I am so sorry for the delay! I don't know what it was, but I really struggled with this chapter, and I had so much college work so I had no time any way but still... I'm so sorry for the delay and I do hope you enjoy this next chapter!


Piper and Leo were standing nervously in the kitchen, waiting for the right time to call Wyatt. Both of their minds were still spinning after everything they had discovered over the past few hours. Piper still refused to condemn her eldest son without proof, but she had agreed that she wouldn't mention anything to Wyatt. She was just about to call him, when suddenly Leo spoke.

"Are we sure about this?" He asked surprising Piper, who thought Leo believed Chris' story more than any of them.

"Sure about what?" Asked Piper. "Tricking our son, or sending my sisters into a cave in the underworld to find a witch who can or cannot be trusted?" Although Piper believed Chris, she couldn't deny that there were very few parts to this plan that she actually liked.

"Look, I know what I said before, but I've been thinking about Chris." He conceded slowly, anticipating his words could upset his wife, "the way he acts, like some sort of neurotic soldier, he's so different to the Wyatt we met, I just don't see how they could have been..."

"Could have been what Leo?" Questioned Piper icily, "could have been raised together?" Leo shrugged apologetically, but Piper shook her head, "He's our son Leo." She insisted, "You were the one that made us all see that. I don't care if he's different to Wyatt, or different to everyone else for that matter, he is our son. I mean he called for his father and you heard him! What more evidence do you need?"

"He may call for me as his father, but he doesn't call me his father." Leo objected, ignoring the gnawing sensation in his heart telling him his suspicions are wrong. "Every time he speaks to me, he calls me Leo, not dad, Leo. And yet Wyatt called me dad." He pointed out.

"He's our son." Restated Piper, barely keeping herself from blowing Leo up.

"I'm not saying he's not." Objected Leo, "All I'm saying is that we're judging the situation with no idea of what the future is like. What if Paige is your sister, what if one day she and Chris went hunting demons and never came back- wouldn't that explain why Wyatt didn't call him his brother?" Piper's eyebrows were raised further than Leo had ever seen them before, but she didn't stop him. "And then what if Wyatt does grow up and unite good and evil, making the world a better place, but Chris and Paige liked hunting demons so much that they try and stop him, forming a resistance against what only they view as a tyrannical leader? Doesn't that make just as much sense as Chris' story, more even?" Piper thought about it, but shook her head, remembering the look Chris had given her when she had realised he was is son that was a look of a loving and trusting son.

"You're mistrusting him because he called you Leo?" She challenged. "That seems unfair."

"I'm just saying that we have no way of knowing what is really going on where they come from, They're both our sons, and we should be trusting them equally, yet we're only listening to Chris. I just don't think we're being fair, and we have no definite facts make a proper judgement." He persisted, fed up of every one they talked to giving them a different story.

"Then let's get some more." Suggested Piper, standing up turning to the ceiling. "Wyatt!"


"Please." Begged Paige, who was collapsed on the floor at Wyatt's feet, "Please, just stop." Wyatt smiled, sensing that his aunt was close to breaking. He knelt down beside her, gently dragging an athame across her already mutilated arm, creating a long deep scar, making her moan in pain- her voice so horse that she was no longer able to scream.

"I can make it all stop Paige." He whispered, grabbing hold of her chin to force her to face him, "Just as long as you tell what I need to know."

"I can't." She whimpered, clutching her damaged arm close to her chest. "I'll never tell you anything." She added trying to sound more confident than she really felt. Wyatt sighed audibly, standing up to tower over his aunt.

"Well then, I guess I'll have to find someone who you will tell." He stated


Chris was pacing up and down the cavern nervously, whilst his aunts and Cole watched him attentively. None of them spoke their minds too concerned with what they were about to do. The plan was for Leo and Piper to call for Wyatt, and while he was at the manor, then Cole would shimmer into the cave with Phoebe and Prue to rescue Paige. Chris was not happy with this plan. He knew what sort of defences Wyatt would have put in place to stop Paige from leaving, and no matter how powerful his aunts were, Wyatt was a far more experienced Witch, having been raised by the Charmed ones and been practising magic for more than twenty years, as opposed to the sisters mere three. Even though Chris had less power, he knew that his knowledge would be of benefit. His mother had forbidden it, however, and there was no way either demon or witches would go against that.

"Just remember..." Began Chris. "The cave is likely to be alarmed so as soon as you arrive, you could be faced with anything, including Wyatt."

"Chris, we know- you keep on telling us." Pointed out Phoebe gently. The sisters were as prepared as possible; they had grabbed a few premixed potions from the manor which would help to vanquish lower level demons, and were also armed with several athames.

Chris sighed. "I still think it would be better it I went too." He told them for the fifth time. "I mean you could be faced with something you've never seen before, what if there are too many demons for you to get them all, what if Cole gets injured and can't shimmer you guys out? Wyatt's protected the cave, once you're in there, I won't be able to hear you calls- neither will Leo, and there will be no other escape."

"Chris, calm down!" Instructed Prue, gripping her neurotic nephew by the shoulders to stop his pacing. "We're going to be fine, and so is your aunt." She assured. "I promised your mother I'd keep you safe, and there is no way that we are letting you come." She told him forcefully.

Chris closed his eyes. Defeated. He knew there was no way he would be going on the mission without disobeying the people he needed on his side most. He was about to agree with Prue when he suddenly sensed Wyatt's presence for the first time since Paige had gone missing. "He's at the manor." He told them quickly, "Go, I don't know how much Mum and Leo will be able to get you- especially if you do set of an alarm."

Phoebe nodded, wrapping Cole's arms around her body, as Prue took her other out stretched arms. Chris watched them all shimmer away, leaving him alone in the cavern to sense for any danger to his family. He was sat there for about five minutes when he heard his mother calling for him. He couldn't understand what she would want, and his confusion was doubled when he heard his brother telling him it was okay. Curious, he orbed into the manor.


Wyatt heard his mother's call and immediately orbed to her side, concerned that something could have happened. When he arrived, however, he wasn't faced with a demon, but rather with two clearly worried looking parents.

"Is everything okay?" He asked, trying to cover up the mixture of emotions he felt every time he laid eyes on the parents that were deceased and missing in his own time.

"Everything's fine sweetie." Said Piper kindly, not moving from Leo's protective shadow, "Why don't you sit down, we want to talk to you." Wyatt didn't move an inch, his mind instantly flashing back to before the event, when Piper would summon him and Chris down to the kitchen to lecture them about improper use of magic, or to explain why their father wouldn't be celebrating thanksgiving with them again this year. Whenever his mother started off a speech in that way, he was always overcome by a feeling of foreboding.

"What's wrong?" He asked apprehensively.

"Sweetie," Began Piper cautiously, uncertain how to start without letting on to Wyatt how much they knew, "your dad's been talking to the elders, and they told him about Chris." Wyatt frowned, continuing to act innocent until he was certain he knew for certain what Piper was saying.

"What are you talking about?" He questioned, "What about Chris?"

"We know he is your brother." Explained Leo, catching on to Piper's plan. Their son bowed his head slightly, feigning guilt, "why did you lie to us son?" Wyatt frowned, trying to come up with a decent excuse. "Well?" Asked Leo as Wyatt still didn't answer. Suddenly Wyatt realised a perfect excuse, remembering the words Prue had stated when Phoebe was trying to get future knowledge out of him.

"Future consequences." He stated simply, a small satisfied smile on his face, "Chris isn't born in this time and I just thought that if you knew he was your son it could affect things."

"So you're not denying it?" Clarified Leo, "You two our both our sons." Wyatt shrugged and nodded.

"Yeah, he's my little brother, like I said before; he was my best friend when we were growing up." Leo nodded, his heart sinking as he realised everything Chris had said was correct, but Piper decided to investigate further.

"You also said that he 'betrayed you and joined the resistance' was that true as well?" Wyatt considered that question for a moment, still unfortunately uncertain about Chris's loyalties.

"No." He eventually decided. "He didn't join the resistance, I just needed him to keep the secret and that was the only way to tell him without you realising." He stated.

"Okay." Accepted Piper, making Wyatt's shoulders sink with relief. "I want to talk to him." She told her son whose eyes widened at this unfortunate piece of news. "Chris!" She called before Wyatt could come up with an understandable objection, "Chris, please!" She tried again, looking to her eldest for his assistance. Wyatt sighed, making the decision to help his mother locate Chris, and just hope he would be able to control his little brother's tongue when he arrived.

"Chris, it's okay!" He called unenthusiastically, and after a few moments the familiar jingling noise signalled Chris' arrival.


"No!" Screamed Paige, lurching forward to try and heal the cold, bloody corpses of her twin daughters who were lying on the ground in front of her, "No, no, no! Please! I can't lose you too!" She looked around the cave, now also seeing Henry and Junior bleeding to death, and then sister's mutilated bodies as they lay, stiff, on the ground. By them were their husbands and then their children. Everyone was dead. Everyone she loved and was meant to protect; gone. She even saw Wyatt, but not the grown man who had destroyed the earth, she saw the young toddler- the one she had allowed to be taken all those years ago and become so warped in his beliefs.

"Because that's what you fear most isn't it Paige." taunted Barbas, standing over Paige's sobbing form, "You fear letting your sisters down again. You let them die and now you feel responsible for their children- but you're not stupid, you know that you can't protect them and sooner or later you know you will fail them as well."

Paige found herself curling into a ball, unable to restrain the sheer volume of emotion she had been trying to suppress even since Piper's death. "Just leave me alone." She sobbed, trying to get a hold of herself. She knew this was Barbas, she knew that what she was seeing was just his illusion, but that didn't make it feet any les real.

"Oh, but we're only just getting started." Crowed Barbas, triumphantly surveying the broken witch before him, "but if you told me what your nephew wants to know, I guess I could make this all end faster." He offered with a sinister smirk.

"Go to hell." Choked Paige through her tears, crawling backwards, until she was tightly pressed against the cave wall.

"Oh, I don't think so. Your sisters have sent me there once already and fortunately this task offers me the chance to never return." Barbas informed her. Paige just closed her eyes, desperately trying to block out the images before her.

And then new images appeared. Prue was standing over her, looking down on her in disappointment as Paige failed to conquer her fears as Prue had. Besides her were Phoebe and Cole, back when they had been happy- before Paige had arrived. They all stood over her, torturing her with their silent hatred. She struggled against her bonds, desperate to get away from Barbas' cruelty, but they were too strong.

Prue reached down, fumbling with the chains for a moment, before turning to her companions. "Cole, do you think you could blast these without hurting her?" She asked, deciding her telekinesis wouldn't work. Cole nodded, conjuring a low energy ball with he carefully aimed at one of the chains, successfully freeing Paige's left arm.

"No!" Screamed Paige, clutching her arm to her chest, looking up at Cole with pure hatred. "Get away from me!" She cried. Before suddenly realising that as her arm was now free, so were her powers. "Chains." She called, orbing the remaining restraints into her hand, before carelessly and turning towards the figures she presumed to be Barbas. "Rocks." She called, moving her arm in the direction of Cole, sending a hoard of rocks down on to the half demon, knocking him out cold.


"What's going on?" Chris asked Wyatt the moment he orbed into the manor. "Is everything okay?" Wyatt flashed him the sort of grin Chris hadn't seen his brother wear for years, immediately suspecting something was happening.

"Everything's fine Chris." Wyatt told him, his voice so falsely laden with cheer that it made Chris want to run a mile, just as Wyatt pulled him in close to his side. "Our parents were just telling me they've been chatting with the elders, and have discovered our little secret." Chris' eyes widened with shock, he knew he shouldn't be surprised his parents would try something like that, but he had already told them not to do anything that would make Wyatt suspicious as to how much they knew, and claiming Elders were in any way of use was defiantly something that would make Wyatt suspicious.

"I can't believe you're both here." Breathed Piper, holding her shaking hands out towards her grownup sons, wanting nothing more than to pull them into her embrace and never let them go. Both sons barely hesitated, walking forward and wrapping their arms around their long lost mother's body. In that moment neither of them were the Emperor of the World, or Leader of the resistance, but rather two boys who just needed their mother.

"I can't believe it either." Murmured Leo, placing his hands on his son's shoulders, beaming down at them as they released their mother. Wyatt smiled back at his father, masking the pain he felt at seeing the man who had left them after their mother's death. Chris, however, who had been hurt and abandoned by his father long before that day, shrugged the warm hand away, moving so as Piper acted as a shield, protecting him from Leo just as she had done when he was younger. Leo's hand curled up into a regretful fist, dropping it to his side as he surveyed his youngest son, who refused to look him in the eye.

Wyatt, seeing his brother's discomfort, decided to cut the reunion short, more than happy to leave the room, before his parents started to ask any more awkward questions. "Well, we should be going." He sighed, his jaw now hurting from smiling more in the past twenty four hours than he had done in his whole time as ruler. "I have some leads as to why your spell summoned me, and I need Chris' help." Resting a firm hand on Chris' shoulder, he led him out of the room, but Piper was not happy.

"Where do you think you're going?" She asked in her most dangerous maternal tone, making even the dark emperor stop in his tracks.

"I just explained…" He began, beginning to get frustrated.

"I don't care how many leads you have." Stated Piper firmly, her hands on her hips, "all that matters is that we are here together as a family, and whatever you have planned, it can wait until after dinner." Wyatt and Chris exchanged looks, as Pipers words made them suddenly aware of the delicious aroma that was filling the house.

"Seriously, this lead could be impor…"

"I don't care." Piper informed him briskly, not blinking despite the furious glare Wyatt had set upon her. "Whatever it is will still be there in an hour, whereas this pasta bake will not." She pointed out, pointing the boys back into the kitchen.

"Fine." Relented Wyatt, much to Chris' surprise. "Just give us a second and I promise we'll be right in." Piper frowned in suspicion, but nodded her head in agreement, turning on her heels and returning to her husband in the kitchen. The moment she was out of sight, Wyatt seized Chris' shoulder, pulling him firmly further from the kitchen to prevent their mother from listening in, before leaning in and hissing in his younger brother's ear. "I need you to promise me Christopher, that there will be no discussion of any of my… actions during this dinner. Any talk of our time will be happy and perfect and they will believe we are still playing happy families twenty years from now." Chris nodded quickly, never having had any intention of discussing the future over dinner- not wanting to upset them any further than they already where.

"Future consequences, right?" Was all he said however as he wormed his way out of his brother's grip and making to walk towards the kitchen. Wyatt seemed satisfied with this response, as he did not try to stop him, but just as Chris was almost at the door he caught up to him, whispering one final comment in his ear.

"Oh and if you think I believe that the elders revealed your secret, then you're a bigger fool than Paige is for believing she can resist me." Chris' froze in sudden fear, for both himself and his aunt.

"What have you done to her Wyatt?" He asked urgently, not even bothering to deny Wyatt's accusation. Wyatt, however, didn't reply. He simply smirked cruelly at him as he brushed past into the kitchen, settling down at the table, next to his younger self, for the weirdest family dinner even the Halliwells had ever had.


"Cole!" Shrieked Phoebe, kneeling besides her unconscious boyfriend. Prue, meanwhile, was focused on the maniacal Paige, who was now sending rocks flying down at her sisters, screaming at them to leave her be.

"How can this be the woman to take on the Charmed legacy?" Whispered the invisible Barbas into Prue's ear. "She is clearly a danger to you and your sisters, not to mention your precious nephew." Prue, hearing the words as her own, couldn't help but survey the older woman with a mistrustful eye, no longer desiring to free the woman from the cave.

"We should go!" She called to Phoebe, deflecting another barrage or rocks Paige had sent her way.

"We can't!" Pointed out Phoebe fearfully, "She's knocked out our only way out of here and Chris and Leo can't hear us." Prue shut her eyes, desperately thinking of another way out of their predicament.

"It was a trap." Hissed Barbas, "She lured you here to kill you, so now you need to kill her. Who knows, with her gone maybe the Charmed ones destiny could change, maybe your destiny could change." He suggested, watching Prue raise her arm defensively, "Because that's what you now fear most, isn't it Prue. You fear abandoning them when they need you most. You don't want to let them down."

Prue suddenly shot out her hand, sending Paige flying across the room and knocking her out. Then, drawing an athame from her belt, she proceeded towards Paige, kneeling down and preparing to stab her. Just as she was bringing the blade down, however, she felt a pair of warm hands wrapping around her hands, stopping them from moving.

"No!" Insisted Phoebe, struggling to remove the knife from her older sister's strong grip. "Prue stop!" She tried again, just as a shuffling and grunting noise from behind her made her aware of Cole's return to consciousness. "Prue, I understand why you're doing this, but you need to stop it not for our potential sister, but for Chris. He needs her, okay, and he's our nephew and we're going to help him."

At the mention of Chris, Prue's grip weakened slightly and Phoebe was able to prise the knife out of her hand, sliding it to the other side of the cave.

"Fine." Conceded Prue through gritted teeth, "But as that's the second time we've seen her attack Halliwells, we're chaining her back up." Phoebe nodded her head in agreement, and the sisters quickly reattached the Chains Paige had orbed free of the wall to their unconscious sister's arms and legs, then, when they were satisfied she was secure, Cole shimmered them all back to Chris' protected cave.


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