Title: Smoke and Mirrors.
Author: Danyliz
Fandom: Charmed.
Characters/Pairing: Piper/Leo if you squint.
Warning: Deep brotherly bond (no incest).
Rating: PG-15
Beta: Mikkifavo

Summary: Two brothers, two time-lines… what went wrong for Wyatt to become the source of all evil?

A/N: Charmed is property of the WB/CW. I'm still hoping that someday they'll make a sequel with the Halliwell Bros. I live in delusion land. The story shows both time-lines with similar events but the different results according to the changed future Chris saved. Also I made up one of the Halliwell cousins, Coop is Phoebe and Coop's son (according to the story, Phoebe only had girls; I changed that in this story). Things in italic are events from the old time-line. Wonderful Mikkifavo helped me with the beta and is generally awesome, so a big thanks to her.

Chapter one: 10 years old.

Chris knew he was not as special as his brother. Wyatt was the twice blessed, and Chris was nobody. He was used to being ignored by everyone: his mom too busy fighting with Leo, his aunt too busy fighting demons, and Wyatt too busy feeding his own ego.

When he saw Wyatt arguing with Leo, he knew that sometimes being invisible wasn't that bad. Leo was always nagging Wyatt about his powers, about his responsibility as the twice blessed and about his careless attitude regarding protecting innocents. What was best? That your father ignored you completely, or that he bothered you with his high expectations all the time?

As he saw Wyatt blowing up his mother's clock, he sighed. Maybe he was the lucky one, not Wyatt.

Making potions was something Chris did when he felt alone, which was most of the time. He practically lived on the attic, studying the book of Shadows and practicing potions. Wyatt had all the super powers, but Chris was proud that he had the brains to actually beat him every once in a while. Wyatt never knew that Chris' potion turned him into a frog for two hours until their mother figured it out. Chris blamed a warlock. Aunt Phoebe didn't believe him, she didn't say anything though. Being in the attic was Chris' escape from reality; from knowing that his mother was tired of having an absent husband and mostly from knowing his brother didn't love him at all.

Too bad that Chris did love him with all his heart; he was his big brother, even when he was an asshole.

Footsteps came closer to the attic, and Chris hurried and put away everything he had been preparing. He was practicing a potion to make his brother nicer. It probably wouldn't work, but he had to try. He sat quickly on the old sofa, taking the book of shadows and putting it on his lap.

"Mom wants to talk to you." Wyatt entered the room as if he owned it, as usual..

"I'll be downstairs in a minute," he said calmly, trying not to make eye contact with Wyatt.

"What are you doing, Chris?" Wyatt snatched the book from Chris' lap.

"Nothing," he said, standing up.

When he was trying to walk away, Wyatt grabbed Chris' arm with force, turning him around to face him.

"See, I'm not sure, little brother. You have been acting strange lately…"

"I don't know what you mean."

"You don't even look at me anymore; are you jealous because I can crush you like an ant?"

"CHRIS!" His mom's voice echoed in the room. "Coop is here!"

Chris' face lit up immediately; Coop was the best thing in the family, he actually thought that his life could have been a lot better if he was his big brother instead of Wyatt.

"Look at you, all excited about seeing our cousin," Wyatt spat. "What if I go out with you two?"

"No!" Chris said strongly, earning a warning glare from Wyatt. Except for their mother, no one yelled at Wyatt. Not even their father. "I mean… you'll get bored, and Leo said that you had to train."

"Do you think I care about what Leo says?" Wyatt lifted an amused eyebrow.

"You should… you're the only one who is worthy of his attention anyway."

Wyatt looked dubiously, almost like he was surprised to hear Chris saying this.

"Hey, Chris!"

Chris and Wyatt turned around, seeing Coop enter the room with a big smile. In the moment Coop noticed the strong grip Wyatt had on Chris, he frowned.

"Let him go, Wyatt," he warned.

"Or what, cousin? Don't be a fool; we wouldn't want aunt Phoebe upset because we fight, right?"

Coop paled, but Chris gave him merit, he still looked Wyatt directly in the eyes. Chris knew Wyatt was here for a reason, this picking on the weak thing was only to amuse himself. He knew his brother – he wanted something.

"What do you want, Wyatt?" sighed Chris, caving.

"God, you two are boring. I want a potion, Chris. I need Leo out of the way this weekend."

"You know how to make a sleeping potion, you don't need my help."

"Oh, but I do, little brother. You know how to make it tasteless, and I want it with secondary effects."

"What kind of secondary effects?"

"Memory loss from the previous week."

Chris knew what this meant: Wyatt would cause trouble and Chris was hopeless in stopping him. Chris learned the hard way that it was best to let Wyatt get his way; if you opposed, you wouldn't win and he would get revenge.

"Leave now, and you can have it tomorrow." If his mother knew what he was doing, she would be angry. Good thing she was too busy trying to actually educate Wyatt and failing miserably.

He didn't blame his mother, she was the only good thing in this house; she just had so many things on her plate right now, that worrying about her ten year old potion genius wasn't a high priority.

"Finally we understand each other, little brother," Wyatt smirked. "See you later, Coop."

As Wyatt let him go and walked away, Coop got closer to Chris and took his arm gently, revising if Wyatt dared to hurt him. Chris glanced upwards, noticing Wyatt standing in the doorway with a strange frown. He didn't have time to ask though, as Wyatt walked away quickly closing the door behind him, and Coop started rambling about his brother.

Coop hated Wyatt, even when Aunt Phoebe tried to make him understand Wyatt's reasons for being a spoiled brat. It was something Chris never understood: his aunt and father always justified Wyatt, and even though she had her own children, Phoebe was always mooning over Wyatt. What was so special about his brother? Chris always felt stupider, uglier and the clumsier compared to his perfect brother.

But Coop made him feel like he was worthy of someone else's time.

"Please, tell me you won't do it, Chris," Coop said in a whisper, as if he was worried Wyatt would overhear through the door.

"I have to. You know what Wyatt is like, Coop. If you don't do what he says, he throws a tantrum."

"He's twelve, he's not invincible yet, we can take him."

"For how long? You know your mother – and even my mother. He's the twice blessed. He's untouchable."

"Well, he's also a jerkface and I'm putting a spell on his clothes."

"Coop, that's playing with fire."

"Don't worry Chris, I won't get burned. We have to stick together, right?"

Chris looked up, seeing the big smile Coop had. In moments like this he could truly believe that if he and Coop stayed together, they could overcome anything. Coop was the brother he always wanted, and he suspected that Coop felt the same thing. Sometimes it was amusing that Coop acted like a big brother, even though he was younger than Chris. His cousin was the only thing besides his mother that motivated him to keep going in this hell.

"Right," Chris finally smiled.

Chris felt he was the luckiest kid in the whole Universe. He had superpowers, he had an amazing family, and he just got an outstanding grade in magic school. What else could he ask for? Sure, his brother sometimes was an ass, since he believed he was better than him in fighting demons, but Chris was only 10, and besides, he was better than Wyatt in Potions. His older brother always messed up things when he was mixing ingredients, and they agreed that they were stronger together than apart. Mel was neutral, she was a girl and younger, she really wasn't competition for them.

Chris loved his big brother. He protected him, helped him out and was, in general, awesome. Chris looked up to him greatly. Even though everyone said that Wyatt was the twice blessed, nobody treated him differently. In their parents' eyes, they were all Halliwells and that was the only thing that mattered. Family was the most important thing.

His mother often told Chris he looked like his aunt Prue, who died fighting a powerful demon. Prue was the oldest of his Aunts, and she had practically raised his mother and aunt Phoebe. Chris liked to hear about Prue; she sounded like a wonderful woman, if a little neurotic. Just like Chris. Wyatt often told him to relax and enjoy his childhood, but Chris was very uptight. He knew he was a spoilsport sometimes, but someone had to take control when Wyatt decided to be an irresponsible idiot. His brother thought he was invincible, and Chris wasn't going to let him get hurt by his recklessness.

As he saw his dad and mom chastising Wyatt for being careless about his safety while protecting innocents, he sighed. Wyatt often put himself on the line to save an innocent instead of just orbing away with said innocent. That's the cowards' way!, Wyatt often argued when Chris joined his parents in the lecture.

Wyatt moved his hands dismissively, and again his mother's clock paid the price. Wyatt still couldn't control his new power, and their mother wasn't giving him a hard time for it since she once blew up their father. In comparison, the clock seemed like a better option.

By dinner time, everything was forgotten and they could enjoy a home-made meal while joking about Wyatt's next heroic scheme.

Of course, even when he had a great family, Chris also needed time for himself. Their parents let him practice potions in the attic when he wanted solitude, and everyone respected his time – though Wyatt sometimes forgot about it and orbed in to be a bother. It was rare, but Chris didn't mind.

He was doing a new memory potion since he thought it could be useful when they saved innocents (they shouldn't know about their powers). As he was mixing ingredients, the smoke was becoming intense. Chris didn't even notice his eyes watering and the lack of air until it was too late.

Chris saw himself on a bed. It was one of the manor's rooms, he was sure. He had a wound on his stomach, and his father was next to him, crying. He was disappearing… he was dying…

Don't leave me…

The voice sounded a lot like his brother, but he was nowhere in sight. What was happening? Chris wanted to move and demand explanations from his father, but he couldn't. He was frozen in the place, like he had to watch himself die. He was young, he looked devastated, sad… alone.

Chris…. Chris!

Waking up abruptly, Chris gave a jump, crashing directly into Wyatt's chest.

"Chris!" Wyatt said, worried. "What the hell happened, bro?"

"Wyatt!" Chris heard his mother's voice. "I've told you to watch your language."

"Mom," Wyatt whined, "we fight demons, I think 'hell' is an acceptable curse."

Chris realized that his big brother had a strong hold on him, and he wasn't letting him go even though he already regained consciousness.

"What happened?" Chris asked.

"That's what we want to know, peanut," their mother walked towards them.

"I felt your pain and I came quickly to kick some demons' as…" Wyatt glanced to his side noticing the frown on their mother. "Butt," he corrected quickly. "Imagine my surprise when I found you on the floor. You scared the hell out of me, bro!"

"Sorry… I think the smoke was more intense than I thought it would be."

"I bet. You know better than doing a potion without a window open, Chris," his mother directed her frown to him.

"Sorry, it won't happen again."

"I hope so, otherwise I'll have you banned from the attic until you learn to be careful. We have enough to worry about with your brother."

"Hey!" Wyatt complained.

"Chris, you look a little pale, are you okay?"

Chris pushed Wyatt lightly away, seeing his cousin standing near his mother. Right, he and Coop had plans to go to the movies.

"I'm fine Coop, I'm a Halliwell."

"That's not the appropriate answer, Chris," his mother came closer and touched his forehead. "It doesn't look like a big bump, but you will stay home so I can watch over you."

"But Mom!" Chris complained. "We were going to the movies!"

"Exactly, you were going. Now you are staying here, and it's final."

"We can watch movies here, Chris," suggested Coop.

"I will even make you popcorn," his mother smiled gently, "with caramel, the way you like it."

"Fine." Chris caved. "We'll be downstairs in a minute."

His mother nodded, leaving them in the attic. Wyatt was still near Chris, and Coop was a prudent distance. For some reason, Wyatt didn't like that Coop was around Chris so often. Coop only had sisters, and so he needed a little male company, and he had a lot in common with Chris. Wyatt sometimes joined them, but he got bored quickly and left them be. Still, Chris noticed the small frown his big brother directed at Coop from time to time.

"Maybe I'll join you two," Wyatt said suddenly. "I want to watch movies too."

"Didn't Dad said that you needed to train and that he was helping you?" Chris smirked.

"Dammit." Wyatt cursed. "Right, and he gets all red when I don't train. He thinks I'm careless."

"That's because you are," Chris nodded solemnly.

"Wait until you turn 12, he'll be all over you too and you'll beg that I help you out," Wyatt warned.

"Unlike you, I like training with Dad. Mom keeps teaching me how to cook and our aunts make me do girl stuff."

"Well Chrissy, you do look like a girl."

"Bite me," Chris glared.

"Shouldn't you go then?" Coop interrupted.

Wyatt and Chris turned to see Coop standing in the same place, looking bored. Wyatt and Chris exchanged looks and Wyatt had his look of 'you're my baby brother, not his'. He orbed away without saying anything else, and Coop finally moved closer to Chris.

"You know Wyatt isn't that bad, right?" Chris asked with curiosity.

"He doesn't like me much," Coop defended himself.

"He's just jealous. I'm his baby brother after all. He thinks he has to take care of me, and he doesn't like to share."

"What a surprise, a Halliwell that doesn't like to share," Coop mocked. He was right, the Halliwells had a hard time sharing what they considered their own. Even his dad had problems when the aunts didn't want to share their sister.

Chris trusted Coop, and he didn't want to scare his parents or Wyatt, but he had to say what he dreamt. He knew he didn't have premonitory powers like his aunt Phoebe … but what if this was one of his new powers? He was sure it was the future, and he was dying…

"Coop… I saw myself dying."

"What?" Coop said in a scared tone.

"When I was out… I dreamt about my death. I was lying down in one of the rooms, with a stab wound in my stomach. Dad was crying, he was so sad Coop! And I looked so alone, so scared… it was awful. And Wyatt was there too. I didn't see him, but I heard him. He said 'don't leave me'."

"That sounds like Wyatt," Coop agreed. "Do you think it's a premonition?"

"I'm not sure. I don't want to say anything yet… It's just…"

"What?"

"I was really young, Coop. I was still a teenager… I'm going to die young…"

Coop paled and came closer to Chris, hugging him with force.

"My mother says that premonitions help save innocents. Maybe you saw this to help you not to die, right?"

Chris looked up, seeing the big smile Coop had. He was the expert in premonitions, Phoebe taught him everything in case he inherited the gift. And he was right; it was a long time until he was that old. They had time to prevent it.

"Right," Chris smiled back.

Wyatt caused a disaster in Magic School. It was not surprising, Chris knew his brother was up to something when he requested the potion, what he didn't expect was Coop getting hurt with that. As he waited outside Coop's room in his aunt's house, he could hear the adults discussing what had happened. Wyatt supposedly was grounded in the manor, but Chris knew better. His brother hardly cared about punishments, and he probably was orbing around while the adults thought he was staying in his room like a good son. Why didn't anyone see what Wyatt was turning into?

"Chris made the potion, he should be punished as well," Leo said angrily. Of course, he would always protect Wyatt.

"Shut up, Leo," his mother demanded. "Wyatt tricked us, and he probably asked the potion from Chris. You know Chris can't deny anything to his big brother; he adores him!"

Well, that wasn't exactly true. Chris feared him, it was a big difference, yet made him act the same way anyway.

"What kind of education are you giving Wyatt?" Leo's voice sounded furious. "He's the twice blessed, he can do great things!"

"He's a Halliwell, and he pays the price when he screws up." His mother raised her voice. "You have no right coming here to lecture us. You abandoned us, go back up there and stop pretending that you care. And in case you forgot, you have TWO sons. Wyatt is not the only one who counts in this house."

"Piper…" Phoebe tried to mediate things.

"Stay out of this, Phoebe. My son is not going to be pressured about his powers, and he is not going to grow up like a spoiled brat. My house, my rules, Leo."

Chris glanced to his right, noticing the blue orbs. Wyatt had probably heard everything.

"What's it like, Chris?" He asked when he materialized.

"What's what like?" Chris was tired of this.

"What's it like when nobody sees you and doesn't expect anything from you? How does it feel?"

He looked at Wyatt with surprise. He seemed drained, like his last adventure had taken something important from him.

"It probably feels like when you are noticed by everyone," he replied honestly. "If you think it's better to be invisible, I'm afraid to disappoint you. You have expectations on your shoulders – well, at least someone cares about you. I could die tomorrow, and nobody would notice. If anything, Leo would probably throw a party because I no longer distract his golden son from reaching his destiny."

Wyatt was staring at him like he didn't believe what Chris had said. It was true though. He often thought that if he died, they probably won't notice until they didn't have someone to blame for things that went wrong.

They stayed silent for a while, and they heard steps in their direction.

"You better go before mom catches you here," Chris said with a small voice. Why did he still care about his brother? Stupid blood bond.

"I would notice," Wyatt murmured while orbing away.

Chris watched with surprise as the blue orbs faded away.

After that day, Wyatt was less of an ass with him; it wasn't what he wanted, but at least he could tolerate living on the same roof as his big brother.

Wyatt found out that a demon was planning an attack to the magic school. He asked for Chris' help, and they never said anything to their parents. They acted on their own, and things didn't turn out so well. Sure, they got rid of the demon, but Coop had been hurt when he stood between them and a fire ball to protect them from an unseen attack. Chris was waiting outside Coop's room, listening to the adults discuss what just happened. Wyatt was grounded in the manor since it was his idea, and his brother probably was feeling miserable for failing and getting Coop hurt.

"I think Chris shouldn't be punished, after all he was just indulging Wyatt, he was trying to help," his father said calmly.

"Right, Chris is the saint here." His mother bit out. "They both decided to go without any adult supervision. Wyatt is 12 and Chris 10, Leo! They could have died there. They know better than to go and piss off demons, okay?"

"I suppose you're right," his father agreed. "They're Halliwells, they pay the price when they screw up."

"I'm sorry, Phoebe," his mother said sympathetically.

"Don't worry, Coop is fine, he was just tired. Chris healed him perfectly. He's getting better at this healing thing."

"Too bad he doesn't follow rules as well as he heals," his mother grumbled. "These sons of yours will give me a heart attack, Leo."

"I didn't hear you complaining when we were making them, Piper," his father said with amusement.

Chris smiled. It was great thateverything was okay even when they screwed up. Their parents were the best. He was about to orb to Wyatt's room when he noticed blue orbs. Wyatt probably heard everything.

"So, what do you think the punishment will be?"

He looked at Wyatt with resignation. He seemed drained, like his last adventure had showed him he could lose everything if he wasn't careful enough.

"I think two months of cleaning magical creatures, and no orbing around."

"Man, that sucks. How is Coop?"

"Apparently I'm a perfect Florence Nightingale and he is better than ever," Chris gloated.

"You have the healing touch, Chris." Wyatt agreed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for Coop to get hurt. I know you're close to him."

"Wyatt… Coop is my cousin, I care about him, but you're my brother. I would do anything for you. I even would give my life for yours. I love you."

"I love you too Chris. You're my baby brother. I'll always protect you no matter what, okay?"

Wyatt hugged him tightly and Chris returned the embrace with all his love. They were brothers, and that bond was unique. Not even their parents had any idea about how strong Chris and Wyatt's brotherhood bond was. It was stronger than the Halliwell sisters' bond.

"You know Mel is going to be pissed, right?" Chris sighed.

"Our sister is temperamental," Wyatt lamented. "She doesn't understand that she's still too young to be facing demons."

"Our parents say the same thing about us." Chris added.

"But we have each other," Wyatt said proudly. "And that's enough."

They stayed in silence for a while until they heard steps in their direction.

"You better go before Mom and Dad catch you here," Chris said in a whisper.

Wyatt nodded, smiling when he orbed away.

After that day, Wyatt was less annoyed with Coop's presence and he shared Chris' company more. He knew that Chris loved him the most and that was what mattered.

Chris heard the loud bang Wyatt caused when he closed his bedroom door with force. Leo pissed him off again. Without exactly knowing why, Chris orbed directly into his brother's room, seeing him in the middle of throwing a chair through the window.

"What are you doing here?" Demanded Wyatt.

"We share a wall, and I can't sleep when you throw furniture and Mom comes to yell at you," Chris said deadpan.

"Don't fuck with me Chris. I'm not in the mood," Wyatt warned.

"Exactly when are you in the mood?" Chris said calmly.

Chris expected Wyatt to hit him, or perhaps throw the chair at him. He was surprised when his brother did neither, and he just put the chair back on the floor.

"I can't help being like this, Chris," Wyatt said almost sounding nostalgic. "I didn't ask to be the magnificent twice blessed. I didn't ask to be born in this family, or to have these parents."

"Hey, Piper isn't that bad," Chris defended. Their mother was the only person besides Coop who was worth it in the entire family. His aunt was okay sometimes.

"I guess. You look like her, you know?" Wyatt glanced at him and Chris stiffened immediately. With Wyatt you never knew.

"I would assume so; she's my mother as well."

"But I don't look anything like her. I'm like Leo and I hate that. I hate that I have Leo's features and not Mom's."

That was true. Wyatt looked like their father, the only thing off was the eyes.

"I have Leo's eyes," Chris said resignedly, "and I think that is worst. The eyes are the mirror of the soul. Maybe that's why Leo can't even see me without hating my guts. He sees my damaged soul in his eyes."

"Who said anything about your soul being damaged?" Wyatt glared at Chris and he tried to maintain calm instead of orbing away.

"Nobody; I read that in some cultures parents don't love their kids because their soul is damaged. It makes sense, then, why Leo doesn't love me."

Wyatt lifted the chair again, this time using his powers, and finally threw it out the window.

"One day he will pay for this, Chris. He didn't let me enjoy my life, and he didn't let you enjoy your family. He screwed us both."

As he saw Wyatt throwing another chair angrily, he agreed. Leo ruined them, and now they were left with small pieces of their life, resenting what could have been. Every time Wyatt threw a tantrum, Chris orbed to be with him. Even though Chris knew his brother didn't give a rat's ass about him, they both shared their misery. Wyatt shared his frustration of having too many expectations on him, and Chris shared his sadness of knowing that nobody cared if he lived or died.

Chris heard the loud bang Wyatt caused when he closed his bedroom door with force; probably another heated discussion with their parents. Chris orbed directly into his brother's room, seeing him on the bed looking sulky.

"What happened?" Chris asked, sitting next to Wyatt.

"Leo and Piper caught me blowing up a demon again." Wyatt explained harshly.

"You know I don't like it when you call them by their names. It's weird." Chris didn't know why it annoyed him so much; he felt upset when Wyatt said it, and there was a small sense of déjà vu.

"Sorry, sorry," Wyatt apologized quickly. "I'm just pissed. I'm the twice blessed and they treat me like a kid."

"You are a kid," Chris pointed out.

"But I'm a powerful kid. I was born with great powers and they don't let me use them because I'm too young. Granny said that mom and our aunts used powers when they were kids too!"

"To play around, Wyatt, not to face demons," Chris entered his 'chastising mode'. "You saw what happened to Coop, they're just worried."

"Coop was an idiot. He just stood there without fighting back."

"Hey!" Chris said, annoyed.

"I didn't mean it like that. We are better than any of our cousins, Chris. We should be doing some vanquishing instead of just tagging along with Mom and Dad."

"You know? You look exactly the same as Dad when he's trying to convince Mom of something," Chris observed.

Wyatt looked at him with a frown.

"Well, you look like Mom when she doesn't let Dad do things," Wyatt pouted. "I look a lot like Dad; I would have liked to have something of Mom's on me."

"I think you're as stubborn as she is," Chris said gleefully. "I would have liked to have something else from Dad besides the eyes."

"You got the best thing, you know?" Wyatt said. "Eyes reflect the soul. You and Dad had beautiful souls; people can see it in your eyes."

"And you and Mom have he best pout in the house," Chris laughed quietly.

They stayed silent for a moment. Chris saw his brother calming down.

"They just don't want to lose you, Wyatt. They couldn't bear losing a son, and I'll die if I lose you as well. You're my brother, think of me when you put yourself at risk."

Wyatt sighed. Chris knew how to get him, unlike their parents who just started yelling at him after they tried reasoning.

"I'll be more careful, I promise," Wyatt compromised.

It was enough for Chris. Of course, it wasn't the last time Wyatt slammed his door as a sign of rebellion, but every time Chris orbed with him and kept him company until he calmed down. Only Chris could make Wyatt remember that he wasn't invincible and keep his arrogance in check.

"It would be so easy…"

Chris was looking through the window with bored contemplation. His brother just had another 'discussion' with Leo, and after a long round of yelling, he went to his room to destroy the little things that were still standing. Chris had observed him for a while before he was distracted by howling dogs.

"What?" Chris asked without looking at Wyatt.

"Taking the Underworld. Becoming the next source of all evil. It would be so easy…"

"Yeah, a Charmed one being the source of all evil. That would be something easy," Chris said with sarcasm.

"Oh, but it would be, dear brother. They always have wanted our book and our powers. It makes sense that we get to rule them all, don't you think?"

"You're 12, Wyatt. Can't you focus your abilities into something positive for a change?" Chris said tiredly.

"Like what? Protecting innocents?" Wyatt scoffed. "Aunt Prue and Aunt Paige did that, and look at them. I don't see why we have to protect them, when they hate us."

"They don't hate us. They don't understand us."

"It's a fine line between those two." Wyatt lowered his voice. "If we kill them all, we wouldn't need to risk our necks for them."

"And then what? Become evil like the demons we kill for that reason?"

"I'm starting to think that there's no such thing as good and evil," Wyatt looked at Chris, "just powerful and weak. Which one are you, Chris?"

Chris didn't answer. He knew which group he belonged to.

"I guess I would be the first one you kill," Chris said trying to pretend that he didn't care. He always imagined that if he died, it would be because of his brother, either by a demon looking for revenge, or Wyatt being careless.

"That's where you're wrong, Chrissy. Leo would be the first one I would kill… why would I kill the only person who doesn't fear me and keeps me amused? You're my brother after all."

"Am I?" Chris faked a surprised tone.

Wyatt orbed next to Chris, which made him go completely rigid.

"I'm still young, but I'll grow up, and then we'll see what happens. Good and evil… only Leo could come up with something so stupid…"

Chris didn't say anything and they both stayed silent for the rest of the night. Chris had no idea that this was the moment when Wyatt understood that if you're powerful, you can get it all.

"It would be so easy…"

Chris woke up feeling nauseated. That dream again; he was having these recurrent dreams since the day the potion went wrong. It couldn't be premonitions, they didn't look like the future… it was like another world. Even though it was the manor and they looked familiar, the people in the dreams didn't feel the same as his family.

"Chris?"

Chris noticed blue orbs next to him and by instinct he retreated until he hit the bedpost. Wyatt appeared in front of him with a worried look.

"What are you doing here?" Chris snapped, which made Wyatt frown.

"I sensed your distress. What's wrong?" Chris could see the confusion in his brother's eyes. He never objected of Wyatt's presence in his room before.

"Nothing. Bad dream."

"You're having those a lot lately. Have you told Mom about it?"

"I don't want to worry her."

"And Leo?"

Chris widened his eyes, trying to subdue the fear he felt when he heard Wyatt saying his father's name. He knew Wyatt and his dad had a fight before they went to bed, but he didn't expect for Wyatt to say his name like that. It sounded almost like hate… almost like in his dream.

"What, Chris?" Wyatt tried to come closer to him; Chris evaded the physical contact.

"I've told you that I don't like it when you call Dad by his name," Chris said edgily.

"Well, it's his name, right?" Wyatt answered annoyed. "What's wrong with you Chris? You know I don't mean any disrespect to Dad, he just pisses me off sometimes."

"You're acting like a spoiled child and you think you need a pat on the back and a 'good for you, son'? He's trying to teach you responsibility, Wyatt! That's what parents do, you should be grateful you have someone who cares this much instead of letting you do whatever suits you and to hell with consequences!"

Wyatt looked taken aback for what Chris just said.

"Chris? Wyatt?" They heard the knock on the door. "What's going on?"

"Come in, Dad." Chris said before Wyatt dismissed their father.

Leo entered the room, looking dubious about whatever thing was going on in there.

"What happened?" His dad asked suddenly.

"A bad dream; Wyatt was checking on me, but he was just leaving, right?" Chris gave Wyatt a determined glare.

His father noticed the exchange of looks. He knew something was up.

"Right. I really hope you're better in the morning, Chris," Wyatt said, disappearing between blue orbs.

His father helped him back to bed, and even though Chris knew he wanted to ask, his father just smiled and wished him a good night.

"Dad…"

"Yes, Chris?" His dad turned around.

"You won't let Wyatt turn evil, right?"

His father gaped, but he recovered quickly, blinking fast.

"What's this about, Chris?"

"Promise me… you won't let Wyatt turn evil again…"

"Again?" His dad asked. "What do you mean, 'again'?"

"Just promise me, Dad."

"Okay, I promise. Wyatt won't turn evil. But we have to talk about this tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay."

As he saw his father disappearing from the door, Chris felt a huge weight lifting off him. He couldn't do this twice. He couldn't bear to be the only one saving his brother and failing. It was a dream, but for Chris, it felt real. So real that he won't let it happen. He didn't know why was he dreaming this, but Coop was right. Some dreams were warnings, and he was acting upon them to prevent that his brother ruined them all… again.