Author's Note: Last Chapter for season 4. On to Season 5, starting with A Witch's Tail.
Chapter 108: Witch Way Now?
Road workers are working on the street right outside the manor. It is very noisy.
Buffy looks out the window from the living room. "Did they say how much longer this was gonna go on for? I have finals to study for."
"Three weeks, which means three months." Leo is holding a picture frame on a wall. "A little higher. "Buffy maybe you should think about staying at Willow's so you can get some peace and quiet to study."
"We'd better hope no demons attack, that'd be a bust, especially if one of us goes flying out the window." Paige says from where she is sitting on the couch.
Buffy absentmindedly rubs her stomach, "Maybe."
"I wouldn't worry about that too much, Paige, there's so much chaos in the underworld they're too busy fighting each other." Leo says.
"Well, I hope it lasts. I almost forgot what it's like to lead a normal life. It's gotta go a little higher." Piper says.
"Normal?" Buffy asks. "You call what happened last week normal?"
Piper sighs, "Buffy what happened last week was more a Slayer threat than a Charmed One. You have to remember the two are not mutually exclusive."
"I need a ladder." Leo says.
"Leo, just hover." Paige says.
"And last week you were saying it was a Charmed problem." Buffy says. "Still I guess you're right, Piper. We've been doing this for four years, going on five. And it's been awhile since I've thought that Slayer related demons are not Charmed related demons that there is in reality two factions of demons in the world."
Piper looks to Paige, "No, no, no, I don't wanna jinx anything, I'd rather we not use magic unless we absolutely have to, thank you very much."
"Come on, Piper, relax a little. Use it or lose it, lady." Paige says.
Leo hovers up and holds the picture against the wall.
"Fine." Piper says.
Leo marks the wall with a pencil and hovers back down.
"Ah, see, no major disaster struck." Paige says.
Phoebe walks in through the front door. "We have a huge problem."
"You were saying?" Buffy asks.
"Cole tried contacting me again." Phoebe says.
Leo frowns, "What, more whisperings?"
Phoebe shakes her head, "No, this time he was channelling through a TV psychic while I was at work. He sounded so desperate."
"Wait, did anybody else notice?" Piper asks.
Phoebe nods, "My highly suspicious assistant. How am I supposed to move on with my life when I keep being haunted by his afterlife?"
"Leo, what do you think?" Buffy asks.
"I think you need to do something fast." Leo says.
"No, I mean, how is he holding on?" Buffy says.
Leo shrugs, "I don't know, I guess because he's half demon, it must be some kind of astral plane."
"Well, whatever, we can't risk him contacting me again. I have to figure out a way to get to him and find out what he wants." Phoebe says.
"Honey, what he wants is you. I mean, why else would he be hanging on?" Paige says.
Suddenly, everything freezes including Leo.
"Piper, why is Leo frozen?" Buffy asks.
Piper goes over to him and waves in front of his face. "Well, this is very strange."
Paige looks out the window and all the work men are frozen too. "Uh, guys, I think you oughta take a look at this." Buffy, Piper and Phoebe go to the window. "So much for not performing any magic, huh Piper."
"Me? I didn't do that, I couldn't freeze all that stuff." Piper says.
An elderly man appears. "But I can."
The girls spin around.
"Who are you?" Phoebe asks.
"I'm the Angel Of Destiny, and I've come to change yours." Angel of Destiny says.
Buffy, Piper, Phoebe and Paige back away from the Angel of Destiny. Piper is trying to freeze him.
"He's not freezing, why isn't he freezing?" Paige says.
"You're wasting your time." Angel Of Destiny says as the girls back into a table and fall on top of each other. "I am beyond your powers." They get back up. "Besides, I pose no threat to you."
"Well, forgive us for not believing that but the last being we met who could freeze time was a demon." Piper says.
"Actually, it's because of a demon that I've come to see you. Which in and of itself is very rare. We Angels of Destiny normally don't intervene except in extraordinary situations. Mozart at age seven, Michelangelo, Albert Einstein... Britney Spears." Angel Of Destiny says.
"Britney Spears, really?" Buffy asks and the Angel of Destiny nods.
"I don't understand." Phoebe says.
Angel of Destiny smiles, "You four have accomplished something that few others ever dream of. By vanquishing the Source of all evil, you have fulfilled your shared destiny, much earlier than anticipated. Truth be told, some of us did think you'd never achieve it at all, but that's really beside the point. What's important is you have and because of that we're offering you a reward, a chance to chart a new destiny, one of your own design."
"A reward?" Buffy asks.
Angel of Destiny nods, "You can continue to remain as you are, charmed, vested with all your witchly powers, and of course demonic burdens. Or..."
"Or?" Piper asks.
"You can choose to relinquish your magic and lead normal lives again, unaccounted, free, we'd wipe the entire slate clean, nobody would come after you again. Well, what do you say?" Angel Of Destiny says.
"What do we say? 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 don't care who you are." Piper says.
"I don't think you quite grasp the uniqueness of this opportunity." Angel Of Destiny says.
Piper shakes her head, "No, I'm grasping it but that is beside the point. The least you could do is give us a little time to think about it."
"Think about what? No time needed. Thanks but no thanks. Right?" Paige says.
"I agree with Paige." Buffy says. "I assume I would still be the Slayer?" Angel Of Destiny nods. "Then having my powers would make that job much easier."
"Yeah, right, of course right. But, you know, as long as he's offering, maybe we should talk about this. Just talk about it. Over there. Right, right over here please, now, excuse us." Phoebe says as she pulls them across the room.
"You can't be serious, Phoebe, you of all people, you love being a witch." Paige says.
"I know I do, but I..." Phoebe says.
"But what? What has changed?" Paige asks.
"Oh, I don't know, I became queen of the Underworld and nearly died carrying baby Lucifer. That's what changed, Paige." Phoebe says.
"Phoebe think for a second. I lose my powers I go back to just a Slayer with an early expiration date. Without powers it may come sooner than we think. I really want to keep mine." Buffy says. "They make my life easier."
"Paige, it's just that we've been doing this a lot longer than you have, and I'm not trying to discount all the good that we've done or that we could do. But at the same time I'm not gonna minimize the costs. Paige, I can't get pregnant because of what we do." Piper says.
Phoebe looks to Buffy, "I understand where you're coming from Buffy. We all know you will still be the Slayer. But wouldn't you like to lighten the load a little. If you're not a witch anymore you won't have half the battles you were before. Besides Faith is getting released from prison in a year, right? You'll have her help and Willows of course. She'll still be a witch. Punching out demons just isn't as much fun as it used to be."
"So what are you gonna say?" Paige asks.
"She's saying you both need some time, which I'll grant, but not too much time. After all, other people's destinies are tied to yours. And since it's your charmed destiny that's at stake here, majority will rule. Two sisters and a cousin or all three sisters will decide the fate of all four. So consider your choice wisely. Perhaps what happens next will help you to decide." Angel Of Destiny says as he disappears.
Everything unfreezes and Piper's cell phone rings.
Leo comes in. "Hey, did you just freeze me?"
Piper shakes her head, "No, dear, the Angel of Destiny did."
"Who?" Leo asks.
Piper picks up her cell. "Yeah, you'd better check with the Elders and make sure he's for real. I'm not kidding." Leo orbs out. Piper answers her phone. "Hello?"
"Don't talk just listen." Darryl says.
"Darryl? What's wrong?" Piper asks.
"Apparently you guys are about to be put under surveillance." Darryl says as Piper motions for Buffy, Phoebe and Paige to come over and listen. "An FBI agent named Jackman called me into his office today. He did a search on unsolved cases. Apparently your names came up on way too many witness lists."
"What do you mean? What does he know?" Phoebe asks.
"I don't know, but I'm gonna try find out. In the meantime just lay low and whatever you do don't use any magic." Darryl says as they hang up.
"So are we screwed?" Paige asks.
"Maybe, but that would take destiny out of our hands and I don't think that's what the angel meant." Piper says.
"Okay, icksnay on the angelnay talk." Buffy says.
They head for the stairs.
"I still don't understand how coming up here is gonna help." Paige says.
"Actually it's pretty simple." Phoebe says as she turns on a stereo and points it at the window. "So you guys have been home all day, right?"
Buffy nods, "Yeah."
"Yeah, so?" Piper asks.
"So there's no way he would've had time to bug the inside of the house, he's gotta be listening from the outside." Phoebe says as she walks over to 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 says.
"Except not using our powers doesn't necessarily mean that we won't be exposed. We still have Cole to worry about." Phoebe says.
"Phoebe, you can't make contact with Cole." Buffy says.
"Yeah, but if I don't he will, and then what? The FBI is outside and if they find out about us it's gonna be the same thing as last year and we don't want that now do we?" Phoebe says as she turns to the "To Find a Lost Love" spell in the Charmed Book. "So I'm gonna cast the "To Find a Lost Love" spell. I mean, if Cole's soul is on some astral plane, it should astral me there, right?"
"Are you sure he even has a soul?" Paige asks.
Phoebe nods, "Well, what else would be calling out to me? Cole needs closure and so do I."
"We will create a distraction outside in case your spell inside creates any fireworks. Buffy why don't you stay up here and help in case something goes wrong." Piper says.
"Good idea." Buffy says.
"Be careful." Paige says.
Buffy watches as Paige goes outside and gets the construction workers attention as Piper goes and freezes the guy in the telephone van. Piper then gives Buffy a thumbs up. She turns down the stereo and looks to Phoebe, "You're on."
Phoebe sits in a circle on the floor which has five lit candles around it. She reads a spell from the Book of Shadows. "Writher my love, wherever you be, through time and space, take my heart near to thee." She collapses on the floor.
Buffy watches as she stands looking over her own Book of Shadows. She has it turned to the page for the reversal spell, ready to cast it.
Phoebe screams as Piper and Paige run in.
"Phoebe." Piper says.
Phoebe screams again.
"Something's hurting her." Paige says.
"Something is killing her." Piper says and looks to Buffy. "You got the reversal spell?"
Buffy nods, "Return thy love, wherever she be, through time and space, bring her back to me."
Phoebe sits up with a jolt and gasps.
"Okay, you're okay." Piper says.
"Oh my god, what was I thinking?" Phoebe asks.
Someone knocks on the front door and rings the doorbell.
"Uh-oh, I hope the freeze didn't wear off." Paige says.
"So do I." Buffy says.
They head downstairs into the foyer as Piper opens the door.
"Agent Jackman, FBI." Agent Jackman says as he holds up his badge. "We should talk."
They walk into the dining room and Agent Jackman follows. He puts a thick folder on the table and slides it over to the girls. "In case you're wondering, that's just a copy."
They look in it to find photos of themselves being spied on.
"Pursued to agenda trust, Agent Jackman." Phoebe says.
"If I wanted to expose you, I could've done that six months ago when that file first crossed my desk." Agent Jackman says.
"Expose us as what?" Paige asks.
"Witches. It's the only logical explanation for all the unsolved cases, the missing persons, the mysterious deaths." Agent Jackman says.
"Prove it." Buffy says.
He gets out a tape recorder and presses play.
"Something's hurting her." Paige says on the tape.
"Something is killing her." Piper says on the tape. "You got the reversal spell?"
"Return thy love, wherever she be, through time and space, bring her back to me." Buffy says on the tape.
Agent Jackman stops the tape.
"That doesn't prove anything." Piper says.
Agent Jackman smiles, "No, but it implies everything, especially when coupled with that file. You think your newspaper wouldn't run that story?"
"What do you want?" Phoebe asks.
"Believe it or not, your help. See, I specialize in occult style slayings, that's why I was watching you in hopes of catching a serial killer. A witch hunter." Agent Jackman says.
"Alright, I've heard enough of this nonsense." Piper says and she tries to freeze Agent Jackman but he doesn't.
"Uh, wait a second, he froze before." Buffy says.
Agent Jackman pulls out an amulet out of his shirt which is hanging around his neck. "This time I was prepared. Like I said, I specialize in this stuff. There's supposed to only be a few of these amulets left in the world. Got this one off the witch hunter we're after." He tucks it back under his shirt. He hands the girls a photo of the witch hunter. "Her name is Selena. I traced her genealogy all the way back to the witch trials. I think killing you people's in her blood, it's what she lives for. I mean, why else would she had burned her last three victims at the stake."
"Why are you telling us this?" Piper asks.
"Well, because I thought you were gonna be her next victims, but now that I know who you really are and what you can do, I need you to help me find her before she kills again." Agent Jackman says.
"Do you have any idea where she is?" Phoebe asks.
"I did for a while, I had her in custody once but she got away." Agent Jackman says as he puts a plastic bag of stuff on the table. "These are some of Selena's personal belongings and from what I know, if you use your powers on them you might be able to find her. Now you do that, I'll make sure those files disappear forever. You don't," he pulls out his card, "well, you figure it out." He grabs his bag. "Call me." He leaves.
Paige shakes her head, "I don't trust him."
"Neither do I." Buffy says.
"Gee, you think?" Piper asks.
Phoebe nods, "Maybe we should take the Angel of Destiny up on his offer."
"Great, so we'd be free and so would Selena, who for all we know could be a warlock." Paige says.
"No, warlocks don't burn witches at the stake, they just steal their powers." Phoebe says.
"Exactly. Powers, Phoebe, the very things we were given to do good with, remember?" Paige asks.
Phoebe sighs, "Huh, yeah, Paige, I remember."
"Guys." Piper and Buffy says.
"Do you really or has all that dark magic just kinda gotten into your brain." Paige says.
"Guys." Piper and Buffy says.
"I can't believe you're so willing to just throw away our powers." Paige says.
"Paige, you don't know the hell that I've been through. You didn't live it." Phoebe says.
"Oh, really? I was just turned into a vampiric demon and then I was shrunk and then we switched bodies and..." Paige says.
"Okay, imagine going through that for years. All I'm asking is for my life back." Phoebe says.
"Yeah Pheebs. I've been through all of it with you, Piper and Prue remember. And as much as I would love to retire I can't. Even if I gave up my powers I would still be a Slayer. I would still be out there night after night fighting demons. Having powers makes that job easier." Buffy says.
"Okay, guys, enough, we need to focus." Piper says.
"What about you, Piper? What do you think?" Paige asks.
Piper sighs, "I think we need to see this through like the angel suggested. So Paige, you are gonna go up to the attic and get started on this stuff." She hands Paige Selena's stuff. "We will meet you there. Scoot." Paige goes upstairs. "Leo! You can orb it's alright."
Leo orbs in. "What about the FBI agent?"
"Uh, he already busted us. But supposedly all he wants is our help." Buffy says.
"Did you find anything out about the Angel of Destiny?" Phoebe asks.
Leo nods, "He's legit and so is his offer."
"Okay, um, can you do us a favor and go get Darryl and make sure that Agent Jackman is legit too. And meanwhile, we have a witch hunter to find. Don't ask, just go." Piper says as Leo orbs out. Phoebe moans. "Having a crappy day?"
Phoebe nods, "Yeah."
"Cole?" Buffy asks.
Phoebe nods, "Yeah."
Later in the attic Piper is reading from the Book of Shadows while Paige makes a potion.
"Before the flame subsides, let the wax from the candle drip onto the crystal. Once consecrated scry with the crystal for the one who is sought." Piper says.
Paige drips a candle into a pot and it explodes. "Ain't magic grand."
Phoebe walks in, talking on the phone. "Okay, bye." She hangs up. "That was Morris. He confirmed that there is a serial killer on the loose doing exactly what Jackman said."
"They're all over it." Buffy says as she stares out the window absentmindedly rubbing her stomach.
Paige starts scrying on a map.
"He also said that Jackman has more information on us than he shared, including our genealogy. Dating all the way back to Melinda Warren." Phoebe says.
"I wouldn't mind getting a hold of that." Buffy says. "We could fill in some of the family tree that we don't have full names for."
"Well, what does that mean?" Paige asks.
"They're gonna keep checking." Phoebe says. "Buffy is something wrong?"
"It means he's going through an awful lot of trouble to get as much information on us as possible. I got a bad feeling he's not gonna let us off the hook so easily after this is all over." Piper says.
Buffy looks to Phoebe and shakes her head, "Nothing's wrong other than you and Piper wanting to give up our powers."
"What, he's just gonna keep using us afterwards?" Paige asks.
"Great, Charlie's freakin' angels. This just keeps getting better and better." Phoebe says before looking back at Buffy. "Besides me and Piper wanting to give up our powers I mean. You seem a little I don't know distracted."
"Just thinking." Buffy says.
The crystal points to a spot on the map.
"Got Selena. Do we still go after her?" Paige says.
"Well, we don't have a choice. We can't let her run around burning people at the stake." Piper says.
Moments later at Selena's house. Paige orbs in a room with Piper and Buffy flames in with Phoebe. Piper opens a door slightly and peeks through it. She sees Selena and some men in the next room.
"She has body guards. Lots of body guards." Piper whispers.
"I wonder why Jackman didn't tell us about them?" Phoebe asks.
"Probably figured we wouldn't help if we knew." Piper says.
A bodyguard walks in through a different door and shoots his gun at Paige. Piper freezes the bullet in mid-air.
"Paige. Buffy." Piper says as she knocks the bullet out of the air. "Did you not have the sense to sense if anybody else was in the room before you brought us here?"
Another bodyguard comes in through the other door and shoots. Paige gets a fright and orbs out. Phoebe grabs the bodyguard and pushes him against a cabinet.
In the other room Selena is there heading for the door as Paige orbs in front of her.
"Going somewhere?" Paige asks as Selena takes a swing at Paige but misses. Paige hits Selena and knocks her unconscious. Buffy, Piper and Phoebe race in. "We're gonna need some serious memory dust after all this is over."
"Yeah, well, we've gotta get out of here." Piper says.
"Paige you take Phoebe and Piper. I got Selena." Buffy says.
Phoebe sees Cole in the corner of the room.
"Phoebe." Cole says.
"Cole." Phoebe says and He disappears. Buffy and Piper turns to look. "I swear he was just there."
A bodyguard runs in and shoots. Piper freezes him. "Time to go."
Buffy grabs Selena and flames out as Paige orbs out with Piper and Phoebe.
Later back at the manor Agent Jackman knocks on the door as Piper answers it and he walks in. "Where is she?"
"In there." Piper says as Agent Jackman pulls out his gun. "Whoa! Whoa! You don't need that, she's unconscious."
Agent Jackman puts it away and they go into the living room where Selena is unconscious on the couch.
"Did she put up much of a fight?" Agent Jackman asks.
Phoebe shakes her head, "No, but her bodyguards did."
"Bodyguards? She had bodyguards?" Agent Jackman asks.
Buffy nods, "Yeah, lots of them with lots of guns and they weren't shy about using them either."
"Oh, must have known we were closing in on her." Agent Jackman says.
"Still, don't you think it's odd that a serial killer has hired guns protecting her?" Paige asks.
"Well, maybe she's not working alone." Agent Jackman says.
"Or maybe you're just not telling us everything." Phoebe says.
"Maybe I'm not. What are you gonna do about it?" Agent Jackman asks.
Piper shakes her head, "Well, for one thing, we're not gonna let you take her without a warrant."
"You know, you're all the same. You think that just because you have gifts, powers, that you're above it all, you're special. Well I'm no different." Agent Jackman says.
"Oh really?" Buffy asks.
Agent Jackman nods, "Yeah. Your arrogance is your Achilles heel, that's why witch hunters and demons are always after you and they always will be. I wouldn't trade places with you for the world. Oh, ah," he pulls out some paper, "here's your warrant."
"So when do we get our files?" Paige asks.
"When she's in jail and I feel I'm safe." Agent Jackman says.
Phoebe frowns, "Safe from what?"
"Safe from you." Agent Jackman says as he picks up Selena. "I don't wanna be another one of those people who mysteriously disappear around here." He leaves with Selena.
"I knew he'd never give up those files. In case anybody is wondering we are officially screwed." Piper says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "Not necessarily."
"No, we are not giving up our powers. Last time I checked were still tied fifty-fifty." Paige says as she storms over to the couch and sits down.
Phoebe sighs, "Paige, I don't wanna give up our powers either. But I don't wanna give up our lives even more. He's just gonna keep using us."
"Unless we let the angel wipe the slate clean. Look, Paige, we said we would wait to decide until this thing played out and it has. And frankly if the angel hadn't made this offer I'd probably think differently and I'd think let's just keep fighting. But I'm tired of fighting and Jackman's right, it is never ending." Piper says.
"Unless we end it ourselves." Phoebe says.
"Well I'm not changing my mind so don't bother trying." Buffy says.
Piper sighs, "Buffy."
"No." Buffy says she turns and storms out of the room.
Phoebe sighs, "So do we need to talk to Leo about this first?"
"No, it doesn't have anything to do with him, it's just us. And he will understand." Piper says. "I just hope Buffy will with time."
Paige sighs, "You guys are only seeing the bad. What about all the wonder of being witches, the stuff you introduced me to in the first place. You're gonna let all that go?"
"Paige, it doesn't balance out anymore. And after everything that we've lost, it doesn't seem worth it." Phoebe says.
"What about all the good we've done. Doesn't that count for anything?" Paige says.
"Of course it does but that's exactly why we have this choice to make. He said we fulfilled our destiny, we've done it. This is supposed to be our reward for that." Piper says.
Paige nods, "Yeah, well, pardon me if it didn't seem like much of a reward, because without being witches I wouldn't have sisters."
Upstairs in Buffy's room Buffy is lying on her bed crying.
Later Piper, Phoebe, Paige and the Angel of Destiny are in the attic.
"Are you sure about this?" Angel of Destiny asks. "What about Buffy?
Phoebe nods, "Yeah. As sure as we're ever gonna be. And Buffy more or less abstains. She's locked herself in her room and won't come out."
Angel of Destiny nods, "You understand this decision is final. There'll be no changing your minds."
"We understand." Piper says.
"Very well." Angel of Destiny says as he closes his eyes and raises his arms.
"Hold it. Just so we're clear this wipes the entire slate clean. No read the fine print technicalities, no more demons, no more vengeful warlocks." Piper says.
"And we won't have to worry about Agent Jackman anymore, or anyone else who might have found out we were witches?" Phoebe says.
Piper nods, "Exactly. Just free to lead normal lives with no demonic aftertaste."
"Absolutely." Angel of Destiny says. "Well of the kind you face as witches anyways. As long as Buffy lives with you there may be attacks she has to deal with as the Slayer."
"Will we remember? Being witches that is." Paige says.
"Oh, you'll remember everything. It doesn't change your history, only your future." Angel of Destiny says.
"And what about the books?" Buffy says from the attic door.
Angel of Destiny looks to Buffy, "It'll pass to some future descendent."
Piper looks to Buffy, "Are you okay?"
Buffy simply shakes her head.
"What about Cole? Will he keep trying to make contact with me?" Phoebe asks.
"I don't know, I have no control over that. He exists beyond time and space, outside destiny's reach." Angel of Destiny says.
"What is it?" Piper asks.
"It's just that he's still holding on, that's why he appeared to me. So maybe if I can tell him that I don't have the power to save him, then he'll be able to move on for good." Phoebe says.
"I don't think that's such a good idea considering what happened last time." Paige says.
"I have to agree, Pheebs." Buffy says.
Phoebe sighs, "I can't leave it like this. I owe him more than that."
Later Phoebe astral projects back in her body after casting the spell to talk to Cole and gasps.
"Are you okay?" Piper asks.
Phoebe nods, "Yeah, let's do this."
"Uh, well, we've been thinking a little bit." Piper says.
"Are you having second thoughts?" Phoebe says.
Buffy sighs, "Not about the decision unfortunately."
Piper nods, "About Jackman and Selena."
"Yeah, a lot of things don't add up. His extensive knowledge of witches, how he got a hold of that amulet." Paige says.
"The fact that he came in alone to pick up Selena." Piper says.
"The bodyguards." Buffy says.
Piper nods, "We just wanna make sure we've done the right thing before it's too late to do anything about it."
"Okay." Phoebe says. "Is that okay?"
"Hm? Oh, sure, absolutely. Frankly, I thought you were being a bit premature anyway. Especially when you didn't actually have the majority yet." Angel of Destiny says.
"Well, then why didn't you say something?" Piper asks.
Angel of Destiny smiles, "Oh, can't, free will and all. Let me know when you're ready." He disappears.
"So now what?" Paige asks.
"Leo!" Piper calls out.
Leo orbs in with Darryl. "We were just coming to get you."
"Why? What did you find?" Buffy asks.
"Another genealogy Jackman has besides yours." Leo says.
Paige nods, "Oh, yeah, we know Selena's a descendent of witch hunters."
Darryl shakes his head, "No, Jackman is. Selena is a daughter of a witch."
"What?" Piper asks.
Darryl nods, "She is not a suspect, she's a victim. They have her in a safe house because somebody's trying to kill her."
"Please tell me we didn't just help a witch hunter get a witch." Paige says.
"Oh my goddess." Buffy says.
"Oh my god." Phoebe says.
Later in a park Jackman has Selena tied to a stake. He lights the wood surrounding her feet. Paige orbs in with Piper and Phoebe as Buffy flames in.
"Come to save your sister witch have you?" Agent Jackman says.
Piper nods, "Actually, yeah." She tries to freeze the fire but nothing happens.
"You see, I buried the rest of the amulets around here in anticipation of your arrival. Your powers are useless here. However..." Agent Jackman says as he pulls out a gun and grabs Phoebe. "Mine aren't. Move and she dies."
"It was his plan all along. He's gonna kill us anyway. Ouch!" Phoebe says.
"Hey, how's it feel to be powerless, huh? Mortal. You're a discourage from mankind, a blasphemy. Burning will be your justice too." Agent Jackman says.
Phoebe hits Agent Jackman and knocks him to the ground. "Get Selena."
Buffy, Piper and Paige race over and try to put the fire out while Phoebe fights with Agent Jackman. Selena's pants catch on fire.
"Piper, her leg. Buffy, what are you doing?" Paige asks as Buffy jumps onto the wood and knocks over the post Selena is tied to. "Buffy!"
Agent Jackman points his gun at Phoebe. "Saving her life just cost you yours."
Cole appears behind Phoebe. Agent Jackman shoots his gun and the bullet heads for Phoebe. Cole waves his hand and Phoebe and Agent Jackman swap places. The bullet hits Jackman.
Phoebe sees Cole. "Cole."
"I couldn't very well let you die now could I?" Cole asks.
"I don't understand. How are you...?" Phoebe says.
"Here? Let's just say I picked up a few powers lately, quite a few actually." Cole says as he starts to leave but stops. "I'm not giving up on us, Phoebe. Ever." He disappears.
Selena coughs.
"Paige, you've gotta go get the ambulance." Buffy says.
"You'll be okay." Paige says and Buffy nods as she races off.
The next day at the Manor, Leo is there, pacing as Buffy, Piper and Phoebe walk in through the front door.
"Where's Paige?" Leo asks.
"Oh, she had to park down the street because the driveway was blocked." Buffy says.
"Well, that's ridiculous, I'll go talk to them and tell them to move." Leo says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "Oh, no, it's not a big deal."
"And to think twenty-four hours ago that was our biggest problem." Piper says.
"How'd it go?" Leo asks.
"Uh, well, it looks like we got away with everything so far." Buffy says.
Phoebe nods, "Thanks to Selena testifying for us."
"What about how Agent Jackman died?" Leo asks.
"They're stumped. They can't figure out how he shot himself from twenty feet away." Piper says.
"What are they gonna do, subpoena Cole?" Phoebe asks.
"You guys stopped one of their own from killing again, I think they'd be grateful." Leo says.
Piper nods, "Yeah, one would hope. At least until they find those files on us."
Leo shakes his head, "They won't. I sorta orbed them into a volcano."
"You what?" Phoebe and Buffy asks, shocked that Leo would do such a thing.
"Uh, excuse me, are you allowed to do that?" Piper asks.
Leo nods, "Well, my job is to protect my charges and that's all I did."
Piper kisses him. "Thanks. Maybe sometime soon you won't have to protect your charges. Are you okay with that?"
"Whatever you guys decide I'll support. I mean that." Leo says.
The front door opens and Paige walks in. Suddenly, Leo and everything else freezes.
"Uh-oh." Buffy says.
"The door's stuck." Paige says as the Angel of Destiny appears. "Oh, you." She walks over to Buffy, Piper and Phoebe.
"Well, still ready to retire?" Angel of Destiny asks.
Phoebe shakes her head, "Actually, I don't think so anymore. We saved someone and it felt good, it felt right. Besides, I got a little taste of what life would be like without my powers and I didn't like it at all."
"And you?" Angel of Destiny asks Buffy.
Buffy sighs, "I was never on the fence I was always against it. Phoebe and Piper told you I abstained simply because I was having a hard time accepting they wanted to give it all up. I don't want to lose my powers. They make my job as the Slayer easier."
"What about you?" Angel of Destiny asks Piper.
"Majority rules, right? Might as well make it unanimous. What can I say, we're masochists." Piper says.
"We are?" Paige asks.
Piper nods, "Yeah, sometimes. But Phoebe's right, this isn't a choice we have to make, it's who we are."
"You realize you won't get this opportunity again." Angel of Destiny says.
Phoebe nods, "We understand."
"Very well." Angel of Destiny says as he starts to leave but stops. "By the way, thought you'd like to know, neither decision would've affected yours and Leo's personal destiny. Or Buffy's personal and Slayer destinies."
"What?" Piper asks.
"You'll find out soon." Angel of Destiny says as he glances down at Piper and Buffy's stomachs.
"Oh my god." Phoebe says.
"What?" Piper asks.
"Don't you get it?" Phoebe asks.
"What?" Piper asks again.
"Don't you get it?" Phoebe says excitedly to Paige and Buffy. "She's pregnant!"
"Who's pregnant? I'm pregnant?" Piper asks.
Phoebe and Paige scream in excitement and hug Piper.
Buffy smiles as she absentmindedly rubs her own stomach.
"Hi baby." Phoebe says to Piper's stomach.
They giggle. The Angel of Destiny smiles and disappears out the front door.
Then realization sweeps across Piper, Phoebe and Paige's faces at what the Angel of Destiny said.
"What personal destiny was he referring to for you I wonder, Buffy?" Piper asks.
Buffy smiles, "You're not the only one who is pregnant."
Piper, Phoebe and Paige's jaws drop.
"How?" Paige asks.
Buffy smiles, "It happened when I went to see Angel in Los Angeles." She went on to tell them of the day that she would never forget. Of a day that Angel had been human.