Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed only the characters I make up.
Summery: The Source fearing the rise of the power of twelve sends a rage broker after the sisters and their husbands to keep Lincoln and Mitchell from being Conceived. The thriteen is completed when the gang finds out that the thirteenth was right under their noses the whole time. They are spurred into action to find out which group of demons is targeting her before it is too late. Chris continues to go to Paige with his flashbacks. While we find out just what Henry Sr has been keeping from her.
Chapter 1: The Calm Before The Storm
Lincoln and Mitchell orbed into the apartment that Prue and Andy shared with Kyle. Since they were telling Prue more things than they should they figured they might as well spend more time around her things might slip if they didn't. They were both looking more than slightly disheveled Lincoln's hair was unkempt he had days' worth of beard on his chin his blue green eyes were bloodshot from his lack of sleep his clothes were spotted with dirt and grime most likely from the underworld they spent more time down there than either one cared to admit.
Mitchell wasn't looking much better there were bags under his deep blue eyes and the beard he was sporting made him look like a mountain man his jeans had holes in the knees and his shoes were so worn out they were barely staying on his feet. This was all the work of demons they really had to learn to be more careful there were only two of them after all they had no backup they couldn't even call their brothers they didn't trust them.
"Jack, Alan it's good to see you guys in one piece you have been gone for two days I was starting to get worried about you." Prue exclaimed kissing each of her nephews on the cheek before she sat them at her kitchen table.
Lincoln snorted "We are starting to get worried about ourselves. If our parents don't screw in the next couple of days me and Al won't exist." he said testily he was a force to be reckoned with when he was going on very little sleep.
Prue ignored her nephew's outburst and set a cup of coffee in front of each of them. "Watch your mouth Jackson Samuel your mom will have your ass if she hears you talk like that." she scolded him but she could understand why he was so testy.
"I'm with Jack I'm so close to slipping my dad this love potion that it isn't funny it seems like him and mom have hit a funk every since all you guys had a falling out last week." Mitch said shaking his head.
"Well then you will be pleased to know that Piper and Paige are talking but they are not talking to Phoebe and me that much. Things are kind of tense right now but we'll work through this we always do. And I'll talk to your moms see what I can do for you guys." Prue replied they were sisters they had to fight like this every once in a while to get it out of their systems.
"Al I think we might need to slip a little of that love potion to the aunts to make them get along." Lincoln suggested he was only half joking the idea did have some merit.
Mitch rolled his eyes he was not sure how much more of his cousin's stupidity he could deal with he was starting to drive him nuts. "Yeah that would be very useful you know how long it took us to get that potion so the plus side is our aunts and moms would be talking but we wouldn't be conceived. I vote that we just call Grams if this gets out of hand." he replied his tone was short he loved Lincoln like a brother he just didn't always think before he opened his mouth.
"Please spare me Jack and Alan I couldn't deal with you guys summoning Grams right now I'm pretty sure she would like to have my ass for the elders turning Parker back into a newborn." Andy said walking into the room he was still in his pajamas which consisted of sweat pants and a t-shirt that old apartment got drafty.
"Uncle Andy I hate to tell you this but we have way bigger problems than that as wrong as this sounds if we can't get our parents to have sex before midnight on Sunday we're screwed. I've done the math it has to be now or we have no hope." Linc said laying his head on the table he had a lot riding here they both did that was just not a conversation he could have with his mom and dad it made him cringe just thinking about it.
Andy put his hand on his chin he was deep in thought knowing what knew he had to help his nephews. "Don't worry guys Jack I will talk to your mom and Al I'll talk to your dad about this I'm sure we can work something out here I won't let you guys down I know what we all have riding on you both being conceived." he said after giving the matter more than a passing thought.
"Thank you Uncle Andy I only want to use this love potion as a last resort I don't think mom and Aunt Piper would listen to Aunt Prue right now with them all being pissed off at each other." Mitch said gazing thankfully at his oldest uncle.
"Henry Mitchell get your ass down the hall and look at this." Paige yelled to her husband in a harsh whisper she was standing outside her daughter's room with the door open she was gazing lovingly down at the sight that greeted her.
Henry came rushing down the hall with his toothbrush in his mouth "What is it Paige ?" he asked never knowing with her if he really wanted to know or not.
Paige brought her finger up to her mouth to shush him "Don't talk just look." she whispered to him pointing towards the open door to their daughter's room.
Henry thought that maybe his wife had finally lost her mind but he did what she asked him to it was hazardous to his health not to. He looked into the room and he didn't know whether he wanted to be pissed off or if his heart wanted to melt he chose the latter option over the former because no harm was done.
Patty and Ricky were laying on top of her dark purple bedspread both were fully clothed thankfully. There were notebooks and school books on the floor where they had fallen during the night. Ricky was laying on his back and Patty was resting her head on his chest he had his right arm thrown around her protectively. They were both sleeping soundly for some reason they didn't have school so there was no reason for either of them to be up yet.
"Henry that is just so cute but I can't believe our baby isn't a baby anymore she has boys spending the night with her." Paige said getting kinda misty eyed looking at the scene.
Henry looked at his wife and shook his head "Are you pregnant and didn't tell me ?" he asked that was the only explanation he could think of for her recent behavior that made any sense to him.
"What ? God no Henry if I were pregnant I would have told you. I don't know what's wrong with me these days I think it's just finally hitting home that all our kids are grown up now. Hank doesn't live here anymore and now Carly and Patty both have boyfriends were getting old babe." Paige replied to his question her eyebrow arched as if she thought he had lost his marbles.
Henry wrapped his arms around his wife "We are not old thank you very much we're just not in our twenties anymore. Besides we still have Mitch to look forward to and who knows we might even be able to get little him to tell us things unlike big him who is so tight lipped about everything he reminds me of his big brother some times." he said kissing her neck.
Paige reached up and kissed him on the mouth "You're right he does not only that but I think he idolizes his big brother I can see the hurt in his eyes every time Hank looks at him like he can't be trusted." she replied before kissing him again.
"Ugh let this be a lesson to me never get up and walk down the hall this early you never know what you might see." Carly complained she was on her way to the bathroom and then she was going back to bed Jason wouldn't be up for another couple of hours he had just got off work.
"Carly Janice Matthews Halliwell must you always be such a smart ass ?" Henry asked his oldest daughter.
Carly tapped her right index finger on her bottom lip a few times pretending to think about the question. "Yeah dad I'm pretty sure I do I wouldn't be me if I wasn't. Just let me point out also that you both would have a fit if Jason stayed all night in my room with me." she replied smoothly walking to the bathroom she was still too tired to argue with her parents.
"She is such a little me I now know what I put my parents through when I was growing up." Paige sighed pulling away from Henry.
"Don't worry about her like you said it's just a phase she is going through she'll grow out of it and if she doesn't that is what big brothers were invented for." Henry joked trying to break through his wife's tension he knew that it was caused from her sisters but there wasn't much he could do about it.
Paige smiled at him "You're right of course but now I have to go to the manor I have to try to make Piper see some reason here. We can't keep not talking to Phoebe and Prue actually I'm talking to them I just can't let Piper know that." she shook her head she didn't envy Piper and Phoebe any being the two middle sisters.
"Honey you shouldn't have got in the middle of it Prue, Piper, and Phoebe are big girls they know what they're doing." Henry chuckled at the face his wife made.
"Henry I had to get in the middle of it they're my sisters I can see why Phoebe is mad after everything we all went through with Cole Piper should have told us he had been helping her out. But then I can also see Piper's point too Parker is our baby brother and Prue barely acknowledges him. So that makes me the middle sister for right now and it just plain sucks." Paige mused closing the door to Patty's room and she walked back down the hall to the room that she and Henry shared.
Phoebe was sitting at her kitchen table putting her makeup on she had a half eaten bagel and a cup of coffee in front of her. It wasn't much of a breakfast but that couldn't be helped she wasn't on real good terms with Piper so she was avoiding the manor at all costs. She couldn't believe that her sister had gone behind her back and had been talking to Cole letting him help her for God only knew how long without her knowing about it. Piper knew how she felt about Cole more than that she knew how much Jake hated him. Phoebe sighed she hated being at odds with her sisters she found it funny that Paige was on Piper's side in all of this there was a time when Piper had done to Paige what she was mad at Prue for doing to Parker.
"Wow mom you look deep in thought I think that you have been putting eyeshadow on the same spot for like five minutes." Jake said making his presence known he had been leaning on the kitchen wall for awhile watching his mom go through her morning ritual.
"Morning Cupcake you know you shouldn't sneak up on me like that baby." Phoebe scolded him playfully.
"Sorry mom it's just I was sleeping on Penny's floor and I heard a noise so I came out here to see what it was. I saw you sitting there and I figured you wanted to be left alone so I didn't say anything for a while." Jake explained himself.
"Don't be silly I always want to be with my best boy now you come in here and have some coffee with me." Phoebe said taking him by the arm she kissed his cheek as she sat him down in a chair.
"Sure I could use some caffeine that floor is not very comfortable so needless to say I slept like shit last night." Jake replied laying his head on the table.
Phoebe sat his coffee cup with that said world's best big brother on it in front of him Penny had given that to him for his fifteenth birthday and he had, had it ever since. "Sweety you don't have to keep sleeping on her floor you know she isn't going anywhere." she tried making him see reason.
"Yes I do mom because it doesn't change the fact that I am her big brother I should have known that wasn't her handwriting. But no I took it at face value and didn't give it another thought Prue was right I dropped the ball so I'm trying to make up for it now." Jake came back stubbornly there was true pain in his eyes when he looked up at his mother.
Phoebe laid a hand on top of his and looked him in the face. "Cupcake you can't listen to everything your sister says. Just because she is your big sister it doesn't make her right all the time. And you know that if anyone else had accused you of being a bad big brother she would have been pissed. I'm not sure of much right now but I know that all your sisters love you baby." she assured him.
"I know mom I just feel like I need to do a better job of looking after them that's all." Jake gave her smile to show her he was better now. "What you said a minute ago that wasn't about Ladybug that was about Aunt Piper mom she did what she had to in order to save Parker had it been one of the girls I would have done the same."
Phoebe sighed how could her twenty year old be so much wiser than she was ? "Part me of me knows that Jake the other part me just needs to be mad at her for a little while. Cole is just a sore subject with me baby I can't hate him because I got you out of that and besides your sisters you're one of the best things I've ever done. I know that it is hard for you to be around him because you love your daddy." she said she was more pissed because she thought Jake was hurt.
Jake shook his head "Mom that's right I know who my daddy is nothing will ever change that like you tell me all the time my name is Cooper Jr not Cole Jr. Now you and the aunts need to make up because demons will take advantage of that and you know it. I can't stand seeing four of my best girls at each other's throats not only that but I can feel it I've got that nasty little thing known as empathy." he was trying to get his mother to see that her not talking to his aunts was hurting him more than seeing Cole had.
"Jake sweet boy you are wasting your breath trying to get her to see reason her and your aunts have to come around in their own time they are very stubborn women that is where all you kids get it from." Coop said he was dressed and ready to go to work.
"Really dad because that's not what Aunt Piper said she told me I got my pig headedness from you along with all my charm." Jake said grinning.
"You bet your ass you did you're my boy little Coop I couldn't deny you and Ladybug if I wanted to Val and Penny took more after your mom." Coop said kissing his son on top of his head.
"Hey now I take offense to that I never thought that both my Coops would talk about me like that." Phoebe pretended to pout.
"It's no worse than what both the Henrys say about Aunt Paige when she is in the room actually we were much nicer. And now if you'll both excuse me I have to go back to sleep I don't want Penny to wake up alone." Jake said hugging both his parents before he went back to his youngest sister's room where he laid on the other side of her bed he couldn't take that floor anymore.
"Oh wow Pheebs we should be very worried about him Penny is going to kill him if he doesn't give her some breathing room." Coop said sitting next to his wife holding her hand.
"I know it Coop but he loves all three of those girls so much that I don't have the heart to tell him to back off." Phoebe replied.
"Don't I know it , it still doesn't change the fact that Penny is going to be pissed at him if he doesn't get off his super big brother kick soon." Coop shook his head he loved that boy as much as he loved his girls maybe even more. In his eyes there was no difference between him and the three he had fathered.
"Piper honey please be reasonable you can't just not talk to your sisters. You know as well as I do that you guys are more vulnerable when you're apart." Leo pleaded with his wife who was anything but reasonable and he knew it he was wasting his breath trying to get her to see things his way.
"Leo I did what I had to for my baby brother besides Paige I seem to be the only one of the sisters that care anything about him. I know Phoebe has that whole history with Cole and believe me when I say I keep a very close eye on him but from what I can tell he is a good guy now like he was before he got possessed by the source that wasn't his fault. And I know that I treated Paige the same way that Prue is treating Parker now but Leo I just couldn't let anything bad happen to him." Piper ranted as she put their breakfast on t he table.
Leo didn't know what to say to that he could see her side of things really he could but he also knew where Phoebe was coming from as for Prue he didn't pretend to understand anything she did. "Piper no one wants Parker to be safe more than I do he is my charge too. But you have got to start talking to you sisters I never thought I would see the day when you and Paige were aligned against Prue and Phoebe. You normally fight with Paige and Prue and Phoebe have epic battles."
"Leo I want to talk to Phoebe she refuses to talk to me and I'm sorta talking to Prue but any time Parker comes up forget about it. I mean those two are the ones being unreasonable. In case you haven't notice lately Paige and I are way closer than Phoebe and I are anymore I love Paige hell Leo two of our children have her name as their middle names." Piper threw up her hands she hated it when Leo went all whitelighter on her.
"I know and one of them who shall remain nameless is just as bad as her Aunt Paige ever dared to be. Your little Peanut is you made over and Wy is Phoebe and Prue all wrapped up in one . The point of telling you that is at least promise me you'll think about talking to your sisters." Leo responded he couldn't take much more of them not talking to each other it was driving him crazy.
"Ok Leo I'll think about it you just think about talking to our youngest son and seeing why he seems to hate me so. He is so much worse than Chris was Linc avoids me like the plague I wish I knew what I did to him that was so horrible." Piper conceded but only because she wanted Leo to do something for her.
Parker grunted as he came into the kitchen wiping the sleep out of his eyes he was still sick and it wasn't fun he sat down blindly at the kitchen table nearly missing the chair. He laid his head on top of his hands he didn't want to take his ass to magic school maybe if he played up to Piper she would let him stay home. "I think I might be dying." he rasped out he was so congested he could barley breath let alone talk.
Piper put the back of her hand on his forehead he felt like he had a fever. "Parker go back to bed baby boy you're still really sick I'll wake you up later." she ordered him gently.
"I don't feel like I can move anymore I'm just gonna sleep here thank you very much Piper." Parker replied his eyes were closed.
"Parks arguing with her is no use just do as she says and you won't get hurt." Paige said orbing in she was there to try to talk some sort of sense into her sister.
"Hey Paige just leave me alone to die in peace I feel like dog shit." Parker said waving his hand in the general direction he thought his sister was in.
"Parker I love you stop being stubborn like Grams and go back up to bed." Piper told him firmly pulling him out of his chair.
"Fine I'm going just don't man handle me I can't take it right now." Parker whined making the trek back up the steps.
"Calleigh I'm not letting you stay here alone anymore right now not until I find out why all these demons keep attacking you it's way too risky." Wyatt told his charge they were standing in the middle of her apartment which looked like a tornado hit it there were books and papers laying all over the floor and the furniture was overturned.
"Wyatt you are worrying entirely too much I just think that maybe these demons have nothing better to do with their time than attack me I'm a single witch living alone it makes sense." Calleigh argued back noting the pissed off look on her whitelighter's face made him look cute.
Wyatt took a deep breath to keep his temper in check "Calleigh I'm not arguing with you, you're coming with me whether you want to or not my cousins and I can help you if you let us."
The young woman weighed her options for a minute and then sighing she decided to give into the blond adonis's demands "Ok fine I'll go with you but I'm coming back here the minute we figure out why the demons are attacking."
"It's a deal." Wyatt shook her hand and orbed them out before she had a chance to change her mind.
XXXXXXXXX
When Wyatt orbed in the apartment he wasn't shocked by what he saw but it did surprise the hell out of him Prue and Henry were actually playing video games together without fighting. A smirk appeared on his face and he looked at Calleigh. "Oh be still my heart Prue and Henry are actually playing that game together without fighting." he said causing them to glare at him.
"Shut up Wyatt we're in the middle of having baseball playoffs here." they yelled at him in unison never once taking their eyes off the tv.
"You're going to have to take a break from that for a little bit of a problem here." Wyatt informed them and they paused their game to turn and look at Calleigh.
"What is it this time Wy some of us just got off of work ?" Henry asked he should have been in bed already but he couldn't resist challenging Prue.
"This is my charge that I was telling you about she was attacked again this morning we need to figure out why." Wyatt informed them. "Calleigh these two are unfortunately my cousins Henry and Prue guys this is Calleigh." he introduced them Piper would kill him for forgetting his manners.
Henry smiled and waved at her and she went weak in the knees all the Halliwell men were damn good looking.
Prue on the other hand went and shook her hand "It's nice to meet you although I feel sorry for you having him as a whitelighter." she said by way of greeting.
Calleigh smiled at the younger two Halliwells "He is not so bad at least I didn't think he was until he made me leave my apartment."
"Ok so you have to be half and half like us otherwise no demon would care that much about attacking you so what is it ? And why don't you want the elders to know ?" Henry asked he was in cop mode on them again not only that but she didn't guard her mind very closely. He could sense that she had some kind of weird mixture she didn't want the elders knowing about.
"Well seeing as your family is known for pissing the elders off I'll tell you I'm half wood nymph and half valkerie." Calleigh answered him and the other three in the room gasped the thirteenth had been right under their noses the whole entire time.
"I'll go wake Chris up Wy you get the other eight here we just found another piece of the puzzle." Henry grinned at least they knew most of the prophecy now.
"That I think might explain the sudden rash of demon attacks she has been having. JAKE, I mean that could make a lot of sense if we know about her then they should two. JAKE I'm not playing with you get here now." Prue said while yelling for her brother.
Shimmers rippled in the air a minute later and Calleigh looked stunned "Wyatt I thought you said I would be safe here." she said she didn't want to deal with any more demon attacks before noon.
"You're perfectly safe from him anyway that is just her brother." Wyatt explained.
"What the hell do you want this early Prue ? I was sleeping." Jake asked whining.
"I think we just found the thirteenth." Prue said gesturing in Calleigh's direction. Jake raised an eyebrow at that but he didn't say anything at least they hadn't had to drag Mel into it again their spell had failed miserably.
Opening Credits:
Wyatt Halliwell- Wes Ramsey
Chris Halliwell- Drew Fuller
Henry Matthews Jr- Channing Tatum
Cooper Halliwell Jr- Paul Walker
Charles Bradford- Jonathan Rhys Meyer
Lila Nicolae- Jordana Brewster
Roman Nicolae- Ben McKenzie
Elizabeth Shane- Bethany Joy Galeotti
Parker Halliwell- Eddie Cibrian
Troy Shane- David Boreanez
Bianca Hoyt- Marisol Nichols
And
Prue Halliwell- Jennifer Love Hewitt
With:
Melinda Halliwell- Amanda Bynes
Valerie Halliwell- Eliza Dushku
Penny Halliwell- Daneel Harris
Carly Matthews- Sophia Bush
Patty Matthews- Rachel Bilson
Ricky Bradford- Taylor Lautner
And
Emily Bradford- Hilary Burton
Introducing:
Calleigh Cavanaugh- Anne Hathaway
"So um, we don't need Parker here for this ?" Chuck asked to break the tension the last he had heard they had all been avoiding telling Parker about the prophecy.
"Parker is at the manor right now mom is babying him because he is sick don't worry about him. Henry and I will take care of that." Chris replied waving off Chuck's concern.
Henry had to laugh at Chris he had Piper pegged "I got Parks taken care of already leave him to me he kinda knows what's going on but I haven't told him the full truth yet."
"Fine we get it Parker is not a problem the problem is we have to find out which demons are attacking Calleigh and why. Because it may have nothing to do with her being the thirteenth." Troy observed noting the way Liz was conspicuously sitting on the side of the room opposite Wyatt. She was actually sitting in the chair with Chris.
"I hate to say it but Troy is right being half and half is more the enough reason for demons to come after her. Think about it outside you guys and Aunt Billie's kids there are like no half witch half whitelighters out there. Jake is the only half demon half witch I know and there are only three half cupid half witches in the entire world and we're in the room with one of them now. Not to mention Troy and I are half witch and half psychic." Liz said giving credence to her brother's theory. She couldn't take her eyes off of Wyatt she felt a pang of jealousy at how close Calleigh was to him she never felt like this she didn't know where those feelings were coming from.
"I get what they're saying Roman and I are half witch and half gypsy which means we are pretty powerful. And with that high concentration of power comes more demon attacks because they want that power for themselves." Lilly jumped on Liz's thought train.
"Ok fine lets say that is the reason that brings us right back to we have to id the demons and stop them. I mean there are all kind of reasons to go after someone who is part valkerie." Jake added he was getting what they were saying.
Roman ran his hand through his dark blond hair "Which brings up another problem we really can't have our parents finding out about this I'm not even comfortable with Mel knowing this because if she tells Val or Carly we're all sunk those two can't keep a secret to save their lives. Not to mention if Em gets wind of what we're doing she will tell mom." he put out there those were valid fears.
"Which leaves looking at the book out because they would want to know what we needed it for. We can't tell them until we get the ok from someone else. I'm open to any suggestions anyone has on the matter." Wyatt said throwing his hands up.
"Wyatt this is really sweet and I appreciate it but you guys don't have to go through all this trouble fo me I have contacts in the magical community if need be I can go to my mother. But don't put yourself out over me." Calleigh said throwing her long brown hair over her shoulder.
"Calleigh don't be ridiculous you're one of us and not just because of the prophecy but because you're a half breed reject that the elders would rather forget about just like we all are." Prue said giving her a smile.
"Hey I resent that I'm not a half breed I'm just a Phoenix who works on the good side. And who is going to be very late for work if you guys don't come on." Bianca said she didn't know how they ever got anything done when she wasn't around to jumpstart their asses.
"That's telling her babe," Henry said giving his girlfriend a goofy grin. " now if only we could solve the problem of how the hell we're going to find out which demons are after her that easily."
Chris stroked his chin like he did when he had an idea and he looked at his oldest male cousin "You know Hank the answer is sitting right here in front of us. I know someone who can find out anything we want to know without rasing any suspicion." he said he was looking right at Bianca when he said it.
Bianca stared back at him a minute before she got what he was saying and she formed her mouth into a small o " You are all going to get me fired one day I know you are and then I will have to go work for Aunt Piper who will not buy my lies the way Uncle Leo does. I'll do it I'll just write it off as research for spell writing class." she gave in.
"B I don't know what we would do without you sometimes." Liz said giving her friend a big grin her Bianca loved each other like sisters the only problem was they couldn't help fighting like they were sisters.
"You would never get anything done I'm sure of it you're always off task. That is when you're not fighting with Troy. The only one of you guys who can stick to the topic is Hank." Bianca flipped Liz off and Liz stuck her tongue out in retaliation.
"B, Liz come on girls don't fight like that it isn't fun for any us." Chuck scolded clicking his tongue at them.
Chris had to grab Liz to keep her from beating the living hell out of Chuck. "Now Lizzie it isn't nice for you to try to beat the living shit out of Chuck. You and B do need to behave yourselves now we all know that B starts it but your older you don't have to stoop down to her level." Chris was talking to her as if she was a small child.
Henry had to grab Bianca's arm to keep her from throwing an energy ball at Chris. "B you know we don't listen to Chris. Besides you have a job to do right now we need anything that would reasonably attack a valkerie because I'm sorry there is almost no reason to attack a wood nymph. Just don't let Uncle Leo catch you because then he'll wonder what the hell we're up to now."
Bianca smiled sweetly at him before she bent down to kiss him. "You've got it just make sure you stay out of trouble and get some sleep you've been crabby lately." she instructed him before she shimmered out. Henry heaved a sigh him a crab ass that was rich coming from her.
Piper was behind the bar at P3 she wasn't really doing anything besides killing time she had to meet her sisters at the manor in a little while so they could go look for some demon she had no clue what that was about but Paige had brought it up so she was willing to give it a try. She was wiping up the bar at least that was what she called herself doing. In all actuality she had been wiping the same spot for five minutes.
"Aunt Piper I think if you rub that spot anymore you're going to wear a hole in the bar." Troy said walking in the bar it is Friday there was only one reason he was there that early.
Piper put her hand over her heart "Troy Timothy Shane you scared the hell out of me I think you're trying to give me a heart attack. What are you doing here so early anyway ?" she asked him with an arched eyebrow.
Troy held his right hand out palm up and he rubbed the fingers on his other hand together. "It's payday I would really love to get out of my sister's apartment I can't do that if I don't get paid." he said as if his reasoning should have been self evident.
"Here I know you have a tendency not to go to the bank so I'll pay you in cash." Piper said handing him a wad of bills out of the cash drawer.
Troy took the bills and put them in his pocket "Thank you Aunt Piper. If you need help with anything I can stick around otherwise the only thing I have to do is hang around at the apartment with Wy and Liz not fun. I can't take their constant flirting and neither one of them doing nothing about it. I think I would rather hang out with you, my mom, and Uncle Derek." Wyatt and Liz were bad if he wanted to hang around with those three that was asking for trouble.
"Speaking of your mother I take it she still doesn't know that you're back in town." Piper commented dryly.
Troy groaned and shook his head "Nope and I don't plan on telling her either I'm not sure if I'm going to stay yet. That would be why I'm staying with Lizzie I'm in no hurry to have it out with Nicole Shane. As I recall she is very pissed at me for just running off to sow my wild oats and God help me if she ever finds out about Mexico I'm dead meat." he loved his mother he really did but they had, had words with each other the last time he had called home.
Neither Piper or Troy was paying enough attention to know that there was someone else in the room with them a demon. He powered up something that looked like an energy ball but it was bright red he threw it at Piper but instead of it killing her, her eyes flashed briefly before they returned to normal.
Paige was sitting at her desk which was one big mountain of paperwork when Chris walked in he was obviously there because he needed to talk. If Piper knew that Paige was helping Chris keep things from her she would be pissed but that was a bridge Paige was going to cross when she got to it.
"Hey Chris I guess you need to talk about it ? So tell me what you saw this time." Paige said making a give it to me gesture with her hands.
Chris ran his hand through his hair and sighed "This one was pretty bad Aunt Paige apparently I had run afoul of Wyatt and he decided to lock me up in the underworld dungeon for a few days that would have been fine. But he had demons use me for target practice if that wasn't bad enough Lord Wyatt decided that he wanted to get in on the action. I got lucky that time because Coop even though he was on Wyatt's side took pity on me killed the guards and let me out." he explained his flashbacks were not fun things for him to relive.
"Chris first off what you need to understand is that isn't the man that you grew up with Wyatt would never do anything to hurt you hell he lets you lead him around most of the time." Paige said staring deeply into his eyes.
"I know Aunt Paige I even knew then that Wy would never do anything to hurt any of us but Lord Wyatt would. As long as their was still a little of Wy in him he wouldn't hurt any of us he would just try to make us join him. But he had his moments when Lord Wyatt was totally in control and all bets were off then. He never fully stopped being Wy though that is why we couldn't kill him we all wished at times that we could but I wouldn't allow it as long as there was some kind of hope for him." Chris went on talking about it made it better he was even getting a little bit of sleep but not for long periods of time it showed too his green eyes were always bloodshot.
Paige felt for him really she did but outside of listening when he needed to talk she didn't know what else she could do. "Buck you wouldn't be having these things if you couldn't handle them I just need you to be strong and we'll get through this together." she said taking both of his hands in hers.
Chris managed to give her a weak grin "I know Aunt Paige it's just I'm having trouble keeping the two time lines separate right now." he said. They were too busy trying to keep Chris from losing his marbles to notice the same demon from P3 was in the room with them he hit Paige with the same kind of energy ball that he had hit Piper with her brown eyes flashed red for a moment before they went back to normal.
Phoebe was working hard on getting her column out when there was a knock at her office door she figured if it was either her boss or her secretary if it were either of the two women they would just start talking and not wait for her to look up.
"Hey mom." Penny said quietly she had been a lot more subdued since her incident with Torch the week before. Even though Chris had healed her she was still sore as hell all over so she was sticking to track pants and loose fitting shirts for the time being.
"Hey Butterfly I'm sorry about leaving you all alone like that had I known that Prue was going to need Jake and Val and Mel were doing something I would have worked from home today baby girl." Phoebe said looking at her youngest concerned for her well being.
"No mom I'm fine I just wanted to check in I think me and Em are going to hang out at Uncle Derek's house today work on homework and stuff I wanted you to hear it from me though." Penny explained her presence when in all reality she had wanted to be closer to her mother.
Phoebe moved her chair back from her desk and opened her arms to her baby "Come here baby girl you don't have to lie to me it's ok that you wanted to be with your mommy." Penny sat down on her mother's knee and allowed Phoebe to hold her close.
"So maybe I did but I'm afraid of never seeing you again after what happened last week so I'm a little weird right now." Penny said laying her head on Phoebe's shoulder.
"Baby it's understandable no one thinks any less of you for it if were up to your brother you would never leave the house without him but that is why we don't leave these matters up to Jake." Phoebe said lightly trying to get a smile out of Penny.
It didn't work she just buried her head further into Phoebe's shoulder. "Something has to be done about him by the way this morning Jake actually crawled in bed with me not that I mind that I liked it a lot better than at three this morning when I had to get up to pee and I stepped on him. Mommy I love Jakie with all of my heart but if he doesn't stop smothering me I will kill him dead." Penny warned her what was going to happen to her brother if he didn't stop over protecting her.
"Butterfly this is Jake we're talking about you won't be able to do anything to stop him when his mind is made up."Phoebe pointed out one of her kids were more stubborn than the other.
"Mom you don't have to remind me I know precisely how my brother is and he is driving me nuts. I think he should spread some of his worry Val's way or hell he can even go drive Ladybug to the brink although I think he already does that anyway." Penny was rambling part of her really didn't want to leave her mom.
Phoebe laughed "Don't wish that on any of us no one can take Prue and Jake fighting right now. They would just have to finally kill each other this time because your aunts and I are having one of their epic fights right now." she poked her daughter gently in the arm.
"Oh please mom I'm sorry but I've got to put my money on Aunt Piper if you're fighting like Prue and Jake. Now if you were fighting like lets say Liz and Troy I would go with you." Penny joked making her mother genuinely laugh.
Phoebe pretended to roll her eyes "Thanks for the vote of confidence there sweetheart I didn't know that you loved your Aunt Piper more than you loved me."
Penny raised an eyebrow at her mother "Now that was funny mom see I happen to take pity on Mel she couldn't get away with anything even if she wanted to." she said getting up to go. "I love you mommy I'll let you get back to work. I shouldn't have bugged you next time I'll go aggravate daddy."
"Penny I don't know how to get this through to you and your brother but I always have time for all of you kids especially my baby boy and my baby girl. You come in here any time you need anything I don't care if I'm underneath a mountain of letters trying to give advice or if it's the day I have to do my radio show. I swear you and Jake know I love you I don't know why you both insist on trying my patience." Phoebe was shooing her away with her hands.
Penny giggled "I love you too mom Em and I will be at the manor just before we go to work if you need me or us for that matter."
"Ok Butterfly I love you go get out of my hair have fun just don't do anything your dad wouldn't do. I would tell you not to do anything I wouldn't do but then we would both be in trouble there isn't much I won't do." Phoebe kissed her daughter on the cheek and walked her to her office door .
"You don't have to worry Uncle Derek and Aunt Eva are both off work today between them and Jake we wouldn't be able to get away with anything it's not worth risking it." Penny said walking out the door.
The demon was standing behind Phoebe's desk he had always thought getting to the Charmed Ones would be much harder than this. He lobbed one of his red energy balls hitting Phoebe in the back. Her eyes changed just like her sisters had before her and they changed back just as quick.
Prue was at magic school in the library with both her future nephews she had a break and this was where she had tracked them down to. "You boys look like hell you have to promise me that after we get this taken care of you will get some sleep." she said pointedly to the two young men. They had shaved, showered and put on clean clothes since that morning but they still didn't look like they had slept any knowing them they hadn't.
"Aunt Prue we'll sleep when we know we got whoever gets to him until then no we can't rest knowing that we have been here almost a month and we have done nothing to help change our future." Lincoln said in a harsh whisper slamming his fist down on the table. He was undoubtedly Piper's son even though he looked like his father.
Mitch sighed he was sick and tired of his cousin's little outbursts like that but he was right and he had good reason to be irritated right now. "I hate to admit it but he is right Aunt Prue the only thing we have accomplished is that we saved Parker from what happened to him before but that still doesn't help with Coop we just have to piece something together because we only have ten months from tomorrow to figure it all out. I don't think we left ourselves enough time but that is just my view on the matter."
Prue couldn't get over how resilient and strong those two boys were sure they may have had their little squabbles between themselves but they never broke no matter what was thrown at them. "Jack, Al come on guys I know and I'm going to help you with that just as soon as I help you with the other thing . Now you two just need to relax and trust that I can help you, your Uncle Andy is talking to your parents right now." She assured them but neither one of them looked convinced.
"And we love you both for it Aunt Prue we really do but you guys are going to give our parents a major case of performance anxiety. I mean I'm a young guy and I don't think I would be able to rally the troops if I was under that type of pressure." Linc pointed out logically he felt very uncomfortable talking about this with his Aunt Prue if it was his Aunt Paige it would be different.
Prue smiled and shook her head at him "That is a picture I don't want or need in my head thank you for that. See there I knew you could let loose a little and joke and I for one will be so glad when you're both conceived because I almost slipped the other day and called Mitch Alan in front of Paige ."
"No one will be more glad than I am I happen to like my name I miss being called by it." Mitch said he was trying hard not to stress out but he was feeling light headed like he wasn't really there he just didn't want to say anything to alarm Lincoln or Prue.
"Well I can't believe I'm saying this but I miss Paige she always did know what to do to make us laugh and stop taking ourselves so seriously." Linc mused a smile coming to his face.
Mitch looked thoughtful at that "Yeah I miss her too and I miss Vic hell I even miss Nixie that little pain in the ass." he laughed.
Prue smiled they both seemed to be having a good time they needed that they couldn't help but stress out but it wasn't good for them. "Alright you two sit here and hang tight just a little while longer I promise this will be taken care of soon but I have to go back to class. Don't go to the underworld just yet I will know if you leave and I will send your bog brothers after you I know you don't want that." she instructed them getting up from the table. They all failed to notice the demon that was in the room Prue suffered the same fate as her three sisters she never had a chance.
Leo and Andy were in his office Andy was trying hard to think of a way to say what needed to be said he had chickened out of talking to Piper she was like a sister to him that was just way too weird.
"Andy you look tense you just need to say whatever is on your mind and you'll feel better." Leo supplied the irony that he was trying to guide a whitelighter was not lost on him.
Andy shifted in his chair and looked at his brother-in-law Leo was right he just had to say it. "Leo I know that this may sound weird coming from me but it's about Lincoln if you and Piper don't conceive him by midnight tomorrow night then he won't exist." he just let the words come out of his mouth he didn't want to think about what he was saying.
Leo ran his hand through his dark blond hair his blue eyes were studying Andy intently. "Damn it I can't believe he didn't tell us that his conception date was this close. But it won't be a problem I'll just have to talk to Piper about it. Thank you for telling me Andy my sons have this tendency to keep things from me that are important." he said once he had time to process what he had heard.
"Leo I guess he just didn't want to bother you they are both like that they don't want to be a burden on anyone. Now I have to go talk to Henry this should be really fun." Andy said putting his hand out to Leo for him to shake it.
Leo took his hand "I'm sure that you'll find Henry very receptive he'll just looked confused for a second and then he will go along with anything you say." he replied before Andy had a chance to orb out of the room the demon hit both of them with those bright red energy balls too.
The demon shimmered into the throne room in the underworld where Gorgon was waiting for him a grin on his face and Ken was right by his side.
The demon bowed down in front of the source " My liege I just came back to report that I have only two more targets left but I have hit all the Charmed Ones along with Leo and Andy."
"That is very good but you must hit the other two husbands if this has any hope of working. The idea is for the sisters to be at odds with each other and their husbands. That way the power of three is broken and we won't have to worry about the power of twelve coming to pass Andre." Gorgon instructed him if he could take out the threat from the Charmed Ones then he would have no problems with the next generation he also had demons working on the thirteenth.
"Yes my liege I understand completely I will not fail you." Andre assured him shimmering out.
Gorgon nodded his head and then he turned to Ken " And you Ken ? Have you made anymore headway with the Halliwell girl ?" he asked Ken had , had almost a month to take care of that problem.
Ken looked visibly nervous he was sweating and his blue eyes were darting around the room "My liege it seems that the gypsy escaping has put a damper on that but it won't be a problem all I have to do is find a way to drive a wedge between them." he said more surely than he felt.
Gorgon let his cold blue eyes bore a hole into the center of the Phoenix's forehead. "See that you get that done soon Ken otherwise you will not want to see what happens to you if you should fail." he threatened.
"Of course my liege if not I can always focus on the other cousin the half cupid." Ken suggested trying to get himself back in Gorgon's good books.
Gorgon stroked his chin with a well manicured finger "Yes that has some merit to it Ken if you don't succeed on this front try that I think that will do very nicely." he said shaking his head slowly in agreement.
"As you wish my liege I will start to work on that right now." Ken said asking permission with his eyes to take leave of him.
"By all means go get on that and make sure that the other phoenix never suspects you." Gorgon warned he hadn't taken into account that Bianca coming into the picture would put a damper on things no matter he could find ways around that.
"Yes sir." Ken said shimmering out he looked relieved to be allowed to go with his life.
A/N: Here is the first chapter Lincoln and Mitchell are in a fight for their lives while the sisters are finding it hard to agree on anything. The gang found the thirteenth and now they are going to have to save her from the demons after her before they can focus on the prophecy. I hope you guys enjoyed it Until next time please review.
