This is a long story, and I have a second chapter that I'm dabbling with. Please read and if you like it, tell me to continue or not. Give me some ideas even and I'll go off that. Either way, just please, read and tell me what you think. Hope you enjoy!
Leo watched the young man from a distance, where he couldn't see him. He sat by his desk, mummuring over papers, books, writing things down in such a fervor it made him question what Chris was really there for. He looked at his hands which held the truth serum Paige had made earlier and went over their plan in his hand.
They agreed someone had to go make nice with Chris; the others had turned to him, eyebrows raised.
"Who? Me? No..."
"You're the elder." Paige said simply. He looked at her. Pheobe thrust the potion at him, a sarcastic smile on her face.
"Blessed be." He rolled his eyes at her remark and snatched the vial from her hand.
"I'll be back soon." He orbed out with an exasperated sigh.
And that's how he got here, in Chris' back apartment of P3, watching the boy under an invisibility cloak while he worked busily. Leo wondered if he would've even noticed his presence if he wasn't hidden. But it didn't matter.
He orbed himself outside in the bar, mixed a quick drink and mixed the potion in it. He walked over to Chris' door and knocked.
"Who is it?" He yelled.
"Leo."
There was a rustling of papers, a chair pulling out and hitting the wall and an aggravated sigh as the door flung open. Chris looked irritated but he stepped to the side.
"What do you want?"
"We need to talk. Here. Brought you a drink." He thrust the glass at Chris who eyed him warily, took the glass and walked over to the desk, not turning his back to Leo once. He set the glass down and drifted a few steps away, his arms crossed in front of his chest. Leo eyed the glass but turned his attention to Chris; he had to get him to believe him.
"Talk? About Wyatt I'm guessing? Yeah...because you guys trust me so much about that."
"Do you always have to be so damn sarcastic?" He bit off the last part, trying to keep the contempt out of his voice. "Look. I don't trust you; but I love my son. And," He took a deep breath, knowing he believed part of what he was about to say. "if he's going to be going bad, we need to know how to stop it. Him. Whatever changes him." Chris, still unsure, walked near the desk and grabbed the drink. He looked at it curiously, then at Leo.
"What is this?"
"Oh. Hm. 7up with Grenandine. Or, better known as a--"
"Shirley Temple. Thanks." He raised the glass, then took a swig. Leo felt his heart flutter in anticipation. It would take a few minutes for the potion to work and when that happened, he'd have what he wanted. "So why trust all of a sudden? You're not the type to quickly forgive and forget."
"I didn't say I did; I said I cared about my son. I can put my differences aside for his safety." And he didn't keep the contempt out as he stressed the point. Chris nodded; that was the Leo he knew.
"Okay then. Wyatt." He made his way to the desk and picked up his folder then made his way to the bed and sat. "I haven't found much, but I'm getting closer. There are demons that know things. We need to discuss with them; not exactly work with them, but talk to them, get information."
"Okay," Leo replied slowly. "However, how do we trust them?"
"Well, who else?" He rubbed his eyes. "Wow." He opened them wide, yawned and shook his head. "Drowsy all of a sudden." He half-chuckled. "Anyway, I think that-and you're not gonna like this-that someone on our side might have a part in it. Somebody pretty important."
"What? Like who?"
"That Leo," He blinked a few times, "is the million," yawned and leaned back, "dollar. question."
And he was asleep. Leo waited a few moments, lifted the boys legs onto the bed and sat next to him for a few moments before putting his hands on Chris neck. For a moment, he felt a twinge of guilt, but it dissipated as he thought about Wyatt. He closed his eyes and concentrated. There was a swirl of grey, a dizzy moment and then he stood, under a dark, foul sky, ruins lining the formerly beautiful San Francisco skyline and realized, with an unexpected sick horror, that he was in.
He walked around the park, his mouth agape in disbelief. The trees were singed; the air was heavy and damp, the smell of death and destruction invaded his nostrils and he wrinkled his noise is disgust. This was the world Wyatt was ruling? The world he unleashed for others? It couldn't be.
He came around a corner where statues once stood, the bodies of cherubs and fairies broken, nothing left but ruins on platforms. It depressed him; he brought Wyatt around this very spot often with Piper on days out.
"Will you Marry me?" Leo heard Chris' voice close and rushed to duck behind a bush. He peeked over, catching the conversation. He sat across from a girl Leo recognized as the one who had come back to kill Chris earlier, supposedly by Wyatt. A Pheonix. His gaze hardened. Aha, he thought. Dealing with the evil Perry.
"You're asking me now?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Here?"
"This is still our spot, Bianca, no matter what he's done to it. Marry me."
So engrossed in the scene unfolding in front of him, he didn't hear the approaching footsteps. He watched as the couple kissed, talked, said their goodbyes. Then something flew into the air.
"Chris!" Bianca yelled as the probe scanned her face and he threw it against a delapitated stone structure with a grunt. It exploded and he immediately turned to her.
"Are you ok?"
Leo watched, captivated by the scene in front of him. Magic was one thing; technology was another. This...this was not something he wanted his son to become. A spy. A dictator.
"Enjoying the show?" Leo spun around to see another Chris, dressed in the same clothes he was in at the club. Leo leaned back, careful not reveal himself. Chris scoffed. "Bianca and I can't see you, don't worry. This is merely a dream; a memory. Now answer my question. What did you put in my drink?"
"What do you think?" Leo got up, brushing himself off. He turned his attention to the couple again just in time to see them kiss passionately and watched them seperate as that Chris stepped into the portal which would take him to their time.
Leo's eyes darted from Chris, to the portal, then back to Chris. He was visibly pained, his jaw was clenched, eyes focused. Then, there was nothing but a bright light and a single path. He and Leo stood alone.
Chris turned abruptly and punched Leo in the face, sending him flying backwards. He reeled as he fell to the ground, clutching his jaw.
"Dammit Chris! There is no need..."
"You drugged me! You acted like you wanted to help and you drugged me! You are wasting precious time on meaningless crap." He walked over to Leo and offered his hand. "And that was just to get you back." He held his hand and Leo eyed him as he grabbed it and was helped up. "But you can fix it. Get us out of here, while we can."
"Okay. One, I can't. we're stuck here until the memories-dreams, whatever, are done. And Two, what do you mean while we can?"
"I don't want you to see my nightmares, my memories, my world. Can you imagine how that can change the future? You've seen too much already."
"well, you wouldn't tell us anything and we needed to know. This is the only---"
"God Dammit Leo! You know better." His voice was pained, weak. Leo was taken aback. Chris, always level-headed, was obviously afraid of something.
"Chris?"
"You wanna know why I'm blocked from Pheobe? I took my own little potion someone made for me once; it keeps me from having those nightmare's, those dreams. But now...I don't want to relive this, especially with you here." He was begging him and Leo actually felt sorry for him. But he couldn't do anything and told Chris such.
Chris turned his back to him and stood in his anger silently for a few moments before turning around.
"I'll never forgive you for this. Ever." His tone was cold and hard, his eyes the same. Leo didn't care; he needed to know everything about Chris. This was the only way, and he explained such to Chris.
"Fine. Whatever. But don't say I didn't ask to stop. Don't blame me."
"Why would I blame you?" But Chris brushed the question away and grumbled something. "Excuse me?"
"I said," He shot an irritated look at the man. "I'll be your guide. I'll explain what's happening."
"Or I could just infer." Leo said. "Your side could be drastically different than the truth."
"Whatever. I don't care, at this point." He began to feel a pull and his face paled. "Oh no."
"What?"
"Buckle your seat belt, Leo. You're up for a bumpy ride."
Chris' inside snaked as they stood in the cemetary. It wasn't a memory which would reveal him yet; but that was coming. He dreaded it; it was the worst of the bunch, the worst day of his life. And yet, while he was terrified of the reaction he'd get, he was sort of relieved. He'd have someone now, who knew. Granted, it was Leo; but still. Someone.
"Where are we?" Chris looked at Leo, exasperated.
"Well, I don't know Leo," He began sarcastically. "All these stones and flowers and stuff...hm. What do you think it is?"
"Smart ass."
"Shut up. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."
"Look, we all wanted to know what you're about; I'm just the tool."
"Yeah, I bet you are." Chris muttered under his breath, then shuttered in disgust at what he'd said. He turned his attention to the scene in front of him. He was 18 here, standing on a path in front of a grave, his eyes shiny from unshed tears.
"What is this?" Leo asked, coming next to Chris. They stood behind the grave facing his 18 year old self, watching as he swallowed hard, trying to get his composure.
"I don't know what happened Mom. Everything's just gone to hell in a handbasket. And I don't...I don't know what to do." He crouched at the front of the stone, tracing the letters. "I need you. I need you Mom, so bad. Oh man..." He hung his head, tears falling. Leo again looked at the Present Chris whose face was like the marble of the gravestone. Hard, unwilling.
"What is going on?"
"Well, my mother's dead." Chris replied huskily. Leo looked down towards a bush.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. I mean, I can see...what I meant..." Chris cut him off, turning to lead him down the opposite way. He couldn't risk Leo seeing the name on the stone. Not just yet.
"There's much more to it though Leo. Come on, let's walk. If you're gonna find out about stuff, I might as well tell you about what's going on in the world."
"Where are we anyway?" Chris sent him a withering glance over his shoulder. "I know that it's a cemetary, Chris. But...it looks familiar."
"My mother was one of the first buried here. It's at an old park though, one I would come to when I was a kid. My mother died when I was 14 though, and as you can see, it's already filled up a good deal." He waved his arm around. "Thanks to your neighborhood evil ruler." Leo's eyes widened.
"Wyatt."
"Yes. Wyatt." He looked away. "But yeah. At this point, just recently, there was a horrible battle. Wyatt launched an assualt on all those who oppose him and...there were a lot of casualties."
"But...why? Why is he doing this?"
The two were walking down a stone path through the cemetary now. The sun beat down, heating their backs and causing them to squint. Chris stuffed his hands in his pockets and sighed.
"Power. Whatever happens to Wyatt in your time illustrates to him that whoever has power will never have to hurt, will never have to be afraid. He is determined to be that person."
"How do you know all this? How do talk like you know it all?" Leo asked accusingly, causing Chris to sigh in exasperation yet again.
"Our families knew each other." He lied. "In my future, I know you guys, you know me, the whole shebang. I helped to lead the rebellion." He stood, his chest out as if daring Leo to verbally lash out. Surprisingly, he stayed quiet.
"I just don't understand what could've happened..."
"Well, I was working on that before you all decided to drug me." Chris spat. He began to step forward, ready to launch another verbal assault on Leo as anger balled in his stomach when he felt the familiar pull. "Oh no..."
"What?" Leo's eyes darted looking for danger.
"We're moving on to the next one," Chris said, his demeanor suddenly changing. His eyes looked at Leo, wide and fearful. "And I think I know what it is."
Suddenly, it flashed for a moment, blinding them for a second. When they opened their eyes, they found themselves outside on the driveway of the manner. An SUV and a junker were parked next to each other, kids riding in their bikes up and down the road. The sky was bright, the air warm and birds singing. Leo expected Chris to be in a better mood now; it seemed like a good time to live. Instead Chris looked more terrified than ever.
"No..."
"What are we at the Manor for?" Leo asked. Chris swallowed and began walking to the door. "Chris!"
"Look, you want to know what's for real? Here's your chance. Let's go." He opened the door. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
They entered the home and it was the same old manor despite it being 15 years in the future. Leo looked around and sniffed.
"Do I smell oatmeal cookies?" He perked.
"If you have any questions, ask me." Chris said quietly, his voice shaking. "And remember, you're not actually here."
They walked into the kitchen area to where the dining room table was. A backpack was thrown on the table, opened with books spilling out of it. The boy working on it had his back to them, bent over his work, writing furiously.
"Chris, honey, here. Take a break." Piper bustled in, a glass of milk in one hand and a plate with cookies on it in the other. Leo gaped. The boy looked up, revealing a young face with a frustrated look in his eyes.
"Thanks, but I have to get this stuff done. I have my Magic finals tomorrow, Mom! I'm not prepared."
"Oh baby, come on. Everyone needs a break, you've been working for a few hours now. Come on." She sat next to him. "If you don't, you're grounded."
He grinned back at her and took a cookie. "Well, if you put it that way, then I guess I'll have to..."
Leo turned, his eyes wide in shock. Chris stood leaning against the doorway, a sad smile on his face as he watched his younger self interacting with his mother.
"Chris?" Leo whispered.
"I'm 14 here." He mummured. "Studying, if you can imagine. I always took after you in that respect. I wanted to be perfect. Neurotic, if I've heard you all descibe me correctly in recent past."
"Chris?" Leo, still in shock, walked to him. "You're..."
"Your son." He croaked. He cleared his throat. "You and Piper have been spending a lot of time together recently, right?" He gestured to his dream self. "This version of me was conceived on happy terms; on a vacation. However, in the current past, even though I've broken you guys up..." He shook his head sadly. "Thank god you really love each other."
"She's pregnant?" Chris looked at him.
"She doesn't know either." He walked over to behind himself, watching as his younger self and mother took playful jabs at one another as he munched happily.
"...well, your Aunt Paige tells me you are doing just fine in school. That you're at the top of your class."
"Yeah, but, I want to stay at the top of my class. So I have to start studying again."
"Okay, okay." She bent down to grab his empty glass and plate, crumbs spattered on it. She kissed his head and he hesitated a moment in his writing as her arm snaked around his neck in a half hug, which he returned. Leo was captivated by the scene.
"Mom?" The younger Chris spoke minutes later. Piper came back into the dining room, wiping her hands on a dish rag. "Dad's not coming to visit this weekend, is he?" She bit her lip and Leo shot a look at Chris.
"It's coming soon..." He muttered, his eyes darting around the room, searching for imminent danger and avoiding Leo's glance. He knew the scene in front of him; it had replayed itself many times in his head before he took the blocking potion his aunt had made for him.
"Chris, your dad..." She pulled out a chair and sat across from him. The youngster looked down at his work. "Chris, look at me."
"He never comes when he says he will."
"He's a busy guy, Chris. He's the only one up there, running things all by himself. You have to understand that."
"He's my dad." He tossed the pencil down, aggravated. "He hates me, doesn't he?"
"Chris, no!" She sprang up and rushed around the table. "Christopher, your dad does not hate you. He loves you very, very much. He's just very..."
"Busy, I know. Why even have a family if he's not going to be here with us?" Piper pursed her lips, then opened her mouth to comfort and rested her hand on his shoulder. Chris cut her off. "I have to work." He snapped his pencil back up, his face scowling. Piper stepped back, slightly hurt by her sons attitude, but she understood. Victor had never really been there for her when she was a child. She was happy he was there for the boys now; at least there was one male role in the family.
A crash interrupted the thought processes of both of them and they looked up to see a man in black robes standing in the hallway, a fiery ball of energy floating in his hand.
"Get down!" Piper screamed as she moved to freeze him. He did, but she knew it would merely stall him.
"Mom, he's really powerful..."
"Chris, GET DOWN." She growled. "Leo! Paige! Wyatt!" Chris knew it was getting serious; he knew his mother would never call out one of them to help if it wasn't.
"Chris, what's going on?" Leo asked, hurrying over to the older version who now had paled considerably.
"She's going to die. Now."
He looked away just in time for the Demon to unfreeze and fling the energy ball at her. She dodged it and it hit the wall beside her. Chris jumped up, certain he could help somehow and the demon took a chance. He threw a dagger at the boy before Piper could freeze him. She then threw her body in front of him and the younger boy saw her face contort in pain as the dagger hit her in the back. The demon grinned sinisterly and chuckled before dissipating back to where he came from. But Chris didn't see him. All he could do was catch her as she fell, gasping for breath.
"Mom! Oh no, Mom...!" He crouched under her weight, careful to lie her on her side on his legs so the knife wouldn't touch the floor. "Dad! DAD! I need you, dad! Wyatt! Aunt Paige! Anybody!" He began to sob. "Anybody! Help!"
"Chris...shhhh...honey..." Piper was gasping. He clutched her, sobbing.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I got up, I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier...I'm so sorry I'm such a bad kid...mom, please don't leave...I need you...mom, I'm sorry, please..."
"Chris, none of this..." She took a deep breath. "None of this is your fault, you hear me? I love you. I'm proud of you. You're my baby..." She coughed. "I love you so much...you remember that, okay?"
"Mom, no..." He whimpered.
"I love you baby...I love you..." She whispered, fading off.
"Mom no! Mom no, please mom..." He was shrieking an unhuman sound, wounded, terrified and clutching her. He wished his healing powers were strong, like Wyatt's and his fathers, his Aunt's even, but he knew it would do nothing and he couldn't bear the thought of letting go of her. She was still breathing, there was still time! "Dad! Dad I need you! WYATT! ANYBODY!"
Meanwhile, Leo stood with his grown son in the corner watching. Chris was stoic, watching with painful eyes, his arms crossed in front of his body and Leo watched in absolute horror. He broke away from Chris, who just watched him kneel beside her and put his hands over her back. "What are you doing?"
"I can help her." Tears sprang to his eyes as he watched her chest to begin to slow, the younger boy beginning to cry harder, begging for his father or brother to hear him. But it was to no avail. She was soon dead.
"You could't do anything now, Leo. You're not here." Chris whispered. Leo rose and walked next to him, his shoulders slumped. They watched as Wyatt orbed it in and took in the scene, his features turning from those of annoyance at being pulled out of a study date, to those of horror as he saw his brother, their mother's blood drenching his clothes as he sobbed into her. He rushed over and attempted to heal, but it was too late. Wyatt began to cry slowly, and circled one of his arms around his younger brother.
"Chris..." Leo looked at the older boy now as the scene began to fade into white around them. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"What are the first rules of time travel Leo? Especially to the past? Don't tell anyone anything that might change the future! Never!" A bench materialized and he sat down on it and ran his hands through his hair, an aggravated sigh releasing itself.
"But Chris--I just...I'm sorry to..."
"Please Leo; please, just leave me alone. Just..." He stared off. "I'll answer anything you want if you just leave now; you got what you wanted, so go. Let me sleep and go. Please." It was almost as if he was begging and it pained Leo to know whatever happened in the future made his son dislike him so much.
"Okay. But Chris?"
"Yeah?" He didn't turn to Leo, and his voice sounded deadpanned, a strangled and forced sound.
"Just...I'm sorry. For everything." And he walked away, into a deeper, brighter part of the light and opened his eyes moments later, and saw he was back in the apartment. He laid there for a moment, then sat up and shook his head. Oh god...
Piper was pregnant! Chris was his son! His SON! His mind was reeling, his stomach turned as he tried to digest the information. He stopped however, when he heard a soft whimper from the body next to him.
Chris lay, still asleep, with his arms crossed over his chest, but there were tears coming down his face.
"Mom..." He moaned in his sleep. Leo's face pained; and he had now brought this on the boy. He felt guilt take over his nervousness and he slowly rested a hand on Chris back, trying to calm him with his touch.
It didn't work. The boy still twitched in his sleep, moaning as he rolled a little, tears falling slowly still. Leo stared in pain, knowing he was grieving over something lost, something he was having to face day in and day out now without anyone knowing how much pain he was in. Leo had the sudden urge to hold the boy, but he knew he couldn't.
He sat for a moment, wondering. Then, he realized exactly what he could do. A spell he had learned, to help people fall asleep, sleep without interruptions. He found it helped heal better.
He laid his hands on the boys neck as he had done when he had first entered his dreams,but now focused on settling his mind. He was successful; Chris stopped fidgetting. His tears dried, leaving little damp trails down his face, but over all, he relaxed.
When he would wake hours later, he would sit up, trying to recollect what had happened. In moments, he would remember being drugged, remember the horror of Leo being there in his dreams, seeing everything he wished he could stop remembering. And then...he remembered just falling into a deep sleep. His mind raced; he should've stayed on the dream plane, but instead, feel below it, just enough to get rest. He wondered...then he knew. Leo.
He sat on his bed, thoughts racing as he let his head rest in his hands. This was going to be a disaster; but he also felt an insurmountable weight lifted off his shoulders. Someone knew. Granted, it was Leo, but someone knew. Everytime he looked at Piper in pain, everytime he avoided talking about his past, talking about the pain Wyatt would bring upon the world in such a fervor, Leo would know. And he would understand. Why else would he have saved him from reliving the pain alone, evenin his dreams?
So? Awkward last sentence, I know...but what do you think?