Chapter 14 of 19
Gideon
Chris licked the spoon managing to smear chocolate sauce in his face and to her immense disgust Wyatt decided to imitate his brother but his more limited movements made him smear his body too.
Piper cringed but didn’t stop them. They were enjoying the cake so much and she couldn’t be more overjoyed.
Chris promptly cut another piece of cake for himself and seeing this Wyatt offered his opinion to his brother.
“Kwiss.”
Chris was about to cut another piece when Piper shook her head, “Unless you plan on being the one up all night long with a hyper Wyatt that’s more than enough cake for him.”
“Sorry about that kiddo, but the boss has spoken.” Wyatt pouted and to please his brother Chris refrained from taking his second helping. Piper smiled and started cleaning Wyatt’s face, she was going to do the same for Chris but he had already cleaned himself up and Piper felt a little pang. She was used to being mother of a baby that needed her. This independent adult made her long for when he was a baby. She looked at Wyatt while cleaning him and wondered how he could have killed his own family and at the same time not tried to kill his brother or father. She voiced the question and Chris frowned.
“Wyatt never did get close to the rest of the family. He was always so busy with his destiny that even though the aunts, uncles and cousins were over a lot that wasn’t when Wyatt was at home. And he never went to them. He was always up there with dad and the Elders. You also have to remember that my oldest cousin was still four years younger than him so even if they both went to magic school they weren’t in the same groups. So his family was the immediate one, you, dad and me.”
“I never thought my children wouldn’t be close to my sisters.”
“I was, because I was allowed to be a normal child. Wyatt was always treated like a God in training not a child. You have to change that.” He smiled at her. “But there were good moments. He was close to me. He was a good brother. He’d always defend me.”
“He did?” she smiled.
“Yeah,” Chris said. “I started understanding him more now. I think the signs were there but I didn’t see. We were close and Wyatt was always good to me but if someone hurt me he lost control. He would use his magic. He got scolded at magic school because of that and more than once dad had to come use some memory dust on the mortal kids from our school. At the time I only thought he was trying to protect me and in a way he was but maybe this has to do with him feeling helpless because of what the Elder did and with every threat we faced that feeling got worse, until he decided to take control of everything”
“So he wouldn’t be hurt,” Piper said. “But he hurt you.”
“He did,” Chris said simply. “But not in the beginning. By when he hurt me I think he was so far gone that he didn’t see anything wrong in what he was doing. He thought he was right. But I know my Wyatt is there somewhere, or else I’d be dead. I just need to get him back.”
Piper nodded and vowed she would make sure her son not only was close to her family but understood right from wrong. Chris winked at her and quick as a flash he dipped his spoon on the cake taking a chunk with a lot of sauce and giving it to Wyatt. Yes, and teach her sons not to steal more cake! She shook her head smiling.
The next few weeks passed on relatively uneventfully. Chris started spending more time at Magic School talking to Gideon asking about one demon after the other and Gideon kept sending Chris after them. Chris couldn’t tell yet if Gideon was misleading him purposely or if he was genuinely trying to help but since the less demons the best he and the girls just vanquished them.
In most cases Chris took over his mother so she wouldn’t risk herself but he was careful not to use any power other than his telekinesis or at least not leave witnesses.
Paige was adapting to her teacher role quite well and was a little fonder of the teenagers now, though she was seen from time to time telling Wyatt and Piper’s stomach that they’d better be nice teenagers.
Phoebe had been working hard and had tried to feel Gideon out a few times by popping in Magic School under the guise of talking to her sister but she had no reading from him whatsoever.
Prue was getting a little bored, after all, besides waiting to heal her sisters and nephew after one of their escapades she had nothing much to do. Not being in her time she didn’t get called Up There for anything like Leo was, so she had decided to help an increasingly pregnant Piper at P3 and was glad there had been enough change in staff for her not to be recognized.
Finally when Piper was over five months along they caught a break.
“I really don’t know what else to do,” Chris paced Gideon’s office. “I mean, not even the ideas you have are working.”
“Are you sure?” Gideon asked. “Maybe the future is already changed.”
Chris looked at him and shook his head lifting his shirt and showing some of his scars.
“My memories will only change when I reenter the timeline but the physical changes should happen instantly and I wouldn’t have these.”
Gideon looked at them interestedly and seemed to make a split second decision, “Maybe you’re right. Maybe Wyatt can’t be saved.”
“I know,” Chris sat down dejectedly on his chair and was about to give Gideon some more incentive when the man himself added.
“And if that is true a power such as Wyatt’s can’t be allowed to continue.”
Chris’s blood ran cold but he kept firm, “That’s why we thought of striping him of his powers.”
“Do you think that enough?” Gideon asked.
“I don’t know,” Chris answered hoping Gideon would say more but had no luck. Gideon put a hand on his chin and looked pensive.
“Maybe we are getting ahead of ourselves. I’ll look into more demons,” he finished smiling.
“But did he say anything more?” Leo insisted. They were all seated in the kitchen table and Chris had just recounted his encounter with Gideon.
“I think he said enough. He’s our guy.” Piper said firmly.
“I don’t know Piper,” Leo said frowning. “He’s my mentor. He wouldn’t- he might have just been influenced by Chris.”
“Leo, look, I understand you,” Chris said. “I feel betrayed to. He was my mentor too, but you didn’t see him. His face, his eyes. That sent chills over my blood. I know he’s our guy.”
“We need more confirmation,” Leo insisted and the others groaned.
Chris rubbed his eyes tiredly as he studied the books he had borrowed from Magic School. He was looking for a spell, something that would work on an Elder to show his intentions.
Piper smiled as she approached the dinner table and put down the cookies and milk she brought to him.
“I thought you’d like a break.”
“Cookies and milk?” he asked her raising one eyebrow.
She shrugged, “I enjoy them,” she sighed. “You have to understand this is hard for him. He is not like you or even your Leo. He didn’t live in a world were he was betrayed by those he trusted. Maybe your Leo was quick to accept this but he can’t.”
“I know mom,” Chris sighed and Piper’s heart fluttered. He continued as if he didn’t notice how he called her. “I’m hurt too and maybe you’re right. I’m used to not trusting but we can’t afford to be sentimental.”
“I know, and he does too,” she smiled and then she bit her lip. She wanted to ask if he noticed but she didn’t have to.
“I know what I called you,” he said looking at his books. “I’m sorry I didn’t before.”
She couldn’t help herself she got up quickly and barreled into him hugging him tight. “I love you baby.”
“I know mom. I love you too.” He hugged her back tightly. “But I’m scared of losing you.”
“You won’t,” she said pulling back her eyes moist.
“I never saw the demon that attacked you. I can’t stop-“
“But we will.” She said firmly and she would. “And for the record. I’m sorry for all we did to you-“
“That wasn’t your fau-“
“No Chris,” she stopped his shaking head with her hand on his cheek. “We should have trusted you. We should have helped you.”
He smiled at her and she could see in his eyes how much this apology meant for him.
As Chris finished getting dressed he heard a knock on the door.
“Come in,” he called and was surprised to find his father in his golden Elder robes.
“Are you going to the underworld now?” Leo asked.
“Yeah, I’m going to meet, the Darklighter I talked about.”
“I had an idea,” Leo said calmly and continued by exposing his idea. Chris started shaking his head at the first word and did not stop until Leo finished.
“That’s insane!” Chris cried.” And dangerous.”
“Not more than what you are doing.”
“If we get caught we’ll loose our best lead.”
“We haven’t had any luck so far and we’ve been at this for months. We need something different. We’re doing this Chris, I don’t care if you agree or not. You’re not the only one that had to take the risks. Parents protect their children not the other way around.” Leo said with a finality tone.