InsaneJournal

WHO: Chris Halliwell.
WHEN: Not very long after his death.
WHERE: His holding cell. Which looks suspiciously like the Manor.
WHAT: His arrival to his holding cell; a remembering of a dream.
STATUS: Closed, complete; narrative.
Ratings: PG

Chris heard it before he felt it.

“Paige,” It was his aunt’s Phoebe’s voice. It was mildly exasperated and very likely more amused than it should be given whatever the situation was. Chris didn’t have to open his eyes to know this, because he knew them. The amusement would be just enough of an allowance to secure whatever harebrained plan his aunt Paige was cooking up – not that Paige needed allowance for anything – and for some reason it didn’t fill Chris with his own, heavier, sense of exasperation the way it would have once. “You can’t just orb him to the moon.”

“And why not?”

“First of all, because I don’t think you can actually orb people that far. Second of all, even if you could, I’m pretty sure there’s a rule somewhere about Headmistresses using their powers on their professors, just because they don’t like them –“

Chris didn’t have to open his eyes to know that Paige was opening her mouth to protest. It might have been unexpectedly cowardly but Chris didn’t want to open his eyes to discover that this all was in his head. That he was imagining all of this. The soft couch cushion under him. His aunts arguing and teasing each other the way they had when he had been alive and in their time the first time around. In a way that he hadn’t appreciated. He really couldn’t be doing this dying, then living, then dying, then living again for a third time.

Unless he wasn’t living. Though Chris didn’t have a clue to know what this could be, he had enough sense to realize that this was much too easy, for him to be alive again. Sure he was a Halliwell and they lived and died more times than a person could go through a literal revolving door.

Nevertheless, his luck had never been that simple. His life had never been that easy. Not until recently. That was one of the reasons why Chris didn’t want to believe that he had lucked out yet again. He had done some crap things in his life, and even though Halliwells get things easily, Chris knew that everything had a consequence and that he would be – should be – paying his soon. He’d rather it now, then later if he was going to be forced to have to live life again.

Still. Not too soon. Because Chris felt that he had the right to be cowardly (he would get up and be investigate it Chris later, ontop and in charge of things Chris later, like he always was. Not now) and absorb this feeling. This moment that he had wanted back so badly the first few months he’d ended up in Colligo. That’s why he kept his eyes closed, and relieved this dream, not wanting to risk that he was actually there with them. Or disturbing anything and having it all disappear because he moved.

“- and third,” Phoebe continued, interrupting. “Well, I don’t have a third but you’re just being ridiculous.” Despite her words, you could hear the fond laughter in her tone.

“You said no to Anartica. You said no to turning him into a salamander –“

“Salamanders set things on fire.” Phoebe reminded her.

“No to a whole lot of things!” Paige continued on as if she hadn’t been stopped. As if she wasn’t being insanely dramatic even for the life of a Charmed One. “My only option left is the ridiculous!”

“Or. You could actually talk to him.”

“Or I could orb him to the moon.”

“What are the two of you talking about?” It was his dad.

That caused Chris’ eyes to flutter open before he squeezed them close. That was a kick to the gut. Of all the family that had shown up his near two years on that planet, never once had any of them been his dad.

It would be a lie to say that Chris had never had dreams and wishes and desires of moments where he had a chance to prolong and explore the budding relationship that he’d been building with the man. A relationship of love and knowing that he could actually trust Leo, that he could depend on him as well.

“Paige is still having trouble with her advanced telekensis professor.”

“Still?” Piper asked. “Why don’t you just orb him somewhere?”

“Ha!!” Paige cried in victory the same time Leo and Phoebe laughed out: Piper!

“What? If she won’t talk to him then that really is the only other option. Because I am not having a fire setting rodent in my house.”

“Actually Salamanders aren’t … Right.” Phoebe stopped herself. “Not the point.”

“Neither is orbing professors’ places.” Leo reminded them gently. “Paige, just talk to him. I’m sure it won’t be as bad as you’re making it out to be. I know you’ll be able to figure out a way to solve the problem.”

Paige sighed.

“Now, we should get going before we wake up Chris.” There was a gentle chuckle to Leo’s voice and no one, anywhere, would have been able to prove that there were tears in Chris’ eyes.

“Yeah, if Phoebe over here hasn’t already.”

“Me? Hey! I wasn’t the one ranting.”

“Neither of you woke me up. I’ve been awake.” He said finally opening his eyes, before sitting up, to see Paige stick her tongue at Phoebe and Phoebe look smug at Paige before she made her way to Chris and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Sorry. We’ll be out of your hair in a few seconds. Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”

“Stop asking Phoebe. The last thing Chris wants to do is hang out with his family and his little brothers.”

Brothers? Chris wondered.

“I’ve left the number of Wyatt and Perry’s baby-sitter on the fridge and I’ll have my cell phone on.” Piper said as she made her way to him, and gave him a kiss as well. As always Piper managed to answer his questions, and give him what he needed without knowing. “Have fun with your party, sweetie, and I’ll see you later. Hey, there.” She chuckled, as he grasped at her, and held her tightly.

“Later, mom.” Chris said after a moment. He let her go.

Piper searched his face for a moment, before pushing his bangs off of his forehead and giving him another kiss. “Call us if you need anything.”

Chris watched as his family left and had to fist his fingers under his legs to keep from running after them. If he did, he’d only end up hurting himself more. It hit him the moment Piper had said ‘Perry’. A long, pushed away dream that he’d had while he’d spent his last few days in San Francisco before he died.

He’d wondered … What would have happened, what would life been like, if he’d listened to his mom’s request – pushed aside responsibility and the balance of the universe – and stayed?

That, Chris knew, had been it. Just a dream.

That didn’t stop him from leaning forward and putting his face in his hands to cry.

It was such a good dream.