A week later

Piper  stirred the herbs in her saucepan--she would not call it a cauldron--watching

the temperature. This potion needed to be hot, but not boiling.
"All right, we need sage next--for what?"  she asked, looking over at the

group gathered around the kitchen island. Poppy and Dylan sat next to each

other, Bane across from them. Stevie had come by on another errand, and

been invited to sit in.
"Uhh. Salt substitute?" Bane joked.
Piper smiled. "Thank you, Bane."
"I got one right?"
"No, the 'thank you' is for volunteering to test this, once it's finished."
"What?! Oh, no, no, no....no way--"
"Way," the twins chorused.

Bane glanced around. There were sympathetic smiles on the others' faces,

but no one said they were kidding. He groaned.

"Sage is usually for purification, isn't it?"
"That's right, Poppy."
The girl's eyes darkened thoughtfully. "Huh. No, I still don't remember

any potion that would use those four herbs. Sage, purification, lavender

for relaxation or calm, boneset --if pennyroyal wasn't

one of the ingredients, I'd say it was one of those infusions you make for

your tea, but you wouldn't give a pregnant woman that. Something to do with

healing?" she guessed, throwing up her hands.

"Yes. This is the mixture we gave Cortez, and Leo, after that fight last weekend.

Add mandrake and slippery elm bark, and it'll cleanse ghoul's venom from

someone's body. It has to be drunk. The basic potion can also relieve pain and

help heal injuries."
"Speaking of which, " Bane said, "where are your little sisters? We're missing a few

people."
"Phoebe is at work, and Paige and Leo went to talk to Mrs.Struewing. She and her

family needed to discuss some things with them."


The doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Dylan volunteered. He went out. Piper watched

him go, a little concerned. Dylan hadn't said two words all morning. Poppy was the

more outgoing and energetic of the two. He tended to get lost in his twin's shadow.

"Penny for your thoughts," Bane said.

She giggled. "Oh, no. At least a quarter. I'm not cheap."

He took her hand in his, squeezing lightly. "Prue wouldn't have done a better

job than you are," he said seriously.

Piper gave a start. "Bane--?"

"No, I can't tell what you're actually thinking.  I have a lot of practice at

reading people's expressions, the stuff they don't say with words. It can't be

easy. Still-- Prue was a wonderful person, Piper, but I don't make the mistake

of putting anyone on a pedestal. That's unfair to everyone involved. She was

powerful, and intelligent, yes. Also used to being in charge, to looking

after everyone. It's a teacher who's needed here, not a protector or den

mother. The witches in this coven will have to be able to handle themselves.
Show them what they can do. Doing it for them may be quicker, but in the

long r--"
"Piper? Someone's here asking for you," Dylan called loudly.

Bane released Piper's hand. She smiled up at him and walked out of the

kitchen, to the front door.

"Qiang Li? Oh, it's so good to see you!"

"Ni hao, Piper," the Chinese woman replied.
"Please, come in." Piper led her indoors. "Can I get you anything? A Sprite?"
Qiang Li sat gracefully on one of the antique chairs. "You remembered,"

she said, looking surprised but gratified.

"Of course, how could I forget? Are you still working at the theater?"

Piper went quickly to the kitchen, returning with two glasses half-filled with

Sprite and ice cubes. She handed one to Qiang, and sat on the couch, facing

her.
"Yes. We just finished the   last showing of Antony and Cleopatra. I believe

the next play they want to do will be one of Tennessee Williams'-- Ah, you

have guests? If this is a bad time--" Qiang had noticed Poppy and Bane peeking

around the doorway, trying to eavesdrop.

"Guys, don't lurk," Piper said. "No, these are my cousins. They'll be staying with

us for a while. Would you excuse us, please?"--to the witches.
They obediently disappeared upstairs.

"That is what I needed to speak to you concerning," Qiang said hesitantly.
" 'That'?"

"You and your family. Your sisters."

Piper gave her a questioning glance.

"You--know I have magic."


"I believed so, yes. I touched one of those masks you'd made, and--I felt

something. I had no reason to think it was anything but good, though, that

you were good and trustworthy. I'd the impression you recognized me, too,

but you didn't say anything. I figured you were 'in the closet', if you take my

meaning, and it wasn't my place to say anything if so. You're not some

warlock out to kill any witch who lets her guard down."

"I don't do that form of magic-- enchanting items. . Only the dragon

masks, or items I occasionally  make for ritual purposes. Not the costumes I

make for general use. However..." Qiang opened her purse, and took out a

small, plain white box. "I found this for sale at a store in my neighborhood.
I only thought it's beautiful-- when I touched it-- See for yourself."

Piper opened the box. A small gold ring was inside. The band  was

engraved with the image of a snarling lion, in incredible detail.
She picked it up-- and dropped it almost immediately. "It's enchanted

all right. I don't recognize this, except in the general sense. Why would

anyone put that sort of spell on something, and then sell it to a complete

stranger?"

"A poor sense of humor, maybe?"
"Not much fun for them, they wouldn't be around to see the results. Where

did you find this?"

Qiang Li handed her a receipt. Piper scanned it. "Over in Palmyra. We should

probably check it out, see if we can find out where this came from."
"I tested the other items within the building. None had magic on them. "
"Thank you."
"I-- I should like to keep helping, if you could use my skills. It's true I've mostly

kept in the closet, especially since my husband died and we immigrated here....

our son has the magic, but not our daughter, Meiying. I try not to ...to flaunt it,

it's hard for her. Still. The Gods made me this gift for a reason. I've...heard of

you and your sisters. You do so much good here. I would like to think I could

be of value in continuing that. I'd heard you were seeking allies-- would you consider--"


Qiang Li was some twelve years older than Piper. The idea of having some older

witches around was, to put it mildly, enticing. Maybe Qiang could answer some of

the questions Piper had wanted to ask someone since she found out she was pregnant.

"I would be glad to have you with us," Piper said. "On one condition. "
"What's that?"

"We teach each other-- starting with you helping me to learn your language. The few

words I've heard you use sound beautiful..and  I know it's not easy having to keep

secrets. This way, you have someone you can talk to openly, in your own words."

"Oh, that is not hard. Certainly."

"All right. Come on, let's go meet the rest of this coven my sisters and I are trying to

put together." Piper and Qiang started climbing the stairs to the attic.

*             *                 *

"You want me to....?" Cara frowned, puzzled. "All right."
"I know this may seem like a step backwards, but I think it'll help. From what

you and Leo are saying, no one ever helped you figure out exactly what you can

and can't do. You got that binding spell from another witch's book,

you said."
"Yes."
"That's not the best approach. You need to find out where your own limits are.
First thing should be teaching yourself to use your power in a controlled fashion.

Simply refusing to use it except in emergencies won't work. You need to be

familiar enough that you don't lose hold of it when afraid or threatened.

So we'll start with the basics...this ability of yours to 'read' any creature that

is dead or 'undead'. Work on honing it. Build your control a step at a time."
Cara shut her eyes. Piper stayed by the Book of Shadows. She closed it.

Leo silently orbed into the attic.

Cara jerked as if slapped. "One of the Whitelighters--?"
"Got it in one," Leo said.
"Now reach out a bit further. Look around the house. Are there any other

presences you can home in on?"

Piper fought a smile as a transparent figure materialized next to the younger

witch. 

"Someone else just came in....A ghost?"

"Not exactly,"  Penelope Halliwell replied. "I prefer spirit or guardian. Ghost always

makes me think of those nasty ex-comrades of Leo's....the ones who nearly killed

you both. There's a reason why the dead aren't supposed to remain in such constant

contact with the living. It isn't good for the people on either side."

Cara opened her eyes. "Hi," she said shyly.

Grams moved back. "Pleased to meet you,dear. I've heard some good things about you.

From your friend Javier as well as your father. "

Cara blanched.  "I.....was afraid he'd hate me, after--" she pressed a hand to her mouth.

"Neither of them does any such thing. It wasn't your fault. Javier knows that. You

need to tell the Charmed Ones, and the other students, Cara. You don't want the

younger witches thinking that your power comes without an equally great price.

That sort of temptation is the last thing any good witch needs."

"Then why....?"
" Why what?"

"Devlin said that...this sort of ability usually shows itself when it's going to be needed.
But Brightlocke--that's the coven I used to belong to-- has witches that are more than

capable of protecting L.A., and the Charmed Ones seem to have this town covered

too, especially if they have a full coven working with them."
"I can't tell you what's to come, that's for you all to decide, not us to dictate.

As one witch to another, I'd advise that you let events take their own course

for now. You and my granddaughters need each other. The rest will come clear

when you're ready."

Grams turned to Piper.  "I'm looking forward to being a great-grandmother," she

said softly.  "Call me when your little angel's born, would you? I'd like to

be there when your baby's named."

"Yes,  of  course!"

"Like we'd dare leave her out," Leo whispered to Cara.  "She'd turn us all into frogs or

something."

"I most certainly would not. What good would frogs do anyone? Now cats, those

are useful as well as smart. Which do you think he'd look good in, Piper, basic

black or tabby stripes?"

"Angora," Cara suggested. "Piper could line  booties with  the fur he sheds."

"Whose side are you on?!"  from Leo.  "Ok--" as all three witches looked at him-- "I'm

getting out of here before you witchy ladies have me walking on all fours." He orbed.

Grams giggled.  "You've got a good one there, Piper. Hold on to him."

" I  intend to. And I heard what you just said, yes. So, if you'll excuse me...Cara,

if you want to practice those meditations for a while, then go help

set up for dinner? We're having some extra guests. Mrs.Struewing and one of her

sons. "
"All right." Cara glanced at her watch. Grams faded out as Piper left the attic

in search of her husband.


*             *               *

The doorbell rang.  On her way to the kitchen, Poppy went to answer it.

"Who the hell are you?" the man standing there demanded.

Poppy didn't flinch. "Unless you live here, shouldn't I be asking you that?"

He tried to push past her. She gave him a telekinetic shove backward that

slid him out of the doorway and off the porch, onto the sidewalk. He

fell, landing on his butt, staring angrily at her.

"Where's Phoebe, or her sisters? I'm her husband, damn it--"
"According to Phoebe, she's not married. So one of us is confused and

I don't think it's me," Poppy snapped.

"What's going on?" Leo came up behind her. His expression turned neutral,

almost cold. "Cole. What do you want?"

"What is going on here? All these people coming in and out--Bane, and

that necromancer--" he said the word as if it were an obscenity.
"What it is doesn't concern you," Paige had joined them. "Phoebe divorced

your sorry ass, remember? This is Halliwell business and you're not a part

of that anymore."

He glowered at her.  "You're drawing too much attention. The local demons

know you're up to something."
"We figured," Paige answered. "That's fine. You can tell your buddies what

we said, Cole:  Bring it on."
She slammed the door in his face.