A/N: Woo-hoo, lots of feedback. I love feedback and I love thanking my reviewers, so that comes first (Be patient, there are quite a few people to thank!

wyatt333, I'm glad you like it so much! Thanks for adding me to your favorites!

andy20, Who's coming? The Candyman is coming! Lol. No, you'll have to wait to find out!

Cornett, Glad ya like it!

storyreader14, Have I mentioned how frightened I get whenever I see a review from you . . .??? And I knew you were strangling me while you waited for this update; during dinner, I felt really out of breath! The line to strangle me is about six deep or so. I have another fanfic I'm working on. I'll start posting it soon. I'm behind on this one and another one I've been posting. If you want to strangle me for another story that badly, go read my fic "Generation Charmed." And I'm working on one called "Déjà vu Never Again" which I hope to start posting over Christmas, once I get more caught up on this and GC.

Christine Marquez, Since you begged so nicely, I decided to update! Lol.

BlueOrbs998, Well, I don't want to give anything away, but there's a reason why Paige is appearing as a white thing-a-ma-bob. Aw, thank you! I'm glad you feel that way and I'm so glad you like the fic!

Okay, dun dun dun. Moment of truth (no, not really. Lol. Though I am nearing the end. Only one or two more chapters, depending on how it works out!) and I'm wondering how many people will want to strangle me after this chapter . . . – Glances at Storyreader and runs away! –

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A sharp, cold wind burst through the room, blasting their faces. They closed their eyes and held hands, then opened their eyes. Something was happening! Someone had heard their cry! Someone was coming to them!

The wind died. They opened their eyes and-

"Nothing happened!" Phoebe protested angrily.

Piper stared around in confusion. "What happened? That spell always works."

"Could it . . . could-" Piper couldn't bring herself to say it.

"What?" Phoebe prodded.

"Maybe it's not really Paige, but someone pretending to be her. Maybe we're being horribly tricked. Something just isn't right and I-I'm scared, Phoebe."

Phoebe blinked. It wasn't like Piper to admit she was scared. And, more importantly, her suspicions were valid and saddening. She was positive it was Paige trying to warn them, but why wouldn't she just come as herself? Why come as a white thing? And if someone was coming, why hadn't they attacked already? Plus, what of that Whitelighter girl? She had been real – definitely.

So what the hell was going on?

"I don't like games," Phoebe replied firmly. "Whatever's going on is not funny and we need to figure this out – fast!"

"But how? We have so little to go on," Piper complained.

"Let's take what we know," Phoebe replied. "We know that the weather was probably linked to the demons. We're pretty sure the demons are after our kids, and our kids are meant to be The Dark Ones in the future. We know Paige has been coming to warn us, but she can't become solid or anything more than a ball of white light for some reason. And we know a Whitelighter girl was trying to warn us."

"Phoebe, that gives us nothing to go on," Piper replied grimly. "Those are just random facts and they mean nothing."

"Well, don't you think positive."

Both girls spun around quickly and came face to face with a man dressed all in black with his gray hair slicked back. His expression was neutral, yet filled with joy and arrogance.

"Who are you?" Piper demanded.

"I," he said, "Am the one you are looking for."

"You're the one causing all this trouble?" Phoebe snapped.

The man nodded. "I am Kirkus, part Avatar and part Warlock, with just a slight bit of demon in me. Oh, and my great-great-great-great-a million great- grandfather was the Source at some point."

"Damn. That's just a little too much power in one place," Piper commented.

Kirkus smirked. "Don't be stupid witch. Such comments are arrogant."

"He's calling us arrogant?" Phoebe mumbled.

"I heard that - Phoebe, is it?" Kirkus asked. At Phoebe's startled expression, he chuckled. "I've been watching you two for quite some time. Very entertaining, I must say. The best part was watching you try and figure out who was causing everything."

"Was this all a game?" Piper asked.

"No, no. It was real. I want your children and I'd prefer if you just give them up without a fight. Fights get too messy and I'd prefer to not have to kill you," Kirkus replied airily.

"Like hell!" Phoebe snapped. "You aren't getting our kids!" She and Piper stepped in front of the still frozen children and guarded them.

Kirkus sighed. "Now, please. Don't make me call my back up. This will get very messy and very aggravating and I don't want to do it."

"Did you really think you could just waltz in here and take our kids without a fight? We're the Charmed Ones, dammit," Piper snarled.

"Were the Charmed Ones," Kirkus reminded them.

Piper and Phoebe were pissed!

"Back the hell off and leave our house! You aren't getting our kids and if you don't go, we're going to vanquish you!"

Kirkus laughed. "I'm not leaving without the kids. And you can't vanquish me, not without the Power of Three – which you don't have – and not against all of-" Kirkus pointed behind the sisters, "-them."

Piper and Phoebe turned – and gasped!