Chapter Five

Author's note: Thanks for all the feedback:)

"Today was going to be a good day!" Chris told Leo and Piper. "Or so I thought,"

They stood in the boys bedroom watching Wyatt and Mark bouncing up and down on Chris' bed trying to get him up. "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!" they sang "Happy birthday Chrisey, happy birthday to you,"

"You look so happy," Piper observed watching her three boys laughing and jumping up and down.

"Chris," Piper heard her future self call as she watched her and her sister's come into the room. They were loaded with presents. "Happy birthday sweetie," Piper sat down next to Chris and handed him his presents. "Seven isn't too old for you to get a kiss from your mom is it?" Piper asked concerned that he'd say it was. She hated the fact that her baby was getting bigger. She knew that soon she'd be an embarrassment to be seen with. Wyatt had already told her that he was too old for hugs and kisses.

"Course not," Chris assured her with a hug.

"Mommy's little baby," Wyatt teased.

"Shut it daddy's boy," Chris spat. Piper noticed that comment was full of venom and it wasn't directed at Wyatt either. She had made it quite clear to Leo that if he missed Chris' birthday again she would hang him upside by his unmentionables!

"Boy's stop it please," Piper begged trying to calm the situation down. "Chris why don't you open your presents," Chris grinned and began ripping at the bright blue paper in front of him.

The day was going as planned. Chris had gotten loads of presents and Piper hadn't seen him this happy in a long time. "Leo better show up," Piper told Paige and Phoebe as they began to put out trays of food for the party.

"I'm sure he will," Phoebe answered trying to sound hopeful.

"He better," Piper answered.

"Well if he doesn't he'll have me to deal with for a start," Paige piped up "I couldn't bare to see that look of disappointment on Chris' face again,"

"I know," Piper sighed, she heard the boys running down the stairs "Not a word to the boys ok. Especially Chris. This is his day ok," The girls nodded in agreement.

The guest's began arriving and soon after the house was full of children running about having a good time. The only one who didn't seem to be having a good time was Chris. Piper noticed him sitting alone in the conservatory playing with one of his toy cars. "Honey, what are you doing in here on your own? It's your birthday, you should be playing with your friends,"

Chris looked up at his mother with sad eyes. "He's not coming again is he?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"Of course he is," Piper answered enthusiastically.

"Mom I'm not a baby anymore," Chris answered. "Just tell it to me straight," Piper looked down at her son with tears in her eyes. She was trying to keep it together for him, but it scared her how grown up he had really become. He was her baby, yet he seemed so much older than his years. "I don't know sweetheart," she answered honestly. "I'm so sorry,"

Chris didn't answer he just gave her a sad smile. "Sweetheart go and play with your friends for a while, they've come here to see you. Leave your father to me," she pulled him into a hug "Ok charmed one?"

Chris grinned "Ok. Thanks mom," Piper smiled as Chris ran off in the direction of the kitchen.

She got up and made her way upstairs to her bedroom and closed the door behind her. "Leo," she called trying not to be loud enough to alarm the guests. "Leo get down here now," she called up to the ceiling "You know that threat I made you, I promise that if you don't turn up I'll carry it out. LEO!" she sighed knowing that it was pointless, he wasn't going to answer "Please," she whispered "Please don't break our little boys heart again,"

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you," everyone sang as Piper placed Chris' birthday cake in front of him on the dinning room table. "Happy birthday Chris, happy birthday to you,"

"Make a wish Chrisey," Piper encouraged.

Older Chris watched himself scan the room looking for someone. "I was looking for you," Chris told Leo as he turned back to watched his younger self.

After scanning the room looking for his father, Chris turned back to the cake, but didn't blow the candles out. He looked up at this mother, tears threatening to fall. He didn't want her to see him cry though. She had really made an effort to make today special for him. More than his father ever did. By now he couldn't stop the tears. Did his father think that little of him? Was he really that unimportant? That his own father couldn't even be bothered to visit him on his birthday. He never missed Wyatt's and he had only ever missed one of Mark's. So why were they more important than him?

"Chris what's wrong?" Paige asked "Make a wish,"

"What's the point," Chris cried bitterly "It's not like it's ever gonna come true," he got up from his chair and ran up the stairs to his bedroom, only allowing himself to cry fully once his head hit the pillow.

"Piper let us clear up," Paige offered taking a plate of leftover food from her. Everyone had long gone home but Chris still hadn't reappeared from his bedroom. "Chris really needs his mom right now," Paige finished motioning upstairs.

"Yeah I know," Piper sighed leaving the kitchen.

Chris heard the gentle knock but chose to ignore it. Piper opened the door a little "Can I come in sweetie," Chris just nodded. Piper sat down on the end of the bed and held her arms out. Chris crawled across the bed to her and she hugged him tightly.

"I'm sorry mom,"

"You have nothing to be sorry about,"

"I ruined the party," he sobbed

"No you didn't," she kissed the top of his head and tried to reassure him "Everyone had a good time. They were just worried about you. I'm worried about you. The only person who is at fault here is your father,"

Chris began to cry even harder. Piper pulled her son into her lap and cradled him in her arms. At this moment in time she felt completely helpless. She was a mother yet she couldn't stop her child from hurting. She looked up the skies and cursed, "I hate you Leo Wyatt. I really hate you!"

Author's note: Please let me know what you think about this chapter because i'm not sure whether it works or not:)