Post by StoryGirl83 on Oct 5, 2008 0:50:05 GMT -5
Chapter Thirty-Two – Don’t Change the Future
Chris entered the dining room with little Wyatt in his arms. Seeing Wyatt’s high chair set up by the table, he walked over and put him in.
Piper walked into the room from the kitchen carrying a tray of food as the others from upstairs entered from the conservatory. She put the tray down on the table. “What did you guys do while we were fixing dinner?”
Leo looked at his wife. “Wyatt asked me a question about when I was young.”
Piper raised an eyebrow. “Young as in your childhood, before you were a whitelighter?”
Leo nodded. “He wanted to know why I went to medical school.”
Piper looked at him surprised. It was something he had never told her. “You’ll have to tell me about it later.” Something in his voice bothered her. It was enough for her to believe that discussing this over dinner was a bad idea.
Leo nodded, again. “Let’s talk about happier things for now.” His eyes were sad as he thought about his long dead older sister.
“Oh.” There wasn’t much more Piper could think to say in response to that. Whatever influenced him to choose medicine was clearly a painful memory.
Everyone sat down at the table, Paige putting baby Chris into his high chair before she sat down. Once they were seated Phoebe turned to Wyatt. “So are either of you going into careers like you Piper’s or Leo’s?”
“Sure,” Wyatt agreed easily as he put some food on his plate, “Chris works . . .”
“Don’t you dare,” Chris warned, interrupting him.
Wyatt shut his mouth, sheepish. “Sorry.”
Paige snickered. “Nice try, Phoebe.”
We can always leave, Chris threatened.
Wyatt took a bite of food. I said sorry. It’s not like you didn’t spend time here before.
I don’t think you get this, Wy, Chris thought, exasperated. When I was here before I wanted to change the future and I didn’t talk about it as much as you do. We don’t want to change the future, Wy, so try not to tell them something that will change that.
Wyatt took another bite of food. I hardly think telling them you work for Mom will do that.
Oh, yeah, Chris countered. How about when she freaks out when I apply for my job at Centennial in late twenty-five, because that’s not working for her and up until a few months ago I had never officially worked for her?
Wyatt frowned and stopped chewing. Point taken.
Chris took a bit of the food on his plate. As he did he looked around at the young versions of familiar faces, his parents that he loved so much, the little versions of himself and his older brother, and his beloved Aunts Phoebe and Paige. All of them had changed so much in the time between this and the time he was from. His eyes focused on Aunt Phoebe, worried about her and Uncle Coop, having not seen them in over two months, no one he knew of having seen them in over two months.
“You’re awfully quiet, boys,” Piper commented. “Is something wrong?”
Chris shook his head. “No, we’re fine.” He picked up his fork, again and scooped food onto it.
Wyatt nodded in agreement. “Nothing’s wrong, Mom.”
“In that case, I have a question for you,” Piper informed them before Chris could put the food into his mouth.
Chris frowned at he put down his fork. “What’s that?”
“How long are you going to stay?” Both brother’s could hear the longing in their mother’s voice. She wanted them to stay.
Since Wyatt wanted to stay a while, too, he looked to his brother. He knew Chris was not going to be as ready to stay as he was.
Feeling all eyes on him, Chris considered the question. “I’m not sure,” he admitted. “Not long. We can’t risk changing the future.”
“So it’s a good future?” Phoebe asked, ever ready with the questions.
Chris chuckled. “You and your questions, Aunt Phoebe.”
“How long is not long?” Piper persisted.
Chris frowned. “I guess we will leave in the morning.”
Wyatt grinned. “So you don’t mind us spending the night?”
Chris was silent for a moment as he considered his words. “Not this time.”
“This time?” Wyatt asked, chuckling.
Chris shrugged. “With our family, one never knows.”
Wyatt laughed. “True enough.”