Chris found Penny in the same place he found her before.
"Penny." he said gently.
"Mmmm?" she asked without turning around.
He gingerly took a few steps forward.
"Do you mind if I take a seat?"
"Mm mm." she said shaking her head.
"Why'd you leave."
"What's with the fifty questions?"
"I just want to make sure your okay."
"I'm fine I was just thinking."
"About?"
"Everything. I did what I set out to do, and more." she explained turning to look at him.
"You did, didn't you."
"Yeah." she said smiling. "And now we get to go home."
Chris looked out across the bay.
"I know why you like it up here so much."
"Chris?"
"Mmm?"
"Can we go home now?"
He turned and looked at her again a look of wonder in his eyes as he surveyed her face, looking for a hint of what was to follow. She lent over and knocked shoulders with him and then moved back to where she was, laughing.
"Chris?"
"Sorry." he said shaking his head. "I was surprised. I didn't think I was going to be able to get you to leave."
"Well, I want to see what we changed."
"First things first then. We have to go back to the manor and say goodbye." he said.
"Okay, let's go." she said jumping up and holding a hand out to Chris.
"You are one confusing girl." he said taking her hand and easing himself up. "Let's go then."
James stared at Paige, trying to take in everything she had just said.
"I'm sorry, Penny's what?" he asked, clearly confused.
"Our daughter." she laughed.
James held his head in his hands.
"Okay. And she's here because?"
"She came back in time, to change a few things."
"That's what I don't get. She came back in time?"
"I know it's hard to understand, but it's a fairly simple spell."
James scratched his eyebrow, then rubbed his forehead.
"Let me see if I got this right. Penny's our daughter from the future, she came back and warned you about imminent attacks, and me. Then we met, fell in love, and you and your sisters vanquished the demon who was essentially controlling me because of a deal I struck with him five years ago. Now were sitting here. Oh and Chris is your nephew the same guy as the kid that's usually running around here."
"In a nut shell." she said smiling at him.
"Well as long as I got it right." he said taking her hand.
Penny and Chris arrived just outside the doorway, where Paige and James were talking.
"Penny? Is that you?" Paige asked.
"Yes." she answered hesitantly.
"Can you come in here?"
"Go on." Chris whispered.
Slowly Penny walked towards the door gradually she turned the handle and pushed it open. Cautiously she poked her head around and saw parents sitting opposite each other. 'There's a sight I've never seen before.' she thought taking a few steps inside.
"Come on in sweetie, it's okay." Paige said tenderly.
Swallowing, she tentatively walked towards them, she noticed James staring at her and gave him a puzzled look.
"What's going on?" she asked quietly.
"I just told James everything." Paige said. Penny looked at her shocked, thinking 'Everything.' she gulped and turned and stared at James.
"So you know, then?"
He nodded.
"So what happens now?" he asked.
"I have to go back." Penny said looking at her hands.
"You're leaving?" Paige asked, her eyes widening in burgeoning disbelief.
"Chris and I can't stay. We have to go back." she tried to explain.
"Can't you stay for a little bit? I'd like to get to know you." James asked. Penny smiled at him, relieved that he wasn't dismissive of her due to the revelation.
"You will. You just have to wait to meet me first." she told him.
James looked at her slightly confused.
"I mean you'll have to wait and see whether or not I'm born." then looking at Paige, "It all rests on what happens now."
Paige looked at James and gave him a half smile.
"Okay then, when do you leave?" he asked her.
Penny shrugged her shoulders and looked past her mother listlessly.
"I have to ask Chris."
"Well lets all go find him." James said jumping to his feet.
"So what's happening?" Piper asked Chris who was leaning on the bench watching her chop vegetables. "Chris?" she asked putting the knife down and passing her hand in front of his eyes.
"Yeah?" he asked looking up. "Sorry, I love watching you cook."
"I asked what's happening?"
"We're going back."
"When?" she asked, concentrating on the zucchini in front of her.
"As soon as we can I guess." he said picking up one of the julienne carrots. Piper swatted his hand then smiled.
"Are you staying for dinner at least?"
Paige, James and Penny traipsed into the kitchen.
"Are we?" Penny asked.
Chris turned and looked at her, 'She's a bloody enigma.' he thought.
"I guess so."
Walking over to Penny he took her arm and led her to the nearest corner.
"What's up? I thought you wanted to go home?"
"I do." she told him, her eyes showing signs if confliction. "It's just mom and dad looked really sad when I told them we were going the want us to stay a while."
Chris rubbed her shoulder, then turned around and looked at the others.
"We'll stay for dinner, then go either tonight or early tomorrow morning."
Both walked back to where the others were and stood awkwardly next to each other. Piper glanced up from the chopping board and noticed Phoebe walking in the room.
"What's up?" she asked making a beeline to the carrot's Piper had just cut. Piper slapped her hand and scowled at her.
"We're waiting to hear from those two." Piper said nodding towards Chris and Penny. "And would you all stop eating the vegetables or there'll be nothing for dinner."
All of them grinned at her, Piper fought back a smile, shook her head then continued preparing the evening meal.
"We're going to stay for dinner, then after we are leaving." Chris said inattentively.
Phoebe stared at him.
"You're leaving? Again?" she asked.
"We have to we can't stay." Penny explained. She could see the pain in Phoebe's eyes.
"I know sweetie, but you both only just got here. It can't be time for you to go yet?" she said reaching out and pulling Penny towards her, holding her tight.
"It is! Dalton's gone and your all safe. That's why I came back, so now I have to go."
Piper and Paige glanced at each other, both not wanting them to go either. Penny laughed and wriggled free from Phoebe's embrace.
"And anyway, technically Chris is still here, You'll have Melinda in a few months and then quite possibly I might arrive in a few years time."
Chris shook his head, trying his hardest not to laugh.
"Back to your usual self there Pen?"
She whipped around and glared at him.
"What?"
"No more sulky Penny? Just carefree and able to reduce everything to it's simplest form Penny again?"
Penny frowned, confused by what Chris was trying to get at.
"I think he mean's your more like the Penny he knew in the future." Paige said putting a hand on her shoulder.
Penny rolled her eyes and gently socked Chris in the stomach.
"Your such an moron, sometimes." she joked.
"Children, don't make me send you to your rooms." Phoebe said as she saw Chris about to put Penny in a headlock.
"Chris! Let goooo! You'll mess up my hair."
"Since when do you care how your hair looks?" he teased letting her go.
"Since always!" she said poking out her tongue as she smoothed her hair down. The sisters and James were standing back on the laughter.
"What?" Penny asked.
"Is it like his all the time?" Piper asked.
"I guess so! But there's also Mel! And Wyatt sometimes joins in as well." she said looking back at Chris.
"I still can't get over the fact that Wyatt's the quiet one." Phoebe said.
"Why?" Penny asked.
"Well look at him out there." she said pointing out into the backyard. Penny saw Wyatt chasing after Chris, his arms flailing about and wailing like a banshee.
"I hate it when he does that." Chris said under his breath as he lent forward. "It's when he gets to high school that he quietens down."
Turning back to face everyone Penny smiled.
"So.. Ummm Do you mind if we duck up to the attic and make the potion?"