Once again apologies for the delay in posting, this has been due to access problems. I have not been able to log in to the site all week, which has been incredibly frustrating as the chapter has been sitting here ready to go. Thanks for sticking with it, and in particular thanks to peanut 2lb for recommending my story to others. Hopefully my internet problems will soon be sorted out. Anyway here is the next instalment.

'We don't have much time.' Phoebe said anxiously.

'I'll check with the Elders see if they know anything more' Leo decided, snapping everyone in to action.

'Right and while you're doing that, we'll go rescue the coven from Phoebe's premonition' Piper said excitedly. She turned to her sisters and beckoned impatiently 'Come on people let's go, we've got a coven to save.'

'Oh no you don't' Phoebe insisted. 'You're staying right here.'

'Oh c'mon Phoebe you've gotta be kidding me' Piper whined. 'This is the first piece of action I've heard about for weeks, you can't leave me behind, you wouldn't be so cruel.'

'Oh yes I would' Phoebe answered determinedly. 'This is exactly the kind of stress that you have to avoid right now, it's not good for the baby.'

'But you need me. You can't take on Cole without the power of three' Piper protested. 'He's indestructible remember.'

'Exactly' Phoebe agreed. 'Right now even if we wanted to' she shot Paige a dark look 'we can't vanquish Cole, not even with the power of three. So there's really no reason for you to go putting yourself or the baby at risk is there?'

'But I wouldn't be putting myself at risk' Piper said sulkily. 'Hello, indestructible.' She looked at the others, a smug expression on her face 'is anybody else indestructible? All those people in the room who are currently indestructible raise your hands.'

Piper raised her hand, and made a show of looking around the room. 'Well I can only see one hand in the air, and that's mine.' She started to head for the door 'Maybe it's you two who should be staying home.'

'Piper you're eight months pregnant for God's sake, you shouldn't be chasing after demons, you should be home resting' Phoebe insisted, grabbing hold of Piper's arm to stop her.

'But I feel fine. I don't need to rest' Piper protested. 'What about you Paige? Do you think I should stay home too? She asked archly, turning to her youngest sister.

'Oh great' Paige grumbled 'Way to put me in the middle.'

Phoebe looked meaningfully at Paige. Stubbornly Paige shook her head, prompting Phoebe to glare at her. Paige pulled a face. Phoebe had gotten it in to her head that Piper should spend the last few weeks of her pregnancy doing nothing more dangerous than sitting around watching soaps on TV. Paige thought she was crazy, they needed Piper more now than ever before, and having someone on your team who was indestructible was a hell of an asset when it came to fighting demons.

'C'mon Paige the meter's running here' Piper prompted, abruptly ending Paige's thinking time.

Paige risked one final glance at Phoebe and then wished she hadn't. Phoebe was looking at her pleadingly, all doe eyed. Paige sighed heavily. She knew how important this was to Phoebe. They were already at loggerheads over Cole, and she didn't want to give her sister another reason to be mad at her.

Finally she turned to face Piper. 'Nice try Piper, but it won't work' she said reluctantly. 'I mean out there in the park, and you know it's gonna be dark soon, could be pretty hard going. In fact ya know what, we'll probably have to run most of the time, and with all those extra pounds you're carrying around the middle these days' she patted Piper's stomach, 'you'll just slow us down.'

'But…' Piper protested, looking down at her stomach and then back at Paige, a hurt expression on her face.

'No buts, you're staying right here, two against one majority rules' Phoebe said, firmly. She shot a grateful glance at Paige who gave her a resigned smile in return.

Phoebe turned back to Piper 'So Piper, while we go rescue the coven I want you to relax, put your feet up, and take good care of my little niece.' As she spoke, she gently pushed Piper backwards on to the couch, and lifted up Piper's feet so that they were propped up on the coffee table. Then she flicked on the TV and put the remote in Piper's right hand.

'Now where did you leave your box of cookies? I know it's here somewhere.' She looked around her trying to remember, and then spotted it. 'Ah there it is' she put the box on the table in front of Piper who glared at her.

'Look all we're gonna do is find the coven and bring them back here for protection okay, it's no big deal.' Phoebe said hurriedly, attempting to placate her older sister. You're really not gonna miss much.'

'But I wanna help' Piper protested 'I can't just sit around here watching TV now I know that there's a coven in danger.'

Seeing the desperation in her sister's eyes, Phoebe relented a little. 'Okay, if you really wanna help, call Daryl and find out the location of the other coven that got destroyed. If we know which covens are still active it'll save us some time.'

'Ready to go?' Paige interrupted, wanting to get out of there quickly before she changed her mind.

'Ready' Phoebe nodded.

'No. Wait. I don't have to run, I can still help' Piper shouted after them as they orbed out. 'Just point me in the right direction and leave me there. You know you can't do this without me. You need me' she protested ineffectually. 'I'm the one with all the firepower remember.'

She waited hopefully for the tell tale blue orbs that would indicate their return, but saw nothing. It was no good, her sisters were long gone and they weren't coming back for her. Depressed she slumped back on the couch, and then she had an idea. 'Quick Leo, orb me after them' she demanded grabbing hold of the front of his shirt.

But Leo merely shook his head apologetically. 'I'm sorry Piper, but the Elders are calling, maybe they have the answers to some of your questions.' Seconds later he too had disappeared, leaving her grasping on to nothing.

'You liar.' Piper yelled after him in frustration 'Call yourself my husband, you're supposed to be on my side.'

Left alone on the couch she frowned, still feeling the bitter sting of Paige's words. 'Too slow huh, a few extra pounds around the middle huh.' She looked down at her stomach thoughtfully, twisting and turning to view it from several different angles. 'It's really not so big' she consoled herself. 'Hell with the right outfit you'd hardly even know I was pregnant.'

Not in the mood for TV, she switched off the set. Bored and restless, she looked around the room for something to do, and then she saw it, Paige's favourite sweater flung carelessly over the back of the couch. Piper eyed it for a moment considering.

'I'll show you a few extra pounds missy' she muttered determinedly. 'When you see me in this you'll have to take back those horrible words'. After several minutes of pulling and struggling, Paige's sweater was three sizes larger and still didn't cover even half of Piper's stomach. 'Arrgh' Piper groaned in frustration finally admitting defeat. 'Who am I tryin' to kid? I'm a beach ball in a crop top.' She shook her head in disgust 'Boy I hate it when they're right.'

She scowled in frustration. Not only did they not need her, now they were suggesting that she was a liability. It was ridiculous; of the three of them she was the one with the most power right now. What was the use of being invincible and self-healing if she didn't get to join in the fight? She briefly considered going after them, showing them how useful she could be, but soon gave the idea up as hopeless. She had no way of getting there. Driving had been impossible for a few weeks now, and without Leo or Paige she had no magical means of transportation. She really was stuck here.

She sighed heavily. What to do now? Then her eyes lit up with a spark of inspiration. If they were all gonna go off and leave her here by herself then she was just gonna have to keep herself entertained until they got back. There was someone she'd been meaning to talk to, and this was just the opportunity she'd been waiting for.

To be continued