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“A Black And White Christmas”
Written by copyright November 2000 Dedication This story is dedicated to Christina Jo, my sweet angel. Someone I have come to know and hold very precious. One who has shown me the courage and determination to never give up. She is not only an inspiration to me, but to others that she has touched. I hope that she continues to be my little angel! This is my gift to her. Keep the gift of hope shining deep within your heart. “Success is
failure turned inside out-
Charmed and the characters
within this story, as well as the logo, are the copyrighted property of
Spelling Television and the WB, Paramount/Viacom corporation. Infringement
on these rights is not intentional. This story is not for use for sale.
The department store in the late afternoon was filled with anxious and temperamental Christmas shoppers, who were busy trying to pick up that special gift for their loved ones. It was only five days before Christmas and it looked like all of San Francisco was out in the city shopping, including two of the Halliwell sisters, and a very confused Whitelighter.
Prue looked at Leo and felt a little twinge of pity when she saw his face. She was glad in a way that she wasn’t the only one Piper dragged along to help with her shopping. Funny that it was Piper who still had Christmas shopping to do, Prue thought it would have been Phoebe who would be running around from store to store trying to find the last minute presents. Phoebe this year got all her holiday shopping done right after Thanksgiving. It was Piper who now picked up Phoebe’s habit, acting like your typical hairy carry shopping.
Prue and Leo just stood there grinning at each other as Piper resumed her shopping. Piper walked off to a table that held pastel blouses that were currently on sale. Prue and Leo trailed behind her as if they were her servants, trying to keeping Piper constantly in sight in the fear of loosing her in this crowd of holiday shoppers. It was funny how it turned out that Piper was the only Halliwell not finished with all her Christmas shopping. Prue would have thought that Phoebe had some shopping left to do. Phoebe would have been the one running around trying desperately to find gifts for everyone but being sidetracked into buying items for herself. Prue herself had done her shopping over periods of time when her photo shoots for 519 Magazine was finished. Phoebe had done hers right after Thanksgiving, when the holiday shopping rush officially started. ‘I guess it helps when a certain Assistant DA goes out shopping with you’ Prue thought to herself. ‘I guess that’s why Pheebs is at home relaxing and why she is stuck now running after her middle sister.’ The only reason Prue agreed to go with Piper was that she herself had to buy a replacement gift for Phoebe, but that wasn’t her fault. The last demon they vanquished, two weeks earlier had crushed the beautifully gift wrapped box that held a handmade wood inlay music box for her little sister. So now, she had to start all over again, finding …or trying to find a gift that her little sister would like. Prue had looked up from her daydream, in time to see Piper and Leo walk off in the distance, and hurried thru the aisle to catch up with them. She will have to get Phoebe something that will eventually catch her eye in this department store.
The Halliwell manor was like a picture perfect Christmas card, in the way it was decorated. It wasn’t the gaudy multi-colored lights and plastic Christmas statues decorations, like some of the houses down the block, but a simple design that invited one warmly inside the manor. The white lights trimmed all the edges of the eaves and windows; electric lighted candles placed in every front window and a red ribboned evergreen wreath on the door, which welcomed anyone inside that stood in front of it. Inside the manor was just as inviting, or even more so, with finely decorated 7 foot Douglas fir tree in the corner, next to the crackling fire, that Phoebe had started in anticipation of her sisters arrival home, and the house smelled like freshly backed gingerbread cookies. Even the living room looked like the background for a photo studio’s Christmas layout. ‘Just the right amount of Christmas decorations and not over done with too much commercialism. Exactly the way I like it!’ Phoebe thought to herself, while lighting a few candles so that she could turn off the living room light. Phoebe had everything ready for her sisters’ return. On the table was a plate full of baked cookies that Piper had made the day earlier, just for tonight’s activities. Stacked next to the cookies were four Christmas videos the sisters had picked out to watch tonight. Everyone had a chance to pick their favorite Christmas video, even Leo, who was going to join them as a thank you gift for helping out Piper tonight. Prue’s favorite movie that she had picked was the 1970’s movie, “Scrooge”, one of many versions of A Christmas Carol. It was a color movie musical about Scrooge, set in England, with Albert Finney playing the role of Scrooge and Alec Guinness as Bob Marley. Prue had said that all the other new ones were just mere imitations of that version. It was the movie she loved watching as a kid, and one that Grams loved watching over and over again at Christmas. Piper always like romantic comedies, no matter what the season, and since there weren’t too many Christmas romantic comedies made, she chose “While You Were Sleeping”, the romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock. Phoebe remembered arguing with Piper that this wasn’t a Christmas movie but Piper reminded Phoebe that it had a Christmas theme in it and besides, it was her choice. In the movie, Sandra’s character gets invited to celebrate Christmas with a family that thinks she is their son’s fiancee. She eventually falls in love with his brother. Phoebe finally gave into Piper and agreed that it had somewhat of a Christmas theme to it. Leo had chosen another Christmas video that all three Halliwells instantly agreed on. His movie “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” was the only pick that made the girls really feel like they were little kids again. At the store, Prue had asked Leo how he knew about the Grinch since that movie wasn’t around in his childhood. He explained that before he met the sisters that he was protecting Whitelighter to be and saw part of the movie while he was on one of those assignments. But it was Phoebe’s pick that she desperately wanted to see now. It was her favorite movie when she was younger and remembered watching it for the first time all snuggled up with her favorite blanket, on Gram’s lap. Grams had made some cookies and hot chocolate just for her. ‘Not the one made from a pouch either!’ Phoebe thought. It was hard for her waiting until Leo and her sisters would come home. Phoebe held the videotape in her hands, it was “It’s A Wonderful Life”, the original black and white version. ‘Yeah, I could have gotten the colorized version but it wouldn’t feel the same way when she first saw it with Grams.’ She thought. Phoebe stood there trying to decide if she should wait for her sisters or just start without them, and maybe watch the tape over again when they came home. ‘I can’t wait any longer and I’m bored.’ She said out loud.
Phoebe popped in the tape and turned off all the lights, so that the only illumination in the room was from the Christmas tree lights and the fire in the fireplace. Snuggling into place under the blanket, she clicked on the remote to the VCR. Anticipating the warm feeling she got by watching this old movie again. As Phoebe continued watching the old movie, she wondered if Leo could have been their Clarence, the guardian angel for George. She decided that angels and Whitelighters had to be two different things, but similar as to where they come from. Phoebe went back into a haze enjoying the rest of the movie.
The aisles in the department store were packed with grumpy and hurried holiday shoppers, so that Piper wasn’t the only exception. The only ones that looked out of place here were Leo and Prue. They stood a few meters away from Piper, looking like two scarecrows fending off the buzz of people around them.
The table that she had pointed to held a one-day only sale sign, for men’s silk ties. The sale must have been going good, since there were only a few remaining. Piper wanted to get some for the guys that worked at P3 as a present. “And I see the perfect one on top!” Piper said, rushing over to the table to get it. Prue and Leo just tiredly trailed behind her. They were thinking how good it would be back relaxing in the manor, with Phoebe, sipping hot chocolate and watching the movies they rented. Piper was just close enough to the table, when another woman picked up the exact tie Piper wanted to purchase, and took it with her. Frustrated and a little enraged, Piper raised her hands out of reflex, to freeze time. Prue and Leo knew what was going to happen next if they didn’t try to stop her. “PIPER!!!!” They both yelled out in unison. Piper turned quickly around to look at her sister and Leo. Not only did Piper look at them but the shoppers around them as well, expecting to see why someone was yelling excitedly someone’s name. Piper not only looked embarrassed but angry.
Leo came up to her and gave her a warm caring hug. Something that Piper at this moment needed.
Once again, Piper headed off to find the last gifts for the people on her list. And once again Leo and Prue trailed behind her like trained dogs following their master. Both were dreaming and hoping that this torture would end soon.
It was all quiet through the Halliwell manor, except the sounds of the television playing Phoebe’s movie. She was totally relaxed and in a hazy daydream state trying to picture herself in George’s shoes. It was close to the middle of the movie, in which George Bailey lost the money from the Bailey Building and Loan Company and was running around town in dire straits. He finally ends at the bridge contemplating on taking his own life, when out of the blue, a man falls into the river. George not stopping to think, jumps in to save him. They both get warmed and comforted in a watchman’s office. It is here that George finds out that Clarence is and angel. George blurts out that he wishes he had never been born. No cares, no worries, no troubles and everything new, as if someone wiped a clean slate that was George Bailey’s life. This got Phoebe thinking to herself, and suddenly said out loud…’What if.’ She dozed off to sleep thinking about that question, as the movie continued playing. “What if what, Phoebe?” The gentle old man standing next to Phoebe asked. Startling her out of her sleep, Phoebe jumped up quickly and readied herself with one of her karate kicks to his mid-section. He stood there holding up his hands, smiling at her, and not at all worried about being injured. Phoebe froze. She couldn’t go through with the rest of her kick. It wasn’t that there was a spell or any magic that was used against her, but that this elderly man had piercing gentle eyes that stopped her in her tracks. “Who are you?” she asked hesitantly.
Phoebe was still in a little shock, which was pictured, on her face. She was trying to make heads or tails of this new stranger in the manor. Was he a demon or warlock out to get her, or… Something that she couldn’t answer at this moment.
He just stood there and smiled, which confirmed the question she just asked. Phoebe was trying to run through her head as to what question she asked that Samuel was referring to. Then it dawned on her. It was when she saw in the movie, that George said he never wanted to be born. She had just pondered out loud a question that she really wasn’t expecting an answer, let alone an answer from an angel. “All I asked was…What if.” Phoebe answered.
Phoebe knew all to well what quick judgments can bring and to be careful what she wished for. It was a trap that the sisters had experienced several months earlier with a genie granting the sisters wishes. And here was Samuel almost asking the same thing. Phoebe definitely didn’t want to hastily make a decision. The seconds felt like minutes while she stood there trying to come to the decision to tell Samuel the last part of her question. What ever the circumstances she had to try what was nagging her head these past few months when the Triad started coming at them with renewed gusto. She wanted to feel safe again and to live a somewhat normal life.
After Phoebe had made the decision to try, Samuel told her what would then happen. First, to show Phoebe the result of her wish, he explained that she wouldn’t be the actual person going back in time, but a mere observer. Then, she wouldn’t be noticed by anyone except Samuel. She would be actually viewing her own life if she didn’t happen to move to San Francisco. Samuel also granted Phoebe to view her other self’s thoughts and emotions, as well as her sisters, so that she can experience what it would be like to actually go through. She would just be in a corporeal state, a spirit. Then when she has viewed the life that has yet to be then she can decide if she truly wishes to live that life. Samuel once again asked Phoebe if she wanted to redo her life. That she might like what is shown to her. Looking around the Halliwell manor, Phoebe took in a deep breath and shook her head in agreement. It happened in a flash and felt like rush of wind as the experience started. They were both transported to the small apartment that Phoebe rented when she lived in New York,…or was it as she was living in New York. Everything was as she remembered it. The Phoebe’s apartment had only three rooms, a bathroom, bedroom and a living/kitchenette area. It was all she could afford on her salary. Phoebe looked at Samuel with a questioning on her face. “Are we waiting for something or someone?” She asked. “Yes, for you to come home from work.” He said solemnly. It was then that Phoebe heard the apartment door opening. She held a look of shock as she came face to face with her former self. She felt this Phoebe’s loneliness and the exhaustion, as she walked through the threshold. This Phoebe looked like she had a tuff day at work.
The Phoebe from the future that stood next to Samuel struggled to keep the tears from running down her cheeks. She asked for this and she hoped that it only could get better. The other Phoebe sat down and started to read her mail. Mixed in with the pile of bills, Phoebe found a letter from Piper. This she opened quickly, since it might be the only good news she had in weeks. The future Phoebe walked up to herself to view the letter over her shoulder. The past Phoebe started to read to herself. In it Piper wrote how she was doing and everything that was going on with her and Jeremy. She also wrote, in the letter, how Prue was doing, and that Piper missed Phoebe, wishing that she would move back to San Francisco in the manor with them. Past Phoebe and present Phoebe felt a deep pang to go home, but past Phoebe also didn’t want to go home to Prue in defeat. She could hear Prue say to her now; ‘So, you couldn’t make it out in New York. I knew that you never applied yourself long enough to anything to get anywhere in life.’ She sat there trying to decide to take up Piper on the offer to move back home. The loss of Phoebe’s job today gave her no sense of direction and the possibility of moving back home and starting all over appealed to Phoebe. She sat there for a few minutes deciding what she should do next. The present or future Phoebe encouraged this Phoebe to stay in New York, to work things through before going home in defeat. “Remember she can’t hear or see you.” Samuel said to the translucent Phoebe.
Phoebe put down Piper’s letter and picked up the phone. She dialed 1-800-callcollect, hoping that Piper would accept the charges call. She knew at this time of evening Piper would be at home and Prue was still in her office at the museum. Piper had picked up the call after the second ring and accepted the charges from Phoebe Halliwell. “Phoebe, is anything wrong?” Piper asked excitedly.
Phoebe and Samuel stood off to the side listening to the rest of the phone conversation that this New York Phoebe had with Piper. The conversation now centered on Piper and her relationship with Jeremy, and Phoebe promising to call back again to give Piper the latest news. After hanging up, Phoebe just sat there being depressed. She looked at the bills she had to pay before she even thought of going back to San Francisco. ‘I’ll show Prue that I have some kind of direction in my life’ she said out loud to herself. Then went off to the kitchenette to make her something to eat for dinner.
Once again she moved with a flash and a slight rush of wind to end up standing in the hallway of Halliwell manor. Phoebe could hear it raining heavily outside and that it was late evening. Moving into the dining room she saw Prue standing on a ladder trying to fix the chandelier, without any luck. The front door opened loudly as Piper entered the room. The raindrops trickling down her jacket as she put her umbrella and coat on the hook in the hallway. Future Phoebe suddenly remembered that this was the evening that she came back home.
Prue and Piper head off to the kitchen finishing the conversation. Prue tells Piper that a package came today from Jeremy. Piper opens it to find the special port wine that she needed to complete her recipe for her interview tomorrow. Prue comments that Piper has one special boyfriend there that he would sent her a bottle of wine. It is then that Piper sees the spirit board next to her on the table. She picks it up and asks Prue about it. Prue said she found it while looking for a ladder to repair the chandelier. Piper reads the inscription.
Piper was going to mention that she talked to Phoebe yesterday, and offered Phoebe the extra bedroom in the manor, but decided not to since Prue wasn’t in a very good mood tonight. Anyways, Phoebe said that she wanted to stay out in New York, so why bother even mentioning it. Future Phoebe felt a twinge of regret as she saw the scene in front of her. She actually saw and heard how Prue felt about her the day she returned from New York. There wasn’t much conversation between Prue and herself that first day. Prue was going to make it an early night so Piper went off to the kitchen to make something light to eat. As she was preparing her meal she turned on the small white TV. The late night news had a special report about several women being killed and this latest was the third stabbing in two weeks. Piper then saw her boyfriend Jeremy in the background, and smiled. He worked for the San Francisco Chronicle and must be there reporting on it. Phoebe remembered that this was the same report that was on when she was in her bedroom in the manor when she arrived back home, now almost a lifetime ago. She realized that Jeremy was the warlock that was killing all those women and now tried to say something but looked to Samuel, who shook his head. There was nothing she could do in this state. She wanted to protect her sister against Jeremy. Phoebe remembered just then that he only killed good witches and since she didn’t come home, Piper and Prue should be safe.
With another flash and rush of wind they were off again. This time Phoebe and Samuel appeared in the museum’s warehouse, where Prue is seen cataloging the Beals artifacts. Roger approaches Prue and tells her that the museum committee has taken the Beals project off Prue’s hands and assigned someone else to direct it. He then goes to tell her that they have given it to him and made an excuse that they were going to give it to an outsider. So it was he rather than any outside interloper that should head up the project. Prue is visibly upset and walks away from Roger.
They were off in a flash again before Phoebe got a chance to answer his question. This time they appeared in a large kitchen and Piper was cooking something over the stove. Samuel and Phoebe stood over to one side of the room.
Piper was busy cooking up the menu when Chef Moore strolled into the kitchen telling her times up. Piper started to protest that she needed a few more minutes. Chef Moore picked up her menu card and read; roast pork with catone Florentine fennel and penne with a port giblet sauce. He picked up a fork to try the penne and explained that without the port it was a mere recipe found in a woman’s magazine. Piper stood there panicking. Poor Piper, Phoebe thought. This must be where she first used her powers. “I didn’t have time to add the port.” Piper told Chef Moore.
Piper was devastated she lost the job. It was one of her dreams to become a chef and own her own restaurant someday. She left the restaurant, only taking the port wine that Jeremy gave her. Phoebe and Samuel followed her out. She headed to a phone booth. Piper tried getting a hold of Prue, with no luck. She needed someone to talk to right now to lift her spirits. As she turned to leave she bumped into Jeremy, who was waiting for outside the phone booth. He told her it would be all right and that he would cheer her up by taking her out to dinner tonight. Piper agreed to meet with Jeremy later that night and headed off for home. Samuel then took Phoebe back to the museum. They appeared just behind Prue as she walked into Roger’s office. His back was to the door as he was on the phone. He was bragging to someone on how he got to head up the entire Beals project and how he was the one that raised all the funds to purchase the collection. Saying the committee made the right choice in choosing him as their new director. Prue crosses her arms as Roger turns in his chair to see Prue standing in the doorway and hastily tells the person on the phone that he must go. Phoebe walks around Prue’s right hand side to notice how pissed off she is at Roger. She has only seen her sister this mad once. When Roger told Prue that Phoebe came on to him and gave him a kiss, where truthfully it was he himself who came on to her. Prue tells Roger that she quits and that he can sift through the tons of research and files on the Beals collection. Roger, as pathetic as he is, tries to smooth things out with Prue with not much avail. Phoebe laughs.
Prue storms out of his office with Roger dogging her from behind trying to change her mind but getting himself deeper in trouble by asking her if her emotions are going wild because she might still have feelings for him. He follows her to her office where she grabs her coat and purse and heads out the front doors.
Phoebe felt sorry for both her sisters and herself, back in New York. All three sisters didn’t have a job to go to. She wondered if all this was because she didn’t come back home to San Francisco. At least they were still alive and not being hunted by Demons or Warlocks. Samuel motioned to her that they must be moving along. They once again popped up in somewhat familiar surroundings. Phoebe couldn’t quite place the neighborhood they were in. They were standing in a quaint and peaceful neighborhood directly across from the alley. Phoebe saw two boys playing on roller blades trying to do little tricks by jumping and spiraling around. As if lightening struck her, she suddenly remembered that this is where she had her first premonition. She remembered seeing a car driving down the street striking down the boys as they bladed into the oncoming traffic. She stopped it the first time by heading into the boys narrowly missing the coming car. She quickly turned to Samuel with a look of fear in her eyes. He just pointed to the scene in front of him.
Phoebe started crying at the scene she saw in front of her. She rushed over trying to see if she could help only to remember that she couldn’t be seen. The scene was devastating. Neither of the boys were wearing helmets. The accident attracted a lot of people who instantly tried to help. She heard one man say that it was too late to help the one boy and that the other one shouldn’t be moved, if he had a back or neck injury. Phoebe stood there just staring as the ambulance took them away, with one being announced DOA. She fell to her knees and started bawling. This was just another change to the future that she caused. How many more innocents must die if she and her sisters weren’t around to protect them. Sure, she thought, she could protect her sisters from ever getting killed by demons but what about others? She learned an important lesson months ago while trying to save the world from the four horsemen, that the many out weight the few or one. Samuel came up to her from behind and laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder. It was extremely hard on Phoebe . She never before stood by and watched, where she could just helped. Samuel let her sit there a few minutes before telling her it was time to go again. Samuel brought her back to the manor. Her mood was very somber. She started to regret her decision to change her life as it was. If she changed so much history in one simple act, then what else did she change? They stood on the porch of Halliwell manor; Phoebe was waiting for the scene to unfold in front of her. It was evening, and it looked like someone was home inside though she didn’t know whom at this point. A car drove up in front of the house and Piper and Jeremy got out. Phoebe could hear Piper thanking him for the nice dinner and apologized for the lack of enthusiasm tonight. He told her that he fully understood and hoped that she felt better in the morning. Jeremy also offered to help her look for another job elsewhere. He gave her a hug and kissed her goodnight before turning to leave. As Piper walked into the hallway, she met Prue, who was already waiting for her to enter. Piper looked at her not saying a word.
“Prue, I had a rotten day. Nothing went right.” She answered. Piper proceeded to tell Prue about her day and that she was frustrated at what Chef Moore told her. Prue just stood the quietly listening; she was also in a somber mood. Once Piper was finished relating her day, Prue told Piper that she had some bad news as well and that Piper needed to sit down to hear it. Prue began to tell Piper what Roger had done to her. That he took all the credit for her hard work and was rewarded with the directorship of the whole collection. This upset Piper greatly.
“Looks like we’re both hitting the wanted ads tomorrow.” Piper said glumly. Future Phoebe watched as her sisters made their way up the stairs, heading towards their bedrooms. It looked like her sisters was going to make it an early night, so that they could get a head start in job hunting in the morning. Phoebe turned to Samuel, who motioned that they must leave again for another scene. This time Samuel took Phoebe to an unfamiliar place. It looked like an occult bookstore and it must have been close to closing since the beautiful girl behind the counter was cleaning the stacks of book off the register. She was alone in the store. The customers had gone home for the evening and it was quiet. Phoebe turned to Samuel confused. What is it that he wanted her to see here? He just held his index finger to his lips motioning her to be quiet and patient. Phoebe looked around as she was waiting for something to transpire. She saw some terrific spell books and ancient casting rites that she might want to pick up latter, but then remembered her wish. She wished that they had no powers, like normal people. The bell on the shop door rang. Both Phoebe and the storekeeper turned to see at the same time that a mysterious stranger had walked through the doorway. Phoebe saw a man darkly dressed in a trench coat and a hat tucked down over his forehead. She couldn’t see who it was, until he took his hat off. Phoebe was surprised to see it was Jeremy, who she just saw minutes, earlier at the manor dropping off Piper. Jeremy had called out the woman’s name, “Sarah”. Phoebe saw that Sarah recognized the person that stood a few meters away, and smiled at him. Sarah was in her mid 20s and very beautiful, Phoebe noticed.
Then Sarah did something that was shocking to Phoebe. Sarah had flicked her finger at the door and the lock automatically click into place. Then she turned her attention towards the lights and flicked her finger at the switch and the lights were turned off. The revelation that Sarah was a true witch caught Phoebe off guard. She wasn’t expecting to see this lady in front of her use powers similar to Prue’s. Or what Prue used to have…. or still has. Phoebe couldn’t make up her mind at what tense she should use regarding their powers. And to top it off, Jeremy didn’t flinch when he saw her use her power. ‘So he must know what she is then’ Phoebe thought to herself. Sarah finished closing up when Jeremy came up to her. All this time he hadn’t spoken a word to her. As he drew near he pulled out a steel blade, which Phoebe instantly recognized as an athame. The look on Sarah’s face was one of surprise and shock. “Jeremy, what are you doing? Stop playing around.” Sarah said sternly. In an instant Jeremy struck with speed that Sarah didn’t have time to react. He plunged the dagger into Sarah’s mid-section as she gasped with pain. “NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!” Phoebe screamed out, running over to help. Phoebe reacted with a roundhouse kick to Jeremy that seems to pass right through him. She couldn’t help since she wasn’t here as a three-dimensional being, but only in a spirit sense. “Why?” Phoebe heard Sarah whimper out to Jeremy. “Because witch, now I have your power.” He said giving her an evil smile. She slid to the floor as Jeremy slowly slipped the dagger out from her. Silently lying on the floor, Sarah was dying with no one around to witness or help, other than Phoebe, who was in no position to help her. Jeremy left as he came in, a dark evil presence that felt no remorse at what he had just done. Phoebe stood over the now dead Sarah; a pool of her blood was forming a small puddle around her. She shed tears over the now lifeless form that was Sarah, someone that she could have gotten to know if history was reversed. “Couldn’t you stop this Samuel?” Phoebe asked in an angry scolding voice.
The scene changed in front of her instantly. Now it was daylight and the store was filled with policemen. This was now a crime scene, and everyone that was in the store was busy gathering up any evidence for a possible arrest and conviction of a suspect. Phoebe recognized the two men that walked in the door. Inspector Morris was looking very grim as he scanned the scene before him, behind him was Andy Trudeu. Phoebe overheard Morris telling Andy that these murders must be stopped.
The two Inspectors continue searching the scene for any small clues left behind. Phoebe was sad, she knew that she and her sisters had vanquished Jeremy after the second witch murder. She turned to look for Samuel and found him in the corner of the store watching her. She walked over to him to ask Samuel a question.
Phoebe looked upon the scene behind her one more time. She remembered the look of surprise and shock on Sarah’s face. She couldn’t even image what she would do if this happened to one of her sisters. Slowly she walked back to Samuel and her took her hand, leading her once again swiftly to her next future. Once again they arrived at the Halliwell Manor and standing just inside the hallway. Phoebe noticed it was all quiet in the house. ‘Hmmm, everyone must be out’ she thought. The doorbell interrupted any further thoughts Phoebe had. After the second ring Piper came running down the stairs to answer the door before that person walked away. “Hold on, I’m coming!” She yelled. Piper was surprised as she pulled the door open to find Jeremy, her boyfriend, standing there. Piper thought to herself, wondering if she happen to forget a date or an appointment. Phoebe was just as surprise to see Jeremy standing there. Then she got angry. She knew what he had done to an innocent just hours or minutes before. She moved right next to her sister and spoke in her ear.
Piper smiled cheerfully at Jeremy and gave him a passionate kiss. “Did I forget a date?” She asked him as she let him in.
There was really nothing that Phoebe could do to help protect her sister. All she could do is watch the interaction between the two people in front of her. In all her life she never felt so helpless as this moment right now. Phoebe was hoping that Jeremy was here only for a short social visit and nothing more. Just as Piper turned around to head into the living room, Jeremy pulled out the athame he used to kill the other witches. He was poised ready to strike knowing that he had no fear of Piper since this witch was powerless. He had to kill her for the eventuality that she and her sisters might get their powers. Phoebe saw the knife as he was pulling it from his coat. She screamed for fear that her sister might be killed. She even stood in front of Jeremy but he walked right past as if nothing was there. She turned to Samuel; “YOU HAVE TO STOP HIM!” “I can’t.” He said sorrowfully. As Piper turned around ready to ask Jeremy if he would like something to drink, Jeremy plunged the dagger into Piper’s mid-section. Piper was frozen with pain and fear. She felt the cold blade enter her and the realization that she soon might die. Jeremy just stood there holding the blade waiting for the cold dark sleep to overtake the beautiful young woman before him. Piper slowly fell onto the hallway floor.
“Pho…ebe….Prue….I…love you.” Piper said with her last breath. Phoebe knelt by her sister, trying to touch her and save her. Phoebe couldn’t believe it was hopeless. She had to try…to do something at least. She looked with pleading eyes to Samuel, who himself was crying at the scene before him. Jeremy wiped the blade he used to kill Piper and so many other women. Just as he was finishing up he heard a key slide into the lock. Phoebe heard it as well. She knew it must be Prue coming home for work or interviews. It was at that moment something stuck her, as to what Samuel said after Sarah was killed. He said that the murders stop after two more killings. He couldn’t possibly have meant Piper ….and Prue! All he needed was one more before he moved on to another city. Phoebe felt like the world around her was collapsing. That one small decision to stay in New York had effected not only her life but also her sister’s, Andy’s and the innocent lives that she had protected in her future. As Prue stepped through the threshold she noticed her sister, Piper, lying on the floor. Then she noticed the red stain on her clothes. She dropped everything and rushed over to her, crying out her name. She placed her fingers on Piper’s throat, praying to god that she still had a pulse. She felt nothing. Piper had slipped away into the deep cold sleep never to return. “Nooooo, PIPER…PIPER…. Don’t die!” Prue shrieked. She held Piper’s limp body like a toy doll, not caring if she got her blood all over herself. Jeremy watched the touching scene from the corner, unnoticed by Prue. Phoebe, still crying, was still kneeling in front of Prue. She looked up just in time to see Jeremy come up from behind Prue. Once again he took his double-edged blade and deftly plunged it into Prue’s back. Prue cried out in pain and in sheer terror to realize that Piper’s murder was still in the house and she was his next victim. ‘No, I’ll not go without a fight’ she thought. All Phoebe could do is cry out hysterically, she was extremely overwrought with the scene in front of her. As Jeremy pulled out the knife read to strike it again, this time for the death stroke, Prue with what energy she had left swung to one side out of her attacker’s way. She crawled to the foyer table and picked up the vase that was on the table. This she threw with all her might at his head. It just glanced Jeremy’s head as it came sailing towards him. He fell back to the wall off balance. A look of shock crossed Prue’s face as she realized who her assailant was. “WHY? I thought you loved Piper.” Prue said in a raspy voice. “Because of what the future might hold, witch.” He said angrily, snarling at her. Jeremy came towards her again holding the knife. She looked around for other objects she could throw, but found none that she could lift in her state. She stood there ready to kick and fight her way for survival if she had to. He swiped the blade at her but she kicked him in the shin and pushed the blade arm away from her, but Jeremy was too quick for her. He just quickly turned his body in a 180 and swung the blade again, catching her in the ribs. Prue gasped for breath. Jeremy quickly struck again not waiting so that Prue might have the chance to fight back.
He quickly left as he saw there was no chance for her survival. His job in San Francisco was done. Phoebe was now bent over while kneeling. She had curled herself up in a ball trying to block out everything around her. It was too painful to watch both her sisters get killed. It was only her wish to keep her sisters safe.
Phoebe was now screaming on the top of her lungs hoping that Samuel would make this all disappear and give her old life back, to the way it was. “I’m sorry for everything. Please give me another chance!” Piper and Prue hurried through the door. They could hear her sister screaming and crying from the front door and hurried in thinking a demon was hurting her. All they could see was Phoebe lying on the couch thrashing. The TV was still on and playing a black and white Christmas movie. Piper went up to her and knelt next to her and Prue sat at Phoebe’s feet.
Phoebe opened her eyes to behold a miracle. Her sisters, that she cared most in this world, were alive! Tears were streaming down her eyes in the sheer joy of seeing her sisters again.
Phoebe just laughed. It was great hearing her sister squabble again and gave them another hug. Piper noticed that the large plate of cookies was empty on the coffee table. “You wouldn’t have bad dreams if you didn’t eat all those cookies.” Piper said. “ They were great Piper but I don’t think it was the cookies fault.” Phoebe said. She looked up just in time to see the ending of It’s A Wonderful Life”. The bell on the tree was ringing and George’s little girl announced that an angel got their wings. It was then Leo came through the door fully loaded down with Piper'’ Holiday packages. “Did I miss anything?” Leo said as he saw the faces of the Halliwell sisters.
Leo looked confused also, but let the comment go and smiled back at her. Piper checked Phoebe’s head to see if she had a fever. “Pheebs are you coming down with something?” Piper asked her. “No. I just missed you. I would be totally lost without both you.” Just then a little bell on the Christmas tree rang and the Halliwell sisters and Leo looked up. The lights on the tree gave off a wonderful peaceful light. The three Halliwell sisters just sat on the couch starring at the tree. It reminded all of them of the past and of what these three years they have gone through together, and the uncertainties of the future, but it didn’t matter if they were all together. Merry Christmas |