Charmed Legacy
This story is set 20 years after the finale, but before the grandchildren. It's before the new generation start their quests as children of the Charmed Ones.
The Vote
Piper Halliwell sat at the dining room table across from her daughter Melinda. I can't believe this is the little girl I saw in my future almost 30 years ago. She thought to herself. She is beautiful and healthy and the best part of that changed future.
"Mom….mom are you even listening to me?" Melinda Halliwell asked as she noticed the far off look in her mother's eyes.
"What? Of course sweetie I'm listening. You were talking about wanting to celebrate your 21st birthday at P3 before the new manager changes the name…but honey you do realize that you could just have it at my restaurant instead don't you. Free food and free drinks for the birthday girl." Piper said hopefully.
" I do appreciate that mom, but Wyatt and Chris both celebrated at P3 and I want to also. It's nothing against the new restaurant or against your cooking trust me. It's just a tradition that's all." Melinda said with a touch of sentiment to it.
"I know, and I understand…"
Before Piper could finish her sentence a bright glow filled the dining room. The women adjusted to the bright light and saw Megan standing before them. Megan was the Elder that they had seen and talked to from time to time over the last 20 years.
"Piper..Melinda..how are you?" The Elder asked, though you could tell she really wasn't interested in the reply. "I have come to bring you news and it is something that I feel needs to be addressed to the whole Halliwell Clan…all 15 of you is it?"
"What! You know how hard it is for me to get just MY family together for two minutes. I can't get my sisters and their families together too." Piper exclaimed as a lump formed in her throat.
"I'm afraid you have no choice Piper…there is a threat immerging from the underworld and it's a threat to you all. Now how quickly can you get everyone over here?" Megan stated with no emotion showing on her youthful face.
"Well, I, uh, oh whatever PAIGE! CHRIS! WYATT! KAT! TAMORA! HENRY! That's about all I can get you right now…oh and LEO COME DOWN HERE PLEASE!" Piper shouted with a smirk.
Within two minutes the manor was overflowing with Halliwell/Mitchells orbing in.
"What is going on Piper…I was in the middle of arguing with my husband about our next vacation. He does NOT appreciate me saying 'oops sorry hun gotta go' in the middle of it!" Paige ranted.
"Yeah mom what's going on Wyatt and I were just getting things ready for, umpf" Chris was cut off by a sharp elbow to his side from his brother. "Oh I mean we weren't doing anything." He exclaimed while sneaking a glance of his sister out of the corner of his eye.
"I'm sorry Aunt Piper but can we make this quick, Kat and I were in the middle of studying for a huge test tomorrow." Tamora said as she sat down next to her brother. Who mentioned he didn't have anything better to do so he showed up.
"Well it's nice to see all of you too, but even though I love our reunions this is one I'm not thrilled with, but our Elder friend here Megan said she needed to talk to all of us and since you were the ones I could reach by yelling I did my best. Now if you don't mind could you please get your husband, sister and brother in law please. Wyatt get Prue, Parker and Payton please…and hurry. Chris go see what in the world is taking your father so long to get down here." Piper said in a tone that they knew meant 'don't mess with me'.
Within 5 minutes Paige had retrieved her husband Henry, and Phoebe and Coop said they would be over within 10 minutes. Wyatt returned with Prue and Parker, but Payton said she wasn't orbing anywhere. By the time he finished explaining that Payton had popped in with the help of her Cupid ring. Leo had been in the shower but with Chris' frantic pounding on the door he cut it short and was downstairs by the time Phoebe and Coop arrived.
"Hey did I miss the memo about a family reunion?" Phoebe joked as she said hi to her extended family and nearly jumped out of her skin when Megan replied behind her.
"No Phoebe this is a business meeting of sorts." Megan said as she eyed the room "I'm afraid that, as I already told Piper and Melinda, there is a threat immerging from the underworld. A unknown warlock has gathered forces and wishes to make a statement. He/or she has had ample time to study all of you and is aware of the fact the "Passing of the Power" ceremony has not yet taken place. They are ready to move and you MUST stop them."
"Passing of the Power? What in the world are you talking about?" Phoebe asked as she sent an inquisitive look toward Leo. He may no longer be an Elder but that didn't mean he had forgotten all he learned.
"A 'Passing of the Power' ceremony is like passing on the torch. It's a way to represent the new generation. Your mother passed before the ideal time for this ritual and your grams was stubborn and chose to ignore it, she didn't want to bring the fight to you girls before you were ready." Leo explained as he took a seat next to his wife. "I'm not too thrilled with the idea of it now myself. I mean Melinda isn't even 21 yet and poor Payton hasn't even graduated high school."
"Poor Payton? Is that really how you think of me Uncle Leo. What I'm not old enough to fight demons? In case you have forgotten we have ALL been basically training for this before we were potty trained." Payton announced though you could see in her face that she wasn't as ready as she wanted them to think.
"This ceremony MUST take place on Samhain, it's the most powerful night of the year for a witch, and it must be this Samhain. I'm afraid if you wait any longer then it will be too late." Megan stated "Now I will leave you to discuss this as a family and will return tomorrow with your decision. Let me specify that the decision needed to be made it who will partake of the Charmed legacy and who will not. There are enough of you to allow leniency so if you chose to be left out it shouldn't upset the legacy much. As long as there are at least 3 of you it will be alright." Without waiting for a response she was gone.
"So let me get this straight if I don't want to fight demons I don't have to?" Tamora asked
"Sounds about right" Paige replied
"Before anyone makes any decisions..Leo please explain what exactly takes place at this ceremony." Piper said as she fidgeted with her hair.
"Well the best way to explain it is that you would give your blessing on the children that want to take up the legacy. It gives them a little bit of extra protection. The downside is that as soon as the ceremony is done the legacy will be targeted by the underworld much like you and your sisters were. I was hoping to have more time….I knew I should have started training with them sooner." Leo said as he withdrew into himself.
"Ok, so what if lets say Wyatt and Chris want it but Melinda doesn't. What does that mean for her, I'm not going to bless my boys and leave her out." Piper snapped
"You don't have to Piper. You can give her a blessing as well, it's just the wording like in every ritual. It would mean that while Wyatt and Chris would be known as Charmed, Melinda would be able to live close to a normal life. She would still be in a small amount of danger, but the focus would be on the boys." Leo replied
"Wait a minute what if I want to be a part of this….you can't just assume that because I'm the youngest that I don't want to do this. I'm not letting my brothers go through that alone." Melinda could feel the tears starting to sting her eyes but she fought them back the best that she could. "You can't make this decision for me!"
"Melinda, sweetie, I wasn't trying to force anything I was just using you as an example. I'm sure Aunt Phoebe and Aunt Paige had the same concerns." Piper said as she looked to her sisters for confirmation. Which she received as they both shook their head yes.
"Ok so now that that is all cleared up how do you want to handle this? Vote, secret ballot?" Paige said with a laugh trying to lighten the mood.
"Well I say that we don't make any decisions without talking to grams first. She would haunt us if we did." Phoebe said with a giggle.
"Ok, well then you two … Attic…husbands kitchen…try to make some sandwiches or something, but don't ruin my kitchen…kids sit here and think…if you want out now is your chance. We will be back in a few minutes with Grams and then we can figure this out." Piper said as she followed her sisters up the stairs.
Piper, Phoebe and Paige took the all to familiar spot next to the books of shadows and linked hands. Together they spoke:
"Hear these words, hear my cries,
Spirit from the other side.
Come to me, I summon thee
Cross now the great divide."
Grams appeared before them with a knowing look. "Well it took you three long enough. Are we ready?" She said as she stepped out of the circle and became corporeal once again.
"Grams you knew this was coming?" Paige asked
"Well I didn't think it was going to stay quiet for too much longer..besides your Elder friend told me to expect a summons and here I am." Gram hugged each of them and strode out of the attic.
She was expecting to see the smiling faces of all her great grandchildren and instead walked down to a scene resembling World War III. "ENOUGH!" she screamed and instantly there was silence. "Now sit down all of you we are mostly all adults here…and we are family no need to squabble amongst ourselves." After she said hello to everyone they moved to the conservatory where there was more room. After about of an hour of debates and bickering they came to the conclusion that the best way to handle this was with an "I'm in or I'm out" vote.
Grams took the lead. "Now I am going to go around the room and when I say your name just state in or out. If you feel the need to explain you may do so uninterrupted. There will be time for damage control once this is settled. Samhain is only two days away and we must move quickly. Agreed?"
"Agreed" rang out the chorus
"Let's begin…Wyatt?"
"In"
"Chris?"
"In"
"Melinda?"
"In"
"but Melinda…" Chris started to protest before Grams cut him off.
"Chris no interruptions…Tamora?"
"Out"
"Tam I can't…" Kat started…
"Kat what did I say?" Grams asked
"Sorry" she replied
"Kat?"
"In"
"Henry?"
"In"
"Prudence?"
"Out"
"Parker?"
"Out"
"Payton?"
"In"
"Good that's six in and three out. Chris would you now like to state your case?" Grams asked giving him the floor.
"I just don't like the idea of my baby sister risking her life that way…not that I'm happy any of us are, but you're my baby sister." Chris pleaded.
"Chris…it's not like we haven't fought demons before…don't you remember that time when I was 3 and that demon showed up in the playroom? He looked confused at first then before he came to his senses you grabbed my hand and Wyatt grabbed the other? Without even saying a spell we vanquished him? If we could do that then…why can't you understand that we can do that now. I wasn't scared because I had you and Wyatt there to protect me…let me do this with you." Melinda responded as a tear fell down her face.
"WHAT! You took on a demon and you NEVER thought to tell me about it?" Piper screamed "What were you thinking?"
"Mom, we didn't realize it was dangerous, we just did what we know." Wyatt responded.
"Ok next Tamora would you like to explain?" Grams moved on before they got way off topic.
"I'm sorry Kat, but I don't want to fight demons, I want to focus on being a whitelighter like mom. I want to help other witches and future whitelighters. I told you years ago that if we are given a choice what I was going to do." Tamora explained
"But you're my twin Tam, I thought for sure that you would side with me." Kat said between silent sobs.
"I'm sorry you have to let it go I am not changing my mind."
"Ok, and Prue?"
"I don't want to be a part of this. I never wanted to be a part of this. I love my family and I don't want to let you guys down, but magic isn't something that I want to have to use on a daily basis. And yes I know it's a part of me and I can't change that, but I haven't used any of my powers for years. I'm sorry if any of you are disappointed in me, but I just can't do it." Prue said as she hung her head.
"Honey, no one is disappointed in you. You have always made your father and me proud that you are our daughter. Your aunts and I didn't have a choice, I'm just glad that you do." Phoebe said and she stroked Prue's hair to calm her down.
"That leaves Parker! Do you want to say something?"
"Honestly I want to follow my dad's footsteps. I want to bring people together with their perfect match. I don't know if I can split my time doing both. Daddy you said I could be a Cupid if I chose. I'm choosing it now." Parker said with a small plea.
"If that's what you want sweetheart all you had to do was ask. You were given a ring same as your sisters the day you were born. I will show you everything I know." Coop said as he put his arm around her.
"Anyone else?" Grams asked
"I have something to say." Henry Sr. stated. "I thought this was all behind us, and now you are telling me that my children are going to have to do what my wife had to do. I won't stand for it."
"Henry, it's what they chose. We can't protect them forever. You knew when you married me that this was going to happen." Paige said in a soothing voice.
"Doesn't mean I have to like it." He grumbled back.
It was past midnight so they decided to take up their usual holiday sleeping arrangements. Boys in the conservatory, girls in the living room, and Piper, Paige, Phoebe and their husbands took their old rooms. Grams said goodbye and that she would see them in a couple of days. She gave her instructions on the ritual to Piper and faded away.
The next morning Piper woke up hoping that the last few hours she could remember had been a dream. She hoped that she had dozed off while talking with her daughter and that there wasn't really a threat upon them and that she didn't have to give her children her blessing to be in danger. As she stumbled out of bed and started down the stairs she saw all the girls still asleep. It wasn't a dream. She thought to herself. Time to make breakfast and start planning a ceremony instead of my daughters surprise party. She paused a moment and let her eyes land on the young adults before her. Her daughter Melinda, so peaceful. Her nieces Tamora and Kat sleeping identically. That made her giggle. Then there were Phoebe's babies, Prue, Parker and little Payton. Not so little anymore. With a sigh she tiptoed around them to look in on the boys. Wyatt barely fit on the wicker couch, and Chris was folded between the chair and the stool. Henry Jr was sprawled out on the floor using his blanket as a pillow. Are they really ready for this. She gave another sigh and headed into the kitchen. She tried to ease her mind by doing what she loved and set about cooking a feast.