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: How can I forget you when the universe is DETERMINED to make sure I don't!
Disclaimer: I don't want this, I want him.
Thanks: Nyan. Good save. ;)
Important Note: lost my muse. Would you like to be my muse?
Important Note: This was written a long time ago, but never finished and uploaded due to mock exams. You can now expect slightly more regular posts.
Quote of the Day: "there is no remedy for love but to love more." – Thoreau
Chapter Twelve
Tasha Fuller strode into Pearl Halliwell's room and sat down on the bed with a thump.
"Pearl! I need your help!" Tasha fixed Pearl with an imploring gaze.
Pearl looked surprised, then sat down. "Sure. What can I do for ya?"
Tasha swallowed. Well, this wasn't going to be easy. "I need you to help me find this demon-thing. It's called Dakaki, and--"
"Whoa, back up. Firstly, why? Secondly, why me? Chris is your whitelighter. You know, the tall guy with the dark hair and green eyes who you happen to be madly lusting after."
Tasha blushed and cleared her throat. "That's…not really an option, so I'd be totally grateful if you'd help me. The book seems to like you more, you being of the bloodline and all…Pearl, why are you looking at me like that?"
Pearl smirked. "You really can't avoid him forever."
"Hey! Who gave you permission to go inside my head?"
Pearl shrugged delicately. "I can't just turn off my gift. Who knows when I'd need it most?"
Tasha sighed. It was going to have to come out sooner or later. She quickly filled Pearl in on what had happened when Chris had cornered—for lack of a better word—her in her room the day before yesterday.
"So what did you do?"
"I didn't do anything. My cell rang and I answered it. It turned out to be Lydia, and she asked me to come over. Her dog Snoopy was being put to sleep."
Pearl nodded. "So, let me get this straight. You…kissed him--"
"He kissed me."
"Fine, fine. He kissed you, and then you went to see a friend, leaving him…?"
"Standing there," Tasha winced, remembering his hurt expression.
"And when you got back, you…"
"Avoided him. Come on, what was I supposed to do?"
"Well, that's between you and your god. But I would suggest talking to him."
Tasha shook her head vehemently. "No. I don't think that's a good idea, he--turn off the look! Please!" she cringed.
Pearl was gazing at her sorrowfully, as if she was ashamed of her.
"Turn off the look! I can't stand the look. You're going to be a really good mother one day, with a look like that."
"Tasha, you do remember what we talked about earlier, right? About him going out on a limb and all?"
"Yeah. Listen, Pearl…I know you won't believe me…but I'm trying to sort this out. I'm trying to…well, get my head screwed on right before I do anything I might regret, okay? Trust me, I have my reasons."
Pearl sighed. "Listen, T. I'll help you out this time…but if Da-whatsit turns out to be major bad news, then we're going straight to Chris. You are not going to run out and, I don't know, blow him up."
"Actually, I think I already did. Remember how I disappeared for a few minutes just after Chris attacked us?"
Pearl nodded.
"I was teleported to this cavern somewhere, and I saw him. And Pearl—you're not going to believe this—but he was Principal Withers."
"Somehow, that actually doesn't surprise me. I always knew those in the education industry were of the devil."
Tasha rolled her eyes. "Anyway, that's how I figured out Chris was under a spell. Dakaki—Withers—argh, whatever…he meant for me to drink that potion."
Pearl shook her head. "And you tell us this now?"
"There didn't seem to be a good time earlier," defended Tasha.
"Ah well. To the book! Tally ho, and all that."
x0x
"There's absolutely nothing!" Tasha blew the hair out of her face and slumped. "This is unbelievable."
Pearl shrugged. "Maybe he gave you a, like, fake name. We could flip through the book and see if there're pictures?"
"Yeah, right. Because I just happen to have an entire lifetime on hand to do nothing but flip through the book."
"You give up easy," muttered Pearl, turning the musty, crackling pages. "It isn't—hey."
"What?" Tasha asked, rising and joining Pearl by the book.
"Look," she said simply, gesturing at the page she had turned to.
Tasha looked, and gasped. Words were slowly forming on the page, as though written by an invisible hand.
Patience Quinn, an ancestor, was in love with John Hollis. However, he discovered her secret—that she was a witch. Conflicted, Hollis confided in his brother, Michael. Michael told the community, who had Patience hanged for the crime of being a witch. Because of this, the Halliwell line ended here, and the Power of Three never occurred, and nor did the Twice-Blessed Child.
However, a young, male descendant of Patience, and the angel born in Hell went back to this time to preserve the line, and managed to convince John Hollis that not all witchery was evil.
Tell me how the story ends.
Tasha waited for more, but that was it. She gazed steadily at Pearl.
"It's Dakaki writing this. It has to be, he was the one who called me 'the angel born in Hell'…it's got to mean me."
"It could also be a kind of name for you, like how Wyatt is the 'twice-blessed' one—something known and used by everyone," Pearl argued. "I think it's pretty certain that—whoa!"
A swirling, misty blue portal had appeared in the middle of the attic.
"It's a time portal," said Pearl, awed. "And that page…someone must've written it to tell you it was time to go."
Tasha looked like she was going to argue.
"No. Seriously, don't try and figure it out. Figuring out time travel will make your head explode."
Tasha grinned. "Well…if I already went, I'd better get going, right?"
"It could be a trap," Pearl cautioned.
"Only one way to find out." A dangerous smile curved Tasha's lips.
"Hm. Not so sure about that, but this writing looks like Great-Grams. It should be okay."
"Pearl, I would go either way if I thought someone needed help. I couldn't just stand by if someone was going to die."
Pearl nodded, and smiled. "Okay, it doesn't state a date, but it sounds like it's pretty far back, so be careful what you say and all." She winced. "Once mom nearly got an ancestor drowned."
Tasha nodded solemnly. "I will protect your family from drowning. And might I add, you're taking this very well."
Pearl grinned. "It's happened before. I had to go find my ancestor Posey's magical amulet of something-or-other before her thirteenth birthday once. That was an experience. Let's just say I know where Chris gets his—ahem—tidiness."
Tasha shuddered. "That boy's room is a deathtrap. I'd be too scared to even sit on the bed—and don't you dare make some stupid connotation."
Pearl rolled her eyes. "Now, the male descendant has gotta mean either Chris or Wyatt. Unless someone from the future is going to appear in a puff of smoke."
Tasha and Pearl glanced around. "Guess not."
"I bet it's Wyatt," Tasha said quickly. "He's mentioned in the text, after all."
Pearl shot an amused glance at Tasha. "You are so transparent."
She deflated. "Is my head made out of glass?"
"No, you're talking to an empath. But you're right; it could be either of them. CHRIS! WYATT!"
A flurry of blue orbs, and Chris appeared. "'Sup?" then he saw Tasha, froze, swallowed, and looked at Pearl with forced calm. "Demon? Dinner? Homework? Whoa…portal."
Pearl grinned. "Where's Wyatt?"
"He went out." Chris wiggled his eyebrows, his smile widening. "He went to get coffee with Lyd."
"'Cause God knows there's no coffee right here in the house." Pearl observed. Then she glanced at Tasha. "I guess this settles it, huh?"
"It could just mean we get Wyatt to orb here!"
"Somehow, I doubt that."
"People, what's going on?" interrupted Chris, his eyes confused.
Pearl pointed at the book. "A little time travel, cousin."
Chris crossed to the book and read. He looked at Pearl skeptically. "How do you know it's me?"
"Because if it was Wyatt, then fate would dictate he be here for it."
"She has a point," Tasha said apologetically.
Chris ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm gonna get gone then."
Tasha raised an eyebrow, and studied him. He seemed a little eager, didn't he? He caught her look, and she glanced away quickly. "It's just a talking thing, after all. It's not like I have to go kill something," he defended.
Tasha looked at him, and the corners of her mouth turned up. "Let's go," she stepped towards the blue portal.
"Whoa! Where do you think you're going?" Chris asked, pulling on her arm. Tasha rolled her eyes, but inside, thanked her lucky stars. Obnoxious and/or dirty-minded Chris I can deal with. It's just the one with the great body, intense eyes, and expert lips I can't—okay, stop now.
"I'm the angel born in Hell, Chris," Tasha said sweetly. "Think about it."
He did. He frowned. "It might not be safe."
Pearl let out her breath and backed away slowly, retreating behind a sofa.
Tasha narrowed her eyes. Stomping time. "What, so I'm not capable of taking care of myself?" she snapped, brushing her dark hair out of her eyes. "Like I'm some pathetic damsel in distress? You know Chris, this is the 21st century. We have email, iPods, and—guess what—women's lib."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Chill out!" Chris held his hands up to ward her off. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that!"
Tasha took a deep breath. Control…there'll be a time to yell at him for the way he makes your knees weak later. "Whatever," she said evenly. "Now, can we go?"
Chris nodded, then frowned. "Are you going to be wearing that to the past?"
Tasha looked down at her outfit. White clingy top, blue-and-white striped miniskirt. "What, is it a formal event?"
Chris rolled his eyes. "I'm just saying. When we get to the past, you're going to cause a riot."
Tasha clued in. "Ah. Right, I'm going to go change."
Pearl grinned. "Shut up Pearl," sang Tasha, as she stepped into her room. She reappeared a few minutes later in a dark, long-sleeved top and a long dark skirt. Both the sweater and skirt skimmed her body–-not too tight, but snug enough to hint at the lines and curves of her graceful form.
Chris blinked. Damn.
This girl could wear a potato sack and look like she should be on the cover of the Victoria's Secret catalog.
"Dark clothes blend in anywhere—or anywhen. Theatre Arts 101," informed Tasha.
"And you can't go wrong in a skirt and long-sleeved top," agreed Pearl.
Tasha smiled, and nodded. "Well, let's do it."
Without waiting for a response from Chris, she stepped directly into the center of the portal, and waving cheerfully at Pearl, disappeared.
"This is going to be interesting," muttered Chris, running his hand through his hair.
"Have fun—but not too much fun. And be good—and if you can't be good, use protection."
Chris rolled his eyes. "How original. If we're not back in two days…send Wy after us. Do not do anything dumb, and do not tell Mom. She'll freak and make Dad orb everyone back here."
With that he stepped into the portal himself, and flickered out of view.
x0x
Chris looked around as he materialized in a forest-y environment. Trees, the sound of a stream. And over in a small clearing, an equally diminutive cottage with a thatched roof and some chickens in the yard.
He groaned, and his stomach heaved. "I hate time travel.
"Rustic, isn't it?" observed Tasha. "I think I would die in five minutes." Then, "Are you okay?"
"Time travel makes me nauseas." Chris got out, looking slightly green.
Tasha smiled. "Aww. Is little Chrisy-poo feeling poorly?"
"A slow and terrible death on you," muttered Chris, and then looked as though he regretted speaking.
"Pfft," said Tasha dismissively. "Just get over it. Relax."
Chris gave her a look that suggested she would die soon. Painfully.
Grinning, Tasha ruffled his hair and patted him on the back. He felt a swooping in his stomach that had nothing to do with the time travel, and shook himself.
"Let's get moving," he said, swallowing and brushing his now-messy hair back.
"Wait!" cried Tasha. "What's our plan? Do we tell her who we are, or…"
Chris pondered. "We should pretend to be…um…lost! And--"
Tasha rolled her eyes. "Yes, and I can be Gretel and you can be Hansel. If she's related to you, won't she understand why you're here?"
Chris shrugged. "Messing with the future can be really tricky."
Tasha nodded. "Okay, got it. You Hansel, me Gretel."
"You don't look like a Gretel," teased Chris. "You look more like a Vampira."
Tasha thwacked Chris with her hand and laughed as he instinctively ducked.
Together, they started for the cottage, instinctively staying close to each other. They reached the door, and Tasha stopped. "Take a deep breath, kiddies. This is it," she muttered, raising her hand to knock. Chris straightened his shirt and brushed off his slacks.
She knocked. Almost immediately, the door swung open to reveal a woman behind it, looking warily out.
"Yes? Can I be of assistance?"
Tasha stepped forward, but Chris held her back.
"Let me handle this," he whispered, then turned his most charming smile on the hapless lady.
"Hello, I'm Christopher. We were wondering if we could perhaps trouble you for some water? We have walked a long way, and are very thirsty."
Tasha rolled her eyes at his smooth, mellifluous voice. Then she paused, gaped, as the lady in the doorway stepped into the light. She chanced a strangled look at Chris, who looked slightly taken aback.
"Whoa," they both muttered in unison.
©WalkThruTheFire, 1st January 2005