Author Note – I'm surprised at how many people like this. Considering how many Chris FanFics are out there I didn't know how much of an audience I'd get. I'm so sorry it took so long – there is a proper explanation on my profile.

UPDATE - 07/10/15 - just tidying things up and hoping it inspires me again.

...~oOo~...

Love's A Witch

HPOV

Sunroom

Helena looked down at the papers spread across the floor. Each one had a lovely house on it. With the gems she had price was no object, but none of the houses felt right. Helena looked up at the sound of footsteps.

Piper came downstairs, still in her nightgown and robe, rubbing her face sleepily.

'Hey Piper.' Helena called out making the other woman jump.

'Oh, Helena!' Piper clutched her heart and headed towards the sunroom. 'What are you doing up? It's only seven.'

Helena shrugged and looked back at the papers. 'I've been up since five, I couldn't sleep.'

Piper came closer and looked down at Helena sat on the floor and the papers. 'Helena, you aren't stressing about finding a house again are you? I told you that you're wel –'

'I know, I know.'

Helena had offered to stay in a hotel, but Piper had immediately shot that idea down. It meant that there were now four women and two children sharing the house. Micheal was staying in Wyatt's room, much to both boys' delight. One bathroom with four women though…not the best of situations. Hot running water and plumbing had to be the best things in this time.

'Look there's no rush, I know the lack of hot water is a pain but we manage.' Piper turned and continued towards the kitchen.

Helena laughed at how Piper was on the same wavelength as her. Getting up Helena left the papers to follow Piper. 'So don't you have a date today?' Helena asked as she sat at the table.

Piper nearly dropped the coffee pot as she filled it. 'Yes, I do.' She started grabbing the things needed for breakfast. 'Pancakes okay?'

Helena nodded silently and pulled yesterday's paper across the table. To help her talk in a more modern way Helena had taken to reading the paper every day. Micheal didn't need to do anything as he picked it up easier. Partly due to his communication ability and partly because kids were so adaptable.

'Have you seen Chris lately?' Piper said as she whisked the batter mix.

Helena frowned but didn't look up from the paper. 'Nope, not for a few days.' Chris had been avoiding her since he had confessed his parentage to her. Apparently he'd changed his mind about sharing problems.

'You know for a white-lighter he isn't around much.' Piper seemed to be talking more to herself than Helena, so Helena just made supportive noises as Piper started to rant about Chris's habit of being unavailable.

By the time Piper was finished making pancakes, and ranting, Helena was finished with the paper. Just as she folded the paper, Paige came in carrying Wyatt with Micheal following behind them.

'Morning sweetheart.'

Helena looked at Piper and laughed as they spoke at the same time.

Paige grinned as she put Wyatt in his highchair. 'You two are like two peas in a pod.'

Helena wasn't sure what she meant, and since she'd put barriers in the sisters minds to block her psychic gifts, she would have to ask. 'What does that mean?'

Piper looked up from plating up the pancakes and fruit. 'It means the same as saying 'cut from the same cloth', you know really alike.'

Helena smiled in understanding. 'I suppose we are.' Although her son wasn't a surly twenty-three year old trying to save his baby older brother. That sounded insane even in her head.

Micheal rubbed his eyes. 'Can I watch cartoons with Wyatt after breakfast Mama?'

Helena glanced at Piper who nodded. 'Yeah sure sweetie, but you have to eat it all up okay?'

'Okay.' Micheal started eating the plate of fruit and pancake bits Piper gave him.

Helena looked down at her own plate. 'Will you give me another lesson later Piper?'

Piper nodded as she tried to feed Wyatt his jar of baby food. 'Sure, I love having someone to teach cooking to. Oh come on Wyatt…eat up.' Wyatt was scrunching his mouth together refusing to eat the mush Piper offered him.

'He wants pancakes Piper.' Micheal said holding out a piece of his own breakfast. 'He can share mine.'

'Well thank you Micheal.' Piper took the piece of pancake and offered it to Wyatt.

Wyatt immediately started eating it, making Paige laugh. 'I think he's noticed he doesn't get the same as everyone else.'

Front Room

Helena threw the house advert sheets down. This was useless. She really wanted a house close to the sisters. That way Micheal could still play with Wyatt and she would be nearby to help with demons. All the houses were too far away and since she couldn't drive, she'd have to use public transport which she didn't like, too many people. Phoebe had taken her shopping last week and they had taken a taxi back. Helena had nervous for the whole ride but hadn't been sure why. Phoebe had thought it might be subconsciously reminding her of riding in a carriage despite the differences. Helena shuddered at the thought of using a taxi again, so that wouldn't be an option if they lived too far away.

'Hey Helena.'

Helena towards the hall, and saw Phoebe putting a cushion on the floor and sitting on it. 'Hey Phoebe. Er…what are you doing?'

'I'm going to meditate, because although you've put barriers on everyone here, I still need to stop frenching the postman, and the delivery guy and that garbage man. So I'm meditating to try and control my empathy.'

'Does the meditating help with other things too?' Helena said wondering if clearing her mind would help her decide on a house.

'Sure, grab a cushion and come join me.' Phoebe patted the floor in front of her.

Helena did as Phoebe suggested and settled in front of her. 'Okay so what now?'

'Well I use my levitation to hover over the floor. That keeps part of my mind focused on one thing and then I use the rest to meditate. I've found that helps with improving my powers and my control.'

Helena nodded. 'Okay, I'll use my telekinesis to hover.'

Helena slowly pushed herself upward, until she hovered near the chandelier. Opposite her Phoebe did the same.

'Okay, now just clear you mind and focus on keeping your powers settled and under control. If it helps you can picture yourself on a deserted beach or something.' Phoebe closed her eyes and started making a low, humming sound.

Helena closed her eyes and tried to focus as well, trying to find a calm corner of her mind. Suddenly the hover switched on making Helena open her eyes. Piper had evidently finished scrubbing the kitchen and had now switched to vacuuming all the rugs. Helena found a lot of the modern devices fascinating, especially ones that made chores easier and quicker.

Helena realised she wasn't meditating and refocused herself. Eventually she managed to centre herself and for the first time in ages her mind was calm. A few minutes later Piper started vacuuming the rug underneath them.

'What are you two doing up there?'

'We're meditating, what did you think we were doing, dusting the chandelier?' Helena kept her eyes closed but laughed at Phoebe's response.

'Now that would be useful.' Piper said huffily.

Helena opened her eyes and saw Phoebe giving Piper a mock glare. 'Do not take your first date nerves out on me.'

'I thought you couldn't feel us anymore?' Piper said frowning up at her sister.

'I can't, but you only do this amount of cleaning when you are worrying about something.'

Piper glared at Phoebe. 'I hate when you psychoanalyse me Phoebe.'

Helena giggled and heard the door open. Before she could turn to see who it was, she was hit with a pulse of rapidly swirling thoughts. Her concentration shattered, Helena fell to the floor with a thump.

'Ow!' Helena accepted the hand Piper offered her and Phoebe lowered herself slowly.

Paige all but ignored them. 'Hi, how's it going? Don't ask.'

Piper quickly stopped her as she tried to walk past. 'Are you hurt? Is that from an energy ball?'

'It's nothing. I'm fine.'

Phoebe frowned at her. 'Obviously not if you've been hurt.'

Paige scowled and walked off towards the kitchen, Piper quickly followed her.

Helena bent her leg carefully. It wasn't completely healed yet from Kiernan's attack.

Phoebe looked at her. 'Is your leg okay?'

Before Helena could respond Chris orbed in. 'You haven't seen Leo, have you?'

Phoebe sighed. 'Oh Chris. Not now.' She turned and headed into the kitchen.

Chris looked at Helena. 'Have you seen Leo?'

'Nope. You decide to talk to me again?' When Chris didn't reply, Helena huffed in frustration and followed the others to the kitchen. Unfortunately landing on the floor had made her leg hurt so she was limping.

She heard Chris catch up to her. 'Are you hurt?'

'No I just landed on my leg wrong.' Helena got to the kitchen in time to hear Piper's questioning of Paige.

'Another temp job involving magic?'

'Yeah, I'm never going to get away.'

Helena frowned. 'You've had other jobs involving magic?'

Paige looked round a Helena saw her injury properly. 'Yes, gremlins at the packing plant, stopping harassment by glamouring, and turning a dog back into a man. Magic, magic, magic.'

'Maybe it's meant to happen.' Helena rubbed her leg trying to ease the pain.

Chris cleared his throat. 'So is Leo around at all?'

Piper shushed him and turned back to Paige. 'Do you want some help with Grandma?'

'No, I want to follow this through myself.' Paige sighed and folded her arms. 'I need to do this myself.'

Piper looked unconvinced. 'Are you sure, I'm mean energy balls aren't usually flung around for no reason.'

Helena decided to try and lighten the mood. 'I know I don't fling them without reason.'

Helena saw Paige's lips twitch. 'I'm sure Piper. Now I'm going to go back to Grandma's. Try and find out what's going on.'

As Paige passed Helena, she felt a weird vibe from her.

'Wait!' Helena stood up quickly, ignoring the sudden pain in her leg. 'Let me see that wound.'

'What? Why?' Paige said clearly confused.

'Because I'm getting a weird vibe. There's something…' Helena drifted off and tried to focus on Paige's wound.

'Helena what is it?' Phoebe said coming closer.

'I'm not sure…but I don't think this was caused by an energy ball. The feel of it is all wrong.'

Paige frowned. 'But I saw it, it was an energy ball.'

'Well it may have looked like one, but it wasn't.' Helena said firmly. The psychic resonance from the wound was wrong.

'Maybe you shouldn't go alone Paige.' Piper said carefully.

'No, I'll be fine. If anything major happens, I'll orb straight out of there, I promise.'

'Well I'm leaving as well, let me know if Leo shows up.' Chris said making a quick exit.

Like hell was he doing that again. Helena quickly went after him, wincing at the pain in her leg. 'Hey Chris, wait.'

'Helena I need to –'

'Talk to me before I blast you!' Helena said in frustration.

Chris stopped in the hallway and turned around. 'You wouldn't hit me with an energy ball.'

'I could change its structure so that it just shocked you, trust me, I'd hit you with that.' Helena folded her arms and waited.

Chris sighed and rubbed his eyes. 'Fine, what do you want to talk about?'

'I want to help you with whatever you're doing to protect Wyatt. I want to be a sounding board for your ideas.' Helena loved that phrase, Phoebe used it when she was writing her column.

'At the moment I'm doing something else.' Chris said vaguely.

Just then Paige walked past. 'See you guys later.'

Helena saw Piper approaching as well. 'We'll talk later Chris.'

'Sure.' Chris made to orb away but Helena grabbed his arm.

'I mean it Chris, if you don't come back later, I'll take myself to the underworld to look for you.' Helena decided to play the guilt card. 'Do you really want me to do that?'

Chris scowled at her. 'Fine, I promise to come back.' He orbed out just as Piper reached them.

'What was he scowling for?'

'I threatened to go demon hunting with a bad leg if he didn't show up more often.' Helena didn't feel bad about the partial lie. Chris had reason to want to keep information from his family. Knowing everything ahead of time would only worry them.

'Okay, well I need to finish vacuuming.' Piper walked over to the vacuum.

'Piper you don't need to worry. Just see how it goes, don't put so much pressure on yourself. '

Piper nodded but carried on with her cleaning anyway.

Helena just left her to it and decided to do something drastic. Helena went to the front room and gathered up her papers. Avoiding Piper's vacuuming, she made her way upstairs knowing Phoebe would watch the boys in the sunroom.

Going into the attic Helena put the papers down on the ritual table and then tried to remember what she needed. As the ritual came back to her, she wrote it out, just to be safe.

'What are you doing?'

Helena turned to see Leo stood behind her with his arms crossed. Looking him over Helena could see he still didn't trust her.

'Leo, how you doing?' Helena turned back to her spell.

'Fine, but what are you doing?' Helena heard him come and stand next to her.

'Just a spell – well more of a ritual really.' Helena kept adding ingredients and mixing when needed.

'To do what exactly?'

Helena rolled her eyes. 'Are you interrogating me or something?'

Leo frowned slightly. 'Just answer the question.'

'Whatever you say Mr Elder Sir. I am doing a ritual to temporarily enhance my psychic skills.' Helena dropped the last ingredient in the pot. The pot then issued a small cloud of yellowish smoke.

Leo stood back a bit to avoid the smoke. 'Why do you need to boost your powers?'

Helena shrugged. 'A couple of reasons. Partly because Paige was hit with something that looked like an energy ball but wasn't.'

'Paige, is she alright?' Leo dropped his 'Elder' look that she supposed was meant to be imposing. After facing Kiernan though, Leo was about as intimidating as a bunny rabbit.

'She's fine. She wants to sort it herself…though I doubt Phoebe will be able to keep out of it.'

Leo looked reassured, but then focused on Helena again. 'What's the other reason?'

Helena tried to resist winding him up…but couldn't. 'What other reason?'

'You said a couple of reasons, what's the second?' Leo seemed a little tense.

'Oh…right. None of your business.' Helena put the potion in a bottle and stoppered it.

'Excuse me?' Leo sounded a little surprised at her refusal.

Helena gathered her papers and turned around to face Leo. 'Okay let's get this over with. You don't trust me…fair enough. I'm an unknown element and I live in the same house as people you love including your son.' Helena stepped closer to Leo to make sure he understood her. 'But I will not be some pathetic thing cowering in terror from the big, scary Elders. I will do things my way and won't stand for those who get in my way.'

Leo scowled at her again. 'There are rules Helena and you have to follow them.'

This time Helena scowled at Leo. 'The last man who told me to follow the rules abused and raped me. I'll be damned if I follow rules that are laid down to me again.'

Helena stormed out of the attic and downstairs. She knew she shouldn't have lost her temper but Leo's high-handedness did her head in. Helena went into the sunroom and dropped next to Phoebe on the sofa.

Phoebe looked up from her laptop towards Helena. 'What's up with you?'

'Leo, he pretty much interrogated me in the attic.' Helena put the papers down and un-stoppered the bottle of potion.

'Really? Huh.' Phoebe took off her glasses and looked at the potion. 'What's that for?'

'It's a psychic enhancing potion. I invented it to use in a ritual. You want to watch?'

Phoebe nodded eagerly. 'Sure, would it work with my gift?'

'Yes, anything that is psychic in nature can be enhanced, good or bad. Now what you do is dab the potion on your wrists, temples and the centre of your forehead. Then you simply trigger your power and in your instance the premonition will be more detailed and happen easier.'

'And for you?'

'I'll be able to see various paths easier.' Phoebe just looked confused so Helena explained. 'My psychic abilities are hard to define, they're sort a combination of premonitions, telepathy and sensing. The different powers interact in weird ways too.'

'So you got a triple whammy?' Phoebe said with raised eyebrows.

'Sort of…I have all three but not as strong as they would be if I had just one. Plus I can't use each one separately. Say I wanted to find someone, you would have a premonition of where they are. I would see them, but not their surroundings, my sensing would tell me roughly where they were, and my telepathy would let me know what they were thinking. But I can't just read minds or have a premonition.'

Phoebe nodded and seemed to understand better.

Helena dabbed the potion on herself, careful not to spill it on Piper's newly clean floor. Helena then closed her eyes and tried to think of nothing but Paige's wound. When she started to get a sense of something Helena described it out loud to Phoebe.

PhPOV

Phoebe watched Helena as she concentrated. Phoebe couldn't believe she'd invented a potion like this. It did seem to be heavily on the personal gain side of things though.

'I'm getting something on Paige.' Helena said quietly with her eyes closed.

'What is it?'

'She's with a guy at his house, and she's hurt again…or hurt the first wound again.'

Phoebe felt her breath catch. 'I'd better ring her and –'

'No it's not happened yet, but it needs to. Something will come from it for Paige.' Helena opened her eyes and looked at Phoebe. 'She's feeling a little…closed in by you and Piper, she needs some independence.'

Why would Paige feel closed in by them? Phoebe frowned and realised Helena had picked up the house adverts and had closed her eyes again. 'Helena, what're you doing?'

'I'm trying to find out what to do about my house situation.'

Now this was definitely personal gain. 'You know this has personal gain written all over it, right? It will probably backfire.'

Helena shook her head. 'I'm not bothered about that. I'm doing this so I can better protect others and keep my son happy. If that's personal gain then so be it.'

Phoebe was surprised at her attitude. She wondered what Leo had said to her upstairs. He was all about rules. If he had started on at Helena about following rules…no wonder she had been pissed when she came downstairs.

'Hmm…' Helena's face screwed up.

'What is it?' Phoebe wondered what she was seeing – if anything.

'I think I have to wait a couple of weeks…I'm not sure why.' Helena opened her eyes and looked bummed.

'Why so bummed then? At least you got an answer.'

'Yeah, but I don't want to be in everybody's way.' Helena dumped the pieces of paper in the bin.

'Are we not having one of those houses Mama?' Micheal said from where he was playing with Wyatt.

'No sweetheart, we have to wait for another one.' Helena seemed more relaxed now, which Phoebe found odd.

'Why are you not stressing out anymore? I would have thought you've have been more worried.'

Helena just shrugged. 'I trust my gift. There's a reason I have to wait, maybe I have to be here for a reason, maybe my perfect house isn't for sale yet.'

Phoebe was awed by Helena's complete and utter trust in her gift. 'I wish I had your certainty sometimes. There are times when I couldn't save someone…well I could have used that certainty.'

Phoebe thought of Prue, Andy, and all the innocents they hadn't been able to save. She knew now that everything had a reason, but while it was happening to her…

'You okay Phoebe?'

Phoebe looked up from her morose thoughts to find Helena watching her curiously. 'I'm fine, just remembering, that's all.'

'If we remember people, they never leave.' Helena gave her a comforting smile and stood. 'I'm going to put this potion away. It'll keep for a while.'

Phoebe looked down at the boys and smiled. Innocence was the best thing in the world. Turning back to her laptop Phoebe tried to get back to her work, if she didn't get this done, Elise would have her ass.

HPOV

Sunroom

Helena sat sketching on a pad of paper. In the cloister she had hated embroidery and sewing. Instead she had filled her time with reading and drawing. That was when she hadn't been at court or taking out the odd demon that threatened the immediate area.

Smiling as she slowly made an image of the boys appear on the page, Helena enjoyed the simple pleasure of normal scene. The simple pleasure did not last though as the doorbell rang and Piper came downstairs, followed by a rather perky Phoebe.

Helena chuckled and went back to her drawing. Without Piper here Helena was guessing there was all of perhaps two minutes before Phoebe went after Paige. The door shut and Helena heard Phoebe calling her.

Sighing Helena put her pad down and went to the hallway. 'Yes Phoebe?'

'Hold on a sec.' Phoebe holding a finger up. 'Chris!'

Chris orbed in with blotches of mud all over him. Helena frowned but before she could ask about the rather stinky mud Phoebe rattled on.

'I need you to watch the boys for me.'

'What? No, no way.' Chris looked panicked.

'Why? What's wrong?' Phoebe said peering at him intently.

'What's wrong? What's wrong is…I don't do kids. Small people? Not my thing.' Just at that moment Leo orbed in and Chris continued. 'Leo, however, will be great with the kids. Since one is his own.' Chris turned to Leo slightly. 'You're not following me are you?'

'Why? Should I be?'

Helena snorted, drawing Leo's attention to her briefly.

Phoebe shook her head. 'Wow, there's a lot of love in this room.' Phoebe grabbed Helena's hand and started towards the kitchen while talking. 'Okay, so there's bottle in the fridge for Wyatt, and some snacks in there for Micheal. Oh and the diaper cream is in the bag only use it if Wyatt needs it.'

Helena heard Chris mutter something to Leo as Phoebe dragged her into the kitchen. 'Phoebe, why are you dragging me into this?'

Phoebe looked at her innocently. 'Into what?'

Leo came in then. 'Phoebe I can't do this right now, I need to follow…up on some things.'

Helena frowned. It seemed like Chris was right, Leo was obviously following him.

'Well I need to check on Paige and make sure she's alright.'

'Where's Piper?'

Phoebe hesitated. 'Piper is…she's kinda…uhm…Piper's on a date.' Phoebe finished with a cringe.

Leo looked stunned. 'Oh.' Helena felt bad for him despite not liking him much.

'I'm sorry, you're hurting. I'm here for you, but not right now. Now we need to check on Paige.'

'We? Leave me out of this!' Helena said, not in the slightest bit interested in getting between Phoebe and Paige.

Phoebe turned from Leo who left the kitchen quietly. 'I need you to focus a spell for me.'

'What?'

Phoebe grabbed the bloody cloth Paige had left lying. 'If you hold this while I say a spell, it will take us to Paige.'

Helena rolled her eyes. 'You can do that yourself Phoebe. You're her sister, that's enough of a focus.'

'I know, but if someone is throwing around energy balls –'

'They aren't energy balls.' Helena said reflexively.

Phoebe rolled her eyes this time. 'Well whatever they are – if someone's throwing them around an extra set of powers will be handy – just in case.' Phoebe grinned at Helena in a way that was obviously meant to win her over.

Helene groaned. 'Fine, fine. I'll come along.' Helena took the cloth and held it. 'Okay so I'm focusing on what?'

'On Paige's pain, that will take us to her.'

Helena wasn't sure it would work that way but this was Phoebe's plan. 'Alright.' Helena closed her eyes and focused on the cloth trying to connect with Paige. Beside her Phoebe started her spell.

Lead me back

From whence this came

Help me help my sister's pain

Helena felt the magic surround and when she opened her eyes, they were in a different house.

Phoebe frowned and looked around. 'Where are we? Where's Paige?'

'I don't think she's here.' Helena turned as she felt a presence nearby. 'Someone is here.'

'Probably whoever lives here.' Phoebe said dismissively.

'No…this feels different…' It actually felt like the same vibe she'd gotten from Paige's wound.

Suddenly there was a crash in the next room. Helena and Phoebe ran to the next room. There was a hole smashed through the window but nobody in the room. Though Helena could have sworn that was where she had sensed…something a moment ago.

Phoebe suddenly waved out the window. Curious as to what she was waving at, Helena joined Phoebe at the window. Helena sighed when she saw Paige across the road, scowling at them through a similar hole. 'I am so not taking the fall for this.' Phoebe was on her own.

CPOV

Chris searched through the nearest clump of reeds and huffed in frustration. If he didn't get this ingredient the old guy wouldn't be able to make the potion that would block him from Helena's psychic abilities. He had already told her too much, and regretted spilling about who he really was. But when she had been lying there recovering from Kiernan's attack, he hadn't been able to think of a good reason not to tell her.

So in order to stop her picking up any more info from his head, Chris had taken to avoiding the Manor.

'Chris!'

Speak of the devil, Chris thought when he heard Helena's call. He was tempted to just ignore her, but then he remembered Helena's threat to come looking for him. She would probably do it as well and with her leg not completely healed he would end up feeling guilty.

Chris groaned and straightened up. He'd have to complete this later. Orbing to the Manor he appeared next to Helena who was sat rubbing her temples. Phoebe and Paige were going at each other and didn't even notice his arrival.

Helena looked up and smiled gratefully when she saw him. 'Oh good, you came.'

'Uh…yeah…' Chris looked back to the two arguing sisters. 'What's going on?'

'Phoebe interfered, what else?' Helena smirked at him and led him into the dining room away from the noise. 'I'll have to remember to threaten to endanger myself more often.'

Chris scowled. He wouldn't put it past her either. 'So why did you call me? I hope you don't think I'm getting between them.'

Helena snorted. 'I'm not doing that either. I'm crazy, not stupid. No, I want you to go get Piper, she's the only one that will talk them down.'

'I told you to keep out of it!'

Chris glanced at the kitchen briefly before looking back at Helena. 'I'll be right back.'

Chris orbed himself to a discreet place near Piper. Looking round he found himself in a nice restaurant. Searching the diners Chris spotted Piper near the middle of the room. With a guy. Scowling again Chris started towards her. He might not like Leo, but he wanted to be born half white-lighter not half…whatever this guy was.

'Piper.' Chris came up behind her making her look round.

'What-? What are you doing here?' Piper looked him up and down. 'Why are you covered in mud?'

Before Chris could think of an answer the guy interrupted.

'Excuse me a second. Who is this?'

Chris decided to have some fun. 'Me? I'm from the future.'

'What?'

Piper gave a dry laugh. 'Excuse us.' As Chris smirked at the guy he felt himself yanked away to a corner by Piper. 'Are you crazy?'

Chris kept looking back at her date, wondering if he was actually a threat. 'You're not serious about that guy, are you?'

Piper stuttered and glanced behind her as well. 'You know what? That is none of your business.' Piper looked Chris over again. 'Where have you been?'

Chris looked at his clothes. He hadn't realised how dirty he'd gotten. 'That's none of your business. You better get home before your sisters kill each other.' Or Helena kills them to get some quiet.

'What? Why, what happened?' Piper got a look of sudden realisation. 'Oh no, Phoebe?'

Chris nodded wearily, they had probably come to blows by now. Piper spun to look at her date who was watching them curiously.

Piper sighed. 'Wait here while I explain things to Kevin.' She walked off without waiting for a reply.

Chris watched as she sat opposite Kevin. She didn't look happy at having to cancel. Kevin eyed Chris and said something to her. Chris smirked and wondered how Piper was explaining him. After a couple of minutes Piper stood up again and grabbed her jacket before coming back over to where Chris was stood.

'Let's go then.' Piper said grabbing his arm.

Chris held back a chuckle at her reluctance. Orbing to the Manor again Chris and Piper reappeared in the hallway.

'- I did get involved. Obviously there's a war going on.' Phoebe said intensely.

'I can handle it!' Paige replied heatedly.

'Oh really?' Phoebe gestured to Paige's shoulder.

Beside Chris, Piper gave a loud, shrill whistle. 'Hi! Hey what is this about a war?'

Paige folded her arms. 'Ask Miss Buttinsky and her accomplice over there.'

'Hey!' Helena stood up off the sofa where Chris hadn't seen her. 'I told Phoebe to leave it alone.'

'But the two of you were still there when the Callaways killed Richard's Dad.'

'Paige I'm telling you, they didn't kill anyone.' Phoebe started waving her arms in frustration.

'I was there.' Paige said through clenched teeth.

'Can you guys keep it down?' Leo appeared at the top of the stairs. 'I just got Wyatt to sleep, and Micheal is almost off as well.'

'What are you doing here?' Piper asked Leo curiously.

Leo stammered slightly and Phoebe herded her sisters into the front room. 'Okay, in the living room, in the living room. Let's go, let's go.'

Chris looked at Helena. 'Can I go now?' He made to leave.

'Nope.' Helena linked her arm through his and pulled him into the front room.

'Paige I'm telling you, the energy ball did not come from the Callaway's.' Phoebe said as the sisters sat down. Helena however stood and since she was still holding Chris' arm, he couldn't go anywhere.

Paige started to get riled up again. 'I saw it come – '

'Okay, let's clear up a few things.' Helena waited until everyone was looking at her. To Chris' frustration Leo had also joined them. 'First – it's not an energy ball.' When Paige made to interrupt Helena shushed her. 'Second – I did sense a presence in the room the…attack came from.'

'Ha! Told you so!' Declared Paige happily.

'However…' continued Helena. 'It was not a person.'

'Wait a minute.' Piper said with a frown. 'So if it wasn't a Callaway that threw the second energy ball…'

'And Richard said that his family didn't throw the one that hit me.' Paige interjected quickly.

'Right, so if neither family claims the attacks then maybe it was someone else, a third party.'

Chris knew that Paige was the most tactically minded and Phoebe was the most intuitive. Piper though…she always seemed to be able to make connections between things a lot quicker than her sisters.

'If so, the two families need to know before this escalates.' Leo said having an amazing knack for stating the obvious. Beside him Helena snorted making Leo look at her. 'What's so funny?'

'Sorry but you just seem to have a knack for stating the obvious.'

Chris snorted as well when she echoed what he'd just been thinking.

Helena grinned at him. 'Great minds think alike huh?'

Chris nodded and smiled back. Leo scowled at him, clearly he wasn't amused.

Piper cleared her throat. 'Getting back to this…' she looked at Paige. 'You've met both families, do you think you could get them to come here.'

Paige scrunched her face up. 'What you mean like for peace talks? I don't know if that would work. This feud has been going on for generations…I don't think they even know how it started anymore.'

'It's worth a shot though, isn't it?'

Chris saw an opening. 'And you've got an Elder right here, who better to mediate?' Chris went to orb only to find Helena stopping him.

'Wait I'll go with you.' She said this in tone that left no room for arguments. Chris hesitated, he didn't want her knowing what potion he was trying to get made. Suddenly Helena jabbed him with a finger. 'Dude I'm going, get over it!' She smiled at the sisters. 'Back soon, don't worry.'

Chris sighed and orbed them back to the swamp he had been in.

'Eww! This is where you like to hang out?' Helena lifted a foot to look at the mud on her shoe.

'You didn't have to come with me, you can still go back.' Chris knew it was a futile suggestion but he tried anyway.

'Haha, nice try.' Helena looked around the swamp. 'So what is this place?'

Chris started looking through the reeds again. 'It's the swampland area of the Underworld, near Asia.'

Helena sat down on a nearby log. 'So how come you've been avoiding me?'

Talk about direct. 'I haven't been, I've just been busy.'

'Uh huh, sure.' Said Helena disbelievingly.

'Look if I wanted to avoid you why would I have brought you?'

'Er…because I threatened to come looking for you anyway?'

Damn, she had him there. If she hadn't made that threat he would probably still be ignoring her.

Helena laughed. 'I thought so.'

Deciding that ignoring her would probably be the best approach, Chris didn't reply and kept searching through the reeds.

'Okay well I guess I'll do the talking then. I know, I'll tell you about some of my vanquishes…'

So for the next hour Chris listened as Helena followed him around regaling him with stories of vanquishes she'd had to do.

Chris finally spotted the egg he needed. 'Yes!' Grabbing the egg he stood up and stretched out his back. While he put the egg in a bag Helena came over.

'Is that what we've spent the past hour searching for? An egg?' Helena squinted at the offending item.

'Not just any egg. Now we better get out of here before its Momma comes back.'

Helena's eyes widened. 'Well start orbing then.' She grabbed his hand while looking around them.

Chris chuckled. 'Is the big bad demon vanquisher scared?'

Helena stuck her tongue out at him. 'Just orb.'

Grinning Chris orbed to the old man's cave. The old man looked up when they appeared and seemed surprised that Chris had someone with him.

'I've got your egg.' Chris let go of Helena and walked over, taking the egg out of the bag.

'Nicely done.' The old man examined the egg. 'These aren't easy to find.'

Chris rolled his eyes. 'Tell me about.'

'Yep, he had to put up with me while he looked for it.' Helena seemed absurdly pleased about inflicting her presence on him. Though to be honest he didn't really mind her hanging around.

'How long before it's ready?' Chris asked, eager to be able to have his head to himself again.

'You'll have it…' the old man cracked the egg into the potion pot, '…when you need it.' After adding another ingredient the old man looked up at Helena. 'So what brings a girl like you to a place like this?'

Was the old guy hitting on her?

Helena just laughed. 'Many things could bring a girl to an Apothecary.' Helena looked around the cave curiously. 'Tis a shame I did not have you around in my time.'

The old man frowned slightly. 'You must be the witch that has the underworld talking.'

Chris frowned as well, not liking that rumours were going around about Helena. If demons got curious they might attack just to see what she was made of.

'And what do they say about me?' Helena said with a smile.

Surprisingly the old man chuckled. 'They say many things some true, some not. Most exaggerated.'

Helena just laughed and didn't seem concerned. 'You'd think they had nothing better to do.'

PiPOV

The Manor

Piper dropped the honeysuckle into the pot and looked up when Leo walked in.

'Is this it?' Leo held up a cloth with blood on it.

'That's it. Drop it in.' As Leo dropped the cloth in Piper used tongs to make sure it was soaked in the potion.

'What are you actually looking for?' Leo said standing close to her.

'I want to see if Paige was actually hit by an energy ball. After all Helena thinks it feels wrong so…' Piper broke off with a shrug.

Leo shifted to her other side. 'So…how was your date?'

Piper hesitated wondering why he was asking. She was saved from answering when Helena orbed into the kitchen. Grateful for the interruption Piper smiled at her. 'Hi, how did you do that?'

'Oh Chris sent me back, he still needs to do something.' Helene came over to look in the pot. 'What are you doing?'

'Seeing if you're right about that energy ball not being an energy ball.'

'Huh…unusual potion what's in it?' Helena leaned over and sniffed it.

'Dandelion root, hazel leaves, peppermint, honeysuckle – '

'Mace and mastic.' Helena said as she took another sniff. 'I can smell them. I use mace in the potion I showed Phoebe earlier.'

'You mean the one for personal gain?'

Piper looked round at Leo's slightly hostile tone. 'Personal gain?' She asked looking back at Helena.

Helena scowled at Leo. 'You want to know what the potion was for Leo? I used it to try and find out if Paige had stumbled into something dangerous and second to see what I should do about the housing situation.'

Piper sighed. 'Helena I already told you –'

'I know, I know…but we need time to ourselves now and then. Unfortunately all I find out was that Paige needed to carry this through for some reason and that I need to wait a little longer for my house.'

'That's personal gain, that's against the rules.' Leo said frowning at Helena.

Piper was surprised at Leo's attitude, he wasn't usually like this. Although…he didn't trust Chris and Helena seemed to like Chris, so maybe Leo was just thinking guilty by association.

'Leo, I already told you to stick your rules, don't make me repeat myself.' Helena said this with a deceptively sweet smile.

Piper looked at the potion and was grateful to see it had worked. 'Oh look it worked.' Helena and Leo both stopped glaring to look at the potion as well. 'The cloth is lighter, that means it was a plasma ball, not an energy ball, that hit Paige.'

'Of course,' murmured Helena. 'That would explain the presence I felt at the Callaways as well.'

Piper nodded in agreement.

Just then Phoebe walked in. 'Okay. They're all here and these people are in major need of peace talks.'

Piper put the tongs down. 'Actually what they need is a séance.'

HPOV

The Attic

Helena sat on the old sofa trying to keep her head from spinning. Next to her Phoebe was pacing up and down making her 'ohm' noise in an attempt to control her empathy. Helena would hate to have her power right now. Two families who hated each other in one room? Not good for empaths, and with her own psychic gifts she wasn't much better off.

'Phoebe, Helena?'

Helena opened her eyes to find everyone watching them.

Phoebe huffed. 'Oh sorry. It's just there's…and everybody's like…' Phoebe made a gesture to show the emotions piling on her.

Helena rubbed her temple and nodded in agreement. Following Phoebe, she stood between her and Piper. Pushing the murmuring voices in her head aside Helena tried to focus. Taking hold of Phoebe and Piper's hands, Helena listened to Paige as she started the ritual.

Unknown spirit, we call to thee

Those who wish to set you free

Cross on over so we may help

Come to us, reveal yourself

As Paige finished the spell there was a gust of wind. That wasn't good, it meant that whoever was coming was angry. Which meant it would be harder to convince them to move on.

Slowly the swirling energy took the form of a young woman.

Mr Callaway looked stunned. 'Olivia.'

'Hello Daddy. Miss me?'

Oh, well, that was unexpected. It was like a plot twist on one of those soap operas Piper liked to watch.

Olivia turned to face Richard who looked, if possible, even more astounded than Mr Callaway.

'Hello Richard.'

'I-I don't understand.' Olivia's father said. 'You attacked us. Why?'

Olivia whirled round angrily to face her father. 'Because you didn't avenge my death, that's why.'

'But you were hit by one of your own.' Richard's mother said.

'Or so you were led to think. But that's not exactly true.' Olivia turned to Richard's brother. 'Is it Steve?'

Everyone in the two families stared at Steve. 'It was an accident.'

Olivia's brother scowled. 'We were set up.'

Mr Callaway tried to let go of Mrs Montana's hand.

'It's okay, don't break the chain,' urged Paige.

Olivia turned to face Paige. 'No we wouldn't want that, would we Paige?'

Helena could feel Phoebe tensing beside her. She could feel the rising tension herself and it was starting to give her a headache.

Helena closed her eyes to try and focus and could barely hear Olivia talking to Richard.

'…it doesn't mean we can't still be together. Once I have my revenge.'

There was a sudden swell of anger and Helena opened her eyes again in time to see the Mr Callaway and Mrs Montana let go of each other's hands.

When the energy burst from Olivia faded Mr Callaway glared at Mrs Montana. 'Your son killed my daughter.'

'And your daughter killed my husband.' Mrs Montana retorted.

Mr Callaway gestured to his two sons to follow him and left with them, glaring intensely at Steve as he did.

Mrs Montana left after them with Steve and Richard.

'Richard don't go.' Paige said. When he left anyway Paige gave Phoebe a hard look. 'Next time I tell you to butt out. Butt out.' Paige quickly followed after Richard.

Phoebe sighed and rubbed her forehead. 'Great – she hates me.'

Helena didn't bother trying to say otherwise. 'It'll pass. When she calms down that will change.' Helena rubbed her own head as her headache got slightly worse.

'Are you okay?' Piper said as she picked up the Book.

'Yeah, it's just all the emotions and whirling thoughts have given me a headache.'

Phoebe nodded. 'Yeah, talk about tension.'

'Okay well I'll be downstairs.' Piper walked out of the attic with the Book of Shadows. Leo who had been silent patted Phoebe's shoulder and left to check the boys.

Phoebe turned to Helena with a smile. 'So…where did you and Chris go earlier?'

'To the Asian region of the Underworld.' Helena started to put the candles used in the summoning away. 'Chris was looking for something.'

'How did you convince him to let you go with him?' Phoebe folded the cloth that had been on the table.

Helena laughed, apparently Chris' evasiveness had been noticed. 'By not giving him another choice. I basically just kept hold of his arm. He softened up a bit while I was telling him about the vanquishes I've done.'

'Chris softened up?' Phoebe said as she scrunched her nose. 'Weird, he's usually so uptight.'

'Yeah, tell me about it.' Helena rolled her eyes.

Phoebe stopped and looked at Helena after putting the cloth away. 'I wonder…maybe he likes you.'

'Of course he likes me…it's not like I've got a nasty personality or – '

'No, no…' Phoebe interrupted shaking her head. 'I'm mean likes you…'

Helena didn't have a clue what Phoebe meant, and clearly her confusion showed on her face because Phoebe sighed dramatically. 'I'm saying I think Chris likes you romantically.'

Helena felt her jaw drop. Where had she got that idea from?! 'I – uh I don't think so Phoebe.' Helena closed the lid of the trunk they had put the ritual things away in. 'We just get along, that's all.'

Phoebe laughed. 'Helena, Chris talks to you in a way he doesn't talk to the rest of us. I mean he actually laughed because of you.' Phoebe took Helena's hands in her own. 'Plus there's just something in the air between you two, besides why wouldn't he like you, you're amazing.'

Helena blushed and looked away from Phoebe. 'It's just because he can talk freely with me, I doubt there's anything else to it Phoebe. Now let's go downstairs.'

Helena turned and led the way out of the attic. She could practically hear Phoebe grinning behind her. 'Quit smiling Phoebe, you're nowhere near the mark.'

'Uh huh, if you say so.'

Helena shook her head, obviously phoebe wasn't going to let this go.

Suddenly Helena felt something off and came to a sudden stop, making Phoebe bump into her.

'Whoa, what did you stop for?'

Helena frowned and tried to focus on what she was feeling. 'There's something…' Helena looked around the hallway, '…I don't know I just get a weird – vibe here from something.'

Phoebe looked around as well. 'I don't sense anything…maybe you're just getting a leftover from the summoning and all of the tension upstairs.'

Helena nodded, Phoebe was probably right, besides Paige, Piper and Leo had passed here and not noticed anything. If they had they would have shared it. 'You're right, okay let's see what Piper's up to.'

PiPOV

Piper glanced at Helena in the passenger seat. She was a little tense but seemed better than the last time.

'So Piper, guess what.' Phoebe said from the backseat with a grin.

As she turned the corner Piper looked at phoebe in the rear view mirror to see her sister grinning. 'What it is Pheeb's?'

'I think a certain white-lighter likes our friend here.'

'What?' Piper looked at Helena again and could see her blush even in the badly lit car.

'Yep. I think Chris has the hots for Helena, why else would he let her tag along with him? I mean we can barely get him to stick around for more than ten minutes.'

Piper considered that and wondered if Phoebe was right. It might explain… 'maybe you're right Phoebe.'

'Oh god, not you too.' Beside her Helena covered her face with her hands.

'No why else would he let you guilt trip him into coming back to the Manor earlier.' Piper said with a smile. 'I doubt it would work if I tried it.'

'Wait you guilt tripped him? How?' Phoebe leaned forward curiously.

'Er…I sort of threatened to go looking for him in the Underworld with a bad leg if he didn't come back.'

In the back seat Phoebe laughed. 'Piper's right, I don't think it'd work for us. He definitely has some kind of feelings for you.'

Piper saw Helena cringing again. 'Would it be so bad if he did? I'm mean he not bad looking.' He wasn't Piper's type but maybe he was Helena's.

'No it's not that it's just…with my history…well who'd want me.' Helena finished this so quietly Piper barely heard her.

'Aaw sweetie, that's not your fault. We all have a bad things in our past, yours is just more recent.'

Helena nodded but Piper thought she was agreeing just to try and stop the topic.

Phoebe chimed in from the backseat. 'I was Queen of the Underworld for a while so I think I have you beat.'

This made Helena laugh. 'I guess so. At least it's all over with now.'

Piper nodded and turned the subject back to Chris. 'So do you think Chris is hot?'

'I – uh I guess.' Helena replied reluctantly.

In the backseat Phoebe bounced a little. 'I knew it. I'm might not be able to sense either Chris' or your emotions but I knew there was something there.'

Piper chuckled, she almost felt the heat coming from Helena's face. 'I'm afraid the downside to knowing Phoebe is making itself apparent to you Helena.'

'Yeah, tell me about it.' Helena said with a laugh. 'I don't know how you survived so long.'

'Hey!' Phoebe said indignantly from behind them. 'I just help when I can.'

Piper snorted. 'Sorry to tell you this Pheeb's but you're a bit nosy, not helpful.' Piper said this with a playful tone. Although Phoebe did have a habit of butting into things, she did give good advice. With her job how could she be anything but good with advice?

'Anyway,' Phoebe said obviously wanting to change the subject. 'Since we've established that you and Chris like each other…has he told you anything about himself?'

Piper risked looking at Helena again. Phoebe was right, if Chris wouldn't tell them things maybe he'd tell Helena and she could tell them.

Helena however was scowling and turned to Phoebe quickly. 'First – yes Chris has told me some things. Second – no I'm not telling you. Chris told me those things in confidence, I wouldn't betray that confidence by turning around and telling everyone!'

Piper frowned and turned onto the long street that the two families lived on. 'But Helena, if Wyatt is in danger – '

'Piper I know how you feel about that, really, but Chris is right. If you know too much about the future you could try to change things and end up with it being worse than ever.' Helena put her hand on Piper's briefly.

The action did nothing to ease the concerns that had built inside Piper. This was her baby's life they were talking about. 'But – '

'Piper. If I thought for one moment that it would be safer for you to know I would tell you.'

Piper could hear the sincerity in Helena's voice. If she hadn't known Helena was a mother Piper might have kept arguing, but Helena knew what it was like to have someone completely and utterly dependent on you. 'Okay, I'll let it go – for now.'

Helena smiled and faced forward as they pulled into the right driveway, the smile quickly fell from her face though.

Piper's slight smile faded as well. The house had flashes appearing all across the lower floor.

'Do you think she needs help now?' Phoebe said as she scrambled from the backseat.

HPOV

Helena quickly got out of Piper's car, sparing a second to be thankful they hadn't taken Phoebe's smaller car.

Running inside, Helena heard Piper and Phoebe following behind her, hearing the noise to her left Helena quickly went round the corner and skidded to a halt. The two families were flinging energy balls and potions everywhere, Helena's skin was buzzing from the amount of magical energy in the room.

Suddenly Mrs Montana was hit in the stomach by an energy ball thrown by Mr Callaway. On the other side of the room Helena saw Richard throw an energy ball towards Mr Callaway. Being able to feel the power in the in the attack Helena could tell that if it hit, it would almost, if not definitely, kill the man.

Throwing her arm out Helena used her telekinesis to deflect the energy ball into the wall. Everyone in the room briefly looked at her. As Phoebe and Piper caught up to her, Helena looked back at the two of them. While her attention was diverted, Olivia's father took the opportunity to throw an energy ball at Richard. Feeling the energy Helena whirled back around but knew she wouldn't stop it in time.

The energy ball hit Richard and threw him against the wall. Richard fell to the floor and did not move.

Paige suddenly ran in and dropped beside Richard's unconscious form. 'Richard? Richard please wake up.'

Helena frowned, there was a haziness around Paige that hadn't been there earlier. 'Guys something is wrong with Paige,' Helena murmured to Piper and Phoebe.

'Richard please wake up it's me…it's Olivia.'

'Oh no!' Piper said instantly understanding the situation.

Everyone watched as Pai – Olivia looked up from Richard. 'If I can't have him in life, I'm gonna have him in death.'

Olivia orbed the two of them away.

Helena scowled and kicked a piece broken furniture. 'I knew I sensed something at the Manor. It must have been Olivia's suppression of Paige's spirit.'

Piper sighed and rubbed her forehead. 'You couldn't have known.'

Helena kept scowling, not appeased by her friend's comment. As the members of the two families started to realise what had happened, Helena felt her scowl get worse. 'Let's get back to the Manor and try to find them. These morons don't deserve any more help.'

Striding past the two sisters, Helena saw that they were surprised at her words. Helena was herself slightly, but these two families were beyond help. The stupid feud was going to destroy them, and now it was taking Paige too. Reaching the car Helena got inside and sat fuming, waiting for the two Halliwells.

PhPOV

The Manor

Phoebe held the scrying crystal above the map of the city as Piper stood at the Book and recited the Blood to Blood spell.

'It's not working.' Piper said shutting the Book again.

Phoebe sighed and dropped the crystal. 'Neither is scrying.'

Helena was pacing up and down the length of the attic. Apparently she was still wound up. 'It can't work. You're searching for Paige but Olivia is suppressing her.'

'But she used Paige's powers…' Phoebe said looking at the younger girl.

'Yes but you need a connection to Olivia – not Paige. Olivia is in control so she's who you need to find, not Paige. CHRIS!'

Phoebe jumped at the sudden shout. Helena had called for Chris a couple of times but he hadn't answered. 'I should have followed my instincts from the beginning.'

'Phoebe…'

Phoebe looked over at her big sister. 'Piper – I might not be able to read your emotions anymore but I know my sisters and I knew Paige needed help.' Phoebe sighed again.

Leo patted her shoulder. 'We're all understandably tense, but that's not going to get Paige back.'

'Yeah? Well what is? Nothing is working!'

'That's why I was wanting Chris.' Helena said finally coming to a stop next to Phoebe. 'I might be able to sense Olivia if I focus enough since I used that potion and then Chris could orb me to them.'

Phoebe saw Leo frown. 'Well I could have – '

'No offense Leo, but I don't trust you. The only reason I left my son in your care is because I know he can defend himself.'

Phoebe felt her eyebrows rise at the derision in Helena's voice, before Leo could start to argue though the doorbell rang. Grateful for the interruption Phoebe quickly led the way downstairs.

When she got to the front door and opened it, Phoebe was surprised to see Mr Callaway and Mrs Montana on the doorstep.

'We think we know where they are.' Mr Callaway said in a heavy voice.

Mrs Montana had the same weary look on her face. 'We want to help end this before we lose anyone else.'

Phoebe glanced back towards Piper, Leo and Helena who all nodded slightly.

'Come on in. We just ran out of options.'

HPOV

The Crypt

Helena stood near the door to the crypt and watched as Piper blasted open Olivia coffin. Helena let her mind wander, not really paying attention to the scene unfolding in front of her. As soon as they had arrived, Helena had felt her powers saying that everything would work out.

Looking around warily Helena shifted. She did not like crypts – or graveyards for that matter. Grief seemed to cling to the places and Helena always picked it up. It put her on edge to feel the emotional and psychic – residue. Even when she was completely focused on damping down her powers somehow the echoes still seeped into her mind. And Helena wasn't particularly focused at the moment. She kept thinking about what Phoebe and Piper had said to her about Chris.

He couldn't possibly like he, like her. Could he? Helena thought back to when she had woken up after Kiernan's attack. That had been a moment when she had just felt a…click with Chris. Like he had said, what were the odds of two such different time travellers meeting?

Chris' trip was a surgical strike, but hers was driven need safety. Her spell had brought her here because it's where she was safest…

'Helena?'

Helena snapped out of her brooding to find Piper looking at her. 'Huh, what?'

Piper frowned. 'Were you not even paying attention?'

Smiling in apology Helena followed the sisters – all three – out of the crypt. 'Sorry, my mind is a little frazzled. There's always a lot of emotional and psychic residue in graveyards and it's seeping into my head a little.'

'Well at least you weren't inside a coffin.' Paige said with a slight laugh.

Helena shuddered at the thought of being stuck in there. 'Definitely happy I wasn't you Paige.'

They walked in silence for a few minutes until they reached the car. As Piper started to drive away, Helena felt the pressure on her mind ease off. Sighing in relief Helena relaxed a little. At least until Phoebe chimed in from the back seat again.

'So Paige. Guess who our neurotic white-lighter likes.'

HPOV

The Next Day in The Attic

Helena stood in the upper hallway outside the attic watching the scene in front of her.

'Come on Phoebe, you can't stay in there forever.' Paige battered on the locked door to the attic with her fist.

'Yes I can.'

It was only eight o'clock and when Phoebe hadn't shown up in the kitchen, they'd tracked her to the attic. Apparently she wasn't coming out because the barriers Helena had put into their minds were fading and Phoebe had started to feel their emotions again. Helena figured it was because of the strong family bonds. Leaning against the wall Helena smiled in amusement at Chris who was leaning on the opposite wall. Then she remembered what Phoebe had started and looked away blushing.

'Phoebe this is nuts.' Piper rattled the door knob again. 'Open the door.'

'No.'

'Phoebe.' Paige said as she banged again.

Helena heard a rhythmic murmur through the door. 'Guy's I think she's saying a spell.'

Piper and Paige exchanged a look. Paige grabbed Chris and Piper's hands and nudged Chris to make him take Helena's.

As Chris took her hand Helena blushed again at the slight tingle it gave her.

When they reappeared in the attic Phoebe was faced away from them yelling at the door. 'I don't know what else to do. I've tried everything.'

'Hey.' Piper said making her sister jump and face them.

'You know people lock doors for a reason.' Phoebe said and rested her arms on the desk she was using.

Paige rolled her eyes. 'Well I figured if your powers will be intruding on my life. Then I may as well use mine to intrude on yours.'

Helena sat on an old sofa next to Chris, making sure there was space between them.

Piper sighed at Phoebe. 'Look Phoebe, none of us like this new power of yours any more than you do, but it's pointless to isolate yourself.'

Phoebe looked up unhappily. 'Well if I can't read you, I can't hurt you.'

'How about instead of trying to control your power, you try to – I don't know – control yourself?' Paige said only half joking.

'Because Paige I can't. And I can sense how annoyed you are right now and it's hurting me.'

Helena cleared her throat. 'You know I could just keep replacing the barriers as they wear down.' She offered to try and make the peace.

'I don't get it.' Chris said standing up. 'Leo didn't give you the psychic blocking potion?'

Helena frowned and went over to him. 'Wait – is that what that stupid egg was for? A potion to block psychic powers?'

When Chris nodded Helena whacked him across the back of the head. 'Ow! What was that for?!' Chris rubbed his head and looked at her in shock.

'Because, moron, if you had answered my calls sooner you would know that I can put barriers in place to do the same thing!' Honestly he really needed to learn to share more.

'Well how was I to know that's what you wanted me for?'

'Wait, what potion?' Piper said before Helena could hit Chris again.

Chris edged away from Helena. 'It's a potion that blocks psychic powers except for when you want them to work on you. It should work on empathy as well.'

Identical looks of shock were on the sisters faces and they all shouted at the same time.

'LEO!' The Elder appeared in the attic and his face said he knew what they wanted.

'Where is it?' Piper demanded.

'Gimme, gimme gimme!' Phoebe said impatiently. 'Faster.'

'Come on, come on, come on!' Piper said gesturing at Leo.

'They're really anxious about that potion we got Leo.'

Helena frowned and wondered how Leo had the potion. Why was he following Chris?

'Yeah, only I think you should wait…' Leo said looking at the sisters. 'Phoebe was given her power for a reason – '

Helena rolled her eyes. Trust an Elder to think that way.

'Forget that!' Piper said harshly.

Leo finally relented and handed the bottle over to Piper. She swallowed half and then gave Paige the other half. They both looked at Phoebe questioningly.

Phoebe peered at them closely before smiling. 'Nothing. Nada. Zilch!' Phoebe lifted her arms in celebration.

'Yes!' Paige in relief.

'Hallelujah!' Piper said only slightly mocking.

Paige started towards the door. 'Well I have to go finish a game of pinochle with Grandma Callaway.'

'Maybe you'll run into Richard.' Phoebe said with a grin. Helena wondered how long her high would last.

'I'm sorry?' Paige said with a look.

'That was a sister thing, not an empath thing.' Phoebe got up and led the way out.

Chris looked at Piper closely. 'So it worked right. No nausea, no queasiness, nothing like that?'

'Nope, nothing.' Piper followed her sisters. Leaving Helena and Chris alone with Leo.

'Well, it looks like we're one, big, happy family again.' Chris said sarcastically spreading his arms briefly.

Leo didn't smile. 'You two aren't family.'

Helena flinched as Leo left. Looking over to Chris she saw a brief look of disappointment flash across his face before he masked it. 'I'm sorry Chris.'

He shook his head. 'It's fine, I don't care what he thinks.'

Helena frowned but didn't push the subject. Chris pulled something from his pocket. 'What is that?'

'Another potion.' Chris took a swig from the bottle.

'Are you so desperate to keep your secrets Chris?'

Chris looked at her. 'They can't know who I am Helena. It puts too much at risk.'

Helena crossed her arms and looked at him. 'Fine, but from now on we work together. No more avoiding me, no more half-truths. I won't tell them, but you have to tell me. Are we clear?'

Chris hesitated clearly trying to figure a way out. Helena shook her head and stepped closer to him, ignoring the heat of his body. 'That potion may block most psychic powers, but it won't block mine if I don't let it, I'm too powerful.'

Helena looked at Chris as he looked at her. Helena noticed how green his eyes were and how they seemed to darken when he was emotional.

Chris finally nodded. 'Okay, we'll work together.'

Helena smiled at him, pleased that she hadn't needed to persuade him any further. Helena went to step away but hesitated, thinking of what Phoebe said. Before she could change her mind Helena quickly kissed Chris.

Helena could feel his surprise but it quickly passed and he kissed her back, she could feel the electricity between them. After a minute she broke the kiss and stepped back touching her lips with her finger-tips. Helena smiled up at him. 'I look forward to working with you.' She turned and walked out of the attic unable to stop the grin appearing on her face. Now that was a kiss worth travelling through time for.

Author Note – Finally my Muse has returned. Let me know how quickly you think Helena and Chris' relationship should develop.

Keep in mind though that this story has longer chapters but I hope to update at least every other week. Keep checking my profile as I always put updates on there.