She gave him a pat on the arm as he stood up and said, "Okay, relax Wyatt.

"Listen", she addressed the new arrivals,

"I'll be right back. Will you stay here till I get back and then we'll tell you everything?" It was really more of a request than question. Future Paige orbed out, not waiting for any replies.

"What's with the 'cryptic'? Paige wondered aloud.

Leo and Piper were now nearing 'full blown worry mode'. Eyeing Wyatt like a caged rabbit. He couldn't move he was too scared they'd start pelting him with questions he knew he couldn't deal with. He hadn't seen most of them in a long time, and it was just very hard for him to think straight. He felt that if any of them asked him he'd go ahead and tell them everything that 'had-ever-happened-in-his-entire-life'.

Thinking to himself repeatedly "Hurry up Aunt Paige, Hurry up Aunt Paige, Hurry up Aunt Paige!" Leo meanwhile was doing his best to keep Piper calm. He inched closer to her and with his arm around her shoulder, he place a kiss on her cheek and hand which he had been holding ever since baby Chris had been taken to Magic School.

Soon Future Paige returned, looking worn emotionally. But doing a good job of hiding it.

"Well?" Wyatt asked.

"Okay for now. Not as bad today." Future Paige said coming back to her seat.

"That's good." Wyatt returned.

Piper exploded. "What are you talking about? Who's upstairs? What's going on? I want some answers or I'm going to start blowing things up? Chris, where's Chris?"

Piper ran out of breath and was lost for words. Unfortunately Future Paige hadn't.

"CHRIS… is upstairs okay? It's Chris!"

"Wyatt can't even be in the same room with him when he's manic because Chris freaks out!"

"Has ever since, and Leo – he won't come home!"

Future Paige stopped suddenly. She felt awful. She never wanted it to come out like that. She wanted to tell them in the most kind hearted, loving easiest way possible. But she didn't. She 'lost it' on them and there it was. She inhaled deeply and apologized

"I'm SO sorry!" "I never wanted it to come out like that." The new arrivals and Wyatt were speechless and just sat there 'Gobsmacked'!

"Are you alright?" she dared to ask.

Waiting a moment and cursing her outburst.

"What happened? What happened to my baby?" Piper asked, stunned, but desperate for information. Future Pg began again.

"Do you remember how Chris was 'back then'?"

"Relentless, persistent", Paige added.

"Secretive", Leo added.

"Dedicated" Piper said.

"Too serious" included Phoebe.

"Well that's about the only thing that did change."

"This Chris, 'our Chris'", Future Paige pointed to herself and Wyatt. "Well he's a really funny guy."

"Eager, loving, loyal, strong, happy and very FUNNY." Future Paige continued.

"Those little boys back in your time. They're going to grow into Fantastic People!"

While this affirmation made everyone smile, Piper's head started spinning. She heard the words, but she couldn't comprehend what was being said. Not once did it occur to her that Chris wouldn't have anything less than a great life. He'd earned it.

"He was convinced there was more to it." Future Paige added.

"He just had to know everything about what happened."

"He should know better than to mess with this stuff!" "PERSONAL GAIN "Hello?" Paige exclaimed.

"He felt responsible for Wyatt's 'freak out', for Wyatt PERIOD really." Future Paige said. "And I him," Wyatt added with pride, and sadness.

"He used our distraction during that time to somehow learn WAY too much, too quickly about what happened back then and even before."

"Oh, God… You mean?" Piper stopped cold.

"I don't know how he did it. But he's got some of the 'Other Chris' memories, experiences and knowledge". "We still haven't found out how it happened." Future Paige said.

"Everything we've tried to reverse it hasn't worked." Wyatt admitted.

"Leo managed to stay focused while we got Wyatt back on track." She again pointed to Leo.

"But when we found Chris after whatever it is he did, that's when Leo left." And since then it's just been extremely difficult to keep researching. It's nearly a full time job just taking care of everyone." Future Paige defended.

"Why?" Leo was crestfallen. "Why would I leave? I don't get that."

"Yeah, me either." Wyatt complained. Future Paige affirmed, "He, you… were a great father Leo. Up to that point, you and Wyatt and especially Chris were as close as can be. "You were a wonderful father!"

"He just couldn't deal with what happened to Chris." She stated.

"I let him down again." Leo thought aloud.

"Don't go there. YOU didn't do it." Future Paige said knowing that look on his face. With tears in his eyes Leo looked up at Future Paige. He took a long deep breath followed by an, "I'm okay."

Paige asked "What about the cleaners?" Surely they could wipe his memory or even rewind time so that it never happened."

Future Paige answered. "First thing I tried."

"Their idea of offering help was to wipe him from existence." She explained.

"NOT AN OPTION!" she stated.

"And you know I even asked the Elders for help. But with the Charmed Ones down by two – my threats of 'quitting the magic business' were less that threatening.

"They said NO!" "At least they didn't say he was an abomination or anything like that." She offered.

"Didn't you summon us back?" Phoebe wondered.

"I know Piper would have come and I would do anything for my family, too." With a nervous laugh Future Paige said,

"Yeah, that's what Grams figured too and well, she refused to allow it."

"I thought it was harsh, but you know Grams."

"She wouldn't really explain her reasoning, and blocked me from summoning you guys."

"I haven't been able to summon her since."

"REFUSED!"

"I'm gonna hurt that woman! I swear I really am!" Piper exclaimed. Leo again hugged his wife, but secretly feeling the same exact thing.

Wyatt grinned at that visual, but no one noticed. To lighten the mood Wyatt said,

"Our powers are tied to our emotions. Great Grams probably didn't want you going nuclear on San Francisco again." He joked.

"Right now I feel like going NUCLEAR on Grams!" Piper hollered. A small collective laugh filled the room.

"That's why I made a very difficult decision."

"I modified the power stripping potion and gave it to Chris."

Don't stop reading now... the best is yet to come...