Author's Note: Hey guys, I am really sorry about not updating this sooner. School recently started and I just haven't had the time. I guess you better be glad that I at least have another five chapters to post...for those of you that are even reading this. All right, enough of my rambling, I'll let you go ahead and read. Please, read and review!
Chapter Five New Homes
Cathy stared at the rows and rows and baby items, her mind swimming. There were many things that she was going to need, whereas there was now a baby in the house. When she had gone to the police station, she was informed that there were no missing children and when she described the child that she had found the police officers only shook their heads, saying that it did not match the description of any child in their files.
Social Services was not much of a help either. But, unlike the police, they told Cathy that the baby would have to be put into temporary foster care until they knew what to do with him. It was something that Cathy did not like at all and asked if she could keep him.
"I've grown rather fond of him and would be more that willing to take care of him," she said.
"You mean adopt him? Well, there is much you have to do before you can adopt him."
Cathy listened and did everything she was told and the next thing she knew she was now the mother of a year old boy who had been stranded on her doorstep. Her home had been turned upside down for the baby and now it was time to actually buy a crib, highchair, playpen and every other item that a child needed.
Staring at the cribs, she wondered which one Chris would like. Whereas he responded to the name, Cathy did not think it necessary to change it. Besides, she thought it suited him. But she had no idea which crib would suit him. There were so many and she finally had to enlist the help of a store attendant before she was finally ready to purchase anything.
Chris was waiting for her as Cathy drove up the driveway. He had been dropped off at Mr. Winters house and was happily playing in the front yard under the careful watch of the older man. The baby smiled at Cathy as she went to him and took him into her arms.
"I hope he wasn't too much trouble," Cathy said, walking over to Mr. Winters.
"Are you kidding? That child was pure perfection," Mr. Winters laughed. "Sure he cried when you left, but then he just sat there, watching everything go by. He was too content to let anything bother him."
Concern came over Cathy's face as she looked down at Chris. "You think he knows...I mean, that I'm not his..."
Mr. Winters shook his head. "He is far to young to know the difference. Are you going to tell him when he's old enough?"
"Chris has a right to know the truth and will when the time is right," Cathy answered. "But for now, all he needs to know is that I am here for him and will be like a mother. That this is his home, and it always will be."
It was at this same time that Barbas flamed back into his Underworld lair, two-year-old Wyatt in his arms. There had been no force field to penetrate, no parents or aunts to get in the way, no anything. The perfect kidnapping. But, the easiness of it all scared Barbas, for he thought that is was almost too easy, yet when no Charmed One orbed into his lair, he knew he had nothing to fear.
Yet, what does a demon of fear actually fear anyway?
Barbas left the child on the ground and circled him, his hands together and at his chin. Wyatt, too, was watching Barbas, but unlike the demon, he was smiling. The smile on Wyatt's face soon faded as he saw a trail of black orbs. He may not have feared Barbas, but Wyatt, as young as he was, knew what black orbs meant. It meant a Darklighter. It meant danger.
It meant death.
The Darklighter turned to the child, and smirked. Barbas, though, did not like the child being intimidated and stood between the boy and Darklighter, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the latter.
"What do you think you are doing?" Barbas demanded.
"You told me that I was to report to you once the youngest son was taken care of," the Darklighter answered.
"And was he?"
The Darklighter nodded. "I left him somewhere and gave him the potion you left. His parents shall never find him now. But Barbas, I have one question for you to answer."
Barbas knelt down to level himself with Wyatt, but signaled for the Darklighter to continue.
"I am confused why you did not have me kill the younger boy. It is known throughout the Underworld that the eldest son of the eldest Charmed One is a Twice-Blessed being, and is known to have great power, but what of the other boy? Will he not be the same?"
Standing, Barbas ruffled Wyatt's hair. "I met the younger son myself. He had no great power that I could see; therefore I do not view him as a treat. The reason you were not to kill him was that I may have some use for him in the future. If it turns out that I do not, you may go and kill him, if you so wish it."
The Darklighter bowed slightly, as to acknowledge what Barbas had said and watched as the demon played with the child. "Already fond of him?"
"The key to having a child trust you, is to show them kindness and love. While I may not really love the boy, he will believe I do and I shall win his trust and he will do whatever I say. He will never challenge me."
"That is what you think now," the Darklighter said. "What happens when he grows older? It is obvious that you are not his father; therefore it is safe to assume that he will ask. What will you tell him? That his father is an Elder and his mother is a Charmed One?"
Moving closer, the Darklighter whispered into Barbas' ear. "That he is good?"
Barbas shoved the Darklighter away from him, sending him to the floor. "You know, your greatest fear is looking pretty good right about now. Would you like me to show it to you, or would you rather leave?"
The Darklighter backed away from Barbas, a smirk spreading across his face. "I think that is your greatest fear, Barbas."
His head turning on its side, the demon stared at the other in confusion.
"Your greatest fear is that even after all this planning and after all the time you spent turning him, that it was all for nothing. That he turns on you anyway."
Before Barbas could do anything, the Darklighter black orbed away, leaving nothing behind him. Nothing, but a fear that Barbas wished was not true. There was, however, a bit of truth in what the Darklighter had said. Barbas was afraid that Wyatt might turn on him, that the power the child held would be too much and would consume him to the point of betraying all those that he had once trusted.
The demon turned to the human child. "That is why I must gain your trust now and make sure you know that this is your home now. That I am your...family."
