So, here goes the next chapter. I know it took some time, but betas do have a life also. I will have chapter 13 up soon, though.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last time. I'm afraid the story goes a bit slowly at the moment but I promise there will come some great moments once I know where to put them ;-) Anyway, enjoy this.
Thanks to Angelayzn for taking her time to re-read this.
Chapter 12
Piper smiled at her grandson as the little boy tried to stuff another toy in his back pack. Every time, he thought he had managed it, something fell out again. Josh let out a frustrated groan.
Piper watched him closely but he didn't ask her for help. Instead, he put everything out again and left a blue truck on the table in the conservatory to pack the red car. Finally everything fitted and Josh smiled to himself happily.
Today, he would finally visit his friend Bev. His father had called Bev's mom and asked if it was okay, if he brought Josh by this Saturday. Luckily, Mrs. Jake had agreed.
"Daddy!" Josh called, startling Piper, who was already reading her book again. "I am done! We can go. Daddy!"
Chris came out of the kitchen. "I told you, you are only allowed to take the toys with you that fit into your back pack."
"I know. Everything fits. Except for Willy, but Willy never fits."
"Alright. Then we can go. Mom, I'll take Josh to his friend's, they only live down the street. I'll be back soon."
Piper smiled. "That's okay. As long as you guys are back for the dinner tonight, it's okay."
"Who will be at the dinner tonight?" Josh asked.
Piper bent down. "Uncle Coop, Auntie Phoebe, Great-grandpa Victor, Uncle Wyatt and Rachel."
Josh seemed to be happy about that, whereas Chris frowned. "Rachel?"
Piper sighed. "Chris, we are one family and you will have to get along with her. She made a mistake, you should forgive her."
"I think, it's my decision whom I forgive and whom not." He held out his hand for Josh to take and father and son left the Manor.
Piper shrugged and went on reading her book.
Chris and Josh walked down the street the first time since they started living here. Josh really liked the colorful Victorian houses, that were typical for this street and they needed more time than expected to arrive at Bev's home.
When they went through the garden gate, they heard some kids yelling and cheering. It was Bev, who was a beautiful, blonde haired girl with a lila dress, and her older sister and brother. Josh ran off to join their game immediately.
Chris called him back but stood no chance.
"Oh, just let them play."
Chris turned towards the sound of the female voice. Apparently it was Mrs. Jake. She also had blonde hair, but it was short. She was in her early 30's but the dark circles under her eyes let her appear older.
"I'm Chris. Chris Halliwell. This whirlwind over there is Josh."
"I know. Bev is always talking about him. Seems like they are kindergarten sweethearts already. I'm Sally Jake."
Chris smirked. "Yeah, seems so."
"Do you want to come in for a cup of tea or something?"
"Tea would be great, yes."
Chris followed her inside the house through the backdoor that lead in the kitchen. Sally put a pot with water on the oven, she then showed Chris in to the living room and let him sit down on the sofa.
There were still boxes standing around.
"It's a lot of work to move somewhere, isn't it?" Chris asked. "I just moved back in with my parents and only had a few things and still it was a hell of a lot of work."
Sally nodded. "I've been married to Peter for 10 years now and we have moved for the seventh time now. Peter is an exponent. It is really a lot of work. Even more so, because Peter is never around to help me. Do you see this box? It contains our cabinet. It should stand right here in the living room. But it doesn't. And that is why, all the other things are not unpacked already as well." Sally got angry. She took a deep breath. "I do a lot, but I can't build up a cabinet. And Peter will be away until next Thursday."
"I could do it for you. I'm not a bad handyman."
"Really? You would do that? Don't you need to go home to your wife?"
"No, I'm widower. I would like to do it, really. I have nothing else to do."
"I'm sorry to hear that, really. Don't get me wrong but you seem so young."
"Thanks." Chris decided to not discuss this any deeper.
Sally understood. "If you are serious, I'll go and get you some tools."
"Yeah, sure. I did mean it."
Sally smiled gratefully and went into a little chamber under the stairs. She handed Chris a tool kit.
"I'll get the tea or would you rather a beer?"
"No. Tea is great. Really."
Chris started to unpack the wooden boards.
Sally brought a tray with tea and sandwiches. Chris smiled at her gratefully, while trying to figure out how to start.
"Are you sure, you can do that?" the blonde woman asked again.
Chris looked at her, his eyebrows raised. "I am perfectly capable of doing this. Thanks."
"Okay. I'll give the kids some mild and cookies. I'll be right back with you."
Chris took a screwdriver. He and Wyatt had helped Leo often with the handiwork in the Manor. Chris had never had too much interest in it but when Kat and he moved into their first apartment, he was glad that he had learnt how to build up some furniture. When they moved into their second apartment, they had enough money to pay someone to fix and decorate everything. That was the reason, why it never was the way Chris had wanted it to be.
"Josh is really cute and politely," Sally said, when she entered the living room again.
"He has his moments."
"I'm really glad that you came by," the mother of three said suddenly.
"I guess so, who else would have build up your cabinet."
"That's not it. Since we moved here last week, I have been locked up in here with work. Apart from the electrician you are the first adult I talked to in 10 days."
"I know how that feels."
"Do you mind me asking how your wife died?"
"Plane crash."
"I'm so sorry."
"Well, you can't choose right?"
"You said you moved back in with your parents."
"Yes. Quite a step backwards, isn't it."
"Oh no! Absolutely not. I know how it feels to get lonely."
"Usually, I don't mind being alone. Sometimes being alone is even better."
"Being alone is different than being lonely."
Chris nodded. He wasn't sure if he agreed, though. He was a person who could feel lonely even more when he was surrounded by tons of people.
Sally kneed down on the floor next to Chris.
"Peter is a lovely man, but we don't really care for each other anymore. I mean, he cares for us like a provider, but not as a father and husband."
"Maybe you should tell him that," Chris said. He didn't really liked to hear about other peoples marriage problems, but obviously Sally needed to get it off her chest.
"I did talk to him. I think I've told him a thousand times already. All he says is that he needs to earn money, so our kids can go to college. But what is money worth when the kids don't know their father and our marriage is not marriage anymore." Sally sighed. "God, I'm sorry. I never really told anyone about our problems. I don't know, why I told you. You are practically a stranger."
"Sometimes it's easier to talk to strangers than with family."
"I guess, you are right."
Chris avoided her gaze and busied himself with fixing the cabinet. He noticed his thoughts wondered off to Kat this time.
The 22 year old had managed to not think about this marriage for over a month now and he didn't intend to do it now.
"Are you okay?" Sally asked, when she felt Chris was not really listening to her anymore.
Chris shook his head. "I'm fine thanks."
She patted his back. "I'm sorry, if I'm making you feel uncomfortable."
Chris put the tool aside and turned around to look into her eyes. "Unlike you, I don't want to talk to my family nor to a stranger."
Sally smiled at him and stroke his face. "There are people that say talking helps, but I know other things that help too."
The blonde haired woman leant forward and started kissing Chris neck. He thought a second about the kids outside and Peter on his business trip, but decided not to care, if she didn't care.
Josh and Bev really needed to stick together to assert themselves. The two older siblings had lots of fun to play games with the two 4 years old. For Josh, who was not used to assert his role in a family, with being the baby of the Halliwell family he had a great position and was pampered by everyone.
When he saw his father emerge from the house, he heaved a sight relieved. But he still loved to play with Bev. She was his new best friend.
Chris searched for his son and saw that the brunette little boy already started to pick up his stuff.
The 22 year old witch looked at Sally. "Okay, I hope the cabinet is the way you wanted it."
Sally leant in. "I don't care about the cabinet, except that it forced you to stay longer. I hope you come by again soon."
"I guess, if Josh wants to play with Bev again in a few days."
Sally kissed him on the cheek. "If you could manage to come over before next Thursday, we two could play again, too. Think about it." She smirked and called for her kids to come in.
Chris took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. Maybe he should have told Sally that he usually didn't do repeats. Kat had been the one with the affair, he was the one with the one night stands.
But Kat was dead. He could easily change his policy.
"Daddy, I'm so glad I don't have any older brothers or sisters," Josh groaned. "But I do like Bev a lot. Maybe she could visit me at home, too," Josh said when they walked back home.
"Of course, she can. But Mrs. Jake also invited us over again next week."
"Why did Mrs. Jake invite you over?"
"Because she likes me. Just like Bev likes you."
"Okay. Then we visit them again and then Bev can visit me two times, okay?"
"Okay."
Chris unlocked the front door. He didn't hear voices from the dining room or in the kitchen. He looked on his watch and saw that he was right in time for the dinner.
"Mom?"
Piper peered out of the living room. "Oh, there you are! We decided on a barbecue as it is so nice tonight. Everyone else is already there. Come on, say hello."
"A barbecue!" Josh cheered. It was the second time, he was at his grandparents' and they did a barbecue but he could still remember that night. It was a lot of fun.
He handed his father his rucksack and rushed through the living room out on the patio.
"Hey, little man come to your great grandfather," Victor said and Josh didn't need to be told twice. He climbed on the chair next to the old man. "How are you, buddy?"
"I'm good. I played with my friend Bev today and daddy spent the day with Mrs. Jake," Josh told him.
Victor frowned and looked at Chris, who blushed lightly. "Don't get that wrong, grandpa. I fixed her cabinet, because her husband wasn't home." Chris could kick himself for this last bit of information.
"I see."
Chris rolled his eyes. He sat down next to his brother, ignoring Rachel.
"Hey, why haven't you told mom that you start a new job on Monday?" Wyatt asked.
"I forgot. Moreover I don't even know, if I'll get the job."
"Nonsense, you already have it."
Chris shrugged. He still was not sure about this teaching job, yet. But he wouldn't tell Wyatt because knew, his brother thought he was doing him a huge favor.
"I have a feeling like you would be a great teacher," Rachel said, trying to get in the right terms with Chris again.
"If not, I'm sure, you'll give the kids parents the number of the youth welfare," Chris answered harshly.
"Chris?" Piper pleaded with her son.
"Come on, Josh, we have to go wash our hands."
As soon as father and son were out of earshot, the family members shared a look.
Phoebe was the one to speak. "God, this Mrs. Jake seems to use a damn lot of perfume, Chris smells like a whole perfumery."
"Right now, all I care about is, that he has a job again," Piper said, stroking Wyatt's hair. "Thanks to you. But please look after him a bit."
"Don't worry, mom, he'll be fine."
Coop and Leo came back to the table. They had fixed the meat. Both of them carried two large plates and put them on the table.
"I heard Josh. Are they back?" Leo asked.
"Yes, just getting cleaned up a bit," Piper answered.
Before Leo could say anything else, Josh already clung to his leg. "Grandpa, did you make hot dogs for me?"
Leo bent down. "Oh, I'm so sorry, we only have steaks and hamburgers. I didn't even thought to make some hot dogs."
Josh wrinkled his nose. He had to think about that. A barbecue without any hot dogs that was not good. But he also liked hamburgers with ketch up and mustard. "That's okay, grandpa, I'll eat a hamburger then. But next time you have to think about the hotdogs, okay?"
Leo smiled and nodded. He gave his grandson a hug and helped him on the chair between Wyatt and Piper, just like Josh had asked.
Piper helped him to fix him a hamburger with ketchup, mustard, a slice of tomato and gherkin.
Chris tried to let his mother help Josh, but like always when he was at the same table, he couldn't help but watch everything.
Victor was the one with the best news tonight. He was allowed to walk from now on without his crutches.
"The doctor said I needed to keep it easy for the next weeks but he is positive that I will be back in shape again by next year."
"That's great, dad. But remember to keep it easy," Piper said concerned. She knew that her father didn't believe in the words of a doctor and had the habit to overwork himself.
Victor rolled his eyes. "Sweetie, I know what I'm doing."
Piper could only shrug and hope he really did so.
Chris saw how Josh tried to pick up his hamburger with his two little hands. That wouldn't work out.
Piper saw it as well. "Come on, baby, grandma will cut you the burger in two halves, okay?"
"No! Josh screamed. I want it in one piece."
"Josh, you can not pick that up. That won't work. Your food will end up on your trousers," Chris said.
"I want it in one piece!" Josh repeated, angrily.
Chris already knew what this meant. His son was tired. It was almost his usual bedtime anyway and the whole afternoon with three other kids must have been exhausting. Josh always got angry and restive when he was tired.
"Uncle Wyatt, can orb it into two if you want," Wyatt tried.
"I want it in one piece or not at all!" Josh shouted.
Chris shrugged. "Have it your way."
Josh picked up his burger and tried to take a bite and just like predicted, the meat fell out of the bread onto Josh's pants and then on the ground.
Josh gave his dad a look and threw the rest of his food on his plate.
Chris ran a hand through his hair. "Come here!"
"Come on, Chris, its okay," Piper said. She thought that her son would maybe give her grandson trouble.
But Josh was not scared. He knew what his dad was up to now. He went over to his father and climbed on his lap. Chris held him up.
"What did I tell you would happen?" Chris asked him.
"The burger would drop onto my pants."
"And what happened?"
"The burger dropped onto my pants."
"So, what was I?"
"Right."
"As?"
"Always."
"Good." Chris gave him a hug and noticed that Josh clung to him. The brunette man sat Josh on his lap and gave him a piece of his own burger. Josh leant against his father, his eyes dropping shut a bit. He still ate it but it didn't taste that good.
"You are not really hungry, are you? More tired," Chris said and took the half eaten bread away from his son.
"Come on, I'll put him in bed," Piper proposed.
"No, its okay. I'll take him," Chris replied.
"I'm done eating, you're not," Piper reasoned.
"Daddy shall bring me to bed!" Josh cried with his last strength.
Chris gave his mom a look saying 'you see'.
It was easy to put Josh to sleep. The 4 year old was so exhausted that he just let his father help him into his pajamas, cuddled into the cushions, pressed Willie to his chest, closed his eyes and was out like a light within seconds.
Chris shut the door behind him after leaving his son.
"So, she is married," Wyatt said leaning against the opposite wall.
"Who?"
"The lady you spent the afternoon with."
"What are you referring to?" Chris demanded, crossing his arm over his chest. He really had no interest in talking to his brother at the moment.
Wyatt shrugged. "So, she is married."
"Yes, she is. But her husband wasn't there and she needed someone to help her with the cabinet, so I helped her. That's it. Why are you so interested?"
"I'm just wondering why you smell like women's perfume. Don't make yourself miserable and don't get between their marriage. You can do better than that."
Chris turned around, but said over his shoulder. "Why can't you keep your mind out of my business? Just for once."
They went back to the other family members, who tried to not let them see, that they had been talking about the two of them.
Piper reheat her son's food. She hated it, when someone left the table before the dinner was over. But she decided to not mention it tonight. She was glad to learn that, Wyatt had found a job for his brother.
Chris didn't seem to care too much about working as a teacher. He still wasn't sure, why he had agreed. But a job was a job and it was only for a few months, anyway. Staying in the Manor all day long, wasn't a better alternative.
"If you like teaching, there's always the possibility to become a full time teacher in magic school," Leo purposed.
"For what? How to torture demons to get all information you need," Wyatt smirked.
It was true, if anyone needed first hand information, Chris was the right source. He found every demon, no matter where it hid. He knew where to get even the strangest ingredient for a potion.
Wyatt didn't know exactly how his brother did it, but he had come to the Manor often enough to find demons being choked until they coughed some answer.
"Thanks, but no thanks. I prefer a job, where everyone is educated enough to know what they are doing."
"Name one of your previous jobs that fulfilled that condition?" Piper said.
Chris shrugged. "At least, I always worked with adults."
Chris had had a few jobs since he left high school.
For almost a year he sold clothes in a jeans shop; 10 month he typewrote letters and statements for a doctor; half a year he worked in a photo shop and made pictures for families or for applications; then he worked as a waiter in a hotel, later he worked as a receptionist of a hotel. His last job was the first more qualified. Chris had assisted a lawyer in a big law firm Smith, Smith, Powers &Partners. It was the job he was fired from.
No one in the family really new why.
"I'm sure, you will give your best," Phoebe said. "Be open for everything. I'm sure, you will find the right job soon."
Bless Phoebe! She always was the one encouraging Chris. Unlike Piper, who was pretty quick with nagging and Wyatt, who was always one that offered advice. Tons of advice. More than Chris wanted. Sometimes it made Chris mad at his brother. Wyatt just sat there with this stupid sympathetic look, showing Chris that he did so much better than him.
Please don't forget to leave me your thoughts on this. I know not much happened but I needed to introduce the new character 'Sally' and wanted to show how Chris is treating Josh.
