I'm so sorry for the long wait. I know I promised not to keep you waiting but I have a really good reason this time. Acutally, a very bad reason for me. I had been in hospital for almost a week. I always have problems with my eyes but never that bad. I couldn't see very well - like almost nothing - so really wasn't able to work on a computer or anything for that matter.

Anyway, here is it now and I hope you all enjoy it and can forgive me after what you read. Or you hate me... :-) Either way, have fun.

Chapter 35

"You look so handsome, clever and successful," Noelle told her boyfriend who came fully dressed into the kitchen.

Wyatt wore black jeans and black shoes with a white short sleeved shirt and a black sports jacket.

"You think?" he asked unbelievingly.

"Oh, yes. Coffee, dear"

"Thanks." Wyatt took the cup grateful.

"I hope you are not nervous. You really have no reason, too be. Sesame bagel?" she offered.

Orbs filled the air the kitchen turning into the younger Halliwell brother. "Hey, professor…you ready to bore them? Oh, for me?" he asked spotting Noelle holding the bagel offering.

"Yes, take it. I'm late. I'll have breakfast with Prof Harvey. He will be giving me some more instructions," Wyatt said.

Chris took the bagel grinning from Noelle and sat down at the kitchen table and bit into it.

"You look nervous," the brunette told his brother. "Are you nervous? I'd be nervous as hell. Seriously, I can't talk well in front of strangers."

Wyatt sighed. "Thanks, bro."

"Hey, but you are not me. You can do it."

"Yes, babe, you'll be great," Noelle agreed. "Chris, eat and be quiet."

"Sorry." The twenty two year old poured orange juice in a glass, that stood on the table.

The young woman walked in front of her boyfriend and placed her hands on his shoulder, massaging him lightly.

"Honey, you will be a success." She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Good luck and have fun."

Wyatt nodded. "Thanks for your support. I have to go now. I'll call you when I'm done."

The blonde placed his empty cup in the sink. When he passed Chris, he hit him on the head playfully.

"Seriously, do you have to put pressure on him?" Noelle asked.

"He's a genius. He can handle my lame jokes." Chris shrugged. "Do you have cream cheese for this?"

The dark haired girl rolled her eyes. "Serve yourself. It's your home."

She took her own cup and left the kitchen.

Chris opened the fridge and started to search through the contents.

He looked up at the sound of orbs, backing away when he saw himself but dressed different in a red shirt standing there.

"What the hell?" he asked himself.

"Yeah, strange," he agreed. "Gotta go" Chris in red shirt made his way towards the living room entering in the same moment as the demon aimed a fire ball at Noelle. He jumped in front of her shoving her on the ground hard. She hit her head on the small table passing out.

"They said no witch would be here," one demon grunted.

Chris in black appeared in the room as well. The demons looked back and forth between the two versions of the young witch confused.

Only one gathered himself quickly conjuring a fire ball.

"What did you find the most difficult thing by taking over the business?" a young female student asked.

Wyatt had been surprised how less he was nervous. He found it kind of exiting and even fun. His former professor sat in the first row listening as well but like when Wyatt was still his student and held a presentation showed nothing on his face.

"Well, you may expect a business related aspect but actually what was most,"

Wyatt stopped mid sentence. He pressed a hand against his chest taking in a sharp breath.

"Mr. Halliwell, are you feeling well?" the professor asked.

Wyatt shook his head to clear out his thoughts. He looked down on his notes trying to focus again. He felt a sudden emptiness and it took him a moment to figure out what had changed.

"Mr. Halliwell?"

Wyatt took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I…" he trailed off suddenly identifying the emptiness.

He quickly sensed for his brother.

Nothing…

He didn't even hit a wall like when Chris blocked him out.

Nothing...

Like their bond was broken.

"I'm sorry. I need to go." Wyatt grabbed his papers and jacked and ran out of the classroom.

He didn't bother to get to his car but orbed out at the first place that seemed safe.

The living room of the Manor, where he appeared moments later was a battlefield.

The young witch first spotted his girlfriend. He hurried to her side and carefully turned her around before healing the wound on her head.

Noelle blinked a few times before getting up with Wyatt's help.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes, much better. Where's Chris?"

Chris. Wyatt panicked. He let go of Noelle and crossed the room. His little brother lay on the ground, bleeding from several injuries.

Wyatt dropped to his knees holding his hands over Chris' chest. The golden glow appeared but nothing happened.

Noelle crouched down next to her boyfriend. "It didn't work?"

"It will. It has to," Wyatt replied. But nothing happened and the emptiness spread though his body. "It has to," he repeated.

Noelle touched his shoulder. "Wyatt…" Tears prickled up in her eyes.

"Don't say anything." Wyatt dropped his hands. "Damn this." He touched his brother's face stroking some strands out of his eyes. "Chris, come on, wake up." Wyatt gathered his brother's lifeless body in his arms. "Come on, you can wake up now."

He buried his face in Chris' chest.

Noelle blinked through her tears and rubbed her boyfriend's back while Wyatt was crying heavily in Chris' black shirt.

"Phoebe, your column is going very well," Danielle said during editorial meeting. "However, I'd like to think about going in a new direction. You are a mother, could you imagine a special with parental advice?"

Phoebe leaned forward in her chair. She smiled softly understanding the personal aspect of the suggestion.

"I'm not sure I'm such a perfect mother to give others advice. However…" She suddenly screwed up her face in pain.

"Phoebe?" Danielle looked at her worryingly. "Are you okay?"

"Hm, I don't know. I'll just step outside a moment. Excuse me."

She hastily got up and hurried into her office closing the door behind her. "Paige!" her sister orbed in immediately a strange look on her face. "To the Manor"

Phoebe grabbed her hand and the two women orbed out.

"Phoebe?" Danielle opened the door to the office surprised to find it empty as she had just seen Phoebe enter it.

"I don't understand how this could happen?" Prue asked pacing the floor in front of the podium.

Wyatt stood there behind the Book of Shadows flipping pages not looking at anything in particular.

"I mean, can't you usually feel when something is wrong? I thought you guys were connected."

"I did feel something bit it was too late already."

"You are the Twice Blessed," the young woman cried as if that was the key to it all.

"Maybe if you were around to help us with the demons, it wouldn't have happened?"

"You are not serious." Prue stopped pacing and glared at Wyatt.

"No, but if we play the blame card…why does it have to be on me?"

Prue took a deep breath. She ran a hand through her long hair messing it up completely.

Wyatt rested his arms on the podium, closing his eyes. Tears fell on the page.

Immediately, tears formed in the girl's eyes as well.

"I'm so sorry, Wyatt." She walked around the podium hugging her cousin tightly. "It's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault."

Wyatt bent down resting his head on her shoulder.

"I failed him, Prue. I failed my mom. I had promised her to look after him. He is my little brother; I am suppose too protect him."

"You did as much as you could." Prue assured him. She turned around to the door where she had felt someone's presence. "Dad"

Wyatt stepped away from his cousin who wiped his tears away with the sleeve of his shirt.

"The ambulance is here," Coop said.

"What for" Wyatt asked.

Prue exchanged a look with her father.

"To take the body," the cupid replied.

Leo ran a hand through his son's hair. It always felt similar to when he was still able to touch Piper's long brunette locks.

Amber stood next to him squeezing his hand and holding onto his arms; tears ran down her cheeks. It was the hardest thing to do, to comfort him while saying goodbye to his son…when she – being a mother of two, herself - could barely imagine how difficult this must be.

"Now you are safe with your mom," Leo said.

In the background, Paige sat on the sofa, either of her twin daughters at her side. They had similar expressions on their faces; only Holly was crying heavily while her sister hadn't shed a tear yet. Henry stood behind the sofa with Junior, a hand on his son's and wife's shoulder.

Phoebe had taken place in the armchair sitting there unmoving for what seemed like hours. Her two younger daughters sat on the floor at her feet.

Noelle brought tea for everyone placing the tray on the coffee table.

Trevor was also there standing away from the others, his arms crossed in front of his chest staring ahead.

Leo pulled his hand away. There was no use in holding on. He turned around as he couldn't watch his son being taken away from him.

Steps could be heard on the stairs.

"Dad," Wyatt was first to arrive in the living room; Prue and Coop right behind him.

"Dad, you can't let them take him away."

Leo didn't say a word but embraced his surviving son who despite his tall frame seemed like a little boy all over again in his father's arms, crying.

Wyatt looked around the room that despite its usual mess, still seemed awfully empty.

As soon as Chris had taken over Wyatt's old room to make it his place to work in, the room got a whole new character.

It seemed like Wyatt had never spent twenty two years of his life in that room.

Wyatt sat down on his old bed eying the items surrounding him – mainly drawings, canvas in all sizes and art utensils. His view fell on the photos on the nightstand. One was a beautiful happy picture of Chris and Bianca. It was one of those that required the people in it to stand very close as one of them hold the camera only an arm length away.

Wyatt closed his eyes. It made him sad that Chris wouldn't even be with his ex-girlfriend again.

"At least he's with Aunt Piper," came a voice from the door.

"Don't read my mind, Junior."

"Sorry," the teenager said. "I just wanted to know when we'll go after those demons."

"What demons?" Demons were the last thing on his mind right now.

Junior walked into the room and sat down next to his cousin. "The demon that killed Chris"

Wyatt flinched at the words. It was the first time someone spoke out so blatantly what had happened.

"Or rather demons, I know one poor demon wouldn't have been a problem for Chris.

"Junior," Wyatt sighed.

"Are you just going to let it happen? We need to make a statement. Demons can not just kill a family member and get away with it."

"I don't know what demon to go after and even if I knew I really have no interest in demons right now."

"And when will you deal with it?"

"I don't know. I just lost my brother like what 3 hours ago? Don't you understand this, Junior, Chris is gone. He's gone forever, do you have the slightest idea what that makes me feel like?"

"Exactly my point, Chris is dead and you are angry and sad and our emotions play up, that's when I would go after the demon."

"That's why you are not going after any demon."

"That's not fair. I can vanquish demons, too. Besides, I'm sure if it was Chris he would go after half the underworld trying to find the responsible demon. If he didn't find him, he'd go after the other half." The seventeen year old angrily hit the bed. "We are witches. We need to take revenge. It's our job."

"Our job is to protect innocents. And I think we should grieve first," Holly purposed. She had silently moved into the room. Her eyes were red and puffy but she gave her brother a small smile kneeling down in front of him.

"I don't want to have to grieve," the boy replied pouting. "Holly, can't we do anything?"

The girl shook her head.

Junior bent down to her, hugging her tightly and started to cry.

flashback

The screen turned black and then showed GAME OVER in large red letters.

"I won again!" Junior cheered. "Maybe you are getting to old for this."

"Haha," Chris replied. "Maybe I just let you win."

"No, you didn't," Junior smirked.

Chris faked to be offended before tackling his cousin to the ground.

"You just can't stand to loose," Junior replied trying to fight Chris off.

The brunette let him go. "I had lost enough."

"Should I let you win?" the teenager asked.

"No. You're my cousin. I grant you your success."

"Thanks. I haven't been very successful lately anyway."

"High school is a tough time, who knows better than I you'll get through hat. If I did, everyone can. Just remember how powerful you are."

Junior snorted. "Yeah, great…just stupid that no one knows about my power."

"We do. You do. Moreover, I'm not talking about your witch powers. Telepathy with mind control is a strong power and only witches with pure hearts that can differ between good and evil regarding their own actions, receive this power. You are a good and strong person not because of your powers but you have your powers because of that. One day, you'll be one of the most powerful ones in the family and will fulfil your own prophecy?"

"And what would that be?" Junior asked sitting up listening excited.

Chris shrugged. "It's probably still unwritten. But that's good," he quickly added seeing his cousin's face. "That means you can still influence it."

"But you think I'll fight demons like you?"

"I'm afraid you will have to. Probably sooner than you think. Until then, use your powers for good. There is more you can do with them than vanquishing demons."

Penny sat on the first step of the stone stair leading to the Manor. She looked ahead at nothing in particular. A shadow fell over her but she didn't turn around.

"May I?" Trevor asked.

"Of course, sure," she nodded.

The young man sat down a few inches away from her. They stayed silent a long time then Trevor coughed uncomfortable.

"I…ehm…I guess, we won't meet to study the next time. After today…"

"Why not? You still need help with the school work, don't you?"

"Yes but I totally understand."

"I like spending time with you."

"Oh." Trevor blushed. "I…thanks"

Penny smirked a bit. "I can't believe, he's gone," she suddenly cried. "Who's going to drive with us? Not to mention, tell us everything about magic and demons. Chris was always around."

"They will assign me a new whitelighter," Trevor muttered.

Penny looked up tears ran down her cheeks. "What are we going to do now?" she asked.

Trevor looked at his hands. He wordless moved closer to her and placed an arm around her shoulder.

Penny leaned against him, crying in his shirt.

Flashback

"I thought only I could have an accident on my first driving lesson in the parking lot," Chris said running a hand over the dent in his car. "And that with a tree."

Penny looked down sheepishly. "I'm really sorry, Chris."

"My poor car, however the dent matches the scratches above."

"Aren't you angry?" she asked.

"It's just a car."

"And I can continue to drive with you?"

"Sure, I why not" Chris checked his watch. "Alright, jump in. Let's pick up Trevor."

"Trevor?"

"Yes, when he heard you were driving with me, he wanted to as well. After all, one scratch in my dad's car and he'll have a nervous breakdown."

Penny climbed in the car. "I think you and Trevor have been getting along just fine lately. He's alright; a bit annoying like every little brother, I guess."

Penny grinned. She got onto the road and drove slowly the direction Chris told her and parked in front of the house hitting the sidewalk with one wheel.

"I like your style. There could actually be a worse driver than me," Chris sat and reached over to press the Horn.

Moments later Trevor appeared I front of the car.

Penny got out and they stood in front of each other a moment."

"Hi, Trevo."

"Hi, Penn."

"Alright, kids, how about we hit the road," the twenty two year old called.

Penny made a step forward bumping into Trevor who had went the same way. They clumsily walked around each other before climbing in the car; Trevor in the driver's seat and Penny in the backseat.

"Penny…drove very good," Chris said.

"I'm sure she did," Trevor replied looking at the girl through the rear mirror with a stupid grin.

"Thanks," Penny blushed slightly.

"Alright, let's go," Chris stated.

"Sure." Trevor took an eternity to check all mirrors before driving on the road.

"We'll head to the mall. I need to get a few things. Why don't you guys get some ice cram meanwhile," Chris suggested.

"Oh, yes. I mean if Penny is alright with that," Trevor replied.

"Of course I'd love that."

"Great, great," Chris muttered.

yes, I killed him. Just like that.

Please don't forget to leave me just a little review. It's always appreciated.