"I must admit," Victor said, "having Leo and Chris shape change to look like Piper and Phoebe did the trick. Hector had no idea you two were behind him the whole time."
"Hector?" questioned Paige.
"Hector Morales," Victor said. "That's his real name."
"Well, we had to confuse him," Piper said. "With two of us in the same room it confused him long enough for Paige to use the power stripping potion I made."
"You think adding Victor's blood really worked?" Phoebe asked. "The warlock won't be getting his powers back?"
"Probably not," said Leo coming into the living room. "I just left the police station where Darryl was booking him. He still didn't have his powers. I think he was trying to blink away but he just couldn't seem to do it."
"Well, it makes sense," said Piper. "Firemen use small, controlled fires to control a bigger, out of control fire. I just figured this would work the same way. By adding Victor's blood to the potion it would make it affective against the serum the warlock used."
"One thing I don't understand," Paige said. "If this warlock was so undefeatable, why hadn't he come after us before? If our magic wouldn't affect him it should have been easy for him to kill us and steal our powers."
"He always planned to," Victor said. "But he always said that being impervious to your magic wasn't enough. He was never sure if he was strong enough to defeat you. Even with my invulnerability he was never sure if he could stand up to the Power of Three. He's been collecting powers so that he could face you."
"Well I'm glad we faced him now then," Piper said. "At least we had Victors' blood to help us stop him. And we were able to save an innocent in the process. All in all not a bad days' work."
"How is the girl?" Victor asked Chris.
"Safe and sound at home," Chris said. "I managed to convince her to tell everyone that the warlock was the one who took her. It wasn't hard. She seems to have taken a liking to Victor. When I told her it would get him into trouble if she told anyone he took her she was more than happy to say it was the warlock."
"Thank goodness," Victor said. "I would never have forgiven myself if anything had happened to her."
"See," Piper said. "Everything worked out for the best. You were worried about nothing."
"Can you blame me?" Victor asked. "I really don't have any friends. I don't stay in one place long enough to make friends."
"Well, you have some now," Phoebe said.
"Speaking of not staying in one place very long," Victor said, "I really should go home and get packed."
"Why?" Leo asked. "With the warlock powerless and in prison you don't have to worry about running any more. There's no reason you couldn't live in that house as long as you want."
"Look at me," Victor said. "I don't exactly blend into a crowd. Even if I could come up with a believable story there would still be the curiosity seekers bothering me. And as much as I love children they're afraid of me. My size and appearance frightens them. I just have to keep moving."
"I've been thinking about that," said Paige. "What if I could give you an alternative? One that would allow you to settle down and not feel like such an outcast?
"That's a nice thought," Victor said, "but how would you be able to do that? I don't really want to be a sideshow freak in a circus somewhere."
"Not a sideshow freak," said Paige. "And definitely not a circus. Let me make a phone call. I might just be able to work something out for you."
The girls', Leo, and Chris orbed onto what appeared to be a farm on the outskirts of San Francisco. They looked around to make sure no one had seen them appear. Satisfied they were unobserved, they turned and headed for a large ranch house a short distance away.
"I still don't know why you insisted on coming out here," Chris said. "One of us could have orbed out here and checked on Victor if you really had to see how he was doing. He's only been here a week. He hasn't even had a chance to settle in yet."
"I think it's important that he knows we're supporting him," Paige said. "And that we haven't forgotten him. Can you imagine how many people must have just dismissed him over the years? We're the only friends he has."
"Well, I think it's very thoughtful," Piper said. "And I agree with Paige. It's important to let Victor know that he's not alone any more."
"Besides," Phoebe said, "I'm kind of curious to see how he's doing. That was a really good idea you had, Paige. This ranch is a great place. Plenty of sunshine and fresh air. And Victor doesn't have to worry about strangers gawking at him."
"Well, I remembered that Mrs. Henderson was looking for someone to manage the place," Paige said. "Since her husband died she's had trouble keeping anyone here. She takes in children with disabilities and not everyone can deal with that. After Victor said how much he loved children, and having a sort of disability of his own, I figured it was worth a shot. And she was delighted to get him."
"And getting more delighted every day," said a voice behind them.
They all turned to see a woman behind them. She appeared to be in her late fifties and was wearing sunglasses and carrying a white cane. Although she was looking in their direction is was clear she wasn't looking at them. She was obviously completely blind.
"Hello, Paige," said the woman. "Who are your friends? Two men and two women."
"Very good," Piper said. "Just how could you know that?"
"Well for starters," said the woman, "I of course recognized Paige's perfume. But there are also the distinct scents of two other perfumes which means she must have two women with her. As for the men, there are five footfalls indicating five people. Two of them are heavier than the others. Women don't walk that heavy. Men do."
"Footfalls?" Phoebe questioned. "On the grass?"
"Not much gets by Mr. Henderson," Paige laughed.
"Margaret, please," said the woman. "And I meant what I said. I couldn't be more delighted to have Victor here. I swear the man never sleeps. He's all ready repaired the roofs of two of the buildings and nearly has a third done. And he's such a delight with the children. They all just love him."
"We're glad he's doing so well," Leo said. "We just thought we'd come by and..."
"And check up on me?" completed Victor walking up to the group.
"And see how you were doing," Piper corrected. "How's it going, Victor?"
"It couldn't be better," said Victor. "I've been able to do a lot of good here. And the kids are great. They don't run from me."
"Why should they?" Margaret questioned. "It's obvious you care about them a great deal. Children can sense those kinds of things."
"And I get to read to Margaret after the days' work is done," Victor said. "She has quite a library."
"My husband, God rest his soul," said Margaret, "was an avid reader. He kept every book he ever read. Victor is such a wonderful reader. My husband would never read to me but Victor actually enjoys it."
"I guess we made this trip for nothing," Paige said.
"Good friends stopping by is never for nothing," Victor said. "Because of you my life is finally at peace. I have a home. You have no idea what that means to me."
"I think Paige does," Margaret said. "She was abandoned as a baby and her adoptive parents died when she was quite young. Until she found her sisters she never really had a home. I'm sure she knows how you feel."
"Telling tales out of school?" Piper asked Paige, mock anger in her voice.
"Still," said Victor, "I don't know how I am ever going to thank you for what you did."
"Just do a good job here," Paige said. "That will be thanks enough."
"Oh, he's doing that, have no fear of that," Margaret said.
"Would you care to stay for dinner?" Victor asked. "The kids are great. Each evening they help prepare the meal. Eating with them is, shall we say, an adventure."
"Well, maybe I could help out some," Piper said. "After all I am a chef."
"And a darn good one, too," Leo added.
"Come to think of it," Victor said, the surprise in his voice not totally convincing, "I do believe you may have mentioned that to me."
"Now how come I think you deliberately baited us like that?" Paige asked jokingly. "Mr. Shelley I do believe you have a devious side to you."
They all laughed as they headed for the main house.
The End
If you've enjoyed this story, you can find more "Charmed" stories at my website, You can also post your own "Charmed" stories if you like to write fan fiction.