Author's Note: Hey guys, here's the third chapter. Thanks for getting this far in my story and I really hope that you enjoy. But if you don't, feel free to comment and tell me what I'm doing wrong. If you in fact are enjoying it then YAY! And please review too.

Disclaimer: Charmed is owned by much richer people than me. Thanks J

Chapter 3 - The Funeral

The day of the funeral had passed. Chris, dressed in a black suit, sat at the front of the seats that had been laid out in front of his mother's grave at the cemetery. He felt his hands go numb as he sat there, barely listening to the minister speak. To his left sat Wyatt, also in a black suit. He looked so wrapped in what was being said, he looked like he was paying attention. But Chris knew that Wyatt was far away.

And to Chris' right sat Melinda, wearing a modest black dress. She had been quietly weeping ever since she left the house. Chris' heart went to her as he saw her lips tremble and tears falling down her high cheekbones. He reached over to her, pulling her to him so that her head rested safely on his shoulder. And there they stayed until the funeral was over.

Afterwards, the Halliwell Manor held so many people Chris wanted nothing more than to telekinetically throw every single guest out. But he couldn't. Instead, he sat in the living room, staring out the window and up at the sky. Mom, I'm so sorry. I couldn't save you. I am so sorry.

Melinda Halliwell sat on the day seat beneath the staircase. Her beautiful hazel eyes stared at the very spot that her mother had died. The scene playing over and over in her mind. Her heart beat faster as tears streamed down her face.

Someone dropped a spoon on the floor and the noise startled her. Melinda jumped and a glass vase exploded. Someone shrieked and people looked scared, staring from the shattered glass on the floor, around the room.

But Mel didn't even notice. She sat there, staring at the spot that her mother had died, immune to the noise and chaos around her.

Wyatt stood, leaning against a wall, keeping an eye on his brother and sister. Chris looked so far away, and Melinda looked extremely troubled. As the glass vase shattered, flowers, water and glass showered the end table and floor. Frowning, Wyatt ignored the mess, knowing that one of his uncles or cousins would clean it up. He went over to Mel and sat next to her. She was so focused on the floor that she didn't even look up.

"Mel." Wyatt said softly, placing his hand on her shoulder. The touch made her jump and a china saucer flew off the kitchen table, shattering immediately. "Mel, snap out of it." He wasn't worried about the saucer, there were enough people around to hide the magical display. It looked like someone had accidentally knocked the saucer over.

"I miss her." Mel spoke quietly, her eyes still gazing blankly at the floor.

"I know, Mel, I miss her too." Wyatt said. Finally she seemed to wake out of her trance and looked up at him.

"I don't know how I'd do this without you and Chris." Mel said softly, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"I know exactly how you feel, Mel." Wyatt sighed sadly, putting his arm around her and squeezing her forearm gently.

"Mel. Wy." Chris whispered, approaching them. "Come with me." He headed towards the kitchen. Mel and Wyatt shared a looked, shrugged and followed.

"Chris, what's going on?" Mel asked.

"This." Chris said, holding out his hands. "Book of Shadows." The ancient, moss green leather tome orbed into his hands. As soon as the swirls of blue and white subsided, Chris set it onto the kitchen bench and began flipping through it.

"Chris, what are you doing?!" Mel hissed quietly. "What if someone walks in here?"

"Then you can freeze them." Chris shrugged casually, stopping a page. "I was looking through this last night and I found them."

"The demons." Wyatt said, almost ferociously.

"What are you guys doing?" A female voice spoke heavily. All three jumped, turning around sharply. Chris snapped the book shut and tried to hide it feebly under his hands and Mel raised her hands to freeze whoever it was who had intruded on them.

A short young woman stood at the doorway with her eyebrows raised expectantly, her large brown eyes glancing down at the Book before looking back up at her cousins.

"Prue." Mel lowered her hands. Prudence Charlotte Halliwell narrowed her eyes at Chris.

"What are you guys doing with the Book?" She stepped forward. If anything, Chris would have rather been busted by a mortal. Prue was extremely fussed with magic exposure and anything related to magic, really. Being busted by Prue was like being caught by Aunt Paige.

Mel knew that Prue wouldn't react well to either Chris and Wyatt trying to reason with her, so she gave it a go. Taking a step forward, she spoke: "Prue, please, this is really major. You know the demons that k-killed our mom? We found them. And now we need to get them."

Prue's mahogany brown eyes widened. As much as she was a stickler for rules, she loved her family very much and she loved her Aunt Piper more than anything. "Where and when?"

"Now." Chris said. "In the Underworld."

"Uh, we can't go now." Prue said. "The wake, remember?"

"Afterwards then." Wyatt said fiercely. Mel nodded.

"Guys?" Another figure pushed through the door and looked around. The girl who stood there looked like a younger version of Prue. Her cheekbones and chin were more delicate though, much more like her mother. Her clear blue eyes were red and she was still crying.

"Patty." Mel rushed forward and hugged her cousin. "It's okay, Patty."

"I'm so sorry." Patricia Helena Halliwell sobbed. She sobered for a second. "What're you guys all doing in here?"

"What's with all the people in here?" Aunt Phoebe's voice spoke as the door was pushed open once more and she stepped in.

"Aunt Phoebe." Chris said, shuffling the Book of Shadows behind Wyatt.

"Mom." Prue jumped.

Melinda stepped towards her aunt. "Aunt Phoebe, I'm sorry. I know that gathering up like this doesn't look good to the guests but I really couldn't handle it anymore. I just hate being reminded that she's gone." Melinda paused. What had started out as a lie to bail them out had turned into an emotional outbreak. Mel's eyes welled up and her throat choked. "Mom's really gone." She burst into sobs and her aunt pulled her into a hug.

"I know, Mel." She whispered in her ear. Mel calmed down, her eyes drying.