Charmed
Another Side, Another Story
III
A World Apart
(Part 1)
Prue comes down the stairs carrying her briefcase and a wicker basket full of five white pyrite crystals and one yellow siderite crystal.
She's not late for work yet, but she will be if she doesn't leave the manor soon. She sees Phoebe, who she wants to talk to before she leaves, sprawled out on the loveseat in the sitting room fully dressed and ready to go, and Phoebe hops to her feet when she hears and sees her coming.
"This is for you," Prue says. When Phoebe walks up to her, Prue hands Phoebe the wicker basket. Phoebe looks down into it before she looks back at Prue. "I did some late reading last night. A protection spell doesn't seem to exist. If it did, I'm positive Grams would've had several in place. However, I did manage to read up on these."
"You wanted me to handle this," Phoebe says.
"I know," Prue says, "but this is still a team effort. I had a little extra time on my hands."
"What time did you go to sleep?" Phoebe asks, giving her a look.
"Four this morning," Prue answers without missing a beat.
"Prue," Phoebe says, nudging her with her shoulder. "Glad to know you have so much confidence in me. Is this because of the explosion I caused in the kitchen last Friday?"
"No," Prue says. "I'm confident you can handle things, but we're all going to do our part. While we're on that subject, Potion Making isn't your strong suit. From now on, let's have Piper handle that. She seems to have a knack for it. Stick to Spell Writing."
Phoebe frowns. "What are these for?" She asks, indicating the crystals.
"If you surround Whitney and Graham's house with the white pyrite crystals, in a pentagram, it'll create an offensive barrier. They have to be blessed and charged, and I already did that. Any evil being that crosses their threshold or appears in the house will be shot down until dead. Should take care of any low-level Demons or Warlocks and cause trouble for high-level ones. Every little bit helps." Prue smiles.
Phoebe finds herself a little nervous. "And the yellow one?"
"Oh right," Prue says. " It's a siderite crystal. It'll alert us, you in this case, if anything trips the pyrite crystals."
"What about Graham?" Phoebe asks. She tries to hide her concern.
Prue notices something in the tone of Phoebe's voice, but she thinks nothing of it. "He might be a Warlock, but he's not Evil. He'll be fine."
Phoebe nods. "We should get some of these for the manor."
"Grams only had those in the trunk," Prue says. "I was going to suggest you go to that shop downtown later today and get five more pyrite crystals and another siderite crystal for the manor."
"I don't have any money Prue," Phoebe mumbles. She's a little embarrassed and ashamed as she gazes at the floor.
"I'll stop by during my lunch and give you the money," Prue says.
Phoebe frowns, but she doesn't let Prue see her face.
Prue checks the grandfather clock. "I got to go."
Phoebe tosses the crystals into the bag she has around her shoulder and tosses the basket on the loveseat.
Prue heads for the door, but Phoebe hooks an arm around Prue's, turns her around, and walks her through the dining room to stand beside the kitchen doorway.
"I need to talk to you before you leave," Phoebe says. "I didn't get up this early for nothing."
"I thought you had to go to the Soup Kitchen," Prue says.
"That too," Phoebe says. She leans over to look into the kitchen. Prue leans with her. They see Piper.
Piper has the fridge door open, and she's rummaging through it. The oven is on. All the eyes on the stove are on and occupied by pans, skillets, and pots. Ingredients are crackling, sizzling, and boiling. The kitchen table, counters, and island are covered by many great dishes of food.
"Should we be worried?" Phoebe asks.
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
Prue leans back from the doorway. "She cooks and bakes when she's stressed." Phoebe leans back with her and makes a face. "You shouldn't worry. She's working on her menu for the restaurant. This'll pass. Remember, she went through a lot last week. She saw her future, which was pretty grim, despite the good aspects, and she broke up with Leo because of it. She's just," Prue starts, and Phoebe finishes.
"She's just trying to focus on something she can control," Phoebe says.
"Exactly," Prue says.
Piper appears in the doorway with two dishes in her hand. "Breakfast?"
"Got to go to work," Prue says, heading back toward the door.
"Headed for the Soup Kitchen," Phoebe says, "but I'll take some to go." She grabs a slice of bacon and chomps on it. "Delicious."
"Wait," Piper says. "Wait." Prue stops as she's about to open the door, and Phoebe stops behind her. "Thinking about the name for my restaurant. You guys helped me get the place, so I wanted to include all of us in the name. What do you think, The Charmed Café or P3?" The Charmed Café for The Charmed Ones or P3 for Prue, Piper, and Phoebe."
"Aw," Phoebe says. "That's so sweet."
"Although," Piper adds, "I'm afraid The Charmed Café might draw unwanted attention, and I'm afraid P3 sounds like a parking garage level."
Phoebe laughs. Prue smiles.
"Thanks for thinking of us," Prue says, "but whatever you decide we'll support. Got to go." Prue leaves the manor, leaving the door open for Phoebe.
"She's right," Phoebe says. She goes and gives Piper a quick out before she leaves out, closing the door behind her.
Piper side smiles before she returns to the kitchen.
Prue climbs into her car, pulls out of the driveway, and drives down the street. Checking her rearview mirror, Prue sees Phoebe ride off on her bike and turn the corner, but she also sees a man, a guitar on his back, on a motorcycle, with a rectangular package on the back of the motorcycle, pull up in front of the manor.
~!~
Whitney comes through the back door after she knocks. "Hey Piper," Whitney says. She has some specialty crepes she made. "Here's another dish."
"Add it to your side of the kitchen table," Piper says. She smiles, and Whitney smiles too.
"Thanks again for hiring me on," Whitney says.
"No problem," Piper says. She puts the dishes she's carrying on her side of the table. She takes the cover off Whitney's recent addition to the table, smiles at the presentation, and covers it back up. "After I tasted that gumbo and pie you brought over, I knew you were good."
"Glad I asked to join you," Whitney says, sitting down at the table.
"It makes sense," Piper says. "I'll need several pair of hands in the kitchen, and I can keep an eye on you at the same time. We'll be in close proximity to each other."
"True," Whitney says.
Piper turns around to check on the stuff on the stove.
"Are you doing okay after last week?" Whitney asks. "I don't know any details, Phoebe didn't say anything, I just noticed you seemed down a few days last week."
Piper stops for a moment. She says nothing for that moment. "It was a little rough," she says slowly, "but I'm getting through it." She turns around to face Whitney with a smile on her face. Whitney nods.
"How are you going to have time to cook if you've got to manage the place?" Whitney asks. "Are you going to juggle both?"
"Oh no," Piper says. "I want to cook. I want to be the best this city has ever seen. I went to school for Business, specializing in Accounting, and became close with a few people. I called up and hired an old friend and classmate to handle the business side, so I can concentrate on what I love."
"Great idea," Whitney says.
"She was thrilled," Piper says. "She was looking for a reason to quit her job. She had no problem taking a chance with me." She and Whitney share a laugh.
"I'm glad to get out of the house," Whitney says. "I love how passionate you are about your dreams. I used to have a dream: to become a United States President. Ambitious I know, but I wanted to change the world: lawyer, judge, senator, and finally president. Unfortunately, the world had other plans for me, the supernatural world that is. Even though it's not what I wanted, I look forward to it."
"You'll still make a huge different in a lot of people's lives," Piper says. Whitney nods. "How's Graham adjusting?"
"Graham's not accustomed to sitting still," Whitney says. "He decided to get back into his woodworking. He's holed up in the garage as we speak. He's going to try selling his furniture, birdhouses, grandfather clocks, and etc. I can't handle the noise."
"Understandable," Piper says.
They hear the doorbell ring. Piper goes to get the door. The phone rings. "Could you answer that, see who that is?" Piper asks of Whitney.
"Sure," Whitney says. She gets up from her seat and goes for the cordless. When Piper is almost to the door, Whitney comes into the dining room. "It's Prue. She wants to know who came by the house."
Piper looks back puzzled but proceeds to open the door. She smiles.
"Piper," the man at the door says.
"Coronado," she says. They hug. He smiles.
Coronado has short black hair, golden brown skin, and dark brown eyes. He stands taller than Piper. He has a sturdily built body, got some muscle on him, and a warm smile. He holds his motorcycle helmet in his right hand and carries his acoustic guitar on his back.
Piper pulls back from Coronado and faces Whitney. "Tell Prue not to worry. It's our cousin Coronado."
Whitney heads back into the kitchen, to convey the message to Prue and hang up the phone.
"Come in," Piper instructs Coronado. "How's great-aunt Phoebe? How are your parents? How is your sister?"
"Grammy Phoebe's fine," Coronado says. He walks inside, and Piper shuts the door. "She's still hanging in there and still as surly as ever." He places his motorcycle helmet on the foyer table. He looks around. "Haven't been here in a long time."
"Since Gram's funeral," Piper says. Coronado faces her, nodding in agreement.
"Mom's still working on the ranch with dad," Coronado informs her. "Serenade's out of rehab and taking it one day at a time."
Whitney comes from dining room and into the foyer. "You're cute." She says, getting a good look at Coronado. She draws Piper's attention and Coronado's.
Coronado smiles and takes a step toward her. "You're not bad yourself." He takes her hand and kisses it.
"Flattery will get your everywhere," Whitney says. "You know how to play that guitar music man?"
"Don't carry it around for decoration," Coronado says.
"Play me a song," Whitney says, "tonight."
"You're forward," Coronado says, "like that. Until tonight."
"It's a date," Whitney says. "Live next door." She gestures in the direction of her house. "Seven o'clock. Don't be late."
"Sure won't be," Coronado says. "Miss?"
"Whitney Bellefontaine," she answers him.
"Right," Piper says. "Whitney, this is our cousin Coronado Musgraves (Adam Beach). Our mom had an aunt Phoebe, her favorite aunt, who was our Gram's sister. Her daughter Felicia had two kids, Serenade and Coronado. He's her youngest."
"Well Miss Bellefontaine," Coronado says, "I look forward to our evening together." Whitney smiles. "Do you mind if I talk to my cousin in private?"
Piper is surprised to hear Bellefontaine. She thought Whitney's last name was Donahue. No, that can't be true. Donahue is the surname of Graham's Warlock father and his Warlock coven, clan, whatever. Brendan proved that. She figures Bellefontaine must be her mother's maiden name or her father's surname.
Piper remembers what Prue told her about Graham's mother Genevieve. Genevieve must've named Graham before she learned the truth. Piper decides this is the truth and feels bad for her, but she wonders why Genevieve never changed it.
"Not at all," Whitney answers Coronado. She pulls Piper from her thoughts. She heads for the door. "If you don't need me Piper, I'll let you two catch up. I've suddenly got some errands to run."
Piper smiles and nods. Whitney leaves, closing the door behind her. "What brings you here all the way from Texas?" Piper asks. She gestures for Coronado to follow her as she heads for the kitchen. "FYI, you chased off my partner, so you get to be my taste tester for the next half an hour." She only takes a few steps before Coronado says something that causes her to stop.
"I was hoping to find out if you and your sisters had come into your powers yet," Coronado says.
Piper whips around and throws up her hands to freeze him. Her mind is racing. She's trying not panic, trying not to freak out. She has to call Prue. This guy could be another Shapeshifter, Nicholas' son in disguise, or one of Graham's brothers.
"Based on that hand gesture," Coronado says. He didn't freeze. "I'll take that as a yes."