Chapter 27

                                    

                                          

Chris found Eve sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the small coffee table, her focus entirely on a piece of paper spread out in front of her. She had her guest list finalized, a pen still twirling absentmindedly between her fingers.
He smiled as he quietly approached from behind, sinking down onto the floor and slipping his arms around her waist. His lips brushed against her neck, and he felt her tense for a brief second before relaxing into his embrace. Eve leaned into him, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes as she tilted her head slightly.  
"Hey," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity. "What was that discussion Wyatt wanted to have?"
Chris stiffened slightly but quickly masked it. He couldn't exactly tell her about the spell or the memories. That was something between him and Wyatt for now. "Oh, nothing too important," he lied smoothly, pressing another kiss to her neck to keep her distracted. "We just talked about evil Wyatt stuff he wanted to know."
Eve didn't say anything in response, but her silence said more than words could.
Sensing the shift, Chris hurried to change the subject. "So, what about the guest list? Did you finish it?" he asked, pulling back slightly to glance over her shoulder.
"Yeah, I did. It just needs your stamp of approval," Eve replied smoothly, handing him the paper.
Chris scanned the list quickly and then chuckled. "Looks perfect. I wouldn't change a thing." He kissed her again, more playfully this time, his lips brushing her temple, this time a little longer, savoring the calmness of the moment.  
Eve smiled, leaning into him. "Glad you think so. But I'm not sure your mom will feel the same way."
Chris grinned. "Eh, that's her problem."
She laughed, shaking her head. "If she starts stressing, you're going to have to handle it."
Chris gave her a playful squeeze. "Deal."
Eve snorted. "Good luck with that."
Piper's voice echoed from the kitchen. "Eve! How's that guest list coming along?" she called, the expectation unmistakable in her voice.
Chris, sensing the coming tension in his fiancée shoulder, pressed a gentle kiss to her neck. "Relax," he whispered, though he didn't sound fully convinced himself. Eve's fingers tightened briefly around the list as she replied, "It's done, Piper."  
Piper entered, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel. Her eyes locked onto the piece of paper in Eve's hands, brows already raised with curiosity. "Let me see."
Eve handed it over, feeling Chris's presence at her back. Piper skimmed the list, her reaction immediate.
"Sixteen people?" Piper's tone held both surprise and disappointment. "That's it? Just the immediate family?"
Eve swallowed. "We thought it would be nice to keep it small, just us. You, your sisters, my mom... That's what felt right."
Before Piper could respond, Leo entered the room, catching onto the rising tension. "Is everything okay?" Leo asked, his voice calm as he approached Chris's side. "What's going on?"  
Piper sighed, holding up the paper. "They want to keep it small. Sixteen people small. That's not even a real wedding! Fortunately, while I was waiting for that 'list', I couldn't help but to put some thoughts into it too." She handed her own list to Eve with a tense smile. "Here."
Eve unfolded it slowly, revealing row after row of names. So many of them.
"How many people are there?" Eve asked, her voice cracking slightly. "Piper, I don't even recognize half of these names."
Piper waved it off as if it were trivial. "A little less than two hundred... Neighbors, colleagues, magical community friends, people from Magic School—people who would expect to be invited."
Chris shifted uncomfortably. He knew his mom's intentions were good, but Eve's list had felt right to him. More intimate, more meaningful. He wasn't sure how to back her up though, not with Piper staring them both down.
Eve, clearly sensing the incoming wave of tension, kept her voice level. "I was thinking we could have the ceremony here at the manor. Small, family-focused. And we wouldn't have to worry about magic showing up at the wrong time."
Piper's eyes narrowed slightly. "Having it here feels like we're hiding. It's your wedding, for God's sake. People should know."
"It's not hiding," Eve replied, her patience starting to wear thin. "The manor is special. It's where your family has always been. It means something."
Piper crossed her arms. "It also doesn't fit two hundred people."
"That's exactly why I made a shorter list," Eve shot back, more frustration seeping into her voice now. "And you said it yourself—we won't be able to find a venue with such short notice."
Chris could feel the tension building like a storm cloud. He caught Eve's eye, silently pleading for this to not spiral any further. He knew Piper could be relentless when she had a vision in mind, but he also understood Eve's desire to keep the wedding about them, not about a spectacle.
Finally, Chris spoke, his voice softer than usual. "Mom, you married Dad here at the manor. It was small, and it was beautiful. Why can't we do the same?"
Leo nodded, backing up Chris's words with a gentle smile toward Piper. "He's right, Piper. Our wedding wasn't about how many people were there, it was about us."  
Piper's sharp gaze softened for a moment, but only briefly. "I also remember a motorcycle knocking over my wedding cake, Prue running away mid-ceremony, and the wedding almost falling apart. Is that what you want?"  
Leo, standing beside Chris, couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment. This was exactly what he was afraid of—that Piper's expectations would crush what Chris wanted. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be, Piper," he said. "Chris got enough on his plate without having to worry about throwing a massive wedding to please everyone else. We should respect what he wants." 
Eve let out an exasperated sigh, running a hand through her hair. "Right, because who cares about me..."  
Piper stiffened. "Oh please! You're not the center of the universe."
"You're not either!" Eve replied, shock and frustration bubbling up.  
Chris could feel the argument spiraling out of control. Leo glanced between the two women, sensing that this argument wasn't going to go anywhere productive. He caught Chris's eye and gave him a subtle nod. They needed an out.
Chris squeezed Eve's hand under the table. They exchanged a glance—a shared understanding that this wasn't a fight worth having.
In an instant, the orb shimmered around them, and they disappeared from the living room, leaving Piper standing there, words hanging in the air. She blinked at the empty space, her hands dropping to her sides.
"Lunch is ready..." she called half-heartedly, but they were already gone.