Chapter 54: All Halliwell's Eve
In the Foyer of the Manor Phoebe is there checking her makeup in a compact mirror. Prue walks in holding a bowl of candy. She places it on the foyer table. Piper and Leo walk down the stairs. They are all dressed up in costumes for Halloween. Phoebe is Elvira, the mistress of the dark, wearing a black dress and a black wig. Prue is wearing a black dress and a long black wig with butterflies pinned to it. And Piper is dressed a Glenda, the good witch from the Wizard of Oz, wearing a blonde wig and a pink fluffy dress. Leo is dressed in his old World War II army uniform.
Buffy comes down the stairs dressed as Xena.
Prue looks at Buffy, "Xena?"
Buffy smiles, "In case we all change into our costumes again. I want to change into someone that can take care of herself. No offense to Lady Elizabeth but she was too prim and proper."
"Lady Elizabeth?" Phoebe asks.
Buffy nods, "That was her name. She wasn't high up but she was nobility. I think a baron or a duke's daughter."
"Alright, people, let's go. I was supposed to be at the club a half an hour ago." Piper says.
"Hey, are you a good witch or a bad witch?" Prue asks Piper.
Piper smiles, "I'm going to be a very good witch from now on."
Prue nods, "And you picked a role model who wears lots and lots of pink?"
Piper nods, "Yes."
Buffy laughs.
"Glinda helped innocents, didn't she?" Leo asks.
"Yes." Piper says.
"You had the answer all along? That's not help, that's mind games." Phoebe says.
Piper shakes her head, "I'm not gonna let you spoil my new attitude, I'm gonna celebrate witch's holiday with enthusiasm."
"The only problem is you never really know what you're celebrating when you celebrate Halloween." Phoebe says.
Buffy smiles, "I can answer that. Did a little research. All Hallows Eve, it's the one night when the dead can return."
"I thought that was Mardi Gras?" Phoebe asks.
Buffy shrugs.
"Where's Darryl?" Piper asks.
"He is in the kitchen on the phone." Prue says.
Piper and Leo head for the kitchen but stop when Phoebe starts talking.
Phoebe holds up a cardboard cutout, "Hook-nosed hags riding broomsticks. That's what we're celebrating. Personally I am offended by the representation of witches in popular culture."
Buffy rolls her eyes, "Right, which is why you're dressed as the mistress of the dark."
"This costume happens to be a protest statement, Xena." Phoebe says.
"Yeah and my protest statement says I don't want to be helpless and defenseless like I was last year. Ever again." Buffy says.
Prue smiles, "I am so impressed that you can make a protest statement and show cleavage all at the same time."
Phoebe smiles, "Thanks."
"Amazing." Prue says.
Piper nods, "Let's go."
In the kitchen Darryl is there talking on the phone. He is wearing his police academy uniform. Everyone walks in.
"Alright, Inspector, put down the phone and nobody gets hurt." Piper says.
"Yeah, sweetie, I gotta go. Give your folks my love, okay? I miss you guys." Darryl says as he hangs up.
"Nice costume." Piper says as she scoops some popcorn into a bowl.
Darryl nods, "Yeah, it's from my rookie days. Still fits."
"Yeah, mine too." Leo says.
Darryl look at Leo. "Isn't that from World War II?" Leo doesn't answer. "Who are you?"
Prue smiles, "Uh, I will explain on the way." She eats some popcorn. "So in the meantime we can just stick together since we are both dateless."
Buffy rolls her eyes. "He's not dateless, he's married, you're dateless 'cause you're picky."
Prue shakes her head, "No, I'm not settling, alright, the perfect guy is out there, a real man, and I will find him, trust me."
Piper nods, "Mmm hmm. And they're gonna love the popcorn and caramel in your teeth too." Prue picks her teeth with her fingernail. "Alright, Darryl, let's go, somebody get something."
They all grab plates of food.
"Um, we can't leave yet we have to wait for Cole." Phoebe says.
"Cole Turner? The ADA? You're dating him?" Darryl asks.
Phoebe shakes her head, "Uh, no, I just sort of invited him to go along with us. It wasn't set in stone or anything but something must've come up."
"She wants to though." Buffy says.
Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe walk into the foyer.
"Ooh-ooh, I wanna picture of all of us first but I have to get my broomstick." Prue says.
Buffy shakes her head, "Cliché!"
Prue goes into the other room. The doorbell rings.
"Come on, guys, hurry up." Piper says.
Phoebe answers the door. The grimlocks are standing there.
"Trick or treat?" Grimlock #1 says.
"Oh my god, that is so weird. They look just like the grim- whoa!" Phoebe says.
Phoebe and Piper run but stop when the grimlocks start to strangle them.
Buffy's eyes go wide and she flames out and back in grabbing Piper and Phoebe.
In the kitchen the Elders call Leo.
"Uh-oh." Leo says.
"Uh-oh, what?" Darryl asks.
"Piper? Buffy?" Leo says as he and Darryl run into the foyer. "Prue? Phoebe?"
Buffy flames out with Piper and Phoebe as Prue runs in.
"Oh!" Prue says as she uses her power and the grimlocks fly into the living room.
Buffy flames back in with Piper and Phoebe next to Prue.
"Didn't we vanquish them already?" Phoebe asks.
"Yeah and I lost my eyesight last time we encountered them, too." Buffy says.
Leo shakes his head, "I don't know, but that's not what I wanted to warn you about."
Prue frowns "What do you mean?" A vortex opens behind them.
"That's what I wanted to warn you about." Leo says.
"Oh." Prue says.
The grimlocks come back into the foyer.
"Oh, look out." Buffy says.
Piper freezes the Grimlocks. "Leo, what the hell is..."
Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe get sucked into the vortex. It closes and their wigs fall to the ground.
The vortex opens in a field in the year 1670. Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe appear out of the vortex near a witch's altar.
"Is everybody okay?" Prue asks.
Phoebe shakes her head, "Too soon to tell."
Buffy nods, "I'm good."
"Did the grimlocks do this?" Piper asks.
"Uh, unless we're dead and this is the hereafter, I don't think so." Prue says.
Phoebe nods, "Eternally Elvira, yecch."
"Alright, uh, so this sorta looks like an altar." Buffy says walking around it.
"A witch's altar. What's going on?" Piper says.
About 10-15 witch hunters on horses and foot run towards them.
"There they are!"
"Kill the witches!"
Phoebe frowns, "Oh, you had to ask."
Piper frowns, "Not good, not good, not good."
Buffy nods, "I don't want to risk exposure by flaming, run."
Piper nods, "Flee! We're not in Kansas anymore."
They run into the bushes.
Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe hide behind a bush and watch the witch hunters search around for them.
"Don't tell me we've time traveled again. I hate time traveling." Piper says.
Phoebe frowns, "You do? I was burnt at the stake last time, remember?"
"Or the last time I did Prue and Phoebe were dead and Piper was still grieving years later." Buffy says.
Prue nods, "Alright, let's try and make sure that doesn't happen again. From what they're wearing it looks to be, what, 16-1700's?"
"Where the life expectancy of the average witch is, what, fifteen minutes?" Phoebe says.
Buffy sighs, "Which likely means we have no powers. Last time we traveled into the past we had no powers."
Someone rustles a bush behind them. They gasp and turn around to see a witch hunter standing there.
"Find anything, Micah?"
Micah stares at Prue. Piper gets ready to freeze him but Prue grabs her wrist. "No, nothing here. Ride on."
"Ride on, men."
Micah puts his index finger to his lips. "Shh..." He runs off.
Piper frowns, "Hi. Why didn't you let me freeze him?"
Prue shakes her head, "I don't know, there was just something... Besides if Buffy's right and we don't have our powers it wouldn't work anyways, right?"
Once the witch hunters have gone, they walk out of the bushes.
"You know what? I don't care why we're here or how we got here, I just wanna get home. I've got a life to live and decorations to hang, so where's the damn vortex?" Piper says.
Prue shakes her head, "I don't know where the..."
Someone puts bags over their heads. They scream.
Buffy, Prue, Piper, Phoebe are led into the cave and the sacks are taken off their heads.
A woman (Eva) curtseys in front of them. "Blessed be."
"Blessed be." Buffy says.
Prue, Piper and Phoebe look confused.
"Our prayers have been answered. We need your help." Eva says.
"Excuse me?" Prue asks.
"Forgive me for the manner in which you were brought here, but we had to make sure you were who we had sent for. This doorway would've told us if you were evil." Eva says as she points to the opening in the cave.
"Huh, where can we get one of those?" Piper asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "Alright, wait, uh, who do you think we are?"
"The most powerful good witches of all time, of course." Eva says.
"Okay, lucky guess." Phoebe says.
"And you are?" Prue asks.
Eva smiles, "I am Eva. A midwife, a witch, and a free citizen of the colony of Virginia. These good women are my coven. Come. Now we don't have much time." The women hand Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe a dress each. "No one can suspect that you've come to us from the future. Witches must not have to hide in your time. What year are you from?"
"Uh, 2000." Piper says.
"What year is it now?" Buffy asks.
"1670." Eva says.
"Oh." Phoebe says.
Prue nods, "Uh, alright, so why do you need our help?"
"To save a magical baby who's prophesied to be born tonight." Eva says.
Piper frowns, "Save it from who?"
Eva nods, "A dark practitioner. She kidnapped the baby's mother in hopes of raising the child evil. If that happens, good magic will never flourish in the new world. You must rescue Charlotte so that you can bring her here and we can deliver her baby with our own protective circle."
"Wait a minute, you have the power to bring us through time but you don't have the power to set her free yourself?" Piper says.
Eva nods, "Well, we cast spells to prepare your way of course, but we know it was the power of All Hallows Eve that brought you here. Not us."
"All Hallows Eve?" Prue asked looking at Buffy.
Buffy simply smiled, "Don't look at me. My research said it was a day when the dead could return."
Eva smiles, "A witch's most sacred day. The day when the source of all magic can be tapped into. How can you not know about All Hallows Eve?"
Buffy nods, "It isn't what it used to be. And even what information of it survives to our time apparently has been misconstrued."
"Wait a minute, uh, you can tap into that power to send us home, right?" Piper asks.
"W-we assumed you could." Eva says.
Piper sighs, "They assumed that we could."
"Um, okay, well, uh, Piper, I have an idea. So what time is it?" Prue says.
Piper looks at her watch. "It's 2:15."
Eva looks at Piper's watch. "Oh, you've made a big clock so small. You must possess great magic."
Piper shakes her head, "Just a good credit card."
"Piper." Buffy says.
"What?" Piper asks.
"We have to be careful about what we say. We can't change history." Buffy says.
Prue nods, "Okay, um, excuse us for a minute. Talk." They walk away. "Alright, I think that I have this figured out. I think that "they" sent us here and that's what Leo was trying to tell us."
"Oh, leave it to them to zap first and give instructions never." Piper says.
Buffy nods, "Agreed."
"Alright, but if I'm right, the only way that they are going to let us go home is if we bring that baby back here by midnight. Alright, uh, Eva, do you have a plan?" Prue says.
Eva nods, "Yes." She holds up a small bottle. "This vial holds a potion which will put the men who guard the house to sleep." She hands it to Piper. "Then you'll use your powers to bring the mother back here."
"Ha, easy for her to say." Piper says and gives the potion to Prue.
Later at the village Buffy, Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Eva walk out of the bush. They are wearing dresses and a cape.
"We must be careful." Eva says.
"It looks like they're having a party." Phoebe says.
Eva nods, "It's the kidnapper, Ruth Cobb. She's doing it, pretending to mock All Hallow's Eve but I know better. She's really doing it to tap into the powers of dark magic."
They see witch hunters near by.
"Looks like our welcoming committee." Buffy says.
Phoebe nods, "Witch hunters."
"Hunters of good witches maybe. If they work for Ruth, they're after us." Eva says.
Prue sees Micah nearby. "Not all of them."
Phoebe looks at Prue. "Hmm."
They walk closer to the village.
"Beware the talismans." Eva says as she points to the talismans hanging on the tree. "They've barred our way each time we try to rescue Charlotte."
"Oh, honey, those don't really pack much of a punch where we come from." Phoebe says.
Prue, Piper and Phoebe walk forward.
Buffy shakes her head.
"No, you don't realize…" Eva says.
A bright light shines out of the talisman and Prue, Piper and Phoebe fly backwards. A bell rings and the village people start yelling and running around.
"Ooh, what the hell was that?" Phoebe asks.
Eva helps them up.
Buffy shakes her head, "Piper I would have thought you would remember talismans do work. They kept Mark out of his mom's house after he died."
Prue shakes her head, "No way talisman's have that much power."
Eva nods, "They never have before. Ruth's using the magic of All Hallow's Eve." Guards gallop towards them on their horses. "Guards!"
"Alright, I've got him. I've got him." Prue says as she uses her power but nothing happens. "Uh…"
Buffy frowns, "Have you forgotten Prue? In the past we don't have powers."
Eva frowns, "What?"
"Run!" Buffy says.
A guard shoots at them again and hits Eva in the arm. She yells in pain. They run into the bushes.
Back at the cave Eva is holding a cloth against her wound.
"Eva, we're sorry, we forgot that our powers…" Prue says.
"Just leave us. Just go back to wherever it is you came from. We asked for the most powerful witches of all time and instead, we get powerless frauds."
Buffy stands up in front of Eva and grabs her using full Slayer strength. "Frauds?"
Eva grimaces, "Ow! You are very strong, how?"
"Not only am I a witch. But I am also a Slayer." Buffy says as she release Eva.
Eva's jaw drops and then nods, "Protecting this baby is my destiny."
Buffy nods, "And we're going to help you. We're still witches. Something about time travel into the past strips us of our active powers. The only reason I'm still a Slayer is because the magic that infuses me is different than that which gives us our powers."
A woman walks over to Eva and hands her a folded piece of paper. "Bite down."
Eva puts the paper between her teeth. Another woman gets a poker out of the fire.
Piper stops her. "Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa. What are you doing?"
"Cauterizing her wound." Woman says.
Piper shakes her head, "No, no, no, no, no. We may not have powers but we do have basics. Just get some hot water and some soap and some clean cloths." Eva nods. "Hurry."
The women walk away.
Buffy smiles, "I'll put pressure on the wound. This might hurt a little." She tightens her hand around Eva's arm. "It'll slow the flow of blood to the wound till we can get it cleaned and bandaged."
Prue nods, "Eva, don't give up on us yet, alright, I know that we can help."
"Yeah. We have been through tougher jams than this before." Phoebe says.
"We have?" Piper asks.
Phoebe nods, "Haven't we?"
"We were born witches. That makes us innately magical. Maybe you can just teach us how to tap into it." Prue says.
Eva shakes her head, "There's not enough time."
Buffy smiles, "We're quick studies. Really quick studies. In our time we have only had our powers for two years. And I've only been a Slayer for 3 years."
Eva nods," Very well."
Later Eva hands Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe some small dolls made out of wheat. "Here."
"Dolls? We tap into our powers with dolls?" Piper asks skeptically.
Eva shakes her head, "It's not just a doll. It's a totem. Reminds us of the wisdom and the power of women."
"Okay, but what does is have to do with..." Phoebe says.
"The witch's journey is a walk of wisdom collected over the years, Phoebe." Eva says as she cuts an apple in half. "Wisdom gives us power. Power frightens the fearful and the ignorant."
"Well, that would certainly explain why in our time witches are made to look silly on Halloween." Buffy says.
"And this magic, this knowledge is forgotten?" Eva nods.
Buffy nods, "Sadly yes. All Hallows eve has been twisted it's true meaning forgotten."
"We could get it back if you teach us." Phoebe says.
"Here." Eva says as she picks up a witch's hat. "The conical hat is a spiritual point." She places it on Phoebe's head. "It helps us to channel our magic. Keeps us centered, focused. The apple holds a pentacle in its heart." She holds up half an apple. "Add a laurel leaf, you will block the path of evil." She places a leaf over the centre of the apple.
"A simple laurel leaf?" Prue asks.
Eva nods, "Simple, but powerful. Remember, there is magic all around you, especially on this night."
"Uh, what's with the masks?" Piper asks.
Eva smiles, "Demons walk freely on All Hallows Eve, so a mask allows you to hide your identity." She hands a mask to Piper. "Walk amongst them."
Buffy nods, "Well that in part explains why children in our time dress up in costumes. It's a twisted version of the real tradition."
Phoebe looks at a woman holding a broom, "Can I see that?" The woman hands her the broom. "Okay, now don't tell me we ride around on this thing."
Eva smiles, "Anything's possible. Here. The broom's traditional purpose is to sweep evil from your path. Sweep east to west." Phoebe sweeps east to west. "Same path as the sun travels. Like anything else in magic, it's how you do it, with knowledge and reverence."
"Wow, do I feel silly." Phoebe says and giggles. She gets a shock from the broom. "Ah!"
"What happened?" Buffy asks.
Phoebe shakes her head, "Nothing. Must have been just a spark."
Eva smiles, "No, you felt the power. Alright, Sally will go with you to Ruth's house. She'll give you the last few things you'll need. I wish I could go with you."
Prue nods, "We'll do great. You've armed us well."
Eva nods, "Remember, connect with the power of this day."
Moment later Buffy, Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Sally are walking to the village.
Sally is giving them some witch tools. "Charlotte should be in the first bedroom at the top of the stairs. Be careful, Ruth's guards are everywhere. If they see you with these tools, they'll know you as witches."
"Don't worry, we won't fail this time." Prue says.
Sally nods, "I know you won't. Which of you will be standing guard for the others?"
"Phoebe and Buffy." Piper says.
Sally nods, "If need be, this will turn away evil spirits." She hands Phoebe and Buffy each a small pumpkin with a star carved out of it. "Perhaps even a demon you think Ruth's summoned."
"Um, you're kidding, right?" Phoebe says and Sally stares at her. "Okay, you're not kidding."
Buffy and Phoebe puts the pumpkins in their cape pockets.
"Blessed be. Good luck." Sally says and walks back the way they came.
Prue nods, "Alright." They put on their masks. "Trick or treat."
Buffy rolls her eyes, "Oh boy."
They walk into the village. Buffy and Phoebe heads in a different direction from Prue and Piper.
"Care to know your future, miladys?" A man asks Phoebe and Buffy.
Buffy shakes her head, "Oh, no thanks, We're both pretty familiar with it already."
"Are you certain? I can show you the first initial of your true love's name." He says.
"Really? You can do that?" Phoebe asks.
The man smiles, "With a simple peel of the apple."
"Prove it." Another man says as he walks up to Phoebe and Buffy.
"And why would you be interested, sir?" Buffy asks.
"And why wouldn't you be?" The other man says.
Phoebe nods, "Okay, how do I do it?"
Buffy rolls her eyes.
The first man smiles, "First," he peels an apple, "you must fill your heart, only thoughts of love. Then close your eyes and blow on the peel." Phoebe does as she is instructed. "Drop the peel into the water and watch." He drops the peel into a bucket of water.
"And how is it that apple knows this big secret?" Buffy asks.
"It's simple, milady. Apples are the fruit of knowledge." The other man says.
The apple forms a C shape.
"It is C. The name of your true love begins with a C." The first man says.
"Cole." Pheobe says.
Buffy frowns.
The other man looks at Phoebe. Someone walks past Phoebe and bumps her. She drops the pumpkin.
Ruth, who is standing near by, sees the pumpkin. She points at Phoebe. "Witch!"
"No." The other man says.
Micah and another man runs over to Buffy and Phoebe and searches their pockets.
Piper frowns, "Uh-oh."
"Phoebe. Buffy." Prue says.
Piper and Prue run over to Phoebe and Buffy.
"Those two as well." Ruth says.
Witch hunters grab Prue and Piper.
"There's your four." Ruth says to a man as Village people yell 'hang the witches'. "Hang them! Hang them all!"
"My pleasure." Micah says as he stares at Prue.
Later in a field Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe are sitting on four horses under a tree with a noose around their necks. The witch hunters are there watching.
"Tell me this isn't happening." Piper says.
"What a way to die, 300 years before I'm born." Buffy says. "Well I always knew being a Slayer meant an early death."
Micah rides up next to Prue. "Hang witch. Hyah!" The horses run out from underneath them and they are hung. "Onward."
The witch hunters quickly ride away.
A few minutes later Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe are still hanging there.
Micah rides back, looks around and cuts the rope with his knife. They fall to the ground and groan in pain. "My apologies." He cuts the ropes around their hands. "A trick I learned from the French. Run the noose line to the waist."
Phoebe nods, "Yeah, well, it's a really good thing the other guards didn't see you do that."
They stand up.
"Wait a minute, I don't understand. How did you know you could trust him?" Buffy asks.
Prue smiles, "By the look in his eyes."
"Oh." Piper says.
Phoebe nods, "Uh huh."
"So that would be," Prue says as she removes his mask, "the second time that you've saved our necks."
Micah nods, "And what beautiful necks they are." He kisses Prue's hand. "I'm Micah."
Prue smiles, "I'm charmed."
Buffy rolls her eyes, "Prue. I hate to bust up the balcony scene, Romeo, but why do you keep saving us and why are you running with the witch hunters?"
Micah smiles, "So I can undo their work whenever possible. I've seen what dark magic can do. If you're fighting that, I'm on your side. And I should get back before anyone gets suspicious."
Prue kisses Micah on the cheek. "Thank you."
Micah nods, "Another time." He rides off.
"Who was that masked man?" Prue asks.
"Okay, you finally found a real man. Too bad he lives in Colonial Virginia, Prue." Phoebe says.
Piper nods, "We need to get out of here. Pay attention."
"Okay, any idea how we're going to save the baby?" Buffy asks.
Piper smiles, "Well, they think we're dead now. They certainly aren't expecting us."
"I mean, besides you guys, we're witches and it's All Hallows Eve, so..." Prue says.
Buffy nods, "Alright, glow elsewhere."
Prue smiles, "Alright."
Later back outside the village Buffy, Piper and Phoebe are near a bush.
Prue walks up to them. "I don't see Ruth or the guards."
Buffy shakes her head, "My spidey senses are going off so much I can't tell what's what."
Prue nods, "What time is it?"
Piper gets her watch out of her pocket. "It's-it's 6:00. And we're running our of time and magic."
"Well, it doesn't change what we have to do." Prue says.
"How are we gonna get past the talismans?" Phoebe asks.
"Do you remember what Eva said?" Buffy asks.
Phoebe nods, "The powerless frauds part?"
Buffy shakes her head, "No, the magic is all around us. Well, it's time we learned how to access that." She picks up a broom and hands it to Phoebe. "Just sweep away evil."
"What? No funny hat?" Phoebe asks.
Piper picks the flowers off a lavender bush. "Lavender. Didn't she say that was a protection herb?"
Prue picks some wheat and starts making a doll. "And the wisdom of the women before us will guide us again. What about you Buffy?"
Buffy smiles, "I got all the magic I can handle even without powers. I'm the Slayer." She looks to Phoebe. "Okay, get sweeping."
"Ugh..." Phoebe says. They walk near the house. "Okay, which way is east?"
"Uh, that way." Piper says and she points to east.
Phoebe sweeps east to west and the broom lets off some sparks. The broomstick glows. "Whoa, did you see that?"
Prue nods, "Yeah, keep going."
Phoebe continues to sweep and the talismans glow and falls off the trees. "It's working."
"Alright, good." Buffy says.
Near by, some witch hunters grab Micah.
"Micah." Prue says as she starts to walk towards him.
"Prue, you can't." Phoebe says.
"They found him out." Prue says.
Buffy nods, "We have to get to Charlotte. What would he want you to do?"
Buffy, Prue and Piper go inside the house. They walk over to Charlotte.
"Hi." Piper says.
Charlotte frowns, "Who are you?"
"Eva sent us. Charlotte, we're here to take you back." Prue says.
"You're lying. I-I don't believe..." Charlotte says before she yells in pain.
"Oh, okay, okay, uh, uh, how does Lamaze breathing go?" Prue says.
Buffy shrugs, "No idea."
Piper shakes her head, "Uh..." She breathes like they do in Lamaze class.
Prue nods, "Oh, that's it."
Charlotte yells in pain.
Piper nods, "Okay, okay, okay, um, try this. We can do this." She presses a spot on Charlotte's back with her fingers.
"How are you making the pain go away?" Charlotte asks.
Piper smiles, "Uh, uh, good magic. Just keep breathing."
Prue frowns, "Good magic?"
"Acupressure." Piper says. "Buffy I think it will be quicker and easier if you carry her."
Buffy nods, "Good idea. Alright, uh, we need to get you out of here. Come on, honey, it's okay. She starts to lift Charlotte when Charlotte yells in pain, her water just broke. "Oh, oh, her water just broke."
"I see that." Piper says.
A few moments later at the witch's altar. Buffy carries Charlotte. Prue and Piper walk beside her.
"The altar." Phoebe says.
"Okay, just a little while longer, we're almost there." Piper says.
Charlotte shakes her head, "I can't."
Buffy smiles, "Yes, you..."
"I'm sorry." Charlotte says.
"You can do this." Prue says.
Charlotte shakes her head, "No!"
"Charlotte." Prue says.
"The baby's coming now!" Charlotte says.
Buffy nods, "This is good enough." She set Charlotte on the ground.
"Oh god." Prue says.
A couple hours later Charlotte's laying on the ground with a blanket over her.
"Um, it's almost 11:00. Do you think they gave up on us?" Piper says.
"Uh..." Phoebe says as she sees the fire from the witch hunter's torches in the distance. "No, I don't think so."
"Alright, what do we have?" Prue says.
Piper frowns, "We've got big problems, a little time and a little magic."
Prue nods, "Alright, didn't Eva say something about, uh, Charlotte giving birth in a protective circle?"
Buffy nods, "Can we make one of those?"
"I don't know, we've got lavender and uh..." Piper says.
"Isn't rosemary supposed to be good for protection?" Phoebe asks.
Prue nods, "Right, and apples and laurel leaves block the path of evil."
"Right." Phoebe says.
"Put it all together, it may just work." Prue says.
Charlotte screams in pain.
"Who's gonna deliver the baby?" Piper asks.
"I will," Buffy says. "Piper why don't you hold her hand try and keep her calm while Prue and Pheebes works on the protection circle."
Buffy and Piper walks over to Charlotte.
"Alright, if ever there was a time that we were going to connect it needs to be now. So, Phoebe, form a circle, I'll work on the apples." Prue says.
Phoebe throws things around them in a large circle.
Buffy smiles, "Okay Charlotte, you're gonna have to try and be kinda quiet. Okay, I know, I'm sorry, okay, um, don't worry everything's under control." She lifts up the blanket. "Oh my god, I see it, I see it."
Piper holds Charlotte's hand. "Easy breaths in and out."
Phoebe runs over to them. "Really?"
"Phoebe, the circle." Prue says.
Phoebe nods, "The circle." She gets back to the circle.
"Okay, um, just, just try not to push. Okay, uh, this baby is coming!" Buffy says.
"Yeah, well, so are they." Prue says.
Piper nods, "Okay, we can do this. Yes, we can do this."
Buffy rolls her eyes, "Your not going to faint on me Piper?"
Phoebe nods, "We have to do this."
Piper simply smiles.
Phoebe goes back over to Prue.
"Alright, here." Prue says as she hands Phoebe an apple. "Knowledge and reverence." They face each other.
"Knowledge and reverence, knowledge and reverence, knowledge and reverence, knowledge and reverence." Phoebe and Prue says.
The witch hunters get closer.
"Here they come." Phoebe says.
"Prue." Buffy says.
Prue nods, "Alright, put it all together, it's gonna work."
They throw the apples in different directions. A protective circle forms around them. One witch hunter hits it like he's hit a wall.
"How cool is that? It actually worked." Phoebe says as the witch hunters fire their guns at them. "Or not!"
Buffy ducks her head, "It doesn't stop bullets."
"We are running out of ammo." Prue says.
"Prue, it's not like an apple's gonna stop them anyway." Phoebe says.
The witch hunters continue shooting.
Buffy smiles, "It's a girl!" She wraps the baby in a blanket.
"Buffy, Piper, get Charlotte and the baby outta here." Prue says.
"Huh?" Piper and Buffy says.
"Okay, I think I have an idea of what might really scare them." Phoebe says as she puts on a witches hat and grabs a broom.
"What are you gonna do?" Piper asks.
Phoebe smiles, "I'm going to embrace the cliché." She sweeps east to west and then sits on the broom. The broom rises up into the air.
"There's something you don't see everyday." Piper says.
Buffy nods, "I think we now know where the scary witch stereotype comes from."
Phoebe flies over the witch hunters and cackles. They quickly run off. Phoebe giggles.
Buffy, Prue and Piper watch Phoebe fly over the moon.
Later in the cave Eva is holding the baby. She walks over to Charlotte and hands her back to her.
"Blessed be." Eva says to Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Buffy.
Buffy smiles, "Blessed be."
Prue nods, "Isn't the future beautiful?"
"It is, thanks to you. You found the power." Eva says.
"You showed us where to look." Phoebe says.
Prue nods, "Like Buffy said, we know where all that flying hag stuff started. You only have yourself to blame, right Pheebs?"
Phoebe smiles, "I know it and I love it. Now if I can just figure out how to take it back with me. Hey, what are "they" waiting for? Why haven't they sent us home yet?"
Prue shrugs, "Maybe we haven't learned everything that we're supposed to yet."
Piper looks at her watch. "Well, it's almost midnight, so if we're gonna learn anything more we'd better hurry."
Charlotte smiles, "I promise my daughter will know of you. Of the four powerful witches who came to bring her into this world. And we'll always be grateful, won't we Melinda?"
"Melinda?" Buffy asks.
Charlotte nods, "Yes, Melinda. Melinda Warren."
"Oh." Buffy says.
"What is it?" Charlotte asks.
"I uh... I think we're related." Buffy says. "Our great great great something other grandmother was named Melinda Warren."
Charlotte nods, "Then the future is indeed beautiful. May I ask your name. Everyone called you Buffy."
Buffy smiles, "I was born Buffy Anne. But I don't go by that name anymore. The only people that still call me Buffy are my friends and family. I changed my name to what my mom wanted to name me… Payson Patricia."
Charlotte nods, "Then for your help in delivering my daughter into this world I name her Melinda Payson Warren."
"Wow, thanks." Buffy says.
Prue nods, "It looks like we know how the family tradition of P names got started. You only have yourself to blame, Buffy."
Buffy smiles, "Guess so and like Phoebe said I love it."
The vortex opens and the girls get sucked into it.
Back in the year 2000 the vortex opens in the Manor. The Grimlocks are waiting.
"I told you they'd come." Grimlock #1 says.
Leo orbs in behind them. "Hey." He splashes the potion on Grimlock #1 and he disappears. Grimlock #2 starts strangling him. He drops the potion.
Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe come out of the vortex.
"Hey, haven't we vanquished you somewhere before?" Prue says and she uses her power and flicks the puddle onto the Grimlock. He disappears.
Piper runs over to Leo.
"Are you guys alright?" Leo asks.
Piper helps him up. "Are we alright? Are you alright?"
Leo smiles, "It's been a long day."
"Yeah, tell us about it." Phoebe says.
Buffy smiles, "Yeah I got to deliver a baby and have it named after me."
Darryl stumbles down the stairs.
"Darryl?" Prue asks.
"Prue?" Darryl asks.
"I got it." Leo says as he walks over to Darryl. "Open your eyes." Darryl opens his eyes and Leo restores his sight. "Happy Halloween."
Later at Payson's Snake River Conspiracy is playing. Buffy, Prue, Piper and Leo are standing at the bar.
Phoebe, holding a pumpkin, walks past a guy holding a broom. "Use that broom with reverence." She walks up to Buffy, Piper, Prue and Leo. "Hey, Halloween is now officially my favourite holiday." She puts the pumpkin on the bar.
Piper smiles, "Who knew?"
"We didn't, but we should have. So much knowledge, so much power that we lost. But we'll get it back." Phoebe says.
Prue nods, "Okay, well, one crash course at a time."
"Yeah, it's too bad Darryl didn't feel up to celebrating with us." Buffy says.
Leo nods, "He saw a lot today. I think he needs some time to sort it all out."
"Yeah, well, so do we. I mean, it's bad enough that the triad wants us dead, but to send someone back to wipe out our whole line. Do your bosses have any clue who it is?" Prue says.
Leo shakes his head, "None that they're sharing."
"I think it was that guy who was hitting on Phoebe at the party." Buffy says.
"Hang on, not every guy I meet wants to kill me. Maybe he just liked me." Phoebe says.
Leo nods, "Well, you saved Melinda. That's all that matters."
Buffy smiles, "And I helped to deliver our great, great, great, great, whatever, great grandmother. She even was named after me."
Leo frowns, "What do you mean?"
Buffy smiles, "Charlotte said she was going to name her Melinda Payson. In honor of me since I helped bring her into the world. You know I feel a little pride, not only am I named after our great grandmother but also after the woman who started our whole family line."
Phoebe nods, "Too bad we couldn't save her from moving from Virginia to Salem. That would've been nice."
"Yeah, well, you can't change history for better or worse." Prue says.
A guy that looks like Micah walks up to Prue. "Excuse me. Hi."
"Micah?" Prue asks.
The guy shakes his head, "Mitch, actually. Forgive my directness but I've been watching you from across the room. Have we met?"
Prue smiles, "You know, that's funny, I was gonna ask you the same thing. Um..." She looks at Phoebe and Buffy and she and Mitch walk away.
Phoebe laughs as Cole walks down the stairs dressed as an angel. "Oh... my turn." She walks over to him.
Buffy smiles as she looks at the sign on the wall: PAYSON'S.