Piper got up and left Leo for another moment's sleep. It had been a hard night on everyone. The club looked pretty good, the boys surely kept on working long hours still after they had fallen asleep. She went to Sam to give her the day off, after all she deserved it and tonight was probably going to be calmed anyway, she knocked on the door but there was no answer. She opened it slowly.

"Sam? Are you… decent?" she chuckled. "Oh my God! What are you doing here?" asked Piper to Wyatt who was half-tangled in the covers and there was clothes thrown around. "No, don't wanna know, just…get dressed" she left the room.

"What's with all the shouting?" said Leo still stretching as he walked to her.

"Your son took advantage of my waitress"

"Wait, what?!" said Leo confused.

"Mom is no big deal!" said Wyatt still pulling his shirt on.

"Oh, I see" said Leo patting his son on the back as he sat next to him. "Piper. They're young. These things happen"

"Better not make a habit out of it" she said furiously. "Especially not here. It's a club not a brothel"

"Mom, it's not like that!" he made a pause, embarrassed of what he was about to confess. "I think I'm falling for her"

"What? You barely know her! I barely know her!" she turned her head around. "Where is she anyway? I got some stuff to tell her too"

"Piper, please." Said Leo. "Take it easy on both of them. We were young once" he smiled.

"Way too different mister!"

"She's gone" said Wyatt. "Can't sense her anywhere around the club in or out" he orbed out to find her. He would go to the manor and try scrying for her, which was a stupid idea altogether; she was not a lost witch.

"Not so different if he's this obsessed" said Leo picking a box of spread out toothpicks.

"She's a great girl and all but…Wyatt's got…"

"A heart like everyone else's, Piper. We can't expect him never to find love because he has a destiny, haven't we learned that by now?"

"I know" she couldn't help but worry.

"Hey…got something to clean up for us…?" Smiled Phoebe and Coop as they walked down the stairs into the club. Phoebe stood where the boys had the previous night and Coop's ring began to shine.

"That's odd. My ring's picking on a trace, but I ha…" Phoebe threw herself at him and kissed him passionately. "Honey, control yourself" he tried to pull her off of him gently. Phoebe breathed hard and fanned herself with her bag. Piper put a bucket of ice on the counter reluctantly.

"Here. Keep it together woman. You were saying Coop" he took a couple deep breaths before he could go on. He even took a piece of ice to chew on while talking.

"My ring is picking on a love trace. Strong one to leave this scent even Phoebe could pick up on it, must be fresh." He stared at Leo

"Ah, don't look at me. Apparently, the torch's been passed."

"Wyatt?" said Phoebe. "Chris?"

"Wyatt and Sam slept together last night" Leo explained.

"Look, my ring doesn't lie. They're meant to be" Piper still looked beyond troubled by the whole idea.

"Piper, I'm telling you, it's not lust I'm feeling. My heart hurts. I feel like I could cry. It's a rush"

"First love" completed cupid.

"But about personal gain? He orbed his butt to chase her. Apparently, she ran off"

"She's probably just scared. These feelings are pretty strong" said Phoebe.

"We can't really accuse him of personal gain I used heaven and earth to find you, to save you, to be with you, remember?" Leo said to Piper.

"Yes, but we were pardoned for a reason. Don't want him punished by the Elders or something"

"We better go find him first" said Phoebe. She put her hand on the counter to grab her purse and accidentally grabbed the towel with Sam's blood on it. She had a premonition of Sam in a meadow, her hair rustled by the wind, bearing the triquetra on her chest and pregnant. "We better hurry" she said without another word.

When they arrived at the manor, Wyatt was indeed tried to scry for her but he had nothing to go on from. Weeks went by and everyone could see how hard this was on Wyatt. He had been very quiet and not his usual self. He used to be very playful with Chris and now he spent a lot of time in his room whenever they weren't working or studying. Piper, Phoebe and Paige had kept the premonition to themselves and were still puzzling on why she had had it in the first place. It didn't seem to dictate saving her from anything so far and she was still MIA.

Closing the fifth week of no contact with Sam, everything went by quite as normal as it ever did. Wyatt however was still in low moods. Piper tried to cheer him up by teaching him some tricks from the Book of Shadows which always used to work, but it was a total dud and they ended up with all flasks filled with unnecessary stuff.

Then, it was Chris' turn to try and cheer him up.

"Shall we practice battle? Last time I almost kicked your ass!" said Chris punching the air.

"Nah, you know what? Let's get out of here!' said Wyatt grabbing Chris' keys. "I'm driving"

"My car?" he followed his brother. "No more parking tickets you hear?" They drove not too far from the house when one of the tires blew. Wyatt and Chris saw a car shop nearby and pushed the car the rest of the way. "If this doesn't cheer you up what will?" he joked.

"I wish everyone would just let me be"

"We're just worried about you, bro. That's all" they arrived and Chris delivered the car. "It's just…I'm not sure how much I want to get over her just now"

"Look I saw some ice cream place a few blocks by. May I have one?"

"Buy your own!"

"You blew my tire!"

"I…fine, but you're paying for your tire"

"Disadvantage? Will it cheer you up?" he insisted. Wyatt gave a grunt of desperation not much unlike Piper's.

"I'll buy you the damn thing, give me a break!" he grabbed him and messed up his hair. Both brothers walked towards the ice cream place. Once they got there and bought a vanilla single each, they sat by the window.

"Come on, man. Enjoy the view! That old man reading the paper looks kind of hot" He made Wyatt laugh. "See? Umh…The U-haul truck might be full of clowns…"both stared. Shinning in the sun was a long red haired woman signing off the boxes. Before Chris could say anything, Wyatt was already crossing the street. He went after him. The woman had already entered the Opening Soon store, according to the sign on the door and was nowhere to be seen. The boys went in but stepped aside as the movers set more piles of boxes inside.

"Miss? These are the last. We just need one more sign from you" shouted the mover-man. An echoed coming was heard along with footsteps.

"What are you doing here?" said Sam as she reached the landing.

"Your signature?" said the U-haul man.

"Oh, no, not you, sorry." She signed and the man left. She closed the door after him. "Chris, Wyatt, Hi" she shook their hands. "What are you doing here?" she asked yet again. "Let me unpack the chairs" she said searching around for them.

"Changed your hair" said Wyatt, hands in his pockets.

"Yeah" she smiled faintly, putting her hair to the side. It is curlier than it used to be.

"I think you two might have a lot to talk about so I'm just gonna…" started Chris.

"Oh, don't be silly, Chris. What's there to talk about?" she said nervously putting down the chairs and stepping yet again on her toe.

"Let me…" Wyatt bent low.

"No. I'm fine" everyone was silent. "Listen, I'm not a fan of uncomfortable silence so I'll talk first, OK?" she said. "I just didn't want to complicate things between us. I'm just….me. You're…you know…"

"Us?" asked Chris.

"Look, I know who you are. All of you. I'm a wiccan. There's a lot of information going within the craft"

"What exactly do you mean?" said Wyatt.

"I know you're the sons of a Charmed One. I know all there is to know about them. Although I admit I hadn't met any of them till I started working in the club. It was a real privilege"

"So you know?" said Chris. "Are you…?"

"Oh no, not a real witch, just a…mortal witch, but I've learned my craft"

"What's that got to do with us?" said Wyatt.

"I don't think that us meant me too, so I'm gonna upstairs maybe you got a bathroom"

"Top of the stairs" Chris gave her the thumbs up.

"Wyatt…" she took his hands. "It's OK. You don't have to settle with me just because we slept together. You're too important. I imagine you're destined for great things or at least your mom does" she caressed his cheek. Her eyes were watering. She turned away and stood up from her chair and walked away. Wyatt grabbed her arm and made her turn to him. She couldn't hide a tear running from her cheek.

"I am destined for great things, or so I've been told my whole life…but I didn't understand how great…not till I met you" he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him. "You must be the great thing they talked so much about" he kissed her again and this time she held on to him without fear. Chris came down the stairs saw the reconciliation and went back up to wash his hands for the fiftieth time.

As it turned out, the store opening soon was Sam's. She had some inheritance from a mysterious aunt she never knew she had till the check found her. She had left her a house as well, but it was in DC and she had no intention on leaving San Francisco, let alone now. She never really had to work at P3, she just couldn't let the opportunity to work for a Charmed One go. She bought this place after leaving the club. It had a tiny apartment on top, which was perfect for her alone; plus, the store had been a magickal menagerie like ten years ago or so she had been told. The place had been a total rip off cause a murder had happened there, Sam paid her respects to the alleged woman murdered and placed a candle for her in the altar behind the counter.

"What do you think?" asked Sam as Wyatt held her staring both at the bright new sign: "Brightest Blessings".

"Looks great!" his cell phone went off. "On my way. Honey, have a great first day, gotta go" Sam pulled him inside and into the stairs. She stole one more kiss and Wyatt orbed out with a smile. It didn't take long before she had some curious customers. "Come right in. We don't charge by the look and we have a delicious cup of tea with your first purchase!" she greeted.

The store was small but quite complete. Next to the entrance door you had a selection of sculptures, some old some new reaching along the wall the foot of the stairs towards Sam's apartment. She had different kinds of beads hanging over the threshold to try and avoid temptation to climb them as part of the store itself. There was a purple stoned counter where a computerized register stood on one end and a sort of mini-wood-burner on the other where she heated a black little cauldron for potions, which she also had for sale, luck and all people looked for. On a step down, next to the cauldron, there was a whole starbucks-like station going on where she prepared herbal teas. She held the herbal flowers in wooden tiny drawers to keep their essence untouched. Inside the counter there were amulets and a variety of stones. Behind her empty flasks and multi-colored candles and the sort. There were about four sets of small garden two-chair sets closely but comfortably located inside the room where you could sit and have the tea and chat or just listen to the zen music or the different waterfalls for sale. The air was scented with Sandalwood coming from a small altar behind the counter by the stairs. Books were on the far corner opposite them cased to avoid being impregnated by any of the smells. The whole room was peaceful, even the rug muffled your steps as you clients took a step inside. The chimes on the door made of wood to avoid disturbing the inner peace that filled the air.

Sam was thrilled. She literally couldn't be happier. She had been dating Wyatt for a couple months now and her store was finally finished and already going. Phoebe and Paige arrived.

"Wow. Namaste" Paige vowed down.

"This place is amazing. Wyatt was right" said Phoebe giving her a hug and a vase with flowers.

"Oh, so beautiful! Thanks you guys…please, sit. I'll brew you a tea" she said putting the flowers right on the counter. "I just love tulips"

"Another tip from our nephew" said Paige.

"He had to go. Is everything ok?" asked Sam as she prepared the teas.

"Yeah, Chris needed him for…something" said Phoebe.

"OK…?" said Sam handing out the cups just as the flowers opened with the steamed water.

"Excuse me?" said one of the girls that had come in before them.

"Duty calls" she smiled and went to her clients. "Yes? How may I help you?"

"This necklace…is it really a hundred bucks?"

"I'm afraid so…see…this necklace…" she put it in her hands. "Belonged to a powerful witch, she used this to steal other maiden's gifts in life and have any men she desired"

"In life?" asked the friend.

"Yes, you see. If she stole a maiden's scent but she killed her the scent would disappear with her; she had to keep them alive somehow or otherwise choose another maiden's gift to steal" she took the necklace back, but the first girl didn't let go.

"We'll take it."

"Grandma will love it"

"Very well chosen" Sam took it and put it in a jewelry box and made a sale. The girl dropped her change before she left and Phoebe bent to get it for her. When she touched her she saw the girl getting murdered with a knife through the heart.

"Thanks" the girls left.

"Is there something wrong?" asked Sam.

"Paige?"

"Trouble?" They ran out.

"What…?" stood Sam by the door. She threw a blessing into the air thinking they would probably need it.

NEAR THE STORE:

"Where'd she go?"

"How should I know?"

"Well, you're the psychic?"

"There!" Phoebe pointed to an alley across the street. They jumped around to cross in a green light and followed the girls. "Hi, gi…" was interrupted by a yell from Phoebe who grabbed the girl and dropped her as a she-devil swung an athame on top of their heads. Phoebe kicked her away but she shimmered back to the girl and took the necklace from their hands, grunted at them and left. "Are you alright?" the girls nodded and ran away scared. They went back to the manor and looked for the kind of demon they were dealing with. Sadly, she was not on the book at all.

Wyatt orbed within the store, which was luckily empty.

"Are you mad?" said Sam looking for people around the store. "I have windows"

"Are you ok?"

"What do you mean?" she asked confused. "What happened…your Aunts just ran out!"

"They didn't tell you anything?"

"About what? Wyatt this is getting annoying!"

"There was a demon attack on your customers"

"What? Are they alright? What happened…?" she took a deep breath. "That's it. Let's go to your house. I want to know what's going on, right now" she said furious. They orbed back to the manor. Everyone was discussing with each other and they paused as they orbed in. "No, don't stop just for me. Go on" they continued somewhat awkward and in a lower tone.

"The necklace is obviously to get to Wyatt ultimately, but he's…home now" said Leo.

"Don't just orb away again!" said Piper. "We were worried about you"

"Let's just keep sharp and try to recognize who we married with" said Phoebe.

"Wait, what if the necklace holds more than one of our gifts?"

"Well then… we'll be screwed…"

"It can't" said Sam from behind the crowd, all stares went straight to her immediately. "What? Don't you think I study what I sell? I just didn't believe they would give me the real deal so cheap!" she said. "The necklace was handmade by the witch. She was vain. It wasn't designed to hold magic but beauty; Can't hold on more than one soul's gift at a time. The necklace is bound to the maiden's life, her vital force is what makes it strong. Vanity alone wouldn't be able to give the witch the strength she had. It not only made her irresistible, but enhanced her powers as well. She was able to control the minds of those she seduced. Make them die for her, even kill." There was silence.

"Vanity might just be the weakness we need. Let's give her what she wants"

"Putting yourself as bait is ridiculous" said Chris.

"This demon already caught five of the seven she needs to collect. The only one we know about is the customer from Sam's store"

"What she stole?"

"Her stare. Poor girl is freaking out with her eyes gone blank" Paige confessed.

"We didn't want to tell you these things because..." explained Phoebe

"You think I'm stupid or a coward?"

"Frankly, we didn't know how you would take it. One thing is to know, the other one is to see. We've been through this"

"And I guess I don't deserve the benefit of the doubt?" Silence followed yet again. "I can't do this" Sam left the attic and went downstairs. Wyatt tried to stop her and she turned to him just by the front door. "I know my way home"

"Don't leave like this! Please"

"Wyatt. I told you this would happen sooner or later. We have to realize that I'm no…" she pushed him aside and was thrown against the front door with a fire ball to the shoulder. Wyatt turned around and attacked. "I'm alright, go" she stood up and followed Wyatt taking cover.

"Wyatt!" shouted Chris throwing an energy ball from the stairs to a demon behind them both, but Wyatt was engaged with another demon taking cover behind the couch so Sam just thanked him with the thumbs up. As the private battle continued more and more demons appeared. Everybody else eventually came down and started picking a fight. Sam crawled away from a flying demon Phoebe had just kicked and sat near a wall. Before she noticed, the she-devil wearing the necklace took her by the neck and stole her voice.

"Thanks" she said in her own voice. Sam got so mad she punched her breathless and elbowed her face. "My face!" she shimmered away. She tried making a sound but couldn't. Suddenly, she saw Chris standing by the fireplace and a demon was behind him, she tried signaling someone to help but she made no sound whatsoever; she gave a jump on the couch and then on Chris who bumped his head on the stone lightly, by the time he turned to see who it had been, the demon stabbed her near the ribs instead. As soon as they had appeared they disappeared.

"Aunt Paige!" shouted Chris. "She pushed me out of the way" he cradled her on his legs. She mouthed. "Can't talk?" he asked her. She shook her head slowly as she let a tear out. "Stay awake ok?"

"Oh, my God!" Paige healed her shoulder and then her side, it took a little longer than expected but it worked. "All better, what's that honey?" she kept mouthing as fast as she could.

"Where's Wyatt?" asked Piper.

"Mom, I'm home!" said Wyatt from the door.

"Thank goodness, I couldn't see you…" walked Piper to him. Sam grabbed her arm, but explanations weren't needed. Wyatt raised his arm and they were all thrown up against the wall.

"If the demon's got her voice then she's controlling him" said Chris. "She couldn't talk to me a minute ago" Wyatt applauded.

"Figured it out without my help, I'm impressed. Luckily for you, tonight, I've come just for her"

"Wyatt you can't do that. You love her too much" said Cooper.

"That's alright…apparently, I'll kill her and then myself. Right here tonight, won't that be fun to watch?"

"We won't let you" said Chris.

"Try to move and I'll orb mom into a volcano…or better yet all of you at once. I want an audience but if you leave me no choice, I'll do it a private show" he smiled slyly. He pulled Sam to him in midair. "Feel like running?" she shook her head. "Good Call" he put her down and cornered her against a wall. "Last words? Right!" he chuckled. She grabbed his wrist before he put his athame up to her heart. "Gotta admire her courage. She really does want her last words…even without a voice. What is it sweetheart?" he said evilly. She grabbed his other hand and put it on her stomach and wouldn't let go. "Is that all?" he then raised the athame and plunged it into her heart, but a heartbeat as low as a whisper stopped him midway and he awoke inside his protective shield with everybody attacking him.

He pulled the athame out and tried to heal her in despair, but he was scared, how could he be doing this. Paige took his hand, then Chris. Soon, she started to heal faster than she was bleeding. When she awoke, they got up from the floor and it was Piper who hugged her first. "Thank you. You saved them both, but for the record I didn't think you were scared. I was."

"Understandable, but now you can see why I had to speak up; I know I'm not magical like you, but if you don't give me a chance…" Piper smiled and backed away.

"Why didn't you tell me?" said Wyatt. Sam turned to him.

"I wanted to, but then again we haven't been able to talk last couple weeks with the store opening and you orbing out without any further explanation…I just had to be ok with it" They hugged.

"I think it's time we figure out just what future holds for you two" said Phoebe sitting everybody in the living room. "What do you say? Cooper says you belong together. I can see it clearly, can we get a peek?" They all agreed. Phoebe concentrated and grabbed each by the hand. She fell on her back and Coop caught her. She was trembling and her eyes went blank.