SAME SPOILER WARNING AS PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The very large Halliwell family group orbed into Victor's small apartment.

Victor was sitting on the floor playing with Baby Wyatt and Baby Chris, when he was surprised by his visitors.

"Hi. Everything all right?" He asked.

"Everything's great, Daddy." Phoebe said as she ran to give him a kiss and hug.

Piper and Leo went straight over to their precious boys.

"Everything went really well, Dad, but we'd all like to stay here tonight, just to be sure." Piper said as she picked up Baby Chris, after kissing Baby Wyatt.

"Of, course, no problem, we'll just have to work out where everyone's going to sleep." He said.

"We're happy to sleep on the floor." Chris said to him.

"Chris!" Victor said, only just noticing he was there. "You're back."

"Not the same Chris, Dad." Piper told him.

"Hi Grandpa," Chris said as he walked over to give him a hug. "I'm him grown up." He said pointing to Baby Chris.

"Oh, okay." Victor said as if he was supposed to accept this as normal.

"And I'm Baby Wyatt grown up." Wyatt said as he too walked over to hug his Grandfather.

"Of course you are." Victor said shaking his head.

"We didn't see each other last time I was here." Wyatt told him.

"You've been here from the future before as well?" Victor asked.

"Yes, a couple of weeks ago." Wyatt answered him.

"But I haven't Grandpa, that was the other Chris from a different future." Chris said, realising he still wasn't understanding.

"Right." Victor answered, trying to sound like he knew what was going on, but still had no idea.

"I don't know how you girls keep up with all of this." He said shaking his head again.

They all laughed.

"Let's see." Piper said, thinking. "Leo and I can stay in the spare room with the boys."

"No, you take my room." Victor insisted. "Phoebe and Paige can sleep in the spare room, and I'll sleep on the couch out here. I'll put a couple of mattresses on the floor for the older boys."

"Are you sure?" Piper checked with him.

"Absolutely!" Victor replied.

With that settled, everyone started to get organised for bed.

Early next morning, everyone started emerging from their respective places of slumber.

"That was the best night's sleep I've had in ages." Phoebe declared as she walked to the kitchen to get some coffee.

"It took me a while to get to sleep. Has anyone ever told you, you snore?" Paige asked her.

Phoebe looked embarrassed. "Well, you know, never mind." She answered. "I think I was just over tired."

"The boys and I were talking for a while." Victor told them all. "It was like camping out, it was great."

"We enjoyed it too, Grandpa." Wyatt said.

Chris nodded in agreement.

"If it's okay with everyone, I'd like Paige, Phoebe and I to orb to Magic School to get some books, just in case there still is a fire." Piper said.

"I should come to." Leo said as he started to get up.

"No, we'll be fine. I'd rather you stay here with the boys. We'll be safe at Magic School." Piper insisted.

"Not that there should be anything to worry about now." Phoebe added.

"Exactly." Piper agreed.

Leo could see that after the pressures of the past couple of weeks, Piper might just be wanting to spend some time alone with her sisters. Thinking it might do her good, he agreed. "You're right. Just call if you need anything." He said.


Phoebe, Paige and Piper all materialised into the Great Hall of Magic School.

"It seems really creepy when there's no one around." Phoebe noticed as she looked at the empty halls around her.

"Where do you want us to start?" Paige asked Piper.

"Actually, that's not why I brought you here." Piper said, getting straight to the point.

"What do you mean?" Paige asked her.

"You may have noticed that lately I've been feeling a little depressed." Piper started to explain.

"Yes." Phoebe answered. "And you know we're here for you, always."

"Yes I know that, and I appreciate it, but I'm just tired of all the fighting." Piper said, sighing.

"We all are, and hopefully now that Zankou is gone, that will ease for a while." Paige said.

"Well that's just the thing. Zankou isn't really gone."

"What?" Phoebe and Paige exclaimed together.

"It was just easier for you to think he's gone. Easier to get us here alone."

"Piper, I don't understand, what are you trying to say." Phoebe asked, starting to look very worried at where this was leading.

"I've made a deal with him, and I want you both to make the same deal." She told them.

"Are you serious?" Paige asked her, disbelievingly.

"Completely." Piper replied. "I'm supposed to summon him here to discuss it."

"So we didn't really vanquish him?" Phoebe asked.

Piper shook her head.

"I thought it appeared too easy." Paige told them.

"Come on, it can't hurt to listen to him. After what Big Chris and Big Wyatt told me, this seemed to be the only solution. If we keep going on like we have been over the past couple of weeks, our luck will run out. Obviously in their future, our luck ran out today." Piper pleaded with them.

"Well, I suppose we are safe here." Paige said, starting to see Piper's point of view.

Phoebe thought about it, and then looking at how much Piper wanted this, she finally agreed. "Okay, but at the first sign of trouble Paige is to orb us the hell out of here."

"Agreed." Piper said.

Piper retrieved a piece of paper out of her pocket and started reading the summoning spell. Seconds later Zankou appeared in front of them.

"Greetings, ladies. So pleased you could make it." He said smugly.