Enter the Cleaners and you may wonder what will be revealed here. *grins*


Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed. Well, if I did, here you'll have the result. lol

Summary: Chris seemed to be lost as he now works for the devil himself. Yet Wyatt knew there was hope but the Twice-Blessed didn't know how to solve this. Time travel? Direct confrontation? Time is running against both of them. Are they going to survive?


8. A first clash: Cleaners & Halliwells

GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER

"Okay, that was unexpected. Though a bit early," the younger boy commented, looking at all room's occupants. Receiving some glares from his father and brother as well as from the men in white what made him only shrug.

"I take it you three know us," one man said. He turned to the three women. "We are the Cleaners and we monitor good and evil magic. If the magic exposed, that is."

"Oh, but we haven't exposed anything," Paige said, looking at her older sisters for confirmation. They nodded. "Why are you here?"

"To take care of the boys. Or more precisely Wyatt as he's messing up with the past and his younger brother's destiny," the other one explained.

"Who are you, anyway?" Piper wanted to know.

"The Cleaners. And we're only reporting to the Tribunal what consists of Elders and Demons, so there's no need to fight with us," the first Cleaner spoke again.

"And what if we don't agree with that decision?" the mother continued to ask. "I mean we don't know you. Not yet at least which I am grateful for. So?"

"Mrs Halliwell," the second Cleaner started. "You wouldn't want to get to know our power, now would you? Though you'll be learning them soon." He turned to the men of the family. "It'd be better if we could talk alone."

"Hey!" Phoebe interjected. "You can't do that!" Then her voice became quiet. "Can you?"

The eldest Charmed One just wanted to blow these men up, but her sons quickly stopped her by grabbing each an arm and pushed them down. "What?" she asked irritated.

"Mom," Wyatt said. "Please, let Dad, Chris and me do the talking with the Cleaners. We know them. It'd be really better if you go now. You and the aunts. But I promise we'll be careful. Besides, I have Chris with me."

"Okay, we go," Piper accepted the deal with a nod. "But if I hear one scream or crash from here, we'll be here instantly. No matter what and we'll vanquish the Cleaners."

Her men just smiled at her and reluctantly the Charmed Ones left the room, but the eldest turned around a last time before she quietly closed the door.

"Thank you," the first Cleaner spoke again. "So, back to the task at hand." His gaze landed on the oldest son. "Wyatt, we only beg you to leave. Now. You've already messed up this timeline. Yours."

"I know," the blond admitted. "I was desperate with jumping through time and needed help from an expert. Which would be Chris and my wish brought me here." He looked at them. "I'm sorry for that mess up, but that wasn't my intention as well as the revelation of Chris' identity."

"And?" the second wanted to know.

"We've already been working on that. My little brother has written a spell to send me forward, but we haven't had time to test it yet. There's no need for your intervention."

"Yeah," Chris added smiling, by standing close to his older brother. "I taught him well in the future. Or will teach him. Whatever. You can go now. Shoot, shoot."

"You have your mother's temper, I see," the first Cleaner said. "But we can't leave. We'll be here as long as Wyatt is. To make sure he goes … back in time."

"Wait," Leo cut in now. "You know you can trust us! We all know what we're doing here and I promise to take care of everything when it comes to Wyatt's departure. As for knowing us Chris, one time we'd have found him out, so there's no need for memory changing."

Now the Cleaners turned to look at each other and then back to the men of the Halliwell clan. "If we trust you with this task, Leo Wyatt, how can we be sure that still all goes the way it should. Especially with Chris' destiny."

Confused the father turned to his two sons who refused to look at him. That only made him more suspicious and decided to postpone his questions with one of them. "What do you mean?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Ask your son! The one from the better future," the first Cleaner said again. "Okay, let's say we agree. Be aware of our constant watching. One false move and we forget the Charmed offspring!"

The three men gasped but said nothing. So at the end the five of them stood rooted on their spot and just stared at each other.


MEANWHILE WITH THE SISTERS

"What do you think they're talking about?" Phoebe asked her sisters. "I mean there are men. Three we know, but the other two? I don't know."

"Hey, don't be so pessimistic. I'm sure our men could handle that easily," Paige said. "Piper?"

But the oldest sister was lost in her thoughts. She still couldn't believe that Chris was her son. Her baby boy but what she didn't know was his reason for being here. The mother would find out and change all this – for her babies' sake. Then she saw hands in front of her face. "What?" came the bewildered question.

"We wanted to know how you think of our men. Your men to be exact," Phoebe replied and her youngest sister nodded.

"Oh," she intoned. "I believe in my men. They said they know them, so why should we intervene? I'm sure it's fine."

"You're not worried?" the youngest Charmed One questioned in disbelief.

"No."

"Really?" the middle one requested. "And you okay with that?"

Again, the oldest one just nodded and continued her normal work. She was making a meal for all of them as she knew they'd be hungry. Deep inside the mother smiled to herself as she knew she'd be a mother of two wonderful boys. What would Grams say if she knew this?

Both younger Charmed Ones shrugged and looked at the ceiling, waiting impatiently for the men to return. It'd be a long wait.


BACK TO THE MEN

"You don't mean that?" the boys interjected after they'd recovered from the threat. "This would tip the balance!"

"We know," the first Cleaner spoke again. "So for the time being we accept your offer, Leo Wyatt and we trust the boys to handle Wyatt's return to his time." Both Cleaners nodded and were gone in the next moment.

All sighed in relief but the father folded his arms over the chest and demanded answers from both his sons. "Okay, you both! Spill!"

The brothers looked briefly at each other before the younger one's anger at his father grew. He couldn't stand him after the man had disappointed him so many years. He felt how his brother tried to hold him back but failed.

"Why should I tell you anything, Leo?" Chris spat out furiously. "For you only one son existed and that was Wyatt!" He freed himself and orbed away.

In shock the Elder turned to his eldest, silently begging him for an answer. But the young man shook his head and made the man question himself. He'd never favor one son over the other, because he wasn't that kind of a father. Was he?

"Dad?" Wyatt asked after seeing his father in shock. "Listen, in my future you've changed. But to earn his forgiveness you'll have to work hard. Very hard. That I promise."

Leo nodded but was distracted as the sisters came in, looking around. The younger Charmed Ones monopolized their nephew while Piper walked to her husband, taking his face between her palms.

"Where's Chris? Did something happen?" she asked quietly. She wanted to get to know her baby better. Along with Wyatt.

Her husband shook his head before answering. "He orbed away after he confessed something about his past. The boy was so upset and our eldest wouldn't answer me. What did I do wrong in his future?"

"We'll find out. I promise," his wife encouraged him. "But at first: Let's find him and then he has to answer me!"

"Mom! A little help here," came a desperate call from her eldest. "Make them fuss over baby me and not myself!" The aunts just continued their work over Wyatt.

Piper smirked before walking over and rescuing her son from her sisters. "Okay, leave my baby alone! You can take care of his baby version while we three do the same of Chris. So shoot, shoot!" She sent her sisters out of the attic what they reluctantly did.

Both parents then concentrated on Wyatt and his link to his little brother, Chris. Leo grabbed his wife's hand for support before clearing his throat and carefully asking his son, "Do you know where Chris could be? Obviously I don't know him well in his future and the reason you seem to know, too. He trusts you."

The mother begged as well. "Please Wyatt, help us! He's your baby brother and my … our baby boy. Tell us where he is."

Wyatt sighed. "I can't tell the reason. That's Chris task, not mine." He looked anywhere before his eyes searched the ones of his Dad. "He's on the Golden Gate Bridge." The son smiled and his father seemed to have got the message.

As Leo was about to open his mouth, he felt an elbow in his ribs. Looking at the owner of the elbow he saw a twinkle in her eyes and looking at his eldest who smiled. Now the father knew what he had to do before orbing away.

Piper, on the other hand, took her oldest son's arm and led him to the couch. She patted his arm lovingly and leaned on him. "Can you maybe tell your mother what's with the relationship between your father and brother?"

"Mom, please," the son answered annoyed. "I can't. This is something Chris has to do and he'll tell you when he thinks it's time. Though, my being here may speed up things, I admit, but I won't interfere. Chris' temper is worse than yours," he snorted out.

Piper just seemed to accept and let her thoughts wander to her husband and youngest son. Hopefully to mend their relationship. To a better future for all of them.


GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

Quietness, a soft wind and the zooming cars underneath him was all it took to calm the young man down. How could his father ask such questions? For him he didn't exist, so why should he answer the man now? The brunette seemed not to believe his father could change. One look around and orbs came up beside him. To his sarcastic joy it was Leo, his father.

"Can we talk?" the father asked anxiously. For god's sake, this young man was his youngest son, his baby boy.

"What is there to talk about?" Chris questioned back. "You want to know what you did wrong?" Again, the father only nodded. "For you, everyone else was interesting and more important, Mom, Wyatt, but never me! Never! You've always forgotten me! Now satisfied?"

Leo stumbled back as the harsh words hit him. Never in his dreams would he have thought to favor one son over the other. He'd change this, even if he'd clip his wings. For good. "I know you won't believe me now but please do. However, for you it's still too fresh and it'd take time to forgive me. Maybe in the future."

"If I believe you, what would you do?"

The man swallowed hard. "Help you in any kind of way and no matter what the other Elders would say." Green eyes shot up in surprise. "Listen to you. What you'll have to say about YOUR future. And all other things a father should do." Green eyes searched for the matching ones of his son. "You and Wyatt are my world. With your mother. You three are my family!"

"You seem so different than the man I know as my father."

"You are here to change the future and you are my son. I believe in you and in the task you have. I'll give you all the support you need."

The son tried to hold back his tears but it was getting harder. Sobs started to wreck his body and he threatened to fall but strong arms caught him just in time. Landing on his father's chest the young man became a boy again, wanting to have his Dad close by.

Leo just held the young man who'd be his little boy forever. Now he caressed his back and stroke through the boy's hair. The father kissed the brown head. "I love you, Chris. I should have seen that you look just like your Mom. Forgive me please!" There was no answer and the man saw his son was asleep. Smiling, he orbed both of them back home.


BACK AT THE MANOR

Wyatt was getting anxious. 'Where the hell was his brother and father?', he thought. 'What would take them so long?' He had to roll his eyes at his mother's constant questioning, yet his worry about his little brother was stronger.

"Come on, son. Reveal something to me," Piper begged, leading her son to the couch yet again as he'd been pacing for a while.

"No, I can't. Mom, please," the blond replied annoyed. "I'm more worried about Chris and Dad, you know. You don't know what I do, so please back off!"

The mother was a bit shocked at her son's harsh words but was already distracted as orbs came through the ceiling. Blue lights revealed Leo with a sleeping Chris in his arms, making the man smile at his family.

"Finally," muttered Wyatt in his mouth but his parents had heard him clearly and shot him looks saying, 'What'd you mean?', so he clarified sighing. "Chris is a workaholic, very determined and so damn stubborn! What he's set in mind, there's nothing to change him!"

Leo snorted quietly as if to agree. He knew his wife was the same way, so obviously his youngest son had overtaken this habit. "If you two don't mind, I'll bring him to the guest room, to let him sleep there and watch over him." The father walked out of the room, without waiting for an answer.

Mother and son just nodded and watched the leaving pair with sad eyes. At least some progress had been made by them, even though it'd take time. With hopeful eyes she once again turned to her son, silently begging him to say something.

The Twice-Blessed rolled his eyes yet again and sighed. "Mom, stop that! I think I'll go to sleep as well and then tomorrow we'll try Chris' spell. To see if I can go back to my time." He stood up and walked to the door. "You coming?"

Piper accepted the offer and caught up with her son who made his way to the guest room. There he tried to release his Dad but he refused, so the eldest son was led by his mother to their parents' room where he instantly occupied the couch and fell asleep.

The Charmed One just sighed and made herself comfortable in the bed.

TBC ...


We'll be staying a bit longer as I changed S6 a bit. To my things I would have wanted to see.

Next time: Some memories and Wyatt? Lucky in returning? We will see.

Reviews are very, very appreciated!