Chapter 3

It was only five a.m. when the boy regained consciousness the next morning as a very rare snow stormed raged on outside casting clouds over the San Francisco area, blocking out the high, bright morning sun that usually awaited him at this time of day. The faint sound of the ticking clock was the only noise to be heard throughout the manor, which was a good sign seeing as how he didn't have the strength or energy to deal with anyone right now and if it were left up to him he wouldn't any time soon.

Chaos was the only word that came to mind when he thought about his life and the uncontrollable elements that shaped it. His life had been transformed from an existence that was full of promise and hope to one of heartache, fear, depression and angst. One where his brother and former best friend had been converted into a something that lives in your nightmares and feeds off of your worries, pain and anguish. The one responsible for what goes bump in the night, the noise you hear on the way to your car in the hours of darkness, stalking you and waiting for the right time to bring your greatest fears to life while making his wildest fantasies and dreams come true.

Then there was his mother. The person he loved more than life it's self. The woman who would die a slow, agonizing death at the hands of her eldest child if he was unsuccessful in his mission along with his father, aunts, cousins, and uncles.

His heartbeat increased as he thought back to the that dreadful day where he walk through his front door after a hard day at school to find his family members laying dead in various positions in the dinning room, living room and conservatory. The blood that stained the "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" banner and the cake that was laid out on the table as he saw the knife meant to cut the cake sticking out of his Aunt Paige's chest and her husband's body slumped over hers as his death came from behind as he grieved over his wife's corpse. His screams that feel on deaf ears as he called out to his father, begging and pleading with the man to show up this one time. But he never came.

Chris could feel his jaw tighten as he clenched his fist wanting to fight against the memory with all he had and vanish it out of his mind forever but that wasn't possible. Now matter how many spells he wrote he could never erase those pictures from his mind and the only thing he had left to cling too was the knowledge that maybe, just maybe he would be able to change all that and give his family the life that they deserved.

"Sweetie are you awake?" the sound of his mother's soft, caring voice called out to him.

He wanted to remain silent so she would go away. He didn't want to hurt her or allow the woman to see his tear stained face not only because of the painful memory that he was forced to relieve just now but the nightmare or premonition he had experienced just a few hours before. But he couldn't do it. The boy had caused his mother too much hurt the night before so he would just have to entertain her for a few moments.

"Yeah I'm up" his replied in a hostile tone without meaning to.

"Oh" she said clearly showing the effects her son's cold demeanor had on her as she stiffed her body to absorb the emotional blow.

Taking noticed of this Chris immediately apologized for his behavior and tried his best to explain it away "Sorry Mom, I've just been a little on edge lately add that to not getting much beauty rest and you've got one really cranky Chris on your hands" he finished with a forced smile.

His words seemed to put the woman at ease a little as she returned the smile and inched closer. "I'll try to remember that when dealing with younger you" she said patting her rounded belly. "I just came to see if you were ok and if you wanted some breakfast" she said as she moved to sit next to her youngest child.

There it was. He knew his mother a lot better than she thought and although he was conscious of the fact that the woman was genuinely concerned for him but he also knew that this was one of his mother's favorite tactics to get him to talk and he was in no way, shape or form ready to have THAT conversation. So he would have to find a way to decline the invitation without being discourteous about it or losing his temper when she tried to convince him other wise.

"I can't. I have work to do" the boy said quickly standing to dress.

"Chris please don't do this" the boy's mother pleaded as she reached up and grabbed his wrist before pulling him back down onto the sofa.

"Mom" the boy warned as he tried to remain clam.

Piper then put a finger up to his lips to silence him as her eyes searched his affectionately. She loved her little boy more then he was aware of but what he was doing to her hurt like hell. The constant pushing her away, ignoring her request to help him, to comfort him and assist him in his time of need was killing her. Not only was she worried about her son's mental health but she was also troubled by his appearance and the amount of weight he had been losing every since their return back home from the future. Every night she would fix one of his favorite meals only to have him pick at his plate and jump at the sound of any and every noise that passed through the walls of the manor, searching for any signs of the monster who had touched him in places where he shouldn't have.

The last thought sent chills down the woman's spine as images of what the evil version of her sweet, innocent child would become and what he would do to his own brother haunted her. But she couldn't think about that person right now. Her baby needed her. Whether he wanted to admit it or not was irrelevant. She had allowed this behavior to go on for far too long and now she was going to do what was right for her child. No matter how much he protested.

"Chris baby I know you don't want to talk about what happened" the woman began as her eyes welled up but she quickly held the tears back not wanting her son to feel any worse then he already did. "And that's fine but you have to eat something and relax for a day other wise you're going to make yourself sick and I can't have that" she continued running her fingers through his hair as he studied his hands, anything else so he wouldn't have to make eye contact with her.

"I'm not sick Mom so please stop being so overdramatic" he spoke in a defiant tone unwilling to be guilted into doing what his mother wanted. "I'm fine. Really" he spoke trying to convince himself more than anything.

"No you're not Christopher" Piper said as she placed her fingers gently on her sons chin and lifted his face so that he was now looking at her.

His green eyes flashed light blue a sign that he was in pain and she knew this because he held that very same blue when Wyatt had touched him. My poor angel, she thought as she planted a kiss on her despondent son's forehead. She then wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him into her allowing him to rest his head on her shoulder. "It's ok baby. You don't have to be brave for me. I'm a lot stronger then you think and if you need me to be the strong one, if only for a few minutes then I will gladly do it for you. You don't have to feel ashamed or any less of a man because you feel pain Chris. In fact it only makes you human"

Her comforting words and the soft touch that accompanied them was too much for him to bare.

In that instant she became his Mom. Not Piper, not Mom from the past but his Mom, the woman who raised him. The woman who he had baked cookies with, read him stories at bedtime and told him that anything was possible, that he was smart, capable and the light of her life. Tears filled his eyes and he tried so hard, so very hard to fight the emotional outburst that he knew was about to come. He bit his lip and tried to hold back the drops of water that were already rolling down his cheeks as his chest started moving up and down rapidly.

"That it sweetheart, let it out. Just let it out"

An hour had passed since the boy's breakdown and now both mother and son sat in the same position surrounded by silence. Neither one had spoken since the event occurred and now that it was over both were unsure what to say or do next.

Suddenly a soft knock came from the door.

"Hey" the woman's husband called out softly as he took in the sight of his wife and son. He didn't need either one of them to tell him what went on a few minuets before his arrival, their body language was evidence enough.

"Hi there" Piper replied with a small smile as Chris sat up straight and tried to compose himself.

"Chris" the man proceeded with caution. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah Dad I'm fine" he said a little too quickly for the man's liking.

"Umm Piper why don't you head downstairs and start working on breakfast" he said helping his wife to her feet.

"Leo Chris and I aren't finished talking yet" she spoke sadly not wanting this opportunity to pass her by. She had just gotten through the first of many layers in her quest to get her son to open up to her and she couldn't leave now. Not after waiting so long for this moment.

"It's ok I'll bring him down with me kicking and screaming if I have to" the man said trying to ease the fear he saw in the woman's eyes.

Not fully believing him and not really wanting to argue Piper gave both father and son a small smile before exiting the attic.

Turning back to his son Leo continued "Wasn't as bad as you thought it would be, now was it?" he said as he watched his son throw on a pair of sweat pants.

"Not really" came his short reply but Leo understood. Chris had been through way too much at such a young age and breaking down in front of the woman he felt that he had failed couldn't have been easy for him.

"Listen Dad I have a few leads that I need to check up on so I'm not…"

"Don't even try it Christopher Halliwell. You are going to stay for breakfast and I'm not going to hear another word about it" Leo said sternly yet lovingly.

"Excuse me! I'm not a child any more you can't tell me what to do"

"That's not the point I'm still your father Chris which means I will always care about your well being. I mean when was the last time you ate something and don't say yesterday or the day before because this" he said pointing to the pants that were almost hanging off of the boy who fit them perfectly only two months ago "tells me other wise"

Chris couldn't argue with his father on that. In the mist of all the demon fighting and nightmares he had lost his apatite and was having trouble fitting his clothing.

"Fine but I'm not staying long"

"Actually you are because you're taking the day off" Leo said causing a look of pure objection to form on his sons face. But before the boy had a chance to respond the man grabbed his arm and orbed them both downstairs.

Future

Just another hour and he would be leaving to collect his younger sibling. All his hard work and patience were finally starting to pay off and soon he would be able to see and feel his reward. A wicked smile formed on the man's face as he thought about the clever little dream he had sent his brother and smiled at the boy's confused and disgusted reaction. But that was fine by him because soon he wouldn't hold those feelings any more. No. Those annoying little senses of right and wrong that his dear brother had been holding on to will cease to exist and boy will then become his best friend again, as well as his lover.

"Soon Christopher, very soon" he whispered into the darkness that he loved and sought solitude in. "You'll be all mine"

A/N: Don't worry there will be more action and more charaters starting in the next chapter I just felt the need to give Chris some time to deal with his issues and have a little fun before all hell breaks loose.

My Thanks

Teal-lover-Thanks so much for reviewing! I glad you liked the pervious chapters and I hope you liked this one as well and yes poor Chris has quite a problem on his hands and sorry to say it's going to get worse as the story goes on.

Icantthinkofafnick-"Ohh what is Wyatt going to fdo to Chris? Turn him evil..its ok... but make him think everybody hates him? That's plain evil... but then... its Wyatt...what was I expecting?
And the nightmare sequence was really good... and Leo comforting him too!" Hee. Yeah Wyatt is quite crazy at times and in this story I'm going to try to take him to a whole new level. I just hope that you'll be able to handle it! Like always thanks for the review.

Septdeneuf-I'm glad you love my stories so much and thank you for you continued support.:) Here's your new update. I hope you enjoyed it!

Sparkling Cherries-Well you're just going to have to wait and see young lady! Hee. I hope you liked the new chapter and thanks for reviewing.

JadeAlmasly-Thanks so much for reviewing. Hope you liked the new chapter.

Nathy1000000-Hee. So you were having one of those days uhn? LOL I understand and I'm glad you took the time to review my stories. Thanks for the reviews and I can't wait to read you new chapters!

Nubilina-Your wish has been granted. I hope you liked the interaction between the three of them before I bring the others back into the story. Thanks for reviewing and I hope you enjoyed the new chapter.