Chapter 15

"I love you, you know that right?" Chris asked softly as he continued to stroke Bianca's hair.

Bianca, who was cuddling by Chris's shoulder, snorted"Do you really think I would be marrying you if I thought otherwise?"

Smiling at his fiancée's sarcasm, Chris took the time to lapse in the relaxing atmosphere. The couple was sprawled out on their new bed in what used to be Wyatt's room. After his family had prodded him continuously on how his face had gotten bashed in, not for a second believing his story of running into the wall, they had finally given up once they realized the secret would forever stay between the two younger brothers.

Quickly being released from the care of the hospital, Chris had been orbed home, courtesy of his father, and ordered to rest while his other family member's packed his and Bianca's few belongings and moved it back to the manor. Wyatt had also insisted that he should go tell Chris's boss that he was quitting, refusing to let his brother out of bed. Chris suspected Wyatt had had a disagreement with his boss when he came storming pass the bedroom shortly after the meeting, muttering a few well chosen names. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help but feel a little satisfaction that his older brother had actually given that guy a piece of his mind after all the hell he put Chris through.

That had all been a week ago. He had to admit... it was awkward to be back with his family... back into this house. At first, Chris had to strain to hold back the bad memories from flooding his mind. Trying to remind himself that he should give everyone a fresh new start. But now, the tension of everyone tip-toeing around each other's boundaries was practically unbearable.

"So... Do you think this was for the best"? Chris questioned as he absently stared at the ceiling, slinging one arm around Bianca.

"Moving back home?"

"Yeah."

Lifting herself up, she propped her head onto her elbow and stared at her husband with confusion and concern"Are you having second thoughts? Is it... too soon for you to be with them?"

Letting out a deep and thoughtful sigh, Chris shook his head "I don't know what I'm thinking... but it's like every time I see them, there's always something so... unnatural about it. Stiff. Not like a family should be. I mean, me and Ryan are okay because we had it all out. We already eliminated the tension between us. But with everyone else... it's like a time bomb... ticking away... I know the blow out is soon to come... but I just don't know when."

"So you've been feeling the tension too, huh? I don't know how much longer I can keep up this fake cheerful, politeness with them either."

Shutting his eyes, he released a deep breath"I just can't seem to relax anywhere, huh?"

As she silently watched her fiancée suffer from his inner turmoil's, she felt herself get lost in her pity for him. No matter what she tried, it just didn't seem enough to help. She continued to muse when her thoughts were cut off,

"Don't."

Snapped from her thoughts, her gaze returned to the bright emerald eyes that stared back at her"Don't what?"

"Don't pity me. And stop blaming yourself."

Looking bewildered and slightly amused, she replied with a nonchalant shrug and bluffed "That's not what I was thinking at all."

Smirking in return, Chris looked slightly bemused"Oh really? What were you thinking then."

"About doing this." And with that, she straddled his waist and began to smother him with kisses.

"Bianca-don't-squash-the-baby" Chris breathed with a laugh in between kisses as he carefully placed a protective hand across the massive belly.

Giggling, she carefully began to unbutton Chris's shirt, all the while keeping her lips pressed against his. Just as Chris's shirt was about to be thrown off, the sound of orbs filled the room.

"Hey guys, did you know you're door was locked?" Ryan asked with a cocked eyebrow as he watched his brother scramble to get his shirt back on and Bianca turn a bright shade of red as she clambered off of his brother.

Glaring at the intruder, Chris sarcastically remarked"It obviously didn't stop you from entering. Knock around much, Ry?"

Not being able to resist teasing his brother, he replied "Clearly not as much as you two."

"Did you actually want something? You know, besides ruining my privacy?"

"Breakfast is ready."

Struggling to lift her disproportioned body, Bianca smiled before answering"Thanks, Ry. We'll be down in a sec."

"No problem, sis" Ryan teased back as he exited the room.

Chris had to smile at the two's interaction. 'Perhaps there's hope after all.'

"So how are you feeling today Chris?" Piper questioned as she took another sip of her coffee.

Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, he stared down at his plate and shrugged. "Okay, I guess" he muttered as he pushed the food around his plate. He wasn't used to having the attention placed on him, especially during a sit down meal. Resorting to his old ways, he avoided eye contact with any of the others and kept his head bent.

Swapping anxious glances with each other, Phoebe and Leo tried to fill the awkward pause with casual conversation.

"So Bianca, how's the morning sickness been? Not too bad I hope" Leo tried.

Phoebe quickly jumped in with a fake smile plastered across her face "Yeah, I remember Piper couldn't keep anything down with her pregnancies."

"Really. Uhm... they've been okay for me. Comes and goes... but that's natural during this stage of pregnancy so, I'm not too worried" Bianca replied as she chewed on her bottom lip and threw a quick glance towards Chris.

Once again, the room was filled with a thick silence that enveloped all the occupants of the room. The faint sound of silverware scraping against glass was heard as well the occasional slurping.

As Wyatt observed the stiffness between each of his family members, he tried hard to keep from rolling his eyes "Alright. It's been a week of this already. Can we just get out what we're gonna say, because I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to bust."

Everyone's head turned towards Wyatt with a look of surprise from his sudden outburst, but also with look of interest since they had all been feeling the same way the past week.

Turning towards Chris, Wyatt looked him in the eye for a moment... contemplating what he was about to say. "Chris. I just want to let you know... I know I'm never going to be able to make it up to you, but-"

A look of panic and confusion swept over his younger brother's face as he swiftly interrupted "What? Wy... you didn't do anything wrong. And besides... all of that was the past. I just want to make a fresh start... with everyone."

Shaking her head, Paige couldn't help but bud in "It doesn't work like that though, Chris. I know you have past... issues with all of us. Let's face it. We screwed up royally as your family. There's gotta be some emotions bottled up inside of you. I don't know, Resentment. Disappointment. Anger. Something? You've gotta let it out Chris. We can't move on with you keeping those emotions inside of you."

"It's okay to let it out, Chris. We're here to listen. We all are. Don't worry about hurting us; we deserve hearing this from you. I'm willing to make this work between us. No matter what" Leo firmly stated as he gazed at his son's uneasy form.

Shutting his eyes, Chris looked away, being unable keep eye contact with anyone. That was always his one weakness. No matter how smoothly he could tell a lie, his eyes always revealed the truth.

"I don't blame you guys for anything... really... its over. I won't hold grudges" he whispered as he let out a shuddering breath.

Staring straight at his brother's slumped form, Wyatt shook his head "That's bull shit, and you know it Chris."

"Wyatt!" Piper exclaimed at Wyatt's harsh words.

Turning towards his mom, Wyatt held her gaze "What? He obviously isn't telling the truth! He's been doing this for the past eighteen years and look at where it got him!" Whipping around, Wyatt stood up off his chair knocking it backwards "If that's really how you feel, then why don't you look all of us in the eye and tell us again! Huh!"

Chris remained in his slumped position, face bent downwards and away from his family. Unable to conjure a reply.

"With you yelling like that, I don't blame him for not answering you?" Ryan remarked as he scowled at his oldest brother.

Wyatt couldn't help but snort "Easy for you to say after you became all chummy chummy with him!" At that, Ryan was left wordless as the truth behind those words struck him silent.

"Wyatt, you need to calm down."

"No! If Chris here won't tell me how he really feels, then I guess he'll just have to listen to me! I'm sorry, alright! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I wasn't there for you as much as I should've! I'm sorry I didn't take enough time to notice you were depressed! I'm sorry for everything, okay! But what the hell I don't understand is why you keep trying to pull this super hero act! Act human for once Chris! Scream, lose your temper, kick, fucking do something! Act selfish, think about yourself for once! Be a teen!" Wyatt searched desperately for a response from his brother, but when he found none, he felt the mounting frustration.

Prodding him sharply with his finger, Wyatt continued to scream at his brother "Why won't you just let it out! For once, just let it out Chris! Dammit, say something!"

Face flushed with fury, Bianca stood and gave Wyatt a strong shove"Don't touch him like that!"

"You know what, I'm sick of acting all goody goody with you! He's my little brother and I'll do whatever the hell I want!"

"Like I really enjoyed kissing everyone's ass here! And who the hell gave any of you the right to demand anything from Chris! If anything, you should be obeying his every order right now!"

"No one asked you to come here you know! So why don't you do all of us a favor and get the fuck out while I talk with my brother!"

Before anyone could release another word, Chris had Wyatt pinned up against the kitchen wall, face flushed with pure fury. Despite Chris's obvious physical handicap compared to his brother, he kept a strong hold as he glared daggers straight into his eyes.

"Don't you ever fucking talk like that to my wife again! You have no right to talk to her like that! Ever! None of you do!" Chris hissed as he released his brother from his death grip and backed away.

Piper reached out a hesitant hand towards Chris's shoulder "Calm down, sweetie. Everyone's just a little worked up right now..."

But Wyatt didn't seem to want to give in just yet "No, mom. Let him! What, Chris? Do I have to yell at your wife every time I want to get a rise out of you! To get you mad enough to react! Huh!"

Chris finally lost it at his brother's words, grabbing Wyatt by the front of his shirt Chris finally let the truth spill out as sobs wracked across his speech "I can't, alright! I can't let it out, because I don't freakin' know how! Is that what you want to hear, Wy? Is that what all of you want to hear! I can't act on my emotions because I don't know how! I can't throw temper tantrums or think about myself like a normal teen, because I don't know how to be a normal teen! Don't you get it! I've never been or never will be the normal teen you guys want me to be! So if you guys think me moving back here will let you guys catch up on my childhood and teenage years, you're wrong! Because I never had a childhood! I don't know how to be a kid! This is why I'm willing to give up everything for this baby! I swore I would do anything in my power to make sure my child will h-have the ch-childhood I missed out on... bec-cause i know I-I'm never g-gonna have t-that c-ch-chance..."

As Chris fell to his knees sobbing, still clutching onto Wyatt, the room was left in a devastated shock with the new revelation.

Wyatt knelt down by his brother and clutched him tightly as he felt his own tears spill across "I'm s-sorry... I'm s-sorry, Chris..."

Piper silently knelt by her two sons as she softly rubbed soothing circles into her younger son's back, the other hand covering her mouth as she silently sobbed.

The tension was finally broken, but at the cost of a misfortune.

At precisely this bitter-sweet moment, a revelation was made as everyone finally let their grief out in heart wrenching sobs and gave comfort to the ones they valued most in life. For the first time ever, the Halliwells reached a mutual understanding.

Tbc...