Chapter 57: Power Outage
November 22, 1998 – Sunday
Payson's
Prue sat next to Piper between Buffy and Phoebe in the owner's alcove discussing their latest demonic threat, Belthazor. Though Phoebe wasn't really listening as she kept watch for Cole. "Alright, look, we know that Belthazor is not going to stop until he kills us. Phoebe?" Prue said as she noticed that Phoebe's attention wasn't on the conversation. "Phoebe!" –Phoebe looked at her— "Hi. I hate to interrupt your whole staring off into space aimlessly thing that you've got going on right now but in case you forgot, evil triad agent."
"Prue," said Buffy shaking her head. "Phoebe is just with the Cole missage."
"I know, Buffy," said Prue before looking back at Phoebe. "Anyways, if he's as powerful of a demon as Leo says he is, he is probably going to be immune to our powers. That's why we need to practice our counterattacks so the next time he shows up, we can get some demon flesh."
"White meat or dark meat?" Piper asked as Buffy laughed.
"I don't like the idea of demon fillet either, but it might help us with the vanquishing potion," said Prue.
"How late is he, Phoebe," said Buffy as she noticed that Phoebe kept looking for Cole.
"Forty- five minutes," Phoebe answered. "You would think he would be on time after he sleeps with a girl, you know."
"I'm not saying he is that kind of guy," said Buffy. "But remember the first time I slept with a guy? Angel turned."
"He also lost his soul," Phoebe countered sending a glare at her cousin.
"Can we fast forward?" asked Piper. "Because I got Fastball coming in in a couple of days and I need to get some stuff done."
Phoebe smiled as she saw Cole walking toward them. "Cole!" she said as she stood up. "He's here, he's here."
"Alright, we are practicing the, uh..." said Prue as Cole stepped up next to the alcove.
"Sorry I'm late," he said.
"It's okay," said Phoebe.
"The earthquake drill tomorrow at 3:00," said Prue coming up with quick coverup for what she was originally saying.
"I'm sorry, madam president, but I have a doctor's appointment," Piper said.
"And Giles has me doing some stuff," added Buffy.
Prue glanced at Cole before looking at Buffy and Piper. "Buffy, Piper, you never know when an earthquake is going to strike."
"I guess not. I guess I will reschedule then," Piper said.
"I'll talk to Giles, see what can be done," said Buffy.
Prue sighed. She knew what Buffy had meant by Giles having her doing stuff, Slayer training. She also knew how much the man hated having his training sessions interrupted. Still the little drill tomorrow to prepare for Belthazor was needed also. "I know, Buffy, but Rupert will understand this is part of that stuff."
"Okay," Buffy said with a sigh. She knew Prue was right, Giles would understand that she was blowing off his training for training with Prue, Piper and Phoebe which was equally important.
"Phoebe, we, uh, need to talk," Cole said.
"Uh, Phoebe, earthquake drill tomorrow at 3:00," said Prue as she looked at her baby sister.
"Okay, but if you need me there by 3:00 you have to lend me your car because I have class right after it," said Phoebe.
"That's fine, just try not to leave my gas tank on empty this time," Prue said.
"I left your gas tank empty once, okay, get over it, let it go," said Phoebe.
"Twice," corrected Prue.
"I'm sorry, what-what were you saying?" asked Phoebe pretending she hadn't heard the correction.
"Actually, if we could, uh..." said Cole.
"Oh, and Pheebs, I need the car back by 5:00 because I have a photo shoot at Payson's tomorrow," said Prue.
"Payson's?" asked Piper and Buffy in surprise at this revelation.
"Did you forget to inform the owners of Payson's?" Piper asked.
"I'm sorry but my location fell out at the last moment and I couldn't find either of you and I thought that you both would say yes," said Prue.
Piper sighed. "Of course, you did and did you forget about our home owners meeting that's at our house tomorrow afternoon?"
"I totally spaced," said Prue sheepishly. "Uh, Pheebs, Buffy, will you two cover for me?"
"No way. In the last one it took them two and a half hours to decide where to put the garden gnomes," said Phoebe.
"Um, alright, do you want the car or not?" said Prue.
Phoebe sighed as she glared at her eldest sister. "Hate you."
"No, you don't you love me," corrected Prue as she grinned at Phoebe.
"I'll help you, Phoebe," said Buffy.
"Thank you, Buffy," said Phoebe.
"I need to get back to work," said Piper. "Okay, you two kids behave." She, Buffy and Prue walked off.
"Uh, I'm sorry about that. Sister stuff. You know, there's a fine line between love and hate," Phoebe said. "So what did you want to talk about?"
"Um, actually, I have to go" Cole said turning to leave.
"Wh—wait, what?" Phoebe asked confused. He had just arrived and he was already wanting to leave.
"I'm sorry, Phoebe, it's just this big case I've been working on and I think I just had an epiphany on how to win it," Cole said as he kissed her. "Forgive me," he pleaded noticing her look of shock.
"Wha?" Phoebe said as Cole walked toward the stairs and the entrance.
November 23, 1998 – Monday
Halliwell Manor
Buffy and Piper sat in the conservatory as they listened to Prue talking on the phone. "No, I'm planning on getting to P3 early to confirm the stylist. Alright, I'll see you there. Bye," said Prue as she ended the call. "Hey, where's Phoebe?"
"I'm here. Do you guys know if Cole called?" Phoebe asked as she walked into the conservatory.
"Not since the last time you asked," Piper said.
"Okay," said Phoebe as she looked toward her sister. "I need some sisterly advice. Is he doing the whole blow her off after sex thing and I'm just not reading the signs?"
"Probably not since the signs Prue read as an empath prove that he loves you," Buffy said.
"Okay, well, supernatural guarantees aside, I am getting the feeling that he is avoiding me," said Phoebe. "I have no idea where we stand."
"Well, maybe it's got something to do with whatever he's hiding from me," said Prue just as Belthazor barged through the door that led into the garden.
"Demon!" Phoebe yelled as levitated up and kicked him knocking him against a table.
"Piper, watch out!" Buffy cried as Belthazor went to fire lightning at her middle cousin and Piper flicked her wrist freezing the demon. "Prue," she said nodding toward her eldest cousin.
Astral Prue appeared behind him in a red flash. "Uh, excuse me!" she said as she kicked him in the head before Buffy flipped him off the table. "Piper, now!"
Piper picked up a knife and sliced Belthazor's neck as Belthazor morphed into Leo.
Leo held his hand to his neck. "Ouch, you got skin," he said as Astral Prue disappeared in a red flash.
"Hey, Leo, do you think you can make yourself look like Brad Pitt?" asked Phoebe hopefully.
"Alright you guys, that was, um, good," said Prue. "Although, Phoebe, I think you need more force on your kick." She turned and looked at Piper. "Piper, a little less hesitating on the slicing and dicing, okay. Should we try it again?"
"No, I'd like to have a boyfriend left when this is over," said Piper.
"Okay, where are your keys, Prue?" asked Phoebe.
"Piper could you pick up food for the homeowners meeting?" asked Prue.
"Why not Phoebe?" asked Piper.
"Not enough time to pick up food and get her car back right away," said Phoebe.
"And I have to prep for my shoot," said Prue.
"Well don't look at me," Buffy said before Piper could look at her. "It might look a little suspicious if I flame holding a bag of groceries. Plus, while I finally have my license, I don't have a car. Unless you want to loan me yours, Piper."
Piper sighed. "I guess I'll reschedule my doctor's appointment again." She looked toward Buffy. "That said, could I have your help at least?"
"Yes, my sister," Buffy agreed.
Berkeley University
Phoebe walked out of the building her cell phone to her ear. "Class went late and then I had to go to the library to get a book for psych class so I'm running a little late but I will be there," she said as she walked toward Prue's car. "Yeah, very funny, I was born late. Ha ha. I promise I will be there, okay. I'll be home sss…" she hesitated as she spotted Cole standing next to the car. "Soon. Got to go, bye." She ended the call and put her phone in her before turning her attention to Cole. "Uh, what are you doing here?"
"I got a break in my case, decided to take the afternoon off," Cole answered.
Phoebe smiled. "Oh, that must've been quite an epiphany you had last night."
"Yeah, it was," he agreed. "I came to apologize, Phoebe, for walking out on you so abruptly. That was rude."
"Yeah, it was rude," she agreed.
"I'd love to make it up to you," Cole said hopefully. "I made early dinner reservations at Risso's."
"No," Phoebe immediately objected knowing how Prue was about her car. "I have to get Prue's car back."
"I was hoping we could talk," he informed her.
"About what?" she wondered curiously and a little hopeful.
"About the other night," he explained. "You and me, where we stand."
"Um," Phoebe hesitated, she really wanted to but she had promised to get the car back and to help Buffy with the homeowners meeting. "I would like to, I actually would really like to, but I promised Prue that I'd do the homeowners meeting tonight, so…"
"That's alright, I understand," he said regretfully. "It was worth a try." He kissed her before turned and started to walk away.
"Cole, uh…" Phoebe said as he turned back to face her. "I could probably get Piper to help Buffy handle the meeting."
"Yeah?" Cole said happily. "You sure she won't be angry?"
"Oh, she's gonna be furious but she'll just suppress it and take it out on me later," Phoebe explained. "Um, you pick me up in an hour?"
Cole nodded. "I'll be there," he said as Phoebe got into the car. He flicked his hand and gas started leaking out onto the ground. She honked the horn as she drove off.
Halliwell Manor
Piper was watching as the homeowners meeting continued while Buffy was in the kitchen getting the food tray.
"Oh, watch the—uh—" Leo said too late as Buffy tripped over Prue's tripod, which was lying on the floor under the kitchen table. He caught her as well as managing to save the tray of food.
"Prue!" Buffy yelled. "You know I could have avoided that if Prue hadn't left it where I didn't see it. That's what I get for volunteering, I guess."
"How did you get roped into heading the refreshment committee?" Leo asked as he handed his daughter back the tray.
"Prue and Phoebe didn't have the time," Buffy answered.
"And you and Piper do?" Leo wondered.
"No," Buffy sighed. "We don't. Piper had to cancel her doctor's appointment. And I had to get Faith to take over my patrol tonight."
"Well, couldn't you guys make something simpler, you know, chips and dip?" Leo wondered.
"Uhm, Dad, Piper's a chef," Buffy reminded her father pointedly. "It's not in her nature to make chips and dip. And for me, Piper's still teaching me to cook."
"Maybe you and Piper need to tell Prue and Phoebe how you both feel?" Leo suggested helpfully. "Better yet, next time just say no."
"Dad, you were an only child if memory serves me right," Buffy said. "While technically speaking so am I. Prue, Piper and Phoebe see me as their little sister. So arguments tend to spark not only between them but between me and them. I remember butting heads more than once with Prue just to get my license."
It was at that moment that Prue walked into the kitchen. "Hey, is Phoebe home yet?"
"No, Prue," said Buffy said. "By the way where is all the mineral water?"
"There's some down in the basement," said Prue.
"I'll get it," said Leo as he headed downstairs.
"Before I deliver this to our guests," said Buffy indicating the tray of food. "I have a bone to pick with you. If not for Dad this food would have been a rug."
"Why?" asked Prue as Buffy motioned toward the tripod on the floor. "Sorry."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy stepped up next to Piper at the entrance to the living room. "Well?" she whispered.
"Just listen," Piper whispered back. "You'll get your answer.
"It's our property, it's our money and we are building a fence."
"We want our privacy because we've had enough of your snooping."
"Snooping?"
"Yeah I see what you mean," said Buffy as she held out the tray toward Piper. "Here you go, my sister."
Piper took the tray from Buffy and walked toward the neighbors. "Goat cheese pizza and onion tartlets for the vegetarians. And the-the chicken satay has peanuts in case anybody's allergic." She spotted Phoebe who was trying to sneak in. "Phoebe, nice of you to show."
"Uh, Piper? Buffy?" said Phoebe as Buffy and Piper walked over to her. "I need a huge favor. Can I talk to you upstairs?"
"Oh, no you don't," said Buffy as the neighbors start arguing again.
Piper and Buffy watched as Phoebe headed for the stairs. "Phoebe," Piper said as she flicked her wrist at the neighbors, freezing them. "Phoebe, this is not fair."
Phoebe sighed. "I know it's not but the last thing I expected was for Cole to ask me out, okay. So, could you please cover for me?"
"Piper already rescheduled her doctor's appointment twice," said Buffy shaking her head. "And I had to talk Faith into taking my patrol tonight."
"Piper, Leo was a doctor before he died." Phoebe said before turning to Buffy. "And, Buffy, we can give Faith the night off tomorrow while you and I patrol for her then."
"That's really not the point," Piper countered.
Phoebe sighed. "I know, and I would never ask but this is important," she said. "He wants to have the talk. You know, are we a couple, are we a one-nighter, are we friends, are we friends that had a one-nighter?"
"Okay, we get it," Buffy said as Leo joined them.
"Ever planning on unfreezing the neighbors?" asked Leo looking at his girlfriend.
"Buffy, Piper, just this once," Phoebe pleaded. "You both know how much I want this relationship to work."
Piper sighed. "Well, I guess I don't have much of a choice," she said as Phoebe hugged her and then ran upstairs. "Buffy, I can still count on you can't I?"
"Of course, Piper," said Buffy as she and Leo heard the Elders calling for them. She looked toward her father. "They surely don't need us both. Can you see what they want?"
"Okay," Leo replied. As he orbed out he dropped the bottle he had been holding.
Thanks to Buffy's Slayer reflexes she caught the bottle before it hit the floor. "Dad, you could have handed this to me, first," she called to the heavens.
Piper groaned as she flicked her wrist at the neighbors unfreezing them.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Outside Cole drove up in his car. "Andras," he said as the demon, Andras, appeared in the passenger seat. "If Phoebe's right, Piper will be primed and ready for you."
"I thought we were starting with Phoebe," said Andras.
"We did. I did," answered Cole. "She's the reason Piper's angry and she'll be the reason Prue and Buffy get angry. You just make sure you get there to capitalize on that."
"Don't you need to enrage the Slayer and all three of the sisters for your plan to work?" asked Andras.
"All four sisters," Cole corrected as Andras looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Yes, Buffy is actually a cousin. But in her heart as well as the hearts of Prue, Piper and Phoebe she is their sister in all but name. The Source believes that should that bond grow stronger her destiny could be irrevocably changed."
"The Source believes she could become a Charmed One?" Andras asked in surprise.
"He does," Cole answered. "Anyways, you infect Buffy, Piper and Prue, I'll bring Phoebe back home," said Cole. "They'll blame her for everything."
"Your legend is well deserved, Belthazor," said Andras. "You know, for someone about to score one of the biggest victories in centuries, you don't seem very happy about it."
"Just do your job," Cole said.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Inside neighbors continued to argue.
"Your fence will block the sun for my flowers."
"Well, then I suggest you take it up with the sun."
"Oh, great, great idea."
"Okay, uh, why don't you build a shorter fence?" Piper suggested.
"Or move your flower bed?" Buffy added.
"No, it is not my azaleas that are the problem."
As the doorbell rang the neighbors returned to their argument.
"I got it," Buffy said already heading for the door.
"Okay, everyone please just try and calm down," Piper instructed the neighbors.
Buffy stopped in front of the front door and opened it to reveal Cole standing on the front porch. "Hey Cole," she said giving Phoebe's boyfriend a smile in greeting. "Let me get Phoebe for you. I'd invite you in but the neighbors are here for the neighborhood meeting. If you couldn't tell."
"I could," Cole informed her having heard the argument as he came up the steps. "I'm more than willing to wait for her out here."
Buffy nodded as she stepped over to the base of the stairs. "Phoebe," she called toward the second floor. "Cole's here."
It took no time for Phoebe to come down the stairs and run past Buffy toward the front door. "Bye, honey," she said giving Buffy a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Phoebe, Phoebe, Phoebe!" Piper cried from her place in the living room. She had spotted the earrings were wearing. "Those are my earrings," she said as Phoebe headed out the door. "Hey!"
Andras stood outside a living room window unseen by Piper or the neighbors. He smirked as he threw a ball of light through the window that hit Piper. Buffy walks back into the living room and she too is hit by a ball of light.
"Okay, everybody shut up!" Piper yelled as Buffy walked up beside her. Buffy and the neighbors looked at her in surprise seconds before a second ball of light hit Buffy. "I have had it with your petty problems and your stupid fence and your stupid flower beds. There are bigger problems in the world to worry about. Just get a life and grow up!"
"Ugh, you can't speak to us like that."
Buffy frowned. "Oh yeah?" she snapped. She picked up a plate of food and threw it at the neighbors. "Everybody get out of our house! Get out of our house before we throw you out."
"With pleasure."
"Perhaps we should build a fence to keep you in."
"Good idea," Piper agreed.
"I'll speak to Prue about the way you two behave."
Buffy scoffed. "Even better idea! Move it! Move it! Move it!" she shouted as she pointed toward the front door.
Piper followed the neighbors to the door and closed it behind them. "And stay out!"
Risso's
Cole and Phoebe sat at a table, laughing. "Wait, you actually wore a penguin costume?" Cole asked.
Phoebe smiled. "Yes, and I handed out balloons to kids. I was fifteen, leave me alone, I needed a job."
"I bet you were cute," he said.
"I had to do this walk," she said as got up and walked like a penguin. As they laughed, she sat back down.
"You've come a long way, haven't you?" Cole asked as they stopped laughing.
"Yeah, yeah, I think I have," said Phoebe. "And of course, I'm still living with my two sisters and my cousin while still going to college, you know, eventually I'd like to work past that."
"You don't like living with your sisters or your cousin?" Cole asked.
"I love them," said Phoebe. "But, it's more out of necessity. But enough about me. Tell me about you. Am I the only one with a past here?"
"Mine's not very interesting," Cole said.
Phoebe sighed. "More secrets."
"I don't like to talk about my past much or my family," Cole said. "I lost them a long time ago."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I know how that feels," said Phoebe. "Um, I never knew my mother and my father left when I was really little. As a result Prue, Piper and I were raised by our grandmother. She's along with our Aunt Joyce is no longer with us anymore."
"Aunt Joyce?" Cole asked in confusion.
"Payson's mom," Phoebe answered. "A year and a half ago I didn't know I had a cousin." She noticed he was looking at her quizzically. "There was some kind of feud between Grams and Aunt Joyce. As a result we hardly saw Aunt Joyce over the years. And when we did see her, she usually came alone. When Aunt Joyce died, Uncle Hank, Buffy's step-father, signed over guardianship to the three of us."
"You gave her a home instead of sending her to foster care," Cole said in understanding.
"Yeah," Phoebe said as she thought about when Buffy moved in. "It was a shock, but we came to love her. Anyways."
"So you have your sisters and your cousin," Cole said.
Phoebe nodded. "Yeah. And I thank god for them every day. I don't know what I would do if I lost them. Are you okay?" she asked noticing a look on his face like he might have something to say.
"Phoebe, there's something I have to tell you," said Cole. He debated telling her the truth before going ahead with a lie. "I'm a terrible dancer."
"You're a terrible dancer? Something tells me that's not what you were gonna say," said Phoebe as a slow song came over the speakers. "Come on." She stood.
"No, no, really, I…" he immediately objected.
"Okay, look, if we're not gonna talk about us and we're not gonna talk about you, we're gonna dance," Phoebe insisted.
"I can't," Cole said as he stood up.
"You can," Phoebe countered. "Why would you bring me here if you're not gonna dance?" She took his hand and led him onto the dance floor.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy and Piper walked into the kitchen and noticed Prue was on the phone. "I'm sorry I didn't make it," Prue said into the phone. "No, I didn't forget. I loaned my car to someone and obviously—" Piper slammed a tray down on the kitchen table. "They forgot to fill the tank." She looked toward her sister. "Keep it down, will you?" she asked before turning her attention back to the phone. "Alright, one more chance is all that I'm asking for," she said as she looked toward Piper and Buffy. "Where's Phoebe?"
"The little witch is not home yet," said Piper.
Prue looked at her daughters as if to ask what's wrong? "No, tomorrow at Payson's will not be a problem. Okay."
"Actually, excuse me," said Buffy as she took the phone from Prue. "Hi, this is Payson Halliwell, the owner of Payson's. And you know what? It is a problem since it was not cleared with me or my co-owner Piper Halliwell." She then slammed the phone down on the cradle effectively hanging up on whoever was on the other end without waiting for a reply.
"Buffy, do you have any idea who that was?" asked Prue with a raised eyebrow.
"I couldn't care less," answered Buffy angrily.
"Okay what is going on here?" Prue asked looking at Piper and Buffy with confusion.
"You are," Piper snapped. "Get your own damn club and keep your paws off of Buffy's."
"Okay," Prue said holding up her hands defensively. "Whoa, you two obviously need a Midol."
"Why?" Buffy asked. "Because I am so sick of all your stuff lying around. If you can't put your equipment away then I will." She picked up one of Prue's camera lens and threw it on the floor.
Unseen by Piper, Buffy or Prue Andras stood outside the kitchen window. He smirked as he threw a ball of light that hit Prue.
"Ooh, ooh!" Prue cried as she looked around and picked up the blender Buffy had given Piper as a birthday gift. "Who the hell do you think you are?" She threw the blender to the floor shattering it.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Outside Cole pulled his car up to the curb as Phoebe turned in her seat to look at him. "I had a great time tonight," she said.
"Better than being at the homeowners meeting?" Cole asked.
Phoebe nodded. "Mmm, a little," she said before looking pointedly at him. "Okay, you're married."
"What?" Cole asked surprised by the change of topic.
"That's the big secret," she informed him. "You're married. You have three kids, and two dogs, and a really cute cat, right? And I'm your seven-year itch?"
Cole smiled teasingly. "You found me out."
"Can't get anything past me," Phoebe said as she smiled.
"I guess not," he agreed.
"Uh, about the other night," Phoebe said thinking back to the night they had sex. "Are you sorry that we, uh…"
"Not at all," he said honestly. "Are you?"
Phoebe shrugged. "Depends on what happens next."
"Too bad you can't predict the future," Cole said cryptically.
"Who says I can't?" Phoebe asked as he leaned in and kissed her. It was then that Cole spotted Andras watching and he pulled away. "Um, are you sure you don't want to come in?" she asked.
Cole shook his head. "I've got to get back to the case, you know," he answered him as she kissed him one more time before proceeding to open the car door. "Phoebe…"
"Yeah?" Phoebe asked looking back at him.
"Goodbye," he said.
"Goodnight," Phoebe said as she got out of car. She closed his car door and headed for the front door.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Sure, you can use Payson's for a photo shoot," Buffy said angrily as she, Piper, and Prue walked into the living room. "Hello? Remember me?"
"Hey, guys, what's going on?" Phoebe said as she came up behind the three of them.
"Shut up!" screamed Piper, Prue, and Buffy simultaneously. Phoebe looked taken aback and confused.
"Oh, poor Buffy. Well, you know what?" Prue said as she glared at Buffy. "The martyr routine is getting old. And another thing: I am so sorry that I didn't check with you or Piper about your stupid little club. Oh, and I am so sorry that I left my equipment lying around where you could trip over it. I was too busy being the only witch concerned about the Triad."
"Oh, right!" Piper yelled. "Without the mighty Prue Halliwell, we'd all be dead. Get over yourself, Prue."
Phoebe interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. "Guys, what has gotten into you three?"
Prue turned and glared at Phoebe. "By the way, you owe me for a car tow and a tank of gas, you little leech."
"I'm sorry, is it ganging up on Phoebe Day and nobody told me?" Phoebe asked, surprised at Prue's viciousness.
"News flash!" Piper shouted. "The world does not revolve around you."
"Yes," Prue agreed, crossing her arms. "So while you get to spend time screwing the DA, we are stuck picking up your slack." Phoebe's eyes widened in shock at Prue's words.
Unseen by Piper, Phoebe, Prue, or Buffy, Andras stood outside the living room window. He flung another ball of light that hit Phoebe.
"What's the matter, Prue?" Phoebe said it angrily. "Jealous? "Is all work and no play making you even more boring?"
Andras watched with satisfaction as they argued. It was only a matter of time before they committed an act of violence against each other and lost their powers.
Prue glared at her youngest sister. "Oh, yeah, there's a lot to be jealous of," she said. "I'm jealous that I'm still in school, jealous that I'm still unemployed, and jealous that I am still living off of my sisters."
"Yeah, Grams said that you'd never amount to anything," added Piper.
"I am so sick of the fact that I've been saddled with you two my entire life," Prue said, looking at her sisters. Then she looked at Buffy. "And I am sick of being saddled with you also."
Phoebe raised an eyebrow. "Whatever, I'm leaving," she said, turning to head for the door.
"Oh, sure, you're such an immature brat, Phoebe," Piper said, glaring at Phoebe, who turned back to them. "You leave every time you can't hack something."
"Well, there's nothing keeping me here, now is there?" asked Phoebe.
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Oh, well, I see that you've inherited Dad's talent for bailing," she said, referring to Victor.
"That's because the two of us couldn't deal with living with the two of them," Phoebe said, motioning toward Piper and Prue before turning on Buffy. "Or you, Buffy."
Piper raised an eyebrow. "Well, at least I'm not so stupid I had to do college twice," she said.
"Well, at least I actually had the courage to go away to college," Phoebe retorted. "What's the matter, Piper? Is the real world too much for you? I am so sick of the two of you ganging up on me and judging me."
"I am so sick of saving your asses," Prue said.
Piper rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "I'm sick of being taken for granted," she informed them.
"So am I," Buffy agreed.
"And those are mine," said Piper as she ripped off the earrings Phoebe was wearing.
Phoebe let out a gasp and glared at Piper. "Ouch!" she exclaimed. "Bitch!"
"At least I didn't run away when the going got tough," Prue said, glaring at Buffy and Phoebe.
Phoebe sent a kick at Piper, who ducked below it while Buffy pushed her into Prue. Prue pushed her back, knocking her into a chair. She picked up a piece of Prue's camera equipment and tossed it at Prue.
Prue waved her hand and sent the camera equipment flying back toward Phoebe, who levitated into the air. The equipment flew right under Phoebe, through her legs, and toward Piper, who froze it.
A fireball formed in Buffy's hand, and she threw it at Prue, who waved her hand, sending the fireball into the wall beside a portrait of the four of them taken after Buffy's seventeenth birthday.
Suddenly the camera equipment unfroze and hit the portrait, knocking it to the floor, where the glass shattered. Unseen by Prue, Piper, Phoebe, or Buffy, the four of them split apart within the portrait, while upstairs in the attic, the triquetra on both Book of Shadows split apart.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
An hour later, Prue, Buffy, and Piper were cleaning up from the tiff, and Phoebe had left. "Here," said Piper and Buffy as they bent down next to Prue, who was cleaning up the broken glass from the portrait.
Prue shook her head. "It's alright," she said.
"I'll get it," Piper said as Buffy nodded in agreement.
Prue couldn't help but feel grateful for their help. "Thanks," she said appreciatively.
At that moment, Leo orbed in. "Hey, Dad," Buffy said, and then frowned at the look on his face. "What's wrong?"
Leo took a deep breath before answering. "You tell me."
"Well, Piper, Phoebe, Buffy, and I had a little tiff," Prue answered.
Leo's expression darkened. "It must've been more than little because they felt it," he said, motioning toward the ceiling. "They even tried calling for you, Buffy."
Buffy looked at him, confused. "I didn't hear them jingling," she said with a shrug.
"What do you mean they felt it?" Piper asked, just as confused as Buffy.
"Whatever happened severed not only the Power of Three," Leo explained. "But the Power of Three Augmented as well."
"Leo, that's impossible," Prue said with her brow knitted in confusion.
"Piper, freeze this," he said as he picked up a glass bowl and dropped it. Piper flicked her wrist, trying to freeze it, but nothing happened as the bowl shattered on the floor.
Buffy tried flaming out, but she didn't go anywhere. "Okay, grounded."
Prue waved her hand, trying to move the glass but similarly failing. "What happened to our powers?" She, Piper, and Buffy looked at each other, realizing that something was seriously wrong if they didn't have their powers.
"That's what we have to figure out," Leo said. They all sat down to discuss what could have caused it, hoping to find a solution before it was too late. "Let's start with your little tiff."
"Well, that's a bit of an understatement," Piper admitted. "It was big."
Leo nodded. "How big?" he asked the three of them.
Piper, Buffy, and Prue exchanged a look before Buffy spoke up, "Do you remember Pearl Harbor, Dad?"
"Okay, so what triggered it?" he wondered.
"We're not really sure," Prue explained. "Just little things, I guess."
"The meeting," Piper added. "I didn't really want to do it."
"Neither did I tell the truth," Buffy chimed in. "Plus, Prue's camera equipment being a tripping hazard."
"My car ran out of gas, and because of that, I missed my job," Prue added.
"That's it?" Leo asked.
"Yeah, I mean, it's weird," Piper said. "We were angry, but we shouldn't have been that angry. It was almost like something."
"Someone sort of came over us," Buffy added.
"Yeah, something like Belthazor," Prue agreed.
"That doesn't track because no matter what he does, he doesn't have the power to take away yours," Leo said. "So back to your argument. You yelled and you threw stuff?"
"We did more than that," Piper said.
"We used our powers," Buffy added sheepishly.
"What, on each other?" Leo asked, surprised, as Prue, Piper, and Buffy all nodded. "Alright, well, then that's what happened. Your powers are rooted in your bond, not only as sisters but as a family. Using them against each other must have severed that bond. Alright, you need to repair the damage to your relationships fast because, without your powers, you are extremely vulnerable. So you need to get Phoebe."
"Phoebe's gone," Prue said reluctantly.
Leo frowned. "Gone? Gone where?"
"Just gone," Buffy answered. "She ran out after the tiff. And to tell the truth, I was tempted to do the same. Go find Faith and see if we couldn't find a nest."
Cole's Apartment
Phoebe knocked on the door and waited a moment for Cole to open it. "Hi," she said, her face tear-stained.
"Phoebe, what are you doing here?" Cole asked, surprised.
"I don't know," Phoebe admitted, her voice shaking. "I was just walking around, and I'm sorry; I know it's really late. Can I come in?"
Cole hesitated for a moment before stepping aside to let her in. "Yeah, sure," he said, closing the door behind her.
"I had nowhere else to go," Phoebe said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"It's okay," Cole said before hugging her. "I'm glad you came here. What happened?"
Phoebe took a deep breath before explaining the situation. "After you dropped me off, my sisters, Buffy and I, got into a huge fight. It was horrible."
Cole listened attentively, his arms still wrapped around her. "You're safe here," he said reassuringly.
Halliwell Manor
In the attic, Buffy and Leo were looking through the books while Piper and Prue scryed for Phoebe.
"Nothing. I can't find her," interrupted Piper as she dropped the scrying crystal. "We don't even have basic powers anymore."
Prue sighed. "I cannot believe this is happening."
Buffy looked up from her book and over at her cousin. "Prue," she said as Prue turned to face her. "I'm sorry for some of the things I said earlier."
Prue gave her a small smile. "I'm sorry too, Buffy," she replied. "You know I love you, right?" .
Buffy nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. "Yeah," she confirmed. "And I love you. You, like Piper and Phoebe, are more than just my cousins; you are my sisters."
Prue's eyes softened at Buffy's words. "We may not have grown up together, but our bond is just as strong," she said as she walked over to Buffy and pulled the blonde into her arms. "No matter what happens, we'll always be there for each other."
Piper smiled as she watched them. "What I don't understand is how Belthazor could make us that angry." She brought them back to the topic of their missing powers. "That's not his power."
Leo shook his head. "No, it's not, but it is his," he said, pointing to a description of a demon who could enrage his victims in the family's Book of Shadows while Buffy, Piper, and Prue gathered around him.
"Andras, the spirit of rage," Piper read. He uses anger as a portal to enrage his victims until they commit a grievous act of violence."
Prue furrowed her brows. "Yeah, but that doesn't really explain everything," she said as Buffy nodded in agreement. "I mean, even if our fight was supernaturally amplified, Andras magnifies anger into rage; he doesn't just create it out of thin air."
"Which means each of us gave him an opening," Buffy chimed in. "I gave him the opening by being mad at Prue and for the meeting."
Piper nodded in agreement. "Buffy's right; we all gave him an opening," she added.
"And he took full advantage," Leo said.
Cole's Apartment
"I was just so angry, and I said such horrible things to them, and I didn't really mean any of it," Phoebe said as she pulled away and looked at him. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Cole said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Let me get you a tissue." He walked her to the couch. "Here," he said as he sat her down before walking over to the cabinet his altar was hidden in and grabbing an athame from inside it.
"The things that were said, I don't even know where they were coming from. I mean, I guess it was issues, you know, that were underlying, that were never really dealt with, and then all of a sudden just exploded," Phoebe said.
"Nothing ever happened like that before," Cole asked as he closed the cabinet door.
"Oh, no, not like that. I mean, we used to fight all the time when we were little, you know," Phoebe said as Cole started toward her, holding the athame. "But since we moved in together, we just got even closer than before, you know. Then when Buffy moved in, she slowly got closer than any of us expected."
Cole slid the knife in between his belt and his jeans as he sat down beside her.
"We have been through so much together," she said, bringing up her hands to touch his face. "Thank you for listening to me and for being there for me."
As they started to make out, Cole reached behind him and pulled the athame out of his belt. He raised it, ready to stab her, but at the last moment, he changed his mind and hid her between the couch cushions.
They pulled apart, and he looked into her eyes. "I can't. I can't," he admitted.
"What do you mean?" Phoebe asked.
Cole stood up and looked at her. "Phoebe, you need to go home. Now," he said.
Phoebe could sense the fear in his voice and see the worry etched on his face. She knew something was wrong. "What? Why?"
"Because you're vulnerable right now," Cole said. "I know we shouldn't do this. You need to go home. You need to go and figure out what happened."
Phoebe smiled. "You're right. I do," she agreed as he walked her to the door. "Thank you."
Cole kissed her just as Andras appeared. "You're welcome," he said as he kissed her again.
As she stepped outside, Phoebe felt a sense of relief wash over her. She knew that Cole was right and that she needed to talk to Prue, Piper, and Buffy and figure out what happened.
0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0
"So the rumors are true," Andras said once the door had closed behind Phoebe. "You've fallen for a witch."
"What are you doing here?" Cole asked. "Get out!"
Andras smirked. "The great Belthazor. Who would've ever thought?" Cole's jaw clenched as he pulled the athame from between the couch cushions. "I can hardly wait to see what the Triad will do when I tell them you failed."
"I will kill you before you ever get the chance," Cole informed him.
"Yeah? Then you really are a traitor, aren't you?" Andras said as Cole morphed into Belthazor. "Pissed off, are you? Good. Because there's something you don't know about me. I can possess my victims too." He smirked as he jumped into Belthazor.
Belthazor roared before turning to look into the mirror. "Now, let's go finish what we started, shall we?"
Halliwell Manor
Piper and Buffy sat watching Prue, who was on the phone, having first called Phoebe's friends and now Payson's. "If you hear from her, just tell her to come home; okay, it's an emergency. Thanks," Prue said as she ended the call. "So, she's not at the club, and none of her friends have seen her." Her heart raced as she tried to think of where else Phoebe could be.
"Did you try Cole?" Piper asked.
"No answer," Prue replied, feeling more anxious by the minute.
Buffy sighed. "If something happens to her, I'll never forgive myself."
"Nothing's going to happen," Leo said, trying to calm Buffy down.
"Leo, something has happened to several members of this family. Something happened to Grams, something happened to Mom, and something happened to Aunt Joyce. It kind of runs in the family," said Piper as Phoebe walked into the attic.
Prue let out a sigh of relief upon seeing her missing sister. "Phoebe, thank God."
"Has the tribal council spoken? Am I booted off the island?" Phoebe asked as Piper hugged her.
"Are you okay?" Piper asked as she released Phoebe.
Buffy was the next to hug Phoebe as Phoebe answered Piper, "Yeah."
"I'm sorry, Pheebs," Buffy said.
"I'm sorry too, Buffy," Phoebe replied with a smile.
"Where were you?" Piper asked as Buffy stepped back from Phoebe.
"I was at Cole's," Phoebe answered. "And after a lot of talking and a lot of tears, he convinced me to come home and deal with what happened."
"Belthazor is what happened," said Prue.
"What?" Phoebe asked in surprise.
"Abbreviated version: he used some underling spirit to enrage us, and when we fought, we lost our powers," Piper said. "No more triquetra, no more Power of Three Augmented, as Buffy lost hers as well."
Phoebe's eyes went wide at the implication that they didn't have their powers. "What, we have no powers? But that means that..."
"...that he's going to come and try to kill us," Prue finished for her. "When you didn't come home, we thought that he had already."
Phoebe's heart raced as she realized the severity of the situation. "No, it's okay; I'm fine," she said. "So, what do we do? A spell, a vanquish, a potion?"
"Everyone needs to restore the bonds they share," Leo explained. "I'll give you some privacy." He turned and left the room.
"A potion would be easier, huh?" Buffy quipped.
Piper nodded in agreement. "Oh, yeah. Um, Phoebe, Grams didn't say you'd never amount to anything," she said, looking at the second youngest member of their family. "That was just me being mean. She was and is very proud of you."
Phoebe smiled gratefully at Piper. "We all know that sometimes I'm not the most responsible person in the world," she admitted.
"No, Phoebe, that's all kind of ancient history, isn't it?" Prue said. "I mean, you've grown up a lot, and I'm sorry if I don't treat you like you have all the time."
"It's okay," Phoebe replied with a smile. "Since mom died."
Piper looked at Prue. "You did take care of us, and you do still look out for us all the time, and we don't always say thank you. Sometimes we take you for granted."
Prue smiled, feeling a warmth in her heart. "I don't think I'm the one who's been taken for granted around here," she admitted.
Buffy smiled at Prue. "Prue, you can use Payson's any time you want."
"Thanks, Buffy," Prue replied gratefully. "That's most generous of you. Next time, I will ask you and Piper beforehand, though. You know, who needs Oprah when we can do it ourselves?" she said as she, Buffy, Piper, and Phoebe giggled.
"So," Phoebe said as she looked at each member of her family. "Do you think we have our powers back?"
It was at that moment that Belthazor burst through the door. Buffy instinctively stepped forward, ready for a fight.
"Oh!" Prue said as she swiped with her hand, but nothing happened. "Alright, no, you try."
Piper stepped forward and attempted to freeze Belthazor, but he remained unaffected. "No, mine aren't working either," she said with a sigh.
Buffy narrowed her eyes and focused on creating a fireball, but she didn't even get a flicker. "No dice."
The four of them exchanged worried glances. "We worked on our issues," Phoebe said.
Leo ran up behind Belthazor and slammed a chair against his back. Belthazor hit him in the face.
"Leo!" Piper yelled as Belthazor hit Leo in the face.
"Dad!" Buffy added worriedly. "Run!" she ordered Prue, Piper, and Phoebe. The Slayer within her demanded she protect those she loved. "I'll hold him off."
"No," Phoebe, Piper, and Prue objected.
"Buffy, we're in this together," Phoebe said as the triquetras on both Book of Shadows glowed. When the glow disappeared, the triquetras had reformed. "Look, the Books," she said as they all looked at both Book of Shadows and realized they had their powers back.
Prue waved her hand and telekinetically knocked the knife out of Belthazor's hand. Belthazor threw an energy ball at them, and Prue waved her hand again, deflecting it away from them. It flew back and hit Belthazor, knocking Andras out of him.
"Okay, that's new," Prue said.
"Demon with demon filling," Buffy quipped.
"Nobody crosses me," Belthazor said as he threw an energy ball at Andras, who was electrocuted before exploding. He then picked up the knife.
"Okay, positions," Prue instructed.
Belthazor walked toward Buffy and Phoebe, who simultaneously kicked him in the face and chest. Belthazor stumbled back but quickly regained his balance and lunged at them with the knife. Buffy grabbed a nearby chair and swung it at him, knocking the knife out of his hand.
"Uh, Piper?" said Prue as Piper flicked her wrist, freezing him as he threw the knife at her.
"Whoa," said Piper.
Prue astral projected behind Belthazor and kicked him in the back just as Buffy threw a fireball at him.
Piper grabbed the knife from where it had landed and sliced Belthazor, a chunk of skin fell to the ground. Belthazor roared as he unfroze and grabbed Piper's arm. He twisted her arm before hitting her in the face, knocking her to the floor.
Prue astral projected back into her body. And with a wave of her hand, she telekinetically sent Belthazor crashing through the window.
Belthazor morphed back into Cole and then shimmered out as Prue and Phoebe ran over to the window.
"He's gone," Phoebe said.
Prue nodded, her heart still racing from the fight. "At least for now," she said.
"Are you okay?" Piper said, looking over at Buffy and Leo. Buffy held her hands over her father, healing him.
"Yeah," Leo answered as he smiled at Buffy. "Did you get him?"
"Ooh, yeah," Piper said as she picked up the skin. "I got a slice."
"Mmm, yum, the other white meat," Buffy quipped as Prue chuckled and hugged her.
"Better him than me." Leo said.
Phoebe nodded. "Well, at least now we can work on the vanquishing potion."
Prue nodded. "Well, better hurry before Belthazor's encore."
November 24, 1998 - Tuesday
Payson's
Buffy, Piper, and Phoebe sat in the owner's alcove, listening to Fastball as the group played on stage. The sound of the music filled the club, creating a lively atmosphere. Buffy tapped her foot to the beat while Piper and Phoebe swayed their heads back and forth in unison.
"Hey, how did the photo session go?" Phoebe asked as Prue walked up to them and sat down next to her.
Prue took a sip of her drink before responding, "Not as good as if it had been done here, but definitely better for our relationship."
"Like Buffy said," Piper said, looking pointedly at Prue. "Just let us know beforehand, and we'll be happy to accommodate you."
Prue smiled and nodded in agreement. "Oh, I promise. By the way, how was your doctor's appointment?"
"It was fine," Piper replied. " Everything was normal except my stress level."
"Oh, I don't mean to stress you out even more, but I ran into Ellen and Claire, and they said they worked everything out with Mrs. Snyder. What did you two say to them anyway?" Phoebe wondered, looking at Buffy and Piper.
Buffy and Piper exchanged a quick glance before Buffy spoke up. "Oh, nothing. We just spoke our minds."
"Maybe you two should handle all the meetings," Prue suggested, looking pointedly at Piper and Buffy.
Piper and Buffy exchanged another glance before Piper spoke up. "No. Absolutely not. Right, Buffy?"
Phoebe smiled and said, "Wow, you're getting good at saying no."
Piper smiled and chuckled. "Thank you."
"Right, my sister," Buffy said, agreeing with Piper. Then a thought occurred to her. "Though I should stop saying that since you are all my sisters."
Prue shook her head. "You don't have to do that, Buffy."
"Prue, you are not only my legal guardian or my cousin," Buffy replied. "But you, Phoebe, and Piper are my sisters. And calling Piper my sister is ignoring the fact that you and Phoebe are as well."
"Anyway," Phoebe said, looking at her sisters, those by birth and those by choice. "I think it's good that we got everything out on the table. And for the sake of innocents everywhere, I think we should always tell each other how we feel."
Piper shook her head. "Well, not always," she replied. "We might kill each other."
Phoebe chuckled. "Okay, then most of the time. Just enough to keep demons from splitting us up."
The sisters all nodded in agreement. "I agree with that," Prue and Buffy said as Phoebe looked around for Cole.
"Haven't heard from Cole yet, huh?" Prue asked.
Phoebe shook her head. "No. I still can't figure that guy out. But I will."