Choose Your Destiny
It was early Monday morning, the sun had just risen, and already Piper Halliwell was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Her husband had already been summoned "up there", ruining their romantic morning, and her other two sisters were busy preparing for the day upstairs. As she flipped the pancakes, Paige came downstairs in a somewhat calm mood, which was very unusual for her.
"Have you decided to grace us with your presence at breakfast finally?" Piper teased.
"Yea, actually I am not running late for a change, so I have a few glorious minutes to spend with my loving family before I have to run because I am late." Paige grinned and bit off a piece of toast.
"Morning!" Phoebe exclaimed as she bounded down the stairs in an also unusual mood. She had not really been excited for a day since she found out Cole was the Source. Every morning she would wake up and find she was more afraid of what was to come, an attitude Phoebe Halliwell had not had ever. The past few weeks had been really tough on her, nearly breaking her spirit at some points, but she always managed a smile for her family, no matter how much pain she was holding back. There was no need for them to know she cried herself to sleep every night and sometimes felt so depressed and lonely she thought about throwing herself out of the attic just to feel the rush as she flew and released her pain in a few seconds, then hit the ground and hurt for the last time. But she was smart and had come to realize she might live, and would be healed. Then what would come of her? She even thought stabbing herself with Cole's old athame would be less painful than life. **It would not feel much different than I do now** she used to think. She realized she was suicidal, but also figured out this kind of life, avoiding the pain, was better than the one she would be living if she stopped hiding. Instead of going through with it though, she took cold showers and scrubbed herself till her skin was raw, trying in vain to wash away the grief she felt. This morning was different though. Cole had not come around the Manor in awhile at her request, and though a part of Phoebe was saddened by this, another rejoiced at the burden lifted off her shoulders.
"Want toast? Breakfast is not ready, but Paige helped herself. Why are you not ready for work?" Piper asked, checking on the sausage. She had noticed Phoebe's mood, and though this was more than strange of her, she decided not to ask about it. It did not matter what Phoebe was thinking, her younger sister was happy, they should just accept that.
"No thanks Piper, I will wait for the pancakes. They smell yummy! Oh, Elise gave me off. There was some problem with some politician who wanted our newspaper and other local ones to shut down for a week or two, so they could see the effect on the public. I would prefer not to be a guinea pig, but I will gladly take the time off." Phoebe grinned, but only because she had stopped thinking about the rest of her life since then. Actually, Elise had asked her and only her to take the week off, for her advice was slipping. Elise was concerned that since she lost her baby and Cole she was trying to hide from everything with the newspaper and would one day explode from all the bottled emotions. Funny how she cared for Phoebe, when she never seemed to care for anyone. Anyway, Phoebe could not tell her sisters that, they would only make a fuss, and it would only make it worse, although they were trying to help. They could never understand, and so she lied to keep up the perfect image. Piper could not be upset; she had a baby on the way. Leo would be mad if Phoebe in any way made Piper worry. She was too 'delicate'. **No one fussed over me like this when I was pregnant. No one but Cole that is." Phoebe thought for a moment, then shook the crazy thought out of her head. He was gone. Anyway, Piper was saying something now to her.
"Oh. Okay, then do you want to come baby shopping with Paige and I during her lunch break?" Piper asked, patting her growing stomach.
"Actually, I think I will use an older letter and get more work out of the way so next week will feel like vacation too. I am tired also. But thanks anyway." Phoebe smiled happily and reached for the coffee, but inside she was suffocating. She not only cried for the loss of her husband, but for that of her baby, their baby. She wanted so bad to have a family, yearned for a child. **Piper gets all the happiness, a good life, a husband, easy job, and now baby. I lost everything. It is not fair.** Sure, she never expected a child, but when she found out she was pregnant both her and Cole warmed up to the idea instantly. He was almost human then. They were going to have a baby, their baby, a family. Now those future dreams of a wonderful life were smashed. Phoebe wished away for her family to come back, but now she knew they did not lie waiting in her future.
Piper flipped another pancake over, but this one stopped in mid air, frozen in time. Each of the sisters looked around for an answer and gasped when they saw who entered the room.
"I thought we were done with you." Paige remarked.
"Ah, not yet it seems." The Angel of Destiny spoke, walking closer to the curious sisters. "How is the baby?" he asked Piper. Phoebe's heart again felt hollow.
"Fine, we are both fine." Piper said smiling.
"And the promotion?" he asked, motioning towards Paige.
"It is so great! I can go in late now, although I should not, and I have a more flexible work schedule so it is easier to take care of witchy things." Paige said with a grin.
"And you, Phoebe. How is your destiny, your life?" he asked her with a faint smile on his face.
"My life is fine." Phoebe remarked, though inside she was screaming the opposite.
"Or so you would have us think. Your sisters each got a reward; I think you deserve one too. Tell me, what does your heart desire?" he questioned. Instantly Phoebe thought of her dreams, of Cole and their baby.
"I cannot have what my heart desires." Phoebe responded sadly.
"Ah, but that is not true. In fact, that is why I am here. It is common knowledge 'up there' that your heart desires your husband Cole and your child, your life back. You, on the other hand, are confused on which path to take. And though your heart knows one thing, your mind tells you another. I can show you the two different destinies to help clear your mind, one if you choose to take your husband, who is more than willing, back. The other if you leave him forever and continue without Cole. Then you will be able to choose your destiny." He paused, allowing her time to think and reply.
"Really, you could do that?" Phoebe asked, intrigued.
"Hold up, wait. Phoebe does not need to see her paths laid out, she already knows what she wants." Piper said, reaching over to her sister, who pulled away.
"Yea, she is happy without Cole and the baby. See, she was smiling this morning." Paige put in.
"Shut up you two! You do not know a damn thing about how I feel!" Phoebe yelled to them, tears trying to choke her. "How?" she asked the Angel, ignoring the stares her sisters were giving her. It was only now, when she spoke harsh words, that they had begun to realize the pain she was in.
"It is a simple task. You will appear in one destiny as yourself, allowing you to ask questions to the others around you and not to confuse, um, little ones. The other future you will appear as you are now, and will be able to talk to your future self. It may not be easy on you to see the future, but it must be done to help you out. The third Charmed sister deserves a wish too. Take my hand." The Angel told her.
Phoebe again ignored her sisters, not caring about them. This was for her. She was so empty, her heart was such an abyss, that she knew without this guidance she would not survive. He held out her hand, hoping the pain of the future would not be as great as her present torture.
"First we shall see what the future is like with your husband." He said. The Angel closed his eyes, as did Phoebe. She felt a rush, then opened them a minute later, feeling warm and safe, but also tired, realizing she was in a bed. Turning over she saw someone next to her she had never expected to see again in her life.
"Cole?" she whispered, reaching out to caress his face. When he did not disappear, she knew it was really him. His eyes fluttered open, and he stretched, saying
"Morning baby." And he took her in his arms, kissing her forehead, then lips, and then resting against the backboard of the bed. He kept her in his strong grip, pulling her against his bare chest. It was almost perfect. But so many things were bugging and confusing her. Phoebe looked around, not recognizing her surroundings.
"Where are we?" she asked as she lazily ran her fingertips over him, a favorite pastime of theirs in the morning, something so small she missed so much.
"In bed, at the house. Where else?" he asked with a puzzled tone, kissing her hair. "How is my baby this morning? As good as mommy?" he asked her stomach, then kissed it and came back up for a passionate kiss with her.
"Baby, what baby?" she asked, honestly confused. Was she pregnant?! Her and Cole were having a baby? A none-evil baby?
"Our baby sweetie, the one you are carrying. Did you forget already? It has been a few weeks? Are you alright?" he asked, worry creasing his handsome face as she felt him frown.
"No, sorry, it is early." She laughed, knowing he did not buy that, he never did. A baby? For her? And him? Theirs? She was so happy, but hoped he would not ask her further about her lack of memory. She heard a slight thud outside their door, but nothing to worry about. **I am pregnant!** she thought as she smiled up at him lovingly. **This is how it should have been.** Her thoughts were interrupted by a little boy who looked about four years old and could have been Cole's clone, and a little girl, about one, who had her own hair, but Cole's same blue eyes, who rushed into the room and onto the bed, laughing as they began jumping.
"Mommy! Daddy! Get up!" the boy commanded as the girl shrieked "up up!"
"Who are you?" Phoebe asked, alarmed as the boy came over and nestled in her arms as the little girl did the same to Cole.
"Do not tell me you forgot our children, Ben and Ebony?" Cole joked, tickling the little girl.
"Our what.?!" Phoebe said as she stared at the two beautiful children in front of her.
It was early Monday morning, the sun had just risen, and already Piper Halliwell was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Her husband had already been summoned "up there", ruining their romantic morning, and her other two sisters were busy preparing for the day upstairs. As she flipped the pancakes, Paige came downstairs in a somewhat calm mood, which was very unusual for her.
"Have you decided to grace us with your presence at breakfast finally?" Piper teased.
"Yea, actually I am not running late for a change, so I have a few glorious minutes to spend with my loving family before I have to run because I am late." Paige grinned and bit off a piece of toast.
"Morning!" Phoebe exclaimed as she bounded down the stairs in an also unusual mood. She had not really been excited for a day since she found out Cole was the Source. Every morning she would wake up and find she was more afraid of what was to come, an attitude Phoebe Halliwell had not had ever. The past few weeks had been really tough on her, nearly breaking her spirit at some points, but she always managed a smile for her family, no matter how much pain she was holding back. There was no need for them to know she cried herself to sleep every night and sometimes felt so depressed and lonely she thought about throwing herself out of the attic just to feel the rush as she flew and released her pain in a few seconds, then hit the ground and hurt for the last time. But she was smart and had come to realize she might live, and would be healed. Then what would come of her? She even thought stabbing herself with Cole's old athame would be less painful than life. **It would not feel much different than I do now** she used to think. She realized she was suicidal, but also figured out this kind of life, avoiding the pain, was better than the one she would be living if she stopped hiding. Instead of going through with it though, she took cold showers and scrubbed herself till her skin was raw, trying in vain to wash away the grief she felt. This morning was different though. Cole had not come around the Manor in awhile at her request, and though a part of Phoebe was saddened by this, another rejoiced at the burden lifted off her shoulders.
"Want toast? Breakfast is not ready, but Paige helped herself. Why are you not ready for work?" Piper asked, checking on the sausage. She had noticed Phoebe's mood, and though this was more than strange of her, she decided not to ask about it. It did not matter what Phoebe was thinking, her younger sister was happy, they should just accept that.
"No thanks Piper, I will wait for the pancakes. They smell yummy! Oh, Elise gave me off. There was some problem with some politician who wanted our newspaper and other local ones to shut down for a week or two, so they could see the effect on the public. I would prefer not to be a guinea pig, but I will gladly take the time off." Phoebe grinned, but only because she had stopped thinking about the rest of her life since then. Actually, Elise had asked her and only her to take the week off, for her advice was slipping. Elise was concerned that since she lost her baby and Cole she was trying to hide from everything with the newspaper and would one day explode from all the bottled emotions. Funny how she cared for Phoebe, when she never seemed to care for anyone. Anyway, Phoebe could not tell her sisters that, they would only make a fuss, and it would only make it worse, although they were trying to help. They could never understand, and so she lied to keep up the perfect image. Piper could not be upset; she had a baby on the way. Leo would be mad if Phoebe in any way made Piper worry. She was too 'delicate'. **No one fussed over me like this when I was pregnant. No one but Cole that is." Phoebe thought for a moment, then shook the crazy thought out of her head. He was gone. Anyway, Piper was saying something now to her.
"Oh. Okay, then do you want to come baby shopping with Paige and I during her lunch break?" Piper asked, patting her growing stomach.
"Actually, I think I will use an older letter and get more work out of the way so next week will feel like vacation too. I am tired also. But thanks anyway." Phoebe smiled happily and reached for the coffee, but inside she was suffocating. She not only cried for the loss of her husband, but for that of her baby, their baby. She wanted so bad to have a family, yearned for a child. **Piper gets all the happiness, a good life, a husband, easy job, and now baby. I lost everything. It is not fair.** Sure, she never expected a child, but when she found out she was pregnant both her and Cole warmed up to the idea instantly. He was almost human then. They were going to have a baby, their baby, a family. Now those future dreams of a wonderful life were smashed. Phoebe wished away for her family to come back, but now she knew they did not lie waiting in her future.
Piper flipped another pancake over, but this one stopped in mid air, frozen in time. Each of the sisters looked around for an answer and gasped when they saw who entered the room.
"I thought we were done with you." Paige remarked.
"Ah, not yet it seems." The Angel of Destiny spoke, walking closer to the curious sisters. "How is the baby?" he asked Piper. Phoebe's heart again felt hollow.
"Fine, we are both fine." Piper said smiling.
"And the promotion?" he asked, motioning towards Paige.
"It is so great! I can go in late now, although I should not, and I have a more flexible work schedule so it is easier to take care of witchy things." Paige said with a grin.
"And you, Phoebe. How is your destiny, your life?" he asked her with a faint smile on his face.
"My life is fine." Phoebe remarked, though inside she was screaming the opposite.
"Or so you would have us think. Your sisters each got a reward; I think you deserve one too. Tell me, what does your heart desire?" he questioned. Instantly Phoebe thought of her dreams, of Cole and their baby.
"I cannot have what my heart desires." Phoebe responded sadly.
"Ah, but that is not true. In fact, that is why I am here. It is common knowledge 'up there' that your heart desires your husband Cole and your child, your life back. You, on the other hand, are confused on which path to take. And though your heart knows one thing, your mind tells you another. I can show you the two different destinies to help clear your mind, one if you choose to take your husband, who is more than willing, back. The other if you leave him forever and continue without Cole. Then you will be able to choose your destiny." He paused, allowing her time to think and reply.
"Really, you could do that?" Phoebe asked, intrigued.
"Hold up, wait. Phoebe does not need to see her paths laid out, she already knows what she wants." Piper said, reaching over to her sister, who pulled away.
"Yea, she is happy without Cole and the baby. See, she was smiling this morning." Paige put in.
"Shut up you two! You do not know a damn thing about how I feel!" Phoebe yelled to them, tears trying to choke her. "How?" she asked the Angel, ignoring the stares her sisters were giving her. It was only now, when she spoke harsh words, that they had begun to realize the pain she was in.
"It is a simple task. You will appear in one destiny as yourself, allowing you to ask questions to the others around you and not to confuse, um, little ones. The other future you will appear as you are now, and will be able to talk to your future self. It may not be easy on you to see the future, but it must be done to help you out. The third Charmed sister deserves a wish too. Take my hand." The Angel told her.
Phoebe again ignored her sisters, not caring about them. This was for her. She was so empty, her heart was such an abyss, that she knew without this guidance she would not survive. He held out her hand, hoping the pain of the future would not be as great as her present torture.
"First we shall see what the future is like with your husband." He said. The Angel closed his eyes, as did Phoebe. She felt a rush, then opened them a minute later, feeling warm and safe, but also tired, realizing she was in a bed. Turning over she saw someone next to her she had never expected to see again in her life.
"Cole?" she whispered, reaching out to caress his face. When he did not disappear, she knew it was really him. His eyes fluttered open, and he stretched, saying
"Morning baby." And he took her in his arms, kissing her forehead, then lips, and then resting against the backboard of the bed. He kept her in his strong grip, pulling her against his bare chest. It was almost perfect. But so many things were bugging and confusing her. Phoebe looked around, not recognizing her surroundings.
"Where are we?" she asked as she lazily ran her fingertips over him, a favorite pastime of theirs in the morning, something so small she missed so much.
"In bed, at the house. Where else?" he asked with a puzzled tone, kissing her hair. "How is my baby this morning? As good as mommy?" he asked her stomach, then kissed it and came back up for a passionate kiss with her.
"Baby, what baby?" she asked, honestly confused. Was she pregnant?! Her and Cole were having a baby? A none-evil baby?
"Our baby sweetie, the one you are carrying. Did you forget already? It has been a few weeks? Are you alright?" he asked, worry creasing his handsome face as she felt him frown.
"No, sorry, it is early." She laughed, knowing he did not buy that, he never did. A baby? For her? And him? Theirs? She was so happy, but hoped he would not ask her further about her lack of memory. She heard a slight thud outside their door, but nothing to worry about. **I am pregnant!** she thought as she smiled up at him lovingly. **This is how it should have been.** Her thoughts were interrupted by a little boy who looked about four years old and could have been Cole's clone, and a little girl, about one, who had her own hair, but Cole's same blue eyes, who rushed into the room and onto the bed, laughing as they began jumping.
"Mommy! Daddy! Get up!" the boy commanded as the girl shrieked "up up!"
"Who are you?" Phoebe asked, alarmed as the boy came over and nestled in her arms as the little girl did the same to Cole.
"Do not tell me you forgot our children, Ben and Ebony?" Cole joked, tickling the little girl.
"Our what.?!" Phoebe said as she stared at the two beautiful children in front of her.