Post by StoryGirl83 on Oct 28, 2008 21:10:09 GMT -5
Chapter Thirty-Five - Morning Rituals
Sunlight battered on Chris’ closed eyelids, but it was the smell of bacon that woke him. His eyes blinked opened and the first thing he saw was the closed curtains over the window in the front room.
Chris yawned as he pushed himself up and looked around as he set up. The blanket dropped to his waist revealing that he wore not shirt and only the top of a pair of pajama bottoms borrowed from his father.
Chris smiled at the sight of his brother asleep on the floor in a sleeping bag. Looking farther he saw his clothes from the day before in a clean, neat pile. Mom’s been busy.
He climbed off the couch, taking the blanket and hanging it on his shoulder. He grabbed up his clothes and the pillow and headed out of the room toward the stairs. He stopped at the door way and turned around. “Hey, Wyatt, wake up.”
Without waiting for a response he left the room and climbed the stairs to the next floor. He walked down the upstairs hall and into the bathroom. Once in the bathroom he put his clothes down on the counter and left with just the blanket and pillow. These he left in a neat pile in front of the linen closet before returning to the bathroom to change.
It was Wyatt who wondered into the kitchen a little while later, fully dressed for the day. He smiled at the sight of his mom at the stove. I miss this. Sometimes I wish I still lived at home.
Piper sensed the silent presence of someone else and turned around. She smiled at the sight of her older son. “Good morning, Wyatt.”
“Good morning, Mom.” Wyatt walked over to the counter where there was a bowl of cut fruit. He snatched one up and popped it into his mouth.
Piper came over and smacked his hand. “You will wait until breakfast is served.”
Wyatt grinned. “Can I help any?”
“Seeing as I have already been informed of your lack of cooking skills, how are you thinking of helping?”
He shrugged as he offered, “I can set the table.”
“Not clumsy, I take it.”
Wyatt gave her a look. “No. I can set the table for a seven course meal. Trust me when I say I am perfectly capable of setting a table for breakfast.”
Piper laughed. “I think a seven course setting is a bit much, but go ahead and set the table for breakfast.”
When Chris left the bathroom he headed down hall. He walked through his parents room and into the nursery. He saw his dad standing over little Wyatt’s bed. “Good morning, Dad.”
Leo looked up, still hardly believing he was seeing adult Chris again. “Good morning, Chris. Everything all right?”
Chris nodded. “Wyatt’s fine.” He walked over to the crib where his baby version was asleep. “I’m so tiny.”
Leo laughed. “It happens. How about you? How are you doing?”
Chris shrugged. “I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“It’s hard to tell with you,” Leo admitted. “You are often so very secretive.”
Chris smiled. “It’s just how I am. Wyatt’s very open mouthed. I’m not.” Chris picked up his baby version and looked down at himself with a smile. When he looked up his smile dropped. “When there’s trouble, try not to leave me with the elf nanny if you can. She’s no match for demonic problems.”
“Did we do so poorly with you and your brother?” Leo asked concerned.
For once in his life, Chris was quick to shake his head. “Nothing like that. What you do or don’t do you’re going to have to decide on your own, for I can’t tell you how to raise me. I just don’t trust my physical well bing to someone I can’t see.” And to someone who can’t protect me even from my own brother. Besides, I want my parents to raise me, not the elf nanny.
Little Wyatt yawned and rubbed his eyes as he woke up. He looked around and spotting Chris, he grinned.
Chris smiled back. “Good morning, Wyatt.”
Little Wyatt just smiled.
“Are you ready to go down for breakfast, Chris?” Leo asked as he picked up little Wyatt from bed.
“I am,” Chris informed him, “but mini me needs to get dressed.”
Leo smiled as he nodded and brought Little Wyatt over to the changing table. “Unless it makes you too uncomfortable, would you mind changing him?”
Chris nodded. Uncomfortable was unavoidable and Chris’ face showed it, but sometimes you just had to deal with uncomfortable.