A/N: well, I didn't get as far as I'd hoped this time, but I've set a deadline for myself - new chapter each week. So, yes. Thank you everyone for your reviews and continued support. Now, on with the story!

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Thick, grey clouds obscured the sun from view, casting a dull and dreary atmosphere across Prescott Street. A chilly wind swept down the road, propelling colourful fallen leaves into the air, and bringing the spirits to life. Fancy new homes lined the sidewalks, but amongst them stood the old. One house in particular, gave off the impression of being at least 50 years old. This house, with it's peeling red-pink paint, and splintered panels, looked like people had stopped loving it a long time ago. It's overgrown gardens, and cracked driveway just screamed out 'neglect' to all the passers by. The inhabitants of the house were rarely seen, only emerging to catch a bus, or drive to work. Indeed, this was not a happy house.

But if you were reading the signs correctly, you'd know that something was about to change. For indeed, today, a woman with long brown hair, a long-sleeved v-neck top, and jeans, was restlessly pacing the sidewalk in front of the old Victorian-style home. Her eyes were darting back and forth, from the cement path, to the fancy, stained glass trimmed doors. Beside her, her daughters, Melinda and Kaitlyn, sat on top of a suitcase, giving their mother words of encouragement, trying to help her find the courage. Ben also sat, on the ground, nervously twiddling his thumbs.

Piper seemed to suddenly find a spark of hope, walking confidently to the door, the children trailing behind, Melinda wheeling the suitcase. Piper knocked forcefully on the door, inwardly marvelling at the fact that the doors still existed, let alone stood in one piece – well, two, if you wanted to get technical. On receiving no response, Piper knocked again, more loudly this time. She knew that whomever was home could hear her; years experience told her just how much sound echoed through the house. But maybe no one was home? She turned to leave, when the clicking of a lock caught her attention. The door swung open, and Piper came face to face with Phoebe.

Her little sister's shell-shocked expression quickly calmed, as Phoebe gazed coldly at Piper.

'Hello, how may I help you?' asked Phoebe icily.

'Phoebe –'

'I'm sorry, I'm afraid I haven't the slightest as to who you are,' said Phoebe.

'Listen, Pheebs –'

'Please leave.' The voice portrayed anger now, however, Phoebe's expression never wavered.

'Phoebe! We need your help!' yelled Piper, trying to get through to her sister. Phoebe started, whirling around and storming back off to the kitchen, throwing her arms up in the air as she did.

'You need my help. You need my help? 10 years ago you needed help, Piper, but did you come and ask for it? No, it was far simpler to runaway, wasn't it? So much easier to just leave us hanging! Well, I'm sorry Piper, but it's a little late for help, don't you think? It's too late for help, no one is willing to help you anymore!'

Piper stared, open-mouthed at her sisters little outburst. Her sister. Her very own, little sister, had just managed to make Piper feel like the world's most unwanted – again. Quietly, Piper entered the manor, ushering the kids in after her and closing the door to keep eavesdroppers from hearing what was about to come next.

'Need I remind you who ran away from home after Grams got sick?' said Piper, her voice strong and confident. Phoebe reappeared in the doorway at the far end of the big hall, oven mitts in one hand, the other reaching out to steady herself.

'Piper! I was a clueless woman back then! I had no job, no qualifications, and then Prue had to go and accuse me of something that never happened! What was I supposed to do?' Phoebe paused. 'Plus, how does that apply here? You've been gone for ten years, Piper, not seven months. You took your kids with you, you broke your husbands heart, and you drove your family apart! I don't know why you're looking for help here, because there's no one left to give it to you. Why don't you just go back to wherever the hell you've been all this time?'

'What do you mean, there no one left?' asked Piper. Phoebe's features softened, as she contemplated over just how much to tell Piper. 'Don't lie to me,' said Piper, 'I know that look.'

Phoebe sighed.

'Fine. I mean no one's left because well… there is no one.'

'There's you.'

'Yes, but –'

'And Paige, and Cole, and Bekky, and Sophie, and Leo…'

'Piper, would you stop and listen to me?'

'Where's Paige?' asked the witch, suddenly realising how empty the manor seemed.

'Piper! A lot of stuff has happened over the last ten years,' said Phoebe, exasperatedly. Piper's eyes widened.

'Where's my baby sister?' she asked.

'In the kitchen, sitting and watching me cook…' said Phoebe.

'And Cole?'

'… Upstairs…' Phoebe replied slowly, staring intently at the floor.

'Okay, and what aren't you telling me?' asked Piper, gazing sceptically at Phoebe.

'Oh, Phoebe, you should have told me we had company…' Piper jumped at the voice. She glanced up to see Cole, slowly descending the stairway. He looked positively awful – deep, dark rings surrounded his clouded and distant eyes, his face un-registering and blank.

'Cole, honey, go back upstairs,' said Phoebe gently.

'No, I want to meet the guests,' said Cole, his eyes travelling from Piper, to Ben, Kaitlyn and Melinda. He showed no signs of recognition, and it was unnerving to Piper.

'What's wrong with him?' asked Piper, directing the question at Phoebe. Phoebe visibly flinched, walking over and wrapping an arm around Cole's torso. The latter made no move to return the embrace.

'Now see… I was just getting to this,' said Phoebe softly. 'How about the kids go and put the TV on first though?' Piper nodded her consent, directing the kids into the TV room. They scrambled off without protest, and Piper turned back to her sister.

'So?'

'Sit down, there's a lot to tell you, and it might come as a shock,' said Phoebe. Piper complied, sitting down on the chair beside the stairwell. Phoebe took a deep, calming breath, trying to prepare herself to tell her sister the story.

'Okay, shortly after you left, ten years ago… I don't know what happened, but the balancing scales tipped, favouring evil. For some strange reason the manor was invaded by demon, after demon, after demon, practically non-stop. One demon… he attacked one afternoon while Paige and I were out shopping, and well…' Phoebe paused, gathering herself together. 'When we got home, the house was a mess – I'll never forget it, I don't think – it was just shattering. Blood covered the walls, photo frames smashed, furniture upturned, windows and lights broken. The manor was in ruins. Absolute ruins. Anyway, Paige and I split up to search through the rooms for the others. I was searching through the mess in the lounge room, when Paige screamed. She was in the kitchen – she'd found them.'

'Ghostly pale, glassy eyes wide open, sprawled at an unnatural angle across cooking pans and pieces of chairs, was Sophie. Her toddler-like expression just looked so surprised, she never knew how much danger she was in. Cole was nearby, facing away from her, his arms wrapped around his knees, rocking back and forward like a little child, not saying anything – just rocking. Bekky was across the room, backed up in the corner, tears streaming down the child's cheeks. She didn't understand what had happened…' Phoebe sighed.

'When Cole came around, he was… different. Something happened, and well, he's not quite with it anymore.' No matter how hard she tried, Phoebe couldn't bring herself to call him insane. 'And well… yeah, Bekky has grown up in a house with very little love. She's got a mentally ill father, an alcoholic for an aunt, and a mum who's spent a hell of a lot of time trying to keep this family financially stable.'

'Paige is an alcoholic?' asked Piper.

'Yep,' said Phoebe. 'She turned to drinking after the disaster. I guess she couldn't deal with the grief. She's either drinking, or she's sitting and watching me, not saying a word. She hasn't spoken since Sophie's death.'

'So, where does this leave Leo?' Piper wanted to know why her husband had been excluded from the story so far.

'We haven't seen him since, well, since you left. He orbed out that morning, and didn't come back. Not even the Elder's know where he is, apparently,' said Phoebe cautiously, watching her sisters face contort into a stunned expression.

'What?' asked Piper hoarsely, barely able to hold on to the emotions that were threatening to spill. Phoebe grimaced.

'Leo's gone.'

TBC