YEAH!!! THE LAST CHAPTER! Thanks to all of the people who have been reviewing this all along.  You guys are great.  Ok,  I am still thinking about the sequel. Tell me what you think… ok… no more of this crap.  

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            The next morning after they dropped Rachel off at school, Piper and Leo drove to social services, where Paige was waiting their visit.  She had the papers all ready out on her desk. 

            "Hey."  Piper said, taking a seat across from Paige.

            "Hey.  You guys ready?" Paige asked.

            "Paige,"  Piper said.

            "Yeah, yeah, yeah.  Ok, sign all of these.  And pick one of these dates for the hearing."  Paige said.

            "Hearing?"  Leo asked.

            "Yeah, do you have a problem with that?"  Paige asked.

            Leo shut the door, and shut the blinds.  There are some things that could easily be smoothed over.  Talking about this was one of them, but the risk of exposure was just too high.  And if they were exposed, getting Rachel would definitely hit a ditch. "Kinda.  I'm technically dead.  Remember?"

            "Leo, you have been forgetting, that we tweaked your name for all this.  You're Leo Wyatt III."  Piper reminded.  "We've only been at this for I don't know six months, and then for all that other official stuff, like your passport, you are Leo Wyatt III."

            "I just get antsy around the law with that." 

            "Leo, Cole is a lawyer, and need I remind you that Darrel is a cop?  I'd say you're in good hands."  Paige said.

            "Hey, I do too, a little.  Never mind."  Piper said, looking up from the papers.

            "What exactly will happen at this hearing?" Leo asked.

            "Nothing really big.  Mostly ask you guys if you are ready for this, and see if its ok with Rachel."

            "That's it?  No arguments?"

            "If there were going to be any, those points would have come up in the process.  And there was only one."

            "There was?"

            "Actually two, but those were easy to smooth over."

            "What were they?"

            "Um… the fact that your name shows up on a lot of witness lists for unsolved crimes.  I just said that the right place at the wrong time.  There were a couple of people, you know normal people who had the same thing.  And then there were the murders in the house."

            "How did you smooth over Prue's death?"  Piper asked, passing the papers to Leo.

            "Those were slightly easier than the first.  Touchier, but easier.  I just said that it was obviously a random crime because there had been no threats for your life since.  And that it was three years ago."  Paige paused.  She loved her sisters very much, but when it came to Prue, they could get really touchy, quiet or even anger some.  Paige knew the feeling.  She felt the same way when someone talked about her parents, or she was forced to talk about them.  She shuttered having to think about involving Piper and Phoebe in the process of defending Prue's murder, and that doctor's murder. "You guys didn't even need to be involved in the whole process."

            "Thanks Paige."           

            "All in a days work.  You done there Leo?"      Paige said, looking over.

            "Just about, there."  Leo said, putting the pen down.

            "Dates.  When is good for you Piper?"

            "As long as it's not the week Matchbox is coming, anytime.  Being your own boss definitely has its rewards."

            "Ok. Leo bad times?"

            "None.  I can get time off just about anytime."

            "Ok.  Sooner the better?"  Paige asked.

            "Sure." Piper said.

            "Ok, I'll call the judge."  Paige said.  She picked up the phone, and dialed the judge's number.  After hanging up, she turned to Piper and Leo.  "There is a time two weeks from now.  Thursday, the 10?"

            Piper thought.  Matchbox was a month away.  Four weeks.  "Yeah. Sounds fine."

            "Wouldn't miss that day for the world." Leo said.

            "Ok, I did try to get a time when Rachel is out of school, but I couldn't.  So you'll have to pull her out of school.  Is that ok?"  Paige asked.  Piper nodded.  "Ok.  It's at 10:30 on that Thursday."

            "Paige, you're a lifesaver."  Piper said.

            "Why do you say that?"

            "Aside from the obvious reasons, you're doing all of this for us.  It makes me so happy."  Piper admitted.

            "It's nothing."

            "Are we done here?  They are calling."  Leo said.

            "Yeah."  Paige said.

            "Hurry home."  Piper said, giving Leo a quick kiss.

            "Is it real yet?"  Paige asked.

            "What?"

            "This.  You are getting a daughter."

            "No.  Every morning when she jumps on our bed, waking us up, it doesn't feel real.  It feels like a dream.  My life feels perfect."  Piper admitted.

            "That is good."

            "It feels great."

            "I can only imagine." 

            "Paige, I have full faith that one day, you'll feel the same."

            "Thanks."

            "Ok, I got to go.  I have to talk to Cole.  He said that he would help us out during this hearing.   Just have to make sure that he can get off then."  Piper waved as she walked out the door.   Piper drove to Cole's office.  She was impressed.  She hadn't been there yet, and was surprised at the sheer size of it.  "Now I'm impressed."  Piper said, as she was escorted into Cole's office.

            "You weren't  before?"  Cole asked.

            "Naw.  Those fancy things you kept buying, well, I figured you could have coned.  This, this you can't con."  Piper admitted.

            "Thanks, I guess.  What do you want?"  Cole asked.

            "You promised you'd help us with the hearing." Piper reminded.

            "Right.  When is it?"

            "Thursday the 10 at 10:30."  Piper said.

            Cole turned on his computer to see if he could make it.  "Ok.  I just have to be at a meeting at 1:00.  I'm sure that won't be a problem."  Cole said.

            "Ok.  Good."

            "Hey Baby."  Phoebe said, popping into the office.

            "Phoebe, I'm kinda in the middle of a meeting." Cole said.

            "With my sister.  I'm sure you don't mind.  Right Piper?"

            "No, I was just on my way out."  Piper said, standing up.

            "What were you talking about?"  Phoebe asked.

            "Just the hearing."  Piper said.  She turned to leave.  Before she shut the door, she told Cole once more, "I'm impressed."

            Piper smiled to herself, as she walked to the car.  Things were going great.  In two weeks everything would be perfect.  Rachel will be theirs.  Matchbox was coming.  There were going to be fewer demons.  Life, well, couldn't get better.  Piper busied herself for the next two weeks.  She was on extra good behavior.  There couldn't be any reason for them to turn down the adoption.  Finally, the day came.  Thursday, December 10.  Piper decided not to send Rachel to school at all that day.  Rachel would be too excited to do anything.  Paige, Piper, Leo, Rachel, Cole and Phoebe all drove over.  They arrived thirty minutes early.  As they waited for their turn on the bench out side the court room, people passed, and stared at the odd bunch.  There was only room for three people to comfortably sit on the bench, and the nearest bench was down the long hall, several rooms down.  Piper, Leo, and Cole were the three privileged enough to sit on the bench.  Rachel propped her self on Leo's lap.  And Phoebe sat on the arm, her arm resting on Cole's shoulder for balance.  Paige decided not to bother to fit on the bench, and sat against the wall on the floor.  They waited.  Finally, they were allowed in.  Phoebe, Paige, and Rachel were told to sit behind everyone else.  Nervously, Piper and Leo took their seats.  Cole sat next to them.  They sat very stiff as the judge went through the formalities.

            "Are you guys prepared to take in this child?"  The judge asked.

            "We are."  Piper and Leo said.  Piper's hand wandered to where Leo's was, and she held it tight.

            "Will you bring the child forward?"  The judge asked.

            Shyly, Rachel stood up.  Cole got up from his seat, and brought her before the judge.  Rachel stood perfectly still.  Not shaking, but very weak.  Cole stood behind her, making sure she didn't fall over.  "Do you want to live with Piper and Leo Wyatt?"  He asked.  Rachel was speechless, but nodded.  "I'm going to need you to say it, not just nod, ok?"  He told her.

            "Yes."  Rachel whispered.

            "Ok.  I just need you guys to sign this, and you're done.  I'll want to see you in six months to make sure everything is ok."  The judge smiled.  He knew that they didn't need the check up, but it was mandatory.  Jumping up from their seats, Piper and Leo signed the papers.  The judge pulled out a stuffed bear and gave it to Rachel.  "Here you go sweetie.  I hope you guys will be happy." He said.  Laughing and smiling, the happy six left the room.

            Piper made a feast that night.  She wanted to make a family diner, rather than celebrating by going out.  When it came time for Rachel to go to bed, she had one request.  "Mommy, will you finish the Harry Potter book tonight?" She asked.  Piper smiled.  She remembered when they had started reading the series.  Now, they were on the fourth book and the last chapter too.  It sounded perfect.  The fifth book was lined up ready to start.  Piper picked up Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire.

            "Chapter Thirty- Seven.  The Beginning." Piper read. 

Fin.

What did you think?  Did you like the ending?  Ohhh I did.  One of my favorites.  Any way, want to see all these characters in a second story?  Just drop your opinion in your review, and I will.