Wyatt entered his ancestral home for his mom-cooked dinner. He promised himself to spend more time with his baby sister. Wyatt loved Melinda dearly and missed living with her but hoped for a bit more privacy from his sister's prying powers.

"Mom, dad, Mel?" Wyatt called out from the foyer as the clock struck.

"Right on time, boys." Piper said as she exited the kitchen, a kettle of gumbo in her oven-mitted hands. "Melinda!" She yelled towards the stairs. "She's still pouting." She explained more quietly to her son, then added, "Wyatt, where's Chris?"

"He had plans for tonight. He said I could have his share of gumbo." He winked at his mother. "How do you ground a 19 year old anyway?" Wyatt quizzed. "We wouldn't have stood for it." He added, meaning himself and Chris.

"Well, she has no job, no car…" Piper let the explanation trail.

"She had a car, before she wrecked it," Leo hmphed, entering the dining room. "Hello Wyatt," he said warmly, hugging his son. Learning from past mistakes, that weren't technically his own, Leo always made sure to let each of his children know how much he loved them.

"Wyatt!" Melinda yelled as she came downstairs, "I didn't know you were coming," she shot a sullen look to her mother.

Piper, unfazed, replied, "You weren't talking to me."

Seeing the look on her brother's face, she immediately felt contrite, "I'm sorry I've been remote viewing on you. But I miss you, and the powers are new," she rushed through her apology barely taking a breath.

"New powers?" Wyatt asked with a grin, "Gee, that sounds familiar. Did you copy my excuse from spying?" He teased.

"No, I must have missed that part. When the cereal ended up in Chris' lap I laughed so hard I broke my concentration." Mel replied pertly. "I am sorry. I'll try to control it better."

"Good. I WAS thinking about taking you to see that new horror movie tomorrow night... So it's a good thing you're repentant." Wyatt hugged his sister.

"Are you spoiling her or bribing her?" Leo asked with a twinkle in his green eyes.

"Both," Wyatt said, then laughed with his parents, to Mel's consternation.

The family moved to the dining room and sat down.

"Any new power developments with the aunts or the cousins?" Wyatt asked in interest, as he ladled gumbo into his bowl.

"Tory and Sam learned that together they can orb." Melinda started, spooning gumbo into her bowl.

Wyatt asked immediately, "How does that work?"

"They hold hands and think of their destination." She answered her brother.

Wyatt gave a thoughtful pause, "No, thanks," he said.

"Now I know why your sisters instituted a no orbing unannounced rule when we were dating." Leo smiled at Piper.

Piper groused, "They live next door, they don't NEED to keep orbing over here. Especially since they haven't gotten the 'destination' part right yet. They scared the daylights out of me, showing up in the bathroom right after I'd showered."

Years ago, in payment for Paige's work for them, the Elders had conveniently arranged for her to win a small lottery. Her winnings were just enough to buy the house next door and put a bit in investments. The elders were wise enough to know that mortals have bills and financial needs. They felt that besides enabling Paige to not fret about feeding her children, that it was in their best interest to keep The Charmed Ones near to each other, preferably shouting distance. Phoebe had bought the house across the street a few years earlier. She had loved her condo but, as the girls got older, she had reluctantly admitted that her condo was too small for her growing family. The family sometimes joked that as large as the group was getting they would soon own the entire block.

"Sam also has pyrokinesis and Tory has cryokinesis." Mel continued, her delight at her own powers obviously being replaced with a slight case of envy. "So far, no one can figure out what Henry Jr's powers are, if any, same for Ladybug…"

"Don't let Phoenix hear you calling her 'Ladybug', she only lets Aunt Phoebe get away with it." Wyatt warned.

"Peyton's mood projection and empath powers are just getting stronger," Piper concluded.

Melinda tried to stifle a snicker. At her mother's questioning look, she said, "What? I just think it's funny that an empath also has 'me'pathy."

Piper gave her daughter a stern look, "Her powers are as hard for her to control as yours are for you. I know you are less than thrilled to have inactive powers unlike your brothers and the twins." She shook her head, a smile softening her face. "I wonder how we would have been if we hadn't had our powers bound. I'm sure we would have had some sibling rivalry over them."

After dinner, Wyatt cleared the table. Piper kept trying to get him let her do it but he teased that he was raised better than that. Once the table was cleared, and the family headed to the family room, Mel brought out desert, a decadent double layer chocolate cake.

"Now I remember why I moved away. To stay trim," Wyatt winked at his mother. He did continue to eat his cake, however.

"Oh, pooh, you know that when children leave home they gain weight. Ever hear of the 'freshman fifteen'? It's from NOT eating home cooked meals." Piper sniffed. "Wyatt, your friend starts tomorrow."

"You hired Palmer?"

"You asked me to. Besides, bussing isn't that hard," Piper replied with a grin.