Summary: This story is set in the future, sixteen years from the Season Six finale. Tasha, a girl whose past is unknown even to her, appears to the Charmed Ones, asking for help. Along the road to controlling her powers, an attraction springs up between her and Chris, but can their feelings for each other overcome the demons in her past--and future?
Dedicated to: A very dear friend of mine, without whom I could not have started in this fic without my brain imploding from thinking too much, or my blowing my computer up.
Disclaimer: The plotline and text belong to me, as do the characters you don't recognize. The characters you do recognize belong to Constance M. Burge. Heck, if I invented or owned anything that cool, I would tell you. Oh, and if any of the Charmed cast/crew see this…don't sue me, hire me! I wouldn't have completely botched up Cole's little storyline. Or killed off Drew Fuller…
Chapter One
(Halliwell Manor)
"Wyatt!" yelled Chris. He pounded on the bathroom door. "Dude, other people need to use the bathroom!"
"What did you say?" called Wyatt, from inside. There was shaving foam in his ears so he couldn't hear very clearly.
"I said other people need the bathroom!"
"Need the what?"
"GET OUTTA THE FREAKING BATHROOM BEFORE I ORB IN THERE AND BEAT YOUR SKINNY ASS UP!"
"Christopher! Language!" said Piper, walking by with some laundry in her arms.
"Mom! Wyatt won't get out of the bathroom!"
"Wyatt!" called Piper. Wyatt immediately stuck his head around the door and said, "Yes mother?"
"Hurry up in there. Your brother needs to use the bathroom."
"I'm done," said Wyatt. He came out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist. "Need some help?" he asked his mom, gesturing to the laundry and causing Chris to cough the words "Kiss ass."
He glared at Chris, who glared back. Piper glared at them for glaring at each other. "Boys, boys. Enough with the sibling rivalry thing. It's a Monday and you're both late for school."
Chris snorted. "Not likely. We'll just orb there or something."
"You will do no such thing! Risk of exposure Christopher!"
"But Mom--"
"No buts Christopher." said Wyatt and Piper at the same time. Wyatt grinned cheekily.
'Oh you," said Piper, flapping at Wyatt with a shirt. Chris rolled his eyes and stepped into the bathroom.
(Tasha's House)
Tasha Fuller stepped out of the shower, and wrapped a towel around herself. She dried herself off and, tying on her bathrobe, walked to her closet. It was technically her first day of school, having moved to San Francisco from LA just a couple of days ago. She wanted to look good. She picked out a pair of black jeans and a black velour tank top. Oh great. My first day and I'm gonna look like some sorta Goth or biker chick. She studied the clothes inside her wardrobe and picked out a shrug that was such a light pink that it almost looked white. She finished getting dressed and went to figure out what was for breakfast. She grabbed some peanut butter and jelly, and made herself a sandwich, singing quietly to herself. "Who is that girl I see…staring straight back at me…lalalala…something, something…"
Tasha grabbed her books off the table and, stuffing the rest of the sandwich in her mouth, left for school.
(Halliwell Manor)
"For the will to carry ooooonn…" warbled Pearl annoyingly.
"Dude. Shut up." said Wyatt, swatting his cousin on the head.
"Sing along Wyatt!" said Pearl in her brattiest voice.
"Pearl! I'm not a girl--"
"Not yet a woman…good choice Wy!"
"Argh. You're incorrigible."
Pearl grinned and bounced off, grabbing her backpack and dashing out the door to the bus stop.
"Wyatt! Stop using big words that you don't understand. It's pretentious," joked Chris, adjusting his trademark plain beige baseball cap with the slightly tattered brim.
"Said my hypocritical brother, straightening his ugly, gay-ass hat."
"Hey. Leave the hat alone," Chris said, whacking Wyatt over the chest with a book.
"Yeah, whatever. Are you taking your skateboard, or scamming a lift off me?" asked Wyatt.
"Both." grinned Chris.
"Dude, you know you're not allowed to use that thing in school. Withers will kill you," cautioned Wyatt, referring to the Principal.
"I laugh in the face of both danger and authority."
"However, hang out freely with the face of stupidity." Wyatt riffed.
A voice prevented Chris from answering. "How're my two favourite nephews, fine? That's nice, has Pearl left, oh good, see you all later bye!"
A whirlwind dashed by them, almost running over Piper who had just come down the stairs.
"Whoa! Phoebe! Are you trying to kill me?"
"Oh, sorry Piper." said Phoebe, stopping immediately.
"Yeah, what's up with you Aunt Pheebs?"
"Overdosed on the coffee again, huh?" joked Chris. Phoebe gave them a look.
"No, I'm just late for this meeting with the board," moaned Phoebe.
"Doesn't your husband own the board?" asked Piper.
"Technically, yes, Jason does, but I don't want it to look like I'm just where I am because of him, y'know? Plus he asked me to inform them about the changes while he's in Canada."
"Bet you kinda wish that you were still writing that advice column again?" said Wyatt.
"A bit. Which reminds me, I won't be back for lunch today, I'm interviewing this girl who just moved here from LA for the new advice column."
"What happened to Catherine?"
"She quit." said Phoebe shortly.
"Oh, too bad." sympathized Piper.
"So what're you doing today mom?" asked Chris.
"Oh, I thought I'd go visit pregnant and scary Paige in Magic School."
"Is she still on with that 'I'm too old to be a mom' thing?" asked Phoebe, shaking her head.
"Uh, yes! It doesn't help that Richard had to go to England for a month! He's practically the only one who can reassure Paige when she's all hyper. I can't wait 'til the baby's born. Oh well, just five more months of complaining and grouching about having a baby at forty-two," complained Piper.
"Yeah, then we get grouching about having to raise a kid at forty-two," cracked Phoebe.
"Well, she is a bit old. I mean, when the kid's sixteen, I'll be like, thirty-two." said Chris helpfully.
Piper glared at him and Wyatt. "To school with the both of you, now! Or I blow something up!"
"Yes mom." Chris said, lifting his hands up in surrender. A few moments later the sound of the door closing was heard.
©WalkThruTheFire, August 19th 2004