Chapter 4

Chris sat surrounded by the darkness of the night as his Aunt still lay sleeping next to him. He could hear her woman mumbling something incoherently as she rolled over. All the while he wondered why he was still in the manor and hadn't moved on yet. Had this all been some form of torture or something? But before he could ponder anything further he felt himself being taken to yet another location. Maybe I'm finally moving on, he thought as he allowed the invisible guide to take him to his next destination. As Chris reformed he was able to take in his new location in its entirety.

"Oh no" he said as realized where he was. It wasn't the after life like he had hoped but rather another room in the Halliwell manor and sitting right next to him was his Aunt Phoebe.

The woman was curled up on the couch with only the light of the fire place to contrast the darkness that fell upon the rest of the family room. Chris noticed that she was wrapped in the blanket that he used during his stay in the past. Phoebe held it to her nose as she breathed in heavily as if trying to take in every little bit of scent that the boy had left. Chris tried desperately to pick himself off of the couch and avoid what was to follow. But some powerful force was holding him firmly in place. Knowing full well that he was fighting a losing battle, he sat back and waited for the tears to fall. Unfortunately he didn't have to wait long. But unlike the others who screamed and yelled out in pain and anger, the woman had chosen to cry silent tears. As she looked into the flames a slight smile crept across her face. Chris was happy to see that at least Phoebe could see through the sadness and have good thoughts of him. He just wondered what exactly it was that she was thinking about.

Phoebe missed her nephew dearly. She laughed to herself as her mind drifted back to the day that she first laid eyes on the young man. She was in the attic trying to fight off one of the Gods. Things weren't going to well then he appeared out of nowhere and saved her life. Even though she didn't trust him right away she was indeed grateful for the save although she never let him know it. And in return for the lovely gesture she hit on him, her own nephew.

She laughed out loud now as she remembered the look of shock and disgust on the boy's face as his nasty old aunty hit on him. It was the most comical thing she had ever witness now that she knew his true identity. The woman could only imagine what went through the boy's head at that moment. Then again there were other times that she wanted to strangle him. Not only because of his constant answer of "future consequences" but because of his smart-ass remarks. A trait that he no doubt inherited from his mother. She could also remember times that were no so great which caused on her face to fade.

How she wished that she could take back all the times that she and her sister had treated the boy badly. What they said to him and the way they acted towards the young man was down right brutal sometimes. Especially when Wyatt was taken by the Order. Chris tried so hard to do what was right for his brother and what did her get for all his trouble?

His own mother told him to go away and that she never wanted to see him again. Even though she didn't say anything her and the younger Halliwell sister was just as guilty for not sticking up for him. She began to cry harder as she remembered the hurt look on the boys face as he said sorry before orbing out. Her heart ached for the boy and the amount of pain that he felt when his own mother spoke those hateful words.

The tears flowed more heavily accompanied by small sharp intakes of breath which caused her body to jerk suddenly. Chris tried to wipe his aunt's tears away but realizing that he couldn't made the boy tear up once more.

"Damn it, how much more do you want me to take!" he screamed out in frustration. Then something strange happened. He felt as if he was becoming whole again.

"Oh what now?" he thought. He then heard someone calling his name.