Chapter 1: The Ghost

Prologue

''Please don't!'' the girl yelled. She attached herself to the only lantern that lit the park.

''You love me, I know you do'' She now spoke in a calmer voice.

''How can I love you? Someone who puts everyone in danger?'' the boy said.

''And now you won't put anyone in danger anymore'' He said as he lifted his hand and threw a fireball at her.

''Nooooo!'' She yelled just before she turned into a pile of ashes.

That left the boy alone in the park. He felt proud, but at the same time he also felt empty. He killed her, the only one that loved him and understood his every problem. She gave him a second chance and he killed her. He ran to the street with tears in his eyes, waiting for a car to run him over. But no car would come here at this time in the night. He felt horrible and wished that he would never wake up again. Because without her, nothing mattered anymore. Now he felt something that was worse than death: a broken heart.

Halliwell Manor

It was 10 am and Leo woke up, stretched and opened his eyes. Like always he turned to wake Piper, only to find an empty space. He got up and walked to Prue's room to check if she was there. When he knocked on the door there was no response. That meant that Prue was probably still asleep and Piper wasn't there. Leo walked from Prue's room to Phoebe's where he heard giggling and a man's voice. Leo knew that Piper wouldn't do anything to invade their sisters privacy, so he knew that she wasn't there either. He wanted to check the attic, just in case. While he walked up the stairs, he felt that she wasn't there. With every step he took, he got more concerned about her. Piper was nowhere to be found, Leo made sure of that by checking every room in the house. He decided it was time to warn her sister and walked his way up back to Prue's room.

''Come in'' Prue answered after Leo knocked on her door.

''Leo, what are you doing here?'' She asked.

''Piper is gone'' He said somewhat agitated.

''What do you mean 'gone'?'' She asked Leo.

''I mean, she is nowhere to be found. I checked to whole Manor, nothing'' He said.

''Alright, this is serious, we'll get Phoebe'' Prue said as she started walking to Phoebe's room.

''And Cole'' Leo quickly added before Prue barged in.

''Prue!'' Phoebe shouted obviously annoyed that she interrupted while she was making out with Cole.

''I'm sorry, but we've got a problem'' Leo told Phoebe.

''What kind of problem?'' She asked.

''Piper is missing'' Prue replied.

''What?!'' Phoebe asked in disbelief.

''I'll go to the Underworld to check if she got kidnapped by demons'' Cole said.

''Okay baby, be careful'' Phoebe told Cole before he kissed her and shimmered out.

They discussed the fact that maybe Piper wasn't kidnapped by demons and decided to check if her car was still here. The three of them went down stairs and walked towards the door while Piper entered the Manor. Al she saw were three concerned faces staring at her.

''What?'' She asked astonished.

Leo walked toward Piper and started to kiss her. He needed her to feel how concerned he had been for her welfare and that he loved her forever. Piper didn't know what was going on, but enjoyed this moment with her husband nonetheless.

''You didn't have to react like that.'' She told him with a smile on her face.

''You should've seen him this morning when he noticed you were missing'' Prue said. Piper shot Leo a loving smile. ''Another question –'' Prue started.

''Yeah, where were you?'' Phoebe asked.

''I didn't feel well earlier this morning and wanted to take some aspirin for it, but we ran out. So I decided to go to the chemist to get new ones'' Piper explained.

''And it took that long just to get a couple of aspirins?'' Prue wanted to know.

''Well no, on my way home I stopped at a gas station to use their restroom, because…I needed to throw up'' Piper admitted. Leo looked at her worried. ''I'm fine, there's nothing wrong, really'' Piper added, but the look on Leo's face didn't change.

''Maybe you should take a day off, you worry too much'' Phoebe said, trying to calm Leo down and come between both parties.

''No, I really gotta go to work. But if it makes you feel any better, I'll take the afternoon off'' Piper replied.

''Okay, alright. Be careful.'' Phoebe said before Piper grabbed her back, got into the car and went to work.

''Cole'' Phoebe called out for her fiancé. When he shimmered in his hair look wild and he had a frightening look on his face.

''Cole, what's wrong?'' Phoebe asked while she looked into his eyes to assure him he was safe.

''She wasn't kidnapped by demons.'' He told Phoebe.

''Yeah I know, she went to the chemist.'' She replied.

''And what did she buy there?'' Cole wanted to know. Phoebe looked at him with a questioning face, wondering what he withheld from her. Nonetheless she answered his question.

''Uhm aspirins, she didn't feel well this morning.''

''Okay, than maybe Shana can be right.'' Cole said, forgetting that the rest didn't know who Shana was. One look at Phoebe's face reminded him that he'd better explain.

''Shana is a Oracle in the Underworld. She predicts what's going to happen here, in your world.'' He explained.

''And what had Piper got to do with that?'' Prue asked.

''Well Shana had a premonition of Piper, holding a baby. A demon came in behind her and threw an energyball, she didn't notice, but the baby did. It used a forcefield to protect her.'' Cole told them.

''Wow, talk about a premonition.'' Prue said.

''Premonition? What I wanna know is: who's the magical baby from? I mean, he or she isn't Pipers, she isn't pregnant. Or is she Leo?'' Phoebe rambled.

''No, not that I know of. You think that child is our baby?'' Leo said questionably.

''All I'm saying is it could be possible.'' Phoebe said.

''And if it is true than we got a demon on the loose, coming after Piper.'' Prue said.

At P3

''David, are sure these records are right?'' Piper asked him. He always took care of the club when Piper didn't have the time.

''Yeah, it checks out. All I need is your signature here'' He said.

Piper signed it and walked toward her office. She felt a wave of nausea coming up on the way. Oh no, not again she mentally cursed herself before running to the restroom. When she was done she washed her mouth and took an aspirin. She ordered David to go home and lock up the front door. She would go out the back when she was done cleaning up the tables. While walking to the bar she felt herself getting dizzy, the tray with glasses fell out of her hands and she fainted.

Leo, Prue, Phoebe and Cole stood in front of P3.

''Where is Piper?'' Cole asked.

''I don't know, but her car is still here.'' Leo answered.

''The door is locked'' Prue stated as she tried to open the front door by pulling at it excessively.

''She's here'' Phoebe said with a shocked look on her face while pointing at the floor of the club through the window.

''Piper!'' Leo yelled. ''We have to orb in''

''What if somebody sees us?'' Prue asked.

''I don't care. I'm not going to leave her there.'' Leo stated.

So Leo and Prue orbed in, with Phoebe and Cole shimmering on their heels. Leo ran straight to Piper, but his hands over her head and started to heal her. The others followed. A minute later Piper opened her eyes.

''What are you doing here?'' She asked Leo.

''Saving you'' Leo said and shot her a smile. She smiled back and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. He helped her up and guided her to the closest couch.

''Why did you pass out?'' Prue asked with a concerned look on her face.

''I don't know, I remember feeling dizzy…I guess now I don't have an excuse to stay home anymore, do I'' Piper said.

''No, like we said. You stress too much. You're coming home with us missy'' Phoebe said.

''But, why are you all here?'' Piper asked. It couldn't be just for saving her.

''Phoebe had a premonition we thought you should know about. About a demon, attacking you.'' Prue lied. It wasn't that convincing, after all she could've just called her for that.

''Uhh why was the door locked?'' Cole asked changing the subject.

''Oh David locked it for me before he went home.'' Piper asked while staring into space. She thought about everything that had happened this morning. Nausea, dizzy-spells and fainted weren't the exact symptoms of the flu. Something entirely different crossed her mind.

''Alright than, we should go home. You guys can go, I'll get the car and meet you there.'' Piper said.

''Are you sure you don't want one of us with you?'' Leo asked in concern.

''Honey, I will be fine. I'll see you at the Manor'' Piper replied, gave him a kiss and left.

At the chemist

Piper was walking back and forth in front of the chemist. She wasn't sure if she wanted to go in. Going in meant doing something that would change her life forever.

''Aren't you going in?'' an unknown voice asked her.

''I haven't decided yet'' Piper said. While she shot the girl next to her a faint smile. Something about the girl seemed off to Piper, she was almost transparent. Piper walked into the store and the girl followed, only not through the door, she walked straight through the wall.

''What brings you here?'' She asked Piper.

''Ohh uhm, just a hunch'' was the answer. ''And you?''

'' I want to get revenge on the demon who took my life. And I need your help for that.'' The girl stated.

''Alright, so you know who I am. But I don't have the slightest idea who you are.'' Piper said.

''I'm Eva.'' She replied and looked stunned when she saw the boy behind the counter. It was Drew the demon who killed her.

'' Hi, I'd like a pregnancy test.'' Piper asked Drew, not knowing who he was.

''Of course madam'' Drew said, gave Piper what he wanted and let her pay. Piper left with Eva on her heels.

''So, since you know who I am, I assume you also know who my husband is.'' Piper said to Eva.

''You're whitelighter, right?'' Eva replied.

''Yes, so you're not going to tell him that I was here and what I bought.''

''So that means you're going to help me?''

''Yeah'' Was the only reply Eva got before Piper started the car.

On the way home she didn't say a word to Eva. She was lost in her thoughts. What would Leo think if she told him they were expecting a baby? Or not? 'Cause there was always a chance that she wasn't pregnant and that she just had some weird disease, which she had to share with Leo too.

At the Manor

When Piper and Eva arrived at the Manor everyone else was there already.

''Guys, this is Eva, our ghost'' said Piper ''Eva, these are my sisters, Phoebe and Prue, and Leo, our whitelighter.'' At which Piper emphasized the word whitelighter.

After she introduced Eva to the others she ran towards the restroom to throw up, again. Leo walked to Piper and suggested for her to rest. Piper argued and insisted on helping Eva. After her sisters convinced her that they could take care of Eva too, she reluctantly followed Leo up the stairs. That's when Drew entered the Manor.

''Where are you Eva?'' He yelled through the house.

''Oh my god'' Piper said, her face in total disbelief. ''That is –''

''Yes, I know'' Eva said filling in her blanks.

''Do you know him?'' Prue asked.

''No, but I do recognize him. But I didn't know he was a demon!'' Piper replied.

''You think that you can protect Eva?'' Drew still yelled.

He was looking around for her, but couldn't see her anywhere. As his patient was running out he threw a fireball at Piper, who then fainted which caused her to dodge it. Prue used her telekinesis to throw him out of the house with one sweep of her arm.

''What's wrong with her?'' Phoebe asked, while walking into the hallway with Cole.

''Yeah, she keeps passing out.'' Prue stated.

It was only then that Leo noticed Piper had fainted yet again and kneeled next to her. He put his hands over her chest to heal her, but instead of opening her eyes Leo got an electric shock. He fell back against the wall. After a few seconds Piper did wake up.

''Are you okay?'' Leo asked.

''Yeah, my body hurts all over. Too much stress keeps making me faint.'' Piper replied.

''Why don't you lie down for a bit? We'll take care of Eva.'' Prue suggested.

''Alright'' She replied, got herself up and walked toward her bedroom.

She and Leo sat down on her bed and she looked at him, unsure what to say. Leo could sense that Piper wanted to tell him something, he just didn't know what. She opened her mouth trying to explain, but all that was coming out were tears. She started sobbing.

''Leo..'' She began to say.

''What's the matter honey?'' He asked, caressing her back to sooth her.

''I don't know, I'm nauseous and I keep fainting… What if I have some sort of weird disease that even you can't heal?'' She told him rambling through her tears.

The only thing Leo did was giving her a look that she might be right. That this was beyond his powers. Piper assured him to go on. Tell her what was on his mind.

'' The second time that I tried to heal you, I got an electric shock. '' He confessed.

''But don't you usually get these when you try to heal demons?'' She asked, remembering when he tried to heal Cole for the first time. He got an electric shock and was send flying through the room.

''Yeah, or when someone's outcome can't be changed anymore. Something complete left up to fate.'' He explained to her.

''So, that means that I keep fainting and maybe won't wake up again?'' Piper told him with uncertainty in her voice. Right now, the only thing she felt was fear.

''I would never let you die without a fight, you know that. I love you so much Piper.'' He told her, hugging Piper closely to his chest. He was determined to make her feel safe again. ''Go to sleep honey'' At that he tucked her in and went downstairs.

Prue looked at Leo and asked: ''What's wrong with her?''

''She thinks that she's got a disease even I can't heal and that her outcome can't be changed anymore.'' Leo said and sighed.

Eva looked down at her feet, completely ignoring everyone's gaze.

''Do you know something? 'Cause if it concerns Piper, you can trust us.'' Phoebe said.

''Look, I promised Piper I wouldn't talk about it. Or at least not with her husband.'' Eva replied.

Leo knitted his brows and wondered; what could be so bad that she didn't trust him enough to tell him. He decided that whatever it was, she was gonna come to him in her own time. ''Cole and I will look through the Book of Shadows to see if we can find anything.'' He said and walked to the attic with Cole.

''Please, tell us Eva.'' Prue insisted.

''Alright, Piper and I met before the chemist….''She started. ''Look, that's all I can tell you. Let's just say that Piper is completely fine.''

''She's not fine, she keeps fainting. We're her sisters, we need to know.'' Phoebe said and raised her voice a little at that.

''Exactly, that's why I can't tell you. But everything will be alright.'' Eva replied.

A second later Cole and Leo entered the kitchen with the Book of Shadows. Cole explained that the demon they were after was one who played by the rules of the Underworld, meaning living only for power, no treason to the ones who make you great and no forbidden love. Anything or anyone who didn't worship that or simply got in his way would end up dead.