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

23. Chapter 22: Paige of the Past

Chapter 22: Paige of the Past

October 17, 2001 – Wednesday

San Francisco Police Department

Cole sat on the hard-wooden bench in the precinct, squished in between a stinking drunk and a dirty squatter. Cole looked up and sighed in relief when he saw Darryl approach. "Is this the way you treat every driver with a buster headlight?" he asked agitated.

"No." Darryl replied leaning down, "Just the ones without ID." He said pointedly. "You're lucky I'm not going to cite you, Cole. But, c'mon man, no more driving without a license."

Cole looked down and nodded, "Am I free to go?" he asked and Darryl nodded, "Finally!" he cried jumping to his feet.

Darryl froze. "Finally?" he questioned incredulously.

Cole held up his hands. "I mean, thanks." He smiled falsely.

"Finally." Darryl said again, "You think I need this?" he asked continuing without a reply. "You see this assignment board?" he pointed to the wall behind him. "It's full of cases, open cases that we should be working on but instead we're cleaning up after your mess!"

"Hey, I don't like it either," Cole defended himself.

"It's bad enough I have to clean up after the sisters, Faith and Buffy's messes—" Darryl told the ex-demon.

"I'm just trying to fit in as a human, but I got no ID, no job—" Cole ranted.

"Does anyone ever say, 'Thank you, Darryl?"

"I can't even go into a grocery store without getting arrested and it just sucks!"

"It just sucks!" they both exclaimed together.

"Feel better?" Darryl asked.

"Yeah." Cole replied slowly.

At that moment a Faith came rushing into the precinct with Paige.

"Oh my god, Cole!" Faith cried walking quickly up to him and Cole smiled. "How's my car?" she asked concerned.

Cole's smiled dropped and Darryl chuckled. "It's fine." he assured her.

Faith glared. "It better be, that was mom's car. That was the first and the last time you borrow my car," she informed him heatedly. "Got it? Good. Let's go," she ordered beckoning behind her. "Thank you, Darryl." She smiled at Darryl.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Being human was supposed to make my life easier," Cole whined as they walked toward the car. "Instead it's getting worse by the minute. I swear, Phoebe was closer to marrying me when I was still a demon," he muttered bitterly.

Faith rolled her eyes. "Well, to be honest Cole, getting busted by the cops isn't the best way to win her over."

"Oh, Faith, gosh!" Paige cut in defensively and Cole looked at her in shock. "I'm sure Cole already feels like a big enough loser," she said smartly smirking over at Cole who rolled his eyes. "I know I would," she added cheekily.

"Oh, thanks a lot," Cole snapped darkly, sarcasm dripping from his tone.

Paige shrugged innocently. They were startled by the sound of a car honking and tires screeching before a loud crash echoed across the deserted parking lot.

Faith's smile fell, "Oh god," she murmured before the three of them took off at a sprint in the direction of the collision. They ran through a mesh of trees to see an overturned car, ablaze.

"It's about to explode." Cole announced.

"What am I supposed to do about it?" Faith asked as she flicked her wrist at the car. Suddenly the entire scene, angry flames and all, froze. "Did I do that?"

"It was only a matter of time that you would get one of the Charmed powers," Cole told her as they ran toward the burning car,

"It's stuck," Faith stated as she and Cole tried to shimmy the car door open.

Faith glanced around, noting the absence of her aunt.

"I got it," Cole assured her pulling the door open.

"Aunt Paige!" Faith yelled turning around to find Paige staring at the car. "Careful," she advised as Cole climbed into the car and pulled the unconscious woman free. "Hurry, before someone sees us."

Cole threw the woman's arm over his shoulder as Faith supported the other side and together they dragged her away from the car to safety just as Faith's freeze wore off and the car exploded.

Faith cried out as the force of the blast jerked her forward and she lost her grip on the woman causing her to fall forward.

Cole caught her and eased her down onto the ground.

Paige jumped at the sound; her eyes fixed on the all-consuming flames as they engulfed the car.

"Aunt Paige, are you okay?" Faith asked but Paige remained silent, staring at the wreck as if in some kind of trance, mouth agape and eyes wide in fear. "Aunt Paige!"

October 18, 2001 – Thursday

Halliwell Manor

"Cole, why are you being so vague?" Phoebe questioned as she ran down the stairs the next morning after Cole. "I only asked you where you were going."

"And I told you," Cole insisted. "I'm going to get a life."

"See, now that's the vague part I'm talkin' about," Phoebe said resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "The last time you left like this…" she sighed tiredly, "…you went out and got a gun."

"I'm not getting a gun," he assured her pulling on his coat.

"Good, that's good." Phoebe sighed relieved. "But please, tell me what's wrong?" she begged, eyes wide.

"It's just—" Cole sighed walking toward her. "I need action."

Phoebe tilted her head, eyes wandering over him suggestively. "I kind of thought we were doing okay in that department."

"Not that kind of action, Phoebe," Cole assured her and she nodded. "I went from all-powerful demon to mere mortal overnight."

Phoebe shook her head. "You are not mere," she countered firmly. "Baby, you are anything but mere."

"Next to the Charmed Ones, Faith and Buffy, I'm a potted plant," he countered looking at her pointedly and she sighed, looking at him as if he were crazy. "But last night…" he continued, "…pulling that woman out of that car felt so good."

"That's because you're a good man." Phoebe smiled.

Cole's eyebrows rose. "Well, I won't last as one without a reason to get up in the morning."

Phoebe jerked back slightly, her eyes wide in surprise. "You have me," she reminded him quietly, hoping the hurt she was feeling did not show through her voice.

"That's all I have, Phoebe," Cole told her gently, not intending to hurt her with his words. He leaned down and kissed her cheek before looking her in the eyes. "And I'm not even sure I have that," he said sadly then disappeared out the front door.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Piper stood watching as Faith was making lunch. Faith had wanted to try to make a pasta dish that was on her mind.

"I just got off the phone with Willow," Buffy said as she came into the kitchen. "She needs us in Sunnydale for something."

Faith nodded as she glanced at her aunt. "I guess lunch will have to wait. Aunt Piper, would you mind?"

"Go I'll take care of it," Piper informed her niece.

Buffy walked over to Faith and they flamed out together.

"Am I the world's biggest bitch or what?" Phoebe asked loudly as she entered the kitchen.

Piper turned at Phoebe, then shook her head. "Nah, too easy," she muttered as she tasted Faith's pasta.

"Something smells good," Phoebe said as she glanced around the kitchen. "Where's Faith? I thought she was learning how to cook."

"Faith and Buffy flamed to Sunnydale to help their friend Willow with something," Piper answered. "Try this." She spooned up some of the pasta and handed the spoon to her sister.

Phoebe took the spoon and at the spoonful of pasta and her eyes went wide as she looked at Piper. "This is good. You were teaching Faith one of your recipes?"

"No," Piper answered. "And now that you mention it, it did taste familiar. In fact if I am not mistaken, if this is the recipe I'm thinking about now, I haven't made this dish in seventeen years. Not since Faith's first birthday."

"Faith must have been watching from her highchair," Phoebe said in realization. "And since she like us have our memories from that time. She probably knows what went in it." It was at that moment that Faith and Buffy flamed in. "Everything okay?" she asked her nieces.

"Yeah everything is fine," Buffy answered. "Willow just needed some witchy help."

"Faith," Piper said as she turned to face her niece. "We need to talk."

"Whatever it is I didn't do it," Faith said defensively.

Piper smiled. "Faith, you're not in trouble. The pasta you made you recreated a recipe you remember me making when you were a year old."

Faith sighed. "Great just another reason why that woman wouldn't let me eat the food I made," she grumbled. "Even after she ordered me to start making her meals when I was four."

Piper looked at her niece impressed. "You learned to cook when you were four?" she asked as Faith nodded. Her smile faltered as her mood turned to anger. "You could have hurt yourself. What was that woman thinking having you make the food at that age?"

"It was her giving me empty promises the usual if I can do this then she wouldn't beat you so much," Faith explained. "I never could fulfill my part of the bargains."

"What were the bargains?" Buffy wondered.

"All the bargain started the day after my fourth birthday," Faith started.

Buffy sighed. "Which was the day before my mom and Aunt Sabrina tried to save you."

Faith nodded. "Yes," she answered. She sighed. "The first bargain was if I was able to sleep one night in a bed without falling out, she would let me out of the crib she kept me in. Never having slept on an actual bed I fell out, breaking my arm. She put on a show for the hospital that the hospital staff ate up. They agreed with her that if I was prone to falling out of bed that I should have bars around my bed. So back in the crib I went. I slept in the crib till I was ten-years-old and with all the drugs she gave me there was no way out for me."

Faith paused as she sat down at the island, Buffy sitting down next to her and wrapping an arm around her. "The second bargain was it had to impress her with a meal," she continued. "So I made pasta for her and she said it tasted terrible and that I failed her test and dumped the pasta all over me. So, all of the food preparation was wasted. So, she forced me to eat the drugged baby-dog food mixture while she got to eat real food."

"She's dead," Buffy said as she kissed Faith's cheek. She looked at Piper and Phoebe. "Maybe we should change the topic?"

"As I was saying when I walked into the kitchen," Phoebe said as Leo entered the kitchen. "I asked Piper if I was the world's biggest bitch or what?"

Buffy looked at Phoebe. "Why do you think that?" she asked kindly.

Phoebe sighed. "Cole vanquished his demon half." she began, reaching for the coffee pot. "He gave up everything he had ever known for me and I can't muster up a simple 'yes' to marriage," she huffed dumping sugar into her mug with a heavy sigh.

"You're not the marrying type," Leo reminded her, defending Phoebe for Phoebe.

"Or so she keeps telling herself," Piper muttered.

Phoebe froze and looked over at her sister. "You think I am?" she asked innocently, eyes wide and pleading.

"I think...you're afraid," Piper answered slowly and Phoebe frowned looking to Faith and Buffy, both of whom nodded their agreement.

Phoebe shook her head and scoffed, "Of what?" she asked turning to the fridge and retrieving the milk.

"Cole's humanity. He was actually a much safer boyfriend when he was a demon," Piper explained as Phoebe returned with the milk, "Even though he could rip your throat out with his teeth," she added as she scraped the scrambled eggs onto a plate.

Phoebe looked at Piper. "You want to explained that too me?" she asked and Piper, Buffy and Faith turned to Leo.

"On some level, you knew it couldn't last: a demon and a witch," Leo began as he walked toward Phoebe. "But now that Cole is a human, the safety net's gone, and for the first time in your relationship the future lies in your hands."

"Yeah." Phoebe nodded pouting then shook her head. "Okay. I don't want to analyze me anymore," she informed them, slumping her shoulders. "Let's try somebody else." She looked around and noticed the absentee. "How's Paige feeling this morning?" she queried brightly.

"No idea," Piper answered as Faith passed Buffy a plate of pasta. "She flew out the door this morning like nothing happened," she explained sounding a little miffed.

"Which means..." Buffy interjected. "That we still don't know why she froze up," she concluded with a sigh.

"That is so weird." Phoebe stated sadly.

Leo and Faith traded knowing looks before avoiding all eye contact with anyone, including each other.

"I mean, she can handle demons now but she can't handle a car wreck?" Phoebe continued to rant.

Piper scratched her head. "Yeah, it doesn't make any sense," she sighed tiredly, dropping her hand.

Buffy turned to wife and noticed Faith's unusual behavior and total lack of eye contact. She glanced at Phoebe who was watching Leo curiously. "Uh..." she called trying to snap their attention to her. "What's going on here?" she asked pointing between at Leo and Faith.

Piper turned to Leo and Faith quickly and frowned.

Phoebe cleared her throat, "Um...if you put your nose any deeper into that coffee cup, you're going to need a snorkel," she pointed out smartly and Leo's head snapped up.

"What do you know?" Piper demanded with narrowed eyes.

Leo hesitated. "Paige...told me something in confidence," he admitted.

"The same with me," Faith added.

"Okay." Piper's eyes narrowed more. "But it's kind of a dangerous time for us," she reminded them. "If she freezes up again at the wrong moment, are you going to be sorry you didn't tell us?"

Leo looked between them all then sighed, opening his mouth.

"Let me, Uncle Leo," Faith sighed as she looked at her aunts and wife. "Aunt Paige's parents...died in a car wreck," she informed them grimly.

Buffy, Piper and Phoebe froze. "Oh my god," Phoebe whispered hoarsely.

Piper stood up straight, "When did that happen?"

"When she was in high school," Faith replied pausing in thought. "That'd make it about...eight years ago."

"And she never really dealt with it," Leo added, figuring he could at last contribute considering the secret was out now anyway.

"Well of course not," Buffy agreed. "How do you deal with something like that?" she asked rhetorically.

Piper bit her lip. "She was all alone," she said sadly.

Phoebe shrugged her shoulders, "So…maybe we could help her deal with it?" she suggested quietly.

South Bay Social Services

"No, I'm not family," Paige told the person on the other line of the phone. "I'm from Social Services. I was just calling to see how she was after the accident." She listened intently as the person down the line spoke. "Thank god." Paige smiled. "Okay uh…I'll just call back and check in on her. Thank you." She sighed as she saw her sisters and nieces entering the office and heading towards her.

"Hi. Got a minute?" Phoebe asked gently as they reached her desk.

"No," Paige replied picking up some files. "I'm busy, guys," she informed them slipping out of her cubicle.

"Uh…we just want to talk. It's kind of important." Phoebe tried again chasing after her as Piper exchanged concerned looks with Buffy and Faith.

"Yeah? So is my work," Paige replied shortly. "Maybe later."

"Paige, it's about what happened last night," Piper tried this time.

"Not right now," Paige insisted firmly.

"Paige, we're your sisters. And Buffy and Faith are your nieces," Phoebe pleaded.

"I said, not now!" Paige exclaimed loudly halting their movement as she stormed away.

Buffy, Faith, Piper and Phoebe sighed, glancing between one another before quietly following Paige.

"Paige," Phoebe said firmly and her sister slammed her file down. "We know about your parents," she said quietly.

Paige spun on Faith the only one she had told about her parents. "You told them?" she snapped at her niece.

"Yes, Aunt Paige," Faith answered. "Their worried about you and so am I."

Paige sighed, her shoulders sagging as she squeezed her eyes shut.

"We want you to know that you're not alone," Phoebe informed her younger sister gently, eyes full of love but Paige shook her head.

"And we're here for you," Piper added with a smile that her sister couldn't see.

Paige closed her eyes briefly then turned to them with tears in her eyes. "Fine, but just not here, okay?" she begged her voice breaking slightly at the end, the sound pulling Faith toward her aunt.

"Okay," Faith whispered stopping next to Paige but not touching.

Paige looked at her niece, grateful for the closeness and even more grateful for the silent comfort that Faith was offering. For in that instance she knew that Faith was not her niece but one of her closest and dearest friends. "I'll just tell my boss I have to leave," she suggested then looked down. "We'll talk at home." And with that she stomped out of the room, leaving her concerned sisters and nieces behind.

Phoebe turned to Piper, both of their eyes glistening with unshed tears then turned to their nieces who also had tears in their eyes.

Faith smiled at them weakly as she walked back to them, blinking once or twice, the tears disappearing. "She'll be okay," she assured them, tucking hair behind Buffy's ear and throwing her arm around her wife.

Phoebe sighed, dropping her head onto Piper's shoulder. "I really hope so," she whispered sadly.

"What if we can't help her?" Piper asked curious.

Buffy bit her lip. "Then we find someone who can," she answered simply.

Halliwell Manor

Paige, Faith, Piper and Phoebe were seated on the couch, Paige at one end, Piper at the other with Faith and Phoebe in between. Leo was perched on one chair while Buffy sat in another, both across from the couch as they all listened to Paige tell her story.

"So, I wasn't the ideal high school student, you know I um…" Paige trailed off licking her lips nervously. "I skipped classes, partied all night with my friends. Pretty much anything they wanted to do I was up for," she explained with a small nod, staring anywhere but at the faces of her sisters'.

Piper smirked. "Sounds like somebody else we know," she commented pointedly looking at Phoebe, who jumped and turned to her sharply. She chuckled. "What I mean to say is that high school is a time of searching and figuring out who you are, for everybody," she explained knowingly.

"Yeah but I was..." Paige turned away, "...cruel, especially to my mom and my dad," she paused to glance at her sisters and nieces briefly. "The day they died…I told them they weren't my real parents," she admitted quietly her eyes welling with tears. "Which is stupid because it wasn't even how I felt. I mean just because I'm adopted didn't mean they weren't my real parents, because…" Paige smiled her mind in the past, "…they were."

"Of course, they were." Buffy smiled sympathetically at her aunt. "They raised you and loved you every second of your life and they knew how much you loved them back," she told her with a warm smile and shrugged. "A few...choice words on a bad day do not cancel out all of that love, Paige," she told Paige firmly.

"And Buffy knows what she's talking about," Faith agreed. "After all Buffy and Joyce came to blows at times, especially before Joyce learned that Buffy was the Slayer." She looked over at her wife. "Right, babe?"

"Right," Buffy agreed as Paige bit down on her lip, fighting to hold in her tears, "Every teenager in the world will say something mean and cruel to their parents just to see it hurt them, it's what teenagers do: lash out at the people they know will love them no matter what." She paused trying to catch Paige's eye, when she did she held Paige's gaze as she spoke, "Paige, your parents knew that you never meant a single word," she assured her aunt.

Piper and Phoebe smiled as they listened to Buffy's words. When Buffy stopped Phoebe nodded her head, drawing Paige's attention to her. "Buffy's right, Paige," Phoebe said kindly. "You were just feeling lost and you made a mistake." She chuckled shaking her head. "I made so many mistakes you know, but I got through them and…I changed and so have you."

"Not in time," Paige murmured quietly but her sisters and nieces heard her loud and clear.

"What do you mean?" Leo prodded gently.

"It was um…family night," Paige began slowly, her voice strained and shaky as her eyes filled with more tears and her sisters and nieces exchanged concerned looks with one another.

Piper turned her head to look at her husband who was up in an instant, perching on the arm on the couch behind his wife.

Faith shifted her eyes to meet Buffy's watching as Buffy slipped off of her chair and moved to perch on the end of the coffee table instead.

All of them showing Paige that she was surrounded by family and that she wasn't alone: they were all there for her. She forced a smile at them letting them know she got the message then continued shakily. "It was, just something we did every week." She shrugged with a far-away smile. "And my dad, left the fire station early to pick up my mom and I."

"Your dad was a fireman?" Phoebe interrupted with a smile and Paige nodded.

"Yeah," Paige whispered the tears clogging up her voice. "I started bitching," she continued, anger at herself evident in her tone. "About how I was too old for this and how it was super lame and..." she paused again swallowing hard, "...he just lost it. He was so angry with me," she said slowly, the tears finally falling. "He was so angry with me," she repeated her voice now shaky and broken as she fought off sobs. "That he—he didn't—he didn't see the car that swerved…" Her voice was drowned out by a sob and she squeezed Faith's hand for strength, Buffy placing a hand on her knee and squeezing it.

Paige drew in a shuddering breath. "That swerved into our lane and…" she laughed sharply trying to hide another sob, "…the next thing I know, I'm on the pavement. The car's on fire." Her lip trembled as she shook her head softly, staring into space ahead of her. She glanced quickly around the room to find, not sympathy but love and hurt for her in the eyes of those around her.

Phoebe's eyes big and wet with nearly forming tears, Buffy and Piper's filled with moisture which they blinked away for Paige's sake, and Faith's with fresh tears pooling, the old ones now slipping down her cheeks which stunned Paige for a second before she went back to her story.

"I still don't know why I…survived and they didn't," Paige whispered shaking her head and looking down.

Phoebe reached over Faith and squeezed Paige's other knee. "But you can't blame yourself for that," she advised her gently.

Paige sobbed once and looked up. "Well…I feel guilty every single day," she countered firmly.

Piper took a deep breath and spoke up, since nobody else was and she finally could again. "I know it's hard..." she started slowly and Paige began to sob silently causing Faith to shift in her seat and grasp both of her aunt's hands tightly, "...but you got to try and move forward," she continued gently.

Paige laughed breathlessly. "How can I move forward, Piper?" she questioned incredulously. "I killed my parents."

"Oh, P," Faith said, using the nickname she had given Paige when she had first met her all those months ago. She wiped away Paige's tears only to allow room for more to take their place. " P," she whispered then pulled the sobbing woman into her arms.

Paige gripped Faith tightly and buried her head in Faith's shoulder, sobbing quietly.

Piper shook herself and tipped her head back to Leo. "What do we do?" she asked sounding desperate as Phoebe watched feeling helpless. "How do we help her deal with something that happened in the past?"

"Send her back to it," Leo replied meeting Paige's pain-filled, tearful gaze.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Okay wait," Phoebe halted, lighting the last candle in the attic and rising to her feet. "I don't get it. You want to summon the ghost of the past?" she questioned glancing at Leo. "From where, the fiction shelf?"

"Dickens didn't make that stuff up," Leo informed her curtly. "He was visited by a malevolent spirit."

"Doesn't malevolent mean bad?" Paige asked from her place between Buffy and Faith, head resting on one of Faith's shoulders.

Leo nodded slightly. "Clyde's not the friendliest ghost that I know, but he is the only one who helps the living visit their past," he explained with a shrug.

"Clyde?" Piper repeated flatly. "The malevolent spirit's name is Clyde?" she smirked and Phoebe chuckled, while Buffy and Faith shook their heads slightly an amused smile twisting their lips.

"Yeah…he doesn't like it either," Leo agreed smirking also.

"Wait, we're using bad magic to time travel?" Paige lifted her head from Faith's shoulder. "Should I be worried about any of those personal gain issues?"

"Not at all," Leo assured her. "You're only going back to learn why your parents died. That's all."

"Yeah," Faith nudged Paige who turned to her. "It's going to help you, not harm you."

"Everyone ready?" Leo asked glancing around the room: Piper and Phoebe nodded, while Buffy, Faith and Paige looked confused.

"Don't we need a summoning spell?" Buffy asked hesitantly.

"No, Clyde only ignores them," Leo replied with a shrug. "There's only one way to get Clyde down here." He smirked holding up one finger then raised his head to the ceiling. "Clyde! Get your but down here, you fetid worm from the bog of eternal stench!" he yelled as loud as he could and everyone shot him extremely confused or concerned looks. "You got to make him mad." he explained then looked back up. "Your mother was a chunky substance from a djinn's cesspool! And she smelled bad too!"

Suddenly a tornado type whirl appeared in the room, spinning into the candle circle to form a very angry looking man with brown hair, old clothes and stubble.

Phoebe quickly moved to stand beside Piper while Faith and Paige slid closer to Buffy.

Clyde turned slowly, his anger dissipating slightly when he saw… "Leo!" He strode over to the Whitelighter. "I was with a client!" he yelled, again only slightly. "1969, Woodstock. Hendrix was on-stage! This better be good."

Leo, unfazed by the force of the ghost's anger, answered calmly. "I need you to take Paige here..." he glanced at Paige quickly, "...back to the day of her greatest pain."

"A job!" Clyde perked up considerably, "Why didn't you just say so in the first place?"

"Not a job," Leo corrected him, taking a step closer. "A favor."

"I don't do charity work!" Clyde snapped darkly.

"You owe me Clyde," Leo said sternly. "Or do I need to remind you of your client that I healed? The one that you returned from the past on the edge of a cliff?" he reminded him and Clyde's face fell. "I believe there were thirty-two broken bones."

"Alright, alright. I remember," Clyde cut in reluctantly then turned to Paige who shirked away slightly. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked her, voice loud and booming. "I only open the door to the past; I don't guarantee no safe trip."

"Obviously," Piper cut in loudly and he turned to her sharply.

"Yeah." Paige answered re-directing his attention. "I need to do this."

"Fine," Clyde snapped turning to Leo. "You guide her," he ordered then snapped his fingers and an old door appeared in the middle of their attic.

"I'm going with," Faith said.

Leo looked at Clyde. "It's her neck," Clyde informed him. "She can help you."

Leo nodded and then looked at Buffy, Piper and Phoebe. "I won't be able to hear your call," he informed them warily. "You guys will be on your own."

"We'll be okay," Piper assured him. "You and Faith just take care of Paige," she ordered and he nodded.

Paige looked at her sisters and Buffy who all smiled at her encouragingly.

"It'll be okay," Buffy promised her and Paige nodded at Clyde who opened the door to reveal a black void with floating white smudges inside.

Paige hesitated and Leo whispered, "Just don't look down." She nodded once then jumped through Leo and Faith walking in after her.

Clyde peeked around the open door at Piper, Buffy and Phoebe, "How's about you three?" he asked, "Care for a little trip to the past? See it all a second time?" he tried to tempt them and no-one noticed the two white/grey floating essences sneak out of the door. "My rates are steep but fair."

Phoebe glanced at Piper then back to Clyde. "Can you take us back to meet John Lennon?" she asked hopefully.

"No," Piper countered sternly and Phoebe jumped.

"No," Phoebe repeated. "No. Right. We'll pass."

"Suit yourself," Clyde swung the door shut and snapped his fingers again, making it disappear. "If you ever need my services, just yell," he instructed before leaving them once again.

"We need to be here when Paige gets back," Phoebe said.

"Yeah," Piper agreed. "I'll cook dinner and we can just hang out for a while," she suggested and her sister and niece nodded.

Buffy looked Piper and Phoebe with concern shining in her eyes. "I hope this plan works," she said flatly before she and Piper left the attic.

Phoebe watched them go with a sad smile, not noticing the essence heading straight for her until it was too late and it entered through her chest.

Phoebe hunched forward then stood up straight with a smirk. "So, do I," she murmured her voice suddenly strangely southern. Her eyes found the wandering soul floating above her head. "Don't worry, Frankie, I'll find you a body too," she promised before wandering out of the attic.

April 20, 1994 – Wednesday

Matthews Home

"Ah!" Paige yelped as she was thrown out the door, landing painfully on the floor, Leo and Faith right behind her.

"Rough ride," Leo stated as he closed the door and it disappeared.

"You okay?" Faith asked Paige as she hauled herself to her feet.

"Yeah, I'm all right," Paige assured her niece, dusting herself off. "I'm all wrong!" she exclaimed catching a glimpse of herself in her bedroom mirror: fringe, braces and bad 90's clothes. "Oh my god! I saw Scrooged, I'm supposed to come back as a ghost, not a ghost with braces," she whined cringing at the metal in her mouth.

"You're meant to relive the experience, not to observe it, Paige," Leo informed Paige from behind.

"Yeah but…I just wanted to come back and sit on the sidelines and make sarcastic comments about my lack of style," Paige moaned moving slowly around the room.

"Just take a look around, P," Faith advised.

Paige did so, a smile slowly manipulating her lips as she remembered her life eight years previously. "Hey." She grinned. "You're right. I was cool even then," she mused and Faith smiled. "Oh!" she gushed suddenly, walking to her dresser and lifting up a silver necklace. "Philip Lewiki gave this to me," she informed them, sounding slightly dreamy. "My first love." She looked up at Faith and Leo hopefully, "Can I call him?" she begged.

Leo shook his head. "That's not why we're here," he reminded her and Paige pouted just as there was a loud knock on her bedroom door.

Paige jumped and looked at Faith and Leo in a panic. "What do I do?"

"Open the door," Leo replied simply.

Paige nodded and walked towards it, pulling it open hesitantly to reveal an older man on the other side.

"Dad?" Paige queried; her eyes wide.

"Are you ready for school?" Mr. Matthews asked. "You don't want to miss your ride."

Paige merely giggled happily, throwing her arms around him in a crushing hug.

Mr. Mathews laughed. "What's with all this—" he stopped abruptly, releasing Paige and scanning the room suspiciously. "Is that smoke I smell?" he looked toward the window. "Are you smoking in here?" he demanded the anger evident in his tone. He strode over the window as Paige shook her head innocently.

Mr. Matthews stubbed out the cigarette and turned on his daughter. "You know…I don't know how much more of this your mother and I can take," he informed Paige seriously before exiting her bedroom.

"Wait. Wait." Leo called as Paige descended the stairs quickly, "Where are you going?"

"To talk to my dad," Paige answered simply. "Did you see that look in his eyes? I can't believe I hurt him like that," she sighed shaking her head, the disappointment in herself the same as her father's.

"Rules first," Leo stated stopping Paige.

"There are rules?" Faith said with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, Faith, there are rules," he replied before looking back at Paige. "To find what you came here for, you need to follow the same path you took eight years ago," he explained firmly.

"What if I don't remember?" Paige asked with a shrug, knowing that possibility was high.

"Faith and I'll guide you," Leo assured her. "You're the only one that can see us. Just don't forget the goal. You're here to learn what really happened the night your parents died."

"I understand," Paige assured him. "Thank you, Leo. Step aside," she instructed walking around him and out the door.

"I get that she can't change her past," Faith said. "For the same reason mom, Aunt Piper and Aunt Phoebe couldn't go back and change mine. But can't she at least leave here with a good feeling? I know how she feels, Uncle Leo. That feeling of being a disappointment. It can be overwhelming."

"That's why you wanted to come," Leo said in understanding. "Because you can see yourself in Paige's shoes."

"To a degree," Faith admitted. "Not all the way of course, since she had good parents growing up. But what she's feeling, the loneliness, the feeling of disappointment. That I can relate to."

They hurried out of the room and came to a stop behind Paige just outside the kitchen, listening to her parents' conversation.

"Why? What did she do this time?" the voice of Paige's mother asked sounding tired.

"She was smoking again," her father replied, the anger still present. "This time in her bedroom and when I went in, she had the nerve to give me this big hug like I wouldn't get mad."

Paige slowly pushed the swinging door open just a crack so that her parents were visible, seated at the kitchen table.

"She told me she quit smoking," Mrs. Matthews said sadly.

Mr. Matthews scoffed. "Oh yeah, right. Just like the time she quit drinking…and passes out at another one of those parties and I had to go pick her up and bring her home."

"School called yesterday," Mrs. Matthews announced. "You know, she's cutting her classes again."

Mr. Matthews shook his head. "She's not going to get into college if she keeps this up."

"Oh, well haven't you heard?" Mrs. Matthews asked getting to her feet. "She's not going to college."

"Well, we'll see about that," Mr. Matthews replied lifting his plate and following his wife to the sink.

Paige shook her head, letting the door fall closed, unable to take anymore of her parents' disappointment.

"I changed my mind," Paige whispered, tears stinging her eyes. "I can't go in there. They think I'm awful...I was awful."

"It's alright," Faith soothed.

"You can do it," Leo added. "Just remember why you're here."

Paige inhaled deeply and plastered on a pleasant smile before pushing open the door and entering the kitchen. "Mom," she said happily and her mother froze, turning slowly away from the sink to face her daughter. "Oh my god!" she cried wrapping her arms around her mom tightly. "I've missed you so much."

"Oh?" Mrs. Matthews gasped in surprise at the contact. "What's gotten into you?"

"What did I tell you?" Mr. Matthews stated not looking at his daughter and his wife straightened up, turning back to the dishes.

"Uh…" Paige stalled, at a loss for words, "You guys I have an announcement to make," she informed them with a sure nod. "Starting now I'm turning my life around."

"You're not borrowing the car," her father replied instantly.

"No, I mean it," Paige insisted.

"Yeah," her father laughed bitterly. "Like you 'meant it' when you said you were going to stop cutting classes?"

Paige sighed turning to her mother. "Uh, Mom you understand me," she said sounding desperate as her mother turned around. "You've got to believe me," she pleaded.

"Oh, so now I'm Mom?" Mrs. Matthews asked her daughter, the hurt clear in her voice. "Last night we weren't even your real parents."

"No, you are!" Paige assured her. "I was just saying that…" she looked at both her parents sadly, "…to hurt you," she admitted quietly.

Her mother nodded then turned back around. "Did you feed the cat?" she asked her husband who nodded.

Paige turned to Leo and Faith for help and they merely shrugged. She turned back to her parents. "You guys, I am not a screwup. I promise I'll change. I promise I will go to college and…oh please stop!" she cried willing them to look at her. "Please we need to talk."

"Well, you are right about that," her father agreed. "And we are going to talk about everything tonight, at dinner."

"Dinner," Paige echoed, her face falling. "The family dinner."

"Paige, be careful," Leo warned sternly.

"Lay off, Uncle Leo," Faith countered. "She deserves at least the chance to say goodbye. If I were in her place that's what I would want. I would want to be able to say goodbye to mom."

Paige shook herself slightly. "Please, we really need to talk before we drive."

"Oh, Paige that's your ride," her mother informed her as a horn blared loudly from outside.

"You have to follow the events of the day Paige," Leo reminded his sister-in-law. "No exceptions."

Paige hesitated but sighed when the horn blared again, turning around and storming out of the

October 18, 2001 – Thursday

Halliwell Manor

"I don't think I've ever cooked for Paige before," Piper mused as she moved purposefully around the kitchen. "I hope she likes pork roast."

"She does," Buffy informed her matter-of-factly then faltered. "I think she does."

"Just out of curiosity..." Phoebe spoke up from her place in front of the mirror on the fridge, "...do you think that I am a natural beauty or is this like..." she screwed up her face, "...one of those gym bodies?"

Buffy frowned turning to Phoebe incredulously. "What?"

"Oh, Phoebe, please," Piper dismissed with a wave of her hand. "Like you haven't always been beautiful."

Phoebe smirked as she fluffed her hair and pulled her top lower off of her shoulders. "Oh, that's good, because I hate lifting heavy objects," she shared in that same southern drawl.

"What is with the Blanche DuBois?" Piper asked with a chuckle.

"Yeah Phoebe, I don't think I've ever heard you use an accent," Buffy commented.

"Phoebe," Cole called striding into the kitchen. "Hi." He smiled at her and kissed her quickly.

Phoebe gazed up at him. "Oh, if you're the most, to say the least," she muttered looking him up and down then turned to the wandering soul hidden by the lightshade pointedly.

"Did I…miss something?" Cole asked looking around confused, just as the other soul came at him and entered his stomach. He stood up straight, his eyes on Phoebe intently.

"Yeah," Phoebe answered his unasked question. "Me."

Cole smirked before scooping her off her feet and attacking her lips with his own.

Buffy's eyes widened at the couple's antics and she spun in her chair to face Piper, who was currently oblivious.

"I think this sister and niece's night is a good idea," Piper mused her back to her sister and niece.

"Piper." Buffy whispered harshly, "Piper!" But Piper ignored her as she continued with her musings as she lifted a freshly homemade pie from the oven and turned to the table.

"I mean, there's still so much we don't know about Paige…" her voice died in her throat as she caught sight of the couple assaulting one another's lips, "…yet," she finished then turned to Buffy wide eyed and open mouthed.

Buffy threw up her hands. "Finally." Then she spun back around. "Hey!"

Cole dropped Phoebe to her feet and they ran toward the pie on the table, knocking Buffy off of her chair in the process.

"Oh!" Buffy yelped as she hit the ground hard. "Ow."

Piper scurried around and pulled Buffy to her feet. "You okay?"

Buffy glared. "Ow!" she replied and Piper nodded as they turned their eyes on the couple to find then pulling apart the pie and shoving mouthfuls into their mouths.

Piper's jaw hit the floor. "Hey! What is the matter with you two?" she cried in disbelief and they dropped their hands. "That is for Paige."

"Sorry, ma'am," Cole apologized. "We're starving!" he informed her with a chuckle with died out when he saw the looks both Buffy and Piper were sending them.

"In so many ways," Phoebe added suggestively.

"Uh-huh," Piper narrowed her eyes. "Well, go to lunch," she snapped turning back to the stove.

"Good idea," Cole agreed snatching up Piper's keys. "Let's cut out, Lulu," he announced pulling Phoebe towards him and pressing his lips to hers.

Buffy chuckled. "Lulu?" she echoed laughing lightly then froze. "Wait…Lulu…" she glanced at Phoebe and Cole intently. "Oh!" she exclaimed suddenly eyes bulging. "Oh!" she cried again pointing at them accusingly. "Oh!"

"Alright," Piper snapped turning around sharply ignoring Buffy's strange display. "Enough with the pet names and the accents in the kitchen."

Buffy looked at Phoebe and Cole warily. "Piper don't," she warned seriously, not taking her eyes off of the couple.

Piper ignored the blonde Slayer. "And could you come up with something better than Lulu?" she asked with a scowl. "It sounds like a poodle," she insulted and Buffy squeezed her eyes shut momentarily.

"Damn it, Piper," Buffy muttered under her breath and her eyes snapped open, sensing movement, to see Cole approaching Piper with a dangerous look in his eye. "Shit." She cursed as he picked up a large kitchen knife. She disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames and appeared between Cole and Piper. "Uh...hi." She smiled pleasantly her eyes falling to the knife. "Um...she, she didn't mean that," she tried to diffuse the situation. "Piper was just kidding, Lulu is a lovely name." She turned to Phoebe/Lulu. "Very classy." And Phoebe/Lulu smirked.

Cole paused, regarded Buffy for a moment then raised the knife and struck her on the temple with the handle sending her into the cabinet, smacking her forehead off the corner and slipping to the ground unconscious.

Piper jumped at the sound, previously lost in her world of cooking, and turned swiftly. "Oh my god!" she gasped seeing Buffy's unconscious form on the ground, "Buffy! What the—what the hell happened?" she demanded rounding on Cole and Phoebe. "Ah!" she squealed as Cole pressed the tip of the knife to her neck and encircled her shoulders tightly, holding her in place.

"Are you making fun of my girl?" Cole demanded harshly pressing the blade harder against Piper's skin eliciting a wince from her lips.

Phoebe/Lulu smiled happily and clapped her hands together. "My Frankie is so protective," she gushed lovingly glancing proudly at the unconscious Buffy and restrained Piper.

"Frankie," Piper echoed then squeezed her eyes shut. "Shit," she muttered under her breath then squealed as Cole/Frankie tugged on her and pressed the knife harder against her neck. She turned her gaze on her younger sister. "And Lulu," she stated deadpanned and the woman in question smirked.

"Hi," Phoebe/Lulu drawled waving her hand. "We're ghosts."

"Boo," Cole/Frankie chuckled into her hear and Piper cringed.

"And we've been waiting for about fifty years to finish a job," Phoebe/Lulu shared and she sashayed closer and Piper's eyes widened in panic. "So…" Phoebe/Lulu drawled as she stopped right in front of Piper, "…now if you'll excuse us—" and with that she drew back her fist and struck Piper hard sending her down, cracking the back of her head off of the floor as she landed.

April 20, 1994 – Wednesday

Gateway High School

"I can't believe I remember the combination." Paige muttered as she flipped open her school locker. "I used to live out of this locker," she mused as a loud beeping filled the space. "My pager!" she exclaimed reaching in for the pink object.

"You…had a pager in high school?" Leo queried with a frown.

Paige rolled her eyes, "Uh! Get with it, Leo, it is the '90's," she scoffed and switched the device off. "Michelle Miglis," she read with a frown. "Ooh, I can't deal with her drama right now," she said to herself more than anyone else.

"P," Faith said having spotted a taller girl with lightish brown hair walk up behind the open locker door.

Paige glanced at Faith as she threw her pager into the locker. Faith nodded toward the girl and Paige nodded in understanding as she shut the locker door. "Michelle," she greeted.

"Remember your whole 'peppermint schnapps' theory?" Michelle asked, chewing on her gum exaggeratedly.

"No," Paige replied, brow creased and shaking her head.

Michelle rolled her eyes. "You know, how you can't tell it from a breath mint?" she reminded Paige. "You're wrong. I got so busted." She smirked.

"Oh." Paige forced a short laugh. "Sorry," she apologized then walked away, Michelle following behind.

"You…drank at high school," Leo observed, hands in pockets and eyebrows raised.

"Who didn't?" Faith asked as Leo looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Well technically I wasn't in high school at the time since it was in Sunnydale.

"I got grounded for two weeks," Michelle moaned, "My mom pulled the while estrogen-fest thing." She scrunched up her face in disgust. "I swear to god, she's so damaged."

"She's not damaged," Paige countered rolling her eyes at the girl's rant.

"You're right," Michelle agreed. "She's beyond repair."

Paige stopped abruptly and turned on Michelle. "No, Michelle, she's not beyond repair. She's actually just trying to set boundaries, and believe it or not, you need them. So maybe you should just...lay off," she advised wisely. "I mean, my god, how would you feel if she died tomorrow?"

Michelle raised her eyebrows, "Jeez, Paige, morbid much?" she snapped just as the bell rang and Paige scurried off. "Wait for me!" she called after Paige with wide eyes."

"I know her Aunt Paige's friend can't see or hear us but, in this instance, I wish she could," Faith admitted. "Because Paige is right."

"I know, Faith," Leo said as he put an arm around the brunette Slayer. "You both have lost parents. For Paige it was her adoptive parents, for you it was Prue and Andy. In that way you both are the same."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Paige sat agitated in a class full of bored-out-of-their-minds students who were in no way listening to the equally bored teacher drone on about American colonies of whatever, desperate wanting to get out of there and see her parents.

Michelle passed Paige a note reading, 'Donny is So hot!' and rolled her eyes, suppressing a chuckle.

Paige leaned towards Michelle shaking her head. "You don't want Donny, trust me," she advised. "He winds up bagging groceries for a living and driving a Camaro," she informed her with a shudder.

Michelle, on the other hand, grinned widely. "I love Camaro's," she stated firmly.

"Would you girls please keep it down back there," the teacher interrupted them grumpily. "I'm trying to teach."

"But nobody's listening," Michelle retorted smartly and the class laughed.

"Yeah I know," the teacher replied, not missing a beat. "That's why all you delinquents are in this class."

Paige glanced at the clock as he continued his 'teachings' and sighed. "This is ridiculous," she groaned. "I have to get out of here."

"I know the feeling," Michelle sympathized.

Paige shook her head. "No, you don't understand. This is my last day with my parents."

Michelle frowned. "Okay...what are you babbling about?"

Paige sighed again then raised her hand. "Excuse me, Mr. Martin?" she called interrupting the lesson again. "May I have a bathroom pass, please?" she asked nicely and as soon as she said it Faith and Leo appeared behind her.

"Don't even think about it, Paige," Leo snapped quickly. "You have to follow the same path."

"Sadly, in this Uncle Leo is right, P," Faith informed her aunt.

"What is the problem, Miss Matthews?" Mr. Martin asked from his desk.

"I am tired of wasting my time here," Paige said to Leo and Faith but Mr. Martin mistook it as directed towards him.

"Well, I'm sorry if I'm boring you," Mr. Martin apologized sarcastically.

"No, I'm not talking to you, Mr. Martin," Paige corrected him.

"Who were you talking to?" he asked instead.

"Yeah, really. Who?" Michelle questioned from her left.

"Paige," Leo warned, his tone serious.

"This is stupid." Paige muttered. "I just—this is all just a bad memory. I need to get out of here," she cried standing from her desk and walking to the door.

"Miss Matthews, you will sit down and be quiet and wait for the bell to ring just like everyone else!" Mr. Martin ordered sternly which Paige defiantly ignored while the class started chanting for her to 'go'. "Sit down, Miss Matthews!"

"No, I won't!" Paige shot back with a frown.

"Paige, don't do this." Leo pleaded one last time.

"Let her go, Uncle Leo. We can't stop her. I know the desire within her heart all to well," Faith said as Paige wrenched the door open to find one of the school's security guards on the other side

"Going somewhere?"

October 18, 2001 – Thursday

San Francisco Police Department

"Ow!" Piper growled from her place, in chair next to Darryl's desk, ice-pack to her head and a bandage on her superficial neck wound. "Ow!" she said again as Buffy pressed the pack down harder. "Buffy, stop fussing I'm fine!" she insisted.

Darryl tapped his computer screen in order to get their attention.

"Find something?" Buffy questioned hopefully.

Darryl nodded. "Yeah, there was a Lulu and Frankie in the database," he answered eyes skimming the screen. "Some crazy young couple. They robbed a series of jewelry stores in the '50s," he read aloud then looked up. "They killed three people before they were gunned down."

Piper rolled her eyes. "Great!" she snapped throwing her hands in the air then replacing the ice-pack to her head.

"Just peachy," Buffy stated deadpanned.

"Argh I knew they were criminals," Piper added dropping her chin to her chest.

"Who?" Darryl asked looking between his wife and sister-in-law.

"The ghosts that possessed Phoebe and Cole," Buffy informed him quietly so lingering ears would not hear.

"Yeah, and we need to find them before they finish their job," Piper added warily.

"What job?" Darryl asked.

Buffy and Piper shrugged. "They must have some unfinished business here on Earth," Piper explained. "And they either can't or won't move on until it's done."

"It's how most ghosts work," Buffy elaborated further and the bewildered detective nodded slowly.

"You know for sure?" Darryl asked turning to the blonde Slayer who went to answer but was cut off by Piper.

"Well, they didn't take us aside and share their plans with us but we've been doin' this dance for a while now, I think I know what I'm talking about!" Piper snapped with a scowl while Buffy raised her eyebrows and Darryl leaned back in his chair, away from the scary testy lady.

"Piper," Buffy said slowly and Piper's head swiveled to face her.

"What?" Piper snapped, "What is it Buffy because forgive me but how do you want me to react exactly?" she barked eyes distressed. "My little sister, who is also your aunt via your marriage to Faith, was just possessed by a supernaturally born killer, and my husband and your wife is in 1994—" she cast a quick glance at Darryl as she added, "—and I do not mean in the fashion sense. He time-travelled back with Paige—" her wide eyes returned to Buffy's, "—so the only ones left to fix this is you an I which is problematic if getting rid of these friggin' ghosts requires the Power of Three!"

Buffy watched her aunt as she breathed in and out heavily, shoulders slumped and eyes defeated before she rose to her feet and wrapped her arms around Piper in a comforting sisterly embrace. "Breathe," she instructed and Piper obediently began drawing in slow, deep breaths. "Leo, Faith and Paige are fine," she assured her slightly overwhelmed-with-worry aunt as she dragged her fingers through Piper's long brown hair slowly, "And as for Phoebe and Cole: we'll solve it. I have experience with them. I actually helped one to find forgiveness once. We can fix this, okay?" she asked and felt Piper's head move in a positive manner and she smiled. "Good. Feel better?" she asked.

Piper smiled at her niece. "Yeah, you're going to make a good mom, you know that?" Buffy nodded. Then her face fell. "But what if they hurt somebody? What if they kill somebody? Then Phoebe and Cole will take the fall," she pointed out grimly and Buffy sighed.

"I'm guessing that's why you two are here?" Darryl asked as he sat forward in his chair again and Buffy and Piper nodded. He rose from his seat and gestured for them to follow him. He rounded a corner and stopped in front of a map. "The data says that Lulu and Frankie were gunned down here, outside of a jewelry store," he told them pointing to specific spot on the map. "Maybe that's the job they were trying to finish," he suggested with a shrug.

Jewelry Store

Cole/Frankie and Phoebe/Lulu strode into the jewelry store together, swiping off their sunglasses and looked around with eager smirks as they surveyed the room and those within it.

"One security guard," Phoebe/Lulu observed, tone hushed as she leaned closer to her man. "Armed, right corner."

"Got him," Cole/Frankie assured her glancing towards the two customers fleetingly.

"Two female customers," Phoebe/Lulu read his mind looking to the floor.

The couple stopped at the counter, Cole/Frankie placing his hands on the glass and leaning forwards slightly.

A male salesman approached them with a smile. "Can I help you?" he asked politely.

Phoebe/Lulu gazed down into the glass case below. "We're looking for a diamond engagement ring," she informed him excitedly.

The salesman nodded. "You came to the right place."

Phoebe/Lulu widened her eyes in awe. "They're all so beautiful, I don't know which one I like best."

"You'd like the biggest one, baby," Cole/Frankie assisted with a smile.

"Oh, there, that one," Phoebe/Lulu gushed eyes dancing as they gazed upon a large teardrop shaped diamond on a white gold band. "That's the one I want, baby." She turned to Cole/Frankie with wide brown doe eyes.

"Excellent for quality," the salesman complimented drawing the couple's attention back to him. "It's a perfect solitaire."

"I don't know," Cole/Frankie stalled staring intently at the ring. "The cut looks a little…" he raised his head to Phoebe/Lulu who was staring at him with wide eyes, "…off."

The salesman shook his head. "Oh, no. I can assure you."

Cole/Frankie turned abruptly. "You," he exclaimed pointing to the security guard. "You look like a regular guy. Could I ask your opinion?" he questioned with a charming smile.

The security guard shrugged and strode over to them.

Cole/Frankie and Phoebe/Lulu shared a fleeting triumphant smirk as their plan took effect.

"I just want to know…" Cole/Frankie began pointing to the ring, the security guard leaning down to look at it, "…can I borrow your gun?" he asked with a chuckle and the security guards eyes widened.

Cole/Frankie struck him hard in the gut then slammed his fist into his jaw knocking him down and out. He then leaned over the unconscious man and stole his gun. "You stupid?" he shook his head laughing in amusement.

Phoebe/Lulu smiled widely as she watched him rise to his feet and aim the gun. "Move over, baby!" he ordered and she slid away from the counter.

The salesman shirked away, the two customers ducking for cover and screaming as he shot the glass, shattering it loudly.

"We're back!" Phoebe/Lulu exclaimed happily running back over to the counter and snatching out the desired ring and slipping it onto her ring finger, eyes gleaming.

"I got to hand it to you Lulu," Cole/Frankie mused. "This body's a live wire. The guy digs action, I can sense it," he commented firing off two more rounds.

"This woman…" Phoebe/Lulu spoke up, eyes on the ring she was currently admiring on her finger, "…loves the feeling of this diamond on her finger, although she'd never cop to it." She giggled as he pulled her against him and attacked her lips once more.

"Let's split, baby," he suggested and they turned to the door just as the security guard jumped to his feet.

Cole/Frankie turned to him and shot one round into the man's thigh before they stormed out and unfortunately for Phoebe and Cole, their entire escapade was caught on tape, security tape.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Oh no!" Piper gasped hand to her chest as she, Buffy and Darryl entered the jewelry store as the Paramedics exited with the security guard strapped in their gurney. She turned to Buffy with wide eyes, Buffy's eyes wide also and mouth agape. She turned to Darryl. "Is he okay?"

"Looks like it was just his leg." Darryl commented offhandedly.

"We're too late," Buffy observed glancing around the room. "They did what they came back to do."

"Hold on just a second," Darryl instructed approaching an officer and pulling him away from the witness. "What went down here?" he asked.

"Weirdest thing, Inspector," the officer started. "They could've cleaned this place out and all they take is a diamond ring," he informed Darryl, shaking his head in confusion before walking back to the witness.

"That doesn't make any sense," Piper stated shaking her head and wrinkling her nose. Buffy frowning deeply.

"Looks like your ghosts still have unfinished business," Darryl mused looking at Piper and Buffy warily.

"Alright!" Piper said. "We have got to find them before they kill somebody and Phoebe's life gets screwed." She turned to Darryl. "Security tapes?" she asked and he nodded.

"Over there." Darryl pointed in the direction of a detective by a VCR.

Buffy gasped. "Piper!" she turned to Piper who was wide eyed with panic.

Piper threw up her hands and froze the room then unfroze Darryl.

"Piper...you froze the crime scene." Darryl stated deadpanned. "You cannot freeze a crime scene."

"Well I did," Piper answered simply stalking off toward the machine.

Darryl turned toward Buffy who raised her eyebrows and held up her hands, "What were we supposed to do?" she asked incredulously, "Let some stupid tape take away our Phoebe's freedom?" she asked glancing at Darryl and smirked when he looked down. "Didn't think so. Sorry, Darryl," she apologized before after Piper.

Darryl frowned when he caught Buffy wiping down all the glass surfaces in the room. He sighed. "Hurry up ladies."

"Did you get it?" Buffy asked as Piper hurried toward her.

"Yep." Piper nodded, "Did you—"

"Yep." Buffy replied nodding, "Pockets too."

Piper sighed, shaking her head, "I cannot believe we just did this."

Buffy closed her eyes briefly. "I know."

Piper took a deep breath, "Back in position," she ordered and the two ran back over to Darryl, Buffy handing Darryl the tape before Piper waved her hands once more and unfroze the scene.

"Inspector?" the same officer from before approached Darryl. "Thought you'd like to know, a couple fitting the description just hit a bridal store on 4th. Stole a dress."

"What?" Darryl questioned and the officer shrugged.

"A wedding dress," he elaborated. "Go figure." He shrugged again and then he was gone.

Buffy's eyes widened, hands on hips, "Oh…my god," she whispered.

"What?" Piper demanded turning to her sharply. "What?"

"It makes so much sense," Buffy muttered quietly.

Piper frowned in frustration. "What does?"

"Uh!" Buffy raised a hand to her forehead, "How could we be so stupid!"

"Buffy!" Piper yelled too panicked to care.

Buffy dropped her hand and looked at her sister pointedly. "They're getting married!"

Piper froze then threw her hands in the air. "Of course!"

Buffy addressed the still puzzled man. "That's their unfinished business. It wasn't the store it was a wedding!" she informed them shaking her head. "They're in love and they died before they had the chance to say 'I do'"

Darryl leaned closer to Buffy. "Do you people have any normal weddings in your family?"

"You do remember mine and Faith's, right?" Buffy countered. "It was normal."

"Well mostly normal," countered Piper. "Given you had to deal with a demon and we had to deal with an evil witch that day."

April 20, 1994 – Wednesday

Gateway High School

Paige sat, alone, outside the Principal's office, the principal who was currently talking to her parents, praying for the humiliation to end so she could have some time with her parents before...

"You okay?" Faith asked suddenly, she and Leo appearing out of nowhere.

Paige jumped, biting back a yelp and turned to him, "No, Faith. I'm nowhere near okay. My time here is running out. I haven't done anything."

"You've done enough," Leo assured her gently.

"I haven't done anything!" Paige repeated, eyes wide, "I came back here to stop feeling guilty, only now I feel guiltier than ever because now I know what a damn disappointment I am."

Faith frowned. "Is that what you believe?"

Paige's eyes, if possible, widened further at the question, "Hello! Have you been watching or eating popcorn? My Mom and my Dad think I'm a total failure. I'm not. I can't let them die thinking that," she insisted sternly then froze, smiling slightly making a decision. "In fact, I'm not gonna let them die at all." She announced.

Leo's tone changed, his eyes darkening sensing danger. "You can't change history, Paige, only learn from it."

Paige shook her head firmly, "I am not letting them get in that car tonight, Leo."

"Yes, you will," Leo countered sternly. "And if you break any more rules—"

"Screw the rules, Leo." Paige interrupted coldly.

"Oh, is that the teenager talking or the adult?" he snapped in return sick of the sudden attitude. "The reason we journeyed to the past was so you can learn from it," he reminded her then his voice softened. "You see where breaking the rules has gotten you so far?"

"They're my parents," Paige tried desperately, feeling tears prickly her eyes. "I have to do something," she insisted further.

"Aunt Paige," Faith interjected as Paige looked at her. "You can't change the past. Mom, Aunt Piper and Aunt Phoebe were going to do that before Grandma Patty revealed that she had a premonition of mine and Buffy's future. If they had tried there was a good possibility that future may never have come to pass. If they had changed my past, I might never have met Buffy. And if I didn't, who knows, I could have been dead right now. So believe me when I say you can't change your past. Or it could lead to a situation that is worse. Think for one moment. What if you changed this one event? Where would you be back in our time? You might not have ever met me and if you hadn't, I could now be sitting on the throne of the Underworld."

"I know, Faith," Paige sighed as she looked at her niece. "But I have to do something," she repeated, then she stormed into the office. "I'm sorry to barge in like this," she apologized right away.

"That incident in class today was the last straw, Paige," the principal informed her seriously. "I'm suspending you from school."

"Just for that?" Paige cried.

"Just for that?" the principal echoed incredulously. "For cutting classes, starting fights, smoking on campus, possession of alcohol," she listed off the numerous reasons behind the suspension and Paige sighed.

"I swear I don't turn out like this," Paige exclaimed.

"Unfortunately, your actions speak a lot louder than your words," her father commented angrily.

"It looks bad, I know," Paige acknowledged as she followed her fuming parents out of school and off the grounds. "But it doesn't turn out this way. I promise. I get a degree in social work, I help others, I even get into Berkeley thanks to high test scores and a powerful essay on the death of my—" Paige stopped her rant abruptly before she slipped up too far. "Well, let's just say a powerful essay." She saved quickly. "Mom and Dad, you've got to believe me," she begged desperately.

"How can we do that, Paige?" her father asked stopping at the car.

"We've seen your act too many times," her mother added tiredly.

Paige glanced between them both. "Please, just look at me as though you actually see me. I'm not who you think I am," she insisted.

Her father shook his head. "How do you know what we think?"

"Because I can see it in your eyes!" Paige cried sadly. "Disappointment and okay, yeah I deserve it," she agreed. "I do. All I can say for myself is that I'm…searching and one day I will find myself," she explained with a sigh.

"Paige—" her mother tried but Paige shook her head.

"Let me finish," she asked firmly. "I'll find myself because of you two," she told them lovingly and with a small smile. "You've shaped who I am. I am not a bad daughter. You did not raise a bad daughter. I'm good." She looked at them both with tears in her eyes. "I just…wish you could see it."

"Sweetheart, of course we can see it." Mr. Matthews assured her and Paige looked up at him in surprise.

"What?"

"We know you're good," Mrs. Matthews continued. "We've always known…but we also know that you're lost and that scares us," she admitted with tears threatening to fall. "And there's nothing in the world that we want more than to help you find your way home we just don't know how."

Paige smiled at her mother. "I think you just did," she replied before walking into her mother's arms. "I will stand by my word," she assured them.

"You promise?" her mother asked looking into her daughter's eyes.

Paige nodded. "I promise."

Her parents smiled in relief then turned toward the car and Paige panicked once again. "Hey! Hey, you guys," she called for their attention. "Can we just stay in tonight?" she pleaded. "And not go to the restaurant?"

Her parents shared a look before her father replied. "We still have to talk."

"Yeah." Paige nodded quickly. "We, will just…at home."

Her father shrugged and her mother smiled. "Okay. Let's go home."

Paige closed her eyes and sighed in relief before jumping into the car to find Leo and Faith there waiting for her. She offered them a careless shrug. "What?" she asked knowingly pulling on her seatbelt as the car pulled away.

"Well, what's it going to be tonight?" Mr. Matthews asked as he drove toward home, the atmosphere in the car noticeably lighter. "Should we have pizza?"

"I kind of miss Mom's cooking," Paige admitted with a fond smile.

Mrs. Matthews laughed. "Like you don't have it every night?"

"You shouldn't do this, Paige," Leo informed her heatedly. "You can't change the past."

"It's too late, Leo, she already has," Faith pointed out.

"She doesn't know what she's doing, Faith," Leo continued.

Paige turned to him. "Yes, I do," she said firmly and Leo disappeared. She turned toward Faith. "If I did change your future, I promise, I will find you and I will save you." Faith nodded as she disappeared allowing Paige to catch sight of the large truck heading straight for their car. "Watch out!" she screamed throwing up her arms to protect herself.

Her father yelled out and tried to swerve the car. Her mother screamed and Paige gasped in fear orbing out of the car seconds before the truck struck the driver's side, crushing it, and flipped the car numerous times.

Paige hit the ground in a swirl of orbs and rolled before coming to a stop and looking up just in time to see the car, and her parents, go up in flames feet away from her.

"No!" Paige screamed jumping to her feet, tears leaking from her eyes as she watched her whole world burn. She ran toward the car as Faith came up behind her, wrapping her arms around her waist. She screamed at the contact and wriggled frantically, desperate to get free. "Let go of me!" she screamed, "I have to save them!"

"It's no use." Leo said gently as he came up beside Faith and Paige. He laid a hand on Paige's shoulder. "Paige, they're gone."

"No," Paige whimpered shaking her head. "Why did you bring me back here?" she growled hitting him on the chest. "Why?" Both Faith and Leo remained silent allowing her to talk. "I thought I could stop the accident," she sobbed loudly.

"You couldn't stop the accident because it was never your fault." Leo explained, voice firm.

"It was my fault." Paige disagreed, her eyes fixed on the flames sobs racking her body. "It was my fault."

"They would've died anyway," Leo whispered holding her close. "It was their destiny," he elaborated.

"Just like it was your destiny to be saved by magic," Faith added.

Paige paused, "That's how I got out of the car," she whispered. "I orbed out."

"That's right." Faith released her Slayer grip but kept a hold of Paige's arms to support her.

"I could always orb?" she asked, brow creased in confusion.

"Unlike me, mom, Aunt Piper and Aunt Phoebe, your magic was never bound," Faith said.

"Magic's always been inside of you," Leo added gently, "It saved you because you were meant to do great things with it, and you have and you will. Don't you see?" he asked. "This is what you came back here to find, what caused the accident. Why you survived it."

Paige stared at the wreckage; her face contorted in pain as more tears fell freely.

"You need to forgive yourself," Leo concluded, his voice gentle and caring.

"It doesn't matter," Paige shook her head. "It doesn't matter. They'll never know...how much I loved them," she sobbed painfully. "They'll never know what good parents they were," she choked out before sobs engulfed her and Faith pulled her back into her arms.

"It's okay, P," Faith whispered into her aunt's ear.

October 18, 2001 – Thursday

Grace Cathedral

"How many more chapels we got?" Darryl asked Buffy and Piper as they raced back to the car.

"That was the last big one," Buffy replied and Piper groaned.

"Uh! We should have split up," Piper regretted. "Covered more ground faster."

"I know," Buffy said as she rested a hand on Piper's shoulder. "But we didn't." She looked at Darryl. "There's one more church in the neighborhood."

"What if they're not there?" Darryl asked as they all jumped into the car.

"Expand our search to the entire city," Buffy answered as she yanked her door shut.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Do you take this woman to be thy wedded wife, to love, comfort and honor," the Priest read loud and clear, Phoebe/Lulu, wedding gown clad, and Cole/Frankie in a suit standing before him in the empty church. "In sickness or in health, for sorrow or joy, so long as you both shall live?" he asked, eyes shifting to the gun pointed casually at his chest then back up to their faces.

"I sure do," Cole/Frankie answered with a smile in Phoebe/Lulu's direction. "I'm going to take good care of her this time," he informed the Priest. "Wooo!" he jerked and shook his limbs loosely.

"You okay, Frankie?" Phoebe/Lulu asked watching him closely.

"Yeah," Cole/Frankie assured her. "It's just this guy's all jumpy inside." He chuckled. "Almost like he wants to get married as much as I do."

"I know what you mean." Phoebe/Lulu nodded with a smile. "This one's, like, quivering inside of me."

The couple then turned back to the Priest and Phoebe/Lulu glared. "What are you waitin' for? Continue," she ordered as Cole/Frankie aimed the gun at his chest again.

The Priest nodded. "Right. Do you Lulu, take this man to be thy wedded husband—"

"I object to this union!" Piper yelled loudly as the party of three strode through the front doors and toward the happy couple.

"I didn't call for any objections," the Priest held up his hands as they couple turned.

"Yeah, well, I still object," Piper replied and Buffy rolled her eyes as Piper threw out her hands and froze the nice Priest. Her eyes widened. "Uh you two are not frozen," she stated turning to her Buffy. "Why are they not frozen?" she gasped and Buffy opened her mouth to answer but Lulu beat her to it.

"Well, I know I'm not the most technically minded, but I would think it would have something to do with the fact that we're ghosts," Phoebe/Lulu chuckled, Cole/Frankie joining in.

"I warned you witch," Cole/Frankie growled lifting his gun.

Darryl pulled Buffy and Piper behind him and drew his own weapon yelling, "Freeze! Put the gun down slowly," he instructed.

The couple chuckled then Cole/Frankie raised his gun once more and fired, at the same time as Darryl.

Darryl's shot hit Cole/Frankie in the chest while Frankie's bullet sliced through Buffy's shoulder. Cole/Frankie stumbled backwards, shaking his head, "Damn," he cursed dropping the gun and falling to the floor.

Piper widened her eyes as she grasped Darryl arm as he lowered his weapon, staying behind him still.

Cole's body shook as Frankie's spirit left through the hole in his chest.

"Don't worry, baby," Phoebe/Lulu soothed. "We'll try again," she promised. "Next time we'll get it right." Then Lulu left Phoebe's body and followed Frankie's spirit.

Phoebe shook her head then turned to Cole, her eyes bulging and panic engulfing her, "Cole!" she screamed running toward him and pulling him onto her lap. "Leo!" she screamed caressing her boyfriend's cheek.

"I had no choice." Darryl apologized and Piper nodded.

"We know," Piper assured him, watching her younger sister helplessly.

"Piper?" Buffy gasped as her legs gave out under her.

Piper frowned as Buffy fell. "Buffy?" she questioned puzzled her eyes widening as Buffy collapsed into her, knocking her to the ground. "Ah!" she winced taking Buffy's full weight then freezing when she saw the blood. "Oh my god!" she gasped shifting to Buffy's side, Buffy's head on her lap and pressing both hands down on the wound, "Buffy!" she screamed.

Phoebe tore her tear-filled gaze away from Cole's pale face to her niece and sobbed. "Oh no," she whimpered shaking her head.

Piper threw up her hands and unfroze the Priest. "Get him outta here," she instructed Darryl. "And call for an ambulance, or two, go!"

Darryl glanced jumped into action.

"Buffy?" Piper called her niece's name gently tears already leaking from her tear ducts, out of her control but Buffy just stared at the ceiling unresponsive, blinking every now and again, Buffy's breathing shallow.

Phoebe's whole body shook as she stared into Cole's already glazing eyes, her voice quivering, "Oh, please don't die!" she pleaded, tears building but refusing to let them fall. "Please, please don't die! Leo!" she screamed also looking to the heavens desperately, "Leo! "

Piper took a deep breath and tore her gaze from Buffy and looked up. "Clyde!" she yelled loudly, eyes narrowed. "Get your ass down here, you son of a bitch!" she demanded and a harsh wind filled the air as a pissed off Clyde whirled into sight beside her. "Bring back, Leo now!" she demanded coldly and Clyde obeyed surveying the scene.

He snapped his fingers and the same door appeared. Clyde yanked it open and Paige, Faith and Leo flew out, thankfully staying upright this time, Paige's clothes back to normal.

Leo turned to his wife, "Buffy and Cole have been shot!" she cried not knowing where to direct him first.

Leo looked at Phoebe who was staring at him with pleading eyes, begging Cole who was gasping for air then to Buffy who was unmoving and Leo made his decision running to Cole first.

Faith slid to the floor next to Piper and Buffy, she took her wife from Piper. "I got her, Aunt Piper," she said.

Piper nodded and closed her eyes, praying that he wasn't too late for either Cole or Buffy. She then locked eyes with Paige and jerked her head towards Phoebe.

Paige nodded and ran towards her older sister as Piper remained beside Faith and Buffy.

"Step away, Phoebe," Leo ordered and she did, taking Paige's hand tightly, the two sisters watching as Leo placed his hands over Cole's wound, healing him.

Clyde looked to the ceiling and glared. "Frankie! Lulu!" he yelled. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked holding up his hands and dragging them back into the door, slamming it shut behind them just as Leo's healing was completed and Cole sat up.

Faith looked toward Piper who continued to press against Buffy's wound. "Aunt Piper, she's…" she whispered her voice cracking.

Piper bit her lip in fear. "Buffy's going to be okay," she promised her niece surely then turned her eyes to Buffy using one hand to jerk the blonde Slayer's head towards her. "You hear me? You're going to be okay Buffy. Leo will be right over so don't you dare die on us!"

Faith sobbed when Buffy didn't react. "Oh, please not again!" she begged shaking her head.

Piper dropped her head to Faith's shoulder briefly then yelled for her husband, "Leo!"

Leo raced over falling to his knee's beside Piper who pulled Faith to her feet and away from their spouses.

Phoebe hugged Cole fiercely, her heart racing in fear, clinging to him like her life depended on it. "Thank god you're okay!" she gasped. "I was so scared I thought, I thought…" she trailed off and Cole pulled free.

"Hey, hey." He smiled gently cupping her cheek and wiping away a stray tear. "I'm okay."

Paige smiled at them then turned her attention to the other four and grabbed Phoebe's hand causing her to turn and gasp. "Oh no!" she cried and they ran towards the others.

"Faith," Phoebe called and Piper turned to her as Faith stared at her still wife, Leo healing Buffy slowly. She turned on Clyde with a death glare and the ghost held up his hands.

"Uhh…it's an unfortunate slip-up." He shrugged then glared back. "I told ya, it's a dangerous journey," he reminded them then disappeared as Buffy sat up with a groan and Leo hauled her to her feet.

"You okay?" Leo asked concerned and Buffy nodded.

"Thanks, Leo." Buffy smiled gratefully then turned to his wife who threw herself into her arms silent sobs racking her body as she held her close. "I'm okay, baby," she whispered gently. "I'm okay, I'm okay," she repeated over and over pushing Faith away and cupping her face looking dead in her eyes. "I'm okay," she said one final time then pressed her lips to Faith's, muffling Faith's sobs then pulling her back into her chest.

Piper sighed in relief as she walked to her husband and wrapped her arms around his waist, "Well done," she whispered gratefully and Leo kissed her head in reply.

Paige smiled and turned to Phoebe who was staring into Cole's eyes.

"You never answered the chaplain's question," he stated comfortable knowing that everything was good.

Phoebe shook her head pressing herself against him. "I never answered your question," she corrected then took a deep breath. "Ask me again," she requested.

Cole took a deep breath too then asked. "Will you marry me?"

Phoebe smiled and nodded. "Yes, I will," she answered and Cole exhaled sharply a smile cracking his lips as he hugged her tightly.

"Yay!" Paige cheered and Piper grinned.

Faith released her wife and wiped away her tears.

Halliwell Manor

"Thanks, you guys!" Phoebe grinned as the five women sat around the dining room table: Paige and Phoebe on one side, Buffy, Faith and Piper on the other, and clinked their glasses.

"You're very welcome, Phoebe," Buffy smiled from across the table.

Piper nodded. "Just no weddings till we vanquish the Source," she warned and Phoebe nodded dutifully.

Paige paused, the glass centimeters from her lips. "Apple cider?"

Faith nodded. "Apple cider," she confirmed.

Phoebe angled her body toward her little sister. "So, Paige, you haven't told us and we're dying to know," she hinted and Paige sighed, putting down her glass. "What happened in your past?"

Paige gave a one shouldered shrug, "Well, I found out I was not responsible for the accident," she shared with an affirmative nod.

"Of course, you weren't," Piper agreed.

"What's the matter, P?" Faith said looking at her youngest aunt.

Paige looked over and sighed. "I just—it makes me sad that my parents won't see…us or what I've become," she answered sadly, looking at the table.

"Actually, that's not quite true." Leo's voice countered as he appeared in the living room.

Paige turned as her parents flashed slowly into view, they're ghostly spirits becoming corporeal.

Phoebe's eyes widened and cut sharply to Piper's whose were just as wide as hers. Buffy's eyebrows shot to her hairline. Faith smiled as she watched Paige carefully.

Paige slowly stood from her seat, eyes never leaving her parents forms, never blinking in case they disappeared.

"Uh…Leo?" Piper questioned her husband, eyes indicating the two ghosts in the room.

Leo smiled. "Let's just say Faith owes me and that I owe Clyde now."

"We know who you are, honey," Mrs. Matthews addressed her daughter with a proud smile. "Who you've become."

Paige gasped as she stared at them awestruck, her most desired wish coming true.

"We've been with you every step of the way and we're so proud of you, sweetheart." Mr. Matthews added, his eyes full of love and pride as he gazed at his beautiful daughter, all grown up.

Paige grinned and ran to them, throwing her arms around both of them and relishing in their comforting embrace, being able to feel them again, be held by them.

Phoebe grinned to herself as she watched the scene then glanced at Piper who was shifting her glance between their baby sister and her wonderful husband and then glanced at Faith who was smiling widely, tears in her eyes and Buffy's arms wrapped around her.

Phoebe sighed contentedly then turned her gaze upon her little sister, who she had never seen happier than she was right now.

"And Faith," Leo said looking toward his niece. "I have a small gift for you as well. Consider it an early birthday gift."

Everyone turned and saw another couple flash into existence and their eyes went wide as they recognized Prue and Andy.

Faith shot out of her seat and ran into her parents' arms.