LOVE AND PAIN

After spending a good while searching for the final ingredient to the empath blocking potion, Chris decided to take a break and find Zeke. Maybe the half demon could help him. But Zeke wasn't at the manor. In fact, he wasn't in any of their meeting places. Chris knew Zeke was a powerful demon, but he couldn't help but worry, as he'd been gone far longer than usual.

Instead of finding Zeke at the manor, Chris had found Phoebe and Paige arguing. So he'd sensed for Piper and orbed to her. Only, again, he hadn't exactly found what he wanted.

As he dragged Piper away from the table, he flashed her date a cheery smile. But his face instantly turned disbelieving.

"You aren't serious about that guy are you?" he asked.

He damn hoped not. As much as he hated Leo, Chris needed him and Piper back together or he would not exist. And he didn't want to think of a world without him in. Aside from the fact he wouldn't exist, it was too confusing to get his head around.

"That's none of your business," Piper retorted. "Where have you been?"

"That's none of your business. Look, you'd better come home before Phoebe and Paige kill each other."

"Phoebe and Paige… oh no, she didn't?"

Chris nodded.

"Okay, well, let me go explain and then I'll be right back."

Chris watched as Piper made her way amongst the tables, over to her date, apologising profusely for having to leave early. The guy turned his head to glance over at Chris, frustration, annoyance and clear distrust evident in his eyes. But Chris ignored him, gazing at his mother as she walked back to him, holding her hand out.

He hesitated before taking it. It had been so long since he'd last held his mother's hand, and the contact made his heart race. At Piper's expectant look, he orbed back to the manor, where his aunts were still arguing. Chris held onto Piper's hand for a few seconds longer than necessary, relishing in the comfort she unknowingly gave him.

"Hey, can you keep it down, I just got Wyatt to sleep." Chris looked towards the stairs to see Leo, and his heart sank. He'd been trying to avoid his father, since Leo was obviously on his trail, waiting for the moment he slipped up and did something the slightest bit suspicious.

"Can I go now?" Chris asked.

"Nope," Leo replied, grabbing his arm.

Then, when Piper suggested peace talks between the two feuding families, Chris saw his opportunity and jumped to it.

"And you've got an Elder here. Who better to mediate? Perfect!"

Chris orbed out before Leo could protest. He needed to get back to finding that ingredient, and the less time he spent around Phoebe before he'd got the potion, the better. She was already becoming suspicious enough as it was.

Finally, Chris had found the ingredient. He watched with a mingling sense of relief and satisfaction and the potion was poured into a vial and handed to him.

"You won't tell me," the demon said.

"What-" Chris began, before he was cut off by the voice he dreaded to hear.

"What the potion is for."

Chris turned around to see Leo. His eyes widened for a second, panic flitting across his face. Then he quickly adopted his neutral expression, keen not to appear guilty.

"Other than for hiding your secrets, that is," Leo continued.

"What?" Chris asked, shocked. "This was all a set up? Is this even legit?" He looked at the potion vial, warily.

"It's… legit… alright," the demon confirmed. "But I'm afraid you'll have to answer to a higher power now."

Chris stared at Leo, the cogs turning in his head, desperately trying to come up with a plausible excuse.

"Go ahead, take it," he said, throwing the vial at Leo who deftly caught it. "It wasn't for me, anyway. It was for the sisters."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, Phoebe's new power if wreaking havoc on their relationship. Or haven't you noticed?"

"You expect me to believe this isn't to protect your secret?"

Chris cursed silently. Leo wasn't buying it, but then again, Chris couldn't have expected him to.

"No, I don't, but since you haven't figured me out yet, why would I even need it?" There was no point in hiding it now. Leo knew he had a secret. And Chris had a bad feeling it was only a matter of time before Leo found out the truth.

"Don't get too cocky kid. You wouldn't want me to clip your wings now, would you?"

Chris could have kicked himself. He was being reckless, careless. He couldn't have his wings clipped. Hell, could Leo even do that since Chris's whitelighter side was genetic? He wasn't sure, but he definitely couldn't risk it. Thankfully, he was saved by Piper calling.

"Looks like Wyatt needs another babysitter," Chris said, calmly. "Dad."

Leo stared at him for a few seconds, before orbing out.

"You're just going to leave? You won't even hear us out?" Chris asked, incredulously.

"You brought a demon with you," Odin said. "How do you know we can trust him?"

"He's a half demon," Chris corrected, sharply. "And I trust him. Even so, that's beside the point. I'm the son of a Charmed One. Don't you trust me?"

"The last son of a Charmed One turned evil and is destroying the world."

Chris turned to Zeke, signalling for him to back him up, but the half demon simply shrugged. The Elder had a point. Wyatt was gaining more followers each day, half of whom were with him purely because they were too scared to go against him and risk death.

"Okay, you got us there," Zeke said. "But at least hear us out. If you don't want to go along with the plan afterwards, that's fine. But just… listen to us. Please."

Odin contemplated this for a few moments, before slowly nodding.

"Fine then. Five minutes. I'm listening."

Relieved, Chris began to tell the Elders his plan, gazing at his face, hopefully. But Odin's expression grew more disbelieving and horrified with every word Chris spoke.

"Certainly not!" he exclaimed, when Chris had finished. "Take down Magic School's protective enchantments? Absolutely out of the question."

"But why?" Chris argued. "If it distracts Wyatt long enough for me to get the Book and find a spell to take down the enchantments around the manor then surely its worth it. I need that book. At the very least, we need it away from Wyatt. He's far stronger with it, and we can't hope to change anything while it's in his possession."

"That's all very well and good, but you can't be foolish enough to believe taking down the enchantments won't cause havoc, and more importantly, death, not just because of Wyatt. Who's to say demons won't catch wind of this and attack too?"

"We'll have people to defend it. Witches, whitelighters, elders, any magic being."

Odin shook his head. "The risk is too great. Not to mention that Wyatt has his demons guarding the manor. You won't last long there."

"I will," Chris said. "Wyatt ordered his demons not to kill me."

"Even so," Odin said, "I highly doubt we could keep Wyatt distracted long enough for you to find the right spell you need."

"Yes…" Zeke said, slowly. "But that's where I come in. See, you hate me. You fear me, and you're right to. I am a demon. Think about that, the level of animosity you have towards me. Trust me, Wyatt's is about ten times more intense. He despises me. He tried to kill me the first time he met me."

"Zeke and Wyatt are quite evenly matched," Chris continued. "So Zeke could easily keep him distracted."

"And then what?" Odin asked. "Say you do manage to get the book out of the manor, and Magic School isn't overrun by demons, what happens next? How do you intend to turn Wyatt away from evil."

Chris and Zeke glanced at each other, nervously.

"We… we're not sure yet."

Odin studied their faces for a few moments, a plan forming in his mind.

"Very well," he said. "In two days, the enchantments around Magic School will be taken down. You better be ready."

"Hey, Piper," Chris called. "Have you seen Zeke?"

Piper picked Wyatt up and rocked him in her arms, turning around to look at Chris.

"Zeke? No. When did you last see him?"

"A few days ago," Chris said, worriedly. "I know he sometimes goes for long demon hunting trips but he always makes sure to check in with me. This time, he hasn't, and he hasn't given me a warning either."

Frowning slightly, Piper looked at Chris's troubled expression. She didn't much care for Zeke, but she knew Chris did, and it upset her to see him so agitated. She gave him a comforting smile, reaching out her hand towards him. Chris stared at it for a few second, before taking it.

"I'm sure he's okay. But if you want, I can try help you find him."

Chris lifted his eyes to meet his mother's. The warmth and care he saw in them hit him hard, reminding him of all the times she'd comforted him, making him feel like all was not lost. Now he was hit with the realisation that after he and Zeke prevented Wyatt turning evil, he would have to go back to a future without Piper. He quickly looked away, eyes glistening with tears.

"Thanks," he murmured, trying to keep his voice even. "I've… got to go now." Then he orbed away, leaving Piper gazing at the stop he'd been standing, filled with confusion, worry, but most of all, love.

Zeke twitched his fingers. Every part of him was sore, but especially his arms and head. There was a throbbing pain there, and he tried to lift his arms to rub his forehead to ease the tension, but they were locked into place, a cold metal wrapped around his wrists.

Slowly, Zeke opened his eyes, struggling to see in the dimly lit room. No, not a room, it was a cave. A lair in the underworld. The metal around his wrists were handcuffs, chaining him to the wall, holding him up by his arms. So that was why they ached so much.

He shifted, uncomfortably. Down in the underworld, he couldn't tell what time of day it was. He didn't know how long he'd been unconscious for, or how long since he'd disappeared. Chris would be worried sick.

Chris.

The reason Zeke had gone demon hunting. The reason he was imprisoned in the underworld, not devising plans and assisting the Charmed Ones with Chris. Zeke cursed himself for being so reckless and thoughtless. He knew that what he was doing could have disastrous, potentially life-threatening results. Chris was proof of that. But he'd still done it.

God, he'd been so stupid, letting his emotions rather than his judgement rule him.

Flexing his fingers and shutting his eyes tightly, Zeke concentrated hard, trying to shimmer away to Golden Gate Bridge- his meeting place with Chris. But try as he might, he couldn't escape. These were magic binding handcuffs. Zeke had expected as much.

So he couldn't shimmer out, but there was still hope. He could called for Chris. They'd tested it before, and it had worked. Hopefully it would work now.

"Chris?" Zeke didn't want to raise his voice too loud, in case he alerted any demons to his presence. "Chris! Please, come here. I need you. It's important, really."

"Zeke waited with growing impatience, and as time went by, it grew ever obvious that Chris was not coming. He must not have heard. There must be enchantments of some sort preventing him from doing so. Right? Chris wouldn't just ignore him… would he? No, he wouldn't. Leo had done the exact same thing to Chris, so he knew how much it hurt. Chris would never ignore his calls, Zeke was sure of that.

But his doubt increased with every minute that passed.