A Charmed Story - Part Nine:
I, Myself And The Elders
Chapter 11

Steve heard how Rhashirk approached him. "Now you'll pay..."
The young man just wanted it to be something fast. He did not want to go through the same things as the previous time, he couldn't. Or maybe Chris would have time to do something, and save him? But no... He was wounded. The two of them were doomed.
However, the next thing he heard was Rhashirk's furious voice cursing. He opened his eyes carefully, just to meet the demon's eyes, and suddenly after that, a blow stroke his face, making him fall on his side.
"You little bastard, what have you done?? Speak now or I swear that you and your pathetic friends will suffer in an indescribable way!!"
Chris breathed relieved when he saw that in fact, the spell had worked. "Steve!!" he yelled, standing slowly and stumbling towards them.
Rhashirk turned to face him immediately and made the attempt to use his powers against him, forgetting for a second that he was not able to do it.
Chris took advantage of his hesitation, and threw him to the ground with his telekinesis. Steve stood up then, still shocked, and looked at Chris who was in so much pain. "Steve... We don't have much time..."
Rhashirk had never been so angry in his life. How the hell had those little witches been able to dismantle his entire fabulous plan? He sat in pain and tried to stand. "On them!" he cried, in the direction of the wolves.
"Damn it..." Chris cursed clenching his teeth. He had just the time to turn and see the wolves jumping on him, but his reflects were still good, in spite of the pain, and soon the animals were flying through the air.
Steve swallowed and turned to Rhashirk who was again on his feet, and had something in his hand. Steve lowered his eyes to see what the bright thing was, just when the ex-Elder raised it to stab the young man with the athame.
Steve opened his mouth surprised, but there was no time to think. Before he could even realise, he had kicked the old man in the stomach, making him drop the weapon.
Steve seized the athame quickly and looked out of the corner of his eyes to see that the wolves were jumping again on Chris, but the young Elder-witch managed to beat them once again. But Rhashirk was already standing up and Steve did not have time to think more about it.
"You stupid b-b-b..." the demon could not end what he planned to say. He opened his eyes widely, feeling the pain in his stomach. His hands touched it and were stained in blood in a couple of seconds. He looked at Steve surprised. "You... You..."
Steve was still holding the athame, so he just took it back with a harsh movement of his wrist, and stared at Rhashirk with a mixture of hatred and fear, and at the same time excitement and relief. "That is for whatever you did to Tom and Chris's family," he said coldly, ignoring Chris completely.
The young man glared at the demon who tried to remain steady on his feet, but it was impossible. Finally he fell on his knees, with the shocked expression on his face. "And this..." Steve said, stabbing him once again, this time in the heart. "This is for me."
Rhashirk took a deep breath, but only blood came out of his mouth. He tried to say something, but words would not come out. His pupils were big, and he could hardly see. Only a blurred figure in front of him...
A wolf fell heavily on his side, and Chris cursed when another one attacked him. He was so tired...
Rhashirk fell on his side as soon as Steve recovered the athame. He was dead.
The wolf that had turned on Chris, just fell on him. This time, Chris had not been able to use his telekinesis on time. The wolf was going to kill him... But it was motionless, still...
Chris tried to move it, but it was so heavy... He gasped in pain, his shoulder and arm ached too much. He took a deep breath: "Steve??"
There was another wolf lying, probably dead, by his side. But he could not see Steve. He was at his back. "Steve!"
The young man was completely engrossed in the dying body of the demon that had made him suffer so much... After a while, a black shadow came out of the open mouth of Rhashirk, and then blue lights surrounded him, as if they were being exhaled from inside his body. The lights flew away, illumining for a moment the dark sky in that dimension. Then the sky was again dark, and Steve heard Chris's voice at his back.
"Steve..." Chris could barely breathe due to the weigh of the animal that lied dead on him.
"Chris! Are you ok?" He rushed to help him, finally moving the dead animal enough to help his friend out.
Chris gasped again and moaned a little bit. Then he took a deep breath, happy that he could finally breathe. "I am... I am fine..." Then he saw Rhashirk's body and looked at Steve questioningly, still kneeling by the wolf.
Steve smiled softly and nodded. "He's dead..." he said as he stretched his hand to help Chris stand. The Elder-witch took another deep breath and closed his eyes, relieved, as he held his friend's hand and stood up with difficulty.
"But I don't know why his remainings doesn't end up in flames," Steve added then, a little confused.
"Magic is different here, I guess," Chris said, his voice tired. "How are we gonna find them now...?" he asked then, regretting suddenly that the demon had died.
Steve helped him to be steady. "Don't worry... I know the way... I think," he said, feeling that trusting in his senses, he could find the way back to those caves.
Chris just nodded, tiredly, and then took a fast look at the demon and wolves, before following Steve, deep in his thoughts: Rhashirk had been an Elder before becoming a demon... And the oracle had behaved the same way when they had asked it about both of them... It had just shaken. Why?? He looked at Steve as he walked in front of him. Perhaps the young man was right, and his deals with Belthazor were leading him to become what Rhashirk had become... in a far or near future.

°°°°°°°°°°

Angela stared into the nothing. All the things her husband and those two girls had told her... it scared her, it scared her to death. She had met that demon on her own, she knew that he was a monster. And the thought that he had imprisoned the whole family... including the babies... it was horrible...
Michael hugged her. "I'm sorry he whispered. I'm so sorry..."
"It isn't your fault," she said, caressing his cheek. "And I'm sure Chris will come back safe, with all of them."
"But... I didn't want you to get involved with all that... you shall not worry about all this." His voice was trembling a little. "That's why I agreed that they took your memories... I knew I would always be worried when something like this is going on... because Chris is my friend... But I don't want you to be worried, I want you to be happy."
"Oh Mickey," Angela whispered smiling, even if a few tears were running down her cheeks, "I love you so much... and, remember, in good and bad times we promised... I don't want you to worry alone." Then she took his face in her hands and pressed her lips softly against his.
Veronica and Nicki, who had given the couple a little more space to talk, by sitting down on the other side of the room, returned to them. The latter cleared her throat "I don't know," she said hesitantly, pointing at Wyatt who was sleeping in her arms, "but it seems he had calmed down... maybe that's a good sign."
Michael looked at them and sighed: "Let's hope so..."

°°°°°°°°°°

When those blue little lights appeared in the cave, the prisoners got scared. What was Rhashirk now doing to them? Would he finally kill them?
But the lights didn't kill. Instead they went to those Elders they belonged to. They hovered over their bodies for a moment and then, went inside them.
Seconds later Leo inhaled deeply, same as all the others who had been unconscious.
Silas was one of the first who sat up. "What happened?" he asked.
Odin looked to him confused and unable to form a word while Cole said: "Seems you got your powers back."
"Wait... When you all got your powers back, then..." Odin said, his brain finally working again.
"Chris..." Leo muttered, while Cole nodded.
"Pah... What should he have done?" one of the other Elders, one of those who had been against the Elder-witch, said. Piper and Bianca glanced at him angrily, and mumbled something which he luckily couldn't understand.
"Save us..." Jeremiah replied, which earned him some surprised and confused looks from his friends, while Odin smiled.
Silas turned to Leo and Andrew: "Hey, you two are not chained... so could you maybe help to free us?"
Leo was about to rise, when Odin stopped him. "No... first look after the babies and Tom," he ordered.
'The babies?' Leo thought. Then his head turned to the little cage. "Oh God... Christopher! Hope!" he exclaimed and went over to them.

°°°°°°°°°°

When Steve reached that big hole in the darkness, he stopped. "Is that the entrance?" Chris asked, as soon as he caught up with him.
"Yeah," his friend said with a calm voice. His eyes were fixed on the way in front of him. His whole body was tensed.
Chris sighed and put a hand on his shoulder: "I can go in there alone, if you don't..."
"No," Steve said and took a deep breath, "let's go." Then he stepped down the long way which was leading deeper and deeper inside that cave. Chris sighed again, then followed him, wondering if it was a good choice for his friend to come here...
After a few yards they reached a big room which was brightly illuminated on one side. There in the light stood a uncomfortable looking chair. On the dark side stood some things for torturing.
Steve swallowed. Being in this room again, brought all the pain, which was carefully hidden inside him, back to the surface. He started to cry, silently.
"Hey, it's ok," Chris said hugging him with his unbroken arm. He knew a lot about what had happened in this room, Steve had told him a lot. And he could imagine how his friend felt this moment.
But all of a sudden Steve exclaimed: "No... it's not!" He freed himself from Chris's hug and threw another flash of energy against that damned chair making it explode.
Chris watched his friend startled. He was worried, that the young witch could lose his mind over all this, especially with that kind of power which was seemingly controlled by his fears.
But when it was done Steve turned to him with a weak smile. The chair and the light were in pieces. And Chris could see a sparkle in Steve's eyes, when he said: "Now it's ok."

°°°°°°°°°°

Andrew had knelt down next to Tom, checking if he was alright, and healing his leg and the cuts and bruises. Then he announced that he was fine, at least physically. But still he was not himself. He was reacting, when he was touched, but it was more like a reflex than a conscious reaction.
Then Andrew began to free the others.
Meanwhile Leo had managed to open the cage and pulled out the two small bodies. Relieved he noticed that they were breathing, but he couldn't wake them up. "Try if your healing works," Odin had suggested. Leo had tried it, but it didn't work. It was as if their conscious was suppressed by something, as if their mind would be sleeping.
As soon as Piper and Bianca were freed, they went over to Leo. The Phoenix took her girl to her arms and hold it close, desperately. She was so afraid of losing her, she had never thought that she was able to feel so much fear.
Piper on the other hand looked angry at her husband. "Do something!" she exclaimed. But before Leo could answer, they all heard a noise, like something was exploding.
"What was that?" Cole asked, scared that Rhashirk would maybe comeback.
Then they heard footsteps. They wanted to hide, but there was no use. Fearful they all watched the entrance.
Steve was the first who entered. And as soon as he saw Tom, he rushed over to him.
"Bianca?" Chris yelled when he stepped into the cave right after his friend.
"Chris?" Bianca exclaimed relieved. "Oh my God... I'm here!"
Not only her, everyone was relieved to see the Elder-witch and his friend. And everyone started to ask questions and stuff. But they both didn't listen.
Chris had seen his wife, and his girl... the way she was holding her. And a thought and a feeling of fear crossed his mind which blocked out everything else. He rushed over to them, not paying attention to his aching shoulder any longer. Kneeling by their side, he caressed Hopes cheek. "Thanks God, she's alive," he said, but his voice broke, because his emotions were overwhelming him.
"Chris, she doesn't wake up..." Bianca sobbed, and the Elder-witch could see the pain in her eyes.
"Same as Christopher and... and Tom," he heard Piper add from somewhere at his side But he barely registered it, his mind was clouded with worry.
What should he do? He had no idea about what he could do... What had that bastard of Rhashirk done to his girl? For a moment he wasn't able to even think.
Then he felt a hand on his shoulder and when he looked up he saw the eyes of Cole, who just looked at him, with all the silent trust in his eyes. He didn't say a word to him, but the simple fact that he was there on his side, made Chris calm down... Like it always had been...
"Don't worry," Silas said, "they are still alive, and we'll find a way to bring them back."
Chris, who still looked at his uncle, felt how his brain started to work again. And then it hit him... Awkwardly he pulled out the vial with the potion Phoebe had made for him. And a piece of his conversation with the source came back to his mind...
"For what is that?" Chris had asked. "I thought you said there is no potion..."
Belthazor had just laughed: "That's not for him... it's for the case that you need to bring someone of your friends back from a place darker then you can imagine. If you're fast enough they'll even not remember..."
Carefully he opened the vial.
Steve who was on Tom's side, noticed that with worry and fear, but before he could say something, Piper rose to speak. "Chris what are you doing?" she asked, when Chris lowered the small bottle to Hope's lips. "Isn't that the potion, which you got from Belthazor?"
The Elder-witch hesitated a moment, while he felt all the eyes, of the people around him, focused on him. He knew it was weird, he knew it was a risk, because Belthazor was still a demon, even more he was the source. But he had to try it, he felt it was right. "Yeah," he answered dryly. He was looking at his wife, waiting for her permission. When she finally nodded he poured a single drop of the potion into his babygirl's mouth.
For a moment they all kept silent, holding their breaths. First nothing happened and Chris felt the fear return to him. What if he had been wrong? What if the source betrayed them?
But then Hope began to stir and finally she opened her eyes. And when she looked at Chris, when he saw her green eyes looking back at him, the Elder-witch felt like new born. He felt so much joy that he could nothing else do then laugh. He hugged his wife who was laughing and crying at the same time and he kissed the forehead of his girl.
Then he gave the potion to his mom. "Here... one drop for mini-me and the rest is for Tom," he ordered.
Moments later baby-Christopher was crying loudly and also Tom was waking up.
Elenia sighed. She could just hide behind the others Elders - her son, who was taking care of his friend, hadn't noticed her yet. But she couldn't do that... Odin's words were still there in her mind, and when she would hide now, and go back to up there with the others, she would never get this chance again. She took a deep breath and went over to her son. She put her hand on his shoulder and said with her soft voice: "Steve... I..."
Her son turned around... and froze. He thought he would dream. That couldn't be true, could it? "MOM?"

°°°°°°°°°°

About an hours later, Chris was sitting on the sofa of the manor, with Bianca by her side, holding a sleeping Hope, and Paige by his other side. Between her and Chris, Wyatt slept profoundly, holding Chris's arm. Michael had told him about his brother, how he had behaved and all. He wanted to talk with him, but he also needed to go back with Angela and talk with her, so now that he had seen everyone was fine, he could leave for a while.
"Don't do anything stupid before talking with me," Michael had said before seeing Chris orb away from his house, after he had taken the couple back there. "Don't worry that much, man. I'll be here tomorrow, as we agreed." Chris had answered while he disappeared.
Now, the young Elder was moving his arm back and forth, grimacing as if it still hurt.
"Didn't Leo heal it properly?" Paige asked sarcastically.
"He did... I guess I have cramps now. Lack of exercise..."
"Being a daddy takes a lot of time from you," Bianca smiled, much calmer now.
"And hours of sleep..." Chris sighed, resigned, as Paige burst into laughter.
At that moment Piper came in with Christopher in her arms, followed by Nicki who was carrying a plate with tea. "Sweetie... Grandpa was on the phone, for at least half an hour. He said he needs to see you and the kids. He feels guilty because that demon took them... I could not convince him that everything was ok and that he did more than he could, so I guess you'll have to pay him a visit..."
Chris smiled sadly: "It was a really bad experience for him..." He sighed. Then he turned to Bianca and said: "Do you mind?"
She smiled: "Go, come on... We are not gonna leave..."
Chris kissed her softly on the cheek and took their girl to his arms. Holding Hope tightly he then orbed away, under the attentive look of his wife.
"Don't forget you still owe us an explanation!" Piper exclaimed, but he was already gone.
At that moment, the phone rang... again. "No..." Piper sighed, about to stand up again after having sat on a chair. "You are away one day, and all the people decide to phone you..."
"No, wait!" Paige said, standing up very quickly. "That one should be for me!!" And she rushed to the phone.
Piper and Bianca observed her curious, when she said: "Hello? Oh, Kyle! How are you??"
The oldest of the sisters rolled her eyes. "Love..." she said, making Bianca and Nicki smile.

°°°°°°°°°°

It was a bit windy, but not so much as to be a problem for the two people sitting on top of the bridge, which seemed to be the favourite spot of all the Elders.
"I am sorry..." the soft voice of Elenia said, who was looking at the water, thoughtful.
Steve smiled at her feebly, and squeezed her hand: "Don't be." A lonely tear ran down her cheek slowly, as she made a vain attempt to hold back her sobs. Steve went on: "I am ok, everything is ok now..." He had listened to the whole story and was more than shocked, but he had to try to be strong for her.
"I wasn't there for you. Tom was right... I should have been there for you... You almost..." she was going to say 'killed yourself' but she couldn't. Instead, she broke out in tears.
Steve's heart shrunk at the sight of his mother suffering that much. "Mom, it's ok... Tom is like that, you know him. He did not mean to hurt you. And he was so terrified, I can't imagine what he told you, but please, ignore it..."
Elenia shook her head peremptorily. "You don't understand. I am your mother. It's not because of what Tom said. It's just beCAUSE. I should have been there and comfort you, as every mother does. I should have done as Chris and Leo do... But I put my job over my tasks as a mother."
Steve listened to her, feeling so sad for her, but also for him. He was suffering for her, but at the same time, he had missed her so much. However, he said, smiling: "That wasn't your fault. I know you would have come if they had let you... And... You had been there for me. You were there when those double demons attacked. You were always there, somehow... I know it, I always did. And now everything's fine." Elenia swallowed, unable to smile, as she tried to read in his son's eyes the truth of what he was saying. He went on: "Moreover... You are here now for me, aren't you? You are back."
Elenia kept silent, looking at him, as tears ran down her cheeks.
"Mom...?"
The Elder turned her head, still silent, observing the slowly rising sun.

°°°°°°°°°°

Chris had hardly time to materialise completely, because Victor jumped up and hugged them as fast as he could. The Elder-witch smiled: "Ok... please let us breathe..."
Victor put a little space between them, just enough to look his grandson in his eyes: "Chris, I'm so relieved that you're all alive." Then he looked at the small girl in his grandson's arms: "Are you sure that the babies will not remember anything?"
Chris nodded: "Yeah... well at least Tom doesn't, so I think with Hope and mini-me, it will be the same." Then Chris noticed that his grandfather's apartment was still a mess. He sighed: "I'm sorry... for all that you had to go through today... for all..."
"Don't worry about that," Victor interrupted him. He sighed: "It's nothing that can't..."
"No," Chris said, "Rhashirk could have killed you, damned... that's not right."
"But he didn't kill me, Chris," his grandfather replied and led him to the sofa. "Come on... sit down..." The Elder-witch did as Victor began to talk. "When your mom was a child I wasn't there for her, just because I..."
Chris rolled his eyes: "Grandpa, I know that story... I've heard it abou..."
"Oh, that's good," Victor interrupted him, "because than you'll maybe understand that I will not let that happen again... I will be a part of your life, and your brothers' lives and your daughter's life... And I don't care how risky that is, because I just want to be there for you, ok?"
Chris nodded with watery eyes. He couldn't help feeling like a child again, like when his grandfather cheered him up when something went wrong... like he did it, when his mom had died... He swallowed, then said: "Don't risk too much, because I love you so much, that I don't think I could handle losing you."
His words hit Victor deep down inside his heart. He couldn't believe how much love he felt for that boy, that he still not really knew. There was something special about him, something amazing. "I'll try my best, Chris," he said while hugging him again, "but everyone dies someday and... I'm not the youngest anymore."
Chris sighed: "I know."
For a moment they kept silent. Then Chris added: "Mmmmm... if I'm still an Elder by that time, I could try to make you a whitelighter." Now Victor laughed loud and heartily. He still got sick by orbing, he really couldn't imagine himself doing that on his own.
But then he turned serious again: "What do you mean with 'if you still'?"
Chris sighed: "I told you... most of the Elders doesn't accept me, they don't want me up there... And the oracle, it reacted in a strange way, when they asked it about me... actually the same way, like it did when they asked it about Rhashirk."
Victor nodded, even if he didn't understand that at all. "So... now you're afraid that you're a demon or... I mean... that's crazy, you're good!"
Chris shook his head: "Rhashirk had been an Elder, too."
His grandfather sighed, finally understanding. "Maybe... but you're not him. I know that you are a good boy and a good Elder. Your powers comes from deep down inside here," he said, placing his hand over Chris's heart. "And I know your family needs you, Wyatt needs you... Did you know that he was only talking about you, all the time he was here? He loves you... And I know that you know that they need you."
Chris smiled weakly: "Thanks..." Then he thought about the things the oracle had shown him, when he was alone up there... Maybe things weren't that bad at all...

°°°°°°°°°°

Veronica and Tom were in the little lounge at his house, eating silently. He was looking down, and she did not dare to stop his stream of thoughts. She was afraid of having Tom in the same state as Steve had been. She was not sure whether she would be able to be as patient as Nicki was...
Tom was still thinking about what had happened. He knew Rhashirk had caught him, chained him in that room with the other Elders. He remembered seeing Steve's mom... But then? Nothing! The next thing he remembered was how he opened his eyes as if he had slept all day. He remembered that he looked into the concerned eyes of his best friend who immediately pulled him into a hug. That was all. But he knew that wasn't all that happened, to him... There had been more, he could see it in the other's eyes when they looked at him, he could see their worries.
"I am sorry..." he suddenly said, without looking her in the eyes, knowing he would find the same worries there, too.
"What?" Veronica was surprised, but Tom looked so ashamed...
"I am sorry... I should have never tried that on my own."
Veronica observed him for a while, and then pressed his hand tenderly: "It's ok, I am not angry." She did not want to talk much, since - according to Chris - the most probable thing was that he did not remember anything.
"Something happened down there, am I right?" Veronica looked him in the eyes, terrified, but Tom smiled as only he could do it: "Don't worry, I don't wanna know. I am not so stupid."
She smiled back, sadly: "You're fine, that's what matters. And you did that for Steve. That's something great, Tom. I admire you."
The boy smiled: "That wasn't brave, that was stupid..."
"You were not trying to show your bravery, but your friendship. And you know how much Steve appreciates it..."
Tom nodded: "I'm glad they made me forget. I know it was too bad. And I know Steve is stronger than me..."
Veronica felt a thrill, but said nothing. She just squeezed his arm and went on eating, as well as he did. Then, she looked at him again, and grinned: "Do you want a cookie?"
He raised his eyes to see the cookie right in front of his nose. He took it suddenly, and started to eat, smiling. Both of them started to laugh, happy that everything had gone well in the end.

°°°°°°°°°°

When Steve and his mom appeared in the Halliwell-manor, Nicki jumped up happily, but was frozen in shock the same second. "Mrs Moody?" she whispered. 'How can that be,' she thought as Leo patted her shoulder, 'why is she wearing an Elder-robe?'
"I love you mom," Steve said, hugging her one last time.
"I love you too, baby, and I swear I'll do everything I can to come back as fast as possible."
Her son nodded sadly as she took his face in her hands and kissed his forehead. Then she orbed away.
Steve sighed before he turned to Leo: "You have to help her to convince the others, Leo... you have to."
The Elder nodded, while his wife hugged him: "I promise, we'll find a way."
Meanwhile Nicki snapped out of her shock. Crying she ran over to Steve and hugged him tightly. "Oh honey, I was so scared, I missed you so much," she sobbed in his ear. "Never ever scare me like that again, promise me that."
Steve smiled enjoying her warm body wrapped around his. "I promise," he said, "I'm sorry that I scared you, but now everything is fine, ok?" She nodded. He smiled at her, then added: "Well... as long as you don't mind that I'm not a witch..."
"WHAT?" Nicki exclaimed, scared that he had lost his powers or something.
But Steve just grinned: "Yeah...it seems my biological father was a demon... and my mom is an Elder, so... no witch-blood inside of me."
Nicki looked at him confused, then she slapped him on his chest: "Damned Steve, you shall NOT scare me," she said smiling, and then added: "as if I would mind whatever you are as long as you love me..." Steve smiled widely and then kissed her full of love.
Bianca was smiling, too. Turning to Piper she whispered: "Seems Paige is not the only one in loooooooooove... By the way, where are Phoebe and Cole?"

°°°°°°°°°°

Upstairs in the attic, Phoebe and Cole lied on the sofa, kissing each other. Then Phoebe rose a little. Slowly she began to open his shirt, teasingly.
"I still don't understand," Cole managed to say, while his wife was kissing his exposed skin, "how you had been able to contact me telephatically."
Phoebe move to kiss his lips again, to make him stop talking. But Cole pushed her softly away and looked at her still questioning.
She sighed: "Ok... I really don't know... maybe it was that place or my powers are increasing, I don't know... what does it matter?"
"Maybe we should ask Chris or Leo about it, or..."
Phoebe interrupted him frustrated: "NOT NOW!" She paused looking into his confused eyes. Then she added: "Now I want only you."
And again she kissed him and moved her hands slowly over his skin, making him moan in pleasure.

°°°°°°°°°°

Half an hour, and an room-cleaning-spell later, Chris orbed back to the manor, where the others were waiting for him. The Elder-witch sat down next to his wife, kissing her. Bianca smiled, glad to have them back, and took Hope to her arms. Wyatt who was still sleeping on the sofa, too, turned around to lay his head against Chris's side, as if he felt that his brother was back... actually he did feel it.
"So...?" Piper asked, after she had given his son a moment to 'say hello'.
"So... what?" Chris asked back.
"The source," Leo said, "what do you have to do with him?"
Chris sighed: "Nothing... he's just..."
"But you trust him, you're working with him," Steve said and Chris could hear that there was still anger in his voice.
"NO! I don't trust him, not completely," he explained. "Look... What I know is, that he has created an organisation or something that helps people..."
"What people?" Nicki asked.
The Elder-witch shrugged: "Every kind of people... He's trying to keep the balance, the status quo... Wyatt said..."
Piper jumped up: "Wyatt?"
"Yeah Wyatt!" Chris sighed again. "Wyatt said that Belthazor got more from Cole when they had been reunited, than that knowledge about the school... and that changed him somehow. He's helping people, who are treated in a wrong way. He already helped us...!"
"WHAT?" Paige asked leaving her coolness behind. The source had never helped her, had he?
"He did... you know, Belthazor has - as weird as this sounds - a good friend. Someone you all already know."
"Julian," Bianca said, kind of absent. Slowly she began to understand.
Chris nodded: "Yeah, Julian... They helped us with Zankou, they helped us when mini-me was born, they helped us with Rhashirk, they came up with the potion to save the babies and Tom..." Everyone kept silent, thinking about that.
"So Wyatt told you about that demonic bar as a way to contact them?" Leo asked.
His son nodded again: "And I got the feeling that he knew them both very well..." Again he paused looking into the others confused faces. "Look," he then went on, "I don't say that I trust him, but I think if we're both fighting against the same enemy, why shouldn't we work together?"
Steve looked at Chris with a mixture of confusion and doubt. But then he nodded, hugging Nicki a little more closer. Steve couldn't deny that the source did nothing to hurt them, that he in fact treated them very human.
Paige sighed: "Well... I guess Phoebe and Cole will be anything else but happy about those news."
Chris shrugged: "They already know."
"WHAT?" everyone exclaimed at the same time.
At that moment Chris heard a jingle in his head: "The Elders, they are calling me..."
"What do they want?" Bianca asked scared. She knew that a lot of them up there didn't like her husband very much... even if they would never show it... And after all what had happened...
Chris looked to his father who shrugged. "I'll be right back," he said then with a sigh and orbed away.

°°°°°°°°°°

When Chris appeared up there in one of the open places, Silas stood there waiting for him. The expression of the Elder was a serious one, which made Chris nervous. What did they want form him?
"Come one," Silas said with a calm but friendly voice, "the others are waiting for you." Chris lowered his eyes but didn't move. "Hey, what are you waiting for?" the Elder asked.
Chris swallowed and looked at him: "It's just... I... I thought I doesn't want this, that I would be happy to give those Elder-powers back. But... after those things that happened, I'm not so sure anymore..."
Silas nodded smiling: "Come on my friend... there is no need to worry." Chris sighed again and then followed the Elder.
They went through the halls of this, somehow holy world. And Chris realised with every step, that he would miss this place, even if he felt always so bored when he was up there. But maybe it was better this way. He was still afraid of ending up like Rhashirk some day... and he really didn't want that.
The Elder lead Chris to the oracle chamber. 'What do they want to do here?' the Elder-witch thought. When Silas opened the huge doors, Chris could see that nearly every Elder was there, looking at him expectantly, wondering, smiling. The Elder-witch frowned, that was all so confusing.
Then Odin stepped out of the crowed. "Hello my friend," he said.
"Ok," Chris said, "what the hell is going on here?"
Some of the Elders started to mumble about Chris's choice of words, but Odin just smiled. "Chris, we had a surprisingly short discussion about you... And..." Odin's smile turned to a grin, when he saw the annoyed look on his friend's face, "we talked to the oracle again."
"And? Did it tell you that you shall..."
"Well," Odin interrupted him, "I guess you should find out on your own what it has to say."
Chris frowned again. He hesitated a moment, when Odin stepped aside and freed the way for him. He sighed. What choice did he have? He nodded and went nearer to the oracle.
First nothing happened. Chris wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign. At least the oracle wasn't shaking. Then the young man was hit by a weave of pictures, scenes.
He saw himself... fighting against demons, lot's of demons. But those pictures weren't only bad. He also saw himself with his family, with his wife and his children. He saw himself sitting in the garden of the manor, with Bianca on his side, watching his children play with his cousins. He saw Wyatt who was freaking out to see him, same as Christopher, saw them both ran to him as soon as he entered the manor. He saw a very proud Piper and an even more proud Leo. He saw his cousins again, who all adored him. And he saw himself at the school, with his students, saw them graduate. And he saw the Elders and the upper world which was filled with laughter and happiness. He even saw himself growing old... happily...
When it was over Chris sank down to his knees exhausted. But even if this was strange, he felt very peaceful deep down inside him.
Breathing heavily he looked up. But before he could say something a white light was coming out of the oracle. It was like a stream of energy bubbling out of it. Chris eyes grew wide when he saw that light streaming through the air and over to him. He struggled to stand up, to step back. But the light hit him in his chest.
Chris expected the worst pain in the world, but it was nothing like that. It was warm and light, it was lighten up his emotion, he felt like flying.
Then it was over.
Slowly he turned around to face the others. He thought he would see anger and fear, as always when something strange happened to him, but he didn't. All he saw was hope, pride, happiness, kindness and joy... and a huge smile on Silas' and Odin's faces. "What was that?" Chris asked.
"Let's say... The oracle accepted you," Odin explained.
"What?" Chris exclaimed, not understanding a single word of that and getting a little bit frustrated.
Silas stepped a little forward. "We discussed what to do with you... and of course we asked the oracle. And we saw the same things you have just seen."
"You saved us," Jeremiah took over the word. And Chris was surprised that his voice sounded friendly. "you saved the world so much often. And now we understand, that being good doesn't mean never to do bad things. It means doing the right things."
"And you have a kind of feeling for the right things, Chris," Odin said.
The Elder-witch shook his head: "I still don't understand... What did you do to me?"
"Chris, yours is a special case," Silas explained. "You're a mortal, a witch, who was blessed with the powers of the Elders. You are an Elder now, but still you're mortal."
"But we just figured out, that we need somebody like you... a link to the world outside which has changed so much in the last thousand years," Jeremiah said.
Now Chris rose his eyebrows. It's true, sometimes he thought some of the rules up there were kind of out-dated, but...
"Chris, you've been giving a huge gift..." Odin talked again. "We guarantee you immortality."
"WHAT?" the Elder-witch exclaimed not believing his ears.
"It's already in you... you will live your life to the fullest, hopefully... you will grow older happily... and when the time will come, your mortal body will die... but not you. When your time down there is over, you will join us up here and help us to keep the balance, the peace."
Chris shook his head. 'What? How could you do that without asking me?' he thought. What if he didn't want to live forever in those holy halls up there...? But he didn't complain. Deep down inside he felt that this was right, that this was his place, when the time would come. So his head's moves changed form shaking to nodding. "Thanks," he said. Odin and Jeremiah nodded smiling while Silas just hugged his friend.
After a while Chris freed himself when another thought crossed his mind. "Wait," he said, "could you do me a favour?"

°°°°°°°°°°

Everyone looked up when Chris orbed back to the manor, one fist clenched tightly, but with a smile on his face. "What happened?" Bianca and Piper asked, while the first one hugged him. Leo looked at his son worried.
Chris grinned: "The oracle showed me a little of the bright future that is waiting for me, a future with lot's of people I love and care about." His smile grew even wider when he noticed the confused looks on the faces of his family, but especially that one of Bianca. So he gave her a kiss on her nose before speaking again. "And..." he went on making the tension in the room rise, "they want me to keep my job, and they said I will not die, when I die... I will just go up there..."
"What?" everyone exclaimed confused, except Leo who had a slight idea what his son was talking about.
He went over to Chris and hugged him: "I'm very proud of you son."
"Thanks dad," Chris replied with a smile. His father had no idea how much that meant to him.
Then, while Leo tried to explain the things to his wife and the others, Chris turned around like he was seeking for something. "Hey Julian!" he yelled suddenly, "I know you're listening so... just come over here for a second."
The others exchanged confused looks. What was Chris meaning with 'listening'?
But before they had a chance to think about it, Julian shimmered in, in front of Chris. "What do you want?" he asked kind of annoyed.
Chris smiled: "Well, I... we owe you and your friend a lot... and I wanted to say thanks."
Julian frowned: "Ok, now you did it... But did you really have to tell them?"
"Yeah," the Elder-witch smiled, "because they are my family... all of them. And I hope you understand why I said what I said."
Julian shrugged: "Whatever..." He never really believed that Chris would trust them unconditionally, but he didn't mind that.
He was about to leave again but Chris hold him back. "Wait... don't forget your gift..." he said. And while the colored witch turned around to him, looking at him questioning, Chris opened his fist. Everyone watched surprised as a bluish light came out of it and went into the man's body.
"The power of sensing," Leo muttered. Piper looked at him shocked. She wanted to say something but didn't know what.
Julian just kept his now glassy eyes fixed on Chris: "I don't understand... why? I mean... I never asked again, I..."
"Because you deserve this," the Elder-witch said, "use it wise..."
Julian nodded. "Thanks... Well, if we can ever help you..."
Chris nodded: "Yeah... dito." He paused a moment, then added: "Best wishes to your friend." Julian nodded, then he shimmered away.

°°°°°°°°°°

Later that day Chris and Bianca lied in their bed in their small apartment, with Hope again in the middle of them. The little girl was now sleeping peacefully, after she had cried again for several hours. "She's beautiful, isn't she?" Chris asked.
Bianca nodded: "I can't believe that we almost lost her." Her voice broke as again the fear was taking over her mind.
"Hey," Chris said, caressing her cheek lovingly, "she is fine, and she will be fine... don't worry."
Bianca nodded, and looked at their daughter again. She was really the greatest gift in the whole wide world.
Chris suddenly smiled: "Well, I guess if this is going on like that, with her sleeping between the two of us... it will really take some time for her to get a brother or sister."
Bianca swallowed, pushing herself up on her elbows: "Do you really mean that? You... you want another child?" They hadn't really talked about that, but after all what happened she thought it was maybe too much of a risk...
"Well... not at the moment, but... in the future... You don't?"
The Phoenix hesitated before answering honestly: "I'd love to... but... I'm afraid... I'm afraid to die the next time..."
Chris looked at her, understanding her worries. He sighed and rose a little himself to give her a soft and loving kiss: "I'll promise you, you will not die... because now we know the danger, right? So we could use this spell a lot earlier... I'm sure everything will be fine if we do that."
Bianca smiled weakly... she was still afraid of that thought. And there was still that weird dream she had, which was still very lively in her mind. But on the other hand, she always wanted a huge family. And Chris had said the oracle had shown him his future. So he should know if she would be fine... "I love you Christopher Perry Halliwell."
"I love you, too," he answered and kissed her again.

(Chapter 11 written by Belén and Chrissy.W.x)

Ok... So much for Part Nine of our series. I hope you all liked and enjoyed it! "A Charmed Story - Part Ten" is already on it's way. The first chapter - after a majority-decision - will be up on Friday, August 17th... So... Thank you all for your wonderful support. And... stay tuned!