Inside Is What Counts

Disclaimer
Hey if I owned Charmed you wouldn’t be reading this, you’d be watching it.

Hey I got a chapter written. The writer’s block maybe over. Praise be to the end of writer’s block (especially ones that last over a year)

Oh and please review. I like reviews they feed the gremlins. And I am so thankful that even when I wasn’t feeding everyone else the stories I promised you all still fed them, for over a year!!!

Enjoy!!
Chapter 4

Chris formed inside Barbus’ lair. The upper level demon allowed him here whenever he wanted. Chris just knew not to accept anything to drink form him. Barbus usually didn’t try much but he was a demon.

“What’s wrong little on? You look sad.” Turing to the Fear demon Chris couldn’t hold in his pout. Barbus was the closest thing he had to a friend down here, other then Wyatt of course. He was usually honest with Chris and even was helping him forget his true fear.

“You said that my fears aren’t a threat to me but…” Remembering Wyatt tossing him against the wall and his accusing glare.

Taking in the way Chris’ wings drooped and tilt of his head, Barbus sighed “But something happened and now you’re in a fight with Wyatt?”

“How..?” Did half the underworld know? Probably. The source probably had orders out to kill him on sight or worse he wouldn’t care enough since Chris was so ‘pathetic’. Trying to stifle his sniffles he barely heard the response.

“News travels fast.” Offhand “And your mother was here earlier to tell me some good news and since you aren’t smiling now that’s probably what happened.”

“I just…I…”

“Oh, stop stuttering. You’ll be fine. If you want to stay a while your more then welcome.” Smiling Barbus added, “Hell, I’ll share my bed.” Chris glared quietly at the aged demon but only got a smirk and a face that looked mock insulted back for all his troubles. “Hey, no glaring at your old friend.”

“Friend or fiend?”

“Either one works for me.” Smiling at Chris improving mood Barbus planned on keeping the angel with him for a while. Piper had asked him earlier to keep Chris busy so she could run around and invite people to the party that was to help in the earthly plain and he planned on taking advantage of the time. “Now come on Chris I’ve got a potion I need some help with. Something to take your mind off your troubles.” Slowly Chris walked over the pot brewing and peering into it recognized the potion.

“You’re making a healing potion. Why?”

“Going to take on the Charmed ones. Gotta be prepared.” Noting the look on Chris’ face “Did they do something? Oh, the little one had to face the Charmed Ones. Got’ch ya all frightened about your immortality?” Leaning in closer Barbus could smell the boy’s innocents. His naivety and vulnerability.

“No!”

“Ah, they thought you were a good creature. Well, you do fit the description. I still say Chris, work with me and we’d be a killer team.”

“More like you want me working under you.”

“We can do both.” Smiling Barbus started to put more ingredients in the pot as Chris handed them to him.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Phoebe ran up to the attic to at least tell Leo what had happened. Listening closely Leo could only worry. Wyatt would want to punish Chris for this. He would take it out on the small delicate boy.

“What are we going to do?”

“I don’t really know. I have one person I can talk to. They would help with Wyatt. I’d basically be throwing myself at their mercy but, it’s for Chris.” Leo didn’t add that he didn’t want to see the woman again. Every time he did he was reminded of what ifs and what might have beens. Those were long gone in his eyes. But even he knew that one look at her and he would be doomed. “I need to borrow a phone book.”

“kitchen.” Page wondered who the hell would just be in a normal phone book that would be able to help Leo.

“Thanks.” With that Leo rushed downstairs to grab the address that he knew would be fortified against his kind.

Turning to Prue, Paige couldn’t help a slight sick feeling form entering her gut. “So you think he’s going to go talk with a demon?”

Turning her face upward to her sister, Prue sometimes wondered if they were related. “How many demons are in the phone book?”

Happily piping in Phoebe knew one. “Cole’s in the phone book.”

Without even looking up from the book this time. “Shut up Phoebe.”


Barbus watched the child casually as potion he had ‘accidentally dropped a few drops of onto Chris’ hand were absorbed into the delicate skin far to quickly to be wiped away. “Sorry Chris.” The voice was wrong for an actually apology and Chris head shot up a moment before it fell down with the rest of him. Slide stepping the pedestal holding the healing potion Barbus leaned down and gathered the pale angel in his arms. Chris head rolled back to expose a pale throat begging to be marked.

It never ceased to marvel Barbus that Chris’ skin could get tamed from just a few moments under the sun but bring him back to the underworld for an hour and he was as pale as fine china. Just as shatterble too. Smiling happily at himself, Barbus bride carried Chris over to his bed and gently arranged the boy. Carefully he slipped off the vest and the pants. Naked and sleeping Chris still looked wanton while innocent.

Barbus sprayed his left hand over Chris’ stomach. The hard muscles and soft skin went straight to Barbus’ cock, tenting it in his loose pants. Lowering his head he took a broad lick at the head of Chris’ length and heard the moan above him and the growl behind him. “Well, I can say you have bad timing Wyatt.” Moving off Chris before he was thrown off Barbus didn’t try to hide Chris or his own state. Either was just too ridiculous to consider.

“What did you do?”

Regarding the winged monster, beautiful but still a monster Barbus couldn’t really be surprised at the question. Wyatt did sometimes lack imagination. “What, I knocked him out with a potion. Not like it’s hard to figure out.”

Growling again Wyatt moved towards the bed putting himself between Chris and the fear demon. “How long will he stay like this?”

“Till I release him? Or he leaves my presence.”

The growl that came from Wyatt’s throat wasn’t a threat more of a warning not to release it just yet. Barbus smiled contently and sat down on one of the few chairs that littered his lair.

Wyatt moved over Chris on all four and started sniffing his hair. Satisfied he moved to Chris ear, down to his neck, over to the other side of his neck, and to his left ear. Nuzzling Chris dark hair out of the was Wyatt glared at the perfect, unmarked point. Slowly moving the shell into his mouth Wyatt traced the curves with his tongue.

Barbus knew what would happen next. He was once in the room when, a much younger, Chris skidded his knee.

Wyatt bit down hard and fast, careful to release before the movement of Chris’ head caused more pain then needed. Tracing the shell again Wyatt lapped up the blood like a kitten to milk.

Barbus became painfully hard. Chris’ blood spook of untapped power and lust. Of pain and come and everything you could imagine. Blood was what drove everything, demon, mortal, fairy and other. Blood drove them to their desires and their fears. Making them hard even when they should have been dead centuries past. Gripping his shaft hard through his pants Barbus didn’t want to come yet. He was pretty sure Wyatt was going to let him see a good show.

He wasn’t disappointed as Wyatt abandoned the ear moved his lips and tongue slowly down. Nipping at Chris’ shoulder once before returning to the process of sniffling the cherub Wyatt was on a mission. Chris’ arms smelt fine and so did his chest. Moving down Wyatt found the source of the stench on Chris. “So only got in a few licks before I came in.”

“No, only got one in.”

Smiling Wyatt leaned down and sucked in the underside of Chris’ length. Releasing it he moved his mouth down not even two inches and sucked again.

Barbus could hear the sucking and slurping noise mixing with Chris’ new pants and moans. Wyatt was sucking Barbus’ spit right off of his lover. He was purifying the cherub’s body from the taint Barbus had inflicted.

Once Wyatt was satisfied that all of Barbus was removed he sat up onto of Chris’ legs. With his own cock straining against the leather of his close he wrapped his left hand around Chris’ and started rubbing himself through the leather with his right. Wyatt watched as Chris trembled but still didn’t wake. Moans were passing both of their mouths un-rated and Barbus was surely coming undone just watching them.

Switching hands Wyatt undid his zipper and slipped his hand, coated in Chris’ pleasure, inside against his own length. Gliding Chris’ precum over his own Wyatt wanted more. Leaning over he moved his mouth back to Chris’ shoulder and bit through the flesh. Sucking some of the blood, like a baby vampire, Wyatt moved his hands and brought their two dicks together. Rubbing them with both of his hands, all the while keeping his wings folded back as not to block Barbus’ view.

Barbus watched as Chris twitched from the pleasure that was almost blowing his mind. Tiny gasps were cut off by moans and the boy couldn’t fend off any attack form Wyatt. Chris arms jerked as his hands clenched and unclenched the blankets that they warmed.

Chris’ whimpers became more urgent and Wyatt’s wings even began to twitch. Throwing his head back Wyatt came with his bloody teeth bared. Chris was gasping and whimpering as his orgasm took him but yet Wyatt’s hands never stopped mulling his over sensitive flesh. Tears formed at the corners of Chris’ eyes by the time Wyatt’s hand ceased.

Sitting back on his hunches Watt starred down at his lover. Catching his breath he vowed no one would ever take Chris away. He would just have to become more powerful then anyone else who would try.


The club wasn’t that hard to find. Piper didn’t really expect it to stay hidden at all so she never tried. The Underworld was a out of the way dance club that made most of it’s profit off of demon patrons and underage teen looking for booze and getting eaten instead. Walking up to the door Leo pulled out a paper clip he grabbed from the kitchen and tanked his father for thinking that if he’s son was going to be a true boy scout the locks were something that needed to be covered.

Once the door was open Leo slipped quietly into the darkened club. Piper could have a dozen or so bodyguards not to mention Wyatt or even Chris waiting for him but all he was meet with was the sound of running waters. Fallowing it he moved past the bar and into the smaller office/dressing room. Once inside he cleared his throat to grab Piper's attention. trying not to startle the demon into blasting him.

"Chris honey is that you?" Piper nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Leo standing there on the other side of the curtain. "God, gezz, Leo!" Collecting herself and realizing he was alone the scowl turned friendlier. "Leo, what's up?"

"Um I need to talk with you." Did she really have to be showering when he came to talk to her. She couldn't have planned it. Chris was the oracle of their family and if he told her then she would have had someone with her just in case.

Smiling at the blushing handyman Piper couldn't help but want to see exactly where that blush went to. "Well jump in."

Okay so somehow she had to have planned it. "How about out here, with clothes."

Scrunching up her face in a pout much like Chirs' "But I'm in the middle of my shower."

"It's important." How hard was it to sound commanding to a naked woman. Leo was pretty sure it was harder then getting Grams to welcome a new boyfriend of Phoebe’s. Especially when the woman happened to be Piper.

"So is cleanliness. Anyways it's plenty big. I promise I won't even peek." Smiling she opened the curtain a bit more letting the steam flow towards him inviting him into the warm depths.

"I remember your type of promises Piper." He had to remain strong. he came here with a purpose and seeing her naked was not it. "And that shower looks pretty small from here."

Giggling Piper wanted him, in the shower with her. She remembered how he made her feel. Like she was pure and loveable and no one before had ever done that. "Fine so we'll have to wash each other backs and snuggle a bit. Come on."

"Aren't you afraid I'm here to vanquish you."

"Hum let me think, no witch, no potion oh and you wouldn't hurt me. Total all those up and well you just aren't exactly threatening Leo. Now come on in here buddy."

"No. Piper it's important."

"Fine!" Turning back to the warm spray she dunked her head under. "Give me ten minutes to finish my hair and then I'll come out."

Relief swept through him as he turned away from the tempting sight "Thanks"

"Are you sure you don't..."

"No!" Leo moved out into the bar area and took a seat on one of the over stuff couches.

"Fine!"
~~~~~

"So what's so important that you would break into a place where you can't orb into?"

Leo could barely keep his mind focused. She was wearing only a towel, abet a very large, comfy looking and green towel. But he had to focus. "Chris."

"Ah so what about Chris?" Smiling at the young looking man sitting on the sofa beside her Piper began brushing out her hair with a wide toothed comb.

Not being discouraged Leo pressed on. "I'm here to ask you to..."

Not even breaking her strokes with the brush, she neatly cut him off. "No."

"No just like that." Letting out his breath Leo tried to rationalize way he was even here.

"Yup just like that." Smiling Piper shifted the towel so it was secure around her and smiled at Leo.

"You didn't even wait to hear what I had to say."

"Hum let me guess. 'Chris needs love and support that I, Leo, don't think he's getting. Oh and Piper I believe he's good so he won't need that party cuz he didn't actually kill. It was an accident.'"

"Well that about sums it up."

Sadly "I know."

"Why then. Why won't you let me protect him?" Trying to talk with Leo was like talking to Chris. Everything had Whys and how comes and explanations and tears.

"He doesn't need your protection Leo. He had Wyatt's and the Sources."

"I just want..." Touching his chin Piper looked as tired as Leo felt. He could tell she was barely holding on.

"I know but you can't and neither can I." Decisions made long ago by loved ones were the hardest of vows to break. You lived y them. you died and were reborn by them. And you tore out your own heart by them. Taking his hand in hers Piper traced the faint lines that once traced her body in love. "We choose our paths Leo and his is intertwined with his brother's. Nothing either of us can do will change that. Where Wyatt goes Chris will follow."

"Some choices are made for us but sometimes they can be unmade."

"Not mine." Releasing his hand from hers Piper pulled back tears that threatened to be her undoing. "If Chris leaves the service of the Source he will be marked a traitor to all. He will be hunted and found. He will be torture, maybe imprisoned but in the end he will be dead and that is not a fate I want for our sons."

"I can't just sit back and let him turn Piper. I tried for you and for Wyatt."

"I know but Leo there is no other way. The Elders wouldn’t help me when you asked. Why do you think they'll help him?"

"I can help. The Charmed ones are willing." Pleading to her was pointless and he knew it. Piper was convinced that there was no other way. Was there really?

"TO what end? Do you really think he has a chance?"

"I thought you did." Sniffling slightly piper stared into his eyes. His eyes that Wyatt held in color but Chris in light and gentleness.

"And see where that lead you. In all the pasts, how many times have we actually made it?" The question brought up images of other lives of other chances, ruined by timing or lust or other things that could not be changed. The past was the past. Nothing could undo it. No try agains.

"Not this time?" Tears were already making their way down Leo' face to fall off his cheeks. Some found their ways to his lips and left small kisses where Piper could not.

"No, not this time. Maybe never again but they will still be here long after I've been sent to the wastelands and you recycled. Hey maybe we’ll get to see if we can screw ourselves up even more if there is a next time. But for now we are who we are. And my boys are alive and happy." Smiling as the tears slid down both of their faces. "That's more then enough for me."

"i just wan to protect them. You as well."

"But you can't. I chose my path knowing where it would lead. May it be potion, spell or athemey. Chris will change. the light in his eyes will dim and die." Choking on a sob forming in her throat Piper could only continue "One day he may even go against Wyatt and kill him and then he will be alone. But that is his path, Leo. And no matter how hard we fight sometimes it is the only path there is." Losing control was one thing she hated. She hated her human heart. She concealed it the best she could. Only letting it show through her two sons. She hated how it felt towards Leo. If it felt towards anything else, a demon, she could have survived it. Now it felt torn in two or worse. Chris with no one left. No one to love and protect him.

"There has to be another way. I love him and I l...

"Don't! Don’t say things that will break us both." Wiping the tears from her cheeks Piper stared at the moisture on her hand. "Don’t say words that don't matter enough in any world."

"You wanted our children to feel love Piper. I know you do. You want Chris to find it..."

"What do you want me to say Leo? the truth. Yes I do but..."

"But the source will claim him and he will...."

"He won't be able to find it. He won’t fine someone who will hold him and make him feel soft and loved and ...oh god." Finally the tears were too much and the demon sobbed. "What are we going to do? We can't change us. We can't." Trying to catch her breath. "and where one goes the other follows. My light dimmed and then there was Wyatt and I was happy again and then his dimmed and now Chris. Oh god. What are we going to do?"

"What we always did." Closing his eyes against the pain Leo pulled her closer and buried his face in her hair.

While trying to push back the sobs she felt Leo's arms tighten around her for lost lifetimes together, "Talk about it later."

tbc...