Chapter 113: Happily Ever After
In the attic Piper is there reading a story from a fairy tales book out loud. Buffy sits listening.
"A year after the death of Snow White's mother, the king remarried, but his new bride was in fact a wicked witch." Piper reads as Paige and Dawn walks in. "One consumed by..."
"There you are Buffy." Dawn says.
"What are you two still doing up?" Paige asks.
Piper smiles, "We're not sleeping as usual. First trimester nonsense, I guess."
"You want me to mix you up a potion?" Paige asks.
"Oh, no thanks. I don't wanna turn my baby into a guinea pig. I've got enough to worry about." Buffy says.
Paige smiles, "Like I'd ever risk turning both of my future nieces into rodents, please."
Dawn goes over and sits next to Buffy, "Can I?"
"No, I think Buffy was speaking figuratively. And it's not a knock at your super witch kick, it's just we don't want to subject them to anything that could be remotely bad for either of them, that's all." Piper says.
"You're not going to feel anything. It's too early, but go ahead." Buffy says to Dawn.
Dawn smiles and rests her hand on Buffy's stomach.
"Well, then maybe you should put away those silly fairy tales." Paige says.
"Silly? You think fairy tales are silly?" Dawn asks.
Paige nods, "Yeah, they're all about helpless women needing big, strong men to come and rescue them. Plus, they're filled with evil witches." She looks at Piper and Buffy. "Do you two really wanna teach your kids that?"
"No, I want to teach her values and that's what fairy tales are best at, you know, good overcomes evil. It's how Grams taught us." Piper says.
"I don't know about Grams. But mom did the same thing for me and Dawn." Buffy says.
Dawn nods, "I always liked Snow White."
Paige sighs, "Well, my grandmother taught me values just fine without big wolves devouring little girls. You want my advice?"
"Not really." Buffy and Piper says.
Paige walks over to the Charmed Book of Shadows. "You should ditch the fiction and do what all other moms-to-be do and that is to rely on your natural instincts." She picks up the Charmed Book and takes it to Piper.
"Well, my natural instincts are to panic and besides, every other mother-to-be doesn't have to worry about her child orbing out to Tahiti when they are sent to their room. I don't have a clue." Piper says.
"I'm in the same boat Paige. It's possible my daughter could end up flaming just like her mom." Buffy says.
"What's to say she doesn't shimmer like her aunt?" Dawn asks.
Buffy smiles, "Nothing, I guess. But she can already do a flame shield from inside the womb. So it's likely she'll be able to flame."
Paige shakes her head, "Luckily you both have three magical sisters who are gonna help you both any way they can. So don't worry you both are gonna be just fine." She leaves the attic.
"I hope so. Where were we? A year after the death of Snow White's mother, the king remarried. But his new bride was in fact a wicked witch, one consumed by jealousy. Every day she asked the magic mirror the same question." Piper says.
Dawn smiled and whispered to Buffy, "I always liked how Snow White wins in the end. She does away with the wicked witch and marries her prince."
The next morning Buffy and Piper are asleep on the couches. Dawn is a sleep on the floor next to Buffy.
Paige walks in holding the Charmed Book of Shadows. "Piper! Buffy! Dawn!"
Piper jumps up. "Where's the baby?"
Buffy and Dawn sit up and look at each other as if to say did we fall asleep up here?
"It's okay, you're okay." Paige says.
"Ohh, I think I had a nightmare." Piper says.
Paige shakes her head, "Yeah, the brothers Grimm strike again. I wonder how they got their name. Where's Leo?"
"I don't know, I think he's helping one of his charges. What are you doing?" Piper says.
"Failing miserably. I can't seem to make this protection potion work." Paige says as she places the Charmed Book of Shadows back on its stand.
Buffy shakes her head, "Well, that's because it can't be done."
"Well, according to the book it can. Your Grams was working on the entry so that means she was close to figuring one out." Paige says.
Dawn shakes her head, "Willow was trying to make one for a while. She eventually gave up."
Piper sighs, "Well, too bad she's not around; she could help us both out. I just, I need a little guidance."
"What about your friend Wendy? She just had a baby, ask her." Paige says.
"Yeah, not one that could heal herself from the womb. Or in Buffy's case could create a shield. I think Buffy and I just wish we could talk to somebody who's been through this before." Piper says.
"Yeah I do wish I could talk to someone who's been through this." Buffy says before looking at Dawn. "No offense Dawn. You've been a big help lately. But…"
Dawn nods, "I know."
Phoebe races in. "There you are. Paige, did you ever make that vanquishing potion?"
"Vanquishing potion?" Buffy asks.
"The one for Cole." Phoebe says. "Paige, remember I gave you the letter opener with his blood on it?"
"Right, vanquishing potion. I'm sorry, I didn't know you needed that right away. Do you?" Paige says.
Phoebe nods, "Well, if the nightmare I had last night turns out to be a premonition, then yeah, big time. He had me back in the underworld as his queen."
"Oh, yeah, but you've had that nightmare before." Piper says.
"I've lived that nightmare before, we all have, but this time we have to be prepared." Phoebe says.
"No arguments here." Paige says.
"And he's got a lot more powers now so there's no telling how he's gonna come after me. You guys have to be really, really careful, okay." Phoebe says.
Buffy shakes her head, "What, you think Cole's gonna try and kill us? That would not be the best way to win you back."
Paige shakes her head, "Yeah, but it wouldn't be the first time he tried."
"But didn't he just help save you?" Dawn asks.
Phoebe sighs, "Only because he didn't wanna lose me. All I'm saying is we've gotta be ready just in case he tries something. He is still a demon. Call me at work if you get the potion, okay?"
Dawn looks at her watch, "Phoebe could you drop me off at school?"
Phoebe nods, "If you hurry."
Later downstairs in the conservatory Buffy, Piper and Leo are there.
"You heard us, Leo. We want you to bring Grams back now." Piper says.
Leo shakes his head, "Okay, I can't do that, she's dead."
"Well, we realize that. Thank you very much, Leo. We're not asking you to resurrect her; we just need her here for a little while for some advice." Buffy says.
Leo shakes his head, "Then why don't you try conjuring her. You did it once before."
"Yeah, okay, but that was a unique situation, okay. Besides, we already tried, it didn't work. Look, we know this doesn't seem important but it is to us. Buffy and I can't do this alone." Piper says.
Leo shakes his head, "Well, you're not alone, I'm here for you Piper. And Buffy Dawn is here for you."
Buffy sighs, "Yeah, we know but it's not your or Dawn's fault that there's only so much you and she can do, okay. We're the ones who are carrying a baby and Piper and I don't wanna screw it up."
"That's ridiculous." Leo says.
Piper shakes her head, "No, it's not ridiculous, it is not ridiculous at all and this is not raging hormones talking, this is two very special babies with very special needs, and we need someone pretty damn special to help us figure it out and when we say now, we mean now!"
Grams suddenly appears in bright lights. "Piper. Buffy."
"Thank you." Piper and Buffy says.
"Uh, don't thank me I didn't do anything." Leo says.
"What am I doing here? And, uh, corporeal to boot." Grams says.
"Well, what do you mean? Didn't you come on your own power?" Buffy asks.
"Honey, I'm good but I'm not that good. Well, as long as I'm here, don't I get a hug?" Grams says.
Buffy, Piper and Grams hug.
"But wait, I still don't understand. Who summoned you?" Piper asks.
"The baby?" Leo asks.
"No. You think? Which one?" Buffy says.
Leo looks to Grams for a moment, "I think Piper and mine did. If the manner of how Grams arrived is any indication. On the how maybe Piper tapped into her powers somehow and made your wish come true."
"Aw, you wished for me? Why?" Grams asks.
"Because Buffy and I need help, we need your advice. We need to know how to get ready for these babies." Piper says.
"Oh, well, that's easy. Now, let's see. Have you both been exercising your powers daily?" Grams says.
"Do we need to?" Buffy asks.
"Well, you know, only if you both don't want to lose control of them. Did you both perform a ritual to promote growth?" Grams says.
"Uh..." Piper says looking at Buffy, who shakes her head.
"Did you cast a spell to ward off demonic parasites? Sweethearts, what did you do?" Grams asks.
"Piper and I built a nursery in our bedroom closet. And I built Buffy a bassinet and changing table for her room." Leo says.
"Closet? Well, no wonder this baby called me. Come on, we'll start in there, we've got plenty of work to do." Grams says. "Let me guess Buffy's baby is going to be in a closet also?"
Buffy shakes her head as they walk into the foyer. "No my closet isn't big enough for mine and Dawn's clothes let alone a baby. It's not a walk-in like Piper's was."
Paige comes down the stairs. "Oh, my goodness, don't tell me you two are already interviewing nannies." She laughs.
"Paige. You're even more beautiful than I imagined," Grams says.
"And you are?" Paige asks.
"Why, I'm your Grams, of course. Come here." Grams says as she hugs Paige, who has a funny look on her face.
"Quick, go clean up the nursery." Piper whispers to Leo and he races off.
"No offence, but, uh, aren't you supposed to be dead?" Paige asks.
Grams smiles, "Oh, I'm over that. Look at you, I mean you're absolutely gorgeous. You have my mother's eyes. Oh, she was a real looker too. I bet you have plenty of boyfriends, right?"
Paige shakes her head, "Actually, not a problem I'm having right now, Mrs. Halliwell."
"Oh, please, call me Grams." Grams says.
Suddenly, the Woodsman comes crashing through the conservatory wall. He heads for Buffy, Grams and Piper pushes them out the way. He swings his axe at Paige and she orbs out just in time. She orbs back in and he smacks her across the face, sending her crashing onto the coffee table. Piper's wound on her arm magically heals itself. The Woodsman turns to attack Buffy, Piper and Grams and Piper blows him up.
"What the hell was that?" Buffy asks.
Leo runs down the stairs. "What's going on? Paige."
"Paige?" Piper and Buffy asks as they help Paige up.
Moments later they all walk in the attic.
"I'm telling you, that was a demon. No crazy person off the street is that good with an axe." Paige says.
Piper sits down and opens the fairy tale book.
"Except, since when do demons attack with an axe?" Leo asks.
"Athame, axe, what's the difference?" Paige asks.
Grams opens the Charmed Book Of Shadows. "Oh, who cares? Let's just see if there's any more where he came from. I mean, I certainly don't want a body if it's gonna get chopped up."
"Well, Buffy and Piper says you're the super witch, what do you think he was?" Paige asks.
Grams shakes her head, "I don't know. Although there was something about him that looked familiar."
"I have to agree there was something familiar about him." Buffy says.
"A little like this maybe?" Piper asks as she holds up the picture of the Woodsman in the book.
"Oh, the woodsman, of course. Oh, you recognized him too." Grams says.
"Piper has been reading fairy tales to our babies just like you read to her. And mom read to me." Buffy says.
"Oh, darling," Grams says, giggling. "Well, I'm glad you're finally doing something."
"Wait, you're saying a fairy tale character came to life and attacked us? Come on." Paige says as she rolls her eyes.
"Well, why not? They're real, I mean, at least they used to be." Grams says.
"What?" Paige asks.
"Oh, Paige. I can see I have lots to teach you too." Grams says. "Fairy tales are not all fables, my dear. Some are a recounting of ancient battles between good and evil. And they're as much a part of our heritage as anything in the Book of Shadows." She is flipping pages and stops on Dracula. "Dear this one is a fairy tale."
Buffy goes over to the Charmed Book and looks at the Dracula page, "Uhm actually, Grams. Dracula is real. I met him not long ago."
"You expect me to believe that there are giant beanstalks and gingerbread houses that actually existed?" Paige asks.
"Really?" Grams asks Buffy who nods. "Well you learn something new every day."
"You used to think that the Evil Enchantress was just a fairy tale too, didn't you?" Leo asks.
"That was different. That was..." Paige says.
"A past life. Yours." Piper says.
Phoebe walks in carrying a gift. "Hey, you guys, was anyone here when this got... Grams!"
"In the flesh. So to speak." Grams says as she hugs Phoebe.
"Oh, it's so good to see you. Wait, what did I just hug? Where did you get the body from?" Phoebe asks.
"Oh, it's a long story. And speaking of stories, a fairy tale just tried to slice our heads off." Buffy says.
"A fairy tale?" Phoebe asks.
Leo nods, "The Woodsman from Snow White."
"Okay, well, that would explain where these came from, glass slippers." Phoebe says as she shows them the gift. "Cinderella's no doubt. Cole knows it's my favorite."
"Cole? You think Cole is doing all of this?" Piper asks.
"Who else has enough power to turn fairy tales against us? I told you he was gonna attack." Phoebe says.
"Except it was an evil witch who sent the woodsman in Snow White." Grams says.
"I think I'd better go check with the elders." Leo says.
"I think you better." Piper says as Leo orbs out.
Phoebe takes off her shoes.
"Uhm Pheebs, what are you doing?" Buffy asks.
"Proving that I'm right," Phoebe says.
"Hey, that's risky. You don't know what could happen." Paige says.
Phoebe nods, "Well, I know that Cole won't hurt me, physically anyway." She opens the box and pulls out the slippers.
"Well, as much as I distrust him, we don't know that it's him behind this." Paige says.
"All the more reason to play along, find out who is. We can't just sit around here and wait to be attacked." Grams says.
"She could get killed. Piper, Buffy, a little support here." Paige says.
"Uh, if Grams thinks it's a good idea who am I to disagree?" Piper asks.
"I think Grams is right, Paige." Buffy says.
Phoebe puts the slippers on. "See, no problem. I'm fine." A blue light swirls around her from her feet to her head and her clothes change into a ball gown. "Actually, I'm better than fine." Phoebe's legs start moving her towards the door. "Whoa."
"Where are you going?" Piper asks.
"Whoa." Phoebe says.
"Where are you going?" Piper asks again as Phoebe walks out the door of the attic.
Piper, Buffy and Paige hurry to catch her following her down the stairs.
"I don't know! I can't stop!" Phoebe says.
They try to hold her back.
"Well, get out of them." Buffy says.
"I can't. The door. The door." Phoebe says as she holds onto the door frame.
"Grams, what do we do?" Piper asks.
"Just let her go. We're never gonna be able to get to the bottom of this if you don't." Grams says as they let Phoebe go and she walks downstairs. "Paige, follow her, orb her out if she gets in trouble."
"She's already in trouble." Paige says.
"Help!" Phoebe says.
Paige follows Phoebe.
"I'm gonna have to help you two get ready to be mothers later. Right now we've got to deal with evil witches." Grams says.
"Right." Piper and Buffy says as they head for their respective Books.
"Oh, uh, not those books." Grams says as she picks up the fairy tale book. "This one."
Later Paige is back in the attic, having gotten separated from Phoebe.
"She's already in danger. We never should have split up. No offence, Mrs. Halliwell." Paige says.
"Grams. And none taken." Grams says.
"Yeah, well, if what we heard is true, then Phoebe could be in a lot more danger than we think. We all could." Piper says.
Leo nods, "If somebody's using fairy tales for evil, it could rewrite them, corrupt them for every future generation."
"How? How can you rewrite them? They're already in print." Paige says.
"Every copy is a manifestation of an original, an original that was entrusted to the Keeper of the fairy tales, long ago for protection." Leo says.
"The Elders think something has happened to him, that somebody took over the fortress from the inside." Buffy says.
"An evil witch I might add." Grams says.
"Why don't we just orb or flame to this fortress and kick her butt?" Paige says.
Leo shakes his head, "Because nobody knows where it is. It's location has been kept secret, even from the Elders."
"Where was their infinite wisdom on the day that was decided?" Paige asks.
"The point is we have no way of finding her." Piper says.
"Piper, I'm surprised at you. I mean, she's a witch isn't she? Just scry for her." Grams says.
"Oh, right." Piper says.
"Then after you find her, you lure her back here to us and we vanquish her with a potion." Grams says.
"What potion?" Paige asks.
"Oh, one that works wonders on evil witches. Come, I'll show you." Grams says.
"Errr." Paige says.
"Uh, maybe we could also work on your protection potion if we have time." Grams says as she picks up the Book Of Shadows.
Paige nods and they leave the attic.
"You two alright?" Leo asks.
"Shush, I need to concentrate." Buffy says as she closes her eyes. She concentrates on Piper augmenting her as Piper scrys for the witch.
Later out somewhere in the woods… Buffy, Piper and Leo are walking along a trail.
"Grams? You don't need Grams to do the scrying. What's gotten into you?" Leo asks.
"I don't know, I suddenly feel like I can't make any decisions at all. I feel like I'm ten years old again around her." Piper says.
"Hey, what's this?" Buffy asks as they find the red cloak hanging over a branch in a tree.
Leo pulls it down.
"Oh, let me guess. Little Red Riding Hood's? Wait, we're off the beaten path, aren't we? Oh, no, Grams." Piper says.
Back at the Manor Grams is stirring the potion. Paige picks up the apple and takes a bite. Her hair turns long and black and her clothes change into a white robe.
"Paige..." Grams says as Paige falls to the floor. "Paige!" A wolf growls at Grams at the kitchen doorway. It runs towards Grams and leaps for her. "No!"
The wolf devours Grams from head to toe. And then the wolf stands up in the form of Grams and picks her teeth. She looks down at Paige. Leo, Buffy and Piper orb in.
Piper's holding the cloak. "What happened?"
"I'm afraid she's dead." Wolf says.
Leo is trying to heal Paige. Buffy is flipping through the Book Of Shadows. Piper hoves next to Leo. Wolf is pacing through the kitchen.
"I know there's something in here somewhere about poison. " Buffy says.
"Leo?" Piper asks as Leo looks at her. "No, we are not giving up. This is a stinkin' fairy tale. If Snow White can come back to life then Paige can too. Right, Grams?"
Wolf scratches her head. "Uh, well, I wouldn't get my hopes up."
"What are you talking about? You're supposed to be the expert. There has got to be some way." Piper says.
"What about a kiss?" Leo asks.
"A kiss?" Piper and Buffy asks.
Leo nods, "It worked for Snow White. It's worth a shot."
Wolf sniffs Piper and Piper gives her a look, and she moves back. "A Kiss. Yes, by all means." She grabs Piper's arm and pulls her. "Come, let's find her boyfriend."
"She doesn't have a boyfriend, remember?" Buffy says.
"Right. Sorry." Wolf says, chuckling. Her stomach grumbles loudly. "My stomach is really upset."
"Wait, I got a spell. Here our call, for those who fall, urge her to awaken, from this toxic taken." Buffy says.
Leo feels Paige's pulse. "Nothing."
"Grams, what do we do?" Piper asks.
Wolf shakes her head.
"Focus on vanquishing the evil witch in hopes that it reverses the dark magic. It's our only hope." Leo says.
"Did you finish the vanquishing potion?" Piper asks.
"Um, no. Unfortunately, ugh, bad batch." Wolf says as she picks up the pot of potion and tips it down the sink. The doorbell rings. "Oh, Leo, would you be a lamb and see who that is?"
Leo leaves the kitchen. Wolf sneers at Piper and Buffy behind their backs.
"Piper? Buffy? You two might wanna come look at this!" Leo calls from the front door.
Buffy and Piper walk out of the kitchen and into the foyer.
"What? What is it?" Buffy asks as she and Piper notices seven dwarves standing on the porch.
"Someone here eat a poison apple?" Head Dwarf asks.
Later in the living room Paige is lying in a glass case. The dwarves are standing around it, some cleaning the glass.
"When's her prince getting here?" Head Dwarf asks.
Piper shakes her head, "She doesn't have a prince."
"No prince? Then who's gonna kiss her?" Head Dwarf asks.
Dwarf #2 smiles, "I'll do it."
Dwarf #3 shakes his head, "In your dreams, stinky. I'll do it."
"I told you not to call me that." Dwarf #2 says.
"People! A little professional decorum here please." Head Dwarf says. "Forgive them, it's been a while."
"Mm-hm." Piper and Buffy says and they walk over to the stairs and Piper picks up the Woodsman's axe.
"Uh, um, sweetheart." Wolf says as she goes over to Buffy and Piper. She gets nervous when she sees the axe. "What are you doing with that?"
"Well, I'm not gonna sit around and wait for the wolf to attack." Piper says.
"Wolf? What wolf?" Wolf asks.
"From Little Red Riding Hood. This cloak is meant for Piper." Buffy says and she points to the cloak hanging over the rail.
"Oh, you don't believe that silly old story do you?" Wolf asks.
"Grams, you're the one that says fairy tales are based in truth." Piper says.
"Well yes, but that one was made up to scare little kids. I mean after all, a little girl gets eaten in the end, what a downer." Wolf says.
"No, the Woodsman comes and cuts open the wolf's stomach and free her and the grandmother." Buffy says.
"Well, that's not the popular version." Wolf says.
"Well, it's in our version." Piper says.
"Really? Show me." Wolf says.
Buffy and Piper goes upstairs. Wolf grabs the cloak and follows.
Buffy picks up the fairy tale book and flips to Red Riding Hood. "So, Red Riding Hood comes into the house and finds the wolf dressed as her Grandmother. As if she wouldn't see through that."
"Skip down." Wolf says.
"Okay, let's see. She says, Grandmother, what big ears you have." Buffy reads.
"The better to hear you with, my dear." Wolf says as she sneaks behind Piper, who's look at the book over Buffy's shoulder.
"And then, uh, what big eyes you have." Piper says.
Wolf smiles, "The better to see you with, my dear."
"Yeah, yeah, and then, what big teeth you have." Piper says.
"The better to eat you with, my dear!" Wolf says.
Buffy and Piper turns to the Wolf and screams. Buffy takes a step back accidentally brushing against the spindle of a spinning wheel accidentally pricking her finger. She slumps to the ground unconscious as the Wolf eats Piper.
Moments later in the attic Leo and the wolf are there. The wolf is growling viciously at Leo.
Leo is holding the axe. "Where's my wife?" The wolf barks. "Where's my wife?!" The wolf spots the fairy tale book and jumps for it. "No!"
Suddenly, the wolf is blown into a million pieces and Piper and Grams fall out of the wolf. They land hard on the ground.
Leo drops the axe and rushes over to them. "Piper." They get up. "Are you okay?"
Piper nods, "Yeah, I think so."
"How did you...?" Leo asks.
"She blew him up from the inside." Grams says, laughing. "Although it took her long enough."
"Ah, back off Grams. I just saved your ass." Piper says.
"Ha!" Grams says.
Leo shakes his head, "She's back. Uhm Piper."
"What?" Piper asks and then she sees Buffy and runs over to her. "Another apple?"
Grams frowns, "Afraid not. The spinning wheel. She must have pricked her finger."
"We don't have a spinning wheel." Piper says looking at the spinning wheel. "Must be from Sleeping Beauty. So another sister."
Cole appears, holding the pumpkin. "Your sister, and, uh, I had nothing to do with this, I swear."
"Oh, my." Piper says.
"What are we going to do now?" Grams asks.
"Well, we do what we were gonna do in the first place. We find the witch who did this and vanquish her." Piper says.
"Do you know how to find her?" Cole asks.
"No." Piper says.
"Wait a minute, I think I do. The wolf was trying to get into the book of fairy tales. Perhaps it's a portal of some sort. Although I don't know how we access it." Leo says.
"Well, we can't. But maybe Little Red Riding Hood can." Piper says as she picks up the cloak. "I knew I was gonna have to put on this stupid thing sooner or later." she puts it on.
Grams hands her a vial of potion. "Don't forget the potion. Go on, show her who's the most powerful witch of all." She and Piper smiles as Piper touches the book and is sucked into it.
At the castle the Wicked Witch seems a little worried. "Why won't you answer my question? Why won't you tell me what I want to hear?"
"You know as well as I, that I cannot tell a lie." Mirror says.
"Damn it. Well then, if I'm not the most powerful witch in the land who is?" Wicked Witch says.
Piper appears. "Take a wild guess."
"You? That's not possible. The wolf ate you. I saw it!" Wicked Witch says.
Piper nods, "Yeah, well, I didn't agree with him." She takes out the potion vial. "See if this agrees with you." She throws the bottle at the witch.
"No, I'm melting! I'm melting! I'm melting!" Wicked Witch says and she melts and disappears.
A man, the apprentice, is freed from the mirror and then apple, axe, spinning wheel and pumpkin appear on their stands. Piper takes off the cloak.
"You saved me." Apprentice says.
"Are you the Keeper?" Piper asks.
Apprentice shakes his head, "No, his Apprentice. Or..." He looks at the Keepers body on the floor. "At least I was."
"Oh, no. Wait, if he didn't come back to life does that mean my sisters won't either?" Piper says.
Apprentice shakes his head, "No, no, they were victims of fairy tale magic so when you saved the fairy tales, you saved them too." He looks over at the slipper stand. "A glass slipper is missing. Must mean that story hasn't found a happy ending yet."
"Oh, well, I guess this makes you the new Keeper." Piper says as she hands him the cloak.
Apprentice nods, "I guess so."
"Any idea how I get the heck out of here?" Piper asks.
Apprentice thinks and gets an idea. He walks over and picks up a pair of sparkly red shoes like on the Wizard of Oz.
At the Manor Buffy, Paige, Leo and Grams are in the living room.
"Alright, can someone please tell me how I got in a coffin?" Paige asks.
"Probably the same way I ended up on the floor." Buffy says.
Grams nods, "You both were dead, just by different means, but bright side, at least now we have something in common."
"You know, you really ought to get yourself a prince, in case this ever happens again." Head Dwarf says to Paige.
"Uh, who are you?" Paige asks.
"We'll send you the bill. Let's go men!" Head Dwarf says.
Dwarf#2 nods, "Come on, guys, let's go."
The dwarves leave. Phoebe and Cole come down the stairs.
"Buffy! Paige! Your both okay." Phoebe says as she hugs Paige and Buffy.
"Which means the witch is vanquished. So where's..." Cole says as a swirl of light appears and Piper appears wearing the red shoes.
Leo smiles, "Piper."
"Is everybody okay?" Piper asks.
Grams nods, "Well, thanks to you they are. Well, I suppose that means it's time for me to go." She looks to Leo. "Mind giving me a lift?"
"Well, why do you have to go at all?" Buffy asks.
"Because I don't belong here anymore." Grams says as she puts her arms around Piper and Buffy. "See, you two thought you needed me, but I was only here to remind you that you don't." She looks at Piper. "Not even for her." She looks at Buffy. "Or her."
"Okay, but what about me? I feel like I didn't get to spend any time with you." Phoebe says as she puts her arms around Piper, Buffy and Grams.
"That's okay. I don't stay dead long." Grams says.
Phoebe smiles, "Good point."
"Well, do I at least get a hug goodbye?" Grams asks Paige.
"It was great to finally meet you." Paige says as she hugs Grams. "Grams."
"Be safe, my darlings." Grams says.
"Blessed be." Buffy says.
Leo and Grams orb out.
Paige heads for the stairs.
"Where are you going?" Piper asks.
"I need to catch up on my fairy tales." Paige says as she goes upstairs.
"Uh, I guess I'm gonna catch up on some sleep." Piper says as she goes upstairs.
Buffy nods as she looks at Cole, "I think I'll do the same. As much as I don't trust you because of what happened last year. Thank you for watching out for Phoebe." She turns and heads up the stairs.