The Second First Born

N.B.I hope you're in it for the long haul! Please R&R! Also, disclaimer. I don't own Charmed, the show or any of the original characters.

Chris flipped the pages of the Book of Shadows almost desperatly.
'You know,' said a voice, 'for someone who doesn't know what the hell he's looking for, you seem very determined.' He looked up and saw Piper leaning against the doorframe. She walked in and sat down at the desk.

Chris closed the book. 'Where's Wyatt?' he asked.
'Asleep. Boy, I wish I were asleep right now.'
Chris leaned against the desk.
'Then go,' he said, 'I'm on 24 hour Wyatt-Watch, I'v got it covered.' Piper looked up. 'No, you mistunderstand, I would if I could. I'm having a little trouble sleeping right now. But, if you'd stop kicking all night, then I might have a chance...'

Chris grinned, feining pride. Then he stood. 'I'm serious though. Go, sleep, or at least try.' Piper was about to respond, before she caught the look he gave her. She sighed and then heaved herself out of the chair. 'Okay, okay. I give in.' She turned to go, but before she reached the doorway, Chris exclaimed, 'What the...' She spun round, just in time to see a bright turquoise triqetra close upon the dark surface of the attic wall. Her eyes widened, and she pointed wildly at the now normal wall.

'Was that...what was that. Chris?' She turned her bewildered stare to her son, but he did not return it. He was staring, shocked at the floor, hidden from her view behind the desk. Chris swallowed, before saying, 'Laura?'
Piper moved around the desk, and she gasped as she saw a figure, with a grin spreading across her face as she saw Piper. 'Aunt Piper!' she girl said.

Piper shook her head, 'You know wha...what did you just call me?'
The girl sat up and tucked her long dark hair behind her ears. 'Uh...Piper. That is your name, right?' Piper stared incredulously the girl to Chris, who was looking angrier by the second.

'What the hell are you doing here?' he yelled at her. Laura smiled at him. She got up and sat on the desk, with her arms folded, in a cocky way.
'You know what,' she said, calmly, 'I was about to ask you the same question.' Piper stood in the middle of the room. 'If somebody could please just, tell me what the HELL is going on here, I would be eternally grateful!'

Laura turned to her. 'Ask him.' She pointed at Chris, who had stopped looking angry, and was now looking very sheepish.
Piper turned her head to him. 'Well?'
Chris looked at Laura. 'What do you want me to say.' Laura stood and started pacing. She posed in mock thought. 'You could start with when exactly you were gonna tell me that you were messing with time!'

Chris stood up and faced her. 'I'm not just messing with time here, Laura. It's for us, for Wyatt, for our family. I had to do something!'
Laura let out a sigh. 'I get that, I really do. What I don't get is why you had to do it behind my back . I was worried, very worried! What am I supposed to think? You go missing for over a year. What, huh? You know what it's like living there, with him. I thought that you were dead. You disappeared, what else am I meant to think?'

Chris was quiet, his head down at the floor. Piper looked on, not wanting to say anything. Chris looked up. Laura stared straight back. 'Why? Answer me!'
Chris shook his head. Laura turned, but stopped as Chris said, 'Don't you think I wanted to tell you? Huh? Do you think I care about you that little?'

Laura looked at him. 'It still doesn't answer my question.' Chris sighed.
'Bianca thought it best if we kept it between us, a...'

'...secret?' Laura finished, 'And this was Bianca's idea? Bianca, bitch queen from hell?' Chris grabbed her arm angrily 'Don't...' Laura stared at him, unblinkingly. 'Don't what? Speak ill of the dead?'
Chris let go in surprise. 'Yeah, I know she's dead. I was the one that found her,' she grimaced, 'Not a nice way to go...' Chris looked at her, his eyes filled with tears and his voice cracking. 'Is there a point to provoking me?'

Laura went over to him. 'I just thought I'd mention it...in passing. I'd say I was sorry, but I'm not a liar by nature.'
Chris pushed her away, hard, and orbed out.
Laura spun around, aware that she was being watched. A very stony-faced Piper greeted her. 'Well,' said Piper, softly, 'Aren't you a delight.'

Gideon sat at his desk, his head in his hands. He couldn't block out the voices in his head, ones that told him that what was about to happen was wrong. He lifted his head as he heard the sound of shimmering and looked up into the eyes of a demon with a scarred face an an evil grin.

'Ah, Søren. Is it done?' Gideon said urgently.
Søren smiled sadistically. 'My allies are standing by. I had one hell of a job convincing them that this would be worthwhile,' he put his hand around Gideon's throat and lifted him up.
'It better be, for your sake.' Søren suddenly started to choke. Gideon gave a sly smile. 'Don't be foolish...put me down.' The elder was dropped, and Gideon unclenched his fist.

'When is the first attack?' Gideon asked. Søren looked at the moon outside of the study window. 'Right about now...'he said.

Phoebe glanced at her watch. This presentation was dragging on longer than expected. She squirmed in her seat as she watched some unknown editor rising to the podium. Uggh, not more of this, she thought. All of a sudden, there was a commotion over at the other end of the theatre. She stood up, and as she did, there was a loud bang.
Chairs were scattered from end to end, and a group of tall figures rose up from a sea of screaming people. Phoebe launched herself over the other end of the room.

The theatre was emptying fast, and as she bumped into an hysterical woman, it somehow, knocked some sense into her. She looked again at the figures and tried to count them; six, seven. She had no active powers, and her sisters where not around.
She stopped, uncertain what to do. The figures turned towards her, and she felt very afraid.

They all had eye contact, their eyes were bright white. As soon as she looked into them, she felt strange...unhappy...hopeless.
Her knees came into contact with somthing hard, and a dull pain throbbed into them.

It was like a dream. She was barely aware of them surrounding her. Then it went black...

Chris sank wearily onto the bench in the arboretum. The dark silouettes of statues and plants blocked out light from the moon, making them appear ghostly. Once again, thoughts of Bianca clouded his mind. Grief cut through him like a knife. Then his thoughts moved over to Laura. She had seemed...different; more tactless and unkind.

He looked at the handful of stars that were scattered over the raven backdrop of the city; shining brightly...

Paige looked at the shimmering diamonds, set in a band of pure, scathless gold. She sighed. 'If only...' she said, to no-one in particular. She set it back down in it's case and closed the lid. 'Why not?' came a voice, from over her shoulder.
She turned her head, to face a man with deep brown eyes, and a cheeky; yet Paige had to admit, very sexy smile.

Paige laughed. 'You are kidding me right? If I could afford to buy stuff like that, do you really think I would be working for minimum wage in a jewellers store?'
The man looked confused, 'Minimum wage? I thought a girl who looked as half as classy as you wouldn't settle for that.'

'Thanks, but believe it or not, this is just my temp job,' Paige stated, 'I worked for social services for a few years, but it didn't really inspire me much.'
The man raised his eyebrows, 'And this does?' Paige thought a little.
'Well, yeah...I mean, it did. Recently though, there doesn't seem to be much in it...'

Paige's attention was caught over the man's shoulder, as a gap underneath a storeroom cupboard flashed white-blue. A familar face peered out and beckoned to her.
The man put his hand on her shoulder. 'So...do you have a name?'
Paige, still not concentrating said, 'Leo...'

'Leo?' the man said, puzzled. Paige suddenly snapped back into focus.
'Uh, no. Listen...I gotta go...' She brushed past him and strode across the room. The man was left, looking a little dazed. He repeated, 'Leo..?

Paige stepped into the storeroom. 'Leo...?' Leo stood, looking anxious. Paige shut the door behind her, and then pushed his shoulder.
'Are you insane? This is where I work, for gods sake...' she whispered, fiercely. Leo folded his arms, 'Finished?' he asked.

Paige replied, 'No.' Leo shook his head, 'Too bad. I need you and Piper, I can't sense Phoebe anywhere.'
Paige looked stunned, 'What does...what does that mean?'
'I don't know, but whatever it is, it's not good.'
Paige nodded, 'Okay, I'll just grab my bag.'