"So they know." Said the Second voice.

"The youngest is having trouble dealing with it." Sighed the Third voice.

"She will learn to accept it, eventually use it." Countered the Fourth Voice.

"The middle sister is angry, she fears that the ramifications of her actions have finally come." Intoned the Third voice.

"She knew it would happen, she is getting what she deserves!" Added the First voice.

"The eldest is going to be under strain, more so than usual." Stated the Second Voice.

"She will cope, she always does." Equalized the Fourth Voice.

"And most likely be all the stronger for it." Rationalised the First Voice.

"That's the Halliwell way." Assured the Second Voice.

* * *

They sat round the table, steaming mugs of coffee in front of them. The Book of Shadows lay to the side of Piper. Paige was gripping the arms of her chair, in fear of another random levitation occurrence. Phoebe indolently filed her nails, and occasionally looking into a pocket mirror. Piper sat at the head of the table, hands held together. She viewed her sisters over her hands.

"Well," she started. No words seemed to come to mind, none that were fitting for this occasion anyway. Phoebe threw down the file and mirror, Paige looked expectantly at Piper. "We have a lot, more than a lot, of things to talk about."

"Understatement of the centaury." grunted Phoebe.

Piper suppressed a glare and took a deep breath." Don't start Phoebe, not now. Please." She sighed. Phoebe shrugged indifferently and sank back in her seat.

"Can you still use your powers? Have you even tried?" Paige asked curiously. Phoebe sullenly got to her feet and jumped… promptly landing again. She tried again but to no avail. Her usually smug face was tinged with fear. She walked over to the Book of Shadows and held it, her eyes clenched shut in concentration. She opened them and flipped through the pages, stopping and trying to summon a premonition from them. She pushed the book away and stalked back to her seat.

"No, no I have no powers." She said impassively.

Paige looked incredulously at her." Is that it? Over four years of being a witch and all you say is… that?!"

Phoebe shot Paige a harsh glare. "Stay out of this Paige, its between me and Piper."

Paige kicked back her chair and leaned over to Phoebe. "This is as much my business as it is Piper's. Not only am I a member of the Power Of Three and your sister, I also got stuck with one of your powers! I don't need it; I most certainly don't want it. My own powers are far, far superior to anything you have. Pah, 'used' to have, I should say." Piper, who had walked up to her and placed a warning hand, stopped her.

"Paige that's enough," she said quietly, Paige opened her mouth to argue but Piper stopped her. "I said enough! Enough goddamn it! I've already lost the Power of Three once and I sure as hell won't lose it again."

Paige sat down, her hands shaking and brow furrowed with anger. "We can call for Leo, ask him to go up and find out what's happening. In the mean time you look through the book. Leo… Leo!" He orbed down as Paige orbed the book into her hands.

"Well, it looks like I've still got my powers." She said smugly, shooting a condescending look at Phoebe. Phoebe picked up her mug of coffee and threw it at Paige, who rapidly orbed out. Piper froze the coffee mug before the scalding liquid landed on the book and ruined it. Leo exhaled, a disbelieving look on his face.

"Ok… what the hell is going on?" He exclaimed. Piper furiously pulled the book out of the path of the coffee and screamed at Phoebe.

"What do you think you are playing at?! You can't attack your sister like that! How dare you!" Phoebe didn't respond. Piper clenched her fist, face flushed with rage. "Don't you dare ignore me, don't you dare!" Leo pulled at her arm, she span to face him, her features twisted with emotion.

"Look, she's not ignoring you. She's frozen," he told her simply. Piper's hand flew to her mouth. Paige orbed back in and hastily moved the coffee into the sink.

"Coffee. Ok Piper, she is officially insane. I can't deal with her shit anymore, we have to do something. What? What's wrong now? Why are you pointing… oh god. Is she…?

"Frozen…" finished Piper, her voice changed with the terror she was feeling.

"But… why… how is that even possible? I thought that you couldn't freeze us? Leo, go… go now. We need answers and we need them now." She ran to Piper's side, embracing her in a reassuring hug. "Leo, go! I'll take care of Piper, the only things that can help us now, are answers." He looked longingly at Piper and disappeared in a cloud of white and blue lights.

"Paige, Paige I'm scared. I don't know what to do. I never even wanted to be the eldest, I never wanted to responsibility. Prue, I need Prue!" Piper's voice had risen to a frenzied shriek. Paige's eyes filled with tears and she tried to comfort Piper, her voice choking with emotion.

"Its ok, its all gonna be ok. Shh, there now, shh. Leo's gone to find out what's happened. He'll be back with answers. Lets go sit down." She orbed Piper to the living room and lay her down on the couch, stroking her hair and whispering softly. Piper's cries had dulled to a quiet keening. Paige called for the book and flicked through it, her eyes scanning the pages. Nothing, there seemed to be nothing there. She slammed the cover shut and almost screamed. It flung back open and the pages flipped over and over, until they rustled to a stop. "Séance, you think a séance will help? Well you know best." She waved her hand at the empty floor and the candles appeared, all ready for the séance. Paige got up and lit the candles ready for the spell.

Phoebe stumbled into the room, an even more confused look than usual on her face. "What happened, how did you manage to get in here without me noticing?"

Paige glared at her. "Not that I owe you any answers but, you froze. Piper froze you. We don't know why and frankly… I don't give a damn. What you did back there is beyond forgiveness."

Phoebe saw Piper and started towards her, reaching out her hands. "Let me help her, I should be with her." Paige threw up her hand and Phoebe disappeared in a cloud of orbs, reappearing on the other side of the room. Phoebe glowered and started towards Piper again.

"Stay away from her. I mean it, just go and do whatever the hell you do… away from us. We need to do a séance." Paige warned.

"Don't tell me when I can be near my sister! There's something wrong and she needs me! Why the fuck are you are keeping me away?"

"She… we managed fine without you, when you went off with Cole. Look what you've done to Piper! Look what you've done to her! You might not like me but Piper did nothing and you made her near comatose with worry. And that's the to sister you actually 'give a damn' about."

Phoebe ran at Paige, knocking the candles over. One flame ignited and set light to the carpet. Paige threw up her hand again and this time orbed Phoebe into the wall. Phoebe hit hard and sank down to the ground, panting heavily. Paige regarded her with a look of fury, as she orbed some water onto the flames. She waved her hand and the candles orbed back into position. She got up and re-lit the candles, never once taking her eyes of Phoebe. Phoebe got to her feet and ran upstairs, returning soon after with suitcase. She wiped her eyes and turned to Paige. "I'm leaving, I can't deal with this anymore. If you need me…"

"You'll be at Cole's. Yeah, we know the drill. Phoebe can't handle life so she goes to Cole." Paige sneered as Phoebe stormed out of the Manor, slamming the door on her way out.

Piper groaned slightly and slapped Paige lightly on the arm. "Paige you didn't have to be like that. Now everything is just one hundred times worse."

Paige sighed and scuffed her foot on the rug. "Yeah well, she didn't exactly help the situation with that coffee, now did she?"

"Granted, but not letting her near me? That's taking it a bit far." Said Piper, trying to be the voice of reason. She wiped her eyes on the blanket and sat on the edge of the couch.

"I just got so annoyed with her. I don't see how, after all this time she still doesn't think I am important enough for things like this. She practically told me that I don't count as a sister and witch. That hurts Piper, it really, really hurts." Paige said, her voice choking with sadness.

Piper put her arm round Paige and pulled the blanket over both of them. They just sat quietly, watching the candles, contemplating their future… as witches and as sisters.

* * *

Phoebe walked swiftly, lugging her suitcase along. Her face was blank, her eyes dead. She didn't know where she was going; she knew she just had to get out of The Manor and away from her sisters. She strode out into the road, blatantly not noticing, or caring about the traffic. Cars squealed to a halt all around her and random passer bys looked curiously at her. She reached the other side of the road and carried on walking. Suddenly she stopped and looked up. It was the penthouse building she used to share with Cole before… well just before it all happened. Without thinking she went in and took the elevator to the top floor. The doors opened and she was instantly hit by memories. Memories of when she was happy, before Cole had become The Source, before she… followed him into The Underworld. She walked over to the spot where Cole had been vanquished; well The Source had been vanquished. Kneeling down, she placed a hand on the spot. Usually this would have triggered some kind of premonition. Now there was nothing. Just an empty blankness. The full comprehension of her situation struck her.

"Cole!" Phoebe cried out, feeling a sudden overwhelming urge to be with him. To have his strong arms hold her, comfort her. Make her forget that any of this had happened.

"I am here Phoebe." It was Cole. How had he known she was here? She got to her feet, ready to fight him if needs be.

"Cole. What… why are you here? What do you want?" She stammered, half ready to bolt out of the room and back to her sisters.

He laughed disbelievingly and threw his hands up. "After all this time you still have to ask why I am with you and what I want? I want you Phoebe, I always have and I still do. Why else would I be here? I heard your call. I knew you needed and wanted me… as must as I need and want you."

She hesitated for a second, old feelings and passions resurfacing. He looked at her, his face earnest, breathing slightly more heavy than usual. With a sob she threw herself into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight, as if to prevent her from leaving him again. They shimmered out.