Memory Lane
Chapter 3:
Mel knocked on her mother's bedroom door. "Mom can I talk to you?"
"Of course. Come in."
"I realized that I haven't apologized for everything I said to you the first day I got here about using the spell on Chris. I'm sorry. I know you were just trying to protect your family from a perceived threat. You only did what any Halliwell would have done in your place. Chris had to remind me of that. I'm just not used to having any other Halliwells around. You know?"
"Family is very important to you isn't it?"
"Of course. Family is everything. We are the guardians of the Halliwell line" She said as she puffed out her chest with pride. "Chris taught us that. He reminded us every day."
"What does that mean to be a guardian of the Halliwell line?"
"We uphold the moral code passed down by our ancestors. Protect the innocents. Protect your family. Do magic for good; never for evil. Don't use magic for personal gain. Fight the good fight to the bitter end. Even though most of us are dead now, they haven't died in vain because they died upholding that code."
"Tell me about your Chris. The Chris I saw in his memories and since you got here is so much different than the one I've seen so far. I want to know my children better, but he is just so closed off. Even now."
"That's not surprising. Here he isn't the leader of the resistance. The last hope for good magic everywhere. The standard that every good being on earth holds themselves to. The one who has to make all the hard choices. Here he is just a normal young man on a desperate mission. He can relax so much more than he ever could at home. Even now with us here he is so much more relaxed and carefree than I've seen him since the event."
"You really admire him don't you?" Her mother asked in awe of just how inspiring her son is.
"You can't help but admire him. Before the event he was a completely different person. He had his insecurities, mostly because of Leo, but he was happy. He and Wyatt were so close they were practically attached at the hip. Chris was always so smart. He was in all of the advanced classes at magic school so he was in the same classes as Wyatt and they did everything together. As far as Chris was concerned the sun rose and set on his big brother. Then Wyatt started disappearing and at first Chris just chalked it up to growing up, getting interested in girls, etc, but one day he followed him and found out he was working in the underworld organizing the demons and setting himself up as ruler. He went to you thinking he was under some kind of spell like Aunt Phoebe and Aunt Paige were before, but when he killed you Chris realized that it was no spell. Combined with the fact that Leo never came when Chris called. When he could have healed you and saved you. Chris changed. Then when Aunt Phoebe and Aunt Paige's bodies were sent back to the manor that was the end of the old Chris."
"I wish he could have been a child for a little longer. That all of you could have stayed children for longer."
"So do we, Mom. So do we. Chris took charge. He moved us all to a safe place, but Wyatt still got in. We lost Patricia, but the rest of us were safe. He almost never slept. He spent the first few nights orbing in and out from magic school retrieving the library before Wyatt got it, then he spent his nights creating the Book of Shadows. During the day he taught us how to defend ourselves. He taught us our history, magical theory, martial arts, how to use our gifts, everything you could think of. We were lucky he was such a genius. He absorbed every book he read then passed his knowledge on to us. By the time the Elders fell we were such a cohesive unit we could almost read each others minds. When the resistance was formed he was obviously the leader and he was such a good strong leader. He never showed emotion. He did what needed to be done. He worked tirelessly for the cause. I don't think he's gotten more than three hours of sleep a night since the event."
"My baby has barely slept in over eight years!? That's horrible!"
"Well he was always too busy and combined with the nightmares it wasn't easy for him to sleep at all. The torture you saw when Wyatt captured him, that was only the first time. There were many others. It took us a week to get him out that time before I finally took matters into my own hands. Henry was already inserted as a spy and he was there for the torture. When word got out among the troops how bad it was and still Chris wouldn't give Wyatt the satisfaction of hearing him scream Chris became like a god to them. It was hard for him though. He couldn't afford to second guess his decisions and so many of his decisions had to be made in the heat of the moment on the battlefield. He had to make the hard choices. Had to choose who lived and who died."
"What do you mean who lived and who died?" Piper asked aghast.
Every battle he had to organize. He decided who was on the front lines with the least chance of survival and who was more protected in back. He hated it, but he knew that there would be casualties even though he tried to limit them as much as possible. Above all the guardians were the most important. We needed all the power we could get to fight Wyatt and the Halliwell line has the most power and the more of us that are working together the stronger the power. No one questioned the need to keep the guardians alive at all costs. No one except him. He worried that he was placing the needs of his family over the needs of his troops. Only the guardians ever saw his doubts. His fears. To everyone else he was their hero. The one they aspired to be. He could never let his mask down. He is a hero. The closest thing to a real hero this world has ever seen and we would all do anything in this world for him."
"He kept his mask up even here." Piper told her daughter.
"I'm sure he did. I can't imagine how hard it was to come here and see all of you again and have you not know who he was. He knew you wouldn't trust him, wouldn't like him, wouldn't want him in your lives. He knew that before he left, but he also knew it had to be done. It was probably harder than anything he has ever been through, but he persevered just like he always does. I wouldn't have had the strength. I would have fallen apart a long time ago in his position." Mel said near tears.
"I feel so horrible for how we all treated him before. I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive myself. I don't know how Chris did so easily."
"You did what you thought you had to do to protect your family. Family above all else remember. That was the first thing we ever learned. The code Chris lived by and instilled in all of us. He would never blame you for that, no matter what. Trust me Mom. And forgive yourself."
Piper patted Mel's knee. "It's not that easy sweetie, but I promise I'll try."
"How is it that he seems so emotionless when he feels so much?"
"Chris has always felt emotions strongly, but Wyatt would always use our emotions against us so he learned along with the rest of us how to put on that emotionless mask. He's the best at it, but it's become so ingrained into him that he does it without even realizing most of the time."
"He said he could kill Phoebe with the strength of his emotions."
"That's true. He always had to take blocking potions on a regular basis when he was younger before he learned how to control his mental shield. He actually knocked her out a few times when he was little. After the event it got worse. He almost killed an empath when he accidentally let his shield drop. He felt so guilty, but he couldn't help it."
"Why are his emotions so strong?"
"I have a theory on that actually. Wyatt is extremely powerful, but other than that he isn't so remarkable. I think the fates realized that was a mistake and that Wyatt could go either way, good or evil, so they created Chris. In addition to his exceptional power, Chris also has exceptional brains, courage, and heart. He has the strength to persevere no matter the situation and feels things so deeply that he could never be evil even if he wanted to. He is the most selfless person I've ever known. I think Chris was created to either create a good world alongside Wyatt or battle Wyatt whichever may be needed."
"He sounds so remarkable. But don't you feel left out? I mean both of your brothers are like ultimate powers in the universe."
"I'm pretty powerful myself. I mean sure I'm not anywhere near their level, but I'm about as powerful as the power of three. I don't envy either of them. It's like the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. I don't want that responsibility. I'm much happier having a loving family and two all powerful brothers to bail me out if I get in over my head." She laughed. Her face turned somber. "At least I used to have two. Now I have one trying to save me and one trying to kill me. I just hope I have them both again when we succeed here."
"You will sweetie. Don't worry."
The next morning Leo orbed in with an idea. "Get everyone together we need to talk."
Once everyone was gathered together Leo began to speak. "I know that we are doing well here and all, but I have talked to the elders. I think we should move into magic school for the time being. We can still leave for research and vanquishes, but magic school is completely protected. If nothing else it will keep Wyatt safe in the meantime."
"I think that's a good idea, but we will still keep up our watches just in case. There is a possibility that it wasn't a demon that turned him. That is the most likely so that's the one that we have been working off of, but there is still a chance that it was something else, and until we know we don't let our guard down." Chris said daring anyone to disagree with him.
"I don't think that's necessary, but if you think so then we will do it." Leo told his son.
Chris was thrown. He wasn't used to his father showing any interest in what he had to say. He had never trusted Chris' judgment before. He quickly threw his mask back up before anyone saw his shock. "We'll leave tonight." Piper said. Nothing was more important to her than protecting her children and this way they would all be safe. At least while in magic school.
To begin with only Piper, Leo, and Wyatt went along with Jason and Chris who were on the watch shift. Gideon met them as they arrived and led them to the guest rooms. When Chris went in with Wyatt and Jason stayed outside the door Gideon looked at them strangely. "Don't you boys want to see your rooms?" He asked Jason.
"Nope. We're on duty. When the next shift relieves us we will see them." Jason answered.
"He's safe here. You don't have to watch him." Gideon assured the boy.
"Sorry Gideon. Orders. You know. We aren't to leave him alone at any time."
"Who's orders? Surely even they would have to admit that it is perfectly safe here. There is no need to trouble yourselves. You need sleep too." Gideon was hoping that the boy would fall for it. It would be much more difficult to get his hands on the child with guards around.
Jason pointed to Chris. "His orders."
Gideon went to Chris to try to convince him. "Sorry Gideon. I'm taking no chances whatsoever. We're not even positive it was a demon that turned him so until the threat is eliminated he will be guarded at all times."
Gideon decided to try a different tact. "I suppose that is a good idea. I wouldn't mind taking a shift from time to time either." If he could get on a shift maybe he could sneak the boy away.
Chris looked at Gideon suspiciously. Gideon was staring at Wyatt in a way that made Chris very uncomfortable. "We're good for now, but if we need someone to fill in I'll let you know."
Gideon figured he'd pushed his luck for the day and wished them good night and left. Chris sat down and got lost in his thoughts. When Mel came to relieve him he pulled her aside for a talk. "Mel. I don't like the way Gideon was looking at Wyatt earlier. It's probably nothing but my paranoia, but when you meet him tomorrow try to get a premonition off of him just to make sure." She nodded and Chris left.
The next morning the entire group was hanging out in the library when Gideon came in. Mel saw her chance. She walked over to Gideon and held out her hand. "I'm Mel. You must be Gideon. Nice to meet you." He took her hand pleasantly and she tensed up. Chris of course never told anyone about his suspicions of Gideon, mostly because he was sure they were unfounded. I mean the man is an elder for crying out loud, but he couldn't afford to leave one stone unturned. Suddenly Mel cried out "Crystal Cage!" and it surrounded Gideon.
"What do you think you are doing young lady?!" Gideon cried. "I am an elder. You can't get away with this."
"Oh so it's commonplace for elder's to conspire against innocent babies?" Mel asked him with a sneer.
Chris was shocked, but he had to take over. "I got it from here Mel. Jason take Wyatt to the safe house. Don't come out until someone comes for you." He leaned closer to Jason. "If things go bad here and we don't make it, you are the last hope for the world. Take care of him." Jason, tears in his eyes, nodded and teleported away. "Mel project you premonition please so we all know what's going on here."
In the premonition, Gideon kidnapped Wyatt and took him to the underworld where they couldn't be sensed. He tried day after day for a month to kill him, but couldn't penetrate Wyatt's shield. After a month he began calling in demons to try. Wyatt wasn't found and rescued for four and a half months and by then he was completely traumatized. "So let me try to understand this," Chris sneered at Gideon. "His power frightens you so you decide to kill an innocent child. You didn't count on the fact that you couldn't get through his shield though and ended up traumatizing him so much he turned evil. Great job. You create the monster you tried to destroy."
"It was for the greater good. He is too powerful to live!" Gideon cried hoping that someone could understand that.
"Let me tell you something Gideon. I am much more powerful than he is and I am fully trained. I could kill you on the spot, but I haven't decided if I will yet. First I need to know if the other elders were in on this too. If not I will let them have first crack at you."
"They weren't in on it. They didn't know." Gideon said hoping against hope that the boy would keep his word and let the other elders handle it.
Chris used his empathic power to read if he was lying. "Ok so the elders aren't in on it with you, but someone is. Who?"
Gideon stayed silent. "WHO!?" Chris bellowed. No one had ever seen a display like this. The entire room began to shake, windows shattered, and Chris almost glowed from the power radiating off of him. Gideon was completely speachless. This boy wasn't lying when he said he was more powerful than the twice-blessed. Maybe if he answered his life would be spared and he could just wait until they drop their guard.
"Sigmund. He's the only other one who knew."
Chris nodded. "He's telling the truth. Ethan get Sigmund here." Ethan shimmered out after the doomed witch. "Leo, go see the other elders. Get them down here to deal with them. As long as their punishment is fair I will allow them to deal with their own."
Leo was surprised at that. He was sure that his children would want to pay back the elder for the life of hell they had lived. Of course anyone could tell how kind and selfless Chris is. Before Leo could orb out however the room was filled with Elders. Everyone jumped up startled. "We're sorry to startle you, but as soon as we felt one of our own become trapped we turned all attention to the scene to see what was going on. You all have our apologies. We had no idea what Gideon was planning and would never have supported it had we known. There are those of us who believe any being with that kind of power and lacking anything else remarkable is dangerous, but we would never imagine stepping in until evil was done, much less killing a child who has done no wrong yet."
About that time Ethan returned with Sigmund. Chris turned to Sigmund and asked. "You were allied with Gideon for the purpose of killing Wyatt Halliwell?"
"I didn't want to. I didn't think it was a good idea, but he was an elder. He said it was the only way. He told me it had to be done and he needed my help. I'm sorry."
The elders looked to Chris realizing that he was empathic. "Is he telling the truth?" They asked him. Chris nodded. "Very well. We will think of a suitable punishment for you later Sigmund, but we will be lenient given the circumstances." They looked to Chris hoping he wouldn't disagree with them. They had seen his display of power and while anyone could tell he was good to the core, they still didn't want him opposed to them.
"If I may make a suggestion honored elders?" Chris asked with a slight bow. The head elder nodded to him giving him permission to speak. "I would suggest that Sigmund's only punishment be to leave magic school. We don't want someone impressionable enough to go along with this type of plan teaching our children. His only crime is being too trusting and we wouldn't want to risk our children being corrupted as a result of it."
The elders agreed. "Now on to Gideon. What you have done is a violation of all that we as elders and the upholders of good hold dear. We have no choice but to recycle you. Send your soul back to continue the cycle of life once more."
The elder raised his arm to carry out the punishment, but Chris called out for them to wait. Chris walked up to Gideon and punched him in the nose. Gideon staggered backwards, blood streaming down his face. "That's for my brother you bastard." He turned back to the elders. "Carry on" He smirked. Most of the elders looked at him disapprovingly, but some of them hid snickers.
As soon as Gideon disappeared Chris, Mel, Ethan, and unbeknonst to the others Jason who was still at the safehouse, fell to the ground screaming in agony and began flickering in and out of existence. After a few moments they were solid again and panting after the ordeal. Everyone looked to the elders for an explanation. "We can't be sure, but we believe the time-line has gone through a drastic alteration and since they are from the old time-line they had to readjust themselves to this one. This is unprecedented though so I can't be sure, but that seems like the best conclusion I can come up with." They all shrugged almost as one. "Now on to other business. While we abhor Gideon's methods, we have to admit that his concerns were valid, especially considering what these young people traveled through time to stop. What steps will you be taking to ensure the twice-blessed child's morality?"
Leo answered that one. "Well our other children turned out great so it was obviously an outside influence that turned him. We will simply take steps to keep him safe until his morality is completely developed. In fact, if Gideon hadn't been so trusted he would never have gotten close either. And worst case-scenario, now that we know what to watch for we can prevent it sooner if history seems to be repeating itself."
"If he has to be vanquished at some point who could do it? If that premonition was correct even an elder cannot break through his shield."
The family and remaining resistance members looked to Chris as if asking permission. Chris sighed. "I will be born in less than a year. I am the thrice-blessed, the only one who could possibly take him on and am incapable of evil. I won't let the world become what it was again. If I have to stop him I will. When I return to the future someone must tell my younger self of this though if the situation arises, but only if necessary. I shouldn't know that my destiny may be to kill my brother unless I have to."
Mel then told the elders the theory she had that she told her mother about how Chris was created to balance Wyatt. The elders nodded in acceptance. "When do you plan to return to the future and are you sure you can?"
"I'm not sure if I can or not since it's not my future anymore, but with your permission we will wait until I am about to be born before trying. There were other mistakes made in our future that we would like to attempt to avoid if possible, since our future no longer exists anyway." Chris told them hopefully. In reality, while what he said was true, he mostly just wanted to spend more time with his family, not knowing if they would be alive when he returned to his time.
The elders clustered together to discuss things for a moment. "That is acceptable, but understand that any consequences of this are your own doing. We don't believe that it will do any irreparable harm, but it may cause changes that you don't like. As long as you are prepared for that, you may do as you will." When Chris nodded the head elder continued to speak. "As a reward for averting a major catastrophe and showing commendable courage and incorruptibility we would like to give out some gifts. Chris, you will now have the power of healing, both in this body and when you are born in this time-line. Melinda, you will gain the power of astral projection. The Halliwell line has been without it since Prudence. Ethan, your demon heritage is now erased, though you will still keep your powers and are now a witch. Jason will be gifted with the offensive power of telekinesis in addition to his defensive powers. Leo and Piper, your gift is the best of all. You will have the choice to become a whitelighter again with your family as your only charges with the option of becoming an elder again at any time."
Chris interrupted the elders here. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but if he accepts this gift you will need to wait until I am conceived to grant it. My thrice blessed comes from Elder, whitelighter, and witch so he has to be an elder when I am conceived if I am to be powerful enough in the future."
"Very well. If that is your choice Leo, we will grant it once your second son is conceived." Leo agreed with tears in his eyes. He had never been so happy. Even when he was a whitelighter before, he was forced to have charges all over the world and still never had enough time for his family. Now his job would be to care for his family. The elders were right this is the best gift of all.
"Paige, your gift will be the power of conjuring, and Phoebe will gain the power of illusion. We thank you all again for averting disaster and helping us to thin out one of our own." With that the elders all orbed away.
"Wow. Who would've thought they would give us all gifts like that." Melly said in awe.
"I know right? I know some of them probably had an ulterior motive though." Chris said.
"Like what?" Piper asked.
"Well letting Leo stay with his family was probably because they figured with both parents around it would be easier to keep Wyatt in line, plus the fact that they realized that they wouldn't be able to keep you apart anyway since you end up having two more kids and wanted to do it on their terms. My healing ability was probably because good or not, I could be a threat to them if I thought they were corrupt. Ethan was probably to align him more on the side of good since technically he is part demon. Maybe they just felt bad for Jason since all he has is defensive powers and they realized he could do a lot of good if he could just fight back. The rest were probably because they just didn't want anyone to feel left out." He shrugged as if to say who knows.
The four resistance members stayed in the manor for the next ten months. They continued vanquishing as many demons as they could manage, but they did take breaks. They also kept up the watches on Wyatt, just to be on the safe side, but they were a bit more relaxed about it. A week before Chris' birthday the foursome was all set to go back to the happier future they hopefully created. Just as they finished drawing the triquetta on the wall, however, a man stepped out of it. "Wait! You can't go through!" He said.
Everyone gasped. "Wyatt!" They yelled and took defensive stances. Then they really looked at him. His hair was short and he was wearing lighter colors and the cold, deadened look in his eyes was now happy and bright. They succeeded. As soon as that registered Chris launched himself into his brothers arms crying. Wyatt held him just as tightly with tears running down his face as well. "I missed you so much Chris. And you too Melly." He said as she fell into his arms as well. After a few moments the three siblings pulled apart.
"Okay question one why can't we go through? Question two, are we dead or something?"
"The answer to both questions is the same story. Your theories on time travel were wrong. You can't rejoin the time-line with your adult selves or both of you die. From my perspective you all came back three years ago and we've all spent the time since then researching trying to find out if anyone would be able to come back here and warn you and figuring out why it happened. We all knew that with your neurotic tendencies you wouldn't accept anything but a perfect answer and since we had time we found it for you." Suddenly Wyatt began to flicker in and out of existence screaming in agony just like the others had when Gideon was killed.
"Okay what was that?" Jason asked.
"That was the time-line changing. See when you all did that in magic school you readjusted to this time-line. Since your old one no longer existed you became stuck in this point in time and you have to live your lives from here onward. And now so do I. That's what the prophecy meant Chris when it said 'lost in time'. Before you weren't really lost, because you could travel back and forth. Now you are stuck in a time not your own making the prophecy true."
"I'm so sorry Wy. If only I had known how wrong I was you wouldn't have had to come back and strand yourself here too." Chris looked down at his shoes.
"Don't worry about it Chris. You couldn't have known. It took all of us working together three years to figure out this information with access to the best magical sources in the world. From what I've heard you had a lot of people working on it, but very little access to outside sources. Besides I volunteered to come back. After everything you sacrificed for me, I wanted you to have a chance to see the outcome. To see that you achieved everything you fought so hard for. That and I would rather live in this time with you two than another time without you." Wyatt smiled. "Here are some books that we wrote about the effects of time travel. Mom, Dad, and the Aunts began researching just after you left actually. You inspired them apparently" He laughed.
Chris took the books and glanced at the covers. There were books by Leo and Piper Halliwell, A few by 'The Charmed Ones', Two by Prudence, Patricia, and Penelope Halliwell. And three by Henry and Sarah Halliwell. The most were by Wyatt Halliwell though. When Chris pointed this out Wyatt just shrugged. "I was super motivated. I wanted my brother and sister back." He said with tears in his eyes.
At that Piper couldn't hold herself back anymore "Oh my baby!" She cried as she ran forward and hugged him. "I can't believe how great all of my kids turned out. First Chris and Mel come back in time to save Wyatt and create a new time-line, then the new Wyatt comes back in time to save Chris and Mel. I'm so glad you three love each other so much."
"Yeah and now you have three adult children to help with the three child children" Paige said chuckling, "If that even makes sense."
"Not really, but we know what you meant. And by the way I call some of that help when I have kids too." Phoebe called out.
Everyone laughed. There was a feeling of hope and happiness in the air. "Chris you're projecting again" Melly told him. "We can feel our own thanks." That just made everyone laugh harder and Chris apologized sheepishly.
Mel just beamed and whispered to her mother low enough that no one else could hear her, "That's the first time he's let his guard down enough to project since you know what." At that Piper beamed as well. It seems her kids were finally going to have a chance to be happy.
Then Piper got a thought and started fanning herself and sat down. "What's wrong mom?" Chris asked concerned.
"Well I have all three of you and then your three younger selves when they come along...I will have six children!" No one was sure whether to laugh or not. On the one hand it was funny, but on the other hand no one wanted to be on the receiving end of Piper Halliwell in shock. "And what about names! This can get confusing."
The three children from the future looked at each other. "Well you could always switch the first and middle names on our younger selves and young Wyatt can just be called by his middle name. I would say the other way around, but we are kind of used to our names by now. They won't be so much" Chris shrugged. Everyone agreed without too much trouble though little Wyatt was confused for a while about why they were all calling him Matt all of a sudden. He got used to it fairly quickly though as all kids do.
"Oh yeah and one other thing I should probably tell you. We are all individuals in our own right now whether we are officially conceived here or not. If we are then we will come out the same, but if not, we won't cease to exist or anything. And also Mel, I know that you are partly some type of being that was never disclosed, but in my time-line you are half whitelighter and half witch just like me, but you are still the same person so don't worry." Wyatt explained.
"Well can you tell us what kind of being you are now? Since it obviously changed anyway." Piper asked totally curious.
"I'm part Avatar. You won't meet them for a few years, but in my time-line Leo was disillusioned with the elders and became an avatar and the avatars created a utopia on earth. Unfortunately the price was a little too high and you all undid it. Just remember that if they try to get you to accept that option again." Melly told them.
"What kind of price would be too high for utopia?" Phoebe asked incredulously.
"The loss of free will and the erasure of the existence of anyone who creates conflict." Chris said.
"Oh. Yeah. That would do it." Phoebe looked like she had been properly put in her place.
A/N: Should be only the epilogue left unless the story runs away from me again. If anyone has any requests for the epilogue just hit the review button and let me know.