Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in the Charmed universe, they are the sole property of those in T.V. Land.

Summary: Imps decide to play with the Charmed One's lives, but when they decided to switch Leo and Cole's personalities, there could be dangerous repercussions. P/L and some P/C.

A/N: If you've read any of my other fics you know how much I appreciate any thoughts you have, so if you have the chance let me know what you think. Thanks!

Of Imps and Men

Chapter one

"Demon! Demon!"

"Trying here Pheebs." Piper said irritably as she flung her hands out to blow the demon out of existence. Trouble was these demons disappeared quicker than she could explode them. They would then reappear just as quickly somewhere else. It was getting on Piper's nerves. Her sisters were having similar difficulties. Phoebe had lost count on how many demons she had attacked only to have her foot or hand meet with thin air.

"Lamp!" Phoebe heard her younger and newest sister call out. Paige was attempting to knock one of the demons out with furniture. The only thing she was accomplishing was demolishing the living room.

"This is friggin' ridiculous." The eldest Charmed One yelled out in frustration. "I haven't hit one yet."

Phoebe jumped to her feet as she witnessed two more demons pop into the manor. Slowly she maneuvered so she was behind one of them and then attacked. As before, she was met with nothing as her foe vanished in a flash. "Damn it." She cried out while she fell once again to the floor. She was going to be really sore tomorrow.

"Okay, this is not working." Observed Paige as she orbed a chair across the room. "They aren't even attacking."

Piper stopped short at Paige's last comment. It was true. The demons had showed up and the sisters naturally just went on the offensive. But now that she thought about it. The demons had not actually attacked them, but simply flickered in and out of the manor.

Phoebe noticed her sibling had gone still. "Piper? What's the matter?"

"Paige is right. We haven't actually been attacked."

"Demons in the house is not attacking?" Phoebe's question was laced with sarcasm.

"I know, but no fireballs or energy balls. We haven't been physically attacked."

As Piper pondered their situation, Paige noticed the demons had stopped appearing. "They're gone."

Her sisters scanned the area and came to the same conclusion. "Okay, that's weird." Relented Phoebe.

"Something odd is going on. It's like someone is just playing with us." Piper said, a frown creasing her forehead.

Phoebe went to the staircase. "I'll check the book."

"Good and I'm calling for help. Leo!" Piper yelled for her husband.

Instantly blue and white lights came into view, which signaled the arrival of her husband.

"What's up?" Leo asked concerned as he took in the destruction of the room.

"Many, many demons." Piper informed him.

"Many, many fast demons." Paige interjected helpfully.

"Right. Many, many fast demons, but they didn't attack. And when we stopped trying to destroy them, they just disappeared."

Leo's frown deepened in puzzlement. "Demon's who don't attack?"

Piper answered him as she began straightening furniture. "Pretty much. They appeared, we tried to vanquish, and then the disappeared before we could. But they never actually attacked us. It was if they were just toying with us."

"Hmmm."

Piper eyed her husband. "Hmmm. That's the best you got?"

Sending her a patronizing look he went on. "Off the top of my head I can't think of any reason they would show up and not attack you guys. I mean that's what demons do. That's just the way it is."

"Obviously not." Countered his wife.

Agreeing, Leo's mouth formed a hard line. "Let me see what I can find out." And with that he was gone.

As the room cleared of its occupants, two small figures slowly materialized. The pair sat on the mantle ledge above the fireplace, their legs swinging in the air as children might do. Giggling to each other they lifted their hands and smacked them together.

"That was fun." The one exclaimed, her dark brown eyes twinkling with devilment.

"Yes it was." Answered the other. His own dark eyes mirroring that of his companion.

Both had jet black hair, with the female's falling in thick curls down her back. The male's was just as thick but cut just above his ears. Their features were very similar as well. Sharp cheekbones and pointed noses along with pointed chins. Dressed in matching black patent leather jump suits, they looked to be twins.

Jumping to his feet, the male asked, "What do we do next Jad?"

"I don't know Jid, what do you want to do?"

Grabbing her hands he helped her to her feet. "We play some more silly." Giggling again, they winked out of sight.

Piper was beyond frustrated at this point. They had spent most of yesterday combing through the Book of Shadows trying to decipher what was going on with the demon attack. After much page turning and much discussion, they were no closer to solving the mystery. Add that to Leo being called away at four in the morning as well as her misplacing her inventory list for P3. She had brought the file home hoping to work on it. Of course that did not happen and she was positive she placed it on the table in the foyer so she wouldn't forget to take it with her. When she looked for it this morning it was gone.

Her thoughts were interrupted with the arrival of Paige. "Hey, any reason why your inventory file was on my dresser this morning?"

Noting the missing file, her eldest sister frowned. "How'd it get up there? I was sure I put it on the table in the foyer."

"Dunno, but here you go." After giving her sister the file, she reached for a warm bagel. "Well, I better get to work before; you know there's no work to get to."

Piper just shook her head at her newest sister's comment and smiled. Paige was one of a kind she was discovering. A mixture of street smart savvy and quirky sweetness. She had just turned to wash some dishes when blue and white lights filled the kitchen.

"Hey"

"Hey back." She greeted with just a hint of annoyance.

Hearing it, her husband said, "Sorry about the early morning call Piper."

"Did it have to do with us?"

"No" He replied as he went to the frig for a bottle of water. "They still have no lead on the demon attack."

"Naturally."

He tossed her a look. "Okay sarcasm not helping here."

"Yeah, well it's the best I got this morning."

Crossing the floor he stood behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "We'll figure it out, we always do."

Piper loved her husband with all her heart, she really did, but sometimes his constant optimism was irritating. The man never seemed to get worked up over anything. Most of the time she appreciated how he could stay so calm and positive even in the worse situations. Today, in her present mood, she just found it irritating. Deciding just to let the matter drop she changed subjects. "I need to get to P3 and get the inventory straightened out."

"I'll help."

Phoebe stumbled down the stairs a short time later in search of her first cup of coffee. She hadn't meant to sleep so late but she had been up worrying about Cole. He had not made an appearance in two days which concerned her. Going to the coffee pot she noticed it was cold and let out a tiny groan. Pouring a cup she opened the microwave. While she did that her thoughts remained on Cole. Was he all right? Did a bounty hunter finally succeed? Closing her eyes she took a sip of her now hot cup of caffeine. Between Cole dodging bounty hunters and her dodging demons, their relationship had plenty of stress.

Making her way back up the stairs she let out a surprised screech as Cole instantly materialized in front of her. "Cole! Thank God! Where have you been?"

Flopping himself down onto one of the overstuffed chairs he inhaled deeply. "Took me awhile to get away from a bounty hunter. They're getting harder to shake lately."

Phoebe noticed Cole's tired eyes and disheveled clothes. "You need a shower and some rest. Let's get you upstairs."

"I'm fine; I just need to sit for a bit."

Recognizing that tone, she none the less pushed. "Come on, a shower will do you good."

When she took his arm, he snatched it roughly away. "I said I'm fine Phoebe. I just need a little quiet." The last words coming up between gritted teeth.

"Fine!" Her own temper starting to surface.

Cole was instantly sorry he used that tone. "I'm sorry Phoebe. It's just been a rough couple of days and I'm really on edge."

Phoebe knew he had a short fuse and when he was stressed it got shorter. Part of her loved that dangerous part of him. It made him dark and exciting. On the other hand part of her feared it for it was part of his demon side. Part of Belthazor. It was a fine line sometimes. There were instances like now where she wished his darker side wasn't so much a part of him.