Chapter Four | Revelations

Just like in any other community, the word of Wyatt Halliwell's demonic partnership to the late Source's son spread quickly throughout it. They left Italy, Wyatt's family tense and quiet as they unpacked and once again got comfortable in their manor.

The silence was palpable. Wyatt led Chris up to his bedroom, ignoring the looks he was getting from the rest of his family as he did so. The door eased shut behind them and as it clicked, Wyatt slumped down onto his bed, head cradled in his hands.

"Wy?"

Wyatt felt Chris's hands gently wrap around his wrists. Soft caresses made the tense muscles slowly relax. "I thought I was suppose to be the one all dramatic and pessimistic about this."

Wyatt chuckled. Reaching up, he pulled Chris close by the younger man's hips. "You are." Wyatt said, smirking as he looked up.

Chris smiled. His hands gently cupped his lover's face. He could feel sharp stubble against his palms. Gently, Chris smoothed the skin beneath Wyatt's blue eyes, frowning at the dark circles beneath them. He smiled before leaning down, pressing his lips against Wyatt's. It wasn't heated as it wasn't sparking anything, it was merely a gesture of being together through hell or highwater. Kneeling, Chris gazed into Wyatt's eyes. Exhaustion and concern was heavy within the blue eyes; but, affection and love overwhelmed the other feelings.

"You okay?" His voice was soft, almost a whisper.

Wyatt gently took Chris's hands into his own. "Would be better if we took a nap."

Chris smiled, "I could use one."

Chris chuckled as Wyatt pulled him down, the two giggling and laughing as they maneuvered around each other as getting comfortable. With Chris's head on his shoulder and a legs intertwined, the two men settled.

"You know that I love you, right?"

Wyatt blinked at Chris's sudden question. "Yes."

"And that I would never...force you to be with me?"

"Of course. Chris, what is-"

Chris shook his head, "Just….guess their words struck a nerve or something."

Wyatt exhaled slowly, "Should've punched him."

"No," Chris rolled his eyes, "No, you did the right thing and use words like a big boy." Chris snickered at Wyatt's annoyed look, "Wy, I'm a demonic, wiccan hybrid. My whole life is, and will be, filled with people throwing slurs and hurtful words at me. It's not right; but, I also understand that a few people's ignorant, stupid words shouldn't affect me."

"You're just like everyone else!"

"Yes, Wyatt, I know that." Chris sighed, "Wy, I love you. I do; but your temper is going to get you killed if you don't cool it."

"My temper-"

"Will blow up and the next thing you know you're alienated from the whole Wiccan Community and when you find yourself in a bind, no one will hear your cries. Politics isn't different between mortal and wiccan worlds, Wy. Connections need to be maintained to live."

Wyatt sighed, "I don't like it."

"I don't either; but, us simply being together will hopefully break down some of those old coot's stupid ideas. Change has to go slowly, dear, too quickly and you'll find yourself in another problem. One day, hybrids won't be deemed horrible. Hell, sixty years ago, your father and mother would've been chastised and they would've been banished from the Community; but look now, they're one of the most prominent couples. Give it a few generations and demonic and wiccan offsprings will be on par with witchlighters."

"You have too much hope in the Community."

Chris's chuckle was broken and mirthless, "You and hope are all I have left."

The first attack was in Portland, Oregon, United States. A young woman, a witch with the simple power of telekinesis, was struck down while walking home from college. She was apart of the McKallen Coven and was the daughter to a single mother who was so proud of her daughter for going to college to become a teacher. Her body was found in an alley, her throat clawed out and her limbs scorched.

The news of her death reached the Halliwell family three hours after her body was found. It's only been a handful of days since Chris came back to Wyatt. Besides Wyatt, Melinda, and Phoebe, most Halliwells still ignored Chris's presence, perhaps in the hope that he would eventually leave.

It was early in the morning when Leo left. He came back twenty minutes later solemn. He told the family that the demons are once again attacking wiccans above ground, their their years in relative peace was coming to an end. Demon attacks were starting to filter into the Elders more and more as the hours ticked by and soon it would be back to the times when Wyatt was a young toddler.

Chris sighed, "They're only going to get worse," he said softly, "The demons were always irritated at my Father's motion of restricted attacks on Wiccans."

"Why did your Father push that?" Phoebe asked.

"The Demonic population was nearly at 10 percent from years before. Vampires were in the low hundreds. Some species were lower. My father proposed that the demons stopped attacking and focused on increasing their numbers." Chris answered, "Although, in all honesty, he only proposed the idea of more numbers so they all could rise at once to overwhelm the Wiccan Community."

"So not only are we dealing with pissed off demons we're dealing with a bunch of pissed off demons." Piper amended.

"In a nutshell, yes."

"Lovely," Piper gritted her teeth before looking around her family, "Everyone takes potions with them, don't go out alone unless absolutely necessary."

"Any word from Katherine or Zachery?" Leo asked.

"Katherine called me earlier, shortly after you left, telling me that there was a rumor of an attack." Piper answered, "She probably has heard the confirmation from Adam by now. Zachary hasn't called. I'll call him in a few minutes."

"Adam was Up There," Leo confirmed, 'So was Thomas, so Zachary probably knows."

Piper nodded, "Good. Now, be careful everyone. You all go back to school Monday. Your mini vacation is done."

The children sighed, frowns pulling at all of their lips. Their two month break was treasured even if it made the weeks afterwards a bit stressful with catching up with their classmates.

"We'll have to go to your house and get your uniform." Wyatt spoke.

"Take Melinda with you."

Wyatt glanced at Melinda, the younger woman looking at their mother in confusion. "Mom, I'll have Chris." Wyatt stated.

Piper narrowed her eyes on her son, "Take Melinda with you."

Wyatt opened his mouth to retort, but a calming hand on his own quieted him. Glancing at his lover, Wyatt frowned as Chris shook his head. "It's fine, Wy. Better safe than sorry, plus, Mel doesn't seem to adverse to coming with us."

"As long as you two don't shove your tongues down each other throats, I'm good." Melinda responded with a chuckle.

Wyatt sighed, "We'll leave in a few minutes, okay?"

"Let me grab my shoes and we'll be off," Melinda said before darting up the stairs.

"Come on," Wyatt entwined his hand with Chris and with a harsh glare towards his mother departed from the kitchen and headed out towards Chris's old home.

The apartment was small and cramped. Walking into it, Wyatt winced and suddenly understood why Chris never let him come over. It was basically bare, only the bare essentials of cooking appliances and a bed dresser was all that was in it.

"Aunt Alix isn't here." Chris glanced around, "Thank god."

"Where is she?" Melinda inquired, looking around.

"Probably dealing with the fallout...or joining in." Chris sighed, "Just stay in the living room, I'll grab some clothes and then we can leave."

Wyatt nodded, still taking in where his lover lived. It was such a sharp contrast to how he lived.

"Did you know?" Melinda asked quietly.

Wyatt shook his head, "We always just came to the Manor or hung out elsewhere."

"Now you know why." Melinda sighed, "So how long do you think it will take until Mom forgives you?"

"Years, if ever." Wyatt snorted, "I'm more worried about her sneaking into our bedroom and vanquishing him."

"Mom wouldn't do that."

"How do we know? It's not like any of us dated a demon before." Wyatt replied, "It's just...frustrating that no one in the family save you and Aunt Phoebe are the least bit accepting of him."

"They'll come around," Melinda remarked, "Just give them sometime to come over the shock, Wy."

"I know."

"All, 'our bedroom'," Melinda laughed as a blush blossomed across her brother's face, "Just promise me I get to be the Maid of Honor."

"Melinda…"

"And an open bar."

"Melinda!"

"Simple requests, really."

"What are simple requests?"

Melinda smiled at her brother's boyfriend, "Oh, just some things to keep in mind for the future. All done?"

Chris narrowed his eyes, "I don't like that look, and why is Wyatt blushing?"

"I'm not blushing!"

"Your cheeks say otherwise," Chris retorted as he shifted the backpack higher on his shoulder, "Mel, stop picking on your brother, poor man can't take much."

"Chris!"

Chris laughed, "Come on, I would like to leave before my Aunt comes home."

Wyatt shook his head before following his lover out, his sister's soft humming of the Wedding Song making his blush reappear.