Chris sat in the office at P3, his head, blissfully pain free. He focused on the problem at hand; having two of himself was a drag. But, how to get rid of the other Chris? And, would getting rid of him cause his headache to come back? He didn't mind not sharing memories, although, he admitted to himself, the other's memories came in handy in a fight. The other Chris was much more prepared than he was.
His musings were interrupted by a knock on the door.
Pace poked his head in, "Chris, there's a young lady here to see you. She says she's your cousin…"
"I am his cousin," said the exasperated voice behind the door, a voice Chris recognized immediately as belonging to his cousin Phoenix. Before he could tell Pace to let her in, he saw her push past the bartender, narrowing her eyes in ire.
"Thanks, Pace, I've got it from here." Chris said tiredly. Usually, he'd be happy with a visit from his favorite cousin, but, today, he had too much on his mind. Giving Chris a look of sympathy, Pace closed the door behind him.
"Goddess, Chris, that guy acts like he's guarding Fort Knox!" Phoenix started peevishly.
"Well, it is a nightclub…Nix," Chris rolled his eyes, smiled and pulled his cousin into a hug.
"Chris?" muffled against his chest. He stepped back and watched the transformation on his cousin's face. It was subtle and only if you knew her well enough would you notice the change. Chris knew her well enough.
Steeling himself for the favor she was about to ask, he beat her to it, "No, Vic and Sam can not come to your party."
"But Chris," she wheedled, "They're almost 21."
"Right, 'almost 21'. Not old enough to get into P3. You know that your mom has a big party planned for your birthday, with the whole family. You want to come here after you turn 21, great, I'll buy you a drink. But, under no terms will you bring anyone under age here."
"They don't have to use the front door…they can orb into the office…" seeing that she wouldn't change his mind, she changed topics. "Mom said some freaky stuff has been happening with you. Are you okay?"
Suddenly feeling guilty because for the past week he'd been so concerned with himself that he hadn't thought of how difficult the return of magic was for the rest of his family, Chris waved her question away. "I'm fine. I will be fine." He amended. "What about you? Any new powers? Wait, did you say Vic and Sam would orb?"
"Yeah, weird huh? I guess if they hold hands they can orb together."
Chris thought of Wyatt, he wondered if they'd be able to orb the same way. "No thanks." He shook his head.
Correctly guessing his thoughts, Phoenix shot him an amused grin, "You are such a baby!"
"Can you 'beat' like your dad?" Chris asked archly. Cupid's had the power to move from place to place in the beat of a heart.
"Nope," she shrugged negligently, "Dad's got a ring. Same way you aren't allowed to be a Whitelighter, I'm not technically a Cupid." She grinned again, "But the powers I got from dad were always mis-wired anyway. Remember Christy Casey?"
Chris groaned, he'd had a big crush on Christy in high school. Christy with the long blonde hair and cheerleader smile. He'd asked Phoenix for help. Her help resulted in Christy asking Wyatt to their Senior Prom.
Noting with embarrassment that Chris did remember, Phoenix continued, "Well, the powers I got from mom don't seem to be any better. I always hated the super-attraction thing…"
From puberty on, Phoenix had been overwhelmed with suitors. The family had always written it off as normal because Phoenix was incredibly lovely. "Not normal?" Chris asked.
"So not normal," Phoenix snorted, "Guess it's more like hyper-amped witchy pheremones. Oh well, on the plus side, I'm stronger, faster and more agile with my fighting and I barely bruise. I thought the eldest witch got the coolest powers." She continued, "Psyche can walk through walls and Peyton has mood projection and empathy."
"Mood projection?" Chris raised a brow.
"Yep, if she's calm, everyone around her is too, but if she's wired…" Phoenix let her words trail. "How can I protect them? The way Aunt Prue and then your mom did? I don't have enough power." She sighed, "But I'm not the only one. So far, Henry Jr. doesn't seem to have any powers. The twins can orb together, I already told you that. Sam is pyrokenetic, and Vic does this icy thing. They can also talk to each other telepathically. As if them being twins wasn't irritating enough." She shook her head, "Mom's been pretty mum on you and Wyatt. The way I figure it is either you two got the lion's share or you got as shafted as Henry Jr."
Chris smiled at his cousin, "We didn't get shafted." He assured her.
"Great, the first men born in a family of witches since the beginning of time and you get all the good powers! That is so sexist." Phoenix walked towards Chris, "I gotta go. I have to plan the party that doesn't include cake and ice cream," she kissed his cheek, "Sure you won't change your mind about Sam and Vic?"
"I'm sure," Chris smiled, "In six months, I will throw them a party here at P3, until then," he shrugged, "I don't make the rules, I just have to enforce them if I want to stay in business." As his cousin left the office, Chris called out, "Oh and Nix be nice to Pace, he's just doing his job."
Phoenix peered back into the office with a look of bewilderment, "I swear, outside of family, that is the only male above the age of thirteen that I've ever had to argue with. Too bizarre." She shook her head in disgust and headed out.
"Pace, I don't know whether to congratulate you or warn you, if she's anything like Aunt Phoebe…better warn you." Chris decided aloud. Nix was just contrary enough that the one man that didn't fall all over himself to make her happy would be the one she'd choose to pursue. Chris chuckled, talking to himself was becoming a habit!