Disclaimer:

None of these characters are mine. All characters from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Charmed are the property of Joss Whedon and Aaron Spelling, respectively.

Summary:

Crossover between the Charmed and Buffy universes. The entire Halliwell family discusses placing surveillance on the children. Xander has a different plan.

Author's Note:

Thanks to Erica and nelle-fang for their invaluable assistance in getting this chapter ready to post. I couldn't have done it without you guys.

In Chapter 9, "The Elders Said What," Xander returned – as a white lighter. I plan to have the entire Scooby Gang together in the finale chapter of my story. But, how did Xander die? Did he die doing something silly? Was he doing something noble, such as saving someone's life? Was he fighting demons? Or was it just a stupid (or sordid) accident? Let me know! I'll tally the results and the most popular will be included in my finale chapter!

Chapter Eleven – Chris' First Battle

Halliwell Manor – the Kitchen

Paige waited until Phoebe had come home. She'd just met the new white lighter and, for some reason, he'd taken a dislike to her. That puzzled Paige. She'd never met a guy who wasn't attracted to Phoebe. Oh, well, I guess I'll have to solve that mystery later. Actually, she was secretly grateful since she had found herself attracted to the goofy looking white lighter. Still, she had more important things to do right now. Like...

"Um, guys, we need to have a family meeting."

"We do?" Phoebe asked confused. "Did I miss something?"

"Paige's right, Phoebe." Piper replied. "We need to tell you what Leo found out with the Elders."

"No, Piper. This is something different. Something more important."

"More important that Cole's reappearance?"

"Yes, Phoebe." Paige replied, exasperated. "There are more important things in life than your man problems."

"Paige!" Piper exclaimed.

Xander took that time to clear his throat. He was beginning to feel like he was going to have to referee this family meeting, and he was afraid it may turn into full-contact wrestling. "Um, ladies? Perhaps I should get gone? I don't want to intrude on something personal."

Leo looked at him. "Where will you be? I haven't really discussed your training, yet."

Xander smiled. "I was only thinking of watching tv. I haven't seen any in over a year. If that's okay?"

Piper chuckled. "Sure, you haven't missed much."

They watched him leave the room and then turned back to Paige. "So what's up, Paige?"

"It's about Chris. When I had lunch with Darryl today, it was because Cole wanted to speak to both of us about Chris."

Piper snorted in outrage. "Is he still threatening to call Social Services?"

"Piper! No!" Paige's outburst surprised her sisters. She was defending Cole? "Cole doesn't believe you or Leo know anything about whatever's going on with Chris. He just wanted to help."

Phoebe snorted in disbelief. Paige stared at her and pressed on. "It's true. You can call Darryl. He asked us both together because he thought that we could figure it out. Darryl being an outsider and trained to observe, and me, because I'd been a social worker. He just wanted us to take a look. He just let us know about some things he saw that made him suspicious. Honestly, guys, they made me suspicious."

Piper and Phoebe looked unconvinced. However, Leo looked worried. What if something was going on with Chris? "Piper, we have to at least check into it. What if he's right? If we do nothing, what kind of parents does that make us?"

Piper started to cave. "Why would he notice and not us?"

Paige sighed in relief. "Because he's from outside, he's not living here. He can see things that we may not notice. He did say he had a son, maybe he has experience."

"A son?" Phoebe squeaked.

"I repeat, Phoebe, this is NOT about your problems about men, it's about our nephew."

"Well, what did Cole suggest we do?" Piper asked tersely.

"It wasn't Cole who came up with a solution. It was Darryl."

"Well?"

"He thinks we should put a camera in the rooom and see what they do." Paige tensed herself for the coming explosion.

BANG! Paige looked up. The clock had exploded. Well, she thought, at least it wasn't me.

Halliwell Manor – Family Room

Xander looked up at the sound of an explosion. No wonder these kids are screwed up, living with three crazy sisters. He shook his head ruefully, and not for the first time wondered if he was the right person for this job. He sighed and turned his head back to the TV. It was Scooby-Doo. He smiled at the rightness of it. He missed the girls and, yes, even Giles. But everything was different now. He closed his eyes and tried to pay attention to the conflict brewing upstairs.

Chris had to do this by himself. He had to know that he could stand on his own two feet. He groaned. Why did they let it come to this? Those damn Elders were as bad the Watchers Council. Just standing back watching everything fall apart, and, then at the last minute, sending someone to fix it. Don't these people every look ahead? He wondered if the Elders even remembered being white lighters themselves. Somehow he doubted it.

He looked up. Yes, things were coming to a head. It shouldn't be much longer now. He just hoped that the parents didn't interfere. This had to be Chris' doing. It was too late for anything else. The poor kid. He'd have been better off had he been Cole's son. He chuckled. Cole may be a demon, he may have killed a lot of witches, he may even have been the King of Hell, but he was a hell of a dad. He looked up again. Almost time. I'd better get up there. He said a small prayer to himself and orbed upstairs.

Wyatt and Chris' Bedroom

Chris was playing happily on his bed with the toys Aunt Paige had brought home for him. It was Mr. Turner's toys... the bomb squad man and the bomb sniffer dog that he played with the other day. Today was a pretty good day. He didn't know what was going on downstairs. There was a stranger down there with his momma and poppa. And it sounded like Aunt Phoebe was home. He put down the dog for a second while he reached for a cookie. Oh, no, he thought as he saw the orbing light out of the corner of his eye. Wyatt. He looked across the room and Wyatt was holding the dog in his hands. He was going to break it in two. Chris' eyes teared up, today wasn't a good day anymore.

"Wyatt, stop! Give it back! It's mine!"

"Wyatt, stop!" Wyatt repeated. "You're such a whiner, Chris. If I want something I take it. What, you going to stop me?"

And, just then, something snapped in Chris. He knew he had to stop this or it would keep on happening. And, one day, Wyatt would do it to someone that couldn't fight back. Chris realized that if he wanted to be a policeman, he'd have to start acting like one. So, he did the only thing he could think of... he screamed and ran to tackle his brother.

Downstairs

Everything stopped downstairs upon hearing Chris' battle cry. Of course, it just sounded like a scream. For a second, everyone looked at each other and then everyone ran for the stairs. Paige grabbed Phoebe, and Leo grabbed Piper and orbed them straight upstairs. They found themselves behind Xander outside the children's bedroom watching an incredible scene. As Piper made to push herself past Xander, he held her and motioned her to be silent. "Stop! This is important. Chris is standing up to a bully. He has to do this himself." He whispered.

Piper shook her head in disbelief. But she held her ground and looked inside the room. Wyatt was holding a small dog figure, much like the one Chris had been playing with in Cole's office. And, Wyatt had such a mean look in his eyes. He was mocking and ridiculing his brother. And, Chris was mad. Chris was very, very mad. Chris leaped on top of Wyatt. Wyatt laughed and tried to project his shield. When Chris saw what he was going to do, he yelled. And then it happened. They all gasped.

The shield broke. As if it was glass, it was shattered in a thousand directions. What on earth was that? But it the chance Chris needed. He landed on top of his brother and started to hit him. And as he hit him, he cried. It was as if a dam had broke inside him. After a while, he got up and took the dog, undamaged. Wyatt was just laying there stunned.

Chris stood up and wiped his face. He looked at his brother with new eyes. Wyatt wasn't special. He wasn't special at all. He was just a bully, that's all. "You're not twice blessed, Wyatt. You're twice cursed. You're cursed with meanness and cursed with pride. You're just plain mean. And I'm not gonna put up with you anymore. You won't break my crayons, or my toys, or my color books anymore!" Chris was standing over him now with a new strength in his eyes. "And if you do, you'll get more of what you got today. Understand?"

Wyatt didn't say a word. The only sound was Chris' breathing and a strange sort of whimpering from Wyatt. Then he took a breath and looked at his brother. "You hurt me, Chris. I'm telling Mom."

"Go ahead. I'll tell her what you've done to me."

Wyatt slowly stood up, and then he grinned nastily. "So? She won't believe you."

Chris shrugged his shoulders. "I know. That doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that I believe in me. Who cares about the others."

Piper couldn't stand it anymore, she started to weep. Silently, at first, but then it came out louder and louder until she was collapsed on the floor with Leo holding her. Xander looked at them. Well, they should have known. God help me from ignorant parents. Xander stepped into the room in between the two boys.

"Chris, I believe you. You did the right thing. You should always stand up to bullies, especially when they're your own brother." He turned to Wyatt. "You. Grab some pj's. You'll also need your toothbrush, some paper, and your crayons."

Wyatt looked at him. "Why? I don't know you. Who are you?"

Xander smiled cooly. "Why, I'm your white lighter, yours and Chris'. Now, it seems obvious that Chris is on the right path. You, however, are so far off the path you couldn't see it with a halogen lamp. Now, move. You and I are moving into the basement. You're going to be staying down there until you learn."

"Mom!" Wyatt yelled as Xander orbed him and the bed into the basement.

Chris looked up into his father's eyes. "You see, I am special."

Leo and Piper were too ashamed to meet their son's eyes.