Early Tuesday morning the Halliwell manor was completely silent. Amy had spent the night with Paige in her bed upstairs. Piper had gone to bed with Leo late after the vanquishing potion was finished. Andy left to check on other charges promising to return as soon as Amy called. Phoebe and Tim had spent the night talking in front of the Christmas tree. Timothy found comfort in Phoebe's acceptance of him and praise of Amy, and in exchange he helped her truly mourn the loss of her sister for the very first time. They cried and laughed together until the they lost track of time. But when the phone rang early that morning, they both awoke with a start where they had fallen asleep on the couch.
*****
When Piper joined Phoebe downstairs, Phoebe already had the coffee brewing. "That was Darryl. The sting was a success, and there were no casualties on either side. He just wanted to give us a head's up." Phoebe smiled as she poured a cup of coffee for Piper, "He says his boss wants know why he has such a good track record despite getting all the weird unsolvable cases."
"Well, he should just tell him he has supernatural informants," Piper said sarcastically.
Phoebe laughed a little, "I'm going to head upstairs and freshen up a little. Hopefully nothing will attack before I get out of the shower."
"Yeah, speaking of freshening up," Piper said as she put down her coffee mug, "Your bed wasn't slept in last night."
Phoebe smiled, "We just talked, a lot."
Piper nodded as Phoebe left to go upstairs. "Talking is good," she said to herself.
"Who's talking?" Paige asked as she surprised Piper.
Piper gulped her coffee a little. "Make a little noise, will you?"
Paige rolled her eyes playfully, "So many rules in this house. So who's talking?" she asked again as she poured herself some coffee.
"Tim and Phoebe. Apparently they spent a good part of the night down here talking," Piper said with a little gleam in her eye.
"You don't think that....."Paige asked as she added creamer and sugar to her coffee.
Piper shrugged, "They seem to have a little spark. Maybe, eventually. They might make a nice couple some day. I don't know."
"Look at you, lady cupid," Paige teased. "Still, he is kind of cute."
"Yeah, and a slight gambling problem is nothing compared to what she has already been through," Piper added.
"To what we've all been through," Paige corrected. "He doesn't seem like the type to relapse though," Paige added.
*****
Tim listened nervously in the hallway as the sisters talked him in the kitchen. Paige's last affirmation brought tears to his eyes. The cost of his problem had been his wife's life, and now his daughter was in danger too. No, relapse was not going to be an issue with him. He smiled a little when he thought about Piper's comment about him and Phoebe having a little spark. He did kind of like her, and so did Amy. Maybe he thought to himself, eventually. Tim decided to go upstairs and check on Amy.
*****
The demon sulked around the cavern of the Underworld in disgust. "The entire San Francisco office was busted?"
"Yes Lord Herod," the underling responded.
"But they aren't suppose to all be there ever. How could this happen?" the demon demanded.
"It was a Monday night my lord, and the local team was playing. It was a big night and they needed everyone there," the underling tried to explain.
Lord Herod turned on his servant in anger. He contemplated killing him for an instant. It was such a natural response for demons. He decided against it. "The only way the police could find that place is if they had help. Who still has an outstanding debt?"
"Well there are a few overdue accounts, but only one has anything of value to protect," the underling answered. Under the glaring eye of his lord, he continued, "A daughter who is a witch. His wife was killed several years ago, but the daughter survived."
"Ah yes," Herod responded. "He would be the one. Can you tell where the daughter is now?"
When the underling nodded a positive response, Lord Herod ordered him to take him to her. "We shall collect this dept ourselves!"
*****
Phoebe was brushing Amy's hair in the bathroom when the attack came. She heard her sisters yelling for her, and she immediately called for Andy. She gave Amy to Andy, promised her everything would be alright, and ran downstairs. "Get her father to safety too," she called over her shoulder to Andy.
Andy orbed into the pallor with Amy in tow to find Leo protecting Tim in the far corner. He and Amy ran over to join them.
Paige called for an incoming fireball as Phoebe joined the fight. Phoebe levitated and kicked the underling into the fireball Paige was returning. They heard him scream for his lord to escape as he died.
"Did that thing call the other demon Lord Herod?" Paige asked her sisters.
"Not sure, wasn't paying attention," Piper said as she tried to explode the demon again.
He was a bit more agile than most, and he managed to dodge Piper's power. When he was standing again, he shouted, "I am Lord Herod and I have come for the child. Surrender her to me, and you will all go free."
"Who does he think he is kidding?" Phoebe asked as Paige orbed the potion bottles to herself and her sisters.
Sparks started to fly from the demon's hands, and soon the sisters all found themselves blind.
"I can't see anything," Paige called as she reached out her hands.
Phoebe's hand found Paige's and she grabbed hold of her tightly, "Neither can I, but we will get through this," Phoebe said.
Paige squeezed Phoebe's hand and asked, "How?"
Piper found Paige's other hand and answered her question, "Like we always do: Together."
Phoebe smiled and she felt Paige relax, "What's a little blindness to the power of three anyway?" Phoebe said, "Now, let's go save Amy," she added.
As soon as he blinded them, Lord Herod turned his back on the sisters like they were no threat and walked into the pallor to face a very scared little girl surrounded by three determined men.
"Get her out of her," Tim called.
"No Daddy, I won't leave you," Amy cried as she grabbed her father's hand.
"Then we'll take you both," Leo said looking at Andy.
Before they had a chance to leave, they saw the sisters standing behind the demon. Suddenly white lights filled Amy's hand as a potion bottle appeared. "Be their eyes," Amy heard Prue's voice in her head. "Be my sisters' eyes sweetie, and they will do the rest."
Amy stood defiantly in front of the demon and threw the potion bottle. When the sisters heard the bottle break, they began the spell:
Preying on human weakness....
Living on the power of greed.....
Let your own bonds consume you....
As your victims we set free!
As the potion and spell started to work their magic, the demon took one last look at the little girl who had brought about his demise. He let loose a fireball as he screamed into his vanquish.
As the demon died, the sisters regained their sight, but it was too late for them to stop the fireball. "No!" Phoebe screamed.
Amy just held up her hand and the fireball turned to ice. The ice fell to the floor and broke into dozens of pieces.
The sisters all got shocked expressions on their faces as they walked over to check on Amy. "Well, it looks like maybe we should keep you around to protect us," Phoebe said as she hugged Amy. Amy giggled as she was surrounded by loving arms.
She turned to face her father's embrace. "Is it over now Daddy?" she asked.
Tim embraced his daughter with tears running down his face. "No baby, I think it's just beginning. You are going to do a lot of good."
Phoebe locked eyes with Tim and nodded, "Yes baby, that you will, but remember to be a little girl too."
*****
It was Christmas Eve and Piper was making good on her promise to prepare a better dinner for Amy someday. The house was full of holiday cheer as the sisters prepared for their guests. Piper was in the kitchen putting the final touches on an extravagant meal, Paige was setting an elegant table, and Phoebe was frantically wrapping gifts for Amy and Tim. It wasn't that she waited until the last minute to buy the gifts, she had just exchanged them a dozen times over. It was pretty clear to Paige and Piper that Phoebe liked Tim, but they wondered how long it would be until she admitted it to herself.
When the door rang, Phoebe nearly came out of her skin. "They aren't suppose to be here yet," Phoebe said as she looked up to see Paige answering the door.
"Calm down," Paige said as Phoebe joined her at the door. "You look lovely," Paige said, and she meant it. Phoebe was wearing a short sleeve red velvet dress with a sparkling design that stopped just above her knees. It had just enough of a plunging neckline for Phoebe to wear small pearl necklace. Her hair was up and she had pearl earrings on. It might have been the prettiest Paige had ever seen Phoebe look. "Very Christmasy," Paige added as she hugged her sister and opened the door.
To their surprise Mr. and Mrs. Morris greeted them at the door. "Darryl, Cynthia, come in," Paige said.
"We can't," Darryl said, "we're on our way to Cynthia's mother's."
"We just wanted to stop by and wish you a Merry Christmas," Cynthia explained.
Piper joined Paige and Phoebe at the door now. "And we wanted to give you this," she said as she handed them a bottle of champaign and a box of chocolates, "to ring in the new year with. The chocolates are for Paige," she added with a slight smile.
Paige giggled, "I never liked champaign anyway, but chocolate is an addiction I get to indulge."
"Anyway, I just wanted to thank you all for your patience with me," Cynthia continued, "I've always been proud of the good Darryl does, and now, well now, it means a lot more. Thank you." She hugged each of them and walked to the car.
"Thanks again guys, I hate to admit it, but I think this saved my marriage," Darryl said, " I didn't realize how much the half-truths had been affecting Cynthia. She had no idea what I was into, an affair was the least of her worries. Now she's proud, a little scared, but happy too."
"We're glad Darryl," Piper said, "You deserve to be happy."
"Thanks again ladies, and have a wonderful Christmas," Darryl said as he walked to the car to join his family.
*****
Later that evening, after the sisters, Leo, Tim and Amy enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by Piper, they gathered around the Christmas tree to exchange gifts.
"Ok now, with the exception of Amy, only one gift per customer tonight," Piper said as she sat down by Leo on one couch. Paige and Phoebe were sitting on the floor in front of the tree with Amy. Tim was sitting on the other couch.
Paige smiled and handed Amy her first box. "This is from Mrs. Stevenson at the school," she said as Amy opened a box with a beautiful amulet inside.
"Will this do what I think it will?" Tim asked.
Paige nodded as she helped Amy put it on, "It will protect her, and protect her childhood. She should practice her powers, but there is no need for her to worry about demons at such a young age."
Paige reached for another box to hand to Amy, "And this is from me," she said as Amy opened it to see a painting of three women. The first was her mother, the second was Amy as she is today. "You father lent me some pictures, and used my imagination to picture what you would look like at your mother's age," she said as Amy hugged her tightly around the neck. "I love it," Amy said.
"It's beautiful Paige," Phoebe said and Piper agreed.
Piper was next, she got up and handed Amy a basket of homemade goodies. "Now make sure to brush your teeth real well so you don't get me in trouble with your dad," Piper said with a smile as Amy gave her a hug too.
"Wait," Amy said before Phoebe could hand her the gift she had picked out. "Open yours first."
"Ok," Phoebe said and she reached to give Piper one of her gifts, "This one is from Leo."
"Oh," Piper said as she opened her gift to see a pair of diamond stud earrings, "How did you?" she started to ask.
"I still had a little money from my days as a handyman," Leo responded, "I wanted to surprise you."
She kissed him softly and snuggled up to him.
Phoebe smiled and turned to give Paige her gift, "This one is from all of us," Phoebe said motioning toward Leo and Piper.
Paige opened a box to find papers giving her part of the Halliwell manor. "Grams gave us this home when she passed away. It seems right that you should officially own part of it. It's part of your heritage as well," Piper said.
Paige hugged Phoebe and then got up to sit beside Piper and hug her too. She was chocking back tears and barely managed a "thanks guys."
"Now you get to open the one from me," Amy said to Phoebe.
"Alright," Phoebe said as she opened the box Amy gave her. As Phoebe was pulling out the contents of the box, Amy pulled her up to sit over by her father. When Phoebe pulled out mistletoe it became obvious what Amy had in mind. Tim blushed a little. Phoebe giggled self-consciously.
"You two like each other, don't you?" Amy said a little discouraged that her plan hadn't worked instantly.
Phoebe grabbed Amy, pulled her into her lap, and tickled her. "You are just the cutest little cupid ever," she said as Amy giggled. "Now, go get my gift to you," she added.
Amy got up and got the gifts marked for her and her father. She gave her father's box to him and proceeded to open her own. Amy pulled out a Christmas CD and the latest Barbie Doll. She ran to Phoebe and gave her a hug and a thank you. "It's not as personal as Paige's, but toy are important too, right?" Phoebe said looking for approval from Tim. He nodded.
Without Tim and Phoebe really noticing, Paige and Amy snuck off to the kitchen to get some milk to go with their goodies, and Leo and Piper wondered out of the room as well. Phoebe and Tim were alone when he opened her gift to him. He pulled out a pair of suede gloves and a jacket to match.
"I hope you like it," Phoebe said, "I thought the brown would go well with your green eyes."
"I like them," Tim said, "You've noticed my eyes?"
"Well, um, maybe just a little," Phoebe answered evasively.
Tim smiled and leaned in to give Phoebe a light kiss on the lips. She kissed him back lightly as well. It wasn't a passionate kiss at all, but as first kisses goes, it was sweet and memorable.
Amy squealed as she and Paige spied on them from the hallway.
Tim and Phoebe laughed and called them back in. Tim started to hand Phoebe her gift, but Piper interrupted.
"No, one gift on Christmas Eve. You have to come back tomorrow," she said with a mischievous smile.
"You want to come back tomorrow Amy, after we go to grandma's?" Tim asked.
"Can't we just stay here tonight?" Amy asked.
The room broke out in laughter. "Well, we can arrange that if you want," Piper said.
Tim shook his head. "Why not?" he shrugged and gave into his daughter who had obviously fallen in love with the Halliwell family. He might be falling in love too he thought. Time will tell.