We Knew Better Chapter 3, a charmed fanfic

Disclaimer: See First Chapter

Author's Note: Hi!

I hope you're liking the fic.

I realized I did end on pretty bad cliff hanger, so here's the next chapter.

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Last Time...

The slamming of the door, caught us both by surprise.

I shot up, she jumped a little; westared at each other in horror as familiar voices filled the air.

"At least it didn't explode on us…"

"Yeah- hey what's that smell?"

"Dunno, but I want some…"

We were still just sitting there, neither one of us had moved; we had yet to look towards the foyer.

We should have known better.

We did know better.

"Chris?"

I jumped up from the sofa; my heart was pounding and it was hard to breath. Dear God, what have I done…

We shouldn't have tempted fate.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Piper screeched, "I think we've been pretty clear. Stay out of this house Chris. Just stay away from-"

"Piper?"

Piper huffed and turned to face Phoebe, "What!" she asked, still upset.

Phoebe shook her head, her gaze directed to the sofa, "Not you… her…"

Piper followed her sister's gaze, "Oh my god," she gasped, her face paling.

"Is that you?" Paige asked walking all the way into the living room. Mom stood up and met Paige's inquisitive glance head on.

"It can't be," Piper gasped.

Phoebe followed Paige and stared at the older woman, "Wow, it is you, Piper. Sure you're hair's shorter, you've got some wrinkles and you're a little chubbier-"

"Jee, thanks Phoebes," Mom told her and Phoebe's eyes widened.

"She sounds just like you!"

Mom laughed a little, "I am her."

"You can't be," Piper said softly as she too approached now. She stood in front of her future self and studied her.

It said a lot about this family that instead of fainting or getting hysterical Piper just rolled her eyes, "Oh great. You are me. What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

"And most importantly, what is that delicious smell?" Paige finished, plopping down the sofa.

"And when can we have some?" Phoebe asked, sitting down next to her little sister.

"You can't," Mom told them, "It's for Chris."

And which point they all turned to look at me.

"What are you doing here?" Phoebe asked suddenly, leaning forward.

"And when we're out of the house… when you knew we'd be out of the house." Paige continued.

"I uhhhhhh…" my mouth went dry; I didn't know what to say. Was I supposed to lie? Would Mom let me lie? She hates it when I lied.

"He needed someone to talk to." Mom told them in her no-nonsence voice, and she reached out and took my hand in hers. It probably wasn't the smartest thing to do, but than again we'd thrown smart out the window about an hour ago… so why not.

I wasn't feeling all that together yet… so I welcomed the reassurance.

"So he… what?" Phoebe asked, eyeing our intertwined hands.

"He summoned me Phoebe. That is how people who are-"

"We should check on the cake!" I yelled, quickly cutting off her words. I didn't want Piper to know she was going to die; and I knew that Mom would have no qualms about telling her (herself) ugh!

I pulled her out of the living room and dragged her into the kitchen.

When the door swung shut behind us, she said in her perfectly calm what-do-you-think-you're-doing tone, "Christopher, my arm."

And it made me smile.

That little phrase and suddenly I was grinning. It was such a "mom" thing to say. And impulsively, before she say anything more, I hugged her.

It was a quick hug, not like the one before. She accepted it, returning it with a hard embrace.

"You can't tell them anything. They don't know anything."

"Chris, I won't lie…" she smiled suddenly, "I won't lie to myself."

I stared at her. Was she being serious? Did she not know what could happen.

"Yes, I'm being serious," She said, patting my cheek. "You can wipe off that incredulous expression, darling. I won't tell them you're my son. I don't plan to at least. But I won't lie about anything else."

"They're going to ask about Wyatt."

"Than I will tell them about Wyatt."

"But you can't," I pleaded, was she insane? She was going to jeopardize everything. "And what do you mean, you don't plan to tell them. You can't tell them about me." I was beginning to get hysterical. I could hear it in my voice, but there was nothing I could do to stop it.

She smiled at me, a soothing smile, "I don't plan to Chris. But I'm willing to. If it comes up, I will." She shrugged as though it were nothing, as though I hadn't endured immeasurable agonies to avoid telling them, "I want you to let me take care of this Chris."

"Of what," I snapped and she arched an eyebrow at me. I looked down, "… of what?" I asked in softer tone.

"Of this situation Chris," she said and gave me that chocolate-chip cookie smile, I sighed.

"I know you've worked hard to keep your secret baby, and because you think it's so important-"

"It is important," I stated emphatically.

She nodded, but I knew she didn't agree, "I won't go out of my way to tell them," her expression became hard suddenly, "But I won't sanction that kind of behavior towards you Chris. I don't like the way she talks to you, the things she says..."

I shrugged, "It's not a big deal…" I lied.

She knew.

After all she was Mom.

"It is a deal. But don't worry," she said almost playfully as she turned towards the counter, "I wouldn't reveal it because of you; only because of me."

I smiled a little, as I followed her, "Because of you?"

"Yep, if I find that I'm saying something truly horrendous and for which I'm going to beat myself up for later… I will most definitely interrupt myself." She grinned at me, "Now we have a cake to finish don't we?"

She proceeded to take the cake out of the oven and gently coax it onto a serving dish. I watched, I always watched at this part. Than later I would help ice.

But as I watched I replayed her words in my head; and realized with dawning horror that I was absolutely screwed… because Piper would say something horrendous.

She always did.

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