Chapter 128: Necromancing the Stone
Buffy, Dawn and Piper are in the attic.
Piper hands Buffy and Dawn a notepad. "You two summon, I will vanquish." She picks up a vial of potion.
"Demons who dwell in slivers of night, uncloak your shadows to witch's sight." Buffy and Dawn chant.
A gust of wind blows through the attic and a very large demon with a creepy face and wearing a black cloak appears behind them.
"Aahh." Piper says as she throws the potion at the demon and he bursts into flames and is vanquished. "Ugh. Creepers, check."
A couple hours later in Buffy and Dawn's room. Buffy and Dawn are getting Celia ready as Paige walks in.
"You got five minutes before Piper starts freaking." Paige says.
"We know." Buffy said. "We're almost ready."
"Um, I'm just curious. Has anyone ever tried the truth spell that's in the Books?" Paige says.
Dawn nods, "Yes, and don't."
"Don't what?" Paige asks.
"Don't try it. Especially not on Nate." Buffy says.
"I wasn't going to." Paige says, "Okay, fine, maybe I was. But, you know, how else am I supposed to find out if he can handle the big dark secret?"
Buffy shakes her head, "Don't you think it's a little early in the relationship to start thinking about that?"
"No, I don't think so. He's the first guy I've really liked since Glen and I actually think he might be able to handle my being a witch." Paige says.
"Really? How do you know?" Dawn asks.
"I know this sounds insane but he's got this kind of cool, mystical celtic tattoo and he actually knows what it means." Paige says. "I don't think it would really hurt anything if I did the spell because, you know, it does wear off after twenty-four hours and he'd forget anything anyway. What's the harm?"
Buffy sighs, "It could hurt a lot. You never know what you're gonna get when you cast that spell."
Paige sighs, "I know what I'm gonna get if I don't. I'm gonna have to dump him. It's not gonna work otherwise. I better go check and make sure Phoebe is ready with Wyatt." She heads out the door and across the hall to Phoebe's room.
Buffy and Dawn finish dressing Celia and head downstairs. They walk into the living room just as Piper calls out, "Guys! Come on, hurry up!"
"Okay, we're coming!" Phoebe calls back.
"Coming!" Paige calls back.
Piper places lit candles on the floor in a circle. "So you think the green outfit is cute? Because I can have them put him in the one with the clouds on it."
"It's her great grandson. Just as Celia's her great granddaughter. I don't think she's gonna care what either of them's wearing." Leo says.
"Yeah, but she's not coming as a great grandmother. She's coming in an official capacity as the matriarch of our family." Piper says.
"Well, she's not gonna come at all unless we summon her." Leo says.
They finish placing the candles and step aside.
"Okay." Piper says.
"Here these words, hear my cry, spirit from the other side, come to me, I summon thee, cross now the great divide." Buffy, Dawn and Piper chant.
Colourful lights swirl inside the candle circle and then Grams appears.
"Well, it's about time. What took you so long?" Grams says.
"Hello to you too, Grams." Piper says.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just so excited." Grams says as she steps out of the circle and becomes corporeal. She hugs Piper. "How are you, my dears?"
"Excited too." Piper says.
"Hi Grams," Dawn says as Grams hugs her.
"Hi, Grams." Leo says.
"Leo. So, where are the little ones?" Grams says.
"Well one of them is right here, Grams." Buffy said. "Celia Prudence."
Grams smiles as she takes Celia from Buffy, "Isn't she the most adorable thing. You must be very proud Buffy. So, Celia Prudence?"
"I am." Buffy says as Grams hands Celia back.
"She's named for two of our cousins on both sides of the family. Celia was our cousin and Buffy's best friend from dad's side of the family. Celia died when she was eight, at the time her death hit Buffy hard. And of course Prudence for…" Dawn said.
"Prue." Grams says. "Of course. Prue would be very proud to have your daughter named after her, Buffy. As I am sure your cousin Celia would as well."
"I know they would." Buffy said.
"Now where is my other great grandchild?" Grams asks as she hands Celia back to Buffy.
Phoebe and Paige walk down the stairs. Phoebe is carrying Wyatt.
"Right behind you." Piper says as they turn around and Piper takes Wyatt off of Phoebe. "Grams, meet the other child of the next generation of Halliwell." She hands Wyatt to Grams.
"Ohh." Grams says.
"Baby Wyatt." Piper says, smiling.
"Wyatt? That's a silly name for a girl, isn't it?" Grams asks.
Buffy, Dawn, Paige, Phoebe and Piper look at each as if to say she can tell that Wyatt's a boy right?
"Grams. It's a boy. Look at the outfit." Phoebe says.
"What?" Grams asks.
"You didn't know?" Paige asks.
Grams shakes her head, "Well, no, I-I mean I just assumed it was a... What went wrong?"
"Wrong?" Leo asks.
"Oh-oh, well, I don't mean wrong, wrong. It's just that we've always had girls." Grams says as she hands Wyatt to Leo.
"Now we have a boy." Piper says.
"Right. Well, um, okay, well, we've got a lot of work to do before I perform the wiccaning." Grams says.
"Work? What work?" Buffy asks.
"Are you kidding? I'm gonna be calling every matriarch in our family since the witch trials and we've got to make sure the manor is safe." Grams says.
"Oh, we've got that covered. Uh, every demon that could attack their spirits has been taken out. The zombies, the rigors..." Piper says.
Dawn nods, "Creepers."
"We're all set." Buffy says.
Grams shakes her head, "What about the Necromancer?"
"Who?" Piper and Buffy asks.
"Okay, you guys discuss this. I have to pop by the airport and pick up my friend Jason." Phoebe says as she gives Grams a hug.
"Who's Jason?" Grams asks.
"Just a guy, Grams. Don't start the wiccaning without me. Be right back." Phoebe says as she leaves.
"Actually, I have to check on my man too." Paige says as she gives Grams a kiss on the cheek and leaves.
"You know, they'd be better off with a dog. More loyal and they die sooner." Grams says.
"Excuse me?" Leo asks.
"Oh..." Grams says and she chuckles. "Don't mind me. You know, I never have very much luck with men."
"But you've been married four times." Dawn said.
Grams nods, "Exactly."
"So can we get back to this, uh, Necromancer?" Buffy asks.
Grams nods, "Yes, we should, and fast. The last time he attacked was during your mother's wiccaning." She, Buffy, Dawn and Piper head up the stairs. "And we can't take any chance on that happening again, so chop-chop."
Moments later in the attic Buffy, Dawn and Piper are looking at the Necromancer page in the Charmed Book of Shadows.
"See I was right. You vanquished this demon sixty years ago." Piper says.
"The Necromancer is not a demon. He's a ghost of a demon. And it wasn't a vanquish, I banished him back into the spirit realm." Grams says.
"Well, then you should be a little more specific in your wording." Buffy says.
"But the point is he's had about seventy years to find a way out of the spirit realm and that man, that demon is nothing, if not confident." Grams says.
"Well, I guess we'll take your word for it considering you seem to know so much about him. "Enjoys Clark Gable movies", "Favourite dinner: Lamb chops with mint jelly"." Piper says.
"Well, you know me. You never know what could be useful." Grams says.
"So what do you suggest?" Dawn asks. "That we go to the video store and you get cooking?"
Grams shakes her head, "Oh, don't be so literal. I was just trying to show how much he craves life, the sensuousness of it. Food, drink, sex..."
"Don't! I don't wanna hear about a dead demon doing the dirty." Piper says.
"He wants to be resurrected." Grams says.
"It says that he has dominion over the dead. You would think that would be enough." Buffy says.
Grams shakes her head, "Not for him it isn't. He only uses his power over the dead to absorb their spirit and get a temporary fix of life. But he was always searching for magical spirits with enough power to resurrect himself for good."
"Like all the spirits of the Halliwell matriarchs." Dawn says.
Grams nods, "That's what he attacked at your mother's wiccaning. Now you see why I'm so worried."
"Okay, so if he's out, we'll send him packing back to the spirit realm because nothing is going to get in the way of Wyatt or Celia's wiccaning." Piper says.
"Good, and I know just the potion to use on him too." Grams says as she walks over to the potion table. "See we'll need some, oh, dragon root, uh, eel skin, bloodwort. You know, Piper, I'm still surprised that you had a boy."
"Well, fifty-fifty chance." Piper says.
"Not in our family. Three hundred years and not a male in the bunch." Grams says. "Even Buffy's daughter was a girl."
Piper sighs, "I guess our family's changing."
"Mm. I mean, it begs a few questions, don't you think? I mean, we've never had a male witch and, you know, men are just so..." Grams says.
Paige storms in. "They're just evil, that's what they are. They are just plain evil."
"Oh, I take it Nate wasn't too happy about you being a witch." Buffy says.
Paige shakes her head, "Oh, Nate was fine with my being a witch. It's maybe his wife that would have had a problem."
"He's married?" Dawn asks.
Paige nods, "Yeah, with two kids."
"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry." Piper says.
"I told you, she should've gotten a dog." Grams says.
"What did you do when you found out?" Buffy asks.
"Plenty. I mean, I'm sure plenty will happen to him, karmicly speaking. Cheat." Paige says.
"Well, there's no wrath like a witch scorned, I always say. Care to take it out on him?" Grams says as she shows the picture of the Necromancer in the Book of Shadows to Paige.
Later in the Necromancer's Catacombs, the Necromancer is lying on a crypt. He hears a noise. "What measly crumbs have you brought me this time?"
"Nothing you're gonna like." Grams says.
The Necromancer turns to see Buffy, Dawn, Piper, Paige and Grams standing in the room. He quickly gets up. "Penny!"
"Penny?" Piper and Buffy says.
Grams uses her power and sends him flying across the room. He lands on some large vases. "What are you waiting for? Throw the damn potion." Paige throws the potion at him and he bursts into flames. He is vanquished. Grams turns to the girls. "What?"
Back at the Manor in Piper's room; Buffy, Dawn, Piper, Phoebe and Paige are there.
"Wait, so he called her by her name?" Phoebe asks.
Buffy nods, "Penny. Yeah. Kinda weird, huh?"
"Yeah, and he acted like he liked her." Paige said.
"Twim-gee. That's Chinese for excuse me." Phoebe says.
"Fascinating." Piper said.
"Did you guys vanquish him?" Phoebe asks.
Dawn shakes her head, "No, he's already dead, he can't be vanquished."
"But we did send his sorry male ass back to the spirit realm." Paige said.
"Okay, let's not jump on Grams' male bashing bandwagon, please." Buffy says.
"Grams is a wise woman." Paige says.
Piper nods, "I'll be sure to let Wyatt know."
"Don't worry, we're not gonna let him grow up to be a slime bag." Paige says.
"Great, so let's focus on blessing him and Celia in light and goodness. Okay, we don't got a lot of time." Piper says as she holds up some baby shoes. "Now white or patent leather."
"Bok! That's white." Phoebe says.
"Okay, what is with speaking Chinese?" Dawn asks. "I always thought languages were my deal."
"It's a little souvenir that Jason brought me back from China, when he was there on his business trip." Phoebe says.
"Oh! Business trip, yeah, business trip. A likely story." Paige says.
Phoebe frowns, "What is that supposed to mean?"
"I'm just saying. He could be leading a double life, he could be married, he could have a mistress, he could be gay. You don't know, there are many variables." Paige says.
The phone rings.
"Or he could be perfect for me." Phoebe says.
Buffy and Dawn look at each other.
"Funny you should mention surprises because, uh, he had a little surprise for me." Paige says
Leo walks in carrying Wyatt. "Paige? Darryl's on the phone, he's pretty pissed. Something about your boyfriend?"
"He's not my boyfriend; he's my ex-boyfriend." Paige says as she leaves the room.
"What are you doing with Wyatt? I thought Grams was gonna spend some time with him and Celia." Piper says.
Leo shakes his head, "Well, she didn't want to."
Piper laughs. "What? That's ridiculous."
"Really? Then why didn't she want to touch him or change him or feed him?" Leo says.
"Well, she's probably just resting before the ceremony…" Piper says.
"If that is the case why is she spending time with Celia?" Leo asks.
"…She said she was gonna do it as soon as we get rid of the Necromancer." Piper says.
"Piper, this has nothing to do with the Necromancer and you know it. Grams doesn't like the fact that Wyatt's a boy and she makes no bones about it." Phoebe says.
Downstairs in the Parlor Grams has Celia in her arms rocking her gently.
Buffy and Piper walks down the stairs.
"Grams?" Piper says.
Grams looks over at Piper and Buffy, "Oh! Buffy… Piper, you two scared me."
"Hm, I didn't know you could scare a ghost. We need to talk." Piper said.
"About?" Grams asks.
Buffy reaches over and takes Celia from Grams and places her in a bassinet.
"I think you know what about. Leo seems to think that you don't want to be around Wyatt for some reason. And I'm beginning to wonder myself." Piper says.
"As am I, Grams." Buffy said. "Seeing how your spending time with Celia and not Wyatt."
Grams sighs, "Oh, this is all my fault. Maybe if I lived longer, been around longer, maybe things would've worked out the way they were supposed to."
"What are you talking about?" Piper asks.
"This. Wyatt." Grams says.
"Oh, you mean because he's not a girl?" Piper asks.
Grams sighs, "Piper, you know as well as I do that the charmed line is supposed to be lead by women. Not men."
"Who says?" Buffy asks.
"Tradition says. Destiny says. Tell me Piper, that you didn't hope to have a little girl, expect to have a little girl, just like you foresaw." Grams says.
"Well, of course, but so what?" Piper asks.
"So what is something went wrong. Terribly wrong. This is not the baby you were meant to have." Grams says.
"Grams." Buffy says.
"Piper, you saw it yourself when you went to the future. So did you Buffy." Grams says.
Piper nods, "That was also the future where Prue was still alive and witches were burned at the stake. Buffy didn't have a child. And neither Paige nor Dawn were apart of this family. Things change."
(A/N – Remember Dawn erased their memory of her before they returned from the future in Morality Bites.)
"Not this. Oh, it's just that I'm worried about the family, you know. We don't know what to expect." Grams says.
"I know, and that's precisely why we shouldn't treat him any differently because he's a boy. That's why we're going to do the ceremony. At the very least he deserves that." Piper says.
Grams shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Piper. I can't."
"You are crazy! This isn't about him or our legacy. This is about you." Piper says.
"Piper, you don't understand." Grams says.
"That you only want to perform a blessing on my niece but not my own son? You are damn right I do not understand." Piper says.
"You see him as an innocent little boy. But he won't be like that, not for long." Grams says.
"So you can't even hold him because some day, some very far away day he will become a man?" Piper says.
"Men can not be trusted with magic. They can't handle it, they're weak and evil will eventually win out." Grams says.
Buffy shakes her head, "That is silly!"
Piper nods, "Buffy's right. Look at Leo."
"Well, Leo, I mean, he's an angel, you can't count Leo." Grams says.
Phoebe walks down the stairs. "Hey, what's going on here?"
"Your grandmother hates her grandson, that's what's going on." Piper says.
"That is not true." Grams says.
"Isn't it Grams?" Buffy asks.
"Oh, I'm sorry, you just hate men, is that correct?" Piper says.
"No, I don't trust men. There's a difference. And there is a reason that they don't last long in this family because they're always trying to take advantage of what we have." Grams says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "That's not true."
"Isn't it? Look what Cole put you through. Look what your father did to your mother." Grams says before looking at Buffy. "Or your father did to your mother."
"So we're supposed to give up on trying to find love just because we might get hurt?" Buffy asks.
"Oh, no, you will get hurt. That's part of our legacy too, unfortunately." Grams says.
Piper frowns, "You know what? Forget it. You couldn't even bless my son with any kind of goodness because you are too consumed by your bitterness."
"I have to agree with Piper." Buffy said. "You can forget blessing Celia as well."
"Piper. Buffy." Grams says.
"And since Wyatt's father, and Celia's uncle, is an angel, we will take our chances without a wiccaning!" Piper says.
"Ditto," Buffy says.
Skreek appears on the stairs and throws a beam of light at Piper, sending her across the room. He throws a beam of light at Phoebe and Buffy and they dive over the couch.
"Leave them alone!" Grams says as she is pulled backwards in a blur and into Necromancer's arms.
Necromancer smiles, "Surprise."
Skreek walks down the stairs.
Buffy powers up a fireball and throws it at Skreek, vanquishing him.
The Necromancer disappears with Grams.
Moments later Buffy, Dawn, Piper, Phoebe, Paige and Leo are in the living room. Phoebe is holding Wyatt, and Dawn is holding Celia.
"Well, let's face it. Grams would not be in this position if she hadn't sent us after the guy in the first place." Piper says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "Not helpful. We have to summon her back here fast."
"We can't. The necromancer will follow and if you don't have a way to stop him." Leo says.
"How did he get a clean shot of her anyway? Weren't you guys with her?" Paige says.
"Uh, we were fighting with her." Buffy says.
"I was upstairs." Dawn said. "Keeping out of the argument."
"Fighting? About what?" Paige asks.
"Yeah, later. Let's just focus on the vanquishing and the saving." Piper says.
Phoebe nods, "Yeah, but I don't know how to. I mean, it's not like we can even vanquish him, he's a ghost."
"Well, ghosts can still feel pain. Maybe I can just orb his testicles somewhere." Paige says.
"Paige, there will be no talk of testicle orbing in front of the children." Piper says.
"And not around his daddy and her uncle either." Leo says.
"Oh, criminy, I'm just trying to help." Paige says.
Leo takes Wyatt off of Phoebe and leaves the room. Dawn stands with Celia and follows him.
Phoebe moves closer to the Charmed Book of Shadows which is sitting on the coffee table. "Okay, there's got to be a weakness in here somewhere. I mean, he must have a weakness, right?"
"Well, do mint jelly and Clark Gable movies count? She wrote it." Buffy says.
"Oh my god. That's why she's so obsessed with him. Grams was the Necromancer's lover." Phoebe says.
Piper gasps.
"That's disgusting." Paige says.
Piper shakes her head, "Oh, no, I think you're right. That would explain everything. Grams was alive when she banished the Necromancer, right?"
Buffy nods, "Right."
"Okay, so now she's dead." Piper says.
"You sound so happy about that." Paige says.
Buffy smiles, "No, that's not what she means. The ghost vanquishing spell. For once I don't have to die. Grams can say it since she's a ghost already."
Phoebe flips through the Book of Shadows. "It's worth a shot."
Moments later they are in the attic. Piper lights five candles that are sitting on the floor in a circle. "Alright, as soon as we summon her, we've gotta get her straight to the book because the Necromancer's gonna be right behind her."
"All over it." Paige and Dawn say.
"Okay, let's do this." Piper says as the door bell rings. Phoebe walks over to the window. "Who is that?"
"It's Jason." Phoebe says.
"Guys really do have bad timing, don't they?" Paige asks.
Phoebe nods, "Yeah, I kinda owe him an answer."
"Answer to what?" Buffy asks.
"He asked me to go back to Hong Kong with him. To live." Phoebe says as the doorbell rings again. "I'll be right back." She leaves the room.
Piper, Paige, Dawn and Buffy watch the window till Jason leaves.
"Go on, go on." Piper says.
They quickly race to the centre of the room. Phoebe walks in.
"Well?" Paige asks.
"How do you guys feel about intercontinental orbing? Or flaming? Or shimmering?" Phoebe asks.
"We'll, talk about that later." Piper says as she hands Phoebe a piece of paper. "Read."
"Here these words, here my cry, spirit from the other side, come to me, I summon thee, cross now the great divide." Phoebe and Buffy say together.
Grams appears in a swirl of bright lights.
"Welcome back, Grams." Dawn says.
"Girls." Grams says.
"No time for apologies. Come on, come on, this way, this way, this way." Paige says as she and Dawn take Grams over to the Charmed Book of Shadows.
"That is a spell to vanquish a ghost. But only a ghost can read it and that's you." Dawn says.
"You shouldn't have done this." Grams says.
"Oh, come on, Grams, we're not that mad." Piper says.
Grams sighs, "You will be."
"Grams, he's gonna be here any second." Buffy says.
Grams nods, "I know, I know. It's just that I don't think that..." She gets a painful ringing in her ears and she gasps.
"Are you alright?" Paige asks.
Grams nods, "Yes. I never meant to hurt you or Wyatt, Piper. Or you and Celia, Buffy."
"Right, okay, look, we kind of need to focus on the demon at hand here, okay?" Piper says.
A gust of wind blows through the attic.
"Whoa. Incoming!" Phoebe says.
Necromancer appears in a puff of smoke.
"Now, Grams!" Paige says.
"Grams, read the spell." Piper says.
"Don't bother. She's with me now." Necromancer says as he moves closer to Grams. "It's time, dear."
"Piper, blow him up or something." Paige says.
"A ghost? You want me to blow up the ghost? He's already dead." Piper says.
"I call forth from space and time, matriarchs from the Halliwell line..." Grams says.
Buffy smiles as an idea forms in her head, "Paige, the truth spell. Use it on Grams."
"Mothers, daughters, sisters, friends..." Grams says.
"For those who want the truth revealed, open hearts and secrets unsealed..." Paige says.
"Our family's spirit without end..." Grams says.
"From now until it's now again, after which the memory ends." Paige says.
"Gather now in this sacred place..." Grams says as coloured lights appear around her.
"Penny, finish the spell." Necromancer says.
"Grams, tell him how you really feel about him. Tell him the truth." Buffy says.
"I love you." Grams says.
"Any other bright ideas?" Dawn asks.
"And now I know that you didn't just use me, that you really did love me too." Grams says.
Necromancer smiles, "I still do."
"I know. But the truth is that our love isn't nearly as powerful as the love I have for my family. Ashes to ashes, spirit to spirit..." Grams says.
Necromancer frowns, "Penny?"
"Take his soul." Grams says.
"Penny, what are you doing?" Necromancer asks.
"Banish this evil." Grams says as the Necromancer is vanquished. "I am so sorry. I never realised how much my anger, my bitterness affected my life, or yours. And I'm most sorry for what I did to my great grandson and my great grandaughter, and you Piper and you Buffy. And if ever I wanted a second chance, it would be with the both of them, and the both of you." Buffy and Piper smiles and hugs Grams. "Don't make the same mistake I did. Don't ever give up on love."
The next morning in the attic, the room is lit by candles. Dawn, Phoebe, Paige, Leo and Grams are there. Piper walks in carrying Wyatt as Buffy walks in carrying Celia. Both Wyatt and Celia are dressed in a white wiccaning outfit. Piper and Buffy stands between Phoebe and Leo.
"You know, I think he looks a little like your grandfather. Oh, trust me, that's a good thing. He was a good man." Grams says. "Just as Celia looks a little like Patience."
"Nice to know." Phoebe says.
Buffy smiles. "I'm not asking you to tell me right now. But someday you and mom need to tell me and Dawn what drove you two apart."
Grams nods, "I think your right. I think both you and Dawn are ready to know. But like you said not right now. Right now we have a wiccaning to do."
"Shall we?" Piper asks.
"I call forth from space and time, matriarchs from the Halliwell line, mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, our family's spirit without end, to gather now in this sacred place, and help us bring this child to grace." Grams says as Matriarch spirits from different time periods appear in the room. Grams turns to the matriarchs. "The next generation has been born into our family, our legacy." Piper hands Wyatt to Grams and she cradles him in one arm as Buffy hands Celia to Grams and she cradles her in the other arm. "We pledge to be with these children, this beautiful boy and this beautiful girl always. Apart but never separate, free but never alone. They are one of us and because of that, we will bless them with all the goodness that we are. Welcome to the family, Wyatt Matthew Halliwell. Welcome to the family, Celia Prudence Halliwell. She kisses Wyatt and Celia on their cheeks. "Blessed be."
"Blessed be." Matriarchs say.
"Blessed be." Piper, Leo, Phoebe, Paige, Buffy and Dawn says.
Grams hands Wyatt back to Piper and Celia back to Buffy.
Buffy looks at the matriarchs and notices someone at the back of the matriarchs smiling. She makes her way around the matriarchs out of sight of the rest of the group. To the person she saw… "Prue."
Prue looks at her namesake and smiles, "She's beautiful Buffy. Take good care of my niece. Blessed be."
"I will, I promise. Blessed be." Buffy says.
"Take good care of my great grandson and great granddaughter." Grams says as she steps back and stands beside the other matriarchs. They all disappear, including Prue.
Dawn notices a tear in Buffy's eyes, "Buffy? Is something wrong?"
Buffy shakes her head, "No everything's right. Celia just got a very special blessing."
"What do you mean?" Piper asks.
Buffy smiles, "Prue was here."