"No wonder you thought you had to do something," said Paige.
"Especially since no one's ever believed me," said Stanley. "I switched the pills hoping you'd have a miscarriage and just think it was an accident. When that didn't work, I drugged your tea and turned on the gas. After that failed, I didn't think I had any other choice, I got my dad's gun and came over here. The rest, you know."
"Stanley," said Phoebe, "the thing about premonitions is that they aren't always clear. Sometimes what we think they mean isn't what they mean at all."
"What else could they mean?" asked Stanley. "She kills this guy then the world ends. The only thing it could mean is that by killing him, she causes the end of the world.
"Unless you've had two different premonitions," said Leo coming in from the kitchen.
"How did your conversation with those older people go?" asked Piper.
"Fine," said Leo. "Apparently Stanley was innocently born with precognition just like Phoebe."
"I understand," said Piper.
"Only he's misunderstood them," said Leo. "Stanley, what's happened is that you seem to have had two possible premonitions of the future. One was of our daughter fighting an evil man who had powers like you described. What you saw was her defeating that man."
"What about the other one?" Stanley asked. "The one where the earth had been destroyed?"
"That's another possible future," said Leo. "What might happen if she doesn't defeat this man."
"I don't understand," said Stanley, "How could they both be true?"
"The future is always in motion," said Phoebe. "Unlike the past, everything we do changes the future. Since Piper's daughter was full-grown in your vision, it won't happen for a long time. Which means that right now either vision could come true. You only see what might happen, just as I do."
"So what now?" asked Stanley. "I tried to kill you three times. I guess you'll be calling your police friend back now."
"What you did was wrong," said Piper, "but you did it for the right reasons. If you promise never to do anything like that again, I suppose we can overlook it this time."
"Oh, I promise, I promise," said Stanley. "I've never done anything like that before and I didn't like doing it this time. I just wish I hadn't been born with this curse."
"Don't ever think that," said Phoebe. "It's not a curse. It's a wonderful gift that you can use to help other people with. Once you understand it. Come on, I'll give you a ride home and we'll talk about it"
"Okay," said Stanley.
"Stanley," said Piper, as he and Phoebe got ready to leave. "I want you to make me a promise. Promise me that if you have any more premonitions like this you'll come talk to us before you do anything."
"I promise," said Stanley. "It's nice to know there's someone I can talk to about it now. I don't feel like I'm all alone in this anymore."
"Good," said Piper. "And good luck on your test."
"Thanks," he said.
He and Phoebe went out to the car so Phoebe could take him home.
