A/N. Thank you so much for the reviews. I know most people don't like Dan and neither do I, but I didn't want to bring a new character into the story, and it would be too complicated for Leo to be the baby's father, so I chose Dan. But don't worry, Leo will appear soon!
Also, in earlier chapters I mentioned that Cole was Phoebe's boyfriend, but I've decided to give Phoebe a new boyfriend called Jake. Jake is a witch, with the power of pyrokinesis, and he is sixteen, one year older than Phoebe. This won't be important until later chapters, but I thought I'd let you know.
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Chapter 7 – 1 week later"What's so special about tonight again?"
Penny added the sliced tomato into the simmering pasta sauce and stirred. "Sweetheart, I've already told you I don't know. Prue asked me to cook something nice, so I am."
Phoebe sniffed the enticing scent of onions and garlic contemplatively. "Maybe she's invited Andy round. Does that mean Jake can come too?"
"I don't think she has. Remember she wants us both to dress up."
"Oh God! Maybe she wants a family dinner with Andy."
Penny shrugged and dropped a pinch of salt into the mix. "You'll have to ask Prue."
"Okay." Phoebe hopped down form the kitchen surface and marched off to find Prue, who was in the living room.
"Hey." Phoebe flopped onto the sofa.
"Hi," Prue responded, not looking up from the book she was engrossed in.
"What are you reading?" Phoebe asked, peering over Prue's shoulder.
"A college book. Photography."
"Are you, like, obsessed with that or something?"
"No. I just know what I want to do with my life, and intend to work hard to get it." Prue flipped the page over.
"Hey!" Phoebe protested. "I'm exploring my options. Besides, I'm still in high school. I'll find my calling."
"Yep." Prue's tone was one that said she didn't believe her sister's words.
"So, what's happening tonight?"
Prue sighed and snapped the book closed. "I can't tell you."
"Prue." Phoebe drew the word out in a long whine.
"It's a surprise." Prue's blue eyes twinkled. "You're going to love it."
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A few hours later, Piper pulled up in front of Halliwell Manor, her stomach buzzing with nerves. She climbed out the car and smoothed the creases of out of the purple satin dress she had chosen. Piper had spent hours searching her wardrobe, looking for the perfect outfit. After all, she wanted to create the right impression.
Piper started up the steps, impression.
Piper started up the steps, fighting the urge to vomit. The rose coloured Victorian looked imposing and Piper hoped her welcome wouldn't be as cold as the old house looked.
With a steadying breath, Piper reached up and rang the doorbell.
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The bell! Prue shot out of her seat, suddenly thinking this wasn't such a good idea.
"Go on," Penny instructed, shooing Prue from the living room and into the foyer, where Phoebe stood frozen at the door.
Suddenly, she lurched forward and hugged the person at the door, dragging her inside. "Piper! Oh my God, I can't believe it's you! After the other night… I can't believe it's you!"
Phoebe spoke so fast Piper had a hard time understanding. "What?"
"I can't believe it's you!" Phoebe released Piper and turned to Prue and Penny. "It's Piper!"
The pregnant witch smiled a hello to Prue.
"Piper, this is Grams," Prue introduced.
"It's nice to meet you," Penny said.
Okay, obviously this woman didn't like her. Piper briefly considered running, but Penny pulled her into a surprising embrace.
"Oh! You're even more beautiful than I imagined."
So much for that theory. "Thank you Mrs Halliwell."
"Grams, please. Now let's eat." Penny kept her arm around Piper's shoulder, as if she didn't want to lose her again. "I cooked it all myself," she added.
"Wait. You cook?" Piper was delighted.
"Yes, Do you?"
"Yeah. I love it." Piper was relieved to have found something in common with her family already; at least they'd have something to talk about.
As Piper was led into the living room, with Penny saying something about having cooked everything, Phoebe chattering happily away, and Prue grinning at her, she had never felt more at home.
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As the evening wore on, that feeling had continued to grow. All through dinner and desert, Prue, Penny, and Phoebe had made Piper welcome, and conversation had flowed. There had been some awkward moments when someone had asked a question to do with Piper's parents. But they were bound to be curious, it was only human nature, so Piper had answered as best she could. Over all, the evening had gone well.
And now Piper stood in the attic in front of the Book Of Shadow, preparing to call for the Power Of Three. She knew it was a huge responsibility and she felt anxious. Would her powers grow? Would more demons come after them? What if being Charmed was too much to handle?
Piper was particularly concerned about Phoebe, who was only fifteen and not always very mature. Piper had thought the same thing about herself, but her parents' death and falling pregnant had forced her to grow up quickly.
"Ready?" Penny's voice knocked Piper from her daydream.
"Ready." Piper took Prue and Phoebe's hands, forming a circle. She took one last glance at crow, who looked apprehensive, and Phoebe, whose eyes shone with excitement, before beginning the spell.
Hear now the words of the witches,
The secrets we hid in the night.
The oldest of gods are invoked here,
The great work of magic is sought.
In this night and in this hour,
We call upon the ancient power.
Bring your powers to we sisters three
We want the power, give us the power.
Silence. The whole room was silent, as if waiting for some big explosion. But none came. Everything remained the same.
Except, it didn't. All three sisters felt something. They felt… different… more powerful, like they could take on the whole world.
"So, what do we do now?" Phoebe voiced the question on everyone's minds.
"Now you practise your powers," Penny answered.
"Right." Prue's head dropped and her chin met her chest. Across the room there was a ruby red flash, and Astral Prue appeared. She waved her arm, but nothing happened. Her eyes clouded with disappointment, before Astral Prue travelled back into her body. "There's no difference, I still can't activate my telekinesis in my astral form."
"Your powers will grow gradually," Penny explained. "As will your bond as sisters."
"Oh God," Piper muttered, and she was sick right there on the attic floor.
"Piper!" Penny gasped, while Phoebe and Prue darted for their sister.
"Are you okay?" Prue asked, rubbing Piper's back.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"Come and sit down." Prue gripped Piper and steered her towards the sofa.
"Should I call our whitelighter, Leo?" Penny wanted to know, her brow knit in concern. "He can heal you."
"No, I'm fine. Really," Piper insisted, her cheeks flushed. Questions would surely follow, and Piper didn't want to give any answers.
"I'll clean that up," Phoebe offered.
Let the object of objection,
Become but a dream,
As I cause the seen,
To be unseen.
White, gleaming lights swept through the room, taking the mess with them as they disappeared.
"Nicely done," Prue praised.
"Thank you."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Penny took a seat beside Piper. "If you've been ill…"
Piper shook her head. "I'm not ill."
"Then what?" Phoebe asked.
"You have to tell them Piper," Prue said, fixing her younger sister with a meaningful glare.
"Tell us what?" Penny demanded, her eyes suspicious.
"I'm pregnant," Piper announced, her face turning more and more crimson. She glanced at Phoebe and Penny. Their two reactions couldn't be more different. Phoebe was beaming from ear to ear, while Penny looked… shocked.
"This is fantastic. Congratulations," Phoebe said earnestly, somehow restraining herself from hugging Piper.
"Piper…" Penny began.
"Just hear me out," Piper interrupted. "Please. I know this is a shock. It was for me too. But I've thought about it and I really, really want this baby. I love it more than I thought possible."
Penny nodded slowly. She wanted to lecture Piper, to make her see she would be throwing her life away. But she couldn't. What's done is done, and she wouldn't feel right, as she had only known Piper a few hours. "I can't pretend to be happy about this, but…" Penny paused as if the next words were hard to say. "But ultimately it's your decision, and I'll help in whatever way I can."
"Thanks Mrs Halliwell. That means a lot."
"Grams," Penny corrected. "And it's my pleasure."
"Okay," Phoebe said. "Can Piper meet Leo now?"
"You'll love him," Prue promised.
"Does this make him my whitelighter too?" Piper asked.
"Yes, so all the more reason for you to get to know him," Penny replied. "Leo!"
A cloud of blue and white light rained down from the ceiling and formed into Leo. "What is it?"
"Leo, meet Piper. Our sister," Prue said proudly.
As Leo turned to face her, Piper's pulse quickened. Leo was gorgeous, with sandy blonde hair and a tall strong build. But his eyes, so green and full of care, really attracted Piper. They seemed to read into her soul, to understand her. Which was stupid, as they hadn't spoken a word to each other. Piper blinked hard. How long had she been staring at Leo, unaware he was having exactly the same thoughts?
"Hi, I'm Piper." Piper held out her hand.
"Leo." The whitelighter took his new charge's hand.
As their skin met, a tingle passed up their arms and down their spines. They each held on a little longer than necessary, until Piper tore her hand away.
"What was wrong with her? Piper hadn't felt this way since she'd met Dan… and look how that turned out.
"Uh." Leo ran a hand through his hair, his cheeks redder than usual. "I have to, uh, go. It was nice meeting you Piper."
"You too Leo." Piper dropped her gaze, suddenly hot. She didn't want anyone to see the disappointment in her eyes. For some reason, she didn't want Leo to go, she wanted to get to know Leo. What was wrong with her?
"Come on, Piper. I've got something to show you," Penny announced, pulling Piper up with her.
"What?"
"You'll see," Penny replied mysteriously, beginning to rummage through some boxes. After a while she straightened up and turned to face Piper. In her hands was a soft baby pink blanket, with a darker pink triquetra stitched into a corner.
"Our baby blanket!" Prue exclaimed.
"That's right." Penny smiled and pressed it into Piper's palms. "And I want you to have it. For your baby."
"Really?" This meant more to Piper than any words. It meant she had been excepted. "Are you sure?"
"Positive."
Piper embraced Penny tightly. "Thank you. Grams."