Chapter 118: Sam I Am
At Payson's P5 Buffy, Dawn Piper and Phoebe are watching a band play. Paige is sitting on a couch nearby talking to a cute guy who gets up and leaves.
"Oh." Phoebe says.
Piper shakes her head, "Uh, there he goes. I really thought that one was a keeper."
"Why, because he was cute and funny and oh, yeah, don't let me forget, deliciously yummy." Phoebe says.
Dawn rolls her eyes.
"That's the second guy in a row she's dumped," Buffy says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "Uh, third, but who's counting. So do you guys think she has commitment issues? Or you think she's just too picky?"
Piper shrugs, "I don't know."
Buffy nods, "I don't know either. Any thoughts Dawnie?"
Dawn shakes her head, "Nope."
"Anyways I'd love to speculate but Buffy and I've gotta go." Piper says.
"Piper, if you haven't noticed, the Flaming Lips are playing. My-my favorite group." Phoebe says.
"She knows and that's why you're not going to scare them when you go back stage, okay." Buffy says.
"Okay." Phoebe says.
"Can I go backstage with Phoebe?" Dawn asks.
Buffy smiles, "Sure."
"We've gotta go home because Buffy and I've gotta interview magical nannies tomorrow and we gotta prepare." Piper says.
Buffy rolls her eyes.
"Wait, magical nannies? You mean like Mary Poppins?" Phoebe asks.
Piper shakes her head, "Oh, one can only hope, but no."
"Leo has arranged for us to meet supernatural creatures that have child care experience." Buffy says.
"Creatures?" Dawn asks.
"It's not like either of us can call a service and ask for a nanny to watch over our little Charmed Ones while we go off and slay slimy demons." Piper says.
Phoebe nods, "That's a good point. But don't you guys think it's a little early to be looking for nannies? I mean, neither of you are even showing yet, except for your boobies, Piper."
"I'm telling you, they are large and they are definitely in charge but at least something is normal about this pregnancy. Okay, we'll see you. Come on, Buffy." Piper says as she and Buffy gets up.
"I just... Can I..." Phoebe says.
Buffy and Piper turn and leave.
Paige walks over to Dawn and Phoebe and sits down beside them.
"Breaking up is such a downer." Paige says.
Phoebe nods, "Yeah, honey, well, practice makes perfect. Well, you know, I mean, if it's not right, it's not right. Why wasn't it right?"
"I don't know, I could kinda just tell it wasn't really going anywhere so I thought I'm gonna cut this one off at the pass before it gets messy and he likes me too much." Paige says.
"Okay, if you say so. At least you don't have to worry about if he's gonna attack again." Phoebe says.
"Is that some sort of Cole segue?" Dawn asks.
"Yeah, well, now that you mention him, Dawnie, um, he hasn't contacted me in a while." Phoebe says.
"That's a good thing, right?" Dawn asks.
Phoebe nods, "Yeah, it is for me, I'm just worried about the rest of humanity, you know. Cole doesn't just do nothing, which means he's up to something. And now that he knows that we're definitely not together anymore, I'm afraid that something might be evil."
The next day Buffy, Piper and Paige are in the kitchen. Piper is cleaning. Paige spills crumbs over the counter while eating some cake. Buffy is reading a book at the kitchen table.
"Hey! Lady, I'm trying to make a good impression here, put it down, put it down, put it down!" Piper says.
Paige drops the cake in its packet and Piper moves it over to the sink.
"On the nannies?" Paige asks.
Piper nods, "Yeah. I want the best and the best don't work for slobs."
Buffy rolls her eyes, "We're not slobs, Piper."
Piper shakes her head while looking straight at Paige, "Oh, yeah? How come I spent all night cleaning potions stains off of the ceiling?"
"That's gespacio, not potion," Paige says.
"Well, you know what? Blenders have lids." Piper says.
"Piper, you need to relax, okay?" Buffy says.
"I will relax when Leo gets here. You, Leo and I haven't had a chance to prepare." Piper says.
"What's to prepare? You and Buffy are Charmed Ones, your reputations precedes you." Paige says.
"Oh, you mean how evil barges in here all hours of the day and night hell bent on killing us? Not exactly an ideal working environment." Piper says as Leo orbs in beside Piper. "Oh, finally. I was afraid that the Elders drummed up one of their it can't wait assignments." Leo gives her a look. "Can't it wait?"
Leo shakes his head, "No, it can't wait. But the assignments not for me, it's for Paige. You're getting your first charge."
Paige smiles, "Are you serious?"
Leo nods, "Well, the Elders aren't exactly known for their sense of humor."
"That is so great! I am now Paige Matthews, Whitelighter-Witch. I'm a hyphenate." Paige says.
Buffy rolls her eyes. "Hyphenates are nothing new to this family. Or did you forget I'm a Slayer-Witch."
"Wait a minute, since when are you psyched about Whitelighter duty?" Piper asks Paige.
"Well, it is half of who I am. Who's my charge gonna be? Is it a Whitelighter-to-be? A philanthropist? A doctor?" Paige says.
"Not exactly." Leo says.
Paige smiles, "Oh, wait, don't tell me. It's a young girl, a witch, she's just coming into her powers, oh my god, I can totally relate to that."
"You ramble when you're excited." Piper says.
"Sorry." Paige says.
"All I can tell you about your charge is that he is a good man who's lost his way." Leo says.
"And why is that all you can tell her?" Buffy asks.
"Because the Elders want Paige to figure the rest out for herself." Leo says.
Piper nods, "Yeah, see, you're being vague."
"You're charge's name is Samuel." Leo says, intentionally leaving off the last name so that Piper and Buffy doesn't recognize who Samuel actually is.
"Samuel. Good strong biblical name. Okay, where do I find him?" Paige says.
"The Elders aren't sure but they think that you should be able to sense his location." Leo says.
"So wait a minute, if the Elders have lost track of him, why did they suddenly think Paige can find him?" Buffy asks.
Leo sighs, "Well, the Elders have complete faith in Paige's ability, so do I. All we have to do is trust that they know what they're doing."
"How are you supposed to trust people that don't answer your questions?" Piper asks.
"Okay, enough, Negative Nancys, Piper you just scurry back to your tidying, Buffy you go back to reading. I don't want anybody to rain on my Whitelighter parade." Paige says.
"Buffy! Paige! Piper!" Phoebe says as Piper, Paige and Leo walk into the parlor where Phoebe is coming down the stairs. "Hey."
"What is it?" Buffy asks.
"We have a demon to vanquish. Paige, what did you do with the vanquishing potion that you made for Cole?" Phoebe says.
"Cole?" Dawn asks as she comes down the stairs. There had been no school because of parent/teacher conferences.
"I tossed it." Paige said.
Phoebe frowns, "You tossed it?"
Paige sighs, "Well, yeah, it wasn't strong enough. I tried it on that letter opener that had Cole's blood on it but it barely even dented it."
"Okay, well, you have to figure out a way to make another one that's strong enough, and fast." Phoebe says.
"Hang on a second, lady, what are you talking about?" Piper asks.
"Last night, two guys held up a bar and a vigilante killed them." Piper says.
"Sounds more like you need an arrest warrant, not a potion." Buffy says.
"Not when the vigilante is tall, dark and handsome and can send people flying with the wave of a hand." Phoebe says.
Piper shakes her head, "Well, that doesn't mean it's Cole."
"Did I forget to mention the scorch marks?" Piper asks.
Dawn looks to Buffy and Piper who sighs and nods.
"That means it's Cole." Piper and Buffy says in unison.
Leo nods, "Why don't you, uh..."
"Let me handle this. Phoebe, being that I'm also a Whitelighter, I just want to warn you that, you know, maybe you shouldn't jump to conclusions and you should have all the facts before you act." Paige says.
Phoebe nods, "Actually, you're right."
Paige smiles, "I am good at this."
"Well, you better start working on the potion because if I'm right about Cole, our truce with him is over." Phoebe says.
Later in the conservatory Dawn, Buffy, Piper, Leo and a really short elf woman with pointy ears and green eyes are there.
"Sorry, I don't cook," Elf Woman says.
Piper nods, "Cooking, that's a no, okay, got it." She marks something off on her clipboard.
"And only light house cleaning." Elf Woman says.
Leo nods, "Oh, that's okay, because Piper's a neat freak."
"If you don't mind, I have a few questions of my own." Elf Woman says as a quill and some parchment magically appear in the Elf's hand.
Piper looks between Buffy, Dawn and Leo, "Oh, of course you do, well, yeah, please."
"Am I expected to protect both babies from the incessant demon attacks?" Elf Woman says.
"I'd say incessant is a bit of an over statement." Buffy says.
"You are Charmed Ones, correct?" Elf Woman asks.
Buffy and Dawn simply nods.
"Yes, uh, but that won't affect your job here," Piper says.
"Won't it?" Leo asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "No, Leo, it won't. Whitelighters, they're such pessimists. Demons, you see, demons rarely attack us in the house, so..."
Suddenly, Paige orbs in with Samuel. "Darklighter, incoming!"
The Elf woman gives Buffy a look.
"This is highly unusual." Piper says.
The Darklighter appears in the room and shoots his crossbow at Samuel. An arrow hits him in the shoulder.
"Samuel!" Paige says.
Piper tries to blow the Darklighter up but only blows up his arm. He screams in pain. Phoebe walks in and panics when she sees what's going on. Buffy powers up a fireball and throws it as the Darklighter disappears.
"Wh-?" Phoebe starts.
"Consider my application withdrawn." Elf Woman says as she grabs her purse and magically disappears.
"Damn it!" Piper and Buffy says.
They rush over to Samuel.
"Don't touch it. It's poisonous to you too." Leo says.
"Is that who I think it is?" Piper whispers to Phoebe, Buffy and Dawn.
Buffy nods as she whispers back, "Aunt Patty's Whitelighter."
"And Paige's father," Phoebe whispers.
Moments later Phoebe leans Samuel against the chair. "It's okay, you're gonna be okay."
"This can't be happening. I can't be losing my first charge." Paige says.
"You're not. Everyone with Whitelighter blood, back up." Buffy says.
Piper, Paige and Leo take a step back.
"Leo, I can't believe you didn't tell me he was a Whitelighter." Paige says.
"Paige, just try and stay calm." Leo says.
"Why don't you tell her the rest of it, Leo?" Dawn asks.
Phoebe takes a step back as Buffy leans over Samuel, "This is gonna hurt." Buffy says as she breaks the tip of the arrow.
"Calm? The Elders sent me to protect someone without telling me who he was." Paige says. "And what else don't I know, Leo?"
Leo glares at Dawn, "I can't tell you Paige. There are still some things you have to find out for yourself."
Samuel screams as Buffy pushes the arrow out. "Okay."
Leo goes over to Samuel and heals his wound.
"Paige, go get the Book of Shadows." Piper says.
"Why? We know it was a Darklighter." Paige says.
Piper shakes her head, "No, there was something different about that guy. You just go get the book."
"Fine." Paige says she turns and heads up the stairs.
"You alright?" Leo asks.
"I'm still alive aren't I?" Samuel says.
"Long time no see." Buffy says.
Samuel looks at Piper, Buffy, Dawn and Phoebe. "Buffy, Dawn, Piper, Phoebe, how you all been?"
"Last time we saw you, you were riding into the afterlife with our mother. What happened?" Phoebe says.
"They made me a Whitelighter again. And I screwed up again. I guess I never got over..." Samuel says.
"Losing your daughter? Yeah, that's the one." Piper says.
"I've gotta get out of here." Samuel says as he gets up.
"Don't. She's your Whitelighter for a reason; the Elders are trying to help you." Leo says.
Samuel shakes his head, "By reuniting me with the child they forced me to give up?"
"You knew about this supernatural Jenny Jones reunion, didn't you?" Buffy asks.
Leo nods, "I was sworn to secrecy. It was why when Dawn told me to tell the rest to Paige I couldn't. Paige has to find out about her connection to Sam on her own."
"Ugh." Piper says.
Samuel shakes his head, "It doesn't matter." He walks into the parlor. Buffy, Dawn, Piper, Phoebe and Leo follow.
"No, hey, wait a minute. Aren't you forgetting someone? Like that girl upstairs that's trying to save your life." Phoebe says.
Samuel shakes his head, "She's better off without me."
Dawn shakes her head, "This isn't right."
"I have to agree with Dawn." Buffy says. "It isn't right. She has a right to know who you are. Believe me, Dawn and I understand that better than anyone when we were kept away from our grandmother and our cousins most of our lives."
"I'll tell you what's not right. The Elders setting me up." Samuel says.
"You forced them to. When you stopped using your powers, you fell off the radar. The only way to find you was through a blood relative." Leo says.
Samuel shakes his head, "I never wanted to be found. Least of all by her."
"I have to agree with Buffy and Dawn, she deserves to know the truth." Piper says.
Samuel sighs, "The truth? That her birth father, the Whitelighter, is a two-timing loser and a drunk? She doesn't need to know that." He orbs out.
Paige comes down the stairs with the book. "Where's Samuel?"
Buffy sighs, "He, uh, he orbed out."
"What? You just let him?" Paige asks.
"We couldn't stop him. Did you find anything in the book?" Phoebe says.
Paige shakes her head, "No." She slams down the book.
"Well, we're pretty sure that he's a tracker. They're stronger and more powerful than the Darklighters you've dealt with. They go after fallen Whitelighters, especially those who are a step away from losing their wings." Leo says.
"Okay, if you knew all that, why did you send me for the book?" Paige says.
"Because I didn't know that. Sorry. So we're gonna need a vanquishing potion. Why don't you two get started on that and Leo and I will go find Sam." Piper says.
Buffy shakes her head, "I'm coming with you. Dawn why don't you help Paige and Phoebe with the potion."
Dawn nods, "Okay, Buffy."
"Wait a second, he's my charge, I'm gonna go look for him." Paige says.
Leo shakes his head, "Well, he's been orbing a lot longer than you have, you might lose him. Buffy or I have a better chance of finding him than you do."
"Mm-hm, here, we're gonna go. We're going." Piper says.
Leo orbs out with Piper. A second later Buffy flames out.
Later at Samuel's apartment; Buffy, Piper and Leo are waiting there as Samuel orbs in.
"Thought you'd lost us, did you?" Piper asks.
Leo nods, "We knew you'd be back sooner or later."
"What is with you people? Can't you take a hint?" Samuel says.
"We need to talk." Buffy says.
"I don't wanna talk. I wanna be left alone. Why else do you think I've been orbing all over creation?" Samuel says.
"Well, chickening out comes to mind." Piper says.
"Sam, I know it hurts." Leo says.
"Oh, you know? How? How can you?" Samuel says.
"I-I know loss." Leo says looking at Piper.
"Hubris of a Whitelighter. Thinking we know everything just because of who we are, well, that is crap." Samuel says.
"Now you got a point there. So why don't you help us understand." Buffy says.
Samuel sighs, "You want to understand, do you? When you hold that precious little baby of yours in your arms and you love her more than anything in the world, and then you give her to someone else to raise and grow up with."
Piper sighs, "You and mom did that to protect Paige."
Samuel shakes his head, "It didn't work, did it? As soon as she found out whom she was, a witch, a Charmed..." He starts to cry. "It was just a matter of time until I lost her again. And I couldn't handle that. Look, uh, it doesn't matter, just leave, please. Pretend you never found me."
"It does matter, Sam. That Darklighter is not gonna stop until he kills you." Leo says.
"Maybe that's my destiny, you ever think of that?" Samuel asks.
"Look, come on, that is a cop out and you know it." Buffy says.
Piper nods, "You really think the Elders brought you and Paige together so she could watch you die?"
"Look at you, of all people, defending the Elders." Samuel says.
Buffy shakes her head, "Hey, they may not be on our Christmas lists but that doesn't mean they don't usually have a good reason for doing the things that they do."
"Like telling Piper that she couldn't marry Leo?" Samuel asks. "And Buffy you don't want to know what I've heard about your baby."
Piper sighs, "She said usually. Look, if you don't want our help, that's fine. But maybe this isn't about you, maybe this is about helping Paige."
"Helping Paige with what?" Samuel asks.
"Knowing where she comes from for starters." Piper says.
In the kitchen at the Manor Phoebe is making a potion.
"So you both don't know him at all?" Paige asks.
"You know, we run into a lot of people in our line or work." Phoebe says.
"Nope, don't know him sorry." Dawn said. For her it was the truth. She hadn't gone to the lake when Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe had gone to vanquish the demon that had killed Patty all those years ago. She only knew of Samuel from what she had heard afterwards.
"Hey, once again, not an answer." Paige says.
"Can you pass me the cardamom please?" Phoebe asks.
Dawn hands a cardamom to Phoebe. Phoebe sprinkles some in the potion and starts humming.
Paige sighs, "Okay, I'm just gonna take a guess now. Let's see, maybe the Elders gave him to me because he's a lost cause they couldn't pawn off on anyone else."
"Toadflax." Phoebe says.
Paige hands her the toadflax. "Just tell me if I'm hot or cold."
"Um, okay, maybe the Elders thought you would actually learn something from working with him." Phoebe says.
Dawn rolls her eyes.
"Like what? How to give up?" Paige asks.
Phoebe shakes her head, "No, I think you pretty much got that down."
"Okay, passive-aggressive, what does that mean?" Paige asks.
Dawn lets out a sigh, "You really want to know Paige?"
"Yeah." Paige says.
Dawn looks at Phoebe for a moment before looking back at Paige, "Sam was my mom's and your mom's Whitelighter."
Paige's eyes go wide, "That would make him..."
"Your biological father. Honey, are you okay?" Phoebe says.
Paige nods, "Great, I'm just great. I just don't quite see why the big secret. Why couldn't anybody tell me?"
Samuel walks in. "I should have told you. I'm sorry. I was hoping we could talk."
"Go ahead, honey, Dawn and I will finish the potion." Phoebe says.
Paige nods, "Yeah, we can talk."
"We're here for you if you need us." Dawn said.
Samuel and Paige leaves the kitchen.
At Samuel's apartment Leo and Piper have left. Buffy is still there.
Samuel walks out of a back room, "Why haven't you left Buffy?"
"Because I have to know. You mentioned hearing something about my baby." Buffy says.
Samuel sighs, "You don't want to know."
"I do." Buffy says.
"Really you don't." Samuel says. "But I guess since you're not leaving before I tell you. There has been a great amount of discussion about your daughter. About whether she should be allowed to be born."
"Why?" Buffy asks.
"You know she is Dhampir?" Samuel asks as Buffy nods. "There is a prophecy, about the Dhampir. I don't know all of what it says. But she is supposed to be a Champion. Of the likes that has never been seen before. Supposedly blessed by the Powers that Be and the Elders. Your child will be powerful, the daughter of a Charmed One and a Vampire. There are some Elders that fear what would happen if she were swayed to evil."
At the Manor Piper and Leo orb in to the kitchen.
"Hey, nice job, you guys." Dawn says.
"What do you mean?" Leo asks.
Phoebe smiles, "Sam's in there talking to Paige."
"What?" Leo asks.
"That's impossible. Sam refused to come back." Piper says.
In the conservatory Samuel is talking to Paige. "You can pretend all you want that it hasn't affected you, but we both know better than that."
"How would you know? Who the hell do you think you are anyway?" Paige asks.
Dawn, Piper, Phoebe and Leo run in.
"Paige." Leo says.
"That's not Sam." Piper says as Buffy flames in.
"What are you talking about?" Paige asks.
"She's talking about this." Samuel says as he morphs into Cole.
"You son of a bitch." Paige says.
Cole smiles, "Wait, it gets better. Ronan!"
Ronan the Darklighter appears with his crossbow.
Piper tries to blow him up but nothing happens. "What happened?"
"He's immune." Cole says.
"Not to this." Phoebe says as she throws the potion at Ronan but nothing happens.
Ronan points his crossbow at them.
"Uh-oh." Paige says.
Ronan shoots his crossbow and the arrow splits into four. An arrow hits Paige in the stomach, another hitting Leo's arm and when the third hits Piper's stomach, a blue force field appears and the arrow crumbles to the ground. The fourth goes towards Buffy as a flame shield appears in front of her and the arrow crumples to the ground.
Paige and Leo fall to the floor.
"Ooh. Let's go." Cole says.
Moments later Phoebe has the arrows pulled out of Paige and Leo. Leo is lying on the floor with his head propped up on a pillow. Piper is kneeling beside him tying a cloth around his arm. Paige is lying on a chair while Phoebe dabs her wound with a towel. Paige groans.
"You can't stop the bleeding, can you?" Paige asks.
"Shh, just try and rest." Phoebe says as Piper walks over to Buffy, Dawn, Phoebe and Paige. "How's Leo doing?"
"He's been better." Piper says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "I can't believe Cole would go this far."
"What I can't believe is why the Darklighter thought an arrow dipped in a poison meant to kill Whitelighters would kill me." Buffy says.
Piper looks to Buffy, "That's a good question. But we'll worry about that later. Anyways what's the occasion?"
"Because he's pure evil." Phoebe says.
"Yeah, but it's just not smart. And good or evil, Cole is usually smart." Buffy says.
"Well, he's obviously lost his mind. I mean, he killed two people yesterday, in public." Phoebe says.
"I've been thinking about the vanquishing potion. Maybe if you mix four different ones..." Paige says.
"No, you're gonna be able to make the vanquishing potion, just as soon as we figure out a way to heal you." Phoebe says.
"We've gotta find Sam. He's our only chance." Dawn says.
Paige sighs, "Then I'm screwed."
Phoebe shakes her head, "Don't think like that."
"Why? Sam bails, that's what he does. This time it won't be any different." Paige says.
"It's different because now you're the one that's hurt. So you gotta find him and Buffy and I will go get him and bring him back here and Dawn and Phoebe will stay with you and Leo." Piper says. "It's up to you, you've gotta sense him. Concentrate."
Paige closes her eyes.
In an Alley behind a bar Samuel is asleep on some rubbish with an empty alcohol bottle in his hand. Buffy flames into the alley with Piper.
"Sam!" Piper says before she spots him. She and Buffy run over to him. "Sam, wake up." She and Piper shake him to wake him up.
"No, leave me alone." Samuel says.
"Listen to me, Paige and Leo need you." Buffy says. "The Darklighter shot them, you need to heal them." She and Piper help Samuel to his feet.
"I don't know. It's been so long." Samuel says.
"Well, there's no one else. You have to do it. Look, if you think you've screwed up in the past, now would be a good time to start making amends." Piper says.
Back at the Manor Paige is shaking. Dawn covers her with a blanket.
"He'll be here soon. He will, just hang on." Dawn says as Sam orbs in with Piper and Buffy.
Samuel sees Paige and rushes to her side. He holds his hands above Paige but nothing happens.
"What's the problem?" Phoebe asks.
"I can't." Samuel says.
"What? Try again." Piper says.
Samuel shakes his head, "It's no use. This is my punishment."
"No, you will not sit there and drown in self-pity while Paige and Leo die." Buffy says.
Samuel sighs, "Don't you think I wanna save them? For god's sake, this is my daughter."
"You can't heal her because you gave up." Phoebe says.
"Everything I touch I hurt. All I wanted was a life for her free from magic and demons." Samuel says.
Dawn smiles, "No, it was not. Paige saved us. She is the reason we are still standing here, she brought our family back together. Isn't that right, Buffy? Piper? Phoebe?"
Piper and Phoebe nods.
Buffy looks at Dawn and smiles, she is right then proud of her little sister.
"She has done so much good. All the pain and anger you've been hanging on to for so many years, you've got to let it go. It's time to let it go." Phoebe says.
"Paige, I am so sorry." Samuel says.
"It's okay." Paige says as she touches Samuel and a blue orbing light surrounds him. The light vanishes to reveal a clean, shaven Sam.
"What happened?" Samuel asks.
"I think you just healed yourself. Now Paige." Piper says.
Samuel holds his hands above Paige and heals her.
Paige smiles, "Thank you."
"Okay, thanks later. Leo now." Piper says.
Samuel walks over to Leo and and heals him.
Leo sits up. "Piper, are you okay? The baby."
Piper smiles, "Oh, she's fine. I don't think we have to worry about her at all. I'll explain later."
"Talking about later. Leo I think we need to have a talk." Buffy says.
Leo looks to Samuel and sighs, "Alright."
"I'm gonna go get started on those potions. We have a Cole to vanquish." Phoebe says.
Later Buffy, Dawn, Piper, Phoebe and Paige stand around a table in the attic. Four different colored potions sit on the table.
"So you think this is gonna work?" Piper asks.
"These are at least as strong as the one we used on the Source, so yeah, I think." Paige says.
"But you can't be sure?" Phoebe asks.
"I can't be sure of anything until I try it." Paige says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "That's not good enough."
"Phoebe." Buffy says.
Phoebe sighs, "I want him dead. I want this over with. And if this doesn't work, we may not get a second chance."
"I think Piper, Buffy and Paige got it, kill him, dead." Dawn says.
Phoebe nods, "Dead."
"I have a thought." Paige says as she carries the letter opener with Cole's blood on it to the center of the room. "No other potion has been able to destroy this since Cole's blood has been protecting it but if these potions are as strong as I think they are, then a little will go a long way." She fills four bottles with each of the different colored potions. Everyone except Dawn takes one and stand near the letter opener.
"On three?" Piper says.
Paige shakes her head, "No. Me, then you, then Buffy, then Phoebe."
Paige throws her bottle of potion at the letter opener. It sizzles. Piper throws her bottle at the letter opener and it makes a small explosion. Buffy throws her bottle and the letter opener makes a medium explosion. Phoebe throws her bottle and the letter opener makes a large explosion and leaves nothing but a hole in the rug.
"Sure you wanna do this?" Buffy asks. "Dawn could take the other potion and go in your place."
Phoebe shakes her head, "No I want to see this to the end. No offense, Dawnie."
Dawn smiles, "None taken. I'll go down and keep Uncle Samuel company."
"Uncle Samuel?" Paige asks.
"Buffy and I do the same thing with Uncle Victor. And he's technically not our uncle since he divorced Aunt Patty." Dawn says. "You don't have a problem with that do you?"
Paige shakes her head, "No I don't have a problem."
At Cole's apartment Piper, Phoebe and Paige orb in as Buffy flames in.
"Stand up. I said stand up!" Phoebe says.
Cole takes off his wedding ring and places it on the table. He stands up and faces the girls. "Come to vanquish me, have you?"
"Where's your hit man?" Piper asks.
Cole smiles, "Oh, you know those Darklighters; they're just so difficult to work with. Can't even kill a lousy Whitelighter, let alone you."
"But you could have." Phoebe says.
"You bastard." Paige says as she throws her potion at Cole's feet.
Piper throws her potion at his feet.
Buffy then throws her potion at his feet. She notices Phoebe is hesitating, "Phoebe, come on."
"I know what you're doing." Phoebe says.
"Phoebe, throw the potion." Paige says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "You never really wanted to kill us, did you?"
"What are you talking about?" Buffy asks.
"He could've killed Paige back at the manor," Phoebe says before looking at Paige, "he had you alone. But you needed all of us to survive for your plan to work, including Sam."
"Phoebe, have you lost your mind?" Piper asks.
Phoebe shakes her head, "No, you said it yourself. It wasn't a smart plan. Unless you didn't really wanted to kill us. You wanted us to be so blinded by hate that we couldn't see what you were really up to."
"Well, it's the only way out for me. And you want it too, so..." Cole says.
"Yeah, but on our terms, not yours. We won't help you commit suicide." Phoebe says.
"You already have." Cole says as he telekinetically pulls the potion out of Phoebe's hand and it lands at his feet. It causes a massive explosion, sending the girls to the floor. The windows and doors smash. The girls get up.
"Oh my god!" Phoebe says.
The smoke clears and Cole stands there, breathing heavily.
"I don't understand, that should've worked." Paige says.
"Why didn't it?" Piper and Buffy asks.
"They knew it wouldn't work." Cole says.
"Who knew? What are you talking about?" Phoebe says.
Cole shakes his head, "You can't vanquish me. Nobody can."
Later back at the Manor Paige and Sam are sitting on the couches. Dawn sits across from them, pretending to read a book.
"So, what are gonna do now? I mean, about Cole?" Samuel asks.
Paige shrugs, "I don't know, it's a little scary being that he's basically indestructible now."
"Well, I'm sure you girls will handle it. Paige, I want you to know that giving you up was the hardest decision I ever had to make. Your mother too. If we could've done it over, we wouldn't have done it. But we weren't supposed to be together. A baby, we were afraid the Elders would find out." Samuel says.
Paige sighs, "It's okay, I understand, I really, I do."
"It still has to have hurt you." Samuel says.
"I used to think that you did not matter to me at all. If I never met you, my life would be perfectly fine. I guess, uh, the Elders knew better after all. When you gave me up, you made a choice that gave me the most amazing gift. See, I got to have these tremendous parents and we, we loved each other fiercely. And now I have this whole new life with my sisters." Paige says as she looks at Dawn. "Even the sisters that are actually my cousins."
Dawn smiles as she looks up from the book at Paige.
Samuel nods, "What about everything that goes with it?"
"I choose to be a witch. I could've walked away but I didn't. And now I'm a Whitelighter to boot." Paige says.
Samuel smiles, "That's my girl."
Paige and Samuel talk for a while before Samuel says he has to leave. Paige says goodbye and heads into the kitchen.
"Uncle Samuel?" Dawn says.
Samuel smiles, "I'm not your uncle, Dawn. Patty and I were not married."
"I know but like Uncle Victor you get the title anyways." Dawn says.
Samuel nods, "Fair enough. What did you want?"
Dawn smiles, "Tell me about my mom."
In the kitchen. Phoebe is looking through the Charmed Book of Shadows as Leo orbs in.
"Any luck?" Buffy asks.
Leo shakes his head, "That little Elf, got a big mouth. All the nannies cancelled their interviews."
Piper sighs, "Oh, great. Well, if magical nannies won't work for us, then regular ones are out of the question. What are we gonna do?"
Leo nods, "Well, it's a good thing we and Buffy have a few months."
"Ugh." Piper and Buffy says.
Leo nods, "We'll figure it out."
Paige walks in.
"Hey, how did it go?" Buffy asks.
Paige smiles, "Good. Difficult but good."
"He's a good man, it'll be good for you guys to get to know each other." Leo says.
Paige nods, "Yeah, I think I'm a little burnt out on the whole emotional roller coaster thing right now. Maybe I deserve a nice drive down the coast. I think I'll call Trevor."
"Oh, that guy, yeah, that guy you just dumped." Piper says.
"Well, maybe I'll rethink that whole dumping perfectly nice guys before I give them a chance thing. I guess meeting Sam made me realise I kinda still have some abandonment issues I might wanna work through." Phoebe puts her head down on the book. "Anything from you over there in the peanut gallery?"
"I'm sorry, I'm just freaking out. Having an invincible ex-husband is making me really nervous." Phoebe says.
"Well, the good thing is we've got a couple someones that are invincible of our own."
Piper nods, "I got you covered."
"So do I." Buffy says.
Phoebe sighs, "For now."
Buffy looks to Leo, "Before I forget, Leo. I have a couple things I want ask you. Sam told me that the Elders have been discussing my baby is that true?"
Leo sighs and nods, "Yes it's true. But you have nothing to worry about the majority of the Elders are in favor of you keeping her."
Buffy smiles, "That's good to know. Now the other thing. The Darklighter shot at me as well as Piper, you and Paige. My babies flame shield prevented it from hitting me like Piper's babies orb shield prevented it from hitting her. My question is why a Darklighter would think a poison made for a Whitelighter would kill me."
Leo sighs, "You're not like Paige if that's what you're asking."
Buffy shakes her head, "It's not. I just want to know why he thought a Whitelighter poison could kill me."
"More than likely because you are the Slayer. Slayers were at one time future Whitelighters. Since the Powers that Be have claimed the Slayer as their Champion that is believed to no longer be the case. It is possible since you are Charmed and you now fall under the jurisdiction of the Elders. That you may be a future Whitelighter." Leo says. "As you know future Whitelighters can be killed by the poison."
"So that begs the question how did Cole or the Darklighter know I might be a future Whitelighter." Buffy says. "When even you didn't, Leo?"
Author's Note: First Dawn has a P name. When I first introduced Dawn in Morality Bites. I said her P name was Prudence Penelope Halliwell, and that she was named for her great grandmother and her grandmother. In that Seventies Episode I had Buffy being named after her great grandmother and aunt (Payson Patricia). The name of the great grandmother was further identified in Pardon Our Past. I have since decided that Dawn's P name is named after her Great Great Aunt (Payson's sister the one that was cursed in Pardon Our Past) and her grandmother. After all that Dawn's P name is still Prudence Penelope Halliwell. That all said though don't expect Dawn to use it on a regular basis till season 6, and there is a reason behind that..
For you Riley Haters, Riley leaves in the next chapter.