CHAPTER 28
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?
The house was full of streamers, balloons, graffiti and relatives, most of whom the birthday girl had never even met before. Her father told her they were aunts and uncles and cousins visiting from Chicago and New Mexico. At the time, Casey only cared for the one named Guillermo because when he'd showed up to their house, he'd given her a small yarn doll he'd bought at a market near the Mexican border. It had long black hair with a pink ribbon and a bright, multi- colored traditional dress. She immediately named the doll Dara and kept it near her at all times.She still had it to this day.
Guillermo was the youngest of her father's fourteen siblings. He was a construction worker who traveled wherever the job took him. It just generally ended up being somewhere in New Mexico. After saving up for several years, the baby of the family had decided to come visit his big brother, and see the niece he'd never laid eyes on.
"Oye," he'd whispered to her in a conspiratorial tone. "Who's the boy there?"
Casey giggled as she spotted ten year old Wyatt Halliwell trying to get away from her eleven year old cousin, Linda, who had decided to follow the young blonde boy like a second shadow, making eyes at him and trying to convince him to play with her. "That's just Wyatt. He's my friend. He's silly."
"You think he's cute, eh?"
She shook her head. "No. He's Wyatt."
Guillermo pulled his niece onto his lap, smiling down at her with the same smile her father had– tiny teeth almost brilliant in their level of whiteness and a manner capable of putting anyone at ease. "You like el otro? Quien es?"
Casey spotted Chris coming to Wyatt's rescue, pulling his older brother over to the table harboring the cake. "The other one is Chris. He's my best friend in the whole world." With all the sincerity an eight year old can muster, " I'm going marry him someday."
The large man laughed heartily, patting the little girl affectionately on the arm. "Already a little woman. Don't you know love cannot be planned? It must be una sorpesa, Princesa. Or else, what is the fun in it, no?"
Casey didn't know why she was thinking about her uncle when she woke up. Perhaps, it was because after all this time, she'd never grown up from the little girl who'd sat on his lap and dreamed of marrying her best friend. While she'd grown taller and in many ways more intelligent, she hadn't given up her naivety in the concepts surrounding love. She had believed in love at first sight, in soul consuming passion and love never dying.
She didn't believe in any of those things anymore.
As she sat in Wyatt's bed, the comforter pulled up to her chin the morning after the biggest mistake in her long list of mistakes, Casey realized just how skewed her vision of life had been. In all her memories of her childhood, she'd never seen the truth. Her gaze was always so fixated on Chris, who– looking back on events with a new perspective– was a good friend but not always the healthiest for her to be around, she never noticed Wyatt, always present and focused completely on her best interests. With Chris she had experienced passion. With Wyatt she realized she'd learned love.
"Hey, you're awake."
The young woman could have sobbed for her own stupidity as she saw the Twice Blessed himself carrying in a tray with a visible glass of orange juice, and what she surmised was breakfast. Instead of tears, she found an irremovable smile reaching to her lips from her heart and shining through her deep brown eyes back at the young man before her.
Wyatt set the tray down on her lap before clambering back into bed next to her. "So, firstly, Mom called in the school for you and Chris today since she knows yesterday was so hard on all of us. Secondly, my class got cancelled, so I'll be hanging out here too. Lastly, I'm sorry the breakfast isn't better, but I didn't think you'd want food poisoning."
The other witch couldn't have wished for anything better when she saw the bowl of oatmeal and the semi-burned toast with a smiley face made of grape jelly. She raised her eyes. "You really are an angel."
"Half of one anyway," he replied with a grin. "I'm really just trying to seduce you, and I figured I had to strike while the iron is hot."
She quirked a brow, not quite understanding.
"You don't remember what you said, do you?" he asked, his face falling.
"Oh," she blushed, turning her eyes away. "Actually, I do."
"I was just kidding about this being a tool to seduce you, you know. I mean, you�were really upset, so of course, I'm not going to hold you to what you said. I probably shouldn't have even brought it up."
Casey's eyes shot back to his. "I meant it."
Wyatt's face went blank.
"You don't believe me..."
No change.
"I know this seems out of left field. It kind of isn't though. You have always been my safe haven. I just didn't realize why until last night. Not that I'm making this decision because I'm upset. I'm not upset right now. I'm thinking more clearly than I ever have before, actually. I think you and I could actually be the real deal. It scares me. I'm going to be really honest. It scares the hell out of me because you are the one I always run to, and if something goes wrong, I don't know what I'd do because whose shoulder do you cry on when the shoulder you normally cry on is the one making you cry? I'm babbling, aren't I? I'm going to shut up now."
The future King Arthur opened his mouth, an almost unnoticeable smile pulling at his mouth. "Could you go back to the part where you said you meant it when you told me it should have been me all along?"
Casey rolled her eyes even as she softly laughed. "I, Casey Alvarez, am telling you, Wyatt Halliwell, I have been blindly stupid, and if you'll still have me, I want to be with you. On one condition."
"Condition?"
"Don't worry, it's not so bad. It's just, I need to take things really slow. I get that we've already slept together, but it was a mistake then. I want the next time to be right, when we're both ready."
Wyatt grinned, putting a hand on her cheek. "Case, I'm just happy you think there will be a next time. I don't care how long I have to wait. Just thinking someday. . .all I need."
"Okay, here's the hard part. I have to tell you something, and you're not going to like it."
"It's okay. I know."
"You know? What do you mean you know? What do you think you know?"
The all powerful witch's voice was unnaturally soft as he answered, "You and Chris had sex last night. That's what you were going to tell me?"
His companion's mouth fell open, as she tried to find the words to explain, but in the end, everything sounded so contrite in her mind. Gathering her courage up, she finally just nodded, biting her lower lip. When he didn't say anything, she looked up to find him calmly staring at her. His eyes, clear from judgement, was what finally brought tears welling to her eyes again. "It was a mistake. I tried to stop it, but he was so...I couldn't. It was all wrong, though. It's when I realized you're the one I want to be with. You're the best thing that could happen to me. You've got to believe me, Wyatt. I'm not saying this because I'm broken hearted. I'm saying it because I finally see the truth. Say something."
"It hurts like hell."
"I'm sorry. You have no idea how much I wish I could take it back."
"You had to figure it out for yourself. I always knew you and Chris were a volatile combo. I was actually scared for the day everything would blow up. I think that day was last night. He broke you. Part of you is changed now. I can see it in your eyes."
"I'm changed. You're right. It's because I'm different that I understand us. I thought if there wasn't burning passion there couldn't be love, but it's not true. You and me. . .I think we could have the kind of love your parents have. . .if I haven't already blown it."
Wyatt let out a breath. "You don't seem to understand. . ."
Casey held her breath, waiting for the blow to her heart to come.
". . .my feelings for you won't change. I've said it a hundred times before: good, bad, ugly. This just happens to be really ugly. But, in all fairness, we weren't together last night. I don't have a right to be all that upset. It's not like I was your boyfriend then. See, you sleep with Chris today, I'll have to kill him and then orb you onto the ledge of a volcano."
Laughing softly, Casey was actually able to smile. "I think that sounds more than reasonable."
"I also think we need to take things snail slow. I want to make sure you're one-hundred percent in this for the right reasons. I want you to be with me for me. Not to get over Chris."
"I understand, but I want you to know, after last night, I am over him. Something happened he can't take back, and I– "
Her statement was cut off when a loud thud resounded through the thin walls of the manor.
Without even so much as a word, the two were on their feet and heading out of the bedroom to see if a demon had attacked. They didn't get far before they realized a demon had not in fact been the cause of the crash. The pair realized this as they heard a stream of swearing pouring from Chris' bedroom, and he stumbled out into the hall with a sheet still tangled around his ankle.
Wyatt raised his brows. "Hey, Little Brother, bad morning?"
Chris winced. "Dude, why are you yelling?"
It was then the brunet witchlighter closed his eyes, gripping onto the wall, obviously struggling to keep down whatever happened to be in his stomach. After a moment, the battle was lost, and he disappeared in a flurry of orbs.
"Good thing Mom called in. . ."
"No kidding."
"Should we check on him?"
"I'm not the best person to ask right now."
The Twice Blessed heard the hacking coming from the bathroom. He put his arm around Casey and turned her back toward his bedroom. "You know what? I find myself not caring this time. Let him puke his guts out. Serves him right."
Twenty minutes later, as Wyatt and Casey were lying on the former's bed, sharing the last piece of smiley face covered toast, Chris stumbled into the doorway of his big brother's room. When he saw the cozy nature of the other two he frowned, not sure what to make of it.
"Feel better?" the older brother asked, a large, rather pleased smile on his face.
Chris groaned. "Save the lecture, Wy. So not needed."
"Debatable."
"Please? Can we at least save it till I don't feel like I'm dying?"
"Fine, but be forewarned it will be coming."
"Deal. Case, can I talk to you for a minute?"
She shot a look to Wyatt, clearly not wanting to go with the younger witchlighter. Her new boyfriend gave her hand a squeeze in encouragement. He kissed her cheek, taking the opportunity to whisper in her ear, "You have to face him sometime."
Chris spotted the kiss and felt his brow furrow even further.
Taking a deep breath, Casey swung her legs to the edge of the bed, lightly hopping down and following the other teenager out of the room.
The young man went straight into his own, and after his friend had entered, closed the door behind her. When he turned to look at her, it was obvious she would rather be anywhere else in the world. She wouldn't look at him. It stung.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"What was with you and Wyatt back there? You two were almost acting like some sort of– "
"– Couple. We are."
Chris' mouth fell open, his eyebrows rising. "You...you what? Since when?"
"This morning."
"This morning?"
"Yeah. Is that all you wanted?"
"Since when have you ever had a thing for Wyatt? I mean, he's Wyatt. Not to mention my brother which is just a little awkward."
Casey shook her head, her jaw setting.
Chris noticed her anger on the climb. "Hey, you know what? If you two can be happy together, that's great. I know no one could take better care of you and vice versa. Could be a really awesome thing. As weird as it'll be at first, I'll get over it– promise."
"You didn't pull me in here to talk about me and Wyatt. So why did you?"
The young man ran a hand through his hair, trying to figure out how to word his problem. "Last night. . .I had a lot to drink. Way more than I ever have before, which is probably why my head feels like it's splitting, everything is spinning and I feel like vomiting some more. The thing is, when I woke up this morning, everything about last night was sort of. . .a blur."
"A blur?"
"I know, I know, you warned me not to drink so much. I just didn't realize how much I'd had. Now, I don't really remember much about last night."
"You don't remember? How is that possible?"
Chris shrugged. "I don't know. It's like after a certain point, it's all gone. I remember you coming, and I remember us having some drinks and talking and laughing. But, the rest. . .it's like a big hole. Only, I have a feeling something important happened. Something I am starting to feel really pissed you off. You clearly remember. Right?"
"Yeah."
"So?"
"So what?"
"So could you please fill in the giant blank spot for me? I don't like having a chunk of time missing. Especially not when it seems I did or said something really stupid."
Casey wanted to tell him. She wanted to let him know just what he'd done and said, and how she wasn't any where near ready to forgive him for it. However, as she opened her mouth ready to fill in the massive blank in his memory, orb lights coalesced next to Chris, and all her words disappeared from her mind at the sight of who it was to arrive.
Molly, bathed in a heavenly glow, ran to Chris, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying herself in his embrace. "Chris. I wanted to see you again so much, but they wouldn't let me until now. It was only a week, but it felt like forever just because I knew I couldn't see you. Couldn't talk to you."
Chris' hangover was immediately pushed to the furthest corner of his mind as he felt the woman he loved in his arms again. "I was scared it was forever."
"Me too."
"Are you really back now? To stay?"
"Prue said the elders gave the word. She and Andy will be coming back too now. We all get to stay. You must have done something to change things."
Casey flashed to the night before. She and Chris up on the bar top having sex. Done something to change things. .
The pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Chris had told her what the Elders said to him about his having another destiny for a little while. Yes, all of twenty minutes or so he was needed to fulfill a new destiny. Twenty minutes would result in a consequence lasting for the rest of their lives. Because Phoebe's premonition had not been fulfilled by Wyatt.
"Oh my God."
"Casey," Molly greeted. "You're okay. Thank goodness. I was so worried about you and the baby."
"There isn't one," Chris explained. "Turns out she wasn't pregnant."
"Oh. Well, I'm still glad you're okay then."
Casey let out a short laugh. "Okay? Right. That's me. I'm just super."
Molly shot a confused look to her boyfriend, who subtly shrugged.
"I'm going to go," the time stopping witch announced. "I'm very glad you're back, Molly. You belong here. With Chris. I'll just not be here, and you two can talk and, ah, stuff. You know. Whatever you two crazy kids want to do."
As Casey hurried from the room, Chris shot a worried look after her. Babbling was never a good sign from that woman.
"Is she okay?"
"I don't know," Chris answered honestly. He turned his attentions back to the whitelighter. He slipped his hand to the side of her face, lightly brushing his thumb over her cheek. "I'll fix it later. Right now, I just want to spend every second with you."
The young woman smiled up at him with complete adoration. "I know exactly what you mean."
000
"Shit, shit, shit."
Wyatt looked up from his laptop as his girlfriend came charging into the room. "Went that well, huh?"
"Molly's back."
"What?"
"She's back. In his room. Right now. The Elders sent her back. Because," Casey started pacing back and forth in front of the Twice Blessed, who was following her every movement like she was a tennis ball. "Because she doesn't need to be gone anymore. No reason for her to stay away. Damage has already been done. Enough damage to bring down absolutely everyone, which is just so great. I think it's the Elder's past time to stir up trouble. They must sit on their high and mighty clouds and figure out new and interesting ways to mess up our lives."
"It's my mom's working theory. Care to explain why you've jumped on the bandwagon? Especially considering they just sent back a good friend of mine? Chris' true love. The woman responsible for you still breathing."
Casey halted in her tracks. "I'm glad Molly's back, Wyatt. I'm not saying that. I'm saying why the hell did they have to take her in the first place? Do you want to know why because I have the answer."
"Shoot."
"Phoebe's premonition, Wyatt."
The Twice Blessed's face went slack. "No..."
"I think so."
He looked up at her, his eyes pained. "You think you're pregnant with my little brother's child?"
Casey shook her head helplessly. "I don't know what else to think. It fits. Chris having a destiny needing Molly to be gone...and Phoebe's premonition showing me not looking any differently...Molly said she was allowed to come back only because something had changed...I don't want it to be true, Wyatt, but I'm not seeing how it can't be."
Wyatt, for Casey's sake, fought to keep the emotion from his voice. "What did Chris say about it?"
"He doesn't remember last night. There's no way he could figure it out."
Wyatt ran his hands over his face before looking up at Casey again. "If Molly finds out, I'm not sure she'd be able to forgive him. She'd see it as betrayal since she wasn't really totally dead. Not to mention she'd get all crazy jealous of you again. It'd be the end of them."
Casey flopped onto the bed, groaning. "This sucks. I'm pissed at him, but I don't want him to lose the woman he loves. Especially now we're together.� We should all get to be happy."
The blonde smiled entwining his fingers with hers. "We're together.� I am never going to get tired of the sound of that."
"Focus, please."
"Right. Okay, maybe you're right. Maybe, you are pregnant with Chris' baby."
"I think I might be sick."
"I don't think you can have morning sickness this soon into it."
Casey rolled her eyes. "Not from that. From this situation."
"Oh."
"I'm sorry," the young woman softly murmured. "I know even the thought of it has to be killing you."
Wyatt forced a smile. "Can't change what's already been done. I'll live."
"You're in pain."
"Yup. The thought of you carrying Chris' baby pretty much makes me want to blow something up. However, if I lost control of my emotions like that all the time, the city would have been destroyed a long time ago. I've learned to cope."
Casey lowered her eyes. "You shouldn't have to cope with something like this. This is the first day of us as a couple, and already I'm breaking your heart."
The young man gently lifted her chin with his hand. "I'm a big boy. I can take it. Besides, I think I have a way to fix everyone's problems."
"I don't think that's possible but shoot."
"If you are pregnant, I think I should be the father."
"What?"
Wyatt took Casey's hands in his, staring into her eyes. "If you're pregnant, I think we should say the baby is mine."
tbc. . .
dun, dun, dun!
