Chapter 9
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Charmed except my own.
Alonna pulled back from her husband, suddenly feeling the need to put some distance between them. She was so confused. One minute she was frustrated and angry with him and the next minute she just wanted to get lost in his arms. There were more important things to deal with right now...being Wyatt. Chris saw the various emotions cross her face and he frowned. He ran his hand down her cheek again and her eyes met his once more.
"What is it," he asked her. "What are you thinking about right now?"
She sighed. "I'm thinking that we need to get a move on this mission," she lied smoothly. There was no reason he had to know the truth of what she was thinking. She knew she had promised no more secrets, but this was one she felt she had to keep to herself.
Chris nodded. "Yeah you're right," he admitted, even though he didn't make a move to release her yet. His hands were still holding her gently around her waist. She looked down pointedly at his hands and then at him. Chris chuckled nervously and stepped back, his hands falling away from her. They stood silently regarding each other until the sound of someone clearing their throat was heard. The couple's eyes turned to the sound.
"Sorry," said Leo, not sounding the least bit sorry. "I don't mean to ruin the moment you got going here, but don't you two have some work to do."
Chris rolled his eyes at his father. "Yeah, I'll go upstairs and check the Book of Shadows for Pheromones." He turned back around to look at Alonna. "I'll be right back," he told her. "Don't go anywhere. Wait for me." She nodded absently. Chris touched her cheek once more, before orbing out of the kitchen.
"So now that he's gone maybe you can tell us why you didn't just tell him what you know," Piper asked, looking at Alonna closely. Alonna's eyes flew to the ground and she turned around, putting her empty plate in the sink. "I didn't tell him, because I needed some space for a moment," she replied honestly. She turned back around to face them. "This is a lot to handle right now and I don't think Chris is ready for all of this. I'm not ready to handle all of this."
"This...meaning you and the baby," Piper questioned.
"Yes…and other things too," Alonna responded. "We already have to protect Wyatt and save the future. Now we have to deal with whatever it is happening between us."
"Honey you know what's happening between you two," Phoebe chimed in. "Chris is your husband. You love him and he cares about you too. It's obvious to anyone who has eyes. You may have shocked him with a curve ball, but he's ready for this."
"Phoebe's right Alonna," said Piper. "Chris isn't a little boy anymore. He's a grown man and he knows what he wants. What he wants is to make this work with you. I know it seems awkward now, but you guys will work through it."
Paige got from her seat holding her plate of unfinished food and walked over to the counter. She placed the dish down and put her arm around Alonna's shoulders. "Don't worry about it too much," she said. "Everything will work out okay. You can't get too stressed about this...remember the baby. It's bad enough you're fighting demons. Don't let your emotions make you crazy too." Paige then sneaked a look at her watch. "Oh damn I gotta go," she exclaimed. "Come on Phoebe. I need you to drop me off at my assignment before you go to work."
Phoebe sipped the last of her coffee and got up from her chair. She placed her dishes in the sink. "If you need anything, call us okay," she said, giving Alonna a light pat on the cheek. "And take care of yourself and my niece in there," she added, as she exited the kitchen, stopping first to give Wyatt a kiss on his head.
Paige squeezed Alonna's arm gently and then she followed her sister out of the kitchen. She then ran back to kiss Wyatt on his forehead, smiling when the toddler waved his hands happily at the attention. Paige waved at her family before leaving the kitchen again.
Leo clapped his hands together. "So...Alonna what exactly is it that you're not telling Chris," he asked curiously.
"It's not that big of a deal really," she replied. "I'm part demon...part Pheremone to be exact, which is why I'm guessing Piper is wondering why I didn't just tell Chris about them instead of letting him go check the book. I just needed him to leave the room for a while. I'm sure he realized that as soon as he orbed upstairs."
"So why isn't he back yet," Leo asked her. He didn't mention his greatest concern, which was the fact that his son was married to somone who was part demon, choosing instead to trust that his son had good instincts about people.
Alonna shrugged. "I don't know," she answered. "Maybe he needed some time to himself as well."
"You may be right," said Leo. "But don't let him shut you out. He can become distant sometimes...thinking he has to handle everything himself. He forgets that he has family who loves him. Don't shut him out either. You two need to work together and that means being upfront with one another."
Just then Chris reappeared in the kitchen. He looked over at Alonna anxiously. "You ready to go," he asked her.
"Yeah, but wait we have to come up with a reason why I'm working with a whitelighter," said Alonna.
"Don't worry about it," he told her. "I've been to the underground before...worked with a couple demons undercover. We'll just go with the story that I'm only working with the Charmed Ones to get to Wyatt. I'm not sure if they'll buy it, but it's worth a try." He paused as a thought occurred to him. "Wait...did you get your telepathy from your mom or your dad," he asked.
"I got it from my Dad," Alonna replied. "Oh I see what you're saying. No. Pheremones aren't usually telepathic...not as far as I know. They can sense some things though...like fear...anxiety."
"Don't worry...I'll be cool," Chris said cockily.
"Alright...well I guess all I need to say is keep your guard up," she said forcefully. "Pheremones are predators at heart. Their first instinct will be to take out any being weaker than them. I'll vouch for you though. Being part Pheremone should allow me to gain at least some of their trust. So if you're ready to go then we can leave now."
Chris looked at his wife, taking in the clothes she was wearing, how sexy she looked. "Are you sure you're ready to go," he asked her.
Alonna looked confused. "Yes I just told you that," she responded impatiently. "What's wrong with you?"
Chris bit his lip. He knew he would get in trouble for this, but he was going to say it anyway. "Don't you think you should change first," he asked her carefully. He glanced at her exposed stomach, admiring how toned and flat it was. He swallowed hard. He knew any male would want her...demon or not.
"Chris, what do you suggest I change into," she asked him gruffly.
"Well something less revealing for starters," he said bluntly. "And before you lay into me just cool it for a second. They're predators right. The men will take one look at you and want you, not to mention the women will want to kill you for taking the attention for yourself. I just think it would be better if you covered up a little."
Alonna smiled. "I'm dressing this way on purpose," she said, smirking at the fact that her husband was acting so jealous. "I'm going to use my womanly wiles per say to get to them. I know the women won't trust me, but the predator in the men won't be able to resist. That is their major weakness...sex...in both of the sexes. That's why I intend to use you to get to the women."
Chris scowled. "Are you telling me you plan to pimp me out to these demons," he replied, his voice rising in volume. "Tell me you're kidding."
Alonna giggled shaking her head. "Nope...I'm dead serious," she told him. "I'm going to put those green eyes of yours to work."
Chris gave his parents an exasperated look. "Can you believe her," he told them. Both of his parents snickered, which prompted him to scowl even futher. "Great...so you guys think this funny."
"Would you just relax," Alonna said. "We're doing what we have to do to find out about Wyatt. Now just suck it up. You don't have to come if you don't want to. I can go alone like I had originally planned." She added that last part, knowing that would make him agree to coming. She realized now that she actually did want him to come with her...just in case things got a little messy.
"No way," he said firmly shaking his head. "You're not going alone." He sighed deeply, knowing that he had lost this verbal battle. "Come on let's go." He grabbed her hand and they both orbed out of the manor. He vaguely heard his mom telling them to be careful.
"Do you think they'll be okay," Leo asked, becoming serious again. "I mean she's pregnant and he's part witch and part whitelighter. When the pheremones discover that about him, don't you think they'll kill him for sure?"
"Well they might try," Piper said simply. "Leo he's all grown up now. We have to trust that he can take care of himself without us. If he's in trouble he's knows that he can call you. Plus, Alonna might be pregnant, but she's tough. She has all these amazing abilities from her being of mixed parentage. They'll be fine." The fact that Alonna was part witch too occurred to her. "At least I hope they will," she added.
"Yeah...I hope so too," Leo responded grimly.
Meanwhile in the underworld...
Chris and Alonna looked around, quietly surveying their surroundings. They had landed in some sort of cave, the interior giving off a gloomy and dark effect. Alonna shivered at the feeling of ominous darkness she felt all around them. She sensed that there were pheromones close by. She had black orbed just in time as she heard the familiar jingle of Chris's orb. She wasn't sure if he knew exactly where to go, but she knew that she did. A vague memory came into her mind of when her mom had brought her down here years ago to meet her family, hoping that they would have come to their senses and finally accept that she was happy living as a witch. She felt the grief assault her at the memory of her mother's crestfallen expression when her relatives had told her mom to get out and to take her filthy part witch child with her.
Chris touched Alonna's hand; curious to find out why she was just standing there staring off into space. "Hey what's wrong," he whispered to her, not wanting anyone to know of their whereabouts just yet. Alonna shook her head coming out of her daze. "Nothing...come on let's go," she whispered back, taking his hand in her own. They both crept quietly forward towards what they knew would most likely be danger. Chris squeezed Alonna's hand, more to reassure himself than her. After all she was part demon...she would be more comfortable with these demons than he would. He shook off his anxiety, remembering that Alonna had told him that pheremones could sense it. He would not put her or the baby in jeopardy. He felt her squeeze his hand back as she sent him a quick smile, before facing forward once more.
She dropped his hand and edged forward a few steps. Her senses prickled, halted her in her tracks. Chris let out a soft grunt as he bumped into her from behind. Alonna glared at him over her shoulder. He smiled at her, trying his best to look apologetic. She shrugged off her irritation at her husband, knowing that it was her own nerves causing her impatience. Two dark heads peered around the corner; eyes glittering with curiosity at the scene before them…a group of pheremones huddled together in a circle mumbling nonsensical words that the couple could not understand. Alonna mouthed to Chris to wait…that she would go first. He shook his head in disapproval. She narrowed her eyes at him. "We don't have time to argue about his," she whispered harshly, not aware until it was too late that she was talking a bit to loudly.
The pheremones started, turning around quickly to the sound of the voice that interrupted their ceremony. One tall figure with long dark hair and piercing blue eyes stepped forward, sniffing the air deeply. "You might as well show yourself," he called. His companions looked on, they too also noticing the smell of intruders, but remained where they were.
Alonna rolled her eyes as she turned to look at Chris. She again motioned for him to stay there, while she walked ahead. Chris ignored her and followed her around the corner. She made a sound of annoyance under breath, wishing that Chris wasn't so pig-headed. They both stood side by side watching as the expressions of shock and then anger overtook the faces of the demons in front of them…all except one.
"Well what do we have here," he said playfully. "We have two witches in our midst. What do we owe the pleasure of this visit?" He clasped his hands in front of him, eyes going from the male to the female in front of him, as he awaited a response.
Alonna shot Chris a quick glance. "We're here because we want some information," she said evenly. "And you might want to take another whiiff, because I'm not only a witch." She stared at him defiantly, arching a brow in a way that could only be taken as a challenge.
The pheremone did as she suggested, his eyes widening at what he realized…she was part pheremone…she was one of them. "You're part pheremone," he said, the surprise in his voice evident. His eyes darkened as another familiar odor affected his senses. "If you are part pheremone, then why are you hanging around those who vanquish our kind? Your friend is not only a witch, but a whitelighter as well. Give me one reason why we shouldn't kill him on sight?" He shot daggers at Chris, who stared back at the demon openly. He refused to back down; even though he knew the man could and would make do on his threat. Chris's gaze then lowered to the large medallion the demon wore around his neck. 'He must be the leader of their pack,' Chris thought, remembering what he had read in the book of shadows.
"I have no other reason to give you other than the fact that he's with me," she told him nonchalantly. "My name is Alonna and this is Chris. We were hoping you might know anything about the future of a magical child who is also part witch/part whitelighter. It is vitality important that you tell us anything you know. The fate of the future for both good and evil could be at stake. Can you help us?" Chris continued to look at the demons, which were currently looking at them with contempt. He hoped Alonna knew what she was doing, because he sure didn't have a clue.
"Hmm…my name is Damon," the demon replied smoothly. "This magical child wouldn't be the child of a charmed one would it?" Alonna nodded. Damon smiled evilly. "Well then that makes everything so much clearer," he said. "The answer to your question is no. We cannot help you. Well…more like we will not help you." The smile slid of his face. "The only thing I can tell you is you both are about to die. Now…any last words?"
Alonna shrugged. "Nope…no last words," she countered, as she readied two energy balls in her hands. She threw one quickly at the demon called Damon, her face hard even as she heard his screams echoing off the walls of the cavern. "Who's next," she said menacingly, as she looked at the remaining demons that were now staring in shock at the spot their leader once stood. Chris looked at the woman who he was supposed to be married too, unable to hide the grimace on his face at her coldness. She must have sensed what he was thinking because she turned to look at him, her eyes flashing an eerie green. Chris took a step back before he could stop himself, a spark of fear showing in his own green eyes. He saw a brief flash of pain flare through her eyes and then it was gone, coldness replacing it swiftly.
Then Alonna stiffened, her senses prickling once more. "Duck," she yelled, as she saw an energy ball heading in Chris's direction. Chris ducked without asking any questions. He straightened and sent her a look of thanks. She nodded and faced forward again. "Well…now the fun begins," she said. "You ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," he replied, as he too readied for the battle about to take place.
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