Chapter 8: Returns and Good-byes
It was a sunny morning, one Piper, Paige, and Phoebe spent together in the kitchen over some of Piper's blueberry pancakes. Leo was up consulting with the elders and Chris was...well, they didn't know where he was. He stopped in this morning and left soon after.
What they didn't know was that he was in the attic, finishing his 'project' and 'research'. It would be done soon, and he could finally tell the sisters.
The girls were in the kitchen laughing, talking of things that passed and things to come, when Leo orbed into the kitchen, a huge smile on his face.
"What did the Elders have to say?" Phoebe asked, still laughing at one of Paige's jokes.
"Is Chris here? This concerns him too."
"That doesn't sound good," Piper said, dropping her smile.
"Oh, it is don't worry," Leo reassured her. "Chris!"
Chris orbed in right away. "Yeah?"
"Your father has some news," Piper informed him.
Leo clapped his hands together, smiling. "In light of recent events, the Elders have decided the Charmed Ones, and their newest editions," Leo said, referring to Wyatt and baby Chris, "need some extra help. So they have decided you will have two Whitelighters." Leo paused to hear their reaction, still smiling.
The sisters looked at each other. Phoebe finally spoke up. "I think we're okay with just Chris. Besides, I'm sure we really don't feel like introducing anyone else to our world of weird family problems. No offense to you, Chris and Piper," Phoebe said, referring to the fact the child Piper was pregnant with was standing next to her, twenty-two years old.
"Yeah, Honey," Piper said. "It's sweet of them to suggest that, but I think we can manage with just one Whitelighter."
"Even if the other Whitelighter is me?" Leo asked, and waited for their reactions.
The room was silent for a moment and then, "Oh my God! Are you serious?" Phoebe squealed with delight. Paige happily clapped her hands.
Piper jumped up and hugged him. "Are they really going to let you do this?"
"Yep. I sorta asked to be demoted to a Whitelighter. I need to be with my family now. That's the most important thing." He hugged Piper to him. "So starting tomorrow, Chris and I will be your Whitelighters."
Chris just looked on at the happy enjoyment of his family. He had to tell them now. He had to tell them about the 'project' he was working on. "Actually, only Leo will be your Whitelighter."
"What?!"
"I'm going back. To the future. I have a a potion ready."
The room was silent. The happiness of Leo returning was dispersed by Chris' announcement. "Do you have to go?" Paige eventually asked.
"Yeah. I have to go back, make sure the future's right. I need to make sure Wyatt's good. Besides, this is the time for little me. It's time for me to go back to my own time, to my own friends, to my own life."
Piper nodded her head. "I understand. I just wish you didn't have to go."
"I know. I wish I didn't either, Mom." Piper smiled and hugged Chris tight. That was the first time she ever heard him call her Mom.
The five of them migrated to the attic, where Chris had already drawn the Triquetra on a wall.
"Here's the potion; just throw it at the Triquetra. Based on my research, this should work."
"Should? Should work? You're not sure?" Piper practically screamed at him.
"Mom, it's as good as it's going to get. Don't worry, I can take care of my self."
"But what if it sends you into a parallel plane, or too far into the future, or to the past—"
Phoebe cut her off. "You're overreacting."
"Sorry. Hormones."
"No, you're just like that," Phoebe told her and Piper made a face at her.
Chris just smiled at them. Paige walked up to him and gave him a big hug. "You take care,"
"You too."
Phoebe was the next one to hug him. "You come back if anything is wrong. I don't care what it is; it could be a hangnail for all I care." Phoebe was trying to hold back tears. Chris had become a fixture in their life. It wouldn't be the same without him.
Chris laughed. "I'll keep that in mind."
Next was Leo. Chris extended his hand to him, but he didn't take it. Instead, he drew him into a hug. They didn't need to say anything. Leo squeezed his shoulder.
Last, but certainly not least, Chris turned to Piper. She was crying, but she knew he had to go. But that didn't make it any easier. "I love you, Mom," he said.
"I love you too." Piper released him from the hug. "Thank you."
"For what? Breaking you and Dad apart?"
Piper put his face in her hands. "No. You did what you had to do. You saved Wyatt and helped us to defeat the titans. You are a great kid. I couldn't ask for anything better than that." Chris smiled at her. "Now get out of here before you make me cry harder."
Leo threw the potion at the wall, and the Triquetra burst into brilliant, swirled light. Chris walked towards it. Before he was all the way through, Chris turned and waved.
Then he was gone.
The manor suddenly felt very empty. The four remaining just looked at each other for a while. Each had tears in their eyes. Chris had become a part of the family, and now that he was gone, it felt empty. "Well," Phoebe began to say, but the doorbell rang. "I'll get that."
She slowly walked down the stairs, musing over Chris' departure. The doorbell rang again. "I'm coming!" she yelled at it. Jeeze, people were so impatient. She opened the door and saw a man holding flowers. Phoebe had to gasp for breath.
"Jason?"
Author's note: I was planning on leaving it here... just kidding! More chapters to be up sometime school. I kind of have to fit this around school, but I want to write a few chapters and put them up at the same time. Hope you liked!
