Disclaimer: Do I really have to put one of these up before every chapter? If anyone seriously thinks I own Charmed, I have a nice, one could even say golden, bridge in California I'd be willing to sell them for $20.

Authors note: Thanks for all the reviews, guys! It's really a thrill to get them. There is one thing I'd like to address, though. I've gotten a lot of reviews asking me what's wrong with Wyatt. There is nothing wrong with Wyatt that hasn't been wrong with him all season. He's the same adorable dead eyed psychopath he has been since he stopped expressing emotion somewhere around "My Three Witches." I was just sick of the sisters never noticing. Sorry for the scare!

Chapter 3

Chris awoke to a comforting hand smoothing his hair. He smiled and opened his eyes. "Hi, Mom." He said groggily. "She hasn't done that in years." He thought to himself.

Piper looked down at him tenderly. She couldn't believe he was actually here. She rested her hand on his cheek, relying on the physical contact to prove it wasn't a dream. "Morning, Sweetie. Did you sleep well?" Chris nodded. "How about I go make you some breakfast? French toast sound good?"

"With cinnamon?" Chris asked. He couldn't remember the last time Piper had made him that dish for breakfast.

Piper laughed. "Of course! Is there any other kind? You take your time; I'll call you when it's ready." With a last glance over her shoulder, she walked into the kitchen. Chris could hear the pots and pans shifting around as she searched for the right one.

He quickly got dressed and started to head into the kitchen when he heard someone come down the stairs. He turned and saw Paige standing in the doorway, an odd look on her face. "Morning, Paige!" he said. She didn't react, just continued to stare.

He shrugged and started to turn when all of a sudden Paige jumped towards him and threw her arms around his neck, embracing him extremely tightly as she started to cry. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." She kept saying as she buried her face in his shoulder.

Chris was stunned. He most certainly hadn't been expecting that reaction and he didn't know what to do. Comforting people had never been something he'd been particularly adept at. Slowly, he put his arms around her and tentatively started smoothing her hair. "It's alright, Paige. It's alright." He said. "Everything's ok."

Paige pulled away and tried to recompose herself. "I'm sorry. It's just that… last time I saw you… and I couldn't… I'm just so relieved you're ok." She finished, and exhaled deeply.

Chris smiled awkwardly at her and said, "You know, Piper's making some breakfast. Let's go eat."

Chris's mouth watered as he walked into the kitchen and smelled the cinnamon wafting towards him. He hadn't realized how hungry he was. How long had it been since he'd last eaten, anyway? Piper brought the food over and they all sat down. Just then the baby monitor kicked in and they heard Wyatt calling for his mommy.

"Guess Wyatt's up." Piper said. "I bet he's hungry." And she started to stand up. Chris stopped her.

"I'll go get him." He said as he started to dissolve into a cloud of blue orbs. Chris fell back down into his chair, looking very confused. He felt like he'd hit a brick wall head on mid orb. "What the heck is going on?" he exclaimed. "First my TK and now my orbing?"

Piper and Paige exchanged a concerned look. "It must be some kind of side effect." Paige said, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm sure it'll wear off soon." Both Chris and Piper looked away guiltily when she said that. Paige stood up. "I'll go get Wyatt." She said as she orbed away.

For a long moment they stayed silent, both mother and son obviously wanting to say something but unable to phrase it. Chris looked up at Piper. "Mom, I'm- I'm sorry… about the baby."

Piper looked surprised. "Oh Chris, you don't have anything to be sorry about."

"Yes I do. It's my fault he's gone."

"NO!" Piper shouted severely, and Chris startled. "You will not blame yourself for this. It's not your fault; it had nothing to do with you. This was my screw up. I acted without thinking. You'd think when it comes to magic I'd have learned not to do that by now. But don't worry; we're going to work this out. I promise." Her voice softened at the end, taking the edge off her outburst.

Chris nodded, slightly mollified. "So," he said as casually as he could while he glanced around. "Where's Dad?" He was overcome with that familiar sinking feeling that Leo had forgotten about him again. He tried to tell himself that wasn't true.

Piper sensed her son's agitation and put a hand on his arm. "Leo stayed with you all night. I came down this morning and found him sitting next to the sofa watching you. I don't think he closed his eyes the whole night. I think he was afraid you were going to disappear again… I told him I would sit with you, he needed to go up there and talk with the Elders. Hopefully they know what's going on. I'm sure he'll be back soon" Chris looked relieved. Having apparently been sufficiently comforted, he hungrily started in on his breakfast.

"Maybe you want to breathe in between bites? I hear it helps with the not choking." He heard Paige tease from behind him. She settled Wyatt in his high chair as Phoebe walked in.

"There's my little nephew!" Phoebe cried as she ran over and started hugging Chris who'd had his fork halfway to his mouth.

"Uh, good morning to you too, Phoebe. Do you, uh, mind if I finish eating now?" He said a bit irritated, trying to keep the syrup from dripping off his fork onto Piper's table cloth. He loved his aunt and knew she meant well, but sometimes she got overexcited and it could get annoying.

"Oh yeah. Sorry." She grinned as she started to pinch his cheek. "Ooh, they grow up so fast!" she bubbled and headed over towards the coffee pot. Piper opened her mouth to start scolding her sister about embarrassing Chris, but thankfully Leo chose that moment to orb into the kitchen.