Lovechild:
December, 1980
Victor Bennet shuffled along the cold streets of Sunnydale, where he was visiting on business. His collar was pulled up to hide his neck from the icy weather, while unexpected snow glittered in the moonlight from where it was scattered across his coat and shoes. Fifteen minutes of non-stop walking had only brought him to a cheap looking bar in the shady part of town, known as 'Myth' in this time, but as 'The Bronze' in the years to come. The inside of the bar was designed to match the name, pictures of mythological creatures like centaurs and goddesses were painted in numerous, bright, colours on the walls, with a yellow neon light in the shape of a lightening bolt hanging from the ceiling. Victor felt like walking out straight after seeing the style of the place, as it reminded him to much of witches, their craft and their beliefs, though the main witch on his mind was Patricia Halliwell, his former love whom he would have risked life and limb for once upon a time. However, his motel was quite a long walk away, and Patty had been dead for over two years, maybe it was time for him to get on with his life without thinking of the witchcraft hidden within normal objects and fashions. He made his way over to the bar and took a seat on one of the sand and emerald coloured stools,
"scotch, straight," he said, the bartender nodded and turned to pour the drink. Glancing around the room, Victor spotted a young woman, a bit younger than himself, wisps of bronze-red hair littered a face of both innocence and attitude, while a short, red, long-sleeved, dress hugged her figure and pointed heels lifted her up a few inches from her true height. An attraction built up between the too, before the mystery lady finally walked over to him,
"Sheila, Sheila Rosenberg," she said, offering out her hand, as he accepted it, Victor felt something on her finger and pulled away to see a gold ring shining around it.
"Your married," he whispered,
"I know, it's a shame isn't it," she replied bluntly, removing her ring and tucking it into her crimson purse, he couldn't help but smile,
"Victor Bennet," he introduced,
"nice to meet you Victor." Handing over the correct amount of bills, Victor downed his drink in one and then ordered another one,
"tough night?" Sheila asked, "fallen out with the wife?" she smirked, eyeing his own ring,
"that'd be kinda hard, she moved on a few years ago, though knowing her family…" he muttered, slipping it off and dropping it into the front pocket of his cotton shirt.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she sincerely said,
"it's okay, my marriage was over long before her death, I guess I just never thought to take this off," he said, patting his pocket before taking a swig of his second drink.
"Now this just doesn't feel right," Sheila said,
"what doesn't?" he questioned,
"seducing you to get back at my husband," she honestly told him,
"it's right if I let you do it," he said softly, placing his hand on her leg. She set her hand on his and bounced up from her chair,
"let's go," she said, taking his hand and giving him a pull as he finished his drink.
After a passionate night in his motel room, Victor awoke to find Sheila tracing her finger across his bare chest,
"good morning," she said, punctuating her words with kisses,
"I'm late for a meeting," he stated, glancing at his watch,
"stay, if you're already late they won't be expecting you," she said softly, beginning to nibble playfully on his ear.
San Francisco, August, 2001
Sheila Rosenberg, now older and a much devoted business woman, knocked on the door of 1329 Prescott Street, awaiting for her daughter or one of her new friends to answer.
"Hi, you must be Willow's mom," a petite brunette said, answering the door,
"yes, and you must be Pepper," Sheila replied,
"it's Piper," Willow corrected, walking up behind her fellow charmed one,
"Willow, how nice to see you again," Sheila said, talking to the redhead like she was more of an old friend than her own child.
"Hi mom," the witch said in a hardly friendly manner, "come in," opening the door a bit wider, she motioned for her parent to enter,
"where's your other friend, Freebie isn't it?" Sheila said, Piper suppressed a laugh. Willow had told the family of her mother's tendency to say and hear names wrong, but the fact that she had come up with the name Phoebe was given as a teenager didn't say much about the clairvoyant herself.
"Mrs Rose-Rosenberg," Tara stammered, as she reached the bottom of the stairs,
"Miss Maclay," Sheila said coldly. It was obvious she did not approve of her daughter's love, and maybe it she had been around more than things would be different, maybe Willow would be a normal girl and never gotten into witchcraft or began hanging around with 'Bunny', as Sheila called her. Skipping down the stairs, Phoebe walked over and introduced herself to their guest,
"hi, I'm Phoebe," she said, offering out her hand,
"why hello Freebie, I'm Sheila," the woman smiled, reaching out and excepting Phoebe's hand, rocketing the witch into a strong, colourful, premonition:
Victor awoke to find Sheila tracing her finger across his bare chest,
"good morning," she said, punctuating her words with kisses,
"I'm late for a meeting," he stated, glancing at his watch,
"stay, if you're already late they won't be expecting you," she said softly, beginning to nibble playfully on his ear.
"Oh, crap," the light brunette whispered to herself, pulling away from Sheila,
"Phoebe, is something wrong?" Piper asked, through a fake smile,
"uh, no," she lied, "but can I see you for a minute," Phoebe added, heading into the kitchen,
"sure," Piper nodded, walking after her.
"Dad had sex with her!" the clairvoyant blurted out,
"what?" Piper exclaimed,
"I had a premonition!"
"ewe," Piper cringed.
"No, not of them doing it, them after doing it," Phoebe explained,
"well it's still ewe!" Piper pointed out,
"yeah, it is, I think I'm scarred for life," Phoebe said,
"I think I would rather be deaf during this conversation," Piper stated, swivelling on her heels and heading back of the kitchen.
"Oh god, how am I gonna look this woman in the face?" Phoebe asked, looking upwards as if expecting someone to answer.
Minutes later, the charmed ones, Tara and Sheila were settled in the sitting room when the doorbell rang once again,
"knowing our luck that'll be dad," Phoebe muttered to herself, stepping over Piper's legs to get through to the foyer. Bracing herself for anything unexpected, Phoebe reached out and pulled at the handle, the door slowly creeping open to reveal that it was in fact her and Piper's father, Victor Bennet.
"Hello baby," he smiled, moving his arms out to share a hug,
"oh my god," was all the Halliwell could say, as he pulled her against him in a warm embrace.
"It couldn't be…" Piper said to herself, upon hearing her father's voice, "excuse me one moment," she said to the others, before standing and entering the foyer to see Victor and Phoebe hugging.
"Doesn't your daddy get a hello?" he asked, stepping towards Piper,
"oh crap," she groaned, flicking out her hands and freezing him in place,
"is something wrong?" Willow asked, walking up behind them to see Victor, "demon!" she exclaimed, squinting at the man and flinging him against the closed door like a rag doll thrown by a little kid mid-tantrum.
"You just used your powers on our dad!" Phoebe exclaimed,
"your dad?" Willow repeated,
"powers?" Sheila, who was now standing in the wooden frame between the sitting room and the foyer with Tara, gasped.
"Sheila?" Victor exclaimed,
"Victor?"
"great, this is just great," Piper groaned,
"you two know each other?" Willow asked,
"I think I'll just be going," Sheila said, grabbing her purse from the sofa and heading towards the door,
"no! not until you tell us how you two know each other!" Willow ordered, her eyes momentarily turning black.
"Maybe you should all sit down," Victor suggested,
"we already know Dad," Phoebe stated,
"what? But…how?"
"I had a premonition," she replied.
"A premonition of what?" Willow questioned,
"wait, how long ago did it happen?" Piper asked,
"uh…about 1980," Sheila sheepishly said, Piper glanced at Willow, then Sheila, and finally her father.
"Oh my god," she murmured,
"what?" Phoebe wondered,
"she's our sister," Piper whispered softly,
"who is? Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Willow asked,
"I'm so sorry girls, we didn't want to hurt anyone," Victor began,
"then why didn't you tell us?" Piper yelled, the mirror beside her exploding from her anger as she turned and charged off, slamming the kitchen door behind her. Victor started to go after his daughter but Phoebe stopped him with a glare,
"I'll go," she said, walking away.
"Willow, I'm sorry," Sheila stepped towards her daughter, who now had tears glistening in her gentle eyes,
"what about Dad?" the redhead sobbed, pulling away,
"he will always be your father, he always has been, but…" Sheila started to explain,
"but he isn't really," Willow said, turning to Victor, "you are." He could only nod as she walked strangely slow up stairs, tears bubbling in her eyes as Tara went after her, leaving Sheila and Victor alone.
"Maybe it would have been better if we had told the truth from the beginning," Victor said,
"no, it would have been even worse if your girls had found out they were expecting a sister and then I took her away from them," Sheila replied,
"I don't think things could get any worse."
To be continued…
A/N. Sorry this chapter was so short! I've just had EXTREME writer's block for it! Anyway, enough excuses, next chapter will move forward slightly…
Next chapter- Glory is convinced she's found the key. The Seer teases Phoebe with cryptic visions. Willow and Tara fall out. And Piper sends Victor packing as he attempts to apologise.
"Tough Love" will be up when it's done (hopefully soon).