I'm trying to get this done for y'all so I can move on the sequel. I hope you're still enjoying it! I appreciate your patience, feedback, and praise. You're the best! Sorry about all the spaces b/t paragraphs... this is a new format for me. --abs

Gracie's coffee cup shattered on the floor as tangerine top fell over limp. "How'd you? What'd you? Who are you?" Gracie stuttered. Mr. Jenkins sat stiff in the middle of the room as Paige hurried to her feet.

"Listen, I can explain. There seems to be some cosmic reason that the temp agency sends me to different places—and I guess they sent me here to keep Mr. Jenkins safe," she played with her fingers. The room was still in shell shock.

"That's not an explanation," Mr. Jenkins crawled to the nearest chair and pulled himself up. "What are you?"

Paige didn't know what to say. She had exposed herself and subsequently her family. She did the only thing she could think of and began rhyming, "The images you've just seen from your memory I erase, so that I can save my nephew and leave this freaky place." Nothing. Mr. Jenkins and Gracie exchanged confused looks as the lady in the tangerine top began to stir and moan on the floor. "Do you still remember what happened?" They both nodded. "Oh, great," Paige flopped into an empty chair and placed her hand over her tired eyes. "Ok, I'm a witch. I admit it. But I just saved your life, ok?" she dropped her hand and saw that she was no longer sitting in Mr. Jenkins' plush office but an isolation room. She jumped to her feet, "What the hell happened?"

"You finally confessed," a lady in a sleek black suit stepped from the shadows across from her, "And we've got it all on tape," she produced a small handheld recorder from her jacket.

"Who are you? Where am I?" Paige got up quickly from the bed and tried to approach the woman but ran into an invisible wall.

"I would have thought you would have known better by now," the lady brushed her fake blonde hair back behind her ears. "This is exactly what they need to prosecute you, Paige. And I will be more than happy to deliver it to them."

"Not if I can help it," Paige threatened, "Tape recorder," she called. Nothing happened again. Defeated she sat back down on her chair, "I've already asked who you are, and I'm asking again. Who are you?"

The door in the side of the room crept open as a familiar male voice announced, "She works for me. She's my secretary. And I'm prosecuting you."

"Cole?" Paige was amazed.

"I told you not to mess with me, Paige. You have come between me and Phoebe too many times—and this time it's over. I've got all the evidence I need to charge you with murder."

"Murder!?" Paige jumped up again and raced toward Cole—coming as close as she could to him before falling back to the ground. "I saved Mr. Jenkins," she stared up at him.

Cole offered her his hand, but she batted it away. "Are you still sticking to that story? That being the last thing you remember? Paige, Paige, Paige†after you ran from the room, I simply shimmered in and finished the job for you. The boss and the fluorescent twins—all killed at the hands of someone who had just displayed her magic."

"But why? I trusted you! I just helped resurrect you and save your daughter!" Paige yelled.

Cole looked to his assistant who shook her head unknowingly, "That's not funny, Paige. I don't have a daughter. It's because of you that Phoebe and I are divorced and I have no children, no heir. You're going to burn with this confession," Cole's characteristic wicked grin spread across his face as the tape recorder in his assistant's hand flew from hers to his. "See you at the bonfire," Cole held the door open before following his assistant out.

"This isn't real," Paige pinched her arm, "Ouch," and fell back on the bed. When she rolled over and opened her eyes she found herself lying on the ground in front of a bonfire with a stake erected in the center. Around her was a crowd of spectators, all there to see the first witch burning in San Francisco in centuries.

-----

Piper held Wyatt as close to her breast as her enlarged belly would allow, "You're not having him, Gideon. I'll kill you first!" she threatened.

"How?" Gideon mocked, "Your potion was destroyed, I'm sorry to say. But Sigmund did not lose his life in vain. He knew that death was a possibility. It's all for the greater good."

"Greater good?" Piper became increasingly irate, "the greater good does not include sacrificing two of the most powerful children ever born to evil!" she pulled Wyatt closer and grimaced with the early pangs of labor.

Gideon tightened his fist so that Piper sat up straight and Wyatt was free from her grip, "It's all about balance, my dear—the yin and yang of the universe. There is no source, you and your sisters have been wrecking havoc on the underworld, the balance is shifting. I am good, you see, so I am not against the death of demons. However, there needs to remain balance between good and evil. And for that to happen, your children cannot be good. They will throw it off," Gideon smiled as if Piper should accept her children's fate and hand them to Gideon without a fight.

"Twisted bastard," Piper gritted through her teeth as Gideon moved her and Wyatt into the vortex swirling behind them.

Gideon simply smiled and let the insult slide off his back, "Don't worry, you won't be harmed in the vortex. You'll be sleeping until your son is born, then you'll be free to go. The vortex will reverse Wyatt's and Chris's morality, that is all. Twisting and contorting what is good and evil until they can reign in the underworld." Gideon simply waved his hand as Piper feel over into a deep coma. "I'm sorry to do this to you, really I am. But like I said, it is for the greater good." The vortex remained open as Wyatt sat glaring at Gideon, "This is for you," he smiled.

-----

Leo couldn't believe what he was hearing. Chris and Wyatt both missing? His world was spinning and he couldn't focus. He fell to the floor with vertigo. "No, no," he mumbled into the carpet on the floor. Mrs. Winterbourne, the nursery attendant, escorted the other children out of the room leaving Leo and Piper alone. "No," Leo continued to repeat.

"What is it?" Piper kneeled to him as best she could, "Leo? Can you sense them? Can you find our babies? Leo, answer me!" panic etched her voice.

Leo concentrated as best he could. I cannot panic, he thought to himself, I can't lose control. If I lose control, I lose my sons. I must remain calm and find my center if I am to find my sons. He sat up and looked into his bride's tear-filled eyes. "We'll find them, we must find them." Leo took Piper's hands in his, and wiped the tears from her cheeks. Drawing from her maternal bond with Chris and Wyatt, Leo began to search the castle for them. His mind raced through images of classrooms, dormitories, the grounds, the library, even various administrators offices—but nothing. No sign of either of his boys. "I don't think they are at the magic school," Leo admitted. "We'll need to orb out of here if I am to check elsewhere. The magic school is naturally guarded by magic barriers. For my magic to search other places, we need to be away." He pulled Piper closer so that her cheek was against his chest before orbing them to the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. Piper clung to him in fear. "No worries," Leo half-smiled, "I come up here all the time, you're safe with me." Piper and Leo took a seat on the bridges high support cables. They both closed their eyes as the breeze of the bay filtered through their hair. Leo never felt closer to Piper then he did at this moment—not in all their years together, not in all their nights together—in this moment their hearts were united under one front: finding Chris and Wyatt. The surge of power that filtered through him was unlike anything he had ever felt before. It was a mixture of complete clarity and omniscience, Leo knew he would be able to locate Chris in Wyatt. In a moment of chaotic vision, Leo saw twisting and turning with Wyatt sitting in the middle of a black hole, and Chris struggling to find Gideon. In as quick a moment as he found them, he lost them again. He lost all sense of them, as if...

...they are dead, a voice whispered in the crevices of his mind, the only time I can't sense them is if they are in the underworld or dead. And since I just saw themâ€are they dead? Did Gideon kill them? Rage unlike he had ever known welled up inside his chest as he burst to his feet frightening Piper.

"What happened? What is it?" she struggled to her feet.

"This isn't real, what I saw was real, and this isn't," Leo began to pace. "Think, think" he was once again losing focus. Then he remembered something—Chris had given Piper one of his and Chloe's rings so that Chris would be able to locate her if she was lost. Now was her chance to find him! "The ring! Why didn't I think of this sooner? Piper, use your ring to locate Chris and Wyatt!"

Piper looked at him dazed, "Leo, honey, I don't know what you're talking about. If I had a ring to find Chris and Wyatt, don't you think I would use it? Can't you find them?"

Leo looked back into her eyes and saw nothing. She had no thoughts, she had no dreams—she wasn't Piper, and she wasn't real. "This isn't real. This is just what I fear," and the visions around him evaporated until he found he was standing in the middle of the library in the magic school, "Barbas!" he cried, "Gideon!"

-----

Chris checked Richard's pulse—it was faint, but it was still there. "Hang on, Richard, I've got to find someone to help you," Chris orbed out and back into the hospital waiting room behind a vending machine. He slowly reached down and lifted Richard up, "Dude, when you wake up, we need to talk about a diet," making sure no one could see him Chris decided upon an alternative to carrying Richard—and floated him to a nearby chair before calling, "Help! Someone!"

A nurse rushed over from triage, "What happened?"

"I don't know. I came home and he was like this. I think someone broke into the house and knocked him out," Chris slid his hand behind Richard's back and disassociated his jean pocket just enough to get his wallet, "Here," he handed it to the nurse, "his name is Richard Montana, his family is really prominent in town. His brother's business card is in there if you need a contact number. Thanks," Chris shook the nurse's hand before darting out the door.

"Wait!" she called after him, "don't you need to call the police?"

But Chris was gone—he orbed out mid-stride before anyone could see him. Once safely back within the manor, Chris approached the door to the magic school and opened it just as Leo was rushing out. "Dad?" Chris questioned bewildered as Leo embraced him in the first authentic hug he had given his son since his arrival. Chris couldn't help but hug him back. You haven't forgotten about me, he sank into his arms.

Leo backed away and looked into Chris's forest green eyes, as intoxicating as Piper's. He put his hand behind Chris's head and pulled him forward, "Are you ok? No cuts, scrapes, injuries."

"I'm fine, dad," Chris smiled gently pulling back, "it was Richard that Gideon attacked."

"Richard?" Leo was confused, "but I saw you in my vision."

Chris's brow furrowed, "No, I haven't found Gideon. But when I do, then we'll talk about who gets injured. And it's going to be him," Chris began to storm back through the door.

"Wait," Leo grabbed his arm, "where's your mom and brother?"

Chris sighed, "Gideon took them. Come on, we have to find them."

Leo released his arm and took his hand, "So that we don't get separated again," he smiled.

As soon as they entered the school Leo felt an overwhelming sense of fear, "Paige," he said grabbing his temples, "she's scared. She's scared and in danger."

"We don't have time, Gideon has mom and Wyatt. Dad," Chris implored.

"It's ok," came a familiar voice, "we'll find Paige."

Chris turned to see Chloe, Phoebe and Cole walking down the endless hall towards him and Leo, "Go, save your family," Cole smiled pulling Chloe and Phoebe closer to him.

"Thank you," Leo lipped noiselessly while Chris blew Chloe a kiss before they both took off in a sprint down the hall towards Gideon's office.

-----

Phoebe turned back toward the opposite hall and placed her hand on one of the tall columns. As she did, she suddenly saw Gideon standing in an open room with a marble floor. The ceiling was open to the night sky above, and the room was dimly lit with five torches hanging from the wall. In the center of the room was a swirling vortex in which she saw Wyatt sitting still and Piper unconscious. Phoebe's hand fell to her side.

"Mom?" Chloe put her hand on Phoebe's shoulder.

"What did you see?" Cole asked walking closer to his daughter and Phoebe.

"Piper and Wyatt," Chloe answered as Phoebe slowly opened her eyes and nodded.

Phoebe exhaled, "We need to tell Chris and Leo. They're in the ceremony room."

Chloe shook her head no as she began to lead them back down the endless hall, "No need, Chris knows." Phoebe and Cole exchanged perplexed looks before following Chloe.

-----

Chris had stopped abruptly in the middle of the hall and slammed his eyes shut. "What?" Leo turned to him.

"Chloe," he whispered holding up his hand, "Phoebe had a premonition and Chloe was able to read it. Mom and Wyatt," he sighed heavily before continuing, "Gideon has them in the ceremony room."

Leo recognized the look of determination, fear, and anger that had flooded his youngest son's cheeks. "Come on, we'll save them, Chris," he assured him as the continued running down the hall.

-----

Phoebe felt helpless. Both her sisters were in trouble and she did not know where to begin to help them. She, Cole and Chloe continued down the hall checking every classroom they came to. "This is pointless," Phoebe announced exasperated after checking a fifth classroom surveying what seemed like hundreds that laid ahead of them. "We are three of the most powerful magical beings ever and we can't even find Paige. I mean, between the three of us, there has to be enough magic to find her. We are running out of time," she turned to the wall and gently rasped her head against the plaster. She sank to the floor, she could sense Cole's and Chloe's frustration as well. "I know, I'm not the only one who is frustrated. But there has to be something more we can do to find her."

"Witch to witch, sister to sister?" Chloe suggested joining her mother on the floor and taking her hand in hers.

Phoebe nodded, "It's worth a try," she opened her eyes. Chloe scooted back away from her mom until she was facing her. She picked up her other hand and they both closed their eyes. "Cole, you might have to shimmer to follow us."

"Don't worry about that, I'm not letting you out of my sight," Cole winked.

Phoebe turned back to Chloe as she chanted, "Power of the witches rise, course unseen across the skies. Take us to the one we seek, to save our future from one so bleak." In a twinkling of white light, Chloe and Phoebe disappeared.

"What amazing women," Cole smiled before shimmering after them—tracking his daughter.

-----

"Paige Matthews, you are charged with witchcraft and three counts of murder. The sentence for your crime is death by burning at the stake. Do you have any last requests or statements?" the bailiff read the statement as the executioner secured Paige to the stake.

"I didn't do this. It was him," Paige motioned with her head towards a smiling Cole, "He did it. He's a demon. You've got to believe me."

The crowd laughed and Cole's eyes sparkled malevolently, "Aren't all lawyers?" he teased.

Phoebe and Chloe appeared in front of Paige who was backed snugly against a tree. "Don't get too close," Chloe warned, "we don't know what delusion she's in. She could see us someone to hurt."

"Or someone who could hurt her," Phoebe noticed the look on her sister's face.

"When I was under Barbas's spell," Cole emerged from the shadows, "Chloe was getting ready to kill me while in her vision, she was getting ready to kill another demon. But Barbas had us placed so that if she had tried to kill the demon, she would have really killed me."

Chloe turned to look at her father, "How do you know what I saw?"

"From Chris," Cole responded, "neither he nor you knew it, but he was projecting your visions to me while he was in your head."

Phoebe leaned over to her daughter's ear, "Just nod and pretend you were following him," Chloe smiled and did as her mother instructed. "So basically what you're saying is, she could think she is killing someone else, and she could be killing us?" Phoebe questioned.

"Exactly," Cole leaned casually against a nearby rock.

Chloe motioned for the necklace around Paige's neck, "Let's see what you're seeing," Chloe grasped the necklace and closed her eyes.

"Please, I know it's hard to believe. But if you believe that I am a witch, you have got to believe that he is a demon and he is the one responsible for the deaths in the office. Ask my sisters, they can verify it for you."

"They're dead," a voice hollered from the crowd, "and now you'll join them!"

Paige eyes widened in horror, Phoebe and Piper weren't dead! She had just seen them that morning. Paige turned to Cole to see, what appeared to be, pain in his eyes. It must be true then, she thought, they must be dead.

"Executioner," the bailiff nodded his head as the executioner lit the torch to light the fire beneath Paige.

"No!" she shouted, "I'm innocent, I swear I'm innocent!"

"Orb out," Chloe called as the logs around Paige went up in flames. "Come on Paige, orb."

"Chloe?" Paige turned to her as the heat intensified around her, "You can't be here. You don't exist."

"Wrong. I exist, this," Chloe walked up to the fire and ran her hand through it, "and these people don't."

She's lying, Paige thought, This is a trick of Cole's. He is trying to trick me into believing that he does have a daughter so that I will confess again. The heat around Paige was becoming unbearable and she began to scream.

"Chloe!" Phoebe grabbed her shoulder, "Hurry, she is dying!"

Chloe took a deep breath, "That's Barbas, Paige. He knows what you fear and he is using it against you. You're right, you did help to save me and you did help to resurrect my dad. He isn't evil and neither are you. Come on, Paige. You're stronger than this."

"I am," Paige inhaled, "I am stronger than this. And I am innocent."

"Orb, Paige. Orb out of here," Chloe ordered.

The heat was getting stronger and Paige could feel her shoes catching on fire, "I can do this," she repeated to herself, "I can orb," and she orbed out of the fire.

In the forest Paige orbed out and orbed back in place, but this time fully aware of where she was. "Thanks, kid," she smiled to Chloe.

"Anytime," she smiled back.

Phoebe rushed up to Paige and draped her arms around her neck, "Oh, Paige. I was so worried!" she cried before snuggling into her sister's shoulder.

Paige kissed the top of Phoebe's head, "Thanks, sis," before turning and noticing Cole leaning against a rock. "Eww," she muttered with frustration, "rock!" she called and motioned it towards Cole's head.

"What the?" Cole shimmered out as Chloe waved the rock away. "What was that for?" Cole shimmered back in front of Paige and Phoebe.

Paige simply stuck her tongue out at her ex-brother-in-law, "Oh, you know," she mocked. "Where is the rest of the fam? Is everyone ok?"

"Leo and Chris are on their way to save Wyatt and Piper," Phoebe answered still standing close to her baby sister.

"Then what do you say we go and join them?" Paige took Phoebe's hand and orbed them back to the school.

"Shall we?" Cole offered Chloe his arm before shimmering behind Phoebe and Paige.