Disclaimer: I don't own anything Charmed but my own characters.
So, guys, here you go. This is the end. It's really sad, that I'm done with this story. Acutally, it's so sad, that I decided that there will come more as a little sequal with my characters here. I hope you like that idea. Because if you do, I can tell my loveley beta that she could be so kind to work on that one.
Anyway, I really hope you like this here. This is also your last chance to review.
Epilogue
The only advantage of shopping with your parents is that they pay.
Leo had insisted on going to the shopping center with his sons to get them some new clothes and shoes and the stuff they needed for the next shool year.
Wyat was all for it, especially the clothes and shoes, whereas Chris couldn't think of anything more boring. He followed his father and brother more slowly than necessary and lost them from time to time.
"Okay, we're almost done. Just some sneakers for Chris and a new ring-binder for Wyatt," Leo said.
Sneakers! The thought of PE made Chris' mood drop even more. Not to mention the thought of Trainer Curtis, who had every right to cause him trouble. And math! Ms. Anderson with her stupid pleading eyes.
Chris sighed. He couldn't understand why his father didn't agree to allow him to go to Magic School permanently. Chris had imagined that Leo would be happy about it, but no, he had refused. Courses during school breaks were okay, but not more.
Now that he and Wyat were the official heirs of the Charmed Ones, it might look stupid anyway.
"Chris? Hi!"
The 14 year old looked up. He had lost his family, who had been standing to the left of him, again. Instead he had walked straight and was now standing in front of Sonya, who he had not talked to since the party 10 days ago.
"Hi, Sonya. How are you?"
"Okay. You know, I was really mad at you for just leaving the party, but Matt told me what Crystal said to you. So I can understand why you left. I can't understand, why you didn't come to my house."
"I was angry."
"Why? Did you think that I invited you so you could get bullied?"
"No. But now that you mention it…"
"You're not serious, are you?"
"No."
Sonya sighed. "You know, Chris, I really like you and the more time I spent with you, the more I understand why you act the way you act."
"Really? Can you explain it to me?"
She laughed, tugging her hair behind her ears. "You're cute. Listen, I want you to come to my birthday party. There'll be no Jack or Crystal or other jocks. Just a few close friends. I really think you could have fun there."
"You know, you're risking all your popular friends if you hang around with me."
"I don't care about popular friends. I care about good friends. So, six o'clock, don't be late."
"Okay. Six o'clock. I got it." Chris suddenly frowned. "Do I need to bring you a gift?"
Sonya pouted. "Yes! But I'll tell you what I want."
She looked around and saw that her mom was busy looking for a new handbag. She leant in starting a kiss.
Chris put an arm around her, bringing her closer.
When the kiss ended, Sonya smiled at him and said: "I want a kiss like that. And something gift-wrapped with a ribbon. Okay?"
"Okay."
"I'll see you, Chris."
The brunette Halliwell looked at his brother and dad who had just walked up and grinned sheepishly.
Chris shrugged and went over to them. "I need a birthday present for Sonya."
"Oh, so that's Sonya. She's very pretty," Leo said.
"Yeah. Back to the gift…Ehm.. would it be possible if you gave me my pocket money in advance, please?"
Leo glared at his son then started to grin, while Wyatt tried his best not to laugh.
"Hopefully you have more luck with your girlfriend, than we had the last time."
"What are you doing?" Chris asked.
Wyatt sat at the table in the dining room, many catalogues and papers spread out in front of him.
"Checking out colleges."
"Isn't that a bit early? School hasn't even started yet."
"I know. I just want to see what possibilities I have."
"I thought you'd stay here."
Wyatt looked up. "I don't know. There are so many good colleges and some of them would accept me at once."
"And what would you like to study?"
"How the hell should I know?"
"But isn't that the first thing you should decide and then search for the best college for that subject?"
Wyatt sighed. "Yes, probably."
Chris shrugged. He was really glad that he already knew what do do after high school. He took up one of the catalogues.
"University of Hawaii," he read. "Do you want to study or go on vacation?"
Wyatt gave him a dark glare. "Why don't you keep your sarcastic remarks to yourself and do what you are good at." He threw a notebook and a pencil at Chris.
"Moreover, I'm still not sure if I can leave you alone," Wyatt said after a few minutes of silence while Chris almost finished his sketch.
The 14 year old shrugged. "I can look after myself, Wy, really. And if I can't, dad's here."
"I'm talking about demons."
"What demons? They'd better keep their distance until I am done with school. I have other things to worry about."
"Tell them that."
"Don't worry about the demons. One good thing that followed the Tom incident was, that I finally can control my thought projection."
"More or less," Wyatt smirked.
"What does that mean, more or less?"
Leo emerged out of the kitchen. "Boys, dinner…" he stopped staring ahead.
"Dad?" Wyatt frowned at his father and followed his gaze. "Mom!"
Wyatt jumped up and rushed over to his deceased mother, beating his father by seconds.
Piper smiled at her two blonde men and hugged them.
Leo kissed his wife, taking in her familiar scent.
She looked amazing. Her long hair fell over her shoulders and her bright smile seemed to let her glow from the inside.
"How?" the ex-Elder breathed.
"Do you really need to ask?" she said.
The oldest Charmed One turned to Wyatt and stroked his face. "My poor Wyatt. Don't you ever froget about your own dreams while worrying about everybody els. You know what to do." She hugged him tightly. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
Piper stepped away from them. "You're doing great. All of you."
She smiled at her youngest son.
"Don't ever stop loving me. But stop missing me. I'm always there for you. I look over you all the time."
She winked and waved at Chris.
He waved back and then she was gone.
Leo stared at the spot, where his wife had been standing only a second ago.
Wyatt started to clean away the college broshures, with shaking hands.
"I'll stay here. I can go to Berkeley. I'll take business courses and work at the restaurant. And, as soon as I'm 21, I'll start making mom's restaurant into a country-wide chain."
Chris frowned. "Do you think that that is a better idea than me becoming an artist?" he asked his father.
Leo looked at his sons. "I appreciate everything that makes you happy. Do you remember what I told you when your mom died? We need to stick together. Over the last months, we haven't been good in that. But from now on we'll try harder, okay? I know we will have our arguments but we can't let them grow in a way that leads to us being mad at each other. No one should be forced to take sides. Or live a role in this family that doesn't fit. We are what we are. It won't be easy but I have enough faith in the three of us to believe that we'll work something out. And you know, why? Because your mom will come here and beat our heads together otherwise."
"Can you believe that this is our last year here?" Amanda asked, when she, Wyatt, Ray and Chris walked towards the school building.
"This is our last first school day after the summer break here in high school."
"Lucky you," Chris muttered. He could only hope that the upcoming term would be better than the last one.
"Don't worry, your last high school year will come sooner than you want."
"I don't think so," Chris replied. He spotted a group of kids next to the stairs. "Alright, I'll see you later."
"Don't get into trouble," Wyatt called after him. He could imagine his brother rolling his eyes.
"I'm really wondering where we will be next year," Ray said.
The three friends looked at each other.
"I'll be here," Amanda said.
"Me too," Wyatt agreed.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
Chris went over to Sonya and threw and arm around her shoulders, she smiled and put her own arm around Chris' waist.
Matt Snider told them about his brother's new car. "It's an old Corvette."
"Is that something good?" Susan asked.
"Not yet. But it will. Me, my dad and brother have been working on it night and day for three weeks now."
"And still cannot be identified as a car," Chris smirked.
He had seen the oldtimer or whatever it was.
"You came by at a stupid time. My brother says once he's done he'll take me and some choosen friends for a drive."
"We'd rather walk, it'll be faster," Sonya replied. "From what Chris told me, it's a scrap heap."
"Chris knows nothing about cars," Matt said. "Obviously, you two don't want to go for the ride of your life, idiots. What about you, Sue? Amy?"
The two girls in question looked at each other.
"Ehm…sorry, I need to get something out of my locker," Susan answered. "Amy, can you help me?"
They walked away giggling.
Matt followed them with a dumbfounded look. He glared at Chris once they were out of sight.
"Amateurs!" he said pouting and went into the school building.
Sonya laughed. "He's crazy!" She and Chris went inside, as well.
"I've been thinking," Wyatt said suddenly to his friends.
"And what? Getting your brother some condoms," Ray chuckled, as they had been more or less watching the younger teenagers.
"Been there," Wyatt replied. "No. I've been thinking. Would you guys like to share an apartment with me?"
"Sure," Amanda replied. "I can't pay for it, but yes."
"Me neither."
"Not even if the rent was really low? I'm talking about my Uncle Henry's and Aunt Paige's old apartment. Their tenants will move out at the end of the year. And before they search for someone new, they asked me if I wanted it with some friends as a student digs."
"That sounds great, but I don't think my mother will pay for an apartment, though."
"Not even if you had a job to pay some of the costs yourself?"
"Jobs don't stand around waiting for us," Ray replied.
"I could give you jobs as waiters in San Francisco's popular 'P.H.'s Charmed,'" Wyatt grinned. His friends frowned at him.
"What are you talking about, dude?"
"Guys, as soon as I'm 18, I own my mom's restaurant. I'm the boss, so I can give you jobs." He took a deep breath. "I was told to never forget about my own dreams and I'd love to share an apartment with you until we're done with college. You both really helped me over the last 6 months and I know neither of you want to go on living with your folks. So let me help you, okay?"
"So, I guess, we are really going to stay here," Amanda said.
"Oh, that's fine with me," Ray answered. "It's good that not everything is going to change so soon."
The school bell rang and they headed inside.
THE END
And now...
Thanks so much to Margot for helping me improving the story. I know it was work and I'm really grateful that you always found the time for it.
Moreover thanks to all my loveley reviewers (really sorry if I forgot someone. I had a list but needed to buy a new notebook today as my old one decided to crash after two years).
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And thanks to all the people who put me on one of their alert lists without reviewing. (Sorry if I miss someone here too. I always appreciate every kind of reaction to my story)
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Thanks again to everybody. I really had a bad time over the last months, everything went wrong plus I got sick but all your reactions made it a lot better. I had lots of fun with this story. I hope you did so also.