A/N: Thanks for all the wonderful people who have reviewed! I've come to the conclusion that this story is probably going to be my longest yet. I've only finished 1 of the 3 things planned for it, but it's taken more chapters than I expected. So anyway, as long as you guys keep reading and reviewing, I'll keep writing.

Boleyn- Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you like all my stories! That makes me feel great. Look for more of Chris & Wyatt in this chapter especially.

JadeAlmasy- Geez, I'm going as fast as I can! Pushy, pushy… LOL : )

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"We don't have any dilemma that we need your help with." Wyatt answered her coldly. "We'll solve this on our own." Aside from his dad, Wyatt didn't trust any elder. He'd always had an eerie feeling of nervousness around them, and after his parents finally told him about Gideon, he completely understood why.

"Wyatt, please! You aren't helping." Leo admonished gently. "Laura, I'm sorry. Go on."

Laura adjusted her robe, a bit flustered. "Yes, well, as I was saying, we have come to a conclusion." She turned to face Phoebe. "Please, accept our condolences for Patrick. He was destined for wonderful things, and I know it seems wasteful. Please understand, his death, while tragic, was not in vain. Your son's destiny is not over, merely put on hold for the moment."

Phoebe looked up, rage burning in her eyes. "My son is DEAD! Tell me, how does your destiny continue after that. Dead is dead."

"Not always. Not in magical beings." Laura answered softly.

"Oh really? Then where's Prue? Huh? Where is she? If dead doesn't really mean dead, then where is she?" Phoebe snapped.

"Prue's death was necessary. It was tragic, but it was necessary, and it was her destiny. Without her death, you and Piper never would have found Paige. And Paige never would have become a Charmed One. Her destiny would not have been completed. Phyra and Peyton would not have come to issue as they did. The world would have been a different place. Countless demons would not have been vanquished, as Prue didn't have white lighter abilities. You tell me Phoebe, how many times did Paige's ability to orb save you, Piper and all of your children?" At Phoebe's look of guilt, Laura continued.

"But we aren't here to discuss Prue. We're here about Patrick, and how you are handling your grief over him. You cannot kill Nogard, Phoebe, no matter how badly you would like to. He is too important in the cosmic balance of the universe. That is why we have a rule against killing dragons. It's not because we don't agree with you. We all understand why you want to vanquish him. Most of us agree with you. But regardless of how we feel, we cannot allow you to vanquish the dragon. If you do, we have no choice. The Power of Three as well as both Wyatt and Chris will be sacrificed or the world will cease to exist." Laura glanced warily at Leo.

"Leo has brought it upon himself to choose between his two families. We always knew the day would come when he would have to make this choice. His choice was all of you. He has decided that if you kill Nogard, Phoebe, he will in turn kill all the elders, including himself, to keep his family safe. What you don't know yet, however, is that by even suggesting this, Leo has made himself an outcast in the elder community. He was treated tenderly after that unfortunately incident with Gideon."

"Unfortunate incident? Please! He kidnapped my brother to the Underworld, exposed him to thousands, maybe millions of demonic threats, and had Dad not killed him, he would have turned Wyatt evil, which in turn would have created a world so dark and full of despair that you can't even imagine it. Gideon deserved exactly what he got. " Chris burst out angrily.

"Not to mention that he murdered my brother. The other Chris had come back to save me, and Gideon killed him, just so that he could still get rid of me. Don't talk to us about that traitorous bastard." Wyatt snapped. Chris looked at him to see his eyelid twitching uncontrollably. Whenever it did that, Wyatt was only a hairsbreadth from losing it completely. It didn't happen often, and it was a good thing. The last time Wyatt had lost it, his powers trigged the most powerful earthquake San Francisco had seen in 75 years.

"Look, you better just tell us what you're going to do to help Phoebe, ok? Enough dancing around it. Just tell us." Chris ordered.

"Very well. We have decided that since Patrick's life was ended by something that is deemed untouchable, we are going to bring him back as a white lighter. His destiny is not over. When Paisley has her baby, we are assigning Patrick to this child. You will not be able to see him until the baby is born, Phoebe. But rest assured, the day that Paisley gives birth, Patrick will come to you all as a white lighter. We will not require that he live 'Up There' with the other white lighters. This is a special circumstance, and he can live with you and your family as long as he so chooses. He will also be keeping his Wiccan powers. There will be a day when he will need to use them." Laura's face softened. "I know this isn't the same as having your son whole and healthy, Phoebe. But it truly is the best that we can do under the circumstances."

"But I will have him back. Patrick will come back, you swear it?" Phoebe clarified, not quite trusting her.

"I swear it, on my word as an elder. Patrick will be Paisley's child's white lighter. You will have him back." Laura answered firmly.

"Yeah, well, if he doesn't, don't ever come back to his house. Because if you do, and Patrick isn't here, I will personally blow you to bits myself. Now, if you please, we have other things to deal with. I would like you to leave." Piper threatened seriously. Elders pissed her off. It seemed like all they ever did was play God, and screw with people's lives. Thank God Leo wasn't that kind of elder. At least he was still human, and humane.

Laura nodded at Piper's words. "I understand Piper. I want you all to know that the elders are not against you. We know precisely how much the Halliwells have done for us since the Charmed Ones originally came into their magic. And we do thank you, more than you will ever know. Blessed be." With one last nod to Phoebe and a speaking glance at Leo, she orbed away.

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Chris stared up at the ceiling blindly, lying flat on his bed, wearing only a pair of boxers. He looked up at the sound of a knock on the door casing.

"Hey, baby brother. You know it's 3 am right?" Wyatt walked in and sat in the computer chair next to the bed. His chest was bare too, but he had a pair of flannel pants covering his muscled legs.

"Yeah. I just can't sleep, I guess."

"Patrick?" Wyatt asked knowingly.

"He shouldn't have died, Wy. I mean, I know he's going to come back and all as a white lighter, but….damn. He shouldn't have died."

"I know. I keep thinking the same thing. If we hadn't been so damn cocky that we could go to the Underworld and just vanquish randomly, he'd still be here."

"I really, really wish we hadn't done that Wy. All because I couldn't handle Mom's coddling. Now Patrick won't have that coddling again." Chris' voice was heavy with regret.

"Would you two please quit crying and whining like the babies that you continue to argue that you aren't?" A figure stepped out of swirling golden lights.

"Grams?" Wyatt's voice was astonished.

"Close your mouth, Wyatt. You look like you've seen a ghost." Grams stepped into the room and sat down on the edge of Chris' bed. Chris immediately sat up and gave her more room.

"You always were a good boy." She smiled. "Listen up, you two. I've seen Patrick. He doesn't blame you. As a matter of fact, he's rather pissed that the two of you are trying to deprive him of his glory. He's looking forward to holding it over your head's that he saved you both. I would look out if I were you. He's talking about letting only the two of you teach him about being a white lighter. Little brat says he only wants to learn how to be a white lighter if he can still have 'fun' doing it. I've tried to tell him that magic isn't about fun, but he listens to me about as much as Phoebe ever did."

"Grams, we'd love to be the ones to teach Patrick. But how can we do that knowing that we're the reason he's a white lighter and not a human to start with!" Chris burst out.

"Lord save me. I thought when Piper had two boys it would save me from all this 'Steel Magnolias' blaming yourself crap! Get over it! So you messed up. Big deal. Learn from it, don't dwell on it. Are you ever going to let your cousins or children go randomly demon hunting? No, of course not, because now you know the true consequences of reacting without first thinking. So suck it up and quit acting like you caused the Holocaust. If the person that died doesn't blame you, you shouldn't blame yourself!" Grams scolded them both complete with finger wagging.

Chris looked at Wyatt, and Wyatt returned his gaze with a raised eyebrow. In unison they leaned in and kissed their Great-Grandmother on a cheek, and wrapped her in the tightest hug possible. Grams started to blush a little at the overt affection from her normally subdued great grandsons. "I trust my work is done here then?" she asked in her normally crusty tone.

Chris gave a short laugh, as Wyatt snorted. "Yeah, Grams, your work is done. We'd hate to go all 'Steel Magnolias' after all." Chris was teasing her, but the truth was he did feel better. It was true, why should they waste time blaming themselves when Patrick didn't.

"So, I guess I should be going then." Grams stood up.

"Hey, wait, how did you get here anyway? I thought we always summoned you?" Wyatt asked suddenly before she could leave.

Grams started to laugh. "Oh, Wyatt. I can do whatever I want. I'm a ghost, remember? I'll come when you need me and summon me. And I'll also come whenever the heck I feel like it."

She stopped, and turned back to them. "And that reminds me. Don't think I'm happy about you two moving out of the manor. Your powers are rooted there, not here in this glorified condo."

"Grams, it's a duplex. The manor is right across the street. We just needed to be by ourselves to live our own lives!" Chris argued.

"Don't use that tone with me, you little witch lighter."

"I'm a witch elder." Chris said sullenly.

"You are a Halliwell. Which means, you don't give me any lip? Got it?" Grams huffed at Chris and Wyatt's nods. "Now, I'll forgive you both for moving out. But you'd better invite me to your weddings. If you don't…"

"You're invited, Grams! You're invited. We were going to summon you and Gramma Patty, and Aunt Prue to all attend. At least to the Wiccan ceremony. The Justice of the Peace might not appreciate a trio of dead women at a service he's officiating." Chris smiled at the thought.

"Well, I suppose it's a date. Blessed be, my darlings." Grams was encircled in familiar gold sparks.

"Blessed be, Grams. Thanks!" Wyatt called out.

"So, Wy, what now?" Chris asked idly.

"We go to sleep, Chris. Then when we wake up, I suggest we start helping with the weddings. I don't know about you, but I don't want Grams popping in when Abby and I are alone." Wyatt shuddered a little at the thought.

Chris echoed the sentiment with a strangled "ugh."

"G'night Wy." Chris yawned widely.

"Night Chris."