What the future holds...

Disclaimer: The usual (applies to all chapters)

A/N: Thanks to all who reviewed, I really appreciate it but I have something to say to those to keep pointing out that Chris is Piper’s son. First of all, this is AU=Alternate Universe (plus, I always thought that Chris being her son really sucked). Which part of that do you not understand? I also specifically mentioned that in this story, Chris isn’t a blood relative of the Charmed Ones and if you didn’t like the plot, then don’t read it. For the last time, if you feel that you dislike the story line, then please don’t read it and waste your time and mine by flaming me. Now on the story.

Oh and one more thing before starting the story – human beings have free will. You may read it or you may not read it.

"What are you doing?"

Piper’s suspicious eyes scrutinized Chris as he was caught red-handed.

"Uh...nothing," he quickly closed the doors of the kitchen cabinet and tried to look innocent. It didn’t work.

She raised her eyebrows. "Nothing?" she echoed, "it sure didn’t look like it."

"Um, I was just looking for some food," he replied, embarrassed.

"In the cupboard where we keep all the magical supplies?" she said. "How interesting."

After a moment of uncomfortable silence, she said with a wave of her hand, "C’mon, I’ll fix something up for ya."

"Oh, you don’t have to," came his protest. "I’m not that hungry." But the growl of his stomach audibly contradicted this statement. He flushed and Piper couldn’t suppress a smile.

"Come on," she repeated. "Wyatt’s still sleeping so I don’t really have much to do."

And Chris gave in.

***

With an excited smile, Paige unwrapped the cute package to reveal a frosted glass jar of Bobbi Brown black gel eyeliner. She’d always been an eyeliner-freak. Having already applied her base make-up, she carefully set on completing her eye make-up.

It was seven o’clock in the evening and she was expecting her date to show up real soon. She was wearing in black high heels and a black sleeveless minidress that hugged every inch of her slim figure.

"Brush," she said as she held out her hand and the object orbed into her reach. She began to apply her eyeliner.

Finally, with a dash of red lipstick, she was all set to go and at that moment, the doorbell rang. She quickly grabbed her handbag and orbed downstairs, thus bumping into Piper.

"Hi, sorry," she smiled. "I was just in a hurry."

"I can see that," Piper raised an eyebrow, amused. "So that must be your date waiting outside."

"Yeah, wish me luck," Paige gave her elder sister a quick hug and rushed towards the door. On her way, she noticed Chris sitting on the sofa, watching rugby on TV – which reminded her.

"Piper!" she called. "Have you seen Phoebe all day?"

Piper frowned. "No, she’s been in her room ever since morning – she said something about needing some peace and quiet."

"You should go check up on her," advised Paige. "See if she needs anything. Okay, bye now." She left.

Piper walked up the stairs and approached Phoebe’s bedroom. "Phoebe!" she knocked on the door. "Are you okay in there?" She realized how odd it was for her younger sister to lock herself up in her room like this all day. She knocked harder. "Phoebe!"

The door opened a crack and she saw Phoebe’s smiling face.

"Hi," said Piper, ushering her sister in. Piper was confused.

"Are you okay, Phoebe?" she asked, concerned. "You haven’t been out all day, not even to eat."

"You know, now that you mentioned it," Phoebe scratched the back of her head, "I am kinda hungry. What’s there to eat?"

"Well, I made some spaghetti and meatballs for Chris earlier so there are some leftovers," answered Piper. Just then Phoebe started laughing. Not the reaction she was expecting.

"Okay," she frowned. "What’s so funny?"

"Oh, nothing," said Phoebe nonchalantly but she still had a grin on her face. "Come sit down with me." They sat on her bed.

"So you cooked for Chris?" asked Phoebe.

"Yeah," said Piper. "So what?"

"Well, just tell me something. Have you been seeing anyone lately?"

"Um, no. And besides,I waI was, you’d know."

Phoebe started laughing again and this time Piper was getting annoyed. "What are you laughing at?" she said, uncomfortable.

Phoebe paused, thinking about something for a moment. "What do you think about Chris?" she inquired.

"Chris?" Piper frowned. "I don’t know, he’s our whitelighter. He seems like an okay guy to me...what are you getting at?" When she realized what Phoebe was implying, she gasped in shock. "Oh my God, you can’t be serious!" she cried. "Chris?"

"Why, what’s wrong with him?" asked Phoebe, realizing that Piper had never seen him in a romantic way before.

"I don’t know!" said Piper. "I’ve never thought of him like that...he seems so much...younger than me! And besides, like I said before, he’s our whitelighter!"

"Well, Leo was our whitelighter and older than you but you fell for him anyway," Phoebe pointed out logically.

"That was different," Piper protested. Before Phoebe could ask why that was different, she said, "All this crazy talk must be coming because you didn’t eat anything all day! Now come downstairs before I have to drag you out of your room!"

Outside Phoebe’s bedroom, Chris was hearing everything. Soon, my love, he promised silently. Soon.