Okay, second to last chapter here. The whole 'Barbas' thing goes down in this chapter. The next chapter will sadly be the epilogue, but I hope to begin a new story soon. Please enjoy.
Piper jumped off of the couch, panicking. "How? It's not Friday the 13th!"
"We think he was working with some demons," Prue started carefully. "Maybe he struck some kind of deal."
"But, why?" Piper gasped. "Why me?"
"We think it's his way of getting to all of us. He just went after you first." Phoebe said.
Leo gently pulled Piper back down onto the couch and wrapped her in his arms. "It's okay. We'll get him."
"So, after we vanquished Dan, Barbas has been getting into my head?" Piper asked. "Is that why I'm so afraid of losing you guys?"
Phoebe nodded. "He's playing on your greatest fear."
Piper sat still for a moment, letting the information sink in. "What do we do?"
"We track him down and vanquish him. But first, you need to get over your greatest fear." Phoebe stated.
"How do I do that?" Piper asked, clutching Leo's hand.
"Piper, you need to know that we would never leave you. We're a family and family always sticks together." Prue said.
Piper looked away. "I know that."
"Look at me," Leo prompted. Slowly, she met his loving gaze. "We love you. Nothing and no one can change that. And when you love someone, you never let them go. Understand?"
Piper nodded and dropped her head to his shoulder. Leo kissed her forehead and looked at the other two Charmed Ones. "We'll all go back home to the book and go after Barbas. I have a feeling he might be ready for us, so we need to be careful."
Prue and Phoebe nodded. They both stood up and shimmered out with Cole. Leo looked back down at Piper.
"Am I going to be okay?" she asked in a small voice.
"You're going to be absolutely fine." He kissed her on the head again.
"Can you promise me one thing?"
"Anything," he said hesitantly.
"When this is all over, can we take a trip together? Just the two of us?" She raised her eyes to look into his.
"Of course," he smiled.
Piper smiled and kissed him softly. Her wrapped his arms tighter around her and orbed them to the Manor. Prue and Phoebe were already looking in the book.
"Originally, there was no spell or potion to vanquish Barbas, but Phoebe came up with a potion," Prue said. "Now that he knows how to team up with other demons, he can die just like them, too."
"That's good. I can track him," Piper said, moving over to the table that had the map and scrying crystal.
"Actually, Prue can do that. We need you to make the potion. Your kickass cooking skills is in high demand." Phoebe gave a smile.
"Okay," I'll be downstairs then." Piper smiled, taking the piece of paper from her baby sister.
Leo followed her to the kitchen and sat down at the island. He always loved to watch her cook, whether it be making dinner or brewing potions. Plus, he just wanted to keep an eye on her.
"Do you need any help?" he asked.
"Uh," Piper looked over the ingredients on the paper. "Well, you could grind the dragon root for me."
"Okay," he got up and got the dragon root off of the middle shelf in the cupboard and retrieved the grinder from the bottom shelf.
Piper got to work on filling the cauldron with water and letting it boil. Next, she prepared the eel skin. She cut it up and set it aside to check on the water. She looked over at Leo to see him working on the dragon root. She smiled admiringly and walked over to him. Piper wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his cheek.
"Thanks," she said quietly.
Leo smiled. "No big deal."
"I meant for everything you do for me," she said.
Leo momentarily forgot about the dragon root when her wrapped an arm around her and kissed her slowly. "For that, you are very welcome."
The water in the cauldron began to bubble, so Piper released her husband and grabbed the powdered dragon root. She tossed it in and began stirring.
Prue and Phoebe came into the kitchen with Cole about twenty minutes later.
"Potion's done and I'm ready to get this son-of-a-bitch," Piper said, bottling up some of the potion.
"Hmm, seems you already got your attitude back," Phoebe joked.
Piper smiled. "I feel confident about this."
"And why is that?" Prue asked, taking some of the viles Piper handed to her.
"Because I have you guys," Piper answered with a smile.
"Okay, group hug. Right now," Phoebe squealed like a child as she pulled Piper into a hug. Prue readily jumped in and Cole followed suit. Leo smiled and wrapped his arms around everyone and placed a kiss on the back of Piper's head.
Piper giggled. "Can't breathe!"
Everyone laughed at their little love fest.
(((o)))
Somewhere in the underworld, the Charmed Ones orb and shimmered in with Leo and Cole.
"Alright, I tracked him here. I'm guessing he's through that cavern." Prue pointed to a small opening between the stone walls.
"Okay, there's no time for small talk. I say we barge right in and take him out." Phoebe suggested.
"I agree," Piper nodded.
"Okay, let's go in, then." Prue took the lead, followed by Phoebe holding Piper's hand.
Upon entering the cavern, the Charmed Ones spotted Barbas by a table covered in different herbs, potions viles, and other unidentifiable objects.
"I knew you were coming. It was only a matter of time," Barbas spoke.
Phoebe felt Piper's hand tighten around hers. She gave her sister an encouraging glance.
"I'm sure you did. But I didn't come here for a tea party, so let's get this over with," Piper said as bravely as she could muster.
"Oh, I see you've overcome your fear, have you?" Barbas gave a sickening smile. He waved his hand and looked into his palm. "Oh, it looks like you've overcome losing your sisters, but you've missed one." Piper's heart rate began to quicken. "You're still questioning your relationship with that whitelighter of yours."
"Don't let him get to you, Piper," Phoebe said. "He's only trying to mess with you."
"Leo," Piper whispered. She began looking around, searching for him.
"That's enough," Prue said. She was about to throw the potion.
"No!" Piper stopped her. She looked at Barbas. "Where is he? What did you do to him?"
Phoebe looked behind them to see neither Cole nor Leo standing there.
"I had a few friends of mine pick him up."
"Where is he!" Piper shouted, letting go of Phoebe's hand.
"Hmm, probably getting his ass kicked by a few demons," Barbas chuckled.
"Piper, he's lying!" Phoebe exclaimed. "Cole wouldn't let that happen."
"Oh, Cole's a part of this," Barbas told Piper. "He's been double-crossing you this whole time."
"Piper," Prue tried when she took a step forward.
"If you hurt Leo, I swear to God I'll kill you," Piper bellowed.
"I wouldn't hurt Leo. He's been helping me," Barbas smiled. "He's been luring you here. All part of my plan."
"No," Piper shook her head.
"Piper!" Leo shouted from behind them.
She turned around to see him standing there. "Leo, why would you this to me?"
"Because I never loved you," he answered. Tears built up in Piper's eyes. "I just felt sorry for you. I never wanted you."
"No," Piper cried.
Leo walked up to her and grabbed her by the shoulders. "We were never real. I never loved you."
Piper's heart broke. She swore she could just die right there. But when she looked up into his eyes, anger boiled up inside her. She ripped herself from his grip.
"You bastard! How dare you!" she yelled.
"Don't fall for it!" Prue shouted.
Piper just shook her head as the fury continued to build inside her. She screamed and threw her hands up. Leo exploded on the spot. Prue and Phoebe's jaws dropped to the floor. Piper just…blew Leo up? Literally?
Piper turned around to face Barbas. "You think you could just mess with people like that without any consequences? You think you could just manipulate people? How could you do that?"
"It's a gift," Barbas spoke.
"Well, it's time to return it. I'm so over you and your twisted shit!" Piper shouted before flicking her hands at him.
Barbas flew backwards from the blast and hit the table behind him. Blood seeped out from his shoulder.
"Throw the potion," Piper growled at her sisters.
"What the hell was-" Prue started to ask.
"Now!" Piper shouted.
Both Prue and Phoebe threw the potion at Barbas. Piper stood like a statue as she watched Barbas go up in flames, screaming. Then it was quiet. Prue and Phoebe slowly turned their gazes toward their sister.
"Piper," Phoebe said slowly.
Piper turned around, tears in her eyes.
"What was that?" Prue asked.
Piper shrugged helplessly. "I couldn't take it anymore. I was so angry. All I could think about was how badly I wanted to blow something up, and then I did." Tears fell from her eyes.
Prue and Phoebe were instantly by Piper's side, hugging her. "It's okay, honey. We got rid of the demon, so you don't have to be afraid anymore." Phoebe said.
Piper shook her head. "I just want to go home."
"But what happened to-" Prue asked, but didn't get to finish.
Just then, Cole shimmered in with Leo. They looked like hell, no pun intended. Their clothes were scorched in different places and their faces were covered in soot.
"Did you get him?" Cole asked, out of breath.
"Yeah," Phoebe answered.
"How are you here?" Prue asked Leo. "We just saw Piper blow you up."
"Blow him up?" Cole asked.
"It wasn't me. It was probably a shape shifter." Leo answered.
"Wait a minute," Phoebe narrowed her eyes. "How do we know you're not a shape shifter right now?"
"That's ridiculous," Leo said.
"No, it's not. How do we know?" Prue asked.
"Piper, tell them," Leo looked at her.
Piper stared at him. "Answer her question."
Leo walked up to her. Prue and Phoebe stood close, ready to attack. He looked into her eyes. "I look at you with all the love in the world, the way I've always looked at you."
Piper's eyes watered. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. Leo hugged her back tightly. She pulled his head to hers and kissed him passionately.
Get ready for the epilogue! Review! Thanks guys.