GN Chapter 22

AN: Okay ladies and gentlemen here it is, the last chapter unless you people really, really want an epilogue. I just want to thank all of my reviewers and those of you who are still even checking this story out. Enjoy the last installment of Grumpy Neurotic from yours truly Chrishalliwell11.

"I can't tell you how I know, I just do! Elder or not Gideon's trying to kill Wyatt!" Chris yells at Leo, beyond furious.

"It doesn't make any sense! Gideon fought for your mother and I to get married! Besides, I thought it was The Gamesmasters after Wyatt." Leo argues, unable to accept his own mentor would be the one after his son.

"I heard his thoughts, he was working with The Gamesmasters to throw us off the trail. Wasn't he the one trying to get you to stay "Up There" constantly. He believes Wyatt is too powerful, that killing him would be for the Greater Good!" Chris shouts back, sneering the last words out.

"Then why in your future is Wyatt Ruler of All Evil?" Leo asks, "Or was that another one of your lies?"

Chris gasps and stares at his father with hurt in his eyes, Leo covers his mouth with his hands, "Chris, I-I'm so s-sorry. I d-didn't mean to s-say that."

"Oh, really?" Chris spits.

"Look, it's just I've known Gideon since day one as a whitelighter and I just don't want to jump to conclusions." Leo says quietly, "There are so many blanks that we haven't filled yet, one of them being Wyatt."

"I don't know!" Chris exclaims frustrated, "None of this makes sense, but the one thing I'm absolutely certain of is he's the one responsible. If you want proof ask Gideon what happened to Sigmund."

"What do you mean? What happened to Sigmund?" Leo inquires confused.

"He was with working with Gideon, but he wanted to tell us, he was never comfortable with the measures Gideon took. So Gideon killed him and now he's working with Barbas." Chris informs him, "Try sensing for him and that's one blank filled."

Leo reluctantly closes his eyes, "I can't."

"Exactly."

Leo is silent for a moment and appears to be in thought, "Oh, I think I get it. In your time Gideon tried to kill Wyatt when you were born, probably kidnapped him and we never found out because he failed to kill him and Wyatt was too young to tell us. He must've been traumatized being betrayed by someone he trusted that young, constantly fending off Gideon's attacks." Leo realizes.

"Oh my god, I never knew. I had no idea. No wonder we never found out." Chris says quietly glancing at Wyatt with a pained expression.

"Leo!" Piper's voice jerks Leo out of his memories.

"What?" Leo exclaims, "Sorry."

"Would you like to hold your son?" Piper asks.

Leo looks down at her arms where Baby Chris is staring up at him with wide, trusting, pale green eyes, not quite as dark as Leo's, "Sure." Leo holds out his arms and Piper carefully passes the precious bundle to him.

"Da!" Baby Chris cries looking up at him, his eyes sparkling and full of trust.

"Yes. I'm your Dad." Leo says, "And I love you so much more than you will ever know Chris."

Piper quietly exits the room smiling.

Unseen by his family 25 year old Christopher Perry Halliwell watches his father and baby self. Smiling he closes his eyes and vanishes with the timeline.

As Leo cradles his youngest son he hears quieter than a sigh, "Thank you. I love you Dad."

"Goodbye Chris." Leo whispers, looking down at his baby son, "I'll never forget you."

Phoebe Halliwell sits at her desk, her favorite pair of earrings in her hands, staring at them, a picture lies face down next to her.

"What do you mean faded away?"

"In Leo's arms after he died."

"Maybe he didn't die, maybe he was just going back."

"Phoebe!"

Phoebe looks up, "Elise. Sorry, I'll have this weeks column in by tonight."

"Phoebe you already gave me this weeks column. What's wrong?" Elise asks closing the door.

"My sister, Piper, had her son last week. His name's Chris." Phoebe whispers handing Elise the photo.

"Congrats! He looks healthy. And now, I know something's wrong, when Wyatt was born you couldn't tell us enough about him."

"The day Chris was born we lost someone very close to our family because of someone we thought we could trust betrayed both him and Wyatt. I never got to, there was just so much I wanted to say to him."

"Oh Phoebe. I'm so sorry. You feel welcome to take off as much time as you need." Elise says.

"Thanks." Phoebe says noncommittally.

"When you're ready I'm sure everybody would love to hear about Chris." Elise places the photo face up in front of Phoebe before exiting the room.

Phoebe sets her earrings down and picks up the photo only to be tossed into a vision, then there he is.

"Chris?" Phoebe asks unable to believe her eyes.

"It's me Aunt Phoebe. I'm here." Chris says gently.

Phoebe closes the distance between them, "I'm so sorry Chris. There's so much..."

"Stop. It's okay Aunt Phoebe. I'm not dead you know, I live on in him. We're one in the same. I have to go now. I'll see you in twenty years or so."

"No, no. Please you can't go, I can't lose you again."

"I love you Aunt Phoebe."

Phoebe blinks and she's staring at the picture of Baby Chris and that's when she hears the voice, "Goodbye Aunt Phoebe. I love you."

"Goodbye Chris."

Paige cleans the same spot she'd been cleaning on the bar counter for the past five minutes, her eyes on the back room door. Making up her mind Paige makes her way over and opens it hopeful, she opens it, nothing. The couch is a couch, no longer a bed, the scattered papers are all Piper's, no sign that he'd ever existed, even his bags and clothes are gone.

Then a flash of gold catches her eyes, Paige bends down and reaches under the couch, her fingers connect with a chain and she pulls it out; the locket.

With trembling fingers Paige opens the locket and stares at the younger version of her lost nephew, the sparkling green eyes, the sarcastic smirk. Proof he existed, Paige can almost here his voice.

Paige closes the locket and places it around her neck, it hangs under her shirt next to her favorite necklace, right over her heart.

And then it is his voice she hears, "Goodbye Aunt Paige. I love you."

"I love you too Chris."

"Ma!" Baby Chris cries from her arms.

"You're okay Peanut. Mama's got you. I'll never let anyone hurt you ever again." Piper whispers to him. Unbidden tears spring to her eyes and drop by drop glittering beads of a mother's sorrow splash against his cheek.

Piper lifts her face to the ceiling, tears dripping off her chin, "Why? How could they do this to you? Haven't they taken enough from this family? After all you've been through you did not deserve this!"

Piper closes her eyes, trying to picture the fading image of her lost son, she barely registers the touch of a gentle, reassuring hand on her shoulder, "What do you want Leo?"

"Mom." whispers the owner of the hand.

Not believing her ears, Piper opens her eyes and turns to look behind her, "Chris..."

"Hello Mom. Why do you cry?" Chris whispers.

"I've lost you, after all you've been through. You didn't deserve this!" Piper wails quietly.

"Mom, look at me. I am finally at peace and you have mini-me. I will be at peace with those lost to me until the day comes we may meet again if the Fates allow. Do not weep as I am finally happy, I'm finally at peace. I love you so much Mom."

Chris leans over and kisses her cheek before pulling back, Piper touches her cheek and as Chris fades out of her sight she whispers, "Goodbye my beautiful son. I love you."

Done, thanks to all you readers who took the time to read and review as well as those who faved and followed. Thoughts, complaints, suggestions?