Set just before the girls go to fight Zankou in the season seven finale, they have just dropped off the boys and a will at Victor's.
Staring numbly at the note in her hand Piper couldn't even bring herself to call for Phoebe. Not again.
'Piper, Phoebe,
I know this won't make sense at first and I hate myself for putting you through this but I can't watch you sacrifice yourselves, I have to try. You always told me to trust my instincts and I have a good feeling this will work. It has to work. You saved me; you helped me find myself, now I have to save you. I'm sorry. Love always. Paige.
The words hit her stomach like a freight train and a glance at Paige's lifeless body sent tears gushing down her face as she dropped to her knees. Holding her baby sister to her begging her to wake up and stop being silly, Piper was startled by a choked scream from the doorway as Phoebe entered the room. Piper didn't have to say a word, a simple head shake was all she could manage, and all Phoebe needed to understand. Rushing forwards Phoebe sobbed as she let herself collapse into her only remaining sister. For hours they just held her, hoping that the unbearable pain they were feeling would bring her back.
Pacing the kitchen, Piper was furious, how could she do this? How would killing herself help them? Coward. Throwing cutlery from the previous night's dinner, Piper let out a scream of rage and Phoebe came racing in with a terrified look on her face. 'Don't do that, you scared me.' She said quietly to her elder sister but the only response she got was a glare and a sigh. 'She had a reason Piper, she wouldn't turn her back on us unless she thought she could save us, she was….crazy,' Phoebe smiled sadly at this comment, 'but she would never desert us.' With that comment a whirlwind of white lights filled the kitchen and both women lit up, 'Paige?' A second wave of devastation took hold as Leo's tearstained face became clear. 'The elders know nothing about this, she's gone, I let her down' her husband's reaction crushed Piper; he was always so positive that there would be an answer but his face showed that even he was at a loss.
Looking at the crushed family she had left behind, a tear ran down the face of Paige's soul, floating above them. Please let this work she begged to herself, don't let this be for nothing. As a dark figure came into view Paige pulled herself together; she needed to save her sisters, they were all she had, her everything. 'You again?' Death said bluntly to the feisty redhead. 'Me again' she sighed in reply, 'I'm offering a trade' Death stared harshly at her, clearly becoming impatient with the unconventional situations he found himself in when met by a charmed one. 'And why would I do that? I'm just a collector, keeping the balance' Paige felt her heart speed up with anxiety, '…because I'm not on your list and because my sisters will die if you don't make this happen, and then the most powerful force of good will be destroyed…and Zankou….' Paige was babbling but the mention of Zankou had gotten Death's attention. 'Zankou? He was banished years ago…' Death questioned. 'He's back and my sisters are about to take him on, but I'm not powerful enough to keep them safe, if you want them to survive and the true balance to remain, you need to help me', the last phrase had an element of begging, Death, however, needed little more convincing. Paige relaxed a little as Death walked her firmly through the great divide.