Charmed Again (Part 2)

'Part Two for ya'll to enjoy. Hopefully :P lol'

Disclaimer: 'I do not own Charmed or any of the characters and/or storylines affiliated. I am simply borrowing them for your reading pleasure.'

The Underworld

The Source flamed into his lair seething, "My assassin failed. The witch is alive!"

"Yes." Oracle grimaced, her eyes full of regret then she glanced at her crystal ball pointedly, "I know."

"You told me her future was short-lived." He reminded her stiffly, anger evident in his demonic voice, "You told me—"

The Oracle sat upright and interrupted, "I told you only that it appeared to be short-lived." She corrected him and defended herself firmly then quickly sent him an innocent pout, "Seeing into the future is not always exact, especially when magical forces are at play."

The Source growled then turned away with fists clenched, "The 'Power of Three' was strong. She'll be almost untouchable now that she's united with her new sisters' and they create the 'Power of Four'."

"Once the bond is formed perhaps." The Oracle added thoughtfully, "But it has yet too. Which means she's vulnerable, easily swayed." She then hoped off the stone and walked towards him.

The Source growled in frustration once again.

The Oracle leaned in close, "Forty eight little hours. The window of opportunity agreed to eons ago by both sides to protect free will." She reminded him coyly then placed her hand on his shoulder, leaning in closer, "The great flaw in the grand design."

"She hasn't chosen the other side yet?" The Source questioned in surprise.

"Well….she's young, confused." The Oracle laid her head on his shoulder, "Doesn't know which way to turn." She pushed herself up and spoke with a tone unusually serious, "You must seduce her into using her powers for evil." She instructed him with a smirk, "Then she will become evil. And that's even better than killing her. Which of course you could still do." Oracle added with an amused smile. "You need to get close to her. Read her soul, corrupt it, and she's yours."

"And you." The Source turned on her, the Oracle looking instantly afraid, "You need to see the future more clearly, Oracle…." He advised with a sinister tone as he ran a long nail across her throat, "….for your own future."

~PO4~

Shane was lying asleep in his bed when a rumbling sound awoke him. He sat upright and switched on his bedside lamp. He threw off the sheets and pushed himself out of bed. The light started to flicker as the rumbling grew louder. Shane turned to his left just as the Source flamed into his apartment, right in front of him.

"What the hell?!" Shane cried out in fear, "Who are you?" he questioned shakily.

"For now, I am you." The Source replied as he slowly entered Shane's body.

Shane turned to his door then heard a knock from the other side. He opened it up and found Paige Mathews standing on his doorstep with tears in her eyes looking completely shaken up.

"Oh my god." She gasped walking towards him, "The most horrible thing just happened to me. I can't explain."

"Sshh." Shane stopped her, placing his hands on either side of her face, "It's okay, honey. I'm here now." He soothed then pulled her into his arms. "It's okay." He assured her as his eyes turned ink black.

~Opening Credits~

Halliwell Manor

"I don't understand how you can keep saving innocents…." Piper Halliwell-Wyatt ranted as she snatched up an ice pack from the freezer then placed it on the back of her husbands neck, "….but you can't figure out a way to heal yourself?"

"Well it's kinda hard to heal myself when I'm knocked out." Leo replied pressing the ice pack down harder.

"Leo, how's it possible for an angel to even get knocked out?" Phoebe questioned as she came strolling, bright eyed and bushy tailed, into the kitchen, "I mean you are, after all, technically dead." She pointed out, one hand on her hip.

Leo turned to her thoughtfully, "Three years together and now you're asking these questions?"

"Well, I think the more appropriate question is..." Piper chimed in from the other side of the island, "...how does a whitelighter get somebody knocked up?" she asked raising her eyebrows at her husband.

Leo frowned, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Phoebe couldn't contain her laughter from beside him.

"Well, what do you think it means?" Piper answered attempting to stifle her own laughter but an amused grin broke through.

Leo looked between his wife and his sister-in-law, "If this is about Paige, I swear the Elders had no idea that she even existed. Or that she was your sister." He assured them firmly.

"Sister witch." Phoebe added staring off into space.

"Half witch, half whitelighter." Piper reminded them with an arched brow, "Let's not forget that little surprise."

Phoebe made a face at the bitterness to her sister's voice then frowned, "Where's Prue?" she asked glancing around the kitchen, "She's not still asleep is she?"

Piper shook her head, making her way around the island to Leo, "She's still getting ready, I swear that girl takes longer than anyone I know and she's not even goin' out to work." She muttered as she adjusted Leo's ice pack.

Phoebe tried to smile but she felt a deep sense of worry for her eldest sister, one she couldn't quite explain yet.

"Ya know, I still can't believe that mom kept her a secret from us." Piper mused referring back to their previous topic of conversation.

"Well….it sounded like she didn't have much of a choice." Phoebe defended her mother all be it hesitantly and with a glance out of the kitchen door, unconsciously seeking out their sister.

Piper sighed irately, "We're her daughters, Phoebe. She could have found a way to share that information with us." She insisted but was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. "That better not be another long-lost relative." Piper warned slamming the ice pack against Leo's chest before stalking out of the kitchen and towards the door.

Prue Halliwell stood in front of the bathroom mirror staring at her reflection intently. Attempting to hide the bags that were slowing becoming more prominent under her eyes was rapidly proving to be a harder and harder task to accomplish.

Heaving a loaded sigh, Prue shook her head in defeat, "It'll have to do." that and she couldn't avoid her sisters' and their opposing opinions any longer.

Prue forcefully shoved her make-up back into her make-up bag then snatched it up intent on heading for the door when a light wind washed over her. It stopped her mid-step and successfully knocked the breath right out of her lungs.

"Prue." An airy almost ghost like voice whispered and she froze slowly closing her eyes until it released her and she gasped for breath.

Prue shook her head and laughed sardonically, "No. No way, not possible." She assured although trying to convince herself of that fact was extremely difficult.

Hope was such a strong and stubborn emotion that usually left you feeling like a fool, at least that was her experience.

"Prue." The voice whispered again as that same wind returned, stealing the breath right out of her and flowing right through her chest.

Prue threw her hands out to steady herself, gripping the sink so tightly that her knuckles turned white, "Andy?" she choked managing to suck in enough air to speak.

Prue gasped closing her eyes tightly as the wind grew stronger, tighter around her middle, like arms being wrapped around her waist but then it completely disappeared as if it had never came leaving Prue breathless and too stunned for words.

Piper stomped to the front door and wrenched it open to reveal their close friend Darryl Morris on the other side.

"Hi, Piper." He greeted and stepped in when she motioned him through.

"Hi there." Piper replied faking chipper as she closed the door then hurried in after him.

"Darryl?" Prue questioned from the stairs as she slowly descended, "What are you doing here? Not that we're not happy to see you." she assured with a smile stepping down off the last step, "We're always happy to see you."

Darryl smiled at her, "I'm uh….I'm actually not too sure on that one." He replied with a frown of his own, "I just got the feeling that I should come by and see how you three were."

Piper smiled brightly at him, "Aw that's sweet, Darryl."

Phoebe nodded then added, "And very appropriate."

Darryl instantly looked concerned, "What do you mean?" he asked then turned to Prue, "What does she mean?"

Prue sighed tiredly in response, "It's been a rough week that's all."

Darryl regarded them all with questioning eyes.

Phoebe stepped forwards, sucked in an exaggerated breath then proceeded to explain, "Well….I went to the underworld to rescue Cole. Piper and Prue were exposed as witches. Some crack pot wannabe witch with a big ass gun shot Piper and killed her. I made a deal with the Source to have time reset and save Piper's life which worked, the whole world forgot that we were witches and Piper was brought back to life, like it never even happened." She smiled wryly at his stunned expression, "But of course the Source double crossed me and Prue died because of it."

Darryl snapped his gaze to Prue who nodded. He then turned to Piper who nodded too then back to Phoebe who continued.

"Don't worry we fixed that too; Leo and I saved her but then we found out we have a long-lost half sister who just so happens to be half witch, half whitelighter because our mom had an affair with her whitelighter, got pregnant, gave the baby up for adoption and never told us about it….until now." She concluded with a smile.

"Whoa." Darryl breathed out too stunned to form anything else.

"Yeah." Phoebe agreed heavily, patting him on the back.

Darryl nodded his head and turned to Piper, "You got shot?" he asked and she nodded he then turned to Prue and said, "You died?"

Prue lifted her shoulders, hands now in the front two pockets of her jeans, "Yeah, like I said; it's been a tough week."

"Sure has." Darryl muttered then turned to Leo, "They've got another sister?"

Leo nodded, "Yeah, her name is Paige, she's a social worker."

Darryl was silent again, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow, "Paige...Paige Mathews?" he asked and Leo shrugged not all too sure on her last name.

"I think we've worked with her before. Not me personally but I have seen her." Darryl turned to Prue, expression thoughtful, "Ya know, she did remind me of you."

Prue made a face then muttered quietly, "Why am I not surprised?"

Darryl looked confused by her statement but shook it off and looked down at his watch, "Hey listen I uh….I gotta get to work but call me if you need anything." He told them leaning forward to kiss Prue's cheek.

"Will do." She replied and kissed his, smiling when he squeezed her wrist pointedly.

Darryl then turned, placed a hand on both Piper and Phoebe's arms before heading for the door, pulling it closed behind him.

Everyone was silent for a few moments then Leo noticed how pale the eldest looked, "Hey Prue?" he called and she looked over at him, "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Prue stared blankly at him then corrected darkly, "More like felt a ghost."

Piper and Phoebe both raised their eyebrows and turned to her expectantly but Prue looked away shaking her head.

"I'm fine." She assured them while unsuccessfully masking her anger, "But let's just say I'm feeling a little haunted right now."

"What?" Piper asked looking thoroughly confused.

Prue opened her mouth to reply when Cole shimmered in beside her.

"Cole." Phoebe breathed in relief, immediately moving towards him.

"Wait." He instructed holding up his hand.

Phoebe halted mid-movement, pouting.

Cole scanned the room as he formed an energy ball in his hand.

Phoebe opened her mouth to speak when a demon shimmered in and shot a lightening bolt at Cole who dived out of its path, throwing his energy ball at the demon as he went, killing him on the spot.

The three sisters' cried out in surprise as he did so then collectively glared.

Cole sighed pushing himself up off the stairs, "Damn Bounty Hunters." He cursed, growling at the ground, "They're like gnats."

Phoebe exhaled loudly grabbing everyone's attention, "Are you okay?"

Cole nodded and kissed her head, wrapping an arm around her tightly, "Yeah I'm fine honey."

Phoebe tilted her head up and Cole leaned down, capturing her lips with his.

Prue rolled her eyes at them, cringing as she made her way over to stand next to Piper. Leo chuckled silently at Prue's reaction and Piper smirked then smacked her sister on the thigh. Prue flinched sending a quick glare her sister's way and mouthing 'ow' as she rubbed the now stinging spot.

"You've got a problem." Cole announced when Phoebe had finished showing him how happy she was too see him.

Piper sighed throwing her head back in defeat while Prue closed her eyes, shoulders sagging and Phoebe groaned loudly.

"On top of all our other problems?"

Cole nodded down at her, "On my way back, I heard gargoyles." He announced to the group.

Phoebe looked confused and Prue's eyes remained closed while Piper tried not too laugh.

"Gargoyles?" she repeated sceptically, "You mean like, statues?"

"That's only in their resting state. They come alive to ward off evil." He explained then added grimly, "In this case, I think they're trying to ward off the Source." Cole looked at Leo, "I think he's surfaced."

And that shut Piper right up.

"Wait, what?" Phoebe questioned sounding terrified. She looked at Piper who was shaking her head and Prue who was staring at Cole. "He's here? Now? W-Where?"

"Well I don't know." Cole admitted with a casual shrug, "Could be anywhere. Or anyone."

"He probably came for, Paige." Leo mused looking at nothing in particular, "But she doesn't stand a chance against him. She doesn't even know what her power is yet." The concern was evident on his face and in his voice.

"Leo, we don't stand a chance against him!" Phoebe pointed out shakily, "Not without the Power of Four."

Prue scowled in obvious disagreement, "Wait a minute, yes we do." she insisted firmly, "We may not be able to defeat him on our own but we definitely stand a chance."

"Prue." Phoebe tried but her sister held up one hand.

"No, Phoebe c'mon." She interrupted dismissively, "We've survived the last three years without this girl."

Phoebe sighed in utter frustration, "That 'girl' is our sister, Prue." She reminded her sharply.

"She's not our sister." Piper refuted sternly and both her sisters' shot her a look, "Okay, so she is our sister but only by blood. We don't even know her."

Phoebe looked instantly appalled, "That doesn't mean we're not going to save her, Piper! We have to protect her from him!" She insisted looking to Prue for support.

"Of course we do, Phoebe. Don't start that again." Prue warned tersely, sending both her sisters' a darkened glare, "But first we have to find her." She turned to Leo with hopeful eyes, "Can you sense her now?"

Leo shook his head, "I don't think so. She's too new." He replied regretfully.

Prue folded her arms across her chest, "Well then, we'll just have to start with the church Mom was talking about."

"Prue…." Piper turned to her looking hurt.

"What Piper? " Prue snapped and Piper raised her eyebrows.

Prue held up her hands, "I'm not exactly thrilled with the situation myself but we can't just do nothing. She is our sister, we can't ignore that fact and pretend that she doesn't exist." She reasoned with her practically.

"Mom wouldn't want us too, Piper." Phoebe added softly knowing that the middle Halliwell did not cope at all well with change.

Prue glanced quickly at Phoebe with angry eyes, "What, Mom wants isn't really important." she dismissed cattily and her youngest sister's eyes widened.

"Right now, all that matters is Paige's safety, I mean could you really live with yourself if we just let her die?" Prue concluded knowingly, her conflicted eyes finding Piper's and sending her sister an understanding smile, "You have every right to your anger Piper but don't misdirect it towards Paige. She's the most innocent of us all."

Phoebe felt her heart both swell and ache at the eldest's words. On one hand she was eternally grateful that Prue was on her side in this and seemed to be thinking rationally despite her conflicting emotions, also thank god Prue seemed to hold no intention of taking said feelings out on Paige but on the other hand, their eldest sister's emotions had always been the most volatile and Phoebe feared the damage they might do to Prue's relationships with their mother and grandmother.

Piper looked between her two sisters' then sighed begrudgingly, "Fine!" she caved harshly, completely irritated by the unexpected turn her life had taken, "But….can we please stop referring to her as our sister?" she asked grimacing at the word, "Just for now?"

Phoebe opened her mouth to refuse and reprimand Piper for even suggesting it when Prue cut her off.

"Sure." She agreed with a nod, "If denial is what you need right now, have at it." Prue muttered dismissively then set Piper with a warning stare, "But it won't change the facts and the facts are; Paige Mathews is our sister, now and forever so..." Prue gave her shoulders a small shrug, "...you might as well get used to it."

Piper inhaled deeply at the subtle reprimand and crossed her arms tightly over her chest, stoically avoiding Phoebe's disappointed glare.

~PO4~

"Oscar, what's the matter sweetheart?" Paige asked her small pet bird that was squawking loudly in its cage, "It's okay, I'm home."

"Maybe he doesn't like me?" Shane suggested as he gazed at the bird through the cage bars.

"Don't be ridiculous." Paige retorted with a frown as she made her way over to her closet, "He's always liked you."

"Well, aren't you gonna tell me what happened last night?" Shane asked as she pulled out a denim skirt and threw it onto her bed.

"No, it's nothing." Paige replied with a shrug, sitting down on the edge of her bed and slipping off her shoes.

"Seemed like something to me." Shane pressed as he took a seat beside her, "You were pretty scared."

"Let's just say that, when I wanted to find out who I was, I didn't wanna find out I was a freak." Paige told him cryptically, "Look, can we just talk about this later?"

"Of course." Shane nodded in understanding, "Hey….I never got to thank you for saving me." He said looking into her eyes and leaning in for a kiss only to be interrupted by her squawking bird.

"Oscar." Paige whined as Shane glared menacingly at the small animal, "Listen, I should get to work anyway. I'm in enough trouble with the boss as it is." she pointed out grabbing her coat off of her bed.

Paige lifted her bag and headed for the door.

Shane held out his hand behind her back and it glowed a light red, like he was reading her.

He smiled slightly, "Well, I know how badly you wanna be there for that placement hearing."

Paige whirled round to face him, "How did you know about that?" she asked eyeing him suspiciously.

Shane shrugged, "Well, you told me, remember?"

Paige frowned and tilted her head slightly in thought.

"Little boy, abusive dad." Shane remarked, "You said nothing gets under your skin more than that." He quoted her back to herself.

Paige stared at him a little longer before shrugging slightly, "Right, okay." She forced a smile, "Make yourself at home. Stop by for lunch if you want?"

"Count on it." Shane smiled warmly at her.

Paige smiled back then left without another word.

Once she was out of sight Shane's smile slipped from his face and he made his way slowly over to the bird. His eyes turned black and Oscar burst into flames before Shane flamed out of the apartment.

~PO4~

South Bay Social Services

Paige sat at her desk on the phone to her Uncle procrastinating, "So how's Aunt Julie?"

"Much better. Thank you dear, for asking."

"Is her hip any better?" Paige asked then got distracted by the man at reception.

"Jake and Carol Grisanti for Mr. Cowan." Jake introduced himself.

"Okay. I'll let him know you're here." The receptionist replied politely.

Paige turned back to the phone, "Sorry. Say that again, I got distracted." but she didn't hear the answer for a second time as she followed Jake Grisanti with her eyes, watching him return to his wife's side.

"I'm gonna go wash up okay?" he told her quickly then disappeared into the men's restroom.

He turned on the faucet and washed his face with the cold water. The lights began to flicker and when Jake Grisanti looked up Shane was standing behind him.

"What do you want?" Jake snapped irately.

Shane cocked his head to the side as a ghostly hand protruded out of his chest and the Source stepped out of his body. Shane's now unconscious form hit the cold tile floor.

Jake backed away in fear as the Source advanced on him, "Oh God!"

The Source remained silent as he entered him and took over.

Jake stood up straight and looked in the mirror, his eyes turning black before he left.

"Hey, before you go." Paige called down the phone as she twisted the cord between her fingertips, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Do you guys still go to that church that Mom and Dad used to go too?" she asked hopefully.

"Yeah we still go."

"Is there still a nun called Sister Angus there?"

"Isn't she the one who found you?"

Paige bit her lip at that observation then inhaled deep through her nose, "Yeah, right, the one that found me."

"Have you spoken to her?"

"No, no, I haven't spoken to her, but something's come up. I think I should." Paige replied cryptically, watching as her boss shook hands with Jake Grisanti.

"Uh….Uncle Dave I've gotta go. I'll call you back okay?"

"Okay, I love you, Paige."

"Yeah, I love you too." She replied then hung up the phone and made her way over to them, "Mr. Cowan?" She called sharply.

"Hey, look Paige I got this, okay?" he replied in a hushed tone.

"No but you can't let that little boy go home with that jerk." She insisted sternly.

"Paige, number one: you don't know for a fact he's abusing the boy." Mr. Cowan pointed out firmly, "And number two: this is none of your business. You are an assistant not a social worker."

"That's because you're too cheap to make me one!" Paige threw in his face out of frustration.

Mr. Cowan held up his hands before retreating into the conference room, closing the door tightly behind him.

Paige glared then moved to look in the window only to find Jake Grisanti staring at her in amusement. Paige stared back and watched him smirk in satisfaction as Mr. Cowan pulled the blinds shut.

Paige turned and rested her head back against the glass, feeling that familiar powerless anger build within her. Sometimes her jobs was the worst in the world.

~PO4~

Halliwell Manor

"Hey Prue? Piper?" Phoebe called as she walked down the hall of the second floor, yellow pages in hand.

She quickly checked Piper's room to find it empty before moving to Prue's. She peaked in and found both her sisters; Piper was lying on her back on Prue's bed, eyes closed while Prue was sat at her vanity, back to the door.

"Hey." Phoebe called again closing the door softly behind her.

Piper's eyes snapped open and she pushed herself up at the sound of her voice. Prue spun in her chair to face them.

"I uh...think I found the church." Phoebe announced to them, gesturing with the book and beaming with pride.

Piper forced a smile, "Great."

"Piper." Prue reprimanded softly and Piper closed her eyes, head dropping.

"What the hell's your problem anyway?" Phoebe snapped with a scowl, her voice cold and angry as she glared at her older sister.

"Phoebe." Prue pleaded softly, pushing off of her vanity stool to approach them.

"No, Prue I wanna know!" Phoebe pushed turning back to Piper with demanding eyes.

Piper sat, open mouthed on the bed unable to answer the question, "I just…."

"Just what, Piper?"

"Phoebe." Prue tried again only to be completely ignored.

Piper blinked in surprise at the harshness in her little sisters voice, "Um….I don't know I—"

"You don't know?" Phoebe echoed incredulously, interrupting again, "How the hell can you 'not know'?"

"Phoebe that's enough!" Prue finally snapped her voice stern and full of authority.

Piper glared up at her younger sister, "You wanna know what my problem is, Phoebe? I'm angry! In fact no, I am pissed off!" she fumed pushing herself off of the bed to meet Phoebe eye-to-eye, "I'm pissed at Mom, at Grams, at Sam and yeah, I'm pissed at, Paige too!" Piper ranted then pushed both hands through her hair with a deep sigh, "Our whole lives have been a lie; full of secrets and deceit and god knows what the hell else! It's bad enough that we're not 'normal' because of this god forsaken family but to then find out that said family has lied to you your entire life is pretty shit don't ya think?" she all but yelled in Phoebe's face, her breathing quick and uneven as all of her suppressed anger broke free, "And now I'm really, really pissed at you!"

Phoebe flinched when Piper's finger jabbed at her shoulder, "Hey—ow! Well, I'm really, really pissed at you too!" she fired right back with blazing eyes, "And yes, Piper it does suck; the lying, the secrets and everything else but you cannot take that out on Paige! It's not her fault!" Phoebe reasoned but Piper was too angry and upset to really hear her, "She's innocent in all of this, just like we are and I am not gonna stand by and let either of you punish her for something that is not and will never be her fault!" by the time Phoebe was finished she was breathing heavily too and the two sisters', who never fought, were entertaining a staring match in the middle of their eldest sister's bedroom.

Prue stared at them, wide eyed and open mouthed completely stunned for a few seconds before she decided to do some damage control.

"ALRIGHT!" Prue yelled striding over too them, "I said enough!" she exclaimed pushing them away from one another and standing right in between, "You two are acting like children—no hush!" she cried placing one finger on Phoebe's lips to silence her, "I don't wanna hear it. I don't want to hear a single word leave either of your mouths unless it's an apology."

Piper and Phoebe huffed childishly at her words; the former folding her arms across her chest in defiance while the latter discarded the yellow pages on the bed with a muted growl.

"Now…." Prue started more calmly, "….I understand that everyone is a little emotional at the moment but taking our frustrations out on each other is not going to help matters in the slightest." She pointed out firmly sounding way too much like a mother reprimanding her two small children, "In fact it might just get one of us killed and nobody wants that." Prue challenged with arched brows.

When neither of her sisters' took the bait she smiled then pushed them both down onto the bed beside one another.

"Okay, Piper." Prue turned to her younger sister first, "I know you're having a hard time dealing with all of this but you're going to have to try a little harder." She said softly and when she saw Phoebe smirk she rounded on her with the best death glare Prue could muster on almost no sleep and she was greatly satisfied when the smirk instantly disappeared from Phoebe's face and her little sister looked down at her hands in shame.

"It hurts, I know, and you're angry, so am I, but Phoebe is right about, Paige." Prue pointed out gently, "She's just as much a victim in all of this as we are. She's young and she's confused and the poor girl must be terrified. She's been exposed to a world that she didn't even think existed a few days ago and on top of all that she finds out that she has this whole other family she wasn't a part of." Prue sighed then knelt down in front of Piper and took her hands, "Just for one second, can you try and imagine what it's like to be in her shoes right about now. Pretty overwhelming huh?"

Piper nodded a little and Prue smiled then kissed her hand before turning to Phoebe.

"Miss, Phoebe."

She immediately cringed at the tone used, "Uh-oh."

Prue nodded, "Uh-oh is right my dear. Even though I love how understanding you're being towards Paige's situation, how accepting and down right protective of her you are, you just….you've gotta try and understand our situation." She gestured between herself and Piper. "We're not as good at adapting as you are Pheebs, we never have been and this is really hard for us to digest."

Phoebe opened her mouth to protest but Prue silenced her once again with a hand in the air.

"I am not saying that you're not angry too, or hurt because I know you are, I can see it." She looked into Phoebe's eyes pointedly , "The only difference is that you're focusing more on the fact that you're now a big sister. You're not the 'baby' anymore and you're, you're clearly thrilled at that but to me…." Prue pointed to herself, "….it's just one more little sister to protect and worry endlessly about. It's also putting us, as the Charmed Ones, in a very vulnerable position."

Phoebe blinked at her in confusion, "Wait, what do you mean?"

"Well…." Prue sighed, glancing quickly to an equally concerned Piper, "….we're gonna have to train up a new witch from scratch. Teach her all the basics; potion making, spell casting, ritual performing. We'll need to try and catch her up on everything. Get her to where we are after three years and we'll have to do that in only a few months or we're all dead. You really think the Source of All Evil is gonna wait around for us while we train the rookie?"

Eyes wide and apologetic, Phoebe chewed nervously on her lip then admitted quietly, "I never thought of it that way."

"Well, we did." Piper sighed scooting closer to Phoebe and bumping her shoulder, "I'm sorry, Pheebs I'm just struggling here."

Phoebe held up a hand, "I know. Believe me I know….now." she added in with a wink then looped her left arm around her shoulders and hugged her sister tightly.

Piper chuckled softly, hugging her back then they both reached out and pulled Prue in too.

"Thank you." they whispered together.

Prue hummed, "It's alright just..." she pulled back and looked at them both seriously, "….don't make me play mediator again anytime soon okay?"

Piper smiled and Phoebe giggled.

"Okay."

Prue sighed in relief, "Good because that, that wasn't fun."

Piper pinned her with a knowing stare, "Mm-hm."

Prue and Phoebe smiled at her sweetly the former giving her hand a soft squeeze, "Sorry."

"We get the point, Piper." Phoebe assured her with a roll of her eyes, "And we're sorry."

Prue took both her sisters' hands in her own and looked at them dead on.

"Bottom line; no matter what we think or feel, this girl, Paige, she is our sister." Prue closed her eyes when she felt Piper tense at the word. She looked between them and smiled, "And sisters' protect each other." Prue reached up with one hand and tucked a stray hair behind Phoebe's ear while she cupped Piper's cheek with her right.

Piper closed her eyes and breathed deeply then cleared her throat and turned to Phoebe, "Okay so, um...where's this church?"

Phoebe grinned at her in response before pulling the yellow pages onto her lap.

~PO4~

South Bay Social Services

Paige paced back and forth outside of the conference room, nervously waiting to find out what decision Mr. Cowan had come too.

"What's happening?" Paige demanded as soon as he stepped out.

"Nothing's been decided." He told her calmly, "We're gonna meet again tomorrow."

Paige folded her arms across her chest and arched both brows incredulously, "Tomorrow?" she echoed in disbelief, "You can't let him go home with that kid."

"I can and I am." Mr. Cowan replied tersely, his patience wearing thin, "Look Paige, you weren't in there. He was very persuasive."

"Persuasive?! What about the police report?" Paige questioned in disgust, "What about the counsellor's recommendations?"

He sighed wearily, "Look Paige, I know how you feel about these cases. But we can't make a decision based on what you think." he tried to explain his reasons to her, "We have to base it on fact. Right now, we don't have enough yet. I'm sorry." And with that he walked away.

"You got a problem lady?" Jake Grisanti demanded, looming threateningly over her.

Paige looked up at him defiantly, replying with a strong, "Yeah I do. I got a problem with people who hit their kids."

"Come on, Jake." His wife pulled on his arm begging, "Let's just go?"

"Wait, wait." He dismissed firmly, shaking her off and turning back to Paige, "Listen, I can do whatever the hell I want…." He leaned in close and smirked, "….and there's nothing you can do to stop me." Then he walked away leaving an appalled and enraged Paige in his wake.

She shook her head in disgust then stomped off to her desk, snatched up her purse and headed for the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Mr. Cowan asked walking after her.

"Church." Paige threw over her shoulder while storming out.

Jake Grisanti entered the restroom once again to find Shane still unconscious body lying on the floor with an elderly man kneeling over him.

"Can you give me a hand?" the kind stranger asked, "I think he must have slipped."

Jake turned, his eyes going black and the old man erupted into flames leaving nothing but smoke behind. The same ghostly hand protruded out of Jake's chest as the Source stepped out of his body and back into Shane's.

~PO4~

Paige walked through the large oak doors of the Church that housed the answers to her past and strolled quietly down the aisle to the nun standing by the candles.

"Excuse me?" Paige called politely, "Are you Sister Agnes?"

The nun turned to her and smiled, "Yes. And who might you be?"

"I'm Paige. Paige Mathews." Paige replied with her own smile but the nun shook her head apologetically. She saw so many people each day.

"You might not remember me. I've probably changed a little since the last time you saw me." Paige offered with nervous laughter, "On August 2nd, 1977. Does that ring any bells?"

Sister Agnes' eyes grew wide in recognition and awe, "Oh, dear Lord." She gasped hand on her chest.

Paige smiled taking that reaction as realization.

The Sister took Paige into the Chambers of the Church then retrieved a large box from a locked cabinet.

"I was just about your age, when they came." Sister Agnes explained as she set it down on the table before them.

"They?" Paige questioned softly, her heart hammering inside her chest, "My mother and my father?"

Sister Agnes nodded briskly, "They came, in a swirl of bright white lights." She told her with misted eyes then smiled, "Just like….angels."

Paige smiled too but confusion laced her words as she queried, "White light? What do you mean?"

"Well, that's how they appeared, with you in their arms. I was stunned, I didn't know what to think." Sister Agnes took a deep breath, "They said you were in great danger." She retold, her voice taking on a hardened edge as she remembered the fear on those poor strangers faces, "That they had no other choice but to give you up, to protect you."

"Danger? What kind of danger?" Paige asked frowning in confusion as fear tingled at the base of her spine.

"Well they didn't say." Sister Agnes admitted honestly, "But I could tell from their pain that it must be very real. They asked me to find you a good home, a safe home, and to keep their secret….until you came looking."

"But how could they know?"

"Because you come from them, my dear." Sister Agnes answered seriously, "As wonderful and precious as your adoptive parents were to you…you still come from angels." She smiled widely then reached in and lifted something from the box, "They asked me to save this for you, for this day." She said softly handing the soft pink blanket embroidered with the letter 'P' to Paige.

"It's what they bundled you up in." she explained. "Your mother had only one request; that your name begin with a 'P'."

Just then the door opened and Phoebe appeared, grinning widely followed by Piper then Prue.

Sister Agnes turned at the sound of the door, "Yes may I help you?" she wondered sweetly but Piper threw up her hands and the nice nun froze.

"Hi!" Phoebe greeted brightly with a wave.

"Hey, what's up?" Piper asked as they walked towards her, "We need to get you outta here."

"What did you do to her?" Paige questioned looking Sister Agnes over in deep concern.

Prue followed her gaze, "Oh she just froze her." She explained with a shrug then added, "She'll be fine, don't worry."

"Yeah lucky I didn't blow her up." Piper felt the need to add, "My power's kinda new so I don't have full control ye—ow!" she yelped as both Phoebe and Prue smacked her from each side. "What?"

Phoebe turned to Paige and smiled much too widely, "Just ignore her she's…." but forgot what she was saying when she saw the blanket in Paige's hands, "Guys?" she pointed to it with widened eyes, "Look."

"Is that our blanket?" Prue asked with a frown as Piper eagerly reached for it.

Paige snatched it away with a snarled, "No! It's mine! Leave me alone." She demanded as she pushed roughly past them.

"All right, jeez!" Piper rolled her eyes as they let her pass.

But Phoebe frowned in concern, "Paige." she called running out after her.

Prue turned on Piper with a glare, "You are not helping." she seethed then grabbed her wrist and pulled her out the door after their sisters'.

"Paige." Phoebe called again as the girl walked briskly up the aisle but she refused to stop, "Paige!"

"PAIGE!" Prue yelled getting irritated and tired of running after her.

Paige stopped briefly before shaking her head and walking on.

Prue scowled, "Oooh!" and narrowed her eyes at Paige's retreating form.

"Stop or I'll freeze." Piper threatened, hands in the air and ready to go.

Sliding up close, Phoebe whispered, "She's a witch, you can't freeze her."

"She doesn't know that." Piper shot back and Prue smirked.

Paige halted immediately and begged, "Will you please just leave me alone?!" as she turned around slowly.

Prue shook her head disobediently, "Nope. Not gonna happen, unless you want to die?" she asked with sceptically arched brows.

Paige's eyes grew wide and she spun on her heel heading for the door once again.

Piper whacked Prue, "Now you're not helping."

Prue winced then glared, "Ouch but you're right, I'm sorry. Paige please wait!" she called pleadingly and the girl's hurried footsteps slowed.

"Look, we know what you're going through." Phoebe took over as she hurried towards a now stationary Paige.

Piper and Prue followed behind her.

"We went through the same thing when we first found out we were witches too."

Piper sighed irately, not waiting for a response, "Look, you just gotta trust us. Someone very, very bad is after you."

Paige whirled around at that remark, "Trust you!?" she repeated incredulously, "You just froze a nun."

Piper frowned and Prue turned to her slightly, "That's true." she said with a scratch of her head, "She's right, you did just do that."

Piper glared at the air.

"How do I know you're not the bad ones?" Paige questioned further.

Piper scoffed indignantly, "Well, if we are then you are….sister." she got out just to make her point.

Phoebe turned to her sharply and cried, "Piper!" in exasperation but her sister merely shrugged.

"What?"

Prue elbowed her sharply then took a step forwards, hands in the air, "I know you don't really believe that, Paige." she declared softly and the youngest's stormy, accusatory expression wavered.

Prue took another step closer and Phoebe held her breath while Piper internally cringed; both of them waiting for the girl to flee again but instead, Paige bit down on her lip and looked down.

Prue smiled softly at the response, "Didn't think so." then took another step closer, "Please listen to us?"

Paige swallowed hard at the pleading request, slowly raising her guarded eyes to meet Prue's.

"We saved your life once before didn't we?" the eldest hesitantly pointed out, not looking to scare the youngest even more but desperate to make her point.

Paige blinked, eyes filling with fright at the memories before jerkily nodding her head, "Twice, actually." she corrected gently and with the lightest shrug.

Prue smiled once again, stepping even closer now so there were only inches between them, "Well, this makes a third." she revealed tightly, "You're still in danger, Paige and we..." Prue lifted her shoulders helplessly then brought both hands to her chest, "...we're just trying to protect you."

Old fear became new in the youngest's dark eyes and she gulped, taking an unconscious step closer to Prue, "F-From who?"

"Someone very, very bad." Piper responded instead, cryptic but serious and Paige's eyes immediately narrowed into a scowl.

"Who?" she demanded this time and her three sisters' shared hesitant glances.

"The Source." Prue revealed honestly, not willing to risk what little trust she'd built with the girl just to protect her from a scary truth.

Paige flinched at the name, knowing in her heart that this person, whoever he was, was incredibly dangerous, "Oh."

Phoebe looked Paige over quickly, internally panicking at the fear she felt from her little sister so with a cautious step forwards revealed, "You have a magical power you know." just to lighten the mood.

Paige looked up at her with wide eyes while Prue turned with a smirk.

Phoebe smirked back as she came to a stop beside Prue and in front of Paige.

"At least, if you're really a Charmed One you do." she added as she leaned comfortably against the stone wall.

"And the sooner you learn it, the sooner you'll be able to protect yourself." Prue chimed in, hands on her hips and lips pursed.

Paige's eyes snapped to her, "I have a power?"

Phoebe nodded with a large smile, "But because the prophecy only mentions three sisters' we have no idea what your power might be."

Exhaling deeply, Piper closed her eyes as relief washed over her at Paige's interest; she couldn't bare the fear in her heart any longer. Her sisters' were right, no matter her feelings about the situation they needed this girl in order to survive, just like she needed them. They were family and they were in this together so without further hesitance on her part, Piper walked towards her three sisters', stopping in between them then smiled encouragingly at Paige.

"It's pretty safe to assume it'll most likely be an extension of one of ours though." Prue mused with a small shrug, subtly sliding her hand down Piper's arm to take her sister's hand. Piper's only response was to link their fingers together and hold on tightly.

Inhaling deeply, Paige squared her shoulders and nodded her head, "So….what do I do?" she asked looking to each sister in turn.

"You try and use our powers." Phoebe stated like it was obvious, "Try mine first." She decided excitedly then held out her hands for Paige to take, "I have the power of premonition so—"

"Wait." Paige interrupted with a frown, "What's premonition?"

Phoebe smiled, "I can see the future. Now take my hands and uh….try and see what I'll be wearing tonight at P3." She suggested with a shrug.

Prue and Piper bit back their laughter.

Paige stared at her hands like they were diseased before reluctantly taking them in her own and closing her eyes. After a whole minute passed and nothing happened Paige opened her eyes and raised an eyebrow at Phoebe.

"Okay, mine next." Piper said quickly, releasing Prue's hand and stepping forward.

Paige turned to her expectantly.

"I freeze stuff, as you already know so…." Piper pointed at one of the candles on their far left, "...when that candle falls, throw your hands up and try to freeze it okay?" she asked tightly then nodded, "Good." without waiting for a reply.

Paige turned to the candle and Piper looked at Prue who, with a small smirk and one simple thought, sent the candle flying at them.

"Ah!" Paige cried in surprise throwing her hands up as she did so but nothing happened and the candle hit the floor.

"Alrighty then." Prue breathed out, eyebrows raised and concluded, "I guess it's mine huh?" with a soft frown, "Okay!" Prue clapped her hands together and smiled warmly at Paige who forced one back, looking supremely uncomfortable.

"Hey, you're doing great." Prue quietly encouraged, reaching out to give the nervous girl's arm a comforting squeeze.

Paige looked down sharply at her touch but didn't pull away, instead she smiled gratefully back then focused entirely on Prue, "What do I do?"

"You focus all your energy on one of those candles and then you wave your hand at it and well, move it." Prue replied simply, "Like this." She waved her hand and the candle shot across the room.

Paige jumped in surprise then turned to the last candle, concentrated hard and waved her hand at it, "Nothing!" she declared when the candle stayed put.

The three Halliwell sisters' frowned at each other.

"That don't make no sense." Phoebe stated with a shake of her head.

Prue turned back to Paige, "Try again." She instructed with a smile, "I uh...used to squint my eyes, try that."

Paige did so with no luck then huffed, "What's the use?" She asked sounding defeated, "I'm never gonna be able to make that candle—" when Paige held out her hand bright blue and white lights engulfed said candle until it disappeared only for it to re-appear in her hand a second later.

The three eldest sisters' blinked.

"So…." Phoebe reached out and took the candle from Paige's hand, who was in too much shock to move, "….perhaps the whitelighter in her makes it work differently?" she suggested then blew out the flame.

"Half-breed." Piper muttered to herself, earning an elbow in the side from Prue, "Ouch."

Shane flamed in outside the Church and began walking to the entrance, "She better be here Oracle. I'm running out of time."

"She is. Don't worry." The Oracle's echoing voice replied although she was nowhere to be seen.

As Shane approached the doors the gargoyles above it came alive and started screeching.

Shane shuddered and fell to the ground in pain, "NO!" he cried.

"What is that?" Paige asked in reference to the sound.

"I don't know." Phoebe replied looking to her sisters'.

Prue's eyes widened in sudden realisation, "Gargoyles."

Paige frowned in confusion, "Wait, what?"

Before anyone could respond the doors swung open to reveal Shane sprawled out on the stone steps.

"Paige." He reached out a hand to her, expression full of pain.

Paige turned at the sound of his voice then ran towards him, "Shane?!"

Prue, Piper and Phoebe traded suspicious looks with one another.

"What's the matter?" Paige asked in concern, "My god, what happened?"

"I don't know, something's after me." He replied as she helped him to his feet.

"Shit." Prue muttered suddenly then sprinted away from her sisters', "Paige no!"

Piper's brow furrowed in confusion as she followed, "Prue what is it?"

"Come on, let's get out of here." Paige decided firmly, pulling him away.

"I don't think that's, Shane." Prue responded tightly before turning back to their sister, "Paige come back!"

But the youngest ignored her, pulling Shane further down the steps.

When the sisters' reached the large wooden doors he turned back, eyes glowing red which shot out a powerful red force that collided with the sisters' sending them flying backwards and down the aisle, screaming all the way.

"What the hell was that?!" Piper questioned when they finally stopped.

"Good question." came the voice of an angered Sister Agnes.

Prue, Piper and Phoebe jumped round to face her and grimaced.

~PO4~

Halliwell Manor

"So the Source was there, at the church?" Leo asked as he and Cole paced the floor in front of the three Halliwells'.

"Well, the gargoyles weren't exactly whistlin' 'Dixie', Leo." Phoebe replied with the smallest smirk at her own words.

"Plus, something pretty powerful knocked us on our asses!" Piper added looking less than pleased.

"Yes, in the form of a lovely demon boyfriend." Prue chimed in looking pointedly at Cole who raised his eyebrows at her.

Phoebe sighed, "Are you gonna pick on all of our boyfriends like this?"

Prue kept her eyes on Cole as she answered, "No, just the dangerous ones."

"Moving on." Piper cut in, silencing both her sisters' before a fight ensued.

"If he was there. "Cole spoke up getting them back on topic but his eyes held Prue's with a glare, "Why didn't he try to kill Paige?"

"Maybe he didn't wanna go up against the Charmed Ones." Phoebe suggested with a hopeful smile.

Prue glanced at her sister with a sad sigh, "If only, Pheebs. If only."

"It doesn't make sense." Cole continued, shooting Prue a sideways glance. "He knows that Paige is new to her powers if ever there was a time to attack…."

"Wait a minute." Leo spoke up looking thoughtful.

Cole and the girls turned to him.

"What if he's not trying to kill her anymore?" the whitelighter mused to the demon, "What if he's trying to lure her to his side?"

Piper frowned looking panicked while Phoebe just looked confused.

Prue shook her head, "This does not sound good."

Phoebe turned to Cole and requested, "Translation please?"

"The mythological window." He answered only confusing Phoebe further, panicking Piper more and making Prue squirm uneasily.

"There's a window of opportunity." Leo explained quickly, "An opening."

"Forty eight hours."

Piper, Phoebe and Prue sat there, eyes flicking from one man to the other looking completely baffled.

"Right, forty eight hours where a nascent witch who hasn't chosen to use her power for good or evil yet can be swayed either way." Leo continued taking a seat across from them.

"Wait." Phoebe interrupted, "So all he has to do is cast a spell on her?" she asked and Piper's panic grew while Prue shook her head 'no'.

"No." Cole answered firmly, "He can't. It has to be her choice but….he can tempt her, entice her. If he gets her to use her powers for evil…."

"She becomes evil forever." Leo concluded when Cole looked to him.

The three sisters' sat there in silence for a long moment, processing the information.

"Great!" Prue suddenly exclaimed throwing her hands in the air then sighed heavily, "That's just great. Paige is in more danger than we thought."

Piper narrowed her eyes at the men in front of her, "Who makes up these cockamamie rules?" she demanded arms folded across her chest.

Leo gestured to the heavens while Cole looked to the floor.

"Oh, never mind!" Piper cried, shaking her head at them then looking to Prue with a scowl.

"Okay, so we have less then twenty four hours to get to Paige and no idea how to find her." Phoebe concluded sounding defeated already.

"But I bet the Source does." Piper quietly mused as she stared off into space.

Everyone turned to her looking miserable.

Prue sighed running her hands through her hair and sinking down in her chair, "We are so screwed."

~PO4~

"Here." Shane said softly as he handed Paige a glass of water.

"Thanks." she quietly replied, "I'm so sorry to involve you in all of this."

"All of what?" Shane asked curiously and Paige sighed placing her drink on the coffee table, "Paige…" he pressed gently, "….what's going on?"

Paige shook her head helplessly, "I don't know." She admitted playing with her hands, "I'm so confused. I don't know what to do."

"Hey." Shane silenced her, reaching up to brush the hair from her face, "You don't have to know. You're safe here….with me."

Paige smiled and leaned in for a kiss.

"I'll take care of you." Shane's voiced echoed as their lips met.

~PO4~

Halliwell Manor

"What are we even looking for?" Piper questioned as she, Prue and Phoebe stormed into the attic, making a beeline for the Book of Shadows Leo and Cole on their tails.

"Anything that'll help us find Paige." Prue answered, stopping at the book.

Phoebe smiled at Piper, "There's gotta be something in there to help." she explained with a shrug then turned to Prue only to frown at the look on her face, "You okay?"

She looked up with sad eyes and a heavy heart, "Sure." Prue responded quietly despite her eyes telling them another story.

Inhaling deeply she stroked the cover of their beloved book softly.

Phoebe tilted her head and looked down, her own eyes growing sad too, "Oh."

Prue smiled tightly but kept her eyes on the broken circles, fingers tracing them lightly.

Chewing on her lower lip, Piper stepped up on Prue's other side, "Yeah..." she breathed out slowly, "...that's never going to be easy to see."

Shaking her head and pouting sorrowfully, Phoebe rested her head on Prue's left shoulder and sighed heavily.

"No." Prue quietly agreed, "Not it's not."

Piper leaned into her big sister's side and sighed too then glanced over at her husband, "How do we fix it?"

"You can't." He answered bluntly with eyes apologetic, "Only Paige can, by accepting her new destiny as a witch, embracing it."

"That doesn't seem very likely right now." Cole observed with a negative shrug and Phoebe lifted her head to glare.

"Cole."

He quickly raised his hands in apology and she smiled.

Pursing her lips, Piper nudged her sister with a grimace, "He's kinda right though."

Phoebe gasped in muted outrage, "Piper!"

She folded her arms across her chest again with widened eyes, "Whaaat, it's true!" Piper insisted stubbornly, "She's not exactly rushing to join the family."

Face falling, Phoebe frowned deeply and slammed both hands onto her hips, "She just...she, she needs some time."

"Well, time, is exactly what we do not have, Phoebe." Piper retorted stiffly, tone pointed and eyes knowing.

"You're both right." Prue piped up finally, glancing pointedly at both her sisters' and they obediently shut up, "But neither fact is what's most important right now." she explained slowly, concerned eyes moving to Leo's who took a step closer in response.

"Not it's not." He agreed solemnly and the two youngest turned to him expectantly, "Until Paige willing takes her place in the new Power of Four then it will not exist, which means…."

"You're not the Charmed Ones anymore." Cole finished for him when the whitelighter hesitated. He met Phoebe's startled gaze from across the room then walked over to the window to gaze out onto the street.

The sisters' stayed silent for several minutes, all feeling much too lost to speak a word.

"Alrighty then…." Piper began, finally finding her voice although it was a little scratchy, "….we better get to it."

A half hour later and they had found nothing.

"This is useless!" Phoebe cried in defeat, slamming the book shut. She turned to her sisters' winking repeatedly.

Prue and Piper frowned and exchanged worried looks concerning the sanity of their younger sister.

"We're never gonna find Paige without a little help." Phoebe announced loudly then looked to the heavens.

The pages of the Book of Shadows started turning furiously of their own accord as the three sisters' watched on.

As soon as they stopped, Phoebe turned to her sisters' and smirked, "Works every time." She mused then looked at the opened page, "Okay, an enchantment spell. Wait, how is this going to help us find her?"

"Well…." Piper began reading the spell over, "….maybe it's not to find Paige. Maybe it's to ID the Source." She suggested with a tilt of her head, "See the last line? It's 'so she can reveal the evil within.'"

"But that'll only help if we can find him." Phoebe countered rubbing the back of her neck.

"Maybe we can." Prue joined in with pursed lips, her thoughtful eyes sought out Cole across the room, "Or at least, maybe you can."

Phoebe looked puzzled once again, "What does she mean?" she asked whiny and tired, stomping her foot in frustration.

"Demons can sense the Source's aura." Cole calmly explained as he walked towards them, "It's how he reminds us of his power, his reach."

"Kinda like a magical low jack." Prue added with a smirk.

Cole turned to her and shot her a forced smile, which she returned with her own.

"Maybe if I focused on it…." He offered.

"Then he'll know you're doing it and he'll find you." Phoebe pointed out, her heart beating faster in her chest.

"Not if I was careful." Cole assured her but she vigorously shook her head.

Prue turned to her expectantly while Piper stared straight ahead.

"Come on, Phoebe." Prue urged tightly, expecting the fight but still frustrated by it, "He's a big boy."

"It's your only chance at saving your sister." Cole stated firmly then turned back to the window.

Phoebe inhaled slowly before nodding her consent, "Fine. But how the hell do you even know about that?" she snapped irately at her eldest sister.

Prue blinked at the tone, eyebrows rising but said nothing of it, instead merely giving her shoulders a small shrug, "I studied the book, remember."

"That information isn't in there." Cole refuted from his spot at the window and Prue's eyes cut to his back.

Piper and Phoebe looked at her curiously.

"And how do you know that, Cole?" Prue shot right back at him, voice tight and eyes defensive.

He spun around to face her with narrowed orbs, "Because not every demon even knows what it is. They can feel him, yes, but they know not what it means." Cole stalked back over to them slowly, "So tell me, Prue, how is it that you do?"

She clenched her jaw at his tone and stood straight, meeting his suspicious eye stoically, "A demon told me."

Cole's eyes narrowed further at that response, "Why?"

Pursing her lips, Prue cocked a hip and smirked, "I tortured it out of him."

Piper and Phoebe both startled at that admission.

"I'm sorry you what?!" Phoebe uttered incredulously.

"When?!" Piper asked instead, brow now furrowed.

Prue shrugged in response, "Last year." but kept her eyes on Cole, "Can we move on?"

"Oh-kay…." Piper breathed out, glancing at Phoebe who widened her eyes then looked around, "….so we uh, we need something to enchant."

"Right." Phoebe agreed, swallowing hard as she turned in a circle and spotted a pair of plastic sunglasses on a nearby shelf. "How about these." She suggested with a grin.

"Oh, Phoebe." Piper muttered, frowning in disgust.

"What? They're perfect." Phoebe insisted.

"All right." Piper relented with a sigh.

Prue, tearing her eyes away from Cole's, merely shook her head and grimaced saying, "I am not wearing those."

"Fine." Phoebe replied with a roll of her eyes then nodded at the book, "Chant."

"Magic forces, far and wide,

Enchant these so those can't hide.

Allow this witch to use their ends,

So she can reveal the evil within."

The shades glowed white in their hands at the end of the spell.

Piper looked at her sisters', "They glowed."

"Yes, Piper we saw." Prue replied tucking her hair behind her ears.

Piper looked at her with questioning eyes, "Well, does that mean it worked?"

Prue shrugged casually, "Don't know. Put 'em on Pheebs." She instructed with a smirk.

Phoebe beamed, "Gladly," she replied primly then slipped them over her eyes and looked at Leo.

"Well?"

"Nothing." Phoebe shook her head and shrugged, "You look the same."

"How about me?" Cole asked her with a knowing grin.

Phoebe turned to him and yelped in surprise, jumping back.

"What?" Cole questioned coming towards her, "What do I look like?"

Phoebe looked him over again, not seeing Cole but Balthazor through the lenses, "You look like hell." She informed him then pulled them off with a smile, "Enchanting."

Piper snorted and Prue giggled softly.

"Thanks for the magical assist, Grams." Phoebe smiled up at the ceiling above her.

Lifting her brows, Piper glanced between her sisters' expectantly, "What, do we do now?"

"U-um..." Phoebe's cheery disposition faltered and she looked at Prue.

The eldest rolled her eyes at them and snatched away the glasses, "We go to bed." she announced firmly, dropping them onto the podium with a sigh, "It's late, there's nothing more for us to do tonight."

Closing the book, Prue took both her sisters' hands in hers and started dragging them towards the attic door, "Lots of demon hunting and sister saving in store for us tomorrow."

Prue tossed and turned in her bed, chest heaving and sweat covering her body.

Flashes, that was all she could see; pictures, frozen moments in time. Memories of one man; from the day they met as just little kids to their first kiss, first date, first dance, first time and everything that came after right up until the day he died.

"Prue." His voice whispered again as she slept, "Prue." He was calling to her, trying to tell her….something, "Prue."

Prue shot up in her bed, gasping for breath and trembling all over, "Andy." She whispered into the darkness.

Prue looked around searchingly, "I, I know you're here." she informed the blackness that surrounded her, "I can feel you, hear you. I know it's you, Andy. I know you." she whispered sadly.

Prue drew in a deep and shaky breath, "You saved me. That day with Shax, how did you do it?" she asked but received no reply, "Please answer me?" she begged, eyes darting from corner to corner.

"If you aren't going to say anything then just….then just go away. Leave me alone please?" Prue pleaded with him, her voice and heart breaking, "You're gone and I need to accept that but I can't do it if you won't let me." She pointed out, desperate eyes still searching.

Then that wind hit her, stealing her breath and encircling her tightly.

"Andy." She breathed closing her eyes and feeling him all the way through but she couldn't give in, not now, she had to be strong. She had to let him go.

"Please?" Prue gasped out and then he was gone, gone for good and she was once again….alone.

~PO4~

Paige stepped out of the shower the next morning, wrapping a towel tightly around her body and stopped in front of the mirror.

"You know who you are now, Paige." Shane's voice floated through the room, "This is where your destiny lies." And his voice slowly warped into the Source's the more he spoke.

"It lies not with your sister witches."

Shane appeared directly behind her, "It's for no-one but you. This is what you've been searching for your whole life. This is why you have the power." He waved his hand in front of the mirror and Jake Grisanti appeared.

"You can't stop me." He taunted smugly.

"Use your power for your own desires, to seek your own revenge." Shane advised, "Use your power. Call for his heart. Call for his life." And then he disappeared again.

Paige raised her hand to the mirror and shattered the glass.

~PO4~

South Bay Social Services

Paige was sitting at her desk staring off into space, her eyes slightly glazed when she suddenly rose from her seat and followed a very pissed off Jake Grisanti and his wife out of the building and into the street.

Paige stopped a few feet behind him and held up her hand, "Heart." She called clearly and precisely.

Jake Grisanti groaned and gasped in pain clutching his chest as he fell to the ground squirming.

"Jake what is it?" his wife cried fearfully, "NO!"

Just then Prue's car pulled up inside the parking lot and she, Piper, Phoebe, Leo and Cole all jumped out; the enchanted sunglasses clutched tightly in Phoebe's hand.

"I don't see Paige anywhere." Phoebe observed as they all scanned the area around them.

"Are you sure this is the right place, Cole?" came Piper's uncertain voice.

He nodded once, "The Source is here. I can sense it."

"Wait there she is." Leo pointed across the street from them.

Phoebe stopped and slipped on her shades.

"What is she doing?" Piper asked turning to Prue who shrugged her shoulders.

"Why do you always ask me?" she questioned incredulously with a frown.

Piper shot her a 'duh' look, "Because you're the oldest!"

Phoebe chuckled at the answer but nodded her agreement, "Exact—oh! She's got a black aura around her." She informed them reaching her hands back to grab hold of both her sisters'.

"Uh-oh." Prue muttered a look of dread on her face.

"The Source?" Leo asked Cole as the two stared at Paige.

"No, it can't be." Cole answered looking confused, "If Phoebe saw my demonic self then she'd see his too."

Prue shook her head, "Enough chit chat." She scolded then strode in front of Phoebe and Piper, pulling them with her, "Come on."

"Jake! Jake what?..." Carol Grisanti asked her husband desperately.

"Paige?" Phoebe called as she came to a stop beside her younger sister, "Paige it's me, Phoebe. And Prue and Piper too. Remember us?"

"He's evil. He's hurting his child." Paige replied not taking her eyes off her victim or relenting in her pull for his heart.

Prue raised her eyebrows and looked between Paige and the man on the ground, "So you're what?" she asked hands moving to her hips, "Going to kill him? Because that would make you just as bad as him."

When Paige never even blinked in response Phoebe turned to her sisters' panicked.

"You're being seduced into doing this ya know."

"By that very, very, bad someone that we mentioned before." Piper added but got nothing.

"No! No Jake!" Carol cried growing more frantic as he husband writhed on the ground.

Prue glanced at the couple on the ground then reacted, "All right, you know what?" she exclaimed as she grabbed Paige's hands and pulled them downwards, weakening her hold on the dying man, "That's enough. Hi!" Prue smiled brightly at Paige trying to avert her attention but the youngest stared right through her, "Huh….well, your rude." she muttered the smile still plastered on her face.

"Leo, take her, go home." Piper ordered pushing Paige into his arms, "Go, go, go, go, go, go." and they orbed out immediately, successfully severing Paige's connection and releasing Jake Grisanti.

"Let's get out of here." Cole said as he guided the three sisters' away from the scene and back to the car.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Carol Grisanti asked her husband in concern, "Maybe you better lay back down."

Jake shook his head, one hand still clutching his chest, "I'm not covering for you anymore, Carol. You keep your hands off our son."

"You three go ahead." Cole instructed resting against the back door of the car, his head leaning in the window nearer to Phoebe, "I'm gonna stay behind, make sure the Source doesn't follow you." then he kissed Phoebe's lips as Prue started the car and they drove away.

Shane stormed out of the building looking around sharply for the death and destruction he had been expecting to find. He raised his head and a small smirk crossed his face as he turned and sped towards Cole.

Cole frowned, sensing someone behind him but before he turned around Shane flamed out. Cole shimmering out right after him.

Cole reappeared across the street and saw Shane standing with his back to him.

Knowing that this man was most likely the Source in disguise Cole approached him carefully. When they were mere inches apart Shane whirled around and stabbed Cole in the gut.

"Don't die too quickly traitor." Shane bellowed, his voice warped into the Source's once again as Cole fell to his knees, "I want your beloved witch to see your last breath….to feel the heartache of loss again." He then turned away from Cole and walked away.

"Oracle, find Paige, one last time."

~PO4~

Halliwell Manor

Prue, Piper and Phoebe walked briskly through the front door of their family home their eyes searching for one person.

"Leo where's—" Piper began to ask but was cut off by the knife that was thrown in their direction, "Oh my god!"

Leo turned to them in pointed frustration, "I'm having a hard time convincing her that she is not evil!" he exclaimed loudly looked back at a furious Paige.

"I see that." Piper replied tensely, Phoebe nodding her head from behind.

"Uh-huh." Prue also replied watching Paige warily.

"Lamp!" Paige called holding out her hand then swinging it in the direction of the sisters.

Piper screamed and ran out of its path and across to Leo.

Phoebe screamed too and Prue grabbed her arm, yanking her down and out of its path. The lamp hit the wall behind them instead and shattered, knocking over a vase in the process.

Prue and Phoebe popped back up again.

"Bright side?" Phoebe offered up cheerily, "At least she's getting the hang of her new power."

Prue rolled her eyes and groaned at the observation while Piper rounded on Paige looking severely pissed off.

"That was Mom's crystal!" Piper cried in anger then ran at her, rugby tackling the girl to the ground.

Prue and Phoebe ran over to assist their struggling sister restrain their….other struggling sister.

"Okay! Somebody?!" Piper cried out from beneath a still struggling Paige.

"Get off me!" Paige seethed as Phoebe went around back, grabbing Paige's arms while Prue got her legs.

"Okay, relax. Relax." Prue soothed but Paige kept on thrashing.

"All right now what?" Phoebe asked as she struggled to keep a firm hold on Paige.

Piper pushed herself to her feet before answering, "We just better hope there's some kind of Wiccan exorcism in the Book of Shadows cause…." she paused to observe a thrashing Paige, "….yeah." Piper muttered eyes wide as she turned and raced for the stairs only to freeze when the lights began to flicker and Shane appeared out of nowhere.

"Who are you?" Piper demanded stiffly, eyes wary and unsure.

Shane's eyes went black before he turned his head to the left and sent Piper flying up and through the top landing banister.

"Piper!" Leo called as she rolled down the stairs to the bottom landing.

"Hold her." Prue ordered him darkly, pushing Paige into his arms as she and Phoebe jumped to their feet and raced for their sister.

Shane shot a red glowing ball at them both which Prue sent right back at him with her telekinesis but he dodged it easily. Phoebe rose into the air and went soaring towards him but Shane flamed out and Phoebe crashed into the cabinet beneath the stairs instead.

"OH!" Prue raced towards Phoebe but Shane sent another red blast towards her, sending her flying backwards and crashing into the dinning table.

"Ow." Prue whimpered pressing her hand to the back of her head.

Piper hurried over to Prue and hauled her out of the splintered wood to her feet then together they went to Phoebe.

Piper threw out her hands, flicking her wrists at Shane who scattered into a million pieces before reforming again next to Paige.

Phoebe frantically pulled the shades from her coat pocket and put them on seeing the Source in his true form, "That's the, that's the..." She stuttered shoving them into Piper's hands as Prue stared unblinkingly at Shane. "Look, look, look, look, look!"

"I know who that is." Piper replied handing the shades behind her to Leo.

"Your powers are strong." Shane observed, "But will they be enough without the Power of Four?"

"Shane, what's going on?" Paige asked looking shell shocked and extremely confused by her current situation.

Shane walked towards her, his voice normal again, "It's okay honey. I'm here now."

Paige stepped back away from him and towards the sisters, "Stay away from me."

"She still has free will." Leo reminded him smugly, "You can't force her to choose."

Prue moved closer to Paige and ultimately shielded Piper and Phoebe with her body, not once taking her eyes off the Source.

"Oh, but she's already chosen." Shane countered with a smirk, "Haven't you?"

Paige stared back at him, entranced once again.

"Come with me." He urged softly, "You'll be safe forever, I promise."

"Don't listen to him, he's lying!" Piper spoke up, her voice stern and unwavering.

"They only want you for your power. You don't have to share it. It's yours." He reminded her then he morphed into Paige's boss, "You've already seen what you can do with it. You did what nobody else could do." Then he morphed into Carol Grisanti, "You nearly saved my son from his father, from all the pain and suffering he's put him through."

Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Leo watched on helplessly, powerless to stop the trickery.

Then Shane morphed into the little boy himself, "Please help me?" he begged desperate and scared, "Don't let him hurt me anymore."

And it was clear by now that Paige was falling for it.

"You're my only hope." The young boy told her, reaching out his hand for her to take which she did.

Shaking her head, Phoebe darted to her feet, "No!" she cried pushing past Prue and running towards Paige.

"Phoebe don't." Prue called reaching out for her sister.

The little boys eyes turned black and he threw up his hand raising Phoebe into the air, electrocuting her.

"PHOEBE!" Prue made to run to her but Piper grabbed her arms, holding her back.

Paige turned and watched Phoebe scream as she dangled in the air.

"HELP ME!"

"Paige do something!" Prue exclaimed locking eyes with the younger woman.

Paige stared back at Prue and Piper, then at Phoebe before she spun around and knocked the boy to the ground.

"Phoebe?" Piper called her name as they all ran to her.

Piper and Prue pulled her to her feet just as the clock struck midnight.

"You okay?" Prue asked and Phoebe nodded moving closer to her eldest sister.

"Okay." Prue whispered softly, holding her close, "You're okay."

The little boy morphed back into Shane who rose up to his feet snarling.

"I guess blood's a little thicker than evil." Piper mused with a smirk as Paige snapped out of her trance like state.

The Source existed Shane's body which slumped to the floor causing all four sisters' and Leo to take a step back, Prue moving once again to shield her family from him.

The Source snarled again, "It wasn't a complete loss." He informed them cryptically, "Thanks to, Balthazor."

"What did you do to him?" Phoebe demanded immediately, her heart stalling in her chest.

The Source stayed silent then flamed out but not before firing one more red blast at Paige which Prue quickly saved her from by throwing herself in front of it.

Prue gasped as it threw her backwards and up through the hole Piper had made in the banister, a thick piece of splintered wood slicing right through the centre of her stomach.

"PRUE!" Piper gasped out as she raced up the stairs with Phoebe, Leo and Paige and fell to her knees at her sister's side.

"Oh my god! Leo quick!" Phoebe cried as Prue gasped and choked on her own blood that was rapidly pooling in her mouth.

Leo slipped one arm around Prue's waist while the other rested at the base of her neck and he quickly, without warning, pulled her up and off of the shard.

Phoebe turned her head away at the sound and the strangled cry that escaped Prue's lips while Piper cringed, closing her eyes but kept Prue's hand clasped tightly in her own.

Leo rested Prue against him and began to heal her as Paige looked on in horror.

Prue gasped loudly when the healing glow from Leo's hands disappeared and she sucked in large gulps of air then choked on them, her whole body trembling.

"Are you okay?" Phoebe asked her voice shaking with fear for not only her big sister but her boyfriend too.

Prue nodded unable to speak yet as she gripped Leo's jacket in a clenched fist and held Piper's hand in a death grip.

"Go!" Leo ordered jerking his head in the direction of the door, "Go to the car, go back to Social Services and find Cole."

Phoebe and Piper both looked at Prue pointedly.

"I'll stay with her and we'll meet you there." He assured them.

Prue sucked in a breath and croaked out, "Cole….nee-needs you."

Phoebe nodded then she and Piper raced down the stairs and out the door.

Paige stayed frozen on the spot, staring at Prue with a mixture of gratitude, horror and disbelief for several minutes as she recovered.

Paige looked from Leo to Prue then back to Leo, "How'd you do that?" she asked utterly stunned.

"That's what whitelighter's do." He replied simply as he lifted Prue to her feet, "We heal good people." Leo smiled at his sister-in-law, looking her over in concern.

Prue smiled back then looked at the slightly stained shard of wood and placed both hands over the spot where it had previously been protruding through her body, "That was unpleasant." She muttered with a small chuckle.

"That….that should, should have been….me." Paige stuttered pointing to the wood splinter and then Prue's stomach.

Prue nodded as Leo steadied her on her feet, "Yes it should have been." She agreed slowly then smiled a little, "But it wasn't."

"You, you saved me." She whispered in disbelief.

Again Prue nodded leaning heavily against Leo, "I did."

Paige shook her head completely bewildered, "Why?"

Prue smiled and reached for Paige's hand, "Because Paige, you're my baby sister and sisters' protect each other." She repeated the words she had said to Piper and Phoebe the day before.

Paige smiled back, a warm feeling of love washing over her as she squeezed Prue's hand tightly.

Prue nodded slightly then glanced towards the door, "Let's go to our sisters then, hm?" she asked and Paige nodded.

Prue stumbled when she tried to walk only to be caught by Leo and Paige.

"Lean on me." Paige ordered and Prue did so as Leo orbed them all out.

~PO4~

South Bay Social Services

Piper's car came peeling into the car park of South Bay Social Services, tires screeching as she skidded to a stop.

Phoebe jumped out the car, her eyes darting about as she searched for the love of life, "I don't see him!" She cried in a panic, "Do you?"

Piper shook her head, "No I don—oh no." she sighed spotting Cole across the street.

Phoebe whirled round, "COLE!" she yelled running towards him and dropping to her knees beside him, "Oh no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no!" she cried pulling him into her arms.

Cole's body jerked up and down as he struggled for breath, the blood seeping from his wound staining his shirt.

"Oh god!" Phoebe sobbed looking up at Piper, pleading silently with her to do something.

Piper looked Cole over and knew that he was close to death, too close so she threw up her hands and froze him, "LEO!" she yelled just as her husband orbed in beside her, along with her….two sisters'.

"Did you find him?" Prue asked clutching Paige's arm tightly as Paige wrapped an arm around her sister's waist, holding her upright.

Piper turned her head to Cole and Phoebe looking grim.

Prue followed her gaze, "Oh no."

"Heal him." Piper instructed tightly, turning to her husband and grabbing his arm.

"You know that it's against the rules."

"Leo, screw the rules!" Phoebe snapped fighting back tears, "The Elders owe us."

Leo shook his head looking torn as he knelt down on the other side of Cole, "Even if I could, I could only heal his human half, and that….wouldn't be enough power to save him."

"Uh, no!" Phoebe whimpered resting her head against Cole's.

Paige watched on silently and her heart hurt to see Phoebe in so much pain then a thought occurred to her and she squeezed Prue's waist to get her attention.

"Aren't I half whitelighter?" She asked not too loud in case she was wrong and gave Phoebe false hope.

Prue nodded so she continued.4

"I mean, couldn't I use my half to, offset his half?" she asked looking between her two standing sisters'.

Prue flicked her gaze to Piper who shrugged, "Leo?" she asked.

Leo looked to Phoebe who had a few stray tears rolling down her cheeks and shrugged, "It's worth a try." He decided then reached behind him for Paige.

"Take my hand." Leo ordered her and she hesitantly let go of Prue, who in turn latched onto Piper instead as she slowly grew more stable on her own feet.

Paige knelt down next to Leo, her hand in his.

"Hold your other hand over his wound." Leo instructed calmly now as he focused on the task at hand and she did, the golden glow emanating from both their hands.

Prue and Piper leaned forwards to see of it was working while Phoebe held her breath praying to God that it did.

Cole's wound disappeared and he lurched forwards, gasping for breath.

"OH!" Phoebe yelped in surprise as he gripped her arm, "Oh, thank god." She sighed kissing his cheek repeatedly.

Paige looked at Leo as they both stood up, "That was good right?" she asked innocently.

Leo nodded as she went and stood next to Prue.

"That was very good." Piper assured her with a kind and grateful smile, "Let's just hope it wasn't all for nothing." she added looking at Leo who wrapped his arm around her waist as Prue did the same to Paige, smiling at her proudly.

"Well done." She whispered and Paige grinned.

"Are you okay?" Phoebe asked Cole her voice quivering with fear.

Cole nodded his head then kissed her forehead.

Phoebe sighed, closing her eyes briefly then looked up at Paige, "Thank you." she said sincerely, "Thank you."

~PO4~

P3 Nightclub

Prue, Piper, Phoebe, Leo and Cole were seated in the Halliwell sisters' own private booth in P3 later that evening, chatting amongst themselves when the waitress arrived with the mens' drinks.

"Here you go." she said brightly as she placed Cole's down in front of him.

"Thank you." Cole said politely.

She smiled at him and then moved to Leo.

"Thanks, Anna." He smiled before she walked away.

Leo took a swig of his beer then smiled at the sisters', "It feels good to be out again." He commented raising his beer in the air.

"Feels good to be anywhere again." Cole added with a wry smile.

"I will drink to that." Phoebe said raising her glass in the air along with the others and shooting Cole a pointed look.

Everyone clinked their glasses together smiling, all happy to be out and about and feeling a lot more relaxed than they had felt the past few days.

The three Halliwell sisters were looking as stunning as ever. Phoebe in a spaghetti strap dark pink chiffon dress that reached just above the knee with a low neckline. Piper was wearing her favourite dress as of late; a purple one shouldered silk knee length dress that Leo had spotted in a shop window one afternoon and had insisted on buying for her, which Piper had quickly agreed too. Prue was sporting a slinky black strapless cocktail dress that hugged her curves in all the right places.

"Don't ever scare me like that again." Phoebe looked Cole in the eyes, showing him just how terrifying the thought of losing him was.

Cole nodded, "Promise." He smiled then took a sip of his drink.

"You okay?" Leo asked his beautiful wife when he caught her staring aimlessly at nothing while playing with her hands.

Piper looked up at him and smiled slightly, "I'm not sure. I'm still a little overwhelmed I guess." She explained while scooting closer to him adding, "Can't imagine how Paige must be feeling." She sounded genuinely concerned for the girl.

Leo nodded taking her hand in his, "I understand."

Phoebe smirked at her older sister, "See? She's really not that bad is she?" she asked tilting her head to the side, her smirk growing.

Piper rolled her eyes, "No." she answered after a long pause, "No, I guess she's not."

Phoebe grinned happily, "Told ya!" she chirped and Prue laughed, gently nudging Piper with her elbow.

Phoebe chuckled then knocked Prue's shoulder with her own musing, "We all know how you feel about her miss hero."

Prue raised her eyebrows as she sipped her cocktail.

Piper gave her a pointed look and Prue widened her eyes innocently, "What?" she asked looking around, "I never claimed not to care and besides….." Prue defended herself with a nod, "….it's like I said to you two; sisters' protect each other." She reminded them determinedly, "I merely protected my baby sister from a nasty demon."

"Thee nasty demon." Phoebe corrected tensely, the slightest trace of fear in her eyes.

Piper kept her concerned gaze on Prue, "But are you okay?" she asked looking her sister over intently, "That looked…."

"Sickeningly painful." Phoebe supplied with a grimace, "And really, really gross." She added, screwing her face up in disgust.

"Yeah, but I'm okay." Prue assured with a genuine and believable smile, "Kinda exhausted though, like everyone I guess."

Piper and Phoebe nodded then Phoebe snuck a quick questioning look in Piper's direction. Piper caught Phoebe's eye and shook her head sharply but Phoebe just squinted at her before addressing Prue.

"Hey." She said softly getting her eldest sisters attention again, "Can I ask you something?"

Prue narrowed her eyes in suspicion, "I suppose…." She replied slowly then added, "….but I've got a feeling I'm not gonna like it."

Phoebe gave her a kind smile, "I've been wondering….but so much has been going on that I didn't ask before now, about that day with Shax?" she started slowly and waited for a nod from Prue before continuing, "When you well, came back to life did you, by any chance, happen to call out for...Andy?" she asked timidly knowing how it upset Prue to talk about him, which is why she never did.

Prue's breath hitched in her throat at the mention of his name and her heart instantly began to race. She put her glass down and sat up a little straighter, answering stiffly, "Uh….yes actually, I did."

Phoebe smiled sadly at her and nodded in response, "I thought so."

Piper merely hugged her sister close, resting their heads together.

"Aw sweetie." Phoebe cried moving next to Prue and wrapping her arms around her at the sight of building tears, "I didn't mean to upset you." she stated but Prue remained silent, resting her head on Phoebe's shoulder.

"I'm just glad he did what he did." Piper softly stated, placing a kiss to her sister's hand, "I don't think I'd survive losing you."

Prue smiled sadly at the thought, "Yes, you would." she refuted gently, "You wouldn't have a choice."

Phoebe rested her chin on top of Prue's head and closed her eyes, feeling unbelievable sadness for her sister not only because Prue had lost her true love but because Phoebe herself felt as though she had lost a brother. Add to that the trauma of nearly losing her own love only hours ago and Phoebe was a mess of emotions.

Piper squeezed Prue's hand gently feeling the same as Phoebe and her heart aching for Prue as she herself could not imagine living her life without Leo by her side every day. It was too awful and lonely a thought.

"I'll be okay." Prue promised them softly, "It all feels kind of...raw again. I just need some time."

"Hey." greeted a timid Paige as she hesitantly approached their booth.

She looked at the three sisters' sat huddled together and added quickly, "If I'm interrupting…." She gestured behind her but Phoebe shook her head.

"No, Paige." Piper answered quickly but kept her eyes on Prue.

Phoebe beamed at her, "Don't you go anywhere missy." She ordered playfully and Paige smiled.

Prue turned her head towards Piper and dabbed her eyes with the tissue Piper handed to her before plastering on a smile and facing Paige. "Yeah, stay." She agreed cheerily but the newest Halliwell was a lot more perceptive than any of them thought.

Paige shook her head adamantly, "Are you okay?" she asked her voice quieter than usual.

Prue opened her mouth to reply but Paige cut in.

"And don't say you're 'fine' because I can tell you're not."

That statement caused all three sisters to smile at her and give her the same look before trading glances with one another.

Paige eyed them nervously, "What?" she asked with a hint of dread.

Prue and Piper merely smiled wider and looked to Phoebe who beamed with excitement as she said, "You sound like a sister."

The four women stared at each other in silence for several moments before Leo rose from his seat, sensing Paige's growing discomfort.

"Why don't you take a seat while Cole and I…." he pointed in a random direction.

"Uh…." Cole also, "….pretend like we've got something better to do." He offered with a shrug.

Piper nodded once, "Good idea."

Paige, however, looked unsure, "No I, I really don't wanna intrude."

"Nonsense!" Phoebe exclaimed with a dismissive wave of her hand then scooted nearer to Prue, "Come sit right here." She patted the space beside her becomingly.

Paige smiled but stayed still.

Leo placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and said, "You belong here, Paige. Remember?" he gave her a smile that seemed to ease her concerns although Paige could not explain why and she moved forwards, easing herself into the spot beside Phoebe as Leo and Cole slipped into the crowd, all four women watching them go.

Once they were gone Paige turned her attention to her new sisters as they re-angled their bodies to face her.

"I won't stay long." She promised weakly, "I just wanted to come by and thank you."

"For what?" Phoebe asked not understanding the need.

"For what?" Paige echoed incredulously, "You mean, aside from saving my life?" she laughed nervously, "I feel like I should bake you a cake or something."

"Do you cook?" Piper questioned perking up a little at the thought.

Paige grimaced and looked away, "No. No, not really." She admitted slightly embarrassed.

Piper nodded also turning away and Paige began to look uncomfortable again.

"Not really is better than not at all." Prue muttered loud enough for all to hear in an attempt to ease the tense atmosphere, which worked for a second before silence fell again for several uncomfortable minutes.

"So how's Shane?" Phoebe asked to make conversation while nervously playing with her earring.

Paige nodded a little, "He's okay, I guess. Except for, I'm not too sure he wants to see me anymore."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Phoebe sympathized knowing how hard dating could be especially with their added baggage.

"No, I can't say I blame him, you know." Paige brushed it off a little, "He doesn't know exactly what happened to him but he knows it's something bad and he knows it's somehow connected to me." She laughed bitterly then looked down at her hands.

"Yeah well, you're not truly one of us until you've dated a demon so, welcome to the club." Piper informed her with a smile.

Phoebe and Paige laughed while Prue glared, "Or married one." She added with a scowl and Paige looked to her in shock.

"Excuse me?!"

Prue waved her hand dismissively, "Another story, another time." She muttered and Piper laughed more.

Phoebe observed Paige for several seconds then said, "Can I ask you a question?" and Paige nodded.

"All about the questions tonight ain't ya." Prue interrupted primly before Phoebe could speak.

Piper chuckled and Phoebe glared at Prue, "Oh shush." Then turned her attention to Paige again, "After this….revelation, I was just wondering if there was a reason you came to this club so much?" she asked watching Paige closely, "I've seen you here before, a lot."

Paige smiled, "I uh….well to be honest I actually thought, for a while, after I started looking for my birth mother, that I may have been….related to you guys so, I guess I came here to feel closer to you? I always, somehow felt connected to this place." she explained looking slightly embarrassed now as she said it all aloud, "I used to think I was crazy but I guess not." Paige chuckled then gave a one shouldered shrug, "I think it was just part of me, trying to find out who I was."

Phoebe narrowed her eyes at those words and twisted her head round to see her sisters'. Piper looked away then back, chewing on her bottom lip before they both looked to Prue who pursed her lips together tightly in thought.

"I think there's something we need to show you." Prue decided slowly before rising to her feet.

Paige followed her up with her eyes, "Show me what?" she asked with a smile.

"What good magic can do." Phoebe replied as she and Piper rose too.

Paige stared up at them questionably.

Piper jerked her head to the door, "Come on." Then she and Phoebe walked in the intended direction.

Paige jumped to her feet at their retreat but noticed Prue standing in the same spot just watching her, "What?" she asked quietly.

Prue smiled giving her a pointed look then simply stated, "I will be." in reference to Paige's unanswered question from before.

Paige understood immediately and nodding her understanding watched on as Prue smiled in appreciation then walked in the direction of her two other sisters.

Paige stood still for a moment smiling to herself and already feeling like a part of the family. Maybe she'd be good at the whole 'sister thing' after all.

~PO4~

Halliwell Manor

Prue and Piper stood at the Book of Shadows as Phoebe went round lighting all the candles in the circle before them. As she passed Paige, who was standing to the side she placed a reassuring hand on her arm and offered her younger sister an encouraging smile then joined her two older sisters by the book.

"Hear these words, hear my cry.

Spirit from the other side.

Come to me, I summon thee.

Cross now the great divide."

The three sisters chanted together as Paige listened intently with unquestionable interest. Bright white balls appeared in the centre of the circle and slowly began to form the shape of a woman.

When the light disappeared Patricia Halliwell stood in all her transparent glory.

"There's someone here, we thought you should meet." Phoebe explained to her mother with a smile then looked in Paige's direction.

Patty followed her daughter's gaze and gasped, "Paige." Her voice full of unadulterated happiness and joy.

Paige looked at the woman before her with wide eyes as realization slowly dawned on her.

Prue, Piper and Phoebe watched their youngest sister closely, waiting for it to sink in.

Paige opened her mouth, heart hammering in her chest, and shakily whispered, "Mom?" tears brimming in her eyes as the word fell from her lips.

Patty sucked in a breath, fighting back her own tears as she stepped out of the circle, becoming corporeal, and pulled her youngest daughter into her arms for what felt like the first time.

Paige gasped as Patty's arms encircled her and she clung tightly to her mother, feeling what it was like to be held by her for the very first time in her life.

They stayed like that for the longest time before Patty released her hold on Paige to look her in the eyes, "Welcome home."

Paige grinned back feeling a surprising amount of love and joy, and relief wash over her at that statement. She snuck a glance at her three sisters' who were all smiling brightly before she was pulled back into her mothers arms.

Prue, Piper and Phoebe watched on, smiles lighting up their faces and love filling their hearts as they watched their baby sister and their mother together for what must have felt like forever to them both.

Phoebe clapped her hands silently then wrapped her arms around Prue's waist and rested her head on her shoulder with a happy sigh.

Piper did the same from the other side also holding onto Phoebe's arms as they crossed over the eldest's middle.

Prue smiled widely as she closed the Book of Shadows, closing her eyes and sighing contently as she absorbed the comfort her two younger sisters' provided as they, along with their mother, welcomed their baby sister back into their family and into their hearts after much too long apart.

Piper nodded her head, finally accepting Paige as a sister and a sister witch. It would take some time of course, before the girl felt like a sister but Piper was no longer against the idea. She looked down at the book in front of her and her eyes widened in shock before she quickly nudged Prue for her attention.

Prue raised her eyebrows but felt no surprise then squeezed Phoebe's waist, who, if possible, smiled even wider at the sight looking even happier than before with what she saw.

The triquatra no longer had three interlocking loops but four which were now tightly knotted together; symbolizing their brand new destiny.

Phoebe snuggled closer to Prue and grabbed Piper's hand before whispering, "Welcome to the Power of Four ladies."

~PO4~

'Well?...whatcha think of this one? Was it better than the last? Worse than the last one? About the same?...Lemme' know please! :D It will be much appreciated! :D

Once again your all Rock Stars!

Rachel….xo