Chapter 2

"Chris, what's going on here? Who is this girl and why were you looking under her skirt." Piper demanded before they could even fully materialize.

Chris rolled his eyes; his mother was so damn nosey at any age. He had discovered this when on his first time travel mission when he'd ended up in 1983 instead of 2003. He had found the Charmed Ones as young girls, Piper had only been ten at the time, but she had still asked a million questions. Albeit in a less forceful tone than he was used to but thirteen year old Prue was around for the gripping.

"That's Lizzie my new charge,"

"Hi Lizzie I'm Piper." Piper said in nicer tone then she turned back to him.

"So why were you looking under your new charge's skirt?" Piper asked.

"That's none of your business."

"How old are you Lizzie?" Piper asked.

"Seventeen."

"See she's legal!" Chris shouted.

Piper narrowed her eyes accusingly at Chris. If she could blow people up by simply glaring at them too hard in this time Chris knew he would be a bunch of scattered orbs decorating the Oriental rug.

"Hi Lizzie, I'm Phoebe. And this is Paige."

"Nice to meet you," Lizzie said waving excitedly from the sofa.

Chris rolled his eyes.

"How long have you been a witch?" Paige asked.

"This whole thing just started today." Lizzie said.

"You just found out you were a witch? When?"

"When this homeless guy who turned out to be a demon attacked me and my friends on the way home from school."

Phoebe nodded sympathetically at the girl, "It's a lot to handle, we didn't know about our powers until six years ago."

"Don't talk to the Ditz." Chris said.

All three sisters, and Lizzie shot him simultaneous glares.

"We don't have time for this. We need to go after the Grocks before they attack."

Piper waved him off.

"I hope Chris hasn't been riding you too hard on your first day." She said.

"What? I've been nothing but nice since we met." Chris said feigning total innocence but still knowing full well he'd been a jerk.

"That is bull and you know it. You've called me stupid more times than I can count, which is really high by the way. You said I wasn't a real blonde, which I am. You looked under my skirt and you've been stalking me for I don't know how long." Lizzie said.

"Chris, if you want your charges to respect you have to start treating us nicer." Paige said rolling her eyes and gesturing emphatically.

"I don't want your respect I want you quit yakking and do to do your job." Chris said.

"We would be more inclined to do what you ask of us if you'd be a bit nicer." Phoebe said.

"I don't play that stuff. He can be rude to you guys all he wants but he knows better than to go starting with me." Piper said putting Wyatt in his playpen.

"Do you want him to apologize 'cause I can make him apologize, I can start blowing off parts of his anatomy." Piper said.

"I would like an apology." Lizzie said smiling smugly at Chris.

His eyes darted nervously over to Piper who was giving him that 'Try me' look.

"Fine, I take back what I said you about you not being a natural blonde, you are." He admitted grudgingly.

"What make you change your tune?" Lizzie asked.

"Well, I discovered when I accidentally glanced under your extremely short skirt." Chris said with a smirk.

Lizzie blushed furiously.

"Chris didn't your mother ever teach you any manners." Piper said.

"She never told me directly not to look under peoples skirts so I'm safe on that one." Chris said still smirking then he grew thoughtful, "But she did tell me not to look under that guy from the Saint Patrick's day Parade's kilt."

Piper shook her head.

"Why are you being so mean to Lizzie? It's so grade school the way you are acting. Both of you, I can totally see through it. You like her, you like him deal with it." Phoebe said.

Both Lizzie and Chris scoffed.

"I so do not." Lizzie said.

"Whatever." Said all three Charmed Ones.

Chris had never been so outdone in his life, "Good grief Phoebe! Every since I was a little kid, you tell me who I have a crush on before I even realize it myself." Chris exploded.

"I mean, all three of you are so obsessed with it, no wonder none of you can keep a decent relationship for long, and you're always putting your dates before your sacred Wiccan duties. No wonder–" Chris had to cut his rant short, he had already said too much.

"No wonder what?" Piper said.

"Wait a minute. We know you in the future?" Phoebe asked.

"Well obviously, I knew that from the way he was poking around up the attic when he first got here." Piper said rolling her eyes at her younger sibling.

"And the way he knows where all the herbs are for the potions." Paige said.

"Potions? You guys really make potions?" Lizzie asked.

"See? What did I tell you that girl is a dumb as a fence post?" Chris said.

Lizzie rolled her eyes and made a crude gesture.

"Real mature," Chris said.

"You are the most obnoxious man I have ever met in my whole entire life,"

"Well, you haven't met my brother then." Chris snarked.

"You know what? I am this close from going over there and shoving my foot up your–" Lizzie said jumping up off the couch and stomping over to him.

"You kiss your mother with that mouth?" he said.

"You little–" Lizzie was cut off when a bunch of men all dressed just a grubbily as the one that attacked her at first.

"Uh oh." Paige said.

They all practically froze eying the demons, Lizzie was sure they looked like some horrible oil painting or something.

Phoebe was still perched on the arm of the couch Paige had one hand half way through her hair and Piper was in the process of unfolding her arms from under her chest. Lizzie knew she looked the most ridiculous with her hand half way up ready to slap Chris almost. She wasn't going to actually hit him, and he still stood there almost daring her to do so.

"Umm…how do we vanquish–what did you say these guys were?" Piper asked.

Another demon appeared this one however was different from the ones from before, he was dressed in a black trench coat and a crossbow. He arrived in a way that was similar to the way Chris had brought her here.

The tiny spheres of light were much darker and seemed eviler. If such a word was a word.Trench coat guyseemed to be the opposite of what Chris was.

Before any of them could react the man launched an arrow which was heading directly for her. Chris quickly stepped in front of her shielding her from the arrow.

It struck him in the shoulder and he fell to the floor taking her with him despite her valiant effort to hold them bothup.

"Chris!" Lizzie shrieked tears already forming in her eyes, she thought he hated her. Why did he take that arrow for her?

He was already starting to lose consciousness. She ignored everything that was going on around her, she could hear Paige shouting, "Athame."

She could hear things exploding. She didn't look up to see what it was. It wasn't an ordinary arrow, she realized slowly it was probably poison. Stupidly, she grabbed the arrow and pulled it out flinging it across the room.

"Bitch," Chris grumbled.

She smiled. It was the only time shed ever been happy to be called a bitch.

"You're okay. I'll call that dude Leo and he'll heal you and stuff like he did Miranda and Gordo." Lizzie said.

"As much as I usually hate seeing Leo, I don't think I'd mind this time." He said.

"Good."

She sucked in a huge lungful of air and got ready to yell for Leo when some one yanked her up off the floor and drug her away from Chris.

"Lizzie!" Chris called weakly.

"Let me go you bastard!" She shrieked.

She had to get back to Chris. She couldn't let him die. They were finally getting along, as best they could considering his major 'tude.

Suddenly it felt like she was being pulled out of her body. It hurt kind of like she'd been split in half. Then the pain was gone and she was by Chris' side again.

"Leo!" She shouted, before looking back at where she'd come from. She saw the same grubby demon that had snatched her up holding another, unconscious her.

"Freaky." She whispered. The pain was back again, and this time when she opened her eyes she was back with the demon.

Chris saw Lizzie astral project. She did pretty well for her first time. Even in his barely conscious state, he kept wondering why in the hell had he taken that arrow for her. She was immune to the poison and he wasn't. He had figured Leo would probably heal him. On the other hand, Leo didn't always come when he was called.

He heard the jingle and saw blue light, Leo materialized above him. He saw what was going on he quickly kneeled and began healing him. For once there were no questions asked. It was rare that his father didn't throw out an accusation at him these days. He was so used to it, all his life he'd been blamed for stuff he didn't even do.

He was surpised when Leo went as far as to help him up.

The battle was still going on around them. Apparently, Piper had blown up the Darklighter right after he'd shot Chris with the arrow. Phoebe had managed to get Lizzie away from the Grock Demon and Paige was currently trying to stave off the Grock that was trying to slit her throat with an athame.

Leo went to protect Lizzie and Wyatt. Chris sighed went to help his aunt. Paige was the youngest Charmed One and out of the three she had the least amount of martial arts skill, Phoebe was a master of several forms of Karate, as was Prue. Piper could throw a few kicks and punches. But Paige being half Whitelighter she was kind of on the pacifist side when it came to fighting hand to hand.

Though he, himself was half Whitelighter. He wasn't afraid to hit a few people. He liked it very much actually. He had the rage and the right hook to do it too.

He took on the Grock and vanquished him with his own athame. Then he went to help Phoebe finish off the last two. Piper had just blown up four. When they were finally finished the living room looked like a war zone once again.

"And I just cleaned up in here." Piper said.

"Aw sweetie, you can always add it to one of your lists." Phoebe to said.

Piper rolled her eyes.

Chris tried not to laugh.

"I'll help you. I don't have to go to my Temp job tomorrow," Paige said.

"Another Cosmic Coincidence?" Piper asked.

Paige shrugged, "Least I can sleep late tomorrow."

Chris rolled his eyes.

"What did I tell you guys, do you ever listen to me." Chris lectured.

It was fun for him to lecture them, the legendary Charmed Ones. The very same women who gave him many a lecture growing up.

"I know, I know. I'm gonna go hit the Book right now." Phoebe said not getting off the couch.

"Me too." Paige said not moving either.

Chris smirked. Sometimes he loved his job, the best parts were when he was right, and with his future knowledge it was quite often that he was correct.

"Off with you then." He said pointing a the stairs when the two women made no move to get off the couch that they had sprawled out on.

"Let them catch their breath, the Book is still gonna be up there in five minutes." Piper said picking up her son.

Chris rolled his eyes.

Lizzie walked over to him.

"Why did you take that arrow for me?" she asked.

"They told me to be nicer to you so I did. Sorry if my saving your life–"

"Thanks," She said cutting him off.

"What?"

"It was a nice thing to do maybe you aren't a jerk after all."

"Why did you take that arrow?" Piper asked.

"She's immune to Darklighter poison but you aren't so why did you do it?" Phoebe asked.

"That's what a Whitelighter does Phoebe. He protects his charges," Chris said patiently almost as if talking to a child.

"Uh huh," Piper said.

"What? It's in the handbook and everything. Check it if you don't believe me." Chris said.

"It is in the handbook. I didn't think you read the handbook Chris." Leo said.

"I skimmed it. I'm not really a by the book kind of guy. No offense." He said.

"None taken, you should take this more seriously Chris. You could end up really messing up," Leo said.

"It is possible," Chris said sarcastically.

"I mean it. Lizzie is your last chance, if you can't protect her–"

"What are you gonna do have me recycled, ooh I'm so scared." Chris said.

"I'm serious." Leo said.

"You're always serious what else is new. I'll take care of the girl, so lay off."

"You'd better." Leo said orbing away.

"What does he mean, about me being your last chance?" Lizzie asked.

"Don't worry about him. He hates me. He always has." Chris said unable to meet her eyes.

"Leo is just really protective of the four of us and he doesn't trust Chris being our Whitelighter." Piper explained.

"Somehow he's convinced that I had something to do with that little "vacation" he took to Valhalla." Chris said doing air quotes and rolling his eyes.

"You'd think he'd be glad to go to a beautiful tropical paradise with sexy half naked Valkyries." Chris said shaking his head.

He caught all of the women staring at him curiously, "Not that I sent him there or anything, I've been a few times in the future. It's like Club Med really with a Gladiator twist. It's fun," Chris said.

"How many of the Valkyries did you sleep with?" Lizzie asked with a smirk.

It was Chris' turn to blush.

"I don't know what you're talking about Lizzie." He said feigning innocence.

"Nerve strike," Lizzie said.

"Oh yeah," Piper agreed.

"Three? Four?" Paige asked.

"Or ten or twelve." Phoebe said.

"My sex life is none of your business." Chris said still blushing furiously.

Piper was the first to burst out laughing.

"I could have done every Valkryie in the bunch and it still wouldn't be any of your business. You might as well be their fifth sister because you're just as bad." He said pointing at Lizzie.

They were all laughing at him.

"What I only asked a simple question."

"Okay. Do you mind if ask you a question Lizzie." He said through gritted teeth.

"Not at all Chris."

"I think we're gonna go hit the book. You two come on up when you finish flirting." Piper said starting up the stairs.

"Yeah," Paige said yawning as she grabbed Phoebe's arm and orbed them up stairs.

"No fair." Piper said as she was forced to climb the stairs with Wyatt in her arms.

Chris rolled his eyes.

"So Lizzie what did happen to your underwear. And do give me that crap about losing them in gym class." Chris said.

It was Lizzie's turn to blush.

"Why do you want to know that?"

"The same reason you wanted to know how many Valkyries I've slept with. As your Whitelighter I feel there are some things I need to know about you Lizzie." Chris said pasting a fake smile on his face.

"Fine. Kate stole them and gave them to Ethan Craft." Lizzie admitted.

"And Ethan is a boy you have the hot's for?"

"I am totally over him. He's got the IQ of a grapefruit. He's just a really hot guy nothing more." Lizzie said.

"Why did she do that?"

"She hates me."

"You seem like a pretty nice girl," Chris said.

"I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or as your usual breed of sarcasm." Lizzie said.

"Take it however you wanna take it," Chris said.

"Since you looked up my skirt and asked me very personal questions I think it's only fair–"

"I'm not taking off my pants. Life isn't fair honey." Chris said.

"I wasn't even gonna go there. Lacking in a certain department?" Lizzie said with a smirk.

"Au contraire. More like packing in a certain department." Chris said.

"Oh Lord." Lizzie rolled her eyes.

"I'm for real." Chris said.

"Whatever."

"You know you like it." he said with a wink.

Lizzie shook her head.

"I cannot believe I'm even having this conversation with you."

"Surreal isn't it?" He asked.

"No. More like really embarrassing in an annoying way."

"Whatever."

"Subject Change!" She said.

"Getting to hot for ya." He joked, but he was just as glad the topic had shifted.

"What happened to me back there, it was like I was two places at once. Did the demons do that?"

Chris shook his head. "No Lizzie you did that."

"What?"

"That was your power, astral projection. The ability to be two places at once."

"Cool. I wonder if it will get me out of English on Monday." She said.

Chris rolled his eyes.

"You are never to use your magic for personal gain ever."

"What do you mean personal gain?"

"For selfish reasons, like casting a spell to hide a zit. There's a Cosmic balance you know if you did that then something would happen to you. Like your whole face will break out. Whatever you put out there comes back, sometimes in spades." Chris said.

"Oh."

"That's why we have to be careful. That's why magic isn't practiced openly. There are people that will try to exploit those with supernatural gifts. Or even kill them." Chris said.

"That was one reason why I was so pissed off about taking on a charge who was new and didn't know the rules. My whole life I've grown up around this stuff. It was something my mom instilled in me and my brother from time we were little. Unfortunately, my brother he didn't listen." Chris said.

"What happened to him?"

"He was turned... evil. The power consumed him." Chris told her.

"Did he– is he…" Lizzie faltered.

"Dead? No." Chris said.

"You can't tell them what I told you okay." Chris said looking in the direction of the stairs.

"Okay."

Chris smiled maybe it wouldn't be as bad as he thought. The blonde haired girl was growing on him he hated to admit it to himself, but damn it he was beginning like her.

"Are you ready to go upstairs now?" She asked.

"Whatever." He said.

He still had a reputation to uphold. He grabbed her wrist and orbed them up to the attic.