A/N: So, what do we think? Do we hate her or not?

It was chaos. Chris was crouching next to an unconscious Leo, Piper was bleeding heavily, Phoebe too on the opposite side of the room. And Paige? Yeah, she was in the grip of a hulky demon who was slowly bringing a broken vase to her neck.

'Hey!'

Micudha twisted bringing Paige face to face with her, despite the colour draining from her cheeks she seemed to pale more at the sight before her. 'Maddy, what are you doing?!'

Paying no attention she addressed the demon, 'You got the wrong one. Then again, you being a demon and all, should've expected it.'

He pondered this, for a demon he looked very reasonable, intelligent even, finally throwing Paige aside, diving forward with a strength she hadn't expected.

Then abruptly he was thrown back. Glancing up to her right Maddy saw Prue, protecting with her power, Paige nipped a piece of flesh just as he shimmered out.

Prue thumped down the stairs. 'What the hell were you doing?'

'Shut up,' Maddy hissed heading towards Paige then changing her mind and going towards Leo instead. 'Is he alright?'

'He should be,' Chris answered. 'Mom? Phoebe?'

'A bit of blood,' Phoebe shrugged then winced. 'And it hurts a bit.'

'Yeah, ditto,' Piper chimed in. 'Did we get it?'

All eyes looked to Paige's hand. 'Oh, yeah.'

While everyone helped everyone else up Maddy slipped back up the stairs, heart pounding as she absorbed what she'd nearly got herself into- both with the demon and with Prue. Now, which was worse?

For some reason Paige thought she saw Prue glance after Maddy as she stealed away. It seemed a strange thing, for the first time she realised they'd been alone in the attic, something must have happened.

Like what? Maddy hated Prue, after all, she'd left her to die, not the best basis for them getting back together. Which they wouldn't. Would they?

Prue's eyes caught hers, a small smile playing on her lips. Maybe a gloating smile. It was obvious Prue hated her, for some reason she couldn't fathom, being a Halliwell perhaps. Taking her place maybe.

'Everyone okay?' Prue asked taking charge.

'Thanks for what you did,' Paige said stiffly.

'She was pretty stupid,' Phoebe commented.

'Maddy was just worried, that's all,' Prue answered.

'I mean it, Prue. Thanks.'

'What have I done, huh?' Maddy addressed the two boys in the play-pen. 'Do you two think I'm mad?'

'I'm starting to.'

She spun to see Paige leaning against the door frame. 'I was really stupid, wasn't I?'

'Yep,' Paige nodded moving forward a few paces. 'I mean, a demon like Micudha, not the best-looking demon we've ever faced.'

'Paige, I'm sorry, I don't know what happened down there, I couldn't keep away.'

'You know, that's probably a good thing? I don't mean that the way it sounds.'

Maddy grinned half-heartedly. 'I might have been trying to prove a point.'

'Hmm, let me guess. You put your life on the line because you were trying to prove how much you love me. It's a Prue thing.'

Shifting nervously, Maddy replied; 'Why does everything come back to her?'

'It always did.'

'Can't we just forget her?'

'Not likely,' Paige reasoned with a small smile. 'She's part of the family.'

'She's dead!'

'In this family that doesn't make a whole lot of difference.'

'I can't cope with her popping in and out all the time.'

Paige glanced to her feet. 'What did you two talk about earlier?'

'Old times.'

'Nice for you.'

'Don't be like that, Paige,' Maddy attempted feeling guilty even as she said it. 'What I mean is…'

'Is what?'

'I love you.'

Paige pulled her into a hug. 'Then don't scare me like that ever again.'