DISCLAIMER: We don't own Charmed, just this story. Only, Daisy didn't care enough to write a disclaimer, so I'm doing it! LOL, sorry.
AN: hey guys this is Daisy, sorry 'bout the long wait, ima slacker! lol neway this is the last chapter so when ur done be sure to review!!!!!!!
A Journey Cut Short
PART IV
Daisy
Paige and Phoebe had likewise found themselves in their beds, and after recalling what they had done, proceeded to the hallway. "Paige!" Phoebe whispered as she spotted her sister creeping down the hall. Paige whipped around to face her sister. "Phoebe? Did it work?" Immediately, her question was answered when the soft cry of a baby drifted to their ears. They stared at each other for a moment with mouths open, then quietly tiptoed down the hall.
"Piper? Leo?" Phoebe called softly when they reached the couple's room.
"Shh, come here", Piper replied. Paige and Phoebe slowly entered the dimly lit room and approached the side of the room where the newest addition to their family was being cradled.
Piper turned around to face them, and Leo said, voice overflowing with pride, "Girls, meet your niece, Melinda." Phoebe gasped and put her hands to her mouth when she saw the precious bundle, and Paige all but broke down in tears of joy.
"Piper, she's perfect", Paige breathed.
"I-I know", Piper stammered. Phoebe took the sign off the closet door. Smiling she showed it to Paige. Paige ran her fingers over the delicately written words. This is too good to be true, she thought. Only problem was, it wasn't true- yet. After each sister had her fair turn holding the baby, Phoebe brought up the whole reason they were experiencing that joy.
"Ok, so what do we do now", she inquired.
"We stay here and spend every day treasuring this child", Piper stated defiantly.
"Piper, honey, you know we can't do that", Leo softly told his wife. "We're here for a reason. You know that this baby has to be sacrificed in order to stop the demon and save the baby in our reality." Piper didn't answer, but just kept rocking Melinda in her arms, never taking her eyes off of that precious face. Leo glanced at Paige and Phoebe. This is what they had been afraid of. Piper was getting too attached to this baby, and becoming reluctant to their plan. And for this to work, she had to be completely with them. Leo glanced at the clock. "Ok, well it's only 4:30. We can still get a few hours of sleep. Tomorrow we will take the baby to the hospital for what will seem like a normal, after-birth checkup. Then we will wait for the demon to attack and vanquish her. Everyone got it?" Phoebe and Paige nodded. Piper, however, was not listening. "Piper..." Leo said.
"Uh huh", Piper absently responded.
"This is going to be more difficult than we originally thought", Leo told Paige and Phoebe.
*****
"Pouch", Paige voiced loudly, and the empty leather pouch on the counter opposite her dissolved into blue and white orbs, disappeared, and reappeared in her hand. She filled it up with the powder-potion she had just finished making, pulled the drawstring tight and placed it securely in her pocket. Piper was upstairs getting baby Melinda ready and Phoebe was in the attic copying down the spell they were gonna use to vanquish the demon.
"Paige?" Paige jumped and dropped the stirring spoon she was holding. Spinning around she saw that Leo had orbed in behind her. "Where's Piper?" he asked.
Paige bent down to pick up the spoon. "Leo, God, don't do that! You scared the hell out of me," she scolded. "She's upstairs. Does this look right? I've never made a powder-potion before."
Leo shrugged. "Looks fine to me, but how would I know. It's not like I've ever made one either", he stated dryly, heading for the stairs.
"How helpful Leo", Paige grumbled and Leo could hear her mumbling to herself as he made his way up the stairs. In the bedroom, Leo found his wife and their baby girl. Piper was already dressed, and was now in the process of putting clothes on Melinda. She gurgled softly as Piper delicately slipped a one-piece outfit on her and buttoned it up. Leo smiled and watched as Piper picked up the infant and baby talked with her while rocking her in her arms. Leo walked up behind Piper and gently kissed her on the neck.
"Hi beautiful." She smiled slightly up at him. "I checked everything at the hospital," he told her. "Our demon is on call this morning and drifting around the pediatric unit."
Piper sighed. "That's good, I guess." Suddenly Phoebe appeared in the doorway.
"I copied down the spell. Almost ready to go?"
"Yeah", Piper replied. "Paige is making the-"
"AH!" A cry from Paige was heard that sent the four quickly to the kitchen.
"What the hell happened in here?" Piper demanded, handing Melinda to Leo and walking over to Paige who stood at the sink. "Are you ok?"
"Nowhere!" Paige began angrily. "Nowhere in that book does it say that you can't clean that powder-potion out of the frekin pot with water!! No warning of combustion when combined with water, no do's, no don'ts, no nothings!" She was now scraping the light purple goo off her face and clothes. "I'm going to get changed", she stated, stomping out of the room.
"Hurry Paige", Phoebe urged.
"Yeah yeah", replied Paige on her way up the stairs. Piper sighed and returned to Leo to reclaim her baby. If she was going to lose this baby, she was going to cherish every remaining minute she had with her. Five minutes later, Paige was back downstairs in a completely different outfit.
"Let's go" Phoebe said, and the solemn group headed to the hospital.
*****
"Ok, so everybody know the plan?" Paige asked. Everyone confirmed just as the elevator door opened, revealing the pediatric floor. Piper protectively clung to Melinda as they exited the elevator and approached the service desk.
"Piper and Melinda Halliwell", Leo told the woman behind the desk. The woman smiled sweetly.
"Yes, the doctor is expecting you. Congratulations on the new baby."
"Thank you." Piper forced a smile, contrary to the nervousness turning her stomach. They were led into a small room down the hall and told to wait for the doctor. Once the woman was back at her desk again, they set their plan into action.
"Ok, go Paige, Phoebe, before she comes", Leo urged. Paige peeked out the door to make sure no one was coming. When she pronnounced all was clear, she and Phoebe said a quick but heartfelt goodbye to their alternate reality niece. Then Paige grabbed Phoebe's hand and orbed them to the storage closet on the opposite side of the hall. Piper walked over to the door and peered out of the small window. Through an identical window on the storage closet door, Piper saw the blue glow appear and then subside. A few minutes later, Phoebe's head appeared in the window signaling a thumbs up. Piper nodded in return just as Phoebe glanced down the hall and ducked under the window. Piper quickly backed away from the window and no sooner had she returned by Leo's side, than the doctor/demon entered. As soon as she saw her, Piper instinctively stepped in front of Melinda's carseat which rested on the hospital bed.
"Good morning!" she said a little too cheerfully for Piper's liking. "Piper Halliwell?" she confirmed looking down at the chart in her hand. Piper nodded. "Ah, had a home birth did we." Once again Piper had to force a smile. "Well then, lets just have a look at baby Halliwell, shall we?" Reluctantly, Piper stepped aside. As the doctor walked up to Melinda Piper noticed a glint in her eyes. A glint of something evil. Meanwhile, back in the storage closet, the first distraction was being planned.
"Ok, this had better work," Paige stated. "If this.she-demon, catches on to our plan, then we're screwed. And even worse, screwed in an alternate reality. Not good. Not good at all." Phoebe smiled.
"Yea well you look pretty legitimate to me. As long as she doesn't recognize you. Here," she handed Paige a stethascope, which Paige placed around her neck. Then she twirled around so Phoebe could critique her new disguise.
"So?" she asked.
"So, I think I hear ER calling your name. Dr. Paige, Dr. Paige Matthews." Phoebe giggled.
"Ha ha, funny" Paige smirked back. She straightened the wig of long straight blonde hair on her head. In addition to the wig, she wore an extra white doctor's coat and stethascope. "Ok, now we wait," she sighed and plopped down on a packed cardboard box of medical supplies. About 30 seconds later, she was up again. "That's long enough don't you think?" Phoebe looked through the window.
"Sure, she's still in there, go ahead. Just try not to talk too much, so she doesn't recognize your voice." Paige nodded and quickly slid out of the door. Once again she straightened the wig and thought about the objective: get the demon alone with the baby without looking suspicious. Leo had left minutes earlier claiming to need to use the restroom. It was her job to excuse Piper from the room too. Clearing her throat, she entered the room.
"Um, excuse me, Ms. Halliwell. You have a phone call at the front desk," Paige said, raising the decibel of her voice slightly in an attempt to disguise it. Piper and the demon turned to look at her. Though Piper knew how she was supposed to respond, she glanced at her baby and hesitated. For a moment the look on her face made Paige believe that she wasn't going to come. However after a moment she excused herself and followed Paige out. While exiting, Paige cringed as she felt suspicious eyes follow her out. With everyone successfully out of the room, they went into the next part of the plan. Tears filling her eyes, Piper froze the pediatric floor. Phoebe slipped out of the closet and glanced down the hall.
"Um Piper," Phoebe said as she pointed to Leo who also stood frozen among the doctors and nurses. Piper sighed and walked over to him. She waved her hand and as soon as he was unfrozen, she fell into his embrace.
"I can't do this," she sobbed into Leo's shoulder. "I can't intentionally hand my baby over to a demon."
"I know, I know it's hard," he said as he comforted his wife. "But just try and remember we are doing this to save our baby, not hurt her." Piper sniffed, and wiped her eyes.
"I know, I'm sorry. It's just- well, this sucks." Leo smiled at her, and slowly a smile crept on her face also.
"Uh guys, sorry to break this up, but we do have a demon in there, who's not frozen, and if we miss our opportunity." Paige interrupted. With her arm around his waist, Piper and Leo walked back over to Phoebe and Paige.
"She's picking up Melinda", Phoebe informed urgently, gazing through the door window. Leo and Paige tried to cram their heads in addition to Phoebe's in front of the tiny window to get a better look. Piper smiled slightly at the scene. She grabbed Paige's hand and pulled her down with her as she kneeled at the bottom of the larger window on the wall, the blinds being pulled up by her partly earlier.
"So we can all see", she commented.
"Ohh", Paige said. "Good idea."
"You'd better get the potion and the spell ready", Leo suggested. Phoebe reached into her pocket and took out a twice-folded piece of paper on which was written their vanquishing spell. Paige stood up and also dug through her pockets, however she did not emerge with the expected pouch.
"Uh oh", she gasped, realization dawning on her. Piper's head snapped up to glare with wide eyes at her youngest sister.
"Uh oh? What is uh oh? There is no uh oh! What did you do!?"
"Heh. I kinda left the pouch in my pocket when I changed my pants earlier", Paige explained fidgeting with her hands and glancing nervously at her family.
"You did what!! Paige!" Piper was now frantic and on the edge with this newest glitche being added to all her previous stress.
"I'll be right back" Paige stated, already orbing out. Seconds later the blue haze fell away and she opened her eyes to see the familiarness of her room. Immediately, she began searching frantically for her light-purple-goo stained jeans. When she had torn apart her room to no avail, she retreated to the center, biting her lip. Sighing exasperatedly she stuck out her hand and called "Pouch." She broke into a grin when the blue orbs materialized in her hand, forming the precious bag. "Hm", she said triumphantly and began to orb back to the hospital.
*****
Meanwhile, during Paige's hunt, problems were arising at the hospital. The three huddled at the bottom of the window awaiting Paige's return and watching the demon, who seemed to be enjoying walking around the room with Melinda. Almost as if getting to know the baby before making her move. All of a sudden, however, she placed Melinda back in the carseat and set her hand over the infant's chest. Her eyes started to glow a deep red.
"Oh no", Piper breathed. "Paige isn't back yet!" Moments passed, and the baby hadn't aged yet. They fearfully waited and watched as she placed the other hand also over the infant. It must be because Melinda's doubly magical, Phoebe thought. It takes more evil to affect her. Leo was holding Piper who now had tears running down her cheeks. As Melinda finally began to age Piper cried out, attracting the demon's attention. She looked away from Melinda, who was now at least two months old and towards the window. As her eyes returned to normal she saw a flash of dark hair duck under the window. She slowly advanced on the door. Back outside the room, Leo thought about orbing them back home to safety, but decided against it. We have to do this, he thought. Instead, he orbed them into the room, behind the demon. They were going to fight to stall for Paige. Quickly catching on, Piper and Phoebe jumped into action. "Hey bitch", Piper called and the demon whipped around.
"Ooo witches, how unexpected," she cackled. "That's ok" and her eyes began to glow. Phoebe levetated and sent a kick right into the demon's stomach, launching her backward into the door. Quickly recovering, she flung an energy ball viciously at them. Piper and Phoebe barely dodged it, and Leo cautiously guarded the baby. The back and forth attacks went on for a while until Melinda became restless. She cried out, attracting Piper's attention. Instinctively Piper spun around to check on her baby. Taking advantage of the distraction, the demon threw Piper and Phoebe up against the wall and poised an energy ball over them. On the ground and powerless, the girls looked desperately at Leo, who was about to dash over and orb them to safety. The demon, however, intervened.
"You stay there, whitelighter. Or your precious witches will die." With the energy ball still positioned over the girls, the demon went back to aging Melinda, while Leo stood powerlessly by.
*****
"You guys, I-" Paige started as she orbed back to the hospital. She stopped though when she realized her family was not there. "What the hell?" she asked when she heard a thud inside the room. She looked in the window to see Piper and Phoebe huddled in the corner and Leo helplessly standing by Melinda. Quietly, she orbed in behind the demon. Her sisters and Leo saw her, but they didn't let on, so as not to alert the demon. When Paige had inched up so that she was just a few inches away from her she shouted "Hey blondie!" and the demon whipped around. As Paige had the element of surprise, she was able to blow the powder-potion into the gleaming scarlet eyes. The demon screamed and grabbed at her eyes, but not before she had thrown the energy ball revengefully at Paige. Paige cried out in pain and was thrown unconscious into the wall.
"Paige!" Piper yelled and ran over to her sister, along with Leo and Phoebe, who had grabbed Melinda. "Oh my god, Leo!" Piper pleaded, but Leo was already placing his hands over Paige's body.
"Why didn't it kill her?" Phoebe asked while crying and gripping Piper's hand, as Piper also cried and cradled Melinda.
"If a demon doesn't throw an energy ball soon after it's formed, then it starts to lose power", Leo explained, still healing Paige and keeping an eye on the demon. "It's lucky for Paige that it does." Suddenly, Paige woke up straining for breath.
"Oh thank god" Piper stuttered as she and Phoebe hugged Paige. Paige smiled and hugged them back, until she noticed the demon regaining her control.
"Uh guys" she pointed. "We might wanna sat the spell before the potion wears off!"
"Oh yea!" Phoebe said. She whipped out the paper again and the Power Of Three gathered around it and voiced the spell, watching as the demon screamed and exploded into flames. As this happened the floor fell out from under them, and they found themselves falling, falling, until they hit the attic floor.
"Ow" Paige mumbled as she got up and helped Phoebe off the ground. Leo also got up, but Piper just stared off and showed no intention of moving.
"Piper?" Leo asked tenderly, helping his wife stand. Phoebe grabbed Paige's hand and quietly led her from the attic, to give Piper and Leo some time alone.
"My baby," Piper uttered, a tear sliding down her cheek. "We didn't save her." Leo kissed his wife and gently took her hand and placed it on her belly.
"Yes we did", he said softly. "See. She's right here. And in a few weeks she will be in your arms, the same baby that you held last night. Only this time we won't have to worry about someone trying to take her away from us. She will be ours, forever." Piper smiled and kissed Leo, long and passionate.
"See this is why I love you", she whispered to him.
"I love you too", he whispered back. And with that the couple walked hand in hand out the attic door.
THE END
oook, so how did you guys like it?! that was the end of this fic but me and Aqua r gonna start another one soon entitled "Prehistoric Problems" so make sure u read that 1 too. and as always, PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!
AN: hey guys this is Daisy, sorry 'bout the long wait, ima slacker! lol neway this is the last chapter so when ur done be sure to review!!!!!!!
A Journey Cut Short
PART IV
Daisy
Paige and Phoebe had likewise found themselves in their beds, and after recalling what they had done, proceeded to the hallway. "Paige!" Phoebe whispered as she spotted her sister creeping down the hall. Paige whipped around to face her sister. "Phoebe? Did it work?" Immediately, her question was answered when the soft cry of a baby drifted to their ears. They stared at each other for a moment with mouths open, then quietly tiptoed down the hall.
"Piper? Leo?" Phoebe called softly when they reached the couple's room.
"Shh, come here", Piper replied. Paige and Phoebe slowly entered the dimly lit room and approached the side of the room where the newest addition to their family was being cradled.
Piper turned around to face them, and Leo said, voice overflowing with pride, "Girls, meet your niece, Melinda." Phoebe gasped and put her hands to her mouth when she saw the precious bundle, and Paige all but broke down in tears of joy.
"Piper, she's perfect", Paige breathed.
"I-I know", Piper stammered. Phoebe took the sign off the closet door. Smiling she showed it to Paige. Paige ran her fingers over the delicately written words. This is too good to be true, she thought. Only problem was, it wasn't true- yet. After each sister had her fair turn holding the baby, Phoebe brought up the whole reason they were experiencing that joy.
"Ok, so what do we do now", she inquired.
"We stay here and spend every day treasuring this child", Piper stated defiantly.
"Piper, honey, you know we can't do that", Leo softly told his wife. "We're here for a reason. You know that this baby has to be sacrificed in order to stop the demon and save the baby in our reality." Piper didn't answer, but just kept rocking Melinda in her arms, never taking her eyes off of that precious face. Leo glanced at Paige and Phoebe. This is what they had been afraid of. Piper was getting too attached to this baby, and becoming reluctant to their plan. And for this to work, she had to be completely with them. Leo glanced at the clock. "Ok, well it's only 4:30. We can still get a few hours of sleep. Tomorrow we will take the baby to the hospital for what will seem like a normal, after-birth checkup. Then we will wait for the demon to attack and vanquish her. Everyone got it?" Phoebe and Paige nodded. Piper, however, was not listening. "Piper..." Leo said.
"Uh huh", Piper absently responded.
"This is going to be more difficult than we originally thought", Leo told Paige and Phoebe.
*****
"Pouch", Paige voiced loudly, and the empty leather pouch on the counter opposite her dissolved into blue and white orbs, disappeared, and reappeared in her hand. She filled it up with the powder-potion she had just finished making, pulled the drawstring tight and placed it securely in her pocket. Piper was upstairs getting baby Melinda ready and Phoebe was in the attic copying down the spell they were gonna use to vanquish the demon.
"Paige?" Paige jumped and dropped the stirring spoon she was holding. Spinning around she saw that Leo had orbed in behind her. "Where's Piper?" he asked.
Paige bent down to pick up the spoon. "Leo, God, don't do that! You scared the hell out of me," she scolded. "She's upstairs. Does this look right? I've never made a powder-potion before."
Leo shrugged. "Looks fine to me, but how would I know. It's not like I've ever made one either", he stated dryly, heading for the stairs.
"How helpful Leo", Paige grumbled and Leo could hear her mumbling to herself as he made his way up the stairs. In the bedroom, Leo found his wife and their baby girl. Piper was already dressed, and was now in the process of putting clothes on Melinda. She gurgled softly as Piper delicately slipped a one-piece outfit on her and buttoned it up. Leo smiled and watched as Piper picked up the infant and baby talked with her while rocking her in her arms. Leo walked up behind Piper and gently kissed her on the neck.
"Hi beautiful." She smiled slightly up at him. "I checked everything at the hospital," he told her. "Our demon is on call this morning and drifting around the pediatric unit."
Piper sighed. "That's good, I guess." Suddenly Phoebe appeared in the doorway.
"I copied down the spell. Almost ready to go?"
"Yeah", Piper replied. "Paige is making the-"
"AH!" A cry from Paige was heard that sent the four quickly to the kitchen.
"What the hell happened in here?" Piper demanded, handing Melinda to Leo and walking over to Paige who stood at the sink. "Are you ok?"
"Nowhere!" Paige began angrily. "Nowhere in that book does it say that you can't clean that powder-potion out of the frekin pot with water!! No warning of combustion when combined with water, no do's, no don'ts, no nothings!" She was now scraping the light purple goo off her face and clothes. "I'm going to get changed", she stated, stomping out of the room.
"Hurry Paige", Phoebe urged.
"Yeah yeah", replied Paige on her way up the stairs. Piper sighed and returned to Leo to reclaim her baby. If she was going to lose this baby, she was going to cherish every remaining minute she had with her. Five minutes later, Paige was back downstairs in a completely different outfit.
"Let's go" Phoebe said, and the solemn group headed to the hospital.
*****
"Ok, so everybody know the plan?" Paige asked. Everyone confirmed just as the elevator door opened, revealing the pediatric floor. Piper protectively clung to Melinda as they exited the elevator and approached the service desk.
"Piper and Melinda Halliwell", Leo told the woman behind the desk. The woman smiled sweetly.
"Yes, the doctor is expecting you. Congratulations on the new baby."
"Thank you." Piper forced a smile, contrary to the nervousness turning her stomach. They were led into a small room down the hall and told to wait for the doctor. Once the woman was back at her desk again, they set their plan into action.
"Ok, go Paige, Phoebe, before she comes", Leo urged. Paige peeked out the door to make sure no one was coming. When she pronnounced all was clear, she and Phoebe said a quick but heartfelt goodbye to their alternate reality niece. Then Paige grabbed Phoebe's hand and orbed them to the storage closet on the opposite side of the hall. Piper walked over to the door and peered out of the small window. Through an identical window on the storage closet door, Piper saw the blue glow appear and then subside. A few minutes later, Phoebe's head appeared in the window signaling a thumbs up. Piper nodded in return just as Phoebe glanced down the hall and ducked under the window. Piper quickly backed away from the window and no sooner had she returned by Leo's side, than the doctor/demon entered. As soon as she saw her, Piper instinctively stepped in front of Melinda's carseat which rested on the hospital bed.
"Good morning!" she said a little too cheerfully for Piper's liking. "Piper Halliwell?" she confirmed looking down at the chart in her hand. Piper nodded. "Ah, had a home birth did we." Once again Piper had to force a smile. "Well then, lets just have a look at baby Halliwell, shall we?" Reluctantly, Piper stepped aside. As the doctor walked up to Melinda Piper noticed a glint in her eyes. A glint of something evil. Meanwhile, back in the storage closet, the first distraction was being planned.
"Ok, this had better work," Paige stated. "If this.she-demon, catches on to our plan, then we're screwed. And even worse, screwed in an alternate reality. Not good. Not good at all." Phoebe smiled.
"Yea well you look pretty legitimate to me. As long as she doesn't recognize you. Here," she handed Paige a stethascope, which Paige placed around her neck. Then she twirled around so Phoebe could critique her new disguise.
"So?" she asked.
"So, I think I hear ER calling your name. Dr. Paige, Dr. Paige Matthews." Phoebe giggled.
"Ha ha, funny" Paige smirked back. She straightened the wig of long straight blonde hair on her head. In addition to the wig, she wore an extra white doctor's coat and stethascope. "Ok, now we wait," she sighed and plopped down on a packed cardboard box of medical supplies. About 30 seconds later, she was up again. "That's long enough don't you think?" Phoebe looked through the window.
"Sure, she's still in there, go ahead. Just try not to talk too much, so she doesn't recognize your voice." Paige nodded and quickly slid out of the door. Once again she straightened the wig and thought about the objective: get the demon alone with the baby without looking suspicious. Leo had left minutes earlier claiming to need to use the restroom. It was her job to excuse Piper from the room too. Clearing her throat, she entered the room.
"Um, excuse me, Ms. Halliwell. You have a phone call at the front desk," Paige said, raising the decibel of her voice slightly in an attempt to disguise it. Piper and the demon turned to look at her. Though Piper knew how she was supposed to respond, she glanced at her baby and hesitated. For a moment the look on her face made Paige believe that she wasn't going to come. However after a moment she excused herself and followed Paige out. While exiting, Paige cringed as she felt suspicious eyes follow her out. With everyone successfully out of the room, they went into the next part of the plan. Tears filling her eyes, Piper froze the pediatric floor. Phoebe slipped out of the closet and glanced down the hall.
"Um Piper," Phoebe said as she pointed to Leo who also stood frozen among the doctors and nurses. Piper sighed and walked over to him. She waved her hand and as soon as he was unfrozen, she fell into his embrace.
"I can't do this," she sobbed into Leo's shoulder. "I can't intentionally hand my baby over to a demon."
"I know, I know it's hard," he said as he comforted his wife. "But just try and remember we are doing this to save our baby, not hurt her." Piper sniffed, and wiped her eyes.
"I know, I'm sorry. It's just- well, this sucks." Leo smiled at her, and slowly a smile crept on her face also.
"Uh guys, sorry to break this up, but we do have a demon in there, who's not frozen, and if we miss our opportunity." Paige interrupted. With her arm around his waist, Piper and Leo walked back over to Phoebe and Paige.
"She's picking up Melinda", Phoebe informed urgently, gazing through the door window. Leo and Paige tried to cram their heads in addition to Phoebe's in front of the tiny window to get a better look. Piper smiled slightly at the scene. She grabbed Paige's hand and pulled her down with her as she kneeled at the bottom of the larger window on the wall, the blinds being pulled up by her partly earlier.
"So we can all see", she commented.
"Ohh", Paige said. "Good idea."
"You'd better get the potion and the spell ready", Leo suggested. Phoebe reached into her pocket and took out a twice-folded piece of paper on which was written their vanquishing spell. Paige stood up and also dug through her pockets, however she did not emerge with the expected pouch.
"Uh oh", she gasped, realization dawning on her. Piper's head snapped up to glare with wide eyes at her youngest sister.
"Uh oh? What is uh oh? There is no uh oh! What did you do!?"
"Heh. I kinda left the pouch in my pocket when I changed my pants earlier", Paige explained fidgeting with her hands and glancing nervously at her family.
"You did what!! Paige!" Piper was now frantic and on the edge with this newest glitche being added to all her previous stress.
"I'll be right back" Paige stated, already orbing out. Seconds later the blue haze fell away and she opened her eyes to see the familiarness of her room. Immediately, she began searching frantically for her light-purple-goo stained jeans. When she had torn apart her room to no avail, she retreated to the center, biting her lip. Sighing exasperatedly she stuck out her hand and called "Pouch." She broke into a grin when the blue orbs materialized in her hand, forming the precious bag. "Hm", she said triumphantly and began to orb back to the hospital.
*****
Meanwhile, during Paige's hunt, problems were arising at the hospital. The three huddled at the bottom of the window awaiting Paige's return and watching the demon, who seemed to be enjoying walking around the room with Melinda. Almost as if getting to know the baby before making her move. All of a sudden, however, she placed Melinda back in the carseat and set her hand over the infant's chest. Her eyes started to glow a deep red.
"Oh no", Piper breathed. "Paige isn't back yet!" Moments passed, and the baby hadn't aged yet. They fearfully waited and watched as she placed the other hand also over the infant. It must be because Melinda's doubly magical, Phoebe thought. It takes more evil to affect her. Leo was holding Piper who now had tears running down her cheeks. As Melinda finally began to age Piper cried out, attracting the demon's attention. She looked away from Melinda, who was now at least two months old and towards the window. As her eyes returned to normal she saw a flash of dark hair duck under the window. She slowly advanced on the door. Back outside the room, Leo thought about orbing them back home to safety, but decided against it. We have to do this, he thought. Instead, he orbed them into the room, behind the demon. They were going to fight to stall for Paige. Quickly catching on, Piper and Phoebe jumped into action. "Hey bitch", Piper called and the demon whipped around.
"Ooo witches, how unexpected," she cackled. "That's ok" and her eyes began to glow. Phoebe levetated and sent a kick right into the demon's stomach, launching her backward into the door. Quickly recovering, she flung an energy ball viciously at them. Piper and Phoebe barely dodged it, and Leo cautiously guarded the baby. The back and forth attacks went on for a while until Melinda became restless. She cried out, attracting Piper's attention. Instinctively Piper spun around to check on her baby. Taking advantage of the distraction, the demon threw Piper and Phoebe up against the wall and poised an energy ball over them. On the ground and powerless, the girls looked desperately at Leo, who was about to dash over and orb them to safety. The demon, however, intervened.
"You stay there, whitelighter. Or your precious witches will die." With the energy ball still positioned over the girls, the demon went back to aging Melinda, while Leo stood powerlessly by.
*****
"You guys, I-" Paige started as she orbed back to the hospital. She stopped though when she realized her family was not there. "What the hell?" she asked when she heard a thud inside the room. She looked in the window to see Piper and Phoebe huddled in the corner and Leo helplessly standing by Melinda. Quietly, she orbed in behind the demon. Her sisters and Leo saw her, but they didn't let on, so as not to alert the demon. When Paige had inched up so that she was just a few inches away from her she shouted "Hey blondie!" and the demon whipped around. As Paige had the element of surprise, she was able to blow the powder-potion into the gleaming scarlet eyes. The demon screamed and grabbed at her eyes, but not before she had thrown the energy ball revengefully at Paige. Paige cried out in pain and was thrown unconscious into the wall.
"Paige!" Piper yelled and ran over to her sister, along with Leo and Phoebe, who had grabbed Melinda. "Oh my god, Leo!" Piper pleaded, but Leo was already placing his hands over Paige's body.
"Why didn't it kill her?" Phoebe asked while crying and gripping Piper's hand, as Piper also cried and cradled Melinda.
"If a demon doesn't throw an energy ball soon after it's formed, then it starts to lose power", Leo explained, still healing Paige and keeping an eye on the demon. "It's lucky for Paige that it does." Suddenly, Paige woke up straining for breath.
"Oh thank god" Piper stuttered as she and Phoebe hugged Paige. Paige smiled and hugged them back, until she noticed the demon regaining her control.
"Uh guys" she pointed. "We might wanna sat the spell before the potion wears off!"
"Oh yea!" Phoebe said. She whipped out the paper again and the Power Of Three gathered around it and voiced the spell, watching as the demon screamed and exploded into flames. As this happened the floor fell out from under them, and they found themselves falling, falling, until they hit the attic floor.
"Ow" Paige mumbled as she got up and helped Phoebe off the ground. Leo also got up, but Piper just stared off and showed no intention of moving.
"Piper?" Leo asked tenderly, helping his wife stand. Phoebe grabbed Paige's hand and quietly led her from the attic, to give Piper and Leo some time alone.
"My baby," Piper uttered, a tear sliding down her cheek. "We didn't save her." Leo kissed his wife and gently took her hand and placed it on her belly.
"Yes we did", he said softly. "See. She's right here. And in a few weeks she will be in your arms, the same baby that you held last night. Only this time we won't have to worry about someone trying to take her away from us. She will be ours, forever." Piper smiled and kissed Leo, long and passionate.
"See this is why I love you", she whispered to him.
"I love you too", he whispered back. And with that the couple walked hand in hand out the attic door.
THE END
oook, so how did you guys like it?! that was the end of this fic but me and Aqua r gonna start another one soon entitled "Prehistoric Problems" so make sure u read that 1 too. and as always, PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!