Post by StoryGirl83 on Oct 5, 2008 0:52:27 GMT -5
Chapter Thirty-Three – Dishes and Discussion
After dinner Chris helped Piper clear off the table while Wyatt was in the sitting room with Leo, Phoebe, and Paige playing a game with the little versions of the two brothers.
“Do you have to leave in the morning?” Piper asked as Chris brought in the last of the dishes from the dining room.
“It’s probably best, Mom.” Chris smiled as he put down the dishes. “I don’t want to change the future. It’s not perfect and it has its problems, but its bearable and much of it is good.”
“I’ll miss you, Chris.”
Chris shook his head. “No you won’t.” He was smiling as he said it. “I’m right upstairs. Sure I have a smaller vocabulary and a whole lot fewer memories, but that’s me.”
“It’s not the same,” Piper informed him.
Chris just smiled as he walked over to the sink and started washing dishes.
“You are an adult right now.”
Chris chuckled. “Yes, I am. Thing is, Mom, if you want to see me as an adult, you’re just going to have to let me grow up. I can’t stay.”
Piper sighed. “I guess you’re right. When’d you get so smart?”
Chris gave her an affectionate smile. “I had a good teacher.”
“You imp,” Piper teased back.
Laughing, Chris denied it. “Imp? Me? Please.” Chris started putting the clean dishes away as Piper took over cleaning them. A smile formed on his lips and as he walked he thought allowed. “I miss this.”
Piper looked up suddenly. “What?”
Chris looked at her confused. “Huh?” Then, “Oh,” as he realized that she had heard what he said. Trying not to lie he attempted to answer. “I was just saying that I missed helping you with meals.”
“Well, I’m glad to have your help,” she told him with a smile. “On that note, can you tell me something?”
Chris almost laughed. “I may be could, but I doubt that I should.”
“We’ll see,” was all Piper said.
He smiled. “Ask and, as you say, we’ll see.”
Piper launched into a question that had been bugging her for several hours off and on. “How on earth did your brother turn into such an optimistic, happy person so different from me or you?”
Chris did laugh at that. “I couldn’t really say. It’s just how he is.” And I like him that way, loving magic and not tainted by evil or a desire for power. “Kind of like how Aunt Phoebe can be.”
Piper finished cleaning the dishes and turned to Chris. “I’m going to finish up here. Why don’t you join everyone in the sitting room?”
“I’ll see you in a little bit,” Chris told her as he complied. He left the room and went to the sitting room where he found only Wyatt alone with his little self, playing a game. Glancing around he asked, “Where is everyone?”
“Upstairs preparing for bed,” Wyatt informed him without looking up. “Want to join the game. I have some really tough competition here and I’d like to give me a run for my money.”
Chris chuckled at the wording and sat down on one side of the board. “I think I would like that?” He smiled at little Wyatt. “Hi, Wyatt.”
Little Wyatt smiled, but said nothing.
Chris nodded. “All right.” Looking at the markers he tried to decide on one. “Okay, which should I use?”
One of the markers disappeared in blue-white orbs and reappeared in front of Chris. Little Wyatt grinned up at him.
Chris smiled back. “Thank you.”