Chapter Three

Coop couldn't get in touch with Piper and Paige, so he contacted Billie. They met at Billie's dorm room, as Billie was beginning to pack up her stuff. She made it clear to Coop that if he wanted to talk, he had to help her move out of the dorm.

"Billie, I need your help," Coop said as he picked up a box.

"Put that over there," Billie pointed to a spot next to the door. "What do you need help with?"

"I'm going to propose to Phoebe tonight, but I don't know what to do."

"You're a cupid, you should have to know a thing or two about romance."

"True, but I can't decide what to do or how to do it."

"Buy her roses and her favorite chocolates."

"That's all."

"Yeah, except for the whole ring thing. Don't overdo the planning. She'd hate it if you planned some big thing. She loves you and would probably be happy to just have you ask the question, even without any gifts."

Paige was assigned a new charge, Melissa, a neophyte witch. She wasn't as powerful as Billie, which was a relief. Billie had been a handful and made it clear that she didn't need a Whitelighter.

Melissa had the power of invisibility. Anytime she got scared, her power would kick in. Paige had to help her, but first she had to become a part of Melissa's life. Melissa had just gotten out of the foster care system. Paige was going to pose as a social worker who was helping Melissa adjust to her new life.

Melissa was especially difficult when she found out that Paige was supposed to be her new social worker. She was glad to be out of the system and wanted nothing to do with any social worker. She just wanted them to leave her alone.

"Look, lady, I'm 18. I have a job! I know how to take care of myself. Leave me the hell alone!"

With that Melissa slammed the door in Paige's face.

"Well, isn't she a gem?" Paige muttered.

Phoebe was sitting at her desk trying to find the right letter to answer for her next column. After finding out that she and Coop were meant to be together, she could only think about that. Suddenly, the thought popped out of her mind as she heard the phone ring.

"Phoebe, Coop has been bugging me all morning," Piper complained. "I kept checking the Caller ID. You need to tell him to back off a little."

"Piper, I'm sorry. I wonder why he wanted to talk to you and not to me."

"Maybe he's planning something for you or needs some advice about how to handle you."

"Handle me? What am I? I'm not some stupid porcelain ornament."

"Phoebe, I just meant that maybe he didn't know how to handle his feelings towards you. Just calm down. I'm sure it's nothing major."

"Maybe."

Since things didn't go well with Melissa, Paige decided to try to see if Henry might want to go to lunch. Luckily it wasn't a busy day, so they went to a little restaurant close to the station.

"Are you excited?" Henry asked as he took a bite of his sandwich.

"About?"

"Having a baby."

"I'm not pregnant yet."

"How do you know?"

"We've only been trying for a week. I think I would know."

"Maybe it takes the symptoms a while to show up."

"Henry, don't get your hopes up. You might get disappointed."

"Then prove me wrong. Take the test."

Piper was still in awe over Chris's powers. She and Leo decided that they would help him strengthen his powers. They gave him little "tests" and would encourage him to use his magic. Unfortunately, Wyatt figured out that his parents were giving his baby brother more attention. When they would put an object down for Chris to practice with, Wyatt would orb it away.

"Wyatt! Stop orbing the teddy bear away. Don't make me put you in another room."

Piper realized that wouldn't work. Wyatt would still orb the toy away. She knew how mischievous her son was.

Leo would have been helping Piper this time, but he was helping put Magic School back in working order. Piper was a little worried about Leo being away from her for long periods of time. She was always afraid that he wouldn't come back. She didn't have the time to worry this afternoon. She had to work with Chris for a few more minutes.

Piper put a block all the way across the room. Then she stood next to it until Chris began to move it. Three-quarters of the way into moving the block, Wyatt orbed it away.

"Wyatt Matthew Halliwell!"

That evening Coop had made a candlelight dinner for Phoebe. He had everything set up. Phoebe walked into her apartment. She looked like she was about to faint.

"Um, Coop?" she called. "What's all this for?"

"It's all for you," Coop replied and brought Phoebe the roses and the chocolates.

"Thank you," she replied. "But what is this for?"

"Well, Phoebe, I've always seen what love could do for others. I always saw the its beauty and purity. I never got to experience it for myself until I met you. You light up my days. You are the best—you bring out the best in me and you…you're just magical. I love you and I want to spend my entire life with you. Will you marry me?"

Phoebe's eyes were beginning to fill with tears as she answered, "Yes."

Henry made Paige get a pregnancy test. He told her to wait to take it until he got home. Shockingly, she actually did what he said. Part of her wanted to know whether or not she was pregnant already, too.

When he got home, she took the test. Henry set a timer for the results. They anxiously awaited the results.