I don't own Charmed, and Marlee, Prue and Petrina are of my own creation. Thank you to all my reviewers, you made my day!

~

"Good morning," said Marlee as she entered the kitchen. Piper was busy frying eggs. She winced when she heard Marlee enter the room. Now she'd have to tell her.

Piper and her sisters had agreed that the first person to talk to Marlee would have to break the news. Not a happy prospect for Piper.

Piper turned the knob on the stove and removed the frying pan. "Marlee, honey, I need to talk to you."

Marlee's face fell.

~*~ Two weeks later

Marlee was still staying at the Halliwell Manor, until there was a home for her. Piper had considered adopting poor Marlee, but Chris had rejected the idea. He said that replacing her family wouldn't make her feel any better, but Piper knew his reasons were much different.

Meanwhile, Marlee was wondering the house, trying to find Chris. She had decided to wear a baseball cap that day, because her hair was a wreck. But, as soon as Wyatt entered the hallway, she swiped it off her head and went into a deep bow. "Why, King Wyatt, how are ye this fine morning?" she said, righting herself.

Wyatt laughed. She'd done this almost everyday, since she'd discovered Excalibur in the attic.

Chris, hearing the commotion in the hall, stepped outside of the room he was in. Marlee whipped her hat off a second time, and greeted Chris with a deep bow as well. "Well, hello Prince Christopher. I must say, you are looking fabulous this morning!" she exclaimed.

'Prince Christopher' blushed. "Thanks," he mumbled, and headed downstairs to avoid any further humiliation. But, of course, Marlee followed him.

"So, what are you doing today?" asked Marlee.

"Wyatt's going to a baseball game with my dad." he said off handedly.

"You dolt, I asked what you were doing." said Marlee with a frown. She put her hands on her hips, demanding an answer.

"I'm not going." he said shortly.

"Well, why not?" she demanded. "Your Leo's son too, it's only fair that you go with him!"

"He only go two tickets." replied Chris, wanting very badly to change the subject.

"Then he should take you. He's already done tons of stuff with Wyatt this week!" she said. Then as an after thought she added, "It isn't fair to play favorites."

Chris shrugged. He didn't want to talk about this anymore. He and Marlee finished descending the stairs in silence, that is, until Marlee spotted Leo.

Her face turned, looking as if she were Piper, about to yell at Chris or Wyatt for doing something wrong, or using magic on each other. Her hands were placed on her hips, and she said through gritted teeth, "Leo, may I speak with you for a moment?"

With that, she dragged unsuspecting Leo into the other room, and started whispering fiercely. Chris caught only a few words, such as "...playing favorites." and "... your son too." Chris began wishing that a demon would shimmer in and end his humiliation.

A moment later, Leo appeared. He asked if Chris would like to go to the baseball game with him. "What about Wyatt?" asked Chris.

"I've done tons of stuff with him this week. I can take him some other time." replied Leo.

In the corner Marlee smiled. She had finally done some good for the family that had taken care of her in her time of need.

"Okay," said Chris, "I'll go get my jacket." On his way to the stairs, Chris stopped, and gave Marlee a quick hug. "Thanks." he whispered to her as he, embarrassed by his own actions, ended the embrace.

"No problem." she replied with a smile. She continued on her search for something to do. Marlee ended up parked in front of the T.V., watching the baseball game that Leo and Chris were attending, before retreating upstairs.

When she passed by Chris and Wyatt's bedroom, Marlee felt a strong impulse to enter it. She peaked in the door, no one was there. She crept in a little farther, to find a large pile of letters discarded on Chris's bed.

Marlee's eyes darted around the room suspiciously, as if she expected someone to burst in. No one did. She bent down and picked up one of the letters. It was from Chris's eighth birthday. "Dear Chris," began Marlee to herself, "Sorry I couldn't visit you today. The other Elders kept me so busy that I lost tract of time. I hope I can make it up to you. Tell me what to do.

"Sorry, again, that I missed your special day. I love you. Happy birthday!

"Love,

Dad"

Marlee stared at the paper in shock, then realized there was a piece of paper attached to it. It was a reply from Chris, in his eight-year-old handwriting.

"Dear Dad,

Could you come to my baseball game on Thursday? That would be a good enough birthday present to me. I love you.

Your son who misses you a lot,

Chris"

Something inside told Marlee that Leo hadn't showed up for Chris's game. She put that letter down, and picked up another one. This one was from two weeks ago.

"Dear Chris,

Sorry that I haven't been around much lately. You're probably getting tired of hearing that, aren't you? Either way, its still true.

I heard that there is a girl named Marlee coming to stay at the manor. I've met her mother, so she should be very nice, but she could also be very opinionated. So be careful!!

I promise to be around more often. I love you.

Dad"

'I am not opinionated!' thought Marlee defiantly, 'I'm just always right!' She laughed at herself.

Later that night, Marlee sat talking with Prue. "So, where does Chris go every Tuesday after school?" asked Marlee.

Prue's smile wilted a little. "Oh, he has to see a shrink." she said quietly.

"Well, why?" asked Marlee, sounding worried, "Is there something wrong with him?"

"Other than having a crush on you, no!" said Prue with a laugh.

"Hey!" said Marlee, throwing a pillow at Prue, "He doesn't like me."

"Yes he does!" exclaimed Prue. Then her voice adopted a more serious tone, "I really don't know why he has to see a shrink. He's perfectly normal." she said, "Or as normal as a Halliwell can get," she added as an afterthought. Marlee laughed.

"Girls, could you please keep it down? I'm trying to put Petrina to bed," came Phoebe's voice from the room next door.

"Okay," they chorused.

At about ten that night, Marlee caught sight of Chris trudging up to his room. She prayed that he was trudging from exhaustion, not disappointment.

Marlee tried to get comfortable on her mattress on Prue's bedroom floor. She rolled to her left, 'He's probably just tired.'

She rolled to her right, 'Leo said something stupid.'

Marlee tried to shake that thought off, she liked Leo. She rolled back onto her left side. 'Chris is just tired,' she decided. Beginning to get uncomfortable again, she rolled onto her right side.

'Leo said something stupid,' said her mind. "Okay, that's it!" she said to no one in particular. She ripped off the covers, stood up, and marched into Wyatt and Chris's room.

Chris took a deep breath. 'At least the day started well,' he thought. 'He stayed for most of the game,' he reminded himself. Still, he HAD left Chris. By himself. At a baseball game. He sighed again. 'Maybe I'll get an apology letter.' He laughed. Maybe was an understatement. He WOULD get an apology letter. He began to take off his shirt, to change into some P.J.'s. Correction, he slept in boxers most of the time. But that didn't really matter.

Just as Chris had removed his jeans, the door flung open. A wide-eyed, pale-faced, open-mouthed Marlee stood in the doorway.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

THAT'S IT!! For now at least.