The Legend of Sleepy Halliwell
She toyed with the sleeve of her jacket as she waited. She knew he didn't have a lot of time, he had to get back to Hong Kong. Phoebe let out a sigh and checked her watch. Piper had asked her and Prue to stop by the preschool too.
"Phoebe," Jason called. Phoebe shot up from her chair and closed the gap between them in seconds.
"You're here," she said.
"Yeah…what is it? You said it was urgent," he replied.
"I think you should sit down…" she trailed off. Maybe that wasn't the best way to start this conversation. He looked at her but sat down slowly in a chair nearby. She sat down too but immediately stood up and began to pace.
"I….there is something I've been meaning to tell you," she began, her hands wringing with anxiety.
"Ok. I'm listening," Jason said, leaning back in the chair.
"There's no easy way to say this…I'm…a witch," Phoebe finally blurted. There, she'd said it. It was out in the open and there was no turning back. He blinked several times before opening his mouth.
"What?" he managed to get out.
"I'm a witch," she repeated.
"I know it sounds crazy but…it's the truth," she added hastily.
"You…this has to be some kind of joke," he mumbled. She shook her head.
"It's not," she replied and slowly levitated into the air. Jason nearly fell out of his chair.
"How…how did you do that?" stammered.
"Magic," she answered.
"This is….really insane," he sighed, rubbing his face with his hands.
"I know….it's kind of a lot all at once," she said when Jason's phone rang. He pulled it out, seeming ecstatic for the interruption.
"Yeah?" he said, getting up and walking away from her. She waited silently for him to finish. He hung up and looked at her.
"I have to go…" he mumbled and walked out. Phoebe let out a groan and sunk into his chair. That had not gone well at all. She sat there for a minute or two more before realizing she needed to go meet Piper and Prue at the preschool.
Some time later both she and Prue were walking into the room, Prue trying to comfort Phoebe. Piper spotted them and hastily flagged them down.
"So uh…what exactly are we doing here again?" Prue asked.
"Supporting Wyatt. The school looks for that when the father isn't around," she answered.
"But Leo is around," Phoebe commented.
"Well yeah for Wyatt but he won't be for the schools," Piper answered. Phoebe nodded. They stood in silence for a minute before Piper picked up on Phoebe's expression.
"What's wrong with you?" she asked.
"She just told Jason about being a witch and he didn't take it so well," Prue replied.
"Oh honey, I'm sorry," Piper said.
"It's ok…you know….I'm sure he'll come around," Phoebe said.
"So why do you look like you're a wreck?" Prue asked of Piper.
"Oh you know…just that I'm raising an anti-social child," Piper answered. Phoebe and Prue looked over to see Wyatt playing by himself.
"He's not anti-social, he's just…playing by himself," Phoebe tried to brush it off.
"I just…how am I supposed to do this…when he knows he has powers…how am I supposed to keep him from orbing out of a play date?" Piper rambled.
"Ok I think that's a little extreme Piper," Prue began to rebut when Wyatt disappeared in orbs.
"You were saying?" Piper snapped, dragging her sisters out of view.
"Anybody got a potion?" she hissed. All three of them opened their purses and began to root through them.
"I have one," Prue announced softly. She'd remembered to make a new batch over the weekend. She joined hands with her sisters and threw the potion on the ground. In a puff of smoke they reappeared in the Manor. They saw Wyatt sitting at the bottom of the stares.
"Honey, you can't keep doing this," Piper said, bending down to pick him up.
"Uh Piper…" Prue said, causing her sibling to look up. There in the middle of the stairwell was a door.
"What the hell?" she groaned. The door handle started to jiggle and Piper handed her son to Phoebe.
"Get him out of here," she ordered. Phoebe headed for the sun room just as the door opened and balding man in black robes appeared.
"Oh thank goodness you're home," he breathed just as the sound of hooves stopped behind him. He turned to see a headless figure atop the horse wielding a sword. He grimaced as the blade cleaved his head from his body. His body fell into the space and his head rolled down the stairs.
"What just happened?" Prue asked.
"I have no idea," Piper replied. She slowly reached down and picked up the man's head. She looked around and spotted the front hall table.
"Move those," she ordered and Prue picked up the vase of flowers. As carefully as she could, Piper set his head down.
"You're so kind," he said as she set his glasses back on his nose.
"Yeah…so…who are you…and why was there a door in my staircase?" she demanded.
"In all the panic I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Sigmund. I'm one of the teachers at Magic School," he explained.
"Magic what?" Piper shrieked. Just then the front door opened and both Chris and Andy walked in. Prue looked over at them. They seemed to be deep in discussion until they saw Sigmund's head on the table.
"Why is there a decapitated head on the foyer table?" Chris asked.
"Because it would have been rude to leave him on the stairs," Prue replied.
"Well…put it somewhere else," Chris snapped, heading for the kitchen. Prue raised her eyebrow at Andy.
"I don't know…he's…moody," Andy answered.
"Piper, Wyatt is safe in the…oh my god," Phoebe rambled, spotting Sigmund.
"There's a Magic School," Prue blurted.
"Whoah ok…slow down. Does that have anything to do with the head on our table?" she asked.
"Uh well yes. You see…someone's let loose the Headless Horseman on campus," Sigmund supplied just as orbs fluttered into the room, depositing Leo.
"What are you doing here?" Prue asked, knowing Piper had asked him not to come around.
"The Elders thought it would be best if I helped you handle this situation. We have been following it," Leo answered.
"Oh, Leo, so good to see you," Sigmund said.
"Sigmund?" Leo asked, looking surprised.
"I'm afraid the horseman got me," he answered.
"We need to get him back to Magic School," Leo said. Piper let out a groan but they followed Leo up to the door that remained in the stairway.
"Oh…hang on," Prue said and headed for the kitchen.
"We're going to Magic School. You boys interested in coming?' she asked.
"Magic School?" Andy asked. Prue nodded and he shrugged. Chris on the other hand didn't move.
"What's your problem today?" Prue muttered.
"Nothing, ok. Nothing is my problem," he shot back. Prue held up her hands and backed away slowly.
"Ok…well could you go get Wyatt in the sun room?" she asked and walked out. He sighed but wandered into the next room and picked the child up in his arms. Wyatt looked up at him as Chris headed for the stairs.
"Magic School," he sighed and Wyatt frowned a little. Chris couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Yeah…you and me both," he whispered as he crossed the threshold. The door shut behind him and he nearly tripped over Sigmund's body.
"Sorry!" the head called from the sack Piper had grabbed.
They walked down a seemingly endless hallway. Chris just kept his eyes on the ground. He should have said he didn't want to come. Perhaps he could get out of it. They had finally reached an enormous set of double doors. Chris handed Wyatt off to Leo and started to back up.
"Ok well, I have some things to take care of," he said and started to walk away.
"Chris, you're their whitelighter. They need your guidance," Leo said.
"Why can't you help them? You handle the horseman, and I'll get back to hunting demons," Chris responded.
"The demons can wait, Chris. This is more important," Phoebe said. Leo gave Chris a disapproving look as they walked into the Great Hall. It was filled with students wandering around and a few teachers watching over them anxiously. Piper set Sigmund's head down on a table and pulled the sack down around his neck.
"The Charmed Ones. Thank you for coming," a voice said. The girls looked around but didn't see anything.
"Gideon, I believe you still have your invisibility shield up," Leo commented. Suddenly a man with dark hair wearing robes similar to Sigmund's appeared before them.
"My apologies. I must have forgotten with all the chaos here," Gideon apologized. He looked at the girls and gave them a smile.
"You probably don't remember me. You were just little girls when we last met," he said.
"And you are?" Prue asked defensively.
"Gideon. I run Magic School," he answered.
"Gideon is an Elder," Leo supplied. It was then that Gideon noticed Sigmund's head.
"Oh Sigmund. I'm so sorry," he said.
"Thank you Sir. But it didn't stop me from delivering the message. Perhaps you'd like to orb me over with the other heads," Sigmund responded. Gideon nodded and waved his hand. Sigmund disappeared in a swirl of orbs.
"So…how would a demon get into Magic School?" Phoebe asked.
"It wouldn't. Evil cannot enter the school grounds which is what worries me," Gideon replied.
"So it could be a student," Piper said.
"I would like to think not. There aren't any students with that type of power," Gideon rebuked.
"Ok…look…how about we check the Book of Shadows and see what we can find," Prue suggested. Her sisters nodded and she astral projected back to the Manor to grab it. When she returned, Leo and Wyatt were nowhere to be seen.
"Where did Leo go?" Prue asked.
"Took Wyatt to the magical nursery," Piper grumbled.
"Ok well I have the book so let's get going," Prue said.
"Why don't I show you to the library? You're welcome all of the books we have," Gideon said and pointed the girls in the direction of the library. He turned back to Chris and Andy.
"If you will excuse me," he said and disappeared in orbs.
Andy and Chris were left standing there amid the hustle of the room. Chris shoved his hands in his pockets and didn't say anything. Finally Andy spoke up.
"What do you think of Gideon?" he asked.
"I feel like I know him but I can't place him. Why?" Chris answered.
"You just looked a little uneasy around him," Andy answered.
"It's this whole place. I just…I don't like being here," Chris admitted.
"Hey…what exactly were you trying to tell me earlier?" Andy pressed after a brief minute of silence.
"I…I haven't been entirely truthful with the sisters about who I am," Chris blurted.
"Then shouldn't you be talking to them about this?" he asked.
"I guess I want some…moral support," Chris replied.
"Ok…" Andy trailed off.
"I…I'm Piper and Leo's son," Chris whispered in case anyone was listening.
"You know Leo and Piper aren't together anymore right?" Andy asked. Chris stared at him in shock. He just spilled his big secret and all Andy could think to say way stating the blatantly obvious?
"Yeah…that's the problem. I've been going to oracles and soothsayers and they've all been telling me if I'm not conceived in the next month or so, there will be no me," Chris explained.
"Ok…yeah that could be a problem," Andy said. Chris bit back a smile. Was Andy trying to be the king of understatements of year?
"I have an idea," Andy said with a smile.
"Ok," Chris said tentatively.
"How about we go see what Gideon is doing. I didn't get a really great vibe from him either," Andy offered.
"What is this…some lame attempt at uncle-nephew bonding?" Chris laughed, immediately covering his mouth.
"Well…it's nice to know some things change," Andy chuckled, clapping Chris on the shoulder before they headed in the direction Gideon had gone. In the library, the Charmed Ones were surrounded by piles of books. Leo had since joined them and was conversing with some of the students that were milling around.
"Don't they have somewhere else to be?" Piper grumbled as she slammed the Book of Shadows shut. They weren't going to find anything in there. A small part of her hoped Grams' spirit would flip the book open to the page they needed but that didn't happen.
"Ok…so I don't think it's demonic. I mean if evil can't get into the school, how would it be able to control the horseman?" Prue asked.
"So it's a student," Phoebe stated.
"What are we supposed to do? Go ask every student if they've conjured any headless apparitions lately?" Piper scoffed.
"Hey, stop socializing and be our whitelighter for a minute," Prue called over to Leo. Leo excused himself from his conversation to join them.
"Chris should really be helping you with this," he began but Piper cut him off.
"Chris is busy," she said.
"If we were going to look for a student that would have the amount of power needed to conjure the Headless Horseman, where would we look?" Prue asked.
"Probably the advanced magic class," Leo sighed.
"Ok…great so let's start there," Phoebe said.
"Why are you in such a hurry," Piper asked.
"I want to talk to Jason again…I mean…I know he needs some time but…" Phoebe rambled.
"Pheebs, give him some space and some time. Believe me. He'll need it," Prue said. Phoebe let out a sigh. Prue was right. She was the one after all who had the most experience with mortal guys and magic. All three girls looked over at Leo. He didn't look pleased that they wanted him to help interrogate students but he motioned for them to follow him.
In his office, Gideon sat down, Sigmund's head in front of him on the desk. Both were silent for a minute.
"Sir, may I ask what is wrong?" Sigmund asked.
"It appears I have not done well enough in covering up my plans. I believe Chris may be onto us," Gideon answered with a sigh.
"Onto us? How so?" Sigmund asked.
"He is on edge and I can sense he is reluctant to be here," Gideon answered.
"No matter. Our plan will succeed. We simply need to move our timetable up a bit. We need to strike now," Gideon said, standing.
"Do you really think trying to eliminate the boy now is wise?" Sigmund asked.
"Shouldn't we be more worried about the fate of the school?" he added.
"Sigmund, my dear boy. Think about it. If a student with considerably less power than Wyatt has managed to conjure the horseman, then just imagine what Wyatt could do if allowed to grow up,' Gideon explained.
"The sisters are busy with the horseman and Leo is at their beck and call," he added. He would make sure Chris and the mortal were kept occupied as well. Little did the Elder know but Chris and Andy had been eavesdropping. Both backed away and out of view just as Gideon opened the door and headed in the opposite direction.
"We have to stop him," Andy hissed.
"You need to go warn the sisters. I'll handle him until they get there," Chris said; ready to split up with his uncle.
"Are you sure you can handle him?" Andy asked in concern.
"Just hurry and get the sisters. Maybe if we're lucky the horseman will beat us to it," Chris muttered and the two men went their separate ways. Chris followed Gideon at a safe distance to the nursery. Andy, after asking a couple of students, headed for the library but found the sisters had already left.
"I think the Charmed Ones went that way," a student said, noticing Andy's confused expression.
"Thanks," Andy said and headed that way. By now, the girls and Leo had reached the class.
"Ok so do we have a plan here?" Piper asked.
"Uh…anyone makes any sudden movements, you freeze. Phoebe, see if you can get any strong feelings from anyone and we'll go from there," Prue said. It was the best of plans but it was better than nothing. Prue pulled open the door and they walked in to find a bunch of kids just goofing off.
"Uh, hi there," Prue called loudly. The kids stopped talking and looked up.
"Wow, the Charmed Ones," one of the boys said in awe. His comment earned him several snickers and rude remarks.
"Ok. I'm sure you all know about the horseman running around on campus," Phoebe began.
"What? Did they send you to lecture us?" one of the other boys asked.
"Hey, cut the attitude," Piper snapped.
"I'm so scared," he shot back.
"Don't make me freeze your wise ass," she threatened.
"Yeah right," he muttered. Piper waved her hand at him and he froze.
"Mmm," she said, looking around at the rest of the class.
"Anyone else want to try me?" she asked and they all shook their heads. Piper flicked her wrist again and the boy unfroze.
"Look, we don't know who is conjuring the horseman. But if I had to guess, it's probably someone a lot more powerful than any of us," a girl in the back said. Just as Phoebe was about to say something there was a whinny in the doorway and the horseman waved his sword around.
"Piper, freeze it!" Phoebe said. Piper threw her hands out but it didn't do a thing.
"I'm trying," she said. The students watched as the horseman separated head from body of each sister. It turned on Leo but he orbed out just in time. The horseman turn around and sprinted out of the classroom, disappearing from view.
"Crap," Piper groaned.
"Leo!" Phoebe called but he didn't reappear.
"Chris!" Piper shouted.
"Chris get your whitelighter ass in here!" she added and she got no response. She looked over at Prue as best she could.
"Andy?" she tried and got a response. Footsteps thundered in the hallway, depositing Andy in the doorway.
"Oh…this is not good," he said.
As best he could he picked up their heads and carried them out into the hall. He spotted a table and situated each of them on it.
"What happened? I thought it only attacked teachers," Andy said.
"Yeah well I guess whoever is conjuring it thought we were a threat too," Prue answered.
"Well we have another problem. We overheard Gideon talking…" Andy began.
"We? Who is we?" Piper demanded.
"Chris and I. Anyways we overheard him talking…we think he's going after Wyatt," Andy explained.
"Why would he go after Wyatt? He's an Elder…" Phoebe said, trying to laugh it off.
"Look, Chris said he'd keep Gideon busy as long as he could but we're going to need your help. So if you can think of a spell or something to just get rid of the horseman…and deal with who conjured it later…it would be really good," Andy rambled.
"Ok just…give us a minute," Prue said.
"Would you mind?" she added, trying to nod her head in her sister's direction.
"Yeah," Andy said and turned them so they were facing each other. They conversed for a few minutes.
"Ok…stand back," Piper said. Andy took several large strides away from them. Before their eyes the horseman reappeared.
"Power of Three unite, to end this grisly fright. Reverse the roles and make us whole," they chanted. The horseman vanished and their heads disappeared from the table. By the sounds of voices in the classroom, Andy assumed they had been made whole again. The girls were on their feet in seconds. Piper looked behind her and threw her hand out, freezing the room.
In the nursery, Chris had watched Gideon talk to Mrs. Winterbourne and pick up Wyatt. He followed him as he moved into a second room. It was empty. Gideon set Wyatt down in a small chair and just looked at him for a while.
"I truly am sorry my boy," Gideon whispered, producing an athame.
"What do you think you're doing?" Chris asked, stepping into view. Wyatt looked at him and smiled a little.
"I don't believe it any concern of yours," Gideon answered, standing to his full height and facing Chris.
"Really? I think it is," Chris spat back.
"It is for the Greater Good," Gideon told him.
"How is turning him evil for the Great Good?" Chris demanded.
"Turning him evil? You think that is my intent?" Gideon scoffed.
"Well it's what happened," Chris countered heatedly.
"I assure you it will not happen," Gideon promised. Just outside the nursery Leo appeared and nearly collided with Piper.
"What's going on?" Leo asked.
"Gideon…he's after Wyatt," Piper answered in a quick breath.
"That's absurd," Leo scoffed. Piper didn't answer him. She pushed past him and stormed into the nursery.
"Where is my son," 'she demanded.
"Gideon is playing with him in the play room over there," Mrs. Winterbourne answered.
Piper nearly bowled the woman over to get to the room. She flung the door open to see Chris confronting Gideon. Wyatt spotted her and disappeared in orbs. He reappeared in her arms.
"Gideon, what's going on?" Leo asked.
"I assure you it is not what you think," Gideon replied.
"You lying son-of-a-bitch!" Chris spat and charged the man before him. Both Leo and Andy had to pull him away before he did something stupid.
"Why would you want to hurt an innocent child?" Prue asked as she and Phoebe crammed into the room as well.
"He is much too powerful," Gideon gasped, still shocked from Chris' attempt.
"We're his parents. Let us decide that," Piper hissed, holding her son closer to her.
"Piper is right, Gideon. We're his parents. We know what's right for him," Leo said, still holding onto Chris.
"I am not the only one who believes the child possesses too much power," Gideon called.
"This isn't over," Leo said coolly, leading Chris out of the room.
"You should have told me what you heard," he whispered in the young man's ear.
"You wouldn't have believed me," Chris shot.
"I don't understand though, if Gideon wanted to hurt Wyatt…how did he end up evil?" Phoebe asked.
"Wyatt is smart. He probably would have tried to escape," Andy offered. They left Gideon standing there, athame still in hand. None of them noticed tow other Elders appear and take him away.
"I think now would be a good time to tell them," Andy hissed in Chris' other ear.
"Did you handle the horseman?" Chris asked.
"Well we vanquished it but we still don't know who conjured it.
"I did," a voice called. They all spun around to see one of the boys from the advanced magic class standing in the hallway.
"You're freeze wore off," he added.
"Why would you conjure the horseman, Zachary?" Leo asked.
"I hate it here," he said. Phoebe gave him a smile and pulled him aside.
"I know how you feel. School can be tough," she said.
"I didn't want to come here but he made me. I just wanted to leave and it was the only thing I could think of to shut down the school," Zachary admitted.
"Well I think you can go home. Come on," Phoebe said and they all headed back to the Manor.
Several hours later the girls had reunited Zachary with his parents and informed them to keep in touch if they needed anything.
"Well…it looks like we accomplished a lot today," Prue said. Just then there was a knock at the door. Phoebe pulled it open to reveal Jason.
"Jason," she said, sounding surprised to see him there.
"Can we talk?" he asked. She nodded and let him in.
"I know I sort of freaked out this morning," he began, not noticing the rest of the family spying.
"You had every right to freak out…" Phoebe interrupted.
"I've done some thinking…is it…it something that you can get rid of?" he asked. His question made both Andy and Prue cringe. Phoebe's face fell.
"No…it's who I am, Jason. Just then Andy walked into view.
"I know what you're going through," he said looking at Jason.
"Who are you?" Jason asked.
"A friend of the sisters. I know your next question is probably 'will her children be witches too?'. Yes, they will. You can't change who she is," Andy explained.
"I…I'm sorry Phoebe but…" Jason mumbled.
"It's ok, Jason. I understand. Thank you for everything you've done for me," Phoebe said, pulling him into a tight hug. They shared a few more parting words and he left.
"You ok?" Prue asked, wrapping her arms around Phoebe.
"I will be," Phoebe answered.
"Uh…can I talk to you for a minute?" Chris asked, looking at the sisters and Leo. They all headed for the conservatory.
'Please don't tell me we have more demons to hunt," Piper grumbled.
"No…no demons. I'm pretty sure we saved Wyatt today," Chris answered.
"So I guess that means you get to go back to your time then," Leo said.
"Yeah…but there is something I have to tell you first," Chris aid, looking to Andy for support. He gave a nod.
"I…" he began, looking at Piper and Leo.
"I'm your son," he said.
"W-what? " Piper stammered.
"My son? I don't understand," Leo breathed.
"It's not that hard to figure out," Chris shot. Without saying anything, Phoebe stood and wrapped her arms around Chris.
"I thought you were too neurotic not to be a part of this family," she murmured.
"But…when?" Piper rambled.
"Yeah….about that…uh…in the next month or else well….there is no me," Chris answered.
"Oh…." Piper said. She couldn't fight back a smile.
"Come here," she said, pulling him into a hug of her own.
"Thank you for everything," she whispered.
"I love you," he whispered back, holding her tightly. He just hoped he'd see her again in his own time.
"I wish you had told us sooner," Leo said. Chris turned to look at his father.
"So what, you trust me now?" Chris asked.
"You're my son, Chris. I trust you. You saved your brother and that's all that matters. I'll have two healthy boys," Leo said, beaming. Chris was pulled into an awkward hug by his father.
"Ok…thanks now let go," Chris protested. Prue caught Andy smiling like the Cheshire cat in the corner.
"Ok…what do you know?" she demanded.
"Nothing you don't," he assured her.
"So how do we send you back?" Phoebe asked.
"Anxious to get rid of me?" he teased.
"No…I just thought you would want to get back to see what you had changed," Phoebe replied.
"There isn't a spell to send me back," he muttered.
"That's not a problem. We'll write one,' Piper answered.
Evening fell and they all stood in the attic, ready to send Chris back to his own time. He smiled down at Wyatt.
"Be good," Chris murmured. Piper picked up Wyatt's hand and waved goodbye.
"You're sure this going to work?" he asked, looking at the sisters.
"It worked when we went back to the past," Prue answered. He nodded and took a deep breath.
"A time for everything and everything its place. Return what has been moved through time and space," they chanted. Chris slowly disappeared in white lights. Piper let out a breath as he disappeared.
"I'm sure he'll be fine," Leo said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Well at least we know he loves his family," Phoebe said.
"Yeah…and loves to kick demon ass," Prue added.
"Yeah…" Piper sighed and looked down at Wyatt.
"You ready for a little brother there big guy?" she asked. He just gazed her.
"I think he had better be," Leo said.