What Could Have Been
AN: I know it's been forever since I updated and I probably don't even have any readers left but since I've recently gotten back into the writing mood I figured I'd give it a try.
Chapter 10
"The Angel of Destiny? Are you kidding me?" I don't have time to deal with this guy.
The old man laughed and shook his. "You're so very much like your mother and your aunts. Always impatient. Always going somewhere and needing to do something. Always in a hurry. Sometimes it's good to just stop and think about where you're going."
Mel rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her chest. This is ridiculous. I need to get back to Chris.
The angel shook his head again and said, "Don't worry about your family right now. I have suspended time for both them and the time we are in at the present moment. It has come into my consideration that there is a need for me to speak with you."
She squinted her eyes at him before replying, "About what?"
"Your destiny, of course." Of course.
Mel sighed before giving in and saying, "Okay, just make it quick."
He laughed once again and looked straight into her eyes. As soon as they made eye contact Mel saw her entire life go before her eyes. She saw the generations of Halliwells before her and after her. All in a second she saw her entire being born, growing up, and dying. Mel broke their connection and stepped backwards.
"What the hell was that?"
This time the Angel didn't laugh. He just grinned slightly and said, "That is what I need to talk to you about. Your future. And your past. But mostly your future."
Mel tried to clear her head as she blinked. "What about my future? Am I going to die?"
"Everyone dies, Melinda. You will too just as everybody else who has come before you. There is no stopping it. There isn't even a way to delay it. Many people believe that they can stall death. But it was really their destiny all along."
Mel could feel herself getting frustrated again as she replied, "I know I'm going to die. I meant will I die soon? Is there even any point in trying to stop Wyatt?"
"There is most definitely a point to stopping Wyatt. Your family has a way of not only changing their destinies, but also ruining them beyond recognition. This is what occurred with Wyatt. We knew that he would be swayed towards evil but we could never have known just how far he would fall into it. Now that he has killed most of the Halliwell line, we have realized it is time for him to be stopped. It is not your family's destiny to die off. You are needed for this world to keep going. Without the Charmed magic, evil will prevail and the world will end."
Mel just nodded her head absent mindedly. How am I supposed to stop him. He's so much stronger then me. He's stronger then everybody.
"So what do you want me to do about it? How can you expect me to be able to stop him. I've tried. We've all tried. It's too hard. We're all too weak to take him on. Even together we barely even hurt him."
"It's not as hard as you've come to think. The reason you can't defeat him is because he is one of you. He is a Charmed just as you all are. What you need is the next generation of Charmed Ones." The next generation of Charmed Ones...?
"What do you mean the next generation? I thought WE were the next generation."
"You were, but not completely. The Charmed Ones are supposed to be three girls. These girls will turn into the most powerful witches the world has ever seen. Each generation will get stronger. Your mother and aunts said you and you're cousins were the next generation but they were not completely correct. You were all Charmed but you were not the Charmed Ones. You were not all girls. Now the time has come for the next generation of Charmed Ones to start to come into existence. Two already have. All you need is the third." A third? But that would mean that one of us would have to have a...
Mel's eyes widened as what he was saying clicked in her head. "Oh, no. No way in hell. You must be crazy if you think I'm going to have a kid. I'm twenty and I keep getting people killed as it is. I could never raise a kid in the middle of this mess." This guy must be cracked.
The angel just looked at her and said, "It seems that is already too late to be worried about that." You have got to be kidding me.
"How the hell could you know if I'm pregnant. I had sex for the first time in like months yesterday. Even if I was it would be way to early to know." Except for the fact that he's an Angel of Destiny and he would be the one to know.
Mel sighed and squeezed her eyes shut. This cannot be happening. I can't have a baby. I can barely take care of Peyton. O, god. How am I going to tell Matt? He's going to freak. This cannot be happening. "Why is it so good that I'm pregnant. How is this going to help? Won't it just get in the way?"
The Angel shook his head and help his hand out to her. "Come with me. I want to show you something." This is not going to be fun.
Mel looked doubtfully down at his hand. She bit her bottom lip before slowly reaching out her hand and grabbing the sleeve of his robe. They disappeared in a white glow.
When Mel opens her eyes the first thing she sees is herself. A very pregnant, pissed off her. Okay. It looks like I'm in labor. She's sitting on a chair with a bag next to her. Wonder if my powers get stronger when I'm pregnant like Aunt Piper. I hope so.
"Matthew, if you don't get your ass down here in the next second I am going to kill you! I am going to gauge you're eyeballs out and slow roast you over a fire." The last part she mostly muttered to herself in annoyance. I never really have dealt that well with pain.
"Mel, I don't think you should be thinking that about the person whose driving you to the hospital. You know. The place where the painkillers live." Matt said this as he came down the stairs with the car keys. "Are you ready?"
Mel glared up at him before practically growling at him, "I have been ready. You're the one who was not ready!" Matt grinned a little bit to himself as her leaned over and helped Mel stand up.
"Get that smirk off your face, jerk!" And I do tend to get a little bit nasty too I guess.
The scene began fading into as the couple walked out the door. As it shut behind them, Mel turned to the Angel and said, "Okay, I get that I'm pregnant but I still don't get why.'
The Angel shook his head slowly. "You don't understand yet. That was only one way the situation could turn out." Maybe if you just explained it to me we wouldn't have to go through all these guessing games.
Suddenly they were in what looked like a parking garage. It was empty except for a couple cars minus their tired scattered throughout the large space. Behind one was Chris crouching over Mel who was laying on her back with her knees pulled up.. Tears were streaming down her face as she let her head fall backwards and her body shook with silent sobs. Why am I giving birth in this dump?
"Come on, Mellie. You have to have this baby. You're doing so good. Just try to be quiet and push." Chris spoke in a hushed tone as her looked nervously around the garage.
Mel shook her head from side to side with her eyes squeezed tightly shut. "Chris, it hurts so bad. I feel like I'm being ripped apart. Make it stop hurting. Just make it be over. Please!" Chris took as moment look at his cousin as she breathed in between her contractions. He pities me. I can see it in his eyes. He slowly reached up and brushed the hair out of her face.
Mel's body tensed up again as another wave of pain went through her. "I wish Matt were here. I need him now. I can't do this without him!" Where is Matt?
Chris just grabbed her hand and said, "Push!"
The scene faded out again as Mel slowly turned back to face the Angel.
"So either Wyatt will be fixed or you will loose more then you already have." Matt. "If you wait until you have this child she will bring about his downfall. The girl that will complete the Charmed Ones once again. At this moment you are carrying the means to the most powerful force ever in existence." That doesn't make me feel pressured or anything.
"Well, of course I want to get rid of him now. But none of us can. We're not strong enough."
The Angel shook his head. "That is what I came here to tell you. Gideon pulled Wyatt astray from the path of good and his mother's death lead him further away. But when Christopher went back in time to save him he succeeded. What he did should have put Wyatt back on his rightful journey, along with the rest of your family. But somehow - we're not exactly sure how - Wyatt avoided the time loop that should have followed. We're guessing he decided to follow you into the year 2001 at the moment time reset itself in the year 2004."
"So how do we fix it?" Something tells me this isn't going to be easy..."
"You must get Wyatt back into the year of 2004. Once he is there his evil self will be absorbed by the child Wyatt and the good will prevail. The only thing is that you must account for Wyatt being near you now. He will not be pleased with your pregnancy or the rise of another set of Charmed Ones. Their power will be the only thing powerful enough to bring them down. He will want to destroy it." Okay so I have to 2 options. Figure out a way to knock Wyatt into 2004 or protect myself until I have this baby and then I can use her power.
Mel nodded to herself as she looked at the view from the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. I don't even remember coming back up here.
"It's not going to be easy is it?"
The Angel of Destiny shook his head. "Not at all. But if there's anyone who would be able to do it, it would be a Halliwell. I trust that you will succeed in your mission. It's not taken as an option in your family to fail, is it?" He smiled sadly at her.
No, I guess it's not. Mel looked him in the eyes before replying, "Before I go back could you show me more of what it could be like. Because more and more lately I feel like it's all I can do not to give up...and I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out." Baby or no baby.
The Angel sighed before nodding slightly. "We're really not supposed to but I guess this can be counted as a special circumstance." He reached his hand and this time she didn't hesitate when she reached back and grabbed it.
The first thing she saw was herself again. She was sitting on the grass in a park with shorts and a tank top on and a little girl no more then 2 was running around her. The child was pale and had brown hair and eyes just like Mel
"Parker, be careful! You don't want to get hurt do you?" As Mel finished the sentence the little girl tripped and landed on all fours. For a moment she looked shocked but then began to cry with tears leaking from her eyes.
The future Mel quickly got onto her knees and picked the girl up and hugged her. "Where does it hurt, baby?"
Parker pointed to her knee where there was a small cut with a little bit of blood. Mel blew on it a little bit before reaching for her back and pulling out Neosporin and a band-aid. She put some ointment on the wound and then gently placed the band-aid over it. The girl's cries had subsided into sniffles as she watched her mother care for her.
Mel kissed her knee and said, "All better!" Parker grinned before throwing her arms around her neck and hugging her. Not half bad.
The scene faded and was replaced by the kitchen in the Manor. A slightly aged Mel was standing at the stove stirring a pot while Parker sat on the counter watching her. She looked to be about 10 and her hair had darkened over the years. I hate making potions
"Mom, how come you haven't taught me how to make potions yet?"
Mel grimaced before replying, "Because you should be concentrating on the spells and developing your powers. Plus you've been learning self-defense and going to school at the same time. I don't want it to be too much for you."
"You don't think I can do it?" Parker raised an eyebrow. She has attitude...just like I did.
"Of course I think you can do it."
"Well Daddy said that you haven't started yet because you were never good at it."
Now it was Mel's turn to raise her eyebrow. "Really, well you know what? Daddy's wrong. And you better not listen to him...or else."
"Or else what?," she said jokingly.
Mel turned around and grinned before she started tickling the little girl. She's ticklish just like me.
The scene faded again and they were in the living room on the Manor. It looked like Halloween again. Mel was sitting on the couch next to Prue as 3 girls came up to them. There was a blond one dressed like a cheerleader, a black haired one with a birthmark that looked a phoenix dressed as a witch and a brown haired one dressed as a fairy.
Prue smiled at them as she said, "You guys be good. Don't do anything stupid. And wait til you get home to eat any of the candy. And make sure to check in!"
All 3 of them were nodding as they began to back up towards the front door.
"I mean it! If you don't you have to take the little kids around next year and be in by 6:30."
The cheerleader spoke for all three of them. "Don't worry, Aunt Prue! I'm 14. We've been going alone for 3 years now. We know what to do. See you later!" The other girls yelled goodbye too as they ran out the front door, letting it slam behind them. Just like Wyatt and Chris.
As the scene faded out more began going quickly in front of Mel's eyes. She saw herself laughing with Prue and Chris. She saw Matt hugging her from behind and kissing the side of her neck. She saw her daughter standing in front of a full length mirror wearing a red strapless prom dress. Then she was standing in front of the same mirror in a wedding dress. More and more images flashed before her eyes until it became a blur.
All of the sudden it stopped and they were back on top of the Golden Gate Bridge. "Does that satisfy you?"
Mel nodded as she looked the Angel in the eyes. "Yes. All I needed was a chance that maybe one day we'll be happy again." It's not even a guarantee but I guess it's better then nothing.
"Well that it what you have. Now it is up to you to make it happen. Come. I will send you back now."
This time Mel put her hand out first and he clasped it back tightly. She shut her eyes and felt the air move around her. When she opened them again she was back in the attic with everyone she had left plus a couple. They were all still frozen. How did they get here?
Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of her cousin with the little girl. She looked at Chris and saw him holding a baby. So that's the baby. She leaned closer to get a better look. She looks so much like Bianca.
Just as she was about to touch the baby, time restarted.