Time jump:

"When I said take one of my men, I meant that. Take one of them, not me." Zankou trailed behind her, carrying Piper's bags with him. "And why am I carrying your bags."

Piper tossed him a look over her shoulders. "I needed a strong man to come with me."

"Are you calling my men weak?" Zankou scoffed.

"No, not weak." Piper stopped just outside a herb store. "Just not as strong as you."

Zankou couldn't help, but chuckle. "You are insufferable." Taking a seat on one of the benches, he watched her walk into the store. This was probably one of the most human thing he has done so far. When she came to him earlier in the morning, he wasn't expecting her to ask this of him. Zankou had already asked two of him men to be on standby for Piper's herb shopping. Now here he was dressed in a all black suit, shopping with a widow witch and her two toddler brats. What is happening to him? His answer came walking right through the door. Jumping to his feet, he followed her down the street and into another herb shop.

Although he seemed to be at ease, Zankou kept his guard up. He watched everyone within 10 feet of them. It was unsettling being in a mortal world, watching over a witch and not able to use their powers. But alas, it wasn't the demons he needed to worry about right now. Watching the man approach Piper, he narrowed his eyes. Placing his hand over the bags he carried, he flamed them back to the manor. Now this was going to be fun.

Piper was browsing the current spice racks, looking for some owl flakes. She was so engrossed in her search, she failed to see the man approach her from the right.

"Need some help?"

She cursed at herself for jumping. "Jesus!"

"No, it's Malcom." He held his hand out to her, sporting a wide grin.

Piper cocked a brow, finally sparing him a glance. "Piper and no help needed. Thanks."

"You sure?" He pushed. "I am pretty sure I can find whatever it is you're looking for."

"I doubt it." Turning back to her search, she just about gave up when...

"Owl's flake." Malcom chuckled. Piper turned to see him holding up the little bottle. "Told you."

Piper was in no mood to play his little flirting games. "Right, well I have to go."

Malcom sighed. This damn witch was making it harder than he anticipated. "Wait!" As he rushed after her, he reached for her arm, when something grabbed him from the back of his jacket and jerked him backwards.

"Hands of!" Zankou growled, pulling the parasite away from Piper.

"What the hell man?!" Malcom steadied himself, glaring at the taller man. "What's your problem?"

"Lots of thing, but at this very moment it's you." Zankou turned to Piper, giving her a once over. "You and the brats alright?"

Piper nodded, still a little confused. She heard the man calling for her and the next Zankou was between them. "Yeah."

"Look I don't know who you think you are, but I was just trying to have a conversation with her." Malcom said.

Zankou raised a brow, crossing his arms across his chest. "From where I stood, it looked like she was running away from you."

"Listen dude, this-"

"How about you listen to what I have to say, because I will only say it once." Zankou grabbed a fist of the mans shirt, pulling him forward. "You come near her again and I will skin you alive. Speak or think of her and I will make you worst nightmares come true. Stay. Away. From. Her."

Piper felt a cold shiver run her back at the tone of voice he held. It was a huge turn on for her at the moment. Zankou released the man with a harsh push. Not sparing him another second of his attention, he ushered Piper and kids out of the shop. Piper figured it was best if they headed home, last thing they needed was Zankou incinerating some innocent bystander.

Malcom glared at the glass doors, fixing his clothes. So that was Zankou, protector of the charmed ones. Malik had said he was a strong one. But he had also said Zankou didn't have any weaknesses. Judging by the little display he'd given, he'd say he may have found Zankou's nonexistent weakness. Flaming out of the shop, he reappeared in his hotel room, just as two men walked in.

"Any updates sir?" The shorter of the two asked.

"Jason, keep trailing the middle sister Phoebe." Malcom mumbled. "Andrew, I want you to follow Piper. See what her routine is. I will keep tabs on Zankou and Cole."

"Yes sir." They both replied, shimmering out.

Malcom served himself a drink, walking towards the window, he watched the city below him. "Soon, he will have done what no one has ever done. End the charmed one and kill the brothers."

Manor:

"Alright boys, go take your stuff up to your rooms and get ready for the sleepover." Piper ordered, just as they walked into the house. "Then come down for some lunch." The two brothers did as ordered, grabbing their new toys and shimmering up to their room. "Zankou have you seen my phone?" She patted her herself, frowning at not finding it.

"No." Zankou walked in behind the trio, closing the door behind him. "I have to check and make sure everything is running on time. If you need anything, have one of my men call for me."

Piper was too focus on her search for her phone, to pay him any attention. "Okay. Where the hell is that damn phone?"

Zankou raised a brow at her annoyance towards her bag. Are humans always so easily frustrated? Moving to stand behind her, he pressed his body against hers and reached over her shoulder. Sticking his hand into the bag, he pulled out her cell phone. "This one?"

Piper huffed, leaning back against him. "Who ever said you weren't helpful."

"Piper!"

Piper had to catch herself, at the sudden disappearing of Zankou as her sister walked into the foyer. "Yes Paige."

"Hey, so we need to talk." Grabbing Piper by the arm, she dragged her into the family room, where Phoebe was already waiting. Not too happy may she add. "Sit."

Piper glanced at Phoebe, hoping she knew what the hell was going on. At last all she got was a shrug. "Paige what is it? I have to be at P3 in an hour, before the band gets there."

"It won't be long." Paige huffed. "Alright, we are just waiting on my charge."

Piper resisted the urge of rolling her eyes. She still needed to speak to Paige about having the seer staying in the manor. Now would be a good time as any. "Since you brought it up, we need to speak about your charge."

Paige frowned. "What about her?"

"She can't stay here." Piper knew it was best to just blurt it out. "She needs to go home or you need to find her another place to stay."

"What?" Paige scoffed. "You have two demons living here and you want me to kick out my charge?"

"I have no one living here." Piper replied. "Zankou is already out of the guest room and Cole only hangs around here during the day."

"Then there shouldn't be any reason as to why she can't stay." Paige shrugged. She wasn't about to give in so easily. "I don't see the problem, since the main problem is no longer here."

"The problem is, she just so happens to be our protectors ex. Who also happens to be the one that had a major hand in his downfall." Phoebe jumped in, surprising everyone in the room. "Having her here will only cause unnecessary tension and danger Paige. Not to mention Cole, who is Zankou's brother, also has a dislike for the seer."

"Also, Zankou promised not to harm her for the moment, but Cole promised no such thing." Piper added. "And as her 'protector' your job is to keep her away from harm."

"Not take her to it." Phoebe finished.

Phoebe was all for keeping the house demon free, but if push came to shove. She would stand with Piper. Besides it wasn't like Zankou had gone back on his word or betrayed them, so in Phoebe's eyes it was wrong not to pick his side in this argument. Besides, she wasn't liking the seer too much, the woman had the worst sticky fingers ever.

"I don't believe this." Paige scoffed, throwing her arms up in the air. "You are all putting demons before an innocent."

"She is anything, but an innocent Paige." Phoebe mumbled.

Piper ran a hand through her hair. This was getting out of hand. "Listen, we are not going to argue about this. Do you even know why the Elders want her?"

"No."

"You answered that real quick." Phoebe pointed out.

"You sure they didn't mention anything?" Paige shook her head. "Nothing about Zankou? Cole? Us?"

"I already said no." Paige snapped. "Are you two doubting me?"

Piper sighed. "No Paige, it's just that it's..."

"Weird." Phoebe said. "They must know something is up."

Paige frowned. "Why? It's not like they are keeping close tabs on us. They have other things to worry about."

"Yeah and one of those things is the prison of a demon." Phoebe said. "There are many things that are off. Since Leo passed away, they haven't tried sending another white-lighter. Zankou is freed and they haven't done anything about it. Cole is back in the picture and not even a peep. Suddenly they call upon you and give you a seer/demon to watch over?"

"Maybe they don't know that Zankou and Cole are here?" Paige shrugged. "Maybe they haven't found the right white-lighter for us."

"No they know." Piper took a seat next to Phoebe. This was going to take a while. "They threaten to hurt us, to stop Zankou from hurting them. They know Cole is here, since they kidnapped him to lure Zankou in. So yes Paige, they know."

"Okay, so th-"

"Wait!" Phoebe yelped, jumping to her feet, pointing a finger to the youngest. "She is a part of their plan, isn't she?"

Piper turned from one sister to the other, completely at a lost. "What? Who? What plan?"

"Think about it. They know they are here. They know we helped free him, but haven't done anything. Suddenly Paige gets charged with the demon that helped lock him up in the past." Phoebe was practically yelling by the end. "It's the only logic explanation to them needing her."

Piper turned towards Paige. She couldn't possibly be helping the Elders behind their backs. "Did you know of this?" Paige remained quiet. "Seriously Paige! You were going to willingly help them lock him up again? Behind our backs?"

"Piper it's not like that." Paige said, trying to calm her sister down. "I swear it."

"Then how is it? Because that seems to be the only logical explanation to all of this." Piper snapped.

Paige exhaled deeply, trying to arrange the thoughts floating in her mind. "When they summoned me, I was just told I had a new charge. They didn't say who or what she was. I didn't know about her and Zankou until that day in the foyer. I swear I don't know what they need her for."

Piper wanted to believer her, she truly did. But it was hard at the moment. "She goes. The last thing we need is her being anywhere near Zankou or my kids."

"Pi-"

"No debating Paige. She goes." Piper was done. "I don't mean to be a bitch, but right now I am picking my demon over yours."

"Hey! Sorry I am late, I needed to sneak back and grab somethings." The seer walked into the living room, carrying a box with what looked like clothes. Dropping the box on the floor, she was taken back by the energy in the room. "Whoa, I am sensing a lot of hostility in this room."

Paige shook her head. "No, everything is fine."

"Ahh, okay good." Pushing pass Piper, she flopped herself onto the couch. "So, what's all this about?"

"Hmm? Oh right." Paige walked over to her bag, pulling out a packet of files. "I was handed this at work today."

Piper grabbed the files, scanning it over. "Custody papers?" The file stated that a 5 year old girl, by the name of Allison was now under the care of Paige.

"Her parents?"

"Father was a drunk. Beat her mother to death, nearly killing Allison. Police got there in time." Paige explained. If only she could have helped the mother as well.

Piper raised her hand, stopping Paige for a moment. "Whoa, okay back up a bit here." Getting both sisters and the demon to settle down, she spoke again. "Explain it from the top."

Paige motioned for them to take a seat. "I got Allison's case four months ago. Her mother had been in a bad spot, so we took over Allison's welfare. Something about her, just got to me. I did all I could to help her mother get Allison back, but in the end she wasn't strong enough. She allowed Allison to get hurt once more. I don't know why she would give me custody of the girl, but I don't know what to do?"

Phoebe sighed, resting her elbows on her knees. "For now there is only one thing we can do. We take her in."