Ash

Ash
Flora Winters

I do not own any of the characters from Smallville or Charmed

Summary: After the Charmed Ones defeat the Source of all evil (again) they discover that they have a baby brother named Phoenix who is Paige’s twin. Looks like Mom and Grams have been keeping secrets (again). Phoenix is dating a reporter for the Daily Planet who is really the demon Phyre who has plans for the half witch/half whitelighter. Will Phoenix be able to choose between his family and a love that burns hotter and darker than the very flames of the Underworld? M/M, Language, OC, Crossover, Character Death

Chapter Five

Paige just stood there looking at her mother in shock. She had no idea what to think, “My twin…brother?”

Patty nodded her head slowly, “Yes.”

Piper pulled away from Grams, “How could you keep something like this from us?”

Patty was about to explain when Piper went off again, “First Prue dies and we find out Paige is our half sister. Now that Phoebe’s dead Paige has a twin. How many other siblings do we have running around out there in case another one of us dies?”

Grams ran her fingers through Piper’s hair to soothe her as Leo looked to Patty, “How could we not know of this?”

Paige rolled her eyes, “You didn’t know about me either.”

Leo nodded, “We have to find him.”

Piper looked up at her mother, “He performs at P3 tomorrow night.”

Paige shook her head, “Didn’t you say he had rehearsal tomorrow morning?”

Piper nodded her head wiping away the tears, “Yeah.”

Patty stared at Paige, “You two have to find him. Now that he has his powers, someone might try and tempt him to evil.”

Piper rolled her eyes in frustration, “Not that damn twenty-four thing again!”

“Those are the rules,” Leo said with a worried expression.

Piper frowned, “Remind me to vanquish whoever made that stupid rule.”

Leo smiled, “You can’t. It keeps the balance between light and dark.”

“Don’t make me make a pretty rhyme Mr. Orbs,” She said as she got to her feet with Grams help.

Paige turned to Piper from the book, “What hotel is he staying at?”

Piper shook her head, “I’m not sure.”

Patty held up the pendulum to the girls, “I think this will help.”

Both girls looked at the pendulum and smiled, “Phoebe bought that one.”

Paige held it in her hand, “Amethyst was her favorite.”

Piper took it form her and walked over to the city map that was spread out over the coffee table, and then looked up at everyone, “We don’t have anything of his to scry with.”

Everyone threw their hands up in the air and Paige turned to her mother, “Did you take him to a church like you did me?”

Patty closed her eyes to find her center. She had dreaded this day and had hoped it would never come. She had hoped Paige could have had a normal life unlike her three other daughters, but that did not come to pass. Now her son who she had hoped more than anything could have had a normal life was now being pulled in as well. As the old saying says, “Blood calls out to blood.”

She opened her eyes and smiled sadly at her daughter, “No, not exactly my darling.”

“What do you mean,” Paige asked with big eyes.

She took a deep breath, “Your father and I were orbing to New York when he felt something terrible happening to his charges,” She said sadly, “We watched a terrible catastrophe strike this small town in Kansas.”

Paige stood there in silence as her mother continued, “Sam healed those that he could and were about to leave when he heard a woman’s prayer.”

Piper cocked her head to the side, “Huh?”

“He quickly took me and we appeared to this couple whose truck had turned over,” She said, “He told me that the woman had prayed, “Please, god, let me live to have a child to hold in my arms for as long as I have.”

Paige had a small tear rolling down her cheek, “So I gave him to the woman and man from out of the flames and ashes of destruction.”

“Well, no wonder they named him Phoenix,” Piper said as she looked at everyone who gave her stern looks, “What?”

Paige had to walk over and sit down on the small sofa, “All this time I had a twin brother and never knew about him.”

Piper snorted in order to keep from breaking down again, “Hey, how do you think Phoebe and I felt finding out we had another sister? This affects me to you know.”

Paige looked up at her from her hands, “We need to find him.”

“I don’t know how we can,” Piper said looking at Leo, “Can you find him?”

He closed his eyes and turned his head as if he was a human satellite trying to pick up a signal and then opened his eyes.

“Well,” Piper asked.

“Not a thing,” He told her.

Grams looked up from the book of shadows, “Why not call a lost witch?”

Patty smacked her arm playfully, “He’s not lost mother.”

“Well, it was worth a try,” Grams said walking over to Paige, “What do we do?”

A very loud crash made everyone look around to see Piper digging through a mess trying to find something. “What are you doing,” Paige demanded.

Piper ignored her and kept digging through the mess until she found what she was looking for. She turned around with a small baggy, tweezers, and a magnifying glass.

Grams snorted, “Are we going to play detective dear?”

Piper narrowed her eyes, “Exactly old woman,” She said walking out of the attic, “I’ll be right back.”
**************************************************

Phyre looked at the Seer in shock, “A charmed one?”
The Seer nodded her head, “You must sway him to the side of evil and claim the throne if you are to keep him safe my lord.”

Phyre wrapped a towel around his waist, “How long do I have?”

“Midnight tomorrow,” She said and was gone.

Phyre spent the rest of the time in the shower thinking if he could actually bring himself to darken the one thing that brought him so much light. He actually got down on his knees and let the scolding hot water wash away the tears.
*************************************************

Phoenix was lying on the bed asleep when Phyre walked into the room. He quietly put on some sweat pants and walked over to watch as Phoenix rolled over onto his back in sleep. Phyre loved how the son made his hair burn as if in flames and how beautiful he looked. There was no way he could stain this beautiful angel’s wings black.

A dark vision suddenly flashed through his mind. He saw Phoenix lying here and then being struck by a fireball when he was not around to protect him. He realized that he could not be by Phoenix’s side all the time to protect him. He could sure as hell try, but realistically it was not possible.

Phoenix opened his brilliant green eyes and looked around sleepily, “Clark?”

“I’m here Phe,” Phyre said, “Have a nice nap?”

Phoenix reached out for him and Phyre laid down at his side taking him in his arms, “I must have fallen asleep.”

Phyre softly kissed his neck and ran his fingers down his smooth arm, “Are you going to tell me what happened?”

Phoenix nodded his head, “I went to the sister’s house and we were standing under this beautiful chandelier,” He said feeling really sleepy all of a sudden, “And.”

Phyre slowly nibbled on the lobe of his ear, “And?”

Phoenix blinked as if looking though mist, “And they walked over and stared up at it with me,” He said, “Then this white light danced all around us in big sparkly beams, and then I ran out as the guests came in.”

Phoenix slowly moved away from him, “Clark, I feel…”

He was cut off by Phyre taking his lips in his own. Phoenix felt as though his mind was being burned away by an incredible heat. Suddenly Phoenix felt his feet touching the floor and then they were no longer touching it. He was lost in Phyre’s heat. Phyre was smiling as the both of them floated above the bed.

Phoenix suddenly removed his mouth from Phyre’s and shook his head. Phyre smiled at his beloved, “Clark,” Phoenix asked but Phyre pressed his lips onto his and parted them with his tongue. A ruby red mist filled Phoenix’s nostrils and mouth and smelled richly of cinnamon. Phyre felt Phoenix go limp in his arms as his head fell against his chest. Black feathered wings enveloped the beautiful angel he held close to his burning heart, “Mine.”
*********************************************************

Piper walked back into the room with her little baggy. She had a wide grin on her pretty face, “I got some.”

“What,” Paige asked getting up off the sofa.

“I found some hair down by the Chandelier that might belong to Phoenix,” She said as she pulled out a strand and wrapped it around the string of the pendulum, “Lets see now.”

She gave the pendulum a good twirl around the map and it fell, “Let’s see now,” She said and then cried making everyone jump, “Damn!”

“What,” Patty asked.

“It landed on the house,” Piper said angrily, “Paige!”

“Like it’s my fault I shed,” She said getting a sympathetic look from Grams.

She pulled out another hair that looked to be redder than the other one and she wrapped it around the string, “Let’s try this again!”

She started to twirl it around the map only to yelp as it went flying out of her hand and struck the wall across from where Leo was standing. Everyone walked over to see the pendulum was broken and the hair vanished in red smoke. Piper’s eyes were wide in shock, “What the hell just happened?”

Patty and Grams gave each other worried looks as both girls turned to look at them. Leo took his wife’s hand and looked at her softly, “He’ll be fine.”

Piper shook her head, “Leo, which has never happened before,” She said pointing at the shattered crystal, “We have never had a pendulum go flying out of our hands.”

Paige looked at her mom, “Has something happened to him?”

Grams shook her head, “No my darling. The books symbol is still as one.”

“He’s not been turned yet,” Patty told them as she looked out the window, “But something powerful does not want us to have him.”

“If one of you so much as says the word Source,” Piper snarled, “I’ll make a pretty little rhyme that makes the world go poof.”

Paige shook her head, “If you could do that,” She said sadly, “You could bring Phoebe and Prue back.”

Piper hid her tears, “If only magic worked that way.”

Leo smiled tightly, “If only.”

“But you did say that he would be at the club in the morning, right,” Patty asked.

“He had better,” Piper yelled, “Or he’s fired!”

That comment seemed to lighten everyone’s mood. Both of the girls hugged their mother and grandmother bye and told them to tell Phoebe and Prue that they loved them. Both elder women smiled and vanished in bright swirling lights whispering, “Blessed be.”

Paige followed Leo and Piper out of the attic to go to the kitchen to get some food. She prayed that her brother would be ok.

Piper had Leo by the hand and he squeezed it gently. She smiled into his eyes and asked that her little brother be ok. She had always wanted a little brother to dress up and put makeup on, and damn her little brother was hot. Hell, he was damn right beautiful. A little bit of eyeliner and, “Oh, that’s hot.”

“What,” Paige and Leo asked at the same time.

“Nothing,” She said smiling, “I was just thinking about putting makeup on our brother.”

Paige and Leo stopped dead in their tracks with shocked expressions, “Huh?”

Piper snorted and it felt good, “Oh come on,” She laughed, “It’s not like you didn’t look at him.”

Paige shook her head, “He’s my twin.”

“Exactly,” Piper said, “It’s our duty to save him and embarrass the hell out of him.”

Paige could not help but laugh at the humor in her sister’s voice, “I’m hungry woman,” She said, “Cook me something yummy.”

Piper pinched her on the arm making her yelp, “Only I’m allowed to say woman in this family.”

Paige rubbed the spot where Piper had pinched her and stuck her tongue out at her, “Dinner better be good.”

“Pizza,” Piper asked.

“Yeah,” Paige said.

Piper walked over and got the phonebook and phone and handed them both to her, “Get to it.”
****************************************************

Five Years Ago

Snow was falling and blanketed all of Smallville. The Kent farm looked like a winter wonderland, only with a deep sadness hanging in the air. All the animals were quite and still as the snow fell all around them. The door to the barn swung gently back and forth in the wind. They sky was gray and the ground was blindingly white.

Phoenix stood in front of the fireplace looking up at his mom and dad smiling back at him from their frames. Tears fell from his eyes as he stood there and felt Chloe put her arms gently around him. He started to shake a little but willed the tears to stop.

Chloe squeezed his waist gently and he felt comforted knowing that she was here for him. Clark and he had had an argument and that made him feel even sadder because Clark was not here with him. He had not meant to fight with Clark. He just did not understand a lot of things that was going on and then his dad had died.

Phoenix shook he head and carefully picked up his dad’s watch and asked Chloe to put it on for him. She smiled softly and helps him as another tear slipped from his eye. She looked at the watch on him, “It looks good on you.”

He smiled and fixed his sleeve as Lois knocked on the door, “The trucks ready.”

Phoenix mentally prepared himself as he followed them out the door. He looked around the farm and felt the sadness all around him. Everything was so quite and yet it deafened him. He smiled sadly at Chloe and got in the truck behind her.
********************************************************

His dad’s casket was gray with white roses on top of it. Phoenix felt as cold and lifeless as the snow falling around him. He never felt so alone in all his life. He was nineteen and now an adult. He no longer had a family to come home to when classes let out at school.

This realization hit him hard and the tears fell as he watched his dad being lowered into the ground. He let out a sob as he felt a big hand take his gently. He turned his head and saw Clark looking at him with regret and love in his eyes.

Phoenix started to shake from the cold and Phyre took him in his arms. Phoenix cried and let the sobs wrack his body. He clung to Phyre as if his sanity depended on it.

A few minutes later Chloe and Lois began to walk away and both looked back to see Phoenix slowly drop some dirt onto his dad’s casket. Chloe felt tears slide down her cheeks and followed Lois to the truck.

Lois turned the engine on, “Do you think he’s going to be ok Chloe?”

Chloe put her fingers next to the vent and jerked them away when cold hair came out, “I don’t know Lois.”

Lois smiled, “I’m glad Clark showed up for him.”

Chloe smiled as heat started to come out of the vent, “Me to, it’s just what he needed.”

“They’ve been dating five years now, is it,” Lois asked.

“Has it been that long,” Chloe asked as she counted on her fingers.

“According to his journal, yeah,” Lois said as Chloe gasped and punched her in the shoulder, “Hey, there was no lock!”

“You should be ashamed Lois,” But Lois gave her that infamous *you would have done it to if it was you Chloe look*, “Ok, I would have done the same.”

Lois shook her head sadly, “Do you think he’ll sell the farm?”

Chloe had not thought of that, “He’s nineteen. I don’t think he would know how to run the farm by himself.”

Lois looked out the window sadly as the snow continued to fall from the sky. She smiled softly as she watched Chloe fight with the vent.
************************************************

Phyre held Phoenix Close as the smaller man cried against his chest, “Clark, I’m sorry,” He cried, “I never meant to yell at you.”

Phyre kissed the top of his head and whispered, “All is forgiven Phe. One little fights not going to make me leave you.”

Phoenix gazed up at him and Phyre could not help it. Even with bloodshot eyes and tear stained cheeks he was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on. He watched as the cold wind blew through his red hair and he shivered violently, “Let’s get you home.”

Phoenix shook his head, “No, I can’t leave him,” He sobbed, “Please, please Clark. Wake me up. Tell me this isn’t real.”

Phyre closed his eyes as he listened to Phoenix whisper imploringly, “Please.”

He wanted to keep his eyes closed so he didn’t have to see the pain in those wonderful green eyes. He wanted to cover his ears to drown out the sadness in that lovely voice. All he could do was gently touch a cheek and smile sadly, “If I had the power, I would fix it all in a heartbeat Phe.”

Phoenix leaned his wet cheek into the warm touch and Phyre slowly led him away from the grave towards the truck where Chloe and Lois were waiting. Chloe opened the door and scooted over next to Lois as Phyre helped an exhausted Phoenix climb in. Before Phoenix would let him close the door, “Would you come stay the night with me Clark,” He asked, “I don’t want to be alone.”

“What am I,” Lois asked trying to lighten the mood, “Chopped liver?”

Chloe elbowed her in the ribs which made her yelp and Phoenix smiled a little as he watched Lois raise a fist to punch Chloe, as Phyre kissed Phoenix’s cheek, “Sure.”

Phoenix closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the seat, “Thanks Clark.”

Phyre smiled and closed the door to the truck. He watched it pull away and he stood there in the falling snow. H walked back to Jonathan Kent’s grave, “I’ll watch over him for you Mr. Kent. You treated me like family and accepted our relationship.”

The wind blew through his dark hair as he trembled and paled slightly, “I swear Mr. Kent, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect your son and show him that he’s loved.” The wind blew his black trench coat around him as he walked away leaving the blood to soak into the snow.
************************************************************

Phoenix got out of the shower and felt a little bit better. At least he felt clean enough to feel human. The tears had been coming and going ever since he got back home. Lois went to go stay the night with Chloe but they told him to call if he needed them for anything. It felt good to know they were there for him.

His heart just felt heavy and fragile like the wrong touch or word could shatter it. He dried himself off and put on some sweat pants and a blue t-shirt. Walking out of the bathroom he saw a light on downstairs, and went down to Clark in the kitchen making some kind of drink.

Phyre smiled at him, “Here, drink this. It’ll help you sleep.”

“What is it,” Phoenix asked.

“My dad showed me how to make it,” Phyre said truthfully, “It’s made from herbs and chocolate. It’s magic.”

Phoenix laughed, “Ok, I’ll try it.”

He took the warm glass from him and put it to his nose and sniffed, “Wow, it smells great,” He said putting it to his lips and taking a sip, “Wow, this is good.”

Phyre beamed, “I’m glad you like it.”

Phoenix downed the entire glass and smiled at him, “Clark?”

“Yeah,” He asked.

Phoenix blushed a little at what he was about to ask, “I was wondering.”

“Wondering what,” Phyre asked.

“Would you sleep with me tonight?”

Phyre dropped the mug and it shattered on the floor, “What? Don’t you remember what happened last time? If I had been inside you or if you were…”

Phoenix snorted for the first time in two days, “Don’t start that again Clark. That was interesting, but not what I meant.”

Phyre quickly got a broom and started to sweep up the mess to keep from fighting only for Phoenix to grab his hands, “Leave it, I’m sleepy.”

“But,” Phyre said, “The mess.”

“Can clean itself up for all I care,” Phoenix told him as he pulled Clark after him up the stairs, “Right now I’m sleepy and want you next to me.”

Phyre did not know how to argue with that so he quickly removed his shoes and sox and climbed into the bed with him. Phoenix pulled the covers around them and took Phyre in his arms, “Just let me hold you Clark.”

Phyre smiled at that and leaned into Phoenix’s chest. Phoenix closed his eyes and a few minutes later he was sound asleep. Phyre felt like an overgrown demonic teddy bear but as long he was Phoenix’s, who cares?

He slowly turned over as to not wake his Phoenix and smiled into his sleeping face. He snuggled closer to the beautiful boy that was now a man and in his sleep Phoenix started to curl his fingers through Phyre’s silky hair. He loved it when Phoenix played with his hair.

Phoenix whispered in his sleep, “I love you Clark.”

Phyre smiled warmly, “I love you to Phe.”

Both fell asleep in each other’s arms as two loving spirits smiled at each other and vanished in swirling globes of light.

TBC…

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