A/N: You're going to love me! I have not one, but two chapters to upload tonight! Work was slow, and I got on a roll. :)

Peanut-4ever - wow...huge praise. thank you! yes, I am one of those people who is cautious. but don't worry, I'm 22 as well, and I still get really into fanfic. lol. I'm glad you like the story!

lizardmomma - no problem :) yeah, I wanted him to be open to it, but need a little push. and that's what Piper's there for :)

Thanks for the reviews! I hope you all enjoy this chapter!


Chapter 7 – Elders and Emotions

"What?" Chris burst incredulously.

"Magic School has resources we can use," Leo tried to reason.

"And what about Gideon?" Chris pointed out almost venomously.

"Who's Gideon?" Melinda questioned, looking between her brother and father.

Leo sighed as Chris answered sarcastically, "Oh nobody. Just the Elder that runs Magic School." Melinda's eyes shot to Leo.

"Gideon was my mentor. He fought for me and Piper to get married," Leo informed them. Then said fervently, "If there's anyone we can trust, it's him."

Chris and Melinda shared a look.

"I'll be the judge of that," Melinda told him simply. Then looking at her brother said, "Come on, let's go."

-At Magic School-

"Leo," Gideon greeted cheerfully in surprise. "What's going on?" he asked in curiosity when he saw Chris and Melinda.

"We need your help Gideon," Leo started. "We have another theory on who might be responsible for turning Wyatt evil."

Gideon raised his eyebrows slightly. "Really? Who do you think it could be?" he questioned with interest.

"An Elder," Chris said bluntly, while Melinda was watching for Gideon's reaction.

"'An Elder'?" Gideon repeated skeptically, narrowing his eyes slightly as he turned to Leo. "Leo, you can't be serious."

Taking a deep breath, Leo replied, "Actually, they bring up some valid points. It's worth looking into," Leo stated firmly.

Gideon sighed reluctantly, clearly not happy nor in agreement with Leo's stand. However, he did say, "You're welcome to use whatever you need to aid you in finding the truth."

"Thanks Gideon," Leo told him sincerely, knowing he and Gideon would be having a talk later about why he was suddenly suspicious of the other Elders, and not dedicating his time to them like he should. But Gideon knew Leo, and he knew family was the most important thing to him.

Nodding, Gideon added, "Let me know if I can help," before leaving the three alone in the library.

After Gideon was gone, Chris looked at Melinda.

"He's hiding something," she said quietly. "He got really nervous when you told him we thought it was an Elder that turns Wyatt."

"You're an empath," Leo realized.

Melinda looked over at him and nodded slowly. "And?"

Leo shook his head. "Nothing, I just hadn't realized, that's all," he explained lightly.

"It's not exactly something I like to advertise," Melinda retorted with a roll of her eyes.

000

"Gideon?" Phoebe repeated. "He's always been good to us. He's helped us out more than once. Why do you ask?"

Melinda shrugged. "He just gave off this weird vibe. I was just curious if you'd ever sensed anything…off?"

Phoebe sighed, trying to think. "Maybe a couple times," she answered honestly. "But he's an Elder, they're always hiding something." Melinda nodded. "What's wrong sweetie?" Phoebe asked softly.

"Something's missing," Melinda said quietly. "There's something I'm not seeing, I just don't know what."

"Do you think it's Gideon?" Phoebe questioned, trying to help. She could feel her niece's distress. "Do you think he's the one after Wyatt?"

Sighing heavily, Melinda replied frustrated, "I don't know. I felt something, but I don't know what it is."

"That's the trouble with being an empath," Phoebe started sympathetically. "We can feel what others are feeling, but we don't always know what it means."

Melinda looked at her with a distant expression. "Thanks Aunt Phoebe," she said with quiet sincerity.

Phoebe smiled. "Anytime sweetie," she promised. But then seeing Melinda's sadness before she turned away, Phoebe placed a hand on her shoulder and asked softly, "What's wrong?" Melinda shook her head and tried to walk away, but Phoebe turned her to face her. "Hey, you can talk to me," Phoebe assured her.

But Melinda just shook her head, and let out a hollow laugh. She gave Phoebe a sorrowful look, and Phoebe understood.

"Oh sweetie," Phoebe sighed, pulling her into a tight hug.

000

"Phoebe knows," Melinda told Chris as he orbed onto the bridge, turning to face him.

"Knows what?" he asked hesitantly, giving his sister the 'what did you do now?' look.

Melinda took a deep breath. "That she's not alive in our future," she answered slowly and warily.

Chris let out a sigh. "Mel…" he drawled in annoyance. "What were you thinking?"

"I wasn't!" Melinda snapped. That's when Chris noticed his usually under control little sister had her emotions bubbling just under the surface. Throwing her hands up in the air and beginning to pace, Melinda explained, "I went to ask for her help trying to figure out what I sensed from Gideon, and then she just started talking and…well, being Phoebe. And then I just realized how much I miss her, and how she wasn't around when I really started developing my empath power and how much help she would've been and –" She stopped. Stopped talking, stopped pacing. And that's when Chris saw the tears in her eyes. "I didn't say anything, but she saw my look and figured it out," she finished quietly.

Chris slowly walked over to Melinda and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in close.

"I just miss them so much," she cried into her brother's shirt.

"I know," Chris sighed, holding her tight and laying his head on top of hers. "Me too."

000

"Can I talk to you guys a sec?" Phoebe asked her sisters quietly when she came into the living room.

"What's wrong?" Paige asked softly, seeing Phoebe's face.

Phoebe swallowed, but looked at Piper. "Where's Leo?"

"He's upstairs putting Wyatt down," Piper answered slowly. "Why?"

Taking a deep breath to steel herself, Phoebe told them, "I think I know why Chris and Melinda have been so withdrawn around us."

Piper also took a deep breath, while Paige asked. "Why?"

"I think the Charmed Ones are dead in their future," Phoebe said as gently as she could.

Paige's mouth dropped open as her eyes widened in shock. Piper instinctively placed a protective hand over her stomach where baby Chris was growing inside of her.

"When?" Piper managed to force out in a whisper.

Phoebe shook her head sadly. "I don't know sweetie," she replied apologetically. "Melinda technically didn't even tell me we die. I could just read it on her face."

Piper turned her head and tried to keep the tears that were forming in her eyes from falling. Phoebe couldn't keep from feeling guilty for causing her sister this pain, but she'd felt Piper had a right to know what her kids were going through.

"Wonder how old they were when it happened," Paige mused quietly.

Shaking her head, Phoebe replied, "I don't know."

"Melinda's only eighteen," Piper said softly. "With the way they've hidden it it has to have been at least a few years." Phoebe and Paige shared a sad glance, and then turned back to Piper. "Losing your mother at a young age was something I had hoped wouldn't be a legacy our kids have to carry too," Piper practically whispered in despair.

"I know sweetie," Phoebe agreed. "Me too." Her and Paige moved to either side of Piper and wrapped their arms around her in a group hug as they all had tears running down their face.


A/N: Hope you all enjoyed that chapter! Don't worry, the next one's already written and will be up as soon as I can type it up and upload it. :)