Chapter 8

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Charmed except my own.

Alonna jumped up from her seat and ran over to Leo throwing her hands around his neck, a huge smile on her face. Leo just stood there not returning the hug, wondering who this woman was currently pressed up against him. "God...it's so great to see you," said Alonna happily. "How are you doing Leo," she asked as she finally pulled back to get a good look at him. When she saw the confused look on his face she realized her mistake. She had forgotten that he didn't know who she was here in this time period. "I forgot…you don't know who I am," said Alonna, as she groaned aloud while placing her hands on her face to conceal her embarrassment.

Paige got up from her seat and placed a gentle hand on Alonna's arm. "It's okay Alonna," she said. "It was an honest mistake, but I think we should explain to Leo what's going on. Do you want to or should I?"

"I think you should, while I sit here and wait for my embarrassment to fade," Alonna replied, as she walked quickly back over to her seat and sat down.

Paige nodded and walked over to face Leo. "Okay Leo...here's the deal," she stated. "That young woman who just hugged you so exuberantly is Alonna. She's sort of from the future...like Chris...except her time is ahead of his by 10 years. She also came here to stop the demon that plans to turn Wyatt evil."

Leo was still confused. "O-kaay," he said slowly. "But that still doesn't explain her exuberant hug as you put it. How do I know her?"

"Well that's the interesting part," Paige said, letting an uneasy laugh escape her. "She's your daughter-in-law."

Leo's mouth fell open. "Wha-What," he stuttered. "Wait a minute. My daughter-in-law...can someone please tell me what's really going on here?"

Piper got up from her seat and stood next to her sister. "Leo, Paige is telling the truth. Alonna is Chris's wife. He was just as surprised to meet her as the rest of us. In his time, they haven't even met yet, but she's here now to help us save our other son."

Leo glanced over at Alonna with narrowed eyes. "How do we even know if she's telling the truth," he asked. Alonna bit her lip and looked down at her plate. She knew to expect suspicion and doubt, but she wasn't prepared for how it would make her feel...how hurt it would make her.

Chris saw the expression on her face and he felt his temper rising. He pushed his chair back and spun around to face his father. "Leo...just relax okay," he said harshly. "Phoebe checked her out with her empath power. Alonna's telling the truth so you can just back off with the whole "suspicious routine. She's had enough of that from me already."

Alonna's head rose at that last comment. He was still feeling guilty about that? "Chris it's alright...he's just being careful," she told him softly. "You were just being careful. I understand that you both are just trying to protect your family. Really…it's fine."

Chris looked at her then. "It's your family too now," he replied quietly.

"Yes it is...but Leo didn't know that," she said, as she smiled softly at him. She then looked over at Leo and smiled at him as well, who currently had his hands in his pockets and was appearing contrite. "Now can everyone just relax for a minute," she continued. "We were just going to eat breakfast right?"

Leo nodded. "I can see that," he said as he gazed down at his youngest son, whose expression had softened somewhat. "How are you doing," he asked him. "You doing okay...with you know...all this? It must have been quite a shock."

Chris sighed. "Yeah it was," he agreed. "But there's another shocker. You're going to be a grandfather."

Leo turned shocked eyes to Alonna. "You're pregnant," he asked. She nodded and smiled weakly. Leo placed his hands on his hips and bit the inside of his cheek. Alonna saw his expression change from shock to that parental expression that warned a lecture was coming. "You're pregnant and you went on a mission like this," he asked, his voice rising slightly in volume. Are you out of your mind?"

"Yeah...that's what I said to her too," said Chris. Alonna threw a glare at him.

"Oh God...not again," she said in an exasperated tone. "We've been over this already. I had to do whatever I could to help my family...to save the world. My time is 10 years ahead of Chris and it's still in chaos. Wyatt is out of control. I had to do something."

"Yes...but did you have to come alone," Leo asked. "Why didn't Chris come with you?" Then a thought occurred to him. How could Chris have married her when he's here with them now? "Speaking of which, how could you and Chris have met when he's in our time?"

Alonna's face darkened. "Why don't you ask your son that question," she said, a tinge of scorn in her voice.

Chris gave her a pleading look. "I said I'm sorry okay," he told her. "I thought we were going to put all of that aside to help Wyatt. Remember...our conversation upstairs this morning."

She sighed. "You're right...I'm sorry," Alonna responded.

"Yeah...so am I," said Chris. He then turned his attention to his father. "And to answer your question...I performed a spell that would split me in half, leaving an exact clone of myself in my time. That way Wyatt would still think I'm there. He wouldn't know what I planned."

"So the person Alonna married is your clone," Leo questioned. Chris nodded. "Oh boy…son you are something else. And what about you young lady? Why did you come here without anyone accompanying you? Aren't they going to know you're missing?"

"Well no not exactly," she replied, uneasy with the switch of topic. "I performed a spell of my own. It made everyone forget about my existence except Phoebe. She'll be sort of a backup in case something goes wrong. She may be able to help me find a way to get back."

Leo smirked. "I'm guessing my son wasn't too happy about the fact that you left his future self to come here."

"You would be guessing right," she replied, sneaking a glance at Chris.

Paige rolled her eyes at the conversation. How the hell was she supposed to get Chris and Alonna together if they kept having this uncomfortable tenseness between them? "Look...we all have been over this," she said firmly.  "Both Chris and Alonna did what they had to do to save the world. We all have done things that we may regret a little, but we had to do it...right. So let's cut them some slack and I think the two of you should cut each other some slack too."

Chris smiled gratefully at his aunt. Paige ruffled his hair and sat back down in her seat. "Now I have to eat at least a little of this food," she said. "I'll be late for work if I don't get out of here soon." She then took her fork, picking up a forkful of eggs and placing it in her mouth. "Hmm...this is so good. I'm so happy that I live with a former chef." Chris shook his head and laughed at his aunt, turning around to take a bite of his food as well.

Alonna picked up the plate of biscuits and took two for herself. She bit into one of them and closed her eyes in pleasure. It had been so long since she had eaten real good cooked food. She reminded herself that she had to eat quickly. There was some business she had to take care of today. That thought made her instantly get worried. She intended to contact some Pheremones thinking maybe they could give her some hints on to where to start her search for the demon that turns Wyatt. All she could do was hope that they couldn't sense she was part witch as well. She heard Phoebe drop her fork next to her and inhale a sharp breath. Damn! She forgot that Phoebe could sense her emotions.

"Alonna don't do this," she said forcefully. "You can't do this. Please rethink this."

"Phoebe shut up," Alonna hissed. She glared at Phoebe, but Phoebe wasn't backing down.

"Are you crazy," Phoebe asked. "You can't just go out and do that on your own!" Alonna put her fork on her plate and placed a hand to her temple. If everyone didn't stop acting like she was some sort of fragile china that would break at any moment, she was going to scream.

Piper and Leo exchanged a worried glance. Chris was busy sending Alonna a worried glance of his own. "What's going on Alonna," he asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Nothing," she said simply, as she took another bite of her biscuit. "Leo, can you get me something to drink please out of the fridge? Just some water thanks." Leo looked at his son and then walked over to the fridge. He took out a bottle of water and placed it on the table next to Alonna's plate.

"Thanks Leo," she said.

"No problem...now are you going to answer the question now," Leo asked. "What are you planning to do that has Phoebe so worried?"

Alonna placed the last of her biscuit in her mouth, chewing and swallowing quickly. "I'm going to do what I came here to do," she responded. "I'm going to start my search for who turns Wyatt evil." She picked up a piece of bacon and pushed her chair back, walking over to the counter to put down her plate.

Phoebe got up from her chair and followed Alonna over to the counter. "Look I know you think this is a good idea, but it's not," she said. "I know you're part Pheremone, but what if they sense that you're part witch too."

Alonna shrugged. "It's a risk I'll just have to take." Chris pushed his chair back so hard it startled his brother. He smoothed a hand down Wyatt's hair to calm him as he got up from his seat.

"Just what risk are you planning to take," he said, his tone hard as he stared at his wife. Alonna didn't meet his gaze instead placing her back to him, taking up another piece of bacon to eat. Chris stalked over to her, causing his mom to move aside so that he could pass. He spun her around to face him. "Don't do that ignoring me thing," he demanded. "What are you planning to do?"

Alonna swallowed the rest of the food in her mouth and sighed. "I'm going to contact some Pheremones in hopes of getting a lead on Wyatt. I'm part Pheromone so I figured I could make some sort of an allegiance with them. Then maybe they could get me in contact with some other demons in the underworld as well. The more contacts I have the more chances I have on finding out who turns Wyatt."

"Were you planning to tell me any of this or were you just going to go off on your own," he asked, his voice gaining in volume.

"Chris...I," she began.

"No...no reasons...no explanations...you're not going," he stated, crossing his arms defiantly. Alonna pushed against his chest for him to move out of her way, but he wouldn't budge. He grabbed her hands and held them. "You're pregnant...with our child. You can't just go on missions like this by yourself. Actually, I would prefer you not go at all."

Phoebe's eyebrows rose to nearly her hairline. Her nephew was sure demanding for someone who just found out he had a wife. She glanced at Piper and her sister nodded to the table. Phoebe gave her a quick not, getting the hint. She resumed her place back in the chair she was sitting, putting some distance from the argument ensuing between the couple behind her but not keeping her eyes off them.

"Now Chris I don't know about that," said Piper thoughtfully, jumping in to try and diffuse the argument. "I was fighting demons when I was at her stage of pregnancy. As a matter of fact, I'm still fighting demons even at nearly 6 months pregnant. I think Alonna can handle it. Although, I do agree with you Chris. She shouldn't go alone. Why don't you go with her?"

Alonna growled softly. "I don't believe you people," she huffed. "I am quite capable of taking care of myself." She then poked her husband in his chest. "And you...what gives you the right to try to tell me what I can and can't do?"

Chris sighed. "Look, I'm just worried about you," he said, his voice softer. "I didn't mean to snap. It's just you're making me crazy here. It's dangerous to attempt to be meeting with demons, especially without back up. Trust me. I've done it."

"So if you've done it, then why can't I Christopher," she asked, pulling her hand away from his to put both hands on her hips. "You do know that I can kick ass right? You've seen me. I can handle it."

Chris caressed her cheek. "I'm sure you can, but having some back up wouldn't be such a bad idea...just in case."

Alonna closed her eyes feeling herself relenting. "Okay...maybe you're right." She opened her eyes to meet his green ones and her face softened even further. She had forgotten how he could get her to do just about anything. She blinked her eyes quickly to come back to her senses. "We're going to have to come up with some sort of plan though. They'll probably sense the Whitelighter in you for sure."

Chris shrugged. "Alright, we'll think of something," he said. "Another thing...no more secrets please. You can't be going up against danger without telling someone what you're going to do. I just...I'm scared for you and the baby. I don't want either of you to get hurt." Alonna nodded, feeling tears springing to her eyes. Chris looked at her a moment longer, wanting to hug her but afraid of her reaction. Surprisingly enough, she made the move to hug him first, resting her head against his chest while her arms went around his waist. Chris recovered from his shock quickly and returned the embrace; holding her tightly to him and kissing the top of her head.

Phoebe smiled at the couple. She didn't have to use her empathy power to see that these two had strong feelings for each other. It was so amazing that Chris was already feeling so attached to Alonna and the life that she carried. Maybe they wouldn't have to intervene to help them with their relationship at all, because it seemed Alonna and Chris's love transcended across time. It didn't seem to matter that her nephew had just recently found out Alonna was his wife. They seemed to be so connected to one another. It reminded her of her love with Cole or of Piper and Leo. All she could do was hope that this couple's love didn't end tragically, because this family needed a happy ending for once.

Note:  Thanks for the new reviews I've received so far for this story. It was hard to crunk this chapter out, so I hope you guys like it. I'll need to think some more about the next chapter.

Please review.