Chapter 4

Her heart seemed to be racing about two hundred miles per hours as her breaths became labored and her balance began to falter. This wasn't possible. This couldn't be happening. There had to be some logical explanation for this, there just had to be, she told herself. She reached out a hand and lean heavily on the dark wooden dresser as she tried her best to come up with a reason without vocalizing what she already knew was the truth.

Could it be? Was her little boy back once again and if so what did it mean? Did the new future turn out to be worse than what it originally was? Was her eldest son evil again? After everything precaution they took, after every demon vanquish was he still destined to become evil? Or was it something else? Something more painful and heartbreaking then they could ever imagine? She had all of these questions that begged for answers but there was no one around to respond.

"Do you think it's him" the shaken voice of her husband called out to her as he sat down on their bed with a dazed look in his eyes.

Piper could only envision what the man was thinking. The little boy that he felt he had let down, the boy he had abused and mistrusted on so many different occasions, the boy who in the end turned out to be his son may be in this time once again. Of all the images the man held of his son she knew the one that was probably replaying it's self over and over again in his mind driving him to the brink of insanity once again. The day Chris had died.

It was in that very room, on his mother's bed and in his father's arms where he had drawn his very last breath. She could remember holding the man close to her on many nights as he called for the son that he watched slip away from him taking the man's heart and soul causing him to slip into darkness and withdraw from the world. But now it was possible that he was back and she didn't know whether to be happy that she would see her courageous little boy again or let her fear of what he may tell them and the pain her husband would experience all over again once it was time to send the boy back to his time. Taking in Leo's distressed yet hopeful appearance the eldest charmed one answered the question the best way she could.

"I don't know Leo, it may be or it could possibly be a demon trying to screw with our heads" she finished just as she felt a strong telekinetic pull luring her to the attic. "Do you feel that Leo?" the woman asked trying to make sure that she wasn't completely losing her mind.

"The attic" came the man's simple reply as he rose from the bed.

Following his wife's lead the couple headed towards the attic. Once they reached the stairs they took each other's hands unable to move by themselves and began to ascend upon the steps before them. Each step they took felt like a four mile run as they put one heavy foot in front of the other as their already inhuman heart beats increased to an all time high. Both of them were also holding their breaths as they reached the attic door and stepped inside as both husband and wife took in the sight of a dark haired male wearing their son's clothes sitting with his back turned to them.

They could no longer move for they already knew who it was. They wanted to run to him, embrace him once again and let him know that he wasn't alone no matter what the reason for his visit was but he seemed to be deep in thought. The two then turned to each other wearing inquisitive looks as they inched closer and closer to the boy sitting before them.

Chris's Premonition

(Prince Charmed)

"Okay, sowhat if I did do it - I was only trying to protect Wyatt" the young whitelighter said trying to plead his case.

"By tricking us!" yelled back one very angry Piper Halliwell as she folder her arms across her chest, trying hard not to blow the boy to pieces.

"I had to!"

"Why?" replied the middle sister.

"Because the only reason I came here was to keep Wyatt from turning evil!"

"TURNING evil?" questioned Leo.

"You mean stop an evil, right, from hurting him? Or, at least, that's what you've always told us…" added Paige.

"I didn't think you'd help me if you knew the truth, I knew you wouldn't…the real evil in the future that I came to stop isn't a demon…it's Wyatt."

"You're lying" the older charmed one spoke not wanting to believe her sweet angel could possibly turn evil.

"No, I'm not. He'll grow up to terrorize people with his powers, take over…kill, even."

"You bastard…"

"Why should we believe you now, after all the lies?" Leo said moving closer to the group.

"Because you have to…" Chris replied not willing to let them ignore the truth.

"No, Chris, we don't."

"Fine, then don't. Either way, we need to save Wyatt and I know how to do it." He continued.

"Oh, really, how?"

"The Order, they used their powers to turn him, to reverse his mortality - he thinks good is bad now, and bad is good. That's why his shield repelled you."

"So?" replied an angry Leo.

"So Wyatt brings up his shield for me, he thinks I'm a threat."

"So do I." Piper replied in a low growl.

"Listen to me - they reversed his sense of morality. That means his shield will protect him against you now, but not against ME." Please, I'm the only one who can get him back. Let me help."

All eyes turn to Piper, who steps up to him, unbending, "We don't want your help, not anymore, I'll get my son back and after I do - I never want to see you again, understand?" Chris, stung, wants to say something, but sees that everyone agrees with her, "I'm sorry…"

Valley of the Dolls

"Where's Piper?" questioned Chris as he entered the room.

The boy stopped short and his eyes became fixated on the Elder standing before him. He was scared and rightfully so.

"Son of a bitch" the man shouted in his direction before taking several steps forward and punching CHRIS in the face. He then grabbed the boy and pushed him up against the wall giving him no room to breath, no room to escape.

"Why'd you do it?" the Elder demanded angrily.

"Do what?" asked a nervous and bleeding Chris as Leo throws him across the room.

The boy's small frame when flying over the couch and hits the table where he falls to the floor with a hard through after destroying an end table.

"Leo stop it!" shouted Paige as she continued to watch the slaughter.

Chris tried to orb out only to have Leo rush over, grabs his orbs and threw them clear across the room causing the boy to slam hard against the wall where the framed wedding picture falls and shatter.

Next Scene Valhalla

Now inside a magic proof cage Leo shuts the door behind him, trapping both him and Chris inside. Leo then leans down and picks up two swords from the ground.

"What are you doing?" he asks in an alarmed tone of voice. "Leo, what's going on?"

Leo then starts to circle the cage in a very intimidating way as Chris tries desperately to escape the wrath of his father, unfortunately he was the only one who knew the truth.

"I'm gonna get the truth out of you one way or another. No sisters around here to help you this time. No orbing ... no way out"

The boy listens to his father's eerily calm voice as he trips over the skull to avoid getting too close to him.

"Just you and me" Leo says before tossing the sword on the ground at Chris's feet.

"You're joking, right? I mean, shouldn't we be getting back to

filling in Phoebe and Paige and find Piper?" the now petrified young witch replies not taking his eyes off of the man.

"I already lost Piper. Pick it up" the man yells out in anger.

"You know, this isn't funny anymore. This isn't very Elder-like

either"

"Yeah, being trapped here for five weeks and fighting for my life has

changed me a lot now pick it up"

Chris glances down at the sword and shakes his head. "Forget it" the boy said reluctant to fight his father.

Leo kicked the shield up into the boy's arms, he then charged at him with the sword, swinging and forcing Chris to protect himself. The Elder then hit the shield. Chris fell down under the shield as he picks up the sword.

They fight. With ease, Leo strikes Chris down to the ground.

Chris then answers through his heavy panting "I didn't do it"

Chris tries to stand up, Leo then kicks the sword out from his hand and across the cage floor. The boy goes after the sword but Leo's right on top of him putting his knee in his chest stopping him from moving the slightest bit. Leo has Chris down on the ground with the tip of his sword at his neck.

"You can't kill me. I'm a Whitelighter"

Leo then speaks softly "No? Then why are you sweating? ... I'm gonna find out the truth. I'm gonna find out who did this to me, I promise. Right now we're gonna go catch up with Phoebe and Paige and have a little chat with the Elders" Leo then pulls Chris up to his feet.

End of Premonition

Chris finally opened his eyes after just receiving the shock of his life. He was now numb from head to toe unable to form a single thought of feel the presences of his parents that were standing right behind him. He sat in silence breathing heavily and trying hard not to let the feelings he was now starting to become aware of get to him. Those bastards, he thought as the newly found images flashed in his mind along with his father's harsh words and balled up fist.

It was official. They hated him and what they would put him through in the past was all the proof he needed to carry out his mission against them. They would pay and pay dearly for what they did to him and what they were planning to do. They were ready to treat him badly yet again but this time they would blatantly show their hatred and disgust for him rather then trying to mask it behind loving words and fake concern. Now he was sure more than ever that his initial beliefs about his family were true and now he would take great pleasure in hurting them and bringing them to their knees.

"They will all suffer" the boy spoke in a low tone before standing up.

Piper and Leo froze at the ruthless in their son's voice and words. Who was he referring to? What had they done to stir up such anger in the young man? Was this about revenge? Were they all supposed to die soon at the hands of some demons? Had Chris come back to save his family for a second time? They didn't know the answer to any of those questions but they were about to find out.

Piper looked at her husband who already had tears running down his cheeks without even laying eyes on the boy's features so she knew that it was up to her to get the boy's attention before he orbed away.

"Chris?"

It was one word.

One name.

A name that they all knew and that held such emotion for all who had known the boy and those that were still getting to know his younger self. Although she had said the name so many different times as she spoke to her baby boy this time it held a new and special feel to it unlike any other she had experienced before. All she had to do now is wait for a response. Wait for just a few seconds to see the face, hear the voice and look into the eyes that she and Leo missed so much.

Chris's sense had finally returned to him the second he heard his mother's voice and now along with his feelings of anger and hate he felt confusion. How the hell did his mother recognize him? How the hell did she know who he was when the only Chris she knew was her one year old son?

All of sudden a sickening feeling formed in the very pit of his stomach when he realized what his vision may have meant. Had all he seen already happened? If so why wasn't he or his older brother aware of his first appearance in the future? And if he did come back he had to wonder why?

Well there were only a few people who knew the answer to his question and two of them were standing right behind him.

Turning around ever so slowly Chris was forced to look into the faces and the surprisingly tear filled eyes of his mother Piper Halliwell-Wyatt and his father Leo.