Willow, The Charmed One: Pandora's Box
Six o'clock in the morning and she just sat there in the hotel room with Tara trying to absorb the information that she'd been bombarded with. Too much information if she was honest with herself. Her entire life has changed. Thinking back over the last few hours Willow couldn't stop hearing their voices, her sisters' voices.
"Our mother, Patty, was in a relationship with her whitelighter, Sam. You're the um, product of that relationship."
"Piper was eight and I was six, Pr…Prue would've been eleven when you were born."
"There are, er were rules that witches and whitelighters couldn't be together, let alone have children with them. Your birth would have been seen as a violation of The Elders' highest law."
"Sam and our mom they dusted us, made us forget about you. I…we're so sorry that we never knew you, not until now that is."
"Whitelighters can't survive on a Hellmouth, the energy there is toxic to us. You say you've had your power, telekinesis for the last four years?"
"What's a Slayer?"
"…it's possible that the combination of the Hellmouth energy and you casting the restoration spell unbound your witch power. Though there is no telling what that energy could've done to your whitelighter powers. You haven't shown any since you've been fighting demons have you?"
"Mom called you Pandora, it's what she would've named you if she were allowed to keep you. You have to know that they sent you away to protect you."
"I get that this is hard for you Willow, but this isn't the best time. We've just lost Prue and, well…Phoebe and I need some time to grieve. We'll call you ok?"
"Willow. Willow. Willow!" Tara said as she shook her awake.
Willow stirred on the queen bed. She was confused, the last thing she remembered was sitting at the table while Tara had ordered room service. She looked to the end table and saw that their pizza wasn't there and instead was a big breakfast.
"I must've crashed. I'm sorry about that." Willow said as she grabbed the orange juice.
Tara smiled softly and said, "You ne…needed the rest. I managed to get two hours or so myself. I figured that breakfast might be a go…good way of getting our day started."
Willow took a bite of the bacon and said, "I don't know Tara. I mean I just learned that my past isn't what I thought it was, hell my name isn't even my name!"
"That doesn't matter. You're Willow. Regardless of what yo…your sisters say." Tara said as she placed a plate of bagels, eggs, and berries in front of her.
"Yeah…my sisters," Willow said dumbstruck.
They sat there eating their breakfast for a little while in silence. There wasn't much to be said. They had had little sleep, extreme stress, and more information overload than either witch could fully process.
As Tara cleaned up the room service she looked to Willow and said, "Ha…have you thought about calling Buffy?"
Willow couldn't help but laugh loudly at her suggestion.
"I'm sorry…that was just, wow!" Her laughter slowed and she caught her breath. Then she said, "You know, I didn't even think of Buffy. I mean here I am with all of this information – this new family and I didn't even think of my best friend; the girl I have considered my sister for the past four years. What kind of friend does that make me?"
"Shhhh, do…don't stress Willow. You're a great friend, yo…you just have a lot on your mind right now," Tara combed her fingers through Willow's hair as she continued to soother her, "Learning about the Halliwells, finding your birth family, this is your pa…path. This is your destiny. Th…The rest will work itself out."
Willow took hold of Tara's hand and said, "Thank you. I don't think I could've gotten through this last day without you."
Tara smiled brightly and said, "You ne…never have to thank me. You're my Willow, I'm not going anywhere."
Later that afternoon Willow and Tara decided to go and visit the manor. Willow wanted some more answers to her questions and Tara was there to support her in whatever she felt she had to do. When the two Sunnydale witches arrived at the manor they noticed that once again the stain glass doors were left unlocked and partially opened.
"They should really st…start keeping that door locked." Tara said as she closed the door gently behind them.
"We leave it open because demons usually crash through it, otherwise it costs a small fortune to fix." Phoebe said as she smiled warmly greeting them.
"Definitely not like Sunnydale. Demons there usually avoid homes and prefer to attack in nightclubs, streets, or shopping malls," Willow said with an awkward smile and shrug.
The three stood there for a moment. Willow looked over the foyer and noticed the numerous photos that spanned more than the last century. These women were Piper and Phoebe's ancestors…her ancestors. She saw that many of them had the same flowing brown hair, though some had dark raven locks, and there were one or two with the fiery hair that she had. One picture that caught her attention most was of a woman in her sixties hanging by the stairwell. Without saying a word she walked over and gently touched the frame.
"That's Grams, Penny Halliwell. She was a very strong woman, still is in a lot of ways". Phoebe said as she walked up behind her.
"She has my hair." Willow said matter-of-factly.
Phoebe smiled and said, "Yeah. Some Warren witches have the red hair. There hasn't been a blonde in the bunch since Melinda Warren."
"Who's that?" Willow asked still looking at Grams' photo.
"She was the start of our line, the beginning of our destiny." Piper said as she entered the room. Piper smiled at both Tara and Willow then said, "Come on into the kitchen. We have some things to show you Willow."
The four witches walked into the kitchen and there sat Leo and Cole, both men holding a bottle beer. There on the kitchen table was the Book of Shadows. It was slightly larger than Tara's, and its green leather seemed to radiate a power that called out to her.
"Your bo…book of shadows is impressive. Mine isn't nearly this strong." Tara said as she took a seat on the stool by the kitchen island.
"Your book?" Piper questioned
"Yeah, Tara's book comes from her mother. She was a member of the Hecate Coven." Leo said as he took a sip of his beer.
Piper looked at him skeptically and asked, "How do you know that mister?"
Leo looked into his bottle a deeply and said, "Selena was one of my charges. I lost contact with her after she married that jerk of a man." He paused and looked up at Tara then said, "No offence".
"It's o…ok, I'm not too crazy about m…my father either. He has a ha…habit of lying to me." Tara stuttered with a small smile.
"Since you said you moved to the Hellmouth I understand why I lost contact with her. Those places are more toxic to a whitelighter than the Underworld. I couldn't sense her shortly after she got married."
Tara frowned and said, "Yeah, she w….was killed by a warlock when I was seventeen. After that my father forbid me from continuing with m…my craft. I moved out a year later for college."
"I'm sorry. If I would've been able to sense her believe me I would've tried to save her. She wasn't just my charge but she was my friend too," Leo said with a sad smile to Tara.
Willow half listened to the conversation as she couldn't help but stare at the Halliwell Book of Shadows. Since practicing witchcraft she had started her own spellbook as it was suggested that all witches keep one. However her little journal paled in comparison to their…her sisters' book.
"May I?" She asked as she reached for the tome.
"Of course, it's yours as well." Phoebe said with warmth in her voice.
Willow touched the spine of the book and felt a spark. The triquetra on the cover glowed a gentle red light and she pulled her hand away in shock.
Piper snorted and said, "Yeah, it does that some times. I think that's the book…the family recognizing you."
"You talk as if the book is alive." Willow said as she grabbed it again and opened the cover.
"There is a theory that it is. This book is the most coveted tome in the magical world. It's not the oldest, but its ability to protect itself and update itself is very rare." Cole said as he spoke for this first time.
Willow began to flip through the book haphazardly until the book flipped on its own.
"I didn't do that!" Willow said slightly afraid.
"That was probably Grams." Phoebe said looking over Willow's shoulder and smiled at the page that it had landed on.
"It's our page, definitely Grams…she wrote this I can tell," Piper added then said, "Go on Willow, read it."
Willow cleared her throat and read, "The Charmed Ones are three sister witches of the Warren line whom shall be born when Evil is at its highest point. It is the duty of every Warren witch to protect this tome for it is from these pages that The Power of Three is born. Melinda Warren, the start of our line prophesized them as such –
'You may kill me but you will not kill my kind. From each generation our power will grow stronger and stronger culminating in the arrival of three sisters. These witches will be the most powerful the world will ever know. Each shall carry one of the three powers; they will vanquish all kinds of evil, and shall be known as The Charmed Ones.'
The prophecy came to pass in 1970 with the birth of Prudence Victoria Halliwell - Telekinesis, then in 1973 with Piper Marie Halliwell – Power to Freeze, and finally in 1975 with Phoebe Janis Halliwell - Premonitions."
Then something very strange happened, golden lights began to dance across the page. Once they faded Willow continued, "In 2001 Prudence was killed by the demonic assassin Shax and the Power of Three was broken. However destiny knew of a way to reconstitute The Charmed Ones, with the forbidden child. Pandora Willow Halliwell – Telekinesis, was born in 1981 from the union of Patricia Lee Halliwell and Samuel Wilder. She had been kept secret from the High Council of Elders, but not from the Angels of Destiny. Pandora's destiny is still unfolding, however one thing is clear…she is Charmed and meant for greatness."
The kitchen was quiet once Willow finished the passage. The sisters, Leo, Cole, and Tara just looked at Willow as she held the book tightly with her hand and a few tears trickled down her face.
"Willow, sw…sweetie are you ok?" Tara asked as she placed her hand on Willow's shoulder.
"Yeah, yeah I'm ok, "She said wiping her face, "I just didn't expect this is all. I'm not sure what it means."
Phoebe nudged Piper in the side encouraging her to speak up. Piper rolled her eyes and cleared her throat.
"I uh…I know that it means that you're not just important to our destiny, but you're also our sister." She paused and cleared her throat, "I remember when mom was pregnant with you. She was so happy, you wer…are her miracle."
"Mom and Grams were worried about who might find out about her being pregnant. At the time I didn't understand why, but now it makes sense. They loved you so much, but were afraid of what would happen if The Elders found out." Phoebe said grabbing the pot of coffee.
Leo looked at Paige sternly and said, "You have to know Willow that if the Elders found out about you then you, all of you would have been in great danger. Not only did your birth break the rules, but you clearly are a powerful witch now; no telling what the Elders would want to do to you then…to understand a hybrid."
"Gee Leo, make her sound like a science experiment would ya!" Piper said as she playfully smacked his shoulder. "What he means is that you're potential is unknown, and those stuffy robe wearing, rulemaking, asses don't like the unknown".
Willow couldn't help but laugh and hold Tara's hand tighter. She felt overwhelmed, joy, and also a little light headed. All of this information was just a lot to process.
"Um, not to be rude but why are you all being so nice to me?" Willow asked still unsure of her newfound sisters.
Phoebe looked to Piper, Piper looked to Leo, and Cole…well Cole just kept drinking.
"We're grieving Willow, and I know that it'll take a long time for us to be ok again but…" said Piper.
"…but we also know that you're lost. You may not remember us, but we remember you now. We remember mom being pregnant, Grams worried all the time, and Prue telling us that we're going to have another baby to take care of." Finished Phoebe.
"This is a lot to take in. I don't want to seem ungrateful but I think it's time we head back to Sunnydale. I uh…I need time to process all of this." Willow said as she closed the book and stood up from the table.
Tara looked to the older Halliwell sisters, Leo, and Cole and gave a small smile as she stood next Willow who was starting to shift uncomfortably.
Piper sighed and said, "I want you to know that I never asked for this big sister gig, and I'm not sure how good I'm going to be at it. I do know that losing Prue hurts a lot, and that I don't want to lose another sister," she dabbed her eyes then said, "…and that includes you."
"We hope that you'll come back soon Willow, you too Tara. We have a lot to talk about." Phoebe said.
"Cl…classes start in two weeks, we'll be ba…back before that." Tara said as she gave Willow a reassuring look.
Leo stood and reached behind the counter and handed a small box to Piper. She nodded and then took a few steps towards Willow.
"This was in the attic. Grams and mom were here last night and they – we all want you to have this." Piper said as she handed the small brown box to Willow.
Willow took the box and held it close. She and Tara then said their goodbyes to the Halliwell sisters, Leo, and Cole then left the manor. The two walked to the car in silence and were soon on their way back to the hotel. During the drive Willow just kept looking out the window as Tara navigated the streets of San Francisco.
Thirty minutes later the two witches were back into their room at the Bay View Hotel.
"Willow ta…talk to me." Tara said as she sat on the bed.
"I don't know what to say Tara! I'm so overwhelmed here. A large part of me just wishes that we never came to San Francisco."
Tara frowned and said, "What about the ot…other part of you?"
"That part of me is thrilled to finally know where I come from. I mean, I'm a freakin' Charmed One! Those women are my sisters! My sisters…" Willow paused as she looked down at the floor. Then she said in a hushed voice, "My sister died yesterday and I never got to know her."
"You di…didn't get to know P…Prue but you can get to know your other sisters. I think they really want to know you Willow." Tara said picking up the box.
Willow looked over to her and said, "I think it's time I look in there."
Tara handed Willow the small brown box. Willow opened it and started pulling out the items inside. First was a yellow and violet baby blanket with a 'P' stitched in the bottom left corner. Then she saw a black cord necklace with a silver triquetra charm on it. Willow smiled and put the necklace on; the charm landing on her heart chakra. Finally at the bottom of the box was a five by seven photo that brought a tear to her eyes. There with the time stamp of nineteen eighty-one was and eleven year old Prue, nine year old Piper, six year old Phoebe, a beautiful woman who must've been her mother Patty holding a baby Willow in the yellow blanket, the strong face of Penny, and a man who she assumed to be her father Sam. It was a photo of the family that she missed out on.
"Oh, look how squishy I was." Willow said with a sniffle.
(A/N: Thank you to all of those who commented on my story and who have added it to their followed and favorite lists. I do plan on continuing this story. Expect to see a combination of Charmed season four, and Buffy season five. The characters you love will be in this story, but as all things there will be changes along the way. Please leave a comment about this story if you'd like!
Side note: A reviewer mentioned that only the Warren line had a Book of Shadows. That actually isn't true. Natalie the whitelighter said that all witches need to keep their books in a protective space. Then later Leo suggested than Billie start her own Book of Shadows to pass onto the next generation.)