In Love, Actually
Chapter 9: New Year's
A/N: Will apologise properly for the delay at the end but to sum up; I'm lazy and this is a very important chapter in the scheme of things. A lot of stuff happens here in the demon plot and the relationship plot. It is pretty much a Chris centric chapter but warning to all shippers: Sorry! Please don't hate me!
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A demon shimmered back into the cave with a blonde woman beside him. "As you asked for, a phoenix, one with a pretty good reputation I might add."
"You require my services?" the phoenix asked.
"We want you to spy on the Charmed Ones."
"You guys really like to think big, don't you?" smiled the phoenix. "What for?"
"To assess their mortal weaknesses and help determine the opportune moment to steal their Book of Shadows," a demon informed her.
The woman rolled her eyes, "Should have known. That's the problem with demons. You want all the glory without any of the work. I do all your dirty work for you and you get the place on the High Council."
"You think you are up for it?" sneered a demon.
"Would I be here if I wasn't?" she retorted. "I can see how you want a phoenix. We have souls so it will be harder for them to get suspicious about the possibility of me being out to destroy them, I can glamour and so get close to each of them in the guise of different characters, plus I can guarantee that they don't trace anything back to you."
"I think we can come to some sort of agreement," said the main demon, nodding his approval.
"Not just yet," said the phoenix. "If you want me to go up against the most powerful witches in the world I'm going to need some assurances."
"Like what?"
"Like a deposit of three level two powers," she said.
"Three?"
"Don't worry, you get two of them back once the job is done any you get me what I really want."
"And what would that be?"
"Pyrokinesis."
"But that's a power only found in the highest order of demons!" on protested. "It's rare to find, impossible even!"
"So is infiltrating the Charmed Ones," said the Phoenix. "And I am putting my neck on the line here. Oh and once you get the book and a place on the council I want to be kept informed of any goings on that might be of interest to me."
"How dare you.." said one demon.
"Hey, you wanted me," she interrupted, "And trust me here, for what you are asking me to do this is a more than fair deal. A lot of other phoenixes would either flat out refuse or take you for all the high order powers you could name. So do we have a deal or have you wasted my valuable time for nothing?"
"We have a deal," said the leader, holding out his hand.
The phoenix shook it, "It's going to be a pleasure working for you."
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"So, here's the thing you need to know about me buddy, if there aren't fifty long stemmed yellow roses in that church by midday on the 29th of June, I'm going to hunt you down and shove my beautiful white satin three inch stilleto wedding shoes up your God forsaken little ass! You hear me! Do you! Good!" Paige slammed the phone down with a certain amount of self-satisfaction and a considerable dollop of frustration.
"Good day?" Piper asked, smiling.
"Very funny," said Paige, putting one hand on her hip and running the other through her soft red locks. "Why is it that men are incapable of listening? How is it when you say 'fifty', they hear ten...when you say 'yellow', they hear pink and when you say 'to be delivered', they hear to be picked up and then complain when you call to confirm and they tell you that you booked your ten pink roses to be ready to be picked up the day after the wedding?"
"Breathe," Piper instructed, glad for once to be at this end of the orders to maintain steady breathing
Reluctantly following her elder sister's instructions, Paige began to calm down a bit and pulled round a seat and sat down. "I just am up to my eyeballs in wedding stuff and I so desperately want to have a wedding without crazy astral forms running wild, or to find out my husbands actually the source, or to wake up and be invisible or to have the headless horsemen storm the wedding," she said, remembering some of the events at her sisters' weddings.
"Good luck sister!" said Piper.
"The only thing I've managed to get sorted out, was getting Grams to agree to letting me change my last name."
"How'd you wrangle that one?" asked Piper.
"Well, it wasn't so bad because my last name is Matthews and not Halliwell but she said that if I was dead set on changing it, why shouldn't I change it to Halliwell!" said Paige.
"That's ridiculous!" said Piper.
"I know, that's what I said, " Paige told her. "I said it was stupid enough that Petulia's last name was Halliwell, not to mention more trouble than it was worth so I at least was going to take my husbands name. I told her that if she argued anymore about it, I would change Petulia's last name to Parker as well! That shut her up."
"Go Paige!" exclaimed Piper.
"Well I was just off the phone to the dressmaking place so I was really not in the mood to be messed about anymore for one day."
Suddenly a siren could be heard; the two sisters looked at each other before jumping into action. It was the alarm crystals telling them that someone had tried to get to the book without using the password. Piper and Paige rushed to the attic to find the Brunghad and Filarka demons in the attic, all attempting to shimmer out. "Seems like that shutdown spell works," said Piper, flicking her wrists and blowing up a Brunghad. As she turned to blow up another a Filarka ran at her with an axe. Holding out her arms Paige called for it and swiftly vanquished him with his own weapon. Seeing another lunge for them, she waved at the near by crystals, "Crystals! Circle!" The magical crystals disappeared in orbs and appeared around the confused Filarka who tried to continue running but was shocked by the cage's mystical energy and sent flying backwards across the floor unconscious. Piper quickly froze the remaining Filarka as Paige removed the other set of crystals from the trunk.
"Patricia!" called Piper. Within a matter of moments her daughter orbed into the attic. "What is it?" she asked.
"Another attack, can you go get you Aunt Phoebe from Magic School and bring her here so she can reset the protection spells on the book?" asked Piper.
"Sure!" said Patricia, attempting to orb out.
"What the . . ?"
"Shutdown spell remember?" said Piper, smiling, "No dematerialising from the attic once it's been activated."
"Oh yeah," said Patricia, looking a little sheepish, "At least we know the yellow team are doing their job," she said, having adopted Chris' nickname for the Book Protectors. "Freaking blue team think they're so much better than us just because they are in the Underworld for their work, puh-lease!" she mumbled as she left the attic to orb out to Magic School, her last audible words being "The yellow team kick ass!"
Rolling her eyes, Piper turned back to Paige who had set out the crystals around the second Filarka.
"What?" asked Paige, "You have your plan face on."
"I have an idea," said Piper. "How would you feel about working for the yellow team today Paige?"
"I'd feel good about it, just as long as it stays between us. If Chris ever finds out I'm toast."
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"Where have you been?" asked Kuran, the Filarka leader when two of his Filarkan demons shimmered in. "What happened, did you complete the ritual?"
"No, two of the Charmed Ones interrupted us, they had some sort of spell on the attic. We barely got away as it was," said one of them.
"Damn it!" said Dadeck, the Brunghad ruler. "More dead demons."
"We can always try again though, can't we?" asked the other Filarka. "I mean it is not like there is a deadline or anything . . . is there?"
"No, there's not but still, I can't risk someone else getting the book before us and getting Junaram's place on the High Council," said Dadeck who was now pacing.
"Junaram?" asked the Filarka. "He's the demon one the council that was vanquished?"
"O course he was!" spat Kuran, "What's the matter with you two, you are acting strangely?"
"Oh screw it," said one Filaraka, throwing a potion at him. Kuran exploded in flames and a potion was thrown at Dadeck too before he had a chance to ignite a fireball. White lights surrounded the two Filarka, revealing them to be Paige and Piper. "Well at least we got a little information," said Paige.
"Yeah for the blue team," said Piper.
"Good, I won't have to lie to Chris then," said Paige. "Besides we just eliminated the leaders of a major attack on the book, the yellow team had a good trip to the Underworld as well."
"I guess," said Piper. "Come on let's go home and see if Phoebe has re-set this spell."
"Demons attacking on New Year's Eve, whatever next!"
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"So you're allowed something to drink during the New Year's toast, but that's it. Do you hear me young lady?"
"Yes mom," said Patricia rolling her eyes.
"Good," said Chris. "As long as we are in agreement."
"Whatever," said Patricia. "Oh there's Tom, see you later!" she said, heading off in the direction of her boyfriend. Chris waved in his direction, to which he got a smile and a general nod of recognition before he became busy greeting Patricia. Chris glared and gritted his teeth as Tom leaned down to kiss her but quickly shook it off, remembering his promise to Patricia. Although secretly plotting his best friend's untimely demise twenty four hours a day became tiring at times, like a soldier, Chris pulled through.
They were at Mary's New Year's Eve party which was already packed with a mixture of strange and familiar faces. Chris was 'going stag' tonight as Claire had family obligations to which he had been invited but had politely declined, telling her he had to spend the night with his family too. Disappointed, Claire had understood and Chris was glad of the night off just to chill with his friends at a good party.
"Chris?" asked a surprised female voice, one that he hadn't heard since Halloween.
Chris turned around and raised his eyebrows in surprise as he came face to face with Katie's cousin Rachel. It took him a second to recognise her as her previously long, poker straight blonde hair was now red, curly and shoulder length but looking at the familiar sparkling brown eyes and cheeky grin there was no doubt about it. "Rachel! How the hell are you?"
"I'm doing good, and yourself?" she asked, equally pleased to see him.
"Not too bad, how do you know Mary?" Chris inquired trying to figure out how this divine meeting had come about.
"She's a friend of a friend, what about you?"
"Girlfriend of a best friend. You changed your hair, I almost didn't recognise you," said Chris. "It suits you."
"Thanks," said Rachel. "I get bored with my hair pretty quickly," she admitted.
"My aunt is like that," said Chris. "There's an on-going pool at our house on when the next time she will change it and what the change will entail."
Rachel laughed at this idea, "Your aunt and I should meet up and exchange hairstyles, I'm afraid I'm going to run out."
"Doubt it, you're too clever for that," commented Chris.
"Oh so you like, know me now?" Rachel teased.
"As a matter of a fact, yes."
"Then why don't you tell me all about me," she challenged him.
"You are that smart girl that sits at the back of the class doodling because you are just too damn cool to put your hand up. You skip the occasional class, get the odd detention and have at least ten guys chasing after you at any given moment."
"Go on," said Rachel, smiling.
"Despite your occasional deviant behaviour you get along with your parents, especially your mom I'd guess. You enjoy being a bit of a know it all and imparting your wisdom on to your wide circle of friends, which consists mainly of guys but you have a few very close 'gal pals' who you could bare your soul to. You live for the weekends, enjoying the ultimate combination of friends, alcohol and music. So, how'd I do?" asked Chris, with a confident grin.
"I have a 3.6 GPA, I sit in the second back row in all my classes because the teachers always keep an eye on the very back," explained Rachel. "I put up my hand at least once a class to pretend I'm paying attention, I bare my soul to no-one and I'd say it's closer to twenty guys. Everything else seems about right. I have to admit it, Young Grasshopper, I'm impressed."
"Aaah, my work here is done," said Chris, sitting down smugly.
Rachel laughed. "I mean for someone who seemed so clueless last time we met you seem quite insightful now."
"Don't be fooled by my complete lack of insight when it comes to my own life," said Chris. "Other people however is sort of my niche, especially after a few drinks."
"Hey, me too!" Rachel said. "Another few of these and together we will be solving the world's problems! So tell me, Grasshopper, how goes it with you and my cousin? Is she here? I haven't seen her."
"Oh I think her and Wyatt and coming a little later, they needed a little alone time to work some stuff out. As for me I took your advice and am feeling much less obsessive. I think you were totally right about the T.G.S.."
"Excellent, you have learnt the first thing about me."
"And what would that be?"
"That I am always right," Rachel informed him.
Chris laughed, "In my experience most girls always are."
"Damn straight. Couldn't expect anything less from the superior sex," said Rachel.
Chris nodded and Rachel raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What no macho argument about how men rock?"
"Well for the record, guys do rock but in my house it is just generally accepted that females rule the world. Damn estrogen floating about everywhere," he mumbled in pretend resentment.
"Why, how many women are there in your house?" asked Rachel, curious.
"Six, soon to be seven," Chris counted.
"Are you shitting me?"
"I shit not," said Chris, making her laugh.
"Wow," said Rachel. "No wonder you and your brother are so whipped."
"Excuse me? Wyatt, sure, Katie's got him running after her like a lapdog but I am no-one's lapdog," Chris assured her.
"Whatever you gotta tell yourself," smiled Rachel. "And good for Katie. It's great for a girl's self esteem to have a guy that hot obey her every command."
Chris rolled his eyes. "What?" Rachel asked.
"Just don't tell me that after mocking me for liking your cousin, you're into my brother," pleaded Chris.
"Nah, Wyatt's not my type. He's too blond and preppy for my liking. I'm more into the tall, dark and devilishly handsome brooding bad boys with intense brightly coloured eyes. Somewhat clichéd I know but what's a girl to do?" laughed Rachel, shrugging her shoulders.
"Aah," said Chris, knowingly, "T. T. G. S."
"What's that?"
"Typical Teenage Girl Syndrome, always wanting the guy your mother warned you about," Chris said.
Rachel laughed and lightly swatted him on the arm. "Right again."
"As my aunt likes to say, 'just call me butter because I'm on a roll!'"
Rachel laughed again and Chris joined her. Then they stopped and smiled at each other and Chris got a familiar feeling at the pit of his stomach. . . They continued talking for the next hour, both surprised and at how much they were enjoying themselves on a one to one basis. "So I've got a proposition for you," said Chris. "Ooh Chris, we barely know each other!" Rachel giggled.
"No nothing untoward," laughed Chris.
"Shame," grinned Rachel, shaking her head.
"I want you to be my sidekick," said Chris. Rachel gave him a strange look and Chris rolled his eyes, "Don't look at me as though I am about to ask you to fight crime with me." Suddenly beer came snorting out of Rachel's nose as she spluttered with laughter. "What?" asked Chris, mildly confused.
"I swear to God I was about to ask you if you wanted me to fight crime with you!"
"Don't be ridiculous!" pahed Chris.
"Honestly I was," said Rachel, mopping up her drink from herself with the help of a near by napkin. "I was going to argue that you would be my sidekick because my outfits were made for the main bike, not the sidecar."
"Are you kidding me? Girls always ride in the sidecar!"
"Not this girl," said Rachel. "So if being your sidekick doesn't involve fighting crime, what does it entail?"
"Making sure I sober up before I go home tonight," said Chris. "Tom, the sensible drinker of our group used to be my sidekick."
"What happened?"
"He started dating my sister," said Chris.
"Ah," said Rachel, nodding understandingly.
Chris took another deep drink, "My baby sister."
"I see," said Rachel.
Another drink. "My baby sister who he happens to be making out with in that corner over there right now."
"Oh, yeah, she looks really like you, well from what I can tell from this angle. Here," said Rachel handing him another beer as he finished off the one he had. "Trying not to go over there and kill him?"
"Oh yes," said Chris. Chris' cell rang, "Excuse me," he said answering it. "Hello? Claire, hey, how's it going? Yes it is getting pretty loud here. My parents have invited a lot of friends around to the house this year, what can I say? If I thought they wouldn't notice I'd slip out and over to see you in a heartbeat but unfortunately they are keeping close tabs on me. OK, Happy New Year to you too in an hour. OK, bye!" With a sigh a relief Chris hung up.
"Is that your girlfriend?" Rachel asked.
Chris barely hid the look of terror on his face, "No, I couldn't say that she is."
"Aaah," said Rachel. "You're that type that just doesn't do girlfriends."
Chris raised a suggestive eyebrow, "Now I couldn't exactly say that either."
Rolling her eyes, Rachel reached across and slapped him on his arm. "Filthy minded teenage boy!"
"What? I was just saying . . ." protested Chris, rubbing his arm and pouting with mock hurt.
"So what is the story with this chick then...Claire was it?"
"Yeah, Claire's her name. She's just someone who I am casually dating," said Chris. "She's nice and all, if not a bit boring. Just something to keep me entertained really."
"Does she know this?"
"Yeah, of course," said Chris. "I may be a lot of things but I'm not really into messing girls around. She started off calling me her boyfriend but after a week or I pulled her about it and told her that it just wasn't what this was."
"And what'd she say to that?" asked Rachel.
"She said she understood and while it would have been nice she was fine with it. It has only been very recently she has began indicating to me that at this stage she'd like it to be more than just casual dating," said Chris, running his fingers through his hair. "So I'm just going to have to end it."
Rachel hit him again, "Men! You really are jackasses!"
"But aren't I an adorable one?" asked Chris, producing the puppy dog eyes.
"For all your bad points I suppose you are," Rachel finally admitted, "I mean you could have messed her around a lot more I guess. So tell me, if you are over my cousin and the girl you are casually dating isn't here, who do you hope to be kissing at midnight?" asked Rachel. "Let me guess, if you follow your normal pattern that would make her typically unattainable, right?"
Chris laughed, "Perhaps, I mean according to your theory is it even possible for me to be into a girl that isn't out of my league?"
"Nope," said Rachel. "But you never know. What's she like, do I know her?"
"Maybe. I mean I haven't spent that much time with her yet but she seems pretty great. She has red curly hair, a great sense of humour and these amazing chocolate brown eyes," said Chris.
"Oh I don't know, she seems pretty unattainable to me," said Rachel, blushing slightly.
"Well I guess I'll just have to sit back and hope she's into the 'dark haired brooding bad boys with intense green eyes'," sighed Chris, smiling. Rachel gave an awkward smile as Chris grinned at her. "But until then I guess I'm stuck talking to you," he said, breaking the silence and taking another drink.
"How awful for you," she joked.
"Tell me about it," said Chris.
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"Maybe you should just go on to the party without me," said Katie.
"I don't want to," said Wyatt. "Who would I kiss at midnight?"
"Whoever the hell you want," said Katie.
"Oh come on, you don't mean that."
"Don't I?" Katie sighed. "I think maybe we just need to take a little break. This long distance thing is just really getting to me at the moment."
"Katie . . ."
"No, hear me out," Katie pleaded. "I love you Wyatt but maybe we are just in over our heads. We are too young to be tied down and being apart isn't exactly helping. I'm not saying we break up, but I do think we should stop dating just for a while, maybe a few weeks or so to let us both get a chance to sort ourselves out and figure out what it is we want out of this."
"But I already know what I want," protested Wyatt. "You." He moved towards her and wrapped his arms around her.
Sighing, Katie reluctantly rested her head on his chest, "I wish it was that simple."
"It is," he insisted. "It can be."
"Not it's not. We can't go on like we are now, the bitter fights, the jealousy, the suspicion and even worse it is all happening over the phone!" argued, Katie, pulling out of his embrace, tears in her eyes. "If we don't stop to take a breather we are going to end up hurting each other worse than we have before. Honestly the last thing I want to do is end this for good, in fact I damn well refuse to give up on us completely but if we don't take this break I see no other option."
Wyatt sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Looking up he saw that Katie was silently crying, a single tear rolled down her cheek as she looked at him with a soft, sad look in her eyes. Wyatt walked over to her and hugged her again. After a few seconds he pulled away, "I'll go back to college in a few days. I'll ring you when I'm leaving just to say goodbye. Then it is up to you. Call me whenever you feel you are ready and I'll drop everything and drive back here and we'll talk things out. OK?" Katie nodded and Wyatt kissed her tenderly on the forehead. "I love you, don't forget that," he whispered, before he gave her hand a little squeeze, turned around and left.
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"Why do you look so edgy?" Patricia asked.
"Chris keeps looking over and glaring at me," said Tom.
"Oh he's probably just planning your untimely demise," said Patricia. "I mean you do have your arm around me, it is probably punishable by death in the Land of Chris." Tom quickly uncoiled his arm from around Patricia's waist and shoved his hand in his jeans pocket. "Hey!" complained Patricia, "I didn't say to do anything about it! Besides Chris seems otherwise preoccupied."
"Yes he does," acknowledged Tom, putting his arm back around Patricia. "Who's the redhead?"
"No idea," said Patricia. "Slut of the week?"
"Come on now," protested Tom, "That's not fair, on either your brother or the sluts."
"I guess," said Patricia, smiling.
"Hey is that Wyatt?" asked Tom. Patricia looked in the direction Tom had been looking and saw her eldest brother walking towards them. "Yeah," she said distractedly.
"He's looking pretty rough."
"Nicely understated," said Patricia, now deeply frowning as she watched Wyatt snatch a bottle of beer from someone's hand as he walked towards her. "Excuse me," she said walking out of Tom's embrace and over to Wyatt.
"Patricia! Look everyone it's Patricia!" yelled Wyatt, throwing his arms around her, causing them both to tumble backwards.
"Good to see you too," said Patricia, her concerned tone contrasting with her words. "Wyatt what's the matter?"
"I don't know what you mean, I feel great!" said Wyatt, a watery smile on his mouth. He stepped towards her and bent down to whisper in her ear, "I stopped on the way over here, and had beer," he said it a secretive tone. "This many!" he told her, holding up six fingers.
"Wyatt, this isn't like you," said Patricia, worried.
"What you mean? It's a party, people drink at a party you know."
"Yes, people do, even you do but not in copious amounts," said Patricia. "Wyatt what happened?"
His smile faded and a scowl dominated his face, "Katie and I broke up," he mumbled quietly. "But it's OK, it's only for a while!" he said, with mock enthusiasm. "Here's to only for a little while!" Wyatt raised his beer in a toast and downed the rest of it in one before going off to find another.
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"30 seconds everybody!"
Chris and Rachel grinned at each other upon hearing this announcement. "So it's almost midnight," said Rachel. "If there was ever a time to make a move on this dream girl of yours it would be pretty damn soon."
"I guess," said Chris.
"And yet here you are standing here with me," Rachel said, a coy smile on her face, "Whatever will Dream Girl think?"
"Oh I think she'll be OK with it," grinned Chris.
"10, 9, 8!" Chris and Rachel joined the countdown as everyone got ready to welcome in 2021. "7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Happy New Year!" the room yelled.
"Happy New Year Chris," said Rachel, taking a step closer to him.
"Happy New Year Rach," said Chris, starting to lean in, taking a second to note the irony of him once again kissing a girl during a countdown as Rachel tilted her face upwards slightly. Suddenly Chris felt himself being shoved to the side as a unidentified mass tackled him to the sofa and landed on him. "Hasspy Nuse Year Chrissy!"
Make that almost kissing a girl.
Startled, Chris realised it was in fact Wyatt who was lying on top of him. "Do you two want a room?" asked an amused looking Rachel who was standing over them with one eyebrow raised.
"No but a crowbar could be handy if you have one on you," said Chris, trying to pry Wyatt off him. "Wy would you mind getting off of me?"
"Sure thing lil bro!" said Wyatt, sitting up straight and fervently ruffling Chris' perfectly producted messy hair.
"Wyatt!" yelled Chris, a little angry at being interrupted, "Are you . . .?" Chris trailed off. He had been going to say 'mad' but after taking a few seconds to take in his brother's narcotized smile and slight sway he decided to rephrase. "Are you drunk!"
"Oh so what if I am?" asked Wyatt. "You know you don't have the. . . the Scrabble on age-under drinking you know, you know."
"What?" asked Rachel who had failed to interpret the sentence Wyatt's alcohol fueled mind had produced.
"I don't have the monopoly on underage drinking," said Chris. "Man we lived together too long. Wyatt what happened? I mean yeah you drink but I don't think you've ever been drunk before."
"Well isn't getting drunk what do you . . . when . . . when you get your heart brokeny?" asked Wyatt. "I'm tired of you and . . .that other one, what's her name? . . .Trish! You and Trish asking me what's wrong and telling me normally drunk I don't get. I'm going to find a lesser downer people," said Wyatt getting up and leaving.
"Wow he was really drunk," commented Rachel.
"I know," said Chris, running a hand through his hair absent-mindedly. "Did he say something about having his heart brokeny, I mean broken?"
"I think so," said Rachel. "Does that mean him and Katie . . .?"
"I don't know," said Chris. "I'm going to see if I can find Patricia and see what she knows."
"I'll be here," smiled Rachel.
"Great," said Chris, starting to walk off before a hand reached out and grabbed his shoulder, turning him around. Rachel gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "Just in case Dream Girl's watching," she explained. "Thought I'd help you out by making her jealous."
"Good thinking Batwoman," said Chris, struggling to keep his composure. "Though I think I wanna go the whole hog and make her 'insanely pulling out her own hair until she comes and finds me' jealous."
"I'm up for that," agreed Rachel. "We'll work on it when you get back, go find your sister."
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Having talked to Patricia, Chris had his fears confirmed; Katie and Wyatt had broken up. His only consolation was that Patricia had also remembered Wyatt muttering something about it being temporary, "Only not so articulately," Patricia recalled. Chris had of course then went in search of Wyatt but had been unable to find him, even making a quick scan around the perimeter of the house. He had also tried calling Katie but there had been no answer either at her house or her cell phone. Feeling out of options he headed back to the side room where he had left Rachel.
Rachel was talking a pretty brunette. "Hey stranger," joked Rachel, upon spotting Chris. "Did you find her?"
"Yeah, from what I can tell Wyatt and Katie definitely broke up but for a trial basis or something," Chris told her. "Hi, I'm Chris by the way."
"Hey, I'm Lily," said the brunette.
"Well Lily you are going to have to excuse me from anything I say or do because I'm already quite tipsy and after this latest development I plan on getting much drunker," said Chris, taking another drink as if to prove his point.
"Told you," said Rachel to Lily, who only laughed.
"Told her what?" asked Chris, raising an eyebrow and frowning slightly.
Lily and Rachel exchanged knowing smiles as Lily got up. "Good to meet you Chris," she said walking off. "Talk to you later Rach."
"Bye Lily!" Rachel called after her.
"Told her what?"
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A few hours later, Chris was walking Rachel home, after she had threw her arms around him and said, "Take me drunk I'm home!" Using each other for support, they walked along the streets of San Francisco, letting the cool night air sober them up. "You know as your sidekick I shouldn't leave you until you have sobered up more, that's our promishe, isn't it?" said Rachel, happily gazing up at Chris who merely chuckled, "Well it wasn't exactly a blood oath or anything."
"It was a promishe though, and I keep my promishes."
"It's a good quality to have," said Chris, gently slurring, completely content in his alcohol subdued state.
"I'll keep my promishe if it means having to follow you all the way to your bedroom mister," said Rachel, wiggling her eyebrows and poking him determinedly in the chest.
Chris laughed, "I'm the one who's supposed to be walking you home."
"Yeah," nodded Rachel, "Plus you live with like twenty girls. Dream girl must be soooooooooooooooooooooo jealous."
Laughing again, Chris turned them both into an alley, "This is a longcut to your house. Gives us more time to get our act together."
Rachel giggled, "Oh goodie."
Suddenly three demons shimmered in, blocking their path. The two teenagers stopped dead in their place. "Missed us?" one asked, eying Rachel. "No not really," said Chris, waving his hand and sending him flying backwards through the air and into a dumpster the other end of the alley. Adrenaline having kicked in, Chris was fully alert, free from the effects of his alcohol consumption.
"There is a perfectly reasonable explanation for . . ." Looking around to check on Rachel, Chris trailed off dumbfounded as he saw a demon being vanquished-did Rachel just throw an energy ball? Sensing his distraction, the third demon lunged forward and threw an energy ball of his own. The last thing Chris remembered before he hit the ground was Rachel yelling his name. Then, as he closed his eyes there was silence...
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A/N2: Hey everybody, I know it has been simply ages but I have just been so busy recently. Plus this chapter was quite long and pretty packed with lots of different plots going on. I sort of see this chapter as the beginning of the second phase of this story so didn't want to post it until I was happy with it. The next chapter will probably be a while as well, although hopefully not as long of a wait as this was but still, wouldn't hold my breath if I were you guys!
I was completely dumbfounded by the amount of reviews that flooded in over the last month or so. I should leave you guys hanging more often! Please can everyone who reviewed the last chapter review this one as well! I love hearing what you guys think and it guilt trips me into writing!
Thanks to: Sam, Kia-Kawaii Princess, Icantthinkofafnick, Paige Halliwell-matthews, mjp3, Michelle, ilovedrew88, bec7012, Rose, Aaliyah Hunter, Jade Almasy, supernateral, Buffgirl and Faith-charmer for their reviews! Love you guys!
Sparkling Cherries: I love finding people with the same humour dynamic as me! Yay! Yes I just finished my GCSEs and started my ASs. Some Claire coming up in the next chapter...I think. :S
Crimsonshadoe: I love that my story has shippers! I mean in one way it is kind of sad because one way or another people are going to end up disappointed with the ending. So you have turned on Claire have you? I am thinking of making her a recurring character for this story...nothing has been decided yet though.
Flephanie: Hey you! Was beginning to think you'd moved to Timbuktu but no, just went to uni. How is it? Is it fab? Ah I can't wait to go and sit in an uni English Lit class... Anyway thanks for fitting in reading this. Dont suppose there is any chance of you doing a little updating soon? Didn't think so :(
CharmedClover: Ah another shipper! I have yet to find an antidote but will let you know when I do! At least I am successfully keeping people on their toes!
CharmingPiper: Having seen the wish list you outlined in you review I assume you enjoyed this chappie?