Disclaimer- I don't own anyone or anything to do with charmed.

Chapter 4: Gone but not forgotten.

They scried for him of course. They tried summoning, blood to blood, to call a lost witch. None of it worked. Even Leo was ordered to return from Elder land, yet his pearls of wisdom amounted to "it must be a really advanced cloaking spell"

"Gee you think?" had been Piper's response "I think we kind of came up with that all by ourselves"

She would have continued if Phoebe hadn't of dashed to the bathroom to physically sick for the third time that day.

"It's all the crying" Paige had explained, "It really upsets your insides. I felt the same when I found out that Jo was still alive."

"But seriously, what I don't understand is how the child came to exist in the first place, when we vanquished it." Piper asked Leo when they were finally alone together that night.

"To be honest I have about as much of an idea as you do, apart from the fact that it was obviously very powerful magic at play" Leo admitted." The only person who can tell us is Cole."

"We need to find him, them, Phoebe's been tormenting herself mentally and physically since she found out, and she can't go on like this"

"We will find them, eventually, I promise"

"That's what I love about you Leo, you're always so optimistic"

"Someone has to be" He wrapped his arms round her. "Anyway, how have the boys been? Have I missed anything?"

"Oh they're fine, well two of them are at least, I'm a little worried about Chris though"

"Why? Has that nappy rash come back again?"

"What? He's 22, I don't think he is suffering from.." She paused noticing the look that Leo was giving her. "Oh you meant the Baby!..Right, no, this is uh, Big Chris I'm talking about"

"What's wrong?"

"I'm just worried that he's a little lonely in this timeline. I mean he doesn't seem to have any friends, at first I chalked it up to the fact that he was spending all his time trying to discover who turned Wyatt evil, and now, he spends all his time helping me or looking after his brothers"

"His brothers? How many children do we have?"

"Oh, you know what I mean! Every time I ask him if he's ok, he claims he enjoys helping me and that he doesn't mind. But I don't want him to feel as if we're a burden,"

"Perhaps it's time"

"Time?"

"That he went back to the future"

"I'm not sure he's ready for that yet"

"He's not ready? Or you're not ready?"

"Both! I'm just used to having him around"

"I know, but as a parent you have to do what's best for your children, even though it's hard"

"I hate it when you're right!"

"Funny, I quite like it"

"I'll try and talk to him"

"Perhaps I should stay down here a while"

"No, the magical world needs you more at the moment, I'll be fine"

"The clean up will be over soon, and then I'll be back again"

"Guess I'd better make the most of it when you're here"

"You betcha" Leo agreed leaning in for a kiss, Piper responded, it became longer and more passionate until suddenly Piper drew back.

"Do you want a hot drink? I think I'm going to make a warm milk"

"Do I want a what? Are you telling me that you don't want to, errr,…cuddle"

"No, Yes, No, I mean, I don't think it would be a good idea right now"

"Why not?"

"Well, we don't know where it might lead"

"I know exactly where it might lead"

"I mean if we aren't careful there could be a 'result' to our actions"

"What are you talking about?"

"I just don't want to Okay" Piper shouted, with that she turned on her heel and walked out the door, leaving an extremely confused Leo to wonder what was bugging his wife.

XXX

2 weeks later and there was still not a sight nor sound of Cole and his son. Phoebe was operating on autopilot, going through all the motions such as going to work, eating sleeping, yet being part of her own world. Her sisters had tried everything to rouse her out of it, but to no avail, as each time she was coaxed out of her shell, she would catch sight of one of her nephews or her niece and be reminded of what she was missing.

Now the day of Paige's reunion had arrived, and Phoebe had had to be, cajoled and ultimately bribed to attend the family luncheon that she had been so desperate to attend just a few weeks ago. .

"Do I look ok?" Paige asked her daughter and eldest sisters as they lined up in the hallway while Phoebe unenthusiastically located her shoes.

"I thought you weren't bothered what you looked like as you weren't bothered about this reunion?" Piper asked.

"Well if I'm going I may as well look darn good." Came the reply.

"Mum!"

"What?"

"Anyway" Piper interrupted. "I'm glad that you're going, Phoebe needs something to take her mind off things and it also means that I might finally have the chance to grab Chris on his own and talk to him."

"About what?" Paige enquired.

"Ready" Phoebe thudded down the stairs.

"Tell you later" Piper practically pushed them out the door. "I'll see you later, and Paige? Enjoy yourself."

Piper smiled, shutting the door behind them. Strolling into the kitchen she found Chris, a glum expression on his face, nursing a mug of coffee.

"Mum" Chris glanced up.

"Chris. You ok?"

"Peachy" he sounded anything but.

"Of course"

"Are you up to anything?"

"No"

"Good, because I need to have a talk" Piper attempted to sound neutral.

"Well as it happens, so do I" Chris replied.

XXX

Across town on the football pitch of South Bay High School, Paige stood nervously tugging on her name badge as her fellow class mates and their families milled around randomly picking at the luncheon Buffet.

"Will you stop it?" Phoebe exclaimed. "Jeez Paige you're making me nervous"

"Mum, you look fine honestly" Jo added.

"Thank you sweetie, look I want you to remember, whatever you may hear about me today, about some of the things I did….I just want you to know that it's not big and it's not clever, to drink and.."

"Mum! I'm not about to go off the rails"

"Well you know, I worry that..."

"Paige! Paige Matthews!" a voice behind her called.

Paige turned round slowly; the woman behind her was short, very thin, with more than a few around her eyes. Her face was worn, looking much older than her 28 years.

"Anna? Anna di Marco?" Paige could barley believe that this was one of her former best friends and confidantes. "Look at you! You look" She paused trying to think of an appropriate adjective "well"

"Old you mean!"

"No. I didn't….how are you?"

"I'm good, I've been clean and sober for almost 3 years now"

"That's brilliant"

"Yeah. Better late than never. I suppose, got a steady job and everything. How about you?"

"I'm good, sorry I'm being so rude, this is my long lost sister Phoebe"

"Hi nice to meat you" The two women exchanged pleasantries.

"And this is my daughter Jo"

"Hi" Jo stuttered shyly.

"Didn't she?. you know, err.?" Anna looked confused.

"Long story" Paige replied, smiling.

XXX

Back at the manor Piper and an increasingly gloomy looking Chris, sat in silence. For someone who claimed he wanted to talk, Chris had been odly mute. She had asked him 3 times if he was ok, and 3 times he had insisted that he was fine, before falling back into silence again. Piper was determined to get to the bottom of it..

"Chris, you may be nearly twice my height, with facial hair and legally allowed to drink and vote, but you are still my little boy, and I can tell when something is not right. Now out with it" She began.

"Mom, I've been thinking..." he mumbled.

"I mean when one of your brothers have a problem they cry, in some way's that's easier, because at least I can fix it," his mother rambled on.

"My brothers?"

"Oh you know what I mean, Wyatt and baby you"

"That's what I wanted to talk about, well, part of it anyway."

"What?"

"That you seem to be classing baby me and me as two separate people"

"It's hard" the eldest charmed one admitted. " some times I find it difficult to equate that you and he are the same person, that's all. Is that so wrong?"

"No, in fact it may make things easier"

"Easier? Care to elaborate?"

"No, but, yes.."

"Chris I'm growing old here, whatever it is, just tell me"

Silence.

"Ok, if you're not going to say anything then can I say something? your father and I have been talking, and there's no easy way to put this, but for your own sake, we think that.."

"Mommy, I've been thinking…." Chris began, in a voice that was too small for Piper to hear him. He was determind to say his piece, now before he lost his nerve and changed his mind again.

"….I want to stay in the past"

the pair chorused in unison.

"You should go back in to the future"

XXX

A short while later and Paige was actually enjoying herself. Phoebe returned from the bar with three glasses of coke. "Here" she handed one to Paige, who was busy scanning the room. "Who are you looking for?"

"Glenn. He said he was coming and he's still not here."

"I thought you were over him?"

"I am. Mostly."

"Who's Glenn?" Jo asked.

"Never you mind"

"Speaking of cute guys" Phoebe interrupted. "That guy over there is totally checking you out, has been for the past 20 minutes."

Paige turned discretely to observe a clean cut dark haired man, with light blue eyes starring back at her.

"Do you recognise him?" Phoebe asked.

Paige searched frantically through her alcohol and drug fuelled memories of high school. "He was in my maths class. I think. I wasn't really there a whole lot"

"Don't look now, but he's coming over" Jo screeched, and sure enough the guy in question was making his way toward the trio.

"We'll just be over here if you need us" Phoebe grabbed Jo and they strode off toward the buffet.

"Subtle" the guy said as he reached Paige.

"Yeah" Paige agreed." any way, Hi, nice to see you again..."

"Kyle" he replied, saving her the embarrassment of asking his name. "Kyle Brody…and you're Paige? Paige …Matthews?"

"The one and only"

"So, Paige, are you going to the evening do?"………

………"Look at them!" Phoebe and Jo stood watching Paige and Kyle talk.

"Yeah" Phoebe's phone rang. "Piper? What's she calling me for?..Back in a sec" Phoebe moved off to the side.

Jo stood sipping at her drink, suddenly becoming aware that she was being watched. Out of the corner of her eye she could see a man approach. A balding, greasy, overweight man, who had managed to cram his huge torso into a leather jacket that was several sizes too small for him,. He looked at her with his little piggy eyes.

"Hey cutie" he drawled "a little hottie like you shouldn't be standing all by herself."

"I am fine thank you." Jo replied, her voice rigid.

"You sound a little tense, you know I can always give you something to 'loosen you up'. He wrapped his arms round her shoulder.

"No thank you."

"Come on now..."

"Get your filthy hands off her Lucas" Paige was at her daughter's side.

"Paige Matthews, as I live and breathe"

"I said; get your hands off my daughter?"

"She's yours? How could I have missed it? The resemblance is quite striking. I never realised you got knocked up, can't say I'm surprised though, you were the town 'bike' after all"

"Shut your mouth"

"Now, Paige that's no way to speak to an old friend. out of curisoiry..Who's the father?"

"None of your dam business"

"So you don't know huh…, figures, you weren't particularly fussy..She could even be mine" he reached out to touch jo's arm, Paige stopped him.

"You touch one hair on her head, and so help me god I will rip you limb from limb"

"That's more like it, that's the real Paige, you can dress up in your smart skirt, and pretend to be respectable, but under neath the veneer, you're the same trashy person that you always were" He sneered.

"Get the hell away from us" Paige's eyes flashed in anger.

"Gee you only had to ask"

Looking the pair of them up and down he ambled off slowly "see ya around".

"That son of a bitch" Paige was trembling.

"mum it's ok, he didn't do any thing!"

Before Paige could respond, Phoebe ran up, her face concerned. "We gotta go"

"Too right"

"No, I mean Piper called, she said we had to get back home right now. That it was pretty urgent."

"Well then, let's go". Paige waved shyly over at Kyle, "I'll see you later?" He nodded back his reply, and the 3 walked out.

XXX

The manor, 10 minutes previously…..

"You want to stay here?" Piper asked incrediouls

"Well I did, but now that you don't seem to want me around, I'm not so sure"

"Chris, don't be ridiculous, of course I want you here, I only suggested that you go back to the future because I thought that was what you wanted"

"why would you think that?"

"because you all your friends are in the future, your brother who you love is in the future…"

"yeah, my friends who will all be completely different, my older brother who I willl barely know because we won't share the same memories..who's waiting for me there?

…Bianca won't be..and.."

"…and?"

"..and you might not be" Chris glanced up, seeing the look of pain that momentarily flashed across his mother's face, and immediately began to back track. "mom, look I didn't mean to upset you, I just can't help but wonder…."

"It's ok" Piper reassured him, even though inwardly her heart was breaking. "I wonder that myself, if I still.."

"No!" Chris shouted "I don't want to talk about it, or think about it, I just want to stay here, please don't send me back there, please mom"

"Chris!" Piper leapt to her feet and was round the otherside of the table pressing her son's head against her, stroking his hair like she did with Wyatt when he was upset. "Please calm down, we won't make you do anything you don't want to do."

"I know it will be difficult, complicated to have two versions of me in this timeline.." he babbled.

"We'll sort something out, I'll speak to your father, I'll.."

However what Piper proposed to do, would remain a mystery as they were interrupted by a crashing sound from above. The pair raced out of the kitchen, ran up both flights of stairs, reaching the attic, Chris Tk'd the door open. Cautiously they inched forward to find the source of the noise.

Cole stood by the book of shadows, the little boy in his arms.

"Cole?" Piper exclaimed, gaping at her former brother-in-law. He had scratches all up his arms, black circles under his eyes, his clothes were torn, a worried expression on his face.

"One minute" He placed the boy in the floor, lead him over to the corner where a pile of Wyatt's toys lay abandoned on the floor. "You play with the toys for second, Daddy just needs to have a talk with the nice lady"

Turning back towards Piper and Chris, a frantic look appeared on his face. "Where's Phoebe?" he asked.

"Out" Piper was too stunned to argue.

"Get her back here" he ordered. "I need to speak to her now."

XXX