Plutobaby494: Yes I know it has been a few weeks since I updated but I have other priorities that have been taking up most of my time! Such as school! But I won't get into the boring details and start on the story.

Now, I think most of you are wondering why I put Chris so weak and fragile. What's the point right? It's not his character! But it is very crucial to my story, so there is a point to all this! You'll find out part of it in this chapter but I will explain full detail about it in later chapters!! So I hope you like!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed. I just miss use them badly!!

ON WITH THE FICCIE


Chapter 7

Chris stood in the front entry way, staring at the door that Wyatt had just exited to have a sleepover, with longing eyes. He really wanted to go.

He absently heard his mother and father talking in heated voices and sighed. He just didn't understand why his mommy didn't let him do the same stuff as Wyatt.

"It's not fair…" Chris thought, "Wyatt gets to do everything"

Chris turned and climbed the stairs, stomping his anger out on the floor. He could never really hate his mom for being like this nor could he hate his brother. But a part of him wished he could have been born normal.

He continued to stare at his feet as he walked towards his room in silence. He was about to walk into the doorway but decided not to. All that awaited him in his room was a scroll full of potion instructions and homework to be done.

Chris sighed and stared off randomly, not knowing what to do. He didn't want to go downstairs to interrupt whatever his mom and dad were secretly arguing about. Wyatt's room was fun but only if his elder brother was in it. His parent's room was just plain boring and a little creepy.

He strived to stay away from it as much as possible. Weird noises often came from it at night and he was a little scared that something was living underneath the bed. The voices moaned and groaned, often accompanied with the squeaking of the box springs. He shuddered, thinking about it.

He looked at the stairs leading up to the attic and shrugged, that was as good of place as any. It wasn't like he had anything else to do.

Chris took the stairs two at a time, reaching the top with a small pant. He opened the attic door and stepped into the musty room. It wasn't like most attics used for storage. Yes, they used it for storage but so much more.

The small rug in the middle of the room had a carved wood table. It was used for mainly potions, or for holding the map that they scryed with. Behind it a few steps was a wooden podium, holding a large green book. He walked forwards and looked at the famous Book of Shadows. It was worn with age and thick enough to use as a foot stool to reach the cookies his mom had placed on the shelf in the kitchen… not that he had ever tried that!!!

He glanced toward the doorway, hoping to hear the sounds of his mother and father arguing. That would mean they were both still downstairs and wouldn't come up and see him do what he was about to do.

Both Wyatt and him were not allowed to use the Book unless they had one of their aunts or parents with them. It was a rule that Chris broke every chance he could get. Magic never ceased to amaze the small boy and he loved to sit and flip through the worn pages, looking at all the different creatures there were.

Chris lifted the cover of the book and flipped it open to the first pages. He continued flipping, staring at the various demons that had either been vanquished by his mom and aunts or the ones who hadn't shown up yet.

He was in the middle of practicing his reading (sounding out he words) about the strengths and weaknesses of the Kazi demons when the book came to life, snapping to a different page farther in the back. He glanced at the page for a spit second then turned back to the demon he was on and continued reading. He would get to it sooner or later.

The book jerked under his fingertips and turned to the same page. He scowled in annoyance.

The page was almost empty except for a large black box with small holes of light around the edges. He put her small finger on the big bolding words on the top of the page and started sounding out the letters.

"Th-the Hol- Hollowe" Chris said allowed, trying to understand what the word was. He creased his brow in confusion and looked at the small paragraph underneath the picture.

He was halfway through the first sentence when he heard this mother calling his name from downstairs. He shut the book quickly and started towards the attic door without question. If he didn't answer his mothers call, then she got worried and when she was worried, it usually resulted in him staying in her close proximity the rest of the day.

Chris exited the attic, forgetting about the page immediately.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Down in the dark crevices of the underworld, a demon paced, walking back and forth across the worn sandy floors. The air was stagnant and hot. Torches lined the cave walls and a giant stone table sat in the center of the large cavern. It was a meeting hall of sorts, one not many used anymore.

The engravings on the top of the table were worn from age and barely readable. It was ancient writings that lined the table, the same that were in the Hall of Prophecies.

Shrill, pain-filled, screams could be heard in the distance.

The demon continued pacing despite this with a look of calm determination. His wrinkled face was composed, his milky eyes held none of the worry his head carried. It had been eight years since he had read the prophecy back in the Hall. Eight long years.

He had found the demon he had needed years ago, but the child was still too young. He wasn't ready… yet.

He continued calmly pacing, just seeming to want to small bit of exercise it gave him. He stilled when another being shimmered into the cave and looked at the newcomer.

"Welcome my friend" the demon said to the other. The new demon had short dark brown hair; it sometimes was mistaken for black in the distance. His eyes were blue but held black spots around the iris.

"Aro" the newcomer said, smiling. They stepped forward and shook hands like old friends.

"Septus, how is your family" Aro asked, motioning the other to a stone table sitting in middle of the cavern.

Though he was ten centuries younger than Aro, Septus talked with the demon like friends instead of superior and subordinate.

Septus laughed, "Fine, my youngest killed her first witch last week"

Aro smiled genuinely, "You must be proud"

Another shrill scream pierced the air and both demons turned towards the sound.

"Demons this day and age are all hot-blooded and reckless. All they care about is getting to the top" Septus said, turning back to Aro.

"Yes, but I seem to recall you were a lot like that in your early days, give them time my friend. When the fire has burned from their veins they will calm down and see reason" Aro said, with a chuckle.

Septus gave his friend an amused look then both turned serious.

"What news of the Keeper?" Septus asked, getting to business.

"He's growing stronger every day but still has a long way to go" Aro replied, with a small bow of his head.

"Shouldn't we strike now when he is younger and unprotected?" Septus asked, a small bit of impatience leaking into his voice.

"No it would only delay his journey. He still has much to learn from his family and the bond between the twice-blessed needs to grow. It is why we didn't take him as a baby" Aro said replied.

"But his mother coddles him. She wants to keep all forms of magic away from him. How is he supposed to learn with that?" Septus asked.

"Ah, Septus you underestimate the Keeper. His body may be weak but his mind and spirit are strong. I have been watching him since his birth and every minute he's alone he is up with the Book of Shadows. Things are already beginning to fall into place" Aro said, with another chuckle.

Septus hesitated, a doubtful expression on his face.

"The Keeper will be turned to are side Septus, don't you worry about that. Trust is the key, my friend" Aro said, a calming confidence oozing off him.

Septus nodded. They were both interrupted when another demon shimmered into the cavern. He was about as old as Septus, but years younger in maturity.

Long sandy brown framed his face and dark ash colored eyes sparkled in amusement.

"Sorry, I'm late. The wife was complaining and bitching about the Gorgis demons next door torturing witch after witch and making a loud disturbance" he said, sitting down next to Septus.

Septus nodded hello and Aro smiled, lines appearing around his thin mouth.

"Quite alright Felix, I hope nothing unfortunate came to the Gorgis. Your wife has a temper that would have most upper level demons quaking in there boots" Aro said, still smiling.

"Normally I would have enjoyed watching a blood bath but that would have made me even later. So what did I miss?" Felix said, jovially.

"We were talking about the Keeper" Septus replied nonchalantly.

"Oh, so were going ahead with the plans" Felix asked.

"No, we still have some preparations to take care of. And Marcus needs to be warned" Aro said.

Before Felix could open his mouth to complain that it had already been eight years, Septus spoke first.

"About" he asked.

"The Keeper is still too weak to control the Hollow, if Marcus gets overzealous and attempts to release it early, all we have fought for these last millennia will be lost" Aro said, seriously.

"The Hollow is getting anxious, it senses its Keeper. Can't you feel it?" Septus asked, even now feeling the vibrations in the air.

"Yes I have felt it since the boy's conception. It has waited patiently with all the demons that have tried to harness its powers but now that it senses its Keeper, it will not hesitate to kill the one who releases it to get to the boy"

"You talk of it as if it's an actual being. We have all been taught that the Hollow is a mindless vapor that consumes every magical thing, whether it be good or bad" Felix commented lightly.

"You sound like you doubt the prophecy. If it was just a mindless vapor than it would not need a Keeper" Septus said, annoyed.

"While Septus is right, you both weren't even thought of when the Ancients first described the Hollow and wrote the prophecy. The Hollow is for the time being a vapor but it is as much a magical creature as the dwarves or fairies. The catch is there's only one.

When the Hollow enters someone, it takes over there body and becomes corporal. But only the Keeper can stop the Hollow from taking over completely. Instead it combines with the Keeper and completes him. Right now, half of him is missing. But if the Hollow enters the Keeper before he is ready to accept it mentally and physically, his body will not be able to take it and shut down" Aro said, his voice an octave deeper.

"I don't see how such a fragile boy can be the Keeper! He barely made it through his birth let alone the first few years. How is it that he can handle this?" Felix grumbled, "Maybe you're reading the signs wrong" he directed the last part towards Aro.

Septus winced at Felix's boldness and fully expected the elder demon to incinerate the fool where he sat. He was mildly surprised when Aro just sat still, staring impassively at Felix.

Aro suddenly cracked a grin and both demons breathed, suddenly aware they were holding their breaths.

"No, I have not misinterpreted the signs. Corcoran flew the night sky the night before the boy's birth. The prophecy was quite clear. He was born of the eldest Charmed One and an Angel" he said, shaking his head slightly. His silvery white hair pulled beneath its bonds and Aro lightly reached back and loosened the leather strap that kept it up.

"That purple comet?! I thought Corcoran was a myth" Felix muttered hesitantly.

Aro was known for his patience but those who succeeded in pissing him off were never seen again. Felix tried not to imagine how they could have died, for that's the only explanation to what could have happened to those many powerful demons, it must have been painful. But Aro never spoke of them again and seemed to put it behind him. He silently ordered everyone else to do the same.

"Most do" Aro simply replied, with a small bow of his head. His face was guarded and his eyes were emotionless.

Septus cleared his throat to change the subject. Felix was traveling in dark waters and even though he didn't care much for the other demon, pissing Aro off was never a smart thing to do. And he was heading down that path.

"When do you think the Keeper will be ready?" he asked. Aro's faced changed so drastically that Septus had to wonder if the elder demon had developed some sort of human mood disorder from living with them for so long. His guarded face relaxed and the lines that disappeared whenever he was serious came back and his milky eyes became playful and amused. He looked like one of those old human geezers that lived on the surface.

"As it was stated millennia ago, the Keeper will be ready to except his destiny in his beginning adolescence. His body was made weak for a reason. The Hollow is a dangerous and powerful being. Only the chosen who has overcome personal weakness and mental hardship can fully combine with the Hollow. It is a journey that he must take alone. But one can always be help by outside recourses. I have already started to gain his trust from my post. Once I have a deeper hold on him, then we will act" Aro said, in his deep penetrating voice that he only used when he was making some sort of speech.

"Wouldn't it be wise to get the boy on our side quickly and not dawdle? The Keeper will become powerful, so powerful that he could eradicate all the demons in the underworld. Just by sucking there power away" Felix said, sardonically.

Septus shot the stupid demon a glare and wished he would have stuck his foot in his mouth. He looked at Aro cautiously.

Aro just smiled darkly, "No, it will be much worse"

Septus nodded, having heard the legends passed down from his own father.

"I will talk to Marcus. He is anxious about obtaining the power of the Hollow. I will make him see reason" Septus said.

"Yes, he always did listen to you. I will continue watching the boy until the right time. I have no doubt that the Ancients have a plan to inform the boy about his lineage, even after their unfortunate demise" Aro said.

"Do you think the Elders are informed?" Felix asked, curious.

Aro chuckled, "I know that they aren't. They were ignorant about the Twice-blessed Prophecy. No they like to think they are the superior beings and have no trifles with Ancient magic. The will sense the vibrations but I am confident that they will ignore it for the time being"

Felix snickered, "Stupid Elders. They won't see it coming. Sitting up there all day on their pompous asses"

Septus grinned, "The end of good magic is coming" he agreed.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Chris entered the kitchen with a small pant and noticed his mother was the only one in the room.

Piper turned when she heard her son enter the room and smiled.

"Do you want to help me with dinner?" she asked him. She knew of his love for cooking and was trying to make up for earlier. She had always known she was being unfair to her youngest but after almost losing her baby, not once but twice to a non-magical ailment, her motherly instincts kicked in.

Chris nodded eagerly and jumped on the barstool around the island. Piper smiled and handed him a whisk. Stirring was something that was easy for someone as small and uncoordinated as Chris but it was also something he enjoyed to do.

(Authors Note: Every one is uncoordinated at this age. It's our bodies learning how to use our muscles. Not meant as another weakness)

Piper placed a purple ceramic bowl in front of her eldest son and watched as a look of pure joy come across his face. His green eyes danced in amusement as he stuck the metal whisk into the bowl and started to stir.

"Where did daddy go?" he asked, not pausing in his work.

Piper glanced at him in surprise but quickly returned to the pots on the stove.

"The elders called him for something" Piper answered. Chris didn't reply.

Piper turned to look at him worried. He was silently stirring the greasy mixture with new force. His expression was guarded and cautious. Almost like he didn't want to speak his thoughts but they were still there bubbling near the surface. Chris was always guarded whenever the elders were mentioned.

Piper had asked him once what bugged him so. His reply had been so quiet that Piper was sure she heard him wrong.

"They shouldn't be trusted. Death and Destruction will follow wherever they lead" he had said.

Sure, Piper had never liked the Elders for almost breaking her and Leo up before they were married and then the whole beef with Wyatt but they had never done anything that caused the family to blatantly distrust them.

"What are we making?" Chris asked, breaking Piper out of her reverie. She turned to him.

"Well I was going to make lasagna but since you brothers away and Auntie Phoebe will be coming to pick up your cousins any minute now, it'll be just us. So I was thinking of making pasta" she said, uncovering one of the pans on the stove so Chris could see the noodles softening.

"The water makes them soft?" Chris asked, curious.

"Yep, once the water starts to get really hot and bubbles start to rise to the surface, that's called boiling, it will make them softer and not crunchy. People don't eat crunchy noodles" she said, expertly.

"Wow" Chris just muttered, dazed.

Piper smiled and the look and covered the pot back up. The sound of the front door opening and the sound of high-heels rushing across the wooden floor broke them both out of the lesson.

"You who, anyone home" Phoebe's voice cried out, getting closer.

"And that'll be your Auntie Phoebe" Piper said smiling, "I hope she doesn't trip on that new rug I bought yesterday with those death traps she calls shoes"

Chris smiled. Phoebe was now a famous advice collumest and worked for one of the biggest papers in San Francisco. When she traded jobs, she had traded her wardrobe. Now she was supposed to dress proper to set a dignified presence.

Piper just laughed when Phoebe first explained it all.

"In here" Piper called. The click-clacking of Phoebe's pumps could be heard a mile away and finally she came through the swinging door.

"Phew, I am tired. I can't wait to get home and get these shoes off" she complained, collapsing on the barstool next to Chris.

"I'll bet" Piper said with a knowing smile. She turned back to her pots before Phoebe could come up with a response.

"So how was your day, my favorite nephew?" she asked, reaching over and ruffling Chris's dark brown locks. She pressed kisses to his head while she did this.

"Fine" Chris said, scowling. He always hated that.

"Did Wyatt win his game?" she asked, finally stopping her cuddling.

"Yea, it was tied for almost the whole game but Wyatt shot the winning score and won the game in the last minute" Chris said, excitedly.

Phoebe smiled sadly, "Sorry, I had to miss it. We had an important board meeting today"

"It's okay. We had fun as a family" Piper said, from the stove.

"Did Paige make it?" Phoebe asked, feeling guilty. After moving out of the manor and getting a better job, her relationship with her sisters had slowly dwindled. Now unless a demon had attacked (which was getting less common. Paige had wondered if they were finally getting smart enough to realize they weren't going to beat the Charmed Ones) or they needed a babysitting favor, did they get together. (Though birthdays and Holidays were the exception.)

"No, Sam got the chicken pox last night and she had to stay with him" Piper replied, not angry at all. After all, her sisters had their own families to think about now. She couldn't judge them when she had broken off just as many engagements to do or be somewhere with either of her sons.

"Sorry" Phoebe muttered, sheepish.

"Don't be, I would have done the same thing" Piper replied, evenly.

The small silence was broken when Patty and Prue came running into the room, squealing.

"Momma, Momma" they cried in unison, running towards Phoebe. She laughed and gathered them into her arms, hugging them.

"You guys ready to go?" she asked, them. They nodded their heads hyperly and Phoebe laughed.

"Well come on then" she said. She kissed Chris and hugged him while he gagged. Piper laughed at his reaction but Phoebe just saw it as cute. She pinched his red cheeks lightly.

"You're so cute" she cooed and then enveloped him into a big hug.

Chris sent his mother a looking screaming help but Piper just silently laughed.

Phoebe finally left, after giving Chris another kiss on the head and a wave to her sister. Chris sulked in his seat, his cheeks pink, ready for his embarrassment to end.

TO BE CONTINEUD


Plutobaby494: Please Review!! I'd like to know what you think!!

Thanks to all my reviewers,

RuByMoOn17, mallratrebel, aerohead1980, MargotTenn, likestories, Sandy Murray, criminally charmed, LucyCelticPrincess, pinkphoenix1985, MAD DOGG, History Buff 1990, Bibz, Marcus1233, dreamgirl93, Hellgirl77, angelkat2502, crazyDFFgang, JadeAlmasy, lizardmomma, petites sorcieres, NaruXHinata-Rules, poke-me-im-strange, KB22, iamkagomeiloveinuyasha (x2), mcgowang.

PLEASE R&R