Penelope Jade Halliwell

Morality Bites Pt 3

We got in Piper's car and she drove to Bucklands, once we got out she said: "I can't believe you get a limo and a driver and I've still got my same old car." I said "You have a husband." she said "Had a husband, you mean. I'm getting divorced, remember. And how do you know you don't have a guy at this time? I mean, after all, I have a kid and an ex, you could have several." I said "Ex's?" Piper said "No, kids. I mean, we're in the future but with no memory of the past ten years. I don't even know who my ex-husband is..." a guy bumped into someone and Piper froze him and everything else as well. I said "Okay, apparently my power isn't the only one that's grown. You just froze..."

Piper said "Everything. What a difference a decade makes." Leo showed up and El ran to him and hugged him, he picked her up, hugged her tightly, and said "What the hell are you doing?" Piper said "Leo, I'm so glad you're here. I have so many... Uh... what's wrong?" he said "You know, I knew you'd do something stupid like this. You used your magic in public. What's the matter with you? Are you insane?" Piper said, "Uh, Leo..." I said, "Remember he thinks we know what's going on." Leo said "You wanna end up like your sister? Huh? We had an agreement. No using magic for Melinda's sake." Piper said "Melinda?" he said "Our daughter. What's wrong with you?" Piper said "Our daughter?" I said "Wait for a second, you're Piper's ex?" a woman saw everything frozen and he put El down as the woman screamed "Witch!!" El took off running and I said "Okay, what's going on here?" we saw signs that said "Rid the evil. Turn in witches," the lady said "Over there! Witch!" everything unfroze and Leo said, "All right, hurry, we gotta get outta here before they see you." Piper said "They?" Leo said "The witch hunters. El head for the tunnels." 

Once underground we saw El crouched down trying to catch her breath, I kneeled by her and rubbed her back as I said "Leo, listen to me. The two of us, the Prue and Piper that you see before you are from the past. From ten years ago." Piper said "So, we have no idea what is going on." he said "Don't even lie to me. Phoebe is set to die today and I only hope that this madness dies with her. Right, these people are in danger because of the witch trials she started." I said "How? How did she start them?" Leo said, "You know, I don't know what you hope to accomplish by pretending not to know..." Piper kissed him and he said, "You haven't kissed me like that since..." Piper said "Since this morning. 1999, remember? We were supposed to meet, you had to leave, I went up to the attic and this is where I came, the future. If you don't believe me, at least believe what you feel, trust that." 

Leo said "I remember that was the day they sent me up to the attic to open the Book of Shadows, the future spell. Then I took El to play in the clouds." I said "Wait, that was you? We just assumed it was Grams." he said "No, it was me. They didn't tell me why. What, you don't know what's happened in the last ten years? Any of it? These people, they're here underground because they've been accused of practicing witchcraft." I said, "They're witches?" El said "Some of them." he said "Most of them have been falsely accused. They're safe here for now." I said "What did Phoebe do?" he said "Six months ago she killed a man. Cal Greene." Piper said "The baseball player?" I said "This is crazy. I mean, Phoebe would never hurt anyone." 

He said "She hurt him because he murdered someone. Someone Phoebe cared about very much. A dear friend who he brutalized. But a technicality set him free. Phoebe was furious, outraged. And that's when she crossed the line from protecting the innocent to punishing the guilty. She used her power to kill Greene, got caught, and her magic exposed by Nathaniel Pratt." Piper said, "And this is the result of modern-day witch trials with Pratt at the helm?" I said "And Phoebe at the stake. I don't buy it. Her power can't kill." He said "Well, it can now. It's been ten years. All your powers have grown. El..." she walked over to him and he got down to her level and said, "I know it's scary, and I know you're mad at her, but... they don't know, so I need you to show mommy and aunt Piper." In a scared little voice, said "But what if someone tells?" he grabbed her hands and in a soft, gentle voice, said "Penelope Jade, I have always told you and Melinda that I won't let anything happen to either of you. You will be safe."  

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath then turned to us and held her hands out, Leo said
"Grab her hands, and she will show you the truth." Piper and I glanced at each other before we each took one of her hands. We closed our eyes and saw Phoebe and El, Phoebe said "El, I need to do something, stay hidden." Phoebe walked away, El followed shortly behind her. El hid behind the wall and watched as Phoebe put her hands on either side of Greene's and electrocuted him, once he was dead she let him fall to the ground. Phoebe then walked to El and said "Penelope, don't tell anyone about this, or else." El let go of our hands and fell backward into Leo's waiting arms as she tried not to cry. 

Piper said "We have to get to Phoebe and explain." he said "You can't. All right, as it stands, you and Prue are safe. Pratt checked you out and he doesn't suspect you're witches. To get to Phoebe you'd have to use your powers and they'll catch you then kill you." Piper said "Leo, she's our sister. We're not gonna let her die." Leo said, "Wait, I'll go." I said "Leo, this is our sister. We have to." he said "No. I'm still your guide. I can orb in and keep you out of danger." Piper said "Fine. Then we'll go back to Buckland's and get the book and get the spell to get us home." I said "We'll meet you at the manor. Come on sweet girl." I held my hand out for El and she took my hand coming to my side. Piper said "Leo, um, we got married?" he smiled and I said "Piper, later. We'll have plenty of time later."

We walked out of the elevator at Bucklands and a woman said "Miss Halliwell, can you sign the P.O..." lots of people crowded around and were talking at once, my assistant said "Give the woman some air. She will meet with all of you after lunch. Thank you. Okay, good news first. The acquisition paperwork was approved and... Yes?" Piper said "I'm with her." the poor girl looked confused so El said "That's aunt Piper." she still looked confused so I said "It's Piper. My sister." the girl said "Oh, right, sorry. Almost forgot you had another one, I mean other than..." Piper said "That's okay, I forgot your name too." she said "Anne. Miss Halliwell's personal assistant. And this little cutie's ride to school, oh speaking of, I picked up your homework sweetie." she handed El a folder. El said "Thanks, Anne." I said "Anne, right, my personal assistant. By the way, Anne, um, do you know if my husband called by any chance?" Anne and El started to laugh and Anne said "Husband, good one. Very funny. Like you have the time. Okay, I just need to get your final okay on the acquisition. Your sister was amazing. I mean, at first, the board was a little resistant, what with the layoffs it would entail, but Prue pushed it through." 

I said, "I did?" Anne said "I thought the "to hell with the little people" part was particularly persuasive." I said, "Okay, Anne, sweetie, I need some private time with my sister, so if you can just..." Anne said "Oh, no problem, just buzz me." she left the room and I said "Look at me. All right, I am booked with work, I'm about to lay off countless people with a flick of my pen, no man to speak of." Piper said, "Maybe you're just picky." I said "What's happened to me? Okay, well, I could dwell on the nightmare that my life will become, but we have work to do. At least some things around here haven't changed." I opened the wall safe and got out the book of shadows. Piper said "Okay, it should be after the demon with the tusk and before the spell to discourage a lover. Where is it? It was here in 1999." I said "Yeah, and now it's gone. So, if the spell can only be used once, that must mean that our future selves have already used it. Which means..." Piper said, "We have no way of getting home."