AN: Hi everyone, I know its been a little while but my exams are over at last! For those of you who do read this and have facebook, check out the page Charmed Forever. I know it's a little boring atm but it's getting better I promise. Please, if you are reading this, reviews are much appriciated. I apologise if any of the characters seem a little OOC (out of character). Kallie xx
Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed or Tangled, just Jenna, Rosie, Ferrin and Reuben, oh and Mellie although she's based on the little girl in the end of the episode Forever Charmed (the last one) who Piper gives a lunch box to along with Chris and Wyatt.
Christmas in Halliwell Manner 2010
What's light, right and heart breaking
"Wyatt! Let her go now!" yelled Chris.
"No. she's our only hope of me getting my revenge on her boyfriend," said Wyatt, holding her above the ground.
"If she's our only hope, then I think you better treat her with a little more respect."
"I think not. You see, if I let her go, what's to say she won't go running off and warning him. At least with her here, I know that she's not told him."
"So, so why didn't you kill him when you had the chance?" asked Jenna, trying to pull Wyatt's fingers away from her throat.
Wyatt looked at her a little shocked. "How did you know I've seen him?"
"Because… do you mind letting go of my throat, at least a little as your crushing my windpipe."
Wyatt loosened his grip but didn't let go. "Thank you. You think that I'm weak? You know nothing about me. Even you Chris are only beginning to learn. But I'm not going to tell you my secrets. I also know that he ran away before you could get to him and someone else told you about me and I am going to kill him when I get my hands on him."
Wyatt chuckled. "That's my sister. You've got the Halliwell temper and tendency to exaggerate and overreact."
"Yeah, well I don't want to be anything like you at the moment Wyatt. You're hell-bent on revenge but I can fix things without getting anyone hurt or killed. I can bring back Mum."
"Mum. Are you English? How come you're English if you're my sister?"
Jenna sighed and stopped pulling at Wyatt's wrists around her neck. "I already explained it to Chris. I'm not going to try and explain it to you too. If you really want to know, ask Chris. I'm out of here." Jenna orbed out, leaving Wyatt standing clutching at thin air.
Wyatt looked around shocked. "What? Where did she go? Chris, did you know she could orb?"
Chris stood up slowly, the weight gone from him. "No. Actually she might have mentioned it briefly. I know she couldn't orb a couple of years ago but now… I don't know. I'm only beginning to know her."
Wyatt nodded thoughtfully. "So where would she go now?"
Chris backed away. "Oh no, I'm not going to tell you. You aren't getting hold of her again. I'm going to help her fix this without anyone getting hurt, including her boyfriend."
"Chris, he killed Mom! Are you really going to let him get away with this?"
"Yes. We don't know why but from what it sounds like, he has no choice. If he gets told to do something by his bosses, he has to, otherwise he's dead. Wyatt, we're supposed to protect the innocent, not punish the guilty. You know Aunt Phoebe learnt that the hard way. Mom and Aunt Prue watched her burn! I'm sorry but I'm not going to help you get revenge. I'm going to help Jenna fix this."
Wyatt raised his fist to hit his brother and lowered it as Chris stumbled backwards and orbed away. He chuckled and watched the disappearing orbs. "Oh don't worry, it will get fixed but I'm going to get to her before you can." He orbed away, tracking his brothers orbs that followed his younger sisters.
Jenna stumbled but kept running. Running through the Tomalicalo woods should have been no problem for her, she'd spent her life growing up in them, but things were different. Everything was beginning to change. She hadn't realised how much impact her sister had had on her life. Without Melinda, she'd never been born. She could hear Wyatt and Chris behind her, fighting and struggling to see who could get to her first. As she looked back over her shoulder and she ran, she smiled. It looked just like in Tangled when Maximus and Flynn aka Eugene had struggled to get to the satchel containing the crown, but this time, she was the prize, not some piece of jewellery. But she wasn't worried about herself, it was Reuben. She couldn't bear to think what would happen if Wyatt got to him first.
"If Chris is right, and that's a big if, then I've got to talk to Reuben to stop this. If I'm right then I need to get to him to keep Wyatt from killing him for no reason. But I don't think Chris is right. I know Reuben. He wouldn't do anything to hurt me, not willingly. But then I don't know what control they have over him," she muttered to herself.
She could feel Reuben was close but she couldn't see him. As far as she knew he didn't have the power to become invisible.
"Reu, where are you?" she asked, skidding to a halt. "Reu, please. If you can hear me, you've got to listen. I need to talk to you. Where are you? Please!" Jenna sank to her knees and sobbed.
Chris ran into the clearing and saw her in a heap on the ground. He walked over to her and held her in his arms. "Shh. I'm sorry. We'll find him I promise."
Jenna wiped her eyes and leant back against him. "But, if you're right he killed Mum and me! Why would he kill me if he loves me? I thought he wanted to keep me safe but he was just making it so he could kill me himself. How could he do this? How could I not know? I thought he loved me." She began crying again and he stroked her hair.
"I'm sure he does love you. Maybe he didn't know that he killed you. Maybe it was an accident. Maybe he was forced to. Maybe, maybe he didn't do it. You have to go and talk to him about it. Come on."
"It doesn't matter anymore. Chris, he… Why? Why should it matter if I talk to him or not? I don't care if he dies anymore. Why should I care? He killed me."
Chris laughed and hugged her. "Well you're not dead yet, you're still here. Now don't be like that. Of course you care, otherwise you wouldn't have it rattling around in your head. You love him and I'm sure he loves you. Come on, who wouldn't? Do you trust me?"
"What?"
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course I trust you. Why wouldn't I? You're my big brother."
"But you don't trust Wyatt," Chris pointed out.
"I know but… I do normally, just not right now because he's hell bent on revenge."
"Okay. Before we go find Reuben, I think I know where we can get help." Chris stood up and pulled Jenna to her feet.
Jenna wiped her eyes. "Okay but where are we going?"
Chris laughed. "Don't you trust me anymore? You'll just have to wait and see."
Jenna frowned. "Wait, Chris, I thought –"
As they orbed out of the woods, Wyatt stumbled into the clearing. He sighed and went to bring them back but changed his mind. He stroked his beard evilly. "Maybe I'll follow them and see where they go. Who knows, they could lead me to her boyfriend who made this mess." He chuckled and followed them.
As Jenna and Chris orbed into an attic, Jenna pulled away from Chris.
"Okay, where have you brought me? Who can help us? What is going on?"
Chris sighed. "Alright, you want to know? Look around. Where are we?"
Jenna looked around startled. "But this… this… this is the attic. It looks like it does normally for me. Why? When I went to the manor, it was so bad. There was a hole in my room! But… but…"
Chris chuckled. "You're not the only one who can travel in time you know. We share the same parents. And actually it's correctly called time shifting."
"Okay, but why are we here? I don't get it. When are we and why?"
"Well, you remember Mom telling us how she and Dad went back in time and used the powers of the generations to help them reverse time, well I thought we could. If things are as normal and I think I hear Mom so I guess this is before Mom died."
"And Mellie was born," Jenna added.
"And Mellie was born. Mellie. That's an unusual name."
"Yep. That's what everyone calls her, well I do at least but she's really called Melinda after our great-great-great lots of great's grandmother."
"Oh I see. Right, so shall we go and ask Mom for help?"
Jenna shook her head and backed away. "No. They don't even know I exist. I can't just walk up to them and say 'Oh, Piper, you're going to die. My boyfriend kills you, and oh by the way I'm your daughter who hasn't been born yet and won't be because you die before you and Dad decide to have any more kids', right that will work, not."
Chris rolled his eyes. "Don't be sarky. You managed to persuade me."
"With Aunt Prue's help!"
"Well call Aunt Prue then. She may be dead but you can call her."
Jenna ran a hand through her hair. "I know but I hate it. And it's not fair to disturb her. And, and like she's going to know who I am. If things have changed and she is now gone, with time having caught up, she's not going to remember who I are."
"I don't care. What can I say to make you go and tell them?"
"I don't know! Say 'It's fine Jen, nothing is wrong. Of course your boyfriend didn't kill Mum. Of course none of this is real. You're not dying and you should exist. It's all in your head'. Say that. Make it all better."
"You know I can't because not all of it is true."
"So you are saying Reu killed Mum."
"NO! What I'm saying is that things are wrong. You should exist but you don't, not really. I don't want to lose you, not after I've just found out you're my sister."
"Very touching," drawled Wyatt as he appeared in the attic. "Now, you know Chris, you're breaking my heart."
"You don't have a heart," snapped Jenna.
Wyatt feigned being hurt. "Ouch sis. That really hurt."
"What are you doing here? Come to make me find Reuben for you? What's the point in even bothering? You know I won't help you if you're going to kill him, especially not after how you treated me, your own sister."
Wyatt blinked. "I'm sorry Jenna. You're right, I'm just after revenge." Wyatt smiled cruelly. "But if you're needed to get me my revenge…" Wyatt lunged forward and grabbed Jenna. "Don't even think of orbing away. Nice little trick there by the way but it doesn't matter anymore because I now know. The element of surprise is no longer in your favour."
Jenna struggled against Wyatt and tried to pull away. "I don't think so. Again, you know nothing about me whatsoever."
"Wyatt, let her go!" yelled Chris.
Jenna twisted round to glare at Chris. "Quiet. I don't want them involved in this."
Wyatt looked down at Jenna. "Don't want who involved?"
"Wyatt, look around you. Where are we? Actually, why are you here? I'd forgotten you could Chris because you rarely did but Wyatt couldn't and neither could Mellie."
Chris nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, you're right. Unless he travelled with us. He could have hijacked the orbs but… That's got to be it."
"What on earth are you two talking about?" yelled Wyatt, a little confused.
"Never you mind. Now, Wyatt, let her go or you'll have to deal with me."
Wyatt laughed. "You? Oh my. My little brother threatening me the twice blessed child. You are nothing compared to me."
"Shut up! You're my brother. You're not meant to say that. But I am as strong as you. I may not have the same powers as you, I may not be the wielder of Excalibur but I am a twice blessed child like you as Dad was still a whitelighter when I was born. I am just as powerful as you are, even if it's not in the same thing. I follow Mom a lot more than you do, making me a better witch."
"So? Everyone knows whitelighters are far better than witches."
"And if you don't let me go, I'll set my friend Rosie on you. She's half and half like you and Chris."
Wyatt snorted. "Right, but I'm also a child of a Charmed One. What hope does your friend have against me?"
Jenna stopped thrashing. "If she's even my friend anymore."
Chris looked at Jenna. "You've had an argument?"
"I bet it's about your stupid turncoat boyfriend who killed Mom," stated Wyatt, tightening his grip on Jenna. "Your stupid boyfriend killed Mom. What kind of person let's their boyfriend kill their Mom? I've got a sap for a sister who can be played by a monster. Kill me now."
"With pleasure," snarled Chris as he watched tears slide down Jenna's cheeks. "Can't you see it's making Jenna upset? Don't you care about anyone but yourself?"
"Yes, I cared about Mom but she's dead all because of our stupid sister's boyfriend."
"Oh, so now you accept she's our sister."
"Look at her; she's a Halliwell through and through. If she's not our sister then I'm a little pink pig in a pink frilly dress. I never disbelieved she was our sister, unlike you."
"You didn't believe her. You called her a sap and called her weak, gullible and playable."
"No I didn't."
"Yes you did. Why else do you think she's crying?"
"Because she's a sap."
"There you go again, calling her a sap."
"Just shut up, the both of you!" Yelled Jenna. "Neither of you know squat about this situation. I'm fed up with this. Wyatt, please, you've got to stop this idea of revenge. There's no way I am going to let you hurt him. Just work with me and Chris and we'll sort this out, I promise. Please Wy."
"And if don't? What are you going to do about it?"
"More than you could ever think. I can show you I'm not a sap and that I know what I'm doing. Wyatt, I can make you see just what Reuben and I share. I can make you be on my side."
"Yeah right," sneered Wyatt. "How? How could you, a child of just a witch and a mortal make me, a twice blessed child be on your side?"
Jenna smiled. "There are ways. One thing you've forgotten is that I can orb." Jenna orbed away from Wyatt. "How do you think I can do that?" She held up her hand and pulled it back, magically pulling Wyatt's hands behind his back. Before Wyatt who could do anything, Jenna moved her finger in a sideways figure of eight and his wrists were sharply tied together. She brought her hand down and he mirrored it, falling heavily to his knees. "Wyatt, you may be a twice blessed child and the holder of Excalibur, but I, brother dear, am one of only two people in every world who has the other half of my power, which is the reason for most of them. Wyatt Matthew Halliwell, you will listen to me. For the last time, will you help me make things right without anyone dying or getting hurt except the bad guys, generic term I know, especially without hurting Reuben at all?"
Wyatt glared at Jenna from the ground. "No. I want that demon-bastard dead."
Jenna shrugged. "Fine. Oh, by the way, keep your hair like that. Look at me. Look at me!"
Jenna walked forward and grabbed Wyatt's chin. As she knelt down next to him, Wyatt lunged forward, biting her hand and pushing her, sprawling backwards. Chris grabbed Wyatt and pushed him back on the ground.
Chris looked at Jenna. "Are you alright? Your hand. It's… bleeding." Chris wacked Wyatt round his head. "You don't bite. Wyatt, she is our sister."
"Don't care," Wyatt muttered. "It's all her fault anyway."
Chris raised his hand again to hit him again and turned to Jenna. "Are you alright?"
Jenna sat up slowly and stared at her hand, watching it heal, a little shocked. "You… you bit me. For 17 years, you never hurt me, never let anyone hurt me, but you…"
"You git." Chris moved his hand back to hit Wyatt.
"No Chris. Don't hit him," said Jenna, slowly rising to her feet. "Just hold him there please."
Chris let his hand fall and grabbed Wyatt's hair and jerked his head back sharply. Jenna placed her hands on either side of Wyatt's face. She closed her eyes and opened them again, flinching slightly.
"How… Alright, I'll just have to tell you." She stepped back and looked at him. "Where shadows live among the bleak, what angels had and now do seek. A love so strong and in hearts does dwell, between a demon and a Halliwell. A love so true shall conquer all, when joined together, darkness falls. Light and love will win as they should, what's thought as bad is truly good. Though both so strong and one seems bad, it's not his fault but from the life he's had. Together they fight, together they stand, to rid all evil from this land. When at last both sides unite, to rid the evil and its darkest night. They fight as one, to join the worlds, a fire-wielder and a Halliwell girl."
Wyatt closed his eyes and hung limp in Chris's arms. Jenna closed her eyes and sighed heavily. Wyatt opened his eyes suddenly and watched Jenna crash to the ground, the rope disappearing. Chris let go of Wyatt and ran towards Jenna. He lifted her head off the ground and looked down at her worriedly. Wyatt slowly stumbled towards Chris and Jenna.
"Is she alright? Oh God, have I… Is she dead?"
Chris checked her pulse and shook his head. "She's still breathing. Had you ever heard that before?"
Wyatt shook his head and frowned. "No. But she was right. I'm sorry Chris. This isn't about revenge, it's about making things right. That's what I'm going to do; I'm going to help you make it right. Past mistakes don't matter and I hope in time mine will be forgotten."
Chris looked at his older brother. "Wy, what have you done? You haven't hurt her boyfriend have you? Have you hurt Reuben?"
Jenna stirred and Wyatt looked around nervously, unsure of what to say. Jenna sat up and looked around. "What about Reuben?" she asked groggily.
"Nothing, nothing," replied Wyatt hastily as he lifted her to her feet.
Jenna shook her head. "I heard you and Chris talking and he said 'Have you hurt Reuben' and you never answered. Wyatt, have you hurt Reuben?"
Chris turned to Wyatt. "So you're now on our side? No tricks, no lies, no double crossing and backhand shenanigans?"
"No tricks, no nothing. I'm going to help you, I promise."
Jenna held her hands up. "Stop. You're not distracting me. What past mistakes? What have you done to Reuben?"
Chris held up a hand for them to be quiet. "Shush. I think they can hear us," he said as he listened to voices coming from outside the attic.
"Definitely coming from in here. Piper, you go in first."
"No. I may be the oldest but why should I go in first?"
"Well if it's your house and if it's demons, they'd have attacked us already. They're not after the book; they can't get it. Maybe they want to talk to us."
"Well why don't they ring the doorbell then? I hate members of the magical community dropping in whenever they feel like."
"Piper, just go in!"
The attic door flew open and Piper tumbled in followed by Phoebe and Paige. Piper stopped and stared at Chris, Wyatt and Jenna in surprise.
"Chris, Wyatt. What are you doing here? Who's this? A friend of yours?"
"Piper! Hi, I'm Paige. Are you alright?"
Jenna stared at Piper and sighed sadly. "It doesn't matter, I'm leaving anyway. Wyatt, where did you last see Reuben?"
"Um, I… found him in the citadel," replied Wyatt scratching his head a bit unsure.
"Cornered him more like," she muttered. She turned to walk out of the attic and stopped. "I can't. it's just odd. I'm sorry, for everything."
"Jen, don't go. We can sort this out," called Chris as Jenna orbed away. "Jenna!" He kicked the wall in frustration and rounded on Wyatt. "Look what you've done. Don't you get it? She's more powerful than both of us put together, she must be. I don't know any non-whitelighter or non-part whitelighter who can orb, least of all control anyone as easily as she controlled you. And the rhyme…" Chris dashed over to the book much to the surprise of Piper, Phoebe and Paige who had no idea what was going on.
Piper looked from Chris to Wyatt. "No hi Mom? How are you? How are my favourite aunts?"
Wyatt shrugged nervously and hugged Piper. "Hi Mom. Sorry for… this. Are you alright? How's Dad?"
Piper let go and stepped back. "Why don't you ask him yourself. Stay a little while. Chris?"
Chris kept flicking through the book but didn't look up. "No, sorry Mom, can't. You know the book by heart. Does it have legends or myths in it?"
Paige walked up to the book. "Of course." She waved a hand and the book forward and stopped at a page marked legends.
Chris smiled quickly at Paige. "Thanks Aunt Paige." He flicked forward a couple of pages and scowled. "It's not… wait, here it is." He turned a page and hit it with his hand. "Word for word. It looks old. I don't think Jenna would set it up just to persuade you or anyone else who doubted them. How would she know it would happen? She changes things, so why if she knew it was going to happen didn't she change it? Which means it is true and it's passed down from generation to generation. But I never noticed it before. Mom, Aunt Phoebe, Aunt Paige, have you?"
Piper walked forward. "Seen what Chris?" She looked down at the page and read it out. "Where shadows live among the bleak, what angels had and now do seek. A love so strong and in hearts does dwell, between a demon and a Halliwell. A love so true shall conquer all, when joined together, darkness falls. Light and love will win as they should, what's thought as bad is truly good. Though both so strong and one seems bad, it's not his fault but from the life he's had. Together they fight, together they stand, to rid all evil from this land. When at last both sides unite, to rid the evil and its darkest night. They fight as one, to join the worlds, a fire-wielder and Halliwell girl. Yes, I read this after Cole died for the last time. I always thought it was about him and Phoebe apart from the last bit. Are you saying it's about someone else?"
"The girl perhaps? Jenna," said Phoebe looking at Wyatt.
"Maybe. Look, we're dealing with it," said Wyatt, running a hand through his hair.
"No!" yelled Chris. "You've done enough already. You are not doing anything except apologise to her but you're not doing that yet. I'm going to find her. Just stay here, or go back home, just stay keep away from Jenna." Chris stepped away from the book and orbed out.
Piper turned and looked at Wyatt. "What's going on?"
Wyatt shook his head. "I really shouldn't explain. It's going to be sorted, I promise."
Piper stared at Wyatt and frowned. "Are you evil? You look different."
"No I'm not evil. Jenna made sure of that. I just… prefer my hair like this, that's all."
"Are you older? You look different besides the hair, older than when you came back last week."
"I did? I do? I guess. Yes, yes I am. Several years then."
Piper nodded. "Wyatt, please, what's going on?"
"I'm sorry Mom, but I really can't tell you. We're trying to change something to how it should be."
"Like Chris did when you were evil?" asked Phoebe.
Paige nudged her. "He doesn't know about that." She looked at Wyatt's puzzled expression and laughed. "Never mind. So are you staying here for a bit?"
"No, I really should be getting home. Mom, did you and Dad decide to not have any more kids?"
Piper shook her head. "No, of course not. It's just dangerous, and bad timing. We've just got rid of the triad completely and there's been havoc in the underworld, despite the fact that they know they will be defeated. Sometimes I wonder if having a main bad leader wasn't so bad after all. At least we weren't being attacked every 5 minutes by the next lot of demons trying to take control. Why do you ask?" She looked at Wyatt, paled and wobbled. "Never mind." She raced past the others and headed towards the bathroom.
Phoebe blinked and headed towards the door. "I'd better go and see if she's alright."
Wyatt stepped in front of her and grabbed her arm. "Just leave her, she'll be fine."
Paige folded her arms and looked at him questioningly. "How do you know? What do you know that you aren't telling us?"
Wyatt rolled his eyes and let go of Phoebe. "You're forgetting I'm from the future. I know that… that Mom will be fine. Look, if you really want to know, I can tell you, but you can't tell anyone else - strictly between us for now. Mom's pregnant."
Phoebe and Paige squealed happily.
"Another Halliwell baby! We can be baby buddies," cried Phoebe, placing her hand on her slightly swollen stomach. She frowned and turned to Wyatt. "She doesn't know?"
He shook his head. "She may do, she just hasn't told anyone yet if she does, which means you shouldn't know."
Paige looked at Wyatt. "Is that why you're here? To check that Piper is pregnant?"
Wyatt stood still and said nothing, avoiding eye contact.
Paige clicked her fingers and smiled. "I bet it's something to do with the girl."
"Jenna," replied Wyatt quickly, not paying attention to what he'd just said.
"Who's Jenna?" asked Leo as he walked into the attic.
"No-one," chorused Paige, Phoebe and Wyatt.
Wyatt smiled and hugged Leo. "Hi Dad."
Leo hugged him back. "Hi son. How are you?" He let go. ""Where's Chris?"
Wyatt shrugged nervously. "Around. He's just sorting something out."
Phoebe looked at Wyatt. "Well hadn't you better go and apologise to her? You hurt her a lot by whatever it is you've done. I felt her pain; she was really upset. I know Chris said no, but you've got to talk to her and make sure you apologise to her."
Wyatt nodded. "You're right, thank you."
Wyatt orbed out, leaving Leo staring at Phoebe and Paige, who were shuffling nervously and trying to retain their excitement.
"What's going on?" asked Leo.
"Nothing," replied Paige quickly. "Why don't you go and see if Piper's alright."
"She just ran out of the room a little pale," added Phoebe.
Leo looked at them dubiously and shook his head. "Alright."
Leo wandered down the stairs and to the bathroom. He knocked on the door and slowly walked in. "Piper honey, are you alright?"
Piper looked at Leo from knelt on the floor next to the toilet. "I'm pregnant."