DISCLAIMER. This story is based upon the series, Charmed, that was created by Constance M. Burge. All Charmed characters are the property of Spelling Productions. This story contains scenes from the Season One episodes Wicca Envy and That 70's Episode, which were written by Brad Kern and Sheryl J. Anderson.
To commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the broadcast of Wicca Envy, the final appearance of Rex and Hannah on Charmed, I present this story that I wrote that year. Enjoy.
As most Charmed fans may know, if was revealed at the end of the episode Wicca Envy, that Leo was more than he appeared to be. He used his powers to save the Charmed Ones from the two Warlocks, Rex Buckland and Hannah Webster. However, suppose Leo never existed at all in the Charmed universe, how would the Halliwells have gotten out of that mess? This What If? story is one possible way. The time is January of 1999, and the action picks up at the climax of Wicca Envy, where Rex has manipulated the sisters into giving up their powers and they have delivered them to him at the Auction House. In return, Rex had promised to help clear Prue of a murder she did not commit, but had been framed for by Rex and Hannah...
OOOOOOOOOO
Rex Buckland stood smiling. The Halliwell sisters were powerless and helpless. In his hands, Rex held the lantern that contained the Halliwell's powers. Now there was just one more matter to attend to. "It all feels a little anti-climactic, don't you think?" he said to the helpless sisters. "Too easy almost. Feels as if we need a more satisfying ending." With those words, a black panther, which was a transformed Hannah came out of Rex's office and advanced towards the Halliwell's. The Halliwell's stood watching in horror as the black panther advanced on them. Rex himself stood back out of harm's way and watched. Suddenly, Hannah leaped towards the Halliwell's. At the last second, Phoebe spotted a fire extinguisher on a nearby wall, grabbed it, and sprayed it at Hannah. Hannah was thrown off balance by the sudden impact of CO2, and hurled to the floor, where she reverted to her human form. Before Rex had a chance to react, Phoebe swung the fire extinguisher around the clobbered him in the head. The Warlock fell to the floor, unconscious. At that same time, Prue rushed over and kicked Hannah in the face, before she could get up. Hannah slumped back to the floor, not interested in getting up for a while.
"Well done, Pheebs!" Prue said as she grabbed the lantern Rex had dropped. "Now let's make tracks before our Warlock friends here wake up. The sisters quickly made their way out of the Auction House.
OOOOOOOOOO
Once they had safely made it back to Halliwell Manor, the three sisters opened the lantern and were relieved when they felt their powers flow back into them. "Well that seems to have worked." Phoebe said and pointed to the Book of Shadows. "All the spells are back too."
"Right." Piper said. "Now we go back to the Auction House and kick Rex and Hannah's sorry butts clear back to Warlock Hell!"
"We can't do that." Prue said suddenly. "Not yet at least."
"Why not?"
"Because Rex can still send me to jail for murder. In fact I am technically an escaped fugitive, since you two busted me out of jail."
"So what do you suggest we do, Prue?" Phoebe asked.
"There is only one thing to do." Prue said as she started towards the attic door, with Piper and Phoebe following behind. "I'm going to call Andy."
"Call Andy?" Phoebe asked. "Why? Do you plan to turn yourself in?"
"No, I am going to do something I should have done months ago." Prue said with determination. Before Piper and Phoebe could comment on that statement, Prue turned and headed down the stairs.
OOOOOOOOOO
Andy Trudeau sat at his desk, lost in thought. Suddenly, he looked up as Daryl Morris approached him. "You were right, Andy. There was a couple of people named Rex Buckland and Hannah Webster who were murdered last August."
"Just as I thought." Andy said, nodding his head.
"Then who the hell are those two at the Auction House?" Morris asked. "How does this all fit in with Prue being framed for murder."
"I don't know, Darryl. But you better go see about getting a search warrant for the Auction House. I think we are going to need it to help clear Prue."
"I'm on it." Morris said and headed off to procure the warrant.
"Thanks, Darryl." Andy said. Suddenly, his phone rang and he picked it up. "Trudeau?"
"Andy, I have to see you now." Prue's voice replied.
"Prue?" Andy said and quickly lowered his voice. "How are you calling me?"
"I escaped."
"What?" Andy asked. "How? Prue this does not look good for you. I suggest you turn yourself in right now."
"I can't."
"Prue, I may be on to something that can clear you, but I can't protect you if you are a fugitive." Andy said, hoping to reason with Prue.
"I know." Prue replied and then continued. "Andy, there is something about me you have to know, something I have been keeping from you. Please come to our secret place, where we used to go when we dated in high school. Be there in one hour and come alone. I have to go now."
"Prue, wait..." Andy began and then heard the click of a disconnected line. He leaned back in his chair and decided that he would take the risk and meet Prue at their secret place. He knew that Prue had been keeping a secret from him for some time now, and now it looked as if he would finally find out what it is.
OOOOOOOOOO
Back at Halliwell Manor, Phoebe and Piper looked at each other in concern. Prue had made the phone call and then left, not even telling them where she was going. "I guess Prue wants to be alone with Andy." Phoebe said. "I wonder what she is going to say to him?"
"I don't know." Piper replied. "So what are we supposed to do until she gets back?"
"I guess we start working on another plan."
"Well, before we start, I'm going into the kitchen and get a bite to eat." Piper said and headed for the kitchen. She had just gotten into the kitchen, and had opened the fridge, when she was grabbed from behind. Before Piper could do anything to defend herself, a knife was placed at her throat. "You try anything and I'll cut your throat!" Hannah's voice whispered.
"Well, well." Rex said as he came out of the cellar, where he had been hiding. "It looks like Hannah and I have the upper hand yet again. Quick, Hannah, tie her hands, so she can't freeze us. We cannot afford to take any chances."
OOOOOOOOOO
Phoebe was sitting in the living room, when she heard people coming, and recognized the voices of the two Warlocks. Quickly she flattened herself against the wall and peeked around the corner. Phoebe saw Rex and Hannah come out of the kitchen, with Piper, hands tied behind her back, between them. When Rex went by where Phoebe was hiding, Phoebe grabbed his arm and flipped him, she watched as he landed on the floor, stunned. Hannah snarled with anger and swung the knife she was carrying at Phoebe, but Phoebe was too fast for her. With two karate chops, Phoebe first knocked the knife out of Hannah's hand and then knocked the female Warlock out.
"I'm impressed!" Piper said as Phoebe untied her hands. "Since when did you turn into Chuck Norris?"
"I guess the cat's out of the bag." Phoebe said. "I've been taking self defence courses for a couple of months now. Since I'm the sister with the passive power..." she broke off and smiled weakly.
"Okay, Pheebs, we should.." Piper broke off as Rex and Hannah began to stir. "Make tracks to the attic now." The two sisters bolted up and stairs and soon were safely in the attic. Phoebe began flipping through the Book of Shadows, looking for a spell to either vanquish Rex and Hannah, or get her and Piper to safety. "Hurry, Pheebs! Hurry!" Piper said as she listened by the door.
OOOOOOOOOO
"Hannah, are you alright?" Rex asked as he helped his lover to her feet.
"I'm fine." Hannah replied. "For a passive witch, that Phoebe sure packs a wallop."
"Well we'll be more careful this time. They went upstairs, let's get them, and later we can finish Prue off as well!"
OOOOOOOOOO
"I found something!" Phoebe said excitedly. "It looks like some kind of time travel spell. At least I think it is."
"What do you mean?"
"It goes on about some bond or other. I have no idea what that means."
"Great! Not what I hoping for" Piper groaned. She then heard Rex and Hannah pounding up the stairs. "But beggars can't be choosers. Read it and let's hope for the best."
"Okay. Here goes nothing." Phoebe said and read the spell.
The bond that was not to be done.
Give us the power to see it undone.
And turn back time to whence it was begun.
. When Phoebe had finished, the two sisters vanished in a swirl of bright lights.
OOOOOOOOOO
Moments later, Rex and Hannah came charging into the attic. "Where are they?" Rex said as he took in the empty attic. "How could they have escaped?"
"They must have used a spell in the Book of Shadows." Hannah said as she went over and read the Book. "There is some kind of spell here, but I can't make heads nor tails of it."
"Let me try." Rex said. "It seems to be some kind of time travel spell." Rex said after he had studied it. "But it doesn't say where or when it takes them too, so they could be anywhere. However, Prue is still here in 1999, so we'll just wait here and surprise her!"
IN THE PAST
At first the attic looked the same to Piper and Phoebe. "It didn't work." Phoebe said as she looked around. "We didn't go anywhere."
"Oh yes we did." Piper said and pointed to some nearby items. "Eight track tapes, pet rocks, some old dolls. We threw all this stuff away years ago. We have gone back in time, but the question is how far back."
"We may have another problem." Phoebe said as she checked the Book of Shadows. "The spell I used to bring us here is not in the Book. I guess it hasn't been written yet. We may be stuck here."
"Okay, first thing's first. Let's just find out when we are." Piper said.
"I'll go take a look around." Phoebe said and crept out of the attic, keeping a wary eye out for Rex and Hannah, just in case. As Phoebe descended the stairs, she heard a sound out of the past, the ringing of a rotary phone. Slowly, Phoebe headed down until she saw a familiar figure talking on the phone. It's Grams! Phoebe thought. Indeed it was Penny Halliwell, in the flesh, not a ghost. That confirms it, we ARE in the past!
Suddenly, two little kids rushed into the room. Phoebe quickly recognized them. That's Prue and Piper when they were little!
"Grams, Grams, can I have a cookie?" little Prue asked.
"But it's the last one that not..." little Piper screamed.
"Not now, can't you two see I'm on the phone?" Grams said in a stern voice.
I think I've seen enough. Phoebe thought and headed back up to the attic.
OOOOOOOOOO
Piper was still waiting when Phoebe came back. "Well, what did you see out there, Pheebs? Rex and Hannah?"
"No." Phoebe replied, shaking her head. "I saw Grams and..."
"And?"
"You and Prue as little kids.
"Really, I want to see this for myself." Piper said. "Let's go." The two sisters crept out of the attic and made their way downstairs. Suddenly, Phoebe spotted a newspaper lying on the hall table and picked it up. She read the date on it. "March 24th, 1975. Whoa! I haven't been born yet! Mom is barely pregnant with me." Phoebe paused and then continued. "Mom...Mom is still alive." The thought of her mother being alive brought tears to Phoebe's face.
"I know, Pheebs." Piper said as she put a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder."But now we have to focus on..." she broke off as Penny came around the corner and confronted them. "Oh boy!" Phoebe whispered under her breath.
"Who are you?"" Penny thundered. "What are you doing in my house?"
"Grams, we can explain..." Piper began.
"WARLOCKS BEGONE!" Penny yelled and raised her hands. Before they knew it, Piper and Phoebe were magically thrown out of the Manor.
"Hmmmm." Penny said to herself. "Patty called and told me she had a vision of some mysterious strangers showing up. I better call her back and tell her it's happened."
OOOOOOOOOO
Phoebe ran down Prescott street, dragging Piper behind here. "Grams is one scary witch. Now what are we going to do? We're stuck in the past and probably can't even get our own grandmother to listen to us."
"Listen to us?" Piper replied. "Did you here what she said? She thinks we're Warlocks! Great, Grams thinks we're Warlocks, Prue has been arrested, we have Rex and Hannah trying to kill us, we're stuck in the past and Prue is still in the future." Piper had a worried look on her face and both sisters blurted out. "PRUE! SHE'S ALL ALONE WITH REX AND HANNAH!"
BACK IN 1999
Prue waited in the glade, near the swing set, for Andy to show up. She had debated bringing him into this, but now it seemed there was no choice. She looked up as Andy approached her. "I"m probably risking my badge for this." he said as he walked up to her.
"I know, Andy, and I'm sorry." Prue replied and then continued. "But you deserved to know what has being going on with me these past few months." She paused, took a breath, and said. "I'm a witch, Andy."
"A what?"
"A witch." Prue repeated and went on to explain about the Book of Shadows and the Halliwell family history. "After Pheebs moved back here from New York, she found the Book of Shadows and activated our powers. Since then, Warlocks have been after us. That's why I couldn't tell you what was happening. I was worried that you might get hurt."
"Prue I..." Andy began. "I mean..." He stumbled around, looking for the words to say.
"If you don't believe me, watch this." Prue said and used her powers to move a nearby rock through the air. Andy looked like he was about to faint. "Convinced?" Prue asked.
"Yeah, I guess I am." Andy said. "All this time and I never suspected this. So I guess you are innocent of murder."
"Yes I am." Prue said and continued. "I was framed by Rex Buckland, my boss. Turns out he and Hannah Webster are Warlocks, after our powers. We've already had several close calls with them."
"Well if that's the case, then I am sticking to you like glue." the determined Andy said.
"But Andy, it can be..." Prue began.
"Save it." Andy said. "You mean too much to me to walk away now."
"Okay." Prue said after a few seconds. "Let's get back to the Manor. Piper and Phoebe will be getting worried about me."
"Okay, but first I have a phone call to make." Andy said as he pulled out his cell phone. Quickly, he dialled the number of the police station, and was soon speaking to Daryl Morris. "Daryl, it's Andy."
"Andy, what's going on?" Morris asked. "You took off out of here like a bat out of hell. What gives?"
"I can't explain right now." replied Andy. "Listen, Daryl, did you get that search warrant I asked about."
"Yeah, I did. We're just about to head over to Buckland Auction House now."
"Good, start without me. I'll be there when I can."
OOOOOOOOOO
When Prue and Andy arrived at and entered Halliwell Manor, Prue called out. "Piper! Phoebe! I'm back!" There was no answer. Suddenly she heard a thud and a groan behind her. She turned around to see Andy lying on the floor, out cold. "Andy!" she called and ran towards him.
"Hello Prue." Rex said as he and Hannah appeared before her. "It seems your two sisters have given us the slip, but at least we have you!" Prue stepped back and squinted, throwing Rex into the staircase wall.
"Where are my sisters? What have you done with them!?" Prue demanded.
"They are not of your concern anymore!" Rex replied as he got up and brushed himself off. Meanwhile, Hannah had locked the front door of the Manor so Prue had no way of escaping the house.
Meanwhile, Andy had come to. Seeing Rex threatening Prue, Andy leaped to his feet, pulling out his gun. "Don't move! Both of you put your hands in the air! Now!" Andy shouted as he trained the gun on the two Warlocks, who only laughed at him.
"Andy, you can't kill a Warlock with a gun." Prue said.
"Now she tells me." Andy muttered to himself.
"Get them honey!" Rex said to Hannah. Hannah got on all fours and turned into huge tiger and leaped after Prue and Andy, but Prue was able to use her powers and deflected Hannah. However, one of Hannah's claw did scratch Prue's left shoulder. "Arrrgg!" Prue cried and gripped her wounded shoulder.
"Prue!" Andy said in concern.
"Never mind that now. Quick, come with me!" Prue said as she grabbed Andy and the two of them bolted up the stairs.
"Get back here, you bitch!" Rex shouted after Prue as he watched her and Andy disappear up the stairs.
"There's no B in witch!" Prue's voice yelled back.
"That's it. Enough of this pussyfooting around!" Rex snarled and turned to Hannah, who had reverted to human form. "After them!"
OOOOOOOOOO
Running into the attic with Andy close behind, Prue found the Book Of Shadows open to a page. Realizing that perhaps this was the way Piper and Phoebe had escaped, Prue read the spell. Prue and Andy began to disappear, just as Rex and Hannah charged into the attic.
"Oh no you don't!" Rex said as he and Hannah made a grab for Prue. As a result, they were caught in the spell as well, and vanished along with Prue and Andy.
IN 1975
The next thing Prue and Andy knew was that they were all alone in the attic "What happened?" Andy asked "This is nothing, and I mean nothing, to what I thought a witch does"
"Welcome to my world." Prue replied. The two looked around for Rex and Hannah, but they were no where in sight.
"Well what ever that spell was it must of gotten rid of those two. Andy said.
"Ouch!" Prue said as she looked at her shoulder and saw that it was still bleeding from when Hannah had slashed her.
"Let's go down stairs and well fix that up." Andy replied and the two went downstairs, as soon as they reached the bottom of the stair case they heard little plastic guns going off. Andy and Prue looked beyond the staircase to see none other than their little selves running around in the living room. Adult Prue and Andy just looked at each other in amazement.
OOOOOOOOOO
As soon as Prue and Andy left the attic, Rex and Hannah materialized. They quickly headed for the attic door.
OOOOOOOOOO
Downstairs, Penny Halliwell of 1975 appeared and confronted Prue and Andy. "More of you! Well I'll banish you two like I did those other two!" She raised her hands.
"Grams, wait!" Prue said. "It's me, Prue! I'm from the future."
"Really?" Penny replied. "Okay, pop quiz. Where was I born?"
"In Boston." Prue replied.
"Who is Melinda Warren?"
"The first witch of our family line."
"Correct again." Penny said and went on to her next question. "What was my husband's name?"
Prue had to grin at this one. "Which husband!?"
"What's IBM selling for in the future?"
"GRAMS!" Prue said, rolling her eyes.
"So you are Prue." Penny said, lowering her hands. "What is going on here?
"I've come back in time from the year 1999." She indicated Andy. "This is Andy Trudeau, all grown up."
"I still have some doubts." Penny said. "But the evidence supports what you have told me so far."
"Thanks, Grams. I..." Prue began and then realized something. "You mentioned two others, who were they?"
"Two young woman just came out of nowhere." Penny replied. "I thought they were Warlocks and threw them out of the house. Do you know who they were?"
"Piper and Phoebe!" Prue said and turned to Andy. "They're here too. We have to find them!"
Before anyone else could say anything, Rex and Hannah came charging down the stairs. The sight of Penny stopped them short. "You're dead!" Rex said.
"I'm clearly not," Penny replied.
"Grams! Those two ARE Warlocks!" Prue shouted.
"Is that true?" Penny asked Hannah.
"What's it to you, you stupid old bat!" Hannah snarled.
"STUPID OLD BAT!?" Penny roared and raised her hands.
The next thing they knew, Rex and Hannah found themselves lying on the front lawn of Halliwell Manor. "Hannah, perhaps you should work on your people skills." Rex groaned.
Hannah could only groan in agreement.
OOOOOOOOOO
"Where would Piper and Phoebe ave gone?" Andy asked.
"I think I may know," Prue replied and turned to Penny. "At this time, Mom is working at that diner..."
"Buddy's." Penny said.
"Right, Buddy's. That's the most logical place to start. Let's go."
"I'll drive," Penny said and went to get her car keys.
OOOOOOOOOO
Meanwhile, Rex and Hannah were wandering around town to get their bearings. "Rex, look!" Hannah said as she pointed to a banner in a nearby store window that proclaimed. THE LOOK FOR '75!
"But that means..." Rex said and then grabbed a newspaper that was lying on the ground. "Hannah, we did go back in time!" he paused for thought. "But why would the Halliwell's come back here to this time. It doesn't make sense."
"Maybe..." Hannah began and then stopped as a police car pulled up to them. The door opened and a mean looking officer got out and walked up to the pair. "Is there a problem, officer?" Rex asked.
"Call me Nicholas." the cop replied and held up a ruby red ring. "You two are Warlocks, with this ring, I can tell. Why are you here? Did the Source send you too? If he did, tell him I don't need any help."
"Well the answer is quite a long story." Rex replied. "Yes, the Source did send us, but not here per se."
"It just so happens we are after the Charmed Ones!" added Hannah.
"The Charmed Ones? How interesting." Nicholas replied. "Perhaps we can help one another. Listen..."
OOOOOOOOOO
Piper and Phoebe had arrived at Buddy's Diner to hear Cher singing Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves on the jukebox. Quickly they took a table and picked up some menus. "You okay, Pheebs?" Piper asked after a few seconds. Having no other recourse, the two Halliwell sisters had decided to seek out their mother, Patty Halliwell, who worked here as a server.
"I'm fine." Phoebe replied. "Just the thought of seeing Mom. I have so few memories of her. I just want to..." Phoebe broke off as emotion threatened to overwhelm her.
"Can I take your order?" A new voice asked. Piper and Phoebe looked up to see their mother, Patty Halliwell, in her server outfit, standing over them.
"Mom." Phoebe whispered under her breath.
"Er.. Yes, we'd like...two coffees please, Mom, er, I mean, miss." Piper answered.
"Two coffees coming up." answered Patty who then headed off to get the coffees.
"Why didn't you tell her who we were?" Phoebe asked.
"What was I supposed to say to her. 'Hi, we're your daughters. I know we're probably about the same age as you, but well we've come back from the future.' Can you imagine how that would sound!" Piper replied sarcastically.
"Yeah, it would sound fantastic." answered Phoebe.
"Do I know you from somewhere?" Patty asked when she had returned with their coffees. She looked at them strangely. "You kind of look familiar."
"No, I don't think so. We're from out of town." answered Piper.
"Way outta town." mumbled Phoebe.
"Okay." smiled Patty. "I better get back to work." With that she left. As she headed for the kitchen, Patty reflected on the phone call she had gotten from her mother, not too long ago. Penny had said something about two female strangers invading the Manor. Could these two be them? Patty wondered. I'll just keep an eye on them for now.
OOOOOOOOOO
Meanwhile, Rex and Hannah were still talking with Nicholas. "So you have come back from the future." said Nicholas.
"It looks that way." answered Rex. "One moment we were in the Halliwell's attic, the next we were here in the past, and as for the Charmed Ones, they disappeared at the same time."
"So you have been after the Charmed Ones powers also." said Nicholas. "Well in this time the Charmed Ones do not really exist yet. The youngest sister..."
"That would be Phoebe." interrupted Rex.
"Yes, Phoebe, she has not been born yet. In fact, her mother doesn't not even know she is expecting."
"You mean you know where their mother is?" asked Hannah.
"Why yes, see that diner over there." Nicholas said, pointing to Buddy's. "She is working there as we speak. I was preparing a trap for her, when you two turned up."
"Then we should go over there." said Rex. "She might have been in contact with her daughters, the older ones from our time, that is."
"Let's go." Nicholas replied, crossing the road, Rex and Hannah followed.
"Wait a minute, Rex, I've an idea." Hannah said as she stopped Rex in his tracks while continuing. "Think about it, Patty is carrying Phoebe, Prue is five and Piper is three, everything we do in this time will effect our time."
"So, what do you have in mind, pet?" Rex asked.
"I say we just get rid of Patty, kill her now, so Phoebe will never be born. I mean Patty is gonna die three years from now anyway, what does it matter if she goes a little sooner." Hannah replied. "But why stop there, let's kill Little Prue and Piper too."
"So we kill the little Charmed Ones." Rex couldn't help but smirk. "So the adult Charmed Ones will never exist. We know how easy it would be to kill those kids, they probably don't even know how to use their powers yet. Trouble is, that brings in the Grandfather Paradox."
"The what?" Hannah asked.
"Suppose you went back in time and met your grandfather, before he met your grandmother, and you kill him. If that happens, how can you be born, and if you're never born, how can you go back and kill your grandfather." Rex said. "The same idea applies, if we kill the young Charmed Ones, the adult ones never exist. That being the case, the Source never sends us after them. If the Source never sends us after them, because they never existed, how can we have come back here, due to a spell they cast, to kill their younger selves."
"My brain hurts!" Hannah moaned.
"Well, we'll just have to chance it and see what happens, Hannah."
"Hold up." Nicholas said as he stopped in his tracks.
"What is it?" asked Rex.
"Look." Nicholas said and pointed to a car that had just pulled up in front of Buddy's. The three Warlocks watched as Prue, Andy, and Penny got out and headed into Buddy's.
"What the hell are they doing here?" Hannah asked.
"I don't know, Hannah, but we better get them! Fast!" Rex said with determination.
OOOOOOOOOO
Inside Buddy's, Grams has just walked in with Prue and Andy behind her. "Piper! Pheebs!" Prue called as she saw Piper and Phoebe sitting in a booth.
"Mom, what are you doing here?" Patty asked as she came over to them. "Who are these people?" she asked, indicating Prue and Andy.
"I'll explain in a few minutes." Penny replied. "We need to talk. It's important."
"Prue, is it just me, or do you know that Andy is here too!" Piper stated.
"Yeah, well it's nice to see you too, Piper." Andy replied.
"It's okay, Piper." Prue said as she sat down beside her sisters. "I explained everything to Andy. He knows about us now."
"Uh oh! Here comes trouble!" Phoebe said as she looked out the window and saw the three Warlocks approaching.
"How the hell did Rex and Hannah get back here to 1975?" Piper asked.
"I'm afraid that's my fault." Prue said. "When Andy and I got back to the Manor, they surprised us. We managed to fight them off, but when I read the spell that brought us back here, they charged us. They were close enough to Andy and myself to be dragged along."
"We better take the back way out of here." Patty said. "Innocent people might get hurt if the Warlocks attack us in here." The group quickly made their way to the back entrance of Buddy's and went out into an alley. "Let's go." Patty said as she led them towards the street.
"Hello all." Rex said as he, Hannah, and Nicholas, stepped out to block their way. "Going somewhere? Now why is it that every time I say hello, you Halliwell's run away." Rex mockingly shook his head. "Quite rude, if you ask me."
"Oh stop with the games, Rex!" Prue snapped and then looked at Nicholas. "Who's your new friend?"
"Him? His name is Nicholas. He is just someone who shares our interest in you and your powers." Rex replied. "You are all helpless."
"I think not!" Patty said and used her powers to freeze the three Warlocks.
"Well done, Patty!" Penny said to her daughter.
"Let's get back to the Manor before our not so good friends here unfreeze." Patty said and the little group hurried away.
OOOOOOOOOO
Soon after, the three Warlocks unfroze. "This is the third time they've given us the slip!" Hannah complained.
"I know." Rex replied. "Those Halliwell's are really starting to PISS ME OFF!" In frustration, he kicked over a garbage can.
"Don't worry about it." Nicholas said to his two new allies. "We'll just have to think of something else!"
OOOOOOOOOO
Once safely back at Halliwell Manor, Patty got the shock of her life as the adult Charmed Ones revealed their identities to her. "You three are my daughters?" she asked the Charmed Ones.
"Yes, Mom, we are." Prue said, trying to keep her emotions in check. "We've come back in time from the year 1999."
"It's true." Penny added. "They knew things only our family would know."
"This is incredible." Patty said and took a moment to look over her three grown daughters. "You're all so beautiful! Prue, Piper, and..." she paused and looked at her youngest, and still yet to be born, daughter. "Phoebe. I must have named you after my favourite aunt. Of course I could always change the name if you don't like it."
"No. I love it." Phoebe replied. Suddenly the emotion got the better of her and Phoebe embraced Patty. "I love you, Mom!" Phoebe said in a shaky voice. She just wanted to keep holding her mother and never let go.
OOOOOOOOOO
Meanwhile, Andy had sat down in a nearby chair and-out of habit-pulled out his cell phone to call Morris. Of course, the phone gave nothing but dead air. "Boy, am I slow." Andy mumbled to himself when he realized what he was doing. This was 1975, cellular technology had not been invented yet and Darryl Morris was just a kid! He sat there, looking at the useless phone and almost jumped out of his skin when a voice behind him asked. "Is something wrong, Andy?" he turned to see Prue standing there.
"Yeah." Andy replied and continued. "All this is just sinking in. Just where and when I am. Events have been moving so fast that I haven't had time to think about it, now that we have this down time..." he broke off.
"I guess this is a lot for you to handle." Prue said as she came down and sat beside him. "That's another reason why I didn't want to tell you our family secret. I was afraid that you couldn't handle it."
"I just need a little time." Andy said slowly. He still loved Prue deeply and did not want to lose her now.
Soon the others came and joined them. "Writing a spell to get you all back to your own time shouldn't be a problem." Penny said.
"Wait, what about Rex and Hannah?" Piper asked. "We can't just leave them running around in the past. Who knows what damage to time they could cause."
"One crisis at a time, dear." Penny said. She and Patty headed off to work on the spell.
"What is it, Pheebs?" Prue asked, when she saw how sad her sister looked.
"Mom died before I could catch hold of good memories of her." Phoebe replied. "Now she's here, alive. If case both of you didn't notice, in our time, there's no Mom there."
"I know how you feel, Pheebs, but we don't belong here in 1975." Prue said. "We have to go back."
"I know, but that doesn't mean I have to like it." Phoebe replied bitterly.
OOOOOOOOOO
Outside Halliwell Manor, the three Warlocks were staking the place out in the police car Nicholas drove. "Excellent." Rex said from his place in the back seat. "Soon the 1975 incarnations of the Charmed Ones will be in our hands. Victory is within our grasp!"
"Nicholas, I'm curious." Hannah said. "Soon after we met, you said you were planning a trap for Patty Halliwell. What was it?"
"It's my ring, it's the source of my powers." Nicholas replied as he held up the ring for Rex and Hannah to see. "My plan was to lure Patty Halliwell somewhere, and force her to bless it. That way, it would make me immune from the powers of her daughters. Once that was done, I planned to wait until the time was right, and then attack."
"Clever." Rex said, nodding his head. "And with the ring protecting you, the Charmed Ones would not be able to use their powers against you."
"Yes, the bond would have protected me."
"Bond? Rex, the spell that brought us all back here! It mentioned a bond!" Hannah said with excitement.
"Indeed, it seems we've discovered why that spell was there."
"What do you mean?" Nicholas asked.
"I mean that someone, probably the mother or grandmother of the Charmed Ones, knew you would one day return and wrote that spell, so the adult sisters could come back to this time. No doubt to try and undo the bond Patty made with you."
"So my plans succeeds." Nicholas said with an evil smile.
"Actually, no, not anymore." Rex replied. "Random elements intervened."
"Random elements?" Hannah asked.
"Us, Hannah, we're the random elements." Rex said. "As I said, the time travel spell was written with the idea that it would be used when Nicholas, the future Nicholas, I should say, attacked the Charmed Ones. However, Hannah, we forced the Halliwell sisters to use it before it was meant to be used. Our subsequent actions here in 1975 further altered events. In the original time line, you and I were not present when Nicholas encountered Patty Halliwell."
"Neither were the adult Charmed Ones and their cop buddy." Hannah added.
"Yes, quite. What I'm saying is that all of us coming here to 1975, changed things. The time line in which Nicholas forced Patty to make that bond with him no longer exists."
"What does that mean?" Nicholas asked.
"It means that it's a whole new temporal roll of the dice." Rex said. "So now we wait."
OOOOOOOOOO
Overwhelmed by the sudden encounter of her future daughters, Patty had completely forgotten about the younger ones. Now it suddenly hit her. "Oh my God, my girls, my little ones, where are they?"
"Don't worry dear, Prue and I left them with our next door neighbours before we came and got you. They're fine." answered Penny. "Little Andy was here too, but I sent him home, after erasing his memory, of course."
"Still, with all these Warlocks around, I think we should fetch the girls back here, where we know they'll be safe." said Patty.
"I'll go get them, Mom." smiled Phoebe. It feels good to say that. she thought.
"I'll come with you." added Prue. With that the sisters left the room.
OOOOOOOOOO
"How long do we have to sit here for?" asked Hannah. "I say we just spring a surprise attack on them now."
"Patience, kitten, you'll have your chance." answered Rex. With that they saw Prue and Phoebe leaving the manor and heading towards the house next door.
"What do you suppose they're up to?" asked Hannah.
"Why don't you shut up, and we'll find out!" answered Nicholas.
"Rex, are you going to let him speak to me like that?" Hannah asked as she glared at Nicholas.
"Of course not my darling." replied Rex. Don't worry, Hannah. Rex thought to himself as he looked at Nicholas. Once we have procured the powers of the Charmed Ones, we'll get rid of this lunkhead.
"Well tell him then!" Hannah scowled. A few moments later Prue and Phoebe, could be seen again, leaving the neighbours house, with two little girls in tow.
"There's no time for bickering now. said Nicholas. "This is the chance we have been waiting for! They have the younger Charmed Ones with them." Quickly the three Warlocks left the car.
OOOOOOOOOO
Prue and Phoebe had collected Little Prue and Piper, and were headed back to the Manor, when the three Warlocks suddenly appeared on front of them. Startled, Prue went to use her power, but nothing happened. "What the hell?" Prue asked.
"Having troubles, are we?" Rex asked mockingly as he made a grab for Little Prue. Big Prue tried to stop him, but Nicholas held out his hand and pointed the ruby ring at her. "Your blood is beginning to boil..." Prue crumpled to the ground, racked with pain. Phoebe jumped in with a karate kick that knocked Nicholas flying. Hannah took her chance and made a grab for Little Piper, but Phoebe was too quick, she turned and punched Hannah in the face.
"Ouch, that's the third time today!" Hannah said, rubbing her jaw.
"Hannah! Quickly! Get in the car!" shouted Rex, who had made it back to the car with Little Prue. Before Big Prue and Phoebe knew what was happening, Hannah had gone, and so had the car, with the three Warlocks and Little Prue inside.
OOOOOOOOOO
Soon after, Penny, Patty, Piper, and Andy, came out of the Manor to see Phoebe helping Prue up from the ground. "What happened?" asked Penny.
"It was the Warlocks, Grams, we tried to stop them." said Phoebe.
"Where's Prue?" screamed Patty "Where's my little girl?"
"They took her, Mom. I'm so sorry, its all my fault. I tried to use my powers, but they wouldn't work." Prue said as she hugged her mother who was now sobbing.
"Wait! Your powers are not working?" asked Penny. "Well the powers of the younger ones are, so that must mean there can only be one set of Charmed Ones at one time."
"Well how can that be? Phoebe isn't even here yet." said Patty.
"Well, I am in a way." answered Phoebe, touching her mothers stomach. ""You just didn't know it yet."
"Let's get back into the house and try and work out a solution to this mess." said Penny.
OOOOOOOOOO
"Where do you think there taking Prue? I mean Little Prue?" Piper asked, once they had reentered the Manor.
"Mommy?" Little Piper asked as she went over to her mom. "Mommy, where's sister?" Patty looked at her daughter and replied. "It's okay, honey." Big Piper smiled as she came over to give her little self a hug.
"Aw look, Piper is giving herself a hug, how sweet!" Phoebe blurted out.
"Shut up." Big Piper said with embarrassment as she looked over at Phoebe
"Piper!" Prue said, jumping in.
"Piper! Your name is Piper too?" Little Piper said as she looked up at Big Piper while everyone smiled.
"Okay, touching as this is, we have a problem here." Prue asked as she got up. "Rex is going to kill me and we don't have our powers to defend ourselves with?"
"Yes, you do." Penny replied as she looked over at Prue. "The little ones have their powers and Patty and I have ours. If we stick together and I write a few spells, I'm sure
we can get everything back to normal."
"Yeah, right, like we can just make up our own spells." Phoebe replied. "Can we?" Phoebe looked a little surprised as she asked that.
"We're witches, dear. We can do anything." Grams said as she looked over at Phoebe.
"I wish that were true." Phoebe said as she looked at Patty. Oh my God! Mom is going to die three years from now. she thought. Is there any way I can prevent that? Is there?
"Well we know one thing." Prue said to the others. "Since I'm still here, I haven't vanished into non-existence, we know that Rex hasn't done anything to Little Prue yet. All we have to do is find them and get her back."
"Yes, but where did they take her?" Phoebe asked. "Do you suppose they've taken Little Prue to Buckland's?"
"Buckland's doesn't exist in this time." Prue said. "But I can remember an old building being on the site where Buckland's will be. It was an old warehouse."
"Then that's where they've taken her." Patty stated. "It sounds like a logical choice to me."
"Well, let's not stand around waiting, let's go!" Phoebe proclaimed.
"That Phoebe, she's a feisty one, don't you think?. You'll have to do something about that." Penny said as she turned to Patty, and with a wry smile.
"Yeah, Mom, she's more like you than I care to think." Patty replied cheekily. Penny gave her a piercing look of black humour, one that Patty knew her mother was only having a joke with her. In fact, both the elder Halliwell's were extremely proud of their future daughters and granddaughters, so pretty, and smart.
OOOOOOOOOO
Soon after, Phoebe headed up to the attic to grab the Book of Shadows, which would be needed. While there, she quickly wrote a note, explaining about Patty's future death. Phoebe was just about to place the note in the Book of Shadows, when Penny's voice shouted up from downstairs. "Phoebe, hurry up!"
"I'm coming, Grams!" Phoebe replied. She looked at the note she had written, stuffed it in her pocket, and grabbed the Book of Shadows. Quickly, she headed out of the attic.
"Ah, there you are." Penny said when Phoebe arrived back downstairs. "Right, we'll leave Little Piper with the neighbours again and be on our way. Let's go!"
OOOOOOOOOO
Once in the old wagon that they remembered their mother owned, Piper reminisced. "It's been a long time since I drove in this car."
"Long time? You were only in it...oh, that's right, silly me." Patty said as she looked at Piper with embarrassment, having just remembered she was talking to the older version of her middle daughter.
"Aren't you going a bit fast, Grams?" Phoebe said to her grandmother, who was driving the car. "I can't remember you ever having a lead foot."
"Honey, when our family's future is at stake, I don't care if I get a speeding ticket." Penny replied with much conviction.
OOOOOOOOOO
A little while later, after much dodging and weaving among the traffic, they arrived at the old warehouse. "Well, let's get moving." Phoebe said once they pulled up.
"Not so fast, sweetie." Penny said. "With the Book of Shadows, Patty and I can cast few spells to handle those Warlocks. Can you sense where Little Prue is?" Penny asked Patty.
"Yes, Mom." Patty replied. "She's in some sort of room in the back of the building."
"Okay, then, I'd better get to writing those spells. Where's the Book?" Grams said.
"Here, Grams." Piper said as she handed the Book to Penny.
"Good." Penny said and opened the Book. "Now to write a couple of spells to take care of our Warlock friends. Since none of you three girls have your powers, Patty and I will have to cast them. Let's go."
OOOOOOOOOO
Inside the warehouse, Little Prue, tied up in a chair, was terrified. "I WANT MY MOMMY!" she cried.
"There, there." Rex said, trying to sound friendly. "You have nothing to fear from your Uncle Rex."
"YOU'RE NOT MY UNCLE! YOU'RE A BAD MAN!" with that, Little Prue used her powers and Rex flew back into the wall.
"You really have a way with children." Nicholas said mockingly. "Can we get on with it now?"
"Very well." Rex said and picked up an atheme that was on a nearby table. As Hannah watched with anticipation, Rex advanced on Little Prue. "Time to finish the Charmed Ones once and for all!"
"Not so fast, Rex!" Big Prue said as the door suddenly flew open. Rex, Hannah, and Nicholas turned to see the 1999 Charmed Ones, Andy, Patty, and Penny Halliwell standing there. "The game is over!"
"Hannah, get them!" Rex shouted. Hannah advanced on the group, but before she could do anything, Penny threw some glowing powder at her.
"Nice try, old woman!" Hannah sneered. "But not enough. Now to finish you off!" Hannah then tried to morph into a panther, but nothing happened. "What's happening?" she shouted in frustration.
"Very simple." Penny replied. "My magic powder has neutralized your shape shifting abilities."
"Really." Prue said. She walked over to Hannah, grabbed her by the collar, and raised a fist.
"Oh no, not again!" Hannah exclaimed just before Prue's fist smacked into her and Hannah crumpled to the floor, out cold.
"I've been wanting to do that since the day I met her." Prue said with satisfaction.
"Damn you all!" Rex shouted in rage and charged at Piper, the atheme held high. However, Phoebe was faster and delivered a kick right to Rex's solar plexus. Rex slumped to the floor, next to Hannah.
Prue then stepped forward and threw a vial at the two unconscious Warlocks, who then vanished.
"What was that?" Phoebe asked Prue.
"Just something I mixed together before we left the Manor," Prue replied.
"We'd it send Rex and Hannah?"
"I don't know, Pheebs, and I really don't care. It got them out of our air, and that's all that matters."
Nicholas had watched as all this went on, and now he sprung into action. "You won't defeat me that easily." he held up his ring. "You blood is boiling and soon..." he got no further as a bullet, fired from Andy's gun, shattered his ring. "My ring! Curse you all, you've ruined everything!"
"You're a disgrace to that uniform." Andy shot back.
"Now to deal with you!" Penny thundered and then recited with Patty.
Lavender, momoso, holy thistle,
Cleanse this evil from our midst.
Scatter its cells throughout time,
Let this Nick no more exist.
With these words, Nicholas began spinning around and soon he vanished in a fiery explosion.
"Mommy! You came!" Little Prue said as she saw the group approach.
"Yes, my darling." Patty said as she began to untie her daughter. "I came."
"Let's go home." A smiling Penny said.
OOOOOOOOOO
Back at Halliwell Manor, Phoebe began to speak. "Mom there is something I have to tell you. On..."
"NO!" Penny interrupted. "You can't tell us anything about our futures. No matter what happens, we have to remain in the dark."
"But Grams, you don't understand..." Phoebe began and looked to Prue and Piper for support, but when she saw the looks on their faces, she knew.
"She's right, Pheebs." Prue said and walked over to embrace her baby sister. "I know how your feeling, I feel it too, but Grams is right. We've already done enough damage to time by coming back her and bringing Rex and Hannah along. We have to face that this is one thing we cannot change." Phoebe knew Prue was right, even though it hurt.
OOOOOOOOOO
A short time later, everyone gathered in the attic to send the 1999 Charmed Ones and Andy back home. "There." Penny said as she finished writing the time travel spell that the future Charmed Ones had described to her, into the Book of Shadows. "Now this spell will be here for all of you to use to come back here in the first place." she paused for thought. "I wonder why that spell was there to begin with. Especially that bit about a bond. None of us made any bonds with anyone."
"Well I guess we did change something after all." Prue replied.
"Or maybe Rex and Hannah did." Phoebe commented.
"Good point." Prue said. "I guess we'll never really know for sure."
"I don't suppose it matters now." Penny said with a smile. "Now to get all of you home again." Since the future Charmed Ones did not have their powers, the spell would have to be cast using the help of Little Prue and Piper, who would stand with their hands on Patty's stomach, to channel the powers of the yet to be born Phoebe. It was a sombre time as they said goodbye.
"I love you so much, Mom." Prue said as she embraced Patty.
"I love you too." Patty replied. "I'm so proud of you." she looked at Piper and Phoebe. "I'm proud of all of you."
"You're going to be a handful, aren't you." Penny said to Phoebe as they embraced.
"You'll get used to it." Phoebe replied. Soon it was time to go, and the 1999 Charmed Ones were ready. Andy stood with them. "Wait!" Phoebe said and grabbed a camera that was lying nearby. She snapped a picture of Patty with Little Prue and Piper. "I just wanted another picture for the album." she said to her mother.
"Okay." Penny said to Little Prue and Piper. "Let's say the spell I taught you." Penny, Patty, Little Prue and Piper then chanted.
A time for everything,
And to everything its place.
Return what has been moved,
Through time and space.
The 1999 Charmed Ones and Andy shimmered and vanished. "Now there is just one more matter to attend to." Penny said and waved a hand in front of Little Prue and Piper and said a single word. "Forget."
"Grams, why are we in the attic? Are we going to do more magic?" Little Prue asked, a confused look on her face.
"No darling." Patty said, jumping in. "It's time for you to go to bed now." She led the two little girls out. Penny said behind and paused for thought, it had been necessary to erase this adventure from the minds of Little Prue and Piper so the future would not be changed. Soon Penny would bind their powers, once Phoebe was born. Now they could grow up like normal children, for now at least.
BACK IN 1999
The sisters and Andy looked around. They were still in the attic, but back in their own time. Slowly they all headed downstairs. Once in the living room, Andy's cell phone came to life and he excused himself to take the call. "I wanted so much to save Mom." Phoebe said slowly. "I even wrote a note telling her about how she died." Phoebe pulled out the note and handed it to Prue. "I was going to leave it in the 1975 Book of Shadows, but I didn't. Guess maybe some things just weren't meant to be." Tears began to form in her eyes.
"Oh, Pheebs." Prue said and embraced her sister and soon Piper joined in as well.
"That was Darryl." the smiling Andy said as he came back into the room. "They searched Rex's office at the auction house and found the tiara and the photo he took of you hidden there. They've dropped the charges against Prue."
"That's great." Phoebe said, delighted at the good news.
"Yeah." Andy said and then continued. "Listen, I'm going to need some time to get used to all this witch stuff. But if you ever need my help, I will be there." He walked over and touched Prue on the cheek. "Always."
OOOOOOOOOO
Later, after Andy had said his goodbyes and left, the sisters got a roaring fire going in the fireplace. Soon Prue held up a page she had torn out from the Book of Shadows. "This is the spell we used to relinquish our powers. Never again." She threw the page into the fire and they all watched it burn. "Witches forever!" the three sisters declared.
Soon they all relaxed, Phoebe was looking at the family album and found the picture she had taken of Patty, and her little Charmed Ones, just before they had left 1975. "Pretty good picture of you two." Phoebe said to Prue and Piper. "But I'm afraid I still don't take a good picture." The three sisters laughed.
OOOOOOOOOO
Nearby, but unseen, the spirits of Penny and Patty Halliwell stood and watched. Their little angels had come through this adventure stronger than ever and both were very proud. "Look's as if our family legacy is in good hands." Penny said. "That was quite an adventure, even if it happened nearly twenty-five years ago for the two of us."
"I couldn't agree more." Patty replied. "I'm so proud of all of them." The two spirits looked on as the three sisters talked and laughed the night away.
EPILOGUE
Rex opened his eyes and looked slowly around. He appeared to be in a forest, but clearly not one on Earth. The trees were blue, not green, and two orange suns were in the sky. He turned and saw Hannah lying next to him. "Hannah! Wake up!"
"Hmmmmmm.." Hannah moaned and opened her eyes. Soon she took in the strange landscape. "Rex, where are we?" she asked.
"I don't know." Rex replied as they got to their feet. "It's strange, but somehow I feel... I feel at peace."
"Me too." Hannah said, for indeed a feeling of peace and serenity was washing over her, a feeling she had never experienced before. "What's happening?"
"I don't know." Rex replied. "But part of me feels that it no longer matters. None of it, the Halliwell's, their powers, it all seems so far away now. I just want to explore this new world, with you at my side." He took her in his arms, the woman he loved, the woman he would spend eternity with.
"Then let's do it." Hannah said. "Let's go forth and find our place here."
"We will." Rex replied. "Now we have all the time in the world." The two of them kissed under the sky of the new world they now called home.
A second chance.
But redemption comes not only with a change of mind,
but also a change of heart.