To Be Charmed
Chapter Ten
Witches in Training
Disclaimer: Charmed doesn't belong to me!
Summary: Now that Grams is out of the hospital and Billie and Christy are safe (for now), Penny, with the help of Sam, Leo, and Adam, train the young witches.
"Talking." Thoughts Premonition "Christy using telepathy to hear thoughts and send them."
The week after the demon attack was total chaos. Grams was released from the hospital that Sunday, Paige started her job, the second semester of school started, and social services made unannounced visits for Billie and Christy. Police were still trying to find Helen and Carl's murderers to no avail. Penny was named temporary guardian of the two until the court and social services could find a suitable home for the two sisters. Paige moved into Phoebe's room as the Jenkins sisters took up residence in Penny's sewing room.
It was Wednesday, the eleventh of January, and the youngest two Halliwells were running late. Phoebe was running around the house with one sock slowly sliding down her foot and Paige kept orbing in place. Billie and Christy were still in dreamland, Prue was half way to the museum, Piper was taking a shower, and Penny was not-so-calmly waiting in the car.
"Paige, have you seen my sneakers? I thought I had them in our room." Phoebe put her hands on her hips, frustrated. She looked up at Paige from the foot of the stairwell. Paige orbed out, and then back in.
"Yeah. I saw them in the attic," Paige said, before orbing out and in once again. She scurried down past Phoebe and out the front door.
Phoebe made her way to the attic and spotted her shoes hiding under Great Aunt Pearl's couch. She snatched up the pair and skipped to the front door, stopping to shove a shoes on her stocking-ed foot. To balance herself, she put her hand up against the wall.
Older versions of Billie and Christy were standing in a cavern. A man dressed in lightweight black clothing was sitting a distance away from them. His face was red from exhaustion, but he still sneered at the two witches. Paige then orbed in, clutching the hands of Prue and Phoebe. Piper had Phoebe's other hand in her grip
"Christy, don't do this. We need to question him. He might have the answers we all need," Prue coaxed
"After he tells us what he knows, you can vanquish him," Phoebe said.
Piper shot out her hands and froze the demon, so he couldn't hear anymore of their plan.
"No! He was one of them! One of the demons who killed our parents," Christy spit out. She put her hands to her temples and closed her eyes. The demon was engulfed in flames! Piper froze the flames as Paige orbed the demon to the crystal cage waiting in the Manor. "No!" Christy shouted.
The Warren witches took a step back as Christy looked upon them with hatred in her eyes.
"How could you?"
Phoebe almost tripped over as she exited the premonition. Forgetting that one shoe wasn't tied and the other was half on her foot, she hobbled out of the Manor, just in time to squeeze in the back seat as Grams was backing out.
"What took you so long?" Paige asked, looking at Phoebe through the mirror on the sunshade. The backside of her head was mussed from leaning against the seat headrest.
"I had a premonition." Phoebe blew at a strand of hair falling in her face as she tied her shoes. Major premonition.
"About what, dear?" Grams appeared concerned in the rearview mirror.
"Nothing," Phoebe lied. It happened way in the future. Plenty of time to worry about it then instead of now. she reasoned.
Phoebe and Paige were soon dropped off at their respective schools. "No magic," Grams whispered to both girls. While Paige smiled and laughed uneasily, Phoebe graced her grandmother with an impish grin.
"Yes, Grams," she said dutifully.
As soon as her grandchildren were in the buildings, Penny sped away. Hopefully Billie and Christy are still sleeping.
~TBC Chapter Ten~
She was half right. While her younger sister was still in dreamland, Christy was up and walking around. She stopped at the foot of the stairs on the first floor and held her temples with her hands.
"Where are you? Tell us and we will send someone for you."
"No, I don't want to leave Billie."
"She'll come along."
"I know you sent those demons after Mom and Dad. Why?"
"The plan was to acquire Billie. The deaths of your parents were a regrettable side effect."
"I'm staying here, with Billie. Maybe I can convince these witches to-"
"Witches?"
"Yes."
"Are they the Charmed Ones."
I'm sure they are not. There are four sister witches and a grandmother."
"Are they in contact with the Charmed Ones?"
"No. From what I gathered, the sisters just came into their powers."
"Excellent. Stay low. We'll standby until you're ready."
Christy released her temples just in time, Billie came up behind her, her hair rumpled from sleep.
"Hey. Where's Mrs. Halliwell?" Billie asked.
"Um, she went to drop Phoebe and Paige off at school. She left a note," Christy replied. "She also left us toast and bacon in the kitchen.
Billie smiled and took her sister's hand.
"Let's eat, then, "she laughed. Christy smiled back and allowed herself to be pulled into the kitchen. 'Today's going to be a good day,' she thought.
~TBC Chapter Ten~
Today's off to a good start!
Prue straightened her desk and swiped off imaginary dust particles. As she wiped, her boyfriend entered. He appeared nervous and kept going for his pants pocket. He cleared his throat and Prue looked up. Her smile, if possible, became bigger.
"Roger! Good morning! How are you?" She stepped around her desk and gave the man a kiss. Roger seemed to calm down after the kiss.
"Good. I, um, got off the plane late last night, so I didn't want to wake you."
"Yeah, about that. Piper and I moved back in with our grandmother. She was in the hospital last week, and with Phoebe and Paige, we thought we'd help out."
"Paige?"
"You remember, don't you? My youngest sister? Mom gave her up for adoption for some reason and she came to live with us not too long ago?"
"Oh. Right." Roger paused, giving into a slight cough. "The number is the same, correct?" Prue nodded.
"Yes. Is there anything that needs to be talked about?"
"No, but I do have something to do ask you."
He grabbed Prue's hands and stumbled while going down on one knew.
"Prue Halliwell, will you marry me?"
~TBC Chapter Ten~
"Bye. Have a nice day," Piper said, smiling so hard, her cheeks burned.
It was nine minutes to two and she was exhausted. Ten withdrawals, twelve deposits, and an accidental freeze spell could really do a person in! Piper put up her 'Closed' plaque and went to the break room for a much need R and R. Upon entering the small room, Piper gave a yelp of surprise as Prue appeared in a red flash!
"Prue! What are you doing here?" Prue looked around, obviously confused.
"How did I get here?" she muttered to herself. Piper rolled her eyes and tried not to panic.
"Prue! You astral projected! This is the third time this week!"
"Yeah, but this time, it's urgent! Promise!"
"What's so urgent that you couldn't drive here, like a normal person?"
"Roger asked me to marry him." Piper stopped in her tracks. Her mouth rounded in an 'oh' of shock. In her stupor, the door to the room opened slightly.
"Piper!" Prue yelled, snapping to get her sister's attention. Piper was brought down to the world and immediately froze the coworker.
"He really did ask you? What did you say?"
"Nothing, yet. That's why I need your advice. And fast, before he calls an ambulance." Piper looked at Prue questioningly. "What? When I astral project, I tend to fall unconscious," Prue shrugged.
"Prue, I can't tell you to say yes or no. Only your heart can." Whoa. Did that just come out of me?
Prue sighed. Her sister took her hands and gave her a big bear hug and kiss to the top of her head. Thanks for the help, I guess. She graced Piper with a good bye and astralled out.
As soon as Prue astralled out, the coworker unfroze. He entered the room and saw Piper standing in the middle. "Oh, I didn't realize anyone was in here," he stuttered. Piper nodded in acknowledgement and took a seat at one of the square tables. Is it five yet?
~TBC Chapter Ten~
Is lunch over yet? Phoebe cradled her head in her hands as she waited for the lunch break to be over. She couldn't wait for the school day to be done and over with! Ten premonitions were the cause of the current headache. The first one happened when she accidentally knocked into a fellow student while heading to class. I hope she's okay. Phoebe lamented. The poor girl was seen crying in the restroom. The following nine were spaced out and as random and mundane as the first. I've got to get a handle on my power!
~TBC Chapter Ten~
"Psst! Paige!"
The persistent whisper made the seventeen year old look up from her work. Two desks up and one over sat Michelle. She had her body twisted to face Paige. Their other classmates were busy with their worksheets.
"What?"
The teacher had left the room, but not before issuing directions to continue working silently.
"I need you to do something for me."
Paige stopped herself from rolling her eyes and going back to her work. The week school started back up, Paige slowly made amends with Michelle. She wasn't about to throw away their friendship anytime soon.
"Like what?" Paige asked. She felt eyes on her back. Turning around, she came face to face with a classmate she had never noticed. "What are you looking at? Mind your own business!" Paige scowled. She twisted back around to continue her conversation with Michelle. "What do you need me to do?"
"I need you to go to my locker and get my lunch bag."
"Why? Why can't you do it after this class?"
"Because. You know Mrs. Peters has it out for me, so she won't let me go!"
She's right. Then again, Mrs. Peters doesn't discriminate, she hates everyone equally.
Paige huffed. "When do you want me to get it? If I leave now and she sees me or notices I'm gone when she comes back in, I'm grounded!" Michelle snorted.
"Grounded? She can't ground you!"
"I'm not talking about her grounding me, I'm talking about my grandma! In case you haven't noticed, I've been trying not to skip or act like I'm skipping!"
"And you are trying so hard, but you can't stop!" Michelle taunted. Paige narrowed her eyes and stared hard at her friend.
"Huh-hem."
Michelle twisted to the front and Paige looked straight ahead into Mrs. Peters' face. The two didn't notice her come in, not even with the noise her pumps made on the tile floor.
"Girls, I hope you two are finished with your papers. Otherwise, get back to work." She turned and went to her desk, presumably to grade more papers.
Michelle glanced back at Paige for a split second. "Now." she hissed. Paige nodded and got up from her seat. As she made her way to the teacher, she felt Michelle stare at her back.
Mrs. Peters? I really need to use the restroom. Can I go?" She held out a passbook for the blonde to sign. Mrs. Peters searched Paige's face before signing her permission to leave the room. "Be back in ten minutes, Paige."
"Yes, Ma'am." With her pass in her hand, Paige left the classroom and headed towards Michelle's locker. Once there, she recalled the combination and pulled the brown paper bag out. Looking inside, Paige noticed that no food of any kind was in the bag, only a orange bottle of while pills.
Don't tell me she wants to have an acid trip now!
Click, click, click.
Oh, no! Someone's coming! What do I do? Paige did not want to get caught nosing around in a locker not hers and she definitely did not want to be seen with Michelle's pills! In her panic, she waved her arms in front of her. She shut the locker and tried to hurry back to the classroom.
"Ms. Miglis? What are you doing out of class?"
Ms. Miglis? I'm not Michelle, she's not even here!
Paige turned around to see her father stride right up to her. She hadn't spoken to him since the past week.
"Well?" Paige stuttered.
"Um, I-I was just getting my lunch out."
"Isn't your lunch period two period after this?"
"Yes, but I'm hungry now," Paige insisted. Sam gave her a hard look before turning away.
"Very well. Get back to class, now, before I send you to detention."
Paige allowed herself a sigh of relief, then hightailed it to the nearest restroom.
'How...why did he think I was Michelle? We don't look alike at all! Maybe he forgot my name? No, Paige, that's ridiculous! Why would he forget your name?'
She entered the first stall, intending to toss the baggie of pills. The bag was so full of pills, though, that Paige managed to only empty half the bag. She couldn't risk clogging the toilet! She tightly twisted the bag and exited the stall, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
Oh, my God! How did this happen?
It wasn't her reflection staring back at her. It was Michelle's!
~TBC Chapter Ten~
Penny was exhausted, and she still had loads to get done! After dropping her youngest granddaughters off, she cleared out two foreclosed houses and went grocery shopping. She returned to the Manor to see Christy and Billie watching the television. She gave them afternoon greetings and went up to the attic to prepare potions and catch up on the latest afterlife gossip with her daughter. Adam and Leo were waiting with their backs to the door.
"Adam. Leo. What you two doing her?"
"We've got some news from the Elders," Leo said.
"News? What news?"
"Demonic new. It's about the Triad."
"The Triad? What about them?" Penny tried to keep calm. The Triad were bad news! They were a group of three extremely high level demons, strong enough to rival the Source himself!
"They have increased in activity. The Elders believe they are teaming up with the Source. Almost every powerful witch has fallen victim," Adam stated.
"We need the Charmed Ones now," Leo insisted.
"But they're not ready," Penny protested, "Prue just gained her astral projection power last week!"
"We'll get them ready," Adam promised.
"Paige as well," Leo added in.
"What about Christy and Billie? Those demons who were after them could have been sent by the Triad," Penny inferred.
"If we have to, we'll train them," Leo said gravely.
Penny breathed deeply. A part of her wanted to go back and take back all of her granddaughters' powers, but the other part wanted them to be closer, and to be closer, they needed to be Charmed. They needed to almost lose one another to get closer.
"If we do this, I will be the one to decide how far we take them," Penny told the Whitelighters.
"Agreed." Leo opened his mouth to say something else, but Adam took over.
"One more thing. The Elders revoked Christy and Billie's statuses as Paige's Charges," he informed the Halliwell matriarch, "Their new Whitelighter is Sam now."
"Sam?" Penny was perplexed. Why would the Elders assign two young witches to a Whiteligher who lost a grown one?
"Yes. Due to current events, his probation has been lifted."
"Well, good! You three can teach Paige about her Whiteligher heritage and powers."
Penny sighed and made her way to the pedestal holding the Warren Book of Shadows. She opened the book to its first page, to the spell to invoke the Power of Three. She remembered her mother telling her the story of Melinda Warren and the prophecy she made. She kept hoping for two sisters, so she could be a Charmed One, but it wasn't meant to be. When she had borne Patty, she kept that same hope, but for two more daughters instead of sisters. When Patty became pregnant with Piper, Penny was ecstatic. 'Maybe Patty's daughters, my granddaughters, will bear the title.' she thought.
The dream shattered as the doctors told Patty that she could no longer bear children. The elderly woman wiped a tear beginning to form from the corner of her eye as she remembered those months. The warlock Nikolas had Patty in his sight. She and Penny stripped four year old Prue and twenty month old Piper of their powers so he wouldn't come after them. Nine months later, Phoebe was born. Penny was more than elated. Phoebe's birth secured her granddaughters' right to be Charmed. The months following, Penny took pride in her status as the Charmed Ones' grandmother. When Phoebe celebrated her first birthday, however, Penny and Patty began to doubt.
Patty became pregnant with her fourth child, a medical miracle for a woman who was told she couldn't have more children before her third was born. Patty tried to keep the hope alive. She insisted that Prue, Piper, and Phoebe were Charmed simply because of the fact that they possessed Melinda Warren's three powers. Penny was skeptical. How could they be Charmed if the fourth daughter was born also possessing one of the three Warren powers?
When Phoebe was four months shy of her second birthday, Paige was born. Penny and Patty were horrified at the notion that her birth would be discovered by the Elders, as it was forbidden. Penny urged her daughter and lover to give the baby up, after binding her powers, of course. She didn't want any of what she or her daughter had gone through to pass on to Prue, Piper, Phoebe, or Paige.
"Let's do this."
~TBC Chapter Ten~
"What do you think she's doing up there?" Billie's thoughts entered Christy's head. The two had quietly moved up to their shared room, tired of watching television.
"I don't know. Let's find out!" Christy smirked at her younger sister.
"What? No! What if we get in trouble?"
"I doubt it."
"Okay, let's go, but if we do get in trouble, I'm blaming you!"
Christy gestured for Billie to exit the room first and followed. Billie reluctantly stepped to the attic. The door was closed, but the sisters heard voices. One was Mrs. Halliwell and the others were of men, the same men Christy and Billie saw last week.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Christy, ever inquisitive, asked. Billie shrugged. She did not want to know.
"Probably about what do with us," Billie said, "I mean, our parents are dead and there are those things after us. Mrs. Halliwell is nice and all, but I think she's too busy for us. She's got her grandkids to look after."
"How can you say that, Billie? Mrs. Halliwell, Prue, Piper, Phoebe, and Paige brought us back together. And with our parents gone, we need each other. What if social services finds a relative that we don't know? What if they split us up?" Billie stared at her sister. What if social services did split them up? Would she be able to live without her sister once again?
"Can we go back to our room now? We can't hear what they're saying anyways," Billie said, determined not to think about what social services would be doing to them. Christy shook her head. She stared at the closed door, as if her gaze would set if on fire. "What are you doing?" Billie inquired.
"Shush," Christy silenced her.
"The girls should be home soon." That was Mrs. Halliwell.
"Sam will be teaching Paige, Leo and I will help Penny with the other girls." That was one of the three men Christy and Billie saw the past week.
"Penny has changed so much over the past thirty years."
"Are you listening to their thoughts?" Christy broke her stare.
"Yes."
"So, you can listen to thoughts without sending them?" Christy nodded.
"I can also just send thoughts."
"Cool. Wait. I just found out about my power and I can't control it. How are you controlling yours?"
"Practice."
"How long have you practiced?"
"Promise you won't tell?"
"I don't like it when you talk to me through my head."
"Promise?"
"Yes."
"Good. When I was in that cave, the demons that kept me told me that I was a witch. They told me everything about being a witch, so I figured if I could send someone my thoughts, I could get out."
"So, that's why you know how everyone's powers work?"
"Yes. Your trigger is anger."
"Anger? Really?"
"Yes."
~TBC Chapter Ten~
Rrrrinnnggg! CRASH!
Prue jumped as her name plate fell to the floor. She had fallen asleep quite a while ago and her phone jolted her awake. Simultaneously, the plate rose from the floor and the phone unhooked itself from its cradle to Prue's open hand.
"Prue Halliwell."
"Prue, it's Piper. What time are we supposed to get Phoebe and Paige? I could have sworn Grams said around three thirty!"
"Piper, calm down. Yes, three thirty is the time, but you don't have to get them, I do, remember? You can't leave the bank until six, right?"
"Oh, right! Sorry."
"It's okay. Thanks for calling me. I have a meeting in five and you just saved me the embarrassment of being late."
"What were you doing?"
"I took an unplanned nap. Anyways, I'll call you when I leave, okay?"
"Okay. Love you."
"You, too."
Prue gently placed the phone back in its cradle. It was now three minutes to her meeting, so she straightened her skirt and dusted off her blouse. She hoped the meeting wouldn't take too long!
~TBC Chapter Ten~
Penelope put her hand on her hips and sighed. Looking around, she could tell she had her work cut out for her! The apartment was filthy! 'Good thing I brought help!' she thought.
Christy and Billie were wiping down the stove and cabinets. Every now and then, Billie would become so focused on the sponge, she would use telekinesis to move it up and down. When she realized what she was doing, the sponge would stop. Penny observed her before offering assistance.
"Billie, concentrate on the sponge again, but this time, hold your concentration. Good. Now, follow the sponge with your eyes. Keep concentrating on the sponge!"
Billie did as the elder said and almost gasped aloud as the sponge moved along with her eyes.
"Telekinesis is triggered by anger and channeled through the eyes or hands. Once you hone it, you will be able to channel it through your hands more often. For now, the only time you might use your hands is in surprise," Penny explained.
She thought of her childhood in the forties. Up until she was thirteen, her telekinesis was channeled through her eyes and occasionally through her hands in surprise. The day after her thirteenth birthday, a demon attacked! Her mother and cousin's powers hadn't fazed him one bit! She narrowed her eyes when he sent an energy ball soaring. With almost no time to think, Penny shielded her face with her hands and deviated the attack.
"Can boys be witches, too?" Billie asked. Penny blinked at the sudden question. Christy folded her head towards her chest and smiled softly.
"What makes you ask that?" Billie shrugged. "Yes, boys can be witches, too, but not in this family. From our first magical ancestor to my grandchildren, all girls."
~TBC Chapter Ten~
At Halliwell Manor, Prue, Phoebe, and Paige were greeted by Leo, Adam, and Sam. The men were sitting in the conservatory discussing tactics for training.
"Is Grams still at the Dearborne Apartments?" Prue asked as Phoebe and Paige took seats.
"Yes, she is," Leo replied.
"Where are Billie and Christy?"
"With her."
Prue sighed and crossed her arms. She did not want to be left with three men she barely knew!
"Did she say when she'll be back?"
"Now."
The oldest Halliwell sibling looked up as her grandmother entered the room with Christy and Billie behind her.
"I'll get started on dinner soon, but first, there are some things that I need to discuss with you and your sisters. Adam, Leo, and Sam know what it's about, so they're staying until afterwards."
"Okay." Prue joined her two sisters on the white wicker couch. "What is it?"
~TBC Chapter Ten~
Piper slammed the car door shut. After nine hours of being on her feet, she was exhausted! I am so glad Prue went to pick Phoebe and Paige up! Something needed to be done, though. With her grandmother, older and youngest sisters, and herself working, the two younger Halliwells relied on the older Halliwells to take them everywhere!
Not to mention the latest two arrivals! They will be starting school back up again soon! Maybe Paige could save up enough to buy the two of them cars. Piper thought wistfully. The older Halliwell siblings were gifted with their own cars after graduating high school. The cars were far from brand new, but they still worked. Piper knew her grandmother wouldn't have enough for another car, let alone two! She was too busy with medical bills and medicine for her heart.
As she drove through the city, Piper's thoughts turned to her grandmother. What were her sisters going to do if she suddenly passed? Would they even bother to live in Halliwell Manor with each other?
~TBC Chapter Ten~
"...head start on it." Piper hooked her jacket and purse on the coat rack and walked through the house to get to the conservatory, where she heard her grandmother. She stopped in the doorway and surveyed her sisters, Billie and Christy, Sam, Adam, and Leo watching Grams intensely. Grams was in the center and she looked like she just got done holding a lecture.
"Head start on what?" Piper asked. She leaned against the doorjam as Grams turned to her.
"Piper! Just in time! How was work?"
"Same as always."
"Good, good. I was just telling your sisters and Billie and Christy about a few things," Penny said.
"A few things like?"
"Training. Training you to get better with your powers."
"I see. And you're going to be the one to train us?"
"No. Sam, Leo, and Adam will be helping. Sam will help Paige," here Penny nodded to the father-daughter pair," and Adam and Leo will help with Billie and Christy."
Piper wasn't so sure about this. In fact, she wasn't so sure about being a witch! It was what drove her parents to divorce! If being a witch meant you couldn't have a normal life with a relatively normal family, what good was it?
SMASH!
Piper jumped, as did the entire group.
"Uh, okay. What was that?" Paige asked, shaking.
Piper looked around. She could see the chandelier lying on the floor in pieces. Was that me? Did I do that?