Between the Black and the White

Summary: I wrote this fic during season 3, when rumors first started floating around about a possible pregnancy for Piper. A child comes into the Halliwell family who could possibly change the destiny of all magic - good and evil. How far will the Halliwells have to go to make sure that she's safe - and how far will evil go to make sure she isn't?

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone you recognise. Everyone else is mine.

A/N: Just so you know, this isn't set after any particular episode, but Cole is still Belthazar and Prue still doesn't trust him. Neither to Piper and Leo, but just like in the show, Prue's the one who really gives him a hard time. This may or may not be very relevent to the fic, but I thought I'd throw it our there just so you know what I was picturing as I was writing this.

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Victor Bennet placed his watch on the edge of the bathroom sink. It was brand-new, and he didn't want to get it wet. He'd gotten it as an early birthday present from his daughters, only fifteen minutes ago. They'd said that they hadn't wanted to wait a week to give it to him on his actual birthday. He smiled as he scrubbed his hands, thinking of the looks on their faces when he told them he loved it. What he really loved was seeing them so happy. He almost couldn't believe that they were finally a family again.

He dried his hands, and then reached for the watch, accidentally knocking it under the vanity. He bent down and reached under the sink until he felt something. He pulled it out, but instead of his watch, he found he was holding a long, white stick - a home pregnancy test. It was positive.

Unsure of what to do, he placed it on the vanity next to the sink, and reached down again for his watch. This time, he found it. He put it back on, then carefully opened the door. Leo and Cole were standing just a few feet away. He motioned for them to come over, opening the door wider so they could come in. The other two men exchanged wary glances, but went. Victor shut the door behind them.

"There's something I think you should see," Victor told them. He gestured to the sink. Leo and Cole both went over to take a look.

"My God," Cole breathed, "That's a..."

"And it's..." Leo added disbelievingly.

"Positive," Victor finished. "So neither of you knew anything about this?"

Leo and Cole both shook their heads.

"I heard someone throwing up in the bathroom this morning, and Phoebe wasn't in bed," Cole offered.

"I heard it too, and neither was Piper," Leo replied.

"So you don't know which one of you got which of my daughters knocked up," Victor concluded. "Well, I suggest you find out fast."

Leo nodded. "We should probably confront the girls."

Cole shook his head. He'd had enough trouble re-earning Phoebe's trust, and he didn't want to jeopardize it. "They'll think we've been spying on them, and whichever one is pregnant, you know she'll freak out on us."

"Not necessarily," Leo replied, secretly hoping that it was Phoebe, just in case Cole turned out to be right. "Whoever it was should have told one of us by now."

Cole sighed. Leo made a very good point, which was why he was hoping that it was Piper. If it was Phoebe, and she hadn't told him by now, he knew that meant trouble.

"Okay," Victor said. "We'd better go find out which one of you is going to be a daddy."

Leo and Cole stopped in their tracks as soon as Victor uttered that last remark. It got them both thinking. Suddenly, they were each hoping for a different outcome than the one they'd wanted a moment ago.