23:55 31/12/07 Chapter ten...woo double figures! Just in time to still be 2007, happy new year folks! As always sorry for the delay, and thanks for reviewing.
Piper was aware that the situation was flowing around her ears and she was about as far from in control of it as it was possible to be. The older version of her older son shepherded his baby self, her, Leo, and a de-aged version of the maverick white-lighter her second, and as yet non-existent, son was going to grow into (another boy, wouldn't Grams just love that?) back towards the manor.
Paige and Phoebe had gone back to the club to get the car and Victor had left for work, Piper perceived that this might be her family's "discreet" attempt to get her and Leo to talk to their future sons. Piper put little Wyatt on the floor, the toddler sat playing happily with a stuffed toy dragon. Chris sat on the sofa, unbuckled his roller-skates, and brought his knees up to his chin, he glared at the floor. Older Wyatt sat beside him, and reached for the plate of cookies Piper barely remembered baking only half an hour or so ago, he picked one up and set it on his little brother's knee, the teen moved his glare from the carpet to the biscuit.
"Chris, it's done nothing to you, just eat it okay?" directed Wyatt gently. Chris looked at his older brother deadpan, Piper and Leo sat watching the exchange silently.
"We can get this over with when I'm satisfied you've eaten in the last day." Chris scowled at the blond, and started eating, whilst glaring out of the corner of his eyes at his brother.
"So you're..." Leo started, stopping almost immediately when Wyatt glared at him sharply. Chris quickly finished the biscuit. This time it was Piper who spoke.
"Chris?" the boy looked up at her, he looked rather like he might start crying. Piper realised suddenly that however bad this day seemed to her the young man in front of her had it several times worse, at least she was still in her own body. The teen bit his lip and looked towards Wyatt, who chuckled.
"Oh so now you want my help?"
Chris' eyes widened, he looked so hopelessly lost that Wyatt gave up, he sighed, and turned his face towards Piper and Leo.
"Fine. I'll try.." Wyatt winced "and sort out your mess little brother, but you owe me." Chris nodded solemnly.
"He really is ours?" Leo finally got to finish his question, Chris rolled his eyes, then studied the ceiling as Wyatt answered. Exasperated.
"This again? Yes. He is. What in seven hells happened to make you this distrusting of him?"at the harshness in his brother's voice Chris had tensed and edged slightly further away. Wyatt realised this and looked imploringly at the teen. dropping his voice to a softer tone he inched back towards his brother. Whenever Wyatt talked to Chris, piper noted, she felt like she was missing half the conversation.
"I didn't do anything...he's not being nice... People should be nicer to you...They should.." a begging smile crossed the face of the twice blessed "I thought you were going to trust me?" Leo thought about his explanation, but Wyatt interrupted again.
"Actually, I'm fairly sure I don't want to know. Chris is an idiot, we all get that but can we please not dwell on past ...or future idiocies and just get him to a point where his mental and physical ages match?"
"Why won't Chris speak? Sorry, I know it isn't directly relevant to your "problem-solution" approach, but it might be nice to know. Normally he won't shut up if there's a demon he wants us to go after."
"Well..." Chris gestured wildly and pulled an annoyed face that Piper clearly recognised from his older self.
"Why exactly can't I tell them Chris?" Piper was fairly sure that Chris' answer would involve the words 'future' and 'consequences'. The teen motioned something with his hands, glaring at Wyatt. At his actions half the furniture in the room, including the chair Leo was sat in slammed violently into the wall. The elder was left sprawled in an undignified lump on the floor. Chris bit his lip, looking anxiously towards his father. Wyatt rolled his eyes and restored the room with a wave of his hand, then turned to reassure his brother.
"No harm, no foul. Right guys?" he looked to Piper who nodded, smiling gently
"We all loose control of powers sometimes, and you don't really fit the powers you're wearing at the moment" Wyatt looked back at Chris
"So quit worrying okay? It's giving me a serious headache, I'm unpractised at having you in my brain."
"Telepathy?" asked Leo, picking himself off the floor, his curiosity winning out against his irritation. Wyatt looked to Chris, who, after several moments solemnly nodded his consent
"Chris was spelled out of talking when he turned fourteen, what with that and ...he didn't talk again till he hit sixteen" Wyatt grinned awkwardly "We put in the link back when I was starting school and he didn't want to be left without me... You nearly skinned me for that."