Authors note: It's been a long time since I last updated this story, well over a decade in fact. I never really meant to abandon it but life got in the way and with it the story became neglected and then later abandoned. Looking at it now with fresh eyes, I re-read it and again found where I originally wanted to end the story. Thank you

Chapter Twenty-One

The pain radiating from Chris was pulling Matt apart as he and Wyatt reformed on the sand. Scanning the area quickly Matt initially couldn't locate his brother. It was only the sounds of his cries that alerted both boys that he was present.

Running towards the noise they rounded the corner of a large rock to find Chris rocking a young girl in his arms. You didn't have be an empath like their Aunt Phoebe to be able to channel the anguish coming from Chris. The cacophonous orchestra posing as a storm sweeping it's way across the Pacific was evidence enough that Chris was in agony. Waves crashing loudly against the rocks, winds so fierce and so loud they were screaming, thunder and lightening fighting for dominance, it was all courtesy of Chris and his pain.

Matt looked down at the scene before him and his heart broke. Kneeling next to his brother he could see straight away that the girl in his arms was not moving. Biting his lip, he reached over and placed his index and middle finger to her neck in search of a pulse. Sad eyes found Chris' and it was all the confirmation the troubled witch needed. The girl in his arms was indeed dead.

"No?" Chris questioned, his voice faltering.

"I'm sorry Chris,"

Laying a hand on his younger brother's shoulder Matt was quickly thrown into a vision.

Chris on the beach walking hand in hand with the beautiful girl, the waves lapping at their bare feet. "I have to go away Laney," Chris sighed "I've done something terrible and I'm terrified of what I've become,"

"You're a good person Chris," Laney pulled him towards her and wrapped her arms around her neck before kissing him lightly on the lips.

Briefly enjoying the moment Chris pulled back closing his eyes and sighing "I'm responsible for the death of several people," He couldn't bring himself to utter the words 'I've killed' Laney pulled back slightly looking confused. Looking at him intently she tried to study him.

"I'm falling for you Chris," she answered shyly "I know we haven't known each other that long and I can't explain it, but I'm drawn to you. Wherever you're going I'm coming too," Pulling him into a chaste kiss, it was brief and fleeting, but it conveyed everything that Chris needed to know.

"There's something else you need to know," Chris admitted biting his lip nervously "And I don't want you to freak out,"

"Ok," she eyed him dubiously.

Letting out the breath he was tightly holding in anticipation, Chris closed his eyes as he disappeared in a mass of black and dark blue orbs, only to reform directly behind her. Whipping her body around quickly, Laney looked at him dumbstruck, eyes bulging in shock, her mouth falling open in attempt to talk but nothing came out. The silence seemed to last forever. Chris was starting to feel nervous.

"Say something…please," he pleaded

"Wow!"

Chris laughed "Wow?" raising his eyebrows in surprise he grinned "Is that all you can say? I was expecting a load of questions,"

Laney shook her head in disbelief "How?"

"My mom is a Witch and my dad is a Whitelighter,"

"Whitelighter?"

"Their angels that protect and guide witches,"

"Ok then," Laney answered unsure of what she was hearing. She lent back against a rock to try and process what Chris was saying.

"You're unsure?" It was more of statement than a question. Chris didn't need to be an empath to know that this had shook Laney "Are you unsure about me?" Dread began to fill Chris.

"What?" Laney stood up, grabbing his hands and pulling him towards her "No! I'm just a little shocked that's all. I mean come on Chris, five minutes ago I didn't think witches and white..?"

"Lighters," Chris finished

"Yeah, Whitelighters existed," Pulling at his hands she placed them around her waist before wrapping her arms around his neck "Nothings changed," she grinned before pulling him into a passionate kiss.

"Well isn't this sweet," Breaking apart they turned towards the hooded man standing close on the shore "Loves young dream," His voice was dripping with sarcasm.

"Who are you?" Chris challenged pulling Laney behind him protectively.

"It's very touching you being protective and all, but it'll do you no good," The figure moved closer before telepathically sending Chris flying. Landing on the sand with a thump Chris quickly pulled himself up to see the man shimmer closer to Laney, before plunging the athame deep into her stomach.

"NOOO!" Chris yelled running over and catch her as she fell. Laney went into shock, dropping to her knees pulling Chris down with her.

"An eye for an eye," he sneered at Chris who looked at him confused. "My wife was one of the witches you murdered," he elaborated further.

"I…..," Chris stuttered; he felt the sick rising to the back of his throat.

"Remember as she dies Chris, you did this!" he taunted as he disappeared before the young witch's eyes.

Matt gasped as he was pulled back to reality. "What did you see?" Wyatt asked becoming impatient.

"Her death!" Matt answered sadly turning towards his double "Go back to the Manor get my dad,"

"If your thinking of healing her she's long past that," Wyatt quipped rolling his eyes.

"Do it!" Matt commanded quickly losing his patience.

"Fine," Wyatt grumbled before disappearing into a swarm of dark orbs.

Chris felt like he'd lost touch with reality. The agony burning inside him was overflowing, spilling over threatening to consume him. He knew his inner turmoil was what was causing the storm raging around him. The wind was picking up and he could see that even on his knees Matt was struggling to stay up right from the full force of it. It left him unaffected, chaos ruled around him, but he was still unmoved.

"Chris stop it," Matt begged shouting over the sound of the high wind "I know you're hurting but your destroying the city," The sound of thunder calling followed by lighting cracking into the ocean startled Matt yet Chris stayed in his trance.

Orbs filled the air before them as both sets of their parents and Wyatt reformed in front of them. Good Piper gasped "Peanut?" she questioned quickly approaching.

Chris looked up at his mother with sad eyes and it broke her heart. In that moment he looked like the small child who clung to her hurt and distraught because daddy didn't seem to care.

"Mommy," he whispered "It's….my fault," Sobbing he looked down at Laney lying still in his arms.

Looking up cautiously at Leo, Piper swallowed hard bile filling her throat. Surely, he didn't mean what she thought he did. A couple of hours ago the very idea was unfathomable. Her son a killer? No, she would never have believed that until now.

"Dad," Chris' desperate voice pulled her from his thoughts "Please you have to try and heal her,"

Piper stood up and stepped aside, allowing Leo to kneel next to Chris and Matt. Holding out his hand, Leo willed the warm glow to appear. It didn't, which wasn't a surprised. The moment he saw the young woman in his sons arms he knew it was too late.

"It's too late Chris," Leo said shaking his head "I can't heal the dead,"

Another crash of thunder filled the skies, rain began to beat down upon them so hard that it felt like they were being hit with pellets. "Nooo!" Chris whaled as lighting danced across the ocean and the wind matched the young witches screams.

"Chris stop!" Matt cried, dropping to his knees "You're going to rip this place apart. I can't deal with your pain it's too much," He gasped desperately trying to regain control of his emotions.

"Chris is causing this?" Leo asked surprised.

"Baby," Piper pressed "How is this your fault?"

Chris saw the fear in her eyes. 'All she sees is a killer' he thought sadly. It was quite clear to him that he was no longer her son.

"I didn't do this!" he yelled defensively "I didn't stab her," More lightening crackled around them making those around him jump.

"I never said you did Peanut," Piper answered cautiously holding her hands up in defence. She saw the fire in his eyes, His beautiful green eyes burning dark green. It was almost mesmerizing, she had never been frightened of her son before, but the power he was wheedling was like nothing she had ever seen from him.

"We need to get out of here," Darklighter Leo shouted over the high wind.

"Agreed," his counterpart confirmed "You go back to the manor where the girls are, I'll grab Chris," Nodding their evil selves orbed away leaving Chris with his true family.

"Piper!" Leo yelled over the sounds of the storm "You and Matt need to go back too. I'll bring Chris,"

"No!" Chris yelled quickly coming out of his daze "I'm not leaving her,"

"And I'm not leaving him!" Piper responded firmly.

"Chris there's nothing more we can do for her, Please,"

"I SAID NO!" he screamed pushing Matt and his parents several metres back with his telekinesis. The storm began to form around Chris like a shield, keeping everybody at bay.

"MATT I'M NOT GOING TO TELL YOU AGAIN! YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE," Waving his hand he forced his eldest son and Piper into a mass of light blue orbs.

Getting to his feet, Leo fought against the winds raging around him, to get to his youngest son. The power of the storm knocked him clear off his feet as the sound of more thunder erupted again. Crawling on his stomach he fought against the elements until he was inches from his son. The whirlpool like a cyclone, sheathing Chris was stinging Leo's eyes and whipping at his exposure skin. Mustering all the strength he possessed Leo pulled himself onto his knees and threw himself at this son briefly orbing out and into the middle of the storm.

His blue orbs encircled them all as they disappeared from the seafront, reforming upon of the familiar Golden Gate bridge.