At the end of the well-traveled rainbow Paige found her friends, the same clan of leprechauns whom they had helped and more often than the other way around. In a bright green meadow that smelled of new mown hay seven of the wee people were digging through their pot of gold.
The last surviving leprechaun from the following the final battle demon attack looked up at Paige and sneered. "Ah, Paige. One of the not so Charming Ones who dares to show her face in our domain. Be gone with ye, lassie!"
The newest members shook their heads in agreement and went back to their work.
Paige stuck her shalaley in the ground and walked over the brood that was doing an excellent job of ignoring her. "Look, it took a lot of guts to come back. The good news is that we were under a spell. We we're bewitched!"
O'Malley purposely looked away and sarcastically replied, "And ye try to tell me that the all powerful Charmed Ones didn't notice the problem? Like they didn't notice us in trouble? Ye be too wrapped up ye-selves ever to help the likes of us, lassie."
Paige walked over to look directly at him. "You have to believe me! We've tried to do the best for the greater good. We were just magically distracted!"
"Why should I trust ye after the loss of me two friends at the hands of the Triad?" he asked.
"Look I can feel your pain. I lost a sister, too!" explained Paige sadly.
O'Malley shook his head. "Not you, me darling. Your sisters did!"
"Prue was still my sister! I did lose my parents! Look! I came to say that everything is all right. The Charmed Ones will continue to fight for you and the whole magical community. And to give you the biggest apology I can with a triple dose of humility. I'm sorry!" said a very contrite Paige.
"Sorry you are and sorry you always will be," said another leprechaun.
"Is there no way I can demonstrate my good intentions?" asked Paige.
"And what would that be? Can ye undo the loss? Ye know where the path lined with good intention leads," O'Malley said slyly.
"Right. I see your point," agreed Paige.
"Tis not the intent, but the deeds that speak loudest. If you have truly changed, you would stop thinking of yourselves," said another leprechaun.
Paige could she herself being painted back into the proverbial corner. "And we can't have our own lives?" she asked.
O'Malley spoke a bit softer. "Paige, me darling. There be many of us mystical creatures who do nothing all day but our jobs. There be an order to this universe of ours unless ye think witches be better than everyone else."
Paige shook her head. "No. It's just that unlike a lot of you, we have to live in the mortal realm. We all grew up there and have to live among them."
"HA! A place full of nonbelievers. At least here we can freely be ourselves," scoffed the oldest of the clan.
"My point exactly. We want to be free to be ourselves. And that means to be free to be witches and to be free being mortal men and women with jobs and spouses and friends and hopefully children to carry on. And to help you not just now, but in the future. We helped you once, and we will be there again. I promise!" exclaimed Paige holding up her right hand.
O'Malley thought for a minute. "True. Ye be more mortal than our kind. And if we are to all survive, we all must go on. Ye lost a lot of respect here, Paige. Only time will truly change things. Just like when ye first started, it will be your deeds and not your words to earn our respect."
Paige cocked her head to one side. "Then there a chance?"
"Aye. Not today, but soon. Me kind will wait and see," he said thoughtfully.
"Thank-you," Paige replied as she reached for the shalaley. "There's just one more thing."
O'Malley looked cross as he gently stamped his foot. "Again, You always want something from us! Not a good start, lassie!"
Paige gulped. "Well you see everyone should know. I need the message spread around the leprechauns."
O'Malley grew crosser, "And who do I look like, the bloodily postman?"
Paige threw up her hands. "All right! ALL RIGHT! I get your point. Then how can I get the message out?"
"Methinks ye must earn our goodwill, Paige me darling. Ye have the stubbornness of the Halliwell's. Ye must tell the clans. With the last few years we haven't been saying much. To all of them must you go. Here is a list," he said as a scroll appeared in Paige's hands.
Paige unrolled the document as her eyes widened. "There must be fifty of them!"
O'Malley agreed. "Aye, we be scattered about, but you can go from here to there in no time, Paige me darling. Consider it your penitence for the problems ye brought the entire magical community," he said giving her a knowing look in his eye.
Paige looked up and sighed heavily. "All right! I'll DO IT! Just to get everything back the way it was."
"That will be a good lassie. Paige, you just might be redeemed yet!" O'Malley said looking more fatherly. "May the luck be with you."
"Thanks. Guess I won't be home for supper. Bye, guys! I'll finish up in Ireland and then I'll swing back home." Paige shook her head, grabbed the shalaley and orbed out.