Chapter 14

Moving Forward

Chris orbed to the backyard and walked around the house to the front door. He carefully opened it and shut it behind him. He was quietly walking towards the stairs when the light flicked on. He froze and slowly raised his head to reveal his grandfather looking at him. He breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"What are you doing sneaking in like that?" Victor asked him.

"Is Wyatt here?" Chris asked looking around behind Victor.

Victor replied, "No, he hasn't come home yet."

Chris relaxed and said, "I just went to see Mom. He would kill…" They both paused as they heard the sound of orbs outside of the house. Chris quickly mouthed kitchen and they almost ran into it together. Chris grabbed the tea pot and began to fill it with water. Then he took off his hoodie and stuffed it into a lower cabinet.

Victor understood what was going on and he went to grab a couple of cups and some tea bags. Just then Wyatt strode in the kitchen. He looked a mess and his clothes were torn in places but it was his eyes that were the most concerning. They were cold and dark. His gaze locked on Chris and he said, "Christopher, what are you doing?" The voice was quiet but menacing.

Chris jumped and turned to face his brother saying, "I couldn't sleep so I thought I would get something to drink. Grandpa was still up so I was making us some tea." He paused and tried to sound nonchalant as he asked, "You want some?"

Wyatt stared at him for a few moments before saying, "No. I'm going to bed." He turned to leave but looked back over his shoulder and said, "Don't be up too late."

Both Victor and Chris let out their breath. That had been WAY too close. Chris was sure if he was caught that Wyatt would bind his powers, to say nothing of a physical punishment. Victor crossed the room and pulled his grandson into a hug. They stood there for a moment, not saying anything for fear it would be overheard. Chris whispered, "It's ok. Everything is going to be ok."

The teapot began to whistle and Victor went to pour the hot water into the cups. If they were using this as an excuse, they might as well follow through. So far they were in the clear but Wyatt was smart, they could not underestimate him.

The two sat at the table and placed the cups in front of them. Chris looked back towards the door to check to see if he could see Wyatt. He didn't see him so he sensed for him. Wyatt was in his room. Chris got up and walked to the sink. He poured out the tea and rinsed the cup before setting it down. He gave his grandfather a small smile and said, "I'll see you after school." And he gave him a wink then left the kitchen heading for his own bedroom.

Victor watched him walk away and silently prayed that his grandson would stay safe. He had a feeling that the boy was going back in time again. Victor wanted to stop him but knew if they waited much longer his overprotective brother would do something stupid like bind Chris's powers… Or hurt him… Or both. He shook his head and took a sip of his tea. Who would have thought that these were the worries you would have for your fourteen year old grandson.

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The next morning Chris got ready for school as usual. He double checked to make sure that Wyatt was gone before he exited the house and orbed over to Seth's. "Are you sure you should be doing this?" Seth asked.

Chris replied, "Look, you don't know everything that is going on but trust me when I say that I need to see my mom more now than ever." He paused and considered if he should say anything more. Seth was his best friend; he deserved to know the truth, at least as much as Chris could give him. "Listen, something happened to Wyatt when my Aunts died. He is really losing it. He… He choked me that day we talked because I didn't come straight home." Chris subconsciously rubbed his throat.

Seth's eyes grew round as he saw the subtle bruising still on Chris's neck, "Oh shit! He did that?" Seth walked over to Chris to get a better look.

Chris raised his shirt collar up and said, "It's fine, but now you know. I need her help. Besides, my grandpa knows and he has already told the school that I won't be coming in so no one should be calling Wyatt. I really need to do something before he finds out I am still seeing my mom and binds my powers."

Seth put a reassuring hand on his shoulders. He knew something had been going on but he didn't understand how serious it all was. "Anything you need man, you know I am here for you." Seth told him sincerely.

Chris said, "Thanks, I really appreciate it. Just… Look, if I don't come back here… Stay away from Wyatt. Far away. Trust me, I'll be safe."

Seth gave him a curious look but didn't say anymore. He watched as Chris did the blocking spells and then the spell to take him to see his mother. He shook his head wishing he could do more for his best friend.

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Piper had come up with the perfect letter for Chris and she even honored her promise to him. There would be nothing for him to see in the letter saying that he was her son. She had worded it very carefully because she was sure Chris would read it. She smiled when she saw her youngest child appear in her living room. "Hey there," She said to him when he completely formed.

Chris gave her a small grin and walked over to give her a hug. He held the hug for a second longer than necessary before saying, "I need to leave soon. Wyatt is getting more and more suspicious of me, and seriously, I am afraid of what he will do if catches me seeing you."

Piper sucked in a breath. Were they ready? They did have a time and place Chris needed to be to start this whole thing rolling. Many things were going to be different this time around. "I think we are ready with getting you there. We have the plan to save the innocent. The only thing left is how to stop the Titans before they decimated the Elders." She said to him. Her only hope was that they would listen to Chris. She and Chris discussed how to go about having a meeting with them to let them know of the threat. He would say he was sent from the future by Piper to protect the Elders. "I have a plan for that. I wrote a letter to Leo too."

Chris gave her a look and Piper said, "I know, you don't want him to know he's your father. I promise you won't see one word." She smiled to herself inwardly but outwardly she continued, "I told him to trust you and to help you with the Elders."

Chris withdrew a little and finally asked, "Are you sure they will believe me?" She could feel his insecurity and wanted to kick herself. The Chris she had known was so much more confident. Then she realized, her whitelighter Chris had been eight years older and a lot more hardened by experience.

"Chris, I was just thinking…" She paused, he really didn't need more self-doubt but now she was questioning everything. Chris just looked at her and waited. "It's just that, you're only fourteen. Maybe we should wait until you are older. The other Chris came back when he was more than twenty. Maybe… Maybe we could hide you here for a while?" She could hide him, she knew she could. She also knew that if she did manage to convince him to stay, she would have to hide him. She had to keep Wyatt from corrupting her son.

"You know we already talked about this. You were the one that told me that if I stayed and we tried to hide that Wyatt would find me." Chris stated. He really didn't want to discuss this with her. He knew if she kept pushing he would back down and stay. And he really didn't want to stick around to find out what else Wyatt would do to him that he may not have told anyone else about. Just thinking those thoughts he blushed. There were LOTS of things that could happen to him that he would never mention, the wooden spoon was at the forefront of his mind. Besides he really felt it should be him that went back. There had to be a reason it was always him that went back; like somehow it was cosmically destined to be him.

He looked up at her with his best puppy dog expression and said, "Please, Mom. It has to be now."

Piper gave a small sigh; there was no way she could say no to that look. She briefly wondered if he would always have that power over her. She hoped for her younger self that it wasn't the case. She took in a deep breath and said, "OK, I guess you are right." She didn't want to let him go but they couldn't repeat the mistakes of the past. They already knew the consequences if Chris stayed.

Piper decided to change the subject. She had been thinking of something that might help him but already figured; knowing the other Chris, that he would be hesitant to accept this form of help. She pressed her lips together for a moment before pushing forward, "Listen, I was also thinking you should take the diaries with you."

Chris was frowning and said, "You know I can't show them, there are too many future consequences."

Piper cringed at the words, was the boy born with that saying imprinted on him? She said, "You may need it for reference or there may come a time you will show them. Either way, you will have them."

Chris relented and took the books. He paused and said, "Are you sure I am going to keep my powers when I go to the past?"

Piper smiled and pulled out a piece of paper and a lighter, "I didn't forget. Here, read this spell then light the paper."

Chris gratefully accepted both the paper and lighter before he read:

In this night and in this hour

I call upon the ancient power

Present and past now combine

Allowing me to keep the powers that are mine

Then he lit the paper watching it burn up in a flash. He looked over at his mother and said, "Do you think you could add some powers, like being able to heal would be nice."

She tousled his hair and said, "I wish, kiddo." She looked around the room. "Do you have everything else you need?" She asked him, hoping to delay his departure; suddenly she didn't want him to leave.

Chris looked around at the items he had gathered, "Yeah, I think I have everything." He started to pack up his meager belongings into a box that he was taking with him.

"How about something to eat, do you need something to eat?" Piper persisted.

Chris gave an exasperated sigh, looked up to her and said, "Mom, I'm fine. I need to go soon. We aren't sure if the timing needs to be the same but I want to make sure no one is in the attic."

Piper sighed and said, "Or P3, I know."

Chris finished his packing and looked up to Piper. She handed over the notes that she had written. Chris gave her a look as he took the papers and she raised her hand in defeat saying, "Don't worry, you won't see one word about your parentage, although, I really think it would be a good if you told them." She said. As he continued to stare at her she said, "I'm just saying…"

He smiled at that and said, "I know, but it isn't going to happen." Piper nodded and stood to hide the tears that were starting to build. She reached for him and pulled him up into a hug and said, "Be safe, ok. Let them help you. This time they will trust you. I love you."

And Chris said for the first time, "I love you too, Mom."

Piper held the hug for a moment longer than necessary before letting go.

Chris picked up his box of belongings plus the letters Piper gave him, held it under one arm and put his other hand on Piper's shoulder then orbed them to the backyard. He looked at the manor, noting how quiet everything was and crossed his fingers that Wyatt wasn't home. He knew Grandpa was over at Uncle Henry's house to watch the kids for the evening. That was part of the reason tonight was so perfect. He pointed out the line of sand surrounding the house.

Piper took a piece of paper to read from it as she reached out and parted the line of sand:

With this spell I brush aside

So magic can no longer hide

After that said Chris placed his hand on her shoulder and orbed them into the attic. He set the box down and working as a team they drew the triquetra on the attic wall. Chris said, "Take care of yourself, I don't know what Wyatt will do if he sees you here."

Piper set the chalk down and said, "Don't worry, I can take care of myself. You worry about you." She gave him a watery smile.

He opened the paper that held the spell to take him to the past and said:

Hear these words, Hear the rhyme

Heed the Hope within my mind

Send me back to where I'll find

What I wish in place and time.

With that the triquetra glowed and he picked up the box and walked towards it only turning once to see his mother as he crossed.

Piper watched until he vanished and the glow disappeared before she allowed the tears to fall. She again wondered if she was doing the right thing, sending him alone. Maybe she should have gone with him. Maybe she should contact Leo. Maybe she should just leave before anyone notices that she had been here.

TBC