Forgive Me

[mcharmed21]

Author: MadamLeotaMinion

[Author’s Note: I had this idea for a story while sitting in my econ class at school. I get most of my story ideas then whereas I never do anything in that class...probably should start doing my work, huh? Kidding. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this, so read and review.]


Chapter One: An Elder No More

Leo paced around in the attic, wondering how he was going to tell the sisters. Thanks to his staying around to help save Wyatt and all his other non-Elderly duties, Gideon thought it best that Leo be temporarily stripped of his Elder status. That is, until Wyatt was saved and baby Chris was born and when the Charmed Ones were together once again and no longer needed the help of an Elder.

If only Leo knew that the major reason for Gideon getting his wings clipped was to get him out of the way so that he could easily take baby Wyatt.

But the important thing was that Leo was no longer an Elder and that he was really of no use to Phoebe, Paige and Chris unless looking up spells and demons in the book. Luckily he had time to think about how he was going to break the news to everyone, whereas he was alone in the Manor.

Phoebe, of course, would be frustrated, because they would be another power down and would not like the idea of relying only on Paige and Chris. Without Piper and Phoebe’s power, they only had the power of One. Paige could be open minded about the situation. She was now used to the fact that she had people relying on her and would most likely be up to the task.

It was Chris.

Chris would be upset, Leo was almost sure of it. And here Leo was, trying his best to make it up to Chris, to try and be the father he never had in the future. Now he was powerless and Chris would feel let down again.

Perhaps Leo shouldn’t say anything? Maybe he could keep it a secret? No. That was impossible. How would he be able to keep it a secret that he couldn’t orb or heal? He had to tell them and when he watched Chris orb into the attic, he knew it was time to let at least one person know.

“Chris.” It came out as a sigh, as if Leo was actually looking forward to getting his news off his chest.

“Leo.”<br>
It hurt Leo that Chris wouldn’t call him Dad, but he supposed he deserved it. Sticking his hands in his pockets, Leo walked toward his son and frowned. “I have some bad news.”<br>
Chris’ mind automatically jumped to Piper. “Mom?” he asked, worriedly. “Is she okay?”<br>
“Fine. The news is about me, actually. Gideon and the other Elders decided that...well, they thought that since I was not taking care of my Elderly duties and was technically breaking the rules that...that I should have my wings clipped.”<br>
Leo took a step back and sighed in relief. He may have stumbled through what he had to say, but at least it was out there. Looking up, he watched Chris as he took it all in. His son stood in disbelief and shook his head.

“They can’t do that, can they? You’re here to save your family, or don’t they know that? Isn’t Gideon vouching for you?” Chris demanded, outraged.

“They can, Chris. They already have.”<br>
Chris turned around and began to mumble to himself about how unfair it was and threw himself down onto the couch that sat in the attic. He turned to Leo. “After all that you did for them. I don’t understand how they could treat you like this. They owe you more than that. Than to just clip your wings because you decided to stay here and help save your family.”<br>
Leo sat beside Chris. He was amazed that this outraged him as much as it did, considering that Chris apparently seemed to hate him. But, maybe Chris was finally beginning to warm up to him, beginning to learn to like and eventually love his father.

“Have you told the sisters?” Chris asked, interrupting Leo’s thoughts. “Have you told mom?”<br>
“No one knows yet, just you. I...I don’t know how to tell them, especially your mother. I think I need time to let myself realize what’s happened.”<br>
Chris nodded. “I won’t say anything. I’m sure we can work through it, like with Phoebe’s powers. It’ll be okay, I mean, it’s not like we always needed you in the first...” Chris trailed off as he realized what he was saying. Gulping, he shook his head and looked at Leo. “I didn’t mean-”<br>
Leo stopped Chris. “It’s okay. I’m trying to fix that, remember? Besides, you’re right. I think we’ll be okay without my powers for a while. It might be a nice break, as Phoebe said. A chance to live a normal life for a while.”<br>
Chris nodded. They sat there for a few more moments in silence, not knowing what to say to the other. Each couldn’t believe that they had even had a normal, civilized conversation that hadn’t ended with someone yelling at the other. Maybe they were warming up to the other. Maybe now they could finally work some things out between them.

If only they knew that up at Magic School was Gideon, basking in the triumph of having Leo become a mere human. To him, this was his chance of getting those who stood in way of ridding the world of Wyatt for the Greater Good a little easier.

He had one person out of the way, and now there was only three others, so he decided that the obvious choice of who was to die next was the younger of the two sons, the one Leo so desperately wanted to get to know before he was actually born to change a life of future hate.

With the flick of his wrist, Gideon summoned a Darklighter. The tall man dressed in black stared that the Elder and smiled as a crossbow appeared in his grasp. Shaking his head, Gideon spoke up.

“I do not think that is wise. I have someone else for you to kill, another Whitelighter.”<br>

[mcharmed21]

“But he will not be an Elder,” the Darklighter said, aiming his bow.

“No, but he will be the son of a Charmed One.”<br>
The Darklighter smiled and lowered his crossbow. “And where do I find this son?”


Chapter Two: Dad

Chris orbed down into the kitchen to see if either Phoebe or Paige had come home yet. He saw no car keys or any remnant that they had come home. Phoebe was most likely at the office finishing up her column and Paige had started a new temp job the day before. Besides, the two did have lives besides their Charmed one, and were in need of a break.

Opening the refrigerator, Chris rummaged through what there was and tried to find himself something to eat. He grabbed a few things to make a sandwich and looked up at the ceiling as if he could see through and up to Leo. For a moment, he wondered if Leo would want one, but thought against it whereas Leo didn’t seem in the mood for anything at the time.

As Chris walked around the kitchen he thought about what had happened. He still couldn’t believe what the Elders had done, but it was what Gideon did that confused him even more. Gideon of all people seemed to be on their side, right? The Elder was allowing Piper and Wyatt to stay at Magic School and he had helped the sisters save Darryl’s life and now he was clipping Leo’s wings just because Leo was supposedly slacking on his Elderly duties?

“Now that’s bull if I ever heard it,” Chris mumbled as he took a bite of his sandwich. “There has to be more to it than this. I just can’t believe that they could do this to him, after all he has done.”<br>
Chris shook his head. It wasn’t fair and there had to be another reason. His mind was filled with different theories and then it dawned on him that he was actually concerned about Leo. About his father. He felt a shiver go down his spine as he realized that he cared.

Leo had been doing a lot for Chris to try and make up for what was to happen in the future and Chris was beginning to appreciate the effort. It made him happy that Leo was trying so hard, probably because it seemed that he never tried before, or at least in Chris’ future he didn’t.

And Leo wasn’t that bad, either. Chris had enjoyed the father/son time that they had shared while getting the information about the fantasims, even though they had argued, and Chris was shocked that Leo had cared enough about him to not want his true identity revealed while he was at jail and helped him orb out.

They were small, but big things that meant the world to Chris and he was happy for the first time in a long time to think of Leo as his dad. And it was as Chris was thinking of this that Leo was up in the attic thinking about his son.

Leo may have been down that his wings had been clipped, but he was glad that this had brought he and Chris that much closer to having a normal, or almost normal, relationship. He knew that he could never be forgiven for all of the things that had happened in the future, but he could try and let Chris know that he was going to change.

It pained Leo to think about the way he had treated Chris when he had first come. True, Chris had done quiet a few things that even the Charmed Ones questioned, but they had always been for the right reason: to save Wyatt and to save his family.

Pacing around the Book of Shadows, Leo remembered the sisters and tried to think of an easy way to let them know about what had happened, especially Piper. His mind was racing with different ways of telling them, but they were interrupted when a Darklighter black orbed into the Manor’s attic, crossbow aimed at Leo.

“Where is the son of a Charmed One?” the Darklighter demanded as he moved toward Leo.

Leo backed away. His mind jumped to thinking of Wyatt being the one the Darklighter was after and was glad that he was safe at Magic School with Piper.

“Where is the son of a Charmed One?” the Darklighter asked again.

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Leo lied. He tried to move, but the Darklighter was too quick and the next thing Leo knew was that he was lying face down on the floor, blood dripping from his mouth where he had been hit with the blunt edge of the crossbow.

“You want to tell me that again?” the Darklighter asked slyly.

Downstairs in the kitchen, Chris heard muffled noises coming from above. Finishing the last of his sandwich, he tried to think of what it could be. He figured that he had to be a demon attacking, but then realized that Leo was up in the attic, alone and powerless.

“Dad.”<br>
Chris’ expression was grim and worried, as he knew that Leo would be helpless if the demon attacked. As quick as he could, Chris orbed up into the attic and watched as a tall man dressed in black threw Leo at a wall and as he fell to the floor.

[mcharmed21]

“Dad!”<br>
Leo raised his head as the Darklighter turned and saw Chris. The Darklighter smiled, but Chris didn’t notice. He was watching his father, trying to figure out why he seemed so scared. It was during this time that the Darklighter took his opportunity and aimed his crossbow at Chris and fired an arrow.

Leo’s eyes widened as he watched, powerless to stop the Darklighter. He pulled himself to his feet and rushed toward the Darklighter and shouted. “No!”<br>
The Darklighter black orbed out as Chris fell limply to the floor.

“Dad...” Chris whispered, as he held his side and grimaced in pain. Leo ran to Chris and sank to his knees and pulled Chris into his lap. “Dad...”<br>
Tears filled Leo’s eyes as he heard his son call him the one thing he wanted to hear. “I’m right here. You’ll be okay. You’ll be okay.”

Chapter Three: “I guess this means I’m going to die, right?”<br>
Chris lay shaking on the couch in the attic, his brow covered in sweat. The arrow, which oozed of Darklighter poison, had easily been taken out and was broken in two on the flood. Leo stood at Chris’ side, his hand at his chin as he tried to think of what to do.

Had he still been a Whitelighter, an Elder, Chris would have been healed by now and would be walking around, most likely complaining about how he didn’t feel too well considering he had just been shot by a Darklighter arrow. But Leo wasn’t a Whitelighter and wasn’t an Elder and had to stand there and watch his son slowly die whereas he was powerless to do anything.

There was an awkward silence in the room, which was broken occasionally by Chris who was prone to moaning in pain as the poison worked its way through his system. Every once in a while Leo would wipe Chris’ brow and tell him that everything was going to be okay, but to tell the truth, Leo wasn’t quite sure it would.

Leo turned to the Book, but there were no answers there for him. He thought of calling Phoebe or Paige, but realized that they would be of little help, besides, it didn’t seem as if Chris had much time. As Leo paced around the attic, he suddenly remembered a few years back to the time when he himself had been shot by Alec, a Darklighter and how Piper had cast a spell that allowed her powers and his to have been switched.

Turning to the Book, Leo figured that if he could find the spell and cast it that he would have Chris’ powers. He knew that he had no powers to give Chris in return, but it was worth a shot. Leo wasn’t about to let Chris die without him doing something to try and save him.

Finding the right spell, Leo memorized the few lines and walked over to Chris. At first, he just stared at his son. Chris lay so quiet and motionless Leo was afraid that he had already lost him, but every so often Chris would shiver or moan and let him know that he was still there and in much pain.

[mcharmed21]

Closing his eyes, Leo recited the spell and prayed that it worked.

“What’s mine is yours, what’s yours is mine. Let our powers cross the line. I offer up this gift to share. Switch the powers through the air.”<br>
At first, Leo felt nothing. Walking around the room, he wondered if he had to have been a witch for the spell to have worked. Angered that nothing seemed to be working out right for him, he waved his hand out in frustration and to his surprise found that the motion knocked a table over.

“I can move things?” he asked himself questioningly.

“It’s one of my powers,” a weak voice whispered.

Leo turned to Chris and walked back over to him and knelt by side. “It worked.”<br>
Chris made a face. “What did?”<br>
“I switched our powers, so that I can heal you. I mean, I now have your Whitelighter powers.”<br>
Chris closed his eyes, sighed, then was reduced to a fit of coughing. He didn’t wince as Leo brushed back his hair with his hand and felt slightly relaxed, even though he felt as though he was going to be eaten alive.

“I don’t know how to heal,” Chris confessed. “You never had the time to teach me.”<br>
Leo stared down at his hands. They always glowed with that healing light so easily, for his trigger was love. Now, thanks to that one power being non-existent, he would have to spend time trying to figure out what Chris’ trigger was. Time, that Chris might not have.

Chris seemed to sense Leo’s despair, but tried to make light of the dark situation. He smiled and tried his best to stifle a laugh.

“I guess this means I’m going to die, right?” he asked.

“Don’t you say that,” Leo said, his tone harsh. “I am not going to lose you. Not like this. There has to be a way. If your mom could figure out what my trigger was then I can do the same for you.”<br>
Chris didn’t answer. His eyes slowly closed as he took in short, jagged breaths. Leo knew that the poison was almost done doing what it needed to do and that if he didn’t find Chris’ trigger soon he would lose his son.

“This does not mean that you are going to die,” Leo said aloud to himself, as if saying made it true. “This does not mean you are going to die.”