Author's Note (July 17, 2016): When we come to the soul swap. It will be like the following. Body/Mind.
Chapter 5: Enter the Demon Part 1
October 19, 2001 – Friday
Halliwell Manor
Phoebe watched as Buffy and Cole sparred, throwing punches and kicks at one another. To her eye it looked somewhat like a dance. He kicked out and Buffy caught his leg throwing him up into the air. "When you see your opponent expand, you contract" Cole told Phoebe with a quick glance her way. "If your opponent contracts, you expand."
Cole and Buffy began to fight again. Cole flipped Buffy on the ground and then straddled her while she smirked. "If you wanted to be on top, all you had to do was ask," Buffy said teasingly. She glanced toward Phoebe. "I've kind of always found conversation with your opponent can keep them off balance. It doesn't always work of course, some just aren't very talkative. That's generally when you switch tactics."
A laugh suddenly came from the stairs as Phoebe, Buffy and Cole looked over to see Paige sitting there.
Phoebe gawked for a second. "Uh, P-Paige." She moved beside her boyfriend and mother. She tapped Cole on the shoulder. He nodded as he got off Buffy before helping the blonde Slayer to her feet. "What are you doing down here? Shouldn't you be upstairs studying for Piper's quiz?" she asked with a tone that said you should be.
"Well, I was kind of hoping to go a couple rounds with mom or the demon first," Paige replied only half joking.
"I should tell you, Piper takes her witchcraft quizzes very seriously, you better be prepared," Phoebe informed Paige knowingly.
"She's really that bad?" Buffy asked.
"Uh, mom," Phoebe said as she glanced at Buffy. "Piper's a cook, so yeah. Prue was more like you, well the you in this lifetime." She turned her attention back to Paige. "So, what's the subject?"
"Potion basics," Paige replied with a grimace.
"Eww." Phoebe grimaced too, sympathizing with her younger sister.
Buffy sighed as she looked between her two youngest daughter. "Potions basics are a good place to start," she said. "If I had lived and hadn't made that stupid pact with Nicholas that would up having mom bind your powers. I would have started with potion basics in training you girls."
"Mom," Phoebe sighed, she was too happy having her mother back in her life to be reminded that Patty had died and that Buffy was technically a different person with her mother's memories and powers.
"I know. It's just all book learning," Paige huffed.
"Paige, Piper and I had to learn how to be witches the hard way and it took…" she paused remembering what it had cost them. It wasn't the first time since Piper had learned that Prue had been reincarnated that she wondered where her sister was in the world. "Well, it took too long. We need you to get there faster. Our lives might depend on it."
"Even though Dawn and I have powers," Buffy said. "If a power of three demon were to come after you girls even Dawn and I wouldn't be able to do much more than help defend. You need to master your powers and learn to do witchcraft quickly. Or I might lose more of my girls."
"Appealing to my conscious. Such a low blow," Paige mused then stood abruptly. She of course loved her mother and one thing she didn't want to see happen is for Buffy to have to bury anymore of her children. "I just want to know when the fun stuff starts." She then turned and started climbing the stairs. "Hey," she said turning back around again, looking slightly confused. "Mom, I'm wondering why aren't you the one doing this test thing instead of Piper?"
"Because," Buffy said. "I'm training Dawn. The only reason I am not giving her the test right now is because I needed to release some excess Slayer energy. Cole just decided to turn it into a training lesson for Phoebe."
Paige inhaled deeply and nodded. "Right." Then she disappeared up the stairs.
"You up for some more, Buffy?" Cole asked.
"Nah," Buffy said as she smiled at Cole. "Maybe later. Right now I better go check on how Dawn is doing with her potions quiz." She turned to follow Paige. Then she looked over her shoulder and winked at Phoebe. "Phoebe, why don't you work out with Cole while I'm gone."
Phoebe nodded as she watched her mother head up the stairs. When Buffy was out of sight she smirked, turned around slowly asking, "So where were we?" She raised her eyebrows suggestively.
Cole raised his own eyebrows but for a very different reason. "Training," he replied simply.
Phoebe groaned loudly and fell against him. "Come on Cole. You were gone for a whole week," she reminded him placing her hands on his chest and running them up and down. "That is seven long, lonely nights." While she knew that Buffy was telling the truth about checking on Dawn. She also knew that with the wink that Buffy had intended to leave them alone so they could have some couple time.
Cole smiled at her, grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands from his chest. "I was on a fact finding mission," he answered completely business like. "We can't ignore what I learned."
Phoebe glared. "Yeah I know. The Source wants us dead," she replied tersely.
"No you don't know. He needs you dead," Cole corrected her frustratedly and Phoebe sighed. "Ever since we escaped, factions have been forming to challenge him. He must finish what he started if he expects to survive." Phoebe dropped her head in defeat. "Which means that you need to be prepared," he concluded then walked to one of the walls and lifted down a sword.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy walked through the basement door into the kitchen to find Piper sitting directly across from Dawn and Paige at the kitchen table, potion vials and bottles filled with ingredients cluttered the table space.
"Okay, after mixing your potion, what's the best method to preserve unused sea slugs for future use?" Piper asked, glasses on and red marker pen in hand. "A: pickle them. B: sugar them. C: smoke them. D: freeze dry them."
Paige pondered the idea while sucking on a lollipop. "Well, now you see if I had extra sea slugs, I'd let those little suckers go right on back into the ocean," she replied in all seriousness.
Dawn glanced toward Buffy and she hesitated in answering knowing that if she answered wrong Buffy would likely admonish her for getting it wrong. She looked back at Piper. "Pickle them." She shrugged. "Don't you use them in a salad, Piper?"
Buffy sighed. "Dawn," she said with a shake of her head. "The answer is freeze dry them."
Piper stared utterly unamused at her sister and aunt. "Mom's right." She looked at Dawn. "Though, Aunt Dawn, I think my teaching you to cook at the same time mom is teaching you potions was a mistake."
"Oh come on, Piper," Dawn sighed.
"I was going to guess that." Paige defended pointing her lollipop at Piper.
"Did you guess too, Dawn?" Buffy asked. "Or did you truly get your cooking lessons mixed up with your potions lessons?"
"I guessed," Dawn said sheepishly.
"Why are you two guessing at all?" Piper asked looking at her sister and aunt.
"To pass," Paige suggested unsure of how to answer, or more specifically, the answer Piper or Buffy wanted her to give.
Buffy shook her head as she sat at the table. "Paige, Dawn, this isn't like trig, you know. It's not like you're never going to use it again," she informed her sister and daughter, both of whom looked down slightly ashamed, feeling a lecture coming. "If you blow a potion, innocent people could die."
"I know, I know," Dawn said with a sigh. "I'm sorry, Buffy. I had to choose between school work and this, remember even though I'm a witch, I am still in school."
Buffy sighed as Piper looked at her. "She has a point. After mom died, Dawn's grades started dropping. The school threatened to get social services involved if Dawn's grades didn't improve. They even said if I couldn't make Dawn study, that I would be found unfit to be Dawn's legal guardian. School in this instance for her takes priority. It's why I don't do any training till after dinner and even then only if her homework is done."
"Okay," Piper said. She then looked at Paige. "And why did you not study for this test?"
Paige bit her lip. "Well, I started too last night. It's just a friend from work came over and she knew this bouncer at this club and…I'm sorry," she apologized sincerely.
Piper looked back at Buffy and sighed before looking back at Paige. "It's okay. I was single…once." She stared off into the distance then turned back to Paige. "Why don't you study tonight...?"
"You too, Dawn. It is after all Friday," Buffy said.
"Okay, Buffy," Dawn agreed.
"I can't," Paige interrupted quickly. "I have a guy coming over here, and we're going out."
Piper and Buffy blinked rapidly in confusion. "Here? What's wrong with your place?" Piper asked.
"Uh…this place is slightly more impressive than mine," Paige replied like it was the most obvious reason in the world.
"Uh-huh," Piper sighed. "Look, Paige, I really, really want to be the cool big sister, but this is ridiculous. You have no priorities."
"There have been plenty of times I've left work to fight demons," Paige said jumping to her own defense. "That's why I have to go out tonight. The boss' son is in town for the weekend."
Piper smirked. "And you think showing him a good time is going to improve your career standing?"
"Well, yeah." Paige smiled and popped the lollipop back into her mouth.
Piper nodded very slowly. "Okay, listen to me very carefully. There is nothing more important than learning your craft right now. We could be attacked at any moment."
"Something I reminded Paige when she was watching me and Cole spar," Buffy said. She looked at her youngest daughter. "If a power of three demon attacked right this instance would you be ready?"
Paige nodded then backed up to what she had said right before that. "Then why am I stuck here reading? I should be learning how to body slam sweaty demons like you and Phoebe, Mom."
Buffy sighed. "First of all. I'm a Slayer, remember? I need to train. Second Phoebe has been at this a lot longer than you have, and with the fact her technically only active power is levitation. She has had to rely on other things to make up for that deficiency which included learning martial arts."
"Also," Piper said as she looked at Buffy pointedly, "be patient and study hard and knowing this family one day you will get a big sweaty demon, or a souled vampire, of your own."
Dawn laughed at Piper's jab at her sister.
"Dawn," Buffy said shaking her head. She turned her attention to Piper. "You're not going to let me forget about Angel are you?"
Piper shook her head. "No I'm not, mom," she admitted. "It's kind of leverage anytime you think of mentioning Phoebe shouldn't be dating a demon when you basically did the same thing." She rose and headed toward the backdoor.
"Where are you going?" Paige asked.
"Chinatown. I need to stock up on some of these herbs." Piper answered as she nodded toward the table. She picked up an umbrella and her car keys. "Mom, you want to come with me?"
Buffy shrugged. "Sure. Why not."
"Ooh, can I go? I can get my nails done. " Paige asked.
"No," Buffy said. "Both of you should work on your potions."
"Come on!" Dawn said with a sigh. "Paige messes up and I get punished?"
"It is not punishment, Dawn," Buffy said. "You are the one that wanted to learn to control your powers and in turn to help me, Piper, Phoebe and Paige."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Phoebe and Cole were sword fighting intensely until Phoebe stumbled backwards onto the stairs. "Ow…I think it's twisted," she said grabbing her ankle.
"Stand up," Cole commanded.
"I just need a time-out," Phoebe insisted.
"The Source won't give you a time-out when you ask now get up!" he commanded again more harshly.
"I said that I can't!" Phoebe snapped tiredly. "Jeez Cole, what's the matter with you?"
"Demons worship strength, power, nothing else," Cole told her coldly. "To beat the Source you have to channel all your energy into your strength, including pain."
Phoebe glared at the floor, braced herself on the banister then pushed herself to her feet. "AH!" she cried out but kept her balance.
Cole lurched forward and grabbed her arm to steady her.
"Let go of me I can do it!" Phoebe snapped instantly.
"I don't want anything to happen to you," Cole whispered huskily.
Phoebe dropped her head against his chest breathing hard then pushed him away, raising her sword and resting the tip against him. She limped forward driving him back. "Let's go. I'm ready."
Cole knocked her sword out the way and they continued.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Paige and Dawn worked together on a potion. Or rather Paige was working on the potion and Dawn was reading over a book that Buffy had gotten her on chemistry. Dawn assumed that Buffy had gotten a book on chemistry because it was the closest thing to potions that could be considered truthful.
"Next up, some powered toadstool." Paige said with enthusiasm thinking that she might as well enjoy herself. "BAM!" she cried throwing it in an ingredient. "Let's kick it up one more notch!" she said loudly.
"Whoa! What are you two doing?" Leo asked warily as he walked into the kitchen.
"We're supposed to be mixing potions," Dawn said. "I'm reading up on chemistry, since it's the closest thing to actual potions making there is, Paige decided not to wait on me."
"I don't know why, Piper and mom want us mixing potions," Paige snapped. "Phoebe and mom get to fight. Phoebe herself gets to levitate. We—we get to cook."
"Well, you know Piper, Phoebe and even Buffy's active powers took a long time to develop," Leo explained as he headed for the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water.
"Mom is still learning about …" Paige argued.
"She has Patty's memories," Leo said. "Which means she knows everything she did in her previous life. And those powers developed back then. Anyways Phoebe's been studying martial arts for years. And Buffy is the Slayer, with instinctual knowledge on how to fight."
"Yeah, but we're magic," Paige stressed. "We should be able to skip over all that crap."
Dawn sighed. "Believe me when I say that there are no shortcuts, even with magic. I watched Willow go down that route, and in the end it could have cost her."
"Dawn is right," Leo pointed out. "Anyways, you're half Whitelighter which means you're half pacifist. You may never develop the power to fight like Phoebe or Buffy. And, uh, you might want to check your potion." He gestured at the pot. "It's bubbling over." He then turned and walked back out of the kitchen.
Paige looked down and sighed. " Just once, I'd like to know what it's like to be Phoebe or mom and be able to kick some serious ass," she muttered then lifted her next ingredient once again and.
"No!" Dawn yelled realizing Paige's mistake instantly. Paige had the wrong ingredient. She ran towards Paige just as Paige dropped the ingredient into the pot.
It exploded and smoke wafted up in Dawn and Paige's faces. They moaned softly and slipped to the floor, their bodies glowing.
While at the same time Phoebe hit the floor in the basement, her body glowing too as a white essence entered her and another left entering Dawn upstairs as yet another left Dawn and entered Paige..
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Phoebe/Paige frowned as she pushed herself up and shook her head looking around. "How did I get down here?" she asked confused.
"Never drop your guard," Cole advised from above holding out her sword.
Phoebe/Paige's eyes widened and she crawled away from him and hid behind a punch bag.
Cole frowned. "What is wrong with you Phoebe?"
"What did you just call me?" Phoebe/Paige asked.
"You really took a shot if you can't remember your name," Cole mused looking concerned.
Phoebe/Paige looked down at herself and gasped. "Oh, no. I am so screwed," she said grabbing her hair, "And so frosted," she added in disgust as she examined the ends of her hair.
"Are you okay?" Cole asked looking increasingly concerned.
"No." Phoebe replied quickly then looked at him sharply. "I mean….yes." She smiled. "Just, wait here," she instructed.
"I told you, no unscheduled breaks during training," Cole called after her.
"I am training," Phoebe/Paige replied. "I'm doing stairs." She ran up the stairs and into the kitchen. "Oh, I don't look so good," she said as she looked down at Paige/Dawn.
Dawn/Phoebe groaned as she pulled herself to her feet. "What's going on?" she asked then gasped upon seeing Phoebe/Paige.
"Uh, it's okay, Aunt Dawn," Phoebe/Paige said.
"I'm, Phoebe," Dawn/Phoebe said. "Who are you?"
Paige/Dawn groaned as she sat up and looked around. "That is a good question." She said as she looked first at Dawn/Phoebe before looking at Phoebe/Paige. "You are so busted if you are who you think you are."
"Aunt Dawn?" Phoebe/Paige asked as Paige/Dawn nodded. "Oh, boy. Okay it's me, Paige. It looks like all three of us switched bodies."
"What?" Dawn/Phoebe asked. "What did you two do?"
"It was Paige," Paige/Dawn explained. "I noticed that the last ingredient was the wrong one. And when she dropped it in, the potion exploded."
"It was an accident," Phoebe/Paige admitted. "I swear. I just wanted to know what it was like to be you or mom and somehow the potion I was working on just sort of blew up."
"If you wanted to be Phoebe or Buffy," Paige/Dawn said. "Why am I stuck in your body?"
Phoebe/Paige shrugged. "I don't know."
. "Okay. We gotta fix this," Dawn/Phoebe said calmly. She looked at Paige/Dawn. "What ingredients did she use?"
Paige/Dawn moved to the Book. "It was this one," she said as Dawn/Phoebe looked over her shoulder.
"And what was the incorrect ingredient?" Dawn/Phoebe asked.
"Uh …" Paige/Dawn said. "I'm not sure. I just noticed it was the wrong one. To tell the truth I wasn't paying complete attention." She motioned toward the chemistry book. "I was reading that chemistry book that Buffy got me."
Dawn/Phoebe looked toward Paige. "Do you remember which ingredient you used?"
"I'm not sure," Phoebe/Paige replied as both Paige/Dawn and Dawn/Phoebe glared at her hard. "Just please don't tell Piper or mom," she begged. "She already thinks I'm a screw up as it is. And mom is going to be disappointed in me."
"Hello! Paige!" Dawn/Phoebe exclaimed, "The three of us are in each other's bodies. I think Piper and mom are the least of our problems."
Phoebe/Paige sighed and jutted out her bottom lip.
"Okay fine!" Dawn/Phoebe relented with a roll of her eyes. "I won't tell them."
Paige/Dawn sighed as she looked between the other two women. She reluctantly nodded her agreement. "I won't either."
"So…" Cole's voice flowed into the room as he climbed the stairs. "Ready to get back at it?" he asked.
"Yeah just a minute sweetie—" Dawn/Phoebe replied out of habit, eyes widening.
"Not you, Dawn, Phoebe." Cole dismissed as he approached his Phoebe/Paige.
"Uh….sure, sugar," Phoebe/Paige replied uncertainly. "Whatever you say. Let's go work up a sweat."
Dawn/Phoebe stepped out in front of them. "Ah just a minute." And grabbed Phoebe/Paige's shoulders, "Actually, Phoebe has to stay with me and Aun…Paige. She has to help us uh…..with the potion. It blew up in our faces."
Cole frowned, "Is that true?" he asked Phoebe/Paige who nodded with a small shrug.
Cole furrowed his brow. "Well, so let me ask you something, Phoebe. Um…why did you ask me to train you?" He looked at Phoebe/Paige expectantly. "Why are we wasting our time?"
Dawn/Phoebe shook her head, "You're not wasting your time Cole," she assured him quickly. "Phoebe told me how much she's learning," she tried to convince him.
Cole held up his hand to silence her. "I'm sorry, Dawn. This is between me and Phoebe. If it's more important for you to help out in the kitchen, than to, train for the Source then, you don't have what it takes to vanquish him," he all but growled. "When you are ready to resume training, let me know." He then shimmered out.
"If we don't fix this soon." Dawn/Phoebe pulled on her hair. "I am going to perm your hair." She threatened and Paige/Dawn's eyes widened.
"Hey it wasn't my fault!" Paige/Dawn said. "So if you perm my hair for Paige's accident. Then I will make sure Paige does something horrible to yours."
Chinatown
"Please, just listen to me. You have no idea how important this is to me."
Piper frowned as she and Buffy entered her favorite Chinese herb store, they walked around slowly, trying not to ease drop on the very loud conversation going on at the counter.
"Please, just listen to me," the woman said. "You have no idea how important this is to me."
"Come back later," the store clerk advised.
"If I could come back later I would but I can't. I need it now," the young woman responded,.
Piper pulled her list from her coat pocket as she and Buffy walked past the bickering pair.
"That dagger is a family heirloom," the clerk replied pointing behind him to the beautifully carved dagger on the wall. "It's not for sale."
"Excuse me?" Piper called, interrupting them. "Do you have any wormwood?"
The clerk nodded and turned to help Piper and Buffy when the young woman got his attention again. "You don't understand," she insisted. "I don't want to buy it. It's all right here in the note." She gestured to the parchment in her hand.
The clerk leaned forward and shook his head. "I don't read Chinese."
Piper sighed as she looked at her mother before interrupting the bickering pair again. "Uh…wormwood?"
"You have to help me," the young woman said distracting him again. "My father needs the Dragonblade. He said your father—"
"My father's out of town till Tuesday," the clerk cut her off, beginning to sound a little frustrated. "You'll have to come back then. Excuse me, I have costumers," he said turning to Piper and Buffy.
"Yes," Piper said sounding relieved and slid up to the counter. "Thank you. Hi. We need a sprig of wormwood, preferably small stemmed."
The young woman rolled her eyes, glanced between the clerk and the dagger before jumping onto the counter then up onto the wall, grabbing the Dragonblade. She fell back onto the counter in front of Buffy and Piper. She rose into the air and flew over the mother and daughter duo.
Buffy instinctively froze everyone in the store with the exception of herself, Piper and the young woman. "She didn't freeze," she said to Piper in clear surprise. They watched as the young woman flew through the window and disappeared down the street.
Buffy and Piper turned towards the broken window looking extremely confused then raced after the young woman.
"HEY!" Piper yelled as she and Buffy came up behind the young woman, who kept on walking. She threw out her left hand and flicked her wrist, blowing up the crate of vegetables in front of the young woman.
The young woman jumped in surprise and turned to Piper and Buffy. "Who are you two?" she asked.
"An'ling," called a man who appeared in front of them, stopping next to a puddle of rain water.
An'ling turned to him. "I have it Father," she answered walking towards him.
At that moment another man rose up from the puddle of water and stabbed her father in the back.
"NOOOO!" An'ling screamed.
"Like I said…" the newcomer smirked holding onto her father tightly. "…we're just getting started." Then they both disappeared back into the water.
"FATHER!" An'ling yelled but it was too late, they were gone.
Buffy and Piper stood there, dumbfounded by what had just happened until An'ling started running and they took off after her.
Halliwell Manor
"Yenlo was a powerful disciple but he used my father's teachings for evil." An'ling informed Piper, Buffy and Leo. The four of them sat in the living room around the coffee table. "That's why my father passed him over for master. And because he did, Yenlo swore vengeance on him."
"But didn't you say you stabbed Yenlo, when he first attacked?" Leo questioned from the other side of the table.
"Yes." An'ling answered, "But he used his knowledge of the teachings to escape before he died."
"Escape where?" Piper asked from beside her.
An'ling turned to Piper. "To a place where souls pass on their way to reincarnation," she replied. "It's a mystical region between life and death."
Piper looked to Buffy and Leo for an explanation. "Limbo," they answered simply.
"It's where the Elders and the Angel of Destiny gave me my choice," Buffy explained. "I wasn't in heaven yet, I was still in Limbo."
"Yenlo somehow figured out a way to hide out there." An'ling continued.
Piper still looked slightly puzzled. "But….if you stabbed him?..."
"Metaphysical and magical laws are amplified in limbo," Buffy jumped in with an explanation. "As long as he stays there, his wound will never advance. He can literally cheat death forever."
"That's why I took the Dragonblade. It has the power to trap human souls," An'ling justified her actions. "Now it's the only way to save my father," she added sadly.
Piper sighed and picked up the Dragonblade to examine it. "You think he's still alive?"
An'ling looked at Piper. "Yenlo doesn't just want to kill my father, he wants to punish him," she informed them, hatred evident in her voice. "Holding him in limbo does that, it keeps his soul from being reborn," she elaborated.
Piper placed the Dragonblade back down on the table and asked, "Do you know, how to get to this limbo?"
An'ling looked down, slightly ashamed. "No." She shook her head. "I never mastered that skill."
"Well, then, we'll have to figure out our own way," Buffy said with a kind smile. "DAWN! PHOEBE! PAIGE!"
An'ling shook her head. "I can't let you do that. I know you're powerful witches, but I can't put you in danger."
"All the more reason you should be here, where it's safe." Piper countered not willing to take 'no' for an answer.
"No place is safe from Yenlo. He can use any surface of water as a portal." An'ling protested.
"Maybe, but he can only stay in our world for short periods." Leo chimed in. "Otherwise his wound will ultimately kill him."
Phoebe/Paige, Paige/Dawn and Dawn/Phoebe entered from the kitchen and stood awkwardly. "Um….you called, Maaa … Buffy?" Dawn/Phoebe asked.
"This…" Buffy said as she rose to her feet, "…is An'ling." An'ling turned to them and smiled.
Phoebe/Paige smiled widely at An'ling, "Hi. I'm Paige—" and froze, while Paige/Dawn and Dawn/Phoebe stiffened beside her. Piper, Leo and Buffy turned to her frowning. Her eyes widened, "I mean, Paige's older sister, Phoebe." She corrected with a smile, "This is Paige." She gestured to Paige/Dawn beside her.
"Howdy. Hi. Paige here," Paige/Dawn replied with a forced smile. An'ling smiled in amusement at the Paige/Phoebe and Paige/Dawn's behavior.
"I'm Dawn," Dawn/Phoebe added noticing Piper and Buffy's frown's deepen. "I'm Buffy's young sister."
"Um….okay." Piper shook herself, "We've got a water-loving demon, so Phoebe, can you take Aunt Dawn to the water main. It takes two to turn off that rusty valve," she asked as Phoebe/Paige, Paige/Dawn and Dawn/Phoebe looked instantly panicked.
Phoebe/Paige narrowed her eye., "Water main," she repeated. "Right." And turned left and right uncertainly then walked in the completely opposite direction. Dawn/Phoebe laughed nervously and grabbed her shoulders, directing her the right way.
Piper's frown returned while Buffy eyed her sister and daughters suspiciously.
"Why did you call her Aunt?" An-Ling wondered.
"It's complicated," Buffy said. "In my previous life, I was Piper, Phoebe and Paige's mother, I even have my memories from that lifetime. They call me mom because of the that. And since Dawn is my sister, she is affectionately referred to as aunt by the girls, even if she isn't biologically."
"Oh," An'ling said slightly confused.
"Okay, Book of Shadows," Piper said with a nod. "There's got to be another way to get into limbo."
"Paige, go get the phone number for my house in Sunnydale from Dawn. Then I need you to call Willow for me," Buffy said. "See if she can find anything in the books Giles left behind about getting to Limbo."
"Okay, Bu … Mom," Paige/Dawn said as she headed for the kitchen.
Leo walked after Piper and An'ling, in the direction of the stairs. Buffy remained in her spot staring after her sister and daughters.
"MOM!" Piper yelled over her shoulder. Buffy eyed the empty room one more time before heading after them. "Oh, Mom," she said when Buffy had caught up to them, "be careful around water."
Buffy sighed resignedly. "Those things you won't let me forget keep adding up don't they?" she asked. "And that one is not a pleasant memory either."
"Sorry, Mom," Piper said apologetically.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Phoebe/Paige and Dawn/Phoebe struggled with the water main which was located in the basement. "You almost got us busted," Dawn/Phoebe snapped. "Next time, smile and nod when we're together."
"Well, that might work for Piper and Leo. Maybe not mom though, especially with you. Mom is going to expect you to know things that Aunt Dawn knows," Phoebe/Paige said.
Dawn/Phoebe nodded knowing Phoebe/Paige was right. She just had to hope they could reverse the effects of the potion before anyone was the wiser because if Buffy figured it out they were so busted.
"Anyways what about this demon that's on the loose?" Phoebe/Paige asked as they finally won their battle with the water main and Phoebe/Paige popped a lollipop into her mouth in triumph.
"You're right," Dawn/Phoebe agreed, "We may have to fight. Can you levitate?"
Phoebe/Paige shrugged. "Haven't tried."
"There, levitate and kick." Dawn/Phoebe pointed to the punching bag, "But first, could you lose the lollipop? My teeth have enough cavities."
"Ergh! Sorry, nervous habit," Phoebe/Paige replied and ditched the lollipop. She took a deep breath then ran for the punch bag and jumped, dangling for a second on it then hitting the floor.
Dawn/Phoebe closed her eyes briefly. "Oh my god, you are so bad for my image."
Phoebe/Paige sat up, "OH!" she cried as the punching bag hit her on the side of the head. "Piper is never going to trust me with magic again," she said sadly. "And Mom, she's going to lecture me."
Dawn/Phoebe nodded and winced. "I love having mom back. But I hate when she lectures…and then there is the look," she added with narrowed eyes.
Phoebe/Paige sighed exaggeratedly. "Oh, the look! No, I hate the look. It always makes me feel so bad," she pouted.
Dawn/Phoebe nodded sympathetically, "That's what it's supposed to do. But hey! Piper and mom won't find out anything as long as we reverse the potion," she said ever the optimist.
Phoebe/Paige nodded and stood up. "Well, I think I figured out how to mix a new batch but, we're all out of powdered toadstool."
"I know where to get some." Dawn/Phoebe assured with a nod. "You stay here, avoid mom and Piper at all costs and practice my power. We may need it," she instructed.
"Uhm, Phoebe," Phoebe/Paige called after her sister. "You might want to tell Aunt Dawn where to get it. I don't know if mom would let Aunt Dawn…"
Dawn/Phoebe sighed knowing Phoebe/Paige was right. "I'll tell Aunt Dawn," she said as she headed upstairs.
"I hope mom doesn't find out that Aunt Dawn is in my body," Phoebe/Paige sighed.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Paige/Dawn had gotten her cell phone from Dawn/Phoebe and was about to dial when she heard the doorbell ring. "Can I help you?" she asked as she opened the door to reveal a young and handsome black man on the other side.
He laughed. "Sense of humor. I really like that in a girl," he replied with a smile. "So are you ready to go Paige?" he asked.
Paige/Dawn's eyes widened, "Paige!" she exclaimed with an obvious tone, "Uh…."
"Mason! Hi, how are you?" Phoebe/Paige asked as she and Dawn/Phoebe came up behind her Paige/Dawn.
"I'm fine," Mason replied. "Do I know you?" he asked confused.
"No, no, but I know you," Phoebe/Paige replied quickly. "At least I feel like I know you, seeing as how Paige can't stop talking about you…Mason the boss' son," she said with a subtle nudge to Paige/Dawn's side. "He's as cute as you said he was."
Paige/Dawn nodded in understanding. This was Paige's date. "So where are we going?"
"Is Italian okay?" Mason asked with a smile.
"Chinese," Dawn/Phoebe said adamantly, "You must have Chinese. Chinatown Chinese, even better." She nudged Paige/Dawn.
"That, that's cool," Mason replied slightly freaked out.
"Okay." Phoebe/Paige said as she handed Paige/Dawn her jacket, "You two kids have fun." Then she leaned in close and added in a hushed whisper. "And keep my face out of the sun."
Dawn/Phoebe leaned forward and she added in a hushed whisper. "You need to stop at the herb store in Chinatown," she said slipping Paige/Dawn some cash. "Pick up some powdered toadstool. Paige said it's the missing ingredient we need."
Paige/Dawn nodded as she headed out the door with Mason.
Phoebe/Paige and Dawn/Phoebe turned to see Buffy and Piper running down the stairs, "Who was at the door?" Piper demanded.
"Mmmm….oh just Paige's date," Phoebe/Paige replied with a smile.
"She's still going on her date?" Buffy asked incredulously as Phoebe/Paige and Dawn/Phoebe shrugged. She frowned when she noticed that Phoebe/Paige was sucking on a lollipop. "What's with the lollipop? Surely Grams taught you girls to treat your teeth better than that."
Phoebe/Paige and Phoebe/Dawn stilled in a temporary state of panic then Phoebe/Paige quickly covered with, "Paige, sort of got me into them."
Piper looked between her mother, aunt and sister nervously then said, "Mom, Aunt Dawn, Phoebe," she called and they turned to her. "Um….I've got to be honest here. I'm really starting to worry about Paige." And Buffy nodded in understanding, inhaling deeply.
Phoebe/Paige frowned. "Why? What's wrong with Paige?" she asked warily.
"Well, first of all she made me realize I hate being the big sister. And it's suddenly my responsibility to teach her how to be a witch," Piper stated folding her arms across her chest. "Speaking of which Mom tell me again why you're not teaching her?"
"Because I'm teaching Dawn," Buffy reminded Piper.
"Also, Paige seem to listen to me!" Piper cried in frustration.
Phoebe/Paige looked up. "Oh she listens…..sometimes."
"Well, sometimes, isn't good enough, Phoebe. You know that," Buffy rejoined the conversation, "Sometimes, could get us killed!"
Piper nodded. "And it's a shame too," she continued referring to Paige's inability to listen. "Because she might actually have a lot of potential," she mused with a thoughtful expression.
Phoebe/Paige perked up, "Really?"
Piper nodded. "But the problem is, I don't think Paige cares, about anything. Aunt Dawn, you are understandable, you are a teenager and in school. It surprises me actually you haven't tried out for a sport or something at school to tell the truth. Anyways Paige doesn't have that excuse."
Phoebe/Paige shook herself from her fascinated trance and shook her head. "Oh, no she cares. I know she does. You, you just have to give her a chance. I think Paige is the kind of person that…needs to learn from her mistakes. And believe me, she's learning fast."
"Mm-hmm." Piper said as she headed toward the kitchen.
Phoebe/Paige sighed and put the lollipop in her mouth.
"Dawn, did you finish studying?" Buffy asked.
"Uh," Dawn/Phoebe said. "I—I think so."
Buffy's eyes narrowed as she looked at Dawn/Phoebe. "Dawn, who is Kendra?"
"A friend of yours," Dawn/Phoebe said with a shrug.
"Okay, who are you?" Buffy asked. "You are not Dawn."
Dawn/Phoebe sighed. "Yes I am, maaaa…Buffy."
"No you are not," Buffy said. "I know my sister, she would have known who Kendra was. If I had to guess you're Paige."
"No she isn't," Phoebe/Paige said with a sigh in resignation. "I am. That's Phoebe. No lectures, please, Mom. And please, don't tell Piper. We're fixing it. Aunt Dawn and Mason are stopping in Chinatown to pick up the final ingredient to reverse the potion's effects."
"You sent, Dawn out alone with a total stranger!" Buffy said angrily.
"Mom," Dawn/Phoebe said. "Aunt Dawn will be fine. Paige's date thinks she's Paige. Not Aunt Dawn."
Buffy sighed as she looked at her daughters. "Fine," she said. "But if she comes back hurt I will hold you both responsible. Now as far as Piper is concerned. As long as you're trying to reverse it. I will hold off on the lecture. But if you two don't reverse it, then I will tell Piper."
Chinatown
"Ah! What is this place?" Mason asked with a grimace as he made his way over to Paige.
"I just….got to find some powdered toadstool." Paige/Dawn answered as she looked around the herb store, "Ah-ha here it is."
"Uh….okay, I got to warn you." Mason started looking at the bag of powdered toadstool in Paige's hand. "I'm not into the whole, herbal scene," he stated honestly.
"Well, neither is Paige, I don't think," Paige/Dawn mused aloud.
Mason frowned. "You always talk about yourself in the third person like that?"
Paige/Dawn smiled tightly. "It's kind of a, character flaw of mine."
"So….what's the toadstool for?" he asked intrigued.
"It's an aphrodisiac," Paige/Dawn replied quickly.
"Really?" Mason said not entirely convinced as he followed her to the counter. "My dad was right. He said you were…unique, I believe is the word he used."
"Oh yeah? What else did he say about me?" Paige/Dawn asked amused.
"He said that if he doesn't hurry up and make you a social worker, you'll probably start your own agency," he said in all seriousness and Paige/Dawn smiled. "That, or end up in jail, he wasn't sure which."
Paige/Dawn nodded slowly taking money from her purse. "Sounds like me, if I had been a little older at the time."
Mason frowned once more, "You lost me again." He admitted.
Paige/Dawn sighed, hand moving to her right hip, "I'm not showing you a very good time, am I?" she stated more than asked.
Mason shrugged, "I don't know. We're in Chinatown, shopping for a sexual stimulant. I'm surrounded by chicken claws and goat brains. I haven't had this much fun in a long time." He told her with a smile.
Paige/Dawn smiled back, "Come to think of it, neither have I." She jumped as thunder and rain sounded outside. "Uh-oh, Yenlo."
"What's that?" Mason asked. "Another aphrodisiac?"
"I—I got to go." Paige/Dawn informed him as she suddenly ran out.