Chris paced across the marble floor, getting more anxious by the minute as we waited on Leo and Piper to show up. My eyes followed his figure as he walked around the library at Magic School and I couldn't help but smile at the turn of events that had been transpiring over the past several months. So much had changed! And not just Chris' cute new haircut.

Leo had finally started making an effort after finding out Chris was his son and I had to say, things seemed to be getting better between the two. He'd even begun calling him 'dad' which I thought was a huge step in the right direction. And as for Leo? He was really trying. I could tell he really felt bad for what had happened in Chris' life while he wasn't there. And now he was determined that it wasn't going to happen the same way again - that this time, he was going to be a better father, be there for him.

"Chris, they're coming, okay?" I smiled over at him reassuringly as he glanced over to where I was perched on one of the tables.

"You know the headmaster dislikes you doing that - he's already told you," my half-Whitelighter boyfriend pointed out to me, arching an eyebrow at my casual manner.

I shrugged, not budging an inch, "Oh, please, what Gideon doesn't know won't hurt him,"

Chris made a face him at me, "Yeah, well, just be careful of that when I'm gone. I won't be here to get you out of all your scrapes next time,"

I only laughed in response to that, shaking my head. But my laughter quickly dissolved into sudden warm tears that made tracks down my face as the realization of what today marked came crashing down on me. I'd been trying to hold it together, I really had. But just the thought of Chris leaving left me with an empty hole in my chest. At least...that's how it felt.

His face softened then as he strode over to me, taking me in his arms as I tried hard to keep the rest of my tears at bay. I knew he had to go, I knew this but...but how was I supposed to wait 22 years for him to come back into my life? How could I wait that long to get him back?

Chris opened his mouth to speak then, most likely to comfort me when finally, the people we'd been waiting on arrived. Quickly, I wiped my tears away, sniffling as I tried to put on a happy face.

"Where are Phoebe and Paige?" he asked, changing the subject as they walked over to us.

"I'm sure they'll be here soon," Piper told him, her swollen belly very much on display in the tight, mauve maternity top she wore as she eyed me with sympathy.

Of all people, Piper knew exactly how I felt.

Chris made a face, gesturing at the chalk marks on the wall behind us, "Soon? Soon is when Dad and I have to go,"

"Dad? What do you mean-" Piper started in confusion before turning to Leo, "Wait, you're gonna go too?"

"Just long enough to make sure he gets where he needs to be," Leo assured her and I tried to bite back a smile at the family's playful bickering.

"And when exactly where you gonna tell me about this?"

"I told him he didn't have to come. I don't need him," Chris said, spreading his hands out in a casual gesture, meant to convince his parents.

Leo shook his head, "No. It's too dangerous. Remember the last time you went through a portal? You were almost dinosaur kibble. I have to go,"

"You're right, it is dangerous. But not as dangerous as leaving Wyatt alone while I'm in labor," Piper pointed out, shooting her husband a mock smile.

"I'll be back," Leo reassured her with a sweet smile of his own, "I promise."

Gideon rounded the corner then, dressed in his robes as per usual. I couldn't help but frown. To say he was one of my least favorite people would be an understatement. He just gave me bad vibes, I couldn't explain it. When I'd attempted telling this to Chris, though, he'd only waved me off as being too paranoid. And maybe I was. But still...there was something off about this guy...

"Sorry. I just wanted to go over the spell one more time, make a few tweaks," he told us, carrying a very large and very old book in his hands before holding out a crumpled piece of paper.

"Tweaks? Let me see that," Piper said, snatching the paper from him.

Just then, Phoebe and Paige orbed in and I grinned over at them as Chris began to reprimand, "Finally! Where have you two been?"

Paige shot him an apologetic look, "Sorry. We were a little, uh...held up,"

"But we're here now, so let's get this show on the road, you know?" Phoebe said cheerfully, "The clock's a-tickin'. Tick-tock, tick-tock,"

Piper's eyebrows furrowed in suspicion of her younger sister, "Since when are you in such a hurry to say goodbye?"

"Well, since something happened with the thing, and the thing, with the thing..."

"Mom, what are you talking about?" I asked, shaking my head at her confusing mutterings.

"There's a warrant out for Chris's arrest,"

Leo gaped at the two of them, "What?"

Paige nodded, "Yeah. I tried to get Darryl to bury it, but he's not really on our side anymore,"

"Oh, this is bad. If I leave and they can't find me, they're gonna come after you," Chris said, clearly distressed.

I sighed, shaking my head, "I always knew he would come to an end like this..."

Chris shot me a warning look with his green-eyed gaze and I shot him a playful smirk back.

"It's okay. We've been through worse. We'll get through this. We'll figure it out," Phoebe assured her nephew as I hopped of my perch and walked over to the group, "And if you get back to the future and we're in jail, you just have to bust us out,"

She smiled then, reaching out her hands to Chris to which he took gently before she enveloped him in a tight hug, "You just go back to that beautiful, peaceful world that you helped create... I'm really gonna miss you,"

"I'll miss you too," Chris told her quietly before letting go.

"Aw. Here comes the huggin' part," Paige threw up her hands and Chris rolled his eyes with a smile as he wrapped his arms around his other aunt.

Now it was time. I knew that Piper had been dreading it, dreading it just as much as I had been all week. And yet, we both knew it had to come.

She swept him up into a hug then, holding onto him tightly. I turned away to give them a moment, leaning into Phoebe's side as she pulled me into a light hug of her own. This was the worst part for all of us.

And then...it was my turn. I glanced up at him and he shot me a sad smile, knowing exactly how much pain he was inflicting on us both in this moment.

Within seconds, he had gathered me to his chest, the arms that were encircling my waist pulling me as tightly to him as possible.

I let out a sigh, tears clouding my eyes as I held him close, "Thank you for coming here... I love you,"

"I love you so much, Mattie Grace." he whispered back softly, pressing a kiss to my dark hair before ever so slowly, we broke apart.

Paige sniffled as Piper wiped a stray tear from her cheek before saying, "Now go on. Hurry. You be safe."

"Thanks for all your help," Chris told us sincerely, holding my gaze.

Gideon shot him an appraising look, "You did a noble thing in coming here."

Chris smiled down at his older brother who was looking up at him from underneath the canopy of the baby stroller, "Be good."

Piper held out the paper then and we all crowded around before beginning to chant the words...words that would send him away from me....

"In this place and in this hour, we call upon the ancient power, open the door through time and space-"

The triquetra on the wall glowed a bright white then before dissolving into a swirling blue portal in front of Leo and Chris.

"-create a path to another place."

Chris glanced back at me one last time then, those beautiful green eyes locked on mine. I felt my heart begin to break in my chest. Slowly, he smiled and it was then that I knew it would all be alright. Everything was going to be okay. This separation would be hard, I knew. But in the end? In the end, it would be worth it.

Because one day, I would see him again. One day, we would be together.

And I believed that with all my heart...until the worst happened.

In the blink of an eye, I was no longer looking into the emerald gaze of my lover but into the darkened sage orbs of a different Chris. His hair was long and shaggy, just brushing the tops of his shoulders. He smirked over at me, a devilish glint in his eyes, as I gasped.

This was not my Chris.