Of All the People

Chapter 27

By teal-lover

Summary: Wyatt reflects on the events after Chris Crossed and decides to do something about it.

Rating: PG13, T

Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed, just borrowing, promise to give them back when done, don't get any money for this.

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No one had breathed a word to Chris of the events surrounding his conception, including Phoebe. Especially since her sisters had come up with a powerful blocking spell that prevented her from talking about it. And so life went back to normal—well what passed for normal—in the Halliwell household over the next few months.

Chris was exhausted after hunting down a new lead on who would turn Wyatt. He collapsed on the couch in the attic with the Book of Shadows resting on his lap. Chris still couldn't understand why the sisters had converted part of the room into a living space, and insisted that he use it as his own. Unless the old adage about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer applied…

But he had to admit, the truce they had agreed to did seem to be working. The Charmed Ones didn't really complain anymore when it came to finding those responsible for Wyatt's downfall. Even Leo had backed off and stopped following him. Perhaps the scare where the cult nearly turned baby Wyatt had shaken them up. Good, he thought with a satisfied smirk. Makes my job just that much easier. Should have thought of doing that before.

He began to drift off until the sound of orbing made him jerk his head upright. Baby Wyatt now sat next to him, staring open-mouthed with the widest, most innocent eyes Chris could ever remember seeing. He couldn't help but smile as the toddler climbed over his leg and settled himself into his lap. "Hey, little guy. What are you doing up here? You know Piper's going to have a fit if you keep running off on her like this."

Wyatt's only answer was to plug his thumb in his mouth and nestle himself deeper into his brother's arms, leaving Chris to wonder exactly what the boy sensed that made him feel safe enough to do this. "So you're going for the weird kick too, huh? Come on then, let's get you back to bed."

Chris ran his hand against the soft golden locks and rose from his seat, finally noticing Piper standing in the doorway with a gentle smile. He immediately went to hand her the child and explained defensively, "He orbed up here on his own, I swear."

Piper backed up and refused to take him. "I know. Don't worry about it, Chris. You saved him. He trusts you now. More than that, he likes you too. I think he kind of sees you as a big brother or something."

Chris' eyes widened in panic for moment as he stared at the woman, trying to gauge if she knew more than she was telling—if she had figured out his identity. He thought he saw a flicker of recognition in her eyes, but it was gone in an instant and the butterflies in his stomach settled back down with relief. She was probably just using a figure of speech or something. He tried to hand the toddler off, but she refused again.

"No, you take him. Put him to bed. I already tried, but apparently he wants you to do it."

"He's had his bath?"

At her slight nod, Chris shrugged his acceptance and headed off with the toddler in his arms.

When she was sure he was out of sight and earshot, Piper couldn't hold it in any longer. Her shoulders shook with quiet sobs and she leaned into her husband's embrace, who had just de-cloaked himself.

"Did you see his face? He was terrified that I knew. Leo, he was never planning on telling us. I'm not going to get to hear him call me mom, am I?"

Leo didn't know what to say as to his son's intentions. But he knew without a doubt that he wasn't going to let the young man return to the future without admitting the truth. Because he wasn't going to let him go without holding him at least once. "I promise you that won't happen, Piper."

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Six months later…

Chris finished drawing the triquetra that would take him home on the wall at magic school. Leo and the sisters stood behind him anxiously waiting for their chance to say goodbye and thank you for saving Wyatt. He laid the chalk down despondently, knowing that it was probably the last time he would ever see his mother alive again and wished that he could say a proper goodbye.

"So I guess this is it, huh?" he said while extending his hand to Leo. Chris shuffled his feet nervously. "I know it's none of my business, but I was just kind of wondering if you and Piper were going to get back together. I mean, that's the way it was in my original future and I'd hate to go back knowing that I was the cause of separating you guys."

Leo took the proffered hand and smiled mischievously. "So you admit sending me to Valhalla?"

Chris suddenly looked like a fish out of water as he opened and closed his mouth, not a sound able to escape.

Leo let him off the hook and pulled him into his arms. "It's ok, Chris. I know you only did what you had to. And why you didn't tell us."

"WHAT?" Chris yelled as the sisters moved in teary-eyed to share in the hug.

Leo pulled him in tighter, offering an explanation. "Christopher. It was my father's name. And yes, to answer your question, your mother and I are back together. I'm never going to leave my family again, Chris—I promise."

Phoebe pranced around, dying to say something, but the spell still prevented her from uttering a word until the others did first. When Leo finally explained, she fanned herself letting out a sigh of relief.

Chris gaped in stunned silence and allowed himself to be shuffled around from one embrace to another, finally asking his mother, "You knew?"

"Yes. You didn't think I was going to let my baby get away without telling him how proud I am that he came here? Did you?"

"I didn't think—I mean, I thought I did a good job of hiding it."

"Please don't be mad, Chris. We didn't want to make this any harder for you."

"No, I'm not mad. Just surprised, I guess. I suppose it really doesn't matter now." With a cheshire grin, he leaned in closer, feeling genuinely happy for the first time in months. "I love you so much, Mom…"

andA Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World continued…

EPILOG TO FOLLOW.