Chapter Four: Doctors, Spiders, and More Doctors

"Chris! My appointment is in an hour. We need to get dressed." I pulled on a pair of jean shorts and a teal tank top. Teal flip flops completed the look.

"Uh, Chris? Can you come here?"

"Sure, Char. What's wrong?" I gestured to my slightly rounded stomach.

"My pants are getting too tight." He grinned.

"We can go shopping for more clothes after the appointment. Then, we need to write that spell. If your shirt is tight enough, you can tell that you've gained weight. The girls aren't stupid. They'll figure it out."

"Well, I am four months along. The baby's bound to grow some time."

"Let's go." Chris grabbed my hand and orbed us to the alley behind the hospital. We walked inside and sat down in the waiting room after checking in. Ten minutes later, a blonde, about thirty, sat next to me. She was around six months along. Maybe seven.

"How far along are you?"

"Four months. You?"

"Six. I'm Catherine." Holy frick, this was my mother.

"I'm Charlotte and this is my husband Chris. Nice to meet you."

"You too."

"Listen, I know what you and your husband are."

"Are you witches too?"

"Yes. Listen, don't go to the hospital for the birth. Phoebe and Paige Halliwell will be excellent midwifes for such a magical little girl. It will be bad if she is born in the hospital."

"How do you know?"

"We are from the future. That's all I can tell you."

"The Charmed Ones?"

"Yes. Piper is pregnant, so she won't be able to help, but ask the others."

"Charlotte Williams?" The nurse called.

"Don't tell them that I'm pregnant or where you met me. They also don't know that we are married. Future consequences, but here's their address. I'll see you again, Catherine." My mom looked shocked. The doctor did the basic tests and said everything was normal.

"Would you like to know the sex?"

"Sure."

"It's a girl. A perfectly healthy girl."

"Thanks."

"Oh, don't thank me. She's your little girl. How's the morning sickness?"

"Okay. I'm still slightly queasy, but it's getting better."

"That's good. On average, it usually lasts for two weeks to a month longer. You can go home now. Come back in another four to five weeks."

"Bye!"

"Ready to go shopping?" I yelled. He groaned.

"Yes, I may hate shopping, but I said I'd go with you." I grinned evilly and grabbed his hand. We walked outside and into a shop on the street that sold maternity clothes.

"Hello. How can I help you?" the lady that worked there asked.

"Well, my pants are getting too tight, but I don't know what to get."

"Come with me. I'll help you find something."

"Stay here, Chris."

"Okay, so how far along are you?"

"Seventeen weeks."

"You look to be about a four normally, am I correct?"

"You are." She walked over to a shelf and grabbed some pants.

"Try these. I'll look at them and let you know." I did as she asked and pulled on the jeans. They fit, with some extra room to grow in.

"These work. I'll grab shorts and skirts in the same size. Go grab some shirts that you like, I'd say a medium." I grabbed several shirts in the aforementioned size and tried them on. She came back and handed me the items she went to get, along with several larger shirts, for up to six months.

"Now, dresses!" We went and grabbed several dresses that were baggy enough for up to seven months, but tight enough, that I could wear them now, or even under the spell. I bought the items, thanked the lady, and collected my husband.

"Piper has an appointment today. Do you want to go meet them, since we are already here?" I asked him. He nodded and we walked over after orbing the presents home.

"Hey."

"Chris. Something wrong?"

"No. We just wanted to know how the appointment went."

"Well, you'll be happy to know you're a boy!" She said to Chris, handing me the sonogram picture.

"Dang, I was betting for girl."

"Very funny, Char." He laughed.

"I thought it was funny."

"You know you'd be mad if I was a girl."

"Nah, then I could have girly conversations with you. About tampons, and makeup, and boys." He made a face.

Not that I currently need those tampons, right? And I have the boy.

I think I would know that, don't you? After all, I am the one that knocked you up.

Well…

Funny.

You know you love me.

I do.

Piper's staring. I answered, breaking the mind link.

"You know, I really hate those private conversations you always seem to be having."

"We know. That's why we do it." Just then, a woman dropped in from the ceiling and scratched Chris's neck before turning into a spider and escaping.

"Ah!"

"Chris, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Can we go back to the house now? I don't feel too good." I asked as I began to feel queasy.

Char? Are you okay?

I'll be fine. Just a few more weeks. I'm worried about you.

Don't worry, babe. I'm fine. That kind of stress isn't good for the baby.

"Are you alright, Charlie?"

"I'm fine. Just slightly queasy."

"Okay, we'll head back to the Manor. You can lay on the couch when we get there." I agreed and we orbed/teleported there. Chris sat on the couch and I put my head on his lap. Phoebe, who was already there, looked at me kind of funny, but didn't say a thing. As a telepath, I could feel her empathy power being used on me and could sense danger.

Phoebe, please, don't say anything. You can ask any questions later, but not in front of your sisters. Future consequences.

Okay, but you have to explain later. You are acting sort of like Piper, emotional, sick, you've gained weight, oh my. You're pregnant.

Phoebe! Not now. I'll tell you everything later!

Deal. I cut off the mind connection with Phoebe and linked with Chris.

Phoebe knows. Empath. I promised to tell her later. He nodded.

"Chris! What happened?" Phoebe asked when she saw the cut on his neck.

"Demon. It turned into a spider."

"Are you okay?"

"Does it look like there's something wrong? Sorry. Charlie already asked me that several times and Piper asked too." He added at her hurt face.

"Piper, go lay down. You don't look too good. Paige, check out the book. Chris, will you make the potion? I want to talk to Charlie."

"Not here, Phoebe. Why don't we go get coffee? For you, of course. I think coffee is nasty."

"I'm game. I'll drive." We sat down with my hot chocolate and her coffee and she immediately started talking.

"You are pregnant." It wasn't a question.

"Yeah." I replied, sheepishly.

"How far along?"

"Seventeen weeks."

"But that's four months. You've been here for seven."

"I didn't tell you guys my real name. It's Charlotte Catherine Warren Halliwell."

"Oh my, you're married to Chris! Why didn't you tell us?"

"It would've given away too much about the future."

"I understand. Can you feel the baby move yet?"

"I can. Chris can't. You want to feel the bump?"

"Of course!" I grabbed Phoebe's hand and ran it over my slight bump. Her eyes lit up.

"I'm going to be a great aunt!"

"Yeah, but you can't tell anyone."

"Why?" She pouted.

"The future!"

"How are you going to hide it?"

"We'll cast a spell."

"Can I help?"

"Sure. And you can come see us whenever we take it off if you want."

"Yay!" She scribbled on a piece of paper from her purse and handed it to me. I folded it and put it in my pocket. We were just chatting when Paige called.

"We need to get home. Now!"

"Do you want me to teleport us there? We can come back for the car later." She nodded and we were in the Manor.

"Where's Chris?" I asked.

"In the basement."

"What happened?"I inquired, seeing Piper in a cocoon on the wall.

"The demon showed up and did that to Piper. We were so close to vanquishing her, when Chris knocked the potion out of my hand. Then she left. I think Chris was possessed by the demon."

"Oh my god! Is he alright?"

"He's fine, honey." I was visibly relieved.

"We need to call Leo."

"No, Phoebe. Chris won't like it and neither will Piper."

"Why does Chris hate Leo so much?"

"I can't tell you."

"Future consequences?"

"Future issues."

"Ah. Well, we don't have a choice. We need to get Piper out and Chris turned back."

"I'll check the Book." I said, leaving the room. I knew they still wanted to call Leo and I also knew it would help so I would let them, but I wouldn't own up to helping them. The book told us that if we killed the spider, Piper would be released and there was a potion for Chris.

"Phoebe! I found it!"

"Okay, honey. What do we need to do?"

"I'll make a potion for Chris, but we need to vanquish the demon to help Piper."

"Alright."

"You called Leo, didn't you?"

"Sorry, hon."

"I'm not mad. You did what you thought you needed to. But don't expect me to get along with him. I know how he was with Chris. It was painful for me to watch."

"That bad, huh?"

"Yeah."

"I'm going to go make the potion." Before I could though, Paige called up the stairs.

"Phoebe! Charlie!" I grabbed Phoebe's hand and transported downstairs. Crap, Chris escaped. By the time he orbed out with Piper, all four of us were stuck to the wall or floor.

"Damn it, Christopher." I whispered. They tried orbing and spells, but couldn't get out. Finally, my temper got the best of me and I burnt my way out of the webs. I helped the others and went to make the potion.

"Charlie? Why do I get the feeling you are mad at me?" Leo asked hesitantly.

"Um…hello! You got one of my friends pregnant and left before she knew! Not only that but you are my best friends' father and a terrible one at that!" I practically screamed at him.

"Piper's pregnant?"

"Damn."

"Why are you so emotional anyway? You aren't the one who's pregnant?" I sensed Phoebe was listening when I heard her thoughts.

He doesn't know anything! Haha on Leo!

Phoebe! Must you be so immature?

Duh! It's my job as the fun aunt.

Suddenly, Leo stopped his rant.

"You are pregnant, aren't you? You look a little bigger and have been sort of emotional. Plus it explains a lot. You're married to Chris."

"Leo, if you tell anyone, I swear…"

"I won't, I promise."

"And your promises mean oh so much to me. They mean even more to Chris." I said sarcastically.

"Can I at least…?" He asked, gesturing my stomach.

"No! I don't trust you, Leo. I saw what you did to Chris. I don't even care that she's your granddaughter. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go save my husband. And only Phoebe knows about the marriage and baby. Stupid empaths."

I heard that!

You were supposed to!

Very funny.

I know. I'm a funny person!

"Tell anyone else, and I'll let Chris blow you up!" I finished. I went to find Phoebe and Paige and we orbed to where the demon was. She was soon vanquished and Piper was let go, but we couldn't get to Chris. He and Leo were trapped in the cave and the web wasn't letting us in.

"Ow. He just kicked me."

"What if he's trying to tell us something?" Phoebe asked.

"Give me the antidote!" Piper yelled.

"Why?" I asked, confused.

"If whatever happens to baby Chris happens to big Chris, and I inoculate baby Chris, then it will do the same to big Chris." Oh. I handed it over and she gulped it down. Suddenly the webs disappear, and I run in to find Chris punching Leo. I ran over to them. I couldn't risk talking out loud.

Chris, honey, calm down. It's all right. Piper's safe and everything will be fine. Just stop hitting Leo. I hate him just as much as you do, but let Piper handle it. He's her husband.

Bridge?

I'll meet you there. He orbed out.

"I'll get him." I told them before teleporting to the bridge.

"Are you okay, Chris?"

"I'm fine." He said, pulling me into his arms.

"I told Phoebe most of it. Not details, just that we were married and going to have a baby."

"How did she react?"

"She's excited. And wants us to keep her informed. She even wrote the spell for us. Leo also knows. I yelled at him and he figured it out. So, I yelled at him more."

"That's not good."

"I told him, if he told anyone, I would let you blow him up." He grinned and placed his hand on my stomach. Leo orbed in.

"Can I help you?" I practically snarled.

"I need to talk to Chris."

"I'm not leaving, Leo."

"Fine. Chris, why do you hate me so much?"

"You were never there! You were there for Mom, for Wyatt, for half the world, but never for me. You didn't have the time."

"Maybe you came back to the past, not only to save your brother, but to save us too."

"I doubt it," Chris said and orbed us back to P3.

"Should we do the spell?"

"Sure." He said, grabbing my hand.

"Unless you're told,

You will not see

The secret that these two hold

Hide it from those that we decide

To protect by keeping it aside."

"Kind of rhymie for Phoebe, don't you think?" I asked with a smile. Looking down, I didn't look different, but when I glanced in the mirror, I saw that I looked no different than I did before I was pregnant.

"You know, Chris, now that we have the first one out of the way, I think we should practice for the second kid." I pulled him in for a kiss.

"I think you are right, my dear." He replied, as he pushed me back onto our bed.