Chapter Three

"We're what?" Chris exclaimed.

"You died ten years ago," said Victor. "It was just after Leo died."

The boys stopped. "Dad's dead?" asked Chris.

"Who are you two?" asked Coup.

"It's us, Wyatt and Chris," said Wyatt.

"I think what happened was in our time or whatever, we had to go to the past because Wyatt lost his powers," explained Chris. "Something must've happened in the past while we were gone, and when we came back, we were in this alternate present."

"What is this place like where you two are from?" asked Coup.

Wyatt began explaining. "Well, uh, for starters, the sisters are alive and Dad's alive…We have a sister…Phoebe and Coup are married with three kids…Paige and Henry have three kids…Dad took over Magic School…oh, yeah, and the manor never looks this dirty."

"Wait, Phoebe and I what?" asked Coup.

"It's not important," said Chris. "What happened here, Grandpa?"

"Well, twenty years ago, demons—"

"Yeah, we got that part from Dad's letter," said Chris. "What happened after the Triad took over?"

"Well, your father took care of you boys here," said Victor. "But, ten years ago, Leo was captured by a vampire queen and killed."

"I remember that, but he's still alive because the Charmed Ones…" Wyatt stopped, realizing. "The Charmed Ones were there to save him…and now they're not."

"After they killed him, they came after you two," said Coup.

"We need to stop this," said Chris. "We need to find out who did this so we can go back in time."

Chris and Wyatt looked at their grandfather.

"Don't look at me; I don't have a clue," said Victor. "But I did hear that some demons who killed the Charmed Ones are second-in-command to the Triad."

"Where's the Triad?" asked Wyatt.

"They'd be at Magic School," answered Coup. "I'll come with you. Will you be alright here?"

"Yeah," said Victor.

Coup came over to the boys and stood next to them.

"So…Phoebe and I would've gotten married?" Coup asked.

Wyatt began to explain when Chris said, "Talk later; Magic School now."

Blue and white lights appeared around Chris and Wyatt as a pink glow enveloped Coup.

They appeared in one of the empty hallways of Magic School. The boys ducked behind a pillar to avoid being seen. Coup just stared at them.

"Guys, what are you doing?" Coup asked.

They straightened up as Wyatt said, "Hiding."

"There's no security with the Halliwell line wiped out," Coup told them.

"Oh," said Chris. The three of them walked down to the archive and library room where the Triad was gathered with several demons.

"I'm telling you, I felt it this morning," said a demon to the Triad.

"There's no reason to worry, Lucas," said one of the Triad. "Now that the Charmed Ones and their heirs are dead, no one can stop us."

"But these two are powerful," said another demon.

"They must have the ability to sense mystical forces," said Wyatt.

"The Brothers," said Coup. "I've heard about them. They're the ones who killed your family."

"Well, what do you say we do something about it?" said Wyatt, giving Chris a look.

"You're going to attack them right now?" said Coup.

"Why not?" said Chris. "They're not prepared. Besides, we know how the sisters killed them. I saw we do it."

"But we need a potion to vanquish the Triad," said Wyatt.

"Already took care of it," said Chris, holding up a vial.

"When did you have time to make that?"

"I swiped some from the kitchen when Mom made it in 2006. I figured we might need some."

"But we need three vials. Maybe we could use the spell to multiply powers and create three vials."

"Go for it," said Chris as he held the vial in his hand.

"Take this potion, blessed be," Wyatt and Chris recited, "multiply its strength by three."

White lights appeared in Chris' hand as two more vials appeared. They charged into the room, throwing the vials at the Triad. They exploded as the demons stared in shock.

"But…you're dead…" one of the Brothers said.

"Wouldn't count on it," said Wyatt. Chris threw his hands up and blew up the Brothers.

"What did you do that for?" said Wyatt.

"We didn't need them anyway," said Chris. "We know when they attack."

Chris and Wyatt orbed back to the manor as Coup glowed pink.

Victor had replaced the wilted flowers with new ones.

"Oh, girls," he said. "If only I could be up there with you instead of down here."

He thought he heard something behind him, but it was probably nothing.

"I mean, I should be up there," Victor continued, "if they hadn't dragged me back down…I just wish I could see you again."

"Grandpa?" Chris said. Victor spun around to see the three of them standing in the attic. "What are you talking about?"

Victor sighed. "After they killed you two, they went after me." Chris and Wyatt looked at each other. "I'm a whitelighter."

"What?" said Wyatt.

"They killed me ten years ago," Victor told them. "I'm sorry."

"Let's not talk about that," said Chris. "It doesn't matter."

"You found them?" asked Victor.

There was an explosion in the attic door as an energy ball hit it. The demons from Magic School had followed them. Another energy ball flew towards Victor as he orbed. He orbed behind the demon and tackled him to the ground. Chris blew the first demon up as Wyatt orbed a sword into the second demon. Victor orbed the demon outside, and orbed back inside the attic.

"We have to hurry," said Victor. "More of them are coming."

"We know," said Chris.

"We can feel them, too," Wyatt said.

"We have a spell to go back in time," Chris said.

"It's not specific enough," Wyatt said. "We could end up where we were last time."

Victor suddenly ran to the attic door and slammed it closed as two demons came into the hallway. There were bangs against the door as Victor held it shut.

"Use my ring," said Coup. He took it off and handed it to the brothers. "It should help focus on a certain point."

"How will you get it back?" asked Wyatt.

"You can give it to me once you fix everything," said Coup. "Go!"

Chris and Wyatt both placed a hand on Coup's ring as they pulled the spell out.

"Remember to focus on that moment," instructed Coup.

"Good luck," said Victor.

"In this time and in this place," Wyatt and Chris recited as they concentrated, "take us through time and space, take us back in time as soon as we say this rhyme."

White lights shimmered around them as Coup and their grandfather said their unspoken farewells. Once again, the scene changed before them. One minute, they're looking at an old, dust-covered attic, and the next, they were standing in the furnished lobby of the manor.

"Did it work?" said Wyatt.

There was a crash in the family room.

"I'd say so," said Chris. They darted to the entryway to see Billie lying sick on the couch. The sisters were lying on the floor, and their father was trapped under the antique chest. The Brothers were there with a darklighter arrow and a sword. They were headed for Paige, just as their father's letter said they had.

Chris ran for the demon hovering over Paige as Wyatt went for the other.

Piper glanced up to see a man attack the demon about to kill Paige. She sat up as another man attacked the second demon. She went over to Phoebe.

"You okay?" Piper asked, helping Phoebe up.

"Who the hell are they?" Phoebe asked.

"I don't know," Piper answered. "I haven't seen their faces yet. You help Paige; I'll get Leo."

Piper ran over and lifted the chest as much as she could. Leo scrambled out as Piper let the chest fall to the floor.

"You okay?" Leo said, hugging Piper. "I couldn't get to you."

"I'm fine," said Piper. "I guess we have two heroes to thank."

"Piper!" Phoebe yelled.

"Come quick!" Paige shouted.

Piper and Leo ran to the entryway of the conservatory. The two strangers were fighting the demons, and were doing a pretty good job. One of the strangers flung a demon towards the sisters and spun to face them. Everyone stared in shock.

"Chris?" Piper said. Chris wasn't paying attention as the demon swung a punch at him. He grabbed the demon's arm and flipped him onto his back. The demon shimmered out of the room and Chris looked over at the other one.

"Wyatt!" he yelled as he ran over.

"Wyatt?!" Piper said as she followed Chris. The demon had pinned Wyatt and was now getting ready to stab the darklighter arrow in him. Wyatt orbed out from under the demon as Chris jumped him.

As Chris wrestled with the demon, Wyatt orbed next to Billie. He placed a hand over her wound and was about to heal her when Chris yelled out.

"Don't!" Chris yelled as he was pinning the demon. "We can't change the past!"

"So Billie dies in the end?" exclaimed Paige.

The demon shimmered out as Chris walked over.

"No, but you have to save her, not us," said Chris.

"Who were they?" asked Phoebe.

"The Brothers," said Chris. "They can sense mystical energy."

"How did you know they were going to attack?" asked Leo.

"Because they're from the future," said Wyatt. "They weren't supposed to be here in the first place."

"Why are you guys here?" asked Piper. "We could've handled them."

"No, you can't," said Chris.

"They killed you," said Wyatt. "If we hadn't come, they would have killed you."

"What?" said Piper.

"We can talk later," said Chris. "Right now, you need to save Billie."

They went over to Billie as Chris and Wyatt stayed in the conservatory.

"Uh…maybe we should call the Elders," suggested Paige.

"Maybe you're right," said Piper. "I'll go do that. Um...Paige?"

"Yeah," said Paige. "I'm gonna get the baby out of here. I've got a photo of his dad, so it should take about two secs to scry for him." She walked up the stairs to the attic.

"Phoebe, why don't you stay with, uh...Billie here?" asked Piper.

"Okay," said Phoebe. "Hurry!" She crouched and looked at Billie, worried. Billie moaned weakly.

Phoebe held a pillow for Billie, but as she crouched to adjust it, Billie convulsed on the couch.

"Piper!" Phoebe called. "Something's happening to Billie!"

Piper rushed in just as Billie reverted to her previous self. "Oh, no."

"Oh, no?" said Phoebe. "What does oh no mean? What did the Elder say?"

"They think it's some kind of virus and that she must have contracted it from the scratch," said Piper.

"So the demon gave this to her?"

"If we don't find an antidote soon...she'll die."

"No, I mean, we can't let her die. There's gotta be something we can do. We can't just do nothing, Piper."

"Well, we gotta figure out where it all started and who it all started from. Paige, where are you?"

Paige orbed into the room. "What? What happened?"

"We gotta get to Agent Murphy's, I'll explain later," said Piper. "Quick, quick, quick..."

Piper and Paige orbed out of the room. Phoebe looked at Wyatt and Chris.

"Please tell me this story has a happy ending," said Phoebe.

Chris nodded. "It does."

Billie lay on the couch, her eyes closed, covered with a blanket, and looking sick. Phoebe sat beside by, holding a glass of water.

Billie took a drink. "Thanks. I must be pretty bad off if you're waiting on me hand and foot."

"Well, don't get used to it, 'cause you're going to be just fine," said Phoebe.

"Am I?" said Billie. "I'm dying, aren't I?"

"No, you are not dying," said Phoebe. "I mean, Chris and Wyatt here, they're from the future, okay? And they say that you're gonna be okay." Billie didn't look convinced. "Listen, do you have any idea how many times I have almost died in the last seven years?"

"Yeah, but this is different. I'm sorry, I should've listened to you."

"Stop it. It's okay. We're gonna save you, and we're gonna save magic, while we're at it."

"How can you save magic if you don't even believe in your own anymore?" Phoebe frowned. "Heard you talking to Piper."

"I'll be right back. I'm gonna get you some more ice." Phoebe walked into the kitchen.

For a few seconds, Billie just stared at Chris and Wyatt.

"Does it really work?" asked Billie. "Do they really save me?"

"Absolutely," said Wyatt. "It's a little unorthodox, but they still save you."

Billie smiled slightly. "Good to know." She closed her eyes and rested. The sisters came in from the kitchen.

Phoebe ran to her and shook her gently. "Billie? Billie, wake up. Billie, wake up." Billie opened her eyes. Phoebe sighed, relieved. "I think we figured out a way to save you. But we're gonna need your help." She took Billie's athame.

"Wait," said Billie in a weak voice. "No, no, no."

"It's okay," said Phoebe. "Trust us." She sliced her hand open.

"Shall we tell Leo?" Paige asked Piper.

"No," said Piper. "I know what he's gonna say." Phoebe gave Piper the athame and touched Billie's wound. Piper took Paige's hand. "Come on." Paige groaned in protest. "Oh, come on, it won't hurt...much." She sliced Paige's hand.

"Eech," said Paige.

Piper sliced her hand. Paige, Piper and Phoebe pressed their hands together. Billie started shuddering, so Piper froze her.

"How long is that gonna last?" asked Paige.

"Hopefully, long enough," said Piper.

The three sisters then marched up the stairs towards the attic. There was a commotion upstairs before Leo came down the steps.

"How's it going up there?" asked Chris.

"Oh, your mother and her sisters are…just fine," said Leo, huffing in annoyance.

"Lighten up, Dad," said Wyatt. "They're gonna be just fine. They know what they're doing."

Leo looked up at them, frowning. "You sure?"

"Yeah," said Chris. Billie woke up, looking fresh again. She looked around, and sat up. "See?"

Phoebe came into the room with a cup of coffee, handing it to Billie. "Whoa! Easy! Easy. Slow."

"Umm... what happened?" asked Billie.

"Cliff Notes version: we hulked out, kicked ass, and saved the world," said Phoebe. "You know, just another day at the office."

"Yeah, I can see that," said Billie.

"When did you guys get back?" asked Leo.

"A couple minutes ago," said Phoebe. "Uh...We got the antidote to the Elders, and everyone is being cured right now as we speak."

"What about the demons?" asked Billie.

"They got to the antidote, too," said Phoebe.

"You guys risked yourselves to save me," said Billie.

"Well, we gotta keep you around so you can find your sister, right?" said Phoebe.

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. We think of you as part of the family now. Not gonna let anything happen to you."

Paige and Piper orbed in.

"Hey, sunshine!" said Piper. "It's good to see some color in your cheeks."

"Yeah, grey and pasty—not your color scheme," said Paige.

"How'd it go with Murphy?" asked Phoebe.

"Well, he decided we were a little too difficult to work with, so I don't think we'll be hearing from him again anytime soon," said Piper.

"How rude!" said Phoebe with mock indignation.

"Meh," said Piper.

"So, why are you guys here again?" asked Phoebe, turning towards the boys.

"Well, we—" Wyatt was cut off when the Manor suddenly changed around them. It was once again abandoned. "Damn it."

"Did the Brothers change the past again?" mumbled Chris.

"More than likely," said Wyatt. "Looks like they're not gonna give up easy."

"When have the bad guys ever given up easy?" asked Chris.

"Good point," said Wyatt. "Where did they go now?"