Piper heard a voice whispering, and she slowly opened her eyes. She saw a human shape crouching next to her cot. Her vision began to clear, and she realized that it was Prue.
"Hi," Prue said quietly, trying not to disturb the others who were still asleep on the cots and mattresses that now filled P3's dance floor.
"Hi," Piper whispered. She had only slept lightly, and there was little sign of grogginess in her voice.
"How are you doing?" Prue asked.
"Just fine." Piper yawned. "Except for the fact that I've been dead for twenty years, and now my son hates me. And my husband is dead or hiding. And evil is winning. And we don't even have the Book of Shadows anymore."
"But you're alive now, your son doesn't really hate you, and we're going to turn things around."
Piper sat up on the cot. "How can you be so confident?"
"We've been in tough situations before, and we've always found a way. We can find a way through this."
Piper reached out and put her arms around Prue. "At least you're back. If you can come back… maybe we have a chance after all."
"We were strong when we had the power of three." Prue sat next to Piper on the cot, and put her arm over her shoulder. "With the power of four, we'll be invincible."
The two of them sat together in silence, looking out over the room. Piper's eyes drifted to Wyatt's cot, and she wondered if she should say what was really on her mind. She had an idea of what he was going through, but that didn't change her feelings. Deep down, she knew that she couldn't keep her emotions hidden.
Piper took a deep breath. "Prue, why won't my son talk to me?"
"He's going through a lot right now." Prue hugged her gently. "He just needs some time."
"I know. But it's so hard to watch him going through this, knowing that there's nothing I can do."
"Just being here is enough. You're helping him more than you know."
"You always know what to say." Piper rested against Prue.
Prue smiled. "I'd better let you sleep. We'll have a lot of work to do tomorrow."
"Goodnight," Piper said.
"Goodnight."
Prue got up and walked back to her mattress. Both of them soon fell into deep, dreamless sleep.
Piper awoke six hours later to the smell of fresh coffee and frying eggs. She stretched, then looked around. Kevin was the only one still asleep. Her sisters were sitting at a table together talking, while Maggie stood at the bar making breakfast. Wyatt and Jill were sitting on stools across from Maggie.
"Oh, Piper's up!" Phoebe said. She got an extra cup of coffee and brought it to Piper. "Morning."
"Good morning," Piper said, warily. It was far too early to talk to someone in such a good mood.
"Here." Phoebe handed Piper the coffee cup. "Maggie makes the best coffee."
"Thanks." Piper sipped the hot beverage. She quickly felt more alert.
"Almost everyone's up," Maggie said, "As usual."
"Kevin!" Jill shouted. "Time to get up!"
There was a groan from his cot. "Yes, drill sergeant."
"I'm not your drill sergeant," Jill said.
"I know," Kevin sat up. "He had a better disposition."
"All right," Wyatt said. "We should get to work."
Prue levitated a cup of coffee, and caused it to float towards him.
"Thanks Prue," Kevin said. He took a drink, then went to sit with the others at the bar. The four Charmed Ones got up and found barstools of their own.
"I think we should make out move today," Wyatt said.
"Today?" Prue asked. "But my sisters just got here."
"I know, but I think we're as ready as we ever will be. Waiting could be dangerous."
"I'm with Wyatt. I think we can do this," Jill said. "Besides, don't you guys want to live in a house again. I am sick of living in this run-down old club… no offense, Piper."
"None taken."
"I have a question," Paige said.
"What is it?" Wyatt asked.
"We're going to be attacking in two groups, right? So why aren't we orbing in separately?"
"Because you're the only one who can orb." Wyatt said. He looked away for a moment, absently turning the ring on his finger. "I haven't been able to orb since I lost my father."
"That's so sad," Phoebe said.
"No kidding." Wyatt set his coffee cup on the bar. "There's one other thing before we go."
Wyatt reached into his trench coat and took out a dagger. It had a silver blade and a gold handle, with a small, liquid-filled globe at the bottom. The blade was two inches long, with a pentagram engraved on one side, and an arcane symbol on the other. He held it up to show the other witches.
"This dagger was made to combat evil. The silver blade, symbols for good magic, and holy water are all supposed to make it more effective against demons." He placed the dagger in its sheath, then set it on the bar. He took out two sheathed daggers and set them beside it. "You should all carry one."
"A gypsy gave them to us after we saved her life," Kevin said.
Phoebe picked up one of the knives, and looked at it.
"They seem pretty effective," Prue said.
"Couldn't hurt," Paige said, taking one. Piper picked up the
"Looks like we're ready," Jill said.
"Great," Prue said, joining hands with the rest of the coven. "Time to kick some house-stealing demon asses."
Paige orbed, taking the rest of the group with her. They materialized in front of the house. Paige orbed again, this time taking only Jill and Kevin. Wyatt immediately raised his force field over the remaining group as they walked towards the front door.
Three demons shimmered onto the lawn in front of them. The demon in the center stepped forward.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
"I can answer that," Piper said. She gestured with her hands, causing the demon to explode.
"Any other questions?" Prue asked.
An energy ball formed in the hand of a demon. He threw it at Piper, but Prue deflected it, striking the other demon. Wyatt threw his dagger at the last demon. Flames leapt up and consumed the demon, while Prue used her power to retrieve the knife.
"Well, they know we're here," Phoebe said.
"Good." Wyatt led the group forward. "Piper, get the door."
The door exploded inward, and the five of them rushed in. A dozen warlocks blinked in behind them, and darklighter arrows flew in from the stairway and the adjoining rooms. Eight demons formed a line in front of them.
Arrows and energy balls smashed into the shield, uselessly. Demons and darklighters began to explode, while Prue used her power to deflect the incoming fire, hitting anything that moved.
A blast of fire erupted from one of the demons, forcing the witches to shield their eyes. Maggie concentrated on the source of the flame, and the demon collapsed to the floor. Wyatt's knife flew out again, vanquishing it.
Phoebe slashed at a pair of warlocks that had gotten too close. Only one of them blinked out in time. She began throwing potions, and almost immediately two more warlocks were rendered immobile. An energy ball looped around the shield and struck one of them.
Powerful bolts of electricity began to rain down on them from the top of the stairway. Wyatt's shield wavered, but he waved his hand to stabilize it. Prue's knife jumped from its sheath, and she directed it up the stairway. It struck the two remaining darklighters, and finally vanquished the lightning demon.
Piper froze the last four warlocks. They began to break free, but not quickly enough. Phoebe, Piper, and Maggie struck with their knives, and the last of the opposition was vanquished.
"That was too easy," Wyatt said, surveying the battle-torn living room.
"That's your idea of easy?" Phoebe asked.
"Come on." Wyatt began walking towards the kitchen, while Prue telekinetically picked up the thrown daggers. "They probably have stronger demons waiting for us."
The witches heard a voice that seemed to emanate from the air around them. "Well done."
Phoebe looked around. "No, it can't be…"
As the five of them entered the kitchen, more demons and warlocks appeared all around them. A handful of bats flew down from the ceiling, and transformed into vampires.
Then, flames leapt from the floor, and one last demon appeared.
"Cole." Phoebe glared at him. "Where the hell did you come from?"
"Surprise." Cole smiled. "Welcome home."
"Hi," Prue said quietly, trying not to disturb the others who were still asleep on the cots and mattresses that now filled P3's dance floor.
"Hi," Piper whispered. She had only slept lightly, and there was little sign of grogginess in her voice.
"How are you doing?" Prue asked.
"Just fine." Piper yawned. "Except for the fact that I've been dead for twenty years, and now my son hates me. And my husband is dead or hiding. And evil is winning. And we don't even have the Book of Shadows anymore."
"But you're alive now, your son doesn't really hate you, and we're going to turn things around."
Piper sat up on the cot. "How can you be so confident?"
"We've been in tough situations before, and we've always found a way. We can find a way through this."
Piper reached out and put her arms around Prue. "At least you're back. If you can come back… maybe we have a chance after all."
"We were strong when we had the power of three." Prue sat next to Piper on the cot, and put her arm over her shoulder. "With the power of four, we'll be invincible."
The two of them sat together in silence, looking out over the room. Piper's eyes drifted to Wyatt's cot, and she wondered if she should say what was really on her mind. She had an idea of what he was going through, but that didn't change her feelings. Deep down, she knew that she couldn't keep her emotions hidden.
Piper took a deep breath. "Prue, why won't my son talk to me?"
"He's going through a lot right now." Prue hugged her gently. "He just needs some time."
"I know. But it's so hard to watch him going through this, knowing that there's nothing I can do."
"Just being here is enough. You're helping him more than you know."
"You always know what to say." Piper rested against Prue.
Prue smiled. "I'd better let you sleep. We'll have a lot of work to do tomorrow."
"Goodnight," Piper said.
"Goodnight."
Prue got up and walked back to her mattress. Both of them soon fell into deep, dreamless sleep.
Piper awoke six hours later to the smell of fresh coffee and frying eggs. She stretched, then looked around. Kevin was the only one still asleep. Her sisters were sitting at a table together talking, while Maggie stood at the bar making breakfast. Wyatt and Jill were sitting on stools across from Maggie.
"Oh, Piper's up!" Phoebe said. She got an extra cup of coffee and brought it to Piper. "Morning."
"Good morning," Piper said, warily. It was far too early to talk to someone in such a good mood.
"Here." Phoebe handed Piper the coffee cup. "Maggie makes the best coffee."
"Thanks." Piper sipped the hot beverage. She quickly felt more alert.
"Almost everyone's up," Maggie said, "As usual."
"Kevin!" Jill shouted. "Time to get up!"
There was a groan from his cot. "Yes, drill sergeant."
"I'm not your drill sergeant," Jill said.
"I know," Kevin sat up. "He had a better disposition."
"All right," Wyatt said. "We should get to work."
Prue levitated a cup of coffee, and caused it to float towards him.
"Thanks Prue," Kevin said. He took a drink, then went to sit with the others at the bar. The four Charmed Ones got up and found barstools of their own.
"I think we should make out move today," Wyatt said.
"Today?" Prue asked. "But my sisters just got here."
"I know, but I think we're as ready as we ever will be. Waiting could be dangerous."
"I'm with Wyatt. I think we can do this," Jill said. "Besides, don't you guys want to live in a house again. I am sick of living in this run-down old club… no offense, Piper."
"None taken."
"I have a question," Paige said.
"What is it?" Wyatt asked.
"We're going to be attacking in two groups, right? So why aren't we orbing in separately?"
"Because you're the only one who can orb." Wyatt said. He looked away for a moment, absently turning the ring on his finger. "I haven't been able to orb since I lost my father."
"That's so sad," Phoebe said.
"No kidding." Wyatt set his coffee cup on the bar. "There's one other thing before we go."
Wyatt reached into his trench coat and took out a dagger. It had a silver blade and a gold handle, with a small, liquid-filled globe at the bottom. The blade was two inches long, with a pentagram engraved on one side, and an arcane symbol on the other. He held it up to show the other witches.
"This dagger was made to combat evil. The silver blade, symbols for good magic, and holy water are all supposed to make it more effective against demons." He placed the dagger in its sheath, then set it on the bar. He took out two sheathed daggers and set them beside it. "You should all carry one."
"A gypsy gave them to us after we saved her life," Kevin said.
Phoebe picked up one of the knives, and looked at it.
"They seem pretty effective," Prue said.
"Couldn't hurt," Paige said, taking one. Piper picked up the
"Looks like we're ready," Jill said.
"Great," Prue said, joining hands with the rest of the coven. "Time to kick some house-stealing demon asses."
Paige orbed, taking the rest of the group with her. They materialized in front of the house. Paige orbed again, this time taking only Jill and Kevin. Wyatt immediately raised his force field over the remaining group as they walked towards the front door.
Three demons shimmered onto the lawn in front of them. The demon in the center stepped forward.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
"I can answer that," Piper said. She gestured with her hands, causing the demon to explode.
"Any other questions?" Prue asked.
An energy ball formed in the hand of a demon. He threw it at Piper, but Prue deflected it, striking the other demon. Wyatt threw his dagger at the last demon. Flames leapt up and consumed the demon, while Prue used her power to retrieve the knife.
"Well, they know we're here," Phoebe said.
"Good." Wyatt led the group forward. "Piper, get the door."
The door exploded inward, and the five of them rushed in. A dozen warlocks blinked in behind them, and darklighter arrows flew in from the stairway and the adjoining rooms. Eight demons formed a line in front of them.
Arrows and energy balls smashed into the shield, uselessly. Demons and darklighters began to explode, while Prue used her power to deflect the incoming fire, hitting anything that moved.
A blast of fire erupted from one of the demons, forcing the witches to shield their eyes. Maggie concentrated on the source of the flame, and the demon collapsed to the floor. Wyatt's knife flew out again, vanquishing it.
Phoebe slashed at a pair of warlocks that had gotten too close. Only one of them blinked out in time. She began throwing potions, and almost immediately two more warlocks were rendered immobile. An energy ball looped around the shield and struck one of them.
Powerful bolts of electricity began to rain down on them from the top of the stairway. Wyatt's shield wavered, but he waved his hand to stabilize it. Prue's knife jumped from its sheath, and she directed it up the stairway. It struck the two remaining darklighters, and finally vanquished the lightning demon.
Piper froze the last four warlocks. They began to break free, but not quickly enough. Phoebe, Piper, and Maggie struck with their knives, and the last of the opposition was vanquished.
"That was too easy," Wyatt said, surveying the battle-torn living room.
"That's your idea of easy?" Phoebe asked.
"Come on." Wyatt began walking towards the kitchen, while Prue telekinetically picked up the thrown daggers. "They probably have stronger demons waiting for us."
The witches heard a voice that seemed to emanate from the air around them. "Well done."
Phoebe looked around. "No, it can't be…"
As the five of them entered the kitchen, more demons and warlocks appeared all around them. A handful of bats flew down from the ceiling, and transformed into vampires.
Then, flames leapt from the floor, and one last demon appeared.
"Cole." Phoebe glared at him. "Where the hell did you come from?"
"Surprise." Cole smiled. "Welcome home."