I heard voices." She glanced around the room. "Leo!! When did youget here?" She ran across the room and Leo embraced her warmly.

"Oh, a few moments ago. You must not have heard me come up." Piper joined the embrace.

"Sweetie, I know you're upset and confused, but it will all work out, I promise. Now why don't we go downstairs and find out what's going on." Liz nodded, greatful for the support from her family and together they filed down the stairs.

Entering the cafe, Liz found not only her parents and friends sitting in various groups but also the Whitmans, the Evans, and Amy Deluca had joined their children in the cafe and were now sitting around nervously, unsure fo why they had been asked there. Chris had reentered the cafe after leaving the girls upstairs and was now trying to entertain little Wyatt by making baby noises. Jeff clapped his hands together, trying to command attention.

"I wanted to thank you for being strong enough to come here." Jeff cleared his throat. "I felt none of us should be alone today. It would be bet-" Jeff froze, his power flaring. HE could feel... something behind him. He opened his mouth to start speaking again and was inturrupted by a gasp from Maria. Jeff whirled around as blue light swirled into the form of a man, Jim. Him scanned every face and finally met Leo's eyes. Leo gave Jim a solemn nod.

"I'll be right back," with that Jim disappeared again. The room remained shockingly silent, every breath was hushed. After several minutes the air accepted the familiar blue lights. This time the lights split and two men stood infront of the group. A gasp escaped Lis's lips as recognition shookj her. Maria screamed and latched onto the frozen Michael. Isabelle fainted as a single whispered name left her lips.

And that's chapter 2. Hope you liked it. Thanks again for all the feedback and keep it coming. It's addictive.