Chapter Twenty-Four – Figuring Things Out
A smile on his lips, Sam admitted, “That’s what I thought you would choose.” Andy taken care of, Sam turned to Prue. “Prue, you already know you have your powers back, but there are a few surprises waiting. In this reality, short though the rest of your life was, you developed a power you don’t have. Have fun with that.” Sam hesitated and looked at her, “I am assuming you have chosen to remain alive.”
“Yeah,” Prue confirmed, “I’ve chosen to remain alive. Another power? And when do I combine with this other Prue anyway.”
“When the end of the twenty-four hours is up,” he told her, “so soon.”
Pat blew into the air, trying to see if her powers were back. When nothing happened she turned to Sam. “What about my powers, and Vicki’s?”
“You will get them back on your own,” Sam told her, “but you will get them back minus the whitelighter powers.”
“So no orbing?” Vicki asked disappointed, just to be sure.
“Orbing’s not so great,” Hank mumbled from the couch, his eyes still closed.
“Says the guy who actually can orb,” Alanna teased. Having never had whitelighter powers, it had struck her as odd that her younger brother did.
Vicki ignored bother of them and look at Sam for an answer.
“There is a remote chance that your biology might overcome the elders bind,” Sam informed her, though his voice sounded doubtful. “Since you were born part whitelighter, they can’t just take your wings.” Sam chuckled, “Technically, you don’t have any.”
Vicki frowned. “They didn’t happen to mention what my powers were, did they?”
“Sorry,” Sam told her with a shake of his head. “They didn’t.”
“Okay,” Vicki nodded absently. “Thanks for telling me.”
“I guess that’s it,” Sam decided, having delivered all his news.
“What about me?” Melinda asked.
Sam sighed. “As I said earlier, your powers are not anything they can mess with.”
“Just because I’m twice blessed,” Melinda mumbled disbelieving. When had being twice blessed ever done anything for her.
Sam shook his head. “More because you share powers identical to the ones Wyatt has. Just as they can’t take your powers from you, they can’t give you back your powers either. You are both witch and whitelighter, so you could gain powers from either of those, but it is very unlikely that you can get back any of your previous powers.” He looked at Victor across the room. “I didn’t do anything to help them now, but I did try to protect them from the demon that killed their mother. I’m sorry things came about how they did, but . . .” Sam looked at Paige briefly before turning back to Victor, “I can’t regret the results.” With that, Sam orbed out.
Once Sam was gone, Chris looked at Melinda and Wyatt. He scowled. “Mom, remember that conversation we had after the spider demon bit me?”
Piper smiled, remembering. “Yes.”
“I think I just doubled that,” Chris informed her.
Paige started laughing. “Chris, kindly remembered that Wyatt and Melinda are part whitelighter.”
Chris gave her a look. “I’m well aware of that.”
“You, dear boy,” Paige informed him, “are half elder. If they ever try anything, lord it over them.”
Wyatt looked at his aunt curiously and then at Chris. “You know what. I want your trip to the past on DVD.”
“What?” Chris looked at him, confused. “Why?”
“Because that is the only way I am ever going to figure out what on earth you are talking about,” Wyatt informed him, grinning.
Piper shook her head, smiling. She turned to look at Prue. “So what are you going to do? You are welcome to stay at the manor.”
Prue looked at Andy. After a nod from Andy, Prue replied. “We talked about it last night. Though at the time we figured we wouldn’t really ever be able to come back here, because of the whole dead thing, it’s probably a good idea for the moment.”
“What?” Piper wanted to know.
“We’ve been living in Boston for the last sixteen years,” Prue told her, “so we know the land. It no doubt has differences, but it’s familiar, so for the present we are going to go there to live. Maybe once people start learning that we are alive and accepting it, maybe then we might come back, but for now, Boston.”
Piper walked over to her and hugged her. “I’ll miss you, but at least I know I can see you.”
Prue hugged her back. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Piper let go and turned to Melinda. “What about you? Your situation is a little different.”
Melinda looked around and sighed. “I need some time to think. I’ll be around, but for now, I just need to get used to everything. I’ll keep in contact,” she promised.
I just need to get use to being here and everything that is different, because of me, she thought, but she couldn’t say that. “I don’t know where I’ll go, but I’m pretty sure, I’ll end up back here.”
And that’s what matters, Piper thought as she smiled. “You better keep in contact.”
“I will,” Melinda promised.
If I can help it, I will never be out of contact with you, again.Piper smiled, again. She had her promise. “Why doesn’t everyone come downstairs so more people can find a seat? I’ll fix something for dinner.”
“Sounds good,” Prue agreed.
Everyone started out of the room except Hank and Melinda. Hank didn’t move when Chris got up from the couch. He was too tired.
Melinda stood in the middle of the attic and closed her eyes. In her mind she could see the attic as it was in her reality. Piper waited until everyone else was through the door before she started for it. She was almost out the door when Melinda’s eyes opened. “Mom.”
Piper stopped and turned to face her daughter.
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Melinda told her.
Piper smiled before she turned back around and headed down the stairs.
Happy indeed.