"Ready set don't go"
Chris was expecting the day of the Inauguration to be vanquishing heavy but he didn't expect one battle after another. It seemed everyone was out to kill them before they had the ritual. Piper was more than pissed she didn't sleep at all she had her sisters stand guard and everyone camp out in the family room.
Chris had never been much of an early riser, but living with his mother he was forced to do a lot of things he didn't enjoy just so she didn't yell. He knew she only wanted the best for him and his brothers.
Chris got off the air mattress he was lying on with a heavy sigh, Wyatt didn't stir. Everyone else was sleeping peacefully on their couch or floor space. Paige was dosing in a chair, he could hear Phoebe singing in the shower, and his mother pacing in the hallway. Chris wondered how the others could sleep.
He passed Jason who was sleeping on one of the sofas snoring loudly along with his father who was sleeping on another. He paused to gaze at Diamond who was sleeping peacefully her dark hair covering her face her arm slung over Paris who was sleeping next to her. He'd give anything to lie where Paris was but Piper had decided the sleeping arrangements and she'd put them on opposite sides of the room.
He made his way into the kitchen one thing he liked about mornings was the way the sunlight filtered through the windows in the house, it was a lot like in the evenings the sun was in the same position but on the opposite side of the sky. He fixed himself a glass of juice and leaned against the island and waited for his mother to come and talk to him just like he knew she would.
"You're up early." His mother said entering the kitchen, "Want to help with breakfast?"
"Sure, are we going to school today?" Chris asked.
"I don't think so sweetie unless you want Mommy to come too. And since when do you want to go to school?" she asked.
"To get away from the freak show this place has become. No offense but all this family togetherness makes me want to barf." Chris said.
"Once the ritual is done it'll stop, it better because I'm having that party one way or another. At least you're getting some practice in. After breakfast Phoebe is going to help you three with meditation. You've got to learn to tap into your power of three you're going to need it." Piper said.
"We've got that down Ma." Chris said taking eggs out of the fridge.
"Demon attack! Incoming!" Phoebe was shouting as she ran down the stairs.
"Man, I hope she's not naked." Piper said running into the foyer, Chris followed suit.
Everyone was awake and on high alert.
Phoebe was blurting out the details from her premonition so fast none of them could understand.
"Okay slow down." Chris was saying, "Chillax, tell us the details and we can be prepared before they come."
Phoebe explained that the demons were going to attack during breakfast right when they were eating. She described the demons, and Paige was on BOS detail.
"Sansou, demons they are native China. They are usually hired guns, it's an easy vanquish, but who are they working for. They are low level they wouldn't dare attack us if they weren't hired by the Source." Paige said.
"I thought we vanquished him already," Chris whined, "Now, we gotta deal with his old ignorant ass again."
"We vanquished him like four times, actually," Phoebe asked.
"See everyone thinks he sucks. I hope this Source will at least be a challenge." Chris smirked.
"Just because you came up with the strategy to defeat the last one doesn't mean you should get cocky. The first Source we faced sent an assassin that took Prue. I pray none of you ever go through what we went through being the Charmed Ones." Piper told Chris.
"Sometimes, you're a lot like her." Phoebe said eying Chris not seeing him but seeing someone else.
Chris frowned, thinking of the aunt he'd never met; he wondered about her, things would be different if she'd lived. He'd wondered what she was like but nobody talked about her just like no one talked about Preston's dad. He sighed, turning to face his aunt.
"Really?" he was more than flattered by the compliment.
"Yes. Headstrong. Prideful, and I'm scared it's going to get you killed." Piper said.
"It won't be today because I have a plan." Chris said with a smirk before he began his plan.
Piper was laughing as soon as he finished, "You are insane aren't you? There is no way I'm letting that happen. You are my baby boy."
"Come on Ma… " Chris tried to urge her on.
"Give him a chance Piper, he has great ideas." Paige said.
"Thanks." Chris said.
An argument and some broken dishes later Chris was finally able to share the details of his plan. Piper was angry, and Chris knew she wasn't pissed because he was taking charge; she was upset because her kids were growing up, and she was scared to death of being stuck in an empty nest with Leo.
"Wyatt, you and Bianca will sit next to each other at the table. Mom, dad start on breakfast. Preston will you fax in the homework and make our excuses to the principal. Paris, Mel, set the table." Chris said taking point.
"What you're suggesting is crazy that we eat breakfast and not even make a vanquishing potion just sit there and wait to get attacked." Piper said, "It's unprecedented. It's ludicrous!"
"Where?" Phoebe was peering out the window into Ice Cube's driveway with the wrong idea, "He's not out there…"
"Phoebe!" Piper admonished.
"When they attack we'll just go with the flow. It will give us a chance to gauge them in battle and it'll be great practice. We have some heavy duty potions just in case Paris, Mel I need you to strap them to the table and make sure you two sit together."
"I'm going to go take a shower," Chris said.
"Take a buddy." Piper said.
Chris smirked, "I pick Diamond."
"Not funny,"
"You didn't say who." Chris said.
"Okay, fine. If we die this morning I won't have to worry about her getting pregnant." Piper said.
"We are not going to die," Chris said,
Chris led a very timid Diamond upstairs, "Its only water,"
"I know." She said.
"And I'm the one who is going to be naked and not you. Unless you really want too." Chris smirked.
Diamond perched up on the sink and picked up the copy of US Weekly that Preston left lying around, "Don't mind me just go on about your business."
"I don't have a problem with nudity, do you?" Chris said sliding his t-shirt over his head.
He could feel Diamond's eyes roaming over his body appreciatively, he smirked before hooking his thumbs in the band of his pajama pants under which he was naked.
"You like…" he said before stepping into the shower.
"You aren't shy aren't you?" Diamond asked.
"Nope, if I could I'd be naked all the time." Chris smirked.
"You little nudist. Don't you know that's distracting?" Diamond said.
"Yeah, I caught you taking a peek at my charms…" Chris said.
"Well, you had it just hanging out…what am I supposed to do it's not like I've seen one before. I don't know what the etiquette on peter gazing is." Diamond said.
"Innocence is brilliance." Chris said.
"I'm not that innocent!" Diamond exclaimed embarrassment coloring her voice.
"I quote Avril and you quote Britney." Chris laughed.
"Huh? Can we just be Chris and Diamond for like ten seconds here? Hurry up." Diamond said.
"Give me five minutes." Chris said.
True to his word he stepped out five minutes later. He wrapped a towel around his waist. Diamond's eyes were focused on the beads of water falling off his body.
"Why do you have to be so darn sexy? You're not allowed to be sexy at a time like this. We all need to be focused and in control." Diamond said.
"I can't help it. If you want to look, just look. I'm all yours." Chris said.
"Chris," She said following him into the bedroom he shared with Preston and Wyatt, who were strangely absent and Chris's bed was looking very inviting, the smell of bacon and sausage frying brought her back to reality.
"You're very clever." She laughed.
"How do you mean?" he said toweling off, "I just wanted to take a shower."
"You wanted me to take notice of you. There is no mistaking you are…" Diamond sighed crossing the space between them, "Beautiful, and I'm honored to be with you. We just can't be physically intimate on this particular occasion."
"I just wanted to know if you were feeling me the way I feel you." He whispered.
She reached out stroking his face, "Please… you should get dressed, we've been gone so long they're probably sure that we've done something."
He leaned into her touch, "If the world stops now, there's nowhere I'd rather be."
"Well, the rest of the world needs you fighting with your brothers." Diamond smiled kissing his lips.
Chris turned to get dressed.
"Thanks for keeping watch for me." Chris smiled.
"No, problem." Diamond said.
"I love getting you flustered." Chris said.
"Believe me, if we live through this afternoon I fully intend to pay you back." Diamond said once he was finished dressing they were taking the stairs two at time.
"That was quick." Piper responded, "I thought it would take ten minutes of sweet talk and two minutes in the bedroom."
"I tried my best, but she wasn't having it." Chris said, "She wants to wait for a less inconvenient time when we're more ready."
"Well, everyone in this house is going on birth control." Piper said, "I'm feeding seven kids, what in the hell am I going to do with an infant? You sure wouldn't know how to take care of a baby."
"We could so!" Chris defended.
"I loves the kids." Wyatt said.
"You look like you eat babies." Bianca chuckled.
"Screw you." Wyatt said.
"You wish." Bianca said.
"Enough! We're going down to the clinic and everyone with ovaries is going on the pill, the shot, and the patch." Piper said.
"Well, I don't see the point in it. It's not like I'm going to crawl into bed with anyone," Bianca said shooting a look at Wyatt, "Anytime soon."
"Ditto!" Diamond said.
"Why isn't anyone eating?" Piper asked.
"Well, you're discussing Wyatt and Chris's potential sex lives and talking about ovaries, who could eat with that imagery." Preston said.
"Eat up and shut up." Piper said, "We've got a lot to do."
Every finally began to eat slowly, just as demons shimmered in.
"Wyatt shield. Now." Chris instructed.
"What in the for?" Wyatt hadn't noticed the demons he was stuffing food into his mouth.
"Oh!" he exclaimed throwing down his fork and putting up his shield around them.
"Do something I can't hold it too long I will exhaust my other powers." Wyatt said.
"Wuss." Chris said, "You won't have to do it much longer. Let go when I tell you."
The demons that looked a lot like a lost tribe from their ancient garb to their face paint and primitive weapons. There weren't enough of them to make a tribe, at least ten. No match for the Halliwells in the room, but Chris had told his mother and the Aunts to stand down.
Chris climbed up on the table.
"Please do not think you can climb on my table since there are demons in the house." Piper said.
Chris ignored pulled Diamond up with him.
"See the two on the right, there should be an axe hidden in the chandelier." He reached up grabbing the handle of it, "Got it, now, do your thing baby."
"Let it go." He commanded Wyatt.
Chris leapt into action with Diamond, he swung on the chandelier while she jumped up vaulting onto one of the demons wrapping her legs around his throat and riding him to the ground.
Bianca and Wyatt were fighting demons along with Preston who looked a bit lost he was using a crossbow that was their spin on the Darklighter edition its arrows were dipped in some extreme tranquillizers.
"We need to get a few of them to find out if they really are working for the Source so keep some of them alive.
Preston launched an arrow with impeccable aim and hit one of the demons it staggered before falling, and then he took aim at a second. By that time Wyatt and Bianca had disposed of their two as had Chris and Diamond.
Piper was clapping.
"You might want to put a few more rounds in them buddy so we can get them up stairs to the crystal cage." Leo told Preston.
Preston shot a few more arrows into the two unconscious demons.
"Great job guys," Leo said, "Nice team work. Preston I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, I was terrified. I could hear Great Grams telling us to trust in the Power of Three." Preston said.
"Well, I've got the crystal cage set up." Paris said, "It sucks that we don't get do any of this demon ass kicking."
"Orb them up to the attic." Chris said knowing his sister wanted to at least transport the demons.
"Really!" She squealed before composing herself.
"Go for it sweetie." Piper told her.
Paris extended her hands to the demons before flicking her wrists upward; the demons were surrounded with orbs and disappeared up through the ceiling.
"Now we just wait for them to wake up, since their demon it'll be about an hour or so." Piper said.
Both Power of Threes were in the attic along with Bianca, Diamond, Leo, and Jason, the girls had gone to Magic School for a martial arts class with Spike.
"They are starting to stir, are you sure the crystals are in place." Piper asked peering over Preston's shoulders.
Chris pressed a button on a remote and both the demons were shocked into consciousness, "These aren't Gram's protection crystals. Preston souped them up."
"It's just a prototype." Preston blushed.
"Who are you working for?" Wyatt demanded.
The demon looked like he didn't understand but after one attempt on getting out the cage and getting shocked twice for good measure.
"Wyatt, I don't think they speak English." Preston said, "Remember, they are from China."
Chris sighed before asking the demons the same question but in Chinese.
Diamond was gazing over at him in awe.
"They can speak many languages due to the Whitelighter package." Bianca whispered.
"Oh…" Diamond said.
"Hot isn't it." Bianca gazed at Wyatt during the whole interrogation.
"Yeah."
"Okay so what did they say? Leo wouldn't translate and Paige went too fast." Piper said.
"You should take up a foreign language;" Phoebe shrugged.
"Shut up, I didn't live in Hong Kong experiencing the culture for six months leaving you alone with a moody Witchlighter and an infant." Piper said.
"They aren't working for the Source; they say they made a pact for freedom years ago with a white haired demon. He spoke of their deepest fears." Preston explained.
"Barbus." Chris said, "We made him human, and put him in the convalescence home and he's still managing to ruin our lives."
"So we've got to go yell at him, maybe threaten to tip his wheelchair over?" Wyatt asked hopefully.
"Sure why not." Chris said. "You stay here, you two are command central, I want status reports on what's going on here."
"Things like what you're wearing, you know the usual. Not that I don't dig the jammies." Wyatt said.
"Speaking of that we need to get dressed, we look like idiots." Preston said.
"Make it quick." Piper said.
"You don't have too much time. We'll take care of these demons in the meantime." Phoebe said.
"Are you going to use the potions on them?" Chris asked of the power stripping mortal making potion.
"Doesn't have that good of a success rate, they kill again as mortals, we can only make them humans and take away their powers we can't give them souls. But it allows Darryl and Big Mike to get someone for the crimes they commit as they usually follow the same M.O." Paige said.
"Barbus was our only success due to the fact that his body wouldn't allow him to commit crimes and people thought he was an old crazy geezer." Piper said.
Wyatt and Preston orbed in a second later, "Ready?" Chris asked.
They nodded before orbing away.
"You'd better change before the Inauguration!" Piper called after them.
"What was wrong with what they were wearing?" Bianca asked.
"Wyatt wasn't even matching and Preston didn't have time to iron, and Chris refuses to button that shirt! Most importantly they weren't wearing what I bought for the Inauguration matching outfits suited to their own personal styles. They were color coordinated and suited perfectly for them. I hired a photographer; they could use those pictures for head shots if they wanted." Piper complained.
"Well maybe they didn't want to ruin the clothes before the party?" Diamond offered.
"No, they didn't have a thought for the wardrobe that I selected for this one day, this one day that was supposed to be perfect and shot to hell. I just wanted four perfect days and I didn't get a single one of them." Piper said stalking off.
"Four perfect days?" Diamond asked. Over My Head (Cable Car)
"Our Wedding, the first one was a disaster." Leo explained, "The day Wyatt was born, we were tricked and Piper was held hostage while in labor, we barely had time to deliver the baby after vanquishing the demons with no magic I might add."
"And when she thought she'd had that perfect day and her other perfect little boy she found out later that night that the future version of him was dead. And of course getting nearly eaten by another primitive demon tribe somewhere in Africa when she was about to have Paris." Paige explained.
"Exactly, she just can't have a normal day on the days she holds most dear. And today was one of them." Leo said.
"I'm gonna go talk to her." Phoebe said, "Please get rid of them."
"Vanquish?" Diamond asked Bianca.
"That's easy, we just turn up the dial on the remote to incinerate." Bianca said grabbing the remote turning the dial watching the demons burst into screaming flames.
At Barbus's convalescence home the Halliwell boys were standing outside of his room, after pretending to be his grandsons at the front desk they were more than ready for answers.
"How come he gets a nice place?" Wyatt asked pushing open the door.
"Some how he qualified for social security benefits." Preston shrugged as they entered.
Barbus was gazing out at the traffic from his balcony, the room was tiny, but the view of the expressway made up for it.
He turned slowly in his wheelchair.
"What in the hell are you doing here?" he demanded of them.
"We ask the questions. First one, why did you send those Sansui demons after us?" Chris asked.
"That pact was made long ago; I needed them by my side to get in good with the Source. That pact was made once the new prophecy was uncovered and you three were the greatest threat to our way." Barbus explained, "Your magic and your methods pose a threat to all evil, your love is everything we hate. You are what I fear."
Chris had never been more terrified looking into the demon's eyes, and seeing that he was what the older demon feared. It almost made Chris sick to his stomach, he was one of the good guys right, evil should be afraid of him but why was he so disturbed by the demon's revelation?
Preston and Wyatt seemed just as affected.
"What prophecy?" Wyatt snapped.
"You don't know?" Barbus chuckled.
"No," they said shaking their heads.
"The scrolls are lost even in the underworld, I don't think finding them will help you any. I'd forgotten this day would come; you'll receive another present from me tonight. I doubt they will harm you, but they will cause you to harm yourselves." Barbus said before laughing maniacally, his yellowed sharp teeth showing.
"Enough!" Wyatt cried loud enough it shook the room, "What other demons are coming after us?"
Barbus was wheeling around away from them, but he was flanked on both sides and in the front by the three boys.
"You can't run." Wyatt hissed grabbing the wheelchair.
"Let me go! Nurse!" Barbus shouted.
"If you don't quit screaming and tell us what is going on we are going to turn your wheelchair over." Preston threatened.
"Hey! We agreed it was my turn to make that threat…" Wyatt said.
"You're too upset, if you don't calm down you could end up moving the plates under the city with your mind." Chris explained.
"What the three of you risk unleashing on this Earth is far worse than a simple case of plate tectonics." Barbus said.
"Tell us." Wyatt growled dangerously pictures rattling on the wall.
"Temper, temper…" Barbus said.
"Just tell us what we want to know." Preston said.
"Are you working for anyone?" Chris demanded.
"I don't work for nobody! I'm on disability you put me in here and then you come barging in here begging for information anytime you damn well please! Accusing me! I'm a senile old man!" Barbus was crying out as Chris gripped the lapels of his faded robe and Wyatt was still gripping the chair seething.
Chris should have known some nurses and orderlies had burst into the room and the old demon was hamming it up for them.
"Pops, we just wanted to know if you were taking your meds…we didn't ask who you were working for." Chris said his voice dripping concern, his eyes glued to Barbus' trying to instill in him the fear of Chris or at least of Wyatt.
"I want them out of here…" Barbus hissed, "I don't want them in here again!"
"Come on, we're going. I'll make sure I bring mom by to see you next time." Chris said brightly as only he could not ignoring the fact that Barbus trembled at his words.
"Boys, you have to leave you're upsetting him." The nurse said.
"It's a shame he hardly recognizes us…" Chris said sadly.
"A real shame." Preston put in pouting a little, "We miss him, don't we Wyatt?"
"Yes, of course…" Wyatt said his expression vacant.
They slipped out of the room and into a corridor and orbed home.
"What did you find out?" Bianca asked.
"He's got another gift for us. We are what he fears. What we could do to the world." Chris said, "I could feel how terrified he was of us, of what we threaten to change. I don't think we have to worry about surviving the day, he's giving us tests. If there is another Source he's probably watching waiting to get in on the games." Chris said flopping down on the couch.
"Where is everyone else?" Wyatt asked.
"We're not good company?" Bianca asked.
"Didn't say that..." Wyatt smirked.
"They are preparing for the ritual up in the attic. And Leo is setting up the back yard for the party." Diamond explained, "Why is the Demon of Fear afraid of you?"
"I don't know." Chris said resting his head in his hands.
"He doesn't like that we threaten to cause change, and the generation after us, our children, will be even more powerful." Preston explained, "We stand a great chance at eradicating evil, and he doesn't want that. He's set up a series of tests to gauge where we are with our magic and he intends to push us to destroying ourselves, I'll give you two guesses that it could be."
"Power Brokers." Wyatt said.
"Yep." Chris said, "The new vanquishing potion has dangerous components. And the ingredients for the old one are pretty much non existent."
"We have to only concentrate on what we need to accomplish otherwise the potion could have disastrous results…yeah, yeah I know…" Wyatt said, "What in our lives haven't had disastrous results?"
"I don't know. But we'd better get started who knows when they'll crash in here." Chris sighed, "But he did say tonight, he might be trying to throw us off, he loves lying to us."
"Piper told us to go get lunch when you guys get back. Jason and Leo took the girls to get some food. They've isolated the attacks to be just meant for the three of you. With us with you, the demons won't be much of a match and the sisters are an orb away." Bianca said.
Chris seemed to be mulling it over, but Wyatt was already on board with the plan.
"I can always hit them with a bolt, and you can blow them up. We probably don't even need the vanquishing potion." Wyatt said.
"What do you think Pres?" Chris asked looking to his cousin.
"I've been practicing my thought projection; maybe Wyatt can magnify it with his powers. I can make them think they are seeing something they aren't." Preston said.
"Okay, but I get to pick the food." Chris said smirking as he got off the couch.
"You tricked us." Bianca said.
"Well, if you don't know me by now…" Chris said shrugging.
After grabbing some lunch at a restaurant Chris frequented that Wyatt didn't hate they came home and changed into those outfits Piper had bought after Diamond explained to the boys how much it meant to the older witch.
Bianca nudged Diamond, "Piper is going to love you for this."
"I hope so I really want her to like me. I love Chris." Diamond said after they'd gotten most everything they could set up for the party and the boys were still getting ready.
"I know, you've got that whole unspoken sentiment thing going on. It's nice actually when I don't want to puke." Bianca said, "You'd better watch out because that Neenah girl has got a thing for Chris. I noticed that yesterday when she trained with us."
"Oh…I'm not worried, I trust Chris." Diamond waved her hand dismissively.
"Yeah, but you can't trust her. We don't know her that well; she could be a boyfriend stealing tramp scamp!" Bianca said.
Diamond laughed, "That's a bit extreme. I'll tell you what I'm sure the boys have some friends at Magic School they could introduce her to and take the heat off Chris. I'm nice but I'm not stupid. I've noticed it too."
"Ta da." Chris said making his way downstairs in his new outfit Wyatt and Preston on his heels, the shirt was an army green with a funky design and the pants were denim.
In Chris' usual style it was tight fitting and so punk, down to the brown high top sneakers he wore. He wore a brown and gold trucker hat sideways on his head.
Wyatt's clothes were pretty much the same except they were baggier, and he wore khaki cargos instead of denim jeans. Wyatt's neck was decorated in a huge chain with even bigger Triquetra on it.
Preston came down last he was dressed preppy in khaki shorts and the same t-shirt but his was a fitted polo he wore the same sneakers as the rest of them. His trademark Chanel sunglasses on his eyes.
"You look adorable." Bianca gushed, making her way toward the boys.
"I know–"Wyatt started before Bianca made her way over to Preston.
"Thanks, I can't believe she picked something we all liked." Preston said shyly.
Diamond was speechless staring at Chris; he looked like her very own punk rock dream.
"I know I look hot." Chris said.
Diamond launched herself at him.
"You are so cute." She cooed hugging him tightly.
"What am I chopped liver?" Wyatt asked.
"You look nice." Bianca admitted grudgingly her eyes traveling appreciatively over the elder Halliwell's form.
Wyatt smirked, "I see you checking me out."
"In your dreams now we've got to go get dressed." Bianca said.
"Hurry up the ritual is to start in an hour, the moon is up already." Preston said, "I think everyone else is ready."
"Okay lets go, I take the upstairs bathroom you take the downstairs?" Diamond asked.
"Cool." Bianca said as they got up to get ready.
Less than half an hour the girls came down and joined the boys in the living room, Wyatt was forcing Chris to sit through another viewing of Sweet Home Alabama.
"Wyatt this sucks…" Chris muttered getting off of the couch and starting toward the stairs and inevitably running into Diamond.
He took a moment to take in her appearance. She was wearing a pair of olive green linen shorts and a golden off the shoulder blouse with gladiator sandals. Her long hair was cascading down her back.
"You look…you look…" Chris was at a total loss, he had nothing to compare her beauty to, and he blamed the movie for turning his brain to mush.
"Does it look bad?" she asked worried.
"No, you look amazing. Come here." Chris pulled her close, "You smell really, really nice."
"Mmm…" Diamond moaned as his hands roamed up her sides sliding her shirt up a little and exposing her smooth sides his hands groping soft skin.
"I'm trying everything to keep my hands off you…" Chris whispered brushing his lips against her neck.
"Me too." Diamond whispered tucking her arms around his neck, "But everything is ready for the ritual, you'd better head up. Leo is gone to get everyone for the ceremony."
"Even Great Grams?" Chris asked.
"Yes," Diamond smirked; Chris knew she was looking forward to meeting the long dead matriarch of their family, the woman who had raised Piper and Phoebe.
"Yeah, and your new Whitelighters will come down for it as well, I believe your grandmother will be officiating." Diamond said.
"I'm just glad we won't get dad, he's old and slow." Wyatt said moving past them and heading up the stairs.
"Me too." Preston said following, "Quit groping each other."
"He's not that bad, I heard he used to follow like…rules and stuff." Chris said.
"Yeah right…when?" Wyatt asked.
"In the early part of the new millennium I guess…" Chris shrugged letting go of Diamond and leading her upstairs, just as Bianca was coming out of the bathroom decked out in a pair of denim Capri pants and a white tube top with simple sandals.
"I'm running just a tad late." Bianca said.
"It's okay; they've just finished up there anyhow." Diamond said.
They made their way up to the attic just a few steps behind Bianca, finding the whole family was gathered there including the boys' great grandmother Penny who was in corporeal form for the evening, and their grandmother Patty who was in ghostly form. Grandpa Victor, Leo, Jason, Paris, Melinda, Piper, Paige and Phoebe were gathered around the Book, they were all beaming proudly, and white candles were lit all around the room.
Leo cleared his throat and looked at Wyatt and Preston who were standing on the opposite side of the altar in front of their mothers and aunts. Chris went and took his place with them and Diamond went to stand by Bianca and Paris.
"Your new Whitelighters will be here in just a second." Leo said, "I just finished checking with the Elders, when I went up to get Penny."
"You ready boys?" Patty smiled, "You're about to embark on a new destiny."
They nodded.
"Christopher, dear, don't slouch." Penny chastised, and Chris straightened, "You're too much like your grandfather, that's why Victor has a hunch now."
"Hey…" Victor said indignantly a blush staining his cheeks.
"Anytime now!" Leo called up to the ceiling unwilling to bear another evening of bickering from the two, they fought when ever there was something important going on.
Orbs descended in the room and slowly formed into the bodies of two people one male and one female, a collective gasp came from the older family members, only the younger ones and the grandmothers weren't so affected by their presence.
"Prue…" Phoebe stuttered walking around the altar.
Paige wandered away from the altar, her attention on her sister not noticing the dark haired man watching her with concerned blue eyes, her son did however.
"You…you're the stalker." Preston shouted, "You've been following us all this time, me especially, why didn't you just tell us?" he demanded of the man.
He turned to Preston with calm eyes, but before he could speak Prue beat him to it.
"It's not following protocol; just being seen is disobeying the rules. You should have been more careful Kyle. I know you've read the Whitelighter Handbook." Prue scolded.
"Kyle…Brody?" Preston asked.
Paige turned her attention to him, looking teary eyed, "What on earth?"
"Why would the Elders do this…" she wondered.
"Is he my…father?" Preston asked.
"Yes, honey, he is." Paige went over to put her arm around her son.
"I can't deal with this now." Preston said, before turning his attention back to his father, "Almost fifteen years without a word, without seeing you. I had no idea you were even a Whitelighter! All this time not even seeing a picture, not even knowing how it happened. I had to go own with Chris' haphazard explanation of how you died because mom was too devastated to talk about it. Those Elders must love to see the drama that goes on here it must be Emmy worthy."
"Well, I'll have you know I didn't need you when I was a little kid I don't need you now. I've got two really great dads and an awesome grandfather." Preston stomped out of the room.
"He's pissed." Prue observed.
"Ya think?" Piper asked, "We should have told him something at least talked to him about his father."
"I know and it's all my fault," Paige was all out crying now.
"It's okay, you all did the best you could. This whole situation is opening up old wounds for me as well." Kyle admitted.
"Someone go talk to him. We've got to get on with the ceremony." Patty said.
"We'll go." Chris offered grabbing Wyatt by his elbow.
"That's a wonderful idea." Penny smiled, "Try to hurry children. Let's not let this…setback get in the way."
"They are good at sorting things out themselves; they've kind of developed a sixth sense about each others feelings." Phoebe explained.
"It's the Power of Three," Prue said reverently.
"And just where in the hell have you been?" Piper asked her.
"When did you get so damn bossy? I've been earning my wings." Prue said as Piper made her way around the altar.
"Well, it took you long enough you've been gone for twenty years. Things changed." Piper said.
"I'll bet, now come give me a hug all three of you, and Paige, you look so much like mom and grams." Prue said.
Piper smiled and the Charmed Ones went to hug their sister, all that were watching couldn't help but be affected by the scene.
"I've always wanted to meet you, I've spent years trying to live up to the witch you were, I was beating myself up for not being good enough. You were always an inspiration to all of us." Paige said.
Prue smiled, "You were an inspiration to me, you brought our sisters back, you saved them. Helped them forge a new destiny, and delivered a new set of Halliwells into the family. How wonderful boys carrying on the Power of Three. And Witchlighters!"
Preston, Wyatt, and Chris came back, Preston was red eyed and looked like he would burst into tears at any moment.
"Are you okay?" Paige asked her son.
"Just peachy," Preston grumbled.
"Let's just get on with this, we'll discuss this after the ceremony." Patty said.
Both Power of Threes took their places around the altar, and the two Whitelighters that had caused such a disturbance, placed themselves on opposite sides, Kyle with the sisters, and Prue behind the boys.
"Alright now boys, here's the spell, you should join hands and recite it together." Patty instructed.
"One, two three…" Chris counted out loud.
"Hear now the words
Of the witches,
The secrets we hid
In the night.
The oldest of Gods
Are invoked here
The great work of
Magic is sought.
In this night and
In this hour
I call upon the
Ancient Power.
Bring your powers
To we brothers three!
We want the power!
Give us the power." Preston, Chris, and Wyatt recited together.
An enchanted blue light came down from the ceiling and shined on the boys, everyone watched the miraculous event, not long after the boys took time blowing out the candles and then the family rushed to hug them, Prue and Kyle hung back.
Paige hugged Preston tightly, "I know you're angry with me but…"
"I'm not mad at you, but someone should have told me, Chris and Wyatt tried. But they were both too young to remember. I know it was hard for you…but you should have told me." Preston whispered.
"I know, I knew he was a Whitelighter I just didn't think the Elders were so cruel as to make him yours." Paige said.
"I don't think they were being cruel, they thought that it would be a way to earn back some trust by allowing the family to have contact with two people they hadn't previously had contact with." Leo cut in.
"Did you know about this?" Piper said, "If you did and didn't tell us so help me I will blow you to pieces."
"I didn't know Kyle would be here but I knew Prue was coming, I thought that would be a nice surprise." Leo said.
"That's the only good part." Piper said, "We've missed her."
"She's right over there why don't you talk to her? I'm going to go check on the downstairs, the Morris's should be here soon, and we've got a celebration to enjoy."
"I just hope that no demons come crashing in after the boys talk with Barbus, I have a bad feeling, they say Power Brokers are coming. We've got the potions ready for them." Piper said.
"I hope not. It would be stupid doing so would be suicide." Leo said making his way downstairs.
Preston was making his rounds, hugging his grandma Patty after having a talk with Great Grams.
"You boys are getting so big, second generation Charmed Ones!" Patty declared finally letting Preston go.
Preston turned looking for Chris and Wyatt but instead found Kyle standing behind him.
"I was thinking maybe we could talk." Kyle said, Preston was amazed at how much they looked alike.
"I'm busy," Preston said setting his jaw.
"You are so like your mother." Kyle smiled.
Preston started to get angry, "You have no right talk about her. You have no idea what things were like around here, you can't just barge in trying to be my Whitelighter acting like everything is alright."
"You don't understand after I got my wings I wasn't allowed contact with you or your mother. I wasn't even supposed to let you see me but these last few weeks I've allowed it so maybe you'd start asking questions maybe put two and two together and find out who I was. If you'd give me a chance I could explain. I really want you to understand." Kyle tried to explain.
"I want you to understand as well." Paige said walking up on the conversation.
"You both are a day late and a dollar short when it comes to understanding with me." Preston said before he huffed off.
"Give it time Paige." Kyle said.
"I've done nothing but give it time, it hasn't changed a thing." She said, "Not even the way I feel. I have a wonderful life you know, but it's just not…"
"I know…I do very fulfilling work and at the end of the day just go up there and I look down on you both and wonder how you're doing. You seem happy, you have a new…life." Kyle said.
"With Spike?" she asked.
"Yes…the vampire you've been seeing." Kyle said, "You seem to care a lot about him."
"I do…" Paige said not daring to look at him.
Prue was over with Phoebe and Piper. After being introduced to the younger Halliwells and Jason and visiting with their mother and grandmother they turned their attention their youngest sister, and were watching her interact with the father of her child.
"She still loves him." Phoebe whispered clutching her heart.
"He still cares about her too." Prue said, "He told me so."
"Poor Preston though, his getting the worst end of this. We never should have kept this from him. I've wanted to tell him for years now, but I knew it would be hard talking about it for Paige." Piper said.
"It's bound to surface sooner or later," Phoebe said, "I hope he's ready to talk about it with them."
"Anyhow, lets get downstairs, the grub is downstairs waiting and so is the photographer." Piper said.
"Photographer?" Prue asked, "All for the Inauguration?"
"Yes, I wanted to throw a grand party for the boys. How are your bosses about parties? We'd love for you to stay and catch up." Piper offered.
"Oh…you couldn't keep me away like I'd need an invitation. There are some people I'd like you to meet. My husband and my daughter. I'll go get them." Prue said.
"It would be lovely to get all the kids together." Phoebe said, "How old is your daughter?"
"Twelve." Prue answered with a smile.
"Did you marry another Whitelighter?" Piper asked.
"No, he's a mortal, you've meet him before." Prue smiled.
"Bane?" Phoebe asked.
"How'd you guess…" Prue said.
"Deductive reasoning, you don't work at a newspaper for as long as I have and not pick up a few things." Phoebe smiled.
"And you don't live this long as a Halliwell without being learning to be nosy." Piper said.
"As a Halliwell you're born nosy."
Chris and Wyatt found Preston picking at the tray of finger sandwiches on the island. Bianca and Diamond made their way downstairs.
"Pres, are you okay?" Chris asked.
"I'm great…" Preston said forcing a smile.
"It's okay to not be okay. We're all here for you." Wyatt said.
"Yes, all of us." Diamond said grabbing a grape from the fruit tray.
Bianca hopped up on the counter with a cup of juice.
"This must be a lot to take in." Bianca said.
"It is…it's just so unexpected." Preston said.
"Well part of being Charmed is to expect the unexpected. You never know what will come crashing through that door." Wyatt said as Power Brokers shimmered just after he'd let that come out of his mouth.
"Oh snap." Bianca hopped off the counter.
Wyatt Chris and Preston began hurling the potions they'd made at the demons. The party guests out the back being entertained, by Jason and Leo didn't notice the upset.
"That wasn't a challenge, it makes me almost want to go up and talk to Kyle. Maybe that will be easy too." Preston said.
"No, dad? Or even father?" Chris asked.
"Leo has been more of father to me than anyone else. I think I should try being friends with Kyle before getting into the family situation." Preston sighed.
A breeze ripped through the room blowing directly on them, first it was subtle then picking up force the wind was hitting them in the face, Diamond's hair was blowing everywhere. They all felt like they were being tugged backwards by the force of the wind.
"I know that wind…" Chris said, "It feels like a time portal."
"What the...?" Wyatt said before he was immediately sucked in followed by Preston, then finally Chris himself.
"We've got to go after them." Diamond said grabbing one of the all purpose potions from the counter and hooking her arm through Bianca's they jumped through seconds before the portal closed.
Phoebe and Piper chose the moment that the portal was closing and the girls had jumped inside to enter the kitchen.
"What the hell?" Piper questioned.
Leo came in at the sound of her raised voice, "What's up? Is there a spill? I can get that with the shop vac."
"No, time portal and the kids just went through it. Leo they aren't ready for this." Piper said.
"Calm down, we'll find where they went. Time portals leave a residue; we'll be able to track them. It won't be hard." Leo said.
"I will not calm down, my babies are off in some other time, confused as hell and fucking up." Piper said.
"Is it that they aren't ready or you aren't ready to let them go?" Phoebe asked.
"It's not me it's them. Trust me." Piper said, "They are in trouble who knows what's waiting for them on the other side of the portal."
"I said it wouldn't be hard to find them, I'm going to have to go through Preston's research and brush up on quantum physics." Leo said.
"Well, Leo while you're doing that…I'm going to go find some plutonium and superman and fire up the spaceship." Piper said, "What you're talking about is impossible, you can't even balance the checkbook."
"Correction Piper, I won't balance it there is a difference I'm done being your lackey! Go find this Leo! Do this Leo! Fold the laundry! Mow the lawn! You are constantly making demands on me! Fine if you don't think I can do this you do it yourself, I'm going out!" Leo shouted before orbing away.
"You get your old stinking behind back here right now Leo!" Piper shouted up at the ceiling.
"Now look what you've gone and done, you've lost us the only one of us that could have possibly halfway understood Preston's research. You know how bad I was at math. And let's face it Piper it's been a long time since you took even high school physics much less the stuff Preston was working on." Phoebe said,
"How dare you take his side? He just left me Phoebe! You could at least be considerate, I hate that old trifling elder, and when I hate somebody, as my sister you gotta hate them too." Piper said.
"He leaves you twice a week nowadays, you need to deal with whatever issues you're having about the boys growing up and not take it out on the rest of us, I'm going to talk to Paige and Kyle maybe they can make heads or tails of what's going on, when Prue gets back fill her in please." Phoebe said.
"You're going to bail on me too?" Piper said actually feeling guilty about how she'd acted, "First the kids dive in a portal to get away from me, then Leo leaves now you're going off to do quantum physics with Paige and her baby's daddy."
Piper sobbed and sat down on the floor, Phoebe was torn with wanting to comfort her and running away before the next mood swing hit, she chose for the latter.
Falling out of the portal Diamond and Bianca both landed on Wyatt.
"Damn this is a dream come true, two honeys on my lap." Wyatt chuckled.
Preston helped them up, "We're still in the house, at least we didn't land in the middle of traffic downtown somewhere. Things look different I wonder when we are."
"Yeah check it out. We got rid of this stuff years ago. Wyatt broke the flat screen in the kitchen and this ain't even no flat screen it's got a fat back. And look at that raggedy toaster oven." Chris said pointing at the little white television on the counter, and then the toaster oven, before taking notice of coffee brewing in the pot.
"We don't brew coffee like that. We always use the espresso machine." Chris said.
"When the hell are we?" Wyatt wanted to know.
The sounds of footsteps were unmistakable.
"I don't know but someone's coming should we duck out or try talking to them?" Preston asked.
"We could change the future by talking to them." Chris said.
"Maybe they could help send us home." Preston said.
"If they don't vanquish us first." Bianca muttered.
"I'm going to grab a cup of coffee and then I'm heading to the office early." Came Prue's voice.
"Alright…could you give me a lift, if you don't mind? I've got a job interview at nine just across from Bucklands." Phoebe called from the downstairs bathroom.
"Okay, I don't mind." Prue said entering the kitchen and seeing them.
She looked at them, "Piper! Phoebe! Demons!"
"We're not demons…well…not all of us. We're…friends from the future." Chris began.
"You really expect me to believe that." Prue said glaring at them as Piper and Phoebe ran and flanked her each side.
Piper tried freezing them, "They don't freeze."
"Good witches don't freeze." Preston said, "Believe us now…"
"Not really, but you've got five minutes." Prue said turning and leading them into the living room.