Author's Note: Here it is, the chapter where we see the aftermath of Richard's wish! Thanks for reading Phoebe's version of "I Dream of Phoebe" and I hope you enjoy this! Once more, thank you so VERY much to Aurora Nightstar for writing the original "Aftermath of a Wish" and for letting me use it for my almost-novel!

CHAPTER NINE

Later, while Paige went to try to talk Richard into drinking the power-stripping potion on his own, Chris and I were in the living room, staring at the still-sleeping Leo and Piper. Suddenly the grandfather clock chimed midnight as Chris paced passed it, then spun on me, totally panicked. "They're not waking up--how come they're not waking up?"

"Relax, will you?" I asked, knowing there wasn't much we could do.

"Relax?!" and Chris totally lost it. ""How can I relax, I'm about to vanish into thin air, cease to exist--disappear forever!"

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, stop being so dramatic."

Before he could react to that, Piper and Leo started to stir. Leo asked what happened, and I asked them if they were okay.

"Yeah," Piper replied. "I think so," Then she realized she wasn't alone. "Leo?! What are you doing here?"

He jumped away. "I don't know; I swear." He turned to look at me. "What's going on?"

"Arabian sleeping potion," I explained, proving that I could lie as easily and as well as my nephew when I had to. "Very bad stuff; really strong."

Piper stared. "You mean--Jinny did this?"

I shrugged, not able to look directly at them--I wasn't as good at this lying stuff as Chris was--hadn't had as much practice. "Who else?"

Piper jumped up. "Well, we've got to stop her!"

"Actually, we already did," and I was so glad I could tell the truth. "Even got her back in the bottle."

Chris handed the bottle towards his father, muttering, "Which we were sorta hoping you could get rid of for us, if you don't mind."

Leo took the bottle. "So that's it? It's all over?"

Chris nodded. "Pretty much. I mean, you still forgive me, right?" and he looked a bit anxious.

I held my breath, and Leo nodded. "Of course, buddy."

Chris smiled in relief. "Good."

I was still confused. "I still wanna know why we all didn't die." They all turned to look at me and I defended myself, "Well, I'm a little curious."

Chris rolled his eyes and sarcastically commented, "Oh, sure, you don't mind them knowing they almost died, but not that I'm," and he almost blew it, but caught himself. "Never mind."

Piper looked at both of us as if we'd flipped. "What are you talking about?"

So I explained. "Jinny wished for the Charmed Ones to die, and we did, kinda. We became ghosts, but then--."

Piper looked startled. "So that wasn't a dream I had--I thought it was at first. I was floating, right here, looking down on myself, but then," and remembering, she turned to Leo, "You healed me."

He looked at her in shock. "I did?"

Piper nodded. "While you were sleeping, I called to you to wake up, to not let me go, and somehow you must have heard. You wouldn't let me go." And they shared a special look, one that wasn't lost on me, but went totally over Chris' head.

He was too busy putting two and two together. "That must be why Phoebe and Paige's spirits didn't move on. The wish was for all of the Charmed Ones to die--so, saving you kept them here."

Piper was still looking at Leo, smiling at him. "That was very sweet of you."

And Leo gave her his best chivalrous look. "Any time." He smiled. "Wanna go with me to get Wyatt?"

She smiled back. "Sure," and he gently took her hand and they orbed out.

Chris suddenly panicked and called out, "Wait! You can't go! What about--" but it was too late, they were already gone, as he finished in a small, scared voice, "-- me?"

He looked away, dejected, but still reacting to what I saw in Piper and Leo, I wasn't so sure all was lost anymore. I smiled at him. "I wouldn't give up if I were you, Chris--There may actually be hope for you yet."

Even as he gave me a very confused look, suddenly PRUE appeared in front of us, not as a ghost, but blinked in, just like she used to when she'd astrally project. "Help me, Phoebe," she begged. "I'm trapped in some kind of box. There is no light, no way out; I can't even sit up. There's hardly any air. I kept trying to find you or Piper and I finally did, but I don't know how much longer I can last! Help me, Phoebe! Please! And HURRY!"