EPILOGUE
The man opened his eyes and looked around. He was standing in the entryway of the manor. It didn't look all that different from what it had looked like in the past. Suddenly a rush of memories flooded his mind. Thirty years of memories that had not happened before he had gone into the past. Now, with the past altered, he gained all the memories that had resulted from that change.
He also felt the difference in his power. He had been right. With the Charmed Ones and Michael saved in the past, he hadn't absorbed their power. Even with the loss of power, it still felt natural. As if he had always been used to that level of power.
"Welcome back."
The man turned to see Michael standing in the living room.
"Uncle Michael," he said as he moved to shake hands with the White Lighter.
"Uncle Michael?" questioned Michael. "Then you remember?"
"Yes," he said. "It's strange to have all these memories that I don't remember going through."
"Technically, you did go through them," said Piper stepping up next to Michael. "We thought it might be an easier adjustment if Michael was the first one you saw when you got back."
The man hugged Piper close as Leo, Phoebe, and Paige also gathered around. They were all thirty years older but the man knew them intimately.
"Somehow you don't look right," the man said to Leo, who also looked thirty years older.
"You know it's only an appearance," said Leo, hugging him, "so no one guesses I'm a White Lighter."
"I know," said the man. "It just seems strange, that's all."
The man also hugged Phoebe and Paige. It was good to see them still alive, knowing he had helped to save them. They all moved into the living room and sat down.
"Michael explained everything," said Piper, "when you suddenly orbed out without an explanation. We were very worried. He told us what was going on. Funny I didn't put things together earlier."
"It was thirty years ago," said Leo. "Memories have a way of blurring over time."
"I always knew," said Paige. "I figured it out right off."
"You did not," said Phoebe. "No one did. No one but Michael."
"Well, I did have the added advantage of knowing what was going to happen," said Michael. "That helped."
"I should have guessed who you were," said Piper. "Melissa Warrick is so similar to Melinda Warren it should have been obvious."
"Too obvious," said Michael. "That's why you never connected the two. I didn't even figure it out until he called on Melinda Warren and the Power of Three to vanquish Logash. Only a Charmed One can call on the Power of Three. Or the son of a Charmed One."
"Well, I was right about one thing," said the man. "All the power that I absorbed the first time is gone. Since none of you died, it wasn't transferred to me."
"I'm sorry about that, honey," said Piper. "You obviously still retain your memories of what the past was like before you changed it. It must be a terrible let down loosing all that power."
"No, it's not," said the man, leaning against Piper. "Like I told Uncle Michael thirty years ago, what I've lost can't begin to compare with what I've gained. What's a little power compared to that?"
"Still," said Phoebe, "to be nearly all-powerful one minute and the next be just an ordinary witch. You don't feel any loss at all?"
"None," said the man. "For one thing, I'm hardly an ordinary witch."
"Well, that much is true," said Paige. "Being half White Lighter does have its advantages."
"Besides that," said the man, "I have my mom and dad back. Not to mention my two aunts and Uncle Michael. Even if it had cost me every bit of the power I have, it would have been worth it. I need my family more than I need my power."
Piper hugged her son close, knowing exactly how he felt.
The End
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