A/N: I didn't plan on updating this until I was done 'rewriting' the Witchstock episode - but then I realized that the episode Criss-Crossed was set in November and then Witchstock in Jan; meaning there was indeed that month long gap where essentially Christmas would be. And we never really got to see Charmed have a Christmas episode, except for that of a very small flashback in season 1 where they watched a video of a Christmas when Patty was alive still.

So the gremlins basically got in my head, and were insisting that I write a Christmas chapter - and honestly I am glad I did it because it just shows how hard it would be for the two from the future to be in the past at that time of year, and knowing what they know of the future too; and all the emotions that for them that would go along with it, and to give them just a nice memory in that of the past with the other unknowingly attributing to that.

As always, I don't own any of the characters in use here; I am merely just playing with them for that of my; and also your enjoyment!

So you know what to do at the end, give a follow or fave; or even a review!

Love,

KJ xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Chapter 5 –

With a month having passed since Wyatt had, had Bianca take him to the future; where he saw his fiancée killed by the hands of his older brother, and then a week after that his little sister arriving through a portal into the past.

Chris sighed, as he woke up in the office of P3 where he'd been saying since he'd been in the past, and looked over to the calendar that was on the wall.

It was Christmas Day 2003; technically in his mind; his first Christmas would be that of the year after, when he was born the following November 2004. But yet here he was in the past, a year before his birth, trying to save his brother from becoming the evil tyrant that he would be in the future.

Standing up from his makeshift bed, which was really that of the sofa in the office; he quickly changed clothes and then orbed into the Halliwell manor, which was not yet that of his home. Heading for the bedroom, that up until recently had been Phoebe's and where his mom was letting Melinda sleep, since she wasn't keen on the young girl, and unbeknownst to her also that of her daughter; had been staying under that of the insistence of their mother. Chris smiled when he saw his still sleeping younger sister in the double bed, in the room that in the future would become hers; once both his aunts found their spouses he knew them to have in the future and also then move out of the ancestral manor and into places of their own.

"Hey Minnie Melly" he said, as he sat on the edge of the bed, and tapping his young sister to her shoulder. "Time to wake up"

"Hmmmph, go way" replied Melinda, rolling to the opposite direction and pulling the pillow she had over that of her head.

"Hmm, can't do that sorry" he replied, with a small laugh, and seeing his sister so peaceful wished that he'd not have to wake her; because like himself knew that even a little bit of sleep was that of something for them was a luxury, considering in the future it was something that they couldn't afford to have, in the fear of attacks happening when they did. "I was thinking we'd go and maybe do something" he continued, as Melinda moved that of slightly, under the pillow seemingly knowing that her older brother wasn't going to be leaving her alone. "It's Christmas Day after all, and we might as well do something"

"How about" said Melinda, pulling the pillow from over her head and looking to him. "You let me sleep" she continued as Chris looked to her. "Since technically it won't be a Christmas for me for another three years"

"And mine won't be for another year" replied Chris, with a laugh. "Come on Minnie" he continued, with a small sigh. "Just let's go and do something, anything"

"Fine I guess" said Melinda, with a small nod. "Better than doing nothing, I guess" she continued, as Chris gave a nod. "And it might be interesting to see what Christmas was like before we were born"

"That and kind of weird too" said Chris, with a laugh as Melinda gave a nod and smile also with a laugh as well.

"Let me just go and change and then we can go do something" she said, as she got out of the bed and move over to the wardrobe to get a change of clothes before heading into the bathroom down the hall to change and quickly freshen up.

Giving a sigh, as his young sister walked out of what was now that of his aunt's bedroom; he looked around the room, smiling ever slightly as he pictured in his mind how it would look in the future when Melinda was a young girl, before all that happened was to happen.
The pictures of horses, which was a huge love for her; as well as also that of her favorite Disney princess, Mulan; who was a fierce warrior; and he lay back on the bed, just as he heard the surprised voice of his mother.

"Chris" she said, and he sat up and looking to the younger version of his soon to be mom. "What are you doing here?" she asked, as she too looked to him. "Where's your sister? Is she okay?"

"Umm, yeah she's fine" he replied, with a nod and small smile to her; seeing that even though she really wasn't aware of it, that maternal instinct coming into that of his mother, when it came to Melinda; and something he also wished that she would just show a little more with him. "Just in the bathroom, getting dressed"

"Oh, well okay" said Piper, with a nod, and Chris looked to her. "I was actually coming up here to see her and ask her to go and get you" she continued, with a nod. "It's Christmas Day, and I thought that you both might like to spend it with us"

"Umm, I….." started Chris, before taking a deep breath and trying to not let the emotion of having another Christmas with his family; something which none of them had had in the last few years, with Wyatt being evil, his mom and so many others being deceased, show on his face. "Me…Minnie and I" he stumbled, almost calling that of his little sister her real name. "We were just going to maybe go and have a look around, and do something"

"Well it's just that I have heaps of food" replied Piper, with a smile to him. "Can't help myself" she continued, with a laugh. "And going out, when there is more than enough to go around here. You and your sister should join us"

"Join, what?" asked Melinda, as she came up behind that of their mom, and Piper turned to look at her.

"Oh, I was coming up here to see if you would go and get your brother" replied Piper, with a smile to her. "And see if you'd both like to them join us for Christmas lunch"

"I was just telling Piper though" injected Chris, seeing that his younger sister was going to say that they would love to; still being able to read that of her mind, thanks to the whitelighter side of their magical abilities. "We were going to go out and do something"

"But you don't have that much money on you" said Melinda, looking to her older brother and shaking her head. "And it would be rude of us not to accept Piper's offer on this day"

"I guess, it would be" replied Chris, with a sigh; and not wanting to get into an argument with that of his sister in front of their mother, and especially not on that of Christmas Day, and ruin what could be a nice memory for all of them. "Thank you Piper" he said, looking to her. "It's kind of you to offer"

"Oh, it's fine" said Piper with a smile. "Come down whenever" she continued, going to walk away. "Lunch won't be for a few more hours yet, but Paige and Phoebe are downstairs, as is Wyatt"

"Sure, yeah we will" said Chris, with a nod as Piper walked away from the bedroom and Melinda walked back into what would be her future bedroom. "Thanks for the backup there Minnie" he said, looking to her, and Melinda placed the clothes she would sleep in under that of one of the pillows on the bed.

"Chris, come on" said Melinda as she sat next to him on the bed that she'd been sleeping in. "Can't we just take a little time for normalcy whilst we're here"

"We don't have the luxury of that though Minnie" said Chris, and she looked to her older brother with a half frown and pout. "And do not try that look on me, because it's not going to work now"

"Can you for once just stop being so neurotic about everything" replied Melinda, as Chris looked to her with a sigh and small frown. "And just relish in this opportunity that we've been given" she continued, as she felt that of her brother's defenses breaking down and what was ideally her will. "To spend a Christmas with them, have it maybe be like we remember" she said, giving him a small smile as Chris gave a nod. "Don't you want to have that memory, in case we go back to a future that we don't manage to change and one where will never ever have that again"

"Wow" said Chris, giving a laugh. "On what is to be such a happy and cheerful day" he continued, shaking his head and looking to his younger sister. "You sure know how to make it just that little bit morbid now"

"Well it's worked, huh" replied Melinda, with a laugh and Chris looked her and went to say something; but she cut in before he could reply. "And don't tell me it hasn't" she continued, shaking her head. "Empath, remember"

"Yeah" said Chris, with a smile. "Merry Christmas, Minnie Melly" he continued, hugging her. "I'm glad you're here"

"Merry Christmas, Chris" she replied, returning the hug from her brother. "And I'm glad I'm here too" she continued, with a nod; before the two of them headed downstairs to where the others of what was to be their future family, were celebrating Christmas.

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Walking into the living room of the manor, the two unknown to be Halliwell's saw their two soon to be aunts; sitting talking, with Phoebe seated with Wyatt, playing with one of the many toys, the at the moment younger version of their older brother had gotten as a gift.

"Hi" said Paige, when she saw the two of them, and giving them both a smile. "Piper said that you were going to be joining us for Christmas lunch"

"That's okay, isn't it" said Melinda, as she sat on the sofa next to that of her aunt and Chris went and sat in the vacant arm chair.

"Oh, definitely" said Paige, with a laugh. "Piper always makes way too much food" she continued, with a nod, and Melinda looked over to her Chris, with that of a small smile; both of them taking a moment to know that not much would change in the Christmases that they remember having as a family. "So the more, to eat it all; the less we are to be having left over for the next two weeks"

"So what was Christmas like for the two of you in the future?" asked Phoebe, as she sat with her young nephew. "Did you spend it with your families?"

"Yes" replied Chris, as Melinda looked over to her brother and letting him take point.

"Mother, father, grandparents?" inquired Phoebe, as Chris looked over to Melinda, and then back to their aunt and letting out a small sigh.

"Our dad, he wasn't around much" he replied, as Phoebe and Paige looked to him. "So a lot of the time it was just our Mom, grandfather and Mel and I"

"Well I'm sure it was filled with a lot of love, regardless of who was there" said Paige, and Chris looked to her with a nod; hating that he was lying to her. "I know growing up, the best things I remember about my adoptive parents is just the times when were together" she continued, as the three adults in the room looked to her. "Even if at the time I was not so willing to let them know that"

"I know what you mean there" said Phoebe, with a small nod. "After Mom died, Grams always made sure that Christmas was really special for us" she continued, before looking to Melinda and Chris. "So your Dad, he worked a lot?"

"He did" replied Melinda, with a small nod. "It meant he spent a lot of time away from home" she continued, and quickly looking to Chris. "But we knew that he cared for us, it was just his work was also that of importance as well"

"What does your father do?" asked Paige, looking to them both with a smile; and they both knew that unlike that of what Phoebe was doing and forever trying to get information from the both of them, since she was unable to read them; that Paige's inquiring was more out of a love and concern for the two of them.

"He's a doctor" said Chris, and Melinda looked to her brother; knowing that he was going with the occupation that their father had before he became a whitelighter.

"I guess that would keep him very busy then" said Paige, with a small nod and smile; as Melinda looked towards the kitchen, feeling that of her Piper's frantic mind as she did things in the kitchen in preparation for the meal to be had later that day.

"I think, I might go and see if Piper needs a hand" said Melinda, as she stood from the sofa and looked over to Chris. "Mom's in a panic in there"

"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you" said Phoebe, with a laugh and Melinda looked over to her. "We all stay well clear of the kitchen on days like today" she continued as Paige nodded her head in agreement. "Piper gets very panicked and we know it's best to just stay well clear of our big sister when she is in her chef mode"

"I still might go and see if there is anything I can do to help" replied Melinda, knowing in the future that even though Piper was still very much like that on not on that of Christmas, but birthdays and Thanksgiving as well; she always did like the help, even if she'd be not admitting it.

"Yeah, same" said Chris, with a nod also as Paige and Phoebe looked to him; not knowing that he was picking up on the vibes from his younger sister that was telling him that their mom was in a panic. "It's the least we can do since Piper is letting us have Christmas with the two of you"

"Okay, but don't say we didn't warn you" replied Paige, with a laugh; as Chris and Melinda gave a small laugh also before heading into the kitchen.

"They have a lot of pain" said Phoebe, looking to her younger sister as the two future Halliwell's walked away to the kitchen.

"Wait, you're able to read them?" asked Paige, looking to her sister as well; as Phoebe shook her head.

"No, I haven't been able to get anything off Chris since he came back from the future" she replied, as Paige gave a small nod; remembering how in the short little period of time where Bianca had began to strip Chris of his powers, that his empathy block had been down. "And never gotten anything from Minnie"

"Well then how do you know that they are in pain?" asked Paige, as Phoebe gave a sigh.

"It doesn't take an empath to know that they have had loss in their life" replied Phoebe, and Paige looked to her sister. "The way they spoke of their family, a dad not being around" she continued, as Paige gave a nod. "It's something I know a little too well, unfortunately"

"Yeah, I know what you mean" said Paige, with a small smile to her. "So today will be nice for the two of them" she continued, as Phoebe gave a nod. "We might not be their family, but we can at least be there for them today and make it special for the two of them"

"We can, yeah" said Phoebe, with a smile to her younger sister; neither of them realizing just how close they were to the two future Halliwell's, and really actually that of their family.

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Entering the kitchen, and seeing that of a frantic Piper rushing about; was for them definitely a thing that they both remembered from the Christmases that they would come to have in the future, not only with her, but also with that of Wyatt, their grandfather Victor, and also too both their aunts, uncles and cousins that in the next few years come to be in terms of relationships and also births.

"Do you need any help?" asked Melinda, looking to where their mom was busy at the kitchen bench, stirring a pot on the stove and also at the same time, looking what appeared to be the stuffing that she would bake in a dish in the oven.

"Huh, what?" asked Piper, as she looked up her two future children. "Help" she said, shaking her head. "I'm okay, no help needed"

"Are you sure?" asked Chris, as Piper nodded; and Melinda having looked around the kitchen saw the yet to be decorated gingerbread house on the table, poked her older brother in the side, mentally saying to him. "House" and he looked over to the table also, before looking back to Piper who seemed to be once more in her cooking zone. "Minnie and I, we could possibly maybe decorate the gingerbread house for you?"

"Oh, no it's fine" replied Piper, looking up to him quickly. "I have it all under control"

"The only way you would have this all under control" said Melinda, giving a small laugh. "Would be if you were to cast a spell" she continued, as Piper looked to her. "But see that would be a personal gain spell, and something that you don't really like"

"How do you know I don't like casting spells for personal gain?" asked Piper, looking to her with somewhat interest.

"Umm, Chris told me" said Melinda, as she quickly looked to her older brother who in turn nodded. "You know when he was telling me stuff about all of you. Stuff that I'd be best knowing"

"Okay" said Piper, with a nod also. "But really I'm fine" she continued, with a smile to them, as she turned the pot she had on the stove down to a shimmer, before moving over to the stuffing mixture. "I have everything under control"

"Sure Piper" said Chris, with a small nod and looked to Melinda shrugging his shoulders; both of them seeing that this version of Piper, clearly wasn't going to let up on being the only one in the kitchen and let them help her. "Just that Minnie and I, we use to decorate the gingerbread house for our mom; and thought it might be nice to do again"

"You had a gingerbread house growing up in your family?" asked Piper, as she placed the stuffing tray into the oven. "We've always had one in my family too, and I thought it be something nice they Wyatt would like to see this year"

"We did, yeah" replied Melinda, with a small sigh and smile to her; hating hearing and she also knew Chris hated hearing as well, how everything that Piper was doing in this present time that they were in, was for Wyatt. "Although Chris would eat more lollies, than he'd ever put on the house"

"Umm, excuse me?" asked Chris, giving a laugh and poking his younger sister in the side. "That was you, I believe" he continued, with a smile to her. "Along with eating as well the icing mixture too, and then wondering why you later had a stomach ache"

"I love eating the icing too" said Piper, with a laugh; and the two future Halliwell's looked to their mom, both knowing just how close they were to giving away a little too much about who they were really were. "And I guess, I could use some help with stuff in here" she continued, with a small smile to them both. "Otherwise it's not going to be ready?"

"Really?" asked Melinda, with a smile forming over her face. "You're going to let us decorate the gingerbread house?"

"Yes" said Piper, with a nod and smile. "Just as long as you promise not to eat the icing and the lollies"

"Can't hold any promises" said Chris, with a laugh, and Piper gave a small laugh also.

"Okay, just know I'll be here and watching to make sure" she replied, with a smile as she walked over to the fridge and got out a bowl from it; one that Chris and Melinda knew instantly that was containing that of the icing for the house, that their mom would make from scratch.; and Chris taking the bowl from her. "Piping bags and the nozzle attachments for them are there next to the house" she said, pointing to the table where the house was sitting. "And lollies too"

"Sure thank you Piper" said Melinda, with a smile to her future mother as she took a seat at the table and grabbed the piping bag that was on it, as Chris put the bowl of icing mixture down for her to grab the spoon that was in the bowl to place the mixture into the bag. "This means a lot to me and Chris" she continued, as Piper gave a nod and smile to her also; whilst Chris grabbed a handful of Smarties from the bowl, quickly shoveling them into his mouth. "And he's stealing Smarties too"

"Tattle tale" said Chris, his mouthful of the candy; and Melinda looked to her brother with a laugh; and Piper too looking to him with a laugh and smile also; not realizing just how much what she was allowing the two future time travelers do, was really also that of a bittersweet memory for the both of them, whilst also being too that of an amazing one as well, as they got to spend a Christmas once more with that of their family.

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With Christmas lunch being a few hours later, and the two of them having decorated the gingerbread house, and trying to make it not look as if they'd been taught by that of their mom in the soon to be future. The two of them were now in the dining room of the manor along with Paige and Phoebe; as Piper came walking in with the turkey, ready for that of carving.

"Leo" said Piper, as she placed it down, and took young Wyatt from Phoebe who had a hold of him. "Come on, you promised you'd be here" she continued, not seeing the look that Chris and Melinda quickly shared, knowing what it was like to have many Christmases without that of their father present for them. "Leo"

"I'm sure he'll here" said Paige, with a smile to her older sister. "He won't want to miss this"

"Leo" said Piper, with a frustrated sigh as she looked to her sister and then to Wyatt; as orbs then appeared in the manor.

"Hi, sorry" said Leo, wearing that of normal clothes instead of the elder robes he would wear up in the heavens. "Trying to get away from the other elders, it's difficult" he continued, with a small smile to Piper as she handed Wyatt over to him. "They don't understand what it's like to have a family" he sighed, as Piper gave a small nod. "Hey buddy, Merry Christmas huh"

"Well you're here now, and Piper has been busy in the kitchen all morning" said Phoebe with a smile to her brother in law. "So let's eat"

"Yeah, it looks amazing Piper" said Leo as he placed Wyatt into the high chair which was next to him. "Really, amazing"

"Thank you" said Piper, with a smile to him as she took a seat next to that of Wyatt; and Leo looked to his two sister in laws with a smile, before looking to Chris and Melinda.

"Umm, Piper?" he asked, turning to her. "What are Chris and Minnie doing here?" he asked. "I thought this was family only?"

"Well they don't really have anywhere else to go now" said Piper, looking to him. "And I thought it was a nice offer letting them join us"

"If we're not wanted" said Chris, placing a hand to Melinda's arm. "Then we can just leave" he continued with a nod, seeing just a fraction of hurt come over his sister's face at what Leo had said. "It should be family", and then looking to his sister mentally added to her "You get use to Dad, saying that believe me"

"Nonsense" said Piper, looking to the two of them. "You're both staying, and that's final" she continued, with a nod; both of them looking to her. "Now sit, all of you"

"Okay, we're not going to argue with you" said Phoebe, with a small sigh as she, Paige, Chris and Melinda all took seats at the table.

"Okay good" said Piper, with a nod; the seven of them eating an almost family like Christmas lunch together, with four of the adults not knowing at all what it really did mean to that of the half witch half whitelighters from the future, to be having what was an unexpected moment of family time with them.

End Note : A pretty sappy chapter I will admit; however I also think it's a nice one too, and just goes to delve a little more into that of what Chris and Melinda would be feeling in the past.

This will be my last update for the year, of any of my stories - so thank you so much for all the love and support over this past year. It really means the world to me. I might be absent for the next month, as I embark on writing a completely original novel, in the hopes of getting it published. So whilst I may not be around, rest assure, my mind if still crazy mad working away at something!

Merry Christmas to you all, and I will see you soon in 2019!

Love always,
KJ xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo