A/N. Third person again.
Chapter 10
---- 1 March, 2001 ----
"It's even brighter than it was an hour ago," Piper commented, gazing up at the sky in awe. High above her the black expanse danced with turquoise, green and pink lights.
"It's like magic and science and fairy tales all rolled into one," Phoebe said from the chair next to Piper.
"Actually," Prue corrected. "It's ions speeding into the earth's magnetic field and then they collide with air molecules."
Phoebe groaned. Trust Prue to be all scientific.
"Do you guys think it's weird that the Aurora Borealis is happening the night before the Wiccan Festival of Lights?" Prue continued.
"I've been so busy planning for the baby, I forgot tomorrow is a Sabbath," Piper replied, patting her heavily pregnant stomach.
" Yep, it's definitely a time for renewal and growth."
"Uh, please, don't say growth. If this little thing gets any bigger, I'll never be able to snap back," Piper complained.
"Hey, was that a shiver?" Prue demanded. "I think I detected a shiver. Lady, you should go inside with that shiver."
"Shh, I'm fine, I'm feeling fine."
"You didn't look so fine when you were bent over the toilet puking your guts out today," Phoebe pointed out.
Piper rolled her eyes, dismissing their worry. "Nausea, headaches, all a normal part of pregnancy. Along with gas, heartburn, constant need to pee."
"Sounds fun," Phoebe quipped.
A goose squawked, ceasing all conversation. It landed in front of them and laid a golden egg before flying back into the house.
"Another golden goose." Prue rose from her chair to study the egg.
"You'd think the magical community could find maybe something else to give to the baby," Piper said.
"Well, that's the hot item this year," Phoebe told her.
"Clearly," Piper agreed.
"Yeah, I could definitely melt this down and make a fashionable ring," Prue decided.
"You are not keeping that," Piper said adamantly.
"Goosey, goosey, goosey."
Prue turned towards the house just in time to see Piper's husband, and the Charmed Ones' Whitelighter, Leo, dive for the goose and miss. As Piper and Phoebe laughed, Leo got up and continued through the house.
"As much as I am enjoying the spectacle, I think we should really send those things back. Dad is in town on Thursday and he wants to stop by for a visit," Piper said.
"Yeah, he does get very Darin Stevens about our whole magic thing," Phoebe agreed.
"Yeah, we should maybe have Leo ask the Elders what the policy is on magical gift returns," Prue suggested. "We don't want a curse put on the family or anything."
Leo walked into the garden, his handsome face contemplative and turned upwards. "I wonder what the Elders want this late."
"Well, I don't know, but you go find out and keep it down when you come back because I'm gonna head up…" Piper stood up and swayed slightly. "Ohh. Or maybe down." She fell back into her chair, her head lolling forward.
"Piper!" Phoebe screamed. She was out of her chair and by her sister's side in an instant.
"Piper," Leo murmured, moving equally as quickly with Prue hot on his heels.
"Leo…" Phoebe whimpered.
Leo placed his hands over his wife's chest, trying to heal her.
"What's going on?" Prue demanded when nothing happened.
"I don't know, I can't heal her, she won't come to," Leo replied, his voice raised in panic.
"Okay, to the hospital, come on."
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---- 2 July, 2019 ----
"Well how do we know that?" Callie wondered.
Piper marched towards the cabinet and helped Lacy search through the top drawer. "This is the drawer he was looking in?"
"Yeah. He left it open," Leo replied.
Twenty minutes later Piper had deduced the spell that had been taken.
"Well, what would they want with that?" Wyatt asked, once his mother had shared the news.
Piper and Leo shared a look, both silently agreeing that this was the time to tell their children.
"We know why."
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---- 1 March 2001 ----
"You scared us," Phoebe told her sister, smoothing down her chocolate brown hair. The sight of Piper lying in the hospital bed, wired up to machines and looking so small troubled Phoebe. Piper had always been so strong.
"Me too. I guess I'm not so invincible after all," Piper replied. Ever since becoming pregnant Piper had had the ability to heal herself, and the power of a force field. Or rather, the baby had been healing her and it was the baby's force field.
"Yeah, maybe we need to start taking better care of you," Prue realised.
"No," Piper disagreed. "It's my fault. Everybody kept telling me to slow down…"
Leo reached forward and took Piper's hand in his. "It's not your fault. We're all in uncharted territory. The Elders said this is a special child and anything can happen. Let's not forget that."
Everyone stopped talking and glanced up as a female doctor entered the room, carrying a file. "How are you feeling?"
"Uh, tired and… weak."
"I've got your test results here but I can't find your chart. When are you due?"
"Uh, six weeks."
"And who is your regular doctor?"
Uh – oh. Piper knew that question had been coming " Uh... we don't have one."
"We've sorta been seeing alternative medical practitioners," Leo added.
"You don't have an OB/GYN?" The doctor sounded shocked.
"We're training to be midwives," Phoebe informed her.
"I'm open to all forms of healing but a woman in her third trimester should've had ultrasounds and blood work done by now. A medical doctor could have caught your condition earlier."
"My condition?" Piper asked.
"Toxaemia. It's a form of high blood pressure in pregnant women," the doctor explained. "Do you deal with unusual stress in your life?"
"Very unusual," Prue murmured.
"Is it serious?" Piper demanded. If she had done anything to harm her baby she would never forgive herself.
"Toxaemia restricts blood flow and food and oxygen to the placenta. It can result in a small baby; premature delivery or it can lead to other complications, none of which you need to worry about now. Most women respond quickly to the treatment."
"Okay, so give me the treatment."
"The treatment involves a no salt diet, no stress and lots of bed rest. Do that and the symptoms should reverse. I'll be back later to check on you."
Piper smiled her thanks as the doctor left.
"That's probably why I couldn't heal you. High blood pressure isn't just physical, it's a state of mind," Leo told his wife.
"No stress and bed rest. Do you think you can handle that?" Prue asked.
"Yeah, I can handle that. I'll do anything."
"So will we," Phoebe said, putting an arm around Piper's shoulder.
---- 2 March, 2001 ----
"Hello?" Piper called as Leo helped her into the Manor.
"Welcome home, honey!" Phoebe cried as she and Prue raced down the stairs. "Or should I say your highness? Because from now on we are your loyal subjects."
She gave Piper a huge hug.
"We even turned your bedroom into a royal throne room," Prue added.
"Let me take you there now, my queen." Leo took a step forward and held out his hand to lead Piper up the stairs.
"Alright, knock it off before I cut your heads off. I don't want any special treatment." 'I don't deserve any special treatment. I did this to my baby.'
"Piper, we love you, let us love you," Phoebe said.
"Yeah, I mean, as your sisters and your midwives, we feel it's our duty to provide you with solitude and serenity and -"
A goose squawked, interrupting Prue.
"A gaggle of geese," Piper finished.
"I thought you guys were gonna get rid of those," Leo said to his sister – in – laws.
"You said you were gonna ask the Elders on magical gift return policies," Phoebe shot back.
"Okay, you guys, it's fine, everything's fine. It's not gonna bother me, I'm not gonna let anything bother me for the sake of my daughter," Piper announced. 'I won't be making that mistake again.'
"Come on, I'll take you upstairs," Leo offered.
Piper took his hand and the two of them ascended the stairs.
Prue turned to Phoebe the instant they disappeared around the corner. " I thought you said you tied them up."
"I did, but the little flockers got loose."
"Okay, we have to do better than this for Piper. I mean, if we can't keep geese away from her, how are we supposed to protect her from demons?"
"Okay, you're right, you're right, we should take turns guarding the manor. You know, who knows what kind of weirdo stuff's gonna show up…" A neighing noise came from the kitchen. "Here."
Together they hurried into the kitchen to find a white unicorn chewing at an apple.
"Oh my goodness, it's a unicorn!" Phoebe cried excitedly.
"Yes, it is. In our kitchen. Is that another baby present you think, maybe?"
"Yeah, the best one ever." Unable to resist, Phoebe wandered over to the mythical beast and stroked its course fur.
"Okay, Phoebes, while unicorns may be very magical and cool, I'm not so sure it's appropriate for a baby."
"Oh, come on now. Our little niece will grow into it."
"I'm not so sure about that. Have you seen those hooves? And how are we gonna baby proof that horn?"
"Hey, look, there's a card. 'From El,'" Phoebe noticed. Part of the card is torn so she cannot read the rest. "El? Do we know anybody in Spain?"
"Phoebe, I don't care who it's from, okay? It just can't be here now. It's way too much stress for Piper and the baby, okay? So just magic it out of here."
"I can't. Unicorns are mythical beasts from another world. Where do you propose I 'magic' it to?
"I don't care, just get it out of here, okay?"
"You're the one with the moving power, you try."
"Fine." Prue swung her arm forward, but nothing happened
"What was that?"
"I can't move it."
"Okay, stand back. Uh, take this beast, before I end her, ship her back, return to sender." Nothing happened. "Wait, why aren't my powers working?"
"Uh," Prue dropped her chin to her chest, preparing to astral project. Again nothing happened. "Nothing…"
"Oh, no. I can't levitate, I'm grounded."
Leo rushed in, panicked. "Something's wrong, something's wrong, I can't orb. I was trying to go to the Elders to find out how to get rid of the golden geese and why is there a unicorn in the kitchen?"
"Forget the unicorn," Phoebe instructed "Our magic's down too."
"It is?"
"Okay, well, whatever hit us, we have to assume also hit Piper," Prue realised. "Okay, and she can't find out about this until we know what's going on because she -"
"Hello? Where is everybody?" Piper's voice floated down the stairs.
"Why is she out of bed?" Leo asked.
"I don't know!"
"Go put her back," Phoebe ordered.
Leo ran out of the kitchen.
"Alright, Phoebes, uh, you take the magical farm animals and put them down in the basement. I'm gonna get the book and I'll meet you down there." Prue rushed out of the kitchen.
"Alright, you're Spanish. Andale!" Phoebe waved her arms and clicked her fingers, but the unicorn refused to move.
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"Why are you on your feet?" Leo demanded, rounding a corner and catching Piper coming down the stairs.
"I was coming down to get some food. A person could starve around here."
"Hi. Bye." Prue cried as she ran past them
"Alright, come on upstairs, I'll get your food. You're supposed to be on bed rest."
"Okay, well, bed rest doesn't actually mean..."
"Yes, it does. The doctor said stay off your feet and relax."
"Relax. Everybody keeps telling me to relax, like it's something you do," Piper complained as she and Leo entered their bedroom. "Like, like switching off a light."
"You need to learn how to do it, Piper, if you're gonna get your blood pressure under control."
"My blood pressure would not be a problem if we had been seeing a doctor like we were supposed to."
"I knew that was coming," Leo muttered. "Come on, sit down." He moved to help Piper onto the bed, but she pushed him away.
"Don't treat me like a baby factory, I can sit myself down." She sat down on the bed. "All these fears about a magical baby and don't let the doctors find out and we'll buy a birthing ball and Prue and Phoebe will be midwives. And you know what? We were wrong."
"How can you say that?"
"Because somehow in the middle of all this we forgot the most important thing of all. What's best for the baby."
"Well, that's not fair. A lot of people decide to have babies at home."
"Uh huh, maybe so but I was not one of them," Piper pointed out. "And this baby is not even out of the womb yet and I'm already screwing up as a mother."
"You haven't screwed up."
"Yes, I did, Leo, I did. I have a disease that is threatening our baby and I could've avoided it if I had just trusted my instincts."
"Well, what are your instincts telling you now?"
"To have this baby in a hospital."
"Okay, I'll make arrangements today."
"Oh, really. And what happens when she's delivered in swaddling orbs?"
"We'll deal with it then. From now on I want you to feel safe and secure, okay?" He leaned forward to kiss her forehead and as he moved backwards a side table toppled over, scattering CDs and books all over the floor. Piper brought her arms up to freeze. "No magic! No magic! No magic! It's just too much stress on your body!"
"Like that mess on the floor's not gonna stress me out?"
"Well, I'll clean it up."
The phone rang and Piper reached sideways to answer it. "Hello? Uh, sure." She moved the phone away from her ear. "It's one of your charges. Since when do they use the telephone?"
"Since I've been ignoring them to spend more time with my lovely wife." He took the phone, wondering who it could be. "Excuse me. Hello?"
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"There you go," Phoebe cooed, scattering grain all over the basement floor. "Come on, come on." She stepped backwards and heard the disgusting sound of an egg crack. She looked down at her show tentatively. It was covered in yellow egg yolk. "Aw, yuck."
"Okay, look at this, check this out!" Prue cried, coming down the stairs with the Book of Shadows in her arms. She flipped a couple of pages. All of them were blank. "The whole book has been erased."
"How's that possible?"
"I don't know and without the book, I don't even know how to find out. It's like someone's taken the magic and erased it from our entire family."
"I think it's bigger than that." Phoebe pointed to the squished egg.
"Oh, is that from one of our golden geese?"
"Yeah, I don't think we're gonna be able to return them now."
"What is going on?"
"You know, this all started when El mystery mare arrived," Phoebe realised. "Maybe she's a Trojan unicorn sent to suck away our magic."
"No, I doubt it. Unicorns are the essence of good magic. If anything, they should enhance our powers, not steal them. What about the sky last night?"
"What, the northern lights on the eve of a Sabbath? Yeah, it could be a mystical sign but don't those normally come in threes? Where's the third?"
"Have you been experiencing uncontrollable emotional mood swings in the last week?"
"Am I that transparent?"
Prue smirked. " No, but read your horoscope. Jupiter, Mars and Saturn are all in Gemini. That only happens once every three hundred years."
"It's like the universe is practically screaming at us to get our attention."
"Yeah, but what is it trying to say?"
"I don't know. But I've got a lot of research books in the attic. I'm gonna go up there and check it out."
"Okay, I'll meet you up there. I'm gonna try to figure out a way to wrangle the geese."
Phoebe smirked knowingly. "Good luck."
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"Any luck with the geese?" Leo asked Phoebe as they met in the foyer.
"Prue's trying know." Phoebe went to move past her brother in law.
"Where are you going?"
"Attic. Research books. Seems like magic's down everywhere."
"I know. I got a call from a charge saying her powers are down too. I unplugged the phone in case we get anymore calls. I don't want Piper to panic."
The doorbell chimed just as Prue rounded the corner.
"I'll get it," Phoebe offered. She opened the door and gasped at the sight in front of her. A tall young man, no older then nineteen, leaned against the door frame. His dark brown hair was mattered with blood and his stormy grey – blue eyes were clouded over with pain.
"Oh!" Leo rushed to support the stranger as he staggered forward.
"Are you the Charmed Ones?" He asked, lifting his eyes to Phoebe's.
"Who wants to know?" Prue demanded.
"I need your help."
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---- 2 July, 2019 ----
"Well go on then," Wyatt urged impatiently.
Piper took a deep breath and looked directly at her eldest daughter. "The day you were born… two demons tried to kidnap you and raise you evil."
"I know. You told us before."
"What we didn't tell you is that the demons were from the future. 2019, to be precise."
A/N. Okay, I haven't been getting many reviews lately (thank you to those who have reviewed), so unless I start getting some more, I'm not going to continue with the story.