Chapter 4

Third point of view

The dinner went well. There were lots of laughing and everybody told about their day and shared the emotions. But Piper couldn't get rid of the feeling and during dinner she was glancing at her middle son, Chris. She noticed that he didn't take part in any discussion. He just sat there looking at his plate and playing with food. He basically didn't eat a bite of dinner. Piper decided to try and talk to him.

"Chris, how was your day?" she asked carefully. Chris just shrugged and mumbled Ok. Nobody at the table didn't pay attention to it and still continued their conversation. Piper tried to have a conversation with Chris again. "Honey, why don't you eat? Aren't you hungry?"

"I'm fine, Pi… mum" Chris stopped himself of calling Piper by name, and he raised his eyes to see if she noticed. Looking at her he saw the hurt. She DID notice his mistake. Piper looked around the table and started to gather the plates.

"Piper, do you need help?" Paige asked.

"No, thanks. I can do it myself. I'm not that old Paige, you know." Piper tried to joke and offered a small smile.

"Ok then. But if you need help just call."

With that Piper left for the kitchen. Phoebe followed her. The whole evening her empathy was playing funny. She knew that something was bothering her older sister. And she wanted to know what. Coming into the kitchen she stayed there silent for a couple of minutes, watching her sister. She saw that Piper was deep in her thought. Phoebe didn't want to scare her so she cleared her throat. Piper jumped a little in surprise and turned to face her baby sister.

"Phoebe! You scared me!"

"Piper, what's going on? You were off the whole evening. What's bothering you?" she waited for a few seconds and continued. "I've been watching you for already an hour and you don't behave yourself as usual. You're far too quiet."

Piper wiped her hands and replied "It's Chris. He's skipping school, spending time somewhere else and I don't know where. And as I found out today he doesn't communicate with anybody in this house. And you're not exception."

"Well, he's a teenage boy, they all are this way at this age."

"Wyatt wasn't, and Paul isn't this way." Piper said turning to the window. "Today I got the call from the school consular and she asked me the question about Chris, which is bothering me. And I guess she was right asking me that."

"What do you mean?"

"She asked if I'm paying the same attention to Chris as other my kids. And you know I observed him at the dinner and tried to remember him laughing or smiling at least and I couldn't. I don't remember when was the last time I spent my time with him alone, just doing something together when there's nobody. When was the last time I talked to him about his feelings, dreams and wishes. And now I think I never did." Piper had tears running down her cheeks. "All I did was screaming at him and never trying to find the reason to his behavior."

"Piper, you know you still have time. And I'm sure you're exaggerating. I sure you are talking to him and he definitely loves you. You're the best mother ever. If you don't believe me ask people in the living room."

"Mum, I need to go to the club and check that everything is just fine there. Call me if you need me." Sisters heard Wyatt shouting from the hall. Right now he was the manager at the club and did really like that role. Hearing that the eldest of the two looked at the watch and said:

"It's time for the dessert and we've been hear too long. I surprised that they haven't sent search team."

"Ok. Let me help you to set the table for the dessert." They both started to take out cups and prepare dishes with the dessert. From the living room they could hear the laughing and happy chatting. And Piper wished that one of these voices belonged to her middle son. But deep inside she knew that it was only her wish.

After the dessert Paige and Phoebe began to get ready to go home. Paige's twins came to Paul and asked him if he could get them partners for the party.

"I can ask some of my friends if you like. But you'll owe a big time. And I can't promise anything."

With that families left for home and Piper and Leo exchange glances. It was time to talk to Chris. At the moment Paul ran up to his room to call his girlfriend.

Chris noticed the exchange and he knew that it's time. He was surprised that his parents didn't scold him the moment he appeared earlier. But again moments later after him orbing to the manor his aunts arrived and the main attention was shifted to them. To say the truth he was glad. He didn't want to have the great fight with them present. He knew his mother was watching him during dinner and actually he was taken aback when she tried to make a conversation with him, but when she understood she failed she stopped trying and that was good for him. Now his aunts left, Wyatt was at work and Paul was chatting with his loved one, he knew it was high time to talk to him about his 'skipped' lessons.

"Well, you can start your shouting. I'm waiting." Chris told them with a sigh and crossed his arm on the chest.

Piper and Leo looked at him and gasped. They never anticipated such hostility from their second born. They wanted to talk to him peacefully as they planned before dinner. But according Chris' body language that was not going to happen. It was obvious he knew what was coming and wanted to end it as fast as possible. But Piper didn't want to shout and had no intention to do it. So she took deep breath in and tried to start talking as calm as it was possible in current situation.

A/N: Next chapter is the fight begins!