Chapter Text
"Do you think that he might be in our class?"
"He's older than us and the son of a Charmed One. Of Course he's not going to be in class with us," the girl scoffed.
"It was just a question."
Chris sighed. Hearing the two girls gossiping behind him reminded him that Magic School would be gaining a new student. The Twice Blessed, son of a Charmed One and a Whitelighter, Wyatt Matthew Halliwell. Not that it made all that much of a difference to him. It would merely be another person to have avoid him. He didn't want to stick around and watch everyone clamour to make friends with Halliwell so instead he went outside to sit under his favourite tree and work on his homework early.
Chris was so absorbed in his work that he didn't hear anyone approaching.
"Hi."
Startled, Chris looked up at the boy towering over him. "Hi," he shyly replied. The boy was tall with blond hair and blue eyes.
"Can I sit with you?"
The brunette boy was confused by the question. "... Sure."
There were a few moments of silence before Chris spoke again. "Why are you sitting with me?"
The blond frowned. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Nobody wants to sit with me. Everybody stays away from me," Chris explained matter of factly.
"You'll be my friend then," the blond declared, his tone suggesting that resistance was futile.
Chris ducked his head in embarrassment. Nobody had ever wanted to be around him before. His parents had shipped him off to magic school as soon as it had been possible and all the other kids avoided him.
"My name is Chris," he offered hesitantly.
"I'm Wyatt."
Chris froze. Why would Wyatt Halliwell want to be friend with him? He didn't realise that he had asked out loud until Wyatt answered him.
"Because all the others want to be my friend to help themselves since I'm the Twice Blessed or because of my parents. You don't."
"How'd you know that?"
"You're sitting out here instead of waiting to pounce on me inside." Wyatt bumped shoulders with Chris. "What are you doing anyway?"
Chris blushed. "Homework."
"Could I help?" Wyatt asked eager to help his new friend. It was a good way to prove to Chris that he was capable of take care of him.
Hesitantly, Chris shifted his book to rest on their knees between them. "If you don't mind," he replied biting his lip.
And that was it.
From that moment on the pair were inseparable. With Wyatt's help and attention, Chris improved rapidly and after two months he was transferred into the same advanced class as Wyatt.
After Wyatt dealt with a group of Chris's regular bullies nobody bothered him again. He didn't know what Wyatt had done but was glad to be left alone. Chris loved his best friend. Wyatt had been his first friend, helped him with his magic and even made him feel like he was part of a family.
Piper could still remember the day that he son had come home to talk to her about Chris.
"Mom, could Chris stay with us this weekend?" Wyatt asked as Piper put the next batch of cookies in the oven.
"Sure Sweetheart but won't his parents mind?"
The blond thirteen year old snorted. "His parents don't care about him."
Piper was startled. "Wyatt, I'm sure that's not true."
"Yeah it is. His mom and dad sent him to stay at Magic School from when he was two. He only goes home in the Summer for a month because school closes for the holidays. He even spends Christmas alone at Magic School." Wyatt looked horrified by the prospect. Piper frowned at hearing such a thing.
"How old is Chris?"
"He's going to be twelve this Saturday. I thought it might be nice for him to spend it here with me than at school by himself."
Piper's heart ached for the younger boy. She had wanted more children but then her marriage to Leo became so strained that it hadn't been a possibility. "I'll speak to the school and your aunts. See if we can't throw him a proper birthday party."
"Thanks Mom."
Planning the surprise party was fun. Wyatt had already invited Chris home with him for the weekend. The younger boy hadn't even looked upset that his best friend appeared to have forgotten his birthday. He'd just been so grateful and happy to spend his weekend away from Magic School. It made Wyatt mad. His Chris should not be thinking so little of himself.
When Friday came, Chris could barely contain his excitement. Wyatt walked him to his dorm room to collect his bag. The blond though was not impressed with how little Chris had in terms of belongings. That would have to change.
"Ready?" Wyatt asked holding out his hand.
Chris reached out and held the blond's hand, taking deep breath. "Ready."
Without another word, Wyatt orbed the both of them into his living room.
"Mom, we're here," he shouted dragging Chris by the hand towards the kitchen. Piper met the boys halfway in front of the staircase.
"Mom, this is Chris. Chris, this is my mom."
"It's nice to meet you, Mrs Halliwell. Thanking for having me."
Piper smiled at the boy clutching her son's hand. "It's nice to meet you too, Chris. And you can call me Piper."
Chris shook his head. "I couldn't do that."
"Aunt Piper then," the witch offered the compromise. "Wyatt why don't you take Chris's things up to your room."
"Sure Mom."
The blond led Chris up the stairs, never once having let go since taking his hand in the dorm at Magic School. Chris was in awe of the bit of the Manor that he was able to see as Wyatt dragged him along.
"This is my room... and this shelf is for you to leave some of your stuff here for when you stay over."
Chris was so overwhelmed by the way Wyatt seemed to constantly want him around. He turned and threw his arms around the blond in a crushing hug.
"Thanks," he whispered as the older boy returned the hug.
Dinner was the most delicious meal Chris had ever had and with Wyatt beside him, he forgot to be nervous all the time.
Aunt Piper had made him up a mattress in Wyatt's room to sleep. Chris managed to spend half an hour tossing and turning before quietly getting up and tip toeing to Wyatt's bed.
Chris bit his lip in indecision but Wyatt's voice made the choice for him.
"What's it?"
"Could I... I... maybe sleep by you... please?" Chris asked feeling stupid for being weak.
The blond didn't verbally answer. Instead the older boy reached out, grabbed Chris and pulled him into the bed. He took a moment to arrange them to his liking with Chris lying on his side, back to Wyatt's chest with the blond wrapping his arms around his friend.
"Go to sleep," he whispered once he was satisfied.
Within minutes both boys were fast asleep.
Chris woke the next morning to Piper and Wyatt singing Happy Birthday to him. Pancakes with chocolate syrup - his favourite - were for breakfast followed by watching the first Lord of the Rings movie which Chris had never seen before. For lunch, they had steak rolls and then watched the second movie.
Chris was in utter bliss. The day had by far been better than any other he had ever had.
Piper watched Chris soak up the attention from Wyatt and hsi awe at teh small effort they were making for his birthday and her heart went out ot him.
By four o'clock her sisters, their husbands and children all started arriving.
"Won't I be in the way of your family dinner?" Chris asked Wyatt softly. The blond put an arm around his shoulders and whispered back, "They're all here to celebrate your birthday."