Disclaimer: Charmed belongs to Constance Burge, Brad Kern and Spelling Entertainment. The Harry Potter universe belongs to J.K. Rowling. All other characters, places and plots that are not easily recognizable are imaginary and belong to me. I do not make any money writing this fanfiction.
Chapter 17: Goodbye, Grandma Christina
Wenthworth Family Plot
Juliana Landings, Maine, USA
November 07, 2031
7:00 am
Like Aisling, it is time for Emily to say goodbye to her grandmother. Emily is standing in a corner of a little churchyard in Juliana Landings next to a hole in the ground into which her grandmother's casket will be lowered. Around her, delicate falling snowflakes look like glittering diamonds. Snow blankets the ground. A swaying evergreen tree proudly stands over the grave despite the blustery cold winds.
Emily's white blouse, short black skirt, black suit jacket, thin black fish net stockings and dainty little black high heels do nothing to protect her from the cold blustery winds. Her cheeks are red from the chill and goose bumps cover her arms and legs. Her teeth are chattering, but she is unaware of all these things.
Instead, her mind is preoccupied with how kind Aisling and the Halliwells are and how quickly they had become her family. Emily would cook with Piper and Chris whenever they returned to the Halliwell Manor to cook dinner for the rest of the family, which was usually during their break time. The first time that they cooked together, she asked what it feels like to be magical.
Piper had stopped chopping red onions, turned to Chris and said, "You told her."
It wasn't a question and it wasn't an admonition.
"Wy and I did because she is the innocent," Chris replied.
He didn't mention that she had felt him orb her to her grandmother or seen his efforts to heal her grandmother.
"Magic is within everyone. They just have to tap into it. It is different for everybody. Some people have energy spheres that represent magic within them. Deep breathing exercises and meditation can help them tap into the energy spheres. For others, magic is free-flowing like a fire and burns within them. The more you use magic, the more it grows. However, you must believe in Magic and you must ask and not command Magic," Chris replies to Emily's question.
"You sound like a textbook," Emily says with a laugh.
"I am telling you what Uncle Harry told all of the students on the first day of the Hogwarts-Magic School summer exchange program." Chris says.
Emily also tried cooking with Wyatt, but she soon discovered that Wyatt burns toast and he cannot make tea. However, Wyatt would play video games with her to pass the time after dinner when Piper and Chris had to return to either the Charmed Restaurant or P3.
Leo would tell her stories of his life as a medic during World War II after a long day of teaching at Magic School. After Piper had told him that Wyatt and Chris had told her that they were magical, Leo would take her to Magic School, where she would spend hours pouring through the books in the library at Magic School. Sometimes, Chris would let her sit in the classroom, while he taught young magical beings how to brew potions and write spells. Sometimes, Chris would call on her to answer questions just to make sure she is listening to the lecture. The more she learned about magic, the more fascinating magic became.
Emily also became good friends with Aisling. On the weekends, Stacy, Aisling and she would usually go shopping or go see a movie after teaching people how to dance. Sometimes, they would go to the pizzeria at the University of California, San Francisco and play billiards in the game room of the pizzeria, while they waited for their pepperoni pizza, spicy Buffalo wings and breadsticks. Emily discovered that Aisling was very good at billiards and that her success would draw crowds of college boys around her. Some would offer Aisling drinks. Others would challenge her to a game and wager money or their car. Aisling loved the challenges because they helped her sharpen her skills and improve her game. So, she accepted the challenges even though she didn't need the money. Stacy paid her enough to cover her expenses. Whatever she couldn't pay, her father supplied. However, cars were nice, especially if it was a sporty model like the new Carrington Phoenix with a sunroof and extras like a digital video disc player with an assortment of free movies. Whenever she lost, she made sure to only lose her winnings and she would return the property back to its rightful owner.
Sometimes, the boys who lost would ask her on a date. She would gently turn them down and show them the engagement ring on her finger that Chris had given her. However, some of them would be so drunk that they wouldn't notice the ring and would make inappropriate passes at her. That's when Emily and Stacy would step in and lead Aisling out of the pizzeria before she starts a fight and gets them thrown out of the pizzeria. Then, they drive her over to the Charmed Restaurant or P3, where Chris would spend the rest of the night comforting her.
Emily also spent the nights in Melinda's room, where Melinda and she would paint each other's toe nails and talk about boys all night. Melinda would even share her clothes with Emily. Melinda also persuaded Albus to tutor Emily for the examinations in Dr. Sutton's class since Emily was feeling overwhelmed in that class. The results showed when Emily got an Excellent on an examination paper when she had failed the previous examination. Emily would never get tired of remembering Dr. Sutton's astonishment after she graded that paper.
Flashback begins.
Chester University
Clayton Hampton School of Law
Dr. Sutton's Class
San Francisco, CA, USA
November 04, 2031
9:16 am
"Miss Blake, would you please come to my desk?" Dr. Sutton asks as the other students file out of the class.
"Yes?" Emily asks as she approaches Dr. Sutton.
"I have graded your examination many times and every time I get the same total. So, I have concluded that the total is correct. I thought I mis-graded your paper since this much of progress suggests you have been cheating, but Miss Clark has assured me that you have been studying with Mr. Evans and her in the library. So, congratulations, Miss Blake! Keep up the good work!" Dr. Sutton says with a smile that reaches her eyes as she hands Emily her examination paper.
Emily looks at the Excellent on her paper and asks Dr. Sutton, "Will you wait a moment? I will be right back."
Instead of waiting for a reply, Emily runs out of the doors of the law school building and shouts "Yes!"
Then, she returns to Dr. Sutton's class with the examination paper in her hands.
"Thank you, Dr. Sutton!" Emily says as she hugs Dr. Sutton who is placing papers in a black briefcase and runs down the hall to her next class.
Flashback ends.
Wenthworth Family Plot
Juliana Landings, Maine, USA
November 07, 2031
7:45 am
Emily had yet to meet the rest of the family, but she was sure they would like her and she would like them.
Then her thoughts turned toward her own family. Her parents had been too caught up with work and paying bills to make ends meet that they had never really paid attention to her. To get their attention, she had gotten into fights. For instance, she once got a suspension from school for punching another fifth grade student for calling her Pippi Longstocking. The student had called her Pippi Longstocking because she always wore her hair in braids on either side of her head. It might have been a very apt name, but to Emily it had sounded like an insult. She wore her hair in braids back then because it kept her hair from falling in her face. It wasn't like the other fifth grade girls had better hairstyles. Some of them pulled their hair back in tight pony tails that must have hurt their heads. Others kept their hair down because it was cool, but then they were always putting their hair up in ponytails with rubber bands to keep their hair from falling in their face whenever the wind blew. Emily felt her braids were the best solution. They weren't painful and they kept her hair away from her face even on the windiest day.
So, she would go to her grandmother's house everyday after school and stay there late into the night until one of her parents came to pick her up since Grandma always called them to tell them Emily was with her. Sometimes, she would spend the night at Grandma's house and they would stay up late watching horror movies.
Grandma also made the best gingerbread cookies. Well, the best she had tasted so far. Aisling says that Piper and Chris make the best gingerbread cookies, but she still has yet to taste one. Maybe she can get Aisling to convince Piper and Chris to make gingerbread cookies for Christmas.
In addition, Grandma always played with her even if it was something as silly as making pretend tea or dressing up in Grandma's clothes.
It didn't really sink in that Grandma was gone until the casket was lowered into the ground. There would be no more Grandma to run to when a boyfriend broke her heart. Although if the dreams were to be believed, she had found the person she would marry and a real loving family.
"Grandma, I love you!" Emily whispers as she places a red rose onto the headstone that marks Grandma's grave.
After the funeral, Emily exits the churchyard and follows a path that leads down to the Parson George's house.
She takes a few steps forward when she hears footfalls behind her.
"I would like to be alone now," Emily says as she stares down at the shoveled path ahead of her.
A hand reaches out to touch her shoulder and a gravelly voice asks, "Are you okay, kiddo?"
Emily turns around and stares into sparkling blue eyes in a face full of wrinkles and fine lines that belong to a 5'10" tall man who appears to be 80 years old. He walks with a cane in his hand. It is Grandpa. He must miss Grandma even more than her. At least she got to be with her grandmother in her last moments of life. Grandpa didn't get that chance. She wondered why Grandma would ask for her and not Grandpa, but she reasons that Grandma would not want Grandpa to see her death.
"Not really," Emily replies.
"Are you okay?" Emily asks her grandfather.
Grandpa looks at her and smiles as he fights to stay strong and not break down in tears.
"How did you find out about Grandma's funeral?" Emily asks to turn the attention away from her.
"Lieutenant Halliwell came to see me. He said that your grandmother was murdered at Gabriel Knox Elementary School and that the murder is being investigated. Then, he told me about the funeral and to take the earliest flight to Juliana Landings, Maine," Parker Jones (Emily's grandfather) says.
"Thank you for everything," Emily says to Wyatt as Wyatt approaches them.
Parker Jones is confused until he sees Lieutenant Halliwell standing next to him.
"To what is my granddaughter referring?" Parker Jones asks.
"Your granddaughter is staying with my family at the Halliwell Manor in San Francisco, Sir," Wyatt replies.
"I am also thanking you for arranging the funeral and informing my grandfather of Grandma's death," Emily says.
"You are welcome, Miss Blake," Wyatt says.
Then, Wyatt takes off his fur-lined black jacket and wraps it around Emily's shoulders.
Emily places her arms through the sleeves and immediately feels warmer.
"Thank you for the jacket," Emily says.
"You are welcome," Wyatt replies.
"Where does this path lead?" Wyatt asks.
"It goes to Parson George's house," Emily replies.
"Shall we go?" Wyatt asks as he offers his arm.
Emily accepts his arm and they skip down the path.
Parker Jones trails behind them.
My Christy and I once skipped down the path to the parson's house as well. Gina invited us with open arms and gave us her freshly baked apple pies. Let's see what Alice, her daughter-in-law, has in store for us, Parker thinks.
Parson George's House
Juliana Landings, Maine, USA
November 07, 2031
9:00 am
When Emily and Wyatt reach the little brick house with smoke billowing out of the chimney, they knock on the door. A petite 5'6" tall brown-haired woman with warm brown eyes who appears to be in her early sixties opens the door. There is a smattering of flour on her aquiline nose. She is wearing a white apron over a long red dress and a white bonnet on her head. Two black boots peek out from under her dress.
"Welcome, Visitors!" Alice says as she ushers Emily, Wyatt and Parker Jones into the house.
"So, you have returned for one of my mother-in-law's apple pies. I am not baking apple pies today, Parker," Alice says as her eyes alight on Parker.
"Give us whatever you have, Alice," Parker says as he takes off his jacket and heads over to the sink in the corner of the room to wash his hands and face.
Emily and Wyatt follow Parker Jones' example, while Alice disappears into the kitchen. Alice returns with five saucers, five plates, five cups of hot tea and a basket full of scones and sets them on the table. As Emily, Wyatt and Parker sit at the table, the door blows open and a 6'1" tall man with hazel eyes enters the cottage. He is wearing a top hat over his bald head and the customary black robes of a parson. Also, he holds a Bible in his right hand.
"Alice, I would like a cup of tea, please," Parson George says as he closes the door and props a chair in front of the door so that the door will not open again.
Next, he removes his hat, sits at the table and picks up a scone from the basket. He places it on a plate, says a prayer and eats the scone.
Everyone follows his example.
When they are done eating and Alice has put away the dishes, Alice asks, "Parker, who are your companions?"
"This is my granddaughter, Emily, and that is Lieutenant Halliwell," Parker Jones says as he points to Emily and Wyatt.
"Pleased to meet you," Wyatt and Emily say as they shake hands with Alice and Parson George.
"Please accept our sympathies for Christy's loss," Alice says to Parker.
Parker accepts their sympathies and the rest of the evening is spent relating anecdotes of Christina and Parker's visits to the parson's house.
During one of the tales of Christy and Parker sledding down one of the hills near the parson's house, Wyatt contacts Chris through their bond. Chris, I am at the parson's house. I do not know when Emily and her grandfather would like to leave. It might be late. So, don't wait for us. Tell everyone to go home. I'll orb Emily back to the Halliwell Manor later on tonight. Emily's grandfather will probably stay the night and take the earliest flight back to San Francisco in the morning.
Wenthworth Family Plot
Juliana Landings, Maine, USA
November 07, 2031
9:30 am
Back at Mrs. Jones' grave, the Halliwells are waiting for news of Wyatt and Emily.
"When are Wyatt and Emily coming?" Melinda asks.
"Wy just told me through our bond that Emily, Emily's grandfather and he are at the parson's house and he doesn't know when he will be able to leave. He told me to tell everyone to go home and that he will orb Emily back to the Halliwell Manor tonight. He also assumes that Emily's grandfather will stay at the parson's house for the night and take the earliest flight back to San Francisco in the morning," Chris replies.
With that, everyone returns to their respective homes.