Chapter 2: The baby

At the Halliwell Manor

''Go away!'' Piper yelled to Drew. Then she tried to blow him up, but he wouldn't bunch.

''I'm not going anywhere until you tell your husband that you're carrying his baby. And then I'm going to kill you, right in front of his very eyes.'' He replied with an evil grin on his face.

''No!'' Piper yelled again and tried to hit him on the head with a vase, but missed.

Downstairs they heard sudden noises coming from upstairs, along with shouting and stuff breaking. They all looked at each other and walked towards the stairs. While walking to Piper's room Prue called out for her but got no response.

''I'll be back Piper, for your baby'' Drew told her, he threw an fireball but hit the door instead. After that he disappeared and let Piper alone on her bedroom floor.

''Piper, honey?'' Phoebe asked sweetly, only to see her sister cry. She went over to hug her and tucked a strand of hair behind her sisters ear. ''Who was that?''

''Drew'' Was the only thing Piper could answer.

''What?!'' Prue said in disbelief. ''What did he want?''

''Me, he said he would kill me in front of Leo if I didn't tell him'' Piper sobbed.

''Tell me what?'' Leo asked his wife kneeling beside her. He took her soothingly into his arms. He could tell that she acted hesitant again. She wasn't sure if she could tell him. At that she shook her head.

''Oh Leo, I'm so sorry!'' Piper started her outburst. ''The only thing I ever wanted was to make you happy, to be a good wife to you and give you everything you've always wanted. Instead the only thing I do is letting you down.''

''Honey, look at me.'' Leo said, at which Piper slowly turned her red, puffy eyes to meet his gaze. ''You can never disappoint me and you already give me everything I want and more. What else could I ask for?''

''A family, a baby, people who will grow up with us. That's what Drew is trying to take from us.'' She answered.

''You're not….are you?'' Leo asked surprised. He couldn't believe it, the love of his life was carrying his child. He wanted to scream of the rooftops how lucky he was. After becoming a whitelighter Leo never thought that he would experience love for himself again. But here he was, married to his loving witch and now there was a baby on the way. He looked at his wife and hugged her. Everyone else wore a smile on their faces. Then Leo kissed her fiercely, wanting to show her that she was loved and protected.

''I wanted to take a pregnancy test, but never got to it with everything going on today.'' Piper told them.

''Alright honey, you rest up for a bit, take the test and then follow us downstairs, okay?'' Prue told Piper. She gave her a kiss on her head. ''We've got a demon to vanquish.''

On the way down Phoebe got a premonition when she touched the banisters. She was standing in the hallway, looking at Piper hugging Leo. After that a red force field appeared, the demon pulled Piper to the side, she's crying. Drew throws a fireball, killing Piper. Phoebe exhaled getting back to reality.

''What did you see?'' Cole asked.

''Drew and Piper, he was killing her. Right here, in the hallway.'' She replied, looking at Cole. Phoebe could see him thinking everything through and she furrowed her brows.

''What?!'' Leo exclaimed, concerned about his wife.

''I know what he wants, what he's after.'' Cole started. ''Remember, he doesn't like changes. Him falling in love with a human is a change to the rules. That's why he killed Eva and wants her gone. Piper and Leo are a forbidden love too. Witches and whitelighters aren't supposed to be together. So he wants Piper dead as well.''

''You're on to something there.'' Prue admitted.

Eva appeared by their side again and wanted to know everything she had missed. They filled her in and Piper came down stairs.

''And?'' Leo asked tenderly. At that Piper handed him the test. He looked closely and saw a little plus sign. It was set in stone now, he was going to be a dad! He hugged her again.

''No, my premonition.'' Phoebe said.

''What premonition?'' Piper asked, just when Drew entered the Manor. Pipers face turned into shock.

''I'm back!'' Drew shouted. ''So, does your husband know? The fact that you're carrying his child, the child of a whielighter, the child of a forbidden love.''

''Piper, get yourself together.'' Phoebe encouraged her. Scared that her premonition may come true.

Drew pulled Piper away from Leo to the middle of the hallway. Prue and Cole walked towards them trying to free her, but Drew already had a forcefield up to protect him. Cole started throwing energyballs to break through but failed.

''Wait, I just wanna have a little talk with Piper, just the two of us. Don't be afraid, it'll be over soon. I'm only here to set the wrong thing right.'' Drew said.

''Cole do something!'' Phoebe exclaimed.

''What can I do?'' He asked, knowing that his powers wouldn't get through the forcefield.

''Weren't the rules clear to you Piper, witches and whitelighters aren't supposed to be together.'' Drew told to tease them, knowing the words would go straight in their hearts. ''I'm not a darklighter, so I cannot kill your husband. But I can kill you!'' He walked towards her with a fireball.

''No!'' Piper shouted and Drew made the fireball disappear.

''Oh really, what've you got to lose? You'll never be a good mom, just as you were never a good witch nor a good wife.'' He said knowing he would have her in the palm of his hands.

''I love you -'' Piper started ''But he's right, we weren't supposed to be together.''

''Leo do something!'' Prue yelled.

''Piper you know better than this, after all these years this isn't the end of our love!'' He exclaimed with as much love as he could put in the words. ''You're not always as perfect as you want to be, but I love you for who you are. I know in my heart that you will be a good mom! Piper, please honey, don't give up!''

''Oh, how romantic'' Drew mocked. ''Too bad that this is the end of it'' He said just before he threw a fireball at Piper.

A bright yellow light appeared and she flew through the air and landed into the closet. Because of the fall, her face, arms and stomach were covered in blood. She closed her eyes and it looked like she breathed out for the last time. The red force field disappeared as quickly as it came.

''I'll be back for Eva'' Drew said before he vanished.

Leo ran towards Piper, she looked terrible. He listened for her breathing and checked her pulse. It was there, weak, but there. Her breaths were slow and heavy. He kneeled next to her and put his hands over her chest. After 4 minutes, which seemed like eternity, Piper opened her eyes. She looked straight into Leo's eyes, put his hands to his cheek and hugged him.

''Is he gone?'' She finally asked.

''Yes'' Leo answered and kissed her. He loved her so much.

''I didn't want to give us up, to give you up. But Drew made it sound like I didn't have a choice''

''I know, he had you in his power.''

''Piper, aren't you forgetting something?'' Prue asked gently. ''Because of Drew you wanted to give up everything, but it's not just you now. You're having a baby.''

Piper stared into space. The whole room was silent ''You don't think I lost my baby, do you?'' Piper said to Prue, breaking the silence.

''I don't know'' Prue admitted honestly.

''But it can't be, it took so long for us to finally get pregnant, it can't go wrong know.'' Piper exclaimed. Prue hugged her. She knew how much Piper wanted to be a mother.

''I can get a new pregnancy test for you if you'd like'' Phoebe suggested. Piper nodded. ''Alright, then I'll be right back'' Phoebe said, grabbed her bag, kissed Cole and left.

''Alright, let's start on the vanquishing potion. We can't do anything right now.'' Prue stated and headed towards the kitchen. The others followed.

Drew's apartment

''Hallo?! Anyone there?'' Eva called through Drew's apartment. She didn't see him anywhere. What she did see was a light at the end of the hallway. It looked like it came from the room on the left. The rest of the apartment was dark, nothing like she remembered. When she was alive the apartment looked more light, colorful and open. She entered the room at the end of the hallway. It was the study, she never came there. There were a lot of books all over the place, an herb cabinet and flasks, lots and lots of flasks. On the left side of the room there was a desk. On top of it was a big sheet of paper, from a distanced it looked like a map. When Eva came closer she saw that it was Drew's battle plan, the plan to take out the Charmed Ones. She had to warn them.

At the Manor

Piper read the ingredients for the potion from the Book of Shadows. Prue did as she was told and put the pigs foot into the pan. The potion flamed and turned blue. After she added two branches of mandrake root, three pinches of garlic and a piece of Drew's flesh, a light explosion was heard and the potion was done. Piper grabbed a couple of vails and put the potion in them.

''I'm home!'' Phoebe shouted.

''Kitchen!'' Prue yelled back.

Phoebe headed to the kitchen and put her groceries down on the counter. Then she went to Cole and kissed him. She was only gone for half an hour, but she missed him. After the whole forbidden love thing they all went through today, she needed him to reassure her he wouldn't leave. He kissed her back with passion and whispered that he loved her.

''Here you go Phoebe, the vanquishing potion.'' Piper said and offered her a vail.

''Thanks, I have something for you too.'' She replied and gave Piper the pregnancy test who walked to the bathroom with it. ''So were going after Drew?'' Phoebe said.

''Yeah, anything to protect Eva.'' Prue replied.

''Maybe I should protect you.'' Eva said after appearing in the kitchen.

''Why?'' Cole asked.

''Drew has a battle plan. One you're not going to like. He is determined to kill one of you. I beg you, don't go! 'Cause if he encounters you once more, he'll wipe out all forbidden love.'' Eva replied.

Cole looked at Phoebe and she looked back at him. ''It's going to be okay'' He said.

''I know'' Phoebe said and shot him a reassuring smile. Not really knowing who she was trying to convince more, herself or Cole.

''Alright –'' Prue started to change the subject. ''Than we'll kick, levitate and freeze long enough 'till he's dead.''

''Yeah'' Was the only response she got from Phoebe.

''What love can't conquer we will.'' Prue stated.

''I hope so.'' Phoebe said and then she looked at Cole and Leo. ''I'll go check on Piper.''

A minute later Phoebe returned. She shared a look with Leo who had tears welling up in his eyes. He couldn't believe that it could be all over. Only an hour ago he and Piper had shared the joy of becoming parents. And now it seemed like it was too good to be true.

''Are you alright Leo?'' Prue asked.

''Oh yes, I'm just fine. My wife was almost killed and we've lost are baby.'' He answered sarcastically.

''You don't know that, there's always a chance.'' Prue said.

Piper entered the kitchen with tears in her eyes. Leo walked over to her and pulled her into a hug. She showed him the pregnancy test and his face broke out in a smile. Still two pink lines to see. He hugged her and planted a firm kiss on her mouth.

''Congratulations!'' Phoebe shouted and hugged first Piper and then Leo.

''Congrats Piper, Leo'' Cole said with a smile on his face.

''We're going to protect you, you know that.'' Prue stated after which she whispered a congratulations in her sister's ear.

''Let's go and find us a demon.'' Piper said ready to fight. They didn't have to look far, 'cause the second they entered the living room Drew appeared.

''You're still alive I see.'' Drew said looking at Piper.

He quickly threw an athame, luckily it only scraped her. Piper however didn't notice because of the adrenaline pumping through her body. Cole threw an energyball, but Drew wouldn't bunch.

''You'll get what is coming to you, traitor.'' Drew threatened Cole.

Drew tossed a fireball his way, Cole ducked and the fireball landed in Pipers range. But instead of hitting her, a yellow forcefield emerged from Pipers stomach and it protected her. The fireball rebounded on it and it hit Drew right in the chest. He screamed and then turned into a pile of ashes. They didn't even needed the vanquishing potion.

''Piper got hit'' Cole noticed.

Leo rushed over to heal his wife. She got in hit around the stomach area. But before he got a chance to lay his hands over her wound it healed itself already.

''That was quick. How did you do that?'' Prue said.

''I didn't.'' Leo replied.

''The baby did.'' Piper said. ''I guess she takes after her daddy.'' At which she shot Leo a loving smile.

''Two powers from the womb! She's a Halliwell already.'' Phoebe stated. Everyone laughed at her comment.

''Thank you, you really helped me. I can move on now'' Eva told them.

''You're welcome.'' Prue answered for all of them.

''Blessed be.'' Eva said before she lifted up to heaven.

The next morning in the Halliwell Manor

Phoebe woke up and yawned. She looked around for Cole but couldn't find him. She frowned, today was not a day for demonic business. Her frown was replaced for a smile quick enough when she saw him enter their bedroom with a tray of breakfast in his hands.

''Hmm, that smells good.'' Phoebe said as she smelled the hot scents of bacon and eggs coming from the plate.

''Anything for you baby'' Cole said, put the tray on the bed and kissed her. ''Good morning''

''Very good morning'' Phoebe replied reciprocating the kiss. ''Piper and Leo are doing okay'' She said after putting a strawberry in her mouth.

''You think we'll every be that happy?'' Cole asked her, taking a bite from his bacon.

''Yeah, I think so. No, wait, we'll make it so.'' She said smiling. Cole smiled back at her.

''With a family, I mean, kids.'' He said.

''Of course'' Phoebe replied. ''And why not start practicing right now.'' She beckoned Cole to come closer while looking at him seductively.

''I love you'' He whispered against her lips, before closing the gap between them. He wanted her as close to him as possible, making her forget all the trouble from the past days. He needed them to be in a happy, safe and loving place to start on the new chapter of their future.

On the other side of the house a new chapter had already begun. Piper and Leo couldn't be more exciting at becoming parents. Their love forever sealed with a magical baby.

''Leo stop, that tickles!'' Piper exclaimed, not meaning any of it. She wished that moments like this with her husband would last forever. They were rare and coveted.

''Alright, alright'' He replied as he laughed. ''I'm so glad that everything worked out okay, and that you have your confidence back.'' He said in a more serious tone.

''Yeah and our little girl, who's stronger than we expected her to be.'' Piper complemented his sentence.

''Of course she is, her mother is you. And you are the strongest, most loving person I have ever met.'' He told her.

Piper smiled at him and gave him a kiss. ''All we can do is wait''