As soon as Piper leaves, I collapse on their floral couch with a groan, feeling all the tension of the day start to overwhelm me. First Paige missing our lunch and turning to stone, then now she's a Greek Goddess? It's all too much for me. Is this the kind of stuff she usually gets up to? I felt a hysterical giggle working its way through my lips.

The couch dips next to me, with a slow grace that I hadn't shown. Without looking, I know it's Chris - who else would it be?

"How are you holding up?" He asks softly.

I crack an eye open to look at him, "About as well as can be expected. Honestly, I know they do magic and fight demons and everything, but this is just too much."

"Yeahh, things got a little out of hand today," he admits.

"But, I'm glad you were there. Without you helping them, I don't know what kind of state we'd be in right now..." I trail off in thought, not wanting to dwell on the possibilities.

"Well," he puts a hand on my knee and says, "how bout I make you something - tea, coffee?"

I blush at the feel of his warm hand through the fabric of my pants and regretfully brush it off. "No, I better go check on Wyatt like I promised. Besides, would you even know where they keep that stuff?"

"Yeah, sure, assuming m-no one changed the layout of the kitchen in twenty-three years." He gets up abruptly and says, "I'm going to have a look around," before making his way out of the room.

That was weird...

I work my way up the stairs to check on baby Wyatt and am completely stunned to see his crib empty. After quickly scanning the room and finding no trace of him I run down stairs yelling "Chris!"

"What? What's happened?" He asks, panicked, appearing before I can even make it onto the ground floor.

"I can't find Wyatt!" I confess, "His crib is empty. He's not up there!"

His eyes widen in shock and horror, which is only exacerbated by the gusting sound of Piper's arrival.

Within less than a second they are fully formed and Chris and I both stand frozen in fear.

Piper takes the trident and puts it away in the cupboard while Paige notices my petrified form.

"Cas?" She asks, getting Pipers attention, "What's wrong? You look like you've seen another ghost."

I gulp and get ready to answer to Piper's fury. My whole body sags when I see a pram poke out from around the corner. The rest of it appears as the elf pushes it from the sitting room.

"Wyatt," I breathe in relief.

I see Chris relax from his tense stance at the sight, but breeze past him to approach the elf.

She tells Piper, "My word, this is a house of ill-repute," but I'm not paying her any attention as I reach down into the pram she is pushing.

"Thank God you're okay!" I say to Wyatt.

Piper looks at me, worried, "Okay?! Why wouldn't he be okay?!"

I flush as I adjust him in my arms and answer, "Well, I went to check on him like you asked but he wasn't there. Chris and I were about to send out a search party."

The elf looks sharply at me, and Piper exclaims, "You took my baby without telling anyone?"

"Just for a stroll around the house," the elf defends herself, "I only notify parents or caregivers if I am taking him off their home grounds. Now let me take him back up for his afternoon nap."

Her voice brokered no room for arguments, but I looked to Piper and the elf before asking, "Can I take him up? I was seriously worried about the little guy."

"Of course," Piper smiles, and I nod my head gratefully.

I can feel Chris' gaze on me as Wyatt, the elf, and I made our way around him up the stairs. I avoid eye contact with him as I mutter, "Sorry for freaking you out, guess it was a false alarm," with a slight chuckle.

I could see him smile slightly, but there was still a heavy tension in him that felt palpable in the room. I couldn't help but feel it was directed at me and bit back the urge to apologise again.

The elf made easy work of teleporting herself and Wyatt's belongings to his room, while I take him the long way around on foot. It was nice to hold him in my arms and reassure myself that I'd been worried for nothing, he was here and he was safe.

When we get to his nursery room, he was already asleep and the elf was waiting patiently for him with his bed ready. I gently guide him down then she tucked him in.

Once we were sure he was settled again, she takes a seat. I creep out of the room, satisfied that he will be taken care of.

I walk down the stairs just in time to see a herd of shirtless men scrambling out of the front door as Chris exclaims, "Now that's what I'm talking about!"

I shake my head with a smile, curious as anything, but not enough to willingly enter a room with three over-powered witches. I knew they'd have it handled. All I'd be doing would be just getting in the way.

Instead, I make my way to the kitchen to get myself a drink. I'm thinking a cold Milo to help battle the heat wave that had been all but forgotten with the commotion of the day.

Chris came in soon after, and I shook the Milo tin at him in offer. With a small smile he shook his head no. Blasphemy. How could anyone deny a cold glass of Milo?

"The sisters have all gone to help save an Elder," he lets me know.

I grunt in response, letting the silence linger as I stir my drink vigorously.

After a few minutes, he speaks again. "Are you okay? You seem pretty upset about something, and that fully dissolved like eighty stirs ago," he added with a slight chuckle.

I stop and place my tall glass on the table, not really wanting to talk but not seeing much way out of it. "Does it matter?" I ask with my back facing him, not wanting him to see my face or for me to see his reaction.

He seems surprised by this, "Of course it does!" The passion in his voice makes me turn around and he drops his head to gaze at the floor as a do.

"Why?" I ask curiously, "Why does it matter what I'm feeling when there are gods and demons and heatwaves and Charmed ones and God - so much more," I close my eyes in frustration, trying to cool my temper.

"Hey," he interjects softly, "Don't think like that. You matter just as much as anyone, maybe more."

I peek my eyes open as I ask, "What makes you say that?"

He sends me a cheeky smile as he deflects with, "I'm from the future remember? I know a lot of things you don't."

I huff and respond, "There you go again, avoiding my questions. Don't think I haven't noticed, mister future man," I waggle my finger in his face as I say it, and he smiles brightly.

I realise with mortification that this is the second time he's had to comfort me now, and I've not even known him a full day. What is it about this guy that makes me so comfortable with him? Considering how suspicious he's been, I really should have my guard up, but there's something so familiar in the way he acts. I can't quite put my finger on it...

He must notice how closely I'm inspecting him, his smile slowly fades and he stares back with open curiosity. I notice his eyes flicker to my gloved hand and stare like he wished he had X-ray vision - why does he keep do that?

"Isn't it a bit hot to be wearing gloves?" He asks, when I move my hand from his gaze, trying to keep his tone causal.

I squint my eyes suspiciously at him and respond, "Maybe, but I like them. What's it matter to you anyway?"

"It doesn't," he responds instantly, with a tone of attitude.

"Great! No problem then." I answer just as quickly, and we go silent again. I sip my drink standing with my back to the sink while he sits back at the table.

Until he breaks it with, "How... Why did you think Leo gave them their powers? I hadn't mentioned that yet."

I take a moment to swallow before answering, "It seemed pretty obvious to me. I knew he'd trust them not to let it go to their heads and convince the Elders to unleash it for the good of the Earth."

I take another sip as he nods his head, seeming to accept my explanation. He opened his mouth to ask another question before closing it, clearly thinking better of it.

We stay like this in a comfortable silence for a few moments until a gentle, warm energy flutters in the room.

Chris looks at me in apology as he explains, "That's Leo. He wants me to help the girls and make sure the rest of the Elders are safe."

He seems to hesitate, so I move over to the table and put my hand on his and say with a smile, "Go. I'll be wait here. You go save the world."

This makes him smile in return, something like longing in he's eyes as he murmurs, "I'll be back soon."

I felt a tingling sensation move through my hand as it was left free-falling to the table, and then I was alone in the kitchen again.