New Chapter Time ...
A|N: Ok, so I had this chapter ready to go a few days ago but fanfiction dot net wasn't working and I had to wait. Then, came the very sad news on Sunday morning that our beloved Shannen Doherty had passed away. : ( I felt shocked, and a bit bummed the entire day. We all knew she had been fighting cancer for some time but it all felt so sudden and out of the blue. I was just listening to her on the first episode of the House of Halliwell redo podcast with Holly, Brian, and Drew. She seemed so happy and excited to be joining and was looking forward to doing it. I am so sad; I'll miss seeing her Instagram updates and listening to her own podcast, Let's Be Clear.
I am dedicating this new chapter in honor of Shannen. Shannen, thank you for the amazing talent you shared with the world. Thank you for the immense appreciation and consideration you held for your fans. I met you at 90s Con 2023 and can certainly attest to that. Thank you for giving life to an awesome character that will remain in the hearts of fans for generations to come. Prue Halliwell's journey now lives on and continues with the imagination of your fans. We love you; rest now and fly free.
Shannen Doherty -
April 12, 1971, ~ July 13th, 2024
Again, thank you for the reviews, favorites, or follows. Much appreciated. Happy that people are still interested and reading this after so much time.
Chapter 45: It's Coming!
Trying not to panic, both Piper and Leo rushed through the sliding doors of the San Franciso Memorial Hospital.
"Let go, just let go," Piper swatted at Leo's hands, as he was trying to support her back and waist.
"Piper, you need to try and stay calm," Leo instructed.
She laughed. "Calm?" her eyes widened incredulously. "Don't tell me to stay calm, Leo," her voice turned more serious, "this is three weeks too early," she hunched over in more pain, as another contraction hit. They had just reached the front desk and Piper was suddenly having flashbacks to when Chris was born here three years ago.
The nurse stood up.
"Just breathe," Leo tried to encourage.
"Yes, Leo, I know, I'm breathing, see," Piper fired back, gritting down against her teeth, as the contraction passed.
Next, the nurse signaled for an orderly to bring over a wheelchair.
While the nurse worked with Leo to get all the proper information to admit his wife, Piper sat in the wheelchair, closing her eyes, and taking slow deep breaths. She was trying not to worry, to think only positive thoughts, but perhaps Phoebe had been right. Perhaps she should have relaxed a bit more.
"Maternity ward," the nurse nodded at the orderly.
"I got it," Leo nodded at the orderly, moving and taking position behind the chair to push his wife. The orderly stepped aside leading them towards the elevator.
"The boys," Piper voiced her concerns after her next breath.
"Are fine," Leo rushed to reassure her. "Coop is with them now; they'll be okay." Since he could teleport, Coop had been the quickest option to reach out to. "He agreed to stay with them until your dad could get there."
Piper nodded. "My sisters. Could you call them and let them know ..."
"I'll take care of it," Leo cut in.
The elevator doors opened, and they got in. Suddenly, Piper let out another loud wail, leaning over and clenching at her stomach.
"It's coming!"
X
San Francisco Precinct
"Let's go, pal," Henry yanked on the arm of the felon sitting in his backseat. His hands were already cuffed behind his back. "You picked a really bad night to try and skip bail on those new charges, let me tell you," he began shoving the man towards the entrance to the police station after he was out of the car.
Henry hadn't been expecting to get slammed with two troubles on the same night he was supposed to meet up with his wife at that party thing-a-ma-gig. He had to let her know he was going to have to back out on it. Paige said she understood but it still felt like he was bailing on her.
"C'mon, man, it was a misunderstanding," the man tried pleading his case, quite badly, Henry thought to himself.
"Judge wasn't too happy having his golf match interrupted to sign yet another warrant for you," Henry opened the door. "Guess it's back behind the clinker for you," he directed his sarcasm at the guy with a tight smile in place.
"It was just a quick trip to see my sick mother, I swear, I was coming back."
"Yeah, yeah," Henry rolled his eyes, not buying it. "Save it for the judge."
After dropping the man off with the attending officers inside, Henry exited the building, moving his shades back down to cover his eyes. After shifting his gaze, he caught sight of something he wasn't expecting to see.
Richardson.
Wasn't that the dodgy Inspector guy harassing his wife and her sisters?
It was. Richardson was standing by an open window of an unmarked vehicle, putting a cigarette out underneath his foot. Henry couldn't make out the driver but whoever it was stuck their hand out the window, handing something over to the Inspector. Richardson glanced down at it, then moved to shove it in his side pocket. Contorting his brows, Henry wondered what the interaction was all about when a voice broke his concentration.
"Thought I recognized that shaded man in the sexy leather jacket!"
Henry turned, his face breaking into a smile. "Hey," he immediately bent down to give his wife a kiss on the cheek.
Paige smiled back.
"What are you doing here, I could have met you back at the office, you didn't have to come all the way here," he was honestly surprised to be seeing her.
"Eh, I was already in the neighborhood," she teased, shrugging her shoulders.
Henry's smile dropped. "Look, really sorry I couldn't make it, Paige, I'll make it up to you, I swear." He genuinely felt bad.
Paige shook her head. "It's okay."
"No, it's kind of not," Henry sighed, "but I do want to do something. Just the two of us."
"Henry, it's not a big deal," Paige still tried downplaying it. "It wasn't even about me."
"How did it go?" he asked, wondering about the outcome of the party.
"Actually, it went well, very well," Paige nodded, in good spirits.
Henry nodded. "Glad to hear it." He paused. "Wait, did you just call me sexy," he teased her, feigning contemplation.
"That depends, did you promise to make it up to me?" she winked, teasing back.
He threw up two fingers. "Scout's honor."
"Then I'll hold you to that promise."
Henry smiled.
They moved in closer for a kiss when Paige's cell phone suddenly went off.
Henry pulled back.
"Sorry, let me get that," she reached for it and answered. "Hello?" Listening, her facial expression shifted to alarm.
"What is it?" Henry watched her, feeling his concern grow.
"I'll be there," Paige ended the call. "It's Piper," she informed him. "She's at the hospital. The baby's coming."
In that moment, everything else was completely forgotten as the couple moved to leave.
X
Phoebe's Loft
Looking down, Prue glanced at her daughter fast asleep on the floor. The party had completely tired Molly out, hell, it had tired her out.
Piper, Leo, and the boys had already left earlier while Andy had been called away not that long after. He told her needed to report back into the office. For what, she had no idea, Andy had been very vague about it. He promised to check in with her later on though, leading her to believe it might have had something to do with Richardson.
That guy was a constant thorn in their side.
Leaning her head back, Prue closed her eyes and released a deep breath. She was sitting on Phoebe's couch when she felt movement beside her.
"Ready to call it a night?"
Opening her eyes, Prue looked over and smiled at Phoebe. "Hey you."
"Hey yourself," Phoebe smiled back. "Was that a yawn I just saw?" she teased, pointing a finger at her sister.
Prue responded with another smile.
Turning, Phoebe spotted Molly sleeping a few feet away from them. "Somebody is out like a light."
"Yeah," Prue sighed. "I'm about to be too," she admitted.
"If you want, you can leave her with me for the night," Phoebe offered. "I'm sure you can use a break."
"I definitely can but you don't have to."
"Prue, I know I don't have to," Phoebe laughed a bit, "that's why I'm offering."
Prue nodded. "Thanks."
"Hope you enjoyed the party?" Phoebe put it out there.
"I did, thank you," Prue told her. "The speech meant a lot," she let her sister know. "Especially after everything," she added, knowing that her choice to leave her sisters behind had created a lot of heartache after they believed her to be dead.
A faint smile passed over Phoebe's lips. "It was just the truth. It hasn't been the same without you. I've missed you."
"Well, if I could do it all over again, I would want you with me," Prue shared. "Looking back," she reflected, "even without my memories of you guys things just kind of felt ... off," she thought and then settled on.
After listening, Phoebe offered her input. "It's all over and done with, Prue, I wasn't fishing for an apology or anything," she let her sister know.
"No, I know, but I'm still offering one," Prue reciprocated. Now that she could remember everything again, she felt truly bad that her sisters had to live with the lie.
"Okay, apology accepted," Phoebe shrugged casually, "now, moving on," she turned away in a teasing manner.
Prue smirked. "Ok, well then as much as I appreciated the overall gesture," she eyed her sister, referring to the party, "you could have just told me what was really going on."
"What do you mean?" Phoebe felt taken off guard. Had somebody told her?
Playfully, Prue rolled her eyes. "Phoebe, c'mon. There was never any party planned. I know it and you know it. I know you pretty well; if you and Piper were planning something, I would have known. Besides," a smirk began to appear on her face, "I overheard Paige complaining to Henry about it."
"Ugh," Phoebe groaned, closing her eyes. "Paige."
"Well, that, but her deer caught in headlights expression that night was already kind of a dead giveaway," Prue added.
"Okay, fine, guilty," Phoebe admitted. "It was my idea, but hey, at least you got your powers back out of it and you and Andy are back on track again," she tried to spin it. "So I wouldn't say it was all for nothing."
"True," Prue smiled, "but what was really up?" she came out and asked.
Suddenly, the energy in the room shifted, and Phoebe looked down. What was she even supposed to say without lying to her, she thought. She certainly didn't want to tell her sister, hey, we found out you're going to die soon. For real, this time. No. That was definitely a no. Instead, she opted to be vague.
"Phoebe," Prue pushed.
"I got a premonition off Piper," Phoebe decided to share with her sister. "And we were trying to figure out what it could mean," she left it there.
Prue considered it. "A premonition. Something bad?"
"Well ... " Phoebe hesitated, "definitely not good but helpful," she settled on.
"Not good but helpful," Prue felt a bit confused by that. "So, you didn't think I could be helpful with it?"
"No, definitely not it," Phoebe denied, "we were just being cautious because ..."
"I still didn't have my powers and it could've been something dangerous," Prue finished, jumping to a conclusion for her.
"Exactly," Phoebe went with it.
Prue shrugged. "Care to share more now?"
"Uh ... well. " Phoebe stammered.
Prue narrowed her eyes. "Why am I getting the feeling you don't really want to tell me?" She felt as if her sisters had been acting a bit strange the past weeks and it would appear her observations and feelings had been on point.
"Prue," Phoebe closed her eyes, shaking her head, although the real answer to that was yes and no. Yes, she hated keeping the truth from her sister but on the other hand, no, she didn't want to have to tell her sister she might die. "If I sound vague here, it's only because nothing really came of it," she decided on. "But if that changes, you'll be the first to know," she turned back, looking her sister directly in the eyes.
Carefully, Prue observed her sister.
"I promise," Phoebe pushed.
"Ok," Prue decided to accept. She would have to trust that for now.
Prue's eyes were drooping.
"You should go home and get some rest," Phoebe advised, reaching out affectionately and brushing a piece of her sister's hair back. "Seriously, you look exhausted."
"I am," Prue sighed, "but there's just so much on my mind," she confessed, sighing and bringing her hand to her forehead. "Sometimes it makes sleep impossible."
Phoebe shifted her position, ready to offer an ear. "Well, what's on your mind," she wanted to know.
"What isn't," Prue practically rolled her eyes.
"Dad," Phoebe threw out there. She didn't even know if their father was aware that Prue had found out the truth about Sam.
Prue nodded. "Dad," she acknowledged, "is definitely one of those things."
"Have you talked to him?"
"Not yet" Prue sighed.
"And Sam?"
"Not yet" Prue repeated.
Phoebe didn't push it any further than that. "You know we're here for you if you need us," she reassured her sister. "Paige certainly can relate."
Prue smiled, appreciating the support. "Thanks."
Reaching out, Phoebe took Prue's hand and held it. Then, her cell phone suddenly went off interrupting the moment. Getting up from the couch, she retrieved it from the kitchen counter.
"Yeah, hello," she answered. There was a pause. "Wait, what?" her voice went up, putting Prue on alert. "When?"
"What's going on?" Prue got up from the couch.
"We'll meet you there," Phoebe ended the call. "Piper's in labor," she told Prue. "She's having the baby."
Both sisters went into reaction mode. Prue carefully lifted her daughter from the floor and moved her to the couch. Phoebe was making another call on her phone.
"Hey, Dad," she spoke as she threw her small jacket on. "Yeah, we heard, we know it's coming. We need a favor."
X
Manor
Coop sat on the edge of the wicker bench in the conservatory, hands folded, observing both Wyatt and Chris in play. Wyatt was showing his little brother how to operate the siren on his new firetruck toy.
"Look," Wyatt unexpectedly pointed at the glass doors.
Not sure what had caught his attention all of a sudden, Coop shot his eyes at the doors, looking outside. Truth be told, it had gotten pretty dark and there wasn't much to see. Still, Coop got up to inspect anyway.
Nothing.
"What did you see, buddy?" Coop turned back around to Wyatt.
Looking back up, Wyatt pointed again. "That."
Coop went in search again. He still didn't see anything out of the ordinary and contemplated going outside but reconsidered it. Better to play it safe.
"I don't see anything," Coop's eyes scanned the darkness. "Hey, maybe we should go upstairs," he began making the suggestion as he turned to face the kids again. Then, the sound of something crashing outside grabbed Coop's attention and he spun his head back around.
Wyatt stood up off the floor.
Coop brought his finger to his lips, signaling for him to remain quiet. "Wyatt, orb upstairs," he instructed, whispering to him.
Wyatt did as he was told, holding onto his brother's hand as they orbed away.
After they were gone, Coop carefully reached for the door, opening it and staying on alert. The only light available was coming from the moon above and from some small night lights lined up and down the small walkway, leading to the flower beds. He took a few steps in that direction then stopped. He could see that one of the flower vases lay shattered on the ground by the lawn chairs. A knot in his stomach formed. It was completely plausible the wind had knocked it over, or even a small animal, but he really didn't have a good feeling about it.
"Who's there?" he decided to call out.
Likely not a demon; however, that didn't rule out an intruder.
Not wanting to chance it, Coop took small steps backwards, intent on returning inside. However, as he moved to turn around, the back of his head was met with the swinging of another vase. He never saw it coming.
Coop fell to the ground unconscious.
The lingering figure with the gloved hands emerged from the shadows and went for Coop's arms. Immediately, he slapped a cuff on Coop's wrist. Then, the figure began dragging him away.
X
Magic School
Shortly after the party ended, Billie and JD had returned to the Magic School with Billie still feeling a bit on cloud nine. The evening hadn't gone in any way she had been originally expecting it to but rather, turned out pleasantly surprising her.
Currently, they sat on a couch together in the study with Billie contemplating the best way to try and resolve the current dilemma. "Maybe we can come up with some kind of plan where the sisters can draw Marco out using Coop as bait?" she suddenly suggested.
There was no response back.
"Of course, we'd have to get Coop to be willing to agree to that," she carried on, not waiting on JD. "What do you think?"
JD still didn't respond.
This time when she got no answer, she turned to him. "JD ... " she started until she noticed him staring. "What?" she smiled.
"Nothing," he suddenly broke from his stupor.
"Nothing?" Billie broke out with a smile. "Then what did I just say?" she interrogated playfully.
"You know, you're super-hot when you're trying to figure all this stuff out," JD threw back at her, trying to distract her.
"JD, c'mon," Billie laughed, turning away.
"What, it's true," JD persisted.
"We're supposed to be trying to figure this out together," Billie gently chided him. "Concentrate."
"Hey, I am concentrating," he playfully protested. "On you," he winked at her.
Billie blushed. "Okay, fine, and there will be plenty of time for that later but, right now, the sooner we figure out a plan of action to get this demon off your back, the quicker you get to leave this magical prison," she waved around at the school.
"Well, the prison food actually hasn't been that bad," he joked.
Billie sent him a look.
"Fine, fine," JD gave in, "work now, play later. Where were we."
"I was suggesting that maybe Coop would help," she repeated for him. "You know, lure him out, then poof, a vanquish."
"Forget it!" a voice cut in.
Billie and JD looked up to see Lana approaching them.
"When did you guys get back in?" she interrogated.
"A little while ago," Billie answered, "and what do you mean, forget it?" she repeated.
"Exactly what I said," Lana asserted.
"But it might work," Billie argued back. "Don't you want out of here, because if we can set it up so he comes to us first because he reacts, you won't have to worry about psycho demon daddy ever again. Neither will Coop."
"No, Billie, it's dangerous is what it is," Lana countered. "Coop is a cupid," she laughed. "He's not exactly magically equipped to face off with a member from the Triad."
"A former Triad," Billie stressed, standing up and defensively standing off with Lana.
"Still, somehow I don't think angelic crossbows or love arrows shooting hearts is going to quite cut it with him," Lana cracked, folding her arms and staring Billie down.
JD glanced between the two.
"Well, if you have a better idea, then I'm all ears," Billie challenged, raising her voice.
Dropping her arms, Lana stepped up to Billie. "Actually ... "
"Ladies, ladies," JD finally jumped up, putting up his hands and stepping in to halt the rising tension. "Let's not," he looked between them.
"No, actually, lets hear it," Billie looked at JD then turned back to Lana.
JD and Lana stared.
Billie was the first to stand down. "Fine," she finally gave in, rolling her eyes. She went to sit back on the couch.
Rolling her eyes, Lana shook her head and turned around. "Whatever," she muttered.
JD whistled under his breath.
"If you want to use bait, use me," Lana suddenly blurted out, turning back around.
"What?" Billie made a face.
"I said use me," Lana raised her voice. "You want to lure him out so you can get the Charmed Ones to vanquish him, fine, I'll go to him. That should get a reaction."
"Lana ... " JD began to protest.
"It will work. I'll tell him I'm willing to do it myself," she cut back in.
"And you think he's just going to buy that after you practically set him ablaze before fleeing with JD?" Billie questioned, looking to JD and then back to her.
"Yes, it's what he wants anyway," Lana reasoned. "He'll go for Coop if I don't but if I say I'm willing to embrace my darker side and do it, he may back off." She shifted her gaze between the other two. They didn't look convinced. "At the very least, it should buy some time."
"Okay, but how does getting him vanquished even work unless he goes after Coop with you," Billie argued again, poking holes in the idea. "When would we be able to stop him."
"I'll make it work," Lana stressed, her eyes widening to drive home the point. "He'll be there. I'll report back when and where."
Billie shared a look with JD. The plan would heavily rely on Lana actually following through and that meant putting a lot of trust in her.
Waiting, Lana looked between the two.
JD shrugged at Billie, signaling it was completely up to her.
"Okay," Billie sighed, closing her eyes. "We try it your way, but I run the plan by the sisters first before you go anywhere or do anything!" she asserted strongly.
Lana gave one firm nod.
X
In the dark of night, the headlights from the approaching car could be seen as it came closer to its final destination. Finally, it arrived.
Coming to a complete stop on the side of an abandoned road, Richardson exited the driver's side and made his way to the trunk of the car.
"Is it done?" a voice rang out.
Richardson wasn't even phased. He had been expecting him. He hesitated before opening the back. "Yeah, it's done," his gruff voice responded.
Marco stepped up and was now standing alongside the Inspector. "Show me."
Richardson heaved a sigh and after one quick look around, he unlatched his trunk to reveal the unconscious figure of a man lying in there.
"Good," Marco sneered. "Very good."
"Good?" Richardson repeated. "That's felony kidnapping you're looking at," he nodded at Coop's form in the back of his car. "I hope we're good."
"You've done well," Marco acknowledged. "Remove him," he ordered.
Richardson snorted and went to move Coop out of the trunk. He grunted as he tried to bear the weight of Coop on his own. "Yes, please continue to stand there and stare," he snidely threw over at Marco.
Marco remained motionless.
The Inspector stopped. "Hello! If you didn't get me the first time, a little help would be nice."
Slowly, Marco moved to assist and both he and Richardson completed the task of getting Coop out and onto the ground on the side of the road.
"And now that you've gotten what you wanted," Richardson clapped his hands together, "time for what I'm due."
"In due time," Marco brushed off.
Feeling a bit heated, Richardson spoke up. "No, now!" he demanded, confronting the other man. "First, it was the girl. Then you told me to back off that and focus on the Halliwells. Then you told me to back off the Halliwells and get to him," he argued, nodding at Coop. "I've done everything you've asked."
"And your point?" Marco wasn't even phased by the Inspector's abrasiveness.
"My point is I'm done playing these games and taking orders from you," Richardson seethed. "My daughter is dead because of whatever happened with the Halliwells and because of Homeland Security, I can't find out a damn thing about it," he hollered. "They're gonna pay for it."
Marco looked him up and down. "Oh, no worries, you'll be getting what you're owed," he answered cryptically, sending Richardson a deadpan stare.
"Meaning what exactly?" Richardson shook his head.
"Meaning, it's coming. We'll be in touch," Marco cut him off. "Go!" he instructed.
Inspector Richardson wasn't too happy being dismissed but he decided not to argue it. He would do as he was told and wait. Walking back to the driver's side, he opened the car door but then stopped. "Richard," he stated randomly and out of the blue.
"Excuse me," the demon questioned.
"Richard Devlon was the name of a main suspect in a case I was working years ago," he confronted Marco.
"So?" Marco came off sounding disinterested.
"So," Richardson stressed, glancing over at the unconscious figure again, "why did you choose it? That name. Richard. I know that's not your real name. And why does he," the inspector nodded at Coop, "look so eerily similar. They related or something?"
Marco stared. He didn't get an answer.
"Not sure why you came to me or why that case warranted my help," Richardson argued. Richard Devlon had died in prison. That much Richardson knew.
"It was necessary," was the only vague response Marco gave. Quite simply, it created the perfect connection he could use.
"Who are you really?" Inspector Richardson narrowed his eyes.
"Not important," Marco paced, then stopped. "Or rather, you don't want to know," came the thinly veiled threat.
Richardson sensed to back off. He got in the car, started up the ignition and then pulled off, leaving both Marco and Coop in the dust.
After the Inspector was out of sight, Marco sneered. Pulling out a cell phone device, he entered some information and then clicked send.
"There you go, Inspector. Like I said, it's coming."
X
San Francisco - Police Precinct
Andy moved in front of his desk, taking some files in hand and then carefully observing his surroundings. When he saw nobody close by, he sat at his desk and turned on the computer. "Ok, let's see what you've been up to," he muttered.
Inspector Richardson wasn't in tonight, but Andy had already carefully attached the tracking device to follow him and then look into the man's dealings.
Cautiously, Andy accessed the site that recorded Richardson's whereabouts.
"Now that's odd," Andy's brows contorted in concentration. "What are you doing all the way out in the middle of nowhere," he wondered aloud.
Clicking on a recording, Andy carefully listened to an exchange.
"Meet me at .. th ... Barley point road at ... 10 with th .. guy. Get hi ... he's alone bring him before I go an ... fi .. my ... dau. Lana."
"What about th ... I want ... my ... reve ... not waiting any longer."
"Damn," Andy mumbled, feeling frustrated. The recording was cutting out.
Suddenly, his cell phone went off alerting him that he had just received a message. Sighing, he grabbed for it. It was probably Prue wondering what time he'd be home. He couldn't really answer that, but he knew he'd have to give her something. There wasn't much to tell her yet on the Richardson front.
Opening the cell, he clicked on the link, and his eyes went wide.
"What the hell?" he jumped up from his seat. Immediately, he closed out of what he was doing, making sure nobody could find what he was doing.
Grabbing for his jacket, he ran to leave.
There wasn't much time.
X
San Francisco Memorial Hospital
After Prue and Phoebe entered through the front doors of the hospital, they were immediately met by Paige with Henry. They had all been reached by Leo and informed that Piper had gone into labor and was having the baby.
"Any news?" Phoebe inquired right away, stopping in front of her sister.
Paige shook her head. "Nope."
Prue folded her arms. "I thought she wasn't due for another few weeks," she made a face showing concern.
"She wasn't," Paige sighed, "but apparently, that's changed."
"I hope they're all right," Phoebe voiced her concern for both Piper and the baby. "How do you think she is?"
"No idea," Paige sighed, "because all Leo said was that she got admitted."
Phoebe nodded, "Right, yeah, that's what we were told too."
"Hey, I'm sure if anything was really wrong, Leo would have let us know by now," Prue offered her input. "In case we needed to step in."
Henry felt a bit out of place, just looking between the sisters. He wasn't quite sure what to say or what support to offer.
"And there's no way they're going to let us all in to see her right now anyway," Paige complained.
"Well, you can fix that," Phoebe looked from Paige to Prue and back to Paige again, "can't you. With a little orbing action," she hinted.
"Oh, right," Paige shrugged, considering it. She turned to Henry.
Henry threw up his hands. "I can wait here for you."
"Great," Paige leaned over and they shared a quick peck on the lips. "Ladies," she then addressed her sisters as they took off together in search of a discreet location.
x
The nurse had just finished hooking her up to the monitor. Taking a deep breath, Piper did her best to remain calm. So far, nothing appeared to be wrong.
Thank god.
After opening her eyes, she was greeted by the sight of orbs.
"We got your message," Phoebe teased.
Piper smiled, feeling relieved.
"So, how you are doing?" Paige wanted to know.
Suddenly, a contraction hit, and Piper let out a groan. "In pain, a lot of pain," she managed to get out, her eyes going wide.
Prue shuddered, biting down against her lip. "Oh, clearly."
The contraction passed and then Piper laughed, addressing Prue. "Yes, clearly," her voice rose a notch, "something you have to look forward to in a coming month or two," she finished, mocking her sister.
"Uh, yeah, don't remind me," Prue cracked.
"Too bad there can't be any good magic for that," Piper cracked.
Squinting at Prue, Paige teased her. "So, I take it no home birth for you then?"
Prue laughed but not because it was funny. "Yeah, no, you're kidding," she made a face. "The minute that first contraction hits, I'll be on the first trolley ride here, if need be," she cracked.
"Hey, home births aren't that bad," Phoebe defended it. "Piper did it with Wyatt."
"Well, then that's one experience she's had that I won't ever be having," Prue smiled over at her sisters before dropping it.
Piper jumped in. "Hey, only did it because I had to," she reminded her sisters. "There wasn't much choice; Wyatt came early too. And look," she sighed, "I appreciate the visit you guys, but you've probably got about five minutes before somebody returns," she told them, referring to either a nurse or her doctor. "We'll have to make the Sister's Club rendezvous short. Leo should be back anyway."
"We can go; we just wanted to check in," Prue smiled, "make sure everything was ok." She then felt her phone buzzing in her pocket.
Piper sighed, resting her hand over her belly. "So far so good."
"Well, we'll be waiting, so tell Leo to keep us updated," Phoebe threw out affectionately, blowing her a kiss.
"Hey, speaking of Leo, where is he, didn't see him when we got here," Paige thought to ask.
Prue went to check her phone.
"Oh, he went to check with Dad," Piper shared. "Make sure he settled in okay with the boys."
"Right," Phoebe nodded, "yeah, he took Molly too," she nodded over at Prue. "I think he was on his way over there with her."
After watching the video in the link sent to her phone, Prue's face took on a very concerned expression. Her color even drained.
"Yeah, Coop did us a huge favor waiting with Wyatt and Chris until Dad could get there," Piper shared. "Thank him for us again," she told Phoebe.
"Uh, well, if he was waiting with them before, he's definitely not now," Prue cut in, her tone sounding dead serious. This caught the attention of the sisters as Prue shot Phoebe a worried look.
"What," Phoebe was almost afraid to ask, "what do you mean?"
Prue sighed, handing over the phone. "Andy just sent it."
Phoebe took the phone and replayed the video. Paige came in closer so she could watch at the same time. What Phoebe saw next made her blood run cold. There, in the video, was Inspector Richardson removing an unconscious Coop from the trunk of his car. He was dumped on the side of the road.
"Oh my god," Phoebe brought her hand up to her mouth.
Paige rolled her eyes. "Already, you've got to be kidding." She placed a hand behind Phoebe's back to show her support. "Honey, I'm so sorry."
"I've got to go," Phoebe reacted. "Now!"
Piper's eyes went wide. "What, what is it?" she demanded to know.
"Nothing for you to worry about, we'll take care of it," Paige stressed back at her. "You just take care of you and our little niece in there and make sure Melinda arrives here safe and sound, okay," she ordered. "I can't believe this, though, how did he even get to him?" she turned to her other two sisters.
"Well, isn't it obvious," Prue asserted, "looks like the unhinged Inspector is working with the demon," she drew the conclusion.
"Wait, so Lana's demon father used Richardson to get to Coop," Paige stated, shaking her head, "how was he even able to find him?" she didn't understand how the Inspector got that close to Coop or why the demon hadn't done it himself.
"Who cares how or why," Phoebe began to panic, "Richardson has Coop or at least he did and now we need to get to him first. Before the demon does."
"Richardson has Coop, oh no!" Piper reacted to the news. Then, another contraction hit. "Oh no!" she reacted again, as the pain shot through her abdomen and down her lower back.
This grabbed the attention of the sisters.
"Piper, we've got this," Prue reinforced. "But Phoebe's right, we better go."
"Wait," Piper protested, holding up her hand as the contraction passed. "It might be a trap; it's too dangerous without all of us there."
"A chance we'll have to take," Phoebe was adamant about it. "And we may not have the Ultimate Power going into this, but we'll have the Power of three as backup."
It looked like Piper wanted to argue more but Prue went over and kissed her on the head. "I have my powers back, remember," she reminded her. "We love you."
"Paige, orb us out of here!" Phoebe ordered.
Prue rejoined her sisters and before Piper had a chance to protest any further, they were all gone in a flash of orbs.
"Right," Piper was left pointing and talking to herself, "and you all better make it back alive, or I'll hunt you down in the afterlife myself," she shouted. Looking down at her belly, she placed one hand over it. "See," she addressed her unborn daughter, "and this is why everything goes sideways because nobody ever wants to listen to me."
Shaking her head, she threw it back against the pillow.
X
The Manor
Victor had arrived to find Wyatt and Chris alone, with no sign of Coop anywhere. That was odd, very odd indeed, surely, he wouldn't have left the kids by themselves, he had concluded.
Something had to be wrong.
Pacing the floor inside Wyatt's bedroom, Victor left a voicemail over the phone. "Hey, Leo, listen, I don't want to alarm anybody but, uh, didn't you say Coop was supposed to be with the boys? I just got here and there was no sign of him anywhere. No worries, the kids are fine, and I put them to bed, but I hope everything's ok. Maybe somebody wants to check it out?" he suggested, shrugging his shoulders. "Anyway, get back to me when you can, no need to stress out Piper."
After finishing, he took one look over at the sleeping children. All three were out like lights.
"Sleep tight, kiddos," he sighed, flicking off the light switch and leaving the bedroom.
He hoped things would work out smoothly for everyone.
X
Phoebe walked at a quick pace outside the hospital, with Prue, Paige, and Henry lagging behind. After sharing with Henry what was going on, he remembered the scene taking place earlier outside the police station involving the Inspector with an unidentified individual inside of a car. A car that looked eerily similar to the one Richardson had been using in the video he just watched. He had told them about it.
"Phoebe, would you slow it down for the rest of the class," Paige quipped, rolling her eyes, "speed walking isn't going to make this go away any faster."
"No, but orbing there can," she stopped abruptly, turning around to face the others.
"Phoebe, we don't even know where there is," Prue argued, trying to talk some sense into her sister.
"Yeah, but Andy probably does!" Phoebe countered. "Hasn't he been following the guy, tracking him, why don't you get on the phone and ask him."
"Phoebe!" Prue protested.
Paige looked side-eye at Henry.
Henry threw his hands up in the air. "Hey, I didn't hear a thing," he let his wife know he had no intentions of letting the cat out of the bag with any colleagues or peers regarding what Andy was up to.
"What, don't Phoebe me, Andy sent you that message for a reason!" she argued back. "Which probably means this requires magical intervention. That's our area not his."
Prue was getting frustrated. "Yes, but we don't know that" she shot back. "If that's what Andy thought, he would have told us to meet up, but he didn't. And there wasn't a demon anywhere in the video, it's just Richardson with Coop." She certainly understood why Phoebe was desperate, but she also didn't want to rush in and put Andy's life or job at risk either.
"We don't want to make things worse," Paige agreed, "for Andy or for Coop."
"Worse?" Phoebe challenged, "Paige, how can it get any worse, Coop's been taken, he's already in danger."
"We need a plan," Prue's brain started to turn over ideas.
Paige nodded.
"Prue, c'mon, please," Phoebe was practically begging now. "We don't know how much time we have here, and Coop's life is at stake. You know you would do the same thing if it were for Andy," she reasoned at her.
Narrowing her eyes a bit, Prue gave in. "Fine," she pulled out her phone, turning and dialing for her husband. The guilt card always worked.
"Hey, if you really need a plan," Henry suddenly jumped in with an idea, "how about that Lana girl," he suggested.
Paige threw her husband a questioning look. "Okay, how would that help?"
"Andy, hey, where are you?" Prue's voice could be heard talking off to the side in the background.
"Trade-off," he shrugged, as if it were obvious, looking between Phoebe and his wife. "Him for her. I mean, if the demon already has him."
Slowly, Phoebe and Paige shifted their expressions to each other.
It could work.
X
Andy was careful to maintain a safe distance between himself and the other Inspector as he tailed him on the quiet road under the cover of darkness. Thanks to the tracker, Andy had been able to locate Richardson's whereabouts pretty quickly.
The Inspector was driving unusually slow.
"C'mon, where are you going, " Andy muttered to himself, tapping his finger against the driver's wheel.
Suddenly, his phone went off completely distracting him.
"Hello?"
"Andy, hey, where are you?" Prue's voice could be heard coming from the other end.
"Yeah, Prue, look I can't talk right now," he told her, bringing his focus back to Inspector Richardson's car.
"Yeah, sorry, but Phoebe's freaking out about Coop and what we saw," Prue shared with him. "We're going to need more."
Andy shook his head. He couldn't give more. "You know about as much as I do," he was honest about it. "That was sent to me. It was all I got."
"Do you know who sent it?" Prue questioned.
"No," he shook his head.
"And Richardson?"
"I'm on him," he let her know he was trailing him right now.
"Do you know if he's alone?" she interrogated, trying to find out the status on the demon involved with all this.
Andy watched as Inspector Richardson pulled his vehicle onto a small gravel driveway and then stopped just outside the gate. He killed his lights and turned off his ignition.
"Andy?" Prue tried again when she didn't get an answer.
"What are you doing," Andy muttered, wondering if the Inspector was onto him and had figured out he was being followed.
"What?" Prue sounded confused.
"I don't know," Andy answered in a distracted manner, "listen, Prue, I gotta' go," he told her, ending the call abruptly.
He immediately turned on his siren and then picked up speed as he reached the driveway and pulled in behind Richardson's vehicle. He was now blocked from leaving. After getting out of the car, Andy drew his gun.
"Out of the car!" he ordered, aiming his firearm at the driver's side.
There was no response.
"I said out of the car, now!" he instructed again.
Slowly and cautiously, Andy approached the driver's door and then swung it open. Inside, Richardson sat with a smug smile on his face.
"Good evening, Inspector," Richardson smirked in a cocky fashion.
It actually pissed Andy off.
"Anything I can help you with tonight?" Richardson turned to look Andy in the face. "It must be really important for you to have followed me all the way out here."
That was it, Andy finally snapped, grabbing the other Inspector by his shirt and practically yanking him from the car. "Move!" he demanded and began shoving him towards the back of the car.
Richardson only laughed.
"You think this is funny, do you," Andy baited him, "well just wait." They stopped at the trunk. "Open it!"
"Why, going for a little ride back there, are we," Richardson mocked, playing it off as if Andy intended to put him in the trunk. "This is kidnapping and assault on another officer; I'll have your badge for this," he threatened.
"Nah, I don't think so," Andy mocked him in return, poking the tip of the gun into his back, "now open it."
Richardson turned his head. "Where's your search warrant," he countered, "Inspector."
Andy raised his gun, making sure the other man had a clear view of it. "Right here, Inspector," he lifted it. "Now stop playing games."
Richardson did as he was told and released the hatch. After he did, Andy was met with the sight of nothing. The smug look of satisfaction returned to Inspector Richardson's face.
"Where is he?" Andy demanded to know.
"Who?" Richardson played dumb.
"You know damn well who," Andy felt himself losing patience again. "Coop. Tell me what you did with him."
"Coop, Coop, Coop ... " Richardson repeated it in mantra, feigning like he was giving it careful thought. "Oh, right, Coop," he nodded. "Isn't he engaged to one of those Halliwell sisters?" he played along. "A lot of people involved with them seem to end up in a lot of trouble," he shook his head, clicking his tongue. "And you're married to one," he spat.
"I said, where is he?" Andy wasn't deterred.
"Really sucks to lose somebody you care about."
Again, Andy lost his cool and yanked the man back around, so he was face-to-face with him. "Listen, Richardson," he spat back. "Enough."
"This is clearly a conflict of interest."
"No," Andy refuted, flipping out his phone to display the video, "Actually this is all the evidence I need to put your ass away for a very long time."
For a moment, Richardson displayed genuine shock.
"Oh, what's the matter," Andy smirked, "your partner in crime hanging you out to dry."
"No idea what you're talking about," Inspector Richardson denied.
"Time to come clean," Andy tried, "tell me where Coop is, and you might actually make it out of this with your freedom still intact."
No dice. Richardson wouldn't budge. "Let me ask you something, Inspector," he turned the exchange back around on Andy. "Ever lose somebody you love?"
Andy refused to engage him.
"Well, it's coming," Richardson warned. Then a creepy smile crept across his face. "Oh, by the way, say hi to your wife for me, will ya'?"
Andy lost it after that. He pulled his fist back and gave the guy one good slug to the face. "That's for threatening a police officer," he told him snidely, "and for resisting arrest. Oh, by the way, you are under arrest so turn around," he ordered as he pulled out the cuffs. "Inspector."
Wiping against his bloodied lip, Richardson slowly turned around.
X
The Manor
"Prue, what do you mean no?" Phoebe challenged her sister, clearly not happy that Prue was refusing to go along with the suggestion.
The sisters found themselves back in the attic once again. Andy did let them know that there had been no sign of Coop after confronting Inspector Richardson. Which meant, the demon probably already had him and was also likely the one who somehow managed to send the video being used to set Richardson up. However, trying to come up with a solution on how to handle the matter was proving to be difficult. They were not all in agreement.
"Yeah, I'm not really seeing the problem either," Paige backed Phoebe up on it. "One, we already know she's at the Magic school, so easy access. Two, this demon really wants her. Instead of us going after Coop on the offense, we can let the demon come to us and be ready with a vanquish. It might work," she attempted to convince their oldest sister.
"It might provoke," Prue countered.
Huffing and rolling her eyes, Phoebe turned around.
"Look, I get you don't want to hand her over to be killed or anything," Paige tried again, "and I totally respect that but it's a trade, not an execution. Besides, it's not like he would hurt her. If he was going to, he would have already."
"Okay, not to sound like the heartless one here," Phoebe turned back around, cutting in, "but I don't really care if he does," she admitted openly. "She's part of the Triad. She's already tried to kill us once, and quite frankly, I don't trust her. I think she's still a threat."
Prue wouldn't budge. "Phoebe, we don't know that."
"Don't we?" she challenged back. "Hello, Cole everybody, need I remind you," she glanced between both Prue and Paige. "How many times did both of you," she looked back and forth at her sisters, "push for me to open my eyes and see the truth when it came to my relationship with him. It took his death for me to get a clue."
Paige shrugged; she was inclined to agree. "We'd be killing two birds with one stone. So to speak," referring to both Lana and her demon father.
"Or we could be killing somebody who doesn't deserve it and for good this time," Prue was quick with a comeback. "Somebody who may have changed and someone who won't be able to come back again," she argued, thinking about Lana's current predicament. If she was no longer a Triad, if the other members had banished her, it meant that she was likely vanquishable without the Ultimate Power. And Phoebe was right, she had given her sister a hard time about Cole back in the day, but Prue couldn't help but think back to her very recent conversation with Billie. Honestly, Prue had no love lost for the girl but what if her daughter was right. What if Lana really was changing.
"Prue, c'mon, you can't be serious! What about Molly and what happened to her in the Underworld," Phoebe threw at her sister in frustration. "You said it yourself; she was practically terrified at the sight of Lana and because of whatever she did down there," she emphasized, making reference to the kidnapping. "Does that sound like somebody who's changing to you?"
Shaking her head, Prue closed her eyes. "Yes, Phoebe, I'm fully aware, thank you," she was feeling her own frustration take over.
"Then stop defending her and get on board!" Phoebe shot back. "We trade Lana for Coop. Vanquish this demon's sorry ass, the end. Besides, Coop is all that matters here."
"Agreed," a voice suddenly cut in from behind, "so I'm doing it."
The sisters all turned to encounter a very unexpected sight. Standing there in the attic, was Lana with Billie and JD at her side. They had orbed in, overhearing the tail end of the heated exchange taking place between the sisters.
"What are you doing here?" Phoebe became angry, her eyes darting from Lana to Billie. "Billie, what's she doing here?"
"It was her idea," Billie shrugged, not even in the mood to argue.
"Her idea," Phoebe snorted, "to what, shimmer us onto the path of an oncoming Triad attack," she and Lana stared each other down.
Narrowing her eyes, Lana faked a smile. "Well, at least you wouldn't have to worry about your final destination being anywhere near the Wasteland, now would you," she snidely retorted.
Phoebe stepped up to her. "Yeah, well we're willing to offer a one-way trip back," she cracked but was stopped when JD stepped in the middle.
"Okay, time out," he threw up his hands.
Phoebe went from angry to annoyed. "JD, no offense, but you need to stay out of this."
Slightly offended on JD's behalf, Billie made a face. "Phoebe, c'mon, that's not fair," she defended him. "He is involved with this."
"Involved with this or with her!" Phoebe shot back, nodding over at Lana. Realizing she had reacted without thinking, she felt bad when she caught Billie's hurt expression.
"Phoebe!" Prue immediately scolded.
Closing her eyes, Phoebe began rubbing the sides of her temple. "Yeah, I know, I know, I didn't mean that, I'm sorry," she apologized to both JD and Billie.
"Look," Lana cut back in again, "I know you don't like me ..."
"Oh, I think we've far surpassed me just not liking you," Phoebe cut her off, although this time she backed off, turning and moving away from Lana.
"Be that as it may," Lana sniped back, "we share something in common whether you like it or not. Coop," she reminded her.
"Yeah," Phoebe sighed, "you've got that right, I don't like it. And just so we're clear, if it were solely up to me right now, your demon ass would be toast."
"Which we're not doing," Prue threw Phoebe a look.
"Thank you," Lana returned with a bit of smugness.
"Oh, don't misunderstand me," Prue was quick to jump back at her. "I may not be willing to vanquish you, yet" she stressed, "but that's a far cry from trusting you. Consider yourself on demon probation, one screw up, you're gone for good," she warned.
"Fine, whatever," Lana rolled her eyes.
Paige eyed Lana. "Okay, let's hear it," she shrugged, trying to remain the neutral one.
"What?" Lana sent her a questioning look.
"Uh, your idea," Paige nodded back, as if should have been obvious. "What are you willing to do exactly and how will it help get Coop back."
"Yeah, what is the plan now," Billie turned to Lana. "I mean, your father, the demon" she rethought it, "already has Coop. He doesn't even technically need you for that anymore. Pretending to go to him now might not save him."
Lana didn't say anything. She was thinking. Then, after looking at Billie and to everyone else in the attic, she decided on a hasty exit. "We'll be in touch," were her parting words, as she shimmered out.
"But ..." Billie stammered, raising and then dropping her hand. She turned her attention to the sisters.
Prue closed her eyes.
"Okay," Paige sighed, looking around the room.
Phoebe shook her head. "Great," she let out. "Great plan, everybody," came her snarky retort. "Let her go and now we have nothing."
"So, what do we do?" Paige was looking for another suggestion.
"We trust her!" came JD's stern response.
He was right though. Everybody in the attic was resigned to the fact that they were just going to have to hope Lana actually did have a plan in mind that might work and that she would contact them again like she said.
X
San Francisco - Police Precinct
"Sit down!" Andy shoved the other Inspector onto a chair in the interrogation room.
Folding his hands on the table, Richardson played it off as cool as a cucumber. Andy sat across from him, throwing a file on the table he had gone digging for. Richardson eyed it briefly then gave a blank stare back.
"The Devlon murder," Andy tapped on the file.
Richardson still refused to engage.
"Look," Andy began to issue a subtle threat. "You're either going to tell me what I want to know, or you're never getting out of here," he smirked. "The Devlon murder," he repeated in a much firmer tone of voice.
Inspector Richardson shrugged. "What about it."
"You were on the case," Andy opened it. "Says here you were the investigating officer. Arrested the suspect."
"And?" Richardson threw back at him.
"So," Andy stressed back, "the deceased murder suspect, Richard Devlon. He seems to be quite the dead ringer for the guy you've been recorded kidnapping in this video," he lifted his phone for emphasis. Of course, Andy understood the two men were one in the same but nobody else needed to know that.
Inspector Richardson smirked. To be frank, that had shocked him a bit too. He hadn't been expecting it. "Coincidence, Inspector. Purely coincidence."
"Is that so," Andy smirked back. "Or how about this," he leaned in a little closer. "An unstable cop with unfinished business," he presented, sending the message that this story could be spun in an entirely different direction. One not in his favor.
Richardson only stared, remaining silent.
"Who were you working with?" Andy came straight out with it.
"I'm not saying anything else without my lawyer," Richardson refused to offer up any information.
"Where is he, what did you do with him," Andy continued with the interrogation, trying to get any answers he could on where Coop might be. "Or what did he do with him."
Richardson still refused to answer.
"Fine, we can play it that way if you want," Andy stood up. He moved to the side of the Inspector and bent down next to his ear. "We'll get you your lawyer, but I'll tell you how I see this going down," he nodded. "I see a former demoted police Captain who snapped over the one case he wasn't able to solve in his entire career, maybe even realized he nabbed the wrong guy," he taunted slightly. "The main murder suspect was killed before it ever even got to trial. And with your mental health history, it shouldn't be that hard of a sell to the jury by the DA."
A scowl appeared on Inspector Richardson's face.
Moving to open the door, Andy then waved for one of the officers. Turning back around, he baited the other man some more. "Got to say, looks like your partner did one hell of a job setting you up because you're going down for this alone." When the other officer arrived, Andy nodded at Richardson.
"Inspector," Andy was addressed by the officer.
"Give him his phone call," he instructed, and the officer nodded back, moving to Richardson.
Richardson stood up.
"Put him back in lockdown when he's done," Andy gave the final order before walking away and leaving for good.
"Yes, sir," the officer responded back.
Richardson didn't say another word as he was led out of the interrogation room.
X
Coop's vision was slowly coming back into focus as he opened his eyes. He felt drained, not quite himself, almost like he had taken a supernatural Mickey.
There was a blurry figure pacing back and forth not too far away from him.
"Good evening," the voice rang out.
From what Coop could gather, he was lying on a couch somewhere. The more he looked around and took in, the more he was able to make out he was in an apartment. However, he was no longer at the Manor.
"Who are you," Coop demanded to know, slowly getting up. A pain shot through the back of his head. Flinching, he grabbed for it, closing his eyes. "What do you want," he got out through his clenched teeth.
The figure stopped his pacing. "You can call me Marco. Not that it'll really matter soon anyway," he threw at Coop.
"Well, Marco, that was quite an introduction back there," Coop was still holding the back of his head, trying to gather his bearings. "There were other ways to get my attention."
Marco smirked. "Ah, yes, well, I can't take the credit for that handy work."
"What are we doing here?" Coop wanted to know, gazing around. "Where are we," he regarded the other man with suspicion.
Marco made a pretense of looking around the space. "Oh, right, here. Welcome to the scene of the crime," he provided for him.
Coop narrowed his eyes.
"Your death!" Marco sneered.
Immediately, Coop thought to teleport but when he tried, he was automatically blocked. "What the hell ... " he muttered, then caught sight of the object on his wrist.
"Yeah, sorry, that won't save you," the demon informed the Cupid about the teleporting, nodding at the cuff. "That prevents the use of any magic."
Suddenly, Coop realized the vulnerable position he was in. "But why kill me," he countered, "I'm no threat to you."
Pulling out a sharp knife, he revealed it to Coop. Carefully, his gloved finger slid from the tip down to the blades as he spoke. "No, but you are in my way."
Coop kept vigilant, carefully watching for the demon's movements. "I don't understand," he stood up slowly, eyeing the knife.
"Lana," came the one-worded response.
Coop moved behind the couch, backing away. "Lana?" he repeated.
"She'll never be free to be who she's meant to be with you still in the picture," Marco lifted the knife, pointing it at Coop. "Her mortal ties need to be eliminated."
Coop's brows contorted. He was beginning to piece it together. "Wait," he began, "you killed my sister."
Marco's gaze fell away. "No."
This must be the demon. The father, Coop quickly concluded. "If not you, then who?"
"Dumain," he revealed. "His specialty was tracking down ... special power," the demon settled on.
"Special power, what does that even mean?" Coop didn't understand.
"Magical beings with unique concentrations of power," Marco elaborated. "Dumain thought the combination of Lana's demonic origins along with her witch ancestry, made her a valuable candidate for the Underworld to use," carried on.
"Dumain," Coop repeated. That was the demon who stole his ring.
Marco nodded. "He got to her first. Betrayed me."
Coop was confused. Witch ancestry. His sister had been killed and her baby stolen over witch ancestry. There was no witch ancestry. His sister hadn't been a witch. Neither were their parents. This demon was obviously playing games and he needed to get out of here. Without thinking, he grabbed for the cuff.
"That won't work!" the demon warned.
He was right. Coop realized it wouldn't budge. It was stuck on his wrist. "That doesn't make any sense," he stalled for time. "Jenna wasn't a witch. Neither were our parents," he voiced his thoughts from moments before.
The demon sneered. "Guess it skipped a few generations, then. Too bad, looks like you probably could have used it," he mocked, poking fun at their deaths.
"But the Triad ... " Coop started to argue before Marco spoke over him.
"Never knew," he finished the sentence, referencing Lana's other origins. "Only Dumain and I were privy to that information. Thanks to his Avatar."
"Avatar," Coop shook his head. An avatar working with the demons. He found himself wondering if Gideon knew about any of this. After all, he was a former Elder.
"Now, where were we?" Marco brought the knife back up into full view.
Something else wasn't adding up, Coop thought. The demon was threatening him with a knife when he could just use his demonic powers to end him. If that's all he had, Coop thought he might be able to take him. It had been years, but he did remember some of the martial arts classes he had taken as a kid. If he could just knock it out of his hand ...
The demon began his advance, slowly circling Coop around the couch.
"That's the best you got," Coop nodded at the knife. "What's the matter, the Underworld experiencing a power outage today," he cracked.
Marco laughed. "Oh, no, Cupid," he sneered. "If I wanted the credit for killing you, we'd be in the Underworld right now."
"And why aren't we," Coop carefully monitored the demon's movements, his eyes never leaving the knife.
"Mortal apartment, mortal death," Marco waved his hands around, finally letting Coop in on his plan for his demise. "The perfect way to dispose of all the baggage I no longer need."
Coop gave it some quick thought. Then it clicked into place. Somebody else was being set up to take the fall for his death. Glancing around the apartment, his eyes scanned over the furniture, then passed over a collection of pistols locked behind a glass case until finally landing on the mantel above the small fireplace where some plaque displaying some honorary commendation was sitting.
Coop read the name. "Richardson."
"Yes, Richardson," the demon confirmed without hesitation. "The perfect mortal patsy."
"The Inspector. He was working with you," Coop pieced it together. That explained the knife. His death was being planned to appear as if a human had killed him rather than a demon. It would draw no attention back to the magical world.
"More or less, if you want to call it that," Marco acknowledged. "He's just been relieved of his duty. Mortals," the demon laughed again. "So easy to entice. Their emotions make them spectacular targets for sport. His rage played right into my hands."
"How so?" Coop really didn't care. He was only considering the best move to disarm the demon while he kept him distracted and talking.
"His need for revenge."
Coop assumed that was aimed at the sisters. It had to be connected to whatever happened with Inspector Sheridan. Phoebe had shared the revelation regarding their connection. The sisters had uncovered some of his files and apparently, he had been the arresting officer when he was sent to jail. It had been years ago, Coop quite frankly didn't remember the man. However, it was obvious why the demon had brought him on since he was tied to the very case involving his missing daughter.
"Someone your witch won't have to worry about any longer," Marco sugarcoated it.
"No, because she'll be too worried about you," Coop shot back.
"Maybe," the demon shrugged, "but only if she gets in my way," he warned. "Playtime's over."
Coop watched as the demon took a sudden lunge at him, giving the Cupid just enough time to lurch backward and miss the swing of the knife. The demon was now within inches of him, and Coop was preparing himself to get into position to try and kick the knife out of his hand when an unexpected voice interrupted them.
"Stop!" the voice commanded.
The knife in Marco's hand suddenly went up in flames, burning the demon's hand. He let out a wail and was forced to let go. It dropped to the floor.
Coop and the demon were both caught off guard and turned to stare.
It was Lana.
X
San Francisco Memorial Hospital
Closing her eyes, Piper kept focus on her breathing. The contractions were coming closer. Where the hell was Leo and what was taking so long, she thought. She hoped her sisters hadn't found themselves in too much trouble.
A nurse entered the room. "How are we doing," she sighed, moving to check on the monitor and her vitals.
"Oh, great, never better," Piper replied sarcastically through a forced smile.
Smiling back, the nurse understood. "Let me check and see how far along you are," she put on gloves. Lifting the sheet, the smile dropped.
"What," Piper noticed, immediately shooting into panic mode. "Is something wrong, tell me," she demanded.
Backing away, the nurse kept her composure. "I'm just going to step out for a minute and get the doctor," she informed her, quickly moving to leave the room.
What was going on?
"No, no, no," Piper repeated in mantra, shutting her eyes as her breathing quickened. Then, a very sharp jolt shot up through her spine, literally squeezing at her internal organs. That definitely wasn't normal. Reaching for her back, she let out a yelp of pain.
The monitor started going off.
Looking down, Piper noticed blood beginning to stain the sheets in between her legs. "Are you kidding, c'mon, not again," she flashed back to the birth of Chris when there was another complication.
The beeping from the monitor became louder and faster.
Rushing back in, the nurse returned with the doctor. She quickly took a glance at the monitor and inspected Piper before giving the instructions that Piper needed to be moved for an emergency cesarean section.
"Leo!" she called, as she was being rolled out.
X
Marco's eyes were blazing with fury.
"You!" came the accusation.
Lana stepped closer. "Yeah. Me," she threw back.
Coop, on the other hand, wasn't at all sure what to expect next. To be honest, he was a little shocked and his face was showing it. She was supposed to be dead, vanquished, yet here she was, appearing alive and well. Not quite sure how that one worked, he thought. Glancing between the two, he tried to get a read on what could happen next. A part of him wanted to use this distraction to his advantage, to try and escape, but he really didn't know how far he'd get not being able to teleport. The other part didn't want to just abandon her. He got the sense that she had experienced enough of that.
Marco advanced on her.
"Wait!" she ordered, and the demon stopped.
Coop couldn't read her or what she intended to do.
Turning, Lana gave Coop a quick glance over. "I'll do it," she looked back at Marco, her expression remaining blank, unreadable.
Coop's expression shifted to concern. "Do ... what?" he stammered out.
Marco sneered. Then, he rang out with laughter. "Well, now, that's a girl," he began praising her. "I knew you'd come around sooner or later ... "
"But we do it my way!" she shouted over him.
The sneer fell from his face.
Coop could tell he was having just as hard a time reading her as he was.
"Fine," Marco bowed for show, waving her over to him. "He's all yours," he straightened back up. He stepped aside, allowing her to pass.
While the demon followed her every move, Coop watched as Lana bent down to pick up the knife. Swallowing over the growing lump in his throat, he reconsidered his course of action. Maybe he should have made that run for it after all. Lana came to stand before him. They were face to face and their eyes locked.
"Do it!" the demon urged her.
"Lana, wait," Coop tried pleading with her. "Think about this."
Lana stared back. "Sorry!" was her only verbal exchange with Coop before she used the end of the blade, and her magic, to knock him on the side of the head unconscious.
Coop fell to the floor with a loud thud.
X
The Manor
Billie and JD were sitting pin-straight on the living room couch with Victor sitting directly across from them. While staring, JD just remained straight-faced while Billie flashed Victor a big smile. This was oddly uncomfortable. For everyone.
"So, what do you do, JP?" Victor asked with genuine curiosity.
"JD," he quickly corrected.
"Right, sorry, JD," Victor said.
JD looked the man up and down before answering. "I get around," came the very vague reply. "So, who are you, like her gramps," followed his very forward inquiry.
Victor and Billie shared a brief eye exchange.
"Yeah," Victor admitted, nodding a bit. "I mean, technically speaking, I guess." He didn't know how that would make her feel. They were practically strangers.
"Or it would seem one of them at least," Billie got out under her breath. In truth, she felt a bit embarrassed, she barely knew this man.
"What was that?" Victor asked as JD turned to her.
"Um, nothing, " Billie rushed to change the subject. "So, you really think Lana will come through?" she turned to JD.
JD sighed, thinking about it. "Yeah," he settled on. "Yeah, I do."
Victor listened. "This Lana," he cut in, eyeing the two of them closely. "Good or bad news."
"Hard to say," Billie admitted. "Could be a little bit of both."
"And Coop?" Victor pushed. He hated the idea of his girls getting caught up and involved with other magical beings when it came to their personal relationships as it tended to bring more unnecessary drama. Piper and Leo were proof of that. However, that didn't mean he wanted to see one of his daughters hurt because of it. So, at least for Phoebe's sake, the Cupid's fate mattered to him. Besides, magical beings or mortals, it didn't seem to matter very much either way when it came to the demons.
"I don't think she'll hurt him," JD gave his honest opinion.
"How can you be sure?" Victor challenged.
Billie looked to JD for his answer. It was a fair question. She wanted to give Lana the benefit of the doubt, she did, but she also remembered Prue's advice about being cautious. They could remain optimistic, but they also needed to be prepared for the worst. After all, Lana was raised by a demon for years. That conditioning wouldn't be easy to break.
JD thought of the best way to answer it. "There's just something different," he glanced between Billie and Victor. "Can't really explain it but I think she wants a life, like an actual life," he thought about the weeks they spent in the Magic School and her thirst for knowledge beyond the Underworld.
Victor considered it. "So, you think she'll be able to stop this."
JD nodded. "I'd bet on it."
"Then it's a bet you've already lost!" a sinister voice rang out.
Billie and JD's attention shot to the intruder.
"Time to pay up," followed the threat.
Billie and JD were immediately on guard as they jumped up from the couch together after Marco had shimmered in. Victor's face contorted as he slowly arose from the chair. This wasn't good, he knew that much.
"What are you doing here?" Billie's voice shook, betraying the confidence she was trying to put off before the demon.
"Tying up loose ends," he sneered back at her.
"How did you find me?" JD demanded.
Marco's sneer grew wider. Then, two familiar figures orbed in beside him. Figures JD was hoping never to encounter again. One of those faces was also familiar to Billie.
"No," Billie gasped. "The darklighters."
"I found you with the help of a couple of old friends, of course," Marco laughed. "Jarad, Crate," he turned, addressing the darklighters, "if you'll do the honors," he waved in their direction.
Stepping forward, Jarad sneered. "It'll be my pleasure," he instantly summoned his crossbow and then pointed it at JD.
Billie felt frozen in place.
x
Phoebe held the scrying crystal in her hand over the map. Her worry was only growing with each passing minute. "Damn it," she dropped it. "Nothing," she used her hands to cover her face.
Prue glanced over. "Yeah, well," she sighed, "if it hasn't worked by now, it's probably not going to. Higher level demons always seem to be masters at cloaking."
"How's Dad?" Phoebe threw back.
"Downstairs, I think," Prue answered, after she thought about it. "I told him he was free to go but I guess he thinks he's making up for lost time or something if he sticks it out with us."
"Right, ok," Phoebe sighed.
After the sisters had returned to the Manor, Victor had been relieved of babysitting duty, but he had offered to stick around longer while they tried to figure out what to do about Coop. Then, after another brief conversation with Andy providing updates, Prue came to rejoin the others in the attic and was now sitting by the table working on a vanquishing spell for the demon. Plus one, if things didn't go according to plan.
"Too bad we're not the masters at cloaking ourselves from them," Paige rolled her eyes, continuing to fill vials with Power of Three potions. "I, for one, would love to be invisible to them. Speaking of which, too bad your kid," she winked at Prue, "couldn't just lend that power over to the rest of us."
"Yeah, well," Phoebe retorted, "I, for one, refuse to do nothing and just count on what's her face to pull a magic trick out of her demon hat," she cracked.
"It's only been a few hours," Prue reminded her.
"A few hours too many," Phoebe shot back.
"Honey, it's going to be ok," Paige tried offering more support. "I promise."
"Is it?" Phoebe challenged, "Because I know she's going to end up making it worse somehow, I just know it," she expressed her doubts about Lana. "I'm telling you, we should've just sent her packing back to where she came from. For good this time."
"But is that what Coop would have wanted," Prue pointed out, trying to get her sister to see it differently.
"Hey, if she gets him killed, it's not going to matter very much what Coop wanted," Phoebe protested, "now will it."
"Phoebe, I don't think that's going to happen," Prue refuted it.
"Really, and what crystal ball are you gazing into that we haven't seen because I can't even get a lousy premonition on where this demon is," Phoebe argued, her frustration clearly visible as she waved her hands around.
Prue looked away.
"Finished the potions," Paige announced, waving a couple vials in her hands. Hopefully, this wouldn't erupt into any argument. They needed to remain focused.
"Good," Prue nodded, while standing. "I think I came up with a Power of Three spell that should work." Then she paused. "And our backup," she held up, referencing the one they might need for Lana.
"Good!" Phoebe echoed, going over to her sister to retrieve it. "Can't believe we're even stuck doing this, we should be there for Piper right now," she shifted gears, feeling guilty their sister had to be alone. Technically, she did have Leo there, but could they never celebrate anything as a family without demon interference creeping in? It was like the births of Wyatt and Chris all over again.
Prue and Paige shared a brief look, they understood.
"Piper will be fine; she has Leo there with her," Paige tried to reassure her.
"Right," Prue jumped in, "besides, the sooner we get on this and save your guy," she added, " the sooner we can be there when Piper is ready for us."
Phoebe took a deep breath, calming herself down. "I know, you guys are right, but where do we even start? Scrying isn't working, again," she stressed, acknowledging this wasn't the first time they'd encountered that problem.
"Well, when Andy called back, he told me Richardson's in custody, but he won't give up anything on this demon or where Coop may be right now," Prue shared.
"And the locator spell didn't pick up any location in the Underworld," Phoebe voiced.
"Well, maybe he's not in the Underworld," Paige suggested.
A voice interrupted. "He's not."
All three sisters spun around and were confronted by Lana.
x
"JD, duck!" Billie yelled as she shoved him aside, her frozen spell now broken.
The darklighter's arrow flew inches from her arm, barely missing her. Next, Marco released a huge energy ball in Billie and JD's direction, intent on taking them both out. Using her telekinesis, she directed the energy ball back in the direction of one of the darklighter's, who narrowly escaped it by orbing out.
Victor, stuck in the crossfire, kept vigilant, not sure exactly what to do. He quickly darted behind the couch, trying to remain out of sight.
The darklighter orbed in behind Billie, grabbing her and then throwing her through the air until she crashed into the grandfather clock, smashing it to pieces. Landing in the debris, she rolled over trying to quickly gain her bearings.
"No!" JD reacted, witnessing the assault. Quickly, he ran to assist Billie.
Jarad took advantage of the distraction. Summoning his crossbow, he aimed it at JD's back and shot. The arrow was inches away from reaching JD when a figure darted in between, taking the arrow instead. It was Victor.
Billie's eyes widened in shock.
Now both on alert, Billie and JD were scrambling to their feet when Marco got angry and reacted to the mortal's interference. He summoned a huge energy ball again, this time aiming it at Victor, who was scrunching his face in pain and holding onto his side where the arrow had hit.
"No, don't!" Billie shouted, moving to intervene but was a second off the mark.
Suddenly, Victor was struck and catapulted through the air just before Billie was able to send Marco flying back. He smashed into the fireplace while Victor unfortunately went crashing through the living room window. Instantly doing the next best thing, Billie closed her eyes and projected a safe landing for the man.
"Oh my god!" Billie covered her mouth.
JD orbed out.
"HEY!" another voice was now on the scene.
Then, two potion vials were flying through the air until they hit the darklighters in the chest. Next, Billie witnessed them grabbing onto their heads. Slowly, they lit up in flames and then burst. Marco and Billie turned to see the new arrivals on the scene. It was the sisters, but they weren't alone.
X
San Francisco Memorial Hospital
Piper was panicking. She was trying really hard not to, but she couldn't help it. Something was wrong and it was nothing magic could fix. And Leo. Where was he? He hadn't returned yet either. Something else had to have happened.
The medical team was prepping her for the surgery.
She wished her sisters could be here.
Unexpectedly, she felt a hand slip into her own. Her eyes quickly shifted, and then a smile broke across her face.
"Leo," she sighed, relieved.
He was dressed in scrubs. "I'm here," he told her.
X
The Manor
The three sisters stood in the attic, confronting Lana.
"Okay, so where is he?" Phoebe demanded, stepping forward. "You said you had a plan, well, I don't see a Cupid."
"He's safe," Lana delivered.
Phoebe's eyebrows shot up. "Safe," she repeated. "And we're just supposed to take your word for it? I don't think so."
"Yes, like I said, safe," Lana stressed.
"Well, it's been three hours, you're going to need to give us more than that," Phoebe challenged her.
"Where's your father?" Paige narrowed her eyes, jumping in. "I take it you were able to track him if you know that Coop is safe."
Prue came to stand between her two sisters. "Yeah, he's got a gift waiting for him," she cracked, holding up the vanquishing spell.
Lana's eyes shot between all three sisters. "He's ... handled," she settled on.
"Handled?" Phoebe's eyes narrowed, trying to read her body language. "Yeah, I don't believe you," she reacted, going for one of the potion vials and aiming it at her.
"Wait!" Prue grabbed her arm, stopping her sister.
All of a sudden, an interruption with the sound of loud crashing and shouts could be heard coming from the bottom floor. Prue, Phoebe, and Paige all looked at each other. They were pretty much drawing the same conclusions.
"No," Phoebe was in denial, shaking her head. "It couldn't be that easy."
Had Lana lured him here?
"Only one way to find out," Prue jumped on it, as she quickly made a move to exit the attic. "Paige, don't forget the potions," she reminded her.
"On it," she was quickly gathering them from the table and then rushed to catch up.
As they all reached the first-floor landing, they witnessed JD orbing out and Billie in a clear confrontation with two darklighters and the demon.
"HEY!" Paige shouted out, instantly throwing two potions at the two darklighters. On impact, they grabbed their heads and then exploded.
"Goodbye to you," Phoebe cracked as she and Prue ran over to Paige.
Next, Prue moved over to Billie. Reaching for her, she asked, "Hey, you okay?" came the concern.
She still felt a little shaky. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Billie nodded quickly, shoving some hair behind her ears. Sadly, she didn't know if the same could be said for Victor though.
All of them turned to face the remaining demon in the room.
x
Leo squeezed Piper's hand.
"Bleeding contained," they heard the voice of a nurse announce.
Piper took a deep breath.
"Okay, Piper, you may feel some pressure, that's normal," the doctor told her.
Piper nodded.
x
Marco eyed the witches with suspicion, questioning their next moves, but his uncertainty vanished as soon as he saw who was with them. His scowl turned into a sneer.
"What are you smiling at," Phoebe interrogated.
"Your blind stupidity," he nodded back at them. Quickly and without much time for anybody to react, he produced two huge identical fireballs in his hands and released them in the direction of the sisters.
Without very much effort, Prue used a hand to wave one away from them, and it turned, heading in the direction of a table stand, setting a vase of flowers on fire. Paige called out and sent the second one flying away, and it lit up the window curtains surrounding the broken window. This provided the demon with enough of a distraction to shimmer out and then shimmer back in beside Lana.
Billie caught it. "Behind you!" she yelled the warning.
Prue, Phoebe, and Paige spun around.
An energy ball was hurdling at Phoebe full speed, so she jumped up and levitated into the air, the energy ball passing underneath her. Unfortunately, the tiny scroll with the spell written on it that she had shoved in her pocket went flying too.
Lana found herself in a standoff with the sisters, her father by her side.
"This is it," Marco got cocky.
Lana brought her hands to the sides of her temple.
Billie grew concerned. "Lana, what are you doing?" she questioned, hoping the other girl wasn't about to do what it looked like she was about to do.
Betray them.
"Phoebe, the spell!" Prue didn't even hesitate. Shooting her eyes to her sister, she caught Phoebe frantically searching her pockets for it.
"Uh, problem," she announced nervously, glancing between Prue and Paige.
Marco laughed. "Finish it!" he ordered his daughter.
x
Squeezing her eyes tightly, Piper certainly felt the pressure.
"Almost there," the doctor encouraged.
Amongst the frenzied medical talk in the room, Piper tried zoning out and picturing only the face of her daughter in her mind's eye. The little girl she had seen in that place, with her brown hair, the freckles, and the wide smile.
"Mommy," she heard the voice again and smiled to herself.
Before she knew it, she heard the sound of a baby crying and her eyes shot back open. Piper let out a cry of relief, smiling, as the tears finally came.
A baby was being placed on her chest.
Leo kissed her forehead.
x
Prue and Paige shared a quick look.
"I don't have it," Phoebe let them know.
Paige turned to Phoebe. "Excuse me?" her eyes went wide. "That isn't funny."
"Does it look like I'm laughing," Phoebe retorted.
Lana had tapped into her firepower, creating a wall of fire between her and the sisters with her father and herself on one side and Billie and the sisters on the other. Marco stepped forward, reaching his hand out before the blaze.
"Let's make history," he mocked, believing that in mere seconds he'd be able to take credit for eliminating most of the Charmed Ones.
"Forget that," Prue decided, "just start saying the spell," she instructed of the one to be used against the other demon. With any luck, it would handle Lana too.
Huddling closer, the sisters banded together and began to recite the spell.
With her father enthralled and distracted, Lana made her move. Turning, she shifted focus, and her attention went to Marco.
"What are you doing," he demanded to know when he caught her actions.
The wall of fire dropped between her and the sisters and instead, it was now redirected with a fire barrier being placed between herself and her father. Confused, the sisters stopped chanting and observed whatever it was Lana was doing.
"No, don't stop the spell," she ordered, bringing her hands back to her temple and concentrating on what she needed to do next.
The sisters began to recite.
"LANA!" Marco shouted, pummeling his fists, clearly not having anticipated this betrayal he was now experiencing.
"In this night, and in this hour, we call upon this evil to expire," the sisters were chanting again as Lana concentrated really hard on sending her firepower. "We, the power of three, set this evil free, through space and time, to a destiny confined."
Lana stepped back.
Marco had erupted in flames, courtesy of his own daughter, he was screaming and issuing her threats. Next, with the completion of the spell, he exploded. He was vanquished, for good. No longer a Triad, there would be no resurrection for him.
When it was all over, the sisters were a little surprised.
"That was your plan all along, wasn't it," Phoebe finally concluded. "To let him think you wanted his help to double-cross us."
Lana gave a nod.
"But I don't understand, how did you get around hurting Coop if ..." Phoebe began questioning when a flash drew all of their attention.
It was Coop. He had teleported in.
x
Piper and Leo gazed down into the face of their newborn daughter.
"Hey there, Melinda," Piper greeted through her tears. "You sure gave mommy a scare there for a bit," she told her in a baby voice.
Leo kissed the baby's head and then kissed Piper.
The medical team worked to stitch Piper back up and were soon ready to move her out of the Maternity OR.
It was time for some rest.
x
Phoebe couldn't even express the weight she felt lifted off her shoulders in that very moment. It was Coop, standing there with a big wide grin, looking the same; you would never know he had been in any trouble at all.
"Hi," Coop greeted.
"Oh my god, Coop, thank god," Phoebe praised as she ran straight into his waiting arms.
"I don't get it," Paige expressed the confusion she was still feeling. "How did you get away now when you couldn't before?"
Coop and Phoebe pulled apart.
"I didn't," Coop sighed, "at least, not without some help," he acknowledged Lana, nodding over at her.
(Flashback - 3 hours earlier)
Coop fell to the floor with a loud thud.
Marco grew angry. "What are you doing, just finish him!" he demanded.
"No, what we need is patience," she insisted, turning around to confront him. "We have a chance to use him first to rid ourselves of the others," she tried selling.
Groaning, Marco shook his head. "No, I need this to look like the mortal did it!" he argued. "This can't be traced back to us or the Underworld."
"And I'll take care of it!" Lana's eyes went wide.
He looked like he wanted to argue further.
"Look, what better way to come out in the Underworld together than to outshine the Triad by taking out the Charmed Ones ourselves? And Billie and JD. They're vulnerable right now, Piper's in the hospital," she relayed to her demon father what Billie had found out after Leo had called everyone. Hopefully, that tactic would work.
"And how do you propose we do that?" Marco finally bought in.
"JD is out of the Magic School," she revealed, "which means he's no longer protected. Start with him. I'll use the Cupid to lure the others out."
"Yeah, and how do I find him?"
A sneer spread across Lana's face. "I know a darklighter or two who could help with that."
Marco returned the sneer with one of his own.
"Now go, hurry up!" she instructed.
Marco shimmered out. After he was gone, Lana released the deepest breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding in. Kneeling, she touched Coop. Together they shimmered out of the apartment, and she brought them to the same abandoned cabin she had gone to with JD when they had escaped her father's clutches.
"Okay," she muttered, glancing down at his wrist, where the cuff was still magically sealed in place. Waving her hand, it disappeared.
Coop awoke with a start.
Lana backed away, giving him space.
Confused, Coop brought his hand up to the back of his head. It was still sore, and he was experiencing one hell of a headache. He didn't understand what was going on. When he brought his arm back down, he noticed the cuff blocking his magic had been removed. Turning his head, he looked back at Lana.
Without saying anything, she sheepishly met his gaze.
"You didn't kill me," he stated to her, a little shocked.
"I never planned on killing you," Lana told him honestly. "It's supposed to be a distraction until the others can come up with a plan to vanquish him," she referred to Billie and the Charmed Ones taking Marco out. "Although," she sighed, "you were never supposed to actually get caught. I had to improvise."
After listening, Coop nodded slowly. "So, you know who I am," he broached the topic in a very cautious manner, taking his time to stand up.
Lana nodded. "Yeah," she admitted. "And now I need to get back to Billie and the others," she shared with him. "But you'll need to wait just a little longer."
"Why?" he wanted to know.
"Because he needs to believe I'm really helping him, that I'm taking care of things," Lana settled on. "When it's safe to return, I'll tap in and channel it back to you here."
Coop wanted to just teleport out and find Phoebe, but he understood the situation. Instead, he nodded once, giving his consent.
(Flashback Ends)
Not liking the attention she was receiving, Lana looked away, clearing her throat.
Swallowing her pride, Phoebe slid her arms back around Coop's waist and hugged him close. "Thank you," she offered her gratitude with sincerity.
"Yeah, I guess we owe you an apology after all," Paige spoke next, acknowledging that Lana had come through and pulled it off.
Without saying anything, Lana accepted with a nod.
"So, hey, not to break up the reunion celebration so soon," Paige cut in, shifting gears, "but, uh, what exactly happened there," she was pointing at the broken living room window. "Cause, that's got to be a record Halliwell first," she voiced, thinking that during all the years the Manor had been under attack, the window facing the front yard had thankfully never been an issue.
"Victor!" Billie announced, with everybody turning to look at her.
"What?" Phoebe instantly reacted, "Oh my god, Dad," she was dashing towards the front door.
Everybody else was in tow.
Leading the charge, both Prue and Phoebe ran to the front lawn first only to find Victor, alive and well. Suddenly, there was nothing but confusion. He wasn't injured; there wasn't a scratch on him.
Victor was standing next to JD.
"Okay, somebody want to explain what's going on here," Phoebe's eyes darted from the broken window, shattered glass everywhere, back to the two guys.
"You're not hurt," Prue voiced their observations.
Paige and Billie met up with the others.
"Not anymore!" Victor announced, patting JD on the back.
Everyone shot their attention to JD.
Billie and JD exchanged a smile. He must have orbed out and made it to Victor in time so he could heal him. That was a big deal for him, she knew it, recalling how insecure JD was about helping to heal Prue back when the darklighter shot her. He felt like a failure because of the one time he hadn't been able to save someone. Running over to him, she threw her arms around him in a hug.
"Hey, looks like I finally got it right this time," he cracked, holding onto her.
"Yeah, great job, kid," Victor praised him, patting him on the back one last time before moving away and having Phoebe launching herself into his arms. "Really, I'm ok," he reassured his youngest daughter.
"Still, that's why you shouldn't have been here," Phoebe pulled back, lightly scolding him for sticking around longer.
"Phoebe, the demons can find me anywhere," Victor subtly reminded her of the times they had just shown up in his apartment. Or even his hotel room, years back. The shapeshifters hadn't been all too concerned with location if getting to him meant he could be used to get to his daughters, The Charmed Ones.
Phoebe still wanted to argue. "I know but that doesn't mean you should put yourself in the crossfire."
"Okay, got it, so am I done with my lashing for the day," Victor couldn't help but joke.
Smirking, Phoebe stepped away.
"We're just glad you're ok," Prue cut in.
"Yes, me too," Victor nodded back at her. "Thank you," he returned as Prue stepped forward and they hugged next.
"So, how are we going to explain that" Paige waved at the huge broken window visible for all the neighbors and passersby to see.
Prue answered for her. "Well, our handyman will have to get right on it," she threw out, then reconsidered it. "Wait, does Leo even still do that kind of work," she thought to ask.
"Barely," Paige rolled her eyes playfully, as the entire group of them turned around to return inside the Manor where Coop and Lana had remained.
"I say we use a spell to fix it, screw the personal gain rule, I mean, technically that window fell under demonic attack," Billie cracked.
"Billie!" they all voiced in unison, playfully scolding her for the suggestion.
X
San Francisco Memorial Hospital
The sisters arrived after receiving word that Piper had finally delivered.
Victor told the girls to go first. He would stop by later. Billie decided to return to the Magic School, with JD and Lana, promising to check in on Piper later on. Coop, curious to see where his new familial relationship with his niece might go, chose to make the trip back with them to the school. The others had waited out leaving for the hospital until they were told both Piper and the baby were doing well and up for visitors.
At the hospital, the sisters were all currently in the waiting area.
Realizing that cramping everybody into one tiny hospital room wouldn't be the most ideal, Leo had arranged to wheel Piper out with the baby to see them. Prue had Molly by her side while Phoebe and Paige were each tending to the boys.
Suddenly, Piper and Leo came into view.
Phoebe bent down. "Look, there's mommy and daddy and your new baby sister," she was at eye-level with Wyatt.
Paige smiled, holding onto Chris.
As Leo pushed Piper closer, the gang came in to gather around.
Prue lifted her daughter into her arms.
"Hey," Piper greeted her sisters with a tired smile.
"Oh, honey, you look exhausted," Paige observed. "And understandably so, you know we could have waited until you got more rest."
"No, don't be silly," Piper waved the suggestion off.
"So, how are you," Phoebe asked. "Really," she stressed.
"Well, it was touch and go there for a minute, but everything worked out ok," Piper admitted. "That's all that matters," she sighed. "Hi you guys," she then put on a big smile for the boys.
"Hi Mommy," Wyatt smiled.
"How did it go?" Piper jumped right in wanting to know the outcome of the situation regarding Coop.
"Honey ... " Leo gently chided.
"All taken care of," Phoebe immediately tried to put the issue to rest. "Nothing for you to worry about."
"Coop is ... " Piper trailed off.
"Safe," Phoebe nodded. "Back home where he belongs."
"And the demon," Piper shot her eyes between all her sisters.
"Gone," Prue answered. "For good."
Piper appeared relieved about that. It was one less demon to worry about.
"And Richardson, his pesky partner in crime, is out of the way too," Paige nodded, sharing the news on that front. "For now, anyway," she added.
"We even had a little extra help we weren't exactly counting on," Prue brought it up about Lana.
"What does that mean?" Piper was curious.
"Meaning," Phoebe sighed, "it looks like you might have been right about Lana, Leo," she addressed her brother-in-law. "She isn't a threat anymore."
Offering a faint smile, Leo didn't feel he needed to say anything else.
Piper nodded. There was a brief pause. "So, I guess you three make a pretty good team, then, huh," she smirked. Prue, Phoebe, and Paige already had to learn to work alone together after Piper's accident.
The other three sisters shared looks with one another.
"Eh, we aren't too shabby if I do say so myself, right ladies," Paige teased back, addressing Prue and Phoebe. "Now, enough with all the demon shop talk," she scolded their sister playfully. "We came here for you and somebody else today," she nodded at her and then toward the baby.
Shifting her gaze, Piper smiled down at her daughter resting in her arms.
Leaning over, Prue got a better look. "Oh, she's so cute," she complimented.
"Hi, Melinda, it's your Aunt Phoebe," Phoebe said in her baby voice. "Welcome to the family."
"And don't forget your Aunt Paige over here," Paige teased.
Piper smirked. "Or your Aunt Prue," she added into the mix, recalling a time when they grieved for a future that could never be. "It wouldn't be quite the same if she didn't get to be part of your life, all our lives," she told her newborn daughter.
Appreciatively, Prue reached out for Piper's hand. She smiled. "I love you too," she said, "all of you," she acknowledged the others as well.
Prue had been gone, they had believed her to be killed and there had been no way for Melinda, for any of them, to exist inside that future world anymore but now their sister was back. It would be a different future with Melinda, but Prue would still get to be a part of it. They would all get to be a part of Prue's future.
And they were determined to make sure Prue lived to have one.
The Halliwell clan each took turns getting to know the newest member of the family leaving everything else behind them for another day.
To Be Continued ...
As always, thank you for reading and please review if you can. I appreciate them. I hope whoever read enjoyed this newest chapter. I will be back with a new chapter when I finish and I'm able.
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