A.N.: So...it's been over a year since I've updated...Sorry about that. I have a lot on my plate. I'll try to update as soon as I can, but I have been facing some serious writer's block. If you have any ideas or suggestions, don't hesitate to let me know.
Forgotten Birthdays
Live and Let Live
"Chris, you have some explaining to do." Dek said quietly with a hint of agitation. The three of us were sitting at the table just looking at the Book of Shadows. I think we were waiting for some answer to miraculously come to us. It hasn't yet.
I shrugged and signed that we needed to think fast before they wrote a spell to track us down.
"I know what we have to do Christopher. What I don't know is why you stole your family's Book of Shadows when you've been trying to keep a low profile for this many years!" Dek got up and uncharacteristically started pacing in front of us.
I looked over at Bianca to see if she had any input but her eyes were focused on the grains in the wood on the table. I squeezed her hand until she made eye contact with me and raised my eyebrows.
"Chris, this is going to create a lot of problems and you know that. They're going to come after us. The best thing I can think of doing right now is to find some way to hide the Book from their radar. It will only hold off the inevitable, but maybe it will give us enough time to actually formulate a workable plan."
Dek sighed and sat back down in his previously vacated chair, "I agree Bianca. We can wait on answers for now. We can't wait any longer before the Charmed Ones come after us. Chris, look through the Book for a spell to hide us or the Book or something that will help. Bianca, you start building defenses. I have some crystals around here to prevent orbing. Place those around the building and do anything else you can think of. I'm going to work on some potions. Bianca, if you get done early you can help me with those."
We all nodded. Dek got up again and walked into the store. I leaned over and kissed Bianca until she pulled away and said, "We don't have time for this."
She left quickly, but not before giving me another small kiss and I was left looking at the Book of Shadows. The Charmed Ones' Book of Shadows. My birthright. I opened the cover and saw what I had been denied all those years ago. I slowly turned the pages and studied the words, the handwriting, the artwork, everything there was. I was studying it all. And just as I got to the page that read "To My Sons, Wyatt and Chris" I realized exactly what I wanted to do. Before, I just had a hint of what I wanted. It wasn't clear at all. Almost like a mirage in the desert. I knew what I wanted and I knew exactly what I was going to do to get it.
I needed everyone to turn from her. It might seem like a petty revenge scheme, but family has always been the most important thing to her. If I can get everyone to turn against her, she would break. She caused all this. She turned everyone against me. I'll do the same to her. And then I'll have the one thing she won't. I'll have her precious family. And she'll have no one but herself. It's perfect.
I rushed to the store where Dek was still making potions. I quickly told him of my plan and he started making potions to help with our new plan. He called Bianca and told her of our change of plans.
"Are you crazy Chris? They're all going to come after us and they're not going to stand here and listen to you turn them all against her. They'll kill you first!" She was shaking. I could see that clearly enough. Her whole body was shuddering and she could barely hold herself up. She was clenching her fingers on the table's edge and her knuckles were already white with blood loss. She whispered now, "I can't lose you Chris. Not when I just found you."
I walked around the counter where I had been standing next to Dek reading the directions to the potion he was making and hugged her. I rocked her slowly and I could feel a few tears slip from her eyes and hit my neck. I pulled back and wiped them away and slowly gave her a long kiss that was meant more to comfort than anything. I did the childish I love you sign where I pointed to my eye, then my chest above my heart and then to her. She laughed and did the same back to me.
I reached behind her to where I had left my notebook and quickly wrote a note and handed it to her. She read it aloud, "I know you are opposed to this, but I need you to remove those crystals that prevent orbing. I want them to come."
She gave me a long look before undoing what she had just done. She came back less than a minute later with about half a dozen crystals in her hands and she dropped them on the table forcefully. "I don't like this Chris. I don't like this all. I'll go along with it, but just know that if they do anything to hurt you. Anything at all. I'll kill them. No ifs and or buts."
I chuckled and looked at the clock. It had been an hour since we took the Book. By now they would have gathered the whole family and scryed to find the Book and gotten all the potions they would have needed. I would say we had less than two minutes before we got our visitors.
I whistled to get Dek and Bianca's attention. They were talking quietly over a book but looked up at me. I jerked my head to the practice room and started walking toward the entrance with the Book in my hands. I heard them gather the potions and follow me through the door. I took a seat with my back to the wall and pointed to the chairs on either side of me before I put the Book on the table in front of me and grabbed Bianca's hand. We didn't have to wait long until the telltale signs of orbing was heard in the silence of the practice room.
And then, a line of Halliwell's was facing us and a chorus of my name was heard among them. In the middle stood my living walking nightmare glaring at me.
I smirked slowly.
