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

36. Chapter 35: Bite Me

Author's Note: Harry 2 - I sent this in PM but I guess since the notifications are borked you didn't notice. Anyways yes, Prue was killed as I believed that was something Faith had to experience. Especially so soon after being reunited with her mother. I didn't just kill her to bring Paige in I killed Prue for the emotional context it gives Faith.

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Chapter 35: Bite Me

March 10, 2002 – Sunday

Halliwell Manor

Piper peeked up over what was left of the couch, shrieking loudly as another blast was sent her way. She stood up and screamed, "Paige! Where are you?" Her heart pounded with fear, her voice quivering in the face of imminent danger.

Both Phoebe and Paige arrived in a shower of blue and white lights, and Buffy and Faith followed suit, arriving in a swirl of fiery flames. They all had their backs turned to the demon, completely unaware of the lurking threat.

Piper raised her hand in the direction of the demon, her wide eyes filled with terror. "Look out!" she squeaked, her voice laced with urgency and panic.

Buffy, Faith, Phoebe, and Paige whipped around at Piper's warning just in the nick of time, their expressions a mixture of shock and dread. They saw the demon preparing to strike again, their hearts pounding in their chests. Just before the demon fired, Buffy, with a forceful swipe, telekinetically deflected the blast, which flew into the piano, violently tearing off the whole front side of it.

The room was filled with chaos and desperation. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction, the demon struck Phoebe across the face, sending her flying into the glass mirror above the fireplace. A shattering sound filled the air, and Paige was knocked to the floor as she tumbled.

"Aunt Phoebe!" Faith yelled, her voice trembling with fear and concern as she rushed over to Phoebe's side, her eyes wide with alarm.

Buffy leaped into a powerful roundhouse kick, her movements filled with a fierce determination, and landed the strike to the demon's stomach, sending her crashing to the ground. The room trembled with the intensity of the fight, and Piper's heart raced with a mix of anxiety and hope.

Piper turned to her two sisters, crouching down next to them and pulling the spell from her back pocket, holding it out for them all to see. Their voices trembled with a sense of urgency and unity as they recited the spell together, a desperate attempt to banish the relentless demon:

"Claws of pain we have dissevered. Demon, you are gone forever."

The demon started to convulse and scream, flames consuming her as she writhed in agony before finally exploding in a burst of fiery chaos. The room filled with relief, and Piper let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.

Turning to Phoebe with concern etched on her face, Piper extended a hand to help her sister up. "Sorry to bother you, but she was immune to our powers," she explained, her voice filled with gratitude and apology, knowing she had put her family at risk.

"Are you okay, Aunt Phoebe? She threw you pretty hard," Faith asked, her voice laced with concern as she carefully examined Phoebe for any signs of injury. Her eyes were wide with genuine worry.

Phoebe mustered a soft smile, her relief evident as she reassured everyone. "I'm fine, just a little scratch." She pointed out the scratch on her shoulder, brushing off the pain with resilience, her eyes filled with warmth and gratitude as she looked towards Piper. "And it's okay, Buffy and I were just getting ready to leave work."

Piper's expression softened as she looked between Phoebe, Faith, and Buffy, her curiosity piqued by their new lives. "So, how's it goin'? How's the new place?" She asked, her voice filled with sisterly concern and the need to catch up, despite the recent chaos.

"Great," Buffy said with a smile, her eyes reflecting the satisfaction of her new life as Faith nodded in enthusiastic agreement.

Phoebe's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "And great," she added, her voice brimming with contentment. "How about you guys?" she inquired, her gaze shifting between her sisters, eager to catch up and share in their stories.

Piper shrugged casually, her demeanor nonchalant. "Can't complain," she replied, her tone light despite the recent danger they had faced.

"Ditto," Paige chimed in, echoing Piper's sentiment with a smile.

Phoebe's chuckle filled the room, and her eyes softened with sisterly affection as she looked between her siblings. "Well, it's good to know that we can live apart and still kick some butt if we have to, right?" Her words held a sense of pride and unity, despite the awkward nodding from Piper and Paige.

Buffy couldn't help but inject a touch of humor into the conversation. "So, do I want to ask about this demon with the bad manicure?" She quipped, her observant eyes not failing to notice the way Piper and Paige stood together across from her, Faith and Phoebe.

"Oh, Harpy, part of a faction," Piper informed Buffy, a mixture of weariness and irritation in her tone. "Tried to kill us to move up in the world. You know, pretty standard stuff." She shrugged, her smirk belying the tension that still lingered beneath the surface.

Paige nodded in agreement, her expression serious as she leaned against the couch, her mind still processing the recent encounter.

Piper's voice carried a hint of hope as she extended an invitation, seeking the solace of family bonding. "You three wanna stay for dinner?" she asked, the words laced with a yearning for connection and comfort.

Faith's head shook slightly, her eyes reflecting longing as she explained their prior commitments. "We would love to, but Uncle Cole is planning this whole romantic thing, kind of like a double date deal, for us tonight," she said, smiling apologetically.

Piper, though clearly let down, nodded with understanding. "Oh, I just thought, you know, maybe we could all talk."

Phoebe, ever the perceptive sister, couldn't help but express her concern. "Why? Are you okay? Is everything okay?" Her eyes darted between her sisters, worry etched across her features, as she sought to understand the hidden undercurrents within their family.

Piper nodded, her smile not quite reaching her eyes as she assured Phoebe, "Yeah, everything's fine." Her voice held a touch of disappointment as she added, "I just thought maybe we could catch up." She shook her head, a sense of resignation in her shrug. "Another time."

Paige, sensing the lingering tension, attempted to ease it by offering to orb Phoebe, Buffy, and Faith home. Phoebe, however, hesitated, her voice softening as she explained, "Cole's not so crazy about you orbing in without... calling... first," her words trailed off as she noticed her sisters' unimpressed expressions. The tension in the room spiked once more, making the atmosphere uncomfortable.

Piper, unable to hide her exasperation, rolled her eyes and glanced down at the floor, her frustration evident.

Paige, trying to keep things civil, nodded stiffly. "Sure," she replied, her tone lacking enthusiasm as she shrugged. "Whatever."

Buffy broke the tension by speaking up. "Okay, we're going to go," she said, taking Faith and Phoebe's hands.

Piper looked up at her nieces and sister, her eyes reflecting a mixture of lingering disappointment and longing, while Paige remained stoic, her arms folded across her chest, revealing her own reservations.

Buffy, hoping for a sign of reconciliation, waited a little longer, but the room remained heavy with silence, leaving her no choice but to accept the situation.

"We'll call you guys," Phoebe promised, breaking the tense stillness as she, Buffy, and Faith disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames.

Paige's eyes rolled slightly as she turned to her eldest sister, her suspicion clear in her tone. "No orbing?"

Piper let out a weary sigh, her voice tired as she defended her brother-in-law. "Don't start with the suspicions, Paige. Cole's probably just trying to protect their privacy."

Paige didn't back down, reminding her sister, "He's letting Buffy flame back and forth, though."

Piper countered, "She and Faith live with Phoebe and Cole now, remember," as she began to ascend the stairs, her voice filled with a desire to put the matter to rest.

"He's trying to protect something," Paige muttered suspiciously, unaware of the specifics, her curiosity only deepening. Little did she know that Buffy could only flame into the elevator and not into the apartment itself.

The Towers

"I am just trying to protect our assets," Cole informed smoothly, his demeanor confident and calculated. He turned away from the window; his gaze fixed on the assembled demons around the table. "And the only way to do that is to cut our losses, consolidate our resources," he explained, his words carrying a sense of authority. "Keep the competition from killing you. Us," he corrected, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Fine," came the gruff reply from one of the present demons, a sign of reluctant agreement. "What are you proposing?"

Cole leaned forward, his voice carrying a note of intrigue. "A merger," he announced, his tone filled with anticipation. "Everyone here has similar agendas, right?" he asked, looking around at the demons who all nodded in unison. "So... why don't we work together to accomplish them?" He offered the idea carefully, aware of the potential benefits and risks.

As a Fury demon made her entrance, Cole's expression turned dark, and he addressed her sternly. "You're late," he stated firmly. "Sit down."

The Fury obeyed without protest, and Julie led a Grimlock to his seat as well.

Cole returned his attention to the table, his train of thought momentarily derailed by the interruptions. "Where was I?" he asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice, eager to continue his proposal and secure the demons' cooperation.

"You were just encouraging us to hold hands and be friends," the same unimpressed demon responded, sarcasm lacing his words.

Cole maintained his composure, his voice unwavering as he addressed the group. "It's a new millennium," he reminded them, his tone serious. "We need to think of new ways to ensure our own survival." He circled the table slowly, his words hanging in the air. "Let's face it, it's a demon-eat-demon world out there." A grotesque-looking man with horrendous teeth chuckled, finding the statement all too literal for his taste.

Cole's glare silenced the man, and he continued, "Each one of you leads a faction," he pointed out as Julie poured glasses of what looked like dark, crimson blood. "But that is the problem. You're too busy trying to kill each other." His hands rested on his hips, and he looked from demon to demon pointedly. "In the end, everyone loses."

The Harpy leader chimed in, unapologetic and defiant. "Tell that to the Grimlocks," she remarked as she lifted her glass, a challenging glint in her eyes. "They tried to vanquish us just last week."

The Grimlock beside her couldn't resist taking the bait, his voice dripping with animosity. "You had it coming."

The Harpy couldn't resist taunting, rising to her feet. "Care to try again?" she goaded, a challenge hanging in the air, as the tension in the room thickened.

"My point exactly!" Cole growled loudly, his commanding presence silencing both the Harpy and the Grimlock. "Infighting has always been our undoing. And I have learned from the humanity in me. The only way for us to defeat good is to work together to achieve common goals."

The Harpy reluctantly rubbed her taloned hands together and took her seat, the Grimlock following suit, their agreement evident.

"And who will decide what these goals are? You?" the demon nodded toward Cole, challenging his authority.

"Unless someone wants to challenge me," Cole replied evenly, exuding confidence in his leadership.

As the elevator beeped, all demons froze, and Cole wasted no time in adjourning the meeting. "Meeting's adjourned," he ordered, and they all vanished in their respective manners – shimmering, smoking, and flashing out.

With a wave of his hand, Cole made the large table disappear, swiftly replacing it with one set for a romantic evening for four. His gaze remained fixed on the door as the elevator doors slid open.

Phoebe, Buffy, and Faith entered the room, their eyes drawn to the transformed setting before them. Phoebe smiled, her heart warming.

"Hi honey, Faith, Buffy," Cole greeted, leaning against one of the chairs. "You three are home early."

Phoebe's gaze shifted from Cole to the romantic table and back to her husband, her smile growing.

March 11, 2002 – Monday

The Towers

Cole presented the vegetarian egg-white omelet, just the way you like it, with a wide smile, the scent of the delicious meal wafting through the air. He placed a tender kiss on his wife's head, his eyes filled with affection, his love for Phoebe evident in the way he cared for her.

Phoebe smiled lovingly up at him, her gratitude shining in her eyes. "That's sweet, honey, but I think my stomach has other plans," she informed him apologetically. She moved off to pack her bag for work, her movements reflecting her discomfort.

Faith reached for Phoebe's plate. "Thanks to the herbs, I'm thankfully not nauseous anymore," she said, her voice filled with gratitude as she offered a warm smile to Cole.

Phoebe nodded, her face showing a mixture of discomfort and gratitude. "You're more than welcome to it, Faith," she replied, her love for her niece shining through despite her discomfort.

Concern crept into Cole's eyes as he noticed Phoebe's distress. "What's the matter?" he asked, his worry evident in his voice and the way he studied Phoebe's face.

Phoebe touched her stomach warily, her expression reflecting the discomfort she was feeling as she detailed her symptoms. "Headache, upset stomach," she explained, her voice filled with discomfort and a hint of vulnerability. "It's going around right now."

Cole suggested gently, "So… maybe you should call in sick?" His concern for Phoebe was evident in his words as he walked over to her, ready to support her in any way he could.

Phoebe quipped with a smirk, her sense of duty and responsibility shining through, "While so many relationships are in peril? What would San Francisco do without my advice column?" She was determined to fulfill her role, no matter how she felt.

Buffy chimed in, her support unwavering. "Faith and I are off for Spring break," she said, offering a solution. "I can cover for you."

Cole's grin widened as he nodded his head, appreciating the assistance being offered to Phoebe.

Phoebe, touched by the support from her family, still insisted, "Thanks Buffy, but I would rather go in." Her dedication to her work was unshakable.

Buffy, ever the helpful niece, responded with determination, "Well, since I have the week off, I'll join you anyways. I can get some letters answered so they're ready for next weekend."

Faith, ever understanding and supportive, spoke up, "I think I will go with you. Give me a chance to get out of the apartment for a bit."

Phoebe nodded appreciatively at Buffy and Faith before turning to Cole, her love and gratitude for him evident in her gaze. She reached up to kiss him, her words carrying a hint of hesitation, "Um… I want to invite my sisters over for dinner this weekend," she offered up cautiously.

Cole's face initially showed a hint of concern, and he responded, "Well, we just moved out."

Phoebe understood his concern but was excited about the idea. "Yeah, I know," she said with a nod. "But I want to show them the place," she explained with enthusiasm. "Besides, I don't want them to think that they're not still part of my life, you know?" Her desire to maintain her close connection with her sisters was apparent in her words and the shrug that followed.

Faith chimed in with her own perspective, "Especially since they're going to be aunts soon. They're going to want to come over and visit Prudence sometime."

Phoebe, not giving up on her idea, tried again, a mischievous glint in her eye as she wiggled her eyebrows, "So, dinner?"

Cole, despite his initial reluctance, sighed resigned, giving in to Phoebe's wish. "Fine," he relented, understanding how important this was to her. Phoebe's beaming smile showed her appreciation for his flexibility.

"Just no orbing, alright?" Cole added, setting a boundary, but with a hint of affection in his voice.

Buffy, aware of the unique dynamics of their living situation, reassured Cole, "Already taken care of," she said with a nod. "And don't remind me that I can only flame into the elevator. I understand why; it's just in case you and Phoebe are getting busy, so you have a chance to compose yourselves."

"Thank you, Buffy," Cole said with gratitude, then turned his attention back to Phoebe. He leaned down to kiss her and immediately noticed something was wrong. "What happened?" he demanded, concern and anger mixing in his features as his hand pushed down the sleeve of her top to reveal the Harpy's scratch.

Phoebe, trying to play it down, assured him, "Oh, nothin'. My shoulder just got in the way of a Harpy's claw, that's all," she explained, sliding her sleeve back up.

Cole's worry and anger intensified as he realized the gravity of the situation. "A Harpy? You got attacked? Why didn't you tell me?" He fired questions at her, one after the other, his concern overriding everything else.

Phoebe, ever calm and collected, defended herself with a calm demeanor. "Because I didn't think it was that big of a deal," she explained. "That's why." Her love for him was evident, but she didn't want to worry him unnecessarily.

"Well, it is to me," Cole countered tensely, his concern for Phoebe evident in his tone. He turned to Buffy with an anxious expression. "You didn't heal her?"

Buffy gently reminded him, "I have yet to learn how, Cole. I've only been a Whitelighter for less than two months."

Cole sighed inwardly, realizing his overreaction, and he turned back to Phoebe. "I'm sorry," he apologized quickly, his arms enveloping her in a comforting embrace. "I'm sorry. It's just… I think I deserve to know when my wife gets hurt."

Phoebe nodded in agreement, understanding his perspective. "You're right. You do," she affirmed, kissing his lips as a sign of reconciliation. However, their moment was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.

"Excuse me, Mr. Turner?" Julie interrupted politely; her presence unexpected. "Your 9 o'clock is waiting in the lobby," she informed him with a friendly smile.

Phoebe's smile wavered upon Julie's arrival, and she couldn't hide her unease. "Julie, what are you doing here?" she asked, her tone overly cheerful as she turned to Cole. Through gritted teeth, she added, "You didn't tell me she was here." The tension in the room had suddenly escalated, and Phoebe's discomfort was palpable.

Julie couldn't hide her annoyance at Phoebe's tone, rolling her eyes as she responded to the situation.

Cole, trying to diffuse the tension, innocently explained, "Well, we're working out of the apartment today. They're painting my office." He turned to Phoebe with a question in his eyes, "You don't mind, do you?"

Phoebe was quick to respond, shaking her head and giving a nonchalant shrug. "No, of course not," she assured him, but then she leaned in to kiss him slowly, her moan intended to make a point.

Julie rolled her eyes again, clearly unimpressed, and averted her gaze.

Phoebe extracted herself from her husband's embrace and picked up her bag, making her intentions clear as she spoke to Julie, "Make yourself at home." She led Faith and Buffy towards the elevator.

Julie turned and watched them leave, waiting until the elevator doors closed before she spoke again, her tone revealing her thoughts, "Pretty little witch, if you're into that sort of thing."

"I am," Cole assured Julie, his determination evident in his words. Her eyes widened slightly, seemingly surprised by his sudden shift in demeanor.

Without wasting any time, Cole walked purposefully towards Julie. "Get the leader of the Harpies," he ordered with a stern tone. "I want to explain to her the consequences of attacking my wife."

Julie shot him a sidelong glance, clearly taken aback by his seriousness, but she obediently shimmered out, leaving behind a severely irritated and protective Cole, ready to confront any threat to his wife.

Halliwell Manor

"Plenty of leftovers," Leo announced to his wife, who was aimlessly drying dishes by the sink while staring into space. His voice carried a touch of excitement, though he couldn't hide the concern that lingered beneath the surface. "Probably won't have to do any cooking for a week."

Piper smiled a little and replied, her voice laced with a hint of nostalgia and longing, "I like to cook."

Leo tried again, a mix of hope and reassurance in his words, knowing how much his wife missed her little sister and her nieces. "Well, there's less dishes to do, and that's a good thing, right?"

Piper breathed deeply, placing the dish down, her eyes reflecting a bittersweet blend of emotions. "I guess," she shrugged, turning to him, "It's just with Buffy, Faith, Phoebe, and Cole gone, there's less mouths to feed and it's a little quieter around here. Everybody I grew up with is gone."

"Still," Leo commented suggestively, his tone filled with warmth and longing as he put his arm around Piper, who managed a smile, though it was tinged with sadness. "We can make it noisy again, with kids. People who will grow up with us. We have two extra rooms and a nursery space now, right?"

Piper's response carried a mix of hope and wistfulness. "Right," she said, her voice quivering with unspoken emotions.

Leo smiled, his kiss conveying a mix of affection and longing as he stroked her cheek tenderly.

"Oh," Paige bit her lip as she appeared in the doorway, her voice filled with a hint of embarrassment. "Sorry. Am I interrupting?"

Leo, his expression shifting from affection to duty, answered instead, dropping his hand from his wife's face. "Actually, I need to get going. There's an upsurge in demonic activity, and the Elders want to figure out why."

Paige raised an eyebrow, concern etched across her face. "Hmm, well since that demonic activity spilled into our living room last night…" she spoke up as she poured herself some coffee, her tone laced with a mixture of exasperation and worry. "I'm assuming it has something to do with us."

Leo nodded, his gaze unwavering. "Well, keep an eye out, and I'll let you know if I find anything out."

Piper offered a genuine smile, her love for her husband evident in her eyes. "I love you," she told him, leaning in to kiss him before he orbed away, a touch of longing in her embrace.

Paige watched her sister silently, concern evident in her eyes, before asking, "You okay?"

Piper looked over sharply, her voice carrying a hint of defensiveness. "Me? Yeah, I'm fine."

Paige couldn't help but smirk, her tone teasing. "Liar," she accused, her eyes filled with sisterly concern. Piper looked over again but remained tight-lipped. "Look, I know I'm not Phoebe, but I am still your sister, and you can talk to me, you know," Paige reassured.

Piper looked away and sighed, her voice softening as she began to open up. "It's—it's just silly," she warned, her gaze fixed on a distant point. "My, uh… period was late this month by a couple of days," she explained evenly. "And I guess I… got my hopes up a little."

"That's not silly, honey," Paige countered gently, her expression filled with empathy. "You want kids, right?"

"Yeah," Piper nodded, her voice tinged with longing. "Of course. It's just that we've been trying and—"

"For a couple of months," Paige cut in with a casual shrug, trying to lighten the mood.

Piper came to stand next to Paige by the sink, her expression a mix of sadness and concern. "Four. But who's counting?" she retorted, her voice reflecting the disappointment she'd been feeling.

"Oh, Piper," Paige smiled sympathetically, "You're not baking cookies, you know? It's gonna take some time."

Piper nodded, a hint of relief in her eyes, and admitted while wringing her hands nervously, "Yeah, I know. I guess I was just worried that, you know, something could be wrong. Getting flung around by demons isn't exactly conducive to making babies."

Paige offered a reassuring smile, trying to inject some humor into the conversation, "Yeah, but that didn't stop Faith."

Piper snorted and turned to face her sister, a fondness in her eyes. "Faith and Buffy were destined to have a daughter though," she reminded her sister, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "Or did you forget Mom saw it in a premonition years before either of them was born."

Paige bit the inside of her lip, her eyes filled with affection and playful teasing. "Well… I don't know if you've noticed this, but you are just as stubborn as Faith is, so it's my guess that if you've set your mind on this baby thing, it'll happen eventually," she teased, and Piper swatted her thigh with a towel but couldn't help but smile.

"Yeah... I hope so," Piper sighed, shaking her head lightly, her voice laced with a mix of uncertainty and hope.

Paige narrowed her eyes, her tone more serious. "Okay A: Mom is not the only one who could see into the future. You got to go to a future where you were a mom, so your kind of destined to have kids too," she reminded her sister pointedly. "And B: I am living proof that magic happens when Whitelighters and witches get together," she enthused, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and Piper smiled.

"So, the sooner you stop worrying about it, the sooner I will be an Aunt to two beautiful nieces," Paige added, her words filled with warmth and support.

Piper smacked Paige's thigh gently. "Thanks."

Paige smacked Piper's arm playfully. "You're welcome," she replied with a grin, and Piper giggled as they bumped shoulders.

The Towers

Cole looked down at the taloned hand resting atop his glass table, the dimly lit room casting eerie shadows, and then up at his assistant expectantly. His eyes held a sense of intrigue, a calculated anticipation.

Julie smiled innocently, her demeanor a mix of professionalism and confidence. "The leader of the Harpies won't be coming to see you," she stated the obvious, her voice tinged with satisfaction. "I'm afraid things got out of hand for her."

Cole's smile was a blend of approval and satisfaction. "Nice work," he praised, acknowledging her competence, and she inclined her head in gratitude. "What's next?"

"Rowan's waiting to see you," Julie informed him, her words suggesting a new development in their intricate web of alliances. "Apparently the Queen would like in on the new alliance."

"Send him in," Cole ordered, his voice firm, indicating his readiness for the upcoming meeting.

Julie, with practiced ease, pointed two fingers at each window in the room, telekinetically closing the blinds and washing the room in darkness before she walked to the darkest, most shadowed corner of the room. "He'll see you now," she informed, her voice echoing in the darkness, before making her exit.

Rowan walked out confidently, his stark white attire contrasting sharply against his black clothes. He approached Cole, his posture exuding respect. "Thank you for the audience," he told Cole with a hint of gratitude, acknowledging the significance of the meeting.

Cole merely stared at him expectantly, his impatience evident in his unwavering gaze.

"The Queen sent me to tell you—" Rowan began to convey the message from his monarch.

But Cole, never one to tolerate interference, interrupted him with a menacing warning, "Tell your Queen, that if she steps a foot inside my realm…"

Rowan, undeterred by Cole's threat, continued with his message, his composure unshaken. "—Sent me to tell you that we've learned our lesson," he said calmly. "And we're willing to serve you."

Cole smiled, though it was tinged with skepticism. "No thanks. I already have enough demons betraying me," he refused, his tone resolute. He pointed one finger at the Harpies severed hand, and it dissolved into smoke, a clear sign of his uncompromising stance.

"You haven't even heard our offer," Rowan pointed out, his expression unimpressed, indicating there was more to discuss.

Cole's patience was wearing thin, and he leaned into his authority, ordering Rowan with a dark undertone, "I think you should be leaving now."

However, their conversation took an unexpected turn when bright lights suddenly appeared behind Rowan, revealing the youngest Halliwell, Paige. "Paige," Cole exclaimed, his surprise evident in his wide eyes as he shot out of his seat, his demeanor shifting dramatically.

"Oops," Paige shrugged nonchalantly. "I just thought I'd pop in." She glanced at Rowan, her presence an unexpected surprise.

Rowan, playing the oblivious human role, questioned, "From where?"

"Uh… the kitchen," Paige covered up with a playful smile, diverting attention from the situation. She then turned her gaze to Cole, her tone light, "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

Cole, now mindful of Paige's presence and clearly wanting to end the encounter with Rowan, assured her, "No. We're done here," before looking at Rowan pointedly. "Elevator's that way, Rowan." His tone conveyed the urgency of his directive.

Paige smiled at Rowan as he passed, sending him a nod of acknowledgement.

But Cole's reaction was far from welcoming as he demanded harshly, "What the hell do you think you're doing? This is exactly why I don't want you people orbing in here."

Paige's expression shifted from affable to affronted. "You people? Nice," she responded, her tone deadpan. "You let Buffy flame in here, though."

Cole countered, his tone unyielding, "Buffy doesn't flame into the apartment. She flames into the elevator, that way, if Phoebe and I are having an intimate moment, we have time to compose ourselves." His explanation was pragmatic, albeit dismissive. "Anyways, what do you want?" he snapped, not in the mood for a confrontation, while Rowan listened in from the other side of the door.

"Phoebe, Buffy, and Faith," Paige replied simply, her request straightforward.

"Well, you missed them," Cole stated the obvious, a condescending smile playing on his lips. "But why don't you orb on over to the newspaper," he suggested wryly. "I'm sure those journalists can keep a secret." His words carried a hint of sarcasm, emphasizing his desire for privacy and the seriousness of the situation.

"Just tell them I stopped by, okay?" Paige requested, rolling her eyes at Cole's mood. "And dare I ask, why is it so dark in here in the middle of the day?"

Cole, clearly irritated, responded curtly, "Migraine," his voice clipped. "Which you're only adding to."

Paige, growing frustrated with the tense atmosphere, rolled her eyes once more. "You know what, Cole, just bite me," she retorted, her tone sharp, and he responded with a symbolic snap of his jaw as she turned to the door.

Rowan, who had been discreetly observing the exchange, backed away from the door and hit the elevator button. "After you," he said, offering a charming smile to Paige as he followed her into the elevator. He scoffed and crossed his arms as he leaned against the back of the elevator, "Nice guy, huh?"

Paige turned to him with a deep frown, her expression etched with clear displeasure. Her eyes bore into Rowan, challenging him to respond.

"Oh uh..." Rowan threw his hands in the air. "Cole."

Paige scoffed, her sarcasm dripping from every word, "You a lawyer?"

Rowan looked down at her and shook his head, his demeanor slightly sheepish. His voice held a touch of embarrassment, "No. Why?"

"Because only another lawyer would think that," Paige explained slowly, her voice laced with scorn as she dissected Rowan's earlier comment.

Rowan, now fully comprehending her sarcasm, responded with a rueful smile, his voice carrying a hint of self-deprecation, "No, I was being sarcastic."

Paige, always quick to seize an opportunity for teasing, arched her eyebrows and flashed a mischievous smile. Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she leaned in closer to Rowan. "About being a lawyer?" she inquired playfully.

Rowan, eager to join in the banter, corrected her with a small chuckle, "No, about thinking he was a nice guy."

Paige burst into laughter, her melodious giggles filling the air. She nodded in agreement; the earlier tension now replaced with shared amusement. "Sorry," she said, her grin infectious and captivating.

Paige couldn't help but run her eyes up and down Rowan's figure, admiring his chiseled features and strong jawline. Her gaze lingered for a moment before she refocused on his eyes.

"I'm Rowan," he introduced himself, snapping her from her trance.

"Paige," she said with a warm smile, holding out her hand for him, "Nice to meet you."

Rowan accepted her hand with a friendly shake, his eyes locked onto hers as they exchanged pleasantries. Paige's question shifted the mood as she inquired, "So… how long have you disliked Cole?"

"Ever since I first met him," Rowan replied, his voice tinged with a hint of exasperation, and Paige couldn't help but burst into laughter. "You?" he asked.

"Uh... pretty much just recently, ever since he married my sister," she explained, her tone revealing a mix of frustration and resignation. Rowan nodded in understanding, sympathy flickering in his eyes. "Do you have any siblings?" she asked.

"Oh yeah," Rowan acknowledged with a knowing nod. "My family's real big."

Paige nodded in agreement, a shared understanding of the complexities of family dynamics bridging the gap between them. "Then you know what it's like to have to bite your tongue."

Rowan smirked to himself, his eyes dancing with amusement. "Been there, done that." As the elevator descended in silence, he looked her up and down with a hint of curiosity.

"Listen, uh… I'd like to continue this, but we've just run out of floors," Rowan pointed out as the elevator chimed, announcing their arrival at the ground floor. "Any chance we could get together?" he asked, his voice laced with hope.

"Well, my sister—my other sister, I've got two—owns this nightclub called P3," Paige shared with a light chuckle, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "And I'll be there later if you want to stop by," she offered, her smile inviting.

Rowan nodded, a growing anticipation in his eyes. "I'll drop in."

"Okay," Paige said, her smile lingering as she headed for the open elevator doors. She glanced back at Rowan and inquired, "Are you coming?"

Rowan hesitated for a moment before explaining, "Oh no, underground parking."

Paige nodded in understanding, her expression warm and friendly. She disappeared around the corner as the elevator doors closed once again.

P3

Piper's warm smile greeted her youngest sister as she and Leo walked over to the bar. Leo stopped beside Paige as Piper walked behind the bar. Piper's eyes scanned the crowded nightclub before she inquired, "Your mystery man still pulling a disappearing act?"

Paige nodded with a pout, her frustration evident, and she even added a petulant foot stomp for emphasis. "I can't believe he stood me up," she huffed, crossing her arms in irritation.

"Well, I'm glad I'm not dating anymore," Piper said with a mischievous grin, her husband by her side.

"Yeah, well I should've known better than to think I could meet a guy through Cole," Paige chided herself, her tone filled with self-blame.

"Paige..." Piper warned, her eyes filled with sisterly concern. "I have two words for you: Broken and record. If you keep this up, you're just gonna end up pushing Phoebe further away and as a result Faith and Buffy as well."

"She's right," Leo agreed, offering his support to Piper's words of wisdom.

"That's more than two words," Paige informed her sister with a playful roll of her eyes just as Phoebe and Faith approached the bar.

"Hi," Phoebe greeted them, stopping at the bar with Faith. "Do Faith and I still get free drinks here, or do we have to pay now?"

Piper's expression turned serious as she frowned and examined Phoebe more closely. "Whoa, you don't look so good," she stated, concern etched on her face. "Are you okay?"

"That's partly why we're here," Faith answered, her voice filled with worry. "She thought it was just a bug this morning…"

Phoebe nodded, her gaze flicking down to her shoulder pointedly. "And now I'm not so sure. I'm wondering if maybe it has something to do with..." She hesitated before continuing, "you know, the scratch."

"Maybe you're turning into a Harpy," Paige suggested, her voice half-joking. Her wide eyes and concerned expression betrayed her playful tone. "Oh god, are you?" she asked, her worry now palpable as she studied her sister's face.

"Well, that's how Piper turned into a Wendigo," Phoebe reminded them, her brow furrowing in thought. "Or was it how you turned into a Fury?"

"Wendigo," Faith replied with a nod, recalling some of the stories her mom had told her.

Leo chimed in, trying to ease Phoebe's worries, "You know, I wouldn't worry. You can't turn into a Harpy just by getting scratched."

Phoebe still looked concerned, turning toward Leo. "Yeah, but still. Do you mind—you know."

Leo nodded, understanding her request, and stretched across Faith to heal Phoebe's shoulder.

Piper, not one to mince words, reprimanded him sternly, "Hey! Hey! Hey! A little discretion in public." She smacked his arm gently before making her way around the bar.

"Hey," Leo said, taking the smacks from Phoebe and Paige in good humor. Faith couldn't help but grin, thoroughly enjoying the fact that her aunts were playfully smacking Leo.

Piper, leading the way to the back room where Leo could discretely heal Phoebe, asked, "So where is Buffy?"

Faith replied, "Mini patrol in Sunnydale."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Feel any better?" Leo asked Phoebe, his voice laced with concern, as he removed his hand from above her shoulder. Phoebe's weary expression softened slightly, and she nodded.

"A little, I think," Phoebe answered, her voice tinged with a hint of relief, her fingers trembling as she fixed the sleeve of her top.

"So, any word from the Elders on what's going on?" Piper asked her husband, her tone tinged with anxiety, her hands nervously in her back pockets.

Phoebe's frown deepened, her eyes filled with a mix of confusion and worry. "Why? What's going on?"

Piper folded her arms tensely, her brows furrowing with apprehension. "A lot of bad guys, apparently, more than usual."

"What's to worry about?" Faith asked dismissively, glancing between her aunts and uncle.

Piper shook her head, her expression firm and determined. "Nothing until after dinner," she decided, her voice tinged with a hint of authority. "You two want to join us?" she asked hopefully, her eyes filled with warmth and inclusion as she looked at Phoebe and Faith.

Phoebe pursed her lips in thought, her eyes reflecting a mix of uncertainty and curiosity, then finally, she nodded. "Sure, why not." She smiled at Piper, and Piper's face lit up with a genuine, relieved smile.

"I'm not gonna go," Paige informed them, her voice carrying a touch of stubbornness as she rose to her feet. "I don't want Rowan thinking I was waiting for him if he shows up this late," she pouted, folding her arms across her chest.

"God forbid," Piper drawled with a hint of sarcasm, and Paige rolled her eyes in response. "What about you?" she shot at her niece, her voice gentler and more understanding, as she noticed Faith staring off into space. "Faith?" she called gently, trying to bring her back to the conversation.

Faith jerked out of her trance, her eyes wide and startled. "Sorry, what?" she stuttered, blinking rapidly.

"You joining us for dinner?" Piper asked slowly, her tone filled with a touch of concern and a willingness to include Faith in the family gathering.

Faith shook her head, her fatigue evident in her voice and demeanor. "No thanks. I'm kind of tired," she admitted, her words followed by a confirming yawn. "Aunt Paige, you don't mind giving me a lift to the apartment on your way home, do you?"

Paige nodded with a warm smile. "Of course, sweetheart."

Piper smiled at Faith, her eyes filled with affection. "Sleep tight." She kissed Faith's cheek and then turned to her husband with a mischievous grin. "You buying?"

"Uh… you kidding?" Leo retorted, his brow creasing in mock exasperation, as he and Piper left.

Faith leaned towards Paige, her voice low and conspiratorial. "I'll meet ya at the bar, Aunt Paige."

Paige nodded, her expression thoughtful as she chewed on her bottom lip, watching Faith leave the office. After a moment, she turned to Phoebe, her concern evident in her eyes. "Phoebe, uh, I think you should try to find a moment to talk to Piper."

Phoebe's eyes widened with worry as Paige's words sent a shiver down her spine. "Why, is something wrong?"

Paige hesitated for a moment; her gaze fixed on Phoebe. "No, not really, I just think she could use your support about something. That's why I orbed over to your place this morning..."

Phoebe's surprise quickly turned into anger, her voice sharp and filled with frustration. "Wait!" she cut in sharply. "You orbed to my place?" She gawked at Paige, her disappointment and irritation already evident. "After Buffy, Faith and I specifically asked you not to? Paige, what were you thinking?"

Paige sighed, her shoulders slumping with regret. "I was just trying to help Piper," she replied sharply, her own frustration showing. "That's why I was there: looking for you, Faith, or Buffy."

Phoebe's exhaustion was visible as she ran a hand through her hair. "Was Cole upset?" she demanded, her worry deepening.

Paige hesitated, reluctant to reveal the full extent of Cole's reaction. "A little," she admitted with a cringe, "okay, maybe a lot."

"Great, Paige," Phoebe droned, shaking her head. "Just great."

Paige sighed as she watched her sister walk away. She followed her out, hoping to make amends. "I was just trying to help," she explained to no one in particular.

"Ready to go?" Faith asked as Paige met her at the bar.

Paige dropped her head onto the counter, her frustration and guilt weighing heavily on her. "Phoebe hates me," came her deflated reply.

Faith's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why?" she asked, genuinely puzzled by the situation.

Paige sighed, her voice tinged with regret. "I orbed over to your place to find you, Phoebe, or Buffy," she confessed.

Faith's eyes widened with anger. "You did what?" she snapped; her frustration evident. "I bet Cole was angry as heck," she added, shaking her head in disbelief. Paige sighed again, feeling the weight of her actions. "Can you take me home now, please," Faith demanded.

"Sure," Paige replied, leading Faith to the stairs and outside. They made their way through the parking lot, Paige's earlier actions weighing heavily on her mind.

"I feel like I'm always screwing up with her," Paige admitted quietly, her voice filled with regret. Faith scowled at her; her frustration still evident. They walked in silence until Paige suddenly stopped, her brow furrowing in confusion when she heard a strange noise behind her. She spun around, frowning when she found nothing there.

Faith regarded her youngest aunt carefully, her curiosity piqued. "What?" she asked.

Paige tilted her head a little, her unease growing. "I don't know, I—I just thought that—never mind." She shrugged dismissively, shaking her head, and they continued to walk to her car. But then she stopped again. "Okay, did you hear that?" she demanded, rounding on her niece.

Faith nodded slowly, her senses on high alert as the squeaking noises grew more intense. The tension in the air was palpable, and Faith's eyes widened as she saw what was coming at her. "BAT!" she yelled just as the animal sunk its teeth into her neck. "Ah!" she yelped, her pain evident, and Paige looked up, only to be bitten on the shoulder, the force sending her tumbling to the ground.

"P!" Faith barked, her fear and pain evident as she bent down to her aunt, only to be caught on the shoulder by the crazed bats as well, causing her to tumble to the ground.

"Faith!" Paige screamed in agony, desperately trying to swat away the relentless bats.

Fireballs formed in Faith's hand, and she began throwing them at the bats, her protective instincts kicking in. She glanced toward her aunt when Paige fell silent, her heart pounding with dread.

"P!" Faith gasped as she saw her aunt's closed eyes and prone body. Panic surged through her, but she couldn't spare a moment to check on Paige as the remaining bats continued their frenzied attack on her.

Unknowingly, by attacking Faith, the Source's heir, the bats had started a war they would not survive. They sunk their teeth into whatever piece of flesh they could reach, bouncing off Faith's stomach with no success. Her vision blurred, and her eyes slipped closed as she fought against the overwhelming pain.

As the bats finally retreated and flew away, leaving the aunt and niece bleeding and unconscious on the unforgiving concrete ground, the night was filled with an eerie silence, and an ominous presence loomed in the shadows.

Streets of Sunnydale

Buffy was out on patrol, navigating the dark streets of Sunnydale, her senses alert and her stake at the ready. Her focus was on the night's supernatural threats when her phone suddenly rang, piercing through the otherwise silent night. She glanced at the caller ID, and her heart sank when she saw the name of the hospital on the screen. Her hand trembled as she answered the call.

"Hello?" Buffy's voice wavered, her concern mingling with the demands of her Slayer duties.

"Is this Buffy Halliwell-Summers?" The voice on the other end of the line remained calm but carried a sense of urgency.

"Yes, this is Buffy. What is it?" Buffy asked.

"I'm calling from San Francisco General Hospital. Your wife, Faith, has been brought in," the voice said, "She's been injured, and we need you to come to the hospital as soon as possible."

Buffy's heart felt like it was in her throat as she processed the information. Her eyes welled up with fear, her breath hitched, and she clenched her fists tightly. "I'm on my way. Please, tell me she's going to be okay."

The voice on the other end of the line provided the necessary details, and Buffy disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames, her thoughts consumed by worry and her heart heavy with the uncertainty of what awaited her at the hospital.

San Francisco General Hospital

"So… is this the weirdest case you've ever seen?" a scratchy sounding Paige asked her doctor seriously.

Dr. Rothman smiled. "I don't know. I've worked the night shift for a while now," he informed her. "Seen some pretty strange things."

Paige scoffed. "Yeah, but these were bats, doc," she commented dryly just as her two sisters went speeding past her room.

"Paige!" Phoebe cried as she and Piper backtracked into the room, Leo right behind them. Paige's voice was shaky as she spoke, her face marked with painful bites.

"Oh my god," Phoebe grimaced as she took in her sister's bite-ridden face. "Are you okay?"

"What happened?" Piper demanded, her voice laced with panic.

"Bats," Paige revealed with a quizzical look, her uncertainty mixing with the surreal nature of the situation. "Lots of bats."

Piper frowned, glancing at Phoebe whose expression mirrored her own before her eyes traveled to the empty bed next to Paige's, "Where's Faith?"

Paige glanced at the empty bed and bit her lip, a wave of concern washing over her, "Oh uh… she's with her baby doctor."

Phoebe gasped, her eyes widening. "Oh my god! I forgot about the baby," she cried, turning on the doctor. "What does a bat attack do to a baby?"

"You Mrs. Halliwell-Summers family?" Dr. Rothman questioned.

Piper nodded. "Aunts. Her wife she be on the way," she supplied impatiently. "Now answer the question."

"The baby is fine," Another voice answered from behind them, and Piper and Phoebe turned sharply to find Faith's Ob-Gyn, Dr. Carpenter, wheeling their niece into the room. Relief and gratitude washed over them as they laid eyes on Faith, their anxiety and fear giving way to joy and reassurance.

Piper rushed forwards as the doctor stopped at Faith's bed, "Are you alright?" she asked her niece, alarmed.

Faith shot her a look, her voice filled with disbelief, "Seriously?" she questioned incredulous. "I was attacked by bats. Bats, Aunt Piper."

Piper stared at her blankly. "So that's a 'no', then?"

"Oh!" Faith swatted at her arm. "Just help me," she commanded, and Piper took her niece's arm, helping her into the bed, Faith wincing throughout the entire activity.

"Are you sure?" Paige directed at the doctor, ignoring her own injuries as she turned towards her niece.

Dr. Carpenter nodded. "Yes, the baby seems completely unaffected by the ordeal," she assured the room with a warm smile. "In fact, there were no wounds to your stomach at all," she informed her patient who managed a tight smile of relief despite the discomfort she was in.

"Really?" Faith arched her eyebrows, a mix of curiosity and relief washing over her. "Huh… isn't that strange."

"Hmm," Piper agreed, nodding slowly and pursing her lips as she contemplated the peculiar turn of events.

"Where is she?" Buffy cried as she ran into the room.

"Here, babe," Faith said, her eyes filled with affection and relief as Buffy rushed to her side.

Buffy glanced at Dr. Carpenter; her concern etched in her features. "Cassie, how is she?"

"She and the baby are doing fine, Buffy," Dr. Carpenter replied, her voice carrying a reassuring tone. "Well, my job here is done." She glanced at Faith. "I want to see you again in a few days, just to be safe."

Faith nodded once and smiled, her gratitude shining through. "Thanks," she said as Dr. Carpenter left the room, leaving behind a sense of relief.

Phoebe exhaled slowly; her concern still evident. "Alrighty uh..." she turned back to Dr. Rothman. "What about the attack?"

"Honestly?" Dr. Rothman turned to them; his expression serious. "If they hadn't been found by somebody in time, both your sister and niece may have bled to death."

Buffy's eyes widened as she looked at Faith in alarm. "I have to admit that's not comforting in the slightest."

"But they're gonna be okay?" Leo asked tersely, his concern mirrored in his tone.

"Yeah," Dr. Rothman assured them with a reassuring smile. "After some rest and rabies shots."

"Ouch!" Paige grimaced, screwing her face up in anticipated pain as she contemplated the rabies shots.

"Rabies shots?" Buffy repeated, her concern evident as she glanced at the doctor. "Is that safe?"

"It's necessary," Dr. Rothman informed her sternly, his professional demeanor unwavering. "But I assure you, the shots pose no threat to the baby."

Buffy exhaled sharply and relaxed again, relief washing over her as she accepted the doctor's assurance. "Okay then."

Piper, ever the protective sister, couldn't help but seek answers. "You got attacked by bats outside of my club?" she asked her sister and niece, her concern clear as she looked between them both. "That can't be natural," she stated with a frown. "Can it?" she amended, directing her question to the doctor.

"Well, bat bites aren't completely unheard of in the city," Dr. Rothman explained. "I have a friend over at County who treated one a couple of months ago."

Faith glanced at Paige as her aunt winced and frowned. "Right but these were bats. Plural," Faith reminded the doctor with raised eyebrows. "As in a swarm or a flock or a, whatever-you-call-a-group-of-bats."

The doctor made to answer but his pager bleeped loudly, causing both Paige and Faith to wince and hold their heads in pain. "I'll be right back," Dr. Rothman assured them. "Excuse me."

As soon as he was gone, all three sisters and both nieces turned their eyes to Leo who shrugged, his expression pensive.

"Sounds more natural than supernatural to me," Leo told them honestly.

"Yeah?" Paige questioned, and they turned to her. "Well, I'm thinking vampires."

"Not possible," Buffy replied firmly. "No vampires Faith or I have ever fought could turn into bats. It's got to be something else."

"I'm sorry," Dr. Rothman apologized as he re-entered the room, interrupting the conversation. "Lisa here is gonna draw some blood, so we can run some tests."

"That mean we can go home?" Paige asked hopefully, looking for any chance to leave the hospital behind.

"Well, I don't see why not," Dr. Rothman shrugged. "I'm gonna start you both on antibiotics and then schedule the first of the rabies shots in the morning," he told them with a nod before leaving once again, offering them a glimmer of hope.

"Okay, now make a fist," Nurse Lisa instructed Paige, as she uncapped the needle. Paige did so, squeezing her eyes closed as the needle punctured her skin.

Phoebe frowned as she watched, feeling her stomach flip as blood began filling the tube.

"Now, relax your hand," Nurse Lisa instructed further, offering Paige a warm smile. "I'm almost done."

Leo frowned at Phoebe as she swayed, concern etched across his face. "You okay?" he asked her, his worry palpable.

"Yeah, as long as I don't look," Paige replied, unaware that the question had been directed at Phoebe.

"I didn't mean you," Leo clarified, his focus on Phoebe, who suddenly collapsed to the ground.

"Phoebe!" Piper cried, springing to her feet, her fear mounting as Leo stared down at her unconscious sister.

The Towers

Cole cursed as he paced in the living room, frustration etched into every step. "Damn it," he muttered, his voice thick with anxiety. "Where are they?"

Julie, absorbed in her task, looked up at him, her expression reflecting the tension in the room. Her eyes darted from her boss to the small, black notebook clutched tightly in her hands. "What about the Grimlocks?" she inquired, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

"The Grimlocks?" Cole's anger and concern flared as he considered the possibility. "You think they attacked Phoebe and Faith?" He clenched his fists, his determination evident. "If they did, I'll crush their skulls with my bare hands."

Julie gave him a fleeting, almost nervous glance, then cracked under the pressure of the situation. "We were talking about who we could trust, remember?" she reminded him gently, her voice tinged with apprehension. She gestured to the notebook. "Grimlocks, yay or nay?"

"Sorry," Cole muttered, a touch of remorse in his tone. "Uh… yeah. Grimlocks are okay," he admitted, his shoulders slumping with resignation as Julie noted it down. He needed to remain focused on their mission. "Keats is the only one I don't trust," he revealed, pointing a shaky finger towards the name as the phone rang, the sudden sound causing both of them to jump.

Cole turned sharply towards the ringing phone, his heart pounding in his chest. "That's got to be them," he said, his voice now laced with hope as he reached for the lifeline on the other end of the call.

Julie's response was marked with indifference as she droned, "I could only hope," her disinterest clear in her voice, as her boss snatched up the phone.

"Phoebe?" Cole's voice wavered with a mix of anxiety and relief as he spoke into the phone. He didn't want to assume it was Faith or Buffy, as that would mean Phoebe was hurt.

"Hi, honey," Phoebe's voice carried down the line, and it was a balm to Cole's worried soul.

"Are you alright?" Cole demanded nervously; his concern palpable in every word. "I called your cell. Then when you didn't pick up, I called Faith and Buffy's."

"Yeah, well, that's probably because I was unconscious," Phoebe's response was laced with a touch of sarcasm, but the relief in her voice was evident. "And Faith was in the hospital."

"What?" Cole gasped, his eyes widening in shock at her words. "Did a demon hurt you and Faith?"

"I fainted," Phoebe answered matter-of-factly.

"Fainted?" Cole echoed, his disbelief apparent as he turned to face Julie, his emotions whirling in confusion.

Streets of San Francisco

"Yeah," Phoebe responded, her voice soothing as she reassured her concerned husband over the phone. They were driving back to the Manor, with Piper and Leo in the front, and Phoebe sitting next to Piper. In the backseat, Paige sat behind Leo, Faith snuggled up next to her, wrapped in a cozy blanket. Buffy was by Faith's side, their closeness offering comfort.

"It was no big deal," Phoebe continued, her tone calm and reassuring, as a passing car on Paige's side prompted both Paige and Faith to hiss and shield their eyes. Paige used her hand, and Faith hid her face in Buffy's shoulder.

"Oh, why do people got to keep their high beams on?" Paige complained with a frown.

"Cause they're insensitive bastards," Faith responded snarkily, her voice muffled.

Piper and Buffy exchanged concerned glances; their worry evident.

"Phoebe, people just don't faint for no reason," Cole reasoned through the phone, his worry still palpable.

"Well, I've been pretty rundown," Phoebe reminded him casually, her voice now tinted with a hint of exhaustion. "And the doctor said I might be anemic, so he took some blood to make sure that's all it is."

"Well, maybe you ought to get Leo to check the Harpy scratch in case—" Cole started to say, his concern still evident.

"I already did," Phoebe interrupted her husband, her words reassuring. Her smile went unnoticed by him on the phone. "And he said there's nothing to worry about," she added, her trust in Leo's judgment evident. "Besides, we have bigger demonic issues that we have to deal with right now," she said, her gaze shifting towards her sister and niece. "Faith and Paige were bitten by a bunch of bats."

The Towers

"Bats?" Cole repeated with wide eyes, his concern deepening, and he looked over at Julie, who stood alert, awaiting any updates. Cole's frown deepened as he heard Paige's voice in the background. "I'm sure he's all broken up about it."

"They're okay," Phoebe assured him, her voice filled with relief. "Leo's gonna heal them when we get home, so you want to meet us there?"

"I am home, Phoebe," Cole reminded her. "You called me."

Phoebe winced at her mistake. "I meant the Manor. I'm sorry."

"I'm on my way," Cole told her before ending the call. His sense of urgency was clear.

Julie walked briskly towards him, her concern mirroring his. "You think it was Rowan?"

"He must be trying to turn them," Cole murmured, his thoughts racing as he considered the implications.

Julie, sharing his sense of urgency, insisted urgently, "You can't let them get a Charmed One on their side; they'll be too powerful. A Charmed One and your Chosen Heir would make them unstoppable."

"Don't you think I know that!" Cole snapped, his frustration boiling over as he raised his voice. "Damn it," he cursed, striding past Julie with determination. "Gather the faction leaders," he ordered harshly. "The Queen wants a war. She's got one!"

"Where are you going?" Julie called after his retreating form, her concern for him evident.

"To the Manor," Cole growled, his resolve unwavering. "To help save Faith!"

Halliwell Manor

"Manticore?" Piper asked, her voice tinged with a hint of excitement as she stood by the book. Phoebe, perched on a stool beside her, observed the pages intently.

"Bites but doesn't fly," Phoebe responded quickly, her tone confident as Leo worked his healing magic on Paige and Faith behind them, a palpable sense of urgency in the air.

"Phoenix," Piper tried again, her voice laced with a touch of anticipation, as she hoped she had finally figured it out.

"Flies but doesn't bite," Phoebe shot down the idea with a decisive certainty.

Frustration crept into Piper's voice as she smacked the next page. "Chupacabra," she suggested with a hint of desperation.

Phoebe couldn't help but chuckle, her laughter adding a touch of levity to the tense moment. "God bless you," she quipped, her humor shining through as Piper smirked. "Flies and bites but only attacks livestock."

"Eh," Piper sighed, her voice heavy with frustration, tired of getting nowhere.

"What about shape-shifters?" Leo suggested, his voice calm and thoughtful, as he left the now fully healed Paige and Faith, their injuries miraculously mended.

Paige couldn't help but interject, her tone laced with impatience as she turned in her chair to face them. "What about this being a waste of time?" Her gaze pierced through the room as she continued, "Look at me, I'm fine." Paige stood up to prove her point, her body miraculously free from any wounds. "Let's just call it a night."

Faith, however, had a different perspective, her voice filled with exhaustion as she countered, "Well, I'm not fine." Buffy pulled her out of her seat, slipping one arm around her waist as they approached the group. "My body aches, and my head is killing me," Faith listed off, her weariness palpable. "The only good thing is that I'm not nauseous thanks to the herbs Cole gave me."

Piper considered the options, her voice a mix of determination and concern. "Okay…" She pointed to Paige first. "If you are tired, then just go to bed. We'll wake you up if we find something."

Paige's frustration boiled over, and she threw out her arms in exasperation. "Fine," she declared, her tone filled with irritation. "I'll be asleep." And with that, she stormed out of the attic, the door slamming shut behind her, leaving an uneasy tension in her wake.

"Ow," Faith winced, her hand instinctively moving to her head as the sound of the slamming door reverberated through her skull.

Piper couldn't help but comment, her voice laced with sarcasm, as she glared at the closed door. "She's a delight," she quipped, clearly not pleased with Paige's attitude.

Faith snapped back, "She was attacked by a swarm of bats, okay?" Her tone was protective and understanding. "She's entitled to be a little pissy."

Piper's eyes widened, realizing her mistake. "And let me guess, so are you?" she asked, her voice softer, showing empathy.

Faith glared; her frustration evident. "You know what, whatever," she fumed darkly. "I feel like crap, I'm exhausted, and I'm pissed off!" Her emotions were raw, and her anger was palpable. "I'm gonna be a bitch, deal with it!"

Buffy, always attentive to her wife, raised her eyebrows at Faith's outburst. She couldn't help but mutter quietly, "And apparently hormonal too." However, Faith heard, and Buffy received a gentle elbow to the ribs for her comment. "Sorry, Faith," she apologized and kissed her head. "Maybe we should call it a night too."

Faith shook her head and crossed her arms, her frustration still evident. "No. I wouldn't be able to sleep."

Phoebe nodded in understanding, reaching over to rub her niece's arm gently. "Okay then, um…" She turned to Leo, her eyes seeking guidance. "Isn't there some way you can help us narrow down the suspects?"

Leo considered the question, his brows furrowing in deep thought. "With every demonic faction in town, it makes it kind of hard," he replied, a hint of exasperation in his voice.

Buffy chimed in with a helpful offer. "I can give Giles a call and see what the gang can find out," she suggested, her tone helpful and reassuring.

"Okay," Phoebe agreed with Buffy's proposal. "In the meantime, what's goin' on?" she inquired with wide eyes. "Is there a demon convention in San Francisco or what?"

Piper couldn't resist a touch of sarcasm as she nodded in response. "Yes," she deadpanned, her voice dripping with irony. "There is a demonic electoral college. They've called a meeting, and they're voting in a new Source." Her comment elicited laughter from everyone in the room, except for Buffy and Faith.

"You think?" Phoebe asked, her eyes locked onto Piper, seeking her sister's insight.

Piper considered the idea and then replied with a shrug, "Well, not the voting part. But maybe, yeah. I mean, there's gotta be somebody pretty powerful that's bringing together these factions." She turned to Buffy, her expression serious. "Plus the premonition Buffy had last week."

Faith was quick to inquire, her interest piqued as she glanced at her wife. "What premonition?"

Buffy recounted the vision she had experienced. "I had a premonition of you on the throne of the Underworld. The world was in chaos, and I was your general," she explained. "Kind of like the dreams you used to have."

Piper picked up the thread, emphasizing the significance. "Which means... Evil may have a new leader. And Faith is once again the Chosen Heir for that leader."

Just then, Cole entered the room, and Phoebe's expression brightened slightly at his arrival. "Cole," she greeted him, a mix of relief and hope in her voice.

"Honey, I came as soon as I could," Cole told Phoebe, wrapping her in a reassuring embrace as she reached him. The warmth of their connection was palpable.

"I'll be fine," Phoebe assured her husband with a smile, her voice filled with love. "Don't worry."

Cole glanced around the room, concern etched on his face. "Where's Paige? How is she?"

Leo, standing next to his wife, stepped in to provide an update. "She's sleeping," he reported, his voice filled with relief. "I healed her, both of them."

Cole turned his attention to Faith, his brow furrowing as he observed her still form, leaning heavily against Buffy's chest, her eyes closed. "What about you?" he inquired, walking toward Faith, his concern evident in his voice.

Faith, ever defiant, cracked one eye open and scowled. "How do you think, Uncle Cole?" Her response was laced with irritation and pain as she snapped at him, not in the mood for pleasantries.

"You sure?" Cole directed his question at Leo with a hint of wariness, wanting to confirm the accuracy of the information.

Leo maintained his assurance, nodding in response. "Yeah. Why?"

Buffy, still holding her wife tightly, pressed further, her concern evident. "Do you know what we're up against?"

Cole, with a sense of certainty, declared, "Bats that bite can only be one thing: vampires."

Buffy expressed her disbelief, arguing, "That's impossible, Cole. Vampires can't transform into bats."

Cole countered her argument with knowledge of the supernatural world. "Dracula can," he pointed out. "But he can only do it because he learned Romani magic. But he's the only one of the Nosferatu vampires that can do it. A swarm of bats would mean it's the other kind, Vampirus. The main difference between them is that Vampirus are hive vampires, that come straight from a Queen unlike the ones the Old One, Maloker, created."

"Why attack the Charmed Ones and Faith now?" Buffy questioned, her eyes filled with worry as she stared down at her wife, her concern palpable. "What do they want?"

Cole offered a theory, his gaze also fixed on his sister-in-law. "There must be a power struggle," he suggested, his voice laced with concern. "They must be trying to overtake the underworld."

Faith, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, her voice laced with disbelief. "By killing me and Paige?"

Cole met her gaze with unwavering certainty. "No. By… turning you into vampires. It's another way Vampirus differ from Nosferatu. They don't need to kill you to turn you."

Faith was taken aback by the revelation, her eyes darting around the room as she processed the information. "Whoa," she proclaimed, pushing out of her wife's arms. "I don't feel like a vampire," she insisted, her eyes flickering around the room in search of reassurance.

Cole took a step closer to Faith, his expression concerned. "You sure?" he asked, his eyes locked onto hers, probing for any signs of a transformation.

Faith stood her ground, her determination unwavering as she firmly replied, "Yes, maybe I was unaffected."

Cole leaned closer, his concern deepening as he pressed further, "How?"

Faith offered a possible explanation, "Prudence protected herself, maybe she protected me too, but..." Her gaze darted around the room, scanning the faces of Buffy, Piper, and Phoebe. Suddenly, her eyes widened as she looked toward the door.

"Paige!" Piper's voice rang out loudly as she strode forward, Phoebe right in front of her, taking charge. "You stay here," she ordered Faith, and Buffy, understanding the urgency, complied by wrapping her arms around her wife, keeping her in place.

As they reached Paige's room, Piper and Phoebe walked into the darkness and flipped on the light, only to find it empty. Panic gripped them. "Where'd she go?" Piper wondered aloud.

Phoebe's eyes darted around the room, and then she let out a piercing shriek. "Oh my god! Paige!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with horror and alarm as she caught sight of her sister hanging upside down from the ceiling.

"Watch out!" Cole's warning came just in time as the youngest Charmed One transformed into a bat and flew straight toward the nearest open window, disappearing into the night.

"What the hell was that!" Piper exclaimed; her mouth agape as she pointed to the now empty window.

All eyes in the room turned to Cole, seeking answers. He explained, "That was a Vampirus."

Panic and fear gripped Phoebe as she cried out, her hand covering her mouth as she shook her head. "Oh my god! What do we do?" She looked to her older sister for guidance.

Piper, taking charge as always, responded quickly. "We check the book." With determination in her eyes, she turned on her heels and strode out of the room, leaving the others to follow.

As they reached the attic, Piper wasted no time and bellowed, "Faith! Buffy!" Her voice was tinged with alarm and urgency as she threw open the attic door. "We have a… problem?"

Buffy drew her eyes from her wife's statuesque form, her expression tense as she stared stoically out of the open attic window. "Yeah, we do," she replied, her hands firmly on her hips.

Piper and Phoebe exchanged wary glances before approaching their nieces cautiously. Cole's warning lingered in the air as they moved closer.

Piper, however, dismissed the warning, silencing her brother-in-law with a wave of her hand. "Uh… Faith? Honey, you okay?"

In a dreamy voice, Faith responded, her words carrying an eerie quality, "Nice night, isn't it?"

Buffy's concern deepened as she questioned her wife, her tone filled with worry. "Faith?"

Faith turned to them slowly, her once-green eyes now a dark, coal black as she smiled wickedly at her aunts and wife.

Phoebe's eyes widened as she clutched Piper's hand tightly. "Uh-oh."

Suddenly, Faith leapt up onto the window sill and without warning, she jumped out.

Piper and Phoebe bolted towards the window, their hearts racing, expecting to see their niece on the ground. However, to their shock, they were met with the sight of not one, but two bats screeching loudly as they flew off into the night.

"Oh god!" Piper cried, her voice filled with anguish as she spun around to face Cole, Buffy, and Leo. "Oh god!" she repeated, the shock and fear taking hold.

Phoebe, however, attempted to muster some optimism, shaking her head and holding up one finger. "No, no 'oh god' this is, this is, this is okay—we can, we'll—this is—we can handle this," she stammered, her laughter tinged with bitterness as she tried to convince herself more than anyone else.

But the harsh reality sank in as Buffy growled, her hands balled into fists at her side. When everyone turned to look at her, they saw that her once-vibrant eyes were now a cold, coal black.

Phoebe, realizing the grave consequences, spoke up with a heavy heart. "Oh no, we forgot," she admitted. "If Faith goes evil, the Slayer line becomes corrupted, and as a result, Buffy goes evil as well."

Buffy glared at Piper, Phoebe, Leo, and Cole, her malevolent intent clear in her darkened eyes. In the blink of an eye, she disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames, leaving behind a sense of dread and helplessness in the room.

Piper exhaled deeply, her fingers trembling slightly as she ran them through her tousled hair. The ancient pages of the book, weathered and fragile, resisted her touch as she gingerly flipped them, desperation evident in her eyes. The weight of uncertainty pressed upon her shoulders like an invisible burden, and the attic seemed to close in around her.

Phoebe, her steps cautious and purposeful, began to wander around the attic, her anxious eyes scanning the shelves for anything that could be wielded against the looming threat of vampires. "Do you think the baby's okay?" she questioned, the worry in her voice echoing the unease in the air.

A heavy breath escaped Piper's lips, carrying with it a mix of frustration and determination. Finally reaching the page she sought, she stared intently at the text before her. "Yeah," she responded; her forced smile unable to mask the underlying fear. "I mean, she protected herself from the attack, so we just got to hope that she's doing the same now, but..." Piper's voice trailed off, leaving a lingering sense of discomfort that hung in the air like a shroud.

Phoebe, frozen in her tracks, halted her search, her eyes narrowing as she turned to face her sister. "But what?" she demanded tersely, a knot of tension tightening in her stomach.

Piper hesitated, her gaze flickering between the book and Phoebe. "But... if Faith becomes a full-on vampire, I don't know what will happen," she admitted, the raw honesty of her words exposing the vulnerability that lurked beneath her normally composed exterior.

"Full-on?" Cole's voice cut through the heavy atmosphere from his spot across the room, his tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Yeah," Piper nodded, her voice edged with a mixture of dread and determination, her eyes refusing to stray from the ancient text before her. "It says here to become a full vampire, they will have to feed, kill," she informed the room, her words hanging heavily in the charged air, a grimace etched across her features as she absorbed the weight of the revelation.

"That's your window," Leo chimed in, a comforting hand resting on Piper's back. His presence offered a modicum of reassurance in the face of the unsettling information. "If they drink human blood, we'll lose them forever."

"Literal forever," Phoebe added dryly from across the room, her tone a mix of gallows humor and stark reality. The gravity of the situation cast a shadow over the room, emphasizing the urgency of their predicament.

Piper's brows furrowed as she processed the dire implications. "Okay, so… how do we change them back?" she questioned, her gaze locking onto her husband's steady, green eyes. The room seemed to hang on Leo's response, a collective breath held in anticipation.

"Kill the Queen," Leo answered simply, his words cutting through the silence with a weight that left Piper momentarily speechless. She narrowed her eyes, absorbing the information, and glanced back down at the book, her fingers tracing the words on the page as if searching for an alternative solution. "Oh, uh…" she stammered, her voice tinged with uncertainty, the enormity of the task ahead settling heavily on her shoulders.

Phoebe's eyes widened with a mixture of determination and frustration as she looked over at Piper. "Kill the Queen? Okay, so... how do we do that?"

"With the Power of Three," Piper responded her hands slamming down onto the book in frustration.

"Of course," Phoebe chuckled bitterly, the irony not lost on her. "Can't anything be easy?"

Piper snorted, the humor laced with a touch of sarcasm, before continuing with a curt tone, "Oh, it gets worse." She delivered the revelation matter-of-factly, her gaze fixed on her sister. "Vampirus are immune to witch powers. Which explains why the Slayer was created for the Nosferatu."

Phoebe's face fell, a mix of concern and frustration etched across her features. In a burst of exasperation, she threw her head back, emitting a loud groan. Gathering a collection of objects—wooden stakes, crosses, and other makeshift weapons—she piled them into her arms and dropped them onto the table across from the book. "So, these are the only things Buffy and Faith had that I could find," she informed Piper, who had moved away from the book to join her.

"Okay, so what do we do about the holy water?" Piper asked, a furrow forming on her brow. Phoebe frowned in response. "We don't have any."

Leo's reassurance resonated in the room, a small glimmer of hope amidst the mounting challenges. "Buffy and Faith might have some at Joyce's. I'll get it," he assured his wife, casting a fleeting smile at Piper, who reciprocated the gesture briefly.

Amidst the tense atmosphere, Cole interjected with a casual remark, his tone cutting through the gravity of the situation. "You know, that stuff's only gonna um… help you fight off the vampires," he pointed out. "It's not going to fight off Buffy, unless they turn her. And it's not going to change Paige, Faith, or Buffy back."

Piper nodded in agreement, her focus returning to the book in her hands. "Yeah, I'm working on that. According to the book, if you kill a vampire Queen, then all her little vampires die with her."

"Really?" Cole perked up, a smile playing on his lips. "Interesting. They certainly don't like to spread that around." His chuckle added a touch of dark amusement to the grim scenario.

Phoebe, her skepticism evident, shook her head as she walked toward her sister. "But won't that kill Faith, Paige, and Buffy too? Assuming Buffy's been turned?" she queried, voicing the concern that hung heavily in the air.

Piper lifted her gaze, pointing a finger at Phoebe with a determined look. "No, not if they haven't bitten anyone yet. Since the transformation only takes place after blood has been spilled, or in this case sucked, they won't be affected by her death. And once the Queen is dead, Buffy should return to normal when Faith and Paige do." The revelation carried a glimmer of optimism, a fragile thread of hope woven into the intricate tapestry of their plan.

"Okay, so… we have to kill the Queen," Phoebe concluded, her brow furrowed with determination. "And fast but…"

"How do we do that when we're down a sister and both Slayers?" Piper interjected, her concern mirroring the weight of the challenge they faced. Phoebe nodded in agreement, acknowledging the formidable obstacles ahead. "No idea, but… we'll figure it out," she asserted, the glimmer of optimism in her eyes reflecting her unwavering determination.

Leo, ever the supportive presence, took a step forward. "Well, I'll get the holy water once I fill in the Elders about the new Source," he assured them before seamlessly orbing out of the room. The sudden departure left a brief void, emphasizing the urgency of their mission.

"New Source? There's a new Source?" Cole's voice cut through the air, his nervous throat clearing betraying a subtle hint of anxiety.

Phoebe turned her gaze toward him, her expression serious as she confirmed, "Yeah, we think so."

"Any idea who it is?" Cole queried, a note of concern lacing his words. His hope that they hadn't caught onto him yet hung in the air, an unspoken tension weaving its way through the conversation.

"No, not yet," Phoebe said, shaking her head as she assessed Cole's relieved expression. His smile hinted at the weight that had been momentarily lifted.

"Okay, let's just focus on finding Faith, Buffy, and Paige," Piper admonished, redirecting their attention to the immediate task at hand. Both sisters began picking up supplies, the urgency of their mission evident in their movements.

Phoebe, still in the thick of the preparations, asked with a furrowed brow, "What do you think they're gonna do?"

Piper smirked, a wry sense of humor cutting through the tension. "Kill us, what else?" she quipped, and a small chuckle escaped Phoebe's lips, a shared moment of levity amidst the impending danger.

"So if you were undead, where would you be?" Piper thought aloud, throwing her hands out in a gesture of contemplation.

"Where Buffy and Faith go, of course, when they are patrolling," Phoebe answered, a note of certainty in her voice. "The cemetery," she and Piper concluded simultaneously, a shared realization that narrowed down the search for their transformed sister and nieces.

"Right, let's go," Piper declared, her "arsenal" of weapons in hand. "We don't got a lot of time, and we got a bunch of them to check out—"

"Well, Phoebe…" Cole called after her, stepping forward, his anxious fingers scratching at his neck. Piper, from behind him, gawked in surprise.

Phoebe turned back to face him, her eyes widening and eyebrows rising in response to the unexpected plea. "What?"

Cole, wearing a sheepish expression, hesitated before expressing his concern. "I don't want you to go," he admitted, his words hanging in the air. Piper, hands on her hips, observed the unfolding scene with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Phoebe's frown deepened, puzzled by the sudden change of heart. "What? Why?"

"Well, it's… too dangerous," Cole explained, his voice tinged with genuine worry. "What happens if you faint again, but this time in the middle of a vampire attack?" he questioned cautiously, his fear for her safety evident.

Behind him, Piper's frown mirrored her growing concern for her sister. Phoebe's expression shifted from confusion to sympathy and love. "Aw, baby, that's not gonna happen."

"How can you be sure?" Cole countered; the worry etched across his features. "I don't want to lose you."

Phoebe's frown deepened, and she sent Cole an incredulous look. "I don't want to lose my sister or my nieces," she asserted, shaking her head in disbelief. "I, I don't understand. Weren't you just telling us that we had to save them?"

"Yeah," Cole nodded solemnly. "But that was before I had all the facts. You need the Power of Three, and I'm sure Paige is not gonna be in a rhyming mood."

Piper, frustrated by her brother-in-law's sudden hesitation, addressed him with a pointed glare. "So, what do you suggest? That we let them spend eternity as vampires? What about the baby?"

"Paige is still my sister. Faith and Buffy are still my nieces," Phoebe declared, drawing Cole's attention back to her. "And that doesn't change because I happen to be sick," she told him firmly, holding his gaze. "Or because I'm your wife."

Cole sighed as Phoebe turned and walked away, a cloud of tension lingering in her wake. "Okay, okay, wait," he called out to her. She paused, slowly turning back to face him, eyebrows raised expectantly. Taking a deep breath, Cole forced the next words through his lips, a reluctant acknowledgment that he couldn't let his personal concerns hinder their mission. "You need to get them back fast, Faith especially."

Piper crossed her arms and stepped forward, demanding an explanation. "Why?"

Cole turned to the eldest sister, his expression grave. "Because the longer she is with them, the greater the chance that they discover she's pregnant," he stated plainly, a sense of urgency woven into his words. "It's a miracle it's stayed hidden this long, and if the vampires find out, then it's gonna spread."

"And we'll have every demonic bastard coming after them," Piper concluded darkly, her eyes narrowing as she processed the ominous implications.

Cole nodded, the weight of the truth settling heavily in the room. "You think they're dangerous now? They already knew about Faith. The only reason they've held off attacking was because of the Source, because she was his Chosen Heir. Now that he's dead, all bets are off. And if they learn she is pregnant and that Buffy is the father... Just think, a child born of not only the Halliwell and Spellman lines but who also holds the power of the Slayer. They will attack to end the most powerful of her generation."

Phoebe looked over at her sister fearfully, a sense of urgency overtaking her. "We better hurry."

The Towers

Cole flamed into the head of the glass table, surrounded by leaders from the most powerful factions in the underworld. The room, filled with an air of malevolence, grew silent as all eyes turned toward him. "The Vampirus are trying to convert my wife's sister and my niece," he declared, his voice cutting through the ominous stillness. Bracing himself against the table with his knuckles, he maintained a firm stance, emphasizing the gravity of his words. "A Charmed One and my Chosen Heir," he stressed, his gaze sweeping across each demon seated at the table. "I'm interpreting this as an act of war against me."

Keats, always the voice of attempted reason, spoke up, waving his hands nonchalantly. "Wait a second now, let's not overreact. Maybe this is some kind of a misunderstanding."

"I don't misunderstand anything, especially when it comes to my Chosen Heir," Cole retorted, his eyes dangerous as they bore into Keats. The room fell silent as the lesser demon wisely chose to withhold further protest.

"I want the Vampirus exterminated," Cole declared to the assembled leaders, standing up straight to command their attention. "Every last one of them."

"But Vampirus, like their Nosferatu cousins, multiply too fast," the Grimlock interjected, his voice carrying a tone of practicality. The vacant seat next to him, once occupied by the now-dead Harpy, served as a haunting reminder of the stakes at hand. "We could never get them all."

"If we kill the Queen, they all die," Cole informed them with a sly smirk, revealing a strategic edge to his plan that caught the attention of the room.

"I've never heard that," Keats questioned, his skepticism evident in his furrowed brow. "What's your source?"

Cole turned to Keats sharply, his demeanor shifting into an imposing force. Leaning in close, he demanded, "Are you questioning my orders?" His eyes transformed, the irises turning black before igniting into fiery intensity.

Keats, caught off guard, instantly grew shifty and uncomfortable. He shook his head hastily. "No, of course not."

Cole's eyes returned to their normal state, but the tension lingered in the air as he stood straight. "I want the Queen," he declared forcefully, his voice cutting through the room. "Dispatch your forces." He ordered with a commanding tone, "Tell them to torture any vampire they see. Make them talk." His growl carried a dangerous edge, his voice dropping to a menacing low. "But don't forget, my wife is out there too, as well as my Chosen Heir and her wife. Anyone lays a claw on any of them… will answer to me," he threatened, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air. Julie cocked her head questionably, absorbing the intensity of the situation.

"Leave," Cole snarled, his dismissal carrying a finality that brooked no argument.

"As you wish." The other demons, whether they flashed, shimmered, or smoked out, followed the order promptly, leaving only Keats behind.

Cole turned to Keats slowly, a measured gaze fixed on the now uneasy demon. Keats held his gaze for seconds before finally shimmering out. Cole inhaled deeply through his nose, the room now void of the intimidating presence of the underworld leaders. With an air of deliberation, he took a seat.

Julie, undeterred by the departure of the others, approached him with a curious tilt to her head. "What about the other sister?" she queried. "Are you gonna let her die with the Queen? It would eliminate the Charmed Ones."

"Phoebe, Faith, and Buffy would be devastated," Cole stated with unwavering certainty. Julie's face fell as he leaned forward in his seat, the confidence in his gaze unyielding. "But I wouldn't be," he added, clasping his hands in front of him with a sly smirk.

Harmony Springs Cemetery

The Queen sank her teeth into the flesh of her victim's neck, the anguished cries of pain ignored as she drank eagerly, reveling in the macabre symphony of agony and pleasure that accompanied her feast.

Behind her, Rowan cleared his throat, a respectful yet cautious interruption. She raised her head, blood-coated lips smacking together, a grimace crossing her face as she wiped away the remnants with the back of her hand.

"Sorry to interrupt you during dinner," Rowan apologized, his head bowed in deference.

"That's all right, I've had better," the Queen replied with a hint of disappointment. Her mood shifted swiftly as she spun towards Rowan in excitement. "Is she here, then?"

Rowan nodded, a subtle hesitation in his demeanor. The Queen's anticipation was palpable, her smile widening in anticipation. However, it faltered when her loyal subject held up one hand, a gesture signaling a sober revelation.

"There is something I haven't informed you of," Rowan confessed, his words delivered with a hint of trepidation. The Queen's eyebrows arched expectantly, urging him to continue. "When we attacked the witch... her niece was with her."

The Queen tilted her head in interest, her eyes narrowing with intrigue. "Which Slayer?" she inquired, the question hanging in the air like a sinister omen, foretelling the potential shift in the tide of their dark machinations.

Rowan cleared his throat nervously, the weight of his revelation heavy in the air. "Uh… the newest one, Faith? We, um… we turned her too," he confessed, the words uttered with a mixture of hesitation and unease.

The Queen gasped, a hand adorned with long, sharp nails flying to her chest in a display of surprise. "You turned one of the Slayers?" she asked, advancing on him with a deliberate slowness that mirrored the gathering storm of her thoughts.

"Yes, uh…" Rowan cleared his throat once more, shifting uncomfortably on his feet. "We had no choice. I know it wasn't the plan, but—"

The Queen pressed one delicate finger to his lips, silencing his explanation. Her smile, initially stunned, now blossomed into one of delight. "Don't apologize, Rowan. This is wonderful news," she gushed happily. "We have a Charmed One and a Slayer on our side. Do you know what this means?" she demanded, locking eyes with him. "We will be unstoppable."

But as triumph radiated in the Queen's eyes, Rowan hesitated, knowing he had one more piece of critical information to share. "There is one other thing," he said cautiously. "The other Slayer, Buffy. It appears that the Slayer line itself has been corrupted because of turning Faith. She has become evil and followed her wife. She said she is willing to pledge loyalty as long as she is allowed to remain at Faith's side."

The Queen's eyes narrowed thoughtfully at Rowan's revelation about Buffy. A contemplative silence hung in the air as she processed the implications of the corrupted Slayer line. After a moment, her expression softened into a cunning smile.

"Buffy," she mused, the name rolling off her tongue like a sinister melody. "If she's willing to pledge loyalty and remain by Faith's side, then we shall grant her the same gift we bestowed upon her beloved." The Queen's decision cut through the room, a proclamation of dark intent. "Show them in."

Rowan smiled, relief filling his cold body as the Queen approved of his actions. Bowing his head, he turned back toward the entrance and called loudly, "Ladies?" Buffy, Faith, and Paige came into view, their presence signaling a transformation that went beyond the physical.

Faith and Paige's lips were already blood red, a stark contrast to their darkened eyes and significantly paler skin. The eerie transformation spoke of the dark power that now coursed through their veins.

The Queen's mouth fell open in admiration, her delight palpable. "Oh, they are perfect," she exclaimed happily, leaning close to Rowan. Her finger traced along his jaw as she whispered, "They'll fit right in."

Rowan smiled, confident in his choices. "I thought you'd like her, and as for the other..." he grinned at his Queen, "Luck."

The Queen turned her attention toward Buffy, her gaze assessing and calculating. "As for you," she addressed Buffy directly. "Rowan says you wish to swear loyalty as long as you can remain at Faith's side. I have no problem with that, as long as you join our family."

Buffy, her black eyes glinting with malevolence, met the Queen's gaze without flinching. "You wish to make me a vampire," she stated, the question hanging in the air like a sinister challenge.

The Queen's response was a sinister smile, a gesture that sent a shiver down the spine of those present. "Yes," she confirmed, her voice dripping with the promise of dark power. "You will become one of us, Buffy."

Buffy's expression remained unyielding, a stoic acceptance of her fate. With a subtle nod, she consented to the transformation, acknowledging the twisted alliance she was willingly entering.

The Queen, reveling in the anticipation of the moment, approached Buffy with a predatory grace. Her hand gently cradled Buffy's face, fingers tracing the contours with a possessive touch. Leaning in, the Queen's lips brushed against Buffy's neck, her breath sending a chill down Buffy's spine.

Then, with a swift and calculated movement, the Queen sank her fangs into Buffy's neck. The room was filled with the muted sounds of the transformation—the soft gasps, the subtle whispers of power intertwining with darkness. Buffy, her body tensing, bore the weight of the change that now consumed her.

After a moment that felt both timeless and fleeting, the Queen withdrew, blood staining her lips. Buffy stood, her eyes now bearing the unmistakable glint of newfound vampiric power. The Queen, satisfied with the success of her latest creation, stepped back, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. (A/N)

"Welcome to the family, Buffy," the Queen declared, her voice a melodic echo that reverberated through the darkened chamber.

The Queen inhaled deeply as she continued to inspect Buffy, Faith, and Paige, scrutinizing every nuance of their transformed features. Her dark eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she murmured to herself, "Perfect. Just perfect." The unholy trinity before her represented a convergence of power, a deadly triumvirate that now stood under her dominion.

"Are you hungry, my dears?" she questioned lightly, addressing them collectively.

"Ravenous," Faith replied instantly, her eyes darkening with a predatory glint. The Queen's smile widened, pleased with the Slayer's fervor, as she turned to Paige.

"Famished," Paige informed her, the eagerness to feed evident in the gleam of her eyes. The Queen nodded in approval.

Now, she turned toward Buffy, her gaze fixed on the newest addition to the coven, awaiting her answer.

Buffy, her eyes glinting with a mixture of defiance and hunger, met the Queen's gaze without a moment's hesitation. "Starving," she declared, her voice carrying a sinister edge that echoed the predatory nature of her new existence.

"Wonderful!" The Queen exclaimed, standing between the three newly turned vampires with a regal grace. She gestured toward the entrance, and several vampires entered, draping red silk over Paige, Buffy and Faith, anointing them in the symbolic color of their newfound existence.

"Anything for you, my Queen," Buffy, Faith, and Paige replied in perfect unison, their voices harmonizing with an eerie precision that sent shivers down the spines of those present.

"Now, for your first meal, I have two savory victims in mind," the Queen shared, moving back to face the trio. Her eyes gleamed with a dark excitement, reveling in the prospect of unleashing her newly created minions.

"I want you to go back to your family, girls," the Queen instructed slowly, her voice dripping with malicious intent. "Faith, Paige, you two will take a taste of your own blood. It will seal your conversion and turn them as well." She glanced at Buffy. "And should the situation present itself. You will taste of your friend Willow's blood, sealing your conversion and turning her as well."

"That's genius," Rowan complimented, joining his Queen's side. "With the Power of Three, both Slayers and the adopted daughter of the eldest sister on our side, the Source will be no match for us."

Paige, however, voiced a concern that lingered in the air like a shadow. "My sisters and Willow are all very powerful. They won't join us willingly," she observed, her gaze fleeting towards Faith and Buffy. "I don't think we can do it by ourselves."

"Of course, we can," Faith assured her, a sinister smile playing on her lips. She turned to Buffy; her question laden with dark anticipation. "Isn't that right, babe?"

Buffy's wicked smile mirrored Faith's as she replied, "Three against two, maybe three… it'll be fun."

The Queen laughed lightly, the eerie sound reverberating off the cave walls like a haunting melody. "That's the spirit," she praised, cupping Buffy and Faith's cheeks proudly. Her touch was possessive, a tactile affirmation of the bond they now shared. "Believe in yourselves," the Queen advised, her words carrying the weight of both encouragement and expectation. She then shifted her gaze to Paige, her eyes penetrating and assessing. "But no matter, Rowan will accompany you," she informed them, outstretching her arms in a symbolic gesture of unity. "We are your family now."

The Queen maintained her smile as she moved amongst them, running her fingers through Paige's hair with a possessive intimacy that sent a chill down the spine of those who witnessed it. Inhaling deeply, she moved around to Faith, her eyes locking onto the Slayer's with an intensity that hinted at both fascination and something more.

"Aren't you something," the Queen murmured, her voice low and appreciative, as she looked Faith up and down, a predatory gleam in her eyes. Rowan, observing the exchange, frowned at the peculiar look on his Queen's face. "Something wrong?" he questioned; his concern evident.

The Queen tilted her head, her eyes moving slowly back down Faith's body. A gasp escaped her lips when her gaze reached Faith's middle. "Rowan, come here!" she commanded breathlessly, and Rowan appeared at her side in the blink of an eye, a mix of curiosity and apprehension etched across his features.

The Queen kept her gaze fixed on Faith as she instructed lowly, "Listen." Rowan, a mix of confusion and curiosity in his expression, narrowed his eyes and turned his head, focusing on the subtle sounds that escaped his initial notice. Then, his eyes widened in realization. "Is that a..."

"Heartbeat," the Queen confirmed, her own eyes widening with a mixture of astonishment and a newfound sense of purpose. She reached out to stroke Faith's face, trailing her fingers down the side of her cheek in an almost reverent gesture. Glancing at Buffy, she addressed both Slayers. "The prophecy has come forth; the Charmed Slayer has been conceived."

"I beg your pardon, My Queen," Buffy interjected, her tone a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "But prophecy. We knew Prudence would be powerful. But we knew nothing of a prophecy."

"Oh, yes," the Queen replied, a smile playing on her lips. "There is a prophecy. Your daughter will be the strongest of the Halliwell and Spellman lines, far surpassing that of the Charmed Ones."

Buffy and Faith exchanged glances, the weight of this revelation sinking in. The prospect of a prophecy surrounding their unborn child added an unexpected layer to the already complex tapestry of their intertwined destinies. The Queen's smile remained, a blend of satisfaction and anticipation for the role that their unborn child would play in the unfolding events. The echoes of destiny reverberated through the cavern, setting the stage for a future that promised both darkness and unimaginable power.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"What are you doin' here, Keats?" The vampire demanded from his place in the shadows, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"I have to get a message to the Queen," Keats answered, his tone filled with urgency and a hint of anxiety.

"Well, why don't you take it yourself?" the vampire questioned heatedly, his fangs glistening ominously in the dim light.

"Because someone might be following me," Keats snapped tersely, his eyes darting around as if expecting an unseen threat. "Tell her she needs to leave town, fast." He instructed hurriedly, the urgency in his voice escalating. "The Source is—"

"The Source is what?" Cole interrupted as he advanced on the two evil beings, his presence unsettling.

The vampire's eyes bulged, fear seizing him as he spun around, leaping into the air and transforming into a screeching bat.

Cole rolled his eyes at the pathetic attempt at escape, a disdainful expression on his face, before firing a well-aimed fireball at the bat, vanquishing it mid-flight. The creature screeched in agony before dissipating into smoke, leaving no trace of its former existence.

"Where's the Queen, Keats?" Cole demanded, turning his attention to the traitor who now stood alone in the shadows.

Keats glared at Cole, a defiant edge in his eyes, before releasing his own red ball of energy. However, Cole simply caught it in the palm of his hand with casual ease.

"Ouch," Cole quipped, his smirk undeterred as the ball disintegrated into smoke, leaving no evidence of its existence. The display of power was a stark reminder of the vast difference in their abilities.

"You can vanquish me if you want," Keats told him seriously, defiance masking a flicker of fear in his eyes. "But I'm not telling you anything."

Cole's smirk widened in amusement, his eyes glinting with a dark playfulness. "Do you really think that vanquishing you is the worst I can do?"

Keats' eyes widened in apprehension as Cole raised his hand in a sweeping motion. In an instant, Keats caught fire, screams of pain escaping him as he watched his own body burn. Cole observed the spectacle for a few more seconds before bringing his arm down, extinguishing the flames. Keats stood there, physically unharmed but the searing pain etched into his memory.

"So... let's try this again," Cole raised his eyebrows expectantly, his tone laced with an undercurrent of impatience. "Where's the Vampirus Queen?"

Keats, still recovering from the recent demonstration of Cole's formidable powers, hesitated for a moment. The memory of the searing pain lingered, serving as a potent deterrent against further defiance.

Summers Residence

Leo's arrival into the living room of the Summers home disrupted the tranquil scene, the sudden appearance of the whitelighter introducing a note of urgency. Joyce, Tara, and Willow, caught in the midst of their television-watching routine, shifted their attention as Leo materialized.

The atmosphere shifted abruptly as Willow's eyes widened with recognition, and without hesitation, she rushed toward him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. "Dad," she exclaimed, her voice brimming with genuine warmth and relief. Leo, in turn, embraced her with a fatherly affection that spoke of their deep bond.

"Hey, Willow," Leo replied, his voice carrying a mixture of reassurance and concern. As he pulled away from the hug, his gaze shifted to Joyce, a sense of urgency etched on his face.

"Does Buffy and Faith have any holy water here?" Leo inquired, getting straight to the heart of the matter.

Joyce's brow furrowed in concern, her maternal instincts kicking in. "Why?" she asked, her worry palpable.

Leo took a deep breath, the weight of the revelation he was about to share pressing heavily on him. "Faith and Paige have been turned into Vampirus," he disclosed, the gravity of the situation coloring his words with a somber tone. The news hung in the air, casting a shadow over the once serene living room.

Tara's hand instinctively went to her mouth in shock, her eyes widening at the unexpected revelation. "I didn't know any Vampirus still existed," she admitted, her voice laced with disbelief. The revelation of such ancient and malevolent creatures sent shivers through her, challenging the boundaries of her magical knowledge.

"They do," Leo confirmed, the weight of the news settling in the room like a heavy fog. The implications of Faith and Paige's transformation, and the likely fate awaiting Buffy, cast a shadow over the living room, plunging it into an atmosphere of grave concern. "And they have turned Faith and Paige, and by now, they've likely turned Buffy as well. I need to get some holy water to give to Piper and Phoebe as they try to save Buffy, Faith, and Paige."

Without hesitation, Tara stood up and moved over to the weapons chest, which served as a makeshift coffee table in the room. Opening it, she retrieved a couple of bottles of holy water and extended them toward Leo. "Here, Leo," she said, her voice steady despite the shock lingering in her eyes.

"I'm coming with you, Dad," Willow declared, determination burning in her eyes as she took one of the bottles from Leo and then clasped his hand. Her commitment to ensuring the safety of her friends and family was unwavering. She glanced at Tara and Joyce, her expression conveying a mix of reassurance and resolve. "I'll make sure Buffy and Faith are safe," she promised, a silent vow as Leo orbed out with her, leaving the Summers home enveloped in an uneasy quiet, punctuated only by the distant echoes of their urgent mission.

Halliwell Manor

Leo and Willow orbed into the attic, their surroundings immediately bathed in the dim, otherworldly light characteristic of magical transportation. The purpose of their visit was clear – Willow needed to arm herself for the perilous mission ahead. Leo, ever watchful and protective, moved toward the slightly opened door.

"I'll check the attic," Paige's voice floated up to them from the foyer, her presence a reassuring sign that they were not alone in this dire situation.

"Guess I'll check down here," Faith's voice added, the weight of responsibility evident in her tone. Each member of the sisterhood had taken it upon themselves to scour the manor, searching for any traces of their family.

"I guess I'm checking our old room," Buffy retorted, her voice carrying a mix of determination and frustration.

"Buffy, Faith," Willow whispered urgently, a sense of urgency in her voice as she moved to follow her friends. Leo, however, held her back with a firm yet gentle grip.

"No," Leo shook his head, his voice a hushed whisper. "They'll kill us," he stated knowingly, his gaze reflecting the harsh reality of the danger they faced. The thought of confronting the transformed Paige, Buffy and Faith weighed heavily on him, and his protective instincts kicked into high gear.

Before Willow could protest or refuse, Leo swiftly orbed them out of the attic, their surroundings shifting once again as they left behind the eerie stillness of the Halliwell home.

The last of the shimmering lights had barely died before a hungry-looking Paige made her entrance. Her presence was framed by the vibrant hue of a silk red halter dress, a garment that went beyond mere attire and became a proclamation of her vampiric allure. The dress, meticulously designed, accentuated every curve of her body with a bewitching elegance that merged seduction with danger seamlessly.

The twisted straps of the halter dress embraced Paige's shoulders, creating an intricate pattern that added a touch of artistry to the ensemble. As the fabric flowed downward, it skillfully cupped her breasts, highlighting their vampiric transformation, while leaving her midriff bare. The strategic exposure of her midsection added an extra layer of sensuality, a subtle invitation to the untamed power that lurked beneath the surface.

Paige sniffed the air, her nostrils flaring as she picked up on familiar scents. A low growl rumbled in her throat, and she stomped her foot petulantly, frustration evident in her expression. "Damn it!"

"They're not up there," Paige announced angrily, her eyes scanning the surroundings as she descended the stairs. The hunger for blood clouded her usually vibrant eyes, transforming them into windows of primal instinct.

Faith rounded the corner, her entrance commanding attention as the same hungry expression that adorned Paige's features now graced her own. Much like her vampiric counterpart, Faith was adorned in a silk red dress, a garment that spoke to her untamed allure and the predatory elegance that accompanied her newfound existence. The unique design of Faith's dress set it apart, with twisted straps that artistically criss-crossed over her sculpted back, creating a mesmerizing visual tapestry that hinted at the complexities within.

The front of Faith's dress dipped provocatively low, revealing a daring neckline that expertly showcased the dangerous grace beneath the surface. The fabric clung to her form in a way that seemed both effortless and deliberate, accentuating every curve with an undeniable sensuality. As she moved, the dress seemed to dance around her, enhancing the aura of power and allure that radiated from her vampiric presence.

"Nor are they down here," Faith added, her voice carrying a sinister edge.

The sultry echo of Buffy's footsteps resonated through the dimly lit basement as she ascended the stairs, wrapped in a seductive red silk dress that was both bold and alluring. The twisted straps of the dress criss-crossed over her sculpted back, revealing tantalizing glimpses of smooth, vampire-kissed skin. The low neckline not only teased at the vampiric transformation beneath but also expertly cupped her breasts, blending danger with an undeniable allure.

As she emerged into the main living area, the dress flowed gracefully around her figure. The skirt, with a daring slit up the side, added an extra layer of sensuality, exposing a glimpse of one toned leg with each step. The fabric clung to her form, accentuating every curve and contour, creating an enchanting silhouette that hinted at both power and elegance.

Despite the captivating ensemble, Buffy carried an air of subtle disappointment, having found no trace of her sisters and allies in the basement. Her gaze, however, remained predatory, pulsating with a hunger that transcended the allure of her vampiric attire. "There is no one down there either," she said.

"They must be looking for you," Rowan stated, his eyes keenly fixed on Paige as she descended the stairs, his expression reflecting a mix of caution and anticipation.

"Do-gooders," Faith muttered, her voice steeped in a dark disdain for those who opposed them.

"Well, I can't say I'm surprised," Buffy chimed in, her words laced with a nonchalant confidence that mirrored her vampiric nature.

Paige, standing at the epicenter of the vampiric trio, halted next to her nieces. Her gaze locked onto Faith and Buffy, sharing an unspoken understanding of the challenges that lay ahead. "Willow was here," she disclosed, her tone carrying the weight of the encounter.

Faith and Buffy's eyes cut sharply to hers, their expressions darkening further with a shared intensity that spoke of a shared history and an unbreakable bond.

"The Whitelighter too," Paige added, her features taking on a deeper shade of darkness. "They got out just in time. I could still smell their scent in the air. Urgh! I was hoping to get this over with," she huffed, her voice carrying a hint of childish impatience, a stark contrast to the predatory nature that cloaked her.

"You were?" Faith questioned with genuine surprise, her eyebrows lifting in disbelief. "I plan on prolonging this experience for as long as possible," she stated, the sinister smirk that defined her vampiric persona returning with an air of unapologetic mischief.

Buffy scoffed at her wife, a playful glint in her eyes that contradicted her words. "That's because you're a very violent woman, Faith," she remarked, her tone holding a mixture of amusement and adoration.

Faith grinned, taking the compliment in stride. "Why, thank you," she replied, reveling in the acknowledgment of her vampiric nature.

Rowan, standing at the periphery of the vampiric trio, couldn't help but be amused by the banter between the two Slayers. His smirk widened, and he found himself drawn into the playful dynamics. "In that case..." His eyes locked onto Faith's with a shared understanding, "...you were born to be a vampire."

"Yes, she was," Buffy agreed, her hand seductively stroking Faith's cheek, a gesture that spoke of the intimate connection between them.

Rowan then shifted his attention back to Paige, observing her with a keen interest. "Just relax," he advised, his tone carrying a touch of reassurance. "You're only innocent once," he quipped, his grin suggesting a certain enjoyment in guiding the newly turned vampiress through the nuances of her immortal existence.

Faith chuckled softly, a low, sultry sound that resonated with the intimacy of the moment, as she lovingly ran her hand through Buffy's hair. The subtle exchange of affection between the vampire couple added an undercurrent of sensuality to the air.

"But I'm starving," Paige huffed, her impatience evident in the way she stomped a petulant foot once more. Her newly acquired vampiric instincts were asserting themselves, urging her to embrace the primal hunger that now defined her existence.

"We all are," Buffy interjected, her words a shared sentiment that echoed the hunger pulsating through each of them. "And to top that off, I think we all agree we feel like we've been waiting for this moment our whole lives," she said, capturing the unanimous agreement of Paige and Faith with a shared nod.

Paige, glancing at Rowan's face with curiosity, couldn't help but demand, "What are you smiling at?" Her tone carried a playful smirk, a challenge thrown at the experienced vampiric advisor.

"I was just thinking of my first time," Rowan replied, his smirk widening as both sisters perked up in interest.

Faith, embracing the mischievous spirit of the conversation, urged Rowan further with a teasing drag of her hand down Buffy's right breast, adding an extra layer of playful sensuality to the moment.

"It's better than you can possibly imagine," Rowan informed them, his words carrying a tantalizing allure as he walked away, leaving the trio of newly turned vampires in a state of heightened curiosity. "Danger, excitement, the warm glow you feel afterward. There's nothing like it."

Faith, Buffy, and Paige followed after him, their movements synchronized in an almost trance-like state, captivated by the vivid description of the vampiric experience unfolding before them.

When she reached him, Paige leaned up teasingly, her voice laced with a husky playfulness, "How many have you had?"

"I don't keep track," Rowan replied, turning to face her. "The faces all fade away. It's the taste you remember."

Paige, smirking with newfound vampiric confidence, pressed further, her tone husky and suggestive, "And what was I? Just fast food?"

Rowan's smile deepened, a subtle acknowledgment of the intricate dynamics that defined the vampiric existence. "Oh, hardly," he countered, his response adding a layer of mystery to the shared exchange. Paige, reveling in the newfound knowledge and power that came with her vampiric transformation, met his gaze with a smirk, a silent understanding passing between them.

Faith rolled her eyes and hissed at them, her impatience apparent as both sets of eyes turned to her and Buffy in surprise. "Can you stop with the eye sex and get back to the food," Faith requested darkly, although it sounded much more like an order, her intense gaze glaring at them dangerously.

Paige sucked in a breath and looked down, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. She was slightly embarrassed by her niece's bold choice of words, the unexpected openness of the situation catching her off guard. Rowan, on the other hand, merely smirked, a silent acknowledgment of the tension that Faith's interruption had disrupted.

"I have to agree with Faith," Buffy added, her tone aligning with her wife's urgency. "If I was starving before, you can only imagine what I am now."

"Of course," Rowan conceded, dipping his head in acknowledgment. Addressing Buffy, Paige, and Faith, he spoke with a calm authority. "Relax. Clear your mind." He moved around them, stopping behind Paige and placing his hands on her shoulders, his touch just grazing her skin. "You are hunters now. You have the ability to find your prey."

"I don't understand," Paige admitted, her brow furrowing in confusion, while Faith snorted in amusement.

"Of course, you don't," Faith turned her glaring orbs on Rowan. "How is she supposed to concentrate with you touching her like that? Seduce her later, Rowan; I'm growing increasingly impatient." Faith's impatience echoed in her tone, her vampiric instincts urging her to embrace the hunt without delay.

Rowan smirked, his eyes fixated on Faith as he commented, "Fierce. Is she always like this?" He directed the question at Buffy, who responded with a confident smirk of her own.

"Why do you think I married her?" Buffy replied, her tone filled with a mixture of pride and amusement.

"Alright, ladies," Rowan said, his demeanor shifting to a more serious note. "Close your eyes… and focus."

Buffy, Paige, and Faith complied with the instruction, their eyes snapping open moments later, their newfound vampiric senses attuned to the world around them.

"I know where they are," Buffy, Faith, and Paige announced in unison.

"Cemetery," Buffy clarified in response to Rowan's questioning eyes. "It's the same place Faith and I would go if we were looking for us."

Rowan grinned, genuinely impressed. "Your naturals," he complimented, acknowledging their quick adaptation to their enhanced abilities.

Paige smiled in return, her gaze locking with Rowan's for a moment. Faith, however, rolled her eyes and growled impatiently. "Tell the Queen to expect company," she ordered Rowan as she and Buffy guided Paige out of the house. The urgency in Faith's voice made it clear that their hunt was about to begin.

Harmony Springs Cemetery

"Hey, wait!" Phoebe's voice echoed through the cemetery, reaching the ears of the Grimlock demon who had been making a hasty retreat. The demon rolled his eyes, displaying impatience, and turned, waiting for the sisters to catch up. "Hey! Hey! Wait! We just want to talk..." Phoebe's voice continued as they rounded the corner, only to find the Grimlock shimmering out of sight. "…to you," she finished with a sigh of confusion.

"What is going on?" Piper demanded with a frown, the flashlight casting eerie shadows on the tombstones. "That's the fourth demon tonight to run away from us," she exclaimed, frustration evident as she threw out her arm holding the flashlight.

"Maybe word got out that we killed the Source?" Phoebe suggested with a hint of optimism.

"The old Source," Piper corrected her, and Phoebe turned away with a sigh.

"Oh, you had to mention that, didn't you?" Phoebe muttered, glancing around the creepy cemetery grounds. The moonlight cast haunting silhouettes on the gravestones, adding an extra layer of spookiness to the atmosphere.

"I don't get it!" Piper cried, frustration evident in her voice, as she threw out her hands, the garlic necklace around her neck swaying about. "We've been chasing demons all night, searching cemeteries all night, and no freakin' vampires!" Her exclamation echoed through the quiet graveyard. The wind carried a chilling whisper through the air, enhancing the eerie vibe. "This is ridiculous. We got to figure out something else before the sun comes up."

"Oh," Phoebe groaned, reaching out to steady herself against a headstone as her world began to spin once more.

"What's the matter?" Piper questioned, concern etching her features, as her younger sister bent over slowly, breathing deeply. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just a little dizzy," Phoebe answered shakily, pointing ahead with a frown. "Those tombstones aren't actually moving, are they?"

Piper turned to see what Phoebe was pointing towards, then back to her sister with worried eyes. "Phoebe, this is not funny," she admonished at her sister's smile. The moonlight played tricks, casting eerie shadows that seemed to dance around them, amplifying the surreal nature of the moment. "Maybe this is more than just being rundown. Maybe you're pregnant," she suggested seriously, the last word catching slightly in her throat.

Phoebe stood up straight and started laughing. "That is funny," she quipped, jabbing the cross in hand at her sister, her laughter fading at the serious look in her older sister's eyes. The distant hoot of an owl added an unexpected layer of mystery to the conversation. "Actually, it's not so funny," Phoebe amended, looking away. The night air seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the revelation. "I went to the drugstore. I got a test. I peed on the stick and I anxiously awaited the results in two minutes," she informed Piper quickly.

"And?" Piper coaxed, slightly fearing the answer she would receive.

"And… it was negative, thankfully," Phoebe informed her with a sigh of relief. The weight of the graveyard seemed to lift a little with those words, a collective exhale escaping both sisters.

"Yeah," Piper nodded, her eyes closing with a tinge of sadness, "Well, mine was too." The moonlight bathed them in its silvery glow, creating a somber ambiance that mirrored the emotional depth of their conversation.

"You thought you were pregnant?" Phoebe asked with sympathetic eyes, the shadows playing softly across her face.

"For about a minute and a half," Piper replied, her eyebrows arched in a mix of disappointment and amusement. A fleeting smile pulled at her lips, revealing the emotional rollercoaster of the past few moments.

Phoebe closed her eyes briefly, the realization of the shared vulnerability settling between them. "Oh honey, I am so sorry." The night air seemed to hang heavy with a shared sense of compassion and understanding.

Piper shook her head as tears welled up in her eyes, her vulnerability laid bare in the moonlit cemetery. "No, it's okay. It's no big deal."

"Yes, it is," Phoebe countered firmly, her voice carrying the weight of sisterly concern. "To you, it is." She pointed out knowingly, emphasizing the personal significance of the moment, and Piper shrugged, a mix of emotions etched across her face in the moonlit tableau.

Phoebe sighed inwardly as realization dawned on her, the weight of understanding settling in her chest like an unwelcome guest. "Is this what Paige was talking about?" The words hung in the air, heavy with a mixture of revelation and regret.

Piper bit her lip, her gaze meeting Phoebe's with watery eyes, a silent confirmation passing between them.

"I had no idea." Phoebe winced, shaking her head at herself, a mix of guilt and self-reflection etched across her features. The graveyard seemed to echo with the weight of unspoken truths.

"It's okay." Piper assured her, her voice soft but firm, a testament to the resilience that ran deep in their sisterly bond. "I understand."

"No, it's not okay." Phoebe insisted, her sincerity cutting through the night air. "I left the Manor, not the family. I still want to be a part of your life. All of it." Her words hung there, a heartfelt plea that sought to bridge the gap she hadn't realized had grown between them.

Piper smirked, a glimmer of amusement breaking through the emotional tension. "You sure?"

"You come over here." Phoebe ordered with a warm smile, pulling Piper into a tight hug. The moonlit cemetery seemed to soften around them, the shadows playing gently on the gravestones as they shared a moment of sisterly connection. Unbeknownst to the embracing sisters, a bat silently swooped over, landing on top of a nearby headstone and seamlessly transforming into Faith.

"Aw, how sweet." Faith's voice cut through the moment, her tone dripping with playful sarcasm as she interrupted the embrace. Piper and Phoebe spun around to face her, surprise etched on their faces. "Do I get a hug too?"

"Faith." Phoebe said warily, her hand instinctively gripping the wooden cross she held, the moonlight glinting off its polished surface.

"How did you find us?" Piper questioned, narrowing her eyes, the suspicion evident in her gaze.

"Isn't it obvious?" Faith hinted; her eyes gleaming mischievously. The tension hung in the air, waiting for an explanation. "We share the same blood, dear aunts," she explained, her words carrying a mixture of pride and defiance as she gracefully slipped from the headstone, the night casting an ethereal glow on her vampiric form.

Unseen by Piper or Phoebe, another bat flew over them, landing silently behind the unsuspecting sisters and seamlessly transforming into Buffy. The night seemed to hold its breath as Buffy whispered seductively in Piper and Phoebe's ears, her voice a tempting murmur that sent shivers down their spines. "Faith sniffed you out," she revealed, the words carrying a seductive undertone that played on the edges of the moonlit shadows.

Phoebe spun around to face Buffy, her eyes searching for any sign of vulnerability in the vampire's expression, while Piper kept her focus on Faith, her approach measured and cautious.

"Faith, Buffy, listen to me," Piper said calmly, her voice a soothing anchor in the tense atmosphere. "We can go back to the manor, and we'll find something to change you both back." She offered a warm smile, taking a step closer to Faith. The moonlight cast a gentle glow on her face, highlighting the determination etched in her features.

Buffy smirked, a glimmer of defiance in her eyes, as she moved gracefully around Piper and Phoebe to stand beside her wife. Faith arched her eyebrows and tilted her head to the side, a cocky grin playing on her lips. "Nah, I think we're good." She glanced at her wife. "Right, babe?"

"Right, Faith," Buffy affirmed, her voice a tender murmur as she stroked Faith's cheek lovingly. The quiet cemetery seemed to hold its breath as the unexpected drama unfolded under the moonlit sky.

"Piper, be careful," Phoebe pleaded through clenched teeth, her worry etched across her face, her eyes never leaving Buffy.

"Well then, do it for your baby," Piper implored, her voice taking on a softer, more desperate tone. She sought to appeal to Faith and Buffy's maternal instincts, laying bare the potential consequences of their vampiric existence. "We have no idea what this is doing to her."

"Oh, our baby's fine," Buffy assured them with a warm smile, her hand gently moving down to Faith's stomach, a tender connection between the vampire couple. The moonlight caressed their faces, revealing the unexpected gentleness that lingered beneath their vampiric exterior.

"We can hear the heartbeat," Faith added with a playful grin, leaning into Buffy for a loving kiss. The cemetery seemed to hold its breath as their words hung in the air, the heartbeat of their unborn child echoing through the night. Phoebe perked up at that, her eyes lighting up with genuine curiosity. "Really? That's cool."

"Phoebe," Piper chastised, her teeth clenched, a mix of frustration and concern etched on her face. Phoebe fell silent under her sister's stern gaze, the weight of the situation settling in the stillness of the graveyard.

Faith smirked at Piper, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and then, with a swift movement, she disappeared from sight, moving at lightning speed to stand behind her unsuspecting sister. "You know what I just noticed?" she questioned, her voice a whisper in Piper's ear. The suddenness of Faith's appearance prompted Piper to shriek, whirling around with a gasp. "Neither of you have asked about P yet," Faith informed them, her face the picture of mock disappointment.

With a casual shrug, Buffy moved beside Faith and added, "Oh well, your mistake."

Piper frowned, her gaze shifting past Faith and Buffy to Phoebe, who mirrored her confusion. Before they could make sense of the situation, Phoebe's eyes widened in realization, her breath catching in her throat.

"Boo!" Paige's voice barked from behind Piper, the suddenness of it causing Piper to scream, spinning back around in a wild startle. Paige hissed playfully, her vampiric instincts weaving seamlessly with her mischievous sense of humor. In an instant, she grabbed Piper's arm, effortlessly tossing her to the side like a ragdoll.

Piper cried out as she rebounded off a large headstone, the impact resonating through the quiet cemetery as she hit the ground. The moonlight painted a surreal tableau of confusion and chaos.

Phoebe gasped loudly, her eyes bulging with shock as she watched her sister struggle to break free from the haze induced by the abrupt encounter. The graveyard, once a place of eerie calm, now echoed with the sounds of Piper's distress.

"Oh my god!" Phoebe winced, her concern etched across her face as she turned back to her vampiric sister and nieces. The situation had escalated beyond their initial surprise, and Phoebe felt a sense of urgency settling in.

Faith, her eyes reflecting a mix of amusement and concern, turned to Paige pleadingly and asked, "May I?"

Paige nodded, a devilish smirk playing on her vampiric features. "Be my guest," she declared, taking a step back to enjoy the unfolding spectacle. She relished the anticipation, knowing that the real entertainment lay in the challenge of her sisters' resistance.

Phoebe, realizing the impending threat, jumped back as Faith advanced on her, a cross held up as a desperate shield. "Hold it," she warned, her voice carrying a mix of determination and fear.

Faith smiled menacingly, a predatory glint in her eyes. In a swift motion, she dropped into a spin kick that knocked the cross from Phoebe's grasp, following it up with a precision fist to the face and a swift kick to the middle. Phoebe cried out, bending double as she struggled to catch her breath. "Uh!" she gasped, pushing herself upright, determination etched on her face. "Piper, crosses don't have any effect on them unlike the ones Buffy and Faith fight," she gasped out, desperation lingering in her voice. "Don't make me do this, Faith," she begged. "Don't make me fight you. I don't want to hurt my great niece."

"Aw, that's too bad," Buffy chuckled with a mock pout, her vampiric charm adding a sinister edge to her amusement.

"You've gone and sucked the fun right out of it," Faith added, sighing sadly as she shook her head. Without hesitation, she backhanded Phoebe across the face, sending her spinning to the ground.

"Ah!" Phoebe cried sharply as she hit the ground hard, her pained cry echoing through the quiet graveyard. She strategically bought more time, making her recovery appear more prolonged than necessary, as she assessed the chaotic scene around her.

"Ow." Piper yelped, wincing in pain as she pulled herself to her feet. Her attempt at standing was met with an unexpected punch to the face from an awaiting Paige. The force of the blow was followed by a swift kick to the gut and a kidney shot that left Piper gasping for breath. Determination burned in her eyes as she retaliated, leaping to her knees and swiftly kicking Paige's feet out from under her.

Paige growled as she hit the ground, pushing up on her hands and knees only to receive a relentless barrage of kicks to the stomach, the hits landing with a satisfying thud. Piper's triumphant smirk grew as she delivered a final kick to Paige's back. "Ha!" she declared, reveling in the moment. "How do you like me now?" she demanded, punctuating her question with a jab to Paige's head.

"Alright, that's it." Phoebe seethed, pushing herself to her feet with a determined expression. The air around her seemed to shimmer as she levitated into the air, her gaze fixed on her niece. She aimed her foot at Faith's head, prepared to join the fray and end the skirmish.

However, before Phoebe could execute her move, Buffy, faster than the eye could see, intervened. She grabbed Phoebe and, with supernatural strength, threw her to the ground, disrupting the impending clash.

Phoebe shot to her feet, fists raised in a defensive posture, but her resolve wavered. "Please, Faith, Buffy, I'm begging you. I don't want to hurt either of you." The desperation in her voice hung in the air like an unanswered plea, her eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and sorrow.

Faith and Buffy, unmoved by Phoebe's plea, responded with swift jabs to her face. Reacting on instinct, Phoebe quickly dodged, stepping back to counter with a kick aimed at Faith. The night air crackled with tension as the familial bonds strained under the weight of the vampiric conflict.

"Phoebe, don't!" Piper's stern shout cut through the chaos. "It's too risk—Ah!" Piper's warning was interrupted by Paige, who jumped up and delivered a forceful knee to Piper's stomach, flipping her to the ground and restraining her hands.

Faith smirked at her aunt, a predatory glint in her eyes. With swift precision, she slammed her palm into Phoebe's chest. The combined strength of vampire and Slayer sent Phoebe soaring backward, landing hard with a resounding smack of her head against the ground.

Buffy grinned triumphantly at her wife. "Nice, Faith." The satisfaction in her voice underscored the intensity of the vampiric encounter.

Faith, reveling in her triumph, sped towards Phoebe's fallen body, crouching over her aunt just as Paige did with Piper. Leaning down with a malicious grin, Faith prepared to bite. "I'm gonna enjoy this," she declared, her words tinged with a sinister anticipation.

Meanwhile, Paige held Piper in check, her strength easily overcoming Piper's feeble attempts to resist. Lowering her mouth to Piper's neck, Paige added, "Now it's time we really bond as sisters."

Leo and Willow orbed in at that critical moment, their presence splitting off in two different directions—Leo rushing toward Piper, and Willow hurrying to Phoebe. The night air seemed to shimmer with the arrival of the magical reinforcements.

Willow, quick on her feet, uncapped her vial of holy water and squirted it at Buffy as she passed, aiming with precision. Simultaneously, Leo unsealed his own vial and doused Paige's back with holy water. The immediate effect was evident as both Buffy and Paige screamed in agony, the holy water searing their vampire skin.

Distracted by the pain emanating from Paige and Buffy, Faith looked up and locked eyes with Willow. "Oh, look baby..." she spoke mockingly to her unborn child, "...our cousin's come to play." Faith smirked at Willow, but her amusement was short-lived as Willow, armed with holy water, sprayed it onto Faith's chest. Faith screamed, pushing up off of Phoebe and rushing to Paige and Buffy, who tightly gripped her arms, their vampire instincts reeling from the burning sensation.

Willow, seizing the opportunity, hurried to Phoebe's side, who was stirring on the ground. With a supportive arm, she helped Phoebe to her feet, holding her steady as Leo and Piper rushed over.

"We're just trying to help you, damn it!" Piper seethed, her eyes narrowing with a mix of desperation and frustration as she glared at her vampiric sister and nieces.

Buffy, Faith, and Paige turned to the remaining trio with sinister smiles, their vampiric instincts dancing in their eyes as they prepared to make their escape.

Paige's smirk widened as her sister materialized by her side. "Catch us if you can," she taunted, throwing out her arms theatrically. In an instant, her form morphed into that of a bat, her wings taking over as she ascended into the night sky, leaving behind only echoes of her laughter.

Buffy and Faith, sharing a moment of amusement, looked at Leo, Phoebe, Piper, and Willow, before joining Paige in transforming into bats. With wicked grins, they took flight, their laughter echoing through the night as they disappeared into the dark canvas of the moonlit sky.

"Okay, Leo, come on. Come on, orb," Phoebe commanded urgently, the sense of urgency evident in her voice. Leo, ever the dutiful Whitelighter, grabbed onto both Phoebe and Piper. The two sisters, holding onto Willow's arms for stability, exchanged one last desperate glance, their eyes filled with a mix of concern and determination. As Leo orbed them away, bright lights engulfed them, leaving the graveyard in temporary silence.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"What—where are we?" Phoebe demanded as the four of them appeared in the vampire's cave, her voice echoing off the rocky walls. "I can't see a thing."

Piper, taking charge in the darkness, lifted the flashlight and switched it on. "Here," she declared, directing the light upward to the ceiling where it illuminated the swarm of bats resting there, their forms outlined against the rocky surface.

Leo squinted, trying to discern which bat was which. "Well, which ones are they?" he queried, his eyes moving from bat to bat in search of familiar features.

"How should I know?" Piper retorted heatedly; frustration evident in her voice as she scanned the unsettling congregation of bats.

Just as the tension heightened, the cave was illuminated by an unexpected burst of light. Torches scattered throughout the cavern flew to life, casting an eerie glow that danced off the cavern walls. The sudden illumination revealed the Queen, Rowan, Buffy, Faith, and Paige entering the cave.

"Welcome to our family," the Queen announced with a smile, holding out her arms in a welcoming manner.

"I think we found them," Willow said from behind Phoebe as the four of them cautiously inched closer to the vampires. Phoebe held out the cross, its gleaming surface a symbol of protection, while Piper shined the flashlight directly into the eyes of the vampiric clan.

The vampires, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden assault of light, instinctively backed away. The flashlight had little effect on both Rowan and the Queen, who stood defiant, their vampiric strength rendering them almost impervious to its effects. On the other hand, Paige, Buffy, and Faith, shirked away from the light, shielding their eyes from its intensity.

"Stay away from us or you'll get an eyeful of holy water and a chest full of wood," Piper threatened, her tone dead serious as she faced down the vampiric clan.

"You'd only be delaying the inevitable," the Queen declared cockily, her confidence undeterred. "Now, why can't we do this without a fight?"

Phoebe chose to ignore the Queen's provocations and instead addressed her nieces directly. "Faith, Buffy, we're your aunts. You're not vampires yet," she pleaded, her voice carrying a note of urgency. She knew that if she could convince either Buffy or Faith, they might have a better chance of saving Paige as well.

"We're offering immortal life," the Queen countered, her tone shifting to a persuasive one. She moved slightly, shielding Faith protectively, unwilling to release her. "An eternity together as sisters. An eternity with your sister and nieces... with your great niece." She turned her gaze toward Willow. "With your aunt and cousins."

Piper's eyes widened with a mix of shock and realization as she processed the Queen's knowledge about Faith's unborn child. "Shit," she muttered under her breath, a sense of vulnerability creeping in.

Phoebe, standing beside her, nodded slowly in agreement. "Uh-huh," she affirmed, the weight of the situation settling in the tense air.

The Queen, reveling in her advantage, smirked at the sisters. "Now, isn't that preferable to death?" Her words hung in the cavern; a tempting offer laced with the ominous promise of vampiric immortality.

"Are those our only two choices?" Willow inquired, her voice a thread of uncertainty in the face of the challenging decision that lay ahead.

"My daughter is correct," Piper interjected, her tone resolute. "Because I prefer the scenario where you die, and we get to stay human." The defiance in Piper's words cut through the cave, a declaration of the sisters' determination to resist the vampiric fate.

Phoebe, however, shot a glare at her sister and niece. Recognizing the need for caution, she smacked both Piper and Willow with her cross, a silent warning for them to be quiet and not further provoke the vampires.

The Queen smirked coyly, her confidence unwavering. "If you could have killed me, you would've done so already," she stated, her tone dripping with certainty. "We both know that."

"We've got to get out of here," Leo stressed urgently from behind them, his concern for their safety palpable.

Phoebe, however, remained resolute. She shook her head, her determination etched across her face. "Not without Paige, Buffy, and Faith."

Willow, turning to Leo, sought a compromise. "What if it was Mom, Dad?" she asked, her gaze pleading for understanding. Leo sighed, a conflicted expression crossing his face as he reluctantly relented, realizing the depth of the emotional entanglements at play.

"Words will never make them understand," Rowan stated darkly, her voice echoing with a mix of frustration and resignation.

"No..." the Queen agreed slowly, her eyes glinting with a sinister certainty, "...but they will." With a subtle nod, she directed the silent bats perched on the cave wall to take action. The creatures launched into the air, their wings beating in unison as they flew menacingly toward the four intruders.

Piper's warning cry filled the air, "Incoming!" as the screeching bats swooped in for the attack. She swiftly ducked, trying to evade the oncoming assault.

"Ah!" Phoebe shrieked loudly, swatting at the attacking bats. In her distress, she urgently called out, "Leo! Willow! Holy water!" Leo and Willow, quick to respond, began squirting the creatures with the burning water, attempting to fend them off. Their weapons became temporary shields against the winged onslaught, holding the creatures at bay for a brief moment.

However, the bats proved relentless. With a calculated precision, the vampiric clan knocked the improvised weapons from Leo and Willow's hands, along with Piper's flashlight and Phoebe's cross. The cave descended into momentary chaos, with Leo, Piper, Phoebe and Willow now defenseless against the approaching threat.

"Let's go!" Leo ordered sternly, recognizing the urgency of the situation. Rowan, however, had other plans. In a swift move, she advanced toward Leo, lifting him into the air with supernatural strength and throwing him into a cavern wall. The impact was enough to knock the Whitelighter unconscious, leaving him vulnerable to the impending danger.

"Leo!" Piper cried out in alarm as Paige, her vampiric instincts taking over, came at her. Paige threw Piper up against the cavern wall, her strength overpowering. Straining for Piper's neck, Paige sought the taste of blood, while Piper desperately tried to keep her at a safe distance.

Buffy, her eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger, approached Willow with an unsettling calmness. The air crackled with tension as the vampiric allure pulled Buffy closer to her friend, intent on sating her newfound instincts.

Willow, her back against the cavern wall, held a mix of fear and determination in her eyes. She extended her arms in a futile attempt to create distance between herself and the approaching vampire. "Buffy, please," she pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation.

Ignoring Willow's plea, Buffy, with supernatural speed, closed the distance. She moved with a fluid grace, her vampiric instincts taking over. Willow, in a moment of panic, attempted to dodge, but Buffy's strength proved too much.

Buffy's fangs gleamed as she went for Willow's neck, aiming to sink her teeth into the warm flesh. Willow, however, fought back with everything she had, summoning a surge of strength. She struggled to keep Buffy at bay, desperately avoiding the impending bite.

"Piper, Willow," Phoebe gasped, torn between helping her sister or her niece. The urgency of the situation pressed on her, but before she could make a choice, Rowan approached her with menacing intent.

Meanwhile, Faith, fueled by her vampiric instincts, shot forward in excitement, eager to join the fray. However, her advance was halted by the Queen's firm grip. "What are you doing?" Faith snapped fiercely, her hunger overriding any respect for her Queen.

"Keeping you safe," the Queen justified, sliding an arm around Faith's waist possessively. Her eyes glinted with an unsettling determination as she added, "I want that baby," her fingers tracing lightly over Faith's stomach, emphasizing the vampiric desire that pulsed through her veins.

Phoebe, caught between her sister, niece, and the impending threat of Rowan, didn't hesitate. She swung into action, delivering a sharp kick to Rowan's chest, followed by a jab to the face. Despite her valiant efforts, Rowan retaliated, catching Phoebe's next kick and using it to flip her over onto her back.

As Rowan knelt down over Phoebe, poised to deliver a deadly blow, the atmosphere in the cave shifted. The bats, disturbed by the chaos, began to spontaneously combust, their fiery demise lighting up the cavern.

"No! My babies!" The Queen cried out, her voice laced with anguish as she felt the pain of her vampiric offspring meeting their end.

Leo, having regained consciousness just in the nick of time, turned to Piper and Willow, both teetering on the edge of vampirism. Acting swiftly, he snatched up a discarded bottle of holy water and sprayed it across Paige's and Buffy's backs.

"Oh! Thank you, thank you, thank you," Piper gasped in relief, throwing herself into a quick embrace with her husband.

Seizing the moment, Willow turned her attention to Rowan, her resolve evident. With a determined swipe of her hand, she telekinetically threw the vampire off her aunt, creating a brief opening. From the small of her back, Willow withdrew a stake and skillfully tossed it at Piper.

Piper, catching the stake in mid-air, wasted no time. With a surge of strength and purpose, she drove the stake into Rowan's chest. The vampire convulsed and then, like the bats before her, burst into flames.

Faith and the Queen gasped, witnessing Rowan's demise in shock as she too succumbed to the fiery fate. The cavern seemed to echo with the sounds of supernatural destruction.

"Buffy, Aunt Paige," Faith raced toward her aunt and wife, the urgency in her movements evident. Together with the Queen, they pulled Buffy and Paige to their feet, momentarily relieved.

"Come," the Queen ordered with authority, taking Faith's hand. "Before the Source kills us all." With a forceful pull, she guided Faith away from the immediate danger, deeper into the cave. Faith, in turn, pulled Buffy, and Buffy, still slightly disoriented, pulled Paige along with them.

"Nicely done, Mom," Willow praised, her eyes reflecting both relief and pride as Piper dusted herself off, the aftermath of their confrontation still lingering in the air.

"Thanks," Piper grinned at her daughter, the shared sense of accomplishment between them building a bridge over the recent peril they faced. "You weren't too bad yourself, sweetie."

However, the urgency of the situation tugged at their momentary celebration. Phoebe, ever mindful of their missing family members, spoke up, her voice determined. "We've got to get Faith, Buffy, and Paige."

The words acted as a rallying call, prompting Piper, Willow, Phoebe, and Leo to spring into action. In unison, they turned and ran in the direction their vampiric family had fled, the urgency of the situation propelling them forward into the depths of the cavern.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Cole flamed in behind the four vampires with a sense of urgency, his eyes flickering with determination. In a swift and forceful motion, he grabbed hold of Buffy, Faith, and Paige, hurling them into a cavern wall with enough strength to render them unconscious. Their bodies slumped against the rough surface, oblivious to the identity of their assailant.

The Queen, sensing the sudden intrusion, spun around to face Cole. Her eyes widened in recognition and realization. "The Source," she breathed, a mix of surprise and apprehension evident in her expression. Her gaze briefly flickered toward the unconscious forms of Buffy, Faith, and Paige before refocusing on Cole.

"I should have bitten you," the Queen asserted, her tone laced with regret for the missed opportunity to control the powerful being before her.

"Yeah, well, bite this," Cole fumed, his frustration boiling over. With a swift, precise motion, he conjured a fireball in his hand and hurled it at the Queen's chest. The fireball connected with a burst of intense heat and light, engulfing the Queen in flames. She screamed, the agony of the fiery demise echoing through the cavern.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"What's goin' on?" Phoebe questioned, her eyes wide with a mix of confusion and concern as they watched all the bats burst into flames and die, their fiery demise reflecting the supernatural upheaval in the cave.

"The Queen must be dead," Piper answered shortly, her voice carrying a weight of finality. The significance of the vampiric Queen's demise rippled through the cavern, leaving a trail of consequences in its wake.

"Buffy!" Willow's voice rang out, filled with desperation and worry. The absence of her friend in the chaos heightened the stakes of the situation.

"Faith!" Phoebe joined in, her call echoing through the cave, a plea for the safety of her great niece and sister-in-law.

"Paige!" Piper yelled, her tone laced with urgency and concern. The collective calls for their missing family members reverberated through the cavern, creating a tense atmosphere as Piper, Phoebe, Willow and Leo ran deeper into the cave, determined to find Buffy, Faith, and Paige.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Cole advanced toward Paige, a fireball pulsating in his hand, its glow casting an eerie light in the dim cave. He played with the fireball casually, tossing it up and down, his expression unreadable as he prepared for what was to come.

"Paige!" Piper's voice reverberated off the cavern walls, the urgency in her tone echoing the concern shared by Phoebe, Leo, and Willow as they closed in on the scene.

"Faith!" Phoebe's call followed, a desperate plea for her niece's safety, the cavern amplifying the collective anxiety.

"Buffy!" Willow added her voice to the growing chorus of worry, the resonance of familial concern intertwining in the air.

Caught in a moment of hesitation, Cole paused. He shook his head as if dispelling a thought, then, with a sigh, slammed his hands together, extinguishing the fireball in a sudden burst of darkness. The cave plunged into temporary shadow before the natural dimness reasserted itself.

"In-laws," Cole muttered, his tone carrying a mix of resignation and perhaps even a hint of regret. With that, he flamed out of the cave, leaving no trace of his presence behind.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy, Faith, and Paige, now restored to their human forms, began to stir as Phoebe, Piper, Leo, and Willow turned the corner, laying eyes on the former vampires. The relief in the air was palpable, evident in the collective gasp that escaped Phoebe's lips.

"Oh, thank god!" Phoebe exclaimed, her eyes wide with relief. Alongside Willow and Piper, she hurriedly moved to help Buffy, Faith, and Paige to their feet, a mix of worry and care etched on their faces.

"Are you alright?" Piper asked, her gaze scanning her sister and nieces with a motherly concern. The aftermath of the intense confrontation lingered in the air, leaving its mark on the once-vampiric trio.

"The Source," Buffy, Faith, and Paige whispered in unison, their voices carrying a weight of shared trauma and revelation.

"The Source?" Phoebe echoed questionably, her brow furrowing with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"He was here," Paige replied, her features gradually returning to their normal state.

"Just now? You saw him?" Piper questioned, her eyes scanning the surroundings frantically for any sign of the Source. Paige shook her head, her expression marked with the aftermath of the recent events.

"He killed the Queen," Buffy explained, her features returning to their normal state alongside Faith's as they gingerly fingered their foreheads, a lingering reminder of their vampire ordeal.

"The Queen must have posed a threat to him," Leo elaborated, his brow furrowing with concern as Paige rubbed the back of her head, still nursing the remnants of her recent confrontation.

"Well, that would explain why he wanted to kill her, but why not us?" Phoebe frowned, a feeling of dread coiling in the pit of her stomach. The uncertainty of the Source's motives hung in the air, adding a layer of tension to the already complex situation.

"I don't know," Piper replied, her frustration mirrored in the furrowed lines on her forehead. The enigma surrounding the Source left the sisters grasping for answers, their sense of security shaken by the unexpected turn of events.

Willow reached out for Buffy and Faith's hands, a subtle attempt to lighten the mood. "Checking for lumpys," she quipped, a small, embarrassed nod from Buffy and Faith confirmed her suspicion.

"But let's just count our blessings and get the hell outta here," Piper concluded, her pragmatism cutting through the uncertainty.

Halliwell Manor

"Alright, let's get you three to bed," Piper said gently, her maternal instincts taking over as they appeared back at the Manor, the familiar surroundings providing a sense of comfort after the recent chaos.

"Buffy and I don't live here anymore," Faith looked at Piper, a hint of anger in her eyes as she reminded her aunt. However, the anger softened as she glanced at Phoebe, recognizing the family concern beneath Piper's words. "When you are ready to go home," she added, acknowledging the offer with a more subdued tone.

"Cole?" Phoebe frowned as he joined them, the sudden appearance of her husband catching her off guard. "Where'd you go?"

Cole shrugged, a casual nonchalance in his demeanor. "I had a work emergency and I needed the distraction," he explained, offering a brief insight into the reasons for his temporary absence. Phoebe nodded, accepting the explanation, and wrapped her arms around his waist. "You okay?" he asked her, his concern evident, and she nodded against him, finding comfort in his familiar presence.

Cole looked over at Paige, who rested her head on Piper's shoulder, and then at Faith and Buffy, the fatigue evident in their expressions. Faith was wrapped in Buffy's arms, a silent support system between the two.

"What about you three?" Cole inquired, acknowledging the toll the night had taken on each of them.

"I'm tired," Paige replied simply, her weariness reflected in her voice and posture, too drained to muster more than a simple response.

"And I ache all over," Buffy sighed, her words carrying the weight of physical exhaustion. She chewed on her bottom lip, a nervous habit that betrayed the lingering tension. "The vampires know—knew," she corrected herself automatically, the reality of their recent transformation sinking in, "About the baby, they could hear the heartbeat. And once we were turned, so could we."

"That was kind of cool though," Paige stated, perking up slightly as she directed her attention to Faith's stomach. "It was, it was kind of amazing." Her enthusiasm added a touch of lightness to the moment, finding fascination in the extraordinary events they had experienced.

Faith smiled, a subtle warmth in her expression. "Yeah, it was, huh..." She glanced at Buffy, her eyes trailing over her wife's dress-clad body. "We're keeping these, right?"

Buffy considered the question, her eyes flickering between the dresses the vampires had put Faith and her in. Then, with a playful smirk, she looked back into Faith's eyes. "Hell, yeah we are. And you want to know something, baby, I can't wait to take yours off you and make mad passionate love to you."

Phoebe and Piper burst out laughing, their amusement echoing through the room. Phoebe hid her face in Cole's chest as she laughed, while Piper slipped her hand into Leo's, the shared moment of mirth bringing a sense of camaraderie.

Paige scrunched up her face in playful disgust. "Ew, visual," she murmured with a shudder, adding a touch of humor to the conversation.

Faith winked at her wife, unfazed by the reactions around them, and leaned in to kiss Buffy, the exchange of affection a testament to the enduring connection between the two.

Streets of San Francisco

The night air was heavy with a mix of relief and exhaustion as Cole drove Phoebe, Buffy, and Faith back to their apartment. The echoes of the recent supernatural turmoil lingered, but the familiar hum of the car provided a sense of normalcy.

Cole glanced in the rearview mirror, catching a glimpse of Buffy and Faith in the backseat, lost in their own world as they shared an intimate moment. Their lips met in a tender kiss, a silent affirmation of their bond after the harrowing experience they had just endured.

Cole couldn't help but smile at the sight, appreciating the resilience and love that emanated from the two women. However, he also knew the importance of checking in on them after such a traumatic ordeal.

"Hey, you two," Cole interrupted gently, his voice breaking through the cocoon of intimacy in the backseat. Buffy and Faith pulled away from each other, their expressions shifting from passion to attention.

"You both okay?" Cole inquired; genuine concern etched on his face. The aftermath of the vampire encounter weighed heavily on everyone, and he wanted to ensure that Buffy and Faith were coping well with the emotional and physical toll of the night.

Buffy exchanged a quick glance with Faith before offering a reassuring smile. "Yeah, we're good," she replied, her tone carrying a mixture of exhaustion and gratitude. Faith nodded in agreement, her hand finding Buffy's in a comforting gesture.

"Yeah, we're good," Faith added, her voice carrying a tinge of exhaustion but also a newfound sense of malevolence. As she spoke, her eyes momentarily flickered, turning black and then fiery before returning to their normal state.

Cole couldn't help but smile with insidious satisfaction. The subtle transformation in Faith's eyes didn't escape his notice; it was a gratifying glimpse into the success of his careful orchestration of her descent into darkness. Faith was perilously close to fully embracing the path of evil, a prospect that filled Cole with excitement.

Returning his attention to the street, Cole navigated the car through the city's dimly lit roads. The night held a peculiar energy, a mix of relief and an underlying sense of triumph

March 12, 2002 – Tuesday

The Towers

Phoebe padded into the living area, her tousled hair a testament to just having woken up. She offered a warm smile to Buffy, who sat at the table with a contemplative expression.

"You're up early," Phoebe observed, a hint of playful curiosity in her tone as she joined Buffy at the table. "Vampire nightmares?" she teased, recognizing the toll that the recent encounter with vampires might have taken on Buffy.

Buffy sighed, a mixture of exhaustion and vulnerability in her eyes. "A little," she admitted, running a hand through her hair. "Only my friends and Giles know this. Faith doesn't even know this." She paused; her gaze momentarily distant. "One thing I'm afraid of is actually being turned. And yesterday I walked into the Queen's lair and willingly gave my loyalty to her as long as it allowed me to remain at Faith's side."

Phoebe's playful demeanor shifted to one of understanding and empathy. She reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Buffy's shoulder. "That's a lot to carry, Buffy. The fear of losing control, of becoming something you've fought against for so long—it's natural to have those worries, especially after what we went through."

Buffy nodded, appreciating Phoebe's understanding, her eyes reflecting the weight of the decision she had made. "I just... I couldn't bear the thought of being separated from Faith. And in that moment, it seemed like the only way to ensure we stayed together was for me to be turned too."

Buffy's confession lingered in the air, and Phoebe listened with a quiet understanding. Then, Buffy's gaze shifted, and she locked eyes with Phoebe, revealing another layer of vulnerability. "As the Queen turned me, I had another premonition of Faith ruling the Underworld and me as her general. That we were both evil. I know now, after being a vampire, that if that future comes true, I stand at her side not just because I turned evil, but because of her. I can't lose her, Phoebe."

Phoebe's eyes softened with empathy. "Love can lead us into the unknown, Buffy," she mused, her voice gentle yet filled with insight. "And in those premonitions, you're glimpsing possibilities, not certainties. What matters is the choices you make now. You've chosen love over fear, and that's a powerful force."

She squeezed Buffy's shoulder gently, offering a reassuring smile. "We'll face whatever comes together, Buffy. Love has a way of transcending even the darkest prophecies. You're not alone in this journey."

Unbeknownst to Phoebe, the wheels of fate were already set in motion for Buffy and Faith's future. Little did she realize that Faith was slowly succumbing to the allure of darkness, and the path to evil had begun to weave its way into her choices. The shadows that trailed Faith hinted at a transformation that would not spare even the strongest bonds.

As the days unfolded, a foreboding cloud settled over their lives, and Buffy, too, found herself on the precipice of a destiny she hadn't bargained for. The darkness that wrapped around Faith was gradually encircling Buffy, drawing her closer to a fate she could not escape. The intricate dance between destiny and free will was playing out in their lives, unseen by the unsuspecting eyes of those who cared for them.

Halliwell Manor

Piper descended the stairs the next morning, her upbeat demeanor on full display despite the unsettled feeling in her stomach. "You're up early," she remarked, noticing Paige seated at the table in the conservatory. "Vampire nightmares?" she teased, a playful glint in her eyes. Paige responded with an eye roll and a playful stick of her tongue out, initiating a familiar and affectionate exchange.

"Oddly enough, no," Paige replied, a thoughtful expression replacing her playful demeanor. "Just some other thoughts."

Piper raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Any you want to share?" she probed gently, her sister's well-being a priority.

"You wouldn't be interested," Paige deflected, a protective edge to her words.

"Try me," Piper insisted, leaning against the doorway with a reassuring smile.

Paige hesitated for a moment, then decided to open up. "They're about Cole," she confessed bluntly, the weight of her thoughts evident in her expression.

Piper felt a pang in her stomach as she sensed the weight of Paige's confession. "I'm listening," she urged, the anticipation tinged with concern evident in her eyes.

Paige bit her lip, grappling with the words she needed to share. "Okay, uh... you remember the guy that stood me up?" she began, a hesitant edge to her voice.

"How could I?" Piper responded, puzzled. "I never met him."

Paige winced, acknowledging Piper's lack of familiarity. "Yeah, you did. He was one of the vampires," she revealed, watching as Piper's expression shifted from confusion to disappointment. "And I first met him at the penthouse. He was there, seeing Cole."

Piper's breath caught in her throat as Paige continued, her words tumbling out in a nervous rush. "Now, I know what you're gonna say: maybe Cole didn't know he was a vampire, and we should probably give him the benefit of the doubt, and you're right, we should," Paige concluded, attempting to preemptively address the concerns she anticipated Piper might raise.

Piper's brows furrowed as she continued to process Paige's revelation. "So then why do I get the sinking feeling that you might be onto something?" she confessed, her honesty etched across her face, and Paige's eyes widened in surprise.

"You do?" Paige asked, seeking confirmation.

Piper nodded solemnly. "Well, it's just a lot of little things, like him not wanting you to orb in, him not wanting us too—"

"Save me?" Paige interjected, her tone tinged with skepticism.

"Go after vampires," Piper continued, ignoring the jab. "I mean, I'm not saying that he's a demon, okay?" Piper clarified, holding up one finger. "Because we both know that's not possible."

"We both know anything is possible," Paige countered, challenging the certainty Piper tried to instill.

"Okay. But what if we're wrong?" Piper questioned, leaning forward in her seat, her concern etched in her eyes. "Then we lose Cole and Phoebe forever."

Paige shook her head, resolute. "We're not wrong. Something is not right."

The Towers

"Morning, Faith," Cole greeted with a warm smile as she emerged from her and Buffy's bedroom. The three of them—Cole, Buffy, and Phoebe—were gathered at the table.

"Morning, Uncle Cole," Faith replied, a hint of a smile playing on her lips as she took a seat next to Buffy.

"How are you feeling?" Cole inquired, genuine concern in his eyes.

"Human," Faith answered with a nonchalant shrug. "Other than that, okay."

Cole's attention shifted to Faith's pregnant belly. "And Prudence?"

Faith's face lit up as she placed a hand over her belly. "She's fine. I can feel her kicking," she said, a mix of excitement and tenderness in her voice.

Cole turned his attention towards his wife, a deep sincerity in his eyes. "Phoebe, I'm never gonna be okay with you chasing demons anymore. You can't change that."

Phoebe, ever determined, shot back, "And you can't change the fact that they're gonna keep coming after me. And that I have sisters," she emphasized, glancing at Buffy and Faith, "and nieces that need me."

"I understand," Cole relented, his tone softening.

"Do you?" Phoebe questioned, a hint of skepticism in her voice as she focused on Cole. "Because yesterday, it seemed like you didn't."

Buffy, sensing the need for privacy, gestured to Faith, and they gracefully exited the room, closing the door behind them.

Cole leaned forward in his seat, earnestly expressing his feelings. "Well, I just don't want anything to happen to you. Ever. Is that so bad?"

Phoebe shook her head, her tone softening. "No," she said gently. "But do you think that Leo and Buffy want anything to happen to their wives either?" she asked him pointedly. "And now Buffy has a baby to worry about too. But still, you don't see her forbidding Faith from doing something, especially not when it's her family's lives at stake."

She maintained eye contact with Cole, the gravity of her words sinking in. "You can't do that, Cole. You just can't."

Cole nodded briskly, acknowledging the truth in Phoebe's words. He rose to his feet, brushing his lips against her cheek in a chaste kiss as he passed. "I'll be at work," he stated, his departure leaving an uncomfortable atmosphere in its wake.

Phoebe sighed, closing her eyes and shaking her head slightly. She hated that things were so tense and uncomfortable, yearning for a resolution that would bridge the gap between their conflicting perspectives.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Faith hesitated for a moment, then decided to address the elephant in the room. "I heard you and Aunt Phoebe earlier, " Faith admitted, her voice carrying a mix of concern and understanding. She took a step closer, her expression softening. "Look, Buffy, I get it. It's not easy when our worlds clash like this. But we're family, and we got to find a way to make it work."

Buffy nodded, appreciating Faith's honesty. "I just worry about you, about us. I don't want anything bad happening."

Faith smiled, reaching out to gently cup Buffy's cheek. "I know, and I appreciate that. But we've faced worse together, and we're still standing. We'll figure it out, alright?"

Buffy nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. In that moment, they both understood that navigating the complexities of their intertwined lives required compromise, trust, and, above all, love.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Phoebe's heart raced as the shrill ring of the phone pierced through the quiet of her surroundings. The sudden intrusion jolted her, causing an involuntary jump that sent a shiver down her spine. With wide eyes, she stared at the device as if it held some ominous secret.

A heavy sigh escaped Phoebe's lips as she gathered herself, pushing up from her seat with a mixture of reluctance and anticipation. The phone, an unexpected harbinger of news, rested on the edge of her table like a Pandora's box. Hesitating for a moment, she finally grasped the receiver, bringing it to her ear with a sense of trepidation.

"Hello?" The word escaped her lips with a forced cheerfulness, a thin veil covering the undercurrent of anxiety that swirled within her. "This is Phoebe Halliwell," she added, confirming her identity to the unseen voice on the other end.

"Hi, doctor." A smile played on Phoebe's lips, a hopeful glimmer in her eyes as she anticipated news that held the power to reshape her world. "Did the test results come in?" The question, laced with optimism, hung in the air.

However, the doctor's response painted a different picture, and Phoebe's smile slowly evaporated. As the reality of the news unfolded, her grip on the phone tightened, and the color drained from her face. "I'm...what?" she gasped, her voice betraying a mixture of disbelief, fear, and vulnerability. The receiver trembled in her hand as if unable to bear the weight of the unexpected revelation.

"I double-checked the results myself." The doctor's voice, now a distant echo through the abandoned phone, added a clinical finality to the revelation. "You're pregnant, Miss Halliwell. Congratulations." The word hung in the air, both a blessing and a burden, leaving Phoebe suspended in a moment of disbelief.

The world around her seemed to lose its stability as Phoebe, overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions, found herself sinking to the ground. The phone slipped from her grasp, clattering on the floor as if mirroring the sudden descent of her reality. The room spun, her surroundings a blur as she grappled with the weight of the life-altering news.

"Miss Halliwell? Hello?" The doctor's voice persisted, but it was a distant echo in the cacophony of emotions that enveloped Phoebe.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy looked toward the door as a sudden thump echoed through the walls, followed by a distant crash.

Faith's eyes widened, a flicker of concern crossing her features. "Did you hear that?" she asked, her senses sharpening. Buffy nodded their shared curiosity urging them to investigate the source of the disturbance.

The couple rushed out of their bedroom, their steps quick and purposeful, towards the origin of the sound. The sight that greeted them was unexpected and jarring. Phoebe lay crumpled on the floor, her usually vibrant face now pallid and slack. The phone, the bearer of life-altering news, lay abandoned beside her.

"Aunt Phoebe!" Faith's voice carried a mixture of panic and concern as she dropped to her knees beside her aunt, gently shaking her shoulders. "Wake up, Aunt Phoebe!"

Buffy's Slayer senses heightened, her instincts kicking into overdrive as she picked up on the faint sounds emanating from the dropped phone. Swiftly retrieving it, she held it to her ear, her Slayer strength not diminishing the gentleness in her tone. "Hello?" she asked into the phone, her focus divided between the doctor on the other end and the unconscious Phoebe.

"Hello? Miss Halliwell?" the doctor's voice echoed through the device.

"This is her niece, Buffy," Buffy responded, her gaze never leaving Phoebe. "It appears Phoebe fainted."

"Oh dear," the doctor sighed through the line. "I guess the unsuspecting news may have shocked her too much."

"I know you can't tell me much since I'm not next of kin. I'm only her niece by marriage," Buffy explained. "But can you tell me what you were talking about so we know exactly why she might have fainted?"

The doctor hesitated for a moment, wrestling with professional ethics. "I'm really not supposed to, you're right," the doctor admitted. "But given the circumstances, I informed your aunt that she's pregnant."

Buffy's eyes widened in shock as the weight of the revelation sank in. She turned to Faith, her expression mirroring the surprise and disbelief she felt. "Phoebe's pregnant," she relayed to her wife, her voice trembling with a mix of astonishment and concern.

Faith's eyes widened, mirroring Buffy's shock. The gravity of the news hung in the air, the unexpected revelation weaving a complex tapestry of emotions. With Phoebe still unconscious, the room seemed to close in around them, leaving Buffy and Faith grappling with the enormity of the moment and the uncertain future that awaited Phoebe and their family.

---

Author's Note: Buffy's transformation into a vampire yes happened quicker than either Paige or Faith. Remember I set up all the way back in Bride and Gloom (and mentioned again in this chapter) that what happens to one Slayer happens to all Slayers, because the Slayer line has become corrupted. So, because Faith was already turned, Buffy was already, as a result, half way there. So, all she needed was the ability to go the rest of the way.