Episode 8
Halloween
Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed, some of the characters, some of the settings, none of the actors I see in my delusional little head playing those characters that are mine…sort of.
A/N I want to thank my loyal readers again as well as my reviewers. It may not mean much to you guys but just knowing that you all are there and enjoying my warped wee brain is almost enough to make me brave the torture chamber that is my desk chair…
A/N Starting the rewrite. I think you'll all enjoy the newer version more…I was unhappy and dissatisfied with my first effort. Fortunately the story flowed so quickly for me that I could write it on automatic pilot; unfortunately, this led to me leaving out a lot of details that I intended to have.
(X)
"Sweetie, are you feeling ok?" Phoebe asked her youngest in concern, putting her wrist against Peyton's forehead. "You don't feel warm…" The middle Charmed One knew there was something wrong with her daughter. Fortunately, for Phoebe, she was an empath who automatically felt other's emotions, unfortunately, this daughter was also an empath and seemed able to negate her mother's power!
Peyton pulled away from her mother, "Mom, I'm fine." Her voice spoke otherwise, but Phoebe couldn't get through Peyton's block!
Phoebe gave her daughter an I'm-not-buying-it look, she tapped her temple with her forefinger, "I'm an empath, remember?"
The housekeeper chose this moment to intervene. The Nymph had been with the family since Phoebe bought the house across the street from the manner. The Cooper family had tried human housekeepers but that never seemed to work. Although magic had been dormant for twenty years, Coop was a working Cupid who 'beat' instead of driving; which had led to many awkward explanations! They could have lived without a housekeeper but they were a "two income" couple. Phoebe was a well-known advice columnist and author but she lacked a little in the housekeeping and cooking department. The Nymph insisted on keeping with Phoebe's vegetarianism and kept the large house clean and full of gloriously growing plants! After an adjustment period, in which she'd had to grow accustomed to the "normal" clothes that Phoebe had insisted upon, she'd proven herself helpful and loyal many times over the years. Hers was a constant and calming presence in the household.
Phoebe turned her attention to the Nymph, "Demi, what do you need?"
The long haired Nymph replied, "I need the night off. I have to meet with my sisters and dance…"
"I remember, Demi. I told you weeks ago that you didn't have to come today, I'm surprised that you came?" Phoebe ended in a question.
Demi's answer was solemn, "I thought you might need me…for something. If I am needed my sisters would understand…" she trailed.
"No," Phoebe stated firmly, "Tonight you belong with your family. You take good care of mine but tonight is for you. Enjoy yourself," she smiled broadly at the Nymph.
Demi cast one last concerned look at the mother and daughter before her and then she faded away to join her sisters. The Nymphs had certain nights that they all got together to celebrate life and combine forces to energize the forest.
"How do you know whether you're good or not?" Peyton surprised her mother with the question.
"In general or specifically me?" Phoebe mused, still thinking of the Nymph's uncharacteristic behavior. Generally nothing kept her from her Sabbaths! She turned her focus to her daughter, "When we first got our powers, Piper was certain we were evil, she was sure that she wouldn't be able to deliver food to the church for the shelter they provide for. When she finally gathered the courage to go inside and didn't get struck by a bolt of lightning, she realized we were good. For Prue and Paige both it took a little longer. They BOTH yelled at me for 'turning' them into witches! Once they'd saved a few innocents they each realized that what we did was good and had far reaching consequences. For me, it took longer still. At first, I was thrilled by the idea of being 'special' I was seduced by the power and the feeling of superiority that went with it. You have to understand that before I said the spell that gave us our powers I was lost, I had no direction, no ambition, no 'vision' and suddenly, I didn't HAVE to, a purpose was gift wrapped and handed to me. As for evil, I'd been taken over by the Nexus, seduced by evil in a past life, married the Source in this one…" she gave a self deprecating laugh, "It's an easier question to answer than it seems. Do you want to be good?"
Peyton nodded her head.
"Then you are. Simple. Oh, we all have a little bad in us…keeps us from being too dull," she winked, "But true evil? Nah, evil is not in you, me, or anyone in our family. You may not always do the right thing but if your intentions are pure, so is your heart." She counseled wisely. She kissed her daughter's temple. Praying inside that her words would help her obviously troubled youngest. She felt powerless, for the first time, as a mother, and she didn't like it. She never wanted to fail her children.
"What about your heart?" Coop questioned as he entered the breakfast room and overheard this last. As a Cupid, he was in the heart business, so to speak.
Phoebe tilted her head back for her morning kiss, "We were speaking of pure hearts and where they lead us."
"Into churches, it seems," Peyton supplied with a wry grin.
"Not to mention marriage with a Cupid," Phoebe grinned. "See, I AM good." She stated smugly as though her piety had been in question.
(X)
"Back again, Discord?" Phobos asked the God.
She shrugged negligently, "I just want ringside seats for your newest plan."
"Actually, all the FAILED plans were yours," he reminded her. "This is my first act of aggression against the Charmed Ones and their progeny."
"Really?" She quizzed.
"The date with Chris where you left him to the mercy of my demons…yours…Harmony," he cocked his head, "Clever. The power switching time bomb nightmare…yours again."
"I was just warming up. Easing into things, you did say that they're not ready for you?" She laughed, "Then they damn sure aren't ready for me," she boasted. She made a pouting face, "You don't like that, do you?" she asked in a childish pout. Reverting to her normal voice, "It just eats you up that there are beings more powerful than you…like me. Even though," she wagged her finger in his face as his eyes blazed at her, "You like to remind me that I'm only a minor deity. Lucky you, none of the heavy hitters are too concerned with things on the earthly plane."
"Lucky you, there's plenty of people with a limited, mortal range of powers to play with. I imagine that you're not so boastful when you're the weakest in the room," he laughed, "That I would love to see. Poor minor Discord towing the line and being properly respectful of her betters…" He tsked, "You forget that I got my powers through my father."
"No, I just don't find demons as scary as others do," she yawned to emphasize her point.
"I meant the original power of the Source. Hades is no minor God but I made him back down."
"Centuries ago," she rolled her eyes at him. "He had to let you stay down here, no way he'd hear the end of it from Persephone for fathering a bastard while she was tending mummy's garden. Besides, you can die."
"My body can," he agreed, "But the power and the essence of me will always survive."
"But you have to share your body," she reminded him.
He grinned wickedly at her, "Well, now, that's why I thought you kept visiting." He lunged for her and grabbed her in a passionate kiss. He may be The Source Of All Evil but his body was human after all…
(X)
A/N I decided we'd do this episode, at least, with Discord; she's so much fun to write!
New A/N I added the Nymph into Phoebe's household because I remember that I loved the little elf nanny from long ago. And Phoebe, who 'didn't know how to be a wife' might be the sister most likely to rely on 'help'. I have no idea who would play Demi- which is Greek for Earth Mother- but she's basically the "Alice" for the Cooper household; keeping things running while Phoebe is busy with deadlines or book tours.