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.

Inside mind's eye
'tween Love and Hate
Where good and evil do debate
Where once was dark,
Now fill with light
And help him with his endless plight

The pair reeled off the words on the paper, and then eagerly peered over at the still figure that lay on the sofa.
'What now?' Paige said.
'I guess we just wait…' Laura answered hesitantly.

Chris ran over to his mother, a wide grin stretched across his young face.
'Mommy, look what I did!' he cried enthusiastically, thrusting a small piece of paper into Piper's hands. Piper turned it over to reveal multicoloured etchings of crayon dashed over the surface. She reached out and pulled Chris to her, her arms around him.
'It's beautiful, sweetie,' she said, nuzzling her head into the nape of his neck, causing him to squeal with laughter.

'It's a spell!' Chris cried through his giggling.
Piper ceased her action and pulled Chris onto her lap, 'A spell huh?' Chris nodded, proudly.
'What's this spell for then?' Piper asked in a soft voice.

'It's for you,' he announced, 'To make you happy again.'
Piper turned him around to face her, her face feigning a smile, 'You think I'm not happy?'
Chris shook his head, 'You cry when it's dark…I hear you when I go to sleep. Are you afraid of the dark, mommy?' he asked, his innocent face full of concern.

Piper was still for a moment, her head bowed, before she lifted it and smiled, her eyes covered by a film of tears, 'No…no, I'm not afraid…'
A single tear tipped from her eye and trailed down her cheek. Chris watched its progress, before wiping it away with a tiny hand, 'I'll look after you mommy, don't worry.'

Piper smiled appreciatively at her son, before pulling him into a tight embrace. He hugged her back, burying his head into her shoulder and inhaling her familiar scent. He then pulled his head away and said, 'Can I watch TV now?'
Piper smiled and placed him on the sofa next to her, 'Sure…not for too long though, dinner's nearly ready.' She touched him lovingly on the head as she passed by.

He looked up...into a pair of white hot eyes, set into the shadow of a black figure, who hand was reaching out, waiting...'

Paige lifted Wyatt up and placed him back down into his crib, laying him down, 'Your mommy's going to be fine…just fine, don't worry about it.' She leaned in and kissed his forehead, not believing the words that she was saying. She walked over to the door, looked back on last time, and then flicked off the light.

Walking down the stairs, she noticed how still the house was…how unusually quiet. She took a few steps into the foyer and looked into the gloom of the living room. Her eyes focused on the sofa, and it surprised her slightly to see that it was empty; there was no sign of Chris.

'Chris? Laura?' she called out, but her own voice echoed in the still hallway, as if answering her own question. 'Laura…Chris got up, the spell must have worked…'
She walked into the room, and suddenly felt like someone had kicked her legs out from under her, as she fell backwards. Winded, she frantically looked around to see her attacker, and yet, there was no one.

She heard a whimper come from the corner of the room, just behind her, and she whipped her head round suspiciously, seeing a tall silhouette hunched over, 'Chris?'
She lifted herself up slowly, and flicked on the light switch. Chris cowered further away from her, and he lifted up a finger, 'Stay away from me…away!'
Paige took a step back, leaning over, trying to look him in the eye, 'Chris?'

He shook as he covered his head with his hands, and sobbed into them, 'Why did he go…why did he leave? Everything…everything…everyone,' Chris muttered breathlessly, shaking his head.
Paige edged towards him, 'Chris…where's Laura?' she asked him urgently.
He growled, 'I said…' before exploding, 'Stay away!'
His eyes bore into hers, and a white-hot light suddenly captured her, clearing her mind…it was so peaceful…

'No!' she cried, wrenching away her gaze and slung her legs around, tripping him up. He stumbled and Paige scrambled to her feet. She suddenly noticed the mirror above the fireplace was smashed. Her eyes travelled further down and her heart stopped as she saw the slumped body of Laura lying among shards of broken glass, bloodied and motionless.

'No!' Paige repeated, starting to run forwards, but something grabbed her legs and held on, pulling her down to the floor. Struggling, she kicked out, trying to loosen Chris' grip, but he wouldn't let go. He slammed her body to the ground, pinning her on her back by her throat and staring into her eyes…