Title: Nobody Knows

Summary: Nobody knows about Chris. His secrets, talents, the deep dark thoughts hidden behind his mask. Collection of drabbles and one shots revolving around Chris. Inspired by Pink's song, 'Nobody Knows'.

Rating: T to be safe

POV: Various

TIMELINE: Set just after the end of Prince Charmed. Chris sneaks back in to give his mother a birthday present. Slightly AU

THANKS: sxcwoffy, weiliya, Mallikad and MerlinHalliwell for adding this story to their alerts list! And once again to MerlinHalliwell, Ella and an anonymous reader for their reviews!

A/N: Based around the following verse and a piano piece that I found. It's titled 'Bella's Lullaby' but it's a different one than the one used in the Twilight movie. I recommend listening to it while reading this.

http:/www (.) youtube (.) com/watch?v=SnKKv5Ss7Kk


Nobody knows
Nobody knows the rhythm of my heart
The way I do when I'm lying in the dark
And the world is asleep
I think nobody knows
Nobody knows


Nobody Knows Part III: Paige Knows

Paige stumbled down the stairs to the landing, a hand reaching up to attempt to smooth her mangled bed hair. Passing by the grandfather clock a quiet groan escaped her lips. It was 2am. This was ridiculous. The youngest Charmed One had been attempting to sleep but it seemed that the needed shut eye eluded her, probably due to her active mind that refused to shut down.

Paige was tired, Piper's birthday hadn't exactly gone to plan and her body was sore, her legs ached and most importantly her magic was overtaxed. She just couldn't get it out of her head though. That brief moment of pain upon Chris' face before he orbed away from the Manor.

That damn whitelighter. What was wrong with him? Paige grumbled and cursed her compassion, why she felt so remorseful for the young future traveller Paige had no idea.

She reached the kitchen, keeping the light off – not willing to impose her insomnia upon anyone else. The cupboard door creaked slightly when she opened it and the fridge light illuminated her face, giving her an unearthly complexion. Squinting at the brightness Paige grabbed the milk, poured the liquid into the mug and quickly replaced the bottle before all but slamming the door.

Sighing in content at the darkness, she raised the mug to her lips, back leaning against the cool countertop. The cold liquid was heaven and Paige's eyes slowly slid closed, muscles relaxing. She hadn't been one for cold milk, always adhering to the wives tale that warm milk did the trick. That was until two weeks ago, when her insomnia had kicked in once more.

Flashback

Deep purple bags hung under Paige's eyes, her feet stumbling into the kitchen to attempt her ritual – not that it worked. Every night, for the past week Paige couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned, hell once she had even orbed to China in an attempt to create jetlag.

It failed.

At Phoebe's request Paige had been consuming warm milk by the litre, apparently having a zombie sister tended to scare away any potential husbands - figures. Turning the final corner she saw the kitchen light spilling out into the dining room. 'Hmm, isn't it a bit late for Piper to be cooking?' Paige wondered, slowly inching towards the room.

She paused outside the doorway, listening for the familiar clinks and clunks of Piper's frantic cooking – nothing. Rounding quickly into the kitchen, the witchlighter was blinded by the sudden change in light. Adjusting her eyes to a dimmer area Paige felt them widen in surprise. Before her, leaning against the sink stood Chris, mug in hand and eyes glazed over slightly, staring into space.

Paige edged forwards and cleared her throat. The sudden movement caused the whitelighter to jolt.

"Paige." His voice was quiet and he averted his gaze to the ground. He turned and tipped the mug and its liquid, which Paige now recognised as milk down the sink. Washing the mug out, he placed it lightly on the bench. "Sorry, I couldn't sleep. And P3 isn't known for its milk." He gave the Charmed One a weak smile and orbed out, his tinkering orbs dissolving before she could stop him.

Paige sighed, reaching to the overhead cupboard to grab a mug of her own. She would've let him stay; the poor boy looked like he could use company.

Emptying the last of the current bottle into the black mug, she walked slowly over to the microwave, opening the door and placing the milk inside. The buttons beeped softly while she set the timer. Her index finger hovered above 'start' before a faint blue light caught her eye.

Spinning around she watched the young whitelighter form. "Oh, just a word of advice." His hair was slightly mussed and he looked slightly elated. "Try it cold. Always worked in the future." He pointed to the milk in the microwave.

A smile that for once seemed unforced graced his lips and Chris' body disappeared once more in a shower of blue orbs, leaving a spluttering Paige behind. Damn it. The first time the whitelighter had told her something about the future, and she was too shellshock to speak.

Damn.

Her face adopted a confusion expression and she rounded on the microwave, opening the door and extracting the mug. Looking at it in suspicion, she slowly brought it up to her lips and hesitantly took a sip. A wave of relief flooded her body and Paige smiled as she felt her eyes grow heavy. Looks like Chris was good for something after all.

End Flashback

Paige winced and set the mug down on the counter. Chris. That kid was nothing if not stubborn. She leaned over to the sink, tilted her hand and watched the remnants of the milk swirl about the drain. Just when she had begun to like him, he had pulled the birthday stunt. Couldn't he see why they mistrusted him?

A sigh escaped her lips and Paige rubbed her eyes and yawned. She padded back out of the kitchen and towards the stairs. A movement in the dark lounge room stopped her movement. Her foot rested on the first step and she quietly, discreetly turned and started towards the room.

Approaching the dark room, she squinted into the darkness. Nothing stirred. Paige shook her head, maybe she was going crazy. Turning to go, her heartbeat increased and she swiftly pulled herself partially behind the entrance – a figure had passed by the window. Her eyebrows furrowed when the dim moonlight illuminated the figure standing beside the old piano – Chris.

Paige growled slightly. Was he crazy? Did he want to die? Piper would be furious. About the call out, the Charmed one halted and the cry died in her throat. He looked terrible. His hair stuck out at all ends, his clothes were rumbled and Chris' expression mirrored defeat.

Paige felt her heart leap in her chest when he turned to the side, his shoulders slumped and his head bowed to the ground.

He needed comfort. She started forward before common sense stopped her. Paige scowled and flicked her hands out in frustration - where had the come from? A single solemn note echoed about the manor, pulling Paige's gaze back to where Chris stood, his fingers slowly trailing over the ancient piano keys.

Edging forward slightly she squinted once more, trying to see in the dim moonlight. The witchlighter lazily let his index finger fall upon another key and a second note rang around the room, blending beautifully with the remnants on the first.

Glancing up at the ceiling Paige wondered briefly why, despite the two notes flowing around the room, her sisters slept undisturbed. Her gaze returned to the room before her and for a second, Paige wondered where the young whitelighter had gone. A flurry of notes echoing around the room drew her attention the piano again, where the whitelighter now perched.

Creeping into the room Paige hurriedly moved to the dark corner just to the right of the piano. The whitelighter's concentration remained solely on the piano. A pause stretched out and Paige saw Chris' fingers resting softly on several keys; waiting for the music to fade. A second wave of notes was produced as Chris effortlessly moved his fingers over the keys. A second pause followed.

Chris' stance shifted slightly and Paige noticed his left hand take a position further down the keyboard. And then – he played. A bittersweet melody began to flow from the piano, bouncing over the walls and burrowing itself into Paige's heart.

A wave of emotions overtook her and she watched, unable to move as the song slowly began to gather speed; reaching a climax that caused her heart to clench before slowing once more to a sombre melody. Paige felt wetness upon her cheek.

Reaching up, she brushed her fingertips under her eyes surprise filling her body when she realised the tears flowing freely down her cheeks.

Paige was quite aware that Phoebe was the empath, but at this moment in time Paige felt emotions swirl around her and she covered her mouth with her hand – silencing the sobs that had begun to wrack her body. It was beautiful.

She watched in awe at Chris' fingers dancing over the keys, his eyes closed and for the first time since his arrival, he looked at peace. The music began to build once more and his fingers quickened, the melody comprising of complex combined movements that seemed to have been perfected with time.

Suddenly his fingers slowed, the notes beginning to echo once more about the room and the simplicity of the music only aided in amplifying the raw emotions that surged around the manor. Paige averted her eyes, taking a shaky breath as the final notes faded from existence and silence filled the Halliwell manor once more.

Returning her gaze to the piano and whitelighter Paige hastily wiped away the tears obscuring her vision. She watched in slight confusion when Chris looked ruefully at the ceiling.

"Happy Birthday Piper."

Paige almost missed the whispered words. Chris stared longingly at the ceiling for a few seconds before allowing his body to disperse into orbs. Once the tinkling orbs had subsided Paige gradually emerged from her hiding place, her face stained with tears.

She wiped her face, removing any evidence of the emotional occurrence – nobody need know. Paige looked about the room once more, a smile ghosting itself upon her lips. Perhaps she had misunderstood Chris.

Paige nodded to herself, leaving the lounge room and beginning to ascend the stairs. He was human, well a witch, just like the rest of them, it was time she began to treat him as such. The song had come from his heart and Paige suspected that it wasn't nearly as cold and unfeeling as he led them to believe. Perhaps there was hope for him yet.

Nobody knows Paige knows, not even Chris.


Review?