Chapter 31: Womb Raider – Part 1
"This isn't happening," a heavily pregnant Phoebe insisted shaking her head as she was wheeled through the doors of the Emergency Room. "This can't be happening."
"What's going on?" an ER doctor with salt and pepper hair demanded to know as he approached.
"Ruptured placenta, possible prolapsed cord. She's 5 centimeters," The paramedic up front relayed to him efficiently.
"Alright, let's tell OR to get set up for a crash C-section," the doctor decided with a nod.
"You got it."
"No wait!" Phoebe exclaimed, gripping the doctor's hand tightly in hers. "I'm only two months pregnant."
"She's full term," the Paramedic disagreed, glancing pointedly towards her enlarged stomach.
"No, you're wrong!" Phoebe cried panicked. "Where are my sisters?" she asked them, glancing around the hallway, "I need... my sisters," she told the nurse by her side breathlessly, the oxygen tube fitted to her nose doing little to help her breathing regulate. "Did you call them?"
"There was no time," the nurse told her sympathetically, her voice muffled behind the surgical mask.
Phoebe looked to the ceiling terrified, how could this be happening? How did she end up full term, in the middle of a life-threatening surgery, all alone?
"We're less than a minute from skin to baby," the doctor announced from behind the small surgical curtain, blocking Phoebe's view from the ongoing surgery. "Scalpel. Uterine incision—I need another stretch," he barked urgently to the nurse by his side.
"There's nothing to be afraid of," the nurse by Phoebe's side assured her kindly.
"I can see the baby," The doctor announced, glancing up at Phoebe.
"Oh god," Phoebe raised her head to see. "Please Willow be normal," she begged to no-one. "Please, please, please let Willow be normal. Please let the timeline have not changed." She gasped, throwing her head back as tears slipped from her eyes and a sob passed her lips. "Please!"
"Shoulders and... she's out," the doctor announced and Phoebe's head snapped up as the sound of a screaming baby assaulted her ears. "Would you like to see your new girl?" the doctor asked her, holding the newborn above the divider so her mother could see her.
"She's beautiful."
Phoebe's face broke out into a grin as she laid eyes on her new daughter, "Willow you are beautiful," she cried happily.
"Here you go," the doctor handed baby Willow over to the nurse beside him who wrapped the wriggling baby in a blanket. Phoebe followed with her eyes and gasped as she saw the Seer, holding her little girl tightly.
"No," Phoebe gasped shaking her head. "The Seer! Don't let her take Willow!" she screamed, the nurse next to her holding her down as Phoebe tried desperately to get to her child, "Don't let her take Willow! Don't let her take my baby!" she screamed.
"The timeline must not change so the heir can rise to power," the Seer said as she walked away with baby Willow.
Halliwell Manor
"No! Willow!" Phoebe cried shooting up in bed, gasping for air, eyes darting around her room wildly, searching for the Seer as her hands moved to her stomach protectively. She yelped as a hand touched her arm and she whipped her head around, locking eyes with Buffy.
"Shh, Phoebe. It's okay," Buffy said.
Phoebe shook her head jerkily. "No, no it's not okay," she gasped tears springing to her eyes, "Buffy, she wants Willow. She wants my baby."
"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked confused. "Your saying someone wants your baby, but you're also saying someone wants Willow."
Phoebe looked at her sister and knew she had to tell her the truth. "Willow, your wife, is my daughter. Cole and the Seer told me."
Buffy's eyes went wide. "You're sure?"
"Very," Phoebe said as she scooted over and rested her head in her sister's lap. "Her destiny is to somehow be sent backwards in time. To grow up with the Rosenberg's, then to meet you and finally to return to me."
Buffy let out a sigh as she ran her hand through her sister's hair. "It'll be alright," she whispered. "We'll find out how she winds up in the past and makes sure she is safe, so that the timeline doesn't change. The Seer won't be the one to do it."
"Thank you, Buffy," Phoebe sobbed loudly, burying her head in Buffy's lap. "Let's keep this between us, please? Let's wait to tell Willow, Tara, Piper and Paige; especially Willow, till we know more."
"Alright," Buffy agreed reluctantly. "Well I guess at least you know your daughter's first name then."
Phoebe looked up at Buffy as she laughed. "I guess you're right."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Urgh..." Phoebe shuddered as she shuffled out of the bathroom, hand pressed against her stomach as she dabbed at her mouth with the other, her hair held back by Buffy. "So gross," she muttered.
"I know," agreed Buffy sympathetically. "I went through this with Dawn, remember?"
"Which is why out of our sisters you have been the one to stay with me the most," Phoebe said in understanding.
"Yep," Buffy answered as she smiled at Phoebe. "I figured you could use someone who knew what you were going through."
"Thanks," Phoebe said as she hugged Buffy, who returned the embrace. "You know you don't have to stay with me all night, Buffy. I'm sure Willow and Tara would love to see you."
"Are you sure?" Buffy asked knowing Willow and Tara would not mind not seeing her come to bed knowing that she was likely with Phoebe.
"I'm sure, go be with your wives," Phoebe said as she smiled at her sister. "And give my daughter, my love?"
Buffy smiled as she nodded. "Will do, Pheebs." She turned and walked into her room. She looked at the made bed confused. Where was Willow and Tara? She didn't remember them having any classes this early in the morning.
At that moment a demon shimmered in and smirked as a fireball formed in his hand.
"Phoebe!" Buffy shouted.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Buffy?" Phoebe questioned running out of her room and across the hall into Buffy's. She shrieked, levitating into the air as a fireball came her way. "What the hell!" she yelped.
Buffy turned to her quickly, checking she was okay then back to the suit clad demon who released a fireball towards her. She dove out of the way and landed next to her weapons chest. She flung it open and grabbed an athame and threw it at the demon, vanquishing him.
Phoebe's eyes widened as she dropped back down to the floor. "What the hell was that about?" she cried taking Buffy's arm and spinning her around to check for any injuries.
"I'm fine," Buffy assured her with a wave of her hand. "They must be after Dawn. I wondered how long it would take before demons would start coming after her. I love my daughter, but this thrice-blessed thing is a pain."
Phoebe's eyes hardened at the observation and she seethed. "Bastards." She then looked around and noticed the made bed. "Where is Willow and Tara?"
"Gone," Buffy growled. "They must have done something with my wives to get them out of the way before they went after Dawn."
"No…" Phoebe sobbed. "Please tell me my daughter isn't dead."
Buffy moved toward Phoebe and pulled her into her arms. "We'll find her and Tara. They'll be safe you will see. In the mean time why don't we go up to the attic. You can check the Book and I will scry for them."
Shaking her head at the demon's stupidity Phoebe mused, "When are they going to learn that attacking us alone never ends well for them?" she quipped and Buffy giggled.
Seconds later, a second demon shimmered in behind the two sisters' as they reached the attic stairs and threw his arms around Buffy pulling her to him.
Buffy shrieked and Phoebe spun around. "Get your hands off her!" she ordered darkly.
The demon merely smirked, no longer taking orders from the former Queen and pulled an athame from his belt, swiftly plunging the long blade deep into Buffy's stomach at an upwards angle.
Buffy gasped in pain as the blade tore into her abdomen and the demon twisted it. "Ah!"
"NO!" Phoebe barked coming back down the few stairs she had climbed in time to catch her sister when the demon threw her forwards. "You son of a bitch!" she spat, glaring menacingly at the intruder and a fireball formed in her hand.
The demon's eyes widened, clearly, he had forgotten about the heir she was carrying, and made to shimmer out.
Phoebe, however, was too fast releasing the fireball just in time and the demon went up in flames in front of her.
"Phoe—be," Buffy gurgled, blood pooling in her mouth.
"Oh god!" Phoebe gasped, panic filling her veins, "Oh god! Oh god no—it's okay," she stuttered, tears welling in her eyes as she eased her sister's shaking form to the floor and pulled Buffy's upper body onto her lap, her head resting against Phoebe's chest.
"You're going to be okay." Phoebe's trembling voice assured her weakly. "You're going to be—Leo!" she screamed as loud as she could, knowing the rest of their family was situated downstairs.
"Leo! Piper!" she screamed again, glancing down at Buffy and sobbing when her sister began to cough, choking on her own blood as it spilled from her mouth and stained her lips. "Piper! Paige!" Phoebe sobbed swallowing hard. "Help!"
As Phoebe continued to call for help from her family. She began to piece two and two together. If the Seer was indeed after her baby. And the Seer knew that Buffy was her unborn baby's future wife. Then the Seer would want Buffy as well as Tara likely out of the way.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"So, he asked me out again last night but..." Paige sighed in disappointment. "He was so quiet during dinner that—ick—I swear I could hear his stomach digesting," she informed her sister with a shudder.
She, Leo and Piper were all happily seated at the kitchen table. Coffee in hand.
"I always preferred quiet men," Piper mused, turning her eyes to her husband at the other end of the breakfast table. "They make good listeners."
"What's that dear?" Leo asked, bringing the paper down from his face with a smirk.
"Haha," Piper quipped with her own smirk. "Cute."
Paige smiled at them and their happily married blissful cuteness then frowned. "Where is everybody?" she questioned, pointing towards the four vacant seats at the kitchen breakfast table.
"Um..." Piper frowned. "I haven't seen Willow, Tara, Buffy or Phoebe yet this morning."
"Leo!"
Leo tore the paper down from his face once more, turning curious eyes on his wife. "Was that Phoebe?"
"Leo! Piper!" Phoebe's voice echoed down the stairs and into the kitchen once more.
Piper frowned, "She sounds—oh no!" she yelped jumping out of her seat.
"Help!"
Paige dropped her coffee mug and sped after Piper, Leo right behind them. The three of them bounded up the stairs, two at a time.
"Phoebe where are you?" Piper called out urgently, not seeing her when they reached the top of the stairs.
"Attic stairs," Phoebe's trembling voice replied panicked and the three of them raced towards the sound.
"Phoebe, what happ—" Piper stopped abruptly as her eyes found her sisters, just as Phoebe pulled the athame from Buffy's stomach and the blood flowed faster, Buffy whimpering in pain before her eyes slipped closed.
"Oh god," Phoebe whimpered, pressing down on the wound only then registering the eyes on her and looking up, "Leo, quickly!" she yelled and Leo was on his knees with his hands hovering over Prue in an instant. "Hurry, Leo. She's not breathing."
"Paige," Piper said spinning on her youngest sister. "Check on Willow, Tara and Dawn."
"Willow and Tara are missing," Phoebe informed her sisters.
"Check on Dawn."
Paige nodded as she rushed into Buffy's room.
Phoebe watched her sister's wound with unblinking eyes, "Is it working?"
Leo glanced to her, a frown framing his face, and nodded wordlessly too concentrated on the task at hand to speak.
"What happened?" Piper asked, directing the question to Phoebe whose head was rested atop of Buffy's with her eyes closed, her bloodied hands gripping her sister's cool ones.
"Demon," Phoebe whimpered her pregnancy hormones making it a lot harder for her to calm down than usual.
Piper rolled her eyes at the obvious answer, "Well of course Phoebe! What else would it have been?"
Phoebe opened her eyes to glare at Piper, "The Seer."
Piper sighed, "Okay, yes I'm sorry I just—" shaking her head Piper waved a hand towards Buffy.
Phoebe nodded, her eyes slipping closed again. "I know," she whispered with a sniffle. "It was two demons." She elaborated quietly. "They're attacking in pairs now and they were upper-level."
Paige walked out of Buffy's room holding Dawn in her arms. "Why now? What do they want?" she asked having heard the tail end of the conversation.
"Cole," Phoebe said sadly and Paige frowned. "Upper-level demons were under his direct command, he forbade anyone from attacking you all..."
"And now that he's dead they don't care," Piper finished for her sister as Phoebe nodded. "We're too powerful, but if they eliminate our children, they end the threat our family poses."
"Which means they are likely going to be after Dawn," suggested Paige.
"Yes," agreed Piper. "And Phoebe's baby. But they are not going to succeed." She turned her attention to her husband. "And what the hell is taking so long!" she demanded.
"She nearly died Piper," Leo replied calmly, as the glow finally dissipated and he moved his hands away.
"AH!" Buffy gasped, shooting upwards, clutching her stomach and gasping for breath.
"Oh!" Phoebe yelped, startled by the sudden movement, "Oh! Oh! Oh, you're okay. You're okay," she cried in relief, wrapping her arms around Buffy and pulling her head to her chest, "It's okay."
Piper sighed in relief, smiling tightly at Leo then shook her head and looked to the floor.
"I thought I was done with the dying thing when the freaking Powers that Be put me into Prue's body," Buffy admitted with a sigh. "How close was I, Leo?"
"Too close," Leo answered.
Buffy closed her eyes tightly, and rested heavily against Phoebe, gripping her hands as the tears stung behind her closed lids.
"Shh," Phoebe whimpered, biting down on her lip. "You're okay."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"You sure you're okay?" Phoebe asked again, for the umpteenth time, sitting next to Buffy at the kitchen table holding her hand.
Buffy looked to her with watery eyes that were slightly red. "Yeah," she whispered quietly.
Phoebe glanced quickly behind her to Piper whose face was contorted with worry before meeting Buffy's eyes as she brushed some hair from her face. "You're okay, honey."
Buffy sniffled and wrapped her arms around herself a little tighter. "I know but...that was really close."
"Too close," Piper growled, clearly angry at how their day had begun.
Biting down on her lip Phoebe scooted her chair closer and wrapped both her arms around Buffy to comfort her.
Buffy turned eagerly into her embrace and laid her head on Phoebe's shoulder.
"You're okay," Phoebe whispered her assurance, kissing the top of Buffy's head who closed her eyes at the contact.
"Here you go," Paige said sweetly, placing a glass of water on the table in front of Buffy.
Buffy opened her eyes, looked at the glass then whispered, "Thank you."
Paige frowned, very rarely seeing her Buffy this shaken up, and laid a gentle hand on her arm.
"Have you tried calling Willow and Tara yet?" Piper questioned, coming to sit at the table again, in her previous seat.
"The bed was made, so they didn't sleep in it, either that or they got up early before the rest of us," Buffy answered. "I was going to try here after awhile in case they were in a class I forgot they had."
"I'll try then," Piper said.
"Let me, Piper," Leo said. "If they are in class their teacher might hate the interruption."
"Right," agreed Piper as Leo closed his eyes trying to sense either Willow or Tara. He began to frown. "What?"
"I can't sense them," Leo said as he opened his eyes looking at his wife. "Call them see if anyone answers."
Piper nodded as she moved to the phone and dialed Willow's number. They suddenly heard a ringing sound coming from the foyer. Piper walked into the foyer tracing the ringing and found Willow's phone in her sister-in-law's purse. She rushed back to the kitchen. She held up the phone. "Willow isn't in class. Her purse is sitting right next to the rest of ours on the table by the front door.
"Oh no," Phoebe said in shock. That meant her daughter had been taken or killed. "When was the last anyone saw them?"
"Last night," Buffy answered. "I was outside when Willow and Tara came and found me letting me know that Piper and Paige were heading for your room."
"This all has me concerned," Leo said as he looked at his wife and sisters'-in-law. "Willow and Tara are missing. And demons are pairing up now, coming in twos to attack. They're coming together, demons willingly working together is a serious cause for concern."
"Yeah, Leo, we get it," Paige stressed with a scowl, holding Dawn in her arms.
"The underworld is in chaos," Leo said gravely. "A second Source is dead and they have no leader, no structure which makes the demons all the more dangerous."
Phoebe physically flinched at his words, holding Buffy tighter to her absorbing the comfort her sister radiated even in her shaken state. "I had a nightmare last night," she informed the rest of the room quietly. "In it the Seer wanted my baby and I'm afraid that she's actually going to summon me to her at any moment to actually take her."
"She could only get to you when you chose evil," Leo explained, hoping to reassure his sister-in-law. "You're safe now."
"I swear to you, the Seer will never lay a finger on your baby," Piper promised her sister determinedly.
"Yeah, she'll have to get through us first," Paige agreed strongly.
"All of us," Buffy agreed.
Phoebe smiled. "Thanks guys," she said gratefully before heaving a silent sigh and staring off into space.
Piper locked eyes with Buffy who smiled sadly and tried to move but Phoebe's hold became vice like.
"No," Phoebe resisted quietly and Buffy stayed put.
"Are you okay?" Piper questioned gently, her kind, loving eyes staring into Phoebe's troubled ones.
"Yeah, you know..." Phoebe replied, playing with the hem of Buffy's tank top, "...pain comes in waves."
"Honey, you lost your husband," Piper stated kindly. "It's okay to be very upset."
"No, I, I, I can't," Phoebe countered, shaking her head, "I have to stay strong for the baby. She's all I have left of Cole."
Buffy glanced up at Phoebe as she reached over and patted her sister's hand. "We'll get her back," she whispered to Phoebe.
Paige regarded Phoebe and Buffy carefully for a few seconds then announced standing to her feet. "I'm going to go check the Book of Shadows. There might be some magical protection against the Seer," she said as she handed Buffy, her daughter.
"Uh...Missy Paige, you need to go to work," Piper called after her as Paige made her way to the kitchen door.
Paige paused and turned back. "Well, I'll be late," she stated bluntly with a shrug. "Phoebe doesn't need to be stressed while she's pregnant." She answered determinedly then switched her eyes to Buffy's. "I'll also see if I can find your demons. Any chance you could join me?" she asked with a sweet smile, "Didn't get to see them."
Buffy smiled at her gratefully. "Sure, but it doesn't matter, Paige."
Paige frowned deeply, "Uh...yes it does, Buffy. One of them nearly killed you. For all we know they were after Dawn and already did something to both of my sisters-in-law. That matters to me."
Buffy's smile widened slightly. "Okay." She nodded and Paige nodded back before turning on her heel and stalking out of the room. She then tugged on Phoebe pointedly.
Phoebe released Buffy reluctantly and looked down.
Buffy raised her eyebrows and jerked her head in the direction Paige had gone.
Phoebe bit her lip but nodded, squeezing Buffy one last time and kissing her cheek before running after her little sister.
"I know this is not the time, between the demons attacking, Willow and Tara missing and the Seer potentially being after Phoebe's baby," said Piper as she turned and looked at Buffy. "But I talked with Paige this morning about stepping out of both shadows. Your former one and Prue's. And establishing a new identity that is unique to you. Paige and I agreed that your name should come from each of your families. Ours and your mom's. You should have the traditional P name as your first name. And something from your old life or maybe your mom's name?"
"Sounds good," Buffy said as she smiled.
"Well Paige and I agreed that your name should be Payson Elizabeth."
"Elizabeth?" Buffy said confused.
"Paige apparently heard from somewhere that Buffy can be used as a nickname for Elizabeth," Piper explained.
"Let's see what Phoebe thinks once we're done with everything. And when Willow and Tara are home. Especially Will since she could probably hack into government databases and get me a birth certificate and everything with the new name." Buffy suggested as she smiled. "But I like it."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Paige, wait!" Phoebe called slowing to a stop next to Paige, at the bottom of the stairs. "Go ahead, say it," she instructed waving her arm as a go-ahead.
Paige frowned. "Say what?" she questioned, confused.
"Something, that I know, on some level, you've been dying to say to me," Phoebe elaborated but Paige was still lost.
"There's nothing," Paige insisted lifting her shoulders.
Phoebe wasn't buying it. "Come on. You knew Cole was evil the whole time, when everyone thought you were crazy. And thanks to you, we vanquished the Source and gave Cole peace," she said sadly. "So, go ahead, say it," she ordered again. "Say, 'I told you so.'"
Paige smirked, folding her arms across her chest defiantly. "I will not. It's not my style."
Phoebe stated at her with regret filling her eyes. "I was so unfair to you the last few weeks, when you were right and I just—I want to clear the air right now."
Paige smiled serenely at her, touched by the gesture. "You're really sweet, and I appreciate the gesture, but everything is...totally fine," she assured her with a nod, then turned to climb the stairs purposefully.
Phoebe exhaled slowly, and shook her head before heading back into the kitchen. "Oh whoa!" she groaned, one hand flying to her forehead and she gripped the back of the chair tightly.
"Another hot flash?" Buffy questioned as she took Phoebe's hands and eased her back into her chair.
"Uh-huh." Phoebe confirmed, "It's when I move too fast."
"It's typical for a pregnant woman in her first or second trimester to have hot flashes," Buffy explained. "Even I had them."
"Well yours wasn't exactly normal either," Phoebe reminded her sister.
"If it will help you put your mind to ease," Buffy suggested. "You should not be like me and you should go in get your daughter checked out."
Phoebe sighed, "I just haven't had time to make—"
"A doctor's appointment?" Piper supplied with raised eyebrows, and Phoebe nodded. "Well I have one. It's yours."
"Aren't we supposed to find out about the fertility tests?" Leo interjected.
"Yeah but uh...Phoebe needs that appointment more than we do right now," Piper argued a little sadly and Leo reluctantly complied. "It's yours."
Phoebe shook her head, "How can I go to the doctor when I have a demonically challenged baby?" she spoke up uncertainly. "Who knows what effects the Seer's tonics had on my baby girl."
"This is my point exactly," Buffy insisted. "You have to go, Phoebe."
"If it'll make you feel better, I'll go with you so I can put the freeze on if anything goes wrong," Piper offered with a soft smile and Phoebe nodded.
"I will go also," Buffy offered as Phoebe smiled at her.
"Thank you," Phoebe said looking between her sisters.
"Alright, it's settled." Piper smiled as she reached over and snatched up the house phone. "Into the stirrups for you." She smirked and Phoebe groaned, cringing.
Coronation Chambers, Underworld
The deep demonic chanting echoed throughout the darkly lit cavern. Demonic guards surrounded the altar where the Grimoire rested atop its stand and the demonic council watched from above.
The Dark Priest stood in front of the demon on his knees, arms outstretched as he began the ritual. "Dane, son of Goath," he addressed the robed demon. "May the world's evil flow through your soul tonight and grant you eternal darkness."
Dane stood to his feet slowly as the Dark Priest repositioned himself behind the podium.
Placing his hands over the Grimoire the Priest asked, "Are you prepared to take the power and position of the Source before these leaders of the Underworld?"
"I am," Dane responded firmly.
The Dark Priest nodded and opened the Grimoire.
"Stop the coronation," the Seer exclaimed as she appeared within the chamber.
"Seer," Dane sneered. "I didn't see your name on the guest list."
"Always a rare privilege," the Dark Priest placated. "But not the best timing. What brings you here?"
"A vision," the Seer responded primly. "I saw the Source's true heir leading the underworld."
"If that was your vision you need glasses," Dane snapped, "The Source's heir lives in the belly of a witch," he reminded her smugly and the all those in present agreed.
The Dark Priest sent a distasteful look Dane's way before he addressed the Seer with respect. "The Underworld cannot wait months for a baby to be born and then years for it to grow up," he informed her calmly. "It needs leadership now."
"In my vision, I saw the Source's daughter taking immediate power," the Seer interrupted snappily and Dane laughed her off.
"How can an unborn child lead the Underworld?"
The Seer turned dangerously flashing eyes on him. "With my help, she can."
"What do you need from the council?" the Dark Priest questioned; his attention focused on their heated interaction.
"A chance to prove my vision true," the Seer requested simply.
"She has no right to ask this," Dane growled. "I was chosen by these leaders!"
"But you have no direct lineage to the Source, by blood or by magic," the Dark Priest pointed out then turned to the Seer. "You have until tonight to bring us the Source's heir..." he granted her. "...or the throne belongs to Dane."
The Seer sent one final scathing look towards Dane before nodding to the Dark Priest and flashing out.
She flashed into another part of the underworld and smiled as she looked at Willow. "As soon as I have your younger self and take her to the past you will take your rightful place, Willow, as the Source."
Tara watched from inside a cage shaking her head. "No. Snap out of it, baby," she sobbed as Willow paid no attention to her.
The Seer smirked at Tara. "She cannot perceive you, witch. To her, you are dead. And soon you will be when Willow is coronated."