Chapter Ten

Piper watched her son sitting next to the dead body of her future self. She realised how truly alone Chris must of felt at this moment. When her mother had died she had not seen her body, she was saved that terrible experience. Prue her older sister however was not. She had been the one who saw them pull their mother from the lake, where she drowned. Something that Piper knew affected her for many years after. She remembered how reluctant Prue was to even talk of their mother, let alone relive the experience of her death, which was something that they unfortunately had to do.

And now Chris was doing the same. Her baby was watching himself cradle her future self in his arms. No wonder Chris hadn't wanted to get close to her when she found out who he really was. He had reacted like any normal person would have. Pushed her away, to spare himself anymore hurt. He would soon have to go back to a future is which she was no longer present. He was going to lose her all over again. And because of this her heart was breaking.

Throughout this journey Chris had barely shown her and Leo any emotion. He had gotten frustrated with Leo, but apart from that nothing! Until they saw her death however. Chris was crying. Both of them! She knew she couldn't help the fourteen-year-old Chris in front of her, but the twenty two year old replaying this scene for them was different. He was tangible, she could comfort him, his younger self was a memory and she couldn't hold a memory.

She pulled her son into her arms as his sobs got even harder. "Mom," he cried.

"It's alright sweetie," she soothed "I'm here,"

"I lost you,"

"I know," she whispered into his hair "But you've got me back. I'm not going anywhere,"

Chris gently pulled away from his mother and dried his eyes. He looked over at Leo who had remained quiet throughout this scene. "You didn't come back," he told him "I sat there for an hour hoping you'd come back,"

Leo didn't answer. "When granddad Victor brought Mark back from school I was the one who had to tell them Mom and the aunts were dead. You didn't reappear for three days. And the first thing you asked me 'was if Wyatt had come home yet?' Not if Mark or me were ok. You were too preoccupied with finding him and making everything right with him. You deserted us. The only time I ever asked you for anything and you could give me what I needed. You!"

"Chris I'm sorry,"

"What use is sorry," Chris spat angrily "Isn't going to change anything. It's not going to erase fourteen years of abandonment,"

"Maybe not. But isn't it a start,"

"I don't know," Chris, sighed, "You'll have to ask me when you get home. Are you ready to go home?"

Piper and Leo looked at each other and nodded. "We think so," Piper held her hand out for Chris "You ready honey?"

"I'm not coming with you,"

"Why not?"

"Because the real Chris is in there," he answered pointing at Piper's rounding belly "And back in the past. Waiting to form a proper relationship with both of you," he smiled shyly "Even if he's not ready to admit it,"

Piper pulled her son to her and hugged him "I love you sweetie. We both do," she turned to Leo who nodded.

Chris smiled at the both of them "Then please let me know it when you get back home. I might be twenty-two, but sometimes I need a bit of reassurance. And Leo," he said turning back to his father. "If you're really sorry about what has happened in my past? Please don't make the same mistake again in my future,"

"I won't," Leo assured him.

Chris walked over to the book and flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for.

"You've seen the future to now change the past,

I hope you've found the answers at last..

From this experience I hope you learn,

From where you came please now return,"

Leo and Piper found themselves transported back to their attic. Chris and the future sisters were nowhere to be seen. "You think were home?" Piper asked.

"Only one way to find out," Leo took her hand and orbed them into the kitchen where Chris was sitting at the table eating Peanut butter and Oreo's. He looked up when he saw them and his face fell.

"What's he doing here?" he scowled at Leo.

"Yep, were home!" Leo answered Piper question noticing his son's still hostile demeanour.

Chris got up from the table and was making his way out of the kitchen when Leo stopped him and pulled him into a hug. Leo felt Chris' body stiffen at this affection, but he didn't care. After a moment he let Chris go, but noticed the shocked expression on his sons face. "That's the first time I've ever hugged you, isn't it?" It was more of a statement than a question. Chris just nodded, his eyes tearing up.

Leo pulled Chris to him again "Chris I know I can't make up for the things that have happened to you in your past, and I know my future self is to blame for most of it. But I promise that the way I made you feel back then is not the way I'll ever make you feel again. I love you and I want to change the future, for both you and little Chris. If you'll let me,"

Chris looked from his father to his mother. Piper gave him a look that said she knew he meant it. "I know it won't be easy Chris. But I'm willing to work on it,"

This was everything Chris had ever wanted. Love and acceptance from his father. "Alright," Chris agreed smiling as Leo pulled him into another hug. One, which he accepted with open arms.

Authors note: I know that the ending was sappy, but I thought that Leo needed to learn how to show Chris how he really felt, because he hadn't in the future. Thanks for all the feedback I've gotten it's really helped. x