Wow. I just realised that this story is nearing the end! There prob only going to be a couple more chapters.
I'm so sorry about the massively long wait but its very hectic with exams and revision. Thank u for being so patient and thanx for all the reviews!
Nathy1000000: Well you'll have to read on to find out Leo's plan...! Thank u for the review!
ilovedrew88: Don't worry the balance won't get shifted -I think I'd get way too confused if I had to write about any other different worlds!
phoebe turner: thank u for reviewing!
Cassi: i know, wow, they agreed on something! Thanx for the review!
Sparkling Cherries: Everything about Chris is lovely i think...! Ya i am from England and I have AS level exams too - maths, chemistry, german and geography - not fun!
Karone Evertree: Thank u! My exams are half done. I have 2 next week then I'm done so i'll be able to update quicker in a bit.
Shyeye: thanx for reviewing!

Chapter 16: Returning Home

Previously:

Leo triumphantly pulled out a piece of paper from the top drawer. It was a handwritten spell and untitled but after reading through the spell in his head Leo realised this must be the spell he was after.

"Our actions are beginning to separate; the worlds are not in complete balance anymore. You and Chris have to swap back, now." exclaimed Leo.

Wyatt nodded reluctantly, "Ok, bring Chris to my penthouse and I'll open the portal."

"Chris." called Leo, knocking on the door.

"Well about time someone came." Chris's voice sounded moodily through the door, "You've come to let me out?" he asked carelessly, not expecting a confirmatory reply.

"Actually, yes." replied Leo opening the door and stepping inside.

Chris raised his eyebrows. "What?" he spluttered, hardly believing his ears.

"You're going back." Leo informed him, "Back to your world. The balance is shifting so you and Wyatt have to swap back."

"Wait, wait." Chris held up his hands, "Me and Wyatt. You're going to send me back to him? No way. I'd rather stay here."

"Chris." sighed Leo, "We don't have a choice. I don't want to do it either but we can't risk the balance shifting."

"So you'd sacrifice your son in the hope of saving the world?" spat Chris in disbelief, "I don't believe you. After everything you, or your opposite technically, told me? None of it meant anything did it?"

"Chris, I'm not abandoning you." pleaded Leo, "When your opposite comes through the portal I'm going to be waiting there and it'll be two against one. I'll get you out of there." Leo paused frowning slightly; "Well my opposite will get you out of there and I'll get your opposite out of there."

Chris nodded sneeringly, "I did get what you meant the first time." he told Leo.

"Ok." Leo agreed, not wanting another argument. "Now I just need to go and see someone quickly then we can go. I'll be back in a sec."

Wyatt paced round the room in the penthouse, thinking hard. He was losing control of the situation.

He hadn't had a particular plan when he had brought Chris here but now he was in danger of Chris getting away completely. Leo had managed to get Chris away from himself before, 'more than once before' Wyatt reminded himself grimly, and Wyatt wasn't sure that Leo wouldn't be able to do it again.

He unfolded the spell in his hands and stared blankly at it. Maybe he could reword it so it would stop Chris escaping after going through the portal. 'But how?' he asked himself.

Wyatt let out a roar of frustration.

He had looked through the supplies of potions in the penthouse but hadn't seen any that could help him.

'I'll just have to play it by ear.' Wyatt thought, 'and hope that Dad won't ruin everything.'

"Zola!" Leo called as he hurried over to the Elder, "I found it." he told Zola breathlessly.

"The spell?" asked Zola.

Leo nodded, holding out the piece of paper. "Gideon did have it."

"And what happened with Wyatt?" questioned Zola shrewdly, "The balance is shifting. This can't go on for any longer."

"It won't." Leo assured him, "They're going back, swapping back over."

"Wyatt agreed to this?" asked Zola incredulously.

"He didn't have much of a choice; he knows the dangers of shifting the balance. But he only agreed to it if he and Chris went back together - and I had to agree to that."

Zola was silent for a moment. "Yes, I can't think of any other way." he said, "They need to cross back straight away so we'll have to accept the compromise."

Leo nodded, "I'm taking Chris to the penthouse now."

"Good luck." replied Zola.

Wyatt had just finished drawing the triquetra when he sensed Leo and Chris orb in.

He turned round to face them and noticed with an inward smirk that Chris was looking slightly apprehensive.

"Ready?" he asked them.

Chris nodded silently.

"Open the portal." Instructed Leo, watching Wyatt closely. Leo knew that Wyatt was going to try to stop Chris getting away when they had gone through the portal; he just didn't know whether Wyatt had had time to plan anything or if he was just going to see what the best option looked like when they were through.

Chris stepped up to the portal to stand next to his brother. He turned his gaze on Wyatt as Wyatt began chanting the spell.

"In this place and in this hour,
I call upon the ancient power,
Open this door through time and space,
Create a path to another place."

The portal opened but neither Chris nor Wyatt moved. Neither of them wanted to make the first move.

"You should go through together." advised Leo, moving closer to the portal.

Both brothers nodded and took a hesitant step towards the portal.

"You have to hurry." insisted Leo, "The longer you are here the more the balance is shifted."

"Ok." said Chris suddenly, "Lets go."

Chris grabbed Wyatt's arm and walked into the portal, dragging Wyatt behind him.

Leo watched as Wyatt and Chris vanished from view before hurriedly looking around the room to find something that he could use as a weapon if he had to. Leo looked up as two figures materialised through the glowing light caused by the portal.

Wyatt had been too taken by surprise to react to Chris's actions until they were through to the other side of the portal.

When they arrived in their world, Wyatt regained his balance and pulled out of Chris's grip, pushing him away at the same time. Chris stumbled and fell to the floor. Wyatt powered up a low-voltage energy ball and drew back his hand, preparing to throw it. But Wyatt had forgotten about Leo.

Wyatt yelled in pain as he felt someone throw a chair at him.

"Come on!" yelled Leo, pulling Chris up, "Follow me!"

Leo orbed out of the room closely followed by Chris.

Wyatt staggered to his feet and dematerialised into a swirl of orbs to follow his father and brother.