Charmed: Alternate Season Five

by Ian G

Did you ever wish Phoebe and Cole had stayed together? Or maybe that Paige had kept her job? Well read about those and many other changes in this alternate season five of Charmed. Read, review, and enjoy.

6. Episode Six: Deadly Consequences

Episode 5.6: Deadly Consequences

Darkness. That's all there was. No sound, no light; nothing. Prue didn't understand what had happened. Her memory was hazy, something that hadn't happened since she was alive. As a spirit she had full access to her memories.

On one of the first days after she had died, Prue had pulled up the memory of her own birth. It was disgusting, yes, but also beautiful and amazing. She knew exactly what she had been thinking at the time. Well, not thinking, exactly. It was more instinctual feelings of cold and confusion. Some people wonder why babies cry when they are first born, but Prue understood right then. It was like being wrapped in a warm blanket. You are cozy and know you are safe. Then some unknown force pushes you out the door, into a freezing snow storm, naked. Crying is only natural.

But now everything in Prue's mind was cloudy. Not only that, her head hurt. It actually hurt. Something which was completely impossible as a spirit. That was, strange as it may sound, another thing she loved about being dead. No pain, no suffering. Peace was all there was and it was wonderful.

Prue moved her arm and recoiled when she felt something, another thing that wasn't supposed to happen when your dead. She hadn't physically touched something in over a year. Something was wrong.

After a moment she found that she was blocked on all sides and was laying down.

Where the hell am I? she thought.

Panic started to creep into her mind. She hated it when she was panicked. It hadn't happened in so long, but she still hated it. Being levelheaded was something she took pride in, and even when she wasn't she didn't let anyone else know.

Prue placed a hand on the surface above her. It was soft, but firm. She pushed on it, but nothing happened. She pushed harder. Again, nothing. The panic started to overwhelm her and, as much as she hated it, tears started to leak from her eyes. Pulling back a fist, Prue slammed a punch into the cushioned surface.

Thump.

Moments later she heard something. A latch was being unlocked and suddenly... Light! Unbearable light! But there was air and she suddenly realized that she needed it. Prue shot up, gasping for the precious oxygen.

Someone grabbed her in an embrace and shushed her.

"It's okay," they whispered. "It's going to be all right. You're home."

Prue knew that voice. She pulled back and stared into the face of her sister.

"Piper?"

"Oh, thank God," Piper said. "I was so afraid that it wouldn't work right and you would come back wrong. But you recognize me."

"Of course I do," Prue said. "But what is going on? The last thing I remember..." She paused. What was the last thing she remembered? The pounding in her head made it hard to focus. She looked around, taking in the room.

It wasn't as bright as it had seemed a moment ago. The only light was from a circle of candles and the pale light of the moon, shining in through a window. The room was void of any furniture, excluding a few marble benches. The walls, however, were fully decorated with some kind of plaques.

No, Prue thought. Not plaques.

She looked down at what she was sitting in and screamed, scrambling out of the casket. She knew where she was and she now remembered everything.

"You summoned me here," she said to Piper. "Said something off of a piece of paper and then..."

Piper nodded. Her face was wet with tears, but a smile was on her face. "I brought you back, Prue," she said. "I finally found a way to do it."

"How could you?" Prue asked. She shook her head. "No, on second thought, how dare you?"

Piper's smile faded. "What?"

"Piper, do you have any idea what you've done?"

"I brought you back..." Piper said, confused.

"But I was happy!" Prue yelled. "Do you know how peaceful it was where I was? We're not really allowed to talk about it, but it's paradise. Now look where I am."

"With me," Piper said, hurt. "Is that so bad? I'm sorry I pulled you away from your perfect afterlife. You're right, here it sucks. I have to deal with it everyday and I can't do it alone. I have Phoebe and Paige, but you are my rock. I need you."

Prue sighed. "Piper, it was my time."

"Was it? I don't believe that. Someone's time is when they are old and have lived their lives. You didn't have a chance to live your's. Now you do."

Prue just stared.

"Come on, Prue. You can't tell me that you never wished to have a second chance. To come back and do more with your life. Continue your career... to find love. To be with me and Phoebe again. To have a chance to bond with your baby sister."

Prue bit her lip. She couldn't lie. She had wished for those things, but had pushed them aside since she was dead. But now...

"I just don't know if this is right," Prue whispered. "There are rules..."

"You once said that rules were meant to be broken," Piper said. "Won't you break this one to be with your family again?"

Prue stared at her sister for a long moment, comptemplating. A new life... it was tempting. A crooked smile appeared on her lips. "Okay," said. "For my family."

Piper smiled and grabbed her sister in a hug.

Prue hugged her back. Now this was something she had really missed. There was no hugging when you're dead.

-x-

Prue stared out the kitchen window, just watching the world in the early morning light. In her hand was a cup of coffee. She had forgotten how much she had loved it. She smiled as she remembered a conversation she had had with Grams, not long after her death.

Prue had been watching the manor from far away. Very far away, as a matter of fact. But she could still see everything so clearly. A birds nest in the gutter, paint peeling off the side of the house, her old car in the driveway. Distance didn't matter anymore.

Grams came up behind her. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Prue smiled and turned around. "You always hated that saying."

Grams shrugged. "Only when it was said to me. So, what's on your mind?"

Prue turned away, gazing back at the manor. "Nothing... and everything. It's morning and I should be sitting in that kitchen, reading the paper and drinking coffee." She stood silent for a moment and then continued. "I miss coffee, Grams. I want coffee, I need it. I... I can't survive without it."

"Are we really talking about coffee?" Grams asked.

Prue turned. "You know what I'm talking about."

Grams nodded. "Your sisters."

"How am I supposed to live without them?" Prue asked.

"Not really living..."

"No jokes right now, Grams," Prue said, turning away again. "I saw them everyday, talked to them. How can that all just stop? I need my sisters." She raised a hand to her face. "This is the part where I should be crying. But there's nothing."

"No liquids in the afterlife, dear," Grams said.

Prue spun around. "Can't I just go see them? Please?"

"No," Grams said, holding up a finger. "The rules were explained to you. You can't visit them until the anniversary of your death."

"That's stupid," Prue retorted.

"But it's important. They need time to be able to move on. Time to grow. Time to find and accept their new sister."

Prue shook her head. "I can't believe you never told us."

"I couldn't," Grams said.

Prue nodded. "I know. I just wish I had met her before..." She turned away and looked back at the manor. "There they go... Off to my funeral." She laughed. "That's sounds so weird."

Grams laid a hand on her shoulder. "It's going to be hard. But I know you, Prue. You can handle it. I did and so did your mother."

"Where is mom, anyways?" Prue asked.

Grams shrugged. "Oh, I think she's off talking to Ben Franklin, or some other historic person."

"Hey, can I meet him?"

"Sure," Grams said. She started to lead Prue off. "He's actually quite nice. Kind of a quack, though. The man thinks he discovered electricity. HA! I actually know who discovered it. She's now quite a good friend of mine."

"Oh, Grams..."

Prue slid into one of the kitchen chairs as the memory faded. After taking a sip of her coffee, she set it down and picked up the newspaper. Just like old times.

Phoebe came into the room, rubbing sleep out of her eyes.

"Okay, Piper," she said, not seeing that it was Prue and just going about her morning business. "I'm just going to warn you that I'm in a really bad mood, so watch out. I was woken up this morning by a call from Elise. She wants me to come in and not only get my next column done, but also redo some of my last one."

Phoebe pulled a box of cereal and a bowl from the cupboard and started to fill it up. Popping some of the Cherrios in her mouth, Phoebe turned to the fridge as she continued.

"I mean, how do you rewrite advice? What I wrote is what I think is right and I don't know what else I would say." She poured milk on her cereal and then pretty much threw the carton back into the fridge. "Not only am I angry about that, but I'm worried about Cole. He's been gone for a week and I have heard nothing from him." She picked up her bowl and started to bring it over to the table. "I have no idea if--AH!" Phoebe screamed and dropped her bowl as she finally saw who was sitting at the table.

"Hi, Phoebe," Prue said.

Phoebe took up a fighting stance, which looked pretty strange with her dressed in a bathrobe and fuzzy slippers. "Who the hell are you? Some sort of shapeshifter demon?"

Prue stood up slowly. "No, Phoebe, it's me. Prue."

Phoebe laughed. "Do you not get the news where you come from? My sister Prue died over a year ago. So you're not going to get anywhere with that costume. You should have tried Piper."

Prue sighed. "Phoebe, seriously. It's me."

Phoebe rolled her eyes. "You sure are a persistent demon. Okay, I'll bite. Prove to me that you're Prue."

Prue bit her lip as she thought. "Um... Okay, guess they would have to be things no one else would know."

"Ya think?"

"Right. Okay. When we were kids, Piper had this stuffed rabbit that she loved. But you loved it a lot, too, and would always steal it from her. Especially at bed time. You could never go to sleep without it."

Phoebe lowered her arms, but just a little.

"And you would always paint your toenails the colors of the rainbow," Prue continued. "Oh, and when you were seven, you were practicing being a super hero and kicked a lamp. Got a small scar on your left ankle."

"Oh my god," Phoebe gasped, dropping her arms. "It is you."

Paige and Leo ran into the room just then.

"We heard you scream," Paige said. She then caught sight of Prue. "Demonic shapeshifter!" She held out her hand and called for a knife. Once it had materialized, she pulled back her arm to throw it.

"No!" Phoebe yelled. "That's really Prue."

Paige looked stunned, along with Leo.

"What?" he said. "How?"

"Piper," Prue said. "She... brought me back."

Everyone turned as Piper came into the room, a smile on her face.

"Yep," she said. "I did it. I found a way."

"But there isn't a way," Leo said. "Not a safe way. She could have come back wrong."

"Hello, Leo, standing right here," Prue said. "I didn't come back wrong. I'm fine."

"Oh my god," Paige said, a grin spreading across her face. She dropped the knife on the table and grabbed Prue in a hug.

"Oh, okay!" Prue gasped. "Don't want to be dead, again, thanks."

"Oh." Paige let go. "Sorry. I'm just so happy that I finally get to meet you and you're not all glowy and see-through."

"Same here," Prue said, smiling.

"Piper, can I talk to you?" Leo asked, taking Piper by the arm and leading her out into the foyer. "Okay, what did you do?"

Piper slipped her arm out of Leo's grasp. "I told you. I found a way to bring her back."

"That is not an answer," Leo said, firmly.

"Well it's all your getting," Piper snapped. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go get dressed." With that, she stomped off up the stairs.

Leo sighed. "I better report this," he said to himself, orbing out.

Back in the kitchen, Phoebe was busy cleaning up the broken bowl and mess of cereal on the floor while Paige and Prue sat at the table.

"So," Paige said. "What's your favorite color?"

"Bla--"

"Who's your favorite celebrity?"

"Geor--"

"What's your favorite food?"

"Okay, sweetie?" Prue said. "If you want to know the answers, you have to pause to actually let me talk."

Paige blushed. "I'm sorry. I just want to know so much about you. We just have to spend the whole day talking."

"What about work?" Phoebe asked, dumping broken bits of bowl into the trash.

"Work, schmerk," Paige said, waving a dismissive hand. "How can you even think about work when your sister has come back from the dead?"

"I just don't want to lose my job," Phoebe said. "I... I should go get dressed."

Paige rolled her eyes once Phoebe was gone. "She tends to get a little wrapped up in her work sometimes."

Prue nodded. "I used to get like that all the time."

"Well I can tell you one thing," Paige said. "I'm not going in to work today. I may have missed the last few days because of all the chaos around here, but screw it. I'm spending the day with you."

Her phone suddenly started to ring and Paige groaned as she picked it up to answer it.

"Hello?" she said.

"Paige, this is your boss," came an angry voice. "Remember me?"

"Of course I do, Mr. Cowen," Paige said.

Prue winced. "He sounds angry," she whispered.

Paige nodded.

"Really?" Mr. Cowen asked. "Because you've been absent from work so much that I would think you would have forgotten who I am. But I've not forgotten you."

"Look, Mr. Cowen. I really can't--"

"Don't you say it," Mr. Cowen said. "You will be coming into work today, whether you are sick or not. I have a case just for you."

"But--"

"No. I will see you soon. Don't be late." Click.

Paige groaned, setting the phone down. "I'm sorry, but I really have to go to work."

Prue shrugged. "It's fine."

"But I'll try to get off early. Then we can stay up all night, eating ice cream and swapping stories."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Paige got up and left and Prue went back to reading the paper.

-x-

Zerek shimmered into a large chamber, lit by several torches that were enchanted so they would never go out. Three raised chair sat against one wall, with three demons perched upon them. This was the high council. What was left of it.

Many of the demons from the inner core were destroyed by the Seer's uncontrollable baby. That instance had set the Underworld back far too much in the fight against evil. Chaos filled the demonic world with no leader to guide it.

These three, however, had come together to bring order to the Underworld. Slowly, they were succeeding. Some were even starting to call them the new Triad.

"My lords," Zerek said, bowing.

"You may stand," said the center demon.

His name was Razor; a nick name, actually. It came from his power, which could make his hand so hot that he could slice through someone like a razor sharp knife with just the smallest slap of the hand.

"You are one of the most respected demons," Razor said. "You need not bow. Now, what brings you to our chamber?"

"I have news," Zerek said. "About the Charmed Ones."

You would have to look closely, but if you did, you might be able to see all three of the seated demons flinch.

"It better not be another insane plot against them," said the demon seated to the right of Razor.

This came from a female demon named Fantal. She was extremely beautiful and some wondered how she could be called a demon. That was until they looked into her eyes, which shown evil that could send a chill through someone's entire body. Quite literally, in fact. Most demons knew not to look into her eyes for too long, otherwise they would be turned to ice.

"Don't misinterpret my words," she said, casting her gaze over Zerek, who looked away. "I am not afraid of them. But right now the Underworld is in chaos. Just a few days ago the Charmed Ones and another witch caused an explosion that wiped out a small section of our realm, killing many demons. We can't afford to risk something like that again by provoking the witches."

"But they will soon be vulnerable," Zerek said. "See, I helped the oldest Charmed One resurrect her lost sister."

"What!" all three demons yelled, causing the room to shake.

"How could you do this, Zerek?" Razor asked. "You have betrayed us! The Charmed Ones are almost unstoppable as it is and you help bring one of them back? Who knows what they could do with four of them?"

"Ah, ah, ah," Zerek chuckled, waggling a finger. "It's called the Power of Three for a reason." He then proceeded to tell them his plan, and smiles started to appear on the faces of the three demons. "But we need to keep constant watch on their house so we can know the exact moment to make our move."

"I can arrange that," spoke the third demon, Bentar.

Bentar was a small demon. Someone you would think would not be good in a fight, much less someone who could be on the high council. However, he had a talent that made him quite lethal. Bentar had the power to control minds. Not all minds, of course. Demons like Razor and Fantal were immune. Yet there were many lower level demons who were not. This gave Bentar the ability to amass a good sized army of demons to do his will.

"I shall summon a few of my best spies and put them on the job," he said.

"Good," Zerek said with a nod. "Once it is time, have them summon me. I wish to deal with this personally."

Razor gave a small nod. "As you wish. But, I must warn you, Zerek. You may be greatly respected and an asset to the Underworld. Yet if you fail and provoke the witches into retaliating..." He raised his hand and slammed it into the rock face behind his chair. The rock melted away like butter. "Understand?"

Zerek swallowed and nodded. "Completely."

-x-

"You know, Prue, you didn't really have to accompany me to work."

Piper and Prue came down the stairs of P3, arms linked.

"Really," Piper said. "It's not going to be very exciting. I'm just going to go over the books."

"It'll be exciting for me. I just want to spend time with you and find out what you've been up to," Prue said. She took a seat on one of the bar stools while Piper went behind the bar.

"Well," Piper said, pulling a scheduling book out from beneath the counter. "Let's see... The biggest news is that I'm pregnant, but I'm sure you already--"

"Wait, what!"

"Guess not," Piper mused.

"Oh my god," Prue said. "This is wonderful! How far along are you?"

"A few months," Piper said. "I'm not even showing yet."

"Have you had morning sickness?" Prue asked.

Piper nodded. "Oh yeah. But not recently. I've just been so focused on other things lately."

"What about Leo? How's he?"

Piper looked up from the book. "He's very happy. He even built a nursery. Well, a construction crew did, but he did the finishing touches. I can't believe you didn't notice the added on part of our house."

Prue shrugged. "I did, but I just hadn't gotten around to asking yet."

"Uh huh."

"So, what about this place?" Prue asked, looking around. "Still as successful as ever?"

"Not really," Piper said. "I just haven't really been into keeping it up to par recently. Not even sure I want to keep it."

Prue frowned. "Why not?"

Piper shrugged. "I don't know if it's the hormones, but something is making me realize that I'm just not happy with this place. It's just not me. I was supposed to be a chef."

"You still can be," Prue said.

"How?" Piper asked. "I can't just completely change careers right now. That would not be financially smart."

"Well," Prue said slowly. "How about you change this place into a restaurant? Better yet... Why not have it be a restaurant during the day and have it be the club at night?"

"What?" Piper said, raising her eyebrows. "That's crazy."

"Is it?"

"It would be confusing for people," Piper said.

"I don't think so," Prue said. "I've seen places like that before. You could be the owner and head chef during the day and then have your manager handle the club at night."

Piper thought it over. "It's not a bad idea..."

"Have I ever had a bad idea?" Prue asked with a wry smile.

"Oh shush," Piper said. "I'll think about it."

"Great," Prue said, getting up. "I think I'm going to go for a walk."

"Okay," Piper said. "I'll be back at the manor for lunch. Want to meet me there?"

"Sure," Prue said. "See you then."

After Prue Left, Piper got back to work. She didn't get very far, though, for Leo orbed in just a few minutes later.

"Hey," Piper said, looking up. "What's up?"

"What's up?" Leo mocked. He looked angry. "How can you be so casual after what you did?"

"Leo, what are you--"

Leo held up something in his hand; a piece of paper.

"I found this in your pant's pocket. It's a ritual to bring someone back from the dead. A dark ritual."

"I can't believe you," Piper said. She shut the scheduling book and came out from behind the bar. "You're snooping around my stuff now?"

"After I told the Elders what happened they suggested I look for anything that might tell us how you brought Prue back," Leo said.

"So you're their spy now?"

"No, Piper, but I still work for them." Leo shook his head. "I can't believe you did this. You used dark magic! Evil magic!"

"So what!"

"So what?" Leo repeated. "Piper, a witch who uses evil magic can be corrupted. They can be turned evil."

"But I used it for a good cause," Piper shot back.

"It doesn't matter what you used it for! It's still evil!"

"So you're saying I should have just left Prue dead?" Piper asked.

"Yes, Piper. It was her time."

"Why does everyone keep saying that!" Piper yelled. "It was not her time. I don't care what anyone says, it wasn't."

"But--"

"No!" Piper yelled, holding up a finger. "The Book, not to mention all good magic, failed me. I found a way to bring back my sister and there is no way in hell I'm going to let you tell me that what I did was wrong."

"It was wrong," Leo said. "You have to understand that."

"No."

"Piper..."

"Get out of my club!" Piper screamed. "Now!"

Leo stood for a moment, staring at his wife, a mix of emotions on his face. Finally, without another word, he orbed out.

Left alone, Piper collapsed on a bar stool and started to cry.

-x-

"Paige, glad you could make it." Mr. Cowen had on a very fake smile as Paige came into the office.

"I'm not," Paige muttered, setting her purse down on her desk.

"What was that?"

Paige shook her head. "Nothing."

Mr. Cowen sighed. "You know, Paige, I gave you this job for a reason. Because I thought you could do it. Now I'm not so sure. You've called in sick the past two days and you even tried to do it again today. I don't know what's wrong, but you have to get your act together."

"So what's this case you have for me?" Paige asked, changing the subject.

"It's right over there." Mr. Cowen turned and pointed to his office.

Paige looked and could see three people sitting in the room through the office's window. Two adults, male and female, and one kid, who looked about thirteen.

"What about them?" she asked.

"That's Mr. and Mrs. Jenson. They are foster parents to Kevin, the kid with them. They're having some... problems with him."

"What kind of problems?" Paige asked.

"Kevin lost his parents years ago," Mr. Cowen said. "But he doesn't believe that they are actually dead."

"How'd they die?"

"Several eye witnesses saw their car go off a cliff," Mr. Cowen explained. "It exploded when it hit the ground. The terrain around there was so bad that police couldn't get to it for several days and there was a rock slide before they did. Everything was completely destroyed by the time they got to the car. Couldn't even get enough remains of the parents for a proper burial. Just some burnt up clothes, a few hairs, teeth. Not much left."

"That's horrible," Paige said.

Mr. Cowen nodded. "Kevin was staying with some friends at the time. Anyways, he doesn't believe his parents are dead and he says he will only listen to them. He hasn't obeyed any of his foster parents and he gets so destructive that none of them keep him for very long."

"Has he had counseling?" Paige asked.

"Tons. But he still won't listen and sometimes starts to trash the counselor's office."

"So what do you think I can do?"

"I know that you lost your parents," Mr. Cowen said. "I thought you could talk to Kevin. Since you have had the same experience maybe you can get through to him and help him move on."

Paige shrugged. "I'll try."

Mr. Cowen led Paige into the office. "Kevin, I have someone I want you to meet. This is Paige."

"Hi Kevin," Paige said with a smile and a small wave.

Kevin didn't answer. He just stared at her.

"I thought you might want to talk to her," Mr. Cowen said. He motioned to the Jensons, who followed him out of the office.

"So," Paige said, sitting down on the edge of the desk. "How are you today?"

"How about we skip all that crap?" Kevin said. "Just get to your point. You're just another person who is going to try and convince me that my parents are dead. I'm no going to believe it. It's this whole routine, so can we just get it over with?"

Paige didn't know what to say. Kevin was obviously not afraid to say what was on his mind. His voice was also filled with a lot of anger.

"Um, look, I just think I know what you're going through."

Kevin laughed. "You do, huh?"

Paige nodded. "I lost my parents, too. In a car accident, just the same as your's."

"No," Kevin said, shaking his head. "Not the same. My parent's aren't dead?"

"Kevin, people saw their car go off the cliff," Paige said. "The explosion, the rock slide. No one could have survived that. They even have remains of your parents." She knew that it must hurt him to hear that, but it had to be said.

"They think they have their remains," Kevin said. "But what they do have is so badly damaged that they can't identify the remains."

"But--"

"No, it wasn't them, okay?" Kevin said. "Maybe someone stole the car or maybe they faked their deaths. I don't know. But what I do know is that they are alive."

"How?" Paige asked.

"I just... I have this feeling," Kevin said with a shrug.

"Kevin, you have to face the facts," Paige said.

"You know what?" Kevin said, standing up suddenly. "I'm getting really sick of people telling me what to do. The only ones who can do that are my parents. I know they'll come find me. I just have to get their attention."

"How do you plan to do that?"

Kevin stuck his right hand in his coat and pulled out a gun, pointing it at Paige. "Like this."

-x-

"Knock, knock."

Phoebe looked up from her office computer to see Prue standing at the door.

"Oh my god, Prue." She leaped up from her chair and ran over to her sister, pulling her into the office and closing the door. "What are you doing here?" she asked, closing the blinds.

"I just thought I'd visit you," Prue said, taking a seat on the couch. "Piper told me about you getting this job. Let me just say, I am so proud of you. You have found a job that truly fits you."

"Yeah, that's great," Phoebe muttered, sitting back down behind her desk. "But, Prue, you can't be here."

"Why not?"

Phoebe raised her eyebrows. "Are you kidding me? Prue, you're dead!"

"Not anymore," Prue said with a meek shrug.

"That's not the point. Prue, if people find out you're alive then we could be exposed. Breezing on into a newspaper bullpen is not the best way to keep a low profile!"

"So what am I supposed to do, Phoebe?" Prue asked. "Stay in the manor all the time?"

"I don't know!" Phoebe yelled. "I'm not the one that brought you back from the dead!" Phoebe sighed as she saw Prue's stricken look. "I'm sorry. I'm just really on edge right now."

"Cole?"

Phoebe gave a frustrated laugh. "You haven't been around for over a year and yet my biggest problem is still Cole. Wow, that's sad."

Prue shook her head. "No, it's not. Most relationships don't last very long. Your's has lasted for over two years, even with all the road bumps. That shows how much you really love each other."

"You know about all the road bumps?" Phoebe asked.

"Yep," Prue said with a nod. "Piper filled me in on our way to the club. It was a lot to take in on a ten minute drive. Although, we did stop for gas, so that helped."

"You stopped for gas? There are security cameras there!"

"Pheebs, stop."

"No," Phoebe said. "That's exactly what I can't do. I have a lot of work to do and I don't have time to worry about you and people finding out you're not dead."

"So... you want me to go?" Prue asked.

"Yes. I'm sorry, but yes."

"Okay," Prue said. She got to her feet and put her hand on the door knob. "I guess I'll see you later."

"Yeah," Phoebe said, already back to typing.

Prue let out a small sigh and left.

-x-

Paige slowly held up her hands. "Kevin, what are you doing?"

"I told you!" Kevin yelled. "Getting my parents' attention. Now get out into the main room," he said, motioning with the gun.

"Okay, okay! Just be careful with that thing." Paige kept her hands up while she walked out of the office.

"Paige?" Mr. Cowen started to come up to her and Kevin, but Kevin pointed the gun at him. "Whoa!"

"Stay back," Kevin said.

Heads started to turn. Paige heard someone scream.

"Kevin!" Mrs. Jenson yelled. "What are you doing?"

"None of you believe that my parents are alive," Kevin said. "I'm going to prove it. You," he said to Mr. Cowen. "Call the police and the press. Tell them everything. NOW!"

Mr. Cowen nodded and grabbed up a phone, dialing 911.

"Kevin," Paige said. "You don't have to do this."

"No, I think I do," Kevin said. "I'm going to make this such a big news story that my parents are bound to hear about it. When they do they should come here. Then, and only then, will I stop."

-x-

Prue rushed into the manor and closed the door behind her. Leaning against it she wheezed, "Phew. That was close."

"What was close?" Piper asked, coming in from the dining room. "Where have you been? I was started to get worried."

"Well I did walk," Prue said. "You could go a little faster with a car."

"Yeah, but you left P3 two hours ago," Piper said.

"I went to see Phoebe. Not that she was happy about it."

Piper frowned. "Why not?"

"Said some stuff about people seeing me in public and recognizing me," Prue said. "She's right, too. I almost got caught when I was walking home."

"What do you mean?" Piper asked.

Prue slipped off her leather jacket and put it on the coat peg. She was so glad that Piper had kept all of her clothes. She went into the living room and Piper followed, the two of them sitting down on the couch.

"Someone I used to work with at 415 magazine saw me," Prue said.

"Oh no," Piper said. "What did you do?"

"Well she asked if I was related to... me. I deepened my voice, said no... then pointed and yelled, 'Look! It's Brad Pitt!'"

Piper laughed. "You didn't."

"I did," Prue said with a nod. "Luckily the guy I pointed at actually looks a lot like Brad Pitt. Caused enough of a commotion so I could get away."

"Wow."

Prue nodded and looked solemnly at the floor. "Maybe Phoebe is right. I can't go out in public when I'm supposed to be dead. But on the other hand... what am I supposed to do?"

Piper shook her head. "I don't know. But we'll figure it out. For now, what do you say I whip up something spectacular for lunch?"

"Can it be brownies?" Prue asked. "I've missed brownies."

"We actually have brownies."

Prue grinned and jumped up from the couch, running to the kitchen.

"Prue, wait!" Piper called after her. "You have to eat something healthy first! You don't want to go back to being dead again so quickly!"

-x-

Paige sat on the edge of her desk, arms crossed. Around her people were whispering to one another. Some were talking about plans to try and get the gun away from Kevin. Others just sat crying.

Kevin himself was on the phone. Police from outside had called just a few minutes earlier. Kevin was now telling them that he didn't want to hurt anyone, he just wanted his parents.

"Maybe they'll come on their own," Kevin said. "But maybe not. I want you to try and find them. Really try. I don't want to hurt anyone, but if you don't do your best to find my parents... then I'll have no choice." He hung up.

"Kevin," Paige said.

"I don't want to hear it, Paige," Kevin said. "You can't change my mind, so you might as well stop trying."

Paige sighed. "I was just going to ask if I could go to the bathroom."

Kevin considered it. "Are there any windows in there?"

Paige shook her head. "Nope."

"Okay, you can go. Just hurry."

Paige got up and went into the bathroom. Once the door was closed behind her she orbed out, reappearing in the kitchen of the manor.

"Hey Paige," Piper said.

She and Prue were sitting at the table. A plate full of brownies sat in front of Prue, who's mouth was already caked with frosting.

"Do you want a sandwich?" Piper asked.

"Or a brownie?" Prue asked, holding out up while chewing on another.

"No," Paige said, shaking her head. "I don't have much time, but we have a problem."

"Oh crap," Piper moaned. "Demons?"

"No, a kid."

"Huh?" Piper asked.

Paige quickly explained the whole situation. "So I was thinking that maybe you could try to find his parents."

"But I thought you said they were dead," Prue said.

"Kevin doesn't think so," Paige said. "He really thinks they are alive. So maybe you two can help find out the truth. We do have magic at our disposal. Should be able to find out something a lot faster than the police."

"Okay," Piper said with a nod. "We'll try."

"Thanks," Paige said. "I better get back." With that, she orbed out.

"So what do we do?" Prue asked.

"You wipe off your face," Piper said, handing Prue a napkin. "I'm going to call my husband. Leo!" She waited, but Leo didn't appear. "Leo, I know you're mad at me, but this has nothing to do with us, so get down here!"

"He's mad at you?" Prue asked.

"Never mind," Piper said as Leo orbed in.

"What is it?" Leo asked, not sounding too concerned.

Piper explained the problem. "So can you go ask the Elders to see if they know of a way we could find his parents?"

"Yeah, sure." Leo then orbed out.

"Now we wait," Piper said, starting to clean up.

"Ah, nothing like waiting for the Elders," Prue said. "Good times."

Phoebe then came in through the back door. "Hey," she said.

"Perfect," Piper said. "You're home in time to help."

"Uh oh," Phoebe said. "Why do I have the feeling that there is something magical afoot?"

"Short version?" Piper said. "Paige and the rest of the social services are being held hostage by a kid with a gun. He believes his parents are alive somewhere and Paige wants us to try and find them. Leo's talking to the Elders right now."

Phoebe paused. "Anyone else would be freaking out right now. For us this is normal." She headed for the dining room. "I'm just going to change out of these work clothes."

"Phoebe, wait," Prue said, following Phoebe out into the dinging room. "Can we talk?"

"Uh..."

"Please?"

Phoebe sighed and nodded. "Okay."

The two headed upstairs to Phoebe's room and sat on the bed, with several feet of space between them.

"So," Phoebe said. "What did you want to talk about?"

"You," Prue said.

"Me? What about me?"

"I just feel that you don't really want to talk to me," Prue said.

"What? How can you say that?"

"You bolted for work this morning, you made me leave your office, and you made an excuse just to not be in the room with me just now."

"I have to change out of these clothes," Phoebe said. "How is that an excuse?"

Prue eyed Phoebe's attire. "Pheebs, those are some of the most casual work clothes I have ever seen. I don't think you needed to change."

"I disagree," Phoebe said.

"Okay, fine. But I still think you have been avoiding me. Now come on. Tell me what the problem is."

Phoebe shook her head and looked away. "It's stupid."

"Nothing you can say would be stupid," Prue said. "Not now, anyway. When you were blonde..."

Phoebe gave a small laugh.

"Come on. Tell."

"I... I've been afraid to talk to you," Phoebe said slowly.

"Why?"

"Because I'm afraid you're mad at me and if I stay around too long then you'll let me have it."

"What?" Prue asked. "Why would I be mad at you?"

"Because," Phoebe said, tears starting to sting her eyes. "It's my fault you died."

"Phoebe, that's insane," Prue said.

"No, it's not. I abandoned you and Piper to go chase after Cole. If I hadn't gone down into the Underworld then Leo wouldn't have had to come after me. He could have healed Piper when she was shot and we wouldn't have had to make that deal with the Source of All Evil." Phoebe paused. "Wait, you don't remember any of this."

"No, I do," Prue said. "When you're dead... all of your past memories are open to you, even if time was reversed. I was able to see everything."

"Then you should know it's my fault," Phoebe wheezed, tears streaming down her face. "All of it."

Prue pulled Phoebe over to her and held her, stroking her hair. "No, it's not," she said. "If anyone is to blame, it's me. I became reckless. I was the one who chased after Shax into the street. I messed up. But my mistake was needed. So that you and Piper could learn to be more careful. And that our secret needs to be kept. We debated over telling people before, but now you know that it's not a good idea."

"No," Phoebe said, laughing through her tears. "It's not."

"So are we clear?" Prue asked. "It's not your fault. I'm not, and never was, mad at you. Okay?"

Phoebe wiped some tears from her face and nodded. "Okay."

"Here," Prue said, handing Phoebe a tissue.

"Thanks," Phoebe said. She wiped her eyes and nose. "You know who's really at fault?"

"Hmm?"

"Evil."

"Oh, yeah," Prue said. "Evil sucks."

"Yeah."

The sisters laughed as Piper came into the room.

"Sorry to interrupt," she said. "But Leo's back."

The three headed down the stairs to where Leo was waiting in the living room.

"So," Prue said. "What did the Elders say?"

"They said to stay out of it," Leo said.

All the sisters frowned. "What?" Piper asked.

"Since it's not a magical problem they want you to stay out of it," Leo said. "Let the police deal with it."

There was a moment of silence.

"Screw that," Phoebe said.

"Yeah," Piper agreed. "We're not going to let Paige get hurt just because the Elders say so."

"I didn't think so," Leo said.

"So do you know of a way we can find them?" Prue asked.

"No," Leo said. "But I might know of a way to find out if they are really dead."

"How?" Piper asked.

"The Book of The Dead," Leo said.

"Sounds creepy," Phoebe muttered.

"What is it?" Prue asked.

"It's a book that lists the names of all the dead," Leo explained. "No matter what they are. Witch, human, demon, whatever. They're all in there."

"Okay," Piper said. "So how do we get it?"

"You have to summon the one who is its keeper," Leo said. "The Angel of Death."

"How do we summon him?" Phoebe asked.

Leo shrugged.

"Oh, I know!" Prue said, raising her hand like a kid in school. "I summoned him once before. When we were fighting the Seekers, remember?"

"Brain sucking demons who could float?" Piper said. "Who could forget?"

"Luckily I wrote the spell in the Book of Shadows," Prue said, leading the way. She suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Piper asked.

"It's just... I never thought I would be heading up to the attic to look in the Book ever again," Prue said.

"This is no time to get nostalgic," Phoebe said, pushing Prue from behind. "Paige is in trouble."

Less than five minutes later the three sisters, plus Leo, were gathered around the Book. The spell to summon the Angel of Death was on the page before them.

"Okay," Prue said. "Let's say it and summon him."

"Um, Prue?" Piper said. "You don't need to say it. You don't exactly have powers anymore."

"Oh, right. Sorry." Prue stepped back from her place in the center and Piper and Phoebe moved in.

"Spirits of air, land and sea, converge to set the Angel free. In the wind we send this rhyme, bring death before us before our time."

A cloud of the deepest black appeared out of nowhere and the Angel of Death stepped out of it.

"Why have you summoned me?" he asked.

Phoebe frowned. "Why is the Angel of Death british?"

Death sighed. "You summon me to ask foolish questions? I have things to do, you know."

"No, we have something valid," Piper said. "My sister is just crazy."

"We need to take a look at your book," Prue said.

A frown came over Death's face. "Wait a minute. Didn't I take you?"

"Yeah, you did."

"But we found a way around that," Piper said. "Now, really. We don't have much time. We need to find out if someone is really dead, so we need your book."

Death eyed Prue for a moment and then held out his hand. A book that was larger than the Book of Shadows appeared in his hand.

"Name?" Death asked.

"Mark and Jennifer Barker," Piper said.

"Baker," Prue said.

"Really?" Piper asked. "I thought Paige said Barker."

Death cleared his throat.

"Baker," Prue said.

The Book of The Dead floated in midair as Death waved his hand over it. The pages flipped wildly for several moments before coming to a stop. Death ran a finger down the page and shook his head. The book snapped shut and disappeared.

"They are not in my book," Death said.

"Which means they are dead," Phoebe said. "This is good."

"If you don't need me anymore, and I don't care if you do, I'll be going now," Death said.

"Wait," Piper said. "Do you know any way we could find them?"

"No," Death said, already disappearing the same way he had come.

"So now what?" Phoebe asked.

"We could scry for them," Piper said.

"With what?" Phoebe asked. "We would need something of their's."

"Maybe you could get a premonition," Prue said.

Phoebe sighed. "Again, with what? I would need something related to them to touch. And before you say it, I don't think I could be able to get one off the kid. He has a gun. I doubt he will let me lay a hand on him."

"The Elders?" Prue said.

"No," Leo and Piper said at the same time.

Piper glanced at Leo and continued. "We already know they won't help." She sighed. "We need more time."

"Which we don't have," Phoebe said. "That kid is probably getting really impatient and he has a gun. He might start shooting soon."

"Okay, we have to deal with him first," Piper said. "Then we'll do something about his parents."

"Okay," Prue said. "Let's get going."

Piper and Phoebe glanced at one another.

"Prue, honey, maybe you should stay here," Piper said.

"Why?" Prue asked.

"On the chance that you could be seen," Phoebe said.

Prue was about to protest, but gave up. "You're right. Okay, I'll stay here." Prue dropped onto the attic's old couch and watched as Leo orbed out with her sisters.

-x-

Paige, along with everyone else, watched as Kevin paced. It had been almost two hours since Kevin had talked to the police and since Paige had talked to her sisters.

She wondered what was taking so long. Her sisters had magic on their side. If it was taking this long, Kevin's parents must really be dead. She doesn't didn't know how they would prove it to him.

Paige sighed, staring at the gun in Kevin's hand. It would be so easy just to orb it away from him. But she knew she couldn't. That would expose her as a witch.

Maybe when he passes by me again I can grab it, Paige thought.

Kevin started to pass her and Paige was about to make a grab for the gun, but stopped when she saw it flicker. It might have a been a trick of the eye, but she could have sworn she saw the gun become see-through for a split-second.

The room suddenly froze and Piper, Phoebe, and Leo came out of the bathroom.

"Okay, we're here," Piper said. She suddenly stopped short. "Wait a minute. Why isn't he frozen?"

She was pointing at Kevin, who had his gun raised at Piper, his hands shaking.

"Who are you?" Kevin asked. "Get out of here! I'll shoot!"

"No you won't," Paige said calmly. "You actually can't."

"Paige, what are you saying?" Phoebe asked.

Paige ignored her. "You're a witch, aren't you, Kevin? That gun in your hand... just an illusion."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Kevin said.

"Kevin, it's all right," Paige said. "Look at all the frozen people. We're witches too."

Kevin kept the gun raised for a moment, then finally lowered it. As he did the gun faded away.

"How did you know?" Kevin asked.

"I saw the gun flicker," Paige said. "I'm guessing keeping an illusion going that long was taking some power out of you."

Kevin nodded.

"So let me get this straight," Piper said. "We went through all that, worried you were going to start shooting people, but it was all an illusion?"

"It doesn't take away the meaning of it," Paige said. "He wants his parents back. Did you find out anything?"

Kevin frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"When I went to the bathroom I actually transported over to my house and asked my sisters to try and find your parents," Paige explained. "Thought it would be better than the police. So, what did you guys find out."

"Well," Phoebe said. "We found out that they aren't dead."

"I knew it!" Kevin yelled. "Do you know where they are?"

"No," Phoebe said. "I'm sorry."

Kevin's face fell.

"Maybe we can help," came a woman's voice.

A woman and a man suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Kevin's face lit up and he ran to them. The two adults wrapped him in a big hug, tears streaming down their faces.

"We're so sorry for leaving you," said Kevin's father, Mark.

"Where did you come from?" Piper asked.

"We can make ourselves invisible," said Jennifer, Kevin's mom.

"Why did you leave?" Kevin asked. "Why did you fake your deaths?"

"We didn't want to," Jennifer said. "But we had to."

"You only know a little about magic, son," Mark said. "I see you found out you had a power. Good to see you kept it a secret, too."

"But there is so much more to the magical world," Jennifer started to explain. "There are demons out there that are evil. And that's why we had to leave you. Demonic assassins have been chasing us for years and we had to go into hiding. So we left you to keep you safe."

"Safe," Kevin said. "But not happy."

"We saw you on the news and came right away," Mark said. "But we can't stay out in the open for long. The demons could be tracking us."

"Take me with you," Kevin said.

"It's too dangerous," said his mother.

"I'm old enough to hold my own," Kevin said. "And being with you while being chased by demons is ten times better than being safe, but without you."

The mother and father looked at one another and then nodded.

"What about all this?" Leo asked. "You can't just suddenly disappear."

Kevin thought for a moment and then waved his hand. A perfect illusion of himself appeared, gun and all.

"Once we're gone," Kevin said, "the illusion will run out the back and hide in the bushes I saw there before. Then it'll disappear without a trace."

"The police will look for you," Piper said.

Kevin took his mothers's hand. "They won't find me." He looked up at his mom and dad. "Right?"

Mark laughed. "If demons can't, the police don't have a chance."

"Now let's get going," Jennifer said.

"Thanks for your help," Kevin said to Paige. "Sorry about all this." Then he, along with his parents, faded away.

"We better get going too," Piper said. "The freeze doesn't last forever."

She and the other two went back to the bathroom. Paige saw Piper flick her hand and time started up again, the illusion of Kevin suddenly bolting for the back door.

"Guess he finally got spooked," someone said.

Paige just smiled.

-x-

As Paige closed the front door behind her, her three sisters came into the foyer from the dining room to meet her.

"You're back," Prue said.

Paige nodded. "Yep. Mr. Cowen let us all leave and even told us to take tomorrow off. So I get to spend all night talking to you and tomorrow as well."

Prue smiled. "We do have a lot to talk about."

"I'm going to take the day off too," Phoebe said, putting an arm around Prue's shoulders. "No more avoiding. I'm going to stick to you like glue. You won't be able to get rid of me."

"I'm thrilled," Prue laughed.

"The club can survive without me for a day," Piper said. "Count me in too."

"Okay," Prue said. "We know we all want to do it. Group hug."

The sisters laughed as they all came together and hugged. The chandelier above them began to shake and glow, spilling a shining blue light down over them.

"What's that?" Prue asked.

Before anything could be said a glowing ball of white light shot out from Paige's chest. It moved towards Prue, then back to Paige, then just shot upward and disappeared.

"What just happened?" Paige asked.

Once again, nothing could be said. Three demons, one of them being Zerek, shimmered into the living room.

"You," Piper whispered when she saw Zerek.

Zerek smiled and yelled, "Attack!"

The demon on the right threw a fireball at Piper. She blew it up, but the resulting blast sent her and Phoebe, who was closest, crashing back into the wall.

The demon on the left then conjured an energy ball and sent it flying at Paige.

"Energy ball!" Paige called, holding up her hand. She only had a moment to look confused when nothing happened before the energy ball hit her in the chest, knocking her to the floor.

The same demon conjured another energy ball and threw it at Prue, but she dived out of the way just in time.

Piper got back to her feet and shot out her hands, blowing up the demon on the right. She was about to do the same to the one on the left, but he and Zerek shimmered away.

"Damn," Piper hissed. She turned when she heard Phoebe crying. Her sister was kneeling next to Paige.

"She's dead," Phoebe said through her sobs.

"No, no, no," Piper breathed, tears now stinging her eyes. "This can't be happening. Leo!"

Leo orbed in, saw Paige on the floor, and immediately tried to heal her. Nothing happened. "I can't heal her," he said. "She's gone." He turned to the others and asked, "What happened?"

"We're not sure," Prue said. We were all hugging under the chandelier and then this blue light washed over us and then a white light came out of Paige."

"It looked like it was trying to decide between Paige and Prue," Phoebe said, wiping her eyes to try and stop the flow of tears.

"Then it disappeared," Piper said. "That's when the demons attacked. Paige got hit by an energy ball. Her power didn't work."

"I think I know what happened," Leo said, standing up. "The Power of Three was reconstituted when you and Phoebe met with Paige right here in this very spot. So when you were all here again, yet with a former Charmed One, the power of telekinesis didn't know which sister to go to. So it went in to limbo, for lack of a better term."

"Why?" Prue asked.

"It's called the Power of Three for a reason," Leo said. "There can only be three Charmed Ones. Having four meet in this very spot confused the power."

"So this is my fault," Prue said.

"No, it's my fault," Piper said. "I was the one to bring you back."

"Who cares who's fault it is!" Phoebe yelled. "What do we do about it? We have to bring Paige back."

"We can't yet," Prue said. "We have to take care of that demon. He knows the Power of Three is down. He'll be back."

Piper shook his head. "I know that demon. He can't be vanquished without the Power of Three."

"Which we can have," Phoebe said. She got up and stepped back from Paige. She held out her hands. "Come on, hurry."

"Phoebe," Piper started.

"Just do it," Phoebe said.

Piper and Prue took Phoebe's hands. The chandelier once again started to shake and glow. The blue light washed over them and a white ball of light shot down and entered Prue.

"I feel it," Prue said. "I can feel my power inside of me."

"So," Phoebe said. "How about one last vanquish for the original Charmed Ones?"

"Then we get Paige back," Piper added.

Prue nodded. "Let's do it."

-x-

"You fool!"

Zerek was in his lair, reprimanding the remaining demon from the attack.

"You missed!" Zerek yelled. "The plan was perfect! Kill Paige and Prue and the Power of Three would be gone forever! But now they are still able to have it because you missed!"

"I'm sorry," the demon said, cringing.

"Sorry doesn't cut it," Zerek said. He pulled an athame from his robe and stabbed it into the demon vanquishing him.

"Well, that was nice of you," Piper said.

Zerek spun around to see the three remaining sisters and Leo.

Piper continued. "You took out him, so now we only have to vanquish one demon."

Zerek pulled back his arm and threw the athame at Piper.

She froze it and slapped it out of the air. "Freeze," she said.

Phoebe levitated and booted Zerek in the face, making him stumble back. "Kick."

Prue stepped forward a tilted her head, giving the demon a half-smile. "Send flying." She swung her arm and Zerek flew through the air, crashing into the wall and crumpling to the floor.

The sisters came together and Piper pulled a piece of paper from her pocket. Together they read, "Demon that can resurrect souls, you cannot resist this spell's pull. With the Power of Three we pave the way, to send you down to your permanent grave."

Zerek screamed as flames spread over his body and he exploded in a large burst of fire.

"That was kind of a hokey spell," Prue muttered.

"You take what you can get," Piper said. "Now let's get back to Paige."

-x-

Leo orbed back into the manor with the sisters, right next to Paige's body.

"Options?" Phoebe said.

"I could use that spell I used for Prue," Piper said.

"No!" Leo yelled. "No more dark magic."

Prue frowned. "Dark magic?"

"Never mind," Piper said. "Any other ideas?"

"Maybe the Elders can bring her back," Phoebe said. "Since it was a mistake and all."

"No," Leo said. "They don't have that kind of power."

"But I know who does," Prue said. Before her sisters could ask who, Prue began to recite a spell. "Spirits of air, land and sea, converge to set the Angel free. In the wind I send this rhyme, bring death before me before my time."

Once again the Angel of Death came from a cloud of the deepest black, an annoyed look on his face.

"You know," he said. "I bet I could find a way to block that spell."

"This is the last time," Prue said.

"Prue, what are you doing?" Piper asked.

Prue ignored her. Instead she said to Death, "I want you to bring Paige back and take me instead."

"Prue don't!" Phoebe said.

Death raised an eyebrow. "A trade? That's not the way it works."

"But it has to this time," Prue said. "I'm not supposed to be here. You know it, I know it. Paige is only dead because I was brought back. Please, you have to take me. Not her."

Death thought for a moment and then waved his hand, Paige's ghostly form appearing next to him.

"What's happening?" she asked.

"Your sister is making a trade," Death said. "Your life for her's."

"What?" Paige turned to Prue. "No, you can't. You have a life to live."

Prue shook her head. "I already lived mine."

"Are you sure about this?" Death asked. "I won't be doing anymore trading after this."

Prue nodded. "I'm sure." She looked at Piper and Phoebe who were both crying uncontrollably.

"I can't lose you again," Piper said through her tears.

"You'll never lose me," Prue said. "I'll always be with you." She turned back to Death. "I'm ready."

Death held up his hand and Prue dropped to the floor. Her spirit rose up from her body as Paige's went back into her own body.

Paige gasped for air and Piper and Phoebe helped her up. The sisters stood together and watched as Prue took Death's hand.

"Goodbye," she said, she and Death disappearing.

Piper collapsed next to Prue's body and sobbed. Leo stood watching while Paige and Phoebe knelt next to Piper and just held her.

-x-

Piper sat on her bed, holding Prue's leather jacket. Leo came in and sat down next to her.

"You okay?" he asked.

"I'm never going to be okay with losing Prue," Piper said. "But I do understand that I shouldn't have messed with death. The consequences are just too great."

"What about dark magic?" Leo asked. "You ever going to use that again?"

"I thought about it. Dark magic can do things that good magic can't," Piper said. "But then I thought about our baby." She looked down and touched her stomach. "One dark spell isn't enough to corrupt me. I can fight it off. But can the same be said about our baby?"

Leo shook his head. "She would have no way to fight the dark magic. She could easily be corrupted."

Piper nodded. "Then to answer your question... no. Putting our baby in danger of becoming evil is not worth it. Even if I have good intentions."

Leo pulled Piper close and kissed her on the head. "I'm glad."

-x-

Phoebe smiled as she passed by Leo and Piper's room, glad that they were no longer mad at one another. She didn't know exactly what the fight had been about, but she had felt the tenseness in the air that day whenever the two of them were in the same room.

Phoebe entered her own bedroom and closed the door. She was happy for Piper and Leo, but it also made her sad; it made her think of Cole.

She went over to her dresser and picked up a photo of him.

"Where are you?" she whispered. Looking up she almost screamed as she saw Cole appear in the mirror. She spun around to see him standing next to the bed.

His clothes were torn and scratches covered his unshaven face. His hair was a mess and looked like it hadn't been washed in days. He looked like he hadn't slept in days either, for his eyes were bloodshot.

"Phoebe," he said. "I need your help."

End of Episode 5.6: Deadly Consequences