Da da da da! Here it is! The long awaited first chapter of my "9th season". So I could ramble on about how long it took me to write it and than rewrite it and than rewrite it again but I won't waste your time. So long story short: it took me a long time. And then it took me even longer to find enough time to actually get it typed on the computer. You see for the past five months or so my life has been owned by a very time consuming activity called show choir. Its over now.....in fact our last performance is tomorrow which is the same day that I turn in my massive research paper. Coincidence? Actually I think its a conspiracy but I won't go into that right now. Oh look I'm rambling....but before I allow your attention to be diverted from all of this useless information to the story I would like to give you some good news. Spring Break. My spring break is next week and luckily for you my mother and sister decided to run off to Florida and leave me here alone all week. What this means: it is very likely that you will see the second chapter up in the next few days or so. Unfortunately I can't make any promises beyond that because I still have soccer practice for three hours a day but the second chapter has already been written so all I have to do is type it. YEAH! Two more things and than I'm DONE I swear:
1). I don't own Charmed or any of its characters
and
2). ENJOY!
Thirty-nine year old Piper Halliwell woke up to the sound of another beautiful San Fransisco day. Rollin on her back she felt the mattress beside her and found it empty. 'Leo must have left already.' With a sigh she righted herself. A lot had changed in the months following the ultimate battle. Leo had returned to his handyman roots and had even started his own company aptly named Heaven's Little Helpers. Even though the club's recent popularity had increased the household income the success of Leo's business provided them with a level of financial security they had thought impossible. Meanwhile Phoebe had written an autobiography and was currently touring the country on a book signing campaign. Paige, the youngest of the Halliwell sisters, was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her first child which had already been named Henry Jr. after his father. It seemed everyone had adjusted to their demon free lives......everyone but Piper that is.
Piper just didn't understand. From day one she had always been the most resistant to their supernatural destiny. She had spent eight years trying to find a way out, a way back to her ordinary ho-hum life. But now that things were back to normal she couldn't help but feel that she was living a lie. She was born to be a witch and lately she found herself longing for the late night demon hunts that used to define her life. 'I must be crazy. After everything we went through....after everyone we lost....how can I miss that?' She broke from her thoughts a moment to check the clock on the nightstand 'Crap...I'm late.' She let out another sigh and massaged her temple with her hands. Then she got out of bed and headed downstairs to make a quick pot of coffee. She stopped momentarily at the window and to gaze upon the stillness that enveloped the surrounding neighborhood. All she wanted was a little excitement. If only she knew.
As Piper turned away from the window a teenage girl rounded the corner of Prescott Street accompanied by a woman. The girl stopped in her tracks when she spotted the Manor.
"I don't think I can do this."
"Yes you can. Listen they're the Charmed Ones, they know what they're doing"
"Yeah, that's what scares me......besides I thought you said they retired."
"No....they're just on a supernatural hiatus. Just remember what I told you and everything will be fine."
"How do you know so much about them anyway?"
"Uh...let's just say I've worked with them before."
"Wow. I don't think you could have made that answer any vaguer."
"Well that's all you're getting. So good luck and try not to mess up. You only get one shot at a good first impression."
"That wasn't helpful. Don't you think I have enough pressure already? Wait, what if I need you?"
"Well if you really need me call for me but only if its an emergency. It would be better if the girls didn't see me."
"Why?" But the young girl didn't get an answer as her guardian disappeared without warning. "Thanks....not." Out of anxiety the girl let out a heavy sigh. "Well here goes nothing."
Piper was downing her second cup of coffee when there was a soft knock on the door. She went and opened it to find a teenage girl standing on the doorstep.
"Hello..."
"Hey..." The teen's response was followed by an awkward silence in which Piper had expected he to explain why she was there but the girl remained silent.
"Um...is there something I can help you with?"
"Are you Piper Halliwell?"
"Yes." Something about the girl the gave her intention away. Whether it was the tone of her voice or just her overall behavior Piper didn't know. What she did know was where the conversation was about to go.
"I'm a witch...and I need your help."
After calling the club and explaining away her absence Piper lead the girl to the attic. She went over to a large chest and rummaged through it until she found what she was looking for. It was a very old and very big book. 'Its been a long time!' Piper carried the Book of Shadows over to a couch and motioned for the girl to join her.
"I guess we'll start with the basics. What's your name?"
"Melinda...but you can just call me Mel if you want because that's what my friends.....well that's what people call me but if you don't want to thats fince because I know..."
"What exactly is it you needed help with?" Melinda's expression hardened as she realized that she couldn't avoid her reason for coming any longer. "Are you sisters around?"
"No but its fine. I can handle your run of the mill demon. We only need the Power of Three for upper level demons and I don't think we'll have that problem. Besides I can always fill them in later if we need them." In reality Piper had no intention of getting her sisters involved. Just because she couldn't adjust to her new life didn't mean she had the right to ruin theirs. "Why are you here?"
"See.....that's the complicated part. I don't really know."
"You don't know?" Piper was beginning to think that this was a very bad idea and that she should have slammed the door in Melinda's face the second she had said the word "w" word.
"No, they just sent me." Piper knew exactly who "they" were and knew that their involvement meant things were about to get really interesting.
"They sent you? Just like that? For no reason at all?"
Well I had gone to this seer.....to try and figure out some personal stuff but during the reading she just blurted it out."
"Blurted what out?" Piper didn't like where this was going."
"A sort of prophecy I guess. 'Dark forces gather in the shadows as a lost heir prepares to take their rightful place upon the throne of evil.' When i asked her about what it meant she didn't even remember saying it." Piper shifted in discomfort as chills ran down her spine. 'This doesn't sound good. In fact, it sounds very very bad.' Melinda noticed but continued on:
"I went and told my whitelighter what she said. She seemed worried so she went to the Elders. This was followed by a lot of talking and a lot of freaking out. Next thing I know I'm standing on your doorstep." Piper reviewed everything Melinda had just said. She chuckled at the idea that just this morning she had been yearning for exactly this. 'I really am crazy.' At the same time Melinda stared at Piper hoping that she wasn't going to have a fit. Back on the other side of the couch Piper had made a decision and Melinda wasn't going to like it.
"Melinda, I'm sorry but from the sound of it I can't help you."
"What!?" Melinda didn't try to hide her panic as she jumper to her feet obviously overwhelmed by this unexpected rejection.
"How can you say no? You're a Charmed One!"
"I'm sorry but that doesn't help me fight a nameless, faceless evil that you know nothing about. Besides I have a family to think about. I can't drag them back into the hell we lived for eight years."
"You selfish..." Melinda's eyes began to water as her frustration broke through to the surface. "What's the point of having a family if there's no world left to live in? How can you put their lives ahead of millions of others?"
"You're young and you have no idea what you're talking about."
"I'm older than you think."
"I told you to leave. Now please go." Piper stood up using her slight height advantage to intimidate.
"Fine." Melinda stuttered. She grabbed her bad and stormed out of the attic. At the same time Piper heard the front door open and a voice call out.
"Piper? You here?"
"Leo!" Piper returned the Book of Shadows to its hiding place and went downstairs to greet her husband. She found him in the kitchen making a sandwhich.
"Hey honey. I went to the club to see you and they said you never came in. Is everything alright? And who was that girl?"
"Yeah everything's fine. I was just feeling a little under the weather this morning.......and the girl was just trying to sell me some magazines to raise money for a school trip." Leo paused and looked intently at his wife.
"You know we've been married for seven years so I can tell when you're lying, not that you were ever good at it anyway. Come on Piper, you can tell me."
""Well....we should sit down because this is going to take awhile."
Meanwhile in Golden Gate Park Melinda had just found a clearing that was far away from the path that she deemed it a suitable meeting place.
"Hey get down her now!" Right on cue a woman wearing white robe appeared out of thin air.
"Melinda what is it? What's wrong?"
"We're screwed okay? But its not my fault. Piper completely blew me off. I did everything you said to do and she still said no so don't try and tell me that this is my fault!"
"Melinda just calm down." The woman took her charge in her arms in the hope that it would settle her down. "Now listen to me. We still have plenty of time to fix this."
"But what if we can't? What if I can't?" Why did they choose me? I mean if my life hasn't sucked enough already now the Elders have me on some wild demon chase!"
"Don't worry we'll figure this out. I don't know how but we will. Another thing I know is that you have to go back and talk to her. With her on board things will get a lot easier."
"What makes you think I'll be able to change her mind?"
"Just give her some time. Halliwell's can be a little stubborn...trust me."
"Fine. But can you give me a lift there is no way I'm walking all the way back there."
Back at the Manor Piper had just spent the past hour replaying everything that had happened that morning. When she had finished she sat in silence as Leo organized his thoughts. After a few minutes if silence he spoke:
"Well I think you should help her."
"What?" Piper couldn't help but be surprises by his answer, She thought he would have applauded her for chasing Melinda out of the house and then suggested that they gon on a very long vacation in order to avoid any further contact. "But Leo what about our demon free lives? What about the boys? Think about how this would affect them."
"Piper this isn't about the boys or girl came to you for help and it sounds like you're the only one who can help her. She was sent to you for a reason. Don't you think that helping an innocent is more important than us staying demon free?"
"Yes." To be honest this is how Piper had felt all along but something inside her tried to tell her to stay away. It was still there now but with the help of Leo's support it was being overpowered by her natural desire to do good.
"But now that I've scared her away how am I supposed to find her?" As if to answer he a knock once again came form the front door. Piper opened it to find...
"Melinda! Come in. I think we should talk some more." Melinda was greatly relieved by this warm welcoming and stepped inside.
"Piper I'm going to go and get the boys. That way you two can have some alone time to figure things out." There was a time when Leo would have been in on the supernatural conversations but now that he was a mortal there wasn't really anything he could do to help.
"Okay see you in a bit. Melinda you can take a seat in the living room. I'm going to go and get the book." Melinda nodded and headed into the adjacent room. She felt a little foreign being all alone in a stranger's house. In an attempt to suppress her discomfort she began looking over the family photos. One picture in particular caught her eye. She carefully lifted it up and brushed the thin layer covering it off to reveal three young women standing in front of the manor. She dropped it in astonishment just as Piper reentered the room.
"Piper! I'm sorry I was just looking and...."
"Don't worry it's fine. I'll get a broom." Piper set the book down and headed towards the kitchen.
"Uh, Piper...who's in this picture with you?"
"My sisters, Prue and Phoebe."
"My whitelgihter told me your other sister's name was Paige."
"This was taken long before we knew Paige was our sister. You see..." Melinda noticed a sudden sadness in Piper's eyes and it was unsettling. "...Prue was killed by a demon about seven years ago. The Power of Three was broken. Soon after we found out about our half-sister Paige and the Charmed Ones were reconstituted."
"Oh....I'm sorry.....about your sister that is.....the dead one.....sorry....and the frame......sorry about that too.......where's your bathroom......sorry?" Piper couldn't decide what was more unnerving. The teen's sudden inability to speak English or her sudden need for a restroom.
"There's one upstairs...."
"Thanks! I'll find it." As Piper watched her run up the stairs she attributed her sudden change in behavior to the guilt she had for the broken frame knowing very well that that wasn't the real thing bothering her.
When Melinda reached the bathroom she slammed it shut and leaned against it. Then she called out in a whisper:
"Hey get down her. I need to talk to you!" there was no response. "Don't worry I'm alone....damn it this is an emergency!" She turned around to lock the door and when she turned back around she came face to face with a dark haired woman.
"Holy s.....don't do that!"
"What is it? I really shouldn't be here." Once Melinda had allowed her heart enough time to return to its normal pulse she confronted her guardian.
"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you tell me they were your sisters? Huh Prue?" Prue Halliwell stood in silence as she looked down at the young witch.
"So much for my cover. How did you find out?"
"Picture. Are you actually a whiteligher?"
"No."
"Than what are you exactly? A ghost?"
"I wish but no. I'm a very unique case so I don't really have an official title. Just think of me as a supernatural guardian from beyond the grave her to guide you and answer your questions."
"Answer this...What the HELL is going on? What's with all the secrets?"
"Ssssh! Quiet down or Piper will hear you. Listen Melinda, something big is going to happen. I don't what it is but it has the Elders worried. All I know for certain is that all the signs have been pointing to you."
"Excuse me? Signs? What signs?"
"Melinda?" The pair jumped as Piper's voice echoed up the staircase. They were so deep in their conversation that they had completely forgotten that they weren't alone.
"Listen I'll explain more later. Right now you need to go and so do I." And with that Prue was gone and Melinda was left alone again. Despite her frustration Melinda manged to quiet herself and went downstairs where Piper was waiting.
"Everything okay?"
"Yep. Just taking a tour."
"I thought I heard you talking to..."
"Myself. I was talking to myself. I do that a lot......sorry. Its weird."
"Okay.....anyway Leo is going to be home soon with the boys so I figured we would save the demons until after dinner. Sound like a plan?"
"Yeah...sure. Sounds great."
By the time Leo walked in with Wyatt and Chris the table was set and the food was ready. During the meal Piper decided to probe a little into Melinda's life.
"So what about your parents? Are they witches too?"
"Ummm......both of my parents are dead. They died when I was really young. I've been living on my own for awhile now."
"Oh...Melinda I'm so sorry! I..."
"Don't worry. You didn't know and it was a long time ago. I'm over it." It was clear to everyone (minus Wyatt and Chris) that Melinda was lying when she said it didn't bother her so Piper decided no to pry any further. After a short time the awkwardness dissipated allowing normal conversation to be resumed. After dinner Piper led Melinda into the conservatory while Leo went up and put the boys to bed. A few minutes later he rejoined them which was Piper's cue to get down to business.
"Mel, I've thought about it and I've decided that I'm going to help you. We're going to help you in any way we can."
"Are you going to tell your sisters?"
"No, at least not just yet. If I can I'm going to try and avoid getting them involved. It wouldn't be fair to drag them into this especially Paige since she's pregnant." 'She is stubborn.' Piper's refusal to involve the other Halliwells made Melinda nervous. How was she supposed to fight the most powerful demon in the underworld with only one third of the Charmed triangle? Leo to share in her concern as he turned to his wife.
"Piper are you sure? I mean you and Melinda can't do this alone."
"Well its a good thing we have supernatural connections aside from our own family."
"And who would that be?"
"An old friend." Piper smirked as she watched the confusion spread across both their faces. "I'll explain later. But first, Melinda you have to promise me something."
"Yeah sure. Anything!"
"No secrets. If we're going to tackle this "gathering darkness" than you're going to have to be honest with me okay?" Melinda looked into Piper's hoping that her own wouldn't betray her. 'Secrets? Like the secret chat I just had with your dead sister? Oh no problem!' It was at this very moment that Melinda realized she might be in far over her head but she knew that it was too late turn back. So she faked a smile and spoke with as much sincerity as her voice would allow:
"No secrets."
Yes I know that was very exciting......don't worry if you don't agree because I just used this chapter to lay the foundation for the rest of the story. Things really get going in the next chapter so keep a look out because it will be here soon!In the meantime you can praise me or insult me or just tell me a funny joke. It doesn't matter a whole lot to me but if you have an opinion then by golly feel free to SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD!
P.S i swear i tried to get rid of all the red squiggles but its really late so if i missed any just remember: I'm only human and i promise i will fix any major boo boos momentarily
P.S.S. by momentarily i mean eventually
P.S.S.S. I'm pretty sure i made P.S.S. up
P.S.S.S.S no i did not take my meds. today
P.S.S.S.S.S im done
