Chapter 10

Third PoV

It was six months since the day Chris Halliwell left. The life in the manor had changed, well everything changed. Right now you could barely hear any conversations or laughter. Piper buried herself in work, busying herself with problems of the restaurant and club. Every free minute she spent scrying, making potions and writing spell to find her son. All night long she could look at the picture of her middle son. The only picture she had found where was only Chris and he was smiling happily. One more thing that devastated her was she could not find any decent photo of him, only where he stood aside the whole family or he was in the background with nobody around.

Leo stayed his whole time 'up there', trying to find the information about neutrals and preparing every document. He looked for any opportunity to meet them, he still remembered his son's words about them being his family. It was scaring him that he would never get his father position back. Wyatt was much like Piper, he did everything he could to find his younger brother, but nothing gave expected results. He would go to the Underworld for information, talk with Seers and anybody who was willing to talk to him. Paul tried to follow his daily routine, but even for him it was difficult to see his parents, speak to them and make what they asked. He was the only one who didn't do anything to bring his older brother home. He knew that Chris would come home only when he was ready and knew that he was really part of the family.

As for the others parts of the Halliwell they continued live their lives, but all cousins now were more understandable, they re-thought their behavior, when they really looked back. Phoebe and Paige used their mortal resources to find Chris but all efforts were for nothing. Each of them wished they were better aunts. Only their husbands kept their heads cool. They knew that it was only them who could make the family to keep going.

It was Saturday and for the first time in half a year Piper decided to gather her family together for the outdoors BBQ. As a matter of fact that was Coop's idea and Piper agreed with him that may be they need to forget about their problem just for one afternoon and to feel themselves as a family again. They came to the decision to stay at the manor and use the backyard for the purpose. Everybody had small talks with each other, but still nobody laughed or even showed the smallest sign of joy. Piper looked around the place and didn't find her youngest son. She knew that she wasn't the model mum in last six months but she also understood that it was the effect of Chris leaving, Paul closed himself from them. She went back to the living-room and saw him sitting near the fireplace looking at his and Chris' photo together.

"It's not your fault he left." She said. He raised his head finally noticing her presence.

"I know but it doesn't mean that I didn't see it coming and I did nothing." He replied.

"What do you mean?"

"I saw him a couple of times when he discussed his other family with his friends, I heard him saying some things that couldn't go with you or dad. I saw how he rolled his eyes sometimes when we hunted demons and killed them and when it took us so many efforts. He looked like he could take them alone without our help, but chose to keep it the way you wanted."

"You know, Paul, I thought about it too. He never put much strength to help us. He never listened to me, and I can remember several occasions where he almost called me by name. Don't blame yourself for what we didn't see." She shook her head and looked at her son again. "I think we should go. The dinner is getting cold."

For the first time in months Piper felt herself something different then failure. They both stood up and left the room. As she predicted everybody was ready to take their seats. She started gave them their plates. And a few minutes later the back yard was filled with the good-natured conversations, jokes and even laughter. They finally started to feel like family again. Next hour went without accidents and they were pretty happy.

Suddenly there were blue and white orbes, that showed the Elder in his golden robe. It was Odin. He looked around the yard and then focused on Leo. He knew about their situation and he really tried to help them but nothing they did helped the family. And now he was here to invite Leo to the closing meeting with the Neutrals. He knew this discussion wouldn't go well.

"Leo, I'm sorry to interrupt your family dinner, but I need you to come with me. Neutrals said that they are ready to finish the revision. And they want to end it today." Leo looked around the table and saw whole different emotions some of them were relief, anger and even happiness. Then he watched his wife. Her eyes were wide with surprise and before he could chance to answer Piper began talking.

"Why only Leo? These people took my son from me and you expect me to sit here and wait. It's not going to happen."

"I'm sorry about what happened with Chris and I'm aware of your position and your wishes in this but that doesn't mean I will neglect the strait order. I was asked to invite Leo and only him." Odin answered sternly.

"But that's unfair. We want to know that he's ok. That's all. Is it too much to ask? I want to know how my brother is!" Wyatt exclaimed.

"I understand that you want your brother back, Twice-Blessed child, but I think when they will be ready to talk to you and discuss Chris they will come themselves and won't send messenger."

"But you can't stop us from coming 'Up There'." Wyatt replied stubbornly.

"I can't, but they can. They informed me that they put shield to prevent your arrival. The shield will protect from arrival anybody they don't want. So it's out of questions." After that the family fell silent.

During this whole conversation Leo didn't say a word. All he could think of was that he would finally meet people who became his middle son's family. He wanted to know how they did it, how they won his trust and so much respect. Over those six months he tried to believe that Chris was under some kind of spell, which purpose was to break the family. His look fall on his wife. She was pissed. He knew that she wanted to go as much as he did and she was declined that right.

Piper thought about the way to get there and meet those who stole her son. She understood perfectly in her head that nobody stole him, but her heart still didn't come in term with the fact that she failed one of her children. She knew if she lost the opportunity to meet them now, she wouldn't get the chance in the near future. Unfortunately she didn't know how to do that. For these months she learnt the only thing about Neutrals. They were much more powerful than the Charmed ever were and they had power over Elders and it only meant they were even more powerful.

For couple minutes there was heavy silence. Every person was deep in his/her thoughts. Then Leo took a loud breath and with a snap of his fingers he was wearing his robe. He understood that they couldn't wait any longer. If they wanted answers he had to get to the meeting.

"I go." He said trying to stay calm. "I will have a word with them. And I make them explain everything. They may be powerful but that doesn't mean that I let them leave without answers. And besides I think they will approach me themselves. If they are clever people they understand that it is very serious."

With that he leaned and gave his wife soft kiss. It was the first time they showed any affection for each other in half a year. With that Piper's heart filled with warm and she gave him small, encouraging smile. Then he turned to his sons, he hugged both of them whispering them 'Don't worry. We'll get your brother back'. He glanced at the rest of the family, gave them a smile and said.

"I will do everything I can to get as much information from them as I can. I promise." With that he and Odin disappeared in white and blue orbes.