Another new chapter for you. Hoping to see some reviews!

Disclaimer for all chapters: I don't own Charmed, just the persons you know from my season One. ;) Otherwise we would have had this show.

Summary: One lost, one found. Can the Halliwell brothers each find in time before a new evil manages to hurt one of them? Time is working against them. Is their brotherly bond and the family strong enough to get over this crisis?

10. Gone for good or just lost?

STILL MANOR – A WEEK LATER

Silence ruled the house. A lonely occupant sat in the conservatory, thinking about all what he'd learned in the first days. For him it was unbelievable, yet so typical for the Halliwells. Looking up you could see tears running down the man's cheek.

Wyatt still had locked himself in the room the boys had shared as children. From time to time his loud sobs echoed through the Manor and his constant half loudly calling for his baby brother who he'd lost. Once again. Though the Twice-Blessed knew he should support his parents, yet he couldn't.

Piper and Leo had done almost the same but not before both had tearfully explained their ex brother-in-law what was the story behind their sons and their connection. The demon had been in shock back then, yet in him grew a desire to help the family.

Cole sighed. Someone had to call the boys' girlfriends, yet he couldn't do it. He just didn't have in it to break a woman's heart. Yes, Cole Turner was a big softie in his inside. As the doorbell rang the ex-demon stood up and answered it. In front of him stood a young woman.

"Hi, I'm Stephanie and want to speak with one of the Halliwells. It's important and a bit urgent," she rushed while looking inside.

"Okay, come in," the man said before yelling, "Piper! Leo! Wyatt! Anyone, it's for you. One of the girls!"

Both could hear some muffled voices and cries, closing doors, sighing and then shuffled steps above them. The steps came to the stairs and revealed a really old looking Leo. Steph and Cole gasped, only to realize that the 'possible' death of his youngest son had aged the father over this week.

"Hi Steph! What are you doing here? Something wrong at home?" the old man asked afraid.

The young woman blinked once. Twice. "Cat felt great pain and I'm here to find out if something did happen. Have you heard of Chris? Any news on him?"

The former Elder swallowed hard. "Well, Piper and Cole found him, but you're right something did happen what we don't know if to believe or not."

Stephanie was confused. Once again she looked the older man over. "I see. I'm afraid to ask if Chris is still alive or not." Tears started to fall down her cheeks but she composed herself quickly.

"We haven't seen a body yet, so we only felt the loss of the connection, especially Wyatt. We won't give up our hopes to believe he's survived that battle with the Avatars, yet we don't know anything still."

"I see," Steph stated. "So I shall give your hopes further to my little sister, so she won't give up as well!" She smiled a bit.

"That'd be good," Leo replied, smiling as well.

"Okay, Mr W. I'll go back to my home and try to cheer them up." She turned around to go but added, "You should do the same here. I count on you!"

Both elderly men laughed nervously as they watched the woman go and then sighed relieved. Soon Leo and Cole were back in their grieving mood what was in the whole house.

No one knew that outside a young man observed the Manor. He had dark blond hair and brown eyes, dressed in normal clothes but with a tool box in his right hand. He was given a task and he was determined to achieve his goal.

Inside the house the men had withdrawn back in the conservatory. For long minutes silence ruled between the father and ex-demon before one of them couldn't take it anymore.

"So, how you're doing, Leo? I know how hard this must be for you. I fully understand," Cole asked, looking at the man.

"You do? I doubt that," Leo replied. "You don't know how it feels to lose a son. More than once. My wife and eldest don't hold and feel any better. All I need is a sign of hope."

Cole nodded in understanding. "Where are Wyatt and Piper? Still in their rooms?"

"Yes," Leo whispered. "They are still lost in their grief. Both had had hopes to find Chris, but they were crushed. I think all is lost to us."

"Hey, don't say that," Cole countered. "As you told me Chris is very resourceful, yet determined. I'm sure he'll come back."

"I hope so."

As if on cue the doorbell rang again. Both were confused but decided to go with it, because it did again and again. The men walked to the door and opened it, only to reveal a young man with a tool box.

"Hello, how can we help you?" Leo asked politely while Cole drifted to a corner and watched the scene from behind.

"I'm here to check on your house. It's old and in my opinion needs a new check-up," the young boy explained looking around. "Wow, an amazing place. Where can I start?"

"You're a handyman, aren't you?" The boy nodded and Leo's thoughts went on highspeed in his mind. "Oh, sure. Go ahead. Start where you want."

The boy went away as Cole came up behind Leo. "Does that remind you of someone we both know?" And then he stepped back in the shadow.

"Cole!" Leo growled but followed the young boy. "Hey, mind telling me your name? It'd be nice, you know."

"Of course. My name's Peter Parson."

"P-tradition," the father mumbled like in trance. In him grew a familiar feeling to the boy.

Then Wyatt came down. His tears were gone but he still felt miserable. He saw the stranger and his father lost in thoughts, so the blond looked the young boy over. Somehow he felt familiar.

"Hi. You must be Wyatt Halliwell," the boy greeted him. "I'm your whitelighter."

The Twice-Blessed blinked. "Come again," he stuttered.

"I'm your whitelighter and was sent from above."

"I see." But before he could question more the blond felt his father's arm on his, only to see him shaking his head.

The father began again. "You said your name's Peter Parson and you're a whitelighter – to my son. Mind telling us your story behind all this?"

The boy sighed but obeyed. "No, it's okay. But then I've never got my work done. But where shall I start?"

Both father and son shook their heads to deny it. "It's okay," Leo said. "Besides, it's our pleasure to have you here and start when you're ready."

Again, the boy sighed. "Okay, I don't remember much and what I do is very vague. Only bits and pieces."

FLASHBACK

"That was so damn close! We had to use all our powers to save him before he'd have lost his memory forever," Gajus cursed a bit. "We'll have to protect him – from the Avatars!"

Kevin agreed. "His protection has to be our number one priority, but what can we do? His memories are still gone, so he might get little flashbacks of his life." The young Elder smiled sadly at the still unconscious boy.

The older Elder looked at the boy as well when suddenly it clicked. "We'll glamor him and send him back to his family. As Wyatt's whitelighter, but he shall come in as a handyman."

"That would remind the family. And by which name?"

"That was my full intention and the name of his would be Peter Parson."

Kevin snorted a bit. "I see," he only said but was quiet as the boy began to stir. It was a start for hope.

The half Elder looked at the men beside him. He didn't know where and who he was but it looked familiar. "What's going on? What's this place? And who are you?" the boy asked. "Do I look like this? Always?"

The Elders looked briefly at each other but the older man took lead. "You do and well, we're Elders, a power of good. You're now in our living area and about what's going on? That's hard to explain."

"But you're a whitelighter and you'll be given a great task soon," the younger man added.

The young man was confused but accepted. "So, what's my name and my task? I'm really eager to do something."

Both men smiled. Gajus spoke again. "Okay, listen. Your name is Peter Parson and your task will be to guide the Twice-Blessed witch, Wyatt Halliwell."

"Why would he need me? He's strong right now."

"Believe me, he'll need you. But you should come in as a handyman," Kevin said but before the boy could protest he added, "Don't worry. They'll know what we're saying with this."

"Okay, I'll go then." His last words died down and the young boy promptly orbed away.

The Elders let out breaths they didn't know they were holding. Both hoped the family would figure their hints out and protect their youngest offspring. Before the Avatars might return – again. Or another evil being.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Interesting story," said a female voice what startled the three men. "Where's Cole?"

"Piper?" "Mom?" came Leo's and Wyatt's requests and both looked rather nervous.

"Right here," said another male voice. "Slept a bit. Wanna hear the story of the boy?"

The woman nodded but her gaze was fixed on the young boy. She felt withdrawn to him.

Wyatt smiled at his mother and encouragingly at the boy. "He's my whitelighter and goes by the name Peter Parson."

Leo added, smiling as well. "He works as a handyman and was sent by our lovely Elders. It's only bad he's lost his memory completely."

Piper blinked once. The story was familiar to her but she didn't comment it. Better yet she observed the young man as well as the others.

The boy, however, didn't like to be scrutinized. It was strange, yet comfortable. Nervously he said, "I really need to go back to work. This house is huge, so please don't disturb me while working." With that he started it.

"May I help you?" Leo asked. "I did the same while I was younger. Your work would be done faster."

"Do as you like. It doesn't matter to me."

Both men started their work while the mother pulled her son and friend away for talking.

CONSERVATORY

"Okay, the Elders sent Peter. But why do you think it's Chris? He doesn't look like him," Piper questioned as they were out of hearing distance.

"It's simple in the hints they left: handyman, his name – P-tradition and ..." Cole started.

Wyatt continued, " ... and his task to be my whitelighter. The Elders must have saved him in the last moment and now we shall guard him, I guess, before the Avatars realize he's still alive."

His mother smiled. "Since when are you so smart? Usually that's Chris' department. So?"

"Well then, I've learned from the best," the blond replied blushing.

Piper and Cole laughed at his embarrassment but whatever they wanted to say was abonded as all heard a loud crash from the kitchen. They ran to it and were shocked by what they saw.

KITCHEN – A SHORT TIME BEFORE

You could only hear hammer in the room and silence was the main component. During the work the father always looked at the young man who might be his youngest son. He longed for a talk with the boy.

"So, how do you feel here? It's good to have a home, isn't it?" Leo asked while working further.

"I don't know what you mean. My only business is my whitelighter duties." But the way he said it didn't feel right. There was more behind it but he couldn't figure it out. As his hand brushed against the counter he saw something.

PICTURE

"Mommy?" a young boy with brown hair and green eyes asked innocently.

"Yes, what'd you want?" the woman from before requested.

"Can you t...e...a...c...h.." He shook his little head to find the right word. "Wanna learn do what you do!" The brunette gestured to the oven and all.

"Cooking?" she asked and the little boy nodded. "Of course. Next year when you'll be five."

Both grinned mischievously.

END OF PICTURE

"What the ...?" Peter started and looked at the working, elderly man. He knew him and all in the house felt familiar. All this made his head ache – terribly.

"Something wrong, Peter?" Leo asked concerned. There was something that might be happen to the boy while he was here.

"I don't know," the boy quietly whispered and grabbed his head. Then he suddenly passed out but hit a chair by falling down.

"Peter!" Leo cried out and was immediately at the boy's side, taking care of him.

Running feet and three people came up behind him. There were Piper, Cole and Wyatt who looked worried at the unconscious boy.

"What happened?" Piper asked.

"I guess he saw something of his childhood and his headache started," Leo explained and looked at his eldest. "Wyatt, heal him!"

The Twice-Blessed did as been told and held his hands out to heal the boy but nothing happened. However, he gasped as the glamor was lifted suddenly.

The whole family, along with Cole, was in shock.

"Chris?" Wyatt whispered shocked.

TBC ...

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