First off… Thank you to Rhet, Kit Halliwell, Red Rumm, DrewFullerFan, Ilovedrew88, and Faith-Charmer, especially, for all of your reviews.
I am so happy people are reading my story.
I originally posted it as 2 VERY LONG Chapters – then pulled it to break down the story a bit. I think it's easier to read this way. I am surprised that my story is turning out to be this long. I didn't think I had more than a few chapters in me.
I should address some things that have come up in the story and reviews so far…
Idon't really hate the Bianca character – I just don't have a place forher in the plot at this point…if ever.
As far as Phoebe's character goes… she drives me 'nuts' – so I probably won't give her much to do but provide comedic tones by driving the other character's 'nuts'. I haven't always disliked her. I just think she became very immature and selfish during season 6. Her use of magic to find the perfect guy and father of her children – I'm so over that!
That said, I like Allysa Milano a lot – I'm just tired of Phoebe at the moment.
As far as spells go… I am NOT GOOD at rhyming – so you probably won't actually find anyspellsin my stories. Unless, I copy/paste from somewhere, If that happens. Full credit will be given for the source material.
I'm trying to keep the use of titles like 'Future Paige' or 'Adult Chris' and so on…down to a minimum because that drives me crazy when it's overused in a story. I hope this doesn't cause confusion for anyone. Let me know if it does.
Lastly, this first part of my story (meaning the first trip to the future) is going to be less magical and more psychological.
Disclaimer reminder: As before – I don't own Charmed or the Characters. I'm not associated with the show or studio, or any of the actors. Although, wouldn't it be great if they read the story?
Now, on with thechapter 9………
"I think he's waking up?" Wyatt announced. He looked to his Aunt Paige for what to do next.
"Let's just wait and see… If they need us – we'll know it soon enough."
She instructed. Wyatt didn't agree, but he trusted his aunt enough to let it go.
Phoebe, Paige, Wyatt and Future Paige stood frozen by the table, silent. Thinking that if they were quiet enough they'd hear what was going on all the way upstairs!
"This is silly!" Paige said. She's right; we should just try and relax."
"Eat something. We will know it if there's a problem."
"Come on, Wyatt. Sit down." She said.
"How can you be so calm?" Wyatt asked.
"I'm not! I just trust that everything is going to be okay. Give them some time with him. Barging up there would be the wrong thing to do anyway. "RIGHT PHOEBE?" Paige asked, or more to the point 'reminder' her overly curious sister. Phoebesaid "Yes"blushing because she agreed with her nephew and really wanted to go upstairs.
"He doesn't know we're here. Beside,Piper and Leo need time alone with him." She explained.
"Now, everybody sit down and eat something!" Paige demanded.
In Chris' bedroom, Piper and Leo held their breaths as Chris stirred in his sleep. Piper's first instinct again was to sooth him, but she held off.
'I wish your Aunt was here.' She thought to herself. She needed back-up from someone who actually knew this young man that was her son.
Leo's eyes were so wide with anxiety and fear that they could have practically fallen out of his head. Piper found her nerve and gently massaged Chris' forehead and hair, trying to calm him.
It seemed to be working. Suddenly, Chris' eyes fluttered open and he was again looking directly at Piper.
"Mom?", he asked semi-disoriented, but not scared.
Piper looked at him and with a sad smile said, "Yes Baby. You were tired, huh?"
"Do you feel better?" she asked.
"Mmm" was his only response. Chris remained still and quiet, eyes closedlying in Piper's arms.
She continued to brush his hair back, while silently praying that he wouldn't get upset again.
"Do you want to talk? Can I help you at all, answer any questions?" Piper asked
"Would you like to go downstairs for a bit? Get something to eat?"
"Or I could go fix you something and your Aunt Paige could sit with you while you eat?" she offered.
"NO." Chris' eyes shot open, and he said panicked, "Don't go? You promised!"
Piper kicked herself mentally and said, "Shh, it's okay. I won't go if you don't want me to. You're right. I did promise, didn't I?" she asked holding him tighter to her. His heart was pounding so hard Piper could feel it against her chest.
"You look so young", Chris said staring at her face. Piper smiled and replied, "Thank You."
Leo whom Chris hadn't yet notice in the room smiled at this exchange. He was afraid to make a sound.
"Peanut. I need to talk to you for a moment. Can you pay attention to Mom?" Piper asked. Chrisnodded.
"Good. Okay. I heard from your Aunt Paige what happened." She began.
"I'm so sorry for everything. We should have told you and your brother – something." Chris stiffened a bit at the mention of his brother.
"It's okay.", she said soothingly.
"Well, we came here to help you. We love you very much and want to help you get better." She continued.
"We?" Chris asked not realizing Piper wasn't the only one in the room.
Piper swallowed hard and said, "Uh huh, 'we'. Look", as she pointed in Leo's direction.
The whole time thinking, 'Please be okay'.
Chris turned to look over his shoulder and saw Leo sitting there with a sincere, nervous smile on his face and watery eyes. Leo too waited for Chris to make the first move, giving him time to process the information. It took a moment for Chris to register another presence in his room. When he did, his eyes welled up.
Chris sat up quickly, looked directly at Leo and asked,
"Dad?"
"Why did you leave?"
"I didn't mean for you to leave!"
"I'm sorry I went to Great-Grams!"
"I'm so sorry! I've messed everything up!"
"Can you please come home now?" Overwhelmed Chris pleaded emotionally.
Leo wrapped Chris in his arms and let him cry it out. He looked from Chris to Piper very confused by what he was saying. Piper's cheeks were wet with tears, but she understood what Chris was talking about.
"He's just got you confused, that's all Leo." She whispered.
"It's okay kiddo. Calm down. Chris, calm down." Leo waited.
After another minute Chris finally seemed to be calming down.
"Better now?" Leo asked.
"I guess?" Chris uttered. Leo wanted to know that Chris understood who he was, and so he asked, "You know I'm not 'from here'', right Chris?" "I am your father – yes, but not the one you grew up with." Leo stopped momentarily. "I'm so sorry he left you like he did – all of you." "I wish he hadn't." Leo finished.
"I know who you are now." Chris answered flatly. "I'm sorry I got so emotional. I got confused for a minute."
"It's about the only thing I do these days." Chris explained.
Void of emotion.
"I'd get confused too, if I had all of that knowledge stuffed in my mind!" Piper interjected with a smile, trying to lighten the mood just a little. To her joy, Chris cracked a slight smile.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Do you have any questions?" Leo wondered aloud.
"I think I have the basics of it." Chris replied.
"Really?" Piper asked, surprised. "Because I was there for a bit of it and I still get overwhelmed". She stated letting him know it was okay to have questions.
Chris sniffled, sighed and said, "No. I understand." "He, I, uh… time travel tenses suck!" he said and everyone cracked a smile. "came from a bad future to prevent his Wyatt from becoming evil, blah, blah, blah…" he waved his hands absentmindedly in the direction of the dresser and the bottom corner of the mirror cracked.
"Opps." Chris said apologetically.
"Aunt Paige will have to fix that again." He added sighing.
Referring again to the 'Other Chris'. "He sure was a pain in the ass, wasn't he?" Chris finished.Piper and Leo had to agree and laughed at his remark.
"Your Aunt explained that she defused your powers." Leo said.
"We'll reverse that whenever you're ready." Piper informed him.
"I'm in no hurry, really." Chris answered.
"Well you need your powers, honey." Piper said.
"I'd like to try keeping my thoughts straight for more than a few hours first. Then I'll think about my powers." He explained.
Hearing this broke their hearts. Chris was exhausted, emotionally and Leo and Piper could see it. They didn't want to press the topic and so they let it drop – for the moment.
The room was silent again as Chris, taking deep breath after deep breath, sat on the bed between them. Both Piper and Leo reached out to rub Chris' shoulders.
Chris was thinking,
'Keep it together Chris, come on!'
Leo was thinking,
'God, he's amazing! They both are.
Thank God they're close.
How could he, I - Oh, brother. Now I'm doing it.
How could he just leave?'
Piper was thinking,
'I wonder if this is the most he's said.
I should ask Paige. He seems better to me.
I wonder just how bad he gets.
How on earth did this happen?'
Then Piper remembered what she'd heard before…
"Chris, you mentioned something about Grams before?" "What did you mean?" Piper asked, breaking the silence.
More to come…