Okay, Jedi Alanna. I think I'm going to dedicate this chapter to you, lol. It sounds like you've been anxiously awaiting this part so here it goes and I hope it meets your expectations.
Author's Note: Although this chapter will still feature the sisters, this is going to be a Billie-centric chapter because it reveals her background. Personally, I've always enjoyed the Billie character but I found out from many forums that alot of people didn't like her. I guess many people just felt that she was a waste of time to the overall Charmed plotline but in my fan-fiction I'm giving her character a legitimate connection/place in the Charmed Universe because I do like her. So love her or hate her, here she comes.
Chapter 8: Halliwell Family Secrets Pt. 1
Billie had finished packing the rest of her parents belongings into the many boxes that were now organized in straight rows across the living room floor. All that remained were the few scattered pieces of furniture in various rooms of the house.
Well, this is almost it.
Billie looked around her former childhood home. She was waiting for the movers to arrive and help her discard the unwanted furniture and to store the packed boxes in a storage unit until she figured out what to do with it all. There was certainly no way it was all going to fit in her one room over at the Halliwell Manor.
It was two weeks ago Christy had mysteriously resurrected here. It was now about a week since she had vanished for the second time in Billie's life.
Billie trusted the sisters. They promised they would find Christy and bring her back so she believed them. She just needed it to happen so badly. The sad truth was Christy would be the only living connection she had left to what was once her family.
Billie was still concerned about the letter she found and what it meant. At the very least, she acknowledged it was something she needed to look into if only to answer questions about herself. If her parents had in fact adopted her, who was she and where did these powers come from? Why would her real parents give her away to be raised by mortal parents? It was so risky.
She was also scared. Darker ideas plagued her thoughts. What if these other people didn't want to be found? Were they evil? Was it possible that something hidden deep within her was dark and that's what allowed the Triad to be able to manipulate her so easily to try and destroy the Charmed Ones?
Okay, Billie, stop. There's no point in thinking up the worst case scenarios.
She walked towards the kitchen to get a drink of water. After turning on the faucet, she noticed the flashing red light on the telephone receiver. There was a voice mail.
Maybe one of the sisters finally had news about Christy?
She pressed the button to listen.
"You have one new message," came the automated voice recording. "New Message On." The voice of a man registered.
"Hi, Billie. This is Attorney James Myers calling. I was the attorney handling the Will and Estate of your parents. I just wanted to call and offer my sincerest condolences. Also, I have a sealed envelope in my possession that's addressed to you. It was entered with the Will shortly before they passed. My instructions were to have it mailed to you. I've sent it to you through certified mail to your address on campus. I figured you'd be spending most of your time there during the school year. Thanks. Bye."
"Message Ended," concluded the automated voice.
A sealed envelope?
She decided not to dwell on it and made her way back to her parents old bedroom. She stopped and took a deep breath as she carefully examined her reflection through the dresser mirror. Placing her water glass down, her hand made its way down to the drawer, pulled it open, and searched for the small shoebox she kept hidden inside there.
This was it. Time to find some answers. It was time to close the book on one chapter of her life and open the door in another direction. This was the one letter in existence that held a possible mystery to her real identity but as she stuck her hand inside, it was greeted by nothing. The box was empty.
What the ?
Billie frantically flipped the small box upside down. The letter was gone.
X
Underworld
Lana paced the length of the ground floor.
The shape shifting demon stood far behind her. He was awaiting further instructions on what he was supposed to do next. So far, their plan to deceive Billie had been a success. They had managed to convince her that Lana was indeed the real Christy and that another shape shifting demon, like himself, had taken Christy's place to help Dumain and the Triad earlier this year. Instead, Billie now believed she had vanquished an imposter.
Most of the Underworld knew the real truth by now. The real Christy had been dead for some time. After the Dogan messed up taking the wrong child, Dumain and the Triad had kept her alive just long enough to collect a handful of memories for the memory transplant. Of course, being that she was a mere mortal whose brain couldn't handle the stress placed upon it by dark magic, the memory scan is what had finally killed the poor girl. They had needed those memories for their revised plan to work.
Lana accepted the memory transplant. She had been more than willing to complete the task. She had been eager to prove her worth to the rest of the Triad collective. The memories were transplanted into Lana so that Christy's life experience since the abduction would sound convincing to Billie. The powers obtained from the little girl provided her with the 'witch cover" and should have made Billie and Lana unstoppable.
The plan had ultimately failed.
"So sorry Billie," Lana mocked with an insidous grin.
She extended her hand to reveal a piece of paper. The paper flamed into ash as she set it on fire in the palm of her hand.
"I'm afraid you're just going to have to live with never finding out!"
The shape shifter demon watched in amusement as the only hint at Billie's true identity lit up in smoke and disintegrated into nothing. He watched Lana magically pull two vials from the air each one filled with a dark substance that could not be identified by him.
"It's almost time, Lyman," she announced to the shape shifter walking back in his direction. "I'm going to need you to shift into me again. As soon as we leave this protected sanctuary behind the sisters will probably try to scry again but this time we'll let them find us."
He bowed his head to the Triad daughter. "As you wish," he replied. "What shall be done when they come for us?"
"You will do nothing but shimmer out once they see you," she ordered. "I, on the other hand, will allow them to take me back and will use one of these vials to temporarily strip my demonic powers. Fooling Billie is one thing but getting the Charmed Ones to believe is a different story."
"How will you accomplish that?" he inquired.
"By now they probably suspect me for what I really am. A demon. Before they try and vanquish me, I know they're going to use some spell or potion to help them uncover my demonic origins just to be absolutely sure. It's how the greater good, works," she rolled her eyes. "They wouldn't want to hurt Billie. But without my demonic powers to track, they won't be able to prove it."
"And what of the other vial?" Lyman nodded in it's direction.
Lana raised the second vial into the air.
"This vial will restore my powers when I'm ready," she instructed. "But I'll have to find a way to hide it so they don't find it on me. The plan isn't a guaranteed way to convince the sisters indefinitely, but at least the Charmed Ones will be confused long enough for it to buy me some time!"
"Time for what?" Lyman asked.
"Time to do Gideon's job and track down that little girl myself before it's too late!" she shouted.
The shape shifter nodded and looked down in an effort to display that his intentions were not to appear insubordinate by questioning her authority.
"It shouldn't be taking this long," she lowered her voice. " He's letting his need for revenge get in the way of what he should be doing. We need to concentrate on the completion of our collective. We will be stronger as a whole. Only then will we have the power to destroy the Charmed Ones and the next generation."
"Yes my mistress."
"He acts like he can accomplish this on his own."
The shape shifter nodded his head in agreement again followed Lana to engage in the next phase of their plan. Lana slipped off the top to the first vial and drank the liquid. She proceeded to slip the remaining vial inside the right side of her shoe and smirked. Then they left the confines of the dark sanctuary for the final time.
X
Phoebe stood behind the kitchen counter.
She finished preparing breakfast for both her and Molly but Piper was definitely the cook in the family. However, she had successfully made a pancake or two in her day. Molly had been living with her for almost a week now and she seemed to be adjusting well.
Molly sat at the small kitchen table. Phoebe brought the dish of pancakes to the table and a bottle of syrup in her other hand.
"Here you go, sweetie," she replied, giving Molly her plate of food.
"Thank you," came her soft reply back.
Phoebe smiled. "You're very welcome."
Phoebe poured her a glass of milk while Molly grabbed for the syrup. She watched as Molly used the syrup to create her own skillful masterpiece on top of her pancake. She laughed when she had finished.
"What's so funny over there kiddo?" Phoebe laughed too.
"Look, Phoebe!" her voice rejoiced merrily.
Phoebe looked over. The pancake syrup had been used to draw a smilie face.
"Momma says they should have silly dimples," Molly explained while clapping her hands excitedly. "Like this."
Molly grabbed for the syrup again and placed two more drops on top of her pancake.
Silly dimples.
Phoebe's brows contorted. Why did that sound familiar to her?
It was obvious the little girl held onto some memories about her mother. She wondered what else the child might remember or what she might be able to tell them to help track the parents down. Phoebe also quickly reflected on the horror and fear this mother had to be enduring, wondering and not knowing the fate of her child. Unfortunately, there was no way to reassure her. That's if she was still alive to be found but she and her sisters would do their best to help make it happen if it was indeed possible.
Phoebe looked at the squiggly artwork on the pancake again and this time she remembered something from her own childhood.
(Memory flashback)
Six year old Phoebe sat at the dining room table waiting anxiously for breakfast to be served.
"I'm hungry!" she exclaimed impatiently, as she threw her small head back to look up at the ceiling while she swayed her legs under the table.
"Ow!" eleven year old Prue wailed as she felt the accidental kick come from her youngest sister sitting across the table. She used her own leg to kick her back.
"Hey!" came Phoebe's protest. "That hurts!" Phoebe pouted.
"Then stop kicking me!" Prue argued back.
"I didn't mean to!" Phoebe wanted to cry. "Grams?" she called out.
Suddenly, Grams appeared from the kitchen with nine year old Piper walking in front of her. Piper was carrying a plate of pancakes in her hands.
"Girls, stop the fighting now!" warned Grams.
"But, Grams, she's kicking me on purpose," argued Prue.
"Am not!" little Phoebe protested loudly, defending herself.
"Alright, I said knock it off!" exclaimed Grams in an authoritative tone. "Or both of you are leaving the table without breakfast!"
With the threat of no breakfast looming over their heads, both Prue and Phoebe clammed up because they were hungry. Piper proudly placed the plate of pancakes on the table before taking her seat. She had helped Grams to prepare them and she felt good about it. Cooking was fun.
After everyone was served, Prue grabbed for the syrup first as she took her time to create a drawing concoction. Then she turned her plate around to display it before Phoebe.
"Look, Phoebe. He looks just like you," Prue laughed. "Phoebe and her silly dimples. When she's not pouting like a baby, that is." She flashed a confident smile in her baby sister's direction. She picked up her fork to start eating.
This earned a small laugh from both Piper, who brought her small hand up to cover her mouth, and Grams who looked between the two girls. Phoebe crossed her arms in a defensive stance, pouted her lips, in order to send the message to her big sister that she didn't appreciate being made fun of.
"I'm just kidding," Prue soothed before picking up her glass of orange juice.
(End of flashback)
Phoebe was pulled from the memory by the sound of a frantic knock on her door. Who can that be this early, she wondered as she got up from her seat to answer it. As she did, she was greeted by Billie who entered the apartment in a flash.
"Billie!" Phoebe replied, barely getting the chance to greet her.
"It's gone!" Billie exclaimed in a panic as she turned around to face Phoebe. "I've looked everywhere and it's gone!"
"Okay, whoa. Slow down. What's gone?" asked Phoebe.
"The letter!" answered Billie. "I don't get it. I know I left it inside the shoebox. So where did it go?"
Phoebe slowly shook her head not quite sure what to say.
"Uh, well, are you sure you didn't take it some place with you? Maybe to the manor?" Phoebe suggested.
Billie shook her head. "No, I'm positive I left it back at my parents house. That's why I did so I wouldn't lose it with everything that's been going on!"
Phoebe didn't know what else to suggest. So she tried offering up alternative solutions instead.
"Okay, Billie, you do know there are other ways to go about a search, right?" she told her. "I mean, from what you've told us that letter didn't give up that much information anyway. Why don't you try an Internet search or something? The letter may eventually turn back up, it's probably just misplaced."
Billie listened but felt resistant. "Yeah, but how am I going to find out anything without a name or some other personal information? Adoption records are sealed so it's not like I'll be able to go and get a copy of my original birth certificate with the names of my real parents on it," she argued.
Billie felt frustrated. Just days ago she had been debating whether or not she would ever go looking at all but now it seemed like fate was preventing it all together. At that precise moment, Molly decided to pounce off her chair and come running over to Billie.
"Billie!" she exclaimed, as she ran to Billie placing her small arms around her legs and embracing her. "Want to play with me?" She looked up to Billie expectantly.
Molly had spent a considerable amount of time with Billie over the course of the past few days. When she wasn't busy with classes, Billie had offered to help Phoebe out with some babysitting when she had to work at the office. Victor, Phoebe's father, had offered to assist when Billie couldn't. After all, he was already helping Piper out with the boys.
Billie hugged the little girl back. She was agitated about her current predicament but she didn't want to make Molly feel bad by ignoring her. "Oh I'm sorry, honey, but not today, okay? I have to take care of something very important."
Molly frowned and Billie knelt down in front of her.
"But guess what? I promise that when I'm all done you and I will sit down and we can play any game that you want to. How about that?" she tried to bargain with the little girl.
Molly thought about it and then held up three of her fingers. "Three games?"
"It's a deal," Billie agreed. She laughed as Molly offered her little pinkie finger so that they could "pinkie shake" on it. Paige had taught her that. Satisfied, the little girl ran back in the opposite direction to finish her breakfast.
Phoebe smiled. When Billie turned to resume their discussion, they were interrupted by the ringing of Phoebe's house phone.
"Hold that thought, let me get that real quick," she apologized as she made her way over to pick it up.
X
Piper had just finished feeding Wyatt and Chris their breakfast when she decided to call Phoebe.
Paige had taken the day off from work to help continue in the search for the Triad and any demons helping them. She was already up in the attic getting a head start and Piper wanted to ask Phoebe for her help too. She walked out of the kitchen holding Chris in one arm, while straining to cradle the phone against her ear and shoulder. She was waiting for Phoebe to answer. Wyatt walked beside her.
"Hello?" came Phoebe's reply.
"Hey. Are you free to come help us today? Paige is already here working on a potion for when we find those shape shifters."
"Um, I guess I can help for a little while before heading to the office later. But I do have Molly with me," Phoebe reminded her looking over her shoulder at the child.
"Oh, no problem, just bring her over," came Piper's quick reply. "I have the boys here too, so we'll just keep an eye on all of them."
The conversation was interrupted by the sound of the door bell.
"Phoebe, hold on a minute. Wyatt, honey, why don't you go and play. Mommy will be there in a second," she instructed her son.
Wyatt ran off in the direction of the conservatory to play with his toys as little Chris watched. Piper walked over to the door, still struggling to balance Chris against her. He continued squirming in her arms and wanted to be put down.
"No, mommy. Down," he pleaded with her.
She opened the door to reveal a pretty darker complexioned girl with a smile. Chris was still struggling against her. "Chris, stop kicking mommy, that's not nice." Piper turned her attention back to the girl standing at the front door. "Hi. Can I help you?" came her quick greeting.
"Mommy! Down," he pleaded again. Piper rolled her eyes a little bit and then released her youngest son. The determined little two year old took off in the direction of his older brother. "Wyatt, Chris is coming to play with you, be nice to your brother while I'm not there," she gently implored out loud.
The girl smiled at the little boy's departure but quickly turned her attention back to Piper. "Uh, hi. Yeah," came the girl's timid response. "This is the Halliwell residence, right? Is Billie staying here?"
"Yes. But I'm sorry, she's not here right now."
"Oh, okay. My name is Jasmine. I'm Billie's roommate from college. I haven't seen her at the dorm lately and I needed to give her this. A man dropped it by this morning and I had to sign for it. I just wanted to make sure she got it." The young girl extended her hand to reveal a manila colored envelope.
Piper looked down at it, reaching for it. "Oh. Sure. I'll make sure she gets it ."
The girl smiled back. "Thanks." She started to turn around but hesitated before leaving. "Um, one last thing. Could you do me a favor and just tell Billie that I'm still very sorry about her parents and everything. And if you could tell her that we miss not having her around. She should come back and hang out for awhile."
"Will do," Piper smiled before the girl left. "Thanks for stopping by."
While closing the door, she looked down at the envelope that was addressed to Billie and felt a chill run up and down her spine. However, little did she know that the contents held within the sealed envelope were about to reveal a shocking secret that would change everything.
X
Phoebe and Billie made their way into the manor with Molly in tow.
"Piper, we're here!" Phoebe announced, making her way up the stairs. Billie picked up Molly as she also ascended the stairs right behind her.
After Phoebe ended her phone conversation with Piper, she had asked Billie the favor of keeping a watch on the kids while she worked with Piper and Paige to help find the demons that took Christy. Billie had agreed, after Phoebe had assured her that in the near future, she would try and assist her with an Internet search to help find out whether or not there was another family out there somewhere. When they reached the second floor, Piper was seen coming down the stairs leading to the attic.
"Hey, you two!" she exclaimed at the sight of Phoebe and Billie. "Or three" she added in a softer voice when she saw Molly hoisted up in Billie's arms.
"Paige is upstairs?" asked Phoebe. Although it was only asked for confirmation purposes. She already knew the answer.
"Yup, head on up. I'll be right there," said Piper.
Phoebe turned to Billie and whispered a 'thanks' as she went to the attic.
"And you Miss Molly? How would you like to have your very own playmate for today," she addressed the little girl. Molly, still somewhat shy around the new people in her life, smiled back and eagerly nodded her head. Piper waved her hand to signal them in her direction. "Okay, follow me then," she encouraged playfully.
After Piper opened the door to Wyatt's bedroom, Molly slipped out of Billie's grasp and excitedly ran over to Wyatt, who was playing on the floor with his brother. He noticed her and smiled back.
"Well, then. I guess they won't be having any problems getting along," remarked Piper. Gently, she closed the door behind them. "You don't mind keeping a watch on them? Leo's busy at Magic School otherwise I'm sure he wouldn't have minded. And my dad really needed to use a break."
Billie shrugged. "Sure, it's no problem," she assured her. "Besides, the less you guys are distracted, the more time you have to work on finding Christy."
"Thanks. Oh, I almost forgot. Your roommate from college stopped by earlier with something that came in the mail for you?" Piper informed her. "I left it on the nightstand in your room."
Billie smiled.
It was officially the first time she ever heard Piper refer to Phoebe's old bedroom as her own. Maybe they were making some progress after all? Then Billie remembered the message she had received from the voice mail this morning.
"Thanks, Piper," came her final response as she headed off in the direction of her room.
Piper watched her go. "Oh, and she's worried about you!" she called out. "You should stop by soon and let her know you're okay!"
Piper made her way back to the attic.
X
Billie felt a sudden wave of exhaustion overtake her.
She was lying on the bed, All she wanted was to let her head hit the pillow and fall into a peaceful sleep. Something she had been lacking lately. She had checked on the kids twice, the second time placing them down for their naps. The manila colored envelope was on the nightstand beside her. A part of her really wanted to read it. However, that other part of her dreaded what she might find on the inside of it.
Screw it, she thought.
She finally gave in and grabbed the envelope beside her, wrestling to tear off the sticky part sealing it shut. She pulled out a long piece of paper. After glancing down at the beautifully scripted penmanship, there was no mistaking the handwriting. It belonged to her mother. Eagerly, her eyes scanned the contents of the letter.
Dear Billie,
If you are reading this now, sadly, it is because I am no longer with you and I couldn't find the courage to be truthful with you while I was still alive. Hopefully, this isn't coming too late.
I've wrestled with this decision for many years since Christy vanished. The decision to tell you the whole truth. See, when we came out to visit you at school recently, you confronted your father and I about our search for your sister. The truth is that part of what I had been feeling had nothing to do with your sister at all and everything to do with you. I had the opportunity to be completely honest with you when we talked but I was a coward and couldn't do it.
Let me explain. You see, after your sister was taken from us you were all we had left in this world and we didn't want to lose you too. That may sound selfish but it's how we felt. How I felt. Now that I'm gone all I have left to offer you is that truth. I fear the decision to keep the truth may have cost you more than it helped you and for that I'm truly sorry.
Please forgive me.
How do I begin? Well, let's start with your grandmother. I told you a little bit of the truth during our visit together. You did have a grandmother who was just like you; however, she is not my mother. She was a wonderful woman that I had the honor of meeting after she saved my life many years ago. Her name is Patricia Halliwell. Patty was a powerful witch, very much like yourself, as I have come to suspect. Unfortunately, our meeting did come from my introduction into a world I never knew existed and a world you're most likely destined to enter into if you haven't already. I beg you, please be careful. It's that very same world that eventually claimed her life.
Which brings me to the part of the story concerning you. I remained in contact with Patty's mother for some time before we cut ties with each other. Penny was raising Patty's three daughters at the time when she came to me and asked if I'd be willing to make a home for you. Your father and I accepted and we brought you into our lives to love and care for. We adopted you. Christy was our natural daughter. So I'm sorry I misled you into believing she was just like you.
I believe you have already made contact with the Halliwells. I recognized Patty's former home when you brought us there to meet her daughters. I remember meeting them when Patty was still alive but they were young. I don't recall Paige. She was the only daughter I never met before. But they all seem like strong capable women and I'm sure they will prove to be the positive role models you will need for your future.
I'm not sure about your natural father, but your mother came to us when she was still a teenager in high school. She stayed with us until you were born and then returned back home. Her name was Prudence but she went by the name Prue. I remember she had a very stubborn way about her. That sometimes reminds me of you.
Please don't blame yourself for Christy, it was never your fault and we never once saw it that way. You were a joy in our lives and we love you very much. I would never trade having you as a daughter for anything in this world. I hope that I have at least provided you some comfort by reassuring you of that. So take this information and do what you feel you need to. If you're ready and want them to know the truth, please know that you have my blessing.
Love forever,
Mom
Billie felt frozen.
Shock didn't even begin to cover what she was feeling.
Was this a joke?
The Halliwells were her other family? The Halliwells? Piper, Phoebe, Paige, the boys, all of them? The people she had set out to destroy earlier this year were actually the very same people she shared unknown family ties with?
Billie shook her head in denial.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the bedroom door that startled Billie from her shaken state. It was Phoebe. She jumped off the bed quickly searching for a place to hide the letter. The quickest thing she could think of was to hide it under her pillow. Which she did before straightening herself out to look presentable.
Billie opened the door and plastered on a fake smile.
X
Phoebe made her way down the attic stairs to share the news with Billie.
She and her sisters had spent over an hour trying to get a location on the demons and were finally successful with it. Now she just had to convince Billie that it was in her best interest to stay behind with the kids while she, Piper, and Paige went to take care of it. Phoebe knew that wasn't going to be an easy thing to do. Billie had a very determined stubborn way about her. She often wondered where Billie got that nature because her parents had seemed so different. She approached the door and knocked.
"Billie? It's Phoebe. Can I come in?" Silence ensued until the door bolted open. There stood Billie with a peculiar smile on her face.
"Hey!" Billie exclaimed, nervously pushing some hair behind her ear. She refused to meet Phoebe's stare.
"Hey, yourself," Phoebe drew out carefully. She had picked up on the funny edge to Billie's voice and she could almost feel a prickly energy filling the air. "Uh, is, everything okay?" she asked, using her eyes to scan the bedroom.
Billie shook her head, pretending she had no idea why Phoebe would ask her such a thing.
"Fine!" she exclaimed, looking at Phoebe wide-eyed.
Phoebe let the peculiar moment pass as she made her way over to sit on the bed. Billie's eyes caught the pillow directly behind Phoebe. She made her way over to sit beside her, admonishing herself along the way.
Billie closed her eyes and sighed. That was the dumbest place in the world to hide that. What am I like five? Please don't let her find it.
Phoebe looked to Billie. "Um, look, we think we found where the demons are hiding."
Billie glanced at the pillow a second time. "Oh. Okay. That's great!" she replied in a distracted manner.
"But the thing is, we think it would be best if you let us go down there and handle it while you stay behind," Phoebe finished.
Billie nodded her head in agreement. She would promise Phoebe the moon right now if it meant she could get her out of the room and away from that pillow. "Okay, sure."
Phoebe's brows lifted in surprise. Wait, it's going to be that easy, Phoebe questioned herself. "Um, okay sure?" she repeated. "You mean, you're actually not going to challenge us on this?"
"No. I mean, you guys know what's best, right?" she replied in a hurry. Then she stood up motioning for Phoebe to leave. "So why don't you guys go get started on that and I'll stay here with the kids."
She then cast her third and final glance at the pillow. This time, Phoebe paid attention to it.
What is she looking at like that?
Phoebe turned around to grab for the pillow. As she did, the letter flew out.
"No!" Billie screeched as the letter slid onto the floor by Phoebe's feet.
Both women reached for the piece of paper, but Phoebe was just a second ahead of Billie, beating her to it. As Phoebe made contact with the paper, she was immediately pulled into a series of premonitions. Premonitions of the past.
(Premonition)
A young dark haired teenager lying in a hospital bed. Her face is turned away from the woman standing beside her with a baby in her arms. The baby is swaddled in a pink and white blanket.
(Premonition #2)
The next premonition shows the dark haired girl when she was still very pregnant. She's sitting inside a kitchen at a table. She looks to be involved with schoolwork as a man sits with her. He appears to be tutoring her in her studies. When the man's face comes into full view, it sends a shiver up Phoebe's spine. She recognizes him instantly.
Dumain.
(Premonition #3)
The last premonition takes Phoebe further into the past. It's a premonition that shows Patty, Penny, and is that Mrs. Jenkins? It looks like a much younger version of Billie's mom standing inside the Halliwell manor with mom and grams. In fact, it's the same woman from the first premonition in the hospital room holding onto a baby.
The dark haired girl's baby.
After the series of flashes ends, Phoebe shudders. She shudders because she recognized that dark haired girl from the visions. It was her sister.
"Prue" Phoebe muttered as her eyes misted over.
She looked from the letter to a very stunned Billie.
"Oh my god," Phoebe stood up abruptly.
She was piecing together the new revelation instantly. Billie was the baby from that premonition and she was Prue's daughter.
X
All three sisters shared a stunned silence as they stood in the middle of the attic.
They were waiting for Piper to finish reading the letter. Paige had gotten to read it after Phoebe. Phoebe also took the time to explain what she had seen in her visions. Billie insisted on being left alone in her room. The sisters had decided to respect that for the time being until they could come to terms with it themselves.
Piper lowered the letter.
"I can't believe it!" she declared matter of factly. Of all three, she was the quietest until now. "Prue pregnant? I would have known something like that. Not to mention, she never would have kept a secret like that from me. We were close."
Paige picked up on the defensive edge to Piper's voice and looked to Phoebe. To this day, Prue was still a sensitive subject for Piper. And Paige knew that. While she barely spoke a word about Prue, she remained very protective of what her relationship to her older sister had been like. And damn anyone who tried to contradict it.
Paige tried to offer up an alternative to why her sisters may not have known. "Well, maybe she was just scared?" she shrugged. "She was only a teenager at the time."
"Scared or not, that's a pretty big secret!" interjected Phoebe. "I mean, I do know that Prue went through a rebellious period around seventeen so I guess anything is possible. I know I was young but I certainly don't remember Prue being pregnant."
Piper remained quiet while her thoughts raced and her sisters speculated. When would Prue have had a baby? She searched the depths of what she could remember from their adolescence, trying to decipher anything that popped into place.
(Memory Flashback)
Seventeen year old Prue rushed into the manor.
She practically slammed the front door right in Piper's face in her haste to get inside and upstairs. The entire ride back had been filled with tension as Prue and Grams argued about stupid things the whole way home. It was the last day of school and they were out for the summer.
Piper didn't understand her big sister lately. Usually, they talked about everything but these past few months Prue had been ignoring her and acting out alot. She would talk back to their Grams, openly defy her rules by staying out late, and she even started skipping school near the end. Piper choked it all up to Prue experiencing "boyfriend problems."
Don't take it out on me, she had thought to herself on several occassions.
It was times like these that Piper was glad she wasn't so popular. She didn't want to have to appear cool or worry about who she was dating.
Piper watched Prue open her bedroom door, slam her backpack onto the bed, and walk back over to slam the door in Piper's face. Still, Piper tried to be the supportive middle sister. She could hear sobbing come from the other side of the door.
Yup, she's definitely upset about something big, thought Piper.
"Prue?" Piper gently called out, as she knocked on the door. "What's wrong?"
She hated to hear her big sister cry. It was a rare occasion when anyone would get to see her cry. Prue wouldn't let it happen.
"Go away!" she demanded from the other side.
"Prue, I just want to help, that's all!" Piper pleaded with her older sister.
"Well, you can't!" Prue protested. "So just leave me alone!"
Suddenly, Grams came up the stairs. Piper could tell that she was angry so she immediately stepped out of her way.
"Piper, go to your room!" she instructed. Then she proceeded to bang on Prue's door. "Prudence, open this door right now!" she demanded. "Do you hear me?"
Piper backed up at the sound of her grandmother's tone. Twelve year old Phoebe also made it upstairs and walked out into the hallway to see what all the commotion was about.
"I hope you're happy, Grams!" Prue's shouting could be heard through her sobs. "Andy broke up with me today because I couldn't see him, thanks to you! And it was embarrassing. On the last day of school. He did it in front of everybody. I hate you!"
"Hate me all you want to," Grams continued, completely undeterred. "Andy is graduating. He's going off to college in the fall. And I have every intention of making sure that's what you'll be doing next year!" Grams yelled back. "I'm not going to allow you to ruin your future! Not for yourself or for him!"
Piper went to stand beside Phoebe and she placed her arms around her younger sister in the mist of the heated argument going down between their grams and big sister.
"I'm not going anywhere!" she yelled in open defiance. "I'll just move out after next year. When I turn eighteen, you can't tell me what to do anymore."
"Prudence Halliwell?! You start packing your bags. I mean it! We are leaving, tonight, right after dinner! Do you understand me?" Grams demanded.
Young Phoebe, not fully grasping the intent behind her Grams words, panicked and called out because she didn't want her big sister to be made to go away forever. "No, Grams! Don't be mad at Prue anymore. I don't want her to leave. We need her here!" her voice trembled.
Grams turned on the two girls. "PIPER! I told you to stay in your room. Now take your sister and go right now!"
Piper didn't even hesitate this time. She turned Phoebe around and led her down the hallway to their room. Whatever had Grams so upset, she certainly didn't want to get caught in the middle of it. Unfortunately, Prue was on her own with this one.
(Memory Flashback Ends)
Piper was pulled from her memory just in time to hear the ending words from a conversation between her sisters.
"Well, unfortunately, Prue's the only one with the answer," Phoebe's voice drifted into Piper's awareness.
"Or Grams!" Piper spit out, placing her memory in proper context. That had to be what Grams and Prue were arguing about that day before Prue left for the summer.
"Huh?" exclaimed Paige, confused by her oldest sister's sudden outburst.
Had Piper even heard what they were talking about?
"Prue's summer internship? There was no internship!" Piper announced.
Phoebe had no idea what Piper was rambling on about. "What internship? I don't remember that."
"Of course you don't," Piper waved her hands at her sister. "What were you like twelve? Prue went away for a summer but that summer internship somehow turned into a fall internship too. Prue didn't come back home until around Christmas time."
Prue and Piper had remained in contact by writing letters to each other. A few times they had even spoken on the phone but Piper quickly recalled those telephone conversations were always monitored by Grams and the letters from Prue had no return addresses. Grams would mail hers out.
Piper marched over to the podium which held the Book of Shadows. She flipped to the page that contained the summoning spell and began to recite. She could feel her adrenaline pumping. How many more family secrets would they be forced to endure? Because this one nearly got them killed six months ago.
Phoebe and Paige watched in anticipation as Piper recited the spell.
"Hear these words, Hear my cry; Spirit from the other side; Come to me, I summon thee; Cross now the Great Divide!"
The three sisters waited and watched as white orbs materialized into the familiar face of Grams.
X
The spirit of Grams turned around to face the three perplexed faces before her. Well, make that two perplexed stares. One face wore a mask of hurt and anger.
"Girls?" Grams addressed them. "Why did you summon me here? Is there something wrong?" She looked to each of them.
Both Phoebe and Paige refused to meet her gaze; however, when she met Piper's unwavering stare, her eyes burned with fury.
"Yeah, you can say that!" announced Piper in an angry tone. "Something is most definitely wrong!" she hollered. "Wrong with this family! I swear, I think it's certifiable! I'm fed up with all the family secrets coming back to bite us in the ass!"
She couldn't help it, but she felt betrayed by both Prue and Grams.
First, Prue dies and is replaced by a long lost sister that they knew nothing about. Her death had caused the Power of Three to be made vulnerable because Paige had to learn from scratch and play catch up. And if that wasn't bad enough, now they find out that Prue left behind a daughter. A daughter that showed up here over a year ago and was used by the Triad to help destroy them. How much more messed up could it get? They were always being kept in the dark and away from the truth. Her anger boiled and she felt an immense hatred. Maybe her feelings were bubbling on the irrational but she couldn't find it in herself to care.
"Piper? I have no idea what you're going on about but summoning me here so you can take it out on me isn't going to solve whatever the problem is!" Grams insisted.
Phoebe and Paige just stood back silently as Piper unleashed her rage. Paige tried not to get offended by the undertone in her sister's insinuation, after all, she had been one of those family secrets from the past. Grams just looked at Piper as if she had lost her mind. She had no idea what had Piper in such an uproar.
"Problem?" Piper screeched. "Yeah, I guess you can call Prue's daughter showing up here last fall to try and kill us a big fat problem!"
The whole room fell dead silent at Piper's angry declaration. Gram's wore a stunned expression plastered across her face as she glanced between Piper and the other two sisters. Phoebe was sporting a sad look as Paige looked on feeling very confused.
"Grams?" Phoebe pleaded softly.
Grams finally relented, casting her eyes down and releasing a heavy sigh laced with remorse.
"I'm sorry girls, I did what I thought was for the best," she admitted. "Prue was young, too young at the time, to take on that kind of responsibility by herself. And I also had to take your futures into consideration."
Piper grunted. "Oh right. That blissful Charmed future that eventually got her killed anyway. Not to mention, the same future that has kept the rest of us from leading normal lives. Is that the future you were trying to protect, uh, Grams?" she mocked. "Because I almost lost my husband to it. Several times. We've almost lost our lives, several times. And look at my children and the disastrous future that might have been."
"Piper!" Grams exclaimed in a stern manner. "I realize that you're upset but what's done is done. It can't be changed. And you're not normal. None of you are," she stressed the message to all three sisters.
Phoebe shook her head sadly thinking of Billie.
"Yeah, but neither is Billie," she pointed out to her Grams. "You knew who we were destined to become, did you ever once consider that you could be placing that baby at risk when you made Prue give her up?"
Then at that very same moment, everyone was alerted to the sound of creaking. It was the attic door opening and everyone turned their heads to look. Penny stared at the young girl walking through it. This was the young woman she had made her granddaughter give up so long ago. The great-granddaughter she had never met.
Billie.
To Be Continued: I'm so sorry to leave it off there but this chapter was getting kind of long. I'll get working on the next chapter and post it as soon as I can. So I hope this chapter wasn't disappointing.