Future Amends

Cyn: Okay guys.. almost near the end now. I wrote this within the hour at 2 in the morning:P Please forgive the typos and blunders you see.. I'll fix em later!


***********


“Leo, what are you going to do?”
Piperll fll felt too exhausted to get up from the chair. Phoebe offered help to her and Leo as well.
“Do you want me to talk to him?”
Leo shook his head.
“I think I need to do this alone.”
The sisters watched their whitelighter slowly walk up the same stairs that Chris had taken not fifteen minutes ago.

Ever since Piper and Chris resolved *their* differences thanks to grandpa Victor, Piper had insisted Chris stay at the manor. Piper had spent an eternity redecorating a quaint little room for her son, not sure what sort of colors and furniture he preferred and all. But Chris had kissed her and told her he was fine with anything and everything as long as he got a clean bed to crash in every night. The statement otherwise so casual, had made Piper wonder what sort of life his son had been leading in his ugly future where she was not there to take care of him anymore. She worried too much, he’d chided her… and now she was worried what Leo was about to do to him.

Leo headed up to where his wayward not-so-adult son was sulking. For the first time in ages, Leo thought back to when he was Chris’ age… when he was alive and when his father was alive. Was he ever this angry, this rebellious? He couldnt remember much, except a general feeling in his gut that his youth had overall been a happy one. The kind of feeling Chris would probably never claim to know, he sadly rued.

Dismissive – that’s what he’d accused Leo to be. God that was so not what he’d meant to be. Leo had thought he was going easy on his already troubled boy. Chris’ explosive reaction made him realize that he’d taken the wrong approach. That perhaps going easy *was* the trouble. But it was not too late to make amends.

Leo pushed open the door to find Chris pacing the length of his room. The boy halted and stared impudently at his father.
“WHAT?” he threw out.
“Okay the attitude’s gotta go first.”
Chris just snorted and looked away.
“Chris I don’t know the kind of father I am in your future. But be assured in this new one that you’ve already created, I am not going anywhere.”
Chris bit his lip and refused to meet Leo’s eyes.
“You are my son and as dear to me as Wyatt is. You’re both very important to me.”
“Bullshit.”
“I will never… ever be dismissive of you Chris, from this moment and forever.” Leo continued, without acknowledging the interruption.
“And do you know what that means?”
Chris narrowed his eyes. “Do I look like I care?”

Leo sighed.
“You will. Soon. Okay lets start with the ground rules then.”
“Rules?”
“Ground rules.”
“What the fuck…”
“Language. That’s the first one. And you know what that means. No swearing or cursing around me, or your mom and aunts. And certainly not around Wyatt.”
“Or what?”
Leo smiled, “You’re about to find out.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Rule two: you don’t lie to me. You never lie to your family. Understand?”
Chris got defensive at that.
“When have I ever lied to you?”
Leo made a face at that.

“Chris you’ve been lying and manipulating us ever since you got here!”
“How can you say that? Okay so that was just the one incident with Mr Right…”
“and many more and you know it. But we’re not getting into that right now. Take tonight Chris – you promised Piper you wont go looking for the dragon alone.”
“I didn’t break the promise technically…”
Leo just glared at him until Chris gave up. The boy was beginning to panic despite himself.
“Its not fair damnit.”
“Careful Christopher.”

Tone one was not so threatening as warning, but Chris took offence.
“Look whatever. This conversation is getting old, are you done or what?”
Leo decided the rest of the rules would just have to wait. He sighed.
“Consider yourself fortunate boy that your father was brought up in the thirties. Thanks to your granddad, I know just what I need to do with you now.”
Chris was suspicious. “What do you mean?”
“You wanted attention son, you got it. I am not forgiving you or *dismissing* you for any of your transgressions anymore. Come here.”

Leo approached Chris and the latter tried to back off but Leo was faster and the element of surprise worked against the younger boy. Leo caught him by the wrist and began to walk towards the bed. Chris panicked.
“What are you doing?”
In response, Leo sat on the edge of the bed and tugged Chris over with a jerk. The boy lost balance and to his horror landed right on his father’s lap!
“Leo!”
“Its dad for you boy.”
“Let me go damn you!”

Leo only adjusted him further so that the wriggling butt was in direct access on his lap. His legs dangled behind him with his upper torso hanging on the other side of Leo.
“Language Chris. What did we discuss your first rule is?”
Chris struggled to get up. Paige took away his orbing powers as well as telekinetic powers and he could not get away. He was so angry there was no way he could think straight enough to come up with a stupid rhyme.
“Fuck you! Fuck you all to hell!”
Leo sighed and just tightened his hold on the boy. This was going to take a good while.


***********