As always you need a disclaimer so everybody knows you don't own anything and they will get nothing if they sue. Consider it done with that note.
Here´s the rewritten 12th chapter. Hope you´ll enjoy it again or just skip it. Nothing is changed in this one.
Note: I´m using some stuff from my other story The return but hopefully it´s better than before. I hope you´ll like it. Anyways this chapter begins right after the last chapter ended.
The Power of Four- a new beginning
A horrible secret, chapter twelve
"Hey Prue?" Phoebe gently caresses the hair of her oldest sister who was still lying in the bed where she had just given birth. "Do you know what powers your girl has?" Phoebe asked smiled at the little baby lying in Prue arms. She was sitting together with Piper and Paige beside Prue on her hospital bed, relaxing and taking while the guys were out. Leo and Kyle was sprinkling memory dust on the staff of the hospital and Cole and Bane had excused themselves. Phoebe figured they were at home making the place ready for Prue and Pandora.
Phanessa made a giggling noise and waved her hands fiercely to make her mother notice her. Piper smiled and kissed the forehead of her girl. "You´re right, Pheebs," she stated. "Phanessa already showed us her powers inside my belly." Prue narrowed her eyes thinking. "I don't know," she said caressing the brown hair which was rather thick for a newborn on Pandoras head. "I actually haven't seen anything from her when she was inside me. It will be interesting to see what see has. If it´s mine or Banes." Prue finished.
"Yeah," Paige said but then continued. "But I have a more pressing question. What was that green light that saved Prue? And who made it?" she added. Piper raised her hand. "I kinda think it was me," she said quietly. "But I´m not sure. And I don't understand it if it were me. I mean, how does it fit in with my ability to manipulate molecules?"
"I think we need our whitelighters for this," Phoebe said and Paige nodded. "Let´s get them in here and us out. Hospitals are beginning to freak me out," she stated and called for Leo and Kyle. "Could you check and see if the manor is ready for us to come home?" Paige asked. "And where Bane and Cole is?" Prue added. Kyle nodded and orbed out.
"Leo," Piper tucked in his shirt to get his attention. "Did you see that green light that saved Prue?" Leo nodded. "I did and I have already contacted the other Elders and we all agree." He stopped and smiled at her. "It´s your new power, Piper" he said. "It´s a force field. A protection field," he added, smiling proudly. Piper felt her mouth drop. "I-I have a new power?" she stuttered. Leo nodded. "And a really cool one too," Phoebe said grinning at Piper. "Yeah," Prue added. "That one really saved my ass."
"But how does it fit together with my manipulation of molecules?" Piper asked confused. "You see," Leo said sitting down besides her taking Phanessa from her arms. "You can stop molecules, to freeze them and speed them up to explode them. Now you can manipulate them and make them protect you. The fact it´s green is just a coincidence."
"I-I have a new power," Piper stuttered. Prue grabbed her hand. "Piper? Are you okay?" Piper just continued to stare. Prue looked up at Leo. "Honey?" Leo took Pipers hand. Paige gave Phoebe a look and then took Pipers other hand. "Sweetie? Are you okay?". "I-I-I," she said. Then her face lit up in a beautiful smile and she laughed. "I have a new power! I have a new power," she sang and jumped up. Grabbing Paiges hand she began dancing around with Paige, laughing.
"Well," Phoebe sighted. "At least she took it better than last time she got a new power." Prue laughed. "Yeah, but that was also a really big surprise for her." Paige fell down on the bed making Prue wince as she bounced. Paige shot her apologizing look and Prue just shook her head and smiled. "What are you talking about?" she asked getting herself more comfortable. Phoebe grinned. "About the last time Piper got a new power." Paige lifted her head from the comfort of Prues shoulder. "What happened?" Phoebe grinned. "It was sorta funny."
Flashback
"That must be why we didn't find the first witch in time. We didn't get a read on her before after the amulet was stolen." Phoebe was looking grim. "Okay," Prue said. "But what happens if we don't find her before…" An explosion interrupted her and after giving Phoebe and Leo a look they went into the kitchen.
Piper was standing by the counter covered in red juice and little pieces of red stuff, gasping. "Piper?" Phoebe came in first. Taking a look around Prue asked: "Oh, okay was it a demon?" "No! It was watermelon," Piper cried. Phoebe looking up into the dripping ceiling grabbed a towel and placed it over her head.
"Honey?" she asked. "Why did you vanquish watermelon?" "I didn't vanquish watermelon," Pipers voice was hitting a very high pitch note. "I threw it up in the air and I tried to freeze it and it exploded." At the last statement she flicked her hands which made some herbs in the window explode in their pottery. "Oh," Piper gasped and turned around waving her hands before her, exploding the glass in the cupboards behind Leo which made him duck behind Phoebe. "This was the little problem I was telling you about," he gestured at Piper.
"uh huh," Phoebe muttered and then turned to her sister. "Okay Piper, SLOWLY out your hands down and no one will get hurt," she said calmly. Piper just stared at them her eyes as big as plates.
"Honey!" she almost sobbed and Leo went to her. "Sweetie it will be okay. We´re gonna figure it out," he said but Piper held up her hands to stop him. "no, no, no," she urged. "Don't come near me. I don't want anyone to get hurt." Seeing this Prue decided it was time for the big sister to go into action. "Okay. Put these on," she placed a pair of mitts on Pipers hands. "And now try the tea pot. Try the tea pot," she pointed at the tea pot. Piper groaned in protest and pointed her hands at the stove where the pot was placed.
A moment and nothing happened but then the pot exploded which made Piper cry out in desperation. "Okay, okay," Prue stated desperately trying to calm her crying sister. "That was not that bad," she urged.
"Alright just calm down," Phoebe stated very calmly. "´Cause I think your emotions is making it worse." Piper gave a short sob. "I think I´ll go check with the Elders and see if they know what happened to your powers," Leo said giving his wife a worried glance. "Hurry!" she exclaimed and Leo orbed out.
Flashback ends.
"Hahaha," Paige was having trouble breathing. "That´s hilarious," she gasped trying to catch her breath. Piper glared at her baby sisters but with a gentle smile in her eyes. "Hey! It so wasn't funny," she stated. "It was actually very scary." Her smile stiffened. "I was so scared my powers were gone. You know, as a punishment for me marrying Leo." Piper looked down. "I mean, it would be worth it, but still. My other sisters would still be witches. The Charmed ones and I would.." She gave Leo a helpless look. He gave her a gentle smile and squeezed her hand.
"Piper, I´m so.." Paige started but Piper held up her hand to stop her. "Don't feel you need apologize for this Paigey. I have only just realized it myself," Piper tilted her head. "Maybe I like being witch more than I realized." Phoebe gave Prue a gentle smile. "Finally," she exclaimed. Piper gave her a surprised look. "You caved!" Phoebe squealed.
Piper gave her a surprised look. "What do you mean?" Phoebe giggled and said in a sing-a-long-voice: "You like being a witch.. You like being a witch.." Piper rolled her eyes and smiled. "Yeah, yeah! You got me there." "Yay," Phoebe giggled.
In that moment Bane shimmered in and announced that the manor was ready for the homecoming of his little girl: Pandora Jessup-Halliwell. Prue smiled and picked up her daughter from the basin in which she had been lying. "Could you get my clothes?" she asked Phoebe who nodded and went to find it. After a few moments Phoebe returned and Prue got dressed. "Ouch," she winced. "I got to say, giving birth is really painful." "Aw, poor baby," Bane cooed and kissed her forehead. Prue punched him lightly and gave him a loving smile. "Take me home," she mumbled and giving the rest of the family a wink he shimmered them out.
Piper smiled and took Phanessa out of Leos arms. Snuggling into them herself she mumbled into his chest. "Let´s go home, honey!" Leo smiled and sniffled in the unique sent of Piper before orbing out.
"Guess it´s just you and me, huh, sis?" Paige said before grabbed her last pregnant sister and orbing them home.'
"Welcome home, Pandora and Prue," Kyle patted Prue on the shoulder and made a funny face at Pandora. The little girl was sleeping in her mothers arms so Kyle just went to Paiges side as she formed.
"Thank you Kyle," Prue said and added as Cole coughed. "You too, Cole." Phoebe smiled at Cole. "Ouch," she suddenly exclaimed. "What´s a matter honey?" Cole was at her side in a flash. Phoebe smiled. "She kicked me. Again!" She stressed the last part. "Anyway I really tired so if you don´t mind, Prue I´ll.." and then ripples appeared leaving nothing where Phoebe had been standing. "Phoebe!" Prue exclaimed. "Where did she go?" Cole had jumped up looking around wildly.
"I´m okay," they heard a voice call from upstairs. "I guess we know what powers my kid has," Phoebe yelled. "I´m in the bed room. I was about to say I wanted to go to bed and since I´m up here I think I will tuck in. Night." Cole smiled. "I guess I will follow her," he said before gently stroking the babys hair and shimmering out.
Phanessa yawned which attracted the attention of Leo and Piper. "It´s late. We need to get her to sleep," Leo said to his wife. Piper nodded. "And you need some sleep too," she told Prue and kissed her. "I love you," Piper said and grabbed on to Leo who with a grin orbed them out.
Prue smiled and turned to Bane. "Mommy´s tired too," she stated with a grin. "Take us to bed?" Bane laughed. "As you wish," and with a wave of his hand to Paige and Kyle he and Prue disappeared with Pandora.
Kyle gave Paige a sly look. "Guess that just leaves us," he said kissing her neck. "Umm," she purred. "I guess it does. You tired?" Kyle laughed. "Not too tired anyway," he laughed and giggles were heard as he orbed both himself and Paige out.
One month later and now it was Phoebes turn to be very annoyed and fat. Waddling down the hallway she was talking to herself. "I hate this," she mumbled. "Being this fat, can´t see my own shoes and where the hell is Cole anyway?" Prue giggled as she placed Pandora more comfortable in her arms. "Your thoughts are jumping a little, huh, Pheebs?" she said but winced as she got a deathly glare back.
"I hate this," Phoebe exclaimed. "Now I understand how annoying it was for you. Everybody telling you it would be worth it and it would end soon." Phoebe was fuming. "I want it out now!"
"Aw, sweetie, I know," Prue cooed as she used her other hand to guide her cranky sister towards the bathroom. "And I have to pee al the time," Phoebe felt the tears well up into her eyes. "And I cry all the time. And over nothing," she sobbed. "I know," Prue said gently. "But look at this," she gave Phoebe a good look at Pandora who was awake. "I tell you, she IS worth it. All the pain during labor. All the pee and having strange needs and.." As they reached the bathroom she stopped. Tilting her head to a side she thought a second. "Well, all of it is so worth it. Come on," Prue said opening the door using her telekinesis. "I´ll give you a hand." Phoebe gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you," she said. "For everything." "You´re welcome. What else are big sisters for?"
Later that day Piper was getting ready to take a bath. Leo had offered to take Phanessa with him out shopping so she could have a moment for herself and she had gratefully accepted. As much as she loved her little girl even a mother needed a little time for her self, Piper thought.
Smiling to herself, thinking of her husband and the way he were with Phanessa and how lucky she had been finding him she went into the hallway and left for the bathroom. She giggled as she thought of this morning. Leo had orbed in and kissed both her and Phanessa before announcing he was playing hickey with the Elders for the day.
"Sweetie," Piper giggled. "You ARE an Elder. Don't you think it will be a little hard trying to hide from yourself?"
Leo laughed. "Yeah. But I´m hiding from the others. And besides, it´s really fun." He bent down and kissed her hard. "And maybe later we could get Paige and Kyle to watch the baby and then we could.." he wriggled his eyebrows suggestively. Piper blushed and smiled. "Aw, really?" she said seducingly and kissed him back. "Yeah, but first I´ll take Phanessa out and we will go shopping," he said.
Piper smiled as she reached the bathroom but stiffen as she heard the sound of someone weeping. She tip toed closer, peeping inside.
There Paige was, half sitting, half lying across the WC, sobbing her heart out. Her eyes were red, showing she had been crying for a very long time. The cries were so painful Piper felt her own eyes begin to tear up and she sniffed in before slowly opening the door.
Paiges eyes widened in fear as she heard the door creak but relaxed again as she saw Piper enter, without Phanessa. Thank God, Paige thought to herself. Piper quietly slipped in and closed the door firmly behind her. She sensed this was something Paige didn't want the world to know. In fact Piper had a feeling that she didn't want to know.
Lowering herself to sit beside her baby sister she gently cupped up her face, stroking her tears away. Paige sniffled and tried to hold in the tears, but the compassionate and loving look in Pipers eyes made it impossible and she soon began to wail louder than before. Piper didn't say anything she just let her cry. Gently placed Paiges head in her lap she began stroking her sisters hair, unconsciously singing lullabies for her.
Paige cried until she felt like she had none left and then opened then and gave Piper a grateful look. Piper smiled gently back at her. "What´s a matter, missy Paigey?" she asked gently. Paige shook her head. "I-I can´t," she stuttered. "It´s okay, honey. It´s okay. We don't need to talk about right now," Piper quickly said. "I can´t talk about it here," Paige stated.
"It´s okay, Paigey. Let´s just get you into bed, okay?" Piper looked at Paige who nodded and then grabbed on to Pipers hand as she tried to stand up. "Piper, wait!" Paige paused as if she was ashamed of something. Piper narrowed her eyes. She was beginning to feel very concerned. Something inside her told her whatever Paige would tell her it would change hers and her familiy´s life forever.
"What is it, sweetie?" Paige looked down. "C-can I stay in your bed?" she asked her voice so quiet Piper almost didn't get it. Piper paused, surprised at the question but quickly snapped out of it. "Of course you can, honey. Always," she said taking Paiges hand. She didn't even get to open the door before she felt herself orb out.
Reappearing inside hers and Leos bed room Piper ushered Paige down under the sheets. As if she were sick Piper tugged Paige in and placed herself besides her. Paige felt her eyes tear up again and desperately tried to blink them away. "So," Piper started. "Do you wanna talk about it now?" Paige shook her head. "No! Not really but I have to," she said. "Could you," she paused. "Could you hold me, please?" "Of course," Piper pulled her into a tight hug and felt her sister rest her head on her chest, burrowing herself in the sent of Piper.
Paige took a deep breath to prepare herself mentally. "I´m pregnant," she stated, quietly. "Paige! That´s wonderful," Piper exclaimed but stopped as she felt Paige stiffen. "Is.. What it is," Piper felt the painful knot in her stomach growing. It has been ever since she saw Paige in the bath room. She felt her shirt get wet and knew Paige was crying again.
"It isn't good?" she asked, confused. Paige loved kids! Her nieces were the most spoiled kids in the world. Paige began wailing out loud while nodding. "It´s good but it´s bad too," she sobbed. She lifted her face and the look on it made Piper want to weep herself. "I can´t loose it," she gasped through her tears. "I can´t loose another baby," Paige burrowed her face in Pipers chest again. "Not again."
"I can´t loose another baby. Not again" the sentence shot though her mind. "You mean," Piper felt the knot getting so big she felt like it was gonna explode. Paige sobbed and nodded violently. "You have been pregnant before," she stated, calmly. Paige just cried. "Where is it now?" The sentence ripped her mind open. Paige lifted her face yet again and this time the look was so sad it hurt Piper but there was something else. Anger.
"He took it," she exclaimed loudly. "He took my baby from me." More questions shot though her mind but Piper silenced them. "Who did?" she asked her voice shaking. "Robert. Robert Willkins," the reply came from the darkest place in her soul.
Paige sat up, drying her cheeks. "I was only 15 years old when I got pregnant. I was a lot of trouble back then. Drinking, skipping school, doing drugs. Basically I did everything my parents didn't want me to do. I fell in love with this dark and mysterious guy. He was a few classes above me and very handsome. We went out for sometime when he," there Paige stopped her story and Piper felt her heart break. "No, Paigey, no!" she whispered. "He raped me!" this was another secret from the darkest place of her soul and Paige had spent so much time trying to denying it ever happened but it did.
"Someone had apparently told him I was an easy fuck and then I didn't want to do it he got mad and just raped me." Paige paused. Piper tried desperately to swallow her tears. "But the worst part was that even though he had raped me I still stayed with him. I felt so alone and unloved. My parents always yelled at me, I know it´s no excuse," she added sadly. "But I needed so desperately to be loved that I told myself that it didn't matter. Then I found out I was pregnant and he was so angry. That wasn't a part of the plan he yelled at me in rage but I had been so smart to tell him while we were out so he couldn't do anything."
Pipers heart was breaking into millions of pieces and she wanted nothing more than to kill this guy who had dared to hurt HER baby sister.
"After that I tried to avoid him as much as I could. I knew I never would get an abortion. After a while he actually began to look forward to this child." Paige snickered at this point. "Looking forward to it, my ass," she muttered. "Everything was quiet for a few weeks and soon I was in my 4th and a half month. I was so thin that nobody noticed which I found really odd. Well, then, one night he came home drunk. He had always had a temper but he had never hit me. Before anyways," the last part was added as an after thought.
"I knew as soon as I heard the door this was bad. I tried to lock the door into our room but he barged though it before I knew it. I can´t even count how many times he hit me but I remember thinking: "not the baby. Please not the baby."" She paused again and tears began to fall free. "I guess it didn't matter to him after all. After he was done he fell asleep on the couch and I limped out into the bath room. My body hurt allover and my belly hurt so much I thought I was gonna die. The morning after, it was the most horrible day I ever had. He made me abort the baby. I had to go to the bath room really bad when I woke up and I had terrible pains inside me. I was out there fore at least 3 hours but he didn't even notice. As I looked down before flushing it, that´s when I saw it," Paige sobbed at this point. "It was a little girl." Then she broke down and Piper just held her close as her baby sister cried out her heart.
"I´m sorry," she mumbled over and over again. "I´m so terrible sorry."
There you have it, again. I demand you to review this chapter, again.
Hope you enjoyed it. TTFN