Coming home: Chapter 13

AN: First off, thank you so very much to everyone who has reviewed. I've been trying to work answers & comments into the story. OK-hold on to your horses here. It's about to get weird, but it should answer one of the big questions. So here goes:

Past.....

Phoebe was sitting in the kitchen bouncing Wyatt on her lap when Leo and Piper orbed in. She takes Wyatt's hand and points to Leo, "Look, Wyatt. Look who's here—It's daddy." She starts to get up and hand him Wyatt.

Leo holds his hands up for her stop, "Not now Phoebe."

Confused, Phoebe asks, "What's wrong?"

Leo: Leaning against the kitchen counter, "I can't even look at him right now. He lied to me."

Phoebe: "Leo, he can't even talk."

Leo: "Not him---but HIM. Future him. Whatever, you know what I mean."

Paige: "Wow. You were sure singing a different tune earlier. This morning he could do no wrong. What changed?"

Leo: Sounding depressed, "He changed. Or maybe he didn't. The Wyatt I saw in the attic was a completely different person than the one I talked to the last few weeks. He was....distant. Cold even. A change like that doesn't happen overnight. Not unless he was hiding it from me. He told me that he was here to stop Chris from destroying the future. And I believed him."

Piper: "Leo. Stop it, OK? I can understand why you believed him. He IS your son, after all. But you have to let your issues with both of your children go right now. It's not going help us get Chris back. So you have to focus." Picking up baby Wyatt, she held him out to Leo, "He hasn't done anything yet. Chris told me that you played favorites with Wyatt in the future, but you can't do the same thing in reverse now with Chris. Don't make the same mistake twice."

Baby Wyatt cooed and reached out for Leo. Giving in, Leo smiled and took him from Piper's arms. He kissed him on the top of his head before speaking softly, "You know this doesn't let future you off the hook."

Paige: putting her hands on her hips, "So--are we ready to go kick some ass and get my nephew back"

Leo: "Not yet. We have to find a way to prevent the stone from controlling Chris, or he'll just turn around and go back to Wyatt."

Piper: "So what now?"

Leo: "We have to see a lady about a stone"

Leo and all three sisters are walking through an enchanted forest as they approach the former home of the "lady of the lake".

Paige: questioning Leo, "So, who is this Lady? I thought Piper was the new "lady of the lake?"

Leo: "Technically she is. The person we're going to talk to is like the overseer of everything that has to do with the lake. She's very old and transcends all time. She's neither good nor evil. But she should be able to tell us how to remove the stone's hold on Chris—if she'll speak to us"

Paige: "Why wouldn't she?"

Leo: "She's real funny about the time thing. Doesn't like to give to much away."

Paige: "Huh. So she's a lot like Chris."

Leo rolls his eyes and steps away from them. He calls out to a presence unseen, "I am an Elder seeking the Lady. I have a matter of great importance to discuss with her regarding the sword and the stone. I have brought with me the Charmed Ones in a show of good faith. Please, show yourself..."

Moments later, a blinding flash of light causes them to cover their eyes. When it clears, ripples of flowing white robes surround an ethereal beauty.

Phoebe stares in awe at the sheer radiance of the woman. "Wow. I hope I look that good when I'm her age."

Lady: Regally, she tipped her head slightly, "Why do you seek me?"

Piper immediately steps up and answers, "For my son. He is being controlled by the stone and it's owner. Can you tell us how it works and how we can stop it?"

Lady: "The Stone bends the will of the Sword." Appearing very disturbed, "Your son was linked to the Stone, yes?"

Leo: "Yes."

Lady: "This has only happened once before. Thousands of generations before Arthur..."

Paige: Confused, she interrupted her, "King Arthur wasn't the first?"

Lady: Haughtily, she replied "Of course not. The Sword is ancient. Fired millennia ago to balance the scales of good and evil."

Leo: "So, it's not good or evil?"

Lady: "On the contrary. It was created from good magic, and it will tilt the scales in the same direction when wielded by its Chosen Owner—The True Possessor ."

Piper: getting impatient, "That's all very nice, but it doesn't tell me how to break the stone's control over my son."

Lady: Ignoring Piper's outburst, she continued, "There was a time when the Keeper was able to fool the Sword as its owner by spilling the blood of the True Possessor into the Stone."

Phoebe: "So what happened?"

Lady: "The True Possessor's will was also bent."

Paige: Confused, "Wait—I don't get it. What's the difference between the Keeper and the Possessor?"

Lady: "The Keeper is not meant to wield the Sword. Only to give it to the Possessor. Has the one who wields the Sword been corrupted?"

Phoebe: Speaking up when no one else answered, "Yes. He has."

Lady: Sharply, "Then he is not the True Possessor of the Sword. He is the Keeper."

Piper: Throwing her hands up in frustration, "But how does that help us break control?"

Lady: Wearily addressing Piper, "You are the current Keeper—Are you not?"

Piper: "Yessss"

Lady: "Then to cease the control, you must give the Sword to it's rightful owner—The True Possessor."

Phoebe: Still not following, "And...just...who might that be?"

Lady: She smiles at the obvious answer, "The only one who's will can be bent." Ending further questions, she disappeared in a blinding flash of light.

Leo: Sounding unsure, "But that doesn't make sense. Wyatt was the one chosen to wield Excalibur—He was able to control it."

Piper: "Or so we thought? Mordaunt said that "he had to fulfill his destiny as the son of a Charmed One". We only assumed it was Wyatt because I wasn't pregnant then....."

Leo and the sister's seemed to all reach the same conclusion as they stared wide-eyed at Piper's bulging stomach. Piper rubbed her stomach and was the only one to say it aloud, "Chris...."

Paige: "Wow. This kind of gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "my brother's keeper."

Paige: "Cool. So Chris is the next King Arthur. I mean, if he can control the sword, he must be pretty powerful."

Phoebe: "Yeah, I wonder what other powers he has. We've only seen telekinesis."

Leo: "He's still pretty young. Maybe he hasn't gotten them all yet."

Piper: "He also wasn't trained to use them. He said that Wyatt was taught to develop his since we assumed that he was the Chosen One."

As they're walking back out of the forrest, Leo suddenly stops with an idea. "Wait—do you remember what happened when Piper got the sword?"

Phoebe: Laughing, "Yeah. She went all "Zena Warrior Princess" on us..." Piper just glared at her.

Leo: "That's because she wasn't meant to control the sword! It was too powerful for her!"

Tilting her head with her hands on her hips, "Is there a point to this?"

Leo: Sounding excited, "My point is that Chris came back because he thought that "Someone" had turned Wyatt. But maybe, it was "Something"."

Paige catches onto his train of thought, "Ohhhh. I get it. Something—as in Excalibur?"

Phoebe: "Well if that's true, then we know how to prevent him from turning—We simply don't give him the sword."

Piper stares at the ground absently with this statement. Knowing what she has been told about her future, she decides to play devils advocate. "But what if something prevents us from making that decision in the future?"

Paige: Curious as to Piper's sudden change in attitude, "Like what?"

Piper let out a deep breath. 'I guess I should come clean with them.' "Do you remember "the event" that Chris kept trying not to mention?"

Leo: Looking very worried, "Yeah. Did he say something?"

Piper: "He told my father what "the event" was." She let out another deep breath, but couldn't look them in the eye. "Apparently....sometime in the near future--I die. So if that can happen, then maybe something happens to all of us. And there would be no one left to prevent Wyatt from getting Excalibur."

Paige and Phoebe wrapped their arms around her for comfort.

Leo: Shaking his head in denial, "No. That's not going to happen now. I won't let it. You're not going to die, Piper. Maybe that's what went wrong the first time. You weren't supposed to die—you were supposed to pass on the sword to its rightful owner. But now we can fix it—with Chris' help."

Phoebe: Agreeing with him, "He's right, Honey. We'll just have to find out what Chris knows and convince him to talk to us. I know it'll be hard, but we can work on him. We just have to get him back first."

TBC........

AN: There. Don't you feel better now knowing what the purpose of the stone was? :) Chris & Lynny are back in the next chapter, which is mostly written, but yet to be edited. Soon though :) Thank you soooooo much for the reviews. You're wonderfull!!!!

Coming home: Chapter 14

Chris and Lynny sat huddled in the corner of the cell.

Lynny: "I can't believe that Piper's not my mom. After all this time..."

Chris: "Hey, it doesn't matter. I told you. I'll always think of you as my little sister. It doesn't matter to me who gave birth to you."

Lynny: "No wonder Wyatt hates me. I took his mother from him and she wasn't even mine to take."

Chris: "Piper never felt that way. You know how much she loved you. Even Leo doted on his "little angel". And Wyatt—you always could calm him down. And you could only have that effect on him if he cared about you."

Lynny: Letting out a sarcastic laugh, "Well I didn't do so well today, did I?"

Chris: Laughing, "Of course you did. I'm sure he wanted to pulverize me before you stepped in front of him."

Lynny: Sighing, "Why do you always have to do that?"

Chris: Replying innocently, "Do what?"

Lynny: "You know what—provoke him like that."

Chris: Shrugging nonchalantly, "It's a guy thing."

Lynny: Not satisfied with his answer, "Chris, I'm serious."

Drawing his legs up to rest his chin on his knees, he sat for a few minutes, silently debating on whether or not to reveal the true motives for his behavior. His decision made when she prodded him again. "I guess because if he focuses on me, he'll leave everyone else I care about alone."

Lynny: understanding, but weary, "You have to stop doing that. Eventually, he's gonna kill you one of these times when he looses it. It's not the same as it used to be with him. He would have never hurt you before you went back. You must have really pissed him off this time."

Chris: "Yeah, well he'll have to get in line."

Lynny: Arches her eyebrows, clearly not understanding the reference. "What do you mean?"

Chris: Angrily retorts, "How do you think I ended up back here? They helped him. After everything I told them about Wyatt turning, they still chose HIM over ME." Trying to appear indifferent, he went on, "I knew Leo was still mad..."

Lynny: "Why would he be mad at you?"

Producing a sly grin, "Uh, something about a couch." The grin quickly fading to one of defeat, "Forget it. It doesn't matter. None of it matters anymore."

Lynny: "Chris, you can't give up now!"

Chris: with a look of disbelief, "Why not, Lynny? They gave up on me. What's left worth saving?"

Lynny: "Our future."

Chris: he snorted, "Yeah right."

Lynny rose to her feet and grabbed Chris' arm to pull him up with her. Dragging him over to the bars, she swept her arm toward the cells opposite theirs. "Their future, Chris."

As far as his eyes could see in both directions, all of the cells where filled to capacity with haggard and defeated looking resistance members. Most of them with whom he had stood side by side with in defiance.

Lynny: "You can't let this go on. You're the only one powerful enough to stop him."

Chris: Frustrated, "I don't have ANY powers right now. He stripped them. I don't know how, but he did. So just HOW am I supposed to do anything right now from here?"

Lynny: "You're just going to have to get him to trust you. Make him think that you can be turned. Come on, you and Bianca did it before. You can do it again."

Chris: Eyes searching hers, "Again...How?"

Lynny's shoulder's sag at his question. Ready to admit defeat at the lack of an answer, she is suddenly struck with an idea. 'I hate to do this to him, but if it'll get his butt in gear...' She sneered, "Does it make you angry that they believed Wyatt over you?"

Taken aback by her sudden callousness, he replied angrily and backed away from her, "I told you it doesn't matter."

Lynny: advancing on him, "Does it burn you up inside that our own family turned on you?" Glancing at his fists clenching and eyes narrowing, her heart excitedly skipped a beat. "Does it...piss...you...off—that Piper. Your own MOTHER turned her back on you?"

Chris: Through clenched teeth, "YES!"

Lynny: Smiling, "Good! Use that. He knows you Chris. He knows how that would make you feel. Tell him that there's nothing back there good enough to save. If he took your powers away---If he thinks you're on his side, he'll gladly give them back. And then you can work on getting back to fix things."

He nods appreciatively at the idea. Chris eyes widen at the realization of how she had so expertly manipulated him. He smiles slyly at her, "You know that evil gene seems to run in the family."

Lynny smiles back at him innocently.

TBC.........

AN: So, what do you think?

Coming Home Chapter 15

Chris: Guiding her back over to the corner to sit down, "So what do we do now? He won't be back for a while."

Lynny: "I guess now we get some rest. You have to be ready when he comes back." Cautioning him, "but don't give in too easily or he'll suspect something."

Chris: Settling back against the wall, he ruffles her hair, "I missed you, Lynny."

Lynny: playfully punches him on the arm, "Stop calling me that!"

Chris: Smiling, "What? "Lynny?" It's your name."

Lynny: Looking rather indignant, she rolls her eyes, "It's childish, and I'm not a child anymore." She emphasizes her next sentence, "My name is "Lynn", or "Melinda" even. You don't like it when I call you "Chrissy", do you?"

Chris: With a cheshire grin, "that's because Chrissy is a girls name. And so is Lynny, but you ARE a girl." She punches him repeatedly, only harder this time until he relents. Holding his hands up in defense, "Ok, Ok. I won't call you Lynny anymore. Are you happy now--Kid?"

Both frustrated and elated with his teasing at the same time, Lynny was just glad to finally have her brother back home. However, not so glad as to prevent her from getting satisfaction. She pinched her thumb and index finger around his bicep—and twisted.

Chris: Still laughing, but finally playfully surrendering, "Alright—I give. Lynn it is."

Lynn: Looking very smug, "I learned that one from mom a long time ago. She said I would have to learn how to teach my big brothers some manners."

Chris: Smiling with a far off look on his face, "I think I remember that day. Wasn't that when Wyatt kept cheating you in the race to the attic?"

Lynn: Smiling back, "Yeah...."

They begin to talk and reminisce about that day.

Halliwell Manor--Future....

It was a chilly, rainy July afternoon outside of the Charmed Ones Manor. Rather unusual for San Francisco at this time of year. So unusual in fact, that the youngest of the three Halliwell children had yet to experience such an event. Lynny, a usually spirited six-year-old, stood crestfallen with her face pressed against the window.

Lynny: Turning to Piper, "mom? How come I can't go out in'play? Can't you fix it?"

Piper: Bending down and taking her little hands in her own, "No Sweetie. The rain will probably be gone by tomorrow, and then you can go out and play."

Lynny: not quite understanding, she pouted, "but I wanna play outside now. Daddy just put my swing up, and I wanna try it out..."

Piper: "Sweetheart, you're going to have to play inside for today." Looking around, she saw Chris in the observatory talking on the phone to his new "girlfriend" from school. She frowned, 'Thirteen years old, and already with the girls...That boy's gonna grey my hair yet!'. She watched him relax into the chair, absently twisting the phone cord around his fingers. When he put his feet up on the table, she scolded him loudly, "Chris, get your feet off of my furniture. You don't live in a barn!" Satisfied when he jumped at being startled, she moved on.

Piper looked around for Wyatt. 'Maybe he can keep her busy for a while'. She took Lynny's hand and led her to the kitchen where she had last seen her oldest heading. Walking into the kitchen, she saw that he was riffling through her refrigerator. 'That boy is going to eat me out of house and home.' She yelled, "Wyatt! Get out of there. You're gonna spoil your dinner—which, by the way, will be ready in a hour."

Wyatt: mumbling with food in his mouth, "Sorry mom. You know bad weather makes me hungry."

Piper: Grumpily, "Well you're not just gonna sit around and eat all day." She added sweetly, "Why don't you take your sister upstairs and play until dinner's ready?"

Wyatt: dragging out her name, "M...o....mm. I'm fifteen. Why should I have to go and play with the little ankle-biter? Can't Chris do it?"

Piper: hands on her hips, "Because I asked YOU. Besides, Chris is on the phone."

Wyatt yelled out, "Chris, Mom said to get off the phone!"

Piper: Exasperated, "I said no such thing. Now take your sister upstairs and get out of my kitchen." She lightly smacked him on the back of his head, "And don't call your sister an ankle-biter". Turning around to end the discussion and finish dinner, she smiled to herself as they turned to leave.

Grumbling outloud as he reluctantly took her had, "Come on ank...Lynny", quickly changing what he was going to say at his mother's hardened glare.

In the other room, Chris had hung up the phone when he heard what he thought was Wyatt relaying his mother's message. He sat down at the dining room table watching Wyatt playing with Lynny.

Wyatt: "Hey Lynny. I betcha I'm faster than you..."

Lynny: Mimicking Piper, she put her hands on her hips, "You are not. I can beat you anytime."

Wyatt: "Ok. I'll race ya to the attic. I'll even give you a headstart."

Lynny: "Ok." She ran half way up the landing before turning to taunt Wyatt; still standing at the bottom, "you're gonna looooose."

Wyatt smiled at her and waited until he heard her start to open the door before orbing into the attic.

Chris watched Wyatt "win" several more times before he decided to intervene. When he came down again, "Wyatt. She's six. And she can't orb. So stop cheating."

Wyatt: "I'm not cheating. She'll figure it out eventually. Besides, mom wanted me to keep her occupied until dinner. And she's occupied. Tired. But occupied."

Chris: Rolling his eyes, "At least walk half way up to give her a chance..."

Wyatt: Relenting, "All right." He had only gotten a few steps up the landing before he turned to Lynny, "Come on. I'll even walk this time and still beat you..." He turned to continue up the stairs without waiting for an answer.

Lynny is standing at the bottom near tears when Chris silently tiptoed behind her. He shushes her with his finger to his mouth before resting his hand on her shoulder.

Wyatt is still calling Lynny as he backs into the attic door, expecting to find her running up the stairs behind him. When he turned around, he found Chris and Lynny standing there giggling at him inside. Crossing his arms, but not really annoyed, he accused, "Chris, you cheated...."

Chris: With a challenging look, "No, but I evened the score...."

Wyatt playfully shoved Chris by his shoulder. Soon, both boys were on the floor tussling and laughing. Not wanting to be left out, Lynny happily jumped into the fray.

Downstairs, Piper is in the kitchen chopping vegetables when she hears thumping and muted laughter upstairs. Shaking her head, 'I told him to play with her, not tear up my house'.

Chris and Wyatt were still rolling around on the floor, with Lynny on Wyatt's back just as Leo orbed into the attic with an anxious look.

Leo: Immediately picking Lynny up and scolding the boys, "What's going on here? You two know better than this. She could have been hurt..."

Chris and Wyatt stood up and both looked sufficiently reprimanded before chorussing, "Sorry Dad."

Sighing, he turned his attention back to Lynny. Kissing her forehead, "How's my little angel?" She giggled a response and he put her down.

Turning back to the boys, he started to ask a question when Wyatt interrupted him enthusiastically, "Are we going up there to train today, dad?"

Leo: Looking disturbed about something, "Not today, Wy. I have to talk to your mother about something." Turning to Chris, "How have you been, Chrissy?"

Chris rolled his eyes at his father, "My name is Chris. And I'm fine, thank you." He left for his without waiting for another word from Leo.

Leo: Sighing again, he turned back to Wyatt, "Will you keep an eye on Lynny and Chris for a while? I have to show Piper something important."

Wyatt: "Sure, dad." With that, he orbed Lynny into her room while Leo orbed downstairs to see Piper.

Piper: Astonished to see him, "What are you doing here? I mean, weren't you just here yesterday putting Lynny's swing together? Or are you here for Wyatt's training again?"

Leo: Annoyed, "Why do you sound surprised, I live here Piper. And, no. I'm not here for Wyatt."

Piper: "Yeah, but two days in a row? Even if you do live here, you're still never here that often."

Leo: "Look, I need to show you something."

Piper: "Can't it wait until after dinner?"

Leo: Shaking his head furiously, "No." Looking around to make sure they're alone, he whispers to her, "I found a prophesy about the kids. All three of them. But I can't take it out of its realm, so you'll have to come with me. I managed to get a glimpse of it, but only a Charmed One is supposed to be able to read the full text."

Piper throws her dishtowel down and sighs. "Alright. What's this prophecy called, where is it now, and when do we leave?"

Leo: "It's called the Corellian Prophesy. It's in the Lirpa realm, and we have to leave now. The realm doesn't align with earth that often, so there's a very small window to access it."

Piper: "Let me just get Wyatt to look after Lynny and Chris."

Leo: "Already done. Let's go." He orbs her out in search of the Prophesy before she could utter another word.

Returning to the Manor hours later, the three Halliwell children are watching television having already eaten dinner. Piper and Leo both look defeated, but quickly change to upbeat expressions when they pass the children.

Piper joins Lynny on the couch while she listens to the child babbling about her afternoon playing with Wyatt and Chris. Piper smiles at her and demonstrates with her fingers, "You know—when your big brothers are misbehaving, I give you permission to do this to keep them in line..."

Future--Cell............

Lynn and Chris are laughing about that rainy day.

Chris: "I'm surprised you still remember that. You were so little."

Lynn: "I remember a lot from back then." Eyes watering, "It wasn't long afterwards that Mom...."

Chris: Seeing her trying to fight back tears, he wraps his arms around her while she rests her head on his shoulders. Speaking softly, "I know. Get some sleep. He'll be back soon."

TBC.......

AN: I know this one was a little slow, but I had to add that part about the kids for background. The next chap. will probably deal with the Chris "turning".

AN: Thank you for all of the reviews so far. I'm sorry that these are coming a bit further in between, but I'm not on vacation anymore. So, on with it...

Coming Home Chapter 16

Future.....

Several hours later, Wyatt orbed into the cell prepared for another confrontation. Chris and Lynn were sleeping peacefully against each other in the corner. He silently regarded the scene before him for a bit before deciding to wake them. Kicking at Chris' foot, he enjoyed the reaction when he startled him awake. "Are you ready for your next dose?"

Chris stands up to face him, waking Lynn in the process. "You're not coming near me with that crap. And if you touch her again, I'll....."

Wyatt jokingly interrupts him, "You'll what? Glare at me to death? We both know that you don't have any powers."

Chris: Defiantly crosses his arms, "I don't care. You're not getting near us again with that poison. You think I haven't figured out that you were the reason I was sick back there?"

Wyatt sneered, "You don't know half as much as you think you know. Perhaps.....you were preoccupied with trembling on the floor like an INFANT when I brought you home?" Receiving only a glare in response, he questioned further, "Do you feel sick, Christopher?" His refusal to answer only seemed to anger him further. Fists clenching, he took another step closer to them. "ANSWER ME!"

Chris: Pursing his lips, he reluctantly answered quietly, "No."

Wyatt: Holding up the syringe, "Then what makes you think that I didn't save your pathetic little life, with this...poison?"

Chris spat back, "Because I know you. And I know how your twisted little mind works."

Wyatt: "Just a few hours ago, you were so sure that I couldn't kill you. Either of you. So why are you afraid of it now if you're still so sure?"

Chris: He squared his shoulders and stood even more rigid than he ever thought possible, "I'm not afraid of it. And I'm not afraid of you."

Wyatt: Challenging him, "Then take it. Stop fighting me. Make this easier on yourself, Chris." Pointedly looking to Lynn, "Make this easier on her. Be a good a example for the little one, hmm?"

Trying not to relinquish his full attention from his brother, he quickly glanced to Lynn in doubt. He saw her silently urging him to remember their earlier plan. His mind frantically conjured potential hazards of the contents of the syringe--causing his heart to beat faster and his breath to grow ragged.

Feeling her small fingers wrap around his arm, he immediately felt a calmness wash over him like a tidal wave.

Glancing back to Lynn, he understood the determination in her eyes. The slight nod of her head cinched his decision. 'I hope I don't regret this later.' He pushed off the wall and stepped closer to Wyatt. Exhaling deeply, he closed his eyes; refusing to witness the satisfied look on Wyatt's face as he conceded.

He slowly tilted his head to the side, wincing as he expected to feel a painful jab of the needle into his exposed flesh. Instead, he felt only a tiny pinprick as the warm liquid rushed through his veins. Surprised at the sudden gentleness his brother bestowed on him, he quickly opened his eyes and caught a brief glimpse of the brother he used to call friend before Wyatt once again hardened his expression.

A flurry of mixed thoughts and emotions coursed through him regarding his brother. Doubt. Confusion. Love. Hate. Worry? He didn't know what to think.

Taking Chris' lead, Lynn stepped over to Wyatt and gathered her long brown locks to one side, offering herself as Chris had just done. Wyatt placed his hand on her neck but did nothing else. Staring at him curiously, she listened as he spoke almost quietly before orbing out, "It's not time for you yet." She padded over to Chris and wrapped her arms around him. He stared down at her worriedly, "what if that stuff makes me to change like he did? What if that's what turned him in the first place?"

Lynn tried to allay his fears and take his mind off the possibilities.

"Well whatever it is, he gave it to me too earlier. If you change, then I change right along with you. Then the three of us will just be one big happy--evil--family." She grinned when she managed to get a smile out of him for her troubles.

Future....

While Chris and Lynn remembered that rainy July afternoon, they couldn't have possibly remembered the full events of that day. The events that follow are only known to a few people.....

Piper sat restlessly on the couch while Lynn slept in her lap. Chris and Wyatt were still sitting on either side of her legs on the floor, trying unsuccessfully to stay awake. Piper saw their heads nodding back and forth, so she decided to put a stop to it. She tapped the one closest to her, "Chris? Go to bed. The movie has been over for hours." He tried to blink the tiredness away, but only managed to drift off again.

She tried Wyatt, hoping to have better luck. "Wyatt? Go upstairs and get in the bed." He seemed more coherent and nodded to her. Before he orbed, she smiled and called out to him, "Take your brother with you. He's too out of it right now to orb himself into bed. He might sleepwalk into another dimension again."

Wyatt chuckled at the reference to the time when Chris had them all in a panic a few years ago; after tiredly trying to orb himself to bed, he ended up in a different realm. "Yeah, we don't want that again. It took hours to find him last time. Do you want me to take Lynny too?"

Shaking her head, "No, that's alright, Wy. I'll take her upstairs in little bit when I go." When he started to reach for Chris, she stopped him. here, you." Though Piper loved her oldest dearly, she still enjoying making him squirm when she always reached for him to kiss him goodnight.

She snickered at the mock look of horror he now modeled while he reached for his brother and orbed them both upstairs. Reaching out, she tenderly stroked Lynny's hair from her forehead before carefully sliding out from under her. She picked up the sleeping child and carried her upstairs to her room to tuck her in. After leaving, she looked in on Chris and Wyatt sharing a room. When they didn't stir, she quietly shut the door and tiptoed back to her room. 'Finally, they're all asleep.'

Practically whispering his name, she called out "Leo?"

He orbed in seconds later, having already been prepared to come back when she called for quite possibly a long conversation. Resignedly, he spoke almost timidly, "Hi. I guess we need to talk about this..."

Piper starts to pace the floor. "You're damned right we need to talk about this. It doesn't make sense, Leo. This Corin Prophesy..."

Interrupting her, Leo corrected, "Corellian Prophesy." When she glared at him for the interruption, he looked rather apologetic. "Sorry. It's not important. Go on."

Piper: "AS I was saying...Melinda Warren only prophesized the coming of three female witches, The Charmed Ones. That would be us, Leo--me and my sisters. How could there be another generation?"

Leo looks just as frustrated; "You know that the Book of Shadows only included one point of view--who ever happened to be writing the entry at the time. Melinda wasn't exactly fond of the male species--especially since they were the ones burning her at the stake. Maybe she didn't want to let the world know about a second generation that included male witches."

Piper stopped her frantic pacing and gestured wildly with her hands, "But what about everything else we've seen? Nothing--not one single prophesy or scroll ever indicated that something like this would happen."

Leo: Shaking his head, "Well, you remember what happened with Excalibur, right? We never did find the original scroll that Mordaunt based his information from. So we really don't know what their destinies were, except that Wyatt is supposed to be very powerful as the next King Arthur. Besides, that's the only explanation for why he was able to vanquish Mordaunt with Excalibur before he could even walk."

Piper: resuming her frantic pacing, "There has to be a way to stop this. I don't want this for them."

Leo: "It's their destiny. You can't stop it; just like you couldn't stop yours and your sisters even though your grandmother tried binding your powers."

Piper: She spun on him angrily whispering, "But she was right to try, wasn't she? Look where our so-called "destinies" got all of my sisters....All of them died young. Prue, Phoebe, Paige. I won't let this happen to my children--to Phoebe's child. I promised her before she died that I would do whatever I could to keep her safe, away from this life. Why do you think I haven't shown her how to use her powers yet? I don't care what their destiny is supposed to be. We live a somewhat normal life now, and I want it to stay that way."

Growing weary of her pacing, he grabbed her upper arms before she could begin again, "Piper, you're going to have to accept it. This is why I have always taken Wyatt up there to train. Even if things are quiet now, someday soon, they won't be. We have to be ready. We have to prepare them for the fight their going to have to face. Whether we like it or not, the three of them are going to be the most powerful force the world has ever known, and it will be up to us to make sure that they are on the right side when it happens."

Piper: "of course they'll be on the right side, they're our children."

Leo: Thinking of the loophole, "not necessarily. You remember the mythological window when all witches are susceptible to turning. We almost lost Paige because of it when you first found her. Right now, they're too young to make that conscious choice."

Piper: "Well, I think Wyatt is old enough now to make that choice. Maybe even Chris too, but definitely not Melinda."

Leo: Throwing his hands up in frustration, "And that's why we have to prepare them, Piper. You read the scroll. Ultimately, their bond will be even stronger than you and your sisters--so much so that even their powers will rely on each other. If one of them chooses the wrong side, then the others would likely follow. Together they would be unstoppable, even for you."

Piper: Dispirited, "Well then we'll just have to make sure that none of that happens. But there are just so many possibilities of something going wrong." Wriggling out of Leo's grasp, she hurriedly began to pace again. "Damn it. We need to see more of the scroll."

Leo sadly shakes his head, "I'm sorry, Piper. I didn't realize that the scroll would only reveal the full text to different Charmed Ones. You would still need the Power of Three to read the rest." Seeing her disappointed look, he thought of another idea, "Maybe we could get the kids to read it. They may not be the original Charmed Ones, but they will be a new version of them."

Piper: "No. The boys are old enough to figure out who it would refer to. I don't want that to affect who they are."

Leo: Sounding a bit excited, "Maybe we could get them to read it, then use the memory spell on them. They would forget they ever heard it."

Piper: Hesitantly, "I don't know. I just don't want to expose them to it. Could the Elders send one of us back in time to get Phoebe and Paige to read it? Like that time they sent us to the future?"

Leo: shaking his head doubtfully, "With them it's not really a question of whether or not they can do it, but more of whether or not they should and would."

Piper: Sitting down on the bed, "Then I'll just have to come up with a backup plan of my own. A time spell maybe, like the one Grahms did. Phoebe and Paige were always better at writing them than me...." She trailed off as tears brimmed in her eyes at the thought of her sisters. "They never come when I summon them..." Piper tried valiantly not to cry, but couldn't control the sobs that wracked her body when Leo knelt before her and wrapped his arms around her, finally allowing her emotions to flow freely.

Her forehead pressed against his, she murmured through her tears, "I just miss them so much...."

Feeling the loss of her sisters—his family, just as strongly, he allowed silent tears to escape from his eyes. He felt the need to comfort and be comforted at the same time. Rising from the floor, he clambered onto the bed behind her and lay down. Pulling her into his arms, he rocked her gently as they both wept for the sisters lost to them.

So absorbed where they in their shared grief and consolation, neither noticed the sandy-haired teen observing them from the doorway.

TBC............

Coming Home Chapter 17

Future.....

Chris is staring at the floor in deep thought. He doesn't hear Lynn calling his name repeatedly.

Tugging at his shirt, she tried again, "Chris? Come on. You have to stop thinking about it and pull it together." Disappointed at his lack of response, she resorted to her old childhood method of getting his attention. She put her ring finger and thumb together and plucked him on the back of his ear.

Chris quickly came out of his trance and ducked his head. "Ow. What did you do that for?"

Lynn: Looking only halfway apologetic, "Sorry, but you weren't listening. Look--you're just going to make yourself crazy so you might as well stop thinking about it."

Chris: "I can't. I CANNOT end up like that. Promise me that if that happens--you'll find a way to stop me. No matter what it takes...."

Lynn: Growing angry with his implied suggestion, she yelled at him rhetorically, "What would you have me do Christopher? Kill you?"

Chris: Looking deadly serious, he answered calmly, "If necessary."

Lynn: Shaking her head furiously, "Chris--that's not going to happen. Not if you go back and fix all of this."

His eyes desperately pleading with her, "Lynny, Please. Just promise me, OK? Promise me that you'll do whatever you have to--even if it means that you have to kill me."

Lynn: Her voice wavering, "No, I can't. You can't ask me to do that. HOW can you ask me to do that?"

Chris: Taking her hands, "Lynny, Please. You know I couldn't live with myself. You're the only one I trust to do it."

Her eyes pooling, Lynn looked down at the floor, as she was unable to look him in the eye. 'I just can't do it'. Her inner voice conflicting with her spoken words, she muttered softly, "Ok." She felt guilty for telling him what he so desperately wanted to hear, all the while knowing that for the first time in their lives, she had lied to him.

She pulled her hands away from his abruptly and retreated to the shadows of the cell, clearly wanting to be alone.

Chris understood her message warning him away from her and remained in his corner. As he watched her draw her knees up to her chest, he felt as if a tremendous weight had lifted from his shoulders by getting her to agree. But at the same time, he also felt guilty for causing her any pain or distress at the thought of taking the life of the only real family she had left. Not wanting to leave things between them as they were, he spoke quietly to her, "I'm sorry, Lynny."

Still not looking up, she changed the subject by correcting him. "Just stick to the plan. And my NAME is Lynn, Chrissy."

He smiled at the nickname she had given him when she was a child, realizing that it's use signified at least partial forgiveness. Sitting down where he stood, he began mentally rehearsing what he was going to say to Wyatt when the time came.

Several hours later, Lynn and Chris still sat on opposite sides of the cell. Breaking the silence, Lynn asked him, "So what happened?"

Chris: Looking confused, "What do you mean?"

Lynn: "How did you end up back here? You said they helped him, right?"

Chris: Pursing his lips, he turned his head away from her when he replied, "I really don't want to talk about it."

Lynn: Sarcastically, "Well I think that anger towards them will definitely be believable when Wyatt asks." Rolling her eyes, "Forget about that for right now. Just tell me a little about Aunt Phoebe. I mean mom. Boy, what do I call her now?"

Chris: His eyes narrowing, he muttered almost inaudibly, "I'll tell you what you can call her..."

Lynn: scolding him, "Chris. Would you save all of this repressed anger for Wyatt? He needs it more than I do." Despondently, "This may be our last chance to talk for a while, and I just want you to tell me a little about her. I mean, she's my mother, and I don't even really remember her."

Chris heard the sadness in her voice and felt ashamed at denying her that small bit of comfort. Moving over to the other side of the cell, he put his arm around her shoulders. "She was really cool at first. She was pretty much the first to accept me when I got there."

Lynn: "Am I anything like her?"

Chris: scrutinizing her and comparing her to his memory of his aunt, "Well. You both have dark hair, but she cut hers all off. Big brown eyes. A lot of tattoos."

Lynn rolled up her pant leg excitedly and showed him her ankle, "Ooh. Just like me. See, the family crest."

Chris: pointing to her tattoo with his mouth hanging open, "When the hell did you get that? And who told you that you could get a tattoo?"

Lynn rolled her eyes, "I am an adult, Mother. Go on, go on."

Chris: Laughing it off, "Well, you're also both really short." His last comment earning him a punch on the arm. "She's kind of flighty--but in a good way, and a spur of the moment type of person. That's a lot like you. And she has a big heart. Just like you. Even when she wasn't an empath, she still cared tremendously for everyone around her." He trailed off, "which is why I don't understand why she went along with sending me back."

Lynn: Nonchalantly, "I do. She's a total bitch." She laughed at his look of incredulity, "Chris, now is not the time to second guess why they did what they did. You need that anger to make it believable. If he's going to trust you, he has to FEEL that anger that you're feeling. Don't question why. Just accept what they did--and hate them for it. When you get your powers back, then you can worry about analyzing their actions. I'm sure that there are probably some really good shrinks back in their time to help you get over it."

Chris: grinning, "You definitely got your brassy attitude from Aunt Paige."

Lynn: Sounding hopeful, "and the determination to save her family from Piper."

Chris: A hint of doubt in his voice, he agreed with her, "yeah."

Interrupting any further discussions, Wyatt's head demonic bodyguard shimmered into the cell. Sizhen looked at the two of them with barely controlled hatred. Disgustedly, he addressed Chris, "Master Wyatt wishes to see you. You are to come with me now."

'Here we go.' Taking a deep breath, Chris stood up and rested his hand on Lynn's shoulder. She touched her hand to his, silently saying goodbye.

Chris' hand lingered far too long for Sizhen's taste, so he grabbed him by his collar and pulled him away.

Chris was prepared to be shimmered to Wyatt, but was stunned to find Sizhen wave his hand over the bars and create a doorway. Stepping out into the corridor, he understood the purpose of walking through. Sizhen wanted to break him. He wanted to belittle him and make him ashamed; and show everyone his complete and absolute failure. 'Well it worked.' He took one last look at Lynn and watched his feet as he began the long walk through the dimly lit hallway.

TBC............

An: Thank you all so much for the wonderful reviews. I've been trying to incorporate your questions and answers into the chapters, so your reviews are very helpful. This chapter was actually part of chapter 16, but I was working from two different computers and it got separated by accident. Also, chapter 18 is mostly written with Chris off to see the wizard ;) I'll post as soon as I can finish my edits.

Thanks, shjohnso

Coming Home Chapter 18

Future.......

Once they had passed the corridor, Sizhen no longer felt the need to walk. He grabbed a despondent Chris and shimmered away.

Wyatt is sitting at a large banquet table, enjoying a lavish dinner when Chris and Sizhen arrive. He enjoyed the fact that Chris was eyeing his food so openly. "Don't drool, Christopher. It isn't very becoming." Licking his fingers slowly, he decided to taunt him further, "This is absolutely exquisite." Knowing the answer, but mocking him anyway, "When was the last time that you ate, by the way?"

His stomach growling, Chris knew that he was being taunted, but was unable to answer in any other fashion. "I guess it's been a while. But since you were the cause of my being sick and not being able to eat, I assume you already know that."

Wyatt waived his arm and dismissed Sizhen as he bowed and exited. He motioned towards a chair at the other end of the table, "Have a seat, Christopher." Smiling devilishly, "I can hear your stomach begging for food all the way over here. Your body betrays you."

As Chris took his seat, he rolled his eyes at Wyatt. "Yeah, well then it wouldn't be the first time, would it?"

Wyatt catching his reference to their exit from the attic, he decided to play a little game with him. He commanded Chris, "Come here--and take very slow steps"

Chris was able to sit for several seconds and fight the command before he unwittingly rose from his chair. He stared in shock as his own legs strolled toward Wyatt. "What did you do to me? Is it that crap you've being giving me? A spell or something?"

Wyatt: Staring at Chris now inches from his face, "Or something. What would you say if I told you that I just released your hidden desire to obey me?"

Chris: He chortled, "Then I would say that you were severely delusional." Seeing that he got away with the comment without angering him, he continued, "I just want to be left alone, Wyatt. I went back and I failed trying to save you and our family. It's over now. Please, just let me and Lynny go, OK? We won't bother you or interfere again."

Wyatt: Genuinely confused, "What's wrong? You were so determined to "Save me" before. Have you finally realized that I don't need saving?"

Chris: Sounding defeated, "I'm just tired of fighting you, Wyatt." He flicked his hands in an outward motion to show indifference, "So you go ahead and do whatever your crazy little heart desires." Looking in Wyatt's direction, but staring past him, he pursed his lips hoping that the fire he felt was showing in his countenance. "There's nothing left back there to save. I'm done with it. We're both done with it. We just want to leave."

Wyatt: Looking extremely pleased, "Well this is a step in the right direction; but no. You can not leave. Both of you have a destiny you need to finish."

Chris turned on his heels and through his hands up in frustration, "Damn it! I'm tired of all of these damned "destinies." I'm not a witch anymore. And I'm not really a whitelighter either. I just...want...to live a NORMAL life. And now that I have no powers, I finally have a chance to do that." Spinning back to face him, "Why won't you let me do that?"

Wyatt: Answering sadly, "because it's not who you are, Chris. Who you were born to be. You will always be a witch--with or without your powers." He continued emphatically, "You only feel that way now because you've never allowed yourself to give in to the power you possess; never let it consume you until you hunger for more. To let the world cower at your feet in awe of the sheer power you were born with." Seeing the doubt in Chris' eyes, but also the possibilities, his own eyes gleamed in response. "I can show you. I can show you who you are--who you are meant to be."

Chris tried to sound unsure and a bit distrustful, "Just like that. You're just going to forget everything I did?"

Wyatt: Absurdly, "Of course not. But I CAN forgive you. Whether or not I do; is really your choice."

Chris: "And Lynny?"

Wyatt: appearing to think it over, "Eventually. But not right now. Right now, it's your turn." He questioned almost as an afterthought, "Did you honestly believe that they would turn on you?"

Chris knew he would have to do no pretending with this question. He let the hurt, anger, and betrayal flow as he thought about his family sending him back to face an unknown future. He stiffened and clenched his fists. Through the fury in his own eyes, he barely saw the glimmer in Wyatt's.

Wyatt smiled in excitement. He didn't need a verbal response from Chris. His body language gave him his answer. "I can teach you how to draw on that anger you're feeling--to channel it through your powers to increase them exponentially!" Seeing that he still had his attention, Wyatt added, "Did you know that you have more than one power, Christopher?"

Chris: He said matter of factly, "Of course. I am half whitelighter. Orbing comes naturally."

Wyatt: "I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about your Wiccan powers."

Chris: "I'm only telekinetic."

Wyatt circles him, "No. You're not. But I can teach you what you are, and it's so much more than that."

Chris replied determinedly, "If I agree to this, let's get something straight right now--I...WILL...NOT...BE...YOUR...LACKY! I have no desire to be running around here acting like your servant. So whatever strings you've got pulling me around with--had better be cut. Or there's NO deal!"

Wyatt looked happily surprised and grinned in response. "Hmm. Definitely a step in the right direction." He walked toward the door before turning to Chris, "Come with me."

Even with the pulling at his mind, Chris still managed to stare open- mouthed at the doorway that Wyatt had just exited. 'I'll be damned. It worked.' He was broken out of his musings when he heard Wyatt call his name angrily down the hall. He started to run to catch up with him, but got side tracked when he saw the food on the table out of the corner of his eye. Backing up, he grabbed a handful of ham slices from the table and hurried out of the room.

Walking down the hall, Chris saw several open doorways. Although Wyatt was no longer in sight, he instinctively knew which door to enter.

Wyatt was standing over a cauldron, meticulously adding ingredients from the shelf behind him. He watched him patiently for several minutes before interrupting, "What is that?"

Wyatt neither looked up from what he was doing, nor did he respond. Chris was still focussing on the cauldron when he noticed Wyatt hold out his hand and materialize an athame in his palm. He took a step back when Wyatt advanced on him with a sinister grin--threatening him with the knife. "What are you doing?"

Wyatt: He whispered softly, "I'm going to give you what you've been asking for...." He motioned with his finger and flung the door shut behind Chris, blocking any possible escape.

Chris knew it was too good to be true. There was no way that Wyatt would give in like he thought. 'Damn. I guess it didn't work.' Still backing away, he started to panic when he reached the wall and could go no further. He held out his hands in a defensive gesture, "Wyatt--Come on. Don't do this..."

In a flash, Wyatt reached out and grabbed one of Chris' extended hands. With the other hand, he quickly sliced a deep gash into Chris' palm causing him to cry out. Dragging him by the same arm over to the cauldron, he squeezed his wrist to force the blood to run freely into the pot. Dropping his hand, he reached out, plucked a few strands of hair from Chris' head, and added them to the mix.

Chris doubled over holding his hand, trying to staunch the rapidly flowing bloodstream. He looked up when Wyatt threw him a small rag to wrap around his hand. He watched intently as Wyatt reached up and cut a lock of his own long-unruly blonde hair, placing it into the pot. Extending his hand over it, he slit a long gash in his palm and dripped a steady flow of blood into the pot. When he was finished, he waived his other hand over the wound and healed it.

Wyatt mumbled a few inaudible words over the new potion before bottling several vials. He threw his head back and downed one full bottle. As soon as its contents reached his stomach, he rigidly slammed his hands on the table as waves of pain washed over him. As the pain subsided, his body shook and emitted a soft blue glow before fading. He grabbed Chris' hand and healed it quickly with the waive of his own. Holding out the vial, he stated simply, "Your turn."

Chris snatched his hand away and looked on incredulously, "Hell no! That looked like it hurt."

Wyatt: Shoving the vial into his hand, "If you want your powers back, you'll take it."

Relenting, Chris took the vial and emptied it; experiencing the same reaction that Wyatt had moments earlier.

After Chris recovered, Wyatt added, "I can't give you back control. It's not reversible--so you'll just have to learn to live with it. But I can give back some of your powers. I don't intend to give you back the ability to orb. I don't trust you enough for that."

Chris tried to hide the disappointed look on his face at Wyatt's response. That was definitely something he didn't want to hear. Partial powers under Wyatt's thumb, without the freedom and ability to escape at will. 'Oh this is just great! Ok Chris. One step at time.' Right now, he didn't feel any different, but tried to move something with his mind just in case. He chose a large crystal bowl near the cauldron. Flicking his finger at it, he smiled widely when it landed on the floor and shattered.

Wyatt: Rolling his eyes, "You just bought that." He moved to stand next to Chris, "Let's go."

Chris: "Where are we going?"

Wyatt: "To have your first lesson in anger management."

Chris: "From you? Oh this I gotta see." Grinning mildly as Wyatt rested his hand on his shoulder and orbed them out.

TBC.............

AN: Thank you, thank you, thank you for the reviews. I love them. Keeps me going:)