Chapter 20

Chris tried to read his brother's face to figure out what he was thinking but it became unmistakably clear as he was met with a smile.

"So sorry to do this but hey, it's been real nice knowing you" Wyatt Halliwell said before releasing the fireball and taking out his intended target.

The man watched in amazement as his fellow captive went up in flames. His agonizing screams echoed loudly throughout the cave as the fire slowly reduced him to a pile of ashes. Turning his stunned gaze back to the man before him he studied him closely as his appearance began change. His black clothing transformed back to his original crisp white shirt and blue jeans while his wild hair was now pulled back and held together neatly by a black rubber band.

His once ominous appearance was replaced with one of gentleness and concern as he carefully lowered him to the ground. The older witch then cautiously made his way over to him with watery eyes before engulfing him in a tight embrace as his world started to turn dark.

"I'm so sorry Chris" the man started but his apologies were brought to a halt when he noticed that he was the one supporting all of his brother's weight. Remembering the boy's injuries Wyatt gently knelt down on the ground and laid the boy's body on the floor as his healing powers began working on his brother's head wound.

Within seconds the boy's injuries were no more and as he awoke he was greeted once again by his brother's strong arms.

"Chris are you ok?" he asked as he looked the boy over for signs of another injury.

"I am now" he said giving the witch a smile as he stood up. "Gees, what the hell took you so long" the boy asked in mocked anger.

"Hey you try overpowering your evil self with him clearly reading your thoughts and then we'll talk" he said as his smile disappeared and he looked into his brother's eyes. "I really am sorry Chris. I mean if I wasn't so weak he wouldn't have been able to take over as easily as he did and you wouldn't have been hurt and…" the man trailed off as his brother put up a hand to silence him.

"It's ok Wyatt, it wasn't your fault. You couldn't have overpowered him. In fact it was virtually impossible until he let down his guard long enough to let you take control"

"No it wasn't Chris. You don't have to make excuses for me"

"I'm not. When Wyatt brought Gideon and Barbus back he made it to where both timelines existed so you didn't have a choice. As long as that bastard Gideon was around there was a chance that he could get to the younger version of you and traumatize him enough to turn him evil"

"Still Chris…"

"Still nothing Wyatt! Look my Wyatt…the other Wyatt" the boy changed his wording at his brother's hurt look "Was smart. He knew exactly what he was doing and there was no way to stop him. Well that was until you took over and killed Gideon and now with him gone there's no way that he's coming back. It's over and you should be proud of what you accomplished because if it weren't for your amazing strength, I would be dead right now"

"Yeah I know" the man guiltily replied.

"Hey, forget it alright. Everything worked out" the younger witch spoke before a worried look came over his face. "Oh no, what did he do to Mom and Dad? Are Aunt Paige and Aunt Phoebe ok?"

"Calm down Chris they're just fine. He trapped them in a crystal cage so they couldn't help you"

"Oh" the boy responded as he breathed a sigh of relief. "Good"

"Yeah good for us but not so great for Aunt Paige, he said some really horrible things to her" the man said as he shifted his gaze down to the floor remorsefully. "You should have seen the look on her face Chris. It broke her heart"

"Well what did he say?"

"Well after she called him an evil bastard he said and I quote "Oh come now Aunty Paige surely you don't mean me? After all my parents were married when they had me and wanted me so very much. Now yours on the other hand weren't married and couldn't wait to get rid of you. So who's the bastard in this situation?"

"WHAT! That miserable piece of…" Chris trailed off as he watched his brother cringe at his words. "It's ok Wyatt you're not to blame for what he said or did. Let's just get back to the family and let them know what's going on"

Taking in the looks of doubt and apprehension on his brother's face Chris walked over to the man and put an arm around his shoulder.

"Everything's going to be fine I promise" he said giving the man a slight smile.

"Hey who's supposed to be the big brother with all the comforting words here?" Wyatt teased.

"Well when you go insane, that would be me" replied Chris who smiled widely when his brother laughed.

"Alright bro, let's go face the music" the younger of the two spoke before they disappeared in a swirl of white lights.

Back at the manor Piper, Leo, Phoebe and Paige were sitting silently on the floor trying to think of yet another idea to free themselves from their temporary prison when their sons and nephews appeared in front of them.

"Hi" Chris smiled widely as the group got to their feet.

"Hi? Hi is all you have to say for yourself Christopher Perry Halliwell!" the boy's mother's voice screeched at him.

"Mom please just calm down" the boy pleaded. "Look, see everything's ok. Wyatt's back to his nice self and Gideon and Barbus are dead so there's no need to get upset"

"NO NEED TO GET UPSET!" yelled the boy's father.

"Smooth Chris, real smooth" the older boy whispered.

"Damn it Chris when are you going to learn to trust us? Don't you realize that if you had told us about evil Wyatt we would have been able to help you? My God you could have gotten yourself killed, again!" Leo screamed at his younger son. He was grateful that the boy was alright but that didn't excuse his behavior.

"I wanted too" the boy tried to plea his case as he freed the group from the cage. "But Wyatt was torturing me and he said if I told you he would kill you so I did what I could, given the circumstances"

Hearing the boy's admission stunned the group. They couldn't believe how far the male witch would have gone to remain an evil. Now turning their attention to the older boy who stood silent they couldn't believe the difference and seeing the hurt and fearful look in his eyes confirmed that he had in fact change back to the sweet boy he once was.

Feeling all those eyes on him made Wyatt feel uneasy, not to mention anxious. What could he say? What words could he come up with to explain away his harsh words, evil actions and deplorable behavior towards his own family? Taking a deep breath and sighing heavily the boy spoke words that he hoped would make his family forgive him.

"I'm sorry about all this, I really am. I…Aunt Paige…" the boy trailed off not quite sure what to say.

"It's ok sweetie. All of that horrible stuff was done by the other Wyatt, not you besides everything worked out for the best right?" the woman finished with a smile.

"Right" he said returning his aunt's smile.

His mother then walked over to him and hugged him tightly relieved that her son was no longer evil.

"Thank God you're ok honey" she said before wrapping her arms around her other child. "and you too but if you ever hide anything else from he again I swear Chris I'll"

"Do absolutely nothing to your sweet, adorable, delightfully charming little angel" the boy smiled illumining his bright green eyes instantly bringing his mother's rant to halt.

"I hate it when you do that" replied Piper who couldn't resist giving the boy a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh I think I'm going to be sick" added the boy's older sibling.

"You're just jealous" Chris said amused by his brother's envy.

"Ha, that's alright I'll make you eat those words when we get home"

"That's ok Mom and Dad will protect me" the boy gloated.

"We'll see about that"

"I'm so glad this is all over with" Paige said as she moved to sit down on the sofa.

"So am I, but it also sucks" replied Leo.

"Why is that?" asked an intrigued Piper.

"Well now that all threats have been taken care of and Wyatt and Chris are safe, it's time to send them home" the man spoke sadly.

"Don't worry Dad, you'll see us again soon enough" Chris spoke as he laid a hand on the man's shoulder.

"Yeah and then you'll be begging us to go away. Especially when we do that thing to you in about five years" Wyatt said sending Chris a knowing look that made the boys laugh.

"What thing?" questioned a very worried Leo.

"You'll see and don't say I didn't warn you" the boy said causing everyone around them to giggle at the look on the man's face and in anticipation and excitement of what was to come.

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