A/N:
Thanks for the reviews.
Gabyhyatt: the capsules were used to keep them from experiencing a changed future or from them ever being born again at least that is what evil Wyatt made them become. The original purpose of the capsules was to bring a life back in exchange for another. Penny did the design for it when Patty died but never used it. Evil Wyatt found the plans and altered its function. He knew that Chris was in the past and that there was a chance that he could succeed, so he wanted to make sure that Mel and the others would not reap the rewards. Cole has used the capsules for their original purpose by altering the elaborate spell to bring his mother back.
Chapter 54
Can of worms
Mel went to go check on Bianca while Chris sat next to her on the bed. She has been out for about and hour and was slowly waking up.
"How is she?" Mel asks.
"Don't you have small animals to torture," Chris replied still clearly upset about what happened.
"Not today, only on Fridays," she said and sat down in a chair to make him look at her.
"What happened?" Bianca asks while rubbing her head.
"Invasion of the body-snatchers charmed style," he replied and she was now confused and a little frightened as she has seen that movie.
"It was the nonites, Unhof infected them with a spell and you were the unfortunate recipient before it was detected.
"Are you saying that I was possessed by something smaller then the tip of a needle?" Bianca asks.
"In a nutshell, yes," Mel replied while Chris held onto her hand.
"Are you ok?" he asks.
"Yeah but are they still in me and did I hurt anyone?" she asks.
"No and no," Mel replied.
"Thank god," she said and began to get up with Chris's help.
"Chris I am sorry but I can't anticipate everything," Mel said as Bianca went to the bathroom to get a drink of water. Chris nodded his head while looking up and was not satisfied with that response.
"You have a 200 IQ and it never occurred to you that your technology could be affected by magic, or do you believe that no one else would even think of trying it," he said and Mel stood up.
"For those of us whom in the past could not protect ourselves by just flicking our wrist or orbing away, this was the only way for me. Do you think demons left me alone because I was mortal, or because I was not a witch. I was your sister Wyatt's sister and a way of getting to him. You could not even since me or scribe for me because I am not magical. So just to give you a heads up my childhood and up to my teens was interesting as I became bait to lure you and him, to trap you and him. And the demons in my time did not just loosely tie someone to a tree, or put them in a large cage and walk away until someone came to save them. They beat me, they raped me at lest the ones that were equipped," Mel said as her body shook and Bianca drooped the glass she was holding. Chris's mouth was agape as even in his future demons did not do that mostly because they did not the ability, but some were half demon like Cole. Mel got control of her emotions and walked up to him. "You keep asking or in a roundabout kind of way why I am the way I am, now you know and I said never again when it happened and I meant it," she finished and walked out.
"Oh my god, does Piper know?" Bianca ask but Chris just stood there," Chris?"
"I – I don't know," he answered but was still in shock.
Melinda moved quickly outside to get some air and realized she may have opened her own Pandora's box. The only people whom knew were from the dark future and she did not want to relive it. She was not sure why she even told him, maybe it was because how everyone sees her. As this cold and distant person who is at times a little too quick on the trigger. Regardless of the reasons why it was a can of worms she wanted to stay sealed.
"Hay mom," Vela said as she came up to her. There was another can of worms that unleashed itself not so long ago. The memory of her daughter stabbing a man to death was fresh. She understood the rage, hate that can build up if left unchecked. She wanted to asks her what happened over 20 years that she was a slave for that tribe, but Vela was either not ready or somehow beyond it. Mel's incident was also a long time ago and she too has found a way to move on or Vela would not exist.
"Hay you want to get a drink?" Mel asks as seeing her as her little girl was no longer an option, she was an adult now and it was time to interact with her in that way.
"I thought you could not get drunk?"
"Well its time to pay vagabond a visit," Mel said and put her arm around her as they made their way to the local drinking whole.
"Dad is already there and if vagabond is there it should be interesting," she said.
Paige was drinking some of the local homemade tea as she sat at the table with Trinity and Henry along with the others.
"Sounds like you guys had fun while we were gone," Paige said and let the warm refreshing tea
slide down her throat.
"Just couldn't keep from being a Dragon again could you?" Prue asks.
"You're just jealous," Piper said while sitting at the table to join them.
"Hells yeah," Paige said.
"Thanks for getting Mel's Capsule and what is up with Coop?" Leo asks.
"Oh that little interesting transformation, well he is becoming more like the cubits in this realm," Phoebe replied.
"At least is not like the pictures," Henry added.
"That would be awkward," Piper said.
"So when do we destroy it?" Leo asks.
"I am working on it but I may need some help," Trinity replied while looking at her mother.
"I would love too," Paige said.
"You know I was referring to both of you," Trinity said and Henry looked up.
"Why me?" he asks.
"You pick up on the little details that what makes you such a great details in the future and we really need to pay attention to the details on this," she replied and Henry smiled brightly.
"Mommy can I go get my bedtime story?" Little Wyatt asks as he and his little brother came running into the dining room from the living room.
"I can tell you one," Piper replied.
"Do you know about the six sisters?" Wyatt asks.
"No but I know other stories," Piper replied.
"But I want to know what happens with the prince," Little Chris said but Piper was not about to let them be by themselves just yet.
"You know I would like to know about it as well," Paige said as she could see Piper struggling to both appease her son's and keep herself from having a panic attack.
"Aunt Paige can come with us," Chris said and went over to his aunt and took her hand. "Come on Aunt Paige."
"Ok but not too late," Piper said and felt more at ease that her sister was going with them and they left to see the teller.
"You ok?" Phoebe asks as she could feel Piper's worry.
"I'm fine," Piper replied as the older Chris came in. "How is Bianca?"
"Fine she is taking a shower," He replied but Phoebe and Prudence could feel some odd emotions coming from him. Ladybug decided to keep it to herself and would talk to him later about it. Phoebe was about to say something when she felt someone kick her under the table. And when she saw who it was and ladybug slightly shake her head no, Phoebe understood to keep her mouth shut for the moment.
"Why doesn't he want to hear stories from me?" Piper asks out of the blue.
"He has a really cool voice and the power to sooth people with it," Trinity replied as Chris sat down but was very quiet.
"You ok peanut?" Piper asks and he could not help but smile at the nickname.
"Yeah just tired," he replied.
"Want to join me for a night cap?" Leo asks.
"Sounds good," Chris said and Leo kissed Piper before heading off to the pub and said good by to Penny and Patty whom were coming into the dining room.
"Has anyone seen Wyatt?" Piper asks.
"He is probably off torturing kittens," Prudence replied and for a moment forgot where she was," Sorry," she said.
"He is talking to some of the generals in the Valley," Patty replied.
"Do you know why?" Prue asks.
"Probably to go over plans, he has been mostly business for awhile now," Penny replied.
"Piper we need to talk," Patty said and the mood shifted quickly.
"About what?"
"About what happened with the elder," Patty replied and ladybug got up from her seat.
"Ladybug, Trinity could you excuse us for a moment?" Piper asks and she nodded as Penny and Patty sat down.
"We will be at the pub if you need us," Trinity said and they both left the house.
"Before anyone begins to judge, we have all lost it while here at least once," Piper said while all eyes were on her.
"No not like that," Prue said.
"Piper we are just worried about you," Penny said.
"Don't and she threatened my kids. Considering that our enemy is the elders I was taking her seriously," Piper said and stood up.
"Yeah I get that and if you would have blown her up we wouldn't be asking, but you used knifes Piper that is personal," Phoebe said.
"Your dam right its personal and what about you, forgot about Cole have we," Piper said as she did not like what they were accusing her off.
"I used my powers and the suit activated, there were things happening out of my control," Phoebe said and stood up to meet her sisters gaze.
"Girls, Piper we just wanted to make sure that the suit was not altering your personality again, that's all," Patty said.
"Oh to make me more like my daughter, so what are you saying that she is a murderer, that she is evil?" Piper asks and the lights began to flicker.
"God no, Pipe I know how easy it is to cross the line, remember the demon vampires, Cole had to pull me off to keep me from beating them to death," Prue replied.
"And no one backed you into a corner over it," Piper said.
"Phoebe was right it was a little too personal, Piper I have worked in the law enforcement field for a long time and when ever something like that happens, its more then just rage or anger," Henry added.
"What do you want me to say, that I enjoyed it, seeing her die slowly, that all the years they have put me and Leo through hell did not come to a point. Fine I did enjoy it and I would do it again and again. If they think they can threaten my family and all they're going to get is a earful, then they are wrong. Not anymore," Piper said and she did not flinch as some lamps bulbs exploded.
"Piper," Prue started to say but got the dark look from her younger sister.
"And anyone would be proud to have Melinda as their daughter, I know she has issues but she has been through more then any of us," Piper said and walked out of the dining room and out the door.
"I have a feeling we all are going to have a crossing the line moment before this is over," Patty said.
Down in the valley, Wyatt was walking up to the whirlwinds camp and tried to go in, but was stopped.
"Awray," Wyatt said as he stepped into her tent. Two guards stopped him from coming in any further.
"Its alright let him pass," she said while sitting at a large square table with maps scatter about. The room was lit with ornate oriental lanterns.
"Can we talk?" he asks.
"Of course," she replied and motioned for him to sit and then she told the guards to wait outside. "What brings you to our neck of the woods?"
"Not the warm welcome," he said as she took a drink from a small cup.
"Yes your family is not liked or respected for the most part because of what happened. The only reason we are aligned with you is because of the hell five and Mel," she said.
"The downside to a realm that does not have time-line changes I suppose," he said as she poured him a drink.
"It does have its advantages, when you arrived along with your family the negotiation probably would have went much worse. Our prior encounter with Mel was extremely helpful in achieving this goal," she said.
"I know I have a lot to prove and a lot to make up for, so I started thinking of what we may encounter when this war starts," he said.
"Once the portal is open there is no going back, your world and ours will be connected for a brief time," she said.
"The equinox," he said.
"Yes it has crossed our minds, it would give us a power boost but it will do the same for them," she said.
"I know but I started thinking what my evil self would do, Gideon probably would think the same way as I did when I was evil. He will not just bring god knows what from our world, but he will try to use what he can from here," Wyatt said.
"That my boy is exactly what you did. How much do you know about the old gods?" she asks.
"Not as much as I should," he replied.
"There is dark and light in all religions and this place the dark is very dark," she said.
"He will find the worst so we either wipe them out before hand or we deal with it during the war," he said.
"Interesting strategy but if we lose too many before the war, we could lose it all."
"I need to make amends here so I will kill as many as I can, there is no sense in any of the soldiers dieing," he said.
"Something tells me your mother would not approve," she said.
"Then it is our little secret," he said.
"I will give you 10 of my best, not just in the way of fighting but ones whom know this world and can give you the targets that would be best removed," she said and he nodded.
"We have a month before the equinox that should give me enough time," he said.
"Yes it should," she said as he got up. He gave a small bow to show his respect before leaving the tent. Awray called for her guards and gave them names of the 10 that would assist him.
"Do you trust him?" a guard asks.
"Why do you think I am sending my men with him, if he betrays us I will know," Awray replied.
Jack and Vagabond were sitting at a small table in the pub across from each other. There were small shot glasses lined up in front of them. Jack picked one up that was full to the brim and took in a deep breath as Vagabond gave a sly smile, his victory could be close at hand.
"The only person who has ever beaten me in this game is your wife and that of course was because of her suie," he said as Jack was swaying a little and chuckled as he drank down the entire glass and slammed it on the table upside down. "For years I've tried to figure out what she sees in you."
"Apparently what she does not see in you," Jack said as Vagabond picked up his glass as laughter filled the room. Mel and Vela were laughing so hard they could barely breathe.
"You look like a Penguin having a stroke," Vela said between breaths as Mel's entire body seem to be laughing with her.
Piper and the others walked in to see this rear event as they have never seen Mel laugh. She and Vela were clearly drunk as Mel was drinking the special wine that Vagabond made for her.
"God I wish I could drink," Phoebe said while rubbing her belly.
"Nothing stopping me," Penny said as she walked past them with Patty in tow.
Mel looked at the front door and saw her family standing there and her uncle Coop whom looked bad ass for once. "Is my vision impaired or is that uncle Coop?" Mel asks.
"This place is wonky," Vela replied as she could see the change as well.
"Do you mind if I get a drink?" Coop asks.
"No honey its fine I will just get some water," Phoebe replied and he walked up to Mel whom was near the bar. She leaned sideways to rest her elbow on the bar top but made a small misjudgment in the amount of pressure required to keep her standing, so she slid backward and Coop grabbed her arm.
"Where you going?" he asks as he pulled her back to a straightened position.
"Horizontal apparently, you look different," she said as Vela was playing with his longer hair.
"We could so braid this later," Vela said.
"No, no braiding," he said as the bar tender gave him some wine. "Thank you.
"It looks like your wife has the hots for her uncle," vagabond said.
"What is wrong with you," Jack said and pushed the full glass towards him.
"Do you want to know the final step in making the wine that Mel drinks?" he asks.
"Your stalling," Jack said.
"We cut a hole in the barrel and place it on the cock of a firefly. It stays like that for three days," Vagabond said and Jack blinked repeatedly.
"Fireflies have penises?" he asks.
"Yeah it was a surprise to us as well when all the bugs here got larger," he replied.
"Your full of shit," Jack said and could feel his stomach begin to mumble.
"Nope its the only way she can get drunk," he said and belched.
"She will kill you if you tell her," Jack said.
"Perhaps, but when was the last time you saw her laugh?" he asks as he looked over at her. Jack could not remember the last time she was truly happy and all the reasons he fell in love with her the first time were coming back.
"Will you let us paint your fingernails?" Mel asks while looking at Coops hands.
"No painting or braiding ok," he replied as Piper walked over to them. Ladybug and Trinity were also quite drunk as they came over to them.
"Hello," Trinity said very loudly as she came up to them.
"Mom," Prudence said and put her arm around her.
"Hi baby," Phoebe said and could feel the happiness in the room.
"Come drink," ladybug said.
"Pregnant remember," Phoebe said as she followed her to a table.
"You want anything?" Leo asks.
"Coffee or the equivalent," Piper replied.
"Its going to be a long night," he said and headed to the bar.
"Dad, I know what you will like," Mel said and nodded to the bar tender. He brought a pitcher of beer and Leo smiled as he has not had one in months. It was cold and looked delicious. Mel tried to pour him a glass but her coronation was off and Leo took the glass from her.
"I got it," he said and she just smiled wide at him. She had her mother smile, it was beautiful.
"Thanks my aim, amin – aiming system does not work on miniscule task," she said as Leo helped her over to a table with Vela.
"They need this," Prue said as she stood next to Piper.
"I know, just hope nothing happens while they are drunk," Piper said as they walked over to join them.
"Were we ever drunk before a demon fight?" Prue asks.
"Nope but definitely after," Piper replied and sat down as Mel was trying to get a quarter into a glass. Even without her tech on at the moment, she as a dead shot.
"Oh come on," Vela said as Mel had her tongue sticking out to the side and smiling. Jack came over and joined his wife and his daughter.
Bianca joined Chris and Leo at the bar as they played darts. It was like being at home except the pub was more like something you would see in England in a small village. It was beautiful and had this old world charm to it. Although moments before things between the sisters were very tense, now they were laughing as they enjoyed seeing their kids more lighter side. Trinity and ladybug were doing some kind of dance together and was something they might have memorized when they were kids. Of course with the alcohol running through their system, it was not very coordinated and they would occasionally trip over their own feet. The music was a mixture of 80's to current songs that Trinity pulled from her mother's phone. Leo and Chris were talking about cars but it was mostly slurred and Leo's face beamed brightly. Piper called Paige to come and see this grand display of happiness, but she would need to leave as she did not want her son's to be alone. It did not take Paige long to arrive and she was greeted by a drunk husband and daughter.
"Hay baby want to dance?" Henry said and she took his hand to join him on the small dance floor. Jack and Mel also joined them as Vela went to help ladybug to keep her from dancing alone.
To be continued...
