Adjusting the files in front of him, Judge Barker begins to speak. He clears his throat. "Would either party like to make their closing argument before I give my ruling?"

"Yes Your Honor," replied Clark.

Cole looks at the girls for confirmation. They nod. "We do," answered Cole.

"Very well," the judge agrees. "Mr. Clark, you may conclude."

Clark gets up. "Placing a child in the right home takes a great deal of process - it cannot be sporadically made in one small meeting. Things as important as this need time, and basing the decision on what a seven-year-old child wants…well, there's a saying that children don't know what they want." Clark starts motioning with his hands as he steps out of his little tabled area. "A child doesn't want to go to bed; they want a story. But clearly, the child needs rest. Do we appease her for the mere fact that she wants to stay up? Or, for a more relevant example, a child sees a stranger in a car and he is holding toys and candy. The child wants those toys and wants that candy, so she walks to the car; as dangerous as it may be, she walks to it. Now, in this day and age, we educate our children to know not to talk to strange people, even if they are trying to tempt us with nice things." Clark pauses for a moment to collect his thoughts. He presses his fingers to his chin, takes a breath and says, "Serena seems like a wonderful smart child, and I'm sure she likes the Halliwells very much. I mean, what child wouldn't like them - especially if they buy them stuffed animals and take them to nice places --"

All of a sudden the room freezes. Cole, Phoebe and Paige turn to look at Piper.

Paige says in a surprised voice, "Piper - you froze the courtroom."

"Yeah?" Piper said as if nothing was wrong with it.

"You can't freeze the closing arguments!" snapped Paige.

Piper, raising her eyebrows, replied, "Well…I just did!" She smiles sarcastically. "And you know what, I should've done it a long time ago when he was raggin' on Serena!" She sighs, exasperated. "I can't stand this anymore! Why does he continue to make us look like the bad guys? He's the real bad guy!"

Phoebe tries to reason with Piper. "Piper, honey, we just gotta get through this, and please with no magic…for Serena's sake. We agreed to let the real world handle this one…you can't ask yourself to rid the world of the natural bad stuff -- normal people can't be vanquished. Annoying DAs just have to be dealt with. We gotta trust that things are just gonna pan out our way. Let the judge deal with his "demons" and we can save our battles for the supernatural."

Piper sighs. Paige leans over and adds, "You know, she's right Piper. Courtroom's can get very messy, without the help of supernatural demons. Trust me, I should know!"

Sighing again, Piper looks to the back of the courtroom doors, knowing that Serena is behind them somewhere. Pondering for a moment, she says, "Ok, ok…for Serena's sake…no magic…." Reluctantly, she unfreezes the courtroom.

Clark continues his arguments. "But we cannot forget the fact that two murders happened in that house!" Squinting his eyes his reiterates, "Two murders!" He pauses again. "How can we with clear conscience send a seven year old to possible murderous people?"

Piper's eyes widen. She looks furious. Paige motions with her hands for Piper to remain cool. Piper presses her lips together in anger and glares at Clark while he continues.

Clark walks over to his desk and grabs a folder of files. "We have numbers of families lined up for Serena…it just takes time to place her with the right, and more appropriate one! But please…the Halliwells? Why, they couldn't even take care of their dear sister Prue! What makes us think they can handle a seven year old child?"

Piper freezes the room again and stands up. "Alright, that's it!" Cole Phoebe and Paige stand up with her to hold her down. "Cole, can't you object or something? ANYTHING?"

Cole, shaking his head, answers, "It's the closing arguments…we can't interrupt. He has the floor now."

"That is freakin' ridiculous!" replied Piper.

"I agree," added Phoebe. "Can't you do something?"

Sadly, Cole answers, "I wish I could…. But no… We'll have the last word, don't worry."

Upset, they all sit down and Piper unfreezes the room.

Clark finishes up. "The defense's testimony was touching - especially Serena's. But what we can't ignore is the fact that placing a child with the best-suited family means that we have to consider all things. And we must ask ourselves, in the end, if living with the Halliwells is the safest place for Serena to be." And with that, Clark turned and took his seat.

The courtroom sat in silence for a few seconds as Cole began to collect his thoughts. Piper glanced back at the courtroom doors…she started to second-guess herself again -- will Serena be safe with them?

Cole gets up. "I was a DA once too, remember. I've seen crime scenes; I've seen families live through murders, some in their own home. And the homeowners very rarely are the culprits. Evil is out there in our world, we cannot deny that fact. Evil people exist out there, some that do horrible things. But the Halliwells…they're just a family. A family with outstretched arms waiting to adopt that wonderful little girl outside. And we are discussing the future of that child. And that is ALL we are discussing - not the past murder of their sister, not some other gullible kid who wants candy and toys. We're discussing Serena - who desperately wants to live with this family. And yes, placing a child in a permanent home takes time. But, we've given it time. We've given it six months time, and in that six-month period, Serena has run away 15 different times. Is it safer to have her roaming the streets of San Francisco - alone, scared, unprotected? We've left her welfare to Social Services and other foster families. But it's time for her to stop running. And after the testimonies we've heard, it is clear that this IS the right family for her. Serena's testimony itself speaks on its own." Cole pauses for a moment as he folds his hands. As he unfolds them, he says slowly, confidently and persistently, "It's time for her to stop running!" And with that, Cole turns and walks to his seat.

The courtroom remains silent for a moment or two.

Judge Barker folds his hands and looks as if he is in deep thought. The girls look on nervously in anticipation. The judge then begins his ruling. "Placing a child with the best-suited parents is one of the hardest decisions our judicial system has to make. And I agree with Mr. Clark - it takes time and is a long and drawn out process. We must guarantee that the child will be safe… under any circumstances!" He pauses for a moment. "But I have reviewed Serena's case-file, and that child has been given time -- too much in fact! Children need stability; it's one of the things that make them feel safe and secure. And I can argue the fact that Serena feels safe, secure, protected, cared for, and most importantly, loved. And it isn't a result of the overly trusting nature of children as Mr. Clark was trying to imply. In my professional opinion, this is the real thing. And I agree with Mr. Turner - it is time for Serena to stop running. Therefore, I feel that it is in the best interest of the child that she be placed in the permanent custody with the Halliwell family."

The girl's are ecstatic and cannot believe what they are hearing. Piper's eyes widen and they all let out a sigh of relief and hug. The judge interrupts for a final word.

"Provided…that you will have a check-up period to make sure things are running smoothly and that Serena is happy and well-cared for."

"Oh you will not have ANY problems in that area," replied Phoebe as she grinned enormously.

With a smile, the judge says, "I'm sure there won't be. I'm ordering adoption papers to be drawn up, and I want a transfer of Serena's records to the Halliwells after everything is squared away at Social Services."

"Will do Your Honor," replied Cole with a smile as he hugs Phoebe. Piper and Paige are ecstatic and hug.

The judge then concludes, "Now go and give that little girl a good home!" And with that, his struck his mallet and left to is chambers.

Still in shock, Piper with an awed expression hugs Cole and thanks him.

The courtroom doors open and Serena and Mrs. Robinson are hand-in-hand. The girls turn around to see them.

Serena glances up at Mrs. Robinson and asks, "So what happened?"

By the look on the girl's faces, Mrs. Robinson knew. "I think you've just found a new home," replied Mrs. Robinson.

Serena's mouth opens extremely wide and she turns to the girls. She quickly lets go of Mrs. Robinson's hand and jolts to the girls. With outstretched arms, Piper lifts her up and they hug. Phoebe and Paige join in as they all giggle.

Clark takes his briefcase and heads for a side door and without anyone noticing he then vanishes into thin air.

* * * * * * * *

The scene shifts to the Seer's chambers. Her eyes are a ghostly white but then return to normal. The Source stands nearby. "So, what did you see?" Before she can answer him, Clark appears.

"I thought you said they wouldn't adopt the child?" said Clark who is very annoyed.

"What?? Is he correct Seer? Have the Charmed Ones adopted the child?" asked the Source suspiciously.

The Seer turns to both of them. "Yes. But Golio went too far playing the prosecution. Scaring an innocent child like that wins the humans over any day! You played your part a little too risky Golio."

Golio (Clark) responds, "You said to make it so they wouldn't adopt her. I did what I thought was necessary in the human world!"

The source, dismissing Golio's comments, turns to the Seer. "What do you see Seer?"

"I see destiny being fulfilled. The Charmed Ones will raise Serena. This is how it should be," replied the Seer.

"How is that possible?" yelled the Source.

"It was what the other side calls "love." Humans are governed by their hearts…it always wins them over," answered the Seer.

Disgusted, the Source then moves towards the Seer. "And the child…?"

The Seer looks straight at the Source. "Being raised by the Charmed Ones is no ordinary thing. Their side shall expect great things from that little one…"

Revolted, the Source turns away in a grunt. The Seer turns ghostly-eyed once again.

* * * * * * * *

Back in the courtroom, Serena lifts her head off of Piper's shoulders and says, "So you can be my family? The judge said yes? Now I can live with you? You can adopt me?"

As they walk out of the courtroom giggling, they all reply, "Yes! We're now officially a family!"

"YAY!" yelled Serena. She could not stop herself from smiling.

They exit the judicial building and Piper puts Serena down. Serena turns and faces all three girls. She then goes over to Paige and wraps her arms around her waist.

Paige, in awe, says sweetly while Serena was still attached to her waist, "What was that for?"

Serena let go of Paige and looked up at her innocently. "For helping me when I was at Social Services."

Paige smiles sweetly at Serena and then looks up at Piper.

Piper then reminds Serena, "Serena, Paige is our sister remember. She's part of your family now too."

Recollecting this, Serena cutely put her hand to her mouth and says in a cute voice, "Oh yeah, I forgot." She then giggled. Paige smiles on lovingly.

Serena then looks to Cole and says, "You're Mr. Turner, right?"

"Yup! But you can call me Cole."

Serena motions for him to bend down (because he was really tall). Cole bends down to Serena's level and she then wraps her arms around his neck. Caught off-guard, Cole rubs Serena's back. She lets go of him and says with a smile, "Thank you for everything Cole."

Cole gives an adorable half smile. "You're very welcome Serena. And between you and me…" He then whispers in her ear, "take good care of the girls, 'k, especially Phoebe. I'm gonna need some help every now and then." Serena giggles and he winks at her.

"Hey, hey!" scolded Phoebe. "No secrets!"

Serena laughs and says, "Sorry Phoebe…you can't know!"

Phoebe gives a cute face and then says as she tickles Serena briefly, "Oh alright. I'll get it out of you sooner or later! But for now, what do you say we celebrate our victory with ICE CREAM?"

Serena's mouth opens wide and she jumps up and down. "Yeaaahh!"

They all giggle and Phoebe smiles and says, "Let's go!" and she places her hand out for Serena to grab.

The all make their way down the steps of the judicial building and in the distance, Serena is heard rambling as a little kid normally does:

"You know, I was really scared up there and I thought that they wouldn't let you adopt me but they did! And you know what else? I like that judge! He was nice, but he smelled funny…"

Serena's talking dies down as the scene fades out.

THE END

***Sorry it took me FOREVER to finish it, and sorry for leaving everyone hanging. School comes first. But PLEASE let me know what you thought!!!****