Original Spell

Disclaimer : I don't own anyone. None of the characters including the children do I own. So , don't sue me.

Rating : T : Detailed death , frightening moments , medical terms , language , and some brief sexual implying.

Summary : There are some things I know for certain. Always throw spilled salt over your left shoulder. Keep rosemary by your garden gate. Plant lavender for luck. And fall in love whenever you can.

Notes : Well , it seems that 'Perfect' is not going to go on anymore thanks to one of my 'loyal fans' ... you know who you are. 'The One' may not either although I was thinking about re-writing it and posting it on my new account. 'Independent Woman' will be re-posted on this account once I've finished two updates on it. Thank you for all your patience and stay tuned for 'Iron Box' a different plot to the story 'Perfect'.

Notes 3 - I'm sorry to those who don't like Aaron but he's staying...hopefully those who are smart enough (and have taken my hints into consideration) have figured it out...Anyways , I think you'll like Aaron in the end. He's a sweet guy , really.

Crossover : With Practical Magic (1998 film with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman , also one of my favorite books written by 'Alice Hoffman') If you haven't seen the movie that's perfectly alright. You don't necessarily need to.

I hope you enjoy my story. I worked rather hard on it. I warn it starts out slow , but will get better. Read on ... Chapter 5 ...

Chapter5 - Awful End -

Kylie and Antonia Owens scampered down Reagan Lane on their way home to the Owens manor. Kylie made a full circle on her heel and Antonia halted. She gave her sister a questionable look before nodding in understanding. "Mommy, we should go the other way."

Sally carefully picked up Antonia in the middle of the sidewalk and cuddled her at her hip. "Why, sweetie ?" Sally glanced at her younger sister. This place , the street , the trees , it wasn't dangerous. At least not until dark.

"Why do we have to go the other way ?" Paige asked , folding her arms and leaning up against Billie at her side. She raised an eyebrow and was shocked as to how Phoebe answered her for Sally in a sullen tone so worrisome that Paige had to put her hands in her pockets to keep them from being brought to her mouth to bit her nails.

"Awful End, Paige. Some of our worst childhood memories happened here and it's not a good place to travel while you're alone." Phoebe wrapped her sweater more tightly around her small body.

Besides the fact that she was two months pregnant you would have never known she was with-child. Not much had changed in her appearance other than her fierce case of paleness. Her eyes were still that edible dark chocolate , she had only gained five pounds (if that), her hair seemed a little less perfect, and it slightly seemed her bra cup had increased. Other than that, an old high school friend could still set her apart in a crowd. "Antonia's right, we should go the other way."

Billie laughed softly at first , coming to walk in front of the startled group of adults. "There are six witches here. Do you really think a place, childly entitled 'Awful End' is going to stop us from walking through it to get back home ? It can't be that bad."

Despite the fact that the child was almost her height, Phoebe picked Kylie up and pulled her closer. She frowned at Billie and hesitantly let Piper, Sally, and Gillian know : "I'm going the other way. After what just happened I've had enough for one day."

Gillian noticed Billie's facial expression change to determination. "Billie, It's not demons we're up against...people are mean , you just haven't learned that yet." As to prove a point Gillian kept walking , Sally soon followed , Antonia on her hip still. Sally knew what was about to come and be expected of the families at their picnic blanket as they walked by. It happened almost daily , never in town where the sheriff could see but in the exclusive walk way through the park.

When people didn't understand something they pointed fingers , that was how it would always be and the town wiccans knew that. It's like when they say 'you have to see to believe'. Nothing can have power if you didn't believe in it.

Gillian kept a steady pace as she went down the lane , broad shoulders, lovely gray eyes direct and on a mission. Billie was just like those others , you had to show her for her to understand. She came around the willow tree , and there they were.

Deciding that she and Kylie would have to walk home by themselves if she went , Phoebe followed Gillian as well. She was frowning like it was the end of the world. Today , like the few months before this was not her day.

Kylie wrapped her arms around Phoebe's neck. Her sandal covered feet hung about length of Phoebe's knees and Kylie had to smile at that , but that smile dissolved into a matching frown. She had been bruised deep enough to know this wasn't a road to walk home from school on. "What're we doing ? Don't they know..."

"Witch! Witch! You're a Bitch!" The taunting started and Phoebe's grip tightened much more than it already was. She watched her cousin standing in front of the already forming crowd. Strong , aware, showing Billie that this place was known for it's heart and not just it's beauty.

"Witch! Witch! You're a Bitch!"

Paige came to stand next to Gillian. A little boy threw a stone at them but it didn't hit, it was like Gillian was blocking them with her stare but there wasn't anything shield them.

Kylie covered her ears, hating the sound of it, she was being coaxed to point her finger at them and curse them but held her fire. She felt safe in Phoebe's arms if only for that moment and it somewhat felt as if she was using Phoebe as a jar to catch butterflies with. Like she was taking in the bad words and instead of holding them in her hands, was letting Phoebe absorb them for her so she wouldn't have to feel the pain of letting them go. All she could do was just watch the jar in awe as it's glass didn't shatter and gave her something to look at.

"Witch! Witch! You're a Bitch!"

Billie had tears in her eyes , she stood back , almost half at the end of the lane , too scared to head into the group. It was much worse than demons. Much worse. These humans , the people she thought friends had an evil side to show the magical community and Billie couldn't recall the last or next time she'll ever feel like she's one of them. Gillian proved her point.

"Witch! Witch! You're a Bitch!"

"Come on, Gillian. I'm sorry. Let's go the other way." Billie called out, her lip starting to quiver. She saw the rocks fall to their feet and practically begged that they come back. "I get it."

Gillian waved her hand in the air, flinging a near-by soccer ball half-way across the park and smiled when the families separated, startled and wanting to get out of her way. Gillian hadn't used her powers on anyone for harm sense she was a kid and as much as she was pressed she would keep it that way. If she had used her powers on them... that would make her as bad as they were , or even worse.

"Come on Gilly." Paige sighed, shaking her head in disappointment to Billie and wrapping an arm around Gillian's upper body. "You've made your point."

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"I don't think Billie was trying to make you mad, Aunt Paige." Antonia shrugged her shoulders and let her long, curly, black hair drift down her back. Antonia licked the spoon clean and tossed it into the sink as Sally did the dishes from dinner there.

Piper was sitting next to Paige on the island stool , Gillian was flipping through the herb book, and Billie sat asleep as the breakfast table. Her head was down flat on the table and Piper had poked her a few times to make sure she was still breathing.

"Billie needs to understand how to understand." Paige said simply, she knew she had confused the child but she was too shaken up to tell her something otherwise. She fattened her cheeks and lazily let air blow out. Billie knew she was mad at her and Paige preferred it that way. She was rude about what they told them, she had been rude the whole day.

"Billie's never been here before. She was just scared, I'm sure." It was a guess rather than a statement from Antonia, the seven year old child with dark (almost black) eyes.

"Billie needs to learn her manners." Paige snapped, causing Antonia to raise an eyebrow and turn on her stool. Paige felt guilty and quickly apologized.

"Antonia, honey, it's late. It's time for you to go to bed." Sally came behind her, pulling her by her back arms off the stool and tapping her bottom. "I'll be up in a minute to say good night."

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"You know I know , don't you ?" Kylie asked in a voice so tiny Phoebe had to draw her ear closer to hear. "About the butterflies. You know, I know, what you mean." Kylie's vibrant red hair was laid out on a pillow, she was staring up at the ceiling, her hand in the air, tracing the lines with her finger.

"Kylie, I was referring to fear, you didn't know that." Phoebe turned on her side up above on the bed where she was planning to sleep. Kylie had made up her mind that she would camp on the side of Phoebe's bed until she felt as if she could sleep in her own bed again without having dreams (or visions) of her Aunt Phoebe.

"Today, at the park... I saw the jar."

"Kylie, what're you talking about ?" Phoebe snuggled into the covers, groaning slightly. "Kylie, it's a figure of speech."

"I know...but I saw it...you're the jar and you were catching my fear. You did that for your baby though too." Kylie smiled at Phoebe from the floor. Phoebe smiled back, still lost as to what the nine year old was talking about.

"I did, did I ? When was that ?" Phoebe hadn't always felt as though whatever she was doing was for her baby. She felt like she did what she did to keep herself safe...what she didn't realize what she was doing was protecting both.

"At the bookstore, when you saved Mr. Shaw." Kylie let her know pointedly, like she should have already known that. "You know you'll have to go protect him again. It's not done. He can't let it get in."

Phoebe pulled herself to stare over the side of the mattress. "What can't he let get in, Kylie ?"

"I don't know." Kylie answered truthfully. "I just know it's trying to take him back..and he wants to stay."

Phoebe pondered up over the child for a matter of minutes. What did she really know, she wasn't sure. Kylie was a creative child and you could see that by looking into her bluish/gray eyes. But Kylie knew when she knew something. Kylie was always right.

"I'll keep that in mind, Kylie." She laid on her back once more, not able to find a position to be comfortable in. "I'll go see him tomorrow. Good night, Kylie."

"Good night, Ms. Phoebe."