A/N: All italics in this chapter are either memories or dreams. Enjoy!

Chapter 8-

Wyatt raised the athame high above his head, and brought it down. Piper cried out as blood gushed out from a wound in her side, and she fell to the ground. Wyatt laughed and shimmered out.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Piper muttered, holding a hand over her mouth.

"Mum, no, please, you don't have to die," a hysterical Chris said.

She looked at him, her eyes filling with tears. But she wouldn't cry, not in front of her son.

"Dad!" Chris yelled desperately. "Dad! Please come; I need you! Mum needs you! DAD!"

"Listen to me, Peanut," Piper said faintly. "It's okay. Everything happens for a reason."

"I'm sorry, Mum," Chris said, tears shining in his eyes. "It's my fault. If only I could-"

"No. No this is not your fault, Chris," Piper said firmly. "It's Wyatt's, and whoever turned him."

"Mum, please you can't go, I'll be all alone," Chris cried.

"No, sweetie, you'll be fine," Piper promised. "And you'll never be alone. I'll be looking after you and your brothers, even Wyatt. Look after your cousins."

Her eyes closed.

"You can't die!" Chris whimpered. "I love you!"

"I love you too, Peanut," Piper whispered, her eyes closing.

"No! No, please!" howled Chris. But it was too late.

Chris wrapped his arms around his knees. The attic was silent except for his wracking sobs, as he rocked back and forwards. All of a sudden, the room began to shake.

Leo orbed in, looking annoyed. "Chris, I could feel the power surge all the way 'Up There'! Why on earth are you making the room-"

His face drained of all colour as he saw Piper, lying dead on the floor.

"What- what happened?" Leo asked in shock.

"Wyatt killed her!" Chris said. "I called and called for you but you didn't come/"

"I was in a meeting," Leo said softly, and then his face hardened. "And don't you dare make up such horrible lies about your brother. I know you're jealous of him, but-"

"Lies?" Chris replied, now furious. "You're such an IDIOT, Leo! Do you have your head in the clouds, or something? Well, I suppose you and your Elder pals all do. For the last three years, Wyatt has managed to take over most of the country! Most of the witches here are dead thanks to your precious Twice-blessed son. He's the ruler of the Underworld!"

"Liar," Leo hissed. "I know you're upset, but there's no need to blame your brother. All he's ever done is protected you, and this is the thanks he gets."

"Get OUT!" Chris yelled.

"This is my house too," Leo replied.

"Not anymore!" Chris said angrily. "We only put up with you for Mum's sake and now she's gone. Wyatt's hardly ever around, so now the Manor belongs to Zach and I. We'll be living here with Mel, Myra and Cia. I'm sure Grandpa wouldn't mind moving in here, too."

"Zach and I?" Phoebe asked, startled.

"Just watch!" Zach replied. "I promise, I'll tell you anything you want to know as soon as we get out of here."

"Fine!" Leo replied, coldly. "Now that Wyatt's left, I suppose I don't really have any reason to stay, do I?"

And with that, he orbed out. Chris sank to the floor again, cradling his mother's hand.

"I am so going to kill Leo as soon as we get out of here," Phoebe muttered. Paige and Piper both nodded in agreeance.

"No!" Zach said angrily. "I assure you, I want him dead just as much as you do, probably more, but he hasn't done anything yet. We have to keep him alive, if only so Chris and I can be born."

"So, you are my son?" Piper choked out. "I'm so sorry, I was horrible to you and Zach..."

"It's okay, Piper. Really," Zach told her, turning away before he could see the hurt look on her face. "You didn't know. Besides, you're not really the Mum I knew. Not for years..."

They could feel themselves getting swept into another memory. Chris looked about twenty, here. He was in a dungeon, again, but this one was lined with cold, steel beds, with thin white covers. There was a sink at one end of the room, and two doors, one besides the sink, one opposite it. The woman they recognized as Bianca sat besides Chris on a bed. She looked only slightly older than Chris.

"The spies were captured," she said, in a low voice.

Chris nodded his head slightly. "I expected it," he said expressionlessly.

"You have to go back, you know," Bianca said, looking at him intensely. "You're the only one who can. And we have no hope, here."

"It could seriously mess up things!" Chris snapped. "Do you really want that to happen?"

"I don't care what happens, as long as you go back and kill that bastard!" Bianca retorted.

"I can't," Chris replied despairingly. "I couldn't kill a baby. Especially not my brother."

"Chris, you have killed dozens of people!" Bianca said, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. "What's so different about a baby?"

"Nothing," Chris muttered. "You're right. I'll go back and I'll kill him."

"Chris was planning on killing Wyatt?" Piper asked, hysterically.

Zach nodded uneasily. "Well, yes, but you don't know what he's done. He's destroyed most of the world, Piper. You need to get used to the fact that he isn't some sweet little toddler in our world. He's a monster."

Piper flinched, hearing her name; somewhat wishing he would call her Mum.

"Is he still trying to kill Wyatt?" Paige asked, uncharacteristically serious.

"He can't," Zach replied. "He lied to Bianca. It's true, he's killed dozens of people, but I guess in the end, he couldn't kill his own brother."

Once again, the memories changed. Chris was kneeling in a cemetery, and he seemed about the same age as in the last memory, perhaps younger. The sky was grey and lined with clouds, and there was absolute silence. They could see the city ruins, far away, though very obvious.

Four headstones were standing in a row, each with a different description on it. One headstone was obviously a lot older than the rest. They edged closer, to see the four different names. 'Prudence', 'Piper', 'Phoebe' and 'Paige'.

"Oh, god," Phoebe said breathlessly. "We're all dead."

"Poor Chris," Paige muttered. "And you too, Zach."

Zach shook his head. "It wasn't so hard for me. But Chris witnessed every one of your deaths."

"I'm sorry," Chris said, looking at each individual headstone. "For everything. Not saving you, not saving Wyatt, kicking out Leo, not doing more to save Grandpa –everything." He looked up at the grey sky. "I'm not so neurotic now, huh? I probably shouldn't be standing out in the open talking right now, but I can't bring myself to care. I just wanted to talk to you, even if you can't reply. If there's even a small chance you can hear me..."

"My poor baby," Piper cried. "He thinks it's his fault!"

"He always thinks it's his fault," sighed Zach.

"I'm not sure if I can stop him, but I'm going to do everything I can to save Wyatt," Chris continued, sighing. "Come to think of it, he's probably got this place bugged. If you can hear me though, please remember I love you. And I'm sorry."

And with that, the three sisters and Zach could feel themselves being pulled out of the memories, and into the real world.

"I'm going to die soon," Chris said uncaringly.

Wyatt paled considerably. "You've got hours left!"

Chris tilted his head in what was plainly supposed to be a shrug. "It doesn't matter. Zach can handle what I was going to do."

Wyatt growled. "You're both coming back to the future with me. If I have to, I'll control you both with a spell."

Chris rolled his eyes. "Too bad, Wyatt," he replied. "I don't think they're going to find a way to save me. I'm not sure if I even want to be saved."

"Of course you want to!" Wyatt replied harshly. "Don't be stupid. Nothing's worse than being dead."

"Yeah. Right," Chris replied sarcastically.

"Anyway, if you simply promised to willingly come back to the future with me, I'd heal you," Wyatt told him.

"What makes you think I'd keep that promise?" Chris sneered. "I've lied plenty of times before."

"Not to me," said Wyatt. "I know you, Chris."

"They're back!" said Chris, pointing at the three sisters whose spirits had reappeared in their bodies next to the couch. A similar thing had happened to Zach, besides them.

"How do we get him back?" Chris could hear Phoebe saying to her sisters, standing over Chris' real body.

Tears were streaming down Piper's cheeks. "I don't know if we can. Zach never told us what to say."

"Those memories were supposed to help us," said Paige, frustrated. "What did they tell us?"

"That Chris is lonely and led a horrible life," Piper replied. "That I'm a terrible mother."

Piper leaned forwards and stroked Chris' hair.

"Look, Chris, I know I'm not the mother you knew, but if you give me a chance, I'm sure I could become her," she said, tears coarsing down her cheeks. "I barely know you, but I'm still proud of you. I love you... Peanut."

Chris felt himself disappearing. He closed his eyes and when he opened them, he was lying on the couch in his body.

"Mum?" he said, almost dreamily, at Piper standing before him.

"Sleep, sweetie," she whispered, running her hand down his face lovingly.

And he slept.

"I just- can't believe it," Piper whispered, sitting on the ground, besides Zach. Paige and Phoebe had wanted to talk in the kitchen, but Piper wouldn't leave Chris' side. Wyatt had left, with a malicious promise that he'd be coming back soon. Zach had seen a thought that had flittered through his mind, and knew it was because he didn't entirely trust the demons he had left his baby-self with. Piper would have been more worried about her baby son, except she didn't think Wyatt would take any chances with himself.

"Was I a good Mum?" Piper asked Zach.

"You were a great Mum," Zach replied, smiling at her.

"I hope Leo and Cole are back soon," Phoebe said, glancing at her watch.

"You can't blame Cole for wanting to get some fresh air," Paige replied, glancing out the window. "Did you figure out what we're going to tell them?"

"Leo can't know," Zach said bluntly.

"Why not?" Phoebe asked; her brow furrowed in confusion.

"I just don't want him to know," Zach replied stubbornly. "And neither does Chris. Will you please keep this a secret?"

"You know me with secrets," Phoebe said, smiling, rather happily. "I'll try, but- I can't make any guarantees."

Zach sighed, and then nodded. "I guess that'll have to do."

"Hello?" Chris called. He was in a plain, brown room with no windows, doors or any way of getting out. Instantly, someone orbed in. He looked almost identical to Wyatt, except he had shorter hair and was wearing jeans and a red t-shirt instead of the black Wyatt always wore. The most noticeable difference, however, was the warm look on his face.

"Wyatt?" Chris asked in confusion.

The boy nodded happily. "Though I'm not the Wyatt you know. I'm the Wyatt that should be. The one that will be if you save me from turning."

"Do you know who did it?" Chris asked.

"Yes," the boy whispered, now looking cautiously around the room. "I'm not sure if they can here me now, though..."

"We'll have to take that chance," Chris said grimly.

"Chris... Aunt Prue's death... she was pregnant," Wyatt told him.

"I know!" Chris replied, slightly frustrated. "I was there, remember?"

"Who would want to kill the child of a Charmed One?" Wyatt asked him. "Because someone hired that demon. Someone who didn't think I should have been born..."

He disappeared with one last smile, just as Chris started drifting back to sleep.

"He's stirring," Phoebe said softly, looking at Chris.

He shifted. "Wyatt..." he muttered.

"No, sweetie, it's Mum," Piper said. "Wyatt's gone."

Chris opened his eyes. "Piper?" he asked in surprise.

"No, Mum," she replied firmly.

"Ugh, great," Chris muttered. "What did I let slip?"

"Well, it wasn't you, we went back in your memories to save you," Piper explained. "But we found out who you and Zach really are! Don't worry, Zach made us promise not to tell Leo."

Chris sighed. "He already knows about Zach." He glanced at his brother. "You really need to shield some of those thoughts."

Zach glared at him.

"So, we should probably try and find baby Wyatt," Chris said. "He's still with big Wyatt isn't he?"

"Yes he is, but you're not going anyway," Piper said. "You need to rest!"

"Look, Piper, I appreciate the concern, but I just can't-" Chris stopped, realizing he didn't know what exactly to say.

"Look, I saw my death in your memories, Chris, but we're going to change all that," Piper told him gently.

Chris' face hardened. "I told you, that some things had to stay in the future!" Chris said angrily. "Future consequences, remember?"

The Charmed Ones looked slightly ashamed of themselves.

"We just wanted to help you," Paige pleaded.

Leo and Cole chose that moment to walk in.

"Hey, guys! Good to see you're all okay," Leo said cheerfully.

They sat in awkward silence for a few moments, as Piper, Phoebe, Paige, Chris and Zach all glared at Leo.

"Um, baby Wyatt? Remember?" said Chris, realizing he was wasting precious demon-hunting time.

"Relax," Piper told him. "If he's with his grown-up Wyatt, he'll be safe."

"Maybe the grown-up Wyatt is what turns him evil," Paige mused.

Chris shook his head. "He didn't come back in the original timeline unless he did it in secret. And..." He wondered briefly whether he should tell them about his dream, then decided against it.

"And what?" Paige persisted.

Chris shook his head. "Nothing."

"Can't we summon baby Wyatt?" Cole asked.

The others looked at him, as though just realizing he was there.

"Wyatt was have shielded him after what happened the first time," Chris replied.

Phoebe was looking from Leo to Piper to Chris to Zach, wondering how she could have missed it. Chris and Zach had Piper's cheekbones and hair, Leo's eyes...

"Yes, Phoebe?" Leo asked. Phoebe realised she had been staring at him too long.

"Nothing, Leo," she said, smiling nervously.

Suddenly, somebody orbed in, and threw an energy ball at the wall. They all jumped, and turned around to face the figure. It was Wyatt.

"Where is my baby-self?" he roared angrily, another energy ball forming in his hand. "Where did you take him?"

"We didn't take him!" Chris said. "We were looking for him as well, as a matter of fact."

Now Wyatt looked confused, and all traces of the evil-tyrant disappeared. The energy ball in his hand disintegrated.

"You didn't?" he asked, calming down.

"No, but we're going to find him," Zach said calmly. "Now, can you please leave?"

Chris and Zach were probably the only two people who would speak back to Wyatt in their world, and it appeared this one was pretty much the same. Phoebe and Paige looked horrified, and Leo and Piper looked upset. Cole looked faintly amused.

Wyatt chucked some more energy balls and some lightning at the wall, then left.

"We're lucky he has bad aim," Paige said appreciating.

Chris snickered. "Bad aim? No, he actually has very good aim. I should know. I'm pretty sure that was just to scare us."

"Oh," Paige muttered.

"Haven't you all realised what this means?" Piper shrieked. "My baby son is missing!"

And they finally grasped the gravity of the situation.

A/N: Well, it's finally starting to get interesting. I'll probably have Leo find out who Chris is in the next chapter. As to the dream Chris had, I wasn't sure who to put as the 'messenger' but decided on Wyatt in the end. Please review!