Choices
Disclaimer: I still do not own Charmed, gol durn it.
A/N: To ethereal girl and charmed1s-halliwells: Thank you so much.
A/N: This chapter has one small instance of foul language. I hope that it does not offend.
P.S. Something really big happens in this scene!
:-)
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(The bathroom. Phantom Phoebe leans on the sink, looking bored. The shower is running.)
Phantom Phoebe: Is taking a shower right this minute really necessary?
Phoebe's Voice: (from shower) You just told me that my son, who doesn't exist in this dimension and since you're probably lying anyways probably doesn't even exist period is crying and that I can hear him. Yeah. This kind of situation calls for a shower.
Phantom Phoebe: (frustrated) I'm not lying to you Phoebe. He exists. Warren and Cole are alive. They need us, and you're wasting time taking a shower!
Phoebe's Voice: La la la la, la la la la, I'm not listening!
Phantom Phoebe: (tries to kick the toilet in anger) Why are you being so stubborn! It's not like I'm asking you to go somewhere horrible! (She looks up, addresses the shower curtain hopefully) Our world…it's, it's ….
Phoebe: (pokes her head out from behind the curtain, grabs a towel) I'm sure it's lovely. (Wrapped in towel, she steps out of the shower) Now go away. (She goes to the mirror, picks up a brush, and starts to comb through her hair)
Phantom Phoebe: We're happy there, you know.
Phoebe: Correction. You're happy there. I've never been there. And I'm not going. (A baby cries again. Phoebe throws the brush down into the sink) God! Would you make him stop crying! (She goes and sits on the toilet, her head in her hands) You're gone. You and Cole are gone. The Source killed you. I vanquished Cole.
Phantom Phoebe: (goes over to real Phoebe, kneels down in front of her) Not in my world. In my world you and the Seer weren't able to get to Cole until after he transferred the Source's powers to the wizard. (She smiles) We called Piper and Paige, and vanquished him on the spot. We went back home to the Book, and prepared the vanquishing spell for the seer, and kicked her out of our lives for good. (She looks up at real Phoebe, who is trying not to listen) The Angel of Destiny showed up at that point, and offered us magic free lives. Piper was all for giving up her powers. We weren't; neither was Paige. In the end we worked out a deal; Piper and Paige would give up their witch's powers, which they gave to us.
Phoebe: (incredulous) They just gave us their powers?
Phantom Phoebe: We felt that it wasn't right to deny our son his birthright; we would use their powers to keep him safe from demons, and to teach him to be a force of good in the magical world. They understood that.
Phoebe: (curiosity getting the better of her) And what happened after that?
Phantom Phoebe: Paige didn't want to leave the magical world, so as part of the deal she took over Leo's whitelighter powers and the rest of his charges; that keeps her pretty busy most of the time.
Phoebe: And Piper and Leo?
Phantom Phoebe: About a month after the power exchange Piper found out that she was pregnant. She's due any day now.
Phoebe: (confused) Wait…so what year is it in your dimension?
Phantom Phoebe: 2003 just rolled in. Time moves differently between the dimensions.
Phoebe: I see. (Quietly) What happened to us?
Phantom Phoebe: (beams) We got a job with the Times and moved to back to New York with Cole; our sisters and Leo still aren't completely comfortable around him. We figured time heals all wounds, and some distance wouldn't hurt either.
Phoebe: We just left San Francisco?
Phantom Phoebe: Why not? The Power of Three doesn't exactly exist anymore, since all the power is in us. Demons aren't a threat to Piper and Leo or their baby, and Paige, being a full whitelighter now, only has to worry about the occasional darklighter. Besides. (She rests her hands just above Phoebe's) We needed a new start, Cole and us. Needed to rebuild our marriage. To raise our son. Together. Life has been wonderful. (She pauses) Like heaven.
Phoebe: (demanding) Then why did you leave? Why do you need me?
Phantom Phoebe: It's like I said. When the Avatars recreated your dimension, it threw off the cosmic balance for a little bit. Most worlds were okay, didn't experience any lasting damage. But mine…when the change took place my powers weakened. A part of our essence, which before had been able to coexist across dimensions, somehow got transferred over here, to this dimension. I started to fade away. So I cast a spell to bring me back to…me. With our souls joined, we can survive over in my world.
(Camera to the kitchen. Piper is holding Melinda, feeding her a bottle. Leo is trying to feed Chris some cereal; Chris keeps orbing the spoon back into the bowl. Paige is looking in the refrigerator for something, and Henry and Wyatt are sitting at the table, playing with Wyatt's dinosaur figurines. Coop walks in.)
Piper: Hey Coop. (She takes the empty bottle from Melinda's mouth and sets it on the sink.) Is Phoebe up yet?
Coop: (unhappily) She's up, all right. And we are in some serious trouble.
(The adults look at him, apprehensive. Coop takes a deep breath and starts to speak)
(Camera to the bathroom. Phoebe is dressed now, in Piper's clothes. She's putting the finishing touches on her hair. Phantom Phoebe stands behind her.)
Phantom Phoebe: Phoebe, I know that this is a lot to take all at once, and I'm sorry that I have to be so abrupt. But time is of the essence here.
Phoebe: Could you hand me that bottle of hairspray, please?
Phantom Phoebe: I can't hand you anything. I'm not corporeal. I have no substance.
Phoebe: Fine. I'll get it myself then. (She takes the bottle, sprays some in her hair.)
(Cut to the kitchen. The adults are gathered around Coop, aghast)
Paige: I specifically asked her if you two had had a fight. She said no. (To Piper) Why would she lie like that?
Piper: I don't know. Whatever the reason, it can't be good.
Leo: What are we going to do?
Piper: I don't know…
Paige: Magic school.
Coop/Henry: Huh?
Piper: Good idea. (To Leo) Honey, could you drop the boys and Melinda off at magic school? I don't want them around if Phoebe's going crazy.
Leo: No problem. (He takes Melinda from Piper, takes Wyatt and Chris' hands.) All ready. (Paige waves her hand and orbs them out)
Henry: Okay. Operation Save Phoebe has commenced. What do we do?
(Leo orbs back in)
Leo: One of the teachers gave me a lift. What's the plan of action?
Piper: I'm thinking a flat out intervention.
Paige: Sounds good to me.
Henry: And me.
Leo: And me.
Paige: Coop?
Coop: (doesn't hesitate) I'm in.
Piper: Good. Let's go.
(They walk out the kitchen door, into the dining room)
(Camera to the bathroom. Phoebe is putting on some makeup. Phantom Phoebe is pacing, pleading)
Phantom Phoebe: Phoebe, please. I need you to help me. I'm not going to last much longer.
Phoebe: Please, go away.
Phantom Phoebe: I'm not going away. I'm not leaving without you.
Phoebe: (throws down makeup brush) Stop saying that! I can't come with you. I won't.
Phantom Phoebe: Why not!
Phoebe: Because, I—
(Phantom Phoebe and Phoebe look up; someone is knocking at the door)
Paige's Voice: Phoebe? Are you in there?
Piper's Voice: Sweetie, we really want to talk to you.
Phoebe: (to Phantom Phoebe) I'm sorry. I can't. (She turns to the door)
Phantom Phoebe: (desperate) Please, Phoebe, no—
(Phoebe opens the door. Piper, Paige, Henry, Leo and Coop stand outside. Phoebe looks at Coop in disgust, turns to her sisters)
Phoebe: Where's Melinda? She must be hungry. (Without waiting for an answer she pushes past the small crowd and starts to walk towards the stairs)
Paige: (as the adults follow) Um, actually she's already eaten. Piper gave her a bottle.
Piper: Yeah. And Leo took her and the boys to magic school.
Phoebe: (whirls around) You took my daughter somewhere and left her in the care of someone else without asking me?
Leo: (trying to calm Phoebe) Phoebe, please don't get mad, we just wanted to talk to you, and—
(Camera to Phoebe. An ear splitting scream comes from the attic. Phoebe hears it and doubles over in pain)
Phoebe: No... Warren!
Piper: Phoebe, are you okay?
Paige: (rushes to her side, followed closely by Coop) Honey, what's the matter? Who's Warren?
Phoebe: (ignores them, looks up at ceiling) You didn't hear that?
Henry: Hear what?
(The scream is heard again, louder this time. Phoebe squeezes her eyes shut and clutches her stomach.)
Phoebe: (practically screams) Warren! (She shoves Paige and Coop aside and runs for the attic. Coop, Henry, and Leo sprint after her. Paige crosses to Piper and takes her hand, orbing them upstairs)
(Cut to the attic. Phoebe burst in through the door and stops, stunned. In front of her is a portal—a portal that leads to her other dimension bedroom. Phantom Phoebe stands beside the door.)
Phoebe: What's going on? Why did I hear him scream?
Phantom Phoebe: Remember what you said to Cole earlier today? About the call from 'her?'
Phoebe: Yeah, so?
Phantom Phoebe: So, 'her' is Paige. Our whitelighter, in my dimension. She called to warn us that a very powerful warlock was after Warren. And his powers.
Phoebe: She was the one who was coming over? The one that Cole didn't get along with?
Phantom Phoebe: Yes.
(Coop, followed by Leo and Henry, run in the attic, right as Paige and Piper orb in. Phoebe looks at them, back at Phantom Phoebe)
Phoebe: Look, there's nothing I can do about it.
Coop: Phoebe, who are you talking to?
Phantom Phoebe: Yes there is. We can join souls.
Phoebe: I already told you, I'm not joining souls with you. I can't.
Piper: Phoebe, what are you talking about?
Phoebe: (to Phantom Phoebe) I feel bad for you...us...whatever, I really do. But I can't just abandon my family.
Paige: Abandon your family!
Phantom Phoebe: Whatever choice you make, you'll have to abandon someone. If you choose them, then—
(Another scream cuts through the air. Phantom Phoebe and Phoebe both double over. Coop runs over to Phoebe)
Coop: Phoebe, honey—
(Phoebe looks up at the portal, and stares, transfixed by what she sees)
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(A frantic Cole runs into the bedroom inside of it, holding on to screaming Warren for dear life. He runs to the dresser and puts an amulet around his neck, then speaks)
Cole: Dammit, how'd they get through the crystals? Paige! Where the hell are you!
(just then, a fireball blasts down the door. Cole jumps over to the bed and hides behind it. A very nasty looking warlock walks in)
Warlock: (taunting) Come out, come out, wherever you are!
Cole: (hiding, whispers) Phoebe...please Phoebe...if you can hear me...we need you baby. We're in big trouble here and—
Warlock: Gotcha! (he stands over Cole and Warren) Come to daddy!
(Warren is blinked into the warlock's arm. Cole lets out a roar and lunges at the warlock, who blasts him with a fireball. Cole disappears in a cloud of ash. The warlock gives a mirthless laugh and blinks out.)
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(Camera to Phoebe, who shoves Coop away with all her might, and sends him crashing to the floor)
Phoebe: Noooo! (she runs closer to the portal, stops, looks over at Phantom Phoebe, who has tears in her eyes) How could you just stand there! Why didn't you do anything!
Piper: (starting to approach Phoebe) Phoebe, stop that! (Leo catches her) Leo!
Paige: (helping Henry get Coop back on his feet) Piper, stay away from her! She's not herself. She might hurt you.
Phantom Phoebe: I'm couldn't do anything. I don't have the power anymore.
Phoebe: (hysterical) You let the warlock take him! You let him kill your husband!
Piper: Okay, Phoebe, sweetheart, Coop's alive! Nobody took him! He's just fine!
Phantom Phoebe: It's not too late.
Phoebe: What do you mean? They're dead.
Phantom Phoebe: (shakes head) No they're not. The warlock won't kill our little boy. Not yet. He'll try to turn him evil first. And Cole...that amulet protects him from the warlock's powers. He's not dead. He got transported somewhere. We can find him.
Phoebe: (turns and looks at Coop, whispers) But Coop...Melinda...
Coop: (runs over to Phoebe and grabs her arms after she says his name) I'm here, Phoebe, I'm here. Please, honey, talk to me—
Phantom Phoebe: (storms over and looks Phoebe in the eye) Listen to me, Phoebe! You might be married to that Cupid in this reality, but in mine your connection, your duty to Cole was never broken.
Phoebe: But Melinda...
Phantom Phoebe: I know. You love her. Like we love our son. The only difference is that Melinda is safe here; her father and Paige and Piper can protect her. In my world Cole doesn't have his powers anymore, nor does Piper, and Paige won't have the time to raise him unless she gives up her powers. (pleading) I was the only one who could protect him.
Phoebe: But unless I go with you...
Coop: Go where?
Phantom Phoebe: (finishes Phoebe's sentence) I'll, we'll, cease to exist in my world. (she chokes back a sob) And if I cease to exist, then our son will be defenseless. Our family will die.
(Phoebe pushes Coop away again, but not as hard. She buries her face in her hands)
Paige: Phoebe?
Phantom Phoebe: Phoebe?
(Phoebe looks up, slowly turns to Phantom Phoebe)
Phoebe: What do I do?
Phantom Phoebe: (relieved) Take my hand, and walk to the portal. Hurry.
Phoebe: (turns to Coop) I'm so sorry. But it's the only choice I can make.
Coop: Sorry about what? I don't understand—
Phoebe: (weak, tight smile) Tell Melinda that her mommy loves her, and always will.
Coop: What are you saying?
Phoebe: (to Paige and Piper) Take care of her, okay?
Piper: No...
Paige: Phoebe—
Phoebe: Goodbye. (she turns, takes Phantom Phoebe's hand. Phantom Phoebe melts into Phoebe. Phoebe runs to the portal and jumps in.)
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(inside the portal. Phoebe looks around the room.)
Phoebe: Warren! Cole!
(two demons walk into the room. One throws an energy ball at Phoebe. Phoebe levitates, and the energy ball smashes into the wall. Phoebe comes back down on the ground, raises her hands, and blows up the demon that threw the energy ball. The other demon starts to back away)
Phoebe: (quiet, dangerous voice) What did your boss do with my son and husband, you sons of bitches?
(the demon runs from Phoebe. Without saying anything she chases after him)
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(the attic, same as before Phoebe went into the portal, only Phantom Phoebe and said portal are nowhere to be seen)
Phoebe: Goodbye.
(Phoebe turns, runs in the direction of the portal. When she jumps, however, she doesn't disappear. She just falls to the ground.)
Coop: Phoebe!
(Coop runs to Phoebe, as do the rest)
Paige: Oh my god, is she-
Coop: (frantic) She's breathing...
Piper: Then why isn't she waking up!
Leo: Paige, get in there. Heal her.
(Paige kneels and places her hands over Phoebe. A bright light shines for a moment, then disappears)
Paige: I...I can't. There's nothing to heal. She's...she's fine. She just won't wake up. It's like she's in a coma or something.
(Paige, Piper, Henry, Leo, and Coop look on in shock)
Piper: (breaking the silence) What are we going to do?
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Wow, that was an intense scene to write...hope you guys like it. Please R & R!
Next Scene: Piper, Paige, Henry, Leo, and Coop try to save Phoebe; Piper has a revelation.