Chapter 1: In the Beginning

The doctor set Phoebe's chart down, "okay, let's see what we can see." He brought the wand to Phoebe's stomach and stared at the screen.

A sudden shock tossed him across the room.

Yelping, Piper rushed to help him up.

He shook his head, "What happened?"

"That's a good question." Piper jerked her hands to magically freeze him. "What happened Phoebe?"

"Sorry, that gel was really cold."

"So you electrocuted him?"

Phoebe shrugged.

"Any other powers you wanna share with me?"

"This was a bad idea." Sitting up, she used her gown to rub off the gel.

"Ya think?" She helped Phoebe off the table, out of the office and into the car.

On the ride home, Piper ventured, "how exactly did you get your active powers?"

"They're not mine; they never were."

"Your baby has that much power from the first trimester?"

"Even Cole was surprised." Phoebe stared out the window. "He was desperate to consolidate power and secure our standing before I gave birth."

Piper didn't know what to say, so she remained silent the rest of the way home.

They walked inside and headed for the attic.

As soon as she stepped over the threshold, Piper called "Leo!"

He appeared in a swarm of white lights. "How did the appointment go?"

"Fine -up until Phoebe nearly killed the doctor."

"What?"

Phoebe sat on the couch. "The baby's magic is growing and as long as he's inside me his powers are my powers."

"And you used them on a human?"

She nodded. "Like a reflex. Channeling his powers is as easy as breathing."

Piper sighed, "we saw what using demonic powers did to Cole."

Phoebe murmured, "it eroded his humanity."

Paige walked in, "so let's bind the runt's powers. I just checked and we have all the ingredients."

"I told you on the phone you didn't need to come home for this. You were already late to work."

"Eh," Paige waved off Piper's concern. "Who needs a vacation time?"

"Piper's right. You can't keep risking your job for non-emergencies."

"Yes I can."

Piper stepped towards the book of shadows. "Leo is going to check with the elders — see what they know about this baby and I'm going to check the book."

"I just did that this morning. Its best solution is the binding potion."

Leo frowned. "Binding the baby's magic would bind Phoebe's too. It'd suspend the Power of Three."

Piper started flipping through the book. "Well let's hope the elders have a better idea."

Leo nodded and orbed out.

Paige sat beside Phoebe. "Why didn't you tell us you still had active powers?"

"I wasn't planning on using them again."

Piper kept her eyes on the book "like Cole planned on not using his?"

"Every time he slipped it was to protect himself or me."

Paige spoke in a neutral tone. "But your slips are different…"

Phoebe nodded.

"You slip when you're upset."

Piper flipped another page. "You've been lying to us."

"You saw me flame in and out of here more than once. You thought that just went away?"

Piper slammed the book shut. "Yes."

"Then I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to hide it from you. I've just had bigger things on my mind."

"Like being summoned by the seer?" Piper glared. "This morning when Leo said you were safe from her because you'd chosen good, you didn't agree."

Phoebe rolled her eys "I'm not evil Piper."

"But your child might be."

Paige stood, "so to be safe, we need to vanquish the seer."

Piper didn't look away from Phoebe. "We'd need a tissue sample for the vanquishing potion."

Phoebe broke there staring match. "The penthouse. Cole kept extra tonic in the safe."

Paige frowned, "how's that hel–"

"Her blood. It's one of the ingredients of the atomic."

"Ewww"

Ignoring pages grossed out expression, Phoebe stood. "Paige, you go back to work. Piper and I can go to the penthouse and make the potion. We'll be fine."

Paige looked to Piper for confirmation. "Okay, but if you need anything, call me. I'm an orb away."

Phoebe grabbed her jacket and headed for the stairs. Piper followed.

They met Detective Morris in the foyer. "I left four messages here, has anybody in this house learned the magic of a telephone?"

Piper groaned, "it's been a very rough busy week."

"Right. Phoebe, how you holding up?"

"Depends on what part of the day you ask me."

"Look, I know you've got a lot to deal with already, but there's some business I don't think can be put off any longer."

"It's going to have to."

"Cole worked at a high profile law firm and right now you three are the only ones know he's not coming back."

Phoebe patted Paige's behind. "You, Missy, work."

Paige shook her head. "If you guys are making the penthouse police presentable, you're gonna need help. The place looks like a bomb went off."

Morris eyes bugged "what?!"

Piper waved them all out the door. "Okay, group trip it is."

Phoebe walked to Darryl's car. Neither sister tried to stop her.

On the drive over, Darryl explained his plan – the one that would convince the police she hadn't killed her husband.

She barely listened while staring out the window.

They arrived about the same time as her sisters.

Together, they stepped into the elevator.

Each of them held their breath as the door opened.

Stepping out, Phoebe glanced around her desecrated home. Her gaze found and locked on the burn mark Cole left behind.

Darryl took in the scene as he spoke. "It has to look like Cole left in a hurry, that means packing up all of his stuff and personal belongings."

Paige frowned, "Why do we need to pack up his stuff?"

Phoebe continued to stare at the dark stain. "So I can report him missing."

Darryl nodded, "She has to otherwise somebody else will and she'll become to prime suspect in his disappearance."

"If his stuff is gone, it'll look like he left me."

"That's right. We cannot give the police any reason to suspect foul play. I mean, technically you three did kill him." Darryl followed Phoebe's stared. "What is that?"

Phoebe murmured, "Cole."

Piper rubbed her back. "Why don't you pack up his things? I'll start cleaning up out here."

Page put an arm around Phoebe, "come on sweetie."

Phoebe reluctantly let herself be led to the bedroom.

Darrell surveyed the blown out windows. "I don't know how we're going to fix these before the detectives on the case investigate this place."

On her way to the kitchen, Piper called "Leo." When she grabbed the broom, Leo appeared. "We could use a magic handyman."

He followed her back into the main room. He glanced at the burn mark but didn't linger. He walked straight for the windows while Piper started sweeping glass.

She looked at Darrell. "You mind picking up these flowers?" She tried to sweep over the burn mark without really looking at it. "The elders have any words of wisdom?"

Having healed one window, Leo moved on to another, "we should wait for Phoebe."

Piper stared at the bits of ash surrounding the mark. "I don't think this is going to scrub out."

Leo didn't turn around. "I'll get to it."

A scream sounded from the bedroom.

Piper dropped the broom and sprinted. Pushing open the door, she saw Paige holding Phoebe's legs.

The rest of her sister was being sucked into the closet.

Coming close, Piper saw bolts of electricity shooting from Phoebe to the Seer before her. She heard a scream that wasn't Phoebe's and then a crash as Phoebe and Paige fell back against the bed. Piper rushed inside them. "What the hell was that?"

Leo and Darrell stood behind her. Leo crouched beside her, "are you hurt?"

Paige shook her head, "the Seer was trying to take Phoebe and Phoebe just – just vanquished her."

Piper helped them up. "How is that possible? She's an upper-level being."

Paige watched Phoebe step towards the closet. "Guess source of all evil trumps seer."

Phoebe walked past them. "We should still take the tonic. The police finding it would just raise questions."

"Slow down, talk to us."

She started unlocking the wall safe, "that wasn't the first time I've used demonic powers to kill a demon. There's nothing to talk about."

"Nothing to talk about?" Piper scoffed, "Phoebe, you just killed the thousand-year-old demon with your eyes."

Phoebe open the door and pulled out an envelope. "She must have gotten to it first."

"What's that?"

She turned towards the group. "Cole's handwriting."

Darryl strolled strode towards the trashcan. "Cleaning and packing people. We're here to clean and pack. No panicking until we're done and home."

Piper continued looking at Phoebe. "Leo, what did the elders say?"

"That this has never happened before. This baby was conceived by the strongest forces of good and evil on this plane. They're scared."

Paige tilted her head. "Since when do the elders fear anything?"

"This child's magic is stronger than any that came before. They can't see its future."

Page turned to Phoebe, "can you?"

Leaning against the wall, Phoebe looked at Leo. "As soon as I give birth, I'll strip its powers. Until then, what do they want me to do — bind them?"

"They don't want to suspend the power of three, but they do want to separate you."

Piper frowned at him. "Separate how?"

"They've asked that you live apart until the child is born — that you meet only when necessary, when you need the power of three."

Paige put her hands on her hips. "Asked or decreed?"

Leo looked at Phoebe, "you won't be alone. The elders are sending an envoy to stay with you during the pregnancy."

Picking up cushions off the floor, Phoebe returned them to the couch. "An envoy…"

Piper picked up the broom again. "Sounds like detainment."

"It's unprecedented, but it is the greatest honor. The envoy will consist of several white lighters and two elders. They'll teach you techniques to stabilize your emotions and balance your magic with the child's."

Piper pulled his arm. "I thought elders never came down here."

"It's rare, but this child is the most significant magical being on this plane."

He watched Phoebe sit on the couch. "They want to help however they can."

Phoebe looked around the remains of her life with Cole. "I don't need to pack my things after all — just Cole's."

Paige sat on the arm of the couch. "You're seriously going to stay here?"

Piper crossed her arms. "We can regroup at home and find somewhere closer."

Leo cleared his throat.

Phoebe nodded. "I probably will sell this place but not today. In the meantime, I have everything I need. Do you think the envoy will approve?"

Leo looked between Piper and Paige, "as long as you to agree not to visit. If they see you here, they'll insist on a move."

Uncrossing her arms, Piper slapped her hands against her thighs, "this is ridiculous. What do they think is going to happen?"

Phoebe stood and picked up a fallen picture frame. "They're scared I'll kill one of you by accident. White lighters are already dead, so they should be safe." Turning over the frame, she looked a photo of her and Cole.

Paige stood too. "But Phoebe would never hurt us."

"They can't take that chance."

Piper straightened a fallen fichus. "So when does this envoy arrive?"

Leo stepped towards the burn mark. "Tonight." Everyone watched as his hand hovered above it. As his hand started to glow, the burn faded and disappeared leaving a smooth reflective surface.

Phoebe breathed out a sigh of relief and looked up at Darryl. "When's that meeting with Missing Persons."

He shrugged. "Now-ish."

Leo looked at her. "We'll have this place fixed up by the time you get back."

Paige threw her arms around Phoebe enveloping her in a tight hug. "We'll wait with you. And then we'll see you soon as the next vanquish. We'll need the power of three in no time."

Piper frowned. "And if we don't?"

Phoebe followed Darryl to the elevator. "Then I'll see you again in seven months."