Chapter Ten – So On & So Forth

As Chris walked back to his house, he stopped at his door step. He turned and looked around the neighborhood. How many people saw us kiss? He thought, he smiled; kissing Jess, oh yes! He looked up at the stars, and the full moon was high in the night sky. He saw a shooting star streak through the sky, if he blinked he would have missed it. He was always told to make a wish when he saw a shooting wish, but in this case he didn't have too; it already came true.

As the week ended out, the people at Hyde High School were starting to get use to that fact the first openly gay couple have come out. And they weren't the last, Friday afternoon, Brandon Fraiser and Luke Moscow two players from the Football team were to be rumored to be dating. The boys water polo players were a little uneasy around Jesse and Chris for they feared of homosexuality advances. But Jesse and Chris were too busy checking each other out that it wasn't an issue for long.

"So," Jesse said to Chris as they sat outside the school waiting for Jesse's mom to pick him up and take him to his doctor's appointment. "Does your family know?"

"Uh, yeah." Chris replied.

"They do!"

"Well, Wyatt knows." Chris began, "He figured me out, after you left that day a while back. And he had the idea of you coming over, and then we – that's the story from there."

"Oh," Jesse replied, "Right on. I tried telling my parents, but it came out with me getting a D on my Chemistry test."

Chris laughed, "Wow." He looked at his feet, "I have no idea how my parents are going to take it. I mean they discuss everything else, except this."

"True."

They both were silent for a few moments, and then Chris had a brilliant idea. "What are you doing tonight?"

"Uh, nothing probably. Why?"

"We're telling my parents." Chris said with a smile.

"We are?" Jesse asked.

"Yes, we are. We've been dating for a week, and I need to tell my mom at least. So tonight I'll break the news to my mom and dad, and you'll come over at let say around 6:30?"

Jesse looked forward, it was getting serious. He then turned his direction to Chris. "Sure, I'll be there."

"Nice." Chris replied with a smile.

"Did you mean it, when you said you loved me?"

"Excuse me, of coarse I did. I don't just say that to anyone." Chris then felt something in his heart, almost begin to hurt and question. "Is everything okay between us?"

"Yes, everything is great." Jesse said, he sense Chris' alarm and stood up, and moved in front of him and took his hands. "Its just Kim never said it too me, and in fact no has ever told me that, except my parents. And I love you too, and I just needed to make sure."

"I do love you Jesse, I really do."

"I know, and I love you." Jesse replied, and then took on hand and put behind Chris' head and kissed him. Then they heard a car coming, and Jesse pulled away from Chris, as his mothers car came around the corner.

Chris walked into the manor, everything was going to change dramatically in the next few hours in this house. It was one of those eerie feelings knowing that everything seemed perfect and felt perfect, but something big was about to go down. And no matter how it seemed, people seemed to act it off like nothing was going to happen. He put his back pack and duffle bag by the table in the entrance hall like he always did and walked through the house looking for anyone.

"Hello?" He yelled, through the house.

"In the kitchen." Yelled his mother. He followed his mothers voice and into the kitchen. He walked into the kitchen and the sweet smell of Chocolate Chip cookies swept across this nose, and he suddenly was hungry.

"Hi." Chris said as he walked in. Piper thought it was Wyatt, as she heard Chris's voice something in her was not right.

"Hi, sweetie." Piper said, as she kept her back to Chris, putting more dough on the cookie sheet. "How was school."

"School was great." Chris said taking a cookie from the counter. "What are the cookies for?"

"Just to have around." Piper replied, "Uh sweetie, can I talk to you about something."

"Yeah sure, actually I have something to tell you too, well two things."

Piper sighed, she put the sheet in the over and wiped her hands on a towel. "Okay," she turned and saw Chris leaning against the counter, eating a cookie. She then thought in her head, Look at him its obvious. He has the kind of look of this, but how can this be? I mean am I okay with this?

"What cha want to talk about?" Chris asked.

"Can you sit at the table." Piper said taking off the apron, and throwing it on the counter.

"Uh, am I in trouble?"

"No, sweetie your not."

"Okay." Chris said sitting down on the chair.

Piper kept standing, and she paced back and forth in front of her son, and then she stopped and looked at him in the eyes. "Chris," She began. "I love you, and I will always love you."

Oh god, she knows! Chris thought in his head. "Okay."

"And, its just,"

"Just what?" Chris asked.

"You and Jess, you guys have been friends for a long time for a while now."

"Since we were four, you know that. She's Wendy's son."

"Yeah," Piper continued, looking down, and then looking up. "I saw you and Jess the other night, outside."

Chris was silent, his mouth hung silently open.

"I didn't mean to peep on you guys, I really didn't. Its just when I saw you in your room and he was in there and your jeans were undone, and no one else was home. And then I looked outside cause I saw you go out there, and you looked worried or something and then I saw it."

"Oh, okay." Chris replied annoyed.

"Can I ask you something?"

Chris closed his eyes, "Yes mom, we're dating. He's my boyfriend." Something instantly pinched Piper in the stomach. Could she handle this?

Chris looked at his mother, she was standing with one hand on the counter, and one hand on her mouth. She looked at the floor, and around at anything besides her son. She then looked at the doorway, and Wyatt slowly walked he looked at Chris and his mom; he had heard the last few statements made. Chris looked at Wyatt.

"Mom," Wyatt said.

"Wyatt, please." Piper replied with her hand up.

"What's wrong, he's still Chris. He's still your son."

"You know?" She asked.

"Of coarse I know, I am the reason they are together. Chris was crushing on Jesse, and Jesse on Chris; it seemed right."

"Um, okay." Piper replied.

"Uh, I need to tell you guys some thing." Chris said standing up.

"What's up?" Wyatt replied.

"I invited Jesse over tonight, to dinner around 6:30. I want you guys to know him like I know him, to know us."

"Understandable." Wyatt replied.

"We can invite Aunt Phoebe and Paige over if you want, but I really want you guys to know him. Please."

Piper sighed, "I'll go the market and get stuff to make pasta."

Wyatt smiled.

"Thank you!" Chris said in relief.

Chris immediately ran up into his room and began to straighten everything up. Once his room was clean, he then looked around his closet, what was he going to wear? He looked over at his clock, 5:47pm. He still had time, but he looked at his jeans and shirt, not exactly entire for bring the boyfriend home in. He pulled out a polo, and a part of khaki pants and put them on. It looked alright, he then added a necklace with a leather string and a silver triquetra pendant, he then looked at the clock again, 6:13pm. Time was running short, but he needed more; What did he need?

"You're seriously not wearing that are you young man?" Said a familiar voice.

Chris turned around, he looked around. "Grams?" Materialized in front of him, was his great grandmother. She stood in a dark red dress, with beads around her neck and her blonde hair styled for the occasion. She smiled, and opened her arms for a hug.

"What are you doing here?" Chris said with smile, as he happily embraced his great grand mother.

"Why else wouldn't I be here, I want to meet him as well."

"What? You know?"

"Of coarse I know, I watch over you guys from time to time."

"Oh, um wow."

"Well now, you are not seriously wearing that are you?" Grams said looking over him.

"Well, I was thinking yeah."

"No, you need to look sharp this is a formal dinner. You need, something more fitting." Grams walked over to his closet looking through his clothes. "Here," She pulled out a blue dress shirt and black pants to match.

"What, this is just a dinner."

"Just a dinner young man, is something important. You need to make a good impression on him, and he needs to do the same with us; now put this on." Grams then walked from the room. Chris stood and thought about all of this, and she was right; but what was he going to do with all of this? He picked up his phone and called Jesse.

Grams walked down the hall, and opened up Wyatt's bedroom door. He was blasting some music, and cleaning his room.

"Wyatt Halliwell!" Grams said loudly. Wyatt had his back to her, while cleaning off a dresser.

"Wyatt!"

Still nothing was replied. She looked over at the stereo, and turned it off using her telekinesis. Wyatt looked up, and turned around.

"Hey who turned that off!" Wyatt looked and saw his great grandmother. "Grams!"

"Hello darling." She replied, walking over and hugging him.

"What, why?"

"Well for the dinner of coarse."
"You know?"

"Of coarse I do, now get dressed he'll be here soon." Grams then walked from the room and down stairs, Wyatt followed her out of the room, and as he stopped at the landing, he looked over at Chris' door and saw him watching them.

"You okay?" Wyatt asked.

"I am great, just she made dress up."

Grams walked down into the kitchen and saw Piper cooking away in the kitchen. She had made a big pot of pasta sauce, with a another pot of boiling water for the pasta. Grams also saw a big bowl of salad and the smell of bread in the oven.

"Hello my darling."
Piper turned around, and a bright smile appeared on her face. "Grams!" She walked over and hugged her. "What a surprise."

"The pleasure is mine, are you doing okay."

"I am great, why?"

"Well because of tonight, what Chris told you earlier."

"You know?"

Grams sighed, "Yes, I watch you guys from time to time. So you need help?"

"Always." Piper motioned Grams to the salad bowl, "You came for Christopher?"

"Yes, and also to see you. I missed you."

"We missed you too."

"Are you okay with Chris doing this?"

"Yes and no. I mean I love him, that will never change."

"But?" Grams said tossing he salad.

"I am okay with homosexuality, its just I never thought Chris was it himself."

"Well most people don't know that we're witches, does he know?"

"I don't know." Piper said biting her lip, "You think he does?"

"Well he will eventually, I mean no relationship without honest truth. And how long can Chris battle demons and forces of evil without telling him."

"Yeah I know, but-"

"Piper," Grams took her hands, "This is what Chris wants, and try and accept it. He is very nice young man, trust me I wouldn't be here if he wasn't."

"You know Jesse?"

"No, but I've been watching the two of them, they are good for each other."

At 6:30pm, Chris was dressed in his blue dress shirt, black pants. Grams also made Wyatt dress in the same, but his shirt was black. When Leo arrived, he reacquainted himself with Grams and Piper just told him to get dressed for company was arriving. Leo was rushed upstairs by Wyatt.

"What's going on?" Leo asked his eldest son.

"Dad, um before Jesse gets here you need to know something." Wyatt said standing in the doorway.

"Okay." Leo replied as he changed in his closet. "What is it?"

"Chris and Jesse are dating."

Leo pulled his arm into his sleeve and walked out of the closet with his shirt unbuttoned. "What?"

"He's gay."

Leo just stood there, looking at his son. He was dumbfounded.

"Please, just be nice to them. I'll be downstairs." Leo stood amazed and shocked at the same time.

"Its 6:41, he is late." Grams said as she looked at the clock. "Darling, are you sure he got the time right?"

"Yes." Chris replied. "He told me himself, 6:30."

"Well just give him a few more minutes, then we'll call him." Piper replied.

Chris, Wyatt, Piper, Leo, and Grams sat around in the family room and Piper had brought out drinks for everyone, and sixth for Jesse when he arrived. Chris kept looking over at his parents, they were quietly talking among themselves, he was more nervous for their actions then anything else. The doorbell rang and Chris got up, and went to the door.

Chris went to the door and opened it, and he was hoping Jesse had changed, and looked good. As he opened it, he saw that Jesse had indeed dressed up. In a dark green dress shirt, tucked in to black slacks and polished dressed shoes.

"I am not over dressed up am I?" Jesse asked.

"No you're not, its perfect. Just fair warning, the whole clan is here."

"Clan?" Jesse asked raising an eyebrow.

"Young man." Said Grams from behind Chris. Chris opened the door, and let Jesse in and they saw Grams standing there. Jesse walked up, and took her hand.

"Nice too meet you Ms. Halliwell." He said with a smile. Grams smiled and took her hand.

"Well, very nice hand shake my dear." She smiled, "You may call me Penny."

Chris signed with relief and closed the door. "Well Chris don't be rude, introduce our guest." Grams said passed Jesse. Chris walked up to Jesse and walked him into the family room where Wyatt, Piper, and Leo all were standing.

"Jesse you know Wyatt," Chris said, even thought Jesse shook his hand. "And my parents Piper and Leo."

"Nice to see you again Jess." Piper smiled.

Leo shook his hand with a half smile.

"Well sit," Piper stated, "Jesse, what would you like to drink."

"Uh, Water would be great." He replied. Wyatt, Chris and Jesse all took seats on the couch, Piper and Leo sat on the opposite love seat, and Grams in the arm chair.

"So, Jesse you're on the swim team with Christopher?" Grams asked.

"Yes I am." Jesse replied.

"Very good, I did a bit of swimming when I was young."

"Really, what events did you do?"

Grams smiled, "Well it was just normal swimming my dear, nothing special." Piper then walked out with a glass of ice water, and gave it to Jesse and sat next to her husband.

"I hope Pasta is great with you Jesse." Piper replied.

"I love pasta." Jesse smiled.

"Very good." Piper replied.

Jesse smiled and took a drink of water. Chris looked up at his father, he was looking at his feet, and anywhere but not Chris or Jesse.

"Do you play any other form of activity?" Grams asked.

"Uh I played football this year, but that's about it."

"Really, Wyatt plays football." Grams said looking at Wyatt who was just sitting back listening.

"Yeah, I played with him." Jesse said back. "So tell me Penny, what do you do for a living?"

Chris could have lost it, along with Wyatt and Piper.

"I am retired," Grams replied sweetly, "Have been some years now."

All of them relaxed. Grams smiled, "Retirement isn't what its all crack up to be."

"Well, do you travel?"

"Yes I do."

"My parents have a villa in northern Italy, I think we're going back this summer."

"Very well," Grams replied, "I love Italy, such a lovely place."

"Indeed." Jesse replied with a smile.

"Jesse do you work?" Piper asked.

"Uh yeah, I work at the grocery store. I stock."

"Oh nice," Piper replied, "You get good grades?"

"I have a 3.89 Grade Point Average." Jesse replied.

"Very nice." Piper replied. "Well excuse me everyone I have to check on dinner." She took one last sip of ice tea and walked into the kitchen.

Moments later, Piper returned announcing everyone to the table. Jesse and Chris were caught in a story about them and a swim meet months prior. As they walked to the table, Wyatt stayed behind and wanted to talk to his father.

"Dad, you haven't said a word." Wyatt said.

"I am fine, Wyatt." Leo replied.

"Dad, say something."

Jesse and Chris took one side of the table, Wyatt and Grams on the other and the heads of the table were of Coarse Piper and Leo. Once the food was set out, everyone began to pile the food on to the table.

"So tell me," Piper asked, "How long as it been since you two met?"

"Uh, six years isn't it?" Chris asked Jesse.

"Something like that." They smiled at each other.

"And you two have been dating for how long?" Piper asked again.

"Uh, about a week now; its great that the person you have its also you're best friend." Jesse replied.

"Yes I know." Piper said, as she smiled and looked at Leo, was sat and ate salad and said nothing.

"Got any plans for college?" Piper asked, trying to get a conversation going.'

"Well, I just started looking. I am thinking about University of San Francisco." Jesse replied.

"Chris is going to Harvard," Leo said suddenly, "I hope you know that."

Everyone went silent, Piper was shocked at the rude statement. Jesse smiled, "I know he's going to Harvard."

"He's from a very important family, and has very important things to achieve in life." Leo said. Chris was shocked at awed at his fathers reactions. Jesse smiled, and put his fork down, "Yes, he is important and I wouldn't dream of getting in his way."

"Yes," Leo said, "Do you have any plans for an Ivy League?"

"Well, no I haven't thought about that much."

"Harvard is the nations finest schools; they don't accept everyone. He will be studying most nights like he does now. Not a lot of social time."

Wyatt gritted his teeth and looked at his mother. Piper who was getting very comfortable with Jesse and Chris, looked at her son. "Leo can you help me with the dessert."

"Harvard is incredibly prestigious, I know that."

"Many nights he won't be able to go out." Leo continued.

"Mr. Halliwell, I am not in all going to stand in Chris' way. He is your son and I understand that and respect that; and I wouldn't ever dream of him not going to Harvard or wherever he wants to go. He is also my best friend, and I want to help him in all ways I can to make sure he gets that far, and if that means he goes one way and I go another; then that is the case."

"No." Chris whispered.

"But," Jesse said looking at Leo square in the eye, he took Chris hand. "I am a part of Chris life now, and I hope you can accept that."

Wyatt sat back in his chair and smiled, Very nice dude, very nice. He thought. Grams sat their, very proud and rewarding. Piper looked at her son, Jesse and saw something extremely special, like she had in the early days of her and Leo.

"Well then." Leo then continued, "I've been where you are before. Just needed to know your intentions."

"Leo, kitchen, help me with the dessert." Piper replied.

Leo got up, and walked into the kitchen, with his wife behind him. Piper closed the door from the Kitchen to the dinning room, and faced her husband.

"How dare you!" Piper replied. "Who gave you the right to treat him like, and embarrass all us?"

"Piper, please."

"Look Leo, it was hard for me to accept it at first, but damnit he's our son and I will not throw him out just because he's gay. I can't believe you're acting like this, what is wrong with you?"

"I am so sorry," Chris said to Jesse as his parents left the room, "If I thought that was going to happen, I wouldn't have asked you over tonight."

"Jesse, yes, our most sincere apologies."

Jesse smiled, "Thank you, but its fine. I went through the same with Kim's parents, but for them it was all about me getting her pregnant."

The rest of the night went without further incident. Piper returned with a platter of her famous small cakes with caramelized fruit on the top. After dessert and coffee, the lot of them got up, and thanked Jesse for coming over. As Jesse, Chris stood at the door Grams came over and shook Jesses hand one last time. "Very nice you two," She said, "I am so proud." Piper walked up, and gave Jesse a hug, "It was a pleasure having you over Jess, our door is always open for you." And Wyatt gave him a sincere handshake, and wished him a farewell. Chris told them he was going to drive Jesse home. Chris and Jess walked outside the door, and as soon as Chris closed the door, Jesse turned and kissed him, he put his arms around Chris, and Chris put his arms around Jesse.

"Oh I so needed that." Jesse said pulling back.

"Me too. Again I am so sorry about tonight."

"Please, don't be. It was alright, take me home I got something for ya."

"Okay." Chris and Jesse walked to Wyatt's VW Jetta and got in and drove the three blocks to his house. Jesse got out of the car, along with Chris, he took his hand and they walked up to his house.

"Aren't your parents home?"

"No, they're spending the weekend at some resort or what not. I got the house all to myself. When I say so, come up stairs." Jesse said

"Okay." Chris replied, he kissed Jesse one last time before he ventured up stairs. Chris then stayed by the stairs, he was so furious at his father for acting like he did; he didn't his father would have acted like that. He was glad his mother had accepted it, and Wyatt as well. Grams was a total surprise to him, but he was happy he got his entire family behind him, minus his father. Moments later, he saw Jesse standing at the top of the stairs. "Okay, you can come on up now."

Chris did as followed and walked upstairs, to Jesse. Jesse took his hand and walked him into his bedroom, which was full of candles which made his room glow, and soft music which Chris knew as Melissa Ethridge's "Angels Would Fall".

"Wow." Chris replied. "This is nice."

"Christopher, come here I want to give you something." Jesse said. Chris walked over and sat down on the bed next to Jesse.

"What?" Chris asked.

Jesse held a box in his hands, and he gave it to Chris. "Here, this is for you."

"What?" Chris asked, "What is this?" Chris opened the box and in the box were two silver platinum rings. One with a "J" on it and another with a "C" on it. Jesse picked up the one with the "J" on it and took Chris hand.

"This is a reminder of that I always love you." Jesse said, "Cause I really do." Chris watched as the ring went on his finger perfectly. He then picked up the ring with a "C" on it, and slipped it on Jesse's finger. "And I love you." Chris looked into Jesse's eyes and kissed him.

"I want to make love with you." Jesse said suddenly.

"What?" Chris asked.

"I want to make love with you; if that's alright."

Chris smiled and kissed him, and held him tight. "I want to make love to you, Jesse Orlando." Jesse smiled, and got on top of Chris and kissed him. While kissing him, Chris used his powers, and with a flick of the hand he closed the bedroom door, and the night was theirs.

In the time after that night Jesse Orlando and Chris Halliwell had a relationship that many envied. Leo came to terms with Chris, and welcomed Jesse back into their house the following week. The school died down with the talk of Jesse and Chris, and they just fit in with the other couples around the school. Later that Year, Chris told Jesse that he was in fact a Witch, and Jesse didn't care.
Chris and Jesse dated through out high school, and come senior year Chris finally applied to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Brown. Jesse had kept good grades through out high school, and also applied to the same schools as Chris, and other schools with in the area of those like Boston College, University of Connecticut, New Jersey State, and University of Rhode Island. Chris was not accepted into Harvard, but he got Yale – and so did Jesse.

On the Graduation day, Chris was named Valor Victorian with an outstanding GPA of 4.91, the highest GPA in the schools history. His speech revolved around his family and Jesse. After the ceremony, before Chris went off with his family to celebrations Jesse pulled off to the side. He pulled out another ring, and proposed to Chris to marry him. Chris gladly accepted. And that fall together, they attended Yale, in New Haven, Connecticut. Got an apartment not far from Campus and started their lives together.

The End.