Post by Esmeralda on Mar 10, 2021 23:00:26 GMT -5
Author's Note: Today is the 17th anniversary of the death of my beloved mother who died on March 10, 2004. This is my tribute to her that I wrote hoping it would help me get through the pain of losing her--and is lovingly dedicated to her. Miss you, Mom! Love you!
Also, please note: I started writing this fic during Season 7, so it totally ignores all characters and incidents from Season 8, including Billie, Christy, Henry and Coop. As such, it is an alternate universe fic, showing the future I would’ve wished for the Charmed Ones and their families, even if I wouldn't want one of them to be this sick.
Disclaimer: David, Trish and Sam are my own characters. All other characters belong to the WB/the CW and Aaron Spelling Productions.
CHAPTER ONE: Preparing To Say Goodbye
I open my eyes, unable to believe that I actually slept, hoping beyond hope that this was all just a dream. But when I look down and see two big brown eyes looking back at me from a face that is as pale as a ghost, I know it isn’t. I smile at her and squeeze the hand I never let go all night. “Good morning, Piper! I love you! You made it to Wednesday!” and she smiles back. I know she won’t answer. The doctors warned us about that last night. There is so much morphine in her system right now that she won’t be able to speak. But her eyes, as alive as ever, say that she loves me, too.
I still can’t believe it. My sister, Piper Halliwell, the eldest of the Halliwells for almost 20 years, is dying. We’ve vanquished every sort of bad-guy you could think of -- demons, warlocks, avatars, Greek gods; you name it! We vanquished the Source of All Evil, for Pete’s sake, and yet we can’t vanquish the thing that is killing my sister. Ovarian cancer, that most sneaky of all cancers, because doctors don’t find it until it’s much too late, is slowly but surely taking my older sister away from me. Somehow losing her like this--slowly but surely--is tougher than when we lost Prue. Our oldest sister died a hero, killed instantaneously while trying to save an innocent. Much as I hated losing her, knowing that Prue died that way, the way she would’ve wanted to die, helps console me. But this, just a plain old normal, mortal disease? Funny, I find myself doing something that I didn’t think I’d be able to do this day--grin. Piper was always the one who wanted a normal life. Maybe it makes sense that she will die of a normal disease here in a normal hospital!
Just this once, I'm grateful to the Elders who have been the bane of our lives, especially Piper’s. They took away Piper’s powers to freeze and to explode and made her normal, so she could be here in this hospital where she could at least be comfortable for the rest of her life. They can’t heal the cancer, since it isn’t something that was caused by evil, but at least they’re making sure that she will never feel pain again.
I still find this all so very hard to believe. How can this possibly be? And how can I, who was the baby of the family for so much of my life, possibly go to being the matriarch? Everyone always took care of me; how can I take care of everyone else? At least when we lost Prue, I had Cole to help keep me sane. Who will do that now? Despite all the boyfriends I’ve had during my life, I still don’t have a husband or a child. The daughter I saw in my vision quest so many years ago still doesn’t exist, any more than the daughter Piper saw in that awful future we visited, because we’ve changed the timeline so much.
I’m just grateful that I was the one elected to stay with Piper for what the doctors said might be the last night of her life. Thanks to the morphine, she is now considered a vulnerable adult. Piper? Vulnerable? Somehow those two words in the same sentence just don’t make any sense at all! But that’s what is, so the hospital wanted a family member to stay with her during the night, to be certain she wasn‘t mistreated. Since I have no one, we decided it was best for the others to go home, try to get some sleep, and then come back just as soon as they can this morning. I have Leo and Paige’s cell-numbers on a pad on the table. If something terrible started happening last night, I would’ve called Leo and Paige and they’d orb the family in, rules or no rules! But fortunately, I didn’t have to make those calls.
“Phoebe?”
I turn and look into the devastated eyes of my brother-in-law, Leo. I turn back quickly to look at Piper, happy to see that look of love that always came into her eyes whenever she looked at her husband is still there. I immediately jump out of the chair, relinquishing it to the one who deserves to sit next to Piper on this, what might be her last day. He immediately takes her hand and leans down to kiss her and again she smiles back, her eyes glowing with love.
A lot of people who know our Charmed secret may think that Leo, as a whitelighter, will still be able to be with Piper, even after her death, but we know better. Although he is allowed up in Elderland, that isn’t the same place as Heaven where the spirits of the dead dwell. He’ll be losing her just as much as we will, and his own spirit would not be able to be with hers until when and if he decides to clip his wings permanently and then dies. I know that that is something he is more than tempted to do, but I also know he won‘t. He and Piper discussed that, and both agreed that Leo continuing to do his job is the best way for him to honor the love he and Piper have always shared. Leo gave up his wings once, thinking he’d be happy with just having his family, unable to follow his destiny. We all know better now, as we‘ve all tried to follow our destiny as The Charmed Ones, protector of the innocents, not just vanquisher of evil beings.
Of course, unlike most other families, we know we won’t be losing Piper entirely. After awhile, we’ll be able to summon her ghost, the way we can summon the ghosts of our grandmother and our mother and our big sister. But being able to see Piper and talk to her won’t be the same as being able to hug her. Although Grams and Mom were allowed to become corporeal several times during the first few years we were Charmed, we are no longer allowed that boon. Maybe she'll be able to come for her sons' weddings, the way Mom was allowed to be corporeal for Leo and Piper’s wedding and for David and Paige‘s, but just for ultra-special occasions like that. I wish so very much that Mom or Grams or Prue would be allowed to be corporeal for this, to help me live though it, but I know better. The way Mom and Grams helped Prue make the crossing to the other side, now they and Prue will be helping Piper.
“Aunt Phoebs?”
Turning away from Piper and Leo, I see that there are others at the door, their two sons, 16-year-old Wyatt and 14-year-old Chris, staring at their mother, unable to believe that they are really going to lose her. I reach out my arms and hug them tight, especially Chris. I remember a different version of my nephew who came back from a different future, so he could save his brother and his family--someone who also lost his mother at age 14. Maybe that, losing his mother at that age, is just what’s fated, something we simply can’t change.
At least that version of Chris succeeded in saving his brother. The oldest of the next generation of Halliwells only uses his great powers for good and totally understands and accepts the responsibility of being the Twice-Blessed Child. His younger brother--half-Elder thanks to the actions of that other version of himself--is much more of an angel than those full-Elders have ever been. I know both of my nephews are wishing that they could use their powers to save their mom. I know the feeling. I remember when Prue died, and Piper wondered what good were our powers if they couldn’t save the ones we love.
“Phoebe?”
I look up into the tear-filled eyes of my younger sister, Paige—well, technically, my half-sister, but we quit calling her that many years ago; now she is very simply my younger sister. She, her husband David and their daughters, six-year-old Trish and three-year-old Sam, join our family hug. And I suddenly know how I'm going to find the strength to make Piper proud of me--by taking care of the ones she loves.[/quote]So? What do you think and would you like to read more?
Also, please note: I started writing this fic during Season 7, so it totally ignores all characters and incidents from Season 8, including Billie, Christy, Henry and Coop. As such, it is an alternate universe fic, showing the future I would’ve wished for the Charmed Ones and their families, even if I wouldn't want one of them to be this sick.
Disclaimer: David, Trish and Sam are my own characters. All other characters belong to the WB/the CW and Aaron Spelling Productions.
MY SISTER'S DYING
by Esmeralda
by Esmeralda
CHAPTER ONE: Preparing To Say Goodbye
I open my eyes, unable to believe that I actually slept, hoping beyond hope that this was all just a dream. But when I look down and see two big brown eyes looking back at me from a face that is as pale as a ghost, I know it isn’t. I smile at her and squeeze the hand I never let go all night. “Good morning, Piper! I love you! You made it to Wednesday!” and she smiles back. I know she won’t answer. The doctors warned us about that last night. There is so much morphine in her system right now that she won’t be able to speak. But her eyes, as alive as ever, say that she loves me, too.
I still can’t believe it. My sister, Piper Halliwell, the eldest of the Halliwells for almost 20 years, is dying. We’ve vanquished every sort of bad-guy you could think of -- demons, warlocks, avatars, Greek gods; you name it! We vanquished the Source of All Evil, for Pete’s sake, and yet we can’t vanquish the thing that is killing my sister. Ovarian cancer, that most sneaky of all cancers, because doctors don’t find it until it’s much too late, is slowly but surely taking my older sister away from me. Somehow losing her like this--slowly but surely--is tougher than when we lost Prue. Our oldest sister died a hero, killed instantaneously while trying to save an innocent. Much as I hated losing her, knowing that Prue died that way, the way she would’ve wanted to die, helps console me. But this, just a plain old normal, mortal disease? Funny, I find myself doing something that I didn’t think I’d be able to do this day--grin. Piper was always the one who wanted a normal life. Maybe it makes sense that she will die of a normal disease here in a normal hospital!
Just this once, I'm grateful to the Elders who have been the bane of our lives, especially Piper’s. They took away Piper’s powers to freeze and to explode and made her normal, so she could be here in this hospital where she could at least be comfortable for the rest of her life. They can’t heal the cancer, since it isn’t something that was caused by evil, but at least they’re making sure that she will never feel pain again.
I still find this all so very hard to believe. How can this possibly be? And how can I, who was the baby of the family for so much of my life, possibly go to being the matriarch? Everyone always took care of me; how can I take care of everyone else? At least when we lost Prue, I had Cole to help keep me sane. Who will do that now? Despite all the boyfriends I’ve had during my life, I still don’t have a husband or a child. The daughter I saw in my vision quest so many years ago still doesn’t exist, any more than the daughter Piper saw in that awful future we visited, because we’ve changed the timeline so much.
I’m just grateful that I was the one elected to stay with Piper for what the doctors said might be the last night of her life. Thanks to the morphine, she is now considered a vulnerable adult. Piper? Vulnerable? Somehow those two words in the same sentence just don’t make any sense at all! But that’s what is, so the hospital wanted a family member to stay with her during the night, to be certain she wasn‘t mistreated. Since I have no one, we decided it was best for the others to go home, try to get some sleep, and then come back just as soon as they can this morning. I have Leo and Paige’s cell-numbers on a pad on the table. If something terrible started happening last night, I would’ve called Leo and Paige and they’d orb the family in, rules or no rules! But fortunately, I didn’t have to make those calls.
“Phoebe?”
I turn and look into the devastated eyes of my brother-in-law, Leo. I turn back quickly to look at Piper, happy to see that look of love that always came into her eyes whenever she looked at her husband is still there. I immediately jump out of the chair, relinquishing it to the one who deserves to sit next to Piper on this, what might be her last day. He immediately takes her hand and leans down to kiss her and again she smiles back, her eyes glowing with love.
A lot of people who know our Charmed secret may think that Leo, as a whitelighter, will still be able to be with Piper, even after her death, but we know better. Although he is allowed up in Elderland, that isn’t the same place as Heaven where the spirits of the dead dwell. He’ll be losing her just as much as we will, and his own spirit would not be able to be with hers until when and if he decides to clip his wings permanently and then dies. I know that that is something he is more than tempted to do, but I also know he won‘t. He and Piper discussed that, and both agreed that Leo continuing to do his job is the best way for him to honor the love he and Piper have always shared. Leo gave up his wings once, thinking he’d be happy with just having his family, unable to follow his destiny. We all know better now, as we‘ve all tried to follow our destiny as The Charmed Ones, protector of the innocents, not just vanquisher of evil beings.
Of course, unlike most other families, we know we won’t be losing Piper entirely. After awhile, we’ll be able to summon her ghost, the way we can summon the ghosts of our grandmother and our mother and our big sister. But being able to see Piper and talk to her won’t be the same as being able to hug her. Although Grams and Mom were allowed to become corporeal several times during the first few years we were Charmed, we are no longer allowed that boon. Maybe she'll be able to come for her sons' weddings, the way Mom was allowed to be corporeal for Leo and Piper’s wedding and for David and Paige‘s, but just for ultra-special occasions like that. I wish so very much that Mom or Grams or Prue would be allowed to be corporeal for this, to help me live though it, but I know better. The way Mom and Grams helped Prue make the crossing to the other side, now they and Prue will be helping Piper.
“Aunt Phoebs?”
Turning away from Piper and Leo, I see that there are others at the door, their two sons, 16-year-old Wyatt and 14-year-old Chris, staring at their mother, unable to believe that they are really going to lose her. I reach out my arms and hug them tight, especially Chris. I remember a different version of my nephew who came back from a different future, so he could save his brother and his family--someone who also lost his mother at age 14. Maybe that, losing his mother at that age, is just what’s fated, something we simply can’t change.
At least that version of Chris succeeded in saving his brother. The oldest of the next generation of Halliwells only uses his great powers for good and totally understands and accepts the responsibility of being the Twice-Blessed Child. His younger brother--half-Elder thanks to the actions of that other version of himself--is much more of an angel than those full-Elders have ever been. I know both of my nephews are wishing that they could use their powers to save their mom. I know the feeling. I remember when Prue died, and Piper wondered what good were our powers if they couldn’t save the ones we love.
“Phoebe?”
I look up into the tear-filled eyes of my younger sister, Paige—well, technically, my half-sister, but we quit calling her that many years ago; now she is very simply my younger sister. She, her husband David and their daughters, six-year-old Trish and three-year-old Sam, join our family hug. And I suddenly know how I'm going to find the strength to make Piper proud of me--by taking care of the ones she loves.[/quote]So? What do you think and would you like to read more?