Chapter 11

A/N:

I've had a few reviews and emails asking me for lists of ages and powers of the remaining Charmed offspring. Truth is, I haven't put much thought into it because I'm focusing more on Melinda's issues and Pearls memories. I do know that Henry is the youngest at 15 and Wyatt is the oldest at between 24-25. Since the finale didn't go into much detail about the age range between the children, we're free to pretty much use our imaginations. Hopefully, I'll have this wrapped up in the next couple of days. Please continue with your reviews, thank you so much for everything!

Pearl had drifted off to sleep at her booth in between patrons. Her cousins watched her with anxious eyes because she hadn't been the same since they had discovered Anton was a warlock. She came back that day with tears staining her face and swollen eyes. When they asked her what happened, she told them that Anton found her and tried to kill her. She injured him with her power of pyrokenesis and he fled. Pearl had promised that he wouldn't be coming back, but the cousins still worried that he might come back for her.

"Okay ladies and gentlemen," Pippy said clapping her hands as her husband finished playing a tune on the piano.

"That's it for tonight, we have to close up." A few people groaned and mumbled but they started to file out of the front door anyhow. Once everyone was gone, Pippy and Prudence went to Pearl. Her eyes betrayed the ache that filled her soul.

"What is it?" Pippy asked taking Pearls hand into her own.

"I'm pregnant," Pearl whispered. She felt so guilty, knowing that Pippy wanted a child with her beloved husband so bad… and Pearl was pregnant with the child of a warlock.

"What?" Prudence asked in disbelief. Pearl merely looked at her eldest cousin sadly and nodded.

"No! You can't be pregnant! Not with that man's child!" Prudence exploded. She got to her feet and started pacing, trying to figure out what could be done.

"Well, I am." Pearl replied defensively. "There's nothing that can be done now!"

"We'll figure it out," Pippy said soothingly. "Don't worry, we'll figure out what to do. You should go to bed now you look exhausted."

Pearl awoke the next morning to Pippy and Prudence in her room. They were packing up her things and Gordan was waiting in the hall to bring the bags down to the motorcar. Pearl blinked through the sunlight and sat up on her elbows.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"We were up all night last night," Prudence said. "We have to send you to a convent, a place of holy ground until the baby is born."

"What!" Pearl exclaimed. "No!"

"Think about your cousins," Gordan said coldly. "If he finds out somehow that you are carrying his child, he will come back full force and you'll get them both killed!"

"Gordan!" Pippy scolded. Then turning to Pearl she told her, "Sweetie, we can't take the chance. Even if he doesn't find out that you are expecting, if he comes back he'll not only kill us, but your unborn babe also. You have to go somewhere safe."

"How can a convent be safer than here? We live here because of the Nexus!" Pearl exclaimed in wonder.

"The Nexus isn't good or evil. It can go either way," Prudence told her. "Please, we hate to do this to you but we want to keep you safe. Now, get dressed we have to go soon."

Pearl rode in the backseat of the motorcar in silence. She couldn't believe that her cousins were sending her away, but she had to trust in their instincts. She had to protect her baby. Once they figured out how to keep the baby safe from Anton's influence then she could go home. The baby was still half good, and it was nurture, not nature that would mold her child.

Melinda sat on a bench reading Pearls diary. She was on her long break between classes. Usually she grabbed something to eat and went over her notes for her next class, but the diary was almost finished and she wanted to see how it ended. The baby intrigued her because she couldn't remember ever seeing an offspring from P. Russell on the family tree. She had looked and looked for some sort of clue as to who the child was, but with no avail.

"You have got to be the most beautiful woman in the world," she heard a mans voice say behind her.

She leaned back into his warm body as he put his hands on her shoulders and gently massaged her neck.

"Hi," she said smiling up at Tony. "I thought you were mad at me."

"No, I wasn't mad at you. I was frustrated."

"I know, Baby. I'm sorry. It's just, some things happened and I really couldn't go. I love you though," she smiled.

"I love you too," he said seriously. Melinda watched in shock as he dropped to his knees and reached into his inside jacket pocket. "I wanted to do this at sunset last night, but since we're here and I can't wait another minute… Melinda Prudence Haliwell, will you be my wife?"

She stared down at the ring that he held in his hand. Set in white gold, the little diamond sparked in the sunlight. Tony took her left hand nervously, his own shaking a bit, and edged the ring just past her fingernail. He looked up at her expectantly, waiting for her answer.

At first, Melinda couldn't speak. Her mouth had gone dry and she felt as if sandpaper coated her tongue. A huge lump seemed to form in her throat making it hard to breathe, and tears rushed to her lids. Finally, after what seemed an eternity to them both, she managed a meek nod.

"Yes," she whispered. "Yes I'll be your wife!"

Tony jumped to his feet and picked Melinda up. He spun her around and kissed her passionately on the lips. A cheer erupted from the crowd that had surrounded them while he waited for her answer. Blushing, Melinda looked up at her peers and smiled.

"I'm getting married!" she exclaimed.

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"I don't think so!" Leo raged at his daughter. Melinda looked at her father as if he had lost his mind.

"Leo," Piper said calmly. "Would you sit down?"

Leo had been pacing the room for a full ten minutes since Melinda came home and announced that she was engaged. He didn't take kindly to the idea of his baby girl getting married at a mere 20 years old. It was fine when they were casually dating, but that boy was scum.

"This is ridiculous!" Leo said as he sat down next to his wife. "Don't I have any say in this? She is my daughter!"

"Talk to me, Dad." Melinda said quietly. "Please, Daddy, I want your blessing. I really love him."

"If you loved him as much as you think you do, then you'd be willing to wait… right?" Leo asked hopefully trying a different approach.

"Sure, as long as it's a reasonable amount of time. I mean, obviously it has to be a long engagement, you know, 3-4 months. I need time to plan this wedding!" Melinda replied, excitement building in her voice.

"No, that's not what I mean." Leo said. "I mean, wait on the engagement. If he really loves you, then he'll wait until you finish school, and have your own career established before the talk of marriage comes up. He'll wait for you like I waited for your mom. That's how you know it's true love, he'll wait for you."

"Dad," Melinda said. "I'm getting married."

"Sweetie," Piper said. "Have you even told him that you're a witch yet?"

"No," Melinda replied. "But I will. I'll tell him tonight when he comes to dinner."

"Tell who what at dinner?" Wyatt asked as he came into the room. He was covered in sweat and his skin had a healthy glow. "Dinner sounds good! I'm starving. I ran like 6 miles nonstop. Felt good!"

"Tell Tony that I'm a witch at dinner," Melinda replied, not taking her eyes off her father.

"What!" Chris interjected as he followed Wyatt in panting. "No, no you can't do that! You'll expose the family. Exposure is bad!"

"Well," Melinda said turning her gaze to her brothers. "That won't be a problem since he's going to be family."

"Well," Leo said. "I don't know about that. We're still discussing it."

"What are you talking about?" Wyatt asked suspiciously.

"This," Melinda answered beaming. She flashed her left hand up and the diamond sparkled.

"Oh no!" Chris groaned.

"Don't worry, Con." Leo said. "Like I said, we're still discussing it."

"There's nothing to discuss, Dad!" Melinda exclaimed.

"Yes, there is!" Leo said, his temper beginning to flare. "I am your father and you will listen to me, do you understand young lady. I will not allow this marriage to happen!"

"Leo!" Piper said, her eyes wide with shock.

"Try and stop me!" Melinda said grabbing her purse and storming out the door.

By the time Melinda arrived at Tony's flat she was furious. The episode with her family had really shaken her. It was one thing for her family to be over protective, but now the control factor was just unstoppable. She wanted to marry Tony right now, this very moment! She banged on the door and fell into his arms. Through tears, she explained everything to him.

"Okay," Tony said thoughtfully as he guided her to the couch. "Give me the ring back."

"What!" she exclaimed in disbelief. "No, I'm going to marry you! I want to marry you! You can't turn back now! You can't agree with them!"

"You are going to marry me," Tony replied calmly. "I'll make it happen, but you don't need this kind of stress. Give me the ring, go home and tell them that we decided to wait, or that we broke up, whatever. I'll take care of everything and I'll see you in a few days."

Melinda nodded and slipped the ring off her finger. He took it from her and hugged her tight. He buried his face in her hair and smiled to himself.