A/N: so, after reviewing where the story was headed I just didn't like it, so I rewrote the entire chapter and eventual plot line. I hope you prefer this version better than the other one. Anyways, please read and review.

Chapter 22: Fear and loathing

Scarlett Halliwells lay on her shared bed staring at her rings, as she often did. When she and Chris returned to San Francisco, he had orbed them in an alley of a jewellers. Confused she followed him in and when he bought a engagement ring and a pair of matching wedding rings. Besides the slight looks from the staff, they were relatively okay with the two newlyweds.

Scarlett loved married life. She loved waking to Chris in the morning, she loved going to bed with him at night. She loved the permanence of their relationship, how no matter what came their way he would always be with her. She felt closer to the family than she ever had done and adored the unit as a whole. Growing up alone in the Potter house she had craved some form of parental attention and a normal family life, magic and demons aside, she had gained that and so much more with the Halliwells.

But that wasn't to say she was serene all the time. The threat of the duo, voldemort and the source, was ever present and the way the pair had used Bianca to manipulate and worm her way into the family worried her. If they could do that what else were they capable of. Both were supposed to be dead, both were supposed to be vanquished and yet they were up and running. The underworld was in upheaval with factions of demons rising up and supporting the pair in their domination of magical life.

And if the imminent danger of demons dark wizard lords weren't enough to worry her. Tensions in England reached peak. The Potter's and Dumbledore's reputation had not survived in tact with the release of the newspaper article. They had begun to lose supporters around them and word had it that both Fudge and Dumbledore were soon to be voted out of office. Fudge from the minister position and Dumbledore from his position on the wizengamot. Rumours surfaced and fell on deaf ears. She may be worried what they might do, she still didn't care about them. Not after the years she was put through. Her friends agreed with her and even Hermione was beginning to become disillusioned with Hogwarts. She had, as she told Scarlett, begun to look at foreign schools. She had talked to Fleur during the triwizard tournament and became entranced with her school.

Scarlett spun her two new rings on her finger and smiled. Sure there were more threats and danger. But she had a family she loved and an adoring husband that she just couldn't stop kissing. Speaking of which she watched said man come into their room and she smiled at him beckoning him closer. Well...it was her honeymoon after all.

She walked through the cave system confused. Why was she here? She didn't remember coming here with anyone. "Scar" Chris called from ahead of her "you coming"

"Y-yeah" she called back wary of the noise as her voice reverberated around the walls. She walked quickly summoning flames to her hands offering a mediocre amount of light in the dark dank caves. When she reached Chris he offered her non flame covered hand his, and they walked towards the rest of the family. The three sisters and Wyatt stood mine us their spouses and children. "Where are we" she asked them "Dont you remember" Wyatt asked her "we're following a lead"

"Right" she said not connecting to that prior knowledge.

"Scar...are you okay" Chris asked her as the sisters looked concerned rolling vanquishing potions in their hands.

"Yeah I'm fine" She replied before she opened her mouth to speak, an energy ball flew above the group and exploded in a shower of sparks.

She looked and saw a large collection of demons ran forwards energy balls glowing in their hands.

She found herself dodging and sending out sparks of lightening and fireballs. Seeing the huddle near a hole that presumably lead to somewhere else, she sent a blast of air knocking them apart leaving them to the mercy of the others powers. She looked around and grew relaxed. The demons had been dispatched and taken care of, they had won. Then a twinge of pain in her head forced her to looked upwards. In the gap surrounded by ashes of their fallen cronies stood the source of all evil and standing looking remarkably less snake like and more like his younger self was voldemort.

"Well isn't this interesting?" He said his smooth voice running over her.

"Tom" the source warned and Scarlett watched him flicker through emotions at the name. He raised a bony hand and clicked his fingers and eight demons shimmered in. The demons each grabbed a sister and the other two shimmered Wyatt away he barely getting to cry in anger before he was gone.

"Let them go" Scarlett shouted as the demons man handled them.

"I don't take orders from you" voldemort hissed at her "But you do"

"What?" She said not liking the smirk being sent her way by her enemy.

"Kill your husband" he said calmly

"No!" She shouted back, but even as she said the negative her arm slowly began to raise.

"Kill him" the source said again

Scarlett felt her arm slowly begin to level with Chris's chest, she fought against it. 'It' being whatever was controlling her body. Chris looked at her scared as she struggled against the force. "KILL HIM!" Voldemort shouted at her and she watched I'm horror as her hand began to build a ball of shining flames encased by her fist.

"Scar...no" Chris said looking at her with wide eyes.

She struggled more and more against the force in her. Then in an instant, she threw the fireball towards her husband. It hit him and he screamed as the flames began to eat into his body. "No!" She screamed in horror as she watched her husband more than dust on the ground.

"-ar! Scar wake up!" Chris cried shaking her awake. She shot up nearly colliding her head with his and panted and sobbed brokenly. Shushing her and rocking her gently Chris desperately tried to calm her down. When she had stopped hyperventilating and crying a little he asked gently "Scar what happened"

"Bad dream...really bad dream" she said clinging onto him, making sure she hadn't killed him. Yet.

"Of 'that' night" Chris asked, the night in question being the Halloween night all those years ago. Chris knew it still haunted her and was by now used to comforting her after she had dreamt it.

Scarlett sensing a way out of awkward questions climbed to his assumption "yeah, sorry I woke you" she said feeling guilty for disturbing him.

Chris looked at her before saying "scar, it's fine. I promise you, you don't have to apologise to me. Anyway we have to get ready for Wyatt's party" he said standing up

"Yeah" she agreed shoving her dream to the back of her mind where the 'other' her lived.

Soon they were both dressed and on their way over to the manor welcoming Wyatt home after his semester at college.

Chris watched his wife coo and fuss over Phoebe's two children. He smiled when she started to change her face to match animals, much to the delight of the pair. His aunt's were drinking and talking with their own husbands and his parents were arguing slightly over the dinner plans. It seems his mother wanted to cook herself but his dad wanted to to order from the family restaurant. But even from where he stood, he could see his mother winning their debate. It being confirmed when his mother smirked and his dad sighed.

"So, how's married life for you!" Wyatt asked slapping a hand on his shoulder. Wincing and rubbing the now sore area he turned to his older brother and said "it's great, you should try it"

Wyatt laughed and shook his head "nah, marriage ain't for me little bro"

"Don't call me little" Chris said to him among Wyatt laugh more

"But you are! You're my icke baby brother Chrissie!" Wyatt said

"I'm taller than you!" Chris pointed out, and it was true. He was an inch taller than Wyatt, he should know...he measured.

"Don't matter bro, you still are my little bro" Wyatt teased ruffling his hair. Chris grabbed his arm and soon the pair were wrestling on the floor to the annoyance of piper who shouted "boys! Honestly!" Then she tried to save her furniture and just let them go at it, too tired to attempt to stop them.

All the family laughed and jokes that day, none of them aware of the demon watching them disillusioned from their sight.

Barbas looked at the Halliwells, the damn family that had vanquished him before the two new powers in the underworld managed to resurrect him. All because of one little girl. He looked at her, she didn't look like anything special. Sure she had some form of power, the changing features were testament to that. But being the almighty power that could stop them, she didn't look the part.

But, learning from his past mistakes taught Barbas one key lesson. Never, ever, underestimate the Halliwells. Half the vanquished souls in the astro plane could attest to that lesson. So he watched her, studied her.

Then he scanned her mind, and uncovered her deepest fear. He smiled a little, this would be interesting.

Chris woke with a start, not with some bird like eye fluttering he just woke up. The problem was, why? He rarely woke up like that usually his wife would need to do so, either by a sprinkling of water or he would wake to her nightmares. But today he woke by himself. He turned to the other side of the bed he currently sat up inland found it empty, devoid of any person. He ran his hand across the smooth sheets and found them to be slightly warm. Scarlett must have woken before and left to do something, come to think of it he did recall her saying she had work to do.

Sighing and running a hand across his bedraggled hair, he hauled himself to his feet and showered quickly before dressing and orbing to his family manor. "Hey sweetie" his Aunt Paige said from behind her cup of coffee. Both his aunt's and his mother were sat with coffee in their hands and Wyatt could be heard grabbing a muffin that, judging by the smell permeating throughput the house were freshly baked. "Hey aunt Paige" he said grabbing the muffin Wyatt tossed his way, smiling as he bit into it hungrily suddenly remembering that he hadn't eaten this morning.

"Hungry?" His mum asked him raising an eyebrow as he brushed crumbs from his lips.

"Forgot breakfast" he replied before sitting down and accepting the cup of coffee from his Aunt Phoebe.

"Where's Scarlett" Wyatt asked him with a mouth full of chocolate muffin

"Wyatt, you're how old now?" Piper admonished as he smiled sheepishly, swallowing properly before he asked again "she's usually here with you, so what happened"

"Nothing" Chris insisted "she's got something to do, probably that art gallery interview she has soon, she wouldn't want to get her hopes up knowing her"

"I'm sure she'll be fine though" Phoebe said chewing her lip

"She'll be more than fine, she's really good at art. She always said it was the only good at in school"

"So, goody two shoes Scarlett didn't get straight A's" Wyatt teased him

"No, she did really good, but only after she crammed an entire years work in a few nights" Chris replaying the information she told him.

"Still, she'll be fine. Anyways how's the restaurant going" Paige asked piper

"Business is great I just wish I could find a regular chef, I've had more leave me than Wyatt's had girlfriends" piper said to the chuckles of the others and wyatts playful pout.

"I thought Chris worked there" Phoebe asked

"He did, before he quit to pursue writing" piper said fondly looking at her youngest who blushed.

"Mum!" Chris said blushing more when Wyatt opened his mouth to tease him, he was thankfully saved when Phoebe gasped and shut her eyes.

"Phoebe!" Her sisters cried as her two nephew's dived to her side. She came too, panting and shaking a little.

"Honey what did you see" Piper asked gently as Paige quickly made her a drink of water. When she had quenched her parched throat, she spoke in a fear ridden voice.

"I saw, a cloaked person...they were joining the duo" she said to the shock and horror of the family in front of her.

"Scar, this is the second time I've called" Chris sighed "please call me when you get this, something's happened" he sighed again and ended the call before walking from the sun room to the attic where his family gathered around the book.

"Anything peanut" piper asked her son

"No, she's still not picking up. How about dad and uncle Coop and uncle Henry" he asked

"Your dad's with Henry on that fishing trip, he's unreachable till Monday and coop's watching your cousins" pipe replied as her sister flicked furiously through the book. "They're not here!" Phoebe cried in frustration, the book rarely offered no help and it would seem even grams couldn't help with the new demon.

"Okay, don't panic. For all we know they might not have joined the duo yet. I mean there's still time to stop it from becoming a trio right?" Paige encouraged slightly

"I wouldn't be so sure" a dark gravelly voice said from in front of them. They looked up and Phoebe gasped upon seeing the exact demon about to join the duo in the underworld.

"That's them!" Phoebe said pointing at the clocked figure. The figure was cloaked entirely in black, with a hood that covered their face with a shadow, making them indescribable. They weren't particularly tall or imposing, not like the source that towered over the charmed ones. But it may have been the aura they have off, or the group of energy ball toting demons behind her, they feared this figure in front of them more than any demonic visage they had faced over the years.

Not moving, the demon in front of them merely nodded their head slightly and the group of demons attacked the charmed ones. The family, quickly sprung into action.

Chris looked up from the second demon he had vanquished and saw the figure shake as though struggling with something inside of the cloak that covered them. They stilled, the apparent internal conflict over. Chris darted his eyes to a athame that was silently slicing through the air and flicked his hand, sending it spinning away from him. A sharp cry of pain and he saw the imposing figure clasp their arm, the athame laying in the floor covered in a think sheen of blood. "Mi'lord" a demon asked from his position at the hissing demons side.

"We go now!" They hissed back, shimmering away with the demon in hand. The Halliwells panted, each wiping sweat and demon blood from their face.

"Well that was short lived" Wyatt said looking around. Chris ignored him and went to pick up the athame covered in the new demons blood. "Will this be enough for a potion" he asked his mum who nodded taking the blood covered blade into her grip.

"Scar!" Chris cried into the phone "where are you, we need your help. Just let me know if you're getting any of these" he hung up after receiving the same message tone from her mobile phone. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, wishing he could sense her properly. Since she wasn't just a wiccan witch, also a wizarding witch, it meant that sensing her was difficult if not impossible.

"Chris honey, the potions ready" Phoebe said popping her head into the sun room where he stood looking at his phone "still no word" she asked looking at his phone too

"Nothing" he sighed exasperated

"I'm sure she's fine Chris, maybe the meeting dragged on a little longer than she thought" Phoebe suggested though even to her own ears it sounded weak.

"Maybe" Chris sighed again before following her to the kitchen and he looked at the slim number of vanquishing potion on the counter. Looking at his mum who sensed his question said "The blood dried up quicker than I expected" nodding in understanding he pocketed one and joined conversation that was going on "so what are we gonna do" Paige asked rolling the vial in her red coloured finger nails.

"Go to the underworld find the newbie and then vanquish him before anything bad happens" piper said grabbing the spare vials and then grabbing onto her half whitelighter sister. In a flurry of blue white lights they vanished from the manor, towards the dark corners of the world.

Try appeared in an open area surrounded by red coloured walls and a floor of rock and sand. Chris struggled to breathe when the instant heat of the underworld hit him, the wall of heat crashing down on his chest making him gasp and he knew his family felt the same. Even the immovable Wyatt was found struggling in the extremity down underneath the world.

"Look around and be careful, we don't know who or what will be here" piper said as she studied markings in the fire pit near the centre of the area they had orbed into.

"This looks like it leads onto somewhere else" Paige said pointing to a large gap shadowed and the same red colour as the walls around them.

"Should we go down and check it out?" Phoebe asked

"Its worth a shot right" Wyatt said before walking ahead of them and slipping into the darkness that seemed to seep from the entrance. Still unsure, the rest of his family followed suit until they were plunged into immeasurable blackness and Chris silently wished for Scarlett was here with him. Half for the knowledge that she was safe with him and half for the selfish reasoning that she had the wizarding magic to conjure she small light that would easily banish the dark.

But she wasn't with him and he hoped that she had gotten at least one of his messages and would look for them. His heart clenched at the thought of her vanishing from him and leaving him alone in the world.

"Theres a light up ahead" Paige said finally after they had walked for a fair few minutes.

The family of witches slowly walked towards the upcoming source of light and when they had emerged from the tunnel they found themselves surrounded by a large procession of demons. "I don't think they've seen us" Paige whispered as they spreading to slowly inch closer to the front and discover what the fuss was about.

When they had crept to hide behind a large rock formation they peeked to spy upon the front of the cave. "My brethren, we gather here to welcome in a new age" the source rasped

"And aiding us in ushering in the our new age, is the third in our trio" Voldemort added to the mass below theorizing with his pale lithe arm to the hooded figure from the attic.

"How do we know we can trust her!" A demon shouted from the crowd, the figure turned and in a flash of fire and screams the one who spoke was no more.

"Anyone else agree with him" the hooded figure asked a ball of crackling fire held in their hands.

"She is to be honoured, she alone has faced the charmed ones and not fallen under their potions" the source continued "even living with them" he said waving his hand at the hood which fell to the shock of the Halliwells "Scarlett Potter-Halliwell"

The other Halliwells stood behind rock stock still, none of them hearing the order to clear the cave. It wasn't until they heard "You might as well show yourselves" that they broke from their reverie. They each left the safety of their hiding place and stood facing their two, now three, foes. Chris desperately searched his wife for signs of the 'other' Scarlett in her features.

But instead of the cold emotionless black eyes like last time, her own eyes shined back at him. He quickly supplied in his mind that she could change her features, therefore her counterpart would've changed to a more inconspicuous eye colour.

"Scarlett...what's going on" Wyatt asked not believing his eyes.

"This is who I am" she answers flatly "I can't fight destiny, you know that"

"But we got rid of the dark Parr of you right?" Phoebe asked looking at her with sadness etched in her face.

"It never left, it's still inside my head. And it was right, this is who I am" she said and Chris spoke

"Scarlett no..please, this isn't you" and for a moment he saw a glimmer of something in her eyes before they blanked.

"I'm sorry but this is where I'm supposed to be" she said as the source hissed at her to kill them. She raised an arm casually and summoned another ball of fire. This one larger, it's flames crackling and climbing higher than before.

"No!" Paige cried grabbing her sisters while Wyatt grabbed his brother who didn't move, feeling his worst nightmare crashing down on him.

They landed in the manor and each took a seat while Piper tried to help Chris who still stared blankly at the wall.

"What was that" Phoebe said "I mean did that just happen"

"Scarlett crossed over" Wyatt said cursing himself inside for trusting her

"Somethings wrong" Paige said desperately "she wouldn't do that"

"She did before" Wyatt pointed out harshly.

"That was different" Phoebe defended softly calming her nephew.

"I can't believe she's gone" Piper said brushing her son's hair back "she told me once that she feared that more than anything"

This snapped him back to reality "Fear" everyone turned to him as he stood "that's it"

"What's it" Paige asked

"Don't you see, she feared that more than anything and I feared losing her" Chris said quickly

"So?" Wyatt said

"Wyatt what do you fear more than anything" he asked

"Trusting the wrong person" he said as he slowly caught into what Chris was saying.

"But the only demon that can control fear is Barbas and he's vanquished" Phoebe said not enjoying breaking the hope that slowly built.

"We have to try...please mom, I can't lose her again" Chris begged his mother

"Phoebe can you write a summoning spell for Barbas" Piper asked as Chris broke out into a bright smile. This had to work. It just had to.

While Phoebe finished the quick summoning spell, the others moved the attic around into a suitable place to hold him. Paige laid out the Crystal cage while Piper and her two sons brewed a few strong vanquishing potions.

"I got it!" Phoebe said as she ran into the attic clutching a piece of lined paper.

"Good, are we ready" piper asked.

"Almost done" Chris replied pouring a purple coloured potion into a small glass vial and when he had corked it, nodded to his mother who stood with her sisters and chanted the spell crafted by Phoebe.

"Barbas demon of fear

We summon you here,

come to us from far and near

come to us and settle here"

When they had finished, in a shroud of flames the white haired demon appeared.

"Well isn't this a nice reunion" he said "Pity I'm not one for reminiscing" he said before trying to walk free, only to be met with a wall of white energy as the crystals activated.

"Seems like your sticking around" Paige said itching to throw a potion and re-vanquish him.

"How are you back here, we vanquished your sorry ass. Twice" Phoebe asked

"New source, New rules" he replied smirking

"So what they resurrected you to be a giant pain in our ass" Wyatt asked

"Well that would be a simplistic way of looking at it, however it was more about showing what they're capable of" he said.

"What are they planning" Piper demanded raising her potion threateningly.

"I don't know specifics" he said "but I suppose up could offer my services as a spy so to speak" he said

Piper scoffed "Fool me once" she threw her potion as did the others "shame on you" Barbas screamed as he was eaten away by rising flames.

The first thing Chris noticed when he opened his eyes, was how uncomfortable the floor was. He slowly pulled himself upwards and leaned on his hip looking around the living room. He groaned and stood, and upon seeing his wayward wife, ran to her side. "Scar" he said as she turned to him with apologetic eyes.

"Chris..." She said before another groan made them turn. Wyatt had ended up folded over the sofa with his legs dangling over the edge. When Chris turned back to Scarlett, she had left the manor and was walking towards their home. He ran after her and when he had gotten close enough to reach her, he pulled her into a tight hug. "I missed you" she whispered

"Why didn't you tell me you're still afraid" Chris said to her parting enough to look into her eyes.

"How could I?" She cried gesturing with her hand "I didn't know how to"

"Scar, you should have just said something"

"I tried but I couldn't, not after the dream" she shouted before she clamped her hand to her mouth and snapping her mouth shut.

"What dream" he asked her looking at her pointedly.

"Its nothing...I shouldn't have said anything" she babbled trying to walk away.

"Scar! Stop!" He cried pulling her to face him "what dream" he asked her again this time softer. She looked deep into his eyes and sighed before beginning her story.

"I'm in a cave..."