A Charmed Story - Fourteen:
Ashon: Re-Evolution (Freaky Friday 2)
Chapter 11

'Think, damn it! Think!' But all Christopher could think about, were the dead Ashon around them.
Then he felt a hand grab him by the arm, and he turned startled to find Cole by his side. But Cole wasn't looking at him. He followed Cole's eye line, and saw Excalibur lying on the ground where he'd left it. Without further prompting from his uncle, he picked up the sword. As soon as it was back in his hands, he felt its power join with his, and he knew what to do.
Christopher took two steps forward, raised Excalibur into the air, the light in the cavern glinting off the tip, and yelled. "ELENIA! STOP!" The power in his voice made her falter, and she turned to him.
Standing tall, sword raised, Christopher looked like a king of old, commanding his troops, or perhaps more accurately, confronting an old friend gone mad.
Everyone in the cave fell silent, fireballs dissipating. Even Bianca blinked in amazement. The fact that it was Christopher, and not Chris, didn't seem to matter. She knew both could wield the power Christopher was wielding now. But then her mind went back to the problem at hand. And Christopher's actions were enough to stop Elenia long enough for the Phoenix to get close. So she took the Elder by the arms, restraining her.
"Don't move, or I'll strip your powers," she threatened, pushing her hand into the Elder's back to make her point. Elenia froze in place, anger seething through her even more at being restrained.
"A Phoenix. A good fighter indeed, young King. You choose your friends wisely," Koran-Dil said as he stepped closer to Christopher, against Belthazor's better judgment, but the latter remained close by. Now the Ashon leader turned to Elenia. "By the simple grace of the wielder of Excalibur, it's the only thing keeping me from striking you down right now." Koran-Dil said as he approached the captive Elder, unafraid. "Now, what business do you have against my clan?" he ordered, glaring at her.
Elenia glared back, only the hand on her back keeping her from lunging at the Ashon. "You stole my son!" she accused, barely able to refrain herself.
The Ashon leader looked at her, incredulous. "We do not steal children," he said point blank, affronted by the accusation.
Elenia's anger increased another level at his haughty tone. "Then why did you take my son in front of my own eyes?" Her question took the Ashon leader a little by surprise, as now all pieces of the puzzle fell into place. He hadn't expected it, and now he wished he'd asked Christopher more about this wayward Elder, and why she'd want to attack his clan.
But before Koran-Dil could answer her question, Christopher did. "It's not what you think, Elenia. His clan never stole your son. He already is one of them, he always was. All they do is trying to help him," he explained, trying to sooth her. It didn't work.
"One of them? He was never one of them!" she yelled, and tried to move towards the Ashon, but Bianca wouldn't let her, her hand starting to glow in preparation for a power strip.
Koran-Dil through understood her now. Elenia was Tevaal's mother. He was the son she was afraid to lose. The Ashon leader turned to Tevaal, who still had no idea what was going on, and knew it wasn't going to be as easy as it had been with Nicki. The shame his clan had felt after the incident, returned, and he hung his head for a moment before turning back to the enraged Elder.
"You do not understand our kind," he began slowly. "What happened to you so many years ago was a travesty that has haunted us since. It was an act we do not condone. As Elders and demons, we are sworn enemies. And as such, we will meet each other on a magical battlefield if need be. But nothing more." Elenia wanted to say something then, to yell, to scream it, but Bianca's hold on her kept her tongue in her mouth. "Your son was not taken by force. He came willingly, and has stayed willingly. We have given him what he needs to understand our kind. His kind. The part you seem unable to accept. There is little left for him to learn now, and the decision of where he wants to live belongs solely to him." As he finished, Koran-Dil slowly turned to look at Tevaal, and with him, everyone in the cave.

& & & & &

In the future...
Michael kept looking at Chris for a moment longer, still thinking about his friend's offer... But then he sighed. Somehow, as good as that did sound, it didn't feel right. It might be that no one of them would remember that things had been different in another life. But he knew Chris would remember, and he knew he would never forgive him for that. He knew how Chris was with kids, and even if he knew his old friend disliked Wyatt and Julia as couple for the same reasons as he did, he had seen the eyes of his friend. He had seen the joy of having a child around to play with Liam, he had seen the joy of soon having a nephew or niece. And that was the moment when it fully hit him that he would be a grandfather soon, the moment when those words were not only words anymore but began to hold some feeling. Soon there would be another little baby, one who'd call him grandpa. And suddenly his eyes lit up and a smile spread over his face. Then all of a sudden he pulled Chris into a tight hug whispering words of thanks to his ear.
When they separated Chris looked back at his friend a little puzzled but then he smiled, too, asking: "What has just happened here?"
Michael smiled widely. Then he said. "Damn the future consequences because I want you to know. I want you to know that I'm the happiest man alive, and that I just needed a while to realize this." A thought had formed in his head now, an idea that would solve all his problems he hoped. "Chris," he said then, grabbing the man by his shoulders, "I'm going to be a grandfather!"
Now Chris looked startled at the other man. He had said it... Would that mean he had to stop it? But Michael had said he was happy so... "You... You mean Wyatt and Julia???"
Michael nodded smiling: "Yeah... But, you have to do me a favor."
"What favor?" Chris asked frowning, while he thought, 'please say the right thing.'
"Please, when you go back... Talk to me about this... get me used to the thought of them being a couple. I guess... I guess I never thought this could happen, I never thought my daughter could get involved in all this magic stuff... But when I start playing with this in my mind early enough then maybe I'll be able to accept it easier..."
At this Chris smiled widely: "I promise I will, through you know, I have to be careful, I'm not allowed to tell you too much."
"I know and I don't mind..." And Michael hugged Chris again muttering: "I'm going to be a grandfather..." Then he pulled away again and looked at Chris with a serious expression. "I have to talk to them..." he said and turned around to head back to the living room.
Chris followed him with his eyes smiling widely.
"I can't believe you did that..."
Startled by those words Chris looked over to the dining room, where his older version was standing in the doorway. "I can't believe you did not do this before..." he said smiling to him.
"Well, when I was you, I talked to the older me about something like this, too, but he convinced me that messing up an existing timeline is always tricky and can very well go wrong."
The younger Chris smiled at this: "Did that ever bother us before?"
The older one chuckled at this. "No it didn't..."
"Will it work out now?" the younger then asked as he stepped closer.
"It will..." the older Chris said. And after a moment of thinking, of trying to sort out the mess in his head of the different memories, he added: "You already effectively changed the timeline... Actually Michael will still scream and try to kill Wyatt when they tell them, but he won't mean it that serious anymore... And he will give me a speech for not telling him the whole story sooner." He grimaced as he said the last words.
The younger Chris patted his shoulder. "Still that's better than him finding out you lied to him..."
"You don't know if he would have..."
"Tell me one secret that this family managed to keep..."
Now the older one had to laugh. His younger version was absolutely right about this. The only secrets that had been kept were those Chris brought with him when he came back from the future. And this only worked because everyone knew what was at stake...
"Ok, you've won..." he said when they both went over to the living room. Then he asked: "Where is Hope? You said, she..."
The younger Chris grinned knowingly: "In the past, I guess... buying me some more time..."

& & & & &

In the present...
Tevaal wondered at first why everyone was looking at him. Even Nicki at his side had looked up at him. It unnerved him, to say the least, and his mind started racing. Everything that had happened today, in the last few hours, seemed unreal. First he found out he had a brother, then his memories of his fiancée, Nicki, came back. And now she was there by his side like it should always be. But there was something nagging at the back of his mind ever since this Elder showed up. Something he knew he should know, but couldn't quite place. A familiarity about her, like he should know her. A memory tried to surface, but was blocked by something he couldn't identify. And as everyone stared at him, a thought made its way into his mind, and a look of shock spread across his face as the realization hit him.
Elenia, on the other hand, couldn't figure out why everyone was looking at that particular Ashon. Sure he was young, and there was something familiar about him, but she didn't know him. And nothing about him made him look important to her. Then the shocked expression crossed his face, and their eyes met... And then he took a step towards her, removing his arm from around Nicki as he did so. That movement caught her sight, and her mouth fell open. 'It can't be...' her mind raced, horrified, and not sure what to think anymore. And then she saw into the Ashons eyes, and scaringly reminded of that one Ashon who had hurt her so much. Those were the same eyes.
"Mom?" Tevaal said as he approached Elenia carefully. Her hate for the Ashon filled her features as she refused the truth of the Ashon in front of her. Bianca tightened her grip, feeling the Elder was about to explode in violence.
Tevaal stopped short at the look of disgust on her face. He couldn't believe that his own mother could hate him so much. A hand touched his shoulder then, startling him. He turned to find Cole standing beside him, a strange look in his eyes. Then the former demon leaned in and whispered in his ear. Tevaal listened intently for a minute, then looked at the man beside him and nodded. Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he began to concentrate. And when he heard gasps all around him, he knew it had worked. He opened his eyes and again looked at his mother. This time it was a look of shock he got in return, as now she saw her human son in front of her.
"I... How..." Elenia was at a loss for words. She didn't know what to say, not even what to think. This was all so wrong. It couldn't be true... it just couldn't.
Tevaal on the other hand felt hurt deep inside his heart. It hurt him that his mom seemed to hate his demon side so much, since that meant he hated half of his very being, half of who he was. It hurt him and it made him angry. And as his memories kept coming back to him now, his anger only grew.
Nicki had watched the change of Tevaal back to Steve as well as the others. And she could see the distress in his eyes. Actually she had seen it even before. So she stepped to his side again and took his hand, to show him she was by his side no matter what. She hoped she could give him some strength, because she knew he needed it.
Christopher and Bianca watched the exchange of looks between mother and son warily, both sure that any second a storm could break lose.
Koran-Dil then softly spoke to the young half-demon: "Tevaal... What you will do is completely your decision, because it's your life and yours only."
"Don't call him that!" Elenia exclaimed. "His name is Steve you freaky demon."
Now Tevaal's eyes turned an angry red as he glanced at his mother with pure anger. "My name IS Tevaal and I recommend you to not insult the members of my family again."
"How can you say that?" Elenia frowned in confusion. "They aren't your family... you are human you belong to us...to me."
At this Tevaal changed back into his demon form before the eyes of his now pale mother: "I'm one of them as well. They care for me! They accept me the way I am without any disgust because I'm only half Ashon. They are my family, because they care for what I want. They searched for me since the day you escaped my father, but you kept hiding me from them. They only wanted to help me to understand who I really am. But you? You only wanted to have your perfect little son and when I needed you most you were gone! You know what? I'd rather live down here as up there right now, because I feel no need to go back to you after you just came here and killed those I care about. I once loved you, mom, but right now I can't feel like that."
Those words hit their target, everyone could see that, since Elenia's face became even paler as it had been before. She knew she had made a mistake when returning to the Elders, but that was no reason to talk like that. But Tevaal really didn't care at this moment. He was just hurt and confused as he still remembered only bits of what once was.
"Enough!" Christopher finally exclaimed, before any more words could be said and any more feelings could get hurt. Then he turned to Odin: "If I let you take her up there, can you assure that she will stay there for as long as it is necessary?"
Odin nodded at this: "She will be restricted to her rooms and guarded, I'll make sure of that."
Christopher nodded: "Then do it. Maybe when some time has passed both sides will be able to try to talk to each other again... without fighting each other."
Odin was about to take the Elder's arm, but Bianca stopped him, still holding Elenia tightly in her grip. "I won't let her go, not until I know she's no danger anymore," she said with a cold voice that almost made Christopher shiver because he felt like a kid again who had done something wrong.
"Then I suggest you go with us," Odin replied and as the Phoenix nodded he took them both with him, disappearing within blue orb lights.
Koran-Dil had meanwhile stepped to Tevaal's side and had placed a hand on his shoulder, while his eyes went over to Nicki, who still firmly hold the demon's hand. He smiled, then he said: "I'm glad you found someone who loves you this unconditionally."
Tevaal turned to Nicki and smiled: "Me, too." But then he turned serious again, looking around the cave. He saw a few piles of ashes and some demons lying on the ground, wounded. He saw some other Ashon and also Julian doing their best to help them. But still for some there had been no chance to survive.
He shook his head as a few tears fell from his eyes: "I'm sorry... All those hurt, just because of me..."
"It wasn't your fault," Meehan now said stepping to his side as well.
Also Batim stepped closer. Standing behind Nicki he said: "You are not responsible for the actions of your mother."
"I know, but... They..."
"We'll make sure that those who are wounded will survive," Christopher said, then he turned to the Source, "am I right?"
Belthazor nodded at this. "I'll go and send my best healer," he said before flaming away. Also Cole went now to the wounded Ashons, trying to help as best as he could.
"But what about you?" Nicki finally asked, looking at Tevaal expectantly.
The young Ashon sighed, knowing exactly what she meant, what everyone wanted to know from him now. "I... " he shook his head. Then he turned first to Koran-Dil, then to his brother and then back to the Ashon leader: "I love you all, you are my family. But I also love Nicki and I remember I had a nice job up there, too. So I will go back to live up there, through I will always be Ashon, and I will always come by as often as I can... And I hope you are all fine with it when I call myself Steven Tevaal Moody from now on."
Everyone smiled as the young man said those words. Christopher and Nicki did so because they were relived that things were solved, and the Ashons because they felt that Steve would be happy with this decision, which was all that mattered to them.
But then a young Ashon came close to them and stepped in front of the reunited couple. "What about the last potion?" she asked.
Steve smiled back at her, as he caressed her cheek: "Don't worry Shikara, I still will take the last potion tonight, because I know I need to." All the Ashon nodded agreeing, and also Christopher did, because he knew Steve needed that potion as well.
"Can I stay, too?" Nicki then asked, surprising everyone. And when she saw the questioning looks she explained: "I never want to leave you alone again."
Steve turned to Koran-Dil. The leader of the Ashon smiled and nodded: "You are welcome, as one of our family."
At this Steve hugged Nicki tightly and kissed her full of love, making Batim whistle while Meehan let lose an "Awwww..."
Koran-Dil meanwhile stepped to Christopher's side: "My king, it would be an honor if you'd stay as well. You did well today, you saved a lot of lives."
Christopher sighed looking at the piles of ashes again: "I wish I could have saved more. I'm really sorry for your losses."
The Ashon rose his hands at this, to stop him: "You did more than anyone here had ever dreamt to see happen in their lives. You really are the new king."
Christopher nodded at this. And as those words sunk in, he suddenly remembered. He remembered that spell he had written to find an answer to his question, the spell that had brought him here. And now that he did remember, he also knew how to get back. So he turned to Koran-Dil again and smiled: "Thanks. And I'd love to stay, I feel honored by your invitation. But I have to go back since I have important business to attend."
Koran-Dil bowed before him, and Christopher did the same showing his respect to the Ashon leader. Then he said goodbye to the rest of them and took Cole to orb back to the manor.

& & & & &

Before Christopher headed home to the manor, he made a quick stop at another place. "Hey," he greeted when he and Cole appeared in Julian's and Belthazor's cave.
"Are you alright, brother?" Cole asked worried, looking at the red demon.
Belthazor smiled: "I'm fine, and so is Julian," he secretly had checked on him a soon as everyone was busy talking to Elenia.
Only seconds later also the demonic witch shimmered into the cave as well, since the healer had arrived at the Ashon's cave and he wasn't needed there any longer. He was surprised to find the other's there as well.
"Well," Christopher said, "I just wanted to say goodbye since I'll be going back to the future soon."
Belthazor nodded at him. "I hate to admit it, but... you really deserve this little sword you have there. You did well today."
"Thanks," Christopher said, then went over and hugged the red demon.
The Source felt a little uncomfortable, especially with the amused look on Cole's and Julian's face. But the young witch-Elder's action also warmed his heart.
"Take care of you," he finally said as Christopher stepped back to hug Julian as well.
"I will," he said then, before he took Cole's hand to finally orb home with a last 'goodbye'.
Julian sighed as both had left and turned to the red demon with a raised eyebrow. "Don't you think you should have told them about the book?"
Belthazor smirked: "No... It's not the time for that, yet..."

& & & & &

Meanwhile in the future...
It was a sad atmosphere, even through the happy news about the new addition to the Halliwell clan had spread around quickly after Michael and Chris had talked. They all knew the young version of Chris had to leave soon.
"When exactly will you leave?" Matthew asked him, when he and his older version went into the living room where the rest of the family and Michael and Angela were waiting.
And to every one's surprise Chris had answered after a look at the clock: "It's five minutes to nine so... If Hope did as I asked her to, we have twenty minutes left..."
"That's not enough..." Piper said, her voice sad and her eyes wet from unshed tears.
"I don't want you to go..." Kevin whined.
Chris picked him up and hugged him close. "I know, buddy," he said. But I have to go, or else your brothers and sisters won't exist anymore..." He wasn't sure if the young boy would understand what he tried to say but at least he had to try.
"I love you," Kevin sobbed.
Chris smiled sadly as he hugged him even closer: "I love you, too." Then he sat him down again, since there were more goodbyes to say.
But suddenly he noticed the air shift in the hallway right outside the living room. And the next second he saw four figures appearing. One of them looked a lot like Nicki, just much older. Then there was a demon, who seemed to be Ashon and two kids, a girl and a boy.
"Andy!" Matthew exclaimed while he ran over to hug the boy. Then he dragged him over saying: "You have to meet the younger version of my dad before he leaves again..."
'So this is his best friend?' Chris wondered. But before he could ask something the demon transformed into...
"Steve?" past Chris asked puzzled.
The man turned to him and smiled embarrassed: "Oh, it seems we're a little too early..."
"A little," the older Chris said at this and smiled. And his younger version suddenly had to agree with Piper. Twenty minutes were not enough for explaining that!
But his older version just patted his shoulder. "Say your goodbyes... the rest Steve will explain to you when you get back..."
Chris nodded, knowing his older version was right. He had not much time left... only sixteen minutes now. And he really wanted to give everyone a proper goodbye, especially his kids, Bianca and his mom and dad...

& & & & &

In the present...
After putting the boys down to sleep, Piper found herself hovering over them, watching them closely. Especially over little Christopher. She knew his older self was an adult, and quite capable of taking care of himself, but he had entered a den of demons with only five others for backup. And she wasn't one of them. Leo had tried to calm her down, to get her to come downstairs with everyone else, and let the children sleep in peace. She'd already woken up Hope, whom Angela had put to bed, once. Phoebe had warned her if she kept this up, she'd make Christopher neurotic, to which Paige replied, he already was. Both sisters found it hard to keep from laughing then, despite Piper glaring at them. But she still refused to leave her son's side, at least until his older self returned.
Downstairs, everyone else tried to distract themselves with whatever they could. Tom, Veronica, Michael, and Kyle were sitting in the living room, flipping through the channels, hoping to find something good on TV. Meanwhile, Victor and Leo were in the kitchen preparing a late evening meal, and Phoebe, Paige and Angela were talking in the sunroom.
The TV show they were watching was coming to an end when Tom noticed the time. It was ten minutes to nine. He looked around the living room, Veronica was leaning against him, fidgeting with a cushion. Michael had started flipping channels again, and Kyle kept shifting in his seat. He could just see inside the sunroom, and the three women in there were talking about Michael's and Angela's trip, getting it in full detail. In the kitchen, he could occasionally see Victor or Leo moving around, and they'd already started to bring some food into the dining room. They'd all wanted to wait until everyone got back before they ate, and Tom hoped it would be soon, since he was starving. He couldn't actually remember the last time he'd eaten. No, that wasn't true, he just vaguely remembered getting something to eat at Magic School before coming here, but that hadn't been much. And when they had arrived earlier, he also only got a little snack in the shape of an orange and right now he so didn't feel like eating any more healthy food.
Eight-fiftyfive. Tom shook his head, wondering what was taking so long. And as he did, he caught sight of white lights in his peripheral vision off to his right. He turned quickly, startling Veronica, as the orbs formed into Christopher and Cole. "They're back!" he yelled, startling Veronica even more, and making everyone run into the living room. Leo did Piper a big service by orbing her straight there, so she didn't have to run all the way from the nursery. Though she had already started when Tom had yelled, and she'd been surprised when she orbed. The second she materialized and saw Christopher, she had him in her arms in a big hug, relief flooding through her to see him safe.
Tom looked around then, noticing that a few people were missing. "Where are Nicki, Bianca and Odin?" he asked, looking now at Christopher, worried. "And what about Steve?"
Christopher found himself laughing in spite of himself, when Piper wouldn't let him go. "Mom, it's okay. I'm fine. Really! Please let me breathe," he said, giggling. Piper slowly pulled back, feeling a little foolish that's she'd been so worried, her face turning red.
Not to let them wait any longer, Cole answered Tom's question. "Odin and Bianca are escorting Elenia up there..."
"Elenia showed up?" Phoebe said, cutting him off, a worried look on her face, fearing her vision had come true. The others mirrored her expression.
"Yes, she did. But we were able to stop her before it was too late. Odin and Bianca were just taking her up there to let her cool off. Bianca wanted to make sure Elenia wasn't going to hurt anyone else before she comes back here," Christopher explained. Sighs of relief swept through the room.
"Yeah, but since my job is done, this also means I have to go back now..." And as soon as Christopher had said that, the emotions in the room turned from joy to sadness.
"Already?" Piper asked, her voice unbelieving. She didn't want him to leave so fast.
"I have to, mom... you know that," her son replied, feeling sad himself.
"But where are Steve and Nicki?" Tom asked again after he had cleared his throat shyly, since he didn't really want to interrupt. But he was still worried about his friends, and so was Veronica who he held close in his arms.
Christopher laughed, a sheepish smile on his face. "Sorry Tom. Steve and Nicki are fine. They'll both be back in the morning. Steve just wanted to finish some business and Nicki decided to stay with him," Christopher explained. Smiles quickly spread across Tom and Veronica's faces as relief and joy flooded them.
"So they're coming back?" Tom said, having a hard time not to jump up and down with joy.
"Yes, they are. You'll see them tomorrow in the morning," Cole answered, an arm around Phoebe's shoulders. The tension that was in the room, finally dissipated, leaving everyone feeling much better.
That was when the grandfather clock struck nine. Cole turned to look at it, holding up his hand to keep everyone quiet, and a moment later, on the third chime, purple-white lights shone of it. It took Cole an instant to realize the lights were orbs. Everyone turned to watch as the orbs turned into adult Hope.
"Hope? What are you doing here?" Christopher asked his niece, confused.
"I'm here, Uncle Christopher, because Dad asked me to delay you fifteen minutes," she said, emphasizing "uncle" in a teasing manner.
"Is everything alright?" Piper asked, getting worried about Chris this time.
"Everything is fine, Grandma," Hope said before giving her grandmother a hug. "Dad just wanted a chance to say goodbye to everyone." Piper let out a sigh of relief, making everyone smile in understanding.
"Well, I guess, given Chris only asked for a fifteen minutes-delay, you two can't stay for dinner, right?" Leo asked Christopher and Hope.
A mischievous grin touched the latter's lips. "Oh, I can stay. It's Christopher who has to go," she said, suppressing a grin.
"I have a better idea. Why don't you go back, and tell Chris he has an extra half hour, while I have something to eat?" he tried, a mischievous grin of his own touching his lips.
"No can do. You have to go back. You've been here long enough," she said to her uncle. Then turning to her grandfather she said: "And, unfortunately, I can't stay either. There's been enough crossing of the times in the last week. And though I'd love to have dinner with you all, we actually just finished eating ourselves." She turned back to Christopher and added. "... which means there are plenty of leftovers for you when you get back."
"Well? What did you have for dinner?" he asked her, feeling rather hungry all of a sudden.
"You'll find out when you get back. And you have about eight minutes," she said, looking at the clock.
"I guess this is goodbye, then," Piper said, holding back tears. Christopher gave her another hug, holding on a little longer than necessary.
"Well, not really. I mean, I'm still... Where am I?" he asked, looking around for his younger self.
"Safe and sound and sleeping peacefully in bed," Piper said, smiling up at him.
"Oh. Can I go check on him before I go? I always enjoy seeing Christopher so small and helpless," Hope said, teasingly. Everyone in the room laughed.
Piper smiled at her granddaughter and nodded. "Of course. Just please don't wake him. Or Wyatt. Or yourself," she said, wincing.
"Yeah, Piper already woke you up once tonight," Phoebe said, ratting her out. Piper gave her an "I'll-get-you-for-that" look, and everyone cracked up again.
"Well, I think you better do it quick, Christopher only has six minutes left," Cole pointed out.
"And speaking of, I still have one question," Piper started, looking at her son. "Did you figure out what it was you came here to do?"
Christopher took a deep breath before answering. "Yes, I did. I finally understand what my destiny holds. And since I do, I also do know how to get back," he said, looking around.
"Good, 'cause writing time-travel spells isn't my forte," Paige joked, giving him a wink and a smile.
"Well, I guess it's up to the attic then," Christopher said, looking around at everyone.
"With a quick stop in the nursery," Hope said, looping her arm in Christopher's. With everyone following behind, they made the short journey upstairs. Stopping a moment in the nursery, they made it up to the attic just in time.
"Well, this is it," Christopher said. "I'll miss all of you."
"We'll miss you too, sweetie," Piper said, giving him a quick hug. He handed the sword over to her (which he had somehow still held in his hand), than turned to Paige.
"Take care of yourself Christopher," she said, and before she could get away, he gave her a hug.
"I will, Aunt Paige," he said, then straightened up and took a deep breath. But before he could begin the spell, Phoebe threw her arms around him, and hugged him, too.
"You didn't think I'd let you leave without getting a hug, did you?" she teased, then let him go. And also Leo gave his son a hug and then patted his shoulder, his eyes shining with pride.
"Thank you, everyone," he said then, before turning to Hope. "You ready?"
"I'll be right behind you," she said, encouraging him to get going.
"Okay, here it goes..."
"Return me now, to whence I came,
The past and future, still the same.
My quest for truth had been fulfilled,
Send me home with my new skills."
Lights started circling him as he said the last word. Faster and faster they went until he was completely shrouded by them, then he, and the lights disappeared. A second later the lights returned. These ones turned slower and slower until they disappeared, finally revealing Chris, standing in the spot Christopher had just left.
The Elder-witch looked at all the faces staring at him, but before he could say anything he felt a pair of arms thrown around him. "Glad you had a good trip, dad..." Hope said to his ear. Then he pulled away and said: "I should be going back but... before I came here I made a stop to get you this, because I thought you'd like to know." And with this she gave the slightly confused and now frowning Chris a small picture in which a crib was shown with Wyatt and Julia on each side. In the crib was lying a cute baby-girl, and on the headboard of the crib the name Polly was engraved. The name of his first niece.
"How did you know that I..."
"You knew about it?" Hope asked smiling. Then she explained simply: "I'm your daughter..."
Chris shook his head. "Thanks," he muttered smiling widely as he again looked at the picture. Then he gave it back to her. "But take this back before anyone finds this and spoils this wonderful little gift."
Hope nodded at this: "I knew you'd say that." Then she hugged him again and with a last good bye she disappeared within purple orb lights.
"Wow..." Paige muttered suddenly breaking everyone in the room out of the stupor. And seconds later, Chris was feeling like smashed by the arms of his mother and aunts.
"It's ok... It's ok..." he mumbled, "I'm glad to be back, too."
"Girls, let him breath," Leo said laughing. But as soon as the sisters let go of his son he pulled him into a hug himself. "It's good to have you back where you belong. We truly missed you."
"Thanks dad," Chris muttered. "And you are right... this IS were I belong." They hugged each other for a moment longer before Chris finally pulled away. "But now? Where are my wife and my daughter?"
"Bianca is up there but she should be back any minute," Cole explained.
And Piper added: "Hope is sleeping."
Chris nodded at this smiling: "Not for much longer... See you downstairs." And with that he orbed away.
"But Chris you just..." Piper called after him. Then she sighed before finishing: "... came back..."
Leo hugged her from behind and kissed her on the head. "Come on... let's go down and have something to eat. Chris will be back soon." Piper nodded defeated and so they all went down, Cole ahead of them, and Piper being the last one, closing the attic door. But no sooner she had done that, she heard soft cries from the nursery. Apparently Chris had not only woken up Hope but also his brothers...

& & & & &

Chris meanwhile had orbed to the upper world, Hope safely cradled in his arms. Oh, how he had missed her, well this little-her. It had been nice to spend time with her, all grown up, and also to spend time with his other kids, but... He wanted to see her grow up and that's why he was glad that she hadn't grown too much in the last week, as silly as this may sound.
At first, when he had picked her out of bed, she had whined a little. But when she had realized her daddy was there she had smiled sleepy and giggled. Now she was almost asleep again, but Chris didn't mind as long as she was there.
Wyatt on the other hand had woken up soon after he had orbed in. Apparently he had sensed him. The boy was out of bed in a second and hugged Chris by his legs. Actually he even didn't want to let Chris go again. Only when he had promised to be back in a short moment after picking up Bianca, he had agreed. And while Chris had orbed up there, Wyatt had woken Christopher, too... after all his younger brother couldn't miss that, could he?
Meanwhile Chris was now running through the passage ways of the Elder-world, heading to where he had sensed his wife. And then he found her and froze in place, amazed by seeing her again after such a long time.
Bianca just talked to Odin who came out of one of the rooms. Elenia's room, but Chris didn't notice that. "You really think she's safe in there, there is no way to escape from there?"
"Don't worry," Odin said, "she won't be able to leave." Then he saw the man standing a few feet away, looking at him with wide eyes. "Christopher?" he asked.
But Chris paid no attention to him. He went over to Bianca, while shifting Hope so that he held her with one arm. Then he grabbed Bianca by the neck and pulled her close to kiss her with so much passion and love as if he hadn't seen her in years, instead of days.
Odin first frowned at this. Then he smiled and patted the young man's shoulder, saying: "Welcome home, Chris." But Chris didn't let himself be disturbed, so shaking his head the Elder walked away to give them their privacy... well as much privacy you could have in that place.
After a few more minutes, the couple finally separated. "Wow," Bianca muttered, "welcome back sweetie."
"I missed you," he replied. "I mean, you've been there, but... I missed you, you know?" He smiled and kissed her on the forehead.
She smiled back at him, nodding: "I guess... Must have been confusing."
At this Chris chuckled: "You have no idea..."

& & & & &

Odin went to an open area with a fountain in the middle, surrounded by some columns. There at the edge of the fountain John was sitting with Silas and Jeremiah, talking quietly. And Rafael was there as well, though he sat a little aside, still feeling kind of out of place. Still he, too, wanted to know if all turned out good with his charge.
When John noticed the other Elder approaching, he jumped up: "Odin? What happened?"
Odin smiled as he went over to them, pushing the whitelighter down again before sitting by his side: "Steve is safe... Christopher did quite a good job down there. And Nicki as well. She and Steve are still down there because he needs to drink one final potion, but after that he'll come back."
John sighed relieved: "Those are good news."
"What about Elenia?" Jeremiah asked. He had heard what happened from Silas and was now worried, too.
"She attacked us down there," Odin explained, his voice sad. "But we could stop her and now she's in her rooms, which are guarded by several spells and I also assigned one of the younger Elders to have an eye on her."
Silas nodded: "I'm sorry I couldn't make her see reason."
But Odin shook his head: "There is nothing to be sorry about, you did what you could. Now only time will tell if she can learn to accept all this... or not..."

& & & & &

Meanwhile in the future...
"It's about time..." were the first words Christopher heard when he appeared in the manor's living room. Those words, spoken by his mom, and her slightly angry look were enough to make Christopher wince, knowing he was in big trouble.
"Hey there," he greeted them, waving shyly, not sure what to make out of this that not only his whole family, but also Steve's and Michael's had been there. Chris meanwhile had a feeling of deja vu.
"Have you ever listened to me when I talked to you? Have you completely forgotten about personal gain and the danger of that?" Piper ranted. And when Christopher was about to protest she added: "You are so grounded young man... you won't leave your room for 4 weeks except for dinner and work, got it?"
"Yes Mom," he said to this, knowing full well that she won't get through with this. But she wouldn't be Piper if she wouldn't at least try. "I'm sorry I messed up the spell, but in the end everything went well, didn't it?"
"It did," Steve now said and went over to Christopher's side. "I owe you a lot. Thanks for helping me," he said as he gave the young witch-Elder a hug.
"You're welcome... After all you were one of the best teachers I had... So I had to save you to safe my grades," Christopher joked making most of those present chuckle.
Meanwhile Hope appeared within her purple orb lights and calmly went to her mother's side, not wanting to interrupt any argument.
"Yeah, you did well in the past," Piper then admitted, "and I'm sure Chris enjoyed that little trip as well, but still you are grounded."
"I know..." Christopher replied with a smile. Then he turned to Chris who smiled knowingly at him. He sighed, before saying: "Ok... if you really want me to, I'll take the sword on my birthday."
Chris nodded at this then smiled: "I know... But..."
"But?" Christopher asked confused. He had expected his older brother to be happy, to be relieved or something like that. But why was he smiling now, in this weird way?
"But... you won't have to do it... yet..." the Elder-witch said.
"What? Why?" Christopher, and also Wyatt, Piper and Prisca asked. After all Christopher had been through, none of them understood why he should now wait longer for this.
"Well..." Chris said, smiling widely. "You already decided that your first knight shall be your brother. But I know for a fact that Wyatt will be pretty busy around your birthday already and also some month later, so I thought I postpone this a year or two..."
"But why???" Christopher asked, while knowing smiles appeared on the others' faces.
"Well that's something Wyatt should tell you..." Chris said grinning.
At this Christopher's eyes turned to his brother in wonder. Wyatt smiled, holding Julia firmly with one arm. "Well," he said turning first to his fiancée and then back to his little brother, "you're going to be an uncle soon..."
And when Christopher still didn't seem to get it, Julia added. "I'm pregnant."
At this a huge smile spread over Christopher's face and he rushed over to both of them, pulling them into a big hug. "I can't believe that... I'm so happy for you!"
Everyone else in the room observed that scene with a smile. Michael stepped to Chris side then: "Thanks for doing that for them. I know you were looking forward to give away that responsibility of the sword."
But Chris just smiled at him: "They deserve it... and don't be too happy about it, because this means one or two more years as my first knight as well..." Michael grinned and then nodded.
Meanwhile Christopher had let go of his brother and future sister-in-law, and turned to his mother: "Well Hope mentioned some dinner-left-overs... I hope you have a lot left because I'm hungry like a wolf..." Piper laughed at that, before leading her son to the kitchen.

& & & & &

Back in our time...
When Chris orbed with Bianca and Hope back to the living room, he wasn't surprised to see that everyone was still there, including Michael, Angela, Veronica, Tom and Kyle. "Hey there," he greeted.
Wyatt was the first on his feet and went over to hug his legs. "I really missed you," he muttered to him.
"I know," Chris replied and ruffled his hair, while Piper and Leo watched that scene with a smile on their faces. Christopher through was already sleeping again on his mother's arms.
"Have you really been in the future?" Phoebe now asked, her voice filled with excitement.
Chris grinned at that and then nodded: "I was... But NO! I can't tell you anything about what I have seen and heard... Future consequences, remember? And believe me when I say: For nothing in this world I would spoil THAT future!"
"So it was a good future then?" Bianca asked full of hope.
The Elder-witch nodded at this: "Even better..."
"Well, that's good to know..." Victor said smiling, and Chris nodded again, smiling, too, while he sat down and pulled his wife in his lab.
"Oh come one..." Phoebe whined, "there must be something you can tell us about your trip."
"No Phoebe, Chris is right," Leo now said in full Elder-mode, "every little bit he tells us could change the future. And I'm sure you don't want that." At this the empath crossed her arms over her chest and pouted, but of course she knew Leo was right.
Chris meanwhile had to chuckle. Then he explained to everyone' surprise: "Well actually I'm even supposed to tell you a few little things. Messages from your older selves, to be precise."
"Really?" Michael now asked.
Chris nodded: "Yes, for example I should tell you to get used to the fact that one way or another you're part of this family, too. You may not have any magical power, but you are my best friend, so... Just get used to it."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Angela asked.
The Elder-witch grinned: "That you have to find out on your own... But you Angy... You don't worry so much. All your dreams will come true one day." At this Angela thanked him smiling.
"And what message do you have for me?" Phoebe asked getting all hyper again.
Chris chuckled, knowing that her aunt would get the most weird message of all of them. "You asked me to tell you to buy lots of hair-bands and stuff like that..."
At this empath frowned, deeply in thought about the meaning of this message. But Cole somehow knew what this message could mean so he smiled and hugged her close.
"And Uncle Cole," Chris then said. And when Cole looked at him he smiled and said: "You asked me to tell you that you'll still be good in the future..."
"Of course he will," Phoebe said, looking at Chris with a strange expression, before she turned frowning to her husband. "Or did you doubt it?"
Cole smiled at her and shook his head: "No, but still it's good to know..." Then he pulled her close and kissed her.
Chris meanwhile turned to Paige and Kyle: "Oh Paige, you should make sure to never ever wash your red underwear with Kyle's white socks. And you Kyle..." he grinned at the man, then said: "Stop thinking and just do it."
Paige looked at her boyfriend frowning. "What does that mean?"
But Kyle just looked at Victor with a smile and then said to her: "I'll tell you later..."
"Grandpa, you better get used to orbing..."
"Oh well," Victor said, rolling his eyes. He had no idea what the future held for him but assumed that his grandchildren would love to orb him around sooner or later.
"And mom and dad... Your message to yourself is that you can be proud of the great kids you have," Chris said to them.
Leo pulled his wife close: "We already are, son... we already are."
"And what message do you have for me?" Bianca then asked putting her arms closer around him.
Chris smiled: "I am supposed to tell you to not be mad at me that I can't tell you certain things. But I know it won't work, you'll still be mad at me when the time comes... at least at first. But then you'll be happy."
"Is it something good you are talking about this cryptically?" she tried to get more information.
Chris smiled thinking of Liam. "It is honey... it is..."
Do you have a message for us, too?" Tom then asked.
But now Chris had to shake his head: "Unfortunately I didn't meet you in that time I was in the future. But don't worry you are alive and well... You just had been on a school trip." Then he turned around and asked: "Where is Steve? I'm supposed to tell him that all will go well and he made the right decision."
Now a collective sigh was heard from everyone and Piper then said: "That is a long story... But now we all should eat something. Through as we heard you already had dinner, we are all starving here."
Chris grinned at that and nodded, moving with the others over to the dining room. And as they all sat at the table, talking and laughing, he felt that things wouldn't change too much in 23 years of time...

& & & & &

Steve, in his demonic form, took a deep breath as he looked at everyone gathered around. Nicki was sitting nearby with Batim and Meehan, his eyes lingering on them longer than on the rest of his extended family, feelings of wholeness and acceptance filling him. He knew this was it, the last potion. Everything he'd been through in the last couple of years had all lead to this. And now that it was almost over, it felt somewhat anticlimactic.
He took one last look at Nicki before turning to Koran-Dil. The Ashon leader held the last potion in his hands, patiently waiting for Steve to prepare himself mentally for its effects. Steve took one more deep breath than reached for the potion. Koran-Dil gladly handed it over to him. He touched the potion bottle to his lips, readying to drink it, when Nicki jumped to her feet.
"Wait!" she called, moving quickly to his side.
"Nicki, you promised you wouldn't interrupt," he said, feeling a little disappointed.
"I know, but... I want to be with you, by your side when you take it. We're partners in life, and I believe we should do this together." Nicki looked into his eyes as she said this, the love and compassion they had for each other clearly seen in the gaze. She reached up and caressed his cheek, a gentle smile touching her lips. Steve let out a sigh he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He reached up and took her hand from his cheek, and kissed it.
"You're right. We should do this together." And with that, among the awes of some of the Ashon around them, Steve downed the potion.

A couple minutes later, Steve shook his head free of the cobwebs those potions always gave him. He looked up to see Nicki staring down at him, eyes wide, a look of relief slowly shaping her features as he came to. Meehan and Batim were on either side of her, the same look on their faces.
"I'm alright," he said, then pulled himself into a sitting position. A smile formed on Nicki's lips, and taking his face in both her hands, she gently kissed him. Whistles and hurrahs exploded from all around them, making them pull apart to laugh. Still laughing, Nicki leaned in, and gave him one final, quick kiss before getting up and helping him to his feet. He pulled her into a tight hug then, glad she had been there for him. After releasing her, he turned to Meehan and hugged her as well, happiness swelling inside him. Then it was Batim's turn. He hugged his half-brother, feeling better than he'd ever felt. Then, pulling back, he looked at his friends and family, and smiled.
Suddenly a cry went up and everyone turned to the source. A teenage Ashon boy was standing on a rock, shouting with joy. "Let's party!" he was saying, bringing laughter from the younger crowd, and making the older ones shake their heads at his enthusiasm. But with the final potion taken, it was, indeed, time to party. So then the Ashon gathered round to start their traditional dance, when a loud and strange sound could be heard. Again, everyone turned to the source. This time it was another youth standing at the mouth of an alcove. He had just turned on a stereo, and was blasting Prince's "Party Like It's 1999". All the young Ashon in the cave took that as their cue, and, hijacking the traditional celebration, lined up and started a very non-traditional, human-style dance.

(Chapter 11 written by Kirianna Ledräen and Chrissy.W.x)

Note: That's it for this part of the story. We are sorry that this time we can't give you a date when Story 15 will start since we are still in the process of writing. We can only tell you that this story will be posted, but we can't tell you when. So we hope whenever that will be that we will see you as reader again... Thanks for all your support.