Disclaimer: ALL CHARACTERS FROM THE CHARMED UNIVERSE BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IS INTENDED. IN OTHER WORDS I OWN N-O-T-H-I-N-G :(

A/N: For the record this is a future fic based on the Charmed One's children but this chapter starts off with the three sisters.

Also I might include some things, events, places, or people from the Charmed comics but that doesn't mean the comics will be considered cannon for this story. Anything that I do include would be explained.

Enjoy :)

Piper sat in the attic's couch reminiscing through the Book of Shadows. She remembered with nostalgia how Grams had marveled over how big the book had gotten since her time when she came from the past during the fight against the ultimate power. Now, here she stood wondering if someday she too will feel that way. So far her sons had added quite a contribution to the book. All three of them. She had been blessed with three children, two boys and a precious girl, but as fate would have it she was entrusted with the care of another magical being, her third son, Angel. She made sure he always felt at home in the manor as well as with the rest of the family. She first met Angel when he was no more than a couple of months old and the next time she'd seen him he was a 10 year old boy.

It had all been an agreement done by her and his father when she casted a spell before they parted ways. He had been worried that if something were to happen to him, his son would be at the mercy of the Manticore demons. Piper, understood his concerns and offered to take over and ensure the boy's wellbeing if there was ever the need. Reluctantly Derek had agreed and only asked that she be good to his son if the day ever came. They separated hoping that day would never come for the sake of the child.

Ten years later Derek was killed by the Manticores in attempt to get the boy back. Unfortunately for them his death was the trigger to Piper's spell which transported the boy over to the manor. The moment she laid eyes on the boy she knew who he was without having to ask as well as what he had been a witness to. His eyes said it all, they had been filled with fear and sorrow. At the time she wondered if he would ever be able to recover from the loss.

With time he was able to integrate himself into the family. He eventually got around calling her mom, though it was more out of habit from hearing her other children addressing her that way. When she first heard the word escape from his lips she got the same bubbly feeling in her stomach as the time when Chris, her neurotic white-lighter-son from an alternate future, called her mom.

Chris. She would never forget him. As the Chris from this reality grew older, she couldn't help but notice the resemblance he shared to the other Chris. Granted they were essentially the same person, it amazed her how similar and yet different they both were. He was neurotic to the core and yet he did so love finding exceptions to certain rules. He was astute and very hard to deceive. As a teen he had been a smart ass, but both Piper and Leo expected it after meeting their grown son so they had had time to prepare themselves for it. For all the planning and strategies he came up with, he still had ways to go in order to restrain his impulsiveness. He has always been in a hurry to better himself and prove himself worthy to his older brothers. Ironically, Wyatt and Angel always ended up saving him from whatever mess he managed to get himself into.

Wyatt was another case all together. Sometimes Piper felt like a horrible mother towards him. She knew she had done everything beyond humanly possible for all her children to live a normal life, but Wyatt was different. He always acted like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, and in a way, he did. He was the Twice-blessed child, wielder of Excalibur, and the oldest of the family. Everyone looked up to him and had him in some sort of pedestal: family, friends, and most of all the entire magical community. Great things were expected from him and no matter what she did, nothing could change those expectations. Everyone would forget that he was just a twenty-one-year-old, barely legal to drink, and on his fourth year as a student at Stanford University. He was studying to be a doctor and follow in his father's footsteps and Piper wanted him to experience life with as few responsibilities as possible, a luxury in their line of work. With a heavy heart, she mustered the strength to encourage him to pursue the scholarship offered to him before the pressure became too much for him to handle. Everyone awaited the day when he would lead to greatness, to make matters worse, Wyatt would actually take everything to heart, he wanted to be the person that everyone envisioned. Most people believed he was naturally gifted at his powers, but what was power when it wasn't properly nurtured? It was nothing, but a destructible force. No, Wyatt was a powerful witch, but that was not because he was blessed with powers that others weren't. His strength came from late hours of practice harnessing his powers. He led everyone to believe he was a natural at everything because that is what they expected from him and he didn't want to disappoint anyone. It was actually funny how all three boys would train their powers secretly from the other two. One fact that could not be denied about her boys was how they would let their competitiveness, stubbornness, and male pride get the better of them. A deadly combination she would be more worried about if it wasn't for Melinda.

Her baby girl was a force to be reckoned with. She kept the whole family in line and everyone had a soft spot for her. Melinda was the youngest of her siblings but oldest from her cousins. After the boys she was the one with the most authority. Her boys loved her and wanted to keep her wrapped in a protective bubble, quite literally actually, but Melinda would have none of that. She may not have as many powers of them, she didn't posses a teleportation power, and didn't stand much of a fight in a hand on hand confrontation, but she was the best in spell casting and potion making. She studied Alchemy in Magic School and even took private lessons from Ava Nicolae, a Gypsy Shuvani. Melinda was now eighteen, newly graduated from high school and entering college in the fall. She was also legal and could now hunt demons along with her brothers as promised.

She along with Paige's twins, Pandora and Polina, and Phoebe's eldest, Prue or as she liked to call: Phoebe Jr., had looked forward to using their magic in the real world above graduating and entering the "college experience". Everyone had agreed that demon hunting and any other magical activity outside Magic School would not be permitted until they were legal. The Charmed Ones didn't want their children to fight evil, at least not until they were twenty one, but the boys made a compelling argument that if they could enlist themselves to go onto war at eighteen there was no reason for them not to fight demons in their own backyard and there wasn't much they could do when they began having charges assigned.

Her children were all grown up and yet they were still children in her eyes. They still shared petty arguments and pulled pranks on one another as they did when they were a decade younger. Some days she missed not having them around to devour whatever she dished out, but she would then remind herself she had a restaurant to run and mouths to feed. They were adult now and although it was hard for her to not think of them as kids that needed to be protected, she knew it was that much worst for her sisters. Phoebe had had all girls. Aside from Prue, she had conceived Patrician who was now sixteen and Penelope who was twelve. Paige had also had a third child, Henry Jr., who was the same age as Pat. Their children were growing up and Piper had the feeling that they would have to grow up that much faster. Leaving behind their innocence at such a tender age should be a crime, but in this family there wasn't much that could be done.

Something big was coming. This wasn't like before, there were no changes in the weather, no strange orbital patterns in the planets, no hell breaking loose in the mortal realm, everything was smooth and clear. To naïve eyes such as their children's, this would be a blessing, a sign that everything was right in the world. She knew better and was pretty sure she wasn't the only one that sensed something was off. Things never stay quiet for too long, not for as long as they've been. There wasn't any demon activity coming up in the surface. The magical community also tried to keep their distance from interaction with the physical plane. Something was going on in the Underworld, but this was no longer her or her sisters' fight. It was their children's and whatever evil was plotting against them, she knew it would try to take them out next.

There really wasn't any sound evidence to prove this to be true, it was more of a gut feeling that was developed from the years of experience. She and her sisters were as powerful as ever, but there was more than one way to get rid of an enemy and with all the planning and patience she knew this new threat had endured, she was sure it'd get creative.

That was the reason for her coming up to the attic in the first place. She didn't frequent this room much these days, but she had to make sure the room was stocked up with enough ingredients, that there were enough already made potions, and that the Book of Shadows had everything she deemed as important written in it. Anything that she might have missed would probably be something her husband, Leo, would help their children in. Piper still remembered the time when she accidentally traveled to the future and saw herself playing scrabble with an older version of Leo. Their love had surpassed so many obstacles and she was sure this would not be the exception. She would still have that match with Leo and she was still sure she would be the winner. She was placing the book back in the pedestal when she felt the calling and soon enough she was surrounded in white lights.

Phoebe was working on the last scrapbook of her very own family of five. Over the years, she accumulated many pictures of her husband and her three blessings, but she had never really gotten around organizing them until a couple of months ago. As the graduation of her eldest daughter closed in, Phoebe realized just how much time had gone by. Her little Ladybug would be attending Berkley in the fall along with her other three cousins: Melinda, Pandora, and Polina. It had surprised the Charmed Ones when they found out they were all expecting at the same time. Of course the girls were months apart but they were all from the same year and had one another to rely on. Phoebe's daughter had been the youngest, but strangely enough was the first of the four to come into her powers. She had been a menace as a toddler and as she grew older she had become the master mind behind all the mischief the girls caused.

Paige's eldest twin daughter, Pandora, would always jump at Prue's schemes and her twin Polina would follow suit even if she disagreed with what they were doing. Melinda, Piper's daughter, was the oldest and as so would be the chaperon of their little adventures. She would make sure they caused the minimal damage and when things got out of control she would call her brothers to the rescue.

Piper's sons were overprotective of all the girls. They somehow believed it was their duty to keep them from harm, and most of the time they did. Prue liked the idea of them being there for her. She had developed a serious case of a brother complex towards them and gone as far as ruining some relationships for them. None of them had been serious and the boys would let it go for the sake of not hurting her feelings. They all understood she had good intentions at heart and she strongly believed in her cupid intuition and saw it as her duty to find the perfect match for all of them.

Prue was more concern with embracing the cupid in her rather than the witch. Phoebe knew it was a way to separate herself from the so called "Charmed Glory". The truth was that her daughter was terrified that she wouldn't be able to live up to the name and so she hid behind her Cupid side. She would put a strong front when in reality she needed comfort from others the most. Her daughter possessed a big heart, but was also a free spirit. Even family ties seemed too restricting on her, as a result she wasn't very reliable towards her other two daughters.

Her second daughter, Patricia, was a jewel yet to be polished. Due to Prue's social personality Pat usually stayed in the side lines. Pat would escape being her sister's shadow by daydreaming in her own little world. She would secretly write romance stories in her laptop and only share them with Phoebe. Phoebe took pride in knowing that her middle daughter had taken a liking in what she did for a living and encouraged her to pursue a career as a novelist when she got older. She shared a special relationship with Pat, whereas Prue and she could spend hours talking about boys, with Pat, Phoebe would have deeper conversations. Sometimes it would be about her writing and other about the legacy she was born into. Prue had a better control of her powers and had chosen to embrace her Cupid side and Pat didn't want to take after her sister. She was extremely self-conscious about herself and didn't fully understand what love was. That was the meaning behind her writing, to further her knowledge of what she is. She chose the road less traveled and focused training her body instead of her powers. From an early age she took gymnastics and eventually different forms of self-defense. She didn't have an inclination to either her Wiccan or Cupid powers, and for the moment that was okay, after all, she was only sixteen. She still had time to find herself, still sometimes Phoebe wished she was more self-assured like her youngest daughter, Penelope.

Her baby was by far the most mature and independent of the three. She didn't like to bother others with her problems and often went her own way. Being the youngest of the whole family, she usually got the most pampering from everyone, and although, she did indulged herself in it, there was a part of her that always seemed to be to be far away. As a twelve year old, she was still as much of a mystery to Phoebe as the day she was born. Penny was a special child. There had been many complications during her pregnancy and the chances for her to give birth to a healthy baby were slim. One of Phoebe's fears was to lose a child before it was ever born as she had done with her first pregnancy.

Her baby boy. Sometimes Phoebe would think of that child and mourn for it. Despite what the Seer had revealed to her about the origin of the child, every year on the anniversary of the vanquish, Phoebe would take flowers to the mausoleum for her unborn son. There wasn't a proper place to mourn for him, but she hoped he rested in peace wherever he may be.

She arranged the last picture of her daughters, Coop, and herself in place and took a moment to remember the event. It was when they were having dinner at Piper's restaurant celebrating the girls' graduation. Everyone was laughing in the picture and she wondered when there would be another chance for a picture like this.

Time was running out and she feared she wouldn't be there for her daughters when they needed her the most. That was her biggest fear. Phoebe had grown up without her mother and upon the birth of Prue she swore to always be there for them. As expected, magic would have something else in mind for her. She had received a premonition of the Underwolrd united and her and her sisters nowhere in sight. Her daughters would be facing a threat and she knew they weren't ready for what they were about to face. The part that hurt her the most was that she knew she couldn't warn them of the threat because she herself didn't know what it was or when it would attack. They had to do this alone. There were some lessons that could only be learned through experience and this was one of them. She finished the scrapbooks hoping that at least this way they would have a way to remember her. It was a memento that would remind them that there was something worth fighting for. Coop would be there for them, her husband and love of her life would never abandon her daughters and that console her a bit. As she closed the book she felt she was being summoned and recognized the familiar white lights she was engulfed in.

Paige had faced many challenges and overcame each and everyone one of them to get where she was today, to have the family she always dreamed of, and to give Henry the children he yearned to have. It was ironic, really, how this was the hardest thing she had ever had to do. All she had to do was guide the pen with her wrist, a simple gesture like that should be no problem, but she couldn't bring herself to do so. She couldn't let go of what she had worked so hard for. She had done so much for the greater good and now it seemed like it was taking everything that was right in her life away from her.

In attempt to delay the inevitable she called for a blank piece of paper and began writing.

She had given birth to twin daughters, the first twins in the family line, and then unexpectedly she had gotten pregnant two years later with a baby boy. Both she and Henry had been excited to have the family they were both denied as children. They had both been adopted since birth and throughout the years they had been happily growing old together and raising their kids.

Her twin daughters, Pandora and Polina, were probably the ones the yearned the most for a normal life. They enjoyed the perks of having magic, but Pan dreaded the responsibilities it came with and Polly was terrified of the evils magic involved. They both had a hard time understanding the balance of nature and the necessity for the existence of evil in the world. It was a wonder how her daughters were identical on the outside, yet so different on the inside.

Pandora would always see things as either black or white and failed to recognize the shades of gray in between. She didn't understand that there was a transaction from one to the other. Pan didn't hesitate when she believed she was right, the problem was actually being right. From everyone she had been the most reluctant in accepting Piper's adoptive son, Angel. It wasn't until Angel risked his own life to save her and her sister that she began to trust him.

Polina on the other hand was more concern with how it is that evil is born. She has never believed someone is hereditary good or evil and was too gentle for a fight. Polly couldn't hurt a fly, much less a demon if her life depended on it. She was too idealistic and in this family that could get a person killed.

Both were inexperience and they both reminded Paige of herself when she first found out about her powers. She wanted to fix everyone's problems with magic, but magic was never the answer to life's real problems. That would be the hardest lesson her daughters would have to learn. This was their destiny and trying to escape it would only cause them more harm than good.

Henry Jr. was her youngest but he was more centered than her daughters. He accepted and abid by the norms they lived by. He had no problem distinguishing what was right from wrong, but her concern for him was more literal. Her baby had the most trouble controlling his powers, powers that were high voltage, to say the least. He had to learn to control those powers and she knew his cousins would help him get there. He was probably the most dedicated to the craft aside from Piper's kids.

Piper's kids. She would never go through with this if it weren't because she knew they were there. All of them were older than the rest and as so they were unofficially the authority figures of their generation. They were also the most experienced using magic since Piper wanted to prepare them for anything and everything. Paige knew she still carried wounds from Prue's death which was probably why to this day they weren't able to summon the older Halliwell.

The Heavens hadn't been the same in the resent months. In fact she wasn't allowed to go up there and hadn't had any contact with other Whitelighters or Elders. Once upon a time, she would have been grateful for that, but that was a young, inexperience, and immature Witchlighter. Years of battling for the greater good filled her with wisdom and she knew better than to think of this as a good thing. This had been a drastic measure, the kind that are only taken when options had ran out.

She finished the letter she was writing and fought the tears that threaten to leak. She inhaled a breath and signed her name on the last document. This was her heritage, her legacy. The one her children were born into and as so would follow, but Henry could still opt out. He had the right to do so and Paige could never be selfish enough to deny that to her husband. She was content with the years they spent together and the memories they created. She was grateful for the children she had. She wiped off the tears that escaped her eyes and forced herself to smile. Despite everything and whatever Henry decided, she would not regret anything.

With her mind made up she walked towards her bedroom to place it away until the time came. She never thought that time would be now, but as she was being transported in a swirl of lights she could only be thankful that she was given enough time to prepare that envelope and befor eit was taken with her she dropped it in the floor of her living room. Whatever she was about to face she knew that she'd be with her sisters and they weren't going down easily.

The Charmed Ones materialized in an all too familiar place. It was a place covered in darkness, brightened only by the circular platform they stood on. They had only been here once but they could never forget this place, after all, the last time they were here one of them was stripped of her powers.

They took a second to acknowledge each others' presence. "Well ladies, at least now we know what we are going up against." Paige broke the silence as she looked from one sister to the other.

"Why them though. This has nothing to-"

"Come on Phoebbs, it's really not hard to figure out. Can you think of a better way to get rid of us? I just can't believe they're trying to pull this crap on us twice. Why can't demons get original for once?" Piper asked.

"They tried, we vanquished them, remember?" Paige supplied trying to make light of the situation they were in.

"Ri-ight. Okay you floating heads either you come out or send us back because I'm getting a little old for this!" Piper yelled at the empty room. The only reply she got was the echo of her own voice.

"Piper, I don't think that is an appropriate way to summon them. Actually, I don't think you are even allowed to summon them. They are the Tribunal after all." Phoebe needlessly reminded her older sister.

"Yeah well, I'm a Charmed One, I'm fifty, and I'm not getting any younger either!" Piper yelled louder.

"You witches can never do something quietly, can you?"

The sisters looked towards the direction the voice came from. Two heads materialized and they recognized them as the two demons that formed part of the council of four.

"Why are we here?" Piper asked without preamble.

"We have an assignment for you." Came a voice from the opposite direction, the side of good.

"Wait, you have a job for us?" Paige asked the Elder mockingly.

"I'm afraid it's more serious than that." The beard Elder answered her.

"What do you mean by that?" Phoebe questioned not bothering to hide her suspicion on their apparent request.

"He means it's not optional. You will complete this task whether you like it or not." One of the demons informed her. Phoebe didn't like this one. Ever since the last trial she got the feeling he didn't like her. That had nothing to do with her empathy and everything to do with her instincts.

"Yeah, aha, see, you...elders, demons, whatever you are, obviously didn't get the memo. We are retired. We don't fight demons anymore." Piper announced to all four heads though she had the feeling this wasn't news to them.

"Well if all goes well you won't be fighting demons." One of the Elders stated with his infinite knowledge. His face was covered with tired lines and although Piper didn't like this council in the least she could sense he wasn't happy with this situation either.

"Excuse me, what's that suppose to mean?" Phoebe continued the little Q&A they were apparently having.

"It means that you will be send to the Ancient Burial Ground as guardians of the Hollow." The bearded Elder replied.

"You are banishing us?" Paige accused, directing the question to the head that spoke to Piper.

"I don't care what you think you are doing but it's clear that some demon is manipulating you again to get rid of us, so save your explanations and send us back home." Piper ordered as the weight of the words began to down on her.

"Witch, this isn't like last time. We have come to this decision on our own." One of the demons announced.

"That's what you think but you-"

"But, nothing. You witches think you have it all figured out, don't you? Saving innocents, making the world a better place? Don't get cocky, there is a balance to everything and you all have corrupted that balance." The other demon accused.

"Corrupted? Is that what this is about? All because there aren't of your kind running around on the surface?" Piper challenged as she felt her temper rise.

"When was you last vanquish, witch?" The demon responded before looking at Paige, "And you Whitelighter, when was it that your last charge called for your help?"

Paige stayed quiet not wanting to answer his question. It was true that her charges didn't call for her anymore. In fact, the Elders had grounded all Whitelighters because there just wasn't a need for them to descend from the Heavens, at least that was the story circulating. She knew the Elders were just as worried about the shift of balance as these heads and she knew they all questioned if the offspring of the Charmed Ones would only hinder the balance more. She hadn't shared this knowledge with anyone, not even her sisters. If casting her away would secure her children, nieces, and nephews safety then she wouldn't think twice in accepting the terms.

"Bullshit!" Piper called. "We've been at this for a long time, do you really think we can't recognize something demonic when it's right in front of our faces."

"Have you come across something demonic in the past months?" One of the wise Elder heads inquired.

"No, but-"

"No? What basis could you possibly have then? Your kind has driven away all forces of evil from the physical plane. Without them to keep the balance, magic becomes corrupt. Concerns over personal gains are neglected, risks over exposure increase, and magic begins to play a part of mortal lives causing free will to seize to exist." One of the demons proclaimed.

Piper did not appreciate being treated like a child. "I am aware of that, but you mean to tell me that you don't find it in the least strange how there hasn't been any demonic activity? No demon stays quiet for too long, not like this, and you know it. What makes you think that someone didn't plan this so that you would summon us for this very reason?"

"You really believe all demons would agree on such a boycott?" The demon countered.

"It's more probable than what you are suggesting." Piper challenged.

"If you expect us to even consider your offer you better come clean about your agenda." Phoebe spoke to all four members of the council. She had been analyzing the conversation from afar and was forming her own conclusions from what was being said as well from her own knowledge. Once she was sure she had their attention she continued, "I had a vision where the Underworld is united. A new source was in power and it was nothing like before."

"That's impossible." Paige whispered in denial.

"Phoebe, why didn't you tell us this before?" Piper asked but was ignored. Phoebe was concentrating on the reactions of the council of four. By the looks of it, they weren't surprised to hear this. "I take it you knew that already."

The sisters stared back at their judge and jury. "What is going on here?" Paige demanded.

It was one of the Elders who spoke first. "We've sensed something, a new power. It alone could match the Power of Three, maybe even surpass it."

"And you are casting us away, why?" Paige continued.

"Imagine what a force like that could do if it possessed the Hollow. You've already experienced its destructive nature. As of now, the Hollow is unprotected and it cannot be allowed to fall in anyone's hands regardless of the cause. The other Elder continued.

"Last I checked, the guardians of the Hollow were a force of good and a force of evil. Why us?" Piper spoke barely recovering from the shock.

"As stated before, you three know the consequences of using that power. It will only lead to destruction, you wouldn't want those you hold dear expose to that, now would you?" One of the demons explained.

"This is still giving them what they want: us out of the picture." Piper resentfully spoke her thoughts. After all these years someone had actually managed to figure out a way to get around them.

"That may be so, but can you really afford them gaining that power?" The other demon asked knowing what her answer would be.

"How long will we be there for?" Phoebe asked resigned to their fate. If her children were at stake, there was no question about what her choice would be.

"As long as it's necessary. Either the threat is taken care of or we find a replacement. Of course given how easily the last guardians were taken care of and how powerful this being is, the first is more probable." One of the demons informed.

"So basically until our children defeat it, right?" Phoebe continued, ignoring the fact she was making a pact with the devil.

"If, they defeat it." The demons corrected.

It hadn't occur to any of the three that their children wouldn't make it out alive. A cold sweat ran through her body. No, they couldn't think that way. They knew their children better than anyone as well as what they were each capable of. Their individual powers and personalities complimented the others. Alone they would be in danger but united they would be an incredible force for good. Their kids would be able to handle this threat, they had to believe in them.

"Will we be able to say goodbye?" Paige asked despite knowing what the answer would be. She didn't want to leave her family without a word.

"An Elder has been sent to inform your family as we speak. They will disclose as much information as discussed here. You should take comfort in knowing they won't be sent blind onto battle."

"Like that will make everything better." Piper spat.

"You should realize that we are being rather accommodating towards your family. We are under no obligation to do as such. As it is, you three have friends in places that most aren't even aware of. They've all spoken on your behalves before the decision on summoning you was even made. A little gratitude is in place, wouldn't you say?" One of the demons told her. He didn't seemed pleased with the special treatment the Charmed Ones were apparently granted. Under normal circumstances Piper would take pleasure in seeing his discomfort, but not today.

"Just get this over with already." She simply stated.

"Just to be clear, I would like to remind all of you that the Ancient Burial Ground is a realm that exists in infinity, both outside of time and space. You will not grow old and you will lose track of time. The time you spend there will differentiate from time in the Physical Plane. Most of all, keep the Hollow away from anyone or anything. Your failure in doing so could cost the lives of your loved ones." An Elder reminded them.

"We understand." Paige declared defiantly. She didn't like this anymore than her sisters, but she knew as well as them that it had to be done. They had to believe their kids would find a way to get them back. It was up to them now.

"Very well." One of the heads spoke at last as the sisters began to feel themselves drift into infinity.

A/N: Alright that's the intro. The Charmed Ones won't be making an appearance anytime soon but then again this story isn't really about them. If you haven't already I recommend you read my one-shot Savin' Angel which is about the Manticore baby, basically if your interested how he arrived to the manor. I'd love to know what you guys think so far so please don't be shy and review. Any and all are welcomed.