Chapter 7

His steady breathes was all that could be heard in the oldest charmed ones bedroom as her youngest child made himself comfortable in her warm embrace before continuing to drift further and further into a peaceful slumber. The past few hours had been so emotionally trying for the boy that he didn't have the strength required to stay awake. So after a few minutes of fighting with his mother the boy finally gave into her wishes and fell fast asleep in her arms leaving her alone to think about the events that had just transpired.

This month had been an extremely difficult one for Piper Halliwell and from the looks of things it was about to get a whole lot worse before it got any better. First the love of her life and father of her child, or rather children, leaves her to become an Elder then he gets himself sent to Valhalla forcing her to come and rescue him then future Leo and future Wyatt pop up out of nowhere telling her that Leo supposedly killed Chris today in their time and then they drop the biggest bombshell of all, that Chris, her neurotic and surly little whitelighter was in fact her son.

The woman smiled happily at the last thought as she tightened her grip on the boy that lay sleeping in her arms. She couldn't believe that this brave, smart, charming and sometimes slightly annoying, ok really annoying young man was hers, hers and Leos. "I love you so much sweetie" she whispered into the boy's hair.

"And I'm so sorry for what's happened to you. But I promise I will do everything in my power to make your life better this time around" she continued completely unaware of the man's presences.

"Piper" he called out.

Turning around to find the source of the voice the witch was met with the eyes of her husband.

"Sorry I just came to see how you two were doing and to change clothes" her husband said referring to his fighting gear.

"We're ok" the woman replied softly

"I still can't believe it" Leo spoke as he sat down next to the mother and son pair.

"Neither can I"

"Piper I didn't…"

"It didn't happen Leo so there's no need to talk about it"

"I think we do. We need to talk about that and what's to come" he said as noticed the still bleeding gash on his son's arm.

Moving his hand to heal his child's injury he was surprised when the boy's mother held pulled him in closer to her before pushing his hand away.

"Don't touch him Leo" she warned allowing her motherly instincts to take over.

"Sorry, I just wanted to heal him" the man replied in a somber tone.

The dejected look on her husbands face made the woman realize how hard she was being on him but how was she supposed to react after just finding out that the Elder had succeeded in murdering her child a few hours before. Although it was a different time line and this Leo hadn't done anything wrong yet still didn't ease the woman's pain or make the deed any less horrifying.

"I'm sorry Leo" she said as she extended the boy's arm and removing the bandage as the golden glow radiated from his father's hand instantly causing the wound to disappear.

"Thanks"

"He's my son too Piper and whether you want to believe it or not I don't want to see him hurt" the man spoke before moving to search through the closet.

"You are not being fair right now Leo, my God if it weren't for your future self and Wyatt you would have killed him today. Try seeing this from my point of view"

"I know that Piper. Don't you think I feel bad enough as it is" he said while slipping on a pair of jeans.

"I understand that but…"

"But what? You still don't trust me with him, is that what you're saying? You don't want me near my own child"

"No, yes, I don't know" the woman spoke as the boy began to stir.

"Leo I know that you feel bad about this whole thing…"

"Bad! I feel like shit Piper and obviously the fact that I hate myself right now just isn't good enough for you"

"Lower your voice before you wake him up" the woman responded in a low growl as brushed the long strains of dark hair out of her son's face.

"Fine! It's killing me you know. In the span of an hour I go from almost killing the man that I believed was sent to destroy my family to finding out that he's my little boy and on top of it all I have to deal with the fact that I actually murdered him in another time line" the Elder spoke as sat on the bed once again starring down at the floor.

"Then I find out that I abuse him both mentally and physically in the future. Then Wyatt shows me how I hit him repeatedly as he begs me to stop while he's curled up in a ball on the floor bracing himself for yet another blow. I'm really working over time for that father of the year award" he finished as tears streamed down his face.

"You weren't the only one that has a lot to make up for. I was there too" the woman said as feelings of shame and guilt started to eat away at her for what seemed like the hundredth time. "And truth be told, I don't think we did that to him. No matter how angry we get, we would never hurt our boys Leo, I just know it"

"Can you be so sure Piper?" the man said as his mind drifted back to their pervious discussion.

"Yes I can. And when Chris wakes up we're all going to find a way to see what really happened. I don't care if it takes days, weeks, months even. We're going to get to the truth Leo"

"Piper…"

"No Leo. We would never do this. Do you hear me? NEVER! Whether it was some demon or spell, or what, I don't know but we will find out and when I do something or someone is going to pay with their life! I swear to you Leo, they're going to rule the day they fucked with my family"

"Ok Piper. Alright" the man said as he put his arms around both Mother and son trying desperately to calm the woman down. "Everything's going to be ok. We'll find who ever did this and make sure this doesn't happen again" the man said pulling both mother and son in close.

"We can't let it happen to him Leo"

"We won't honey. I promise" the man spoke as an intruder watched and listened from just outside the door.

Wyatt Halliwell was livid when finally realized that his aunts and the other version of his father was trying to keep him busy with their dim-witted questions while Gladiator Leo and Piper stole his little brother right out from underneath him. Once he was aware of their little plot he made a v-line for the stairs only to come upon this scene.

At first he didn't know what to make of it. Were his parents putting on some sort of show? But that wouldn't make any sense seeing as how his brother was out cold and was unaware of their loving words and promises. For the first time in his life the twice blessed son was confused.

All of his life he worked so hard to protect his brother from those monsters that they called parents but these people in front of him right now were different. They actually seemed to love his brother to care for him even. Then again the couple would always pretend to love him to make them selves feel better before beating the hell out of him again.

Unsure of what was real and what was not the man decided to play it safe and collect his brother from the clutches of his evil parents for now until he could find a way to uncover the truth once and for all.