Oo my first reviewer! Thanks chuffy-barmed-oc (love the name by the way!) hmmm I think I'll leave you guessing a little bit more :p Here's the next chapter, it's much longer than the first. Please don't expect me to be updating as regularly as this I just happened to have it all typed out in advance. Enjoy!

Chapter 2: A sister in need.

"Come on little guy just one more please, for mommy!"

Piper Halliwell hovered the spoon of gooey baby food like an airplane in front of her youngest son's mouth, a pleading smile plastered on her face. Chris eyed the spoon almost thoughtfully, then turned away and started banging a rattle on the table. Piper sighed heavily.

"Yeah well I can't say I blame you." She put the spoon back in the carton and smiled at Chris, tilting her head slightly to one side. Behind her, she could smell her pancakes cooking and the scent of hot coffee also filled the kitchen. Pulling herself out of her chair, she went and opened a window. She gazed out for a moment but was interrupted-something she had come accustomed to when she was having a rare moment of peace-by a scream from Chris. She turned around just in time to see his rattle disappear in blue orbs and reappear in the hand of Wyatt who was sitting at the other end of the table.

"Wyatt sweetie," she said, another sigh escaping her lips. She went over and took the rattle off of him, bending down so she was eye-level with his gorgeous baby blues, "Don't pick on your brother." She put the rattle back on the table in front of Chris, instantly soothing him. Piper sat back down at the table, resting her chin on her hand and just staring into space. Dark hair flopped in front of her eyes and she absently brushed it away. Her thoughts flickered momentarily to where her sister's were and as if by perfect timing, she heard the front door open.

A disgruntled Paige Matthews pushed the door shut and pulled off her jacket, hanging it roughly on the hook beside her. She tossed her purse down on the table with more force than was necessary and ran a hand back through her newly-dyed dark brown hair. "Stupid Elders," she muttered to herself, "Made me become a stupid whitelighter." She winced slightly and looked towards the ceiling. "Quit your jingling already!" She put her hands over her ears and walked into the kitchen, ignoring her eldest sister and nephews and going straight to the coffee machine.

"Uh Paige?" said Piper, a slightly amused smile on her pink lips. She leant her chin further on her hand and raised an eyebrow at Paige as she turned to look at her. "What's going on?"

"That," the annoyed brunette replied, "Is precisely the question!" She grabbed a cup from the side and poured herself a cup of coffee. She bought the cup to her lips and continued mumbling, her eyes narrowing angrily. Piper continued to study her sister.

"Where were you all night?" she asked, trying a different approach. She felt a small smirk cross her lips, one that was not missed by Paige who returned it with a roll of her eyes.

"I was with a charge," she said, making the last word sound almost dirty, like she hated saying it.

"All night?" Piper asked, reaching over and taking the spoon again, trying to coax Chris into another mouthful.

"Yes all night," Paige replied, "All fricking night! And-"

"Auntie Paige! Language around the minors please!" Piper said, covering Chris' ears and looking at her sister. She shook her head. Paige smiled slightly and rolled her eyes again.

"Sorry," she said, "Anyway, I was with this guy all night, teaching him about his powers and Wicca and the Elders blah blah blah then I get jingled like an hour ago and they tell me he's no longer my charge. They've given him to someone else. I mean how dare they! First they tell me I have to be a whitelighter against my will, then they make me have a stupid charge, then…"

Piper looked back at Chris and rolled her dark eyes at him. "Ignore Auntie Paige," she whispered; aware of Paige still ranting in the background, "She's a little cranky this morning. One more mouthful please! For mommy!" Chris, again, regarded the spoon thoughtfully. This time however, he batted his rattle at it, knocking it out of Piper's hand and onto her lap, earning a giggle from his older brother Wyatt. Piper let out a groan and got up to get a towel for her baby-food-splattered jeans.

"And then…" Paige put her hands on her hips and stared at Piper. "Are you even listening to what I'm saying!" she cried, "Geez I'm bitching about the Elders I thought I could count on you to be on the Paige-bandwagon here!"

"I am," said Piper with a heavy sigh as she dabbed at her jeans, "It's just I'm a little busy at the moment you know?"

Paige nodded in understanding, her face softening. "Where's Leo?" she asked.

"He went out," Piper replied, wiping the table over, "He's still adjusting to life without powers y'know? It's going to take time."

"Aww of course it is sweetie," said Paige, putting her hand on Piper's back, "And hey if he ever wants to bitch about the Elders, the bandwagon could always use a few more followers." Piper laughed slightly.

"Bandwagon?" Phoebe walked into the kitchen and sat at the table. She stared at her two sisters blankly.

"Yeah I hate the Elders," said Paige with a shrug. She looked over at Phoebe and pulled a face. "You look like you haven't slept in about five years." Phoebe scoffed slightly and rubbed her eyes, leaving her hands over them.

"She's right sweetie you don't look too good," said Piper. She flicked on the coffee machine and got out three cups.

"Still having those nightmares?" Paige asked her. Phoebe nodded, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Nightmares?" Piper questioned, looking from Paige to Phoebe, "What nightmares?"

"The nightmares we didn't tell you about," Paige said, biting her bottom lip, "I should go get changed. Ciao." She gave a small wave and orbed out up to her bedroom. Phoebe dropped her hands from her face and stared daggers at the ceiling, namely at Paige's room. She dropped her eyes to look at Piper, who was giving her the usual 'what's going on?' look. The empath sighed and slouched down in her chair. Piper sat opposite her beside Chris' highchair and reached out to hold her sister's hand. Phoebe raised her tired eyes to look at Piper.

"I've been having these dreams," she said, "Well more like nightmares. Except they don't feel like nightmares they feel like premonitions."

"Premonitions in your sleep?" Piper asked.

Phoebe nodded. "It's happened before. Remember the sandman?" Piper made an 'oh' shape with her mouth, clearly remembering the incident. "Well it feels like that," Phoebe continued, "Except it happens every night."

"How many nights has it been happening?" Piper asked.

"A few weeks now," said Phoebe. She squeezed Piper's hand slightly, it bringing her some comfort. "I know I should have told you," she said, looking into the older witch's dark eyes, "But what with Leo and you looking after the boys, I didn't want to burden you with my problems."

"Oh sweetie," said Piper, squeezing her hand back, "Don't be silly you know you can tell me anything no matter what's going on in my crazy life." She smiled at Phoebe reassuringly, who smiled back slightly. "So what happens in these nightmares?" Piper asked. Phoebe shook her head and looked down at the table.

"I don't see much," she said, "It's more…I don't know…feelings. Fear, anger. There's a lot of fire and…" She screwed up her face slightly, as if trying to remember every detail. "It starts off in a dark place then ends in the attic. We're all there. You and Paige…" Tears sprung to her eyes slightly and she felt Piper rub her hand, obviously understanding. "And there's something else. Someone else."

"Demon?"

"Maybe." She sighed again and leant back in her chair, releasing her hand from Piper's. The two sisters sat in silence for a moment, both looking down at the table and contemplating what Phoebe had just revealed.

"Phoebs maybe you should go back up and rest," Piper finally said, raising her eyes to look at Phoebe.

"But I have work and Elise-"

"I'll call Elise," said Piper, getting up and going to the phone, "Now which would you prefer? Period pains or a migraine?" Phoebe smiled, the familiar lively light entering her eyes for a moment and Piper grinned back.

"Thank you," Phoebe whispered. She pulled herself up and wrapped her arms around her big sister's neck, resting her head on her shoulder. Piper rested her own head on top of Phoebe's and embraced her back tightly, a light smile on her troubled face.