morph and morph

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Morph and Morph-ability By Six Rating: PG (As series) Timeline/Spoiler warning: Story is set somewhere in season five, though it basically stands alone. Trailer: Paige discovers more than she bargained for about her abilities as a white-lighter. Acknowledgements: To the makers of Charmed who created the charmed ones, Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Paige, love the show. Aaron Spelling does it again. To everyone who backed me in my last three projects and encouraged me in this one thanks for your support. No breach of the copyright is intended, just a non-profitable loan. I hope this turns out the way I pictured it. Disclaimer: All recognizable characters in this story are the property of Spelling Productions and WB. The author, who receives no monetary benefit from this work, intends no copyright infringement. The ideas expressed here are original. All rights reserved. Apology: I know the title is VERY similar to Season 5’s Sense and Sense Ability. Like the producers, I did a bad pun on the novel’s title (a common theme in Charmed episode titles) I had already committed to this title before the UK airing of the Season 5 episode, so it was to late to change it. Morph and Morph-ability “Well, what did you call me for Paige?” Leo asks as he enters the room. He is wearing his work clothes and carrying a large orange drill in his left hand. Both are covered in dust. “This had better be important. I told you not to disturb me whilst I’m installing the baby monitor.” “It is. Since you showed me how to change my appearance using my white- lighter powers, I’ve been practising.” “So!” “So I’ve also checked out the Book of Shadows.” “And?” “I think I may have made an important discovery.” “Such as?” He asks, hoping Paige would actually have something important to say. “Well members of this family have at specific times turned or been turned into various animals. Right?” Leo nods in agreement.

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Morph and Morph-abilityBy Six

Rating: PG (As series)Timeline/Spoiler warning: Story is set somewhere in season five, though it basically stands alone.Trailer: Paige discovers more than she bargained for about her abilities as a white-lighter.Acknowledgements: To the makers of Charmed who created the charmed ones, Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Paige, love the show. Aaron Spelling does it again. To everyone who backed me in my last three projects and encouraged me in this one thanks for your support. No breach of the copyright is intended, just a non-profitable loan. I hope this turns out the way I pictured it.Disclaimer: All recognizable characters in this story are the property of Spelling Productions and WB. The author, who receives no monetary benefit from this work, intends no copyright infringement. The ideas expressed here are original. All rights reserved.Apology: I know the title is VERY similar to Season 5’s Sense and Sense Ability. Like the producers, I did a bad pun on the novel’s title (a common theme in Charmed episode titles) I had already committed to this title before the UK airing of the Season 5 episode, so it was to late to change it.

Morph and Morph-ability

“Well, what did you call me for Paige?” Leo asks as he enters the room. He is wearing his work clothes and carrying a large orange drill in his left hand. Both are covered in dust. “This had better be important. I told you not to disturb me whilst I’m installing the baby monitor.”

“It is. Since you showed me how to change my appearance using my white-lighter powers, I’ve been practising.”

“So!”

“So I’ve also checked out the Book of Shadows.”

“And?”

“I think I may have made an important discovery.”

“Such as?” He asks, hoping Paige would actually have something important to say.

“Well members of this family have at specific times turned or been turned into various animals. Right?”

Leo nods in agreement.

“Be it dogs, vampire bats, wendigos or wallabies. Right?”

Leo nods again before realising that the last of those was wrong, however, as he is about to correct his charge, she corrects herself.

“O.K. not wallabies then, but you get the picture. We have also seen magic alter all sorts of people into a whole menagerie of creatures. We’ve seen a snake, a rabbit and a pig become human. Not to mention those demons who could change back and forth between human and animal kind.”

“Yes.” Replies Leo cautiously, as he begins to realise the implication of what Paige is

saying.

“Well with my mix of powers, astral projection, magic and this new skill you’ve taught me, I should be able to transform myself into any creature I want, from the smallest microbe to the largest elephant. I wanted you here to witness my first attempt. I thought I’d go for something with about the same body mass.”

“No! Don’t!” Shouts out Leo, but to no avail, as Paige orbs out in front of him, leaving only a pile of her clothes. Her hand briefly reappears to deposit a bra with the rest of her clothes.

“Oops.”

Paige’s blue and white energy stream drifts around the room for a few seconds before re-materialising behind Leo’s back. As the white-lighter turns around to confront his wayward charge he discovers instead an orang-utan.

“Paige?” Leo questions the large primate, who grunts, smiles and gives him a big thumbs up. “You just don’t listen Paige. Turn back at once.” Paige crosses hairy orange arms in defiance. “Look Paige I wouldn’t try to stop you if this wasn’t serious.”

“Leo. Paige.” Phoebe calls upstairs. “Have either of you seen Piper? Dad’s been in an accident.”

“She’s in the garden, trying to have a quiet nap while I’ve been working.” Replies Leo, moving towards the door. He stops and turns toward Paige, who has turned back to her normal self and is fast gathering up her clothes. “We’ll talk later.” He warns her then turns to leave

“I must learn how to get dressed mid orb, not just undressed.” Paige says to herself. “Boy, I could murder a banana.”

-----------

Phoebe is on the phone to the hospital. Piper is standing next to Leo. Her head is resting on his chest. Her arms are wrapped round his waist. Paige, now fully redressed is walking down the stairs.

“Any news?” She asks.

“Don’t know yet.” Replies Piper in a hushed tone.

“Yes.” Says Phoebe. “We will be right over. That’s good. Goodbye.” She hangs up the receiver and turns to the rest of the family.

“Well it’s not as bad as they first though, but they are pretty sure he’s got a broken ankle. Everything else is just cuts and bruises. They say wee can see him immediately.”

-----------

In a small electrical goods store across town a young women is closing up the shop for the evening. She is counting out a pile of notes on to the counter, when the bell on the door rings and a tall man, with blonde hair and wearing a full-length black leather jacket, enters.

“This had better be quick, I’m supposed to be out of here in five minutes.” Says the woman.

“Don’t worry, it will. I’ll even help you lock up.” He replies, lifting his hands above his head. The metal shutters come down with a large thud. The key turns itself in the lock and the latch is set. The man then points his right arm towards the woman is now waving her arms at him.

“Be gone.” She says rather theatrically.

“It’s pointless trying your magic on me, witch. I can see everything that you are trying to do.” He says as his right thumb becomes ever more elongated and pointed. Before the witch has time to get away his finger reaches her head. It is glowing red-hot. As it burns away at her head she lets out one final blood-curdling scream.

-----------

Piper is fluffing up the pillow that she has placed at the rear of a wheelchair. Phoebe re-arranges the flowers in a large vase next to the hospital bed that their father, Victor is sat up in.

“Did I tell you girls that I’ve bought a cabin up by Lake Tahoe?”

“Yes, dad.” Says Piper.

“Great views, wonderful fishing and so quite.”

“Right, dad.” Adds Phoebe.

“It reminds me of the lake where me and your mother would take you and Prue, Piper.”

“You mean the one where she died.” Responds Piper rather more sombrely than before.

“Yes.” Says Victor, realising that he perhaps should not have made such a comparison. “Still we had some good times there before that. Anyway this is Lake Tahoe. It’s such a pity I can’t take you two up there this weekend.”

“Yes, dad.” The sisters respond together.

Leo and a doctor walk in. They have clearly been engaged in conversation outside.

“For a plumber you seem to remarkably well versed on medical matters Mr. Wyatt.” Says the doctor in a pleasant tone.

“I worked in a field hospital when I was in the army.”

“Well doctor when can I go home.” Asks Victor.

“I want to keep you in over night, but, provided there is someone there to care for you, I can’t see a problem in you leaving tomorrow morning. I’ll check up on you at about ten and you should be able to leave before noon.”

“I thought he could come and stay with us.” Says Leo.

“Great!” Explains Phoebe. “There’s plenty of room, if you don’t mind all the noise.”

“And having to queue for the bathroom.” Comments Leo.

The doctor looks at Victor and shakes his head in a negative fashion.

“It looks like one of you will have to come to stay with me.”

“Not such a good idea, your flat is tiny.” Phoebe says. “It’s barely big enough for you.”

“Tell me when you’ve made your decision.” Says the doctor turning to leave. The door of the room swings open. Paige glides in carrying a large box of chocolates. The doctor departs, closing the door behind him.

“Anybody want one?” Says Paige offering the already half-eaten box around the room.

“Not now Paige.” Says Piper, with a stern look on her face. “We’ve got something more important to discuss.”

“Run it by me. Maybe I can help. I am a trained counsellor you know.”

“Paige!” Says Piper angrily.

“No, Piper, she may be able to help.” Interjects Victor. “The doctor says I can go home tomorrow, provided I am not left alone. However my flat is too small for somebody else to stay there with me. Leo suggested I stay at The Manor, but the doctor thinks I wont be able to relax properly there. I could stay here but I don’t fancy the medical bills and if I go to a hotel, room and board for two people for a fortnight would be almost as expensive.”

“Why not go up to the Cabin. After all, when we spoke last week, you said that it has a guest room.”

“That sounds perfect. Of course one of you should come up there with me.”

“You should go, Honey.” Says Leo to Piper. “Peace and quiet. A chance to spend some quality time with your father before the baby is born. I can get all the really noisy jobs completed.”

“But what about…you know?”

“The magic thing. Don’t worry. Paige and I will cover that. Anyway, if we need you, nothing could get you back quicker than a white-lighter, and we’ve got two of them.” Smiles Phoebe.

“Fine.” Agrees Piper. “I’m off to Lake Tahoe.”

-----------

As the sun rises high above the Halliwell Manor, Piper is stood outside.

“I think we’ve got everything.” Says Leo hauling a rather heavy looking suitcase down the driveway and into the back of Piper’s car.

“Are Dad’s things in there?” Asks Piper, following her husband.

“I packed them myself when I was at his flat this morning. They’re underneath all of yours.”

“Good, now all we have to do is pick him up from the hospital.”

-----------

“Well, what do we have here? Are you alone? Who would abandon such a cute little puppy as you?” Says the young vet as she lifts a small Yorkshire terrier from a box on her surgery table. Looking at its side she notices a rather nasty looking gash on its leg.

“Nurse, we’re running low on anti-sceptic cream. Can you go down to the store room for more?”

“Are you ok by yourself?”

“Fine, I’m sure me and” She lifts up the dog’s muddy and blood soaked collar “Crabtree will be fine.”

As the nurse leaves the room, the vet turns to a locked cupboard where, once she has unlocked and opened it, she removes a small black bowl and some crushed herbs. She then grabs a bottle from a nearby draw and pours some of its contents into the bowl, mixing in the herbs as she goes. She then applies the resulting paste to the dog’s wound, repeating an incantation under her breath as she does so. She packs away her materials and starts to clean up her canine companion. The door opens.

“Did you find the anti-sceptic cream?”

“I’m sorry. I think you have the wrong person. I believe you may be treating my animal.” Says the tall man with blonde hair.

“What sort is it?” asks the vet.

“A small Terrier I call Yorky. He has an old collar with my name sewn into it.”

“And what might that be?” Asks the vet turning to pick the dog up from the side.

“Crabtree.” He starts as he extends his fingers to meet the wiccan vet as she turns back toward him.

-----------

“Have you noticed how quiet the house is?” Says Phoebe to Paige, as the red head scurries past her.

“Are you going to get dressed, or just sit there in your robe all day?” Replies Paige, as her sister sinks into one of the large, well padded chairs in the living room.

“I don’t get many days off these days. So I thought that whilst Leo is driving dad and Piper to Lake Tahoe, I would take a well-earned rest. Anyway why are you in such a hurry all of a sudden?”

“I’ve been working on combining my witch and white-lighter powers.” Paige says dashing upstairs.

-----------

Piper and Victor are stood at the porch of the cabin as Leo brushes past with a large suitcase.

“Dad how come you told Paige about this place before me. I would have thought you would have wanted your daughters to know about it first.”

“I did, but you and Phoebe were so busy. I couldn’t get hold of you. I was so excited, once I was certain I had got it, that I was telling everyone, not just Paige. If its any consolation you new about it before the postman. Anyway you’re my first guest.”

“Well that’s the last case.” Says Leo reappearing at the door. “I’d better be off before Paige does any permanent damage to herself.” He gives Piper one long lingering kiss,

before walking over to the car.

-----------

One week later. The Halliwell house is full of noise. Leo is using an electric screwdriver on the kitchen cabinets to install safety locks. Phoebe is sat in the lounge, dictating the replies to the letters in her column in to her Dictaphone. Paige is sat in an armchair. She has a large set of headphones on connected by a long trailing wire to the stereo. The television is on the news channel but the volume is turned down and no one is paying it much attention. Suddenly Leo’s screwdriver stops. He taps it to try and restart it but to no avail. Then Phoebe’s Dictaphone stops. At the same time Paige removes the headphones.

“What’s going on? Who stopped the music?” She asks, as the volume on the television rises.

“Police are concerned for the safety of the city’s woman, as a the bay area’s latest serial killer stuck again last night. The victim, a young lady in her late twenties, was found locked into own flat. Police sources say neighbours reported screaming at 5am this morning. The woman is believed to be the sixth victim of this killer in ten days. The Police have asked that if anybody has information regarding this matter can they please come forward. All calls will be treated in the strictest of confidence.”

The volume on the television drops again.

“Do you think they’re trying to tell us something?” Says Paige to Leo who has now entered the room.

“I don’t know, but I think I’m about to find out.” Says Leo before he orbs out.

-----------

“Thank you doctor.” Says Victor as a middle-aged medic leaves the cabin.

“Well dad, the doctor seems pleased with your progress. Leo reckons he’ll be finished around the house in a couple of days. We can head back to San Francisco next week.”

“Piper, anybody would think you didn’t like it here.”

“Oh dad don’t take it like that I love it out here but I really need to check on the club and make sure that Leo, Paige and Phoebe haven’t destroyed the Manor.”

“Piper, relax. They’re all fine. You would have heard if there was a problem.”

“I can’t help it, I get restless.”

“I know why don’t you call Leo after dinner. You could invite him to spend a night here before you head back. He could probably do with a break himself after all the work he’s been doing.”

-----------

“What are you up to Paige?” Asks Phoebe, as Paige leads her upstairs.

“Just you see what I can turn into now.” Replies the red head excitedly.

“Not again. What variety of ape are you this time? Perhaps you’ve even mastered a monkey.”

Paige removes her robe and orbs out of the room, returning a split second later. Her essence settles on the bed in front of Phoebe.

“Look Paige, Leo told you not to do this.”

The essence reforms as a Siamese cat.

“Wow!” Says a clearly impressed Phoebe. “Now that is good magic. And you make a very smart cat.”

Paige orbs out again, grabbing her robe as she goes. She re-materialises at the bottom of stairs in her normal body with her robe neatly tightened. Phoebe hearing her sister downstairs follows by more normal methods. As she enters the kitchen where Paige is waiting Leo reappears.

“Well Leo, what did they say?” Asks Phoebe, concerned.

“They don’t know who this killer is. Just that he is targeting witches.”

“Sounds like a warlock to me.” Says Paige.

“Probably, but we must not assume anything. We need more information. I’ll call Daryl. See what the Police have got.” Says Phoebe. “Paige, you check the book.”

As Paige heads upstairs, Phoebe turns to Leo smiling broadly.

“You’ll never guess what Paige can change into know. A cat! Such a cute one as well.”

Leo is suddenly very angry. “Paige!” he shouts upstairs. Paige does not answer.

-----------

Phoebe walks into the attic. Paige is stood at the lectern, flicking through the Book of Shadows.

“Found anything?” Asks Phoebe, approaching her sister.

“Not yet, but if I keep on looking.”

“Well Daryl has given me some useful leads.” Says Phoebe, removing a note-pad from her pocket and putting on her glasses

“Let me see.” Says Paige eagerly

“I think you should speak to Leo first. He is really angry.”

“If I must.”

“Just wait outside his bedroom door until he has finished talking to Piper.”

“Piper’s here?” Asks a clearly surprised Paige.

“No. She’s phoning from the cabin.”

-----------

“Piper! Piper! Dam it!” Leo says suddenly, throwing down the phone.

“What’s the matter?” Asks Paige coming into the room.

“Piper’s phone has gone dead. Battery must need recharging. Thankfully she took her charger with her.”

“You mean like this one?” Says Paige picking up a charger from the side of the cabinet.

“Exactly. Oh no that is hers.”

“I’ll orb it to her.”

“Later Paige we have something more important to discuss.”

“What now?” Asks a clearly bored Paige.

“Paige, Leo, come up here quickly.” Says Phoebe, her voice echoing down from the attic.” I think I’ve found our mystery attacker.”

-----------

“So who or what is it?” Asks Leo.

“From the information that Daryl gave me I was able to identify him in the Book of Shadows. He’s a powerful warlock called Crabtree.” Replies Phoebe.

Paige lets out a short giggle.

“What’s so funny Paige?” Asks Phoebe.

“How can anybody with a name like that be a threat to us. Even the fairies had tougher names.”

“Don’t let a name fool you Ms. Matthews. After all you’ve been through you shouldn’t base any judgement on such shallow thoughts.” Reprimands Leo.

“Mom thought him dangerous enough to write him up as separate entry from the standard warlock.” Said Phoebe, turning the book around so that Paige and Leo could see it.

Crabtree

This is one of the most viscous warlocks I have ever faced.He is the killer of some of the best witches in Southern California.Over the years he has drained many powers.No spell can harm him.He will attack any danger that he senses.Crabtree seeks ever more powerful pray so that he may grow stronger.I tricked him into shimmering into a large case, which I magically sealed.Buried it in the foundations of South Bay Hospital.Unfortunately this may only be a temporary solution.

“So he got free.” Says Paige.

“The case must have been damaged by the building work they’re doing at the hospital.” Says a clearly concerned Leo.

“Do you think we should get Piper back?” Asks Phoebe, removing her glasses. “Mom couldn’t get rid of him by herself. It looks like we will need the Power of Three.”

“Not unless we have to. Let’s see if we can work out how to vanquish him first.” Says Leo taking charge of the situation. “I’ll only get Piper if we really do need the Power of Three. What ever we do though, we’re going to have to be careful. He is already powerful, and getting more so with every witch he kills and power he steals. Any ideas?”

“Daryl said that the M.E. had recovered fibres from underneath the finger nails of the last victim that they believe to be from the killers coat. We could try to scry for him.” Says Phoebe.

“That could be a good start. I’ll orb to the Police Station to see if I can get hold of them.” Adds Paige.

“Right then while you’re out Paige, I’ll check with The Elders. Phoebe, see if there is anything else in the book. This time lets get rid of him for good.”

With that, Leo and Paige orb out of the attic, heading off in different directions. Phoebe puts her glasses back on and starts reading again

-----------

Paige orbs into a quiet corridor, just around the corner from Daryl’s office. She adjusts her top and then walks up to Daryl’s desk.

“Can I help you Paige?” He asks, escorting her into the interview room.

-----------

“I’ve got the fibres.” Says Paige as she orbs back into the attic. “Any word from Leo?”

“Not yet.” Replies Phoebe.

“Daryl wants us to be as quick as we can. He thinks Crabtree might strike again tonight.”

“Right, I’ll grab the map, you get the crystal. We can at least locate him before Leo gets back.”

“I take it that there was nothing else in the Book.”

Phoebe just nods her head in agreement. Securing the fibres to the crystal, Paige holds it over the map. It immediately jumps to Golden Gate Park.

“Got him.” Says Paige.

However the crystal starts to move across the city and comes to a stop at the Manor. The sisters turn around to face their newest nemesis.

“Did you think I couldn’t detect it when witches try to scry for me. I’ve gained some of my best powers from.”

Crabtree starts to extend his finger towards Paige, who orbs out of the way. He turns towards Phoebe who levitates up and kicks out at him. She misses as he simply steps aside. Paige re-appears behind him with a vase in her hand, which she throws at him. He ducks.”

“Anything I can see can’t hurt me.” Crabtree grins.

Paige and Phoebe dive behind the old sofa.

“Lets get out of here.” Says Phoebe

“Wait here. I have an idea.” Says Paige, as she orbs out again.

“Leo. Help.” Yells Phoebe in desperation as she retreats toward the attic door. It slams shut before she can reach it.

Crabtree extends his finger toward the young witch. Phoebe screams in terror. Crabtree explodes. Paige has orbed back to the place where he stood, just as Leo enters the attic. He sees Phoebe splattered with Crabtree’s remains and Paige grinning more manically that Jack Nicholson.

“How did you do destroy him.” He asks.

“I simply transformed myself into the smallest thing that I could think of so he could not see me, and if he could not see me he could not attack me or defend himself.”

“And that was?”

“Pretty impressive, if you ask me, though also rather messy.” Says Phoebe mopping herself down to remove Crabtree’s remains from her.

“A Virus.” Replies Paige triumphantly. “A rather nasty little flu bug that I remember seeing a diagram of in my old school biology text book.”

“Paige! What have you done?” Says Leo, seeming ever more angry with her every additional mom

“Piper’s cell phone charger.” Says Paige, looking for a quick escape.

“Paige Matthews. What did I tell you about transforming yourself into members of the animal kingdom?” Shouts Leo, his face red with anger. However this proves pointless as Paige orbs away.

-----------

The phone in the hallway rings. It rings twice more before Leo orbs into the room to answer it. A familiar voice causes him to smile

“How are you darling?” He says to voice at the other end of the line. Pausing, whilst he listens to the reply, he notices a mark on the table. He starts rubbing it whilst holding the phone in the other hand.

“That’s good. Nice to hear Victor is doing so well. Send him my best wishes.”

Cradling the phone between his shoulder and his neck he removes a cloth from the table draw. All the time he is nodding along to his wife’s conversation.

A large sneeze echoes down the stairs.

“No, that’s Phoebe. She’s still not well but she is better than she was.”

Leo rubs at the table ever more vigorously as his wife talks away.

“No, darling I’ve barely spoken to Paige all week. She knows I’m angry with her, though I not quite sure whether she knows why.”

Leo removes the cloth from the table. The small mark is gone, but so is most of the polish around it. He moves a vase over to cover his embarrassment.

“Love you too, darling. See you soon”

As Leo puts down the phone Paige enters the manor. She looks at Leo hesitantly, making as little eye contact as possible.

“Was that Piper?” she asks sheepishly. “Wasn’t she due home today?”

This time she waits to here her white-lighters admonishments.

“Well, Paige are you happy now, Phoebe is sick and Piper can’t come home until she is better.” Says a stern Leo. “I told you not to play around with animal magic.”

“What’s the problem exactly? All I did was turn into animals.”

“It doesn’t quite work like that. You see every time you turn into an animal you start to take on some of that animal’s instincts and the longer you remain in that form the more you become that animal. Eventually you pass the point where you can change back.”

“Warning noted, but I never remained in any of the animal forms for very long, so, I ask you again what was the problem?”

“Its dangerous enough with mammals, where their instincts are matched with reasoning. You could probably stay in certain mammal forms for days or even weeks.”

“Like Prue did as a dog.”

“The lower the life form the more they are run by their instincts. I would say that as a small invertebrate your chance to change would be a couple of minutes or less. As a virus you were very lucky to get out alive the moment you became one. The only instinct a virus has is to reproduce, which as Phoebe proves, you started to do the moment you entered Crabtree. In the couple of seconds before you re-materialised within him you had produced enough copies of yourself to make Phoebe ill.”

“What? How?”

“When you re-materialised within Crabtree the pressure of your rapidly enlarging form caused him to explode, showering Phoebe with all sorts of body parts, including mucus from his lungs. Mucus that had become infected with copies of you.”

“Hang on there a second Leo. I seem to remember that it can take some time for virus to infect a host cell, cause that cell to mutate so that in produces copies of the virus and produce sufficient copies to rupture the cell membrane thus releasing the copies to infect other cells.”

Leo looks at her surprised for a second.

“I did occasionally pay attention in school.” She says. “So explain that?”

“Remember Paige that you are a powerful witch. Generations of magic lay within you. As a virus you simply channelled that power into producing copies of yourself. Not being magical themselves, the copies had to reproduce by more conventional methods once they had found a new host.”

“You mean Phoebe right.”

“Exactly. So until Phoebe is well I don’t want to risk the baby by exposing Piper to Phoebe’s, or should I say your, germs.”

“She must be getting very bored in that cabin with nobody but Victor to keep her company. I’m sure I couldn’t last that long with just a view of the lake for something to do.” Paige muses.

“I can think of one lake that might change your mind.”

-----------

At Victor’s cabin near Lake Tahoe everything is quiet. Victor is reclining on the sofa with his bandaged foot resting on matching chair opposite. Next to him, on a small table sits an upturned teacup on its saucer. His glasses rest on the end of his nose. He is looking at the TV Guide. Piper walks in carrying a small brown teapot.

“More tea dad?” she enquires, with a broad grin across her face. She turns Victors teacup the right way up and proceeds to poor. On finishing, she puts the pot down and takes the TV Guide from her father’s hands. Stating, as she drops the magazine to the floor. “It’s so nice to have a bit of peace and quiet.”

-----------

Paige is standing by the edge of another lake. Leo is behind her.

“So this is were my mother died. It looks so calm and peaceful.” She says softly, as she turns to Leo, a tear rolling down her face. “Let ‘s get out of here.”

The two of them change to blue and white lights before disappearing in a swirl.

The End.

Fairytale for Wyatt

Fairytale for Wyatt By Six

Rating: PG (As series)Timeline/Spoiler warning: Story is set somewhere in season five, though it basically stands alone.Trailer: This tale serves as a warning to all who are new to their power. Sleep well.Acknowledgements: To the makers of Charmed who created the charmed ones, Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Paige, love the show. Aaron Spelling does it again. To Manda, thanks for the challenge. No breach of the copyright is intended, just a non-profitable loan. I hope this turns out the way I pictured it.Disclaimer: All recognizable characters in this story are the property of Spelling Productions and WB. The author, who receives no monetary benefit from this work, intends no copyright infringement. The ideas expressed here are original. All rights reserved.

Fairytale for Wyatt

Leo walks over to the cote where young Wyatt lies there smiling.

“Well Halliwell it’s about time you and I had a man to man talk.” Says Leo trying and failing to sound serious as he lifts his son into his arms. “Its about time you learned that being magical does not come without consequences, even for the most experienced and

powerful of witches, let alone for one so new to this as you.”

Leo makes his way over to the rocking chair in the corner of the nursery. Settling down he begins his tale.

“Once upon a time in a land not so far away, three magical princesses lived in an enchanted castle. Piper, Phoebe and Paige were good, powerful witches. However each had a character flaw that if they were not careful would undo them all. One was pig-headed, one was flighty and one was naïve.”

“Thankfully they were watched over by a good kind king who acted as their guide. He helped them as their powers grew and taught them how to use their powers wisely and safely. Unfortunately the three witches did not always listen.”

“One day the king decided to go for a long walk in the woods. The youngest sister, Paige, decided that this was a good time to practice her newest power, to change into any creature of her choosing. The good king had told her not to do this, but she thought that he was just being too cautious. The only question was what creature to be. In the kingdom there were many fabulous creatures, dragons, lions, wyverns, trolls, horses, monkeys and even mermaids. Paige decided instead to try one of the smaller creatures. She remembered the king had shown her this small spider from the dark side of the woods. It was poisonous, he said, so she must not go near it. He hadn’t said anything about turning into one.”

“The second sister, Phoebe, could levitate, a skill she found very useful when fighting the forces of evil. This had started as a small ability to lift herself, to other people’s head height, very useful if she needed to kick them in the head. Now she could fly around the kingdom at will and every day, despite the king urging her to slow down, she went faster and further.”

“The eldest daughter, Piper, was able to freeze or blow up any object. Recently she had also been able to rearrange them at will and taken ridding the castle of mice by turning them into goo and feeding them to her cat. The cat had grown fat on the easy meals. The King had told her to stop being so mean to the innocent animals. She told the king that she was clearing the castle of vermin and would not stop just because he said it was bad.”

“On this day Piper was chasing this one small mouse around the castle. She chased it into Paige’s room. As she followed it in she noticed a small spider emerge from under a pile of Paige’s clothes. She hated spiders. She really loathed spiders. She waved her hands at it and turned it into goo. As she did so, in walked Phoebe, completely oblivious to her sister’s actions, wanting to borrow one of Paige’s tops so she could charm a handsome prince at that night’s ball. She trod on the spider goo with her bare feet, causing the severely wounded creature to morph back into Paige. Seeing their sister lying there, Phoebe and Piper decided that they must rush Paige to the king, as only he might be able to heal her.”

“Well young Wyatt you might be wondering how the two sisters did this. Piper picked up Paige’s lifeless body, draped a sheet over her and asked Phoebe to fly them both to the far side of the woods where the king said he would be. Phoebe, without thinking agreed, after all she had flown a lot further than that.”

“As they set off Phoebe started to feel faint. She had not known that the spider that Paige had turned into was poisonous, and that when she had stepped onto it that poison had penetrated her bare feet. She had also forgotten how much her sisters weighed and that this would mean she would not be able to carry them as far. Still she took the quickest route across the open bay where the sea lapped against the jagged rocks.”

“Suddenly Phoebe felt her grip weaken. Piper slipped from her grasp, taking Paige down onto the jagged rocks. They landed with a horrible splat, killing them both at once. Phoebe by now weakened and delirious flew on. However over the open ocean the poison overcame her and she fell into the sea, where she drowned.”

“So, Wyatt, let that be a lesson to you. Be careful of your powers, no matter how strong you become, because without sound guidance you could, even by accident cause great harm to yourself and others.”

Wyatt’s Smiling face beams back at his father.

“Do you think he got the message?” Asks Piper, through the open door of the nursery.

“Well I don’t know about him, but I certainly did.” Says Paige, stood next to her sister.

The Power of Oneby Six

Rating: PG (As series)Timeline/Spoiler warning: Story is set somewhere relatively early in season four, though it basically stands alone.Trailer: When her sisters get sick Piper finds herself in an awkward spot. Can she still beat the forces of evil whilst juggling her rash of problems? Itching to find out, then read on.Acknowledgements: To the makers of Charmed who created the charmed ones, Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Paige, love the show. Aaron Spelling does it again. To Suzanne, who wrote so eloquently of Willow, thanks for the inspiration and encouragement. No breach of the copyright is intended, just a non-profitable loan. I hope this turns out the way I pictured it.Disclaimer: All recognizable characters in this story are the property of Spelling Productions and WB. No copyright infringement is intended by the author, who receives no monetary benefit from this work. The ideas expressed here are original. All rights reserved.

The Power of One

Piper is stood at the bar of P3 cleaning out the ashtrays. Her bored expression turns to disgust as her cloth clings to a piece of congealed chewing gum. Phoebe is sat at a table by the stage. The table is strewn with books. She holds a pen in one hand and a jotter in the other. She sits up, removes her glasses and lets out an impatient sigh.

“What’s up?” Asks Piper looking for an excuse to stop.

“It’s just so complicated”

“What? Your latest spell?”

“No. I finished that two hours ago. It’s my latest college essay. I can’t decide whether I have too much information,” she says pointing at the pile of books on the table, “or too little.” She lifts up the jotter to reveal half a dozen lines of notes at the top.

Piper turns back to her work. Phoebe leans over to grab another textbook of the pile. As she does so she knocks another to the floor. It falls open to reveal a black and white photo of a school building. Phoebe leans over to pick the discarded tome up. As she touches it a vision appears to her. She is stood outside an office door. Through its opaque window she can make out the shape of a small cowering man screaming as a much larger being looms over him with what appears to be a knife. In the far corner of the room there are two children trying to protect themselves by ducking behind a desk. Phoebe is suddenly aware of a small boy stood behind her, tugging at arm. She turns to see the

sobbing child. “The boggy man is coming.” He says.

Vision ends.

Piper and Phoebe are in their car. It is a beautiful day, the sun is shining and a gentle breeze ruffles their hair as they speed through the streets of the city.

“Do you think we should call Leo?” Asks Phoebe.

“No. He said not to be disturbed unless absolutely necessary. Once we’re all there we’ll assess the situation. We can probably defeat this demon by ourselves. Just make sure Paige can get there.”

Phoebe picks up her mobile and rings Paige’s work number.

Paige is sat in her office fiddling with her pen. She presses one key on her computer and the office printer starts to churn out another finished report. The phone rings.

“Paige. How can I help you?” She says, pleased to be relieved of the boredom of the report. A muffled voice on the other end of the line disturbs her. “Hold on, I’ll just write it down.” She grabs a scrap of paper. “ St Barnabas School. Hang on. I know that place. I’ve helped a number of the kids there. The headmaster is one of the best in the district.” The muffled voice continues as Paige grows ever more concerned. “In trouble! I’ll be right there.”

She swiftly picks up her coat and jacket, strides over to the printer and picks up her report. Placing it in the photocopier she sets it to print twenty copies.

“And where do you think your going” her boss says as she leaves the office.

“There’s a problem at St Barnabas.”

“You can’t go until that report is finished”

“Done.” She says, pointing at the photocopier smugly.

Outside St Barnabas School, looking rather different to the place in the photograph.Piper and Phoebe pull up, closely followed by Paige.

“Are you sure this is the right place? It doesn’t look like the photograph?” Asks Piper.

“Yes. It’s the only St Barnabas in town.” Replies Phoebe.

“They knocked the old place down after the last quake. A massive crack had appeared in it.” Interjects Paige.

Inside the sisters have split up each checking every room as they pass it for any unnatural signs or portents.

“AHHH!” A blood-curdling scream rings down the corridor. Phoebe and Paige both here it and start running towards a nearby door, though from different directions. Reaching it almost simultaneously Phoebe and Paige almost collide. They look at each other for a split second and then, as if acting as one mind, they burst in. Phoebe kicks the large creature aside and both she and her sister reach for the child who is sat facing away from them.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Says a rather gruff, if quite obviously female voice from the floor.

“Saving this innocent from you, you evil fiend.” Paige replies in a triumphant manner, tossing her hair back as she says it. “Why? What did you have planned?”

“I, was putting cream on Johnny’s spots.” Answers the creature, who is now quite clearly, simply a large lady in a dark blue dress, as she raises her self from the floor. “Now look at my apron, it’s covered in lotion. I can’t treat his chickenpox without lotion.” She continues, turning around to reveal a nurse’s uniform covered in pink lotion.

Phoebe and Paige remove their hands quickly from the boy’s shoulder. A rather sick looking child with spots on his face turns round.

“Sorry.” Phoebe.

“Bye.” Paige.

The sisters beat a hasty retreat. Once out into the corridor the sisters look at each other. “Chickenpox, URGH!” They say together, looking down at their hands.

“AHHH!” Another scream rings out even louder from the other side of the school. Quickly both sisters set off down the corridor in the direction of the noise.

“I’m taking a hot shower once we get back home.” Says Phoebe, her regular workouts paying off as she pulls out in front.

“Not before me your not”

Rounding the next corner they see Piper up ahead, also running. She stops outside a door marked and waits for a second to catch her breath and let the other two catch up with her. “Go for it girl.” She says to Phoebe as the Halliwell answer to the Karate Kid kicks the door down. A small man, who is clearly the headmaster, cowers as a large green demon hovers over him. The demon turns to face the sisters. An ornate ceremonial dagger is clenched in his right hand, a large wooden club, not too dissimilar to an oversized baseball bat, in the other. He grunts at them, waving his club as he approaches.

As the green demon nears Paige, she responds by projecting a chair from the corner the room. It clobbers him in the leg at great speed causing the demon to cringe. Piper then freezes the situation, realising that any one of the half dozen other people in the room might be suspicious if they noticed the furniture seemingly move by itself. Thinking quickly she explodes the demon. As the dust settles she passes the dagger and club to her sisters to destroy, which they do with relish. As they reach their cars‘, Piper unfreezes the room.

“Well that was easy.” Says a grinning Piper. “Told you we didn’t need Leo.”

“What shall we do with these?” Asks Phoebe looking at the broken dagger and club. “We’ve got enough junk around the house.”

“I’ll hide them under those bushes across the road. I’ll have to hang on anyway. I expect my boss will call soon to tell me there’s trouble at St. Barnabas. At least this way I can calm the situation.” Responds Paige.

Sure enough, as Paige finishes burying the dagger and club pieces, her phone rings.

Leo orbs into the kitchen of the Halliwell mansion. There is no one about.

“Piper.” He calls out. No response. “Phoebe, Paige.” Still no response. “Ah good, it looks like it’s my turn to cook dinner tonight again.” He says with a touch of irony, turning around to face the kitchen cupboards.

As he removes the ingredients from the shelves, Piper and Phoebe walk in through the front door.

“Oh there you two are. Busy day? You look tired.” Says Leo.

“Just the usual demon slaying.” Replies Phoebe.

“Nothing we couldn’t handle.” Adds Piper.

“You’re getting quite independent. You won’t need my help at all soon.” Responds Leo.

“There are always certain things we’ll need you for.” She says as she hugs the man of her dreams. She gives him a quick peck of a kiss on the lips. “Who else knows how to unblock the drains?”

“I’ll just grab the shower before Paige returns.” Shrugs Phoebe, as she turns to head upstairs.

Leo is just serving dinner as Paige returns, accompanied by Cole. Phoebe comes down the stairs in her bathrobe; her hair tied up in a large towel.

“Everything sorted at the school?” She asks.

“We managed to convince everyone that they had passed out due to a gas leak, and that the green demon had been a masked robber who had fled when the others started to pass out. I told them that they were lucky to be alive. I think they all just about believed me and thankfully none of them remembered us being there.” Responds Paige.

“Dinners up.” Says Leo, pouring the pasta on to the final plate.

Cole and Piper join him in the kitchen. Phoebe takes Paige to one side.

“What about the nurse, did she recognise you?” She asks quietly.

“We were lucky there. When you took her down, you knocked her glasses off. She could only tell it was two women because of the tone in our voices.” Replies Paige. Turning in the direction of the kitchen, she shouts. “Can you keep my tea warm, Leo, I’m going to grab a quick shower.”

“Must have been a messy kill.” Says Leo.

“Not particularly.” Responds Piper.

Morning. Piper is preparing breakfast. Cole comes down stairs, adjusting his tie as he goes.

“Will Phoebe be joining us?” She asks.

“Later possibly. She doesn’t have to be in college until 11am. and I didn’t want to disturb her. She had a bit of a sleepless night”

“Her throat still soar.”

“And a hacking cough.” Cole takes a bagel, rips it apart and starts to spread strawberry jam on it.

“Where’s Paige this morning. Isn’t she going into work with you.” Asks Piper.

“No, she’s booked the morning off. Something about a delivery.”

“Do you mean like the Amway box that arrived five minutes ago?” She says pointing at package on the living room table. “You may want to wake her. She could still make it if she wanted to.”

“Probably not a good idea. She was out with her old school friends. Didn’t get back in until 3am.”

“How do you know?”

“With Phoebe’s coughing and fidgeting, I didn’t get much sleep either.” He finishes of his bagel and leaves.

Paige awoke her head pounding, her stomach churning, her throat dry and her skin tingling. “This is definitely the worst hang over I remember having.” She says to no one in particular. Leaning over she grabs at the glass of water on her bedside cabinet. Taking a swig, she returns it, cough to clear her throat, scratches herself and goes back to sleep.

Leo orbs into kitchen.

“Busy night, sweetie?” Asks Piper.

“You could say that. Apparently a rather nasty demon called the Million has been on the prowl. He preys on teachers. I‘ve been discussing the matter with a White-lighter from Colorado. Apparently he‘s headed this way.”

“Sounds like the guy I vanquished two weeks ago at St. Barnabas. Was he rather tall, green face carrying a dagger and a club?”

“That’s him. You say you vanquished him. Remind me again of what you did with his weapons.”

“Paige buried them. Why do you ask?”

“Because he can come back. He’s like a germ or pond slim. Even if only a tiny portion of him is left alive he can gradually come back. The only way to truly vanquish him is to melt down the dagger and burn the club. If what you say is correct we only have five days to act before he returns. If you don’t destroy them by then he’ll be back and wanting revenge on you for trying to vanquish him in the first place.”

“That’s ok. Paige knows exactly where she buried them.” Says Piper hugging Leo tightly.

Phoebe wakes from her fitful sleep. She looks at the clock. Almost 1pm. “Oh damm.” She mutters. “That’s another missed lecture.” Her stomach rumbles, at which point she realises she is about to be sick. Grabbing her stomach she hauls herself out of bed. Her old pair of pyjamas look even more creased than they normally do. She heads for the bathroom just as Cole comes in through the front door. She lifts the toilet lid and starts to throw up. Cole, realising that someone is unwell, dashes to the bathroom. There he finds a very sick looking Phoebe with vomit in her hair and all down her pyjama front.

Piper is outside St Barnabas looking in the bushes for where Paige has buried the broken weaponry.

“It’s no use. I can‘t find them.” She says to Leo as he orbs in beside her. “Not the best day for Paige to have a hangover.” They get into the car and drive back to the mansion.

In the bathroom of the mansion. Cole helps Phoebe up. Resting one hand on his shoulder, she scratches at the stained pyjamas.

“You’ll have to take those dirty things off.” Says Cole, noticing just how itchy she seems to be.

“Mm...Ok.” Replies Phoebe in a near daze.

As she removes her top, Cole has a look at where she has been scratching. Her stomach is red raw and very spotty. He leads her back to bed. He goes down stairs to see if he can summon Leo.

“Leo. Leo. Phoebe needs you Leo.”

“What’s up?” Asks Leo, in concern as he walks in through the front door, closely followed by a slightly bemused Piper.

“It’s Phoebe, she not at all well. She has been sick and now she is all spotty and itchy.” Replies an almost frantic Cole. “I don’t know what sort of magic it could be or which demon might do it.”

All three dash upstairs. Whilst Cole and Piper hold each other in concern over the clearly ill Phoebe, Leo attempts to use his healing energy. However he quickly removes his hands.

“Well, this isn’t something I can fix, its natural.” He says with some regret. “However, I can sense that she is no immediate danger. If I were you Cole I’d call the doctor.”

“Pathetic. Mike. Pathetic.” Cries out Professor Johnson to his assistant, who is sat at the other end of their small wood panelled office.

“What is it Professor?”

“It’s the term papers on schooling in San Francisco. They’re awful. Take this one for example.” Says the annoyed professor, tossing his assistant one of the reports. “You’d think she had never attended one of my lectures.”

“Actually Professor, This student has a very poor attendance record. She even missed this morning’s lecture.”

“Right, I’ll speak to her about that after my next lecture.”

As the Professor speaks a shadowy form moves past his office window, though no one seems to notice.

Paige wakes again. If anything her headache is worse than before. She reaches for the last of the water. Drinking it, she lightly drops the glass on the floor. “I’ll pick it up later when it doesn’t hurt to move.” She slumps back onto the bed and tries to settle, but however hard she tries she cannot get comfortable. Deciding to get up instead, she staggers into the bathroom. Boy does she feel rough. Looking in the mirror only makes matters worse. “A hangover, greasy hair and acne.” She mumbles noticing two small pimples on her forehead. She reaches over to her toothpaste and brush. Perhaps this will help.

“Mm.” says the doctor thoughtfully, as he examines Phoebe. She is propped up in bed, a thermometer stuck in her mouth. She isn’t exactly happy. The doctor examines behind her ears and on her neck where more spots have appeared.

“Well?” Says Cole, starting to lose his patience.

“Its as I first thought.” Replies the doctor, removing the thermometer from Phoebe’s mouth.

“What?”

“Chickenpox.” Says the doctor, closing his case to leave. “Plenty of bed rest and lots of fluids. I’ll leave you a list of the medication she will need.” As he leaves he turns to Phoebe. “No scratching, it will only make things worse. I’ll be back to examine you in five days. Until then you are not to leave the house. We don’t want anyone else getting sick.”

Paige shuffles out of the steam filled bathroom. The shower hasn’t helped. She turns the corner in the hall back to her room, but before she can get there she passes out.

The doctor closes the door on Phoebe’s room. As he turns around he sees Paige collapse to the floor. The sound of the fall brings Leo and Piper upstairs. Cole emerges from Phoebe’s room.

“What’s the noise?” He says. “I’m trying to get Phoebe to sleep.” Only then noticing Paige’s crumpled body lying on the floor.

“What happened?” Asks Leo.

“I’m not sure.” Says the doctor, leaning over Paige as she regains consciousness. “I think you had better put her to bed, I’ll examine her there.”

At St. Barnabas school a staff meeting is in progress. The headmaster is discussing improvements to school security. Whilst many of the assembled group seem bored with the topic, certain people are listening, and one shadow hangs on every nervous word being spoken.

“Finally, I would like to thank Paige Matthews for her help over the last two weeks. I was going to present her with this thank-you card and box of chocolates at this meeting but for some reason she couldn’t attend this afternoon’s meeting, so I will go and see her in person early next week. See you all on Monday.”

With that the headmaster got up and left the room, followed by the rest of the staff, happy to see the start of another weekend. No one saw a hand emerge, and take a mislaid copy of the headmaster’s notes.

Saturday morning. Leo walks into the kitchen with a bag full of groceries.

“Did you get everything on the doctor’s list?” Asks Piper, walking over from the oven to greet her husband.

“Twice as much, after all we have two patients to deal with now.”

Leo places the bag on the table. He embraces his wife. The two kiss.

“Leo. Is that you back?” Calls out a plaintive voice from upstairs. “Did you get that cream?” Paige appears at the top of the stairs. Her face is now covered in spots, and from the way she is itching they are not just on her face.

Leo and Piper look at each other knowing that the moment has passed. Each takes a couple of items from the bag.

“You take Phoebe; I’ll take Paige.” Says Leo.

Cole is sat at his desk in his cramped little office. He is half-asleep and he cannot concentrate on his work. A large pile of work is sat in a tray at the side of his desk. In walks his boss and places another even larger pile of work next to it.

“Just because it’s Saturday, there is no reason for slacking. You’ve got the rest of yesterday’s work to do, as well as your share of Miss Matthew’s while she is off.” Says the grumpy authoritarian. Cole resists the urge to hit him.

In the park a little girl is skipping. She trips, falls, and grazes her knee. She didn’t see the hand emerge from the oily puddle, or feel it strike her ankle.

Phoebe is sat up in bed. Piper is leaning over her buttoning up her pyjama top.

“There. Now all we have to do is your face.” Says Piper, picking up a tube of cream and some cotton wool from the bedside cabinet. “Tell me where it itches?”

“All over.” Replies a miserable Phoebe.

Piper starts dabbing Phoebe’s pox ridden forehead.

Meanwhile, in a small flat across town, a young woman is sat at a desk. She is one of the teachers at St Barnabas. Busily marking papers, she notices that it has suddenly got quite dark. As she fumbles for the light switch on the desk-side lamp, she cuts her hand on her letter opener. Running into the bathroom to get a bandage, she does not notice the gloom lift. A shadowy figure moves across the room, examines the knife and then leaves.

Evening draws in on the mansion. A rather tired looking Leo slowly trudges down the stairs, where he encounters Piper with her coat on about to leave.

“Where are you going?” He asks in bemusement.

“To P3. That club doesn’t run itself you know.” She answers angrily.

“But what about Phoebe and Paige?”

“They can’t come. They’ve got Chickenpox.” Her mocking tones unsettling the usually calm White-lighter.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know that is not what you meant.” Her angry tones upsetting him further. “I can’t stay away for two nights in a row. Plus I need a break away from here.” She shouts as she leaves, slamming the door behind her.

The shadowy figure moves through the darkened hallway of St. Barnabas School.

Sunday morning in the Mansion. Cole is asleep on the coach in the living room. Piper gently places a blanket over him. Leo orbs in on the far side of the room. His wife puts a finger to her mouth and then points down at Cole, indicating that she wants quite so that Cole is not disturbed. Leo gently makes his way over.

“Is he ok?” Asks Leo softly on reaching Piper.

“Yes fine, just tired.” She answers equally softly. “He couldn’t sleep properly while Piper was really ill and unable to sleep properly herself. Even when she was able to sleep properly last night she kept tossing and turning in the bed.”

“Oh.” Replies Leo, turning to look Piper in the eyes. “We’re ok right, I mean I’m sorry that said the things I did last night. I should have thought. I know now that you were under a lot of stress.”

“It was me that should apologise. I was the one who was unfair, not you. I shouldn’t have shouted at you or said the things I did.” Says Piper hugging her man.

“So how are the scratchy twins?” Leo asks, changing subjects.

“Well I’m going to see if I can stomach breakfast.” Says Phoebe poking her head around the kitchen door.

“It’s only cooled down porridge.” Says Piper. “Nothing too solid yet.”

“Oatmeal is supposed to be good for Chickenpox.” Interjects Phoebe.

“I thought that was oatmeal baths?” Asks Leo.

“I’m having one of those later as well, after Piper’s finished getting ready for all the digging you two will be doing today. Something about unearthing that dagger and club that Paige buried a fortnight ago.”

“I haven’t forgotten.” Says Leo. “Thankfully Paige was able to give me better directions this time. We should be able to find them.”

“What if we don’t, honey?” Asks Piper.

“Then we’ll need all the power you can muster. If we don’t get them today then the Million will be powerful enough to retrieve him for himself tonight, even though he won’t be able to use them until Wednesday night. Phoebe, you had better start working on a spell.”

“Right, where do we start looking?” Asks Piper, as she and Leo pull up outside St Barnabas.

“Paige said in was buried behind one of the trees opposite the main school entrance. Lets start looking for disturbed ground.”

A rather grumpy and dishevelled Paige enters the kitchen. She slumps down on the chair next to Phoebe. Phoebe has a pen in her hand, but isn’t writing anything.

“What are you trying to write?” Asks Paige.

“A spell to vanquish the Million.” Replies Phoebe, clearly frustrated.

“What’s the problem?”

“Chickenpox. Every time I try to get the spell worked out I either cannot think of a suitable rhyme because my head starts hurting, or my spots start itching. I think the rash has spread to my back.”

“You’re lucky. At least you can levitate so the spots aren’t rubbing against anything. That has got to help.”

“I tried that this morning, when I first felt the rash had spread. I can’t seem to do it at the moment. The disease seems to be effecting my powers. It’s probably drained you of your ability to use yours.”

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve been too sick to even try.”

“See if you can teleport that sugar bowl from the side dresser to the table?”

“Ok. Here goes.” Paige focuses on the sugar bowl, but however hard she tries the bowl will not move. “It’s no good. I can’t do it.”

“Oh boy, are we screwed!” Says Phoebe, using her pen to scratch her back.

Piper is stood over a shovel. The ground all around her has been churned up and turned over. Leo is walking back to the car.

“Well, it’s getting dark.” Says a muddy and exhausted Piper to an even dirtier Leo.

“Let’s head for home.” He replies, placing his shovel in the trunk of the car.

Cole is stood in the kitchen preparing supper. Phoebe and Paige enter the kitchen, wearing their bathrobes.

“Was the oatmeal bath worth it?” He asks.

“Definitely!” Says Paige.

“Very soothing.” Agrees Phoebe.

The front door opens. Two very scruffy and disappointed individuals enter.

“Piper! Leo! Is that you?” Asks Phoebe, surprised to see either of them in such a state. “I’m guessing you had no luck.”

“You’re right there. How did your day go?” Replies Piper.

“Good news and bad news.” Says Paige.

“We finally finished our parts of the vanquishing spell.” Says Phoebe. “That took us most of the day.”

“Good. What’s the bad news?” Enquires Leo, wishing he didn’t have to know.“We can’t use our powers. All our bodies’ energies are focused on fighting off the pox.” Replies Phoebe, mournfully.

“You two concentrate on getting better. The three of us will work together to tackle the Million.” Replies Leo. “However, Piper and I are going to have a quick shower.”

“Don’t be too long you two. Supper is almost ready.” Says Cole.

“What are we having?” Asks Piper from half way up the stairs.

“Well you two and me are having a vegetable lasagne with a side salad, followed by apple pie, if you’re still hungry.” Says Cole. “Whilst Phoebe and Paige will be having chicken soup and ice cream, as they can’t seem to manage anything more solid.”

Monday morning. Piper is in the attic looking at the Book of Shadows. Leo walks in carrying two empty bottles.

“I’m going to the shop. We’ve run out of the lotion. Anything you need?” He asks.

“Inspiration.” Replies Piper. “I can’t see any mention of the Million or anything like him in

the book. At least the vanquishing spell is finished.”

“I’m sure you will think of something to help.” Says Leo, as he orbs out of the room.

Cole is sat in his office. Saturday’s pile of paperwork is hardly any smaller. There is a knock on the door.

“Who is it?” Asks Cole.

“My name is David Granger.” Says a rather plump man entering the room. “I believe you want to see me about one of my employees at the foundry.”

Cole smiles for the first time in days.

A shadowy figure sits behind the dustbins outside the university. He picks up two pieces of metal and holds them together. As he concentrates his face starts to turn green. Nobody notices, few would care.

Tuesday morning. Piper is working on a potion at the kitchen table. Paige is spread out on the sofa in the living room having the spots on her feet treated by Phoebe. There is a small bang followed by a puff of smoke. Piper throws down the remaining ingredients in disgust.

“Do you two have to do that in here?” She says redirecting her anger at her unfortunate sisters.

“Still no further with the potion?” Replies Phoebe, ignoring the original question.

“Hardly. It’s hard to come up with one when we have so little to go on. Anyway, as I was saying, can’t you two go somewhere else to do that? Your getting lotion all over the furniture.”

“Not really. We’re bored of staying in our rooms, the bathroom’s a mess, you didn’t want us in the kitchen and we can’t go out.” Answers Paige.

Leo orbs into the kitchen carrying two large bags. Placing them on the table, he turns to Piper and gives her a gentle kiss on the cheek. She cheers up immediately.

“Did you get everything we need?” Enquires Piper with a broad smile on her face.

“Let’s see now.” Replies Leo producing a long shopping list from the top pocket of his shirt. “Arrowroot, dried lizards feet.” He says, pulling items out of one of the bags. He looks down the rest of the list. “Yep! Everything’s here.”

He pushes the first bag, minus the containers of arrowroot and dried lizards’ feet, to the other side of the table where Piper has been preparing her potion.

“How’s the potion progressing?” He asks tentatively.

“Slowly.” She replies, her mood turning toward depression. “Lets hope these will help. What’s in the other bag?”

“Oh, that’s not for you. Its for Phoebe and Paige.” Says Leo, picking up the second bag and walking through to the living room.-“That’s nice. Presents.” Says Phoebe smiling.

“Let me see now. Acetaminophen; Acyclovir; Decongestants.” Says Leo reeling off a list of

medicines as he removes them from the bag. Phoebe frowns. “And finally cream.” A smirk appears across the White-lighter’s face. “Mint ice cream.”

The sun is setting at St Barnabas School. In a classroom, a teacher is going through a filing cabinet. Distracted for a second by a noise outside, she does not notice a hand emerge from the shadows and push the draw shut. The teacher lets out a piercing scream as her fingers are trapped in the draw.

“Wednesday at last.” Says Piper; a broad smile on her face as Leo enters the kitchen.

“What makes you say that?” He says, puzzled by his wife’s statement.

“Our Chickenpox dilemma is almost over. Phoebe and Paige have had no new spots since yesterday morning. The doctor will be here soon to lift their quarantine. They seem to be getting better. I’ve even managed to crack the potion for vanquishing the Million, I hope.”

“You’re forgetting something. Whilst the doctor will probably lift their quarantine, it does not mean that they will be better, just not infectious anymore. They won’t be one hundred percent until every spot has scabbed over and every scab has fallen off, and that will be at least another week away. As for their powers, who knows when they will return?”

“You really know how to depress a witch, don’t you Leo.” Piper scowled.

Cole looks at the bedroom clock. Drubbing his fingers on the dresser, he checks the time against that on his watch.

“Remind me again why you aren’t at work today?” Asks Phoebe, sat up in bed, her head propped against the backboard.

“I wanted to be here when the doctor came.”

“Well he’s not due for another hour. Why don’t you get yourself an early lunch? I’m sure Piper wouldn’t mind.”

“Am I annoying you or something?” Says a clearly agitated Cole.

“A bit.” Replies Phoebe, apologetically.

“Thank you doctor.” Says Piper smiling as the doctor leaves.

“As long as they rest they’ll be fine. I could have told you that.” Cole is clearly upset.

“Look, they’re over the worst. Why don’t we just relax?” Suggests Leo.

“Sorry.” Says Cole. “I’m just so frustrated. I just want to help Phoebe.”

“You’ve already done all you can. It’s just a matter of patience. Phoebe and Paige will be well again soon. We just have to wait.” Replies Piper. “Why don’t you see if you can get some sleep? You look shattered.”

Cole pauses before answering. “Ok. If I must.” He heads upstairs, passing Paige on the way.

“Be quiet in there. Phoebe’s asleep.” She whispers as they pass.

“What are you doing up. Didn’t you here what the doctor said?” Says an annoyed Piper to Paige.

“I’m bored, not tired.” Replies Paige.

“Uh-oh.” Says Leo looking up. He turns to Piper. “Got to go.” Kissing her on the cheek he orbs out.

“Doesn’t that annoy you?” Asks Paige.

“It used to, but I’m used to it by now.” Piper lies unconvincingly.

“Professor Johnson.” Says Mike as he walks over to the professor’s desk at the end of the lecture.

“Yes Mike.” Says the professor to his assistant. “I need to see this errant student.”

“Well professor, it’s about her.”

“Well Mike, which one is she?” The professor interrupts.

“She’s not here again.”

“That’s it. I’ve had enough. If she can’t be bothered to turn up for lectures then I don’t want her on my course.”

“I’ll prepare a letter at once.”

“Don’t bother I’ll tell her in person.”

Paige is sat at the kitchen table, eating on a banana. Piper brings over two glasses of water and sits down next to her.

“Having no powers is annoying.” Says Paige.

“Tell me about it. Been there, don’t want to go there again.”

“Doesn’t it concern you that we might all get too sick to fight?”

“I try not to worry about future possibilities.”

“But what if you have chickenpox when we face the Million?”

“Won’t happen.”

“Why not?” Paige seems surprised at her sister’s seemingly unconcerned attitude.

“Had it. Prue gave them to me when we were little. I must have been about four or five at the time.”

“How come Phoebe didn’t get it then?”

“Do you know? I can’t remember. I must sound like an awful sister.”

“Ok. So you’re safe, but what about Leo?”

“Well apart from being a White-lighter, which I suppose gives him some sort of immunity, he’s already had it when he was young.”

“How do you know?”

Piper takes a large sip from the glass. “He told me”

The end of another school day at St Barnabas. The headmaster and his secretary are just about to leave.

“Did you get in touch with Miss Matthews?” Asks the headmaster.

“No. Apparently she has chickenpox and hasn’t been in work since Thursday.”

“I think I’ll call around this evening. Make the presentation in person.”

Sun sets on the Halliwell mansion. A tall green man lurks in the undergrowth. He feels his power resurfacing. Soon he will be whole again. The million has returned.

There is a sharp knock on the front door of the mansion. Piper looks out but does not recognise the stranger stood there. Cautiously she opens the door.

“Are you Phoebe Halliwell?” Demands Professor Johnson storming into the house.

“No.” Says Piper concerned. “I’m her sister. Piper.”

“Where is she? Take me to her. I must speak to her now.”

“You can’t. She’s asleep.” Piper says, regaining her composure.

“Well wake her then woman. I must speak to her.”

There is another knock at the door. “Sit down a second. I’ll just answer that.” Orders Piper to the Professor. He complies.

“Good evening, I’m the headmaster of St Barnabas School. Is it ok to see Miss Paige Matthews? I understand she has been rather unwell.”

“Of course you can come in. She’s ok to have visitors. In fact I think she would be delighted to see you if only to relieve her boredom. She is still rather spotty I’m afraid, but no longer infectious.”

“Have we met before?” He asks.

“I don’t think so.” Piper says, hoping that he won’t remember. “Please take a seat. I’ll just call her for you.” She turns toward the stairs and calls out. “Paige, you have a visitor.”

Piper walks off to the kitchen. She will let the Professor wait a little. Paige emerges from her room. Her baggy pyjamas hidden under her dressing gown. There is a gust of wind from down stairs. Something doesn’t feel right. Paige wraps herself up tighter and starts to descend the stairs.

Suddenly the door is flung open. The Million stands there with his club and dagger at the ready. Piper, also sensing the danger returns from the kitchen, with a vile of the potion and a copy of the spell. On entering she freezes the room. Whilst this works on the headmaster and the professor, the Million quickly shakes it off. She tries again, but to no avail. She starts to throw flame balls but the Million simply parries them with his dagger and club.

Paige retreats upstairs. She runs into Phoebe’s room to warn her sister and Cole, but, whilst Cole is asleep in the chair, Phoebe’s bed is empty and Phoebe is nowhere to be seen. Paige shakes Cole to wake him.

“Where’s Phoebe? The million is here.”

Cole stirs. “She’s up there.” He says groggily, pointing at the ceiling.

Paige turns around and looks up at where the ex-demon is pointing. Phoebe is levitating just below the ceiling; a small blanket wrapped around her the only thing protecting her dignity. She is, despite all the noise coming from below, still asleep. Paige leaves quickly and heads for the stairs.

Piper is tiring. As the Million slowly advances on her, she tries reaching for the potion, but realises that he is getting too close. Paige comes dashing down stairs. Summoning all her power she attempts to orb the Million backward, but only manages to orb a small ceramic vase off the coffee table. The Million senses her presence and turns to face her. The vase reappears behind him, falls to the floor and shatters.

Phoebe wakes with a start, banging her head on the ceiling. Not realising where she is and what she is doing, her concentration and falls back on to the bed with a thud. Regaining her senses she gets up, still wrapped in the blanket, and heads out of her room.

The million turns around again. Piper seizes her chance, removes the cork from the vile of potion, and hurls the contents at the demon. As he recoils in pain, she takes out her copy of the spell, which she starts to recant. Phoebe joins Paige at the top of the stairs. Paige produces her copy of the same spell from the top of the pocket in her dressing gown, so that she and Phoebe can accompany their sister. The million goes up in flames and disappears. His dagger and club fall to the ground.

In a darkened factory on the far side of town all is quiet. The only light comes from a small furnace, still glowing from a hard day’s work. Suddenly the room lights up as Leo orbs in with Cole.

“Still got everything?” Asks Leo.

“Yes.” Says Cole, holding out the dagger and club.

“Right, what do we do now?”

“Throw them in the furnace, it should still be hot enough.”

Cole hands Leo the dagger and club. He picks up a welding mask and gloves from a nearby table. Putting them on he opens up the furnace door, and taking the dagger and club from Leo he hurls them into the fire. Coughing as fumes come off the burning weaponry, Cole retreats to where Leo is standing.

“Is it me or is it hot in here?” Says Cole removing the mask and gloves to mop his brow.

It is a sunny afternoon in San Francisco. Paige is reclining on one of three sun beds in the back garden. Her small red bikini shows that while she is still not one hundred percent, she is a lot less spotty than she was before. Piper walks out with three glasses of lemonade. Setting them down on a nearby table, she turns to Paige.

“Where’s Phoebe?” She asks Paige.

Paige points to a stake in the ground to which a cord is attached. Piper follows the cord with her eyes as it snakes through the grass and then rises twenty feet in the air to where it is tied around the top of a pair of denim hot pants that Phoebe is wearing. Phoebe is reading a book resting on her chest, whilst listening to music on her personal stereo, which she has clipped to the side of her cut off top. She is levitating under the shade of a

tree. Like Paige she looks far healthier than she did.

“Hey! Phoebe!” Piper shouts up at her.

Phoebe removes the headphones from her ears, and gradually lowers herself on to the second sun bed, grabbing one of the glasses on the way.

“Well you two seem a lot better.” Says Piper, passing Paige the second glass of lemonade.

“We are.” Replies Phoebe, with a smile.

“That’s easy for you to say.” Says Paige, squirming on her sun bed. “When you start to itch you can simply levitate out of it.”

“True.” Phoebe says with a grin.

“I thought you would want to be with Cole?” Enquires Piper.

“Not really. I wouldn’t want to miss this great weather. As he can’t come out and is fast asleep anyway I thought I would make the most of it and keep Paige company.”

“And get a great tan.” Interjects Paige.

“Ok. And get a great tan.”

“Well I hope you feel sorry for yourself. He was with you when you got sick.” Says Piper slightly annoyed.

“But he’s got Chickenpox.”

THE END.

TODAY THE WORLD STOPPED TURNING

Rating: PG (As series)Timeline/Spoiler warning: Between Series 4 and 5Trailer: The Angel of Destiny is in trouble and seeks three of his most recent contacts, The Charmed Ones. Can the Halliwell sisters save time?Acknowledgements: To the makers of Charmed who created the charmed ones, Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Paige, love the show. Aaron Spelling does it again. To THUNDER, thank you for the music. No breach of the copyright is intended, just a non-profitable loan. I hope this turns out the way I pictured it.Disclaimer: All recognizable characters in this story are the property of Spelling Productions and WB. The author, who receives no monetary benefit from this work, intends no copyright infringement. The ideas expressed here are original. All rights reserved.

‘Cos you stole my soul then you broke my heartAnd I don’t know why but I’m still yearning.Darling in my mind you’ve frozen the of timeBecause today the world stopped turning.

Today the World Stopped Turning by Luke MorleyFrom Laughing on Judgement Day by Thunder

Today the world stopped turning

It is a clear, sunny day outside the Halliwell manor. A gentle breeze ripples through the

trees. The street is peaceful. The only noise is the conversation between Piper and Phoebe as they climb the steps that lead to the front door. Each is clutching a bag full of groceries.

“Well, how are you feeling. Any morning sickness yet?” Enquires Phoebe of her pregnant sister.

“Not really.” Replies Piper lying, as her stomach churns over for the hundredth time that day.

Phoebe opens the door of the manor as they reach the top of the steps and lets Piper walk through. The house is quiet.

“Anyone home?” Piper shouts out.

“Up here.” Paige’s mumbled voice replies from some distant corner of the manor.

“Shouldn’t you be at work young lady?”

“Just finished. I wanted to get back early to try on this new dress I bought during my lunch break.” Paige answers as she appears at the top of the stairs in a flowing black strapless gown. “What do you think?”

“Nice. Very elegant.” Chips in Phoebe.

“A little overdressed for tonight.” Says Piper

“What about tonight? Something going on.” Says Paige, looking puzzled.

“Your next potion lesson.” States Piper, with triumphant relish.

“Oh!” Replies Paige unconcerned. “I though it was something important.”

“It is important.” Snaps Piper. “There is still plenty to learn. You’ve got to take this more seriously. Last time you made some excuse and the time before that you dyed your hands green. If you don’t pay more attention you’ll do something that even we can’t undo.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Replies a slightly bemused Paige. “I hadn’t forgot. I just thought you might have changed our plans for this evening. That’s all.”

“Sorry.” Says Piper as she turns to Phoebe. “Want to help me unpack?”

“I’ll be with you in a minute.” Says Phoebe.

Piper walks off into the kitchen, still clutching her groceries. As she rounds the corner a bluish white glow appears in the kitchen door. The groceries slip from Piper’s hands, but she is able to freeze them before they hit the floor.

“Leo!” She growls as she unfreezes her husband mid orb.

“What’s up with her?” Whispers Paige to Phoebe.

“Hormones. She’s been like this all day.”

“At least she isn’t destroying everyone in sight.”

“That is one area where she still seems normal thankfully. If anything she seems to have gained greater control of her magic. Anyway,” Phoebe says changing the subject, “why

the new dress?”

“Well we have a charity ball coming up soon. South Bay has one most years to raise money for local charities. This year I’m on the team that is organising it, so I have to look my best. The mayor may even come.”

Paige walks back towards the stairs. Phoebe heads off to the kitchen, leaving her bag of groceries on the hall table. Turning round to pick them up she glances at Paige, only for a second its not Paige, its Prue who looks back at her.

“You’re back.” Phoebe gasps in shock at the scene before her.

“What’s up with my back? Is the zip coming loose?” Says Paige suddenly noticing her sister expression. “Are you ok? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Dark storm clouds gather over a distant horizon. The hunched figure of an aged gentleman sits on a wooden bench rocking gently back and forth. He stops for a second to gather up a faded scroll from the ground below him. Putting a pair of rounded spectacles on he looks down at the text below and starts to sob as he reads what is written before him.

“It was Prue I tell you, standing there. As clear as day and as solid as the three of us.” Declares a clearly agitated Phoebe.

“You’re sure of that?” Asks Piper, in concern.

“Look, I know my own sisters when I see them.”

“Piper is only asking because she is concerned for you.” Says Paige softly.

Leo walks into the living room carrying a large mug.

“Drink this. It will help you relax.”

“Any idea what’s going on here dear?” Asks Piper to her husband.

“It could be any number of things. I wouldn’t even want to guess.” Replies the white-lighter humbly.

“I think I can help you there.” Says a familiar voice wafting across the air. In a shimmer of light the Angel of Destiny reappears before them.

“What are you doing back here?” Asks a rather disturb Paige as her sisters look on in surprise. “ We’ve already made our decision.”

“I know.” Replies the Angel. “That’s the reason I’m back. It’s about your pledge to help save the innocent. I’ve got a few who need your help.”

“Like who?” Enquires Piper.

“Everyone who has existed, does exist or will exist.”

In the desert plateau that is the wasteland of lost souls, the atmosphere crackles as the souls of slain demons fall through with far greater regularity than normal. Cole is busy jumping around his realm, moving from demon to demon, stripping them of their powers before they land. He looks up and smiles as another soul brings him still more power.

“So what is going on?” Asks Piper emphatically as she leads the Angel, her sisters and her

husband into the attic. “And why are we meeting up here?”

“I suppose it all started when you vanquished the Source.” Replies the Angel. “With him gone a power struggle started amongst the remaining demons to determine who would take his place. At first it was a relatively localised affair with little to worry the mortal realm. Then thing started turning nasty, with some using innocents to advance their cause. Even then, with everything that happens on this planet, most of it could have been easily overlooked. That was until a demon called Tempest started to manipulate the fabric of time itself.”

“I’ve met him before.” Says Phoebe sadly. “He was part of the Source’s scheme that led to the death of Prue in the first place. How does he have anything to do with her appearance in this house earlier.”

“As I said, he manipulates the fabric of time. In the battle for control of the underworld his powers have grown stronger. In your previous encounters with him he could only reset universal time. Now he can reset localised time. At the second you saw Prue it was as if that portion of time and space had been transported forward from some time in the past.”

“From before she died?” Enquires Piper.

“Exactly.”

“So why didn’t I notice anything different?” Asks Paige.

“Ah! That’s the worst part of it. By ripping up time itself he has made it possible for two perceptions of time to exist in one place. In yours Phoebe, you saw Prue standing there as if she had never died. In yours Paige, all you saw was Phoebe looking at you a bit strangely.”

“Do you understand this?” Whispers Paige to Piper.

“Not exactly.”

“Why was I the first to see this?” Quizzes Phoebe.

“That I don’t know. It was Probably just chance.” Replies the Angel.

“If living in this house has taught me one thing it is that there is no such thing as chance.” States Phoebe.

“It could be to do with your particular powers. Your ability to see past and future events enabled you to defeat him before, when you beat Rodriguez. Perhaps you are more attuned to the passage of time.” Leo suggests, trying to calm the agitated witch down.

“So how do we stop this?” Asks Phoebe. “And who’s butt do I get to kick?”

“It’s Tempest that you must stop. As for how, I have no idea. That is why I came to you.”

In the dark night of the underworld, the cloaked figure of Tempest paces back and forth through his lair. He stops a second, raises his hand and discharges an energy ball.

Whilst the others are examining the old scroll the Angel has brought with him, Phoebe is flicking through the book of shadows. A cold figure touches her back. She turns sharply and prepares to kick out, but instead is greeted by the stern stare of Grams.

“Phoebe Halliwell, what have I told about the attic?”

Phoebe blinks in disbelief. However just as quickly as she arrived their Grams is gone.

“Did you all see that?” She asks the rest of the assembled group.

“As clear as day.” Replies Paige accompanied by nodding heads all around.

“Its as if she had never died. As real as she was at our wedding.” Says Piper, as she hugs Leo for comfort.

“What did she mean about the Attic?” Enquires Paige.

“I’m not sure.” Piper answers. “She only used to speak to us like that if we had done something wrong.”

“Wrong, like coming into the attic when we were children.” Interjects Phoebe.

“Another time slip.” The Angel states.

Leo looks intently at the scroll. A broad grin crosses his face.

“What are you so happy about?” asks Paige of the White-lighter.

“Relativity.”

“What of our relations got to do with it?”

“Apart from popping up at unexpected moments.” Chirps Phoebe.

“No, the Theory of Relativity. Einstein.” Says an exasperated Leo to the three bemused sisters. “It describes how matter, space and time interact. To put it very simply, it shows that what we think we see is dependant on where we are, how fast we are travelling and what we are looking at.”

Piper, Phoebe and Paige look at each other dumb-founded.

“Well you were the one who married him.” Says Phoebe to Piper.

“I thought you were the smart one. You have a degree.”

The two sisters stare at each other and then at Leo. He looks back in disbelief.

“That is our perception of reality, of each other and the world around us are unique to each of us as individuals. We each see things differently.”

“So what?” Asks Paige.

“So every time slip is different for each person experiencing it. Some we may share with others, but even then we may each have a different perspective on the events that just unfolded. Others, such as the time slip Phoebe experienced earlier, are totally unique to that individual.”

“I repeat the question. So what?” Questions Paige more annoyed this time.

“I think I understand you Leo.” Says the Angel. “Even Tempest has certain things he can not do, even if he, like me, can manipulate the time-space continuum, he can’t break it. All he can do is alter perceptions, change viewpoints or jump between parallel dimensions. By working out how he is manipulating us we may be able to better locate his base of operations.”

Piper, Phoebe and Paige look at the Angel completely dumbfounded.

“How do we find that?” Asks Phoebe cautiously, not certain whether she is asking the right question.

“We must first work out where and when the time slips first occurred. He won’t want to move far from there or he would become as lost as the rest of us in the muddle of time and space he has created.” Says Leo, enjoying being one up on the charmed ones for a change. “Then all we have to do is vanquish him and the chaos he has caused will be reversed.”

The Angel strokes his chin gently then says. “Just two small points. One, when you reverse all his actions you will forget all that you have done and revert back to where you were before all this started, which may not itself be that bad. Two, you won’t be able to vanquish him as such. Tempest is as much a balance in the universe as I am. You can only undo what he has done and bind him while I restore what passes for normality on this planet. If you get the timing wrong then you’ll forget what you have to do and Tempest will be free to cause havoc again. You could get caught up in a time loop.”

“How do we know we aren’t already in a time loop?” Exclaims Piper excitedly, as she finally understands at least part of the conversation. “We could have tried this already.”

“We don’t.” Says Leo gravely.

“I might.” Interjects Phoebe. “Its not like I haven’t done this before.”

“Well! Does it feel like we’ve done this before?” Piper questions her sister.

“No more than it does most times we fight evil.” Phoebe shrugs back.

Meanwhile, across the globe at a naval observation post on the Isle of Wight, England, a junior naval cadet is looking out across the Solent towards the port of Southampton.

“Sir, are there any cruise liners due out of port today?” He asks tentatively turning to the senior officer.

“No cadet. Why do you ask?”

“Because there’s one moving out of harbour now.”

The senior officer picks up a pair of binoculars. He adjusts them so that he can make the name out on the name on the side of the mystery ship. His face turns ashen white and he slowly puts down the binoculars in disbelief.

“What is it sir.” Asks the by now concerned cadet.

The senior officer passes him the binoculars without saying a word. The cadet raises them to his own eyes, adjusting them to his own vision in the process. He focuses on the side of the ship and sees the name for himself. S.S. TITANIC.

“If only we there was someway of standing aside from this mess.” Says Paige.

“Somewhere outside the normal rules of time and space.” Leo agrees.

“You mean like Limbo?” Says the Angel.

“Been there” Says Piper in a dismissive manner.

“Or the wastelands.” Says Phoebe realising the grim implications of what she has just said.

In the Forbidden City at the heart of Beijing a fanfare, the likes of which has not been heard since the last Emperor, rings out to herald the arrival of a long dead dowager empress. Whilst a tour guide stands on in amazement, several tourists are busy taking photographs, unaware that it is not a part of their tour.

At the Halliwell Manor all seems quite until Piper comes storming down the stairs, followed by a concerned Phoebe.

“You can’t go through all of that again.” Shouts Piper, drying to cover her concern with anger.

“I have to.” Replies Phoebe, trying to hold back her own emotions.

“Do you remember how much trouble it caused the last time you went there?”

“Yes, but I still have to go. How else are we going to stop Tempest?”

“We’ll find a way.”

“If you have any ideas I’d love to hear them?”

Piper looks round for a second. Realising that there are no better options, she breaks down, her anger turning to tears. Phoebe takes hold of her sobbing sister in an emotion charged embrace, as the tears roll gently down her cheeks as well.

“Just you come back now. I want my child to know both its aunts.” Says Piper, wiping away a tear.

“I’ll be back.” Says Phoebe, as much to re-assure herself as Piper.

In the attic Leo is pacing back and forth. The Angel just stands there lost deep in his own thoughts. Paige walks in carrying a bundle of candles. She has changed out of her new gown into an old pair of jeans and white blouse, with a waistcoat that looks suspiciously like one of Phoebe’s. Over her left shoulder she is carrying a small string-drawn bag.

“Got everything?” Asks Leo, stopping for a second

“Yes.” Replies Paige, slightly short of breath. “Candles, matches, chalk, potions and of course the spells.”

“Isn’t that black leather waistcoat Phoebe’s.” Comments Leo.

“Quite!” Replies Paige in a loud whisper that rasps through the air

She hands Leo the candles and, removing the chalk from her pocket, she proceeds to draw a large circle on the attic floor. Phoebe and Piper walk in.

“Are you both okay about this?” Asks Leo with concern, as he places the fifth and final candle on the edge of the circle.

“Of course.” Replies Piper unconvincingly.

“As ready as I will ever be.” Says Phoebe.

Paige passes the box of matches to Leo who removes one, strikes it and starts to light the candles. She then removes a crumpled sheet of paper from the pocket at the rear of her jeans and passes it to Phoebe.

“It’s a variation on the To Find a Lost Love spell that you used last. I call it To Find a Lost Cole spell.” She says chirpily. “And here’s a little something else that will help. The instructions are in the bag.”

Phoebe looks at her sister nervously. Paige removes a bottle of red liquid from the bag.

“Drink this one now, before you go. The rest you should use when you get there.”

“How can I do that? In the wastelands I’m only an astral projection.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve enchanted the bag. It goes where ever your soul goes.” Replies Paige grinning from ear to ear.

“Thank you.” Says Phoebe. She drinks the liquid. “What did you make it out of?”

“You don’t want to know.” Answers a still grinning Paige.

Phoebe takes the bag and paper from her over enthusiastic sister as she settles down in the middle of the circle. Opening the sheet of paper up she starts to read. “Whither my Cole, wherever you be, through time and space, take my heart near to thee.”

Cole stands on a rock at the centre of his realm. A dry desert wind is blowing the sand around, but even this does not hide the carnage that envelops this land. Another soul appears close by. Another power to grab and use. He leaps down into the heart of the sandstorm, but his eagerness turns to the surprise when he recognises the person awakening before him.

“What are you doing here?” Asks Cole. “I thought you would never return to this plane.

“I’m here to stop Tempest from undoing the fabric of time.”

“I wondered who was capable of doing so much carnage.” Says Cole looking around him.

“Don’t tell me he has been creating time slips here to?” Asks Phoebe with some concern.

“No, but I have seen the demons that have got caught up in his scheme. They all end up here you know.”

“Good we needed somewhere out of his reach to try to locate his base of operations. Once we locate him we can attempt to stop him.”

“How do you intend to do that? Are you going to scry for him?”

“We don’t have anything of his that we could use to do that, unfortunately.” Phoebe sighs. “I just going to have to work it out by observing his actions from here. They are rippling through time and space getting more distorted the further from him that they are. The only way we could reduce our odds is if we recognise the place he is hiding in”

“And how do you intend to watch all this? Its not like I have a television or something.”

“I brought these with me.” Phoebe replies, producing some bottles of green potion from her bag.

“What are those?”

“You’ll see.” Says Phoebe turning away from her former love. “I hope you know what your doing Paige.” She mutters under her breath.

Back in the attic Piper looks down at her sister’s almost motionless body. She clutches firmly to her man’s arm and then darts her eyes nervously towards Paige.

“What was in that bottle you made her drink?” she asks Paige through gritted teeth.

“Nothing much, in fact I picked most of it up at the chemist. It’ll just make her talk in her sleep. It means we can find out any information as soon as Phoebe does.”

“I hope you know what your doing Paige.” Phoebe mutters, much to Paige’s relief.

Now standing alone on a rock in the heart of the wasteland, Phoebe opens up Paige’s instructions and nervously reads her sister’s spell.

“Bring together Tempest and me, his kingdom now I wish to see, crossing time and space to his side, from myself I will not hide.”

As a vortex opens up Cole leaps up to his witch. They look through and can see Tempest in a large cave with a stone alter in the middle of it. Candles are placed around the edges of the alter. Energy bolts fly off Tempest in all directions.

“I recognise that place.” Says Cole. “The Source held Piper there when he took control of her mind.”

“That was the place where you and Leo rescued Piper from the Source when she thought she was in an asylum.” Says a surprised Phoebe. “I thought it would be far more sinister than that.”

“Its not the place, it’s the people who use it.” Murmurs Cole, remembering his own time as the Source. “So what do we do next?”

“Just throw the Bottles of potion through the vortex.” Replies Phoebe looking at Paige’s notes as she does so. “Then ask to go home.”

In the manor, her sister's, on hearing this request, start to chant the reversal spell. “Return thy love, wherever she be, through time and space, bring her back to me.”

Phoebe awakens with a jolt.

“Quick, we must act. I know where Tempest is.” Says Phoebe, struggling to her feet.

“So do we.” Says Paige, grabbing her sister by the arm as they orb out of the attic to Tempest’s lair. The Angel and Leo follow with Piper clinging to her husband’s warm embrace.

On landing in the lair the five find themselves in a passage leading to the main room. Phoebe turns to Paige and opens her mouth as if to say something but the finger to mouth gesture that that her sister makes convinces her that now is not the right time. Piper makes her way quietly towards the alter ducking behind a pillar of rock so that Tempest is unable to see her. The rest follow. Tempest is clearly confused and a low mist hangs around his feet. Piper gives Paige a big thumbs-up and then flashes her hands out in Tempest’s direction.

Tempest vaporises. As his physical form attempts to regroup Paige draws more bottles of the green potion from her waistcoat. Throwing them into the chamber they explode

creating a thick acrid smoke. In the noise and confusion the Angel opens his scroll and starts reading. He and Leo disappear.

“Read this quickly, before the smoke clears and he regroups.” Paige shouts to her sisters, handing them each a copy of the spell to unbind a bond.

“The bond that was not to be done. Give us the power to see it undone, and turn back time to whence it begun.” They repeat together.

It is a clear, sunny day outside the Halliwell manor. A gentle breeze ripples through the trees. The street is peaceful. The only noise is the conversation between Piper and Phoebe as they climb the steps that lead to the front door. Each is clutching a bag full of groceries.

“Well, how are you feeling. Any morning sickness yet?” Enquires Phoebe of her pregnant sister.

“Not really.” Replies Piper lying, as her stomach churns over for the hundredth time that day.

Phoebe opens the door of the manor as they reach the top of the steps and lets Piper walk through. The house is quiet.

“Anyone home?” Piper shouts out.

“Up here.” Paige’s mumbled voice replies from some distant corner of the manor.

“Shouldn’t you be at work young lady?”

“Just finished. I wanted to get back early to try on this new dress I bought during my lunch break.” Paige answers as she appears at the top of the stairs in a flowing black strapless gown. “What do you think?”

“Nice. Very elegant.” Chips in Phoebe.

“Haven’t we been here before?” Says Piper, overcome by a curious sense of deja-vu.

“Of course we have darling we live here.” Quips Phoebe, only to start sensing the same thing herself.

As Piper turns to chastise her sister’s bad joke, Leo and the Angel reappear.

“Read this spell. All of you.” He urges frantically.

“Hey! That looks like my handwriting.” Says Paige. “I don’t remember writing this.”

“It is and you did.” Reply Piper and Phoebe in unison.

“Now just read it.” Says Leo even more desperately.

“Bring balance to our time and space. Keep Tempest in his rightful place. The Power of Three will keep everyone free.” They rhyme together.

Paige turns to Leo. Curiosity overcomes her anger.

“And what was that all about?” She asks.

Sometime later when Leo explains all that has happened that day, or at least all that

should have happened had Tempest had his way, Phoebe is left with just one question.

“How come Piper was able to know that we were experiencing a past event? I thought that was my power.”

“Well,” says Leo, “it could be that her powers are developing. You each grow more powerful as the years go by. Look at how powerful you have been in your previous lives. Then of course there’s the fact she is pregnant. You gained many extra powers when you were pregnant Phoebe.”

“But mine were evil powers.” Phoebe reminds everyone.

“It doesn’t matter what type of powers they are, as that is just down to the type of witch. All witches’ powers grow when they are pregnant. It helps to protect the baby.”

Piper sits in her favourite chair. A smug expression crosses her face as she gently rubs her stomach.

“I think I’ve covered everything now.” Says Leo, looking contentedly at his glowing wife.

“Not quite.” Replies Piper as a remember thought brings back that nauseous morning sickness feeling.“What exactly was that green potion, Paige?”

“From Leo’s description it sounds like a cross between a smoke bomb and a stink bomb that I invented whilst I was still at school. I still remember the recipe.” Answers the youngest sister.

“I think we can skip tonight’s potion class, you’re more skilful than I thought.”

Whilst all those present in the Halliwell house share this little joke, somebody lurks in Tempest’s former lair.

“I’m home.” Exclaims Cole in the now empty chamber.

The End.

Brad Kern In Hell

*In the lowest level of hell*Kern mets up with the Chinese Hell Judge Justice Bao."Hey! I am not Chinese. Where is Lucifer?" Kern yelled."Sorry, but I am doing this as a favor to pipershusband." Justice Pao replied. "Pipershusband took the case to me, so naturally I will have to take the case too!" Justice Bao added."This is absurd!" Kern yelled."No, it is the truth!" Lucifer said as he appear."Since Pipershusband took the case to Justice Bao, I can't interfere!" Lucifer said as he fades away."NOOOOOOO" Kern said.Justice Bao open his book and read out loud."You have done many great sins when you are a writer for Charmed. And you have done the greatest sin when you kill of the character Cole in cold blood!" Justice Bao"I AM INNOCENT!" Kern yelled."The truth is here! You are found guilty on all counts and you are sentence to suffer at the 19th level of hell!" Justice Bao slammed the chinese hammer on the table."Take this man away!" Justice Bao order his 4 right hand man."NOOOO, I AM INNOCENT!" Kern yelled as he is drag away to be thrown into the 19th level

of Hell.

And Kern is the first and the last person to be thrown into the 19th level of Hell to suffer an eternity of suffering.

THE END.

Note: We chinese believe in 18th level's of hell. the 18th level is the worst. What i did is put Kern in the 19th level (which really doesn't exist) to reprensent that it is worst than the worst.