Halliwell Manor
Morris scanned the list of associates of the Rowe Coven with Phoebe's help. Ben napped in his pack and play with his teddy clutched under his tiny arm. " At least they won't go after Ben. Sheila adores him,"
" Darryl Jr. must keep your marriage alive. I know Ben reminds me why I try so hard to make it work with Cole," She sipped on chamomile tea from a not-so-dainty blue mug as big as her hands cupped together.
An extended silence followed. " Brendan Rowe was to become a priest and then Father Austin said his brothers visited. Two days later a young mother found with her heart removed in the church rectory," Darryl flipped through evidence photos. " A murder spree across the United States followed and then they disappeared off the map,"
" Could've gone undergound,: Phoebe shuddered at the thought of needing Alec to protect Ben, especially informing Leo of the development. " The Triad says they've been keeping to themselves, and Ben's darklighter-"
" Darklighter?" Morris asked in confusion.
" Guardian," Phoebe corrected him, trying to forget Cole's admission that he and Dantalion had a previous relationship. " Ben's guardian tells me that the Rowe Coven is donating the souls to the Dark priests and priestesses,"
Hanging his head, Morris said a quick prayer.
" We'll get them, Darryl. I promise you that-" Leo walked into the dining room. " Leo, have to talk to you about Ben's new guardian," Phoebe covered Morris's hand with her own in good reassurance.
" His new darklighter?" Leo grimaced. " The elders told me. They also told me that he will undergo training for his new future position by demons,"
Phoebe winced. " I didn't have a choice, and you know that. Besides I swear if Cole sleeps with Dantalion, I'll have his balls dark orbed to the Source,"
Darryl choked on the cracker he currently snacked on. Phoebe put the platter together out of kindness for the inspector actually showed toward their magic. He could've walked away, but he didn't. Even now as they gave him every reason to run, he held firm just like Andy.
Covering his own family jewels, Leo forced a smile. " I'm not mad,"
" How's Andy doing?" Phoebe asked Morris.
He pretended to not remember Phoebe's hostility to a non-existant action. " He's holding together- as well as it can be expected given that Prue went out on a date with her boss at Quake,"
" What?" Leo and Phoebe fully faced the black man avoiding any more mentions of Prue dating Rex Buckland. " Prue can't be dating her boss. That's like Piper and I breaking the rules,"
" What rules?" Darryl asked, digging a deeper hole than he originally wanted. The more they welcomed him into their world, the more he learned things went bump in the night that he couldn't legally define.
Phoebe finished her tea. " Whitelighters and witches aren't allowed relationships aside from business, and Piper and Leo have this lust thing they refuse to break the rules for," She waved her hand about. Darryl nodded along, holding Leo's embarrassed glances.
" Speaking of Piper, has Dan come back from his vision quest?" Bouncing on his toes, Leo held his hands together. He asked for a favor from Enola and Dan wasn't even magical in nature.
" No, Darryl. I'll track down Brendan's former contacts and find some leads. The magical realm comes to us for help anyway, time for them to return the favor," Phoebe showed the inspector to the door.
Leo shoved his hands in his pockets. " Dan hasn't come back yet then?"
" No, and about Alec-"
" The darklighter?"
" Yes, the darklighter. He's – uh - spawned a demonic child by a future whitelighter," She cleaned out her ear with her finger. " Don't have a name, but uh – maybe you could save her future even if you can't save her present?"
Wrapping his arm around Phoebe, Leo sighed. " I knew you love Cole, and Ben's your son, but one day he's going to take over the Underworld. Which is why Wyatt needs to be born,"
" Who's Wyatt?"
" Mine and Piper's future son," Leo shared, letting Phoebe go. " He's supposed to be the opposite of Ben in loyalties and equal in strength,"
Silence overwhelmed them as Phoebe digested the nugget of elder secrets. " How are you going to tell Piper? She's a family woman, no a wham-bam one-night stand," Suddenly Leo feared his balls being orbed away.
The front door opened back up. " Forgot my keys," Darryl grabbed the keys off the glass coffee table. Both Phoebe and Leo waved after him nervously.
Dan's House
Jenny was at the mall with her friends, leaving Dan and Piper alone at the house. " How could you not tell me the truth? How could you put yourself in so much danger for ungrateful people?" Dan paced the kitchen conflicted on whether to yell at her or shake her.
She crossed her arms, teeth grinding. Don't blow up, Dan. Don't blow up Dan. Don't blow up Dan. Don't blow up Dan. " I did. And you completely disowned me for a full day,"
" Full day? What magic did you use on me?" The glass of water sloshed onto his arm as he put the center island between them.
Piper threw up her hands, freezing him in place. Taking the glass from his hand, she dumped it over his head. Unfreezing him, she smiled. She can see the future and past. Best not piss Prue off either. She can move things with her mind. And Cole – Cole's a demon. Their marriage works because the aren't afraid of each other," She smartly navigated through the living room.
Once he overcame his shock, Dan followed her. " That is not fair, Piper. You only gave me 24 hours. 24 hours is not enough-"
" Really, Dan?" Piper turned around so fast she almost face planted into his chest. " You disowned me, and we help innocents, people who need our help,"
" Not anymore,"
" Really? How are you going to stop me?" Jabbing him in the chest with one finger, Piper unleashed the middle sister. " Tell the world we're witches,"
Their eyes locked. " Get out,"
She threw up her hands and he involuntarily took three steps back. Slamming the door shut on her way out, Piper mumbled angrily under her breath.
Phoebe whipped around, shushing Ben as he fussed. " His dumbass learned we are the Charmed Ones! And he doesn't want us saving innocents or to be witches," Piper vented without encouragement.
Leo jingled a baby rattle. " Do I need to use whitelighter dust to make him forget?" He held out his hand to the demonic babe, the baby boy not minding the whitelighter essence lingering on his tiny hand.
" Maybe. Or maybe I'll just blow him up," Piper disappeared into the kitchen, mentioning something about a vanquishing potion. " Phoebe, could you let Leo hold him and help me make this potion?"
Phoebe shook her finger at Leo and handed over the bundle. " You're not vanquishing Dan. It'd be too messy to cover up," Cole's influence started to show. " And Prue doesn't need your drama right now. She's falling apart right now as is,"
Their followed conversation centered on the illiterate kazi demons and Arath. Leo entered the kitchen as they bottled the potion. " The elders are calling me, and I can't take Ben with me,"
Phoebe relieved him of the baby.
" Prue, is not falling apart," Piper argued as she put the potion bottles into a segregated box to keep them from breaking. " She's just got her marbles mixed up. On the other hand, there are perks sleeping with the boss,"
" Piper, no. Nothing good comes with sleeping with the boss and I know. I'm the crazy one, and even I know better,"
" Well, Phoebes, as screwed up as you are, maybe Prue and Rex will be better off than Prue and Andy or Dan and me,"
" Piper, I am so sorry," Phoebe lowered her voice, fighting off pity. " You could borrow Cole for a moment and vent to him about all the witching troubles,"
Waving her hand, Piper put the box under the kitchen counter. " I have Leo for that,"
" Piper, uh, Leo might not be the best –"
" Why?"
" Well…babies take two," Phoebe winced as the truth came out.
" I'm not going to sleep with him, Phoebe," Piper laughed on her way back to her bedroom leaving Phoebe cursing Leo's big mouth.
Quake
Seated at a table in the middle of Quake dressed in her best black dress, Prue fiddled with her hands. Rex flashed her a quick smile. " I'm glad you asked me out today. I just ah – how does Hannah feel about it?" Hannah hated her and she hated Hannah. A weird feeling in her stomach refused to go away.
" Hannah will suffer it," Rex brushed it off. " I just want you to properly celebrate your freedom, and living at the office is not celebrating,"
" Rex, is this a date or are you trying to make me feel better?" Prue wanted to be flattered, yet the thought of Hannah prying turned her off. If Phoebe could be happy with Cole, then Prue owed Rex an opportunity.
The new manager approached. " Prue? How's Piper?"
" She's happy running her own club. Our club actually," Prue answered her. " Has the owner tried to cut back on the help to save on money yet?"
Rex whistled.
Prue grabbed his hand and held it. " We'll just have two menus. " The manager lingered and then hurried to fetch menus. " So what made you ask me out?"
" You're a beautiful woman. Very bewitching. Quite the charming woman," He graciously accepted the menus. " It's why Hannah doesn't like you. I hired you because of your qualifications but you really make it hard to concentrate at work sometimes,"
Prue giggled. A blush colored her cheeks. For a moment she stared down a handsome darklighter, the next Rex Buckland asked if she had her order ready. A half hour later tipsy on wine and neck deep in flirting, Prue suggested they go to an antique store and shop for a side table for the manor as a second date. Rex agreed, and when they left Quake, Alec reappeared by Rex's car.
" Walk away now," Rex astral projected next to the darklighter. " I have this under control,"
" You're on a date," Alec declared distastefully. " With a Charmed One,"
" Prue is my worry, Darklighter,"
" And the future source is mine," Alec announced what all of the Underworld already learned. " Finish off one of the witches and we'll stop worrying about the Charmed Ones,"
" I will when the moment is right. Tate failed us, and the lantern through Agent Rodriquez," Rex told him. " Let me try this last approach. You're already a shoe in with being the boy's darklighter,"
Alec mockingly bowed. Orbing out, Alec returned to Cole's side. " Rex is dating Prue. How do you want to proceed?"
Cole stood before an Underworld Altar in his demonic form. " I want to see if Rex can do what you did, and if so, the Book of Shadow will be evil next generation. I admire the plan,"
" It was my mission to impregnate Daisy," Alex said without emotion. " and if Rex succeeds in impregnating Prue Halliwell. What's to stop her from aborting the baby?"
" She's Christian," Cole said. " She's against Ben's future too but as his aunt she loves him. If Rex impregnates Prue, that's two offspring of the Charmed Ones that would be evil,"
Alec started to laugh.
" Does Phoebe know?" Alec queried.
Cole shook his head. " She'll never know the truth, Alec, and you'll never let her know. Phoebe is mine and I will never lose her," He placed his athames out on the altar in particular order.
