Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Charmed except my own.
Could this day get any weirder? First, he finds out that his future self has a baby on the way and then he learns that he also has a wife. He stopped abruptly as a thought occurred to him. If they were really married in the future, that meant she had left his future self without telling him. Chris knew instantly he would never have agreed to let his pregnant wife travel to the past and go on some mission to save the world, at least not without him there to protect her.
Chris walked forward not stopping until he was right in front of Alonna. He could see that she was furious with him, but he ignored the glare she was sending him and forged ahead with his questions. "Let me get this straight," he said his tone angry. "You and I are married in the future?" Alonna nodded but continued to glare. "And you're pregnant with our baby?" Alonna noticed Chris stressed the word 'our'. She was relieved that maybe he may believe her, but she refused to let him off the hook that easily.
"Well actually...I don't know," she sneered. "According to you, I couldn't possibly know who my baby's father is since I seem to be sleeping with someone else...or maybe...I'm sleeping with lots of men...just bed hopping from one to the other while the world lies in turmoil! Maybe that's what I was doing! Alonna knew her eyes were flashing green, as they usually did whenever she was angry. Chris closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. Ok he deserved that, but what did she expect. Couldn't she just understand that he was just shocked?
"Look, I'm sorry," he said his voice much softer. "That came out wrong. I didn't mean to insult you. It's just that you pop in here and tell me that you're going to have my baby and that we're married and don't expect me to be even a little shocked." Alonna eyes immediately softened. He was right. What did she expect? For him to just accept her with open arms...of course not. They don't even know each other. This man standing before was not her husband...not really. He was her husband at 10 years younger, still a kid. "Now wait...don't look like that," he said, anxious to reassure her. "I believe you...ok. If you say that we're married then we are and I totally accept this. You just caught me by surprise. That's all."
"Although, I would like to know how you could have just up and left without telling my future self what you were planning to do," he continues a scowl re-appearing on his face. He held a hand up to her lips to stop her from saying whatever it was she was about to say. "No...don't even try it," he said. "I know myself. I would have never agreed to my wife...my pregnant wife time traveling to the past without me. So please tell me why you left without telling me? Well not me now...but the me later. Damn it! You know what I mean." Alonna felt her nerves returning. She hadn't expected him to just take what she had to say and accept it just like that. And it was just like him to scold her as if she was a child.
"Chris, please don't start okay," she said her voice strained. "I did run the idea by you and you said no." Chris turned around and looked at his mom, giving her a 'can you believe this look', before returning his attention to Alonna.
"Okay...so I told you not to do this and yet you still did it anyway," he said, the anger returning to his voice but he didn't care. She needed to understand what she did was wrong and dangerous. "Chris," she began. "No answer me," he said. "Did you or did you not still go behind my back and defy me?"
"Woah...defy you," Alonna said, as she began to get mad again. "I am not a child and will not be spoken to like one! Just who the hell do you think you are?"
"Well apparently I'm your husband," he said, his tone sarcastic. Alonna was breathing hard now as she glared at Chris. He could be such an asshole sometimes, but...she loved that asshole. Piper stepped between her son and his...well wife. "All right...all right," she said placing a hand on each of their arms. "I think you two need a time out. Chris, you need to calm down...now. She's pregnant and under a lot of stress. She doesn't need you coming at her like this." Chris nodded and he looked contrite.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, looking down at his shoes. Piper then turned to Alonna. "You're not off the hook young lady," she said in a motherly tone. "In Chris's defense, he has the right to be angry." Alonna opened her mouth to say something, but Piper gave her a stern look. She bit her lip and motioned for Piper to continue. "He's your husband...at least in the future. He has the right to be concerned about you and the baby. How could you go on a mission like this, pregnant and alone? If we're really close like mother and daughter, then I know my future self will be furious and worried."
"Piper, I'm sorry," Alonna replied, her voice shaking. "You don't understand. You have no idea what I left behind. We have to live in secret underground tunnels and we can barely go above ground without being attacked. Do you know what that's like? Chris was so against the idea and I couldn't let him go with me. He needed to stay there to help protect you guys, not to mention he's the leader of the Resistance. The world needed him there more than it needed me. Besides I fully intend to go back...as soon as I figure out a way to go back. And it's not like I didn't tell anyone, I told Phoebe. She's my best friend...I knew she would keep it a secret."
Chris turned a glare to Phoebe, before returning his gaze to Alonna. "What...you told her and didn't tell me," he said. "I can't believe this! You can tell your best friend but you can't tell your husband? Please someone else jump in here before I completely lose it!" Piper gave Chris another pointed look and he bit back another retort.
"Alonna, the fact still remains that you left your husband and your family behind," said Piper, deliberately forcing her voice to sound calm. "Didn't you think we would worry about you and wonder what happened to you?"
"Well...actually you wouldn't really know," Alonna replied slowly. "You see I cast another spell first that made everyone else forget about my presence except Phoebe. It's like I never existed now. The only person who would know that I once existed is Phoebe, because...well...I needed at least one person to know in case something went wrong. I'll reverse the spell when I go back to the future, whenever that will be."
"But sweetheart, you just told us that you don't even know how you're going to get back," Piper said her voice still calm and soothing.
"Yes...I know," said Alonna, placing a hand against her head as she tried to will the headache away. "I thought I could figure that out later. Guys, could we talk about this later? I'm so tired." Alonna staggered again as she felt a wave of dizziness. Piper caught her by the arms and led her slowly over to the couch. "I don't know what's wrong with me," said Alonna. "I've never fainted before."
Piper smoothed a hand down Alonna's hair. "Sweetie, you're pregnant and under immense pressure. When was the last time you ate?" Alonna's face scrunched up as she tried to remember. She frowned when she realized she hadn't eaten since yesterday morning. "You're not going to like my answer," she said. "The last time I ate was yesterday morning." Piper's eyes widened and she shook her head. "It's 3:00 in the afternoon. It's amazing that you haven't dropped earlier. You have to take better care of yourself. You can't take care of that baby inside of you and save the world without eating."
"Alonna, you're making it really hard for me to calm down here," Chris said, struggling to keep his voice even.
"I know...I know," Alonna replied. "It's just I was working on the spell...trying to perfect it. I was so nervous I couldn't eat, plus I was sick to my stomach too."
"I know the feeling...morning sickness is a bitch," Piper said cringing as she remembered her own morning sickness. Hers had just recently stopped and she was extremely grateful for that. "Chris, why don't you go to the kitchen and make Alonna a sandwich and bring her a bottle of water too," she said, her eyes not leaving Alonna's face. Chris didn't move. Paige walked over to him and nudged him. "Yo...Chris...anybody in there," she said while waving her hand in front of his face. He gave her a hard look and she backed away.
"Chris...honey I know you're concerned but it's okay," said Piper, turning her head to look at her son. "We're all here. We won't let anything happen to her." At that moment, Chris wondered again how his mother always knew exactly what he was thinking.
"Mom...I know you won't," he said. "It just...I'm not sure I want her to leave my sight now that I know...well you know." Piper looked at her son, proud of the man he was becoming. He was so grown up and mature for his age. It was just like him to just jump right in and accept whatever was thrown at him. She could see the fear in his eyes. He was scared for Alonna's health and she couldn't blame him.
"Chris it's all right," Alonna chimed in. "Your mom always takes cares of me when I'm sick. I can barely cough around her without her placing a palm to my forehead. I'll be right here. I'm not going anywhere. Actually, all I want is some water. My stomach will definitely protest any food."
At Piper's look of warning, Alonna smiled nervously. "On second thought, I could probably eat some saltine crackers...if you have them," she said, her eyes now full of hope at that thought of squelching the nausea rolling around in her stomach. "Oh god...I am never having sex again if this is what it does to you," she muttered as she placed a hand on her stomach. Phoebe snorted and Paige started giggling. Alonna placed her hands on her face, clearly embarrassed. How could she say that out loud and in front of Chris's mother? Piper dragged Alonna's hands away from her face and rolled her eyes. When Alonna stole a glance at Chris, she saw his face was pink.
"Oh please," said Piper. "I should think I know my son is already having sex if he's 30 and married. I would be worried if he isn't. As a matter of fact, he's probably having sex at his current age."
Chris closed his eyes as he felt his face getting even hotter. "Mom," he said sternly. "Please...just don't." He shook his head. This was where he got this thing where he speaks first and thinks later, because clearly his mom had that problem as well.
"Oh hush up," Piper replied. "It's not a big deal. People have sex. How do you think you got here?" Phoebe smiled as she bit her cheek to stop herself from laughing, but Paige couldn't help but laugh. The expression on Chris's face was priceless.
"Oh god," Chris exclaimed. "Mom, you did not just say that! No one wants to hear about you and dad's sex life okay! Jeez mom...gross!"
Piper smiled at Alonna and winked at her. "Just go get your wife some crackers...and skip the water. Make some peppermint tea instead. There should still be some hot water in the tea pot."
"No problem," he said his eyes straying to meet Alonna's again. "Are you sure you're okay? You're not dizzy anymore?"
"Yes Christopher," Alonna said in exasperation. "I'll be fine." He could be such a worry wart sometimes. Chris smiled as he raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Christopher," he questioned. "What happened to Chris?"
"If she feels like I do then she probably calls you Christopher when you annoy her," said Piper dryly. Chris gave his mom a fake smile before turning his attention back to his wife. It was strange how thinking of her that way didn't scare him. In fact, it made him feel warm inside. "I'll be right back," Chris said a real smile now on his face. Alonna nodded and waved him away. Suddenly, she remembered what Piper had just said. She didn't want to think about Chris having sex with anyone else but her. It hurt way too much. Oh God! How would she handle it if she discovered that he was sleeping with someone in this time period?
***I'm not sure if this is a great ending, but please review
