Chapter 34: Witch Way Now? – Part 1
Halliwell Manor
Willow sat at her laptop as her family stood around her. She had been hacking into government computers for the last hour setting up a new identity for Buffy. As a result, she had to change Patty's date of death slightly. "Okay," she said as she turned to look at Buffy, Tara, Piper, Paige and Phoebe. "I left a paper trail showing Prue died when Buffy was placed in her body. To explain away the absence of a grave I had it so she was cremated."
"Probably a wise idea," agreed Piper.
"Now I had to go in and adjust your mom's date of death a little," Willow continued. "From the time you were born, Paige, till Patty died was only five months. Not enough time for a baby to come to term. So, I had to adjust Patty's date of death so it now took place about ten months after Paige's birth. The reason to change her date of death was because of the Powers. Remember despite being in Prue's body, they de-aged Buffy to around her original age so as to give her the same lifespan she might have had originally. Which meant Buffy had to be younger than Paige."
"So, what is my birthday then?" Buffy asked.
"I kept the actual day and only changed the month and year, June 20th, 1978," answered Willow as she smiled at Buffy. "While there is no actual mention of Paige's birth parents on her original birth certificate. It kind of makes it so you have the same parents as she does."
"Which means from a legal standpoint," Paige said as she looked at Buffy. "You and I are now full sisters instead of half-sisters. Since mom and her Whitelighter would have been yours instead of mom and Victor."
"That's right," said Willow. "It also makes you the baby of the family just like what Patty referred to you as when you first met her, Buffy."
"So what name was finally chosen?" Tara asked.
"That was left up to my sisters," Buffy said as she looked at Piper, Phoebe and Paige.
"We talked," said Phoebe. "And I agreed to the name suggested by Piper and Paige. Payson Elizabeth. A name that acknowledges both families."
"What about the last name?" Buffy wondered.
"Since Paige was adopted, it made sense that you would be as well since you would be born after her," Willow explained as she smiled at Buffy. "So, I changed yours and Dawn's last names as well as mine and Tara's since we changed ours when Grams married us."
"And?" Buffy prodded.
"I gave you a last name you know all too well," Willow said as she smiled at Buffy, "Summers. You are now Buffy and Dawn Summers adopted older sister. Which kind of gives you an excuse for why you gave Dawn her name."
"Which means as far as anyone is concerned, I would have named my daughter after one of my adopted sisters who died," Buffy said with a nod. She looked toward her sisters. "What do you guys think?"
"I think I speak for the three of us," said Piper. "That we have no problem with you using your old last name. We know its pretty much just a name on paper and that you like Paige are definitely a Halliwell."
"In a few days or so you should be getting a new birth certificate, social security card and driver's license with all the new information," Willow said as she smiled at her wife. "The only problem is your job. I hacked into 415's computers and changed your employment records to show your new name. But it's the people you worked with. They're still going to think your Prue."
"Which means casting a spell on them," Buffy said with a sigh. "Which could wind up with personal gain consequences. Or I try and pass it off as just another day of them seeing me as someone I'm not supposed to be."
One Week Later
Bay Mirror Newspaper
"Our next caller is from Rohnert Park, California. Veronica, honey, tell Tashmin a little and I will tell you the rest."
Phoebe shook her head at the psychic on the television and turned to her office door as Willow, who had gotten a job as her new assistant, entered.
"Hey, more Dear Phoebe letters," Willow announced carrying a full box. "Where do you want them?"
"Oh, you can just put them anywhere, honey," Phoebe replied with a shrug.
"Phoebe," Willow whispered. "Honey should be left at home. Only our family knows about that connection, remember?"
"Sorry, Will," Phoebe said as she looked up at her daughter. "Kind of gotten into that habit. Besides I have to admit its nice having my daughter work with me."
"And it's nice working with my mom," Willow said as she smiled at Phoebe. She looked around the messy office. "It looks like some of these should go in storage," she suggested as she made space on the desk and planted the box there.
"No." Phoebe refused, "I'll get to them."
"All of them?"
"Yes." Phoebe smiled, "I am on a roll."
"Is finding out I'm your daughter the reason you are on a roll?" Willow wondered.
"Well you do provide some inspiration," Phoebe admitted as she smiled at her daughter. "Will you get these to Elise, please?" She handed over a handful of answered letters. "And find out which one she wants to run."
"No, problem," Willow chirped happily. She was about to head out the door when she heard…
"Help me, Phoebe. Help me, Willow."
Willow turned back toward Phoebe. "Did you hear that?" she asked as Phoebe nodded. The two women turned to the TV. Their eyes widened at Tashmin's shaking form and white eyes.
"Help me, Phoebe. Help me, Willow," Tashmin said again, her voice growing strangely like Cole's.
"Get those to Elise," Phoebe said. "Then tell her we're working from home for the rest of the day."
Halliwell Manor
"Did they say how much longer this was going to go on for?" Tara questioned in regards to the ongoing construction work directly outside of their house.
"Three weeks," Piper replied. "Which means three months. A little higher." She directed to Leo who was trying to hang a framed picture.
"Well, better hope no demons attack," Paige commented as Tara moved away from the window. "That'd be a bust, especially if one of us goes flying out of the window."
"I wouldn't worry about that too much," Leo advised her. "There's so much chaos in the underworld. They're too busy fighting each other."
"Well, I hope it lasts," Piper wished and Paige smiled. "I almost forgot what it's like to lead a normal life."
"Jerks!" Buffy's voiced seethed as she threw open the door and slammed it loudly behind her.
Tara, Piper and Paige jumped in fright at the noise, Leo almost dropping the picture.
"What's wrong?" Tara asked when her fuming wife came storming into the room.
"Thought you were off to work?" Paige questioned with a frown and Buffy glowered. "What?"
"I tried," Buffy huffed. "But the damn construction workers are blocking my car in and won't move it!"
Piper chuckled. "Did you ask them too?"
Buffy stomped over to her and folded her arms roughly across her chest. "Yes," she snapped with a glare. "They replied with some bullshit about needing the machine there for another hour then they can move it!"
Leo shrugged. "Well, that sounds reasonable enough...to...me." he trailed off when he caught sight of Buffy shaking her head at him. "What did I say?"
"I have a shoot in twenty minutes, Leo. I can't wait an hour," Buffy said with a sigh. "I'm going to have to try and reschedule and hope they go along with it."
"They'll reschedule," he called after Buffy as she walked toward the kitchen and the phone. He returned to try hanging the picture shaking his head. "Well I'm going to need a ladder if you want it any higher, Piper."
"Leo, just hover." Paige instructed rolling her eyes.
"No, no, no, no." Piper chastised, shaking her head. "I don't want to jinx anything. I'd rather we not use magic unless we absolutely have too. As it is, we've been lucky demons haven't been coming after our niece for not becoming the new Source."
"I have to agree with Piper," said Tara. "I would rather we not risk demons coming after Willow."
"Both of you need to relax," Paige said. "There is enough magic in this house to make it so that Willow is protected. So, I say use it or lose it."
Leo's eyes met his wife's questioningly and she sighed before giving him a reluctant nod. He rose up into the air and placed the picture, glancing behind him for approval.
"That's fine," the three sisters and Tara assured him together so he marked the wall and came back down.
"Ah, see?" Paige smirked. "No major disasters struck."
The door slammed once again and the four of them turned to meet Willow and Phoebe's wide eyes.
"We have a huge problem," Phoebe said as Buffy returned.
Piper leaned closer to Paige. "You were saying?"
Paige narrowed her eyes and jabbed Piper with her finger.
"Cole tried contacting us," Phoebe announced falling onto the couch.
"What, more whisperings?" Tara asked from next to Leo. "Like when he told you how to break the spell on Willow?"
Willow looked at her wife. "No, this time he was channeling," she informed Tara, removing her coat. "Through a TV psychic while mom and I were at work."
Tara, Buffy, Piper and Paige frowned.
"He sounded so desperate," Phoebe sympathized.
"Wait," Piper spoke up nervously. "Did anybody else notice?"
"Thankfully just us," Willow answered.
"As much as I want Willow to get to know her father," Phoebe said. "How am I supposed to move on with my life when I keep being haunted by his afterlife?"
"Leo, what do you think?" Piper asked her husband, seeking guidance.
"I think you need to do something, fast," Leo replied firmly.
"No, I mean how is he holding on?" Piper rephrased.
Leo shrugged. "I don't know. I guess because he's half-demon, it must be some kind of astral plane."
"Does that mean since I'm half-demon that I will go to the same place Cole did?" Willow asked suddenly worried as Buffy and Tara moved to her pulling her into their arms comfortingly.
"We'll make sure that doesn't happen," Phoebe soothed her daughter. She turned back to her sisters and Leo. "We can't risk him contacting either of us again. I have to figure out a way to get to him and find out what he wants for both mine and Willow's sakes."
"I don't mean to be insensitive, Pheebs," Buffy said. "But what then? We all know exactly what he wants, you. You and Willow, his family. His wife and his daughter."
"Buffy does have a point, mom," agreed Willow. "Which begs the question do you want Cole back?"
Phoebe met her daughter's gaze then looked down. She didn't want to hurt Willow but she was sure she would rather put Cole behind her. When she looked back up, she frowned, her eyes on Tara and Leo's frozen forms. "Piper?"
"Hm?"
"Why is Tara and Leo frozen?" Phoebe asked, pointing to Leo and Tara and her three sisters and her daughter spun around.
Piper frowned and approached her husband slowly, waving her hand in front of his face to no avail. "Well this is very strange. Especially since Tara is a good witch, she shouldn't be frozen."
Buffy's eyes narrowed, "Uh...why is it so quiet?" she asked aloud, moving slowly towards the nearest window. Pulling back the drapes she gasped, "Oh, dear god."
"What?" Piper barked tensely, her gut churning again. "What is it?" she repeated joining her sister by the window. "What's—Oh my god!" she yelped seeing what her sister was seeing.
Willow, Paige and Phoebe traded worried looks before rushing over to them.
"Uh-oh," Paige bit her lip while Willow and Phoebe's jaws fell.
"Everyone is frozen," Piper stated slowly, glancing over all the construction workers.
"Everything is frozen," Buffy corrected nodding towards the birds in the sky and the helicopter. "Since Piper doesn't have the power to freeze Tara due to her being a good witch…"
"And since I can't freeze all that out there as well," Piper added. "The question is who or what did."
"I did."
Willow and the four sisters whipped around towards the source of that voice and found an old man, with grey hair and matching robes standing in their living room.
"Who are you?" Phoebe demanded.
"I'm the Angel of Destiny," their guest announced taking a step towards them. "And I've come to change yours."
Willow and Phoebe stared at him with wide eyes. Paige turned to meet Phoebe's gaze skeptically. Piper nodded once and Buffy narrowed her eyes, tilting her head.
That was unexpected.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"He's not freezing," Paige stated the obvious as the four sisters and Willow shuffled backwards into the conservatory; Buffy and Willow up front, Piper behind them, followed by Paige and Phoebe at the rear.
"Why isn't he freezing?" Paige cried.
Piper dropped her hand and slapped Buffy on the hip. "Stop him!"
Buffy held up one hand but her power had no effect on him. "I can't!" she growled through gritted teeth.
"You're wasting your time," the Angel of Destiny announced impatiently.
"Oh!" Phoebe yelped as her legs hit the coffee table and she fell onto it, pulling Paige with her who latched onto Piper in the hopes of staying on her feet but only caused Piper to wobble, she gripped Buffy who had ahold of Willow and they swayed.
"I am beyond your powers," the Angel explained as Phoebe and Paige jumped to their feet and Phoebe pushed the coffee table out of their way, Willow and the sisters only stopping when they reached the chairs, nowhere else to go. "Besides, I pose no threat to you."
Piper scoffed. "Well forgive us for not believing that, but the last being we met who could freeze time was a demon."
Phoebe placed her hands on her hips, nodding sharply in agreement.
"Actually it's because of a demon that I've come to see you," the Angel informed them. "Which in and of itself, is very rare. We Angels of Destiny normally don't intervene—except in extraordinary situations." He amended himself swiftly, "Mozart at age seven. Michelangelo, Albert Einstein..." the Angel's face fell, "...Britney Spears."
Paige frowned in confusion, "Huh?"
"I don't understand," Phoebe informed him, shaking her head.
"You four have accomplished something few others ever dream of," the Angel explained to them. "By vanquishing the Source of All Evil, you have fulfilled your shared destiny much earlier than anticipated."
"I'm not saying I don't believe what you're saying," Willow said as she motioned toward Tara and Leo. "If this was about Buffy, Piper, Phoebe and Paige. Why am I not frozen like Tara and Leo?"
"Because your destiny was tied to theirs," he answered. "They had a choice. Vanquish you. Let you become the Source and let you assume your throne. Or save you from turning evil and assume your rightful place as the daughter of a Charmed One. We both know which one was chosen. If they vanquished you, that ended either destiny completely. Your destiny as the Source was to unite the Underworld as the most powerful ruler it had ever seen. The destiny you are currently on as the daughter of a Charmed One is wide open to you. But only depending on what your mother, wife and aunts choose." He turned back to the sisters. "Truth be told some of us didn't think you'd ever achieve your destiny at all," he mumbled averting his gaze. "But that's really beside the point."
"So that means, assuming we were to believe you," Phoebe said. "That Willow won't have to worry about the Source, it's vanquished forever? She can no longer assume the throne of the Underworld?"
"That is correct," he answered. "Now the point is you have vanquished the Source and because of that, we are offering the five of you a reward," the Angel placated quickly.
"Five?" said Willow confused.
"As I said your destiny is tied to theirs. So, it was agreed that any reward offered to the four of them would include you as a way of saying we are sorry for the hand you were dealt. Now as I was saying we are offering the five of you a reward. A chance to chart a new destiny, one of your own design."
"A reward?" Paige sought, sharing everyone's skepticism.
The Angel nodded. "You can continue to remain as you are, Charmed, vested with all your witchy powers...and of course demonic burdens." Was his first offer and Piper looked at her sisters and her niece with a deep breath. "Or..." the Angel tempted slowly.
Phoebe leaned forwards expectantly, eyebrows raised while Piper pressed, "Or...?"
"You can choose to relinquish your magic and lead normal lives again."
Phoebe's eyes cut to Piper's sharply, knowing how much her older sister desperately wanted her normal life back. Buffy met Piper's gaze again slowly and instantly saw the hope in her eyes. She switched to Willow and Phoebe who just looked astonished while Paige seemed a little less enthusiastic.
"Unencumbered," the Angel continued his spiel. "Free. We'd wipe the entire slate clean. Nobody would ever come after any of you again." The Angel smiled at them and asked, "Well, what do you say?"
"What...do we say?" Piper exclaimed, "Are you kidding? You can't just freeze the whole world and come in here and drop a bombshell like that and expect a quick decision! I, I, I don't care who you are."
"I don't think you quite grasp the uniqueness of this opportunity," the Angel informed them tersely.
"No!" Piper countered pointing a finger at him, "I'm, I'm graspin' it!"
Buffy took Willow's hand and looked at her wife as if to say, I will side with whatever you decide. Willow smiled at Buffy appreciatively.
Willow turned and addressed the Angel of Destiny, "I can assure you; we understand how unique this is. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity but that is exactly why you need to give us some time," she demanded. "We need to think about this."
Paige frowned and turned to Willow sharply. "Thank about what?" she turned back to the Angel and promptly replied. "No time needed. Thanks, but no thanks." She refused then turned to her three sisters and her niece with narrowed eyes. "Right?"
"Yeah, right." Phoebe agreed suddenly with a nervous chuckle, "Of course right."
"I'm on the fence, Paige," said Willow. "On the one hand I almost became the Source. On the other I do like having magic."
"I'll go with whatever Willow decides," Buffy said.
"I think, Willow's suggestion," said Phoebe looking at her daughter and her sisters. "Is the correct one. We need to talk about it. Over there?" She pointed to the table nearer the window and away from the Angel's prying ears.
Paige continued to stand defiantly while Buffy, Willow and Piper moved towards the table.
"Right, right over here, please. Now," Phoebe insisted pulling on Paige's arm sharply.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"You can't be serious, Phoebe," Paige exclaimed bewildered. "You of all people, you love being a witch."
"I know I do," Phoebe agreed as she perched on the edge of the table. "But I—"
"But what?" Paige interrupted, "What has changed?"
"Oh, I don't know." Phoebe threw up her hands, "I became queen of the underworld." She reminded her sister snappily. "That's what changed, Paige. The only bright spot in all that was Willow, my daughter. And being able to see the beautiful woman she became."
Piper glanced towards Buffy who was staring at the Angel who was standing at one of the large windows pretending not to be listening.
"Paige," Piper sighed as Paige turned to her. "It's just that we've been doing this a lot longer than you have. And Buffy technically longer than either Phoebe or I. I'm not trying to discount all the good that we've done or that we could do," she assured her when Paige went to speak. "But at the same time, I'm not going to minimize the costs."
"What costs?" Willow asked having missed the conversation between Paige and Piper.
Taking a deep breath Piper met her niece's eyes. "I can't get pregnant, Willow, because of what we do."
"Oh, Aunt Piper," Willow said as her eyes filled with tears for her aunt. "I'm so sorry." She took a step toward Piper and pulled the older woman into her arms.
"Thanks, Willow," Piper said as she smiled at her niece. When Willow released her, she turned back to Paige. "Punching demons just isn't as much fun as it used to be," she admitted quietly.
"Baby," said Willow as she turned Buffy to look at her. "I want you to be honest with me."
"As I said I will side with whatever you decide," said Buffy. "But when I was set to sacrifice myself for Dawn. I was ready for this to all be over. I was doing this as a Slayer for five years and now as a witch with Slayer powers for a year. If I'm to be honest with myself I don't know if I can do this for the rest of my life."
Paige frowned and she faltered slightly before clearing her throat and meeting each of her sisters' and her niece's eyes, "So what are you guys saying?" she questioned tightly.
"They're saying you need some time," the Angel answered instead, approaching the girls. "Which I'll grant but not too much time." He warned them, "After all, other people's destinies are tied to yours and Willow's."
Buffy's eyes narrowed when she didn't miss his not-so-subtle glance first at Tara and then at the ceiling to indicate Dawn.
"As far as the Charmed Ones destiny, majority will rule," the Angel explained to them. "Three sisters will decide the fate of all four. As for you Willow, while you can ask Buffy and Tara for advice, your decision must be yours alone. So, consider your choice wisely." The Angel turned to leave and Buffy sprang forward.
"Wait uh..." Buffy clasped her hands together in front of her and took a deep breath, "I have a question."
The Angel smiled, "Yes, my dear?"
"Um...if we take your offer—if," she stressed when he arched an eyebrow. "What will it mean for our children? For Dawn?"
"We anticipated this question. We are willing to give you one boon, Buffy. For technically you have completed two destinies both in your original lifetime as well as in this one. If you accept, Dawn will lose her powers as well," the Angel answered. "Along with her Charmed destiny and she will grow up normal, with two normal parents and a normal life."
Buffy nodded slowly. "No vampires? No demons?"
The Angel shook his head. "No vampires. No demons."
Buffy released a breath of relief and smiled weakly. "Okay, thank you."
The Angel smiled at her then turned, stopping by the coffee table. "Perhaps what happens next will help you to decide," he suggested.
As soon as he was gone the construction noise began once more, Buffy's cell phone chirped loudly and she hurried to answer it.
"Hey!" Leo entered the room looking less than happy, "Did you just freeze me?" he demanded pointing an accusatory finger at his wife.
"She couldn't have," Tara said coming up beside him. "I think I was frozen also, Leo."
"Tara is correct," Piper replied. "The Angel of Destiny did."
"Oh, oh, hold on," Buffy muttered to herself as she finally fished her cell from her purse. "Payson Summers." She listened as Darryl questioned who she was. "Sorry, Darryl. It's Buffy. I'm trying to separate myself as my own person from Prue. That's why the name change. Each part of my new name is in homage to who I am. Payson because I am Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Paige's sister. Elizabeth because of my name as Buffy can be used as a nickname for Elizabeth and Summers because of my original family. I assume your calling isn't to ask about my new name."
"Who?" Leo questioned with a frown eyes on his wife
"Yeah, you better check with the Elders and make sure he's for real." Piper advised him, her eyes on her baby sister whose frown was deepening. When she failed to hear the jingle of orbs Piper looked over at her husband. "I'm not kiddin'," she assured him with a smile and he orbed out.
"What?" Buffy questioned loudly down the phone and her family turned to her in alarm, "Darryl, what are you talking about?"
"Apparently, you guys are about to be put under surveillance," Darryl explained.
Buffy's eyes widened and she turned to her sisters and her wives open-mouthed, "Surveillance? Why?"
"What?" Piper asked tensely as she slid up to her sister's side with a frown.
Buffy waved everyone over and stabbed button on her phone violently, activating the speakerphone so Darryl's voice could be heard by all.
"An FBI agent named Jackman called Darryl into his office today," Darryl explained to them. "He did a search on unsolved cases. Apparently, your names came up on way too many witness lists. As have Willow and Tara's in Sunnydale. Look, I don't know what this guy's game is so please, be careful. I'm going to try to find out what he knows."
"We will, thanks, Darryl," Buffy replied just before the dial tone sounded.
Paige looked between her family, hands on her hips, "So are we screwed?"
"Possibly," Piper answered. "But then that would take destiny out of our hands and I don't think that's what the Angel meant."
Phoebe smacked Piper's arm. "Ix-nay on the angel-nay talk," she reprimanded then pulled on Piper's arm, "Let's go upstairs. Come on."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Outside the Manor a white SFB Telecom van pulled up across the street and a medium height, brown haired apparent construction worker jumped out. He moved towards the back of the van and climbed inside.
The back was filled with technical equipment. The man slid on a pair of headphones and settled into the only chair, flipping a switch and bringing the machines to life. The small screen in front of him flared to life and the Manor appeared on screen. He clicked the mouse and the view zoomed in closer.
"I still don't understand how coming up here is going to help." Paige's voice filled the small space and he adjusted the volume of his earphones.
"Actually, it's pretty simple." Phoebe's voice replied before loud metal music blasted in his ear and he quickly turned the volume down and tried to bring their voices back, to no avail.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"So, you guys have been home all day, right?" Phoebe asked her three sisters, Willow and Tara, who now held Dawn in her arms, as she increased the volume on the stereo further and positioned it at the attic window.
Dawn began to cry at the loud noise, so Tara took her downstairs.
"Unfortunately." Buffy sighed.
"Do I even want to know?" Willow asked as she looked at Buffy
"Couldn't get to my shoot because of the construction work," Buffy grumbled. "I had to call and reschedule."
"Anyways," Piper said bringing them back to Phoebe's question. "So?"
"There's no way he would have had time to bug the inside of the house," Phoebe explained turning back to them. "He's got to be listening from the outside."
Willow grinned at her mother proudly. "Look at you go, Nancy Drew."
Phoebe smiled at her daughter. "Thank you, sweetheart," she chirped stopping behind the Book of Shadows.
"Is it ironic that here we are presented with the opportunity to give up our powers, and now we suddenly can't even use them?" Piper wondered aloud as she, Buffy, Willow and Paige joined Phoebe by the book.
"Except not using our powers doesn't necessarily mean that we won't be exposed," Phoebe pointed out smartly. "We still have Cole to worry about."
Paige shook her head, "Phoebe you can't make contact with a dead demon husband."
Willow moved beside her mother. "But if mom and I don't then Cole will. Not that I don't want to get to know Cole as he is my father. But what then? The FBI is outside and if they find out about us…"
"It's going to be the same thing as last year," Phoebe added turning pointedly towards Buffy. "We don't want that now do we?"
"Which part?" Buffy asked. "Me being put in Prue's body or her dying?"
"More her dying," answered Phoebe. "Out of the two things, I am happy to have you as a sister, Buffy. And if I had to choose, I would choose to have you both in my life." She started flipping the pages till she came to what she was looking for. "So... Willow and I are going to cast the To Find a Lost Love spell. I mean, if Cole's soul is on some astral plane, it should astral us there, right?"
"I mean no offense, Pheebs," Buffy said. "But I am not sure how I like my wife being unconscious right now."
"Buffy, I need answers too," Willow pleaded with her wife.
"Alright," Buffy said resignedly. "But be careful."
"Promise," Willow said as she kissed Buffy.
Paige bit her lip apprehensively, "Um...are you sure he even has a soul?"
"Well, what else would be calling out to us?" Phoebe asked and Paige had no answer. She averted her eyes to the book and stated quietly, "Cole needs closure...and so do I."
"So, do I," Willow added. "I mean I want to get to know him. But he is dead so we need to be able to move on and we can't do that if he is haunting us."
Piper met Phoebe and Willow's gazes and sighed in defeat. "Paige and I will create a distraction outside in case your spell inside creates any fireworks."
"And I will stay here in case either Phoebe or Willow need help," Buffy said.
Paige met Phoebe and Willow's eyes from the doorway. "Be careful," she warned them. Phoebe and Willow nodded in silent promise.
Author's Note: Willow hacking into government computers (instead of a spell like was done in Charmed Season 8 when Piper, Phoebe and Paige needed new identities) is kind of a nod to the BTVS episode Earshot where it was said that Willow had hacked into the FBI.