A/N: This is the sequel to The End of the World? and takes place a year after my previous story left off. You may want to read my previous fic before reading this one; otherwise you might be a tad confused. And for all of those who are concerned about Cole and whether of not he will return, let me just say I would never keep him dead for long (wink wink). Oh, and as always please review, I love to know what you all think!
Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed, I am just borrowing them for the purposes of writing this story so please don't sue me!
Chapter Two: Home Alone
"Piper please, I know how to brew a simple vanquishing potion." Paige said irritably as she dug a large wooden spoon into a smoking metal pot.
"I know you do Paige, I was just reminding you in case you forgot." Piper said, hovering over the opened Book of Shadows. For the last week the witches had been tracking a form changing demon that had been wreaking havoc in the mortal world. "Did you add the--" Piper began
"I added everything the book said to add. I know what I'm doing." Paige stated petulantly. For the last few weeks Piper hadn't quite acted like herself. She had been unusually bossy, touchy, and persistent. Her swift attitude change was driving both Paige and Phoebe crazy.
"Okay, okay." Piper said, moving away from the book and into the living room.
"Why aren't you at work?" Yelled Paige from the kitchen.
"There isn't anything to take care of today. Besides, I though it would be fun to spend the day with you." Piper hollered back cheerfully.
"Great." Paige mumbled. Piper then busied herself in the living room, catching up on all the chores and duties she regularly neglected. After a while Paige emerged from the kitchen with a small bottle of red liquid in her hand.
"Is that it?" Asked Piper, looking up from the mess she had created on the floor.
"Um yeah. Hey Piper, what are you doing?" Asked Paige, astounded by the enormous amounts of paper, photos, and other odd assortments of items which were gathered in front of Piper on the floor.
"I'm reorganizing all these drawers." She commented casually, motioning to the vast expanse of mahogany drawers and cupboards in front of her.
"Okay." Said Paige watchfully as she exited the room. "When are we leaving?" Shouted Paige from the kitchen.
"We should go now and get rid of this demon." Piper answered, standing up and casually brushing her hands on her pants. "Leo!" She yelled instinctively. Within seconds Leo had orbed into the extremely cluttered living room.
"Um honey, what's, uh, going on in here?" He asked, gawking at the large mess.
"Oh she's just reorganizing all the drawers and cabinets." Said Paige, grabbing Leo's arm and gently pulling him into the kitchen. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" Paige whispered to Leo. Leo nodded and followed Paige into the kitchen. "What is up with your wife lately?" Paige asked irritably. "If she's not biting off my head, she's...she's doing that!" Paige urged motioning to Piper's mess in the living room.
"She has been acting strangely lately." Leo mused.
"That would be an understatement." Paige added, wiping down the counter tops. "Are you two okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine." Leo said defensively. Every since their brief marital troubles last year, Leo had been home more often and had spent enormous amounts of time with Piper. Paige shrugged.
"Well, something's wrong with her." Leo was about to defend his wife when Phoebe stepped into the house, followed closely by Parker.
"Hey, I was just going to send Leo to get you." Said Piper to Phoebe, finally emerging from the living room.
"Why?" Phoebe asked, hanging up her coat.
"The potion's ready." Piper answered simply while walking into the kitchen to find her husband. Piper and Leo fondled each other adoringly until Phoebe and Parker, after long last, entered the kitchen. Paige examined Parker's unusually muddy clothes and commented:
"What happened to you?" Her comment drove Piper and Leo to also inspect Parker's grubby clothes.
"I don't want to talk about it." Parker sighed as he reached for an apple. Paige looked quizzically at Phoebe who mouthed, 'later'. Paige shrugged and once again picked up the small bottle of vanquishing potion.
"Are we ready?" She asked eagerly. Both Piper and Phoebe nodded and prepared to leave before Leo interjected,
"Wait, I have to go. I can't stay here and watch Parker." Parker rolled his eyes and took a bite of his apple.
"But we have to go Leo, and we can't take him with us." Piper urged.
"I'm eleven-years-old, I can stay home alone for one hour." Parker said, annoyed.
"We know you're capable of taking care of yourself, but Parker it's just not sa--" Started Piper.
"He'll be fine." Said Phoebe. Her statement initially shocked her sisters. For the last year she had not let Parker out of her sight. "You're right sweetie, you're old enough to stay home without us." Parker looked at his mother quizzically.
"Really?" He asked cautiously.
"Yep. We'll be home soon." Within ten minutes the house had emptied and Parker was finally alone. Eager to dispose of his muddy clothes, Parker headed to his closet. He quickly changed into clean clothes and delivered his old ones to the hamper. He settled down in the living room with a bowl of cereal and the TV remote. He flipped through channels aimlessly until finally settling on one about polar bears in Alaska. He watched for awhile until he heard a noise in the kitchen and assumed his family had returned home.
"Mom?" He yelled from the living room, but no response came. He guardedly rose from the couch and ambled in the general direction of the kitchen. He approached the open archway and peered into the seemingly empty kitchen. When he confirmed it empty he walked casually back to the living room, shrugging his suspicions off as products of a bad day. He turned the shallow corner leading to the living room and nearly jumped back when he spotted a tall figure standing in front of the large hutch Piper had earlier tried to clean.
"Who are you?" Parker demanded fiercely, rapidly gathering his courage. The figure stopped moving and heedlessly turned to face Parker. When Parker caught sight of the man's face he had to seize the wall to regain his balance. They stood silently, examining one another for a moment until Parker finally spoke again, "You, but..." Was all that he could say.
A/N: Hmmm...who do you think that could be?? Anyway, sorry to leave you all hanging like that but I'm sure you have at least a vague idea of what is coming, maybe? As always, please review, I crave your comments!! Bye!