Disclaimer: Charmed and The Magnificent 7 weren't created by and aren't owned by me, and I only use them in fanfiction for fun without any money-making involved.
Warnings: Some deaths of minor characters later in this story, but no graphic details given. Mention of a cesarean section, but no graphic details.
Hanky Warning: For the deaths in this story.
Main Characters: Chris, Sarah Connolly
AU Type: The Charmed Seven. The eleventh story written in the AU that puts the Seven in the modern-day Charmed world (instead of the Halliwells) where magic exists, but is kept secret from most humans. The first story written was "The Seventh Brother" which takes place after the end of this current series.
Closed AU until the whole of this story has been posted.
Series Note: The last story in "The Chris Saga". Takes place a while before the regular The Charmed 7 AU's "The Seventh Brother". This story spans from when Chris was 24 to when he was 29.
Acknowledgments: Thanks to Jessie Jane for her input which has helped me improve this story.
Spoilers: Minor spoilers for "The Seventh Brother".
CH7 - CH7 - CH7 - CH7 - CH7 - CH7 - CH7
Chapter 1 – no teaser in this story!
One morning at breakfast in the Potter household, seven years after JD and Vin had moved in, Chris had some exciting news to share with his family; so they all sat down to breakfast at the large breakfast table, waiting to hear what he had to say. Josiah wasn't there as he lived at his own place then, but Chris intended to tell the oldest brother of his news later that day.
"Sarah and I are getting married," he proclaimed joyfully.
"Son? That's great news," said Terrence, with a grin; he'd been waiting for the day when he'd be told that Chris and Sarah were going to settle down together.
"That is very good news, Dear," said Gloria with a smile. "We're all very happy for you."
"Does that mean I can have Chris's room?" asked Vin excitedly. "It's much bigger than mine."
Gloria frowned at Vin. "Don't be in such a hurry; he's not moving out today."
JD began to talk with a mouthful of Cheerios; "How come Vin gets Chris's room? Why don't I?"
"What have I told you about talking with your mouth full, John Dunne?" asked Gloria sternly, glaring at the dark-haired, twelve-year-old.
"But Chris is getting married and moving out," said JD, trying to change the subject back to who was going to get Chris's room.
"That's no excuse for forgetting your manners."
"Have you considered who will fulfil the role of best man at the marital ceremony?" asked Ezra, as he smiled charmingly at Chris.
"Not yet, Ezra," answered Chris. "It's going to be hard to choose between my half-demon younger brother, my human best friend, and my good witch oldest brother." Chris winked at Ezra, signaling he wasn't really going to hold being a half-demon against Ezra. The two got along a lot better ever since Chris had almost lost Ezra; Chris had been a lot nicer to Ezra since that event. It was because the blond felt guilty that he wasn't nicer in the past to the boy who had put his life on the line to save his real father - a selfless act that only a good person would do. Gloria had seen it as foolishness, but Chris saw it as courageous and selfless, and he was proud of the younger brother for what he'd done.
"I could be yer best man," offered Vin hopefully, as he ate some toast.
"Vincent Michael Tanner, don't you speak with your mouth full either," reprimanded Terrence from the head of the table.
"Sorry. I jus' think I should get a chance ta be Chris's bes' man."
"We aren't getting married until later in the year," said Chris. "I'm not choosing a best man just yet."
"There'll be plenty of time to arrange it all before then," informed Terrence, before noticing the time and needing to hurry the younger boys up. "Some of you need to get ready for school - you've already been late enough times this week."
Ezra grinned - every time Vin and JD were late to school, the real reason had been that they'd helped him and Terrence fight evil beings; the late-notes had to have a different believable excuse every time.
As well as having innocents to protect, the Potters also had to face attacks from demons and other evil magical beings at the house. The attacks had increased after Vin and JD had moved in. Ezra and Terrence would fight the demons with their active powers; sometimes they'd get Josiah to help as well, but it was difficult for him to help much, as he was a full-time homicide detective with the local police department.
Gloria and Chris would find out what information they could from any premonitions they received - then they would know a bit about the evil they were up against and find a match in their magic book. The magic book listed spells and potions to vanquish the demons from when previous Potter generations had fought them. The evils were either of the same breed as the ones who had appeared in the past, or had been reincarnated by evil magic. There were also pictures of enemies in the book, to help witches positively identify which one they needed to vanquish. Many demons were either of breeds with plenty more of their type in existence, or they were resurrected by strong magic after already being vanquished.
"I hope everyone's finished any homework due in today," said Gloria, with a warning edge to her voice. She wanted her sons to do their best at school, so that they could graduate and get decent jobs - even witches needed to work to earn a living, as being a witch didn't pay a wage. As Josiah was a homicide detective in the police force, he had a job that enabled him to help people for a living as well as in his spare time.
"Yeah, I finished mine and then helped Vin with his," answered JD.
"VIN!"
"He only HELPED me a little bit with it," answered Vin, not wanting to get his half-brother into trouble.
Gloria glared at the two boys. "Boys, you just do your own homework," reminded the woman yet again. "If you need help, you can ask me." She knew that JD's idea of helping Vin with his homework was completing it all for him. The youngest boy was very bright and in the same high school grade as Vin because of it.
Vin struggled with work - he wasn't as bright as his half-brother and having dyslexia that had gone unnoticed for several years didn't help. Unfortunately, when Vin and JD were still living with their real mother, Michelle hadn't had much time to notice if there was anything about her sons that could hamper them in their education. She'd spent a lot of time helping innocents and fighting evil demons and warlocks, sometimes leaving the children with a baby-sitter. The boy's school had seemed to miss Vin's dyslexia as well, so the boy had just struggled and mostly been in a grade below his friends who were the same age as him.
"He did ask me, Mrs. Potter," started Ezra, receiving an annoyed look from Gloria for the way he had addressed her, "but I was busy with more pressing business at the time." He was officially adopted by the Potters, but didn't often call them 'Mother' and 'Father' because he was sure that both of his real ones were still living. He felt that calling anyone else his parents would be betraying Maude, his mother and his demon father, Devlin.
"Ezra, it isn't your job to help them with their homework - you have quite enough of your own responsibilities already." Since Ezra had left school, he'd been helping the older family members protect innocents and fight demons a lot of the time. He was also seeking employment, although really the boy wasn't trying very hard; he didn't like working unless he could be sure that he would enjoy doing it.
JD stood up after seeing the time on his watch. "We're nearly late. Nath..." He was cut off by Terrence's stern voice.
"You aren't to use Nathan for getting to school - you know that risks exposure AND is seen as personal gain," reminded Terrence. "You'll just have to quickly get ready and walk there."
"But Dad..."
"JD! They won't mind if you're only a few minutes late, Son."
"Okay," replied JD reluctantly. "Come on, Vin, we have to get ready."
The fifteen- and twelve-year-olds ran out of the room to finish getting ready for high school.
To be continued…