Charmed, raising the next generation

Life goes on

Ashley Larocque
7th January, 2024

Chapter three

Here we go

As the early August sun began to rise, Paige's brown eyes slowly fluttered open, hoping for a different view than her mundane bedroom ceiling. But to her disappointment, everything was exactly as it had been the night before. She had secretly been hoping that her mischievous nephew would use his orbing powers to transport her somewhere new while she slept. But, alas, here she was, in her bedroom just like every morning. So far, he had orbed away both of his parents on separate occasions, his brother four times, and Phoebe once, but Paige had yet to experience the fun of waking up in a jungle or on an island somewhere. Wyatt's mother did not find his antics amusing, but Paige couldn't help it. Funny was funny.

The warm rays of sunlight poured in through the open window, a reminder that San Francisco was in for another scorching day. It seemed like the entire summer had been an endless heatwave. Suddenly, the creak of a door broke the silence, causing Paige to sit up in bed. Her white sheet slipped off her body, revealing a white tank top. A smile spread across her face as she saw her husband approaching in his blue t-shirt and gray pajama bottoms. He had only gotten halfway dressed, but his hair had already been combed through, while Paige's hair was half out of her braid. She looked at him curiously, noticing he wasn't wearing his usual attire. "That's not your work shirt," she commented, glancing at the alarm clock on the nightstand next to her, and then back at Henry. "You're going to be late if you don't hurry." Henry was always punctual, especially when it came to work. "It's my day off," Henry reminded her with a laugh as he leaned over to kiss her on the lips. "Is it? I thought it was only Monday," Paige said. "It's Wednesday, honey," Henry chuckled, as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Which means..." he continued, leaning in for another kiss. "Happy birthday."

It was Wednesday, the second of August, which meant Paige was now officially in the last year of her twenties. "I still think..." Henry began, but Paige quickly cut him off. "Absolutely not," she declared, knowing exactly what he was going to suggest. Henry let out a sigh, knowing that both Paige and her estranged father were incredibly stubborn. "The two of you are so alike," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "You both refuse to make the first move." Paige sat up straighter and with a stern look, asked, "Did you talk to him behind my back?" Henry quickly shook his head. "No, I just meant, never mind." With another sigh, he got off the bed and headed toward the door. "Life is too short, Paige. You and your father may be Whitelighters, but that doesn't mean you'll be around forever." And with that, he left the room, leaving his wife alone with her stubbornness and suppressed desire. He knew that Paige wanted Sam, her biological father, in her life, but she would never admit it. She was waiting for him to make the first move, just like he was waiting for her. The mere suggestion of inviting her father to celebrate her birthday last night almost led to Henry having to sleep on the couch.

Meanwhile, when Leo had boldly suggested the idea of Wyatt attending a magical summer camp, Piper had immediately shut him down. Yet, Leo had stood his ground, insisting that Wyatt deserved the chance to freely use his magical powers. Piper, who was notoriously strict about the use of magic in her household, found it difficult to accept the idea of Wyatt being able to freely use his powers. Leo had argued that the camp would be a safe haven for their boys, a place where they could safely practice controlling their powers and experiment with them. Piper had reluctantly agreed, but on one condition: she wanted no part in it. Although she listened to Wyatt recount his experiences, she would not be the one to drop off or pick him up. It was Leo's responsibility, and he would be the one cleaning up any disasters that resulted from it. Despite the fact Wyatt had been at camp for several weeks now, Piper still felt very nervous at the thought of her son being given so much freedom with his powers. The thought of him being left alone in the magic realm, especially after the demons took over magic school, only heightened her apprehension. Unable to shake off her worries, Piper finally decided to check out the camp for herself. And so, for the first time, she found herself dropping off Wyatt at the camp she had sworn she would never go.

Piper's nerves were on edge as she scanned the camp filled with children wielding powers of all kinds. Her eyes darted around in search of any adults. Although she had to admit there were plenty of adults keeping watch and everything seemed to be in order, she couldn't shake off her apprehension. With a heavy sigh, Piper dropped to her knees and pulled her distracted child close, squeezing him tightly for a few seconds before releasing him and standing back up. "Have a great day, sweetie!" She called after him, but he was already running towards a group of giggling kids who appeared to be around the same age as him. Piper lingered for a moment, watching her little one interact with the other kids. He was growing up quickly, but he was still so small and vulnerable.

Lost in her thoughts, Piper was caught off guard when a woman appeared beside her, holding the hands of two girls around Wyatt's age. "Excuse me, Mrs. Halliwell," the woman said politely. Piper eyed her suspiciously. "Do I know you?" The woman, introducing herself as Natalie, shook her head. "No, but my girls-" she nudged the girls forward, "have been begging for a playdate with your son all summer. It's the first time I've run into you." As the girls scampered off towards Wyatt, Natalie commented, "Isn't that sweet?" Piper smiled back, but her mind was racing. Wyatt had never had a playdate with another magical child before. While she wanted Wyatt to have a normal childhood and make friends, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease about inviting other children into her home, knowing Demons could strike at any moment. But as she watched Wyatt laughing and playing with his new friends, Piper knew she couldn't deny him this experience. "I'm free on Saturday at noon," she finally said to Natalie. "Does that work for you?" Natalie nodded in response. "If you happen to have some paper and a pen, I'll write down my address." Natalie waved her hand dismissively. "No need. Everyone knows where the Halliwells live. We'll see you on Saturday." With that, Natalie walked off to say goodbye to her daughters, leaving Piper slightly taken aback. It hadn't crossed her mind that their address was known to all magical families, as well as the rest of the magical community. It didn't sit well with her. There wasn't much security in that. Maybe it was time to start locking the doors.

Leo was in the kitchen washing the dishes the family had used during breakfast, while little Chris sat in his high chair. A sticky layer of applesauce covered the tray, Chris's cubby face, tiny hands, and the floor beneath him. Just as Piper stepped into the scene, her eyes locking onto her messy child, she exclaimed, "Oh my child!" Chris's laughter grew even louder as he shoved his applesauce-covered hand into his mouth. "Don't stress," Leo chimed in, catching Piper's attention. "I'll handle the clean-up and give him a bath." Piper let out a heavy sigh as she took in the scene before her. "We really shouldn't let him do this."

Leo approached his wife as Chris decided to throw his bowl and spoon onto the floor, followed by a piercing squeal. "Piper, don't start a fight. It's not that big of a deal, I'll clean this up." Piper glanced at their son, who was now banging his hands on the tray and screaming in frustration, desperately wanting his spoon back. She sighed and gently lifted Chris out of his highchair, momentarily diverting his attention from the utensil. "So, how was it then?" Leo asked. "I'm still not entirely convinced its a good idea but I will admit it does look like the children are somewhat controlled and supervised," Piper said with a conflicted sigh. "I'm just worried Wyatt will get the impression he can't do whatever he wants with is powers," she added. "That's the point. Now that he has a place where he can be free with his magic, he won't be so bored and tempted at home." Piper shrugged as she still wasn't convinced it was good thing. "He has made friends," she said. "He's have a playdate this Saturday. He's hosting, or rather, we're hosting," Piper replied, balancing Chris on her hip. "It's good for him to have connections in the magical community," Leo stated. However, Piper didn't agree. "More magical kids in the manor, just what we need," she said sarcastically. "Who knows what kind of powers they have." With that, she walked away from the highchair, leaving the mess behind. "Okay, let's give you a bath, and if daddy's smart, my kitchen will be all clean before we're done," Piper said squeakily to her toddler as she carried him out of the kitchen.

Phoebe squirmed in her office chair, staring blankly at her computer screen. The constant honking from the traffic outside felt like a full-blown symphony assaulting her ears. It was impossible to concentrate. Frustration bubbled up within her, and finally, she couldn't take it anymore. Rising from her seat, she walked over to the window and closed it, shutting out the unbearable noise. Returning to her desk, Phoebe plopped down and unknowingly pressed the "L" key on her keyboard, unleashing a multitude of this letter onto her word document. The screen quickly transformed into a sea of repetitive L's, covering an entire page before Phoebe finally noticed. She sighed and pressed the backspace button on her keyboard until each L had been erased.

Suddenly, there was a sharp knock on the door, interrupting Phoebe's train of thought. Her boss entered the room. "How's it coming along? Remember, it needs to be turned in tonight." Phoebe glanced at the blank document on her laptop and decided to tell a little white lie, hoping to avoid any potential explosions. "I'm just putting the finishing touches on it. You'll have it before the end of the day." Elise nodded, her gaze shifting towards the closed window. "You must be boiling in here. Why don't you open the window? The air conditioner is still being repaired." Phoebe glanced at the window to hide her feelings of annoyance. "I'm fine." Elise shrugged and closed the door behind her. Phoebe's attention returned to the blank document in front of her. "Elise is going to have my head," she muttered under her breath, feeling the weight of the impending deadline.

Piper stepped into the living room, holding her freshly bathed toddler who clung tightly to his green towel, its fabric threatening to slip from his tiny grip. Settling onto the couch, Piper positioned her son on her lap and helped him secure his hold on the towel. Chris surveyed the room, dropping his towel in a flurry of excitement as his attention fixated on a toy truck nearby. Piper gently released him from her arms. With determined waddles, Chris made his way towards the toy. Meanwhile, Leo reached over and placed his hand on his wife's stomach causing her to sigh. "I forgot how long it takes to start showing," she said, placing her hand on Leo's. "You hated the weight gain when you were pregnant with the boys," Leo pointed out. "Only because of the maternity clothes, they were all pink and frilly," she said. "You think this time around is going to be any different?" Leo asked in teasing tone. Piper shot him a look that clearly conveyed he needed to be quiet, it was a familiar occurrence between them. Then, she shrugged and said, "This might be our last baby, everything just feels different this time." Leo nodded, acknowledging the truth in Piper's words. "Yeah, it is getting crowded in here," he agreed.

Paige's mind had been preoccupied through out the morning. Not by demons, her birthday, or her father. Paige had been unable to stop thinking about something that had never really been on her mind before. Shortly after noon had settled in, Paige found herself seated at her kitchen table. A simple white plate held her bologna sandwich, while Henry indulged in his own beside her. Paige gazed dreamily at the empty chair across from her. Suddenly, a little girl was sitting in that chair, and Henry was no longer in the room. It felt like this girl was supposed to be here, with peanut butter smeared all over her face and grape juice spilled on her side of the table. Her brown hair was tied into pigtails, and her eyes were just like Henry's, but younger. The room was quiet; it was just her and the girl. She watched her with admiration, not caring about the mess she would have to clean up after lunch. The girl finished the last bite of her PBJ sandwich and wiped her mouth with the sleeve of her white shirt, staining it with peanut butter and strawberry jam. She looked up at Paige with a smile on her face.

"Paige."

Paige snapped back to reality, the chair across from her was once again empty, and her eyes shifted to Henry. "What's so interesting about that chair?" Henry asked, with a hint of amusement in his voice. Paige glanced back at the chair, shaking her head. "It's nothing, really." Henry nodded, finishing his lunch. "Hey, out of curiosity, how do you know when you're ready for a child?" She looked at him, awaiting an answer. "I don't know, honey. Have babies been on your mind?" Paige momentarily looked away, shrugging her shoulders. "Not as much as Phoebe, I'm sure, but it does cross my mind from time to time." Henry nodded in response. "I know we haven't been married long and there's no rush, but the thought does pop into my head," she added. He nodded to her once more. "Well, we haven't been using any prevention, so I just assumed we were letting nature take its course," Henry said. Paige hadn't realized it, but it was true: they had done nothing to prevent pregnancy since getting married. "I guess so. I guess subconsciously I was thinking, if it happens it happens, but how do we really know if we're actually ready?" Henry shrugged. "Don't know. Maybe we should ask Piper and Leo, or Darryl and Sheila?" Paige finished off her sandwich. "I suppose," she agreed.

Henry pushed his plate forward and said, "I thought we could go to dinner tonight, and then we'll head to P3 around nine." Paige tucked her brown hair behind her ears and nodded. "That sounds nice," she said. Henry shifted uncomfortably in his chair and cleared his throat before saying, "and I was thinking…" but he trailed off when he saw the annoyed look on his wife's face. He realized that inviting Sam to dinner would be an automatic no, so there was no point in even suggesting it. "What are your plans for the day?" He asked, quickly changing the subject. "I'm taking Chris to the park soon. Piper called this morning and said it was her birthday gift to me, but really I think she just needs a break." She laughed at the thought of her rambunctious nephew. He was quickly growing into his terrible twos and kept his parents on their toes, often testing his mother's patience. "You should invite Sheila then," Henry suggested. "If we are seriously talking about babies now, maybe it would be a good idea to talk to a mother and get some insight." Paige nodded in agreement and said, "Yeah, that's a good idea."

As the summer sun beat down, Paige, Piper, and Sheila strolled up the path to the park. Mikey, Darryl Junior, and Chris, filled with boundless energy, ran ahead of them, their sneakers pounding against the pavement. Finding a peaceful spot in front of the playground, they settled onto a nearby bench while the boys scrambled up the play structure. "Henry and I have been talking about starting a family," Paige announced. Piper let out a gasp, her hands flying to her mouth in excitement. "That's great, Paige!" She exclaimed. Their attention was momentarily diverted by the boys, who were now engaged in a heated dispute over the slide. "Let's take turns, boys!" Sheila called out. "Mikey, come on, they're younger than you. Let them go first!" She shook her head with a sigh and then turned to Paige. "I thought you said you and Henry weren't ready for kids yet?" Paige simply shrugged and glanced over at the boisterous boys. "That may have been true before, but lately I can't seem to get the idea out of my mind," she admitted.

Sheila jumped up from the bench and shouted her oldest son's name. Mikey's body froze in response, and then he rushed to embrace his tearful brother, whom he had pushed off the playground slide. Sheila sat back down and apologized. "Henry and I were discussing it earlier," she shared with a slight shrug. "We've decided to let nature take its course, rather than actively try to conceive. I just don't know how to tell if I'm actually ready," she said. "I wasn't sure if I was ready either," Sheila admitted, glancing over at her two boys. "But Darryl and I were in a good place, and we had been talking about starting a family for a while," she added. "Of course, I was completely terrified when he was born. I had no idea what I was doing." She glanced over at her two boys, a small smile forming on her lips. "Sometimes, I still feel lost. Every age comes with new challenges, and every child is different," she said.

Piper joined in, adding her own experiences to the conversation. "It's true," she agreed. "Like Wyatt today. It was the first time I've arranged a playdate with a child from," she paused and looked around. "Well, anyway," she said, as there were other parents nearby. "I'm so nervous about it." Piper glanced over at her toddler. Chris was pushing little Darryl, who was hogging the slide and refusing to go down. "Wait your turn, Chris," she called out. "Darryl, come on, stop that. Either go down or let Chris go," Sheila instructed. Sheila then turned back to their conversation. "I felt the same way last week," Sheila shared. "Mikey had his first sleepover, and I was a mess." She shook her head, laughing at herself, and checked on her boys, who were now playing happily together. "Darryl and I kept putting it off over the years, but Mikey's seven now. You can't hold them back from normal childhood experiences, no matter how scared you are," she said. Piper nodded in agreement. It was something she was currently learning with Wyatt. "You can never truly be ready for motherhood," Piper stated, as she placed a comforting hand on Paige's "But you will know when the time is right." She glanced over at her son, a proud smile on her face as he effortlessly conquered the playground equipment. "It's all about trusting your instincts and having those important conversations with Henry," she added, giving Paige's hand a reassuring squeeze.

Piper moved her hand onto her stomach and said, "If it helps at all, this is my third child, and I was a nervous wreck when I found out I was pregnant." Her eyes shifted back to Chris, who was going down the slide on Mikey's lap. "Yet, once I was home and had time to think about it, I realized it is the right time to welcome him or her into the family," Piper stated. "Things had been calm. Leo and I are in a good place, and with Coop and Phoebe moving out, there's even room for this baby," Piper said with her hand rubbing her stomach as she gazed at her little boy while Mikey chased after him. She was excited for the new arrival and a little impatient. She wished she could just skip the pregnancy and have her new bundle of joy in her arms. But alas, there was a long way to go yet before this little Halliwell would arrive.

As the clock neared three o'clock, Piper made her way to the magic camp to collect her son. She was surprised to find him sitting alone on a bench. Wyatt was usually the type of kid who effortlessly made friends and disliked being alone. Concerned, she approached him and knelt down in front of him. "Hey, honey. Why are you sitting here all alone?" Wyatt glanced up at her and shrugged. Before Piper could delve further into the matter, a male counselor approached them. "You know very well why you're in timeout," he stated firmly. Piper's voice carried a hint of sternness as she turned toward Wyatt. "You're in timeout?" Realizing that he couldn't escape the consequences of his actions, Wyatt nodded.

Piper locked eyes with him but didn't say a word. Wyatt knew this meant she was waiting for him to explain what he had done wrong. "I orbed a toy away from Suzie. She cried." Wyatt confessed. There it was, the first consequence of Wyatt attending this camp. Piper couldn't wait to get home and rub it in Leo's face that she was right. Piper rose to her feet and addressed the counselor with an apologetic tone. "Sorry about that. My husband and I are working on teaching him when it's appropriate to use his magic and what to use it for." The counselor simply nodded, understanding their predicament. However, Wyatt couldn't grasp the full context. "But this is magic camp, and Daddy said magic is allowed here," he whined. Piper turned to her son, and said, "Yes, sweetheart, magic is allowed, but not for everything. We'll talk about it when we get home." As they walked away, Piper held his little hand, guiding him towards a valuable lesson.

Wyatt ran through the front door and accidentally knocked his brother down in his haste. "Be careful, Wyatt!" Piper scolded, quickly scooping up her crying toddler and soothing him with gentle pats on his back. Leo emerged from the kitchen and planted a loving kiss on his wife's cheek before resting his hand on her belly. Despite the boys being a handful, he was excited about the pregnancy, secretly hoping for a little girl this time. Maybe girls were easier to handle than boys, he pondered. "We need to have a talk about Wyatt," Piper stated, setting Chris down. He toddled off to find his older brother. "Why? What did he do?" Leo asked. "Well thanks to you, Wyatt now thinks he can do whatever he wants with his magic at camp. How would you like to deal with it."

A loud crash echoed through the manor, immediately followed by the chorus of crying children. "Oh what's that? Another consequence?" Piper asked in a sarcastic tone. "Well, go on father of the year, go deal with it." Piper instructed as she made her way towards the kitchen. Leo quickly made his way into the living room to assess the situation. Leo's vision blurred as he was hurled across the room, catching a glimpse of his tearful sons huddled beneath Wyatt's protective orb shield. With a resounding thud, Leo collided with the wall, instantly triggering Piper's strong, familiar instincts. She rushed into the room, clutching a frying pan and spatula as makeshift weapons. Leo lay motionless on the floor, while the boys remained unharmed. They were now accompanied by a mysterious figure in a hood, desperately attempting to penetrate Wyatt's shield. Reacting quickly, Piper thrust her hands forward, propelling the pan and spatula through the air with powerful force. The hooded figure looked down at the cooking supplies and then looked at Piper, confused. Then, Piper threw her hands outward again, this time using her powers, and in an instant, the hooded intruder disintegrated.

Wyatt lowered his shield, tears streaming down his face, alongside his brother's. Though they had grown accustomed to such occurrences over time, it still rightly terrified them. It seemed to happen almost every week, occasionally even twice, but the past few months had been relatively calm. Chris jumped up and ran to his mother for safety. She scooped him up protectively, her gaze sweeping the room to ensure no other threats lingered. Her eyes briefly met Leo's before she swiftly approached Wyatt, extending her hand. He grasped it tightly, allowing her to pull him back onto his feet.

"Paige!" Piper's voice echoed through the room, urgently summoning her sister. Within seconds, her sister appeared in a swirl of white lights. "Take a wild guess," Piper replied sarcastically. "Are the boys alright? Are you okay?" "We're all fine, but Leo needs your help," Piper replied, her voice tinged with relief. Assured of her nephews' and sister's safety, Paige approached her brother-in-law. She knelt down beside him, while Piper gently carried Chris and guided Wyatt out of the room.

Piper wasted no time in rallying her family at the manor for a crucial emergency meeting. As they gathered around the dining room table, tension and unease hung heavily in the air. Piper sat beside Leo, with Coop and Phoebe sitting across from them, and Henry and Paige taking their seats beside the engaged couple. Victor also joined them, sitting next to Piper. "We've become too comfortable with our demon-free lives," Piper began, scanning her sisters' faces. "We let our guard down." Phoebe and Paige exchanged anxious glances. "Wyatt and Chris have been targeted, and Leo has been injured," Piper continued, her eyes shifting from one sister to the other. "I don't know what kind of demon it was, but we've vanquished it."

Leo reached for Piper's hand, offering a reassuring squeeze. "Where are the boys now?" Asked Henry. Piper looked up, her expression grim. "With them," she answered, indicating the boys were with the Elders, her tone implying her distaste for the situation. "I may not like them, but I know we can trust them... despite everything." "It's time to face reality," Piper declared, her voice unwavering. "We can be certain they were after Wyatt today, and the underworld will try again." Her words hung heavily in the air, each family member feeling the weight of their responsibility. "Should we all move back in here?" Paige suggested, the thought crossing Phoebe's mind as well. But Piper shook her head. "No, we can't put our lives on hold. We have to keep living and fighting." Her sisters nodded in agreement, joined by their husbands and father. "But I do ask that whenever any of you have Wyatt and Chris, and our little one once they arrive, please take extra precautions and stay vigilant at all times." Phoebe and Paige nodded, as did their spouses and Victor.

"Paige, can you reactivate the demon alarm?" Piper asked, turning to her sister. Without hesitation, Paige agreed. "Good," Piper breathed a sigh of relief. "At least we'll have a warning if any demons try to enter our home. I don't even want to imagine what would have happened if Wyatt didn't have his force field." As they all nodded in agreement, Piper fell silent and took a deep breath. "Here we go again," remarked Paige, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Paige orbed up to the dusty attic to reactivate the demon alarm she had crafted when her first nephew was born. It had been deactivated for some time now, ever since Wyatt had discovered his own powers and would often set off the alarm just to get attention. Meanwhile, Leo had gone to collect their sons from the Elders. Once the boys were home, Piper led them to their room for a serious conversation. They were very young, with Chris not even out of diapers, but it was important to have this conversation with them. "I want you both to know that daddy is okay, and you are safe here," she reassured them. Yet, the boys remained silent, their innocent faces reflecting confusion and uncertainty. "If something bad comes in, you'll hear a loud sound, and someone will come get you, okay?" She continued. Still, there was no response from the young boys.

"Who do we trust?" Piper asked. "Daddy," Wyatt declared. "Yes, daddy. Who else can we trust?" Piper prodded. "Auntie Phoebe!" Wyatt exclaimed, his dimpled smile beaming. "Yes, and who else?" Piper asked, trying to ensure her young sons knew who to turn to in emergencies. "Auntie Paige," Chris squeaked. "That's Right. We can trust Daddy, Auntie Phoebe, Auntie Paige, Uncle Henry, Uncle Coop, and Grandpa," Piper listed off, pleased with her sons' answers. Wyatt nodded, and Chris tugged on his mother's hair. "How about Darryl and Sheila? Do we trust them?" Piper asked. Wyatt nodded again and said, "Yes." "Good. We do trust them. And what about demons?" Piper asked, wanting to ensure her children understood the concept of trust. Wyatt shook his head vigorously and said, "No." "And a stranger?" Piper pressed. Again, Wyatt shook his head. "Very good, Wyatt," Piper praised him. "We do not trust strangers. Can you tell me what a stranger is?" "Someone we don't know," Wyatt answered. Piper nodded, "Exactly. A stranger is someone we don't know, and we do not trust strangers. But what if the stranger is a police officer?" "Then it's okay," Wyatt replied without hesitation. Piper smiled, proud of her son's answer. As they grew older, she and Leo would continue to educate them about distinguishing between good and bad people.

"What do you do if there's a bad thing in the house?" Piper asked, wanting to ensure her children knew how to protect themselves. Wyatt confidently answered, "Orb shield, protect Chris. Wait for help." Piper nodded in approval and said, "Yes, that is what you do. You do not run, hide, or try to find help. You put on your shield and wait for someone you…?" "Trust," Wyatt finished her sentence. "Very good. Now, who do we trust?" Piper asked one last time, wanting to reinforce this important lesson.

No one felt comfortable leaving the Manor, which provided Coop and Phoebe with a good opportunity to start packing. They would have the keys to their new home by the end of the month, but before they could settle in, they had to pack up all of their belongings. With eager anticipation, they began carrying empty boxes up to their bedroom, ready to fill them with their belongings. Coop looked around the room, wondering where to start. His eyes landed on the bulletin board, adorned with photos and notes. He smiled at the small ultrasound picture Piper had given to Phoebe after her latest doctor's appointment. "The miracle of life," Coop murmured. But Phoebe, in a sudden change of character, ripped the entire board off the wall and carelessly tossed it into a box. "Hey, are you alright?" Coop asked. He had expected Phoebe to become sentimental about the pictures and refuse to take them down until the moment they officially moved.

Phoebe's response was dismissive and uncharacteristically uncaring. Something was definitely off. "I'm fine. Get the photo albums out of the closet. We can pack those with it," she said without a care. Now, Coop knew something wasn't right. "It's alright to be a little shaken up, but the boys are fine," he said. Without saying a word, Phoebe retrieved the photo albums and threw them into the box as well. As she dug through her wardrobe, Coop pulled out an album and flipped through it, admiring the photos from Phoebe's childhood. "How old were you in this one? Six?" He asked with a smile. "Five," Phoebe replied, not even bothering to look up. Coop sighed, knowing she was hiding her true feelings. "It's okay to be jealous, Phoebe," he said softly, but Phoebe didn't reply. "I wonder if our future little girl will look like this?" He questioned as he looked over Phoebe's childhood pictures. Phoebe stopped and sat down next to him. "This is from the zoo when I was 7," she said, smiling at the picture of her younger self cuddling a stuffed white lion. She laughed at a picture of herself and her older sisters. Prue had her tongue out, Phoebe had her arms up in the air, and Piper wore a comical expression. "I was six here," Phoebe said. "Which means Piper was eight and Prue was eleven." She laughed softly and leaned into her fiancé as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

As Piper entered the kitchen to prepare the evening meal, she brought Wyatt and Chris with her. With a graceful swoop, she lifted them onto the counter, their eyes twinkling with excitement. "What should we have for dinner?" She asked them. "Spaghetti!" Wyatt exclaimed, his mouth watering at the thought. "Hot dogs!" Chris cheered. "Spaghetti and hot dogs, huh? Now that is a very fancy dish," she remarked. The boys nodded in unison, their giggles filling the air. "And who will be cooking this marvelous meal?" their mother playfully questioned. "I will!" Wyatt declared proudly, puffing out his chest. Piper chuckled, "How about we all cook it together, my little chefs?" Her suggestion was met with eager nods and ecstatic squeals from her sons. "Okay, aprons on, hands washed, let's get to work!"

Henry refused to let the earlier events spoil Paige's birthday. After twenty minutes of trying to convince her, Paige finally relented and agreed to go to dinner as they had planned. Henry had considered inviting Sam to join them behind Paige's back. He knew she would be upset at first, but he also knew she would thank him later. However, after pestering Paige about inviting him herself and considering the events of the day, Henry realized it would be a terrible idea. As the car pulled into the restaurant's parking lot, Henry quickly got out to open the door for Paige. He slipped his fingers in the spaces between hers and they walked into the elegant establishment, making their way to the host's stand. "Good evening, do you have a reservation?" The host inquired. With a nod, Henry gave his name, and the host checked the list before escorting the couple to their assigned table. Henry pulled out Paige's chair before taking his own seat.

"This place is nice," Paige commented, taking in the atmosphere. "Maybe I should just quickly check in with Piper," she suggested. "Paige," Henry called softly, catching her attention. "If something was wrong, they would have called us. Trust me." She nodded, realizing he was right. "I'm sorry," she said, "I'm just a little on edge." He reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "It's understandable. But let's try to enjoy our dinner together." As they waited for their server, Paige glanced out the window for a moment before turning back to Henry. "Did you invite my dad?" He shook his head, which caused her to look disappointed. He couldn't help but chuckle and say, "I knew it. I knew you wanted your father here today." He playfully sighed and asked if he should call for him. Henry thought for a moment before asking, "Would he even hear me? I'm not one of his charges." Paige shook her head. "I think you have to be one of his charges for him to hear you," she said. "Maybe if you tried," Henry suggested, but Paige simply shook her head. "It's been my birthday all day, and he hasn't bothered to come," she said, shifting in her seat. "Let's not talk about him anymore."

Meanwhile, back at the Halliwell Manor, Piper was busy in the kitchen with her two young sons. She lifted a wooden spoon covered in sauce, blew on it, and then held it out to her eldest son, Wyatt. "Alright, Chef Number One, open up," she instructed with a smile. Wyatt eagerly opened his mouth, savouring the delicious tomato sauce. Piper turned to her other son, Chris, and held out the spoon to him. "Your turn," she said with a grin. Chris excitedly took a taste and squealed, "Yummy!" "Is it the best sauce in the whole world?" Piper asked playfully. In unison, the boys shouted, "Yes!" Making Piper's heart swell with joy. "Perfect," she declared with a smile. Wyatt's hand shot up into the air. "Alright then, hop to it." Wyatt orbed off the counter and hopped out of the room, causing his mother and brother to laugh. "Wyatt," Piper called out. "You need forks, plates, and cups to set the table!" A second later, Wyatt hopped back into the room.

Once Wyatt had finished setting the table, Piper called the rest of her household and her father to join them. "Wyatt, did you set the table all by yourself?" Phoebe asked, admiring the chaotic array of colourful plastic plates and cups. Piper didn't want to risk him breaking anything, so she had him set the table with plastic dishes. Wyatt nodded proudly. "Wow, you did a great job," Phoebe praised him when she noticed he had given her two forks while Coop didn't have any. "Come give me a big hug," she said. Wyatt happily obliged, and, while he was distracted by the hug, Coop quickly slipped a fork onto his plate. Victor sat down and discovered that he had been given a spoon. He pondered whether he could use the spoon or how he could get himself a fork without hurting Wyatt's feelings. Leo noticed and took pity on him, subtly orbing him a fork.

After dinner, Henry and Paige returned home. Paige flipped on the lights to find a beautiful bouquet of tulips on the table with a note attached. She assumed the flowers were from her husband and thanked him, but Henry shook his head. Curious, she retrieved the note and read it aloud. "I'm sorry I couldn't be there. Had a massive emergency with a charge today. I know this doesn't make up for it. Happy birthday. Love dad." Paige stood there for a moment, appearing unsure of how to react. She then chucked the card into the trash. "I'll keep the flowers, but not because they're from him. I just like the flowers." Henry sighed and turned to head for their bedroom. But then he turned around to suggest one more time to reach out to Sam. However, he didn't need to, as he caught his wife smiling, sniffing the flowers, orbing the note from the trash, and then hiding the note in the flowers.

Chris was throwing a tantrum as Piper tried to put her sons to bed, and because of the tantrum, Wyatt refused to stay in the room. It always upset him to see his brother fussing. Admiring his level of empathy at such a young age, Piper took Wyatt into her arms, brought him into her room, and tucked him into her bed, snuggling up next to him. Amidst the chaos, Piper had temporarily forgotten about Wyatt's mishap at camp but refused to let it slip. "Do you remember what happened today at camp, honey?" Piper gently prodded, watching as Wyatt let out a sleepy yawn. "At camp, we can use our magic for fun and games, but never to break the rules, cause trouble, or hurt others... unless they're demons," Piper stated.

"Is Daddy alright?" Wyatt mumbled, his sleepy eyes fluttering. "Yes, sweetheart. We're all going to be okay," Piper reassured him, fighting back her own tears. Throughout the rest of the day, Wyatt repeatedly asked his mother if his father was okay. "Not Auntie Prue or Grandma. The bad things got them," Wyatt corrected, causing Piper's heart to ache. "Well, that is true, sweetheart, but we can still see them and talk to them," she reminded him. "Because we have magic?" Wyatt asked as his heavy eyes fought to stay open. "That's right," Piper said. She didn't want to lie to her son, but he was too young to have this conversation with. She didn't want to tell him anything that would scare him or make him think he wasn't safe. So, on the rare occasion he would bring up one of their lost loved ones, Piper would acknowledge the bad things did get them, but would then quickly remind him he could still talk to them to avoid further thought on the matter.

"Now, about that incident at camp," Piper said, redirecting the conversation to the issue at hand. "You know what you need to do tomorrow, right? You need to apologize to Suzie." "Okay, mommy," Wyatt agreed, his voice soft. Piper leaned down to plant a tender kiss on his cheek. "Alright, baby. Close your eyes and drift off to sleep. I love you." And with those comforting words, Wyatt's eyelids slowly closed, and he soon drifted into peaceful sleep.

The night had been peaceful for Wyatt and Chris, but Piper had not been as fortunate. By the time the clock struck three in the morning, she had already left her bed eleven times, being careful not to wake her sleeping husband. Slipping into a light sweater, she crept out of her room and into the deserted, dimly lit hallway. Piper's footsteps were muffled as she made her way to her sons' room. It was a ritual she had come to perform every night, needing to see with her own eyes that her children were safe and sound. It had been a while since she had felt the need to do this, but now the obsessive act had returned.

As she tiptoed over to the crib, a wave of relief washed over her as she saw baby Chris sleeping peacefully. His tiny body was turned onto his stomach, his head tilted to the side with his thumb between his lips. Returning to her bedroom, she checked on Wyatt, who was lying on his back with his blond hair covering his closed eyes. One hand rested on his chest, while the other lay limply at his side. Though her boys were safe right now, Piper couldn't shake off the gnawing fear that gripped her heart. How could she protect them from the constant threat of attack in a world filled with unpredictable dangers? It was a question that kept her awake every night. But as she gazed upon her sleeping children, Piper remembered there was someone who had faced the same challenges and had raised powerful magical children- even if it was only for a short time.

Five delicate white candles were carefully arranged in a perfect circle, their flickering flames casting an ethereal glow in the dusty attic. "Hear my words, hear my cry, spirits from the other side," Piper chanted, her voice echoing through the empty space. "Come to me, I summon thee, Patricia Halliwell. Cross now the great divide." A dazzling burst of white light exploded from the center of the circle, and there she was - the ghostly figure of Piper's mother, bathed in an ethereal glow. A smile graced her lips as she stepped out of the circle, regaining her physical form, and warmly embraced her daughter. "How did you do it, mom? How did you raise magical children and keep us safe?" Piper's voice trembled with both admiration and exhaustion.

Patty took a moment before answering, her voice filled with maternal understanding. "When it was just you and Prue, you were nothing but ordinary witches. The underworld didn't pay any attention to you. And when Phoebe was born, all three of you were stripped of your magic to keep you safe. And Paige, well, she was born under the radar, unaware herself of her magical gifts." Piper's heart sank as her mother's explanation did not provide the comfort she had hoped for. "I know this isn't what you want to do, but when I bound yours, Prue's, and Phoebe's powers, it was out of love. I wanted to keep you safe. It was the hardest thing I ever did."

Piper had secretly considered this option many times in the short years of her children's lives, but she couldn't bring herself to go through with it. Her mother, however, had been left with no other choice. And, like Patty, Piper would only take such drastic measures if there was no other way to protect her children. Patty's hand brushed away a tear from Piper's cheek. "I know it's not what you want to hear, and I also know that you, Leo, and your sisters will do whatever is necessary to protect your own children." Patty placed a comforting hand on Piper's stomach, a silent reminder of the precious life growing inside her. Then, with a gentle kiss on her daughter's forehead, Patty stepped back into the circle and vanished in a shower of blinding white light.

Throughout the rest of the week, everyone had been on edge, but the silence that followed made it seem like perhaps it was all just a fluke. Maybe it was just one foolish demon who had made a rash decision and suffered the consequences. On Saturday morning, Piper entered the breakfast nook, carrying her youngest son in her arms. She settled him into his high chair and then turned to Leo, who was sitting at the table, munching on toast. "Where's Wyatt?" She asked. She had expected Leo to say Wyatt was playing in the backyard, but to her surprise, he responded with, "Disneyland." Piper rolled her eyes, assuming he was playing a joke on her. "Quit teasing," she scolded. "I'm not joking, Piper. He's really at Disneyland." Piper immediately switched into full-on mama bear mode. "What on earth is he doing there?" Leo couldn't help but chuckle at his wife's reaction, much to her annoyance. "I'd say he's having the time of his life," he quipped. Piper crossed her arms in frustration. "If he doesn't come home this instant, he won't be having any fun for the rest of the day. What was he thinking? Orbing to Disneyland without permission?"

Leo stood up from his chair, with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Or," he countered, "maybe Paige and Henry stopped by the manor, asked if they could take him, and maybe I said yes." Piper's arms fell to her sides as she processed the information. "He's with Henry and Paige?" She clarified. Leo nodded and said, "They picked him up when the park opened. He'll be back in time for his playdate this afternoon." Piper glanced at Chris and then back at Leo, asking, "Why is Chris still here?" They both glanced over at Chris. "They didn't want to have both kids at the same time after what happened. They're taking Chris tomorrow."

While Wyatt was away, Leo and Piper relished the rare chance to focus solely on Chris. It was a treat for both the parents and their son, as they didn't often have the opportunity to bond one-on-one. Chris basked in the undivided attention of his beloved mom and dad. They played games, raced around the backyard, and snuggled on the couch while watching his favourite show. As noon approached, their peaceful morning was interrupted by Wyatt's return. He burst through the door and eagerly embraced his parents with a wide grin. But when he tried to hug his little brother, he was met with a shove. Wyatt proceeded to regale his family with tales of his morning adventures for a solid ten minutes before there was a knock at the front door.

Piper answered the door with Chris in her arms and Wyatt bouncing behind her. Natalie stood outside with her twin daughters in tow. "Hi, Natalie. Hi girls. Come on in," Piper greeted with a warm smile, stepping aside to let them enter. Piper waited for a moment and breathed a sigh of relief when the demon alarm remained silent. In these uncertain times, it was hard to distinguish between ordinary humans, good magical beings, and evil creatures. But for now, their home remained safe. "Wyatt, be a good host and show your guests to the living room," Piper instructed. With a final bounce, Wyatt took his friend's hands and they ran to the living room. "This little guy must be Wyatt's baby brother, but I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting him yet," Natalie commented, a warm smile on her face as she looked at the toddler in Piper's arms. "Yes, this is Chris. He'll be turning two in October," Piper answered, leading the way into the living room where Leo stood up to greet their guests.

After exchanging pleasantries, the adults settled onto the couch while Chris and Wyatt played happily on the floor. Leo glanced over at Natalie's blond identical twin girls, Emily in her pink dress and Olivia in her light green, before turning his attention back to their conversation. "Do Olivia and Emily have any other siblings?" Piper asked. As she spoke, Chris dashed off to retrieve his prized truck while Wyatt graciously handed Olivia a sleek blue sports car. "No, these two troublemakers are more than enough for my husband and I," Natalie replied. Emily snatched the sports car back from Olivia's grasp but then gave it straight back. "Leo, you're a whitelighter right?" Natalie asked. Wyatt reluctantly handed Olivia his ambulance. "Yes, but only part-time now," Leo replied. Chris handed over his favourite car to Olivia but then burst into tears.

Piper glanced over at her crying son, but simply shrugged it off. "Well, I'm a witch. My active power is superspeed. My husband's also a witch," Natalie said, continuing the conversation. Olivia collected more cars from her sister who looked confused as to why she was handing them over to her. "Wyatt and Chris have inherited all the orbing abilities from their whitelighter side, and Wyatt also has healing powers. What about the girls?" Piper asked. Emily handed Olivia another car but then smacked Olivia's hand for taking the car. "Olivia has the ability to control other people's actions with her mind," Natalie explained.

As Chris orbed his favourite truck from Olivia, she retaliated by using her powers to make him give it back. "I can see how that would be a challenge," Leo remarked as Chris let out another frustrated scream. His parents turned to him. "What's wrong, Chris?" Leo asked, trying to make sense of his son's outbursts. But Chris, unable to articulate what was happening, simply screamed in frustration once again. Oh, that might be Olivia. She doesn't like to share," Natalie explained. She cast a stern look at her daughter, "Olivia, play nice and let them have a turn with the cars." With a huff, Olivia reluctantly handed some of the cars over to the boys and her sister. Natalie then turned to Leo and Piper, "Emily's power is quite similar to yours, Piper. She can manipulate time."

As the children continued to play, the adults noticed them use their powers on and off. Piper struggled with allowing Wyatt to use his powers, while Leo was was happy to see them interacting with other magical children and feeling free to be a magical child. Meanwhile, Natalie seemed carefree and nonchalant about her daughters' use of magic, suggesting she was raised in the magic realm and was now raising her own children there.

Meanwhile, Phoebe was at the Bay mirror in her office once again having trouble with her advice column. Her advice column, which she typically had written ahead of time to avoid any last-minute emergencies, had become a source of difficulty lately. However, her recent lack of concentration left her scrambling to finish each article in a frenzy. Frustrated, she tapped her pen against her desk, wracking her brain for the perfect words to include in her column. After several restless minutes, she finally decided to use a different ask Phoebe letter for tomorrow's column.

Dear Phoebe.

It's Emma, we met a couple of months ago. I've been trying to get Paige to change her mind about training me but she won't. She won't train me until my parents say it's okay. The problem is I can't tell my parents. They don't want me to know I'm a witch or else they would have told me already. If I told them I know about my powers, they will take them away. Can you talk to Paige please.

- Emma Benson, age 12.

Phoebe felt conflicted by Emma's letter. If she was desperate enough to shoplift, bother the police, and then write to Phoebe as a last ditch effort, maybe something was going on. Maybe this wasn't just Emma wanting to be trained, maybe it was deeper. She questioned whether she should tell Paige about Emma writing to her. She knew Paige was getting annoyed with Emma, but if Emma was in danger, Paige should know. Not as a witch or whitelighter but as a social worker. Suddenly, a wave of emotion overcame Phoebe. Her heart started racing with fear, she started crying in emotional pain, and then she chucked her pen across the room in anger. There was no confusion over what had just happened. Phoebe had gotten her power of empathy back.

By the end of the playdate, Wyatt was completely over playing with Olivia. He had eventually figured out she had been manipulating him with her powers. Piper was pretty certain there wouldn't be another playdate with these girls, or at least not with Olivia. However, she remained polite when Natalie announced it was time to head home. "Thank you for stopping by, I'm sure the kids had a great time," Piper said with a forced smile as she walked her guests to the door. Meanwhile, Wyatt and Chris stayed in the living room. "It seems like they did," Natalie responded with a sigh. "I apologize for Olivia's behaviour, her powers can be quite a handful to manage." Piper bit her lip to keep from rolling her eyes. "Kids will be kids," she replied. "You know, Wyatt has a tendency to orb us all over the place when we're sleeping, so I can relate." Natalie gave a half-hearted smile. "We'll be in touch?" "Of course," Piper lied, already dreading the thought of another playdate.

As soon as Natalie and her children left, Piper returned to the living room and collapsed next to her husband. "Can you imagine being controlled by your own child without even realizing it?" she exclaimed. Leo shook his head in disbelief. "Did she really have no idea that Olivia was manipulating her?" Piper shook her head. "You'd think she'd be more observant, knowing her daughter has mind control abilities." "I don't even want to imagine one of our kids having that power," Leo muttered. "I thought we had it tough with them being able to orb." Piper let out a nervous laugh. "I'll take orbing over mind control any day."

The day was gloomy, the sky was grey, and a gentle rain was falling. The three Halliwell sisters and their men, along with the two littlest family members, stood outside the Halliwell Manor. The car and the moving truck were both packed. It was time for Phoebe and Coop to move into their new house. Phoebe looked at her sisters. Tears silently ran down her face. They were smiling at her, but she could tell this was hurting them just as much as it was hurting her. She had lived with Piper for almost her entire life. The only time she hadn't was when she had moved out a few times. She approached her, wrapping her arms around her. They cried as they hugged. This was a bittersweet goodbye, a necessary farewell.

Phoebe then hugged Paige before she knelt down in front of her two little nephews. Neither of them knew what was going on but they felt a change was happening. She scooped them up in her arms and hugged them tightly. She whispered in their ears, expressing her love for them and made them promise to be good for their parents. Leaving them behind was the hardest part, the moment she had been dreading. She then got back up and shared a second hug with her sisters. "Take care," Piper said. "And don't be a stranger," Leo added. Phoebe nodded and backed away as the tears continued to leak down her face. Coop took her hand, and for a moment, they just stood there, looking at the people they were leaving behind. Then suddenly, Phoebe ran back to them and hugged Leo. "Sorry," she said. "Can't believe I almost forgot you." "You're forgiven," Leo replied. Phoebe chuckled and walked back to Coop. After exchanging a final wave goodbye, they got into their car and, after a moment, drove away to their new beginning.