After orbing home, they discovered Phoebe at the stove. They both gasped in horror, thinking she'd made dinner. When Phoebe looked up and saw their expressions, she laughed. "Oh don't worry, you two. Piper made dinner. I'm just stirring and keeping it warm. Come on now, like I'd make a meal?"

"Piper's meals! How I've missed them. What did she make?" Alex looked in the pot seeing a heart meal of vegetable beef stew. She reached in and grabbed some meat chucks and carrots, quickly bringing the mess to her mouth.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, oww," Alex winced as she shook her hand, tearing up because of the pain. Chris grabbed her arm and puller her to the sink where he rinsed her fingers in luke-warm water and inspected the damage. It wasn't really burned, just a bit red and tender. With a teasing smile, Chris kissed it better with Phoebe watching with amusement. Phoebe had grabbed the first aide kit and handed it to Chris who opened it and applied burn cream on the offended fingers.

"Alex, why did you reach into the pot? Why didn't you wait until we'd gotten you a bowl?"

"I was hungry and didn't think it would hurt. I love mom's stew and I really miss it."

"But you could have waited," Chris said gently, like talking to a confused young child, which in many ways he was. "It was on the stove to keep it hot."

"But there's no fire?" Alex looked over at the stove, confirming that there was no flame in sight.

"It's an electric stove. I know you remember those. Electricity runs thru a coil, heating it up." Alex looked on the stove with wonder. She would have gone to the stove and tried this out but Phoebe had turned it off already. She interrupted Alex's inspection, handing her a large bowl of stew with some toast. Alex beamed at her prize, thanked Phoebe and sat down to eat with gusto.

Phoebe handed Chris a bowl and whispered questioningly, "Chris??"

"Sh, later. Ok?"

He cast glances at his sister who was eating with one hand and rearranging the table with another. Phoebe understood and served herself, sitting down at he table and chit-chatting with the two future kids. Alex had three bowls and would have had more but Chris distracted her with the promise of a bath.

"A real bath? With bubbles and real soap and a real bath in a tub? With hot water and bubbles and everything?"

Her eyes got wide in amazement.

"Sure, honey," Phoebe said," I have some pajamas that will fit you and some great bath oils. Come on upstairs and I'll help you."

"Oh, I know where it is. I remember." Alex's eyes danced in delight, smiling brightly at Chris.

"Go on up. I'll get the dishes," he said. He watched Alex drag Phoebe up, happy as a clam.

Upstairs, Phoebe got out her stash of bath soaks and turned on the faucets. Alex looked thru all the bottles with glee, opening one after another, sniffing them all. She set aside a few of her favorites which Phoebe added to the bath. Alex, in her eagerness, almost jumped in, clothes and all but Phoebe got her to undress, placing the dirty clothes aside in a bag to wash or throw away.

Alex giggled like a school girl as Phoebe undid her hair and lightly combed it out with her fingers. It was quite thick with dirt, sand, leaves and twigs and phoebe frowned in disgust and worry. She wondered how Alex's life had been in the apocalyptic future the two painted.

Phoebe washed and rewashed Alex's hair while the young woman- acting like a girl, marveled at the bubbles and soaps. Phoebe got a clue what the girl's powers were when she waved a hand over a mound of bubbles. They solidified into a dry soap bubbles, crumbling like soap flakes when touched. Alex used these to scrub at her skin, like one would with a bar of soap. When the bubbles were gone, she just formed a tunnel with her hands and blew into the water. Instantly the tub would fill with bubbles again.

Of course by the time Phoebe was done washing the young woman's hair, the water was thick with dirt and the bubbles were low. Not coming back as thickly as when they started. To Alex's much delight, Phoebe said she'd draw another bath using more soaps and oils. In the new, clean bath Alex giggle and played as a child. Phoebe retreated to get towels and pajamas.

Outside Chris waited; a grim expression on his face and followed Phoebe to her room.

"Thanks, Aunt Phoebe. I really appreciate what you're doing for Alex."

"Chris?" Phoebe sat down on the bed, towel in hand and Chris sat down next to her. He kept his arms crossed and wouldn't look at Phoebe.

"Alex has always had problems. Magic comes as naturally to her as breathing. Always has. Any power she can duplicate, given time, and once she hears or reads a spell, she can always recite it back. Potion making, enchantments, sorcery, wizardry, anything. It's quite possible she's more powerful then Wyatt. It's a blessing." Chris looked up at his aunt who was confused. "You of all people should know blessings are a double edged knife. Many could say a blessing is a curse in disguise."

Chris was silent for a long while, reluctant to tell his aunt more. Phoebe got up to dig out the pajamas and was about to leave when Chris spoke again.

"She was captured by demons a couple of years ago. They stripped her of her powers and… and tortured her."

Phoebe gasped and Chris raised his head to look directly into Phoebe's eyes.

"Wyatt rescued her, healed her wounds completely. He might have even put a spell or two on her. I don't know. No matter what evil he's done, no matter how he's hurt me, I am forever grateful. And I know I can save him. He's still capable of mercy and love."

Phoebe put down what she was carrying and went to hug Chris close. Chris held onto his aunt for a time, shaking as he fought off the tears.

"She gets confused sometimes, thinks she's still back there. She gets so afraid and she screams and I can't help her. She'll cry in her sleep and I can't make the memories go away. I love her so much and I couldn't protect her. I can't make her feel safe. And I couldn't watch it happening." Chris said the last in a whisper. "I couldn't watch her fall apart in front of me anymore." Chris cried on her shoulder for a while until he pulled away, drying his tears. She told him since Paige's room was free, Alex could stay there.

Chris left, going to check on his big brother's baby self. Phoebe went into the bathroom to tell Alex bath time was over. Alex yawned wide as she got out of the tub and dried off. She rubbed her eyes sleepily after getting dressed in the pajamas and Phoebe led her to Paige's room.

Chris was already inside, dressed in his own pajamas and was standing besides his aunt's vanity. Alex clapped her hands in delight, sitting down in the chair. Chris picked up the brush and carefully combed Alex's long, blond hair. It seemed like this was a common thing between them. As Chris brushed her hair gently, with long, soft strokes, the two started to sing a lullaby song. It was filled with longing and quite sad sounding but spoke of children playing in starlight and finding joy there.

Phoebe watched, feeling like an intruder but unable to break the friends intimate moment. It was obvious how close they were and phoebe couldn't decide if she was jealous (since She'd never bonded that close to her nephew) or happy (since he had a friend as close as Alex.) It was no wonder they used sibling references, they were as close as she and her sisters are.

Phoebe ideally wondered how Bianca felt about Chris and Alex but she must have been ok since the two had been engaged. Ideally, phoebe thought of what would happen now between the 'siblings' since Bianca's death. Chris obviously knew Alex well and cared for her but with Alex's history, bringing the relationship to that level would be hard, very hard.

At the vanity, Alex was nearly asleep and Chris had tapered the song off into a gentle humming. His fingers were moving deftly in Alex's hair, braiding a French braid that poked out, no in. He did it with such deftness and precision that Phoebe wondered if he was using his telekinesis.

Once done, Chris patted Alex on the shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Phoebe jumped up, excusing herself and left the room. Of course, she didn't go far, peaking thru the partially open door and listening in.

Chris tucked Alex in, whispering quietly. When Chris made to go, to leave Alex to go sleep on the couch, she grabbed him by the wrist.

"Please, big brother. Don't leave me, don't leave me alone."

She had said it with such despair and helplessness that Phoebe was left heart broken. She said a quick prayer, thankful for Wyatt's mercy and Chris's big heart. She was very glad when, after a moments hesitation, Chris agreed.

Glad her nephew and his friend were all tucked away, Phoebe retired to her own bed.