I in no way own the Charmed characters, plots, and powers, although I wish I did. They belong to Spelling Co, Brad Kern, the WB Network, and their affiliates. Sorry if I somehow broke a copyright law and I didn't know it. Please, don't sue me.

Thanks to my only reviewer, piper wyatt-halliwell 1973! Don't forget R&R please! Thanks!

Chapter 7

After a few minutes, the memory ended. Chris shuddered, his vision clouding up. Piper opened her eyes and hugged Chris. Leo hugged Wyatt.

They sat in silence, Chris sniffling gently, with Piper still hugging him and Leo holding Wyatt.

"I've had to live… with that memory, for all these years… every night, coming back to haunt me… that's why I came back to save Wyatt: to save you in the process, Mom."

Piper hugged Chris, thinking about what she saw. Wyatt yawned.

"I'll take Wyatt up… be right back," Leo said, orbing himself and Wyatt out.

Chris stroked his mothers hair, the hair he inherited. "Mom… that's not going to be your future… I'm going to make sure of that."

Piper nodded. "I'm so sorry you had to see that," Chris added. Piper shrugged.

"You had to get it out… that's understandable," she said. Chris hung his head. "Is that why you've been so distant from me? Knowing what happens to me in the future, and not wanting to get close, just to end up losing me again?"

Chris looked into his mothers' eyes. "Yes. That's exactly what I thought." Piper raised an eyebrow.

"Chris. You know me. I'm not going down without a fight." Chris and Piper smiled. "So stop your worrying. Everything is going to be just fine."

Leo orbed back in. "Wyatt's asleep," he said. "Must have been up all night or something." Piper gave Leo a Look. Chris raised his eyebrows and scrunched up his nose. Piper blushed and Leo cleared his throat. He sat down next to Chris.

"I'm not even gonna ask," Chris said.

"Erm, anyway…" Leo said.

"So you guys are back together, for good?" Chris asked hopefully.

"We sure hope so," Leo said, reaching behind Chris to touch Piper. She smiled.

"Anything else you guys want to know?" Chris asked. Piper and Leo thought for a moment.

"Were we good parents?" asked Leo.

"You were the best," Chris cheerfully. "Dad, you almost lost your life to a darklighter when I was seven, protecting your family. And Mom, you were always trying to help us out in any way you could." Piper and Leo smiled. Chris looked away. "I'm sorry… it's very hard for me… to remember all these nice memories when I keep having bad ones coming back to haunt me…" He shook his head.

"Oh, honey…" cooed Piper as she stroked Chris' hair.

A jingle rang throughout the Manor. "Go on, Dad," Chris said. "Sounds important."

"But this was supposed to be family time…" Leo said.

"Go on, Dad. I don't mind. We don't want them getting any more angry with us then they probably already are with you two." Leo looked at Chris uncertainly before orbing out through the ceiling.

"I'm scared, Mom," Chris murmured. Piper raised an eyebrow in his direction. "What if I fail? What if Wyatt still turns evil, the world turns evil, you die…"

"Stop, Chris," Piper commanded firmly. "We're not going to let that happen. None of it."

Chris nodded his head, still unsure of his mother's words.

The phone rang. Chris jumped up to get it, as Piper was not as mobile as she used to be while pregnant.

"Hello?" Chris answered the phone.

"Chris?" Phoebe asked.

"Hey, Aunt Phoebe. What's up?" he replied.

"I was just checking up on you guys… I got my column done early and I have nothing to do. Wondering if it was okay if I came home."

"Sure… well, let me ask Mom," Chris put his hand over the receiver. "Mom, Aunt Phoebe wants to know if she can come home yet?"

"I don't see why not," Piper replied. Chris relayed the message to Phoebe.

"Okay. Be home in a few!" she cheered, and the dial tone followed. He hung the phone back up and sat back down next to his Mom.

Leo orbed in and sat down. "The Elders were really surprised at our sudden change of heart toward each other. They thought it may have been demonic or something." Piper laughed.

"Sounds like them," she laughed. Chris smiled.

"Oh, Dad, Aunt Phoebe is on her way home. She just called," Chris said. Leo nodded.

The three sat in silence and Chris' mind wandered back to another memory…

Enter Chris' Memory

Chris, age 12, stood in the hallway behind Wyatt's bedroom door, which was a corner of the attic where Leo had built a wall around it to make a small room. He listened closely to the muffled voices coming through the cracks between the door and the frame.

"Join up with me… and we'll rule the world," Wyatt exclaimed.

"Join up with YOU?" a demon asked. "A child?"

The demon screamed, and smoke billowed out from under the door. "Any questions?" Wyatt asked. Several voices murmured no. "Good. So you are all with me?" The voices murmured yes. "Good. Lets keep it that way, shall we? Or maybe you'll end up like your friend: another scorch mark on my floor. Leave me." Wyatt paced his room for a moment, then orbed next to Chris, startling him.

"Oh, Wyatt! Hey," Chris said nervously.

"Hello, Chris. What were you doing?" Wyatt asked.

"Oh umm… just coming to see if you wanted to… erm, play?" Chris covered up. Wyatt's eyes narrowed to slits as he glared at his younger brother.

"You tell Mom, or anybody for that matter, and you'll wish you were dead," Wyatt growled. Chris trembled as Wyatt orbed out.

Wyatt had always scared Chris. His older brother had so much influence over him…

Exit Chris' Memory

Present-day Chris shuddered. Leo and Piper turned to him worried and curious.

"Just another memory," he shrugged.

"You okay?" Piper asked. Chris gulped and shook the memory away.

"I'm fine," he said stubbornly. Leo and Piper exchanged worried glances.

"Well, I'm going to go make a sandwich," Leo said, standing up. Piper followed him silently into the kitchen.