Charmed: The Faith Chronicles

by Brenna's Urbangirl Projects

Faith Lehane was born in Boston to a drunken mother and absentee father, or so she had believed for 17 years. Then she was called as the Slayer and things took a turn for the worse when she accidentally killed the Deputy Mayor. The Watcher's Council learns of the death and tries to return her to England. She manages to escape and in so doing finds out that she had been adopted

19. Chapter 18: Brain Drain

Chapter 18: Brain Drain

September 14, 2001 – Friday

Summers Home

"Mom did you do? Rob a baby store?" Buffy chuckled as she saw all the baby furniture in the living room.

Joyce chuckled with a smile at her daughter. "No, honey," she answered. "All this yours," she said with a wave her arm at the baby furniture."

"I thought the outfits you found when you accidentally turned us into children was the only things from when I was a kid," Buffy said obviously confused.

"No," Joyce said. "Those were actually the only outfits from when you were four years old," she explained. "I stored your crib, changing table and everything for the day when you would give me a granddaughter. I had Leo help me get everything out of storage in L.A. Now are you two ready to practice taking care of a baby?"

"Yeah," Buffy said. "So how will it work?"

"We will get to that in a second," Joyce said with a glance at Tara who sat on the couch. "I do have some conditions. First off, Tara and I will be observing. Second, I will be regressing you girls to a year old. Third you will be using all the equipment here. Fourth you will learn how bathe, feed, baby food…baby food, bottle, and breast feed. Fifth I will show you how to change a diaper and lastly if for any reason anyone starts to freak out for any reason we will stop and you will be returned to normal and we will be talking about what happened. Any objections?"

"No," Buffy and Faith replied.

"Who's going first?" Tara asked as she stepped up and moved next to her aunt.

"I will," Buffy offered as she turned to her wife. "Which means you will be taking of me." Faith nodded as she turned back to her mother and Tara. "So, what's first?"

"Well your clothing will be need to be changed," Joyce said. "For practice I think a onesie will work best. Once that is done I will use my projection power to regress you. Like last time you will of course remember. But because of the mental regression you both went under last time, Tara and I have perfected a telepathy spell that way even as your mentally regressing you will still be able to communicate." She looked at Faith. "From that point till we reverse the spell you will take care of Buffy."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"You are really doing a great job with Buffy, Faith," Tara said as she watched Faith with Buffy an hour later.

"Thanks, Blondie," Faith said looking at her wife's cousin. "I'm trying to do the best I can. I'm kind of using the memories that were awakened from when I was a year old, you know the ones that were returned to me Grams reversed the spell that erased me from mom, Aunt Piper and Aunt Phoebe's memories. I'm doing for my adorable wife, what they did for me."

"No fair using memories," came Buffy's thoughts in their heads.

"Buffy, that is fair if you can remember anything from that time and use it to help you then that is good," Joyce told her daughter just as Buffy began to cry.

"Buffy, babe, what's wrong?" Faith asked.

"Don't answer, Buffy," Joyce interjected. "It will take time, not all new mothers can differentiate between a baby's cries. So new mothers have to play a guessing game. Let's try checking her diaper."

Faith did as instructed and checked her wife. "I think she needs to be changed. It feels like she wet herself." She looked at Joyce. "So, cloth or disposable?"

"When Buffy was born, I used cloth at first," Joyce answered. "But I eventually switched to disposable because little Buffy didn't like cloth diapers."

"Mom," Buffy thought, obviously embarrassed.

Faith took Buffy to the changing table and placed her on the table. She followed Joyce's instructions on how to change a diaper. As she was about to wipe her wife's behind an image surged into her conscious mind of Buffy standing next to her as the General of the Underworld and their daughter as her assassin. "Turn her back, please!" she cried as she ran out of the room.

After putting Buffy on the floor, Joyce closed her eyes and using her projection power returned Buffy to her true age.

"Faith?" Buffy called out as she followed her wife up the stairs and into their bedroom. "What is it?"

"It's the nightmare," Faith admitted. "The one where you, I and our daughter are evil."

"That's not happening," Buffy said as she sat down next to Faith. "I won't let that happen."

September 15, 2001 – Saturday

Halliwell Manor

"Damn it!" Piper cursed as she stared into her open oven, "These ones are burnt too!" she sighed in frustration reaching in with her oven gloved hand and yanking out her tray of crispy black cookies. "I'm losing my touch," she stated sadly as she threw the tray onto the counter along with her perfectly golden batch and her not so golden batch of cooling homemade treats.

Phoebe shook her head vigorously. "Oh, no, it's okay sweetie," she assured her older sister as she closed the oven door gently, before Piper could kick it in anger. "They're just a little crisp."

Piper merely rolled her eyes and sighed staring at her imperfections.

Phoebe smirked. "You know..." she spoke loudly making sure that Piper heard her, "...personally, I am glad that you're not a chef anymore," she stated with a smile and chuckled when Piper shot her a bewildered look. "I'd probably be three hundred pounds by now." She elaborated.

"Who's three hundred pounds?" Faith questioned upon entering the kitchen. She smiled at her aunts then headed straight for the coffee pot.

"Me," Phoebe answered simply.

Faith turned, looked Phoebe up and down then frowned as she poured her coffee and walked around the other side of the island to face them. She

Phoebe chuckled again, "Well, I would be if Piper was still a chef," she explained and Faith nodded having heard what her aunts and mother did before she came into their lives.

"I would to probably if not for my Slayer metabolism," Faith said as she turned to her other aunt who was staring intently at her cookies.

"Maybe I should make another batch," Piper thought aloud, appearing to not have heard a single word her sister and niece had just said and for her benefit as well.

Phoebe bit her lip and inched closer to Piper. "Um...Piper?" she called and her sister inclined her head ever-so-slightly, "Remember when you told me to tell you when you're obsessing?" she asked hiding her amusement.

Piper dropped her spatula and turned to her sharply. "I'm not obsessing!" she insisted and Faith snorted then buried her head in her mug at Piper's scowl. "I just want everything to be perfect, that's all," she defended.

Phoebe nodded slowly. "Yeah but, Piper...it's a baby shower, not a royal wedding," she pointed out with a smirk.

Piper scowled at her sister. "Ha. Ha." She stuck out her tongue as Faith made her way around the other side.

Faith smirked and nudged Phoebe with a wink. "Besides, don't you think you're doing enough already?" she asked her flustered aunt.

"Yeah," Phoebe agreed. "You're hosting it, and you're not even close to Wendy anymore."

"That is precisely why I am doing all of this," Piper explained with a sigh. "I swear to god, in the last couple of years, we've vanquished more friendships than we have demons."

"Well I actually see it the other way around," Faith retorted. "Or did you forget that Xan and I buried the hatchet at mine and Buffy's wedding. And Red has showed me true friendship too."

Phoebe nodded as she reached into the fridge for the milk, "Oh, come on." She murmured under her breath.

"What?" Faith asked turning to Phoebe as Piper looked up.

Phoebe held up the now empty carton of milk, shaking it in the air. "Got milk?"

Piper took a deep breath. "Somebody forgot to put it on the list again," she huffed.

"Okay, well we have to be patient." Phoebe instructed calmly. "It's going to take Paige more than a week to adjust to living here. After all it took first Faith and later Buffy more than a week to adjust to living here."

Piper nodded, "Yes, but still. There are common courtesies...common sense…Rules."

Phoebe nodded smiling slyly. "Yeah...but you got to admit, it's nice having the Power of Three under one roof," she said cheerfully and her sister forced a smile.

"Right," Piper sneered. "Grab those." She instructed both, pointing at the homemade gift baskets.

Faith discarded her coffee mug in the sink then lifted one into her arms looking at all the frills and pink oozing out if it.

Phoebe grinned widely as she lifted hers. "So cute," she muttered to herself as she followed her sister and niece out of the kitchen. "Aunt Phoebe sure would love to throw one of these for you two someday." Phoebe hinted as she strode behind her sister and niece.

Faith's eyebrows shot up into her hairline. "And exactly who are you directing that comment at Aunt Phoebe?" she asked suspiciously.

"Ah!" Piper cried out as she tripped over one of Paige's wooden fold-away chairs, almost dropping her last tray of un-burnt cookies. "Damn it! Paige!" she yelled up the stairs.

"You okay?" Faith asked as they continued walking and Piper nodded.

"Hey! You two are avoiding!" Phoebe accused with a frown stomping behind them. "Don't."

"No, I'm not!" Faith replied quickly. "I responded, didn't I?" she pointed out with a smirk.

Phoebe stalled. "Right but Piper's avoiding and to answer your question, Faith, it was directed at both of you."

"I'm not avoiding. I'm ignoring you," Piper answered honestly and Faith chuckled.

Phoebe scowled, "Well, you can't ignore that beautiful little girl of yours that we saw in the future," she insisted as they walked through the conservatory into the living room, placing the gifts and the food on the table. "And if my math is right..." Phoebe continued with a cheeky grin, "...then you and Leo better start, you know, right about now." She nudged Piper's arm with a smirk and suggestively raised eyebrows.

"We saw a lot of things in that future that are going to be different now like uh...you won't be getting burned at the stake, Leo and I will not be divorced!" Piper stated determinedly, "Faith is here, or did you forget we didn't see her in that future and Prue was alive. Then there's also the new addition that is Paige Mathews." She glanced above them.

"Yeah but that doesn't mean that you can't have kids!" Phoebe shot back, hands on her hips, "Don't you want little kids?" she asked in her 'baby Phoebe' voice.

"Not yet," Faith stated.

"Not with demons dropping in all the time." Piper answered at the same time as Faith, throwing out her arm for emphasis. "Wait what?" she asked turning to Faith with a frown.

Just then Cole shimmered into the spot Piper had previously gestured too. "Phoebe?" he called but she held up her hand silencing him.

"Hold that thought," Phoebe instructed as she eyed her sister and her niece carefully. "Okay you..." she pointed at Piper. "Generations of Halliwells' have fought demons and had kids. It didn't stop them, why should it stop you?" she asked feeling very disappointed.

Piper folded her arms across her chest and shot Phoebe a pointed look, "Did it ever occur to you..." she began cheerfully, "...that maybe this is none of your business?" she snapped leaning towards her.

Phoebe waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, that is beside the point."

"Phoebe." Cole called urgently but Phoebe ignored him.

"And you..." Phoebe turned on Faith. "Where the hell is this coming from?" she asked as urgently as Cole. "I thought you told Buffy you were ready. And now you aren't?" she asked incredulously.

Faith sighed. "I want to see my daughter, to meet her. But I'm still the Source's heir, remember? The risk is far too great right now. I don't want her to be my heir while I am still heir to the Underworld. I don't want her to become Vixen like she does in my dreams. I don't want her to grow up with parents who are evil."

"Phoebe." Cole tried again a little louder but continued to be ignored by all.

"I understand where Faith is coming from, Phoebe," Piper chimed in, "Personally, I couldn't bear the thought of my own child having to grow up without me."

Phoebe sighed shaking her head adamantly, "But...I.-we...just-no! It's different for us. Piper, you me and Paige are the Charmed Ones. That's got to make a difference in the death department. Faith, you are not only a Slayer but the daughter of a Charmed One. You, Buffy and your daughter are not turning evil. Piper, Paige and I won't let that happen, " she argued defiantly but Piper and Faith remained unconvinced. She sighed, "How does Leo feel about this?" she asked directing this question to Piper.

Piper shook her head. "I haven't talked to Leo about this yet," she replied casually.

Phoebe threw up her hands turning to Faith. "Have you informed Buffy about your decision?" she asked spitting out the word 'decision' as if it left a bad taste in her mouth.

Faith shrugged her shoulders, "It hasn't come up yet."

Phoebe smacked a hand to her forehead. "Oh my god!" she cried heavily. "Okay, I really think we should talk to them about this," she said in all seriousness.

Piper gawked and Faith's eyes bulged, "We?" they echoed together sounding furious.

Phoebe opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by Cole's piercing whistle.

Piper jumped leaning far away from the noise.

Faith tensed her body.

Phoebe pressed a finger against her ear as she turned to her boyfriend. "Yes, Cole, what is it?" she asked calmly.

Cole addressed Piper only. "Okay. Freeze the room fast, then unfreeze only me," he instructed.

Piper frowned in confusion, "What? Why?" she questioned as her sister and niece looked on puzzled.

"Just..." Cole closed his eyes to control his temper, "...do what I say and I'll explain after," he promised.

Piper blew out an exaggerated sigh and threw up her hands, freezing the room.

"Oh, please don't blow him up," Phoebe begged before Piper continued.

Piper rolled her eyes. "I'll try." She threw up one hand lazily and Cole unfroze still intact.

"The rest of the room still frozen?" Cole asked immediately, his eyes scanning the room.

"Cole!" Piper snapped in frustration. "We're the only ones in the room," she pointed out as he moved around slowly.

Cole continued to scan the room, suddenly gabbing random pieces of furniture every now and again. "No, we're not. There's a chameleon in the room," he informed them as he swiftly dove at another piece.

Piper frowned and Phoebe took a cautious step forward. "A lizard?" she asked slowly. "Honey, you're worried about a lizard?" she asked him sounding concerned.

Cole shook his head. "This chameleon's a demon," he corrected her while touching some more items, "One who can transform into any object just to spy on you."

Piper bit back laughter, "You, you trying to tell me the Manor is...supernaturally bugged?" she asked sarcastically.

"Uh-huh. Has been for some time, apparently," Cole replied and Piper's smile disappeared.

"Oh my god, you're serious!" Piper cried in surprise then turned to Faith. "Oh my god, he's serious!" she repeated sounding slightly panicked by this turn of events.

"Explains why the Source hasn't attacked in a while," Faith stated and Cole nodded in agreement.

"He's had his chameleon's watching your every move, gathering inside information," he continued still scowering the room and all its furniture, now standing in the middle of the living room.

Phoebe grabbed Piper's hand. "That's creepy," she whispered her own eyes darting about the room.

"Look around," Cole instructed. "What's not supposed to be here?" he asked and they did.

Piper smirked slowly as she caught sight of a very hideous looking red patterned wooden chair. Faith glanced at Phoebe whose eyes were slowly widening as she realized exactly what Piper was about to do.

"Faith! Stop her!" she cried smacking her eldest sister on the arm.

Faith chuckled, shaking her head slowly. "No way in hell. That is one ugly ass chair," she replied with a grimace.

Piper's smirk grew as she threw out her hands, flicking her wrists, blowing it to smithereens.

Cole walked over to it slowly as Piper struggled not to laugh out loud, Faith chuckling silently beside her and Phoebe glaring at them both.

"That was Paige's chair, Piper!" Phoebe scolded folding her arms across her chest.

Piper nodded, "I know," she answered grinning. "It was ugly."

"Told you," Faith muttered.

Just then the clock chimed, signaling the fact that Piper's freeze had worn off.

"The room just unfroze." Cole announced loudly.

"State the obvious much," Faith shot sarcastically and Cole scowled at her.

Phoebe rolled her eyes at them both as she looked around the room. "Oh um..." She grabbed Piper arm. "Where did that lamp come from?" she asked her sister and niece slowly.

Faith and Piper turned toward the object in question sharply.

They watched silently as the lamp transformed into a tall, grey haired man in black. The sisters shrieked jumping back a little. Phoebe pulling Piper in front of her as Piper did the same to Faith.

The demon threw out his arm and sent Faith, Piper and Phoebe flying over the couch.

The Chameleon then turned on Cole who was ready and waiting with an energy ball. He sent it hurtling towards the demon completely destroying his right arm, green blood and gunk decorating the beautiful pink and frilly gift baskets.

The Chameleon smirked as another arm grew in its place.

Faith, Piper and Phoebe shot up from behind the couch. A fireball formed in Faith's hand. "Cole, get back," Faith ordered. She flung the fireball and the demon ducked out of the way causing the fireball to strike the grandfather clock instead.

"Damn it, Faith!" Piper cursed whacking her niece's arm, "We just got that thing fixed!"

"Sorry," Faith replied as they ran after the Chameleon who was fleeing into the foyer,

Cole fired another energy ball at the moving target.

The Chameleon dove out of the way and the energy ball headed straight for an unsuspecting Paige who was descending the stairs, laundry basket in hand, music in her ears.

She opened her eyes for a split second, saw the energy ball coming and orbed out just in time, her laundry on the other hand was not so lucky.

The Chameleon jumped to his feet and looked around, realizing that he was outnumbered, shimmered out to safety.

"What the hell happened?" Paige asked looking between her sisters and her niece.

"The freaking furniture just attacked!" Piper replied tersely.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Do you know how long the Chameleon demon was in the house?" Leo asked as he bent over Phoebe, who was lying on the couch, in order to heal the gash on her forehead.

"I don't know," Phoebe replied with a shrug. "The lamp has been here for at least three days, maybe more," she concluded just as he finished healing her.

"It wasn't a wedding gift," Faith said from where she sat next to Buffy.

"What do you think he wants?" Piper asked from beside the fireplace, arms folded across her chest.

Cole resisted the urge to sigh. "I told you, gathering information."

"But for what? For why?" Piper questioned pacing up and down.

"To get me," Faith answered. "He's not going to stop till he's vanquished or I sit on the throne."

"Faith's right." Cole answered truthfully. "Which means he's gathering intel for his next attack."

"Excuse me?" Paige called walking into the living room, a piece of her demolished chair in hand, "Is there any way to claim this kind of damage on our homeowner's insurance policy?" she asked sounding hopeful.

"Usually not," Piper replied, shaking her head.

"Usually?" Paige echoed looking downtrodden, "What do you mean, I can expect my furniture to get blown up again?" she asked.

"Expect the unexpected." Phoebe advised her, "That's rule number one in the Halliwell Manor."

"Want to learn the rest?" Piper added nonchalantly.

"That's rule number one?" Buffy chuckled. "Rule number one should be don't invite anyone in, ever. Vamps can't come in unless their invited."

"Um...maybe now is not the time." Phoebe suggested. "Considering we have to figure out a way to find this demon."

"Well, you could try scrying using his blood," Leo offered glancing at the green goo.

Piper glared at the offending substance. "And we've got plenty of that. Although I don't know what good it would do to find him now," she added taking at seat next to her husband. "Whatever he's learned he's already told the Source."

"Except that he might also know what the Source's plan is," Cole added pushing off the wall and walking towards the small huddled group. "How he's going to attack. Find him, we might be able to find that out."

"I know," Paige spoke up sounding cheery. "What about pooling our money into a fund to cover anybody's damage, no matter who's it is," she suggested brightly.

"Let it go, Aunt Paige," Faith said gently as Paige sighed sadly. "Besides, the chair wasn't that pretty anyway," she added with a teasing grin.

Paige gasped in mock horror, whacking her niece on the shoulder.

Buffy, Piper and Phoebe laughed at them while Faith pushed Paige back playfully.

The room froze at the sound of the doorbell.

"I've got it," Buffy said as she slowly made her way to the front door; Faith, Piper and Phoebe right behind her. She yanked the door open swiftly.

"Whoa! Scared me," a tall blond woman gasped, as she spun around to face them. "Hey, Phoebe." She smiled brightly at them, "It's been a long time."

Phoebe nodded slowly. "Yes, it has," she agreed.

"Hey," she addressed Piper. "Sorry I'm late. We should go."

"Go?" Piper questioned with a puzzled expression.

"To the shower," the woman supplied with a smile as Piper turned to her sisters. Faith smiling and Phoebe shaking her head 'no'. "Wasn't I supposed to pick you up?" she asked sounding confused. "Did I mess up?" she asked searching her day planner.

Piper shook her head reaching out to stall her movements, "No. No, you didn't, Becca." She assured her. "Yeah, there's just some...stuff going on here," she supplied pointing behind her into the house.

Becca smiled. "So, what else is new huh?" she joked, "You want some help with the party baskets?"

"No." Phoebe cried holding up one hand. She, Buffy, Faith and Piper stepped forward to block her path. "No. It's just, I'm afraid something came up and Piper can't—"

Becca's face fell. "Oh no! Don't tell me you're not going to come?" she begged disappointment evident in her tone. "Everyone's so looking forward to seeing you again."

Piper smiled at that. "Oh really? They are?" she asked and Becca nodded. "Well, then—then we can't, disappoint them," she said nervously, feeling Phoebe's glare on her back. "We'll get some stuff at the market on the way there." she informed Becca as she disappeared from sight to retrieve her purse.

Phoebe forced a smile onto her face. "Will you excuse us for one minute?" she asked pushing past Buffy and Faith to the door, closing it gently on Becca before turning on her sister and nieces. "What—? Are you out of your mind? You can't still go," she told Piper determinedly.

"Yes, she can," Buffy countered.

"But we have to scry for that demon," Phoebe argued looking between the three.

"Well, it doesn't take three sisters and two nieces to scry," Piper pointed out. "You and Paige can do it, while I go to the shower and Buffy and Faith goes to their parenting class with Joyce."

"We're not going," Faith said.

"What?" Piper and Phoebe said surprised.

"Faith had a panic attack yesterday," Buffy said. "While she was taking care of me. Mom felt that the best thing for Faith right now was to just talk that out."

Piper nodded as she pulled Faith into her arms and hugged her. "It's okay, Faith."

"Thanks, Aunt Piper," Faith said as Piper gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Call me when you find him," Piper told her sister then headed for the door.

Phoebe grabbed Piper's arm. "Piper!" she whined.

Piper sighed. "Phoebe!" she snapped then took a breath. "Look, the bottom line is if I'm ever going to have kids, then I need to have a life first. Which means I need to be a human first and then a witch later," she reasoned. "Okay? Got it? Good." She nodded once then barged past her sister yanking the door open again and smiling broadly at Becca. "Hi! By Leo!" she called over her shoulder.

"Bye!" Leo called back as she disappeared out the door.

Underworld

The Chameleon demon paced nervously up and down the darkly lit chamber of the Source, growing more and more impatient as time goes on, listening to the tortured screams of innocent victims.

"You have failed me," the Source's booming voice accused as he flamed in behind the demon, who spun to face him.

"I beg to differ." He replied nervously, "Aside from finding Belthazor, everything I have learned about—"

"Not only have you been expose," the Source interrupted. "But you also attacked my heir."

Alaster cringed at the disappointment heard in the Source's tone, fearing his punishment.

"The element of surprise was critical to my plan's success," the Source continued.

Alaster nodded. "But you can still use the information to capture one of the Charmed Ones."

The Source stepped forward, towering over him, "That's not what I needed the information for!" he corrected him furiously, "Capturing is easy. Tricking one of the Charmed Ones into giving up all of their powers as well as getting my heir to assume her rightful place was the ultimate goal."

Alaster fidgeted fearfully under the Source's hooded gaze.

"That's why I needed to learn everything about their hopes, fears...their dreams." The Source continued.

Alaster perked up. "Then accelerate your plans," he encouraged enthusiastically. "Use me to capture the one that you want." He pressed his hands to his chest. "After all, they'll be after me now."

The Source remained silent before he answered slowly, "Yes, they will, won't they," he agreed flaming out and then back in as an exact clone of Alaster. Alaster himself watched him with wary eyes. "But then...why not cut out the middleman?" he mused waving his hand at the demon, effectively setting him aflame, vanquishing him.

The Source then turned to the stone table behind him and the Oracle appeared. "It is time, Oracle. I must know now, which of the sisters do you foresee will be most vulnerable to my plan? And will Faith be with her."

Oracle shrugged. "Well, each is vulnerable in their own way," she informed him with an obvious grin. "But...the eldest, Piper, seems to have the most resistance to the craft." She smirked in amusement. "Her yearnings..." she made a rounded gesture over her toned stomach, "...appear to be her greatest weakness." She bit down on her lip, turning towards her crystal ball and waving her hand over the crystal ball until Faith image appeared inside. "She will also be the one Faith is with, your heir is drawn to her for they share the same yearnings."

P4

"Aww! How cute is this!" Wendy cooed as she pulled out a fluffy white onesie. "Oh Piper, this is adorable! Where did you get this?" she gushed excitedly.

"Um...a little shop in the Embarcadero," Piper answered with a smile. "They have the cutest things. I got another for my niece Faith."

Wendy smiled as she placed the gift back in its box. "Thank you so much, for everything," she said gratefully reaching out to hug Piper as best she could with her swollen stomach.

"Oh, you're welcome!" Piper replied hugging her back.

"We have so much to catch up on." Wendy pointed out giving her a pointed look.

Piper nodded, feeling guilty. "I know. We will," she promised kissing Wendy on the cheek before moving off to allow someone else to present their gift. She took a seat next to Becca who was looking at her pointedly. She turned to Becca and narrowed her eyes slightly. "What?" she questioned.

Becca shrugged. "Nothing." She smiled. "It's just good to see you out and about again, that's all."

Piper smiled. "Yeah..." she nodded, "...it's been a hectic year. First Faith finds her way home, then Prue dies and finally Paige coming into our lives…"

Becca tilted her head. "Yeah, but I mean even before all of that," she elaborated. "It's almost like the last...three or four years you just kind of...disappeared."

Piper nodded. "Yeah." she agreed, voice filled with regret.

Their conversation was interrupted by Piper's cell phone ringing loudly from inside her bag. Piper frowned slightly as she dug through it, pulling out her cell and reading the caller ID: Home.

"Oh no!" Becca cried sadly, "Don't tell me you have to go."

"Uh..." Piper paused looking up at Becca's disappointed face, "...no," she answered hesitantly. "It can wait." Just as she said that Leo orbed in behind the group of women, concealed from view from all but Piper.

Leo made a 'come hither' motion with his finger and Piper glared, shaking her head minutely but he persisted until she caved.

Piper smiled at Becca. "I'll be right back," she promised before slinking off to talk with Leo. "What are you doing here!" she hissed. "No guys allowed!"

"I tried calling your cell phone, but it went dead," Leo defended himself. "Buffy, Faith, Paige and Phoebe think they've found the demon."

Piper's eyes flashed to his and her face fell. "Already? They did? Are you sure?" she questioned sounding extremely disappointed.

Leo nodded. "Yeah, you have to go now."

Piper sighed and stomped her foot. "How are we supposed to have kids, if I can't even be at someone else's baby shower!" she asked gesturing wildly.

"What!" Leo asked looking confused and startled.

"Nothing," Piper sighed, shoulders slouched. "Never mind. Okay, I'll meet you outside. The least I can do is say goodbye." She gestured to her friends.

Leo nodded opening his mouth but Piper had stormed off already.

Piper snatched up her bag and took a seat next to Wendy again, "Wendy, I'm sorry," she apologized sadly. "I got to go. Something has come up."

Wendy sighed. "Now? But we haven't even had cake yet," she pouted. "You're going to miss the best part."

"I know. The story of my life," Piper muttered. "I'll see you later."

Halliwell Manor

"So, we've got a spell to vanquish the Chameleon but we're not going to use it? I don't get it." Paige questioned, confused. She, Buffy, Faith, Phoebe and Leo stood in a semi-circle behind the couch, Cole standing in front of it as Piper walked around them slowly, sighing loudly before perching on the back of the couch next to Faith.

Phoebe glanced at Piper.

"Well, you vanquish him only if you have too," Leo explained. "The goal here is to try and interrogate him, find out what the Source is planning."

"Okay." Paige nodded. "But I'm thinking that this guy's not going to be so eager to spill his guts."

"No, he'll spill," Cole corrected her coming to a stop next to Phoebe. "I'll see to that."

Phoebe shook her head. "No, you can't come. He saw you with us," she reminded him. "Which probably means that the Source has some bounty ready to attack you or capture you or something,"

"So, what else is new?" Cole asked, unconcerned.

"It doesn't make it any less dangerous," Phoebe snapped.

"So..." Paige spoke up loudly, ending their little spat. "The question still stands: how do we get a demon to stop and chat with us?" she asked walking over to Faith, Buffy and Piper and stood next to them.

"Well, Piper can freeze him," Phoebe suggested. "And then unfreeze his head, she's done that before." She looked to Piper, Buffy and Faith, "Right?"

Buffy nodded. "Yeah and if the son of a bitch tries to run, I can just make him...stay still," she smirked.

Phoebe turned to Piper. "How do you feel about that?"

Piper sighed, moving to sit on the couch instead, "I don't know."

"Why?" Cole asked, "You got a better idea?"

"Maybe..." Piper eased herself down onto the couch, "We could tell him to offer the Source...a deal instead."

Phoebe frowned glancing at Faith and Buffy before they moved to Piper's side: Buffy and Phoebe sat on either side of Piper and Buffy perching herself on the coffee table.

Leo, Cole and Paige hovered behind the couch. "Deal?" Leo echoed. "What kind of a deal?"

"Well, something like, he stops coming after us and Faith and we stop going after him," Piper replied.

"What?" Phoebe questioned glancing at Faith who remained silent.

Piper ignored her. "Of course, that would mean we'd have to stop going after all of his demons too, which would be fine by me. It would stop all the constant attacks."

Paige frowned leaning closer to Cole and Leo, "Am I the only one who thinks she's bumped her head."

Phoebe caught her gaze. "You can't be serious, Piper."

"Actually, I've never been more serious in my life," Piper countered. "Think about it," she began, glancing at Faith. "This could be an opportunity for us to get out of the demon-fighting business once and for all as well as protecting Faith from him."

"Wait," Leo cut in moving to crouch beside his wife. "What, and just give up on your destiny?"

Piper shrugged turning to him. "How do you know we haven't already fulfilled it?" she asked but he remained silent. "I mean, God knows we saved scores of innocents already. Maybe that's enough. Maybe it's time for some other witches to take over and let us get on with our lives."

Phoebe shook her head, looking panicked.

"Isn't it worth a try in exchange for what we might be getting?" Piper continued. "No more putting things on hold. Vacations, friends, kids!" She said the last looking pointedly at Faith.

Phoebe shook her head. "I can't give up now," she said quietly. "We are so close. We have to take out the Source if we can," she pleaded. "And it not for us...then for those kids that you talked about." Phoebe smiled taking Piper's hand. "The next generation." She turned to Faith. "Right?"

Faith looked at Buffy and sighed. "Right."

"What?" Buffy said with a look of concern.

"I want to wait, Buffy," Faith told her wife with a sigh. "I don't want to have a kid who would be my heir while I am still the Source's heir. I don't want my dreams to come true. If, if there was no magic then...then maybe...maybe we could have our daughter. I…"

"What are you saying?" Leo asked cautiously.

Faith remained silent.

"Faith?" Buffy said as she moved next to her wife.

Faith jumped her eyes flashing to her wife. "Nothing. Never, never mind." She turned to Piper. "Phoebe's right, Aunt Piper," she said almost reluctantly. "We can't quit. Sacrifices must be made for the greater good," she spouted off mechanically.

Piper sighed, shaking her head. "Fine! I just hope that we don't end up where your mom did." She stood and stormed off up the stairs.

Streets of San Francisco

"Okay now, something's not right," Piper spoke up as she, Phoebe, Paige, Faith and Buffy stood at the front of her car. "We've checked both alleys twice."

Phoebe sighed. "Well, the Chameleon's got to be here somewhere because the crystal never lies."

Paige shivered. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting a not-so-good feeling about this."

Faith looked around quickly. "Alright, we'll check one more time, and then we'll call it quits. Buffy, you, Aunt Phoebe, and Aunt Paige check that alley." She pointed to her left. "Piper and I will check that one." She pointed ahead.

Phoebe frowned. "Wait split up? You think that's a good idea?"

"Phoebe, there's five of us here," Piper pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

Phoebe looked between her two sisters and her two nieces and chuckled. "Oh yeah."

Paige rolled her eyes and threw an arm around Phoebe's shoulders. "Come on, crazy sister!" she cried pulling Phoebe down the alley.

Faith and Piper laughed at them before linking arms and heading down their own alley.

Piper regarded her sister and niece carefully. "Ya know...it's okay...to want a life different than the one we've got, Faith," she said quietly tightening her hold on Faith's arm.

Faith sighed. "I'm sorry, Aunt Piper," she said sadly. "I know how much you want your normal life back but..."

Piper nodded. "I know, I know. The Charmed Ones come first." She chuckled attempting to imitate Prue.

Faith stopped walking and rounded on her. "Mom did not sound like that," she said as Piper held up her hands giggling. She rolled her eyes, grabbed Piper's arm and continued walking again.

"Admit it," Piper instructed her firmly. "Admit that you want a normal life too, just like me."

Faith turned to her, stopping again, hearing the pleading in Piper's voice. "More than anything, Aunt Piper. I'm tired of being the Source's heir. I'm okay being the Slayer and being a witch and if it wasn't for the Source's heir thing, I would be more than ready to raise my daughter."

They were so involved in their conversation that they failed to notice the partially invisible figure approaching them from behind. They continued walking until they reached a dead end. At that moment the Source, still disguised as the Chameleon demon, stepped around the corner into their line of sight.

Piper gasped and Faith whirled round to face him as a fireball formed in her hand. She flung it and the Source stumbled slightly but laughed at the attempt.

Faith's eyes widened. "Oh! Oh no!" she cried turning to Piper slightly.

Piper's eyes bulged and she threw up her hands, flicking her wrists.

The Source's form shook but he merely rolled his neck and smirked. "Were you expecting me to freeze?" he asked condescendingly.

Piper bit her lip. "Uh-oh."

Faith narrowed her eyes. "Something's not right," she muttered looking the Source up and down.

"Buffy!" Piper called out knowing her new niece could sense her need. "Bring Phoebe and Paige!"

The Source smirked as he formed a large energy ball and threw it at Faith, it struck her in the chest, sending her soaring backwards and into the far wall.

"Faith!" Piper yelled turning to her niece as the Source sent another energy ball at her. It struck her in the back and sent her head first into the wall, landing next to her niece.

Buffy appeared in a swirl of fiery flames with Phoebe and Paige to find Piper: unconscious slung over the Source's shoulder with his free hand touching Faith. He looked directly at them and smirked before flaming out with Piper and Faith.

Buffy gasped. "Faith!" she whispered fearfully.

Piper's Delusion – Halliwell Hospital

"Piper?" a voice called out gently and Piper stirred, turning her head towards the sound and forcing her eyes open.

"Piper, are you okay?" the man asked and Piper blinked rapidly until her eyes focused and she recognized the face as Leo's.

"Ow!" Piper moaned hand moving to her head, "My head hurts."

"I bet it does, you hit it pretty hard. Are you alright?" Leo asked concerned.

Piper blinked a few more times, "I think so. What happened?"

"What always happens when you have one of your episodes." He told her gently, "You threw yourself against a wall."

"Episodes?" Piper echoed, "I didn't throw myself—" she paused taking in his appearance: shirt and tie, white coat and frowned, "What are you wearing?"

"Before you poison me, I know about the aliens!" a voice cried out from behind. Piper turned towards it. "Or the conspiracy and I'm gonna tell the world!" the man continued.

Piper frowned and looked around the rest of the house, seeing numerous strangers wandering around or huddled in a corner, crowded around tables and they were all dressed the same way: white trouser and white long sleeved top, with a blue t-shirt over it.

"It's okay." Leo assured her, "Those are just the other patients."

Piper frowned, holding out her hand and he pulled her to her feet, "What the hell is going on?" she demanded.

Leo smiled, "It's alright. You're at the sanatorium." He informed her, "You're home."

Piper shook her head as they walked through the house, "Where's all our furniture?" she asked, her voice extremely high pitched in panic. "Leo, what are all these people doing in our house?"

"Our house?" Leo chuckled, "Piper, Halliwell Hospital is hardly our house. All these other people live here too."

Piper frowned, "Halliwell Hospital?" she repeated, "Is, is that some kind of a joke? What's wrong with you!"

"Please, calm down." Leo soothed.

Piper shook her head, "No, Leo! I will not calm down! Something very strange is going on, something demonically strange." She insisted, "The demon must have cast a spell and changed the house and changed you." Piper turned, "Phoebe! Paige!" she yelled heading for the stairs, "Buffy! Faith!" she called out.

"Now, easy lady. Relax." And Orderly instructed her as he wrapped his arms around her in an attempt to subdue her.

"Let go of me!" Piper cried, thrashing about trying to free herself, "Leo! Don't just stand there!"

"Problems Dr. Wyatt?" a tall man with greying hair asked as he approached.

Piper gasped, stalling in her movement, "That's him. That's the demon." She exclaimed.

"Demons again." The grey haired "doctor" said sadly, "Piper, we've been through this thousands of times before. There are no demons." Piper narrowed her eyes at him. "They're just figments of your imagination."

"Want to bet?" she challenged. "Evil hiding in plain sight. I use this spell with all my might. To stop your changing form and shape. This vanquish seals your fate!" she chanted ending with a smirk.

"Doesn't really rhyme does it?" the Orderly restraining Piper pointed out from behind. Piper turned her head sharply. "Sorry." He apologized quickly.

Piper shook her head, "I, I don't understand. That spell should have worked."

"Piper, why do you insist on demonizing me?" the grey haired "doctor" asked, "And every psychiatrist who has ever tried to help you?"

Piper growled, "Let me go!" she began struggling again, "I got to blow him up! I'm going to blow you up!" she threatened thrashing about and kicking her legs.

The "doctor" took a step back, "Her violent impulses are returning. Straightjacket!" he called out.

"Piper." Leo sighed, "Why won't you let Dr. Alaster help you?" he asked pleadingly.

"I don't need his help." Piper replied, "I need your help. Get this guy off of me so I can use my powers."

"Piper you don't have powers!" Leo corrected her, "You're not a witch. You don't save innocents. You never did."

"What?" Piper asked tiredly, all the confusion making her head hurt. Piper turned to her left as she heard a commotion to see Paige being manhandled by another Orderly.

"This isn't fair!" Paige cried loudly, "This is my house too! I can do anything I want!" she insisted as they carried her past Piper, kicking and screaming. "You're hurting me!"

"Paige!" Piper called out thrashing harder to get to her sister, "Paige! A demon took over the house. Orb the heck out of here!" she ordered sharply.

"Take her to isolation so she doesn't hurt herself." Dr. Alaster instructed calmly.

Another Orderly approached Piper and the two began forcing the straightjacket on her.

"No! No, wait a minute. Wait a minute!" Piper cried, "You don't understand, wait. Leo!" she exclaimed turning to him.

Leo sighed, "It's for your own good."

Piper shook her head, "Wait a minute. Hey! Hey! You're making a big mistake." She told the Orderly's desperately, "Listen to me for a second. He's a demon!"

"I'm not going to give up on you Piper." Dr. Alaster told her determinedly, "We're going to free you of these delusions, I promise."

"Shut up!" Piper spat as they lifted her up, "Phoebe! Paige! Faith! Buffy!" she yelled as they carried in the same direction as Paige.

"I can give you everything you want, if only you'll let me help!" Dr. Alaster begged her, "This illness has already consumed more than three years of your life."

Underworld

"Don't let it rob you of anymore," the Source, still in the form of the Chameleon demon concluded, hands on either side of Piper's head, the Oracle by his side as Piper floated in the air on her back. "You're not a witch. You only think you are." The Source stopped talking, stumbling slightly and Piper's body floated back down to rest on the stone slab.

The Oracle frowned, "What's the matter? What happened?"

"It's just...taking more magic than I realised to project into her mind." The Source replied.

"More than you have perhaps." The Oracle commented offhandedly. The Source turned to her, his eyes dangerous and she rolled her eyes. "I only mean to caution you." She corrected herself, "This is weakening you, making you vulnerable."

"But the bounty I seek will make me more powerful than ever." The Source reminded her, staring at Piper.

"If you can get it." The Oracle muttered.

"Nobody knows more about the Charmed Ones, than I do." The Source turned his back to her, "I know how to break her spirit. I know her Achilles'' heel." He paused turning back to stare at Piper, "In her deepest heart she never wanted to be a witch. Yet she feels an obligation to her powers."

"Yes. But you said her powers won't work in our illusion." The Oracle reminded him.

The Source smiled, "They won't." He agreed, "And once she learns that...painful lesson, she'll willingly give hers up." He assured stroking Piper's head, "And with them, her sisters' too."

Faith's Delusion – Majestic Hotel, Sunnydale

Faith stood just inside a hotel room, the door lying on the ground in front of her. 'Where am I?' she wondered. Last thing she remembered with being with Piper in the alley.

"Hey, Slayer!" a demon, Faith recognized from when she was undercover, said. "I wasn't expecting company, give me a minute and I'll have the place tidied up for..."

Faith looked around for Buffy, who was supposed to be here. "Babe?" she said.

"Who are you talking to Slayer?" the demon questioned as he tidied up the room.

"Those the books," Faith asked deciding to play along for now till she could figure out where her wife had gone.

"Depends. You got my money?" the demon wondered.

Faith was about to say Buffy's line when she suddenly out of nowhere hit the demon.

"You're tough in negotiations," the demon told her. "I respect that." He walked over to the refrigerator and flicked on a light switch. The overhead light illuminated several books. "Check 'em out. That's quality merchandise. Worth five grand, easy."

Underworld

The Source stepped back from Faith. "Well?" the Oracle asked.

"It will take time to break through what the Charmed Ones and the other Slayer have wrought," the Source explained. "The next time I enter her mind, she will find herself at odds with the other Slayer."

Halliwell Manor

"Anything?" Paige questioned walking up behind Leo who was standing by an open conservatory window.

Phoebe was standing at the small round table, crystal dangling over the map with the Book of Shadows next to her.

Buffy was seated at the table, her head in her hands.

Leo sighed opening his eyes. "I can't sense Piper or Faith anywhere," he revealed turning to face them all.

Buffy's face fell, "Does that mean that Faith's been converted and Piper is—"

"No!" Phoebe cut in. "He wouldn't have taken them both if all he wanted was to convert Faith. He doesn't need Piper for that. He could have killed her right there."

Paige nodded taking a seat beside Buffy. "You alright?" she asked her niece.

"I will be alright when we have Faith and Piper back," Buffy answered as Paige wrapped an arm around her.

"Cole—Oh my god!" Phoebe gasped as her boyfriend shimmered in covered in green goo.

"I'm alright." Cole assured Phoebe quickly, holding up his hands to silence her, "I just found out that...Faith and Piper are in the underworld." He informed them stopping next to Phoebe, "I think the Source has them both."

"So, the Chameleon turned them over to him?" Buffy asked.

"That's what I learned from another Chameleon demon." Cole replied with a slow smirk as he flicked goo off his hands, "I kind of...squeezed it out of him."

"We got to find them," Phoebe stated the obvious reaching for the Book of Shadows "There's got to be a spell in here somewhere." She lifted the book and gasped, her body going rigid and her eyes flying closed.

Buffy, Phoebe and Paige were huddled together, Phoebe clutching the Book of Shadows to her chest. The Source and Faith approached them slowly. The Source waved one hand in front of them. The book disappeared in a swirl of blue and white orbs, reappearing in his hands. Faith then threw out one and Phoebe and Paige exploded. Faith then waved a hand before Buffy whose eyes went black as the blonde Slayer knelt before Faith. "My Queen," she said.

Phoebe gasped as she was freed from the vision. She looked down at her sister and niece as she eased herself slowly into her seat, staring into space her face blank.

"Phoebe?" Cole called her name from behind but she remained silent.

Paige turned to Buffy, biting down on her lip in concern.

Buffy frowned reaching out to touch Phoebe's hand. "Phoebe?" she called softly and Phoebe flinched and cut her eyes to Buffy's.

"I saw the Source, stealing the book with our powers..." Phoebe explained pausing as she grasped both Paige and Buffy's hands, "...and Faith killing you and me, Paige," she revealed grimly. She then looked at Buffy. "And then Faith did something to you, Buffy, and your eyes went black and you knelt before her swearing allegiance to her."

"Which means he's in the process of converting Faith," Buffy said.

Paige frowned deeply, "How can he get our powers? And how can he convert Faith, wouldn't she fight?" she questioned panicked.

Phoebe shook her head in reply, completely stumped on explanations.

"Maybe..." Cole spoke up, perching on the arm of Phoebe's chair, "...he's figured out a way to get your powers from Piper. And then somehow with them he is able to convert Faith?"

Buffy nodded. "That would explain why he's keeping Piper alive," she agreed glancing at Cole who nodded.

Phoebe shook her head slightly. "No that's not—Piper can't give up our powers by herself," she pointed out sternly.

"Well, she can using the relinquishing spell in the book." Leo informed Phoebe sadly, brow creased with worry.

Phoebe turned to him. "We burned that spell three years ago. It doesn't exist anymore."

"It does in Piper's mind," Leo replied gazing into space.

Phoebe scoffed, dragging the book closer to her. "That's crazy! She'd never say it. She'd never give up her powers," she insisted harshly, refusing to believe anything different.

"I know you don't want to hear this Phoebe," Buffy said as Phoebe looked back at her. "First she kind of was willing to this morning." Phoebe froze. "Second, do you really think he couldn't do it? This is all part of his plan to convert Faith. He must be confident it would work."

"Buffy, you've known our family almost as long as Faith. Can you seriously believe that she would do that?" Phoebe questioned.

Buffy set her lips in a firm line, holding Phoebe's gaze unwaveringly. "Yes, sadly I do. If Prue could be turned into a warlock, which turned you and Piper into warlocks, which turned the book evil, which turned Faith into a warlock and which turned me into a warlock. Yes, I believe he has a way of getting her to do it. Do I believe she would do it of her own free will, no. But like I said I expect he has a plan to force her to do so."

Phoebe gazed at Buffy, eyes filling with tears. Buffy had made a good argument and if she was truthful with herself, she could see Buffy's reasonings.

"Maybe you and I should go down there, see if I can sense her." Leo addressed Cole.

Cole turned to him, "Follow me," he ordered shimmering out, Leo orbing out after him wordlessly.

"Okay," Phoebe said loudly, standing up, "There's a bunch of summoning spells we can try," she informed Paige and Buffy, lifting the book into her arms. "Come on," she called over her shoulder, heading for the stairs.

Paige and Buffy rose from their seats and followed. "If we're going to do summoning spells," Buffy said. "You two should work on trying to summon Piper. I will work on trying to summon Faith. That way should not be together when…"

"Sounds like a good idea, Buffy," Phoebe agreed.

Piper's Delusion - Halliwell Hospital

"I thought you said I wasn't good enough for your little coven," Paige muttered from her single bed in the Hospital basement.

Piper turned her head. "Paige, you are under a spell. You don't know what you're talking about." She insisted frustrated.

Paige sighed. "I tried to be your friend." She continued, "I even tried to play your stupid witchy games but all you could do is complain about me and my stuff and how we didn't belong in your precious little family!"

Piper froze. "I never said that." She denied.

Paige pursed her lips. "Humph! You didn't have too. It's obvious in the way you treat me," she informed her sadly looking down. "You don't even like me."

Piper frowned and rose up, as far as her restraints would allow, in order to see Paige better. "Paige, that's ridiculous!" she cried in astonishment. "We're sisters!"

"You don't have any sisters," Dr. Alaster reminded her from the other side of the caged door, separating the rest of the room from the isolation zone.

Piper's head snapped round to face him.

"You're an only child, Piper. You know that," he continued calmly.

Piper sighed, collapsing down onto the bed. "I'm going to be so happy when I vanquish your sorry ass."

Dr. Alaster entered the zone, stopping at the bottom of her bed. "You use it to explain things you can't except. But it's not real Piper," he insisted and she rolled her eyes.

"Oh, for the love of god!" Piper murmured irately.

"You could be free Piper." Dr. Alaster continued stopping at the head of her bed and leaning close. "You could be free if you'd just stop fighting it, accept your reality."

Piper glared at him fiercely. "You let me out of these restraints, I'll show you some reality," she threatened darkly.

Dr. Alaster moved away from the bed in defeat, opening the door and closing it behind him. "I'm afraid, you'd just hurt yourself again. I'm truly sorry." He told her before turning to the stairs and disappearing up them.

Piper thrashed about on the bed, "Leo! Leo!" she yelled loudly.

Paige groaned. "Urgh! Would you stop with the 'Leo, Leo'?"" she pleaded. "You're drivin' me crazier than I already am!" she exclaimed tiredly; eyes wide.

Piper rolled her eyes, "Ah!" she cried in frustration just as Phoebe appeared outside the cage.

Piper's face lit up and she smiled at them happily. "Oh, thank god! Phoebe untie me," she ordered urgently.

Phoebe bounced up and down at her side munching on a cookie.

"Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" Piper snapped and Phoebe jumped, her eyes going wide before she shuffled nearer the door and unlocked it, letting herself in.

Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Alright, alright, stop obsessing."

Piper frowned. "I'm not obsessing. What are you eating?"

"Chocolate chip cookie," Phoebe beamed then frowned. "Not your best," she informed her disappointedly as she freed her hands.

"Got milk?" Paige asked from her bed. "Ooh! Don't think so." And she burst into a fit of laughter.

Piper observed Paige with wide eyes while Phoebe laughed too. She shook herself from her daze and addressed her crazy sisters. "Okay! Just get me out of these things," she ordered Phoebe who moved to free her feet. "We need to reverse this spell."

"Hurry up, Looney Tunes," Paige called to Phoebe as she moved to free Paige. "Get me outta here."

Phoebe gasped loudly.

Piper looked at Phoebe expectantly. "What is it? What did you see?" she demanded.

Phoebe shrugged. "I saw the back of my eyelids. What do you think I saw?" she asked with a giggle.

Piper sighed. "Oh no! Phoebe, not you too," she cried sadly glaring at her useless sisters. She sighed. "Alright! I don't know what the hell is going on but we got to, get to the Book of Shadows," she continued watching her sisters incredulously, "And since evil can't touch it, it's still got to be in the attic right?" she asked reaching out and grabbing Phoebe's hands, "Right? Right? Right?" she asked three times looking at both of her three sisters in turn. "Let's go!" she exclaimed pulling on Phoebe, turning to the door. "Wait!" she turned and spun on her sisters. "Where is Faith and Buffy?"

"Doctor Lehane and Orderly Summers?" Paige and Phoebe questioned, wondering why Piper was asking about them.

Faith's Delusion – Sunnydale High School

Faith stood in the shadows watching Buffy with Willow, Xander and Oz.

"Sounds like your mom's in a state of denial," Willow told the blonde Slayer.

"More like a continent of denial," Buffy corrected. "She's got to realize I can't leave. U.C. Sunnydale. At least I got in."

Faith frowned as she wondered why Buffy couldn't leave. After all she and Buffy lived in San Francisco and flamed to Sunnydale for college, patrolling and to visit Joyce and Tara. The more she watched the more confused she became. Was finding Prue, Piper and Phoebe, then falling in love with Buffy and getting married all in her head?

"Well, maybe not now. But soon. Maybe," Willow told her friend as Buffy looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Or maybe I too hail from Denialland."

"Faith's turn to the dark side of the force has pretty much put the proverbial kibosh on any away
school plans for me," Buffy told her friend.

Faith sighed as she turned and walked away. It had to have been a dream because it was apparent that her wife, or ex-wife, or whatever, hated her.

Piper's Delusion – Halliwell Hospital

"Alright," Piper whispered as she crept around the corner on the second-floor landing pulling Paige with her. "The first thing we gotta do is—" Piper paused, stopping in her tracks, eyes darting about, "Where's Phoebe?" she asked scanning the floor.

Paige shrugged, "Who cares?" she asked distractedly.

Phoebe came around the corner seconds later. She smiled. "Sorry, had to grab my broom," she informed Piper indicating the wooden broom in hand.

Piper turned to her middle sister. "For what?"

Phoebe shot her a 'duh' look. "Well, for flying, silly."

Piper sighed, crying silently as she tried not to strangle Phoebe.

The three girls turned to the attic stairs as they heard screams from within.

"Uh-oh," Phoebe whispered mounting her broom. "Another innocent to save," she announced before she shot up the stairs.

"No, Phoebe, wait!" Piper cried running after her.

They reached the attic to find Cole, strapped into a chair hooked up to several machines, one of which was currently sending waves of electricity into his brain.

"You can't hurt me," Cole growled. "I'm the mighty Belthazor!" And then he collapsed into the chair.

"Stop it!" Phoebe yelled as Piper took the broom from her. "He's not evil anymore. He's good!" she glared at the Orderly viciously.

The Orderly came toward them and Piper smacked him over the head with the broom, knocking him to the ground out cold.

"Well he sure flew," Paige giggled.

Phoebe scurried over to Cole, leaning down and kissing his neck.

Piper scoffed pulling on her shoulder. "Uh...Hi." Piper smiled at Phoebe. "Stop that," she told her firmly and Phoebe obeyed. "Has anybody seen the book?" she asked looking between the three.

Phoebe nodded. "I know where it is," she told her proudly swaying on the spot.

Piper raised her eyebrows. "Well?" she asked expectantly and Phoebe jumped.

"Oh right," Phoebe giggled turning around. "I hid it so the doctors—I mean, demons wouldn't find it," she explained running over to a cabinet. She crouched down and reached behind it, pulling out a small brown notebook and presenting it to Piper.

Piper took it roughly. "What? What is this?" she questioned looking down at it.

The cover had the words; 'The Book of Shadows' written on it in pen, 'Shadows' underlined several times and a badly drawn triquetra in the center.

Piper flipped open the notebook and scanned the pages of badly drawn demons and gawked, "Oh, oh god!" she cried closing it in disgust and shooting Phoebe an incredulous look. "You are nuts," she told her seriously.

Phoebe giggled next to Paige who nudged her, giggling too.

Piper threw the notebook to the floor. "Okay, I don't understand how a demon could take the book out of the house," she thought aloud. "Unless...this isn't the house," she mused looking between her sisters. "Okay, I got to get you two out of here. Maybe that'll break the spell," she added hopefully. "Then we'll come back for Faith and Buffy."

Paige looked Piper up and down suspiciously. "How come the spell didn't work on you?" she asked narrowing her eyes.

Phoebe elbowed Paige hard. "Don't question the rules," she reprimanded quietly.

"Alright," Piper glared at them and they silent, "Come on," she called heading for the attic windows. "We'll go down the trellis," she instructed them as she used the broken handle of the broom to break the cages covering the windows.

"What about Cole?" Phoebe asked suddenly. "I never get to spend any time with him."

"We'll come back for him later when we come back for Faith and Buffy," Piper promised opening the window as wide as it could go. "Come on, come on." She called and they made their way over. "It'll be fun," she assured them as Phoebe began climbing down, followed by Paige.

"Piper, don't." Dr. Alaster called as he entered the attic.

Piper paused turning to him for the briefest second before she continued with her escape, leaving behind an extremely pleased demon.

Faith's Delusion – Sunnydale Mayor's Office

"All right. You can open them now," Richard Wilkins the Third, Mayor of Sunnydale, said.

Faith opened her eyes to find sitting on the Mayor's desk, a small gift-wrapped box and a plate of cookies. "What's the occasion?" she asked, her face emotionless. Since she had seen Buffy with Willow and what Buffy had said about her. Her anger toward Buffy had slowly been growing. If she could see her real self in the mirror she would have noticed a change slowly coming over her.

"Faith. As if I need a reason to show you my affection..." the Mayor told her as Faith tore the wrapping paper away from the gift. "Or my appreciation for running a small errand at the airport."

Faith opened the box and pulled at a small dagger, that she recognized from what she now assumed was her dreams.

Piper's Delusion – Streets of San Francisco

The sisters ran down the driveway and into the street stopping only when they were several blocks from the house.

"Oh! I think we lost them," Phoebe cried happily as they walked in a line: Piper then Phoebe then Paige.

Piper scanned the area, observing the people and their surroundings. "Wait a minute, everything looks normal." She looked around again feeling a sudden wave of uncertainty wash over her. "This is wrong. We should go back and try and get the demon to talk," she suggested.

Paige shook her head. "I'm thinking he's not going to be so eager to spill his guts," she pointed out grimly.

"Hey! Hey!" an old woman down the street in front of them yelled as a robber snatched her purse and ran into the road. "Someone stop him!"

"Hey!" Piper yelled as she ran out onto the busy road after him.

"Piper!" Phoebe yelled.

"NO!" Paige screamed as a car headed straight for Piper.

Piper turned to it head on and threw up her hands, attempting to freeze the oncoming vehicle with no success. The car crashed into her and Piper smashed into the windscreen before rolling back down the hood and landing hard on the gritty ground below.

Underworld

Piper's head rolled to the side, blood trickling out of her mouth as the Source slowly lowered her body back down.

The Oracle turned to him, a pleased smile gracing her lips as she gazed at him expectantly.

The Source smirked wickedly, "I believe...she just learned her lesson."

"What about your heir?" the Oracle asked.

The Source walked over to Faith and looked over his heir and smiled. Her brunette hair was slowly changing color to black as the blacks of her eyes was slowly spreading outwards. "She is almost there."

Halliwell Manor

"Power of the witches rise. Course unseen across the skies. Come to us who call you near. Come to us and settle here," Phoebe, Paige and Buffy chanted. Phoebe and Paige were seated at the small round table in the center of the attic. Buffy was standing off to one side her eyes closed.

Phoebe reached for an athame and pricked her finger allowing the blood to drip into the bowl as they finished the spell. "Blood to blood, I summon thee. Blood to blood, return to me."

"Damn it," Buffy cursed as Piper and Faith failed to return to them. "Nothing."

Paige looked at her older sister. "Any other spells you can think of?" she asked sounding hopeful.

Phoebe shook her head, "No. I don't know what else to do."

Buffy frowned deeply, her eyes on the book. "There has to be another way, something we haven't tried." She looked at the sisters and noticed the thoughtful expression gracing Paige's features.

Phoebe noticed too, "What?" she asked. "What is it?"

Paige looked away, gazing into the distance as she thought aloud, "Just something Leo said about the power-relinquishing spell being in Piper's mind."

"I think see where Paige is going," Buffy said. "The spell is in Piper's mind. Which means that's where the Source will be looking for it."

"Exactly, Buffy," Paige agreed. "And if he is, like Buffy suggested, going to force Piper into casting it. That means he has to get into her mind somehow to force her to do it. If he can get into her mind then why can't we?"

Piper's Delusion – Halliwell Hospital

Piper jerked awake as Dr. Alaster waved smelling salt under her nose. "Easy. Easy," he told her calmly. Piper moaned in pain, turning her head slightly to see him. "You've had a terrible accident," he told her sadly.

Piper scowled at him. "What did you do to me?" she accused darkly.

"You got hit by a car," Dr. Alaster corrected her, leaning over her bed in the hospital infirmary. "The driver said you didn't even try to get out of the way," he continued faking anger and concern. He sighed as he took a seat by her bed. "Piper, this delusion that you somehow have magical powers is going to get you killed some day."

Piper looked at her with a deadly glare. "Shove it! Where are my sisters and my nieces?"

"You mean your roommates, Doctor Lehane and Orderly Summers," he corrected. "Your roommates are safe, downstairs. And Doctor Lehane and Orderly Summers are in other parts of the hospital on rounds. Piper, how can I save you if you won't save yourself?" he asked her, changing the subject. "You have to want too. You have to will it. Otherwise...you just remain lost in this fantasy world of yours."

Piper rolled her eyes. "It's real," she insisted. "And you're just trying to confuse me."

Dr. Alaster shook his head. "No. No, I'm trying to help you," he corrected and Piper turned her head away from him. "Piper, your psychosis is based on the fervent belief...that you're magical. But you know that's just an escape."

Piper scoffed. "Escape. What escape?" she asked, hoping that if she indulged his ramblings then he'd leave her be.

Dr. Alaster looked to the ceiling/ "From some...deep-seated pain, some terrible loss, most likely the death of your grandmother," He spouted off. "Which is, after all, when this series of episodes began."

Piper shook her head, refusing to believe him and not wanting to listen to his voice any longer.

"End your pain," Dr. Alaster encouraged. "You can do it."

Piper moaned/ "No." She whispered hoarsely; her voice affected by the pain from her injuries.

"In one of our sessions, you mentioned a poem—'a spell' you called it," Dr. Alaster prodded.

Piper's head snapped round, her eyes catching his at the word 'spell'

"One that relinquishes the magical powers you think you have," he continued.

Piper shook her head adamantly. "No!" she barked. "Go away." She angled her body away from him.

"Say the spell, Piper," Dr. Alaster coaxed. "It'll free you; I promise you. It'll release you from all the...the crippling delusions you have."

"Get out!" Piper demanded turning back to him, "Get away from me! Get out!" she screamed and he rose to his feet.

"You have the power to give yourself the life you've always wanted," Dr. Alaster informed her before heading for the door. "All you have to do is stop putting the illusion of being a witch in front of it," he added from the doorway.

Piper hurled an empty plastic jug at him but it hit the door instead as he closed it shut behind him, leaving Piper alone with her pain and her thoughts. "Leo," she gasped turning onto her side. "Leo, where are you?"

Faith's Delusion – U.C. Sunnydale

Lester Worth opened the door as his doorbell rang. "Just a moment..." he called out as he opened the door to reveal Faith.

"Hi, I'm looking for Professor Worth?" Faith said.

"That's me. But I should ask you to come by during my office hours, students generally –" he started.

"Oh, I'm not from the college. I work for Mayor Wilkins. I'm Faith," Faith told him.

"Oh, come in, please," Lester said, obviously bemused. He stepped aside letting Faith in and closed the door behind her. "I was so surprised when he called. Didn't expect a politician to be
interested in my research."

"He's a big fan, Professor," Faith told him with a smirk.

"Oh, 'Lester' is fine," Lester corrected her.

"We alone here, Lester?" Faith asked looking around the room.

"Well, yes..." he answered, confused on the question. "Life-long bachelor. Like my space."

"I hear that. You wanna turn and face the wall, Lester," Faith told him as she pulled out her dagger.

"What are - what are you doing?" he asked clearly shocked.

Faith smiled an evil grin. "I'll make it quick."

Underworld

"Leo." Cole whispered harshly and the Whitelighter's eyes shot open.

"Piper's hurt." Leo winced, coming to stand next to Cole. "And Faith is getting harder and harder to read by the second."

"Where are they?" Cole asked tersely.

"I don't know." Leo replied, "I can't get an exact reading."

Cole groaned as an energy ball narrowly missed him and he threw one of his own back at the bounty hunter. "Well try harder." He growled.

"I can't," Leo snapped back. "The Source must have learned from the last time. He's blocking both Piper and Faith's signals."

"Well then...we need to find the Source," Cole concluded.

Leo looked at him incredulously. "How are we going to do that?" he asked expectantly.

Cole frowned in thought. "There's only one way," he told him cryptically before stepping out into the line of fire.

"Cole." Leo tried to stop him but Cole walked into view and the bounty hunter struck him with a bolt of lightning, catapulting him across the cavern. He watched as Cole's body landed with a 'thud', unconsciousness taking hold.

The two bounty hunters made their way over to Cole in triumph, jerking him up and dragging him off in the opposite direction, Leo slowly following behind them, making sure to keep out of sight.

Piper's Delusion – Halliwell Hospital

"Hey," Dr. Leo Wyatt said gently, rousing Piper from her sleep as he took a seat on her bed in the infirmary.

Piper smiled slightly. "Leo. Heal me, please," she begged grimacing from the pain caused by moving.

"This ought to help," he replied, taking out a syringe filled with morphine.

Piper closed her eyes tightly. "No! Not with that, with your powers."

"If I had powers, honey, I would use them," Leo assured her. "You know that."

Piper shook her head turning away from him as he injected the morphine as quickly as possible.

"It kills me to see you like this," Leo told her sincerely, the pain evident in his voice and his eyes. Piper turned to him a slow smile pulling at her lips. He grinned back and asked, "What?"

Piper's smile widened. "White lights," she announced cryptically. "I see white lights all around you."

Leo chuckled. "That's the painkillers."

Piper shook her head. "No," she countered pointing at him. "You're my Whitelighter."

Leo smiled at the look of amusement on her face before his fell and his tone became serious. "Dr. Alaster...says there's a way for you to get better," he said gently, breaching the topic as carefully as possible. "Is that true?" he asked wiping the blood from the side of her mouth.

Piper shook her head, groaning. "I don't..." she stuttered averting her gaze.

Leo continued to wipe at the blood. "If it were, then we could be together," he coerced and panic filled Piper's eyes. "We wouldn't have to keep sneaking around, breaking the rules."

"Rules?" Piper echoed in confusion. "But we're married," she whispered conspiratorially.

Leo laughed sadly. "No," he cleared his throat. "Only in your fantasy world," he revealed looking over at her.

Piper's amused smile faded slowly, pain clouding her eyes and hot salty tears springing to life.

Leo inched closer to her. "But it doesn't have to be that way," he informed her gently. "If you were to get better, then we could be married for real."

Piper closed her eyes, tears leaking from both and slipping slowly down her cheeks as she fought off sobs.

Leo grasped her hand. "And...and have that little girl that you've been dreaming about in the future."

Piper opened her eyes, a look of longing emanating from the watery orbs. Leo pushed himself off of the bed.

"Come on, I want to show you something," he told her evasively as he gently and carefully lifted her into his arms.

Piper gasped in pain, wrapping her arms tightly around him, holding on for dear life, burying her head in his neck.

Faith's Delusion – Faith's Apartment

Faith lay on her bed, reading comic books and eating junk food, a stereo blasting in the background. Suddenly the music ended and she looked up to see Buffy standing next to the stereo. She rolled off the bed, her eyes locked on the woman she loved.

"I thought I'd stop by," Buffy told the other Slayer.

Faith smiled. "Is he dead yet?"

"He's not going to die. Good try, though," Buffy said. "'A' for effort. Your plan?"

Faith nodded. "Uh-huh. Mayor got me the poison. Said it was wicked painful."

"There's a cure," Buffy told her with a smirk.

"Damn," Faith muttered. "What is it?"

"Your blood," Buffy answered. "As justice goes, it's not unpoetic. Don't you think?"

"You come here to get me? Going to feed me to Angel?" Faith asked as Buffy nodded. "You know you're not going to take me alive."

"That's not a problem," Buffy told her.

"Well, look at you, all dressed up in big sister's clothes," Faith chuckled as they slowly started to drift toward each other.

"You told me I was just like you, Faith," Buffy said. "That I was only holding it in."

"You ready to cut loose?" Faith asked.

Underworld

The two bounty hunters dragged Cole's unconscious body into the Source's lair dumping him steps away from their leader.

The Oracle strode around to greet them, glaring fiercely. "What are you doing here?" she demanded in a hushed whispered, "Leave now!"

"I don't think so," the tallest one answered defiantly.

He kicked the body, rolling him onto his back and the Oracle smiled at the sight of Belthazor.

"Tell the Source we've captured Belthazor," he instructed her smugly.

The Oracle cut her eyes to his. "Leave him. I'll make sure you get the credit."

"We're not going without our bounty," he informed her, and she stopped in her tracks, rounding on him slowly.

"Then you'll wait," the Oracle answered before returning to the Source's side.

"I have a surprise for you, Piper," the Source spoke gently.

Piper's Delusion – Halliwell Hospital

"One that I think will help you," Dr. Alaster continued as he pushed open the doors leading to the back garden.

Piper looked around in awe at all the flowers and colors and wildlife as Leo wheeled her down to the end of the path. She held out her hand as two butterflies: one blue and one orange and yellow. She smiled as they took up residence in her palm for a second before flying away.

Leo took a seat on the bench behind her. "You see?" he asked as she followed the butterflies' with her eyes. "There's magic in the real world too."

Dr. Alaster knelt down in front of her. "Your friends have come to visit you," he told her gently stepping aside to allow all the women from the baby shower to approach.

"Hi, Piper," Becca smiled walking closer. "How are you?"

"Becca?" Piper asked looking shocked.

"It's so good to see you again." Becca smiled at her. "We've missed you."

"We've got so much to catch up on," Wendy added stepping forwards with a beautiful baby girl in her arms.

Piper's eyes widened. "Wendy...when did you have your baby?" she asked in confusion.

"Just after the shower," Wendy replied frowning. "Don't you remember?"

Piper shook her head and Wendy smiled. "Do you want to hold her?" she asked carefully placing the baby in Piper's waiting arms. "Here." She smiled at Piper softly. "Isn't the outfit you bought her just adorable?"

Piper gazed down at the baby girl in her arms and smiled sadly. The ache in her heart returned and the tears spilled over, rolling down her cheeks.

"What's the matter, honey?" Becca asked bending down to Piper's level. "Why are you crying?"

"I think it's probably best if you all go now," Dr. Alaster ordered firmly.

"But we just got here," Becca defied sadly. "And everyone's so excited to finally see her again."

"I'm sorry. You understand?" Dr. Alaster asked glancing at a sobbing Piper.

Wendy stepped forward and carefully took the baby from Piper who instantly covered her face with her hands. "Bye, Piper," she said quietly as the group of friends slowly dispersed, leaving Piper alone with Leo as Dr. Alaster led them out.

Piper raised her head slowly, pushing her hands through her hair as she watched them all go.

"You can have this life, Piper," Leo told her gently. "We can have it together."

Piper's form shook as her eyes darted around the garden, confused, frightened and completely overwhelmed.

"You already know how to get it for us," Leo continued, leaning in close. "It's the only way you'll ever get out of here, to free yourself once and for all...to free us."

Piper looked down at her hands. "The spell?" she asked and stated shakily.

"Yes." Leo nodded. "The spell." He reached silently into his coat pocket and pulled out a small notepad, handing it to Piper along with a pen. "Try to remember it...exactly."

Piper stared at the objects silently and still before reaching out with shaky hands and accepting them.

Leo stood up and kissed her head before walking back inside the house, leaving Piper alone with her hopes and her dreams and the two objects that gave her the power to obtain them.

Faith's Delusion – Faith's Apartment

"Try me," Buffy told Faith.

"Okay then. Give us a kiss," Faith said as Buffy punched her hard. She responded by twirling and backfisting Buffy.

They fight fast, a blur of moves and blocks, kicks and counters. It took them about the room. Buffy smashed into the big screen TV as Faith was knocked over the end table.

Faith got Buffy in a headlock from behind. "Not getting tired, are you? I'm just starting to feel it."

Buffy slammed Faith back into the wall, breaking Faith's grip. She threw Faith up onto the landing.

Halliwell Manor

"Are we sure we want to do this?" Paige asked as she stared at the page in the Book of Shadows that described how to break a mind link.

"This was your idea remember?" Phoebe pointed out from inside the small circle where she was lighting the five candles needed for the spell.

Paige held up her hand, "Actually...it was Buffy's," she corrected, pointing at her niece.

Buffy chuckled shaking her head. "That may be so but you gave me the idea," she countered with a smirk.

Paige sighed. "Okay so...maybe in the abstract, yeah," she agreed and both of Phoebe and Buffy. "But I have enough trouble being in my own head, let alone someone else's."

"Our minds won't actually be in either Piper or Faith's bodies," Phoebe explained. "Just our consciousness." she concluded but Paige remained unconvinced and a little confused. "It's kind of like astral projection."

"So, the spell gets us into their heads. What about after that?" Paige asked looking between the two.

"We use the reversal spell to get us out," Phoebe answered simply. "Are you ready?" she asked her sister.

Paige nodded spinning the book to face her and Phoebe. "As I'll ever be."

Phoebe turned to Buffy, who sat a few feet away. "Are you ready?" she asked.

"I am," Buffy replied. "Let's bring them home."

Phoebe and Paige nodded in agreement as the three of them began to chant. "Life to life and mind to mind. Our spirits now will intertwine. We meld our souls and journey to. The ones whose thoughts we wish we knew."

Their eyes slipped closed and they fell to the floor landing on pillows that had been placed behind them.

Piper's Delusion - Halliwell Hospital

Phoebe and Paige appeared in the garden their backs to Piper. They took in their surroundings silently.

"I think it worked," Phoebe voiced as they watched butterflies float by.

Paige frowned, "Either that or we're in Mary Poppins' head," she joked.

"And since Buffy isn't here, I would say that Faith isn't here either," Phoebe said as she turned slowly, her eyes falling on Piper's silent form sitting in the wheelchair behind them. "Piper," she sighed in relief running towards her, Paige at her heels. "Piper." She smiled crouching down on Piper's left. "We're going to get you out of here okay? I have the spell." She assured her as Paige crouched down next to her.

Piper shook her head. "No." She sobbed. "No more spells."

Phoebe glanced at Paige in fear. "Piper, honey, it's us. It's your sisters."

"I don't have sisters," Piper informed her staring into space, her voice empty.

Phoebe placed a hand on Piper's shoulder.

"Go away!" Piper yelled, shaking her off. "Leave me alone!"

The sisters turned to the conservatory doors as Dr. Alaster came bursting through them, striding down the path towards them. "You're too late. Her nightmare's about to end."

Two very large very strong orderlies appeared behind the sisters, one wrapping his arms around Paige, the other restraining Phoebe. "Keep them here." Dr. Alaster addressed the orderlies. "I want them to witness this." He walked toward Piper. "They're no threat. They're powers don't work here."

Paige glared at him. "Yeah right, spell!" she called out. "Ah!" she cried as the Orderly tightened his grip.

"Pain, however, you do feel." Dr. Alaster smirked. "And will, after she recites the spell three times. Once for each of your powers."

Phoebe looked towards the doors and saw Leo approaching. "Leo. Help Piper," she instructed desperately, "Get her out of here!"

"Yes Leo, by all means," Dr. Alaster agreed.

"It's okay," Leo soothed as he pushed Piper, slowly down the path. "Piper, honey, just say the words and everything will be alright," he promised her coming to a halt away from her sisters.

Dr. Alaster bent down next to Piper's left ear, Leo on the other side.

Piper drew in a shaky breath and began to chant. "From whence they came, return them now."

"Piper don't!" Phoebe yelled desperately and she paused, "Please, Piper." she begged.

"Vanish the words, vanish our powers," Piper continued hoarsely.

"Don't trust them, Piper!" Paige yelled fighting to reach her sister, "They're trying to steal our powers!" she cried loudly.

Piper groaned, hands holding her head, as she struggled with who to believe.

"Don't listen to them," Dr. Alaster told her gently.

"They're still delusional," Leo added.

"But you're not," Dr. Alaster continued.

"Not anymore," Leo whispered.

"Just three more times, and you'll set yourself free," Dr. Alaster promised her.

Underworld

"Say the spell Piper," the Source encouraged gently. "You know you want too."

Leo peeked around a pillar, his eyes falling on Cole's unconscious body "Come, on Cole. Wake up!" he begged.

Faith's Delusion – Faith's Apartment

Faith stood in front of the window, as Buffy ran up and jumped of the bed diving into her. They fell through the window and out onto the roof of the apartment below. Faith lay on her back, groaning in pain. She felt Buffy grab her wrist and slam a handcuff on it.

Faith pulled savagely away but the other cuff was already on Buffy's wrist. "Stick around," Buffy said as Faith punched her. Buffy started to get the upper hand as she continued to fight Faith. "What's the matter? All that killing and you're afraid to die?"

The look in Faith's eyes said she was as she strained at the cuff and then it snapped. She and Buffy rolled away from each other. Faith grabbed a makeshift weapon as Buffy draws Faith's dagger.

"That's mine," Faith snarled.

"You're about to," Buffy started as something came over her.

As Faith watched Buffy flickered and then disappeared the dagger falling to the ground the handcuff empty of Buffy's wrist.

"Faith!"

Faith spun at the sound of Buffy's voice, she scooped up the dagger and lunged at Buffy. Buffy just stood there as Faith brought the knife to the blonde Slayer's throat.

"Baby?" Buffy said. "What are you doing?" And in that instance Buffy was thrown into a premonition. But this premonition unlike others was shared with Faith.

"Hello, Buffy, Faith."

Buffy and Faith turned and saw a young woman approaching them.

"Who are you?" Faith asked.

"I am Prudence," Prudence answered as she smiled at her mothers. "Your daughter. The premonition you two are sharing has projected you both astrally about twenty years into your future. I am proof that the Source does not win. That in time with Aunt Piper, Aunt Phoebe and Aunt Paige's help. You will be free of him forever. You must reject what he is doing to you now, Mama Faith. He is trying to turn you evil."

"How, how do I do that? Assuming this isn't all in my head," Faith told Prudence.

"Oh, it's in your head," Prudence chuckled. "But you already know how. You already started down that path. The path that started with you and Mama Buffy that leads to me, the Charmed Slayer. Now before you go back, I have a message for Aunt Piper. Tell her not to give up that she will have that normal life she so craves. That she will eventually have that daughter she foresaw. In fact, tell her that I'm an apprentice chef working in her restaurant."

Buffy and Faith blinked as they came out of the premonition looking at each other.

"Babe?" Faith said looking in her wife's eyes. Searching for what she was sure was true.

"Yes, my love," Buffy said as she pulled Faith into her arms and kissed her passionately. "You need to wake up. Then call for me."

Underworld

Leo sighed and orbed out reappearing in between the two bounty hunters. "How you doing?" he asked before orbing out once more just as the tallest sent a bolt of electricity his way, striking his partner instead, vanquishing him.

Leo reappeared behind the remaining bounty hunter tapped his shoulder then connected his fist with the demon's jaw sending him down.

Leo ran over to Cole and shook him hard, "Cole, hurry up. Wake up!"

At that moment Faith's eyes blinked open and she slowly sat up. "Buffy!" she called out.

The Oracle returned her attention to the Source. "Finish this. You're in danger!"

Cole jerked awake just in time to vanquish the remaining bounty hunter before he killed Leo.

Leo turned to his wife. "Piper."

"No!" The Oracle seethed stepping in the way. Leo pushed her aside and ran to his wife only to be thrown across the chamber by a protective shield surrounding the Source.

Buffy appeared in a swirl of fiery flames next to Faith.

Cole sent energy ball after energy ball at the force-field. At that same time Faith sent fireball after fireball at the force-field while Buffy sent telekinetic blast after telekinetic blast. Their combined attacks were weakening the force-field as much as possible.

Piper's Delusion - Halliwell Hospital

"Vanish our powers," Piper concluded the spell for the third time.

"One last time," Dr. Alaster smirked.

Phoebe threw her head back, striking her orderly on the nose, dropping to the ground and tripping him. "Now!" she yelled at Paige who jerked her head to the left allowing Phoebe to send the other orderly flying backwards.

Phoebe ran over to Dr. Alaster and Dr. Wyatt. She sent a roundhouse kick to Dr. Leo's head, knocking him to the ground and out cold before turning to Dr. Alaster. "I told you, you were too late," he informed her. She struck him on the jugular, dropping to the floor and tripping him.

Underworld

Faith, Buffy and Cole continued to fight the force-field seeing it weaken with every blast.

"Break the connection or they'll kill you!" the Oracle cried as the Source remained locked in Piper's mind.

Finally, they broke through and struck the Source sending him flying away from Piper and effectively severing their connection.

The Source staggered to his feet, black blood pouring from a large wound in his stomach. He screamed in pain morphing back into his true hooded self. He glanced at Faith who smirked slowly forming an extremely large fireball that was growing by the second.

"No!" the Oracle exclaimed as Faith released her fireball at the same time Cole released an energy ball in the direction of the already weakened Source. She ran out in front of them, taking the hit instead. She screamed in pain as she burst into flames and disappeared. The Source flaming out seconds later.

Faith and Leo ran to Piper's side. "Can you take me in with you?" she asked as Leo nodded taking her hand. They placed their free hands on either side of her head just like the Source had but instead a healing glow emanated from them as he projected them into Piper's mind.

Piper's Delusion - Halliwell Hospital

Suddenly Dr. Alaster and Dr, Leo disappear. Phoebe and Paige rans over to Piper.

"Piper?" Phoebe called gently, "Look at me," She ordered but Piper shook her head. "Piper, please, don't do this. Our magic is a gift don't throw it away." she begged.

"From whence they came, return them now," Piper continued as Leo and Faith appeared behind them.

"Piper," Leo said as he ran to his wife. "Listen to your sisters," he guided gently. "Trust them. Trust me. Don't relinquish your powers," he whispered.

"Trust me too, Aunt Piper," Faith said as she knelt down next to her aunt and took Piper's hand in her own. "I got this wonderful gift, Aunt Piper. I know our future. Well part of it anyways. We defeat the Source, for good. You know how I know that?"

"How?" Piper wondered.

"When Buffy entered my mind just like Aunt Piper and Aunt Paige have done with you. She and I had a shared premonition. In that premonition Buffy and I met our daughter. She told us we defeat him with yours, Aunt Phoebe and Aunt Piper's help," Faith explained to her aunt as Leo laid his hand over Piper's head wound and healed it. "And she gave me a message to give to you. She said don't give up, that you will get that normal life you want. And that she becomes an apprentice chef in your restaurant."

Piper frowned, narrowing her eyes at all of them. She pointed at Leo, "Are you really my husband?" she asked.

Leo chuckled, smiling widely, "Yes." He assured her.

Piper turned to her sisters, "And that would make you two...really my sisters?" she asked them and they nodded.

"Whether you like it or not." Phoebe replied smacking her leg with a grin.

Piper nodded as she turned to her niece. "And you really are my niece?" she asked.

"You better believe it, Aunt Piper," Faith said as she smiled at her aunt. "And what I just said was all true. No idea how I shared a premonition with Buffy."

"Likely she had it while in your mind and because your minds were linked," Leo interjected.

Faith nodded. "That makes sense," she said as she stood up and pulled Piper to her feet. "But that means."

"That demon...is gone?" Piper asked unsure.

Faith nodded. "For now." She smiled. "Cole, Buffy and I hurt him pretty badly."

"Thank god!" Piper cried. "Because that guy was freaking me out."

"What do you say we click our heels and get out of this crazy joint?" Paige proposed cheerily. "No offense," she added quickly with a grimace.

"That's okay," Piper assured with a nod. "My life has always been a little...crazy," she pointed out as the butterflies floated past.

"Hasn't all of ours been," Faith chuckled. "Oh and Aunt Piper, Prudence said that you will eventually have your daughter."

"Thank you." Piper whispered as she threw her arms around Faith's neck. "For telling me about the glimpse. It's nice to know."

"Anytime," Faith whispered back hugging her tight.

"I love you," Piper told her firmly.

Faith smiled, "I love you too, Aunt Piper," she replied just as firmly.

Piper smirked. "I know."

Halliwell Manor

Piper ran down the stairs and around the bottom landing of the large Victorian Manor she, her sisters and her nieces called home with the largest smile on her face.

Phoebe, Paige, Buffy, Faith, Leo and Cole came down the stairs as she came to a stop in the foyer.

"Is something wrong?" Phoebe asked frowning.

"No." Piper smiled. "Nothing's wrong," she explained still smiling, "Everything is just right," she assured them happily. She looked at Faith. "Isn't it?"

Faith looked around and then nodded in agreement. "Yes," she said happy to be home where she belonged.

"Except from my chair," Paige added with a fake smile.

Phoebe grunted elbowing her baby sister.

Piper chuckled nervously. "Yeah...which I'll uh...actually pay to replace," she informed Paige with a nod.

"Oh god no!" Paige cried shaking her head. "It's not your fault. Or...is it?" she asked suspiciously.

"Actually, yeah..." Piper admitted, "...it was." She cringed and Paige gawked. "I was just, upset there was yet another demon in our house and, and in our lives and I know I should stop fighting it, and just accept it, but—"

"Eh!" Paige interrupted. "It wasn't my favorite chair anyway." She shrugged and laughed. "Besides...it's actually kind of good to know that I'm not the only one who struggles with the idea of being a witch."

"No, believe me, you are in good company," Phoebe assured her as she wrapped Paige in a loving hug.

"Very good company," Faith added as she threw an arm around Buffy's shoulders.

"Well..." Leo spoke up from the stairs walking over to Piper.

Phoebe released Paige and they both turned to look at him.

"...the good news is you won't have to deal with the Source anytime soon, because Cole, Faith and Buffy hurt him pretty bad," Leo praised walking over to his wife.

"Not bad enough, though," Cole countered stopping next to Phoebe. "He'll be back."

"That's okay," Buffy said. "Because if mine and Faith's shared premonition is any indication, you three with mine and Faith's help will vanquish him for good."

"That's good," Phoebe said sliding up to Cole. "But he's gone for now." She stroked his chest and pressing her body into his seductively. "First time in a long time?" she added and Paige turned away, eyes wide in disgust. "I think we should take advantage of that."

"Why, Miss Halliwell, are you trying to seduce me?" Cole retorted smirking back and pulling Phoebe against him.

"Always." Phoebe whispered.

"Ew!" Piper cringed leaning into Leo who laughed loudly.

Buffy whispered in Faith's ear as Phoebe and Cole disappeared up the stairs to their room. She kissed Faith before scooping her wife into her arms, bridal style. Then they disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames.

"Okay!" Paige smiled. "I'm just going to…go to the store and get some milk or…something." She shrugged, nodded then headed for the kitchen.

Piper sighed heavily as she found herself alone with her husband.

"You sure you're okay?" Leo asked quietly, holding her close.

Piper nodded. "Yeah. You know I-I'm never going to stop wanting a normal life," she told him seriously. "But you know what? I think that's the one thing that actually keeps me sane," she answered honestly.

"Well..." Leo turned her to face him. "You deserve a normal life, Piper. We both do," he added with a smile that quickly turned into a grin. "And maybe we'll get that when we prove Buffy and Faith's shared premonition true and vanquish the Source once and for all."

Piper nodded. "Which means someday I will have a baby shower of my own." She grinned and Leo's eyes widened. "What do you think?" she asked hesitantly.

Leo grinned widely. "Well in that case..." he replied scooping her into his arms, "...we need to practice a little."

"Oh! Leo." Piper smirked as they disappeared in a swirl of blue and white orbs.