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CHAPTER 11

Losing It

"You're my father and someone is going to kill you!"

Chris blinked. His mind was unable to process what he had just heard. Of all the things the kid could have told him, the younger son of Piper Halliwell never imagined that those words would be the ones to spill from the energetic young man's mouth. It just didn't make any sense. There was no logic behind it. All the science in the world couldn't explain how it was possible. First of all Alex seemed to be about sixteen or so, which would make him only six years younger than Chris. From a biological stand point, there was no way Chris would physically be able to become a father at only five years of age. The kid couldn't be from the far future either because Wyatt looked younger than Chris. A good year or two younger. Unless the kid was from far off in the future and had somehow jumped to Wyatt's time and asked for his help in this time, but that really didn't make any sense being as Wyatt said he came to save Alex...save him from what anyway? God his head hurt. Time travel was truly evil.

Ripping out of his uncle's grasp, Alex moved to stand in front of his father, gazing up at the man that was now a good three inches taller than him. "Chris, don't worry. Everything is going to be okay. Wyatt and I aren't going to let anything happen to you this time."

This time? Chris moved his jade eyes to focus on Wyatt's ice blue pair. His brother wouldn't look at him. It was true. He was going to die in the past. How? Had he been right? Was he going to cease to exist because of the changes he had made? No, that couldn't be it. Otherwise how would those two be able to save him? Murdered? Who would want him dead? The threat on Wyatt was over...wasn't it? Wyatt seemed to be good, so he had succeeded, right? Still, maybe someone in league with the game masters was after him at this very moment. Unable to keep his thoughts focused enough to come to any logical conclusion, Chris turned to look at his son.

"Mum said someone killed you, but Wyatt and I won't let them get you this time. I promise. This time we can be a family."

Mum? Was that a British accent he just detected? Where had his supposed son come up with an accent from Great Britain at? The fact nagged at the young father. He knew it was important, but he couldn't quite figure out why. Then it hit him like an energy ball in the gut. The woman from the club last night. She had been British. Oh crap. What had he done? "Your mom...she...she has black hair, blue eyes...her name is...is" he struggled for a moment, trying to remember, "Anne?"

"Yeah." Alex smiled softly. "You died before she could tell you."

Paige cut in at this moment. "Chris, who is Anne? What happened to Bianca? How can this teenager be your son? You do realize Piper is going to kill you when she finds out you make her a grandma when you're only what...five?"

Chris shot her a pointed glare.

"He actually made her a grandma under the age of one." Wyatt pointed out. "Now, to get back on topic, I'm sorry, Chris, but we aren't here to save you. My mission was to make sure that Anne didn't die, so that your son here doesn't turn into Oepidus again."

Alex shot him a pointed glare, mirroring his father.

Paige leaned over to Wyatt, whispering loud enough for the other two to hear her. "Like father like son, huh?" She then frowned realizing what her oldest nephew had said. "Oepidus?"

"You don't wanna know."

Regaining his mental clarity at long last, Chris sighed, knowing what he had to do for everyone's sake. Moving toward Alex, he placed a hand on the young man's shoulder. It was strange to do so. It felt natural, which frightened the twenty-two year old. He wasn't used to the idea of being a father, and didn't really think he would be any time soon, especially not to someone so close in age to him. Still, he owed the boy this much. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I know what it's like to lose a parent, but Wyatt is right. You can't save me. If I am meant to die, then I am meant to die. The angel of Death always gets who he comes for. Besides, my survival might change too much, may damage the space time continuum. I knew the risk when I came back to the past. You have to forget about saving me. Go back with Wyatt and save your mom. She's a good woman; she'll give you a good life."

Paige's head whipped around to face her nephew at the part about losing a parent. Leo or Piper was going to die? She couldn't believe it. It was just so horrible. She knew exactly how painful that could be. No wonder Chris was such a neurotic little freak. Oh, god...it was probably Piper too...that would explain a lot of things. That meant that she was going to lose her sister though. She thought she might start crying on the spot, but Alex interrupted her fear and pain.

"It's not enough!" Alex jerked away glaring at Wyatt. "You're just going to let your own brother be killed? How could you? How can you let him die, knowing what he did for you? My father saved your ass and you're just going to let him be erased from our lives? You must not care about him at all!"

Wyatt set his jaw, his eyes turning steely, his voice like that of a knife when he spoke. "Who the hell are you to tell me what I feel about my brother? I'd give my life gladly if it would secure him happiness. I can't do that, though. It isn't how things work. We can't just play God, Alex."

"Then why bother to save my mum, huh? Why bother trying to save my soul? You know you meant to save the brother you grew up with but what about my father, the man who died to save the world? Doesn't he deserve his life? Don't fool yourself, Uncle Wyatt. You already are playing God. So, why can't I have a say in what goes on in my own life?"

"If he lives my brother dies!"

Alex paused mid tirade, unsure what to say or do. He hadn't expected Wyatt to lose his cool like that. Hadn't expected the older man to admit to his true feelings so easily. So, he stood motionless, staring at Wyatt, unsure what would happen next.

The Twice Blessed Witch turned to face the brother he never had, his eyes clouded with grief, his face red with emotion. His arms were dangling lifelessly by his sides. He looked torn and defeated. "If I save you, then my brother won't exist in the future. You share a soul, and when I saw your spirit, your personality was the dominate of the two. If you go back to the future, you'll take him over and I'll never get my brother back. I don't know if I could deal with losing him for good." He hung his head, his voice dropping. "I appreciate what you did for me, but I don't know you. I don't love you like I do my Chris."

"I understand." Chris replied automatically, though inside, it tore him apart to hear those words from his own sibling, the brother he would have done anything for in order to hear a single loving word from. His mind of course really did understand. What Wyatt said made sense, but. . .his heart ached. Had anyone cared that he had died besides Alex? Was his personality so horrible that no one wanted to remember him, just his newer version? He felt betrayed.

Alex shook his head stubbornly. "No. You're lying. You can't possibly understand how your own family could let you die. I knew the other you, and you two are different people. I can tell. If you die, then an identity will die. A person will cease to exist. My father will be gone forever. Please, let me help you. Please." He begged, his jade eyes blurred under unshed tears.

Paige looked between all three men and saw the torn looks on the brothers faces, the agony in the youngest Halliwell's eyes. She couldn't let this happen. Chris had to live. Maybe the Elders would know what to do? She turned to speak to Gideon, but found that he was missing all of the sudden. "Where did he go?"

"Who?" Wyatt asked, trying to take his mind off of the guilt starting to eat away at him. He didn't want to leave his savior to die, but he couldn't stand the thought of never having his other brother back either.

"Gideon." Chris replied frowning. He had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Why would the Elder leave without saying anything. It didn't make any sense. People generally only leave without a word when they are uncomfortable. What would have made the man uncomfortable?

The older brother became rigid at the mention of the name. His eyes were wide not with fear but with anger. "Gideon! The Gideon?"

"Wyatt, what's wrong?" Chris asked, recognizing and fearing the look his sibling had in his eyes.

"He's the one who tried to kill me when I was a child. Dad had to kill him in order to protect me. I've heard the story a thousand times. He was a traitor, who nearly destroyed Dad with his betrayal."

Alex's green eyes grew in size as a revelation over took him. He turned his attention to his father. "I'd be anything he's the one who killed you. You were probably killed trying to protect Wyatt."

Paige shook her head, unbelieving. "No. You can't be serious. It's Gideon. He's one of the good guys." She looked to Chris for support, but found something brewing beneath his normal mask. Was that anger she was detecting? Or fear? "Chris?"

Her nephew turned to look at her, his jade eyes brimming with realization. "It fits. Oh my god, Paige. We didn't save him yet. It wasn't the game masters that turned Wyatt. It was Gideon."

"He will turn no matter what. That is why I must destroy him for the greater good!"

Everyone turned to see Gideon standing behind them, a dark look in his blue eyes. A small smile was gracing his lips, the kind of smile that made people feel as though he was certain he had the upper hand. He knew something they didn't.

Alex opened his mouth to respond, but found a hand slipped over it before he could. Expecting it to be Wyatt again, the young Halliwell tried to turn his head to yell at him, but felt pain rip into his neck. Looking down with his eyes, he saw the glint of steel held against his neck. Along with its now crimson edge.

"Alex!" Chris cried out he saw Barbas shimmer in behind his son, but as he raised his hand to fling the demon away, both the demon and the young teenager disappeared. The last sight Chris saw was the blood dripping down his future child's neck.

tbc...