Sorry for keeping you waiting, hope you enjoy the next instalment.

'Okay Piper, the cliff notes version, all the covens have been destroyed and the shield is down, and we could be inundated with demons any second ' Paige said nervously, looking around for any signs of impending demon attacks.

'Yeah and without the shield our powers aren't gonna be as strong' Phoebe added. She couldn't believe this; she had to get Piper and the baby out of here before anything bad happened to them.

'Okay well then we need to focus' Piper said reasonably, instinctively taking over the leadership role. 'I've had a few ideas about a vanquishing potion, but we really need to start work on re-powering the shield. May be we should try the book again.'

Phoebe looked at her in disbelief 'I don't understand how you can be so calm about this.'

'I'm being calm because panicking isn't gonna help' Piper said, looking at Phoebe in surprise. 'C'mon Phoebe you know that. This is no worse than anything we've faced before. We just have to do what we always do, come up with a plan that's all.'

Piper was feeling a whole lot better about things since her heart-to-heart with Leo. Okay so he hadn't come back yet with an answer about Paige, and that made her a little nervous, but there was a chance that Grams had got things wrong about Paige and Prue. On top of that they had made some progress in sorting out their recent marital differences. Feeling more secure about Leo's love made her feel more confident about the rest of her life. There was nothing she couldn't handle if she knew that she had Leo's support.

'That's all?' Phoebe was incredulous. 'Piper we could be attacked any second by demons who want to hurt your baby. You have to get out of here now.'

'I'm not going anywhere' Piper said firmly. 'If the bad guys wanna hurt my baby, they're gonna have to get past me first, and you know what I'm sick of hiding from them, and I'm sure as hell not gonna run away. If they want a fight I say bring it on, I'm ready for them.'

'Actually Piper's right' Johnny interjected 'I really think you're gonna need the power of three on this one.'

'Exactly' Piper said, then she stopped, and looked puzzled as she noticed Johnny for the first time 'I'm sorry, who are you? She turned to Phoebe and Paige 'who is he?'

'Oh sorry I forgot. Piper this is Johnny, the only survivor from the last coven' Phoebe explained quickly. 'We thought he might be able to help.'

'Oh, okay well that's good' Piper nodded taking that information in her stride. 'He might be able to help us with the shield. Now he's right about one thing, we're gonna need the power of three, which means you need me, which means I'm staying right here. I don't need you fighting me on this okay Phoebe' she insisted, seeing Phoebe open her mouth to protest, 'we don't have time for that.'

Phoebe sighed heavily. She hadn't realised until now just how much Piper was like Prue. Piper had always known her own mind, but since she'd taken over as head of the family, she'd definitely gotten more stubborn. In the past she'd had trouble standing up for herself, but not anymore. These days she was confident, and assertive, a true leader. Phoebe guessed it had to do with being the oldest sister, the one everybody looked to, to make the decisions.

For a moment she thought guiltily about how often she'd given Prue a hard time, arguing with her and going against her wishes. She remembered how it had always been Piper who had resolved the problem, mediated between them. She guessed that was her role now, after all she was the middle sister, no longer the baby of the family. She knew that she could have been more supportive of Prue, and that the two of them had wasted so much time, neither of them realising how precious that time was. It had been a mistake, a mistake that she bitterly regretted.

She wasn't gonna make that same mistake with Piper. They'd always had a close relationship, even when she'd moved to New York; she'd stayed in contact with Piper. She'd always found Piper to be more tolerant and understanding than Prue, and to her chagrin she'd kinda played on that when they were younger, had always known how to get round Piper, had abused her sister's sweet nature.

She owed Piper a lot and she knew it. If it hadn't been for Piper's unwavering support and encouragement she would have stayed in New York, living out an empty existence. Endless parties, countless meaningless relationships, they had all been a symptom of her desperate need to belong, a need that had been fulfilled when she moved back in to the Manor and had a chance to grow closer to her sisters.

She and Piper had gotten even closer since losing Prue, and she didn't want anything to come between them. She would still prefer to see Piper safely ensconced with the Elders, but in the past Piper had believed in her, had given her a chance when no one else had, and she knew from Piper's earnest expression that her older sister needed her to return that favour now.

Reluctantly she nodded 'Okay, you win, no more arguments from me.'

'Thank you' Piper smiled, relieved. She didn't wanna fall out with Phoebe now, not when she was feeling so awkward around Paige, she needed to feel connected to at least one of her sisters. Their strength as the Charmed Ones was rooted in their bond as sisters, and tonight that bond had been badly shaken. She prayed fervently that Leo would return soon and tell her that Grams had been wrong.

At least her relationship with Phoebe was solid. She had to admit that she was impressed by Phoebe's mature attitude. In the past Phoebe would have continued the argument just for the sake of arguing, but Phoebe had grown up a lot over the last few years. She still had that rebellious streak, but she'd started taking responsibility for her life, had turned things around, and she deserved a lot of credit for that.

Prue had always been frustrated and angry at Phoebe's outrageous antics, but she had been sympathetic, seeing them for what they were, a cry for help. Things had been tough for Phoebe when they were kids, mom had died when Phoebe was too young to remember her, and with Dad abandoning them it was little wonder Phoebe had been so wild. Things had been different after mom died, Grams had changed, become stricter and less tolerant, and life at the Manor had been less fun. She and Prue had gotten to enjoy those happier, carefree times, but Phoebe's early years had been fraught with tension, and all that wild behaviour was just her way of expressing her pain.

Phoebe sure had gone through a lot, losing her parents, then Grams and Prue, and then everything that had happened last year with Cole. Cole. Piper narrowed her eyes, studying him carefully, noticing how his eyes never left Phoebe. He'd been very quiet since they'd gotten back from the harbour, and it was obvious that he didn't like the new guy. She wasn't sure what was going on with Cole, what his plans were, but right now she didn't have time to worry about him, she had to deal with the bigger threat.

Startled out of her reverie, Piper jumped as Leo suddenly orbed in beside her 'Okay Piper I spoke to the Elders and they said….' his voice trailed off as he realised that Piper was no longer alone.

'Oh yes Leo, Leo's back everyone. So Leo what did the Elders say about re-powering the shield?' Piper asked, covering quickly, and little too enthusiastically.

Luckily Leo followed her lead 'Erm okay, well actually the Elders don't know much, in fact they're not sure if the shield can be re-powered once the covens have been destroyed. They think it might be a one time deal.'

'Oh great' Paige exclaimed in frustration. 'Without the shield we're sitting ducks. So what are we supposed to do just wait for them to attack us?'

Piper breathed a sigh of relief that she and Leo had gotten away with it. She was desperate to know what the Elders had told Leo, but there was no way she could ask him now, not with everyone here. She gave him a little questioning look, hoping that he would give something away, but his expression was unreadable. She'd have to try and manufacture a moment alone with him to find out the truth, but right now even that would have to wait. Prue's death was in the past and there was nothing she could do to change it, the present on the other hand she could do something about.

Forcing her mind to focus on the job at hand, Piper took a deep breath and turned to Paige 'no we're not gonna just sit around and wait for them to attack, that's not how we work' she said determinedly. 'We're gonna fix this, all of this. First we're gonna figure out how to re-power this shield thingy, and then we're gonna vanquish Taric's sorry ass. Okay?'

'Okay' Paige repeated.

'Good' Piper nodded. 'So come on people lets see a little action.'

'I'll check the book' Paige volunteered, feeling the need to be actually doing something. She felt totally inadequate. She'd spent weeks studying the book in minute detail, she should have been able to reel off a whole list of suggestions, but now on the spot like this she couldn't think of anything to help. Maybe she didn't have what it took; maybe she wasn't a match for Prue after all. Shaking off the depressing thought, she went right back to the beginning and started looking through the book systematically, scanning every single page. There had to be something in there, something that she'd missed. Finally she slammed the book shut in defeat. There just wasn't anything there or if there was she sure couldn't find it.

'Well come on keep looking' Piper chided.

'I can't find anything' Paige admitted.

'Try again' Piper insisted, unwilling to give up so easily.

Paige sighed heavily, but nevertheless she obeyed Piper's instructions, whilst the others waited in expectant silence.

'Anything?' Phoebe asked eventually, a hint of desperation in her voice.

Paige shook her head 'No nothing.'

'Aw come on there's gotta be something in there' Cole protested, speaking for the first time since their return from the harbour. 'I mean the answer's always right there in the book, everyone knows that, why do you think demons are so desperate to get their hands on it?'

Impatiently he grabbed the book out of Paige's hands, and began to look through it himself. 'Binding powers – no, that's no good, stripping powers –yeah we could probably do something with that…'

'Oh my God!' Paige shrieked suddenly, making everyone jump.

'What?' Piper asked. She looked around wildly for the source of the attack, but saw nothing. 'Paige? What?'

But Paige could only stare mutely at Cole.

'Paige, honey what's wrong?' Phoebe asked gently, exchanging a worried look with Piper. She wondered fleetingly if panic was causing Paige to hallucinate. Paige hadn't been doing the Charmed gig for as long as the rest of them had, and may be the thought of mass demon attacks had given her the jitters. She sure wouldn't blame Paige for that, she felt a little jittery herself right now.

Still unable to speak Paige continued to gesture wildly at Cole.

'Paige, what is it?' Piper asked impatiently, completely baffled, and a little irritated by Paige's erratic behaviour. Then suddenly she saw what Paige saw 'Oh my God!'

'What?' Phoebe demanded, still not getting it.

'The book' Piper jabbered, pointing at Cole.

Uncomprehending, Phoebe stared at her as if Piper had taken leave of her senses 'yes the Book of Shadows, I know I've seen it before. What's everybody getting all excited about?'

Piper tried again, more slowly 'The book, Cole, Cole's holding the book.'

'Oh my God' Phoebe screeched, leaping away from Cole.

Slowly Cole looked down at the book in his hands. He had only been able to touch the book once before, back when he had been human, when he had been stripped of his powers. His face broke in to a smile of disbelief. 'Oh my God. Phoebe do you know what this means?'

'It's evil.' Phoebe said in dismay. 'Somehow Taric's turned the book evil.' She turned to Piper warily 'Does that mean that we're turning evil now too?'

'I don't know' Piper said worriedly. 'I don't feel any different. Do you feel any different?'

Phoebe shook her head 'No. Hey the last time we turned evil we got all sorts of evil powers remember? Piper see if you can blink.'

'Okay' Piper said uneasily. She stood very still, and concentrated hard for a moment- nothing. 'Huh, well I guess that didn't work.'

Phoebe looked at Piper thoughtfully for a moment, her brain trying to make sense of it all. Suddenly she pointed accusingly at Piper's stomach. 'It must be that big belly that's weighing you down.'

Piper looked down at her stomach and then opened her mouth to respond, but Phoebe wasn't listening, instead she walked slowly around Piper, appraising her from different angles. A little disconcerted Piper watched her, turning full circle as she tried to follow Phoebe's path.

Finally Phoebe stopped walking 'Y'know come to think of it Piper you have put on a little extra weight recently.' She wagged a finger in Piper's face 'Ya might wanna try laying off the cookies for a while' she scolded. 'Otherwise you're not gonna be able to get back in your favourite jeans when you're done with the whole pregnancy thing.'

'Evil' Piper said accusingly pointing at Phoebe. 'Definitely evil.'

'It could just be that your invincibility is protecting you from turning evil Piper, and that's why you can't blink' Leo suggested quickly in an attempt to mollify Piper who was now looking daggers at Phoebe. 'Phoebe why don't you try?' He suggested.

Phoebe nodded eagerly. 'Okay here goes.' She concentrated for a moment – nothing.

'Paige?' Leo asked.

'Forget it I already tried.' Paige admitted.

'Well if we're not evil, and the book's not evil' Piper said slowly 'Then that can only mean …'

'I must be good.' Cole finished the sentence for her, grinning broadly.

To be continued …..