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

20. Chapter 19: Black as Day

Chapter 19: Black as Day

September 24, 2001 – Monday

Summers Home

"Joyce," Faith started. She and Buffy had finally returned for another practice session. Buffy had been insistent that they didn't need it if Faith still harbored fears about her future. Which Faith had said that thanks to their shared premonition that her fears had finally been squashed. In fact, in the nearly two weeks since Faith hadn't had another nightmare about becoming the Queen of the Underworld. "Before Buffy has her turn taking care of me, I would like to try again."

"Are you sure, Faith?" Joyce asked.

"I'm sure, Joyce," Faith said. "I need to learn all of this if Buffy and I are going to be parents. Besides it wouldn't be fair to Buffy if she is the only one taking care of our daughter."

Joyce nodded as she smiled as she turned to her daughter. "Buffy, I want you to stand over there," she instructed her daughter motioning to a spot away from the furniture, "And it's a good thing you had some coffee this morning."

"It's going to go right through me isn't it," Buffy said as she moved to the center of the room.

"Yes," Joyce answered with a chuckle. "After all you did have three cups this morning."

"Joyce," Faith interjected as she looked at her mother-in-law. "When it's my turn I was wondering if you would video tape me."

"May I ask why, Faith?" Joyce asked.

"We were looking through some photo albums that Mrs. Halliwell had hidden when Faith was taken. So, we know there were pictures," Buffy answered for her wife. "But there are no home videos of when Faith was that little like there are for Prue, Piper and Phoebe."

"Also because of the estrangement between Grams and Gramps. I thought Gramps might like to see a home video of me when I was that young. Plus, I am sure that Grandpa Mark, Grandma Sam and Aunt Lissa would like to see them too."

Joyce nodded. "Sure, Faith," she said. "And if you don't mind, I would love to keep a video for myself."

"I don't mind, Joyce," Faith admitted as she smiled at Joyce.

"I have an idea," Buffy said. "Mom, what do you think if we gave Faith a gift. I was thinking you could use your projection power and turn us into different ages and we can take pictures of the two of us as if we grew up together."

"I think that is a wonderful idea, Buffy," Joyce agreed. "What do you think, Faith?"

"I'd like that," Faith admitted before looking over at Tara. "With one concession. Blondie, since you and Buffy were so close before your sister… What if you joined us?"

Tara smiled as she moved beside Faith and hugged her. "I'd like that."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Faith smiled as she checked Buffy's diaper and found it wet. This time unlike the last time she succeeded in wiping her wife's behind and changing the diaper.

"Great job, Faith," Joyce said happily as she waved her hand at her daughter and Buffy returned to normal.

"Thanks, Joyce. I guess it's my turn. Can you put me in a purple onesie?" Faith asked.

Joyce looked at Faith for a moment. "Is purple your favorite color?"

Faith nodded. "Yep, to me red is darkness and blue is light. They mix well together and balance each other and I'm not really into wearing pink."

"She's not," Buffy said remembering the outfit Faith had worn when she and Faith had been turned into four-year-old children.

"Are you into Star Wars?" Tara wondered.

Faith chuckled. "Don't tell anyone, Blondie. But I'm a science fiction nerd." She glanced briefly at Buffy. "I like to portray the tough girl, so I try to hide it."

"Faith, baby," Buffy said as she moved to her wife. "You don't have to hide anything from me."

"I know, Babe," Faith said as she leaned over and kissed her wife.

"And, baby," Buffy said. "No matter what happened in the past with the Source and the Lehanes. You are not dark or evil. You don't have be a tough girl."

Faith sighed. "Your Great Aunt Zelda seems to think so," she told her wife.

"I know what Great Aunt Zelda thinks," Buffy said as she wrapped an arm around Faith. "And she is wrong."

"You know I think Penny and Aunt Zelda should talk," Joyce said.

"Your right," Tara agreed.

"Now, Faith, it is your turn," Joyce said as she smiled at her daughter-in-law. She waved her hand and Faith became a baby dressed just as Faith requested in a purple onesie.

'Thank you,' Faith telepathically projected.

Buffy tried to change Faith but failed miserably. Unlike Faith who had memories to pull on from when Faith was a baby, she didn't have that so she didn't know what to do.

"Mom," Buffy cried.

"Buffy, honey, you just need more practice," Joyce told her daughter. "You will get it; I know you will. When I pregnant with you and Sabrina was pregnant with Celia and Tara. We didn't have this, there was no classes to teach us. We had to learn the hard way." At that moment Faith began to cry. "Buffy, try to find out why Faith is crying."

Buffy checked Faith's diaper and found it dry. "That's not it."

"And she shouldn't be hungry," Joyce said. "Faith, what's wrong?"

'Buffy is sad, which is making me sad,' Faith thought. She looked up into her wife's eyes from the changing table. 'You can do this, babe. You just need to believe, just like I believe in you.'

After Faith's pep talk Buffy started getting confidence in herself, knowing that she and Faith were in this together helped.

"See, Buffy, I knew you could do it you just needed a little encouragement," Joyce said as she smiled at her daughter just as Faith cried.

"She's wet," Buffy said after checking Faith's diaper. "I know you said every baby is different, mom, so Faith and I will have to figure that out in the future. But this is my wife and I…"

"I understand," Joyce said. "Faith, what diapers were used when you were this age?"

'Grams and mom used disposable ones,' Faith thought. 'The bitch used both. Though, babe, please no itching powder.'

"I would never use itching powder on you or our daughter or any child," Buffy told her wife. "Do you want to stop?"

'No, I can do it,' Faith told her. 'Keep going.'

Buffy leaned down and kissed Faith's forehead before she proceeded to change her wife's diaper.

"Well done," Joyce said as she waved her hand and Faith returned to normal. "While there is always more to learn. Because as I said each baby is different. Your daughter will be different. But you both know the basics now."

The Bronze

Buffy and Faith were relaxing with Willow and Xander after a hard day of lectures and an evening patrol. On the stage the headline band for the night was just winding up their last song. Oz came up as Dingoes Ate My Baby picked up their equipment and prepared to depart. "Ready to load up and go?" he asked his girlfriend.

Willow finished her drink, stood up, and paid a temporary farewell to her friends then followed Oz outside. "I'm going to miss you."

Oz turned from packing up the truck to take her in his arms. "Me too. Take care."

"And you."

"Willow, hi," a voice said then.

Willow turned around in surprise. "Harmony, hey. I haven't seen you since -"

"Since graduation. Big snake, huh?"

"Yeah. So, how was your summer vacation?"

"Well I was going to go to France. But I didn't. I was dying to see the stores."

"Yeah, and the museums," Willow added.

"Museums?" Harmony queried.

"Yeah, I heard they have them. You know, just a rumor you pick up on the streets."

Harmony laughed. "You were always so funny, Willow. You haven't changed a bit."

"No, you neither."

Harmony suddenly smiled. "Oh, maybe a little," then the fangs and forehead ridges appeared and she grabbed Willow's neck.

Barely a second later, Oz brandished a mic stand at the ex-Cordette and a cross, causing the vampire to retreat.

"Back off, Harmony," Willow remarked, holding a hand over the bite wound in her neck.

Harmony appeared relatively nonplussed. "Okay, fine. Hide behind your boyfriend. But I have a boyfriend too. And he's going to be mad that you were mean to me."

Summers Home

"What is it? What happened?" Buffy asked as she opened the door to allow Willow and Oz in. She and Faith had been preparing to flame home when Willow had called and asked her to wait.

"Remember Harmony?" Oz replied.

"She's back from her summer vacation," Willow added. "And she's a little bit different."

"She's taken to a new diet," Oz finished.

"Harmony. A vampire?" Buffy shook her head, but not in disbelief. "She must be dying without a reflection."

"She just made me so mad. 'My boyfriend's going to beat you up.'"

"'My boyfriend?'" Echoed Faith, she had never met the ex-Cordette. But she had heard stories about her from Buffy.

"Well, if you believe her," Willow said. "She always lied about stuff like that. 'Oh, he goes to another school. You wouldn't know him.'"

"Well," Oz began, slightly calmer now. "Devon dated her for a while, but she was too flaky for him. Which, stop and marvel at the concept."

"Guy dating Harmony dead," Buffy mused. "Must be like, the most tolerant guy in the world."

September 25, 2001 – Tuesday

Tunnel under Sunnydale

"And it's definitely the crypt, right?" Spike asked the other vampire. "I'm not keen on tunneling into someone's septic tank."

The other vampire pointed things out on his print-out. "It's the crypt. The radar soundings are
clear. The walls are thinnest here, at the bottom. You have to tunnel from underneath. More work, but I'm sure—"

Lightning fast, Spike clamped his hand around the vampire's throat. The vampire's eyes watered with fear and pain. "Better be more than sure, mate, cuz I'd hate to have to hurt you," Spike told him. "No. Wait. Hate's too strong a word."

"I…swear…I…" the vampire said, obviously terrified.

Harmony walked up behind Spike, linking her arms around his stomach and hooking her chin over his shoulder. "How's my little blondie-bear?" she asked.

Spike glanced at Harmony obviously irritated and embarrassed at her. "Harm? does this look like a good time to talk?"

"Are you going to kill Willow today?" Harmony asked. "Because I want you to say 'this is for
messing with my sweet girl,' then you know..." She finished her though as she mimed biting Spike's neck a long with making a slurping noise.

Spike released the vampire, who fell back gasping. He turned on her as he detached herself from her embrace. "Nobody knows I'm here. Now I'm not killing the Slayer's best friend, as that would tend to announce my presence. And we're too bloody close..."

"You almost killed her last year, suddenly it's a big deal..." Harmony reminded him.

"Sod off, eat something. I've got work to do," Spike said as he went back to consulting with the other vampire again.

Harmony wandered to the edge of the tunnel, where a young man, barely conscious, was chained to the wall. "This one tastes funny. Take me out to eat!"

"He's perfectly fresh," Spike told her.

"I think I was in a math class with him last year and I didn't like him much then either," she whined.

"Harm..." Spike groaned.

"I want to go to a party!" Harmony told him.

Spike stormed over to Harmony and grabbed her, shoving her up against the side of the tunnel.

"Ooh. Right here, baby? In front of Brian?" Harmony asked with a wave at the other vampire.

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Spike asked.

"Maybe I would... after a party," Harmony said, seductively.

"Tonight. I'll take you somewhere nice," Spike told her.

Halliwell Manor

"A demon who likes to kill witches well..." Paige pursed her lips as she stood at the podium gazing down at the Book of Shadows, "...that narrows it down to about every page in the book."

Piper rolled her eyes. "We have one clue; we know he likes to use an athame," she informed her sister from behind.

Paige frowned. "How does that help?" she asked sardonically.

"Well..." Piper turned to her. "It means he has hands," she quipped with a smirk and Paige rolled her eyes trying not to laugh. She grinned. "Keep flipping," she instructed walking out from behind the podium.

Paige looked up, following Piper with her eyes. "So…I hear you and Leo are thinking about having a baby," she stated bluntly a smile tugging at her lips.

Piper froze momentarily then spun round to face her. "Where did you hear that from?" she interrogated.

Paige shrugged. "From Phoebe," she replied nonchalantly and Piper sighed.

"Of course, it was Phoebe," Piper muttered to herself darkly.

Paige's eyes widened. "Oh! Did I just break some sort of sister confidentiality clause?" she queried sheepishly.

Piper shook her head, "No, you didn't." She assured her folding her arms across her chest, "And no, we aren't."

"Really?" Paige asked looking surprised, "Don't you want to?" she questioned and Piper smirked. "Not to be nosy, but if I'm going to be an Aunt again and all..." she trailed off with a pointed look.

Piper shook her head in amusement, "You're not going to be an Aunt again, all right," she corrected. "Not till Buffy and Faith have theirs. Right now, any more babies other than theirs would be too risky," she added looking to the book pointedly. "One baby as is will be in constant danger around us. I don't know in how much more danger two might be."

"What does Leo think?" Paige asked with narrowed eyes, one hand on her hip.

"Leo thinks that there's enough magic around here, we'd be able to protect both ours and Faith and Buffy's," Piper answered both looking and sounding extremely unconvinced.

Paige tilted her head. "Maybe he's right." She shrugged.

"Maybe he's not," Piper countered then frowned. "Keep flipping."

Paige rolled her eyes. "I'm flipping," she promised turning a few pages for effect before addressing her older sister again. "You know, it's not like having a baby isn't hard enough even without demons attacking but...for what it's worth? There are ways of seeing what it's like before you actually have one," she informed her.

"I know there are," Piper chuckled. "Or have you forgotten that Faith and Buffy have been getting parenting lessons from Joyce in preparation for the day they have their daughter?"

"Well that isn't the only way," Paige interjected.

Piper laughed. "Mm-hm, great!" the sarcastic enthusiasm was apparent. "Well, the next time you pass a baby-rental, pick up one for Leo," she joked.

Paige gazed out thoughtfully. "Maybe I will," she answered and Piper chuckled.

"Someone talking about us?" Faith asked as she and Buffy walked into the attic, stopping just shy of the two sisters.

"In a roundabout way, yes," Paige answered. "Piper thinks that your baby, when you have her, would be in constant danger around us. So much so that she thinks that she needs to put off having one herself."

"Well technically speaking she's right," Faith admitted to her youngest aunt. She then turned and looked at her eldest aunt. "But I have to agree with Uncle Leo also, that there is enough magic in this house to protect both ours and yours, Aunt Piper."

"Ah!" Piper shrieked, as Leo orbed in, startled by his sudden appearance.

"So, did you find anything out?" Leo asked eagerly.

"Uh…yeah," Piper answered as Paige began flipping again, Faith and Buffy's attention on the couple. "I scryed for the location of the demon, using the slime from the last victim and Phoebe and Cole are checking it out," she spouted off professionally.

"Alright." Leo nodded. "Well, I hope that it pans out because with two dead witches, they're pretty concerned up there," he told them glancing towards the heavens.

"Yeah, well we're pretty concerned down here," Piper told him.

"Hey? I think I got something." Paige said, drawing their eyes to her. "Upper-level demon who likes to kill witches using an athame, sometimes energy balls," she read, looking at the page and missing the looks that Piper, Faith and Buffy gave each other. "His name..." she continued, "...is Belthazor," she concluded.

"Yeah," Buffy said. "It's not him," she informed her aunt matter-of-factly.

Paige frowned. "Why not?" she questioned feeling out of the loop.

Buffy, Faith, Piper and Leo exchanged uneasy looks. "Uh...well, because that's Cole in his demonic form," he informed Paige with a kind smile.

"You knew he was half demon," Piper added with a shrug.

"Yeah." Paige nodded staring at the picture of Belthazor. "But I didn't know he could turn into that," she replied as the phone blared loudly throughout the room.

Piper reached over and snatched it up. "Hello?" she greeted.

"We're at Battery and Clay, but there's no sign of any demons." Phoebe's voice informed from the other end on the line.

Piper frowned. "Okay, I'll scry for him again," she answered. "Talk to Paige," she instructed quickly passing the phone back to her younger sister.

Buffy and Faith looked at Piper questioningly.

"Phoebe's says he's not there," Piper informed her nieces kneeling down at the table, picking up the crystal and dangling it over the map of San Francisco.

"Hi, Phoebe," Paige greeted stiffly. "How's Cole?" she asked. "Morphed into any demons lately?"

"What?" came Phoebe's confused reply.

Faith gave Paige a look as she snatched the phone away. "Don't, Aunt Paige," she ordered before turning her attention to the phone. "Aunt Piper's almost got him, Aunt Phoebe," she said brightly. "Hold on."

"Battery and Clay," Piper muttered as the crystal dropped and she turned to Faith. "He's still there."

Faith nodded. "He's still there, Aunt Phoebe," she informed her.

"Piper says he's still here somewhere," Phoebe replied and Faith assumed she was addressing Cole.

The line went quiet until Phoebe screamed.

Faith flinched, almost dropping the phone in surprise. "Aunt Phoebe!" she barked sharply into the receiver but got no reply. "Aunt Phoebe!" she tried again but all she could hear was screaming.

Battery and Clay Warehouse

Phoebe giggled loudly as her boyfriend tickled her sides gently. "Cole, stop!" she cried wriggling free. "We're working," she reminded him with a smirk.

Cole grinned. "So?" he asked yanking her toward him and planting his lips firmly onto hers.

Phoebe sighed happily breaking the kiss before it got heavy.

"No." She pointed one finger at him. "Stop." She glanced around the warehouse. "I can't see him. Can you see him?" she asked turning back to Cole who shook his head, eyes glued to her.

Phoebe rolled her eyes. "You have to actually look." She giggled. "I'm calling home," she announced pulling out her cell phone and hitting speed dial 1.

"Hello?" Piper's voice answered from down the line.

Phoebe glanced around again quickly as she replied. "We're at Battery and Clay but there's not sign of any demons."

"Okay. I'll scry for him again," Piper's voice informed her. "Talk to Paige."

"Hi, Phoebe," came Paige's less than cheery greeting. "How's Cole? Morphed into any demons lately?"

Phoebe frowned in confusion, casting a sideways glance at Cole. "What?" she asked voicing her confusion.

"Aunt Piper's almost got him, Aunt Phoebe." The voice of her niece informed her cheerily. "Hold on."

Phoebe frowned but shook it off as Faith's voice addressed her again.

"He's still there, Aunt Phoebe." Faith told her and Phoebe frowned scanning the building.

Phoebe turned to Cole. "Piper says he's still here somewhere," she informed her boyfriend who frowned neither one of them noticing the demon dropping to the floor behind him. Nor did they notice him release his extremely strong slime at Phoebe, wrapping it around her leg and pulling.

Phoebe screamed as she was lifted into the air, dropping the cell phone to the ground and grabbing onto Cole.

"Hold on!" Cole ordered through clenched teeth as he fought to keep a hold on her.

"No! I can't!" Phoebe replied panicked as her hands slipped from his arms to grip his hands.

The couple locked eyes and Phoebe nodded once.

Cole readjusted himself and counted down. "Three...two...one!" he cried and she let go of his right hand gripping his left with both instead and Cole threw an energy ball at the demon who exploded, covering them in green goo and sending them soaring forwards, landing on a pile of old clothes.

"We have to stop meeting like this." Phoebe rasped out through her laughter.

Cole nodded. "Marry me." He smiled.

Phoebe stilled, her body going rigid and her laughter ceasing. "What?"

Halliwell Manor

"Don't you think we should talk about this?" Cole asked as he stormed through the front doors of Halliwell Manor.

"Talk about what?" Phoebe asked innocently from in front of him as she maneuvered herself carefully making sure not to get demon blood everywhere.

"Wow!" Piper cried as she reached the bottom step, Buffy and Faith behind her. "Looks like you two got a juicy one," she commented and Faith sniggered.

"Yeah," Phoebe agreed. "But unfortunately, not the one who kills witches."

"How do you know?" Faith asked.

Phoebe gestured to Cole who took a step forward. "Because upper-level demons have a human form and they bleed red not green," he explained, addressing Piper, Buffy and Faith.

"Right," Buffy nodded smiling at Faith.

"Where are you going?" Cole asked Phoebe as she headed for the stairs.

"I'm going up..." she replied stopping next to Piper who took a step back, "...to take a shower first, and then I'm going to check out the Book of Shadows. I want to ID this demon that I'm..." she glanced down at her clothes as did Piper, Faith and Buffy, "...wearing, try to find some answers," she concluded turning and continuing her climb.

"Speaking of unanswered questions—" Cole called after her but Phoebe spun round cutting him off.

"There is a demon on the loose, Cole," Phoebe reminded him angrily. "We don't have time for this."

"Shouldn't we make time for it?" Cole retorted.

"No!" Phoebe snapped. "Not now we shouldn't."

Buffy, Faith and Piper exchanged suspicious looks. "What are you guys talking about?" Piper asked, her eyes narrowing at the couple.

"Nothing," Phoebe answered quickly.

Cole shrugged. "Nothing," he repeated.

"Uh-huh," Faith chirped not buying a word.

"Please, Cole," Phoebe begged. "Let's just focus on vanquishing the demon," she suggested giving him a stern look when he failed to agree instantly.

"Fine," Cole relented unhappily. "I'll uh…go see what I can, find out." He forced a smile then shimmered out.

Buffy, Faith and Piper turned to Phoebe as she sighed. "Honey, did you two have a fight?" Piper asked sweetly.

"No he just…never mind," Phoebe muttered turning away and disappearing upstairs in much need of a hot shower.

"Is it just or me who found that weird?" Buffy asked.

"Not just you," Faith replied.

Cannon Theater

A very large black demon with red design shimmered in after a terrified woman, trapping her in a dead end. "Witch."

The woman turned to him and screamed loudly.

The demon sprang forward, covering her mouth with his hand to silence her and pushed her back against a dumpster.

The demon pulled out an athame and used it to lift her necklace: three crescent-shaped moons. "You're next," he growled in her ear before plunging the athame into her stomach, muffling her whimpers with his hand. He yanked it out and let her limp, dead body slip to the ground before sheathing his weapon and morphing into his human form.

The demon then proceeded to call 911 from a nearby payphone. "Yes, I'd like to report a terrible murder," he spoke into the receiver faking fear and disgust. "A beautiful young woman in the alley behind the Cannon Theatre."

"Hey? You going to be long?" an innocent bystander asked from his left. "What are you deaf? I need to use the phone," he stressed when the demon failed to answer.

The demon turned to him. "Um...hold on," he said into the phone placing it down then sending an energy ball at the innocent. It sent him flipping backward before exploding against the far wall, leaving a scorch mark. He picked up the phone again. "Hurry, please," he continued like nothing happened. "Before anyone else gets hurt," he ended the call there and shimmered out.

Halliwell Manor

"Okay," Phoebe said loudly, fresh and demon blood free, as she stood by the Book of Shadows. "So, the demon that Cole and I nailed is a Scavenger demon," she informed Piper, Faith and Buffy who were standing in front of her. "Apparently, he feed on the remains of other demons' victims," she read aloud and shuddered. "Nice huh?"

"Lovely," Piper agreed sarcastically.

"That explains why Aunt Piper scryed for him accidentally," Faith voiced, crossing her arms tightly.

Buffy, Faith and Piper exchanged a quick glance before they each took a step forward.

Phoebe looked up from the book with wide eyes. "Uh-oh," she whispered.

"Um..." Piper glanced quickly at Faith and Buffy, "...are you going to tell us what happened out there?"

Phoebe shrugged looking back at the book. "Well, there's not much to tell. I mean, the demon jumped in behind us and we—"

Faith placed her hands on the book. "That's not what Aunt Piper meant," she said pointedly and Phoebe sighed.

"Yeah, what happened between you and Cole?" Buffy rephrased.

"Oh," Phoebe nodded closing over the book. "Yeah, that. Um...I'm not exactly sure," she admitted then shrugged. "He asked me to marry him," she revealed nonchalantly turning away.

Piper froze and blinked once as she, Faith and Buffy all said, "What?"

Piper blinked again. "Wh—He, he did what?—He did?"

"More or less," Phoebe answered.

"What, what did you say?" Piper continued to question while Faith and Buffy remained silent and still.

"I didn't know what to say," Phoebe replied turning back to her older sister and her nieces looking lost and confused. "I was too surprised. I mean, all my power of premonition and I never saw that one coming."

Piper shook her head. "I don't think a witch is allowed to marry a demon," she stated turning to Faith and Buffy. "Are witches allowed to marry demons?" she asked and Faith shrugged.

"You know as well as I that love doesn't quite work that way, Piper," Buffy said. "Before Faith and I started our relationship I had been dating Angel, who's a souled vampire remember? And you married our Whitelighter."

Piper glared at Buffy and jabbed her side. "Not funny!"

"Wasn't meant to be," Buffy countered.

"Phoebe, honey?" Piper said turning her attention back to her sister. "We can't have a demon in the family."

Phoebe rolled her eyes. "That is the least of my concerns right now," she sighed moving to perch on the higher-level floor that was almost like a step.

Piper followed her sister with her eyes. "Phoebe, don't kid yourself. If you decide to go through with this, it, it's going to be a source of huge concerns, especially for them." She pointed to the ceiling.

Faith elbowed her aunt sharply. "I think their feelings about this don't really matter, Aunt Piper," she stressed with a glare as she and Buffy moved to sit next to Phoebe.

Piper remained standing above them.

Phoebe nodded, "Exactly. I have to be concerned with my own feelings right now," she agreed pointing to herself.

Piper nodded. "Sorry I just…I'm worried," she admitted lovingly kneeling down in front of Phoebe.

"Me too," Faith and Buffy piped up from either side of Phoebe.

Phoebe sighed. "I love Cole," she said looking between her sister and two nieces, "You all know I do but...demon stuff aside, I just, never thought of myself as the marrying type," she began to explain, trying to make sense of her feelings, by talking to the most important and prominent people in her life. "You know, it's not something I fantasized about, ever."

"Do you think I ever did, Aunt Phoebe," Faith said. "I used to feel just like that before I fell head over heels in love with Buffy. And now look at me." She smiled at her aunt. "So, what are you going to tell him?" she wondered.

"I don't know," Phoebe huffed.

"Well..." Piper grinned, "You have to tell him something," she pointed out the obvious. "Because a question like that just doesn't go away by itself."

Phoebe pouted. "Are you sure?" she asked grabbing Piper's hands.

Piper nodded with a smile. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure," she replied with a giggle.

Phoebe bit her lip, turning her head to Faith who nodded too, throwing an arm around Phoebe's shoulders. She sighed and leaned into niece, resting her head on Faith's shoulder but keeping a tight hold on Piper's hands. She felt Buffy wrap an arm around her waist and smiled at the blonde Slayer in thanks. Even though Buffy was only her niece through Buffy's marriage to Faith. She like Piper had come to love her niece's wife just like Buffy had come to love them.

"So, when are you two making Piper, Paige and I great aunts?" Phoebe asked quietly and Faith and Buffy shrugged. "Need a distraction," she added bringing out 'baby Phoebe.'

"We haven't talked about it," Faith admitted.

"I think Faith and I agree that the question is how," Buffy added. "Each avenue costs money. Adoption, surrogacy, artificial insemination. Money that two college age women just don't have."

"Then there is the question of which of us is getting pregnant," Faith concluded. "Personally, I've debated asking Buffy if she would rather hold off till after the Source is vanquished."

"Why?" Phoebe wondered.

"While I have gotten over me, Buffy and our daughter being turned to evil," Faith said. "And while yes, I do agree with Leo about there being enough magic in this house to protect not only Aunt Piper's baby, when she has one, but ours as well. I still don't want to risk it either."

"It's up to you, Faith," Buffy said as she reached across Phoebe and patted her wife's knee. "Even if we hold off. We should at least look at our options so when we are ready…"

"She's right, Faith," Piper agreed. "It doesn't hurt to have your options lined out for when you are ready."

Cole shimmered in at that moment. "Hey," he greeted Phoebe nervously.

Phoebe looked over. "Hey," she replied.

Piper looked between Cole and Phoebe before grabbing Buffy and Faith and yanking them to their feet. "We'll...be downstairs," she informed them with a nod and the three of them scurried out of the attic shooting Cole knowing looks as they passed.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"We'll meet you downstairs, Piper," Buffy said when they reached the second floor. "I need to talk to my wife for a moment."

"Okay," Piper said as she headed on down the stairs.

Buffy led Faith into their room and she shut the door behind them. "Faith, when it comes to our daughter. I know there is obstacles we will have to overcome. Such as how we're going to have our daughter. I don't want to wait. You know as well as I that a Slayer's life is short, shoot I've technically already died once, remember?"

"I remember," Faith sighed as she sat on their bed.

"Our lives are too short and I don't want to spend however long we might have left together without meeting our wonderful daughter," Buffy said.

"Okay, Buffy," Faith said as she stood and walked over to her wife. "We'll start looking for a way. We'll still have things to determine though in the meantime. Such as which of us will be the one who is pregnant."

"I think that will be you," Buffy said as Faith looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Remember in our shared premonition. She called herself the Charmed Slayer. Which means she is heir to the Charmed Ones legacy. Not the Spellman legacy."

Summers Home

"Aunt Zelda," Joyce said glaring at her aunt. "Grams. I summoned you both, because I don't know what's going on. But apparently Faith believed that, Aunt Zelda, that you believed she was evil."

"I…" Zelda started.

"I have to remind you of who it is that we natural born witches are to protect," Grams interrupted glaring at her former friend.

"I remember natural born witches must protect, Penny," Zelda said. "The innocent."

"Yes, and what is more innocent than a baby?" Grams asked. "You had the chance to save Faith and you did nothing. How do you justify that?"

"I stand by my decision I couldn't save Faith or Hilda," Zelda answered.

Joyce looked Zelda puzzled. "You told Sabrina and I that Aunt Hilda died the day Sabrina gave birth to Celia and Tara. That she died in a car crash."

"I lied," Zelda admitted. "Hilda was dating a warlock named Drell. We didn't know he was a warlock at the time until he stabbed her with an athame stealing her powers. She called me as she was dying and made me promise to vanquish Drell. She also made me promise not to tell you or Sabrina how she died. When I vanquished Drell, he said the Source had sent him. So, when I heard that demon's name I froze. I had to protect you and Sabrina." She looked at Grams. "I'm sorry I had to sacrifice your great granddaughter to do it."

Halliwell Manor

Silence engulfed Phoebe and Cole as they stood staring at one another. Cole cleared his throat loudly, sticking his hands in his pockets. "I couldn't find out who the demon is," he admitted looking to the floor. "But at least I ruled out the usual suspects."

"Any idea of...who it could be?" Phoebe asked nervously playing with her hands.

Cole shook his head. "No. Just another upper-level demon trying to build a reputation by killing witches, to move up the ladder."

Phoebe remained silent, looking anywhere but at him.

Cole sighed. "Anyway…I guess I'll keep checking," he concluded turning to shimmer out.

"No, Cole, wait!" Phoebe called out, rising to her feet. "We should talk."

Cole turned back to her expectantly. "Alright."

Phoebe exhaled slowly. "It's…just…hard."

Cole's eyes flashed in what Phoebe recognized as hurt as he replied, "It's just me."

Phoebe locked hers with him, sadness shining through as she hesitantly stepped toward him. "Okay. Let me ask you a question," she began slowly, stopping at arm's length. "When you…you know, proposed…did you mean too?" she asked fearing the answer. "Or did it just come out? In, in the heat of the moment?"

Cole opened his mouth looking away. "Well, does that matter?" he questioned turning back to her.

Phoebe's eyes widened. "Well, yeah," she answered with a nod. "It matters to me."

Cole hesitated for a moment before revealing, "It just came out in the heat of the moment."

Phoebe's face fell. "Oh," she whispered in disappointment.

Cole quickly defended himself. "But that, that doesn't mean that once I said it, I wasn't serious," he corrected himself, "Because I was. I still am," he insisted.

"Cole," Phoebe sighed turning away from him and wrapping her arms around herself tightly.

"Phoebe, listen to me," Cole pleaded following her closely. "I know it was crazy to ask and I know it doesn't make any sense because of who we are but…that shouldn't matter." He came up right behind her. "If it did, we never would have fallen in love in the first place," he added in a last desperate attempt to reach her.

Phoebe turned to him and slowly ran her hands up his chest, gripping the lapels of his jacket and closing her eyes.

"I love you, Phoebe," Cole told her, looking directly into her eyes, the conviction and sincerity in his voice impossible to ignore. "And…I don't know where we go from here but…I do know that wherever it is…I want it to be with you."

Phoebe smiled taking his face in her hands and gazing into his eyes.

The moment of understanding was shattered by the shrill cry of a baby from downstairs.

Phoebe looked past Cole to the attic door, Cole twisting his head in the same direction. "Is that a baby crying?" she questioned incredulously before the two hastily exited the attic.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"You told me to rent one," Paige reminded Piper innocently, clutching a mechanical baby to her chest. "So, I did." She shrugged.

Piper looked to Buffy and Faith in disbelief as Paige thrust the doll into her arms. Her eyes bulged. "Well, I didn't think you could!" she exclaimed giving the doll a fearful look.

Buffy chuckled. "Where did you get it?" she asked staring at the doll in amusement.

Paige shrugged, "The clinic."

"Great!" Piper chirped. "Take it back," she snapped thrusting it back into Paige's arms.

"What's going on?" Phoebe asked as she and Cole joined her sisters and nieces in the living room. Cole perched on the arm of one over-stuffed chair while she came to a stop at Faith's side.

"Wait till you hear this," Buffy muttered to Phoebe, whose interest was piqued.

Paige smiled innocently. "Piper and Leo wanted to try out having a baby before actually having one," she explained. "So, I got them a mechanical baby. We use them in parenting classes all the time," she added.

Phoebe grinned. "Wow! It sounds so real," she commented as it continued to cry.

Faith chuckled. "As real as Buffy and I when Joyce regressed us for our parenting lessons.

"And so annoying," Piper added, cringing at the noise and glaring at the doll. "Look, Paige, I appreciate the thought but we are on a demon hunt. The last thing I want to do is protect a fake baby," she insisted.

"Oh, really?" Paige questioned smartly before throwing the baby into the air.

Buffy, Faith and Phoebe followed it with their eyes calmly while Piper jumped, throwing her hands up in a frenzied panic. "Ah!" She froze the baby in mid-air.

"See?" Paige smirked. "Your instincts were to save it."

Piper glared. "My instincts were to shut it up!" she corrected, curling her hands into fists.

Paige rolled her eyes. "The doll has a sensor," she explained. "It'll stop crying if you just hold it."

"But I don't want to," Piper huffed.

"Okay," Buffy said as she pulled out her cell phone. "I can call mom and have her regress you and Leo like she did with Faith and I for our parenting lessons." Piper spun on her, glaring at her. "Just try it, Piper. If it doesn't work, I'm sure Paige will take it back."

"I will," Paige agreed. "I promise."

Piper sighed in frustration and flicked her hands at the frozen baby and it fell into her waiting arms, the screaming continuing.

Buffy moved to wrap her arms around Piper and the baby. "Okay, now you just rock it gently," she instructed rocking them both up and down and side to side.

Faith walked over to Paige and threw an arm around her. "Nice," she praised and Paige giggled.

"I know how to hold a baby, Buffy," Piper informed her niece through clenched teeth. "That is not the issue, thank you!" she snapped and Buffy released her jumping away.

"Just give it a shot," Paige encouraged with a smile. "What have you got to lose?" she added with a shrug.

Piper glared at Paige as Leo orbed in beside Cole. "Another witch has been killed." Leo informed them grimly.

"Oh no." Phoebe whispered sadly.

"Yeah, the police found her at the Cannon Theater," Leo informed them, his brow creased ever-so-slightly.

"We should go there and see what we can find out," Piper suggested looking to her sisters and nieces who nodded their agreement.

"We've got to call Morris on the way. Make sure he can get us in," Phoebe said. "And no..." she pointed to Cole as he stood, "...you cannot come. Someone might recognize you from when you posed as a DA."

Cole frowned, slumping into the seat in defeat, "I don't get to go anywhere anymore," he called after Phoebe's retreating form.

Paige gawked at him. "You were a demon and a lawyer?" Cole scowled and Paige crossed her arms. "Insert joke here," she muttered.

Leo walked over to Piper and tapped the hand of the baby in his wife's arms. "Where'd you get it?"

Piper smiled. "It's Paige's," she answered looking pointedly at her younger sister.

Paige shook her head. "No, it's yours. You need to figure it out." She smiled before dashing after Phoebe.

Piper smirked, "Yeah, Daddy, figure it out," she instructed pushing the doll into Leo's arms. "Excuse me." She and Faith headed after Paige and Phoebe.

Leo approached Cole and Buffy with the screaming doll seemingly lost. Cole stood when Leo turned to him.

Cole looked pointedly at the doll then up at Leo. "Don't look at me."

Leo sighed and turned too Buffy, who chuckled. She took the baby from Leo's arms and rocked it gently, the crying quickly lessening until silence replaced it.

Buffy smirked as she passed it back to Leo. "You're on your own now," she told him amusement shinning in her eyes.

Leo groaned and Cole smirked turning to Buffy. "You're a natural," he stated the obvious and Buffy's face fell.

"What is it?" Leo asked in concern.

"Faith wants to wait till after the Source is vanquished," Buffy said. "I don't. Slayers lives are short as I already proved when the Master drowned me in a pool of water a little over two years ago. I told her that and I think she only agreed because she wants to see me happy."

Cannon Theater

"Look, I can't guarantee much this time," Darryl informed the sisters, Faith and Buffy as he escorted them under the crime scene tape. "Just promise me you'll stay on the fringe," he asked looking between the four of them.

"We promise," Phoebe assured with a sparkling smile.

"So, what do we know, Uncle Darryl?" Faith asked looking at Darryl.

"A man called 911 from that pay phone," Darryl began pointing to the object in question. "Reported he found a body."

Piper turned to her right, eyes falling on the scorch mark. "Looks like she wasn't the only victim." Her sisters and nieces turned to her and she pointed. "Scorch mark. Definitely demonic."

"Looks like one of Cole's," Buffy added.

"Don't you mean Belthazor?" Paige corrected.

Phoebe walked toward the scorch mark inspecting it closely. "It's too bad Cole can't check it out. Probably be able to tell us who did it." She glanced around quickly. "Is anyone from the DA's office here?" she asked.

Darryl nodded and pointed. "Yeah, that guy over there is an ADA. He's interviewing a friend of the victim's." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a clear plastic bag. "I also found this on the victim."

"A triple crescent," Paige muttered upon seeing it.

"Does it mean something to you?" Darryl questioned.

Paige nodded. "I studied it in one of Piper's quizzes," she replied. "It's an ancient Wiccan symbol. A cousin to the triquetra," she explained.

"Could be the mark of a coven." Piper added.

"A coven someone's trying to wipe out." Phoebe said. "We have to figure out who else is in it."

Buffy walked over to Darryl, looking past him to the other woman, "The victim's friend would be a safe place to start," she offered heading off in her direction.

Darryl grabbed her arm. "Fringe remember?" he muttered and Buffy nodded.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"And she hasn't complained about any disgruntled friends, co-workers, ex-boyfriends?" the ADA asked.

The friend shook her head. "No," she replied. "Kari was a beautiful person. Everyone loved her."

The ADA reached into his pocket. "If you can think of anything else at all, please, don't hesitate to call." He told her handing over the card.

The friend took the card and nodded. The ADA smiled before turning and walking away.

"Nice necklace," Buffy admired as the victim's friend walked past her. "Very unique."

The woman turned to her, "Do I know you?" she asked suspiciously.

Buffy smiled, "No, but you might know of me," she replied. "Well me and my family. I'm the Slayer. And my wife, who is also a Slayer," she motioned behind her toward Faith, "is the niece of the Charmed Ones," she added as Phoebe appeared at her side. Faith, Paige and Piper making their way over.

The woman's eyes bulged in surprise and her mouth fell open.

"You and Kari were in the same coven?" Phoebe asked.

The woman glanced down at her necklace. "Yes."

Phoebe nodded. "And your mark is the triple crescent," she stated reaching out to touch the necklace. Once she did a premonition struck her.

The woman is in a park. It's daylight. I large, strong demon grabs her from behind and plunges his athame into her back.

The woman looked at Phoebe in concern. "What is it? Are you alright?"

Buffy pulled Phoebe close and smiled. "She'll be fine," she assured the concerned woman. She looked at Phoebe as Piper, Paige and Faith reached them. "What'd you see?"

"The demon," Phoebe replied looking the woman in the eyes. "He's after her."

"Where?" Piper questioned.

Phoebe shook her head. "Uh…by the steps…in some park," she answered unsure. "I think it was like an old amphitheater or something."

"I know that," the woman spoke up and all five heads turned to her. "That's in Stanley Arboretum. I walk past it every day going to work."

"What did the demon look like?" Paige asked.

Phoebe fiddled with her hands avoiding eye contact. "Like Belthazor," she admitted reluctantly. "I mean, not exactly like him, just similar," she corrected herself quickly.

"What the hell is going on here?" The ADA demanded catching sight of the five of them with the woman and striding over. "This is a murder investigation. Who are these people?" he demanded of Darryl.

"I'll get rid of them." Darryl assured him. "Come on, ladies, move along. First time I ask nicely."

Piper glared at Darryl both as they all retreated, "We're goin' mister," she snapped as Darryl led her away.

The ADA smirked glanced around quickly to make sure no-one was watching then shimmered out.

Wolf House, U.C. Sunnydale

Buffy and Faith had asked if Piper wanted them to hang around at the Manor to help protect the woman. Piper said they would be fine for the night, to go ahead and do their nightly patrol of Sunnydale. They conducted their nightly patrol of the city, via a party at the Wolf House.

Buffy and Faith found the party crowded, dark, smoky and loud. They saw a couple propped up next to the door, making out vigorously.

"Gives you some ideas, doesn't it, babe," Faith told Buffy suggestively as she wrapped an arm around her wife.

"Yeah," Buffy agreed as they made their way through the living room, past groups of students laughing and talking. "You want to dance?"

"You know me, well, Buffy," Faith replied with a grin.

Buffy led Faith onto the dance floor. They collided with a couple supporting a drunken friend between them. Buffy looked closer and frowned when she recognized Spike and Harmony. She looked at their drunken friend and saw he had been bitten.

"Spike. Harmony," Buffy said as she glared at the vampires.

"Buffy," Harmony said. "Hi. What a cute outfit, last year."

"Take it you know them, babe?" Faith asked.

"Pretty well," Buffy answered.

"Well, this is interesting. Sort of a double date," Spike said as he looked at Faith. "Though I never took you to be into women not after Angel."

"I think you two should go," Buffy ordered.

"But the fun's just starting: old friends…" Spike jiggled his victim, "…lots to drink..."

"I take it vamps," Faith said as Buffy nodded.

Spike looked Faith over and then frowned. He looked back at Buffy. "When did…"

"My wife was called after Dru killed Kendra," Buffy told him. "So, you with Harmony. Lose a bet?"

"Actually, how we met, funny story, really—" Spike said as he dumped the victim onto Faith. Then he turned with Harmony and beat a hasty retreat through the crowd.

Buffy took after the vampires. "I'll be right back!" Buffy called over her shoulder. She burst outside onto the front porch of the frat house. She stepped off the porch, warily. She pulled out a stake and walked around to the side of the house. She passed a dark shadow along the side of the house, then she whirled and punched into the shadow. Spike punched her back, stepping out into the dim light. Harmony ran up, out of breath.

"Dru dump you again?" Buffy asked Spike as she punched him.

"Maybe I dumped her—" Spike countered as he punched Buffy.

"She left him for a Fungus Demon," Harmony interjected. "It's all he talks about some days…"

"Harm. We're going," Spike said, his eyes never leaving Buffy. "It isn't time yet," he said ominously.

"Yeah, but as soon as we have the Gem of Amarra you're going to be so sorry—" Harmony said as Spike grabbed her to shut her up. "Ow!"

Buffy started after them, but they're back around the front of the house, pushing through a group of party arrivals. She got tangled in the crowd as Spike and Harmony got away.

Giles Apartment

"Yeah, Spike with Harmony. If you can believe it."

It was barely half an hour later, and Buffy and Faith were sitting with Giles. Buffy and Faith were relaying their encounter with Spike and Harmony. Faith held her cell phone out as she had called Piper to fill her in as well.

"I mean, I thought Spike and Dru were a forever kind of deal, didn't you? Where's the commitment?" Buffy continued. "So anyway, I couldn't figure out why
he ran away, but Harmony said something. What they're here for. The Gem of
something... Amarra. He's waiting 'til he gets it—"

"The Gem of Amarra?" Piper asked from the other end of the phone.

"Are you sure?" Giles questioned looking at the Slayers.

"Yeah," Faith answered. "So, what's up?"

"It's just, it's not real," Giles remarked as he went over to his bookshelves, more stacked than usual since the entire occult section from Sunnydale High had been moved into them before the school was destroyed. "It's like, like a vampire version of the Holy Grail. A source of some kind of enormous power, always conveniently vague…"

They heard the sounds of footsteps through the phone as Piper made her way to the attic.

Giles pulled for a reference book off a shelf and began flipping through it. "Yes, here it is. There was a great deal of vampiric interest in locating the gem during, oh, the 10th century. Questing
vampires combed the earth, but no one found it. It was concluded that it never existed."

"It's not," came Piper's voice from the other end of the phone.

"Aunt Piper?" Faith said as she looked down at her phone. "You found it in the book?"

"I did," Piper replied. "It's real. No indication of where it is though."

"Well Spike seems to think it's in Sunnydale," Buffy said.

"I don't see how something that valuable, if it were real, could remain hidden on a
Hellmouth, with all its demonic activity," Giles said. "I could probably even track the development of the story surrounding it."

"Babe, I think we're going to have to split up," Faith told her wife. "I will get Uncle Leo to orb me back to San Francisco. I can help Aunt Piper protect the innocent while you deal with Spike."

"Probably a good idea," Buffy agreed.

September 26, 2001 – Wednesday

Stanley Arboretum

"I don't understand. If you know the demon is meant to attack here, shouldn't we go someplace else?" Susan asked as the five of them walked through the park the next day, her usual route.

"Not if we want to get rid of him for good," Piper answered her.

Faith smiled. "The only way to get rid of this thing is to fight him," she explained gently. "If you run away then he'll just keep coming."

Susan nodded and Faith rubbed her arm gently.

"Power of Three spell?" Paige asked her sisters.

"No," Piper replied with a shake of the head. "The only way to vanquish an upper-level demon is with a potion of his own flesh," she informed her.

"Sounds like you've done this before," Paige commented.

"Once," Phoebe answered. "On my fiancé," she stressed the word, Piper and Faith's head snapped round to her and Paige wrinkled her nose.

"Your fiancé?" Paige echoed and Phoebe shrugged.

"Yeah, I just wanted to hear how it sounded." Phoebe explained.

"And...?" Faith asked.

"Kind of weird," was Phoebe's reply.

"Yeah," Piper agreed instantly.

"Wait, wait, wait. Back up," Paige exclaimed looking at Phoebe. "Did you say you once tried to vanquish Cole?"

"No Belthazor," Phoebe corrected. "There's a difference."

"Is there?" Paige murmured to herself but Faith heard and shot her a look.

Paige widened her eyes innocently.

"Okay, review," Faith ordered stepping forward and turning so she was facing them all. "Aunt Phoebe, you'll play decoy," she repeated and Phoebe nodded. "Demon attacks. Aunt Piper freezes." She pointed at her eldest aunt and Piper nodded. "I disarm and Aunt Paige..." she turned to her youngest aunt with a smirk. "You get to slice and dice."

Paige groaned and her sisters and Faith laughed.

"Okay," Faith said. "Everybody ready?"

Paige cringed as she pulled a knife from her purse. "As I'll ever be."

Phoebe turned to Susan. "I'm going to need your coat and hat," she said gently and Susan removed them, handing the items over. "Um…and your necklace," she added softly.

Susan sighed as she handed it over reluctantly.

"Okay, we got to get Susan someplace safe," Piper decided. "Leo!" she called for her husband who appeared behind Phoebe instantly amongst a shower of blue and white orbs. "Hi, honey." She smiled. "Could you orb Susan out of here?" she asked sweetly.

"Sure," Leo replied. "Any place in mind?"

"What about with Joyce and Blondie?" Faith suggested.

Leo nodded. "Alright, take my hand." He held it out to Susan who took it hesitantly.

Paige frowned. "Where's the baby?" she asked.

Leo smirked turning to show the doll sitting in a strap on carrier on his back.

"Oh!" Faith smiled. "That's what that thing is." She could picture that strapped to her back, her daughter in the carrier. Maybe Buffy had been right about not waiting. She too wanted to see her daughter.

Leo nodded then addressed his wife. "See? We can make this work."

"Mm-hm," Piper replied rolling her eyes. "Go away and drop Robo-kid off at the Manor," she ordered him with a smile. "Please? Thank you." She smiled wider as he orbed out with Susan. She glared at Paige who grinned. "Okay! We got to do this quickly because this demon won't stay frozen for long," she pointed out. "Ready? Let's go."

Under Sunnydale

Spike climbed into the newly open burial site with a lantern to illuminate the darkness. He looked around and saw an ornate necklace around the neck of a skeleton, which contained a large green gemstone. Excitement filled his mind and expression as he gazed upon his holy grail.

"It's real," he murmured, awed by the sight.

"Ooh, pretty," Harmony remarked as she came inside. "Can I take stuff?"

"Take whatever you want I don't care," Spike answered without even looking in her direction. Silently, almost reverently he stroked the gemstone. Then he pulled it off the skeleton and put it about his neck.

"So, is it doing it?" Harmony asked. "Do you feel it? I mean, you don't look different, if you were wondering. I thought maybe you'd look taller or glow or something." She turned back to the rest of the jewels.

Spike took hold of a cross, only to cry out in pain as it burned his skin, leaving a dark red bruise on his open palm.

Harmony turned at his growl of pain, but was unaffected. "You should put some butter on that. But, hey, maybe it's worth money, anyway. That would be something. Then we could go to France, I always wanted to go to France and stay in a chateau and you could take me shopping—" she trailed off abruptly as Spike drove a stake into her heart.

To their mutual surprise, and his temporary disgust, she did not turn into ash.

"I can't believe you just did that," she started to punch him, but he grabbed her hands, noticing one of the rings.

"That's my gem," he remarked, catching sight of the green jewel encased within a ring of gold.

"Fine if that's all that matters to you. Take it, and get out." She took it off her finger and threw it to him.

Spike caught it with a smile. "That's a good idea. I think I'll go wait outside."

Stanley Arboretum

Phoebe, disguised as Susan walked slowly down the path from her vision, eyes darting about, senses on high alert. Her sister and niece were crouched behind some bushes out of sight, watching her every move.

"Hello, witch," the demon greeted as he shimmered in behind Phoebe.

"Goodbye..." Phoebe spun to face him, her eyes bulging at the sight, "...demon." she whispered stunned at how similar he was with Belthazor.

The demon roared as it charged for Phoebe who flipped it over her as Faith, Piper and Paige emerged from the bushes. Piper raised her hands to freeze as a woman charged out behind her, throwing her own athame at the demon and knocking Piper to the ground. The demon saw it coming and shimmered out, their chance lost.

"I had him!" the woman seethed.

"Who the hell are you?" Piper demanded as Faith pulled her to her feet.

Giles Apartment

"Okay," Oz began. "Either I'm borrowing all your albums or I'm moving in."

Giles merely turned the page of the book he was studying and said. "Oz, there are more important things than records right now. Like the impending disaster, for example."

"Found something?" Willow queried.

"A paragraph here. It refers to the Gem of Amarra as 'residing in the valley of the sun.' In other words, Sunnydale. It appears the gem is in a sealed underground crypt."

"More important than this one?" Oz asked, holding it up.

"Well I suppose an argument could be made for that one," Giles allowed.

"Whoa," Xander exclaimed at that moment, as he unveiled his discovery to the rest of the research committee. "Giles has a TV. Everybody, Giles has a TV. He's shallow like us."

"I got to admit, I'm a little disappointed," Oz said as he put the record down.

"Well maybe it doesn't work," Willow said hopefully. "Like a piece of art."

In reply Xander turned the set on. Color pictures and the current news showed, leaving Willow and the rest open-mouthed in shock.

"Public television," Giles merely observed. "Come on everyone we have vital work to do. Watching television is not going to help us right now."

The television however, had other ideas. "Near the UC Sunnydale campus. Officials attribute the unusual occurrence to weakening of the supporting topsoil nearby. City work crews denied any tunneling has been done in the area..."

Giles put down his book. "Tunneling," he echoed, before realizing. "Spike."

Buffy put down her book. "I'm on it," she said before disappearing in a swirl of fiery flames.

Halliwell Manor

The sister and Faith sat at the breakfast table facing out to the island, where Emma was standing. Piper and Paige were seated on the table while Faith and Phoebe took residence in the two chairs in front.

"He used this to kill my fiancée," Emma informed them holding out the athame from them all to see. "It's a ceremonial knife. The demon left it behind after the struggle," she explained. "I've been hunting him down for the last year and a half. It's…all I care about."

"May I?" Cole asked, gesturing to the knife. Emma glanced at the sisters and Faith who nodded and she handed it to him.

"Look familiar?" Phoebe asked her boyfriend.

"He looked familiar to me," Paige commented and Faith squeezed her leg to silence her.

"I meant the athame," Phoebe retorted.

"It's one used by the Brotherhood," Cole informed them staring at the object in his hands.

"Emma?" Piper called her name gently. "Do you know why the demon wanted to kill your fiancée?"

"Because Andrew was a witch," Emma replied instantly.

"Are you a witch too?" Faith questioned this time.

"No." Emma shook her head. "But after Andrew died, I studied his books and devoted myself to the craft."

"To continue his work?" Phoebe asked with a smile.

"To track down his killer," Emma corrected crisply.

"And you just happened to be in the park at the same time the demon was going to attack Susan?" Paige asked skeptically.

"I know his M.O.," Emma explained. "I know when he kills a witch he goes after the entire coven."

"You've taught yourself well," Piper praised and Emma nodded. "But still, if we hadn't come along we would have lost you both."

Emma shook her head, "Vengeance empowers me," she defended herself.

"Vengeance won't save you," Cole countered from behind her and all eyes turned to him. "Your desire for revenge is keeping you from the truth," he elaborated. "You want the demon vanquished, my advice is to stand back and let the Charmed Ones handle it."

"This is my fight," Emma insisted.

"Then you shall lose it," Cole said simply.

"Cole's right," Phoebe agreed her voice kind. "You have to trust us. Trust that we want the same thing you do."

Emma sighed looking away. "It's just—his face has haunted me ever since Andrew died. It's the face of pure evil." She shook her head adamantly. "I can't let him get away."

"He won't," Faith assured her.

"You should trust us," Phoebe added. "Trust that we want the same thing you do."

"It's just, his face has haunted me ever since Andrew died. It's the face of pure evil. I can't let him get away," Emma said.

"Why don't you scry for him again while we prepare the vanquishing potion," Piper instructed gently. "Once we get a piece of his flesh, he's dust." Emma nodded.

"We'll get him." Phoebe smiled. "I swear we'll get him," she promised as the fake baby began to cry again.

Emma turned toward the noise.

"Ignore that," Piper said flatly.

Paige gasped and slapped her back. "Piper!" she chastised.

"Aunt Piper," Faith added.

"Aright," Piper spat through clenched teeth then smiled at Emma. "Excuse me." And with that she went off in search of the screaming toy.

Emma placed her hands on her hips. "She has a baby?" she questioned confused.

"Actually, she's not sure yet," Paige replied with a smile.

U.C. Sunnydale

It did not take long to find Spike. But then the bleached white hair with forehead ridges and fangs tend to stand out. Or at least, that was what the screaming students all silently agreed before running for cover.

"This is nice," Spike said aloud. "Birds singing, squirrels making lots of rotten little squirrels. Sun beaming down in a nice, nonfatal way. It's very exciting, I can't wait to see if I freckle."

"You don't, thankfully, " Buffy replied as she struck him from behind, before taking out her stake.

Spike was unprepared, but even that did not affect his new found invulnerability. He turned around and pushed her to the ground. Buffy kicked him in the crotch, then shoved the stake through his chest.

The vampire merely laughed. "Oh, do it again. It tickles. You know, in a good way." He withdrew the stake and handed it back to the Slayer, who watched in surprise as the wound healed. "The Gem of Amarra," Spike said, holding up the hand which it adorned. "Official sponsor, of my killing you." He threw another punch, causing Buffy to drop to the ground, kneeling to block it. He applied some of his new found strength and sent her into a pole, before punching her in the stomach.

Buffy rose back up and tried to kick Spike, but he merely blocked her and threw her against the pole once more. He pressed her against it, but she grabbed him by the throat and began to strangle him. Spike threw her off, and she landed on the ground with a roll, then punched him in the stomach, which sent him spinning to the ground.

Spike leapt up and struck back, but the Buffy blocked him, throwing him with a roundhouse, then another, sending him rolling over a nearby bench. She jumped upon it, sent a kick to his chest, but Spike blocked and reached up, sending her crashing into the table.

Buffy grabbed Spike, taking hold of the arm which had the hand that wore the ring.

"Take it off me this way, we both burn," Spike said to her.

"Really?" Buffy queried. "Let's see," she yanked the ring off.

Spike growled as his face contorted in pain. His body began to smoke, and immediately he ran off for nearest place of shelter from the once more mortally harming sunny rays.

Buffy bent over, breathing heavily.

Summers Home

"How much longer do you think I'll have to stay here?" Susan questioned as she paced nervously back and forth.

"Well, I'll talk to your Whitelighter." Leo replied from his place by the front window.

"I would say that everyone in your coven should break their routine until the threat is over," Joyce advised as Susan's cell phone began to ring.

"Excuse me," Susan apologized as she pulled it free and flipped it open. "Hello?"

"Miss Coleman? This is the assistant district attorney Sykes," a voice down the line greeted her.

"Who is it?" Tara asked.

Susan looked over at the two witches and the Whitelighter. "ADA. Uh...I'm sorry. Yes hi."

"I'm calling because I've received new evidence," he informed her. "I'd like to talk to you about it, if that's alright?"

"Um...okay, when?" Susan replied eagerly.

"Can you come over to the office now?" he asked hopefully.

"He wants me to come in," Susan informed them, hand held over the receiver.

Leo nodded. "Okay."

"Alright," she replied addressing her caller. "I'll be right there," she promised.

"I'll be waiting," he answered ending the call.

"I think I should go with you," Tara offered. "Since my power is seeing auras, I can see if he is on the level."

"Agreed," Leo said.

Halliwell Manor

"I can feel the crystal pulling," Emma informed them from her place at a small round table in the conservatory. "He's still in the area," she announced dangling the crystal over the map of San Francisco, the string tied around the demon's athame.

"I can't find him in the book anywhere," Phoebe announced from her seat next to Cole.

"Did you notice how he vanished?" Cole asked staring at the book. "Did he smoke out? Flame out?"

"Actually, he shimmered," Phoebe informed him. "Like uh…Belthazor," she added glancing quickly at Emma then averting her gaze to the book.

"I uh…I think I found him," Emma announced from the table.

Phoebe's head shot up. "Where?"

"He's at uh…Prescott and—" Emma replied but Phoebe cute her off.

"Pine," Phoebe finished looking at Cole.

Emma turned to Phoebe. "How'd you know?"

"That's where we are," Phoebe answered grimly.

Emma's eyes widened. "Wait, he's here in the house?"

Cole straightened up. "I'll go check upstairs. You find your sisters and Faith, get ready," he instructed and everyone cleared the room.

Giles Apartment

"I like it," Willow remarked.

"It does sparkle beautifully," Anya agreed. "Do you think we could make some more?"

"That would require a goldsmith," Xander pointed out. "And a knowledge of how to melt and mold metal. And how to cut jewels."

"You're right that's too much hard work," Anya agreed. "We just need a spell. Or a carefully worded wish."

The ring was lying on Giles' dining table, under the gaze of the rest of the Scooby gang who were all taking a close look at it.

"It's small," Oz observed.

"It's also very dangerous," Giles pointed out. "And we're destroying it."

"No, we're not," Buffy remarked.

"Buffy, any vampire that get his hands on this..." Giles trailed off as he realized. "Oh."

Oz looked at Buffy. He knew what she wanted to do with it. "I have that gig in L.A. I could swing by."

"Thanks, Oz," Buffy said appreciatively.

"What's going on?" Xander asked, obviously clueless. "What's in L.A.?"

"She's giving it to Angel," Willow informed her friend. "Don't make a fuss."

"Buffy, are you sure?" Giles questioned.

Buffy nodded. "He should have this."

District Attorney's Office

"Hello?" Susan called from just outside ADA Sykes office.

"Miss Coleman," Sykes greeted with a smile, which disappeared as soon as he saw Tara and Leo. "Who's this?" he asked slightly angered but the other man's presence.

Susan, Tara and Leo looked at one another quickly. "We're…friends," Leo answered with a shrug. "Is it a problem?"

Sykes shook his head. "No, no. No problem at all." He forced a smile. "Um...why don't you both just wait over there…" he gestured to the bench opposite his office door, "…and I'll let you both know when it's over."

Tara and Leo glanced at Susan and smiled encouragingly, nodded at Sykes then took a seat.

"Right this way." Sykes gestured to his office, allowing Susan to enter first then closing the door behind them.

"Well?" Leo said as he looked at Tara.

"He's evil," Tara answered. "His aura was as black as I've ever seen."

Leo nodded as he took Tara's hand and then they orbed out.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Susan gasped as Sykes pushed her against the door, hand covering her mouth so she couldn't scream. He pulled out his athame and traced it down her skin. He pulled it back to plunge it in when Leo orbed in with Tara beside him, Leo elbowed Sykes on the side of the head, knocking him to the floor and orbing out with Susan and Tara.

Halliwell Manor

"Phoebe?" Cole called out as he descended the stairs quickly and Phoebe came racing out of the kitchen. "He's not upstairs," he informed her sharply.

Phoebe shook her head. "He's not downstairs either," she replied as Leo, Tara and Susan orbed in at the same time that Buffy appeared in a swirl of fiery flames.

"Hey, Tara," Buffy greeted her cousin.

"It's the ADA." Leo informed Cole and Phoebe immediately.

"What?" Buffy wondered confused.

"The demon after Susan," Tara informed Buffy.

"Sykes?" Phoebe questioned in surprise.

"He tried to kill her," Leo continued gesturing to Susan. "I don't know if he followed us here or not," he said as Sykes shimmered in behind them.

"Watch out!" Phoebe yelled pulling Susan to the ground, Leo going with them as Sykes released an energy ball their way. Buffy swiped her hand and telekinetically sent the energy ball back toward Sykes hitting him in the stomach.

"Take her upstairs," Phoebe told Leo and Tara, both of whom quickly pulled Susan up the stairs, she and Buffy staying out of the line of fire.

"You're going to have to do better than that," Sykes smirked as he morphed into his demonic form as Piper, Faith, Paige and Emma came running into the room from the kitchen.

Sykes made to fire again and Piper threw up her hands freezing him.

"Hurry! Slice 'em," Faith ordered Paige with a nudge.

Paige hesitated and Phoebe made a panicked noise motioning in his direction.

Paige ran over, knife in hand and cringed pausing again with the knife hovering over the demon's forearm.

"Oh, Paige, just do it!" Piper cried impatiently. "This is no time to be squeamish."

Paige sighed and quickly sliced a piece his flesh. She bent down and picked it up between two fingers, holding it as far away from her body as possible just as the demon began to unfreeze.

"Paige!" Buffy cried as he unfroze and made to strike Paige. She threw up her hand sending him backward and away from a startled Paige. She ran to Paige as the demon recovered and pulled her down.

Sykes threw an energy ball at Piper and Emma who Faith pushed to the ground, the energy ball hitting the mechanical baby instead blowing it to pieces.

Cole morphed into his own demonic form.

"Oh my god!" Emma cried from beside Piper, staring up at Belthazor.

"Belthazor," Sykes growled. "We meet at last."

"But not for long," Belthazor snarled and the two demons released an energy at the same time.

The energy balls collided and the house shook.

"We'll finish this later," Sykes promised before shimmering out.

"Everybody okay?" Piper asked as Faith pulled her and Emma, who was still staring at Belthazor, to their feet.

"I'm okay," Phoebe assured her from the stairs then looked to Buffy and Paige.

Paige nodded wordlessly and Buffy chuckled. "We're good," she verbally assured them.

"Emma?" Phoebe asked the silent woman.

"He's not the demon who killed my fiancé," Emma replied, referring to Sykes. "He is," she announced pointing at Belthazor who turned to Phoebe slowly and sighed. "He's a killer!" she almost yelled. "What is the matter with you people?" she demanded looking affronted.

"Emma, I know you're upset," Piper tried to reason. "But you don't understand." Taking her arm lightly.

"Let go of me!" Emma seethed.

"You're making a huge mistake," Phoebe insisted from her place next to a solemn looking Cole, "He's not who you think he is."

Emma glared at her. "He's the demon who killed my fiancée and that is all I need to know," she spat pushing past Piper and grabbing the athame from the foyer table and throwing it at Cole.

Cole stopped the athame mere inches from his neck.

"How can you protect a murderer?" Emma asked Phoebe, the pain in her voice causing it to shake slightly. "How can you live with yourself?" she demanded before grabbing her coat and storming out of the house.

Phoebe sighed heavily.

"Is it true?" Paige asked from beside Buffy and Faith. "Are you the one who killed him?"

Phoebe shook her head. "Honey, now is not the time," she answered instead. "We have to worry about Sykes. We got what we need, you guys work on the vanquishing potion," she instructed.

Buffy, Faith and Piper exchanged glances as Buffy and Faith took Paige's hands, pulling her toward the kitchen.

Piper picked up the plate with the slice of flesh on it as she passed the table and followed behind them.

All four shooting Cole looks as they left.

Phoebe turned to Cole when they were gone. "We need to talk," she told him seriously.

Cole sighed but nodded and took her hand, the couple heading up to their room.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Is everything okay in Sunnydale?" Faith asked as she, Piper, Paige and Buffy started on the vanquishing potion.

"Yeah, got the gem after Spike had found it. Took it off him and Oz is taking it to Angel," Buffy informed her wife.

"Buffy, I've been thinking. When you told me yesterday about wanting our daughter because our lives as Slayers can be short," Faith said. "I blew it off, telling you exactly what you wanted to hear. But since then I've been thinking. You made a good point, babe. Let's truly find a way to have her as soon as we can." She looked at Piper. "Aunt Piper, you and the mechanical baby are the reason for my change in that regards."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Don't tell me you're scared of me," Cole commented as he entered the room completely, stopping by the bed while Phoebe remained by the open door.

"No," she assured him quickly. "Don't be ridiculous."

Cole turned to her. "That's good," he replied still holding the athame. "Because I think Emma's right," he revealed. "I am the one who killed her fiancé." He indicated the weapon in hand. "This is mine."

Phoebe sighed and looked down.

Cole dropped the arm holding the athame. "I don't even remember doing it," he admitted turning away. "I don't even remember who he is." Falling down onto the bed. "Didn't matter what they looked like. It only mattered that I did what I was told." He paused. "He was a witch. The Source viewed him as a threat."

"Shh," Phoebe soothed walked toward him. "You don't have to explain yourself to me," she told him sitting next to him on the bed.

"Yes, I do," Cole insisted.

"No, you don't," Phoebe countered firmly and he looked to her. "I know who you were," she informed him. "Who you used to be and that's not the person you are anymore," she told him softly.

"Aren't I?" he whispered and Phoebe narrowed her eyes slightly. "Belthazor still exists inside of me. That hasn't changed, nor does it change what I've done."

Phoebe smiled. "But just think of all the good you've done since then," she added, her eyes gentle and loving.

"Hm." Cole turned away again. "Doesn't balance out," he said sadly. "Doesn't even come close. And now the very thing I've been trying so hard not to be is the very thing I might have to become."

Phoebe frowned. "What do you mean?"

Cole rose to his feet, walked to the window then turned to her. "Sykes has done a good job of emulating me, emulating Belthazor, which means if the potion doesn't work…the only way to destroy him is for me to turn into Belthazor," he explained gently.

Phoebe tilted her head. "Yeah, but then afterwards you'll turn back into Cole," she added obviously.

Cole held her gaze. "I may not be able to," he admitted darkly and Phoebe's eyes narrowed. "To stop him, I'll have to embrace my demonic self completely," he explained staring into her eyes. "There may be no coming back from that."

Phoebe sighed. "Well, then we'll just have to make sure that potion works very well," she insisted with a smile, rising to her feet and walking to the door. "Won't we?" she threw over her shoulder grabbing her bag.

"Where are you going?" Cole asked confused.

"To find Emma," she replied throwing her phone into the bag and sighed. "Try to explain."

"It won't make any difference." Cole shook his head.

"Well it will if I can keep her out of the craziness," she pointed out. "Keep her from getting hurt."

"I'm more concerned with keeping you out of the craziness," Cole said walking towards her. "Keeping you from getting hurt." Phoebe sighed as she pulled on her jacket. "You still have some of that Belthazor vanquishing potion left, don't you?" he asked, voice low.

Phoebe shook her head. "Yes but—"

"Get it," Cole ordered sternly. "Just in case. It might be the only way to stop me."

Phoebe looked away as he walked past, leaving the room and leaving her alone.

Phoebe glanced to see if he was out of sight before opening her desk drawer and pulling out said potion, slipping it into her bag and heading out.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Okay, we just need the pigs' feet over there by the mandrake root," Piper guided as she stirred the potion on the stove. Faith passed it to Paige who took it with a grimace.

"Poor piggy, piggy," Paige pouted. "They're sensitive creature, you know."

"Really?" Buffy smiled indulgingly.

Paige nodded walking to the pot. "Smart too."

"Yeah, not that one," Piper commented stepping away as Paige dropped it in and the potion flamed momentarily. "Okay...so all we need to do is drop in the Sykes flesh," she instructed as Faith took hers and Buffy's hands and they silently moved far back from the island and Paige.

"Go ahead just…drop it in, Aunt Paige," Faith instructed as an oblivious Paige scooped the flesh with a spatula and dropped it into the pot.

The potion exploded and Paige was thrown to the ground at her sister and niece's feet.

Faith, Buffy and Piper chuckled as a bewildered Paige gazed up at them. "You did that on purpose didn't you?" Paige said knowingly.

Faith, Buffy and Piper smiled at one another.

"Yeah," Faith replied with a smirk and they pulled her up.

"Yeah," Piper grinned. "It happened to me last year. No substitute for experience," she said innocently.

Paige punched her shoulder as she laughed and Buffy and Faith chuckled, earning a punch too.

"You girls alright?" Cole asked running into the kitchen.

Paige turned to him and her amusement ceased as Buffy, Faith and Piper kept smiling.

"Yeah," Piper replied with a smirk. "We were just doing a little family bonding, that's all," she explained.

"Where's Phoebe?" Buffy asked looking past him. "The potion's almost ready," she informed him as Piper moved to take it off the heat and bottle it.

"Yeah, she wanted to talk to Emma, explain things," Cole told them.

"Good luck," Paige commented and Buffy and Faith shot her a stern look.

Cole frowned. "Look, I don't need the guilt from you, okay?" he snapped irately. "I've got enough of my own to deal with."

"What, and you think that covers it?" Paige retorted. "What you did?"

"Aunt Paige, don't," Faith reprimanded sternly.

Paige turned to her niece affronted. "Don't what, Faith?" she snapped narrowing her eyes at her niece, hands on hips, "He killed a man. Are you condoning that?"

Faith's eyes narrowed. "Have you forgotten, so have I?" she exclaimed, her hands moving to her hips. "I know Cole feels guilty for what he did. For I feel guilty for the life I took. I took someone's husband, father, brother, son away from them."

"Neither Cole or Faith can change the past," Piper added, regarding her sister carefully. "You've seen how much good Cole's helped us do," she added looking her youngest sister in the eyes. "That's who he is now and we accept that," she concluded looking pointedly at Paige.

Paige shrugged. "Well, if you say so," she relented stiffly stepping away from Cole.

"If you can't forgive Cole for what he did," Faith interjected. "Then you must not be able to forgive me either." She turned and stormed out of the room.

"I'll go check on her," Buffy said as she followed her wife.

Cole walked toward Piper slowly. "Thank you," he said sincerely. "You want me to help you find Sykes?" he asked.

Piper looked at him. "Can you?"

"If he's still emulating me, all I have to do is figure out what I'd do next," he explained looking thoughtful.

"Which would be?" Piper asked expectantly.

"Go after the Charmed Ones or Buffy," he replied. "If Faith wasn't the Source's heir, I would include her. But he won't risk that if he keeps emulating me."

"Oh, that's nice," Paige muttered loudly.

Cole raised his eyebrows then continued. "But first I'd have to regroup somewhere. Tend to my cut."

"The mausoleum?" Piper questioned.

"Except Sykes will anticipate that," Cole sighed. "He'll be expecting you to come after him, which means he'll probably be lying in wait," he explained. "Maybe even set some kind of trap."

"One that you could identify?" Piper asked, eyebrow quirked and Cole nodded. "So, let's go," she announced.

"Wait," Paige stepped in front of them. "Don't we need Phoebe?" she asked with a frown.

Piper shook her head. "No, all we need is this." She shook her bottle of potion. "Besides it's better to keep Emma away from the action."

Leo entered the kitchen clutching the mangled baby and Piper gasped. "Oh, honey, what happened?" she asked gently.

Leo pouted slightly. "Sykes," he sighed. "Guess you were right."

Piper sighed, "Oh sweetie, I didn't want to be right," she insisted walking toward him. "I'm sorry."

"You're sorry!" Paige cried in horror; eyes wide. "Who's going to pay for this?" she demanded sternly. "Well?"

"We're going to go after Sykes," Piper informed her husband. "So, you should probably orb Susan out of here, just to be safe."

Leo nodded and Piper kissed his cheek as she passed, her sister and Cole following.

"Buffy, Faith!" Piper called up the stairs. "We're going after Sykes."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Are you okay, Faith?" Buffy asked as she sat next to her wife.

Faith sighed. "No," she answered. "Aunt Paige was my friend before she became my aunt. She was the only person other than you had I revealed half of what happened to me. And now I see how she looks at Cole after finding out he killed someone. And I am like, does she see me that way too?"

"You know she doesn't," Buffy countered. "She loves you, Faith. Just as much as Piper, Phoebe and I do."

"Buffy, Faith!" Piper called from the base of the stairs. "We're going after Sykes."

"Come on," Buffy said as she pulled Faith to her feet.

Streets of San Francisco

Phoebe drove down the street as slowly as possible hoping to spot Emma. It took about 15 minutes until she did. She pulled the car to the curb, cut the engine and jumped out. "Emma."

Emma turned behind her, scoffed and continued walking, arms crossed.

"Emma! Please. I need to talk to you," Phoebe pleaded walking swiftly after her.

Emma stopped and turned to her.

"Look, I know that there's nothing I can say that can change what happened," Phoebe acknowledged. "But I think there is something that may help," she offered and Emma stared at her silently and expectantly. "I want you to know that Cole has dedicated his life to good now."

Emma stared at her in outrage before spinning on her heel and storming away.

Phoebe sighed and walked after her. "And I'm not saying that it excuses what he did."

"Damn right, it doesn't," Emma snapped.

"All I'm saying is the demon you're searching for no longer exists," Phoebe continued, desperately trying to make her see.

"Oh my god!" Emma cried throwing up her hands and turning. "Who are you trying to kid? Are you blind!" She paused looking Phoebe up and down. "Did you not see what he turned into? That monster still exists, whether you want to believe it or not," she insisted and Phoebe faltered.

"Technically, yes but—" Phoebe replied.

"But not technically," Emma cut in looking her dead in the eyes. "Actually. He's alive and I'm not going to rest until he's dead, no matter what you say."

Phoebe shook her head. "All that would do is keep him from doing future good," she reasoned. "And put your life at risk in the process. Emma, please, please...let it go."

"Let it go?" Emma echoed; her eyes vacant. "Have you ever lost someone?" she asked quietly. "To evil, I mean."

Phoebe nodded. "Yes," she said sadly.

"And did you just…let it go?" Emma asked already knowing what her answer would be. Phoebe remained silent and Emma nodded once before turning and walking away.

Memorial Cemetery

Cole descended the spiral staircase slowly, eyes darting about before he signaled to Piper, Paige, Buffy and Faith and they crept down behind him: Buffy and Faith in the front, Piper and Paige right behind.

"Any sign of him?" Paige asked as the Slayers scanned the area silently.

Cole shook his head. "No," he said back quietly, walking further into the Mausoleum. He noticed something on the stone floor and grabbed Buffy's shoulder, halting her.

"What?" Faith said looking at him.

"Trap," Cole replied simply. "Back up," he instructed and they obeyed.

Cole picked up a candle and threw it in the direction of where he had warned.

The floor sprang to life, bursting into flames.

Piper, Paige, Faith, Buffy and Cole ran forward as soon as it disappeared but the demon never showed.

"Where is he?" Piper asked looking around.

Cole turned to them. "I don't know."

Piper threw her hands up. "Great."

Paige frowned in confusion. "Well, why would he set a trap for us and not be here?"

Faith looked at Cole. "Because we've been played," she announced grimly and Buffy and her aunts turned to her.

"This is just a distraction," Cole agreed.

Piper frowned. "What do you mean, 'distraction.' You said he was after us or Buffy," she cried in frustration.

"I was wrong," he admitted. "He's after me. And the best way to get to me is through—"

"Phoebe," Piper concluded in unison.

Halliwell Manor

Phoebe entered the darkened and deserted Manor. "Cole!" she yelled looking around. Sykes shimmered in behind her and threw her arm around her, under her neck and pointed his athame at her.

Phoebe screamed and dropped her bag. "Close," he whispered with a smirk.

"What do you want?" Phoebe asked holding onto his arm, pulling it away from her neck slightly.

"Same thing you do," Sykes replied. "Only you call him Belthazor."

Phoebe froze and her eyes widened. She looked down at the potion which had fallen from her bag.

Sykes followed her eyes and sniggered. "Except I don't need a potion to vanquish him. I just need you." He informed her before shimmering away.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Aunt Phoebe!" Faith yelled as the five of them came running through the front door.

"Faith," Piper grabbed her niece's wrist and nodded to the floor where Phoebe's bag lay.

Paige bent down and touched it. "Phoebe," she whispered standing back up.

"I'll check upstairs," Cole said. "You check downstairs."

Buffy, Piper and Paige strode forward, Cole moved towards the stairs but Faith's hand around his wrist and stopped him. He turned to her expectantly, his eyes glancing down at her hand then back up to her eyes.

"I'm coming with you," Faith informed him, her tone determined and her eyes daring him to refuse.

Cole nodded once.

"Cole," Faith said quietly and he shook his head.

"Not now, Faith," he insisted as they climbed the stairs.

"I'm sorry," Faith apologized anyway, her voice and eyes filled with sincerity. "Like I told Aunt Paige I know what its like. I've killed. So, I know what it's like. And in the time, I've known…"

"I know, Faith, thank you," Cole told her as the two of them raced to the attic.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"You must be something very special," Sykes mused as he circled Phoebe who was bound to a chair in the middle of the attic. "Turn a demon," he continued stopping to dig the tip of the knife into her neck. "Something very special indeed," he added and Phoebe shuddered, pulling away from the blade.

Sykes crouched down next to her. "Unfortunately, though…when you made him less evil, you made him less powerful," he informed her, leaning in close. "Hmm…" he rose to his feet again, "…I wonder." He leaned in so he was touching her and Phoebe flinched jerking away. "You going to have the same effect on me after I kill him?" he asked so confidently.

Cole and Faith came barging through the door as Phoebe recoiled further.

"Aunt Phoebe." Faith moved toward her but Cole threw out his arm, stopping her in her tracks.

"Well, well, well," Sykes chuckled. "The mighty Belthazor. You don't disappoint." He smiled eyes flicking to Faith then back to Cole. "I knew you'd figure out what I was up to." He pointed the blade at Phoebe again. "Sooner or later." He smirked and Faith flinched but Cole curled his hand around her hip holding her still.

Phoebe locked her eyes onto Cole's. "Cole, get out of here," she ordered pleadingly. Her eyes flickered to the knife. "He won't hurt me. He's bluffing."

"I can't take that chance," Cole and Sykes said in unison.

Sykes shivered. "Ooh, it's kind of eerie, isn't it?" he commented, removing the knife from Phoebe's throat. "How I know you better than you know yourself."

Faith glared at him. "Actually...it's kind of creepy," she answered and he cut his eyes to her. "Kind of makes you sound like a stalker." She shrugged.

"Faith," Cole warned through clenched teeth.

"What?" Faith said looking at Cole. "I'm a Slayer, remember? Buffy's…"

"Faith," Cole snapped and she stopped.

Sykes glared dangerously at Faith then addressed Cole again. "The student has surpassed his mentor," he announced proudly, arms outstretched.

"I was never your mentor, Sykes," Cole corrected.

"By reputation you were," Sykes informed him. "By your legend. It'll be an honor…to kill you." He smirked. "And assume your rightful place in the hierarchy," he finished sheathing his weapon.

Cole locked his eyes with Phoebe's and she shook her head, eyes pleading. "Remember what I told you?" he asked. "What I asked you to do?"

"Cole, please don't," Phoebe begged tears threatening to form.

Cole smiled at her as he pushed Faith back and away from him.

Faith frowned looking down at his arm then up to his face. "Cole, what are you—" she asked confused.

"Stay back," he instructed, interrupting her.

Cole then looked back at Phoebe and screamed before morphing into Belthazor.

Faith's eyes widened and she instantly stepped further away.

Phoebe flinched, her eyes falling closed.

Sykes morphed into his own demonic form and growled.

Belthazor threw an energy ball which merely stalled Sykes, making him groan.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Did you hear that?" Paige asked Buffy and Piper who came running towards her.

Piper nodded. "Attic," she instructed grabbing Buffy and Paige's hands and they disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Belthazor lunged at Sykes, striking him on the head.

Sykes instantly returned it to Belthazor's jaw. He then wrapped his arms around his back and squeezed.

Belthazor cried out as he back cracked painfully and Phoebe flinched as Sykes threw Belthazor onto a table, strangling him. "DIE!" he yelled squeezing hard.

"Cole!" Phoebe screamed.

Belthazor snarled loudly then threw Sykes up. He hit the ceiling before falling to the ground, Belthazor rolled away and Sykes smashed through the table.

Faith's eyes darted between the battling demons and her aunt. They were getting too close and Phoebe was no match for them. She cast one last worrying glance at the wrestling demons before racing to her aunt.

"Faith," Phoebe gasped, eyes shining with tears.

"I know," Faith whispered as she quickly untied Phoebe. She pulled Phoebe away in the opposite direction, Phoebe clinging to her.

Belthazor stole the athame from Sykes belt and raised it.

Just as he was about to stab Sykes Buffy flamed in with Piper and Paige. Piper threw up her hands, freezing the two demons then running to her sister and niece, pulling Paige and Buffy with her.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Emma ran up the stone steps and upon seeing the door wide open, let herself in. She glanced around and saw Phoebe's bag lying on the floor. She caught sight of the vanquishing potion for Belthazor and bent down.

She lifted it slowly into her hand and looked towards the stairs.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Belthazor and Sykes began to unfreeze and the sisters, Buffy and Faith backed up further, their eyes never leaving the demons.

Belthazor hauled Sykes to his feet, pulling the athame backwards for momentum and plunging it into his stomach.

Paige cried out, burying her head in Piper's shoulder.

Piper jumped and turned into Paige shielding her.

Buffy and Faith flinched, their arms flying out in front of Phoebe, Piper and Paige protectively but they kept their eyes trained on the demons.

Phoebe jumped, gripping her sisters' hands as her eyes snapped shut tightly.

Sykes screamed in pain as Belthazor pushed the blade so far in that his hand entered the demon too.

Belthazor growled loudly and yanked it out.

Sykes hollered as he burst into flames and disappeared.

Belthazor turned on the sisters and the Slayers, blood-soaked hand pointing the dripping athame in their direction.

"Cole?" Phoebe called sternly, her eyes pleading with him but he continued forward. "It's over," she said gently as she and her sisters and nieces backed up slowly. "You can turn back now." But he continued to advance. "Cole, you can do it," she encouraged him. "For me. For us," she tried desperately to reach him.

"Hurry! Throw the potion," Paige told Piper, nudging her arm. "Maybe it'll work on him."

Piper raised her arm and Phoebe reached for her crying. "No, don't!" Phoebe then turned back to Cole. "Cole, please," she begged. "You can do this. You're good," she pleaded but he roared at them and Phoebe jumped back.

Piper raised her arm again and threw it but Buffy waved her arm to the left and it smashed to the ground instead.

Emma entered the attic at that moment and threw hers at the demon who murdered her fiancé, stole the love of her life, took him from her forever.

The bottle smashed against Belthazor's back, its contents seeping into his skin.

Buffy, Faith and the sisters jumped back in surprise and Phoebe gasped as Belthazor was engulfed in flames and exploded.

Phoebe shook her head and turned into her sisters, her heart breaking painfully and slowly in her chest.

Faith wrapped an arm around Buffy, their eyes never leaving the ball of fire in front of them.

When the smoke and flames cleared, they revealed a stunned Cole who fell to his knees where Belthazor once stood.

Faith's eyes widened. "Aunt Phoebe." Phoebe reluctantly opened her eyes and gasped.

"What happened?" Paige questioned staring at Cole.

Phoebe smiled as she remembered what had been in the bottle. "That was the power-stripping potion I made to free Cole," she breathed her smiled growing as she dropped down in front of him. "Are you okay?" she asked pulling him against her tightly, Cole wrapping his arms around her just as tight.

Piper and Paige stared at the couple in shock while Faith darted between them and the grief-stricken Emma.

Emma caught sight of the abandoned bloody athame and dived for it, scooping it up and heading straight for Cole's back.

Faith stepped forward. "NO!" she barked and Buffy used her power to send the athame into the wall instead.

Phoebe's eyes snapped open and widened in fright. She jumped to her feet and blocked Emma's path to Cole. "No!" she yelled hand held out in front of her. "Emma, no!" she repeated staring into the other woman's eyes. "You got your revenge," she informed her, voice low. "You killed the demon you were after."

Emma looked behind her at Cole.

"Belthazor is dead," Phoebe continued. "Gone forever. Cole's a human being. An innocent."

Emma sighed and relaxed her stance, taking a step back in defeat and acceptance.

The truth hitting them all.

P4

"You know, this baby was your idea," Piper pointed out as she scribbled the necessary information onto the check.

"I know, I know," Paige replied as Leo joined them at the bar. "That's why I'm paying for half of it. Still haven't quite figured out how I'm going to explained what happened to it, though."

Piper narrowed her eyes, tore out the check and handed it over.

Paige grinned. "Thank you," she replied snatching it up.

"Well, at least it served its purpose," Piper concluded as she capped the pen.

Leo sighed. "In spades…" he started as Buffy and Joyce approached the couple.

"Mom needs to talk to you two," Buffy told them.

"If you both will follow me," Joyce said pointing at Leo and Piper. She led Piper and Leo over to a table so she could address them alone.

"What is it, Joyce?" Piper asked suddenly worried.

Joyce sighed. "Buffy told me about the fake baby that Paige got you," she told them. "Don't let what happened to it discourage you. Look I raised Buffy till our powers were bound and protected her from demons. Sabrina raised Tara and protected her. I will admit it's not easy to raise a child in a magical household. But it can be done. You, Piper, as well as Phoebe and your sister, Prue, are proof of that as well. Penny and your mom had to fight demons all the time and had to protect you also. What happened today with the fake baby was a fluke."

"What happened to your niece wasn't," Piper interjected.

"Celia was a fluke, sadly," Joyce sighed. "She was sick with the flu. Which is what put her in a hospital where the der Kinderstod was killing children. If she hadn't gotten sick, she would be alive today. I'm going to say, don't let this one situation decide if you're ready to have a child or not."

Piper and Leo looked at each other and then they both nodded. "We'll think about what you said, Joyce," Piper said.

"That's all I ask," Joyce said as she smiled at her friends.