Twenty Questions

Chris looked at Phoebe and just shook his head, turning to walk away. He wasn't going to give her any more information. Who knows how much he'd screwed up the past already.

"Chris, come back here!" Phoebe shouted at him but Chris just kept walking.

He headed for the front door to get out. He needed some air but before he could reach the door Leo walked out of the kitchen.

"What was that with Phoebe?" he asked.

"Uh...she just wanted to talk..." Chris answered and hoped he dodged the question enough for his father to drop the subject.

Leo nodded his head. He could sense Chris wasn't telling him the whole story but right now he wasn't too concerned about that. He just wanted to spend some time with Chris.

"Come outside with me for a minute," Leo directed, pulling open the door and letting his son walk out.

Leo closed the door behind them and followed Chris as he sat down on the steps outside. Leo sat down next to him and took a deep breath before he started.

"So how do we do this?" he asked, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.

"How do we do what?" Chris responded

"This you and me, father and son" Leo said. "I mean were we close in the future...?"

Chris took a deep breath. How could he answer that question without giving everything away? He cleared his throat and looked at his father.

"I was always second best. Couldn't compare to Wyatt..." he trailed off.

"It wasn't that you didn't try but," he muttered, having to avert his gaze.

"I could never love one son over the other" Leo said quickly and placed one arm over Chris' shoulders only to take it away as fast, not sure if he was at that stage yet.

"No it was just that...Wyatt was twice blessed, I was the simple mi...second born" he quickly stopped himself from saying middle child.

"Well...is there any way I can make it up to you…now?" Leo inquired, looking hopeful.

"Just make sure Wyatt stays safe. If I can keep him safe, maybe things will be different when I go back," Chris answered weakly. He was breaking inside. He hadn't seen his father in years and he was asking how he could be a better father. The straight answer was, 'don't let Wyatt turn evil'.

"I will do anything in my power to keep you both safe" Leo said, suddenly feeling teary-eyed.

Chris didn't answer but kept his eyes on the hard stone of the step in front of him. He couldn't look at his father, all he wanted was to get away from the whole situation but at the same time he had never been so happy to see his father again.

Just then the front door opened, causing both Leo and Chris to look up. They found Piper standing there, eying them suspiciously.

"What's going on out here?" she probed.

"Father-son bonding," Leo answered softly, in case Cole was within hearing distance.

"Oh..." Piper said and a small smile crossed her face. "So did I interrupt?"

"No" Chris hurried to his feet happy for the interruption. "I think we got it all..."

"Yeah" Leo rose as well.

"How about we go inside and talk?" Piper suggested.

"Sure" Leo said and both men walked up to her and in through the door.

Piper led her husband and future son into the living room, Phoebe and Paige were already seated. Dutifully, Chris and Leo took seats as well.

"So what do we need to talk about?" Chris asked, looking at Phoebe, getting the feeling his aunt had called this little family gathering.

"Well you left me no choice" Phoebe answered. "You just stormed off on me, we were not done."

"I was done" Chris answered.

"Well I wasn't, and now you are gonna be a nice boy and answer some questions" Phoebe answered and eyed Chris carefully.

"Okay let's hear it." Chris sighed and leaned back on the small couch. he prepared for a very unpleasant conversation.

"Where do you want me to start?" he asked.

"Coop," Phoebe answered shortly.

"He's…shit he's your husband," Chris addressed Phoebe.

"My what?" Phoebe asked shocked. This was definitely not what she had expected.

"So is Coop some nickname for Cole?" Piper asked but Chris answered by shaking his head.

"No Coop is...well he is a man you met later in life" he said, looking back at Phoebe.

"So what about Cole?" Paige piped up, receiving a swat on the arm from Phoebe.

"You um kind of split up," Chris answered nervously, praying that Cole wasn't around.

"What? Why? I love him," Phoebe protested.

"Well I don't remember. In fact you have been married to Coop for as long as I can remember" Chris answered.

"But that's crazy, I would never leave Cole" Phoebe replied.

"So who is this Coop guy anyway" Paige asked as she moved a bit further away from her sister to make sure she was not hit again.

"Coop...well he is a very loving man" Chris said very happy with his answer that didn't give very much away.

"What about me? Am I married in the future?" Paige queried, hoping her attempt this time would be met with success.

"Aunt Paige!" Chris whined.

"What? You told her," Paige rebutted.

"Yes you're married. Uncle Henry's a cool guy," Chris resigned himself to say.

"Henry..." Paige let the name roll over her tongue. "What does this Henry man do, a witch, a whitelighter...?"

"A demon" Phoebe jumped in giving back to her sister for all the times she had said bad things about Cole.

"He's a mortal" Chris sighed. "Happy now?"

"What about kids?" this time it wasn't Paige it was Phoebe again.

"I think I've said enough," Chris answered, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Haven't even been here a day and they're already beating stuff out of me," he grumbled to himself.

"Oh come on, just a tiny little hint" Phoebe tried but Chris remained silent. "What if you just nod your head?"

"Aunt Phoebe" Chris snapped.

"Fine..." Phoebe sighed. "I bet I have lots of kids though," she added quietly to herself.

"I'm sure you do," Paige said maybe a bit too sarcastically.

"Well I bet you and...Harry, are very happy together, mortal and all," Phoebe replied with a wide smile.

"It's Henry," Paige spat back, sticking her tongue out at her sibling.

"So…do you have any other siblings?" Piper addressed Chris.

"Please stop with all the questions!" he cried. He was beginning to think lying about his identity had worked better the last time. Would he have to tell them about that? Phoebe had said not to tell them they were dead. She didn't mention anything about the last time.

"Sorry for wanting to know," Piper mumbled and gave him that look. That look that always broke his heart.

"Look please I don't want to screw up the little good the future has," Chris said in a more calm tone.

"I doubt telling us about our daughters would screw up anything" Phoebe muttered.

"Look I don't want to lose you all. I can't let them…" he trailed off, tears filling his eyes.

"Let who do what?" Piper urged.

"I can't let them kill you all," Chris sniffled.

"Chris!" Phoebe reached out and slapped her hand on his arm.

"What was that for?" he asked shocked, rubbing the spot where her hand at made contact.

"Yeah that was definitely weird," Phoebe acknowledged, suddenly going back to her old self again.

"Yeah even for you," Paige stated with a small laugh.

Piper watched the exchange in silence. Had her son just told her that they were dead? And why had Phoebe smacked him. A light seemed to suddenly go on in Chris' mind.

"I think your future self well the ghost at least, just possessed you," he murmured to Phoebe.

"Care to explain why I would do that?" she asked, perplexed.

"You kind of told me not to say anything," he muttered into his sleeve.

"Well I for one am happy you did" Piper said.

"You're happy we are all dead?" Leo asked and looked at his wife.

"No" Piper said. "I just think its good that we know the truth. That way we know what happens if we don't do this."

"You mean if we don't stop some demon from hurting Wyatt..." Leo stated.

"Okay care to go back to me being possessed here?" Phoebe asked.

"Now you think she...I mean I did that because you said we died in the future?" Phoebe clarified.

"I guess so," Chris answered her question. Just then the baby monitor on the end table started to crackle with noise until sounds of loud whimpering echoed in the room. Chris jumped to his feet and without a word orbed upstairs. He walked into Wyatt's room to find Cole standing over Wyatt. The infant had his shield protectively around himself.

"What are you doing?" Chris questioned nervously.