A/N: I'm kind of stuck on this story. :\ Don't worry I'm trying to not be stuck! Oh and Melinda is now a brunette not a blonde, to match the Melinda in the show. It is possible for blondes to turn brunette if they're still young, I know about three people who've had that happen .

*For The Best*

The next morning, after Piper and Leo had dealt severely with Grace and Melinda (and Wyatt had whined a lot about not being included), as well as Piper undoing Melinda's spell and making them go through it the real way, Phoebe found herself feeling guilty.

She'd stayed up all night on her lap top, finally meeting her deadline, and had delivered them first thing that morning to a rather annoyed Jason, only to be given a brand new pile of letters. Phoebe wondered if Jason was especially hard on her because he was dating her.

When Piper shuffled into the kitchen, bleary-eyed, she was surprised to see Phoebe already up. 'What are you doing here? You usually sleep in. Don't say you didn't meet your deadline?'

'Oh I did, but Jason gave me more.' Phoebe said with a sigh. 'Luckily this is a new batch. So new deadline.'

'Oh. Why are you starting so soon though?' Piper asked as she made coffee.

Phoebe sighed again. 'If I finish quicker I might be able to spend more time with Grace. Poor kid - it's bad enough having the pox but she's barely seen me since she came down with them.'

Piper nodded. 'But it isn't your fault Phoebe. You have to work.'

Phoebe frowned. 'Still. I'm supposed to go into the office today.' She added.

'The office? But Phoebe, it's a Sunday!'

'I know. But I work better there. At least, that's what Jason thinks.'

Piper offered Phoebe a steaming mug of coffee, which she accepted. Piper sipped her own coffee across from Phoebe. 'You look miserable.' Piper noted. Upstairs Piper heard the sound of Serena crying.

Phoebe nodded. 'Uh huh.'

'And I know it's not just because of this new deadline and new letters.'

'You can read me like an open book.'

Piper grinned.

'Well, you're right. That's not why.' Phoebe sighed. 'Piper. if I told you something would you promise not to tell the others till I'm ready to tell them?'

Piper frowned. 'This sounds serious.'

'It is.' Phoebe lowered the lid of her laptop so she could look Piper in the eye. 'Piper I know I got custody, but I can still send Grace to live with Cole. And right now, well that's all I can think of doing. I have no time for her these days and god I just feel so guilty. I'm such a terrible mother. I know she'd be better of with Cole - not only does he have money, he has time for her.'

Piper shook her head. 'Cole only has time because one, he works from home all the time, unlike you who only works from home some of the time, and two, he has money because he has the biggest inheritance.'

'Yeah but because of him always being about. something just keeps telling me that he should have Grace. At least for a while.'

'Are you sure he's not trying to brain wash you?'

Phoebe laughed. 'No Piper, it's definitely one of my motherly instincts. If I have any, after the mother I've been lately.'

'Aw Phoebe, you have to work! You can't help that! Grace understands, and she always has us!'

'No Piper, I really I should do this. Just try it out first. Cole is her father after all - why deprive her of her father as well as her mother?'

Piper sighed. 'Well Phoebe you knew I don't exactly think the best of Cole but I suppose he'd protect Grace. And anytime she wanted to visit us she could shimmer. With our permission of course. Though, her shimmering is so haywire. Someone would probably have to pick her up.'

Phoebe nodded. 'Yeah I think I'll do it. I'll call Cole after breakfast.'

'If that's what you want. I'm not going to stop you - she is your daughter.' Piper got up to make breakfast, and soon everyone except for the three kids in quarantine was sitting down to breakfast.

'Are they even up yet? I haven't heard a bell.' Glen commented.

'Nope, they're still sleeping soundly.' Leo said with a smile. He had come back empty - handed the night before, only with the promise that the elders would look into it for them.

'Good.' Phoebe said. 'Guys, I have an announcement to make.' She said, and began to repeat what she'd told Piper. Everyone stayed silent till she'd finished.

'Are you sure this is what you want though Phoebe?' Glen asked, worried.

'It's not about what I want, it's about what is best for Grace.' Phoebe replied.

'Phoebe, I really think Grace should stay here. And not just because I don't like Cole. I mean she needs to be raised among other witches. Or. half witches.' Prue said grinning, as she thought of Paige, herself (since she became a whitelighter), Melinda, Wyatt and her twins who had yet to come.

'It's only for a while till I've got everything sorted out. I mean, my life is total shambles right now.' Phoebe said. 'And I know you're here for me, but this is something I have to do myself.'

* *

In the end everyone agreed Phoebe had the last say, so after breakfast she called Cole, who was delighted to take Grace, though, Phoebe warned him, not till her bout of chicken pox was over.

Paige headed out of the nursery, and went to Grace's room, where exclamations were coming from.

'Look! Aunt Paige!' Grace cried.

'What?' Paige asked.

'My chicken pox are GONE! Really! I didn't do any spells or anything, PROMISE!' Paige called Leo, who had Grace swear under oath, and with one hand on the bible.

'I'd better tell Phoebe.' Paige went downstairs to where Phoebe was. 'Phoebe? Grace is over her chicken pox. Leo even made her swear she did nothing.'

'What? But chicken pox don't go away in a day!'

'Well we are witches, and she is a half demon.'

Phoebe sighed. 'Okay. I'll go up to see her.' Phoebe slowly made her way upstairs, which was crowded with everyone checking Grace, or seeing if Melinda or Wyatt had recovered yet (they hadn't).

Everyone slowly left as Phoebe appeared, knowing what was going to happen as she went into Grace's room.

'Grace? I'm glad you're better honey.' Phoebe said, as she helped Grace pull on jeans and a blue and white top.

'Yeah, isn't it great?' Grace beamed. Phoebe smiled as she looked at her daughter, with her curly brown hair, hazel eyes and dimples in her cheeks. 'Gracie, I have something to tell you.'

* *

Leo frowned as he checked Melinda one last time. 'How come you still have the pox Mellie?' He mumbled.

'Maybe it has something to do with that spell.' Melinda muttered sourly, sounding older than her three years.

Leo grinned at his daughter. She used to have his blonde hair, but it had slowly turned to a dark brown to match Piper's - she looked exactly like the girl they'd seen in the future.

'It could.' Leo agreed. Piper had gone to P3 to made arrangements for the band that was playing there that night which included flowers in all their dressing rooms and assorted snacks. Prue and Andy were visiting Daryl and Sheila Morris, and Glen was out on a family picnic with Paige and Serena.

Melinda pouted. 'It's not fair.'

Leo smirked. 'At least you'll learn about personal gain.' He ruffled her brown hair, before a look of horror dawned on his face as he realized why his daughter was staring at him.

'Daddy? You have um. spots.'

* *

'Mommy how long will I be visiting daddy?' Grace asked as Phoebe helped her pack a small suitcase.

'I don't know sweetie.' Phoebe said, as she absently folded a pair of cargo pants and put them in the suitcase.

Grace frowned. That was not the answer she'd been looking for. 'Are you going to come?' Grace asked, as she put some of her school things in the suitcase to make more room for her personal stuff in her bag.

'Do I really need to pack?' Grace asked. 'Can't I just shimmer over if I forget something?'

Phoebe shook her head. 'Nope, your shimmering is off remember? And also, the point of the visit is you stay there and you don't see home for a long time.'

'That doesn't sound like much fun.'

'But when you see home again after missing it. Gracie not now please. Daddy's penthouse is too far from the manor for you to shimmer, and that's the end of it okay? And no asking him to shimmer you over, he has to work.'

Grace felt a small pink fireball appear in the palm of her hand, which she quickly crushed in case she set fire to her favourite book. As Phoebe packed the last of Grace's things up, she zipped the suitcase. 'You ready then?'

Grace nodded. 'Can't I say goodbye again?'

'You already have. And Wyatt and Melinda are asleep now. Don't worry; you can talk on the phone. Or they can visit you maybe. Now sweetie, be good okay? I'll call you tonight. I love you.'

Phoebe gave Grace a hug, which she returned stiffly.

'Leo!' Phoebe called.

Leo orbed in from downstairs. 'Ready then?' Leo grabbed a suitcase and took Grace's hand, before orbing out.

Phoebe watched the last few orbs. 'It's for the best.' She murmured. 'It's for the best.'