Second part and no big words!!!
MANOR, ATTICPiper came in, followed by Phoebe and Future Wyatt. "I know a demon when I see him, and that was a demon," she said determined.
Future Wyatt sighed. "But you didn't actually see him."
Piper rolled her eyes. "Well, okay. Some creepy, invisible guy standing over my son, I'd say that's a demon."
"I know how it sounds, Mom. But I'm telling you. It just didn't seem like a demon. It wasn't threatening at all."
Phoebe put in. "Maybe it was an imaginary friend."
Piper quickly contradicted, "No. Imaginary friend are imaginary, hence, the name. Plus, you said he's too young to have an imaginary friend, remember? He's two."
Future Wyatt helped her out. "Actually I'm 25. But I … I know what you mean."
The mother was about to argue more when her mind registered what her elder son had just said. "Wait, you're 25?" Her son only nodded. "That means Chris is 23, isn't he?"
"Mom?" Future Wyatt asked confused and turned for help to his aunt. "Aunt Phoebe?"
But Phoebe had turned to her older sister instead, partly in confusion, partly in understanding. "Piper? What do you plan? We can't do that. We don't know the implications to this time."
"I just need to know if my baby is safe. That he survived past 23. Is that too much for you?" Piper had to stop her tears before they'd fall.
"What are you talking about?" Future Wyatt cut in curiously but was … ignored, making him sigh.
Phoebe didn't know how to react, so Piper took charge, "Wyatt, I'll want you to summon your baby brother! Now and to this time! I'll check on you, Chris and your Dad meanwhile. Clear?"
Future Wyatt knew his mother all too well and looked after his Mom still curiously. He quickly grabbed the needed ingredients and recited the spell,
"Power of the witches rise,
Course unseen across the skies.
Come to us who call you near,
Come to us and settle hear." Then he added a bit of his blood to the boiling pot,
"Blood to blood, I summon thee,
Blood to blood, return to me."Swirling lights formed in the room and after they vanished a not so happy Chris was standing there, arms crossed over his chest. "Okay, what's going on?" he demanded to know.
KITCHENLeo fed Chris happily while Wyatt played with his Wuvey. Something was going on here but the man couldn't grasp it. Yet. Then he heard footsteps and turned confused around. "Piper?"
His wife only grabbed her younger son out of his chair. "I asked Wyatt to summon Chris to this time. You okay with that?" No answer. "Anyway, we should go upstairs now. I'm sure Chris is already back. You coming, Leo?"
Leo blinked several times before taking Wyatt in his arms. He followed her. "Why did you do that? I mean I like to see him again and all but …"
"It's okay."
The parents with their young sons went to the attic, not knowing they partially ruined Vicus's plan. But demons would never give up. Vicus cursed under his breath and shimmered away.
VICUS'S LAIR, UNDERWORLDAs the demon reformed, Vicus cursed once more under his breath and paced around his lair. After a while, he was soon joined by one of his former pupil but Vicus remained silent.
"So, any success yet on your latest victim?" the young man asked curiously. "I mean you said you would have. Did anything happen?"
Vicus glared at him. "Hugo, believe me I know what I'm doing, yet you're right though. They acted as if having a sixth sense." Vicus turned to Hugo determined. "I'm going back. To find out more and maybe a new way to get to Wyatt." He went his own way out.
Hugo sighed but knew, deep inside, Vicus expected him to be at the house too. For anything needed. Any distraction. He shimmered away, following his Master's unspoken demand.
MANOR'S ATTIC"Let me get this straight. You think Wyatt's being chased by an 'imaginary friend' who could be a demon, right?" Chris summed up and his aunt nodded. "Did you ID the possible friend of yours?" he asked now his brother.
"Maybe. I've found a suitable one," Wyatt admitted and held onto the page, watching his baby brother who suddenly stopped in front of the cupboard. "Chris, are you alright?"
Chris looked at the cupboard and touched the vials, feeling like a déjà vu. He turned to Phoebe and spoke, "You know you keep this stuff forever, don't you?"
"What?" came several voices shocked, making Wyatt look confused and clear his ears.
Then Chris recognized the people. "Oh. Hi Mom, Dad, Aunt Phoebe, both Wys and little me!" He then noticed their weird looks. "What? What's wrong?"
Phoebe shared a quick look with Piper and Leo before walking to her nephew. "Oh, it's nothing, sweetie. Don't worry so much." There were some chuckles. "Anyway, what's the demon's name, Wyatt?"
Wyatt sighed. "Well, it says here, if I identified correctly, the demon's name is Vicus who prays on children with powers, cursing their beloved objects that will slowly turn them evil."
"Great, again we have to save our son from turning evil," Piper complained angrily while shifting her baby in her arms. Then she turned hopefully to her husband. "Leo, any ideas what to do now?"
"Well, it seems Vicus wants to get Wyatt's trust and his Wuvey, so we'd need them separated. Honestly, this wouldn't work because Wyatt's in his terrible two phase."
Big Wyatt raised an eyebrow at those words. His mother had said 'the word' again and his little brother seemed to act … weird. "Mom, you don't mind if I take little Chris for a while, do you? My Chris is way too heavy for me." He received a glare. "Now, can I?"
"Sure, baby." She handed him over. "I'll go to the kitchen and make some food. Phoebe, you'll help me." There were some groans but the two sisters went away.
"Iss," the smaller Wyatt cried out and held his arms out, ready to be taken by him. "Iss."
"Hey, buddy, you seem to remember me, eh?" Chris took the little toddler in his arms and then spread out his senses. He felt something. "Wy, someone's here. Demonic, I think."
The three men and little boys turned into the given direction. Wyatt closed his eyes and felt something too. The two brothers, small and big, knew what they had to do but they didn't want to put their father into danger.
KITCHENPhoebe followed Piper like a dog. "Really, Piper, I don't understand. At first you want to see him and now you're fleeing? What's wrong?" She saw how her older sister started to cook and bake. An usual thing for her.
Piper sighed, putting her hands on the table. "He seems to remember. Chris shouldn't have to remember this. All of the other future and what he'd been through with us. It's not fair." She began quietly to sob.
Phoebe walked up behind her sister. "Shsh, it's okay. I'm sure he'll be fine. After all, he's your son, you know."
The older woman wiped her tears away quickly. "Right. I promised to make some food for my men. So you'll help me now, Pheebs?"
The younger sister smiled and then nodded. Together both sisters worked on the cookies and other food before a loud crash from above startled them. Piper and Phoebe immediately looked up and wondered what was going on.
MANOR'S ATTIC, THE OTHER SIDEVicus listened carefully to what was being said. True, his main interest was Wyatt but now that Chris had found them out earlier than his brother was as well an interesting fact. Another important fact was that Wyatt's little brother hadn't had any powers yet. A low whistle caught his attention.
"What do we do now?" Hugo mouthed to him, getting impatient slowly and annoyed. "Attack or just stand there?"
Vicus rolled his eyes and mouthed back, "Attack them while I'll catch our target." Hugo nodded while the demon seemed to change his own plans.
Adult Chris with toddler Wyatt crashed into a table nearby and the boy pointed to him. "Fiend!" The adult looked in this direction but saw no one, only felt a presence there.
Vicus gave his fellow a sharp look and now pointed to the other pair. His new "friend" followed his gesture and tried to warn his little brother and other self but was stopped by Vicus's hand.
The other three were also crashed into walls before adult Wyatt lost it. Placing his baby brother on the floor, the Twice-Blessed used his firepulse to destroy the attackers angrily.
"You couldn't have done this earlier, could you?" asked an annoyed Chris smirking and little Wyatt giggling.
As the others were distracted, Vicus grabbed the baby who immediately began to scream. "Damn," the invisible demon cursed under his breath before quickly vanishing away. His evil laughter echoed through the room still.
In all that chaos, a lonely cry went out as well. "Iss!" It was Wyatt's voice and the toddler turned for help to his father and other two. "Iss? Mommy?"
Running feet turned to the attention to the intruders. Phoebe and Piper were standing at the door, shocked. "Okay, what's going on?" the eldest sister began slowly before realizing in the end. "And where the hell is Chris?"
Adult Wyatt turned to his little brother for help but could see he was just as shocked as anyone else. In Chris's eyes he could read fear, because, well, that was unexpected. "Um, we don't know." He saw his mother's horrified look. "But I promise, we're going to get him back! After all, Chris hasn't changed yet."
"He's got a point," Phoebe put in but only received a glare from her older sister. "Just saying," she whispered then and remained silent.
"He's right," Leo put in after some silence. He'd lost his baby boy once but not again! Wyatt was right. Their proof was adult Chris and he was still normal.
"What do we do?" Chris asked quietly but only saw helpless faces. He shivered, knowing what fate would lie in front of him if Vicus succeeded. This was not good.
UNDERWORLD, VICUS'S LAIRThe wailing baby worked on Vicus's nerves but still, he was fascinated. Obviously, his older self had sensed him before anyone else did. Although the boy didn't have any powers yet, that Vicus could feel, Wyatt's brother could be useful.
"Mmh, how have you done this?" Vicus asked curiously as he bounced the baby up and down. Chris laughed happily at him. "Interesting."
The baby touched the demon's skin and those eyes were … cool. He may be frightening but still, he never had fun like his family. Chris giggled happily as he had his own adventure now.
Vicus looked at the happy child. "So, you don't have any favorite toys, do you?" he wanted to know but the little boy, of course, couldn't answer. "You'd like to tell me, huh?"
Chris tried to speak but only bubbles came out. Besides, he thought he was stinking again and was starting to cry now. After all, at home it always worked.
Vicus then noticed the new "smell" too and quickly reacted to the situation. He had some experience from the other kids he'd stolen earlier and so this was easy as a piece of cake. Though, Vicus wondered when the boy's family would come.
BACK AT THE MANORWhen Paige had returned from New Zealand, she'd been quickly filled in on what had happened lately. Gasping and seeing her younger nephew again, the youngest sister hugged him lovingly but some questions popped in her head around. "I don't understand why Vicus now went after Chris instead of Wyatt. Why this whole work?"
"Beats me," Chris whispered and searched for his brother's eyes. The older man seemed to be deep in thought while Wyatt's younger self held onto Chris for dear life. "Shsh, Wy."
The toddler looked up at the young man. "Where Iss? Miss him, you know."
"It's going to be okay," Chris promised and now openly asked his older brother for help. "Wyatt, any suggestions?"
"Well, I don't know exactly but I think I have an explanation," the Twice-Blessed said and sat beside his little brother and younger self.
"Care to share with the class?" Paige asked exasperated. A look at her other relatives told her everything. They wanted Chris back ASAP.
Wyatt looked at all of them briefly and then focused on his little brother. "You see with Vicus being able to be invisible, he'd listened to our conversation. And Chris, you were the first one to sense that we had guests. That might have changed this."
Leo knelt down in front of his boys. "He's right. You are more sensitive than Wyatt, yet you don't have any powers, so the demon thinks you are easier able to be manipulated."
"That's just great," Chris said frustrated. "And what do we do now? Vicus still has mini-me and I can tell you that slowly I like the underworld. Hurry up!"
"Right," Piper said and clapped her hands. "Wyatt, can you sense your baby brother? Little Wyatt, I mean."
"No much. Seak in th...," he said and gestured to his head.
Several jaws dropped before the eldest sister found her voice again. "Okay, Chris, little Wyatt and Leo, you three stay behind! It's way too dangerous for you. No backword!" Leo and Chris groaned but said nothing. "Anyway, Phoebe, Paige, big Wyatt and I go and find the demon's lair. And save my peanut!"
"Are you really sure you'll find Vicus's lair? It's not that I doubt your power and all but we have no idea where his lair is," Chris had to put in. Inside, he felt funny but hoped not to show it.
The three sisters looked at each other stunned. After a few minutes, Phoebe had an epiphany. "Well, what's your favorite toy now, buddy?"
"Of course," Wyatt exclaimed excitedly and took Wuvey, with some soothing words, of course, from his younger self. That earned him some incredulous looks. "What? At the moment we share Wuvey when we're alone. Our secret and now it's our only chance."
"If you say so," Paige said but then again. They were magical siblings too. Whatever they did secretly would help them later on. "Okay, let's go then."
The three sisters and big Wyatt linked hands, orbing out while the father watched his two boys in a familiar sight, making Leo smile.
But then Chris said something what made Leo's smile turn into a shock. "Dad, not that I scare you but Vicus does something to mini-me and something is happening to me."
"What?" Leo asked afraid, taking little Wyatt in his arms quickly and rubbing Chris's back.
"I really don't know," the younger son explained but looked at his Dad with a confused, yet hopeful eyes.
MEANWHILE IN THE UNDERWORLDWhen the family materialized, they heard giggling and laughing. Looking at each other, Piper, Phoebe, Paige and Wyatt shared a confused look before running towards the noise. Shocked their jaws dropped.
"Oh hi," Vicus greeted them with a happy Chris in his arms. "I've been wondering when you'd come. You didn't miss him, did you?"
"How dare you!" Piper lashed out with her hands but stopped right on time before she'd hit her baby. "Why did you take him if you'd worked so long on Wyatt?"
Vicus smiled and looked directly at his original target. "You see when I was waiting for an opportunity to get to you, I'd listened carefully. And that your little brother could sense me before you, it changed my decision. Chris might be not that powerful yet but he'll be great. I'm sure of this."
"So am I," Wyatt agreed with him. And then the young man held Wuvey up, trying to catch his brother's attention. "Here Chrissie, see Wuvey is here! I know you want him, so orb to me. Come on!"
"Eh, Wyatt, not that I want to burst your bubble," Paige tipped him on the shoulder. "I don't think Chris can orb yet, you know."
"You'll see," her nephew insisted and went back to his task. Getting his baby brother back.
Paige sighed and turned to her older sister for help who helped her.
Phoebe also approached their nephew, "Wyatt, Paige might be right. Chris isn't that strong yet, believe us. We'd know it already, don't you think?"
Wyatt's eyes watered up and looked at his Mom hopefully. "Mom? What do you think?" he asked shyly and worked more on Chris.
Piper smiled at him and patted his arm lovingly. "Don't worry, Wy. I believe in you and my baby." She sent her sisters sharp gazes, making them look away. The woman looked at her eldest. "Try your best! I'm with you."
"Thanks Mom," the young man said and moved Wuvey with his arm, trying to get Chris's attention for good. "See, it's Wuvey and you can trust me. I'm Wy."
The baby looked torn. His turned head and his little hands in the mouth clearly indicated this. The man holding him was nice and had shown him some cool things but the other people looked so familiar. He didn't know what to do.
"C'mon Chrissie. You can trust us," Wyatt continued his talk, waving Wuvey back and forth. "It's really me, Wyatt. Your big brother."
Little Chris looked the young man directly into the blue eyes. He immediately recognized those. Closing and opening his mouth giggling, the little boy orbed to his brother who caught him quickly.
"Gotcha ya," Wyatt said happily and gave Wuvey to his baby brother. Turning to their mother and aunts, he demanded firmly, "Kill him or I'll do it!"
"You think I can be killed easily," Vicus challenged the Charmed Ones and the Twice-Blessed. "Sorry," he grinned at them. "I won't go that easily."
"You think?" the young man snapped back. "We did our research before we came here, so back off!"
"Yeah," Piper supported her son in the same tone. Then she pulled out a vial. "Here's something that definitely kills you. Plus, we have the Power of Three here. So?"
"In that case, I'm an easy target. Helpless and all. Do as you like," Vicus only said and waited for their reaction to him.
The mother blew him up before all three sisters flew their vials to Vicus which connected with him immediately. Vicus screamed and then was nothing more than a pile of ash.
"Let's go home," Wyatt said and had a sterned look directed at his aunts. Meaning he wanted answers and some explanation. He orbed with his baby brother while the Charmed Ones followed them a moment later.
BACK AT THE MANORAs orbs came, Leo, Chris and little Wyatt looked curiously up. To their relief, big Wyatt and little Chris formed, shortly followed by the sisters. But their looks said something different which made father and son look at each other confused.
"Issie okay?" little Wyatt questioned curiously. He looked around and an answer was only ruffled hair. By the adult brothers. "Iiih," he shrieked annoyed and put his hair back.
"Sure, he is," said adult Wyatt and put the little boy to his little self. "You'll two play while we big ones talk, alright?" The little ones nodded and little Wyatt orbed both of them to their playpen. "Okay, let's talk! And I want some answers."
"Wyatt, son, your Mom and your aunts are going to talk alone while you and your brother do a talk as well. I'm sure you remember why," Piper said and held a stern look at her younger sisters.
The brothers shared a look but remained silent, knowing their mother all too well. Both nodded to their Mom who shoved her sisters and husband out of the attic, giving them space.
After they were gone, Wyatt helped his little brother up from the floor and guided him to the couch. "Okay," Wyatt began slowly. "Chris, tell me what's going on with you? Since I've called to this time you're acting weird. You always tell me everything."
"I know," Chris replied and rubbed his head a bit. "You see this may sound weird but I've been here before. Exactly the way I look like now." The boy watched his big brother closely. "Wy, you okay?"
The older brother blinked several times before noticing the question his brother had asked. "What? Oh yeah, I'm fine," he blurred out. "Well, my little self seems to remember you and so should I, I think. And the way our folks reacted proves that theory."
"Wait. You have a theory?" the younger boy requested incredulously. That earned him a hard slap on his upper arm. "Ouch. Okay, okay. Let's hear your theory out."
"Smart ass," Wyatt said laughing. "Anyway, I think it is a fact that you've been here before. Otherwise, my younger self wouldn't remember you and our folks as well. You must have come back for some reason."
"Wish I knew," Chris muttered softly but out loud he offered, "And I think something must have happened as well. We were way too protected in our childhood."
"Yeah, especially you," the older brother agreed sighing. Then he stood up determined. "You're right. There must be a reason. For everything."
The younger one raised an eyebrow. "What do you have in mind?" The way his brother grinned made him uneasy. "I don't like your look."
"C'mon and you'll find out." Wyatt held his hand out and waited for his brother to take it. After some time it was taken. "See. By the way, we can use your little nifty power."
Chris shook his head but followed his brother's wish. After the brothers were invisible, they secretly went to the conservatory where the rest of the family was. As well as their younger selves in the playpen.
CONSERVATORYPiper had taken Leo's hand before taking a seat on the couch. Her sisters did the same on chairs and icy silence ruled between them. After some time orbs could be heard and all looked to the sound. It was only the boys who started to play together, making the mother smile as well as her husband.
"Okay, Piper, what do you want us to talk about?" Phoebe asked annoyed, crossing her arms over the chest. "I don't think there is anything."
Piper glared at her younger sister. "You do know what we're going to talk about whether you want to or not. Chris is as much your nephew as Wyatt is and he needs our support more than anything."
"Piper, please," Paige cut in. "We do support him but what Wyatt had said sounded weird. I mean, we all have seen Chris before and he wasn't that powerful."
Leo raised an eyebrow and couldn't be still anymore. "What's that supposed to mean, Paige?" he asked irritated. "And I want a cliff note version, please of what has happened."
Piper turned to her husband smiling. "As we wanted to save Chris from Vicus, Wyatt was convinced that Chris could orb to him but my little sisters didn't share that opinion. I did and our baby orbed to his big brother." She looked at her baby in the playpen.
"Oh." The father offered only and followed her look. "So Chris orbed. Cool."
"Yeah, but I don't think he can control it yet. That's why Chris needs Wyatt for help. Isn't that sweet?" Someone cleared their throat behind Piper. "I'm coming to you both. Now," Piper said and turned around. "So why did you two not help your nephew down in Vicus's lair?"
"But we did, didn't we?" Phoebe defended herself, sharing a look with her baby sister. "Or is this about how different we treat Chris and Wyatt?" she asked challenging.
Paige looked down at the harsh words but still. "I'm sorry," the youngest sister apologized to the parents. "We should know already that Chris will be clever. His adult self had shown it and besides, he himself made his Daddy an Elder," the woman smiled at the man.
Leo rolled his eyes. "That's established by now, Paige. And it'd also explain why our baby boy shows his power right now. He's nearly one year old." He smiled proudly. "Anyway, back to the problem at hand. What has happened among you three in that lair?"
"Just that his aunts weren't very supportive for Chris. Or Wyatt. Didn't believe in them when they needed it most," Piper accused of them sternly. "Well, at least the boys have their parents. And Pheebs, Chris had told me a lot before he d..." She stopped and felt Leo's hand on hers.
"What did he tell you?" the middle sister wanted to know. Her curiosity got the best of her and after all, her nephew had had many secrets.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about and which event I specifically mean," the mother said now in a milder tone. "And I want you to change, because Chris's first birthday is soon."
"I know," Phoebe said ashamed and then looked at her older sister. "So you'll be holding this against me for good?"
"Not if you change and remember, Chris had sacrificed too much for us having a better future. A future we're always dreamed of." Piper got quieter with every word and everyone knew what she meant.
Phoebe and Paige nodded, smiling at the parents and looking at their young nephews who lay side by side sleeping. It was a cute view but a sudden thud distracted them. Searching for the source of the noise, the sisters found nothing.
"Okay, who's there?" Leo asked into the room.
"Don't worry, it's just us," replied a familiar voice. "But Chris fainted suddenly."
"What?" Piper shrieked afraid standing up. "What's going on? Leo?"
Leo stood up too. "Chris, can you turn visible again, please? We're going to explain all. Please."
For some time there was no reaction. Slowly then two figures appeared and the younger of the two was shaken up what anyone could see. Immediately all family members ran to them, helping the boys up and leading them to the couch.
THE BOYS'S POV DURING THE TALKWyatt listened closely to the conversation, trying to understand all this. He knew he should remember something when his younger self obviously could. Looking at Chris, however, his worry increased. "Chris, are you okay?" he asked quietly.
"I don't know," came the boy's answer quietly back. "But what they're saying sounds so familiar."
"How familiar?" Wyatt wanted to know. "Though you know they talk in riddles," he stated amused what earned him a glare.
"That's not funny, Wy," Chris snapped back before turning serious again. "And to answer your question: Yes, it sounds very familiar. Too familiar but I can't place where from."
"Well," the older brother started again but then their mother stopped in a sentence, causing Chris to grab his head. "Chrissie?"
Their family talked now about Chris's soon first birthday and Phoebe's new defined role, yet all of a sudden the younger man fell to the floor, startling anyone.
Knowing the brothers were busted, Chris let his invisibility drop after their father had convinced him. Immediately they were surrounded by their family and were led to the couch, because Chris was totally shaken up.
Wyatt held a look at his family, silently demanding for answers. His wish was granted.
THE BITTER TRUTHWhen the boys had taken their seats, Chris next to Leo and Wyatt on the floor, and had looked at their family hopefully. In their looks you could read the questions, yet the younger of the two was clearly confused and the older one just the answers to their questions. And these were a lot.
"K," Leo started slowly, taking Chris's hand in his. "Can you tell me what you see in those glimpses? Just to find out and we can figure this out, buddy."
Chris nodded. "Well, it may sound weird, especially to Wyatt's ears, because I can see myself as I'm now but Wyatt as a baby. Yet the future, or whatever this is, is really dark and Wyatt seems so cold. Hurting me, anyone."
His brother's jaw dropped. "You're kidding me, right? Why would I be cold to you? That doesn't make sense, you know." Looking at his family, however, Wyatt got a bad feeling. "It's not true, is it?"
Piper shared a knowing look with her sisters and husband before starting to speak, "This is really a long story, Wyatt. And don't mind my question now, again, what do you remember of being little. Of some maybe major events?"
Wyatt sighed and went with his hand through his blond hair. "Didn't I try to answer that already?" he snapped back but earned only her typical mother glare. "Okay, okay, I do my best." Another deep sigh. "There's not much, I admit but I did a lot of mischief. Like a dragon and a young man being around me. At first I didn't like him but then he played with me. Was that helpful?"
"Kinda," his mother replied. "So you remember a young man being around here." Piper also took a deep sigh and asked her eldest son, "Wyatt, now look at your little brother and tell me if he looks like the young man you remember."
Wyatt took a deep breath and did as told. Looking long at him and seeing him like for the first time, he immediately was on his feet again. "That's not possible, is it?" he asked bewildered. "No, no. This can't be."
"Wyatt, calm down," Phoebe tried to stop her nephew. "Please, we can explain everything."
"No, I need time."
"Wyatt, please. Think about Chris," Paige suggested half crying. "Don't you think he'd need his big brother here if he … wakes up?"
"He'll understand," the blond only said before orbing promptly away.
"Damn," Piper cursed silently as she realized all her children were asleep, young and old. "Leo, is Chris really asleep?"
"I think so," the father answered, stroking lovingly over his son's body. Smiling he added, "That's so different but it feels good, though the little ones would need this attention too." He smiled like a Cheshire cat.
"We do understand how much that means to you," Piper said squeezing her husband's hand. "I check on the boys and then we three scry for Wyatt."
The man just nodded and watched over his three children while the women of the house walked to the attic again, looking for their missing member in any way they knew.
WYATT'S SANCTUARYHe couldn't believe it. Looking at his hands, he didn't even realize that tears were running over his cheeks. There was no way he could harm the most important person in his life. Had he really done that?
Looking up to the sky, Wyatt hoped that either his parents had hid to them their whole life or his memory was playing him a trick. Deep down he felt it to be true what made him slowly sob. The Twice-Blessed was not able yet to face the people who knew the most about it but especially his little brother.
"Please, God, it can't be true," he begged crying. "I don't want it."
He didn't want to go back to his home, because he knew his brother would look for him and then immediately come to this place. They knew each other well enough.
BACK AT THE MANORAfter some hours Chris began to wake up and smiled at seeing his father now asleep in an awkward position. His smile grew wider when he heard giggling what meant little Wyatt was entertaining his baby self again. Sensing for the women he quickly orbed to the attic and asked, "Okay, where's my version of Wyatt?"
"Oh hi, welcome back, dear nephew of mine," Paige greeted him in her usual way, smirking. "He's gone but we're on the way of finding him."
"Meaning?"
The three sisters shared a brief look before his mother spoke up, "Well, he realized something and then fled to somewhere we don't know."
"I see. What did he realize? Why did he flee? I take it that goes together, doesn't it?"
"Obviously," Phoebe muttered under her breath. "But listen, we can't find him yet. Do you know maybe where he could be?"
Chris smirked slightly at his aunt. "What if I do?" he requested smiling. "Anyway, it's a siblings thing which means I'm going now."
"Wait a sec," Piper interrupted his starting orbs. "What about your Dad and younger selves? They're alone down there."
Her younger son rolled his eyes. "You worry too much, you know." A glare and Chris sighed. "Well, Dad's sleeping and the little ones are playing with each other. Better to say, Wyatt's entertaining little me. So, can I go now?"
His mother smiled at his adorable look, waved her hand at him to dismiss her baby who promptly orbed away. Still, in a good mood, Piper noticed very late her sisters's amused looks. "What?" she requested confused.
Her younger sister gave her an amused smile. "Admit it, he hasn't changed a bit, has he?" Phoebe twinkled her eye. "But that's good, isn't it? I mean he looks like him, acts like him."
"We know, Pheebs," Paige stopped her older sister's rant. "That's established by now." Then she noticed her older sister's leaving. "Piper, where are you going?"
"To watch over my men," she answered while walking to the door, ready to go out. "And I want you two to find something very special for Chris's first birthday. I mean it. No backword! Because you know why!" And she was gone like that.
The younger sisters only shared a weird look before going their ordered way. Going at first together, in the city Phoebe and Paige
went separated ways.
THE BOYS'S SANCTUARYAs Wyatt felt orbs coming, he made some space, full knowing who would come. Smiling at his kid brother he greeted him, "Hi there. Slept well?"
Chris rolled his eyes. "Very funny. So what did you realize while I was in dreamland? You seemed upset a bit." He received a confused look. "Our link, bro."
Wyatt sighed smiling. "Well, Mom made me remember something which I didn't know of but it's better you don't know that."
"Wyatt, I'm a grown man now. I can handle something bad, so you don't have to protect me anymore. Hell, I vanquish demons since I was five."
"I know, Chris but this is so unreal, I'd rather not tell you." Wyatt looked down for a moment before looking fully at his little brother. "Yet you seem to have your own problems now with those strange flashback you were having in the attic."
Now the younger man sighed. "I can't say what had gotten into me back then but it seems to be I've been here before." Watching his brother, he saw the man looking away. "Wyatt, what did you find out? Tell me, please."
"No," the older man refused. "I've got the feeling you'll find out soon enough. At your birthday, I think."
"What makes you say that?"
"My sixth sense?"
"Haha, very funny," Chris replied laughing. "So, I guess our folks is worried enough by now. We should return. By the way, the future folks will be waiting for us too. So what do we do?"
"I don't know," Wyatt admitted smiling. "Besides, aren't you the brain of our little team?" He twinkled his eye.
The younger man rolled his eye. "If Mom comes back, I'll blame you! And I fully know that you don't use your brain that often!"
"Hey! Careful what you say. Besides, if Mom really comes, I'll blame her past self. She'd love that excuse!"
"If you say so, big bro." Chris sighed. "Anyway, I insist we'll go back now before Mom really freaks out."
Wyatt nodded and orbed out. His little brother immediately followed.
BACK AT THE MANORWhen the boys returned home, they were met with silence. Eerie silence, just some light snoring could be heard. Making Chris snort and gesturing to the source. "I always knew you were snoring, Wy," the younger man said jokingly.
"Very funny." Wyatt glared at his younger brother. "Anyway, where are our folks if we sleep all alone here? It isn't their style to leave us."
"Well, I think they knew we'd return and look after ourselves." Chris grinned at his brother. "Besides, didn't you just tell me that my birthday is soon and so they'd be out shopping."
"Good guess," Wyatt agreed nodding. "Yet it's a strange task to look after our younger selves." The older man shook his head grinning. "Or are you expecting me to tell you my secret?"
The younger boy just grinned. "You know me too well. How about we split up? You watch the babies while I secure the house and make us something to eat?"
"Good idea since we don't know how long our folks are out and where they are at first." Wyatt went with his hand through his blond hair and then sighed. "It's good you always think for me."
Chris chuckled and orbed to grab the crystals and place them around the house. Then he walked to the kitchen, starting to make the meal he'd promised his brother. After all, he heard indeed snoring, making him shake his head. Typical Wyatt!
Half an hour later he'd finally finished their meal. Carrying both dishes carefully to the room, Chris set them down before just kicking his brother, to wake him up. "Wy, lunch's ready!"
"Whoa … what?" Wyatt asked bewildered. Opening his sleepily eyes, he only saw his baby brother and smelt the meal he'd made. "Yummy. It's good you take after Mom in more than one case. Mmh. As good as hers."
Chris blushed but said nothing. He ate in silence and was grateful as Wyatt offered to wash the dishes. Then the brothers were doomed to play with their younger selves since they had woken up. Still, their concern for their family slowly began to rise.
SEVERAL HOURS LATERChris woke up startled. Rubbing his head, he wondered for a moment what had woken him. Giggling was the only answer he was given. Standing up Chris made his way through the house and found to his surprise no one still at home. That increased his worry tenfold.
"Wyatt, Wyatt! Wake up! They're not home!"
Wyatt jumped up. "What? That's not possible! Where are they?"
"Don't ask me. I'm as clueless as you but what do we do with our younger selves? I'd say Magic School or Grandpa," Chris suggested but sat down on the stairs, not knowing what else to do.
Wyatt quickly went to him and took his little brother into his arms. "Hey, don't worry. We're going to find them. But I'd go with Magic School first before we'll involve Grandpa. We're checking up with the Elders and then we'll see, okay?"
"Okay," Chris whispered back. He let himself be led by his big brother, took his baby self and both brothers went with their younger selves through a magical door to the school.
MAGIC SCHOOLAs soon as they arrived, they were met with an anxious Elder. "Oh, thank goodness, you're still here! We've thought we'd lost you too. We've lost the signal of the Charmed Ones some time ago," Sandra explained in a rush.
"Wait, what do you mean?" Wyatt wanted to know and shifted himself in his arms. "And where the hell is Dad?"
"We really don't know. We assume they might have gone after Zankou already, so that all of you would be able to celebrate Chris's birthday in silence," Sandra told the boys.
"And Dad? You left the part out, Sandra," Chris added angrily. "By the way, do you mind if we at first bring our baby selves to the kindergarten here?" Sandra nodded and both men orbed away, returning quickly. "Okay, shoot!" Chris demanded.
The Elder bowed her head sadly. "I'm so sorry. So sorry. We have no idea where your father is. We think he might have gone with the sisters."
"What?" both brothers shouted at once. Wyatt laid a calming hand on his little brother's shoulder and continued, "That's not possible, because Dad for sure would never abandon us without saying good-bye. That's not like him."
"Great, just great," Chris commented sarcastically. "This is so typical for the Elders!" He turned to his older brother for help. "What do we do, Wy?"
Wyatt sighed. "I can't say yet since you're normally the brains of our team. Anyway, I'd suggest now that our younger selves are now secured here, we'll pay the underworld a visit, don't you think? If we found Zankou, we would help our folks better."
Now Chris sighed. "I don't know, Wy. It's strange that you come up with a plan instead of me." That earned him a half joked slap on his upper arm, making Chris laugh. "Still, I think it seems great. We should follow your suggestion. For the moment."
Wyatt accepted this smiling and nodding but laying quickly a hand on his brother's shoulder, willing to guide them both in their wanted direction. He knew they needed to be careful if the kids wanted to save their parents.
MEANWHILE – UNKNOWN LOCATIONPiper felt so helpless as she was holding her unconscious husband in her arms. Looking around, the eldest woman saw her younger sisters equally trapped and desperate just like herself. They were in cages, because they ran in blind.
Footsteps came closer and a voice. "So, my ladies and … man, tell me again how stupid this plan of yours has been? At first I thought to be impressed but when I realized that Leo was with, it was just plain stupid."
"Could you quit what we've realized ourselves?" Paige snapped back sarcastically. "Just let us know what you want, Zankou?"
Zankou grinned at the three women. "Well done. My original plan had a different direction but with this you just played into my hands. Thank you so much, ladies."
"What do you mean?" Phoebe asked confused, looking at her sisters for confirmation. All three reacted the same way. "Spill it out, demon!"
"Wow, Phoebe, getting angry, aren't you?" Then Zankou stood up straight. "Anyway, I would have broken your beliefs in you and so gotten the Book. Still, I'm now waiting for the cavalry to arrive."
"What kind of cavalry?" Piper asked confused but hoped not to show her fear about her boys. "There's no cavalry out there. You must be dreaming, Zankou!" she accused of him.
"Lady, I know you well enough. Your children are the cavalry I mean. They're both very powerful, though one of them doesn't know it yet." Zankou smirked just as Leo began to awaken. "Ah, sleeping beauty has finally awoken."
Leo slowly sat up, rubbing his head. "What's going on? Where are we and the boys?" he asked bewildered. "Ow, just great. Zankou, the demon I wanted to see."
"You're welcome, my friend." He clapped his hands and started to walk away. "And now I'm gone. I have a date with your lovely Nexus, because that's the power I need to take over." And he flamed out.
For a moment silence ruled before a familiar voice came out of nowhere. "'bout time he left but a surprise will be waiting for him at home."
All eyes searched for the body but Piper was worried. "Chris, is that you?" she asked into the dark. Slowly a body came into view. "Chris! Thank goodness and what kind of surprise do you mean?"
"How about I'll free you first and then we'll orb home for you to see yourselves? Besides, Wyatt would need my help."
"Well then, go ahead, dear nephew of mine," Paige retorted sarcastically and watched rather amused how Chris threw the crystals away, freeing them.
After it was done, the family checked if everyone was alright and then orbed completely back to the Manor where they were met with utter chaos and Chris immediately ran to help his brother.
MANOR, BASEMENT – A BIT EARLIERAs Zankou flamed in, on the first floor, he was … impressed but only slightly. "So, that's the famous Manor where so many demons have failed. Still, it looks … so normal, really ordinary. Yikes!"
Walking around he let some fireballs loose and destroyed some all too nice furniture. Zankou then searched for the basement which was quickly found. To his utter shock, and disbelief, someone obviously had done his work already.
"Mmh, interesting but it saves me a lot of time," Zankou concluded and was about to recite to take the Shadow in, yet a voice stopped him.
"Ahem, I think we still have a word to speak with," Wyatt said, making himself known. "But do as you like. I won't stop you."
Zankou raised an eyebrow shocked. "Huh, come again? I don't think I heard you right. Besides, there's only you and no we." His opposite smirked and someone cleared their throat behind him. "Oh. I see."
"You 'stay here'!" Chris told his parents while going down the stairs to help his brother. "Surprise, surprise. There's always a duo you're dealing with."
The demon switched his gaze from brother to brother. "You've planned this all along, haven't you? You wanted to trick me but I'm quicker than you think." Clearing his throat he recited, "Natum adai necral – Daya inta layork." A shadow emerged and went straight into Zankou making his eyes black. "Now what? Boys?"
"Chris? You remember a certain spell to vanquish this thing?!" Wyatt wanted to know, a bit unsure how. "Would be good, you know."
Chris rolled his eyes nodding and quickly closed his door with his TK. "Okay, repeat after me:
From ancient this power came,
For all to have, but none to reign.
Take it now. Show no mercy,
For this power can no longer be.Both Wyatt and Chris said the spell time and again until Zankou began to glow and explode. There was some knock and scream from outside, yet Wyatt had his shield but Chris?
A great and loud explosion followed, causing both Leo and Piper to scream for their boys. Yet Leo tried his best to hold his wife back, though he wanted to do the same and tried, in vain, to hide his tears.
"Leo, should we look on it?" Phoebe asked shyly and afraid. She was nervous and sobbed quietly.
"Leo, do we …? Are they …?" Paige started to ask but couldn't finish her questions. She wouldn't want to think about more.
The father just nodded and crashed with Piper to the floor while the younger sisters slowly opened the door to the basement, afraid of what they would find there.
DEAD OR ALIVE?As Phoebe and Paige slowly walked down the stairs, they only saw a completely destructed basement. Nothing was left of it. Both sisters grabbed each's hand and called for their nephews. Out of nowhere there was a flicker of something familiar.
"You didn't see that, did you?" Paige asked afraid. "That looked like Wyatt's shield."
Phoebe nodded. "Seems so. How about you look for Chris and I am for Wyatt? We could cover up a lot more and have more success maybe before we involve Piper and Leo."
Paige squeezed her sister's hand and went into the direction she thought Chris would be. Meanwhile Phoebe walked to a different corner where Wyatt could be.
Success was quicker on Phoebe's side. Running to her older nephew, she began to slap him hard on the face, trying hopefully to rouse him. "Wyatt, c'mon, wake up! Chris needs you. Wyatt! Rise and shine, honey." She slapped him harder! "Your little brother …"
"Whoa," came a short answer and then. "Aunt Pheebs? What's going on and where's Chris?"
"Paige's looking for him in that chaos …"
"Looking? You haven't found him yet, have you?" Wyatt asked afraid and got, with Phoebe's help, back on his feet. "I'll help!" And he ran over. His aunt followed.
On the other side of the room, Paige carefully walked through the debris. Then she spotted a familiar hand and freed the body to it slowly. It was her younger nephew who was barely breathing and totally covered in blood.
"Found him," she announced loudly and was joined by her sister and other nephew fast. "Yet I think we'd need Leo with being a doctor once."
"Let me heal him first," Wyatt demanded and started his work. With no response. "Okay, I don't get it but now we'd definitely need Dad."
"I'll get him," Phoebe decided and walked back to the floor where the other two were. "Maybe also Piper."
Meanwhile Wyatt had taken his baby brother into his lap and held his healing hands over the injured body. "C'mon Chris, don't you dare to leave me alone! Chris, I need you with me. Always." The young man began to sob. "Aunt Paige, help me!"
The woman barely nodded and did as told. Paige was strongly reminded of how the other Chris had died but helped her nephew still. "Wyatt, is he going …?"
"I don't know," he sobbed quietly. "We need to do something … and quick."
A few minutes later both were surrounded by the parents. Phoebe held Piper tightly but both were quiet as Leo tried to help their son with his medical knowledge but it seemed to be not working. At all.
Leo's tears which had been running over his face already increased more and more. "I can't lose him again. I just can't. There must be something to save my baby boy."
Wyatt looked at his Dad. And then made a decision. "I'm going to the Elders and track them down here. They have the power to save my little brother." The Twice-Blessed orbed away.
"To hear these words from Wyatt," Paige said astonished but fell silent as all were focused on their youngest member who was still unconscious.
"By the way, where are the babies?" Piper asked in tears before it dawned on her. "Magic School. There they are safe."
After this silence ruled the basement again. All waited for anything to happen.
UP THEREAs Wyatt reformed, he was met with incredulous looks. He didn't care. His brother's health came first. "Well, you seem to know what's going on at the Manor. I command you to heal my baby brother! I know you have the power."
"You can't force us," Odin protested vehemently. "This is the answer for what you did, you both, because this was something your family should have done."
"I know." Wyatt tried to hold back the tears but it seemed to fail the longer he was here. "We've running out of time! I as the Twice-Blessed and wielder of Excalibur command you to follow me and heal my brother!"
"Wyatt," Sandra tried to calm him down. "It could already be too late for him. We know what argument you'd bring now and we'd fully support you if we could."
"Oh, I know you can," Wyatt snapped back. "Fine, if you don't want to, I'm going to save my kid brother alone. No matter what I have to do. Even go back in time!" And he orbed back home angrily.
The Elders looked at each other shocked before some of the younger Elders orbed after the young man. The older ones were not happy but were too stubborn to admit their dependency on the Halliwells.
BACK AT THE MANORWhen Wyatt returned, he didn't form in the basement. Crying quietly the young man formed on the first floor, because he couldn't face anyone, especially his probably dead brother. Hiding in a corner Wyatt waited for anything to happen. Good or bad.
Unnoticed by him, some younger Elders had followed his trail but had orbed directly to the basement. They were met with sad yet hopeful eyes, knowing full well they had to act fast.
Kevin spoke to the shocked family, "Don't worry. He's going to be fine. I promise."
"A … are you sure?" Piper stuttered out sobbing. "We just can't lose him again. By the way, have you seen Wyatt?"
"Well, I can confirm," Kevin explained deep in thought. "He was 'Up There' with us before orbing home, we assume. But where he is now, no idea."
"Okay. I'm sure he's around somewhere close," Leo said and stroked through his son's hair. Then a soft moaning distracted the man. "Hey buddy, welcome back. But don't you dare to scare us like that again!" He turned to the young Elder. "Thank you, Kevin."
"Yes, thank you," the Charmed Ones intoned at once smiling happily.
"It's okay," Kevin said, happy as well. "Now excuse us. The others are jingling since we came here. Really annoying."
"We can imagine," Phoebe said and waved her hand to dismiss them. After they were gone, she immediately hugged her nephew. "Welcome back, Chrissie. And I second that what your father has already said."
"I'm sorry?" the boy questioned half smirking. All nudged him happily and relieved. "Okay, where's my brother?"
"Now that neurotic you is back," Paige said, grabbing her nephew and hugging him too. Chris just gave her a look. "Anyway, we'll look for him now. Agreed?"
The whole family nodded and they made their way back to the first floor. Looking around they saw no one but their youngest member knew his big brother well enough. Time to make a decision.
But before Chris could even open his mouth, his mother had read and hugged him again. "I know what you want, peanut. You are allowed to." She smiled at him. "I'm just glad to have you back." Piper wouldn't let her son go so easily.
"It's okay, Mom. I understand." Chris smiled at her lovingly and held his Mom tightly. "I can say the same for you."
Piper looked at him for a moment incredulously before it dawned. Hugging him again, she let her baby go. Or better the mother forced her sisters and husband in a different room of the house.
Chris sighed before walking to a certain corner of his home. Knowing his brother, and his fears, well enough, he slowly approached his big brother who seemed to be lost. "Hey Wy, you did good with the Elders. They saved me. Well, at least, the younger ones of them."
Wyatt blinked several times before jumping up and hugging his baby brother for dear life. "I'm so glad to have you back. I couldn't live without you." Then he looked directly at him. "So I made an impression on the Elders? Then I've been good."
"You are good," Chris emphasized smiling. "But we should join the family and then go home. Our parents might be freaking out by now if we not return soon."
"I know." Wyatt squeezed his brother's hand. "Let's go then." And both walked in search for their family.
FAMILY REUNIONThe brothers were about to enter the conservatory where they could see the complete family, including their younger selves as an all too familiar voice stopped them. "Wyatt Matthew and Christopher Perry Halliwell, what have I told you about time travel?"
"Mom?" both boys said at once, turning around when also more footsteps could be heard behind them.
"What's going on?" past Piper asked bewildered before gasping out loud. In front of her was clearly an older version of herself. "What are you doing here?"
"Collecting my boys who have just once again changed history," the older woman scolded annoyed. "I thought we'd taught you a lesson while growing up."
Chris rolled his eyes. "Funny and we'd listened. Anyway, I'm not at fault here. I was summoned by Wy." He crossed his arms over his chest sulking.
"Thank you," Wyatt continued in an angry tone. "Still, I'm not at fault either, because I was summoned by you. So?"
The younger Piper slapped her older son. "It was an accident. I was worried. That's all."
"Okay, I know my own life." The older Piper rolled her eyes. "Okay, boys. Let's go home. Demons just have surfaced again. It's your work now."
"We know, we know." Wyatt and Chris started to walk back upstairs, ready to go home. "You not coming, Mom?"
"In a sec. I need to speak with this family. Go and wait for me." As soon as the boys were gone, though she knew they would mock her, Piper advised her past family, "Just celebrate Chris's birthday long and enjoy it. It was right to do what you wanted to achieve."
"You're not mad, are you?" Phoebe asked shocked. "That's something anew with you." She only received a glare. "Just saying."
"Wait a sec," Paige cut in. "What was that cryptic talk about? That sounded like a certain someone if you remember."
"We know," Piper continued and held her baby tightly in her arms. "By the way, you should know that Chris starts to remember his old life."
"I was afraid of that," she whispered sadly. "But that's my problem in the future. With Wyatt, Chris and Bianca."
"MOM! We're waiting!" came two annoyed voices from the attic.
"Coming," came Piper's voice back and she kissed her little toddler before hurrying upstairs. After quite a while it was dead silent from which they assumed all three future people had returned home.
The woman of this time turned confused to her husband who held their older son in his arms. "What did she mean with her last comment about our boys and Bianca?"
"Well," Leo began, kissing his wife on her forehead. "It seems we'll have to wait until our little boys have grown up."
"How can you stay so calm when I want to freak out and already worry about it?" Piper asked curiously. She hardly registered that her younger sisters left the room.
"That's easy," Leo replied smiling. "You just have to accept that we can't change anything. That's life and what should happen will happen anyway. Besides, that's what family stands for."
Piper snorted a bit. "You're always an optimist. And now we really should begin to prepare everything for our little peanut's big party, shouldn't we?"
Leo grinned only before the four of them went into the car and drove to the city, buying all they needed. This was going to be a huge celebration for their little tyke who was already mischievous enough for the two of them what they should have known. Well, at least the boys restrained their powers in public.
TBC ...
Obviously once more is forced onto me. LOL