Big thanks, as always, to my reviewers. This is short too, I know, but I'm working on it!

Mysterious Midnight - Sorry to say that this one's still not up to my usual length, but I'm getting there, hey? TFR.

clegs - I'm glad that you like it. TFR.

lillynilly - I know it was short, I apologise. They should periodically be getting longer now, I hope. TFR.

o0oWeird1o0o - Thanks for the praise, and the support, it was a really nice review. TFR.

--Chapter Twenty--

Phoebe and Nicki spent nearly three hours down in the basement training, practising everything from basic defensive stances, through attacking procedures to weapons training. When they finally emerged into the kitchen, they found Paige humming slightly along with the radio as she cut up some salad vegetables. Wyatt was sitting behind her in his highchair, playing with his rattle happily.

'Hey,' Phoebe said, panting, as she threw the two empty water bottles into the trash can. 'Everything okay?'

'Hmm, what?' Paige asked, turning around, 'Oh, yeah, fine. Piper's at the club, and I've got no idea where Leo's got to. Want something to eat?'

'Yeah, definitely,' Phoebe said, looking hungrily at the spread on the table. 'Did you do all this?'

'Much as I'd like to say 'yes', Piper did it before she left for work. Do you guys want to freshen up first?' she asked, looking at their red faces and sweat-slicked hair.

Phoebe looked back to Nicki, who had been hovering quietly in the corner of the room. 'You okay honey?'

'Yeah,' Nicki replied quietly, lifting her gaze and meeting Phoebe's eyes, smiling slightly. 'Want to go again?' she asked, mischievously.

'Hell no,' Phoebe said, laughing. 'You've definitely had an increase in energy from your powers, haven't you?'

'I guess,' Nicki said, shrugging.

'Go take a quick shower sweetie,' Phoebe said, 'and I'll go in after you.'

'Sure,' Nicki said, smiling a little and heading up the stairs.

Phoebe and Paige watched her leave in silence. When they heard the tell-tale sounds of the shower starting, their eyes met.

'She's certainly coming out of her shell a little,' Paige said, smiling and turning back to her salad.

'Yeah, and she's one hell of a fighter; she definitely kicked my ass a few times,' Phoebe replied, heading over to the fridge and peering into it quizzically.

'What are you looking for?' Paige asked, coming up behind her.

'Salad dressing,' Phoebe said.

'It's on the table already,' Paige said, grinning and getting back to her salad.

Phoebe turned around, and looked at the table. There was a very obvious bottle of salad dressing right in the middle of it. 'Right,' she said, shaking her head as if to dislodge the fuzziness there. 'You know what? I think I'm going to go take a shower now.'

Paige laughed gently. 'I think that's a good idea. I'll see you two in a little while.'

After they'd all eaten, Phoebe went to read quietly in bed. Although it was only eight thirty, she'd been training solidly for three hours and was feeling it in her muscles. Besides, it gave her some time to think. Although she'd never regret letting Nicki stay in her room, she was beginning to miss having her personal space.

Paige and Nicki were sitting in the living room, Nicki was holding Wyatt gently and Paige was watching; she'd let Nicki give him his last bottle. Nicki's smile was incredibly large, her eyes never left Wyatt's as he hungrily drank his milk. There's something about babies, Paige thought, which just calms everything down. Indeed, the house seemed the most peaceful it had been since Nicki had arrived on Thursday, just two days ago.

When Piper arrived home at three thirty, it was to a quiet and even relatively clean house. She did her usual checks on all of the rooms before going to bed, the kitchen was cleaned, the leftover food in the fridge. She switched out the light to the basement, unknowingly left on by Phoebe and Nicki when they'd left earlier. Piper wearily climbed the stairs, switching out the lights on the landing before popping her head around Phoebe's door. Her niece was curled up in the foetal position yet again, her face hidden behind her new mane of blue-black hair. Piper silently crept into the room and up to the bed. She lovingly tucked Nicki's hair behind her exposed ear, faulting slightly when she saw the frown creasing her niece's face. One day, I'm going to find out the troubles that plague her dreams. She knelt down next to Nicki and stroked her hair away from her face, murmuring soft, comforting words. She knew that it didn't really matter what she said, the tone of voice was what was important.

It took nearly ten minutes for Nicki's features to soften. Piper stood up slowly, kissing her niece on the forehead as she tucked the covers tighter around her. She closed the door quietly, before moving down the hall and opening the door to Paige's room. Phoebe was curled up in a manner eerily similar to Nicki, although her face was expressionless. Her book was put neatly on the bedside table, from where Paige had retrieved it earlier. Paige was sleeping on her front, as she always did. One hand was bent across the bed in Phoebe's direction, and the moonlight coming in from the window allowed Piper to glimpse the small smile playing about her face. Piper crept slowly into the room, silently retrieving the baby monitor from where it was sitting next to Phoebe's book. She smiled and closed the door.

After using the bathroom and getting ready for bed, she walked into Wyatt's nursery. Her son was sleeping soundly on his back, his head turned away from the light, his fists curled around the fleecy blanket wrapped around him. She sat in the deep chair next to the cot and watched him for several minutes. When the tiredness threatened to overcome her she rose wearily from the chair. She stroked her son's cheek and kissed him on the forehead before switching off the baby monitor and putting it next to it's counterpart on the changing table. When she climbed into her empty bed she yawned heavily. She switched off the bedside lamp and rolled over, missing Leo in the bed next to her. At least the rest of my family is here, where they belong. All my family but my big sister, the one person missing who would complete the picture.

--End of Chapter Twenty--

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