Destiny's Way

by Lady Dawson

Chapter Seven: The Birth Begins . . .

Brooke paced back and forth as she waited for her husband and brother-in-law to get back from rescuing her sister-in-law. "Of all days to get kidnapped, Susan," she muttered, halfway annoyed with the witchlighter. She knew that it really wasn't her fault, but she still couldn't help but feel a little fed up with her.

Elizabeth entered the living room, handing a cup of tea to Brooke. With a small sigh, Brooke accepted the brew and sipped it gingerly, the spicy smell throwing her off.

"This is the same kind of brews Susan makes," she commented, arching an eyebrow at the Whitelighter.

"Well, it should be," Elizabeth said with a small smile. "After all, I'm the one who taught her how to make them. They've recipes that have been handed down through the Dawson clan for generations."

Nodding once, the telepath sipped her tea as she glanced up the stairs, where Haley had gone to the bathroom. "I hope they're all okay," she said softly, running her hands through her dark hair. She had taken the twins over to Karen's while they dealt with Wyatt's birth and the latest dealings with the Underworld. Her mother-in-law had been happy to take them, but Brooke wondered at her ability to deal with three infants at the same time. She had enough problems with just two.

"So, Brooke," Elizabeth interrupted her thoughts, "tell me honestly. How is my daughter doing?" Her blue-green eyes, so much like Susan's, were focused on Brooke's dark ones and the telepath suppressed a sigh, looking away as she turned towards the window.

"Honestly?" she asked and Elizabeth nodded. "I really think she's struggling to hold up. I mean, Luke and I have each other, even though we've got the twins to take care of. Nathan and Haley have got each other, but she's on maternity leave right now and her Whitelighter status is on hold. Shawn's always orbing off someplace and having to take care of one of his charges. I know she knew what she was doing when she got involved with a Whitelighter, but I don't think she's doing that well with it."

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth was frowning at the telepath, a bit perturbed by her words.

"Susan probably wanted to tell Shawn about this, but she couldn't. He's halfway across the globe and . . . she can't exactly call him right now. Besides, when he finds out it . . . well, it's only going to put more pressure on the two. Even if that witch/Whitelighter rule has been dropped, how well do you think the Elders are going to respond to another Charmed baby on the horizon, who is going to be more Whitelighter than he is witch?" Brooke raised her eyebrows. "I think Susan's this close to a breakdown."

Elizabeth closed her eyes, probably about to say something when a loud thump emerged from above. Both women looked up, startled at the noise, and instantly jumped into motion.

"Haley!" Brooke shouted, pounding on the bathroom door. When a cry answered her, she backed up before slamming into the door, flinging it open.

Haley was on the floor, clutching her stomach as she looked up at the two women, pain evident in her brown eyes. A small puddle of water was lying around her and she gave them a weak, sheepish smile. "I think that I'm in labour," she whispered.

Brooke was instantly at her side, helping her up. "Okay, Hales, it's okay," she said gently. "I know it hurts, but let's get you into bed, all right?" Hoisting the Whitelighter up, she helped her walk to the bedroom with Elizabeth opening the door quickly, going downstairs to retrieve some things for the birth. "Please, hurry, you guys," she muttered.

However, when she heard an exclamation in the hallway, she whirled around at the sound, but was flung backwards in the dresser. The last thing that she remembered seeing was a demon standing above her, giving her a good kick in the head, before she lost consciousness.

The demon smirked as the telepath lay still, unconscious, on the ground. She wouldn't be bothering them for awhile and neither would the Whitelighter. His Darklighter associate had taken care of that. Hopefully, it would get rid of her for good. That Elizabeth Dawson had been trouble from day one. If it weren't for her being with Dan, then she never would have created the Charmed sister and the Charmed Ones never would've been constituted.

But then, if they hadn't, then they would have the most powerful being in the universe hours away from their clutches. Oh, well, the demon decided. He would just have to take the bad with the good.

"Brooke!" the Whitelighter exclaimed, trying to sit up in bed, but a contraction pushed her back down. "Elizabeth!" she shouted, but her fellow Whitelighter didn't appear.

"Try to relax, Mrs. Scott," the demon suggested. "Don't worry about them, they'll be fine." Well, the telepath would; he couldn't say the same for the Whitelighter. "Now, just calm down, childbirth is painful enough and we don't want to kill that little boy of yours, now do we?" He smiled at the Whitelighter's stricken expression.

This will be a day long remembered, he thought in triumph. My men will take care of the powerless Charmed Ones and we will have the youngest one's twice blessed child to raise as our own.

Oh, yes, this was going to be a day that would live forever in the minds of demons everywhere. And if they were lucky, the entire planet would remember this day as well.

--

Susan climbed out of the car as Lucas let out an exclamation, slamming the hood of his car down in anger and frustration. "Everything okay?" she asked cautiously. Her brother sent her a glare that clearly told her that everything was not all right. "What's wrong with the car?"

"Battery's fried," he said, looking exasperated as Nathan climbed out too. "I can't fix it without getting a new one." He looked around at their surroundings. The way from the mansion had taken them on the back roads, but they weren't far from the manor.

"Okay, well, let's not freak out, okay?" Nathan said. "We have to get to the manor. Let's run."

"Yeah, come on, Luke, it's not that far," Susan said, reaching into the window and pulling the keys out of the ignition. "It's this way, you guys, come on. We gotta a nephew to save."

With her brothers right behind her, Susan raced in the direction of the manor, the distance shortening with every mile. But even so, all three siblings knew that they weren't going to get there in time before the demons did and stole the baby.

Just as Susan raced out into the road to cross the street, a flash of lights flew into her path, heading straight towards her. "Susan!" Lucas screamed, throwing his hand out to send his sister to safety.

But of course, with no magic, it did nothing and Susan dived out of the way just in time as the car screeched to a halt.

"Oh, god, I am so sorry, I didn't even see you," the driver exclaimed. "Are you all right, miss?"

"I'm fine," Susan said, pushing herself up and straightening. She placed her hand protectively over her stomach. We're both fine, she added silently.

"Really, I am so sorry," the driver apologised just as Lucas and Nathan ran over to their sister.

"Susan, didn't your mother ever teach you not to run out into the road like that?!" Lucas yelled at her, scared both for his sister and unborn nephew that she was carrying.

"Sorry, Luke, I had other things on my mind just now," Susan snapped at him, annoyed. It was at times like these when his overprotective big brother mode was really annoying.

"Luke?" the driver asked, looking at the blond witch. The eldest Charmed One turned towards him. "Nathan, hey, how's it going?"

"Jake!" Lucas said, recognising him immediately. "What are you doing back in Tree Hill?"

"Long story," Jake said with a grin. "Basically, after I went after Nicki, we had to go to court again and the judge finally awarded custody of Jenny to me. That was kind of the last straw for her, so she took off. It's been about six months since I saw her. Anyway, I'm headed back here to stay with my parents while I start training as a police officer."

"Oh, god, how old is Jenny about now? Around one and a half?" Nathan asked while Susan looked between them in bewilderment.

"Hello, distracted people," Susan interrupted. "We've got somewhere we need to be and a woman in labour back at the house, so I'm sorry, but can we postpone the reunion until later?"

"A woman in labour?" Jake echoed.

"Haley," Nathan said quickly. "Our car broke down and we need to get home as soon as we can."

Asking no more questions, Jake pointed to his car. "Get in," he ordered. "Your apartment, I assume?"

"Scott manor," Lucas corrected as he slid in. Susan shook her head, climbing into the back with Nathan. Seconds later, they were racing down the road towards the Scott manor. And they would arrive not a moment too soon to save their son/nephew.