Chapter 2
SCENE: HALLIWELL MANOR
(Prue and Phoebe are sitting at the table eating breakfast in silence until Prue speaks up.)
Prue: Okay, it's another day, we've slept on it and I still haven't changed my mind.
Phoebe: Yeah, well my mind hasn't changed either.
Prue: Okay, we both have the same goal, to protect Piper and that baby, but I don't think keeping this inside is what's right. You know how at Piper's first doctor's appointment when they asked for everything she knew about her medical history and the father's. Well, this is the same thing. We need to know all the magical facts about Piper's baby just as much as we need to know the medical ones. And Piper deserves to know.
Phoebe: I agree, but I still don't believe we should tell her until after the baby is born. Why cause her the stress now, it wouldn't be good for her or the baby.
Prue: (Groaning) We're in the same place we were last night.
(Just then Andy walks in.)
Andy: Morning.
Phoebe: Andy, good, we could use your opinion.
Prue: Uh, I don't think so.
Andy: What? Oh come on, I'll be objective.
Prue: It's not an every day issue.
Andy: Is this a supernatural thing? Because when I moved in here I knew I would have to deal with these things from time to time. Unless it's about how to vanquish a demon or say a spell, I can't help you with that. But come on, I'm all ears.
(He sits down.)
Prue: Well, it's just, Piper has had some weird things going on lately.
Andy: What, is she okay, is the baby okay?
Phoebe: They're fine, it's just- We might have found out some things about the father.
Andy: The handyman? What about him?
Phoebe: Well, he may be more than that, he may be supernatural.
Andy: Supernatural? Like a demon?
Prue: No, if we're right he protects witches.
Andy: Okay, so what's the problem?
Prue: (Sighing) Piper doesn't know, and Phoebe and I aren't sure if we should tell her. We are disagreeing about that.
Andy: Well, if he's good I don't see the problem.
Phoebe: Well, Piper's had a history of unintentionally falling for people who aren't exactly normal. One tried to kill us, he was actually our first vanquish. I just don't want to take a risk of telling her and causing her unnessesary stress.
Prue: But I think she deserves to know now, especially if whatever powers this baby has will shock the doctor in the delivery room.
Andy: Um, well I think you both have valid concerns. It's a complicated situation.
(Just then Piper walks in.)
Piper: What's a complicated situation?
(They all turn to her.)
Phoebe: Uh, how we're going to send out the thank you notes so we get the names to match the presents you were given.
Piper: Uh, that's not a complicated situation, that's why Prue took down everybody's name and what they got me while I was opening presents.
Phoebe: Right.
Prue: (Through clenched teeth.) That's the best you could come up with?
Phoebe: (Through clenched teeth.) I'm a bad liar, you know that.
(Piper puts her hands on her hips.)
Piper: What's going on?
Phoebe: (Sighing) I guess we might as well. Sit down sweetie, there's something you should know.
Piper: Uh, okay. (She sits down.) You guys are starting to scare me.
Prue: Um, before we tell you this we need you to promise to not freak out.
Piper: Now you're really starting to scare me.
Phoebe: It's not bad, well when you look at the big picture it's not bad. Just take a deep breath and stay calm.
Piper: (Breathing) Okay.
Prue: Um, it's about Leo.
Piper: Leo? What about Leo? Did he call here?
Phoebe: No, but, you remember how you were telling us yesterday about the weird things that were happening to you?
Piper: Yes.
Phoebe: Well, last night, well early this morning I looked through the book of shadows to see if I could find anything, and, well Prue and I think we found something.
Piper: Oh god.
Prue: It's really not that bad Piper. We think that Leo might be a whitelighter.
Piper: A whitelighter? What the hell is that?
Phoebe: Well, it's kind of a guide for witches. They watch over them and protect them.
Piper: Okay, but why do you think Leo is one of these whitelighter guys?
Prue: Uh, well, they heal people.
Piper: They heal people?
Phoebe: With their hands.
Piper: So, you think my baby has been healing me from the womb?
Phoebe: I looked at that book cover to cover, that's the only thing that explains it.
(Piper sighs.)
Andy: Uh, I'll get you some water.
(Piper grabs a knife and cuts her finger.)
Prue: Piper, what the hell are you doing?
Piper: Running a test.
(She looks at her finger and watches as the wound closes and disappears.)
Piper: Woah.
Prue: Yeah.
Piper: (Tears in her eyes.) How could he do this to me?
Phoebe: Oh, honey, maybe he couldn't tell you.
Piper: I don't give a damn, what, am I just a big idiot for falling for guys who have some big secret and they're able to fool me into thinking they're being honest?
Prue: Honey, you're not an idiot. There's no way you could have known.
Piper: I should have. After Jeremy I should have known better.
Prue: Leo isn't Jeremy though Piper. He's the exact opposite in fact. He heals witches not hurts them.
Piper: Well, he hurt me didn't he?
Andy: (Walking over with a glass of water.) Here you go.
Piper: (Taking a sip.) Thank you.
Phoebe: Look, Piper, I understand you feel really hurt right now, and I'm not saying it's not justified, you should feel hurt. But I also want you to know I saw the way Leo looked at you, there's no way he was lying about his feelings for you.
Piper: That doesn't make me feel better because he was lying about everything else.
(Piper gets up and walks away.)
Phoebe: (Turning to Prue) That actually went better then I expected it to.
LATER AT QUAKE
(Piper is working in the kitchen when she suddenly feels a sharp pain in her abdomen. She leans over in pain when her coworker, Laura, notices her.)
Laura: Piper, are you okay?
Piper: (Breathing heavily.) Ye-Yeah. Ow!
Laura: Mark, call an ambulance. (She walks over to Piper and leans down.) Do you need anything?
Piper: (With tears in her eyes.) C-Call, my sis-sisters.
LATER AT BAY AREA HOSPITAL
(Phoebe and Prue rush out of the elevator and up to the reception desk.)
Prue: Excuse me, our sister was just admitted. She had labor pains but she's not due for another six weeks.
Nurse: Name?
Prue: Prue Halliwell.
Phoebe: I think she meant the patient's name.
Prue: Oh, Piper Halliwell.
(The nurse types information into the computer.)
Nurse: The doctor's in with her right now, I'll let him know you're here, he should be out in a few minutes.
(The nurse walks away.)
Prue: What did she mean by that? What could the doctor be testing her for that we can't be in there?
Phoebe: It's probably all routine.
Prue: What if it's not?
Phoebe: We can't think that way Prue. I'm sure everything will be okay.
Prue: We don't know that though. God, this is all my fault.
Phoebe: How on earth is this your fault?
Prue: You were right, we shouldn't have told her about Leo, not now.
Phoebe: That couldn't have been the cause of this. She was upset but she didn't seem stressed. Then she was fine when she left for work. These things just happen sometimes.
(They're interrupted when the doctor comes out.)
Doctor: Halliwell?
(Prue and Phoebe walk up to him.)
Prue: We're her sisters, is she okay?
Doctor: She went into preterm labor.
Prue: Oh god.
Doctor: We were able to slow the contractions down. For now she's in the clear. I want to keep her overnight for observation but she should be able to go home tomorrow.
Phoebe: So she and the baby are okay?
Doctor: Yes, but I want her to take it easy. She'll have to go on bed rest and she'll have to be very careful about watching her stress levels.
Phoebe: Absolutely, we'll watch her like a hawk.
Prue: Can we see her?
Doctor: Yes, but only for a while, she needs her rest.
Prue: Thank you.
(Phoebe and Prue walk towards the door and walk in.)
LATER THAT NIGHT
(Piper is sleeping in her hospital bed when orbs reveal Leo. She stirs and opens her eyes. She squints when she sees Leo in the dark.)
Piper: Leo?
A/N: There you go, chapter 2, let me know what you think.
