Another short chapter, I'm sorry. Also, no review answers, I've been busy between work and school so I was just focused on getting a chapter out, but I'll respond to the next chapter's one, I promise! I hope you like this chapter, I know I'm not completely happy with it, but after re-writing it three times, I figure it was as good as it was going to get. Review please.

WARNINGS -

SLASH - Maybe Slash, matters on perspective and what you think counts as Slash or not. Also, mentioned past slash.

ANNOYING OC'S - Maybe not that annoying, but they were annoying to me 'cause I kept forgetting their names, hehe.

BAD PERFORMANCE SCENE - Yes, another performance scene, and I believe it utterly sucks. I hope you don't think its that bad. Also, I don't own the song I used as well. Cookies (and possible reward fic) to those who get it right :) And no searching up of lyrics, you have to know it from memory. I'm trusting you inhere to these rules. This is also only good until March 4th, 2001. Thanks :D

-Chapter Nine : Amor -

Once the tears fell dry, Chris leaned back, his head resting on the arm that was wrapped tightly around his shoulders. Subconsciously, he leaned towards the source of heat and comfort. Even though he was covered with a heavy leather jacket and resting with his personal furnace to cuddle close with, he could feel goosebumps appear on his forearms. Honestly, Chris didn't know it was because of he was cold or because of nerves.

"So, am I going to get the whole story or what?" Tyler whispered.

Chris groaned, "Ruin the good, blissful silence Ty,"

Tyler chuckled but quickly sobered, "Well?"

Chris exhaled and tried to sit up but Tyler kept him leaning on him. Chris turned his head and glared at the bassist but didn't attempt to get away again. He placed his head on Tyler's shoulders, his eyes looking at the ceiling above him, "Short story? I came, I told, he yelled, I yelled, Mom threatened, he left. The end."

"Uh...anything more than that?" Tyler inquired with an eyebrow raised.

Chris shook his head. Sighing, Tyler leaned back, "You do know that he'll be back right?"

"Yeah," Chris answered, his eyes grew solemn, "The only question is when."

"Do you think he'll attack you while on tour?" questioned Tyler.

Chris shrugged, "I don't put anything pass him,"

"We'll add security,"

"Won't help with a glamour Ty,"

Tyler's eyebrows furrowed and a small pout appeared on the bow shaped lips which made Chris chuckle. "Security won't do anything if they don't know who they are looking for, and he can orb anywhere."

"You're not safe anywhere," Tyler murmured.

"I'm only safe when he's six feet under Ty," Chris sighed.

"We could take him to court.."

"He's technically dead." Chris quickly pointed out, "Elders are going to do shit."

"There has to be something," stressed Tyler, "Your mom got married to him right? So, there has to be some documentation for that! They wouldn't let your mom marry a dead guy!"

Chris groaned and fell forward so his forehead was resting on the table, "There's nothing Ty. The press would have a field day-"

"Fuck the press!" Tyler exclaimed, "This is about you! Not the press! Not Pariah! This is about you! You and your safety!"

"My safety is meaningless!" Yelled Chris. The singer slid out of the booth and began to pace, "I haven't been safe since I was three years old! Safety is a word that doesn't exist in my vocabulary! To be safe, I had to be paranoid! Constant anti-scrying spells, anti-sensing spells, change my appearance, change my name, change who I was! I'm sick of it! I just want to live! Be myself and not have to worry about every blond man in the crowd! I don't want to be looking over my shoulder in fear every two seconds! I don't want my children to know the man that beat the shit out of him every single night for thirteen fucking years! I just want to fucking live!"

Tyler exhaled as he withdrew himself from the booth and stop in the middle of Chris's path. Gently, he grabbed the vocalist's forearms, and looked into the raging storm of fury, fear and panic that were blowing in his friend's sage green eyes. "Deep breaths, before you go into your second panic attack of the day,"

"Second?" wheezed Chris, "How did you-"

"You cuddled," Tyler said simply, "You always cuddle or cling to me after a panic attack,"

Blinking, Chris tried to connect the two, "I don't-"

"You do,"

Chris shook his head, "Doesn't matter."

Looking at the man, Tyler noticed that Chris's skin were a few hues too pale and a thin sheen of sweat had began to appear at the man's hairline. "Let's get you in bed,"

"I'm fine Ty."

Tyler ignored his friend and pushed him into his cot on the bottom. To make sure the singer didn't leave, Tyler slid in behind him. "Ty," mumbled Chris.

"Shh, this isn't a new thing,"

"We're not in a relationship Tyler, we've been over this a million times," Chris turned so he could look at his friend in the eye, "And we're not going to do it again,"

"I'm just making sure you don't slip out of bed and try to do something," Tyler replied with a small shrug, "I didn't say anything about a relationship, although, due to that little relationship, I know that you don't know how to stay in bed. You were probably the reason your mother started to turn gray so young,"

Chris narrowed his eyes on Tyler, "There are things to do,"

"Those things can wait," Tyler answered, "And we're not done with our talk,"

"There's nothing we can do," Chris bit out, a flash of anger appearing in his half-lidded eyes.

Tyler smiled, "There has to be something. Let me deal with. You just work on...something Pariah related."

"Alright, move-"

"I meant later," Tyler growled softly, "Lay down. Sleep. You've been overworking yourself...again."

Chris held back a yawn, "Comes with the job,"

Tyler chuckled and threw an arm around Chris, "Lay here and sleep child."

"I'm four months younger than you, that does not classify me as a child,"

Tyler smiled as he watched Chris's eyes flutter shut. Leaning forward, he pecked Chris's forehead and lay his head on the pillow. The red-head knew there had to be a way to get Leo in jail or get some sort of punishment for abusing his son for thirteen years. He knew Chris had a point. The press was going to go crazy and there was a chance that their true identities could be revealed. But, Chris reunited with his family, so it shouldn't be a big deal with they came out with their real names. However, Tyler didn't care about the press. Hell, boiled down, Tyler didn't care about Pariah. All he cared about was the man in his arms.

"How could we let this happen?" Phoebe whispered, her dark brown eyes wide. She didn't even notice that her hands were shaking.

Piper closed her eyes, "He hid it well. Leo always healed the wounds after he...beat Chris." she gulped, trying desperately to hold back the tears that were welling in her eyes, "And Chris never said anything. How were we suppose to notice?"

Samantha frowned, "For thirteen years, we noticed nothing. There had to be something, something," she stressed.

The twins looked at each other, "Why did Uncle Leo hurt Chris?" Melinda asked, her eyes wide.

"I don't know honey," Phoebe told her daughter.

"Because he was a hindrance," Wyatt spoke softly.

Piper looked at her eldest son with horror, "Wyatt!"

The blond man quickly shook his head, "No, I didn't mean it like that." the young man exhaled heavily, "I cast a spell shortly after Chris told Mom and I. It showed me one of the beatings," Wyatt took in a shaky breath, "I don't know how someone could live with that for thirteen years."

"That could've been dangerous Wyatt," Piper scolded.

"I had to see it Mom," Wyatt replied weakly, "I just couldn't wrap my mind around. How could the same man who took me to baseball and football games turn around and beat his youngest son until he was gasping for breath?"

Reaching over, Phoebe took Wyatt's hand, "What did you see sweetie?"

Wyatt clenched his eyes shut, "It was after that stupid soccer scholarship contest both he and I joined. He won and Da- Leo was pissed. He came and pulled Chris out of the bed by his hair. He told Chris that he failed by win the scholarship. I remembered Chris being slapped or something which made him tumble to the ground, then Da-Leo resorted to kicking. He just kept kicking him, over and over. Until finally, he knelt that told Chris that he was a hindrance to me and that eventually, because of it, I would be killed for it. He told Chris that he was the reason that the baby died and that Mom couldn't have anymore children. He wished that he had Chris aborted or never conceived, that Chris was unwanted. Then he just left his own son in a pool of blood." Wyatt shook his head, "It was horrible."

Piper gasped, her hand on her heart, "My baby,"

"Thirteen years," Paige said slowly, "Thirteen years and we didn't noticed this!"

Henry sighed, "He hid it well like Piper said. The only reason I knew is because of his guitar lesson and those little one-on-one minutes we had. I noticed he flinched slightly at a certain movement, like lifting his hand suddenly. Every now and again, I catch a glimpse of a bruise or something. Problem is that I didn't really connect it until he broke down, and then he took my memory."

"He was scared," Paige told her husband.

Payton looked up at her Uncle, "Is Uncle Leo going to get in trouble?"

Henry frowned, "I don't know how he could."

"The Elders won't do anything," Piper muttered, "Because they're utter assholes!" She shouted towards the ceiling.

"What about mortal ways?" Paige asked, "I mean, he is a mortal now."

"With no birth record," Phoebe pointed out, "He died during World War One Paige."

"Not exactly," Piper replied with a small smirk, "For our wedding, I forged a birth certificate for Leo. He's in the records. It's risky, but it could be done,"

"We need evidence," Henry said.

Piper frowned, "There's nothing to show,"

"Chris would have to testify," Henry stated, "It would be his word against Leo's."

Skylar smiled sadly as she slipped into the booth, her gaze on the two men across from her. Its been three days after Chris has returned from his parent's house and they were in Northern England now. Chris was still in his pajamas, his chest bare and a pair of dark blue sweatpants. Tyler had on a black t-shirt and black sweatpants.

"What's a matter Sky?" Chris asked, heavily concerned.

The woman sighed, "I got an offer from two of my best friends. They want to form a band, but, they don't have a singer. They asked if I could do it, and I really want to do but...
"In order to do so, you'll have to leave this band," Tyler finished with a frown.

"Yes, but guys, I hate to do this, I mean, you two are very close to me." She quickly explained, her eyes wide and her hand movements frantic.

Chris chuckled which made the drummer pause and look at vocalist. "Who are we do deny your wants and dreams Sky? You helped make our come true, it's only right that we let you go off and fulfill yours. We'll help you anyway you need to,"

Skylar blinked and smiled, "Thank you."

Chris nodded, and then frowned, "I'm guessing that means our relationship,"

"I hate to be crude Chris, but what relationship?" Skylar retorted, "The...passion died quickly. We were in a relationship to be in a relationship and you know it,"

Chris exhaled, "Yeah." He extended a hand, "Friends?"

The drummer grinned and tightly clasped the offered hand, "Family."

Chris looked at the grinning Skylar and tightened his grasp on the firm hand, "Family."

His breaths came in short gasps as he stopped hopping as the last chord rang through the arena. He could feel sweat drip from his hair line and his legs were beginning to protest his movements. However, with a large smile, Chris turned and looked at a frowning Skylar. He walked towards her, microphone in hand.

"Alright, all of you know that tonight is Skylar's last show with us," he spoke. He stretched his hand over the drum set and guided the sad girl around it. He walked down to the center of the large stage with her. "And while we're sad to see her go, we're also glad to see her go," he said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders while Tyler wrapped one around her waist. Chris sadly smiled as Skylar tipped her head and he could hear a few faint sobs. "We hope she achieves what she wants, but if it doesn't work out, she's always welcomed back with us outcasts," he said with a large smile, "But, we hope you don't come back Sky. Be a kickass singer with your new band."

Skylar lifted her head and smiled. She took the microphone from Chris, "Thank you Damon, Jaiden. You two are the family I needed, the push I needed. Damon, you pushed me past my limits and made me a better musician. Jaiden, even in my saddest moments, you always seem to get me to laugh until I'm crying with mirth. I love you both." She said as she pulled them into a large hug, "And, of course, I'll miss the Outcasts. You all are the best and I love you all as well. I'll miss you all."

The crowd gave a large cheer as the band continued to embrace. A few seconds later, Chris withdrew from the hug and took the microphone back. "Alright, well, we can't let Skylar leave without playing her favorite song."

Skylar smiled and walked back to the drum set. Chris nodded towards Tyler as the red-head went to pick up his bass again. Chris turned and picked up his guitar and swung the strap over his shoulder. A quick glance towards Tyler and Skylar, Chris back a bit from the microphone stand. A crescendoing note was the intro before the band began a hard guitar and bass techno duet, the soft cling of the top hat adding to the harsh notes. Chris trudged up to the microphone and sang the first words of the song, "So I run, hide and tear myself up, Start again with a brand new name, and eyes that see into infinity," The crowd erupted into loud cheers and began to bounce to the beat. Suddenly, the guitar fell out and the bass became a mere whisper as the high-pitched top hat became the new focal point in the instruments. Chris's voice became more melodic, "I will disappear, I told you one and I'll say it again, I want my message read clear," His voice crescendo as he sang the next words, "I 'll show you the way, the way I'm going!" Quickly, Chris placed his hands on the white guitar's neck and played the chorus chords, "So I run, and hide and tear myself up, Start again with a brand new name, And eyes that see into infinity," The same note at the intro plays again as Chris's hands fall from the guitar's neck.

He grasps the microphone stand and slowly walks forward, his knees bending a bit more with each step, "I was almost there, Just a moment away from becoming unclear, ever get the feeling you're gone, I'll show you the way the way I'm going," Chris rushed to get back to where he was so he could play the interlude between the second verse and chorus, "So I run, and hide and tear myself up, I'll start again, with a brand new name. And eyes that see into infinity,"

An abrupt end came the band, each member hunched over. A few beats later, Chris stood up and took in a large breath before belting out, "So I run, start again, with a brand new name," Chris sneaks in another breath before yelling the next line, "With a brand new name!"

Taking a step back to take a few breaths, Chris hurried to return to sing the rest of the song, "So I run and hide and tear myself up, I'll start again with a brand new name, and eyes that see into infinity"

Everything goes quiet. All the lights turn off as Chris sings the last line of the song, "I will disappear."

The Pariah bus that night was full of laughter, tears and memories. The band sat on the bus with Skylar in the middle of the two men. She smiled as Tyler told yet another story how Chris had humiliated himself on stage.

"...I mean how do you say the wrong town twice in the same week!" Tyler asked with a booming laugh.

Chris pouted as he crossed his arms, "I was tired. You try staying up for forty eight hours editing a video and not being a bit brain scattered."

Tyler smiled, "That's why I have you so I don't have to,"

Skylar chuckled, "I thought he was a convenient sex buddy,"

"That too,"

Chris groaned, "Sky, you betray me!"

"Nah, just telling the truth," She said as she poked the Halliwell in his side, "You need to eat more, you're skin and bones,"

"He's always been skin and bones," muttered Tyler.

"Yes Mom, I'll get on it right away," drawled Chris, "I'll eat McDonalds for the next thirty days,"

"Probably wouldn't help with all the hopping you do on stage," snorted Skylar.

"Okay, I'll come out in a wheelchair or something and not move at all,"

Skylar slapped Chris on the chest, "Stop being a smartass."

"God, must you act like my mother?" Chris bit out as he rubbed his chest.

Skylar smiled, "Someone needs to keep you two lovebirds reigned in,"

"...We're not lovebirds!"

"Alright, we need dirt, we need history, we need everything!"

Samantha looked up from her laptop and looked at her mother with confusion, "Uh, what?"

Paige sighed and glanced around the manor's living room, the area filled with the rest of the Halliwell family, "Oh, come on, like none of you are the least bit curious about Chris's life for the past five years,"

"He's in a band Paige, or did you miss that?" drawled Piper.

Paige placed her hands on her hips and glared at her eldest sister, "I mean more than that Piper. Music videos, songs, gossip, those kind of things. All we know is how the band came to be and stuff and that he' was going out with his drummer,"

Samantha sighed and closed her laptop. "Settle around children, and let me tell you what I know about Pariah, the greatest band on the face of the planet," she said dramatically.

"Over the top much?" snorted Wyatt from his seat on the couch, a red pen dancing in his hand as he continued to read his student's essays.

"Not my fault that I was the only one who embraced the musical genius that is my cousin's band," Samantha retorted, "Alright. Offically, Pariah was signed in 2020 to Virgin Records. The band consisted of Damon Payne and Jaiden Luican. In November 2020, Pariah came out with Lumen. It only had twelve songs and, honestly, it was their worse work but it was still good. Singles from that record was "Year Zero", it didn't really get anywhere. No chart ranking. Next album, May 2021, Malum. First single, Welcome To The Universe. Good song, not the best music video. It was just a bunch of small clips of live shows and life on the tour bus. They're a little wacky and funny, but besides that, it's not much. Then came the next single, and the reason why Pariah is so big now a days-"

"Sam we've heard all of this before," Wyatt groaned.

"Yeah, we want gossip," Paige said, "Come on kid, I know you know it."

Samantha sighed, "Let me finish the history and then I'll start the gossips, god."

"We already know the history though," whined Payton.

Rolling her eyes, Samantha crossed her arms, "Alright, fine. So, after their first few interviews, I want to say a few weeks after Malum was released, rumors started flying about Chris's and Tyler's relationship. They always sat close on the couch, they wear matching rings on their right index fingers and there is a rumor that they have marching tattoos on their right biceps. There were rumors about how they were gay lovers. It didn't help much when they both admitted to be Bisexuals." Samantha chuckled slightly, "So, that danced around for months. Then, The Kill was released. Within the movie, there is a small kissing scene between Skylar and Chris. Then, a week later, the come out saying that they were in a relationship. Thus began the Pariah Love Triangle rumor. Chris was screwing both Skylar and Tyler, Tyler was screwing Tyler and Chris, you get the picture. There were rumors about they were having threesomes every week, it was pretty sickening. About a few months after wards, Chris got a small, a small part in a TV movie. It wasn't even credited it was so damn small. Then rumor started flying that Chris was leaving Pariah to become an actor and Chris had to come out and state that he did the movie for a friend of his and that he had no plans of leaving Pariah. You could tell that he was annoyed in the interview. Hm, what else," Samantha tapped her chin as she thought, "To this day, there's rumors of Chris and Tyler being together still and that Skylar is just a facade for Chris. This is only get worse now that Skylar left."

"Everything is about sex," Paige muttered.

Wyatt snorted, "Most of Hollywood gossip is Aunt Paige."

"There was one rumor that said that Chris got plastic surgery," Samantha chuckled, "That was fun to watch Chris deny. Showing pictures and telling them that they were photoshopped that he has had no work done on his face. Finally, he ended up sueing the person that published the pictures. That was interesting."

"Samantha, the walking encyclopedia of Pariah," muttered Wyatt.

"Well, its a good thing considering Chris is the frontman for that band," retorted Sam.

"Do you think Tyler and Chris will get together," mused Melinda.

Phoebe looked at her husband, the man wearing a small smile, "You know something,"

Coop shrugged, "I just know that they were once together,"

"How?" inquired Phoebe.

"When ex-lovers are together, they sense different," Coop tried to explain, "When Tyler and Chris walked in, I knew they were romantically involved at one point."

"Okay, trying to picture my son with another man," Piper sighed, "Kind of hard."

Wyatt laughed, "That's right. You didn't know Chris was Bi."

"No, someone failed to mention that," Piper spat, her eyes glaring at her eldest son.

"I swore I never tell anyone, plus I thought Chris would eventually come out of the closet and tell the family." explained Wyatt.

Piper narrowed her eyes, "Well apparently, he never worked up the nerve to come and tell me he also like men."

Phoebe smiled, "I think its cute,"

"You think all love is cute," snorted Paige.

The middle sister grinned, "Well, it is."

Paige rolled her eyes.

"Oh give me a break," snapped Phoebe, "I married a Cupid, it's obvious I think love it cute,"

Wyatt laughed at his Aunt, "Its alright Aunt Phoebe, no need to get defensive. It alright that you sit up late at night and weep over your new romance novel every night."

"Those novels are works of art."

"Those novels are smut."

"No one asked you Paige!"

Piper shook her head as her sisters continued to bicker back and forth. She frowned thought at the thought of her son. She needed to have a little talk with her baby.