Disclaimer: Nothing in the Charmed world belongs to me and no copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 8 The Letter
Phoebe had rejoined her sisters and nephew in the attic with several spell attempts that she had come up with to seek out the demon that would take her nephew. "I don't know, maybe my spell writing is becoming just as useless as my powers," she groused wadding the newest attempt up and tossing it in the half full trashcan.
"Come on, Pheebs. You are good at this. We all know that. It just hasn't come to you yet," Piper suggested knowing her sister was still worried over her sporadic lack of magic.
"Piper, we'd probably get further asking the old spirit board at this point," she pointed out hanging her head in disillusionment.
"We actually tried that in the future, Aunt Phoebe. It was your suggestion too if I remember right," Wyatt pointed out.
Phoebe looked up scowling. "My point exactly."
Piper and Paige were both about to argue the point when Leo orbed back in alone.
"It's about time," Piper started to complain but saw the look of anguish on her husband's face. She also looked around noticing that Chris wasn't with him. "Leo, where's Chris?"
Leo shook his head reaching out and handing her the letter and then made his way to the old beat up couch, slumping tiredly onto its cushions a look of utter defeat on his face.
"What's this, Leo?" she asked in confusion afraid to open the letter.
"A letter from Chris," he answered quietly. When he saw she was going to ask more he interrupted her. "Just read it."
Piper looked at the envelope as if it might bite her. "It's addressed to all of us." She swallowed hard and then pulled the letter free clearing her voice as she started to read it aloud.
Dear Family,
Do any of you really know how great it is to be able to say that word? Family. My family. For so long I had thought that I'd never be able to have a family again. Maybe that I wasn't even Chris Halliwell anymore but just Chris Perry the Neurotic Whitelighter from the future. I don't think I've actually ever told any of you how relieved I was when you all found out about me. It's so much easier being who I really am and being able to care for my family again.
That's why it's so hard to do what I have to do right now. I know Wyatt came from the future to stop me from going back. He wanted to save me. Imagine that. I finally got my brother back. And look he's even a hero, just like I knew he would be. And I really appreciate the fact that he wants to save me, but I've figured out that the only way to save me is to let me go.
Now before you all go ballistic on me, I'm not doing this out of some need to self-destruct or anything. I'm not that neurotic, Mom. But there is only one person who knows what demon takes mini-me. And he's in the future and I'm the only one who can get close enough to him to find out.
"Oh god, Chris, you can't be serious," Wyatt said shaking his head in denial.
"I'm afraid he is," Leo whispered his voice breaking ever so slightly. "He's gone back to the future. I found the Triquetra at the Magic School and there was potion residue on the wall."
Piper had started crying but she couldn't stop reading her son's words.
I know you are all going to be very angry with me for this. But I also know that it is the only way, whether you are willing to admit it or not. I asked Dad about it before I left. If I merge with my evil counterpart I should still be able to have some separate semblance of myself within him for a while. As long as I fight the merge, I won't become completely taken over. Then I just need to get him to trust me enough to spill his secrets.
That's when Wyatt comes in. Bro, I'll need you to come back to our time so I can find a way to get the information you need to you. Then you go back to right before I was taken and defeat the demon that takes mini-me. At that everything will change and I'll be a new me, who is hopefully very good. Wy, I know you can do this. We can do this together. You and me, like it was always meant to be. I want a life where we are both good and our lives are worth living, one where those that we love are with us. Please, brother, help me to do this.
"Oh, Chris. But what if I lose you this time?" Wyatt wasn't at all certain he would be able to perform a miracle. And he didn't believe that it would take anything less to do so. He knew that this version of Chris had always considered himself to be inferior to Wyatt, but in all reality after everything his parents and the aunts had told him about Chris, he was the one who wasn't sure he had what it took to live up to his little brother's reputation as a miracle worker.
Mom, I'm sorry that I didn't really get to say goodbye to you, like I wanted to. In all my life you have been the one person who I have loved unconditionally. I know over the past few months I did some things that probably hurt you, and certainly confused you. I think having to do that was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. A lot harder than coming back to save Wyatt, or facing Dad after the future we had, being nearly killed by Gideon, or even losing you in my future. Hurting you is the worst thing I ever had to do. I just hope that I'll get a chance to start over and do things right this time around.
A strangled sob was ripped from Piper's mouth at that statement. "Oh, Chris. You didn't do anything wrong, baby," she whispered handing the letter to Wyatt, not able to continue reading it.
Wyatt took the letter and finished reading where his mother had left off.
Aunt Paige, I know we didn't always get along and I know just how much I drove you crazy. And I really wish I could say I was sorry for that, but honestly it's who you and I are and I wouldn't change anything about it. Just remember that everything I do and say is out of love and respect. You have and always will be one of the strongest and smartest women I ever knew.
Paige just nodded. She had long since figured out what kind of relationship she and her nephew had. It was exasperating. It was downright annoying at times but it was always fun. "Thanks, kiddo," she whispered.
Aunt Phoebe, I think you know me better than I do at times. Don't ever doubt your Empath powers. You are always right about me and most everything else they tell you. You are the one who always knows what to say to me when I need someone to talk to. You are the one who is always there with a silent nod letting me know that I've done right. You will always be my rock to lean on and my anchor to cling to.
Phoebe let out a hitching sigh and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I miss you already, little buddy."
Dad, you and I sort of already said our peace, up on the bridge. I know you probably feel as if I was tricking you, asking you all those questions about time travel. Heck, in a way, I guess I was. It was not my intention to mislead you though. I really wanted to tell you what I was planning. I would have loved to have gotten your opinion on it before I went, but you and I both know what your reaction would have been. You have a good heart, Dad, but you often let it overrule what you know in your head. And I know you do that because you love us. I know that now at least. But my plan is sound. It should work. And as you know, I'd rather die than let things stay as they are in the future. So please trust me. I came back to your time to save Wyatt. Now let me go back to my own to save me.
You all mean the world to me. That's why I have to do this. I don't want a future where I never got to be with any of you. I can't imagine anything worse and I can't bear living that existence. Please help me to do what I have to do.
With love always,
Christopher Perry Halliwell
With those last lines Wyatt folded the letter back again and handed it to his mother who was now in full out tears. She gripped the paper so hard that it crumpled in the center. She turned away from her family staring out the attic window trying to make a decision.
Phoebe finally expressed the question on all their minds. "What do we do?"
Piper turned to her face a mask of determination. "We get him back. That's what we do. We go to his time and find a way to bring him back here."
"Mom, he's already merged with his other self by now. What we bring back won't be the Chris you know," Wyatt warned realizing just how painful it would be for her to see her baby like that.
"Well, we find another way then," she insisted. "I know; we can go back in time to right before he went to the future, to Magic School. We'll talk him out of this foolish plan."
Phoebe and Paige were both nodding liking that idea but a lone voice of reason spoke up. "Piper, his plan is a good one," Leo said sighing heavily and burying his head in his hands.
"What?" she asked rounding on her husband.
"It's better than anything we've come up with so far," he answered really thinking about it. Chris was right. It was the best way if they wanted to succeed. It was just so hard to let him go and be apart of that monster that his brother had described.
"He's our son, Leo. We can't let him sacrifice himself like that. He deserves better." Piper wasn't gonna let it go this time. This was her baby and she could do something to help him. She knew she could.
"We let him sacrifice himself for Wyatt, didn't we?" Leo asked quietly.
Piper blanched. "That was different. We didn't know what would happen. We know now."
"Didn't we. No we didn't know Gideon would stab him. But didn't we know how much danger he was in if we left him to guard Wyatt? If Gideon were capable of killing a child, what difference would his grown brother have been? At least this time, Chris is the one calling the shots. He knows what he's doing, Piper. I trust him." Leo knew it was what Chris wanted. It's what he expected of him and he wouldn't let him down now by doubting him.
"But how can we stand by and do nothing?" Piper asked finally realizing that Leo was probably right, whether they liked it or not.
"We won't be. We'll do everything we can to protect baby Chris until Wyatt comes back with the answers we need." Leo looked to his oldest son and it wasn't hard to see the look of confidence he bestowed on him. "I know you'll do this, Wyatt. We all can see what you have become and we are proud of the man you are."
"I hope you are right, Dad. For all our sakes," he answered smiling wryly at his father.
The tour of their dominion was quite interesting to say the least. Chris couldn't help comparing his reign as The Source to Lord Wyatt's reign in his former past. It was different to say the least. Where Wyatt had tried to take over everything in sight going as far as to even expose magic and destroy the city above, Dark Chris had used a more subtle route keeping magic safe but ruling all demons lower and upper level alike. There seemed to be more demons in his world also. As if he was breeding them for something. They were everywhere and it seemed as if the underworld was gonna bust at the seems with the sheer multitude of them.
"Why so many?" he finally asked, his curiosity getting the best of him.
Dark Chris understood the question easily. "We are preparing for the final battle of good vs. evil."
Chris should have thought of that. He knew the legend, he knew the Valkyries. Why wouldn't Dark Chris be working towards the goal of evil winning? "I see."
"Is that not what we were doing in your version of time?" Dark Chris asked suspiciously.
Chris knew he'd have to cover up really well on this one. "I wasn't exactly lead ruler in my time. I was second in command instead. And lets just say the goals weren't exactly the same." It wasn't completely untrue. Wyatt was the ruler in his version of time and he was his second, whether he wanted to be or not.
"No wonder you went back to change time. I would never allow anyone to rule over me," Dark Chris said in utter disgust.
Chris saw the opening and knew he'd have to take it. "Has anyone tried?"
Dark Chris scowled at the thought. "A long time ago, but I handled it. No need to worry about him anymore."
"That sounds like an interesting story. I'd like to hear it sometime," Chris prodded.
"Not now," Dark Chris said snarling slightly. "I don't like to talk about that."
A/N: Yeah, plot bunnies have nearly chewed my ears off in the last few days, so lets just say things are gonna get interesting. So what does everyone think? I'm dying to know.