W00T! I'm updating. Today is my last day of Thanksgiving break so I figured I might as well update before December.

First off, I'd like to give a BIG shout out to Jessica, aka Raya, who was kind enough to beta this chapter. Thank you thank you thank you, and a hundred more thanks. )

Wooh, I actually did research for this chapter. I couldn't think of a good name for the Source, and I was getting sick of typing 'the Source', so I looked in a baby name book and....yeah. I picked 'Orla' because it's nice and easy to type (lol) and also because it means "Golden Lady". In my head, I imagine the Source to look kinda like Sarah Michelle Gellar, who has blonde hair (golden), so yeppers.

Moving on...

Previously on Charmed:

--Piper looked down at the muddy puddle before her and in her mind saw the face of Prue, gasping for breath as she lay dying in the mausoleum next to Cole. Piper felt sick to her stomach. I have to save them...but how? What could I possibly do? Piper felt all alone in the world. No husband, no sisters, no friends...no one. She sank down to her knees in the puddle, not caring that the water soaked through her shoes and pants. It didn't matter anymore. She raised her head to the sky and whispered hoarsely.

"Someone please help...help me...please.."

Her exhausted body trembled and dizziness overtook Piper as she slumped forward into the awaiting puddle.

--"Prue, it's fine. Piper hasn't been hurt. We'll go get her right now. She just passed out." Andy took Prue's hand in his and then placed a hand on Cole's shoulder. "Alright guys, here we go." Andy, Prue, and Cole orbed out of the mausoleum in an array of blue and white lights.

Piper stirred restlessly, as her dark brown hair swam eerily in the pool of water. Coughing and spitting out water, she came to and observed the murky and misty world surrounding her. Brilliant blue lights glittered around her, and she felt at peace. Where am I? The bland streets of San Francisco and the ominous graveyard were gone.
Piper shifted over to her side and gasped, as she felt an unfamiliar but amazing feeling in her stomach. She wrapped her arms around her stomach and breathed in and out carefully and steadily. What's happening to me? As if an invisible force read her mind, a heavenly voice answered in the distance.
"Our baby, Piper, it's our baby."
Piper shivered at the sound of the male voice, and a single tear fell from her wide eyes. "Leo?" she whispered hoarsely, afraid that the voice was only a part of her imagination. She looked around the area and saw no one. I'm going crazy.
"Baby, it's me. It really is... Don't worry, you're not insane," Leo's voice comforted, reading her doubtful mind.
"Did you say something about a baby?" Piper asked, her voice quivering. Still, she didn't see Leo, but his presence overwhelmed her, and she felt a great pain lift from her chest. He was with her.
"Yes. You're pregnant. It's just starting..." Leo's voice trailed off.
"Leo! Leo, come back... Don't leave me!" Piper implored, beginning to cry. She glanced wildly around where she stood; she didn't want to lose her beloved again.
"It's okay, honey. I'm here. I'll always be here," Leo's voice continued, as it came closer and closer to Piper. Then, there he was, his hand on Piper's shoulder. Piper felt a burst of warmness stream through her cold body, and she turned around to grasp her husband's hand. He smiled down at her, and Piper felt complete.
"Am I in heaven?" Piper asked quietly.
Leo shook his head. "No…not yet. You just passed out. Piper, don't lose hope. There's always hope. There's hope on the way right now, actually," he answered in his usual all-knowing manner.
More tears flowed freely from Piper's eyes, while she held onto Leo's hand. "Leo...I want to be dead. I...I want to be with you. I just can't take the world anymore. Prue and Phoebe are dead...and I couldn't help them. I couldn't save them. I always thought the good guys won. I always thought we would win. I thought we were--" Her words failed her then but Leo knew what she was going to say.
"Invincible? Piper, no one is. Not even the Charmed Ones. But, don't worry. Like I said, hope is on the way." Leo reached down and stroked Piper's cheek, and her tears melted away. "I love you..."
"Leo--" Piper choked out, as the mystic world around her faded away, and a twinkling blue light jolted her back into the real world. The blue lights disappeared and all that was left were three forms. "Prue?" Piper's mouth fell open in pure shock, and she gazed upon her eldest sister in disbelief. "You're...you're…"
"Alive? Yeah. It's great." Prue grinned then ran into her sister's open arms. The two sisters hugged, as Prue explained all that had happened in the mausoleum, including the return of Andy.
"It's good to see you, Andy," Piper said and frowned slightly, as she thought of what Leo had told her. Her train of thought was broken when Cole cleared his throat, and Piper looked up to see Cole starring at her expectantly.
"Excuse me, Ms. Halliwell, aren't you happy to see me alive?" Cole asked cheekily.
Piper laughed. "Of course. How could I ever forget you, Mr. Turner?"
"Well, I think we better get back to the manor. We don't want a surprise attack from Madria, or even worse…the Source," Prue suggested, her game face on.
"Good idea. I'll do the honors." Andy looked around cautiously to make sure the coast was clear, then he orbed the gang back to the manor.

Meanwhile, down in the Underworld...

Madria shimmered into the Source's chamber, a dark and desolate room surrounded by orange and red flames which encircled the Source's throne. Several demons guarded the door and erected themselves on opposite sides of the Source' throne, keeping close watch from every angle. A narrow platform led to her throne, where Madria carefully trooped over and bowed before the Source. A devious smile played upon her lips, causing the Source to glare curiously at her.

"You look happy," the Source said, sitting on her throne and observing Madria closely.
"Ya know, I really like this shimmering power. It's wicked fun!" Madria smirked, avoiding the Source's icy glare.
"Well?" the Source asked impatiently.
"Well, what?" Madria asked, annoyed.
The Source narrowed her eyes and asked the obvious question,"Are they dead?"
"Duh. Of course they're dead. Would I come down here to you if I hadn't succeeded?" Madria rolled her eyes.
"I don't know. You can be stupid like that at times," the Source growled, standing up and making a swift movement forward, hovering menacingly over Madria.
Madria scoffed. "Whatever. The Charmed Ones are dead and gone. Happy?"
"Ecstatic," the Source paused and ran a hand through her blond hair. Her blue eyes sparkled in the flickering torch-light, as the orange flames danced with delight in her black pupils. "You and Dargo did well. I'm pleased."
"Swell. So...what do we do now? Party like it's 1969?"
The Source laughed dryly. "How about we take over the world?"
Madria squinted up at the Source. "Sounds like fun. I'm up for a little world domination, Sourcey."
"Please, call me Orla. Now, go get the Seer and Dargo. We have some planning to do."
"Yes ma'am." Madria saluted and shimmered out of the dim chamber.