Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven't written in ages, I've been meaning to but have had multiple distractions. My friends have finally come back to town after the break and I now have some resemblance to a social life. Getting ready to go back to school had taken up a lot of time especially since I have for some stupid reason decided to overload and have over 150 pages of reading to do each week. being in Bali made me find a really good series of books and I have been addicted to them since and I have to admit I have had a bit of writers block on this story. I did write another short story though and I will upload it soon once I have proofed it. I hope you enjoy it, it will definately pick up in the next chapter.

Chapter 6

Wyatt's POV

Wyatt sat at the dining table waiting like everyone else for his brother to arrive. The large room consisted of an open kitchen dining area, perfectly suited to his family whose lift tended to revolved around the kitchen as others might resolve around the lounge room. This room always reminded him that Camelot was very much alive. When the family had moved in to the palace it had transformed by itself into what set out best suited the family, providing them with this space. This was his favourite room in the palace and he felt it reflected the attitude of his family the best. A constant reminder of who they were and where they came from that they were always grateful for in the crazy lives they now had as the ruling family of the magical community. Mel, Chris and Wyatt had all inherited the cooking gene from their mother and would take it in turn to cook, providing a touch of normality in their lives. This morning was his mothers turn. He watched her move around the kitchen making the usually banquet of blueberry pancakes, toast, bacon and baked beans. He knew what she was doing, in his mothers beliefs food was the quickest ways to someone's heart and she was hoping that food was also the quickest way to stimulate someone's suppressed memories, so she hadn't just cooked one typical Halliwell breakfast but all of them, savoury and sweet alike.

The door creaked and Chris entered the room nervously, a look of shock and wonder plastered on his face as he wandered towards the middle taking it all in. The thought of Chris getting the memories of his other self had always worried him. He had always thought it would be like a completely different person hijacking his body and he would lose the brother he loved so much. But now he saw that this Chris was the same, he just had different memories and a different past. Watching him now he saw the exact same expression on his face as Chris had on his face seven years ago when the first came to the palace, he could see his open mouthed sixteen year old brother doing circles in the middle of the room taking in its size and wealth. He hadn't lost his brother and for that he was so relieved. But now Chris needed him more than ever, and he would not let his brother and best friend down.

His mother went to his brother and pulled him into a huge hug and led him towards the table telling him to sit down and that breakfast was almost ready. Chris sat down at the massive twenty seater table a little overwhelmed. "Don't be so shocked, we are a big family after all, with you, me, Mel, mum, dad, the cousins and the aunts and uncles it makes fifteen plus there is space if any of our friends are around or the girls bring their boyfriends." Wyatt could see that Chris was not used to the idea of a large family and it overwhelmed him a little. He was glad that they had made the decision to make this a small breakfast with only Piper's children and the aunts. The cousins and uncles had eaten quickly and headed out to attend to some business, the non magical attendants had to be notified of what had happened, he was sure that the President of the United States as well as King William of England would want to come and check on him immediately and he hoped the cousins could refrain them from doing so. Magic was not common knowledge among the mortal world but its presence had been made known to the world rulers. Wyatt had been surprised at how well it had gone. Chris was the main one responsible, he gave an image of being an open, caring and trustworthy person and supported by the global decline of unsolvable murders as the newly formed magical army drove back the underworld the leader came to trust him completely, respect him and take him under their wing so he could learn from them and their experiences. The revelation of magic to the mortal world had even helped draw once opposing countries closer together, magic now provided the leaders with something to talk to each other about that didn't involve the weather or how they were ruling their respective countries. Chris's attitude to learn from everyone pasted onto these men and women and ideas, technology and knowledge was being shared amongst people who in the past refused to get along on principle. Wyatt knew that Chris was quite a talking point when the mortal leaders would gather, yet Chris never understood how much he impacted the lives of others always believed that he wasn't doing well enough, thinking he wasn't deserving of all the praise, it kept him human.

A clatter of dishes broke him out of his thoughts as his mother placed the breakfast on the table. Chris had sat down opposite him and between Mel and Phoebe who was patting him gently on the back. She two could feel what her nephew was going through and was trying her best to comfort him, but none of them knew what to say.

Piper's POV

After she had brought the cooking over to the table where her family sat she made up a big plate of food and placed it in front of Chris only to see his eyes wash over with pain. Chris usually ate a lot of food, between the long days and the battle training he generally needed it, but to see her son looking down at the food with pain in his eyes it confused her for a second until she remembered which Chris this was. The Chris that had come from the future had had a completely different diet from her Chris. Years of living in a war zone where food was a precious commodity had left her son with a stomach disorder. She remembered the first time she had found out that he was her son and noticed how obscenely skinny he was. She had cooked him up a massive breakfast just like this one against his protests and then stood over him as he ate it intending to fatten him up. She had not understood as he had rushed to the bathroom and vomited up everything that he had just put into his stomach until as he lay his head on the cold tiles of the bathroom wall waiting for the nausea to subside that he told them that his stomach had adjusted to only being able to handle small amounts of very plain foods due to the conditions of war and starvation. He had only been able to eat bread, cereal, and plain soups. She could never forget the guilt she felt when her sisters and herself would sit down to one of her home cook meals and Chris would sit down with his small bowl of cereal or piece of toast.

Piper ran her hands through her son's hair and rubbed his temples trying to ease some of his current worry and panic, "Sweetie, you're not sick anymore, you can eat this. It's ok." She watched the expression on her sons face slowly change from confusion to wonder as he took a bite of the rather rich food, he sat there waiting for a moment before realising that his body was not going to reject the food and then dug in completely. She couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her son eating her food like it was the first time he had.

They all ate in silence each person watching Chris out of the corner of their eye, he was too distracted with eating to really notice. It was only as he finished his meal that he noticed everyone's eyes on him and he stared down into his lap a look of guilt in his eyes.

"What's wrong honey?" Piper asked.

Chris didn't answer just stared harder into his lap.

"Chris, baby, we are here to help you through all this but you have to talk to us, tell us what's wrong?"

"I ruined everything." He mumbled after a while, everyone looked confused. None of this was Chris's fault.

"What do you mean, honey? You haven't ruined anything?"

"Of course I have, there's no need to sugar coat it. I saw the TV, I saw what he was like, the other me, he's perfect and I'm just... well... I'm nothing like that. I shouldn't exist, me being here has screwed everything up."

Oh, her poor baby, one of his biggest character flaws was his self doubt and the way he could tear himself down. "Oh honey, you haven't ruined everything, in fact everyone thinks of this as a good thing, when you remember you will have two sets of valuable memories." Piper said wishing she could hug her son as her sister and daughter were.

"There is no 'he', Chris," Leo added, "You are the same person, you act the same, think the same, you are both kind, strong people who put everyone before yourself, you just won't see it. You will soon learn that 'he' as you put it was always trying to live up to 'you', he heard the stories of how a version of himself came and saved the future and felt he needed to be that good. You are not your memories, but your soul and both sets of memories belong to the same soul, your soul. It just that these memories, the memories you are confusing with whom you are, are blocking your other ones, once you get them back you will see."

"And we are going to help you get them back as quick as possible." Announced Wyatt, with an almost goofy smile.

"How?" Chris was still sceptical

"Well, I thought we would start off with a tour of the palace. I figure some places might trigger memories. Remember, we triggered some of your memories about us. Certain places might trigger memories as well. Plus I have a backup plan." With that he stood up, kissed every member of his family on the cheek before looping his arm under Chris's and hoisting him out of his chair and dragging him out the door.

Chris's POV

Wyatt led him around the palace much to Chris's dismay. He felt ashamed and embarrassed and out of place and truth be told he would much rather be hiding in his room. He would admit that each time they went into a new room or around a corner into a new corridor he would forget all of this momentarily being swept away in awe of what he was seeing. Wyatt has showed him his room, which was a lot smaller that Chris's but still awfully big, his parent room, the doors of his sister's, cousins', aunts' and uncles' rooms, the 'private' lounge room and the 'public' lounge which Wyatt explain was where they sometimes help casual meetings, the gardens and a rather large gym and pool. All these rooms he explained were part of the royal wing and only there family was allowed in there without permission, not that Joshua ever listened, that was apparently the name of the elder that had barged into his room this morning. Wyatt then proceeded to lead him out through a massive set of golden double doors at least four metres high which marked where the royal wing started. On the other side of the door stood six guards, three on each side of the door, decked out in armour with green tunics emblazed with a dragon flying in front of the triquetra. Upon seeing who exited the door, they bowed deeply saying, "Your Royal Highness," to Chris then turned to his brother and greeted him in a similar fashion, "My Lord." Wyatt gave them a warm smile before turning back to Chris who was red with embarrassment and was looking very uncomfortable at all the attention.

Wyatt put his arm around his back to offer him a bit of support, before continuing, "Chris this is Anthony, Kieran, James, Rose, Laura, and Marcus." He said introducing each of the guards in turn, "Members of the royal guard."

Chris managed to give them all a weak smile, he could see the worry for him in their eyes. He was shocked that he knew Anthony, Kieran and Laura from the 'bad future', they had been three of his six best friends, he had watch each of them die in battle in fact. He wanted so much to go up and hug each one of them, but didn't know if it was right to do so, 'how on earth was he meant to act?' It was almost as if Laura, could read him mind (perhaps she could, she was a telepath after all) as she stepped out of line and embraced him in a tight hug. The feeling of intimateness with this woman sparked a memory.

He was walking up the corridor towards the large golden door, giving a big warm smile to the guards at the door, they returned the smile and bowed greeting him with, "Your Royal Highness." It was not nearly as formal as the one they had just given him back in 'reality', it was cheeky as if they knew how much the formality of it annoyed him.

"How did you guys get stuck on guard duty?" He asked the six people, Anthony, Laura and Kieran were joined tonight be Jess, Millie and Joe.

"We offered," Jess replied, "It's not like we can get out of guard duty, just because we are the future king's closest friends."

"Plus, guarding your door is much better than guarding any other place in the palace." Said Ant

"Yeah, it's warm, not many people come around here and it is really easy to know who is allowed in or not." Added Millie before Joe finished.

"Yep, It's are you a Halliwell? No? Then scam dude! There is none of this 'what is your business at the palace?' that you have to ask if you are on the main gate."

Chris chuckled, "So basically you are admitting to be lazy and using me as an excuse to get your way."

"Precisely," said Laura.

"How long have you been here?"

"Just fifteen minutes, three hours and forty five minutes to go." She said in a monotone voice as if reading off a script.

"Well if that is the case, are you coming in?" This was clearly a well practiced conversation.

"Oh, we couldn't possibly leave our posts, your highness!" Millie said with an over exaggerated bow and a high voice full of fake shock.

"You can guard the door just as well from the other side." Chris continued on the familiar conversation with a smile on his face.

"We really shouldn't, Your Majesty." Said Joe, putting on a bad British accent to accompany the silly bow he gave, causing Chris to chuckle, though he had to scowl at the use of 'that' title. Joe got bored with playing out this act each week and had now decided to say his line in different accents each time.

"Well, I insist," Chris's voice was full of fake authority.

"Well if you insist, we cannot refuse then, Your Highness," Jess finished with a giggle before she walked around Chris into the public lounge and fell onto one of the couches.

As the others followed Chris grabbed Joe by the shoulder and he turned to him, "I'm not 'Your Majesty' yet."

"It's not long until you will be, my friend, you need to start accepting it, I am only trying to help." He said clasping Chris on the shoulder, giving him a small sad smile, knowing exactly how much Chris was scared of being king, before joining the others on the couch.

Chris, left to close the door, chuckled at his six best friends in full armour as they sank deep into the couches. He knew at the end of the night he would have to pull each one of them out from the pillows as they had trouble doing it themselves covered in the metal.

As he came out of the memory he couldn't help but smile at the fact that he had chosen the same friends as he had before and that here they were very much alive. He squeezed her back and muttered "Hi Laura," In her ear.

She put him at arms distance, "You remember me?" a tear running down her cheek. It was such a strange sight to see this strong woman decked out in kick arse armour crying.

"Yes, I think we will always be good friends no matter what world we are in, plus I am starting to remember, stuff about all this." He gave a small gesture around the corridor.

She was crying and grinning from ear to ear now. "That's good, it's really good, you will be better before you know it."

"I hope so."

"We know so!" said Kieran stepping out of the line and clasping him on the shoulder. Chris turned and hugged both him and Ant in turn, it was strange to hug people in armour, it was kind of like hugging a steal drum.

Laura gave him a gentle push up the corridor, "Go, and see the palace for the first time, for the ... second time? Wow that sounds weird." She said with a giggle, "And I expect you to have many more memories by the time you get back." She saw that he was reluctant to leave. "What, don't want to leave us?" She joked, knowing perfectly well that was not his reason for hesitation, "Don't worry, we will be here when you get back, we only just started out shift." With that, Wyatt grabbed his wrist and dragged him away.

Bianca's POV

The two cousins walked through the bustling streets of Camelot, going virtually unnoticed by the citizens as they had shed their traditional black leather they wore in the underworld and replacing it with something more 'surface looking'. Each woman now wore a pair of blue jeans and green tops. The figured given the festive day this was meant to be the more patriotic they dressed the less chance they had of drawing unwanted attention. Though, she thought, they would have to redefine unwanted attention as they had already drawn the glances of more than one young man with the low rise and boob clinging tops they wore. They had dressed this way on purpose, fully intending to have to flirt their way past the front gate to the palace.

Bianca let her eyes wander around the city. It was definitely the most beautiful city she had ever seen with its white marble that seemed to shimmer like snow, the brightly coloured banners and the flowering gardens and window ledges blooming with life. She almost seemed to have a sense of morning and regret for what they were about to do. If they were successful in a few hours the bustle of this street would turn into pure chaos and riots and in a few months with no king to keep the city awake it would be abandoned and left to sleep until Excalibur chose a new heir.

Bianca and Katrina made their way up the spiralling road towards the Huge palace at the top of the hill. It became apparent ass they drew closer to the large main gate that the belief that there were going to have to flirt their way in was not going to be the case. There were a huge group of people, citizens and journalist alike, crowding around the gate. These gates were generally open, allowing the public entrance to the public areas of the palace but it seemed with the day's events and its effect on the general public, mainly the mass hysteria, it had been deemed appropriate for the gates to be closed. All the better for them, more outside security would mean less security inside the palace. With all the guards distracted with the masses of people, the two women snuck into the bushes and then over the large wall, none paying them any notice.

(End of Chapter 6)

I hope you enjoy it, it will definately pick up in the next chapter with a confrontation between the brothers and Bianca and Katrina.

Bye for now, definately not for ever

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