CHAPTER TWELVE
"Mia, what kind of horrible mother am I?"
"Piper, how many times do I have to tell you, you are not a horrible mother," Mia replied.
"Well first you tell me that that my first born son becomes the ruler of all things evil," Piper started, "And now my second son comes from the future and after revealing his true identity to me, refuses to speak more than two sentences to me."
"What are you talking about?" Mia said, "He's just been pretty busy. He's been on an undercover mission with some Scabbar demons for a few weeks now. Disgusting things, really."
"Why didn't you go with him?" she asked. "You two are usually joined at the hip."
"Yeah," Mia shrugged. "But with him having to be gone for a longer period of time, we thought it'd be better that at least one of us stay with you guys and Wyatt. Just in case. Besides, like I said, they're disgusting, so I figure I'd avoid them if I can."
"Either way, he's clearly been avoiding me," Piper insisted.
Mia pursed her lips.
"He hasn't talked to me about anything, though I may have an idea of what it's about," Mia said finally. "But if you want answers… I'd call Grandpa Victor."
"Grandpa Victor?" Piper asked with an incredulous face.
"Yeah," Mia said. "Chris has always had a special connection with him. Me too, actually. He's great. But if anyone is gonna get Chris to talk, it'll be him."
"Alright," Piper sighed. "I'll call Dad."
"Interesting," Paige said, flipping through Phoebe's old high school yearbook.
"I think there are other words I can think of to describe Phoebe's hair," Mia giggled.
They heard the toilet flush and a pale Piper walked into the room.
"I don't remember morning sickness being this bad with Wyatt," Piper groaned.
"Don't let Chris hear you say that," Mia commented, turning the page in the yearbook. "He's got a bit of an inferiority complex."
"We're just going through Phoebe's old yearbook so I can educate myself before her high school reunion tonight," Paige said.
"You better watch out," Piper warned. "Phoebe didn't exactly hang out with the best crowd back then."
"Oh man, I remember the stories," Mia said shaking her head with a laugh.
"Yeah," Piper said. "I think she missed Mom more than me and Prue. And the more Grams restricted her, the more she rebelled."
"I can understand the sentiment," Paige murmured.
"Please tell me you were a good influence on my boys," Piper said.
"Eh," Mia smiled. "I more or less followed the rules, but I did sneak my way over here pretty often. I mean, my two best friends, and then later my boyfriend…"
"Remind me to set charms on the windows once we meet you," Piper teased.
Suddenly there was a scream and the three of them rushed into the hallway to see a distressed Phoebe.
"What's wrong?" Mia asked, immediately scanning the surroundings for demons.
"The drycleaners ruined my dress for tonight!" Phoebe whined.
"Phoebe, you know better than to scream in this house if there isn't a demon!" Piper scolded.
"I'm sorry," Phoebe said. "But what am I supposed to wear tonight?"
"How about your little black dress?" Mia suggested. "The one with the little thigh slip?"
"Black is too threatening," Phoebe frowned. "Ugh. I'll be in my closet!"
Chris orbed in.
"Chris, hi," Piper said.
"I need your help," he said hurriedly. "I have Scabbars on my tail."
"I have some hydrogen peroxide in the bathroom?" Piper offered.
"Scabbar demons," Mia clarified.
"Right," Piper said.
"I need a cloaking spell just in case," Chris said. "Is the Book still in the attic?"
"Yeah, last I saw," Paige told him.
"Do you want me to help you?" Piper offered. Chris ran up the stairs without another word. "He hates me."
"Piper, we had this talk," Mia said.
"I know, I know," Piper said. "But can you blame me, with that kind of behavior?"
"Did you call Grandpa Victor?" Mia asked. Paige shot them a look.
"Apparently they're close in the future," Piper shrugged. "And he's probably been needing some kind of male guidance. And yes, he's on his way now."
"Alright," Mia nodded, satisfied. "I'm gonna go help Chris. And maybe get some answers."
When she got to the attic, she saw Chris looking through the Book of Shadows.
"You know, you're terrible at being subtle," Mia told him.
"What are you talking about?" Chris asked, not looking up.
"Piper knows something's up with you," Mia said. She paused. "It's because of the Event, isn't it?"
"I don't want to talk about it, Mia," Chris said. "I have Scabber demons to deal with."
"You're going to have to deal with it eventually," she said softly. "We've changed a lot, Chris. Just keep that in mind."
"Dad, hi," Piper greeted as Victor entered the Manor.
"Wow, look at you!" Victor exclaimed. "You're pregnant! When did this happen?"
"I've been meaning to call you," Piper said sheepishly as they headed into the living room. "It's Leo's, by the way."
"I thought you guys split up?" Victor asked.
"We did… it's complicated," Piper told him. "He was dying, I was crying… like I said, complicated."
"So Leo… he's moved on?" Victor asked tentatively.
"Oh yeah," Piper said. "But I'm happy for him. He wanted to go."
"Leo wanted to die?!" Victor asked.
"Oh, no!" Piper exclaimed with a laugh. "He's not dead. Just… Up There being a full time Elder now."
"So he doesn't know?"
"No, not yet. Did I mention it was complicated? The point is, he isn't really around."
"Was he ever?" Victor muttered.
"Were you?" Piper shot back. Victor was quiet. "Sorry."
"No, I deserve that," Victor said, nodding. "I wasn't around for you girls, and I regret that. But I want to try to make up for it with Wyatt and this little…"
"Oh, it's a boy," Piper smiled. "Chris, actually."
"Chris?" Victor repeated. "Why'd you choose that name?"
"I don't know, and he won't tell me," Piper said. "He's very secretive about the future. He's actually the reason I asked you to come. See, he, um, hates me and he doesn't want to talk to me and I need you to find out why."
"I don't understand your Wiccan ways," Victor said skeptically. "But I'll give it a try." He leaned forward and began talking to Piper's pregnant belly. "Hello, Chris? Chris. Chris! Hello there. Can you hear me?"
"Is someone calling me?" a voice called from the kitchen. Chris entered the living room and his face lit up when he saw Victor. "Grandpa!" He instantly enveloped him in a hug.
"Uh… Chris?" Victor said, hugging the young man back hesitantly.
"Did I mention that Chris came back from the future to prevent Wyatt from turning evil?" Piper smiled sheepishly.
"Chris, did I hear you say… Grandpa Victor!" Mia called out as she came down the stairs and saw Chris with Victor. Chris moved so that Mia could hug Victor as well.
"Oh, and Wyatt's future wife, Chris's best friend, came back from the future too," Piper added. "This is Mia."
Victor sighed, his eyes wide with shock. "Maybe I need to come and visit more often," he muttered to himself.
"C'mon, let me make you a cup of coffee," Mia grinned, as they all headed to the kitchen.
Chris, Victor, and Piper took a seat at the kitchen table while Mia went to make coffee.
"Cream, no sugar, with a dash of nutmeg," Mia smiled as she placed a steaming mug of coffee in front of Victor.
"I take it we're close?" Victor said, blowing on his coffee before taking a sip.
"Yeah," Chris grinned. "You're awesome."
"The best," Mia added. "My grandparents died before I was even born, but you took me in like one of your own once you saw how inseparable I was from Wyatt and Chris."
"Do you hear that?" Victor asked Piper. "I'm awesome."
"Yeah, we got super close after the Event," Chris added.
"What event?" Piper asked.
"I can't tell you," Chris said, avoiding eye contact.
"Is this… event, is it my fault? Is that why you've been treating me as a nonperson?" Piper asked.
"I can't tell you," Chris said. "It will mess with the future."
"Chris," Mia said softly, placing her hand on his. He looked at her with pursed lips. She nodded sadly.
"But you did say I was awesome, right?" Victor asked again, trying to lighten the mood.
"Of course," Chris said. "We love hanging with you."
"I have to admit," Victor started, leaning back in his chair, "I'm a bit surprised. It's no secret that I was far from being a great father to my girls. It means a lot to me that I could make up for it."
"You definitely do," Chris grinned.
"After the event," Piper clarified.
"Right," Chris said.
"That you won't tell me about," Piper said.
"I told you, I can't talk about it, okay?" Chris snapped.
"Hey, don't talk to your mother like that, okay?" Victor scolded.
"Sorry," Chris said sheepishly.
Mia snickered, but Victor shot her a stern look and she quieted instantly.
"You've been here fifteen minutes and you have these two in more control than we have in the past few months," Piper commented in disbelief.
"Because I'm awesome," Victor grinned.
"Piper!" Paige's voice called out. They headed out into the foyer.
"Hi, Daddy," Phoebe said as she greeted Victor with a hug and kiss.
"Hi, sweetie."
"Okay, I hate to cut this reunion short, but I think you've had enough of those for tonight!" Paige said as she guided Phoebe to the stairs. "Now go upstairs until we figure this out."
"Bye, Daddy," Phoebe said in a small voice as she went up the stairs.
"Okay, what is going on?" Mia asked.
"Well, you've heard of recapturing your youth?" Paige asked. "I think Phoebe's youth is trying to capture her."
"What?" Piper asked.
"I don't know," Paige said. "It's like one minute she's fine, and then all of a sudden it's like she's Freaky Phoebe."
"Great," Chris lamented. "Did anyone see?"
"No, thankfully," Paige answered. "She changed back before anyone noticed.
"I'm having a little trouble keeping up here," Victor interrupted. "Phoebe's being chased by… demons?"
"Inner demons, maybe?" Paige shrugged. "It happened after some Paula Marks called her 'freebie.'"
"Oh, yeah," Piper nodded slowly. "That'll do it."
"You wanna go upstairs with me and check the book, see if there's anything?" Paige asked.
"Yeah," Piper nodded.
"You two go ahead," Chris said. "Mia can watch Grandpa. I've got to head back to the Scabbar demons before they know I'm missing."
"What, and leave your awesome grandpa?" Piper exclaimed. "Grab a sandwich, grab a beer, get an answer."
Paige and Piper then went up the stairs to the attic.
Victor pulled out some cigars from his jacket pocket, "Cubans?"
"I'll pass," Mia shook her head. Chris grabbed one hesitantly as they followed Victor to the back patio.
Mia couldn't help but snicker as she watched Chris take a puff of the cigar and erupt into bursts of coughs.
"Sorry, bad idea," Victor apologized.
"No, it's cool," Chris said, trying to be positive. "Just strong."
"I was just trying to help us bond a little," Victor apologized again.
"We don't need help bonding," Chris told him. "We're cool."
"In the future," Victor corrected. "But I haven't been there yet. I'm feeling a little out of sync here. Um, well, are you guys hungry? Do you wanna grab a bite?"
"Sure," Chris said, throwing the cigar on the ground and crushing it with his shoe. "Just let me change." He gestured towards his ratty, Scabbar demon clothing before leaving.
"Grandpa Victor, just try to relax," Mia told the older man. He visibly looked stressed. "We already love you. Even if you don't know it yet."
"You guys built me up to be so amazing," Victor said. "I don't want to disappoint you two. Especially Chris."
"He thinks the sun shines out of your ass," Mia smiled. "Seriously, don't worry about it."
Victor laughed and took another puff of his cigar.
"But, uh, Grandpa Victor," Mia said hesitantly. "If I were you, I'd maybe try to pick up another habit." She gestured towards his cigar. "To avoid future problems, if you know what I mean."
Victor looked horrified as he instantly put out his cigar. "Gee, thanks for the tip!"
"Like I said," she said with a small smile. "We love you."
"So since you seem more helpful and willing to talk about the future than Chris," Victor started. "Do you know why Chris is avoiding Piper?"
Mia pursed her lips and looked away. "I do. But Chris refuses to talk about it. And I can't betray his trust. It's something that he has to come to terms with on his own."
"Then why am I here?" Victor asked.
"Because even though Chris is my best friend, you're his grandpa. You're the guy he looks up to, he trusts and respects," Mia told him. "If you talk to him, or if we double team him… maybe he'll finally face what he's been hiding from."
Victor nodded solemnly. "Alright. Where's his favorite place to eat? Does he like lobster? Steak? Filet mignon?"
"Wow, you are trying way too hard, Grandpa Victor," Mia smiled. "There's a burger joint in town that Chris loves. But seriously, Grandpa Victor, you don't have to do anything for Chris. You guys just… talk."
"Alright," Victor nodded, taking in her advice. "Then… we'll talk."
Chris came bounding down the stairs and slowed when he saw Victor and Mia's serious faces.
"Uh oh," he said. "Why do I feel like I'm in trouble?"
"Mia told me that we don't do anything particularly fancy in the future when we bond," Victor said.
"Yeah," Chris agreed, giving Mia a weird look. "We just… talk."
"Then let's talk, Chris," Victor said.
"Let me guess," Chris said. "Piper asked you to talk to me."
"She just wants to know why she's a horrible mother," Victor said.
"What?!" Chris exclaimed. "She's not a horrible mother! She's great."
"The way you've been acting says different, Chris," Mia said gently.
"Piper says you've been ignoring her and acting like she doesn't exist," Victor added. "Chris, if what we do is talk, then talk to me."
Chris looked torn.
"Because she doesn't exist in our future," Chris finally said. "She dies when I turn fourteen."
Victor's jaw slacked. He turned to Mia, who just nodded sadly.
"That… That's the Event?" Victor asked hollowly. "How?"
"I can't, alright?" Chris said painfully. "I've already said too much. The point is, after we save Wyatt, we have to go back to a future where she doesn't exist. I can't get close to her because I don't want to lose her again."
Mia reached out and squeezed his hand.
"Maybe that's all the more reason to get close to her," Victor said finally. "Make new memories. A second chance to spend time with her."
"And Chris," Mia added. "We've changed so much already just by being here. How do we know that we haven't changed the Event?"
"How do we know that we did?" Chris asked back. "I can't take that risk."
After going out for burgers, Chris, Mia and Victor orbed back to the attic.
"You guys are okay," Piper said.
"Who said I was okay?" Victor said, swaying on his feet a little. Chris and Mia laughed.
"Don't worry, Grandpa Victor," Mia said.
"You'll get used to orbing in the future," Chris smiled.
"I thought something might have happened to you," Piper said worriedly.
"No, we're okay," Chris smiled lightly. "We just… talked."
"Must have been one hell of a talk," Piper muttered to herself.
Suddenly, Scabbar demons appeared, spitting yellow acid at Chris. He orbed out of the way and the acid hit the cabinet, smashing glass and melting it.
"Glass!" Paige yelled, orbing a shard of glass into one of the Scabbar demon's chest, but it just melted into him.
"Grandpa Victor, get out of here!" Mia called out, pushing him out the door.
Piper tried to blow up one of the Scabbar demons, but it didn't work. Mia threw an athame at one of the demons but it merely melted upon contact.
"That was my favorite athame!"
The Scabbar demon spit acid at her, but she deflected it back to him with her telekinesis, causing him to burst into flames. The other demons then shimmered away.
"Sorry about this," Chris apologized. Victor walked back in cautiously.
"It's okay," Piper told him. "Kids are messy."
"They'll be back," Chris said.
"Then we'll handle it," Piper assured him.
"Here, the crystals should protect you," Piper said, placing the final crystal on the windowsill.
"Okay," Chris said. "Well you and Wyatt should go someplace safe. I'll go get him."
"You're not going anywhere mister," Piper said. "You're not leaving this room until the Scabbar demon situation is dealt with."
"I'll go get him," Mia said, leaving the attic.
"What about you?" Chris asked Piper.
"What about me?" Piper asked. "I have to stay here and help Paige summon Phoebe."
"I'm part witch," Chris reminded her. "I can help Paige with that."
"You can't vanquish the demons if they attack again," Piper pointed out.
"I can do what Mia did," he retorted.
Suddenly Victor and Mia with Wyatt came from the doorway.
"Listen to your mother, Chris," Victor warned.
"What if something happens to her?" Chris argued.
"Nothing's going to happen to me," Piper said. She noticed the other three share a glance. "Unless there's something you guys know that I don't."
"Nothing's going to happen to you honey," Victor assured his daughter. "Not now."
"Oh," Piper said softly, things clicking in her head. "So when? Chris? Is this what you've been living with? Knowing that something happens to me?" Chris looked at the ground and said nothing. "Well, does it happen soon?"
"I can't tell you," Chris said. "It could change the future in even worse ways."
"Right," Piper said slowly. "But isn't that why you came back from the future in the first place? To make things better? How do you know you haven't changed my future already?"
"That's what I said," Mia muttered, but Victor gave her a look to shush her.
"Well whatever it is," Piper said, "It obviously can't happen until after you're born. So save it. Got it, kid?"
"Got it, Mom," Chris said. His head shot up as he realized what he said.
"Huh?" Piper asked with an incredulous smile.
"Oh, can you guys just make up and hug already?!" Mia exclaimed.
"Easily excitable, aren't you?" Victor laughed, putting his arm around the young witch's shoulders as they watched Chris and Piper share a hug.
"Whew," Mia said, falling onto the couch exaggeratedly. "What a long day."
"Glad this is finally over with," Chris agreed. "Want a beer? Grandpa?"
"Sure," he said with a smile, bouncing baby Wyatt on his lap.
"It was great seeing you, Grandpa Victor," Mia smiled at him. "Thanks for helping Chris open up. He won't admit it, but he needed to talk to you."
"Anytime," Victor said. "You too, Mia. If you ever need me, you guys know where to reach me. Tell me, does Wyatt grow up to be as handsome as me?" He laughed.
"Of course," Mia laughed. "I'm glad he took a liking to me so quickly, otherwise I would have had to fight off the girls."
"Here you go," Chris arrived with the beers. He took Wyatt from Victor as he handed him the beer.
Chris sat on the ground with Wyatt, handing him one of his toys, as the three adults talked and laughed.
Piper watched from the doorway, her hand on her stomach, a smile on her face. Her smile grew as she felt her baby kick.
Hello loves. The next chapter is taking a bit to write, as I've been pretty busy lately... I graduated college this weekend! I'll try to get back on my writing roll so I don't disappoint!
Not too much exciting stuff here... sorry about that. Hopefully soon I can incorporate more nonscripted stuff.
Disclaimer, this chapter is based off the episode Hyde School Reunion from Charmed season 6. I do not own anything Charmed related, just my imagination.
