Declaimer: I don't own Charmed.

Chapter Forty-three

"Paige! Phoebe! Wake up!"

"No." Paige refused to open her eyes. "Go away. Sleeping."

Phoebe didn't even stir.

"Piper's gone." Leo said. "I just woke up and she wasn't there."

"What's going on?" Chris asked suddenly orbbing in.

"Oh not much," It was obvious Leo was stressed. "Piper's gone missing again and these two are refusing to get up."

"Is that all?" Chris asked. "Well I can deal with the second problem. But you're on your own with the first one."

"I don't see how," Leo said pocking Paige. "They're out for the count."

"No they're not." Chris laughed. "I got each of the Charmed Ones up everyday for nine months for a different vanquish. I always won the arguments over getting up. It was Piper who was the most trouble. She put up the worst fight. They're pussy cats. They aren't about to beat me now." He walked over to the sleeping witches and shook them both violently. "Alright you two. It's time to get up and face the day and what ever it might throw at you."

"Leave me alone." Phoebe pulled the covers over her head. "We're tired."

"Fine." Chris said. "You sleep."

"Thanks." Paige still didn't open her eyes. "I wasn't going to get up any ways."

"Just don't say I didn't worn you."

Chris orbbed out and reappeared holding two large pitchers of ice water.

"Last chance."

Neither of the women made a move.

"So," He held the pitchers over their heads. "I'll play it your way then." He emptied the water over their heads. "Hi," He said sweetly as they sat up. "Are you girls with me now?"

"Chris," Phoebe looked like she was going to explode but her voice remained menacingly calm. "There was absolutely no need for that."

"So now I have to kill him." Paige hissed. "I need to course him large amounts of pain."

"Don't." Phoebe firmly grasped her sister's arm. "What's with the wake up call Chris?"

"Your sister's gone walk about." He replied.

"Who?" Paige asked dazed.

"Piper." Leo said. "I woke up and she was gone."

"I don't believe that sister of mine!" Phoebe yelled getting to her feet. "Leo, honey. I'm sorry. She promised us she was going to tell you before she left. Now Piper is the one I'm going to kill."

"Where's Piper gone?" Leo asked.

"To see her doctor." Paige said. "She'll be home soon."

Right at the moment Piper walked through the front door.

"Hey!" Piper called out. "Sorry I'm late."

"We stopped off to interview an accountant." Jai lead Piper into the living room. "So we could complete the full set."

"Set?" Chris inquired. "You can not be serious."

"Oh deadly." Piper sat down on the arm of a chair and eyed her sisters. "You two look like drowned rats. What happened?"

"Our soon to be former whitelighter." Paige spat.

"Paige," Piper said. "Be nice."

"Nice!" Paige jumped to her feet and pointed an accusing finger at Chris. "This guy pours ice water over my head and you expect me to be nice!"

"It's 10 o'clock Paige." Jai stated.

"You lazy lot." Piper laughed. "I'm going to go wake the girls. I'll talk to you when I come back. Paige do me a favour and don't kill Chris while I'm gone."