Chapter Text
This happens in 'Forever Charmed' three weeks after they vanquish Christy.
Phoebe sighed, rubbing her eyes tiredly. She hadn't finished her column yet. She'd been typing in her laptop trying to meet Elise's deadline – because she was meeting Coop later.
She sipped daintily from her cup of Darjeeling tea, and she sat up a little. The laptop was warm against her thighs; the bright daylight illuminated the parlor. All was well in the world, after they'd vanquished Billie's evil sister. She hummed along to 'Linger,' the Cranberries song she was hearing on her iPod.
She put the cup of tea atop the psychology books that were on the chair next to the couch.
She finished typing her advice to a middle-aged man who wanted to date his brother's ex – a heated situation at best, but she hoped she'd nudged the man in the right direction.
Phoebe looked towards the right corner of the screen and groaned when she realized she had only two hours to finish.
She nearly screamed in frustration when a message came on, indicating she had an email from Elise; after taking another sip from her rapidly cooling tea, she opened the email.
Phoebe, got another letter; it came unexpectedly but I think your answer could come in handy in the next edition. Elise
Phoebe read the message, noting that the letter appeared to be long.
Dear Phoebe,
I'm a thirty-year old woman. I was happily married to a very successful, petite and adorable – though masculine – man. I had many problems with his two overbearing brothers. The three of them were a very tightly knit group – they often excluded me from their adventures. I really felt like an outsider, like I was never accepted.
In the course of our relationship I started acting weirdly, as if I had two persons inside me; one pushing me to do good, and the other forcing me towards evil. My situation with the three brothers didn't help at all. Later…
Phoebe stopped reading when she observed with dread several small globes of light on the screen. She raised her hands and almost threw the machine out of her lap.
"Now I've gotta redo my column," mumbled Phoebe under her breath.
She was startled when someone touched her shoulder; she hastily turned around and saw her sister Paige. Phoebe took out her earphones and put the iPod over the laptop's keyboard, on the chair.
"What's up Pheebs?"
"Don't startle me, Paige!" admonished Phoebe as she stood up and hugged her sister.
"Why are you here?"
"Well, Henry's working on a case, and I had nothing to do…" Paige cocked an eyebrow and looked at Phoebe, "… so I decided to visit my big sis."
"Well, much as I'd like to chat with you, I'm busy right now," answered Phoebe with a pointed look towards her laptop. She motioned to the ceiling, "On the other hand, Billie's upstairs, working on a potion."
Phoebe lowered her voice and said conspiratorially, "Between us, I think she is working to bring back Christy." When Paige started to add something, Phoebe raised her hand, "It's ok, hon… just don't tell Piper or she'll blow a fuse."
After Paige orbed out of the parlor, Phoebe sighed resignedly and sat on the couch, she crossed her feet and propped her computer on her lap. She moved her hand to the touchpad. Making a mental note to trim her fingernails yet again, she scrolled down to the place where she'd stopped reading.
Later I was diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder. During the time I was sick, I tried to kill my husband's brothers several times. I must point out though that I repeatedly saved their lives. If it were not for me, they would have surely died.
But the damage to my marriage was permanent. My husband divorced me, and he left me alone, bereft - on a desert island as it were. Life was bleak, and in fact, still continues to be so.
Recently I learned that my husband and his brothers kind of adopted a boy….
Phoebe stopped reading when the shimmering globes of light appeared in front of her and condensed into a fuming Paige.
"What happened, honey?"
Paige started pacing back and forth, gesticulating with her arms, "I don't understand it, Phoebe. I just don't get it!"
Paige grimaced, "Perhaps Billie is still mad at us over Christy. Anyway, she shooed me out of the attic. How rude!"
After putting the laptop on the couch, Phoebe rushed to hug her sister. "We just have to give her time, Paige. Christy died recently, and it's normal for Billie to resent us. We've got to be patient and wait for her to mourn."
"But she threw the Book of Shadows at me!" added Paige indignantly.
"I got out of the way just because I can orb!"
Phoebe motioned Paige to sit on the couch next to the chair, she knelt in front of her and held Paige's hands between hers, "It's one of the stages when people lose someone they love – anger. We just have to be very patient."
"For how long? This has been going on for three weeks now!" said Paige crossly.
"Wait a sec, hon. I'll fix you a cup of tea." Phoebe stood up and motioned for Paige to go with her to the kitchen.
While Phoebe busied herself brewing the tea, Paige looked around, "Where's Piper and the boys?"
Phoebe turned to her, closing the door of the cupboard. "Oh, Piper took them to their grandpa's. Chris and Wyatt miss Victor, after" – she waved her hands dramatically – "the business with Billie stealing Wyatt's power and all, they're a bit afraid of her."
Phoebe poured tea into a cup and handed it to Paige, "Anyway, they're really comfortable at Victor's."
Paige sipped her tea and sighed, frankly she found Billie's antics a bit dramatic and distasteful. She saw Piper's gingerbread cookies on the table. She took one and started eating it voraciously.
"How are things with Coop? You haven't filled me in," said Paige, waving her cookie accusatorily towards Phoebe.
"As good as can be. Coop is friendly, considerate and romantic," Phoebe looked dreamily to the window.
"He's my soulmate."
Paige pretended to gag on her cookie. She put down the cup and looked at her watch, "Oops, gotta go!
"Henry's probably finished with his work for the day." She hurriedly kissed Phoebe and disappeared in a shower of colors.
Phoebe grumbled as she put away the teacup and the dish Paige had used, "Yeah, leave everything to her big sister."
She walked to the parlor and sat down, noticing that she had only an hour and a half to finish her column. She finished reading the letter asking for her advice.
… my husband and his brothers kind of adopted a boy, and I heard he tried to kill them, I think he even kidnapped my ex's niece. But they just brushed it off as a teenager thing, saying 'boys will be boys.'
But I forgot to tell you something. After I was given treatment for my illness, I resumed my profession. I'm a plastic surgeon, and if I do say so myself – a rather successful one.
I found some measure of contentment after my husband left me in the waste of the real life; but hearing this news, about those three and the kindness they offered the boy – something they denied me - really tears me up inside.
What should I do, Phoebe? How can I leave my past behind when these things happen in my ex's life?
Forever yours,
Nippy Tucker
Marveling at the intimate form of address, Phoebe glared at the screen and mentally formed a response, after consulting the topmost psychology book on the chair. When she put the book back, the tottering pile threatened to collapse until she put some tomes on the floor next to the couch. Phoebe noticed absentmindedly that Paige had left her car keys behind. She snorted thinking that when you can orb around the world, a little thing like a car may seem unimportant. She typed her answer.
Dear Ms. Tucker,
This is obviously a case of sexism. I bet if the person those three brutes adopted was a girl, they would not overlook her guilt.
I would advise you to forget your ex and focus on your life, on your future success. You have surmounted disease and abandonment. Leave your ex behind, he doesn't deserve any moment you spend thinking about him.
Look to the bright side, you don't have to spend your life conforming to the expectations of your husband's family; you are free to pursue your own goals. Pamper yourself a bit and look to the future, and people will appreciate you for who you truly are.
Sighing triumphantly, Phoebe saved the file and sent it to Elise's mailbox.
She stood up and stretched gracefully, smoothing the lines of her black slacks.
Phoebe cringed when she heard crashing noises above her, as if something heavy – like a cauldron – was being thrown around. She heard the muffled cries of Billie shouting something that sounded suspiciously like, "Damn Linux!" Shrugging, Phoebe went to the bathroom to fix her makeup.
When she was fixing a smudge on her left cheek, she remembered Paige's car keys. She'd better make sure that they were picked up, or Billie might throw them away in a fit of pique.
Phoebe made her way to the parlor and bent to pick up the keys. When she touched them, she felt as if she was being thrown into a bright tunnel, the parlor faded, and the warmth of the sunlight abandoned her, the sounds of Billie shouting above her disappeared.
Phoebe shivered; she wrapped the jacket of her suit around her. She noticed Paige's green car in front of her. There was an unmoving shape next to it, and two boys were sniffling. Phoebe ran to the figure and knelt down; she trembled when she recognized her sister.
Piper was very pale; Phoebe took her pulse and breathed a sigh of relief when she found it, albeit somewhat weak. She turned to the boys crying - they were inside the Beetle.
Phoebe opened the door of the car and grabbed her nephew Wyatt. Chris was mindlessly rocking back and forth, bawling.
She turned around and saw Paige orbing in.
Her sister said, "Hurry, we have to get Piper and the boys out before they get us …
"They've got the Book of Shadows and are using our spells!" finished Paige, glaring at the Manor.
"How'd they get it?" asked Phoebe dazedly.
Paige muttered one word, but it was enough to sink Phoebe in despair.
"Billie."
Then Phoebe felt a rush as everything went dark: the car, her sisters, her nephews. She thought that was what Paige must feel like when she orbed – the world shifted away from you.
She felt the warmth of the room percolating in, and she realized she was out of her vision of the future.