Season 5

Happy

Three months later...

This is the longest the Charmed Ones have had peace with no demon attacks since they've gotten their powers. At this point, it was making them nervous. They were starting to think that something was going to happen at any minute but nonetheless, they were trying to go with the flow and continue being happy as they have been for a while.

"I am having the strangest pregnancy symptoms!" Piper exclaimed as she walked in the kitchen and joined her sisters at the table.

"I'm sure your symptoms aren't any different from any other expecting mother." Phoebe said.

"I beg to differ. Burping orbs is not normal. Usually, when a woman is craving something, it doesn't orb in their hand at an instant. Trust me, I don't do it on purpose. Not to mention, I'm freaking invincible, however, that part I thoroughly enjoy." The sisters shared a laugh. "But seriously, there's no one I can talk to about any of this and MY WHITELIGHTER HUSBAND DOESN'T STICK AROUND LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO TALK TO HIM." She yelled knowing Leo heard her from wherever he was.

"I'm sure he's just busy." Phoebe said.

"I know you want Leo BUT there's only one woman in history who knows anything about being pregnant with a half witch/half whitelighter." Melinda said.

"...You are absolutely right!" Piper exclaimed walking out of the kitchen.

"So what about you sis, you and Jim have been spending a lot more time together lately?" Phoebe asked. Melinda smiled.

"It's fair to say our friendship has been taken to another level. We have a date tonight."

"Great! When do we get to see him again?"

"I don't know. It's not like he knows that I can orb across the country. What's on your agenda for today?"

"I have an interview today for People magazine!"

-v-

Piper had just approached the Book of Shadows.

"I need to talk to someone about all this, someone who's been through all of this before. I want to talk to my mother and I want to talk to her now!" Piper exclaimed before turning to the spell but Patty suddenly appeared in front of her.

"Piper? What am I doing here... in solid form?" Patty asked.

"I don't know. I didn't even say the spell yet. I guess the baby did it! I tapped into her powers I guess. Gosh, what can't she do? Anyway, I'm so happy you're here." Piper hugged Patty.

"Why did you call me?" Patty asked.

"I need you. I'm having all these strange pregnancy symptoms that I think only you would understand and I just want someone who's been through all this before to help me prepare. I need my mom."

"Mama's here."

Piper and Patty headed downstairs. Phoebe was headed toward the door from the kitchen when they came downstairs. Phoebe gasped in shock and excitement.

"Mommy!" Phoebe exclaimed as if she was three years old all over again. Then hugged Patty and wouldn't let go.

"Hello my darling." Patty said.

"What are you doing here?" Phoebe asked.

"Piper needed me and apparently your niece thought she'd make that request come true." Patty said.

"My niece is amazing!" Phoebe exclaimed.

Melinda walked in the room.

"Oh, I see you took my advice." Melinda said. "Mom, it's nice to see you again." Patty hugged Melinda.

"I hate that I have to go. I don't want to leave you. I'm coming back though." Phoebe said then headed out the door.

"I have to get back to the shop." Melinda orbed out.

Piper and Patty got some hot chocolate and got comfortable on the couch.

"Ok, so what's going on?" Patty asked.

"You didn't by any chance burp orbs when you were pregnant with Melinda, did you?" Piper asked.

"Yeah. That was strange and I'd have the strangest, out of this world dreams."

"Me too! Did whatever you were craving orb in your hand with no intention to do so?"

"Nooo." Patty was lost on that one. "You mean like the baby orbs what she wants to eat?" Patty asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Sort of, in a way...it's more like conjuring."

"They weren't kidding when they said our newest little Halliwell would be powerful."

"That's the thing, how do I handle all this? I'm carrying the future most powerful witch to ever live. The pregnancy is like no other and raising her will be a whole other story?"

"You'll know what to do when it's time. I should know. I'm the mother of the Charmed Ones. I didn't know that until I was pregnant with Phoebe but I worried too. It's a little scary to be the mother of a child that you know long ahead of time that they will be more powerful than you are but really, you just have to relax. Mother and I didn't really have to deal with your powers too much because we bound your powers right after Phoebe was born."

"So what was the hardest part about knowing what we would become?" Piper asked but Patty seemed reluctant to answer. "Well?"

"You were all constantly under attack but you and your sisters are well equipped to handle that." Patty assured Piper.

"Maybe but I'm not looking forward to all that... You know I really need help with the nursery."

"Pretty early for that, don't you think?"

"Better to do it, while we haven't been under attack."

"Well let's get to it, shall we? You still need to do some shopping?"

"Yeah but someone might get freaked out if they recognized you."

"I'll wear a hat and sunglasses and if anyone asks I'm a cousin who happens to look like me."

Piper laughed. "Alright. Let's go!"

"I'm glad you called me. I never thought I'd have this moment with any of you."

"It means everything to me too, mom." Piper smiled.

-v-

After Phoebe finished her interview she called Piper and met her and Patty at the store. They entered the manor with more things for the baby than they could carry. In fact, there was still more in the car. Leo went to the door when he heard them come in.

"You got all this?" Leo asked as he helped them with the baby furniture and baby clothes. "Patty, what are you doing here?"

"I needed someone to talk to about everything I've been going through with this pregnancy and some kind of way the baby made it happen." Piper said.

"You can talk to me." Leo said.

"You've been busy honey, besides, no one could understand like mom. Could you orb this stuff up to the nursery... and there's more in the car? Piper asked. Leo waved his hand and orbed everything to the nursery then went out to the car.

Piper, Phoebe and Patty went to Piper's room and to her former closet, now nursery. So far it was painted white, a window was added and there was a white crib with pink bedding.

"You turned your closet into a nursery?" Patty asked, incredulously.

"It's the only room left, bad idea?" Piper asked.

"No, you've done a good job with it so far. It's hard to believe it was a closet. Let's finish it, shall we?" Patty said. The three of them got to it. It took some time but they finally got it done. The nursery was decorated white, pink and green. They had a few stuffed animals and some sweet family pictures up.

"Wow! The nursery's finished! It looks great!" Melinda exclaimed after walking in. She was wearing a sexy black dress and her hair was curled.

"I see you're ready for your date tonight. You look amazing." Phoebe said.

"Thanks. Jim's going to pick me up from Andrea's so I'll be going soon."

"I was hoping we would be able to spend some time together." Patty said.

"I'm sorry. I'm sure this won't be our last chance." Melinda replied then Patty hugged her. "See you all later." Melinda orbed.

"Now the nursery is done... So have you been exercising your powers everyday?" Patty asked Piper

"Do I have to?"

"Yes or they could go all out of whack and that's even more important with this baby since she's so powerful. Have you said a ritual to promote growth?"

"Nooo."

"Did you say a spell to cast away demon parasites?"

"Nooo."

"Don't worry, we can do that now." Patty smiled. "Any time I ever get to spend with you girls is always the happiest time of my after life."

-v-

Melinda and Andrea were chatting in the living room of Andrea's apartment.

"Why didn't you want Jim to pick you up from your place?" Andrea asked. Melinda hated to lie.

"Your place is closer." Melinda replied. There was a knock at the door.

"That must be Jim." Andrea answered the door. "Hey Jim."

"Hey Andrea." Jim looked into the apartment and saw Melinda standing there. "Wow, absolutely radiant. You're beautiful." Jim walked over to Melinda. She smiled. "You ready to go?"

"Yes!"

Melinda and Jim went to a comedy club. The comedian on stage was so hilarious their stomachs were hurting. Melinda suddenly stopped laughing after she noticed a ghost staring at the comedian. She was glad the ghost didn't notice her noticing him because she didn't want her date to be ruined. Every time things seemed to be going normal something always had to get in the way. She looked at Jim. She enjoyed his laugh, his smile, his heart, his presence. He's an amazing man, he had always been a good friend and she just knew he'd be an amazing boyfriend. She loved him already and it was wonderful how easily they could go from friendship to more than that so easily. She was having a phenomenal night with him so far.

After the comedy club they took a walk in the park.

"Did you enjoy the club?" Jim asked.

"Absolutely! I've been enjoying the entire night. We always have fun together." Melinda replied.

"So... anything going on that you haven't told me yet?" Jim asked.

"Well, my sister Piper is pregnant. I'm going to be an aunt. I never thought I'd get to be an aunt growing up an only child and all. I thought the closest I'd ever get to that was if Andrea had a baby." Melinda laughed.

"I'm glad you and your sisters hit it off so well."

"So am I. I could've met my biological family and they could've hated me or something but my sisters are great. I love them so much. Now that I have them I don't know what I'd do without them. What about you?"

"I got a raise and a promotion."

"That's awesome! Congratulations!"

"Thanks... It's a beautiful night."

"Yeah, the stars are so bright. People always say things like, 'It's a small world.' I don't think we have any idea."

"I think you're right."

Jim soon took Melinda back to Andrea's.

"Where's your car? I haven't seen it in a while." Jim asked.

"It's home." Melinda replied. It was true, she didn't lie. When she moved she summoned her car to San Francisco. It was too heavy for her or Leo to orb. "You know, you don't have to walk me upstairs. You walked me to the front of the building, that's enough, really. I enjoyed our date so much."

"Yeah, so did I." Jim kissed Melinda for the first time. It was sweet.

"Goodnight." Melinda smiled then went inside. She went into an empty stairway then orbed home to the living room where Piper, Phoebe and Patty were.

"Yay! You're back before mom has to go!" Phoebe exclaimed.

"So darling, how was your date?" Patty asked.

"It was amazing. We went to a comedy club, then took a nice long walk in the park, he took me back to Andrea's and we shared our first kiss. I don't know, I think Jim may be the one."

"Awww!" Phoebe exclaimed.

"We're happy for you." Piper said.

"Yeah, you deserve the best. You all do." Patty said.

"Aww, mommy I'm going to miss you." Phoebe said in her baby voice then hugged Patty and didn't let go.

"Me too. I always do." Piper said, joining the hug.

"Perhaps a day will come where we really spend some time together." Melinda said then joined the hug as well.

"Piper, have I given you the help and advice you needed?" Patty asked.

"Yes, I feel much more content after talking to you but one more thing. I want to have the baby at the hospital but my sisters and husband think I should have the baby at home. What do you think?"

"I agree with your sisters and Leo." Patty said.

"What? You know, Phoebe was the only one born in the house and after the whole thing with the Woogey, we came to the conclusion that she was more prone to evil because she was born here."

"... Well." Patty thought that could be absolutely right but... "Melinda was born in the house. Actually, when you were born your name was Patricia. It was Patricia Samantha through my entire pregnancy until about an hour before Sam and I took you to the church but anyway... It was a good thing too. Having a half-whitelighter child is different from having any other baby. You've already realized how odd the pregnancy is and because this baby is so powerful it's even odder. When Melinda was born she came out in a swaddle of orbs. Your baby probably will too and that most likely will freak a doctor out."

"Wow. Ok. So what should I do?"

"When I was pregnant with Melinda I got a magical midwife. When mother was young she was in contact with a lot of magical beings and she had a friend who was a Shaman. A Shaman is like a witch doctor. They're naturally born with the abilities of a doctor, they're natural magical doctors. The Shaman who helped me through my pregnancy is still alive and her name is Reselda, Reselda Hughes. You should find her, she's a good person and she'll help you, if not her, one of her children or grandchildren will."

"I will."

Leo walked into the room.

"I hate to break you all away from each other but I think it's time I get Patty back to the heavens." Leo said.

"Awww." The sisters said in unison.

"Too soon." Phoebe said in her baby voice. The sisters finally let go of the hug they had Patty in and she went over to Leo.

"Goodbye my darling daughters. Blessed be." Leo orbed away with Patty.

What do you all think about this chapter and what's unfolded so far?

...And what do you think, will Piper be having a Melinda or a Wyatt?