"It's about time you woke up."

The sound of a cool voice jolted Bianca out of her groggy state and she realized suddenly that she was no longer chained up in the dark cave. The luxuriously soft feeling of silk sheets covered her body and, for the first time in many days, the gnawing hunger in her stomach was gone.

She felt warm, full and content…

As she slowly opened her eyes she could see that she was now lying in a rather large four poster bad, which was draped with rich red fabrics and covered in an array of soft pillows. The only source of light was several bright candles, but they illuminated the room far more than she had become accustomed to during her imprisonment.

"Would you like something to eat?" the same voice asked again.

She wasn't alone, she realized. There was some one else there…

Wyatt.

She would know that voice anywhere.

Forcing herself into a sitting position, she blinked several times to focus her vision. She could see his form across the room, sitting on a large oak chair as he watched her intently. At first she was confused. She didn't know where she was, and she certainly didn't know why Wyatt would be watching her sleep. But then, it hit her.

Last night came rushing back all at once and she suddenly found it hard to keep her breathing steady.

She had given in.

Given up.

She had agreed to Wyatt's terms…agreed to work for him…agreed to help turn Chris…

Her brown eyes began to burn with tears and she hardly noticed that Wyatt was now walking over to her bed.

She felt sick…afraid…unsure…

But most of all she felt guilt. She knew that there had been no choice- if she hadn't done this, then she and her unborn child would probably be dead- but that didn't change the fact that she had betrayed the man she loved…turned her back on everything they had hoped for.

"Here." Wyatt said, giving his hand a slight wave and summoning a tray of decadent waffles in front of her. "Eat up- you've got to look after my little nephew."

Bianca could have sworn that she saw a slight smirk cross his face with that last remark, but the smell of the food invading her senses distracted her away from all else.

She was less hungry then she had been in the cave, but her stomach still growled for more. It had been so long since she had seen anything so good…greedily she grabbed the fork and began shovelling the food into her mouth, overwhelmed with the sudden relief it brought.

Wyatt gave a quiet laugh. "I cast a nourishment spell on you last night, but I guess the real thing is just better, huh?" he asked in amusement.

She took another large bite before nodding.

"I'm sorry you had to live in such a horrid state these past few days Bianca, truly I am." He paused. "But I had no choice. I'm so glad that you finally saw the light. You can be with Chris soon, I promise."

The sound of his name distracted her away from her meal, and she allowed her fork to clatter down onto the metal tray as all of the feelings of guilt came rushing back.

"Chris…" she whispered, her voice still hoarse from her ordeal.

"Chris is fine." Wyatt said firmly, his blue eyes locked on the girl as he slowly sat down at the edge of her bed. "And he'll be better soon, once we both make him see the truth."

Bianca shivered slightly as he spoke- his voice was so hollow and cold, but as she looked up at him, she was suddenly struck by something in his eyes…

There was something about them- they still contained a slight glimmer of something almost human. Despite everything he had done, all of the evil, she knew that there were still traces of compassion left.

And, she knew why…

Chris.

That was the one word- one person- which meant so much to them both. It was amazing to think that this lanky, gentle, half whitelighter had managed to evoke love in two dark beings. She was a phoenix…Wyatt was the overlord of all evil…and yet thoughts of Chris had kept a grain of goodness alive in them both….

"You made the right choice, Bianca." Wyatt continued. "This is the way things are supposed to be."

There was a slight pause.

"Is it?" she asked despite herself, her voice barely above a whisper. She still found it hard to believe that Chris' destiny was to rule at his bothers side.

He was her angel, the paragon of all good…

Wyatt reached out and tenderly placed his hand on top of hers. She flinched slightly, but did not pull away. "This is the only way." He said, looking directly into her dark eyes. "You know that Bianca…you saw it. This is the only way you can embrace your true nature and keep Chris' love. You could try to go back to the way things were, but that won't last forever. You'll break one day, Bianca, you may even hut him…"

The girl's heart beat increased rapidly as she absorbed his words. She remembered last night….the vision she had seen…

Chris dying slowly in her arms…his blood pooling at her feet…

She knew she couldn't let it come to that. She would do anything to prevent it…even this…

"You know what I'm talking about." Wyatt continued, as he watched the colour drain from her face. "You know this is the way for you to be together. If you go back, you'll loose control, and he'll leave you…"

Wyatt's sentence trailed off and his eyes darkened slightly. "Chris has always believed that he is a whitelighter." His tone suddenly lowered as he spoke. "If you don't convince him to stay here with us, he will abandon you and your child…just as my father abandoned his family. That what whitelighters do, Bianca. They leave…they get carried away by thoughts of the 'greater good'. You can't let that happen…"

She felt a new rush of fear pass through her as she pondered the statement. He had a point…she wouldn't be able to carry on if Chris were to orb out of her life forever. Their child needed a father…she needed him too…

"Think about it." Wyatt said as he got back to his feet. "I have other matters to attend to- but we can continue our conversation later."

Bianca drew a deep breath and nodded slowly.

Wyatt gave her a reassuring smile, and she saw a glimmer of humanity flash in his eyes once again. "I knew you'd see it my way." He said glancing back at her thoughtfully. "You're a smart woman, my brother has chosen well."

He gently took her hand in his and placed a soft kiss upon it.

"Until we meet again my dear Guinevere." He said with a slight smirk, before finally orbing out of the room in a bright swirl of lights…

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Hey guys, can I help too?" an eight year old Chris asked the group of boys who were using the wooden blocks in the corner of the classroom to build a model city.

One of the boys who had been working on the biggest skyscrapers turned and gave him and apprehensive look. "I don't know…" he muttered looking at the others for support.

"Definitely not." Robert proclaimed arrogantly, giving Chris his trademark evil grin. "Dead people aren't allowed to build cities."

Chris tried hard to fight back the tears welling in his green eyes as he stared back at the other boy. For two long years he had been the class outcast…the 'freak'…just because his father- the father he hadn't seen in months- happened to be a whitelighter.

No one ever wanted to let him play.

No one would sit with him during lunch or snack.

He was always alone.

He was 'different'…and kids, especially kids like Robert, had a hard time accepting that.

"Yeah." Another of the boys cut in, eager to support the 'ringleader' of the group. "Go creep someone else out dead-boy."

Chris cringed at the sound of the nickname Robert had created for him.

He hated it so much.

Almost everyone used it now, and it always managed to fill him with immense rage. To make matters worse, whenever he had lashed out he had always ended up being the one in trouble.

The teachers refused to believe that the others had started it. Even Aunt Paige didn't listen most of the time.

"I'm. Not. Dead." He replied through tightly clenched teeth. "I'm a witch."

He knew it was useless to fight back…he had given up really trying years ago. No matter what he said they refused to listen. Making fun of him was their favourite game, and they weren't about to let it end any time soon.

The other boys, now distracted from their project, were looking at him with amusement.

"Mrs. Peterson is outside." He heard one of them mutter.

They all exchanged a slight nod.

Chris turned to walk away but before he could take more than to steps, one of the boys made a flicking gesture and the young Hallowell's' vision was suddenly clouded over with familiar electric blue.

The boy had blown him up…

Scattered his orbs…

He recollected himself as quickly as possible and tried to fight back the splitting pain in his head, but it was already too late. The whole class had seen what had happened- they were all starring in his direction…

He felt sick.

He wished he really was dead.

A roar of laughter filled the room as everyone began to giggle at the embarrassment of the 'class freak'.

Robert clutched his stomach and tears of mirth pooled up in his eyes as he watched a pained look cross Chris' face.

"We got you good." The boy choked between bursts of laughter. "Why don't you go tell the elders on us now, dead-boy?"

This comment incited a fresh burst of laughter from the class and Chris could no longer hold back tears. His green eyes watering terribly, he turned and tore out of the room.

He never wanted to show his face in school again.

"Don't forget to bring your halo!" Robert shouted as he burst out the door and into the blissful quiet of the hallway.

He could hear their laughter behind him, but as he continued to run it got further and further away. He didn't stop running…he wouldn't stop running…he wanted to escape…

"Ooof"

His sight was so obscured by his tears that he hadn't seen another figure standing around the corner. He had run right into the person and knocked them both to the floor.

"Chris? What's wrong?" a familiar voice asked before he had a chance to apologise.

He had run into Wyatt.

"Wy!" he cried, suddenly feeling relieved as he threw himself into his big brother's arms. "I'm so glad it's you."

Wyatt gave him a gentle hug and looked down in concern. "What's wrong Chris? He asked again. "Why are you crying?"

Chris hesitated before deciding to tell his brother everything.

"I just wanted to play too…but Robert and the others…they called me dead-boy again…and then…" he drew a deep breath and forced himself to continue. "And then one of them blew me up. And everyone laughed…I hate it here Wy, everyone hates me, they don't understand…"

"I understand, Chris." Wyatt cut in, still holding the boy comfortingly. "I know what it's like to be different…we're both different. And those kids are just jealous because we have more powers then them. I bet they wish that they were whitelighters too."

Chris looked up slowly and wiped a few of the tears from his eyes. "Really?" he asked, his voice full of apprehension.

"Really." Wyatt replied with a slight smile. "We're special- and it doesn't matter what they say. You don't need stupid friends like them. We have each other…that's enough…I'll always look out for you- I'm your big brother, that's my job."

The younger Halliwell smiled. "Yeah…we don't need them…we'll stick together forever."

Wyatt nodded. "Forever…"

The vision stopped abruptly and Chris was snapped back to his room with a jolt.

He had just seen yet another bad memory he had tried to repress…he had seen many in these past few days…

He had tried to resist the temptation to touch the objects in the enchanted room, but a combination of curiosity, frustration and boredom had gotten the better of him.

In a way, the visions- however bad- were better then facing his current reality.

He was still trapped.

He still didn't know if Bianca was okay…

The thought of her in pain brought a wave of sickness over him, and he forced himself to look over at the old family portrait on the wall as a distraction.

Everyone was smiling back at him happily…he missed them all so much.

"Wish you were here, Mom." He whispered, his fingers hovering inches away from the photo.

But not even she could help him now. He was trapped, alone, unsure…and the only one who could release him was…

"I miss her too you know." A cool voice said from across the room, causing Chris to whip around abruptly. Wyatt had arrived and was watching him amusedly across the room.

"Yeah…then you should know how disappointed she is in what you have become!" Chris spat back, his green eyes blazing.

Wyatt raided a blonde brow apprehensively and decided to ignore the comment.

"How are you doing today, brother?" he asked, glancing over at the pile of tested objects Chris had begun to build across the room. "Enjoying your memories I see…"

The youngest Halliwell scowled. "Hardly. How much longer are you going to keep me here Wyatt?"

"Until you're ready."

"Oh, that really clears things up then." Chris replied, rolling his eyes. "Ready to what? Join you? Turn evil? Kill innocents? That's never going to happen Wyatt…I'll never be ready for that. Just give up."

There was a brief pause as Wyatt contemplated his response. "That's what Bianca said at first too." He said, his voice low and cool. "But she saw the light…and so will you. In good time."

Chris' heart sunk as he absorbed what his brother had said. Sure, there was always the possibility that he was lying…but something about his voice made him think otherwise.

He could sense the note of triumph.

His precious Bianca…the mother of his child…the woman he loved more than anything else…had turned…

"No." he whispered, trying to come to terms with the idea.

His mind was spinning…

He didn't want to believe it…

"No."

"Yes." Wyatt said, taking a few steps towards the boy. "She finally realized what she had to do. She's alive…she wants to see you…but I told her that she had to wait until you were ready…until you had seen the light too." He paused. "You want to see her, don't you Chris? All you have to do is join me."

He hesitated slightly. Wyatt was right…he did want to see her…and he wanted to see for himself that she really had chosen to join Wyatt. He wouldn't fully believe it until then…

"I'm not evil." He said, his voice waivering slightly. "I don't care what you say…power doesn't give you the right to hurt people…to take over an entire city!"

Wyatt gave a cool laugh and shook his head in mock sympathy. "Poor Chris." He muttered. "Poor, poor Chris. Still so stubborn after all this time…"

Smirking, Wyatt took a few steps over to the book shelf and pulled out a large grey tome. "I see you haven't explored this part of the room yet …I picked all of these books out myself, just for you." He stated as he lazily flipped through the pages, pausing every few seconds until he found what he was looking for.

Wyatt glanced down at the yellowed pages and began to read… "There is only power." He said, his voice suddenly very loud. "Power is of the individual mind, but the mind's power is not enough. Power of the body decides everything in the end, and only Might is Right..."

He snapped the old book shut and looked back up at his brother. "T.H. White wrote that…in The Once and Future King. They were wise words of advice given to the young King Arthur."

Chris drew a few deep breaths as he stared at his brother in disbelief.

Did Wyatt actually accept all that he had read as truth?

Wyatt had had a fascination with all literature written about King Arthur ever since their mother had told him of the sword. Wyatt believed that it was his destiny to pick up where the last King had left off…

But it wasn't supposed to be like this…

He wasn't supposed to be a power hungry tyrant.

"You don't actually believe that crap, do you?" Chris scoffed.

Wyatt gave him a slight frown- he was obviously not amused at his brother's dismissal of something he held in such high regard. "Of course I do." He replied, returning the book to the shelf. "I am King Arthur, Chris. All of the advice contained in these tomes applies directly to me." He paused briefly. "And it is sound advice. Power of the body is all that really matters…my power- our power- gives us the right to rise above the rest. It's really quite simple Chris…it's the survival of the fittest…he who has the most power wins…"

Chris threw his hands up in frustration. It was obvious that Wyatt had been diluting himself with these thoughts for so long…convinced himself that power was supreme above all else.

"I've heard enough." Chris declared, leaning tiredly against his bed. "You're insane Wyatt, end of story."

"I'm not insane…I've just seen the truth…"

The younger Halliwell sighed, knowing that this argument- which they had had many times before was nowhere near ending. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I won't join you. I'd rather sit here and rot for the rest of my life…"

To his surprise, Wyatt gave another cool laugh.

"I highly doubt that." He replied, smiling sinisterly. "Not even you are stubborn enough to wait that long."

Chris narrowed his eyes in confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked, letting his curiosity get the better of him.

"What I mean-" Wyatt began again, taking a few steps so that he was only inches away from his brother. "Is that I doubt you have the strength to stay trapped in this room for the next three hundred years…"

The younger brother's mouth opened and closed several times, and it was evident that he was still just as confused. "Three hundred years?" he questioned, his voice barely above a whisper "Wha-"

"Don't haven't you ever thought about it Christopher?" Wyatt cut in. "We're part whitelighter…our dear father's blood is immortal…and it runs through out veins." He stopped to savour the look of shock that had registered on his little brother's face. "The rest of your life is going to be a very long time…and I don't think you want to spend it in here."

Wyatt stood up straight and took a few steps back.

"You can either defy me in vain for the next few centuries, or you can rule at my side. It's your choice in the end…but I think we both know how it is meant to be. We're brothers…together…forever…"

His words rung in the air and Chris could not stop a new dread from growing inside of him.

Fragments from his latest vision echoed in his head as he stared directly into the older Halliwell's blue eyes.

'I'll always look out for you- I'm your big brother, that's my job…we'll stick together forever.'

Maybe, just maybe, Wyatt was right…

"Think about it." Wyatt said with a grin, before orbing away and leaving Chris in isolation once again…

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was dark when Leo orbed into the back yard of the Halliwell manor. The moon was full in the sky and it cast a bluish glow over the small well kept garden. It looked just as he remembered, and for a second, he let himself believe that he was back in a time when things had been much simpler…a time when Piper had been in his arms…a time when his sons still loved their father…

Those times were long gone.

All he had now were his few sweet memories.

This place was full of memories…

That was why he had come back. He had spent enough time cooped up in the magic school, and he no longer cared about the risks associated with leaving its safety. He had nothing to loose, and this was where he wanted to be.

This was where he needed to be…

He needed to remember the good that life could contain so that he could find the strength to continue. Even though the most important things had been lost, he still had a role to play; he had to be strong for all of the witches that had lost almost as much as he had.

He was the only elder left.

They needed his guidance…

If he couldn't manage that, if he couldn't pull himself together, then there was no point in carrying on with his life.

It would be better just to let it end…

Activating his invisibility, Leo walked quietly into the sunroom, being careful not to make even the slightest creak. He knew that Wyatt would have his demons positioned all around the manor; protecting it from intrusion…he had to be careful.

A new wave of memories flooded him as he looked around at the coloured glass and wicker furniture that had once been so familiar. He hadn't been here in so long, but he could remember the many warm summer days he had spent, nestled on the couch with Piper as they watched their young sons play.

He had been happy then. Happier then he could ever remember being.

It was such a contrast to the world of darkness and pain he inhabited now…

Leo forced himself to keep walking. He passed through one of the manor's large oak doorways…he could vaguely remember repairing it years ago, before the girls had even known he was a whitelighter. He remembered Prue and Phoebe, just coming into their powers- so innocent in the ways of magic- he could remember Piper's sweet laugh as she held him tight and told him that she loved him…

He wished the memories weren't so vague.

It scared him sometimes, when he would wake up and temporarily forget how her voice had sounded…how her perfume had smelt…

They were such small details, and they faded more and more with each passing year…but he clung to them with all his might. They were all he had left of the woman he loved.

He noted with confusion that many new items now covered the floor of the manor.

'The museum' he realized…Wyatt must have put these objects on display for all to see.

It felt wrong to make the family's history so public. Everything imaginable was being exhibited…various costumes…an array of objects, both magical and not…

All neatly labelled, explaining the significance to all passers by.

Leo felt a slight lump build in his throat as he turned to glance at the old dining room table which was now roped off and flanked by several candles and a large plaque.

Wyatt had been born there…

It had been one of the most amazing days of his life. He could remember the overwhelming joy he felt as he held the child in his arms for the first time. It had been love at first sight.

He had been their little miracle. The child that shouldn't have been, but was anyway.

He was a symbol of their eternal love….

"Look what we did." Piper had said, her eyes clouded by tears of happiness.

'If only she had known…' Leo muttered bitterly to himself as his mind ran over all that Wyatt had done. He had hurt so many…killed…how could their little angel have gone so astray?

He still did not have an answer.

The elder continued on his trek, slowly climbing the stairs, careful not to make the slightest noise. The portraits had been rearranged to display many of Wyatt and the sisters…there was even a small one of him and Chris…

Chris.

Leo had tried not to think to hard about his youngest son's fate these past few days. But it was hard to keep himself distracted. Everything at Magic School had reminded him of the time he had spent finally getting to know his son…

That was part of the reason he was here now…

He had dwelled too long in one place.

He paused slightly as he passed by the closed door to his old bed room…the room he and Piper had once shared…

Part of him wanted to go in and reminisce, but the logical half of his brain told him to keep going. Bring in there again would be too over whelming…every inch would remind him of Piper…remind him of the best times of his life.

Maybe he would come back to see it another day…

Leo forced his suddenly heavy legs to take another step. But the pull to the room was so strong…perhaps he should go back…

He chanced a glance behind him and almost jumped in shock as he saw that a faint white glow was now illuminating the crack between the door and the floor. He knew that he should be wary- after all, Wyatt controlled the house now- but he could not suppress the sudden peace this light gave him.

It was so beautiful…so familiar…

Unable to resist, Leo reached up and turned the brass knob. The door creaked quietly open, inch by inch until the space was finally large enough for him to peek through.

He could see now that the light was coming from the far corner…

He knew that he should orb out, but somehow, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he opened the door further and walked into the room, towards the mesmerising glow.

It drew him nearer and nearer until, with a bright flash, the light disappeared just as suddenly as it had come.

Leo blinked frantically, in an attempt to clear his vision realizing abruptly that his invisibility had deactivated. Feeling slightly panicked, he looked up to see that a single female figure was now standing before him, and as his vision cleared completely, he could see who it was…

"Piper?" he gasped, hoping beyond hope that it was really her. His heart beat rapidly in his chest and his knees grew weak.

A gentle smile crossed her face and she brought a tender hand up to brush his cheek.

"Yes Leo." She replied, her voice just as sweet as he remembered. "I was hoping you would come…"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N Not only did I take ridiculously long to update, but I also left you with a minor cliffie! Muhahaha, I'm so evil today. I'm SOOO sorry that this chapter took so long. As I said, I had real work to do…and them I got some minor writers block and decided to work on my other story. Hope you're still reading this- don't hate me:)

Anyway, I also hope you liked it. I had so much fun writing it…especially the Chris flash back part…(I may have gotten a bit carried away, lol)- I love tormenting cute little Chris. The stuff Wyatt read is an actual quotation from The Once and Future King, (which I'm Sure evil Wyatt would have memorized in his youth, lol.) It's basically a retelling of the Arthurian Legend. And about the extended life span of part whitelighters…Nothings been said about it on the show as far as I know, it's a personal theory of mine…but I think its useful to pretend it's true in this case…it heightens the drama of Chris' predicament. Ummm…yes…I hope everything else was clear…

Next Chapter- Piper/Leo! Yay!

PLEASE REVIEW! (It will inspire me to update!)

chattypandagurl- WOW! You read it all at once, lol, I'm impressed:) I'm glad it kept you hooked for so long…some of the beginning chapters are weak…but if it reeled you in anyway that's great! Yes, there are quite a few references in this story- I try, lol. Thanks so much for reviewing…you reminded be that I do in fact have another story…I have you to thank for inspiring me to update;)

Patricia L. Bryans- yep, three essays. I've done two, and hopefully the last will e done soon:( (School sucks, eh?) So glad that you thought Bianca's vision in the last chapter was so effective!

charmedchick4eva- yes, so sad. Bianac joined :( Sorry for the long wait, thanks of reviewing!

Angry Girl- Glad you can understand Bianca's position. Thank you for another wonderful review!

phoebe turner- Leo will find out about Chris being alive soon, never fear. I wouldn't leave my favourite whitelighter hanging for too long, lol. Thanks again!

ilovedrew88- Yay! Another person who understands Bianca's choice:) So glad you enjoyed it!