Chapter 42: How to Make a Quilt Out Of Americans
Piper's in the kitchen putting her boots in a paper bag. Buffy walks in.
"Piper, what are you doing? Those are your favourite boots." Buffy says.
Prue and Phoebe walk in.
Piper sighs, "I know. Demon blood from one of our vanquishing and I can't get it out and I can't exactly explain it to the shoe repair guy now can I? It's the third damn pair this month."
"What's the matter, honey?" Phoebe asks.
Piper shakes her head, "Nothing. I've gotta get to the club. Dan's waiting for me."
"Are you really gonna break up with him?" Prue asks.
Piper sighs, "Well, I have to. I mean, I love him but I love Leo more. Not that I'm any closer to figuring out how that's gonna work either. Sometimes being a witch sucks." She leaves out the back door.
"Wicca PMS?" Phoebe asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "I have a feeling when it comes to my sister, it's a lot more than that."
Prue looks to Buffy, "You know it's still weird hearing you call Piper that."
Buffy smiles, "It's not to me. It's actually feels right. Like I'm making it up to her. I know Piper is not Payson well not anymore. But for some reason it just I don't know feels right to think of her and I as sisters even if were not. You two don't mind do you? I still consider you both like sisters also. It's just different…"
Prue sighs, "I think I speak for Phoebe and I when I say no we don't mind. If you feel this is something you have to do. Then by all means do it. After everything we've been through this last year and a half we all know that everything happens for a reason. Maybe there is a reason for this as well." The doorbell rings. They walk into the foyer and opens the door. "Aunt Gail."
Gail smiles, "My beautiful girls." Prue and Phoebe hug her.
Gail looks to Buffy, "And let me guess, Patience daughter?"
Buffy smiles and nods, "Yep. I'm Payson. But my friends Buffy."
Gail nods, "Buffy Anne if I remember right."
Buffy looks at Gail as they move into the living room. "How did you know? Except for my friends and Prue, Piper and Phoebe I don't use that name anymore. I go by the name…"
Gail nods, "Your mom chose for you, of course."
Moments later Phoebe finds a photo in a closet and takes it in the living room.
"I knew we had an old picture of you and Grams somewhere," Phoebe says.
Gail smiles, "Oh my God, look how young we were. I remember when this was taken. Right outside our sorority house. We'd just met."
"A couple of hotties." Buffy says.
Gail nods, "That was then. This is now."
"Hey, now looks pretty good." Prue says.
Gail smiles, "Believe me, the golden years are anything but. Mostly it's regret. I miss your Grams. I still can't believe she is gone. How's your mom, Payson?"
Buffy sighs, "She passed last year. She had a brain tumor."
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that," Gail says. "You just never know when it's your time, do you? Anyway, you all sound like you are doing very well. You and Piper and your careers and…" she looks to Phoebe "…you back at school. Good for you." She looks to Buffy, "And you only a year from graduation from high school, congratulations a year early."
"Yeah, we're doing alright." Prue says.
Gail nods, "What about men? Anyone special in your lives?"
Buffy shakes her head, "No I recently went through a bad breakup a couple months ago."
"First loves," Gail says. "Are always the hardest to get over."
Phoebe shakes her head, "Nope."
Prue nods, "Well, I mean, Piper's got someone, sort of."
Phoebe nods, "I think we're just picky. We don't wanna go through all the husbands that Grams went through."
Gail shakes her head, "Don't be too picky. You don't wanna end up like an old spinster like me." She coughs.
"Are you okay?" Buffy asks.
"Here, have some of this." Phoebe says and hands Gail a drink and she takes a sip.
"Oh, thank you. Damn allergies." Gail says.
Prue nods, "So what brings you to San Francisco?"
Gail smiles, "Well, my dears, you do. Do you remember the Bridge clubs your Grams hosted here every other Saturday?"
Prue nods, "Mmm hmm."
"Did you actually see any of us play any cards?" Gail asks.
Phoebe shakes her head, "No. Grams always sent us outside to play."
"Of course you knew mom kept me away. I didn't even know about Piper, Prue or Phoebe till last year." Buffy says.
Gail nods, "Of course Payson." She looks to Phoebe and Prue, "That's because it wasn't a Bridge club. It was her coven. Your Grams was the most skillful witch any of us ever knew."
"Witch?" Phoebe asks.
Gail nods, "I still practice craft myself every now and then. I don't have any real powers, mostly I just play around with it."
"Wow. You and Grams, witches, who knew?" Prue says.
Gail smiles, "You don't have to pretend with me. Your Grams and Patience told me everything. Including what you'd become when she died. The Charmed Ones and the Charmed Slayer."
A couple moments later Buffy is on the phone. "Piper, it's me, pick up. Piper your Aunt Gail's in town and guess what? She knows we're, you know what's."
Piper picks up the phone. "Whoa, I'm not alone here, remember."
"I thought that that would get your attention, my sister." Buffy says.
"Buffy, this is a really bad time." Piper says.
Buffy nods, "Well, I'm sorry but it's important."
"Wait, how does Aunt Gail know that we're... you know what? Never mind, you can tell me later. I have to go, Dan is here." Piper says.
"Look, your Aunt Gail needs our help. She's in trouble." Buffy says.
"What do you mean? What kind of trouble?" Piper asks.
"The kind of trouble you can't talk about with Dan right there, demon trouble." Buffy says.
"Of course, why not. Alright, I'll just put my life on hold one more time and I'll be right there." Piper says.
"I'm sorry, my sister." Buffy says.
"I know, Buffy." Piper says as she hangs up.
Buffy walks back into the living room and sits down next to Prue. "Piper's on her way."
"How come you said my sister, when you were talking to Piper?" Gail asks. "I thought you were their cousin."
Buffy sighs, "Do you believe in past lifes?"
Gail nods, "Yeah, why?"
"What do you know about Grams mother?"
"I know here name was Payson and you were named after her, why?"
"Piper was Payson in a past life. And I was her sister."
"You were Penelope in your past life?" Gail asks. "Grams mentioned her once, saying she had been named for her aunt who had passed away a couple years before she was born."
Prue looks to Buffy, "I didn't know that." She looks at Gail. "For some reason Grams didn't write down her mom or her aunt or her cousins full names. They are only listed by first initial and last name."
Buffy smiles, "I think it's nice Payson named her daughter after her sister. It means she likely forgave her."
Later as Piper walked in the front door Buffy was waiting for her smiling.
"You look happy," Piper says.
"You gave forgave me," Buffy says.
"What?" Piper asks.
"Your past life, Payson. She forgave her sister. Grams was named for her sister." Buffy says.
"How do you know?" Piper asks.
"Your Aunt Gail said that Grams mentioned she was named for her aunt. Payson's sister was named Penelope." Buffy says.
Piper smiles.
Moments later in the conservatory…
"Have you contacted the police yet?" Prue asks.
Gail shakes her head, "And tell them what? That I think there's a demon running loose in our streets? They'd think I was crazy."
"Try getting your boots cleaned." Piper says.
"Huh?" Gail asks confused.
Buffy shakes her head, "Don't ask."
Prue nods, "Still, you said that corpses have been found dug up and skinned. I mean, what'd the police think about that?"
"I don't know," Gail says.
"Maybe it's just some sicko grave robber," Phoebe says.
Gail nods, "Well, it's, uh, it's-it's more than that. I may be wrong but I think I remember seeing in your Book Of Shadows that..."
Prue frowns, "Oh. Wait, you know about that too?"
Gail nods, "And when your Grams was showing it to me, I think that I remember seeing something about a skinned demon or something, who made people young again."
"Young again? Why, what's so bad about that?" Piper asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "There's gotta be a catch. There's always a catch. Are you sure the book said it was skinned?"
"I think so, but maybe we better go look," Gail says.
Moments later Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Gail are in the attic looking in the Charmed Book Of Shadows. Buffy is of course looking through her own Book.
"Here's something. Cryto, the demon of vanity." Phoebe says.
Gail nods, "Cryto, that sounds vaguely familiar. What does it say?"
Phoebe squints trying to read the Book.
"In the 16th century, Cryto traveled from dukedom to dukedom, praying on people's vanity, bestowing youth and and beauty in exchange for their souls." Buffy says noticing how Phoebe is having trouble reading the Book.
Prue frowns, "Youth for souls? Why would anybody make that trade?"
"Believe me, I know a lot of people who'd consider it," Gail says. "Age, disease. Uh, that's why I'm so worried. I know so many potential victims in Santa Costa. Friends."
Phoebe squints again.
"Are you squinting?" Piper asks.
Phoebe shakes her head, "No."
Buffy shakes her head, "Cryto was found out and skinned alive by a group of witches who believed it would keep his spirit from ever being resurrected again. You were right."
Prue nods, "Yeah, but those witches obviously weren't right, otherwise there wouldn't be a vanquishing spell in the book."
"So someone is skinning people to give him a new skin?" Piper asks.
Prue nods, "Well, giving their bodies somebody's spirit makes sense."
Phoebe nods, "Well, at least it's an easy vanquishing spell. I mean, if Cryto really does exist, it shouldn't be a problem getting rid of him."
Gail smiles, "Goodness, you must be very powerful witches."
"Ah, rub it in," Piper says.
Gail nods, "Uh, how soon can you come to Santa Costa?"
Piper shrugs, "Buffy, Prue, Phoebe, can I talk to you three for a sec? Out here."
"Take your time," Gail says.
Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe walk out of the room.
"Piper, Gail is like family. You love her, we all do." Phoebe says.
Prue nods, "She was like a second Grams to us."
Phoebe smiles, "Yeah, only a nice one. One that never said no."
Piper sighs, "I know that, but something about her story, it's just, it's not right. I mean, bodies are being dug up all over town and she's the only one who's noticing?"
Buffy nods, "I have to agree with Piper. Something doesn't add up."
Phoebe sighs, "I admit, it's funky but what are we supposed to do? Tell her that we're not gonna help her?"
"No, of course not. It's just, it's never ending. I mean, we have no lives. I don't even have time to break up with Dan properly." Piper says.
Prue nods, "Look, honey, Santa Costa's right over the bridge. Alright, we'll leave early, go check things out, be back by tomorrow night." Gail comes down the stairs. "Hi. So, we'll be there at 9:00 tomorrow morning, okay?"
Gail nods.
"Would you like to stay here? We have plenty of room." Phoebe says.
"Yeah you can have my room I can sleep with Piper." Buffy says.
Gail shakes her head, "Oh, no, thank you. I have to get home. Cats to feed, you know. Thank you. You'll never know how much this means to me."
Later that evening Buffy walks into Phoebe's room closing the door behind her. "Phoebe when are you going to tell them the truth?"
"What are you talking about?" Phoebe asks.
"You were squinting earlier. Don't say you weren't because I saw it and you know being the Slayer I have pretty good eye sight." Buffy says.
Phoebe sighs and pulls out the glasses, "Don't tell them. I will do it when I'm ready."
Buffy nods, "I wouldn't of anyways. It's not my secret to tell."
The next day Prue, Piper, Buffy and Phoebe drive in to the gas station. They get out of the car. Phoebe's holding a map.
"Nice work, Pheebs, only a couple of hours late." Piper says.
Buffy gives Phoebe a knowing glance.
"Yeah, next time I'll navigate," Prue says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "It's this map. It's messed up. There is no connector road at highway twenty-eight."
"No? What is that?" Prue ask as she points to it on the map.
"That little squiggle?" Phoebe asks.
Prue nods, "Yeah."
Phoebe shakes her head, "I didn't see that." She looks to Buffy. "And don't tell me I need glasses, okay, because anybody could've missed that."
Buffy sighs.
"Phoebe, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing glasses. I mean, I wear them." Prue says.
Phoebe nods, "I know, but you're older." Piper laughs. "Well you are."
Prue nods, "Right, well, you know, I really hope that demon of vanity is after you because your soul would be toast."
"I'm just gonna ignore that comment and go ask for directions." Phoebe says.
Prue nods, "Okay."
Phoebe walks away.
Piper notices two elderly people walk past them holding hands. "Cute, huh? Still holding hands."
Buffy smiles, "That could be you, my sister, and Leo in like fifty years."
Piper shakes her head, "Me maybe but not Leo. Whitelighters don't age, remember? Of course they're not supposed to date witches either so maybe I don't have to worry about that."
"Piper," Prue says.
Piper sighs, "I know, I'm sorry, I've been a drag lately but I've just been confused and frustrated. I mean, nothing's changed really since Leo and I met except that I'm two years older and still have no idea what we're doing. Sometimes I worry we're all gonna end up like Aunt Gail."
Two elderly men are giving Phoebe directions and she's writing them down.
Elderly man #1 nods, "Then you take Hotsmen to the lights, you turn right past the fire station to Sycamore."
"Yeah-yeah, then straight up the hill and there's a big Victorian on the left. Well, you can't miss it, it's not far." Elderly man #2 says.
Phoebe smiles, "Okay, straight up the hill, great, thanks."
"Pheebs, come on," Buffy says.
"Okay, okay." Phoebe says as she puts the pen and paper in her bag and her glasses fall out.
Elderly man #1 picks up Phoebe's glasses, "Oh, excuse me, honey. Are these your glasses?"
Phoebe looks at the glasses, "Uh..." She sees Prue and Piper staring at her. Buffy sighs. "No, no, those aren't mine." She walks to the car. "We are all set. All words, no squigglies." She gets in.
Buffy leans in and whispers to Phoebe, "Why are you hiding this from them?"
Phoebe doesn't answer as they drive off.
Later at Gail's house Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe are sitting on the couch.
"More tea, girls?" Amanda asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "No, thanks." Amanda pours the tea anyway. "I'd love some, thank you."
Amanda smiles, "How about you?"
Piper shakes her head.
"It's better to humour her, Piper. She won't take no for an answer." Gail says.
Piper sighs, "Well, then, by all means, fill her up."
Amanda fills Piper and then Phoebe's glasses.
"So, Aunt Gail, who else knows about Cryto than us?" Prue asks.
Amanda goes to pour more tea in Prue's cup but Prue quickly covers it with her hand.
Gail nods, "Well, I hope you won't be too upset, I had to tell Amanda and Helen. Actually, they were the first to tell me about the dug up corpses."
"Really?" Buffy asks skeptically.
Helen nods, "Don't worry. We won't tell a soul about you being witches and all. Our little secret."
"That's good to know." Prue says.
Piper pulls a face and looks in her cup.
"Is something the matter?" Amanda asks.
Piper nods, "Uh, it's just... what kind of tea is this? It's... different."
Gail smiles, "It's a special blend. Uh, listen, maybe you had better get going to start to look for whoever might be trying to summon Cryto."
"Gail..." Amanda says.
Gail nods, "Two of the corpses were found in that old furniture warehouse at route ten, weren't they Helen?"
"Yes, I think so." Helen says.
Buffy shakes her head, "That's not really a lot to go on."
Gail nods, "Well, you have to start somewhere. Uh, you just go out route ten and then turn up Willow and it will be right there."
They start leaving towards the door.
"Okay, so, um, I guess we'll be back later." Prue says.
Gail nods, "Yeah, we'll, we'll be here."
They leave.
Later at the warehouse. Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe arrive. They get out of the car.
"Do you guys see anything?" Prue asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "No. And my spidey senses aren't tingling either."
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Piper asks.
Phoebe shakes her head, "Don't look at me, I didn't navigate this time."
Prue nods, "Are you guy's thinking what I am thinking?"
Buffy nods, "Wild goose chase?"
Piper frowns, "Why would Aunt Gail send us out here for no reason?"
"I don't know but she seemed in an awful hurry to get us outta th... Whoa." Prue says.
Buffy reaches out to steady Prue, "Are you okay?"
Prue shakes her head, "No, I'm kind of feeling light headed all of a sudden."
Phoebe nods, "I'm not feeling so hot myself."
Piper and Buffy look at each and they can see it in each other's faces that neither of them feel very at the moment either.
At Gail's house Gail, Amanda and Helen are chanting the spell. They are standing in a circle with Cryto in the middle. "Powers of the witches rise, course unseen across the skies, come to us who call you near, come to us and settle here."
"It's not working." Cryto says.
"It will," Gail says.
"Powers of the witches rise, course unseen across the skies, come to us who call you near, come to us and settle here." Gail, Helen and Amanda chant.
At the warehouse the powers rise out of Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe's bodies and float over to the house.
Later back at Gail's house Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe pull up in the car. They get out and go inside.
"Aunt Gail?" Prue asks.
"Anybody home?" Piper says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "I don't understand what the hell is going on."
"Piper and I told you something wasn't right." Buffy says.
Prue nods, "Yeah, well, what's not right is I have the feeling it's Gail and her friends who summoned this demon."
Phoebe sighs, "Yeah, but if that were true, then why would Aunt Gail want us to come to Santa Costa?"
They walk in the kitchen.
"It stinks." Prue says.
Piper nods, "This is what I'm saying."
Buffy shakes her head, "No she's talking about the smell. I think it's coming from here."
They walk down into the basement.
"What is that smell?" Piper asks.
They see the clothes on the floor.
"Wait a minute, what are those?" Phoebe asks.
Prue nods, "Oh, I would say by the looks of things, that's Amanda and that would be Helen."
"Oh my Goddess!" Buffy says.
"I hope that didn't happen from drinking the tea." Phoebe says.
Prue shakes her head, "Yeah, that must of happened when they tried to summon Cryto. Although, I don't see Aunt Gail here. That's a good sign I hope."
A rat runs past them. Piper gets a fright and when she tries to freeze it, nothing happens.
"What's the matter?" Phoebe asks.
"I don't know but I can't freeze that rat thing." Piper says.
"What?" Prue and Buffy said.
"You try move it." Piper says to Prue.
Prue tries to move it but it doesn't work. She looks to Buffy who tries to power up a fireball, but nothing happens. "Okay, what the hell is going on with our powers?"
"Maybe we oughta ask Aunt Gail." Phoebe says.
Moments later Piper's looking at a photo, Buffy and Prue's looking at pieces of paper.
Phoebe walks in holding a hemlock root. "Well, they were definitely making a potion. Hemlock root."
"No wonder the tea tasted funny. How did we let her do this to us?" Piper says.
Prue sighs, "Because we trusted her."
"I just followed your guys lead since you all knew her." Buffy says.
Phoebe nods, "Yeah, well, she just got crossed off my Christmas list."
"Aunt Gail was Grams' best friend. She used to bake us cookies." Piper says.
Buffy nods, "And now she's spiking our tea."
"But why?" Piper asks, "Just to be young again? I mean, she had to know she'd be giving up her soul in exchange."
"Maybe it wasn't just for youth. Maybe it was for health. These are all doctor bills. Recent ones. Radiation treatment, chemo therapy. I don't think she has very long to live." Prue says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "That still doesn't excuse what she did. What she did to us. I mean, you can't use magic to save yourself."
"No, not without consequences and there's no bigger one than giving up your soul." Buffy says.
"I just don't understand. Why steal our powers?" Phoebe asks.
"Cryto must of wanted more out of the bargain. Aunt Gail was desperate enough to give it to him." Prue says.
"We shouldn't of left her alone in the attic." Piper says.
Phoebe nods, "Okay, well, we have the potion, if we can find the spell then we should be able to transfer our powers back."
"Are you kidding? We won't be able to get near him." Piper says.
"Well, he has our powers but that doesn't necessarily mean he knows how to use them. Besides, do you have a better idea?" Buffy says.
Piper nods, "Go home and call it a day?"
"Funny. Come on." Prue says.
Moments later they're in the car and they stop at a stop sign. The elderly men, that are now young, pull up beside them.
"Hiya, toots," Man #1 says before they drive off.
Phoebe frowns, "Wait a minute."
"Tell me those aren't the same guys you asked for directions." Buffy says.
Prue nods, "Uh, okay, Cryto's close. Let's drive."
They pull up at the gas station a moment later.
Gail sees them and runs outside. "Prue, run, hurry!"
They get out of the car.
"Aunt Gail?" Prue asks.
Cryto makes a crow bar fly towards them, they duck and it hits the window of Piper's car.
"So much for him not knowing how to use our powers." Piper says.
"At least he's not learned to use mine yet."
Cryto pushes Gail on the ground.
"I've got one power he doesn't have." Phoebe says.
Cryto makes Phoebe fly through the air.
"Phoebe." Piper and Buffy says.
"Well two can play at that game," Buffy says.
Prue pulls Buffy Piper behind a petrol bowser. "No, no, okay, wait. It's just way too dangerous."
"I'm still a Slayer, Prue." Buffy says.
"No." Prue says.
"Nobody's sending me back." Cryto says.
"But we can't just sit here," Piper says.
Prue shakes her head, "No, we have to think. Alright, what do we know about our powers that he doesn't?"
Gail runs behind a car where Phoebe is. "Oh, thank God."
"Stay away from me." Phoebe says as she looks above the car over at Prue, Buffy and Piper, she puts her hands up and nods.
"Alright, Phoebe's thinking what we're thinking." Prue says.
"Great, what are we thinking?" Piper says.
Buffy smiles.
"You can't hide from me." Cryto says.
"I didn't want to die. It was wrong. Here, you'll need this." Gail says as she gives Phoebe the spell.
"The spell." Phoebe says.
"Just follow my lead." Prue says, "You two ready?"
Buffy nods, "Ready."
"Uh huh." Piper says.
They come out from behind the petrol bowser.
"Alright, we give up." Prue says.
Buffy raises her hands, "Yeah we give up."
Piper frowns, "Excuse me?"
Phoebe sneaks up behind Cryto.
"No, no, no, Phoebe, wait, he'll freeze us." Prue says.
Cryto turns around and freezes Phoebe. Or so he thinks. "That's a marvellous power." He turns back around and Phoebe kicks him.
"Good witches don't freeze." Phoebe says.
They run away and around behind a different building.
"Okay, what do we do about Gail?" Phoebe asks.
"Well, without our powers there's nothing much that we can do. Buffy is the only one with any kind of power at the moment."
Buffy sighs, "And you didn't want me going after Cryto at the gas station."
Prue sighs, "Because there was no tactical advantage, Buffy. It would have been suicide."
"Okay, so we have to get back our powers and then find Cryto before he finds us." Phoebe says.
"Agreed. Alright, let's go." Prue says.
Buffy, Prue and Phoebe start to leave but Piper just stands there.
"Piper, come on." Buffy says.
Piper shakes her head.
"Piper, what's the matter?" Prue asks.
"I've had it." Piper says.
Phoebe frowns, "What do you mean you've had it? Had it with what?"
"With being a witch." Piper says.
Moments later they are walking towards Gail's house.
"We can't just leave your car." Phoebe says.
"We'll call a cab." Piper says.
Buffy shakes her head, "That'll cost a hundred bucks."
Piper shakes her head, "I'm not going back to town. I'm through with demon hunting."
"Piper, come on." Prue says.
"There's really nothing more to say." Piper says.
"Well, if it's getting back our powers that you're worried about, I can do that, I have a spell that can do that." Phoebe says.
Piper shakes her head, "I don't want my powers back."
"You don't mean that." Phoebe says.
Piper sighs, "Don't I? I think it may be my solution to all of my problems."
Prue frowns, "Piper, wait a second. I know exactly what you're going through. Remember when Andy died? I didn't want to be a witch anymore either."
Piper shakes her head, "That's different."
"How?" Prue asks.
"Because not wanting to be a witch isn't a symptom of something else like it is for you, Prue. For me it's the problem. It's the cause, it's the problem of everything. I just, I want a life that hasn't got a lot of death in it. I don't think that's too much to ask." Piper says.
"You can't do this." Phoebe says.
Piper shakes her head, "Phoebe, we're all gonna do it sooner or later. I'm just doing it first."
Inside the Gail's House Piper goes to the phone and starts dialing a number. Buffy hangs it up.
"What are you doing?" Piper asks.
Buffy sighs, "Piper, you can't do this. It effects all of us."
Piper sighs, "Buffy, I love you, you are my favorite cousin…"
"I'm your only cousin," Buffy says.
"…but I don't wanna give up having a life." Piper says.
Buffy shakes her head, "We're not asking you to."
Piper nods, "Yes you are. Just by asking me to be a witch."
Buffy shakes her head, "Piper, you were born a witch. It's not a choice, it's a fact."
"Says who?" Piper asks. "Up until two years ago I didn't know I was born a witch. Neither did you guys and we were perfectly happy then with perfectly normal lives. I miss that, don't you?"
Buffy sighs, "First off I haven't had a normal life for three years. And I'm still going to be the Slayer. The only way to change that is for me to die. You know being a witch actually makes my job as the Slayer easier."
Prue nods, "Yeah, well, sometimes. But look, I've accepted the fact that I can't just turn back the clock and pretend that it never happened and neither can you."
Phoebe nods in agreement.
Piper sighs, "I don't wanna end up like Aunt Gail, old and alone and wishing I was young again so I can do all the things I missed out on."
Prue hugs Piper. "We won't let that happen to you."
"No we won't my sister," Buffy says joining in on the hug.
Phoebe joins the hug. "Just help us get our powers back. Please? We can't do it without you."
"We won't do it without you." Prue says.
They go down to the basement.
"How do we know Cryto will even come here?" Piper asks.
Prue shrugs, "If he's gonna look for us, he's gonna start here."
Piper puts the iced-tea on the table.
"Well, we can try summoning like Gail and her friends did." Phoebe says.
Buffy shakes her head, "I think that only works with spirits, Pheebs."
"I still don't understand how we're gonna get him to drink this without having any powers." Piper says.
Prue smiles, "We have to get him to use one of the powers he doesn't know how to use yet."
"Astral projection?" Buffy asks.
Prue nods, "Exactly. If we can distract him long enough to be in two places at the same time..."
"We might be able to trick him into thinking that I'm still looking for the potion." Prue says.
"Alright, I'm only doing this for you guys and if I get killed, I'm gonna haunt the both of you forever." Piper says.
Buffy smiles and hugs Piper, "I don't know about these two. But I would be grateful to have you haunting me."
"Yeah, yeah. Got the spell?" Prue says.
"Yes. I got it," Phoebe says as she hands it to Prue.
"Anybody home? I know you're here and I know where you are." Cryto says from outside. Phoebe and Buffy runs to the stairs.
Cryto walks in and Phoebe and Buffy in tandem kick Cryto and he falls down the stairs. Prue and Piper push some shelves on top of him.
"Buffy, Phoebe, the potion." Prue says.
Buffy and Phoebe head up the stairs out of the basement.
"No!" Cryto says as he crawls out from under the shelves and makes Prue and Piper fly across the room and they land on the ground hard.
"Ow." Piper says.
"Ohh." Prue says.
"We got it!" Buffy calls down.
"Buffy, Pheebs, get the potion." Prue says.
"Start chanting the spell." Phoebe says.
"We need the potion first." Piper says.
"It won't work." Cryto says.
"Just start, we've got a plan." Buffy says.
"Powers of the witches rise, course unseen across the skies, come to us..." Piper and Prue chant.
Cryto astral projects into the other room and his body falls to the ground.
"Get the potion," Prue says.
Upstairs Cryto appears.
Phoebe smiles, "Pretty nifty power, huh?" She and Buffy hits him in the throat and kicks him.
"Do it!" Buffy says.
In the basement Prue opens Cryto's mouth and Piper gets ready to pour in the potion. "Give him all of it."
Piper pours the potion in his mouth.
Cryto astral projects back in his body.
"He's coming back." Phoebe calls down just as she and Buffy come down the stairs.
"Powers of the witches rise, course unseen across the skies, come to us who call you near, come to us and settle here." Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Buffy chants.
Their powers float out of Cryto back into them.
"Wanna see what does freeze?" Piper says as she freezes Cryto.
"Pheebs." Prue says.
Phoebe smiles, "What witches done and them undone, return this spirit and back within, and separate him from his skin." Cryto unfreezes and he gets separated from his skin just before he explodes. "Ouch. That look liked it hurt."
"Yeah, well, I hope so for Aunt Gail's sake." Prue says.
Buffy nods, "And Helen and Amanda's."
The next day back at the Manor Piper opens a box and brand new boots are in there. "Very nice."
Prue smiles, "Well, we thought you might appreciate a pair without demon blood."
"I do, very much. Thank you." Piper says.
Buffy nods, "So my sister, Prue, Phoebe and I were kind of wondering..."
Phoebe nods, "Because we want you to be happy."
Prue smiles, "Very happy."
Buffy nods, "But we were wondering if we should be budgeting for more shoes or not."
"Well, I wish I could tell you getting my powers back made me appreciate what I lost..." Piper says.
"But..." Phoebe says.
Piper sighs, "But I feel like I'm back we're I started. I mean, I understand what you guys are saying and everything but I can't change the way I feel."
Buffy nods, "So you really are quitting?"
"I want to for all the reasons we already talked about but, um, I'm only gonna do that if and when you guys want to also." Piper says.
Phoebe smiles, "Well, I'm always gonna wanna be a witch. That's for sure."
Prue smiles, "She's young."
Phoebe shakes her head, "Oh, give me a break."
Buffy nods, "I will always want to be a witch. But its more because of the fact it makes my being the Slayer easier. I would love to have a normal life but I know for me at least it's not really in the cards. Even if I live to be a whitehaired old Slayer. I will still be a Slayer."
"Alright, I gotta go," Piper says.
Phoebe smiles, "Good luck." Piper leaves. "Oh, poor Dan. So do you think we should worry?"
Prue shakes her head, "No, he'll be alright."
"I mean, about Piper quitting," Phoebe says.
Buffy nods, "Maybe."
Phoebe shows Buffy and Prue her glasses.
"About time," Buffy says.
"You little liar. You did go see the optometrist." Prue says before looking at Buffy, "You knew?"
Buffy nods, "Yeah I knew. I confronted her before we left for Gail's."
"Yeah, well, let's just say I'm not as concerned with my vanity anymore." Phoebe says as she puts on her glasses.