Disclaimer: Not Mine.

"Well… that was lovely," Phoebe's voice filled the quiet kitchen, "Just the right note we needed for a birthday party."

Paige groaned in response, "I'm sorry you guys have to put up with that..." Piper shot Phoebe a reproving look, then walked over to her youngest sister, "It's okay, sweetie," she said gently, "We know it's hard for him."

"He hates me."

"He doesn't hate you," Piper contradicted, "He's just angry. And it's not just at you. We're all pretty low on his favorite people list."

"Well it feels suspiciously like hate." Paige grumbled.

"It's Richard he should hate." Phoebe interjected, "Maybe we should find the guy, just so we can, I don't know, end this..."

Paige shook her head, "No. If he doesn't want us then we have no reason to want him."

"Mattie obviously wants him." Chris stated calmly.

All eyes went to him. Piper frowned, "And since when do you get involved in Mattie's attitude?" she asked.

Chris shrugged, not meeting her gaze, "I didn't get involved." He stated.

"Yeah, you did." Paige argued, "Have you changed your mind?" she asked a moment later.

Chris swallowed hard. Changed his mind? If only he knew what he'd made up...

"Uh... yeah, I guess..." he said slowly.

Paige smiled a little and to his surprise the tension eased on her face, "Good. Pretending like nothing was happening really wasn't working. Maybe you could talk to him... Wyatt's tried but it just... it hasn't worked. You know how he is..."

Chris remained silent, hoping that if he said nothing she'd tell him how Mattie was.

She didn't.

But Phoebe did.

"He thinks he'll never be as good as the two of you."

Chris snorted, he couldn't help himself. As good them? Puh-lease, like an inferiority complex was an excuse to behave like asshole…

"It's true," Paige insisted, "And with Richard gone... I think he just feels a little left out."

"Well, he's gonna hafta get over it, cause he's pissing me off." Chris grumbled and meant every word.

Paige grinned suddenly, "Yeah, I noticed. I remember a few years ago Wyatt cuffing you on the back of the head like that..."

Piper giggled, "Yeah, and if I recall it was for the same reason too… for talking back to your mother…"

"Oh, how the world turns…" Phoebe declared dramatically.

"I was never like that..." he protested. At least he hoped he'd never been like that; no one should ever have to be that angry.

The smiles faded, "No," Piper said softly, "You were never like that..."

"I could just kill Richard for this." Phoebe growled.

"You?" Paige asked, "What about me? I'm the one he's running from. He's hurting his son because of me."

"You haven't done anything wrong, Paige. It's his problem not yours. He's the one that suddenly wants a less magically-centered life."

"Maybe if I'd left Magic School like he asked..."

"Magic school is important and you're at the heart of it," Piper cut her off. "Those kids need someone like you; and you love what you do."

Paige sighed, "I know all that, but... look at what I've done to my son."

"That wasn't you!" Phoebe cried, "Richard's the one at fault here, not you. No matter what, he has no right to do this to Mattie. To disappear from his son's life like this, no phone calls or letters... he's an ass. And Mattie needs to accept that and move on."

"Yeah, well... as you can see; he's not doing that. His behavior is getting worse not better. He's trying to force my hand... to force me into finding Richard... and quite honestly I'm almost ready to crack here. The kid's breakin my heart."

"Oh, honey," Piper said sympathetically, as she moved to Paige and with careful maneuvering of Becky managed to drape an arm around her shoulders.

"It'll be okay, sweetie," Phoebe comforted, also drawing nearer, "You'll see..." she whispered.

Chris' heart clenched -- they were upset.

"I'll talk to him."

The words were out before he completely processed them. And he instantly wished he could take them back… what the hell was he going to say!

He didn't even know this Mattie! Not really, and he sure as hell didn't have background knowledge on his relationship with his father!

Plus he was only here for a few hours, why bother getting so deeply involved in this mess?

The three pairs of hopeful eyes that quickly fastened on him, gave him his answer... because this was his family and no matter what... he always wanted to help, to make things better... because he loved them.

It was as simple as that.

He loved them.

"You will?" Piper asked, surprised.

"Oh thank you, Chris..." Paige gushed.

"Isn't he just the sweetest, cutest, almost-twenty-three year old on the planet..." Phoebe cried. Running to him and giving him a hug.

He laughed, "I thought it was the galaxy?"

She looked up, "On every planet in the galaxy," she amended, sweetly.

He grinned.

"Great. We still need to take decorations over to P3." Piper stated, pulling away from Paige, and bouncing Becky on her hip.

Paige smirked, a little, obviously forcing her thoughts away from her son, "I'm on cake duty."

Phoebe groaned dramatically, "Okay, ok, I'll do it…" she said, as if Piper had been nagging her relentlessly.

"Wonderful. Chris do you wanna take Becky or should I get Polly to watch her? I have to start dinner."

He opened his mouth to answer, but was cut off when the kitchen door swung open, "I'll watch her," Polly said, as she sauntered in, then shot Chris a murderous glare, "It's not like I have anything better to do with my time."

Chris chuckled, he couldn't help himself. He watched her reach for Becky who went easily enough to her cousin. Then as Polly settled the girl in her arms, he said simply, "She's better company for you anyway."

The young girl glared at him and without another word left the kitchen.

"Mmmmm, what was that about?" Phoebe asked.

"Nothing important." He answered quickly; perhaps a bit too quickly. Again he was the focus of three pairs of eyes.

"Humph," Paige breathed, "… sounds suspicious to me. Unfortunately, I've got meetings to re-schedule and papers to grade. I'll be back in time for dinner… maybe…" she said getting ready to orb, then shot Piper and Phoebe a knowing look, "I'm sure you two can pester it out of him without me."

"Absolutely," Piper agreed instantly, "We'll fill you in later."

She nodded her acquiescence and a moment later was engulfed in bright blue orbs.

"Okay, so what's up with Polly?" Piper asked casually as she turned away from him towards the sink.

"Nothing." Chris repeated, his tone careful. Both his mother and aunt seemed rather harmless at the moment – but it never paid to underestimate a Charmed One.

"What kind of nothing?" Phoebe asked, just as casually.

"Um… well, she uh…" he took a deep breath. Neither woman was looking directly at him – Piper was setting out ingredients for dinner and Phoebe was rifling through some papers – yet he felt their complete focus directed on him.

He released the breath on a sigh: it just wasn't worth the aggravation, "She wanted me to lend her my car." He said quickly.

"You don't have car." Piper stated.

"Wyatt's car."

"And you told her no?" Phoebe asked, her expression clearly perplexed, as she looked over at her nephew.

Chris frowned at her, "Well, yeah." He said with emphasis.

"Um… well," Phoebe seemed nonplussed by that response; then she cleared her throat and nodded more vigorously, "…thank god, there's this disgusting little drummer boy who's been sniffin around her lately."

"What happened to the boxer?" Piper asked as she filled a pan with water and added olive oil to it.

Phoebe shrugged, "Don't know; I keep forgetting to ask Cia, she's the one that keeps me appraised."

"So you told her, no, huh?" Piper said suddenly, shifting and spearing Chris with a glance, "How come? Do you know something we should know?"

Chris frowned again. There was something odd going on here and he just couldn't pin point what it was…

"Besides the fact that she's seventeen and she was gonna sneak out to meet some guy that could be anybody, including a demon?" he asked.

Silence filled the kitchen as both women stared at him.

"Is Wyatt on vacation or something?" Phoebe finally asked into the silence, turning and giving Piper her full attention, "This reminds me of the time he went to that seminar and left Chris his "Oldest Halliwell" duties…"

"Yeah, it does, doesn't it?" Piper said thoughtfully, looking to Phoebe, "But I don't think so… I suppose I could call his cell or something." She slanted Chris a look, then added, "But Chris has been acting weird all day…"

Phoebe's eyes narrowed, "Now that you mention it, it was kinda weird that he hugged me…"

Chris swallowed hard and looked between the two women who were so obviously ignoring his presence.

"He hugged me too…"

"Really?"

"And Leo…"

"Oooh…"

"And Paige too…"

"Oh my; you don't think we've got another it's-the-end-of-the-world situations going on, do you?"

Piper shrugged, "He's gotit under control." She mimicked.

Phoebe rolled her eyes, "I give it till dinner…" she said, echoing Paige's words.

Piper laughed, "That might be optimistic considering just how odd he's behaving."

"We could always cast a spell…"

"What?" Chris squeaked.

Piper tilted her head to the side a little, not bother to glance at her son, "Truth spells always work well with the kids, don't they?"

"They always have in the past…" Phoebe agreed.

"Nu-no…" Chris said, his voice a tad panicked as he tried to calm his racing heart— a truth spell would ruin everything… "That isn't neces-"

"The last one we cast was what? Like seven or eight months ago, wasn't it?" Piper asked, still ignoring her son.

"Yeah, on Lee; worked to perfection if I recall correctly."

"Great, so when Chris is-"

"HELLO! I'm right here!" Chris cried, having finally reached his frustration limit, "You don't hafta talk about me like I'm not!"

Two sweet smiled turned in his direction, "Would you like to be acknowledged Chris? Would you like to have say in what's going?" his mother asked him kindly, her eyes though were pointed.

And Chris knew he'd fallen into a trap.

"It's horrible isn't it, when something's going on right in front of you and you can't stop it or contribute to it…" Phoebe continued.

He groaned and rolled his eyes, "Everything's fine." He grit out, but even to himself it sounded like a meaningless platitude.

"Yeah, uh-huh…" Piper said and went back to cooking.

Phoebe stared at him, "Whatever's going on; thanks for not lending Polly a car. I swear that girl needs a leash or something…"

Piper chuckled, "Like someone else I once knew…"

Phoebe scowled at her sisters back.

Piper continued to laugh, "Payback's a bitch, huh?"

Phoebe stuck her tongue out her back.

And Chris laughed, they were just so… normal with each other. Exactly how they'd been when he last saw them in 2004.

Piper turned around, Phoebe pretended to be reading something.

"Humph," she said, eyeing her sister, but there was laughter in her eyes.

"You guys never change," he said softly, his voice warm with affection.

They didn't respond, no response was really necessary. He took a seat at the counter and silently watched his mother set about making dinner. In the background he could hear Phoebe's fingers flying across the keyboard. He leaned in and put his chin in his hands as his eyes followed Piper around the kitchen.

She and Phoebe chatted idly about random topics of which he, the "he" that belonged in this world, was probably appraised of, but which he knew nothing about. About work schedules and wardrobes, grades and soccer games… it was all fascinating because of it's complete and utter normalcy.

Maybe a little too normal…

"No demons, then?" he asked carefully. Hoping he hadn't brought suspicions upon himself yet again, but unable to keep his curiosity in check.

Piper paused in her grating of cheese and Phoebe's fingers stopped their assault on the keyboard.

He looked between the two of them, a little nervous until Piper suddenly grinned at him, "You're bored, huh?" she asked playfully.

"You do look kinda bored…" Phoebe agreed, "But I thought weagreed that you wouldn't go out looking for demons…"

"I'm not-"

"Oh please Chris your tone was riddled with hope that we'd be able to send you out on a demon chase…" his Mom argued.

"It was not!"

"Oh it was too!" Phoebe cried.

"What's the yelling about?" Wyatt asked merrily as he sauntered into the kitchen.

"We suspect Chris wants to go demon hunting," Phoebe informed him quickly, grinning at her oldest nephew.

Wyatt grinned and winked at his brother, "Cool, count me in."

Piper rolled her eyes and playfully swatted her son with a dish rag, "Don't encourage him!" Then she grinned, "You're home early…" she said unnecessarily.

"Am I?" her older son questioned teasingly.

She rolled her eyes, "Are you here to help with what ever Chris has under control?" she asked; and Chris mentally groaned.

Wyatt's gaze swung to his younger brother, "So there is something going on?" he asked, suspiciously.

Piper gave a mock gasp of horror, "Are you saying that he hasn't told you what's going on!" she cried.

"He denied there was anything going on at all." Wyatt stated steadily his gaze fastened on Chris.

"Oooooooooh," Phoebe stated, "He lied to you…"

"I didn't lie!" Chris protested loudly.

"I asked you what was going on and you didn't tell me." Wyatt clarified, "Tell me now." It was an order and Chris was shocked at the way his mouth actually opened to spill everything.

It was as if he were somehow… trained to do so.

The thought made him frown suddenly, could that be?

"Oooooooh, double-ohhhhhhh," Phoebe stated, "He didn't respond to the tone."

Piper sighed, "He wouldn't. Your father knows, Wy. It's not a complete secret, so he doesn't have to spill. It's just not for the ears of us mere mortals."

The older man looked to his mother a moment, before glancing back at Chris, "Dad knows?" Wyatt asked incredulously and the gaze he fastened on his brother was almost hurt, "You told Dad but not me?"

Chris swallowed hard, "It's not a big deal-"

"What could possibly be so bad that you can't tell me?"

Chris took a calming breath, but it didn't work. His heart was pounding and he knew that he was in fight or flight mode; well, he couldn't fight…

Quickly stood up and glared at them all, "For the last time!" he growled, "I AM FINE. EVERYTHING IS FINE. PERFECT EVEN. So you could you all just back off!"

And with that he orbed out of the room, not even sure exactly where he was headed.

The kitchen was silent for a few moments before Phoebe spoke. "He's acting really weird." She stated.

Piper and Wyatt rolled their eyes; Phoebe loved to state the obvious.

"As if orbing out is really gonna keep me from finding out what's going on…" Wyatt grumbled, as he plopped down on a stool, "And did he just yell at me? Is that what just happened?"

Piper chuckled a little, "Looked like it to me… so where is he?" she asked.

Wyatt closed his eyes, "P3" he said after a moment.

Piper nodded.

"Have you asked Leo what's going on, Piper?" Phoebe asked.

"Yeah, what did Dad say?"

"Same thing as Chris – everything is fine, everything is under control, there's nothing wrong… blah, blah, blah, BLAH…!"

Phoebe nodded, then shifted to her oldest nephew, "Well?" she asked.

He shifted too, so that they were staring right at each other, "Well what?" he asked her.

"Are you just gonna sit there? Go talk to him! Find out what's going on and report back here! Jeez, use some of those detective skills Darryl pays you for!"

Wyatt rolled his eyes, "Part of being a good detective is not going off half cocked into a situation you don't have a clue about."

Phoebe rolled her eyes right back, "You always have to be so damned logical!" she complained.

"Phoebe." Piper stated.

"Jeez Piper, the kids a father for christssake! And you don't want me to curse in front of him!"

Piper gave her a stern a look. Wyatt laughed, then asked, "Where is Dad?"

"He took Lee to those cliffs in Italy; said he'd be back for dinner."

"And Polly?"

"She's in the house somewhere; she's watching Becky." Phoebe told him.

Wyatt nodded, after a moment he asked carefully, "Is Mattie home?"

"He's in his room. He was a real brat today. Got suspended again. Gave Paige cheek…"

Wyatt sighed, "I'll talk wi-"

"Chris said he'd do it. And he hit Mattie upside the head for it too." Phoebe told him. Piper remained silent as she continued to make dinner.

"Chris did that!"

"Yep. I told you he's acting weird."

Wyatt groaned, "He was fine last night… and this morning too. It was only when he came to the station that I noticed something was up…"

"I'm telling you: go talk to him." Phoebe insisted.

Wyatt sighed as he stood up, "I swear if the little brat has put himself in some kind of danger I'm gonna strangle him."

"Don't talk like that." Piper snapped suddenly, whirling on her oldest son. "Don't ever say things like that!"

Wyatt looked sheepish, "Sorry Mom, I forget how you hate it when Chris or I talk like that… but we are joking you know. It's not like I'd actually strangle the kid… life'd be kinda boring without his constant dramatic tendencies."

Piper glared at him, "I don't care that you're joking. Making death threats against each other is not funny. Now go find you brother and come home." She paused then arched an eyebrow, "And since your headed there anyway… there are three boxes of decorations that need to go over there. You might as well orb them over and start decorating."

"Do I have to." Wyatt grumbled.

"Yes you have to." Piper stated, "And don't make Chris help you. It's his party."

Wyatt rolled his eyes, "Fine. Can I pause to see my daughter for a second or would that be pushing it."

"That would be stalling, since you saw her like two hours ago." His mother countered.

"If you want to stall, go ahead, Wyatt." Phoebe encouraged, "I mean Chris was in a horrible mood. He is a little intimidating when he gets riled up."

Wyatt glared at her, "I am not intimidated by my little brother." He hissed. "I'll take the decorations over right now."

"Great idea!" Phoebe cried happily.

And Piper and Phoebe watched as he stalked out of the kitchen.

Piper sighed and turned back to dinner preparations, "You might as well get the first aid kit out, Phoebe."

The younger woman frowned, "Why?"

Piper sighed again, and looked up at her sisters, "Oh come on Phoebes!" she cried, "…we just sent a pissed off Wyatt to meet with a pissed off Chris at a deserted club. What do you think is gonna happen?" She asked.

Phoebe stared at her sister a moment, then nodded and slid off the stool, "I'll get the first aid kit." She stated in a resigned tone.

Next Chapter: Wyatt and Chris... "talk"

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