Chapter 7: The Ingredients and the Child

A/N: Thanks for the kind reviews! I hoped to get more, but the ones I did get were really nice. In fact, it was those reviewers that inspired me to write this chapter. I don't really like this chapter, but what do I know? I hope you guys like it. I actually know where this is going, and it is going somewhere, I promise. It probably sucked, but I'm going away where there is no computer, so I wanted to give you guys something. As a reward to those who reviewed, I am now going to respond to your reviews individually. If you review this chapter, you'll get a response!

Alyssa Halliwell: The part with Paige/Kyle was my favourite part! I'm a big fan of that couple, and I'm including as much of them as I can in this fic.

oOo – vicki – oOo: Glad you like it! The ass kicking is coming, and I'm looking forward to it! I just had to bring Kyle back. I can't write a fic without Kyle Brody!

Starry Sky 44: I start school next week! I hope I won't be busy like you :'( Glad you like my story! Making up the demon was really hard work…I'll probably forget details about it. Keep reviewing

Piper made it home in record time. It was something about her sister's tone of voice that showed the urgency of the situation. She didn't yet fully understand what the threat was, but she knew that it was serious. Piper reached the front door of the Manor only 10 minutes after receiving the phone call and leaving P3. She opened the door with her key, and stepped into an empty house. "I'm home", Piper called.

"In the attic", called the anxious voice of Phoebe.

Piper raced up the stairs two by two. She was ready to face whatever demon they needed too. After a certain decrease in vanquishing in recent weeks, Piper was ready and willing to kick some demon ass. She entered the attic to find her two sons playing in the playpen, and her sisters huddled around the book of shadows. "So guys, what are we dealing with?" Her sisters laid out the whole situation for her, including the possibility of the apocalypse. To say Piper was worried was a bit of an understatement.

"The problem is we're not sure what to do now", Paige said in an exasperated voice.

Piper thought for a moment. They had to prevent the demon ritual. That was a given. The demons needed certain ingredients. It was certain they had the blood. That was what the murder in the park was for. Perhaps they could scry for the demons? Or maybe they should start their search by looking for the other ingredients. If they already had the heart of the witch, or the magical child, there should be some record of this. If not with the mortal police, than with the elders. If any witches or magical children had gone missing recently, the elders were sure to know.

Piper was feeling very confident in her plan now. It was as good an idea as any. "We need to find the ingredients. If we find them, we can find the demons." Both Phoebe and Paige were very keen on this plan. It was certainly promising.

"I'm going to ask the elders", said Paige begrudgingly. She didn't really like the elders much for everything they had put her family through. She avoided meeting them at all costs. Still, the fate of the world rested on the Charmed Ones being able to stop the ritual. If she had to see the elders to do that, so be it. With a sigh, Paige orbed out.

"I'll check with Darryl, see if the police know anything", Phoebe said. Piper had no objection to this. It was the most logical course of action. Phoebe left the attic to get the cordless phone. She hoped Darryl would tell them something. They weren't really on the friendliest terms as of late. Not that Phoebe blamed him. If she was in his situation, she might have reacted in very much the same way. She needed to make Darryl understand the gravity of the situation. The apocalypse was a scary thought, and she was the one who had seen it.

'Well, there's not much left for me to do', thought Piper with a sigh. She flipped through the Book of Shadow's absentmindedly, hoping for a solution to magically appear. The pages didn't start turning, nor did an entry start writing itself. Piper was forced to come to the conclusion that a magical solution was not going to appear. With nothing to do, Piper picked up Wyatt, then Chris out of the playpen. She placed them on the floor with all their toys, and was content to watch them play with each other. She smiled as Wyatt orbed a toy into his little brothers hands.

It was in that moment that Piper realized how lucky she was to have her two magical boys. Thinking of her sons reminded Piper of one of the ingredients to the ritual. The demons needed to sacrifice a magical child. She hugged both of her boys, praying that it wasn't them that the demons came after. She would never let a demon get either of her children. Ever. They would have to go through her first. So far, that was something that no demon had managed. The thought gave her some comfort as she returned to the pedestal that held the book.

Piper didn't know it, but the demon already had the child that they wanted to sacrifice. Five year old Bridgette Thompson was in a crystal cage, surrounded by angry looking demons. She wasn't at all scared of them. She had seen her mother vanquish demons hundreds of times. Bridgette merely looked at the demons curiously. They certainly were funny looking. "What are you looking at brat!" the nearest of the demon's spat angrily.

Bridgette didn't much like being called brat. She glared at the demons, folding her small arms over her chest in anger. "You big meanie!" she yelled, "You don't scare me! My mommy's gonna vankish you real good. You gonna be real sorry. She's gonna make you be on fire!" The demons looked rather amused by her angry little tirade. The nearest of the demons, who seemed to be the leader of the group, growled and formed a fireball in his hand. Bridgette visibly cringed, and the demon smirked.

"Not so brave now girly", he snarled.

Suddenly, a strange expression flitted over the young girl's face. It was almost as if she was in a trance. "The Charmed Ones are gonna stop the richeal", said Bridgette innocently, "They're gonna vankish your butt!" The demon was blindsided by this revelation. He let the fireball dissipate, and took a step towards the small girl.

"How did you know about the ritual? What about the Charmed Ones? No matter…they can never vanquish us, nor can they stop our ritual. We are to powerful!" the leader of the demons said.

Bridgette put her hands on her waist and looked at the demons like she was scolding a naughty child who wouldn't listen to reason. "Duh! They're gonna stop you. That's what they do. Besides, I saw it…and I'm a psychic! Anyways…the Charmed Ones are the most powerful witches in the world. Everybody knows that!" Bridgette said, as if that settled everything. She had angered the demons, sure, but they needed her.

"Now, you're gonna get me my dolly, or else I'm gonna scream", Bridgette said authoritatively.

No one, not even powerful demons, knows what to do about a child who doesn't get their way…

TBC…