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

27. Chapter 26: Charmed and Dangerous

Chapter 26: Charmed and Dangerous

November 16, 2001 – Friday

Golden Gate Obstetrics & Gynecology

"You ready for this?" Buffy asked her wife who was lying on her back, on an examination table.

Faith turned her head to Buffy sharply. "For what exactly? To see our baby or to become a mother?" she asked, eyebrow quirked.

Buffy shrugged. "Both," she answered with a smile, gently stroking Faith's hair.

"Yes," Faith chuckled taking Buffy's hand in her own and squeezing it. "We're going to be great parents," she said firmly, voice filled with conviction.

"Yes, we are," Buffy agreed as she placed a soft kiss to Faith's lips just as the exam room door opened, and the doctor: Dr. Carpenter walked through.

"Faith…Buffy," Dr. Carpenter greeted with a large smile, green eyes bright and alert, black hair pulled back into a loose bun.

Faith sent hers and Buffy's OB/GYN a nervous smile. "Cassie," she greeted back, using her doctor's first name casually.

Dr. Cassie Carpenter had been Faith's OB/GYN for almost a year. One of the first things Prue had done was gotten Faith appointments with her own doctors. Cassie had been Prue's OB/GYN for almost 8 years. And just like her mother before, Faith and Cassie had eventually adopted a first name only basis; the same had quickly become the case with Buffy when she moved into the Manor full time and Faith had referred her to Cassie.

Dr. Carpenter smiled at her patient, excitement dancing in her eyes. "I hear, 'congratulations' are in order." She raised a suggestive eyebrow and both Buffy and Faith smiled.

"Yep," Faith squeezed Buffy's hand tighter. "Looks like it."

Dr. Carpenter nodded then took a seat on the stool next to the table and in front of the ultrasound machine, "Is this a confirmation scan or…do you just want to see your baby?" she asked genuinely interested.

"The latter," Faith and Buffy replied in unison, their eyes glancing quickly at the machine. "Uh…we're definitely sure already so…" Faith added.

Dr. Carpenter nodded. "Alright then, let's get started, shall we?" she suggested and Faith obediently lifted her top and lowered her jeans slightly as the doctor reached for the gel, hovering over her patient's stomach.

Dr. Carpenter lifted her eyes to Faith's and opened her mouth to speak.

"I know, I know," Faith cut in, "The gel's cold." She rolled her eyes at the clichéd truth and took a deep breath that hitched in her throat as she felt just how cold the gel really was: another clichéd truth.

Dr. Carpenter pressed the fetal doppler to Faith's stomach and moved it slowly and deliberately along her abdomen, then down past her bellybutton and around, her movements coming to a stop suddenly, the fingers of her other hand clicking specific buttons on the keypad below the screen.

A few seconds later she smiled, turning her attention to the two waiting parents-to-be and smirking as she swiveled the screen and tapped it once. "Say hello to your baby."

Faith glanced at Buffy, her grip—if possible—tightening further on her wife's hand who was staring at the screen which she had yet to look at. She took a deep breath and turned her head and smiled at the sight of her baby, that didn't quite look like a baby yet, on the screen before her.

"Wow," Buffy breathed, her eyes unblinking as she stared at the screen with the happiest smile on her face.

Faith nodded a little. "Yeah, wow," she agreed, her heart racing in her chest a sudden feeling of overwhelming love and the need to protect surging through her. She quickly glanced to her left at Buffy who, she could tell by her eyes, was feeling the exact same thing.

"I'd say you're about 6 weeks along." Dr. Carpenter injected into their once in a lifetime moment, "That's early so we won't be able to hear the heartbeat yet, unfortunately," she informed them.

Buffy shook her head as she grinned madly at the screen. "That's really okay," she assured the doctor honestly. "Seeing her was enough."

November 19, 2001 – Monday

Halliwell Manor

Buffy looked up and over to the bedroom door, smiling as her wife walked through it looking rather pale. "You done?" she asked Faith carefully, a sympathetic smile plastering his face.

Faith grunted, cringing inwardly. "I hope so," she replied wryly. "I hate throwing up," she whined flopping onto the bed beside Buffy. She leaned closer and peered at the picture in Buffy's hand, "Whatcha lookin' at?" she asked smiling as Buffy tilted it towards. "Aw, you still staring at that thing?" she teased and Buffy couldn't help but notice that her eyes hadn't yet left it either.

"Yeah," Buffy answered with a proud nod, she lifted the picture and nodded toward it. "That's our daughter."

Faith smiled at that statement pushing up onto her knees and crawling behind Buffy, sliding her arms up Buffy's back and around her shoulders. "Yeah," she breathed quietly. "I know." She turned Buffy to face her and placed a lingering kiss to her lips. "I love you." She grinned at Buffy, who grinned back.

"I love you too," Buffy replied then Faith kissed her again. "When are we going to tell my mom and your aunts?" she wondered.

"When the time is right," Faith answered. "We probably should get up."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Leo looked down reluctantly at the papers on the table being slid toward him by his beautiful wife. "Do I really need to think about this now?" he asked dejectedly.

"Yes." Piper nodded.

"Why?" Leo shot back.

Piper gave him a hard look. "Because the Source has already killed one of us and if, God forbid, it happens again, we want to be prepared," she explained sternly and Leo sighed, unable to find fault in her reasoning. She smirked at him. "You should be honored that, if we don't make it, we're leaving you everything." She smiled brightly then faltered. "Well, we're leaving you P4 and Faith and Buffy the house but you get the point," she finished with a shrug, waving her hand dismissively and Leo gave a short laugh.

"Hey guys!" Phoebe called, running into the dining room from the kitchen, a huge grin on her face. "Guess what?" she encouraged as Cole came in after her.

"What makes you think I'm going to outlive you?" Leo asked, looked back toward his wife, the two of them completely ignoring the excited couple before them.

"Leo…you're an angel, literally," Piper droned. "Which means, short of a Darklighter, you win "Most Likely to Survive."

"Speaking of surviving," Phoebe cut in, before Leo could reply. "Source bulletin, this just in," she announced holding out a single sheet of notepad paper.

"Honey," Piper said sweetly, her face then turning dark and her voice lowering one octave. "Just sign the freaking thing." She glared holding out the pen.

Leo opened his mouth to argue but quickly closed it again and obediently took the pen from his threatening wife.

Phoebe turned to Cole for help and he obliged, whistling loudly to get the bickering couple's attention.

Piper jumped and turned to them. "What!" she snapped harshly.

Cole smiled. "Phoebe has something she'd like to say," he informed then and the two glanced at the bouncing girl in question by his side. "Something that actually might affect what you're doing right here," he elaborated pointing to the will.

"Thank you, honey." Phoebe smiled appreciatively then looked directly at her older sister. "We nailed the Source-vanquishing spell," she announced triumphantly handing it over. "Our ancestors, that's what we were missing."

"What are we missing?" Faith asked, hearing the last part of her aunt's sentence.

The two couples turned to the new arrivals as they turned the corner from the kitchen into the dining room.

Piper turned to her nieces. "Miss Phoebe over there, claims to have nailed the Source-vanquishing spell."

Faith raised her eyebrows questioningly as she fell into the chair next to Piper, who moved the paper in between them.

Phoebe scowled at Piper. "There's no claiming involved thank you very much, I got it," she corrected smiling proudly.

Buffy nodded slowly. "How?"

Phoebe nodded. "Well, as I was saying, we were missing our ancestor's," she repeated for Faith and Buffy's benefit. "If we could draw the magic from the entire Halliwell line…" Phoebe left it open to interpretation, to see if her sister and nieces understood without her having to spell it out.

"We might have enough power to vanquish the Source," Piper concluded and Faith and Buffy agreed with a nod.

Phoebe grinned bobbing her head up and down excitedly.

"This is good," Piper praised as she read the last line. "This…this might work."

Leo, seeing his moment of escape interjected with. "I'll go tell the Elders." And he quickly orbed out.

Piper whipped around. "Hey!" she yelled after his rising orbs. "You did not sign this!"

"Oh honey." Phoebe sighed. "Are you still on that last-will-and-testament kick?" she asked glancing at the paperwork then back to Piper. "I got to tell you, it's very, very morbid."

Piper shook her head firmly. "No! No, it is very, very responsible," she countered. "Prue did it, and thank god she did, cause if she hadn't done it, we would still be dealing with lawyers," she fumed. "No offense," she shot in Cole's direction.

Cole shrugged dismissively. "Oh, none taken. I've come to terms with my evil past," he mocked her and Piper scowled.

"No, I know what you're saying," Phoebe continued. "But I have a really good feeling about this," she stated firmly walking around Cole, placing her hand on his back in passing only to be sucked into a terrifying vision.

Phoebe was in the attic. A tall demon in black robes, a bald head and disturbing scarring and markings on the right side of his face. He formed a fireball and aimed it at her. Cole ran into the room, heading right for her just as the demon released his weapon. Cole threw himself in front of Phoebe, taking the hit instead.

Faith, Buffy and Piper looked at Phoebe expectantly with questioning eyes.

"You alright?" Cole asked and Phoebe nodded.

"Yeah, hiccup," Phoebe explained faking one for good measure. "Oh, see?" She grinned then looked towards her sister and two nieces. "Hey, can I see you three in the kitchen for a minute?" she asked sending them a pointed stare then hiccupped again.

"Sure." Piper nodded pushing out of her seat. She then paused turning back to her nieces. "You two need to sign that too," she informed them, pointing to the will.

Buffy frowned. "What? Why?"

"Because we are leaving you and Faith the house," Piper replied calmly. "You two get the house, Leo gets P3 since we figured you would have a source of income from Joyce's gallery and whatever jobs you two get when you graduate college."

"Okay," Buffy and Faith said reluctantly.

Piper turned and headed on into the kitchen as the couple quickly signed before following after her.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"What'd we miss?" Faith asked seeing Piper sigh, as if just concluding a long explanation or a rant.

Piper turned to her nieces. "I was just explaining to Phoebe—"

"Ranting to Phoebe," Phoebe cut in with a coy smile.

Piper glared at her sister then turned back to Faith and Buffy. "I was just explaining to Phoebe the reason why I need a will."

Buffy nodded her head and then frowned. "Which is?" she asked and Piper sighed.

"I need a will, especially if I'm ever going to start a family," Piper explained for a second time, rolling her eyes.

"This isn't about a will. This is about a premonition I just had that I don't want Cole to know about," Phoebe explained, glancing back through to the dining room.

Piper, Buffy and Faith exchanged puzzled glances before turning back to Phoebe. "What do you mean? Why not?" Piper questioned shaking her head.

"Because I just saw him jump in front of a demon to take a fireball for me, that's why not," Phoebe elaborated, panic clearly shinning in her wide brown eyes.

"A demon?" Piper echoed, panic in her voice. "What kind of demon?"

Phoebe took a breath. "One with a half a face," she informed them with a grimace.

"Yuck!" Buffy exclaimed cringing.

Phoebe nodded. "So, we have to figure out who the demon is and vanquish him before Cole—"

"What if Cole can ID him?" Faith asked, cutting in and Phoebe turned to her with raised eyebrows. "Come on, Aunt Phoebe, be realistic. The Source is probably the one who sent this demon."

Phoebe nodded. "Yeah, that's exactly my point," she agreed. "He's going to want to stay close to protect me."

Piper smiled. "Well, honey that's what you do for the people you love."

"Piper's right," Buffy agreed.

Phoebe sighed. "I know, but he's human now," she reminded them. "It's not like he could fend off a fireball."

"Oh, oh, okay just…calm down," Faith instructed calmly, taking Phoebe's hand in hers. "You just got to talk to him." She smiled but Phoebe didn't look convinced that would work. "Cole's…a reasonable guy. All you got to do is ask him about the demon and then ask him to stay away, for you," she suggested. "If he loves you, he'll do as you ask. He'll know that you're just trying to protect him."

Phoebe shook her head. "No, I've tried, Faith. He's not going to sit by the sidelines, it's not who he is.

"So, you're just not going to tell him?" Piper asked, her uncertainty showing her disapproval.

"The attack happened in the attic," Phoebe told them. "So…I'll just keep him out of the house, until we can ID the demon?" she stated making it sound more like a question.

Piper shrugged. "Alright…it's your relationship, it's your call," she answered and Phoebe's shoulders fell at her tone.

"Okay, we need to get to class," Buffy said as she wrapped an arm around Faith. "After class we'll stop by Giles and ask him to see if he can find anything about a demon with half a face."

"Thank you," Piper said. "Then hurry back." Buffy and Faith nodded as they disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames. She turned back to her sister. "I'll call Paige, let her know what's up as long as you're sure?" she asked and Phoebe nodded.

South Bay Social Services

"Trust me, I'm sure," Paige said firmly, her gentle eyes on the woman before her.

"The judge just wants to hear the truth, that's all," Darryl told her with kind eyes.

"Everything is going to be okay," Paige assured her.

Carolyn rubbed her neck nervously, "Yeah, but once he hears about all the awful things, I've done..."

"Done" as in past tense," Paige pointed out with a smile.

Carolyn shook her head, "My past is why I lost custody of my son in the first place."

"Look we're not going to pretend that you weren't in an abusive relationship or that you didn't go to rehab," Paige told her logically.

Carolyn bit her lip. "It's just that I made so many mistakes."

Paige smiled sadly. "Oh, honey, look…" she started, moving around the table to Carolyn's side. "Your ex is out of your life," she stated taking her hand and Carolyn nodded. "You've been clean and sober for almost two years now, and you've held down a steady job, at a police station no less."

"You've changed," Darryl added from the side. "That's all that matters."

"The judge just cares about who you are, not who you were," Paige concluded squeezing her hand. "And that's what's going to help you get your son back," she stated firmly, tilting her head to the side.

Carolyn smiled back at her and nodded slowly.

Paige snatched her phone up as it began chirping loudly and buzzing on the wooden table. "Excuse me." She smiled putting the phone to her ear and slipping outside.

Halliwell Manor

"This is not a good time," Paige's voice informed Piper down the line. "I'm in the middle of something important."

Piper nodded, already anticipating this reaction from her youngest sister. "Does a half-face demon qualify as important?" she asked as she slipped silently out of the kitchen and into the dining room.

"He's there now?" Paige asked and Piper could hear her sudden flare of panic.

"No," Piper answered.

"Well then, no, that doesn't qualify."

Piper sighed. "Phoebe had a premonition, and not a good one."

"I know why I'm whispering. Why are you?" Paige questioned, clearly confused.

"So...it keeps making this, like...BRRR! BRRR!…noise," Phoebe informed Cole from by the door.

Cole frowned at her. "But it's not even your car," he pointed out shoving his hands in his pockets.

"No, but I don't want Faith to be driving it and have it break down," Phoebe replied easily covering up her little white lie with another. Since Faith and Buffy were in Sunnydale, she thought it would be easier to distract Cole with Faith's car than Piper's incase they would need a car. "Look if you could just take it to the mechanic and have him look at it that would be great."

"Uh…Phoebe?" Piper called turning forward to face her. "That thing, you were talking about? A day thing or a night thing?" she questioned, glancing subtlety at Cole.

Phoebe looked over. "Night," she answered turning back to Cole.

"What thing?" Cole asked, looking down at her.

Phoebe's eyebrows rose and she looked down. "Oh, it's…nothing important," she lied through her teeth, looking anywhere but up at him.

Cole nodded slowly, looking at her knowingly. "There's, nothing wrong with Faith's car is there?" he asked seeing through each lie.

"No," Phoebe answered shortly.

"But you want me to leave, don't you?" he asked, again knowing the answer.

"Yes," Phoebe sighed.

Cole shook his head. "And you don't want to tell me why," he stated and Phoebe smiled softly.

"If you could just give us a couple hours, and don't ask any questions," she owned up, pleading with her eyes. "Please?"

"You'll tell me later?" Cole raised his eyebrows and she nodded sharply.

Phoebe kissed his lips. "I promise."

Cole nodded with a shrug. "Alright," he agreed, lifting his coat as Phoebe opened the front door and closed it behind him, slouching against it.

"I love that man."

"Paige look, this could be the attack we've been waiting for," Piper tried to reason. "You need to come home now."

"But Phoebe's premonition happened at night, right?" Paige continued to argue her corned.

Piper scowled at nothing and answered. "Right."

"Well, you know how long I've been working with Carolyn. I promised her I'd be at the hearing today."

Piper exhaled sharply, accepting defeat. "Okay, fine, but you need to come home as soon as you can."

"Okay," Paige agreed, her tone clearly relieved and then quickly hung up.

South Bay Social Services

"So, we're going to meet you outside the courthouse at 3, right?" Darryl sought to confirm pointedly, knowing what those sudden phone calls that were taken in private could lead too.

Paige nodded at him. "Yeah."

"Paige is everything alright?" Carolyn asked, watching at friend closely.

"Peachy." Paige smiled. "All you have to do is relax and by tonight, your son is going to be with you."

Carolyn smiled at her. "God, I don't know what I'd do without you," she swore, shaking her head. "You're my angel."

Paige rolled her eyes but smiled with pride, pulling Carolyn into a hug. Nothing made her feel more pride and achievement than helping someone pull their life back together.

Temple of the Hollow

"Make a damned move," a tall demon dressed in black, with blond hair growled impatiently.

The angel opened her eyes and smirked at him. "You're just mad because good is winning," she stated her dark hair brushing her shoulders as she floated above the ground, legs crossed, white gown flowing around her and her halo hovering above her head.

"No," the demon countered. "Just bored standing here, watching you think."

The angel held up on finger. "Ah, ah, ah, ah. Patience is a virtue."

"Oh, I have been plenty patient," he assured her. "Three thousand, five hundred years patient."

The angel smiled coyly at him then returned her eyes to the chess board, gesturing to one of the pieces which orbed to another place, signaling that she had made her move. "There. Happy now?"

The demon smirked at her as he moved one of his pieces towards hers, smashing it and taking its place. His smirk widened. "Now who's winning?" he asked smartly and the angel pouted just as a hooded figure, instantly recognized by both as the Source Of All Evil, flamed in through the fires flames.

The angel returned to the ground and strode forwards. "You need to leave immediately," she ordered standing her ground bravely in front of the evilest of demons. "This place is an ancient burial ground."

"I know that, thank you," the Source boomed sarcastically.

"With all due respect…" the demon spoke up stepping forwards to join the angel's side, "…you are not allowed to be here."

The Source turned to him. "Have you forgotten who I am?" he demanded dangerously. "Whose side you're on?"

"There are no sides," the angel spoke up, voice stern. "We protect all magic that was the agreement."

The Source shifted to the side and threw a large fireball toward the angel, striking her stomach and engulfing her in flames, screaming as she burned until there was nothing but her halo left, until that to disappeared.

"The agreement's just been revoked," the Source seethed.

"DIE!" the demon cried, throwing up his hand and sending a powerful bolt of lightning toward the Source, knocking him to the ground.

The Source rose to his feet, hood fallen, and turned around to reveal only half a face, the other distorted by old scars along with some tribal markings: the demon from Phoebe's premonition.

"Please," the demon pleaded stepping back. "The Hollow is a threat to us all," he tried to reason with him. "It's power…is too great."

The Source came to a stop in front of him. "That's exactly the kind of power…" he placed his hand on the demon's chest, "…I need." He then threw him into the stone wall across the way.

The Source walked to the steel, solid double doors that housed the forbidden Hollow. He held out his hands and with great effort and concentration slowly pried the doors open, a blue light engulfing the entire place. The blue light disappeared when the doors were fully opened and the Hollow, which was encased in a heavy box with strange markings on every side, was revealed. The Source curled his fingers and the box moved towards him just as slow.

The Source turned slowly, to find the demon having crawled to the bottom of the stairs and was now gazing up at the box in fear.

"No!" the demon yelled. "Please, don't!" he begged as the Source bent down holding the box in front of his face. "The Hollow consumes powers!"

The Source, however, ignored him opening the box and releasing the Hollow, its form broken and black like millions of small round flies that entered through the demon's eyes, mouth and nose.

"Now you will be able to consume powers…" the Source's lips twitched into a smirk, "…and give them to me. And I will use them not only to destroy the Charmed Ones, but to free my heir."

Summers Home

"Hey, mom, are you home?" Buffy asked as she and Faith flamed into the foyer.

"In here, Buffy," Joyce called back from the living room. Buffy and Faith followed Joyce's voice into the living room and saw Tara sitting with Joyce having a leisurely cup of tea.

"Hi, Buffy," Tara said as she smiled up at her cousin. "Hey, Faith."

"Hey, blondie," Faith greeted. She looked toward her wife and took a deep breath before looking back at Joyce and Tara. "We got some news," she started to say when her cell phone rang. "Just a second," she said as she answered it. "Hello?"

Halliwell Manor

"Hello?" Faith's voice greeted down the line.

Piper smiled. "Uh…hey. You almost done?" she asked hopefully and heard her niece sigh.

"What happened?" Faith questioned knowingly.

Piper bit her lip. "We need you and Buffy to come home now," she told her, quickly glancing at Phoebe who was standing at the book, flicking through the pages purposefully. "Please? Paige is going to get here as soon as possible but that may not be for another few hours so please tell me that you were already done with class and seeing Rupert and that you were about to flame home?"

"Almost, Aunt Piper. We'll be home in twenty minutes, a half an hour tops."

Piper exhaled in relief. "Thank you," she gushed.

"Nervous huh?" Faith asked sympathetically and Piper nodded.

"Yeah. I have a feeling that this is what we've been waiting for and…I'd just feel better if all of us were here."

"Okay, Aunt Piper," Faith assured her, "Half an hour tops okay?"

Piper nodded. "Okay. Be careful. Love you."

"Love you too, Aunt Piper."

Piper clicked off and walked to Phoebe, "Buffy and Faith are on their way. A half an hour at the most."

Phoebe nodded her head, eyes on the book, "Good."

Summers Home

Faith clicked off her phone and looked toward her wife. "Aunt Piper wants us home as quickly as possible."

Buffy nodded. "Okay," she agreed.

Faith turned back to Joyce and Tara and took a deep breath and then smiled at them. "I'm pregnant!"

Joyce and Tara hopped up and rushed to Faith and engulfed her in a hug. "Congratulations," they cheered. They then hugged Buffy as well. "Congratulations," they said again.

"Thanks," Buffy and Faith said as they returned the embrace.

Halliwell Manor

"Any luck?" Piper questioned peering over her sister's shoulder.

Phoebe sighed. "So far, I've found a demon with half a body, but no demon with half a face," she said frustrated violently flipping another page.

"Well…" Piper crossed her arms and looked at Phoebe pointedly. "We do have a resident demonologist living in the house."

Phoebe paused momentarily the continued searching. "Yeah, we've had that conversation."

Piper threw her hair over her shoulder. "Alright, you keep on looking," she ordered. "I'll go get some coffee." She moved toward the door. As soon as she exited the attic, the demon infected with the Hollow shimmered in to the room.

Phoebe gasped and stumbled backwards. "Piper!" she cried, fear gripping her, eyes on the demon.

The demon smirked, threw out his hand and sent a lightning bolt toward her. It struck Phoebe's chest and sent her soaring back into the mirror, which shattered on impact, and she fell to the floor.

Piper came running back into the room, freezing upon the sight of a demon standing between her and Phoebe, who was on the ground amidst shards of broken glass.

"Piper, blow him up!" Phoebe cried, shaking on her hands and knees, one hand clutching her left shoulder.

Piper threw up her hands and flicked her wrists, the demon scattered then returned to normal and smiled. "Thank you."

Piper's eyes widened and she caught sight of one of Buffy and Faith's daggers on one of the pieces of furniture. She glanced back at the demon then bolted toward it as he threw up his own hand and blew up the sewing machine.

Piper snatched it up and hurled it toward him, the blade embedding into his neck. The demon clutched at the dagger as he burst into flames. The Hollow remained as his silhouette then scattered into the millions of buzzing fly like black dots and disappeared.

Piper looked over at her sister. "Phoebe, did you see that?"

Phoebe merely stared at her; pain etched into her features.

Piper frowned. "Phoebe?" she called as her sister fell to the ground unconscious, several extremely large shards of glass embedded in her back. Piper's heart stopped. "Phoebe!" she screamed racing towards her.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Leo extracted the last, and largest shard of glass from Phoebe's back, placing it on the tray with all the others then held his hands over her wounds, the healing glow emanating.

Piper stood watching, concern in her eyes, which quickly grew to fear as the healing continued longer than a few seconds like most times. "What's taking so long?"

"She almost died," Leo replied, his eyes on Phoebe. "That's what's taking so long." A few seconds later and the healing glow stopped, Phoebe stirring. "Easy, easy," he soothed.

Phoebe looked up and around with a frown. "What happened?"

"One very mean demon," Piper replied hesitantly.

"Did you get him?"

"Yes." Piper nodded. "But something else got away…and that's not all," she added reaching for a vase and handing it to her husband. "Throw this," she ordered and he frowned, puzzled. "Just do it."

Leo shrugged and threw it into the air. They all watched in silence as it fell back to the ground, past Piper who threw up her hands to freeze, instead the vase hit the floor and shattered.

Piper looked up. "My powers are gone," she announced, looking directly at Phoebe then to her husband.

Phoebe sat up further. "It stole your powers?" she gasped; eyes wide.

"Stole, ate, absorbed, I don't know." Piper shook her head. "The only thing I do know is that I got to get them back."

"I don't understand," Phoebe stated. "We vanquish a demon and then lose our powers?" she cried. "How does that work?"

Piper spun the book toward her and looked over at her sister.

"That thing must have absorbed her power somehow, although I don't know how," Leo explained then frowned glancing between them both.

"Well, with the Source lurking around…" Phoebe sighed and fell back onto the pillow.

Piper froze as she turned the next page slowly. "That's him!" she cried stabbing the page. "This is him." She looked up as Leo came toward her. "Guardians of the Hollow?" she read aloud. "Ring any bells?"

"That's not possible," Leo muttered looking over her shoulder.

"Why not?" Piper asked feeling that climbing fear again. "What is it?"

"The Hollow is something that consumes all magic, good or evil," Leo informed them. "Both sides agreed to guard it. That thing must have been the Hollow. It must have taken over the demon."

"Then how do we get it to regurgitate?" Phoebe questioned from the couch.

"Huh…there is no mention of a vanquish here," Piper scowled.

"You can't vanquish it," Leo revealed grimly. "The last time it was unleashed it nearly decimated all magic, all things."

Phoebe's brow furrowed. "The last time it was unleashed?"

"Eons ago. Good and evil had to join forces and use their strongest magic, and even then, all they could do was contain it."

"Okay, so if good and evil are seeing eye to eye on this one, who let it out?" Phoebe questioned quizzically.

Piper's jaw dropped. "The Source."

"If he was desperate enough," Leo agreed.

Piper nodded. "Which means he won't stop at just my powers; he's going to send another demon for yours and Paige's and possibly Buffy's. Faith is the only I don't think he will take given that she is his heir," she informed her younger sister who bit her lip.

"The demon with a half a face, see if he's in the book." Phoebe pointed toward it.

"Even if she could use her powers, you wouldn't be able to because he'd just steal them," Leo pointed out and Phoebe threw up her hands.

"Then how do we stop him?"

Piper shrugged one shoulder in reply. "Uh…we'll use potions. Buffy and Faith's Slayer abilities should be unaffected since their more physical than magical. And Faith's powers…"

"The Hollow doesn't discriminate," Leo informed his wife. "If she tried to use them against the Hollow she would lose them also."

Piper sighed. "Okay, she can't use her powers then, but her Slayer abilities…"

"Should not be able to be stolen," Leo agreed.

Piper nodded. "Well in the meantime I will make a potion to replicate my exploding power."

"Okay, you better get Paige at the very least. You're going to need the Power of Three." Leo advised them. "And Buffy and Faith at the most. I'll go, check with the Elders." He pointed up, kissed Piper's lips and orbed out.

"On a scale from one to bad…" Phoebe droned.

Courthouse

"This is very bad," Paige stated, hands on her hips. "Something must have happened to her."

"She seemed pretty shaky this morning," Darryl pointed out. "You don't think she—"

"No," Paige cut him off. "No way." She shook her head firmly. "She wouldn't sabotage this, not when she's come so close to getting her son back."

"Yeah, well, I believe you but will the judge?"

Paige sighed heavily. "God, I hope her ex didn't find her." She closed her eyes and shook her head as her phone blared loudly. She hurriedly fished it out of her bag and put it to her ear, "Carolyn?" she questioned hopefully. "Oh, hey Phoebe. Look, I'm going to need more time—" She paused as she listened to what her sister had to say. "Oh, okay I'm on my way." She hung up the phone and turned to Darryl. "I got to go."

Darryl shook his head. "You can't just leave. You're the only reason why she's getting a second chance."

"Well, now it's up to you," Paige told him. "I have to go, it's a demonic emergency," she informed him, lowering her voice. "Big one."

"Okay. What do you need me to do?" he asked stepping closer.

"I need you to postpone the hearing for a couple hours."

"You know better than that," Darryl sighed. "You can't just postpone legal proceedings. There are forms to file, lawyers—"

"Please, Darryl," Paige begged, her brown eyes big and wide. "Can you please pull some strings and buy us some time? If we don't help her, there is no-one who will."

Darryl nodded, "Okay. I'll try."

"Thanks, just keep paging her, trying her at home," she instructed. "We have got to find her."

Halliwell Manor

"Here you go." Phoebe smiled. "One owl feather," she observed handing it over.

Piper took it, pausing as she stared at it then lifted her eyes to Phoebe. "Do you think I jinxed us with the will? Maybe it wasn't such a…great idea."

Phoebe's eyebrows rose, "Actually, I'm beginning to think it was a very smart idea," she admitted morbidly.

Piper tilted her head. "That's not so funny."

Phoebe nodded. "Trust me, I know."

"Hi." The two sisters looked up and over to the kitchen door as Cole entered slowly. "Am I back to soon?" he queried taking in the mass amounts of potion ingredients on the table.

"Um…" Phoebe chewed on her lip turning to Piper.

"Uh…we need his help," Piper stage whispered. "No time to be evasive."

"Help for what?" Cole asked, eyes on Phoebe with arms folded but Phoebe remained silent so he moved forward. "Look it's obvious you're making a potion," he stated nodding toward the island. "So…what is it you're not telling me?" he asked looking her dead in the eyes.

Phoebe glanced at Piper who adverted her eyes to the feather and began playing with it. "Uh…" she moved around the island and approached him, "I had a premonition. A demon attacked, and you jumped in front of a fireball to save me," she revealed to him reluctantly.

"What?" Cole walked toward her. "You can't keep these things from me."

Phoebe looked up at him with wide eyes. "I was just trying to protect you."

"Well, that's not a good enough reason," he told her bluntly.

"I hate to interrupt," Piper interrupted. "But maybe we should talk about the demon," she urged.

"What did he look like?" Cole asked tightly, looking back at Phoebe with betrayal in his eyes.

"A creepy half-face," Phoebe started looking to the left as she tried to remember. "And his good side had tribal markings. A little bit like—"

"Belthazor," Cole finished for her.

Phoebe nodded. "A little bit. Do you know who he is?" she asked watching him closely. "Does he work for the Source?"

Cole looked at her with hard eyes and an expression to match. "He doesn't work for the Source, Phoebe, he is the Source," he revealed to them darkly.

Phoebe felt her blood turn to ice and she spun toward Piper who was staring at him her face blank but her eyes filled with immense fear.

"His face was disfigured in the battle that brought him to power," Cole explained, glancing between the two startled sisters. "Only upper-level demons have seen him. You should have told me."

Piper sighed heavily. "So…he's the one that released the Hollow."

"The Hollow?" Cole echoed, eyes wide. "What do you mean, released?"

"It already attacks us," Phoebe informed him. "It took Piper's power."

"Then you better figure out a way to beat the Source without your powers, otherwise—" His advice was interrupted by Piper's potion exploding.

"Already on it," Piper assured him with a smile.

"Already on what?" Faith asked as she and Buffy walked into the room. They took in the three faces of the people around them and went rigid.

"What did we just walk into?" Buffy asked looking at each of them.

Phoebe turned to her nieces with wide, frightened eyes. Faith and Buffy looked at her, took in the fear and felt the panic start to rise. They turned to Piper who drew in a shaky breath.

"Uh…the demon in Phoebe's premonition," Piper started slowly. "It's—he's—he is the Source."

Buffy froze and she quickly glanced at Phoebe who nodded stiffly then to Cole whose expression was still hard and felt her chest tighten. "Oh my god," she whispered as Faith wrapped an arm around her.

"The Source is coming for me?" Faith sought confirmation and the silence said it all. She suddenly felt hot and lightheaded. "Buffy, I need to sit down." Buffy helped her to the breakfast and sat her down into the first chair available.

"You okay?" Buffy asked kneeling beside her wife with concerned eyes.

Faith nodded slowly, breathing deeply, one hand unconsciously falling to her stomach.

Piper bit her lip. "Um…that's not all," she announced walking over also.

Faith and Buffy looked up. "What?" they asked.

Piper nodded. "Uh…he kind of released the Hollow, which is—"

Buffy held up one hand. "We know what the Hollow is," she said saving Piper the trouble.

Phoebe frowned. "You two do?"

Faith looked up at Phoebe. "Mom had us study the book, remember?"

Phoebe chuckled at herself. "Oh yeah."

"It got my powers," Piper said gravely. "And it's coming back for Phoebe, Paige and likely yours, Buffy, and there is no known way to stop it."

Buffy sighed heavily. "Shit."

Piper nodded. "Yeah."

Faith quietly pushed herself up and walked over to the island, Buffy not far behind, "Where's P?"

"On her way home," Piper supplied and both Buffy and Faith nodded once.

The Underworld

The Source stood staring intently at a pottery vase. Cocking his head to the right he raised one hand and the vase exploded, freezing immediately, pieces suspended in mid-air. "The witch's powers are impressive," he observed impressed.

"Nevertheless…" the Seer spoke up, "…do you think it wise to have extracted them from the Hollow?" she questioned and the Source growled low in his throat. "There could be repercussions," she stated.

"Damn the repercussions, Seer!" the Source snarled. "I won't stop until I have all of their powers coursing through my veins and my heir is free from their influence. You understand me?" he demanded fiercely just as the power wore off and the pieces clattered to the ground. He slowly moved toward the mess. "I can't risk going against them myself until I do."

"No one wins while the Hollow roams free," the Seer insisted.

The Source crushed a piece of the vase to dust. "I control the Hollow."

"For now," the Seer warned. "But the more magic it absorbs, the stronger it becomes. And the more you extract from it, the more it corrupts you until it consumes all things, including you!"

The Source spun around and stalked towards her. "Unless you want to face eternity as a pile of ash, I suggest you stop questioning me and do as I say!" he seethed and she bowed her head.

The Source stretched out his hand and called forth a demon to serve him.

"How can I be of service?" he asked dropping to his knees.

"I want the Charmed Ones, Darklighter," he informed him.

"But my arrows don't kill witches."

The Source smirked, reaching for the Hollow, "But they do kill Whitelighters." He approached the Darklighter with the box. "I want you…to kill theirs…" he bent down towards him, "…so he can't heal them anymore."

He opened the box and the Hollow entered the Darklighter through his mouth, eyes and nose, just like before.

"And when you've done that…" he continued closing the lid over the box, "…then I want you to bring me a little gift."

Halliwell Manor

"Five magic crystals, oriented east to west," Paige said as she placed them down on the kitchen floor. "Magic circle check," she ticked off rising to her feet again.

"Oh, purple good. Purple equals exploding power." Piper smiled happily as she finished mixing the liquids. "Exploding power, check."

Phoebe held up a piece of paper. "One fabulously written Source-vanquishing spell, check," she smirked turning to Faith and high-fiving her. "Yay us!"

"Don't get cocky," Cole warned good-naturedly.

"Not cocky," Phoebe countered shaking her head and Buffy shook hers also.

"Confident," Buffy concluded and Phoebe nodded.

"Confident," Phoebe repeated with a smile.

Faith walked over to Piper and held up one vial for her to pour the potion into. "We are talking about the Source of All Evil, maybe measured optimism is best," Piper suggested and Phoebe shrugged from Cole's side.

Buffy nodded. "Alright, measured optimism it is."

"The Source unleashed the Hollow," Leo announced barely orbed fully in.

"Already on that train, honey," Piper informed him with false cheer. "It took my powers, remember? Anything else?"

"Good and evil magic need to join forces and read the inscription on the box where the Hollow is kept," Leo added, something they didn't already know. "That will put it back in its crypt and return your powers."

"Good." Faith nodded. "Something we didn't already know and now we know how to banish it."

Piper smiled at her husband. "This is good news."

"Good news if the Source brings the box and we can find an evil being willing to help," Phoebe added pessimistically as she approached her sisters and nieces.

"Well technically speaking, Aunt Phoebe," Faith said. "We do. I'm his heir which means even though my witch side is good. The side of me that is his heir is evil, right?"

"Technically speaking that is true," Leo said. "But we don't know if the side of you that is his heir has enough evil, unless you embrace it completely, to banish the Hollow."

"Hey, Cole." Paige turned to him. "To bad you're not still evil."

"Well, one step at a time," Cole replied looking to Phoebe/ "First we vanquish the Source and uh…then we'll worry about putting Pandora back in its box."

Paige turned to her phone as it buzzed loudly and snatched it up. "Hello? Oh, hey Darryl," she greeted her face falling as she listened closely. "Oh no," she sighed turning around and walking out of the room. "Are you sure she's going to be okay?" she asked worried for Carolyn's health.

"Yeah, the ER doctor said there was no internal bleeding," Darryl assured her quickly. "But she still got beat up pretty bad."

"Damn it!" Paige cursed loudly. "How did he find her?"

"I have no idea," Darryl said sadly. "But I've got every available officer out there looking for him."

Paige shook her head, staring upward to keep her tears at bay. "What about the hearing?"

"I got it postponed for an hour from now, but I doubt we're going to find him by then," he informed her then paused. "Look, Paige, with her history, this doesn't look good," he pointed out.

Paige, nodded then hung up the phone. She jumped as someone touched her arm and turned to find Leo. "We need you in the kitchen," he told her firmly.

Paige scowled and began walking back. "You know, Leo." She turned to him. "I have my charges too."

"Hey guys!" Buffy called walking out from the kitchen, "C'mon," she said just as the Darklighter orbed in behind Leo and fired. "Oh no you don't!" she cried throwing out her arm and telekinetically sending the arrow across the room.

Leo spun around and raced toward them both. "Buffy, get in the kitchen," he ordered sternly.

Paige walked past them. "Crossbow!" she yelled as her other sisters, Faith and Cole came out of the kitchen.

"No, your powers, P!" Faith yelled but it was too late.

The Darklighter absorbed Paige's powers and smirked raising the crossbow once more and firing but Buffy deflected it again.

Leo grabbed Buffy's arm and ordered sternly. "Kitchen."

"What the hell!" Piper cried from the doorway with Phoebe.

Leo looked over, "You too, Piper. You have no powers, you're defenseless."

"What do we do?" Buffy cried as she deflected arrow after arrow.

"Should you be doing that?" Faith asked with concern for her wife. "What about your powers."

"The arrows aren't a part of him and he isn't holding them," Buffy replied her eyes on the flying arrows. "They're fair game."

The Darklighter growled in frustration, glaring at Buffy then orbed out.

"Is he gone?" Paige questioned looking around.

Piper ran forward and grabbed Paige. "C'mon, kitchen," she ordered pulling her sister back. "We're vulnerable."

The two sisters were almost there when the Darklighter orbed back in on the other side of the room, out of everyone's' line of sight. Seeing his moment of opportunity, the Darklighter aimed at an unsuspecting Leo and fired.

"Ah!" Leo cried out as the arrow tore through his stomach, throwing him to the ground.

Piper spun around. "Leo!" she screamed and moved toward him but Phoebe grabbed her, holding her back as she threw the potion, vanquishing the Darklighter but not the Hollow which merely buzzed away.

"Leo!" Piper cried again, tearing her arm from Phoebe's grip and running toward her husband, dropping down beside him. She bit her trembling lip and pulled her husband against her, cradling his head in her hands.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Leo was lying on the living room couch, his back outwards, face to the back of the couch. Piper was perched on the end next to him, holding his hand tightly in hers, Buffy standing near his head, the others behind Piper.

Piper bit her lip then squeezed his hand. "You ready?" she asked her husband gently.

Leo nodded as much as he could through the shaking and Piper looked up at Buffy and nodded.

Buffy sighed and raised her hand. "Hold on, Leo," she whispered then, as quickly as possible, she telekinetically pushed the arrow out of his body.

Piper squeezed her eyes closed as Leo crushed her hand as he screamed out in pain. "Okay, it's over. Easy, easy, easy," she soothed glancing at Faith, who dropped down next to Leo and Piper.

Buffy looked over at Paige and saw her staring at the arrow. "Paige, don't touch that," she said sternly. "You're a Whitelighter too."

Piper stroked her husband's hair as she helped him lie down fully. "Just lay back. Easy." she said gently blinking rapidly to fight her tears. "You're okay, just lay back. Easy."

"Still bossing me around huh?" he rasped out, breathing harshly.

Piper smiled. "You better believe it."

"I don't understand," Paige spoke up moving towards them. "How come you can heal us but you can't heal yourself?"

Leo shook his head. "Just doesn't work that way."

"Hey?" Piper called and he looked at her. "I bet you could switch powers with Phoebe, like we did before—"

"No!" Leo snapped, "If the Source comes and Phoebe doesn't have her powers…you don't stand a chance. I mean it, I'm still your Whitelighter," he reminded his wife.

Faith raised her eyebrows and waved a hand. "What am I, chopped liver." She glared at Leo. "I've still got my powers and they're a lot more active than Aunt Phoebe's."

Leo shook his head firmly. "You…you need to stay out of…the line of fire, Faith," he told her pointedly.

Faith's eyes narrowed. "Uncle Leo, he won't hurt me," she reminded him.

"It's not that I am worried about," he replied sternly.

"What's going on?" Piper asked looking between her husband and her niece.

"Nothing," Faith answered. This was not the time to tell her aunts she was pregnant.

"No." Leo rasped out, "Listen to me Faith…you and Buffy need to…tell them."

"It's not the right time, Uncle Leo," Faith countered.

"As your aunts they deserve to know." Leo pushed and Faith looked at Buffy who was nodding in agreement with Leo.

"He's right, Faith," Buffy said. "We were going to tell them anyways."

"I would rather we devote our attention to saving Uncle Leo first, okay?" Faith said instead and turned to Piper who took a deep breath, wiping frantically at her eyes.

"Uh…" Piper cleared her throat loudly, "Phoebe?" she called and her sister stepped forward. "Go find something else: a potion, an amulet, a spell, whatever. Go!" she yelled and Phoebe and Cole walked out into the sunroom. "Paige, go help her," she ordered again and Paige scurried away.

Buffy wrapped an arm around Faith. "We're going to fix this, Piper," she said.

Faith stroked Piper's hair soothingly. "Buffy's right. We're going to save him."

Piper sniffled then caught her husband's eyes and forced a smile, he merely squeezed her hand and she looked down.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Paige walked into the sunroom to find Phoebe standing waiting, arms crossed and shaking her head.

"It'll never work," Phoebe informed her certainly.

Paige closed her eyes briefly. "Will anything?"

Phoebe looked down sadly. "I don't know," she admitted quietly.

"So what?" Paige asked, looking around. "We're all just going to die?" she demanded and Phoebe flinched.

"You can't think like that," Cole said gently stopping behind Phoebe and placing one hand on her back.

"Why not?" Paige shrugged. "Isn't that what we're all thinking anyway?"

"We'll figure out a way out of this," Phoebe assured her little sister, wrapping one arm around her shoulders. "I promise."

Paige sighed. "How? The Source knew we'd be prepared that's why he came after our powers. The Source knew we had an in-house healer, that's why he came after Leo." She sighed in frustration. "He knows what we're going to do before we even do."

"Well, it's not over yet," Phoebe insisted, rubbing her arms comfortingly. "I still have my power and Buffy and Faith still have theirs so…we're not completely defenseless."

"Great." Paige quipped, "Two down..."

The Underworld

"Two to go," the Source smirked proudly. He turned to the Seer whose eyes were pure white. "What is it?" he demanded walked to her side. "What do you see?"

The Seer remained silent, still stuck in her vision.

"What do you see?" He leaned into her. "Tell me," he urged touching her face lightly.

"I see…nothing," the Seer finally replied as her eyes returned to normal.

The Source stared at her in disbelief. "What do you mean? Do I or do I not have the power to defeat the witches?" he demanded sternly, moving to stand in front of her and straightening up so he was towering over her.

The Seer looked up at him, unaffected. "You misunderstand," she said calmly. "I see nothing. No magic…no life…no world! The Hollow will consume everything, just as I warned."

The Source's mutilated features hardened at her words. "Then if there's no future, I have no further need for you, do I, Seer?" he questioned threateningly.

The Seer's body tightened in fear momentarily but she quickly composed herself. "Please, I beg you, find another way. Put the Hollow back where it belongs."

"Not until I've finished," the Source refused. "Not until I've killed them all and freed my heir."

"But that's madness," the Seer stated bluntly. "The Hollow won't let you stop there."

"Then so be it!" The Source yelled in anger, his hatred toward the Halliwell sisters taking over, clouding his judgement.

The Seer looked to the ground. "Forgive me," she asked. "I serve you as always." She then looked back up at him. "Even until the end."

The Source's lips twitched upwards before his features hardened once more, "Guard the Hollow," he ordered her and the Seer bowed her head slightly as the Source walked past her saying. "I have one more demon to recruit and two more powers to obtain," he finished just as he flamed out of his lair.

The Seer, knowing he could not see her, walked toward the Hollow and lifted the box, her eyes misting over once more as she pulled a vision toward her.

Halliwell Manor

Piper walked back into the living room, glass of water in hand only to stop dead at the sight of her husband lying prone on the couch, blanket over him and eyes closed. Her heart pounded in her ears as her mind instantly assumed the worst possible explanation for his stillness.

"Leo?" she called his name tentively, waiting for any form of reply which she received seconds later.

"Hey," he said softly and she sighed in relief.

"Hey," she replied, collecting herself before walking toward him and bending down. "Drink this," she ordered placing the glass to his lips and tilting it.

When he was done, she placed it on the coffee table and turned back to her husband, resting her hand on his chest.

Leo breathed deeply. "Guess you picked the wrong beneficiary after all."

Piper closed her eyes. "Don't talk like that." She shook her head.

"At least you still…have Buffy and Faith," Leo pointed out. "Unless the Source wins…"

Piper forced a smile and stroked his cheek lightly.

"Piper…" he rasped, voice tired and quiet, "…you need to get out of here…before he comes back."

Piper shook her head, her lip quivering. "I'm not leaving you," she told him adamantly.

"The Source…"

"Is not going to scare me away," Piper insisted fighting her tears. "And neither are you. So just forget about it," she concluded, her voice breaking.

Leo gave her a pained smile and looked at her with loving, regretful eyes.

Piper's heart deflated. "You're not going to die," she told him firmly and he squeezed his eyes shut, a lone tear escaping down his cheek which made Piper lose her own. "Because I'm not going to let you," she added determinedly, ignoring the wet tears leaving trails down her cheeks.

Leo sighed, taking her hand and squeezing it. "You really should talk to your Faith," he told her quietly. "She needs to tell you…I don't want to betray…her trust but I will…if I have too."

Piper frowned at his words turning his head so he was looking at her. "Is it really that important?" she asked and the look in her husband's eyes said it all.

"It may even…help you win this," he said with a small smile. Piper cocked her head questioningly and he smiled wider. "Motivation."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Phoebe burst into her bedroom, walking swiftly to her dresser, pulling open the draws and searching inside frantically. She turned her head, feeling eyes on her, only to find her fiancé standing in front of their closet.

Phoebe forced a smile. "I'm just, looking for my potion book," she clarified. "Have you seen it anywhere?" she asked hopeful and Cole shook his head.

"I didn't think you could save Leo with a potion."

"Well, it's not just to save Leo," Phoebe replied glancing at him briefly. "It's to save us all."

"How do you plan on saving us with a potion?" he asked.

Phoebe slammed a drawer closed and glared at him. "I don't know!" she cried helplessly. "But I have to do something! I can't just sit around and—" The rest of her sentence died in her throat as she caught sight of the object in Cole's hands. "What's that?" she demanded and only sadness could be heard.

"This?" Cole asked, waving the small blue velvet box around.

"Yeah," Phoebe replied with a nod, the sadness slowly turning to anger.

Cole walked toward her. "It's just a little something, I've been waiting for the right moment to give you." he explained, playing with the box clasped tightly in his hands. He looked at her and opened the box to reveal a gorgeous and quite large diamond ring.

Phoebe stared at it silently then looked up at him and smiled, somewhat awkwardly.

"It's not your Grams', but hopefully it's not cursed." He chuckled, only half-joking as he really hoped it wasn't.

Phoebe sighed quietly. "I don't think, now's the time," she told him gently.

"Actually, I think now is the perfect time," Cole countered shooting her a pointed look as he removed the ring from its box and slid it onto her finger.

Phoebe looked down at it and felt herself smile.

"This way, no matter what happens, you'll always know that I love you."

Phoebe looked up at his words and smiled little wider. "It's beautiful," she praised and he smiled a proud smile. "Now you have to go," she told him firmly.

Cole shook his head. "No, I'm staying here with you."

Phoebe glared up him, one hand on her hip. "Do you want me to watch you die too?"

"If that's what it takes to save you, yeah," Cole replied and Phoebe felt her anger grow.

"No, but I'm supposed to save you," she insisted. "That's why I got that premonition."

"Not necessarily," Cole argued. "You know as well as I do, you're not meant to stop every premonition," he reminded her but Phoebe shook her head. "Some are just meant to prepare you for what's to come."

Phoebe opened her mouth to reply when the doorbell cut her off, both heads turned towards their door.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"I'LL BE RIGHT THERE!" Paige yelled to the door as she walked as quickly as possible to answer it.

"Paige," Piper cut in front of her sister. "This is no time for guests."

"It's not social," Paige assured her. "I called Darryl."

"Darryl? You're supposed to be helping Phoebe," Piper insisted, shaking her head in disbelief.

"She doesn't need any help," Paige countered. "But there is somebody who does. Excuse me," she said pushing past Piper and opening the door. "Oh, Carolyn," she gasped at the sight of the woman she had promised would get her son back.

"I'm so sorry, Paige," Carolyn cried. "After everything you've done to help me..."

"It's not over," Paige told her firmly. "Not yet."

"Paige," Piper called sternly and Darryl frowned at the look on her face.

"Darryl, take Carolyn into the sunroom," Paige instructed.

Darryl hesitated as he led Carolyn through the door. "Is everything okay?"

"No!" Piper replied, eyes wide and shaking her head.

"Yes," Paige argued, sending her older sister a pointed glare as she closed the door behind her guests.

"Are you out of your mind?" Piper exclaimed, gripping her sister's forearms. "We don't have time for other people's problems right now!"

"It's something I've got to do," Paige informed her determinedly. "Especially if it's the last thing I do," she said pointedly before stalking off toward the sunroom.

"Aunt Paige," Faith called when her aunt entered the sunroom, "What's going on?" she asked casting a glance in Carolyn's direction.

"Yeah, what's going on?" Darryl asked knowingly but Paige shook her head.

"I don't have time to explain," Paige dismissed.

Darryl turned to Buffy and Faith. "What's going on?" he asked again.

"Quite a bit, Darryl," Buffy answered.

Paige sighed heavily. She grabbed Buffy and Faith's arms and dragged them away from the group. "Please let me do this?" she begged. "I have to help her. We've come this far together please don't ask me to let her down now."

Faith caught the look in her aunt's eye, like she had run out of time. "Hey, you're not going to die, P."

Paige scoffed. "Right, course not. Whatever you say, Faith."

"No, hey," Faith held onto Paige tightly. "I mean it, P. We are going to win this fight and you are going to spend the rest of your long-life helping people just like Carolyn."

Paige gave her a watery smile. "That's a nice thought Faith but…how can you be so sure?"

Faith glanced at Buffy. "Because I have to be. I can't sit on the Source's throne, not now."

Paige smiled sadly. "Buffy will be okay," she told her niece quietly. "If we don't…"

Buffy shook her head. "It's not me she's worried about," she corrected Paige, who frowned. "We're waiting for the right time." She nodded toward Carolyn. "Go do what you have to do."

Paige smiled. "Thank you," She hugged first Faith and then Buffy tightly then waited as they left the room. She turned to Carolyn, determination shinning in her eyes. "I think I can still help you get your son back."

Carolyn shook her head dejectedly. "But how? The judge will take one look at me and—"

"No," Paige interrupted her. "I think I can help," she said surely. "I just need you, to turn away from me."

Carolyn looked at her uncertainly and Paige smiled encouragingly.

"Please, just trust me," Paige asked and Carolyn slowly turned away from her. She closed her eyes briefly, praying that it would work then stomped over to the book, flipping through the pages as quickly as possible.

Darryl's eyes widened as he realized exactly how she was planning to help. "Hey. Whoa, whoa, whoa." He walked toward her. "Hey wait. You're going to use magic?" he asked voice hushed so Carolyn wouldn't hear.

Paige looked him in the eye. "Yes, I am," She then went back to searching the book, stopping only when she found what she was looking for: The Vanishing Spell. "Let the object of objection become but a dream, as I cause this scene to be unseen," she chanted clearly then looked up, meeting Darryl's eyes briefly. "Okay, Carolyn, you can turn around now," she instructed the woman who turned back to her slowly.

"Whoa," Darryl commented while Paige merely smiled: Carolyn's face was completely healed.

"What?" Carolyn questioned as she brought a curious hand up to touch her face. "What happened?"

Darryl held up one hand. "Just a second, Carolyn." He turned back to Paige, his face the picture of concern. "Look, I've known you guys long enough to know that you don't do something like this unless something is seriously wrong," he stated confidently and Paige's stoic expression faltered. "What's going on?"

Paige hardened her eyes and set her jaw. "Just get downtown and make the judge see the real Carolyn," she told him sternly. "And make sure that slimebag ex of hers gets put away. Please? Just go."

Darryl looked at her carefully, one last time before he reluctantly moved toward Carolyn and led her back toward the front door.

Paige watched them go, fighting tears as she couldn't help but think that was the last good thing she would ever do, the last person she would ever help in this world.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Uncle Darryl?" Faith called curiously as he walked, shoulders hunched and head hanging, past her toward the door.

"Wait in the car," Darryl told Carolyn quietly and she nodded, glancing at Faith who smiled at her before walking out the door and down the steps. He turned back to Faith and she frowned at the look in his eyes.

"What?" Faith asked hesitantly. "What's wrong?"

"You tell me," Darryl replied cryptically.

"What did P say to you?" Faith wondered.

"P?" Darryl asked confused on the nickname.

"I knew Aunt Paige before we learned she was…" Faith said and then shrugged. "P was my nickname for her.

Darryl nodded. "She didn't say much…but she didn't have to," he told her pointedly. "It's in your eyes too and Piper and Buffy's and I'm willing to bet Phoebe's as well."

Faith closed her eyes as she steadied her breathing. When she looked back up at Darryl tears were shining in her eyes. "He's coming for me, Uncle Darryl," she said quietly. "And in the process, he is going after…"

Darryl's eyes widened as he caught on. "He's going to try and kill them," he finished for her.

Faith nodded slowly. "Yeah," she agreed sadly forcing a smile for his sake.

Darryl cleared his throat loudly and forced one back. "Well, I feel sorry for him, because you, your aunts and Buffy will wipe the floor with him, Faith."

Faith released a short laugh, dropping her eyes to the ground then lifting them back to him. "Before you go, a little good news for you." She smiled a genuine smile this time. "I'm pregnant."

Darryl held her gaze for a long moment then pulled her into a hug, "Congratulations, Faith."

"Consider yourself her godfather, okay?" Faith told him.

"I will," Darryl answered. "I better go. I will you see you later."

"Yeah…see you later," Faith said back tightening her hold on him then pulling back and smiling as he closed the door behind himself.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Piper?" Phoebe called loudly as she entered the sunroom, expecting to find Buffy and Faith but instead found Paige. "Hey." She smiled gently.

Paige looked up, wiping at her cheeks and smiled back. "Hey. Uh...Piper's in the—"

"I'm here," Piper answered instead. "Buffy's with Leo. What's going on?"

"We may have a plan to get your powers back," Cole informed her.

"Faith!" Phoebe yelled loudly, then turned back to her sister. "Then maybe Paige can heal Leo."

"A spell?" Piper asked, attempting to remain neutral on the subject but that niggling feeling of hope had already formed in her heart.

Faith walked into the sunroom. "I think I found a way to get their powers back," Phoebe told her niece then went back to her explanation. "Remember that spell to call for a witch's powers?" she asked, glancing at Piper, "Maybe it might be strong enough to call the powers from the Hollow."

"Could that work?" Paige asked, tilting her head to the side as she walked towards them.

"It has too," Piper answered instead then turned to Cole. "Go, wait in there," she ordered and he sighed, but obeyed walking to join the other men but before he could quite reach them he was engulfed in a shimmer like fashion disappearing to the only place a forced shimmer could take you: The Underworld.

The Underworld

Cole gasped loudly as his body came to a stop and his eyes darting frantically around the lair he now found himself in.

"Don't be afraid," the smooth voice of the Seer told him gently, her body out of sight.

Cole turned to the voice sharply, watching as she entered the lair from an entrance across the way. "Who are you? Where am I?" he demanded keeping his eyes on the new threat to his now fragile life.

"Back in your once and future life…" the Seer answered evasively, "…Belthazor."

"Belthazor?" Cole repeated, his brow creased in confusion, watching as the faceless woman stepped into the light. "Seer," he concluded, instantly recognizing her face.

"Even now I can see the void where your demon half used to exist," the Seer mused staring at him intently, seeing into his soul. "It craves to be complete again."

"How did you know I was still alive?" Cole questioned as she continued to circle him.

"I had a vision," the Seer answered simply. "One where you and I do great things together."

"I don't work with evil anymore," Cole seethed.

The Seer halted. "You might reconsider, if you hope to save your precious witch. Only you and I can help her defeat the Source," the Seer informed him certainly.

Cole regarded her carefully fighting to resist but his love and need to protect Phoebe won out. "I'm listening."

The Seer smiled minutely. "If you take in the Hollow, you can absorb the Source's power when he attacks," she explained, taking her time as she began circling him once again lifting up the box of the Hollow as she passed.

Cole watched unblinkingly as she approached him.

"Once powerless, Faith and her aunts can then vanquish him," the Seer continued. "Ending forever Faith's future as his heir."

Cole's eyes narrowed. "And what happens to me after?"

"The witches and I will banish the Hollow back to its crypt," she answered, not missing a beat. "You will return to normal."

"How do I know this isn't just one of the Source's tricks?" he hesitated. "Or yours for that matter?"

The Seer looked at him with wide and panicked eyes. "The Source has been corrupted by the Hollow and he's going to destroy us all," she informed him with a knowing air of finality. "He cannot be allowed to continue with this path of madness!"

Cole looked at her, hearing the honesty in her voice and the real fear in her eyes. "And if I do this…what do you see then?"

"A future…for both sides."

Cole turned away from her, fighting with himself, an internal struggle as he debated what to do. "Is this the great thing you saw us doing together?" he asked curiously.

"Perhaps. However, you won't ever know unless the Source is stopped first."

Cole squeezed his eyes closed, feeling himself relent and turned back to face her.

"It's the only chance to save your love," the Seer bated, holding out the box that little bit further.

Cole tensed his jaw and curled his hands into fists as he walked towards her purposefully and the Seer, he noticed, couldn't completely mask her relief at his decision.

The Seer undid the clasp and opened the box. The Hollow flew out, entering Cole through his mouth, nose and eyes, just like the others before him.

Halliwell Manor

The Faith and her aunts stood around the book: Phoebe and Piper in the middle, Faith on Phoebe's right, Paige on Piper's left.

The book was open at the desired spell and they were just about ready to begin when Faith stopped them. "Wait!" she cried loudly throwing out her hands. "I have a confession to make."

Phoebe and Paige frowned while Piper sighed and turned to her niece sharply. "What?" Piper demanded, desperate to save her husband's life. "What is it?"

Faith bit her lip and took a deep breath releasing it slowly. "I'm pregnant," she announced.

Phoebe's eyes bulged while Paige's jaw hit the floor and Piper's eyes instantly fell to her niece's stomach.

"What did you just say?" Phoebe asked slowly, the sudden excitement and anticipation of her niece's answer evident in her voice.

Faith turned around, so her back was against the table and she could see all three of them more clearly. "I'm pregnant," she repeated then held up her hand to silence them. "I know, I should have told you sooner but I just…I couldn't, I wasn't ready and, and it's only been a few days anyway and then this whole nightmare began and all of you just decided to give up and surrender before we even tried to fight and I figured it was safer for Buffy and I to keep it to ourselves, that way you would be focused on yourselves and your own safety instead of mine cause I had Uncle Leo and Buffy looking out for me but now Uncle Leo's dying and we're about to summon the Hollow and I just…I need you guys," she concluded tears springing to life again as she looked between the faces of her stunned into silence aunts. "I need you to believe that we're going to survive and that I will finally be free of him."

Phoebe to Piper whose stunned expression was exactly the same as her youngest sister. She turned to Faith and tried not to smile. "Okay…firstly you need to breath," she coached gently and Faith began taking deep breaths, gripping Phoebe's hand.

Phoebe chuckled a little. "Good. Okay now I have not given up," she insisted firmly. "Paige hasn't really, she's just scared and neither has Piper," she assured her niece and Piper shook her head wordlessly in agreement, Paige following suite. "See? We are going to win this because we, your wonderful aunts, are the Charmed Ones and it's our destiny." She paused and Faith signaled for her to continue. "Lastly…you're pregnant?" she whispered leaning close and Faith nodded slowly.

Phoebe's face broke out into the largest grin imaginable and she jumped on Faith, wrapping her arms around her niece's neck squealing. "You're pregnant!"

Paige and Piper's silence was broken at the outburst and they laughed at Phoebe's antics, both grinning widely.

Faith chuckled; her eyes watery as she reached out to Piper to keep steady under Phoebe's weight. "I'm pregnant," she confirmed, happiness flooding her system all because she told her aunts.

Piper tucked some of her niece's hair behind her ear, "How long have you known?" she narrowed her eyes dangerously and Faith cringed.

"Um…five or six days," Faith admitted and Piper's eyes widened.

"What!" Phoebe exclaimed pulling back to glare at her.

"Days? And you're only telling us now?" Paige added with a scowl.

Faith nodded. "Sorry." She shrugged sheepishly. "I just wanted to tell Buffy first. And then we went to the doctor to confirm." She intentionally left out Leo being the one to actually confirm, she didn't want her eldest aunt mad at her husband, especially when he was lying downstairs dying. "Buffy and I were going to tell you guys today. But when you had your premonition, Aunt Phoebe, that kind of derailed that."

"How far along?" Piper asked and Faith smiled.

"Six weeks, since the day Buffy was transformed into a man," she explained and Piper nodded.

"This is what Leo and Buffy were referring to earlier," Piper stated. "You should have told us sooner."

Paige and Piper smiled, the former slipping around the other side, in between Phoebe and Faith, placing her head on Faith's shoulder and saying, "Congratulations."

Faith smiled and threw her arm around Paige. "Thanks, P."

Phoebe looked at them and beamed, moving to stand in front of them. "Guess what?" she whispered and they all stood straight. "We're having a baby!" she cried happily jumping up and down on the spot eliciting laughter from her sisters and niece.

Piper nodded. "That we are," she agreed squeezing Faith's hand.

Paige looked between her sisters and niece determinedly. "If that's not motivation then I don't know what is."

Faith smiled at Paige gratefully. "Thank you," she whispered and Paige nodded.

"Let's do this," Phoebe stated moving to stand next to Piper again as her sisters and niece turned back to the book. "For the next generation," she finished quietly and then she, Piper and Paige began chanting as quickly as possible. "Powers of the witches rise. Course unseen across the skies. Come to us who call you near. Come to us and settle here."

As soon as they had finished chanting the whole room began to shake and everything in it.

They kept their eyes alert, expecting the Hollow to appear but instead they got the Source himself flaming in behind them. They whirled round and the sisters gasped at the sight.

"Oh my god!" Paige exclaimed, the shock and fear in her voice making the Source sneer.

"Not quite," he corrected her looking from sister to sister.

"Run!" Phoebe yelled pulling on Paige's hand as Piper chased after them.

"I have a few questions for you," Faith informed him as he was about to flame out after her aunts.

He looked at her and could sense the child within her. "So my heir is bringing forth her own heir. A child born of not only my power, but that of two witch clans…Halliwell and Spellman. The true heir of the Slayer line."

"What do you mean the true heir to the Slayer line?" Faith questioned.

"The Slayer was created several millennia ago using the essence of a demon. That magic runs through all Slayers veins," he answered. "Travers utilizing powerful magics bound the Slayers from ever unleashing their true power. He feared that a Slayer would rise up against him so he kept them weak. You and your wife are the only Slayers in history to utilize magic. Travers believes his new Slayer is strong but she is arrogant and so will very likely die young as all Slayers do."

"Why didn't you try to take me when i was a toddler?" Faith questioned.

"Do you think it was a coincidence that the Lehanes became your guardians?" the Source replied thinking Faith meant when she was two-years-old not when Joyce had reverted her and Buffy to four-years-old. "I manipulated events with Travers to get the Lehanes in a place to become your guardians."

"No, I mean recently after Aunt Paige joined the family, reconstituting the Charmed Ones. My mother-in-law, Joyce Summers-Spellman powers were unbound and she turned Buffy and I into toddlers. If you were to attack us it would have been then when my aunts were distracted unless you didn't know."

The Source frowned as he looked at her. That would have been before he had replaced the Oracle with the Seer. Which meant that the Oracle had not revealed information to him. "I was never informed by the Oracle, the Seer's predecessor. I believe now she may have been a spy."

"A spy," Faith scoffed.

"Yes, a spy," he answered. "Your aunts are not the only threat I have faced. There are demons and warlocks who wish to see me overthrown, to take the throne away from me and subsequently away from you. I would hazard to guess the Oracle was a spy for that group.

"I wonder if you know that bitch that you appointed as my guardian starved me, I was skin and bones," Faith informed him. "I am sure you would want an heir who strong, right?"

The Source looked at her for a moment and frowned. "You are correct. It is a shame you sent her to the wasteland, because that would make three times, she failed me." It was then that he narrowed his eyes at her. "Your stalling, my heir. So they can get away and regroup." He flamed out after Piper, Phoebe and Paige.

"He's coming," Faith yelled as she ran out the door.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"How do we call for our powers?" Paige questioned panicked as they ran over the couch, tipping it forwards as they went.

"He's coming," Faith yelled from upstairs.

The Source flamed in and stretched out his hand, using Piper's power on the coffee table. The force of the blast sent the sisters tumbling to the ground hard.

"I have your powers now," the Source snickered following calmly after them.

Phoebe jumped up and pulled Paige towards the stairs as Faith came down it. "Hurry," Faith called out as Piper ran toward them.

The Source smirked. "And a few of my own too," he added forming a large fireball in his hand. He threw it toward Piper.

The fire ball threw her backwards into the wall, smashing it up before she fell to the ground.

"Aunt Piper!" Faith screamed running toward her fallen aunt as Buffy came out of the other room.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The Charmed Ones, Buffy and Faith through the attic door, Phoebe and Paige carrying Piper in their arms, Faith right behind them, her arms out in front of her under Piper as if waiting for them to drop her. Buffy was bringing up the rear.

"Hurry he's coming!" Paige cried glancing fleetingly behind her.

"Don't help!" Phoebe snapped harshly through clenched teeth, catching her niece moving to take some of Piper's weight.

Faith exhaled sharply and rolled her eyes. "I'm still a Slayer, I can help!" she insisted but Paige shook her head.

"No!" Phoebe barked, voice strained as she and Paige walked as quickly as possible to the back of the attic near the podium that held the Book of Shadows and carefully placed an unconscious Piper on the ground: her face, neck, chest and arms covered in small but deep cuts.

"I take it you told them?" Buffy questioned her wife.

Faith nodded as she glanced at Buffy. "I got her," she told her aunts as she fell to her knees behind Piper and pulled her eldest aunt against her supporting her dead weight completely, one hand delicately cupping her cheek. "Aunt Piper? Aunt Piper, wake up," she ordered sternly, her tone urgent.

"Piper, come on, it's time," Buffy added from their right, urgently shaking Piper's arm. "We need you. Come on, you can do it."

Faith squeezed her eyes shut as she rested her head atop of Piper's, her breathing heavy with fear.

"Do what? We have no powers," Paige pointed out from their left, the panic and fear clear as day in her voice.

Faith shook her head. "It doesn't matter, we can still make this plan work," she told her youngest aunt firmly. "Go get the crystals," she ordered then turned Piper's head towards her a little more.

Paige looked over at the crystals ahead of her and jumped to her feet running toward them just as the Source flamed into the attic right in front of her. She froze in fear, gazing up at the Source, Faith pulled Piper closer, her head falling against her niece's chest and grabbed Buffy's hand.

"Seems almost anticlimactic after all this time," the Source mused. "Doesn't it?" he asked his face directly in front of Paige. He smirked widely as he lifted one hand and backhanded her face sending her flying across the room.

"Paige!" Phoebe screamed running to Paige.

The Source let her pass, none too concerned about her power, but craving Buffy's. "Hello, Buffy," he leered as he formed another fireball.

Buffy glared at him. "You can't take my power without the Hollow," she reminded him smugly.

The Source chuckled chillingly. "Maybe not, but I can take your life," he sneered then looked down at Piper who Faith pulled closer still, desperate to protect her. "And your aunts by marriage." He released the fireball which Buffy quickly deflected, same with the one after that but she couldn't deflect the third in time which was flying toward her at rapid speed.

Seconds before the fireball reached its target Faith disappeared in flaming red orbs taking Piper and Buffy with her.

The Source stared at the vacant spot; eyes wide which only widened further when the three of them reappeared.

Buffy instantly threw out her hand and sent him soaring backwards.

Phoebe and Paige seized the opportunity, shaking themselves from the shock of Faith orbing and together they quickly surrounded the Source with the enchanted crystals.

"What…was that?" Piper barely managed to whisper as she tried to gather her bearings.

Faith opened and closed her mouth, eyes wide as she looked between her wife and aunt. "I think, it was the baby."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The Source leered down at Phoebe. "Your power was always the weakest," he insulted and she flinched slightly. "Hardly worth taking. Your life, however, is!"

"Paige, now!" Phoebe ordered and her sister slammed down the last crystal triggering the cage. "Got him!" she cried as she ran back to Faith, Buffy and Piper, who were now sitting up but were staring at Faith's stomach, while Phoebe stood her ground, determined to show him she wasn't as weak as he perceived her to be.

The Source held out his hand and called. "Crystal." And the nearest crystal orbed from its place in the circle to his hand, effectively breaking the chain.

"Aunt Phoebe get back!" Faith ordered as she handed Piper over to Paige and Buffy, who steadied Piper, who was now more alert and able. She stood up and faced the Source, shielding her family from him.

"So," the Source said as he tilted his head. "You choose them over your destiny. You can't assume the throne without the full powers that being evil would give you. Which means you can't defeat me, Faith. Stand aside or I will find simply find myself a new heir."

"I'm going nowhere," Faith said with a smirk.

"Then, the moment we've all been waiting for," he announced, forming the largest fireball yet. He aimed it at Phoebe as she pulled Faith behind her protectively. It was then that Cole shimmered into the attic and ran toward Phoebe, just like her premonition. But instead of killing him, Cole merely absorbed the fireball with a grimace.

"Belthazor!" the Source seethed furious.

"No," Phoebe disagreed. "The Hollow," she corrected glancing quickly at her sisters and nieces.

Cole quickly formed a fireball and struck the Source with it, "Hurry, the spell, which you must say also, Faith! If you want to truly free yourself from him."

Phoebe pulled hers from her back pocket and ran around to Paige's side while Piper pulled hers and held it between her and Faith, who knelt beside her.

"Patricia, Penelope, Prudence, Melinda," Faith and Piper chanted together as Cole hit the Source with fireball after fireball.

"Astrid, Helena, Laura and Grace," Phoebe and Paige chanted together.

"Halliwell witches stand strong beside us. Vanquish this evil from time and space." they concluded together and the Source burst into flame screaming loudly as a powerful wind picked up in the room.

"No!" the Source screamed as he exploded sending a large ripple throughout the room, knocking everyone on their backs.

The Seer appeared as they pulled themselves upright on the floor.

Phoebe noticed her first and jumped in surprise. "Who are you?"

The Seer turned to face Phoebe. "Someone who just helped save your lives. And free Faith from her destiny as the Source's heir," she answered and they all frowned.

"I am going to go check on Leo," Buffy informed them. "Paige, when you have your powers back…"

"I'll follow you down," Paige said as Buffy raced out of the attic.

The Seer turned to Cole and ripped open the box. The Hollow tore out of Cole the same way it had entered him and returned to the box as Cole fell to his knees.

"Quickly, take my hand!" The Seer commanded holding it out to Phoebe who hesitated.

"Trust her," Cole rasped before she could turn to her sister and niece. "If you want your powers back."

Phoebe bit her lip but jumped to her feet and took the Seer's hand, who yanked her closer.

"Say the inscription with me," the Seer ordered and Phoebe obeyed.

The box rose up into the air and glowed a bright white, flashing several times before returning to its tomb, where it would hopefully stay.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Phoebe and Paige raced down the stairs, ahead of Cole and the Seer and into the living room where Leo remained unconscious on the couch.

"Hurry, he's barely holding on," Buffy informed them and Phoebe nodded.

Paige pulled down the cover and placed her hand over his wound. "I can't do it, nothing's happening."

"Hold his hand," Phoebe guided her. "Let his power to heal, flow through you."

Paige closed her eyes in concentration and the wound began to heal until it was completely gone and Leo opened his eyes.

"Paige. Phoebe." Leo looked down at his stomach and sighed in relief.

Paige smiled widely. "I did it. It worked."

"Welcome back, Leo," Buffy greeted helping Leo sit up.

"Leo!" Piper cried happily as she and Faith entered the room.

Leo smiled at her, but it faltered in concern as he took in her appearance and as soon as she was seated next to him, he began to heal her, regardless of the effects on himself.

Faith smiled at them as she made her way toward her wife. "I'm free," she said and Buffy pulled her into her arms and kissing her soundly. She looked back at the Seer. "What does that mean for my powers?"

"You mean the fire-based power?" the Seer questioned as Faith nodded. "It is yours. You are no longer his heir, but that doesn't mean that the power doesn't still reside within you. Now all is as it should be again," she observed stopping next to Cole. "Time to return to my side." She looked pointedly at the sisters and the Slayers then turned to Cole. "Too bad Belthazor's gone, he would have made a great new Source."

Cole shrugged and looked down at her, their gaze almost friendly. "Too bad."

"I don't know who you are," Phoebe spoke up, tearing he Seer attention from Cole to her. "But whoever you are, we thank you."

"Oh, I didn't do this for your future," the Seer assured her with raised eyebrows. "I did it for mine."

"I don't understand," Paige cut in. "If we got our powers back, where did the Source's go?" she asked looking at the Seer for her answer.

The Seer smiled. "Into the void," she replied and then looked directly at Faith. "I think congratulations…" her eyes dropped pointedly to Faith's stomach, "…are in order." She smiled raising her gaze to Faith's alarmed eyes.

The Seer chuckled, "Oh don't look so surprised, Faith. Like my predecessor I hid things from him," she pointed out with a smirk glancing back down at Faith's stomach. "Good luck." And then she disappeared.

Buffy and Faith stared silently at the spot the Seer had previously vacated, Buffy's hold tightening on her wife while Faith's hand, rested protectively on her stomach.

Piper frowned. "Okay, who was that?" she demanded now completely healed and watching her niece concerned.

"A very evil person," Cole answered her with a small smile.

"Yeah…one that saved our lives and helped us kill the Source," Phoebe elaborated with a creased brow.

Faith scoffed. "She didn't save our lives," she insisted. "Just…assisted," she corrected with a nod and her aunts and wife all turned to her with raised eyebrows. She sighed. "Okay, okay fine! She saved our lives," she relented and Paige and Phoebe chuckled. "But hey…the Source is dead and I am free," she pointed out with a serene smile.

November 20, 2001 – Tuesday

P3

"Alright, here you go," the bartender handed Leo a platter of cheese, grapes and crackers. "Enjoy."

Leo smiled at him as he returned to the laughing group that consisted of the three sisters, Faith, Buffy and now himself: Faith and Piper sitting together with their respective spouses by their side, Phoebe next to Buffy and beside Paige.

"Here you go, guys," Leo placed it down in the middle of the table in their booth. "On the house."

"Oh, easy for you to say," Piper quipped sending him a mock glare as he fell onto the couch beside her.

"Yeah, well, we deserve to celebrate," Leo pointed out. "I still can't believe it," he stated shaking his head and they all looked at him. "You guys actually vanquished the Source." He smiled at them proudly.

Faith nodded. "That we did." She grinned and Buffy kissed her.

"So…what does that mean?" Paige asked looking around the booth, "Is our destiny fulfilled? Is Faith's?"

Her sisters and her nieces exchanged looks. "I don't know," Piper answered honestly. "But at least that part of the nightmare is over," she said quietly.

Phoebe decided to lighten the mood. "I propose a toast!" she exclaimed and they all raised their glasses of whatever they were drinking, "To us!" she grinned and they clinked glasses.

"To us!" her sisters and nieces cheered in unison.

"And…" Phoebe drawled raising hers again looking pointedly at Faith and nudging Buffy. "To baby Halliwell-Summers!" she squealed jumping up and down in her seat. "The beginning of the next generation." And glasses were clinked again.

Buffy placed her water down and turned to her wife. "Speaking of baby. I would still like to know first off, how she did that from inside your womb. And second where that power came from." She turned sharply to Leo. "Explain please!"

"What happened, exactly?" he asked and his wife kindly answered.

"Well, she apparently teleports in flaming red orbs," Piper explained.

Phoebe's eyes widened, "That was the baby!" she gasped pointing to Faith's stomach and her older sister, Faith and Buffy nodded.

"Whoa!" Paige droned. "That's one powerful little girl."

Faith scoffed and looked to her uncle. Leo held up his hands. "I can't explain that," he told her regretfully. "But I promise, I will ask the Elders," he promised with a smile.

Faith smiled back and nodded. "Thank you," she said gratefully then turned to her wife. "You okay there, babe?" she chuckled and Buffy shook her head.

"She's using her powers already," Buffy stated instead. "Only six weeks old, still in the womb, about this long…" she demonstrated with her fingers, "…and it can already control its powers."

Faith exchanged a concerned look with her aunts then glanced back at her wife. "Just breathe," she told Buffy gently, rubbing Buffy's arm soothingly. "We'll figure it out together, remember?" she asked and Buffy nodded.

"Aw!" Phoebe gushed at the comment and Faith and Buffy, along with Paige, rolled their eyes while Piper grinned.

Faith turned back to Leo, her face the picture of concern. "Uncle Leo," she said quietly and he looked over. "If the Seer knows…how long do you think it'll be before the entire underworld knows that I'm pregnant?"

Leo shook his head helplessly. "I don't know, Faith," he answered honestly. "But when that happens…"

"They're going to come after Faith," Buffy finished for him and he nodded, "Come after our baby."

Piper slid closer and wrapped both her arms around her niece. "They're not going to get her," she promised determinedly. "I swear to you, Faith, I will not let them take your baby."

"None of us will," Phoebe added threading her arm through Buffy's and reaching out to Faith with the other.

"That girl is not going anywhere," Paige assured her niece with a wink and Faith chuckled.

Leo smiled at his wife, "What do you say we go home and get started on our own little girl?" he asked suggestively.

Piper pursed her lips in thought. "What do you say we go home and sleep and we work on that future tomorrow night," she suggested instead, smiling sweetly at him as she pushed him towards the end of the booth, Paige sliding out to let them pass.

Phoebe and Paige looked at one another and laughed.

"Ooh sleep!" Faith sighed dreamily. "That sounds so good, can we go do that too?" she asked sweetly dropping her head onto Buffy's shoulder.

Buffy smiled at her and kissed her head. "Whatever you want baby," she replied and Faith kissed her firmly.

"Mmm." Faith licked her lips and grinned wickedly. "Maybe we could celebrate some more first, hmm?" she suggested instead and Buffy shot up, pulling Faith with her right past Phoebe who quickly brought her knees to her chest as Buffy steered Faith after Piper and Leo, sending Phoebe and Paige into fits of laughter.

"Hi, honey," Phoebe greeted her fiancé through her laughter. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Cole nodded. "Yeah, why?"

"Well, it just took you a while to get back," Phoebe pointed out and Cole frowned.

"It did?" he asked and she nodded.

"You know, facing death has kind of made me want to face life," Paige informed them from Phoebe's side. "And I'll tell you what, there's a piece of life over there that I, think I'm going to go talk to." She grinned then slid out of the booth and over to the bar.

"Oh, you go get 'em girl!" Phoebe encouraged with a bark then turned back to Cole giggling. "You sure you're okay?" she asked again, concerned.

"Yeah, yeah," Cole assured her. "I'm just a little uh…tired."

"Too tired to celebrate?" Phoebe wondered, gazing up at him with lust filled eyes. "You are my soon-to-be husband." She giggled then turned more serious. "And you're also my hero."

"Oh, I'm nobody's hero," Cole dismissed as she pulled him into a hug. He closed his eyes and when he opened them again, they turned as black as coal, just like the Source.