Phoebe turned when she thought she heard something behind her. As she did it was just in time to see her sister fall to the ground.

"Piper!" she yelled, though realizing then that she probably shouldn't have, as the demon looked her straight in the eyes. Seeing the coldness there she did the first thing her instincts told her; run.

He watched as the youngest ran down the passage, knowing that she had no place to go but back to him. He bent down and picked up Piper and turned down the passage that Piper was originally going to go down. Back towards the cell that held the oldest.

---

Phoebe ran until it hurt to breathe. She looked around for somewhere to hide but there was nothing. She finally just leaned against the wall hoping that no one would come. Taking in deep breaths she filled her lungs once again, though the cramp in her side didn't subside. 'Man I need to get back running again.' She reprimanded herself.

Thinking now that she may have to do this on her own, she contained her thoughts and reworked the plan that her and Piper had come up with.

---

Prue heard the tell tale sound of his footsteps once again. She once again didn't even look up at him as he walked through the door. She sat with her back to the door as he approached. Though she noticed something different, he had not said a word and had not approached the front of her as he usually did.

She was curious as to why so she slowly opened her eyes and looked over her shoulder towards him. Though what she saw stopped her heart cold

She jumped to her feet and went to the bars before here, "Piper. What did you do to her you bastard?" she screamed though not taking her eyes off of Piper who was now chained to the same wall that Phoebe had been, only five days before.

"Well I thought you might like a little company. Now if you'll excuse me I need to prepare for your other sister." He said as he left them alone.

Prue looked down at Piper who still had not moved. She knew that she had to get to her but she wasn't sure how. She had tried to lift the cage but she had never managed to get it high enough. As she looked now over at Piper and she saw the blood running down the side of her head, she closed her eyes and concentrated her powers on the cage before her. Opening her eyes she slowly raised her hands focusing her full power on the metal that was around her. The cage slowly started to rise. Taking her chance, Prue held the cage above the ground as she ducked underneath. As soon as she was clear, she released her power dropping the cage back to the ground.

"Piper. Honey." Prue tried to wake her sister as she removed the bounds with her power and held her to her.

Getting no response form Piper she tended to the wound on her sisters' head and just held her tight. She missed both her sisters more then she had thought. And now that one was here she didn't want to let go again.

--

She first thing she felt was the dull pain in her head and then she felt as if someone was holding her tight. Yet she immediately recognized the feel of the arms around her. It was feeling that she would never forget. "Prue?" she managed to get out quietly

"Piper?"

"What happen?"

"I was hoping you could tell me honey."

"I don't know. Phoebe and I were coming here to vanquish the demon. She went one way and I wanted to go another. When I went to go after her ever thing went blank." She told Prue. "Augh. My head hurts Prue."

"I figured. Looks like someone hit you pretty hard."

Piper rested her head on Prues inside shoulder as she closed her eyes trying to stop the pounding in her head.

"So, Phoebes ok then?" Prue asked with concern.

"Yeah, much better. I think it may have had something to do with Mrs. Clause's special soup. Remind me to get the recipe later." Piper explained to Prue though not opening her eyes.

Prue watched as Piper spoke about Mrs. Claus as if she was a long lost friend. "Ah. Piper."

"Prue I know what you're thinking, but its true. All of it. Everything that Phoebe told us she saw. Its all here. Right down to the Sugar plums."

"Piper, Santa's is a myth."

"Oh Prue you are so wrong. This is where I need Phoebe. Prue you have to listen to me. I know its crazy, I thought the same thing until I saw it. Everything. The elves, the reindeer. Not to mention the candy factory and the toyshop. You should have seen the look on Phoebes face when she was playing with the little train set. She was so adorable. It made me want to be a kid again."

Prue watched her sister as she told her everything that she had seen in Christmas village. She saw the determination in her eyes. Prue thought back to when Phoebe was telling them the same story. She realized that her baby sister had that same look in her eyes. It was a look of innocents. Almost the same as she had seen in the eyes of kids in the department stores when they saw Santa. Opening her mind up to the possibility that her sisters were right. Maybe there really was a Santa Claus.

"Ok Piper I will keep an open mind about this. But realize this does not make me a complete believer. I'm just open to the idea."

"That's all we can ask for Prue." Piper smiled up at her sister, "So now what do we do. Phoebe is out there somewhere and she is going to need our help to get rid of this demon."

"I thought we couldn't?" Prue looked confused.

"Only if you don't believe. Just like the fairies. I didn't want to believe that they existed, yet when I did or when I at least opened my eyes a little then I could see what was truly real."

"So what? Because I'm opening my eyes a little in the idea of Santa that we can vanquish this demon?" Prue asked getting more confused.

"Yes. Because as long as you believe then this will work."

"Piper why do I have the feeling that you are not telling me something? Who is this demon anyway?"

Piper stood up slowly in case she got a dizzy spell. Stepping away from her sister she wasn't sure how to tell her who the demon was. Taking in a deep breath she turned and met Prues gaze.

"We don't know who he is exactly. All we know is that like the fairies and Santa you have to believe in order to vanquish him."

"So that's it. That sounds simple enough."

"It's not Prue. If you dont believe then it wont work. Apparently he only comes out during the time of year when people are happy and open to any idea. He steals the innocents from kids and adults of all ages."

"So he comes around when the innocents of the world is at it's strongest, like Christmas."

"Yeah and Easter most likely. It's whenever kids are truly kids. Full of innocents and laughter."

"Well this guy should have been around the Manor long before now with Phoebe running around." Prue said with a smile

"Yeah well it just may be her innocents that saves our sorry butts right now."

"How is she?" Prue was still worried about her sister. The last time she saw her, Piper had to help her walk out of the cave.

"She's ok. She scared me for a bit there but she's ok now."

"Good. I missed you two." Prue said pulling Piper into a hug.

"We missed you too Prue." Piper all too happy to return the gesture.

--- ----

Phoebe stood back up and was trying to figure out which away she should go. She thought of continuing the direction she was headed in or going back. She knew if she continued forward that the demon might be waiting for her, but is she went back she may also be going into a trap. Making her decision she turned back the way she had come. Hoping that it was the correct decision.

Keeping her guard up she cautiously passed the area where she had last seen Piper. It was times like this that she wished she had an active power. She turned quickly at what she thought was the sound of children laughing. Though she was only met with the cool darkness of the empty passage. Turning back she saw something out of the corner of her eye, running down the way she was heading.

She didn't know where her sisters where or who it was now that seemed to be taunting her. If she didn't know better she would have thought it was the elves.

She moved forward with even more caution and tried to ignore the feeling that was building inside of her. She listened at each door she came to for any sign of either one of her sisters. Finally she heard what she had prayed for, the sound of her sisters talking.

As Phoebe reached for the handle she suddenly found herself frozen in fear as she heard a voice behind her.

"I don't think so witch."

The face that came into her site was one she had seen before. The man from the alley. And even now he still sent unseen shivers coursing throughout her body.

"We met again witch." He sneered, he motioned to the shadows as three elves came out of their hiding places. "Now cooperate and I won't hurt your sisters."

"Where are they?"

"Oh no. Not yet. I've studied you three for long enough that I know that you are stronger when together. No, I think I'll keep you three separate, for a little while anyway. Take her, and take off that jacket. Wouldn't want her to be to warm now would we?" he laughed as his workers took Phoebe across the hall to another cell. Taking her jacket off in the process.

Phoebe went along with them for now but she was devising a plan with every step. She had to get to her sisters before they locked her into a cell. She knew what she needed to do but she couldn't do it locked in a cell away from her sisters. As soon as they had taken her jacket she reacted making a quick run for the other door.

"NO! Get her!" he yelled out as soon as he noticed that she was running for the other door.

Phoebe crashed through the door before her and saw her sisters sitting against the wall, Prue with her arm around Piper, who had her head resting on Prues shoulder.

"Phoebe?!"

"Quick, no time, come on." She rushed out as she grabbed Prue by the hand and pulled her towards the door.

The elves went running after Phoebe and followed her into the cell. Prue quickly threw them out of their way as they ran out the cell door. Though they stopped just as suddenly as they were met with the evil glare of their captor.

"You can not defeat me!" He stated.

Prue stood in front of her sisters out of pure instinct. Always finding the need to protect them. "We can and we will." She glared back at him with as much determination as he had.

Throwing his hands up, "Not this time." As ice spikes went flying towards Prue.