Over 30 reviews… I'm very touched. Thanks for the comments. Now that I have gotten so much of the story under my belt I welcome 'constructive' criticism.

By the way…I have purposely kept Leo's status (human/white lighter) ambiguous, mostly because I couldn't decide what to do with him.

I haven't mentioned this in a while… I'm not affiliated with the show, or actors or anything. I own nothing but the story idea and a few characters along the way.

Chapter 14

Feeling calmernow that Chris was doing better, Piper was determined to figure out how her child ended up in the state he seemed to be trapped in for the past eight months. So, she finally found her courage and asked the questions she had been dreading the answers to for the past twelve hours or so.

"Chris? You said earlier that you went to your Great Grams for help. What did you mean, sweetie?" she asked cautiously and waited for a response.

Chris took a deep breath and stared at the table top trying to formulate what he should say.

"Um..." was all he could come up with at that moment. He knew that they were going get upset and he didn't want to cause anyone any more pain.

"It's okay, Chris. We can take it." Paige added sensing his reluctance. She too sat down at the table along with Phoebe. They paused to make sure he was alright with them being so close.

Chris wiped his face with his hands and sighed again.

"Um, I…well." He gulped and continued. "Wyatt was a mess and Dad was a mess, and I needed to know what happened. So, I asked Great Grams for help. So, she showed me what happened." He told them.

"I don't understand."

"What do you mean, she showed you what happened?"

"How could she do that? She wasn't there herself for much of it." Phoebe thought aloud.

Leo being the most experienced in this matter answered,

"Well, having passed on she can look in on the living as often as she likes and knowing Penny and how protective she is of you guys – she probably watches a lot." The sarcasm in Leo's voice was not lost on anyone. Ever since he married Piper, Leo and Penny Halliwell have had this sort of 'I'm mostly just tolerating you' détente.

"And that means she can just show MY SON these things that traumatize him! Things that he didn't even know happened or would have happened!"

"NO, I don't think so!" Piper was on a spectacular 'ranting' roll now.

"I'm sorry; we should have told you boys something about all of this before. That didn't give your Great Grams the right to do what she did. She exposed you to too much information at once." She hollered getting more animated.

"I'm sure we thought that you guys would be better off not knowing about what happened, or what could have happened." Piper took a breath and continued getting up from her chair.

"Actually, we try hard not to think about it all."

"I mean, how DO you tell your children something like that!" she asked rhetorically.

"Pick your clothes up off the floor, and by the way, you traveled back in time to save your family and 'basically' the world because you grew up to be an evil tyrant."

"NOT!" she nearly screamed.

"Piper" Leo tired to calm her but she just grunted and shot him a very obvious 'don't mess with me' look and continued ranting.

"I mean Chris wasn't exactly a 'fountain of information' when he was around, with his 'Future Consequences' mantra and all. We only had our imaginations to go on, and honestly; once it was over, I was kind of relieved that I didn't know more of that future."

"I'm with you on that one." Chris remarked so quietly no one heard him.

"Really knowing that I die young is bad enough. Thank You!" she said sarcastically.

"I can't imagine being privy to all of it."

"How could she do that? How could I let her do that?" Piper said as she gesturing so wildly with her hands that she blew up a flower vase on top of the television before finally collapsing into a chair. The little explosion didn't go unnoticed. Piper only huffed annoyingly, but offered no apology. No one expected her to really. They knew better than to say anything while Piper was ranting.

"Wait, how did I let her do whatever she did to you?" Piper wondered aloud looking to Chris who just sat there looking at his lap. "If I was summoned as well, how would I have just let her do that?" she said.

"Well…" Chris said guiltily. "I think that's because she didn't tell you." Chris finally spoke up not wanting to look Piper in the eye. "I was very desperate, persistent and pushy and -,

"No REALLY?" Phoebe interrupted with mock shock. Paige just mildly slapped her on the shoulder while everyone just rolled their eyes at her remark. Chris didn't respond to her.

"I pretty much gave her 'no choice' but to help me." he finished.

"That's it, everyone up to the attic!" Piper ordered as she began shooing Phoebe and Paige up and towards the stairs. Leo and Future Paige exchanged looks and Future Paige took Chris' hand and whispered,

"Let's orb up okay? It'll be easier and quicker." Chris nodded and stood up reluctantly.

"Besides, we wouldn't want to keep 'Pissy Piper' waiting." She said with a smirk to lighten Chris' mood which worked because he took her hand, stood up and chuckled.

She knew that Chris knew Piper wasn't mad at him, but she also knew that Chris felt guilty anyway. It seemed to be hardwired into his DNA somehow. No matter what the reason, time period, timeline, or version of him, Chris was quite simply a guilt machine.

As expected Future Paige and Chris were the first ones in the attic. Chris felt a little woozy and sat down in one of two wooden chairs in the attic used for research. Future Paige checked his forehead for any sign of fever, but thought silently, 'what am I doing? He's not physically ill.'

So, she gave him a smile and a loving tap on the chin.

Just then everyone else entered. Having been too worked up to think about orbing, Piper stomped up the stairs into the attic. Figuring that the extra few moments would help her to calm down or at least collect her thoughts a little, the others simply followed her example and walked.

"What makes you think that Grams is going to come this time? I mean didn't you say that you've already tried to summon her like, a thousand times already!" Phoebe asked Piper.

"She'll come!" was Piper's only reply.

Paige went about setting out the candles and lighting them as everyone unconsciously took up positions making a sort of circle. Piper and Leo were on either side of Chris who was now standing with his back partway facing the attic door. Wyatt had orbed back from Magic School having dropped off the girls with Amie. He didn't want to startle Chris so he chose to orb into the hallway. As Wyatt poked his head into the doorway, Phoebe noticed him and motioned for him to enter. He was reluctant so Phoebe walked over, grabbed his arm and pulled him in. Chris saw this and chuckled.

"Look who's scared now." Chris said with a smile.

"Hey, I'm just being careful. It's been a while you know. It's almost second nature." Wyatt remarked with a look of amusement, but the tone in his voice was more solemn. Both Chris and Wyatt got quiet at that moment. Each lost in their own guilt.

"Ready?" Piper asked. Everyone nodded and sighed.

"Hear these words,
Hear my cry,
Spirits from the other side,
Come to me,
I summon thee,
Cross now the great divide'" Piper said with determination.

(Author's Note: Credit goes to Charmed episodes for that spell. I didn't write it.)

Nothing happened.

So she repeated herself loudly and a seconds later Penny Halliwell appeared in the center of the lit candle circle. The first person Penny saw was Wyatt and she said,

"My dear, How…why have you summoned me?" She asked, catching herself and doing her best to cover. She noticed not only the expression of tenseness on his face, but the presence of everybody else.

"I didn't summon you. I can't, we can't, and you know that Great Grams." Wyatt said bitterly.

Piper didn't give her one moment to think, she simply hollered,

"What have you done to my son WOMAN?"

Never in a million years would Piper think to speak to her grandmother in this way. But, at the moment Piper was royally 'pissed off' at her Grandmother. Penny was so shocked that she was momentarily speechless.

"Piper, What –", she finally said noticing for the first time all of the people present.

"I want to know what you thought you were doing."

"How could you do something like that to my son?" she spat.

"My darlings, what are you doing here?" she asked stalling.

"Grams cut the crap!" Future Paige spat.

"Why did you not come when I summoned you? And why did you block Piper?" She asked emotionally.

"You had to know something was wrong. I mean we only tried like 'a hundred times' to summon you!" She said with tears in her eyes.

The tension in the attic was so thick. Leo, Phoebe, and Paige were staring daggers at Penny. Wyatt was huffing. Piper stood there clenching her hands, trying very hard not to blow anything or anyone up.

Chris was getting panicky. His eyes were wide and his heart had begun to race. He really felt like bolting out of there and hiding in his bedroom.

Penny sighed and slowly walked towards him, taking solid form upon leaving the candle circle. Everyone's eyes followed her as she moved closer to the young man. Chris unconsciously took a step back as she came towards him. Leo gently put a hand on his shoulder effectively stopping him. Chris looked at his father nervously. Chris closed his eyes and took deep breaths to calm himself down.

Penny looked him square in the face and cupped his chin in her hands saying,

"Well, young man. What have you gotten yourself into now?" she said as Chris opened his eyes again.

"He didn't do it by himself, Penny." Leo interjected coldly.

"No, I suppose not." She replied still looking Chris in the eyes as he continued his deep breathing.

"Come on let's go someplace more comfortable." She said meaning 'private', as she took Chris' hand and led him out of the attic. Chris looked at Piper and Leo for permission and reassurance. They reluctantly nodded at him. As she exited the attic Penny gave everyone a look to say 'stay right here'.

Leo moved closer to Piper and hugged her close to him and kissed her hair. She was stiff and tense in his arms, but she returned the embrace. Phoebe and Paige both said,

"What's up with that?"

Future Paige just sank into one of the wooden chairs and put her face in her hands rubbing furiously at her eyes, while Wyatt just paced the floor.

"Well, Christopher..." Penny started having closed the door to Chris' bedroom and sat down on the bed with him.

"What are we gonna do with you?" she said with a smile.

Tears ran down Chris' face and he quickly dropped his head.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know what it was going to be like." He said.

"Oh, no my dear, I'm sorry!" she said using her index finger under his chin to lift his head.

"I should never have given in to your request." She continued.

"Like I even gave you a choice." He retorted grinning slightly.

"Well you are a VERY persistent one, aren't you? I don't know where you get that from?" she said innocently but with a knowing grin.

"You like having them here, huh? Leo and Piper?" she asked.

"It's nice, yeah." He sighed.

"I'm sorry that I have prevented them from coming. I thought that it would be harder on you if they were here. Penny tried to explain.

"Wait! What do you mean you prevented 'them' from coming?" he asked alerted.

"That's what I wanted to talk to you privately about, sweetheart." She said solemnly.

She placed his hand in hers and continued. "Chris, your father – he was killed."

Chris was stunned. "How long?" he grunted.

"I believe about six or so month's ago." she answered.

"That's why he hasn't been back home then." Chris said rhetorically.

"I'm sorry but I can't let you see him either, not yet anyway." She said sadly.

"It's not that I won't, I just can't."

"I know, he's still settling in." Chris interrupted flatly. "How am I going to tell Wyatt?" He thought aloud. Penny let that thought go for the moment and just continued on.

"He went after a particularly nasty demon and was killed. He didn't suffer." She assured her great grandson.

"It's my fault." Chris whispered.

"Chris NO! This was not your fault." She demanded.

"Your father is a grown man. Obsessed and he made a decision that got him killed!" She said.

"But if I hadn't come to you for help…he wouldn't have flipped out…and he wouldn't be…" Chris cried out unwilling to say the word.

"CHRISTOPHER!" Penny said loudly. "You are not responsible for your father's actions!" "He made his choices, and accepted them." she explained calmer.

"He had issues before any of this happened, and he would willingly endure a thousand deaths for you and your brother."

"Yeah, issues because of me!" Chris barked.

Penny sighed sharply and squeezed both of Chris' hands hard to get his attention. "Don't you realize that Leo - everybody, was so grateful for what Chris did, coming back to save his brother. That is a very noble task to undertake. Leo was so proud and grateful for the time he had with Chris. If he hadn't have done what he did, you might not have had the great relationship that you had with your father." she explained further wanting him to understand.

"He misses you boys. They both do. But you knew that already, and that's directly related to what happened before with the Other Chris." she offers.

"He doesn't remember anything about what we did, right? If he did he would surely tell Mom, right?" Chris asked worried.

"Correct. He doesn't remember. He only remembers wanting to protect you."

"Your mother is helping him. It's been good for the both of them."

"I'm sorry darling. I know that this is not what you wanted to hear. EVER." she apologized giving him a hug.

"Besides, if he did remember, don't you think Piper would have found out and be driving me CRAZY." she said with a smile.

"We both know that an emotional Piper is a dangerous Piper."

"I didn't think anyone needed that kind of stress."

"I honestly thought you just needed time to let the memories settle in." she said emotionally.

"Now I can see I've been wrong about so much. With your family here you seem to be doing so wonderfully." she reasoned.

"Not totally." Chris said sadly.

"Sure it's great. But they can't stay here, and Wyatt is so cautious all of the time, and I want my life back."

"It's been so hard having all of this knowledge jumbled up in my head. It's not that I don't want it. I just wish that Iwas in control of it, not the other way around." he said with a small smirk and a sigh.

"I know dear. I'm going to do my best to fix that." she said with sincere conviction.

"Now come on. Let's go back before Piper has a fit and blows up the attic." she said offering her hand to Chris as they both stood up to head back to the attic.

"And don't worry. I will tell Wyatt about your father." she told him.

MORE TO COME - Just 1 more chapter I think, then this trip to the future will be over. There will be at least 1 more trip, maybe 2. So, please keep reading and reviewing.

Thanks.