A/N: Hey! Thanks for the reviews! But I think there was some confusion with last chapter, so let me reply to the reviews and, hopefully, clear everything up. Be patient; I have a lot of reviews to go through!

charmed1s-halliwells, Aw! Don't cry! I'm updating as fast as I can! I hate making my readers wait a long time between chapters, just like I hate waiting a long time in between chapters of writers who's fics I like to read.

Christine Marquez, Glad you liked it!

storyreader14, Ack! – Chokes . . . gets a break and breaths deep . . . gets choked again. – Hey! If you choke me, I can't answer your questions OR update anymore! As to your questions, I can't tell you. You'll need to wait to find out . Oh no . . . wait, you're not gonna strangle me again, now, are you? – Runs away! –

CuteLittleBritt, Glad you like it!

svata2004, Glad you like it!

PiPeRAnGeL39, Paige was the white thing. As it swooped past them, it said "They're coming." And Piper and Phoebe said "Paige," because it was Paige's voice. I'm glad you liked the flashbacks and I'm so sorry Paige being gone almost made you cry! But I'm glad you like it!

Ceres217, Glad you like it!

andy20, in a matter of speaking, or to say it simply, yes, Paige was a spirit – not completely. Hopefully, you're questions will be answered in due time – if not, it just adds to the mystery!

Whew! I hope I didn't miss anyone and I'm so sorry if I did! Sometimes, fanfic doesn't send me an e-mail for all the reviews; fanfic can be so evil! If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask and I'll answer as many as I can!

So, enjoy this chapter and please review!

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It was eight-o-clock at night, though the whole day seemed to have been a continuous night; the dreary, cloudy weather had hidden the sun since six-o-clock that morning and had not relented all day. The pouring rain, rumbling thunder, and bolts of lightning continued to fall down upon San Francisco but the earthquake seemed to have passed for now.

It took a lot of begging, pleading, and convincing, but Piper and Phoebe had managed to get Melinda, Wyatt, and Chris to go to sleep in Phoebe's bed. They had compromised and left the light on and the door open.

Down in the living room, Piper and Phoebe were discussing the white figure that had been Paige – right?

"But how did she get here? We didn't summon her," Piper argued. She wasn't completely convinced it had been Paige, although she had recognized her youngest sister's voice. "And if she were coming here, wouldn't she be like Grams and mom when they visit?"

"Not necessarily," Phoebe replied. "Maybe she came on her own and new ghosts – well, she's not that new of a ghost since it's been six or eight years – look like a big white thing. She was warning us, Piper. If we're not careful, we'll end up like her."

"Dead?" Piper asked, eyes cold with hate and anger. "That seems to be the Charmed Destiny; Battle thousands of demons for a few years, then die. Either way, I think we'll die. Maybe not now, maybe not in five years, but we will eventually. Maybe long enough for our kids to become old enough to take care of themselves and become the next Charmed Ones."

"Do you really believe that? If we're careful, we could live to be as old as Grams," Phoebe countered. "Which means we need to figure out what Paige meant, find whoever is causing this weather, and destroy them. If we don't, we will die."

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Wyatt and Chris had fallen into uneasy sleep on either side of Melinda. Melinda, however, was restless and scared and she couldn't sleep. She heard angry voices from downstairs, growing louder and louder as they spoke. She glanced at her cousins before careful crawling out of the bed and out of the room. She tiptoed downstairs, just close enough so she could see her mom and Auntie Piper, but so they couldn't see her.

And she listened.

""We'll die anyway, Phoebe, don't you see?" Piper argued bitterly. "Mom died, Grams died, Prue died, Paige died. It's just a matter of time before we die. Can't you see the pattern? Once our destiny is fulfilled, we'll die."

"So why did Mom die? Grams? Prue? What was their destiny?" Phoebe asked, arms crossed.

"Mom's destiny was to give birth to the Charmed Ones. She did, then she died. Grams' destiny was to raise us until we were old enough to receive our powers and become the Charmed Ones. She did and she died soon before. Prue was meant to guide us and be there for us because Grams and mom couldn't be. She was there until Paige was ready to step up and learn her true identity. That time came and she died," Piper snapped.

"And Paige? Why did she die?" Phoebe asked, tears in her eyes.

"Easy," Piper said coldly. "A Charmed One had to be sacrificed in order for the Avatars to complete the ceremony to destroy all demons. I had to live to protect my kids and you had to live to protect Melinda. So Paige was chosen to be sacrificed. And she was."

Phoebe dreaded the answer, but asked, "And our destiny?"

"You even have to ask?" Piper asked, bewildered. "We're meant to protect Wyatt, Chris, and Melinda until the time comes when they will be old enough to be the next Charmed Ones. Which, since there are no more demons, won't happen. We'll die anyway, just in case the demons do somehow come back – which is unlikely."

"The demons are back, whether you like it or not, whether you want to believe it or not. And if we don't get our asses into gear, we're all going to be in danger of extinction," Phoebe said firmly. "Stop being such a hard-ass, Piper, and face reality."

Melinda, from her hiding spot on the stairs, couldn't help but gasp in shock and terror. Piper and Phoebe jumped and turned to see what the noise had been – but before they saw her, Melinda was orbed – since when could she orb? – back to her room.

Piper and Phoebe exchanged confused expressions at the sudden appearances of orbs. But they had little time to contemplate this.

Seconds after the orbs had come and come, the whole house shook so hard, the walls cracked, pictures fell, and furniture collapsed. The windows shattered and screams sounded from upstairs.

Piper and Phoebe exchanged horrified looks.

Phoebe shook her head in despair. "They're here."