Hey everyone! Props to y'all that reviewed – I can't believe that this story's actually reached over a hundred so far! That is fan-freakin-tastic! I seriously didn't think that people would enjoy it... well at least not this much! But hey, I'm having fun writing it too. So, here's an update finally – it's been a while, I know. Good news is that my semester is almost over (Hurray! Only a week left!), so I should be able to update more frequently, especially after exams.
I know that this story is taking forever, but I promise it'll get finished eventually, no matter how long it takes. It really pisses me off when people abandon their stories just as it gets good. Sorry, that's just my rant of the day... Now onto the story!
Enjoy...
"Go where? I don't want to go!" Paisley cried out noisily as she began to squirm in her mother's arms.
"Sh, sweetie," Phoebe soothed in an attempt to quiet her hysterical daughter. "We've got to go now, and we have to be quiet about it."
"No!" Paisley screamed as she wriggled out of Phoebe's arms. "I don't want to leave!"
"Where are you going, Paisley?" questioned Piper as she jogged quickly down the stairs, followed closely by Paige and Cole. She picked up her young niece and quickly surveyed the scene that she was presented with. Her eyes narrowed at the site of her estranged sister who stood guiltily by the open front door.
"Mommy says we're leaving again," Paisley cried tearfully, as she clung to her aunt for dear life. "I want to stay here with you and Paige and Mister Cole."
"You're not going anywhere, honey," Piper whispered gently as she stroked the young girl's back comfortingly. "Do you want to explain what's going on, Phoebes?"
"Well, no... not exactly. But I guess I don't have much of a choice," Phoebe said hesitantly as she closed the door and fiddled with her hands worriedly.
"I'll say," Paige quietly murmured to herself.
"Paige!" Piper warned as she whipped around to face her youngest sister.
"What!" Paige shot back. "It's pretty obvious to me what she was trying to do. She was going to leave again, and I'll be damned if she does."
"Ha! That's funny Paige," Phoebe started, her voice laced with sarcasm. "I thought that the door was open – that the sooner I leave the better? Isn't that how you put it?"
"I didn't mean it Phoebe," Paige said quietly, her face softening considerably. "I was – am pissed off and I think I have the right to be. But no matter how angry I get when I see you, I don't want you to leave again. You're my sister and no matter how stupidly you act... I'll always love you."
"Oh, Paige," Phoebe whispered breathlessly as she walked over and captured her younger sister in a comforting hug as the others watched tearfully. "I'm so sorry."
"I know, I know," Paige sniffled through her tears. "I remember what it was like not having sisters... it sucked. Please don't leave, Phoebe. Don't make me go through that again."
Phoebe stepped out of the embrace and carefully wiped her eyes. Before she could continue, however, a deep voice hesitantly questioned, "Were you going to leave us again... just now?"
Phoebe looked up guiltily, and was taken aback by the pain and hurt that she could see in his eyes. They were the same eyes that she had looked into for the past three and a half years - Cole's eyes. He had passed them down to his daughter, their baby girl. Every time that she had looked into Paisley's eyes, she couldn't help but be reminded of the love that she and Cole shared, that she had left behind. They were unavoidable, his sharp blue eyes that were always filled with emotion, but never before had they looked so lost and hurt. The pain that Cole was feeling was so strong, and mixed with the omnipresent emotions of her sisters, Phoebe couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. Her gaze shifted slowly from one face to the other, from Cole's quiet pain to Paisley's tear-streaked face filled with worry. Phoebe stared disbelievingly at the faces of the people that she had almost lost again, and after taking a deep and calming breath, begun, "Yes, I was going to leave."
"What the hell, Phoebe?" Piper yelled harshly, throwing Paisley into hysterics again. She traded the little girl to Paige before continuing, "You promised... just hours ago. Does that mean nothing to you? I trusted you, Phoebe. You said that you wouldn't leave again, and here you are, standing right by an open door. You can't walk out of this family again! I won't let you. You need to stop running. Just relax a minute and let us help you... it's what we're here for."
"I know... that's what you – it's what we do. We help innocents," Phoebe started. "But you have to understand that I'm not just another innocent victim. You're not meant to save me, I'm beyond help."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Paige croaked as she bounced her niece on her hip.
"I made a mistake," Phoebe said, after pausing a moment.
"Ok..." commented Cole, his eyes pleading for her to go on.
"I trusted someone, well... a couple of people actually, that I shouldn't have," Phoebe continued, her eyes never wavering from Cole's stare. "There were these two witches, Mona and Lucy, who were the head of a coven that I found while I was living in Toronto. They taught me so much about magic and witchcraft, and even helped me channel my powers so I could protect Paisley. But apparently, they aren't exactly who I thought they were, which is typical – for me at least. Again, why does this always happen to me? I swear, I'm cursed with people. How was I able to help all of those people of Ask Phoebe, when I can't even help myself? I don't understand!"
"Uhh, Phoebe?... you're rambling!" Piper interrupted, quickly snapping Phoebe back into reality by reminding her of the audience that listened on with open ears. "Cut to the chase. This is taking long enough as it is. Now what exactly happened to you?"
"What always happens to me, Piper?" Phoebe snapped, sounding almost angry. "It's always me. I trust and care for people that I shouldn't. That's exactly what happened with Mona and Lucy. Only this time, I endangered my daughter. What kind of mother am I?"
The room turned eerily silent as its occupants remained at a loss for words, all of them wondering what kind of danger lay in ahead for Phoebe and Paisley. Sensing this unnerving silence was the tiniest Halliwell who silently slipped out of Paige's arms and stumbled towards her mother.
"I love you Mommy," Paisley murmured as Phoebe crouched down to meet her and capture her in a warm embrace.
Although her little daughter couldn't quite comprehend exactly what was making the room so tense, she was able to sense her mother's pain and respond accordingly. Phoebe thought of how lucky she was to have someone who would love her unconditionally, even through her many mistakes. She also couldn't help but think that Paisley deserved so much more than what she had been given in life. Piper was in Phoebe's mind, the perfect mother, and the kind of parent that Paisley deserved. But things happen for a reason, so maybe she was destined to be the mother of such a wonderful human being.
"Do you mean that they aren't witches?" Paige finally questioned, wrenching Phoebe from her drifting thoughts.
"I don't think so," Phoebe replied as she lifted Paisley into her arms, regaining her upright stance. "They told Paisley about... you know... the man in the park."
Realizing that Phoebe had carefully avoided the word 'father,' Piper suddenly gasped, "Oh... OH! So, you mean... they're evil?"
"What did you say their names were, again?" Cole asked inquisitively, ignoring Piper's obvious question.
"Lucy and Mona," Phoebe replied simply.
After a moment's hesitation, Cole muttered quietly to himself, "Oh my god."
"What!" Phoebe exclaimed, sensing that he knew something that may help. "Do you know them? Are they evil? Demonic? Cole, please tell me."
"I think that they're... the Daughters of Hell," Cole started as he stared into Phoebe's pleading eyes. "Desdemona and Lucifera... of the devil."
"Oh great," Phoebe commented as she released the breath that she had unknowingly been holding. She walked into the living room and collapsed onto the couch, holding Paisley tightly to her chest before continuing, "So I've been involved with the 'Daughters of Hell?' – What does that mean?"
"Well, for starters, I think you're in a lot more trouble than you originally thought," Cole began as he and the others followed her into the more comfortable room. "In order for the prophecy of All Hollow's Eve to be fulfilled, only a being who is as strong as the Source can open the gate separating the two worlds."
"But the Source is dead," Piper explained.
"But from my understanding, Desdemona and Lucifera hold more power than any Source of Evil that has existed throughout time!" Cole said anxiously. "I've only ever heard of their legend – I never actually believed that one day they'd come to rule the Underworld. They were created out of the fires of hell - - they might be too powerful for even you, the almighty Charmed Ones, to destroy."
"I doubt that," Paige muttered almost inaudibly. "But why did they target Phoebe and Paisley? Why not just simply kill them both? Destroy the power of three once and for all?"
"Because they need Paisley," Cole replied. "If I remember correctly, a sacrifice of the most powerful good is needed to break the veil that separates our worlds."
"Wouldn't that be Wyatt?" Paige questioned, cocking an eyebrow at Cole's unconvincing story.
"It's true that Wyatt is the strongest force of good that this world will probably ever see," Cole agreed. "But he's pretty much untouchable now that he's on the right track to achieving all of the great things that he is destined to do within his lifetime. And besides, he's male."
"What difference does that make?" Piper questioned.
"Our blood line runs maternally. The Halliwell's carry a strong and powerful history of great women, and our powers have been passed down through each generation from mother to daughter. The greatest catch of all is of a Halliwell woman," Phoebe explained to her sisters and then turned to focus her attention on Cole. "But Paisley isn't even half as powerful as Wyatt. Why would they ever want her?"
"Our daughter, Phoebe, has an important destiny of her own," Cole started, his eyes softening as he gazed down at his restful little girl. "I wasn't sure until saw her yesterday but now I know. Paisley is the only female child that will be born to this generation of the Charmed Ones. She is the future of the strongest magical family of good that we will ever know. Sacrificing her will end the Halliwell line of witches, and prevent the next generation of Charmed sisters from being born."
"What do you mean that killing her will end our family line?" Piper asked bitterly. "My boys will still carry the Halliwell name and tradition."
"Yes Piper, that's true, but it's still not the same," Cole started, sounding impatient. "Everyone knows that Wyatt and Chris are unbelievably powerful, but the magic that they posses is of a newer variation. Only females can carry your family's old magic."
"I don't understand," Piper said, sounding crestfallen.
"Well you've obviously noticed how the boys are both telekinetic," Cole began as Piper nodded her head in agreement. "Telekinesis is a pretty common magical power for witches and demons alike. But the power to freeze and premonitions distinctly belong only to the Halliwell family. Its how demons have been able to decipher and target your family's witches for generations. This is the first generation actually, since Melinda Warren, that a witch has been born with the power to see the past and future. It's a power that can only be passed to the youngest child, in order to complete the power of three."
"Ahem..." Paige coughed, drawing attention to herself.
"Oh sorry, I nearly forgot that you were there," Cole smirked. "In this case it's the third child who possesses the power of premonitions. Nobody actually expected Patty to give birth to four children... but mistakes do happen..."
"Ha! Mistake!" Paige cried in outrage. "I'll show you mistake!"
"Will you both knock it off?" Phoebe yelled. "Cole, be nice! And Paige you weren't a mistake... well maybe you were, but in that case I was too. I mean, Mom didn't think that she could get pregnant. Mistake isn't the right word though; I think miracle describes our circumstances better."
Paige smiled slightly as she and Phoebe shared looks of understanding. Piper, on the other hand, continued to stare suspiciously at Cole and finally asked, "When did you become so knowledgeable? How do you know all of this – or more importantly, how can we trust that you're telling the truth?"
"Are you kidding me?" Cole asked sarcastically.
"She's right, we need some sort of proof," Paige agreed.
"Proof! We don't have time for proof!" Cole yelled. "Your niece is in trouble - - Halloween's only three days away! They'll definitely make a move soon; I'm actually surprised that they haven't yet. Family's everything to you guys, this is completely out of character. I'm not going to sit here and waste any more time going over all of the boring details. You are all welcome to sit here and do nothing, while Paisley comes closer and closer to death. But I'm not. She's my daughter."
"You are not my daddy!" Paisley shrieked, as she jumped out of Phoebe's hold, startling every person in the room.
Phoebe looked shocked at her daughter's strange outburst, and Cole watched as she stomped in his direction. She lifted a fist up to hit him, but was cut off as he noticed a strange flicker in her eyes and she shimmered out of the room.
"Now do you trust me?" he asked.
Oooh... and the plot thickens... Have a great day everyone, and review if you can! Until next time... Ciao!