Author Note - This part is for Wya, you keep giving great feedback! Mwah! If anyone wants to see what pictures inspired my costume ideas just ask and I'll send a message with a link.

Also I'm sorry this chapter took a little longer but Murphy (my muse) kept going on holiday, before coming back to tease and leave again. :(


Later at the Manor

Paige is sat at the dining room table with Grams' sewing machine; Piper and Phoebe are in the kitchen while Piper makes lunch.

Piper is cooking chicken to make a salad with. She also has some kind of sweet smelling custard on for tonight's party.

'I believe Martin still threatened to fire you,' Phoebe had been ranting about Piper's boss since he had called ten minutes ago. Martin had blamed Piper for the whole thing even though she hadn't been there.

'I told you Phoebe,' Paige calls from the dining room. 'It's because he's a douche. Not because he's intelligent.'

Phoebe snorts, but Piper just carries on cooking. 'He's not that bad guys, he's just-'

'A complete moron.' Phoebe rolls her eyes when Piper tries to defend Martin.

Paige comes in holding something behind her. 'Phoeeebe. Yours is done.'

'Let me see! Let me see!' Phoebe bounces a little in excitement.

Paige holds out the dress. It has a thin sleeves and a low neckline. It has a dark blue panel down the front with a lighter blue making the sides and back. Around the waist is a wide, gold brocade belt that pulls in just below the waist line and there is slit to mid-thigh on one side. Paige has also made a long wrap to go with it.

'Paige you are a genius! This is amazing!' Phoebe takes the dress and looks at it. 'I can't believe you've done this in a couple of hours, it would take me months and it would look like rags.' She turns to leave kitchen but Piper calls her back.

'Phoebe you haven't had lunch yet.' Piper started dishing the chicken onto plates. 'Where are you going?'

'Well I have to start getting ready. I need to wax, I need to pedicure and manicure. I need to do this masterpiece justice.' Phoebe turns and heads out of the kitchen and upstairs.

Paige laughs with Piper and grabs her plate. Piper follows her to the dining room with her own plate.

There is barely enough room for the two of them at the very end of the table. Paige has taken over the rest with dressmaking things. There are pieces of fabric, scissors, tape measures, pins and a whole host of other things across the entire table. Not to mention the bolts of fabric propped on one the other chairs.

'You certainly know how to spread out Paige.' Piper says, taking in the mess.

'Don't worry. I'll tidy up after myself. I'm going to do yours next.'

'I can't wait to see it Paige, Phoebe's is great, but I do hope mine isn't quite as revealing.'

Paige chuckles. 'Quit worrying Piper. I know you prefer more simple things. Prue's though, that's gonna be b- witch to do.'

Both of them giggle at Paige's joking reference to their magic.

'I wish Prue hadn't gone back to work, we be better off staying together until this is over.'

'Piper, she'll be fine she can protect herself. Besides we gave her a bottle of potion in we need to get together quick.'

Piper pushed the last of her salad around on her plate. Looking like she wasn't really paying attention.

'Piper, stop stressing.' Paige hands her plate to Piper. 'You go clean and cook. Like you do when you worry, and I'll get started on your costume.'

Piper smiles a little at her friend's ability to know when she was obsessing over something.


Buckland's

Prue couldn't believe the amount of paperwork that had come with the latest acquisition. The family had been all over the world and it seemed like they'd brought back souvenirs from each place.

Rex walks in interrupting Prue's musings. An older man is with him, holding a box in one hand.

'Prue this is Mr. Northman.' Prue stands and shakes hands with the gentleman. 'I know you're busy but this won't take long. Mr. Northman needs this piece appraised to be insured, and he has requested you. He's heard a lot about you.'

'I'd be glad to have a look Mr. Northman,' Prue mentally sighed, wishing Rex had said she was unavailable.

'Ah thank you Miss Halliwell.' As the gentleman takes a seat Rex leaves the office. 'Here you go Miss Halliwell.' Mr. Northman pushes the shoebox sized container towards Prue.

Prue opens the dark, wooden container and lifts out a small statue of a wolf. 'Black marble or onyx am I right?'

'Onyx, yes.' The old man smiles and gestures for her to continue.

'Carved from a single piece,' Prue grabs her glasses to look closer. 'Masterfully done. Using very old, if not ancient techniques. How long has it been in your family?'

Mr. Northman shrugs a little. 'As long as I can remember.'

'It's beautiful. The runes on the bottom are Norse in origin, but I've not seen that style before. I believe the wolf is probably meant to portray Fenrir or Fenris, the first wolf, son of-' Prue stops and looks at the old man again. She puts the statue down and takes off her glasses. 'Son of Loki, god of mischief and shape changer.'

The old man grins. 'Well done Prue, although I think if you hadn't gotten so caught up in your analysis you may have realized sooner.'

Prue sat back a little. 'Piper and page said you were younger looking. Not a geriatric.'

Loki laughs. 'Miss Halliwell, if I showed my years I'd be nothing but a pile of dust.'

'So, is this the mystery challenge then? Or are you just having fun?'

'Just because it's a challenge doesn't I can't have fun now does it?' Loki gives a little pout as though Prue has cancelled Christmas. 'Such a spoilsport Miss Halliwell.'

'Is this statue real or is it an illusion of some sort?' Prue picks up the statue.

'Oh no it's quite real. Probably the earliest surviving carving of Fenrir. It was carved by a mortal who left it on an alter for me. I was quite taken with it. So I rewarded the man by protecting him and his family. He still has a few descendants alive, and the protection has passed to them.'

Prue watches the god as he regales this, trying to figure this new piece of information into her knowledge. 'There has never been anything that showed you as any kind of patron. Nor has anyone ever claimed protection from you.'

Loki stands to leave. 'They wouldn't have dear lady. They were honorable people, and the family is still honorable now. I think, ironically, that one young woman is part of a group that protects wildlife, specifically wolves. Well farewell Miss Halliwell, on with the challenge.'

Loki and the statue disappear. Leaving Prue more than a little curious. She picks up the phone and connects to her assistant. 'Can you get me a list of texts that refer to Loki. Yeah L-O-K-I, okay thanks.'

Prue hangs up and then starts dialing the manor.


Piper had loved her costume. A simple dress with short sleeves, it was just right for Piper's taste. Paige had made a sort of long, draping hood to go with it. She had attached it to a headband so that it wouldn't fall off easily. Both pieces had gold stitching at the hems and a few golden swirls stitched here and there.

Piper had taken it upstairs, but hadn't gotten ready yet, as she was still cooking. She was now making some sort of biscuit.

Paige meanwhile had started Prue's costume. She had made a very simple, sleeveless dress in a deep peacock blue. There was no detailing on it at all. Paige had decided instead of making the dress fancy, she would make fancy accessories. She was working on green sashes that were attached at either end to cuffs that would go around Prue's wrists and upper arms. Paige had got a box of peacock feathers and was attaching the 'eyes' on to the sashes with gold threads. The eyes would shimmer and move as Prue did.

While Paige was working on the last few attachments Phoebe came downstairs in a bathrobe.

'Hey Paige. That looks great.'

'Thanks Phoebe, I think it'll suit Prue really well.' Paige saw that although Phoebe had washed her hair, she hadn't styled it yet. 'You not doing your hair yet?

'No, I'm going to wait until right before leaving to do that. I'm mean we don't know what we'll go up against when we have to save that innocent. I do want to do it just to have to do it all again.'

Paige chuckled and nodded. 'Good point. I'm mean Javna turned to dust, imagine having demon dust in your hair.' She shudders a little. 'Eugh. No thanks.'

'So what are you going as?'

'A muse. They aren't necessarily goddesses but I figure they get enough press so...' Paige shrugs. 'Besides, since I'm so artistic I must have one so I should pay homage to them.'

'I wonder if anybody will go as Loki?'

Paige looks at her. 'Why?'

'Well I'm just wondering how the actual Loki would take it. Would he be insulted that a mere mortal was pretending to be him or would he be amused that they were even trying to impersonate his awesomeness.'

'Awesomeness? You feeling okay Phoebe?'

'What? It's not like he's actively trying to kill us, he just playing games. Besides from the way you describe him he sounds hot.'

While Paige stares at Phoebe, Piper comes in and only catches the last part of Phoebe comment.

'Who's hot?'

Paige finishes the last attachment to Prue's costume and puts it down. 'Apparently your sister thinks Loki sounds hot.'

'What! Phoebe he's tormenting and playing with us. Not to mention he's putting someone in danger for fun!'

'Doesn't mean he's not good looking.' Phoebe folded her arms and pouted.

Piper looks at Paige, who just shrugs. 'Phoebe come on, you can't be serious.'

'I never said I was going to do anything, but it's not like he's evil. Just mischievous.'

Paige pulls over the fabric for her own costume. 'Phoebe you cannot make out with Loki.'

'Why not I, that way when I say I kissed a god it's true.'

'But he's putting us at risk, for fun!' Piper was staring at Phoebe aghast.

'Why the sudden interest in Loki?' Paige looks at Phoebe curiously.

'No reason. Just acknowledging the situation. Why not have fun?'

Piper squints at Phoebe. 'Acknowledging? That's an odd way to put it.'

'Yeah that's the...same way...Loki phrased it.' Paige stands and backs up a little. 'Piper come here.'

Piper goes around the table to stand next to Paige. 'You aren't Phoebe. You're Loki, aren't you?'

Phoebe-Loki grins. 'Well done ladies. I was a lot more obvious with Prue and it took her the same amount of time to figure out.'

'Where is Phoebe, what have you done to her?' Paige holds Piper's arm as she tries to take a step towards Loki.

At the moment the real Phoebe comes downstairs. She is in a bathrobe as well but has her hair and makeup done.

'Phoebe!' Piper rushes over to her, with Paige right behind her, still watching Loki.

'Piper! What's up?' Just then Phoebe spots the other her at the table. 'Whoa!'

Paige nods to Phoebe. 'Yeah we thought he was you at first, but then he was complimenting himself too much.'

'Uh huh. So uh that…wasn't you upstairs Piper?' Phoebe keeps eyeing the Phoebe-Loki who is still grinning.

'What? I haven't been upstairs except to put my dress up there.'

Phoebe looks at Loki. 'That was you?'

'Why yes. Such fun, although you do talk about men a lot.' Loki stands and walks around the dining room looking at things.

The three women exchange looks, knowing that the others are equally creeped out by him still looking like Phoebe.

'Well you weren't a lot like Piper to be honest.'

Piper looks at Phoebe. 'He wasn't?'

'No, but I thought you were just stressed out about tonight, so I didn't say anything.'

'Well since it seems I haven't been successful in fooling you. I must count this one as another point to you. Fare thee well ladies I will see you tonight!' Phoebe-Loki spins on the spot and disappears with a flourish.

Paige is the first to break the stunned silence. 'You know Phoebe I think you need a longer dressing gown.'

Piper nods in agreement and Phoebe looks at Paige. 'I was just thinking the same thing actually. I'll get one tomorrow.'

Just then the phone rings. Paige turns and picks it up. 'Hello? Prue...wait I'll put you on speaker.' Paige pushes a button and puts the handset down.

'I've been trying to ring you guys for nearly an hour!'

Piper frowns. 'An hour? But Paige and I have been near the phone, it's never rung.'

'Well every time I rang you it went straight to the answering machine. I was just about to use the teleporting potion to come and check on you.'

'Why were you trying to get us?' As Phoebe sat on the bottom of the stairs she self-consciously pulled the hem of her dressing gown down.

'Loki came here. He looked like an old man and came in as a client. It was a few minutes before I realized who he really was. So I've been-'

'Trying to warn us he could shape shift?' Paige interrupted Prue mid-sentence. 'Yep, we know.'

'Wait has he been there?' Prue's voice rose a few decibels. 'What did he do?'

'He uh impersonated Phoebe,' Piper reluctantly told Prue. 'She- well he started off fine but he was about too admiring of himself. So when he said something that he'd said to us before we realized who it really was.'

'I can't believe it. It's one thing to be some stranger but to-'

'Prue!' Phoebe cut across Prue as well. 'It doesn't matter, he impersonated Piper as well, with me. He said that we one that challenge as well. So it worked out fine.'

Paige spoke up about something that had been worrying her. 'The only thing that bothered me is that he said 'I will see you tonight' I'm thinking he might be at the party.' There was a moment of silence so she continued. 'If he tries something at the party we need to be together.'

'She's right. I tell Rex that something has come up again. I'll head home now so we can go to together. I'll be back soon.' Prue hung up without waiting for an answer from any of them.

'Love you too,' Phoebe said sarcastically. 'Okay well Piper- or rather Loki talked my ear off before so I need to go finish my nails.'

'I've finished the cooking now so I'm going to shower. What about you Paige? You haven't even started your costume yet.'

'Don't worry about me, it won't take me long to do mine.'


Later

Prue, Piper and Phoebe are in the main hall in their costumes.

Phoebe has put a few blue highlights in her hair to pick up the color of her costume, and has blue eye shadow and very pink lips.

Prue has done very dramatic make up on her eyes and has pinned her hair up in twisted knot with a few leftover feathers through it.

Piper has simply put her hair in a braid and has next to no make-up on.

Prue looks at the watch she has in her purse and yells up the stairs.

'Paige! Come on! We need to be there already!'

Phoebe shares a worried look with Piper. 'Do you think she finished her costume? She spent so long on ours maybe-'

'Wow!' Piper looks up the stairs and gapes. Phoebe turns and does the same.

The top of Paige's dress is a cream corset that she has stitched red sequins on. For the bottom she has used a sheer fabric that has been ripped into long thin pieces. Paige has arranged so many pieces of the fabric in layers that it's almost impossible to tell that it is sheer at all. There red ribbons hung in between the layers to give it color, and there are more sequins stuck on the outer layers of the skirt. Paige has styled her hair into a mass of curls and she has put pins with more ribbons and sequins on at five or six different places in the curls. Her eyes have thick eyeliner but no eye shadow and her lips are bright red. To finish off the whole thing her nails are red and she has glitter on her skin that shows. She has also drawn with eyeliner tiny music notes, letters and paintbrushes all over herself right down to the straps of her bright red heels.

Paige stops at the mid-point to the stairs and turns slowly. 'Well? What do you think?' She looks at them anxiously.

Prue is the first to speak. 'My god Paige. You look beautiful.'

Phoebe and Piper just nod in agreement.

'Well I didn't want to go for the usual, sort of washed out blue that everybody uses for Muses so...'

Piper goes and pulls her down the rest of the stairs. 'Are you kidding? I'd be surprised if people weren't offering you a thousand dollars for that dress tonight!'


Author Note - So I don't have a picture for Paige's costume it's purely from my imagination. I hope you like the chapter. Pleeease review. Thanks!