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Jake's secret comes out and it'll surprise you for sure! ;) And some little plotting...

Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed. If I did, well, this way the seasons could have played out. ;)

Summary: His younger brother is in the past. Trying to save him, but he wouldn't believe in it. He needed to see if he was alright and doing fine. But what he saw made him question all his beliefs.

38. Friend or Foe – who can tell?

FEARING THE UNKNOWN

On the next day, the parents brought their children quickly to the kindergarten and pre-school what the boys just commented by looking at each other. They didn't want to disturb them as they maybe feared an explosion. Or worse, some yelling.

Both were kissed and then they ran as fast as they could into their classes. Saying nothing to anyone around them what irritated all, especially their best friends. D.J. and Grace knew what they had to do, again. At lunch. Slowly it'd become a ritual but what were they for? As best friends? Shrugging they helped and talked to each other.

Leo said nothing to Piper as he made his way to university. Jake was waiting for him and that made him question this decision slightly.

"Hey Leo, what's up? Something wrong?" Jake asked irritated as seeing his friend so strange. Something must have happened at home.

"No, nothing's wrong. I'm here to tell you that you can come tonight. Only if you want still."

"I do but it looks like you're carrying a big secret with you." His companion said nothing at those words. "Come on, our lessons start soon. We don't want to be late only on our second here. Would be so not funny in our CV."

Leo grinned and let himself be dragged away to the next building they had lessons in. Maybe this friendship could work and Jake would have not second thoughts of his secret. Only time could tell and reveal. But now they had things to be taken care of. The other students just saw them as a team most of the time.

Later that day the boys sat at their lunch table and the younger boy had a lot of questions, but for Wyatt this was only annoying. Truth to be told, which he would never admit aloud, he feared the same, yet now he just wanted to eat. He was hungry. The feeble attempts of their friends to get them talk fell on deaf ears, on both sides as the sons only wanted to know what was going to happen tonight.

At university Leo and Jake enjoyed their lunch break as well before Jake excused himself as he'd had a special assignment for a professor to do which he'd agreed on earlier on. Leo nodded and began to wonder if he was right to bring someone in who didn't know about magic and all this strange stuff. Maybe Piper was right. Soon he'd get his sons home and later they'd see who was Jake in reality.

Jake hurried away and ran into a lone office far away on the university field. This kind of professor just had to have his office at the end of the campus. Sighing he made his work for a long time before a strange noise behind him got his attention. Turning around he saw something he never thought to be existing and then all was black.

The other being only smirked and hid the body very well since he could not be found that fast if his plan should work this night. He'd get the future good for the underworld and made the father know what fear was.

COMING HOME

Wyatt and Chris were brought back home by their Dad who had played with them on their way. Still something was nagging on their minds and Chris really wanted to know what was going on, so he asked now.

"Daddy, what's with you and Mommy. Are you fighting?"

Leo put his youngest son in his arms. "No, buddy. Mommy and me just had a little fight. I'm sure tonight everything will be fine when a friend of mine comes to visit us. You look forward, don't you? You as well, Wyatt, right?"

The four year old looked insecure. "I'm not sure. If you'd told us and not shouted yesterday night, we'd have understood." His father looked shocked. "It's not that I mind, yet it doesn't explain your behavior with Mom."

"He's right," Chris added. "Besides, we should go home or Mommy sends out a search party."

"Okay," Leo agreed but inside he was questioning himself if this decision had been right. To bring practically a stranger in the house full of witches. His sons' laughter distracted him since Wyatt was playing some tricks on his younger brother who revenged himself just seconds later. Wyatt was pleased that his baby brother learned quickly. It'd help him later on.

At the Manor Piper prepared everything for her men. Yet not sooner had she set the meals on the table, the front door opened and her three men appeared. Sweating yet happy what made her smile anytime. They just were good for each other.

"How was the day, boys?" she asked her youngest two of the group but they just looked at each other, debating if they should reveal anything of their problems. "Wyatt, Chris! I want an answer!"

"Nothing, Mom," Wyatt answered. "Everything is okay. Nothing has happened at school as well as at the kindergarten. Right, Chris?"

"Yeah, Mommy. No need to worry." She raised an eyebrow at his choice of words. "Really Mommy. We're fine and if something does happen, Wyatt will help me. After all he's my BIG brother." He grinned at her, hoping to ease her mind.

"Right." Piper turned to her husband, accepting the answer. "So, when will Jake come tonight? Or only in a few hours is better to say."

"He didn't say a specific time," Leo replied. "But I'm sure he'll appear soon. He was really looking forward to eat your homemade meals. And also to get to know all of us. My beautiful wife and my wonderful sons."

As if on cue the doorbell rang and the boys ran out to open it. Better to say, Wyatt opened it with some help of his little brother and only saw a normal man, standing in front of him yet Chris seemed to feel something and ran back to their father. Afraid. "Hey," he greeted. "You must be Jake, a friend of my Dad."

"Right," Jake greeted the young boy. "And you are?" He smiled, hoping to be reassuring.

But Wyatt had turned back to his baby brother. "What?" he asked shocked. "Sorry. The name's Wyatt." Telepathically he questioned Chris. 'Chrissie, what's wrong? What are you afraid of?'

Leo greeted his friend with his youngest son in his arms. "Hey Jake, glad you could make it. I don't know what's wrong with my son. Normally he isn't this way." He turned to Chris. "Now greet my friend, please, Chris."

"Hey," he offered only shyly but sent out to Wyatt. 'This man gives out some bad vibes. I can't say where I know it from but it's there.'

"Hello," Jake greeted back and turned to the woman of the house. "You must be Piper, Leo's wife. I've already heard so much about you. Glad you invited me over dinner."

"That's okay. Any friend of Leo is welcomed here." She shook his hand, yet the bad feeling remained. Piper gestured for anyone to sit down and said, "Enjoy the meal! Boys, quiet now, please."

Wyatt was about to sit down and sent another telepathic question to his brother, 'Are you sure to not imagine this?' before he was violently thrown with his mother away. Immediately he raised his forcefield and looked around. Seeing his nightmare coming true. A demon over his little brother and mortal father. "Leave them alone!" he shouted while his mother just cried.

Jake turned around and revealed his normal self. A warlock. "Any reason why I shouldn't attack? I mean those two are so vulnerable right now." The warlock to his victims, Leo and Chris. "Never trust a stranger would your wife say, yet she isn't quite right. Your friend Jake is only unconscious and well hidden."

Leo protected his baby boy with all his strength and couldn't believe what was happening around him. Obviously Chris had felt it before. "You're not getting him. Only over my dead body. We lost too much already!" A fireball went their way but somehow there was no impact. "What?" he questioned confused. "Chris?"

"Protecting you, Daddy. Aren't I good like Wyatt?" He grinned at his Daddy before the exhaustion and sleep took over. "Not strong enough. Sorry Daddy."

"It's okay. You did well, buddy."

"How pathetic, my friend but now you've lost anything you ever valued. At first we start with your baby boy. The one who did so much by coming back," the warlock threatened, knowing full well what had happened before. Any demon knew about this and all wanted revenge. "Now give me him!"

The talesound of orbing was heard and anyone looked incredulously at the new intruder. "Not if I can help it. By the way, I'm Jake, the real one, assigned whitelighter to the eldest Charmed One and her family."

"WHAT?" asked four stunned voices. But their eyes followed the fight between a warlock and the whitelighter in their midst.

"Not nice to trick me, my friend but I have bosses 'Up There' who felt my knockout." Jake turned to sleeping boy in Leo's arms. "At least one felt you weren't the right one. Good work, Chris." Now his mind played another scene while fighting.

FLASHBACK

While waking up, Jake noticed he wasn't anymore where he should be. Silently he cursed what was answered by a thunder from the ceiling. "Yeah, I know. Sorry but it kind of is this way. Damn this warlock!"

Kevin appeared. "Wyatt and Chris are in danger as we speak. The warlock tricked you well. I thought our plan has covered all up?"

"Obviously not. Now this ugly leaves me no other choice to enter Leo's family. By revealing myself." He sighed. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course. Go ahead."

"Why should any Charmed One have her own whitelighter suddenly? For years the three of them had their own one but now three? That doesn't make any sense in my eyes, you know."

"I do but the other Elders have decided since every Charmed One starts her own family. The boys of Piper are already strong and we've thought it'd be better this way." Kevin closed his eyes, sensing. "Hurry up! They're in danger!" He orbed away saying, "Good luck!"

Jake sighed anew. As if he didn't know what kaliber the eldest Charmed One were. Closing his eyes as well and sensing for his charges, Jake the whitelighter was on his way for the rescue.

END OF FLASHBACK

Piper, Leo and Wyatt watched in a way fascinated the fight before the mother thought she could help. Silently she asked her son to let his forcefield drop and with one strike of her power blasting ability the warlock was gone.

"Couldn't you have done this a bit earlier, woman? But thanks for helping," Jake offered as he walked over to the family of four.

Piper gave him a look, clearly saying he was dead if he'd continue this way. "Okay, Jake. Explain this strange situation to me. Why did the Elders suddenly decide that each Charmed One should have her own whitelighter? I'd like to know that." She'd taken her baby from Leo as all was solved.

Jake swallowed hard. "Well, it was considered in since each of you is thinking about starting her own family. Which you already did, Piper. So now each Charmed One gets her own personal whitelighter, though Paige might be one of her own soon."

Before Piper could ask more, orbs flittered through the ceiling which was followed by two others. It revealed her younger sisters and two handsome young men. Phoebe couldn't stop her curiosity, "Piper, what's going on? Since when do we have our own whitelighter? Not that I mind but why?"

"Yep, this doesn't make any sense since we're an unit," Paige added smiling nervously at her.

"Oh, it's just a new plan from our lovely friends, the Elders," the eldest sister said sarcastically as her young son seemed to look around but then orbed himself to Jake, signaling he could be trusted. "Chris?"

"Mommy, he's a friend," he said in his childish innocence. "Wyatt, do the same with those other two. Wait, a second. Their names are …." He closed his eyes and concentrated. "Peter for Auntie Phoebe and Seth for Auntie Paige. Right, Jakie?"

"Wow, you're good, my young charge," Jake said as he played with the child and was happy to be accepted quickly. Looking around he saw how Wyatt tested his other colleagues out and saw also no shield coming up. "See, I can be trusted."

"Yes, Mom," Wyatt agreed. "They are really good. Pure good, no bone of evil in them." He looked at Peter and Seth. "Misters, are you gonna be around more and play with me and my baby brother? Would be nice."

Seth and Peter looked at each other before Seth spoke up, "We'll see what can be arranged, young one. Okay?" He then went down to be at the child's level. "Even if the Elders are not going to like it, we'll manage everything, right?"

Wyatt grinned and gave his little brother a high five, giving him a signal that they got their wish. Chris twinkled his eye and laid his head on Jake's shoulder, wanting to sleep now. Seeing his baby brother sleep, Wyatt lifted his finger and orbed his brother back to his crib. "He's tired," he yawned. "And I'll follow him." His orbs followed the previous trail.

Leo hadn't said anything during this kind of revelation but now he had a task. "I'll make sure they are in bed. You know how they get if they are in. Playing tricks and so."

Piper watched her men leaving and also at Jake who didn't know what to do. "I think you can leave now, Phoebe. Take Paige as well. Now all is covered up, I guess. Seth and Peter, good luck with my sisters." All four orbed away.

"I think we should look after your men, Piper. There's still evil out there who could be after your sons." Jake started to walk away and upstairs. "By the way, Piper. I can help in any part of the house if you want me to. Babysitter, in the kitchen and club, with homework and many more."

"Well, I have already a helper in the kitchen. If what you say is true, then I might trust you."

"Thank you, Piper. Your trust means a lot to me." He turned around and looked directly at her. "I know, right now it looks like Chris could be superwitch soon but he, and Wyatt, needs all your protection. The Power of Three. And I'm aware that Chris is your little helper in the kitchen."

Piper slapped him playfully on his back, agreeing with him on this. "Okay Jake. I'll trust you since my sons trust you and Leo does too, in a way. We'll see how our 'team' works then."

Woman and man entered and saw that all was alright. Leo was watching his sons sleep but he didn't know how to act around Jake. Though, on instinct, he trusted him as he'd been a whitelighter himself, yet this fact now disturbed him a bit. He didn't say it out loud, because he'd find out what Jake was doing here.

COMING TO TERMS WITH

Several days later, in the Manor everything seemed to go normal. If you considered in to hear some explosion day in, day out or just let anything happen. Well, two kids had to go to school but nowadays they had to be convinced. Piper sighed at seeing her stubborn sons at the door and not ready to leave. Obviously Jake had given some new ideas.

"Okay, boys. You should really go to school if you want to learn anything," she offered with hands on her hips. "I want you to go. Besides, Magic School helps you only with your powers." She put her hand on their heads. "In normal school you learn for your brain."

"Mhmm," Wyatt pouted. "More than likely Chrissie does, not me. He can think quickly." His baby brother blushed beside him. "Anyway, I'll get the meaning. Come on, baby bro, we must go. You'll learn for me with?"

Chris gave him a look. "In your dreams." Then he grinned. "But I can help you if you want me to." The bus came up from around the corner. "See Wy, the bus is coming. School's waiting."

Wyatt scowled slightly at being at the end of Chris' joke, yet he loved to see when his brother was making jokes. Now was not the time as the bus driver was waiting, rather impatiently, for him. He followed his brother and both searched for their places there and chatted about all and anything.

Piper could only shake her head at her boys' strange relationship but it was good to see that despite everything Wyatt and Chris still loved each other. Turning around, she saw how Leo and Jake sat rather awkwardly at the table, not knowing what to say to each other. Piper sighed and decided to step in.

"Leo, you have to make a step ahead. You'd been a whitelighter yourself and please remember how you came in in our family." She kissed him on his cheek before leaving the two men alone. She had other things to do.

Leo sighed, knowing his wife was right. "I'm sorry, Jake. I'd never have thought of you being a whitelighter since I was one myself. I know you'll have to be careful if you got to know your charges. It's been so weird. You are a whitelighter and I still speak if I were one."

Jake laughed. "That's okay, Leo. You're a legend 'Up There', believe me. That's why I chose your family as my charges to be and your sons are a story for themselves. Chris had done so much good back in time. Trust and believe me, with me around, the future will be the way you all want it to be."

Leo nodded and soon both men were deep in discussion about the whitelighter thing and the world 'Up There'. Since Leo could give the young one some advice of dealing with charges, especially about his wife. What made him grin and Leo found himself befriend with Jake. Finally.

That way Piper found them when she returned and gave herself a high five. Soon the kids came back from school and played with Jake, fully using him as a playpartner for them what the young man totally agreed on. Piper and Leo watched them with smiles on their faces and found themselves sitting on the couch, watching the three of them play and laugh.

MEANWHILE IN THE UNDERWORLD

A young demon was walking through the caves, looking for an upper level demon who could work with him. It was time to end the next generation of the Halliwells, at least when they were still little. His name was Kiran and for him to find his place in the underworld and that would only go if Wyatt and Chris were dead.

"Hey," a warlock shouted. "Who are you and what do you want in our side of the underworld? Speak before I'll vanquish you!" A fireball was in his hand to confirm his threat.

"Well," he began nervously. "My name's Kiran and I'm looking for someone who could help me to kill the next generation of the Charmed Ones. I've been told they'd be very powerful and would kill all of us in the future. And I'm here to prevent this from happening."

The warlock circled the young demon smiling. "You have a high goal, my young friend. So to speak, because no one has done what you want to do in a long time, only the fool Barbas if you know him. So what are your conditions to get it done?"

"This is something I'd need a higher demon for, because, well, I have no idea how they tick and what they have feared so far. I need to know all, you know."

The warlock smirked. "I see what can be arranged. Wait here for me and I'll ask some other demons what they think of your plan, okay?" The warlock shimmered away, leaving the young demon alone in his cave.

Kiran swallowed hard and held an equal fireball in his hand like the warlock before. "I'll get you both. Once you're gone, the underworld will feel better and I'll rule. No Halliwells around to disturb me. What good power to make myself younger. Ha!"

A short time later the cave was filled with demons and Kiran let the fireball quickly vanish, just in time. It was time for a plan and this would be the end for the Wyatt and Chris Halliwell.

TBC ...

What plan does Kiran have? And it'll be interesting - for Chris ...

Reviews are really appreciated!

P.S. A big THANK YOU to anyone who put me into their favored lists of stories and/or author!

P.P.S. When we come to a certain point, I will repeat my question! ;)