Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed
A/N I'm trying something new, my other story isn't complete yet but I'm starting on this one since I feel the need to catch up to my deadline that I've appointed myself. I'm also hoping to finish the last two chapters for the AU Prue back story. Hmmm, can I multitask? Guess we'll find out. By the way, this is the 6th episode of the Next Generation series.
A/N Reworking this one. Sorry for the incredibly long delay. I actually think I may be working on my series again!
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In the Cooper household, everyone was asleep. Phoebe slept cuddled to her husband as though they were still newlyweds. Marriage to a Cupid pretty much guaranteed that the honeymoon was never over. She always felt safe and secure in the arms of Coop. Warm. At peace.
Across the hall from her contentedly sleeping parents, Peyton tossed in her sleep. For weeks, the youngest member of the Halliwell-Mitchell-Cooper clan had been dreaming of the Underworld; of HIM. Phobos, The Source of All Evil, the demon who had possessed her for a few brief moments, although it hadn't felt brief at the time! Somehow, in that moment, he became linked to Peyton and her to him.
In her dreams, she freely wandered the Underworld, going places that in a wakened state she'd never attempt to go. The demons who lived there could never see her dream body and so far she hadn't encountered the face of Fear, some semi conscious part of her unconscious prayed that she was 'only dreaming' and that the reason she never came face to face with Phobos is that she had no idea what he looked like and therefore couldn't insert him into the world that she could easily recognize.
On the day that Phobos had possessed her, she and her cousins had attempted to learn more about the Underworld. Her twin cousins, Samantha and Victoria had orbed together to get a mental picture to send to Melinda who had the ability to remote view. She had used her own powers to help the twins give that picture to Mel. Mel, with a starting point, had been able to remote view but their victory was short lived as Phobos had somehow been aware of the trespass. He had focused on her, the empath, the conduit, the weak link. She had become one with his rage, his power, the blackest evil, the greatest threat and, strangely enough, his deep pain and loneliness. It was no wonder that she kept having nightmares in the aftermath. She just wished that she could stop dreaming about the Underworld. Her dreams weren't as scary as that interlude but they were just as unsettling. She preferred dreaming about the boy…
As she had this thought her dreamscape shifted away from the underworld and she was again on the silent play ground; silent except for the rusty squeaking of the swing chains. Here it was always twilight, but a dark twilight. Autumnal. The trees barren of all leaves and a slight chill to the air were almost enough to explain the absence of children's laughter. Her long brown hair blowing in her face, hugging her arms around herself to ward off the chill, Peyton slowly crossed the play-ground.
(X)
In the Mitchell household, no one was asleep; largely because of the argument raging inside.
"Paige, I don't understand why I have to go to magic school. I'm an adult," Bree reminded her White-Lighter in a clipped tone, tossing her strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder.
"An adult raised in the Underworld," Paige glared exasperatedly at her charge. "If you want to fit in here…"
"I should stay here," Bree interjected heatedly, just as stubborn as her White-Lighter, "Not be carted off to Magic School. I know there are things I have to learn in order to fit in with the non-magics but I think I'd learn them better if I were immersed in the culture and day to day workings of them." She argued.
Paige sighed, "I agree, to a point. Maybe you're too old to fit in with the students, maybe magically you are far advanced for Magic School, but while I'm teaching you things that all mortals know the easiest place to do that is Magic School."
"Magic School again?" Henry Jr asked with a raised brow as he entered the kitchen. He raised his arms in front of himself to ward off his mother's perturbed glare, "Look, Uncle Leo had a great idea and all, but Magic School isn't the end-all be-all of our existence. She needs to learn to fit in, she'll make mistakes…"
"…Which is why she should be at Magic School to make them," Paige stated in vexation, "She won't expose magic."
"And you never exposed magic?" Henry Jr. asked dryly. His mother flushed.
"Yes, magic has been exposed before, which is why I'm being so cautious," she defended herself, but with much less heat. Paige realized that she was losing the argument. She snapped at the two, "Fine, she doesn't have to go with me to school tomorrow," she pointed a warning finger at her son, "But, she's your responsibility for the day." She disappeared in a swirl of blue orbs.
"Thanks," Bree told Henry warmly.
"No problem," HJ replied.
"Where'd she go?" Bree asked.
HJ chuckled, "Probably the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. She goes there to cool off sometime; she's been there fairly often lately," he changed the subject smoothly. "So, what do you want to do tomorrow?"
Bree thought for a moment, "What do women here do?"
He looked at Bree in surprise.
She pointed out quickly, "I'm learning about bills and credit cards and manners…"
He nodded his head in understanding, "Well, I could take you shopping," he grimaced, "Women seem to love it and then you can put knowledge to practice; you put stuff on the credit cards and pay your bills and be nice to the salespeople."
Bree laughed, "Something tells me that you'd rather be doing anything besides shopping. So what do men here do?"
(X)
Four men entered the loft apartment of Wyatt and Chris Halliwell. With Wyatt and Chris were Parker and Pace Bennett.
"The apartment is everything you said it would be," Pace enthused to brothers.
"You're leaving your mom, dad and Palmer to the hotel," Wyatt tsked in mock disappointment.
"Actually, Mom says that now she can rent a small house while she's looking for one to buy. So everyone's excited that Parker and I are leaving."
The Bennetts had been living in a hotel for the last six weeks while Priscilla Bennett house hunted. Unfortunately Priscilla had discriminating tastes and refused to settle on just any old house, even if it meant she wouldn't be in a hotel suite anymore.
"Looks like we'll be neighbors then," Wyatt said with a grin. He'd grown to like Pace and even though he saw much less of Parker – Pace worked at P3, with himself and Chris but Parker worked for 415 magazine- he sensed a kindred spirit in him; probably because they were nearer to the same age and both the eldest of their respective siblings. He thought that he and Parker might have a lot in common, magical heritage aside.
"Any chance we can get you two to help us move in?" Pace asked with a grin.
Chris groaned, "You're killin' me, Man, we still have boxes of our own." He smiled to let them know he was mostly joking. Wyatt and Chris had moved into their loft recently.
"Man up, Chris," Parker teased, "Remember, we don't have much to unpack."
The Bennetts had fled their reality, which was excessively demon-filled, for this world. Thanks to Parkers ability to create portals to other places, times, and planes of existence the entire family was able to make a new start. Unfortunately Parker's portals were only so large. They had come with plenty of money but not much in material belongings; the bare essentials and, of course, the familial heritage, Priscilla Bennett's Book of Shadows, were the only things they brought through the portal with them. They also brought The Source of All Evil, but they hadn't exactly planned that!
(X)
one chapter done!
