"Why did you have to mess everything up? They're never going to trust us now!" Wyatt yelled at Chris once they reached their apartment.
"They weren't supposed to catch me. Why didn't you stop them coming up to the attic?" Chris argued back.
"You were attacked by a demon. You would've been killed without mom's power!"
"You don't know that." Chris shouted. "Just because you were always the most powerful it doesn't mean I'm useless."
"And what have you done since you've got here apart from screw up our one chance to get in their good books?"
"We'll find a way. You work with her. You'll see her all the time. She'll learn to trust you again."
"We could always talk to da..."
Wyatt couldn't even finish his sentence before Chris interrupted. "Don't you dare suggest bringing dad into this! He was never any help growing up so what makes you think he'll help us now?"
"Because he's either just got back together with mom or he's about to. You know this. All three sisters are living together in Rosewood. That's when it happens."
Chris still looked sceptical. "And how exactly is that meant to help us?"
"He wants to clip his wings for her but she won't let him. Plus what other Whitelighter would take on the job of looking after the Charmed ones?"
"One of us?" Chris asked, catching up to Wyatt's train of thought.
"Exactly. We just need to convince dad to become human again."
"And then we'd lose our Whitelighter powers." Chris realised.
"Ok so the plan's still in its early stages." Wyatt admitted. "The point is one of us needs to become their Whitelighter and dad needs to keep his powers for long enough for us to be conceived."
"Ew." Chris stated.
"We can do this. We just have to be smart. We won't let what happened in the future happen again. We can't."
The next morning Wyatt decided to leave for work early in hope of getting a chance to talk to Ella before classes started. He was surprised to see her already in her office when he arrived. She looked exhausted and Wyatt could tell she hadn't slept much the night before. He gently knocked on the door, so as not to startle her. Her eyes didn't leave the textbook that the appeared to be staring straight through so Wyatt knocked again a little louder.
This time she heard him and she looked up to see him through the glass window in the door to her classroom. She got up from her chair, immediately defensive.
"What do you want?" She asked him through the door.
Wyatt opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind them so as not to be disturbed.
"I came to apologise for last night. We shouldn't have lied about who we were." He started.
"Go on..." Ella prompted.
"And Chris wanted you to know that he's sorry for prying through the Book and to thank you for saving his life."
"Hmm." Ella said, not overly convinced that she could trust the man in front of her. "There's some things I need answers to."
"I'll answer what I can."
"You'll answer everything." Ella told him firmly.
"There's some things I can't tell you for your own safety." Wyatt tried again, wary of what too much knowledge would do to her.
Ella sighed, knowing that it was the best she was going to get.
"Why did you need our Book?" She asked.
Damn, Wyatt thought. She had to pick that to ask first. He thought for a while about how much he could reveal before he answered. "We were looking for a spell. We know it's in your Book and couldn't find it anywhere else."
"You couldn't ask the Elders?"
"Not exactly." Wyatt responded, hoping that she wouldn't ask him to explain. Thankfully Ella seemed to accept that answer, having had enough disagreements and problems with the Elders to know that they weren't always the most cooperative group in the magical community.
"Why didn't you ask us for help? It's not like you could cast the spell anyway." She asked, not satisfied with the answer that Chris had given her the day before.
"We hadn't really thought that far ahead." Wyatt replied. Thankfully, he was saved from answering further by the bell ringing throughout the school signalling the start of classes. Within seconds the classroom filled with students and Wyatt left with the promise to talk more later.
Ella went to check her messages on her phone while her class were settling down in their seats. Her face paled when she saw a message from an unknown number. Hesitantly, she opened it.
They're hiding something pretty big from you. Do you want to know what? –A
What was 'A' talking about? Ella asked herself. Was this about her chat with Wyatt? She checked the time of the message and saw that it was sent while they were talking only a couple of minutes earlier. That must be what 'A' meant, right?
To her slight surprise a second message from 'A' arrived before she had the chance to put her phone down. They must know that they have her attention. Before reading it she scanned the room in case it seemed like one of her students had sent the text but soon realised it would be impossible to distinguish as more than half of them were intently staring at whatever was on their phone screens.
Ella held her breath as she tapped the button to open the message.
Want a hint? I think the police need to see this first, don't you? –A
Underneath the message was a photograph of Aria kissing someone. Upon closer inspection she could see that the man in the photo was Ezra. In her shock at what 'A' wanted her to do, Ella's grip on her phone loosened and it fell out of her hand, landing on the desk with a small sound.
Trying to push it out of her mind, she started what was sure to be a long day of teaching to classes of students who probably didn't really want to be there.
Later that day, when the bell signalling lunch rang throughout the halls, Aria headed to Ezra's classroom. She hadn't seen or spoken to him since they told her parents about their relationship because everything in her life had been so unpredictable and hectic that she hadn't had a chance.
She knocked on the door and he looked up at her, giving her a smile and telling her to come in.
"Miss Montgomery, what can I do for you?" He asked as she closed the door behind her.
"I've missed you." Aria said once she was sure that they couldn't be heard.
"I've missed you too. What happened after I left?"
Aria paused for a minute. What had happened? She couldn't remember actually having discussed their relationship any further after he left. It was only soon after then that she found out Alison was alive and her life had been on a crazy rollercoaster ever since.
"We haven't really had a chance to talk about it." Aria admitted. "And I think my dad's moved out for real now." She told him. Ezra had known about Byron's affair and the fallout that had happened in light of Ella finding out. As much as he wanted to make sure she was ok when he passed her in the halls he knew that the gesture wouldn't be appreciated, especially as none of the rest of the staff knew yet. Instead he insisted that Aria told her that he sent her his best wishes to show support and in hope of her warming up to him again. She was probably the colleague that he was closest to before the fallout of him and Aria revealing their relationship to her.
"You know if things get too much for you at home you're welcome to stay at mine for a few nights." Ezra offered.
"It is getting a bit crowded with mom's sisters living with us as well. I might have to take you up on that." Aria smiled. "I should go and find the girls. I'll text you." She promised.
Aria found her friends sat at their usual table for lunch. They all looked up at her when they arrived but no one spoke up. All three girls wore mirroring looks of worry on their faces that Aria had come to associate with messages from 'A'.
"What's going on?" She asked as she took a seat.
"How's your mom holding up?" Emily asked, obviously hoping to delay the inevitable.
"As well as can be expected. I don't really know though she won't talk to me about it but at least she has her sisters."
"What was this drama with the new guidance counsellor you mentioned?" Spencer asked.
"I hear he's cute." Hanna commented.
"Is now really the time?" Emily questioned.
"There's always time to talk about cute guys. Especially cute and sensitive older men, right Aria?" Hanna smiled at her friend who merely rolled her eyes, well aware of Hanna's sarcasm and teasing and how she never meant any offence by what she said.
"Apparently mom and my aunts caught him in the attic looking through our Book. He was attacked and would've been killed if my mom hadn't been there." Aria summarised, not wanting to go into detail for fear of people listening in. As Alison's friends they were still occasionally the talk of the school and most kids knew who they were. If they were heard talking about magic and witches as if they were real word would probably get out quite quickly, which was the last thing Aria and her family needed.
"Did you find out why he was interested in the Book?" Spencer asked.
"No but I don't trust them." Aria admitted. "For all we know they could be working with 'A'."
"It's a miracle we trust anyone." Emily pointed out.
"We don't." Hanna argued.
Aria interrupted what was sure to become another argument. "So why were you all so worried when I walked over?" She asked.
The three girls exchanged a glance before Hanna spoke up.
"We all got a text from 'A' last night. We didn't want to tell you because we knew you already had a lot to deal with."
"What does it say?"
Emily passed over her cell phone, the screen already displaying the message in question.
Your new witch friends won't be able to protect you 24/7. Watch your backs, bitches. –A
"We think it means 'A' is going to come after the three of us when you and Ali aren't around." Spencer explained.
"Or that they'll send some creep to try and kill us like that Source guy did." Hanna added.
"We need to tell my mom." Aria decided.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Hanna asked and everyone shot her a questioning look. "Well she's obviously got a lot going on and she doesn't need to worry about this as well."
"Wow Han, that was actually really sensitive." Spencer teased.
"I have my moments." Hanna responded with a smile as she pulled out her lip-gloss and began to reapply it. "Does it look alright?" She asked, not bothering to try and find her compact mirror in her purse.
"And just like that you're back to normal." Aria laughed.
"You'd miss me if I wasn't here." Hanna told them confidently.
"So what are we going to do about 'A's threat?" Emily asked.
"I could call Leo. He might know of some magical way to protect you."
"Would he help?"
"He's my Whitelighter too. It's his job to help me with demonic threats."
"How do you know it's demonic?"
"I don't know that it's not." Aria pointed out.
"Ok. Should we meet at yours after school then?"
"I don't want my mom getting suspicious. Hanna's right she doesn't need this right now. Besides I don't want to give 'A' a chance to get to you. I'm going to call him now."
"Do you want us there with you?"
"It might be easier. Lets see if my mom's classroom is free."
Ella's classroom was only a short walk from the cafeteria and Aria was pleased to see that it was empty. They went inside and pulled down the blinds so that passers-by wouldn't see when Leo orbed in.
"Leo!" Aria called out. Within seconds he appeared in front of them in a flurry of white orbs.
"Aria, what's the matter?"
"We think someone might send demons after my friends when I'm not around." She started.
"How do you know?" Leo asked.
Emily pulled out her phone again and Leo read through the message.
"Can you tell me who sent this?" Leo asked. All four girls shook their heads and Leo knew not to push the issue. He thought for a minute before responding. "I'd suggest staying with Aria or another witch at all times but I know that's probably not possible." He said. "I'll go and see the Elders and ask what they want us to do. Maybe they can put you guys on my account so I can orb you out if you call."
"Thanks Leo." Aria smiled. "Oh, and can you not tell my mom yet. She doesn't have time to deal with this as well."
"What happens between a Whitelighter and their charge is usually confidential. She knows I can't talk about it but I'm also not going to lie to her." He told them. "You know I have to make some exceptions with you and your mom."
Suddenly Leo looked up to the ceiling. "What's wrong?" Aria asked, to the confusion of her friends.
"The Elders are calling. It sounds important."
"Go. We'll be ok for now until you speak to them about how to keep my friends safe." She said. Without another word Leo orbed out.
"That magic light teleporting thing he does is really cool." Hanna gushed.
"Imagine how much you could get done if you didn't have to spend time driving everywhere." Spencer added.
"And the money you'd save on gas." Emily joined in.
"Paige told me that Leo said it burns a lot of calories as well." Aria said with a jealous smile.
"Seriously where can I learn to do that?" Hanna asked.
"You'd have to do a lot of good in your life and then die. Somehow I doubt you'd be willing to do that." Aria teased her.
Emily changed the topic of discussion back to the issue at hand. "What did he mean by put us on his account?" She asked.
"I think it's just a way of saying he'll be like your Whitelighter. He'd be able to hear when you called for him. That way he can get you to safety and heal you if none of us are around to vanquish whoever 'A' sends." Aria explained.
"You're picking up this witch stuff fast." Spencer commented, clearly impressed.
"I've been reading the Book of Shadows pretty much every night since I found out. I could probably tell you more about fairies and wood nymphs and other magical creatures than I could about calculus."
"You suck at calculus." Hanna pointed out.
"No more than you!" Aria shot back with a smile. She loved how she could always count on Hanna for some comic relief no matter how bad the situation got. Half the time she was sure it was pretty much the only thing keeping her and her friends sane with everything else going on.
From behind them the classroom door opened and Ella walked in.
"What are you girls doing in here?" She asked.
"Sorry mom we were just looking for somewhere private to talk. You don't mind, do you?"
"Of course not honey." Ella smiled. "But I do have some prep to do for my next lesson if you could find somewhere else now." She added.
"Ok." Aria and her friends agreed.
"Will you be home for dinner?" Ella asked before Aria left. "I was hoping you could help me tell Mike about your father leaving. He'll probably take it better coming from you than me."
Aria looked to her friends before turning back to face her mom. "I can be if you need me. Can they come over as well?"
Ella nodded and noticed her daughter and her friends each letting out a small sigh of relief. Was something going on with them? Even after everything they'd been through Ella felt her daughter was still keeping so many secrets from her, secrets that were seemingly only exposed as a result of threats from 'A'. She wanted to call her out on it but decided to wait until her friends weren't around. She knew they shared pretty much everything but some things she wanted to keep relatively private and didn't really want an audience for.
As they were walking out of the classroom Ella overheard Spencer asking to have a proper look at their Book of Shadows. She should've known it would only be a matter of time before she asked that.
"We can all look through it tonight if you want." Aria said in response to Spencer's question once they had left the classroom.
"Do fairies really exist?" Emily asked.
"According to the book they do but you can usually only see them as a child. Phoebe says they like to steal things and hide them from you. At least that's her excuse for why she always loses her keys."
"I'm pretty sure I've had some fairies going through my closet recently." Hanna said. "Or maybe that was my mom." She added as an afterthought.
They were interrupted by Ella calling for Aria down the corridor. Aria promised her friends she'd be right back with them and left to see what her mom wanted. When she reached the classroom she saw that Leo was back.
"Hi Leo." She greeted him. "What's this about?"
"The Elders are concerned that there's some new force coming to power in the Underworld. Apparently she's a Seer who worked under the Source for centuries and wants to take his place."
"You said you thought 'A' might be a Seer." Aria pointed out.
"Or working with one." Ella added. "If I'm right then chances are they are the same person. If she's getting more powerful in the Underworld there's no telling how much worse these threats will get."
Aria and Leo exchanged a quick glance, which went unnoticed by Ella. If they were right then these bigger threats had already started.
"Unfortunately the Elders don't know much more than that at the moment. They want you to look into it and will let you know the second we hear anything up there." Leo explained. "I'm sorry to spring this on you after everything that's happened, Piper." He said sincerely, taking a step towards her.
Aria could tell what was going to happen next and decided to leave before things got awkward. She excused herself and went to find her friends, who had been waiting in the crowded cafeteria where there was little chance of a demon attack. With all this time thinking about being around to protect her friends, she hadn't had a chance to think about how she would do it. There was no way she knew enough about the spells and potions needed to vanquish demons on her own and she wasn't sure how much use her active power would be unless there was some sharp object around for her to try and wound them with.
Meanwhile, back in Ella's classroom, she and Leo were still talking.
"As much as I wish things were different right now, Leo, I know I can't abandon my Wiccan duties." She told him with as much conviction as she could manage. In truth, the last thing she wanted to do was have to vanquish more demons but she'd long since come to accept that it was her destiny, love or hate it.
"As long as you look after yourself as well." He warned her.
"And save the world again?" She asked sarcastically.
"You know what I mean. You need to think about what you need as well. Besides, you have your sisters to pick up some of the slack while you try and sort the rest of your life out."
"By 'sort out' I'm guessing you mean Byron?"
"It doesn't make sense to drag it out. Divorce can be hard enough as it is." Leo pointed out.
"I know. I still need to talk to Veronica about that. And then once that's done maybe…" Ella trailed off, suddenly slightly nervous.
"Maybe what?" Leo asked.
"Maybe we could talk about us again." She finished.
"I'd like that." He smiled. "I'll wait as long as you need me to."
"I can't make you wait too long. I'm not getting any younger here." She laughed and Leo suddenly felt embarrassed about his apparent age. Ella had aged well; there was no denying it. She still looked as gorgeous as ever. He just knew, as she did, that he still looked a lot younger than her and she was worried about what people would think, especially if they found out they'd previously been married.
"I have to go." Leo said suddenly as a call from a charge interrupted his train of thought.
"Bye Leo." Ella smiled kindly at him as he orbed out. Since they'd split up she knew she couldn't feel annoyed with him for leaving mid-conversation. Besides, she felt after learning about this latest threat that she needed a few minutes to get her mind around this new information. If they vanquished the Seer, there's a chance that the messages from 'A' would stop. She really hoped that was the case, given that 'A' was trying to make her rat out her daughter's affair with her teacher to the police. She found herself willing to do whatever she could to stop word about their relationship from getting out. As much as she disapproved of the way Ezra had handled the situation when he met Aria, she was sure he had her best interests at heart and she couldn't hurt Aria by outing them.
Another thought that reluctantly crossed her mind was about Leo. As much as she wanted to start a relationship with him, she didn't want to give 'A' any more reason to hurt her and the ones she cared about. Any secrets, personal or magical, were bound to be threatened and she wasn't sure that their relationship would be able to survive that in its early stages.
Deciding to get back to preparing for her next class, Ella pushed thoughts of demons and 'A' from her mind and went back to work.