Here it is, the first chapter for Begin Again. This is meant to pick up where New Beginnings ended. Please review if you read, thanks again for the reviews from New Beginnings and I hope you enjoy this one.
Chapter 1The Morning After
Billie sighed as she took one last look at her bedroom in the attic. This had been her home for so long now, she couldn't imagine herself anywhere else. She couldn't imagine a life with out the sisters. She felt a tear make its way down her cheek but felt confidence in her decision as she looked down at her nephew, sleeping peacefully in his car seat. She knew she couldn't tell the sisters about him, they'd never understand. She loved this baby, it was all she had left of her sister. The clock on the nightstand said 2:45. She had been up all night debating on what to do. It had taken all her courage and strength to write the letter that now lay on her pillow. Slowly and quietly she picked up the car seat and walked out the door. She felt in her heart this was the only way to protect him. This was the only way for her save her nephew. She felt another tear fall as she closed the door behind her. The early morning air hit her and she quickly tucked Damian's blanket tightly around him. He stirred a little and sweet smile crossed his face as he continued to sleep.
Placing his seat in the car she walked around slowly opening the drivers side door, climbing in, then shutting it quietly. She looked up at the manor one last time before putting her car in reverse and backing out of the driveway. She wiped the tears from her eyes. "I'm so sorry." She whispered as she put the car in drive and slowly drove down the road, not looking back again.
Piper smiled as she sat plates around the table. She felt unusually happy this morning. Of course the house was still a wreck from last nights battle but Leo had managed to get the old stove from the basement to the kitchen so she could at least cook breakfast. Prue never used it anyway. The only appliance she really needed down there was a microwave. She smiled as she saw Prue walk in and take a seat. She couldn't help but notice that her face was slightly pale. "You feeling ok?"
Prue made a gagging face as Piper placed a pancake on the plate in front of her. "No breakfast for me." She pushed the plate away from her.
"Can white lighters get sick?" Piper asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Depends on what kind of sick you mean." Prue mumbled. She hadn't told her sisters yet about her pregnancy. She struggled with the thought as Piper sat down next to her.
"Care to explain that?"
Prue looked at her sister. Now or never she thought to herself. "Piper, I have something to tell you. I just don't know how." Prue bit her bottom lip nervously.
"Ok, so just tell me." Piper's voice sounded concerned.
Prue looked up at her, tears welling up in her eyes. She tried to talk but no words would come out. She closed her mouth and turned her face away from Piper.
"Prue." Piper called to her, trying to get her attention. Prue felt Piper's hand gently turn her face to her. "Prue." She was now looking her in the eye. Prue felt as though her sister could see right through her. "We don't keep secrets from each other. Please. I can't help you if you don't tell me."
Prue felt a tear making its way from her eye. She reached her hand up and brushed it away. This was stupid. She was really quite happy about the baby. Why was this so hard? She took in a deep breath. "Piper…..I'm…." She released the breath and took in another. "Piper, I'm pregnant." She blurted out. She watched as Piper's face went from shock, to surprise, then felt her mind ease as a smile stretched out across her face.
"Really?" Piper asked. She couldn't disguise that smile.
"Yea." Prue smiled a little herself. That wasn't so hard. At least now one of her sisters knew.
Piper reached out and placed a hand on Prue's stomach. She smiled as Prue looked at her the same way she use to look at people. "I don't care, that's my niece of nephew in there."
"Apparently it's your nephew, and according to the Elders, we may not get to keep him." Prue looked at her sister, she could see the anger growing in her face.
"What do you mean? They have no right to tell you what you can and can't do."
"I know, but according to Garon, they will have a hearing closer to my due date. There they will decide whether or not Andy and I get to raise this baby. We are supposed to come up with our own arguments on why the Elders shouldn't take him. They seem to think he will possess Elder like powers and should be raised as an Elder."
Piper angrily stood up from her chair. "You know I am sick and tired of this. Being witches is what caused us to loose you in the first place. It's what caused us to loose Paige. They can't keep barking orders at us. They don't know everything, they may think they do, but they don't." She was pacing now in front of the table.
"Calm down. I'm not going to let them take him from me. I don't know how, but I know deep down this baby will grow up here, just as we did." She tried to smile convincingly at Piper. She hoped her sister didn't see the fear behind it.
"Well, if they try to take him, I'm joining the other side."
Prue smiled a little. "Don't tell the others. I want to be the one to tell them."
"Ok. Sure you won't have a pancake?" Piper asked, pushing the plate back in front of Prue.
"I'm sure." Prue was trying to hold back a gag. "Want me to see if Paige and Phoebe want to join us for breakfast?"
"That would be great. I'll go wake Leo and get Billie and we'll all have a nice family breakfast." Piper headed for the stairs.
"You all will have breakfast. I'll just sit and watch." Prue mumbled as she pushed the plate even further to the middle of the table. She brushed her hair back from her face as she stood and started for the door.
She knocked on the door before opening it. She knew that Phoebe and Coop had spent the night here, simply because they wanted to be close to the manor. She walked in and saw Phoebe and Paige sitting there, both with a baby in their arms. "Good morning." She whispered as she leaned down and kissed little Henry first and then baby Payton on the forehead.
Both sisters smiled at her. "Morning." Phoebe said in a gentle voice.
"Piper wants to know if you want to come over for breakfast?"
Paige looked up at Prue. "I was going to offer to cook for everyone over here."
Phoebe tried to cover up her laughter with a cough. "I thought you liked us." She joked.
Paige kicked her in the shin. She couldn't help but laugh though, she knew her cooking was horrible. "Can you hold him? I'll go get Henry." She handed the baby to Prue and left the room. Henry was up stairs. Paige knew he was awake, she had heard the shower running not that long ago.
When she opened the door she smiled a little as she saw Henry standing there with a towel wrapped around his waist. "Hi there." She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Good morning to you too." He kissed her on the forehead.
"Piper wants us to come over for breakfast." She smiled as she watched him slip on his shirt.
"Good, I'm starving. Just give me a minute to get dressed." He smiled at her as he pulled a pair of jeans from the closet.
"I'll be waiting downstairs." She let out a sigh as she closed the door behind her. She found it hard to believe she could be this happy.
Within a few minutes they were all down stairs, ready to go. Prue had called for Andy who was now standing beside her. Phoebe had also called for Coop and he was holding Payton now while Phoebe put the last bottle in the diaper bag.
"Let's go." Prue smiled as she orbed out holding Andy's hand. She was followed by Paige and Henry who orbed out the same time as Phoebe and Coop disappeared with the beat of a heart.
They all gathered around the table as Wyatt and Chris came racing down the stairs, Leo close behind them carrying Melinda. "No running boys!" He called out behind them. Everything seemed perfect until Piper's scream filled the air.
"PRUE!" Piper screamed as she came racing down the stairs.
"What's wrong?" Phoebe asked as she turned to see her sister out of breath holding a piece of paper in her hand.
"Are you ok?" Paige asked as she handed her baby boy to Henry.
"It's Billie." Piper looked around the kitchen at her sisters, she couldn't' hide the fear or the anger from her voice. "She's gone."