Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed.

Melinda

"What's wrong? What happened?" Victor Bennet exclaimed as he rushed toward his family.

"Daddy!" Phoebe rose from her chair in the waiting room of a San Francisco Hospital. Giving her father a hug, she explained the situation. "Piper's water broke, so we rushed her here and they took her back. Leo came out a little while ago; he said they were getting ready to deliver the baby."

"But she isn't due for another two months."

"Melinda didn't want to wait any longer. But if being premature causes any problems," Phoebe lowered her voice, "then Paige will sneak back there and heal her."

"I won't let anything happen to Piper or the baby, Victor. But, right now all we can do is wait," Paige reassured her half- sisters' father.

Victor worriedly took a seat. He glanced around. "Where are Wyatt, Chris, and the twins?"

"Cole took them all to Magic School. He's gonna go back and get them when I call. But, we didn't think the kids really needed to be here for all the waiting," Phoebe said.

"How did Cole get into Magic School? I thought it was protected from evil."

"Dad, Cole's a good demon! I thought you were gonna forget the past."

Wavering under his child's glare, Victor raised his hands in surrender. "Sorry, Honey. Old habits. So where is my 'good demon' son-in-law, now?"

"Could you two stop talking about demon-strations," Paige scolded. "There are other people here."

Phoebe smiled sheepishly, "Oh, right. Uh, Dad, Cole's out guarding the hospital, making sure nothing is going to come after Piper or Melinda, since there was a... scene... at the manor right before we got here."

"Where do you think you're going?" Cole demanded.

"I'm sorry, Sir, do I know you?"

"Unless you've been under a rock for over a hundred years, yeah I think you know me, or at least know of me."

"One hundred years? Look, Son, I'm a doctor. I'm sure I could get you some medical attention. I know a good institution and-"

The lanky man was cut off by Cole's hand around his throat. He was thrown against a wall. Clumsily standing up, he cowered under piercing eyes.

"Don't insult me."

Losing the act, the man spoke up nervously. "I didn't mean to anger you Belthazor; I was just-"

"Trying to kill a Charmed One's offspring. Yeah, I know. But, I just can't allow that."

"What do you care? I'm not after your witch's kid," the demon began to gain back some of his courage.

"I'm sending a message. The Charmed Ones and their families are under my protection. And I better not catch any demon's coming after my wife and child."

"Well, I'll be happy to pass that along."

An energy ball prevented the demon from shimmering away. "You are the message," Cole announced to the flames.

At that moment his cell phone rang. "Hello."

"Baby, we can see them, now. Can you get the kids?" Phoebe asked.

"He'll be right here," Phoebe told Paige as she hung up. "Where'd Dad go?

"He and Leo headed back. Your dad wanted to make sure I actually know how to heal."

"He's just worried. But, it's a good thing Piper had enough energy to freeze the room right away. Otherwise, the doctor's would've been pretty puzzled as to why Melinda was suddenly perfectly fine."

"Yeah and now she can go home the same time as Piper."

"Phoebe."

She turned at the sound of her name. Cole was walking up, a baby in each arm, and two toddlers following close behind, holding onto his pants and each other. A smile lit her face. She couldn't wait to have a lot of children. Cole was going to be such a great father. Phoebe stroked her stomach before she reached for Wyatt and Chris' hands.

The twins started to get fussy after they were settled into their mother's arms.

Cole grinned.

"Don't make that face," Paige said. "They're not crying for you. They're just hungry is all. I'll go feed them and then see if Henry's done at work, so he can watch them. Pheebs, tell Piper I'll be back as soon as I can."

She disappeared into a nearby restroom and a faint blue color could be seen from under the door.

"Let me hold him," Cole took Chris from his wife's arms.

"I'm not so far along that I can't lift him. And Chris isn't heavy."

"I know."

"Good. So don't start treating me like I'm weak."

"Ok."

"Why are you giving in so..."

Cutting off mid-sentence, Phoebe let out a gasp as her eyes closed and she froze.

"What did you see?" Cole anxiously asked once her eyes re-opened. He hadn't sensed any more demons nearby, but maybe he had missed it?

"I saw," she took a breath, "I saw myself giving birth. I saw our sweet baby being born."

"That's not bad, Phoebe, so why do you look so scared? Was, was something wrong... with our baby?"

Phoebe shook her head, easing Cole's fears, "She seemed fine. But, Cole, I wasn't happy."

"What?"

"I saw our baby and I, me in the premonition, didn't feel happy. Why didn't I feel happy?"

Cole was at a loss for words. Struggling, he came up with, "I'm sure you were happy. You just must have been tired. Giving birth isn't easy, so I'm told. You were happy."

"No, I wasn't. It wasn't a happy experience. And not because it must've been painful; I was unhappy." Gazing into the half-demon's face, she spoke again. "And you weren't there."