Charmed by Love 2--The Choice (Completed 8/16)

[mcharmed21]

Following his directions, we helped into your car and you drove us to a street where a good-looking young man lay on a stretcher. “It's Max!” cried Cupid.

“Is he one of yours?” you asked.

He nodded. “Yeah, I matched him up with Cindy last night. She was afraid to risk love too.”<br>
“Are you picking on me?” I asked.

“Phoebe, I'm--” he started, but I interrupted him, “Do you think it's easy finding love with all the demon-hunting we have to do?”<br>
He smiled. “Well, your sisters don't seem to be having any problem.”<br>
I sighed with frustration. “All right, you know, let's stay focused. We have things to do.”<br>
Prue took over. “Are you sure Drazi did this?”<br>
“Positive. He's still here too. I can feel him?”<br>
“Where?”<br>
“There,” and he pointed towards a corner where a young man stood, a look of hatred on his face making him look homely, although he might’ve been cute with a different expression..

“Do you think he knows who we are?” Prue asked, as he walked off.

You smiled. “Apparently.”<br>
“He's getting away!” he cried. “Do you have the potion?”<br>
I nodded, so we all started running after him. “We're not gonna catch him!” I cried.

“Piper, freeze him!” Prue commanded.

You shook your head. “He's too far away.”<br>
“Well, someone better do something fast,” cried Cupid.

And Prue did. She sank down on some steps and bowed her head, then slumped over. We knew she was astral projecting, so you & I kept running, while Cupid stayed to guard Prue. Up ahead we could see Astral Prue appear in front of Drazi.

He slid to a stop in surprise, “What!”<br>
“Surprise!” cried Astral Prue, and she waved her hand, but she obviously couldn’t use her power in that state. Uh, whoops, that didn't work.” So she grabbed a piece of wood and hit him, so he fell to the ground. Then Astral Prue vanished, so we ran back to the steps, where Cupid was helping her clear her head.

“Are you back with us?” I asked.

She nodded, “I think so. Wow, I really gotta get a handle on that.”<br>
Cupid was still confused. “I don't understand.”<br>
“She astral projected,” you explained.

“Yeah, and I only slowed him down, so you guys go get him, hurry!” You & I started to run off again, while Cupid stayed protectively near Prue. “I’m OK,” she insisted. “Go! Go!” and as he ran off, I heard her say, “God, I love this new power!”

[mcharmed21]

You & I reached Drazi just a few minutes before Cupid. Drazi was already sitting up. Now he glared at Cupie. “Hiding behind witches’ skirts?” he taunted.

You taunted him right back, “Stealing things that don't belong to you?” and you froze him. You nodded at me, “Okay, go,” so I threw the potion at Drazi just as he unfroze.

Drazi was shocked, “What the...?” as he began melting, just like the Wicked Witch of the West in Wizard of Oz, soon turning into black ash, just as Prue arrived.

“Did you get him?” she asked.

“Did we?” you asked Cupid.

He grinned. “Sure looks like it. Though, I don't know what happened to my ring. It shouldn't have been affected by what we did to Drazi.”<br>
“So that's it, right?” I asked. “We're done? You can just move on?”<br>
He smiled at me. “In a hurry to get rid of me, Phoebe?”<br>
I was getting frustrated with him, and maybe with myself. “Look, Cupid. I know you're just trying to help, but did you ever think that I may not be ready for love right now?”<br>
He shook his head, smiling. “No, you're more than ready.”<br>
“Don't start,” I warned. “Just go.”<br>
“I can’t. I need the ring to get back. I mean, unless you can get me another one, but the problem is I need it to get back home.”<br>
“Wait, you're stuck here?” Prue asked sympathetically.

“No, actually, you can help me get back home. One more potion, some well-chosen words from the Charmed Ones and I'm on my way.” Then he turned to me. “Care to help me with that potion?”<br>
“Me?” I cried. “Why me?”<br>
He smiled. “Because you're free tonight, they have dates.”<br>
“Hey,” you cried. “How'd you know?” then thinking about it, you added, “Oh, never mind, scratch that.” and you & Prue walked off, while Cupid stood there, smiling at me.

“What are you smiling at?” I demanded between gritted teeth, getting ready to kick him again.

He grinned. “You.”<br>
Much, much later, you told me about what happened at P3 that night. You & Dan and Prue & Jack were at the bar. Prue was admiring your new necklace, “Very nice. So you like it?”<br>
You smiled, “I love it.”<br>
Dan grinned. “Well, thank your sister. She helped me pick it out.”<br>
Prue also grinned. “Hey. Okay, guilty.”<br>
You smiled, “Well, thank you both,” then you turned back to Dan with a seductive smile, “and I'll thank you again later.”<br>
Jack grinned, “Wow, if that's all it takes, when can I buy one?”<br>

[mcharmed21]

You & Dan laughed, but Prue simply said, “Nope, not that easy!”

Jack grinned, “You know what? Why don't we find a table and get some food,” and the rest of you agreed..

Later, as you four sat at the table, Jack admitted, “Having an in with the owners of one of the hottest clubs in town does have its benefits.”<br>
Dan nodded: “Free chicken wings,” as he munched on one.

Jack grinned. “That’s one.”<br>
“In the pleasure of our company,” you pointed out.

Dan grinned at both you & Prue. “And that names two more.”<br>
You grinned. “Thank you.” and Dan kissed your forehead.

Prue grinned at you, “Bathroom break,. Piper,” with the look that means, “Girl talk time!”<br>
You grinned, “ All right; yes, ma'am. See you boys in a minute.”<br>
Jack & Dan both grinned back, “All right.”<br>
Later, as you two waited outside the bathroom, Prue looked at the necklace, “You're okay with
that. aren't you?”<br>
“Okay with what?” you asked.

She lifted the necklace. “This. I don't really want you mad at me.”<br>
“Why would I be mad at you?” you wanted to know.

“Because I let Dan buy it for you.”<br>
“No, Prue, it's okay. It's great.”<br>
But Prue obviously wasn’t convinced--and when you told me, I wasn't either--because she asked, “And you don't wish that it came from Leo?”<br>
You shook your head, “No, I don't. Really,” but when you told me this, I wondered, although I didn’t say anything.

“I feel strange,” Prue told you.

“What do you mean?” you asked.

[mcharmed21]

“Well, I mean we have these guys out there waiting for us, who care about us. Correct me if I'm wrong, but things are going pretty well right now, right?”<br>
You grinned. “Yeah, nothing like a night on the town after a hard day of demon-killing.”<br>
“I'm serious,” she insisted. “I mean, you know, think about it. I mean, we did great today and now tonight it's like we're just--” and she searched for the right words.

You found them. “Finding a balance in our lives?”<br>
Prue nodded. “Exactly.”<br>
You smiled. “I do feel pretty good.”<br>
Prue smiled, too, “Yeah, I think we're gonna be okay.”<br>
“Except there's still our little secret,” you pointed out, and when you told me this part, again I couldn’t help but think of the one guy in your life who knew our secret.

Prue didn’t, or at least not out loud. “Oh, Piper, everybody has little secrets, including Jack & Dan.”<br>
You weren’t impressed. “Yeah, unless they're transvestite, Nazi war criminals with great face-lifts, then I think we've got them beat.”<br>
She laughed. “Okay, so we're never gonna have normal lives.”<br>
You shook your head, “Not ever.”<br>
“That doesn't mean we can't try sometimes,” Prue pointed out.

“With someone like Dan perhaps?” you asked.

Prue smiled, hugging you, “With whoever, sweet girl, I just want you loved,” and you hugged her back, thanking her.

Just then a couple women came out of the bathroom, so you two ran inside.


That’s where you two were when Cupid & I arrived. As we walked up to Jack & Dan, I could hear them talking.

“Dan,” Jack was saying, “I will never understand the tandem-pitstop thing that women do.”<br>
Dan nodded. “Yeah. Hey, Jack, speaking of mysteries...”<br>
“Yeah?” he prompted.

“You know, Piper has this strange habit of sometimes just sorta...”<br>
“Vanishing?” Jack asked. Dan nodded, so he told him, “Prue does it too.”<br>
Dan nodded. “I figured that. Does it bug you?”<br>
He shrugged. “A little, but I'm not gonna give her the third degree about it.”<br>
Dan tried to explain. “No, it's like time just stands still for seconds, and when it starts up again, she's like a total different person.”<br>
“Ask her about it,” Jack suggested.

“I know, I have. She gives me the runaround.”<br>
Jack shrugged. “Then don't ask.”<br>
That’s when Cupid & I walked up.

[mcharmed21]

“Hey, guys,” I asked. “Are Prue & Piper around?”<br>
“Yeah, they're in the ladies room.” Then he looked a little more closely at Cupid. “Excuse me, have we met?”<br>
“Yeah,” Dan agreed. “You look really familiar.”<br>
Cupid smiled, “I've been around.”<br>
“Yeah, okay, come on,” and I pulled him towards the ladies room, but as I did, I was still listening to the guys.

“And, see, that's another thing,” Dan was saying. “There are strange people that always show up at their place. They pop in; they pop out. Especially this handyman guy, Leo. Who the hell are they?”<br>
Jack grinned. “Jealousy, huh? It sounds like someone is falling in love.”<br>
Dan shrugged. “Yeah, maybe.”<br>
Meanwhile, Cupid & I had reached the ladies room, just as you & Prue walked out. “Hey,” I cried.

Prue smiled. “Hey, yourself.”<br>
“Cupid,” and you smiled at him.

He smiled back, “Evening, ladies. I trust everything's going well?”<br>
You smiled broadly. “Very well.”<br>
“Prue?” he asked.

She smiled, too. “Well, it's a little early to tell, but all the signs are pointing to maybe.”<br>
“Did you get everything we need to send him home?” you asked me.

I nodded. “Uh, yeah. He drinks this--” and I held up a vial, “while we say this--” and I held up a piece of paper, “and he's gone. Any idea where you wanna do this?”<br>
You pointed, “In there. The stock room.”<br>
“Um, is this gonna take very long?” Prue asked. “Coz you know...?”<br>
I grinned. “Go tell your boys you'll be back in a few minutes.”<br>
You smiled. “Okay.”<br>
I laughingly shook my finger at them. “And don't dawdle!” You two laughed and scurried back towards Jack & Dan.

“Aiin't love grand?” Cupid asked me, and I glared, because as we made the potion, he continued to try to convince me that I had closed my heart to try to prevent the pain of loss, like losing Mom to death and losing Dad to divorce. I still refused to believe him.

Of course, your snoopy sister had to make sure she followed you two close enough so I could overhear. Cupid shook his head at me, but came along.

Dan smiled at you, “Welcome back. I was starting to get a little worried there.”<br>
Cupid suddenly grabbed his chest in pain.

“What's the matter?” I asked.

“I can't believe it,” he gasped. “It’s Drazi! He’s alive! And he’s after your sisters!”<br>

[mcharmed21]

A/N This section is a little longer than most of my posts, but I just couldn't find a good spot to stop it. Hope you enjoy it! Here's what happens when Drazi goes after Phoebe's sisters!

Just then Dan yelled at you, “You know, why don't you just admit it? You're using me to make Leo jealous, aren't you?”<br>
“Oh, can you just leave him out of this?” you demanded, just as angrily.

“I'd love to!” he yelled back. “I will if you will!”<br>
“Drazi!” cried Cupid. “He used my ring to plant those thoughts in their heads!”<br>
Suddenly Jack started yelling, too. “Rebound guy? Is that it? Just because your high-school sweetheart dies, you think I’ll just hop in and take his place? What makes you think I'm gonna take this crap?””

“What, you think I'm just gonna jump in the sack with you on the second date?” Prue demanded. “Why don't you just drop dead?”<br>
You were still yelling at Dan. “I can't believe you're still threatened by him! He’s gone!”<br>
“You think I'm an idiot?” Dan yelled back. “You think I don't know?”<br>
I walked up to the table, trying to explain about Drazi, so I asked, “Uh, you guys?” and all four of you turned towards me and yelled, “Shut up!” and I cringed away.

Then Prue turned back towards Jack. “Fine. Why don't we just end it?”<br>
“You know what?” Jack asked. “Fine with me.”<br>
“We are dating, aren't we?” Dan asked you.

You shook your head. “No, we're not. Not anymore. And you can have that back,” and you pulled off the necklace and threw it at him!

He grabbed it and glared at you, “I'm sure Leo can replace it with something that means more anyway.”<br>
You nodded, “Probably,” and although I was happy that you’d admitted that, it still hurt that you were using it to hurt Dan, who had been so nice.

“I’m just glad that nothing ever happened!” Prue was now screaming at Jack.

He screamed right back, “Yeah, well, you & me both!”<br>
Now she glared at him. “Yeah, well, I’m really glad. I mean, I learned a valuable lesson. Never go out with a jerk!”<br>
“Thanks for the evening, Prue,” said Jack, very sarcastically.

“All right, bye!” and you all started to leave.

I started chasing after you guys. “Whoa, whoa! Wait!”<br>
Cupid stopped me. “It’s not them, Phoebe. They’re caught in Drazi’s spell.”<br>
Now I turned on him. “If he did this, why didn’t you sense him?”<br>
He shrugged. “Because I thought he was dead.”<br>
Now you & Prue turned back around, glaring at Cupid.

“You’re still here?” Prue demanded.

“You know what?” you asked. “None of this would have happened if you would’ve just left us alone! Now get out! Get out of my club! Now!”<br>
So he started to leave. I ran up to him, “Where are you going?”<br>
He looked at me apologetically. “There’s nothing I can do. They’re trapped.”<br>
Prue overheard and that made her even angrier. “Oh, we are not trapped. For the first time in my life, I see things how they really are. Now whoever you really are, whatever you’re selling, we’re not interested, so just get out!”<br>
“No, no!” I cried. “Listen to me! You guys are under a spell! Okay, this is not you! Listen to me!"

Now you turned to glare at me. “If you’re with him, why don’t you go too?”<br>
I didn’t think I could possibly hurt that much. “What?” I cried, but you two just walked away. “No! You guys!”

[mcharmed21]

A/N Another slightly long update. Hope you like it--it's among my favorites! And for once it's because it makes me laugh, not because it makes me cry!

I turned back to Cupid, tears in my eyes. “We vanquished Drazi. How is this happening?”<br>
“My ring must have saved him.”<br>
“What, so he’s invincible now?” I asked, getting scared.

“Maybe not. Maybe if destroying the loves that I put together is killing me, maybe the reverse is true. Patching everything up with everybody just might kill him.”<br>
“But you can’t do that without your ring,” I pointed out.

He smiled. “Well, I’ve got you.”<br>
Now it was my turn to stare at him as if he’d just grown an extra head. “I’m sorry. What?!”<br>
He smiled. “Your heart is as big & true as anyone I’ve ever seen, Phoebe, even if it’s closed now. You’ll be my ring.”<br>
“I’m flattered, I think. But I have no idea what you’re talking about.”<br>
“You will. Come on, we’ve got to start with the first couple Drazi tore apart,” and with his coaching, I actually managed to help get Max & Cindy back together! Cupid smiled, as he felt Drazi’s pain. Then we went back home. As we drew near the Manor, you two were still yelling so loudly that we could clearly hear you, even while we were still outside.

“I can not believe Jack!” Prue was asking. “Who the h*ll does he think he is?”<br>
“Jack?” you cried. “What about Dan? We’re out on a date, and he accuses me of being in love with someone else!”<br>
“Totally out of line!” Prue agreed, still yelling.

“We’re better off without them!” you declared, just as loudly.

“Certainly not worth crying over!” agreed Prue..

“I have never hated someone so much in my entire life!” you declared.

“Me, either!” Prue agreed.

Cupid & I walked into the foyer. We could still hear you two in the living room, even though you were no longer yelling. You were saying, “Although I have to admit some of the things Dan said were kinda true. I do think about Leo sometimes.”<br>
And Prue admitted, “Jack wasn’t totally wrong when he said I was on the rebound. I still think about Andy a lot,” and I was hoping that maybe Drazi’s spell was wearing off. C’mon, you guys, I thought, you can do it! Fight it!

“Still it’s all so weird,” you pointed out. “One minute. the four of us are laughing and having a great time--”<br>
Prue must have nodded, “And the next we’re acting like we hate each other.” That’s right, you guys, think about that!! Think about that!!! You’re under a spell!!! “ Uhh…”

“What?” you asked.

“I was just thinking about Drazi.” Yes, Prue! Yes!!.

But you squashed that chance. “No way. He couldn’t have had anything to do with this. We vanquished him.” Piper, no!

And it affected Prue: “Jack’s scum.”<br>
“So is Dan.”<br>
“Are you scum?”<br>
“No, I’m not scum.”.

“I knew you weren’t,” and you both giggled.

Just then the doorbell rang. I pulled Cupid into the conservatory as you answered the door.

It was Jack & Dan. “This better be good,” Jack warned you.

[mcharmed21]

You stared at him. “ Am I supposed to know what you’re talking about?”<br>
“Don’t buy the innocent act,” Dan warned him. “ She pulls it all the time.”<br>
Now you were insulted. “I beg your pardon?”<br>
“Just cut to the chase, Piper!” Jack demanded. “Why did you call?”<br>
“What? I didn’t!” you cried.

So Jack shoved passed you and stood at the bottom of the stairs, calling out to Prue, “Prue, I wanna talk to you.”<br>
Dan was showing you his pager. “Isn’t this your number? Look at the message: ‘Come to my house ASAP!.’ “<br>
You glared at him, “That’s really pathetic. Paging yourself!”<br>
“Pathetic?!” he cried, insulted.

Jack was still yelling for Prue.

You smirked at Dan. “I’m sorry, I meant moronic,” and he glared.

Just then Prue came out of the living room.

“What?” cried Dan, really getting angry at you now.

“Why are you here?” Prue demanded of Jack.

“You called,” he told her.

“Oh, you wish.”<br>
Suddenly something hit you. “What is going on?”<br>
It’s what I’d been waiting for. Cupid & I entered the foyer. “Hate, and it’s gotta stop. I asked Jack & Dan to come over here.”<br>
You glared at Cupid. “And what is he still doing here?”<br>
“Trying to help you,” he replied.

“Won’t do any good,” Prue insisted. “No reason for you to hang around here, that’s for sure.”<br>
“Oh, on the contrary,” I told all of you, still flushed from my victory as Cupid’s ring to Max & Cindy. “Everyone on the couch, NOW!”<br>
Jack glared at me. “ Phoebe, just mind your own business!”<br>
Prue glared at him. “Hey, don’t talk to my sister like that!”<br>
“Please,” Cupid begged.

Once more I yelled out, “OKAY, EVERYONE ON THE COUCH NOW!”

[mcharmed21]

A/N Another long update, but I wanted Phoebe to *finally* get a full chance to play Cupid's ring to her sisters! Hope you all enjoy it!!

“C’mon,” I cajoled. “Just give me five minutes. If you still want us to leave, we will,” and Cupid nodded, too.

“Phoebe, I don’t understand,” you said.

“Okay, well, be quiet and you will, I promise.”<br>
And to my surprise, all four of you obeyed, as you & Dan sat on the couch next to Prue & Jack.

Suddenly Dan noticed how pale Cupid was. “You don’t look okay. Are you all right?”<br>
He smiled through clenched teeth: “I’m having a rough day.”<br>
I smiled at him, “But we can change that. You are all acting like you are under some kind of spell.”<br>
That shocked both you & Prue as you cried out my name, afraid I was letting the cat out of the bag.

“Would you stop thinking and just feel?” I asked. “Look, I know that some ugly things were said tonight, but you can get past that.”<br>
Prue crossed her arms in front of her. “Assuming that we want to.”<br>
I smiled at her, “You know you want to.”<br>
“Remember how you felt the first time you saw Jack?” Cupid asked.

“How would you know?” Jack demanded.

“Yeah,” replied Prue, a smile playing around her lips. “I hated him,” and Jack glared.

Cupid smiled back. “My point exactly. Opposites attract. But after a while he started to make you smile, didn’t he? He made you laugh. Look at him again. Remember that.” And Prue & Jack looked at each other, and that smile teasing Prue’s lips broke through.

Then I turned to you. “And, Piper, I watch you when you talk to Dan, and I see light & warmth & hope, and I know you feel that way. And, Dan, you don’t need someone whispering in your ear, telling you not to trust Piper. Trust yourself.”<br>
He turned to you, “I'm not saying you have to tell me everything, but when you deliberately keep
secrets from me I--”<br>
You smiled, “It's not because I want to; I told you it has nothing to do with you.”<br>
“But does it have anything to do with Leo?” he asked.

You shook your head, even though I knew that wasn’t totally true. “No, it has to do with you & me, and what I would like us to become,” and he smiled.

Cupid smiled at me, “It's working.”<br>
“Where is he?” I wanted to know.

“He's close.”<br>
So I turned back to you four. “Okay, okay, here's the plan. Jack, Dan, you go down to the corner market and get whatever you want. If the food of love is Cheetos & soda, then play on. Um, can you pick up a couple of frozen pizzas?”<br>
“So you can talk?” Jack asked, sarcastically.

I smiled at him. “Yes, that's very good, Jack. Very good,;you're quick.”<br>
Dan grinned at him, “I'll drive.”<br>
“Yeah, okay,” I agreed. “Take your time. Bye, bye,” and I waved them out the door..

“Hey, what the hell is going on?” Prue demanded.

“Okay, think, you guys,” I told you. “Do you remember Drazi? Well, he's still alive, and if Cupid's right, he's on his way here as we speak. Whatever bad feelings you had for Dan & Jack, Drazi did it. He's twisted your relationships with hate.”<br>
“So what do we do now?” you asked.

“Exactly what you're doing right now. You let Dan & Jack into your hearts.”<br>
Prue shook her head. “Okay, hold on. I don't love Jack.”<br>
Cupid smiled. “No, but you like him a lot. And it's helped you open to love,” and I couldn’t help thinking about the way she looked when she talked about Bane, the gorgeous criminal.

Just then Drazi walked out of the conservatory and grabbed Cupid! :” Hello, lover boy!” and he reached into Cupid’s chest, grabbing his heart! “I shoulda finished you off the first time!”

[mcharmed21]

A/N Another slightly longer update that has a lot of conversation, so it seems shorter. Again, one I thought was great fun, so I hope you do, too!!

You quickly froze them, then commented, “Okay, so much for loving him to death. What do we do with him now?”<br>
“Same thing, only different,” I replied.

Prue shook her head. “Been there, blew that.”<br>
I grinned as I walked over to the two frozen men. “Yeah, the only difference is the ring won't be protecting him,” as I took the ring off Drazi’s finger, “instead it will be protecting him,” and I put it on Cupid's finger.

“How can you be sure?” you asked.

“I can't,” I admitted as I grabbed a bowl full of the potion off the table. “But love is a risk. If he's taught me anything, it's that,” and as they unfroze, I threw the potion on Drazi.

As he started to melt, he cried out, “No, no! No, not again!” and again he melted and turned into the black ash again, but this time the ash totally disappeared.

“Is he gone this time?” you asked.

Cupid nodded. “Yeah, he's definitely gone.”<br>
“How do you know?” Prue asked.

Cupid smiled. “Because I've never felt better.” Then he turned to me. “I knew you could do it. And now I have to go.”<br>
I smiled sadly, “I know.”<br>
“I won't be far,” he told me, “Don't mourn me, Phoebe. Remember me, celebrate me and seek me out,” and he kissed me before disappearing.

I smiled at the two of you, rubbing my lips. “Now that boy can kiss!” and you two laughed.


A week later, you four were outside of that same movie theatre again. This time you just saw “The Dirty Dozen.”<br>
“You gotta remember though the mission was successful. Bronson made it home,” Dan was explaining..

Jack grinned.: “Just in time to make a death wish,” naming the sequel which would be coming to the theatre soon.

“Oh, no!” Prue cried.

Jack laughed. “You'll love it, I promise.”<br>
I was walking behind you four when Kevin walked up to me. “Sorry, Phoebe. I almost forgot to get our parking validated.”<br>
I smiled at him, “No problem, Kevin.”<br>
“Hey,” he told me, very sincerely. “I just wanted to say I'm really sorry that I canceled on you the other day.”<br>
I grinned. “Love means never having to say you're sorry.”<br>
“What?” he asked.

I felt a bit foolish. “It's nothing. We saw ‘Love Story’ here the other night and, well, never mind.”<br>
“Now I really wish I hadn’t canceled,” he admitted. “I love that movie.”<br>
“Really?” I asked.

He smiled. “Yeah.”<br>
I smiled, “Me too... now.”

[mcharmed21]

We ran to catch up to the rest of you, who were waiting for us.

Prue grinned at me, “Hi.”<br>
I grinned back. “Hello.”<br>
“Let's grab some coffee!” cried Jack. “I am buying,” and this time, all six of us walked into the coffee shop.

Well, Kevin & I went to a number of movies and had some fun together, but that spark that was between you & Leo and you & Dan and Prue & Andy and Prue & Jack just wasn’t there, although we remained friends. But thanks to Cupid, the sparks between you & Dan continued to glow, although Leo was never too far from the back of your mind. That was proven a few weeks later when I walked into the kitchen to find you putting baby things in a basket, talking with Prue.

“Who’s the present for?” Prue was asking, and I was wondering, too.

“Lisa Krieger’s baby shower,” you replied..

I hit my head in embarrassment, just as Prue said, “I forgot.”<br>
“I know,” you replied. “So did Phoebe.”<br>
“Guilty,” I admitted.

“But I’m making it from all of us,” you added, and Prue & I thanked you.

“What’s all in here?” Prue asked.

“Stuff, and I just knitted her a little baby blanket, that’s all,” you replied.

Prue & I looked at each other in amazment. “You knit?” I asked.” I didn’t know that you knit.”<br>
You smiled self-consciously, adding, “Yeah, and I even had some extra yarn left over, and I made her a little bear to match. Kinda cute, huh?” and you held up a darling little blue bear.

Both Prue & I melted. “Oh, hi, ooh, he’s adorable!” I cried, as I grabbed it.

Prue grinned at you, “I guess this is really good practice for you, huh?”<br>
“What are you talking about?” you demanded.

Prue grinned at me. “You, Dan, little Danny,” and I snickered.

“Whoa, slow down!” you cried, putting up your hands. “Dan is the one that has our relationship on the fast track, not me. But don’t get me wrong--he’s great--but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to move in with him or anything else of that nature."

Prue gave me a “Yeah, right,” look, then sarcastically told you, “You know, I just hate guys who aren’t afraid to commit; they are so atypical,” and I giggled.

“It’s not funny, you guys!” you protested. “It’s a problem.”<br>
Remembering you two together since the Cupid-episode, I told you, “Piper, I don’t really see what the problem is. I mean, you and Dan are great together, and you think that you love him, right?” I asked.

You nodded. “I think so. It’s just every time I feel I’m ready to commit to him, I flash back to our little trip to the future and seeing me with Leo & Melinda, not with Dan & Danny.”<br>

[mcharmed21]

Prue blew out a breath in frustration, “Piper, Dan is here, now, in the present. That’s all that matters.”<br>
You nodded. “I know, I know. But I’m not ready for a baby shower either.”<br>
Well, maybe not, but you soon had a chance to have practice--sorta. The next day, I was at the police station, trying to talk Darryl Morris into letting me help him by putting my power into good use--he’d just give me the evidence, I’d touch it and if I got a flash then we’d be in business. Unfortunately for me, Darryl wasn’t buying--his stock at the station was pretty low thanks to his inability to solve all of our unexplainable cases, and he didn’t want the other officers thinking he was now using psychics. As we argued, I spot a crying baby, while three policemen were jiggling their keys things above it, although that wasn’t helping much.

When I wanted to know who would bring a baby to a police station, Morris told me that it was abandoned. I felt so bad for the poor kid, that I went over to try to help distract it. That’s when I saw the blue blanket that said “Matthew” on it. I told the officers that all he needed was love as I took him out of his car seat. That’s when I got zapped with a premonition -- someone taking the baby, when a ghost appeared and zapped the guy!

Well, I talked Darryl into letting us take care of the baby until we could figure out what had happened. Soon you & I were in the living room and you were very gingerly holding Matthew, as I explained what had happened, concluding with, “So I can’t figure out if the premonition was the future or the past. If it was the past, it would make sense that they would abandon him to try to save him.”<br>
Suddenly Matthew started crying, so you held him away from you, “Uh, you know, I’m not really good with these things.”<br>
I looked up to the heavens for help with patience. “Piper, they’re called babies. Just do the rocking walk. He loves the rocking walk.”<br>
So you stood up and tried doing the rocking walk with less than great success. As you did, you asked, “Are you sure it was a ghost?”<br>
I nodded, “Yeah, I think I know ghosts by now. I just can’t figure out why a mean ghost would want to hurt that cute little baby.”<br>
“And how did you talk Darryl into letting you take him home?” you asked.

I shrugged. “I just told him about the premonition. The only problem is, he said we have twenty-four hours before Social Services start asking questions.”<br>
“So what are we supposed to do with him now?” you asked. “Raise him in the ways of witchcraft? Teach him how to fight ghosts?” Matthew obviously didn’t think that was a good idea, because he started screaming, so you thrust him at me, “Okay, maybe you should take him.”

So I took him and bounced him in my lap saying, “That’s a good baby. A very good little baby.” I grinned at you when he stopped crying. “Okay!” and I put him back in his car seat.

You looked at me admiringly, “Wow, you really are a natural at this.”<br>
I grinned, “Yeah, I can’t wait to have a baby of my own some day.”<br>
You smiled. “I’m beginning to think Dan fell in love with the wrong sister.” I looked at you as if you were nuts, so you shook it aside. “Nothing. Never mind,” and you picked up the bear you made and waved it in front of him. “Hi, sweetie, do you like bears?” and Matthew threw up on the
bear!

You looked at me, shocked & upset, and I shrugged, “Yeah, he doesn’t like things being waved in his face.”<br>
You rolled your eyes, “Obviously,” then went to find a towel so you could wipe off him and the bear.

Just then the door swun opened and Prue walked in, not happy and not quiet. “This better be good because my New York trip is at stake!” and we both cried out “SHH!”

[mcharmed21]

That’s when Prue noticed Matthew. “We have a baby?”<br>
You nodded, “Phoebe picked it up at the police station.”<br>
Prue looked at me in shock, “Okay, I-I-I thought that you were going to ask about a job, not a kid.”<br>
I shrugged, “I was, and I was trying, and then this abandoned baby came in.”<br>
“Abandoned?” she asked as she looked over the car seat, and I nodded. “In an Eddie Bauer car seat and a blanket lined in silk? I don’t get it. If the parents could afford such expensive stuff, then how come they couldn’t keep the kid?”<br>
“I don’t think that’s why he was abandoned,” I told her.

Just then Matthew started making noises again. “Oh, no!” you cried. “He’s like a car alarm. Any sudden vibration just sets him off, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it.”<br>
I smirked at Prue. “She’s still got baby issues.”<br>
Prue nodded, “Mmm, I noticed.”<br>
You rolled your eyes at us. “Look, Phoebe had a vision of a ghost chasing the baby.”<br>
I nodded. “And a man carrying the baby. Probably his father. Darryl said I could drop by at lunch and he could get a sketch artist to help me ID him.”<br>
Prue nodded, “Good, because the only way to find out why the ghost is after the baby is by finding out who he belongs to.”<br>
I nodded, “So I better go.”<br>
“What?” you cried, panicking.

Prue nodded. “Yeah, I gotta get back to work. Just keep me posted,” and we both began grabbing our coats & purses.

Now you went into full panic mode. “Whoa, whoa, wait! You can’t leave me here alone with him!”<br>
“Piper, you’re gonna be fine,” I assured you.. “Don’t be afraid.”<br>
Prue grinned. “Yeah, just think of it as a test run.”<br>
“I don’t need a test run!” you protested. “I remember when Phoebe was a baby, and it was hard on Mom and endless, and with you dropping her all the time.”<br>
That threw me as I stared at Prue. “You, what?!”<br>
Prue shrugged that aside. “Okay, moving on, what’s the point?”<br>
“The point is we need things,” you pointed out. “Like diapers and bottles and formulas and a million other things.”<br>
Prue nodded: “Fine, I’ll go shopping on my way home.”<br>
“And I’m gonna go see Morris,” I reminded you. “You’re gonna be fine okay. Just do the rocking walk. okay? You’re gonna be fine,” and out the door Prue & I went.

Well, as you later told Prue & me, Matthew started crying almost the moment we walked out and no matter what you did, nothing could make him stop. Just when you were about to tear your hair out, there was a knock on the door and there was Dan. He grinned at the crying baby, took him from you, sat down and began bouncing him on his lap. Soon Matthew stopped crying.“This is called the jiggle,” he explained. “It gives the babies a nice warm moving-around-in the womb feeling.

“You are absolutely amazing,” .you told him. “I tried everything, and nothing worked.”<br>
He grinned. “Well, it helps to come from a big family. Once you’ve mastered the jiggle, you’ll be able to do the wave,” and he began swaying with Matthew, who began giggling.. “You wanna give it a try?” Dan asked.

You shook your head, “No, let’s not mess with a good thing,” as you continued to watch him sway with the baby.

He smiled at you, “You’re staring.”<br>
You smiled back, “I like seeing you this way.”

[mcharmed21]

Just then Prue walked in the back door, loaded down with bags. “You have no idea how expensive having a baby is. So I’ll tell you. $312.46 to be exact.”<br>
“No way!” you cried, worried that she had broken our household budget.

Dan grinned. “Well, your timing’s perfect. Cousin Matthew needs a change.”<br>
Prue nodded and got a blanket out of one of the bags, laying it out on the table. “All right, there we go,” and Dan put Matthew on the blanket, and Prue began taking his diaper off, to discover a “surprise”. “Oh!” she cried.

You wrinkled your nose, too, “Ohh, that is ripe!”<br>
“What does this kid live on?” Prue wanted to know. “Wheat grass?”<br>
“I can change him,” Dan offered..

You shook your head, figuring he wouldn’t always be around. “No, no. We got it.”<br>
Prue nodded. “All right, I got hyper-allergenic wipes, diaper rash cream and super-absorbent diapers.”<br>
You were holding the rolled up diaper as far away from you as you could, “What are we supposed to do with the...”<br>
“Just toss it,” Prue told you, and you nodded..

“Hey,” Dan warned, “Don’t forget to clean up under his--” just as a stream of pee shot up at us. Instinctively you froze it just before it hit you two. Of course, Dan froze, too.

“Okay, so maybe only one of us should change him,” Prue suggested..

“Be my guest,” you offered..

Prue nodded. “On the count of three. Ready? One, two, three.,” and you unfroze the spray while Prue used her power to move it, so it would miss you two.

Dan was laughing, “Boys will be boys,” and you guys continued changing Matthew.

But when Prue tried to put the diaper on, it was too small. Now it was Prue’s turn to panic. “Oh, it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t fit.”<br>
“Probably the wrong size,” Dan suggested.

Prue glared at him. “How was I supposed to know what size to get?”<br>
“Look, I got it,” he told you as he grabbed a dish towel, which he folded into a diaper.

“Oh, how nice!” Prue cried, while you just watched admiringly.

He finished diapering Matthew. “There we go,” then he turned to look at you, “How’s that?”<br>
You were amazed. “Wow! You're like MacGyver with estrogen!”<br>
“Thanks,” he replied. “I think. Actually, cloth diapers are more environmentally friendly but harder to use.” He grinned at Matthew, who was cooing at him. “There, such a good boy.”<br>
Prue looked right at Dan, then at you, “Yes he is,” and you rolled your eyes at her.

“If you want, I can pick up the right size on the way home,” Dan offered.

You smiled, “Thanks, that'd be great.”<br>
He smiled, “Not a problem,” as he handed the baby to Prue.

She grinned at him, “Oh, hi.”<br>
Dan smiled at you, “See you tonight,” as he left.

“You know what is so weird?” Prue asked, as she handed the baby to you.

“What?” you asked.

“Well, it’s that, um...”<br>
Suddenly something hit you. “Why are you giving him to me?”<br>
She grinned as she ran out the room. “Coz I gotta go!”<br>
“That's twice!” you hollered. “I'm counting!”<br>

[mcharmed21]

A/N Tonight I'm so tired, that I can't answer your posts, so just let me say thanks and here comes Part Seventy-Three!!

Meanwhile, I was at the police station, describing the guy in my premonition to the police sketch artist. When the guy wanted to know what to do with the sketch--put it on the wire, put out on APD or ship it to the psychic hotline?--Darryl told him to just print us up a copy, run it through the data base, try to get us a name, and when he looked at Darry strangely, Darryl told him to just do it.

Well, I also had Darryl fax it to Prue, who recognized him as Gilbert Van Lewen, whose family had a huge art collection, part of which they wanted to sell when his father mysteriously died the previous summer. Then she remembered that she had just read somewhere that his brother died a couple of days earlier. so we knew the ghost was after all of the male Van Lewens, and when I told her that we should go to the estate and have a chat, and she didn’t want to, I told her it would help to have an active power there just in case the ghost shows up, she agreed--after all who wants to go to New York anyway?

When we got there we found out that we were too late for Gilbert, who was Matthew’s father--they were just bringing out his body as we arrived. Well, by pretending we were with Darryl (which he didn’t like one bit), we did some snooping and was able to find Alexandra, Matthew’s mother, so we were able to tell her that we were trying to help her, but she just wanted us to leave, so we did.

Back at the Manor in the kitchen, Prue & I were sitting at the table, both of us working on our laptops. Suddenly we heard a baby wailing and you walked in, holding Matthew. You wailed, too. “Okay, isn't it anybody else's turn? I'm dying here.”<br>
I nodded. “Just a bit longer. I had no idea there was so much information about the Van Lewens on the internet.”<br>
Prue also nodded. “Yeah, and Jack's postponed the presentation which means I've got until morning to salvage it,” as she began printing out some pages.

You were confused. “I don't understand why you just didn't come out and tell them we had Matthew.”<br>
Prue shook her head firmly. “Because we couldn't risk the ghost following us home and finding him.”<br>
I nodded. “All right, we have to figure out how to vanquish the ghost.”<br>
“Yeah,” put in Prue. “In less than twelve hours before Darryl comes and takes him away."

“Well,” I pointed out. “The thing about ghosts is they always haunt for a specific reason, and it's always personal. So I know the Van Lewens know this ghost, and I'm going to find him.”<br>
“No,” you declared. “I'm going to find him. Okay, time's up. He's all yours,” and you handed the still-wailing Matthew towards me, so I stood up, while you sat down at the laptop.

I tried the rolling walk “I know,” I cooed. “It’s okay, baby, it’s okay,” but Matthew continued to cry. Now I was beginning to panic. “Why isn’t he stopping; he’s not stopping! Why isn’t he stopping?”<br>
“Maybe it’s a hungry cry,” you suggested.

I shook my head, ”We just fed him.”<br>
“Maybe it’s a sleepy cry,” Prue suggested..

“If it is a sleepy cry, then why doesn’t he just fall asleep?” you demanded.

Then it hit me. “Maybe it’s a burpy cry,” so I pat him on his back, and he threw up all over Prue’s printout!

You shook your head. “Something tells me it’s going to be a very long night.”<br>
And it was.

[mcharmed21]

A/N Thanks, SciFi! It was nice to see that Phoebe wasn't quite the Ms. Mom that she thought she was!!! Just for you, here's Part Seventy-Four!

Later on, 2:00 in the morning, to be precise, we were in the living room. You were . reading a book; Prue was holding Matthew, and I was back on the laptop.

“I thought that babies slept a lot,” Prue grumbled..

I shrugged. “Yeah, obviously one of those lies they’ll tell you so you wanna get pregnant.”<br>
You smirked at me, “So much for being the natural.”<br>
I glared back, “Hey, everyone has their limits.” I quickly changed topics. “Anything in Dr. Spock?”<br>
You shook your head. “Nothing that we haven’t already tried. How’s the search going?”<br>
“Not so good,” I replied. “The Van Lewens are seriously loaded. There could be hundreds of dead people that could be holding a grudge against them.”<br>
“Why don’t you just focus on the time of Martha’s husband’s death?” Prue suggested. “I mean, that was the first---” when suddenly Matthew started whimpering.

“What did you do?” I demanded.

“I didn’t do anything!” she retorted.

“Well, do something!” you cried, and Prue did. She laid him down on his blanket on the floor and tipped all her stuff out of her purse. She then used her power, so all the stuff floated above Matthew, who cooed and aahed, as he tried to reach for the pretty shiny moving objects.

“Doesn’t that fall under the personal gain category?” you wanted to know.

“Oh, who cares!” declared Prue, which tells you how desperate we were. “It’s working, isn’t it?” Now she smiled at him. “Oh, he likes it; that is so sweet!”<br>
But she sure didn’t think so when he suddenly passed a whole lot of wind and we knew he had another loaded diaper.

I looked at the two of you. “Oh, no, not again!”<br>
“You guys’ turn,” you declared, “I have an idea!” So Prue & I brought Matthew back into the kitchen, so we could clean him off and re-diaper him with the larger-sized diapers that Dan had bought.

Just as we finished, you walked in, carrying the Book of Shadows. “Okay, forget Dr. Spock, this is the only book we need.”<br>
“The Book of Shadows?” you asked. “I don’t think so.”<br>
“Well, Mom wrote spells in it, right?” you asked, flipping through the pages. I was about to protest that we were not going to put a spell on this baby to make him stop crying, when you continued, “And with three girls, there has to be something in here about, you know, how to do--Oh, here it is.”<br>
“What does it say?” I asked eagerly.

You read it, "Sometimes a baby just has to cry."

Prue looked up. “Thanks, Mom,” she sighed sarcastically.

I was frustrated. “I don’t understand why this is so hard. We’re women; this should be in our DNA.”<br>
Just then Matthew started crying. You’d had it, so you froze him. You looked at us helplessly. “I can’t keep doing this all night.”<br>
Well, you tried, and somewhere in the middle of the night, we all fell asleep, heads on the table. When you woke up, wondering where Matthew was, Dan walked in, holding him. You stared at him in amazement.

He smiled at you, “What?”<br>
You smiled back, “Just wondering if you’re too good to be true.”<br>
He grinned back, “Maybe some day you’ll find out through personal experience,” as you stood up. “He’s fed and diapered, but I have to go to work,” and he handed Matthew to you.

You smiled, “Thanks for that.”<br>
Again he smiled. “It was my pleasure. He really is beautiful. Just like his cousin,” and he kissed
you before leaving

[mcharmed21]

You set Matthew back in his car seat just as Prue & I woke up. We quickly discovered that we all had to leave FAST--Prue to her presentation; you & me to check with Martha Van Lewen, Matthew’s grandmother, since I wasn’t going anywhere near a ghost without someone with an active power. Well, we were just getting ready to run, when we remembered that we were forgetting something, or rather, someone!

And since you & I couldn’t bring the baby back home, that’s how Matthew ended up going to Buckland’s, which didn’t sit well with Jack one bit, let me tell you! In fact, it ended up costing Prue her chance to go to New York! Although she wasn’t happy about that, she figured it was worth it to help reunite Matthew with his mother, which we were finally able to do.

Even after all the fuss, it wasn’t easy to let him go, but we knew we had to do it. You even gave his mother the little blue bear. When Alexandra wanted to know how she could thank us, I just asked if we could baby-sit once in awhile, and she agreed.

Later, we all sat at the bar at P3. “So,” I asked. “How many kids do you think I'm going to have one day?”<br>
Prue grinned. “I'd say five.”<br>
You shook your head. “More. At least six.”<br>
“Ow!” I cried. “What makes you say that?”<br>
“Oh, please, Phoebs,” you cried. “You were born to be a mom.”<br>
Prue agreed. “No doubt about it.”<br>
“Yeah, you think?” I asked, pleased.

Then I got melancholy. “I miss that little guy already. Although being a surrogate mom for the last twenty-four hours has taught me I have a long way to go before I'm ready for it full-time. I gotta get my life together first.”<br>
Prue grinned. “Yeah, find a guy maybe?”<br>
I grinned back, “That might help, huh? Unlike Piper's guy, who is like Mr. Mom.”<br>
She smiled. “Yeah, Dan was really great with Matthew, wasn't he?”<br>
“More like a Godsend,” I declared.

You nodded. “Yeah, I think that's what scares me. He's like, flawless. He's great at everything. He's great-looking, fun; he's great with babies.”<br>
Prue heard your unspoken word and said it, “But...” she prompted.

You shrugged. “But I don't know. He's just a little too perfect. I feel a little imperfect around him.”<br>
I smiled. “Well, maybe that's why you were uncomfortable with Matthew. Maybe because of Dan, you were resisting your own maternal instincts.”<br>
Prue stared at me, “Where did that come from?”<br>
I grinned. “Cosmo, where else?” Then I spot someone. “Look over there, there's Jack!”<br>
“Jack?” Prue asked unbelievingly.

I nodded. “Yeah, Jack,” and she walked over. As she did, I spot Kevin, so I quickly dragged him onto the dance floor, close enough so I could overhear Prue & Jack, of course.

Prue must’ve asked him why he wasn’t in New York, because he was replying, “I didn't wanna go without my partner. I don't want you to think this gesture of mine is in any way of a sign of you involving maturity, in case having your cousin Matthew around given you any ideas.”<br>
Prue grinned. “No, the only idea I have is that one day, maybe sooner, maybe later, I'm gonna make a great mom. And you know, hopefully I'll find the right guy.”<br>
Jack raised his hands in defense, “Well, I think you should know that being as I'm still a kid myself, I don't think I'd be doing anyone any favors by pretending to be the right guy.”<br>
Prue’s grin grew bigger. “Well, I didn't say I was looking for the right guy tonight. You'll do. Let's dance,” and as they headed for the dance floor, Dan walked in, so pretty soon we were once more able to enjoy dancing with our guys.

However, just a few weeks later, something happened that totally changed the status quo between Dan & you & Leo.

[mcharmed21]

I was walking down the steps at P3, looking at the bar where you were cutting up some yellow spiky fruit. Suddenly you began coughing, so your went to get glass of water and took a sip, just as I came up to the bar.

“Oh,” you exclaimed, “I am so glad to see you.”<br>
I grinned. “Is that because I can work tonight or is it because I am now ‘Phoebe Halliwell, college student’?”<br>
“Okay, neat, thin slices, please,” you ordered. Then what I said hit you. “Wait, you enrolled?” and I nodded, grinning like the Cheshire cat. “Phoebe, this is huge!”<br>
I agreed. “Hugest thing I’ve done since I came back home. I mean, aside from vanquishing demons and saving the world from evil, of course. Okay, so I signed up for two general courses,” and I took a sheet of paper out of my bag and handed it to you.

“And seven electives,” you pointed out. “Seven, Phoebs?”<br>
I shrugged. “All right, so I’m a little confused. I could use some advice. What do you think I should take?” But before you could answer, you started coughing harder. “Honey,” I asked, concerned. “Are you okay?”<br>
Your turn to shrug. “Yeah, it’s just a little cough.”<br>
I grinned. “I bet Prue made you have soup at lunch today after she heard that little cough. She’s as bad as you said Mom was when it comes to colds.”<br>
You shrugged again. “I had to cancel actually. Last night’s paperwork took a bit longer than expected.”<br>
“So I guess you missed your massage today also?”.

Another shrug. “A reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle called and had a ton of questions about the club.”<br>
Now I began to get a little upset. “Piper, you have got to take care of yourself. You’ve been feeling funky since yesterday.”<br>
You shook that off. ““It’s probably just a bug.”<br>
But now I was more concerned than ever. “Even more reason for you not to push it.”<br>
But you shook that off, too. “I’m fine, besides it’s all paying off--the club is finally doing well; we’re making money--now would you slice?”<br>
So I picked up a knife and a piece of fruit and began slicing it. Then I looked the fruit over. It looked different than anything I’d seen before. “What kind of fruit is this anyway?” I wanted to know.

You grinned. “Kiwano. It’s from South America. It’s great for Mai Tais. Just got them in yesterday actually. The bartender has a connection at the docks.”<br>
I looked at you in surprise. “Wait, you smuggled it in?”<br>
You rolled your eyes. Oh, it’s fruit, Phoebe, not drugs.”<br>
I wasn’t convinced. “Look, just because we’re witches, does not mean you’re invincible. Okay, you need to start taking care of yourself.”<br>
You bowed, grinning. “Thank you, Doctor.”<br>
I grinned. “Hey! “Doctor Phoebe Halliwell!”. I like it!”<br>
You grinned. “Well, Dr. Halliwell, start practicing your surgical techniques on that kiwano!” and I grinned and went back to slicing.


Later that night, I returned to P3 and spot you walking through the crowd. I couldn’t believe it. You looked as pale as a ghost. I ran up to you. “Piper, you need to go home right now.”.

You looked at me indignantly. “Phoebe, I’m fine, I’m just,” Suddenly you stopped and a real strange look crossed your face. “Phoebe, you’re right,” and you fainted dead away!!.

Well, I panicked. “Oh, my God,” I screamed. “Call 911!”<br>

[mcharmed21]

A/N Me, too!!! Hope I can do it justice!!! Thanks, both of you, for reading and replying!! Here's a nice long update for you, since I couldn't find a better spot to stop without making it too short. It's another one of my favorites--I love Phoebe with Nathan!!

Soon the ambulance arrived and the paramedics came running into P3. They worked on you for quite awhile, but couldn’t get you to come to, so they decided to take you to the hospital. letting me ride with them. As we flew through the streets of San Francisco, I phoned Prue, who agreed to meet us there.

A couple hours later, you were lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to a bunch of machines, stil out cold. Prue stood on one side, while I stood on the other, holding your hands, which is where we’d both been since we arrived. I glanced at the clock. “Dr. Wallace said he’d have the tests back an hour ago.” She nodded. “I’m going to go find out.”<br>
She nodded, so I walked out the door, heading towards the receptionist’s desk. The nurse had her back facing me, so I called out, “Uh, him, Nurseperson.”<br>
It worked; she turned around, so I asked, “Can you tell me where Dr. Wallace is? He said that my sister’s test results should be in by eight and it’s twenty past eight now.”<br>
“What’s your sister’s name?” she asked.

“Piper. Halliwell. Yeah. Piper Halliwell,” I managed to spit out.

The nurse checked her computer screen. “Piper Halliwell has been transferred to Dr. Williamson’s care. If you have a seat in the waiting area, I’ll page him.”<br>
Dr. Wallace is our regular doctor. Why had Piper been transferred? So I asked, “What happened to Dr. Wallace?”<br>
And in typical-nurse fashion, she was very placating without giving much information, “I’m sure that Dr. Williamson will be able to answer all of your questions. Please, have a seat in the waiting room.”<br>
I wasn’t happy with her response, but I was also pretty sure I wouldn’t get any more info from her, so I agreed and went over to the waiting room and sat down. As I waited, a boy in a wheelchair came up to me.

“Are you sick. too?” he asked.

“No, I’m not sick,” I replied.

“Then why do you look so sad?” he asked.

I smiled at him. “My sister’s here, and they don’t know what’s wrong with her.”<br>
“The doctor’s don’t know what’s wrong with me either,” he told me. “Maybe your sister and I have the same thing.”<br>
I was starting to like this boy, who made me think of little Matthew grown a little older. “ What is your name?” I asked, fully expecting it to be Matthew.

But the boy replied, “Nathan.”<br>
I grinned. “Well, hello, Nathan. I’m Phoebe.” Then I noticed the action figure sitting in his lap. “And who is that?” I asked.

“Ninja doll,” he replied, pretending that he was too old for dolls, but obviously still interested in it. “I found him in the children's ward.”<br>
I smiled. “You know, I don’t think that’s a Ninja doll. If I know my Ninja dolls, I think that one’s really a magical wit…zard.”<br>
“Really?” Nathan asked, fascinated. “How can you tell?”<br>
My smile grew bigger. “Well, let me see him,” and I took the Ninja from his lap and pretended to look him over carefully. “Yep. I’ve seen what his type can do. He’s got powers. He can move things and freeze things and can kick-box too. And the really cool thing about him is he can do all this to the de...to the bad guys inside your body without anyone even knowing about it.”<br>
Now Nathan was really fascinated. “Really? He can freeze the bad guys and move them?”<br>
“And kick-box them too,” I reminded him, wishing I could tell him that the Ninja got premonitions, too. “ Don’t forget that. Right out of your body. All you have to do is when you feel bad, you close your eyes and just picture him fighting them for you. Do you think you can do that?”<br>
Hope began to grow in Nathan’s eyes. “Yeah, I can do that.”<br>
Just then a bunch of doctors walked up. “Phoebe Halliwell?”<br>
I stood up, “Yes?”

One of them, young, good-looking, but also very intensive-looking, reached out his hand. “I’m Dr. Williamson.”<br>
I shook his hand. “Hi.” and we began to walk back towards your room. First I turned back to Nathan, waving. “Bye, it was nice to meet you.”<br>
He grinned, waving, too. “See ya.”<br>
“And who are they?” I asked, pointing at the other doctors accompanying him.

“Medical interns,” Dr. Williamson replied.. “They’ll be viewing my work with your sister.”<br>
“Because…” I prompted.

“Because they’re studying the same field that I did. I’m an infectious disease specialist.”

At that point we reached your door. As he opened it, I cried out, “Specialist? Wait!” wanting to know what infectious disease you had and whether you'd be okay.

But he pushed the door open and I cried out again, this time in pure joy when I saw that you were awake, talking with Prue!

[mcharmed21]

A/N I'm with you two; I *loved* Phoebe in this eppi, and felt so bad for her when Nathan forgot about the kick-boxing! And I agree with her totally at the end of this part!

Dr. Williamson walked to your bed. “Miss Halliwell, I’m Dr. Williamson.”<br>
"Um, he’s a specialist,” I explained.

“Where’s Dr. Wallace?” you wanted to know.

“I’ll be keeping him posted,” he told you. “How are you feeling?”<br>
“Okay,” you replied, then admitted, “A little hot.”<br>
“Have you been out of the country recently?” he asked. “Africa, South America, Caribbean?”<br>
We all rolled our eyes at that as you answered what we were thinking. “I wish. No. I haven’t been out of the city.”<br>
“Well apparently you’ve attracted a blood disease rarely seen in the United States,” he told you. “Arroyo Fever.”<br>
“How is that possible?” Prue wanted to know.

“Well, Arroyo Fever’s transmitted through a bite of sand fly which dies right after the bite,” he informed her, then turned back to you. “Have you had anything imported brought into your home recently?”<br>
You shook your head. “No.”<br>
“But you have in the club!” I cried. “What was the name of that weird fruit?”<br>
“Kiwano,” you replied.

Dr. Williamson nodded. “That’s a possible carrier. Sometimes the fly’s been known to live long enough in the crate to make the trip, but rarely survives the quarantine period,” and remembering that that crate at P3 wasn't quarantined, I could only think, Oh, no!!!

“I think I have a bite on my shoulder,” you told him, and showed him the bite.

“When did you get this?” he wanted to know.

“Just after I opened the crate of fruit,” you replied.

Dr. Williamson turned towards one of the interns. “Tell the nurse I need ten cc’s of penildron. Stat!”<br>
The intern nodded, “Right away, Doctor,” and hurried out the door.

Now Dr. Williamson turned back to you. “It’s a high-grade antibiotic which will be most effective when administered through an IV. Should bring your fever down.” Just then his pager beeped. He glanced at it, then added, “’I’ve got to run some more tests on your blood. I’ll be back shortly.”<br>
He began to leave, but I stopped him. “Excuse me, she’s gonna be okay, right? I mean, it’s not life-threatening.”<br>
He refused to meet my eyes. “Well, I’ll know better after I run more tests. Excuse me,” and he left.

I sat on the bed. Prue and I stared at you, forcing smiles.

“I’ll be okay,” you assured us.

Prue nodded. “Yeah, I mean he didn’t seem too worried. Just prescribed antibiotics.”<br>
“The tests are just to confirm his diagnosis, I’m sure,” you agreed.

Prue noticed that I was awful quiet. “Yeah, don’t you agree, Phoebe?” she asked.

I shook my head. “I think we should call Leo.”