This story begins with a scene from the episode "Chris-Crossed" and then back-tracks to follow Chris through his childhood up until the moment he travels back in time. Each chapter is an episode in Chris's life. Some of them are cued from scenes in the television show and some from my imagination. The story is based on facts up until the episode "Hyde School Reunion."
None of this story could have been written without the help of the website www.thecharmedones.com
Thank you for all the reviews. I appreciate all forms of feedback. Just a note, this story has already been completed. It will be updated on Mondays and Thursdays.
Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed. This story is a product of my imagination. Some of the scenes have been taken from the script and modified. When this occurs, the episode and writer of the original scene is cited.
Part Four
"I saw…children…my child…a normal life, without demons—is that possible?"
-Season Six, Episode 125, "The Legend of Sleepy Halliwell"
"Wyatt, Chris, Melinda, are you three ready for school? The portal isn't going to stay open for long. Aunt Paige isn't going to wait forever for you three either!" Piper yelled up the stairs. Seconds later, Wyatt and Melinda appeared at the top of the stairs, Chris close behind. Wyatt pushed past his cousin and started down. Chris caught her and the two of them followed.
The three of them grabbed their backpacks and Piper handed each of them a paper bag. "No getting into trouble today, right Chris?" she said, kissing his head. The three of them lined up in front of her and waited for Paige to come downstairs and open the portal. Melinda stuck her thumb into her mouth as Chris looked up at his mother, his eyes wide.
"Wasn't me, Mom," Chris responded. He looked up at her and emphasized his point by shaking his head. "Maybe one of the other kids?" She always blamed him, even when the teacher said it wasn't his fault.
"Chris, you're the only child in that class who can orb." Wyatt perked his head up and glared at Chris, willing him not to say anything. Chris looked back at his brother. He couldn't always take the blame for something that Wyatt had done. He had to do it too often. He was starting to get tired of the punishments that went with Wyatt's reckless behavior. Sometimes he wished that Wyatt understood the responsibilities that went with his powers. Wyatt never seemed to understand how much he was truly hurting him.
"Wasn't me, Mom," Chris said again, this time putting stress on the first few words. "I didn't do it. Besides, Wyatt can orb too. Maybe it was him." Wyatt glared at him again, his eyes narrowing into tiny slits. Chris could see his hands balling into fists.
"He's not in your class Chris. Just behave today, ok? All of you behave. I'm not coming to school to pick any of you up because you were sent to the headmaster for playing tricks on your teachers." Piper somehow managed to ignore her eldest son's actions and she leaned over Melinda and kissed her on the head. Melinda's eyes were focused on the ground.
"Aunt Piper?" Melinda asked. She took her thumb out of her mouth and looked up at her aunt. "It wasn't Chris." She promptly put her thumb back into her mouth and continued gazing at Piper, her eyes wide.
"Chris isn't in your class, sweetie. Don't worry about this," she squatted down to Melinda's level and pried the thumb out of the girl's mouth. "You shouldn't do that, you're almost seven, almost a big girl. Hasn't your mother told you it will harm your teeth?"
"Mommy hasn't been home in three days," Melinda replied. "And my teeth are fine," she grinned up at Piper, momentarily lowering her cousin's defense. Chris gave an inward sigh. It wasn't like this was unusual. He was gearing himself for another lecture about magical responsibility when Melinda lowered her gaze and stuck her thumb back into her mouth. "But it wasn't Chris. Don't yell at him anymore, ok?" she muttered.
"Honey, you're only six. You don't really know about this. Don't worry. Nothing is going to happen at school today, right Chris?" Piper swung around to look at her second son. Chris looked down. He knew who was responsible for the incident at school the day before, but his own mother seemed oblivious to the fact that both of her sons could orb. She never really wanted to blame Wyatt for anything and Wyatt liked it that way.
"Wasn't Chris," Melinda mumbled again. Wyatt looked over at her again and made a slashing motion over his throat. Piper missed this action and bent over to kiss Wyatt on the cheek, but he pulled away. She looked away, obviously hurt. Clanking noises sounded at the top of the stairs and Paige appeared. She waved her arm to reveal the giant wooden door that was the portal to magic school.
"Ready you three?" she asked as she swung the door open. Wyatt bounded up the stairs and through the door. Chris grabbed Melinda's hand and the two of them walked slowly up the stairs together. When he reached the door, he turned around to look at his mother.
"Love you, Mom," he called down to her. She smiled and looked up at him.
"No problems today Chris," she called up to him. Disappointed, he led Melinda through the door. She would never believe him. She never did.
"Chris?" he looked down at his little cousin. Melinda had always been more of sibling to him than Wyatt. She was so sweet, so innocent, so naïve. She was much more than just a cousin to him. He'd do anything to protect her.
"Yes?" he replied. Melinda grasped his hand tighter and took her other thumb out of her mouth. She looked up at him, her eyes widening. She used her thumb to push her brown locks out of her face and behind her ear.
"Chris, I know it wasn't you," she put her thumb back into her mouth. Chris squeezed her hand and led her down the long hallway of Magic School. She was the only reason he hadn't gone crazy in this house. His dad was never home and his mother never believed him. The one person who did was four years younger than him and in no position to sway the adults. But for some reason, Chris always felt better knowing that she looked up to him. She believed in him.
Melinda jerked his hand and pointed towards a large brown door. Chris pushed it open to reveal a classroom full of younger children. He led Melinda in and her hand loosened in his. She pulled away, her thumb still in her mouth, and started to walk towards the other children. Chris turned to leave, but stopped when he felt Melinda grab him around the waist.
"'love you, Chris," she mumbled, and wandered into the classroom. Chris watched her go. She was exposed to magic, but growing up without demons. If they were ever attacked again, her innocence would be shattered and her sweetness lost. There was going to be no way to protect her from the reality of what they were.
Chris shut the door and started to walk towards his classroom. Suddenly, he heard a loud crash and saw Wyatt running from another classroom. He stared at his brother as Wyatt skidded to a stop in front of him. "Don't tell Mom." He commanded as he started to run away.
"What?" Chris said. "What did you do?" Wyatt gave him an annoyed look and pushed his blond curls out of his eye.
"Don't tell Mom. Or I'll make sure you get blamed for this too." With that, Wyatt sped down the endless hall. Chris shrugged and continued in the opposite direction towards the explosion. There was no reason not to go to class. He was going to get blamed for this anyway. She'd never believe it wasn't him.