Hello Everybody. I'm going to make this quick. Thank you very much Gomay for reviewing and to everyone who is reading. This is the last post for this part. I have to go. Sorry I'm making this short. Please read the next part. 'Til next week.
Chap. 40
"Chris, it's time for us to go home," Kat said at breakfast that morning. "Oh and by the way, Happy Birthday," she added.
He rolled his eyes and answered, "You're the one that promised only one more demon after the Spider Demon incident, not me."
"Mountain Dew," she called. Pouring she said in a harsh whisper, "What are you planning to do? Stalk yourself!"
"No, I'm still going to stalk Wyatt," he said half-serious.
"Oranges. Boy, it's nice to have our powers back."
"They were gone for a day."
"Yeah, whatever. Anyways back on subject, were you born in the AM or the PM?"
"PM."
"Good. It's an easy spell. I've got it memorized. Plus, no portals!"
"I'm not going and that's that!" Then he paused processing the last bit of information, "No portals?"
"Yup.
We simply advance our shimmering and orbing powers to be able to
travel through time. Say it once and never have to say it again. I
have a copy for you, though.
"I'm not-"
"You're not what?" Piper asked walking into the kitchen.
"Aunt Piper! How are you doing this fine and lovely morning?"
"Normally, I'd ask if you got lucky last night, but I'm just going to assume you had coffee."
"Why I'm shocked and offended! I'm 15 and just not that kind of girl," Kat said playfully.
"Uh-huh you better not be."
"I am not, but Chris here…"
"Kat!" He yelled at her.
She put her shield up as he went to smack playfully her on the arm. "Ha! Ha!" She mocked him sticking her tongue out. "Now, pack up and start saying your goodbyes. We're leaving at noon." She stood up and jogged downstairs leaving her half-concocted beverage on the kitchen table. Automatically, Chris got up and began to put it away hoping that his mother wouldn't say anything.
Piper waddled toward the table with a fresh cup of coffee. "You're leaving?"
"No, she just thinks I am."
"You two say we vanquished whatever turned Wyatt, right?"
"Well, yes. I mean losing you, Mom…it was terrible but especially for him. I had Grandpa and Aunt Paige to talk to, but Wyatt refused to talk about it. He bottled things up inside. We missed you."
"I know, but we killed that thing. I will be there for you when you get back. You should go home, and enjoy your future. There's one small thing I want you to for me before you go."
"Sure, Mom."
"You have to promise me right now."
He raised an eyebrow but agreed anyway. "I promise."
"I want you to talk to your father."
"Mom…"
"You already promised. Now, go! Scoot!" She lovingly pushed him out. This is going to be a long day, she thought.
Chap. 41
Lying on her bed, Phoebe reflected on her awkward conversation with Jason. They decided to just get coffee instead of dinner. It was easier to bail that way. The reason he was back was that he bought a new law firm. Not by coincidence, the law firm happened to be Cole's. Phoebe told Jason that Cole made her happy and that they were going to work out no matter what which was obvious by Kat's existence. They decided to remain friends, but Phoebe was hesitant on how that would work.
When she came home, Kat and Cole were on the couch waiting. Kat was explaining the old baseball movie to him. Apparently, even in his short stint as a human he had never gotten into sports. Phoebe smiled as she remembered her first and only lunch date with him, Piper, and Leo. Cole had nearly choked on his water when Phoebe tried to cover for his lack of knowledge on football by saying he wasn't human.
He turned off the TV and greeted her at the door.
"Hey!" Kat had whined and then noticed Phoebe. "Oh, hey Mom. Dad, remote give now."
"Don't you wanna know how it went?" Phoebe had asked.
"No, I still exist and I still wanna see the end of my movie."
Cole studied her for a moment. "I think she's trying to hide something," he said to Phoebe.
"No, I'm not failing school. No, I'm not taking drugs. And No, I'm not pregnant.1 Remote, please."
"Maybe she's hiding why she made me go out with Jason tonight. What do you think, honey?"
"I think it might be. Kat?"
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"Well, we want to know."
She had sighed when she had finally realized that her parents were going to make her spill one way or another. "Fine. After Aunt Piper died, the world went to hell. Eventually, we ran out of healthy living relatives. Our side was down four Charmed Ones, and then Uncle Leo was of being an Elder, and Dad started living in the Underworld listening to rumors of attacks to protect us. Then, to top things off, Grandpa got sick. In you memory Jason helped us out. He kept Grandpa alive for three years longer than he would've lived without him. I mean, he was even better than our supposed 'guardian angel.' I just wanted to make sure that in case nothing changed and Wyatt was still evil, we'd still have somebody. You know?"
Still staring at the ceiling tiles above her bed, Phoebe silently agreed with Kat. She understood where Kat was coming from last night, but she didn't like it. She and Cole had promised her that things would be different this time and they would.
She rolled over trying to think of something positive. Phoebe watched Cole still sleep peacefully. It made her smile. She really did love him. She did love Jason, but never the way she way loved Cole. Even, in the year he was gone and the year of torture he put her through, she always loved him.
Cole rolled over wrapping his arm around her waist. Opening his eyes, he saw her beaming eyes. "Morning."
Kat knocked on her parents' door. They should've been up it was almost nine o' clock.
"Who is it?" Phoebe called.
"Me! Can I come in?"
"Yes, me, you can come in!" Cole joked.
Kat smiled as she pounced on their bed between their legs. "Hello!"
"Why so bright and cheery this morning?" Cole asked.
"I get to go home!"
"Are you sure you don't wanna stay longer?" Phoebe asked disappointed.
"Yes! If I stay, I'll have to change Chris' dirty diapers! Thanks but no thanks!" She laughed warmly.
"So will we get a wake up call every morning in the future or do you have something to say?"
Resignedly she answered, "I have something to say."
"Ok, honey, what is it?"
"You know how when I first came here you asked me if I had siblings? I told you I had a brother and a sister."
"You hear that? A brother and a sister," said Cole giving Phoebe a 'playful' look.
"Yeah, eww." She shook her head. At least they were back together. This way she wouldn't have to go through the great lengths Chris did to be conceived. "Anyways, my brother is older, way older. Remember I told you he is older than Wyatt is, but then Chris changed the subject?" Her parents remained silent. She took a deep breath, "What you thought happened…" She paused counting on her fingers, "two years ago, didn't happen."
"Are you talking about what happened with the seer?" Phoebe asked with tears forming in her eyes.
"Yes," Kat answered somberly. Biting her lip, she continued, "The seer lied to you. That baby was your son, not the Seer's or the Source's. He's my brother. She lied to you. Even more so, there are stronger people in the Underworld than she is. I guess on of them decided to steal him and give him to demons they could control. That explosion that caused the seer to die wasn't really an explosion. At the time, she was under his complete control. Once he left her body, she would crumble. What you saw was more like an implosion with side effects."
"Our son is alive?" Phoebe asked her voice filling with hope.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Cole demanded.
"I couldn't. In fact, if Chris finds out I did it now…he's very strict about the future consequences rule."
"We're your parents," Cole continued.
"She told us now and that's what maters. What's his name, sweetie?" Phoebe coaxed.
"Lucifer." She watched their faces drop. "When I met him, I told him that there were two ways I could shorten his name: L-u-c-i pronounced Lucy or L-u-c pronounced Luke. He picked the second one, but only after, I explained the concept of a nickname."
Chap 42
Chris orbed to the Golden Gate Bridge. He took a deep breath. Finally, he said, "Dad?"
"Chris?" Leo turned around questioning his own ears. Chris had only called him Dad once and Leo was quite sure that was by accident. However, there stood Chris. He wanted to talk to him.
"Mom wanted me talk to you," he said curtly.
Leo's heart fell. "Oh," he said hurt. "Listen, Chris-"
"I know! You're sorry! I get that, Leo! I really do, but there is nothing you can say that will make it all better!"
"I wasn't going to apologize, Chris. I was going to tell you that Piper's death wasn't my fault. I love her, and I love Wyatt, but I love you too. I want you to know that I would fight my hardest for all of you. I want you and Wyatt to grow up happy and loved. I know you will get that from Piper. If I couldn't be there for you, I wouldn't take her away too."
"That's not it. The Elders would've done it regardless of what you thought. I'm mad at you because you were never there! I thought that maybe after she…she…you know, that maybe you would come back for us, but you didn't. You weren't there even when I needed you the most. Except sometimes when you would come down from your perch in heaven, but then you were around too much. You never let me breathe let alone speak. I was always being yelled at for something. Wyatt was the perfect child. You were there for him. When mom was alive, you never left her, but for me you were always gone," he lowered his voice as he turned away to look over the city.
"I'm sure that if I could I would've been down here in a heartbeat, Chris. They must've stopped me because I would anything for you three. I wish I could've been there to help you and Wyatt. I wish I could've done something to prevent your pain then and not now after almost 23 years worth of pain. Also, what you said about Wyatt is untrue. Look at what Wyatt became and when you are. Was Wyatt so perfect that you had to come back in time to save the world from him? Was he so perfect that you had to stop him? Listen, I am proud of you. You watched out for your cousins when they were too young to protect themselves. I see the way Kat looks at you in the highest respect. I see the way she tries to live up to you because have the courage to risk your life to save the world and your family. That is admirable. If that's not a sign of perfection, then I don't know what is. I'm very proud of you, son."
Chris' eyes glimmer with a small amount of hope mixed with a large amount disbelief. "Yeah?" He challenged.
Leo didn't wince, but instead he stood firm. "Yes," he reassured. "We'll paint your room today and talk some more. I want to prove that I'm not leaving you."
"I'm leaving you though. I'm going back to the future again. You can still prove it today after I leave," Chris relented.
"Of course. How?"
"My birthday."
"Oh. Oh. When?"
"Soon, but I'm leaving before. It's just too weird."
"Should we orb home then, son?" Leo held out his hand.
Chris took it. "Yeah, Dad." Together they orbed to the manor.
Chap 43
The family stood in the attic forming a line to an attic wall. However, for this trip through time there was not a Triquetra drawn on it in chalk. There were no potions or uncertainty. The future would be bright, they were positive of that.
Kat's Goodbyes
Standing in front of Piper and Leo Kat said, "Just…" She looked at Chris, who was talking to her parents, "watch put for him."
"We'll miss all of your commentary," Piper said sarcastically.
"You'll have to wait a bit, but I can guarantee that it'll be worth the wait." She went over to the next person in line. "Aunt Paige, you'll be an excellent teacher. Don't let anything get in your way. And don't go searching for your baby-daddy like Mom did either. It doesn't work like that."
"Ok, but only if you promise me that you'll wear a dress to my wedding," Paige answered.
"As long as you take me shopping, and it's no where near Chris' birthday. Just to be safe," Kat winked. The hugged and she moved on to Prue. Immediately Kat said, "I'll summon you when I get home. We'll be fine. Don't worry."
"How'd you know what I was going to say? Don't answer that. Be good. I'll be watching," Prue warned jokingly.
Andy joked too, "Because if you don't then we'll have to haunt you."
"It doesn't work like, honey," Prue said.
"Oh, we'll find a way."
She finally reached her parents. "He'll be able to tell it's you by your magical aura. It'll be fine. Just change his name, ok?" Kat hugged her parents.
"What am I supposed to say 'Luc, I am your father'?" Cole asked half-serious.
"You know Star Wars, but not baseball?" Phoebe mocked Cole causing him to blush.
"I'll see you in 23 years," she grinned.
"We'll miss you, baby," Phoebe hugged her again.
Chris' Goodbyes
Chris started on the opposite of Kat. Speaking to her parents he joked, "You know, there's always adoption."
"Very funny, Chris," Phoebe gave him a hug.
"You're stuck with her," Cole said as he shook Chris' hand.
"Prue, Andy."
Andy shook his hand. "Get home in one piece, ok?"
"Of course," Chris smiled.
"Make sure you two summon us the moment you get back. We want to make sure you're all right," Prue said.
"Ok." He hugged his aunt and moved on to Paige. "You're going to be on my side growing up right?" He kidded.
Paige matched his light tone, "I'll side with whoever's right."
"So you'll be on my side?"
"Miss you," she dodged.
Chris hugged her. Not for long, he thought. Then, he was in front of his parents. He didn't want to say goodbye. He wanted to stay there forever.
"Go, and enjoy you future. You certainly deserve it," Leo said almost reading his mind.
"Trust us; it'll be different this time." Piper put one of her hands on her stomach and the other cupped his face lovingly. "Be safe."
"I will, Mom," he hugged her never wanting to let go. Piper sniffed as she reluctantly pushed him away. "You have to go."
"When I get back we'll just have to repaint my room and have that bonding time," Chris said.
"Yes we will," Leo smiled. He gave Chris a fatherly embrace. Stepping back, he tugged on Piper's hand. "We love you. Remember that."
"I will and you too," he whispered as tears welled up in his eyes.
Kat and Chris met each other in the middle of the floor. "Are you ready?" She asked.
For a brief moment, he hated her. If it weren't for her, he wouldn't have been there right now. He wouldn't be leaving. Sure, the future would be good; he didn't doubt that, but he wanted to stay. He told himself it was part of being a neurotic control freak. He told himself that he wanted because he wanted to make sure that nothing went off course. It didn't matter if it was even the slightest bit off course, he could fix it. He knew it wasn't true. He wanted to stay because he was scared to what he would find. How different would things really be? Did he fix everything?
As usual, Kat plowed through the moment impatient for the next. She wanted away from the emotional rollercoaster ride of the past. "Are you ready?" She asked again anxiously. She wasn't afraid of the future.
"As much as I'll ever be." He unfolded the piece of paper that Kat had given him. He read,
"Give me the power
At this hour
To move through time and space
To my rightful place."
"Time to orb," Kat said as they were engulfed with the sudden sparkle of blue and white lights.
Chap. 44
Leo held Piper closely. For the first time he ever remembered she didn't fight him when he wrapped one of his arms around her stomach. "I'm going to miss him, Leo," she said softly.
"Me too," He agreed. Suddenly, Leo heard a jingle. "They're calling me. It's time for Prue and Andy to leave too."
"Can't we stay? Just a little bit longer. I want to see my baby nephew when he's born," Prue complained.
"I think that because they've been here, the rules have changed. I'll see if I can arrange it with them for you to be here for his Wiccaning," Leo promised.
"Can you do that?" Piper asked excitedly.
"I'll see."
"So this isn't goodbye. More like see you later," Andy said.
Paige nodded. "'Till then we'll miss you," she admitted.
Prue began to sob pulling her sisters together and clinging on to them. "I'll miss you too."
"Alright, it's time to go." With that Prue, Andy, and Leo were gone.
"Wow, this house feels lonely!" Phoebe exclaimed.
"Who would've thought?" Cole said.
"I don't think it will be for long!" Piper hunched over. Cole backed up as the two remaining sisters ran to help her. "Contractions," she stated.
"Ok, sweetie, breathe," Phoebe took the lead. "Hee-Hee-Hoo-Hee-Hee-Hoo-Hee…"
Piper waved her arms trying to hit Phoebe. "Something feels different."
"Maybe we should take her to the hospital," Paige suggested.
"Orb!" Phoebe commanded. Paige didn't need orders though; she had already begun to orb Piper, Phoebe, and herself to the hospital.
"Ok. I'll stay here." Cole shrugged. He looked around. He was all alone in the attic. He thought of the last time he was alone up there. Wincing he subconsciously touched his neck. Or maybe I'll shimmer to the hospital."
A/N: But wait there's more! Like a cheap infomercial I just keep going! lol. There's a whole 'nother part. So stayed tuned! And please RR!
