Author's Note: Thanks again to all who reviewed, you make me want to continue the story and not just give up when I hit writer's block. Special thanks to ebonyice, X3, and ~*~Katie~*~ for 2nd reviews! I want to comment on a few things:
1. For those of you who missed a couple episodes, Excalibur was given to Piper to hold in safe keeping for Wyatt when he grows up (kinda like Arthur reborn). Whoever wields it has great power.
2. Yes, there is and will be romance between cousins (Wyatt & Priscilla, Chris & Priscilla) and that can be a bit gross to some people but there is a legitimate reason why I am doing this. You just can't know why until later. :) Oh, and at the moment the relationship between Chris and Prissy is not romantic. At least they don't think so ;)
Disclaimer: I own nothing….well I do own a few things *riffles through purse and pulls out a piece of gum and two pennies* but none of the Charmed Characters except my own creations being: Priscilla, Brennan, Petra, Pandora, Philip, Phaedra, Edward Parker, Jonathan, Patience, and Philomena. Please don't steal them. They like it here with me.
Chapter Three
Phoebe shook as her thoughts whirled in her head like a sand storm.
Chris was Piper's son……How could Wyatt have just stood there……
Why hadn't Leo come to heal her……Chris was Piper's son……
When she had calmed down enough to take in her surroundings she realized it was morning, and she had overslept.
She padded into the bathroom and splashed water on her face before getting dressed and throwing on some make-up to hide the circles under her eyes. She had gotten fourteen hours of sleep but she felt as if she had gotten two.
'I really hope all this dreaming isn't a new power', Phoebe mused as she entered the kitchen to find Piper feeding Wyatt. He gurgled happily and reached out his arms to his aunt.
"Hello there sweet boy!" She picked him up and cooed over him as Piper tried to wipe up his mess. Most of his breakfast had ended up on the table instead of in his mouth but that is what you expect from babies.
"How did you sleep last night?" Piper questioned as she tossed the dirty paper towels in the trash.
"Good…."
"You don't sound so sure."
"Just had a weird dream that's all."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Ya, but I don't think now is the right time."
"Ok, but you that I'm always here…." Piper looked unconvinced but she let it go.
"Where's Paige?"
"She's over at Richard's at the moment."
"I'm beginning to think maybe it wasn't such a good idea letting her leave."
"Why? You were all for it before, what changed your mind?"
"I just don't think we should be separated right now."
"You sound like Chris."
"Well he can be smart sometimes."
"Gee, thanks." Came the sarcastic reply as Chris descended the stairs.
Piper snorted, "Speak of the Devil."
'Wrong son' Chris thought darkly as he grabbed a piece of toast from the counter.
Wyatt activated his shield the moment he spotted Chris.
Phoebe scolded him, "Don't do that to your…Mother's whitelighter." She cringed, 'I almost let it slip.'
Chris looked at her strangely but turned back to Piper when she asked him a question.
"So how is she?"
"She was still asleep when I came down and I think she just needs to rest."
Piper nodded her head and walked over to Phoebe. She bent down to kiss Wyatt on the head and grabbed her keys, "I better head out. I have some things that need taking care of at P3."
"Bye mommy," Phoebe called in a baby voice as she waved Wyatt's hand.
Chris rolled his eyes.
As soon as the door closed Phoebe turned to Chris, "You have some major explaining to do young man."
He gulped and nodded, "I figured you'd say that."
***
"So this girl just appeared out of nowhere?" Richard asked as he cuddled with Paige on the couch.
"Ya, it felt like the whole room shuddered and then she was just there. Chris knows her so she must be from the future but what kind of time travel was that?"
"I wish I could answer your questions….but there is one question I have for you."
"Ya?"
"Is this going to make you change your mind about moving in?"
Paige smiled and kissed him, "Never."
"Good."
***
Back at the manor Chris and Phoebe sat in the living room.
"Why didn't you tell us that you're Wyatt's little brother? That you're Piper's son?"
Chris sighed, "I've said this before. If I had told you guys it would have messed with the timeline."
"But it looks like you messed it up already. I mean look at your parents, they aren't even together any more. Doesn't that change things?"
The worried look returned to Chris' face, "Of course it changes things but the risk to me is worth it if I can save Wyatt."
Phoebe looked at him in confusion before understanding dawned on her face, "Oh God. You might not even be born!"
Chris nodded his head dejectedly.
"So that's why you were so concerned about Piper sleeping with Greg!"
He cringed, "Besides the fact that I really don't want the think of my mother in that way, ya…that's why."
"Well, what about Leo? Can't we do something? I mean I want them to get back together almost as much as you do."
"Unless you can figure out a way to get him jealous then I really don't know what to do."
"If we told them I'm sure they wouldn't object to…."
"NO. We can't tell them. Promise you won't even tell Paige."
Phoebe sighed in surrender, "I promise."
"Thank you. It has to be this way."
"Can you tell me what is after Wyatt now?" Phoebe asked hopefully.
"No."
"Dang."
"Sorry." Chris shrugged.
"Its ok. I had to ask."
They both turned when the stairs creaked.
"Mom?" Priscilla's voice wavered and she clutched the railing.
Phoebe quickly stood up and hurried over to help her sit down.
"You shouldn't be up yet. You're still weak, you could…"
"Mom!"
"Ya baby?" Priscilla's eyes filled with tears and she launched herself into her mother's arms.
Chris watched the reunion, his heart twisting with pain and envy. She was welcomed with open arms while he got suspicion and distrust. Of course, they hadn't known who he was, but it still hurt.
The two women finally broke apart and just looked at each other.
"How….how old are you? What's your favorite color? Are you still in school? Do you….." Phoebe rambled trying to find out everything at once.
Priscilla laughed, "Mom! Slow down. There's plenty of time. There's so much I have to tell you."
Chris hadn't heard her laugh since before Wyatt had changed….since before he began to hunger after power. Not a real laugh anyway. He got up, deciding to leave the two alone.
"Chris?" He turned back to see Priscilla watching him.
He smiled crookedly, "Hey Risa."
She slowly got up and stood in front of him. Crack!
Chris held his hand to his stinging cheek as Phoebe stared in shock.
Priscilla stood there for another moment as the imprint of a hand blossomed on his cheek before throwing her arms around his neck and burying her face in his shoulder.
He slowly wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him, "I missed you."
"I know." She answered, her voice muffled against his shirt.
Phoebe watched as the two held each other just as they had done in her dream.
They finally pulled away from each other and Chris' hand brushed across her stomach, "It was him wasn't it."
Priscilla just nodded her head, her eyes flickering as he traced his hand across the bruises on her arms and neck.
"How could he do this?"
A rye smile quirked at the corners of her mouth, "What, you think this was the first time?"
Chris froze, his eyes darting up to hers. "What?"
She shook her head and smiled darkly. "He's smart. He knows where to strike so no one sees the next morning. After all, how would it look if the mighty king was having problems with his queen? He just didn't care this time…It's ok."
"No its not! I never should have left you there! God! I thought you would be safe…."
"Chris! I'm ok. Really."
"How can you say you're ok?! He almost killed you!!!"
"Well he didn't did he?"
"That's not the point."
"Yes it is. I'm ok, Chris. You have to believe me."
He looked away and frowned, "But why did he do this? Did he figure it out?"
Risa shook her head, "No. He wanted me to take him back to kill you. I refused. You know how he handles betrayal."
Chris snorted, "Ya I know."
Phoebe watched the argument in complete confusion. "Who figured out what? Why did he hurt you? What exactly do you mean by king and queen?"
Chris and Priscilla glanced at each other, but it was Chris who spoke first. "We can't tell her."
"Someone needs to know. It would help us."
"No. We don't know the consequences it will have."
Phoebe had had enough of all this secret crap. "Damn the consequences! Just tell me!"
Chris growled in frustration, "I can't tell you who he is!"
"At least tell me what he is."
He looked at Priscilla before sighing in resignation, "Alright. The man that we are talking about was once a witch but now he believes that there is no such thing as good and evil, only power. He set up a kingdom, if you can call it that, of witches and demons who support his thinking. All who refuse his offer are hunted down and killed." He paused for a moment. "Bianca and I were part of the few who refused. He put himself up as king, taking Excalibur and wielding it for evil."
Phoebe had to try very hard not to let all this information give her a headache. "Are you saying that Prissy is his queen?"
Chris just nodded.
"Queen of Darkness huh? Guess the saying is true: 'like mother, like daughter'."
"Ya but as you can see, she was never actually evil."
"In fact, it was me that sent Chris back to protect Wyatt."
"You did all this from his side?"
"Right under his nose. He never even imagined that I could be against him. After he found out what Chris was up to he convinced Bianca to go back after him. She agreed, but only if he promised not to kill him. That's one thing she never learned. He doesn't keep his promises."
Chris stared at his lap, willing back the tears that threatened to come. Risa reached out and took his hand, "I'm sorry about Bianca."
"It wasn't your fault. It was his."
"Still."
Phoebe glanced between the two, "I do have one more question."
They looked back at Phoebe, "Ya?"
"In my dream…Piper was dead."
Chris nodded his head and looked her in the eye, "So were you."