Do You Really Want to Know 2: Who I am…

Chapter 2

By: teal-lover

Summary: How Chris learned the cunning and duplicitous behavior we saw for over a year. Alternates between the past, unchanged future, and the changed future.

AN: I changed the title partially because I realized that there may have been one in existence with the same name. Plus, since this is supposed to be a sequel/prequel, I thought it would make more sense to have the same name.

Background in previous story is that something terrible happened to Chris and changed the way he saw things and learned to survive. This is the prequel/sequel to "Do You Really Want to Know", but can stand alone. Spoilers for all of season 6.

Rating: PG-13, T, which may change later on in chapters depending on where my mind takes me.

Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed or any of the characters or get any money from writing this fiction.

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May 2021, Changed Future, UC Berkeley

Wyatt took a deep breath, hesitating nervously while he raised his hand to knock on his psychology professor's door. He rehearsed what he was going to say over and over again in his mind, changing the mantra slightly with each rehearsal. He was saved from any further contemplation when the door swung open and a short, balding man welcomed him.

"I thought I heard someone outside the door, Wyatt. What can I help you with?"

Wyatt stammered nervously, knowing that the man had the power to make his life even more miserable than it already was for another week. He was positive that if he orbed home now, his mother would just send him packing straight back to school until he was officially finished. "Well, um…"

Professor Loomis studied the young man's appearance and behavior, finding it suddenly odd. After a year in his small class, Wyatt had proven to be one of the brightest students he had ever seen, and confident in such a way that he was never at loss for words as he was now. Something must have really been troubling him. He opened the door wider and led him inside. "Come in, I don't bite," he smiled warmly hoping to put him at ease. "Now what can I do for you?"

"Well, you see—I'm having a little bit of a family emergency that I really need to be home for. You're final is my last one, and I'd have to have to hang around for another whole week. And I'm not trying to get out of it or anything, just maybe hoping that I could do an essay or something so I could go home today?" Wyatt pleaded with a hopeful expression.

"Ok," the professor said simply.

"Ok? That's it?" his ice-blue stared up in surprise.

"Yes, I do have a make up exam that I could give you right now if you're willing to take it."

The blonde nodded enthusiastically, already planning his trip home.

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May 2021, Changed Future, Seattle Washington

Phoebe rushed around the house, currently hopping on one heel while she fiddled with her earring. She stopped in front of her husband, slightly irritated by his amused smirk. "Well don't just stand there, help me get ready."

Jason crossed his arms calmly, "It's not like you have to rush to catch a plane, honey. Your sister's orbing to pick you up. And I'm pretty sure you won't loose your seat if you get to the airport a little late."

The dark-haired witch cracked a slight smile before turning sarcastically. "Ha, ha—after all these years, you're still not funny. I already told you that Piper asked me to come specifically at 8 pm. And her voice sounded a little off, so I'm going to do as she asked. Now would you stop being a smartass and zip me up? Paige is going to be here any minute."

"Would you stop worrying, Phoebe. It can't be too bad if she asked you to dress nicely for dinner at Charmant."

"Then you don't know my sister. When she breaks bad news to us, she always prefers to soften us up with a good meal first. The fact that she wants us to meet at her own restaurant says that she needs her comfort zone to do it. And then there's the fact that she asked me to come for Chris's graduation a whole week early—and stay until you guys fly out. There's something going on with that girl, and it's not good." She turned at the sound of her baby sister's voice.

"I couldn't agree with you more," Paige chimed in ominously as she bent to retrieve the suitcases by the front door.

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May 2021, Changed Future, Charmant

The three Charmed Sisters sat at a private dining area reserved for the restaurant's owner and special guests. Piper twirled her finger around her shoulder length brown hair as the waiter topped off her glass, then nodded a small thank you as he bowed and exited. The girls night out that she had planned had been hampered by her thoughts of her youngest son and the troubles he was having. She picked up her glass again, trying to decide how to broach the subject.

Phoebe sent Paige a knowing glance, having now been certain that Piper was upset about something. She decided that enough was enough of the pleasantries, "Ok, Piper. We've had our butter-us-up dinner. Now let's have it. I don't need to be an empath to know that there's something going on with you."

"I should have known that I couldn't fool you guys. Actually, it's not about me. It's Chris…" she started to explain what had been happening as her sisters listened intently.

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May 2021, Changed Future, Manor

Leo poured his sister-in-law a cup of tea while they sat in the conservatory discussing the situation.

"I don't understand," Phoebe complained while she looked up at him, "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because we already ruled out something demonic. So we thought we could handle it alone. But it's getting worse. He's always tired because he's not getting enough sleep, and therefore irritable all-day long. In fact, he kind of reminds me of--"

Paige smiled fondly at the reference, "Kind of reminds you of a certain other green-eyed whitelighter, huh?"

"Exactly." Leo said with a sad smile before continuing. "Chris seems to remember a little more each time, but it's only snippets of the dream. But whatever it is, it must be terrifying for him to start screaming for us like that. He's usually fighting the covers by then and wakes up soaking wet every time."

Phoebe looked to both parents hesitantly, "And you're sure you want me to do the memory projection spell on him? Bring it to the surface?"

Piper locked eyes with her husband, silently agreeing. "Something has to be done. He can't go on like this, and we need to find out what's wrong. And Leo's right, we can't take him to a regular psychiatrist in case he starts talking about demons or something."

"Ok. Let's go do this while he's still asleep." She glanced at her watch, noting the late hour. "Well if previous experience is any indication, he should be starting to dream any minute now?"

Leo led the way and warned the sisters as they tip-toed up the stairs, "Don't step on Wyatt. He came home this afternoon, and last I checked, he was asleep on the floor right below Chris's bed."

When they entered the bedroom, Wyatt bolted upwards, but relaxed when he saw his family. He moved aside sleepily to allow his Aunt access to the sleeping figure on the bed, having already been informed by his father of their intentions.

Phoebe quietly recited the spell that she had perfected over the years as the others did the same with a modified version. Though it wasn't necessary in order for the others to see what was in his mind, she leaned down and placed her palm gently on her youngest nephew's forehead. She had learned from experience that physical contact from the beginning would allow her to break the connection with the others immediately and remove them from the vision, just in case she accidentally stumbled onto something that wasn't meant to be projected.

She waited for a few moments before the picture slowly cleared into a scene that looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't seem to place it. She saw her two nephews ducking through a forest, before finally reaching a grassy clearing.

Chris: "Wyatt? What are we doing here? Isn't this where the Valkyries live? Cause if it is, I think we'd better get out of here."

Wyatt: "Just stick to the underbrush, and they won't find us. I need to show you something."

They went through the shadows of the underbrush hiding at even the smallest hint of movement by the Valkyries until they reached a clearing.

Chris whispered, "What is this place?"

Wyatt: "Someplace a young Valkyrie showed me a while back. No one else knows about it, and it's protected by magic. You don't have to whisper, no one can hear us here."

Chris raised his voice, "Ok, what are we doing here?"

Wyatt: "I've been doing some thinking."

Chris raised his eyebrows and prodded him, "About?"

Wyatt: "You. Or rather, your behavior in particular. You are--stubborn. Willful, and do nothing I tell you."

Chris crossed his arms defensively, "So! You're not my father."

Phoebe snatched her hand away as if it had been burned, breaking the connection before it could project itself any further to the others. Now she knew why it was so familiar to her at first. She had heard all of those words before, in exactly the same fashion nearly 18 years ago. When Chris had come back from the future, she had seen his memories before, and what followed was something that would haunt her for the rest of her life.

She backed away hurriedly before turning and heading for the bathroom, emptying her stomach's contents. Shakily, she bent down over the sink and splashed water over her face to calm down, all the while sensing the agitation and worry from the family hovering just outside the door.

Even now, the empath could feel his terror in his sleep as he tossed and turned. The moment that he began calling for his father and sibling broke her heart. He would do that for some time, even though they were by his side gently trying to rouse and reassure him of their presence.

She sobbed softly into her hands, trying uselessly to fight back the images that flooded her mind. She hadn't needed to see any further detail of what Chris was having night terrors about. They weren't dreams as everyone had thought. They were memories. Memories that he shouldn't have since he hadn't lived them. They belonged to the Chris that died in the past to save his brother. Or did he?

Phoebe could feel the agitation growing outside the door, and knew that they would be demanding explanations for her hasty retreat any minute now. But Chris didn't remember what the dreams were about yet. So maybe she could help him through them before he found out. Because there was no way that she could ever give his family any detail that would satisfy them. She had sworn secrecy to the other Chris after the Spider-Demon incident, and would hold herself to it until her dying day.

Her head shot up as the door was pushed open. "Phoebe? What just happened?"

TBC…