Disclaimer: Nothing in the Charmed world belongs to me and no copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Well, I was much loved for that last chapter. And for everyone that took me up on the offer to throw stuff at me, thanks I appreciate it.
I should mention that in my version of the timeline Paige has not gained her healing powers yet. I know going by the tv show she would have them by now, but just not the way I wanted to do it.
Chapter 20 Whitelighter Worries
Good Universe
Piper squeezed his hand and gave him a weak watery smile. "You can't stop a heart from loving," she whispered to him and raised her other hand to cup the side of his face.
For a moment he considered pulling away from her but her words had ensnared him along with the longing look in her eyes. He knew she was probably imagining her own son and truth be told he was having too hard a time distinguishing her from his own mother at that moment himself. So he would let her pretend, just as he pretended himself.
"Don't go!" he pleaded letting his own emotions swamp over him. "Please, just stay this time."
"I'm sorry, baby. I don't think I can," Piper said her voice straining with the effort of forcing the words out.
"Please, just try. Paige will be here with help soon," he begged feeling desperate to convince her to stay with them.
Piper just nodded, unable to lie to her son, but knowing how difficult it could sometimes be to find either a free Elder or Whitelighter who was willing to help. They had pissed off a lot of the Powers That Be over the years.
Chris saw the slight nod and felt a hitch in his throat. He could see in her eyes that she truly didn't believe she'd survive this and that knowledge did more damage to his heart and soul than anything else could. How could he have faith if she had none? Tears started to leak from the corners of his eyes and he had to close them for a moment, wishing that when he opened them again, that this would all be just another horrible nightmare.
He felt her thumb caress his cheek where a tear had just fallen and a deep pitiful choking sound left his throat as he tried to hold back the sob that threatened to overcome him. "I can't lose you again," he whispered with a voice filled with more grief than any one person should be able to bear.
Evil Universe
Paige's black orbs had floated away just a moment ago and Chris prayed to himself that somehow the evil version of his Aunt would succeed in her task, and not even the thought of her torturing a Whitelighter could have changed his prayers that she'd do so.
Nothing mattered at that moment in time as he looked down at the woman who to him had become just 'Mom'. No longer Piper. No, Piper had been the persona he had placed onthe version from his own universeto keep himself separated from the pain of losing his mom when he was fourteen. But to him there was no longer a Piper or even an evil Piper. All three women had merged in his mind to become just 'Mom'. Just the woman who had spent so many years comforting and caring for him in any timeline he could remember; the woman who had been willing to give up her marriage to protect her son from an abusive father; the woman who had just willingly sacrificed her life to save his. "This isn't right. You aren't supposed to die yet. I know you aren't," his voice came out choked and raw as he stared into those chocolate eyes that were always so warm and bright but now seemed to dull with the life that drained from her. "Please don't go," he pleaded desperately hoping nothing more than his shear will would keep her there with him.
"I don't want to… I want to stay with you," she whispered feeling how weak she was becoming and knowing it wouldn't be long now.
"You've gotta fight it, Mom! We can't make it without you," he cried reaching out with his free hand to grasp her uninjured shoulder wanting to gather her up in his arms and hold onto her forever. But as his hand hovered over her for just a second trembling, his eyes widened in disbelief….
Good Universe
He hadn't yet been able to open his eyes. There was just too much overwhelming pain to bear the sight any longer. He had too many memories of her death already burned into his mind and he truly did not want to add another to it.
But when he heard Phoebe's gasp those startling green eyes flew open to see a bright golden light encompassing his mother and in shock he glanced at his own hands, which were the source of the light. His fingers were splayed out over her and he could see them trembling even as the light encased them.
'But how could that be? He was a Darklighter!' But seeing the relief flood her face as the pain slipped away, he decided to keep his mouth shut tight in fear that the golden glow would end if he even dared to remind the universe that he couldn't heal. And he was healing her. He could see her wound closing as the burn mark faded away and the blood that covered her shoulder just flat out disappeared.
After a few short moments the glow faded and Piper shat up shakily with eyes filled with joy and pride for her youngest son.
Paige took that moment to orb back in with a half-terrified Whitelighter trailing behind her. It was not hard to see that she had put the fear of an angered Halliwell into the angel. But as her eyes grazed over her already healed sister she waved the being away, and it was plain to see the relief on his face as his orbs faded into nothing just as fast as he had appeared. "Okay, what did I miss?"
Phoebe and Piper both stared at Chris in awe and he pulled back slightly with both his hands still hovering in the air between he and his mother, a look of confusion coloring his features.
Phoebe decided to answer her sister's question seeing that neither Piper, nor Chris were speaking at the moment. Their eyes were locked on each other, Piper's filled with tears of joy and Chris,' also tear filled, but tainted with a small amount of fear over what he'd just done. "Chris just healed Piper."
Paige's mouth dropped open in complete disbelief as she stared at the dark presence that was her nephew. "How?"
Chris' head started shaking back and forth in an almost denial that he'd done any such thing. "I can't heal. I'm a Darklighter."
"Apparently you can, now," Piper said reaching out to grasp one of his hands, which she could see were shaking so bad now that she feared he would collapse in shock at any moment. "It's okay, Chris. You just did what you had to, what came natural to you."
Those words didn't seem to help any as he pulled his hand from hers and moved back to sit next to his brother staring at the floor in front of him. He needed to get away from them and be close to the only person he felt could really understand what he was going through. His hands had yet to stop shaking though and he clasped them together tightly feeling totally out of sorts with all the emotions running through him.
The three sisters shared a look of worry over the way he seemed to be closing off from them. Paige though, seeing an opportunity to possibly help both darker versions of her nephews, spoke up. "You know, you could always heal him," she said glancing towards the blonde who was still completely oblivious to the world.
Chris' eyes widened in horror at the thought. What would his brother do if he all of a sudden woke to find him healing him? He'd try to vanquish him on the spot. That's what he'd do. His head shook in utter fear at the concept.
Paige's eyes rolled at this and she was about to berate the young man until she heard a groan from behind them. They all turned to see Leo stirring. Somehow in the fear of the moment they had forgotten him. "Oops, guess I let that Whitelighter go too soon."
The sisters crossed over to him and helped him to sit up and after a few moments he shook off the aftereffects of the fireball. He eventually assured them that he'd be fine without healing. "Don't worry, I'm fine." He stared around the room though and noticed Wyatt lying as still as death and Chris staring at the floor between his feet as if he was completely lost. "My god," he cried standing and rushing towards them.
Chris though saw his movement and threw his hand out shoving Leo back with telekinesis. The blow wasn't as rough as his usual attempts and only managed to stagger the Elder slightly but the scathing look he gave him warned him to stay away. "Don't touch him!"
"Chris, Leo can heal him. You don't want him to suffer, do you?" Phoebe tried to convince him to let Leo near his brother.
"He'd rather suffer than to be healed, I promise you," Chris bit out angrily. He knew it wasn't completely true. Elders still healed in his own universe so it wasn't a big deal really. But his mind was still reeling from the fact that he had just used healing powers himself, something he should have never been able to do.
Evil Universe
As the golden glow faded Chris realized that his mouth was hanging open in complete awe at what he had done. He had healed her, really healed her. The one Whitelighter ability that had always eluded him before had finally found it's way into his soul. His Aunt Paige had always told him that he'd be able to heal when he truly needed it the most, but after his fourteenth birthday he had stopped believing her when she said that. He hadn't been able to heal his mom no matter how hard he'd tried on that day. He stared down at his hands and realized that maybe the time he needed it the most just hadn't happened in his life yet, not until this very day.
He looked back up to Piper's face and could see a smile crack her lips for him. Part of him had expected to see disappointment there. After all he had done something very good, but no she didn't seem upset in the least that he had just gained a new Whitelighter power. She seemed almost proud. "Are you okay?" he asked tentatively.
"I'm fine now," she answered sitting up just as blue and black orbs lit the room and Paige reappeared with a very terrified looking Whitelighter in her clutches. The Whitelighter knew that if a Halliwell caught you, you were as good as dead.
But Paige's eyes widened in shock to see her sister sitting up and looking just fine. This surprise caused her to let go of the Whitelighter's shirt giving him the opportunity to orb away from them. But she didn't even seem to notice. "Okay, what did I miss?"
"Chris healed Piper," Phoebe said smirking. She knew that the thought of her nephew healing anyone should bother her, but considering the fact that she knew he wasn't her nephew really and the fact that Piper was safe… well it just didn't seem to bother her all that much.
"But you said you couldn't heal," Paige questioned in confusion. "Why the hell did I search all of creation for a Whitelighter if you could heal?"
Chris flinched at her angry words; not what he'd expected somehow. "Well I never have before. Paige… well the other Paige from my universe always told me that I'd learn to heal whenever I needed it the most. I guess I really needed it this time."
"Apparently so," Piper said standing with her sister's help. "I'm glad she was right."
Paige glanced around the room for the first time realizing that they had two more family members down. "You think you should heal them too?" she asked glancing at Leo and Wyatt.
Chris looked from Leo to his brother and sighed. He wasn't so concerned about Leo. He was an Elder after all and wouldn't feel the affects as much but he truly wanted to help Wyatt. If he did that though… "I don't think I should. Healing is way too good a power and I shouldn't be using it in this universe if I can help it. Your Chris can't heal, so it might really mess things up. I'm afraid I'll disturb the balance too much or something. I remember what hell life was the last time that balance got messed up."
At that moment a groan came from Leo and they all turned to him as he started to stir. Chris moved back next to Wyatt and sat calmly watching what was to come.
The sisters helped Leo to stand and were assured by him that he would be just fine, then he noticed the other two across the attic from him. For a moment he forgot that those were not his sons and wanted to rush forward to check on Wyatt, but then it struck him that they weren't and he slowed his pace as he strode across the room. "Is he okay?" he asked Chris who nodded and looked up to him.
"Leo can heal him," Piper suggested still fearful for the good version of her oldest son. "That wouldn't hurt the balance. Leo heals all the time."
Leo glanced at her and his eyes squinted in slight confusion. Piper wasn't at all acting herself. It seemed almost as if she cared for the two young men. Sure he knew she loved her own children. Evil was still capable of love. But these two were not her sons. But he wouldn't argue with her as he turned back to Chris and shrugged slightly as he nodded.
Chris contemplated the idea for a moment and came to the conclusion that it in fact would work. He nodded and turned to Wyatt waiting for Leo to heal him.
Good Universe
"Listen, Chris. I know you don't like us or trust us but I won't do anything to hurt your brother. He's still Wyatt and I couldn't ever possibly hurt any version of my son," Leo tried to convince Chris to let him near his older brother.
But at his words Piper made a small sound in the back of her throat, knowing how wrong her husband was about part of that statement. This Chris did love them, well at least one of them.
Leo glanced at her and saw the way she stared at Chris with such sympathy and what he might even consider love. Something had happened and he had missed it. That was obvious. He reached out and grabbed her hand squeezing it and bringing her attention to him as he nodded ever so slightly to Chris. He had a hunch that she out of any of them would be most likely to get through to him.
Piper nodded and kneeled on the floor just about a foot in front of Chris and waited for him to look at her. After several long seconds he finally did and she gave him a small smile to reassure him. "Chris, none of us would ever hurt you or your brother. You've gotta know how I feel about you right now and I know how you feel about me too."
Leo couldn't understand where the deep-seated love he heard in his wife's voice was coming from but part of him envied her for her quick acceptance of the darker versions of her sons. Leo wasn't exactly sure he could be that quick to accept.
Chris glanced to Wyatt and a large sigh left his lips. "He's gonna hate me," he whispered.
They all looked at him in shock at that statement, but Phoebe reacted first. "Why?"
Chris' gaze was yanked back to the people in front of him and his voice continued in an outraged tone. "You saw what I did! That wasn't right. I'm a Darklighter, not a Whitelighter. I traveled back through time to keep Wyatt from turning good and look at me. I'm such a hypocrite."
"Chris, you are not a hypocrite. You saved Piper's life, and no one can blame you for that, not even your brother," Phoebe spoke up hoping to push away her nephew's despair.
Leo's face blanched as he looked from Chris to Piper. He had missed much more than he had ever imagined. "Piper?" he questioned as his mouth went completely dry.
Piper shifted her body slightly towards Leo and reached one hand up for him to take from where he stood beside her, but her eyes never left those of her sons. "Chris healed me," she whispered still feeling an overwhelming love for him that nothing could overshadow at that moment.
Those words caused Chris to look down in almost shame, unable to face any of them. It just wasn't right. They all were looking at him like he was some kind of hero or something and it was too much for him to handle.
Leo's mouth gaped slightly and he was completely speechless. Piper had almost died and Chris had somehow managed to draw on Whitelighter powers to save her, but how could a Darklighter do that? Unless somehow their influence was affecting his morality. Leo knew that even though it sounded wonderful to someone dedicated to the greater good, it must be terrifying the poor boy. He could see the dejected look on his face and nothing could hide the shame he felt.
Then a possibility struck him and it made perfect sense. Leo knew he could helpthe young Darklighterto deal withwhat he had donebut he had to know one thing first. "Chris, do you regret saving Piper?"
Piper gasped and pulled her hand from Leo's as her eyes swiveled up to glare at him but Leo wasn't paying attention to that as he watched Chris' reaction. And it was just as he both suspected and hoped for. The young man's face rose and anger literally seethed though every pore in his body. "Hell no, I don't regret it. No matter what she's like, she's still Mom!"
Leo smiled at that admission and glanced down to Piper, who's gaze had went back to her son. "You have nothing to worry about, Chris. You didn't heal Piper. Well not exactly."
"Whoa, Leo, what?" Paige interjected as they each glared at him in anger, except for Chris who had turned hopeful eyes on the man.
Leo decided that he probably should get to explaining before Piper decided to blow him up. Even if it wouldn't kill him, it did hurt like hell. "You are still a Darklighter. If you don't believe me call for your bow."
Chris raised one hand and tested the statement watching happily as the bow appeared in his hand. Paige shrunk away slightly hating the deadly weapon with a passion. Chris saw her reaction and gave her a quirky smile before he vanished the weapon again. Then he waited patiently for the rest of Leo's explanation.
"You may not be a Whitelighter, but the other Chris from this universe is indeed half Whitelighter. Apparently he needed to heal someone desperately in the other universe and his powers expanded," Leo explained feeling very proud that his son had finally gained the one Whitelighter power that he had been deprived of.
"But how did this Chris heal me?" Piper asked in confusion.
"I'm assuming that after the last time the balance between the universes was disturbed that the Elders from both universes cast some kind of enchantment that would keep the two universes balanced. It makes sense," Leo said giving them the only explanation he could think of that would fit.
But Chris had caught onto something else in Leo's words. "Wait, who did he have to heal?" Worry poured through him like an icy-cold stream as he realized that he already knew the answer to the question, but did not want to face it.
Piper could see the fear run through his eyes and reached out again wanting to comfort him. "Hey, look at me. If I'm fine, so is she. That's the only way the balance could be kept. You're Mom is fine." Piper couldn't believe how much it hurt to call another woman his Mom, but it was the truth. There was another woman in that other universe, who knew this young man a lot better than she did and had loved him just as much as she did for a lot longer.
Chris stared up at her reassuring gaze and nodded knowing that she had to be right. His Mom was okay. Then he glanced back at Wyatt's still form and nodded at him. "All right then. Do what you have to."
Leo moved around Piper and kneeled next to Wyatt extending his hands and letting his healing powers flow. After a few seconds his eyes flew open and he groaned slightly.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," Paige spoke up from just a few feet away.
Wyatt scowled at her and sat up looking distastefully at Leo's hands, which were mere inches from him. "What the hell happened?"
"Demon, energy ball in the back, you know the normal," Phoebe answered smiling at the young man.
Wyatt stared at her like she had grown an extra head. "Maybe normal for you," he answered and then turned to his brother. "They give you any trouble while I was out?"
Chris didn't look straight at his brother as he reluctantly answered the question. "No, not really." His answer was quiet and his eyes still focused on the floor beside him.
Wyatt's eyes squinted in frustration. That was not how he would expect his brother to answer. "What's wrong?"
Chris shook his head trying to break out of the emotional funk he had been sinking into and then took a deep breath and gazed up at his brother. "Nothing. I'm just fine." Then he added just to try to assure his brother. "Don't we have a demon to interrogate?"
Most of the family had forgotten about the demon that Wyatt had brought back from the magic school. He was still lying unconscious next to the far wall. They each glanced in his direction and Piper's eyes raised at the implication in Chris' voice. However they planned on interrogating the demon Piper could almost feel sorry for the creature.
A/N: So who wants to see evil Wyatt and Chris interrogate the demon? My, this might be fun for me. Okay, yeah, I know that chapter had nothing to do with the main storyline and I probably just did it because I wanted to write some more about evil Chris, but you have to admit that it's cool that he feels comfortable with the good versions of his family too, not to mention how well the other Chris is getting along in the evil universe. It seems that the story has two, maybe three more chapters left. large sigh I always hate when I get to the end of a story.