Yo! I'm in a very good mood today! Your reviews were simply spectacular! Thanks so much!
Prince Halliwell- Don't worry, Melly-Jay is in this chapter! I love seers too! But I always really liked the one who helped Cole! She was just pure evil. I loved the ominous feel she gave the show! Lol! And yeah, Paul got away with it. He's a smart guy! Lol! Thanks for the review!
Passions- No, I'm not shy! Lol! Thanks for the review! When you said your hair would turn grey I had this weird image of Barbus attacking a witch! Lol!
.elementbabe- Thanks for the review! It's always nice to get new reviewers! And I'm also glad you like Mark! I'm so proud of that character!
Money makes me smile- I have to wait until next week to watch the 150 episode! Unfair! Lol! Thanks for the review!
BlueOrbs998- does happy dance Thanks! Your reviews always rock! You actually won't have to wait too long to find out all about the third child. (Chapter 22 or 23) I'm glad you like my fic so much:D grins inanely
Cutleryismyfriend- Thanks for the review! I'm angry at your Microsoft word too! Lol! Hope you get the chapter finished soon, I'll send my army of flying monkeys to help!
Powerof4- I sing jazz music and we speak English in Scotland! Lol! Just a different dialect in some places! You oppose Paige having a boy? If she doesn't have a boy then who will carry the Nauctater gene from Mark? I promise you won't be disappointed with the character! Lol!
Phiona- Not many people seem to be bothered by the lack of Phoebe! …I wonder why? Note sarcasm Lol! Thanks for the review!
Jenna Sabina- Two and half hours? Dude! I'm glad I cold keep your attention for that long! Lol! Thanks for the review!
Peanut2lb- Thanks for the review! Yes, another boy is going to join the mix. Everyone finally picked up on my hints! Lol!
Charmed1s-Halliwells- Thanks for the review!
Kendallpaigecharity- Thanks for the review!
Silver-Star-0- Thanks for the review! I think this fic will last up to chapter 27, but that's only a guess. In the series I'm planning four stories, but there may be five. And you are about to learn a lesson: (Teehee) Never ask Laur why she doesn't like Phoebe! I'll give you the cliff-notes version because if I don't my rant will be as long as the fic! The whole of season4 was dedicated to her, as was most of season5 and I was quite frankly sick of her baby voice and naivety by the end of Season3! Lol!
I've divided this chapter into two parts because it was really long by the time I'd finished and also because I don't know if I'll have time during the week to write my next chapter. It's basically just a fun chapter before some really dark material! The first part is mainly fluff, but the next is a little more dramatic. I've had so much fun writing it! Lol! There are a few references to 'The Wizard of Oz' so if you haven't seen it you might not pick up on them, but I'm sure you'll understand anyway! Enjoy… my pretties!
Chapter20-Crappy Halloween
Twas the night before Halloween and all through the house, not a creature was stirring… except of course the cloaked demon, which was slowly making his way through all of the bedrooms in the Halliwell Manor. The demon, know as Chimerak, removed a clawed hand from his pocket, hidden on the inside of his deep violet cloak, and ran a blood red talon across his pale, and skeletal cheekbone in contemplation. A small smirk twitched at his lean, barely visible lips as he waved his other hand over the top of the small cowboy outfit, which was laid neatly over the back of a little boy's bedroom chair. It had almost been a surprise to Chimerak that such a well-respected Wiccan family as the Halliwell-Wyatts had bought into the tradition of ludicrous costumes and artificial paranormal publicity. However, the ridiculous costumes he had discovered in each of the bedrooms were definitely going to make the following evening fun, and the Halliwell-Wyatts would regret even considering wearing the foolish outfits. He finished his short chant, which he had said in a foreign tongue, and took a look at the outfit he had just cursed. Of all the Halliwell-Wyatts' costumes, this would be the most fun. He drifted off into thought of what damage he was going to have caused the next night and silently shimmered out, leaving only his putrid scent behind him. If all went according to plan, the Nexus would be his.
Lying in his small bed, buried in his 'Power Rangers' bed covers, Andy let out a small whimper. A very bad feeling in the pit of his stomach had suddenly disturbed his restful sleep, almost as if an evil presence was lurking in his bedroom. "Hello?" He mumbled, removing his thumb from his mouth and fishing around for his stuffed bear. As soon as the sandy coloured toy was in his grasp, he felt slightly more protected, but still peeked out from under his covers to double check. The light shining from the streetlights outside was casting shadows, of all shapes and forms, across his bedroom and the two and a half year old did not like it. His green eyes brimmed with scared tears and he slid quickly out of bed. He clutched 'Mr Curly' tightly in his right hand, whilst he placed his left thumb back into his mouth and made a quick dash across his darkened bedroom, trying to ignore the putrid stench that lingered in the air beside his chair. He pulled the door open and, as fast as his little legs could carry him, toddled towards his sister's bedroom. If anyone could protect him, Prue could.
Prue sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes so that she could make out who had just opened her bedroom door. She still half expected to see Laura returning from the bathroom, but when she saw her little brother, she quickly remembered the Andersons had moved months ago. Her sadness towards missing her best friend was soon quashed when she saw the worried expression spread on Andy's face and she shot out of bed towards him, screwing up her face when she smelled the horrible reek loitering beside her wardrobe.
"Whatsa matter?" She whispered, placing her hands protectively on her little brother's shoulders and raising an enquiring eyebrow.
"I'm aflaid…" He replied, feeling slightly better now that Prue was with him. As she pulled him into a hug, his tensed muscles relaxed, but his heart was still pumping vigorously.
"What of?" Prue asked, deeply concerned for her brother.
"Monstas." Andy told her timidly, "…and demons…"
"Okay," Prue began to wonder if her brother had been having a nightmare, but being the protective big sister that she was, led him to her bed and smiled. "I'll keep you safe." She said, climbing in next to him and not resting her head on the pillow until he was fast asleep. "Night night Andy."
xxxxx
Piper awoke early the next morning to find Leo's gorgeous green eyes gazing at her. He had a distant smile on his face and when he realised she had awoken, it grew even wider. The night of passion they had shared had been wonderful, but as Piper moved forward to draw her husband into another passionate kiss, she quickly jerked her head back in disgust.
"What the heck is that smell?" She asked, bringing a hand to her face.
"I don't know." Leo replied, slightly disappointed that Piper had pulled away from the morning kiss he had been so looking forward to. "I'll check the plumbing in a sec."
Even as he stepped out of bed, his eyes kept fixed firmly on Piper. She was so mesmerisingly beautiful, even at eight o'clock in the morning. He backed out of the room, trying his hardest to disregard the rancid smell hanging beside the cupboard. It was foul, but appeared to disappear as he entered the hallway. He decided to go and check on the kids before making his way downstairs, just encase the smell was the result of a spell gone awry. He opened the door to Andy's bedroom and rolled his eyes at the mass of toys littering the floor, but as his eyes drifted towards the bed, he was hit with a sudden panic. Andy was not there.
"Not again…" Leo grumbled, shaking his head. He decided not to get too worried until he was certain Andy was nowhere to be found and made a quick dash to Prue's room. The pink and yellow room was neat and tidy compared to the green one next door. Prue had definitely inherited her mother's cleaning obsession. A grin spread across his face as he looked to the bed. Andy and Prue were sleeping soundly under the 'Care Bears' bed cover. Leo suddenly wished he had a camera.
xxxxx
Phoebe awoke to the sound of her whimpering daughter, but as she sleepily sat up, preparing to get up and comfort Charlotte, she saw Jason had beaten her to it. A smile twitched in the corners of her lips as she watched her husband shuffle up and down the room with a skip in his step. Charlotte soon calmed down and was giggling at her father's inane babble, occasionally inputting her own bout of random noises.
"Morning." Phoebe yawned, taking a sideways glance at the clock. How could her husband be so perky at eight o'clock in the morning?
"Good Morning," Jason said, noticing his wife was awake and turning to the ten-month-old baby in his arms. "Mommy sure has been a sleepy head, hasn't she Charlie?" Charlotte mimicked Jason's enthusiastic nods and clapped her hands as she was placed next to her mother in bed. "I'll go wake MJ." Jason told his wife as he slipped from the room. "Oh, and Happy Halloween honey!"
"Happy Halloween." Phoebe placed her nose close to her youngest daughter's and a grin formed on both of their faces. Phoebe knew Jason only remembered the fact it was Halloween because she had roped him into throwing a party, but the fact he had shown some sign of knowing the significance of a Wiccan holiday was enough for her. Halloweens rarely went according to plan in the Halliwell family, but the middle charmed one was looking forward to the evening that was to come, completely unaware of Chimerak's plan.
"Mommy!" Came an excited shout from the doorway as MJ burst into the room. Her tousled black hair bounced up and down as she skipped towards the bed and when the three-year-old discovered she was still too small to climb onto her mother's bed, she shimmered up with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Happy Hawoleen!"
"It's Halloween sweetie, and a happy one to you to! But don't use your powers."
"Otay…" Even at three years old, MJ had perfected her Aunt Paige's eye rolling technique. "Can I put on da costume yet?"
"Not yet," Phoebe told her daughter with a smile. "Wait until the party, okay?"
xxxxx
Mark ruffled Rachael's ginger locks as he poured the milk onto her rice crispies and he smiled. His daughters had finally found something better than pancakes to eat for breakfast. As usual, Paige was the last of the small San Francisco apartment's residents to awaken, but the nauctater could hear her plodding down the corridor, which meant the coffee he had been brewing, was soon going to be needed. Laura took a gulp of her orange juice and gave her father a sly grin.
"Mommy needs coffee!" She announced as Paige entered the room.
"Pixie?" Paige said, shuffling across to the table, trying her hardest not to smile at Laura's comment, "When you grow up big like Mommy, you'll need caffeine too, okay?"
"No! Coffee is yucky!" The look of disgust on the small girl's face brought a smile to her parents'. "Ain't it Rachy?"
"Yeh!" Rachael agreed fervently, "Yuk a duck luck puck!"
"Some of the things they come out with…" Mark mused, handing a steaming mug to his wife and kissing her forehead gently. "They must get it from your side of the family,"
Paige ignored Mark's remark, bringing the mug close to her face and savouring the smell of the dark liquid. Just the fragrance was enough to make her senses come to life. "I'm damn proud of it!" She eventually replied, truthfully. Her daughters' random comments always made her smile.
"Mummy?" Rachael said, looking up from her cereal. "We go to da pawty today?"
"Yes," Paige replied, realising, for the first time that day, that it was Halloween. "Happy Halloween."
"You too, Sweetheart." Mark took a seat at the table and ginned, looking at whom, in his opinion, were the three most beautiful females on god's earth. Laura was standing on her chair, trying to reach across the table to the fruit bowl, Rachael's attention had turned back to her rice crispies, which she was now eating, spilling more on the table than into her mouth, and Paige was wearing a grin identical to his. He was definitely looking forward to the day ahead, as he looked forward to every day with his family.
xxxxx
The day past quickly in the Dean manse and by the time evening rolled into sight, the house looked spectacular. Phoebe and Jason had decorated each room with an assortment of orange and black balloons, skeleton figurines and, of course, broomsticks. Phoebe had decided to overlook the fact that she was stereotyping by reminding herself that it had, in fact, been she who started the 'flying broomstick' tradition in the first place.
Jason, whose stylish, white sailor costume gave him an odd resemblance to Richard Gere in 'An officer and a gentleman', waited in the living room for the guests to arrive. He kept a watchful eye on Charlotte, who sat in her tiny cat costume, playing with her stuffed mouse, and MJ, who, dressed as a ballerina, was dancing around the room on her tiptoes. He was eagerly awaiting his wife, who was upstairs getting dressed.
Jason needn't have waited any longer. As he turned to face the stairs, his face lit up and it dawned on him just how beautiful his wife was. The long, red dress hugged her figure in all the right places and her dark hair, in tight curls, accentuated the frame of her face perfectly. She had fastened a cloak around her neck, but it hung loosely down her back, and the basket of wax fruits in her hand were not worth mentioning when you looked at the rest of her costume. Only Phoebe could turn a 'Little Red Riding Hood' outfit into a seductive dress and high heels- not that Jason was complaining.
"You look amazing." He said, gawping open mouthed as his wife made her way down the stairs.
"Thank you." She beamed. "So do you."
"Me too Mommy!" MJ squealed, bounding from the room and giving her mother a twirl. "And Tarlie!"
"Where is Charlie?" Phoebe asked, not best pleased that her baby had been left alone in the living room.
"Don't worry, she's in there!" Jason replied, shaking his head. Phoebe really was paranoid, more so than usual. She had tried to explain about how Halloween was a powerful night for magic, but most of it had gone over his head. He began to walk into the living room, following his wife, but the ringing of the doorbell distracted him. He hoped it was guests and not trick or treaters because if MJ saw other children in costumes, being the social butterfly that she was turning into, she would undoubtedly want to invite them in. "Hi!" He greeted with a smile, before realising who he had just answered the door to.
"Daddy!" MJ yelled skipping towards the door excitedly. Cole scooped her into his arms and entered the house, closely followed by Danielle and Ben. "You looks like Petey Pan!"
"And you look like a ballerina!" Cole replied, kissing the top of his daughter's head. He was dressed from head to toe in green, his belt covered in felt leaves and his hat with one single owl feather. (AN- don't ask why, but the thought of Cole dressed as Peter Pan amused me!) "And what a beautiful ballerina you are too!"
"Tank you!" She said, blushing as she tried to hide her grin. "Hi Benji! Hi Danni!"
"Hello Melinda-Jayne." Danielle replied with a smile, removing her coat to reveal a very extravagant and brightly coloured, ankle length dress. It was clear from this, and the various beads adorned on the petite Hispanic woman, along with the flower painted on her cheek, that she was dressed as a hippy. Although the dress had no shape, Danielle pulled off the outfit, looking stunning s always.
"Lindy-Jay!" Ben squealed, stretching his chubby hands towards his big sister. He was dressed in an all white suite, which made his tanned complexion even more noticeable. Tiny, feathered wings were glued to the back, showing clearly that he was supposed to be an angel; ironic that he was, in fact, part demon.
"Jason," Cole greeted, his voice flat and toneless and his eyes drifting around the floor. There was definitely no love between these two men.
"Cole." Jason replied in the same droll tone. "Nice outfit."
"You too." He turned his attention back to MJ and the awkward silence became very uncomfortable.
Fortunately, Phoebe was close at hand to break it. "Hi you guys! I love your costumes!" She exclaimed, emerging from the living room with Charlotte.
"Yours too!" Danielle replied, breathing a sigh of relief as the tension lifted. "Little Red Riding Hood…with a difference! I like it!"
"Thanks! You're a hippy, right?" The women shared a smile. Despite their husbands' obvious dislike towards each other, they had become quite good friends through MJ. "Come in to the living room!" Phoebe offered and the Turners, along with MJ obliged, leaving Phoebe to glare at Jason.
"What?" He asked, throwing up his hands and raising his eyebrows.
"You don't need to be so rude!" She snapped, but it was hard to get angry at someone who looked so handsome, "Just please try to get on?"
"I'll try." He replied, pecking her cheek and ruffling Charlotte's hair before entering the living room.
Soon, the Andersons had joined the party, their costumes just as remarkable as everyone else's. Paige had dressed as a nineteen-forties 'femme fatal', in a blue, off the shoulder, knee length dress, her hair in curls, pinned pack from her face with a clip matching her dress. She looked as though she could have stepped through a time portal from World War two. Mark had dresses in an all black suit, which, accompanied with the long, black cloak, collar upturned to reveal the red, silk lining, gave his Dracula outfit a very authentic look. He had slicked his long curls back with hair gel and wore plastic fangs, which he had to remove every time he wanted to speak. Rachael's red hair was in two braids, and she wore a frayed, brown dress, which had pictures of the sun and moon stitched on the bottom left corner. The red and yellow face paints, which she had painted in the style of tribal war markings on her cheeks, made it clear she was dressed as a Red Indian. Laura, as she did every Halloween, had dressed as a pixie. She wore a lime green dress, which was adorned with pink and purple sequins, matching her purple tights. Fastened to the back of the dress was a pair of very authentic wings, which seemed to suit the little witch/whitelighter more than they should have. Laura had become so associated with the name 'Pixie' that seeing her dressed up as one made perfect sense. However, it was not Laura, who would become a little more than attached to her costume tonight.
Phoebe handed Paige a glass of fruit punch and glanced at her watch with a concerned frown. The Halliwell-Wyatts should have arrived fifteen minutes ago and it was very unlike Piper to be late for anything. Paige noticed her sister's curious expression and raised an enquiring eyebrow.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I was just wondering where Piper was… It's not like her to be late."
"You're paranoid." Paige replied with the roll of her eyes as she took a sip of her punch, unaware that Phoebe had a very good reason to be paranoid.
Xxxxx
"Hurry up Mommy!" Prue yelled loudly from the bottom of the stairs, slipping her feet into the 'ruby slippers', which completed her 'Dorothy' outfit. She wore her hair in pigtails and her blue and white checked dress bounced as she began to skip impatiently round in circles. She brushed off the dizzy spell that swept over her, but stopped skipping and grabbed the banister to steady herself. She had the sudden urge to burst into song, but ignored it as her father entered.
Leo straightened his pirate hat and plunged his cardboard sword into the hoister of his brown leather belt, as he walked towards the front door. The eye-patch covering his right eye was beginning to irritate him, but he felt that he wouldn't look the part without it. He glanced at Prue with a smile and placed a finger under her chin, forcing her head up so that their eyes met. "Pretty little lass, aren't yeh?" He growled, in a strangely English sounding accent, before shaking his head and blinking several times in bewilderment. "Where the heck did that come from?" He asked himself curiously, ignoring his sudden desire to go to the dockyards. "Sweetie, where's Andy?"
"Dunno." She replied with a shrug, turning to the stairs, "Hurry up Mommy!"
As Piper appeared at the top of the stairs, Leo's jaw dropped. She wore a tight black dress, revealing just the right amount of flesh and showing her voluptuous figure flawlessly. Of course, the large black cloak and a conical hat that waited for her at the bottom of the stairs would cover most of her dress, but Leo was not going to complain. Piper looked beautiful whatever she wore.
"You look great," He told her, forgetting all about the odd feeling, which had just washed over him.
"I believe Phoebe once called it embracing the cliché!" Piper quipped, pulling the black cloak around her shoulders and grabbing the broomstick from the floor.
"Didja get da hat?" Andy asked, his voice muffled by the red scarf he had pulled over his nose and mouth. He was standing behind his father, dressed in blue jeans, a red and yellow shirt and a brown, suede waistcoat. His belt held a plastic gun, which Piper had sewn in place to prevent violence and the red scarf that he had just pulled down from his face completed his outfit. The only thing missing was the cowboy hat, which Piper held in her hand.
"Sure did!" Piper replied, picking up her own hat as she tossed Andy his. "Are we ready? Phoebe is going to kill us! We're so late!" She pulled the pointed black hat onto her head after throwing her long, dark, glossy locks over her shoulder, but as she gave everyone a happy grin, she felt herself stumbling forwards. "Woah, head rush!"
"Can we go yet?" Prue asked, taking a step forward, and although she did not realise it, avoiding Piper's gaze.
"Well, well, my pretty, you are a persistent one." Piper sneered, but she snapped out of her daze before she could start cackling, brushing it off as high blood sugar from all the candy she had eaten. "Orb away honey!"
Piper clutched Andy's hand whilst Prue and Leo stood on their own, preparing to orb to the Dean home. They waited for a moment, expecting blue and white lights to engulf them, but did not even get a hint of the tingling sensation orbing usually brought with it.
"Okay, that's weird." Piper said, taking a step backwards, "Maybe it's something to do with Halloween?"
"Probably," Leo replied, "Try calling Paige, see if her orbing is down too."
"Paige!" Piper shouted skyward, not expecting a reply. However, she was startled to find both of her sisters rematerialise behind her.
"What's wrong?" Phoebe asked, glancing around, her concerned expression turning to confusion.
"We can't orb." Prue told her Aunts, edging further still from her mother. "I likes your dresses!" She told them with a smile.
"Well I like yours too!" Phoebe told her, "You all look great!"
"None of you can orb?" Paige asked inquisitively.
"Nope," Leo confirmed, trying and failing once more. "Can you give us a lift to your house? We can figure this out there."
"Honey, don't you think we should stay here and figure it out now? What if it's serious?"
"I wants to go to the party!" Prue whined, glaring at her mother, "You're a wicked old witch!"
"Sweetie," Paige said, addressing her niece and cutting off Piper's retaliation. "I think you're getting a little too into character there!"
Prue's lower lip stuck in a firm pout and she folded her arms across her chest looking to her mother. Piper could see the hope shining in the little girl's eyes and even with her sudden urge to be wicked, could not say no to 'the eyes'. Why did Phoebe have to teach the kids to do that?
"Okay," She finally agreed, "We'll go to the party."
"Yee ha!" Exclaimed Andy, taking his cowboy persona a little to far. However, nobody seemed to notice.
When the large group appeared in the dining room of Phoebe's home, they all tuned their attention to Danielle, who gave a startled scream and toppled off the chair she had been sitting on. She knew of the powers the Halliwells and their families possessed, and was even used to MJ shimmering, but every time she saw someone orb she would be a little unsettled. Phoebe rushed to her side and gave a quick apology, before turning back to the people she had just arrived with.
"Come and play!" MJ exclaimed, bursting through the door excitedly.
"Prue, Andy, the rest of the kids are in the living room." Phoebe said with a smile. They just looked so cute in their little costumes…
"Living room?" Prue asked, her eyes flashing white only for a brief moment. "I can't go to the living room! I need to get back to Kansas!"
"Kansas? Prue are you okay?" Paige asked, not only worried about what her niece had said, but also about why Piper and Leo didn't seem to care.
"Prue? Who's she? I'm Dorothy Gayle! And this is Oz! That witch has been casting spells again!"
"Prue, sweetie, you're a witch too!"
"Why. I'm not a witch at all!" She exclaimed. The odd thing was she was suddenly speaking in proper sentences; very unlike a five year old should be doing,
"Uh, no… your Prue Halliwell-Wyatt…" Paige and Phoebe shared a nervous glance. Prue appeared to believe she was the person she had dressed up to be and the frightening thing was, she sounded just like her.
"No, I'm Dorothy Gayle and I need to find the Wizard. Please tell me where I can find the Yellow Brick Road?"
"You!" Piper suddenly hissed, her eyes too, flashing white. "You killed my sister! I want my Ruby slippers you cursed brat!" She looked up and glared around the room, stopping everyone in their tacks. Piper's skin had turned a vile shade of green.
"I'll never give them to you, you Wicked Old Witch!" And with that, Prue, or Dorothy as it now seemed, ran from the room with fear in her eyes, apparently searching for a Yellow Brick Road.
"I'll get you my Pretty!" Piper yelled with an ominous cackle, "And your little dog too!"
AN- I'm sorry! I just couldn't resist ending on that line! Can you see why I've had fun writing this? Bare in mind Andy and Leo have still got to transform! Believe me, it's been hard resisting the temptation of giving Piper an army of flying monkeys in the next chapter! Lol! I know I promised some Cole/Jason rivalry, but that's in the next chapter more than this one! Review please!
Next chapter, 'The Wild Wild Witch of the West'- Prue continues her search for the yellow brick road. The remaining sisters struggle to stop Piper from exposing magic. Leo goes bad. Andy earns himself a serious time out. MJ receives a new power. And will they figure out Chimerak's plan is before it's too late?