S1, EP10 - Away In A Manor

[Matt A, Heir to Bekka Pramheda]

TEASER 

HALLIWELL MANOR - LIVING ROOM - DECEMBER 24, 2015 - MIDDAY 

Pip is alone in the beautifully decorated living room. A 7.5-foot tall Grand Fir stands proud in front of the living room display window. the curtains are drawn back so the tree can be showcased to all passersby. It is decorated from top to bottom and is wrapped in multi-colored lights, strings of popcorn and gold tinsel. Baubles in many colors, homemade ornaments from years present and past, and candy canes fill every branch. A red and cream ruffled tree skirt, made by Penny Halliwell many years ago, is wrapped around the tree stand. An angel wearing a green and white dress sits atop the tree. The angel has brown hair, feathered white wings and two clear lights in her hands. The angel topper always reminds the family of Patty because of how similar the hair and face fair in comparison to Patty. Green was, and is, also Patty's favorite color so connection between the two made it all the more special.

There are many gifts under the tree already, that's just to and from the family themselves, whatever Saint Nick would bring would double, perhaps triple, the amount. Yes, Saint Nick, most commonly known as Santa Claus, was real. At least that's what Penny had always told Prudence, Piper and Phoebe when they were young girls. However they truly believed her when they were given gifts that Grams could never afford on her single paycheck, such as Phoebe's 4-foot tall dollhouse and Piper's deluxe wooden play kitchen (which came equipped with wooden cooking utensils, wooden pots and pans, and other kitchen accessories; for her to enjoy to her heart's content). Prudence had only wanted their mother back but her wish had never been granted, so she never believed. Pip didn't really believe either; he had always asked the red-suited, cherry-nosed man for his mother but was never given her. His dad had always been heartbroken to see his son disappointed every Christmas. Pip always appreciated the vast amounts of gifts from his paternal grandparents but the empty void that was his mother always crushed him not only on Christmas, but just about every holiday.

The fireplace has stockings hung for every Halliwell child, excluding Colvin who became the Source and hates the family. The mantel is lined in tinsel and figurines have been placed neatly in a row. The coffee table is adorned with decorations, and the couch and accents chairs have been dressed with holiday throw pillows; the couch also has a faux fur, burgundy blanket draped over the cushion and back. The foyer, conservatory, and dining room have been decorated to full extent and the kitchen has been given a few decorations. The basement as well as the second floor rooms and the attic remained the same. On the outside, the front is decorated. Lights are strung along the roof, windows and other architecture. Actually hanging the lights was Coop's favorite part, thankfully Leo and Henry came to his rescue. The lawn also has some pieces to go with the lighted house.

Pip is currently sitting at the piano, that once belonged to his great-great grandfather, Gordon Johnson. Pip's fingers smoothly move along the keys of the piano as he plays "Mary Did You Know?". He sings the lyrics to himself and it draws the attention of his mother, Phoebe, and his youngest half-sister, Brianna.

"Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?" Pip sings. "Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand? Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod? When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God."

"Mary did you know?" Phoebe quietly enters the living room, hand-in-hand with Brianna. Phoebe sits on an armrest of the accent chair closest to the piano, lifting Brianna into her lap.

"The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again." Pip sings. "The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb." He holds the note out on the word 'lamb'.

Phoebe watches Pip play his heart out onto the piano, and she feels goosebumps from both the power of the song and Pip's talent. He's very skilled, especially to be able to play such a powerful song. "Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?"

Pip continues singing. "Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?" Pip begins to build the volume of the song and his voice, as he sings the following verse. "That sleeping child you're holding is the great I am."

"Mary did you know? Mary did you know?" Pip slows the tempo as he sings the final words of the song. "Mary did you know?"

When Pip finishes, he lowers the fallboard to cover the keys. Phoebe and Brianna begin clapping and cheering, which unintentionally spooks Pip. He turns around and is surprised when he sees his mother and Brianna. "Oh hi, I didn't hear both of you enter." He says.

"We didn't want to interrupt your groove." Phoebe says, smiling. "You should play in here more often."

"I would but with school and vanquishing demons, there's just never enough time to focus on my hobbies." Pip says.

"Demons be darned!" Brianna says.

"That's right, tell him Brianna." Phoebe says.

Pip smiles. "I hear you loud and clear."

Suddenly, a Lazarus Demon ash-teleports into the conservatory. Pip's eyes widen and Phoebe notices this. She sighs. "Is it a demon?"

"Yeah." Pip says, nodding fast.

The Lazarus Demon, apparently not interested in either of the three Halliwells, ash-teleports out.

Phoebe and Pip are confused by this. "Wait, why'd he leave and not attack?" Pip asks.

"Good question." Phoebe replies, also wanting to know why. She recalls the encounter with a Lazarus Demon back in early 2002. She, Piper and Paige learned that this breed of demons are pesky, and they certainly won't just teleport in and out like the demon had...unless something was amiss.

THE UNDERWORLD - UNMARKED CAVE 

The Lazarus Demon appears and approaches a man facing the wall of the cave. "Well? Have they arrived yet?"

The Lazarus Demon shakes his head. "No."

"Well, why are you here then?" The man asks. "They have to meet the Blessed Warren. I've seen how this plays out and if I'm to succeed then nothing must change, I need you to be on constant watch."

The Lazarus Demon nods. "As your will, your majesty Herod." He says and ash-teleports out.

Herod, an upper-level demon, closes his eyes and uses his power of foresight to look into the future. He watches as a baby boy is born and then handed to him at the chime of midnight. He grins evilly.

END OF TEASER

Roll Opening Main Cast Credits

Cast

Starring

Cory Grüter-Andrew as Pip Muniz-Halliwell

Sophia Lillis as Beverly Carson

Jack Dylan Grazer as Eddie Kresington

Ted King as Andy Trudeau

Alyssa Milano as Phoebe Halliwell

Logan Thompson as Victor Cross

"Take Me Home For Christmas" by Dan + Shay plays over aerial shots of San Francisco. Supporting cast and guest stars to roll in these shots.

Supporting

Victor Browne as Clay Muniz

Victor Webster as Coop Halliwell

Kennedi Clements as P.J. Halliwell

Zoe Blakely as Parker Halliwell

Maya Le Clark as Brianna Halliwell

Supporting Cast will be expanded as the episode is posted!

Special Guests

Holly Marie Combs as Piper Halliwell

Brian Krause as Leo Wyatt

Rose McGowan as Paige Matthews

Ivan Sergei as Henry Mitchell

Jacob Tremblay as Wyatt Halliwell

Jason Maybaum as Chris Halliwell

Emily Kelavos as Melinda Halliwell

Cailey Fleming as Tamora and Kat Mitchell

Iain Armitage as Henry Mitchell Junior

Guest Starring

Amy Gumenick as Mary Sullivan

Matt Cohen as Joe Sullivan

Javier Bardem as Herod

Kendrick Lamar as Lazarus Demon

Sharon Jordan as Hotel Manager

Guest Stars will be expanded as the episode is posted!

Special Musical Guest

TBD

Uncredited

Uncredited Cast will be expanded as the episode is posted!

Created By

Constance M. Burge, Brad Kern, Stephen King and Matt

Written By

Matt

Edited By

Matt

ACT 1 - HALLIWELL MANOR - LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME AS PRIOR

Pip, Phoebe and Brianna are still in the living room. Brianna sits on the couch, playing with a Barbie doll. Blue and white lights form the shapes of a man and two teenagers, the arrivals are Bev, Eddie and Andy.

"What's wrong?" Bev asks, looking around for any demonic visitors.

"We were about to summon my mom's family for Christmas." Eddie says.

"I know and I wouldn't have pulled you away, if it wasn't important." He sighs. "A Lazarus Demon decided to pop in for a quick visit."

Andy goes into Whitelighter mode. "Are you three okay? Do any of you need healing?"

Pip shakes his head. "We're fine, the Lazarus Demon teleported out right after he arrived."

Eddie raises an eyebrow. "He did what?"

Bev enters battle-ready mode. "Okay, so let's scry for him and vanquish him."

"You can't permanently vanquish a Lazarus demon." Phoebe says. "They can reform their bodies, the only way to prevent that is to bury their ashes in a cemetery."

"Why is that by the way?" Pip asks. "Seems like an awful lot to keep a demon down."

"Pip mentioned to us that you knew how to keep demons down." Eddie says, holding back a laugh.

Phoebe puts her hands on her hips. "Did he now?"

"You should hear the joke Richie made after it." Bev says, smiling.

Phoebe turns to Pip with wide eyes.

Pip raises his hands in defense. "Those were Aunt Paige's words, Aunt Piper laughed in agreement."

"So, you thought it was okay to repeat them?" Phoebe asks.

"It was too funny to pass up on." Pip says. "At least I didn't repeat any of the stories Aunt Piper shared about your youth days."

Phoebe's eyes widen more and her facial expression shows that she is not pleased to hear that. "What exactly did she tell you?" She crosses her arms.

"Nothing that I'm allowed to repeat." Pip says. He realizes his word choice was poor as he sees his mother begin to fume. So, he quickly adds to it. "Not because it was inappropriate or anything, which it wasn't, just that I'm sworn to secrecy. I'd tell you, Mom, but Aunt Piper made me promise to never repeat simply because it was only for mature Halliwell ears." He explains and makes sure to explicitly state that his sisters and cousins knew nothing. Which is true, he hasn't spilled any gossip to any of them. "But to non-Halliwells...it's just guarded family secrets."

"Well, buster, if you weren't saving the world with your friends on daily basis...I'd ground you for the rest of your life." Phoebe says, with a smug smirk. "But to answer your earlier question, your aunts and I never learned the specifics of the Lazarus demon's origin."

Andy, who's been stifling laughter at the stories he could share about Phoebe in her youth years, realizes he should go ahead and do something. "Before you ask me, Pip, I'm not sharing anything about your mother from long ago."

Pip looks at his Whitelighter in confusion. "Why would I ask you about--?" He stops mid-question as he remembers that Andy used to hang out with his mom and aunts at the Manor when he was a kid. Even more, when his Aunt Prue dated Andy all throughout high school. Pip's lips quirk into a grin as he stares at Andy.

"No!" Phoebe and Andy say at the same time.

"Okay, I'll let it go." Pip says. He shrugs his right shoulder. "For now."

"As juicy as this conversation is, what's the plan on the Lazarus demon?" Bev asks. "Are we gonna find and vanquish it or...?"

"Before any of you run off and end up in the hands of something bigger, let me check with the Elders." Andy says, halting his charges before they can make another move. "Yes, you will eventually go after the demon, but they might know something that we don't."

An engine rumbles outside, it's Vic, Pip's boyfriend. Pip's phone pings from where it lays on top of the piano. He runs to grab it and sees a text from his boyfriend.

The text reads: 'Hey babe, I'm outside. Don't wanna leave your dad waiting at the hotel.'

Pip gasps. "Crap, I forgot that Vic and I are picking my Dad up from the Beaumark."

Phoebe's eyes widen. "That's right." She says and facepalms. "How did that slip my mind?" And today will mark the first time that Clay and Coop interact.

"Well, a Lazarus demon did drop by." Eddie says. "I mean, no one's gonna blame you for suddenly having a different focus."

"No one who's aware of magic, anyway." Pip says. "Andy, go ahead and take Bev and Eddie back to his house so they can finish Sonia's gift, then go talk with the Elders. Vic and I will pick my dad up and bring him here."

"I agree." Eddie says. "It's better to be prepared than walking in blindly."

Bev frowns. "I was looking forward to taking on the Lazarus demon now."

"Oh, we will, Bev." Pip says. "Don't worry." He says as he wraps an arm around her.

SAN FRANCISCO - THE BEAUMARK - LOBBY - EARLY AFTERNOON

Pip and Vic enter the lobby and spot Pip's father, Clay, getting off the elevator. Pip waves at his father. "Dad!" He grins.

"Pip!" Clay strides over to his and pulls him into a crushing hug. "I've missed you so much!"

Pip returns the embrace. "I've missed you too!"

Father and son let go when Clay notices a boy with bleach-blonde hair shifting nervously nearby. "Is this a friend of yours?" Clay asks.

"Dad, this is Vic." Pip says, stepping over to hold Vic's left hand. "He's my boyfriend."

Clay raises his eyebrows in surprise. "Really?"

Pip nods with a grin. "Yes, Dad."

Vic extends his right hand out to Clay. "It's nice to meet you, sir!"

"Likewise." Clay says. "Though you need my blessing before I can allow your relationship to progress."

Pip raises a brow and goes to question his father, yet he's halted when hears commotion at the front desk.

A pregnant woman and her husband stand at the front desk. "Please, there has to be something you can do. Our flight got directed here to stop due to a snowstorm raging in the Midwest." The man says.

"I'm very sorry, sir." The manager says. The expression on her face is one of genuine sympathy. "We are completely booked."

"Please, look at my wife." The man says. "She is pregnant and we have nowhere to go."

The pregnant wife has a hand resting on her belly. She is sweating and she's exhausted.

Pip turns back to his father and his boyfriend. "Excuse me for a second." He says to them and turns again to approach the couple. He stops mid-turn when he remembers that his father might ask Vic his feelings about the family secret, that wouldn't be a problem...if Vic knew the secret. Pip inches closer to his father. "Vic isn't aware of the family secret, don't say anything." He whispers.

"I'll respect that." Clay says, lowly.

"Okay, you two chit-chat while I go check out the commotion at the front desk." Pip says to the two men who mean the world to him.

Vic nods, though he isn't sure why Pip is going over there. However, he knows better than to question Pip's will and decisions. When Pip made his mind up on something, there was no changing it.

Pip hurries over to the front desk. "Excuse me?"

The manager looks at him. "I'll be with you in one moment."

Pip smirks. "Thanks but no thanks. I'm here to talk to these two." He looks at the wearied couple. "I couldn't help overhearing that you have nowhere to go?"

The man looks at Pip. "Yeah, we were supposed to be on a flight to Minnesota but there's a--"

"Snowstorm, yeah I heard." Pip says. "I'm Pip and I know you don't know me or anything but since you need a place to stay...Halliwell Manor certainly has enough space for you to stay. At least until there's an available flight to Minnesota."

"Thank you, Pip. But we can't intrude on you or your family." The man says.

"Wait, Joe." The woman says, staring at Pip. "I've seen your face before, in a dream."

"Mary..." Joe begins but Pip stops him.

"No, please continue." Pip says. What are the odds? Husband Joe and his pregnant wife, Mary, arrive in San Francisco after a Midwestern snowstorm poses a threat to airliners. They come to the same hotel, where Pip's dad is staying up until New Year's, and are unable to acquire a room since the hotel is booked. The situation is very similar to the biblical story of the birth of Jesus Christ. 'Of course, they're innocents. There's no way they aren't.' Pip thinks to himself

"You, and two others about your age, appeared to me like angels. The three of you sang of my unborn son and how he'd bring goodness and light to the world." Mary says.

"In that case, you're definitely staying at Halliwell Manor...regardless of how you feel." Pip says. "Have you not realized how similar your situation is to that of biblical Mary and Joseph?"

"So?" Joe asks. "It's called coincidence."

"Look, I've learned from my mom and aunts that some coincidences are just too crazy or specific to be such. With that said, I'm certain you both are in danger."

"Danger?" Mary asks, worried.

"Yes, I will explain later what kind of danger that is." Pip says. "Right now, we need to get you out of here." He notices that Mary is carrying a large suitcase with her other hand. "And you should not be carrying this." He goes to grab the suitcase and his right hand brushes against Mary's left. Pip gasps is sucked into a premonition.

In the premonition: An adult man, who looks like Joe, walks on water and saves a drowning child. The same man gives sight to a blind man with a power similar to a Whitelighter's healing power as well as various other good things.

The premonition ends and Pip looks up into Mary's eyes. "Mary, did you know that your son will give sight to a blind man?"

Mary's eyes widen. "Are you one of the angels who came to me?"

"No." Pip says. "But they sent you to me and my friends so we could protect you from evil. What I just saw is evidence that you're in danger."

Mary stares back at Pip with a pained expression. Her unborn son is in danger.

END OF ACT 1!

[Matt A, Heir to Bekka Pramheda]

ACT 2 - HALLIWELL MANOR - FRONT PORCH / FOYER - MID-AFTERNOON 

After Vic has parked his car--a snow-white 1958 Edsel Pacer Convertible--in the driveway, the passengers unload. Pip helps Joe and Mary with their luggage, carrying Mary's suitcase again. Vic and Clay follow slowly behind at Pip's request, both wondering what is going on in Pip's head.

Before Pip opens the door, he turns to Mary and Joe. "Before my boyfriend gets up here, I'm a witch as is the rest of my family. My two friends are witches, my step-dad is a Cupid and Andy--who you'll meet later--is a Whitelighter. Please ask me later for a full run-down. Back at the hotel, I had a vision of your son. He will be a force of good in this world and he will do all that the angels sang of in Mary's dream and much, much more."

Joe is about to lose his marbles, throwing his right hand to his forehead. He's having trouble believing in the peculiarity of the day. "This is ridiculous!" He exclaims.

Mary is the exact opposite, she is full of wonder and her mind is wide open. "I always thought there was something more to this world than meets the eye." She says with a smile. "So magic really does exist?"

Pip nods. "But not all magic is good, demons exist too. There is a Lazarus demon after you, or is working for someone more powerful who's after you. Anyway, you'll be safe here."

Vic and Clay reach the steps.

"So, our spare bedrooms are full but there is a pull-out couch in the sitting room which you can use." Pip says. "Nothing more about magic right now, okay?" He whispers to the couple as he spares a glance to Vic, who's in conversation with Clay about classic cars. 'Thank goodness, I'm not the only thing they have in common.' He thinks to himself.

Mary and Joe glance to Vic and Mary realizes that Vic must not know about the previous subject, and that it's a family secret. She nods. "Secret's safe." She whispers.

Pip nods in appreciation and looks at Joe, who sighs and then nods in agreement with Mary. He'll keep it secret too.

"Okay, right this way." Pip says, opening the door and leading the couple inside. Vic and Clay following. "Mom!"

Phoebe enters the dining room from the kitchen with Paige trailing behind. "Pip and Pip's guests." She says, surprised to see two extra people with Pip.
She and Paige enter the foyer.

"This is Joe and Mary..." Pip explains, introducing the couple. "Their very innocent baby is due any day now."

Innocent, there's that word. "Really?" Paige asks.

"Hi, Aunt Paige." Pip says. "Their plane got canceled mid-flight and there was no room at the Beaumark, so I invited them here. I told them they could use the pull-out in the sitting room." He turns to the couple.

Paige nods. "Which is directly across from the stairs, I'll set it up. Sometimes, it can get jammed if you pull too fast. Come with me." She says, linking arms with Mary.

"Please make yourselves at home." Pip says, reassuring her.

"O-okay." Mary says. The sudden speed of the situation is a lot. She felt as if she were intruding even if members of the family insist hers and Joe's presence. 'They really care about the innocent.' She thinks with a smile. She allows Paige to help her to the pull-out couch.

Joe follows behind Paige and Mary carrying their suitcases, having taken Mary's main suitcase from Pip when they stopped in the foyer.

Piper enters the foyer. She has an apron on and with her hair pulled back, hints of flour can be seen on her face. "Aunt Piper!" Pip greets his aunt with a smile.

"Hi, no time, I've run out of white chocolate chips for my fudge recipe and I'm freaking out." Piper says in a frenzy. "And the shop that sells them is closed."

"Guittard's white chocolate chips, right?" Pip asks, having read the recipe once from Piper's special recipe book. It was like the Book of Shadows, but nowhere near as big. Piper had bought an average, hardcovered sketchbook from an art store. The blank pages similar to the pages of the Book of Shadows but much more cleaner and new. Piper allowed Pip to add his butterscotch fudge recipe to her book as a shared family recipe. Back in New York, Pip always cooked breakfast and dinner for his father, and made his father's lunch before leaving for school. Pip would invent recipes and tinker with ones he found online, such recipes he'd make his own. Yet, cooking wasn't his passion, sure he enjoyed it but his passion is the piano.

"Yeah." Piper replies.

"You're in luck, I happen to know where you can get some." Pip says. "Critchley's Candy sells them cheaper than Swenson's Sweets, and the shop is open...at least until five o'clock today. I went there over Easter and Thanksgiving to get Guittard's butterscotch chips for when I made my butterscotch fudge." He discovered the two shops when out shopping with Vic. The two shops were across from one another and were locked in a sales competition.

"Are you serious?" Piper asks, incredulously.

"Yep." Pip says. "Better yet, Vic?" He turns to his boyfriend.

"Yeah, babe?" Vic asks.

"Could you do me one small favor..." Pip says, pinching his index finger and thumb together. "...and pick up a bag or two of Guittard's white chocolate chips from Critchley's?" Pip asks.

"Sure." Vic asks, not minding the small request. Especially since Pip tended to always return the favors he asked for, however, Vic would do anything for Pip--regardless if Pip paid him back or not. Also by helping Pip's aunt, he can prove that he's a good guy and really loved Pip. That he was nothing like Henry or Patrick and had only fallen in with the wrong crowd. Pip's mother and stepfather were excited for both he and Pip, but Pip's father will be a different story and possibly the same with Pip's aunts, uncles and grandparents. Vic knows he will essentially need the brownie points.

"No, you don't have to do that." Piper says, protesting.

"Don't you have food to be making?" Pip asks his aunt as he gives Vic a ten dollar bill from his wallet. "This'll cover it and tell the cashier to keep the change."

"B-b-but.." Piper says.

"Thanks." Pip says. "I love you." He leans in to kiss Vic.

"I love you too." Vic says, leaning in to meet his boyfriend's lips.

"Ahem." Clay clears his throat, deciding the kiss has gone on long enough.

Pip huffs. "Since my dad wants to be that way, tonight you and I can stay up late and I'll really show my appreciation for you." He says, smiling and wiggling his eyebrows.

"Absolutely not." Clay interjects, reining Pip in even though he's aware that Pip is pushing his buttons. "Your mother may have given her blessing but I haven't and until I do, I'd appreciate it if both of you would respect that."

"Yes, sir." Vic nods, affirmatively. "Of course."

Paige had returned to her spot beside Phoebe. "I, for one, think it's amazing that Pip has found Vic. In the time I've gotten to know my nephew, I fully trust and believe in his decision-making...including this one. Of course, I do want to have a chat with Vic when a certain time comes." For those in the room who were aware of magic, knew she meant the family secret.

"As will I." Piper says. "There are some things about our family that are hard to accept and I'd feel better if Vic understood what he's getting himself into."

"That doesn't mean there's anything bad about our family." Phoebe quickly adds. "We don't want to scare him off, Piper." She says to her older sister through clenched teeth.

"Of course, I completely understand." Vic smiles and nods at both Halliwell women. "Don't worry, Mrs. Halliwell, I'm not going anywhere." He says, smiling at Phoebe.

Phoebe returns his smile, nodding. "Well, you already have mine and Coop's blessing." She says, reassuringly.
Unfortunately, Vic's words didn't mean anything. He hasn't learned the family secret and that could very well destroy Pip and Vic's relationship. There's substantial evidence that proved the family secret destroyed relationships, Jason couldn't handle it and decided that running back to Tokyo was the better option. Things didn't work out with Dex because of it, he'd fainted right on the spot. Dan couldn't accept Piper after learning the secret, so her sister wished he never found out. Of course, there's also evidence that favors the opposite, neither Coop, Leo or...Cole counted but Henry still chose to be with Paige. Andy came around shortly before his death and Bane still wanted to be with Prue. Kyle chose to be with Paige until his death and Whitelighter rebirth and Glen had been okay with the secret. The chances for Pip and Vic were fifty-fifty, either he'd run in horror or stay and be the anchor of a normal life that Pip rightfully deserved.

"I don't think Coop's opinion matters in this situation." Clay says to Phoebe.

Piper and Paige roll their eyes while Phoebe sighs. Sometimes, their Grams was in the right when getting upset with men...this would be one those times.

"Okay, quarreling parents are not my responsibility." Pip says. "My innocents, however, are." Piper and Paige look at Pip with questioning eyes in regards to his word choice but he waves them off. "Vic, you might wanna run before my mom and dad begin arguing. Something tells me...it'll get heated quick."

"Got it." Vic says, looking at Phoebe and Clay who are both fuming. "I'll be back soon." He hurries out of the Manor.

Pip turns to his parents who began arguing.

Phoebe points at Clay. "How dare you insult Coop's place in Pip's life? He's my husband and Pip's stepfather, you can bet your ass he'll have a role in raising Pip."

"I'm sorry for being concerned about my son's welfare." Clay says, raising his voice. "All I've seen so far is that you and your Cupid husband let Pip do whatever pleases. I turned my life around when you left our son in my hands and with the help of my parents, Pip was raised to be responsible and disciplined. You and Coop let Pip run around doing whatever or whoever he wants."

Pip glares at his father. "I am not a slut, I love Vic with all of my heart. As for the "whatever" Dad, I am a protector of the innocent which is more than I can say for you, who forgot his values and became a thief for most of his life. When you're ready to apologize and act maturely then I will do the same. And if the two of you can't quit fighting over my decisions because of your past mistakes then please, for the love all things magical, take it somewhere else. I will not listen to your issues when I have two innocents in the sitting room who've heard everything and are planning to leave since they blame themselves for the fighting...when it's not their fault." He directs the last part at Joe, who Pip can see is fiercely whispering to Mary while gathering their very few bags. Pip takes a large breath.

Joe glances to Pip and sighs, ceasing his plan to leave.

"Dad, we will talk later but only after you, Mom and Coop have talked out your issues." Pip says and then turns to enter the sitting room.

The Lazarus demon watches the scene through one of the living room windows [the same window Andras used to spy on Piper in Charmed's "Power Outage"]. The Lazarus demon smiles and ash-teleports away from the Manor.

THE UNDERWORLD - HEROD'S CAVE - SAME TIME OF DAY 

The Lazarus demon reappears in Herod's cave. "Your majesty." The Lazarus demon greets Herod and bows before the upper-level demon.

Herod lifts his hand at the Lazarus demon, signaling that the demon could rise back up on his feet. "Well, have they come in contact with the Blessed Warren?"

The Lazarus demon nods. "Yes, your majesty. They have been given shelter at the witch's home...which I have successfully infiltrated today as you planned so they'll have their eyes on me."

Herod smiles darkly. "Do not fret, I've retrieved your ashes each time you've been vanquished before. You have served me well and will continue to do so. Demons of the past always got cocky and disposed of their minions in their quest for power. If Zankou hadn't been so obsessed with the Charmed Ones and listened to his minions...he'd be alive and all-powerful today. However, I do not dispose of mine, so long as they aren't stupid."

The Lazarus demon confidently returns Herod's dark smile. "I do not fret, your majesty. I'm not stupid and I trust you, and your plans, they've all been successful before. I don't doubt this one either."

Herod nods to the Lazarus demon. "I'm aware and you will be rewarded for your service. As for now, I need you to continue spying on the witch's hearth. I sense that it won't be much longer now until the baby is born."

The Lazarus demon nods. "As your will, your majesty." He quickly bows and then disappears out of the cave.

END OF ACT 2!

[Matt A, Heir to Bekka Pramheda]

ACT 3 - HALLIWELL MANOR - SITTING ROOM - MIDEVENING

The crowd has gathered in the sitting room, minus Vic who hasn't returned yet, to figure out exactly what is going on. Piper and Paige are also not present, their concerns on finishing the food for tomorrow's family dinner. Leo, Coop and Henry had left for last minute gift shopping; all three having finally figured out what to get their respective wives. Shopping for their wives, and Halliwells in general, was never an easy task. Their
likes and interests changed all the time. However, one thing was for certain...they were very sentimental.

Andy had arrived with Bev and Eddie in tow. They'd been introduced to their innocents and filled in on everything so far. The two witches definitely weren't expecting the
Manor to be a full house upon returning. It felt like chaos even if it was just them, Pip, Andy, Phoebe, Clay and their two innocents in the sitting room. Though they were
curious over Pip, they felt the outburst he had but had no clue why. They knew he'd fill them in later.

"So, Andy, did the Elders have any idea about the Lazarus demon or the situation at all?" Pip asks, crossing his arms.

"With the new information and the innocents present...no...but they suggested that you use this for information." Andy says, handing a Bible to Bev.

"The Christian Bible?" Bev asks, confused. "How is this supposed to help?"

Eddie inclines his head. "Isn't it obvious?" He asks. "We're literally dealing with counterparts of Mary and Joseph. It makes the most sense." The gears turning in his
head.

"What does the Nativity have to with my baby?" Mary asks. She had been raised as a churchgirl. She went to church on Sundays, read her bible when she felt she needed to and prayed every morning and night.

Clay and Phoebe stand by, idly. They didn't have any input for the discussion, they had no reason to. Pip, Bev and Eddie are clocked in on the job.

"Everything." Pip says, seriously. "What's crazier is that earlier today, I was playing "Mary, What Did You Know?" on the piano. Then it turns out my innocent had a dream where three angels, who looked like Bev, Eddie and I, came to you singing the same song. For me to then have a premonition of your son doing great things that mirror stories in the Bible. If that isn't proof we're dealing with something biblical...then I don't know what is."

"The Lazarus demon..." Eddie says. "Another bible connection, to the story of Lazarus."

"Where do you think the Bible gets its stories from?" Andy says. "A lot of those stories are based off of magical occurrences. Some of them foreseen and recorded for future reference."

"Kind of like a Book of Shadows for the mortal world." Pip says, earning a nod from Andy.

"It all makes sense now." Bev says. "The question is now, who or what are we dealing with? Surely the Lazarus demon isn't the Big Bad here but Jesus did have many
enemies. Maybe one of those enemies are trying to eliminate their baby before he can complete his destiny."

"Herod." Mary says. All eyes shift to her. "The story of King Herod. In Matthew 1, its said that Magis of the East came to Herod and asked where the King of the Jews was, for they had seen his star and wished to present him with gifts. Upon hearing there was another king, Herod ordered for all infants in Bethlehem to be killed in an attempt to get rid of Baby Jesus."

Bev flips open the Bible to the Book of Matthew. She scans the gospel and finds the information on Herod. "She's right, though we don't know if this who we're dealing with but she's right."

"Of course I am, I've read the Bible cover to cover." Mary says. "The Bible also says that Herod died of a loathsome disease."

"So we're not dealing with him?" Eddie asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Unless that loathsome disease was becoming a demon...?" Pip suggests. "If the Elders are correct, that these stories are true and based on magic-related events...what's thenworst disease someone could contract?" He asks, like the answer was obvious.

"Something even the Elders fear most." Bev says, the realization dawning on her.

"More demons." Eddie smirks. "And here I thought that cancer was the worst disease."

"I'm so confused." Joe says, his face in his hands.

Mary lays her right hand on Joe's left knee. "It'll be okay, honey."

"Try not to understand it, Joe, you'll get a headache." Pip says, giving the man a fair warning ahead of time. "Even we don't fully understand the concepts of magic and
demons, we just roll with it and process what we have to."

Joe looks up at Pip. "Easy for you to say, you're a witch."

"Who just received his powers, back in March." Pip counters. "There's a lot that I will never be able to wrap my head around."

"My sisters and I have been witches for seventeen, going on eighteen, years now. There's plenty of stuff we still haven't learned."

Joe looks at her. "I'm gonna need an aspirin when this is over."

Mary rolls her eyes at her husband and playfully hits him on the knee.

"You and me, both." Clay says. "Just listen to my son's advice and go with the flow, it's what I do."

"For us, we just get used to everything." Bev says, shrugging her shoulder. "I mean we could have Andy give you some memory dust, let you forget all about magic." She hands the Bible to Pip.

Joe shakes his head. "No, that won't be necessary. It's just, like Pip said, a lot. Besides if our son is truly meant to be a force for this world, then it's best that Mary and I know about it ahead of time."

"So you can contact us if you have any trouble down the road." Eddie says, adding to his decision. "Good choice."

Pip's hands begin shaking as he holds the Bible in both hands. "Okay, whoa!" The Manor begins shaking.

"Pip?" Andy asks, looking up above everyone. A cloud forming over the sitting room.

"Earthquake!" Piper yells, hurrying out of the kitchen. Paige runs behind her. They enter the foyer. "Paige! The children!" Piper shouts at her youngest sister. They see the cloud and Pip's hands. Paige orbs upstairs to protect the children in case the Manor began falling apart.

Pip gasps, loudly. He feels it, the most powerful premonition he'll probably ever have. Except everyone in the sitting room sees it.

In the premonition: A flash of the Nativity begins the heavy vision. Several more flashes, or quick snippets really, of all the good that Jesus has, or will do. The healings: of the blind, the lepers, the paralytics, the bleeding women and the infirm woman, the man
with dropsy, the man with the withered hand, the deaf mute. The exorcisms: evil spirits and demons, the possessed boy, the possessed daughter. The resurrections: the daughter, the widow's son, the close friend. Nature: water into wine, the catching of fish,
feedings of the multitude, walking on water, calming the storm, the coin in a fish's mouth. Every single miracle by Jesus would happen in the future and the performer was
in fact the baby due at midnight. 

Before the premonition ends, there's one last flash: An
ancient evil, a demon, drains the power of the baby and then kills him. The demon kills the Blessed Ones, the Charmed Ones, the Next Generation, and every other good magical being in the world. The demon is Herod. The premonition finally ends.

When the cloud disappears, the Manor is in disarray. Fortunately there is no major damage except for knick-knacks and pictures out of place. The people inside
however...have gone bonkers.

"What the hell was that?" Piper asks, freaked.

"It was..." Eddie says, trailing off as he looks at his friend. "Pip."

"I'm more concerned as to why it happened like that." Phoebe says. "I've never had a premonition like that, especially one that almost brought the house down."

Mary is in tears. "I recognized a lot of those images, half of them from Sunday school lessons anyway." She looks down at her stomach. "Our baby is going to do all of that?"

"Premonitions aren't usually wrong, they show a glimpse of the future that is inbound unless a new path is made. Other premonitions can vary in glimpses of the past and present or can be faked to trick someone." Pip explains. "For us, we tend to void my premonitions when they regard evil winning out. This time we have to make sure your baby is born safely and grows up to do the good that he's destined to do. He's going to literally change the world for the better." Pip then looks at his mother. "I'll
answer your statement with a question. What would you expect to happen when a cognitive witch should touch the Bible? It'd be like us touching a page in the Book of Shadows minus all of the fireworks." He waves his hands to mimic a firework display.

"I wouldn't expect for everyone to see it, that's for sure." Bev says. "Imagine the exposure magic would receive."

"It'd be like December 1999 all over again." Piper says.

"Or 2012." Eddie adds to the eldest Halliwell's remark.
Piper nods at him with a smirk. She saw more of her qualities in Eddie than Pip or Bev.

Eddie is the potion maker, having created some of his own before. He also had the capability to be witty when he wanted to. Of course, Eddie hadn't always been so confident like Piper, herself. Pip is more like his mother, though he and Paige shared being long-lost from the family and coming into magic late, that didn't mean they were alike. Pip holds the excitement for magic like Phoebe once did upon becoming a witch. Pip would no doubt learn the consequences the hard way had he been alone and unguided like Piper and her sisters. Hopefully, he'd heed their advices. Bev is more like Paige, if Paige still had red hair then that'd be another similarity, she is more free-spirted like Paige had been in her early years of being a witch and that of her teenage years, as spoken of by Paige. Alone, Bev might have grown into a feeling of needing to be a witch but with her friends by her side, she'll have leeway to avoid that.

Paige hadn't been so lucky, she was new to magic at the time. She was inexperienced in balancing normality and peculiarity. She left her social worker job to be a witch and then longed for that life once again by working temp jobs. None of which gave her any happiness or enlightenment. Phoebe had been juggling Cole's return and her new job. Piper, herself, was pregnant and moody, and unintentionally in the spotlight. Everyone was worrying over her and the baby, and Paige had to step up as a witch. Inevitably losing who she was in the process, it was no wonder why she believed she had to be like Prue. She and Phoebe had put a huge weight on Paige from the get-go and didn't really allow Paige the time to balance her new life. They had their reasons, the Source
being number one, but that didn't excuse their pushing and griping. Phoebe's empathy certainly didn't help later on and only made things worse with her constant meddling. Thankfully, Chris handed them a solution, regardless of his original intentions.

Piper scolds herself, she should've tried harder to make Paige feel welcomed. To guide Paige at her leisure, not Phoebe's or her own. They were sisters, that bond comes
before magic in any situation. She should've listened to Leo as a Whitelighter but she couldn't at the time, her Whitelighter failed to save Prue and it wasn't his fault.
Circumstances were rough and the Source chose not to honor the deal he made with Phoebe and Cole. She only listened to Leo because he was her husband and it
would've split them up if she ignored him. Hell, she blamed him at times and eventually controlled him to an extent. All because he lost Prue and she can't even begin to understand his pain. What a bitch she was back then, she's surprised Leo didn't her and Paige hadn't run for the hills. Phoebe wouldn't have left her at least not
until Piper fired shots at her too. She even made Cole suffer when he didn't actually deserve it.  If she wanted to hate on herself, she'd say Prue checked out early to avoid her.

Piper knows she's got some major self-work to do and lots of apologizing. Because until she did, she wouldn't be truly happy.

"Okay so, what's your plan?" Joe asks. "How are you gonna stop that..." He sighs. "...demon?" He says the word as if he'd finally began to accept his new reality. There'd be no turning back from the knowledge but he had to keep what he's learned to protect his unborn son until the day he dies.

"Given the idea of his power, a simple spell or potion won't be enough." Bev says. "I think we're gonna have to use the Blessed Power of Three." She says, looking at Pip and Eddie.

Pip and Eddie nod in agreeance. "I'll get to work on a B.P. of Three spell." Pip says, standing up from the chair he's in. He begins to approach the stairs.

"B.P.?" Eddie asks, confused.

"Blessed Power." Pip answers. "We're not the Charmed Ones, might as well give the spells that require the three of us their own name." He begins walking up the stairs.
"When Vic returns, tell him I'm working on his Christmas gift or Aunt Piper send him to get another ingredient that you just so happen to not have. I'm not ready to tell him the secret and that means he can't see the Book of Shadows yet." Pip hurries up the stairs before anyone can object to handling. Pip knows that Vic's been in the dark long enough but something in his gut tells it's just not time yet.

Piper pulls Phoebe to the kitchen to talk. Clay sits down to talk to Joe, give him a mortal's perspective.

"Andy, could you please ask the Elders if they know anything else that can help us fight Herod?" Bev asks the Whitelighter.

Andy nods. "Sure." He orbs out.

"So what do we do then?" Eddie asks, looking at his friend.

"We scry." Bev says, smiling.

END OF ACT 3!

[Matt A, Heir to Bekka Pramheda]

ACT 4 - HALLIWELL MANOR - ATTIC - SAME TIME AS LAST SCENE

Pip enters the attic, sighing. In two months and a half, it'll be his and Vic's one-year anniversary. How he's managed to keep the secret this long, he'll never know. Though the longer he drags it out, the more likely Vic will be upset when he does get past the threshold. Vic will question their relationship, he will question if Pip really does trust him. And he does trust Vic, with his life, but being a
witch who fights demons on a weekly basis...that's one of the biggest secrets anyone can have. It's life changing for everyone involved, including mortals who learn of it.
Innocents who go on living normal lives question their reality, some grow curious and eventually want to join the fight. Witches' lovers are in the fight as soon as they are made aware, unless they choose to run away. That's what Pip fears Vic will do.

Pip makes it halfway across the attic when the Lazarus demon ash-teleports in behind Pip. The demon wraps an arm around Pip's throat and pulls him back against his body. "Bet you didn't see this one coming, witch."

Pip fights against the Lazarus demon but the demon holds him tight.

The Lazarus demon pulls out an athame and stabs Pip in the stomach.

"Aah!" Pip screams in pain.

The Lazarus demon shoves Pip to the floor and teleports out.

Downstairs, Bev and Eddie race for the stairs after hearing Pip scream. Phoebe and Clay are right behind them.

"Piper, guard Mary and Joe!" Eddie shouts over his shoulder.

Back upstairs in the Attic, Paige is the first to arrive having been with the kids.

Bev and Eddie enter behind her. "Pip!" Eddie shouts.

"ANDY!" Bev calls for their Whitelighter.

Andy orbs in and sees his wounded charge. Immediately, he is on his knees beside Pip. He removes the athame from Pip's stomach and begins to heal him.

Phoebe and Clay enter as Andy's hand begins to glow. "What happened?" Clay demands.

"We don't--" Eddie says but is interrupted by a crash from downstairs. "know."

Downstairs, Herod shreds in behind Piper is who watching over Mary and Joe. Mary gasps in fear but before Piper can react, Herod shoots a light dart at her and sends her flying into the wall beneath the landing.

Mary screams, afraid her for child. Unfortunately, her water also breaks. "Oh no, not now."

Joe jumps in front of his wife and unborn child with courage. He grabs a lamp from one of the end tables and hurls it at Herod. Herod dodges it with ease and the lamp sails until it hits the floor of the conservatory, shattering upon impact.

Herod swings an arm at Joe and with strength, he sends the man flying into the foyer where he hits the floors and flips onto to his stomach.

"Please, don't hurt my baby." Mary pleads. "Please, I beg you."

"Save your breath." Herod says, grabbing Mary by the throat. "You'll need it to deliver the child."

Herod shreds out, taking Mary with him, just as Bev and Eddie run down the stairs to witness him leaving.

Pip arrives behind his friends too late. Herod is already gone and so is Mary.

"This is turning out to be one merry Christmas." Pip says, lacing his words with sarcasm as he refers to being stabbed with an athame and Mary's capturing.

BREAK and/or INTERMISSION

HALLIWELL MANOR - CONSERVATORY - EARLY NIGHTTIME

The sun sinks beneath the horizon and the sky fades to black. Yet no stars awaken from slumber.

Inside the Manor, the Blessed Ones, the Charmed Ones, Andy and Joe are all in the conservatory. Leo, Coop and Henry are getting the kids settled in upstairs. Vic had returned shortly after Herod's attack and Pip asked his father to drive around with Vic, to keep Vic from finding out the secret and so the two could talk some more.

Pip had told Vic that he still needed time to finish Vic's Christmas gift. Vic believed the lie, of course, yet it was also was an actual lie. Pip had finished Vic's gift two days prior.

The party is gathered around the table in the conservatory. The Book of Shadows is open and Eddie is flipping through it. "There's got to be something in here."

"Eddie, you've been through the Book once already. If you didn't find anything then, you're not gonna find anything this time." Bev says, laying a hand on Eddie's shoulder.

Paige looks at Andy, the only other Whitelighter in the room. "The Elders had no info that could help?"

"They already gave it to us." Andy says and motion his head at Pip, who's trying to get a premonition from the Bible that the Elders gave to Andy.

"Anything?" Phoebe asks, looking at her son.

Pip sighs, placing the Bible on the table. "Nothing."

"I don't understand, you said you were a family of powerful witches." Joe says, placing his hands on his hips. "There's got to be something you can do. Please, you have to save my wife and son."

"We've tried everything we can think of. Scrying, summoning, sensing..." Pip says, sighing. "Unless you have an idea or something that we can use, please sit down and let us work." He looks at Bev and Eddie. "I've touched everything of Mary's and there was no cognitive echo on anything, the Bible was my last option. We're gonna have to come up with another way to locate her."

Piper frowns. "You touched everything and there was nothing?"

Pip nods. "I think Herod might be blocking me somehow."

"Blocking your power?" Bev asks. "Can he do that?"

Andy shrugs. "I don't know what powers he has, it's possible though."

Joe's eyes widen. "Wait, I have something you can try." He pulls out his wallet and removes one of the pictures. It's a sonogram of a baby. "Maybe you're focusing on the wrong person."

Pip stares at Joe and smiles. He extends his right hand to accept the picture. Joe gives the picture to Pip and the witch holds it with both hands.

Pip gasps and is sucked into a premonition.

In the premonition: Mary lays on a rock slab, she's in an Underworld cave. Herod stands nearby, watching as Mary is hit with a contraction.

The premonition ends.

"What did you see?" Bev asks.

"I saw Mary." Pip says.

"Where is she?" Joe asks, frantically. "Is she alright? I swear to God if that bastard has hurt her."

"She's fine, for now." Pip says, reassuringly. "She's in the Underworld but...she's in labor."

THE UNDERWORLD - HEROD'S CAVE

Mary bolts up, gripping her stomach. She screams as a contraction strikes her.

A demonic nurse at the foot of the slab. "She's eight centimeters apart, it won't be long now." She smirks.

"Please let my baby go, kill me if you must but please spare him." Mary pleads.

"Oh Mary, I can't do that." Herod says. "You see, the destiny of your son will erase demonkind and I simply cannot allow that...not when I can utilize your son's power and become the new Source."

"The Source?" Mary questions. "The Source of what?"

The demonic nurse look up at Herod. "The Source of All Evil." He paces his cave. "The current Source is half-witch. His morality will jeopardize his responsibility and it will be his undoing. Just like the last Source, Belthazor."

Mary cries with a scream as another contraction hits.

"This world will bow before its new king very soon." Herod says.

The Lazarus demon and the demonic nurse both smile evilly.

BREAK and/or INTERMISSION

Pip has a piece of paper in front of him and is writing a spell to vanquish Herod.

"Are the three of you insane?" Andy asks. "You can't just waltz into his cave guns-a-blazing."

"We don't have time to strategize, Mary's bun is almost baked. When the timer dings, it'll be ready to come out." Pip says, his attention focused on the piece of paper in front of him. He's writing a spell.

"How's the spell coming?" Bev asks Pip.

"You three should really listen to your Whitelighter." Leo says, having came downstairs with Coop and Henry. "Andy's right, Herod is an ancient demon, one of the very few that the Elders have little information on. You don't know what Herod's capable of."

"I need help with the last two lines. I'm having trouble with the phrasing." Pip says.

Eddie and Bev move to look over Pip's shoulder. "You sure you wanna go with that?" Bev asks.

"I think you got the wrong rhyme." Eddie says, chuckling. "Literally, it's the wrong story."

"I know." Pip says. "I'm using it metaphorically. Good phrasing was also an issue regarding the biblical story. So I chose the next best thing."

Eddie nods. "Ah."

Andy watches in disbelief. "Are you three even listening?" He asks, despairingly.

"Yes, and we appreciate your concern, but we've got this." Bev says. "We're the Blessed Ones."

"Overconfidence can get you killed too." Andy says, seriously.

The three witches look up at him but a knock at the glass conservatory doors distracts them. Pip, Bev and Eddie approach the door and open it.

Waiting outside in the Manor's garden is: a Leprechaun, an Ogre, a Dwarf, a Fairy, a Nymph and various other members of the Magical Community. However, there's just one representative for each branch of creatures.

The Dwarf is the one who knocked. "Where's the baby?" He asks.

"Of course, the Nativity wouldn't be complete without the wisemen...or their equivalents anyway." Pip says.

Then, as if by magic, something dawns on Eddie. "We're the wisemen. Us, The Blessed Ones."

Bev and Pip look at him. "Oh my god, you're right." Bev says.

"So, they're the shepherds then?" Pip asks.

"They do tend to the world." Eddie says.

Pip sighs. "We so do not need this right now." He looks out at the magical community members. "How did you all know that a baby was even being born here?"

The Nymph smiles. "The Christmas Star shines bright tonight."

The Gnome leader points up. "And it's directly above Halliwell Manor."

The three witches walk outside and look up at the sky. Sure enough, a star as bright as the Sun rests above the Manor. No other star had dared to even twinkle, the rest of the sky is black as pitch. All except for the star shining gloriously over the Manor.

"That's so gonna be in the news." Bev says.

"As will they, if we don't get them inside." Pip says. "What if a neighbor sees?" He steps aside. "All of you inside."

The magical creatures enter the Manor.

"What are they doing here?" Phoebe asks, entering the conservatory.

"They're here to witness the birth of HIS child." Pip says, pointedly. He stares at Joe who enters the dining room from the kitchen with a glass of water in hand.

Joe sees the sudden crowd and breathes. "So magical creatures are real?" He asks as he walks into the conservatory.

"We warned you." Bev says, smiling. "If it helps, sometimes I can barely believe it myself."

"Speak for yourself." Pip mutters with a light smile.

"So where's Mommy Dearest?" The dwarf asks.

"Demon-napped." Pip says.

The magical creatures start talking at once. Asking questions like a chorus of buzzing bees.

Pip whistles loudly using his index finger and thumb. "Alright, alright. Look, we're working on it already. In the meantime, please wait in the parlor until we bring her back."

Some of the creatures mumble in displeasure, namely the Dwarf.

"I heard that." Pip calls over his shoulder as the creatures move to the parlor. "The sooner we rescue Mary, the better. Let's go."

Bev and Eddie both nod. Eddie also grabs an Athame off of the table, it's the Athame that the Lazarus demon used to stab Pip.

"Is this the first time we're going to the Underworld?" Bev asks.

"I've been before, remember?" Pip reminds her. "When I vanquished Juno."

"I remember you telling us about that." Bev says. "If you remember, we weren't there to witness that."

"You got what I meant though." Pip says.

"But it is our first time going together." Eddie smiles. "The three of us."

"The Blessed Power of Three." Pip says. "We really need to find a way to shorten that. B.P. of Three still has a weird ring to it."

Bev and Eddie chuckle.

Andy sighs. "Are you three sure about this plan?" The three witches nod in unison. "Okay, let's go."

THE UNDERWORLD - HEROD'S LAIR - SAME TIME

Blue and white orbs appear as the Blessed Ones and Andy orb in. They hear screams of pain, a woman's screams.

"She's crowning!" The demonic nurse says, excitedly.

Herod approaches the slab, eagerly. "The twelfth hour is upon us. Push." He looks at Mary. "If you don't, I'll make sure your death is slow."

Mary cries as she reflexively begins to push her baby out.

The Blessed Ones enter the cave with Andy behind them. "Perhaps you should take your own advice." Pip says.

"Do you think I'm surprised?" Herod says and laughs. "I knew you were coming."

"You're lying." Bev says. "Demons lie."

"Is that so?" Herod questions. "Silly witches, I have foresight."

"Then you've seen that you lose." Eddie says.

"No, I saw my success...as did your friend there." Herod says, motioning a finger at Pip.

Mary screams and she pushes.

"I saw what he saw." Herod says.

"Premonitions can be changed, the future can be changed." Pip says. "Now!"

Bev powers up a fireball and throws it at the demonic nurse. She's vanquished.

Eddie closes his eyes and sends the athame flying at the Lazarus demon. The athame strikes and the Lazarus is vanquished. "If I were you, I'd stay down. Behave and we might let you go."

Herod sneers and grabs Mary by the throat. "Move the tiniest muscle and I'll snap her neck."

Mary screams as another contraction hits.

Pip smirks. "I thought you might try to threaten us."

Blue and white orbs appear behind Herod. It's Joe, he was remotely orbed to the cave by Paige. "Get your hands OFF MY WIFE!" He shouts as approaches Herod, grabbing the demon from the back of the his robe. He pulls Herod away from his wife and hurrels him to the other side of the cave.

Herod lands on the floor with a thud. He growls in anger. "I will not be defeated by three mere witches."

"You seem to have forgotten that we're not mere witches." Bev says.

Pip removes a folded piece of paper from one of his pockets. "Checkmate." He says, smirking at Herod.

They begin to chant the vanquishing spell. "O holy night, we witches tell. The story of how the king fell. Human once demon twice, face Our magic thrice. All the king's demons and all the king's power, couldn't save Herod from Hell's dour."

Herod is engulfed in red fire. "AAH!" Herod explodes as he is finally vanquished.

Mary screams again. "He's coming!"

"Hurry, we gotta get her to the Manor." Pip says.

The party huddles around Mary and orbs out.

HALLIWELL MANOR - SITTING ROOM - SAME TIME

The party orbs in. Phoebe, Coop, Piper, Leo, Paige and Henry enter from the conservatory.

"We need towels, pronto." Bev says.

"I'll get some." Henry says, earning a nod from Bev before he hurries to the laundry room for some towels.

"Coop, go and get the medical bag from the closet." Phoebe says as she moves to the foot of the pull-out. "Mary, breathe and push."

Joe holds Mary's left hand with his right. "You can do it, honey. Push."

Henry returns with some towels and places them on the pull out beside Phoebe.

Phoebe grabs one towel and has Mary lift up, with Joe's help, and slides a towel under her to prevent the labor from reaching the antique pull-out.

Mary breathes and pushes. "Aaah!"

"Everyone but Bev, Eddie, Mom and Joe, back up. I've got a cool idea that I'd like us to try." Pip says, grinning. "Bev, Eddie, form a triangle with me."

Bev smiles. "Well if it's gonna be a cool magic act, then you know I'm down to help out."

"What exactly do you want to do?" Eddie asks, looking at his best friend.

"We're gonna bless this baby with our magic." Pip explains, smiling. "Our own version of a Wiccaning. Form a triangle with me."

Andy, Phoebe, Piper, Paige, Leo, Coop and Henry all look at the young Halliwell. They smile with pride.

"I think that's a wonderful idea." Phoebe says, proudly. Her firstborn has been taking to magic like Phoebe did and that was a good thing. He's accepting his destiny with ease, though she shouldn't be surprised especially after finding out Pip brought change to the American education system. When she told Prue, her older sister wasn't even surpised Pip had managed to accomplish his mortal destiny. According to the eldest Halliwell sister, who had been keeping tabs on Pip along with Mom and Grams, Clay's parents have been activists since the sixties.

The three Blessed Ones form a triangle equidistant around the pull-out. Pip fills the head point, directly under the chandelier. Bev takes the left as Eddie takes the right.

"Hold out your hands." Pip instructs. Bev and Eddie copy Pip. "Repeat after me. O holy night, we witches grace." He speaks the words as if he'd already thought of them before, or perhaps a whisper in an ear.

"O holy night, we witches grace." The three of them say together.

"The baby born in this sacred space." Pip says before repeating it with his friends.

Mary pushes hard as she cries.

"Come on Mary, you can do it." Joe says, encouraging his wife.

The magical community members stand in an arc, they're spread out in a curve behind the Halliwells and the Sullivans.

Andy, Piper, Paige, Coop, Leo and Henry watch as the baby is being birthed.

A golden light shines down over Pip from the chandelier, Pip lets the light bathe him as he channels his Blessed magic from within. Pip begins glowing red and red beams shoot from his hands. The beams reach Bev's and Eddie's hands, which also release red beams. Bev and Eddie are also glowing like Pip.

The front door opens and it's Clay and Vic. Clay quickly shuts the door to keep Vic from seeing the magic on full display.

"Whoa." Paige says in awe, watching alongside everyone else as the Blessed Ones' triquetra weaves around the Sullivans and Phoebe.

Andy watches his charges, impressed at such a feat, as they perform their magical connection.

"Push, Mary, push!" Phoebe says as the woman screams again. "I see his head!"

"Unto the Lord, we give our praise." The Blessed Ones repeat with Pip. "We shield him in our Wiccan ways."

Mary screams as she pushes again.

"His shoulders are out." Phoebe says, grinning.

"We gift him with our light," The Blessed Ones repeat again with Pip. "That doth protect him from all affright."

"Mary, you're doing great!" Joe says, praising his wife.

Mary pushes again, her face is a deep red as if she was enraged. But she's not enraged, she's tired and heated.

"He's halfway, Mary!" Phoebe exclaims. "You've got this."

"O holy night, we witches grace," The Blessed Ones repeat with Pip. "Our magic unto the Lord we embrace." They finish their chant as Mary pushes the baby completely out.

"You did it, Mary!" Joe grins. "You brought our son into the world!"

Mary smiles and lays back on the pull-out.

Phoebe snips the umbilical cord using the scissors from Cronyn's bag, another demonic leftover which they immediately used when Wyatt was born. The bag was also brought out when PJ and Brianna were born at the Manor.

Phoebe cleans the baby and then swaddles him in one of the towels. "Here you go, Mama."

Mary grins as Phoebe hands her the baby.

The Blessed Ones' magic fades away as soft cooing is heard from the newborn.

"He looks like his daddy." Mary says, looking up at Joe.

"What name are you gonna give him?" Pip asks, smiling.

Mary smiles down at the newborn son, who stares back at her. "Jesse."

Everyone smiles at the scene and the Magical Community members begin bestowing gifts upon Jesse and his parents. Good luck is granted, through the use of gold nuggets, by the Leprechaun. A Golden Goose egg is given by the Ogre, lost items and flowers from the Fairy, water of the Eternal Spring from the Nymph, a nanny contract from the Elf Nanny and a gardening contract from a Gnome. The dwarf gifted them with a small sack filled with the magical dust of a Unicorn's horn.

After bestowing their gifts, the creatures depart which allows Clay to finally let Vic inside the Manor.

The scene pans up the ceiling and fades out.

END OF ACT 4

[Matt A, Heir to Bekka Pramheda]

ACT 5 - HALLIWELL MANOR - PIP'S BEDROOM - POSTMIDNIGHT

Pip lays in his bed, wide awake. Vic sleeps soundly next to him. Pip reflects on the previous day. He, Bev and Eddie saved a family. As good as it should feel, it doesn't. There's tension in his own family because of his parents, mainly due to his father.

Pip looks at his alarm clock, it reads 2:30. It certainly felt later than that. Mary and Joe were offered to stay but they insisted on Andy orbing them to Minnesota. He glances at the window and briefly remembers snowy Christmases in New York, before deciding to get up and go downstairs.

He slides out of Vic's arms and quietly tiptoes over Wyatt who, along with Chris and Junior, are sleeping peacefully and probably dreaming of sugarplums. The three boys were bunking in Pip's room as the family settled in together to celebrate the holiday.

Pip opens his bedroom door and slips out, making sure to close it quietly. He slinks down the stairs and comes to a sudden halt when he hears a clattering on the roof. He looks up and is immediately on red alert.

A faint "ho, ho, ho" is heard next and Pip is drawn to the living room, he treads his steps as he enters and watches as a pair of black boots with white trim land in the ashen remains of the once-blazing fire.

The fireplace expands and out walks an old man dressed in a red suit and matching hat, both trimmed with white fur like the boots. Slung over his back, is a sack full of what Pip can only guess is gifts.

Pip gasps, drawing the man's attention. "Mr. Halliwell, I knew you were awake."

"Santa Claus?" Pip asks, his jaw on the floor.

"In the flesh." Santa smiles. "I wasn't sure if you'd be able to see me. After all, you did stop believing in me long before you were supposed to."

"You never brought me my mother." Pip replies, coldly.

"Now you know why." Santa says, a twinkle in his left eye. "However, maybe now I can be of help to you."

"What do you mean?" Pip asks, crossing his arms.

"Your parents." Santa says, crossing over to the tree and placing his sack on the floor. He opens the magical bag and reaches in, pulling out the first gift. The name tag is addressed to Parker.

Pip sighs, running a hand through his hair. He moves to sit in one of the armchairs. "They're fighting over me. Dad wants to control my life and Mom wants Dad to back off. Dad thinks Mom's doing a bad job and the magic only furthers his belief in that."

"They love you and only want the best for you. Pip, you're special in so many ways. You're talented and you have have a heart of gold. You certainly never made the Naughty List." Santa says, chuckling.

Pip smirks and laughs. "How does that help me now? How do I get them to stop fighting on my behalf?"

"Do you believe in me, Pip?" Santa questions the witch.

"Are you kidding me?" Pip asks. "Of course I do, especially now."

"Do you believe in yourself?" Santa asks.

Pip nods. "Yeah...I think I do..." He looks away from the jolly old man. "Actually, I don't know anymore."

"That's why they're fighting on your behalf. Believe again, Pip, stand up for yourself and tell your parents how you feel. Don't you want them to get along and stand behind you together?"

Pip nods. "Absolutely but Dad isn't going to listen to me, he never does and he's going to reject Vic...I've seen it already. Mom listens too much, her Empathy makes it harder to actually have privacy." He buries his face in his hands. "Coop hasn't even been given a fair chance by Dad. In a way, it feels like Dad hates magic altogether and to an extent...me."

"I know, I'm Santa remember?" Santa asks, rhetorically. "Go and wake them. Tell them how you feel and make them believe in you like you believe in me..." Santa says, stepping back to the fireplace. "...Like I believe in you."

The fireplace expands and Santa steps inside. He is sucked up the chimney and the fireplace returns to normal.

Pip jumps from the chair and hurries to the stairs, with new-found confidence. Focused on his objective, Pip didn't notice that there were more gifts under the Christmas tree than before.

UPSTAIRS

Pip enters his mother's bedroom and, without having to tiptoe over any sleeping aunts or uncles as they hunkered down in the spare bedroom, he approaches the sleeping forms of his mother and stepfather.

Pip nudges his mother's right shoulder and she groans. "Mom, wake up." Pip says, firmly.

Phoebe squints through drowsy eyelids. "Pip? What's wrong?"

"Get up." Pip demands. "Now." He enforces.

Phoebe shoots up with alarm. "Oh no, is it another demon?"

"No, actually, just a case of quarreling parents." Pip says, crossing to Coop's side of the bed. "Coop, wake up."

Coop burrows into the warm bed with a faint hum of content.

"Coop!" Pip says, louder. "Wake up!"

Coop's eyes shoot open and he is confused when he sees his stepson hovering over him. "Is it morning already?"

"It's almost 3 in the morning." Phoebe says, displeased as she stares at her alarm clock. She's not happy that Pip woke her up at the current time.

"Both of you, up, follow me to the Attic." Pip says, heading for their door.

"Why?" Phoebe asks. "If you wanna talk to me about something, you can do it here."

"Because I said so." Pip answers her. "And no I can't, Dad also needs to be awake and listening."

Phoebe raises an eyebrow and goes to ask another question.

Coop doesn't let her. "Maybe we should just follow him to the Attic." The Cupid says, looking at Pip with understanding eyes.

Pip shies his eyes away from Coop's gaze. "He's right, you should, so move it." He bounds out of the room and proceeds to the Attic's stairs. He climbs them and enters.

Phoebe and Coop jump out of bed and follow behind the young witch.

Pip shakes his father awake.

"Pip?" Clay asks, sleepily. "What's the matter? Did you have a nightmare?"

Pip looks at his father in disbelief. "Are you serious?" He asks. "Dad, just get up."

Clay rises from the floor, he rubs his eyes and turns to the door when he hears two pairs of footsteps. He watches as Phoebe and Clay enter the Attic. Judging by their sleep-heavy eyes, he assumes that Pip had just woke them as well.

"Okay, we're up here." Phoebe says, hands on her hips. "Start explaining."

Pip, who moved over to the Attic's main window, turns around and looks at all three adults. "Dad." His eyes flick over to look at his father. "Do you remember, when I was little, when I used to write letters to Santa asking for my mother?"

Clay nods and sighs. "Yeah, I do. You were always unhappy on holidays, if I had to guess then I'd say the holidays made you depressed."

Phoebe blanches. "Wait, what?" She looks at Clay. "Why didn't you ever tell me that? If he was suffering depression that young, you should've informed me immediately."

Clay looks up at her. "Would it have made a difference? You couldn't really leave San Francisco without leaving your sisters behind. If you came, so would they and demons would follow. Do you really think you could care for a three year old while vanquishing demons?"

Phoebe is quiet. "You were three when it started?" She looks at her son, who nods in response. "Then you were better off in New York, away from me. Prue had just died and Piper and I were trying to grieve while accepting Paige, and the Source was on the offensive. Not to mention Cole and I becoming rulers of the Underworld and I got pregnant..." She trails off as a tear slides down her cheek. "Thank you for not bringing him here to see me and for not informing me. Things would've gone south the moment the Source and Cole both found out about him. Though I did wonder sometimes if Cole would've acted the way he did if Pip had been around."

Clay nods. "You're welcome, I suppose."

"That's another thing, magic." Pip says to his father. "Dad, whether you like it or not, Coop is my stepfather and he's going to be a part of my life. I appreciate everything you've done for me and your need to always take care of me but you're not alone anymore, and I'm certainly not a little kid anymore." He crosses his arms. "I can handle deciding who I want in my life and I prefer all three of you being there for me."

"I'll always support you, Pip." Clay says. "Which means if you want Coop in your life...then I guess I can set aside our differences and play nice."

"That's all I ask." Pip says. "Well and that you tell him yourself."

Clay sighs and nods. He turns to look at the Cupid. "He's right, I haven't been fair to you, Coop. I'm sorry for the way I've been acting. You didn't have to step in and be father for Pip, I mean you could have decided that your daughters were all you had. But you didn't, you claimed Pip like he was your own too and I thank you for that.

"I know." Coop smiles. "Besides any child of Phoebe's is a child of mine, no matter who the biological father is. I've got to give you kudos though, Pip wouldn't be who he is today if it hadn't been for you raising him. You're a great father, a little overprotective, but that just means you love Pip very much." He claps Clay on the shoulder. "You're forgiven."

Phoebe smiles.

Pip clears his throat. "Dad, Mom..." He nods at both of them.

Clay and Phoebe look at each other, waiting on each other to see who would go first.

Clay sighs and smirks. "I know where Pip gets his stubbornness from. Look, Phoebe, you're a great Mom and I'm sorry for the things I said. You didn't have to claim Pip after all these years but you did. I can't thank you enough for that. Pip deserves the best we can give him and I've made it hard for him by acting the way I have."

Phoebe sighs. "Becoming a father was the best thing to ever happen to you. You're right, I have been letting him do as he pleases with little discipline. I guess I don't want him turning away from me for being strict and overwhelming. However, I realize that I should keep him in my sights a little more."

Pip raises an eyebrow. "At least until I'm eighteen."

The four of them laugh. "Though I should mention that you are a little overwhelming, Mom."

Phoebe gasps. "I am not."

"You are." Pip counters. "It's not you personally, it's your Empathy. In a few months, I'll be an adult and I'd appreciate it if you could start reeling your power back some. I also want you to stop pestering Coop for details because I'm never gonna shut you out, I have no idea why you'd ever think I would. If I want to talk with you about something, I will, but some things are better left unsaid."

Clay groans. "Please don't go there, Pip. I'm not ready for that yet."

Pip glares at his father, hands now on his hips. "Tough luck, Dad." Pip says. "I saw you reject Vic."

"I'd nev--" Clay tries to say.

"You will." Pip says. "Dad, I saw it in a premonition. If I got a vision it, that's bad. Whatever reason is preventing you from accepting that I'm growing up and making my own decisions, you need to deal with it. I won't let you ruin my relationship, Dad. If you can't accept Vic, then leave. To keep me in your life, you get the full package. You can't simply have your little boy anymore."

Phoebe and Clay look as if they'd been struck while Coop's jaw has dropped. Pip doesn't care if his parents feel hurt, he wants them to feel what they've been making him feel.

"I had no clue you felt that way." Phoebe says, holding back tears. "I'm so sorry I overstepped my bounds."

"You should be, especially where Vic and magic are concerned." Pip says. "But I forgive you, you're my mother and you want to be included. I'll always confide in you, Mom, when I feel I have a need to."

Phoebe closes the distance between herself and her son, embracing him tightly. "I love you so much, Pip."

Pip returns her embrace. "I love you too, Mom."

They separate and Pip looks at his father. "Well, what's it gonna be?"

Clay looks at his son, tears lining his eyes. "I want the full package. There's no way in hell I'm losing you, Pip."

Pip smiles. "Then I forgive you, Dad." Pip walks over to his father and embraces him. "But if you ever reject Vic, you won't be welcome here."

Clay nods, chuckling. "Understood, Son."

Phoebe and Coop smile.

"Who or what made you have this intervention tonight?" Coop asks, grinning.

Pip breathes. "Someone I should've never stop believing in." His parents raise a brow in confusion. It's obvious to Pip that Coop knew, if the grin on the Cupid's face is any indication. Cupids are legendary figures, at least Cupid is, maybe legendary figures could sense each other.

Pip smiles, feelng that a weight had been lifted from his heart.

BREAK and/or INTERMISSION

It's said that family is everything, so much so that sometimes it can be difficult to put into words just how much your loved ones mean to you. For the Halliwells, this is one thing in which they do not struggle with.

HALLIWELL MANOR - LIVING ROOM - DECEMBER 25, 2015 - CHRISTMAS MORNING

A close up on a pair of hands moving about the keys of a piano. The hands belong to Pip and he's playing.

"I heard the bells on Christmas day. Their old familar carols played. And mild and sweet their songs repeat. Of peace on Earth, good will to men." Pip sings.

Wrapping paper is piled by the entry frame to the parlor, Paige would tend to it later. All the gifts were separated by the tree, to be taken to the respective homes of the Halliwell children. As for the family, they're all gathered around in the living room listening to Pip perform. Everyone has a mug of Piper's delicious hot chocolate. A homemade, milk chocolate concotion with marshmallows drizzled with a raspberry syrup and sprinkled chestnut crumbs.

The family is spread out around the room. Pip is sitting at the piano, of course, and Vic clinging onto him with his arms wrapped around his boyfriend. Pip placing kisses to Vic's forehead when he wasn't singing. Bev is curled up in the armchair closest to the piano and Andy leans against the side of the chair. Clay has propped himself against the entry frame to the living room, witnessing the dislay of affection between Vic and Pip proves to him that the two boys absolutely loved each other. Coop sits in the other armchair with Phoebe curled up in his lap, they look at each other and smile. Piper and Leo are snuggled together as are Paige and Henry on the couch. P.J., Parker, Brianna, Wyatt, Chris, Melinda, Kat, Tamara and Junior are all sitting around the coffee table.

"And the bells are ringing, like a choir they're singing, in my heart I hear them. Peace on Earth, good will to men." Pip sings. "And in despair I bowed my head, "There is no peace on Earth, " I said. For hate is strong and mocks the song. Of peace on Earth, good will to men."

Pip closes his eyes as he sings. "But the bells are ringing, like a choir singing, does anybody hear them? Peace on Earth, good will to men."

[Special scenes from years past and present are cut to. These scenes include individual characters, special events and feats of magic...some scenes never-before-seen.]

"But the bells are ringing,"

First; Patty Halliwell going after the Water Demon.

"Like a choir singing,"

Second; Penny Halliwell banishing the Woogeyman.

"Does anybody hear them?"

Third; Prue Halliwell pushing Dr. Griffiths out of Shax's way.

"Peace on Earth, good will to men,"

Fourth; Lynda Carson fighting the demon that did her in.

"Then rang the bells more loud and deep,"

Fifth; The Charmed Ones being reawakened and the Blessed Ones solidifying their own Power of Three.

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep,"

Sixth; The Charmed Ones are reconstituted. Pip meeting the Losers and meeting Vic.

"The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,"

Seventh; The Source being vanquished by the Charmed Ones and It being defeated by the Blessed Ones.

"With peace on Earth, good will to men,"

Eighth; Leo saving Max Franklin's father, Gordan. Clay jumping in front of Phoebe to protect her.

"Then ringing, singing on its way,"

Ninth; Piper and Leo's wedding and Future Wyatt and Chris travelling back in time.

"The world revolved from night to day,"

Tenth; Phoebe and Coop's wedding. Phoebe holding a newborn Brianna while surrounded by her family.

"A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,"

Eleventh; Pip protesting with fellow students. The Blessed Ones being orbed by Andy.

"Of peace on Earth, good will to men,"

Twelfth; Paige and Henry's wedding and the couple signing Junior's adoption papers.

[Special scenes end.]

Those in the living room are moved by Pip's performance. Piper rubs her arms as they tingle and tight with goosebumps. Henry, Phoebe and Bev also fall victim to the prickling sensations overtaking their bodies.

"Do you hear the bells, they're ringing? The light, the angels singing. Open up your heart and hear them. Peace on Earth, good will to men." Pip sings, his voice filling the Manor and giving the Victorian house a powerful warmth. "Peace on Earth. Peace on Earth, good will to men."

As Pip plays the final notes on the piano, he slows the tempo.

[The episode begins to fall back into a blank Book of Shadows page. As the family begins applauding Pip, the book slowly flips closed. The cover is identical to the Book of Shadows, though it's Christmas-styled. With the classic green cover, the Triquetra on the front is not that of the Charmed Ones, but  instead the Triquetra of the Blessed Ones. To fit the holiday theme, the Triquetra is made of red and pink tinsel. In the empty space above and below the symbol, christmas lights form the phrase "Happy Holidays". The episode then fades to black.]

END OF ACT 5!

END OF EPISODE!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!