Charmed
Another Side, Another Story
II
Seeing is Believing
(Part 1)
Piper and Leo lay in her bed. She rises up on her elbow. "I'm glad you got the night off.
Leo rises up on his elbow. "Me too. Really though, you still kept me pretty busy."
Piper feigns offense and pushes Leo back on the bed. He laughs.
Leo hears a call.
"What is it?" Piper asks.
"One of my charges," Leo says. "Got to go."
"What about breakfast?" Piper asks. "What about your clothes?"
"Next time," Leo says. He kisses her and gets out of bed to put on his clothes.
"This is always going to be a thing between us," Piper says.
"Probably not always," Leo says, fully dressed. He smiles at her and orbs out.
Piper falls back on her bed and sighs. She sits back against her headboard. "I better find a way to open my restaurant then. Since, it's probably the only part of my life that will ever be normal." She smiles, a short smile, and shakes her head.
Opening Credits Roll
Prue – Shannen Doherty
Piper – Holly Marie Combs
Phoebe – And Alyssa Milano
Darryl – Dorian Gregory
Graham – Will Dorsey
Whitney – Nadia Vixamar
Theme Song: How Soon Is Now by Love Spit Love
Phoebe and Prue sit at the kitchen table. They talk. Piper walks into the kitchen. They stop talking.
"What were you two talking about?" Piper asks. They look suspicious.
"We've got a surprise for you," Phoebe says.
"We went and got you the loan," Prue says, "using the house." She stands and hands Piper an envelope. "As long you don't mind being in business with your sisters,"
"You're good to go," Phoebe finishes Prue's sentence. She stands and hugs on Piper. "You're getting your restaurant."
Piper is speechless. She glances at both of them. "Thanks you guys." She gets a look on her face, expressing apprehension. "I want to do this, but can I? I mean, seven Warlocks are in our future."
"We're not going to stop living our lives," Prue says. "Being a Witch is a part of us, but it's not supposed to dictate every aspect of our lives."
"Maybe it is," Piper says. "Feels like it does."
"Don't worry about that," Phoebe says. "I've got a plan."
"Uh oh," Prue says. "What kind of plan?"
"All the hair on the back of my neck just stood up," Piper says.
"Ew," Phoebe says. "But no. Prue inspired me. My power is passive only because I don't put in the work to practice."
"You tried before," Prue reminds her.
"Remember your stint as a hotel psychic?" Piper asks. "No more personal gain consequences. We've learned our lesson."
"I know," Phoebe says. "This is something different. When I get back from the Soup Kitchen, I'm going to meet with Whitney. I'm going to try and get a Premonition off her to see if I can foresee a future threat."
"Good idea," Prue says impressed.
"No," Piper says. "Bad idea. You guys, we've been Demon, Warlock, Evil free for a week. Let's not stir up anything."
"I hear you Piper," Prue says, "but if we can eliminate the threat now we'll be safer in the long run."
Piper frowns. Prue made a good point, however, Piper still doesn't want to disrupt the peace they've had the good fortune to have.
"You've been working on plans for that building and your restaurant for the past week, past month, longer than that," Phoebe says. "Go upstairs and get to work. Prue's going to go see about her new job."
"You decided to go?" Piper asks.
"Yeah," Prue says. "I'm going to at least see what they're offering before I turn them down. Can't really travel internationally."
"Hear what Alexis has to say," Piper advises. "Then decide. Being a Witch is a part of us, but,"
Prue gives her a look and smiles. "I got it."
"I'm off to the Soup Kitchen," Phoebe says. "I'll see you guys later."
Phoebe leaves.
Piper looks at Prue. "I want to hold onto some kind of normal life." She says seriously.
"I understand," Prue says. "But after everything we've been through and seen, normal left the station a long time ago."
"Which only means to me I'm going to fight like hell to keep up with it," Piper says.
"I'll help," Prue says.
~!~
Phoebe drops her bike off in her yard and heads over to Whitney and Graham's house. Graham's truck is gone, but Phoebe is sure Whitney is there. Whitney joined a book club and an intramural soccer team. Phoebe planned to ask her if she wanted to help out at the Soup Kitchen, but she did that in memory of Andy. It was something she wanted to do for him and herself.
Phoebe knocks on her door. Whitney opens it.
"Right on time," Whitney says.
"Thanks for doing this," Phoebe says. Whitney gestures for her to come inside. Phoebe does. Whitney closes the door behind her.
"Least I could do," Whitney says. "It benefits your family and mine."
Phoebe sits on the couch, and Whitney sits beside her.
"I don't even know if anything will happen," Phoebe says. "But because of you, I know it's possible for me to gain control. I want to practice until I do. Anything we can find out will be a bonus."
"You don't have to explain," Whitney says. Whitney holds out her hand for Phoebe to take. "Our siblings mean a lot to us. Feeling powerless weighs you down. It's the reason I contacted the Elders. It's the reason you're here. We're being proactive." Phoebe nods in agreement.
Phoebe takes Whitney's hand in her hands, and she closes her eyes and concentrates. She has never been able to control her Premonitions because she never understood how they worked, how her visions came to her. From all the visions she's had, she came to a conclusion. Narrow the focus. Ask a specific question. Try to see the answer.
Phoebe has a question, but she believes it might be too broad. After taking a deep breath, she asks it anyway: What lies ahead?
Nothing happens. Too broad.
What lies ahead for Whitney, Graham, me and my sisters?
Nothing happens. Too many people involved.
This one: What lies ahead for Whitney?
Phoebe sees images. She pulls them forward. She sees her Premonition.
- Phoebe sees Prue. She leans against a wall in the corner of a small white room. In it, there is a lone window, twin-sized bed, and rocking chair. A newspaper with the date March 13, 2009 lies on the chair's seat. She is dressed in white. She gazes at the floor.
Phoebe sees herself. She sits on a throne in a dimly lit cavern. A torch casts its light on either side of her. She is dressed in an elegant black dress. A mask hides her face, except for a devious smile.
And finally, Phoebe sees. Piper. She stands upon a metal stake. Tears stream down her face. They are tears of pain, anger, and sadness. She is dressed in a gray prisoner uniform. Flames rise up and engulf her. Piper cries, screams out in agony. -
Phoebe gasps. She breathes heavily.
"Phoebe," Whitney calls to her. She holds onto Phoebe's hands. "Are you okay? What did you see?"
"A bleak future," Phoebe manages to say. She looks as if she might cry. "For me and my sisters."