A/N: piperleo4eva, Gomay, PruedenceHalliwell and Sci-Fi Gillian: Thanks so much! PrueAndyForever: Natalie was following the Elder's orders to test Paige, but for the record, Natalie will always be a stickler for the rules with a few twists in between. I just can't help it, I enjoy the character. CC: Not to worry, Shaylee will appear again, in the future. wyatt333: Thanks for commenting as for the babies I don't want to give anything away. PrUe AnD AnDy!: Yep, Paige and Andy (Natalie too) are the only ones who know everything. Time restarted, after they astral projected with Ally back to the Pub. CuteLittleBritt and ka-mia2286: Thanks again! Glad you are enjoying the story! Zythe, I posted mine now where's yours? Hee-Hee Princess Pinky: your reviews just inspire me all the more! I think I answered your question about Melinda's powers down below.
Here's my explanation of Ally and Melinda's future powers
Ally's Powers: Astral projecting through time. As a child, Ally will need the assistance of an adult who can orb or astral project in order to move through time. This is a protective safe-guard established by the elders to prevent potential disaster that could be caused by changing history.
Melinda's Powers: Molecular Kinesis: the ability to change the molecular structure of objects and living beings: A variation of Piper's powers of temporal stasis, and molecular combustion, Melinda will be able to form ice, fire, and pure energy balls. She can also turn solid objects into ice or liquid with the touch of her hand to regenerate energy.
This part takes place 3 months into the future. Prue is eight months pregnant and is still confined to bed rest per Ava's orders. Piper is about three and a half months along enjoying a healthy but turbulent pregnancy. (Paige presented Piper with Melinda's lantern after warlock attacked the manor per the storyline of chapter 22). Phoebe is still at odds with Grams and Prue over her desire to marry Cole. Paige is still eager to learn her craft, but is a little skittish after the Elder's lead her to Shaylee, the demonic child of the Source. Leo is busy helping Andy adjust to a new power.
Charmed in the Afterlife: Halliwell's in Waiting"Paige can you hurry up with my yogurt and twizzlers!!" Prue reclined lazily on the couch, flipping through the latest addition of 415 magazine.
"Ugh, how can you even think of eating!" Piper groaned from where she lay miserably on the adjacent sofa. A bucket sat her on the floor just beneath her head. "I hate that rotten Eve for taking a bite out of that apple!" She moaned feeling a sickening lump form in the back of her throat. "bleh!" Three months of morning sickness had begun to take its toll on the witch.
"What doesn't kill us makes us stronger," Prue peeped in a perky tone as Paige entered the room carrying a breakfast tray filled with a large box of red twizzler's and container of blueberry yogurt.
"Twizzlers, tea and a clean bucket for Piper coming right up" Paige sat the tray on the coffee and reached for the bucket when Piper lifted her head from the void and placed it back on the pillow.
"I think I want to die. Are you sure this normal?"
"Perfectly" Prue reached for a twizzler and dunked it into her yogurt.
Piper rolled and faced the back of the couch holding her stomach, "why couldn't Paige's gift include something to accelerate the process?"
"Because then you'd miss out on the joy real joy of motherhood," Prue grinned, "but just be thankful that you aren't reliving history through your babies power to project through time"
"Where did you go this time?" Paige asked setting a clean bucket at Piper's feet.
"The fall of Rome" Prue droned as Paige sank to the edge of the couch.
"I thought Leo said the Elders were putting a cap on the baby's power so that she couldn't do that"
"After she's born, but for the time being she keeps tapping into me and it's driving me insane!"
Paige gently touched Piper's shoulder, "here honey, sit up and try to drink something, it might make you feel better".
"It'll probably just come back up, "Piper moaned, pushing herself to seated position, "what is it?"
"Flat Sprite, with a hint of ginger," Paige answered, "Ginger is supposed to be soothing to the stomach".
Piper took the glass into her hands and then screamed as she pushed it her lips. The glass and it's contents suddenly turned to liquid spilling the tea into her lap. "How in the hell did that happen?"
Paige naturally reached for the stack of napkin's she'd brought for Prue and then began to blot the mess. "Maybe there's something wrong with your powers"
"Or somebody else is testing hers" Prue added with a naughty grin.
"Please don't' mention the word test, I'm still trying to recover from the last one" Paige tossed the soiled napkins back onto the tray. It had been three months since she'd vanquished Shaylee and saved her sisters. Reluctant, Paige had yet to return to the dimension of the lost to seek out her next charge.
"I still can't believe, I mistakenly chose a demon that nearly killed us. What's worse is I can't believe the Elder's let me."
Prue reached across the table grabbing Paige's hand. "The important thing is that you saved us, if it hadn't been for you, Piper and I would never have been blessed with children. The Elders were testing you and you won"
"So why don't I feel like Super Witch?"
"Because you're human. Our first year as witches, the Elder's just left us hanging, with no guidance and when Andy died, I wanted to quit"
"Me too," Piper admitted but uh speaking of Andy, he and Leo left very early this morning, what are they up too?"
Prue pulled the corner of her lips to one side scrunching her face, "I don't know. LEO!"
White Lighter Area
Leo! Prue's voice echoed, reaching the white lighter's ears. Leo's brow furrowed, "Prue's calling, I have to go"
"Then go" Natalie stood over an unconscious Andy, watching his vital signs intently. Andy was lying on a large marble slab with an iron mask covering his face. Red laser like pins were projecting out from beneath the mask, forming a radiant glow.
"I can't leave now" Leo protested, "we're not finished. Natalie rolled her eyes upward just a hint, still keeping her attention focused on Andy.
"Leo your charge needs you. I'll take care of things here"
Leo gave the other white lighter a murderous look and then orbed out to Prue.
Manor
Prue was still on the couch with Piper and Paige when Leo orbed into the living room.
"What's wrong?"
Piper looked at her husband with a doubtful, grin, " Why don't you tell us. Where have you been?"
"And where is Andy?" Prue chimed in before Leo had a chance to answer.
Leo rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "He's unavailable at the moment," he said slowly. "The Elder's are refining his powers"
"Refining his powers?" Prue repeated with a heated squinted.
"I've been working on the process all morning"
"Process? What process?" Piper put in, "you make sound like he's having surgery or something"
"Well that's because it is, but don't worry Natalie is with him, she's overseeing everything"
Piper's eyes widened, "I know I just didn't hear you correctly, did you say you left him with Natalie?"
At that moment, Prue's face turned blood red, "I want to go up there now!" She blistered pulling to her feet.
"You can't" Leo returned sternly, "But I can promise you he's perfectly safe-"
"Perfectly safe? Leo last time Natalie persuaded the Elder's to let her work on him she erased his memory!"
"That's not going to happen this time Prue you have my word. I'll return Andy safe and sound, just the same as he left"
"Not counting whatever change you're making in hispowers" Piper lifted an eyebrow, while Paige's brow furrowed.
"Why don't his powers just grow like ours?"
"Because Andy's powers don't work like yours, you and your sisters inherited your powers through birth, so naturally they grow as you become more skilled at the craft. Tracer's like Andy are mortal at birth. Until Amanda was born, their powers were solely controlled by the Elder's."
"Well something has to be genetic, otherwise Amanda wouldn't have inherited Andy's powers"
"All of Andy's will eventually become part of his genetic make up, but they have to be implanted first."
Prue ran a hand through her raven colored locks, "Leo what kind of power are you giving him?"
"I'm not at liberty to say until it's been tested," Leo said. "It's a security risk"
Paige leaned over to Piper whispering softly, "uh oh, he's starting to sound like Natalie"
"Don't you even think that!" Piper swatted, smacking Paige on her upper arm. "Bite your tongue right now!"
"Will you at least keep me updated?" Prue asked sinking back to the couch. Leo smiled at his sister in-law, "I promise to check in everything twelve hours" He gave her shoulder a squeeze, "but Prue you have nothing to worry about, I promise"
Silence loomed for several moments creating a wall of tension. "A new power that has to be a good thing, right?" Paige hinted, earning Prue's eye.
"Not when it involves Natalie," Prue again rose to her feet and started for the attic with Paige following.
"Honey, everything will okay, you'll see Natalie's not really that bad"
Piper stayed on the couch, crossing her arms over her stomach, "so is everything really going to be okay? Because you know Prue will absolutely go ballistic, if Natalie removes even one hair off of Andy's head. She doesn't need this right now, Leo and neither do I".
Leo watched worried as Piper's eyes closed waiting for a wave of intense nausea to pass.
"Oh..No..not a-". Leo's face grimaced as Piper heaved violently into the bucket. A few moments later she sat up, shaking.
"I swear Leo I don't know how I'm supposed to gain any weight with this pregnancy when I can't keep anything down. I feel like I want to die!"
"You're not going to die, Piper," Leo replied sinking beside her, "Morning sickness just goes with the territory"
Morning sickness? In case you haven't noticed, it's morning, noon and night!"
"Maybe Ava can give you something" Leo helped her to her feet, and wrapped his arms around her. Tenderly he swept a kiss to her forehead, "I need to get back to Andy"
"Is there a reason you don't want to kiss my lips?" Piper challenged watching his face change. "It's okay, I wouldn't want to kiss me either right now"
"Piper, I can kiss you anytime"
"You really do love me don't you?" Piper teased placing her hands on either side of his face. The couple leaned into kiss, oblivious to the white glow that was generating from Piper's hands. Their lips, had barely touched when suddenly, Leo changed into nothing but a puddle of water.
"Leo?" Piper looked down shocked at the puddle at her feet and started to scream "LEO!"