I do not own Charmed.
This takes place during 8x01 (events unmentioned aren't changed)
I'm starting to wonder if anyone's really interested so review and tell me if I should keep going.
Life. Noun. Four Letters. One Syllable. It's been said that the best things in life are free. It's also been said that everything comes at a price. Two painstakingly contradictive statements and Ben spent the greater part of his life wondering which is legit.
Ben was taught to believe the first but often witnessed the second. Year after year, day after day, Ben found that if something was said to be free, the other foot usually dropped and a price was paid. Ben wonders whether or not this paradox has an answer or is deliberately set up to drive him mad. At moments like this, he can't help thinking that this was the price of living, like they had to die so he could continue to live.
Four hours after reading the newspaper, Ben stands in front of the mirror adjusting his tie in preparation for the memorial ceremony over at the manor. Burying his mother was inevitable. All children bury their parents. He just didn't think he'd have to do it twice. 'Technically I don't,' he realizes internally. 'This time there isn't even a freakin' body.'
He looks into the eyes of the stranger in the mirror. He had swept up blond hair and bared a striking resemblance to a hybrid of Chad Michael Murray and Paul Walker. Low key didn't seem to be in Billie's vocabulary when she put glamour on him. The thought of a glamour hadn't even crossed his mind. Nothing really did beside the guilt of a million what ifs and the roads not taken.
If there was ever any doubt that one person could make a difference, that what we do matters, it is dashed at the moment he set eyes on the sea of people in the manor. Every one of these people's lives had been touched by these people- the legendary Charmed Ones. Whether it was the women or the legends, the thoughts or the actions, they changed lives and saved them too.
Ben stands frozen in the front hall- suspended in time- just watching the sea move around him. He can hardly breathe; it's like there's this weight on his chest being in the manor without them. Figuratively speaking, there is. Memories of his childhood, those moments that technically never happened, haunt his heart.
Whether time remembers it or not, Ben knows that when he was eight, he thought it'd be smart to skateboard down those stairs. When he was twelve, he learned to play guitar in the living room. He learned to cook in that kitchen, excelled his powers in that attic, slept in the front bedroom.
They had Halliwell family dinners at the dining room table where his Aunt Paige's urn is, did his homework at the conservatory table where Phoebe is, and sat in the living room window waiting for his mom to get home for P3. Not her ashes. Not what's left of them.
His heart constricts painfully at the thought of his brother and sister missing out on their own set of memories. His head spins madly in a whirlpool of emotions. Just when he thinks he cannot do this any longer, her arm interlocks in his. It's a small gesture of support that makes all the difference. He mouths the words 'thank you' and she smiles sympathetically and mouths 'welcome'.
On a table in the front hall entry is a sign in book and a pile of white roses. None of them were particularly fond of white roses. His mother liked tulips, Phoebe liked sunflowers, and Paige was partial to lilies. He signed the book Ben Hall because Chris Halliwell still just doesn't feel right. Billie signed beneath him and they took a combined total of three roses.
Billie: Your Aunt knew Janice Dickinson?
Ben: Huh?
Billie: That guy over there said Janice Dickinson was just here.
Ben: I don't know. Coulda been an innocent or something.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, the woe of neglect forces one Halliwell sister to realize how little she was involved in the world outside of magic and has her own identity crisis
Piper: We were supposed to keep a low profile. What were you thinking?
Paige: I was thinking that I've obviously been spending too much time in the magical world because nobody even cares that I'm dead!
Phoebe: That's not true! You have mourners… I mean, there are lots of leprechauns out there—
Paige: I mean REAL PEOPLE!
Piper: Well there was your friend Glenn.
Phoebe: Yeah Glenn was at your urn and… and Ruthie, our neighbor.
Piper: No she was just going to get coffee.
He stands in front of the picture and urn of his Auntie Paige. Noticing the lack of flowers, he took the two in his hand and set them in front of the picture. Paige always strived for perfection but he couldn't help but remember the beautifully flawed woman he knew and loved. She was strong but not impervious, courageous but not fearless, creative but not virtuoso. Her imperfections make her perfect… made.
Coming to the funeral was supposed to be the key to acceptance- the fifth stage. They say we grieve in five stages: denial, grief, anger, bargaining, and finally acceptance. Five Stages. One Cycle. If only it were truly that simple, why is he back to denial? Why does he keep going through the motions? Why does he keep coming full circle? Why does he keep going around and around, doing and feeling the same.
Five stages of grief. Denial. They can't be gone. They were just here. Anger. This isn't fucking fair! Bargaining. I'll trade my life for yours. Grieve. It hurts so much I can barely breathe. Acceptance. As if this will ever come.
Five stages of grief…as if it's that simple.
As if he'll ever accept that they'd died.
Leo: …What are you doing?
Piper: Apparently having an identity crisis.
Paige: Oh..! So it's okay for you to change your husband into. OW!
Phoebe: What's wrong?
Paige: It's that jingling in my head.
Phoebe: Does that mean the Elders know she's alive?
Piper: No. They can't. We cloaked ourselves from them.
Leo: It could be a new charge. Ya' know a connection to one's whitelighter is automatic.
The moment the words came out of Leo's mouth he could see the cogs begin to turn in Paige's head. That was never a good sign and now, that they had a whole new lists of secret to keep, it certainly isn't. Before he can even begin to imagine what's going on in that pretty little head of hers, she's blowing past him and peeking out the door. Thankfully Phoebe's hot on her heels and pulls her back in before her curiosity kills the cat.
Phoebe: No, no, no, no, no. No demons.
Paige goes back into the kitchen all but giving up when Phoebe notices another set of mourners standing in front Paige's urn. The young man's face was contorted such raw emotion and the blonde on his arm kept looking at him with concern on her face like he'd shatter at any given moment.
Phoebe: Hey Paige, do you know them?
Paige: Who?
Phoebe: The couple standing at your urn.
Paige: No. You don't think that one of them is my charge, do you?
He feels eyes on him like a sixth sense. His initial reaction is to look towards the crowd of people and when he turns back towards the urn he catches a glimpse out of the corner of his eye but when his attention snaps that way, it's nobody. He writes it off as his memory playing tricks on him but voices his concern all the same.
Ben: Did you see that?
Billie: You mean the man wearing brown shoes with a blue suit?
Ben: No. I thought I saw… Never mind. Let's go pay our respects to Phoebe.
Billie: You sure you don't want to take this slow?
Ben: Yeah.
He never knew one word to sound so conflicted in his life. It's been happening so fast. Four hours ago he found out they were dead. It all just seems so sudden, rushed. He doesn't want to take it slow and let it sink in because the moment he truly does stop, he fears his heart will too.
Grief is a destructive force. It's sneaky and swift like a thief in the night, sneaking up unexpectedly and pouncing. Its intended target is Ben but as it prepares to strike, he catches sight of a shifty looking man conversing with the man he used to call grandpa. The moment he sees a murderous look cross his grandfather's face, Ben pulls a redirect and walks over to the pair in order to investigate, finally finding the strength to stand on his own.
Victor: Get out.
Ben: Is there a problem here gentlemen?
Victor: Mr. Haas was just leaving.
Ben: I'll show him out.
Haas (at Victor): Again, sorry for your loss.
The altercation seemed to have run its course. Ben keeps a friendly smile on his face and the attitude of a mediator shown to the man. Truth is he's just getting a read. Everything about the man is dark: dark voice, dark outlook, dark clothes, dark skin, dark everything. One thing is certain in his mind. He wants them as far away from Victor and the kids as humanly possible. He takes him out onto the porch and avoid them.
Haas: I'm sure I can take it from here.
Ben: Okay, sir. Just um… it'd be wise of you to never darken this particular doorway again.
Haas: Are you threatening me?
Ben: Me? No, Sir. I was just offering a friendly suggestion.
With that Haas left. Ben watches him walking down the block with such devotion that he doesn't notice Billie joining him on the front porch.
Billie: Who was that?
Ben: I'm not entirely sure but I intend to find out.
The second his feet hit the floor of his apartment, he's on the move. He's a man on a mission, relentless in his search. The moment he puts his mind to something is the moment the first step is took towards accomplishment because he won't stop until he gets it. Maybe it's the soldier in him or maybe it's the Halliwell. Whatever the case, he's not stopping until he knows that they're safe.
Ben: Billie, you take the laptop and see what you could scrape up on this business card I pickpocketed from Victor.
Billie: Paul Haas. Real Estate agent. Wait you want me to look into a real estate agent? Thinking of selling the place?
Ben: Something about him didn't sit right with me. Twenty bucks says he's a demon.
Ben moves the shelving unit that houses a number of your typical Wiccan objects like potion ingredients, vials, maps, and magical artifacts. It acts as a door, swinging on hinges and revealing a hidden room. The 8x10 room was actually a 15x10 with part blocked off in order to protect his secrets. Curiosity leads Billie into the room behind him.
All of Billie's findings led her to be the Underworld was nothing more than a global maze as vast as the ocean, uncharted and desolate. But an entire wall of the secret room is dedicated to a map of the Underworld divided by demon territories instead of countries. It almost appeared to be a projected image and when she reaches out to touch it, the image zooms in and breaks out into clans and camera options. Cameras had ben set up through throughout it.
Ben: Before you ask a misspent sabbatical and I uh… lived in the underworld for a few months in my late teens.
Billie looks up at him, evidence of stunned shock still present. Then she looks at the heavy arsenal of weapons: athames, crossbows, arrows, swords. Next to it is a locker and on the wall connecting the map and arsenal is a locker with clothes for undercover and a leather jacket with a symbol she'd seen before. She blows past him and pulls out a black leather jacket with a white skull wearing a crooked crown on the back of his jacket and a single stripe from his shoulder to his wrist.
Billie: No way. You're that vigilante that's responsible for the arrests of over a hundred criminals. You're the cities white knight.
Ben: There's a whole world of people out there that needs us. We can't wait for them to come to us. The jacket is just me wanting to bring justice to the innocents of the world but can we focus on the task at hand.
Billie: Okay but this conversation is not over.
Ben: Fine. The fact that Haas has a cover as a real estate agent could mean he's trying to get ahold of the manor. I'll stake out the house use the card to scry and call me if you get anything.
The best things in life are free or everything comes at a price. Their freedom comes at a price. They make Wyatt, Melinda, and Victor vulnerable. The Halliwells argue the best way to protect the family and scold Paige about not ignoring who she is. Meanwhile, a hero remains close, ready to save the day at a moments notice. After Billie's little altercation with a demon in the theater, they found the card wasn't good enough to properly scry. So Ben and Billie choose the stakeout method.
Ben: I'm beginning to remember why I chose the Military over Police Academy. Stakeouts suck.
Billie: You were in the Army? I didn't know that.
Ben: There's a lot you don't know about me.
Billie: Then tell me.
Ben: 20 questions… full honesty. Promise.
The rarity of finding uncensored honesty in responses, especially when coming from Ben, makes his proposal all the more shocking. He was a man of mystery hiding behind sarcastic responses and subject changes. He has trucks in his pockets, things up his sleeve, mischief in his eyes. But he promises honesty and she takes him up on it.
Ben: Ladies first.
Billie: Alright. Is the glass half empty or half full?
Ben: Neither. It's the wrong size.
The clever response brings a smile to both of his faces but it's quickly wiped off Ben's face when the crystal sitting on the dashboard lit up indicating a demonic presence in the house.
Haas: Hello, Victor. Now, are you sure you don't want to sell?
A smug expression crosses his face, thinking he has the elder man right where he wants him. It's a condescending nature that quickly evaporates when the front doors burst open to reveal the disguised duo that was really becoming a pain in his side.
Unknown Demon: Who are you guys?
Ben & Billie: Your worst nightmare.
Their argument with Grams is cut off by the sound of a loud crash. While many would run away from danger, these girls are different. They run towards it.
Phoebe: That doesn't sound good.
Piper: Oh no it doesn't.
Paige: Thank you for coming.
Grams: Oh, the good old days.
If there was one thing that could be said about Ben and Billie's fighting style is that it's almost poetic, the way they fly through the air and move with such fluidity and agility. Billie sends a demon flying against the wall before doing an elaborate flip up and over the couch. The moment she touches down, she pulls an athame from her boot and gets a second demon in the abdomen. Meanwhile, Ben focuses in on Haas.
Ben: I told you to stay away!
Ben peels back the hood of his blue hoodie desiring to look Haas in the eyes until the lights went out of them and he erupted in flames. The urge to kill- the desire to make sure his family is forever protected from this demon- drives him to want to end his life in the most unmerciful way. Yet, his common sense tells him one death of a demon won't make any difference. There needed to be a message sent.
He drives a spinning back kick into Haas's chest and followed it up with firing an arrow from the weapon that attached to his wrist that fired off arrows like the device Spiderman used to sling webs in the cartoons. It pinned the demon to the wall, shot through his shoulder, and Ben began his menacing approach.
Ben: This is your final warning. Mess with Victor or any other member in connection to the Halliwell line and I'll kill them all. Spread the word.
In an attempt to protest, Haas telekinetically sends a lamp flying in Ben's direction.
Paige: Look out!
Ben's not a fool. When you're told to look out in battle, it's best to heed the warnings. Ben jumps down and avoids the lamp. After finishing off the last demon other than Haas, she sends an athame Haas's way. Haas flames out just in time. Billie walks over to Ben and gives him her hand so he can make it to his feet.
Something about the intensity of battle- be it the adrenaline rush or the passion- sends the electricity surging through his body exciting every nerve. That spark they had the moment the first met went off driving both their eyes down to their hands. Suddenly he's intoxicated and draws her closer. He's so drunk on the grace of her smile, the intensity of her eyes, and the touch of her skin. Everything about her is highly addictive.
Ben: Thanks for the heads up.
Billie: It wasn't me.
Ben: Then who?
The Charmed ones stand up from their hiding spot behind the railing in an attempt to get a better look at the couple. When the man with short, brown, tousled hair turns to look at them, pulling his Aviator sunglasses off, Phoebe gets hit with the memory of the first time those green eyes met hers. Paige remembers the last time she'd seen them open and Piper jumps back like she's been burned.
Piper: Chris!
It's been said that the best things in life are free. It's also been said that everything comes at a price. Ben finds nothing in life is free. As he puts two and two together, he realizes though the best things in life don't come with a price tag they do come with their own sets of prices. The best things come with an effort behind them. You work for them. Drive. Determination. Heart. Practice. Everything comes at a price. Ben's just about to find out the price for their lives.