Charming the Halliwells 99
Charming the Halliwells
All rights to the Halliwells and Charmed go to The Wb and Aaron Spelling.
This is a spin-off of his creation, of which we're all thankful for. Please
Do not plagiarize or anything. LOVE YA
"So..."
I looked at the lobby of the practice. It was marble all around and very sleek. There was a waiting room just down the hall with windows instead of walls. The reception area was large and spacious with a few modern chairs seated in the middle of the room in front of two plasmas, one on each side. There were ladders to go upstairs and offices down a corridor to the left. To the right were the bathrooms. I thought it was beautiful.
"How do you like it?" Wyatt asked, "I mean, it's kind of small, but we can upgrade when the money comes."
"It's beautiful." I smiled.
"Mom and the aunts did most of the decorating. I was there to insert the medical input and picking out the counters." Wyatt smiled.
"It's good to see this." I smiled.
"Yeah, everything is clicking into place. You and your meeting about the show and me and my practice." Wyatt said hugging me, "And with the baby."
I nodded.
"What's wrong?" Wyatt asked.
"I can't get too happy yet." I said, "I've got a bad feeling about..."
"Don't. I would never let anything happen to you or the baby or anyone else in my family." Wyatt said quickly.
"Sometimes, you don't have a choice." I frowned, "I'm being a downer and I don't mean to."
"I love you." Wyatt said.
"Why?" I asked.
"That's like asking why the sun shines." Wyatt smiled.
"I see you're checking out the place."
I turned to see a gorgeous brunette woman. She was Hispanic and a little shorter than me with honey eyes. Her face was smooth and sleek, no sign of fat. She was a coke-bottle girl. You know, one with the perfect shape.
"Drake this is Alanna." Wyatt said, "Alanna, this is..."
"Your husband. I've heard so much about you." Alanna smiled, shaking my hand, "You're are so cute."
"Thank you. And you're gorgeous. Literally." I said with a quick smile. The smile was somewhat fake. From the moment I met her, I knew this was going to be a problem. Wyatt and I had come to the conclusion that he was bi-sexual. It had been topic of discussion more than once. He didn't know that I knew he was with a lot of women and men in the eight years I was gone. I pretended not to know. When he wanted me to know, he could tell me.
"What are you doing here?" Wyatt asked, "Alanna is one of the new doctors."
"Getting my things in order in my office." She smiled, "I've got to go, though, I've got a stiff schedule at the clinic. It was nice to meet you." She smiled, leaving.
I smiled until she got out of sight and then I turned to Wyatt.
"I know, I know...but in my defense, she's a brilliant doctor." Wyatt said quickly.
Chapter 99: Covered in Skin
Wyatt stood at the counter chopping vegetables while I stood over the stove, making pork chops. Steven sat on the couch beside Peyton, who was watching him intently. He was playing peek-a-boo with her and I thought it was cute. I smiled over to Wyatt, who also noticed it. We just stared at each other for a second before we moved back to our perspective duties. Steven was here from Magic School. He enjoyed it, even made a friend. Levi. I wasn't stupid. Levi was a half whitelighter, half witch. They'd met at the Manor. I wasn't sure, but I think Steven actually likes him.
"So," I said from the stove, "You made a friend?"
Steven smiled, thinking neither of us could see.
"Levi." Wyatt smirked.
"Yeah, he's cool. Did you know he's a whitelighter?" Steven asked.
"Did you ask to play with his orbs?" I smiled.
"You have such a dirty mind!" Steven chuckled, "It's not like that. I don't even know if he's...ya know."
"I think you're hoping." Wyatt smiled, "Nothing wrong with that."
"Yeah, I would have thought that the half-demon thing would have deterred our friendship." Steven said, "Add ex-prostitute to the mix and you get..."
"A really amazing person?" I asked.
"No, me." Steven frowned, "I wish I could have a love like you and Wyatt."
"Do you know how many gay men there are in San Francisco?" I asked, "Scratch that, do you know how many good gay men there are in San Francisco?"
"Yeah, I've slept with hundreds of them."
"He said good." Wyatt frowned, "Haven't you read Aunt Phoebe's book? You have to open yourself up to love."
"Yeah, well, when it knocks on my door, I'll answer." Steven chuckled.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
"What about my door?" Wyatt asked.
"I'll get it." I said, walking to the door. Steven was with the baby, so I figured I'd leave him there. I opened the door to see Lennix. Lennix was an old boyfriend from New York! He and I had dated briefly and he was one of the few relationships that didn't end in hurt and pain.
His eyes ignited, "Pahrrie!" He said, hugging me, "What the Hell!?"
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Well, babe, I just moved into the building. Well, to the state. I figured I needed a new place to live. Picked here because, hey, it's San Francisco!" Len smiled.
"Babe?" Wyatt asked walking up and putting his arm around my shoulders, "Who's babe?"
"This is Lennix." I smiled, "Lenny Nichols."
"And he's calling you babe?" Wyatt asked defensively.
I chuckled, "He's my old boyfriend." I smiled.
"What's he doing here?" Wyatt asked.
"Down Fido, I didn't even know you guys live here." Len chuckled, "Your boyfriend is cute."
"Husband." Wyatt said quickly, "I think I have heard about you. I remember now."
"Come in!" I smiled.
"I can't." He said looking past me, "Holy crap! Did you adopt? Twice?"
I looked back at Steven and Peyton, "No! Steve is a friend. Peyton is blood." I smiled.
"We should do lunch." Len said.
"Yeah, that'd be great." I smiled.
"Now to introduce myself to the rest of my neighbors. Later, babe." He smiled, leaving.
"Later babe." Wyatt said mimicking him, "Why does he keep calling you babe? And how'd he know to move here?"
"Fate. Everything happens for a reason." I said, shutting the door and turning to him, "I'm a business dad with magical powers and zero friends. Don't you think the universe owes me a friend?"
"Hey!" Steven protested.
"One my age. Besides, I'm about as much into him as you're into Alanna." I smiled.
"So, you're sleeping with him?" Wyatt asked.
I chuckled, "Not funny." I said kissing him.
-
"So, Wyatt, how is married life?" Warren asked, sitting a box down on Wyatt's desk, "I mean, you and Drake are getting along good?"
Wyatt chuckled, "Great. I mean, the baby is on a great sleep schedule and my husband is the best husband a guy could have." He smiled, "I couldn't have done any of this without him."
"I know the feeling." Warren smiled, "Don't worry, I don't want your husband or anything."
"So, what do you want, cuz?" Wyatt asked, "I mean, you're in college and you're doing the whole `temp job' schtick Aunt Paige did, but where is it leading you?"
"I don't know." Warren grimaced, "I guess I'm just drifting. I want to do something to save a life, ya know. Something worth doing."
"So, you have a chance at a life without demons and you want...demons?" Wyatt asked.
"Not exactly." Warren frowned, "I mean, a demon-free Halliwell is not in the cards. I just want to know what it's like to do ultimate good, ya know?"
"I do." Wyatt said, "Sometimes, it's not the most obvious things, like saving lives. Sometimes it's giving life."
"Yeah, yeah, you're happy that you got a kid." Warren chuckled, "I just want to change the world a little."
"Isn't it enough that you change the lives around you?" Wyatt asked, "By just being here, you're changing our worlds."
Warren nodded.
"Steven could use some guidance, ya know." Wyatt said, "First step to changing the world is reaching the children."
"You're right. He's half demon. I'm half demon. You okay here?" Warren asked.
"I'm good. Go ahead." Wyatt smiled.
Warren disappeared.
-
I walked out of the door of the nursery and tripped over a stuffed animal. I picked up the stuff animal Chris had given to Peyton. I thought about Chris and Bianca. They'd lost someone they'd never met but loved all the same. I could relate. My sadness didn't come from my relation to that it was deeper. Men don't have babies, well not a lot. It's rare. I just never thought that I'd be blessed with one child and cursed to never have anymore. How terrible is it that I wished I hadn't known what it was like to be a father? How could it make me feel like this? I squeezed the stuffed animal and threw it against the wall! Tears began falling down my face and I felt this overwhelming darkness in the pit of my stomach. I would never be a father again, not by natural means! I pressed my hands against my face and sat on the step leading to the living room. I just sat there, bawling like a little girl.
"What's wrong?"
I wiped my face and stood, turning to Warren, "You should knock." I said quickly.
"I didn't mean to...interrupt." Warren said, surveying me, "Are you okay?"
"Just having one of those days." I smiled.
"You're lying." Warren said, "I know when you're lying. We've been friends long enough for me to know."
"Is there something you needed?" I asked.
"I was looking for Steven." Warren said, "I'm not leaving until I know you're okay."
"Really because I won't be okay until you leave." I smiled.
Warren nodded.
"I was just having a moment where I cry." I frowned, "Having the perfect family is harder than it looks."
"I'm sure." Warren said, "Especially after everything that happened. I think you need a big, demonic hug."
"Half-demonic." I smiled, "And no. I just need some alone time."
I turned and sat on the step again. I put my face in my hands and waited until I felt alone again. I never did. Warren walked over and sat next to me, putting his arm around me.
-
Warren had gone when I stood in front of the kitchen sink. Peyton had been fed and dried and was now sleeping again. I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. I felt so sad and I knew that if Warren hadn't been there, I'm not sure I'd have survived that second. Warren went on in his search to find Steven. Steven would most likely be with Levi somewhere at Magic School. I heard a jingle behind me but didn't turn. I kept washing the plate. The same plate I'd been washing for the past thirty minutes.
"Hey." Chris said.
I didn't even turn to him, "What do you need Chris?" I asked.
"Are you okay?" Chris asked.
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not." Chris frowned, "Can you look at me?"
"No." I said.
"No, really?" Chris asked walking over and grabbing me.
I pulled away from him and put my hands on the counter. Chris tried again and I pulled away again.
"What do you want?!" I asked.
"What's wrong? Is it Peyton." He said, walking to the nursery.
"No." I said slowly.
Chris stopped and turned to me, "Then, what?" he asked.
"I just need to be alone." I said.
"Is this about Wyatt? Or are you mad at me?" Chris asked.
"Okay, get out of my house!" I said, "I don't have time for this."
"What?! I don't understand." Chris said, trying to figure out what he did.
"You can't be here and I can't be with you and I—get out!" I shouted.
"I'm not going anywhere until you start making sense." Chris said angrily, "Look, I don't know what's going on but if you just explain..."
"I busted my balls to be a good person. To be someone who did the right thing so nobody could do the things to me that have been done to me." I said, "Any bad thing I've done is not enough to warrant anything like..."
"Like what?" Chris asked.
Suddenly, Wyatt orbed into the room, "Like not being able to have a baby." He said.
"What do you mean? He just had...a child. I don't understand. Where'd you come from?" Chris asked.
"I felt him." Wyatt said.
"You felt him?" Chris asked, "Can someone please tell me what's going on."
"When Wyatt left for college, I was pregnant." I said sadly, "I miscarried, which was why my pregnancies were so rough. After Peyton, something got screwed up inside me and now I can't have a baby ever again. I shouldn't be sad. Not sad. Loads of men never have babies. I shouldn't be sad. God, why am I?"
Chris looked at me with realization and sadness. It wasn't the first time that I had been disgusted by a look of sympathy. I grabbed a dish and launched it at Chris, who orbed out and in again. Chris looked confused. Wyatt moved towards me and I launched one at him, too! He did the same and looked at me even more sympathetically. I didn't even care anymore. It was this point that I realized I did care. It mattered that I couldn't have another baby. I could never have any other baby.
"Is this the moment where I finally break down? Again? I'm not that guy anymore." I said angrily, "Neither one of you get to look at me like that. Stop looking at me like I'm some little puppy with a broken leg or something!" I shouted.
"I'm so sorry." Chris said, "This look...it's not—"
"Don't you dare lie and say that! I have given my life to this destiny for the better part of my life and I'm tired. I don't want to fight. I don't want to...to..I need to leave here." I said, walking to the door.
"Where are you going?" Wyatt asked.
"Somewhere you can't follow." I said, slamming the door.
-
"Coleman, you've been excellent in your plan." Hans, another hunter, said.
"You've brought us the book and you've delivered a hardwire to the witches." Kim said, "I think things could get a little..."
"Dicey?" I asked, stepping into the room.
"Who is that?" Hans asked.
"One of the witches." Coleman said, "How'd you get in here?"
"Your guards are pretty much incapacitated." I smiled, "I came to make a deal."
"We don't make deals with demons." Hans frowned.
"You've seen the book, my book. We're not demons." I said.
"You're worse." Coleman said, "Because you know that magic is for..."
"The deal is that you stop this, all of this, and it doesn't have to come to an all-out war." I said.
"Why would we do that?" Kim asked, folding her arms.
"We both know that if it's a battle between humans and the magical community, nothing good could come of it." I said, "You've got, what, thousands? The magical community has more than that."
"Why are you really here?" Coleman asked, "He's the weak one."
"And you're the extra crispy one." I said.
I alluded to the incident where I charred him with my explosive power. I could see the burned skin underneath his sleeve. He recoiled quickly and folded his arms.
"I'm not looking forward to losing anyone I care about." I said, "I don't want this life anymore. It's cost me more than I care to tell you."
"So, you're a traitor?" Kim asked.
"No. I just want peace between both sides." I frowned.
"There'll never be peace." Hans said, "Not as long as abominations like you walk the Earth."
"You have a child, am I right?" Coleman asked.
I was silent.
"And yet you came here alone." Hans said.
"Bad mistake." Kim smiled.
"Take him to the traitor." Coleman said.
I prepared to fight. Kim pulled a gun and aimed it at my head.
"You'll find we have the power here." Coleman smiled.
I nodded and lowered my stance. If I was going to get out of here, it would have to be alive.
-
As they threw me into a room, I found myself in the company of many others. It was dark and depressing in this jail. My powers weren't working here and I was seriously rethinking this idea. This had to be the worst idea yet. I had to try though. I can't keep living my life like this. Afraid of what is going to happen next. I found myself fearing what the Elders would do. And how destiny would screw me. It was something I hadn't worried about before. There were other witches here.
"Fancy meeting you here."
I turned to see Moreau standing before me. She looked a bit dingy, like she hadn't washed in days. I asked her why she was down here and she replied that she changed her mind about us and what we do. I smiled to her. She was smarter and a better person than I thought. She said that Coleman and the rest had thrown her in here a while ago. I couldn't imagine. She said that he threw her in without hesitation. I had to think about it. He had my book of magic and was now readying himself to undo the veil between magic creatures and everything else, painting the magical community as the enemies.
"Makes it all the more insidious."
I turned to see Death standing before me.
"This war is nothing I've seen before." Death frowned, "You know why I'm here."
"You can't have me." I frowned.
"Who are you talking to?" Moreau asked.
"Not you." Death said, "Someone you care about deeply."
"Wyatt?" I asked without hesitation, "Chris? Warren? Which Halliwell?"
"It is not meant to be clear."
"Why are you warning me?" I asked.
"Warning?" Moreau asked.
Death looked at me with a dire look in his eyes.
"Are you warning me or are you readying me?" I asked.
"You won't have time to mourn the fallen. You must mourn them now." Death said, "If we're to keep magic a secret..."
"I refuse to let any one of my family die." I frowned.
"You don't have a choice." He said, dissipating.