Chapter one

Unexpected

It was the last day of the year. In less than 24 hours, the world would be saying farewell to 2006 and hello to 2007. 2006 had not been the greatest year for the Halliwell family. With Billie's betrayment, the final battle, and almost losing Leo. Yet, there was hope for the new year. Billie was trying her best to make amends and followed all of Piper's harsh rules that seemed ridiculous, and Piper and Paige were both bringing new children into the world. Wyatt and Chris were in good health. Yes, there was hope, and it looked like the new year was going to start off right. Starting with making the guest list.

"The human guests."

"It just says your dad and those friends of yours," Billie read from the list she held in her hand.

"Right and the living magical guests are my sisters, their husbands, Paige's dad, and well, you."

"Do I count? I live here?"

"Whatever, did we forget any of the dead?"

"Your grams, mother, sister, and you put down someone named Andy?"

"Old friend."

Paige Matthews was done being petty about the one bad doctor experience she had growing up. She knew it was best for her child to see a doctor and what her mother had said to her had really made her curious. Did Patty know something? Henry and Paige were at the maternity clinic in the waiting room surrounded by other pregnant women. They kept to themselves. On some level, Paige was worried her arrogance had caused harm towards her unborn child and maybe even to herself. Henry had assured her the baby was probably fine but Paige was still nervous. What if Patty had been hinting something bad had happened. All she had said was, "Go to the doctor, Paige. Trust me, you want to." That could mean good news but could also mean bad news. It seemed like she had been in that uncomfortable chair forever when she and Henry were finally called.

Piper and Billie were in the kitchen starting the preparations for the food they were going to cook for the party. "Have you and Leo discussed names yet?" Bille asked as she was chopping carrots. "No, but it's a good thing this baby's a girl. We were fighting over boy names." Piper finished peeling the potato and set it down in a big plastic bowl. She took a washed unpeeled one from a separate bowel and started peeling it. Billie was still working on those carrots. "We named Chris after Leo's father and Wyatt after Leo. I wanted this baby to be named after my father or grandfather, Leo hated both names. He thought it would be cute to name the baby Matthew after Paige, but we already used it as Wyatt's middle name so to me it made no sense." Piper tossed another peeled potato into the bowl and began unpeeling the next. "How can you do that so fast?" Billie asked her, still working on the carrots. "I love being in the kitchen, I have lots of practice." "Yet you work at a nightclub." Piper shrugged. "That wasn't my dream. I've always wanted to own my own restaurant." Into the bowl went the third potato. "Maybe I still will, I don't know. I'm really just focused on raising my kids right now. I don't have the time to start a restaurant." Billie nodded in response and dumped the chopped carrots into a bowl. "If I ever have a kid I'm going to name them after someone I care about. If I have a boy, Carl after my dad. I don't like my mom's name so maybe Christy after my sister. I know she was a demon but I remember her from a time she wasn't and that's the Christy I choose to remember. She meant a lot to me." Piper nodded. "You don't have to explain the love sisters share. Prue's death still haunts me and I wouldn't be able to handle losing another sister."

Wyatt and Chris were in the living room playing trucks together. Chris rammed his truck into Wyatt's and he didn't appreciate it. "Stop that." Chris did it again. "I said stop it!" Chris didn't listen, he rammed his truck into Wyatt's a third time and laughed. Mad, Wyatt chucked his truck at his brother smacking Chris right in the face. The second the truck made impact, Chris burst into tears. "Stop it, stop crying. No crying!" Wyatt shouted at his brother repeatedly. Piper came in to investigate. "Wyatt? What happened to your little brother?" Wyatt looked at Chris and then back at his mother. "He fell." Piper kneeled down and lifted Chris's face as he continued to cry. His left eye was red. "Wyatt, did you hurt your brother?" Wyatt shook his head but Piper knew a black eye didn't come from falling down, especially not at Chris's height. She eyed the truck. "Wyatt, this is your last chance. Did you hurt your brother?" Again, Wyatt shook his head. Piper sighed and got up, lifting Chris up in her arms at the same time. She looked at Wyatt. "Go to your room and think about that answer. When you're ready to tell the truth you can come see me." Wyatt orbed to his bedroom and Piper carried her crying toddler in her arms.

"Billie can you get some ice please," Piper asked as she carried Chris into the kitchen, the toddler still crying. She placed Chris on the counter and took another look at his eye. She was right, it definitely looked like a black eye was coming on. Billie came over and handed Piper an ice pack. "Oh dear, what happened?" Chris kept crying and Piper pressed the ice pack against his eye. Chris freaked out and pulled his mother's hand away. "This is going to make your eye feel better, let mommy do it. I know it hurts honey." Piper placed the ice pack back over Chris's eye. "I'm pretty sure Wyatt threw his truck at him."

Phoebe was at work finishing up her piece. She was giving advice on toxic relationships, she definitely knew a bit about that. Finally, she typed that last sentence and sent it to the printer. The thought of checking her email came to her mind and opened the internet browser on her computer. She loaded up her email and typed in her username- PhoebeHallliwell75 , and her password. Right away she noticed she had a new email from: EmmaBenson1996

Dear Phoebe

I think I'm ready to tell someone my secret. How should I do that? I don't want to scare them and I don't want them mad that I didn't tell them sooner. Please help. I like Paige but she will hate me when she finds out my secret. Please help.

Phoebe had no trouble coming up with a response. She knew all about keeping secrets and being terrified about how those close to her would react.

Dear, Emma

You would be surprised by what Paige has seen. She is very forgiving and understanding. I am positive you can tell her without fear. If you are scared to tell your parents, I recommend you tell Paige first. She will help you feel more confident to tell your family. This is your secret, Emma, and only you get to choose who knows. I'm sure your parents love you very much and they will understand. You are their daughter and nothing could change that. I know how scary it can be to have a secret but it feels much better having someone you can share that secret with. I wish you the best of luck.

- Phoebe Halliwell

The hours had flown by the guests had either arrived or had been summoned. Andy's appearance had definitely caught Darryl off guard and he kept eyeing him. He wanted to make conversation but had no idea what to say to him. Andy pretended not to notice as he laughed in his head, he knew how strongly Darryl believed magic didn't exist and could only imagine his reaction when he had finally found out. After a few minutes, Andy started feeling bad for him and excused himself from his conversation with Prue and Piper.

"Hey, Partner. How's life?" Andy asked.

"Fine, how's death?"

"Not that bad. How's Sheila, and she was pregnant when I died, that baby must be in grade school by now."

"Sheila's fine. Mikey just turned eight two weeks ago, and Darryl Junior's going to be five in January."

"Wow doesn't seem like I've been gone that long."

Piper finished her conversation with her dad and Phoebe and noticed Prue was staring at Andy from across the room. She danced over to her. "So, are you two a thing in the afterlife?" Prue started blushing and looked away. "No." "What? Come one, you're so obviously into him still." Prue shrugged and glanced back at Andy. "Magical beings can choose to stay in the afterlife instead of being reborn into a new life. Mortals don't have that choice. We do still love each other but I don't want to be with him knowing I could lose him all over again when he's reborn." She looked away. "How long does he have?" Piper asked. Prue shrugged again. "10 -15 years on average but he's already been dead for what seven years? Seven and a half? So he's got about 3 - 8 years left in the afterlife." Piper gave her sister a sympathetic hug.

Mikey was chasing around the little boys, if he caught them he tickled them. They loved this and Wyatt let him catch him a few times. Phoebe and Paige were talking, all the guys were in the kitchen gathered around the table talking. Parry was awkwardly seated on the couch between Sam and Victor who wouldn't even make eye contact with each other yet were both talking to Patty. Grams sat nearby openly enjoying her daughter's misery. Piper was in conversation with Billie, she appeared to be warming up to her again. Overall, everyone seemed to be having a good time.

When the pizza came, and everyone was seated at the table, Piper stood up and said "tonight we are here with family and friends to celebrate the New Year, the year 2007. Let's us pray that this will be a good year for all of us." Piper held up her glass and said "Too 2007" "to 2007" everyone repeated holding up their cups. Everyone settled down and the pizza was served.

During supper a lot of catching up was done, Andy hadn't even realized he had been dead for 8 years. No one ran out of things to say. Victor talked with his daughters and Sam talked with Paige, Patty was happy they weren't making her feel awkward anymore, grams looked like her entertainment was gone. The hours just flew by and it was almost time to shout happy New Year's.

The children were fast asleep and so were Piper, Paige, and Billie. However, they woke up when Patty shouted "time for the countdown." Together everyone counted down "10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1" then all shouted "Happy new year's" as they threw balloons into the air. Then the guest left even the dead ones, and it was time for everyone to go to bed.

The next morning had started in an argument between Piper and Leo. Piper had gotten up early to wash Wyatt and Chris's laundry and Leo had just gotten home from a meeting with the elders, one he hadn't even mentioned to Piper yet. Piper angrily dumped Wyatt's darks into the washer and spilled in some detergent. She slammed the lid down and pushed the start button with full force. She turned to glare at her husband. "Our daughter will not be sleeping in the attic...PERIOD!" The dryer stopped, catching Piper's attention. She opened the dryer door. "Well, then, we could put her in the basement," Leo suggested as Piper pulled Wyatt's whites from the dyer. "Oh yeah sure, right next to the Christmas decorations and rat traps!" She angrily dumped them in a basket and kicked the basket away. "Aren't you going to fold those?" Piper gave him the death stare then dramatically pulled out a white t-shirt from the basket, put it on the table, and folded it, keeping her eyes deadlocked on Leo's the whole time. "Then where the hell is she going to sleep? The bathroom? Living-room, the roof? Or how about we just forget a crib entirely and she can sleep on the goddamn kitchen table!" Leo shouted. "Do not raise your voice at me! The boys are still sleeping!" Piper warned him as she continued folding Wyatt's white clothes. "Piper, maybe you've failed to notice but we live in a three-bedroom house. We have one room, the boys share one, and Billie is sleeping in the third one. The boys' room isn't big enough to fit a third child, especially one needing a crib and changing table." Piper dumped the folded laundry into the basket, picked the basket up, and shoved it at her husband. "I don't want to discuss this anymore." Annoyed, Piper used her active power to freeze Leo and walked out of the room.

"Oh, Piper! I have news...oh you're not in a good mood," Paige said.

"Leo wants our daughter to sleep in the attic or basement, he's crazy right," Piper asked before Paige had a chance to escape by orbing out.

"She is going to need a room to sleep in. Billie's in college so it's not really fair to put a baby in with her."

"Whatever. Why are you here?"

"Oh, I just um...I need to take a quick look at the book of shadows," Paige lied knowing now wasn't the time to share her huge news.

"Knock yourself out!"

Leo came around and did not look impressed, he still held the basket of clean laundry.

"You can't just freeze me when we're arguing!"

"Would you rather I blow you up?"

"No, I would rather us talk it out and compromise."

Once again at work, Phoebe and had just received an email from: LeoWyatt

Dear ask Phoebe

I am currently in a living situation dilemma. My wife and I live in a three-bedroom house and are currently expecting our third child. All of our bedrooms are currently in use. Our two sons share a room as do my wife and I. We also have a houseguest staying with us. This houseguest doesn't have to live with us since she lives in the area and has her own stable safe apartment. My wife is just paranoid and insists she lives with us. I have pointed out that if our houseguest returns to her own apartment, we'd have an available room for our daughter. The room our sons' share doesn't have room to fit the new baby. I've made a few suggestions like turning the attic or basement into a nice welcoming nursery but my wife thinks I'm nuts. She keeps freezing me out when I try to discuss the matter with her. She refuses to compromise with me. Our baby is due in early March and I'm worried we won't have a space prepared for her when she arrives. Do you have any suggestions?

- Leo

Phoebe could not believe her brother-in-law had written to her at work begging for her help. Yet, this was a fascinating topic, one she hadn't covered before. What to do when you have more children than bedrooms. She knew she might anger her sister but went ahead and decided to make this tomorrow's column. She even pretended she didn't know this letter was from the Leo her sister was married to.

Dear, Leo

Thank you for writing to ask Phoebe. This is a common problem in many households. More kids than bedrooms. I do agree your houseguest doesn't seem to require a room in your home as she has a perfectly good apartment in the area. If your wife is completely set on this houseguest remaining in your home, perhaps you could turn the basement into a wonderfully cozy room for her to stay in. I'm sure with some paint and decorations she'll feel comfortable. With her in the basement, there is now an available room for your new child. If your wife is reluctant to this plan, I do have two other suggestions. Maybe if you have the boys share a bunk bed, there would be just enough room for the baby? Or perhaps this new child can sleep in the room you and your wife share, many parents choose this. It doesn't have to be permanent, just until a new accommodation is available. I do hope I've helped, and congratulations on the new addition to your family.

- Ask Phoebe

Emma had personally called Paige herself and asked her if they could talk, but she had requested they go out for lunch. Paige had driven to Emma's house, picked up the child (with her parent's permission) and they were now at a coffee shop. Though neither of them were eating or drinking. Emma looked nervous. She kept looking around then down at the table. "Whatever it is you want to tell me, Emma, I won't judge you and I won't be mad. Promise." Emma looked up at her social worker. "Promise you won't laugh?" Paige nodded. Emma took in a deep breath, unzipped her school bag, and pulled out a bottle of frozen water. Paige was very confused over why this was causing Emma to worry. "I'm a witch. I froze this water." Paige didn't respond and Emma quickly put away the bottle. "So am I." Paige should have been sure Emma was a real witch before exposing herself but felt she wouldn't get anything else out of the kid if she didn't. Emma looked up at her bright-eyed. "Really?" Paige nodded. She placed her hand on the table palm up and orbed a quarter into her hand. Emma retrieved her water bottle and placed it on the table. She waved her hand upward and the water melted. "I can only freeze liquids and unfreeze them." She thought Pagie's power was much cooler. "Your powers grow the longer you're a witch. It's not that uncommon for a witch to only develop their first power as a pre-teen. I didn't even know I was a witch until I was an adult." This seemed to comfort Emma. "I'm a special witch. I'm a white-lighter witch. White-lighters are guardian angels to witches." Emma's eyes were wide open. "Being a social worker is just my human job." "So you can have a normal life and be a witch?" Paige nodded. "But you do have to be careful you don't use your magic in front of mortals." Emma nodded. "Paige? Could you train me?" Paige nodded again. "Emma, do your parents know about this?" Emma shook her head. "I'm scared they'll think I'm a monster." "Emma, if you're a witch chances are your parents are too, or at least one of them. Magic is hereditary unless given to you by a magical being but that's extremely rare." Emma smiled. "My parents are witches too?" "Probably."

Paige orbed into Phoebe's office after she met with Emma. "I've got big news!" Paige blurted out. She walked over to Phoebe's desk. "Hey, check this out," Phoebe said. She picked up a sheet of paper and handed it to Paige. "I asked to have a personal copy because, well, you'll see." Paige took the paper and read it over. "Phoebe! You didn't. Piper is going to murder you." Phoebe let out a laugh and Paige handed her back the paper. "I think she's going to kill Leo first." Paige shook her head in playful disbelief. "So, what's the big news?" Phoebe asked. Paige smiled but as she was about to share the news, the office door opened and Elise came in. "Paige! How do you keep getting in here without anyone seeing you?" Phoebe smiled to herself knowing the answer. "I'm like a ghost," Paige answered playfully. Elise once again shrugged it off. "Phoebe, we've got that meeting in five minutes," Elise reminded her. Phoebe nodded and got up from her chair. "We can talk later, right Paige?" Paige nodded and the sisters shared a quick hug before all three of them left the office.

Wyatt and Chris were having lunch at their kitchen table while being looked after by Billie. Wyatt was enjoying a peanut butter sandwich and a juice box while Chris was munching on some crackers and had a sippy cup of milk. Billie wasn't eating. "Auntie Paige!" Wyatt shouted the second his aunt had orb into the kitchen at the manor. The excited toddler jumped off his chair and ran over to his aunt for a big hug with Chris following his lead. Paige couldn't bend down anymore and the boys were too heavy to pick up both at once. So, she just scruffed their hair as they wrapped their little arms around her legs. "Okay boys, go finish your lunch. It looks so yummy," Paige told them. Wyatt and Chris returned to the table and climbed back onto their seats. "Do you know where their mother is? Paige asked Billie. "Piper's out and Leo said he had a quick meeting with the elders." Paige nodded and seated herself down on the chair opposite Billie. "Well, I have some big news," she shared. Billie looked intrigued but before Paige could say a word, Leo orbed in and Billie got up. "Sorry, Paige. I've got a demon to hunt down. I was just watching the boys till Leo got back." "It's fine. Happy hunting." Billie nodded and headed out the backdoor. "I got to give Chris a bath, can you stay down here and watch Wyatt?" Paige nodded and Chris orbed out before his dad could get to him. He hated baths. "Chris, orbing away won't get out of a bath," Leo called out. He orbed out to look for him. Wyatt giggled then looked at his aunt. "Auntie Paige?" She turned to look at him and smiled. "What is it, honey?" "What's your big news?" Paige's smile grew and she leaned over to him and whispered the big news in his ear. He smiled but Paige was pretty sure he didn't quite understand what it meant.

Within the next fifteen minutes, Leo had returned with Chris who had orbed himself to Henry and Leo brought him up for his bath. Piper got home in a much better mood and made her way into the kitchen to make herself some soup for a late lunch. She smiled at her sister and nephew. Paige kissed the top of Wyatt's head and got up. "I should be heading home. Will you guys all come over for supper tonight? I've got some big news." "Sure Paige, of course." "I know what the big news is!" Wyatt shouted out. Both Piper and Paige turned in his direction. "Auntie Paige said she's having twins!" Piper screamed and turned to her sister. "Twins? Twins?" Paige nodded to confirm this was true and Wyatt burst into laughter finding his mother's reaction hilarious. Piper wrapped her arms around her sister. "Paige! This is wonderful! Congratulations!" It took a few seconds for Piper to release her sister from the hug. "Thank you, I've been trying to tell you guys all day. Don't tell Phoebe though, Henry is going out of his way to make a big dinner so we can tell the whole family at once, I guess he noticed I was disappointed I hadn't been able to share the news. Even my dad's coming, or so he said." "Of course, and you know, this is why you're so big." Paige punched her shoulder playfully. "True though. It's confirmed. My due date is May ninth. I was right all along about how far along I am."

"You want to help me with a problem?" Piper asked.

"The room situation?"

"No, the baby's name."

"Oh, I don't know. I guess I just assumed her name's going to be Patty or Penny."

"I want to leave the important names to Phoebe. It would mean so much more to her, she's always been the most sentimental."

A few minutes after Paige had gone back home, Leo came down to the living room with a freshly washed toddler. He sat him down next to his brother. Wyatt looked at his little brother's black eye and hugged him as though he understood he had done that to him, but at last, he didn't understand nor did he know what a black eye was or how it was caused. Their parents watched them play together nicely for a few minutes with blocks. "Leo, do you have a name in mind?" Leo turned his focus on his wife and gave her a confused expression. "I thought it was obvious." Piper shook her head. "I'm not naming her after mom or grams, why did everyone assume that?" Leo shrugged though he figured it was because of how they had named Wyatt and Chris. "That's not what I assumed." Now Piper looked confused. "Well, you went to the future before, one where we had one child, one daughter. I just assumed that's what we would name our daughter if we ever had one." Piper thought it over and nodded. It did make a lot of sense.

Supper came along and the little family of four were late getting to Henry and Paige's house. Leo and Piper seated the boys at the table and then found seats themselves. Billie had also come along since Piper didn't want her alone in the manor. Phoebe and Coop were already here. Since Wyatt couldn't keep his mouth closed, Leo, Piper, and Billie already knew the big news Henry had gathered everyone for him and Paige to share it with. Yet, Phoebe and Coop didn't yet know. Before everyone started eating, Paige stood up and asked for everyone's attention.

"I have some big news!" Paige started off.

"TWINS!" Wyatt shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Yes, twins. Thank you, Wyatt."

"You're welcome."

Phoebe immediately got up from her chair and approached her sister. Paige got up herself and the sisters shared a long hug. "I am so happy for you." Coop and Leo both nodded to Henry and said, "great news, man. Congrats." Wanting in on the hug, Piper and both of her boys joined in. Of course, neither of the boys really understood what the hug was about. Once things had settled down and everyone were back in their seats, Piper revealed she had something to share as well. "Not to steal Paige's spotlight but Leo and I have agreed on a name." She looked at Leo for a final confirmation and Leo nodded at her. "We are naming our daughter Melinda Phoebe Halliwell after our ancestor who started it all and after a wonderful aunt." Phoebe smiled and the two sisters got up again to share yet another hug. "You did pick an important name after all," Paige commented. "Two important names," Piper corrected.

Chris woke at first sunlight and waddled over to his brother's bed. He crawled onto the bed and laid down next to his sleeping brother. Wyatt and Chris's relationship came with many conflicts and sometimes they needed to be on separate sides of the house. However, at times, they were really sweet with each other. Chris adored his big brother and he was such a cuddle bug. While Chris snuggled up to his brother with one thumb in his mouth, their parents were downstairs. Piper had just read the paper.

"I can't believe you'd stoop this low," Piper stated, slamming the newspaper down on the kitchen table.

"We needed help, and your sisters would have just sided with you if I had asked Phoebe directly."

"So you bothered her at work?"

"Well obviously it wasn't a bother."

"Well go on then, what did she suggest?" Piper asked, half angry and half curious.

"First, she agreed Billie doesn't need to be here." Billie looked up at the sound of her name and quickly made an exit not wanting to be put in the middle of this.

"She also suggested we put the baby in with us."

"Well, I suppose that's not the worst idea," Piper admitted. She calmed down.

"She also suggested something we should feel stupid about not thinking of ourselves. Putting the boys in a bunk bed which would make room for Melinda's crib."

"And, we can move their toys down here, and we could put Melinda's dresser in the closet, the changing table in the bathroom."

"I think that works," Leo agreed.

Piper nodded and sat down across from her husband. "There is something else I should mention," Leo said. He watched his wife grow concerned. She always assumed the worst. "I had a meeting with the elders yesterday morning." Piper closed her eyes and braced herself for bad news, but bad news didn't come. "They are reopening magic school including the daycare and they want me to teach a class of white-lighters." Piper's eyes widened in excitement. She had much more trust and felt much more comfortable having her magical toddlers in a daycare meant for magical kids. That way she'd never have to worry about them using their magic and exposing their secret in the process. "Wow, that is exciting news. You've been looking for a stable job to keep yourself busy with."