Okay... this is it for a couple of days.
Disclaimer Reminder - I own nothing but the idea for this story.
Chris closed his eyes tightly, then dropped his pillow and enveloped Piper in an enormous hug! The two women exchanged surprised smiles.
As the moments passed by, it appeared that Chris had no intention of releasing his hold on Piper. Piper couldn't care less though.
Future Paige kept repeating to herself, 'Thank you, God'. This was basically the first time in 8 months that Chris had shown this kind of affection and happiness.
Piper rubbed circles on Chris' back, and in response his body relaxed greatly. After a few more minutes, Chris said,
"I'm so tired." Both Piper and Future Paige knew he wasn't really referring to being 'physically tired'. Never the less, Future Paige suggested he lay down. Not wanting to let go of Piper, he refused.
"I'm not going anywhere, baby!" she assured.
"Come on" Piper said, peeling herself free of her son. Looking him in the eyes, she said again.
"Come on; let's lie down here on your bed, okay?" Piper positioned herself in the middle of the bed and motioned for him to come lay next to her. He did and with Piper's arms around him and his head resting on her chest, Chris was sound asleep in minutes.
Piper looked at Future Paige. "You're great with him. Thank you." Piper said. "He's my nephew, I love him."
"I can believe we let this happen?" Piper exclaimed.
"Hey, we had no idea this could happen. We can't know everything, Piper!" "Besides, you have the power to change it. One decision can affect the future in so many ways. All you have to do is decide to tell the boys – at some point. Don't hide what happened." Future Paige said. "You don't have to tell them now, or two years from now… just tell them! Just decide that you will tell them. Okay?"
"If I can prevent something like this from happening!" "I will tell them!" Piper said determined.
"Do you want me to let the others in?" Future Paige asked.
"Maybe just Leo and Wyatt", Piper wondered aloud.
"Would that be too much?" Piper asked.
"Probably, but Wyatt can orb out quickly if Chris starts to freak." Future Paige said with a wry smile.
"I'll let them in." She said as she got up and went to open the door. She motioned for Leo and Wyatt to enter.
Phoebe and Paige were left out in the hall 'pouting' momentarily. They knew that their sister needed this time with 'her family' and so they instead got very interested in all of the never before seen pictures hanging on the walls.
Leo and Wyatt cautiously walked into the bedroom with Piper urging them to come closer. Piper met her husband's eyes and they exchanged nervous grins.
"Come closer, Wyatt." Piper said. He just couldn't seem to move.
Borrowing her sister's suggestion Piper said, "You can orb out if he wakes up, how's that?"
Piper wanted to spend time with both of her boys.
"Please come and sit down Wyatt." She tried again.
"Okay, alright." Wyatt gave in. He walked to the bed and carefully sat down.
"Now what?" Wyatt asked.
"I don't know." Piper replied, running her fingers through Chris' hair.
"Leo...Leo?" She asked again. Trying to get his attention. He couldn't stop himself from just staring at Chris.
"Leo we can fix this!" Piper said with absolute conviction. "How?" Wyatt asked. "Lots of ways." Piper replied.
"From 'here' we can try and talk Chris through it. Explain everything, to you too, she said. "Or, we will summon Grams and the others to try the 'magical route'. Piper finished.
"Aunt Paige already tried that, we tried everything we could." Wyatt lamented.
"Well we'll see about that!" Piper said raising her voice slightly. Realizing her mistake, she looked at Chris, who 'thankfully' was still asleep. She kissed his forehead and brushed his hair back.
"There's NO WAY that Grams is NOT going to help fix this!" Piper was determined.
"Watch out Great Grams!" Wyatt kidded. Each of them looked at the other and smiled, almost laughing.
"Okay, so I guess I'm a little bitter." Piper stated.
"You know how Grams can be?" Piper asked rhetorically.
"You'll get no argument from me!" Leo said. He himself wanted a few moments alone with Penny Halliwell.
The next hour flew by, small talk filling up the time. Wyatt told them some funny stories about when he and Chris were kids. The time Chris 'accidentally' turned himself into a girl.
"Love spell backfired, enough said!"
"Don't worry it didn't last more than 24 hrs."
"Besides, when I tried one a year and a half before that I turned myself into – well, I'd rather not say." Wyatt said turning a bright shade of red.
He talked about some of their 'more memorable' double dates, and vanquishes. Each story seemed happy or funny.
Leo felt great knowing that his sons got along so well and looked out for one another. For a while they remained quiet, listening to the sound of Chris breathing, taking it in like it was oxygen. Piper and Leo exchanged looks and
Wyatt suddenly got nervous and so he got up and said, "I've gotta go."
"I need to check in at Magic School."
Piper panicked. Wyatt reassured her that he would come back, then he orbed out. Leo, still seated in the sofa chair looked over at her son and wife. "You CAN come closer, you know? Close your eyes for a few moments." Piper told him.
"I'm fine, Piper. Why don't you get some rest." He suggested.
"I couldn't sleep if I wanted to." She replied exhausted, but very content.
"I can't believe that I didn't take every opportunity I could to spend time with him." Piper thought aloud angry at herself.
"Piper, we were dealing with a lot at the time and it's not like Chris was really into bonding. Don't be so hard on yourself." Leo urged.
"I could say the same about you, you know?" She said grinning.
In the kitchen. Future Paige, Phoebe, and Paige were busy preparing something to eat. Well, Phoebe wasn't really helping as much as 'incessantly babbling'. It was really starting to drive them up a wall!
Future Paige looked back and forth from Paige to Phoebe over and over. She was about to loose it!
Luckily, Paige spoke up.
"Phoebe!" She yelled.
"Can you PLEASE stop and, Oh, I don't know, do something to help?"
Future Paige thought to herself 'Rock on Girl!'
Even though Phoebe was chronologically the older of the two, Paige seemed more mature. Since Phoebe had technically been the baby of the family for most of her life, she easily reverted.
"Sorry", she said.
"What can I do to help?"
"Not much, NOW." Paige said.
"You could get the lemonade from the fridge, please". Future Paige asked.
It was kind of funny watching the exchange between the two of them, and she hadn't wanted to interrupt it. Any distraction from the immediate situation was welcome.
Phoebe hopped off the stool and retrieved the lemonade from the fridge. Future Paige winked at Paige and she smiled back. Giggling.
They were about to go into the dining room when Wyatt orbed in.
"Hi" Phoebe said excitedly.
"You been up there all this time?" she then asked.
"No, about an hour, though. I was just at Magic School checking in." He said reaching for a grape from the tray.
Both Paige's said "Nuh, uh!" and slapped his hand away.
"Freeaakkkyyy!" Wyatt replied snatching his hand away and rubbing it. He then picked up one of the trays and followed the females to the dining room.
As Wyatt placed his tray on the table, he felt it… "I think he's waking up?"
More to come... Please stay tuned. Update will come soon.