Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed or any of its characters. All are the property of the WB.

Piper, Phoebe, and Paige were up in the attic, regrouping from their most recent demon vanquish. Leo was off on his own somewhere, and Chris was downstairs watching Wyatt.

"You don't even sense who I am, do you?" Chris whispered to the uncomprehending baby. He remembered Wyatt choking him and threatening him with energy balls. He remembered Bianca impaled on that stake. And yet, as he watched this innocent, beautiful child, Chris could feel only sorrow. "What happened to you?"

Suddenly, Leo orbed in right in front of him. Chris cried out in surprise, leapt backward a foot in the air, and crashed to the floor.

"Don't do that!" Chris snapped.

"Sorry." Leo chuckled, helping Chris to his feet. "Phoebe called me. Are they in the attic?"

"Yeah, they all are." Chris said. "So why are you down here?"

"She said it's about you." Leo said.

"What'd I do?" Chris asked. Leo rolled his eyes, grabbed Chris's shirt collar, and orbed them up to the attic.

"Oh, thank God!" Phoebe exclaimed, throwing her arms around Chris. She'd just had a premonition about him and she was afraid.

"Whoa!" Chris exclaimed in surprise, pulling away from Phoebe. "What's the matter?"

"Phoebe had a premonition." Piper said.

"About what?" Leo asked.

"About Chris." Paige said.

"I saw men coming out of another portal." Phoebe said. "Like before. I saw Chris on the ground with one of them standing over him. You looked so scared." Phoebe started tearing up.

"Hey, it's all right." Chris said, trying to hide his fear. "I've been expecting this for a long time."

"What is it?" Piper asked. "More assassins?"

"Probably." Chris said. "There are those in the future who don't want me to succeed. But, it's all right. I'll just lay low when the assassins get here until we know which kind they are, and then we'll find a way to vanquish them and everything will be fine! So, when are these guys supposed to show up?"

"Uh, I'm going to go with now!" Paige said, staring at the attic wall which had suddenly begun to glow.

"Chris, get out of here!" Leo ordered.

But it was too late. The portal opened and seven men stepped out. When Chris's eyes fell on one in particular he froze in horror. Of course, he'd expected more assassins, but he never thought that this would happen. Wyatt himself was now standing in the attic, smiling venomously. He stared at each of them in turn until he finally found Chris. The fury in his eyes snapped Chris back to reality quickly.

"Run!" Chris shouted.

The others hesitated, wanting to demand what was going on, but the fear in Chris's eyes changes their minds quickly. They dove for the door, but Wyatt extended his arm and a force field formed around them, trapping all of them in place. As if this situation wasn't bad enough, Chris was trapped near Phoebe and nothing could hide the intense, conflicting emotions he was feeling when he looked at this strange and powerful attacker. Fear, most definitely. Anger, yes. But deeper than all of that, there was also affection and love.

Before Phoebe could question him about his odd reaction, Wyatt made a quick pulling gesture and Chris was propelled forward. He landed sprawled out at Wyatt's feet, but he quickly scrambled backward to get away. He couldn't catch his breath as he stared up in terror at Wyatt bearing down on him with his demon guards at the ready.

"Time to come home, Chris." Wyatt said, completely ignoring the presence of his family's past selves.

"How did you. . ." Chris stammered.

"Taking the spell was a clever move." Wyatt praised. "It slowed me down. But did you really believe that you could hide from me forever? Now, I've had enough of your foolishness. I'm taking you back."

"Chris, what's going on?" Leo shouted. "Who is he?" Wyatt finally looked at them appraisingly.

"He's the reason I came back to this time." Chris said, never taking his eyes off Wyatt.

"This is the guy you're protecting Wyatt from?" Paige asked. Wyatt laughed maliciously when he realized they had no idea what was going on.

"Chris." Wyatt provoked. "You never told them."

"Don't." Chris said.

"I believe that you think you're helping me, Chris." Wyatt said with an almost affectionate tone. "So, if all this is has been the right thing to do, why not tell them the truth?" Chris choked on unshed tears and looked away. "All right then. Allow me."

"Stop it!" Chris shouted. "There's no need for this. You're only going to make them forget anyway."

"True." Wyatt acknowledged. "But I want them to hear who we are first."

"No!" Chris yelled. "You have what you came for. What are you waiting for? Kill me! Here or there, I'm still dead so get it over with!" Wyatt scoffed and turned to the family. Chris lunged to stop him, but two demons caught hold of him and held him back.

"Chris didn't come here to stop me from harming your baby." Wyatt explained. "He came here to stop your baby from becoming me."

"What?" Phoebe gasped.

"That's right, Aunt Phoebe." Wyatt said mockingly. "I am Wyatt."

"It's a lie." Paige insisted. Piper and Leo couldn't talk, because they both knew it was the truth. Paige refused to believe it though. "Chris, tell me it's not true."

"It's true." Chris admitted with his head bent in sorrow.

"If you never told them who I became," Wyatt grinned. "Then is it safe to assume you never told them who you really are either?"

"Wyatt, please!" Chris pleaded, fighting his captors.

"They have a right to know." Wyatt said. Chris continued to struggle until he broke free. Wyatt hit him with a low-volt energy ball and sent him flying into an old bureau. "Don't cross me, Chris. I don't want to hurt you."

"You hurt everyone." Chris spat angrily.

"Oh, God." Piper began to sob. She clung to Leo. "How could this have happened?"

"You destroy everything you touch!" Chris continued. "Why should I be any different?"

"You know why." Wyatt said, standing over him. "My brother."

"Excuse me?" Paige exclaimed.

"What did you just call him?" Piper gasped.

"You heard me, Mother." Wyatt smiled viciously at her. He made another gesture and released Piper and Leo from the force field. "Come. Meet your future son."

"Our son?" Leo asked. "Chris is . . . ours?"

"I could have been." Chris confessed, looking away in shame.

"Oh, God." Leo gasped. He remembered all the times he'd tried to discredit, or even harm Chris and felt ill. "Chris, I . . ."

"It's okay!" Chris assured him, rising to meet them. "Really, it's okay." Somehow, Chris's forgiving assertion made Wyatt even angrier.

"But how can this be?" Piper asked. "Leo and I are separated. We have been ever since Chris made him an Elder months ago."

"WHAT?!" Wyatt roared in fury. He turned on Chris in a rage and backhanded him so hard he was knocked to the ground and came up spitting blood. "You foolish child! You would risk your very existence?"

"Yes!" Chris shouted, rising to his feet. "If it meant stopping you, yes!" Wyatt angrily slapped him across the face again.

"Wyatt stop!" Piper cried, running to Chris's side. She gently stroked his injured face.

"How sweet." Wyatt spat in disgust. "Perhaps they'll care about you yet, Chris."

"I know they loved me." Chris murmured gazing adoringly at his future parents.

"How can you still say that?" Wyatt yelled. "Don't tell me you didn't notice the differences between us! It was revolting the way they treated you!"

"What are you talking about Wyatt?" Leo demanded gently.

"It's nothing." Chris said. "Wyatt just got more attention than I did. Not so much with you, Leo. More with Piper and her sisters."

"You see?" Wyatt thundered. "He can't even speak of you as his parents."

"I understand." Chris insisted. "Wyatt was the important one."

"I will never understand this about you, Chris." Wyatt said. "You fight everything, even me! Yet you've always been so calm about this. Where is your anger?"

"If I was the neglected one, why are you so bitter?" Chris demanded.

"They let your talent go to waste!" Wyatt shouted. "All your potential. If they'd taken the time to train you in your gifts as they did with me, your power would now be second only to my own! You never would have broken with me."

"It was you who broke with me!" Chris shouted back. "You're the one who turned! This is your fault!"

"Perhaps." Wyatt shrugged. "But we can fix that. Now."

Wyatt lifted Chris into the air with his power. Four demons rushed forward and grabbed hold of Chris's arms, legs, and throat to keep him still. They ripped open his shirt so his bare chest was exposed. Chris struggled, but to no avail. Wyatt conjured a knife and approached.

"No!" Leo yelled. He ran to stop Wyatt, but with a wave of his hand Wyatt had imprisoned him and Piper behind the force field again. But Leo still continued to yell. "You can't kill him, Wyatt! Please. Chris is trying to help you. He's your brother!" Wyatt ignored him.

"Go on!" Chris taunted. "Do it. Go ahead and kill me. Because I swear, I'm not going to stop."

"Chris." Wyatt sighed condescendingly. "Have we drifted so far? Do you really know me so little?" He took the blade and sliced his own palm. Chris's eyes widened with terror when he realized what Wyatt was about to do.

"No!" Chris screamed and thrashed wildly. "Wyatt, no, you can't! Please." Wyatt dragged the blade across Chris's chest, slicing into his flesh. Chris gritted his teeth and tried not to scream. "Wyatt, don't do this."

"You've left me no other choice." Wyatt said.

"Oh, dear God." Leo gasped. "Wyatt, what are you doing? Stop this!"

"What's he doing?" Phoebe asked.

"It's a Blood Bond." Leo said. "A link formed between two witches, usually in the same coven. It enhances powers and offers protection, but it's not to be entered lightly. It binds your lives together forever. You become family. More than family. It connects your magic, your souls; even your minds are open to each other. You three have a natural form of that link."

"So did Chris and I once." Wyatt said. He sounded almost sad. "Until it was destroyed. We've been alone ever since"

"You destroyed it when you turned." Chris shouted. Then, realizing it was not a good idea to make Wyatt angry right now. "Wyatt, please don't do this to me." The thought of being connected to the monster that his once beloved brother had become horrified Chris. But Wyatt was untouched by his pleas.

"Wyatt, he's your brother." Leo insisted. "How can you do this to him? What's happened to you?"

"I don't get it." Paige said. "Why is restoring their bond a bad thing?"

"Because Chris is being forced into it." Leo said. "A forged Blood Bond is supposed to be totally voluntary, entered with a completely pure heart. No fear, no anger, no deceit."

"0 for 3." Phoebe commented.

"A Blood Bond should never be forced," Leo said. "It can be done, but for the one being compelled its torture. The pain is unbearable."

"The blood we already share will ease your suffering." Wyatt told Chris. "Just let it happen." Chris continued to struggle, but Wyatt paid no attention. He began the incantation. "In this life and every other, bound by blood, brother to brother. Forever more, two live as one. Kin until all lives have done. At this point and in this hour, join us now, mind, soul, and power. Blood of my blood, which now flows free, as it is willed, so shall it be."

Wyatt pressed his cut palm to Chris's gash so their blood mixed together. Leo had not been exaggerating. Almost immediately, Chris was screaming with the pain. Leo beat against the force field, trying to get out.

"Chris, orb!" Leo cried.

"He can't." Wyatt said, his hand still firmly pressed to Chris's chest.

Piper tried to blow up the force field, but it rebounded and knocked the four prisoners to the ground. There was nothing they could do to help. All they could do was watch as Chris continued to cry out in agony.

Chris wasn't giving up though. He may have been no match for Wyatt, but he was still stronger than most. He fought back as hard as he could. Unfortunately, it only made the pain worse. Wyatt gripped the fingers of his uncut hand in Chris's hair and pressed his bleeding hand harder onto Chris's wound, flexing his muscles to encourage the blood to flow.

"Our blood can shield you from this anguish." Wyatt said. "Just stop fighting me, Chris, and the pain will end! Why are you torturing yourself?"

Chris couldn't answer through his screams, but he wouldn't give in. He fought Wyatt every step of the way. But in the end, it just wasn't enough. Chris couldn't stop him. The link was formed and Chris fell to the floor gasping for air, fighting back tears.

Part of him couldn't help but be comforted by the restoration of his bond with Wyatt; when it had broken the loneliness had almost killed him. That ache had been with him ever since. He'd wanted it back, yes, but not like this. Chris felt tainted, infected. And even after all Wyatt had done to the rest of the world, even though he'd believed Wyatt capable of killing him, Chris still could not believe his brother had done this to him. Suddenly, Chris's thoughts were interrupted by two of the demons trying to drag him to his feet.

"Leave him be!" Wyatt ordered harshly. The demons bowed and backed away. Wyatt knelt down beside his brother.

"What have you done to me?" Chris gasped in horror.

"I've made us what we were always meant to be." Wyatt said. "Brothers."

"Damn you, Wyatt!" Chris exclaimed.

"Chris, can't you see what a gift I've given you?" Wyatt said. "You have my protection. My power enhances your own. Most importantly, no one can ever separate us again."

Chris looked away in disgust. But his disgust was not exclusive to Wyatt. He was furious with himself too because he'd been comforted by Wyatt's words.

"Wyatt, how could you do that?" Phoebe asked, her face streaked with tears. "Don't you know how much you hurt him?"

"Chris made his choice; I made mine." Wyatt said, standing up. He turned to the guards. "Help him downstairs. Be careful." He lowered the force field around his family and gestured for them to lead the way out of the attic.

They all went down to the sunroom where baby Wyatt was sitting in his crib. Piper and Leo went over to him at once, stroking his soft blond hair. They were gripped with fear for what was going to happen to their baby that could make him the man that could do such a terrible thing to Chris. Their second child. Chris was their child. What was going on? How could this all be happening?

The demons helped Chris into the room and stretched him out on the couch. Wyatt came over to him and held his hands out above his wounded chest. Chris weakly slapped his hand away.

"Don't be ridiculous." Wyatt reproached.

Chris really didn't have anymore energy to fight him, so he didn't resist. Wyatt held his hand over Chris's gashed chest and in a familiar glow his wound was healed. Leo watched this and couldn't help but smile, even though his eyes still shown with tears. Wyatt turned and addressed his guards.

"My brother needs time to recuperate." Wyatt said. "We'll rest here a while before we return." He turned to his parents and aunts. "You'll stay here until we leave. Don't worry, though. You won't remember any of this."

"Wyatt," Piper said. "We can't just let you take Chris. What are you going to do with him?"

"That doesn't concern you anymore, Mother." Wyatt said. "And even if it did, you can't stop me. The Power of Three is my power now. That and more. You started at new era, Mother. Instead of daughters, you bore sons. The Charmed Ones are no longer the culmination of this line. I am."

"And what is Chris?" Paige asked edgily.

"You have no right to speak of him." Wyatt said coldly. "He may forgive you for the way you disregarded him, but I do not. You treated him like a burden! But I won't repeat your mistake. I know what he's capable of, what he could have been! I won't neglect him the way you did." Wyatt turned his attention to Chris, sternly looking down on him. "When we go home, things can be the way they were. You'll be at my side again. I'll help you realize your true potential. There's so much I want to teach you."

"I'm not interested in any of your lessons." Chris said, rising slowly to his feet. "I came here to stop you."

"I know." Wyatt said patronizingly. "I forgive you."

"I don't want your forgiveness, you power-crazed, glorified warlock!" Chris shouted, his strength now returning. "You're not taking me anywhere!" Wyatt moved like he was going to hit Chris again. Chris prepared for the cuff, but instead Wyatt seized hold of Chris's face and drew him close so they were eye to eye.

"Listen to me very carefully, Christopher." Wyatt said. "The game is over. You can try to run from me all you like, but all you're going to do is make me angry."

"That hasn't stopped me yet." Chris said, trying not to blink.

"Just remember, little brother." Wyatt said. "We are as we were. That means whatever you do, whatever you think . . . I know."

Chris couldn't respond; his mouth had gone dry. He stared back at Wyatt, unable to mask the fear in his eyes. Wyatt kept him gaze a moment longer then released him and lightly pushed him back onto the couch.

"Rest." Wyatt commanded.

Wyatt glanced uncomfortably at his infant self, now held in Piper's arms. Nodding to his demon lackeys, he left the sunroom. The guards took up posts outside every door and window to prevent Chris from trying to run. Chris groaned and cradled his face in his hands. Leo sat down beside him.

"Do you think you could orb out of here?" Leo whispered.

"I doubt it." Chris said miserably. "I'm sure Wyatt's thought of that and I can't risk failing. He's too close and the bond is too fresh; he's not accustomed to my presence yet. He'll sense if I use my powers, he'll know. It'll only make him angry. And when Wyatt gets angry he. . ." Chris sighed and a tear rolled down his cheek. He stared at baby Wyatt in Piper's still loving arms. "I thought I could save him."

"Here let me, test orb first." Paige said. "If I can do it, maybe it'll be safe for you to try." Paige tried to orb out of the room to the street below, but she was quickly forced back into physical form. Wyatt had indeed already done something to the house while Chris was too weak and in too much pain to notice. Chris was trapped. But as long as he was stuck there, his family had some questions for him.

"Chris." Leo sighed. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"It was too dangerous." Chris said, getting up and pacing the room, mostly to avoid contact.

"Dangerous?" Piper said. "You might have obliterated your own existence!"

"I know." Chris said.

"Why would you do that?" Piper asked.

"It was for Wyatt." Chris shrugged. "I've already told you, he was always the strongest. He's the one that matters."

"And what, you don't?" Paige asked indignantly.

"That's not why you did it." Phoebe knew instantly. "You and he were very close, weren't you?"

"He's my brother." Chris shrugged.

"And you loved him." Phoebe said.

"That was a long time ago." Chris said.

"You still love him." Phoebe insisted. "That's why there's nothing you wouldn't do to save him."

"He loves you too, Chris." Leo insisted.

"He's not capable of love anymore." Chris sighed.

"Well, then you're the exception." Leo insisted. "Because Wyatt does love you. He wouldn't have been able to heal you if he didn't."

"That's right." Piper said hopefully. "Love is the trigger. He's not unreachable."

"Yes he is!" Chris said miserably. "He's been gone for years. That's why I had to come back here."

"The girls weren't vanquished by the Titans, were they?" Leo asked.

"No." Chris confessed. "Leo, you convinced the few surviving Elders to make them gods and guided them through it yourself. They offered you the position of Elder, but you weren't compelled to accept so of course you chose to stay with Piper. That's why I made sure you were so much more involved this time. I needed to make sure they'd insist you become an Elder so I could get into the house."

"So, we weren't vanquished?" Paige asked hopefully.

"You were; just not by the Titans." Chris said gently. "Wyatt and I were still kids when it happened. I uh . . . To be honest, I don't really remember you much. It was harder for Wyatt, but we got each other through it. For years it was just the two of us. We agreed that if we ever got separated, we'd meet up on the anniversary of the second constitution of the Charmed Ones at the mausoleum where Prue is buried. We thought her grave would be less predictable since she died before either of us was born. Anyway, we did get separated when I was 15. We were apart for almost a year. I followed the plan, and on that day I went to the cemetery."

"He didn't come?" Paige asked.

"Of course he did." Chris corrected. "He was waiting for me. He gave me a big hug, like always. We were both so relieved; Wyatt swore we'd never be parted again. But something had happened to him while I was gone. I could sense that he was different now and it felt wrong. It was awful being apart though, so I tried to ignore it until . . . When our bond was destroyed, I felt like someone had cut me in two. Even afterward, though, I still stayed for a long time, trying to get through to him. Make him stop. Finally, he went too far. Wyatt was consumed with power. He wasn't too happy with me for leaving either. I spent the next few years dodging his minions and probes."

"How did you meet Bianca?" Phoebe asked.

"She was one of Wyatt's first assassins." Chris said. "We started to get close before I left. Wyatt knew that, so when I ran she's the one he sent after me. But he underestimated how much we . . . how much we cared about each other. I was able to get through to her about Wyatt, to make her see what he'd become. She helped me get back here to save him. I wanted her to come with me; I was so afraid he'd kill her."

"But he didn't kill her." Paige said. "He turned her and sent her after you." Chris nodded mournfully

"What happened to him?" Piper asked. "Why did he change?"

"I don't know!" Chris cried. "That's why I had to come back so far; I don't know what happened! And now, it's too late. I can't . . ."

"It's okay." Leo tried to comfort him.

"No, it's not." Chris said. "I'm sorry Leo, Piper. I failed."

Chris sank back onto the couch. Leo and Piper stared at their future son in wonder. Somehow, in all of this, it was hard to grasp that Chris was really their child. But hearing him use their first names when they now knew he was theirs made them remember what Wyatt had accused them of.

"Chris, I know you said you don't remember us very well." Piper said, sitting next to him with baby Wyatt in her lap. "But what Wyatt said. Did we really . . ."

"No." Chris insisted. "Listen, I never really got to know you then, but I think I have now. When we were little, everyone always knew that Wyatt was the important one. He was the first and the most powerful. But I think when I started showing powers similar to Wyatt's, Piper kind of panicked."

"What do you mean?" Piper asked.

"Well, you know you're always trying to find a way to have a normal life in spite of magic." Chris explained. "That wasn't going to happen for Wyatt, and it didn't look like it was in the cards for me either. I don't think you wanted that for both of us so you went out of your way to keep me away from magic. But since the family pretty much revolves around magic that meant I got left out a lot. I guess Wyatt thought you all were playing favorites, him over me, and he didn't like it. Leo agreed with him too; you thought it was wrong to treat the two of us so differently."

"This is unbelievable." Leo murmured as reality began to sink in. "You really are our son, aren't you?"

Chris nodded and stared at the floor. They all wanted to question him more but before they could the doors opened and Wyatt walked in. Everyone rose to their feet.

"It's time to go." Wyatt ordered.

"No." Chris refused, being defiant mostly for defiance's sake. He knew he had not choice.

"Chris, don't make this harder than it has to be." Wyatt said. He summoned his demon guards and everyone, including baby Wyatt, was taken up to the attic again where the portal was. Wyatt opened it and turned expectantly to Chris, but Chris backed away. "What are you going to do Chris? You know there's nowhere you can go where I can't find you. And we both know, even if you were skilled in your talents, you're still not up to facing me."

Chris knew that was true now, but somehow he couldn't give up. He'd vowed to change this future, to save Wyatt or at least stop him. True, he couldn't kill his all-powerful brother now, but he glanced briefly at the baby. Wyatt saw.

"Is that what you want?" Wyatt asked. He conjured another knife and put it in Chris's hand and pushed him toward his infant self, gesturing for his guards to stay back. "Go on then. Do it. He's come to trust you. He won't raise the shield. You could end it now. End me."

No one else moved or even breathed. Chris held the knife trembling in his hand and stepped over to the baby who was sitting happily on the floor at Piper's feet. He held the knife poised for a moment, than let it clatter from his hand to the floor. He couldn't do it. He could never kill his brother. Wyatt came up behind him with a smug expression.

"I didn't think so." Wyatt gloated. With his hand on Chris's shoulder, Wyatt steered him toward the portal. The others watched helplessly, knowing there was nothing they could do. Wyatt turned back to them, just before they entered it. "You have to forget this now. It wouldn't do for me to go to all this trouble to find my brother just for him never to be born. Cleaners!"

Everyone not from the future stared in amazement as the Cleaners who had tried to erase baby Wyatt not so long ago stepped out of the portal at future Wyatt's summons, apparently ready to do his bidding.

"Make sure they don't remember." Wyatt ordered. The Cleaners nodded and began to wipe their memories one by one. Wyatt nodded, satisfied, and firmly pushed a very disheartened Chris through the portal. The demons followed, trusting the Cleaners to finish their work unsupervised. That was a mistake.

As soon as they were alone, the Cleaners quickly restored everyone's memories.

"Whoa!" Phoebe gasped.

"What are you doing?" Leo demanded.

"We don't have much time." One Cleaner said. "We must return before he grows suspicious. Listen carefully. Wyatt can still be saved and it is imperative that he is."

"Chris is the key." The other Cleaner added. "You must remember him. Find a way to help him and you will save them both."

"Chris is strong." The first Cleaner said. "Stronger than he thinks. But he can only resist Wyatt's will for so long. You must find a way to help him."

"But how?" Piper asked.

"We don't know." The second Cleaner said. "And we can't stay any longer. Please. You have to find a way. As Wyatt goes, so goes the world."

Before anyone got the chance to ask what they meant, the Cleaners stepped through the portal back into their own time. Everyone stood too shocked to speak for a few minutes. All they could do was to stare at the still sweet and innocent baby Wyatt.

"What are we going to do now?" Piper asked.

"We're going to find a way to save our sons." Leo said firmly.