Magic of Life
It took some time to find Reselda Hughes, the shaman Patty suggested but Piper finally tracked her down. She lived in a nice townhouse in San Francisco. Piper and Leo went to her house to meet her. Leo knocked on the door and they waited.
"I know it's a bad idea to have the baby in the hospital but what if something goes wrong?" Piper asked as she rested her hand on now obviously pregnant tummy.
"Nothing's going to go wrong. An elder told me himself that we would have a very healthy... and powerful baby. I know there's something he knew that he wouldn't tell me but it wasn't that the baby wouldn't be healthy because she will be, he assured me." Leo replied.
The door finally opened. The woman was about seventy years old with long silver hair to the bottom of her back and still had a hippy look going on. Piper and Leo shared a look.
"Hello, I'm Reselda. What brings you lovely people to me today?" Reselda asked.
"I'm Piper Halliwell. You used to be friends with my grandmother Penny."
"Yes. Piper, you're all grown up and so beautiful. You remind me a bit of your great grandmother... Come in."
Piper and Leo stepped in the house and looked around, it instantly felt like they had went back in time to the seventies or something. The lady was obviously stuck in the era.
"So what brings you?" Reselda asked.
"Well, I'm pregnant and you were recommended to be my midwife, shaman actually, either you or a family member."
"Who recommended me?"
"Uh... my mother."
"Patty? I take it, you've contacted her from the other side."
"Yeah. She said you delivered my sister."
"Right. Little Patricia, great you all know of her now."
"Yeah and actually they decided to name her Melinda."
"Right, after your ancestor. I remember. We called her Patricia for so long I forgot they decided to change it. Anywho, beautiful baby she was, she had those big brown eyes! You know, I delivered your mother too."
"Really?"
"Yes! Penny and I were very close and we embraced magic to the fullest, good times we had. So you need a shaman."
"Yes, see my baby is half-whitelighter and it may not be the most normal delivery."
"Oh! Like mother, like daughter. You afraid like your mother was?"
"No actually, it isn't really forbidden anymore. We're married... I'm sure the elders wouldn't want witches and whitelighters to make this a habit though."
"Well you two seem really happy..." Reselda stared at Leo. "Have we met before?"
"I've been a whitelighter a long time, we may have crossed paths before, I don't know."
"...Leo? Is that your name?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah. You used to come to some of the magic love parties at the manor way back when."
"Leo!" Piper exclaimed, surprised and little disgusted. Leo smiled awkwardly.
"You know that was a long time ago." Leo said.
"There are some things about being married to a whitelighter that I just can't get used to. So Ms. Hughes, can you help us? I really just need someone for the delivery, maybe even train my sisters as midwives, you know, just in case."
"Sure but I'm actually going to recommend you to my granddaughter, Leigh. I'll give her a call for you."
Piper continued to go to her doctor through the pregnancy but prepared to have Leigh deliver the baby. Phoebe and Melinda also trained to be midwives in case of an emergency.
The time approached for Piper's baby shower. Phoebe and Melinda wanted everything to be perfect and Darryl's wife, Sheila helped them as well. They had pink and white balloons up but they made sure not to go overboard with the decorations because they know Piper likes to keep things simple. They also had a cute cake which was made to look like a little baby stroller and it said 'Welcome Baby Halliwell.'
Piper and Leo came downstairs and admired what they had done with the place.
"Aww! It's perfect! Thank you all so much!" Piper exclaimed.
"You're so welcome Piper." Sheila said.
"Anything for you and our little niece." Phoebe said.
"I will be back later for the shower, ok." Sheila said then left.
The sisters and Leo sat down.
"It's getting closer, just a few more weeks." Melinda said.
"It's so surreal you know. I've been looking forward to this for years now. I finally get to meet my little girl again. Leo, she's so beautiful... will be... was? Whatever, you understand me."
"Yeah, when the angel of destiny sent us on our little journey we saw her, absolutely adorable." Melinda said.
"I can't wait to meet her." Leo said.
A darklighter appeared and shot an arrow at Piper, she froze the arrow in midair then blew up the darklighter.
"Brave one, wasn't he? Showing up like that." Piper said. Phoebe took the arrow out of the air and got rid of it. "What was that about?"
"I guess he was after the baby." Leo said.
"Why? He didn't get the invincibility memo? Darklighters usually attack smarter that." Piper said.
"What's a darklighter?" Melinda asked.
"They kill whitelighters and future whitelighters." Leo informed.
"And no one filled the half-whitelighter in on those things? So how do they become darklighters?" Melinda asked curiously. Piper and Phoebe both looked at Leo intently. They really wanted to know the answer, they never thought to ask before.
"Well you know, people become whitelighters when they die by doing extraordinary good in their lifetime but darklighters were people who did extraordinary evil in their lifetime.
"Interesting." Phoebe said.
"I hope no more show up today." Piper said.
Later the guest arrived for the shower. Luckily, there were no more attacks. Piper's friends brought so many gifts. She was happy to actually spend some time with them. She had been so out of the loop every since she got her powers and every time she attempted to get back in she got called away because of demons.
Piper's friend Becca went over to her.
"Piper, I'm so happy for you. It doesn't seem like that long ago you were at my baby shower. Our daughters won't be that far apart. We should make play dates for them when they're older." Becca said.
"That would be nice." Piper replied.
"We've really missed you." Becca said.
"I've missed you all too..." Melinda walked by and Piper called her. "Have you met my sister, Melinda?"
"No. It's nice to meet you." Becca said.
"This is my friend Becca." Piper said.
"Nice to meet you." Melinda said.
"You all did an amazing job with the decorations." Becca said to Melinda.
"Thanks... Piper, you should open the gifts now." Melinda suggested and Piper felt it was a good time to do so.
There were the most adorable little girl clothes and there were so many of them. There were so many cute little shoes and booties. A singing bouncing chair was amongst the bunch, all kinds of stuffed animals and tons of diapers. The friends really went all out.
They finally got to the cake, it was marble and absolutely delicious. They had ice cream to go with it. Everyone truly had a good time.
-v-
A few weeks later...
Melinda hadn't seen her mother, Beth since just before they vanquished the source... the first time. They hadn't even talked in months. Melinda was really beginning to feel bad because even though she and her mother did not get along, she did love her. Piper's baby shower was really the icing on the cake that made Melinda decide she needed to see her mom again.
"I haven't seen you in a year or more? What are you doing here?" Beth asked.
"I thought it's been too long... You're still my mother." Melinda said
"The last time you were here you seemed a bit preoccupied."
"I had a lot going on. How have you been?"
"Fine." Beth replied simply then just looked at Melinda. "What about you, even when you were here the last time you didn't tell me what was going on with you. Did you find your... biological family?"
"Wow... We really haven't talked. I found my family the day after I asked you about it."
"So easily?"
"Well, I went looking for them but they kind of found me. My apartment caught fire months ago so I actually live with them now in our family house."
"You live people you don't even know."
"I know them pretty well now. They're good people."
"What was your mother's excuse for giving you up?"
"It's not what you think. She loved me. She wanted me, both my parents did but they had a forbidden relationship and they didn't know what the consequences would be for me, them or my sisters. Both my parents are dead now..." Beth looked at Melinda, not expecting her to say that. "My mo-Patty, she died six months after I was born and my father died a few years ago."
"...I'm sorry."
"It's OK. I met Patty a couple times. She was very loving, great person."
"How? Oh. That power of yours." Beth said disapprovingly.
"Why do you have to be this way? You've never been supportive. That's why we haven't gotten along since I was a little girl. I can't help my ability, it's hereditary."
"Oh. Your mother could see 'ghosts' too?"
"She was a good witch and so am I. My father was a... well I don't feel like explaining it but he was magical too."
"Oh please Melinda."
"You've never been supportive, I guess you've never believed me, you made me feel like I was crazy any time I was around you which was a lot when I was a child. If it weren't for grandma I probably would think I was crazy. Do you know how it feels to feel that way in your own home? I'm your damn daughter, you're supposed to trust and believe me."
"You may have found your biological family but I am still your mother and you will not come in my house and disrespect me."
"All I ever wanted was for you to support me and I've never gotten it. I love you and I was wanted to fill you in on my life and where I come from. I'm dating Jim, the shop is doing well, I live in San Francisco with my two sisters and brother-in-law, I had another sister but she died a few days before I found them... I'm going to be an aunt like any day now... I'm a good witch/ half freaking angel and my sisters and I save the world from evil on a daily basis. I'm saving the world, helping people and I still can't get just a little support from you. You're my mother, you raised me and I thought maybe you could actually be apart of my life but I guess I should just stop trying with you." Melinda heard Phoebe calling her. Her powers grew to the point that she can now hear their calls. "Well mom, I know you don't want to believe everything I've always told you was real and I know you don't believe in magic but believe this." Melinda orbed to the living room of the manor.
Beth was frozen in disbelief.
"What's up?" Melinda asked, still bothered by her conversation with her mother and Piper and Phoebe could sense it.
"Is everything alright?" Phoebe asked.
"I'll be fine."
"... Well we've been under constant attack all day. First they backed off completely, then they kind of went back to normal but today has been crazy. It's been a different kind of demon every time." Piper said.
"Why didn't you guys call me sooner?"
"Piper was handling them pretty well being invincible, even more powerful and all but we think something big is going to happen. Leo is consulting the elders now." Phoebe said.
"So how do you feel sis?" Melinda asked Piper.
"Actually, I'm not feeling too well. Leigh and my OB recommended that I stay on bed rest but it's pretty hard to do when we're constantly under attack. Apparently, our little Halliwell can't heal mommy from aches, pains and natural health issues."
"See, you two should've called me. I could've helped with the attacks."
"Really Mel, the baby and I are alright."
Three geese ran across the floor.
"Was that what I think it was?" Melinda asked.
"Yeah, the elders have been sending the baby magical gifts all day. There's a unicorn in the basement." Piper said.
"A unicorn? They're real?" Melinda asked in shock.
"Things still surprise you?" Phoebe asked.
"They're real but they're from another realm." Piper answered Melinda's question.
"Wow." Melinda said.
Leo orbed in.
"What's going on?" Piper asked.
"Tomorrow is the day of an ancient prophecy where there will be no magic." Leo said.
"No magic?" The sisters echoed in unison.
"Why?" Phoebe asked.
"It's a special sabbath day where all magic is supposed to shut down to welcome a special magical twice blessed child. The elders think our baby will be born tomorrow and magic won't come back until she does." Leo explained.
"Well thanks for the warning." Piper said looking up to talk to the elders.
"The demons have been attacking because they want to stop the baby from being born. They're afraid our baby will be there end or something. The elders sent all these magical gifts to help us tomorrow." Leo said.
"Wouldn't it make more sense for the demons to attack me tomorrow when I'm not invincible?" Piper asked.
"Demons won't have magic either so I'm sure they wanted to try why they could but that probably won't stop them tomorrow, however, there isn't much they can do tomorrow." Leo said.
"You know I don't like the idea of the baby being born tomorrow with no magic in the world and I can't protect her."
"Don't worry Piper, that's why the elders sent the magical gifts and remember when we went back in time to save Melinda Warren and the witches of that time told us how to use magic with the things around us?" Phoebe pointed out.
"It'll be alright Piper." Leo said.
"I'll call Leigh and put her on notice." Melinda said.
Just as the elders said, magic went down the next day. The sisters prepared for attacks because they were pretty sure they would be attacked.
Piper was trying to relax in the living room. Leo was trying to make sure everything was ready for the baby to come while Phoebe and Melinda were staying alert for demons. They didn't know why they were so jumpy, it's not like they could just shimmer in. They'd actually have to use the door.
There was a knock at the door. Phoebe answered, it was Victor.
"Daddy!" Phoebe exclaimed like a little girl and hugged Victor. "What are you doing here?"
"My little girl is due soon so I wanted to come see her and my baby girl." Victor kissed Phoebe's forehead.
"Actually, we're pretty sure Piper's going to have the baby today." Phoebe said.
"Really?" Victor asked.
"Yep, we're just waiting. I'm glad you're here. Leo's making sure everything is perfect for the baby. The midwife hasn't gotten here yet and Melinda and I are trying to keep Piper company and keep her comfortable but I guess you can say we're a bit jumpy at the moment so you are the perfect person to keep Piper calm."
"Ok!"
Victor sat with Piper, Phoebe and Melinda did too at times but they were jumping every time they heard a noise. One of those noises actually meant something. A gang of demons busted in the front door, more than Phoebe and Melinda were ready to handle but in the spirit of protecting their niece, they put all fear aside. Phoebe put her martial arts skills to use. Melinda isn't really a fighter in that way but she and Phoebe made some chemicals that the demons surely wouldn't be able to handle with no powers. She sprayed their eyes, blinding them. Leo came down and helped as well. He may be a passivise but all that goes out the window when his wife and child are involved. They had some huge knives and went to stabbing their demon asses. Then they threw some of the unicorn dust on them so that they could disappear after stabbing them.
"Thank God we made it through that." Phoebe said.
"Leo, Phoebe, Mel!" Victor called urgently. They went to see what was up. "Piper's in labor."
"Oh no. Where's Leigh?" Phoebe asked.
"She said she'd be here by now." Melinda said.
"How far apart are the contractions?" Phoebe asked.
"They're about ten minutes apart." Piper replied.
"There's time." Leo said.
"I'll call Leigh again." Melinda said and left the room.
Leo went to Piper's side and stroked her hair.
"How do you feel?" Leo asked.
"I'm alright." Piper replied.
"You won't believe this." Melinda said after walking back into the room.
"What is it?" Leo asked.
"I talked to Leigh last night and she said she would be here by now but after I talked to her she apparently got pulled into another plane and because magic is down her family can't try to get her back until tomorrow. That was Reselda pn the phone just now."
"You're kidding." Piper said.
"Wait, magic is down?" Victor asked, confused.
"Today of all days, right." Melinda said.
"That's it, get me to the hospital." Piper said.
"Piper, magic is going to come back when the baby comes. Remember what your mom said, swaddle of orbs remember?" Leo reminded.
"Don't worry Piper, Melinda and I finished the midwife training. We're both qualified to deliver the baby. That's why we trained right, in case of emergency." Phoebe said.
Hours went by and it was getting closer and closer. A couple demons tried to attack in the meantime but Phoebe and Melinda took care of them.
The dining room seemed to be a better position so they laid down some blankets, pillows, had everything set up for the delivery and got Piper there. The next thing they knew, it was time for Piper to push.
"I see a head of brown hair!" Phoebe exclaimed. A blue light began to glow from the chandeleir signifying that magic was back. "Aww! The little shoulders... the little feet." Just as Patty said, the baby came out in a swaddle of orbs and was all clean and beautiful... Phoebe turned the baby so that everyone could see. "She's beautiful." Phoebe said.
Piper felt the need to push all over again.
"What is it?" Leo asked, panicked.
"There's something else!" Piper exclaimed.
"What?" Everyone asked in unison. Phoebe handed the new little baby girl over to Melinda. When she looked there was another head.
"Uh... Looks like we've got twins here." Phoebe said.
"Twins?" They all replied in unison.
"Yep and it's not a brunette." Phoebe said. "Oh! This one's full of surprises!" The baby came out in a swaddle of orbs just like their sister... Phoebe finally turned the baby so that everyone could see.
"Is that a..." Melinda started.
"Yep! It's a boy! Full of surprises right, blonde hair and blue eyes too." Phoebe said.
Piper and Leo looked at each other in shock. They were speechless.
"Wow..." Piper finally spoke. Piper took the baby girl into her arms and Leo took the baby boy. "Look at what we did... They're beautiful."
"We have a girl and a boy." Leo said in disbelief.
"How could you not know it was twins?" Victor asked.
"Not often but sometimes, by the way twins are positioned in the womb doctors can't see it on an ultra sound." Phoebe explained.
"We have plenty of girl things but we have to go shopping all over again for our baby boy." Piper said.
"Think of any names?" Victor asked.
"...Yeah. Prudence Melinda Halliwell for our little girl."
"I guess you're going to need some time to think of a boy's name." Phoebe said.
"...Nooo... actually, I have something... I just thought of it but I feel strongly about it. I'm pretty sure daddy will like it..."
"What are you thinking?" Leo asked.
"Well... they're going to have my last name so I thought Wyatt would be an appropriate first name and Victor for his middle name after his loving grandfather.
"I like it. Wyatt Victor Halliwell." Leo said.
"I'm honored." Victor said.
"Welcome to the world Prudence and Wyatt." Piper said.