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

35. Chapter 34: Saving Private Iowa

Chapter 34: Saving Private Iowa

March 4, 2002 – Monday

Buffy's Dreamscape

Buffy lay asleep in hers and Faith's bed, peaceful in slumber, as a vivid and unsettling dream began to unfold before her closed eyes. In this surreal vision, she found herself standing in the heart of a nightmarish landscape, where dark, swirling clouds obscured the blood-red moon. The air was thick with malevolence, and the ground beneath her feet trembled with a foreboding energy.

As she gazed around, her heart clenched with fear and confusion. This was no ordinary dream; it felt like a premonition, a glimpse into a future she hoped had been prevented with the Source's demise. And then, before her eyes, the scene shifted, revealing a throne room of darkness and despair.

At the heart of this abyssal chamber, there sat Faith, her form radiating power and dominance. She was adorned in regal, ebony garments, a crown of twisted iron upon her head. The aura of darkness surrounded her, and her eyes glowed with an eerie crimson light. She exuded an aura of command and authority that sent shivers down Buffy's spine.

Buffy watched in both awe and horror as Faith ruled with an iron fist over the Underworld, her laughter echoing with malevolence. She was the Queen, and the demonic denizens of this nightmarish realm bowed before her, pledging their allegiance with unwavering devotion.

But what struck Buffy to her core was her own role in this horrifying tableau. She stood not as the Slayer she once was, but as a figure of darkness herself. She wore armor adorned with spikes and carried a sword imbued with dark magic. In this premonition, she was not only Faith's consort but also her General, leading the demonic armies with ruthless efficiency.

As the dream unfolded further, Buffy could feel the weight of her actions, the destruction they wrought upon the world she once vowed to protect. She was a harbinger of chaos, a force of evil, and she watched helplessly as her own hands committed acts of cruelty that made her stomach churn.

Tears welled in Buffy's eyes as she realized the dire consequences of this dark destiny. She was trapped in a nightmare where her love for Faith had led them both down a path of darkness and despair. It was a future she prayed would never come to pass, but the premonition lingered in her mind, haunting her with the chilling possibility that their love could lead to their downfall.

Halliwell Manor

Buffy woke from the unsettling premonition, her heart pounding in her chest, and she could still feel the lingering shadows of that dark dream. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim morning light filtering through the curtains, and then turned her gaze toward the sleeping form beside her.

Faith lay there, her face relaxed in slumber, her breathing steady and calm. Her peaceful expression provided a stark contrast to the disturbing vision Buffy had just experienced. With a heavy sigh, Buffy carefully slipped out of bed, not wanting to wake her beloved wife.

As she tiptoed out of the room, Buffy couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency gnawing at her. She needed answers, reassurance that the premonition was nothing more than a terrible nightmare. Her bare feet padded silently down the hallway until she reached the kitchen where she knew Piper and Leo would be having breakfast.

Piper and Leo were just sitting down to eat when Buffy entered the room. They looked up with surprise as they saw the worry etched across her face.

"Morning," Piper greeted.

Buffy took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. "I had a premonition," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "It was... it was so dark. It was like the dreams Faith used to have where Faith and I were evil."

Leo and Piper exchanged worried glances, their expressions reflecting the seriousness of the situation. "Tell us everything," Leo urged, motioning for Buffy to sit down.

As Buffy recounted the vivid details of her premonition, she watched as concern deepened on her parents' faces. They listened intently, absorbing every word.

Piper looked at Leo with concern. "I thought we changed Faith's future when we vanquished the Source," she said. "That she was no longer his chosen heir."

Leo shared Piper's concern; his brow furrowed with worry. "You're right, Piper," he admitted. "But it seems there are still dark forces at play."

Piper's expression grew more serious as she considered the implications. "If this premonition is accurate," she said, "then we may have only delayed the inevitable. We need to find a way to protect Faith and Buffy from this dark fate."

Leo nodded in agreement as he looked at Buffy. "You and I should consult the Elders, see if they can offer any guidance or insights into what's happening," he suggested. "In the meantime, we should keep a close eye on Faith because if its like the last time she turned evil…"

"She'll corrupt the Slayer line which in the end would corrupt Buffy as well," Piper finished for her husband.

"It might have already started," Buffy said sadly. "When Willow, Tara, Faith and I were in Hawaii. We went to the beach for a girls' day out. Faith was almost mean to some of the other beach goers."

Buffy's words deepened the concern on Piper and Leo's faces. They exchanged worried glances once more, realizing that there might be more to Buffy's premonition than they initially thought.

Leo spoke up, his voice filled with a mix of empathy and determination. "Buffy, it's crucial that we keep a close watch on Faith's behavior," he said. "If there are signs of her turning down a darker path, we need to address them as soon as possible."

March 5, 2002 – Tuesday

Halliwell Manor

"Wheat-germ pancakes?" Piper offered, pouncing on Paige as soon as she entered the kitchen, shoving said plate of pancakes under her nose. The aroma of the pancakes filled the air, teasing Paige's senses with a warm, comforting embrace.

"They're not actually that bad," Buffy informed her from her seat at the kitchen table between Faith and a furiously typing Phoebe. Buffy's words carried a note of genuine enthusiasm, as if she had just discovered a hidden gem.

Piper's eyebrows rose as she looked over at her niece, her eyes reflecting a mixture of disbelief. "Not that bad!" she repeated incredulously, her voice tinged with a hint of playful challenge.

Paige screwed up her face, looking over at Buffy and Faith, who were enjoying their own breakfast treats. The plate of bagels beckoned to her, their enticing aroma wafting through the room. "Oh, bagel!" she cheered happily, snatching one up as if she had just found a long-lost treasure. Her joy radiated through her voice, infusing the room with a burst of childlike delight.

Piper looked at her quizzically, her expression a mix of amusement and confusion, as if she couldn't quite fathom her niece's sudden enthusiasm for bagels. "Bagel?"

"Has anyone seen my deposition papers?" Cole asked from the other side of the island, his voice carrying a note of mild frustration.

Paige crumpled her face, her brow furrowing as she tried to be helpful amidst the chaos. "Try the one with the jelly stain," she suggested, pointing it out to him with a touch of urgency.

Cole scoffed in amusement, his laughter adding a touch of warmth to the room. "I got it, thanks," he replied. "Phoebe, don't forget my law firm's having a party tonight," he called over to his wife of almost two weeks, his voice filled with anticipation. "I want to show off my new bride."

Phoebe paused what she was doing to answer, her voice carrying a playful undertone. "If I could finish my work here, that would be great," she jibed subtly, emphasizing the importance of her current tasks even as she playfully acknowledged her husband's request.

"Cole, pancakes?" Piper offered, holding the plate out to him, her expression radiating a motherly concern. The aroma of the pancakes wafted towards him, tempting his senses.

"Trying to watch my cholesterol," Cole turned down gently.

Piper turned to Phoebe with determination, her eyes reflecting her persistent urge to share the joy of her wheat-germ pancakes. "How about you, Phoebe?" She walked over and held out the plate, her expression hopeful and caring. "I know you want some of these."

"No, you know what I want?" Phoebe asked, turning to glare at her sister, her voice carrying a touch of exasperation. "I want quiet. My advice column is due today." Her words held a note of urgency as she emphasized the pressing nature of her work.

"No pancakes?" Piper tried one last time, jutting the plate forward in a final attempt to tempt her sister.

Phoebe shook her head, her resolve unwavering. "No pancakes, but shush with some syrup on it would be good," she said, her tone softening as she accepted the compromise of a quieter environment.

"I have to agree with Aunt Phoebe," Faith agreed, her tone stern, aligning herself with her aunt's desire for peace and focus.

Buffy glanced at Piper worriedly, her concern evident in her eyes as she so hoped her premonition wasn't coming true. "Hey, Leo," she said as the Whitelighter orbed in.

Leo's smiled at Buffy, the warmth of their familiarity evident in their exchange. "Morning, Buffy," he greeted her, his voice carrying a sense of comfort and connection.

Buffy smiled widely, sliding out of her chair and over to the counter where he stood, her face lighting up with affection. "Hi. You know you're my favorite uncle by marriage, right?" she asked with an innocent smile, her words brimming with playfulness.

"Hey!" Cole cried in offense, a mock protest in his voice.

"Sorry, Cole," Buffy said as she smiled at Cole, her apology sincere. "I just need Leo's help getting the nursery set up."

Faith added to the conversation, her expectant gaze on her pregnant belly. "Yeah," she said, her voice tinged with excitement. "I'm getting close, only three more months till this baby is coming out."

"Did I hear nursery?" Phoebe asked suddenly, her curiosity piqued as she turned in her chair, her attention now fully engaged. "Did you just say nursery?"

Buffy spun to face her aunt, her playful tone teasing Phoebe. "I thought you wanted 'quiet'?" she playfully asked, her words carrying a sense of gentle ribbing. Phoebe responded by sticking out her tongue in response, a playful retort to her niece's remark.

"I did—do," Phoebe replied, her voice filled with affection and understanding. "I do, but when my little great niece becomes the topic of conversation, everything else is null-in-void."

"What about me?" Faith questioned with carefully piercing eyes. "You know, the niece carrying your great niece?"

Phoebe shrugged nonchalantly and grunted, "Eh," her response casual and light.

"Eh?" Faith echoed, feigning surprise, and Phoebe nodded in confirmation, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Huh, okay then."

Buffy spun back around to Leo and smiled, her focus shifting to their previous conversation. "Well?" she urged. "I know we're both like super busy right now, but it doesn't have to get done right away," Buffy explained calmly. "Though I would like to know if I'm going to have to ask Elise for time off in case, I have to do it by myself."

With hers and Faith's daughter on the way, she had accepted Elise's offer to work alongside Phoebe as one of the Bay Mirror's advice columnists. Her only condition was that it would be part-time on the weekends so it did not conflict with her college classes.

Leo smiled; his genuine enthusiasm apparent. "I'd love to," he promised, his willingness to help evident in his words. Buffy's joyful reaction, throwing her arms in the air, showcased her appreciation for his support.

"Thanks, Leo. Just let me know when you're free to do it," Buffy instructed, emphasizing the flexibility of the arrangement, and Leo nodded in agreement.

Piper held out the plate housing her beloved pancakes, her hope for someone to appreciate her cooking still evident. "Wheat-germ pancake?" she offered her husband with one last hopeful smile, her eyes reflecting her love and care. "They're delicious!"

"No, I don't have time," Leo informed her, shaking his head apologetically, the weight of his duties clear. "I just came to get my toolbox."

"Alright, you know what?" Piper droned, her tone marked with playful exasperation. "I'm not cookin' for you people anymore."

"Hey now!" Buffy cried in a panic, her voice filled with urgency. "Don't go talkin' crazy like that, alright? And besides, I ate some, remember? Two!" Her words carried a sense of reassurance, as if she couldn't bear the thought of Piper not cooking for them anymore.

Piper nodded, her expression softening. "Yes, I know, and you're my favorite niece." Her words held a note of affection, a gentle way of reassuring Buffy and expressing her love for her niece.

"Hey!" Faith said in mock exasperation, her playful protest adding to the lighthearted atmosphere.

Cole noticed the distraction and decided to take action. He flicked his wrist at the toaster, causing it to blow with a loud spark. The unexpected event startled Paige, who spun to save her bagel, inadvertently knocking into Piper, who dropped the plate of pancakes with a crash.

"My bagel!" Paige squealed sadly, her disappointment evident in her voice, and Piper groaned loudly at the mess on the floor.

"Could everybody please be quiet?" Phoebe snapped in frustration, her patience reaching its limits, and Cole couldn't help but smile at the chaos. She sighed defeated; her voice filled with resignation. "Oh no. My battery died."

Cole looked up, narrowing his eyes at the shrieking smoke alarm, and it instantly began to shriek.

"Smoke alarm," Leo announced, floating up to turn it off, bringing an end to the piercing noise.

Cole slid over to his wife, who had her face in her hands, leaning down to whisper in her ear, his words laced with a hint of desire and suggestion. "You know, you'd get all the quiet you want if we had our own place," he proposed, taking advantage of the momentary distraction to float the idea without her sisters overhearing.

Phoebe startled, turning to him with an unreadable stare. Cole's suggestive smile didn't go unnoticed, and their kiss was a brief but intimate moment amidst the chaos. "Gotta go," he announced, standing up straight. "I'm interviewing personal assistants today. Bye."

Piper smiled warmly as Cole passed by, appreciating his presence even amidst the morning's chaos. Paige, although still recovering from the unexpected toaster incident, forced the most genuine smile she could muster, her determination to keep a positive facade shining through.

"And I am off to quieter pastures," Phoebe grumbled, ready to escape the chaos in the kitchen. She gathered her laptop and notes and hurriedly left the room in search of peace and quiet.

"So am I," Faith declared, her voice tinged with a sense of relief, as she made her way towards the basement stairs and hers and Buffy's room. The prospect of solitude and a moment of respite from the chaos was a welcome one.

"Honey, you look tired," Piper said with genuine concern as she glanced over her husband's sagging form, her love and worry for him evident in her eyes.

"I've been working double shifts," Leo explained, his fatigue apparent in his voice. "The Elders have been piling it on me since you guys took out the Source."

"Since making me a Whitelighter, they've kept me light," Buffy said.

"Because you have other duties to tend to," Leo said, acknowledging the demanding nature of Buffy's role as the Slayer and her responsibilities as a witch. "Being the Slayer and a witch can keep you busy." His words reflected his understanding of the challenges she faced.

"What's with the toolbox?" Paige questioned, her curiosity piqued as she eyed the foreign object.

"Leo poses as a heavenly handyman," Piper explained with a playful smirk, her eyes sparkling with fond memories. "It's actually how we met."

"Yeah, the Elders want me to check out a potential Whitelighter," Leo shared, his explanation aligning with his role as a Whitelighter. Paige wiggled her eyebrows mischievously at Piper, who couldn't help but chuckle at her sister's playful insinuation. "She's a schoolteacher about to fall off the path," he continued. "She needs some inspiration."

"Speaking of inspiration..." Piper cut in, her gaze fixed solely on Leo, her tone filled with enthusiasm, "...it's the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal, and they're having a reunion for local veterans, so I RSVP'd for you." She informed him with a smile, excited about the event and wanting to share it with him.

Leo looked at her seriously, his expression growing more somber. "Piper, I can't be seen there."

"Well, no, it's okay," Piper countered, trying to find a solution. "I told them that you were your grandson." She offered this solution with a hopeful smile, thinking she had addressed his concerns.

Leo averted his eyes, and his response was firm. "Well, that's not it. I, I don't want to go." His tone held a sense of finality as he met her eyes. Piper's widened, seeing anger within them, as Leo continued, his frustration evident. "You would have known that if you would have asked me or talked to me about it instead of just making decisions for me." He snapped harshly, his frustration boiling over. Without another word or glance in her direction, he grabbed his toolbox and orbed out, leaving Piper behind absolutely bewildered by the turn of events and the tension that had arisen between them.

It was then that Buffy's cell phone rang, jolting her from the tension that hung in the room like a heavy, suffocating cloud. She retrieved it from her pocket, quickly answering it. "Hello?"

"Buffy," Giles' voice crackled from the other end, his concern palpable even through the phone line. His voice was laced with an undercurrent of fear and urgency. "Have you seen the news?"

Buffy's eyes darted from her phone to Piper. The room seemed to close in around them, and a sense of impending doom settled upon her. "Piper," Buffy said, her gaze locked on Piper, "Turn on the news. There is something about Sunnydale."

Piper, sensing the gravity of the situation, picked up the remote with trembling hands and turned on the TV. She navigated to a news channel, and the image of the television reporter filled the room.

"…Sunnydale is still reeling from news of the crime," the reporter's voice resonated through the room, dripping with a sense of dread that sent shivers down their spines. "A source in the Coroner's Office tells us that the boy was stabbed by what looks like some kind of large skewer, and his body was then mutilated. Police have not named a suspect, and the killer is still at large…"

Buffy's frown deepened, her knuckles whitening as she clutched her phone. The reality of the situation was hitting her hard, and her voice quivered with a mix of anger and determination. "The Polgara demon had a skewer in his arm. That was the one Maggie specifically wanted us to bring back alive."

Piper took the phone from Buffy's trembling hand and hit the speakerphone button before setting it on the counter, ensuring that they both could hear Giles. The room was filled with a heavy silence, the weight of the situation pressing down on them like an unbearable burden.

"She must have set it after you and Faith," Giles's voice came through the phone, his words heavy with the weight of responsibility and regret.

Buffy's voice quivered with emotion, the guilt and anguish threatening to overwhelm her. "But not knowing where we were. Oh, God…"

Piper, her heart aching for her niece, reached out and placed a comforting hand on Buffy's shoulder. Her voice was a soothing balm in the midst of chaos. "Buffy. It's not your fault. How could you know?"

Giles, ever the voice of reason, chimed in with a tone of understanding and reassurance. "She's right. You mustn't blame yourself."

Buffy's determination shone through; her voice unwavering as she made a solemn promise. "I'm not going to. I'm going to the crime scene and see what I can find out. Giles, get the guys together and research the Polgara demon. Piper, can you look in your book. I want to know where it is. And when I find it - I'm going to make him pay for taking that kid's life. I'll make him die in ways he can't even imagine." Her words were filled with a fierce resolve, a burning desire for justice that blazed like a beacon in the darkness.

San Francisco Memorial Hall

"I'll bet she scares easily." The youngest transparent ghost stated with a smile, "Can I scare her?"

"No." The older ghost answered.

"Come on Rick. Just let me moan once. One of those bone-chilling moans. You know, could be the wind, could be a ghost."

"Just watch her." Rick ordered nodding to the woman skimming through the RSVP's.

"We've been watching this place for about 60 years, man." Nathan snapped, "We're never gonna find what we're lookin' for." He sighed standing up straight, "I swear, sometimes I don't know why I stay here with you."

"Because I stayed with you, bro." Rick reminded him, closing the distance, "I promised to protect you when we enlisted, and I failed. I'm not gonna fail again."

"Well, this is something." The woman muttered to herself, staring down at one of the RSVP's and the two ghosts leaned over her shoulders.

"Leo Wyatt's grandson is gonna attend the reunion with his wife." Rick read aloud, "I told you one of them would show up eventually."

"Well, let's go." Nathan said eagerly, "What's the address?"

"I can't see it. Lean back granny."

"Can I scare her now?" Nathan asked pointedly and Rick nodded. Nathan took a deep breath and let out one of those bone-chilling moans, a strong wind hitting the woman's face making her jump from her seat, eyes darting about the empty room. "1329 Prescott Street." Nathan read out then turned to Rick, "Let's go."

"Not yet." Rick said with a smirk, "You've had your fun. Now, let me show you how it's done." He closed his eyes disappearing from sight as the woman took her seat again.

She froze as computer began punching keys all on its own and the words "I am coming for you." Appeared on the screen, over and over again. The poor woman backed away slowly as the blinds began to open and close on their own, papers flying everywhere, books flying from the shelves lights flickering, draws opening. She screamed and ran for the door, shaking the handle when it failed to open.

"Boo!" Rick smirked as he stuck his head through the wood. The terrified woman screeched and ran out the door on the other side of the room, screaming down the hall.

"Rick, Rick wait!" Nathan cried, grabbing his arms to hold him back. "We're after Wyatt. We're not after her."

Sunnydale Woods

Faith had wanted to go when Buffy told her about the kid, but Buffy had said this was something she wanted to do by herself. Faith understood why, for Buffy, this had become personal, and she couldn't fault her wife for wanting to take this demon out herself. Faith had made sure that no matter what, Buffy would keep her cell handy, and if all else failed, she would flame out immediately.

Buffy now stood at the scene where the boy was killed. The air was heavy with grief and the lingering presence of malevolence. Two medical examiners rolled a stretcher with a small covered body past her, and Buffy couldn't help but watch, her heart aching with the senseless loss. She walked the circumference of the crime scene, her steps heavy and purposeful, and bent to look at some footprints when she spotted Riley arriving.

"Hey," Buffy said, her voice carrying a mix of weariness and concern as she greeted him.

Riley's response was somber, mirroring the gravity of the situation. "Hey."

Buffy couldn't help but worry, her eyes fixed on him. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine concern.

Riley's expression remained solemn, and he spoke with a heaviness that matched the sorrow in the air. "Yeah. I went back, Buffy. Tried to figure things out for myself. I found out that Maggie's dead."

Buffy took in the shocking news, her mind racing to process the implications. "What happened? Who killed her?"

"I'm not sure," Riley admitted, his voice heavy with uncertainty. "Looked possibly like the Polgara demon from what I could tell just before it escaped."

Buffy's determination flared, her eyes narrowing with resolve. "I'm going to find it. I'll find it and destroy it."

Riley nodded, his agreement unspoken yet understood. "Fine with me. I'll let you know if I spot it."

Buffy gave a quick, brisk nod in response, her thoughts consumed by the need for justice. Without another word, she turned and walked away, her every step echoing her fierce determination to make things right and ensure that no more innocent lives would be lost to the demon.

Halliwell Manor

"Phoebe, have you seen my keys anywhere?" Paige asked hopefully, joining her older sister in the conservatory.

Phoebe, absorbed in whatever was on the screen, responded without looking up. "No."

"Leo is not answering my call," Piper informed them as she and Faith also joined them in the conservatory, taking a seat at the table. Faith casually munched on a bagel, her attention divided.

"Is it an emergency?" Paige questioned, glancing at Faith for confirmation, and the Slayer nodded silently.

Piper's expression was filled with a mix of confusion and frustration as she elaborated, "No, but I just want to talk to him, so I can figure out why he's so mad at me." Her brow furrowed in concern. "I mean, I can't believe it's just because he doesn't want to go to the reunion."

Paige offered a suggestion, her tone thoughtful. "Maybe… it's because, I don't know, he died at Guadalcanal."

"Living room," Faith suddenly pointed towards the living room, her memory serving as a guide. "That's the last place I saw your keys," she directed at Paige, who promptly went off in search with a nod.

"Okay, but he died a hero," Piper supplied, her voice tinged with both pride and concern. However, her thoughts quickly veered back to Leo's unspoken past. "Although..." she trailed off, her brow creased, turning her eyes to Faith, "...come to think of it, he doesn't really talk about it very much."

Faith's response was straightforward and to the point. "Yeah, and maybe that's exactly why he's mad at you. If he doesn't talk about it, then there's got to be a reason, like, I don't know, maybe something really painful happened there."

From the other room, Paige chimed in, her voice carrying a touch of sarcasm. "You mean, apart from the whole death thing?"

Faith, despite the jab, didn't retort. She simply narrowed her eyes. "Something emotionally painful, and the thought of that party just brings it all back."

Piper sighed; her regret palpable. "I should've asked him," she concluded, her voice heavy with self-blame. She turned to Phoebe, seeking her sister's input. "Phoebe? What do you think?" But her inquiry was met with an eerie silence.

Piper's scowl deepened as she tapped the table loudly, determined to snap Phoebe out of her reverie. "Phoebe?" She pulled the laptop away, demanding her sister's attention. "Come on, what do you think?"

Phoebe, clearly irritated by the interruption, threw her head back in frustration. "I think, Piper, that I came in here to get away from all the chatter, okay?" Her response was terse, and she closed her laptop with a huff, swiftly pulling the charger out of the socket. "I have a deadline. I am working, Phoebe." With that, she stormed away, leaving Piper and the others in her wake.

"FOUND THEM!" Paige's cry of triumph filled the room as she retrieved her keys from the couch cushion. Her elation was short-lived as she spotted the ghostly figure of Nathan standing on the stairs. "AH!" Paige shrieked, startled. "Who are you?" she demanded.

Nathan's confusion was evident. "What? Wait, you can see me?"

Paige corrected him with a hint of disbelief. "More like through you."

Piper's frown deepened as she and Faith quickly joined Paige in the living room.

"Aunt Paige, what—oh!" Faith gasped when she caught sight of the ghost on the stairwell. "Aunt Paige, get back."

"PHOEBE!" Piper yelled to her sister, her voice filled with urgency, but Phoebe's response was less than enthusiastic.

"What?" Phoebe groaned as she moved from the dining room to join them, her back to the stairs. Nathan quickly disappeared through the wall, leaving behind an eerie silence.

"We just saw a ghost, that's what," Faith explained, her eyes never leaving the spot on the stairs where the apparition had appeared.

"Yeah, and my first one too," Paige added, her voice filled with a surprising hint of excitement. "I mean, that I wasn't related to. It was kind of...cool."

Piper, however, was quick to dismiss any sense of wonder, shaking her head with a somber expression. "No, not cool," she countered. "Unless he was friendly, which, considering who we are and what we do, probably not."

"This is great," Phoebe uttered, an unexpected glimmer of excitement in her eyes. "This is exactly what I need today."

Faith, sharing Phoebe's sentiment, nodded in agreement. "I know, right."

Phoebe, caught up in the thrill of the moment, turned to her sisters. "What do we do?"

Piper, the responsible and pragmatic one, quickly formulated a plan. "You go back to your deadline," she told Phoebe. "I'll go get the book and brush up on my ghost busting."

But Paige, seemingly more eager than Piper to handle the situation, stepped in. "No, no, no. I'll do it."

Piper, puzzled by her sister's sudden enthusiasm, raised an eyebrow. "You just said you were late for work." The contradiction was not lost on her.

"Yeah, but I mean, he's a ghost," Paige stressed, her voice filled with fascination. "Who knows where he came from? What era?" She turned back to the stairs with a dreamy look, clearly caught up in the intrigue. "He's like a piece of man-hunk history."

Piper couldn't help but chuckle at Paige's unexpected enthusiasm. "Knock yourself out."

Meanwhile, Faith decided to follow her own agenda. "Well, I am going to join Aunt Phoebe and kick back," she announced, strolling into the dining room and settling in next to Phoebe. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, seeking some peace and quiet. "Now if they will just keep quiet."

Phoebe glanced at her niece, a smile playing on her lips, and nodded in agreement. "Have a nice nap, Faith," she said before turning her attention back to her laptop, ready to get some work done.

San Francisco Memorial Hall

Nathan walked over to Rick, who was staring hatefully at the same picture of Leo in uniform that was adoring the 'Wall of Honour'.

"Recon report?" Nathan asked, sighing at Rick's silence, "Well, Wyatt's grandson is definitely living the good life."

"Not for long." Rick threatened, his hard eyes still on Leo's smiling face.

"Not so fast Rick." Nathan warned, "His wife was there...and she could see me."

Rick turned to him sharply, "A witch?" and Nathan nodded.

"Plus, two sisters and a niece." He added tensely, "For a grand total of four witches." He pointed out stressing the important word. Nathan looked at Rick carefully, "Listen, Rick, I was thinking maybe we should just forget about this."

"Forget about what?" Rick snapped, "What Wyatt did to us? The fact that he trapped us in this hell on earth?" he turned to Nathan with fiery eyes, "You wanna forget him! No way. The grandson's gonna pay for what the grandfather did to us." He promised reaching out to Leo picture and knocking it to the floor.

Nathan scoffed, "Someday, you're gonna have to show me how you did that." He commented as one of the security guards came around the corner, drawn in by the noise.

"No time like the present." Rick answered walking towards the guard, "Some say hatred can harden the heart. I've found that it can also harden the body." He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, making himself corporeal.

The security guard gasped, jerking back with wide eyes, "Whoa!"

Rick smirked at the man as he turned to one of the mannequin soldiers, lifting its weapon and stabbing the guard with bayonet on the end.

"Now it's your turn Nathan." Rick informed him as he wrenched the bayonet free, "Focus on everything Wyatt stole from us. Our life, our family, our future." He turned to Nathan who obediently closed his eyes to concentrate, "Feel the hatred and bring it to the surface."

Nathan curled his hands into fists and slowly became corporeal also, "I did it."

"Now, take the bayonet." Rick instructed handing it over, "You'll need the practice because with witches around, we're gonna have to be at the top of our game."

Willy's Place

The dingy bar looked a little different than the last time Buffy was in. Some small attempts at improvements had been made, such as the green neon sign on one wall that read: WILLY'S PLACE. The neon glow cast an eerie yet inviting atmosphere, creating a strange mix of familiarity and change.

Buffy walked up to the bar where Willy stood just behind it. Willy was understandably less than happy to see her. He gestured for her to move with him to a dark end of the bar - away from the customers. His eyes darted around nervously, his uneasy expression adding an extra layer of tension to the atmosphere. "Aw man," he said, his voice quivering with anxiety. "You're killing me here."

"I missed you too," Buffy said with a half-smile, her eyes scanning the crowded bar. The chatter of the patrons created a cacophony that felt oddly comforting in the midst of the unknown.

"Yeah, you know... I'm making some changes with my life," Willy said, his voice low and secretive. He leaned in closer to Buffy, trying to keep their conversation private. "Getting away from my old image."

"What, you mean, as a double-dealing snitch?" Buffy asked, her tone laced with skepticism and a hint of nostalgia.

"Uh huh," Willy said, his eyes locked on Buffy's with a touch of sincerity. "I know you're gonna think I'm blowing smoke - but after those apocalypse demons nearly did me in, I had an experience of the spiritual variety."

uffy didn't have any time for this nonsense. Her patience was wearing thin. "That's swell, really, but I still need to know if you've heard anything about a Polgara demon doing some killing over the last few days."

Willy looked both apologetic and somewhat exasperated. "See - that's the thing," he said with a reluctant sigh. "I don't talk behind people's backs no more." He pointed at the sign. "And I'm trying to give the joint some class. It's Willy's 'place' now, see? Brings in a better clientele."

Buffy glanced around the room a little dubiously, her emotions a mixture of skepticism and irritation. The atmosphere was still a far cry from what one might consider 'classy.'

"And I got a deep fryer. These demons just go crazy for chicken fingers," Willy said, attempting to make his case more convincing as Buffy turned her attention back to him. "If they see me dealing with you - then I'm just the same old Willy, working both sides of the street."

Buffy's patience had worn thin, and she issued a stern ultimatum. "I'm going to have to punch you, aren't I?" she threatened, her voice tinged with a mixture of exasperation and frustration.

"Just once, and it don't have to hurt - just make it look good," Willy said, his voice hushed and conspiratorial.

Buffy hauled back, ready to deliver the punch, but before she hit him, Willy yelled with mock pain, his acting skills a blend of melodrama and fear. "Not yet," she said sotto, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. "I didn't touch you –"

"Okay, sorry, sorry. Go again," Willy said, his voice trembling with exaggerated fear. "No! I can't talk to –" he said dramatically for his patrons.

Buffy, undeterred, hit him in the face, causing him to cry out for real this time. She took a moment while he recovered, her emotions now veering toward impatience and determination. "The Polgara," she said, her tone all business-like. "What do you know?"

"Heard there was one around a month back," Willy said, his words clearly strained by the pain in his face. "Word was you got him, you and those army guys."

Buffy pressed for more information, her focus unwavering. "And that was the last you heard," she said, her expression expectant.

Willy nodded, his voice pained as he confirmed, "Yeah. Far as I know, he's been off the streets."

Buffy took that in, her mind working quickly. "What about those 'army' guys?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of urgency. "What's the talk about them? Anybody mentioned something called 314?"

"I've heard stuff. Mostly stories, you know," Willy said, his eyes darting around the bar nervously. Suddenly, he tensed as he spotted Riley walking through the door, a mixture of fear and recognition crossing his face.

Buffy followed his gaze to Riley, who looked a little ill, sweaty, pale, and absentmindedly scratched at his right hand. She walked over to him, her emotions a mix of confusion and concern. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

"When we met up at the crime scene, I noticed Faith wasn't with you," Riley said, his words coming out in a rush. "Thought I would follow you and lend a hand." He glanced over at Willy. "So, what are you doing here?"

"Willy has gotten me information in the past," Buffy said, her tone explaining her presence. "He gives me information as long as I make a show of roughing him up so his clients don't think he's double-dealing." She looked up and noticed Riley was shaking, her concern deepening. "Riley, you're shaking –"

Riley didn't answer as his focus shifted to a woman who was trying to sneak out of the bar. His fear and tension escalated as he grabbed the woman, who was clearly drunk. "Hold it - you!" he barked, his voice trembling. "No leaving till I say so, got it?" He held his pistol to the poor woman's head.

"Hey!" Willy said, attempting to intercede. "We got new rules in here, no killing –"

Riley kept the pistol to the woman's head, his emotions and uncertainty pushing him to the brink. "Right. Except - it seems like the rules don't apply much these days, do they?" he said before returning his attention to the woman, his voice trembling with fear. "Like, if I shot you right now, I don't know if I'd have a corpse on my hands or one pissed off vampire –"

"Riley –" Buffy said, her voice filled with genuine concern, her heart aching for him as she struggled to understand the turmoil he was going through.

Riley ignored Buffy, his fear and confusion spiraling out of control. "I mean, who do you believe? First, it sounds like lies. Then it sounds like truth…"

Buffy watched Riley with a heavy heart, comprehending the internal battle he was waging. The realization washed over her about why he had returned to the Initiative. Riley didn't know which way to turn anymore. What he had once believed in seemed to be crumbling, and he was desperately trying to make sense of it all.

Riley raised the gun as if he were going to pistol-whip the woman, then, in a fit of frustration, he slammed the gun down on a bowl of nuts resting on the bar. The bowl exploded from the impact, sending Willy cowering and the woman yelping as she staggered away.

Riley stared at his trembling hands. He turned to Buffy, his eyes pleading for answers. "What's happening to me?"

San Francisco Law Firm - Jackman, Calvin and Kline

"What kind of legal documents did you draft as a paralegal?" Cole questioned the leggy blonde on the other side of his desk, peering over her file as he did so.

"Discovery, administrative, pre-trial, trial, motions, pleadings," she listed the numerous types of documents, her body language not-so-subtly drawing attention to her figure. Cole, to his credit, easily ignored the distraction, holding up a hand to silence her.

He cleared his throat and clasped his hands on his desk, maintaining his professionalism. "What's your dictation speed?"

"120 words a minute," she replied smugly, emphasizing her skills.

Cole didn't beat around the bush. "How fast can you shimmer across town?"

"Thirty miles in two seconds," she responded matter-of-factly.

"Demonic powers?" Cole asked, his tone probing.

"Fireballs, shape-shifting," she replied.

"Your last kill?" Cole inquired; his expression serious.

The woman's cool demeanor faltered momentarily before she answered stiffly, "Two years ago."

"Two years ago?" Cole asked, frowning, puzzled by the gap. "Why so long?"

"Killing's… messy," she stated with the slightest grimace, her distaste for the topic evident. "My services are usually a little more discreet." She smiled suggestively at him, but Cole's expression remained stern, unwavering in his professional demeanor.

"I'll give you a trial run…" Cole glanced down at her file for her name, "...Julie. I'm trying to separate my wife and my niece and her wife from the harmful influence of their family," he explained calmly, his words laden with concern for their well-being.

"The Charmed Ones," Julie declared, tilting her head in acknowledgment, her familiarity with their situation evident.

"It's very important for me to keep Phoebe, Faith, and Buffy away from them," Cole continued seriously, the weight of his responsibilities evident. "Phoebe might be pregnant with my son," he added with a hopeful smile, revealing the complexity of his emotions.

Julie looked at him curiously, her interest piqued. "You almost say that like you love her."

Cole's gaze turned to the picture of himself and Phoebe on his desk, his expression a mix of conflicting emotions. "A part of me does, unfortunately," he admitted, his inner struggle clear. He then shook his head and cleared his throat, pushing away from the desk and moving around to the other side, perching on the edge. "And of course, Faith is my chosen heir, and her wife Buffy will be her general."

Julie nodded in understanding, recognizing the gravity of their mission. "Which, when they're converted, will end the threat of the Slayers," she said, her commitment to their cause unwavering.

"That is just an added bonus," Cole admitted with a sly smile. "Anyway, my plan is more insidious than overt," he explained slowly, outlining his scheme. "I set off the alarm this morning. I'll cut the power this afternoon, whatever it takes to make first Phoebe and later Faith and Buffy's home feel cramped and unlivable."

Julie nodded in understanding; her enthusiasm apparent. "And seduce them all with the promise of a better life," she concluded with a knowing smile.

"Exactly," Cole agreed, and Julie's suggestive remark didn't escape his notice. He leaned in closer, his expression serious. "But it takes caution," he stressed, his voice low. "Focus. I need someone to cover me at work, watch my back."

"Well, I'll watch whatever part you want," Julie replied evenly, looking him straight in the eye, her flirtation evident.

Cole narrowed his eyes at her, the tension between them palpable. He leaned back slowly, maintaining the intense eye-contact.

"I just have one query, if I may?" Julie asked, her tone shifting to a more serious note. Cole granted her permission with a gesture. "Is it true that the Slayer is pregnant? I heard the rumors," she asked carefully. "I only asked because should the Underworld find out, they might force you to choose between your biological heir, assuming your wife is pregnant, and your chosen heir."

Cole nodded once, acknowledging the truth. "She is. Quell the rumors, will you, before they get out of hand. I will deal with the fallout of having both a biological heir and a chosen heir when the necessity arises."

Julie dipped her head in understanding. "Of course."

Cole's gaze remained fixed on her, his eyes meeting hers. "You're off to a good start," he praised, a hint of approval in his tone. Julie smirked, confident in her abilities to fulfill their mission.

School Teacher's House

"He couldn't believe I suspended him." Maria informed Leo, who was currently lying on his side on her kitchen floor, head under the sink as he played around with the piper situated there. "But what could I do, he brought a knife into my classroom." She informed him with a sigh, "Now he's threatening me, says he knows where I live."

"See, that's why I'm a plumber." Leo called up to her, fiddling around with a screwdriver, "Pipes are a lot easier to deal with than kids today." His eyes widening as he made the leak worse.

"I always wanted to be a teacher." Maria said with real passion, "But not at the cost of my life. That's why I've decided to quit."

"That's too bad." Leo sympathised shooting her a fleeting glance, "All the good you're gonna do in this world, gone forever?"

"Going to do?" Maria echoed, eyebrows creased in curiosity.

"I mean can do." Leo amended himself, once again making the leak even worse than before, dropping the screwdriver as water soaked his face.

"I don't want to quit." Maria admitted sadly, "I just don't have the courage to stay."

Leo encircled the pip with his hands, the healing golden glow emanating from them as he blinked the water from his eyes, "Well, the only courage that matters is the kind that gets you from one moment to the next." Leo voiced shaking his hands off, "Maybe you should just focus on that."

Maria smiled down at him, "You bill as a plumber or a therapist?"

"Whatever it takes to stop the leak." Leo retorted grabbing the towel she had previously offered and dabbing his face as he pushed to his feet, "Which, by the way, is healed—I mean sealed."

Maria smiled at him gratefully, "What do I owe you?"

"This one's on the house." Leo informed her with a kind smile which she eagerly reciprocated.

Halliwell Manor

"Did you know there's a potion in here to vanquish ghosts?" Paige spoke up, shattering the comfortable silence the three sisters had previously been engrossed in.

Paige's voice carried a note of excitement, as though she had just stumbled upon a long-lost treasure. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, and a hint of mischief danced in her gaze.

"Yeah uh… you pour it over their bones," Piper elaborated from her place next to Paige at the small table in the conservatory. Her tone was matter-of-fact, but her eyes betrayed a touch of nostalgia. She was lost in her own memories, reliving the moment they had used the potion years ago. "That's weird, look at this," she commented, her voice laced with intrigue, leaning closer to Paige. She held a medal in her hands, and her furrowed brow reflected her puzzlement.

"What is it?" Paige asked curiously, her eyes resting on the medal in Piper's hands.

"Leo's Medal of Honor," Piper replied with a frown, her voice tinged with concern and confusion. "And it, it's just stuffed in his old Army file like it doesn't mean anything." Her emotions were clear; she felt a mix of surprise and disappointment.

"Aww, maybe he's just being humble," Paige suggested with a light shrug.

Piper shook her head, her eyes fixed on the medal, her tone resolute. "Not, it's not that. It's something else," she said certainly, her voice filled with a sense of conviction. Her attachment to Leo was evident, and she trusted her intuition when it came to understanding him.

"There's also a spell to vanquish ghosts," Phoebe added from the dining room.

"Oh, yeah, it's in here alright," Paige assured her, her voice brimming with excitement.

"Yes, but there's also a little 'killer cocktail' to go with it," Faith informed her as she entered from the dining room. Her voice had a hint of mischievous delight, like someone who had just uncovered a hidden gem. "It's in the book, Mom and Phoebe used it on the ghost of Alcatraz. What was the name of the ghost, Aunt Phoebe?"

Phoebe responded breezily, "Jackson Ward," her voice carrying a sense of casual familiarity.

Piper's frown deepened, and her gaze bore into Faith, her voice now laced with suspicion. "I don't remember that," she stated suspiciously, her tone demanding answers.

Suspicion further grew as Phoebe, clearing her throat loudly, went back to her typing, creating an awkward atmosphere in the room. "Faith," Piper said, her voice holding a note of warning and inquiry, wanting the truth to come to light.

Faith smiled wickedly, relishing the revelation of a long-hidden secret. Her tone was teasing and playful, and her words were like a playful confession. "Mom told me it was when you were still working at Quake. There was some business trip, I think she said, that had you out of town." Faith's voice held a sense of triumph, as if she had uncovered a family secret and was enjoying the moment.

Piper's frown deepened, and her voice was filled with incredulity as she pressed for more information. "What, you mean like four years ago when I went to Hawaii for Quake?" Her words were a mixture of disbelief and frustration, as she grappled with the idea that such a significant event had been kept from her.

Phoebe flinched at Piper's tone, her voice sheepish as she admitted, "Uh-huh. Prue and I didn't tell you because there was nothing you could've done at the time, and we didn't want you to feel bad. Besides, Andy was a big help." Her words were tinged with remorse as she explained the reason behind their secrecy, focusing on the past.

"Andy!" Piper gawked, her voice reflecting her shock. She closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath, attempting to compose herself. "Ya know what? Forget it, we've got enough to deal with right now," she concluded, her tone holding a hint of resignation.

Piper then turned her attention to Faith, her curiosity unabated. "Did your mother tell you what this 'killer cocktail' did exactly?" Her voice was tinged with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"Yeah…" Paige looked up at Faith warily, her voice hinting at a sense of unease. "It doesn't sound all that comforting," she added, her brows furrowing with worry.

Faith's grin widened as if she savored the idea of revealing the potion's effects. Her tone was matter-of-fact as she delivered the explanation. "Stops your heart immediately," she told them bluntly. "Mom said it allows you to become part of the spirit world, become a ghost so that you can vanquish your ghostly fiend," she explained with a casual shrug. "Only catch is you've got to perform CPR within four minutes or you run the risk of irrevocable brain damage."

Piper's mouth fell open, and her eyebrows shot up in shock. She glanced at Phoebe; her voice laced with disbelief. "Brain damage! Jeez…" Her gaze held a mixture of astonishment and concern as she pondered the implications. "So was it you or Prue who drank the sucker last time."

"Prue," Phoebe replied, her voice distant, her attention still fixated on the laptop screen.

"We should only use it as a last resort," Piper said decidedly, her tone carrying a sense of caution and responsibility. Her words reflected a determination to explore less risky options. She turned her gaze toward Faith, seeking more information. "Do you know how your mom made the concoction, just in case?"

Faith responded with a wicked grin, her voice carrying a playful tone. "I do. Who is drinking it because with Prudence on the way, I sure as heck won't."

Piper acknowledged the decision. "We'll figure that out later," she stated, her voice tinged with urgency. However, the room was plunged into darkness as the lights flickered and died completely, casting an eerie atmosphere over the situation.

Phoebe frowned, her eyes darting to the ceiling and then back to her laptop, which displayed only a black screen. "Oh no, no, no, no, no!" she pleaded desperately, her voice laced with frustration and panic, as she rose to her feet. Her eyes had darkened with distress. "I didn't sa—save any of it," she confessed, her words carrying a sense of regret and despair. She looked over at her sisters and niece, her gaze pleading for understanding. "I just lost half my document."

Piper, always the calming presence, reassured her, her voice soothing and reassuring. "Alright, relax. I'll check the circuit breaker," she promised, springing into action and gathering Leo's belongings.

Phoebe muttered to herself, her voice carrying a hint of self-chastisement. "I really gotta get my own place."

"Yeah, I'm thinking maybe it's time to move out," Faith agreed, her tone thoughtful. Her words held a sense of agreement with Phoebe's sentiment, though it also hinted at a desire for independence.

Piper froze, her eyes darting between Phoebe and Faith in alarm. She couldn't help but question, "Sorry?"

Phoebe swiftly dismissed the question, disappearing into the kitchen with a nonchalant wave of her hand.

Piper, however, turned her attention to Faith, her voice now more insistent. "Faith?" Her tone held a hint of concern, as she felt something amiss in the air.

"Nothing," Faith's response was brief and cryptic, but Piper couldn't shake the feeling that there was something her niece wasn't sharing. She watched as Faith followed Phoebe into the kitchen, a sense of unease settling over her.

Summers Residence

Riley was sitting on Buffy's bed, head in hands. He was sweating and dizzy, shaking like a leaf. Buffy walked over to him, gently put a blanket around his shoulders. He started at her touch, but then seemed to realize that it's her and calmed a bit.

"Why don't you lie down?" Buffy suggested. "You'll be more comfortable."

Riley pulled the blanket around him, but remained sitting. Buffy noticed that Riley was scratching at his hand rather vigorously. She looked at his hand and gasped when she had scratched it until its raw and bloody.

"Riley. Stop –" Buffy pleaded.

I — I can't," Riley said. "It's like… something's crawling inside…"

"No," Buffy said alarmed. "You're hurting yourself. Come on –" She removed the scarf she wore on her head, and wrapped Riley's hand in it. Looked at him tenderly. "Stop, okay?"

Riley nodded, responding to her gentle touch. But then his look shifted to one of desperation. "I thought I knew. But I don't... I don't know anything."

"Shh," Buffy said. "You're sick. Once you get some rest –"

"No," Riley said. "I don't know anything. I don't know which team I'm on. Who the bad guys are…"

"Riley –" Buffy said worriedly.

"Maybe I'm the bad guy," Riley said. "Maybe I'm the thing you should kill."

Buffy took Riley's hands and looked him firmly in the eye. "No. Don't even think that. Now listen to me. You just need to get some sleep. Come on, lie down." After a moment Riley finally lies down on her bed. Buffy covered him with the blanket, which seemed to have little impact on his violent shaking. She sat with him for a moment. "You're going to be okay…"

Riley didn't respond to this, just closed his eyes. Buffy looked at him for a moment, worried. Then she stood up and walked downstairs into the living room where Willow, Tara and Joyce were looking through Tara's Book of Shadows.

"How is he?" Joyce asked.

"I don't know, I tried to see if I could heal him. But I guess I haven't gotten that Whitelighter power yet," Buffy admitted. "And I can't call for Leo at the moment because he's dealing with one of his charges. Any I know something's affecting Riley physically - and it's getting worse."

"You think Professor Walsh did something to him?" Tara asked.

"I don't know. But I'm ready to find out," Buffy said.

"That won't be easy," Willow insisted. "Not with her being dead."

"She must have kept records somewhere," Buffy said. "About Riley and 314 and all of it. And I doubt she was the only person at the Initiative who knew what she was up to."

"So, what's the plan?" Willow asked.

"Willow, Mom, Tara, you three keep researching," Buffy said. "If you need to call Giles and Anya for help. I will go grab Xander and he and I will go in undercover."

"How do you plan on getting inside The Initiative, Buffy?" Tara asked her cousin. "Surely their security system is almost impenetrable."

"I have my clearance. I'm hoping Maggie never had time to revoke it," Buffy said.

"As for the whereabouts of the Polgara demon, Buffy, I'm afraid we haven't turned up much," Joyce said. I've tried scrying, but scrying in Sunnydale isn't easy because of the Hellmouth. And there's been no report of him since his capture."

"Then we'll just have to keep looking," Buffy said.

Halliwell Manor

Phoebe snatched up the phone in the kitchen with a defeated sigh, punching in her husband's work number with a little more force than necessary. The weight of frustration and anxiety pressed on her, making her every action feel heavier.

"Cole Turner's Office," Julie's voice came down the line, professional and composed, adding a layer of detachment to Phoebe's turbulent emotions.

"Hi, who's this?" Phoebe asked cheerfully, her tone masking any frustration she might be feeling as Faith walked into the kitchen and took a seat at the table. She forced a smile, attempting to hide the emotional turmoil that churned beneath the surface.

"I'm Julie, Mr. Turner's new assistant," Julie informed Phoebe, her voice somewhat formal, making Phoebe's heart sink a little deeper. The formality stung, emphasizing the distance between her and her husband.

Phoebe's eyebrows shot up in surprise, her voice carrying a hint of amusement despite the emotional storm brewing inside her. "I'm Phoebe, Mr. Turner's new wife," she said, her words masking the hurt she felt.

"Oh really?" Julie replied, her tone shifting to one of surprise, causing Phoebe's heart to flutter with uncertainty. "I didn't realize he was married."

"Yeah, he is," Phoebe assured her as Piper entered the kitchen, rummaging around for a flashlight. Her voice held a touch of desperation, as her need to speak with Cole weighed heavily on her heart. The mixture of frustration and concern was difficult to hide, even behind her cheerful façade.

"I'm afraid he's not in his office. Can I take a message?" Julie asked, her voice laced with what Phoebe was pretty sure was a smirk.

Phoebe's frustration simmered beneath the surface. "No, I'm sorry, you can't," she told Julie, her tone now tinged with impatience. "Look, he said he'd be in the office all day, and I really, really need to talk to him right away." The urgency in her voice was palpable as Piper slowly descended the stairs to the basement, Cole suddenly appearing from behind the door, hidden from both sisters and Faith.

"Hi, baby," Phoebe greeted down the phone, and Cole jerked around, bewildered, as he was clearly not at his office talking to his wife on the phone. Phoebe's words carried a mix of surprise, hurt, and confusion, leaving her emotions laid bare. "What, did you hire your new assistant on the spot?" she asked with a chuckle, though the humor was strained. "Well, you could have at least told her that you were married. Look, I hate to bother you, but um... I was kind of hoping that you could help me." Phoebe informed him almost pleadingly, her voice quivering with vulnerability, her need for his support clear.

"POWER'S ON," Piper yelled up from the basement, and Cole flamed out before she could spot him, leaving Phoebe to grapple with her emotions alone.

San Francisco Law Firm - Jackman, Calvin and Kline

Cole flamed back into his office, his arms folded, and his eyes fixed on his assistant impersonating him. His expression held a mix of annoyance and amusement, a complex blend of emotions that Phoebe couldn't see but could sense in the air.

"I just can't get any work done here," Phoebe informed Julie, still thinking it was her husband on the line, her voice carrying a tinge of frustration and helplessness. "And I am so pushing my deadline."

"What can I do?" Julie asked, Cole's voice leaving her lips, as her eyes met Cole himself. The bizarre situation was now impossible for Phoebe to ignore, and her confusion added a layer of emotional complexity to the conversation.

"I can't go to the office, right, because they're painting it, so I was wondering—"

"If I knew a place you could work?" Julie finished for her. She gestured to the phone, signaling to Cole, who had moved beside her, to take over.

"Why don't you meet me at the Towers in 20 minutes," Cole answered. "In fact, why don't you bring Faith as well. I know that she's been dying for some peace and quiet."

"Um... The Towers where the party is tonight?" came Phoebe's slightly puzzled inquiry. Her voice held a touch of confusion, reflecting her emotional rollercoaster through this unusual conversation.

"Yeah, but that's tonight, nobody's using them today," Cole assured her, trying to offer a clear explanation to alleviate her doubts. "In fact, tell Faith to pack her and Buffy each a dress, they can attend the party."

"Okay, sounds good," Phoebe replied, her voice now tinged with a hint of relief, having found a solution to her problem in this unexpected turn of events.

"You're hired," Cole told Julie, who smirked in reply, adding an extra layer of humor to the situation.

"We'll see you there. Thanks," Phoebe said, her gratitude apparent, as she prepared to take her leave and face the day's challenges with newfound hope.

Halliwell Manor

Phoebe leaned in towards Faith, her eyes sparkling with excitement and curiosity as she whispered in hushed tones, "Faith, you won't believe what just happened with Cole."

Faith raised an intrigued eyebrow, her interest immediately captured. "What, Aunt Phoebe?" she asked, her voice a conspiratorial whisper mirroring Phoebe's secretive demeanor.

With a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes, Phoebe began to recount the unusual phone call. "When I called Cole, he wasn't in supposedly, but his new assistant, Julie, was. She didn't even know he was married."

Faith's eyes widened in genuine surprise, a mix of shock and intrigue etched across her face. "Really? That's bizarre. What did you do?"

Phoebe couldn't suppress a light chuckle, her emotions oscillating between irritation and amusement. "I pretended to be cool about it, even though I was a bit irritated. But then, Cole came back. He told me to meet him at The Towers in 20 minutes, and he suggested bringing you along. Apparently, they're empty today, despite the party tonight."

Faith smirked, fully comprehending the unexpected twist in the situation. "So, what's the plan now?"

Phoebe's grin broadened, her excitement and anticipation bubbling over. "Well, it seems like we're headed to The Towers. In fact, Cole said you and Buffy could attend the party this evening, so go pick out a dress for you both."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Call me or Faith on our cell if you need anything, okay?" Phoebe asked Piper, her voice filled with concern and a sense of urgency as she and Faith passed her. Faith held two dress bags, ready to make their way to The Towers.

"We've got to go," Faith added, her tone echoing Phoebe's urgency.

"Nice job with the lights, sis," Paige praised as she strolled over to Piper, a folder in hand.

Piper, still puzzled by the electrical issue, furrowed her brow as she opened a bottle of water. "Can't figure out what keeps tripping the breaker."

Paige flipped open the folder and suggested with a hint of whimsical speculation, "Maybe it was a ghost." She then pointedly held up a picture of three men, her voice tinged with intrigue. "Found this in the file." She handed it over to Piper. "The guy to the left of Leo, does he look familiar?"

Piper stared at the picture of her husband and two other soldiers.

"That's our ghost, killed in action," Paige informed her, her voice tinged with a somber and contemplative tone. "His brother's on the right. They died the same day as Leo. Could be a reunion he wants to avoid having."

Piper placed the picture down and looked heavenward, her voice filled with longing and concern as she called out, "Leo?" But there was no immediate response. She couldn't contain her frustration, slamming her palm down on the countertop, and calling out more sharply, "Leo, I mean it this time!" In an instant, her husband orbed in to her right.

"What?" Leo asked impatiently, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and mild annoyance. "What is it?"

Piper turned to him and held the picture up to his face, her expression pointedly serious.

Leo's face contorted in a complex mixture of emotions as he slowly reached out for the photograph, his voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and uncertainty. "Nathan."

Piper adopted a casual tone despite the extraordinary situation, her emotions ranging from curiosity to concern. "Yeah, we just met him," she remarked. "Looked pretty good. A little transparent but otherwise he looked pretty good… for a dead guy. Talk to me."

"There's nothing to talk about," Leo insisted, his eyes on the faces in the photograph.

"Hey, Wyatt," Rick called out with a casual tone as he and Nathan came through the wall, solidifying their presence.

Paige spun around in surprise, her heart racing as she backed away slowly, her wide-eyed expression reflecting her astonishment. She stopped beside her wide-eyed brother-in-law.

"You're right, little brother..." Rick continued, his gaze fixed on Leo, "...he is the spitting image of his grandfather."

"Rick, don't!" Leo ordered sharply, his voice laced with a mix of concern and warning.

Ignoring Leo's plea, Rick reached for a butcher's knife, his movements deft and precise, and he threw it expertly at Leo. The blade embedded itself in Leo's chest.

"Rick?" Nathan turned to his brother with a puzzled frown, his voice tinged with confusion, as Leo slumped to the floor, the sisters rushing to his side. "How did he know your name?" Nathan questioned, fixing his gaze directly on Leo, a mixture of concern and suspicion welling up within him.

Leo clenched his jaw in pain as he yanked the knife from his flesh, the wound emitting a golden glow as it healed slowly but steadily.

"Leo," Rick said, raising his eyebrows in a mixture of shock and disbelief.

Leo struggled to his feet, supported by the helping hands of Piper and Paige. He looked at Rick and his brother with a serious and apologetic expression. "I can explain," Leo began, the weight of the situation evident in his voice.

Nathan, however, was insistent and resolute. "Rick, let's go," he urged, his voice filled with urgency. He tugged at his brother, attempting to pull him away from the confrontation. "Rick, come on, let's go." He yanked once more, and the two of them disappeared back into the wall.

U.C. Sunnydale

Buffy was dressed up as a scientist, her appearance complete with a white lab coat, glasses, and her hair neatly pulled back in a bun. Xander, on the other hand, sported what looked like commando gear, and he kept a vigilant eye as they moved cautiously through Lowell House.

"Things seem quiet," Xander remarked in a hushed tone.

"Usually are this time of –" Buffy started to say, but her sentence was abruptly cut off as a man ran down the stairs. In a swift and coordinated motion, Buffy and Xander ducked out of the way, relieved that they had gone unnoticed as the man hurriedly exited the building.

With caution, Buffy and Xander continued to make their way down the hall, approaching a mirror that concealed the entrance to the Initiative. Buffy paused near the mirror, and Xander, a bit puzzled, followed suit. "Buff, maybe you should check the look later," he suggested.

"The entrance is here," Buffy responded, her tone indicating the importance of the situation.

Xander furrowed his brow, a bit perplexed. "Why not just flame in?"

Buffy reminded him of the undercover mission they were on. "Because this is undercover," she explained. "Now shh. Just…" She abruptly halted, her instincts kicking in as a realization struck her. She forcefully shoved Xander far away from the mirror, her actions conveying a sense of urgency and danger.

"Ow! What was that for?" Xander protested, rubbing the spot where Buffy had shoved him.

Buffy quickly explained, "Sorry. It's just - I'm the only one who can pass the retinal scan."

Xander's face contorted in confusion as he misunderstood her, his voice laced with disgust. "The - eeeew! I don't want to see that!"

Buffy positioned herself in the center of the mirror, facing it with a tense determination. "Retinal scan, Xander," she clarified, her voice focused. "In a few seconds, we'll find out if my clearance is still good."

Xander watched nervously as Buffy underwent the scanning process. "Or if we're about to die at the hands of fifty grief-fueled military goons…" he mumbled with a sense of unease. They waited in tense anticipation, and then the elevator door opened. Buffy breathed a sigh of relief, but Xander still looked somewhat uncertain. "Why am I not entirely comforted by the arrival of the man-sized microwave?" he asked with a hint of sarcasm.

Ignoring his comment, Buffy stepped into the elevator, and Xander followed. The doors closed behind them as the elevator began its descent into the depths of the Initiative.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The elevator doors slid open, and Xander instinctively covered Buffy as they cautiously stepped out into the unknown. Xander had initially taken the lead but came to an abrupt halt, his eyes widening in amazement as he beheld the enormous scope of the Initiative operation. "Holy moly," he breathed in awe.

"I know," Buffy replied, her voice sharing in his amazement.

Xander was now beginning to comprehend the scale of the organization. "I totally get it now," he said with newfound understanding.

Buffy gave him a gentle push to keep moving, and they turned a corner into a dimly lit hallway. As they advanced, they spotted a pair of guys walking toward them, engrossed in a hushed conversation. Both Buffy and Xander tensed up, unsure of how to proceed.

"Quick," Xander whispered urgently. "Pretend to make out with me."

Buffy's eyes widened in surprise, her voice just above a whisper. "What? What are you talking about?"

Xander stuttered for a moment, trying to explain himself. "Well, I… You know, I just… in the movies, the guy and the girl have to hide –"

Buffy cut him off with a dismissive tone. "Please," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think we could draw more attention to ourselves?"

Xander, looking somewhat chastised, watched as the approaching guys passed them without giving them a second look. Once they were out of earshot, Buffy and Xander continued down the hallway.

"This is the Initiative, Xander," Buffy pointed out. "Scientists and military guys don't make out with each other…"

Xander, not one to back down easily, retorted, "Well, hey. Maybe that's what's wrong with the world," he quipped. "Ever think about that?"

Halliwell Manor

"I can't believe they've been holding on this long just to hurt me," Leo lamented, his voice heavy with pain and sorrow. Piper, feeling a deep sense of empathy, instinctively inched closer to him on the couch, their bodies touching as a silent gesture of support and comfort.

"What I don't understand is why they're not transparent anymore," Paige pondered from her place on the coffee table, her brow creased in confusion. "I mean, other than the walking-through-walls thing, they kind of seem… normal to me."

"They've been practicing," Leo explained, looking down at his hands, his voice tinged with understanding. "Corporealizing, so they can move things."

Piper, however, couldn't help but scoff. "Yeah," she retorted, "like butcher knives."

Leo, ever the peacemaker, defended his former friends, "Well, they're holding onto their pain. That's what keeps them from moving on."

Piper turned to her husband, a frown on her face as she struggled to grasp the situation. "Their pain?" she questioned, her voice reflecting her disbelief, "Leo, they just tried to kill you."

"Yeah, lucky they're not Darklighters," Paige chimed in, attempting to inject a bit of levity into the somber conversation. "Otherwise, you would have been killed… again."

Leo, however, felt compelled to explain the depth of his history with his former friends. "You don't understand. We were friends," he told them slowly, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "We, we grew up together down in Burlingame. I went to school with Nathan." A wistful smile crossed his face as he recalled those memories.

Paige acknowledged his closeness with a gentle comment, "You were close."

Leo's smile broadened as he confirmed, "Yeah," momentarily lost in the memories of a bygone era.

Piper, feeling a mix of curiosity and concern, ventured to ask, "So, what do they think you...did?"

Leo fell into a contemplative silence for several long moments before he attempted to recount the painful events of the past. "Now, we'd just got transferred onto the island." He abruptly rose from the couch and walked to the fireplace, leaning heavily against it as he continued, "We got ambushed outside the airfield: heavy artillery, mortar fire. We couldn't keep up with the injuries. The bodies."

Piper closed her eyes and looked away, unable to fully grasp the horrors he was describing.

"Then I heard Rick's voice," Leo said slowly, his gaze distant as he recounted the traumatic memories.

November 24, 1942 – Tuesday

Guadalcanal

"Leo! Leo get over here quick!" Rick screamed to his friend over the sounds of explosions and gunfire as he half dragged, half carried his brother to the medic tent. "Get over here! Nathan's been hit!"

"Stabilize his leg!" Leo instructed another medic, "Get him on the jeep! GO, GO, GO!" then ran towards his friends' side, falling to his knees next to the badly wounded soldier.

"It's bad, isn't it?" Rick asked apprehensively, fearing the answer his gut was telling him.

"What hit him?" Leo demanded as he stared down at the large burned and bloodied hole in Nathan's chest.

"Mortar frag." Rick answered sharply, "They hit us with heavy artillery out of nowhere. The whole battalion's down."

Another explosion sounded closer to home and both Leo and Rick threw themselves over Nathan's twitching body, protecting it from further injury.

"We gotta get him inside!" Leo ordered urgently.

"Yeah, up." Rick agreed as they got a firm hold of Nathan, "Let's get him up." And they lifted him into the air and carried him towards the tent, Nathan screaming in pain the whole way.

"Get the sulpha powder." Leo ordered a waiting nurse as he and Rick dumped Nathan on a stretcher bed, "If we don't stop the bleeding, he's going into shock." He snatched the powder from the nurse and began pouring it over Nathan's wound. "How many soldiers down out there?" Leo asked looking over a t Rick.

"I, I don't know." Rick stuttered his reply, "They hit us so hard. Maybe fifteen or twenty, I don't know."

"I need a morphine kit." Leo instructed as Nathan's screams intensified.

"You gotta help him. He needs you." Rick told his pleadingly, "We both do."

"Is there a medic out in the field?" Leo asked looking out to the expanse of the battleground.

"I don't know. I don't know." Rick shook his head, all his attention devoted to his brother.

Leo turned to the nurse, "Look, try and stabilize him." he instructed as he grabbed a medic bag.

"Where are you goin'?" Rick demanded, staring at the bag slung over Leo's shoulders.

"Going to help those men in the field." Leo replied as if it were the most obvious thing.

"WHAT?" Rick yelled shaking his head.

"Wilkinson will take care of him." Leo assured, nodding to Nathan.

"No, no, no, no! You're gonna take care of him!" Rick insisted grabbing Leo's shoulders roughly, "That's Nathan on that bed!"

"Look, there's men dying out in that field and there's no-one to take care of them!" Leo tried to reason.

Rick grabbed his dirty clothes in his balled-up fists shaking Leo in anger, " You're gonna chose them over us!" he yelled over the growing noise.

"I'm sorry." Leo apologized and ran towards the fallen soldiers.

"We're your friends!" Rick yelled after his retreating form, " Nathan's gonna die! Don't let him die…" Rick yelled louder as an explosion struck the tent, setting it ablaze and killing everyone inside, including Rick and Nathan.

March 5, 2002 – Tuesday

Halliwell Manor

Leo couldn't hide his anguish any longer as tears escaped from his eyes. "I should have stayed," he berated himself, his voice filled with self-blame. "I should have tried to save Nathan and get him out of there."

Piper bit her lip and rose to her feet, her rationality shining through in the midst of Leo's turmoil. She stood directly in front of him, addressing him with a caring determination. "Then you all would have died in the tent," she pointed out firmly. "And all the guys in the field that you did save would have died too." She gently took his hand and met his eyes. "You did the right thing."

Paige added her voice to support Leo, standing by his side as she spoke softly, "And Leo, for God's sakes, you were awarded the Medal of Honor," she reminded him, offering a warm smile. "Posthumously, I might add."

Leo shook his head, his sense of guilt refusing to waver. "Yeah, I didn't deserve that," he insisted as he walked away from them, struggling to reconcile his past actions.

Piper couldn't help but offer a sarcastic retort. "Right," she said with a touch of humor, "so, I suppose you didn't deserve to be a Whitelighter, for sacrificing your life to save others?"

Leo countered, his voice filled with deep conflict, "Yeah, but were those lives any more important... than Nathan's or Rick's?" He turned back to face them, his expression heavy with shame. "Or anyone else in that tent? You know, a good friend put his life in my hands, and I left him to die." Leo shook his head in despair. "All the good that I've done since then can't erase that fact," he argued, his self-doubt consuming him. "Maybe I didn't deserve to be a Whitelighter."

Paige sighed, ready to take action. "Hey! Newsflash: Friends don't kill each other," she declared firmly. "Okay, I say we douse their dusty bones with our magic potion and vanquish their sorry asses."

"No," Leo disagreed firmly, his sense of loyalty to his friends unwavering. "You can't do that. They didn't do anything wrong."

Piper, willing to listen and understand, asked, "Okay. So, what do you suggest?"

Leo contemplated the situation, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "I don't know, if I could talk to them, make them understand why I did what I did," he suggested with a shrug, reaching for any possible solution. "Then maybe they can move on."

Piper nodded; her support clear. "Maybe you all can," she agreed, sharing his hope for resolution. "We need to find out where they're buried so we can summon them. Before they try to hurt anybody else."

Paige, still concerned about the potential danger they posed, added, "Yeah, like us."

Summers Residence

Riley slept fitfully on Buffy's bed as Giles and Joyce looked in on him, their worry etched across their faces. His face contorted with discomfort, and he clutched the sheets as if trying to hold onto a fleeting dream.

"Tara and I totally failed…" Willow said as she came up behind them, her voice tinged with frustration and sadness. Her shoulders slumped, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. It was clear that she was torn apart by her perceived failure.

"It wasn't even like the spell went wrong. It just - wouldn't," she continued, her voice breaking as she spoke. Her normally confident demeanor had crumbled, leaving behind a sense of helplessness.

"Well, if it makes you feel better, we didn't fare much better here," Giles admitted with a heavy sigh. He closed the door lightly, as if hoping not to disturb Riley's restless sleep. The weight of the situation bore heavily on him, and it showed in the furrowed lines on his forehead.

"Really? Is Riley okay?" Willow asked, her concern for their friend evident in her voice. Her eyes darted between Giles and Joyce, searching for any hint of hope.

"He's asleep, finally, but he doesn't look good…" Joyce admitted, her voice carrying the weight of a mother's concern. Her gaze remained fixed on Riley, her heart aching for the young man who had become a part of their lives.

"And the research has been troubling as well," Giles said, his words laced with a deep sense of unease. "This demon we're dealing with seems highly atypical for a Polgara. The child it killed was mutilated, and there's no recorded case of a Polgara ever doing such a thing."

Joyce added, "Also, Polgaras have to eat about every two hours. Factor in the low I.Q. and you've got a demon who's not very low profile."

Willow, still grappling with her emotions, couldn't help but wonder aloud, "So, how has he been hiding in Sunnydale for the last two days without anybody seeing him?" Her voice quivered with a mix of curiosity and concern, as she couldn't fathom the mystery surrounding this situation.

"Exactly –" Giles began to respond, his thoughts mirroring Willow's as he attempted to unravel the perplexing enigma they faced. However, he was interrupted when Willow suddenly opened the door to check on Riley.

She jumped back in surprise, her heart racing, when she saw Riley standing there looking very ill and pale as he shook. The sight of him sent a chill down her spine, and she struggled to maintain her composure. "Oh! God, you –"

Riley's voice, weak and desperate, cut through the tension in the room as he urgently inquired, "Where's Buffy?"

"She went out. Can I get you something?" Willow asked, her concern for him evident in her voice. Her earlier distress was now replaced by a deep worry for Riley.

Riley moved back to the edge of the bed, his trembling hands struggling to put on his shoes. The urgency in his actions was palpable as he replied, "Just tell me where she is."

Giles, his concern etched across his face, gently urged, "You're not well, Riley. You need to rest." His voice held a fatherly concern as he tried to make Riley understand the gravity of his condition.

"Did she find the Polgara?" Riley's voice quivered with anxiety as he pressed for answers, his desperation to protect the town evident in his words.

"No," Joyce answered with a heavy sigh. "We're still looking, but –"

Riley's impatience broke through, and he pressed for more information. "But what?"

"She went to find out what's making you sick, Riley," Willow replied, her voice filled with sympathy and worry for her friend. The truth weighed heavily on her, and she found it difficult to meet his gaze.

"I'm not sick," Riley stubbornly insisted, his frustration mounting. His determination to protect Buffy and the town was unwavering. "You're telling me she went to the Initiative?"

Willow, her voice laced with desperation, tried to reason with Riley. "She's just trying to help you –"

Riley, however, was resolute in his decision. He grabbed the rest of his stuff and headed for the door, his face a mix of determination and concern. "She doesn't belong there."

Willow moved in front of Riley, trying to block his path to the door. Her voice trembled with fear and pleading as she said, "Riley, listen –"

Riley's resolve remained unshaken, and he gave a stern command, "Stand away from the door."

"No. You're going to get her killed if you –" Willow's words were cut short as Riley, lost in his own turmoil, roughly pushed her aside. She hit the floor with a thud, her gasp of pain echoing through the room. Giles and Joyce rushed to Willow's side, their expressions filled with worry, as Riley bolted out the door, down the stairs, and out of the house.

Initiative

Xander and Buffy moved cautiously down the dimly lit hall, their senses on high alert. The tension in the air was thick, their footsteps echoing in the silence. Suddenly, they heard two scientists talking just around the corner, and they froze in their tracks. Buffy's keen ears instantly recognized the voice of one of the scientists, Dr. Angleman.

"How many of the men are still out?" Dr. Angleman inquired with a sense of urgency. "The longer they go without their meds –"

"Everyone's off their schedules because of the Professor's death," the other scientist replied, his voice tinged with concern.

"It's dangerous. I don't want to think about the damage our guys could do under the stress of withdrawal, especially since they won't understand what's happening to them –" Dr. Angleman's words were laced with anxiety.

"We've located all but a few. The last ones were in bad shape, but we've stabilized them," the scientist reassured, albeit with a hint of unease.

"But Finn wasn't one of them, right?" Dr. Angleman pressed, his voice betraying a deep sense of worry.

The scientist shook his head, clearly conflicted. "No, but –"

"Find him," Dr. Angleman's voice was unwavering and resolute. "He's the one I care about. He's too important to the work to lose now."

Buffy and Xander watched as Dr. Angleman and the other scientist finish their conversation and go their separate directions. Then Angleman headed down the hallway. Buffy signaled for Xander to move with her as she followed Angleman, slowly closing the gap between him and them.

Angleman walked down the lengthy hall, then turned and went down another long hallway. Finally, Angleman used his passcard to enter a classified area. Buffy grabbed Xander's hand as the door closed behind Angleman. She disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames with Xander and reappeared on the other side of the door.

The Towers

"Whoa!" Phoebe gasped in amazement as Cole led her and Faith into the living room of the apartment. Her eyes widened at the room's size and beauty, and her astonishment was evident in her voice. "Are you kidding me?"

Cole, with a proud smile, shouldered her laptop bag and explained, "The firm leases it for parties, retreats, special occasions. I think you two qualify."

"Wow, Cole," Faith chimed in, her eyes roaming the room in appreciation.

Phoebe couldn't help but express her awe once more, emphasizing the room's grandeur. "It's so big and beautiful." She repeated, just to drive the point home.

Cole interrupted their admiration, instructing them to listen. As Phoebe and Faith made their way back to him, they listened intently. "What?" Phoebe asked, her happiness evident in her laughter. "I don't hear anything."

"Exactly," Faith replied with a mischievous grin, savoring the rare moment of tranquility in their turbulent lives.

"The caterers aren't coming till 4, so you two can use it till then," Cole informed his wife and niece. The luxurious setting was at their disposal for a few hours, and Phoebe couldn't help but admire the view outside.

Phoebe, still filled with a touch of uncertainty, asked a question that had been on her mind repeatedly, "And you're sure you won't get in trouble?"

Cole's response was sincere and filled with affection. "I'm already in trouble. I'm in love. Besides, Faith is my favorite niece, so I want to make sure she has the best during her last trimester."

Phoebe, a hint of playfulness in her eyes, rolled them and lightly slapped Cole's chest. Then, she gestured for her bag and took a seat at the glass table. With a serious expression, she spoke up, "Um… I have to ask you a question." Her bag rested on her lap, and she was ready to discuss something important. "Were you serious this morning when you suggested that we get a place of our own together?"

Cole leaned against one of the chairs, his gaze locked onto Phoebe, and he returned her question with another. "What do you think?" His voice held a hint of anticipation, curious about her response.

"I don't know," Phoebe answered honestly, her arms wrapped protectively around her bag. "Wrenching a Halliwell away from the Manor…" Her voice trailed off with a fond smile, the weight of their family history weighing on her. "…it's never been done before."

Faith, ever the realist, chimed in, reminding her aunt, "You did it, Aunt Phoebe. Mom said you moved to New York after Grams died."

Phoebe acknowledged Faith's point, but with a hint of nostalgia, she added, "That was also before we became witches, Faith."

Cole, always up for a challenge, leaned closer to Phoebe, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. "I like a challenge."

Phoebe was quick to clarify her position, ensuring that Cole understood her reservations. "It's not that I don't want to," she assured him earnestly. "It's just..." She turned her gaze away momentarily, carefully choosing her words. "How do I break up the Power of Three?" Her eyes locked onto Cole's, her question sincere and laden with significance.

Cole, now seated beside her, looked at her closely, taking a deep breath before responding. "You guys don't have to keep living together to be Charmed," he pointed out, his words carrying a sense of reassurance. "Not anymore. The Source is dead, Faith is no longer his heir. Buffy can flame you back at a moment's notice, and Leo and Paige can orb you for that matter," he reasoned as Phoebe nodded in agreement. "If we don't do it now, then when?"

Phoebe couldn't help but purse her lips, her apprehensions weighing heavily on her. "Piper will kill me," she said with certainty, her face reflecting her concern. Her gaze shifted to Faith as she continued, "Faith… the baby, Cole." Her voice dropped to a hushed tone, laced with worry. "How can I leave when there's a baby on the way, and what about the demons? What do we do when they all find out and come after her? I'll be too far away." Panic seeped into her voice as she voiced her fears.

Cole, however, had an idea to address her concerns. "What if Faith and Buffy move in with us?" he suggested, his voice hopeful.

Faith, who had been listening intently, agreed with a nod. "He makes a good suggestion, Aunt Phoebe," she said earnestly. "The Manor is crowded. Buffy and I are living in the basement because that was the only place left to add a bedroom for us as well as a nursery for Prudence. I would love to move out and actually wake up to the sun rising."

Cole locked eyes with Phoebe, his expression pleading. "Faith's right, the Manor is too crowded, Phoebe. There's barely enough room as it is, imagine what it's's gonna be like when Faith's baby arrives?" He couldn't help but chuckle, and Phoebe cracked a small smile in response. "There's definitely not enough electricity," he added playfully.

Phoebe couldn't deny the truth in their words, adding her own thoughts. "Or privacy," she chimed in, acknowledging the chaos that often engulfed the Halliwell Manor.

As the discussion concluded, Cole rose to his feet, offering a supportive squeeze of Phoebe's arm with a warm smile. "You two just enjoy your peace here today," he said. "We'll talk more tonight at the party."

Phoebe's eyes widened in realization as she jerked around to face Cole. "Oh no, the party! I totally forgot." She cringed at the thought of not having an outfit ready. "I had Faith bring something for her and Buffy, but I forgot to grab anything for me to wear."

Cole, still wearing a reassuring smile, said, "Don't worry. You just concentrate on your advice column. I'll take care of everything, I promise." He tossed the promise over his shoulder as he headed towards the elevator. "And Faith, you get some rest. One of the bedrooms is through that door over there," he added, pointing at the door.

Phoebe followed him with her eyes, smiling at his gesture. She turned back to her laptop, ready to focus on her work.

As Cole entered the elevator, his expression shifted slightly when he saw Julie on the other side. Her suggestive question made his eyes widen ever so slightly, and he quickly pressed the button to descend.

"Going down?" Julie asked with a smirk, her eyes moving up and down his body.

Cole maintained a neutral expression as he responded, "My wife needs a dress for the party tonight." His response was straightforward, and he had no intention of entertaining any other notions.

Julie turned slowly, her attire shifting dramatically. Her suit jacket and skirt transformed into a one-shouldered, floor-length black dress. She posed, one hand confidently on her hip, and asked, "Something like this?"

Cole frowned slightly, contemplating her choice. "Classy but too safe. I want Phoebe noticed."

Julie turned in the other direction, and the dress underwent a change. It became a high-thigh red dress with a daring diamond-shaped cutout at the bust, accentuating her figure.

Cole's eyes widened as he took in the bold choice, and he shook his head, "Not that noticed."

Julie, always ready to please, turned once more. The red dress morphed into another black one, this time with a low-cut front and a small portion of her mid-section exposed.

Cole's face brightened, and he nodded in approval. "Perfect."

"Thank you," Julie replied with a flirtatious smile, her eyes lingering on Cole suggestively. "You sure you don't want to see that red number again?"

Cole, his tone firm, ordered her with a pointed stare, "Just save it, okay. I'm not interested. I'm a one-woman demon."

Julie couldn't help but smirk, looking him up and down again. "You're the boss."

Cole suppressed a sigh and an eye roll. "While you're at it, Faith brought dresses for her and Buffy. Alter them. I want them noticed as well. Make sure Faith's is flattering given her pregnancy."

"Okay," Julie agreed, her demeanor more professional as she acknowledged the task.

"I'll be in touch," Cole told her flatly, and in a swirl of flames, he disappeared. Julie shimmered out behind him just seconds before the elevator doors swished open, revealing the room service messenger and his trolley of goodies, unaware of the supernatural dealings that had taken place just moments ago.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Faith stepped into one of the bedrooms in the luxurious apartment, her eyes scanning the room with a mixture of curiosity and appreciation. The space was inviting and elegantly decorated, a stark contrast to the crowded and often chaotic quarters at the Halliwell Manor.

She walked further into the room, running her fingers along the smooth surface of a sleek wooden dresser. The bed looked inviting with its plush pillows and soft comforter, and she couldn't help but imagine the comfort it would provide during her stay.

As her gaze fell on the large window, she noticed the soft, natural light streaming in, and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. It was a simple pleasure she had missed, as most of her days were spent in the basement.

Taking a deep breath, Faith appreciated the tranquility of the space, envisioning a peaceful night's sleep and the prospect of waking up to the warmth of the sun's first rays. This newfound luxury was a welcome change, and she couldn't wait to share it with Buffy and their unborn child, making their transition to a new home all the more exciting.

Unable to contain her excitement, Faith rushed out of the bedroom, her heart racing with anticipation. She couldn't wait to share the wonderful news with Phoebe, who was diligently working on her advice column in the living room.

"Aunt Phoebe!" Faith called out with uncontainable enthusiasm as she entered the room. Her voice carried a note of excitement that immediately caught Phoebe's attention.

Phoebe looked up from her laptop, a curious smile spreading across her face as she saw Faith's radiant expression. "What's got you so excited, Faith?"

Without hesitation, Faith grabbed her aunt's hand and practically dragged her toward the bedroom. "You have to see this, Aunt Phoebe! It's amazing!"

Phoebe followed eagerly, intrigued by Faith's enthusiasm. As they entered the bedroom, Phoebe's eyes widened with amazement at the elegant and serene space. The room felt like a haven of calm and comfort, a stark contrast to the usual chaos of their lives.

As Faith and Phoebe marveled at the bedroom, Julie shimmered into the living room, her presence going unnoticed by the two in the other room. She quickly moved over to the dress bags that Faith had brought with her and, with a graceful wave of her hand, began using her magic to transform the dresses.

For Buffy, Julie envisioned a striking and elegant floor-length gown in a deep sapphire blue. The dress featured a sweetheart neckline, a fitted bodice, and a high side slit that revealed just the right amount of leg. The fabric was sleek and slightly shimmering, with subtle sequin embellishments that caught the light. The back of the dress was open, cascading down in a dramatic train, making it perfect for turning heads at the party.

For Faith, taking into consideration her pregnancy, Julie designed a sexy yet comfortable ensemble. She transformed a black, form-fitting knee-length dress with a modest V-neck that accentuated Faith's curves while providing ease of movement. The dress featured delicate lace detailing along the neckline and sleeves, adding a touch of elegance to its allure. It was a tasteful choice that celebrated Faith's confidence and showcased her beauty, while still allowing her to feel comfortable and radiant in her condition.

Initiative

In the dimly lit document vault, tension hung heavy in the air as Dr. Angleman, Buffy, and Xander found themselves in a high-stakes confrontation. The room's layout, with its file cabinets on the first level and computer data on the second, added to the sense of intrigue.

As Dr. Angleman made his way toward one of the file cabinets, his sinister intentions becoming apparent, Buffy acted swiftly. She grabbed him with a steely grip, her supernatural strength allowing her to effortlessly throw him against the wall. Xander stood guard, his eyes darting around the room for any potential threats.

Buffy's voice, tinged with a mix of resolve and exasperation, cut through the tense silence. "You know, I don't generally like to kill humans - but I've learned it pays to be flexible in life." Her words were a stark warning, a reminder of the danger they all found themselves in.

Dr. Angleman, despite his predicament, retained a sense of arrogance. "I was wondering when you'd turn up," he admitted, his tone laced with a touch of defiance.

Buffy, with a hint of mock disappointment, responded, "Oh - darn - so this wasn't a surprise." Her words carried a touch of sarcasm, revealing her knack for keeping her cool in the face of danger. "I want you to tell me what you did to Riley. And after that, we can take a tour of room 314," she demanded, her determination to get to the bottom of the situation unwavering.

Dr. Angleman, ever the cunning antagonist, hinted at an impending threat. "Somebody's coming, you know," he warned, his voice filled with a sinister edge. "I'm sure they've already seen you on the security monitors."

Buffy, undeterred by the potential arrival of reinforcements, remained resolute. "Doesn't matter," she declared with a hint of confidence. "I would be out before they got here.

Unexpectedly, Riley emerged from another entrance, his presence adding another layer of complexity to the situation. "Monitors are non-functional at this time, sir," he stated, acknowledging Buffy with a glance.

"Your doing I take it?" Buffy inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity and a sense of partnership. Riley nodded, confirming her suspicion.

Dr. Angleman's frustration and fear grew apparent as the situation continued to spiral out of his control. He issued a command, desperate to regain a semblance of authority. "Finn. Take this girl to the stockade, immediately!" he ordered, his voice laden with panic.

However, Buffy, still determined to unravel the mystery, intervened. "Riley - he can tell us what we need to know," she reasoned, her plea for cooperation tinged with urgency. Riley remained stoic, neither acknowledging her nor making a move to stop her. The tension in the room heightened as Dr. Angleman realized that he was now on his own, and the odds were increasingly stacked against him.

Buffy's voice carried a mixture of anger and frustration as she turned her attention back to Dr. Angleman, her eyes narrowing in on him. "Maggie wanted me and Faith dead, didn't she?" she demanded, her tone laced with intensity.

Dr. Angleman, now cornered and compelled to reveal the truth, nodded. "She did," he admitted. "But understand, the Initiative has no interest in eliminating the Slayer. It was her own vendetta."

Buffy, not willing to accept a vague answer, pressed for more information. "Why?" she questioned, her voice growing more insistent. "Spell it out for me. I feel an attack of dumb blonde coming on."

Dr. Angleman, his resolve weakening, stammered in response, "I don't know." The fear in his voice was palpable, knowing that Buffy was not going to let this go easily.

Buffy tightened her grip on Dr. Angleman, making her point clear. "Think harder," she urged, her determination unyielding.

Finally, Dr. Angleman relented, revealing a critical piece of information. "It was the – project," he replied, the weight of his admission hanging heavily in the air.

"Project? 314?" she inquired, her voice tinged with a sense of urgency.

Dr. Angleman, feeling the weight of his revelation, nodded in response. "It - it escaped," he admitted, his voice trembling with anxiety.

However, Riley, who had remained on the defensive, became visibly agitated by the way Maggie was being portrayed. He felt the need to defend her legacy, passionately asserting, "That's enough. You're making her sound like some psychopath. She wasn't like that. She was a brilliant woman."

Dr. Angleman attempted to clarify his statements, but Riley was not to be swayed. "She was. It's not –" he began, but Riley interrupted him, fervently defending Maggie's memory. "All she was trying to do was help people - and this is how you want them to remember her?" he demanded, his voice charged with emotion.

Buffy seized the opportunity to dig deeper into the matter, a growing suspicion in her mind. "Riley. Listen - I heard Angleman say that she was feeding you drugs," she revealed, her words leaving a lingering sense of concern and doubt hanging in the air.

Tensions reached a breaking point as Riley confronted Buffy, his anger and frustration boiling over. "No! You're doing this to me, aren't you? This all started because of you," he exclaimed, his voice filled with raw emotion and accusation.

Buffy sighed, exasperated by the escalating conflict. "If you'll just listen. All I'm trying to do is help you get to the truth," she implored, her tone carrying a plea for reason and cooperation.

Riley, however, was too consumed by his anger and confusion. He demanded answers from Buffy, his voice tinged with desperation. "You want truth? Then tell me! What did you do to her, Buffy?" His accusation hung heavily in the air.

In the midst of the escalating confrontation, Buffy decided to defend herself. "Stop it!" she exclaimed, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and denial.

But before the situation could escalate further, Buffy's supernatural abilities came into play. She disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames and reappeared with lightning speed, delivering a powerful blow to Riley. He staggered back, momentarily stunned.

Riley, undeterred, started to come at her again, but Buffy, realizing that this fight was counterproductive, flamed to the other side of the room, putting some distance between them. "Riley – stop," she pleaded, trying to restore a sense of reason. "This is not about us. Everything we need to know is here. We just have to find out what was in 314 –"

Before she could finish her sentence, a gruesome and shocking sight interrupted their conversation. A mutilated body, that of a military M.P., landed in their path, falling from the catwalk above. The unexpected arrival left everyone in the room in a state of shock and horror.

As they all looked up, they saw Adam, a monstrous creation of man, machine, and demon, standing above them, an eerie calm in his voice as he declared, "Me."

Halliwell Manor

"Found them." Paige announced with a triumphant smile, her eyes lighting up as she delivered the good news. The weight of their mission finally seemed to be lifting from her shoulders, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of hope.

"Okay, where's the book?" Piper asked, pulling away from Leo's comforting embrace. Her voice was eager, and her eyes sparkled with determination, ready to take on the next challenge. The urgency in her tone was unmistakable.

"Already ahead of you," Paige responded, holding up a folded piece of paper with a mischievous grin. Her playful remark added a sense of camaraderie to the moment, a shared sense of purpose among the sisters.

Piper smiled, a mix of admiration and affection in her eyes. "Cute. Let's go." Her words carried a sense of readiness and a hint of excitement.

But just as they were about to embark on their mission, Leo, with a deep sense of concern, halted their plans. His voice carried the weight of responsibility and care for his charges, a protective instinct that could not be ignored.

"Wait, something's wrong," Leo said suddenly, his words tinged with worry as the jingling in his head intensified. The ghosts, Rick and Nathan, materialized nearby, their spectral presence growing more pronounced. It was a moment of tension and foreboding.

"It's Maria, the teacher. She's in trouble," Leo conveyed with a grim expression, his voice filled with a sense of duty and a deep commitment to those he watched over. "I need to go to her," he declared resolutely, his determination to protect his charge evident in his every word.

"But what about the ghosts?" Paige asked with a frown, concern etching her features. Her voice revealed her dedication to their mission and her determination to prevent further harm. "I thought we had to find them before they hurt someone else."

Piper, always the calming presence in the group, reassured her husband with a loving smile. "It's all gonna be okay," she said, her voice carrying a soothing and comforting tone. Her words were not just a promise to Leo but a declaration of her faith in their ability to handle any situation.

With that, Leo orbed out, leaving a sense of anticipation and uncertainty in his wake. Piper turned her gaze to Paige, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead. "Let's go," she said, her voice determined and resolute.

Initiative

Buffy, Riley, Dr. Angleman, and Xander looked up at Adam, who paced on the catwalk above them. Adam spoke with the care and deliberateness of someone who was just learning the language. His voice quivered with a hint of longing and confusion. "I've been thinking… About the world," Adam said. "I wanted to see it. Learn it. I saw the inside of that boy, and it was beautiful, but it didn't tell me about the world. It just made me feel. So now I want to know about me. Why I feel. What I am."

Adam stepped off the catwalk and landed easily in front of them. Everyone reacted with stunned silence - both to his leap and his frightening, pieced-together appearance. The air was thick with an unsettling tension, and they couldn't tear their eyes away from the monstrous being before them. Adam reached into a pocket in his vest, his movements oddly delicate, and took a floppy disk out of it that read: ADAM.

"So I came home," Adam said as he slipped the disk into a port on his chest. Immediately, he began to process information, which he relayed to the others. His words carried a strange mixture of curiosity and detachment, as if he was unraveling the mysteries of his own existence. "I am a kinematically redundant, bio-mechanical demonoid. Designed by Maggie Walsh. She called me Adam, and I called her 'Mother'."

Dr. Angleman, alarmed, tried to get control of the situation. He spoke to Adam as firmly as he could through his fear. "Adam. Maggie would want you to stand down."

Adam's response had an eerie, almost childlike innocence to it, as if he were discovering a troubling truth about himself. "Yes. But I seem to have a design flaw," Adam said, his voice tinged with a sense of impending doom.

"Oh God…" Dr. Angleman said softly, his fear palpable.

"In addition to organic material, I'm equipped with GP2D11 infrared detectors, 140 MWS, microspec 4000 sensors, a harmonic decelerator plus DC servo…" Adam said, his words brimming with a robotic precision that contrasted starkly with the complexity of his existence.

Buffy, her heart heavy with realization, noted the arm of the Polgara demon was attached to Adam. "She pieced you together out of parts of other demons," she whispered, the revelation hitting her like a punch to the gut.

Adam nodded, and in his mechanical tone, he continued, "And man. And machine. Which tells me what I am, but not who I am… Mother wrote things down. Hard data, but also her… feelings. That's how I learned I have… a job here. And that she loved me."

Riley, disgusted by the notion of affection between Adam and Maggie, couldn't hide his revulsion. His voice was laced with disdain as he retorted, "She wasn't your mother - and she didn't love you."

Xander, always one to question the deeper issues, interjected with a thoughtful inquiry, "Is that really the issue?"

Riley, with a stern and uncompromising stance, stated, "She made you because she was a scientist," his words emphasizing the cold, analytical nature of Maggie Walsh's actions, devoid of any parental love or compassion.

"Riley…" Buffy's voice held a stern warning, her concern for their safety palpable in her tone.

Adam reached into his vest again, retrieving another disk that read: FINN. He switched it into his disc drive, and a wave of tension swept through the room as the group braced themselves for whatever information it contained. Buffy and Xander moved to position themselves between Riley and Adam, ready to act if necessary.

But before Riley could react, Adam spoke, his voice devoid of emotion. "Riley Finn…"

Buffy and Xander tensed, their eyes locked on Adam, their unease growing by the second.

Riley's voice was firm as he tried to make his stance clear. "Stop. Those files—"

Adam cut Riley off with a revelation that sent shivers down their spines. "Oh. Mother created you too."

Riley's response was immediate, his voice edged with frustration and denial. "Maggie's not my mother. I have a mother. A real—"

"A birth mother," Adam said with a chilling calmness. "But after you met Maggie, she was the one who shaped your basic operating system. She taught you how to think, how to feel. She fed you chemicals to make you stronger, your mind and body… She said that you and I were her favorite children, her art. That makes us brothers… family."

The revelation hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Riley, his emotions in turmoil, couldn't bear to hear any more, and he took a menacing step forward, his anger and confusion reaching a breaking point, while Buffy and Xander remained tense, ready to intervene at a moment's notice.

Riley's voice quivered with a mix of anger and denial. "No. I am not like you."

But Adam, the embodiment of unsettling detachment, was unphased. He approached Riley, a strange fascination gleaming in his eyes as he studied the emotions etched on Riley's face. "That's pain, isn't it? Why? Because your feeding schedule, the chemicals, have been interrupted? Or do you miss her? Tell me—"

Riley, pushed to his limit, finally snapped, his voice laced with a seething rage. "I'll kill you."

But Adam responded with a disconcerting certainty, his mechanical nature overriding any fear. "You won't. You haven't been programmed to."

"I cannot be programmed," Riley said desperately, a fierce determination in his voice. "I'm a man."

Adam, unfazed by Riley's words, pulled out another disk, carrying the weight of their shared destiny in his mechanical hands. "It's here. The plan she had for us. What happens. How it ends."

Riley's desperation grew, his denial consuming him. "No…"

Adam, relentless in his quest for knowledge, asked a haunting question. "Do you want to hear?"

Riley's response was resolute. "No!" In a moment of despair and defiance, he pulled out his gun and aimed it straight at Adam's face.

Buffy, quick to react and protect her friend, rushed forward and reached for Riley's arm. But in the blink of an eye, Adam displayed his inhuman speed and strength, smacking the gun out of Riley's hand and knocking Buffy to the ground simultaneously.

Riley's desperation and frustration reached a boiling point, and he lashed out with a punch aimed at Adam, but it had no effect on the relentless mechanical demon. With a single swift motion, Adam knocked Riley back with a casual swipe, sending him flying through the air. Riley landed with a resounding thud, disoriented and hurting.

Buffy and Xander, driven by fear and determination, moved in to confront Adam. Xander attempted to strike Adam with his gun, but the mechanical behemoth easily deflected the blow, sending Xander crashing into a nearby wall. Buffy engaged in hand-to-hand combat with Adam, but it quickly became apparent that his strength far surpassed hers. She struggled to keep her balance, her every move met with an overwhelming force that threatened to overpower her.

In the midst of the chaos, Adam's attention shifted to Dr. Angleman, who had been attempting to make his escape. Without hesitation, Adam cast Buffy off him and closed the distance to Angleman with astonishing speed. In a horrifyingly swift motion, Adam extended his skewer and thrust it through Angleman's head, ending his life in a gruesome and shocking manner.

Riley, having regained his footing, saw an opportunity and latched onto Adam from behind, using his utility wire to strangle him, cutting off Adam's air supply. But Adam was not to be underestimated. With a swift and cold efficiency, he reached behind him, grabbing Riley and spinning him around to face him directly. Without a trace of emotion, Adam skewered Riley in the side, piercing him through, causing excruciating pain.

Fueled by a burning rage and a desperation to save her friends, Buffy launched another fierce attack on Adam. In response, Adam was forced to release Riley, who fell to the ground in a crumpled, wounded state.

Buffy and Adam continued their brutal confrontation, but this time, Adam had the upper hand from the very beginning. His blows rained down on Buffy, each one more devastating than the last. She fought valiantly, but the mechanical demon's strength was overwhelming. Eventually, she succumbed to his relentless assault and fell to the ground, landing next to the wounded Riley.

Adam, poised to deliver a finishing blow, was suddenly distracted by a pounding on the door. He turned to Buffy with a detached sense of curiosity. "Thank you. This was interesting," he said before crawling back up to the catwalk and disappearing through an open vent.

Desperate to get help for Riley, Buffy called out, "Leo!" twice, but he never appeared. With a deep concern for Riley, she moved to his side and took his hand. "Riley, are you—"

Their moment of respite was abruptly interrupted as the commandos, Forest and Graham, burst into the room, their faces etched with urgency.

"You've got a demon in here. It escaped through that vent," Xander explained, pointing toward the vent.

Buffy, still catching her breath, tried to convey what she had witnessed. "It's not the Polgara. It kind of looks like a man—"

"Right, and you just happened to be in the neighborhood," Forrest responded with skepticism, eyeing Buffy's presence in the situation.

Riley, despite his condition, chimed in with a raspy voice, "She's telling the truth. I saw it. It killed Angleman. Go. Now."

Convinced by Riley's words, a number of the commandos, except for Graham, Forrest, and a few others, hastily left in pursuit of Adam. Riley, however, seemed to have exhausted his last bit of energy with the effort of speaking, and he lost consciousness.

Buffy, her concern etched across her face, recognized the severity of Riley's condition. "He needs a hospital," she asserted as she lifted Riley into her arms.

Forrest stepped forward, seeking Graham's assistance, and together they took Riley from Buffy's embrace. "We'll take it from here," Forrest assured her.

Buffy, her trust in the commandos shaky at best, conceded with a wary nod. "I don't trust you guys," she admitted, "but if you can do something for him."

Graham reassured her, "We can."

With a final message of hope, Buffy told them, "Let him know I hope he pulls through." She then grabbed Xander's hand, and the two of them vanished in a swirl of fiery flames, leaving behind a room filled with uncertainty and the aftermath of a fierce battle.

Teacher's Apartment

"I told you, lady. I told you, don't sweat me!" said the teenage boy.

"Easy." Leo said calmly as he closed the door to Maria's apartment behind him.

"Leo." Maria breathed, relief flooding through her as well as fear for his safety also.

"Who are you? The boyfriend? " the troubled teen asked rounding on Leo with his knife wielding hand, "Well, you've come just in time to see the show. Sit down clown, there's a front row seat."

"Alright listen, just put the knife down and we can talk about it." Leo guided him, remaining as calm as possible.

The young man, Greg, lashed out at Leo almost slashing him and Leo stumbled back and into the kitchen counter.

"Greg don't!" Maria cried desperately, reaching out to him.

Greg turned his wild eyes on her, "You dissed me, teach. Got me in a whole lotta trouble here, now somebody's gonna pay."

"Don't be afraid." Leo told her, seeing Maria hesitate, her eyes on the knife in Greg's hand, "Teach."

"Shut up!" Greg growled, "Shut up! You're the one who should be afraid right about now!"

"Stop it Greg, don't be stupid!" Maria snapped harshly.

"Stupid?" Greg echoed, "Is that what I am?"

"If you hurt him, you will be." Maria pointed out calmly, "It'll be the stupidest thing you've ever done, and there won't be any coming back from it." Greg looked over at her and she caught his gaze, holding strong, "Your… Life… Will… Be… Over."

"My life's already over!" Greg said.

"No, it's not." Maria countered instantly, "Not yet. It takes more courage to put down that knife, than to use it. Believe me."

Greg shook his head, as he fought an internal battle of right and wrong.

Maria slowly raised her arm, hand out palm side up and ordered sternly, "Give me the knife, Greg." She stared at him with kind eyes and saw his resolve waver as fear took over.

"You'll call the police." Greg stated knowingly, shaking his head, the lack of trust in his life marring his ability to believe her.

"No, I won't." Maria shook her head in disagreement.

Greg turned to her and upon seeing the honestly in her blue eyes, dropped the knife and fled the apartment.

"Are you alright?" Maria asked as soon as the door closed, her eyes scanning over Leo for injuries.

"Yeah, I think so." Leo assured her, standing up straight, "You did a good job teaching him a lesson."

Maria released a breath of relief, her shoulders relaxing, "Thanks to you." She smiled brightly.

Leo smiled back, hers infectious, "What did I do?"

"Helped me remember why I wanted to be a teacher." Maria explained, her eyes sparkling at the thought of her profession, her passion.

Leo smiled, nodding his head and Rick appeared behind Maria, scooping up the knife, "NO!" Leo barked as Rick plunged the blade deep into her back. "MARIA!" Leo yelled running for her as Nathan appeared inside the apartment also and rugby tackled Leo to the floor, restraining him.

Rick smirked as he removed the knife and lowered Maria to the ground, making sure that her head was facing Leo then went to assist his brother.

"You, watch her die like you watched us die." Rick ordered as Leo thrashed about.

"NO!" Leo growled as he watched Maria gasp for breath, her body jerking slightly before going limp on the floor. "Maria!" Leo called sharply as her spirit rose up from her body, "No! Let go!" he ordered Nathan thrashing some more as Maria's spirit began to float upwards, "Don't! Fight it!" Leo begged her but it was too late, Maria was dead and her spirit had passed on.

"Her blood is on your hands." Nathan informed him smugly, then released his hold.

Leo crawled frantically towards his dead charge, laying his hands over her wound in a futile attempt to revive her.

The two dead brothers rose to their feet, watching in amusement as their "old friend" failed to save his charge.

"Why?" Leo demanded harshly, his voice filled with rage as he turned to her murderers, "She didn't do anything! She was innocent!"

"So were we!" Rick yelled back and Leo fell silent, his guilt returning ten-fold as the two ghosts disappeared.

Halliwell Manor

"Okay," Piper said as she and Paige returned home, their voices tinged with a sense of urgency. Her heart raced as she spoke, her voice quivering with anxiety. "You go get the vanquishing spell, and I'll get—LEO!" she yelled abruptly.

Paige, a note of caution in her voice, reminded her sister, her words carefully chosen to maintain composure, "Uh… don't you mean potion? Remember, the spell only works if you're dead." Her concern mirrored in the furrow of her brow as she swiftly removed her coat, preparing for the task ahead.

"Right," Piper replied, still preoccupied with Leo's unexplained absence. Her voice quivered, and her trembling hands betrayed her fear. "Spell, potion, whatever. LEO!" she called out once more, the unease in her tone growing, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Paige, sensing the gravity of the situation, tried to explore an alternative, her voice filled with compassion. "So, does that mean that we're not interested in helping them move on?"

Piper's response was swift and resolute, her concern for Leo and her unwavering stance clear. Her words were laced with anger and frustration, her voice trembling as she spoke. "To hell, maybe. That's what they deserve. We went to the VA to help misguided ghosts, not killer ghosts."

Paige, ever the voice of reason, offered a counterargument, her tone gentle but resolute. "We don't know for sure that they killed that guard." Piper gave her sister a pointed look, her frustration evident. "Vanquishing potion, I'm on it," Paige conceded, recognizing the urgency of their situation and the need to address the immediate threat.

Phoebe cleared her throat loudly as she reached the last landing of the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest, and the small group turned to them. Her voice was slightly shaky as she said, "Phoebe," Piper said slowly, as she took in the black dress Phoebe was modeling, her eyes widened in surprise.

"What's the matter?" Phoebe asked with a smile as she twirled for them, the nerves beneath her bravado evident. "Don't you recognize me?" she grinned as she descended the stairs, her cheeks flushed with a mix of excitement and self-consciousness. "What do ya think?"

"You look beautiful," Paige said as she smiled at her sister, her words filled with genuine admiration and warmth.

Phoebe's grin widened, and she blushed ever so slightly, her heart soaring at the compliment. "Thank you," she beamed, her eyes shining with gratitude.

It was then that Buffy and Faith walked into the room, their presence catching everyone's attention. "Where are you two going?" Piper asked, looking at the couple as she took in Buffy's blue dress and Faith's black dress, her curiosity tinged with a hint of concern as she noticed their attire.

Faith replied with a sense of excitement, "Same place Aunt Phoebe is. Uncle Cole invited us. And Buffy got back just in the nick of time."

Buffy chimed in with a touch of weariness, "Turns out the thing that killed the kid in Sunnydale was created by the Initiative. Got the guys looking into what we can even do to stop it."

Piper couldn't help but comment with a wry tone, "Cole is kind of splurging lately, huh?" She looked at the three of them, her eyebrows raised in amusement and curiosity.

"Yeah," Phoebe breathed, her voice filled with a mix of delight and amusement, "And I am not complaining. I enjoy being the belle of the ball," she quipped, a mischievous glint in her eye. "He even got Buffy and Faith new dresses too."

Piper took a deep breath, her expression turning serious. "Well, sorry Cinderella, but the ball's been canceled," she informed her apologetically, her voice filled with concern. "We have killer ghosts."

Buffy looked between Piper and Paige, disbelief and exhaustion in her eyes, and let out a laugh. "You're kidding." Her face fell as she took in their expressions, the reality sinking in. "You are not kidding. I had enough of demons today with this Adam thing.

Phoebe stood straight, her hope evident in her voice as she asked, "Okay, well, is it possible that you guys could maybe… handle this without us?" She held onto a glimmer of optimism.

"Phoebe, they tried to kill Leo," Paige informed her grimly, her eyes fixed on her sister, a shared worry passing between them.

"What?" Faith gasped, her eyes widening in shock and concern.

"I'll go do the potion," Paige said decidedly, her determination clear as she prepared to take action.

"Okay," Phoebe exhaled slowly, her shoulders slumping as she moved towards the phone. She glanced at Buffy and Faith. "And I'll call Cole and tell him 'no' to the party for us." Piper and Paige turned to follow her with their eyes, noting her reluctant tone and intentionally slow movements. Phoebe glanced back at them quickly and muttered, "I guess I could tell him 'no' for everything."

Piper looked at Phoebe, Buffy and Faith concerned. "What's that supposed to mean?" she questioned, her tone tinged with confusion and concern.

Phoebe looked over at her, her hesitation clear, "Nothing, nothing," she brushed it off as she punched in the numbers.

"Phoebe," Piper called sternly, her concern deepening, and Phoebe sighed, recognizing that she couldn't keep it from them any longer.

Ending the call and walking to the small table in the foyer, Phoebe placed the phone down and looked up at her sisters, her voice filled with trepidation. "Cole...wants us to get our own place. And for Buffy and Faith to move in with us," she revealed to them carefully, bracing herself for the reaction she knew would come.

"What? You mean move out?" Paige questioned, her eyes widening in surprise, as Piper looked down at the floor, her emotions hidden as she fiddled with the hem of her top.

"Yeah, you know, like normal married couples do," Phoebe chuckled nervously, trying to break the tension in the room, though the unease in the air was palpable.

"We didn't," Piper pointed out, referring to her and Leo, her words holding a hint of sadness and frustration.

Faith spoke up, addressing Buffy with a thoughtful expression, "I was going to talk to you, Buffy. This place is kind of getting crowded. And with Prudence on the way, it's going to get even more crowded. If we move out with Phoebe and Cole, we could find a three-bedroom someplace so that Phoebe and Cole have their own room, you and I have our own room, and Prudence, when she's born, could have her own room."

Buffy's response was filled with love and understanding, "If that is what you want, I will do whatever you want. As long as we're together, that's all I want."

Phoebe waved at Piper with a dismissive hand, her voice laced with frustration, "Yeah, but you're not normal."

"Neither are you," Piper shot back instantly, her emotions bubbling to the surface, and Phoebe looked down at the floor, her shoulders sagging, while Paige bit her lip uneasily.

"Look," Phoebe said with a sigh, her tone softer and more vulnerable. "I don't want to fight about this, but I just don't like the feeling that sometimes I have to choose between my sisters and my husband," she tried to explain, her eyes searching for understanding and acceptance from her family.

Faith's voice was filled with a mixture of emotions as she added, "And me choosing between my aunts and my wife."

Piper shook her head, her determination unwavering. "It's not about that, and you two know it," she stated firmly, her gaze fixed on her sister and nieces.

Phoebe demanded with a sense of urgency, looking between her sisters, "How long are we all gonna stay here? Another year? Another five years? Another fifty years?"

Paige glanced at Piper warily, then over at Phoebe, Faith, and Buffy, wishing they had left this revelation until after the ghosts were taken care of. The weight of their responsibilities bore down on her.

Phoebe continued, her voice gentle but resolute, "You know, at what point do we move on with our lives and not let evil dictate them?"

Piper licked her lips and nodded, her resistance giving way to understanding. "You're right," she relented, her voice filled with a mix of resignation and love. "Go to your party. Go to Cole. Yeah uh...we'll take care of the ghosts." She tilted her head towards Paige. "You two can go on as well," she said, looking at Buffy and Faith, her eyes reflecting her understanding of the need for their personal lives to continue alongside their duty.

Phoebe scoffed and laughed bitterly, the tension in the room still palpable. "You hate us right now," she stated knowingly, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration.

"No, I don't." Piper shook her head, her voice firm, though her eyes betrayed the complex emotions she was feeling.

Paige, always the candid one, countered with a wry smile, "Yes, she does." Piper elbowed her lightly, but Paige held her ground.

"No, I don't," Piper repeated sternly, her frustration evident. "I hate the idea."

"Look, we can talk about this later," Piper decided, her tone final. "Right now, you need to go take care of your man." She looked at Buffy and Faith. "You two need to have a nice night out. And I need to take care of my man. It's as simple as that, okay? We don't need the Power of Three and two Slayers to do this."

Phoebe, Buffy, and Faith turned on their heels and headed out of the house, closing the door behind them.

As they walked towards Phoebe's car, Buffy couldn't help but express her concerns, her voice tinged with worry. "Do you think Piper's mad at us?" she asked, her concern mirroring in her eyes.

Phoebe glanced at Buffy and Faith; her own worries mirrored in Buffy's expression. She sighed, leaning against the car for a moment, taking a deep breath before answering.

"I don't think she's mad at us, but she's definitely upset. It's a lot for her to take in, you know?" Phoebe said, her voice filled with understanding. "This whole situation, the ghosts, and now the idea of us moving out, it's a big change for everyone, especially for Piper. But she loves us, and she'll come around eventually. We just need to give her some time."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"You know," Paige said, a mischievous glint in her eye, "I've got a bone to pick with you. Seeing as how you practically forced me to move in here." She playfully nudged Piper's arm.

Piper gave her sister a mock scowl, but the worry about Leo was still evident in her eyes. "Where's Leo? I already called for him twice," she said worriedly, her concern growing with each passing moment. "Leo? Leo!" she called again, but still received no response. "You're half Whitelighter." Piper addressed Paige, her voice tinged with a growing sense of panic. "See if you can sense him."

Paige started, her eyes wide with uncertainty, "Sense him! I've never done that before. Why don't we just call Buffy back? She's technically a full Whitelighter now."

"No, technically she's even more diluted than you," Piper said impatiently, her voice urgent. "You're just part witch and part Whitelighter. She's part Slayer, part witch, and part Whitelighter. So please, just try."

Paige grimaced, then closed her eyes tightly and concentrated. Her eyes snapped open, her expression tense. "I think he's in trouble."

"Well, go find him!" Piper exclaimed; her voice filled with desperation. "Now." And Paige orbed out, leaving Piper alone in the quiet house, her heart pounding with fear and uncertainty as she prepared to face whatever danger lay ahead.

Teacher's Apartment

Paige orbed into Maria's apartment to find a distraught Leo, sitting by his dead charge's side, a look of utter uselessness on his face, eyes ridden with guilt. The weight of the tragedy hung heavily in the air, casting a shadow of sorrow over the room.

Paige gasped at the sight and moved quickly towards him, her heart aching for Leo. "Leo," she whispered, her voice trembling with empathy. She crouched down at his side and placed a comforting hand on his back, trying to convey the warmth of her presence in this bleak moment.

"I tried to stop them but I couldn't," Leo informed her, his voice filled with despair. He slowly stroked Marie's lifeless form; his touch gentle yet burdened with regret.

Paige shook her head sadly, her eyes glistening with sympathy. She pulled on his arm, urging him gently, "Okay, come on. Come on." She instructed, coaxing him to his feet and guiding him over to the nearest chair. "Let's get up, let's go over here. That's it." Paige smiled softly through her own tears as he fell heavily into the seat, and she knelt in front of him. Her touch was tender as she tried to provide some solace in this heart-wrenching moment. "Okay, what happened?"

"They're getting even with me," Leo told her, his breathing sharp and uneven from crying. His voice was laced with self-blame, and the guilt he carried seemed almost unbearable. "They killed her because of me."

Paige frowned at his words, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and concern. "Who? Rick and Nathan?"

"Because I left them to die," Leo stuttered, his voice breaking as tears welled in his eyes again. The pain of his charge's death, both physically and emotionally, still fresh in his mind, was like an open wound in his heart. "They're making me pay," he whimpered before the tears flowed freely, his grief consuming him.

Paige sighed, her heart heavy with Leo's anguish. She continued to rub his leg comfortingly, trying to provide whatever solace she could. "Come on, let's get you home."

"No," Leo refused, dropping his hands from his face, his eyes still misty with tears. "I don't have my powers anymore."

Paige startled, her concern deepening. "What happened?" she demanded, knowing that now was the worst possible time for their only healer to be rendered powerless.

Leo shook his head, his shoulders slumped. "I can't orb or heal."

"But how?" Paige questioned, looking him up and down, searching for any signs of what might have caused this loss.

"It doesn't matter how," Leo sighed heavily, his gaze distant and haunted. "I shouldn't have been given them in the first place." His words were heavy with regret, and he seemed burdened by the weight of his own past decisions.

"That is not true," Paige countered firmly, her voice filled with determination, as she squeezed his hand. "Your powers must be tied to your emotions, like ours." She thought aloud, searching for a solution. "That means you can get them back." She assured him with unwavering resolve. But Leo shook his head, lost in his own self-doubt.

Paige pulled on his hand sharply, her eyes pleading with him. "You just have to pick yourself up. Don't let them defeat you. You are not responsible for their actions."

"Aren't I?" Leo countered instantly, too deep into his self-pity and self-loathing to see reason. "They're ghosts because of me," he insisted, his voice heavy with guilt. "Their rage comes from something that I did. If I can just give myself to them..."

"They'd kill you," Paige concluded for him, her eyes wide with fear and concern. "Because without your powers, you're defenseless," she whispered, emphasizing the vulnerability that came with losing his abilities. "Like a mortal," she added softly, her voice filled with worry.

Paige stared at him, trying to catch his eye, her determination unwavering. "Okay, we've got to get you home," she insisted firmly, taking his arm in an attempt to lead him away from this dark path he was contemplating.

"No!" Leo yelled at her, yanking his arm from her grasp roughly. His voice was laced with desperation and determination. "Nobody else is gonna die because of me! Do you understand?" He snapped at her, his pain and resolve evident.

Paige took a deep breath as Leo calmed down from his sudden outburst. She tried to think of a way to help him. "Okay, just... give me a minute," she told him calmly. "I'm going to go and get Buffy, Faith, Phoebe, and Piper," she said slowly, looking him in the eyes, her determination unwavering. "I will be right back, I promise."

Leo turned his head away from her, still struggling with his own demons, and Paige sighed. "Don't leave," she ordered, standing to her feet, her determination unwavering as she prepared to seek help. With that, she orbed out, her blue and white lights disappearing through the ceiling and into the night sky, right past Rick and Nathan, who had been listening in from the roof, their malevolent intentions hidden in the shadows.

"Defenseless as a mortal, huh?" Rick repeated to himself, a sinister grin playing on his lips as he crossed his arms. "We've got him right where we want him," he declared with a smug and malevolent satisfaction, relishing the idea of Leo's vulnerability.

"I don't know, Rick," Nathan said suddenly, his eyes fixed on the night sky.

"You don't know?" Rick repeated, his eyes hard and unyielding. "After waiting all this time, you're having second thoughts?"

"No," Nathan assured firmly, his voice laced with dark determination. "Just the opposite. It doesn't feel like it's enough just killing him. I want him to suffer first."

Rick's smile grew wider, proud of his brother's cruelty, and he nodded in agreement. "Follow me," he instructed, his dark intentions clear, and then he disappeared from sight, leaving behind an ominous sense of impending doom.

The Towers

Amidst the lively party, the dance floor was bathed in a warm glow, where Phoebe and Cole swayed slowly to the rhythm of the music. Nearby, Buffy and Faith danced in their own world, their graceful moves synchronized with the beat.

"Penny for your thoughts, councilor?" Phoebe quipped playfully, her eyes locked onto Cole's, a hint of mischief dancing in her gaze.

Cole's gaze remained fixed on Phoebe as he replied, "Just that I hope I never disappoint you." He stared deeply into her eyes, his love for her evident.

Phoebe's smile radiated affection and reassurance. "I wouldn't worry about that if I were you," she assured him, her hand gently reaching up to stroke his cheek, a tender and affectionate gesture that spoke volumes of their bond.

As they shared this intimate moment, two guests approached them, breaking their reverie. "Welcome aboard, Turner," one of the men greeted, extending his hand to Cole. "We're lucky to have you."

"Thank you," Cole replied graciously, shaking the man's hand firmly. Phoebe smiled warmly at the man's wife, acknowledging their presence.

Once the brief interruption had passed, and they resumed their dance, Phoebe leaned in closer to Cole, her voice filled with affection. "Baby, I am so proud of you," she gushed, her words carrying a deep sense of admiration and love for the man in her arms.

As they continued to dance and celebrate, Faith couldn't help but express her feelings to Cole. "I have to say, Uncle Cole, I am too," she admitted, her voice filled with sincerity, her eyes reflecting the pride she felt for her family.

Phoebe's smile broadened, touched by Faith's words, before returning her attention to her husband. "You have come so far. Further than anyone here in this room could even imagine," she praised him, her words infused with genuine admiration. "Even me, I'm seeing you in a totally different light."

Cole smiled down at her, the love in his eyes unmistakable. "We've both come a long way. We deserve all of this… and more," he affirmed, glancing toward Faith and Buffy, acknowledging their growth and resilience.

"We know, Cole," Buffy agreed, her words conveying her gratitude for the support and understanding they found within their tight-knit family.

Phoebe drew in a shaky breath, her thoughts lingering on the whirlwind of changes in their lives. "Just… everything is happening so fast, you know. So many changes," she admitted honestly, the uncertainty underlying her words. "It's a little scary, sometimes."

Cole, ever perceptive and caring, took her words to heart. "So maybe we shouldn't move out of the Manor then?" he asked, his tone filled with understanding and a hint of reassurance, offering Phoebe the choice to hold onto the familiar and comforting amidst all the changes they were facing.

"Maybe," Phoebe agreed quietly, considering the idea of staying in the Manor a bit longer. "Now who's disappointing who?"

Cole shook his head, his love and devotion unwavering. "You could never disappoint me," he promised her sincerely, a warm smile gracing his lips, and Phoebe's eyes sparkled with gratitude and affection.

Their tender moment was interrupted when someone tapped Phoebe's shoulder, and she reluctantly pulled away from Cole. Turning, she found Paige standing beside her, an apologetic expression on her face.

"Sorry to interrupt," Paige said nervously, also tapping on Faith's shoulder to get her attention.

"Paige?" Phoebe questioned, frowning in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Paige began playing with her hands, a sign of her anxiety. "I thought I'd track you three down first. Leo needs our help, bad," she informed her older sister and nieces grimly.

Phoebe turned to Cole, seeking his opinion.

"By all means, go," Cole nodded in understanding, his support evident. He looked at Buffy and Faith. "You two go also."

"Okay," Phoebe said as she, Paige, Buffy, and Faith hurriedly left the room, the urgency of the situation clear.

"Call me," Cole called after Phoebe, and she waved behind her to signal that she had heard, before they disappeared around the corner, leaving the party behind to attend to the more pressing matter at hand.

Halliwell Manor

Piper had been focused on her task, unaware of the malevolent presence that had infiltrated her sanctuary. Rick approached her stealthily, a sinister smirk playing on his lips as he noticed her back turned. He moved slowly toward the table, where a sharp athame lay, and silently picked it up, preparing to launch an attack.

Just as he pulled back the athame and aimed for Piper, she spun around, her reflexes sharp and immediate. She raised one hand and froze the athame mid-flight, keeping it mere inches from her face. In a swift motion, she unfroze it, causing the weapon to drop to the ground.

"I'll kill you," Piper threatened, her voice filled with determination as she moved one hand towards the potion, her resolve unwavering.

Rick, however, remained unfazed, his smirk never wavering. "That potion only works on my bones, remember?" he taunted, his eyes glinting with malevolence.

Unbeknownst to Piper, Nathan had materialized directly behind her. She felt a sudden rush of cold wind and turned sharply, but it was too late. Gasping in pain, Piper felt the sharp blade of Nathan's weapon pierce her stomach at an upward angle. Her gasp of agony filled the room as he withdrew the blade, and she collapsed to the floor, her face contorted in pain.

Rick knelt beside her, flipping her onto her back, his hand clamped firmly over her mouth. Piper's eyes widened with pain, tears pricking at their corners. Fear and desperation welled up within her as she struggled against her attackers.

"No calling out for help, Mrs. Wyatt. Not this time," Rick sneered, his words muffled by his hand over her mouth, the threat in his eyes palpable. "Not that he'd be able to help you anyway," he added with a chilling afterthought, sending a surge of panic through Piper's chest.

"Rick, let's go, man, let's go," Nathan urged, the urgency in his voice evident.

Rick's sadistic satisfaction was evident as he gazed down at Piper, reveling in her suffering. "I want to enjoy this," he sneered, pushing his hand into Piper's chest cavity and wrapping his fingers around her heart. "Every. Last. Beat."

Piper's struggle for breath was agonizing, her body in torment. Her lungs burned, her head pounded, and her world spun as she felt his hand tighten around her heart, each beat becoming a painful reminder of her vulnerability. She looked to the heavens, silently screaming for her husband, desperately trying to blink past the black spots clouding her vision.

"Your husband's next," Rick taunted, his eyes cold and devoid of any empathy. Piper's body jerked, her head hitting the floor, and her muscles clenched, her strength dwindling with each passing moment. She gasped and choked, her eyes squeezed shut, before finally falling still.

"There," Rick said with a satisfied smile, glancing up at his brother, his malevolent intentions achieved.

"PIPER!" Phoebe's frantic voice pierced the air as her footsteps thundered loudly on the attic stairs. She raced up alongside Buffy, Faith, and Paige, her heart pounding with dread. Phoebe came to a sudden halt when she reached the attic, her eyes locking onto the horrific scene before her: her eldest sister's limp body lay on the floor, her lifeless gaze fixed on the ceiling.

"Hey," Faith cried out, her voice a mix of concern and fear.

"Piper," Buffy, Paige and Phoebe all called out as they and Faith rushed to Piper's side, their hearts pounding with dread and desperation.

Phoebe reached down and frantically felt for Piper's pulse, searching for any sign of life. Her touch was filled with anxiety as she tried to assess the situation.

"We'll be back," Rick promised, savoring one last minute of the witches' pain before they both disappeared, leaving behind a sense of dread and despair.

"Buffy," Phoebe said urgently, her eyes locking onto her niece.

Buffy met Phoebe's gaze with a heavy heart, knowing the responsibility that lay before her. "I can't," she said, her voice filled with regret. "I haven't learned how to heal yet."

Phoebe nodded reluctantly, her attention returning to her injured sister. "Paige, go get Leo," she instructed, her voice trembling with the urgency of the situation.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Fourteen, fifteen," Phoebe counted aloud, her voice quivering with urgency, as she performed CPR on her sister. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and her hands trembled as she fought to revive Piper. "Come on, breathe," she begged, her desperation palpable, as Faith administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

"Where's Leo?" Phoebe demanded when Paige orbed in, the worry in her voice mirroring her increasing fear, as she hoped for the arrival of their Whitelighter's healing powers to save Piper's life.

"He wasn't at Maria's," Paige replied, her eyes filled with concern as she observed Piper's lifeless form. "Where's the ambulance?"

"Still not here," Faith said angrily, frustration and fear mounting with each passing moment.

"Phoebe, get something to stop the bleeding," Buffy ordered Phoebe, the gravity of the situation evident in her voice. Phoebe hesitated for a moment.

"Faith, maybe I should do tha—" Phoebe began, offering to take over for her niece.

Faith, however, was resolute. She interrupted Phoebe sternly, "No. Buffy and I have this. Please, do what Buffy asked." The urgency in her voice left no room for debate, and she and Buffy continued their efforts to save Piper's life, relying on Phoebe and Paige to provide the necessary support and resources.

Phoebe drew in a shuddering breath, her hands trembling as she grabbed a cloth and pressed it to Piper's wound. She knew the critical importance of stemming the bleeding, and her heart raced with anxiety as she did her best to assist her nieces in this dire situation.

Paige bit her lip hard, her eyes filled with concern as she looked at Piper. "Is she—?"

"No!" Buffy, Faith, and Phoebe snapped in unison; their determination unwavering. They refused to entertain the possibility of losing Piper, their voices firm with resolve.

"As long as we keep the blood flowing, she still has a chance," Phoebe explained tersely, her words laced with hope.

"Piper!" Leo's voice rang out in panic as he entered the house, his heart pounding with dread.

"Leo, upstairs, hurry!" Phoebe yelled desperately to her brother-in-law, her voice filled with desperation as she continued to apply pressure to Piper's wound.

"What happened?" Leo demanded, his eyes widening in horror as he entered the attic, where his beloved wife lay bleeding on the floor.

"Where have you been?" Phoebe snapped, the tension in the room palpable as she did her best to keep Piper stable.

"Looking for them," Leo replied, his voice strained, the fear and determination in his eyes clear as he referenced the ghosts who had caused this tragedy.

"And here we are," Rick retorted with a sinister grin, the malevolence in his voice evident.

Before Leo could react, Nathan delivered a powerful blow, sending Leo crashing through a nearby table, splitting it in half.

Paige, fueled by a surge of determination and anger, ran at Rick in an attempt to take him down. But her efforts were in vain as Rick flashed out of her reach, and she collided with a stack of heavy boxes, the impact knocking her off balance.

Rick smirked triumphantly and, with a swift and brutal backhand, struck Paige across the face. "You can't hurt us," he taunted, reveling in the helplessness of the situation. His focus then shifted to Buffy, Faith and Phoebe, as he menacingly raised the athame, ready to inflict further harm.

"Wait!" Leo's voice halted Rick's attack, as he stepped forward. "You want to get even, get even with me!"

Rick nodded in agreement, his anger and resentment towards Leo still smoldering. "You're right," he said, his voice dripping with bitterness. He advanced towards Leo, the desire for retribution driving him. "I trusted you with my life and you left me!"

"Paige?" Phoebe called shakily; her gaze fixed on her injured sister as she struggled to make her way back into the fight.

"Oh no, don't you dare!" Faith growled, her eyes flashing with determination. Buffy, Phoebe, and Paige turned to Piper's lifeless form, their hearts pounding with hope and disbelief as they witnessed her spirit rising in a translucent white glow, defying the boundary between life and death.

What's going on?" Piper's spirit asked, her voice filled with confusion as she turned around slowly, taking in the surreal scene around her.

"Piper," Phoebe whispered in awe and relief as she looked down at her sister's body, her heart swelling with emotion.

"Oh!" Piper's spirit bit her lip, her eyes widening as she stared at her lifeless body on the ground. The realization of her situation struck her, and she struggled to come to terms with it. "Oh my."

Meanwhile, Rick had Leo pinned to the ground, momentarily pausing in his physical assault on the Whitelighter. His anger and bitterness still raged within him. "You were our friend, and you left us to die," he seethed, his voice dripping with resentment, as Nathan handed him the athame.

Piper's spirit, however, was focused on a different task. "Quick, get the book," she ordered urgently, her translucent hands flailing in the direction of the Book of Shadows. "The spell," she instructed, her voice filled with determination.

Paige and Phoebe sprang into action, scrambling to their feet as they sought to fulfill Piper's request. "Which one?" Phoebe asked with a frown, their desperate search for the right spell beginning.

"The one only a ghost can say," Paige explained as she quickly spun the Book of Shadows around, her fingers racing through its pages.

"Do it," Nathan ordered, while Rick raised his arm menacingly.

Paige swiftly located the spell, her eyes scanning the incantation. She held the book in front of Piper's spirit. The urgency in the room was palpable as they desperately tried to banish the malevolent spirits that threatened their lives.

"Ashes to ashes," Piper's spirit chanted, her voice clear and unwavering.

Rick froze as he heard the chant, and he and Nathan turned their attention to Piper's spirit. "What the hell?" Rick muttered in confusion; their actions momentarily halted.

"Spirit to spirit. Take their souls, banish this evil," Piper's spirit chanted with urgency, her eyes fixed on her killers and the men who were currently attempting to harm her husband.

"NO!" Rick growled, plunging the athame downward in a desperate last-ditch effort to kill Leo. But it was too late. As they flashed brightly, an intense explosion rocked the room as Rick and Nathan were vanquished.

"Ah!" Piper's spirit yelped as she began to float into the air, her expression a mix of surprise and concern. "A little help here, people."

"Damn it, Leo, do something!" Paige snapped, the urgency in her voice piercing through the tension in the room. All eyes turned to the broken man, their pleas for his intervention growing more desperate. "You're a Whitelighter for a reason, because you did good things," she reminded him tensely, her voice quaking with fear.

"Think of all the lives you've saved, all the good you've done," Phoebe added, her breath sharp and her heart thundering in her chest as she watched Piper rise further into the air.

"And all the lives you won't save if you give up now," Paige interjected, her eyes fixed on Leo as she implored him to find his strength. Piper gazed down at her husband, her spirit hanging in the balance, the love between them a powerful force.

"Damn it, Uncle Leo!" Faith snapped, her voice filled with anger and frustration as she glared at her uncle. "Get your sorry ass over here and save Aunt Piper before I kill you myself!" She didn't mince her words, her threat a reflection of the dire circumstances they faced.

Leo tore his eyes away from his wife's spirit and, with renewed determination, scampered over to her body. "Piper," he breathed, his voice filled with love and desperation as he knocked away Buffy's hands and began performing CPR himself. "Come on, damn it. Breathe."

Faith's frustration boiled over, and she reached over to punch Leo's shoulder, her anger clear. "Not like that, damn it! We've already tried that, it's not working, heal her!"

Leo's voice trembled as he tried to explain, "I can't," his despair evident, as he continued to perform CPR with all the desperation he could muster. His heart ached as he pleaded with Piper, his voice filled with raw emotion, "Don't die. Not this way. Not because of me."

With his head hanging low, his hands began to glow, a beacon of hope amid the darkness that had enveloped them. Piper's spirit, guided by Leo's unwavering love, began to return to her body, a testament to the power of their bond.

Piper's eyes snapped open, her gasp for breath a lifeline in the dire situation. She smiled at Leo, her humor still intact even in the face of death. "Well, it's about time," she quipped, her spirit unbroken. Paige couldn't help but laugh, their relief washing over them.

Faith, Buffy, and Phoebe, however, were visibly drained, their faces reflecting the emotional toll of the harrowing ordeal.

"That was close," Piper chided Leo playfully, her voice filled with love as he pulled her into his arms. "Really close."

The Towers

Cole turned away from the window he had been gazing out of, his face lighting up with a smile when he heard the swish of the elevator doors. His eyes fell on Phoebe, Buffy, and Faith as they entered, their return bringing a sense of comfort and relief.

"Everything all right?" Cole asked, his concern evident. The demonic problem that had been plaguing their thoughts since Phoebe, Buffy, and Faith had left with Paige weighed heavily on his mind.

Phoebe met him with a wide smile, waving as she, Buffy, and Faith approached. "Yes," she replied, her voice filled with reassurance. "It's better now. Let's see... Leo lost his powers."

"And then Aunt Piper died," Faith added, her tone reflecting the gravity of the situation.

"And it got really dicey when she turned into a ghost," Buffy chimed in, her voice still carrying some tension. "But everything worked out."

Cole raised an eyebrow, his trademark humor intact. "Glad it was nothing serious," he quipped with a smile, causing Phoebe, Buffy, and Faith to laugh. Phoebe wrapped her arms around him, her presence a source of comfort and love.

"You three ready to go home?" Cole asked, his voice tinged with a sense of longing and dejection.

Phoebe let out a huff of frustration, her plea to stay a little while longer in their current location clear in her voice. Her desire for more time in the lavish apartment was echoed by Faith's agreement and Buffy's appreciation of the surroundings.

"Well..." Cole began, pulling back from Phoebe, a cryptic tone in his voice. "We can stay as long as you all like," he suggested, causing Phoebe's brow to crease in confusion. "The place is ours."

As the implications of his statement became clear, Phoebe's astonishment was palpable. She stammered, "Excuse me?" Her hands rested on his chest, her eyebrows practically in her hairline.

"Ours?" Buffy echoed the sentiment, her surprise evident.

Cole continued to explain, "The firm has offered it to me. All Phoebe and I have to do is say yes. There's enough room for all of us, with an extra room for Prudence after she's born."

Phoebe remained silent, her mind racing as she grappled with the unexpected proposition. She glanced at her nieces, seeking their opinions and guidance in making this life-changing decision.

Buffy and Faith exchanged looks, their expressions reflecting their enthusiasm for the idea of moving into the luxurious apartment with their aunt and uncle. The prospect of a new, shared home seemed to resonate with them, and they were quick to voice their agreement.

"We're in!" Buffy declared with a bright smile.

"Yeah, it's awesome!" Faith chimed in, echoing her wife's sentiment.

Phoebe's excitement continued to build as her nieces enthusiastically agreed to the idea. She began to contemplate the logistics.

"Well, uh... I guess, Buffy can flame me back and forth, or now that Paige can orb, she can do the same if something comes up and Buffy's not available," Phoebe mused, her mind already working out the details. "And seeing as how we just proved we could still save the day..."

Phoebe trailed off and looked up at her husband, her heart filled with anticipation. "Yes," she finally agreed with a wide smile, her decision made.

"Yes?" Cole echoed in surprise; his eyes filled with elation at her unexpected acceptance.

"Yeah," Phoebe assured him, her own joy evident. Cole couldn't contain his happiness, pulling her in for a long and affectionate kiss.

Faith turned to Buffy, her own smile mirroring her aunt and uncle's happiness. She then pulled Buffy in for a long kiss, sealing the deal and celebrating the new chapter in their lives that awaited them in their shared home.