"Come on, please it's only for an hour at the most."

"No, Wyatt is no relation to me and if Piper wakes up and finds me as his babysitter she will never talk to either of us again!"

Chris and Paige were arguing quietly in the corridor upstairs, they had just got changed and Paige was determined to go shopping. It was the second time she had got landed with grocery duty but in their current situations she didn't really mind.

Both Piper and Phoebe were still in deep sleeps and were unlikely to rise before evening, Piper was buried under her duvet and Phoebe had her hand dangling over the side of her bed and was drooling, she was in a comma like state so Paige didn't think there was any real issue living Chris with sick-baby-watch.

Piper would go crazy if she knew but what Piper doesn't know wouldn't hurt her, and after all she did overreact sometimes.

Paige looked in on the lump in the bed.

"Do you really think Piper is going to be up in the next hour?"

Chris looked edgy.

"Stranger things have happened and there are too many unaccounted for variables - the phone, a visitor -"

"Chris now your just being paranoid."

Chris bit the side of his nail agitatedly.

"Look Chris I know you can do this okay?"

"I didn't say I can't, I just really don't want to."

Paige sighed, she both hated and loved fighting with Chris, he could exasperate and amuse her.

"Well we all have to do things we don't want to, you should know that. Besides compared to saving the world looking after an infant is kinda trivial."

Chris didn't seem so sure.

"It really is the least of your worries hun. Besides I don't want to go shopping but I have to. If I didn't the sole contents of our fridge would be an unidentifiable meat and some mouldy cheese."

"Well why can't I go instead? It makes much more sense."

"Your not exactly the most savvy shopper Chris."

She remembered him trying to shop when he first arrived and getting completely confused with the prices and ranges they had obviously changed in the future.

Chris raised his eyebrow and cracked an irresistible smile. He remembered the last time she went shopping and her idea of 'necessities' was the entire chocolate range and a bag of lollies.

Paige must of read his mind because she quickly added:

"Anyway, I don't let anyone loose with my credit card but me."

Chris face softened and she knew he had given up.

"Thanks."

She pecked him on the cheek, spun around to pick up her handbag that was hanging on the top of the stairs and was out the door.

Chris gave an unenthusiastic wave at her back and turned around as if looking for an escape.

He knew he could just orb away somewhere but if any of them found out the penalty would be worse then death. He listened hard to any frightening sign of movement but all he could hear was heavy breathing and Phoebe's occasional snores. Wyatt could be heard coughing down the hall.

Chris walked in slowly. He didn't have his shield up anymore which was a good sign and it would make administering his medicine easier if Paige was held up.

Wyatt looked at him blankly, he slapped his hands on his knees though and let out a long whining noise, he guessed he wanted it to be Piper instead.

Chris rubbed his hands together.

"Okay buddy, it's just you and me."

He heard Phoebe moan as she rolled over.

He spun his head around in alarm and then relaxed as he realised he was being stupid.

"Oh and your too sleeping, scary aunts."

Wyatt played with a few toys in his cot and didn't seem as restless or upset as he did when he was at the peak of his illness.

It wasn't that Chris was intimidated by Wyatt, it was just childcare wasn't his strong point, especially caring for the potential future leader of the underworld who would kill his family if he didn't stop it.

Chris was considering going to sleep in the chair next to Wyatt's cot when the phone rang.

Chris immediately ran into Paige's room and picked up the cordless next to her bed.

"Hello?"

Wyatt began to cry.

"Hi, is Paige there?"

"No, she's not at the moment."

Chris ran back to Wyatt and was trying to stop him crying by moving toys around him as if to cheer him up.

"Do you know when she'll be back?"

When realising this didn't work his pressed the phone to his ear with his shoulder and picked up Wyatt. He was heavier then he looked, it was like trying to placate a cannonball on his hip.

"umm"

He reached for Wyatt's bottle with his free hand and put it forcefully but awkwardly into his mouth and moved it upwards.

"Is this a bad time?"

"Um kind of, who's calling?"

"Glenn."

Wyatt squeezed his eyes shut in dismay and began throwing his arms around in protest, hitting Chris accidentally as he tried to hold a conversation.

Saliva and milk now ran down his face and on to his pyjamas.

Chris took the bottle out realising he wasn't drinking any of it, all the milk that went in his mouth was now soaking his clothes.

"Hello?"

"Sorry could you just hold on a minute?

"Okay."

He put the phone on the chair and put the bottle back on to the shelf.

He held the wet mess out in front of him, willing him to stop crying. He moved him up and down still trying to keep him at arms length unsure of what he wanted or what he was going to do.

He just hoped he didn't need a nappy change because that was above and beyond the call of duty, he didn't smell too bad but Chris's nose wasn't going too close to the nappy area.

He eventually resorted to putting him over his shoulder and rubbing his back. He just continued to cry and the rest of the milk and saliva ran down Chris's back.

Chris couldn't hide the look of disgust and the following 'yuck!' comment. He really didn't think he could ever have kids.

"What do you want then?"

He closed the door so as to try mute the cries.

His answer was louder cries.

Chris put him back down and scratched his head with his drool-covered hand.

He looked back at the shelf covered in baby items, one of them had to solve the problem.

He looked at the dummy. A glitter of hope. He put in next to Wyatt. He stopped crying and put it in his mouth.

He was all smiles now, and apart from his tear stained face or wet Pyjamas no one would have guessed he was bawling his eyes out just a few seconds earlier.

Chris's ears were ringing and if it wasn't for the sudden silence he would have forgotten someone was still waiting on the phone.

"Are you still there?"

"Stupidly, yes."

"Sorry but the baby was throwing a tantrum."

"Oh right - super baby."

"Huh?"

"Wyatt right?"

"Yes."

"Super powered baby."

"Sorry?"

"You know, his special abilities like making himself a shield right?"

"Who is this?"

"Glenn."

"Yes but who are you Glenn?"

"I'm just a normal non - magical guy. How about you?"

"That's none of your business, how do you know Paige and what do you want with her?"

"Ooh no need to get defensive, what are you, her big brother?"

"I'm her -"

Chris faltered. He knew what he wanted to say but he couldn't.

"I'm her cousin actually and you still haven't answered my questions."

"I'm Paige's best friend and I called to talk to her about our plans."

Chris hadn't known anything about a 'Glenn' and he couldn't be her best friend because she hadn't mentioned him nor had he ever seen or met a 'Glenn'.

"Well sorry she's not here."

"Then I ask again: When will she be back?"

"Later."

"Could you narrow it down a bit?"

"No."

"Wow thanks for your help."

"I'll tell her you called."

"But -"

"Goodbye."

He put the phone down. He wasn't sure why he acted the way he did, perhaps it was still the aftershock of trying to stop Wyatt crying but he couldn't be sure.

He made himself less guilty by believing he was a complete smartass and rather rude. Glenn reminded him of himself and that was quite disconcerting, and the fact Paige hadn't mentioned him made him feel even more out of the loop.

He didn't dwell on it though and made a mental note to tell Paige as soon as she got home and get filled in about Glenn.

Wyatt was still sodden so Chris decided to try and change him, if he stayed wet he didn't think it would improve his health.

Chris snuck into Piper's bedroom and went to her drawers. He paused to think about the consequences and privacy issues of going through a women's drawer, especially a scary one like Piper.

He opened the top one hoping for exactly what he wanted. He squeezed his eyes shut and closed it lightly as an assortment of bras and knickers were it's contents.

After about five minutes of searching the remaining drawers and her room he found a pile of baby clothes in a bag by Piper's wardrobe.

He picked out the clothing that looked the easiest to put Wyatt in. After careful consideration he decided on a thick long sleeved top with a duck on the pocket and some olive green track pants. He couldn't help but be amused and softened by the size of the cute garments.

Fifteen minutes and some uncomfortable struggling later and Wyatt was more or less dressed properly in dry clothes.

"So is that to your liking?"

Wyatt looked up at him and smiled.

"I will take that as a yes."

After putting the wet clothes in the laundry basket he got a towel and tried to dry off the back of his shirt, baby drool was not an attractive look.

Afterwards, Chris sat back down in the chair and rubbed his head. He had never been more bored, Wyatt hadn't done anything magical for months and he wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign. In fact he wasn't sure about a lot of things and that didn't exactly put his mind at ease but with what he had to do it wasn't completely surprising.

Paige was back about the time she said she would be, he heard rain begin to beat against the window, next he heard movement downstairs. He was alarmed it could have been an ill informed demon but when he heard the buzz of the fridge door opening he knew it was Paige. She must have orbed in out of the rain somehow.

He left Wyatt for the first time in half and hour to go see what she had brought.

"It's absolutely bucketing down out there now!"

She turned around from filling the fridge and cupboards. Her clothes were soaked and her hair was wet and windswept. Her make up had run but she never ceased to look sexy to him.

"I can tell."

She smiled at him.

"I take it Wyatt is okay?"

"He's getting sleepy now, we had an incident earlier."

Paige raised her eyebrows.

"It's all good now though."

"I don't even want to ask. Did you change his nappy?"

Chris gave her a look that could have been translated into 'Not in this lifetime.'

Paige rolled her eyes.

"Fine I guess I have that pleasure."

She pushed a shopping bag into Chris's arms.

"I better do it now before he goes to sleep. Piper will wonder why he hasn't been changed if she wakes up before he does."

"Okay then, have fun."

She smirked at him sarcastically.

"Yeah you too, those shopping bags aren't going to unpack themselves in the time I'm gone."

Chris still looked smug.

"Hey, shopping I can handle. I don't envy you though."

She gave him a playful punch in the arm. He mouthed the word 'ouch' sarcastically back at her.

When she went to see Wyatt, he was still tossing and turning, trying to get comfortable and fall asleep. She was glad he wasn't snoozing already because there would be hell to pay if she tried to wake him up.

When she looked at his little figure she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. She knew what her baby nephew would become if she didn't stop it and she didn't want to believe it was possible.

She put her hand to her mouth and burst out crying, she tried to be silent but she didn't realise how much it would affect her.

She couldn't comprehend the fact he would try to kill her in twenty or so years. She tried to reason that it wouldn't happen this time around but nothing was certain.

Wyatt changed his mood automatically at her familiar entrance and gurgled and made noises happily to her.

Paige gave herself a mental slap, she couldn't be like this all the time other wise what were her sister's going to think? She needed to get it together fast. She picked Wyatt up and lay him on the baby changing unit.

He looked up at her innocently and she now understand how difficult doing this would be. Now she knew why Chris really didn't envy her, beside the obvious grossness of dirty nappies it was a huge mental challenge for her.

She gave Wyatt a watery smile and a few kind words to stop him perceiving anything as being wrong and began to change him.

Then she heard the rustling of covers down the hall followed by a thud. She quickly finished up Wyatt and went to see who had fallen out of bed.

It was Phoebe.

She was mummified in her sheets on the floor struggling to get free.

Paige laughed to herself before helping to free Phoebe.

"What time is it?"

"About 1pm."

Phoebe leapt into motion with wide eyes.

"But my alarm? Work!"

She stood and swayed on the spot for a moment.

Her eyes rolled back slightly in their sockets and she collapsed back on to the bed.

Paige couldn't feel too much sympathy for her though, she was too busy to help her miserable sister but she wasn't too busy to get trashed with her colleagues.

Paige had heard vaguely about her break up with Jason from Chris but it would have been better coming from the horse's mouth after all they were sisters.

She lay looking at the ceiling with a hand on her forehead.

"Too much alcohol and not enough food in your stomach is the diagnosis I think."

"Wow thanks for the check up doctor, but if you'll excuse me I have to get to work."

She sat up and walked to the dresser more successfully this time.

"I heard about Jason."

She couldn't help but blurt it out, Phoebe was being a selfish bitch right now and any of time she wouldn't have minded but when Piper was soon to be conceiving a demon child she really didn't have the patience.

Phoebe froze on the spot.

"I suppose your lover boy told you then?"

Paige made a snorting noise.

"He's not my lover boy, but yes he told me and it should have been you."

"I know you two are an item, so don't lecture me and I wont lecture you kapesh?"

"Even if we are, what does it matter? Why didn't you tell me about Jason?"

"You didn't tell me about Chris!"

"That's completely different Phoebe and you know it!"

Phoebe didn't reply but began to gather her clothes

"I have to get to work, after all someone has to."

Paige ignored the low blow.

"I have got you off work for the next three days so you can't have been that busy."

Phoebe's eyes began to water.

"How dare you interfere in my life! I had that decision to make not you!"

Paige couldn't help raising her voice.

"I'm your sister! That's how I can interfere in your life! We live together and we are supposed to be close but you've shut yourself out! Sorry for enquiring about your life and lending support! It was incredibly inappropriate of me."

There was a tense silence for a few minutes that seemed like a lifetime.

"You really took on Chris's sarcasm huh?"

"Look, I don't want to fight but -"

"It wasn't an insult."

Paige sighed.

"What's happening with you? I love you and I want to be a part of your life again."

"I just can't right now."

"Can't what?"

"Can't be the sister you want me to be."

"I don't want you to be anything, I just want you to be yourself and be around."

Phoebe looked reluctant.

"Please Phoebe, do it for Piper and Wyatt if not for yourself and me. I know you love that little boy too much to stay away."

"I want to do it for you all and I know I've been terrible lately but-"

"You haven't been terrible lately, you've been human and sometimes we are overcome by being a force of good all the time that we forget we are human and flawed like the rest of the population."

Phoebe smiled gratefully, she made her feel less guilty and summed up her inner conflict quite well, perhaps it was time to move on and let go.

"Wow I missed you evolving into Piper why'll I was gone too."

Paige smiled.

"Hey, I'm not worthy of that comparison any time soon."

"Well you are truly unique then Paige Haliwell, beyond comparison in fact."

Paige blushed slightly, just happy to have her sister back.

Paige and Phoebe hugged and it was like a bandage on an infected wound for Phoebe.

"I'll make you some tea and get you some aspirin to ease your hangover."

"Thanks, I'll be down in a few minutes. I'll get changed first."

Phoebe changed slowly, she was still hurting but it wasn't in the front of her mind anymore, it was obstructing her selflessness or love for her family anymore. Now that she could finally let them come first again she could forget and eventually let go of Jason. She deserved only happiness in her love life after her past attempts and so moving on could help her find it, which she hoped beyond hopes was attainable.

Paige descended the stairs with a sense of hope and new beginnings that she didn't think could be lost anytime soon.

Chris not only had unpacked the groceries but he had washed up the cups and plates left idly in the sink. He was now reaching up into the higher cupboards to put them away.

She ran towards him and hugged his back.

He turned around in surprise.

"What's with the rugby tackle -"

She plastered her lips to his and didn't release them until they needed to part for air.

"I should do chores more often huh?"

Paige nodded and kissed him on the cheek before putting the on kettle and making a cup of tea.

"So I take it you and Phoebe's spat ended happily?"

"How did you know?

"I could hear you guys shouting. You're lucky Wyatt must of inherited Piper's deep sleep gene or you would have had your hands full."

"I didn't think of that."

She suddenly thanked her lucky stars for the way it had turned out.

"Yeah Phoebe told me about Jason, but she knows about us."

Paige waited for Chris's reaction.

"I know, well as long as she doesn't tell Piper I don't think it really matters, and at least she approves."

"With good reason."

Chris smiled.

"Could you make yourself scarce for a while though?"

"Already bored of me right?"

She would have made a passionate protest but he was only joking.

"Well It's just girl talk you know, and it may include the verbal beating of your sex."

"Yes I might go check on my sources and see what's hot in the underworld. Thanks for the heads up."

"Well you have fun with that then."

"Oh there is much fun to be had."

Chris's sarcasm and dry wit used to annoyed Paige but it had grown on her so much she found it quite a turn on and even adopted his humour herself on occasion.

Phoebe came down the stairs. As soon as he saw her, Chris noticed a drastic change in her appearance.

She looked glowing in the afternoon sun and the harsh edges of her face that had developed had softened and she even attempted a weak smile. It was weak, but it was still a smile and he knew that she would bounce back to her old self as quickly as she had fallen apart.

"Hi Chris."

"Hi Phoebe."

She cleared her throat.

"I just want to thank you for last night I -"

"No problem, any time."

"Thanks."

Phoebe's smile was more genuine this time and she felt the same relief and gratefulness she did with Paige when she was spared from having to explain herself.

"Anyway I better beat it."

He orbed out quickly.

"No goodbye kiss then?"

"Nah he's a bit uncomfortable about the public displays of affection around other people."

"I understand."

Paige put the steaming mug of tea and two aspirin on the table where they both took their seats.

Phoebe looked at the tea, Paige smiled encouragingly and Phoebe managed her own fake smile. She would have preferred a strong coffee but tea was hot liquid and she didn't want to cause another argument so it would do.

"So what actually happened with Jason?"

Chris had been considerate enough not to reveal too many details and so she actually had no idea what had happened other then they had broken up.

Phoebe had dreaded hearing the inevitable question, she still felt embarrassed but she decided to just tell her.

"Chris dumped me over the phone and by trying to cut me off and he was already seeing someone else."

Paige sat in a sort of bewildered silence.

"What a cowardly bastard."

Phoebe was relieved she wasn't going to get a 'poor you' routine that she was expecting or 'you must have suffered.' Because stuff like that would have made Phoebe either burst out crying or burst out laughing.

Phoebe nodded her head solemnly.

"Oh well it's his loss, he obviously doesn't deserve you if he was like that. Your better off without him because your better then that."

"Am I?"

She slurped her tea and had a doubtful look on her face.

"Of course you are - not only are you a selfless charmed one but you are a beautiful, independent and amazing woman, any guy would be so lucky to have you that if Jason couldn't see that he is blind!"

Phoebe nodded in agreement but she still wasn't sure, her self esteem had taken a bit of a beating.

"Guys like Jason who can't commit will end up twenty years down the line in a sleazy bar with a seedy blonde, have nothing really to show for themselves and are old and grey before realising what they missed out on. Besides you can't blame yourself, you risked everything in the name of love and sacrificed your heart and your soul so you could put hundred percent into a difficult relationship from the start, you should be proud of yourself."

Phoebe felt better after the pep talk, Paige was right - she had done nothing wrong, Jason was the one with the problem and Paige's portrayal of his future made Phoebe feel lucky she got out when she could. Yet then she still knew she loved him and she suddenly wanted him back.

"I think he still has my heart."

"Well don't worry things will change soon enough."

"That relationship was such a waste of time."

"No relationship is a waste of time if you learn something valuable from it."

Paige really was becoming wise and experienced in life which was quite a turn around. She didn't know if it was Chris or that she was maturing but she understood and agreed with her words.

She learnt with Jason you don't always get out what you put in but unless you put in that is when you regret things.

"I guess I just make really bad choices. It's not like I deliberately pick them, it's just they always go sour."

"Well as soon as you move on and get out in the world again you'll be able to pick more wisely."

"It's not like they have 'emotionally retarded' or 'Crazy demon' stamped on their forehead, things aren't that easy, humans are complex creatures and you can't just pick a goodie out of the crowd. I mean I thought I had several times and look how they turned out."

"I understand, sorry I didn't really know what I was saying."

"It's fine I just don't know where to go from here."

"Go out and flirt and have fun again and be your confident self because that's what draws guys to you like moths to a flame."

A small smile crept up on Phoebe's face.

"I don't draw them -"

"Like bees to a flower you do you do you do."

Phoebe laughed much to Paige's pleasure.

"I just wish I drew the nice boys."

It was Paige's turn to laugh.

"When have you ever wanted a nice boy? You like 'em dark and you like 'em dangerous."

Phoebe's eyes misted over slightly as she began to feel nostalgic.

"Well times have changed and I am getting older, I'm not twenty one anymore as much as I'd like to be and I think it's time I found someone loving, reliable and supportive. After all it's better to aim lower and be pleasantly surprised then have high expectations and go home drunk and deluded."

"Very true and after all, in our line of work it's nice to have something safe and constant in our lives."

She thought of the idea of Chris eventually leaving her and her stomach jolted upwards in fear before she put it out of her mind.

"You're right."

"There's plenty more fish in the sea remember."

"I think San Francisco's waters have been fished out long ago."

She was joking for once, but Paige looked at her suddenly concerned.

"I'm joking"

She pitched in quickly.

Paige looked at her hard and doubtfully.

"Hey I'm going to get out there after all I have nothing to lose."

Paige's face brightened.

"That is the perfect attitude for the dating game."

Phoebe smiled.

"Sadly yes it is."

When their teas were finished Paige put them in the sink.

She put the tray on the bench ready to put some sort of food on it for when Piper woke up hungry.

"So what is actually wrong with Piper, can I do anything?"

"Well -"

Before she could continue her sentence a demon orbed into the room.

His hands were circled with Fire and his eyes were blood red, he had a hungry snarl on his face and was dressed in a black priest's gown.

"It's time to die now Charmed ones."

………………..To Be continued…………………………