Chapter Twenty-Four

"She's at the house," Cole blurted out before he'd even finished materializing into Phoebe's bedroom.

"Cole," Paige gasped in surprise. "What house?" she quickly added as she dropped the crystal on the map.

"Ours," he answered before he clarified, "the new one. Where's Leo?"

"A charge called for him," Piper replied with disappointment. "But we've got a pile of things ready for Phoebe. How's she holding up?"

"She's already started pushing," Cole told them. "You'd better get Ava," he indicated to Paige. "We don't have time to wait for Leo."

"What's the matter, Cole?" Paige teased in a baby voice. "Not demon enough to deal with a Halliwell in labor?"

"I missed," Piper retorted with a glare to her youngest sister.

"Only because of his good orbing reflexes," Paige countered.

He wasn't interested in their bantering and Cole sharply said, "Something's wrong. You've got to hurry."

Paige suddenly realized how pale and somber he was and she reached out to touch his arm. "I'm sorry," she sincerely apologized, "I didn't --"

Cole cut her off and anxiously requested, "Just get Ava and get there."

"Take a deep breath," Piper patiently advised him, "and tell us what's wrong with Phoebe."

"The vanquish was successful, right?" he questioned instead. "There's no chance Hasoaf is still going to attack?"

"I told you before, he's gone for good," Paige replied after a quick glance to her sister. "Why? Did some demon find Phoebe?"

"No, the shields are up. That's why you couldn't track her. But Phoebe's scared that something's going to happen," he answered as he ran a hand through his hair in frustration, "something bad. I think she had a premonition but she won't tell me."

"She's probably just scared about the delivery which's perfectly normal," Piper suggested. "I remember how terrified and out-of-control I felt. Phoebe's probably feeling the same way. All you need to do is be there for her. Hold her hand and encourage her. You'll get her through this."

Cole shook his head. "She's keeping something from me, I know it."

"Well, we're not going to let anything happen to her or the baby," Piper assured him. "Here, take that pile of towels and blankets. Paige, we'll be at the house."

"But what about --" Cole began.

"You won't do Phoebe any good if you're a nervous wreck," Piper insisted. "Take a deep breath and let's go. We'll get her through this, Cole, I promise." Just as she grabbed his arm, she saw the familiar blue and white sparkles and called out to her sister, "Tell Leo to get Ava while you meet us there."

"Okay," Paige answered but Cole and Piper had already disappeared. She waited for the sparkles to solidify and was surprised by the Whitelighter that appeared. "SamVictor, what happened to you?"

"Minor difference of opinion," he replied as he carefully licked his split lip.

Paige shook her head in disappointment, "You have to get past this."

"It's not that easy," Victor chastised, "and you know it, Paige."

"Where is everyone?" Sam inquired with a glare to Victor. "We'd gone to the attic to replace the Book of Shadows before I finally sensed you down here."

"How's Phoebe?" Victor wondered as he set down the baby carrier on the bed. He eyed the sleeping baby and gave a soft smile to her before he turned back to Paige, "Sam said she was in labor. Is she at the hospital?"

Paige shook her head and, before Victor could ask, she quickly announced, "Long story short, the baby shimmered her to the new house and she's already started pushing. Cole just took Piper there and I've got to get Ava because Leo isn't here to --"

"Where the hell is he?" Victor angrily asked. "Phoebe needs him!"

"A charge called for his help before and, since we couldn't find Phoebe, he had to go," she reasoned. "Look, no time to defend him, I gotta go. Sam, can you bring Victor to her house? He knows where it is." And, without waiting for an answer, she orbed from the room.

"I didn't know Phoebe was moving," Sam commented. "Are you ready or do --"

"I'll take Piper's car and get us there myself," Victor answered icily.

Sam looked a little puzzled, "But I could get you there instantly."

Mindful of the sleeping baby, Victor gritted his teeth and said, "I am grateful for what you did today. Really. I'm thankful for your entire role in this nightmare. My daughters might've died if not for you. Along with Paige. Even Cole and Leo. But you don't belong there. This is my family and --"

"Paige is my daughter," Sam interrupted.

"And Phoebe is mine," Victor snapped before he took a deep breath. "It's my grandchild," he tried to calmly explain, "and it has nothing to do with Paige." He considered Sam's pained look and added in a quieter tone, "Paige is a great girl and seems to have found her place with her sisters. And I'm happy about that. And maybe I still need to make more adjustments concerning this new familyI know that I'm the last person to want to stop you from developing a relationship with your grown daughter but now isn't the time. I'm asking you, let them be."

"Are you sure you can manage?" Sam finally asked as he glanced at Melinda.

With a nod, Victor assured him, "The house is barely fifteen minutes from here."

Sam silently nodded and orbed from the room.

Victor adjusted Melinda's hat and lightly kissed the top of her head. The baby wrinkled her nose but didn't waken. He smiled and lifted her carrier from the bed. As he left the room, he softly told her, "C'mon, kiddo, let's get to your Auntie Phoebe and wait for your cousin to arrive."

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