Phoebe

I popped the oven open and took out the sheet of chocolate chip cookies. They were perfect. Immediately I put in the peanut butter cookies. I glanced at the clock. It was almost one o'clock… in the morning. I had been unable to sleep. I had been having weird dreams involving a green midget. I guessed that it was a side effect of being pregnant. The need to make ninety cookies was probably another side effect.

I sat down with a crossword puzzle. "Moose's cousin. Elk." I had never really like crosswords before, but they were a good source of entertainment now that I was on maternity leave. Maternity leave. I could still kick those dark wizards' asses. Oh well. "Hello, Chris," I said without looking up. I could always sense when a certain person entered the room. Each person had a particular feel. Even though I couldn't feel what Chris was feeling, I could still sense him. "Couldn't sleep?"

"No. I was thinking about the future."

"Ah. I'm guessing that you can't tell me what you were thinking about."

"No, I can't," he said.

"Well, can you give me a vague idea?"

"It had to do with Melinda," Chris said.

"Melinda? As in Piper's daughter?"

"Yes."

"What about her? Oh, right. You can't reveal anything. So what will I name my son? Me knowing that can't screw up things," I said.

"Nicolas Anthony Halliwell."

"Hmm… I like that. Well, that saves some time. Here, have a cookie."

He looked around, eyeing the dozens of cookies.

"Yeah, an urge to cook."

"How many dozens of cookies do you have?"

"Um… Around five dozen, give or take a few."

"I see…"

"So Chris, what was your mother like?"

"Oh, uh…"

"Is this another I-can't-tell-you-without-messing-up-the-future thing?"

"Yes."

"So I must know her. Hmm… Don't tell me you're related to us."

"I'm not." There was no hesitation, but it wasn't hasty answer either. As far as I could tell, he wasn't lying.

"I've been wondering why Melinda wouldn't come back. After all, she will have the power to jump through time. But I won't ask. Everything has to be shrouded in secrecy." I nibbled on a cookie. "I'm assuming that you went to Hogwarts. Am I right?"

"Yeah," he said. "Melinda was in the same year as me."

"Aha. So you're going to be born sometime next year. Don't worry. I won't search everywhere to find a woman pregnant with a half whitelighter. Although, I might get bored enough…" I smiled. He knew that I was joking. "You must know my son."

"Yeah, I do."

I could see that he didn't want to talk about him. That made me curious, but I couldn't ask. "I—" A premonition hit me. My sisters and I were all in Morrigan form. We joined hands, and a white light appeared. It was so pure…

"Phoebe?"

I was brought back to reality. "Premonition."

"What did you see?"

"Just my sisters and I in Morrigan form. I don't think it means anything. Our powers always get messed up when we get pregnant. Piper got the pink flowers last time. This time, it's time jumps."

"Pink flowers?"

"Yeah. Wyatt replaced her molecular combustion with flowers."

"Ah."

The last batch of cookies finished. I got them out. "Well, it's late. I'd better turn in before Sirius wakes up and lectures me."

"Sirius lectures?" Chris said with a small laugh.

"Yeah. Now that he's a whitelighter, he feels that he has a duty to act responsible. Did you know him in the future?"

"Yeah. We were both a part of the resistance."

Once again, I could tell that he didn't want to reveal any more information. "Well, you should get some sleep too."

I went upstairs and sat down on the bed. Another premonition hit me, but this time, I only saw Chris's face. "Odd," I muttered and got under the covers.

"Whoa!" I heard Piper say. She was in the kitchen. I was walking down the stairs. "Someone went cookie crazy last night."

"That would be me," I said. "I was having weird dreams."

"So you whipped up a million cookies?"

"Basically."

"You know, this is a torture."

"Why?"

"I don't want to pig out on cookies."

"Oh Piper, live a little. We're pregnant. We're allowed a little indulgence. It's one of the perks."

An owl delivered the paper.

"Hey Phoebe, you're in the newspaper today. They're praising you for all that you've done for the Ministry."

"Yeah, I'm in the tabloids too," I muttered.

"What?"

I handed her Witch Weekly.

"Phoebe Halliwell: sexy seductress. Well, this looks interesting."

"It gets better. Read on."

"Phoebe Halliwell, one of the infamous Charmed Sisters, has been married for only a few months, but she has already proven her inability to commit herself to one man, for one man is not enough for her. While the identity of her husband is unknown, it is known that she has had several fights with him. Many, if not all, of those fights have ended with Phoebe spending the night with another man.

"Phoebe has always been known for her promiscuity. She was once married to the Source of All Evil and nearly bore his heir. New information shows that she recently attended a date auction where she picked up several men. She even once promoted multiple sex partners in her muggle column, Ask Phoebe. She is now pregnant, but we cannot be sure who the father is. Oh, they even have a picture of you when you were the goddess of love. Why are they getting on your case?"'

"Our case, actually." I handed her another tabloid.

"The Halliwell Sisters: Charmed and dangerous. Now that's creative," Piper dryly said.

"Just wait until you read what they wrote."

"Must I?"

"It's quite amusing."

"The Charmed Ones are known by all people everywhere. They are seen as heroes, but is that really what they are? Our sources reveal that they may not be as good as they claim. To find evidence of this, simply look at their powers. Paige Matthews has the ability to erase memories. No spell can undo her power. There's no telling what she may have done. Piper Halliwell's power is also full of potential for evil. She is able to freeze anyone. She can get into any place, no matter how well it's protected.

"An objective look at the sisters' past also reveals some interesting things. Phoebe Halliwell was once the Queen of the Underworld. She had the powers of evil. Before that, she aided in the escape of many demons. Piper Halliwell too has been touched by evil. She has been involved with countless demons and warlocks. Prue Halliwell has betrayed her sisters before, and she may do it again. Paige Halliwell had her own group of demons. She even once posed as a demon. After sixteen years away from the magical world, these four women are back on the scene. Can we really trust them? All those with an ounce of sense know that the answer is no."

"I should make everyone call me Queen Phoebe," I said. "Then I'll take on Morrigan's form and make a public appearance."

"Sounds like a good time to me."

Paige and Prue walked in. "What's up with all the cookies?"

"I had an urge to cook."

"Oh."

"I have this morning's entertainment." I showed them the wonderful tabloids.

"So what do you think?" I asked.

"Pull!"

I threw it up into the air. Paige set it on fire. The ashes fell to the ground and she healed them.

"Pull!"

This time, I shredded it.

"Pull!"

Prue liquefied it.

"Pull!"

Piper tried to blow it up. Instead of it blowing up, small pink flowers appeared. "Oh no! Not the flowers!" she groaned. "Why is it that my children must turn my powers into something prettier?"

"It's what they do. Well, that was fun. Prue, if you'll do the final honors."

She did so gladly. "How did you end up with that junk anyways?"

"Someone sent it to me," I said.

"One of our many enemies?"

"Probably. Maybe it was Blanca Davis."

"Ugh, don't even mention her name," Paige said. "She was the worst Slytherin ever."

"Yeah. I'll never forget the time she knocked you out."

"Neither will I. You think she could have at least picked a better time."

"Oh no," Piper said.

"What?"

"The baby's kicking." She desperately tried to freeze time, but she could only produce pink flowers.

The room spun around us. An eternity passed before it stopped. When it did, we were in the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Piper hastily turned us invisible.

"Where's Piper?"

I recognized that voice. It was mine.

"I don't know. I haven't seen her all day. Ahh!" That was Paige. She had screamed because a crazy owl was flying around the Hall. "What the heck is wrong with that owl?" It flew out of the hall. "Well, at least it's gone."

"That was you, wasn't it?" I whispered to Piper. We were lucky that no one could hear us. The Hall was too crowded.

"Yes. I got stuck in owl form."

"Wait. Here it comes," Paige said.

"Look, I don't know what your problem is, Blanca, but I'm not fighting you," past Paige said.

Blanca didn't say anything. She just punched Paige, knocking her out. Teachers swooped down on her.

All hell broke loose at that point. A demon appeared, a powerful one with a bad attitude.

"Damn!" past me swore, jumping out of the way as the demon hurled a fireball at her. "Blanca, you idiot!" She ran over to the demon, avoiding its various attacks. "Come on!" She levitated into the air, kicking the demon in the face. She remained in the air, kicking the crap out of the demon. "Not so tough, are you?" She landed and kicked the demon off its feet. "Bzap!" It was a sound effect that I used to like to add to the dsamni spell. As soon as that demon was gone, another popped up.

"Whoo!" She did a complicated levitating twirl and punched the demon a few times. "I can feel the hate. Now give me that energy ball." She channeled his power and turned the ball on him. "Regenerative, eh? Just adds to the fun!" She flipped him over. "And now… tolma!" She caught her breath and turned to the crowd. "Now that's what call a work out." It was a performance that deserved a standing ovation. And she got it. "Thank you, thank you."

The room spun around us again. Moments later, we landed. We were still in the Great Hall, but it was two years before the last incident.

"Phoebe! Pheebs, are you all right?" Piper was shaking the past me.

"Prongs!" I heard Sirius saying.

"Uh oh." I knew this scene.

James and the past me awoke.

"Did you just call me Phoebe?"James-in-my-bodyasked Piper.

"Of course I did," Piper said. "What happened to you?"

"I—hold it. What's wrong with my voice?"

We watched as James looked down at his body, which turned out to be my body.

"Holy shit!" James and the past me screamed.

The two jumped around and looked at each other. "You stole my body!"

"I did not!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Prue said. "Wait just a minute. What's wrong with you two?"

"I'm in Phoebe's body!" James said.

"And I'm in James's body. This sucks!"

"Are you serious?" Prue asked.

"Yes!"

"This is kind of funny," I said to my sisters.

"It was funny then, too," Paige responded.

"Maybe for you. It was horrible then."

"Okay, we need to get back to our time," Piper said. "Paige has to go pick up Harry."

A few moments later, we were back in the kitchen. "Is this how your baby is going to be throughout the entire pregnancy?"

"God, I really hope not. Paige, you should get to Hogwarts now."

"I'm on it." She orbed out.

"Morning!" The boys walked in. "Cookies?"

"Don't ask," we all said.

It took Paige a while to get back. "Hermione reminds me a lot of you, Piper."

"Is that what kept you?"

"Yeah."

Suddenly, I was overcome by emotion. "Oh, I had the freakiest dream. It involved you and Voldemort. But there was a green midget in the corner, and Piper was purple, so I don't think it was a premonition, but I was so worried. I'm just so glad to see that you're safe." I started to cry.

Harry looked to Sirius.

"Don't worry," Sirius said. "She's just going crazy."

I stuck out my tongue at him. "I am not crazy!"

"You keep telling yourself that."

"I will bite you, Sirius Black."

"Not in front of everyone," he replied.

"Oh you! You're going to scar Harry."

"He's been with you most of the summer. The damage has already been done."

"Well—" He cut my words short by kissing me. "Cheater," I pouted.

"You know you love it."

My empathy tingled within me. I recognized the feeling, and I knew who was feeling it. I didn't quite understand, though.

"We went back into the past today…"

Paige

I breathed in deeply and went into the proud warrior pose. Prue liked meditation. I liked yoga. Celtic music played in the background. It was relaxing, but I couldn't relax. Too many things were bothering me.

Maybe I shouldn't have given up on Richard. No, I had to. He was going crazy with magic. He was hurting me.

Just like Cole.

I sighed heavily. I had told myself that I wouldn't think of him, but my thoughts always led back to him.

A short fling doesn't mean anything. We were young. We didn't understand love. When Phoebe had gotten involved with Cole, I had watched. My heart had broken every single time I saw them holding each other. I had hated them. I had wanted to hurt them. I wanted them to hurt like I had hurt. He didn't remember me. If he did, he didn't act like it. That's what hurt most.

But Cole was dead. He was gone forever.

Glen. He's another heartbreaker. I fell in love with him and he got married. That seems to be my luck. I always fall for the guys who are taken. Married, engaged, married with kids… I always fall for them. And I always end up getting hurt. I don't think there's a guy out there for me. Maybe I should just give up now.

It wasn't like me to give up. I was a Halliwell, and that meant that I didn't go down without a fight. My whole life has been a fight. Maybe this is the part where I go down. Maybe this is where I take my fall. There's something to think about. Really puts me in the Christmas spirit, especially since I'm surrounded by people who are in love. Great.

I took in another deep breath, then went downstairs.

"Premonition! I had a premonition. A demon should be coming in around three minutes," Phoebe announced.

"Which one?"

"Nothing serious. A low level one."

"So why'd you get a premonition?"

"The baby," Phoebe said. "He keeps giving me premonitions."

"Ah."

The demon appeared. "Looks like he's early. Furos!"

The demon imploded. "Where is everyone?" I asked.

"Harry and Chris are sleeping in, Grams and Sirius are still up there, Piper and Remus had to go to work early, and Prue is unaccounted for."

"What do you mean?" I urgently asked. "Is she all right?"

"Calm," Phoebe said. "She's not exactly unaccounted for, if you catch my drift."

"Oh." Another reminder of my failure at love.

"Hey, what's up with this depressed feeling?"

Empaths… Can't live with them, can't live without them. "I've just been doing some thinking."

"About guys?"

"Yes. I've decided that I'm giving up."

"Giving up?"

"Yeah. Love is really not working out for me."

Phoebe stared at me with a suspicious look on her face. "Who are you and what have you done with Paige?"

"You act like I'm not acting like myself."

"Because you aren't. You're turning into a cynic."

"Look, I just don't believe that I'm going to find my soul mate," I said. "I figure that it'd be easier to just give up now and devote myself to fighting evil."

"You're turning into Grams."

"I am not. My original destiny was to die at the hands of the Titans. Now that I have a second chance, I think that I should make a difference."

"Still, you can't give up on love."

"I'm tired of getting hurt," I said.

"But what if your true love is waiting for you?"

"Then he'll either have to keep waiting or he'll have to come find me. I was meant for a greater thing. I'm sure of it."

"You know, I could try a premonition…"

"You're relentless, aren't you?"

"Yes," said Phoebe.

"I'm going to work."

"Hey, you're gloating!"

"Yes, I am."

"Meanie!" she called after me as I orbed out.

"Big news!" Phoebe said.

"I'm really not in the mood for big news." I sat down. I had had a hard day. Muggles really knew how to bug me.

"Too bad. Harry found his second power."

"Really?" I perked up.

"He can freeze things."

"Ah. Would that have to do with this stuff?" I motioned towards the white writing. "You used the show me spell again, didn't you?"

"Yes. It worked the last time I used it. It revealed everything then, and it did it again."

"You found out his powers?" I asked, surprised.

"Yup. Would you like to know?"

"Of course."

"He is telekinetic," Phoebe told me.

"Always useful."

"And he can orb."

"He can orb?" Of all the powers, I had definitely not expected that. "How is that possible?"

"You were involved in the spell. It's because of you."

"Interesting." I looked at her. She seemed… tense. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Sure. Come on. Tell me. You got to analyze me."

"It's just… well, could you do me a favor? You're a people person."

"No. Whatever it is, no," I said. "You're a people person too. You can take care of whatever it is."

"I guess…."

"Are you going to give me any details?"

"Nah. I'll take care of it."

I could tell that it was really bothering her. "You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Paige! Ah have nawt seen ya in such a while," Emma said with a heavy southern accent. She was the owner of a magical pawnshop.

"Hey, Em. Got anything good?" I asked, idly looking at the various things dotting the shelves.

"As a matter of fact, ah do." She led me to the other room. "What do ya think?"

I saw it and fell in love. "It's… it's beautiful." I went up to it and ran my hand along the smooth wood. It was a large grandfather clock. "I'll take it. There are no hidden quirks, right?"

"Other than the fact tha' it runs on magic, it's normal."

"Then it's coming home with me."

"Ah like ya Paige. Never indecisive."

I smiled. I knew that Piper would have a fit. She had almost gone insane when I had started my obsession with pawnshops. She would just love the fact that I was addicted again.

I was setting up the clock when Piper came in. I continued, pretending that she wasn't there. I could feel her annoyance growing because of that fact.

"Paige?" I could hear the warning in her voice.

"Yes?" I asked innocently.

"What the heck is this?" Piper questioned, eyeing the clock as if it were an invader.

"My new baby," I said, patting the wood. "It's a grandfather clock. Isn't it beautiful?"

"No. It's hideous."

"Okay, so it's not as pretty as some other clocks, but this has charm. I love it."

"Paige, did you get it from a magical pawnshop?"

"No, of course not. I stopped doing that a while ago."

She frowned at me.

"Maybe. Yes."

"Paige, you know that those shops are bad news. First of all, they're technically not supposed to exist. Second, there's always some little quirk. Do you know what the quirk is?"

"It doesn't have a power source. It always updates itself. That's the only thing that's magical about it."

"You know, I was rather expecting that you would get a dog or something," Piper said.

I sighed heavily. "Have you been talking to Phoebe?"

"Yes. I agree with her. You shouldn't give up on love."

I rolled my eyes and turned back to the clock. The small door to it was open, and inside I could see something. I pulled the thing out. "Hey, there's a set of tarot cards in here."

"Get rid of those," Piper urged.

"Aren't you overreacting? They're just cards."

"You know that they could be dangerous. Get rid of them."

I rolled my eyes again. "We're talking about cards, not demons. Here, I'll do a spread for you."

"I'm not touching them," she said stiffly.

"Fine. I'll deal." I shuffled and laid out the cards. "The empress. That's definitely you." I flipped over the next card. "You're being influenced by the hermit."

"That would be you."

"Why thank you," I said dryly. "Your goal is the sun. Past foundation… strength. Recent past events… the moon?" This was an odd reading. "Future influence… justice. Attitude… The high priestess. Well, I suppose that's right. Environment… Now this has to be wrong. The eight of swords? Hidden emotions… knight of swords. Final result… the magician. See what happens when you don't shuffle the cards yourself? This is all wrong." I gathered the cards up. Two cards fell out: the tower and the ace of swords.

"This is a sign. You need to get rid of those cards," Piper said.

"I'll do it in the morning." I hated to admit it, but the cards gave me the creeps. They're just cards.

Out of nowhere, thunder started to rumble through the sky.

"Hold it. Why is there a storm?"

"There isn't a storm. It's not raining or snowing."

I went over to the window. As I watched, a bolt of lightning hit the roof. I screamed, expecting that the roof would catch on fire, but it didn't. A huge crown fell down to the ground. I gaped at it. "Piper! Something is going on."