Chapter 21

The sisters appeared back in the attic, in front of Mel, who was looking through the Book of Shadows. She jumped back, startled. "What was that?"

"We're out of the astral plane! It's kind of a long story." Phoebe said.

"Mel, why didn't you tell us about Chris?" Piper asked.

"You know? He finally told you?" Mel asked.

"No. We found out when we overheard Polly and Chris talking. What am I going to do? How could I have been so mean to him?"

Mel hugged her mom, "Mom, it's okay. Chris forgave you. He would never hate you, Mom. And I think we should let Dad know also. He and Chris have to sort out some issues. Dad!"

Leo appeared next to her. "Hi." He looked around at the sisters and his daughter. "Did something happen?"

"Leo, there's something you should know about Chris." Piper said.

"What? It's not anything bad, is it? I thought we could trust him."

"Dad, Chris is your son." Mel said.

Leo gave her a weird look. "He's what?"

"He's my brother. Your son."

"He's my son? B-but how? Wh-" Then his eyes widened. "Wait a minute, one time he actually called me dad! And all I said was…'you're not family.' And I had almost stabbed him in Valhalla! I can't believe this! How could I have been like that to my own son? But why did he seem to hate me from the time he came here?"

Mel and the sisters looked nervous and wondered how to tell him the news. But Leo seemed to have guessed the answer. "I wasn't a bad father, was I?"

"Dad, you're a great father….except to Chris."

Leo sighed. "I have to find him and talk to him." He orbed out.

Chris was standing on the Golden Gate Bridge, deep in his thoughts, when Leo orbed onto the bridge. "Um… Hi Chris!"

Chris turned around and greeted him back. Leo sighed with relief. So far, Chris didn't seem to be angry with him.

"So, um I was just wondering how you were." Leo said.

Chris looked at him, surprised. "Why?"

"Well, because I… care about you and wanted to make sure you were all right."

Chris looked at him suspiciously and then said. "Thanks, Leo."

Leo wished that Chris had called him Dad instead. "So, you want to talk about anything? I'll listen to you. I mean, you're family to us, so-"

"Leo, are you up to something?"

"I'm really sorry I treated you horribly and didn't trust you. You came from the future to save Wyatt and all I did was treat you like garbage. And I was against you so many times. I can't believe I did that to own son." Leo blurted out.

Chris looked at Leo with a horrified expression. "How did you know?"

"Piper found out and-"

"And I guess you were hoping for a father-son talk?" Chris asked harshly.

"Look, I heard that I wasn't the best father. And I want to prevent that from happening again."

Chris turned around and acted as if he was ignoring Leo.

Leo asked. "Why don't you tell me what I did to you? What, did I, uh, miss a school play? Did I take away your favorite toy? Did I play favorites with Wyatt and Mel?"

Chris suddenly became savage and started punching Leo. "You were never there for me. You were there for everybody else -- Mom, Wyatt, Mel, half the world -- but you were never there for me. You didn't have the time."

"Chris! No!" Mel had orbed onto the bridge and pulled Chris away. Chris took a deep breath and then orbed off to somewhere else.

Mel looked at her father, who was holding his head in his hands. "But why? Why would I do something like that?"

"Don't worry. Eventually, he might get along with you. I'm going to find him and take him to Mom now." Mel orbed away.

In the manor:

"So where is he?" Prue asked, pacing around. Everyone in the family was in the manor, except for Larry, Mel, Leo, and Chris.

"He's still tracking down the thing that attack-" Andy started to say.

"What? You left him out there all alone? And it's getting dark!"

Andy nervously backed away from her. "I-it was his idea. And he said that he had excellent night-vision and infrared vision and he's also nocturnal at times."

Polly defended her dad, "Don't worry, Mom. I'm sure he'll be here shortly."

Mel suddenly orbed into the room, holding onto Chris.

"Chris!" Piper cried out and hugged him tightly. "I'm so sorry I was mean to you! I shouldn't have said all those things or kicked you out! I'm sorry for being a bad mom!"

"Mom!"

"Yes?" Piper asked, happy to hear Chris call her Mom.

"I can't breathe. You're squeezing me."

"Oh. Um, sorry." Piper loosened her grip, but didn't let go. To her surprise, Chris hugged her back tightly.

"You were always a wonderful mom. I missed you terribly. And I already forgave you. I should have told you the truth from the beginning."

"What about aunties?" Phoebe whispered to Paige. "Don't we also get a hug?"

Chris smiled and gave everyone else a hug also.

"So what do you want to eat? Look at you! You're practically a skeleton! When was the last time you actually ate something?" Piper started babbling and pulled him into the kitchen.

"I don't minding eating anything you make. But I love cooking with you."

Piper looked at him in surprise. "Cooking? Really? Wow! So we cook together? How about we cook a family dinner right now?"

Chris and Piper started to get some recipes. They were both happy that they were already getting along marvelously. This brought back many happy memories for Chris. In the living room, Leo orbed in and looked slightly beaten up.

"What happened to you?" Pam asked.

Leo looked away in shame, "I got what I deserved." Mel put a comforting hand around her father.

CRASH!

Everyone dropped whatever they were doing and went to the living room. They got into defensive positions when they saw a figure leaning against the wall.

The figure smiled. "Hello Prue."

Prue stared in horror and her blood ran cold. "Roger!"

Uh-oh! Roger is in the manor. What will happen next? NOTE: Next chapter is going to be awesome. Well, at least I hope it seems awesome. It has one of my favorite scenes. Please continue sending reviews.