3rd Person POV
"She's supposed to be here by now." Chris complained to Piper. Ever since Paige and Phoebe had moved out of the house, it had become a lot harder to vanquish demons.
"So, she's a little late."
"No, she's a lot late. Paige used to be the first one to a vanquish. What's wrong with her?"
"She's in love, that's hardly wrong."
"It is when it interferes with her responsibilities as a Charmed One!"
"Why don't you just let me handle this one alone."
"Because you've handled the last four vanquishes alone. I swear, you should've never let them move out."
"Hey, you don't see me complaining, I'm happy for them. And you should be too. So where is this demon and what's its name?"
Chris sighed and decided to let the matter rest for now. "No one knows its name. And it's too strong for one witch to handle alone."
Just then, the warehouse door opened and Darryl poked his head in. "How much longer is this gonna take?"
Piper looks at Chris. "Go see what Phoebe's doing." Chris nodded and orbed out.
"Where'd he go?" Darryl asked nervously.
"Hong Kong," Piper answered nonchalantly.
"Hong Kong? This is the last time I work ground control for you guys!" Darryl exclaimed as he closed the door.
Chris orbed back in with a kimono-wearing Phoebe.
"Hi! Wow," Piper's widened as she took in her sisters new appearance.
"Oh, how's Wyatt? I miss him so much," Phoebe cried out excitedly.
"He misses you too. Is this a bad time?" Piper said, laughing.
"No, this is a great time. Jason's away at a conference, I was just practising my origami. This is a tiger, you can have that. I'm sorry I didn't visit." Phoebe handed Piper and intricately folded paper tiger.
"No, no, don't be silly. You've obviously been really busy folding. I'm sorry I have to ask for your help, but..."
"No, it's okay. I mean, if you don't enter the tiger's cave, you may never get the cub, right?"
"Come again?"
"Ancient Chinese proverb. Means nothing ventured, nothing gained, you know?"
"Can we get the show on the road here?" Chris interrupted.
"Sure," Phoebe said, then gestured to Piper and her paper tiger, "keep that!"
Phoebe looked at Chris, "okay, what do you want me to do?"
"You're the bait. All you've gotta do is levitate into the air and when this demon senses your magic, it's gonna come fast and hard," he explained.
"Okay. Be careful of my origami, that tiger took two frickin hours!"
"Okay, let's do it."
Phoebe levitated into the air and something charged for her underground. A large, green blob suddenly flew out from underground and tried to swallow her. Piper screamed and quickly blew the blob up.
"All clear!" Piper opened the door and gestured to Darryl that everything was alright.
"Maybe you should just take me out back and hose me down," Phoebe suggested as she tried to clean off the leftover demon goo.
Bright blue lights filled the kitchen as Paige orbed in.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry I'm late, did I miss the vanquish?" She cried out.
Piper pointed to Phoebe, "ask her!"
"Hi! Hi! Hi!" Phoebe exclaimed as she jumped up and hugged her sister.
"Hey! Oh my god, Phoebe, how are you?"
"Great."
"How's Jason?"
"He's great," Phoebe answered. "How's Richard."
"Fabulous. He was taking his sweet time getting out of the house this morning, that's why I couldn't orb," Paige responded.
Phoebe looked at her in shock. "Wait, you don't orb with him in the house?"
Piper chimed in, "she's asked Richard to not to use his magic."
"Yes, so I'm trying to be supportive and, you know, not use my magic in front of him."
Phoebe looked at her sister. "Wow, a magic-free life. You're the last witch in the world I'd expect that from."
"It's not magic-free, it's just magic light."
"Yeah, it's still a lot to give up," Piper pointed out.
"What I get from him is kind of more than makes up for it I think," Paige said slowly.
"Eww," Phoebe said, wrinkling her nose in mock disgust.
"How's Hong Kong?" Paige asked as a distraction.
"Fascinating. I'm studying numerology and the Chinese zodiac. But you know, distant waters doesn't quench the immediate thirst."
"Huh?"
"Ancient Chinese proverb," Piper said.
"Just means that I miss my family," Phoebe clarified.
"Well, that's good because your family misses you too. I mean, I don't have a lot of people to hang out with aside from my baby who doesn't really say much, then one really neurotic Whitelighter, and the girl who 'lives' in our basement!" Piper said looking sternly at her two sisters.
"Yeah, how is my little buddy, Chris. Last time I saw him he wasn't in such good shape." Phoebe inquired.
"He's trying his best to hide it, but he's still really shaken up."
"Well, he lost his fiancé, you know, I don't blame him, it's huge." Since she had sensed the emotions rolling off of him at the time, Phoebe had a better understanding of how he might be feeling.
"Yeah, and there's something in the future that's really freaking him out," Piper continued. "And future-girl down in the basement isn't helping matters. He's been avoiding her ever since we bound her powers and started letting her roam around the first floor."
"How is she doing? Any new conclusions on whether she's good or bad news?" Phoebe inquired.
"Still working on that one...she seems a lot nicer than Chris made her out to be, and even he won't argue against the fact that Wyatt seems absolutely taken with her. I have to admit, she's really good with him, plus she helps out with chores around the house. We don't talk that much though. She mostly stays quiet, though I think that has more to do with trying not to provoke Chris. He's been very jumpy lately - even more determined than ever to protect Wyatt from evil which means there's a new demon hunt everyday.
"I feel like such a bad sister, leaving you guys alone to handle all this," Phoebe said guiltily.
"No, no, we're fine. Wyatt and I actually enjoy having the manor to ourselves; so to speak.
Paige raised her eyebrows at Piper, "really?"
"Yeah, I-I mean, we have room to spread out and life is very quiet and calm and best of all, everything stays clean."
No one noticed the little blobs of green goo that crawled off the pile of Phoebe's clothes as Piper picked them up and headed for the laundry.
"Well, if we're gonna hang out, I better go change my clothes. I think I left some here," Phoebe exclaimed as she hopped out of her chair.
"I'll go with you," Paige said, following Phoebe out of the room. As they made their way to Phoebe's room, she started to explain Paige's Chinese zodiac sign to her.
"Well, being born under the year of the ox is a good thing, it means you're a natural born le-ader" Phoebe paused as she walked into her room and saw all her furniture had been replaced with gym equipment. "What happened to my room?"
"Holy. I guess when Piper said she was gonna spread out, she wasn't kidding."
"But where's all my stuff? I mean, I have stuff, you know, lots and lots of stuff."
"Well, being an ox, I can take charge of this. You can borrow something from my room until we straighten this out." The two sisters marched off to Paige's room.
They walk in, only to find that Paige's furniture has been replaced with Wyatt's furniture. Leo, Chris and Wyatt were sitting in chairs in a comfortable silence for once.
"Oh, hi, baby!" Phoebe cried out in excitement at seeing her nephew.
"This one too?" Paige moans.
"Yeah, you move, you lose it in this family," Phoebe chuckled, glancing at Paige.
Chris looked at them sternly. "You could lose a lot more than a bedroom when this is over."
"Hi, Chris, I'm fine thank you, and you?" Phoebe stated, sarcastically.
"It's his job to offer his opinion," Leo offered in defense.
Chris looked at him. "You know the only reason why she's even here is Paige missed a vanquish."
"Another one?" Leo looked shocked.
"Yeah, that makes, what? Five in a row now?"
"You guys are such nags," Paige grumbled.
Phoebe glanced shrewdly back and forth between Leo and Chris. "When did you two become so chummy?"
"We're not chummy, it's just he's gone through a lot protecting Wyatt and I figured instead of doubting him I should help him a little," Leo admitted, feeling a little guilty.
"So what do you guys think? Do you like Wyatt's new room?" Piper asked her sisters as she walked in.
"I like it. I just like my room too," Paige muttered.
"And I like it, I just like my room too," Phoebe added on.
"Well, you guys were the ones that moved out, not me."
"So where are my clothes?" Phoebe asked.
"God, it's really kind of hitting home," Paige exclaimed as she lifted a sweater into her hands. Piper, Phoebe, and Paige were currently pulling clothes out of boxes in the attic.
"What's that?" Piper said, looking over at her sister.
"Well, that I don't live here anymore."
"I know what you mean," Phoebe said, sympathetically.
"Richard's just doesn't feel like home yet, you know? I don't know, I guess I just had more fun here."
"Yeah. 'Cause this place is a riot." Piper said, rolling her eyes.
"No, I just, I don't know, I guess I'm more free here. Free to be me."
"Oh, wow, Phoebe!" Piper exclaimed as she pulled out a pair of shoes from one of the boxes. "These are some boots."
"No, they're not mine, but I wish they were 'cause they're hot."
Paige spotted something on the box. "The box says 'Penny'. Penny as in Grams Penny?"
"No way," Phoebe shook her head. "I refuse to believe that Grams ever wore anything this hot."
Piper nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I figured her more for steel toed orthopaedics, you know, the better to kick your ass with."
"They're your size, Paige, try them on."
Paige groaned. "I don't know."
"Oh, come on, just do it."
"They're kind of sixties."
Phoebe glanced at Paige. "So what's wrong with the sixties?"
"The sixties was like the worst fashion era. Hello! Bad clothing, bad hair, and extremely questionable personal hygiene. Hey, they fit!" She said as she pulled on the boots. Barely a second passed after she had done so, when she suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Where'd she go?" Phoebe said, turning to look at Piper in surprise.
"What do you mean you lost Paige?" Chris said, confused.
"Well, it was really weird. I mean, one second she was here and the next second...poof," Phoebe tried to explain, unsuccessfully.
"It kind of happened after she put on a pair of Grams' boots," Piper chimed in.
"Grams used to cast a spell on her clothes when she was younger," Leo piped up.
Phoebe turned to Leo in shock. "Wait, you knew Grams when she was young?"
"Yeah, we crossed paths once or twice when I was a young Whitelighter."
"Eww," Piper exclaimed.
"Well, I barely remember it."
"Huh."
"Eww," Phoebe said.
Chris stood up and walked over to the Book of Shadows. "Well, if the boots did belong to your grandmother, then we better summon her from the dead. Maybe she can tell us what happened to Paige."
"Okay, let's get the candles."
Phoebe was leaning over and lighting the candles when Piper spoke up again.
Piper sighed heavily. "You know, if I hadn't taken over Paige's room, this never would've happened. This is all my fault."
"What's done is done." Leo and Chris said at the same time.
"Okay, you two really need to get a room." Phoebe said gesturing to them.
They lit the candles and read the spell to bring back Grams.
"Here these words, here my cry, spirit from the other side, come to me, I summon thee, cross now the great divide."
The green goo seeped through the floor bed and slipped onto Chris's foot; multiplying rapidly until it covered his whole shoe.
"Well, it's about time you called to say hello. Oh, my darlings," Gram said happily as she stretched her hands out for a hug.
"Ah, we got a problem," Piper said, referring to Paige.
Grams looked towards Chris. "Well, you're not the only one." The green goo had risen up both of Chris's legs.
"Orb out," Leo suggested.
"No, magic makes it grow. Summoning her spirit already gave it power."
"Oh, you must be Chris, the new Whitelighter. You know, he doesn't look very qualified for the job." Grams observed.
"Chris, just let me blast it," Piper exclaimed.
Phoebe nodded her head, "she's right. Orb."
Grams threw her hands up. "Oh, for heaven sakes, listen to them. We'll find a way to vanquish the foul thing later.
Chris orbed out and Leo cried, "now!"
Piper blew up the goo and it scattered into a million pieces. As Chris orbed back in, the goo disappeared into the floorboards.
"You and Paige moved out? When?" Grams shouted in shock.
Phoebe shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Uh, a few weeks ago. But we're handling everything."
"Dear, you have a strange girl living in the basement, Paige stuck in the past, and a demonic blob roaming the manor. Exactly how are you handling things?"
"We're still in an adjustment period," Piper said in defense of her sisters.
"There would be no adjustment period if you were living under one roof. Why in heaven's name did you move out?"
"To be with Jason. You said it yourself, never give up on love, remember?" Phoebe said.
"I didn't say give up on your sisters," she looked at Piper. "And you! You're the oldest, how could you let them move out?"
"You know, it really wasn't that hard because they deserve a shot at a normal life."
"They're not normal, Piper, and neither are you. When are you going to learn that?"
"Well, I guess never."
"All this over men. How many times have I told you? Men are utensils. You use them, wash them, and throw them in a drawer until you need them again," Grams ranted.
"Shh. Everyone quiet," said Leo as he and Chris walked into the room. They listened to the house making strange noises. Chris put his ear up to the wall.
"I can hear it. I think it's in the wall." Just as he said this, a crack appeared.
"Yep, it's in the wall," Leo said, glancing nervously around the room.
"Okay, we're gonna need Paige. It took the power of three to vanquish this thing in the future," said Chris.
Piper looked up at him in surprise. "What? If you knew that, why didn't you tell me that in the first place?"
"Because I could barely get two of you together, let alone three. Besides, this thing's not that big right now and I thought two could handle it."
Grams shook her head at Chris. "Leo, you take point. Chris here is much too green to guide my girls."
"What? You know what? You can just stop that right..."
"Ah-ah! Quiet. It's time to give this floundering ship a rudder. Now, which boots did Paige put on?"
"Red go-go boots," Piper described.
"We've got a problem. Those boots took Paige back to the summer of love, which was one of the most crucial times of my life."
"What do you mean crucial?" Phoebe asked.
"Your grandfather, Allen, rest his soul, was a sweet man, but he lead me straight down the hippy-dippy trail."
"You were a flower child?" Phoebe laughed.
"Yeah, well, don't rub it in. What's important is that Allen was killed by my best friend. I didn't know it then, but she was evil. And I walked in right after it happened."
"What'd you do?" asked Piper
"Well, let's just say that my peacenik days ended fast, along with that bitch Robyn. If she hadn't killed Allen..."
"You'd still be a flower child." Leo chimed in.
"And the Charmed Ones would be dead. I know I'm a ball buster. But it kept me alive to protect my girls from all the demons that came after them as kids. I cast my return to owner spell on a lot of clothes that summer, so..."
"So we get to go back there? We get to meet our grandfather?" Phoebe said, excitedly.
"Don't make too much out of it because whatever you do, you can't change the past or tell anyone you're from the future."
"Well, why does he and Eliana get to?"
"Because I know what I'm doing," Chris said, completely ignoring her reference to Eliana. Over the past couple of weeks they hadn't talked at all. Every time she would walk into the same room, he would either glare at her until she left, or leave himself.
"Not from where I'm standing. I'll stay here with Leo and the two newbies to contain the slime, until you can bring Paige back to vanquish it, okay? Okay, go, get dressed. You are going to the summer of love."
"The way I see it, we're all targets for the slime. We need a plan to control it until the girls get back." Grams said after Leo had filled Eliana in on what she had missed. Chris had refused to look at her and she was staring quietly at the floor. Grams and Leo could sense the tension that hung in the air between the two but decided it was best to just ignore it.
"In the future, everyone tried to control the demon with no name. But it can't be done," Eliana said, finally speaking up.
"That's hardly a winning attitude, young lady. And why in heaven's name couldn't the people in the future find some name for that thing?"
"Speaking of the future, what's so awful that happens to Wyatt?" Leo asked Chris and Eliana. Eliana continued to look at the floor.
"You know I can't tell you that." Said Chris.
"Come on, I'm an Elder." Chris just shook his head. Leo looked at Eliana but she clasped her lips together and stared intently at the floor. She really wasn't good at lying.
"Excuse me, back on point. Uh, the slime? I'm taking suggestions," Grams exclaimed, looking at the three of them.
Wyatt, standing in his crib, reached for his bottle sitting on a table next to him. Eliana saw this and picked him up and handed him his bottle. He giggled at her as he began to drink thirstily, when he was finished, she set the bottle down again and he wrapped his tiny fingers around a strand of her hair; not yanking, just lightly tugging. She grinned down happily at him and lightly poked his nose. His tiny face wrinkled as he giggled again. When she next looked up, it was to find Leo and Chris staring at the two of them.
"Piper's right, you really do seem to have a way with him," Leo commented as he watched his son squeal happily in her arms.
Chris stared at them, his face stoney. While he had to admit that she had been pretty helpful around the house in the past few weeks, he still didn't trust her completely; not to mention, watching her play with little Wyatt only reminded him of her connection to him. He felt a tiny twinge of pain in his heart as he watched them, knowing that she'd never be his, but then realized what he was thinking and brought the conversation back to what possible ways they could get rid of the slime.
"We could orb it to an ice drift," suggested Leo.
"Nah, that's bad," Chris replied.
Grams looked at them critically. "It's not bad, it's awful. You can't orb that thing, it feeds on magic."
"So what's your great idea?" Chris said, sarcastically.
"Are you giving me lip?"
"No - No!" Chris yelled.
Just then, Wyatt had orbed a vase of flowers into Eliana's free hand. At first she smiled at the sweet gesture, then her face fell as she realized what he'd done. The slime demon shot out of the wall as she clutched him close to her chest and dashed out of the room.
"Hold on. I think it's stopped," Leo called out as he chased after her.
Chris ran in after them and yelled, "get Wyatt out of the house. If it tries to follow, I'll fire off an orb or two to distract it." He looked at Grams, "you okay with that?"
"Yeah, it's just what I had in mind."
"Good."
"You mean your gonna let me out of the house finally?" Eliana muttered, half-jokingly. Chris glared at her but didn't say anything.
Leo and Eliana moved towards the door. Before they could open it, however, green slime oozed up into the windows, blocking off the doorway.
"What'd it do? Split in half?" Leo exclaimed.
"How do we get out?" Eliana asked nervously. She hugged Wyatt protectively. It wasn't that she couldn't handle herself, but she had heard stories about the slime thingy from Wyatt when they were growing up, and it hadn't sounded good. Even if she had her magic it wouldn't have helped and stabbing or physically fighting the slime certainly wouldn't accomplish anything!
"I don't know. Orb?" Suggested Leo.
"The last time I orbed, that thing almost swallowed me whole,"Chris said, shaking his head.
"What do you think, Penny?" The three of them turned to look at Grams. She was standing in the doorway wearing tie-dyed sixties clothing.
"I think love conquers all. I think that we should take the demon into our arms and make it feel safe."
Chris looked at Leo, "Leo, could I talk to you two for a second, please?" He couldn't bring himself to say Eliana's name.
Nevertheless, she knew he was including her in his question and handed Wyatt over to Grams. "Do you mind holding him for a second?"
"Of course! Come here, moonbeam."
"Wyatt. His name's Wyatt." Said Eliana, miffed. She walked towards Leo and Chris to hear him say,
"One of the sisters must have changed the past because Penny clearly never made the change from flower child to demon hunter." In the background, they could hear Grams singing to Wyatt.
"Clearly. Think the girls can fix the timeline and get back here?" Leo asked.
"I don't know. But this thing is trying to back us into a corner. Take Wyatt and Joan Baez here into the conservatory. I'll get what we need to fight it off."
"Do you need any help?" Eliana asked quietly. Chris looked at her sharply. He hadn't expected her to offer. He wanted to say no, but he had to admit, an extra hand would be useful.
"Actually, yes, yes that would be great. You can help carry some things." Chris grabbed a blender and handed it to her. Together they set about piling up as many kitchen appliances as the could.
"Why isn't it attacking? It's like it cornered us and now it's just waiting." Leo pointed out as he walked back in.
"I think we need the toaster oven. Chris said, not bothering to answer the question.
"You know, that's a disaster waiting to happen," Said Grams as she walked back in with Wyatt.
"That's the idea," explained Chris. "you saw how the slime reacted to electricity. Well, if we can get it to attack this pile, maybe we can get to zap it."
"No offence, you know, but my dear Allen would have taken the path of peaceful resistance. Have you tried talking to the slime?"
"No, I haven't, and you shouldn't either." Leo turned to look at Chris and Eliana. "But if either of you two are up to some light conversation, maybe you wanna tell me what happens to Wyatt in the future!"
Chris shook his head at Leo. "Uh, nice try. - Damn it!" Leo had plugged in the cords to all the machines and the power had blown out.
"I told you, boys, violence is not the answer to anything," Gram tutted.
Chris sighed in frustration, "where's the fuse box?"
Leo pointed downstairs. "It's in the basement. Find a flashlight in the laundry room."
Chris walked over to the top of the stairs to the basement. He pointed the flashlight at the floor and jumped back in shock. "Leo!"
"What is it? What is it?"
"The slime, in the basement feeding on the Nexus."
"How big was it?" Leo opened the door and shined the flashlight on the floor. The slime was covering the entire floor. Leo quickly shut the door. "Big."
"Yeah. Big."
Eliana glanced around the room and grabbed two wires. "If the demon comes at us, I'll try and hold it off with this." She said. While she worked on making sure the wires sparked, Grams opened the basement door and walked in.
"Don't be afraid of us. We won't hurt you."
"Penny, get back!" Eliana cried out. She shoved Grams out of the way and felt herself get tugged down into the basement with the slime.
"Wyatt's secured in the living room. There's no sign of the demon in the rest of the house." Said Leo.
"I figured it was distracting us before so he could feed on Nexus."
"What about Eliana is she...?"
"I don't know." Chris furrowed his brows in confusion. He couldn't believe that Eliana had rescued Grams - I mean, she had just risked her own life to save someone who was already dead. Why the hell would she do that? Unless...unless she really was here to help, but he just couldn't see why she would.
The slime crept under the door and Chris grabbed two wires and zapped it. Another chunk of slime crept under the door and he zapped it again. "I can't keep up with it, we've gotta get out."
"No, we have to keep fighting. It's what Eliana would want us to do." Who cares what she'd want us to do Chris thought to himself.
Chris continued to try and hold off the slime but it was no use. Eventually Leo gave in. "Get out of here, go."
"Not without you and Penny!"
"This thing's gonna swallow you whole."
"Most likely."
Suddenly, Piper, Phoebe and Paige appeared in the kitchen.
"Stand back, fellas," Piper called out.
"Drawing on the power of three, destroy this evil entity."
The slime demon exploded in a flash of light.
"Where's Wyatt?" Piper asked.
"He's in the living room with Penny."
"What about Eliana." Said Phoebe.
Leo looked down, "she didn't make it."
The basement door opened and smoke poured out. Eliana walked out, coughing.
"Nonsense. It's gonna take a lot more than that to take me out!"
They heard the sound of Wyatt crying out and Piper rushed out to see her baby.
"Hey there, sun god." Paige said, sidling up to Leo.
"Hey, that was a long time ago. Let's just keep that between us, okay?"
Eliana stood there feeling awkward so she went out to join Piper and see if there was anything else she could help out with.