Chapter 43: Lucky Charmed Part 2
March 11, 2003 – Tuesday
Casino
Buffy stood between Piper and Paige at the end of a craps table. The crowd around the table cheered as the croupier pushed piles of chips over to Buffy, Piper and Paige.
"Paige, there must be $50,000 dollars there," Piper admitted looking at the chips.
"I think sixty is more like it," Buffy said as she eyed the chips.
"I agree with Buffy," Paige added looking at her sister and mother. "And Shamus said to take big risks. Here we have the craps table, we've got slots, we've got the big wheel thingy, we can't lose."
"Okay, maybe we should think about quitting while we're ahead," Piper suggested.
"Quittin'?" said a cowboy as he looked at the three women. "You girls can't quit. We're in the middle of a streak here."
"Alright, same lucky shooter, same lucky shooter comin'. High roll," the croupier told the group.
"Piper, I cannot ignore a cowboy," Paige told her sister. "Besides, I feel something really big is about to happen, we just have to hold on and wait for it." She picked up the dice. "Alright, come on now, baby needs a new pair of shoes, and by baby I do mean me." She threw the dice as everyone cheered.
"Will you marry me? Because that's how much I love you now," the cowboy questioned looking at Paige who giggled.
"Simmer down, buckaroo," Piper told the cowboy. "Look, I've got to get back to the actual babies, and we need to be using this winning streak to find Saleel."
"Just one more roll," Paige begged.
Piper looked at Buffy for help. "Shamus did hit her with that luck. So I say we go with her gut," Buffy told her eldest daughter. "Besides if she lets it all ride. Wyatt, Elizabeth and Joyce could all wind up with a nice little nest egg for college."
Paige smiled at Buffy in appreciation for the support. She threw the dice as everyone groaned. "Two-crap deuce, snake eyes," the croupier told them.
"Where did our luck go?" Paige asked in surprise.
Piper and Buffy looked at each having suddenly figured out a way to find the demon. "Snake eyes," Piper said as Buffy nodded. "That's what we've been waiting for."
No, but we lost everything," Paige objected looking her sister and mother in the eyes.
"No, we didn't, Buffy counted. "I believe Piper and I just figured out a way to find the demon." The cowboy gave her a look. "Stration. Demonstration. She knows what I mean. Come on."
Abandoned Initiative Complex
Faith and Spike moved through the woods.
"Are you sure you want to go in this place with me?" Spike asked her.
"Eh, nothing good on TV tonight," Faith ventured. She found the place they were seeking beneath the bushes and the dirt. He dug through the dirt with her. "We should search for files and stuff," she said. "Find out everything we can about the chip. Shelf life."
"I'll take whatever I can get," Spike said flatly, grabbing the chain to the grate.
They pulled together, hoisting up a metal grate. Then they both jumped down into the exposed shaft.
They had just entered the Initiative complex, years after the government guys had said they had poured concrete into it and sealed it up.
It reeked of death . . . they had left the dead behind, both human and demon. Faith gritted, "I'm thinking brief stay."
Then they found the door to the med lab, and Faith walked in first. The room was bathed in a dull red light. As they walked through slowly, they heard something shuffling around.
But when they aimed their flashlights to investigate, there was nothing there.
Serendipity Lounge
Phoebe, Jason and Dawn walk into the room and immediately see couple cuddling and kissing.
"Okay, what are we doing here?" Dawn asked. "Because I remind you I really need to get home."
"This shouldn't take very long," Jason explained. "Now look around, tell me what you two see."
"Why don't you tell us what you want us to see," Phoebe said as he stared at her. "Okay, fine." She and Dawn turned and looked around the room. "We see lots of couples and they're kissing and drinking and dancing."
"What Phoebe said," Dawn answered. "And I mean no offense but I personally don't see is the point."
"Look, this is exactly Dawn's and my point, love doesn't bloom through modems and hard drives," Phoebe added. "And no, that is not a euphemism."
"What if I told you two all these people met over the internet?" Jason asked.
"Right," Phoebe replied rolling her eyes. "Like you would have any way of knowing that."
Jason smiled. "I would if I had, say, started an sold an online dating service a few years ago, maybe established an evening one night a week for people to get together and meet in a safe environment like this."
"Wait, so you brought all these couples together?" Dawn said in surprise.
Jason shook his head. "They brought themselves together," he told his advice columnists. "My company just made it a little easier for them. It's a complicated world. People have a hard time finding each other in it. And even when they do, they sometimes don't act on their feelings because they're too afraid."
"Yeah, tell me about it," Phoebe sighed.
"I admit, online dating isn't perfect, there are people who use it for all the wrong reasons, but most people are just looking for love, just like the rest of us," he explained.
Dawn smiled. "Could we push back my half of the column a couple days?"
"Why?" Jason wondered.
"I think I have the perfect rewrite. But I need to test it out with my wife," Dawn answered.
"That's not…" Jason started and then he realized what Dawn was thinking. "I think I see. You can take your wife out on virtual dates. Chat, do everything these couples did. By doing that not only can you get a feel for what its like but it can help reconnect with your wife while she is still out of town. I will give you the couple days, Dawn."
Halliwell Manor
Buffy put a pair of snake eyes on a dish as Piper and Paige stood next to her.
"Snake eyes?" Shamus scoffed. "So what? I don't get it."
Buffy smiled. "Well, Saleel is a reptile demon, so we can use them to scry for him."
"See, I told you it was good luck," Piper said as she put the snake eyes in the boiling pot causing a small explosion.
Paige shrugged. "I guess, but couldn't snake eyes have been a winning roll too?"
Shamus rolled his eyes. "You really want it all, doncha?" he asked. "Well, even luck doesn't bring you everything on a silver platter. You have to work for some things too."
Buffy took the scrying crystal over to the map and began scrying just as Dawn and Phoebe walked into the attic. "Hey, did you find the demon?" Phoebe asked.
"Well, the vanquishing potion is done so we're almost there," Paige replied.
"Where's Leo, Sam, Willow and Tara?" Dawn wondered looking at her sister.
"Leo and Sam are passed out with the babies," Buffy answered. "Willow and Tara are chasing their own good luck."
"So how'd you do?" Shamus asked looking directly at Phoebe. "You must have developed quite a streak by now."
"Yeah, did you win the lottery?" Paige asked smiling at her sister. "Ed McMahon show up at your house with a big ol' cheque?"
Dawn rolled her eyes. "No, for Phoebe nothing happened. Me I got an extension on my half of the article. I'm now getting paid to do the whole online dating thing with my lovely wife."
"Good job, lassie," Shamus said before turning and looked at Phoebe. "What about you, lass, did you take any risks? Get lucky with that fella?"
"What fella?" Piper asked looking at her aunt and middle sister.
"Ugh, I think he's talking about Jason," Phoebe sighed. "And no I did not get lucky. Not that I would want to, anyway."
"Mmm," Shamus said, thinking, "the burned child dreads the fire, ay?"
"No!" Phoebe cried.
Buffy's crystal hit the map having finally found Saleel. "We just got lucky."
Dawn's P3
Tara had taken a cab from the Manor after Willow had told her girlfriend to meet her here, then Willow had Sam orb her to the club. "I can't believe how long it took to get here," she thought. She saw Willow sitting in the owner's alcove. She smiled and walked over to her girlfriend and sat down. "I'm sure you had a reason for me taking a cab. But I hope you didn't have to wait too long, sweetie." She leaned in and kissed Willow softly on the lips.
Willow was instantly calm. The feel of Tara's lips on hers always did that to her. "I love you," she breathed out, taking Tara's hands into her own.
"I love you too, Will," Tara said leaning in for another kiss.
"What can I get you, Miss?" The waitress, Susie, asked interrupting the intimate moment between the two girls.
"Whatever she's having." Tara said while never breaking eye contact with Willow.
Susie looked at Willow who nodded. "What she said," Willow told the woman. Susie nodded and walked away. "After you left. I talk to Piper, she said anything we want is on the house. She called to let her manager, Steve, know."
"Wow," Tara admitted.
Five minutes later they were both jolted out of their thoughts. "Ladies and gentlemen," Steve said from the stage "I'm sorry to interrupt you all, but tonight's is a very special one. Two of my close friends are celebrating their sixth year together." He gestured over to two women, who blush profoundly as people began to clap. "And as a special gift to every tonight, Willow Rosenberg has agreed to bless us with a song. Willow?" He reached his hand out as Willow stood up.
At one time Willow was seriously afraid of getting in front of crowd and singing. That all changed thanks in part to Tara. She walked over to the stage Steve handed over the mic. She glanced over at Tara and smiled, her girlfriend had no idea what was about to happen. The couple that Steve had gestured to were good friends of his, that had agreed to help set up what was about to happen.
"I, uh, would like to, um," Willow stammered looking down, "dedicate this song to my beautiful girlfriend Tara Maclay, who I love more than words themselves." She finished looking into Tara's eyes.
The music started up slowly. Willow started to sing.
"For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
Ill be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through through it all"
Tara looked at Willow surprised. Other than the time when Sweet had come to Sunnydale had she heard Willow sing. She remembered that her redheaded girlfriend had even said she had once been afraid of singing in front of crowds.
"You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me"
Willow moved off the stage, walked through the crowd slowly, never taking her eyes off Tara.
"You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
Im grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I dont know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you"
Reaching Tara, Willow knelt before her, kissing Tara's fingers.
"You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me"
Tears slipped down Tara's face, Willow brushed them away with her thumb.
"You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
Youve been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you"
"I love you." Willow mouthed to Tara, giving her the biggest smile she could muster.
"You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me"
Willow gently urged Tara to stand up with her, taking Tara's hands in her own.
"You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me"
Willow lightly brushed her lips against Tara's.
"I'm everything I am
Because you loved me"
Finishing the song strong, Willow stood right in front of Tara, who had tears in her eyes. "Tara, my love, my light, my soul," she stopped, looking straight into Tara's eyes, tears streaming down her own face now. "Will you marry me?" she asked holding a ring out to Tara, waiting for an answer.
The whole club was quiet, waiting for Tara's answer.
Looking deep into Willow's eyes. "Yes," Tara whispered, her voice shaky.
The club erupted in cheers as Willow kissed Tara passionately. Breaking apart, Willow slipped the ring onto Tara's finger, then kissed her again.
Abandoned Initiative Complex
Deep within the Initiative complex, Spike and Faith heard the rustling sound again, followed by a scraping sound. They stopped and moved into defensive posture, scanning for it.
"Think something survived?" Faith asked Spike.
"Sounds like," Spike replied.
Something moved behind them. They turned to look, but saw nothing there. Walked on.
Then something attacked Faith. She dropped her flashlight as she fought with it. It was a demon, and Spike joined in . . . and then the chip misfired again.
"Not now!" He grabbed his head and fell to the floor.
The demon dropped the Slayer and went for the vampire, grabbing him by his heel and dragging him out of the room.
As soon as she could pull herself together, Faith followed after with her flashlight in hand.
Then it pounced on her. She grabbed a shovel and swung hard. In retaliation, it threw her across the room. She kicked it away with her feet.
Then she slammed the shovel into its chest and the monster collapsed to the floor.
"Spike, are you still with us?" she asked.
"Yeah," he managed.
"That, guys, was . . . just the beginning," she said, as the lights blazed on the room . . . and half a dozen army guys trained their rifles on them.
"Miss Lehane," said one of the soldiers. "Agent Finn reported that you tried to contact him today."
"It's Summers-Halliwell, now," Faith told the soldier. "I got married last year after I saw Agent Finn."
"My mistake," he said as he made a soldierly gesture and the other army guys lowered their weapons. "We're to provide you anything you need to help assface here," he continued. "Those were his exact words, ma'am."
They took him to an examination room. Faith paced, waiting to find out what was wrong, when the solider finally came up to her with the diagnosis. "Med team tells me they took a look at the chip. You were right," he told her. "It's degraded. Leave it as it is much longer, it'll be fatal to him. Agent Finn said it was your call, ma'am. All decisions regarding Hostile 17 are to be left in your hands. The chip—we either repair it, or remove it."
Rock Cavern
Paige orbed in with Buffy, Piper, Phoebe, Dawn and Shamus. "Ha, maybe it took snake eyes a bit too literally," she told Shamus and her family.
Piper sighed. "That would be bad luck, right?"
Saleel walked out of the shadows, holding a pot full of gold. "No, this is. Marbhfháisc ort." A shower of gold light hit the girls.
"Oh, no, he's soured your luck," Shamus said realizing what Saleel had done. "Hurry, throw the potion."
Phoebe was about to throw the potion when a lightning bolt zapped them. They fell down the stone steps behind them.
"Now what are the odds of that?" Saleel asked.
"Don't worry, I'll fix this," Shamus said as he began to chant in irish. He didn't get to finish as Saleel grabbed him around neck.)
"Not so fast, little man. That's my rainbow now," Saleel said he squeezed Shamus and Shamus burst into gold dust. Saleel stepped into the rainbow and it took him away.
Halliwell Manor
Sam and Leo follow Phoebe and Paige into the attic.
"Charmed Ones, my ass!" Paige scoffed. "We couldn't even save one leprechaun let alone all of them."
"It wasn't for lack of trying, Paige," Phoebe reminded her sister.
"Yeah, well, still, Saleel is a low level demon, you know, we had luck on our side, we had magic, we should've been... Aah!" Paige said as she tripped on the rug and fell flat on her face. "Ouch."
"Are you alright?" Sam asked as he helped his daughter to her feet.
"Are you okay?" Phoebe added.
"No, I am not alright," Paige said with a sigh. "I was supposed to help Shamus and instead I got him killed."
"Paige, we were struck by lightning, we could have never seen that coming," Phoebe reminded her sister.
Piper walked in carrying Elizabeth as Dawn and Buffy followed behind her carrying Joyce and Wyatt. "Okay, well, I can't get there right now, so you're gonna have to handle it yourself," Piper said into the phone. "Call an electrician." Paige sat on the couch and the couch bumped the table behind her, knocking over a cup of coffee, which spilled on a power cord. She ended the call with a sigh. "There's a power failure at the club, they've shut down for the night. Do you have any idea how much money we're about to lose?"
"Before or after Willow's…?" Buffy started.
"After," Piper replied with a sigh as the circuit breaker sparked causing light bulbs to explode. "At least their luck held out."
"What the hell is happening?" Phoebe asked looking at the exploded lightbulbs.
Dawn sighed. "Seems like a bad luck streak and it's picking up steam."
"Hey!" Willow said as she and Tara burst into the attic. "Where's Shamus. I want to thank him for the good luck."
"He's dead," Buffy replied.
"Take Wyatt and Elizabeth out of here," Piper ordered her husband, afraid something worse than getting struck by lightning could happen.
"And Joyce," Dawn said handing her daughter to Willow.
"But," Leo started as Piper handed him Elizabeth and Buffy handed Wyatt to Tara.
"No, no arguing," Piper countered. "Just orb, okay? You three are the only ones that weren't cursed with bad luck. They're safe with you three."
"We'll go to Sunnydale," Tara suggested.
"Didn't Faith say it was too dangerous last time?" Phoebe asked.
"She did," Willow replied. "But right now all the Potentials are on a retreat with Giles and Faith is having to deal with Spike." She looked at Buffy. "His chip was malfunctioning." She looked back at Phoebe. "Besides I think Faith would like to see her daughter."
Leo nodded as he took Willow's hand and Tara place a hand on Willow's shoulder. He orbed out with the two witches and three babies.
"Alright, we're going to have to turn our luck around fast," Buffy said looking at her youngest daughter. "Paige, can you use that spell of yours to find more leprechauns?"
Paige shook her head. "No, they pooled their luck just to make it work. I wish we knew how to get this thing to make a rainbow."
"Okay, well, since we can't do that, we're going to have to turn our luck around the old fashioned way," Piper said. "A little determination, some positive thinking, a little faith." She chuckled as she looked at her aunt. "No pun intended."
Suddenly, the chandelier came crashing down from the ceiling.
Dawn sighed. "You were saying?"
Summers Home, Sunnydale
Leo orbed into the living room with Willow and Tara.
"Faith!" Willow called out.
"Yes?" Faith said coming from the kitchen. "Oh, Joyce," she said as she hurried over to Willow and took her daughter from the redheads arms. "Oh my precious little girl." She noticed that Tara and Leo each held Piper and Leo's babies. "Uhm, what's going on?"
"Demon problems in San Francisco," Willow answered. "There is a demon killing leprechauns and stealing their luck."
"I thought you all told me that G-man said leprechauns weren't real?" Faith said obviously confused.
"They're not, pet," Spike said as he walked out of the kitchen.
"Spike?" Willow said surprised to see the vampire. "Your not in pain no more."
"Had his chip removed," Faith shrugged.
"Are you sure that was a wise idea, Faith?" Leo asked.
"He has a soul, Leo," Faith answered.
"Alright," Leo said. "Anyways Willow explained that the Potentials were on some kind of retreat. And with the fact that Buffy, Dawn, Piper, Phoebe and Paige have all been hit with bad luck. So…"
"It would be a little less hectic around here and I could devote time to protecting my daughter and your children," Faith surmised. She looked at Willow and Tara. "Are you two going…"
"We're staying here," Tara answered. "You really think we would leave you alone to take care of three babies?"
Halliwell Manor
Piper sighed as she walked out of the laundry room carrying a fire extinguisher. She walked over to her potion which was on fire. "I got it, I got it, I got it, I got it." She went to put out the fire as the nozzle fell off the extinguisher. "Aahh! Okay." She squeezed the handle and the extinguisher sprayed out sideways, missing the pot completely. "Uh-oh."
Piper pressed the handle and swung the extinguisher around, hoping the spray eventually hit the pot. She knocked some plates of the table. The spray hit the pot and put out the fire.
"Vanquishing potion done?" Buffy asked as she walked into the kitchen. She coughed from the smoke that filled the room.
"Well done," Piper replied with a sigh.
"Bad luck?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah," Piper replied. "Did Paige and Aunt Dawn find anything?"
"Yeah," Buffy replied. "They went rummaging through stuff and found a rabbit's foot, wishbone, horseshoe, four-leaf clover," she motioned toward the salt on the counter, "there's some salt for that over the shoulder thing and, uh, coup de grace, charm bracelet."
Piper rolled her eyes. "Lucky charms, Mom?"
"Better than nothing, Piper," Buffy replied.
"What about..." Piper said they heard a thump.
"Whoa!" came Dawn and Phoebe's voice.
"Phoebe," Piper said as she looked at her mother. "Aunt Dawn?" She and Buffy rushed out of the kitchen and found Phoebe and Dawn sitting on the floor at the base of the stairs. "What happened?"
"Ow," Phoebe answered in reply.
"Are you both okay?" Piper asked as she and Buffy helped Dawn and Phoebe to their feet.
"No, my bruises have bruises," Phoebe groaned.
"I missed a step coming down the stairs and fell into Phoebe," Dawn sighed.
"And I didn't see Aunt Dawn because I was trying to read my page," Phoebe added.
"Walk it off, walk it off," Piper ordered.
"So, cyrano73?" Dawn asked.
Phoebe nodded. "I thought I'd try again. How about Saturday night? He is asking me out again."
"Well, if you're going to do it, I would go with Saturday, seeing as how we'll probably be dead by then," Dawn quipped.
"Dawn," Buffy admonished her sister.
"What?" Dawn said looking at Buffy. She sighed. "Unless we get some good luck and soon, Buffy. It could wind up being true."
"Wait a minute," Phoebe said as she looked at her phone, "maybe I should say yes."
"You might be on to something, Pheebs," Dawn said looking at Phoebe. "Shamus did say for you to take a risk. Maybe this is what he was talking about?"
"That's kind of what I was thinking," Phoebe agreed.
"Uh, accepting a date with a guy that you click with," Piper interjected. "That's not necessarily a giant risk."
"It is for Phoebe," Buffy said knowing her daughter.
"Mom's right," Phoebe agreed.
"I hate to straddle the fence, Phoebe," Dawn said as a terrible thought entered her mind. "On the down side he could be another demon."
"I know," Phoebe replied looking at her aunt. "But therein lies the risk. Okay. Y, E, S," she typed, "and Enter. Oh, yeah, I feel luckier already."
"You know maybe we should all do something to find some luck. I think I am going to go call Faith," Dawn said as she turned to head for her room. She spotted two demons smoke in on the stairs. "Or not."
Piper turned around and tried to blow the demons up but blew up part of the railing. The railing fell and hit Piper on the head, knocking her out.
The female demon fell down a couple of stairs from the explosion. She threw an energy ball at them and Phoebe threw her pager at it, disintegrating it. Jayda threw an energy ball.
"Energy ball!" They spotted Paige coming down the stairs as the energy ball orbed into her hand and she threw it at the female demon, vanquishing her.
"No!" the other demon screamed. She smoked out and back in beside Piper and Buffy. She then smoked out taking them with her.
"Mom!" Paige and Phoebe gasped. "Piper!"
"Buffy!" Dawn gasped as she felt woozy and then collapsed to the floor as a memory surged forth.
March 15, 2001 – Thursday
Beach
Prue sat on some rocks looking out at the water as the Angel of Death appeared. "You contemplating the tides? Can't control them any more than me,"
"Okay," Prue replied, "I get that you're not evil but what I don't get is why I wasn't supposed to fight the demons."
The Angel of Death smiled. "Well, you were alone and out-numbered."
Prue sighed. "I still could've fought."
"But you would've lost, Prue," he told the eldest Halliwell sister.
Prue looked at him confused. "How did you know my name?"
"I read it off my list," the Angel of Death replied. "It was the next one after Reece Davidson."
Prue looked at him as realization hit her like a ton of bricks. "You were coming for me."
"If you had have stopped fighting me, yes," he replied. "That's why you were able to see me. It's the bigger picture, Prue. Focusing all your anger against me leaves you vulnerable to the real evils of this world. You do well to remember that in the future. What?"
Prue sighed as she looked down at her hands. "I don't know, you know," she said before looking back up at him. "I've been mad at you for so long. Ever since mom died. I don't know how else to be."
"Dawn," came a voice on the wind.
"You grieve and then you move on," he said moments before he disappeared.
Prue dropped her head in her hands as she began to cry.
"Dawn, help," came the voice again.
March 11, 2003 – Tuesday
Halliwell Manor
Dawn gasped as she sat straight up. "Buffy?" she said as she looked around. She saw Phoebe and Paige kneeling before her looking at her with concern. "I heard, Buffy. In the memory, I heard her."
"How is that possible?" Paige asked looking at Phoebe. "After all if Aunt Dawn is seeing Prue's memories…"
I have no idea," Phoebe replied. "Unless mom somehow astral projected part way into the memory. Not enough to manifest in her astral form."
"But enough for me to hear her," Dawn answered. "If she was able to do that. Maybe she established a link. Maybe I can astral along it back to her and Piper."
Rock Cavern
Buffy and Piper were tied to a tree unconscious as Saleel addressed the remaining female demon.
"Two witches." Saleel said angrily. "Quick quiz, how many should I have?"
"Five," the female demon answered.
"Zero!" Saleel corrected. "They should all be dead, I never asked for prisoners."
"You miscalculated," the female demon explained. "The others found a way to turn their luck around and Jenna died because of it."
"Am I supposed to care about that?" Saleel asked with a roll of his eyes.
"We'll use these witches to lure the others," the female demon told Saleel. "You still have more gold. We can make ourselves enough good luck to make them pay for what they've done."
"I have a better idea," he said as he grabbed her around the neck. "I'll just do it myself." He squeezed her neck and she burst into flames, vanquishing her.
Inside Buffy's Mind
"Buffy?" Dawn said as she astral projected into her sister's mind.
"Dawn?" came Buffy's voice.
Dawn followed the voice and found Buffy sitting on a couch. "Hey, Buffy."
"Hi, Dawnie," Buffy replied. "How did you get here?"
"We're in your mind," Dawn told her sister. "I was in one of Prue's memories when I heard you call for help."
"I wondered if you would hear me," Buffy replied as she smiled. "I wasn't sure I could astral project while semi-conscious at the time. I'm fully unconscious now. For me this is a dream. So I don't even know if I'm talking to a dream you or the real you."
"It's the real me," Dawn replied. "I astral projected following the link back that you established when you tried to contact me. Do you know where you are?"
"Saleel's Cavern, I believe," Buffy answered. "Please, hurry. I think he intends to kill us."
Halliwell Manor
Dawn opened her eyes and smiled as Phoebe, Paige and Sam walked into the attic. "Their at his lair," she said.
"Good, we should call Leo," Paige said.
"No, Paige," Sam objected.
"Sam's right," Phoebe agreed. "We've got to keep the babies out of danger."
"But Saleel's got luck on his side, we've got nothing," Paige objected.
"I don't think that's true," Dawn said. "I think we've turned the tide."
"How do you figure?" Paige said.
"Paige," Sam said looking at his daughter. "If you can turn your luck into a streak…"
"Then we can do this," Phoebe finished for her baby sister's father.
"Okay, we've got a few charms and he's got who knows how much gold," Paige countered. "It's just not going to cut it. Unless, we combine our own magic with it." She handed something to Dawn and Phoebe. "Take that." She picked up a salt shaker and threw salt over both Dawn and Phoebe's shoulders.
"What are you doing?" Dawn asked.
Paige smiled as she picked up Shamus's shillelagh. "Aunt Dawn, you and I are going to help Phoebe make this thing work so maybe she can get a vision off of it." She looked at Phoebe. "You know, maybe you can see Shamus using it."
"But I can't always get them on command. Sometimes it's just..." Phoebe reminded her sister.
"We know," Dawn said. "Luck. But we're slowly beginning to get luck on our side. After it was lucky for me to hear Buffy's astral projection call for me in my memory. It was lucky for me to follow the link back. So we've got a start. Not we just need to turn it into a streak."
"Okay," Phoebe agreed as she took the shillelagh and gasped.
"Come on..." Dawn and Paige begged as they waited.
"I can see him, I can see him," Phoebe said excitedly. "Go n-éirí an bóthar leat," she said as a rainbow appeared in the room.
"Far out," Dawn said excitedly.
Green Meadow
The remaining leprechauns had gathered together. "Either we leave right now and try to save what's left of us, or we stay and die like the rest," said Finnegan.
"Tell your tribes to take only what they need. We leave at dusk," said a leprechaun as a rainbow appeared.
Dawn followed by Phoebe and Paige stepped out of it. "It worked," she told her nieces excitedly.
"Witches!" the leprechaun cried. "What are you doing here?"
"We're here because we need your help to save our mother and sister," Paige replied.
"Or in my case my sister and niece," Dawn added.
"And to save you," Phoebe concluded.
"Right, sure, just like you saved Shamus," Finnegan scoffed. "Hurry, laddies."
"No, wait, please, you're stronger than that," Paige countered. "Shamus knew it and so do I."
Finnegan sighed. "Shamus Fitzpatrick was a fool. And look where it got him."
"He was not a fool," Dawn objected.
"He gave up his life because he believed saving you was worth the ultimate price," Paige explained looking at each of the leprechauns. :Shamus was a hero. He didn't see leprechauns, he saw giants. And he didn't see luck, he saw power. Please, you pooled you luck once before, do it again. Not for us, but for him. For Shamus."
"For Shamus," Dawn and Phoebe cried.
"For Shamus!" the leprechauns cried as they began to chant "For Shamus! For Shamus! For Shamus! For Shamus!"
Rock Cavern
Buffy and Piper looked around as a snake crawled along a branch above them in the tree they were still tied to.
"Hi, okay, hi, shoo, go away," Piper said glaring at the snake. "See, I don't like snakes, at all. Go away, shoo!" she ordered as Paige orbed in with Dawn and Phoebe. "What are you guys doing? It's a trap."
"Piper's right," Buffy agreed.
"First we know," Dawn retorted. "Second remember your dream?"
Buffy's eyes went wide. "It was real," she cried. "I hoped. But it don't change anything. It's a trap."
"One we intend to spring," Dawn replied. "You taught me too well, Buffy."
As Dawn, Paige and Phoebe rushed over to their respective sisters, Saleel entered the cavern. "Go! Go away!" Paige told the snake.
"The Charmed Ones," Saleel said looking at the witches. "It's about time you got here."
"Yeah, well, we had to make a little pit stop somewhere over the rainbow," Phoebe retorted.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Saleel replied as a rainbow appeared and dropped off a leprechaun. "A leprechaun, please."
Another rainbow appeared and dropped off three leprechauns. A third rainbow appeared and dropped off four more leprechauns.
"Now, laddies!" a leprechaun shouted.
The leprechauns chant something in Irish. Streams of glittery gold light hit Saleel. Saleel looked up and saw a large meteor falling from the sky. "Noooo!" he shouted just as the meteor hit him.
"Huh, a meteor," Dawn chuckled. "That's some real bad luck."
"Mom and I are still tied up here, people," Piper reminded her sisters and aunt.
Phoebe and Dawn rushed to their respective sisters and untied them.
Paige walked over to a leprechaun and held out Shamus's shillelagh. "Here, I think this belongs to you."
"Actually, darlin', I think Shamus would want you to keep it," the leprechaun replied. "For all you've done for us, for saving our kind."
Paige smiled. "Ah, you guys kind of did that yourselves, so it was your luck after all."
"Aye, it was your fighting spirit that sparked it, the same fighting spirit Shamus had," the leprechaun countered.
Paige sighed. "I wish I could accept that compliment but I was just looking to be reimbursed to tell you the truth. I felt like magic owed me."
"And you still feel that way?" Dawn wondered.
"No, I don't," Paige replied as she glanced at her aunt.
"Doesn't matter what brings a person, only what they leave with," the leprechaun told Paige.
March 12, 2003 – Wednesday
Summers Home, Sunnydale
Sam orbed Dawn into the Summers home. "Thanks," she said.
Sam nodded. "Have a good time." He then orbed out.
"Faith?" Dawn called out.
Faith came down the stairs and her eyes widened. "Hey, Dawn. What are you doing here? Who's watching Joyce?"
"Paige," Dawn replied. "I thought maybe you and I could spend some time together alone. After all my favorite singer is playing at Dawn's P3. Would you like to go out with me?"
Faith smiled. "I would love to," she said. She took Dawn's arm and orbed out.
Dawn's P3
Piper stood at the bar as Leo walked over to her. "Hey," he said.
"Leo, what are you doing here?" Piper asked in surprise. "Who's watching Elizabeth and Wyatt?"
"I asked Paige to, I thought maybe you and I could spend some time together alone," Leo answered.
"Oh, sounds great but it's a little crazy in here," Piper said as she noticed Dawn and Faith walk through the front door.
"I can see that," Leo replied looking around at the crowded club. "Pat Benatar definitely brings in a crowd, huh?"
"Yeah, at least I'll go out with a bang," Piper replied with a sigh.
"What do you mean?" Leo asked in concern.
"Uh, well, I've been thinking and I've decided that I want to sell the club," Piper replied as Dawn and Faith walked up to them. "Not because I want to but I feel like I have to. I mean, being a mother slash Charmed One slash business woman is just one slash way too many. Something's got to give."
"What if I had a solution to that, Piper," Faith offered.
"And what would that be, Aunt Faith?" Piper asked.
"You said you were eventually going to turn over the club to Dawn," Faith reminded her niece.
"The problem is even I wanted to, I couldn't. Your in Sunnydale and Aunt Dawn works with Phoebe," Piper reminded her aunt. "Who would watch the club till your free, Aunt Faith?"
"I would," Leo said. "I asked the Elders for paternity leave."
"Huh?" Piper said confused as she looked at her husband.
"It's obviously never been done before," Leo answered. "But Faith had an idea while I was in Sunnydale. She had me take Wyatt and Elizabeth to the Elders again. This time they spent time with them and realized how important they and Joyce are and decided to break the rules for our babies and Dawn and Faith's."
"Well, that's weird," Piper said surprised. "What happens to all your other charges? You do have a career too."
"They'll temporarily be reassigned to Sam. Except for our family," Leo answered. "As for my career, it's not as important to me as we are."
"Before you object," Dawn said. "Let him do this. Till Faith can return and officially take over. This is one thing we won't have to worry about. Plus I can still help out."
"Okay," Piper replied as she hugged her husband and her aunts.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Pat Benatar," came the announcer over the speakers.
"That's your favorite singer?" Faith asked with a look of surprise at her wife.
"Yep," Dawn replied as Pat began to sing Love is a Battlefield. "And she started with my favorite song too," she said excitedly.
Faith smiled as she led Dawn out onto the dance floor.
Serendipity Lounge
Phoebe dressed up for an evening out walked in. After texting Cyrano, yes. She had asked to change their meeting to tonight instead of Saturday.
"Here on business?" Jason asked as he walked up behind her.
Phoebe turned around and smiled. "Actually, no, I'm not," she replied. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm meeting someone," he told her.
"Really?" she said obviously surprised. "Weird, me too."
Jason smiled. "I know. You're meeting me."
Phoebe looked at her boss in confusion. "I don't understand," she told him.
"I'm cyrano73. In the flesh, so to speak," Jason explained as Phoebe started to walk away. "Wait, Phoebe, let me explain."
Phoebe sighed. "Okay, sure, go ahead. Give it your best shot."
"I just knew you'd never go out with me if I asked you straight, right? Right?" he asked knowing he was.
"Right," she agreed.
"So I had to find a way to see if you were interested in me without putting any pressure on you," Jason explained looking at her. "I like you, Phoebe. I liked you the minute I laid eyes on you. And I know you like me... or at least the part of me that brought you here, otherwise you wouldn't have come."
Phoebe sighed. "Jason, I don't know..." she told him. She wasn't sure about this. Dating your boss wasn't the best of career moves after all.
"I'm not asking you to marry me," Jason told her as he motioned toward the bar. "I just want to buy you a drink. Come on, what have you got to lose?"
"Ooh, I don't know, my job maybe?" Phoebe retorted. "Maybe even Dawn's, if you're really vindictive."
"Neither of you would have anything to worry about," Jason replied as he smiled at Phoebe. "Hey, you want Cyrano to disappear? He's-he's gone, I promise, just say the word."
"Martini, dirty," Phoebe told him with a smile as he handed her a rose.
La Musique Restaurant / La Padras Jewelers
Buffy and Sam exited the French restaurant as Sam extended his arm to her, and Buffy wrapped her arm around his, smiling before raising her head and meeting Sam's lips with her own.
"Dang I am a bad sister," Buffy said suddenly with a slap of her hand on her forehead. She had just remembered her sister's one year wedding anniversary was only a couple days away. "I need to get Dawn and Faith an anniversary gift!" She looked at her boyfriend. "What do you suggest, I get her?"
"I'm not sure," Sam responded. He guided Buffy down the sidewalk and turned the corner. "How about in here?"
"Sam...this is La Padras," she protested. La Padras was a jeweler that specialized in diamond engagement rings.
"I know," Sam replied, opening the door for her.
Buffy's eyes went wide in realization. Was Sam about to propose?
They stepped inside a bare and empty store. With the exception of the actual sales people who worked there, the store was barren. Sam led Buffy into the middle of the store before turning around and facing her.
"Patty...," Sam started, gazing down at her. He grabbed her hands and lightly squeezed them. "I'm sure you already guessed what I intend to do," he said. He looked down to the floor before dropping to one knee. And for the first time since he had learned that Buffy was Patty reincarnated he said, "Buffy Anne Summers-Halliwell...will you marry me?" He peered at her shyly with a hopeful smile.
"Sam...oh…my…goddess," Buffy said as her eyes welled with tears. "Yes!" she exclaimed, pulling Sam to his feet and kissing him soundly. He led her over to a cabinet. She knew that she would have to buy her own engagement ring, after all being a Whitelighter was not a job that actually paid the bills.
She scanned through the cases of rings for several moments before one of them especially caught her eye. The ring was gold with a large one-carat diamond in the middle and a circle of smaller diamonds surrounding it. "This one," she declared, with a large smile on her face.
The salesperson approached Buffy and Sam. "Ah, excellent choice, ma'am," the salesperson said calmly. "Would you like to try it on first? It may fit on your ring finger without having to make any adjustments."
"That's fine," Buffy said, holding out her left hand.
Author's Note (9/13/22): Next chapter is Cat House, with the reveal that Dawn finally realizing she is Prue reincarnated.