A/N: Okay, here are we at the end of this near year long epic. Thanks everyone who encouraged me to continue this series with another sequel. Spoilers for Destiny's a Charm at the bottom.
Title is from the movie: The Lake House
Conclusion: The Drake House
"Are you sure you saw Drake die?" Piper crossed over to the book of Shadows where Prue was aimlessly flipping through its rustic style pages.
"Sorry Pheebs, I don't see anything like the woman you described"
"Yes" Phoebe's gaze flicked from Piper to Prue before making her way to the sacred family heirloom "Well did you look for a creature with long stringy hair and a gold watch"
"Yes, three times and I'm telling you that particular demon isn't in here," Prue returned a bit more flippant than she needed to be. The only thing close to Phoebe's description was the Crone.
"Well maybe we aren't meant to find this demon. Did you ever stop to think that Drake is destine to die?" Piper commented as Phoebe made her way between them and anxiously started scanning the pages.
"Piper, how can you say that? This is man is the love of Paige's life. It's not like Drake's just any ol' innocent"
. "Maybe Paige is destine to lose Drake, like Prue lost Andy," Piper looked over Phoebe's head to Prue, making certain that her words were sinking in.
"Piper," Prue bit back sharply.
"It's true if you were meant to have Andy in your life, then Destiny wouldn't have taken him away"
"No", the clairvoyant shook her head still concentrating on the book, "That can't be right. At least not for Paige: She's already lost Glenn" Surely cruel destiny wouldn't strike twice.
"Somehow I doubt destiny cares," Piper sniffed stiffly before turning on one heel and marching out of the attic. "I'll be in my room"
Both Phoebe and Prue stared at the doorway, listening to Piper's hollow footsteps. "What's gotten into her?"
"Jeric, I think. He hurt her pretty badly" Prue comment refocusing her attention on the book. "Piper just needs some more time"
Phoebe nodded biting her lip. She hated to admit it but time was the one thing they didn't have at the moment. With an unknown demon on loose, they were going to need everyone pulling together. They would need the power of four.
South Beach Social Services
Paige had just slid into the driver's seat of her green bug when Drake appeared in front of her, looking like hell. Drake? Quickly she got out of the car and circled around the front to find sweat pouring down his forehead. She looked oddly at the bouquet of roses in his hand; somewhere between purchasing them at the Flower Barrel and shimmering to her they'd turned black.
"Drake? What happened to you?" The demon appeared to be almost feverish. Paige saw him sway and quickly wrapped an arm around his washboard waist.
"Here these are for you?" Drake grinned attempting to her hand the roses as his body gave weigh to gravity pulling Paige down to the warm asphalt.
"Drake!" The young witch's hand fell in is hair, her face tipping heavenward. "Leo!"
Drake's jaw started to quiver as he attempted to speak, "How about we change dinner and go to the Taj Mahal and then have desert at the Eiffel Tower?".
"Where ever you want," Paige murmured pressing her forehead to his. Again she called loudly for the whitelighter "LEO!"
Afterlife
Leo stood in the heavens surrounded by several Elders. "Paige is calling, I have to go"
"No" A female Elder answered, "Paige is calling for you to help a demon. We will not allow it"
"What?" Leo looked at his trusted counter parts confused.
"Drake Demon has a special destiny" another Elder answered "and if you try to interfere he may not earn his true calling"
Leo looked at the hooded figures even more confused than ever. "What calling?"
"We are not at liberty to say" a third answered.
A fourth looked upward and closed his eyes. "It is also time to call Prudence home"
Leo's head snapped upward, "What's Prue got to do with this?"
"Nothing directly" the first Elder answered as the fairy Thistle landed on his shoulder. "But we cannot risk the Power of Three foiling our plan". The champion of the greater good flicked his gaze to the fairy. "You know what to do"
Obediently, Thistle nodded and disappeared in a cloud of fairy dust.
Prue was still standing at the book with Phoebe when her trusted fairy appeared.
"Hey Thistle" Phoebe greeted with a sunny expression as the fairy buzzed around them. "What's that you need to take Prue?"
Prue and Phoebe both looked at each other carefully. "Thistle I can't leave right now" Prue said slowly.
Thistle's fluttering became more urgent signifying her uses of fairy speak.
"What do you mean spirits in the Afterlife are being slaughtered?" Prue asked feeling her heart pound as the fairy started to flutter about anxiously relaying a silent message.
"Demons are attacking the realm of the Afterlife?" Phoebe deciphered again looking at Prue. "Maybe you should go and see what's up"
"Okay" Prue nodded tucking a strand of hair behind both ears "I'll be back as soon as I can" Thistle landed on Prue's shoulder forcing a set of bright swirling lights appeared around the Charmed High Priestess. Together they disappeared in the realm leaving Phoebe alone to defend against the demon who was threatening to take Drake.
As she continued to look through the book, Phoebe heard the thud of the front door followed by the echoing sound of Paige's voice. Prue, Piper, Phoebe!"
"Paige?" Phoebe called back, closing the book. The clairvoyant took one step forward and was struck with a powerful premonition.
Outside the manor, Paige froze in her tracks as she heard the flag on mailbox creak. "This so isn't happening" she muttered watching at the flag went from the downward position to up. Curious she opened the box and found a letter-sized envelope with her name on it.
The outside of the letter was written in the neatest handwriting she'd ever seen. "Okay, I'll bite" Tearing into the envelope Paige removed a three-sheet letter and began to read. Dearest Paige,
If you are reading this then you know that I am gone. Please do not grieve for me. In fact it is literally impossible for grieve for someone who never had soul at least in my way of thinking. But then you are not a demon; you are a mortal and part of being a mortal means that you must feel pain in order to feel love. You taught me that. You allowed me to have a soul. "Drake," Clamping, a hand over her mouth Paige continued to read feeling tears spring to her eyes. I cannot tell you how I know, but I will say that our time together will not go unrewarded at least not for you. A powerful loving soul lives within side of you, Paige; One that shall bring nothing but love and joy to your life and the world. And you shall call her, Bella…Bella Drake, a cupid after my own romantic heart.
At that moment Paige felt an overwhelming sense of love and warmth radiating from her lower abdomen.
"I'm pregnant?"
"Phoebe Down here! Hurry!" Paige's voice echoed back, "I need help!" Keeping a supportive arm around Drake's waist, Paige led the demon to the couch where he collapsed with a hearty thud.
"You'll be okay. I'm going to find a way to fix this" Paige promised at the sound of Drake's labored breathing. Sliding next to him, Paige quickly started to work the buttons of his shirt, loosening the collar that surrounded his neck.
Flames appeared in the centered of the room, constituting the shape of the siren.
"Who the hell the are you?" Paige's head snapped up at the sight of the intruder. She and her sisters had encountered Siren's before making it easy for her to recognize the demoness.
"Why don't you ask Drake?" Sareena sauntered closer to the couch humming her hypnotic tune. "You remember this, don't you Drake?" Sareena pressed her hand to her lips, blowing him a smoky kiss.
Instinctively, Paige threw out her hand shouting for her protective blue hue. Instantly a blue barrier appeared, trapping the smoke in mid-air.
"Nice trick" Sareena snorted, "too bad it's not good enough to save his life" In her hands she held the sparkling gold life chips, tossing them in the air for Paige to see.
"What's this?"
"Life Chips," Sareena answered catching the chips in her palm. "Would you be interested in knowing how to get them back?" Sareena didn't wait for an answer; "I'll trade them if you'll give me something in return"
"What?" Paige growled through clenched teeth.
"Your unborn baby" The Siren took great pleasure in watching the expression on Paige's face change.
"Wh-what did you say?"
"Don't listen to her Paige" Phoebe retorted thundering down the stairs. Reaching into her pocket, the Charmed One pulled out a purple vile and hurled it towards the center of the room.
"Siren of lust, seeker of men, burn now, like you did back then!"
Anticipating the clairvoyant's move, Sareena smoked out in time with the vile hitting floor, escaping the fiery death.
Phoebe paused for a moment staring at the scorch mark that had been left behind from the potion. "Damn" she cursed resuming her steps. The Siren would be back, if not today then another time. A Charmed witch impregnated with a cupid would be an impressive trophy for any demon's wall.
But how did Drake Demon rank as the father for a future cupid? This the witch-whisperer didn't know. Quietly sliding next to her baby sister, Phoebe laid her hand on Paige's shoulder.
"Am I?" Paige choked blinking out a small stream of tears. Could she be? Was she pregnant?
"Yes, maybe, not yet. I don't know" Phoebe started to stammered, "From the vision I saw it looks a little complicated"
"How complicated?" Paige demanded, her dark eyes flashing before she came to a sudden realization. Drake's dying "Oh it is sort of complicated to have a baby if the father's not around"
Phoebe felt death's chill run of her spine and looked over her shoulder. The annoying Angel was standing in the middle of stairs nodding at the witch.
Paige quickly followed Phoebe's lead setting eyes upon the dark looking angel. "No…please"
"He's meant too, Sweetie. This is his time" Phoebe hid a small smile as she realized the meaning of her premonition. Drake's destiny after death was to become a cupid and Paige was destined to give birth to his love child.
"No, it's too early" Paige shook her head, angrily swiping at her tears. Drake was suppose to have three more months left according to the calendar she'd been keeping. It wasn't fair, it just wasn't fair!
"I don't think we'll be making that dinner," Drake panted before lifting his index finger to Paige's face.
Paige pursed her lips, tightening her face against the tears that ran down her cheeks. "Please…please don't leave me"
Phoebe shut her eyes tight feeling a tear run down her own face. Looking back at the stairs she saw Death gaze at the timepiece he kept in his pocket and then disappear.
Turner Penthouse
"Mmm...Piper, this smells delicious?" Phoebe lowered her nose to the large adorned casserole dish, taking in it's tantalizing smell. The dish was filled with stuffed pheasant and wild rice. "Thank you so much for doing this for Paige"
Reaching for a set of oven mitts Piper glanced over her shoulder letting her eyes drift to the dining room table where Paige and Drake were seated across from one another holding hands. "It's the least I could do. Paige is our sister. Besides even a demon deserves a last meal"
Phoebe reached for a chilled bottle of sparkling cider and followed Piper out the swinging door to the other room.
"Dinner is served" Piper set the casserole dish in the middle of the table and then whipped off her over mitts and proceeded to light to large white candles in the center of the table.
Phoebe delicately filled two fluted wine glasses and then set the bottle into a large ice bucket on the sidebar. As she walked away, she felt Paige reached for her hand and kiss it gently.
"Thank you guys for this" Piper and Phoebe had worked diligently to make her last moments with Drake special.
"You're our sister and we love you" Phoebe smiled planting a little kiss on Paige's cheek. She then looked up and nodded to Drake.
The youngest witch smiled sadly watching her two sisters leave the penthouse closing the large double doors behind them "Well I guess according to Phoebe's premonition this is it?" she said reaching for Drake's hand.
Drake took her hand and just wordlessly stared back from across the table. Fresh tears were slowly starting to drizzle down her cheeks, "Paige, I'm so sorry, I never meant to-"
"No..no…it's all right. I mean somehow we're suppose to get a child out this right?" Paige picked up the cloth napkin from lap and carefully dabbed at her eyes. "Besides it's not like this is the first time that something like this has happened to me"
Tears started to brim on Drake's lashes, "Paige maybe you should just go with your sisters"
"No…no…I want to be here" she protested reaching for the serving utensil Piper had placed in the dish and started to spoon the food onto her plate "Piper went to all of this trouble to cook us this great meal and Phoebe made sure that we could have the penthouse"
"Paige" Drake swallowed hard when she rose to her feet and circled around the table to serve him.
"Don't" she warned, "Just don't"
"I can't" Holding up his hand, he reached for hers pulling her down into his lap.
Paige's arms flung around him as she broke down into huge choking sobs.
Afterlife
Dressed in shimmering white, Prue walked through Melinda Warren's garden. Her Mother Patty was at her side. Thistle was fluttering nearby keeping her safe distance from the Charmed Witch.
"I still can't believe you trick me" Prue growled looking back at the devious fairy.
Thistle paused watching the witch and her mother take a seat on large marble bench that had been dedicated to Melinda Warren.
Smiling Patty took a hold of her oldest's hand, "Something very special is meant to happen to Paige, Prue. Thistle was just doing her job"
"Yeah something special" Prue sneered indignantly, 'whats so special about taking away the person she loves?" Prue whipped her head around to stream of water flowing just behind him.
Magically, Andy's face appeared.
"Need I saw more?" Patty quipped patting Prue's knee. "You surprise me Prue out of all my daughters I would have thought that you would realize that our world, death is something that is meant to be embraced".
"Forgive me if I just don't see the purpose right now"
"Prue" Patty scolded rising to her feet.
Prue watched the sway of her mother's hips until the effervescent spirit faded into a form of swirling lights.
Thistle then appeared behind her fluttering loudly.
"I told you I'm not speaking to you" Prue replied stubbornly earning a harsh nudge. "HEY!" It was then she noticed that the fairy had an envelope in her hand. It was the letter from Andy that Paige and Drake had retrieved from the past.
"How did you get this?" Prue snatched the letter from the fairies grasp.
Thistle continued to flutter over Prue's shoulder eagerly waiting for her to open the letter.
"Do you mind?" Prue hinted, "this is personal".
On cue the trusted fairy fluttered away into swarm of firefly like lights.
Prue looked at the letter for several moments before letting allowing her fingers to trace over the letters of her name that Andy had carefully written. "Here goes nothing" she sighed tearing the letter open.
"May 23, 1988" Prue read aloud recalling it was the same as their Prom.
Dear Prue,
I know you must hate me right now for deciding to go to college in another state, but please listen. You know how I feel about you Prue. You've k known since you were five years old. We're meant to be together, it's destiny. I'll always be with you, Prue.
Love Andy
"I'll always be with you " Prue repeated finding renewed hope.
Several Days Later
Paige froze in her tracks as she heard the flag on mailbox creak. "This so isn't happening," she muttered watching at the flag went from the downward position to up. Curious she opened the box and found a letter-sized envelope with her name on it.
From window, Phoebe watched as Paige opened her letter. Prue came up behind her munching on a Twizzler.
"Hey what's going on?"
I think Paige just got the letter from that Drake, that I saw in my premonition.
"Good for her" Prue whispered wrapping her arms around Phoebe's shoulder as they watched Paige look down her taut stomach smiling at the heart shaped glow that was surrounding her abdomen and hips.
Destiny's A Charm:(Working Title)
When Paige gives up on love it endangers the life of her angelic cupid. One of Prue's daugthers will be abducted by a vengful demon; one that only Andy can defeat. Will Phoebe and Cole will be blessed with a child of their own (a sibling for Declan perhaps) Piper will continue to face her inner demon.