A/N: As ever, thanks so much for reviewing, you guys!
There was some confusion over Chris having his powers bound…I could have sworn they bind his powers as a baby in season 7. (Shrugs) Maybe I was wrong. Oh well, for the sake of continuity, call this an AU in the strictest sense and pretend they bound his powers for now, okay? Thanks!
Disclaimer: If you think I own Charmed, I strongly suggest you consult the nearest psychiatrist immediately for all our sakes…
Summary: The first time Wyatt saw his little brother, his nose wrinkled in distaste. But he learned to like him. Actually, he learned to love him. brotherly love fic
Wyatt is now almost six and Chris is three. Enjoy!
4.
The cradle will rock
"Chris, sweetie, I need you to let go of Wyatt now. Come on. He has to go to school, and it's yourthird day of kindergarten. Aren't you excited?"
Chris shook his head violently from side to side, his dark hair falling into his eyes in disarray, and only clung tighter to his brother's waist at his mother's coaxing. Wyatt glanced up at the grandfather clock, sighing. They were already ten minutes late.
"Chris, sweetheart, please. Let go."
"NO! Wyatt no go! Wyatt stay play wiv Chrissy!"
It was late September, and Wyatt had just begun to stay the entire day at school, instead of the previous half. When he had first gone to school without his brother, Chris had been too young to fully understand and simply cried for hours until Wyatt came home. Before that they had gone to nursery together, so Chris had taken the loss of his brother for half the day rather badly.
Now, a year on, Chris was old enough to vaguely understand that Wyatt was going away for the whole day, and why. But he was also old enough to protest about it. Loudly. And it didn't help matters that he had decided he didn't like kindergarten, either.
"Me no go horrid ner-sry! Me stay wiv Wy!"
Although Wyatt found it quite touching that Chris was so attached to him, the daily morning session of crying, screaming and clinging was beginning to get a bit tiresome. He liked school, on the whole, and enjoyed going to class. And although he did miss his little brother something awful at times, he saw him in the morning and all evening, so it really wasn't so bad.
Of course, there was absolutely no use trying to explain that to Chris.
"Chris, let go, NOW. Before I count to three."
Piper employed her sternest tone in the vain hope Chris would be forced into submission, but her youngest son only scrunched up his face and pouted stubbornly, tightening his grip on his brother. Wyatt sighed, and tapped his little brother on the shoulder to get his attention.
"Chrissy, I hafta go to school, and you hafta go to kindergarten. I'll come see you at lunch, I promise!"
Chris' large eyes began to mist over with tears, as a heartbroken look marred his little face. Wyatt swallowed dryly, feeling a heavy, aching weight settle in his chest as his brother gazed up at him imploringly, saying sadly:
"Wy soun'd like Dada. Dada say he see Chrissy, then he no come. You'll no come, neither."
Chris abruptly let go of Wyatt as though he had betrayed him, and clasped his hands in front of him, eyes downcast and head bowed. Wyatt felt a fleeting surge of anger towards his father, but forced it to the back of his mind as tears began to stream silently down his little brother's face.
Wyatt knelt down in front of him at eye level, biting his lip, placing a hand on each of his brother's shaking shoulders.
"I'll come, Chrissy. I swear I will. I always do, don't I? I did yesterday."
He said gently, squeezing Chris' shoulder and forcing him to look up at him through a curtain of hair.
"I'll even bring you a lolly. Okay? A strawberry one. And I'll read you Puff the magic cat."
Piper watched in fond bewilderment as Wyatt carefully encouraged his brother into calm, and then manufactured a compromise. It always surprised her just how mature Wyatt was when it came to Chris. And just how well Wyatt could handle him; she sometimes wondered whether Wyatt knew Chris better than he knew himself.
"Wh'y cann-et Chrissy go wiv Wy? Me'll pwomise I be good. Pweese Wyatt."
Chris pleaded sorrowfully, and Piper saw Wyatt's face soften with a fond smile. Chris had always been a quiet child, on the whole, keeping himself to himself when in company and quietly playing in the corner while the adults talked. But he was always listening, always picking up new things. With Wyatt, Chris was more sure of himself. Confident.
"You can soon, Chrissy. Real soon. Then I can teach you magic! You want to learn magic like me and Mummy and Daddy, don't you?"
Piper smiled at that. Since a rather unfortunate incident involving a lawnmower and a cat, which resulted in a ruined neighbourhood and numerous mind wiped innocents, they had bound Chris' powers until he was old enough to learn magic. It had always been a sore spot for her, watching Chris marvel at his brother's prowess in telekinesis while he could only orb short distances.
"Me'll le'rn magik?"
Chris whispered in awe, gazing up with wide eyes as Wyatt nodded eagerly. Piper pulled her day bag higher up her shoulder as her smile widened, watching Wyatt finish his conquest with a flourish.
"Yeah! But not today, okay? Today you hafta go to kindergarten, and not fuss for Mummy. Alright?"
Chris considered for a moment, then nodded slowly, biting his bottom lip before murmuring quietly:
"O'kay, Wy."
Piper leapt at the opportunity, and clambered to her feet, making sure Wyatt had his book bag and Chris was keeping a firm grip on Strawberry, his cuddly toy horse.
"Alright then, troops. Chris, take my hand, and Wyatt's, that's it. Ready, darling? Alright. Lets go."
She said cheerfully, as her eldest son orbed them all to magic school. She heaved a deep sigh of relief, thankful to have escaped the screaming fits which had escalated over the past few days.
They emerged into the hallway beside Paige's new office, which had once been Gideon's. Piper tightened her grip around her youngest son's hand and walked cheerfully down the corridor to the brightly coloured door labelled 'kindergarten 2'.
She knocked twice, and cheerful woman named Miss Wheel opened the door, curly blonde hair bouncing as she smiled at them all.
"Piper, so glad you could make it! After yesterday we were a little worried about Chris here. How are you, pumpkin? Were you good for Mummy?"
She said, leaning down to address Chris. Chris huddled against his mother, half hiding behind her legs, and said shyly:
"Me be good fo' Mummy too-day, Miss-es Weel. Wy says he'es gonna wead me Puff at lun'time!"
Miss Wheel blinked, then her smile widened, and she ruffled Wyatt's hair affectionately as she exchanged a meaningful look with Piper.
"Oh, Wyatt dear! How lovely of you to offer! Feel free to pop in any time, any time at all."
Piper pried her hand from her youngest's and guided him over to Miss Wheel, who took it and smiled encouraging down at the child. Wyatt hesitated, then moved forward too, looking uncertainly from his mother to his little brother.
"Ok, Wyatt, time for class. You don't want to keep Auntie Paige waiting, do you? Say goodbye now, boys."
Chris immediately tumbled forwards, launching himself into his brother's waiting arms. Wyatt couldn't help but smile, hugging his brother tightly back as Chris whispered into his chest.
"By by, Wy. Me'll miss you."
"Me too, Chrissy. Promise you'll be good?"
Chris drew back, nodding vigorously, and smiled widely.
"I pwomise!"
"Ok. I'll see you at lunch time."
Wyatt gave him one last hug, before drawing away and stepping back to stand in the doorway as his mother hurried forwards to bid her youngest goodbye. She kissed his cheek and held him in a tight embrace.
"Goodbye, darling. Be good like your brother says. I'll be back for you soon, okay? I love you, peanut."
"Luv you too, Mummy. Me sorry for be-ing bad."
"Oh, sweetheart, you weren't bad. Just a little stubborn, just like your Daddy. Have a lovely time. Off you go!"
Piper took Wyatt's hand and led him out, and they both smiled and waved as Chris spread his palm in a sad goodbye, watching them go. He continued to watch them until Miss Wheel shut the door behind him, and for a moment, mother and son stood quietly in the corridor outside.
Piper reached down and pulled her eldest into a gentle embrace, trying to keep her voice steady;
"Wyatt, honey, I am SO, so proud of you. You're such a good big brother."
Wyatt swelled with pride despite himself, muttering a half hearted:
"Mummy! Yuck!"
As she kissed him on the cheek, but she could tell by his smile that he wasn't really upset. She held him close for a moment, thinking, and when he pulled away she was surprised to see a frown on his face.
"Mummy?"
"Yes, sweetheart?"
Wyatt hesitated, and then fixed her with a sombre look, crossing his arms over his chest as he spoke carefully and deliberately.
"What Chris said about Daddy...not keeping his promises? He was right. Daddy doesn't."
Piper placed a hand on his shoulder, and thought for a moment, before answering in a gentle but firm tone as he frowned at her.
"Your Daddy tries his very best to come see you and Chris as much as possible, darling, he's just...always busy. And that's okay, because when you've got such an important job, you're allowed to be busy. And remember, always, that Daddy and I love you. And even when he's not around, Daddy doesn't stop loving you both. And that's what matters."
Wyatt blushed slightly, taking her offered hand, and walking slowly with her along the corridor for a while. They walked in silence, but when they reached his own classroom, Wyatt stopped and turned once more to say quietly:
"I know that, Mummy. I know that Daddy can't come all the time and that he loves us. But does Chris?"
She blinked in shock, as Wyatt gave her a brief hug around the middle before reaching for the handle to the door, gazing sadly at her as he slipped inside and pushed it shut behind him.
For a long while Piper stood still in the corridor, her eldest son's last words echoing over and over like a mantra inside her head. Eventually she sighed, and turned, walking back down the corridor to find a place where she could consult her wayward husband in peace.
Of course Chris knew his Daddy loved him. Leo told him so every time he saw him. Surely that was enough. Surely he understood. Didn't he?
A/N: Next chapter, Leo and Paige make an appearance, as requested! It's only a short time on from this one, where Wyatt is seven and Chris is nearly five. This chapter was more a set up for the next, but it's cute, nonetheless. I hope you enjoyed it!
Feedback is love, as you know, so please review! Thanks for reading!
