I Dream of Phoebe...And its Aftermath

[Esmeralda]

Author’s Note: During the summer between Season Six and Season Seven, I came up with an idea. I'd do a novelization of Season Six, but besides the scripts, I’d also include fanfics that include scenes that I thought should’ve been part of that season and weren’t. I'd do it as a letter from Phoebe to her nephew Chris, telling him all about that mysterious whitelighter from the future--Chris Perry!

Well, I wrote and got the permission for a number of authors to use their ideas, however, for various reasons, that novel died. This probably does the best job of showing how I was planning on doing that novel--it first retells the episode “I Dream of Phoebe” from Phoebe’s point of view--my own favorite of the episodes that I retold--and then retells one of the best “tweener” fics ever written.

DISCLAIMER

I don’t own any characters from Charmed--they are all owned by Spelling Productions and the WB, now the CW. This story was not written for sale, but is meant only for the visitors to websites for fans of the show Charmed. My thanks to Shay Fitzpatrick of charmedscipts.tv for the transcription of Charmed Episode 6.15: I Dream of Phoebe” which I used as a basis for the first part of this story www.charmedscripts.tv/i_dream_of_phoebe.htm and to Aurora Nightstar for her fantastic fic, “Aftermath of a Wish”, which I used with her permission as a basis for the last part. This fanfic is lovingly, gratefully dedicated to her.

I DREAM OF PHOEBE--AND ITS AFTERMATH
by Esmeralda

Based on

"I Dream of Phoebe" written by Curtis Kheel
and
"The Aftermath of A Wish" written by Aurora Nightstar

CHAPTER ONE

All I was doing was walking into the Mirror’s bullpen, heading for my office when I was stopped by Sophie, my assistant, so I asked her if I had any calls. She handed me a large stack of messages with a roll of her eyes. "Take your pick…adulterers, cross-dressers, 34-year-old virgins, your nephew."

"Chris called?" I asked, surprised.

Sophie shook her head, smiling as she remembered, “"No, Wyatt. Actually, Piper did the dialing.” Then she looked at me in confusion. “Do you have another nephew?"

Oh, Chris, I thought, frustrated. Why did I have to be the one who found out? I’m still the Halliwell who can’t keep a secret! Aloud I said, “Um, sorta. I mean, someday…You know what? Just give me those." Flustered, I grabbed my messages and hurried into my office, shutting the door.

To my surprise, the very nephew whose existence I was trying to help keep secret was standing in my office, waiting for me. “"Phoebe, I need your help."

"Chris!” I cried. “I've been calling you all week. Didn't you hear me?"

He smiled, shrugging. “The first couple days…then I put you on mute."

I looked at him in shock. “You can put me on mute?" Leo never did that to us. Or at least I don’t think he did!

He shrugged again. "I had to; I was busy. Now I need your help."

I plopped down on my chair. “Yeah, and I need yours. You dropped this bombshell on me and then took off. Keeping your secret isn't easy, you know, and I'm not even sure why I'm doing it."

He looked at me, terrified. “"Nobody can find out Piper and Leo are my parents--it could mess with the future."

I glared. “Well, if you didn't want anyone to find out, you shouldn't have told me."

Again he shrugged. “I told you because you busted me!” Then he smiled again, admitting, “But I'm glad you did. I've been so focused on saving Wyatt, I forgot about me, my conception date--it's THIS month."

"Your conception date?" I asked, confused.

"That's where I've been--soothsayers, oracles, fortune tellers--they all say the same thing. If Mom and Dad don't screw this month, I'M screwed!"

I stared in shock at his language, putting up my hand to stop him. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! I'm still getting used to you being my nephew. Wait, I never hit on you, did I?"

"What?” he asked, before impatiently asking, “Oh, could we focus here? Mom and Dad need to have sex. You wanna tell them or should I?"

Said, WHAT?? Then I shook my head, very firmly insisting, "Nobody's telling them anything. The divorce tore those two apart. We're not reopening those wounds."

"Then how do we get them together?" he demanded.

Oh, no, he didn’t! "'We'?” I asked sarcastically. “Don't 'we' me, buster. You're the one who broke them up. And why did you split up your parents exactly?"

He sighed impatiently, rolling his eyes as he explained. “Dad had to become an Elder to make room for me as your whitelighter. It was my only chance to stop Wyatt from turning evil."

I almost laughed. “You know, you're some piece of work. Most children from broken homes feel guilty they caused the divorce, but for you--” I shook my head in amazement and a bit of disgust. “it was the master plan."

He rolled his eyes. "I'm sensing some issues here."

Now I was mad. “You're damned right! You can't just pop in from the future like this and play with people's lives because your big brother picked on you!"

"He picked on the world!" he exclaimed.

"I'm not finished!” I yelled back. “Your parents were happy until you broke them up. And now you want MY help because your master plan didn't include a family plan to cover your a$$? Too bad!"

He waited for a few minutes, then grinned. "Feel better?"

I hated admitting it, but I shrugged, yelling, “YES!"

"Will you help me?" and big puppy-dog eyes begged me, the same puppy-dog eyes you use with such great success, nephew mine.

I tried to ignore them. “No! I mean --I don't know. I want to, Chris. But Piper's finally passed the pain of breaking up; Leo too. If we mess with that --”

"You'll save my life,” he reminded me, those puppy-dog eyes begging louder, now with a bit of fear and desperation in them. “If I'm not conceived in the next couple weeks, I'll disappear forever!” I'll admit that I was just beginning to think that maybe that wasn't such a bad idea, when he grabbed the stack of letters for Ask Phoebe. "You're willing to solve problems for strangers; how about family?"

Even as I glared at him, I grabbed the stack of letters from him and was hit with a premonition: A demon shooting a light dart at a terrified dark woman, dressed in a strange costume, and who cowers and falls to her knees, as the light dart sparks against the wall over her head.

As I came out of it, Chris asked, "What is it? What'd you see?"

I looked at him. “A woman--being attacked."

And if I ever wondered if he was truly Piper and Leo’s son, the look of concern for an innocent convinced me, as did his impatient, concerned. "Where?"

Soon, after a quick orb to the Manor attic where I did some quick scrying, Chris orbed us into a dark cave chamber somewhere in Arabia. Arabic inscriptions were painted on the torch-lit walls, while large holes were dug into the ground, surrounded by discarded shovels and scaffolding…all evidence of an archeological dig. With the desert behind us, Chris and I entered the chamber, tensely looking around.

"Looks like a dig site," I commented.

He nodded. “Yeah, under a desert in the Middle East. Are you sure your scrying wasn't off?"

I shrugged. “Maybe Jinny was an archeologist."

He shook his head, confused. “Why would an archeologist in the Middle East send a letter to an advice columnist in San Francisco?"

I shrugged. “You read it; it said she was involved with a very controlling man."

He rolled his eyes. “You're missing my point. I'm saying what if we're being led into a trap?"

He bent to look into a hole, and suddenly a scimitar flew right by us, embedding itself in the wall where his head just was. We both spun to the entrance of the cave to see two Arabian thieves cornering us.

I smiled at my nephew. “Then I'd say it's a good thing I came armed." And grabbing a vial from inside my pocket, I threw it so it landed at the feet of the thieves and exploded, vanquishing both of the thieves.

Chris uncovered his ears, then looked around. "Think anyone heard them?"

Suddenly, a light dart struck Chris hard in the shoulder, knocking him across the cave and into a wall. I turned in shock to see the demon from my premonition, on a flying carpet no less, a strange-looking bottle tied to his waist. The demon dove at us, and Chris gestured, sending a scaffolding off the wall. The demon reared back on his carpet, barely avoiding the scaffolding, but it knocked the bottle free. Watching it fall, he cried out, "No!!"

But before he could retrieve bottle, I threw another potion vial--it exploded against the bottom of the hovering carpet, spinning it, and the demon, around…but not vanquishing him. He retreated out of the cave. and I hurried over to Chris, whose shoulder was bleeding, "You okay?" I asked, worried.

Again the customary shrug. “I'll live.” Then he asked in surprise, “Was that a flying carpet?"

I didn’t reply as I muttered, “I wonder what this is…" I picked up the bottle and as I wiped away the dust to reveal faded Arabic writing, a puff of green smoke shot out and Jinny, the woman from my premonition, our innocent, smoked in. She smiled at me. "Thanks for responding to my letter."

I stared at her in shock, now recognizing her outfit as that of a genie. “"Wait, are you…Jinny?"

She smiled, bowing. “At your service…Master."

[Esmeralda]

CHAPTER TWO

Later, I watched while Leo inspected Chris' wound. Jinny, who was standing behind me, whispered that she could heal Chris. I shook my head and told her that Leo had it covered, and Jinny praised me for saving my wishes. Yeah, right. I remembered another time we were “masters” to a genie, an experience I didn’t particularly want to relive, even if I did get to have an active power for awhile. Man, I miss levitation and flying!

Anyway, while healing Chris, Leo turned to me. "Did you get a good look at the demon?"

I nodded. “Yeah. I'll see what I can find in the Book when we're done here. I called Paige to help me keep an eye on Jinny."

Jinny gave me a hurt look. “There is no need to guard me. Even if I was not bound to serve you, I would do it anyway, for sparing me from Bosk."

"Bosk?" I asked.

She nodded. “My last master. He is cruel, even for a demon. And I would know. My bottle has been passed around from demon to demon for centuries."

Leo looked at her, sympathy in his eyes. “That's terrible."

She shuddered. “You cannot begin to know. That is why I got a message to Phoebe. I knew if she had my bottle, she would wish me free."

I shook my head firmly. “I'm sorry, Jinny, no wishes. I know how genies work. You're tricksters. I make a wish to be rich, and you turn me into tiramisu."

Suddenly we heard that insistent jingle. "I gotta get back Up There,” Leo told us regretfully. “Think you can handle this without Piper?"

Chris looked around, worried. "Where is Piper?"

"On a date." Leo replied matter-of-factly.

"It's the middle of the day!” cried Chris, shocked.

I shrugged. “Greg works the night shift."

"Greg the fireman?” Chris demanded, even more shocked, as his face grew even paler than usual. “You mean, the guy she's intensely, sexually attracted to? She can't…I mean, what if…" He spun on Leo, demanding, "Doesn't that bother you?"

He shook his head. “No, if he makes her happy; that's all that matters."

Chris stared at him as if he was nuts. “Come on, all you two went through--forbidden lovers, you and me against the world--that stuff doesn't just go away."

Leo sighed heavily. “Chris, it's a little late for male-bonding here, okay? Especially since I'm petitioning the other Elders to send you back to your future."

"WHAT?" cried Chris, shocked.

I was shocked, too. “Leo, you can't be serious."

"You look tense, Master,” put in Jinny. “Neck rub?" She stepped up behind me and started to rub, but I slapped her hand away.

Leo nodded. “I know Chris has good intentions, but his methods have put us at risk too many times. We're sending him back."

Chris glared. "You mean abandoning me again."

"Again?" asked Leo curiously.

Now that I knew who Chris was, I hated the way he treated his father, no matter what his reason was. “Chris, show some respect to your--” WHOOPS!--"Elder."

Leo nodded. “You did your job. You alerted us to an evil that's after Wyatt. We can take over from here."

With that, Leo orbed out, and Chris turned to me, desperation in his voice. "I gotta stop him."

I patted his shoulder consolingly. “"Don't worry, I'll talk to Leo--”

"Not Leo--” he interrupted, terrified. “Greg! He's about to sleep with my mom!"

He started to orb out and I rolled my eyes, calling out, "I wish you wouldn't do that!"

WHOOPS! Jinny smiled and pressed her palms together, blinked, and nodded. BOING! The orbs instantly reformed into Chris. “What happened?" he demanded.

Jinny smiled at me. “Your wish is my command, Master."

Just then we could hear the front door open and Paige call out, "Hello? Anyone home?"

I stepped into the living room with Jinny following me.

Paige spot us and rushed over excitedly. "It's true--you landed one!"

I rolled my eyes. "Paige, she's a genie, not a trout."

"You still have two wishes, Master.” Jinny reminded me. “I suggest you save one for Bosk."

I glared at her impatiently. “For the last time, no wishes. We'll handle the demon our way."

"But you cannot handle him,” she insisted. “Nobody can. He has a flying carpet and an army of 40 thieves."

"Make that 38,” I corrected. “I vanquished two."

Paige smiled. “A nice ride and his own crew--let me guess--the demon's first two wishes?"

Jinny nodded. "Yes. And if Bosk gets me back, he will force me to grant his third wish."

"What's his third wish?” Paige wanted to know.

Suddenly, huge diamond studs appeared on Paige's ears. I spun to face Jinny. "Hey, did you do that?"

"No," she admitted. “but they are lovely. Who conjured them for you?"

Paige, very frustrated, reached up to feel the earrings, growling, "Richard, my boyfriend. He's been showering me with gifts all week."

I was confused--no comments from the Peanut Gallery! "I thought you were going to talk him into binding his powers."

She nodded, sighing heavily. “I've tried, believe me. But every time I bring up the subject, he conjures up another gift."

"Not good." I agreed. I turned back to Jinny. "Back to the demon. What's the third wish he wants?"

"Zanbar."

Paige looked at her, confused, as was I. "What's--Zanbar?"

"The Lost City,” she explained. “Before being swallowed up by the desert, it was the seat of power for an evil empire."

Just then Chris angrily marched in from the conservatory. "Phoebe, would you do something here? I can't orb."

Just then POOF!! A diamond bracelet appeared on Paige's arm. Aggravated, she yanked it off. "Richard!"

"You know, Paige,” I put in. “If he won't listen to you, maybe he'll listen to his family."

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, great, except most of them are dead. They were killed in the feud."

Jinny sighed impatiently. "Please, we do not have time for this! If Bosk captures me, Zanbar will rise again from the dust."

"So what?” Paige asked. “It's just a city, right?"

She shook her head. “A city of magic. Bosk has been using his thieves to search for its former site. If he finds it and wishes it back, there will be no stopping him. That is why you must wish me free, Master. If I am not a genie, it will solve your problems and mine. I beg you."

Chris tried to orb, but although the orb sparkles shone, they fizzled. "Phoebe, I really need your help here!" he demanded impatiently.

Just then, Paige morphed into a magical makeover--she was now wearing an elegant gown and her hair and make-up were extravagantly done. She looked beautiful, except for the angry look on her face. She yelled at Richard, even though he was not there to hear her.

At that, I’d had it and tried to take control, "I'm losing my mind here…" I spun to face my sister "You! Go to Richard--get him to put a stop to the magical makeover so you can help us out." She nodded and orbed out, as I turned to my nephew. "You! I'll do my best to help you bring your parents together, if we do it MY way, agreed?"

He nodded. “Agreed," relief evident on his face.

"You might as well go get Piper,” I decided. “We could use her with Paige gone.” And not really wanting to do it, I said it anyway: “I wish you could orb again."

Jinny pressed her palms together, nodded and blinked, and Chris orbed out. Then I spun on my genie. “And you! Follow me. We're gonna find a vanquishing potion for that demon."

She nodded. “Yes, Master."

That was the last straw. “Stop that! Call me Phoebe!"

She nodded. “Yes, Master Phoebe."

[Esmeralda]

CHAPTER THREE

Later, we found out from Piper what happened when Chris went to fetch her. She and Greg were making out, hot and heavy, on the couch, when there was the sound of orbing--that Piper ignored--followed by frantic knocking and Chris yelling, "Piper! Piper!!"

Greg the fireman (who could have put out my fire whenever he wanted to--unfortunately, he never wanted to--he only wanted to put out Piper‘s) reluctantly pulled out of the liplock, but Piper pulled him back. "Ignore it!"

They kissed some more as the knocks become more persistent, with Chris calling out, "Piper! I know you're in there!"

Piper sighed, unable to ignore that. She grinned apologetically at Greg, "Excuse me, just a sec,” and she walked to the door, straightening her clothes as she did, before yanking the door open, "Go away!" she demanded as she started to shut the door, but Chris stopped her.

"We've got an emergency!" he insisted.

Greg came up behind Piper, putting an arm around her. Chris winced to see him holding onto his mother like that. "Is there a problem?" Greg demanded, his voice clearly saying that there better be for interrupting them like that.

Chris nodded. "Many problems, many levels. Piper has to come home."

"Excuse me?” Greg asked, holding Piper tighter, glaring at Chris. “Who are you again?"

He sighed impatiently. “A friend of her husband's."

"EX-husband,” Piper corrected, before adding. “And he's hardly a friend," and now, knowing who he was and who Piper was to him, hearing that made me wince for him. Then she turned to Greg. "It's okay, Greg. I got it."

Greg, glaring at the intruder, put in, “I'm here if you need me." and he laid a big one on Piper, making Chris then and me later wince. Then he turned and headed back into the apartment.

Piper, furious, spun on Chris. "What's the big emergency? Can't it wait, like, an hour? Or two?"

He shook his head, shuddering at the thought she was putting in his head. “No. There's a genie running amok. A demon on the loose. It took me two wishes to get here."

Piper stared at him in surprise. "You can't make wishes with a genie," she insisted.

He smiled. "See? We need you. Let's orb." and he held out his hand.

Piper gave in, knowing she had to leave, but then she pushed his hand away. "No, I'm not going to leave Greg high and dry again without explaining. Your demon can wait five minutes." and she slammed the door.



Meanwhile, I was mixing a potion as Jinny stood nearby, flipping through the Book, pointing at the drawings of various demons. "He was my master once….Oh, and him, too….And her…"

I shook my head, fascinated despite myself. “Boy, you sure made the rounds. How'd all those demons get a hold of you, anyway?"

She shrugged. “Some bought, some stole. I changed hands so many times, I lost track."

I was starting to truly feel sorry for her. “Look, Jinny, I'm sorry I can't free you. Wishing is just too risky. I’m truly sorry."

Jinny looked away, hurt, as Chris and Piper orbed in.

"Okay, let's get this over with,” demanded Piper. “Greg's not gonna wait on me forever."

Chris nodded. “Then you should dump him."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded.

Before he could answer, I jumped in. “He's just being…overprotective."

Piper shook both of us off, then turned to Jinny, "So I take it you're the genie?"

"Jinny,” she corrected.

Piper rolled her eyes. “The genie…of course. Who's the demon?"

She flipped through the Book to the entry for Bosk. Chris stepped over and scanned the page, "Low-level, minimal powers. There's a vanquishing potion."

I nodded. “Yeah, I'm almost done with it."

Piper smiled. “Good, that means you're almost done with me. What's your plan with this bad boy--summon him to us?"

I nodded. “That's what I was thinking."

"What's your rush?" Chris wanted to know.

She spun to glare at him. “Not like it's any of your business, but Greg's shift starts in a couple hours, I won't see him for three days. I'm gonna go call him." She started to walk out, then turned back to look at me. “Oh, and I'd put the genie back in the bottle for safekeeping. No offense, Jinny, but we've been burned before."

She walked out, while Chris stared at her in frustration. Feeling truly awful, I turned to Jinny, indicating the bottle with my head "Do you mind?"

She nodded, "Yes, Master Phoebe." and against her will, Jinny smoked back into the bottle.

"I feel so bad." I told Chris.

"You should!” Chris demanded. “If we don't do something, I could end up half-fireman instead of half-whitelighter!"

I sighed impatiently at my impatient nephew. “That's not what I meant and that's not the way it works."

He rolled his eyes. “Please, not the-birds-and-bees speech again."

I stared at him in shock. “"Wait! I gave…give…you that speech? Where was Leo?"

Chris leaned back, stung. “That's another issue. Look, I'm running out of time here. What do you say we use the genie to make Mom and Dad, you know, do the nasty?"

I stared at him, horrified, "What!?! That is--VILE! And against the rules! And --and--and--would you really want to be conceived that way?"

He shrugged. “Beats not being conceived at all."

I glared, beginning to think that this kid was still a brat, even if he *was* my nephew! "I told you I would help you out here, Chris, but we're not giving Piper and Leo magical roofies. We're gonna do it my way, so back off!"

"What is your way?" he wanted to know.

"I'm still working on it." I admitted, as I poured the potion into a vial. "But I'm finished with the vanquishing potion. As soon as Piper gets back, we're good to go."

Suddenly, Bosk smashed through the window on his carpet, knocking down Chris. He hopped off the carpet as I hurled the vial of potion at him.

But an amulet he wore around his neck glowed, absorbing the magic. He smirked malevolently. "Not this time, witch!" He shot a light dart at me, forcing me to dive for cover as I yelled for Piper or Paige.. Bosk, seeing the prize, turned to grab the bottle when I peeked my head out from hiding and did the only thing I could--"Jinny, I wish you free!"

[Esmeralda]

CHAPTER FOUR

"No!!" screamed Bosk as smoke swirled from the bottle, obscuring everything around it, including Chris and me. After a moment, Jinny stepped through the smoke, free…only now she was dressed like an Arabian warrior, with a sinister look to match, "Well, it's about time." She spun on Bosk to glare at him, "Who's the master now?"

As Piper rushed in, she saw Jinny hurl a fireball at Bosk, vanquishing him in a fiery blaze.

"Wait,” cried Chris, shocked. “She's a demon?"

Jinny reached for the bottle, but Piper called to Chris. He nodded and gestured it back into his hand, then Piper gestured and blasted something behind Jinny, who dove onto her stomach on the still hovering carpet and flew out the window.

Just then Chris looked around, worried. "Where's Phoebe?"

"Here --” I cried out.

They look around, confused, as I called again, "IN here--"

Realizing with dread, Chris looked at the bottle in his hand and held it up to his eye to see --

ME! I was sitting inside that frickin’ frackin’ bottle, now changed into a genie, complete with the turquoise genie getup, blond ponytail, the whole nine yards! Man, I looked just like Jeannie from the old I Dream of Jeannie show! Man, this is so embarrassing to even talk about! At any rate, I jumped up and down, waving up at Chris.

He looked down at me, shocked. "Hello --" I cried. Then, although I sure I didn't want to, I couldn’t stop myself from adding, "Master." Yep. I was now the frickin’ frackin’ genie, and of all people, Chris--my very own nephew from the future--was now my master! How embarrassing can you get??

To top it off, the next eyeball to replace Chris’ was Piper’s. Her voice echoed through the bottle, "Will you get out of there, please, Phoebe?"

I shrugged. “I don't know how. Try commanding me."

That was easy. “Okay--get the hell out!"

But I stayed put. I knew what I had to tell her and absolutely hated it, but again, I was forced. “Not you--my master."

After a bit, Piper's giant eyeball moved away and Chris' took its place. "You mean me?"

I shrugged. “You picked up the bottle."

He shrugged back. “Um, okay--get out of the bottle, I command you!"

I immediately turned into turquoise smoke and soon I reformed full-sized into Genie Phoebe in the attic, standing beside Piper and Chris.

Piper shook her head, trying not to laugh. "You look ridiculous."

I hunched my shoulders. “I feel ridiculous."

"How am I supposed to make it back to Greg now before his shift starts?"

I glared at her, now knowing where her son got his self-centeredness, since it sure wasn’t from Leo! "Is that all you can think about?” I demanded. “Look at me, I'm trapped in pantaloons. Why am I always the one who has to wear the stupid costumes?" And I’ll admit I whined!

Piper shook her head, muttering, "Trust me, you're not” Then she called out, “Leo!"

"Have you ever noticed how Leo's the first one you turn to in time of need?" Chris asked, and both Piper and I glared at him, me muttering. “Pushing, Master! Pushing!”

Leo orbed in and spot me. "Uh-oh."

I nodded. “You can say that again."

Now Piper was getting mad. “I still can't believe you made a wish with a genie! You know better!"

“Gimme a break,: I pleaded. “I thought she was an innocent. How was I supposed to know I'd unleash a demon?"

Leo was examining the bottle, "Says so right here."

"The genie bottle has a warning label?" I asked in surprise.

He nodded. "Yeah. An ancient sorcerer cursed a demon into it for not marrying him. Anyone ever tried to free her, they'd have to trade places with her." He handed the bottle to Chris, "You missed a big one here, bud."

Chris stared at him in shock. "You want to pin this on me?"

"Easy, Leo,” I warned. “This is my fault, not his. She totally played me. The innocent genie act, the letter…I'll even bet that premonition was planted."

"Why didn't your empath power give her away?" Piper wanted to know.

I shook my head. “All I could feel was her desperation to get out of that bottle."

Chris shoved it all aside with a hand gesture. “Okay, well, let's just figure out how to fix this."

Leo shrugged. “Only way to fix this is by getting the demon to wish Phoebe free. Reverse the magic."

I nodded. “Fine, so we'll capture her, coerce her, torture her, whatever it takes."

"I'll call Paige," Piper decided as she headed for the door.

I nodded. “Good. The element of surprise is vital here."

Chris, watching her go, asked me, “You sure? I mean, we could also take our time with this plan. You know, keep Piper around a little longer?"

I nodded and against my will said, “Yes, Master."

He grinned. “I'm glad you agree."

I glared. “I don't agree. I want--I want--This sucks! How am I supposed to take charge and take orders at the same time?"

Leo shrugged. “You don't have to. Chris is coming with me. The Elders agreed to send him back to his time."

Both Chris and I looked at him as if he was nuts.

"What!?!" screamed Chris.

"Leo!” I cried. “You don't know what you're doing."

Leo declared firmly, “He doesn't belong here--and as your whitelighter, he's doing more harm than good."

I’ll admit right now that thinking back, I can see Leo’s point, but right then, I was feeling bad for Chris, who lost it. “You're so full of it! This isn't about me being a bad whitelighter--it's about you feeling like I've let you down. Whatever you got against me, I wish you'd just get over it already!"

Remembering what Jinny had done when I’d said the word “I wish”, I fought against myself as hard as I could, but I couldn’t help it. Without meaning to or wanting to, I pressed my hands together, blinked my eyes and nodded my head.

Immediately Leo’s facial expression changed from one of anger and determination to pleasure and serenity.

"Leo?" Chris asked cautiously.

Leo slapped his future son on the back. “Of course I forgive you, man!” he cried jovially. “All you had to do was ask."

Chris stared at him in disbelief "I did?"

"Sure!” he replied, happily. “In fact, don't worry about that back to the future business. I'll talk the Elders out of it. Now, come here. Gimme a hug." and Leo good-naturedly embraced Chris. Chris, startled and confused, looked questioningly at me. All I could do was sheepishly shrug.

[Esmeralda]

CHAPTER FIVE

Soon Piper had Paige on her cell, quickly explaining.

"What do you mean she didn't read the warning label?" she asked.

“I'll explain later. The bottom line is we need you home right now."

Paige sounded sheepish. “I'm kinda in the middle of saving Richard right now. I followed Phoebe's advice. I got his family here."

That surprised Piper: "I thought most of his relatives are dead."

Paige’s voice smiled. “Oh, they are."

Piper couldn’t believe it: "You're holding a magical intervention with ghosts?"

"What choice do I have?” Paige asked. “I decided it's all part of Richard's problem. He's got no family, no support group. That puts the burden on me to help him."

Piper sighed impatiently. “Okay, fine. Greg can wait. Again! Hey, as long as you got the ghosts, maybe you can get one to help us out when you're done."

"Help you do what?" Paige wanted to know.

But before Piper could answer, Richard must’ve walked in, because he cried out. "What's going on here?" and Paige told Piper, "I gotta go." and hung up.

Unable to get Paige to help, Piper walked back upstairs and sat down, trying to write a spell. I closely watched her work, "Ah, ah, ah, your wording isn't' quite right there. Jinny's an upper-level demon."

Piper glared. “Hey, I don't need a bossy genie on my back. I'm giving up a lot to be here. I'll write the vanquishing spell the way I want."

But I knew she wasn’t doing it right. "But you should invoke the name of…"

Her glare grew angrier. “Do I need to call your Master Chris in here to order you to shut you?"

I looked at her in shock. “You wouldn't."

She gave me an “Oh, yeah?” look and warned, “Keep pushing."

Just then Paige orbed in, looking dreadfully unhappy.

Piper looked up, "Back so soon?"

She nodded. “The intervention was a train wreck. Richard wouldn't listen to anyone."

I went towards her to give her a hug. “I'm so sorry, Paige. Are you okay?"

She turned to see me and had to stifle a laugh.

That got me mad. “I'm trying to be sympathetic--and you're laughing? I didn't *ask* to be a genie."

She smiled apologetically. “I'm sorry; you're right. That was mean. I just needed a good laugh after what I went through."

I smiled. “I understand. Anything I can do to help?"

She nodded. “Yes--but don't you need to get back to Major Nelson?" and this time, Paige burst out laughing, and Piper, unable to control it, joined in and I glared at both of them.

"What?” Piper asked. “It was funny."

I stamped my foot in frustration. “That's it. I want out of this costume now! Finish the d**n spell already and let's summon Jinny."

Piper smiled. "Don't worry, I want this over as badly as you." She finished writing and then asked Paige: "Did you score us a ghost?"

She nodded. “Yeah, Richard's dad. He's waiting in limbo for my call. And why do we need a ghost exactly?"

I wanted to know, too, so Piper explained, “Once we capture Jinny, he can possess her body and force her to wish Phoebe free."

Just then Leo and Chris walked in, arm-in-arm, chummy and laughing. Leo held up a box of crystals, while Chris trailed behind, holding my bottle.

"Here's the crystals you wanted." Leo told us.

Paige looked back and forth between the two guys. “I thought you were angry with Chris."

Leo laughed. “Nah, I had a change of heart. Decided to let bygones be bygones."

"Since when?" Piper wanted to know, looking at him suspiciously.

"Uh, guys,” I interrupted. “I kinda need to tell you something."

Chris cut me off, glaring at me. "After we talk in the kitchen.. Phoebe?"

"But --” I started, but he pointed towards the bottle and before I knew it, I was back in it.

"Wow, cool.” cried Chris. “I'll be right back,” he told the others. “Wanna have a little one-on-one with the help." and as he walked away, carrying the bottle while inside I was stamping my foot and throwing a fit. THE HELP???!! OOOOO! Just wait until I was no longer a genie!

I could hear Piper ask, “What's he hiding now?"

Then I heard Leo laugh. "Chris is a helluva good guy, you know. You guys should really give him the benefit of the doubt once in a while."



Not too long afterwards I was out of the bottle, staring at my master, unable to believe what he was asking. "You wanna do what!?"

He smiled. “We got Leo in a good mood, and Mom's all sexed up for the fireman--it’s the perfect time to give them the whammy!"

I shook my head firmly. “I will not make Piper and Leo sleep together! We agreed to do things MY WAY here, mister!"

He smirked. “Nope, not mister. I’m Master."

I shook my head, scolding, “No you listen to me --”

"I'm sorry, Phoebe,” he interrupted. “but I'm running out of time.” He shrugged. “A guy's gotta survive." And before I could protest, he quickly said it: "I wish Piper and Leo would sleep together tonight."

I shook my head. "I will not --” but I could only watch helplessly as my palms pressed together, my head nodded, and my eyes blinked. Then…we heard a curious THUD! from the next room.

"What was that?" Chris asked and we both ran into the conservatory. There were Piper and Leo lying still on the ground!

I stared at Chris in shock. “You made me kill them!"

He quickly knelt down and felt for pulses. "No, I didn't. They're sleeping."

I sighed in relief. “Oh, thank God…"

Suddenly it dawned on him "You tricked me!"

I shook my head. “YOU made the wish for them to sleep together. I didn't know it was going to come out so literal."

Chris nudged his sleeping parents. "This is a mess. I've only got one more wish. I need to sort it out." He held up the bottle with, "If you don't mind --”

I shook my head. “I do mind! Jinny could arrive at any minute!"

But my master shook his young head. “I'll summon you when she does. I command you back into the bottle!"

I shook my fist at him. “You're gonna pay for…" But before I could finish, my eyes blurred and next thing I knew I was back in the bottle, and when I looked up, I couldn’t see a darn thing--my master, the creep, had corked my bottle!

[Esmeralda]

CHAPTER SIX

I later found out that meanwhile, Richard had come over, trying to make up with Paige, but she’d just about had it and threw down the gauntlet. "I'm sorry, Richard--it's me or magic, you choose!"

He looked at her in shock. “You can't give me that kind of choice."

She nodded. “I just did. And you better decide fast, because I got a sister to save."

That got him mad. “You wanna talk about dependencies, why are you always running off to your sisters when things get hot?"

Just then a crash from the conservatory drew her attention, and she told him to wait for her before she ran in that direction.

In my bottle, I could hear a loud crash and suddenly I got very dizzy as my master must’ve dropped my bottle and it began rolling. Suddenly I heard my master cry out, “Paige! Find the bottle! Phoebe's inside!"

But someone or something must’ve gone after her, because I heard her orb out, then orb back, and I was going nuts, not knowing what was happening and unable to do anything about it. Suddenly I heard Paige summon, "Sword!" and I heard the swish of a vanquish. Then I heard her cry, “Chris!” and I went even more nuts. What would happen to me if something happened to my master??

Suddenly I heard the noise of an orb. Paige? Then I heard the sound of whoever orbed being TKed. What?! Chris TKed Paige?? But next Paige cried out, “Crystals….Circle!" And after the sound of stuff orbing, she cried out, “”Got her!" Her?? Got who! Omigosh! That wasn’t an orb; that was a shimmer!! They got her! They got Jinny! We can get Richard’s father to take over her body and I’m free! But why wasn’t Chris commanding me to come out of the bottle?

Then I heard Chris ask "Where's the bottle?" What? Chris no longer had the bottle? But who did?

Well, I could hear them searching, but my bottle must’ve rolled under something, because I heard Chris admit, “I can’t find it.” OH, NO!

While I sat in my bottle, shaking, wondering what was going to happen next, I heard Jinny ask "You think these crystals can hold me?"

"No, not for long,” Paige admitted. “That's why we're putting you back in your bottle."

Jinny growled. “When I form my empire, the first thing I'm going to do is rid the world of witches."

"Yeah?” Paige asked. “When you're back in the bottle, first thing I'm going to do is throw it in the microwave. What do you think of that?" and I cheered for my sister. “Catch that, Chris,” Paige’s voice continued. “Jinny thinks she can scare me.” Chris must’ve walked over to his still-sleeping parents, because she asked, "They're still not awake? Try smelling salts."

In typical sarcastic manner, Chris replied, "Won't work, trust me."

"Why not?” Paige asked. “What happened to them?"

"Long story."

"Well, we're fresh out of time, so give me the Cliff Notes.” But he must’ve given her one of *those* look, because she cajoled, “C’mon Chris, you and Leo and Phoebe were ALL acting weird before that demon attacked. What's going on?"

And he admitted. “I made a little wish. Two…little wishes."

“You did what??” she cried. “It's not like I don't have enough problems with Richard, now I gotta worry about you getting your magical rocks off? What'd you wish?"

And to my surprise, he told her the truth, and I had a little glimpse into the sort of relationship they must’ve had in the future, and I couldn’t stop the twinge of jealousy. “That Leo would forgive me--that one was an accident."

"And the other?"

No way he was going to tell her *that* one! But he did. “That Piper and Leo would sleep together."

And Paige lost it "Oh, you are one sick, dirty--sick-o! Were you a registered sex offender in the future? Is that why you left?"

My heart ached for him, and I could tell that Chris had had enough, too, because for the first time, he actually admitted the truth without being forced. “No…I'm Piper and Leo's son."

But Paige must’ve been too angry and didn’t catch on, "Because that is the most perverted thing I ever…" Suddenly it must’ve finally registered. "What'd you just say?"

He muttered. “They're my Mom and Dad. I came back to save my family."

There was a pause, and I could imagine her shock. After all the times he’d lied to us, I was sure she was also having a problem believing her. But finally she cried out in awe, “You're serious."

"Yeah,” he agreed. “Only now I gotta save myself, because if Mom doesn't get pregnant this month, there is no me."

I heard a plop and knew Paige had flopped down in a chair, "This has been a long day. "Who else knows?"

"About me?” he asked. “Just Phoebe."

“I'm too exhausted to be pissed right now. Stay here; watch Jinny. I'll make the power-stripping potion."

“What! You’re going to strip my powers? Now that you know who I am?,” and there was both hurt and disbelief in his voice. “Why?”

“No, not you. Richard. Richard's crazy right now, crazier than you. I need to strip his powers."

"How's that going to help?"

"He's corrupted by the magic in his system. If we can strip him of it, maybe he can help.”

Suddenly I felt my bottle being lifted. YAY! They found me! Now they’d let me out and..”

Suddenly I heard Paige’s stunned voice. “Richard??"

WHAT???!! That magic addict who couldn’t use good magic without suddenly using bad magic had my bottle??? HELP!

“You’re not going to strip my powers, Paige,” Richard’s voice dangerously insisted. “I’m going to get what I want, and that’s you and me together!” and I could hear the sound of shimmering, and although I kinda felt like I was orbing, it was different. I knew that Richard was shimmering--and shimmering with ME!

[Esmeralda]

CHAPTER SEVEN

I didn’t know where he shimmered us to, but he must've thrown my bottle on top of somethingoranother, then I could hear the sounds of books and papers being tossed aside, Richard obviously desperately searching for something. Since he was ignoring me and my bottle, I tried using a trick I’d seen Jeannie use on that old TV show. I desperately ran back and forth, throwing myself against one wall, then the other, trying to tip my bottle over, hoping I could escape. Finally the bottle fell to its side, popping the cork and, sure enough, I escaped.

“Why didn't you let me out?" I demanded as soon as I felt myself a full-sized Genie Phoebe.

"I'm not ready for you yet." and I didn’t like the tone of his voice.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"My vault." and he turned back and started going through the bookcase again.

Now I was scared. Paige had told me about this. “You mean the black-magic vault that's supposed to be under lock and key? Uh…you got a phone? I'm just gonna check in with Paige."

"No, you're not,” he told me. “I know I've got a book on wishing around here somewhere."

"Wishing?" I asked, getting more scared.

He nodded. “Gotta make sure the wording is just right."

Suddenly I realized what he was up to. I tried to talk him out of it, by appealing to his vanity. "But, Master, a dream is a wish your heart makes. Maybe you should wish for sleep. I'm very good at making people fall asleep."

He shook his head. “I just want Paige to accept me the way I am--with magic. It's the only way we're gonna make it."

I shook my head. “I don't think magic is the answer to your problems--it IS your problem."

He growled. “I see she's got you brainwashed, too. Guess I'll have to wish for the whole family to accept me." Suddenly he grabbed a book. “Ah, I knew it was here somewhere."

As he opened the book, Paige orbed in. Looking up, he grabbed the bottle and fought back his temper. "Paige…how many times do I have to ask you not to orb in and surprise me like that?"

"Careful, honey,” I warned her. “He's not himself."

She glared at me. “Don't you honey me. How could you not tell me that Chris was our nephew?"

I rolled my eyes. “Could we talk about that later? Your boyfriend's ticking like a time bomb over there."

He shook his head. “I'm perfectly fine. I just need some time to read. I'll call you when I'm ready for you, Paige."

"I'm sorry,” she told him. “This is for your own good," and she pulled out a vial and threw it at him, but he quickly gestured with a "NO!" and telekinetically hurled the potion vial away. But suddenly Paige went flying and slammed into the wall hard, knocking her out cold! His powers must’ve hit her, too!

The vial rolled away and I rushed over to Paige, kneeling down next to my sister, then cried out, “Look what you did!"

Richard, shocked by what just happened, backed away in anguish.



Much, much later, I found out what happened back at the Manor while all this was going on. Chris had moved his still-sleeping parents to the sofa, then covered them with a blanket. Then the doorbell rang and he moved to answer it, only to find Greg standing there.

He glared at the man who could’ve become his father thanks to his own actions. “I thought you were working."

He shrugged. “I'm on a break. I came to surprise Piper."

"Little booty call, huh?" Chris asked sarcastically.

Greg ignored what he must’ve considered the impudent brat. "Is she here?"

And again Chris lied because again he felt he had to. “Uh--no." He started to shut the door, but Greg stopped him, "I don't believe you."

Chris considered the situation, then smiled. “Okay, see for yourself."

Greg pushed past Chris and entered the living room to find Piper and Leo asleep on the couch. With a flip of his wrist, Chris TKed his true father's arm around his mother, which caused her head to roll over onto his chest. It must’ve looked just like they were snuggling, and Greg must’ve been heartbroken.

Chris smiled with a shrug. “Tried to warn ya Want me to say you stopped by?"

He shook his head. "No, that won't be necessary." and he walked back to the door, followed by Chris.

But while Chris was busy getting rid of his father’s rival, the flying carpet slid under the door, sneaking in. It flew over to Jinny and crashed into the force field, shorting it out. The carpet itself was incinerated, but Jinny smugly stepped out of the now dormant crystal circle.

Meanwhile Chris was closing the door behind Greg and somewhat regretfully admitted, “Sorry, Mom--it's for the best."

He turned to return to his parents find Jinny standing over his parents, fireball in hand. "Take me to the bottle." she demanded. “Or else.”



Meanwhile, back in Richard’s vault, Paige was opening her eyes, slowly regaining consciousness and looked up to see Richard and me. "What happened?" she managed.

Richard was truly apologetic. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean--didn't try to--I’d never --.”

"It's okay,” Paige gently told him. “I know."

“I'm going to make this up to you," he insisted and turned to me, locking eyes with her.

"No, no!” I cried. “Not that way."

"Don't!” cried Paige. “No more wishes!"

He turned to smile at her. “It's okay; it's not for me." and he turned back to me: "Phoebe, I wish you free."

A whirl of smoke from the bottle enveloped us both, and when the smoke cleared, I had returned to normal (WHEW!), but *Richard* was now dressed like an Arabian sultan. He looks at his clothes, confused, "What's this?"

"I tried to warn you,” Paige told him. “If you free anyone from that bottle, you take their place."

He shrugged. “I guess I was trapped either way."

"Don't worry,” I told him. “We'll fix this."

Paige nodded. "Yeah, we got Jinny locked up at the Manor. I just gotta call your dad to possess her and--"

And Chris orbed in with Jinny, who had a fireball already formed.

I turned in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

Jinny hurled the fireball at Paige and me, and we dove out of the way, along with Genie Richard. Chris tried to gesture but Jinny caught his arm and lifted him with supernatural strength, throwing him across the room. In three strides, she crossed over and reached for the bottle. Paige struggled to her feet and called out, "Bottle!"

But Jinny had it and although it started to orb out, suddenly the orbs dissipated and Jinny still stood there, holding the bottle. She smiled victoriously. "I've waited a long time to hold this."

Then the smile turned vicious, and turning to Richard, she cried out, “I wish the Charmed Ones dead!"

[Esmeralda]

CHAPTER EIGHT

With deep regret, Richard nodded his head, and Paige and I collapsed to the ground. As I felt my spirit float away from my body, I heard Chris exclaim in horror "NO!" My spirit watched as he rushed to our bodies, while Richard watched, grief-stricken, as Jinny smirked, "Not bad for a newbie,” before commanding. “Now, into the bottle!" and he smoked into the bottle. Then Jinny locked eyes with Chris. "My condolences." and she shimmered out with the bottle.

Chris, anguished, sat beside our dead bodies, as I turned to look to see Paige’s spirit. I waited for us to move on, as I knew we must, but we just floated there, watching. .Chris desperately leaned over our lifeless forms, shaking them, hope against hope that he could wake us up somehow. "You can't be dead!” he moaned. “It's not your time yet…I know it's not…" Then he looked up and saw our spirits and watched as we began to rise. Reaching up, he grabbed us, crying out, "Damnit! You're not going anywhere!"

And Paige’s spirit and my spirit looked down in confusion. To our surprise, something must’ve happened, because we didn’t move on; we just floated there. So we hovered overhead, looking down at Chris, who was near tears. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. She was gonna kill Mom and Leo."

Slowly, our spirits returned to the floor. When our feet touched the floor, I noticed that Paige’s spirit had stopped glowing, and when I looked down, I saw that I wasn’t either.

I tried my voice and it worked. "Uh, Chris? We're not moving on."

"Why aren't we moving on?" Paige’s spirit wanted to know.

"Who cares why not?” he asked in triumph. “You're still here!"

Paige's spirit looked at me. “"You have any unfinished business?"

I thought about it. “No, you?"

"Well, now that you mention it, yeah. It would've been nice to know I had another nephew before I died."

I sighed impatiently. “I was gonna tell you; I just didn't get a chance."

"We can fix this,” Chris told our spirits. “We can reverse this magic; but we need the genie bottle."

"That's right,” I realized. “We're ghosts. We can possess Jinny. But where is she?"

"She was planning to conjure that lost city." Paige’s spirit reminded me.

"Don't worry, we'll stop her,” I told Chris. Then I thought of someone else. “Should we check on Piper first?"

"No, Piper's okay,” Chris assured us. “She must be. I'm still here, right? If she's dead, I'd have vanished."

So how could Jinny wish the Charmed Ones dead, but Piper was OK?? Well, that would be something we’d have to figure out later. There were more important things to worry about now.

"Okay,” Paige’s spirit agreed. “So--how do we reach Jinny?"

"You're a ghost,” Chris pointed out. “You can haunt anybody you want. Just concentrate, you should wisp right to her."

So we closed our eyes and focused, and, sure enough, we turned into wisps and shot upward towards the ceiling.

"Hey!” cried Chris. “Wait for me!" and he orbed out after us.



We ended up going right back to the cave where we originally found Jinny. She was looking into the bottle. "Genie, I wish to resurrect the Lost City of Zanbar!"

There was a pause, then the ground began to rumble. The Arabian palaces of Zanbar rose out of the sands. "Finders keepers." declared Jinny greedily.

Paige’s spirit grinned at me, then told her, "I wouldn't unpack just yet."

Jinny spun to see our spirits standing inside the cave, along with Chris. Jinny and the thieves stepped over to confront us. "Why haven't you moved on? You're dead."

"So are you!" I told her and I jumped into Jinny, possessing her, and dropped the bottle, as we struggled for control of her body.

Meanwhile, the Head Thief charged for Chris, and Paige's spirit called out to him to watch out. Chris turned and waved his hand, TKing the Thief into a wall, dazing him. The other thieves drew their swords and advanced on him.

"Phoebe!” he yelled. “ A little help!"

And Jinny, still possessed by yours truly, turned and threw two fireballs in quick succession, vanquishing the two thieves. Hey! That was fun! "I think I got control of her body." I told him.

Chris picked up one of the fallen scimitars and walked over to the Head Thief and plunged it into him, vanquishing him. Paige's spirit looked around, "All clear."

I nodded, then bent Jinny’s body down and used her hand to pick up the genie bottle. With Jinny’s voice, I declared, "Richard, I wish you free!"

The swirl of smoke emerged from the body, so I quickly jumped out of Jinny’s body, so the smoke enveloped only her. When the smoke cleared once again, Richard was standing there, back to normal, genie bottle in his hand.

Paige's spirit smiled. "Hi, honey --"

Richard peered into the bottle to see Jinny, back in her outfit again, as she screamed at him, "Let me out of here!"

He grinned. “Sorry, I kinda like you that size." Then, he added, "I wish the Charmed Ones alive again."

And for once I could empathize with a bad gal, knowing how badly she didn’t want to do it, but knowing she had no choice. "Yes--Master." And her palms must’ve gone together, her eyes must’ve blinked, and her head must’ve nodded. because Paige’s spirit and mine vanished, leaving Richard and Chris alone.

[Esmeralda]

CHAPTER NINE

Later, while Paige went to try to talk Richard into drinking the power-stripping potion on his own, Chris and I were in the living room, staring at the still-sleeping Leo and Piper. Suddenly the grandfather clock chimed midnight as Chris paced past it, then turned to me. "They're not waking up--how come they're not waking up?

"Relax, will you?" I asked, knowing there wasn’t much we could do.

Chris lost it. “"Relax?! How can I relax, I'm about to vanish into thin air, cease to exist--disappear forever!"

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, stop being so dramatic."

Before he could react to that, Piper and Leo started to stir. Leo asked what happened, and I asked them if they were okay.

“Yeah,” replied Piper. “I think so.” Then she realized she wasn’t alone. “Leo?! What are you doing here?"

He jumped away. “I don't know; I swear.” He turned to look at me. “What's going on?"

"Arabian sleeping potion,” I explained, proving that I could lie as easily and as well as my nephew when I had to. “Very bad stuff, really strong."

Piper stared. “You mean--Jinny did this?"

I shrugged, not able to look directly at them--I wasn’t as good at this lying stuff as Chris was--hadn‘t had as much practice. "Who else?"

Piper jumped up. "Well, we've got to stop her."

"Actually, we already did,” and I was so glad I could tell the truth. “Even got her back in the bottle."

Chris looked at his father. “Which we were sorta hoping you could get rid of for us, if you don't mind."

Leo took the bottle. “So that's it? It's all over?"

Chris nodded. “Pretty much. I mean, you still forgive me, right?" and he looked a bit anxious.

I held my breath, and Leo nodded. "Of course, buddy."

Chris smiled in relief. "Good."

I was still confused. "I still wanna know why we all didn't die.” They all turned to look at me and I defended myself. “Well, I'm a little curious."

Chris rolled his eyes and sarcastically commented. “Oh, sure, you don't mind them knowing they almost died, but not that I'm,” and he *almost* blew it, but caught himself. “Nevermind."

Piper looked at both of us as if we’d flipped. “What are you talking about?"

So I explained. “Jinny wished for the Charmed Ones to die, and we did, kinda. We became ghosts, but then --.”

Piper looked startled. “So that wasn't a dream I had--I thought it was at first. I was floating, right here, looking down on myself, but then,” and remembering, she turned to Leo, "You healed me."

He looked at her in shock. "I did?"

Piper nodded. "While you were sleeping, I called to you to wake up, to not let me go, and somehow you must have heard. You wouldn't let me go." And they shared a look, one that wasn’t lost on me, but went totally over Chris’ head.

He was too busy putting two and two together. “That must be why Phoebe and Paige's spirits didn't move on. The wish was for all of the Charmed Ones to die--so, saving you kept them here."

Piper was still looking at Leo, smiling at him. “That was very sweet of you."

And Leo gave her his best chivalrous look. "Any time.” He smiled. “Wanna go with me to get Wyatt?"

She smiled. "Sure." and he gently took her hand and they orbed out.

Chris suddenly panicked and called out, "Wait! You can’t go! What about --" but it was too late, they were already gone, as he finished in a small, scared voice, "-- me?"

He looked away, dejected, but still reacting to what I saw in Piper and Leo, I wasn't so sure all was lost anymore. I smiled at him. "I wouldn't give up if I were you, Chris--There may actually be hope for you yet."

But he didn’t get it, and I just smiled.

Suddenly *PRUE* appeared in front of us, not as a ghost, but blinked in, just like she used to when she’d astrally project. “Help me, Phoebe,” she begged. “I am trapped in some kind of box. There is not light, no way out, I can’t even stand up. There is hardly any air.”

“Oh my God!!” I cried. I grabbed Chris’ hand and ordered. “Cemetery, now!”

“What the --?” exclaimed Chris.

“No talking, just orbing!” I ordered. “Hurry!”

So he orbed us to the cemetery. I ran to the wall and placed my hand on Prue’s plaque. “In there!” I cried. “Orb in there, right now!”

He looked at me in shock. “You want me to WHAT?”

“Chris! Now! PLEASE!”

He shrugged and orbed away, soon orbing back with Prue, still dressed in the gown we buried her in. She gasped and gasped, finally catching her breath. She turned to Chris, smiling. “Thank you, who ever you are.” Then she turned to me. “Did we save the doctor?”

I was stunned. How could I tell her? What could I tell her? But after lying to Piper, I couldn’t do it again, so I told her the truth. “What? No, Prue, we didn’t.”

Chris stared at his dead aunt, whom he must’ve always heard about, but had never met. “Prue?”

I nodded and introduced them. “Yeah. Prue, this is Chris, uh, Chris Perry.. Chris, this is my sister, Prue Halliwell.”

She smiled at him. “He is a whitelighter, I take it?”

How the heck do I explain that?? “Not exactly, long story,” was all I could manage. “Let’s just go back to the Manor and I will try to explain everything.”

So Chris orbed all three of us back to the Manor. “Prue, why don’t you go take a shower?” I suggested, since she still smelled rotten.

Prue grinned and ran up the stairs.

“Would you mind telling me what is going on?” Chris asked.

I shrugged, finally putting it together myself. “Richard wished the Charmed Ones alive again,” I reminded him. “It must have saved Prue too because she’s also a Charmed One.

Just then Leo and Piper orbed back in, Piper carrying a sleeping Wyatt.

Leo didn’t look happy, and neither did Piper. “I have an announcement to make,” he told us. “The Elders want me to stay Up There full time now!”

“What!” Chris yelled in panic. You can’t!” He thought for a moment. “Stay for one more week. I need….” Then he noticed his young older brother. “Wyatt! Uh, isn’t his birthday next week? Couldn’t you at least stay for that?”

Piper glanced over at Chris oddly. “You remembered Wyatt’s birthday?” she asked with a smile. Then she turned to her ex. “Yeah, Leo, stay for your son. They’ve got to let you do that.”

Just then Prue came back down the stairs, her wet hair wrapped in a turban-like towel, a large towel wrapped around her still-dripping body. “Phoebe, what happened to my room?” she asked. “Where is all my stuff?”

At the sound of this voice, Piper looked over to the stairs. “Oh, my God!” Then she fainted.

[Esmeralda]

CHAPTER TEN

“Piper!” Leo dove after her.

Soon Piper sat back up again, staring at our big sister. “Is this real, or am I dreaming?”

“Piper!” cried Prue as she ran to her side.

“She’s okay,” Leo assured her.

This time Chris reminded them of what I had reminded him. “Richard wished the Charmed Ones alive again.”

“Yeah, so what?” Piper asked impatiently. Then her eyes lit up as she finally got it. “Oh, I could kiss Richard!”

“No!” Chris yelled out, and I laughed, thinking about him panicking about Piper kissing anyone beside Leo.

I smiled at him. “I think we better leave that to Paige.”

“Who is Paige?” Prue wanted to know.

Piper and I exchanged awkward glances. How were we going to explain Prue’s replacement to her?? “This is going to be a long night,” Piper declared, changing the subject. “I’ll go put on the coffee.”

Leo and I followed her into the kitchen, while Prue stayed behind with Chris.

“Prue was supposed to die,” Leo reminded us. “You three weren’t.”

“What are you saying, Leo?” Piper asked.

“Don’t get used to this,” he warned us. “Death will keep coming for her!”

Tears filled both of our eyes. “No!” Piper exclaimed and I nodded. “I can’t take losing her again! It was too hard the first time!”

“It was a genie’s wish,” I reminded him. “Doesn’t that mean she get a second chance?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll check with the other Elders,” and he orbed out.



When we returned to the living room with the tea, we found Chris and Prue laughing together. I was happy to see them getting along so well and couldn’t help but notice that Chris looked as much like Prue as he did like Piper. I wondered if Piper or Leo would notice and if that's how they'd finally figure out just who Chris was.

Chris told us that he had explained to Prue that she had been dead for the last few years and brought back by a genie’s wish. I wondered what they were laughing about. Much, much later, I found out about the rest of their conversation:

“Really, that is a very interesting story,” Prue replied. “Lucky for my astral-projection power, otherwise, I would have just died again from suffocation. Thanks again for saving my life!” and she smiled at Chris.

He grinned. “Any time.”

“So, what’s your story?” she wanted to know. “Where you from?”

“Oh, that isn’t important,” he replied sadly. “I probably won’t be around much longer anyway.”

“Neither will I,” she told him, already accepting what Leo was even then telling Piper and me. “Death never gives up a claim.”

“Oh,” then he added. ““At least you get one more chance to see your family again.”

She looked at him strangely. ““What family, besides Piper and Phoebe? Most of my other relatives are already dead! Unless you’re counting my father. But he wasn’t much of a father anyway. He was never there.”

Chris smiled, and I could imagine how he felt, finally feeling some empathy with one of us. “Neither was mine,” he told her. “I just got lots of broken promises and that was about it.”

She nodded. “Letters saying he would definitely be there next time.” Then she did a bad imitation of our father. “Sorry princess, I have an important business meeting.”

Chris smirked. “Exactly, well, not the princess part of course, but...” and they both laughed, and that’s when Piper and I came in with the tea.

All four of us continued to talk for hours. Piper showed off Wyatt, who was awakened by the commotion. He seemed to take an immediate liking to his newly-found Auntie Prue, climbing into her lap and falling asleep on her shoulder.

Piper and I both didn’t want to but since it was already passed 3 in the morning and we both needed to go to work later the next day, I mean, that day, I mean, well, you know what I mean. At any rate, we decided that we needed to go to bed. Chris and Prue nodded and continued to chat even as we walked up the stairs, wishing Leo would come back with some good news from the Elders, even if we knew that was pushing. Piper was afraid that he might not come back at all, but we were both so happy about having Prue back, at least for awhile, that we decided to worry about that the next day.

The next morning, when we dragged ourselves out of bed, we were surprised to find Prue and Chris still yakking away, getting along like gang-busters. I wondered if Chris had told Prue who he really was, but if he had, there was no indication.

We told Prue that we had to go to work. Of course, she knew that Piper owned P3, but she didn’t know about me and Ask Phoebe. To my surprise, she was thrilled for me, agreeing that it was a perfect job for me. It felt so good to finally get her approval for something, as I finally understood why Chris felt the way he did about Leo.

Prue agreed to stay behind and watch Wyatt for us. Then I had to ask Piper if Leo had ever returned. She shook her head dolefully and I alone caught the look of panic in Chris’ eyes. He decided to orb Up There and see if he could speak with him or one of the other Elders. I would’ve loved to know what he said, but unfortunately, that was something we never found out.

Later, Prue told us what happened after we all left. She played with Wyatt until he began getting cranky. So she brought him upstairs, looking into the various rooms until she found Wyatt’s crib. She tucked him into bed and watched him until he fell asleep. Kissing her new-found nephew on the forehead, she went back downstairs and fixed herself another cup of coffee her way, which meant that it was so thick and so strong, a spoon could stand straight up in it.

Then she thought she heard something moving around upstairs. Wyatt! Running upstairs, she saw a strange redhead standing over Wyatt’s crib, leaning over to pick him up!

[Esmeralda]

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Oh, no, you don’t!” Prue cried and waved her arm, so the strange redhead went flying, hitting a wall.

But the redhead jumped up and sticking out her hand, she called out, “Lamp!” To Prue’s shock, the lamp orbed out and orbed right in front of the redhead, who redirected the path of the lamp’s path, intending to hit Prue. Just then Chris orbed in, materializing directly in the path of the lamp and it hit him instead, knocking him to the ground.

“Oh, no!” cried Prue. “Leo!” she yelled, surprised when the redhead yelled for Leo, too.

“What?” cried Prue. “You know Leo?”

“Yeah, Leo,” the redhead repeated.

Chris caught his breath and sat up, holding his sore head. He looked from one to the other.. “Oh, I see you two have met.”

“Who are you?” Both Prue and the redhead asked each other before also asking. “And how do you know Chris and Leo?”

Chris smiled. “Prue, this is Paige. Paige, this is Prue!”

Paige stared in shock. “Prue HALLIWELL!?”

“Yeah,” Chris nodded. “Apparently your boyfriend’s wish made her come back to life, too.”

“Wow!” she exclaimed, then smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, I attacked you.”

Prue grinned. “Hey, I attacked you first. I thought you were a demon!”

Paige grinned back. “Don’t worry about it. You’re not truly one of us until you have gone demonic on your sisters at least twice!”

“Sister?” Prue asked, confused..

Chris nodded and explained. “She’s your half-sister, actually. Long story.”

Suddenly he gasped and laid down, his hand rubbing his sore head. Again both sisters yelled for Leo, and this time he orbed in and healed Chris, who actually thanked him sincerely, a first for him, since he *had* thanked him before, but never sounding like he meant it, although there was a slight bit of resentment to it, and I wondered if it was because Leo and Wyatt could heal, while Chris couldn‘t.

To show there was no hard feelings, and because she wanted to learn more about her newly-found sister, Paige offered to take Prue out for lunch. Chris agreed, saying he’d watch Wyatt. Leo looked at him suspiciously, but he knew he had to get back Up There and orbed out.

Paige and Prue’s lunch started off with a salad and some rolls. While they were eating and yakking, a tall man wearing a black leather jacket, torn jeans and no shirt walked in, carrying a gun. He had jet-black hair and ice-blue eyes. “Nobody moves and nobody gets hurt.”

Prue stood up, meaning to TK the man, but he fired at her, and she fell. Paige ducked under the table, pulling Prue under, too. She softly called, “Gun,” and the gun orbed into her hand.

Without the gun, the restaurant security quickly overtook the man.

Paige grabbed Prue and orbed back to the Manor. There, Chris was playing with Wyatt. He quickly ran to Prue, looking at his own hands in frustration, as both he and Paige yelled for Leo. But the Elders must’ve been serious about him not being allowed back, because there was no sign of Leo. Just when they began to think they would lose Prue again, both panicking over how they would ever be able to explain to Piper and me, Leo finally appeared and healed Prue.

Prue smiled. “Thanks, Leo.” Then she added, “That is going to keep on happening, isn’t it?”

Leo didn’t answer her. He just nodded.

“No!!!” Chris protested. “There must be something we can do about this.”

Leo sadly shook his head. “Afraid not. I’m sorry, Prue, but it’s only a matter of time,” and Prue nodded, accepting her fate, determined to enjoy this second chance at life for as long as she could.”

Not Chris. He sighed in frustration. Suddenly he brightened. “I have to check on something.” and he orbed out.

Leo looked at Paige and Prue. “I’m sorry. I have to go. I’ll try to help if I can, but I can’t make promises.”

Prue nodded, accepting. “Thanks, Leo--it was great to see you again.”

He nodded, hugging her. “Take care, Prue,” and he orbed out.

A few moments later, Piper marched in, steaming mad. “Where is that son of a b*tch?”. and I laughed when I later heard about that and wondered if Paige did, too--if Piper only knew who that b*tch was!

“What?” Prue asked.

“I called Greg today! It seems Chris let Greg in while Leo and I were sleeping together.”

Paige stared in shock, but Prue was confused. “Wait, slow down. Who the heck is Greg?”

“My boyfriend," Piper ranted. "Now *ex*-boyfriend, thanks to Christopher!” Piper ranted.

“You belong with Leo anyway,” Prue declared, and Paige nodded.

Piper sighed with frustration. “Not you, too. You’re as bad as Christopher. Haven’t you heard? Leo’s an Elder now!”

Prue shrugged. “Yeah, so what!”

“Chris!” Piper screamed, ignoring Prue.

But there was no ignoring Prue. “Wait a minute. If this Greg was really your boyfriend, what were you doing sleeping with Leo?”

Piper growled in frustration. “We were just sleeping, nothing more, results of a potion,” she explained. “And it conveniently looked like we were cuddling when Greg came in! I can just about imagine the reason for that! CHRISTOPHER! GET YOUR A$$ OVER HERE RIGHT THIS MOMENT, BUSTER!”

He immediately orbed in. “What is it?” he asked, worried. “Did someone attack Prue again?”

That startled Piper, but she refused to be distracted. “What was that stunt you pulled with Greg?” she demanded.

“What are you talking about?” he demanded right back.

“Are you trying to ruin my love life?” she accused.

“No, of course not. Uh, why would I do that?” Chris asked, not looking directly at Piper.

“Good question,” Piper grumbled.

“I think you should be with Leo,” Prue repeated. “You remember the problems you had with Dan. You’re a lot better with Leo.” Chris smiled at Prue, and she smiled back.

“Leo is a freakin' Elder now!” Piper screamed. “Thanks to him!” and she pointed at Chris.

“Yeah, so what?” Prue asked with a shrug. “Does that mean you love him any less?”

“Of course, I still love him!” Piper continued to scream, and Chris looked away to conceal a smile. “But I don’t want a freakin’ husband who is never around! As an Elder, he has to stay Up There!”

Prue and Piper continued to talk, Prue trying to convince Piper that things would work out between her and Leo, even if he was an Elder, Piper insisting that that was impossible. Neither noticed when Chris orbed out.

[Esmeralda]

CHAPTER TWELVE

Later, after I got home from work, Paige and I were talking in the conservatory. Piper and Prue had decided to go shoe-shopping. Prue agreed to be careful, and Piper swore she’d freeze any strange-looking people, then yell for Chris and Leo.

I was just about to suggest to Paige that we take Wyatt clothes-shopping, and maybe find something new for Prue, too, when suddenly Leo and Chris orbed in. Leo looked infuriated, as infuriated as I’d seen him after he returned from Valhalla. Chris was looking down at the floor. He looked as if he’d been in that situation before. In fact, he had the look of a scared child who was about to be punished. I didn’t know what he’d done, but my heart went out to him.

“What happened?” we cried, and Leo explained:

The Elders had noticed some strange going-ons and had sent Leo to check up on Chris at P3. To his surprise, when he walked into the back room and turned on the lights, there was Chris with a woman. and the woman wasn't Bianca! Both were naked, and both were wrapped tightly around each other, kissing each other passionately.

“Oh, my God!” Leo exclaimed, his hands flying to cover his eyes. He was just beginning to orb away, so he could let the Elders know that it was nothing to be concerned about, when the woman turned her head and looked up. “Go away, Leo,” and she turned back and continued to deeply-kiss Chris. Chris went beet-red and tried to pull away, but the woman was totally unfazed by Leo’s presence and just kissed him deeper, her hand reaching for his a$$.

Leo stopped his orb because he recognized the woman’s voice. “Mist!” he cried, then he growled at Chris. “You son of a b*tch!” and again I laughed when I heard this, wondering what he would’ve thought if he knew who he was insulting!

But Leo was so infuriated that he didn’t even notice my snicker, as he kept regaling Paige and me with his tale:

“Leo, this is none of your business,” Mist told him. “What, are you his father?”

Yeah, he is, I thought, but I knew Chris wouldn’t say anything. Instead he tried to pull away from Mist, but she grabbed on to him tightly and began kissing him even more passionately, as she continued to rub his a$$.

Leo was infuriated. “Of course, I am not his father, and am I glad. I only have one son, and that’s all I’ll ever have.” Then he spun on the son he didn’t know he had. “You get out of here in ten minutes, you hear me, Christopher?” and he marched out, slamming the door.

When Leo told us this, I knew those words must’ve hit Chris like a knife. All I could think was what do you expect from someone who doesn’t know. If only... But having some idea what Chris thought of his future father, I knew he would never tell this version of him.

When Chris stepped out of his room, Leo was standing with his arms crossed, looking on with extreme disapproval. “Did you and your little playmate have fun?” he demanded, again sounding like the Leo who had just returned from Valhalla. And that’s what he must’ve been thinking when he asked, “Going to send me away again, are you?” He took a few steps toward Chris. “Just a warning to you, Chris--if I disappear, so do you. Got that?”

Chris looked up, rather shocked, and Leo explained. “If I disappear again, the Elders will send you back to the future.”

“It’s not what you think,” Chris insisted.

But Leo wasn’t listening. “You sure are tight with the Valkyrie.” Then he growled, “You are coming with me!” and he grabbed Chris and forcibly dragged him into the back office, closing the door behind them, where he orbed them both out and back to the Manor.

Now he told Paige and me that he was back to being suspicious about Chris’ real intentions. “He’s trying to send me back to Valhalla!”

“What? No, Leo,” Paige insisted. “Chris wouldn’t do that.”

“Especially not now,” I chimed in. “He needs you.”

“What does that mean?” Leo demanded, still angry.

“Nothing!” and Paige shot me the kind of death stare that means shut up or else.

Leo looked at both of us, unable to believe that we were actually sticking up for Chris. “Oh, c’mon! I caught him in bed with a Valkyrie. Doesn’t the fact that he is still in contact--” He stopped mid-sentence as he heard the jingling call from the Elders. He turned to glare at Chris. “This isn’t over yet!” he warned, then orbed out.

“I don’t get it, Chris,” I told him. “How is messing around with a Valkyrie going to get Leo and Piper back together?”

“Yeah, how will it save you?” Paige added.

“It won’t,” Chris admitted, then added, “But maybe someone else.”

“What?” Paige asked as she and I exchanged a confused look.

[Esmeralda]

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

A few moments later, Prue walked in. She smiled to see Chris, but then when she saw how embarrassed and scared he looked, she ran over to him, “You okay?” she asked in the voice she always used with me or Piper whenever we were hurt.

“Oh, Leo caught Chris with a girl,” I explained.

“Not just a girl,” Paige added. “A Valkyrie.”

Prue’s face fell. “Oh.” Oh, no! Prue had the hots for our nephew! Not that I blamed her, since when he first arrived I did, too, but now that I knew who he was, all I could think was EWWWWW!

But there was more important things to worry about. I turned to that nephew. “Don’t worry,” I told him. “I’ll talk to Leo for you,” and I left to go up to the attic, where I could try to call for him.

As I did, I heard Paige say, “Oh, no, I’m late! I have to go to work right now,” and soon I heard the door slam.

“You’re dating a Valkyrie?” Prue asked.

Curious to see what Chris would reply, I returned to my once-favorite snooping spot at the stair landing.

He was shaking his head. “Actually, no, she isn’t my girlfriend.”

“Then why were you--” Prue started to ask, and I wanted to know, too..

But Chris cut her off. “Long story. This was really embarrassing, and Leo is probably going to send me away after this.”

“Nah, not likely. He’ll forgive you. Leo doesn’t stay mad for long.”

“Oh, yeah,” he muttered. “He does with me.”

She was obviously thinking about what Leo saw, because she smiled, saying, “Yeah, I’ll bet it was very embarrassing, but it will pass.”

“No, it won’t,” he insisted. “Leo will never forgive me.”

She shrugged. “So what, you got caught with a girl. No big deal!”

“How would you know?" he grumbled. "I’m sure you never got caught with someone you shouldn’t have been with.”

I grinned. Oh, yeah, she has, I thought, thinking about Prue wearing black boxer shorts, while I was holding up a pair of panties. I was sure she’d never admit to it, but maybe being dead does something to you, because to my surprise, she replied. “No, actually I have. Bane, he was a criminal. He kidnapped me and...”

Chris rolled his eyes. “Oh, please don’t tell me you were raped! That’s totally different than this!”.

“Hell, no!” she exclaimed. “I wanted him and he wanted me.” Yeah, I thought, and I couldn’t blame her--he was yummy!

”But I thought you said he kidnapped you?” Chris exclaimed, confused.

“Yeah, he did, but he asked for my help then eventually he simply let me go when he realized I would not help him. But a demon attacked and he ended up saving me, so I ended up staying, and one thing led to another, and, well, you know the rest.”

“But I thought you said you got caught,” Chris wanted to know, interested despite himself.

She laughed. “Yeah, Piper and Phoebe walked in on us. I was dressed, but Bane wasn’t. I know just how embarrassed you must be--I’ll never forget how I felt when Phoebe found my panties on the floor!” and Chris laughed despite himself.

“Yeah, that must’ve been awful embarrassing.”

“Yeah, it was, but everybody is over it and Leo will be over your experience too!” she insisted.

Chris cringed at the mention of Leo. “I doubt it. He caught us in the act and I really should not have been with her.”

“She must have been really embarrassed too,” Prue put in, and I knew she was thinking about how embarrassed Bane was.

Chris laughed. “Oh, heck no, she’s a Valkyrie.”

“Valkyries don’t get embarrassed?” she asked surprised, and so was I.

“Yeah, Valkyries are always in control of their emotions,” he enthusiastically explained. “They are always serving the greater good, always in charge, very powerful.” Then he added, “They live on a beautiful tropical island.”

Prue smiled. “Wow, sounds good to be Valkyrie” and I thought so, too, something I never thought when *we* were Valkyries. Of course, at the time, I was a lot more interested in rescuing Piper than I was about the perks.

He smiled at her as he continued. “They are demi-goddesses. They don’t age. They don’t get sick. They don’t die of natural causes. They have a very noble purpose.”

“Purpose, which is?” she asked, and I wanted to know, too.

“To prepare for the final battle between good and evil.”

“Valkyries are good, right?” she asked.

“Very good,” he nodded.

“Oh, so then what is the big deal of you being caught with one?” Prue wanted to know. “It’s not like you were caught with a demon or something,” and she actually got him to smile. ““Feel better?”

He shrugged. ”A little.”

“Chris, I wanted to ask you a favor.”

“What is it?”

“Orb me far away from here. Leo has confirmed that I will die again soon. I don’t want to make Phoebe and Piper go through my death again.” Oh, Prue! And tears began to blur my eyes.

He firmly shook his head. “I have no intention of letting you die.”

“You can’t stop Death,” she insisted. “I know, I tried once and it didn’t work. I had to admit that once Death stakes a claim, there‘s nothing you can do about it. Now you have to admit that, too.”

I'm going to stop here. Let me know if you want me to continue.