A/N: I'm baaacck!

Well it's not like I left long but anyway I kinda typed this bit up quickly for you all. Hope you like.

28. Deadly Arrival.

Piper stood in front of the mirror, having just finished getting changed into the clothes she planned to wear for the battle. She wore a pair of black, light-weight jeans and a dark brown sleeveless top. She had also pulled her hair into a high ponytail.

Am I doing the right thing? she thought over and over again. Piper never answered the question, just repeated it.

Leo suddenly appeared around her waist, wrapping his arms tightly round her. She leaned into him and smiled softly.

"You ready?" he whispered.

----------

Phoebe sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the dagger she had been given. She, too, was also dressed in what she was wearing for the battle. A comfortable pair of black trousers and a top that showed her midriff.

Her slightly disfigured reflection on the blade mesmerized her, wondering if it would ever become clear.

"You okay?"

Phoebe glanced up and smiled at Cole, who was leaning against the door, obviously having witnessed her far of look.

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

----------

Prue sat on her bed with the Book of Shadows open but placed to one side of her. She had been trying to find some information about the Source, the only problem, there was hardly any. Nothing substantial enough to be of any use anyway.

She was dressed in the clothing her sisters had brought for her and was now watching as the minutes ticked by.

A knock resounded on her door, causing Prue to look up quickly. "Yeah." she called once the initial shock had subsided.

"Hey, you ready?" Paige asked carefully, walking in to the room. The youngest was also dressed in a similar outfit, however she had her dagger tied tightly round her forearm.

Prue nodded and closed the large book, before standing. For a while the youngest and oldest Halliwell watched each other, "How you holding up?" Prue asked, wondering if they were ready to risk it all.

"Little nervous but I'm okay." Paige shrugged with a small smile.

Prue smiled back at the answer. "I'm glad you're here, Paige."

"Wouldn't be anywhere else, sis." Paige replied, as Prue moved towards her and the door.

"I love you, you know that?" she laughed, although being completely sincere.

"Always have." her sister grinned, "I love you too. Let's get going, shall we?"

As Prue left the room, she spotted a photo of them all, happy and smiling. Was she ready?

----------

The remainder of the family was waiting in the foyer of the manor as Paige and Prue descended the stairs.

"Nice get up, sis." Phoebe complimented from Cole's arms. It was rather odd being all dressed similar to each other, but she found it was kind of cool as well.

"Back at ya." Prue smiled, glancing around the room.

Each of them seemed nervous but confident at the same time. Glen stood close to Paige, aware that soon that they would all be leaving. Phoebe and Cole looked as though they were ready to take on the world, whilePaige hid the majority of her nervousness she had confessed to minutes earlier. Leo, who claimed to be a pacifist, protectively wrapped Piper in his arms.

Finally, Piper.

Prue gave a silent plea to her sister to stay, in response Piper glanced away. The action caused Prue to close her eyes in despair briefly, as she dug deep to find the confidence she needed. Was she ready?

"Okay, I believe we have a lunch date to get to." she spoke, attempting to hide any sign that she was scared.

Was she ready? Truth was….no. She didn't want to be. She wasn't ready to risk it all but she would. Irony struck as the phrase she had come to resent, propelled her forward. For the greater good.

They began to disappear in a mixture of orbs and shimmers, until the only person who remained was Glen.

---------

Darryl knocked on Victor's door. He had made a promise to Prue and he intended on keeping it. The only problem, he was worried as to how Victor would react.

Breath, he thought, You can face down crazed killers, why is it so difficult for you to face a man with a bad temper. the Inspector berated himself, as the door opened and Victor emerged into view.

"Darryl, Hi. What brings you here?" he asked.

"Hey…um, well Prue asked me to give this to you." Darryl replied, handing Victor the envelope.

The older man looked confused, glancing from the paper he held in his hand to Darryl. Ripping it open out of concern and curiosity, Victor began to read the hand written letter.

Victor,

I thought you should know that the Source has given us his date. We'll be facing it together, today.

I'm sorry I'm a disappointment. I never wanted this, but it's happened. I can't change it, no matter how much I want to. Just know it was never my choice and I didn't want the responsibility, let alone asked for it.

I promise they will all be back, with or without me. If it's a choice between me and them, know it will always be them. Has been that way since you left.

I'm sorry it couldn't be different.

Prue.

Victor couldn't believe what he had just read. His eldest daughter was apologising for being a disappointment, which she could never be. When had it all gone wrong?

Once again, his temper had pushed her further away. He hadn't meant for what was said, but he was faced with the prospect of losing his daughters to something he could barely get a grip on. Why was it his family that had to fight demons and risk their lives?

"I need to talk to her." he muttered finally, as he stepped back into the apartment to grab his keys.

"She's probably already left, Victor." Darryl replied. I should really evaluate my relationship with the Halliwells, he thought, watching as the anger in Victor's face rose.

"I don't care! I need to try!" Victor shouted, slamming his door shut and quickly making his way out of the building.

Darryl rolled his eyes and followed the distraught father.

----------

The Halliwells stood in the clearing of Golden Gate Park, watching as various magical creatures fighting for good arrived. Silence had overcome them, amazed by how many had gathered, with more still adding to the growing mass.

Several of the leaders came to the sisters and spoke briefly, before returning to their particular patch. Everything just seemed so surreal to them.

Phoebe slowly walked closer to Prue and Paige, as Piper trailed behind. They faced each other, their backs to the rest of world.

"All raise a hand if your nervous." Paige quipped, making her older sisters laugh at her attempt to break the tension, which had worked successfully.

"I would but I'm concentrating on breathing at the moment." Piper commented with a smile.

A silence fell between the sisters, as each of them found it hard to contemplate the final outcome. It was difficult to comprehend that this was the moment they had been preparing for and it could quite possibly end badly.

Conversation seemed to trivial at this point in their lives, although each wanted it, there wasn't a topic they felt would justify disturbing the quietness.

However Phoebe soon found something they were probably all subconsciously thinking. "I don't know about you guys but I kinda wish Mum was here. You know lend a hand, give confidence, generally…be here."

The other sisters nodded and smiled at the thought, particularly as they had been thinking the same. Although, Prue also had an underlining of dread mixed with her feelings, an aspect she would gladly give to the next willing victim.

"Well I'm slightly hurt I'm not wanted."

The Charmed Ones turned to the unmistakable sound of their grandmother's voice, who stood along with their mother, bathed in a glow of fading white light, which soon disappeared so they looked as human as the sisters themselves.

"Grams? Mum?" Piper questioned, unable to hide the surprise in her voice. She quickly glanced to her older sister, knowing the end result of the last meeting between Patty and Pruewasn't so good.

Paige and Phoebe, having not found out about the night, greeted the two deceased witches warmly, while Prue held back slightly.

"I notice someone is back in your life again." Grams commented to Paige, who quirked up an eyebrow, amused at the tone she used.

"Do you mean a certain male influence?" she asked innocently.

"That would be the one, dear."

Paige could only smile in response, especially aware that Penny Halliwell was less impressed by men as you would be by a dog, who had just doo-dooed on your carpet.

"I've missed you Mum." Phoebe stated, hugging Patty close.

"Missed you too, sweetie." Patty replied, finally noticing Paige waiting behind Phoebe. She smiled broadly, to her youngest daughter. A smile was returned but was a little more reserved and shy.

"Come here, Paige." Patty called softly, wanting to hold her baby.

As Paige hugged her mother, Phoebe moved to the authoritative figure in her life.

"How's my little trouble maker?" Penny smiled.

"Grams." Phoebe laughed.

Once they had finished greeting the two, the younger Halliwells stood back allowing the older two there turn. Piper decided she would speak to her mother first, giving Prue some breathing space.

"Hi honey." Patty greeted, wrapping Piper into a comforting hug. "I'm sorry for leaving you alone." she whispered, having felt guilty the entire time after leaving her in the attic the night of Prue's revelation.

"It's okay, it wasn't me I was worried about." Piper whispered back.

"Congratulations." her mother then whispered, feeling selfish for wanting to change the topic.

"You were always a power to contend with, weren't you?" Grams spoke to Prue, then stepped a side to allow her granddaughter view of the growing army.

"Learnt from the best." she replied with smile.

Piper joined them, letting Prue know it was her turn to talk to Patty. She sighed heavily, then dug deep to find some sort of courage to use.

"Penny would make a great name." Grams told Piper quietly, to which the younger witch rolled her eyes.

"Already have one, Grams."

Prue moved over to her mother and the two just stared at one another for a brief moment, until Patty pulled her daughter close.

"I'm sorry." they stated in unison, causing them to both laugh. The tension they had both been dreading was never really there, just an overwhelming amount of guilt, equally felt.

"I love you, Mum." Prue spoke quietly.

Patty beamed, having expected her daughter to hate her. "I love you too."

"So what brings you two here?" Phoebe asked, now that everyone had hugged and spoke. She was still slightly awed with the fact her mother was now more prominent in her life, even though she was dead.

"Well you didn't expect us to leave you four to it, did you?" Penny Halliwell replied. "Plus the afterlife is only for us. We can't have you girls joining us now, can we?"

"Mother." Patty responded.

"What? I love them dearly, Patty, but I don't plan on seeing them everyday for many years yet."

"We love you too, Grams." Piper laughed, as the others sniggered. She had to admit, she missed her grandmother's bluntness.

"So does anyone else plan on joining us from the afterlife? Ancestors?" Paige asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

Their mother shared a fleeting glance with her own, before she replied. "Some may arrive."

"You know, when people die, do they all become so cryptic and passive?" Phoebe questioned, having noticed the exchange between the two.

"You'll just have to wait and see." Grams answered mysteriously and smiled when her granddaughters rolled their eyes.

A/N: It's getting there...I think.

You know what? I am suprised at the response this has gotten. To begin with I thought I'd have to review myself ;o) only joking, I'd just think I was really really crap.

Thanks to you all. I really appreciate it.

TV Crazed, jdjams and Anne Coulter; welcome to the fold, glad you like.

Mony19; I try not to disappoint :o) also the dream Paige had is the same one from...I think chap 7 or 8. It's been reoccuring and I was to lazy to post it again.

Glad you all liked the sister bit; thought it would lightening the mood slightly.

Anne Coulter; No more pregnancy, promise...not for a while anyway and I mean a while. And the Paige and Phoebe room bit, it wasn't until I started typing this up I realised the lack of them. I don't know why, I just find them harder to write I guess. But I'll work on it : )

Thank you all again, love all your reviews.

Ramble finished...bye.