Chapter six

Probation and wedding bells

Coop beamed into the manor with his soon-to-be nephews. Leo and Piper were both on the couch in the living room watching the news on the television. The boys wandered over to the couch and climbed up onto their father's lap. Both of them appeared to favor their father over their mother, but Wyatt's favourite person in the world was his aunt Paige. Coop came along. "How were they?" Leo asked him. "They were perfectly behaved." This pleased the boys' parents. Wyatt was normally behaved but had his moments and Chris was getting deeper and deeper into his terrible twos. "Why does Wyatt keep asking to go to Marineland?" Coop asked them. He was confused about this since Marineland was located in Canada and Wyatt lived in the U.S. Leo let out a laugh. "Wyatt was playing around with the remote and now we only get the Canadian channels. He loves the Marineland commercial, he watched it all summer." Coop nodded and noticed the news on the television was for a Canadian city known as Ottawa. "If he wants to go, I don't mind taking him. If we beam there it'll only take a minute." "That's nice of you to offer but Canada's freezing this time of year. I doubt Marineland is even open." Coop nodded but then thought of a solution. "My ring can take us back to the summer that just passed us." Leo looked at Piper who nodded. "I'm sure Wyatt would love that. You can take him, but don't you have to focus on your wedding? It's literally next week," Leo agreed and pointed out. "Phoebe said to leave it all to her. I don't think I'm allowed to help." Leo chuckled. "As the groom, all you have to do is show up," Piper stated. "I'll take Chris too if you want. I know he's been a bit of a handful recently." "I wouldn't complain if you wanted to take both of the boys out for the day," Piper replied.

Phoebe knocked on her boss's open door. "Elise, you got a minute?" Elise nodded to her and beckoned her in. "My wedding is next week and you haven't confirmed you're coming." Elise turned a little red as she realized she had completely forgotten to accept Phoebe's invitation to her wedding. "Of course I'm coming. I was really touched when you invited me." Phoebe smiled and approached the desk. She tossed a few sheets of paper onto Elise's desk. "My column for next week. I wanted to get it done so I could put all my focus on the wedding." Elise picked up the papers and quickly read them over. "Looks good, I'll pass it on to Derek from editing, and knowing you I'm sure this a great piece." Phoebe nodded and turned to leave the office.

Paige stood in the meet and greet room at social services watching a beautiful sight unfold. A mother who overcame drug addiction reuniting with her twelve-year-old son after finally regaining custody. The boy had been in a foster home for seven years and his mother never stopped fighting her battle. There wasn't a dry eye in the room as the mom held her child tightly in her arms, both of them crying emotionally. Paige was the boy's social worker and through many conversations with him knew how much this moment meant to him. He had never stopped believing in his mother and knew she'd come back for him as soon as she could. A few minutes passed and the mother and son pulled away. The mother stood up and composed herself and walked over to Paige with her hand outstretched. She and Paige shook hands politely. "Thank you so much. You are an angel Mrs. Matthews." Paige smiled at her but simply said, "just doing my job. I am truly happy for you and Caleb." The woman sniffed and patted Paige's shoulder. "I will be showing up for three surprise visits over the next few months, just to ensure everything stays good. It's just routine practice." The woman nodded understandingly. "From now on, Caleb comes first."

Meanwhile, at Marineland, Chris was crying because he had fallen down and scraped his hand. Coop was looking around for someone who worked here so he could ask for a band-aid but this proved unnecessary. Wyatt didn't like the fact that his little brother was crying and held his hand over Chris's. A gold glow came from Wyatt's little hand and Chris's scrape disappeared. Still slightly crying, Chris hugged his big brother to say thank you. Coop kneeled down next to them. "Good job, Wyatt, but you know you're not supposed to use magic in front of mortals." Wyatt looked up at him and smiled proudly. "I checked first, no one was looking."

Back at the manor, Piper had invited Billie over and they were in her bedroom. Billie on Piper's bed and Piper searching through her closet. "Phoebe decided she wants you at the wedding." Billie's face lit up, she had definitely not expected to be invited to attend Phoebe and Coop's wedding. "I have an I'm sorry you had to vanquish your sister but I appreciate it present for you." Billie was highly curious now and Piper emerged from her closet holding a large white book. "Way before I knew I was a witch my sister Prue was engaged to this baboon of a man. She didn't end up marrying him. Anyway, This is the dress I was going to wear, and I saved it in case she or Phoebe ever got married. I actually wore it to Phoebe and Cole's wedding." She approached the bed and placed the box on the bed. "With Prue's death and the wreckage that was Phoebe and Cole's marriage, I hate this dress. I was going to give it to Paige to wear to the wedding but she's already going in something that belonged to her adoptive mom, and I'm going in a dress that belonged to my mom. It's a shame to waste such a beautiful dress, and I really want it worn to a marriage that will be successful and not the stupidest thing my sister has ever decided to do." She took in a breath and opened the box. Billie gasped. "It's gorgeous," she said. "Expensive too," Piper added. "It's yours." "I can't take this from you." Piper shrugged. "As I said, I hate this dress." It became silent for just a brief second. "Wait. Phoebe married a demon?" Piper nodded. "Phoebe married the source."

The morning of the day had arrived and Leo caught Piper in the attic by the book of shadows. "Reinstalling the demon alarm?" Piper nodded without looking up at him. She was flipping through the book of shadows searching for spells. "Smart. Don't want demons showing up at the wedding." Piper paused her search on the right page and looked up at her husband. "I need to know the second Billie goes bad again." Leo shook his head and approached his wife. "If you still don't trust Billie, why did you give her an expensive dress to wear at your sister's wedding?" "I hate that dress, I wanted it gone, and I wasn't going to pass a bad omen down to Paige." "Okay. Billie's downstairs. I put her in charge of frosting the cake." Piper's eyes widened and a stern look came on her face. "You left that witch alone with the food we're going to be eating at my sister's wedding!" Piper jumped away from the book of shadows and hurried out of the attic. "Paige!" Leo called out. Paige orbed in. "Can you reactivate the demon alarm? With new babies on the way and Phoebe's wedding today, it's best for some extra security." Paige nodded and approached the book of shadows.

"Alright that's enough Billie thanks," Piper said to Billie who was frosting the cake.

"No problem, glad to help, anything else you need help with?"Billie offered

"Well since your probation requires you to be around me all the time so I can watch you, I guess I can allow you to help Leo and Paige, I'll walk you there," Piper decided.

Billie followed Piper into the living room feeling like a child and feeling really stupid. Nobody was in here. "LEO? PAIGE?" Piper called out. A few seconds later, her husband and youngest sister orbed into the living room together. "What were you doing? We need to stay on schedule!" "I was reactivating the demon alarm." Piper calmed down as this was a valid reason for being off task. She was also comforted by the fact the demon alarm was in place but not going off in Billie's presence. "Okay, Billie is going to help you two." Without another word, Piper walked off into the kitchen to catch her children liking cupcakes. "Boys! Those are for the wedding. Oh well, the damage is already done. You can have the ones you licked but the rest are for the party." Wyatt and Chris giggled in response and both of them orbed out with their cupcakes.

"I know you probably feel stupid being watched all the time and being treated like a kid, but it's for your own good, this way we can truly trust and protect you," Paige explained to an obviously annoyed Billie.

"I know, it's my own fault," Billie admitted.

Having checked on the food, Piper walked back out into the living room. "I need you to dress the boys. I'm going to go summon grams." Leo nodded to his wife and left Paige and Billie to their task and Piper began her way to the attic. In the attic, Piper placed three white candles in a circle and chanted, "hear me now hear my cry, spirits from the other side, cross now the great design. Penelope Halliwell, I summon you, I welcome you into my home." Gram's spirit appeared in the circle.

"Well about time."

"Nice to see you too, grams."

Grams stepped out of the circle and transformed into her human form, and Piper summoned the next person. "Hear me now hear my cry, spirits from the other side, cross now the great design. Patricia Halliwell, I summon you, I welcome you into my home." Prue, Piper, Phoebe, and Paige's mother emerged in the circle. A happy smile on her face. She stepped out of the circle, transforming into her human form, and wrapped her arms around her daughter. "We just need one more person," Piper said. She did the chant one last time. "Hear me now hear my cry, spirits from the other side, cross now the great design. Prudence Halliwell, I summon you, I welcome you into my home." Piper and her younger sisters had summoned their grandmother and mother from the afterlife many times but with Prue, this was only the second time seeing her since her death back in 2001. The pain of losing her big sister hit her, and she burst into tears as Prue emerged from the circle and they wrapped their arms around each other.

"By the end of today, all three of my little sisters will be married. I'm jealous," Prue said, making her sister laugh.

"Alright we can catch up later, we have a wedding to get ready for," Patty said.

As Paige finished her hair she heard Phoebe's call and orbed to her. Phoebe looked beautiful in her wedding dress. Paige orbed them and Coop to the manor. Meanwhile, Piper entered her bedroom to see how Billie looked in the dress. "You truly look beautiful," Piper complimented Billie. "Thanks, you look beautiful too," Billie returned the compliment. "Okay, let's go, the guest will arrive soon and I have some people I'd like you to meet," Piper said.

The girls enter the living room where grams, party, and Prue are already seated.

"Billie this is my grandmother Penny, my mother Patty, and my sister Prue, girls this is Billie she's a witch who we taught," Pipe said introducing them.

"Nice to meet you, you both look perfect," Prue said hugging Piper

"Not as perfect as you," Piper told Prue who truly looked lovely.

"Why don't you sit beside me Billie, the wedding will be starting soon," Prue offered.

Billie nodded and followed Prue to the seats. Grams and Penny hugged Piper then seated themselves as Paige came down and told Piper to go see Phoebe. Piper walked up to her room where Phoebe was and hugged her carefully not to wrinkle her dress.

"You look beautiful sweetheart, I can't believe my baby sister is getting married," Piper said wiping a tear from her eye.

"I can't believe it either, I'm half excited half scared out of my mind," Phoebe said.

"I felt the same way when I married Leo, you're going to make a wonderful bride, I told you you'd' find someone," Piper said, taking a strand of hair off Phoebe's face.

"It's time Piper," Paige called from the hall. Piper kissed Phoebe's cheek and met Paige in the hallway. The music begins and the guests stood up and watch as Piper and Paige walk down the aisle followed by the ring bears Wyatt and Chris then came the bride, Phoebe. Coop watched as Piper and Paige took their places and Phoebe finished walking down the aisle and approached him. Beside him, Leo and Henry smiled at Phoebe. Phoebe took Coop's hands, the music stopped and everyone sat down. The wedding went on and finally, the priest asked for Coop's wedding vows.

"I promise to love you and cherish you until death do us part," Coop said to Phoebe.

"And I promise to love and cherish you every day until death do us part," Phoebe said.

"Coop do you take this woman," the priest asked.

"I do" Coop answered.

"Phoebe Halliwell, do you take this man?"

"I do" Phoebe replied.

"Very well, I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride."

Phoebe and Coop share a kiss and the guest clapped. Phoebe hugged her sisters and her nephews. Then everyone dug into the food

"I'm so happy you came," Phoebe said, hugging Prue.

"Do you really think I'd miss your big day?" Prue asked, hugging her again.

"Congratulations sweetheart," patty and grams said.

"Thanks, guys I'm glad you could make it," Phoebe said.

"Congratulations Phoebe…hi Prue," Darryl said.

"Hi Darryl, thanks for keeping my sisters safe for me."

"No problem it's my job as a cop."

"Hey Phoebe, look forward to March, you'll see why," Prue said To Phoebe

"Ok, thanks for the heads up I guess" Phoebe thanked and hugged her sister once again./

Then the lights went out and music started. This meant it was time to slow dance. Phoebe and coop danced together, Paige danced with Henry, Piper danced with Leo, and Billie danced with Wyatt. Everything was perfect, everything felt just right, and life wouldn't get any better than this. This had been Phoebe's dream wedding.

On the morning of the seventeenth, Phoebe woke up to the sun shining through the closed window lighting up the whole room. She sat up and looked beside her to find her husband wasn't there. She shrugged it off figuring he had gone to work. Coop and the elders and the boss cupid had all agreed that he would resume his work as a cupid after his marriage to Phoebe was finalized. Now that the wedding had happened and they were officially married, Coop was expected back to work. So, Phoebe laid back down and closed her eyes as he recounted her dreams, but she was interrupted by a gentle knock on her bedroom door.

"Morning honey," Coop said in just a whisper.

"Hey."

"Happy birthday."

Coop came into the room carrying a breakfast tray as Phoebe smiled warmly. She sat herself up as her husband approached her and placed the tray down on her lap. There was a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast, and a glass of orange juice. Coop planted a quick kiss on her lips and Phoebe looked down at her breakfast. "This looks great. Thanks, honey." Coop sat down on the edge of their bed and watched her begin to eat the meal. "Don't you have to get back to work?" Phoebe asked. "What? One day as husband and wife and you're already sick of me?" Coop teased. Phoebe finished off her juice. "I could never." A brief silence filled the room. "I do though. I'm expected in Loveland in a few minutes, then I'll be around town for the day. I'll make it up to you, promise." He planted another kiss on her lips.

Wyatt and Chris looked over at the entrance to the kitchen as Billie walked through in her pink tank top and white fluffy pajama bottoms. "BILLIE!" They shouted. Billie smiled at the boys and sat down in between them. She looked at Chris. "Look at you sitting in a big kid chair, good job." Chris smiled and showed her his piece of toast. "We agreed once he turned to he'd sit at the table like a big boy," Leo said walking over to the table. He put his plate down on the table and seated himself in the chair. Billie looked at him again and noticed the blue booster seat he was sitting on so he could reach the tabletop. She then looked at Wyatt who was tall enough to eat at the table without one. "Are you excited for school today?" Wyatt nodded his little head like crazy. "I like school," he told her. "Me too," Chris added. "Chris joined Wyatt's class last month after his birthday. The boys have loved being in the same class," Piper informed as she seated herself down at the table. "Did you want something to eat, I can whip something up," Piper offered. "No, thanks. I'm just going to grab a coffee before heading to school." Piper nodded. "You go to school?" Wyatt asked her. "Yes but I go to adult school. It's called college." Wyatt nodded and finished off his toast. "Did you sleep okay? Phoebe's room was always the coldest room in the house." Billie nodded and said, "Yea it was fine. I don't understand why I have to live here though. I had my own apartment." Wyatt decided to orb out and finding this funny, Chris copied him even though he hadn't finished his breakfast yet. Leo got up and brought his plate over to the sink. "Just so we can keep an eye on you while you're under probation."

t was decided it would be a ladies' night in honor of Phoebe's thirty-first birthday. Piper, Phoebe, and Paige arrived at the restaurant and met Sheila at the table she had selected. They each greeted her with a hug. The ladies sat down around the table. "So, are we ready to order?" Sheila asked. Phoebe shook her head. "I invited my boss along. She's a good friend." Sheila nodded. "So, Piper. You're getting close to finding out the baby's gender. You must be excited," Sheila said. "I am, Leo is too. We're both hoping for a girl." "Darryl and I discussed having one more but we didn't want a big age difference between the kids and Mikey was already five when we started thinking about adding another." None of the sisters had known this. "How about you Paige? What are you and Henry hoping the baby will be. Congratulations, by the way, you're starting to show." Paige smiled at the knowledge she was now showing. "Henry and I are both pretty sure it's a girl but I think he secretly wants a boy." Sheila nodded. Phoebe looked towards the door to see if Elise had arrived yet. She hadn't. "Sheila, can you tell Paige she needs to see a doctor. She's under the impression there's no need as her...well specialty we'll call it can heal the baby if trouble arises," Piper shared. "No, Paige, you have to see a doctor regularly throughout the pregnancy. You don't know for sure your body would heal the baby if something were to go wrong," Sheila said in agreement with Piper. "I hate doctors." "Then go see the one I went to when I was pregnant with Wyatt, she was awesome." "Guys, sush about the magic stuff, Elise is here."

Phoebe stood up and Elise walked over to the table and the two shared a quick hug. "So sorry I'm late. The paper had me held up, I hope you were waiting too long." Phoebe shook her head. "We've only been here a few minutes." She turned to face the others. "You know Piper and Paige. This is our friend Sheila." Sheila nodded to her and said, "nice to meet you." "Likewise." Phoebe and Elise sat down and a female waiter came around to take their orders.