Spoilers: Contains spoilers for It's a Bad Bad Bad Bad World (Season 6 finale).
Chapter 4
"Phoebe could be right, Piper. You could be developing a new power. Or rather, an advancement of your current power." Leo said, having come back to the Manor with Wyatt only to find an ex-wife who was more upset than when he left. Wyatt was quietly playing with his toys, while Chris was asleep upstairs.
"What do you mean?" Piper asked.
"Your power to freeze and blow things up is really molecular manipulation. Slowing down or speeding up molecules. So, it appears that you can now manipulate your own molecular structure, as well as anything you're touching, so that you can pass through solid objects." Leo explained.
"Or pass through you," Phoebe added, "like that fireball."
"But why now? Why today? Couldn't they have waited until after the wiccanning?" Piper whined.
"I can't ask them anymore, but I'd guess that they think you're ready for more powers. Or that they think you'll need this power." Leo said, reaching out to grasp Piper's hand. "You can handle this. You were able to control your ability to blow things up, and you can control this."
"Yeah, Piper. And this sounds like a cool power." Phoebe interjected. "You're becoming one kick-ass witch."
"But if this is one of my powers, Chris must have known. Why wouldn't he tell me about it?" Piper asked.
"Future consequences." Phoebe and Leo answered together.
"Or maybe he didn't know. Maybe they're jacking up your powers because I lost mine." Phoebe added.
"Whatever. I have to finish cleaning the attic. It will be time to call Grams soon." Piper goes back upstairs to finish cleaning the attic. But she stops to check in on her youngest son. He was sleeping peacefully. She watched him sleep for a few minutes. He was such a beautiful baby. And he would grow up to be a handsome and brave young man. But this time, he would have a happier life. She would make sure of it.
The attic was finally straightened up enough to suit Piper. Paige had come home from work. The sisters and Leo were in the attic with the boys.
A circle of candles was arranged on the floor. Standing outside the circle, Piper recited the spell she knew by heart:
"Hear these words, hear my cry,
Spirit from the other side.
Come to me, I summon thee,
Cross now the great divide."
Inside the circle of candles, Grams and Patty appear in a swirl of golden lights. They step outside of the circle and solidify.
"Mom! You came too? That's great." Piper exclaimed, hugging her mother tightly. Phoebe and Paige both moved in for their hugs.
"I couldn't stay away. I let Mom handle Wyatt's wiccaning, but this time its my turn." Patty said, smiling broadly. "Speaking of which, where are my grandchildren?"
Leo was holding Wyatt's hand and carrying Chris. Patty walked over and looked at the baby and exclaimed "Beautiful." Then she knelt down by Wyatt. "Hello, Wyatt. I'm your Grandma."
"Well, don't I get any hugs?" Grams asked, pretending to be annoyed. The sisters hug their grandmother. Hugs dispensed with, Grams moved to take a closer look at the new baby.
"Don't get upset this time, Grams. But the new baby's also a boy. We've named him Chris. Christopher Perry Halliwell." Piper said, a little anxiously. Grams had finally accepted Wyatt, but a second boy?
Grams seemed more confused than annoyed, though. "You named the baby after your whitelighter?"
"Uh, not exactly." Piper stalled, looking at Leo.
"Chris, the whitelighter you met, he's our son." Leo said, refusing the hide the truth. Well, that part of the truth, anyway.
"Yeah, he came back in time to save his family." Piper added.
"That young man is your son? Why didn't anyone tell me that? I wouldn't have been so mean to him if I'd known he was family. I'm only mean to strangers, or husbands." Grams laughed, taking the baby from Leo and kissing his chubby cheek.
Laughing, Phoebe jumped in "We didn't know at the time, Grams."
"Well, where is he? I should apologize." Grams asked, cuddling baby Chris.
"I'd love to meet him too." Patty added, holding Wyatt.
"He returned to the future. A better one." Piper said.
"Yeah, yeah. That's what happened." Phoebe stuttered, nervously. Paige elbowed Phoebe, while Leo sent her a dirty look. Grams looked on knowingly.
"Well, lets go downstairs and check everything you've done to prepare for the wiccanning." Grams said, taking Chris out of the attic and downstairs. The others quickly followed.
"Sometimes its better just to humor your great Grandmother, Wyatt." Patty whispered to her grandson as she carried him downstairs.
"Looks like you won't have to worry about not being able to touch the boys, Piper. Mom and Grams aren't going to let go of them anytime soon." Paige laughed, as she followed her sisters out of the attic.
After making sure that every demonic force that could harm the matriarchs had been eliminated, Grams dismissed the family to go do what they wanted until it was time for the wiccanning. Patty, Piper and Leo were in the conservatory playing with the boys. Grams cornered Paige and Phoebe in the kitchen.
"Alright, Phoebe. What is going on?" Grams demanded to know.
"I… I don't know what you mean, Grams. Nothing is going on." Phoebe said nervously, looking at Paige.
"Don't give me that. I have known you your entire life Phoebe Halliwell. I can tell when you aren't telling me the truth. What are you hiding?" Grams pressed.
With a rueful shake of her head, Phoebe reluctantly began "Well, I didn't want to tell you this, but…"
"Phoebe!" Paige interjected, trying to stop her sister from spilling yet another secret.
"She'll find out sooner or later. Grams, I was caught abusing my powers so the tribunal stripped them." Phoebe confessed. It was better to confess that than the other secret she'd been holding in.
"Phoebe! All of your powers?" Grams asked, shocked.
"No, I can still make potions and cast spells. But my active powers are gone." Phoebe said, hanging her head in shame. She hated disappointing Grams. She'd already spent years disappointing her and hated to add to it.
"What were you thinking?" Grams asked.
Phoebe tried to explain to her grandmother, but couldn't find the words. She knew that she had messed up big time and deserved what she had gotten. But she didn't know how to explain to her grandmother that she was actually enjoying not having her active powers. That she was enjoying the break from the pain of the premonitions, the weight of feeling other's emotions. She did miss the levitation, though.
Finally Grams gave up on getting an explanation from Phoebe and went to find her great grandsons. She'd hoped for a girl, but wasn't going to let Piper know that. Her grandson obviously grew up to be a fine young man. And Grams wanted to get to know him and Wyatt. As Grams walked out of the kitchen, she heard someone knock at the door. She saw Piper come out of the conservatory and answer the door.
Piper opened the door and was surprised to see Darryl standing there. He hadn't spoken with them since he'd cut off all contact after he'd nearly been executed. She knew that he'd tried to arrest Chris, but Leo said that they'd already returned Chris to his own time when that happened.
"Darryl, what are you doing here?" Piper asked. She saw Grams walk up to the door. Darryl saw her too. "Darryl, this is my grandmother, Penny Halliwell. Grams, this is Inspector Darryl Morris."
"Uh, I thought your grandmother was dead, Piper." Darryl asked, confused.
"She is." Piper said.
Darryl shuddered. "Don't explain. I don't want to know. I just stopped by to tell you that the investigation into Chris's jail break has been officially closed." Darryl turned to leave, but stopped. Looking sad he added "Oh, and Piper. I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am about Chris."
"What do you mean? What about Chris?" Piper asked, confused.
"Losing a child can't be easy." Darryl said sadly. "I would have said something earlier, but…"
"Losing a child? What… What are you talking about? You mean how Chris went back to his own time?" Piper asked, more confused than ever.
"You mean he survived? I guess Leo was able to save him. Good for him. Good bye, Piper. I'm sorry that I can't help you anymore, but I won't risk my family." Darryl said, then he turned and left the manor.
Piper shut the door and screamed "Leo!"
"Now, Piper. Take a deep breath and calm down." Grams said, realizing what Leo, Paige and Phoebe must be keeping a secret from Piper.
"Don't you tell me to calm down. Did you know about this?" Piper demanded.
"Piper, I just got here. And we don't know the whole story. Maybe Leo was able to save Chris and send him back to his own time." Grams implored.
Piper wasn't having any of it. "Well, I know one person who can tell us the truth. LEO!"
TBC…