Once they were back at the manor, Wyatt wouldn't let Sam out of his sight. He didn't even trust Chris to watch her anymore. He was, in his own words, convinced, that them together was what the whole underworld was after: they wanted to stop them from attacking together again at all costs. Sam sat most of her time studying the BOS and brewing potions which the boys and cousins went through pretty quickly. Her shipping orders started to be larger. They often asked her if she didn't over stock on some things but she said she had some important clients in show biz. Close to her eight month, she was refilling the herb jars at three in the morning. Chris came yawning for a glass of milk.
"You're up early. Twins keeping you up?"
"Guess again"
"Again? You gotta tell Wyatt to let you sleep beyond sunrise"
"I've tried, but then he gets all deep on me. Destiny and stuff…which is too early to discuss" she said stuffing an herb in the wrong jar.
"That's not a root" he said drinking the milk
"Is there anything I can help you with?" she said smiling and pulling the herb from the wrong jar. Her smile faded as she felt a sharp pain in her lower belly, she bent over the table.
"Are you alright? Should I get Wyatt?" said Chris. He walked towards the basement door where Wyatt was practicing with the sword. Sam shut the door.
"Not a word" she stared. Wyatt came running back up.
"Hey Chris" he panted. "Everything alright?" he kissed Sam.
"Peachy. Just telling Chris not to be so nosey" she said putting more herbs in jars. "Honey?"
"Yes?" answered Wyatt while wiping his sweat with a towel and stealing Chris' glass of milk.
"'You think it'll be OK if your dad drives me to the store today?"
"Why don't I take you?"
"Well, I was just thinking, that being your birthday and all I could pick up your present" she smiled eating yet another strawberry.
"I don't know. I know dad means well, but in an emergency he can't orb you out"
"We talked about that"
"Absolutely not" said Wyatt in a poker face. Sam lowered her stare.
"Why don't I take her?"
"Chris…?"
"What? You can't give me the same excuse!" he said taking a strawberry.
"Alright" said Wyatt going to Sam's side. "Chris can take you but…call Michelle. Go get the stuff and get out, not staying if I'm not there" she kissed him.
"See? It all worked o…hey? Get a room!" Chris grabbed a strawberry and ran away from the show.
Later that same day, Chris took Sam to "Brightest Blessings." Chris helped her out of the car.
"Do you hear that? I think we have a flat! Oh, no. I better get that fixed or your hubby' ll go crazy!"
"I think there's a place nearby. You can still make it!"
"Promisse you won't tell Wyatt I left you alone for a second?"
"No" she laughed as she got a kiss on the cheek. "Go" she turned and there was a man by the door. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'll open in a second"
"You own the store?" said the man.
"Yes, can I help you with something in particular?" she said opening the door and turning on the switches for the fountains and music.
"Yes"
"Lovely. What do you need?" she said going behind the counter.
"My name's Samuel. Samuel Stevens" she froze on the spot hearing her last name. She didn't know what to say. "You have your mother's hair" she nodded still mute.
"Why don't you take a seat Sam?" she said after a moment or two. She sent a message to Michelle on the computer and went to set the sign to CLOSED on the door, then sat next to the man who as far as she knew had presented himself as her father.
"Why have you come?"
"I wanted to meet you. It took me a long time to find you and your mother"
"Did you find her?" she said uninterested looking at the table.
"She ran off her last address with some man and were never heard off again"
"That was her alright" she said biting on her bottom lip. "And me? How did you find me?"
"Hospital records. Your prescriptions. I've been following them for some time. They led me here and after that the changing of the last name was a little misleading, but then I found the store"
"So…" she was tearing up unsure why. "How can I help you, dad?" she said slightly sarcastically.
"I wanted you to know that she took you and your brother away with her. She didn't even say goodbye. I was depressed quite a while, before I decided to start looking for you both. Haven't had any luck with your brother."
"He was sent out of the country. I lost touch with him since we were ten. Mom found me for a while then left again…no note…no money…nothing. Why should you expect any better?" she smiled at him sadly.
"I'm so sorry. I could have begun to search sooner but…I was so…" he said choking with his own words. Sam reached for his hands feeling sympathy for the man.
"I know. I got that part of the inheritance. Thanks for the heads up" she laughed. "I was normally on anti-depressives, not now" she looked down at her pregnant belly. Samuel smiled.
"Yes, I see. Congratulations." He didn't let go of her grip.
"She never spoke ill of you. She just skipped you completely. I guess she thought you were unimportant like me and my brother" she let go backing up ever so slowly from him altogether.
"Let's not…"
"It's alright. I've dealt with it. Moved on" she stood up from the stool. "I'll make tea" she walked behind the counter and put the kettle on the fire. "Do tell. Exactly how did you access my medical records? Should I be waiting for a police car?" she smiled slyly. He laughed.
"No, none of that. I'm a doctor. Surgeon. Just…pulled a few strains…umh abused my title a little…"
"Ah, there it is, also, inherited" they laughed some more. Chris came in.
"So you keep the door unlocked, safe and all, huh? Afternoon, I'm Chris. Sam's brother."
"He's my brother-in-law" smiled Sam as Samuel looked puzzled shaking Chris' hand. "Chris, this is my dad"
"What? Why didn't you introduce us before?"
"Because she didn't know me then" Samuel confessed.
"Better call your brother telling him we're gonna be a little late or he's gonna orb right in" she noticed her language a second after she saw Chris' eyes go wide.
"What's orb?" asked Samuel.
"Well, dad. Let's just say I have a whole new meaning to the expression: How do you like me now?"
"Don't worry, after the stuff I found out about your mother, it takes a lot to scare me" he chuckled. Just then, Wyatt orbed in. Now Sam eyed Chris.
"His phone's broke, right" he said putting his back in his pocket.
"Who's he?" said Wyatt not being able to come up with any cover up lie. He had orbed right in from of Samuel. Everybody gulped and hyperventilated.
"Nobody move!" said Sam coming from behind the counter. "Don't want anybody harmed! Samuel. This is my husband"
"Wyatt Halliwell" he introduced himself. Samuel shook his hand carefully as if it were to catch fire at any second.
"Dr. Samuel Stevens"
"Honey, this is my dad"
"What?"
"I just bumped into him outside the store. We saw we had a flat and Chris' car is in the shop two blocks from here, which made us late"
"Is he really your dad? Have you checked?" he pointed towards him.
"Is he a demon?" asked Samuel. Their heads turned to him.
"No, he thinks you are" added Chris.
"Me?"
"Long story" added Sam. "When was the last time…you had your sugar checked?" she said taking the lancet pen.
"Quite a while"
"Well, it's due I guess. Give me your hand. It's a long story and he won't take his eyes off you till we do this" he saw Wyatt and he seemed threatening and ready to attack.
"Alright then, but I don't bleed a lot from my fingers…too many cuts" he smiled. She poked him and he didn't bleed. She tried the other finger and he didn't bleed either.
"Step aside, Sam"
"Wait!" Wyatt had an energy ball ready to fire. "Wait, Damn it!" Samuel took a letter opener from the desk and cut his arm a bit. He started bleeding. "I told you. I don't bleed through my fingers. Too many scars"
"Satisfied?" said Sam.
"I'll get it" said Wyatt coming to him. Samuel took two steps back. "I won't hurt you" when he reached him he healed him right up. "You have to understand. I'm just looking after my family"
"Then I like you already" they gave a thankful smile at each other. Sam was happy, for a second she had been afraid she had been fooled again.
Michelle arrived and everyone just got out of the store and took a deep breath.
"I gotta go get my car" said Chris.
"Did you bring a car?" Sam asked Samuel.
"No, I took a cab"
"Maybe you should talk some other time"
"Maybe you should stop deciding my time" answered Sam angrily
"You need to get home and rest"
"Maybe I needed some air…"
"Maybe you two need some ice cream" said Sam interrupting the fight and pointing to a small shop across the street. "My treat"
"Good idea" said Sam and grabbed her father's arm. Wyatt took a deep breath and followed.
They each had their ice creams and sat on the chairs outside the store so Chris could see them. After some uncomfortable silence Sam finished her ice cream and went in for more despite Wyatt's pleas of I'll get it.
"She's perfectly fine walking around. Wyatt, is it?" Wyatt nodded. Sam was coming with another ice cream in her hand but stopped at the door. She bent low and dropped the ice cream, Wyatt went by her side but as he reached her there was a telekinetic impact all around. Chairs fell with people on them, ice cream splattered all over the place, glass shattered, even aluminum around them bent. "Maybe not" said Sam looking at them from the ground.
"Move" said Wyatt stepping away from the center of the chaos. He pulled Samuel away as well. Chris drove by and they got in the car. "You, doctor, help her out" he pushed Samuel after putting Sam in the back. "Drive somewhere we can orb out. I got to get her home now"
"I don't think she can go home now, Wyatt. She's contracting"
"Been having them for days, they're Braxton Hicks"
"You've been having them for days? You didn't tell me"
"Can't tell you anything like that! Don't want you to storm out again!"
"Told you. You should have told him!"
"You knew!"
"I found out today! This morning in my defense!" Chris kept driving home.
"Guys, focus! hun?" interrupted Samuel. "These can't be Braxton Hicks. Your babies are getting in position and now your muscles are contracting. You've begun labor. We gotta go to the hospital"
"No, Chris. Can't go! You saw what happened back there, if it happens again in the hospital we can't explain it. My aunts are midwives. My dad and you are doctors. That should be enough. Park here" Chris parked at an alley. Wyatt tried to take Sam but couldn't. "What?"
"What's the matter?' said Chris
"Can't orb" said Wyatt.
"Let me try" said Chris grabbing Sam's hand. Nothing.
"I'm gonna throw up" said Samantha. She opened her door and did so.
"Gentlemen. I don't understand too well what it is you're trying to do, but can't we drive to your house? Weren't we doing so a moment ago?" he helped his daughter back inside and wiped her cold sweat from her forehead. "Do you have insulin?" Wyatt nodded. "Just get us there. I'll take care of it"
When they arrived at the manor, Piper and Leo received them.
"What happened?" said Piper as Wyatt came in with Sam in his arms. She made a move on Samuel's face. "Who's this guy?"
"I'm Samuel Ste…vens" he completed after a small scream coming from Piper.
"Hi. He didn't freeze. Why didn't he freeze?"
"Mom, too?"
"I think it might be all of us" said Wyatt. "I'm taking her upstairs"
"I'll take care of her" Piper stopped him hand on his chest this time.
"And who are you again?"
"Mom, it's ok. This is Sam's dad. We'll fill you in later. Sam's in labor" said Wyatt.
"Put me down, please!" she said waving her hands.
"Are you having another contraction?" asked Samuel. She nodded. Wyatt helped her sit on the bench in the parlor. Sam went with her. "Can you help me with the insulin?" he asked. Chris ran to get it. Wyatt held her hand standing by her side.
"We don't know what happened, we just lost all of our powers when she started…why are you staring at me…mom…dad?"
"It's just that the exact thing happened when you were going to be born. No magic, both sides"
"That time the elders gave us the unicorn as a back up. What did they give us now?"
"The fountain. Our wedding gift. The water from it can help" Wyatt carried Sam upstairs and into Piper and Leo's room at their request. Samuel did everything he could to keep her calm and stable.
"I've called Phoebe, but she's not answering! Damn it!" she threw the phone against the wall.
"Calm down" Leo held her close.
"I can't calm down. Our grandkids are being born Leo and there is nobody who can help deliver them"
"If the situation calls for it, Sam will help her"
"Samuel for crying out loud! What are you kidding me?" Piper said, her words drenched with irony. She started pacing again. Paige entered the front door and ran upstairs.
"What the hell? I tried orbing here and then I got stuck in traffic! Where is she? It might be a false alarm honey don't worry"
"It's not. Her dad's keeping an eye on her"
"Oh, right…wait, her what?"
"Long story. He's a doctor…and where the hell is Phoebe?'
"I don't know! She's not answering my calls either. Where are Wyatt and Chris?"
"Bottling up water from the fountain the Elders gave them for an engagement present. Another long story"
Paige went upstairs as Leo and Piper paced on the first floor. Wyatt's mind was racing, sure there was something he could do to help the love of his life, to avoid losing her or any of his children, but the lack of ideas just made him rage even more inside. His suffering was silent, but Chris by his side knew what he was feeling. Everyone in the house was trying to help but only his brother really saw the latent danger here. What happened tonight could change the whole course of Wyatt's history both magical and none.
Paige helped out with the potions while Wyatt went upstairs with Sam. The contractions had stopped for now so she was resting. They had prepared some things for the right moment, including some cribs and tubs to clean the babies. Wyatt sat next to the bed and caressed Sam's hair.
"Wyatt?" she asked in a whisper turning her head sideways on the sweaty pillow to look at her husband. She gulped with a smile and a sigh.
"Don't talk. Rest. I'm here" he kissed her forehead. They stared at each other for hours. Wyatt joined her in bed as she fell back to sleep. Wyatt couldn't sleep. "I'm not losing you" he whispered to her ear.
Downstairs, everybody was loading up on coffee, since this was going to be a long night for everyone. The whole clan was here by now except Phoebe and Coop. Piper kept calling her but her cell was out of reach.
"It seems we're preparing for war" Samuel said in a nervous tone. "The air's thick in here" he added sipping his coffee.
"We are" said Leo.
"I just want my daughter to be OK." He said staring longingly upstairs.
"We all do. Those are our kids up there…our grandchildren" said Piper holding Leo's hand. "but…they have a destiny in the magickal world and that makes it all complicated for them"
"What sort of destiny? I've investigated some things about the craft, but what I've seen today…!"
"It's a little more complicated than that" said Paige stepping closer. "We're talking about magic. Real magic. Good and evil"
"Us being the good guys" cleared up Leo. "Our son is like…a sort of king for the good side and Samantha is his…queen" Samuel tried to process all this best way he could.
"Why can't he use his powers to heal her from…everything?!" asks Samuel
"Because he's half-whitelighter, and their healing powers are used to heal battle wounds not natural ailments. They can't use their powers for personal gain" explained Leo.
"They? You have no powers then?'
"No, he's mortal" answered Piper quickly to avoid confusing the doctor even further.
"Samuel!" called Wyatt from the stairs. "I think her water broke" Sam excused himself and ran upstairs along with Paige. When they arrived in the bedroom and took away the covers, there was indeed water and blood mixed spread on the bed. "What's happening?"
"Wyatt I think you should step out!" said Samuel helping Sam out of the covers and pulling up his sleeves. Wyatt didn't move. Paige took his arm and pulled him towards the door, but he froze just in front of it.
"Honey. He's right. We'll take care of her, please?" pleaded Paige. Wyatt left the room still staring at Sam. He went downstairs and found Piper yelling at Aunt Phoebe.
"Where the hell have you been? We've been calling for hours?"
"Mom!" Wyatt yelled drowning her yells. "Aunt Phoebe they need you up there in the main room"
"Water broke?" Wyatt didn't answer. He just stared at her aunt. Phoebe hugged him. "I'll take care of them" she went upstairs without another word, but before she reached the first landing, she heard Wyatt breaking the silence.
"Aunt Phoebe, duck!" she had learned by then to do so before asking the reason. An arrow flew close to her face. Nothing short of a small army had just burst the doors open, and arrows were being thrown here and there. Phoebe meant to go back down, but Wyatt yelled. "No, go upstairs, they need you!"
As all hell broke loose Wyatt went to the kitchen and got Excalibur from where he had left it last time he practiced and went right for it. Nobody would make it upstairs, he would make sure of that. Bianca, one of Phoebe's daughters, who had arrived just behind her, had the idea of putting the fountain's water into squirt guns again so they could have some reach over the demons. Good old police training from Paige's twins worked just as fine. Furniture was shattered as maces were swung back and forth. There were injured from both sides, but none stopped fighting. Piper was desperately looking for any sign that might uncover which one of these bastards was Langdon in any case in human form, but he was not showing himself so easily. She made eye contact with one particular demon that seemed to be quite entertained and threw her last bottle of water at him. The water vaporized but did not harm him at all, this was him. He walked to her as if she was nothing to him. She backed up out of instinct. She was up against a wall. He raised his metal claw to attack when Wyatt intercepted with his sword.