A/N: Just a reminder, this should have been set about halfway into Season 4.

Chapter 7- The Disappearing Act

Paige knew she didn't have work; but she wasn't sure if she'd fooled her sisters. Right now, she just wanted to drive. Disappear for a while and not come back until she'd figured everything out.

What was it with this Josh guy? She'd only seen him a couple of times, and he felt dangerous. Like a caged tiger. But she still wanted to see him. Maybe he wasn't a demon. Did you think of that, Piper? Paige thought unfairly. I really shouldn't be such a bitch, she decided, but today is not a good day to go fighting with me.

She hadn't realised it, but she had found her way to the bar she'd first met Josh in. She wondered if he'd be there now? Jumping out of the car, she walked calmly towards the door. And it was closed.

Paige wondered about this for a minute, but then remembered that they'd killed the owner yesterday. He'd been a demon, and Josh hadn't cared. It was like he knew. Maybe he was a demon, Paige thought uneasily as she got back into the car.


Joshua was cramped. While he preferred open spaces, the small apartment he'd rented would have to do. The only other thing he could do was return to the underworld, and that was never a good idea. He needed to be able to watch the Charmed Ones, and losing all contact with the above world wasn't the greatest way to watch anything.

He knew they had suspicions; he wasn't blind. But he thought it made it all the more fun. especially with Paige. He'd wondered very briefly if his staying above had anything to do with the youngest siter, and then decided it didn't. He was a demon, and he didn't intend on falling in love with a witch. Unlike others.

He turned to a kind of crystal ball that sat on the kitchen bench. Smooth and round, he used it as a papaerwieght. Most of the time. Now it was filled with a smoky red light, and an image was slowly filtering through. He picked up the viewball, trying to figure out who - or what - was contacting him.

It was the youngest sister. Paige. He wondered briefly how she'd learnt to call on him like that, and then it made sense. She was calling subconsciously. She wanted - or needed him. Well, she'd get what she wanted.

Putting the viewball down, he grabbed his keys and left.


Paige sat on the ground in the cemetary, just staring at her parents headstones. The flowers she'd bought sat by her side.

"Paige."

It wasn't her sisters, Paige thought as she turned around. She jumped slightly. It was Josh.

"What are you doing here?" he asked gently. She shrugged.

"My parents," she explained. "Well - my adoptive parents. I was adopted as a baby. Don't ask why," she said as he opened his mouth. She didn't think Piper would like her exlpainiing their family heritage, demon or not.

"That must have been hard," he said quietly. Something was flashing through him - memory, no, not memory. But something.

People fighting. Two of them -humans - fell. Screaming. And then, a whisper. "Bring him." Outside, and a carriage. Horses. A man in a black cloak.

"Paige!" Another set of voices were yelling. Josh could see Paige's sisters running towards them. Paige was sighinig.

"And so ends todays peace," she muttured. "You might want to go before they light into you. They don't like you much - some big protecting me issue."

She went to leave, but josh grabbed her hand. "Who cares?" he asked. "I can help if you want. Just give me your other hand."

Confused, Paige put her other hand in his. Immediately the surrounding area became misty and colourless.


Phoebe stopped running and turned to Piper. "You said she was just there," she panted.

"She was," Piper protested as she stopped as well. She looked forward. Paige and Josh were gone, but Paige's handbag was still there. Piper suddenly had a sinking feeling.

"There's something funny going on," Phoebe said distinctly. And that, Piper thought, sums this all up very nicely, thankyou.

Undaunted, she headed for the spot Paige had been. Phoebe followed. Cautiously, the two girls approached where Paige had vanished from.