Author's Note: Here is the final chapter of my little story. I hope you
have all enjoyed it. The time jumps forward a lot, but it's just the way I
wanted to end it. I want to say thank you to all who have read this. I
was a little afraid at first that it wouldn't be as good as my other one,
but my reviews seem to have proven me wrong. And I apologize for making
you all cry.
Chapter Four: Perfect
Seventeen-year-old Chris walked into the attic knowing that he didn't have a lot of time. He had to find a spell in the Book before he left, or he knew that he would not remember when he returned and if he did not have it by the time he got back it would mean there was going to be lots of trouble whereas there would then be a lot of demons in the house. Heck, there could be demons already waiting for him downstairs at that very moment, so he knew he had better not waste any time.
Opening the front of the Book, Chris noticed something sticking out of the torn lining. Confused, he took it out and realized it was a letter of some kind. Knowing that he didn't have the time, he was about to toss it on the floor thinking it was just something one of his aunts had written, when he noticed that the letter had his name written on the front in his mother's hand.
"What is this?" he asked himself, unfolding the letter. Looking it over, he read the first line and felt a sense of de ja vu.
Chris,
I first off want to apologize to you for the way I have treated you these last couple of days. I know it hurts you, but it hurts me even more and I'm sorry.
Looking up, Chris did a double take and reread the first line, not understanding. Walking over to the couch that sat in the attic, he sat down and began again, this time reading the full letter.
Chris,
I first off want to apologize to you for the way I have treated you these last couple of days. I know it hurts you, but it hurts me even more and I'm sorry. So much has happened lately and I have no idea where to begin. I suppose I should start with telling you something I don't think I told you enough:
I love you.
I could say that a thousand times, but it wouldn't be enough. You and your brother are the world to me and I hope you both know that. I know I was hard on you and probably will be hard on you in the future, but I want you to know that I did and will do, was all for your own good, that it is just what mothers do.
I also want you to know that I am proud of you. I am not sure how much will have changed by the time you read this, but I hope you know that I understand the risk you took by coming back here more than you will ever know and it is one of the reasons that I decided to write you this letter. I only hope that your future is now perfect and that I am there to share it with you and your brother and possibly your father.
Speaking of Leo, I hope you know that he does love you. I know it must be hard on you and Wyatt with his Elderly duties keeping him away from you, but keep in mind that if he had it his way that he would be there with you always. Family always came first for Leo and always will and you boys mean the world to him. It was hard on me too when I realized the strains of his job, but things can be worked out, though it may take some time, just don't give up on him.
You aunts, I know, have probably spoiled you like crazy all your life. I'm not sure what's in store for them, but if Phoebe's premonition was right, she is a married woman and a mother and there was, at some point in time, a demon free life for all of us. Please, don't take your aunts for granted. They would never know the difference.
I had your grandpa make me a promise not too long ago that if anything should happen to me for him to take care of you. You told him yourself right in front of me that he was awesome and it turns out that you both have a wonderful relationship. I hope you still have it in the future and that my father will always be there for you.
Now, this is the part of the letter that I have been dreading, but I have to say it, besides, you said it to me once, so I believe that it is only fair. I want you to know that if something were to ever happen to me, something that would take me away from you, I don't want you to be worried. I don't want you to be sad, or turn your life upside down because of it. Know that no matter where I am, that I will always love you and that I will always be with you. You are my son, my flesh and blood, and that bond is stronger than anything the world.
I love you, Chris, and am proud of you. Never forget that. Never.
Mom
Chris stared at the letter and read it over, trying to understand. It brought a tear to his eye that his mother loved him that much, but it was something that he already knew, that he had always known. Taking a deep breath, Chris tried to think of why his mother would have written him the letter, but his thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling to him from upstairs.
"Chris? We're going to be late! Hurry up!"
Chris stood, the letter falling from his hand. "Coming, grandpa!" It was then that he orbed down into the entryway of the Manor and found his grandfather standing in front of the mirror, making sure that he looked all right.
"Are you all set?" Victor asked, looking Chris over and making sure that he was presentable.
"Yeah. All ready."
Victor smiled. "You know, you'll be graduating next year and then you'll have everyone fussing over you then, just like Wyatt."
Chris nodded, but didn't bother telling his grandfather that he would much rather not having all of the attention. He wasn't a big fan of it, besides, his mind was still stuck on the letter from his mother, but he couldn't let that ruin his big brother's high school graduation day.
"Well, we better be going," Victor said, opening the door. "We'll see Wyatt there, though we will have to look for him in that crowd of people...and we'll meet your aunts there, they should be saving us seats."
"Am I orbing us there?" Chris asked.
"No," Victor said, shaking his head. "Wyatt wants this day to be as normal as possible, so there will be no orbing. That is unless there is not time to drive due to a certain grandson of mine who will not leave the house with me on time."
Chris smiled and exited the house with his grandfather.
Wyatt's high school had a large graduating class and it took Chris forever to spot his brother in the rows and rows of seniors who were sitting and waiting for the ceremony to begin. He was sitting next to a few of his friends from football, but upon feeling a pair of eyes on him, Wyatt searched the seats and smiled when he saw Chris.
The two brothers were the best of friends. Nothing came between family, especially theirs. They were Halliwell's, they were the sons of a Charmed One, but more importantly they were brothers and nothing would ever change that. Both young men had gone through so much together, the coming and growing of their powers, the countless demons that constantly were attacking and the loss of loved ones.
Chris' thoughts were interrupted when he heard familiar voices and when he turned he saw his two aunts and his cousin. He smiled at Paige and was thankful that Magic School had given her the time off. Paige didn't mind that her nephews did not go to Magic School; she knew that they were happy leading the semi normal life that they were leading and that was enough for her.
Phoebe was still working at the newspaper, but tried to spend as much time with her daughter as she could. Chris got along well with his younger cousin, but she was away at Magic School and he was always busy with things for school and was off fighting demons, so they just didn't have the time to be around the other.
The five sat in silence as they waited for the ceremony to begin. Chris looked to his left and saw two empty seats and immediately thought of his parents. It meant a lot to Wyatt that they should be there and yet there were those two empty seats. Perhaps it was what their mother meant in the letter, Chris thought. Feeling a back on his back, Chris faced his grandfather and smiled, knowing that the rest of the family was there.
Then, Chris heard something. It was nothing more than a whisper, but he heard it and he looked down beneath the bleachers and saw nothing. Confused, he turned and looked al around him, knowing that he had heard what he had. Still seeing no one, Chris sighed and was about to give up hope when he felt a shadow looming over him.
"Next time, remind me never to book a band the same day as one of my son's graduations," a familiar voice said.
Chris was instantly at his feet. "Mom, dad."
There in the isle next to him stood Piper and Leo, his parents. Chris' eyes were watery, for just seeing his mother made him remember the letter, but he tried not to cry. A smile was spreading across his face and he quickly moved forward and hugged his mother.
"You're here," he said, holding her tight. When he let go Chris could see the confused look on his mother's face.
"Of course I'm here. You think your father and I would miss this?" Piper asked.
"Chris, are you all right?" Leo asked, looking his son over. "Your eyes..."
Chris rubbed an arm over them. "Oh, it's nothing. Just had something in my eye is all."
There was a cough from Victor and the three turned. "You all had better sit down and be quiet, I think it's going to begin."
The three sat and waited for the ceremony to begin. All the while, Chris held his mother's hand, smiling. Once the ceremony was over, everyone gathered together and made their way to Wyatt and pried him away from his friends for a few moments to fuss over him and take as many pictures as possible. Wyatt did his best to stay patient, for he hated his picture being taken, and Chris did his best not to move when forced into a pose.
"I am so glad that it's over," Wyatt said, stepping aside from his family with Chris.
"What, school?"
"No, the pictures."
Chris laughed, but his mind seemed elsewhere and Wyatt noticed. When he asked his younger brother what was wrong, Chris remained silent. He knew that they hardly kept secrets from the other, but he wasn't sure how he wanted to tell Wyatt about the letter.
"We can talk about it at home. Not here," Chris said, hoping that his answer was enough to drop the subject for a while. Besides, his parents were heading over and he wasn't sure how he wanted to bring it up with his mother, either.
Piper and Leo took their turns hugging and praising their oldest son, but also made sure that Chris knew that they were still proud of him as well.
"One more year for you," Leo said, patting Chris' back.
"Then it will really begin." Chris laughed at the thought of it. He only had one more year and then it was off to college, a college that was preferably in another city or state. It wasn't that he wand to leave, but he wanted a break from all the demons and fighting and powers. But Chris knew that no matter what he decided, that his parents would be there for him and would support him. Together.
It was common knowledge that something had happened between his parents before he was born, but it had been resolved. He knew that his parents still had their moments and their disagreements, but they loved each other and they loved their sons and fought the obstacles as best as they could. Just thinking about how good his life was Chris began to smile, something that was beginning to become a habit.
Piper caught the smile that was spreading across Chris' face and looked at him. "What is it? You've been acting strange lately, is everything all right?'
Putting an arm around his mother's shoulders, Chris led her away, following his family as they left the high school.
"Perfect," Chris told her. "Everything is perfect."
The End
Chapter Four: Perfect
Seventeen-year-old Chris walked into the attic knowing that he didn't have a lot of time. He had to find a spell in the Book before he left, or he knew that he would not remember when he returned and if he did not have it by the time he got back it would mean there was going to be lots of trouble whereas there would then be a lot of demons in the house. Heck, there could be demons already waiting for him downstairs at that very moment, so he knew he had better not waste any time.
Opening the front of the Book, Chris noticed something sticking out of the torn lining. Confused, he took it out and realized it was a letter of some kind. Knowing that he didn't have the time, he was about to toss it on the floor thinking it was just something one of his aunts had written, when he noticed that the letter had his name written on the front in his mother's hand.
"What is this?" he asked himself, unfolding the letter. Looking it over, he read the first line and felt a sense of de ja vu.
Chris,
I first off want to apologize to you for the way I have treated you these last couple of days. I know it hurts you, but it hurts me even more and I'm sorry.
Looking up, Chris did a double take and reread the first line, not understanding. Walking over to the couch that sat in the attic, he sat down and began again, this time reading the full letter.
Chris,
I first off want to apologize to you for the way I have treated you these last couple of days. I know it hurts you, but it hurts me even more and I'm sorry. So much has happened lately and I have no idea where to begin. I suppose I should start with telling you something I don't think I told you enough:
I love you.
I could say that a thousand times, but it wouldn't be enough. You and your brother are the world to me and I hope you both know that. I know I was hard on you and probably will be hard on you in the future, but I want you to know that I did and will do, was all for your own good, that it is just what mothers do.
I also want you to know that I am proud of you. I am not sure how much will have changed by the time you read this, but I hope you know that I understand the risk you took by coming back here more than you will ever know and it is one of the reasons that I decided to write you this letter. I only hope that your future is now perfect and that I am there to share it with you and your brother and possibly your father.
Speaking of Leo, I hope you know that he does love you. I know it must be hard on you and Wyatt with his Elderly duties keeping him away from you, but keep in mind that if he had it his way that he would be there with you always. Family always came first for Leo and always will and you boys mean the world to him. It was hard on me too when I realized the strains of his job, but things can be worked out, though it may take some time, just don't give up on him.
You aunts, I know, have probably spoiled you like crazy all your life. I'm not sure what's in store for them, but if Phoebe's premonition was right, she is a married woman and a mother and there was, at some point in time, a demon free life for all of us. Please, don't take your aunts for granted. They would never know the difference.
I had your grandpa make me a promise not too long ago that if anything should happen to me for him to take care of you. You told him yourself right in front of me that he was awesome and it turns out that you both have a wonderful relationship. I hope you still have it in the future and that my father will always be there for you.
Now, this is the part of the letter that I have been dreading, but I have to say it, besides, you said it to me once, so I believe that it is only fair. I want you to know that if something were to ever happen to me, something that would take me away from you, I don't want you to be worried. I don't want you to be sad, or turn your life upside down because of it. Know that no matter where I am, that I will always love you and that I will always be with you. You are my son, my flesh and blood, and that bond is stronger than anything the world.
I love you, Chris, and am proud of you. Never forget that. Never.
Mom
Chris stared at the letter and read it over, trying to understand. It brought a tear to his eye that his mother loved him that much, but it was something that he already knew, that he had always known. Taking a deep breath, Chris tried to think of why his mother would have written him the letter, but his thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling to him from upstairs.
"Chris? We're going to be late! Hurry up!"
Chris stood, the letter falling from his hand. "Coming, grandpa!" It was then that he orbed down into the entryway of the Manor and found his grandfather standing in front of the mirror, making sure that he looked all right.
"Are you all set?" Victor asked, looking Chris over and making sure that he was presentable.
"Yeah. All ready."
Victor smiled. "You know, you'll be graduating next year and then you'll have everyone fussing over you then, just like Wyatt."
Chris nodded, but didn't bother telling his grandfather that he would much rather not having all of the attention. He wasn't a big fan of it, besides, his mind was still stuck on the letter from his mother, but he couldn't let that ruin his big brother's high school graduation day.
"Well, we better be going," Victor said, opening the door. "We'll see Wyatt there, though we will have to look for him in that crowd of people...and we'll meet your aunts there, they should be saving us seats."
"Am I orbing us there?" Chris asked.
"No," Victor said, shaking his head. "Wyatt wants this day to be as normal as possible, so there will be no orbing. That is unless there is not time to drive due to a certain grandson of mine who will not leave the house with me on time."
Chris smiled and exited the house with his grandfather.
Wyatt's high school had a large graduating class and it took Chris forever to spot his brother in the rows and rows of seniors who were sitting and waiting for the ceremony to begin. He was sitting next to a few of his friends from football, but upon feeling a pair of eyes on him, Wyatt searched the seats and smiled when he saw Chris.
The two brothers were the best of friends. Nothing came between family, especially theirs. They were Halliwell's, they were the sons of a Charmed One, but more importantly they were brothers and nothing would ever change that. Both young men had gone through so much together, the coming and growing of their powers, the countless demons that constantly were attacking and the loss of loved ones.
Chris' thoughts were interrupted when he heard familiar voices and when he turned he saw his two aunts and his cousin. He smiled at Paige and was thankful that Magic School had given her the time off. Paige didn't mind that her nephews did not go to Magic School; she knew that they were happy leading the semi normal life that they were leading and that was enough for her.
Phoebe was still working at the newspaper, but tried to spend as much time with her daughter as she could. Chris got along well with his younger cousin, but she was away at Magic School and he was always busy with things for school and was off fighting demons, so they just didn't have the time to be around the other.
The five sat in silence as they waited for the ceremony to begin. Chris looked to his left and saw two empty seats and immediately thought of his parents. It meant a lot to Wyatt that they should be there and yet there were those two empty seats. Perhaps it was what their mother meant in the letter, Chris thought. Feeling a back on his back, Chris faced his grandfather and smiled, knowing that the rest of the family was there.
Then, Chris heard something. It was nothing more than a whisper, but he heard it and he looked down beneath the bleachers and saw nothing. Confused, he turned and looked al around him, knowing that he had heard what he had. Still seeing no one, Chris sighed and was about to give up hope when he felt a shadow looming over him.
"Next time, remind me never to book a band the same day as one of my son's graduations," a familiar voice said.
Chris was instantly at his feet. "Mom, dad."
There in the isle next to him stood Piper and Leo, his parents. Chris' eyes were watery, for just seeing his mother made him remember the letter, but he tried not to cry. A smile was spreading across his face and he quickly moved forward and hugged his mother.
"You're here," he said, holding her tight. When he let go Chris could see the confused look on his mother's face.
"Of course I'm here. You think your father and I would miss this?" Piper asked.
"Chris, are you all right?" Leo asked, looking his son over. "Your eyes..."
Chris rubbed an arm over them. "Oh, it's nothing. Just had something in my eye is all."
There was a cough from Victor and the three turned. "You all had better sit down and be quiet, I think it's going to begin."
The three sat and waited for the ceremony to begin. All the while, Chris held his mother's hand, smiling. Once the ceremony was over, everyone gathered together and made their way to Wyatt and pried him away from his friends for a few moments to fuss over him and take as many pictures as possible. Wyatt did his best to stay patient, for he hated his picture being taken, and Chris did his best not to move when forced into a pose.
"I am so glad that it's over," Wyatt said, stepping aside from his family with Chris.
"What, school?"
"No, the pictures."
Chris laughed, but his mind seemed elsewhere and Wyatt noticed. When he asked his younger brother what was wrong, Chris remained silent. He knew that they hardly kept secrets from the other, but he wasn't sure how he wanted to tell Wyatt about the letter.
"We can talk about it at home. Not here," Chris said, hoping that his answer was enough to drop the subject for a while. Besides, his parents were heading over and he wasn't sure how he wanted to bring it up with his mother, either.
Piper and Leo took their turns hugging and praising their oldest son, but also made sure that Chris knew that they were still proud of him as well.
"One more year for you," Leo said, patting Chris' back.
"Then it will really begin." Chris laughed at the thought of it. He only had one more year and then it was off to college, a college that was preferably in another city or state. It wasn't that he wand to leave, but he wanted a break from all the demons and fighting and powers. But Chris knew that no matter what he decided, that his parents would be there for him and would support him. Together.
It was common knowledge that something had happened between his parents before he was born, but it had been resolved. He knew that his parents still had their moments and their disagreements, but they loved each other and they loved their sons and fought the obstacles as best as they could. Just thinking about how good his life was Chris began to smile, something that was beginning to become a habit.
Piper caught the smile that was spreading across Chris' face and looked at him. "What is it? You've been acting strange lately, is everything all right?'
Putting an arm around his mother's shoulders, Chris led her away, following his family as they left the high school.
"Perfect," Chris told her. "Everything is perfect."
The End