Chapter Twenty-One
Somewhere in Ireland
"Daddy?"
"Yes sweetness?"
"What was that place?" Penny looked up at Leo with Pipers face and eyes. He had to turn away for a moment to collect himself before pulling her in his lap.
"That was the house your mother and I shared before you were born."
"How come we went there? If Mommy is in heaven with God and Goddess, then why were we looking for her?" Penny laid her head on Leo's shoulder as he cradled her.
"We weren't looking for Mommy sweetheart; we were looking for Wyatt and Chris. Daddy had a bad feeling about them and wanted to be sure they were okay." That was an understatement Leo thought to himself. He knew two days ago that something terribly wrong was happening back home, he just didn't know how bad until today.
"Are Chris and Wyatt still alive?" Penny sniffled a bit as she wiped her eyes.
"Yes sweetheart, they are both fine." Leo knew Penny could tell if he was lying, but they both thought it best to pretend.
"I need you to be a brave girl and stay with Moira for awhile. Do you think you can do that?"
Penny nodded as the tears slowly fell down her rosy cheeks. "I can help you know Daddy."
Leo nodded, well aware of the power his little angel possessed. "Yes, but I need you to stay here and look after Moira. You need to keep her safe. I will try to get Granpa to come visit too, would you like that?"
Penny wiped her tears and nodded enthusiastically. "It's been awhile since we've seen him, do you think he will 'member me?"
"I'm almost one hundred percent positive that Granpa Vic remembers you sweetie. Now you stay here for a moment while I get Moira."
Leo lifted Penny off his lap and set her gently down on the ottoman. It took him less than a minute to locate Moira and orb her to him.
"I need you to watch Penny for me. I may be gone for a few days." Leo whispered as he took off for his bedroom and grabbed some clothes, shoes and toiletries shoving them in a bag.
"No problem, you know I don't mind the wee lass, but what has ye so . . ." She hesitated to name Leo's uncharacteristically anxious self.
"It's my boys. Something's gone terribly wrong and I need to figure out what's up. If you can keep Penny for me, then I can try to locate Wyatt and Chris and find out what has everything helter skelter. I shouldn't be gone too long. I'm going to get Victor and see if he can stay here with you too. I don't need to be worrying about anyone else while I'm out there."
Moira nodded in agreement as Leo grabbed his bag and headed for the living room and Penny.
"Now you be a good girl for Moira and don't use your powers unless you absolutely have to. Am I understood?"
Penny looked down at her hands before facing Leo and nodding agreement. She was solemn as he bent down and gathered her in his arms, squeezing her tight.
"I'll send Granpa back in just a minute. Love you."
"Love you more Daddy."
With that Leo eyed Moira for a brief second mentally warning her that he was trusting her with his most precious cargo and she better not screw it up.
Chapter Twenty Two
San Francisco
"Oh crap Leo! I hate it when you do that!" Victor came around the corner of his kitchen to find Leo standing in his living room.
"I need to send you to Penny. Can you help Moira keep an eye on her?"
Victor was suddenly aware of Leo's grave demeanor. "Sure, no problem. Let me get dressed."
Leo shook his head and with a flick of his wrist sent Victor across the continent and Atlantic Ocean to the small Irish town and his small house nestled in the Irish countryside.
The Manor House
"Got it!" The potion boosted his scrying ability as he expected. The crystal landed with an ominous thud. Chris's brow furrowed quizzically as he studied the map.
"Ireland?" He ran his hand over the map. "Interesting."
'So the old man thinks he can be safe amongst the faeries. Indeed this is most interesting my friend.' The voice within curled itself dormantly within Chris and let him have his space, content in knowing that they were on the right path.
Chris left the attic in a dusty trail of grey and black orbs.
Chapter Twenty Three
Cole's Penthouse
Bianca awoke to the sounds of several people trying to talk at once beyond the door. Curious about her host and more than a little anxious about Wyatt she took the pillows on the bed and formed a little crib for Athena and left her sleeping baby warmly snug.
She followed the sounds to the living room where she stood transfixed; stunned, completely dumbfounded.
"Piper?" Bianca crossed over to her mother in law and Piper wrapped her into her arms. Bianca couldn't help but tear up as the realization of how bad her husband was sank in.
"Shush now. We're gonna save him. He'll be fine and back to normal in no time." Piper rubbed her daughter in laws back reassuringly.
Prue looked up from the table she and Paige were seated at and tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear. So many things had changed since she'd . . . gone away. She didn't often dwell on what could have been, but sometimes when she allowed the rare moment to overwhelm her she couldn't help but wish things had gone differently for her. She turned her head away so Paige couldn't see, but it was no use Paige had seen the longing and heartbreak in Prue's eyes. She laid her hand over her eldest sister's hand and squeezed it.
Prue turned back and stared at Paige's hand covering hers and the emotion she felt was just about more than she could bare as the tears fell silently down her beautiful face. Paige just smiled and silently assured Prue that they were all in this together; that Prue would never have to be or feel alone again.
"How is this possible? How are you here?" Bianca pulled out of Piper's embrace and surveyed the room at large. "How are you all here?"
"You of all people should know that nothing is absolutely impossible." Phoebe stepped out from behind Bianca pulling Cole along with her.
"You two certainly didn't waste anytime back there. Good to know you still got it Turner?" Paige sneered at Cole. "If you both can keep your hands off each other, could we please get back to the problem at hand?" Paige stood to block the room from seeing Prue's pain. She knew that Prue would not want the others to see her upset.
Phoebe stuck her tongue out at Paige as she took a seat on one of the couches. Cole reached into a drawer in his desk and pulled out another cigar before taking a seat beside his wife.
"Ok, so what's next? How do we kick this demons ass and save our Chris?" Phoebe laid her hand possessively on Cole's leg. He covered her hand with his and squeezed gently, before he stood up to address the room.
"I've been tracking this Kwasaar demon and its ugly, about as ugly as it gets. I think the kid summoned it. I haven't quite figured that part out. I don't know why or how, but he has an altar set up under his office at P3, other than that he's been following his wife around town and talking to himself." Cole reached across the bar and poured a shot and downed it. "That's all I got. There hasn't been any upsurge in demonic activity, and the underworld, or what's left of it, is chaotic and completely disorganized."
Wyatt blinked dumbly and sat down heavily. "How could we not see this? How did I not see this?" He blamed himself. If he had been more attuned to Chris lately maybe he would have seen this coming or could have prevented it somehow.
Bianca walked up behind Wyatt and gently laid her hand on his shoulder. She knew he was blaming himself. She knew just as sure as she knew herself. Wyatt always took responsibility for Chris, and that was one thing that had never changed and she didn't think it ever would.
"It's not your fault Wy." She whispered.
He nodded mutely, too stunned, upset and angry with himself to say anything. Piper came up behind him and ran her hand over his back, just as she had when he was a baby. She inhaled deeply and for a moment, she thought she could almost smell his baby smell. Her baby. Her first baby. She turned away and wiped a stray tear. 'He's so much like Leo. Oh Leo, where are you? Why have you not come for our boys?'
"We need the Book." Prue started for the door. "Paige and I will go to the manor and look for it."
Paige stood and grinned. "Where ya going sis?"
Prue turned around her hand a hairs breadth from the door knob. "I just told you, we are going to get the Book. Come on."
"I think what Paige is trying to say Prue is why walk when you can orb?" Phoebe stated dryly.
"Oh. Yeah." Prue shook her head trying to shake off the stupidity. "Right then. Okay let's go." She held her hand out to Paige as Paige crossed the room and orbed them both out.