Imaginary Fiends (and Real Friends)-Update 8/13/09

[StoryGirl83]

It was difficult to figure out where to put this. It's not exactly AU, more like a novelization of an episode, except it doesn't stop where the episode ends, not even close. It comes from my spin off, but it's not exactly part of my spin off, just uses the facts from said spin off, so here it is.
In the Charmed episode "Imaginary Fiends" adult Wyatt was pulled from the future into present day. It is the job of this story to show you what might have been happening behind the scenes, what Wyatt was doing before and after he came to the present, and also what Chris was doing. You see in this story, Wyatt wasn't the only Halliwell brother there that day. Chris was, too. Sometimes even in scenes that were on screen. This story also answers the question of where was baby Chris after the adult Wyatt turned evil. We never did see him again in that episode.
I'm not really sure what the age limit would be. Maybe thirteen and above. It's pretty much normal Charmed violence, so there are demons who die. As far as language, there is whatever swearing was on the original episode, but none in any scene I wrote that didn't come from the episode. No sexual themes unless Piper and Leo kiss at some point or something, but I don't even think that is in here. Did I miss anything?
This first chapter will sound just like the first scene of the episode, but I promise, the next chapter is something completely new.
DISCLAIMER: Just for the record, since some strange people think that people writing fanfiction would claim characters obviously owned by TV exects and people like that, I don't own many of the Characters in here. There will be characters from time to time that I do own, especially later in the story, but if you saw them on Charmed, I do not own them. I do own the interpretation and naming of characters not given personalities and or names on Charmed. I know at least two characters briefly in here were on Charmed, but not named or given personalities.
Enjoy.

---

Imaginary Fiends

(and Real Friends)

Present Day - 2005

Chapter One - Telephone Demons?

It was a nice day outside, but Paige Matthews was busy indoors. She had two cordless phones sitting on the table next to the cauldron she was using to mix ingredients. She tossed in another ingredient to her potion and the mixture gave off a small explosion followed by a puff of white smoke rising into the air.

The result not what she wanted, Paige swore at it, “Ah, d**n it!”

Piper walked into the room in search of a phone. “Shh! Keep it down. I just got Chris to sleep.”

“Well, if you were here to help me, you know, that would maybe help,” Paige told her indicating toward the potion.

“Yes, and I will do that,” Piper told her nodding, “but first I need to make sure Wyatt's okay at preschool. Have you seen the phone?”

Paige frowned and gave her a confused look. “Preschool? Don't you mean magic school?”

Piper took on her “we’ve had this conversation” face and answered, “No, I mean preschool. We enrolled him last week, remember?”

Paige’s face took on an even more confused look as she said, “You didn't tell me that. Did you?” The last part said as if she was trying to remember.

“Yes,” Piper reminded her, “and you said you were worried about him using magic in public.”

Still not remembering, Paige said, “Oh. And what'd you say?”

Piper’s voice sounded like she wanted to roll her eyes as she said, “I said I was worried about him having a normal life.”

Paige thought about that a moment and nodded, “Huh. All right. Cool. I'm all up to speed now. It's just with these charges and these demons attacking, eh, I'm a little scattered.” Paige adds a pinch of something into the mixture.

In a monotone Piper asked, “And that's different how exactly?”

Paige throws some of the ingredient at Piper. “I just don't know why the Elders couldn't see fit to give me a local witch instead of a New Zealand witch.”

“I don't know, but I need the phone.” Piper sees the phones and walks around Paige to get one of them.

Paige sees her and stops Piper from grabbing the phone. “No!”

Piper stops and looks at her.

“No. No using the phone,” Paige tells her.

Piper looks at the two phones on the table. “Why are all the handsets up here?”

As if it’s the most natural thing in the world, Paige responds with, “Because I am trying to prevent a demon attack.”

And maybe in their house it was, but Piper wasn’t seeing it. “What?”

With a serious expression on her face Paige goes on to explain her theory. “Look, all the attacks have been different, right? And all the demons have had different powers. The one thing I've noticed is that every time a phone rings, a demon attacks.”

Piper frowns shaking her head. “No, they don't. Phoebe called earlier and nothing happened.”

Paige looks at her surprised and seems a little disappointed to have her theory debunked so quickly. “Really?” Paige hears the Elders jingle and glares at the ceiling. Still looking up she shouts, “Ugh! Stop the jingling, already. I'll be there as soon as I can.” Turning to Piper she adds, “Charges.”

It is then that the phone rang. Piper turned to look at the handsets on the table, while Paige’s look past the headsets at a corner of the attic where a demon in sunglasses, a black leather jacket and jeans appeared. He powered up an energy ball and threw it at them. Paige and Piper both jumped out of the way. The energy ball hit the wall behind them. Piper looked up from the floor and waved her hand at the demon, grazing him in the knee. The demon fell to the floor.

Paige picked up a potions bottle from the table and threw it at the demon. “Unh!”

The vial hit him in the shoulder, but nothing happened. The demon looked at his shoulder while Paige looked at him stunned. The demon powered up another energy ball in the palm of his hand.

Paige called for help, “Piper!”

Piper waved her hands and blasted the demon before he can throw it. He exploded. Piper and Paige both looked at the space where the demon used to be.

Piper turned and looked at Paige. “You might be right about that phone thing.

Paige gave her a smug look.

---

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter, but then since all I really did was put it into prose format, I don't get to lay much claim there. The next chapter is completely mine, though, so please review or at least tell me you want to see what happens in the new scene, and I will post more.

[~*Alicia*~]

Can't wait to see, how your chapter is.

[Esmeralda]

StoryGirl, having read this wonderful fic before, I think you chose the perfect section for it, since it's mainly about Chris and Wyatt, although you're right; it could've fit into The Charmed Ones, Alternative Universe, Spinoff or even Miscellaneous.

I can't wait until everyone sees what you do with this!!! I'm sure they'll *love* it.

As usual, my own suggestion is to watch your tense-changes. You go from past-tense to present-tense to past-tense again and it gets to be very confusing. Actually, knowing this fic the way I do, it would probably work best as present-tense, but as always, that's up to you.

Otherwise, as always, this chapter is great, even if it reminds me of why I couldn't stand Paige from during S6 & S7--a woman who graduated from college and was offer a chance to be a full social service worker suddenly a clutzy ditzy scatterbrain never made sense to me--and I know this fic will remind me why I couldn't stand S6-S8 Piper and Phoebe and Leo. Your Chris, naturally, is the heroic Chris of fanfics, not the lying, whining murdering brat of S6, so that will make me roll my eyes. But because I love the way you do this, I can look back all of that, because I love what you do with them so much!!

I can't WAIT to see everyone's reaction when Big Wyatt shows up!!

Please update soon, and for posting your fic here, you have been blessed!

[StoryGirl83]

*:^Alicia^:*, thank you. I hope it doesn't disappoint.
Es, thank you for your comments. I'm glad you like it enough to over look that Chris isn't the same as season six Chris. He isn't season six Chris, not exactly. He has part of season six Chris, but he is also someone who was raised in a very different world. I will have to look at the tenses. I know I mess up. It mostly has to do with I did take this from a script. I tried to change all the tenses, but I did miss some. I want it all in past tense, mostly because present tense tends to drive me nuts. Thank you for the bless. I do agree with your on Paige. Some times she about drove me up the wall. There were times I liked her, but when she acted no better than the Stillman sisters, I had problems.
In this scene words in italics are words heard on the other side of a telephone conversation. I'm sure that is ovbious, but one never knows.

---

Chapter Two - TV Remote Anyone?

Future – Saturday, May 29, 2027

Light streaming into his room was the first thing Christopher Perry Halliwell noticed as he woke up. The second thing was the sound of talking in another part of the apartment. Chris yawned and pushed the covers off his bare chest and climbed out of bed. He walked over to his dresser and pulled out a shirt slipping it over his head and tucking it into his sweat pants. He pulled open his door and walked into the hallway. He walked the few steps down the hall, past the kitchen on his left and the bathroom on his right. He stopped in front of his brother, Wyatt’s door, but instead turned left into the living room.

Inside Wyatt Matthew Halliwell was talking on the phone with the brothers’ friend, Kali Nicolae. “That had better not be the reason you called, Kal, because even for you that’s odd.”

I’m not odd, Wyatt, just opinionated.

Chris grabbed the phone out of Wyatt’s hand. “His room is still a disaster zone, Kal. Any more questions?”

Wyatt orbed the phone out of Chris’ hand back into his own and put it back against his ear. “Ignore him, Kali. He doesn’t understand the importance of a welcoming environment.”

Kali laughed in Wyatt’s ear. Seriously, Wy. Your room is kind of legendary.

“Have you seen the way Chris keeps that room at the club that he had when he traveled back to the past?”

Ah, yes. The infamous trip to the past to keep you from turning evil.

“Hey, he risked a lot.”

Chris smiled as he listened to his brother defend him. It felt really good to have his brother on his side, instead of the two of them fighting. He would do it all over again, if he had to, because his brother was worth it.

And what does he get in return? You . . . and your messy room.

“Seriously though, Kal. Why did you call?”

No reason. I just wanted to check on you two, see how you were doing.

“And . . ?”

Kali laughed on the other end, again. Can’t you just ask?

Wyatt rolled his eyes as Chris grabbed the remote off the TV and settled down on the couch opposite the kitchen.

“Fine. How was your date?”

Chris looked up puzzled and then shrugged. Holding out the remote he turned on the TV and started flipping stations.

Great! Do you know how nice it is to go on a date with someone who I don’t have to hide the fact that I’m a Gypsy from?

“I just might. So you two had a good time?”

Oh yeah.

Chris stopped the TV on a station with the weather report and pretended to watch it while listening to his brother’s end of the conversation.

Wyatt frowned. “He didn’t try anything did he?”

Even Chris heard Kali’s bubbly laughter that time. You are so cute when you get over protective. We had dinner with his parents and sister. Nothing untowardly in that.

Wyatt blinked at the TV and the channel changed. “And afterward?”

And afterward he drove me home and he didn’t even kiss me because there were neighbors watching and it was almost curfew. Honestly, Wyatt. It was our first date. What did you think happened?

Chris noticed that the channel has been changed and looked at Wyatt. The cartoon now on didn’t catch his attention any more than the weather channel had. He pointed the remote at Wyatt and hit the power button.

Wyatt rolled his eyes at Chris. “So nothing happened. Good. Keep it that way.”

Chris pointed the remote at the TV and turned it off.

Sure. For now. I’ve got a paper to work on. I just wanted to let you know how things went.

“Well, if I hadn’t heard from you, I imagine someone else would have mentioned it somewhere in the next week, considering who you’re dating.”

Bye, Wyatt.

“You have anything you want to say to Chris.”

Chris looked over at the sound of his name.

Sorry he has to live with a slob?

“Cute, Kal.”

Report. Talk to you later.

“Bye, Kali.” Wyatt clicked off the phone and orbed it out of his hand onto the phone jack.

“Do the words ‘personal gain’ mean anything to you, Wy?” Chris asked as walked over to the TV and replaced the remote.

Wyatt frowned and scratched his chin as if thinking about it. “Can’t say that they do.”

Chris groaned and slapped his head with the palms of his hand. “Wyatt!”

Wyatt laughed and pointed at the TV next to him. “How about we talk about your choice of entertainment? The weather channel? What’s with that?”

Chris grinned at him and headed toward the door to the kitchen. “I was checking the weather. That’s what it’s for. I’m going to cook some eggs for breakfast. Want any?” Chris disappeared into the kitchen.

Wyatt followed his brother in, saying, “Sounds good. Thanks.”

---

Thank you for reading the second chapter. I hope you like the original scene. Please review and I will post more. Until both brothers are in the past, the scenes will go back and forth between the present and the future.

[~*Alicia*~]

No, it is great! Why should I be disappointed? Love it <3

[StoryGirl83]

Just the nervous mumblings or an author putting her stories before a new audience.

---

Chapter Three - Mumbo Jumbo!

Present - 2005

Back in 2005 Piper was listening to a message on the phone. There was a perplexed look on her face as she pressed the off button and walked around Paige who was back at her caldron adding more ingredients. “That was Wyatt's preschool. I wonder what they wanted.”

Paige glanced over at Piper for a second before turning back to her pot. “Well, I am more interested in these demons and what they wanted and try to figure out how to vanquish them.”

The situation still didn’t make any sense to Piper. “It just doesn't sound right. Why would demons attack when the phone rings?”

Paige looked at her for longer this time as her face scrunched up, thinking. “And they're all different demons, remember? Huh. The last one even looked kind of human. Better add some mandrake root in case they're shape shifters.”

A thoughtful expression came to Piper’s face. “Wait, the last attack happened when the preschool called, too, didn't it?”

“Yeah, I think you're right.” A suspicious look came to Paige’s face as she adds, “Do you think Wyatt is creating these demons?”

Piper gave her sister a look of disbelief. “That's ridiculous.”

Trying to prove her point Paige dramatically reminded Piper that, “Well, he created the dragons.”

Hand on her hip Piper immediately began to defend her son. “One! One lousy dragon. You're gonna hold it against him for his entire life.”

Paige put up her hand to ward off Piper’s words as Phoebe walked into the room.

A quick survey of the room gave Phoebe a pretty good idea of what happened. “Oh, no. Let me guess, another demon attack?”

Paige quickly jumped in with her theory. “Or Wyatt's acting up again.”

Piper was quick behind her with her defense of Wyatt. “Or Paige is overreacting again.”

Phoebe considered both of her sisters in turn.

Paige didn’t give Phoebe a chance to respond before she added to her side of the theory. “Wyatt has been isolating himself at preschool and only talking to himself.”

This appeared to be news to Piper “Who said he's only talking to himself?”

Paige got a superior look on her face and informed Piper that, “I heard the message.”

Phoebe got a strange look on her face. “That's odd.”

Piper shook her head and started gesturing with her hands. “No, it's not odd. Just because he's talking to himself does not mean he's creating demons.”

Phoebe’s voice sounded a little worried as she reminds Piper that, “Except he's kind of quiet around home.”

Piper didn’t see why this was a big deal. “So?”

Phoebe went into lecture mode. “So Wyatt's in his second stage of development. I mean, his sense of language should be maturing. Which means he should be talking to other people, not just himself.”

With a serious look on her face Piper said, “I'm very sorry you went back to college.”

Phoebe grinned at that. “I know, but it's really helping with my column. And that has absolutely nothing to do with why Wyatt is creating demons.”

Exasperated Piper raised her voice, “He's not creating demons!”

Phoebe kept going as if Piper said nothing. “Well, let's see. Maybe it's a reaction to preschool. Some kind of Freudian transference or something?”

With an annoyed look on her face, Piper declared this to be, “Mumbo-jumbo!”

With a hint of laughter in her voice Phoebe explained. “Look, all I'm saying is, if he's talking to himself, the problems may be normal, not magical.”

Piper stopped to consider this as a possibility and asked, “Normal problems like what?”

Shaking her head Phoebe sayed, “I have no idea. It could be anything.” With a sigh she added “I could ask my professor. She's the expert.” With that Phoebe turned around and headed toward the door to the attic.

Surprised by the newest turn in the conversation Piper sputtered, “But I . . .”

Without looking back Phoebe interrupted her as she exited the room. “Be back soon!”

As Phoebe walked away Paige shook her head and turned back to her potion. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Piper pick up the phone. She slapped at Piper’s hand. “Hey, what are you doing? Put the phone down.”

Piper pulled her hand away from Paige. Paige slapped her hand to her forehead as Piper told her, “I have to call the preschool.”

Paige got a look on her face and in a grave tone said, “Well, then use your cell phone.” She then grabbed the phone from Piper.

---

The next chapter is back to the boys and is called "Threats Only a Mom Would Use". To find out what those threats are, review and I'll post more.

[~*Alicia*~]

Love it<3 You're an awesome writer! I love it! Can't wait till you post.

[StoryGirl83]

I can do that. Here is the next, all original chapter of the story.

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Chapter Four - Threats Only a Mom Would Use

Future – Saturday, May 29, 2027

Wyatt and Chris were seated at the table in their kitchen. Wyatt was working on finishing a partly eaten omelet. Chris had a fried egg and toast. Both brothers had glasses of orange juice.

Wyatt looked up from his food. “Are you heading over to the restaurant later?”

Chris shook his head as he looked up from his egg. “No. Mom gave me the day off. She told me to do something fun or else.” Chris smiled at his last words.

Wyatt snickered. “Or else? Exactly what did Mom threaten you with?”

“You know the usual.”

Wyatt gave his younger brother a look. “The usual? I don’t know what that is for you, but anything that is for me doesn’t apply. Mom has threatened to bind my orbing, but while you orb, too, you wouldn’t mind near as much as I would. She has threatened to set Cilly on my date if I have one. You haven’t had a date in a while, too busy with school and work, which by the way no longer works as an excuse. She has threatened to clean my room, which Kali thinks I should take her up on, but wouldn’t affect you since your room is spotless.”

Chris laughed. “Let’s see, if she threatened me with the no orbing, yes, that would bug me. Second point, you haven’t had a date in a while either, because you are scared that Cilly will meet her and prove that you are the wrong guy for her. You are right about the clean room threat though. I would not care one bit, but she wouldn’t have anything to clean, so not relevant.”

“So what did she say?”

Chris got a wry look on his face as he bobbed his head. “Baby pictures.” Chris took another bite of his egg.

Wyatt looked at his brother in surprise. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it and stared at Chris.

Chris looked up wondering why Wyatt wasn’t responding. He smiled when he saw the look on his brother’s face. “Do you have plans today?”

Wyatt shook his head.

“You do now.” Chris took a quick drink of his orange juice.

Wyatt raised an eye brow and looked at Chris expectantly. “What’s up?”

Chris put down his glass. “I was thinking we could head down to the library. I have some stuff I want to look up.”

Wyatt gave him a look. “I thought Mom ordered you to have fun.”

Chris nodded. “She did and I will.”

Wyatt gave him a doubtful look. “Research?”

“Yep.”

“Chris?”

Chris looked at Wyatt.

“What are you researching?”

“Old missing person reports.”

“Why?”

“So we know what to look for when we hunt the demon.”

Wyatt frowned. “What demon?”

“The one who took the missing people, of course.”

Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Exactly how long ago was this if we are looking at police reports in the library. They don’t have anything from this century there, Chris.”

Chris nodded. “I know. According to Pat, this dates back to the sixties.”

Wyatt’s jaw dropped just a little. “The nineteen sixties?”

Chris gave him a look. “No, the eighteen sixties. Of course the nineteen sixties.”

“You are aware that these people have been missing over sixty years?”

Chris nodded. “Some of them. Are you coming or not?”

Wyatt sighed. “Fine. There just had better be a demon on the other end of this search.”

“There will be.”

“Are you sure no one else has . . .” Wyatt began, but Chris interrupted him.

“I’m sure, Wy. Finish your breakfast so we can get going.”

Wyatt looked down at Chris’ plate and realized that over the course of the conversation Chris had finished eating, while Wyatt’s omelet was still only half finished. Chris picked up his plate and headed toward the small half room they called a kitchen.

Chris turned and looked at Wyatt over the counter. “Be quick will you. I’d rather fight this demon in day light.”

---

Hope you enjoyed it. The next chapter is back to the original storyline. I vaguely recall having trouble describing something in the actions of the characters on screen.
Here's the line up for the next two chapters.
Chapter Five - Introducing Vicus
Chapter Six - Records Older Than Mom

[~B@MeLiSsA30@B~]

Awesome story!!!!! ;D I like it!!!

[StoryGirl83]

~B@MeLiSsA24@B~, I'm glad you like my rewrite of this. Enjoy the next chapter. I hope I wrote it so that it feels like you are watching it.

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Chapter Five - Introducing Vicus

Present Day - 2005

As outside Robin Brooks’ Preschool a mother pushing a toddler in a stroller walked past a woman and wished her a “Good morning,” inside a worried Leo turned the corner into the hallway leading to Wyatt’s classroom. He looked around and saw Ms Henderson stepping out of a room. He headed over to her. “Ms. Henderson, hey, I came as soon as I could.”

Ms. Henderson turned to look at Leo, surprised. She continueed to walk away from him with Leo close behind. “Leo, what are you doing here?”

Concern in his voice Leo asked, “Well, you called about Wyatt, right?”

Not sure what that has to do with the situation as hand Ms. Henderson’s response sounded confused as she said, “Yeah. But I said it was nothing to worry about. I thought I made that clear.”

Leo kind of shrugged. “Well, I was in the area. Is he all right?”

She was used to overprotective parents, but usually she didn’t have them coming for a child who isn’t sociable. Usually that brought up defensive hackles, not concern. “He's just talking to himself. I mean, I wouldn't have even bothered calling if your wife hadn't asked me to.”

Leo stepped in front of her hands raised in a demonstrative way. “She's very protective. He's . . . he's a special kid.”

Shaking her head with a half smile, Ms. Henderson told him, “Oh, they're all special, Leo.”

Not really sure how to explain what he means Leo said, “Right, but he has special needs.”

This got Ms. Henderson’s concern up. “Special needs? You never said Wyatt was a special needs child.”

Realizing she didn’t take it the way he meant it, but really how do you tell your child’s non magical teacher that your son is a very powerful witch, Leo hurried to correct that assumption. “Not like that. He's, um, gifted.”

She laughed at this. “First child?”

With a nervous laugh Leo asked, “Is it that obvious?”

With a shrug of her shoulders and a little smile Ms. Henderson returned with, “Do you want to see him?”

Leo quickly agreed. “Please.”

Ms. Henderson put her hand on Leo’s back and led him to the classroom. They walked into the room and looked around at all the children laughing and interacting until Ms. Henderson spotted Wyatt sitting in a corner by the cubby holes.

He was looking up with his bear, Wuvey, fallen off his lap upside down hanging from his leg. Wyatt appeared to be talking to someone.

Ms. Henderson pointed to Wyatt and said, “Oh, there he is.”

Leo frowned as he looked at his son. “Oh, um, how long has he been doing that -- talking to himself?”

Ms. Henderson shook her head and shrugged. “Oh, I don't know. On and off since he first started coming here, I guess.”

Leo looked at her, confusion on his brow and concern in his voice. “Oh, and, uh, is that normal?”

She looked at him. “Normal? No. But I don't think you should be alarmed. He's just playing by himself. Lots of kids do that.”

Leo was unconvinced as he looked around the classroom at the other children. All of them where busy interacting with the other children or the teacher. Wyatt was the only one by his self. “Mm-hmm.”

Though Leo couldn’t see him, Wyatt was talking to someone. Whether this someone was real or only in Wyatt’s imagination was an entirely different subject, but Wyatt saw him and right at that moment, Vicus was crouched in front of Wyatt wearing a black leather jacket and laughing at something Wyatt had said.

“I really like our conversations, Wyatt. But you know I'm a secret, right? Nobody else can see me.”

As Leo looked at his son appearing to be having a conversation with thin air, Ms. Henderson tried to reassure him. “You're just not used to letting him go during the day. Happens to lots of first-time parents.”

Though Ms. Henderson doesn’t know Leo has reason for his concern. “It's more complicated.”

Ms. Henderson tries once more to reassure Leo. “I see this every day. Trust me, it's not.”

Leo’s mind is made up. “You know, he wasn't feeling very well this morning. Maybe I should just take him home, you know, just . . .”

Over by Wyatt Vicus looked up. It was obvious that Vicus heard what Leo was saying.

Leo continued on not realizing that anything significant happened, “. . . just to be safe.”

Sputtering a little and more than a little surprised Ms. Henderson looked away and agreed. “Uh, well, okay, if you really think that's best.”

On the other side of the room Vicus was preparing Wyatt for his departure. “Now we won't be able to talk much longer . . .”

Leo gave Ms. Henderson an appreciative look and said, “Thanks,” before heading over in Wyatt’s direction.

Vicus kept talking reassuring Wyatt that he wasn’t leaving for good. “ . . . but don't worry, I'll be back. I promise.”

Leo walked over to Wyatt and crouched down in front of him. Though only Wyatt could see Vicus was only a foot away from where Leo was.

In a cheerful voice that didn’t show any of the concern Leo felt, Leo talked to his son. “Okay, buddy, come on. Are you ready? Let's go home, okay?”

Vicus stood as Leo picked up Wyatt. Leo made a noise as if picking up his two-and-a-half-year-old son, was tough, “Ohh!”

As Wyatt looked over Leo’s shoulder, Vicus said his good-byes. “See you soon, Wyatt.”

As Leo walked away carrying Wyatt, Vicus kept talking. “I want to hear more about that special teddy bear.”

Wyatt watched Vicus as Leo carried him out the door. As Leo passed Ms. Henderson he said, “See you later.” Then, he walked out the door holding Wyatt.

Once Leo and Wyatt were out the door a strange thing happened. Vicus began to disappear. First his body vanished, then most of his face, and last of all his glowing eyes.

---

In the same way he disappeared, Vicus reappeared. First his eyes, next his face, and finally the rest of his body reappeared. Behind him sheets were hung in what appeared to be a makeshift hide out.

A young man named Hugo, with slicked back hair and black clothing stepped out from behind a pile of stuff. He looked concerned. “Vicus. I was getting worried.”

Vicus ignored the young man’s words. “You failed me.”

Hugo stopped walking. “We didn't fail. We've been distracting the witches for you, dying relentlessly.”

Vicus looked at Hugo with a tough of disdain. Though it was obvious Hugo was concerned about Vicus and about the others, it was equally obvious Vicus didn’t care anything for Hugo or the others who had died. “But you haven't sustained the distractions. The father took the boy from school, just as I was starting to make some progress.”

Hugo looked at him surprised. “What?” He paused to think a moment. “Forget him. We don't need his powers. Dealing with the Charmed Ones is too dangerous anyway.”

Vicus inclined his head and started circling Hugo. “Do you think you know how to do this better than I do, Hugo?”

Hugo shook his head a little. “That's not what I'm saying.”

Vicus inclined his head for Hugo to continue.

With concern in his voice Hugo continued. “You've been working at this for, what, three weeks now? We're risking everything here, and for what?” The last question was asked in a yell.

Vicus looked about ready to pounce as he responded angrily. “For us. To add his power to yours, to the Collective.”

Hugo stared silently at Vicus as Vicus went on.

Vicus once more began circling Hugo. “Now, didn't I risk everything nurturing the evil within you, Hugo, just as I did with all the others?” Vicus stopped just behind Hugo looking over his shoulder intimidating.

Hugo almost visibly gulped. “Yes, of course you did, but . . .”

As Hugo stopped not having any way of finishing, Vicus continued to speak over the boy’s shoulder. “Then you must trust me. See, this Wyatt will grow to become one of the most powerful witches to ever walk the earth. It's better he walk with us than against us.”

Hugo took in a big breath and turned to look at Vicus. “I just worry.”

The was a coldness to Vicus’ voice as he responded. It was as if he finally noticed this trait about Hugo and it annoyed him. “Don't.” His toned turned back to the patronizing sugar sweet of before. “I realize that I only have a small window at this age in which to change him, but I am close.” Vicus patted Hugo’s shoulder. “Very close.”

Vicus walked away. Hugo stood still, very still, but his eyes followed Vicus as Vicus walked out of the area.

---

The next two chapters are:
Chapter Six - Records Older Than Mom
Chapter Seven - Expert Opinions
If you want to see what's next, review and I'll post the next chapter.

[~B@MeLiSsA30@B~]

I know this episode quite well. This is well written. As I was reading the story, I had the images in my mind. Fantastic Job. I know I'm gonna enjoy more of the chapters to come.

[StoryGirl83]

~B@MeLiSsA24@B~, I'm glad that you can imagine it. I see the beginning of this story (up until the point when the original episode ended) as a novelization of sorts. It has to follow that storyline exactly, while giving you more. I also wanted it to make you think maybe, just maybe if you look close enough while watching "Imaginary Fiends" you will see Chris or something in the background to indicate he is there. In later parts of the story there will be several scenes where Chris is there, but no one realizes it.
Being the author, I'm not sure if I am allowed to love a line from my own fic, but I did love the line that became the title to this chapter. Hope you enjoy.

---

Chapter Six - Records Older Than Mom

Future – Saturday May 29, 2027

Wyatt pulled his car into one of the library parking spots. He turned off the car and unbuckled as Chris pocketed change from the dash.

“For copies, I suppose?”

Chris nodded as he unbuckled. “A lot of what we need to look at isn’t going to things we can check out.”

Wyatt nodded. “Right, police records. Can’t exactly move those without good cause even if they are older than Mom.”

“But not Dad,” Chris commented as he walked toward the library.

Wyatt rolled his eyes and followed his brother. “Don’t even go there. It’s just too weird.”

Chris pulled open the door to the library and headed downstairs toward the newly built in second basement.

“You’d think they’d put this in some place with a little more natural light,” Wyatt commented as he followed his brother down the stairs.

Chris shook his head. “Better for the records if they can control the lighting.”

“Still.”

Chris chuckled and kept walking down the stairs. Once he reached the first basement he kept going and started down the stairs to the second basement.

“I bet you mom and her sisters didn’t go down two flights of stairs to get to police records they needed.”

Chris shook his head. “Nope, they just called Darryl.”

Wyatt laughed at that. “I don’t suppose he’d be much help Chicago, now would he.”

Chris shook his head smiling, “No, I suppose not. Fortunately to access the records we need we don’t need a police liaison.” Chris stepped off the steps onto the floor of the second basement. He walked over to a door marked “police records.”

A librarian with pink tipped brown hair sitting at a nearby desk looked up from a book she was reading at the sound of the brothers’ footsteps. “Chris, good to see you, again. You haven’t been around in a few weeks.”

Chris stopped and looked over at her with a grin. “Hey, Terah. I have some research I want to do. Can you point me in the direction of the old missing person reports?”

Terah McComiskey grinned as she stood. “You always have the strangest request. Follow me.” Terah opened the door to the police records and walked down rows of shelves until she stopped in front of some in the corner of the room. She turned and looked at them. “So are you after anything specific or just in general.”

“Not sure. I know I’m looking for people they never found, dead or alive.”

Terah shook her head. “That could be anyone. A lot of people just disappear and no one ever finds them. Even if the records can tell you whose been found and who hasn’t, there’s a lot of people in these records.”

Chris nodded. “I know it.”

Terah turned around and walked out of the room.

Chris turned to his brother. “Are you ready to look through these records?”

Wyatt shook his head. “No. Did Pat at least give you a couple of names to start with?”

Chris nodded. “A couple. First names only. A few dates, too, but over all not a lot to work with.”

Wyatt groaned. “I hate teenage memory.”

Chris laughed. “Come one, let’s get looking.”

---

The next two chapters are:
Chapter Seven - Expert Opinions
Chapter Eight - Eye Witness Report

I will post the next chapter once someone has reviewed. Hope you enjoyed this.

[~*Alicia*~]

I love your story! Keep up the good work!

[Esmeralda]

Oh, that title is absolutely perfect, StoryGirl! I love it!! The same way I love this whole fic. I wasn't even nuts on that episode, but I saw it again on TNT and I *could* imagine Chris there but not there!

Absolutely marvelous job! I love the way you write both brothers, especially Chris since he's nothing like the creep we saw on the show. If only he was more like this! And Wyatt's not even a dork! Great job!!

And I like Terah and the idea that just maybe Chris has done this before...

Please update soon!

[StoryGirl83]

*:^Alicia^:* , so glad you are enjoying it. Here's more for you to hopefully enjoy.

May 6, 2008 21:43:08 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

Oh, that title is absolutely perfect, StoryGirl! I love it!!

I love that title, too. I love the dialogue that goes with it, too. So glad you think the title is a perfect fit.

May 6, 2008 21:43:08 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

The same way I love this whole fic. I wasn't even nuts on that episode, but I saw it again on TNT and I *could* imagine Chris there but not there!

Oh, good, then the story is acomplishing it's initial purpose of making my readers believe that maybe just maybe Chris really was there. That's the major reason I am so adiment that I have to keep everything from the original. I'm glad you enjoy this story better than the original.

May 6, 2008 21:43:08 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

Absolutely marvelous job! I love the way you write both brothers, especially Chris since he's nothing like the creep we saw on the show. If only he was more like this! And Wyatt's not even a dork! Great job!!

Chris at this point in my spin off (because this is taken from my spin off in a way) has full memory of his former self, but he's more the boy that was raised in this time line. Don't get me wrong, the other time line does effect him, but not as much as the current one. *Laugh* Yeah, Wyatt was pretty much a dork. I couldn't do a whole lot with the lines in the actual episode except give him thoughts that made him, shall we say, less empty headed. I think the way I am trying to show him in those scenes is more to the effect of, he's completly out of his element combined with a Phoebe like inability to keep a secret. Not to mention he wasn't expecting to time travel and keeping a secret has never meant the difference between life and death for him, the way it may well of for his overly secretive younger brother. Reforming him to look smarter is a lot easier than reforming season six Chris . . . during season six and their are some places I will fail. I cannot explain away his killing the Valkyrie no matter how I try. I could always pretend he didn't actually kill her, but knocked her unconcious, but that clearly is not what happened, so I will deal with it when I get there.

May 6, 2008 21:43:08 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

And I like Terah and the idea that just maybe Chris has done this before...

Terah's fun. I just wrote the episode where she is first introduced. Ironically it was Wyatt's idea to go to the library. In later episodes after Chris . . . well, things are going to happen which give Chris more free time, so he'll be at the library during some of that free time and Terah is going to hear some odd requests.

May 6, 2008 21:43:08 GMT -5 Esmeralda said:

Please update soon!

Here you go. Enjoy!

---

Chapter Seven - Expert Opinions

Present Day - 2005

Students were walking in and out and around the Berkley campus. One woman, Professor Slotkin was exiting. Phoebe ran down the sidewalk from Professor Slotkin’s left trying to catch up with her. As she ran she called out. “Um, Professor Slotkin?”

Professor Slotkin glanced behind her. “Sorry, Ms. Halliwell. I don't have time to discuss your paper topic right now.”

Phoebe kept up her pace as she said, “No, no, it's not about the paper, it's actually personal.”

Professor Slotkin stopped and turned to Phoebe. “Oh?”

Relieved that she had her teachers attention Phoebe started to explain. “Yeah. It's about my nephew. He's two and a half, and he's just going through some stuff, and I was kind of hoping you could help me understand it.”

Professor Slotkin shrugged a little as she asked, “Terrible twos?”

Her voice a little louder, as if for emphasis Phoebe said, “Well, I think it started out as that, and now it's just . . .” her voice trailed a little as she continued, “. . . well, at preschool he talks to himself, and then at home he doesn't talk to anybody.”

With a full shrug Professor Slotkin gave her opinion on a possible solution. “Well, perhaps he has an imaginary friend. Although, he's a little early for that developmentally.”

Phoebe came to the defense of her nephew with a goofy look on her face. “Well, he's very advanced for his age. And if it was an imaginary friend, is that necessarily a bad thing?”

Professor Slotkin obviously didn’t think so as she began a little speech. “Freud used to think it was a sign of immature thinking. Of course, nowadays we know that kids create imaginary friends for lots of reasons: Companionship, conflict resolution, sometimes as a coping mechanism.”

“Let me write this down.” Phoebe starts to get out some paper and begin writing.

Phoebe’s words broke Professor Slotkin out of her good mood some. She looked at Phoebe a little annoyed as she said, “Oh, and that's Slotkin with an "S." You were planning on giving me credit.”

Phoebe looks up at her confused. “I'm sorry, what?”

Professor Slotkin gave Phoebe a look. “Well, last week we discussed Lorenz's Theory of imprinting in class, and this week I read about him in your column. I imagine we're discussing next week's content. No?”

Phoebe was surprised. “No, no. This is actually about my nephew.”

Professor Slotkin clearly didn’t believe her. “Please, we both know why you're taking my class.”

Phoebe looks shocked as she starts trying to explain herself. “I'm taking your class to be a better columnist and to understand human behavior.”

Professor Slotkin didn’t even let Phoebe finish speaking before she continued. “I've spent years studying and teaching psychology, Ms. Halliwell, dedicated my life to it. But I'll be damned if I'm just gonna let you poach my class to steal a sound bite or two for your column.”

Phoebe tried to protest, “No, but I . . .”

Professor Slotkin was no longer interested in what Phoebe had to say. “You want to learn about imaginary friends? Do the research. I look forward to reading your paper on it.”

Phoebe watched Professor Slotkin walk away with a stunned sigh.

---

Okay, so not my favorite part of the story, but it is part of the story. If you want to get on to more interesting parts review and I will post the next chapter. The next two chapters are:
Chapter Eight - Eye Witness Report
Chapter Nine - Paige's Theory and Piper's Decision

[~B@MeLiSsA30@B~]

Great chapters. I love how you write the episode & turn it into a story. Brilliant job! You're doing wonderful. I can still see the episode in my mind as I am reading it.

[StoryGirl83]

~B@MeLiSsA24@B~, I'm so glad that you can see the story as you read it. Sorry it has taken so long to post more, but it's been a bad weekend and a busy week.

---

Chapter Eight - Eye Witness Report

Wyatt and Chris were both seated on the ground, each with stacks of old records in front of them and around them.

Chris was scanning a record in front of him. He sighed as he put it on one of the piles and went to the next file.

Wyatt had two files in his hands. He looked at one and then the other and back again. After a moment he looked up. “I think I found the link.”

Chris looked up from the file he was looking at. “You sure?”

Wyatt shook his head slightly. “No, but it’s a pretty big coincidence if I’m wrong.”

Chris put his file back on the pile it came from and stood up. He walked over to where Wyatt was and stooped down. “What did you find?”

Wyatt handed Chris one of the files. The name on the file was “Martin, Karma.” “I was looking up one of the less common names on Pat’s list and I found a four-year-old named Karma Martin. She disappeared the evening of February 2, 1962. There was a witness.”

Chris looked at him surprised. He looked down at the report in his hand. “A witness? Really? It’s not like a demon to leave behind a witness.”

“He didn’t. The witness was another four-year-old girl. The police believed that she was remembering wrong or exaggerating. She said a monster took her friend. The report lists her as Sunny Webster.” Wyatt handed Chris the other file. The name on this file was “Webster, Sunshine.” “The next year a five-year-old named Sunshine Webster disappeared early on the morning of February 2, 1963.”

“February second, huh. It looks like we need to check February second of each year.” Chris put down the two files in front of Wyatt and went back to his stacks of papers. He picked up a two file pile and brought it over to Wyatt. “I found two likely people. Let me check the dates on them.” He opened up one file with the name “Hart, Mehgan” on it. “February 2, 1967 at six thirty in the morning.” He handed the file to Wyatt and opened the other. The name on this one was “Goldman, Trace.” After reading it he handed it to Wyatt as well. “February 2, 1974. Looks like you’ve got a winner. I’ll go back over the files I’ve already looked at. We still have four names on Pat’s list, plus who knows how many others to find.”

“Remind me why we have to find the names of the demon’s victims. It’s not like we have to find them before the demon gets to them. He already has them.”

“Pat said that there was some sort of pattern. Days and times of days, but she couldn’t remember why that was important. She said if we study the victims we can figure out how to defeat the demon, and when.”

“When? Are you kidding me? This demon has a when in regards to defeating it?”

Chris shrugged. “That’s what Pat said, but she could have been wrong.” He picked up a folder from one of the piles and looked at the date. Seeing the wrong date he put it back down and picked up another.

Wyatt picked up one of the files and started flipping through the pages. “Do you have enough money for copies, Chris? Sixty-seven years of missing persons reports is a lot to copy, even if it is only one a year.”

“Two. And it's more like fourty seven years, most likely.”

“Huh?” Wyatt looked at Chris.

Chris handed Wyatt the folder in his hands. “Two, a year. One in the morning and one at night. I found Corrine.” He didn't explain the other comment, and Wyatt didn't ask. With twenty years were demonic powers didn't work, the answer was obvious.

Wyatt took the file and looked at it. “Are you sure?”

Chris nodded. “Yeah. Corrine Anderson disappeared on the same day as Karma, but at the same time of morning as Sunny and Mehgan.”

“It could be a coincidence.”

Chris gave Wyatt a look. “Come on, Wy. Do you really believe that? It’s the right Corrine.”

Wyatt groaned. “That means fourty-seven files just jumped to ninety-four files. We are going to make the library rich.”

Chris sighed and looked at the piles of files. “I’ll go talk to Terah. Maybe they will let us scan them onto a disk, so we don’t have deal with that many copies.” Chris walked past Wyatt and toward the door.

Wyatt stared down at the files. “Hey, aren’t you going to help me with these?”

Chris stopped and turned around. “I’ll be back in a minute. Just get back to the files.”

Wyatt’s eyes narrowed. “Was that an order?”

Chris rolled his eyes. “Really, Wy. I’ll be back in a minute. Unless you want to talk to Terah?”

Wyatt considered this and sat back down. “One minute.”

Chris smiled and walked out the door.

---

Eighteen chapters later I am still wondering the same thing that I was when I wrote this chapter. What are Karma and Sunny like? I haven't gotten to the point where I can even approach that question.

The next two chapters are:
Nine - Paige's Theory and Piper's Decision
Ten - Personal Gain and Saving Innocents

I am getting close to when Wyatt arrives in the future. Once he does arrive all chapters will have something unique to them, even if just Wyatt's thoughts on what is going on. Wyatt said some pretty stupid things. I felt the need to tone them down with more intellegent thought processes.

[~*Alicia*~]

Love it<3 I love your writing and your story, it roks! Keep it coming!

[StoryGirl83]

Thanks, Alicia. I've been a bit busy, so here's the next chapter. Enjoy.

Chapter Nine - Paige's Theory and Piper's Decision

Present Day - 2005

Back in present day Leo had arrived back at the manor with Wyatt. He and Piper had sat down at a table to discuss it while Wyatt played with Wuvey a few feet away.

Though Leo was worried he tried to be the voice of reason. “The truth is we don't know if it's a problem or not.”

Piper looked at Leo. “Well, that's what has me worried.”

Thinking Leo said, “You know, maybe putting him in a normal school wasn't such a good idea.”

Piper was surprised. “But we agreed it was a good idea. And when we did that we knew there was gonna be some road bumps like this.”

Leo tried to explain his feelings on the matter. “Okay, well, the problem is we don't know if the road bumps are magical or just a normal part of development.”

Piper looked at Leo thoughtfully and then turning to look at her son she said, “I wish we could just ask him.”

There was a little humor in Leo’s voice as he responded. “Okay, well, I think we're a few years away from him giving you an answer.”

Piper was not amused and said ironically, “Well, especially if he just keeps talking to himself.”

At that moment Paige orbed in. She was holding a Maori mask over her face.

Startled Piper exclaimed, “Whoa!”

With a fake smile Paige moved the mask aside and looked at her sister. “Exactly. Okay, I like the Maori people, but, uh, I'm pretty okay if I don't see them again.” Leo looked at Paige concerned as she signed and continued. “I think I found out something about who's been attacking us.”

Piper stopped her with a loud sound to cover up Paige’s words. In a muttered tone Piper turned to Leo and said, “Leo, would you take Wyatt upstairs so he doesn't hear the demon talk?”

Leo stood up and walked over to Wyatt. He picked up Wuvey. “Okay, buddy, let's go upstairs. Take your Wuvey with you.”

As Leo takes Wyatt out of the room Paige starts talking, again. “Anyway, as I was saying, I've been searching through the library at magic school, and I think I found something out about these demons.”

Piper continued to look up at Paige from her chair. “And?”

With a shrug Paige continued. “And it seems as if their various offensive powers are traditionally associated with good magic.”

Confused Piper asked, “Good magic? I thought these guys were supposed to be demons.”

A little slower, but no more deliberate Paige said, “Yeah, thought so, too.” Her face took on a slightly worried look as she continued, “But it goes to kind of support the theory that Wyatt's creating them.”

Piper, of course, still didn’t like this theory and loudly debunked it. “Oh, for crying out loud!”

Paige refused to back down. “I'm just saying.”

That’s when the phone rang. Suddenly, Paige and Piper both turn and look at the phone and then around the room for any demon activity.

Piper groaned as she finally stood, “Oh, this is ridiculous. We can't live like this. It's crazy.” She headed over to the writing desk.

Not sure what her sister was doing Paige asked, “Where you going?”

Piper opened the drawer of the desk and took out a notebook and a pen. “I'm going to figure out if Wyatt is behind this once and for all.” With a determined look Piper shut the drawer.

---

The next two chapters are:
Ten - Personal Gain and Saving Innocents
Eleven - Vicus' House Call

Review and I will post the next chapter. I am going to try and be offline most of the time due to real life for the next week or so, but if I see reviews when I am on I will post a new chapter.

[StoryGirl83]

Okay, so I decided that going on five months is enough time to wait for a review and it's not as if I have to worry about being ahead of people reading on this site, since I'm twenty-three chapters and counting ahead. This beginning does go back and forth between the two times until such a time as both boys are in the past, but I hope that everyone enjoys reading it, even the parts I only put into prose.

---

Chapter Ten - Personal Gain and Saving Innocents

Future – Saturday, May 29, 2027

Wyatt and Chris stood outside their apartment door. In Chris arms was a small stack of papers. On top of the papers was a disk.

Wyatt turned his key in the lock. “You know we could just orb in.”

Chris frowned at Wyatt. “Where do I even begin on that? Personal gain. Risk of exposing magic. Don’t suggest that. Orbing is for emergencies only. Didn’t you learn anything while we were without our orbing powers?”

Wyatt unlocked the door and pushed it open. “Only that I never want to be in that position, again.” He walked in and turned right into the living room at the doorway.

Chris followed him, but only long enough to put the papers he was carrying on the coffee table. He then went back into the hall, turned right, and walked until he reached his room, the third and last door on the left. He opened the door and quickly glanced around before entering, a habit he had formed since he had been ambushed there over four months previous. Even with the passage of time, it still bothered him that he had been caught unawares. He walked over to the desk on the left side of the room, just past the door and unplugged his laptop.

In the front room Wyatt was spreading the photo copies over the coffee table. He picked up one sheet of paper and started reading it to himself.

Chris walked into the room carrying his laptop. “Find anything useful?”

Wyatt looked up from the paper and shook his head. “Nothing I didn’t see the first six times I read it. I don’t get it, if this girl had lived out her normal life, she would have been nearly seventy by now, but I can’t help but think of her as a little girl.”

“Probably because, she still is a little girl. Karma, Sunny, and all the others are no older than whenever they were taken. Now, that’s fine for the people taken three months ago, but some of them are going to be awfully hard to explain once we find them.” Chris set his laptop down on the table and sat down on the floor next to it. He turned it on and looked at his brother. “Ready to find this demon and take him down?

Wyatt grinned at Chris. “Yeah. I want these people out of his clutches.”

---

Coming up next:
Eleven - Vicus' House Call
Twelve - Vanishing Act
Twelve is what happens in the future when Piper says her spell.

Author's Notes: Chris comment about them being without their orbing powers refer to events that happened starting in the third episode of my spin-off series, Charmed: Heritage, in which the boys' lost their orbing powers in a demon attack. Obviously they got them back, but if you'd like to see what happened, check out my site or Es and Primrose' "Altered Charmed: All the Possibilities". It is posted in both places as well as a couple of others.