AN. Hi everybody, here's a new chapter! Thank you for reviewing, putting this story on alert and making it one of your favorites! Enjoy!
Chapter 7
"Chris…? Chris is that you?" the man asked with hope
"Wyatt" Chris answered, finally getting over his shock. Both men stared at each other for a long time, taking in the changes, and changed they had. They hadn't seen or heard from each other for more than 9 long years. Chris didn't really know how to react, he wanted to hug his brother, but he also wanted to yell at him, so he just kept staring
Jason and Sophia were staring at the man with curious gazes, who was he? "Daddy, daddy, I'm called Wyatt too" Jason whispered like it was a secret, but Wyatt was able to hear what he said and gasped. Chris smiled as he turned to his son "I know buddy, but how about we go home okay?" he said, trying to get away from Wyatt. He was happy to see that his brother was still alive, and doing relatively well as far as he could see, but he didn't want to have a family reunion. "Wait! Chris, don't go!" Wyatt said, he was still a bit shocked, but he knew he had to keep Chris there if he even wanted a chance at talking with him. Chris didn't listen and grabbed both his kids' hands, beginning to walk away as quickly as possible with the little 5 year olds. Wyatt not having the restriction of kids walked quickly behind them, hoping that if Chris realized this he would talk to him, and if he didn't realize it he would find Chris' home, or at least where he was staying for the time being. Wyatt couldn't really believe Chris still lived in San Francisco. He couldn't have lived here not without Wyatt finding him.
Chris obviously knew Wyatt was following, he would have been shocked if he hadn't been followed, but now he had no idea what to do. He couldn't lead him to his home, but the kids were getting tired, Sophia kept walking slower and slower. Chris stopped walking, his kids' needs came before his, "do you want me to carry you?"he asked Sophia, also looking at Jason since he knew his little boy was tired too. They both nodded yes. This were the times Chris was happy he worked out and still fought demons, he was still strong enough to carry both his kids around. Wyatt came walking next to him, he wasn't sure what to say, firstly because he didn't want to anger Chris or scare him away, and secondly Chris was carrying two little kids and Wyatt wasn't sure what they knew and if they were even allowed to have any knowledge of their father's past and his family. Finally after about 15 minutes of walking around aimlessly both kids were sound asleep.
"Are those your children?" Wyatt asked trying to start a conversation, he had wanted to ask that the moment he heard the boy talking, he wasn't sure if he had heard the boy correct. Chris sighed, he knew he couldn't get away from Wyatt, he just nodded. Wyatt looked at the two sleeping kids, you could see Chris in both kids, but mostly in the boy, he was like a little version of Chris. Wyatt smiled sadly, he had missed so much of his little brothers life. "So how are you doing?" he asked then, hoping Chris would give him a chance. "Well I was doing great, but then my past showed up" Chris answered, he wasn't happy, though he had appreciated that Wyatt waited to talk so the kids wouldn't hear. "Chris, please just give me something here, I'm begging you" Wyatt said, sure he saw that his little brother was doing okay, or at least looked okay but he needed and wanted to know more. Chris sighed again. "I'm fine Wyatt, obviously I'm still alive. I moved in with Bianca, graduated, got a good job, got married, we had children. That about sums it up" he didn't really want to tell Wyatt anything, but he had to admit, it was good seeing his big brother, to really see he was alive. "So how are you?" he continued, he never was good with awkward silences and did about anything to stop them from occurring. Chris sighed, this was going to be a long day. Wyatt just smiled, maybe there was some for hope for him, and hope was all he had right about now.
"I'm fine too, also alive. I had a depression way back, when you left. But I got better with help. We all knew we had to move on, come to accept what happened, because well let's face it, you weren't coming back. It was hard, especially for mom, dad and I, but we did it, well partly. Mom and dad are still together, mom opened a restaurant a while ago, it's going good. Dad is still teaching at magic school, he always loved that place." Wyatt smiled, he loved magic school too. "The cousins are all okay, either busy with school, jobs or boyfriends, I try to scare them away of course. Prue is actually engaged, couldn't scare that guy away even when I tried my hardest. The Aunts and uncles are also still okay, they are all still together. We all miss you though" Wyatt said, not giving much information about himself either, he wanted too but he hoped by not giving him that information yet the conversation would be longer or that they could meet up again. Chris just nodded, like he didn't really care.
There was some silence before Wyatt thought of something his brother would want to hear, and something that could maybe get him back to the family. "You should visit grandpa, he isn't going to be alive for that long" Wyatt said knowing how much Chris cared for their grandfather. They were all surprised their grandfather had lived this long, Patricia said it was because he waited for Chris. Finally Chris showed some emotion. Wyatt could only hope that someday he would show emotion because of him again. He knew their grandfather was the only one who really treated Chris right, he never made Chris feel like an outsider. It probably was because Victor wasn't magic himself, but somewhere Wyatt thought Chris was just his favorite grandson. Not that Wyatt minded really, he was just happy that Chris was so loved by Victor. "I can take you to him if you'd like? Nobody else is there, I'll make sure of that" He said quickly making sure Chris wouldn't get scared away, which the prospect of meeting other family members would obviously have as result. Chris looked long and hard at him, but finally nodded. He had really missed Victor, and Victor had always treated him well.
"In here" Wyatt said, as he opened a door in a nursing home, Victor hadn't wanted to go, but he needed help with everyday stuff, so the family agreed it would be better for him. "Hi grandpa!" Wyatt said cheerily, "So I have a surprise for you" he continued, not giving Victor the time to react, or Chris to escape. He pulled Chris in, who was still holding his two children. Victor gasped "Chris?" His eyes shone with hope and happiness. "Hi grandpa!"Chris said quietly, putting his sleeping children on the bed. He went over to his grandfather and gave him a hug, tears stung his eyes, but he would not let them fall.
There was some silence while Chris and Victor looked at each other. "I knew you would come back, even if it was just once" Victor said, he had only managed to live as long as he did with that thought in his mind, he couldn't die if he hadn't said goodbye to Chris. Chris would never forgive himself. "Grandpa, what are you doing in a nursing home?" Chris asked, looking confused. Wyatt laughed, as did Victor. "Oh boy, I'm much older now, I need help you know". Chris looked at them like they were idiots. "Obviously, but what I'm asking why are you living here, and not with Piper, of any other relative?" Chris asked, a sad look crossed his grandfathers eyes, a sad look for he didn't really wanted to be in this nursing home, but also because Chris didn't call Piper his mother anymore "Chris they don't have the time to take care of me all day long" He knew this, though it did not make the situation any nicer. Chris just nodded, a thoughtful look is his eyes. Victor laughed, he knew that look, his youngest grandson was planning something. "So who are those adorable kids you dumped on my bed?"He asked Chris. "O, you don't mind, do you? It's just they walked a lot today, and they're really tired. I carried them for a long time, and though I'm fit it too was getting a bit tired" Chris began explaining, rambling away. Victor shook his head laughing "don't worry boy, it's fine. I was just wondering who they were" he said. Chris smiled. "Well Grandpa you're a great- grandfather now. Those two are there are Sophia and Jason, they are mine and Bianca's children. They're twins, both 5 years old now" Chris said with a smile, it was obvious how much he loved his kids. A large smile broke out on Victor's face, he was so happy that he lived the day to see his great-grandchildren.
It had been hard on his family, to see their child, brother, nephew and cousin leave. To see how much they had hurt their own family, so much that he had felt the need to escape and run from them. It had hurt himself greatly too, and he blamed himself even if he wasn't to blame for treating him badly then for not helping him, not telling his parents to stop. He was ridden with guilt, though he kept living he always felt that guilt. Now when he was with his grandchildren he made sure to give every one of them enough attention, he made sure to look if they felt bad and to help them, and he especially made sure he kept an eye on their parents. No child should be put through that, and he would make sure no family of his would ever go through that, nothing like that could ever happen again. Though his mind was pretty much put to ease by his daughters, who felt the same, nothing like that should happen again, he always kept an eye open. Victor had often wondered if Chris blamed him, if Chris was angry at him. He often wondered what would happen when he saw him again, would Chris yell at him, ignore him, how would his grandson feel. He felt the need to ask for forgiveness, but he wasn't sure if talking about the past was a thing Chris did, he wasn't sure that Chris wouldn't run out of the door as soon as they began about that topic. Also he was afraid, what if Chris really did blame him, really was angry, what if he didn't want or couldn't forgive him. Victor was sure he could live with that knowledge. So Victor just smiled, content to just talk about every day topics, he was a happy man finally seeing Chris again.
After a hour or so Chris noticed the time, he really should go home, Bianca would be home soon, and dinner would be ready, and he really should get the kids home. Chris was happy to finally see his grandpa again, though he wasn't happy with how he was living, he was pretty sure he didn't get visitors that often. They had talked about everyday stuff, not getting into the past, and there weren't much question about his life now either, just the how are you doing and are you still with Bianca. Chris suspected that Victor didn't want to make Chris run away, he was thankful for that, because he himself wasn't so sure he wanted to talk about everything. Chris told his grandpa that he really needed to leave. "Grandpa, it was really good seeing you again, and I'm happy to see that even though your age you are quite healthy. But I really need to go, it's nearing 6.30 pm and dinner will be ready soon" he smiled apologetically, Victor nodded, life still went on and he knew that. Both men stood and hugged each other, Victor didn't know if this was a goodbye or a see you later. "Bye Grandpa!" Chris said, picking up his kids and walking out of the door. Wyatt followed, he too had to get home but he didn't really want to let Chris go.
"So, am I ever going to see you again? Or are you going to just disappear like last time?" Wyatt asked, he didn't really want to ask the question as he feared the answer. It had been so hard the last time Chris left, he wasn't sure how he would fare if it happened again. He looked at Chris, hope and a little desperation shining in his eyes, he was pleading, begging even. He was willing to go down on his knees, actually he was willing to do about anything to get his little brother back, even if it was just for little meetings like this. Chris stared at the ground, he didn't know what to say, how to answer. "I don't really know Wyatt. I can't do the whole family again, actually I don't want to" Chris began, Wyatt sighed he didn't like that beginning, he didn't like it at all. "please..!" he said, a strained voice as he was trying to hold his emotions back. "I really don't know Wyatt, we'll see" Chris said, walking away to the bathrooms in the nursing house quickly and he made his escape. By the time Wyatt reached the bathrooms they were already empty.
Chris really didn't know if he wanted to see Wyatt ever again, did he want to go back there? Go back and facing his past? As Chris made his escape a lonely tear rolled down his face as he remembered, his past had finally caught up with him, he just wasn't sure what to do with it.
AN. So that was Chris reaction to seeing Wyatt again. Did you hate it? Liked it? Please review!