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I actually decided to turn Prue's hair white as it is a classic response to someone encountering evil and or having a near death experience. Prue of course having both. After writing the confrontation with the 'Monster', I was rather pleased with the way it came out. Then I remembered Prue's near death experience with Barbas in 'From Fear to Eternity' and the white lock of hair she temporarily gained then. And then there was the completely blond hair Prue sported in 'Morality Bites". Drat, I come up with a good idea and then find the script writers had beaten me too it.
One thing Leo always made clear was that while magic could cause bad times, ie the pain and death that comes with fighting demons, was that magic would also bring good times, to balance the bad.
I wonder if the writers thought of this scene ! I think this would have definitely blown the budget ! and upset the censors. After watching some of the TV's latest shows that have come out of Hollywood, I am no longer so sure about the latter!.
Paradise Island eight days later
Standing in the shade produced by the combination of a group of wide palm trees and a large shade cloth and having just lit the barbecue, Matt turned to watch with interest as a naked Prue headed for the door into what they had nicknamed the hut. It was actually a lot larger and more luxurious than its name implied and Matt was well aware that without the Elders' help, he and Prue would never have been able to afford it. The entire island oozed ultra expensive without even trying. Just below the barbecue and also in the shade were several tables. Scattered around the table were chairs and to one side, in the sunlight, were several well padded recliners.
Smallish and basically a circular U shape, the Island had proven to be everything Ammara had boasted of and more. It possessed four beautiful beaches. Three small and one very large one as well as several caves. Growing from the base of the U was a small rocky hill that reached skyward like a miniature volcano. Extending around the west side of the lagoon, was a ridge that ran from the top of the hill, to the far tip of the lagoon, gradually dropping to almost sea level. This provided excellent protection from the prevailing winds without blocking the sunlight.
Surprisingly, given the islands relatively small size, it even boasted a sweet fresh water spring that provided the 'huts' water supply. The spring bubbled to the surface half way up the hill to form a smallish but deep pool. It then formed a rapidly flowing stream which followed a meandering path down the hill through the forest and then part of the ridge to fall as a classic four meter high waterfall on to the rocks at the base of the ridge. Still cold from its emergence, it was a refreshing change from the warm lagoon and a great way to remove salt, sweat, dirt or otherwise.
Starting about half way down the hill and extending across the top of the ridge, was a forest belt consisting of tall trees that gradually changed to coconut palms as it neared the ocean. These extended down towards the sea to stop several yards short to provide either the rocky shore or an unbroken stretch of sandy beach. Small shrubs and trees, covered in flowers and with a multitude of birds, insects and other small animals, covered most of the rest of the hill and the ridge.
Carefully cut paths allowed easy access to the entire island from the top of the hill, to the beaches, the waterfall, throughout the forest and down to the lagoon itself. The hill top provided spectacular views, especially sunsets and sunrises, while the lagoon itself provided endless opportunities for exploration.
Between the arms of the U which came together to almost meet, a deep tidal lagoon shallowed to an outstandingly beautiful beach that extended right across the base of the hill. A lagoon that provided magnificent diving, swimming and fishing activities. Best of all as both Matt and Prue had discovered, was drifting slowly over the shallower parts of the lagoon, as the vibrant colours of the sea floor and the considerable variety of the plant and animal life made an ever changing panorama.
The hot sunny days had been spent surrounded by classic island vegetation, beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters. This together with the guaranteed privacy, had meant that both he and Prue had shed both their clothes and any remaining inhibitions fairly soon after their arrival. Both now boasted impressive all over sun tans. Something that Matt thought contrasted well with Prue's long pearly white hair.
The 'hut' was compact but well constructed from modern materials and it was obvious that a major effort had gone into making it blend into its environment. It came equipped with three first class bedrooms, a spacious living room, a small but adequate kitchen and a relatively well equipped modern bathroom. What little electrical power that was needed to power the radio phone, fridge, freezer and a few other electrical appliances was provided by batteries charged by a large solar array on the roof. Lighting, hot water and cooking was supplied by several large and well concealed propane cylinders. No radio, TV or any other electronic distraction existed. A simple but adequate helipad was located some 100 meters away, just below the ridge's rim.
Matt and Prue were woken each morning by a bright sun rise, the sweet scents from the surrounding flowers, with bird song filling the air and the gentle sounds of the sea. This was matched by the beautiful and ever changing view over the lagoon and the surrounding sea through the large bay windows in their bedroom. And the day only ever got better.
A well stocked kitchen, a bar with an impressive alcohol choice and a full freezer made meals both easy and a pleasure. Fresh fruit was always available from the suspiciously random planting of a large number of various 'wild' fruit trees, some never seen in Asia before. And additional seafood was readily available in the lagoon. Fishing gear and a helpful book with large colour pictures made sure that the occupiers did not make any mistakes about selecting the right fish.
Two small boats were moored to a jetty and allowed one to paddle or sail over the crystal clear waters of the lagoon, go fishing or for the more adventurous, explore the surrounding islands. Neither Prue or Matt had felt any inclination to do the latter.
No TV and a deliberately short ranged radio phone removed any external temptations. The radio itself could only reach what was laughingly called room service as it took at least 30 minutes for what they ordered to reach them by helicopter and even longer by boat. Not that they had ever needed or used it. The Island's setup was designed to give its users total privacy and apart from its natural features, minimal distractions of any other kind. Something it did superbly.
No distractions, family, demonic, local or magical had so far given them almost eight days completely to themselves. This combined with the Island's beauty and serenity, had allowed Matt and Prue to talk over what had happened and reach a new understanding. Days that had stretched out into a timeless feeling that had healed all their wounds, physical and otherwise.
Something that Matt knew he would remember for the rest of his life. Now that was going to change. Something that both of them were actually looking forward too. And it was the reason why Prue was heading for their bedroom to find something to wear. Leo and Paige were bringing both their families to have a day in paradise. He had already found his swim shorts and was wearing a traditional "Kiss the chef" apron to prevent any spatter burns from the rapidly heating barbecue.
As a bikini wearing Prue joined him, he turned to stare into her eyes. Neither said anything, but Prue's smile said it all. She moved to stand along side him, placing her hands gently on his shoulder and then resting her head on her hands. Enjoying the simple feeling that came from being together. Matt wrapped an arm around her waist as he too allowed the emotion to soak into him.
Two minutes later and carrying a chilled food patter, Paige orbed in with Piper and Phoebe. Both Piper and Phoebe bringing additional food trays which joined the fruit and drinks already on the table. All three sisters quickly placed the various plates and platters they were carrying on the table with Piper, Phoebe and Paige surrounding Prue. Sweeping Prue to one side, the rapid and enthusiastic questions quickly became more secretive. Well aware that he and the last eight days were almost certainly now the main topic of conversation, Matt looked down at the barbecue to hide that he was concentrating on listening. That only scattered words and giggles were the part of the conversation he could hear clearly enough, allowed him to be able to guess the topics. Enough to realise that Prue obviously trusted her sisters enough, that at least some of the last few days was being discussed in some if not excessive detail. A quiet smile developed on his face and he turned to hide it and show that he was concentrating on the barbecue.
As the sisters then separated to start admiring their surroundings with Prue pointing out the main details, Leo orbed in with both of his parents.
Matt watched with some glee as his parents quickly sat down on the sand as they recovered from orbing for the first time. Each person felt the orbing experience differently but usually quickly got use to it. By now Matt was an old hand when it came to orbing and he now even enjoyed the sensation. Still the first time was always a shock. Just as quickly Leo orbed away, to return with the rest of their family.
"Oh, that was some weird trip, literally" stammered Vi as she gathered what felt like both her mind and body into one place while trying to keep them separate. Kay just grunted as his pride would not let him show any weakness. He had also found orbing for the first time difficult as he tried to shake a vivid impression that his body was some 12 inches to the left of his mind. Unfortunately he attempted to stand too early and ended up staggering sideways into a convenient palm tree. Carefully holding onto the trunk with one arm, he tried to look as if nothing was wrong. Something that fooled no one. Turning to hide his grin, Matt carefully dropped a set of thick, well marinated and tender beef steaks onto the now hot barbecue. Followed by the chicken drumsticks and kebabs as well as lamb chops. Several fish steaks waited to one side as these would take little cooking.
When Leo returned several minutes later with Victor and Matt's grandparents, all three also promptly sat down as they also recovered from orbing for the first time. "Ha ha" laughed Matt, "you will get use to it fairly quickly, after all, its the only practical way to get home". By now his parents had recovered enough to stand by themselves and admire their surroundings. By now both Phoebe and Paige had already stripped to their swim suits and were busy trying to drag a still clothed and protesting Piper into the lagoon's warm waters watched by a laughing Prue as she slowly headed back to the hut.
Two minutes later, Piper was enthusiastically dunking a weakly struggling and still laughing Paige under water for the second time. As Prue returned to join Matt, she placed another food platter on the table. After adding the fish steaks to the grill and having flipped the beef steaks, chops and chicken, he gave several of them a final jab, dropped the fork on the side bench and turned to Prue. Wrapping his arms around her and ignoring everyone else, he first gave her a passionate kiss then said "Family!".
Leaving a now choking Paige who had swallowed some sea water and was having a difficult time coughing the water up and laughing at the same time, Piper set out to catch Phoebe who like Paige was enjoying the chase far too much to leave the lagoon. Allowing Piper to catch her was only part of the game. As a determined Piper finally caught Phoebe and tried to push her under the water's surface, Prue charged into the lagoon to join in.
As she always had been able to, Vi caught Matt by surprise as she came from behind to wrap her arms around him as he finished turning the fish steaks after moving the some of the now medium rare beef steaks, and kebabs to the warming grill to rest. Alongside them he then placed the Relaxing he just stood there, enjoying the peaceful feeling that came from his childhood and his mother's presence.
Choosing her words with great care as well as how she said them, Vi said "Leo and Paige told us what happened. That Prue broke one of the wedding promises she made to you. You understand why she did that don't you?. That she had no choice".
He turned inside his mother's arms so he faced her then he reached behind himself to grab both her hands. Gently holding them he bought them forward so that they were alongside them both. After only the smallest of pauses and a gentle smile on his face. He stared gently into his mother's eyes and in a quiet voice he replied "Yes I do. Prue and I have had a lot of time to talk. This island encourages that a lot". "I accept what she did and why she did it. I am not entirely happy but this is something neither of us have any real choice. What happened ... happened!"
After another pause and with this mind turned inwards, to review a certain memory, he continued.
"Ammara, one of the local Whitelighters said he could see something of our future. And he used the word family". In a voice that was soft and wistful, he said "He implied Prue and I will have children one day".
"Why not" replied his mother, "Piper is pregnant and I have to assume you and Prue have been practicing. After all what else could you be doing on a small tropical island since there are so few distractions, apart from talking of course". Matt grinned as a series of memories flashed in front of him. Easily reading Matt's expression and with that question answered, Vi continued in a quieter voice as her concern for her son made her ask "You and Prue have made up, you are back together like before".
"Yes" replied Matt. Looking into his mother's eyes, he was mildly surprised and very pleased to see the concern mirrored there, a concern for both him and Prue. "I know that I will have to sometimes let Prue go and fight alongside the sisters without me. I won't always be able to go with her when she has to fight a demon. If they also have to protect a muggle like me, that will only make it more dangerous for her and her sisters".
After a pause and turning to first check the barbecue, he then flipped the fish steaks. "And we will have children one day, children that I can help protect from both magical and non magical threats. It doesn't mean that I won't always be involved as demons will not ignore me or where we live. And it seems I have a knack for spells. I have even written a couple that Phoebe liked. And I will be able to help. Even if its just throwing a potion or bringing the half time oranges. I love Prue and whatever it takes, I will be there for her, even if I have to hide behind the sofa first".
"Ha" replied Vi with some bitterness. This was not what she ever wanted for her son or his family. She still found it difficult to accept the unknown world that her son had entered. The world she now knew beyond a doubt was so very dangerous. And what she had found out about the events of the last few days only reinforced this. Especially as it had taken so much of her training to conceal her initial shock at seeing Prue's white hair, even after being warned. It bought home just what her son and his wife had faced.
Seeing some of what worried Vi, Matt added "Its not as bad as you think. Yes, we can be in real danger from what is a only a small part of the magical world, admittedly the most powerful part. But the sisters have proven themselves the equal of anything that has come after them".
The smallest of pauses allowed Vi to easily hear the unsaid 'so far' as Matt continued. "And their powers and abilities are still growing"
In a quieter voice he added, "I know that it will not stop demons or any other evil beings trying to kill them. We know that as the sisters become more powerful, it will mean that more powerful evil beings will rise to challenge them. On the other hand, non magical threats to all of us and our children will be so much easier to deal with".
After a pause and with a short quiet, slightly mocking laugh, he added "Prue, Piper, Leo and myself were at the flicks several weeks ago. Two muggers tried to rob us when we returned to the car park. Between Prue's telekinesis and Piper's freezing power, they still don't know what hit them!".
Letting go of her hands, he gently turned around to lift the cover from the meat dish. Matt carefully removed the fish steaks to join the rest of the meat on the warming rack above the grill so that they could also finish cooking and relax. Joining them was the remainder of the beef steaks, now well done. To one side he then readied onions, pineapple rings and a variety of other fruits to add as they would take less time to cook.
It said much for Vi's knowledge of her son that she easily read the small but significant frustration in Matt's voice that showed his annoyance that sometimes he would have to allow his wife to protect him. Something that came from deep within him, driven by the his own ideas of being the male and from what society and his father had programmed into him from birth. It also said much for Matt that he was well aware of this and would always try to never let this come between Prue and himself.
Vi quietly hugged him and was pleased to feel Matt relax. Nearly all of the recent tension draining from him. So much like his father at times, at least Matt was not the macho male her husband had been and still was on most occasions. It had taken her quite a few years to finally convince Kay that she was at least the equal to anyone in the very masculine world they both worked in.
Turning as renewed laugher burst out from the sisters, Vi couldn't help but laugh again, this time with real humour as the three youngest sisters ganged up on Prue. As Prue back pedaled through the waist deep water, she waved her hands towards them so that a wave came out of nowhere to lift Piper, Phoebe and Paige off their feet and push them back. A cry of protest came from Phoebe "Hey, no using your power or we will use ours".
Paige disappeared in a cloud of orbs to reappear behind Prue. Wrapping her arms around her oldest sister, she tried to pull her sideways and push her under. Initially the taller Prue was able to resist, but within seconds Piper and Phoebe had joined Paige. Prue didn't have a chance. With a half drowned squeal, she disappeared under the water, to emerge sputtering seconds later. Before she could close with her sisters, Paige orbed Piper and Phoebe away. All three reappearing behind Matt, to saunter down the beach to join Matt and Vi by the barbecue. There they stood and watched as a soaked but grinning Prue walked out of the water to join them.
Matt looked down at the barbecue and quickly added the remaining onion and fruit to the hottest part so it would quickly caramelise. He then got every ones's attention as he called out "The meat is ready, come and get it".
With grins still evident and with much banter, the sisters along with Leo and the others lined up to grab plates and select from the wide range of food and drinks on the table and the barbecue. Lunch was ready.
Much later as the afternoon progressed, Matt who was lying back on a very comfortable recliner, watched with some amusement as a squealing Paige washed off any salt and dirt by standing under the cold waterfall. A giggle came from Prue who was sitting on his lap with her head resting on his chest. She was also watching Paige. Like the previous eight days, this day had gone perfectly and was definitely something none of them was ever going to forget.
A slow and gentle time with family, good food, fun and the natural beauty of the Island had worked its own brand of magic. And for the first time, the sister's magic had also been natural, just part of that perfect time.
Prue's telekinesis had harvested fruits and nuts from the local tree's without anyone having to do anything but watch and point out possibilities. Phoebe had levitated herself and a exhilarated Clara high into several trees so that they locate and pick a wide variety of rare, perfumed and colourful flowers. These now festooned all the women, some of the men and the tables that were only now covered with the remains of an outstanding lunch. Piper's magical talents had not been needed however her natural abilities as a chef along with Clara's, had made the meal unbeatable.
Leo's comment that orbing very short distances meant little or no disorientation, had allowed Paige to realise that she could orb herself and anyone else above the lagoon to achieve custom made dives. This had become only one of the many memories all would take home. Matt in particular would never forget his mother's face as Paige orbed both herself and his parents almost ten yards above the lagoons surface. The look of thrilled terror on Vi's face had been priceless as she turned the initial fall into a perfect dive, to everyone's applause. His father's classic bomb had also been spectacular, throwing water high into the air. Paige's latest dive would also never be forgotten as she emerged to discover her bikini top was now floating somewhere else in the lagoon. Her hurried submergence, her deep blush and her hasty calling for her top had been another of several comedy high points of the day.
The Islands natural magic had continued to work its charm on all of them. Leo and Piper had orbed away to one of the smaller beaches to gain some privacy for some rest and relaxation of their own. And somewhat to his surprise, his parents had also disappeared in the direction of the forest, presumably for much the same reason. Something he now considered that this Island seemed to be very good at. Not that anyone was complaining.
Sitting on the warm sand at the waters edge with gentle waves sometimes washing over their feet, Phoebe was talking to Clara, bringing her up to date about the events of the last several weeks and trying to explain the reasons for what had happened. More quietly Clara was informing Phoebe of what they had managed to learn about Agent Keyes and Homeland Security's now considerable interest in the Halliwell family and what little they knew about the battles with the Queen. Stephen and Victor were sitting on the end of the small wharf, swapping stories of their own while fishing for dinner.
Matt sighed gently and as a curious Prue looked up, he said "We leave tomorrow and then its back home. Its been one heck of a honeymoon".
Prue sat up to stare quietly into his face. Matt smiled and leaned forward to gently kiss his wife.
Life was good.
The End - finally
I have one short story to publish.
I just need to proof read it so it shouldn't be long.
