Chapter 5

Method in the Magic

Episode 9.06

It was late afternoon when Phoebe, Paige and Piper entered the antique toy store. The smell of old metal and cedar filled their noses as Phoebe opened the glass front door. They were greeted by shelves of tiny figurines of various things as they walked in. Miniature bronze statues of dragons, gargoyles, griffins and other mythical creatures held company with the little dust on them. The sisters and maybe a few other customers meandered about looking at the odds and ends of the little quaint store.

"You know just because their antiques, does not mean you can't dust," Piper said as she picked up one of the figurines and blew on it. The tiny particles floated towards Paige and she let out a sneeze after which she gave Piper the evil eye. "Sorry," but her expression was more of humor then apologetic.

"So Coop is in training?" Paige asks as they continued walking.

"Yap, god I miss him already."

"Well look at the bright side, you have a lot of toys of your own," The elders sister said as she adjusted her purse slightly because it was falling off her black leather jacket.

"Not the same Piper. Hay look at this one," Phoebe said as she picked up a little golden dragon that was about three inches high.

"Don't even go there Pheebe's," Piper replied looking at the little statue in her sisters hand, not wanting to bring up the whole Wyatt summoning a real one again.

"Come on Piper it's not like he's going to do it again." She answered putting the object back on the shelf but stopped in front of an old mirror to take a look at herself. The mirror was Gothic and not usually her style but she was not interested in how it looked at the time. She fussed with her hair moving her hands through it, she always envied Piper's long locks and was trying to grow hers out, but it was in the awkward stage of its growth and she had major issues keeping it from becoming a giant fur ball.

Piper and Paige continued their walk down the aisles and did not pay any attention to Phoebe's vanity moment.

"I wouldn't put it past the little rug rat," Paige said with a snort.

"Hay that's my son you're talking about," Piper replied and nudged her baby sister. "Pheebe's you coming are do you need a room?" She said now looking at her other sister who was done fussy about with herself and started their way.

Piper ran her hand through her hair and it fell into place perfectly when she was done with the action. Phoebe and Paige withheld the urge to roll their eyes while Piper looked at a little Griffin. Mostly because they spent hours curling, drying and brushing theirs and had to use hairspray and moose to hold it in place, while Piper just straightened, brushed and went.

"I hate you," Phoebe said with a tilt to her head.

Piper turned and her expression fell, she couldn't stand it if they hated her for any reason. She had a flashback to when they got hit by the anger demon and they had a huge fight that almost destroyed them. She never felt so alone in her life and never wanted that to happen again.

Phoebe noticed her sisters falling features and could feel her worry," Piper I'm kidding," god you are so self-conscious."

"Am not, and why did you say that?"

"Because you just ran your hand through your hair and it fell into place, you never use hairspray, I'm Jealous not pissed," Phoebe answered laughing a little.

"Oh," Piper replied as her expression lifted.

"Talking about self-conscious, you were the one looking into the mirror for 20 minutes," Paige chimed in as she folded her arms.

"Don't you think Chris would like a G. or something?" Phoebe asks after a moment of pause as she adjusted her bright green blouse top and was trying to change the subject.

"I don't know Phoebe, considering he wanted to paint your toenails yesterday, maybe we should be looking for things in the doll shop next door." Paige answered.

"He was immolating you guys that's all," Piper chimed in defensive of her son.

Paige touches a couple of the three inches statues as she is walking past them. They start glowing green and come to life but none of them notice.

"Maybe he's going to be a painter like is Aunt Paige, "The dark heard woman said proudly.

Phoebe sees one of the little dragon statues fly past her and she covers her mouth trying to hold in a small scream.

"Well let's just hope he finds a day job," Piper said continuing to walk forward.

Phoebe is trying to grab the little flying dragon as the others walk forward unaware of what is going on behind them.

"Hay you can make a lot of money as an artist and they are a lot of fields out there that involve art," Paige replied defending her choice of career when she was younger.

Piper could see a little hurt in Paige's eyes and felt a wave of guilt come over her." Paige I didn't mean anything by that, and you are a great artist, why haven't you looked for work in that?"

"The pay sucks," Paige replied smiling and put her hand around her oldest sister.

Phoebe finally grabs the little Dragon, when another flying creature that looks like a Griffin about three inches high starts using its beak on her hands that held the other little creature.

"Ouch, stop it, stop it," Phoebe demanded softly trying not to alarm any of the other customers as her sisters walked away from her.

"Well at least he will have someone to teach him," Piper said as she leaned into Paige's side.

Phoebe is finally forced to open her hand but a pile of dust just siphoned through her fingers. The Griffin looks at her upset and started attacking her.

"It wasn't my fault," Phoebe said under her breath.

"How did you find this place?" Piper asks.

"I thought it was something different, you know sense Wyatt and Chris are so special."

"Guys," Phoebe's voice was low trying to get their attention.

"That reminds me, how is your nursery going?" Piper asks not hearing Phoebe.

"Guys," Phoebe called out again a little louder as she swatted at the Griffin.

"Ok, Henry is so excited; he actually likes going shopping with me for baby stuff."

"Yeah, Leo hated it, I mean not all of it, just most of it because I take forever when I shop."

"Hay," Phoebe said loud enough for them to hear her, as the little annoyed creature turned to dust but they still did not turn around as she stood there with her hands on her hips watching them walking. Phoebe heads towards them and grabbed their arms, leading them out of the store in a rush.

"Hay watch it sister we didn't find anything for Chris and Wyatt," Piper said a little irritated at Phoebe's actions.

All the sisters walked outside of the store and Phoebe made sure no one was around before speaking. "Are you people death?"

Piper looked at her middle sister up and down noticing her shirt was askew and her hands had little pick marks. "No, and why did you pull us out of there, and why are your hands bleeding, and what happened to your hair and."

"Ok Piper I think 3 questions is the limit," Paige said putting her hand on Piper's shoulder.

"Someone forgot about their little power," Phoebe said looking hard at Paige.

"What do you mean?"

"You touched some of the little statues and they came to life."

"Oh, god did anyone notice? Piper asks looking around.

"No, apparently everyone else in the store is oblivious to their surroundings as you guys are."

"You should have said something?" Piper said putting her hands on her hips.

Phoebe took a moment to digest her sister's question before she replied. "Oh sure I should have just screamed at the top of my lungs, saying I'm being attacked by miniatures."

"Sorry," Paige said wrinkling her face and looked down at the ground.

"Its okay honey, if I would have noticed I probably would have put everyone in a bubble," Piper said rubbing Paige's back.

"Maybe we should order the toy online," Phoebe suggested and began to walk away from the store.

"Sounds good," Piper answered and all three walk down the street, Piper pulls Paige towards her when they pass a statue of da Vinci's David.

"I wasn't going to touch it, although this new power has potential," Paige said eyeing down the statue.

A grayish smoke rose out of the floor and a small man about 3 feet formed out of the smoke looking very upset.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" The demon said with his arms folded.

Kara looks him over and starts to laugh a little as she backed up." I am now; I kind of didn't expect you to be in a leotard."

"Really, well apparently you can't read."

"Well apparently you can't come up with a better name," She answered getting a little angry.

"Oh you're going to be a fun one," He said as he opens up a bag and blows some black dust on her.

"What was that for?" Kara asks through coughs.

"You'll see," He said and disappears in a gray smoke.

"Crap."

What did the demon due to Kara and will it affect the whole household? Stay tuned to find out.

The grandfather clock stroke four as the three sisters came walking into the front door and put their purses on the Fourier table.

"Do you guys want a snack?" Piper asks.

"Nothing I'm having trouble keeping anything down," Paige answered while rubbing her belly.

"I remember those days, but you still have to eat."

"I'll just take a small sandwich," Phoebe replied.

All of them stop in their tracks when they see Kara come down the stairs to greet them. Paige looked down as she tried to hide a laugh, Piper just stared and Phoebe smiled wide.

"Oh honey are you trying to turn into a rabbit?" Piper finely spoke.

"What, No why?" Kara asks giving them all a sideways look.

"Because you have big bunny ears coming out of your head," Phoebe answered.

Kara walked over to the Fourier mirror. She had large white bunny ears taking the place of her normal ones and wrinkled her face while narrowing her eyes at herself. Then she remembered the twinkle toes incident and now was more worried on how Piper would handle her looking at the book without them.

"What am I going to do?" Kara asks hoping they would have an easy solution for her problem.

"Just turn yourself back," Paige suggested.

Kara looked away from all of them. "I can't."

"Yes you can just concentrate, you know find a happy place," Piper said as she walked past Kara heading for the kitchen.

"No I really can't I'm not the one who did it," Kara's voice was low hoping Piper would not hear her.

"What do you mean honey?" Paige asks.

"I might have or may not have made a big boo-boo," The young woman answered while playing with her hands.

"Piper stops and turns around with her hands on her hips." What do you mean a boo-boo?"

"I was looking at the book and."

"Wait you were looking at the book without us!" Piper's voice was rising as she walked back to the group.

Kara started backing up a little trying to hide behind Phoebe and Paige." That won't help Kara," Paige said in a whisper.

"OK, let's not get excited, Kara just tell us what you did," Phoebe asks trying to diffuse the situation.

"It's kind of funny in one way," Kara said as she forced a smile.

"That's how it starts," Piper said running her hand through her hair.

"So, Piper how are those anger management classes going?" Phoebe asks.

Piper took in a deep breath before she spoke." I'm OK its fine, just tell us what you did?"

"All I did was say this demons name."

"What that's not so bad we say their names all the time," Paige said.

"Well apparently this one doesn't like to be called," Kara answered while playing with her left ear.

"What was his name? Phoebe asks.

"I'd rather not say, considering my ear problem."

"Fine then you can show us," Piper said but before anyone could head up the stairs, Leo came through the front door clearly upset about something.

Piper saw her husband hard look. "Leo what's?

"Women, they have it so easy."

"What? Paige asks.

"I wanted an hour for a cab because every time a woman came out and flicked her hair or pushed out her chest the cab went to them."

"That's ridiculous," Piper said rolling her eyes.

"No it's not Piper," Leo said and looked at Kara. "Are you trying to turn?"

"NO, I'm not," Kara replied cutting him off and headed up stares.

"Men have it so much easier than women," Piper said.

"Well I can see I'm out numbered and now I'm late for my golf outing, can I take the car?"

"Sure we need to fix Kara anyway, and honey if you need a golf cart just flick your heir who knows maybe the guy will be gay," Piper said smiling.

Leo took the keys from Piper's hand ignoring the last comment, and stormed out of the house. Piper took a deep breath knowing he will continued this argument when he got home and made her way to the attic with the rest of her sisters.

"Did you not see the title of the page?" Paige asks pointing at the title.

"Yes but I ignored it, I didn't think it was serious, and now I'm being turned into Roger rabbit," Kara answered.

Piper was pacing the room." Paige what does it say about him?"

"It says that he is very defensive about his name, I can see why. He is a mischief daemon although he cannot kill you are harm you physically, he can perform some magic more like practical jokes, but they can become dangerous depending on the person."

"What the hell does that mean?" Phoebe asks as she put her hand in front of Piper and stopped her from pacing.

"It means after I turn into a rabbit I could bite your heads off," Kara replied.

"Come again?" Paige asks.

"You know like the white rabbit in search of the holy grill," Kara answered annoyed that they did not get her movie metaphor.

Piper just looked at Kara not sure what she meant and decided not to keep going down that rabbit hole. "We still need to vanquish him to get rid of Mrs. Lucky over there's problem."

"We may have a problem with that; it looks like he can't be vanquished. You just have to let the curse play through for 24 hours."

Phoebe felt a hard slap on her face and the sound of skin hitting skin made them all turn around. "Ouch, who did that?"

"Who did what?" Piper asks confused.

"Someone slapped me," Phoebe answered while rubbing her red cheek.

"No one is even near you," Paige added.

"Ok, then who?" Phoebe replied looking at all of them.

"Wait what did you feel before the slap?" Paige asks.

"Yeah Piper's anger," Phoebe said giving her older sister a good hard look.

"Oh come on, are you kidding me," Piper replied but moved away from Phoebe.

"It makes sense, she has empathy so making the emotional physical would be a good practical joke," Paige said as she flipped through the book.

"That's not funny," Phoebe said and then grabbed her arm."Ouch who pinched me?"

"What did you feel before that happened?" Paige asks.

Phoebe thought back for a moment. "Guilt," She answered looking at Kara.

"Great," Kara said looking away from her.

"Ok we all need to keep are emotions in check so Phoebe doesn't start looking like a battered wife," Paige added.

"So I have to walk around with large bunny ears all day?"

"Well next time wait for us and don't leave the house today," Piper said as she walks to the far wall trying to get some distance between her and Phoebe. The thought of causing physical pain to her middle sister almost made her nauseous but she was trying hard not to laugh at Kara as she scratched her ear causing it to bend down a little.

"Now I'm being tickled," Phoebe said as she laughed and squirmed.

"It's better than being hit. Well I need to go, Henry and I are picking out cribs today," Paige said and headed for the door out of the attic.

"Wait missy Paige, are you feeling odd?" Phoebe asks.

"Nope I feel fine," She answered and continued out the door.

"I need to go make something to eat, Kara would you like a caret?" Piper said smiling at her.

Kara did not say anything and just pushed her lips together trying to keep herself calm for Phoebe. Piper and Phoebe left the attic leaving Kara alone.

"I'll be fine, don't worry about me," Kara said looking up at the ceiling, "Your mean."

Piper was descending the stairs when she stopped suddenly holding on to the bannister as a wave of dizziness hit her. She was about to tumble down the steps when Phoebe grabbed her from behind and lowed her gingerly, letting Piper rest her back on Phoebe's chest. "Piper, Piper are you ok?"

Leo was about to tee off at the 9th hole when he felt a wave of dizziness hit him. He dropped his club and fell hard on the soft green grass. Tom ran to his aid and checked his pulse. "Leo you ok man?"

Leo opened her eyes slowly and blinked a few times before she looked into Phoebe's worried eyes. "Piper are you ok? Phoebe asks softly.

"Phoebe?" Leo replied confused.

"Yeah sweetie it's me, what happened?"

"I don't know, I was just about to tee off when I passed out," Leo replied as he stood up as Phoebe helped him.

"Tee off, what are you talking about Piper?

"Pipe? It's Leo," He answered annoyed.

"Oh god you guys switched body's again," Phoebe replied throwing her hands in the air.

"What no we didn't."

"Leo look down."

Leo looked down and saw he had breast. "OH god that means Piper is at the 9th hole."

"Call her."

"Ok where is Piper's phone," Leo asks while running down the steps.

Back at the golf course Piper started waking up in Leo's body. "Leo you ok? A man asks that she somewhat recognized. "Tom?"

"Yeah what happened?

"I don't know," Piper replied and looked down at herself." Dammit!" she said through her teeth as she knew exactly what happened.

"Hay maybe you should sit down, we need to take a brake anyway," Tom suggested as he helped her to the golf cart when her phone rang. "Hold that thought," She asks as she answered her phone. "Leo?"

"Piper?

"What did you do?" Piper asks her husband.

"What me, I'm mortal remember," Leo answered angrily.

Phoebe backed away from him because she could feel his frustration build and did not what to get hit again.

"Dam demon," Piper said as she tried to get into the cart as Tom was getting Leo's clubs from the tee.

"What do we do?" Leo asks.

"Nothing we have to let it play out for 24 hours," Piper answered.

"Well that sucks."

"Wait there's more, you need to pick up Alex and go shopping today, she has an interview and she asks me to help her."

"What are you kidding me, Piper I can't?"

"Leo she really needs this job and I promised, She will be there around 5 so be ready to go."

"I don't know everything about woman's clothes Piper."

"Just look for something I would wear to an interview and it should be fine, no flannel."

"Fine, well you need to stay and finish the round of golf because this guy has contacts that could help the club."

"Fine, but your score is going to suck," Piper finished and hung up the phone and sat down as Tom got in. "Ready?" he asks.

"Sure," Piper replied but looked away from him wrinkling her face.

To be continued