Leo waited while Chris changed clothes and made himself a sandwich. It was clear that whatever he had to say, he wasn't looking forward to it.

Finally, Chris pushed the plate away and looked over at Leo. "I lied."

"About?"

"When I said that I didn't come back here because of us. I think maybe I did."

"Okay."

"It's just that being an Elder is your destiny. You would have become one even without me. Or at least you did before. Mom used to tell me and Wyatt bedtime stories about demons and warlocks that she and Aunt Phoebe and Aunt Paige fought. And she told us about the Titans waking up and you becoming an Elder."

"But if I became an Elder?"

"I know, how was I even born if you were up there? You didn't stay up there all the time. You snuck down to see Wyatt and Piper. Then one day, Piper told you that she couldn't handle it anymore. And you left for good. She found out that she was pregnant with me a couple of weeks later."

"And she never told me, right? Just like she almost didn't tell me this time?"

"Yeah. That's what Aunt Paige told me. That you never knew about me. But I just kept thinking that you had to know. Cause you were an Elder. And you were their white lighter, so how could you not know? You were supposed to feel when they were hurt and stuff, right?"

"It doesn't really work like that."

"I know it doesn't." Chris cut him off. "That isn't the point."

"Okay. So what is?"

"The point is that I have been mad at you for mistakes you haven't made yet. That was wrong. And I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too." Leo reached out and gently wiped away a tear that was creeping down Chris's cheek. "And I'm going to try not to make those mistakes. But you're going to have to tell me what happened."

"I can't."

"Chris . . ."

"It's not because of the rules. I don't care if the future changes. I want it to change. I just can't talk about it because then I'll have to think about it."

"Was it really that bad?"

"Yeah. It was. One day I'll tell you about it. But not today. I can't deal with it right now."

"Do we have the time?"

"Yeah. We've got the time. And if we can protect Wyatt and figure out what happens to him then maybe we'll stop everything else. At least that's what I'm hoping."

"Then we've got work to do." Leo picked up the empty plate and carried it into the kitchen. "But first, we're going to see your mother before she completely comes unglued and comes back here."

Chris laughed. "She always was a worrier."

"It's why I love her."

"Me too."