I know, I know... it's been way too long – a year I think? My bad. But don't hate the playa, hate the game! I had an insanely wicked bout of writer's block – no joke – but an idea popped into my head a couple of days ago and another chapter was born.

PS: kudos to my loverly (oh My Fair Lady, I heartchu!) reviewers, all of you are truly awesome; I cherish every comment that is posted about this fic. Ew, so that was just a lil more sappier sounding than what I wanted... but hey, I'm just a sucker for compliments –aren't we all? I also appreciate criticism, so don't be shy! Even I have to admit that there's always room for improvement...

Without further adieu... here it is!

Ok, so I lied. Don't hate me if this wasn't worth a year of waiting...

Here's the real thang:

"Ha! Trust you?" Paige cried sarcastically while jumping off of the couch and storming toward Cole. "Not in this lifetime! And what the hell did you do to her you sick bastard?"

"Me?" Cole snapped back, pointing his index finger into his chest, obviously surprised at the accusation. "How could I have anything to do with this? I know you hate me Paige, and I accept that. But I've told you already – all of you, in fact – I'm not a demon anymore. I swear to you, in all honesty, I had nothing to do with this. Even if I was still a demon, I wouldn't have the power to pull this off. Something bigger than I ever was is responsible."

Cole took a moment to look at Phoebe pleadingly, his eyes almost begging for support. When his gaze finally rested upon her weary body, however, he found that she was hardly in any shape to defend him. He doubted that she'd even been listening to his argument with Paige for she appeared to be seemingly trapped inside the moment when their daughter had disappeared from the room. Slightly hunched forward, Phoebe continued to stare at the exact spot where Paisley had stood only an instant before. Her arms were still wrapped tightly around her crossed knees and her mouth held slightly agape. Cole opened his own mouth hoping to break Phoebe out of her trance, but was interrupted as Paige loudly continued to rant.

"You expect us to trust you? To believe that you're honest? You have got to be kidding me!" she yelled in disbelief, while Cole continued to look at Phoebe in concern. "The only words that have ever escaped your mouth have been lies – dirty, filthy lies. Because that's what you are Cole, an evil, lying, backstabbing, arrogant, son of a bitch. How dare you come into this house and spread your sick lies in some meager attempt to win my sister back. You're putting a child's life in danger, Cole. Do you realize that? She's just a little girl."

"She's my little girl, damn it!" Cole barked through clenched teeth as he snapped his head around to face his accuser just in time to see her flinch in fear. "And I would rather die, a thousand times over, than to ever see her hurt or in danger. Christ Paige, do you really think I'm that heartless? I mean... she's my daughter."

Before anyone else was able to speak, Phoebe's weak and questioning voice could be heard from the other side of the room, "Paisley?"

Her back straightened as she searched the room anxiously for her missing daughter, almost as if she didn't remember witnessing Paisley's dramatic exodus from the room. Unaware of the three pairs of eyes that silently watched her worriedly, Phoebe scanned the room over and over, evidently growing in panic.

"Paisley?" she fearfully questioned again before connecting with Cole's sympathetic stare, which served solely as a brief reminder of the dreadful event that had just occurred.

"Oh my god," Phoebe sputtered in realization before cupping a hand over her mouth and running out of the room hurriedly, leaving its occupants to stare at each other in bewilderment.

Once in the bathroom, Phoebe collapsed in front of the toilet, flinching slightly at its coolness as she hugged the familiar porcelain close, feeling the bile creep steadily up her throat. Vomiting was a release. Wrapped up within thoughts of the two women who had manipulated her and Paisley, Phoebe hardly even realized the physical torture that she was enduring. With each heave came a feeling of relief and she welcomed it. It was like she was cleansing her mind and ridding her body of any thought or memory of the villains. It wasn't until her stomach was finally empty and she slumped exhaustedly over the toilet's seat, that she noticed someone holding her hair away from the mess.

"Cole?" Phoebe quietly croaked in question, speaking into the toilet, too tired to lift her head.

"No honey, it's Piper," came the terse response from behind her as Piper carefully leaned over her sister's slouched body and flushed the toilet. "Do you feel better now?"

Despite feeling somewhat unsure of Piper's intentions, Phoebe couldn't prevent her eyes from watering over as she tilted her head up slightly to face her sister and whisper softly, "It's all my fault. My baby's gone and it's all my fault."

"Shh, come here Phoebes," Piper soothed as she reached for her sister and guided her head into her chest.

Holding Phoebe's limp body, Piper tenderly weaved her fingers through her sister's damp and tangled hair. It was unusual, even after four years of separation, to see Phoebe breakdown into hysterics.

Throughout their lifetime of companionship, Piper had consoled her younger sister through an innumerable amount of difficult situations. But Phoebe wasn't a crier. Never afraid of speaking her mind or holding her emotions back, Phoebe would often converse endlessly about situations, to the point where Piper would threaten to tape her mouth shut. But hardly a tear ever escaped her almond-shaped eyes, no matter how difficult her circumstances were. Attempting to always remain strong, Phoebe could usually be counted on to remain insightful and rational while the world around her fell apart. Whereas she had been emotionally distraught and inconsolable, Piper remembered how Phoebe didn't even cry at Prue's funeral. The last time that she had witnessed an uncontrollable Phoebe meltdown was after the death of Cole. Even then, Piper was amazed at how her sister was able to do something that she would never be able to do: kill her own husband, the love of her life.

"It's not ok Piper," Phoebe sniffled between sobs. "They're going to destroy her because of me. I played their game perfectly... I practically gave her to them."

"It wasn't too long ago that I remember thinking the same thing about you," Piper smiled slightly to herself while continuing to support her broken sister. "And that's how I know that Paisley's going to be just fine."

Phoebe's sobs quieted for a moment as she lifted her tear-stained cheeks to face Piper and question, "About me?"

"Yeah," she responded simply. "Just after you had become the Source's Queen. I felt like I had failed you; I should have been able to protect you like a proper big sister, like Prue would've."

"Sweetie, not even Prue could've - -" Phoebe started while pulling out of Piper's embrace.

"I know that now," interrupted Piper calmly, looking at the floor. "But at that time... I felt like I had let the whole family down... but that's how I know that she'll be fine."

"Piper," Phoebe sighed and shut her eyes in frustration before bringing a frail hand to her forehead. "I was a fully grown adult by the time that happened. You weren't responsible for protecting me – I should've been able to make the right decisions by myself. But Paisley... she's only little – she hardly even knows the difference between what's right and wrong. It's my duty as her mother to protect her, but instead I led her right into the belly of the beast."

"It's not your fault Phoebe," Piper said sympathetically as she reached out to grasp her sister's hand in comfort. "It could have happened to anybody - -"

"Yeah, anybody but you!" Phoebe cried out passionately.

Piper looked stunned. She turned away from Phoebe, truly speechless and astonished at how she had forgotten about their involvement with Gideon, who had almost succeeded in turning Wyatt evil.

"I'm sorry, Piper," Phoebe said quietly, evidently realizing her mistake. "It's not that I've forgotten, it's just, I don't know. With Wyatt it was different. There was never any doubt in my mind that he would turn out alright. I mean he's the son of an angel and the most kind and caring Halliwell witch that there's ever been. He had good genes working on his side. And as for Paisley, what has she got? Her genetic composition sucks. She's the daughter of the former Source and his Queen."

"Exactly," Piper responded truthfully. "Stress on the word 'former.' Both you and Cole were good when she was conceived, and above all else, Paisley has your heart. She has that same big, loving, and fragile heart that guided you back to us, even when you were surrounded by evil. Whatever these Mona and Lucy characters try to do to her, she'll find her way back... just like you did."

"But my heart also led me to become that awful person," Phoebe whispered in response.

"Phoebe you have to stop thinking like this!" Piper said angrily, her voice rising slightly in passion. "You have to be strong for her."

"But I'm not strong, Piper!" Phoebe countered with just as much emotion before quieting her voice. "You and I, and Paige, and everybody knows that I'm not. Why do we even bother with this whole charade? I'm so sick of it. Just because I don't scream or yell or blow things up, doesn't mean that I'm strong."

"You are strong, Phoebe," Piper said curtly while looking directly into her eyes. "And you'd have to be a fool not to see it. Love isn't a weakness. You've been strong your whole life."

"It was just an act," Phoebe explained simply.

"I can't believe that," Piper responded. "You've always been tough and fearless, even when you were a kid. You can't give up now, when Paisley needs you the most!"

"You're right," Phoebe said while hastily rising to her feet. "I mean, what am I even doing in here crying and feeling sorry for myself? I'm just wasting precious time! God, I should be searching for her or doing something useful!"

Piper smiled at Phoebe as she slowly stood upright and embraced her in another quick hug before the duo exited the bathroom and headed upstairs.

Thanks to everybody for being so patient with me – I promise the next update won't be so far away!!

Ciao!