July 16, 1997

Paige grabbed Prue’s hand and gave it a slight tug to get her attention and Prue squeezed her hand back. “And now we pray our sister moves among us, helping to guide us, even though she’s not here, and inspire us, from when she was,” the funeral director said. Phoebe and Piper were standing on the out skirts of the crowd opposite Prue and Paige. The sun was shining directly on Phoebe’s back and it was starting to make her sweat. “Water now,” she hissed at Piper. Piper shook her head and carefully moved over to the refreshment table, Phoebe trailing close behind. The movement caught Prue’s gaze and the two moved over to Piper and Phoebe.

“What’s wrong?” Prue asked. “Hot, really hot,” Phoebe said once she downed the first glass of water. “Okay, we told you not to wear black, we don’t even know this woman,” Paige said quietly so as not to draw attention to them. “It’s out of respect,” Phoebe said. “Honey, we’re in New Jersey, we know nothing about the amount of humidity here, it’s July and you are wearing a t-shirt and jeans,” Piper told her pouring her another glass of water. “And you are wearing all black,” Prue pointed out. Piper was wearing a black tank top and a pair of dark denim jean shorts and she kept her hair tied back in a ponytail. The rest of the girls were dressed pretty much about the same, accept for Phoebe. “Well at least I have some respect for the dead,” Phoebe told her sisters. “Look around sis, her family doesn’t even seem that torn up about how they are dressed,” Paige pointed out. “Okay, can we get out of here please, the grave yard thing is creeping me out,” Piper said. “We go to graveyards all the time,” Prue said. “That doesn’t mean I like it,” Piper pointed out.

1:30pm

“Honey, I don’t know,” Paige said. “Paige, I miss you, when are you coming home,” Kyle tried again. “Honey, it’s complicated, really complicated, I’ll be home as soon as I can, I promise,” she told him. “Okay but hurry, because I’ve been researching a few things and when you finally get back, we can experiment,” he smiled into the phone. “I can’t wait,” Paige grinned back. “Okay, Piper and Prue just showed up, I have to go I’ll talk to you later,” Paige said. With that she hung up and looked at her sisters. “Well?” she asked. “It showed up two minutes ago,” Piper said handing it over to Prue. She took the envelope and the three girls sat on the bed joining Phoebe who was now in a white tank top and cotton panties, and nothing else. “Cooler?” Prue asked her. “Yes, much better,” Phoebe said sitting up. “Good, we got our next letter, listen up,” Prue said. Phoebe shifted herself and everyone listened closely as Prue read the note.

“Your job is not an easy one. Binding is not an option, the great evil that faces you down the road, will need all the time you have to prepare and you must prepare properly. Enclosed are the letters of admission to the school that you’ll need to attend. Training will begin after three years and will be intense from the beginning. Trust and guidance are your tools, patience will be your necessary friend,” Prue read. “Great, we’re screwed already,” Paige said seriously. Prue glared at her and finished reading the letter. “Please recite the enclosed poem at nine o’clock sharp for further instructions,” Prue finished. “Nine?” Phoebe questioned. “Yep, nine tonight, which gives us….seven hours.” “Well, then I think we should go get something to eat and head over now,” Piper said. The girls all agreed and Phoebe stood up. “They won’t let us in like that Pheebs, put on some pants,” Paige laughed.

4:30pm

“So, is this like practice, or are we in this for the real deal,” Piper asked curiously. “You need to get over your fear, and fast, or we’re all toast,” Paige told her seriously. Prue thought a moment and nodded. “You aren’t alone, we’re all together in this, and it’s not like we’re going to leave you and them alone, at least not for long,” Prue told her. “Um, excuse me, you work days, Paige works days, Phoebe works all the time, tell me again how I’m not going to be left alone again?” Piper asked sarcastically. “You have Leo,” Paige suggested. “He orbs in and out of God’s creation at every chance, and then there’s the lovely demons that pay us a visit on a daily basis,” Piper said seriously. “Okay, we need to move past this and get in there because we can’t delay this forever, so are you ready?” Prue asked. “No,” Piper said and with that the four girls got in the elevator and headed up to the fifth floor.

Piper glared at her sisters when the four walked up to the window and looked in front of them. “You’re not serious, I can’t do this by myself!” Piper hissed angrily. “Piper, would you calm down.” “Hello, only one alone at home,” Piper pointed out. Prue rolled her eyes and gently tapped on the glass. The nurse looked up and smiled at the four girls. She moved over to the doorway after a minute and ushered the girls in. “I assume you’ve been told about the Holy Union?” she asked. “Yes,” the four answered in unison, knowing that if they didn’t answer that way they weren’t going to be able to get what they needed. “Patti talked to me last night,” she told them and they all gave her a small smile. “So did Paityn, this is the list,” she said handing it to them. Paige took it and felt her sisters reading over her shoulder. She turned a bit and handed the list to Prue. “Do you know what any of that means?” she asked. Prue read it over again. “Not a chance,” she said. “Oh wait, I know this, Leo was telling me about it,” Piper said. “And you were worried,” Phoebe laughed.

Piper rolled her eyes and read over the list. Once she was done she handed it back to the nurse. “Can we meet them?” she asked. “Yes, come with me,” the nurse said kindly. Each girl was suited up in a set of scrubs and lead into a small room that was set apart by a thick door. Each of the charmed ones walked over to a small cradle and looked down at the tiny child in front of her. “Small and tiny,” Piper whispered. “You were too,” Prue assured her. “Alright girls, sit here with them, these are the bios from the staff, this is what I was able to get from Paityn. Call for me if you need me, or you can call Leo or Kyle,” the nurse said as she left the room.
6:30pm

Phoebe paced as she read the sheet of paper to her sisters and the small people also laying in the room. “Okay,” she said softly as she sat down in the near by rocker. There had been on rocker set up for both of them. “I’m sorry girls, I didn’t know that things would happen like this, I wish it were different. You all need to know that I am not worried about any of you, you all know exactly what you are doing and my girls will be safe in your hands. Be well my darlings and call if you need me,” Phoebe read. “Okay, find me a name, we’ve got nothing,” Paige said looking around. “Names, names, names,” Phoebe said scanning the paper. “Ah! Names, here we go,” Phoebe said. “I’m supposed to say. Blessed spirit, chosen love, bestow the name from high above. A sparkle shines upon my face before my name appears in place,” Phoebe said. Phoebe finished and looked up in time to see four bursts of gold light shine above the cradles as the names of the children popped into place on the tags of the cradles. “Well, it worked,” Prue said. “Kristen, Jayana, Brayden, and Marissa,” Paige said.

“Well they look like good names to me,” Prue said. “Great, and when we take them out of their cribs?” Paige asked. “We’ll figure it out,” Phoebe said. “Oh really?” Paige asked her. “Yes we will, just maybe not as fast as we’d like,” Phoebe said. “Well,” Prue said looking over her papers. “I might have a solution to that,” she said. “Confusion looms in black and white, color us with shades of bright,” Prue read. “What the he…heck is going on, what are we reading?” Piper blurted out. Before anyone could answer her question, the tiny children had their outfits changed from white to one of four colors. “Peach, Blue, Purple, and Green,” Phoebe smiled. Kristen was given purple, Brayden, blue, Marissa was given green and Jayana was given peach. “That is much better,” Phoebe grinned as she picked up the tiny baby in front of her. She then moved back to the rocker and sat down slowly, rocking the tiny child in her arms. “You my little one and all of your sisters are very sweet, and very cute, and very…” “Breakable,” Piper said. “Okay, that’s Piper and we don’t listen to her, she gets upset and flustered. She’s good for a small explosion and I’m sure that will keep you entertained,” Phoebe said holding the tiny baby close. Prue and Paige each took a baby nearest to them and Piper looked down at the small baby in front of her. “Please don’t throw up on me,” she said as she picked up the tiny green bundle in front of her.

8:55pm

“Honey, I’m not sure what else you want me to say,” Prue sighed. “It’s a lot to take in,” Andy sighed. “I know honey, and I’m sorry to spring it on you so fast, if it’s any consolation, we weren’t told either, we showed up and found out four, not one, we thought four girls, one baby, no problem, no, it’s four girls and four babies, much bigger problem,” Prue explained. “Eight,” Andy sighed. “Eight adults, four babies,” he told her. “Well let’s not jump the gun, Phoebe hasn’t talked to her guy yet,” Prue said. After a while longer Prue smiled. “Okay honey, I’ll see you when I get home,” she said. Once they said goodbye Prue joined her sisters at the circle drawn on the floor and they all waited. “Hear these words, here my cry, spirit from the other side. Come to me, I summon the, cross now the Great Divide!” they said in unison. Patti appeared in a glow of white lights and smiled at her daughters. “Hello my darlings.” “Okay, what’s going on, why us?” Prue asked not wasting time for small talk.

“It’s a Holy Union darling, there is something big and dangerous headed this way, your way and the only way to do that is have you four and the newest four could be the key to defeating this evil.” “You mean you don’t even know if we can do this. We could all die anyway?” Paige asked in disbelief. “It all depends on how well you train the girls.” “Mom, we know nothing about raising babies, we’ve never done this before!” Piper protested. “Darling, no new mother knows what she’s doing, it’s all a trial and error basis.” “Oh great!” Piper said throwing up her hands. “Mom, we can’t do this, it’s not right!” Piper said. Patti took a breath and sighed. “Okay, listen to me, when you go home, pull out the family tree, and I want you to look at it very carefully,” Patti told them. “Why is everyone being so damn cryptic, I hate cryptic!” Piper yelled. “It’s all I can give you,” Patti said. She stepped through the circle hugged each of her daughters tightly and then faded away. “Well that was helpful!” Piper said annoyed.

July 21, 1997

“Prue, let’s go!” Andy shouted from the bottom of the stairs. He had Marissa in his arms and they were getting ready to meet Jason and Phoebe at the real estate office, but Prue had a meeting run late. “She’s just taking forever isn’t she?” Andy asked the little baby softly. “Phoebe and Jason are going to be annoyed I think, as well as your sister, huh?” he asked softy as he gently bounced the baby and she gurgled at him happily. “Okay Piper said you ate, and I’ve seen you throw up before, so don’t spit up on me okay? We Because we have to go to the real estate office and talk to them about the expansion so you and your sisters can all get your own rooms. Cool huh?” he asked her gently. Marissa was distracted by the sunlight bouncing off the glass in the front door and the light moving around. “Prue!” Andy yelled again. “I’m coming, I’m coming, I have to look right for this and it doesn’t help when I have baby puke on me,” she said. “Come on let’s go,” he said and then he and Prue took Marissa to meet Phoebe, Jason and Jayana at the office.

3:30pm Earth

“Oh she’s so adorable,” the woman smiled when she saw the tiny baby. “Oh, thank you,” Jason said as he cradled and rocked the little girl in her arms. “How old is she?” “She’s nearly a week old,” Phoebe answered. “Hey, sorry we’re late,” Prue said as she walked in the door holding Marissa with Andy behind her. “That’s alright I was just telling your sister how cute the baby is. It’s amazing how all four of you had a baby on the same day,” the woman smiled. “They are very close sisters,” Andy put in quickly. This was something that could probably never be explained, there were days it didn’t make sense to the eight adults involved but they weren’t about to start telling strangers they were raising their first cousins six times removed because it was the only chance they had to save the world. Marissa and Jayana both began to cry slightly at the sound of the woman’s voice. None of the babies seemed to like her, but Piper and Paige were up in Elder land trying to come up with plans, potions and documentation to help them along the way. “Okay, let’s go over the contract again okay?” she asked kindly as she sat down at her desk. Andy and Jason took the seats across from her and Phoebe and Prue excused themselves from the room, taking the two little ones out of the room.

They traded babies and fussed with the one they hadn’t seen all morning. How do you think it’s going up there?” Phoebe asked. Prue shrugged. “It better be good I know that much, because every single one of these girls has taken to one of us and when we are in a bad mood, it upsets them, and then it just stresses us out more,” Prue said. “Yeah, well we know exactly what kind of night you and I are going to have if Paige and Piper come back not happy,” Phoebe said.

3:30pm Elder Land

“No, you don’t understand, we don’t know what we are doing, we didn’t know there was a magic school, everything we’ve been told has been cryptic and if there is one thing I hate, it’s cryptic, just lay it all on the line already!” Piper said angrily to the Elder standing in front of her. She was holding Kristen close to her body and Kristen didn’t seem to mind that Piper was upset. Part of her knew that Piper was there and that was all that mattered. The same rang true for Brayden and Paige. “Leo, Kyle, why don’t you take all the girls to the magic school, help them out where they need,” one of the Elders suggested after the meeting was finished. “No the girls are tired, they need to be home, and they need a nap,” Paige spoke up quickly. “Alright then, tomorrow you can take the morning to tour the school alright?” The girls agreed and orbed home just as the other half of the family came home.

“So how did it go?” Prue asked calmly. “We’re cloaked, permanently,” Piper said. “You sound angry about this.” “The not fighting demon part I do like, the part where we have to teach them the joys of maiming and killing demons I’m not so sure about, look how innocent they are.” “Piper, there is a great evil coming, and we, the charmed ones, can not deal with it.” “And what happens when we don’t have to deal with demons for however many years this takes, what happens when we get rusty,” Piper said. It was clear she had mixed emotions about how they were going to handle this and she was making very valid points.

January 25, 1998

Andy looked at Prue who was holding Marissa on her hip and she was not looking happy. “What’s wrong baby,” he asked her softly. Marissa let loose a string of babbling that was completely unintelligible and put her head on Prue’s shoulder. Andy shook his head and put the last screw of the baby gate in place. “We don’t want you getting hurt baby,” he told her as he kissed her cheek. She let out a little sigh and wiped at her face. “Mara, we love you, we don’t want you to get hurt,” Prue told her. “Andy put in a gate so you all stay safe,” Prue said. “She doesn’t understand that,” Andy said. “You don’t know that she doesn’t,” Prue countered as she kissed his cheek and took Marissa into the other room to be with her sisters.

Jason had bought a corral for the girls. They liked to roam and crawl and experience things, which was fine by the adults, they just didn’t want them doing it all over the house and Marissa and Brayden had recently learned that they could crawl up stairs. Prue put Marissa in the corral with her sisters and moved into the expanded kitchen. Since the real estate deal went through, they expanded most the entire lower floor. When all was said and done, the lower part of the house, had a living room, dining room, kitchen, conservatory and a play room for the little girls. Paige and Phoebe had moved into the other house’s bedrooms. It opened up their bedrooms for Kristen and Marissa, and the two empty rooms in the other section of the house were for Brayden and Jayana.

“Da, da, da, da, da, da, dah, dah, dah, dah, da, da!” came the loud cries from the corral. Prue giggled a bit and finished fixing the four bottles. She screwed on the last lid and gathered them up. “Okay, who wants a drink?” she asked as she moved over to the corral and carefully stepped in and sat down. Marissa crawled over to her quickly and Brayden followed. Prue reached outside of the corral and grabbed the remote. She clicked on the tv and the little ones sat down to watch. Brayden moved herself between Prue’s legs and sat down. She leaned into her and carefully took hold of her bottle. Using two hands she brought it to her mouth and tried to drink. When nothing happened she looked up at Prue and whimpered. “You have to tip it back baby,” Prue smiled at her. She shifted her down a bit and let her lean further into her body. Once it was at the right angle, Brayden was able to happily drink her bottle.

Jayana gave Prue a gummy grin and took very carefully cralwed over to her. “You’re doing so good baby, I’m so proud of you,” Prue praised her. Poor Jayana seemed to be the last to do anything, but no one held that against her, in fact, they praised her for every minor accomplishment that she did achieve. They did that for all of them, but when no one was around Phoebe made sure that Jayana got a little more attention and praise. Prue had Marissa on one side and Jayana made her way to the other side and laid down on her back, with her head on Prue’s lap and drank her bottle. “Now, let’s be careful, because the last time we tried this, you all started fighting. I love you all, so let’s just lay down and drink up okay?” Prue said. The older girls had learned early on that it was okay if not everyone responded at once. Sometimes you had to settle everyone else before you took care of the straggler. When two of the older girls were around, it made life a little easier, but if it was just one of them they learned not to rush things, to calm down and just sort of go with the flow.

Three of the four little ones were curled up on Prue, drinking their bottles and there was one little girl left. Kristen was laying on her back watching television and not paying attention to anything else. “Kristen,” Prue said sweetly. “C’mere baby,” she said gently. Kristen turned and gave her a gummy grin. “Hi baby,” Prue cooed. “Come on, come drink,” Prue coaxed her as she showed her the bottle. Kristen carefully crawled over and laid down close to Prue. She put her head on Prue’s calf and went back to watching television. Prue shifted Brayden a bit and handed Kristen her bottle, but Kristen paid her no mind. Suddenly it dawned on her that Prue was there and Piper wasn’t and she didn’t know where she was. She moved to the edge of the corral after some struggle and looked around. Not seeing Piper or Leo she began yelling at the top her lungs. “EYE!” she screamed. “Kristen, shhh, it’s okay, Piper will be right back,” Prue told her kindly as she tried to reach for her and give her a hug. “EYE!” Kristen cried out again. “It’s okay babe, she’ll be right back.”

After a few more tries, Piper still didn’t show up. Kristen fell down on her padded behind and began sobbing hysterically. “Uh, not again,” Prue sighed. “Hey HONEY!” she called out over the cries of the tiny girl. “Be right there!” Andy called back to her. Within a few minutes, he showed up and lifted Kristen from the corral. “Shhh, shhh, shhh, what happened baby?” he cooed to her. “EYE!” she screamed out when she finally gained control of her breath for a minute. “It’s okay sweetie, shhh, it’s okay, Piper went to the store, she’ll be right back, she went grocery shopping, because we have no food,” Andy said. “Here,” Prue said handing him the bottle. “Try this.” Andy took the bottle and tried to coax Kristen to drink, but she was having none of it, she wanted one thing and one thing only and that thing was Piper. After ten minutes of yelling and screaming Prue sighed and looked at Andy who looked confused and stressed. He knew how to handle a baby, he handled Marissa all the time. The only difference was that all the babies picked their couple, and when they wanted that couple, nothing that anyone else did would help. “Go upstairs, try the rocking thing, give it fifteen minutes and if she’s still screaming then call Leo,” Prue told him. Andy nodded and left the room.

2:45pm

Piper walked in the back door to the manor and set down the grocery bags. She put away the frozen groceries first and then everything else. Finally she pulled out forty eight jars of baby food and set them up on the counter. Once she was done she wandered through to the living room, to see Prue flipping channels with three of the four little ones sleeping on her and she was still sitting in the corral. “What happened, were you bad?” Piper teased her. “Very funny,” Prue laughed. “Go upstairs, Andy has Kristen,” Prue told her. “Again?” Piper asked. “For the last three hours,” Prue sighed. Piper sighed, reached in the corral and helped Prue shift around. She carefully pulled all the girls off of her and then Prue got out of the playpen. “Thank you my butt and my legs were falling asleep,” Prue said stretching. Piper smiled at her and went off to the play room. She pulled out a string of blocks that snapped together in different shapes and bright colors. Kristen loved colors, then she headed up the stairs with the blocks and went into Kristen’s room.

The first thing she saw was Kristen sitting on Andy’s lap and drinking her bottle. “Hi,” Piper whispered. Andy smiled at Piper and continued rocking Kristen as she drank. Piper put the blocks down just outside the room and stepped inside, kneeling in front of Kristen and Andy. “Hey babe, I heard you were having a bad day,” Piper told her softly. “EYE!” Kristen cried as tears sprung to her eyes. “Shhh, it’s okay baby, I’m right here,” Piper told her. Kristen clumsily rolled over and into Piper’s arms and Andy stood up and rubbed Kristen’s back. “It’s okay Piper, my rear end was falling asleep anyway,” he said. Piper smiled at him. “You sound like your wife,” Piper laughed. “There’s some B-L-O-C-K-S, just outside the door, incase I needed them, I don’t though, can you bring them downstairs please?” Piper asked. Andy nodded and left the room.

“Alright little love, what happened to you, did you miss me?” Piper asked her. “Is that it, did you miss Piper?” she asked. “I missed you, I missed you all,” Piper said kissing her temple. “Come on, let’s sit down and rock, you look so sleepy and your sisters are all sleeping,” Piper told her. She knew Kristen was drained of all her energy from crying for so long, so she figured if she got her to sleep now, she’d sleep well and then get up for dinner and go back to sleep after that. Piper cleaned Kristen’s face and kissed her cheek. “I love you,” she told her softly. Kristen smiled and put her head down against Piper’s chest, taking comfort in the steady sound of Piper’s heart beating. Kristen picked up Piper’s finger and sighed. “Eye,” she said. “Yes Piper’s finger, I’m here baby, you rest okay?” Piper told her softly. Kristen drifted off quickly and Piper sat with her for a while, before setting her in her crib, tucking her in and going downstairs.

January 28, 1998 8:30am

Jayana looked up at Paige and giggled as Paige leaned down and blew a raspberry on her stomach. Jayana screamed in laughter and when Paige sat there staring at her, Jayana reached down and tried to pick up her shirt so Paige could buzz her again. “Oh you like that huh?” Paige asked as she leaned down and buzzed her again. Jayana laughed loudly and giggled more. After a few times, Jayana got tired of this game and looked around to find a new one. “No more buzzing?” she asked. Jayana looked at Paige and babbled on seriously. “Oh, okay,” Paige smiled at her not having a clue as to what she had said. She looked up at Kyle as he orbed in. “Hi!” she beamed at him from her spot on the floor. “Why are you in the corral?” he asked. “I was bad, Prue put me on time out,” Paige laughed. “Very funny,” Kyle told her. “It was just easier to play with all of them in here,” Paige said. “You mean chasing four babies around the house who go in separate directions all at the same time, isn’t fun?” he teased.

Brayden and Kristen were playing together with some musical toy and Brayden looked up over at Kyle when he orbed in. “Kay!” she yelled as she crawled over to him. “Hey baby,” he smiled at her. She stood in front of him and reached up an arm to him, telling him she wanted to be held. He sighed and got in the corral with Paige and the little girls and pulled her to his lap where she grabbed his hand and began to babble at him happily. He waited till he thought she was done and kissed her cheek. “I guess you had a good morning huh?” he smiled at her. “Ay!” Jayana said hitting Paige’s leg, trying to get her attention. “Yes baby?” Paige asked her and Jayana babbled on, not making any sense to Paige. “Yeah?” Paige asked her and Jayana went on babbling some more.

“They’ll be able to talk soon for real right?” Kyle laughed. “Of course,” Paige laughed. “You did, didn’t you?” she sassed him. “You’re fresh,” he told her. “They can talk,” Paige said. “Oh yeah? Prove it,” he told her. Paige stood up, got out of the corral and grabbed a photo album. Then she got back in and sat down. “Look girls, pictures!” she said happily. It was like a swarm of bees, they were all over by her within record time. All of them loved looking at pictures. “Pictures? This is how you’re going to prove it?” he asked. “Just watch.” She opened the book and turned to the first page.

“Who’s that?” Paige asked pointing to a picture of Piper, Leo, Brayden and Kristen. Marissa leaned over and touched the picture. “Who’s that girls?” Paige asked pointing to Piper. “Eye!” Kristen beamed. “And this?” “Eeeeooooh,” Kristen continued. Paige held in her laughter. Prue’s comment two days ago was that when anyone called for Leo they sounded like fog horn. “And who’s this?’ she asked pointing to Brayden. “Bay!” Kristen grinned. Paige smiled and kissed her. “Very good,” Paige praised her. “Soon they went through everyone’s name and Marissa crawled over to Paige and carefully stood up and hugged her. “Ay!” she said. “Yes baby?” Paige asked her. “Roo,” Marissa said. “Prue is at work and she should be home any minute, and then, we’re all going to the park, how’s that sound?” Brayden and Jayana clapped their hands at this, they liked the park, and they loved the see saw.

October 5, 1998 9pm

Piper had all the little ones in her room, sitting on her bed, with the door closed. It was ridiculously cold on this night and the girls were complaining because of it. She gave them all a warm bath, stuck their pajamas in the dryer, and used the blow dryer on their hair. They all had hair like Piper. Long brown tresses that flowed softly over their backs and stopped just below mid back. Once she was done, she let them watch a movie in her room and stretched out on the bed amongst them. They sat there watching Pooh Bear work up a clever scheme to get into the honey tree, when fire appeared in the corner of the room. The demon appeared, let out a roar that announced his angry presence and went to attack the little ones. One of the flames had managed to catch Jayana’s arm and she let out a scream. Within fifteen seconds, the demon was blown up and Piper was stunned. Once the initial shock wore off the girls started crying and scooted over to Piper for comfort. Jayana was wailing loudly and so Piper grabbed her first. “Leo! Kyle!” Piper cried out.

Leo orbed into the room and Kyle was only a split second behind him. All the girls were crying and Jayana was wailing in pain. “Demon attack,” Piper said handing her to Leo. “You,” she said turning to Kyle. “You go up there and ask them how we were attacked, we are supposed to be cloaked!” Piper demanded. “K!” Brayden cried out reaching for him. He was the closest thing to Paige at the moment and that was who Brayden wanted. “It’s okay Bray I’ll be right back,” Kyle said kissing her gently and handing her to Piper. “Paige if you can hear me, come home!” Piper called out to the air. Paige showed up looking annoyed until she saw the girls crying and Leo healing Jayana. “Go find Prue and Phoebe and bring them home, this can not wait,” Piper ordered her.

Paige left and returned minutes later with Phoebe, Prue, and Andy. Andy sort of wobbled a bit and Prue guided him into the chair in her room. “Still not used to that,” he said. “You don’t do it that often, it’s okay,” Prue told him. Within seconds Marissa scrambled off the bed, and ran to Andy as fast as she could. He pulled her up to his lap and held her close while she cried. She was shaking with fear and confusion, and Andy and Prue always made her feel safe. “Roo!” she cried out. “What baby,” Prue said kneeling in front of her. “Bad Mara,” Marissa told her. “Okay baby, you rest here with Andy and we’ll get the story from Piper okay my sweet,” Prue told her. Marissa sunk further into Andy and he kissed the top of her head, rocking her gently. Brayden stood up on the bed and got herself over to Paige as fast as she could. Jayana was staying close to Leo, sitting on his lap and sobbing and Kristen had managed to worm her way onto his other leg. “Beebee,” Jayana said when her sight landed on her. “What happened baby?” Phoebe said as she took her from Leo and held her close. “Bad Day-Day,” she said softly. “No baby, JJ wasn’t bad, you were a very good girl,” Phoebe told her.

Piper took a breath and calmed down before speaking. “JJ, that was a demon, the demon was bad baby, not you, you were a very good girl,” Paige said. “You were all very good girls, I’m very proud of you, of all of you,” Piper told them. “No, Piya mad,” Jayana insisted. Phoebe held her close and nuzzled her cheek gently, letting her power take over the room. She turned her head so that her cheek was pressed against Jayana’s and she was looking at Piper. “We need to pull out their file and read it over again, and you need to calm down a little. You are angry, at the demon I know, but I don’t think they understand that,” Phoebe explained. Kristen was listening intently to this conversation from Leo’s lap and she stood up and turned to him. “Eeeo, Piya do dat,” she said as she flicked her wrists mimicking Piper’s actions early. “Yes Piper does that, she’s magical,” Leo told her. “Remember how Piper can freeze blocks in the air and Prue moves them around?” he asked her and Kristen nodded. “Well sometimes Piper can make things explode instead of freeze,” Leo told her. “K’ten, Piya hewp Day-Day,” Brayden told her. Kristen nodded and responded, and the four little ones had an entire conversation between them that no one but them understood. “Okay, why don’t we all go downstairs for ice cream,” Piper suggested. “Nooooooooo,” Kristen said. “No? Why not?” Piper asked. “Coooooooo’d,” she said. “Oh that’s right, I have four little icicles tonight, how about some hot chocolate then,” she offered. Everyone seemed to like that and went downstairs.

Sitting down at the table, Piper made a bunch of hot chocolates and set them out. “Mara, be careful,” Prue told her as she watched her take the hot chocolate. Marissa put two hands on the cup and drank carefully when Kyle orbed back in, with Jason, who, like Andy, was a little wobbly upon arrival. “Start talking!” Piper and Paige nearly barked in unison. “They don’t know,” Kyle said. “What!” Piper yelled angrily. “No, take me up there now!” Piper demanded. “I want a meeting and I want to know what the hell is going on, we were told we were cloaked and would stay that way, so how the hell did what’s his face make it into my bedroom!” Piper growled at him. “Piper!” Prue said startling her out of her tirade. Piper was like a mother lion, you didn’t mess with her cubs, and while each of them had their own choice of a great cousin, they all knew Piper would go to the ends of the Earth to protect them. Piper had been taking care of all four of them from day one, so it only went to enhance the bond she shared with each of them.

Piper turned to Leo. “Take me now!” she demanded. “I can’t take you now,” he told her. “You took us the last time!” “That was different, that meeting was already arranged.” “Well then get us up there and arrange it!” Piper said seriously. “You go up there and tell them I want to speak to them and then you come back here and get me!” Piper demanded. “Piper,” Phoebe started. “Phoebe this is serious, they breached the cloak, they found us and attacked, and what’s worse is they got JJ, she’s too young, they all are, to know anything other than what we teach them and what they learn through experience. No fifteen month old child should know what it’s like to be burned by a demon!” Piper said protectively. “I agree. I was going to say why don’t we look in the book, so you can tell whoever, what it is that attacked you,” Phoebe clarified. “No!” Kristen said when she saw Piper start out of the room. “Piya go,” Jayana told her. “No! Piya! No!” Kristen insisted. “Hewp Day-Day,” Kristen ordered. “Hey, Kitten face,” Paige said grabbing her attention. “Piper is going to help JJ by going with Phoebe to look at the book.” Kristen seemed to think this over for a moment and then decided it was alright. “Piya be back,” Kristen told her. “Yes darling, I’ll be back,” Piper assured her.

11:00pm

Piper and Leo orbed into the manor in their bedroom. “Okay, let me go check on the girls and then I’ll be with you,” Piper smiled at her husband. Leo nodded and got ready for bed as Piper made the rounds. First stop was Marissa’s room. She was curled up in a tight ball on Andy’s lap and sleeping peacefully. Piper gave him a soft smile, shut the door behind her and went to check on Kristen, who was in a similar position on Prue’s lap. Piper quietly tiptoed in and went up to Prue. “Hey,” Piper whispered. “Hi yourself,” Prue smiled. “Bad night?” Piper asked. “Phoebe and Paige are still up with the other two,” Prue told her. “Find anything?” “Yes I did, but it’s not a good idea for us to discuss this now. In the morning over breakfast,” Piper smiled. Prue nodded and watched as Piper was able to slip out of the room. As she did Kristen turned further into Prue and let out a contented sigh. Prue smiled and continued rocking Kristen.

Piper went all the way downstairs and climbed up the second set of stairs, up to the second floor where Paige, Phoebe and the rest of them resided. Reaching the top of the stairs, she saw Paige and Phoebe sitting together in a hallway and Piper snuck up next to them. Squishing between them, she kissed the tops of each of their heads. “What happened?” she asked. “They miss you, they’re worried,” Paige whispered. Phoebe nodded in agreement. “Listen for a minute,” she said. “Day-Day! You tay?” Brayden yelled out. “Yes!” Jayana yelled back. “Piya home?” “No!” Jayana called. “See be back!” Jayana continued. Then the floor fell quiet for a few minutes and it started up all over again. “Piya, go stop this please,” Phoebe told her as a smile broke out on her face. “Okay, one of you go get Bray, I’ll grab JJ and meet me in her room, I don’t want them screaming at each other any longer if I can help it. Paige nodded and went into Brayden’s room.

“Pay!” Brayden smiled. “Bray, you are being very loud sweetie, we’re trying to sleep now, it’s time to go to sleep,” Paige told her. Brayden sat up and stood carefully at the bar of the crib, not sure if Paige was going to take her out or not. “Maybe you and JJ should stop yelling back and forth,” Paige suggested. “Day-Day no be owied,” Brayden said. “Leo fixed JJ, she’s fine, but if it will make the two of you stop screaming to each other, I’ll take you over so you can see for yourself okay?” Paige asked as she pulled the tiny girl out of the crib and set her on her hip. Brayden nodded and looked at Paige. “Me seep wif Day-Day?” she asked. “Yes darling, you can sleep with JJ as long as the two of you go to sleep and stop yelling okay?” Paige told her. Brayden nodded and rested her head on Paige’s shoulder during the short walk to Jayana’s room. “Pay,” she said quickly. “What baby?” Paige asked stopping in her tracks.” “Piya go way?” she asked. “Piper went away with Leo up to Elder Land, but she’ll be back.” “Piya no owied?” Brayden questioned. Paige smiled and shook her head. “No baby, Piper’s not hurt, she’s okay, I promise,” Paige said kissing her cheek. She carried her into Jayana’s room and Brayden beamed when she saw Piper.

“Piya!” she cried happily. “Shhh, Hi baby,” Piper said taking her in her arms. She was already sitting in the rocker and holding Jayana. Brayden hugged her tight and gave her a sloppy kiss. “Thank you,” Piper smiled. “Did you miss me?’ she asked. “Piya go way,” Brayden said. “That’s right I did, I went up to see why that bad demon came and tried to hurt us, because that is not supposed to happen,” Piper explained. “Day-day, goss owie?” Brayden asked. “No baby, not anymore, JJ was hurt, but Leo fixed her up, and now she’s okay,” Piper told her. “See, look at her, check her out, she’s okay now,” Piper encouraged. “JJ show Brayden your arm,” Paige said kneeling in front of them. Jayana stuck out her arm and Brayden carefully looked it over. “No owies,” she confirmed. Piper laughed a little bit and nodded. “That’s right she’s all better now, so can we all go to sleep now and stop yelling?” Piper tried. “Me seep wif Day-Day,” Brayden said seriously. “You want to sleep with JJ? Well I don’t see too much harm in that. Is that okay with you Jayana?” Piper asked her. “No, no Day-Ana, Day-Day,” she said. “Jayana is your name too though and it’s very pretty,” Piper said. “Me wan’ Day-Day,” she said. “I will never forgive Andy for giving you that nickname,” Piper sighed. “Me wan’ it,” Jayana insisted. “And you’ve got it, so don’t worry,” Piper smiled at her. “Okay, hugs and kisses and then to bed,” Piper told them. Both little ones nodded, did as they were told and went to sleep as soon as they were tucked in by Piper, Paige, and Phoebe. “Bed for us too, we’ll all talk in the morning,” Piper said.

4:30pm

“Okay Kristen, one more time ready?” Phoebe smiled at her and she nodded happily. “Okay, one, two… three!” Phoebe said as she tossed the tennis ball into the air. Kirsten flicked one hand and the ball froze, she quickly flicked the other hand and the ball exploded, and she beamed at Phoebe. “Me do!” she said. “Yes you did,” Phoebe said hugging her. “I’m out of tennis balls but you did it, I’m so proud of you!” Phoebe praised her. “Beebee, get baww?” Kristen asked. “I need more sweetie, you just blew up the last one,” Phoebe explained. “Oh,” Kristen said. Then she sat down on the floor quickly, put her hands out in front of her and started rocking back and forth. Phoebe got down in front of her quickly. “Kristen, Kristen, what are you doing?” Phoebe asked with caution and worry. Phoebe was about to pick her up when Kyle orbed in and stopped her. “No, don’t touch her,” Kyle said stopping Phoebe. “What? Look at her!” Phoebe said pointing.

Kristen was now rocking a little faster and Kyle stopped Phoebe. “Trust me, she’s fine!” he insisted. Kristen stopped rocking and a white puff of smoke showed up in her hands. When the smoke cleared, a tennis ball was left behind. Kristen sat for a moment, and handed the ball up to Phoebe. “Hewe go!” she smiled. Phoebe took the ball and looked at Kyle before yelling for Piper! “NO!” Kristen said jumping to her feet. “No keemin, dere’s no deemin!” she scolded. Phoebe rolled her eyes a bit and looked at Piper as she approached. “Kristen just gave me this,” Phoebe said. “And?” “Piper, she didn’t have it before, she just gave it to me!” Phoebe rambled. “What do you mean, she didn’t have it before?” Piper asked.

Kyle reached down and scooped her up. “Kristen’s other power is Materializing,” he said. “Is seepy!” Kristen said. “It won’t make you sleepy all the time baby, that was a big ball, we have to start with small things and work up to bigger things,” Kyle told her. “You mean I have to teach her how to materialize stuff too?” Piper asked. “If you want her powers to be in full swing when we fight whatever it is we have to fight yes,” Kyle told her. “Piya, don’ know how!” Jayana said as she walked over to Piper and reached her arms up. “What do you mean Piper doesn’t know how?” Phoebe asked her. “Piya’s faid?” she asked looking at Piper. “Jayana,” Phoebe said seriously. “Why do you think Piper is afraid?” “Piya is!” Jayana said as she hugged Piper. “How do you know she is?” Phoebe asked. “Cuz is up hewe!” Jayana said putting her little hands on Piper’s head. Piper thought a moment and shifted Jayana to her other hip. “JJ, what is in Phoebe’s head?” Piper asked. Jayana looked at Phoebe a minute and then reached for her. Phoebe took her and hugged her. “Beebee, faid?” she asked, not sure if she was getting the right emotion.

“Phoebe’s not sure what to be at the moment, I didn’t think any of you were going to read minds,” Phoebe said. “Annoying isn’t it?” Piper asked glaring at Phoebe. “What?” “Phoebe, she does what you’ve been doing for a while now, which is feeling what we feel and voicing it before we do,” Piper explained. Kyle shook his head. “No, she’s a mind reader, she knows what we’re thinking,” Kyle explained. “Piya sayed, see wans hewp,” Jayana said and that was the statement that caused Phoebe and Piper’s jaws to nearly hit the floor. “Kyle what is going on?” Piper asked angrily. “Day-Day, weez mize,” Jayana said proudly as she answered for Kyle. She heard his words in her head and voiced them proudly. “Okay, this isn’t going to work, JJ, you and Kristen go play with Bray and Mara, and no fighting, or you’re all going on time out!” Piper warned them. Kristen and Jayana went running off to find their sisters and Piper looked at Kyle. “Now, you tell me, with out her, what is going on?” Piper asked.

8pm

“Okay girls, come on, time for bath,” Paige announced. There were a few moans and groans but the girls did cooperate and Paige took them all upstairs to give them a bath before bed. Once she left the rest of the adults straightened up a little bit. “Our house has never been this messy,” Prue laughed. “Not even with Paige and Me?” Phoebe grinned. “No, not even when you two were little, you were good, Piper and I told you we’d share and you two played with the boxes,” Prue laughed. Phoebe shook her head and turned to help pick up the toys when her world turned black and white. She sucked in some air and waited a second as the pictures flashed in her mind. She looked at Kyle and Leo when she came to, with panic in her eyes and screamed Paige’s name. Leo and Kyle orbed to the bathroom together, just in time to see the demon shimmer out, with no little girls in sight and Paige knocked out on the floor.

“They aren’t here!” Kyle said as he knelt down next to Leo and both healed Paige. “We saw the demon orb out, without them, they are still around,” Leo said. Kyle agreed and turned in time to see Phoebe, Prue, and Piper come in. Leo and Kyle helped Paige to her feet and the color in most of the adult faces drained. “Where are they?” Piper demanded. “Hiding, they got scared,” Leo said. “They’re in the house,” Kyle said. “Well where,” Prue said as she reached around them and pulled the drain on the tub. As the water flowed out, it seemed to pool around something, that wasn’t there, and only Paige noticed. “She’s in the tub Prue,” Paige said. Prue looked and saw nothing and turned to Paige. “They didn’t heal you, there’s nothing here,” Prue said. Paige sighed and looked at Prue. “Play peek a boo with the tub,” Paige said. “Are you serious?” Prue asked her. “Stay calm and trust me,” Paige said. Prue sighed, turned and covered her eyes. “Peek a boo,” she said as she took her hands off her eyes and smiled at the empty tub. “Do it again,” Paige insisted. “Peek a boo!” Prue said again. This time when she opened her eyes she saw Marissa’s eyes, seemingly floating in the tub, and they held fear and dread. “Mara, it’s okay baby,” Prue told her. The eyes moved upward and the little girl threw herself at Prue. “Come on baby, let me see all of you please,” Prue told her kindly. “Deemin,” she whispered in Prue’s ear. “All gone, I promise,” Prue told her honestly. Slowly Marissa dropped her invisibility shield and she was now a soaking wet toddler holding tight to her cousin, who had been protecting her, her whole life. “They’re here, they’re just scared,” Leo said. “I think they orbed out,” Paige said. “What? Now they orb too?” Piper asked in shock. She turned and looked at Leo. “Could they just for once, give us all the news, all at one time, I hate cryptic and I hate secrets!” “Come on, let’s go find them,” Phoebe said.

Getting up to the attic, they pulled out the blue print to their house and began scrying. “Gimme,” Piper said as she attached three small hospital bracelets to the crystal. After a few circles, the crystal bounced, once on the kitchen, once on the playroom, and once in Kristen’s room. “Well at least we know where,” Paige said and quickly the three left for their destinations. Phoebe wandered down to the playroom and looked around, not seeing anything out of the ordinary. “Okay, where’s my little lovely,” she asked the room. “It’s okay to come out baby, it’s Phoebe, and you aren’t in trouble,” she added as she sat down on the floor and waited. “Beebee!” came the muffled scream. Kristen had orbed herself into the large toy box that Jason had built for them. “It’s okay Kitten come on out,” Phoebe said softly. Seconds later a mass of orbs appeared in Phoebe’s lap and formed into Kristen. “Beebee!” she said as she clung tight to her, leaving a large wet spot on Phoebe’s shirt. “Shhh, you’re okay baby,” Phoebe said as she wrapped her up in her arms and hugged her tight.

Paige took the kitchen and began looking around. “Come out, come out, where ever you are,” Paige cooed softly. She covered her face and sat down on the floor. These four girls were very tiny and were intimidated when anyone towered over them. “Okay, Paige is sitting on the floor, come out now please,” she said. Jayana peaked around the corner of the counter and saw Paige. She ran to her as fast as her little legs would carry her and started crying for all she was worth. She was terrified and didn’t know what else to do. Paige held her tight and let her get it out. “I’m here baby, you’re safe now,” Paige cooed. After a few minutes, the crying stopped and only strangled sobs escaped her mouth. “Do you feel better now?” Paige asked her gently. Jayana shook her head and held tight to Paige. “You don’t?” Paige asked her softly. Jayana shook her head no and put her head down on Paige’s shoulder and sighed. “Pay!” she said softly. “S’ared,” she said. “You were scared huh?” Paige asked her. “Pay s’ared too,” Jayana said after a minute. Paige nodded and let Jayana finish. “Pay wuv us,” she managed. “Paige loves you all very much,” Paige confirmed. “I love you so much, that I was scared the demon would get you,” Paige told her. “Bay owie,” Jayana told her. “Brayden got hurt?” Paige asked. “No! Bay owie Pay!” Jayana said. “Okay, I don’t know what that means, so why don’t you try and show me,” Paige said. Jayana nodded and held tight to Paige and orbed the two of them up to Kristen’s room.

Paige and Jayana landed in front of Piper and Brayden and Brayden instantly began screaming. Jayana rushed over to Piper, pulled herself up on Piper’s lap and hugged Brayden tight. “Bay, sss, Piya wuv us, Pay wuv us,” Jayana babbled. Piper and Paige smiled at each other and watched as it continued. “Owie Pay!” Brayden cried. “Pay, otay!” Jayana yelled. “Shhh, indoor voices please,” Piper told her softly. Jayana nodded and hugged Brayden again. Jayana whispered softly to Brayden and she whispered back. The entire language was something the four of them had together and understood and when they went into it, no one else understood them. After they finished their little conversation Brayden carefully got off Piper’s lap and walked over to Paige. “It’s okay baby, I’m not mad,” she said. “Me owied Pay,” she said. “You think you hurt me?” Paige asked her and Brayden nodded. “You can’t hurt her Bray, trust me, we’ve tried,” Piper smiled. Paige wrinkled her face at Piper and smiled at Brayden. “How about we learn a new word and then some more magic how’s that?” Paige asked her. “Her,” Jayana said proudly saying the word that Paige was thinking. “Close baby, the world is hur-ta!” Paige said over pronouncing the word. “Can you say that for me Bray? Can you say hurt, and not Owie?” Paige asked. “Hur-ta!” Brayden said, suddenly all smiles. Paige praised her and hugged her tight. “Oh I am so proud of you!” Paige gushed as she kissed Brayden’s cheek. “Mazik,” Jayana said. “Mazic, mazic!” she insisted. “In a hurry huh?” Piper smiled at her. Jayana looked at Paige and thought a moment. “Godda…be…godda be….deemins!” she said. “Godda be deemins!” she said beaming. “Gotta stay out of Paige’s head,” Paige sighed.

November 20, 1998 7:30pm

“Andy, I wanna do mazic,” Marissa said. “You do?” Andy asked her. “Okay, let’s do magic, what kind of magic do you want to do?” he asked cautiously. “Move s’uff,” she said. “Okay, moving stuff is fine, what do we not move?” Andy asked her seriously. “No fur’zer, an’ no Andy” she said. “Very good.” “Because what happened the last time?” he prompted. “Time, ow’” Marissa stated. “Good girl,” he said grabbing her, pulling her close and tickling her till she squealed happily. “Okay, go get me some toys and we can practice,” he told her. Marissa nodded and ran off, passing Jason on the way. “Jason, Andy sayed I do mazic,” she grinned. “Sounds like a good plan baby,” he grinned at her. She nodded and ran off in search of some toys. As soon as she brought them back, Andy lined them up for her and she took about five steps back. The main practice toys were blocks. The entire alphabet, so Andy would point to a block say the letter and Marissa would raise it about five feet off the ground. While all the little ones were highly intelligent, they still had trouble with letter recognition.

Off in the playroom, Kristen was practicing her materializing power, while Jayana and Brayden practiced orbing. Leo sat with the girls and kept asking for small things from Kristen. She would conjure up the object and then Leo would instruct Brayden or Jayana to orb it to them. “Leo,” Kristen said turning to him. “What baby?” “Too maw,” she said. “What’s too small Kitten,” he asked her. “Dis,” she said showing him the latest conjured item. “I think they are perfect, how about two more small things and then we’ll progress to larger stuff,” Leo suggested. “Kay,” Kristen sighed. Asking her to materialize the same small things, day in and day out was getting boring. “Can you get a ping pong ball?” Leo asked Kristen. “Wha’ cowow?” she asked him. “What colors can you make. “Uh….yehyow, an awanze,” she told him. “Okay, how about one yellow and one orange for your sisters,” he suggested. She nodded, closed her eyes, held her hand out palms up and moved her hands in an up and down motion once. The ping pong balls appeared her in hands and she opened her eyes up and smiled at Leo. “Very good,” he praised her.

“Alright Bray, you’re turn, take a ball from Kristen,” Leo told her. “Wike Payz?” she asked. “That’s fine,” Leo told her. “Ball!” she said clearly holding out her arm and waiting for the ball to orb to her. It did and she carefully set it at her feet, with the rest of the little toys she’d orbed over to herself. “Okay JJ, your turn,” Leo said. Jayana simply held out her hands and the ball orbed over, she didn’t even have to say anything. “Day-Day, gossa say!” Brayden told her. “No!” Jayana said seriously. “Do to!” Brayden told her. “NO!” “DO TO!” And before anything could be stopped the two of them were fighting over the way Jayana did her magic. Kristen looked over at Leo. “K’I go?” she asked. “Into the other room with Andy and no where else,” he told her seriously. She nodded and ran off leaving Leo to deal with two fighting, magical, toddlers.

9:00pm

“That’s it, day’s over, time for a bath!” Piper announced. “I want all of you to orb yourself up to the bathroom,” Piper told them. Before anything could be said or done, the four little girls were surrounded by about fifty or sixty demons. The four girls shrieked out loud for Piper and stood close together. Piper flicked her wrists and destroyed a few of the demons while yelling for her sisters help. Paige called for the little girls and orbed them over to her. Prue and Phoebe helped Piper battle the demons and destroy them. Once they were all destroyed they went off to check on the little girls, who were now highly upset at being startled by so many demons. Once the battle was over, Piper, Prue, and Phoebe went into the kitchen and took the little ones from Paige to help calm them down. Marissa hugged Prue tight and then pulled back to look at her. “Too many, no mowe!” she said seriously. “I know baby, it’s okay now, they’re all gone, no more, I promise,” Prue told her. “No more for tonight anyway,” Paige sighed. “Pipew,” Jayana said from her spot in Phoebe’s arms. “What’s up toots?” “No mowe mazic,” she said. “You don’t like magic anymore?” Phoebe asked Jayana. “Pipew peeze no mowe mazic, we…….we…….we aww, gets……gets hur-ta!” Jayana said sadly.

“I know that all those demons were very scary, I was a little scared too, but magic is who we are, we have to protect a lot of people. “Who do you think we have to protect?” Piper prompted. “Andy,” Jayana said. “Huh!?! ANDY!” Marissa exclaimed before she burst into tears. Prue hugged her tight and called for Andy, who showed up and hugged Marissa tightly. “I’m here Mara, it’s okay, I’m fine,” Andy told her, and recognition dawned on Jayana and she orbed herself straight into Jason’s arms to make sure he was alright.

9:20pm The Daily New – Jason’s Office

Jason looked up as the blue orbs came into the office and started to form. There were not enough to form an adult, and he waited to see which little one had found him. “Jayana Nicole, come here right now,” he told her firmly. She wasted no time and ran over to him, clutching him tight and crying. He let her cry and called the house. “What the hell is going on?” he demanded when Paige answered the phone. “She orbed across town?” Paige asked in shock. “Hang on, I’ll get Phoebe,” she said. She gave the phone to Phoebe who sighed. “Demon attack, we’re all fine, she’s checking on you, she thought the demons went after you, I’m not thrilled about her orbing across town though,” Phoebe sighed. “Whoa! It’s late, okay, let me close up and I’ll bring her home,” Jason said. “Okay, don’t yell at her too much please,” Phoebe said.

Jason hung up with Phoebe and waited for Jayana to calm down a little more. “Now then, tell me what happened please?” he asked her. “Demins camed,” Jayana said. “What happened after that?” “Dey got bow-ed up,” she said. “Your cousins took care of it all?” Jason asked. She nodded and leaned into him. “No, we are not done yet, why did you orb here?” he asked her calmly. “Mara c’ied fa Andy,” she sobbed. “You orbed across town because Mara was crying for Andy?” he asked, not following the logic. “JJ,” he said kindly, locking eyes with her. “JJ, look at me, why did you orb here all by yourself?” he asked her. “Mara, sayed you hur-ta,” she said slowly. “Mara told you I was hurt?” he asked. She nodded and hugged him. “Mara sayed da demin’s gotted Ay-sin.” Jason sighed and Jayana cuddled into him. She was tired, the adrenaline had left her body, and now she wanted her family. Jason hugged her tight and kissed her. “JJ, did she tell you that or did she think that?” he asked her carefully. Jayana shrugged and rubbed a fist at her eye tiredly. “Come on love,” he told her.

10:00pm

Jason walked in the door, carrying Jayana in his arms. She fell asleep on the ride home, and now had her little face mashed against his shoulder and was sleeping. Phoebe met them at the door and the three moved to the living room and sat down. “So?” Phoebe asked as Jason laid down with Jayana on his chest. “Okay, let me get the adult version of tonight’s fiasco,” he said. “Oh boy,” Phoebe thought and then she relayed the nights events to him. “Okay, well now it makes a little more sense,” he said. “She orbed to me, because we keep stressing Andy and I aren’t magical. Well according to her, Marissa thought I was hurt by demons because I wasn’t here,” he explained. Prue came down with Leo in tow and looked at the trio on the couch. “Can we join you?” she asked. “Why aren’t you two with your charges?” Phoebe asked. “They wanted Andy and Piper, which is fine, we need the break, we’ve all been talking though, and we have to ask you a question,” Prue said. “Me?” Phoebe asked. “No,” Leo said. “What do you think about getting some powers?” Leo continued looking directly at Jason.

1:00am


“Shhh,” Phoebe soothed. “It’s alright now sweetheart,” Phoebe said holding Jayana close to her and rocking slowly. Each glider came equipped with a bench, so the girls, or whoever was rocking the little ones, could keep their feet up. Phoebe had moved the bench part into the bathroom and rocked slowly. At Leo’s news, Jason had gone into emotional overload and when Jayana picked up on it, she wound up throwing up for a couple of hours. She had since calmed down, but her body was still shaking pretty badly and Phoebe didn’t want to risk her throwing up anywhere, other than the bathroom. Jason stood at the doorway and knelt down so as not to intimidate Jayana any further. “Ay-sin, gets ‘ow-ahs, no deemins,” she rambled, starting to get upset again. Phoebe tightened her grip on the little girl and kissed the top of her head. “You want Jason to get powers baby?” she asked her softly. Jayana nodded and sunk into Phoebe’s body. She was absolutely drained of all energy. “JJ, I love you, it’s okay now,” Jason told her. She nodded, stuck her thumb in her mouth and struggled to keep her eyes open. “It’s alright little love, we’re safe now, you can sleep,” Jason told her softly, and then he watched her drift off.

“So?” Phoebe asked as she and Jason set Jayana in her crib and went back to their bedroom. “So what?” Jason asked. “So are you going to accept powers? Are you going to let us help you, help yourself?” Phoebe pressed. “I don’t know babe,” he sighed as he hugged her. “I honestly don’t know.” “Well you need to think about it, seriously and try to decide fast, because the attack that happened tonight, I’m not sure how much of that we can all take, how much the girls can take, and God forbid, we follow our mother….we can’t leave the girls alone, with just whitelighter powers, they’ll need your help too,” Phoebe said. “Phoebe you’re not going to follow after your mother,” Jason started. “You don’t know that, none of us do,” Phoebe protested. She was about to continue when there was a knock at the door. “I’m sorry guys, Jason can I see you for a while please?” Andy asked from the doorway. “We’re not, done, we’ll finish this later,” Jason told Phoebe as he walked off with Andy.

4:30am


“I can’t do it man,” Andy sighed. “I can’t, we’ve got, over a hundred reasons why we shouldn’t take powers, why we shouldn’t accept something we don’t know, don’t understand and probably aren’t ready for,” he said. Jason nodded and looked at the list. The con side to getting powers had well over one hundred reasons on it, and they were all very legitimate. No one knew when the great evil was coming, no one knew what that was, no one knew what to do to get rid of it and then there was the list of things that could possibly go wrong. The evil could show up and Andy and Jason wouldn’t know what to do, they could further endanger the girls, all eight of them, they could endanger themselves, they could seriously hurt someone, and yet, the pro side, that contained only ten reasons to get the powers was starting to look pretty convincing.

Jason took the pen from Andy and slowly circled some words. He turned the paper around toward himself and sighed. “It’s what we have to do, we can’t hurt our family, and I think if we stick with this side, we’ll really hurt them, I mean we saw what’s happened already, maybe this is the right decision,” he said. Andy gave a heavy sigh and nodded. This was tough, something that he could barely talk about and yet somehow, it seemed to be the easiest decision in the world. “What really bothers me though is that this took three and a half hours to decide. Is it that we don’t care?” he questioned. “No,” Jason said seriously. “It’s that we care so much, we’ll do anything to keep our family safe,” he said. They nodded at each other and made their decision before turning off the kitchen light and heading back to bed, for what little sleep they could still manage.

April 3 2000 7pm

“Mara, uncloak your sisters, the demons are all gone,” Prue told her softly. “Prue?” came the tiny shaky voice. “Yes baby, it’s me, come on, let us see you,” Prue coaxed. The group of little girls suddenly became visible and they were all covering parts of their bodies. “Come on girls, let’s see,” Prue said. At nearly three years old, these girls were fight demons with their cousins and getting hurt in the process as well. The swarm of demons attacked the house and Brayden’s shriek alerted everyone to the danger. Kristen threw up her hands and managed to blow up a demon or two, Marissa flung some away from them, like she’d seen Prue do before, Brayden and Jayana deflected energy balls, and other flying debris, sending it into the demons. At one point, some of the magic in the room, collided, causing a backfire effect, and it injured all the little girls. “HIDE!” was all they heard Andy yell at them as he came flying into the room, ready to fight. Marissa cloaked herself, her three sisters, and the four of them orbed over to a safe area of the house. Now the demons were gone and the girls had to show their injuries.

When they were fully visible, they slowly approached Prue and put Jayana in front. “Prue’s….mad….” she said slowly and then she turned to her sisters. “At da demons,” she smiled. The girls relaxed a little and rushed Prue. She was soon looking at four little girls, with black eyes, split lips, bloodied hands, and Marissa was limping slightly. “Mara, sit down baby,” Prue told her quickly when she noticed. “KYLE, LEO!” Prue yelled up to the sky. The boys showed up and began working on the girls. When they finished the girls looked to Prue with sadness and uncertainty written all over their faces. “What’s wrong ladies?” she asked them. Brayden was the first to go over to Prue and hug her. “Why we ‘fwaid?” she asked. Prue sighed and knelt down to Brayden’s level. “How old are you girls?” Prue asked them. “Two,” they answered. “Yes you are, and pretty soon, you’ll be three years old, you are all still very innocent,” Prue told them. “Prue,” Jayana interrupted. “Kitten says we sees demons aww da time,” she said. “JJ, let Kristen tell me on her own baby,” Prue reminded her. Jayana nodded and sunk into Leo for a cuddle. “Do you think that baby?” Prue asked her. Kristen also sunk into Leo and nodded her head, hiding her face in his chest.

“Hey, Kitten face,” Leo told her softly. “It’s okay baby, I promise, you all see way more demons than any little innocent girl should ever see,” he told her. “You’re a smart brave girl, you all are, and it’s perfectly okay, if you’re all afraid,” Leo told them. “I get afraid sometimes,” Prue admitted. “We all do girls, it’s really okay,” Prue told them. Brayden was listening carefully from her spot next to Kyle and looked to Andy. “Andy, you have magic now, you scared?” she asked him. He nodded. “I do get scared and so does Jason. We’re new to this whole magic thing, but you know what I get most scared about?” he asked them as he held his arms to Jayana who walked over to him carefully. “I love you all so much, that I get scared the demons will hurt you,” he told them honestly. “I don’t want anything to happen to any of you,” he said. Jayana nodded as did Marissa and Kristen. Brayden still looked like she was trying to understand it all. She had Kyle there with her though and he helped.

8:30pm


“Girls, come on, it’s time for a bath,” Piper told them. None of them moved, they all sat there looking at Piper like she had four heads. “What?” she smiled at them. “Come on, it’s okay,” she told them. Kristen got up and went over to Piper. She lifted her arms up and started whining. Piper sighed and knelt down, only to have Kristen’s arms, wrap around her neck. “What’s wrong girls?” she asked concerned. None of them answered, they just sat there, looking sad and tired. Piper took a deep breath and sighed, it was going to be a long night. “Can I get another adult in here please?” she called. Phoebe came in and looked at Piper. “What’s up?” “It’s going to be a long night, stay with them, we’ll be right back,” Piper said. Phoebe nodded and sat down and was instantly attacked by three little girls, who were quite content to just sit on her lap.

“Phoebe,” Brayden said softly as she crawled up Phoebe’s chest so she could whisper into her ear. “Can we keep da demons way?” she asked. “Leo went to go check all that out,” Phoebe told her. When he comes back, he’ll let us know,” she said softly. She kissed Brayden’s cheek and smiled when Brayden kissed her back. “Love you,” Brayden said softly. “That’s good because I love you too,” Phoebe told her. “I love you all, so much,” Phoebe said squeezing the three of them tightly. “Phoebe,?” Jayana asked after a minute. “Why does Piper think is gonna be a long nigh?” she asked. “Oh, JJ, you have to stay out of people’s heads,” Phoebe sighed. “I sowwy, see duss finked it loud,” Jayana defended. Phoebe smiled at her and brushed hair out of Jayana’s eyes. “You all look very scared baby, that’s all, Piper’s just concerned about you,” Phoebe told her. She nodded and before she could say anything Marissa spoke up. “We can aww cudda?” she asked hopefully. Phoebe smiled and let out a little giggle. “I think we can try and arrange that,” Phoebe smiled.

9:00pm

Leo returned looking sad and angry all at the same time. When he orbed in, he chose the kitchen, and looked to Paige, who was preparing some ice cream for all the little ones. “We need a family meeting, all of us?” he told her. She nodded and went to pick up the phone. “Who are you calling?” “Miss Ruth from next door, to watch the girls,” Paige answered. “No, all of us, all twelve of us,” Leo said and with that he walked off. Minutes later everyone was gathered together in the living room. “Okay, what’s going on?” Jason asked. “THEY think the attack is coming and fast, and they are concerned that Jason and Andy aren’t ready.” “Daz Buwsit!” Jayana said. She didn’t even bother to stop and think about what she was saying, she just said it.

“Young lady!” Prue and Phoebe said at the same time. “Pipew tawt it!” she defended. “And I told you to stay out of our heads,” Phoebe told her. “Is LOUD!” Jayana protested. “Jayana Nicole, you were told not to listen to other peoples’ thoughts”. “See skeems ‘em,” Jayana told her honestly. As the fight carried on a demon shimmered in and Piper flicked her wrist at him, but nothing happened. “Witch!” he growled at her and he sent an energy ball at her, which Paige orbed back to him. When it connected nothing happened and he let out a mighty growl that sent fear through everyone. “CRISSAW!” Brayden yelled holding her hands up, and the then throwing them around the demon. “CIRCLE!” Paige completed for her. Finally it got be too much and Jayana started yelling out everything she could.

“Boss kiww me,” Jayana said. “JJ, dop!” Mara told her. “No, JJ, keep going,” Leo said quickly getting close to her and Phoebe. “Who’s your boss?” Prue asked. “GO TO HELL!” the demon yelled. “Massamayo,” Jayana said. “Where is he?” Prue demanded. The demon screamed a profanity and Jayana answered the question. “How are you protected from us.” “Po-sin,” Jayana answered. “STOP!” the demon growled at the little girl and that was when Piper had had enough and vanquished him. “What did you do that for?” Paige asked her. “He was getting on my last nerve, and besides Prue got information from him, and I will not let him terrorize these girls anymore,” Piper said. She noticed Kristen shaking slightly and lifted her into her arms. “Leo, is the meeting over yet?” she asked him. “No,” he sighed. “Look, we need to figure this out, find a way to train seriously, or keep doing what we’re doing?” he asked. Piper sighed. “Right now, I just want to get everyone relaxed,” Piper sighed as the shaking little girl in her arms became worse. Leo sighed and decided to let it go for now, the little ones were too upset to deal with anything more tonight. He nodded at Piper and she and the rest of the girls took the little ones upstairs, while the boys stayed behind and tired to figure something out, that would work for everyone.

11:30pm

Phoebe finally joined the group downstairs and all the adults turned when they heard her footsteps. Phoebe had Jayana in her arms and Jayana was sleeping against Phoebe. Phoebe quickly sat down and held her so her ear was pressed to Phoebe’s chest. The steady beat of Phoebe’s heart lulled Jayana back to sleep and when Phoebe nodded the group resumed conversation. Prue looked at Phoebe and raised an eyebrow. “I’m not as lucky as the rest of you, and I wasn’t missing this meeting, this involves me too,” Phoebe told her. “She shouldn’t be hearing this,” Prue said softly. “I’ve tried eight times to put her to bed, in her own bed, and you can see what’s happened after eight tries,” Phoebe said. Piper put her head in her hands and sighed. “What happened after the first try?” she asked quietly. “Screaming, crying, and shaking,” Phoebe said. “It’s the demons, it’s what she heard, and what she might not have told us, when I vanquished him,” Piper sighed. Phoebe shook her head and looked at Piper. “It’s not that, she told me everything, Piper, she literally told me absolutely everything.”

August 6, 2000 7:30pm

“I don’t believe this,” Piper sighed looking at Leo. “Leave them all alone for one night one lousy stinkin’ night and look what happens,” Piper said as she walked into the kitchen and saw a mess of flour, sugar, cookie dough, and some pink slime stuff, oozing off the ceiling. “I think a group of three year olds were turned loose on your kitchen,” Leo said looking around. “I FISS IT!” a little voice yelled as she went running into the kitchen. Brayden came to a sliding halt at Piper’s feet and smiled up at her. “Hi!” she beamed. “Brayden Ann, why is my kitchen a disaster?” Piper asked her. “Kitten …maded?” she said looking up at Piper with question. “Kristen cooked?” Leo asked. “No, she twat really hard,” Brayden said. “Conjured,” Piper said. “Yeah, Kitten con…con…conzured a jar.” “A jar or what?” Piper asked, not liking where this was heading. “Jelly,” Brayden said. “She conjured a jar of jelly? We have jelly, I went shopping yesterday, with all four of you!” Piper said. “Wait, lemme finiss,” Brayden said holding up her hands in a stop motion. “Spill it quick!” Piper said as she grabbed a chair, sat down and pulled Brayden to her lap.

Brayden looked at her seriously and told her story. “Mara got sick from da jelly, from yesserday. So Kitten made more for her dat would not make her sick, an’ den da demon s-owed up, so see did like dat!” Brayden said flicking her wrists. “But nuffin happened, so we skeemed for Andy, an’ he camed in an’ did dat too, an’ den da demon went gone,” Brayden explained. “So Andy blew him up?” Piper asked. “No,” Brayden said shaking her head. “Well what did he do?” Leo pressed gently. “Da demon juss spinned an’ den he went gone,” Brayden explained. Andy now possessed the power for molecular separation. He would flick his hands like Piper, mumble some latin phrase he’d been taught, the demon would spin around, and then it would explode. “Okay, so Andy got rid of the demon, why is the rest of my kitchen a mess?” Piper asked. “When Andy spinned him, da demon hit some stuff too. JJ tol’ him not to mess you kitzen, but he didn’ listen.” Piper let out a little laugh and nodded. “Most demons don’t. Now, why were you running through the house yelling you’d fix it? What are you going to fix?” “Andy an’ Jason, want the jar of jelly you buyed and I wanna do da speww Payz teetzed me,” she said.

”Bought, not buyed, and taught, not teached,” Piper corrected. “And before you do any of that, who’s home, why did Andy have to get rid of the demon?” “Juss Andy an’ Jason is home. Mara’s cryin’ see wan’s Prue,” Brayden explained. Piper nodded and set Brayden on the floor. “Okay, do the spell Paige taught you,” Piper told her. Brayden straightened out her nightgown and stepped back a bit, so she could over look the room. “Let da obzec of obzec-sin become budda dream as I cause da seen to be unseen,” she said. With that orbs moved about the kitchen and within seconds, it was spotless. “I DID IT!” Brayden cried happily beaming at Piper. “You did I am very proud of you,” Piper said as she pulled her close, hugged her tight and kissed her cheek a few times. “I love you so much Bray, did you know that?” she asked after a moment. “Uh huh, an’ I love you too!” Brayden smiled back. “Okay, stay here with Leo, wait for me to come back, and then I’ll get you all some ice cream, how’s that?” Piper asked her. “YAY!” Brayden said clapping her hands. Piper smiled, shook her head, and headed upstairs, while Brayden moved over and sat on Leo’s lap. Leo smiled, held her tight and praised her for her spell accomplishment, and she looked like she was going to burst with pride.

Piper climbed the stairs and walked into Prue’s room, to find Jayana, Marissa, and Andy in the bedroom. “Hello,” Piper said walking into the bedroom. “Pipew!” Jayana cried running to her and Piper scooped her up and set her on her hip. “Hi baby, how are you?” “Mara frwoed up,” she said. “Threw up, and yes, Bray told me already,” Piper said. Then she walked closer to Andy and knelt down in front of him. “Hey sweetheart,” she said to Marissa who was sitting in his lap and looking miserable. “Pipew, can I go see Bray?” Jayana asked. “Yes darling, that’s fine, why don’t you practice orbing she’s in the kitchen with Leo,” Piper told her. Jayana nodded and took a moment to think, before orbing down to the kitchen. “Leo, did you get her?!” Piper called. “She’s fine!” Leo called back and then Piper focused on Marissa. “And what happened to you my little love,” Piper asked her. “I frwoed up da jelly from yesserday,” she said reaching for Piper. Piper took her in her arms and hugged her tight and looked at Andy. He nodded and filled Piper in on the whole story. “Brayden fix the kitchen?” he asked. “She did, she’s bursting with pride,” Piper smiled. “Pipew, where’s Prue?” Marissa asked quietly. “Mara, it’s okay baby, Prue will be home soon, remember how I told you?” Andy said kindly. “I miss her, I don’ wan da demon to gedder,” she said as fresh tears welled up in her eyes. Piper sighed and pulled Marissa close. “It’s okay angel, Prue is just fine, I’m sure of it,” Piper said seriously. “Come on, downstairs for ice cream and we can wait for Prue and watch a movie okay?” Piper said. Marissa nodded and went back to Andy. He was the closest connection she had to Prue at the moment.

Andy hugged her and carried her downstairs. As they hit the hallway, Kristen and Jason emerged from the bathroom and they seemed to be fighting. “NOT FAIR!” Kristen said angrily. “I told you not to do it,” Jason said simply. “You’re mean!” she said. “Yes, I know, I’m the most horrible cousin in law you have, now let’s go,” he said. “Kristen Isabella, what is going on?” Piper asked her. Kristen turned to see Piper and stamped her feet. “He wouldn’t let me practice mazic!” she pouted. “Practice how?” “Wif da wata,” she said. Piper sighed. “Paige yelled at you yesterday for that, and I told you this morning, no practicing with water, it’s not safe.” “Buh I didn’ blow it up!” Kristen pouted. “You were told not to do something and you didn’t listen and you know better!” Piper told her sternly. “You mean too, I bwowed up a demon!” she said. “Your bedroom now!” Piper told her sternly. Kristen stomped off to her bed room and Piper stopped her. “You know better!” Piper warned her. Kristen sighed and carried on her way. “Leo and I are home, and the girls are having ice cream, we’ll be down in a minute, I just need to talk to miss Kristen,” Piper said and with that, she left.

10:30pm

Prue walked in the back door and heard quiet sobs coming from the other room. She rushed over and was met with four little girls, were bawling in fear. “Attack?” she asked looking at her sisters. Phoebe and Piper nodded as Paige came down the stairs with the girls bears and blankets. “What’s going on?” Prue asked confused. Jayana spoke up. “Dems comin’ I ‘eard ‘em,” she sobbed. “Shhh,” Prue told her. “It’s okay baby, we’re here now, take a breath, then tell me, it’s okay,” Prue said kindly. Jayana nodded and hugged Prue tight. Prue rubbed her back in long slow strokes and waited for Jayana to calm down. Once she did, she looked at Prue and spoke slowly. “They are coming back to get us, they want us dead, like they dead Mama,” she said and then she burst back into tears.

Prue sighed and looked to her sisters for help. “Where are the boys, are they okay?” she asked. Piper nodded. “They went up to talk to the Elders.” “Andy and Jason too?” she questioned as she continued to hold and try to soothe Jayana. Piper nodded. “They figured that since the Elders gave them the powers in the first place, they could at least give them ones that they could work with, and they want to know more about this demon attack. “What was so different?” Prue asked. Paige sighed and pulled Brayden into her lap. “Fifteen of them, it’s getting harder and harder to vanquish them too,” she said. Brayden sighed, stuck her thumb in her mouth, shoved her teddy bear under her arm, and snuggled in close to Paige waiting for Paige to cover her with the blanket, which she did. Kristen had been settled the same way and Marissa was laying quietly next to Phoebe, waiting for Prue to be free. Kristen wiggled free from Piper and ran to Prue. “We hadda hold hand for it to work, no more demons, I don’t wanna know more,” she said sadly. Prue sighed, caressed the side of her face and kissed her cheek. “Thank you for telling me baby, you can continue sitting with Piper if you want,” Prue told her. Kristen nodded and went back to Piper’s lap. Prue raised an eyebrow at her sisters and finally Jayana found her voice.

Jayana wrapped her little arms around Prue’s neck and buried her head under Prue’s chin as Prue sat down in the chair, holding Jayana on her lap. Jayana took a breath and told Prue what happened. “Pipew got us ice ceem, an’ we was eatin’ an’ getting’ ready to watz a moobie, when dey simmered in an’ Kitten tried to blow em up.” “Nuffin happened,” Kristen said quietly. “I’m tellin’!” Jayana snapped. “Calm down,” Prue and Piper said firmly. “Okay, so then what happened?” Prue asked. “Pipew made us ho’d han’s an’ we hadda say somefin,” she said. “Do you remember what it was?” Prue asked. “We say a bunz of names an’ den we say a rhyme,” Jayana said. “Do you remember what it is?” Prue asked her softly. Jayana shook her head and held tight to Prue. “What about anyone else, does anyone else remember?” she asked. “Halliwell witzes stan’ st’ong a’side us, vankiss, dis evil, from time and space,” Marissa said. “Very good baby,” Phoebe said as she took her into her arms. “Come here you, I don’t have a little girl to cuddle, Prue’s got mine,” she said. “Den you can have me,” Marissa said as she cuddled up close to Phoebe.

“Payz,” Brayden said quietly. “I’m hot,” she whined. Paige sighed and felt her forehead. “Not too bad baby, let’s just sit her a little longer and see what happens okay?” Paige asked softly. “Me too,” Kristen whined. “An’ me!” Jayana said. “Me too!” Marissa said. “Okay, who’s really hot and who is being sympathetic?” Piper asked, knowing full well that usually when one got sick, the other three said they were sick too just so they got as much attention. In this case, no one was lying. The energy it took, for the four of them to vanquish the demon, left them tired and drained of energy. Paige sighed and shifted Brayden in her lap. “Are you tired?” Paige asked her. Brayden nodded slowly and grabbed Paige’s hand gripping it tightly.

Midnight

The boys all orbed in together, in the middle of the kitchen and walked into the other room. The four older sisters were sitting up and waiting for the guys to get home. Every one of them was on the ready incase there was a demon attack. “Where is everyone?” Kyle whispered to Paige. “Sleeping in the play room, they didn’t want to go upstairs.” “And that would be why?” Leo asked. “Demons honey, lots of demons!” Piper sighed as she got up off the couch and hugged her husband hello. “Well, I guess that’s okay, we have news,” Andy said. “I don’t like the sound of that, spill it,” Prue said. “This great evil, that’s on it’s way, it’s coming fast, and they don’t think we’re ready for it,” Jason explained. “They never think we’re ready for anything,” Paige said. “Or worse yet, they think we are ready, and send it our way and we aren’t really ready, so no matter how you look at this, we’re screwed!” Piper said angrily. Prue let out a heavy sigh and moved to the doorway of the play room. She leaned against the door frame and watched the four little ones sleep.

Andy snuck up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. “What’s wrong?” he asked. She let a small smile play at her lips and leaned into his embrace. “They are so innocent, it just doesn’t seem fair, we got to have a childhood, they don’t get that,” she explained. “Well as soon as we kick this Evil thingy, they will,” Andy assured her. “Evil thingy?” she asked raising an eyebrow. “We haven’t been given a name, so that’s what I came up with,” he smiled as he hugged her tighter. “I just wish there was something else we could do for them, they are so young, they don’t need to be seeing this,” Prue said. “Come on,” Andy said gently. He pulled her into the room and the two of them sat on the couch together. Then Andy took a blanket and covered the two of them up. “We’ll stay here tonight, we’ll take the first shift of watching them,” Andy explained. Prue nodded and the two settled back. “Take a few hours, and then you two are going up to bed, I’ll be back to later,” Paige said seriously as she tip toed over to the pile of little ones and made sure they were okay. Then she leaned over and gave Prue a kiss on her cheek and Andy as well. “I’ll be back at two, we’re doing this in shifts,” she said seriously. “Somehow we knew that you wouldn’t let the rest of us take the first shift,” Paige laughed. “It’s not me that you have to worry about. Piper is the one you have to look out for.” Paige smiled and left the room, leaving Prue and Andy, to guard the little ones while they slept.

August 7, 2000 6am

Piper and Leo stepped into the play room and gently woke, Phoebe and Jason. “Hey, shifts over, go back to bed,” Piper whispered to her sister. Phoebe’s eyes fluttered opened and smiled up at Piper. “Hey,” she said softly. She stretched against Jason and curled up tight against him. “No, Pheebs, bed, go up to bed,” Piper laughed softly. “Comfaba,” Phoebe mumbled. “Alright, fine,” Piper sighed as she and Leo, took their spot on the other couch that was set up. The four adults stayed there quietly, watching the little ones sleep and when Piper checked the time, she knew that they would all be waking up soon and it would be time to start the day.

Twenty minutes later, Kristen started to stir. She opened her eyes and landed them on Piper and Leo. She slowly got up and Piper smiled at her. “Be careful baby, don’t step on your sisters,” Piper told her softly. Kristen carefully walked around her sisters, ran over to Piper and crawled up on top of her. She held on very tight to Piper and Piper hugged her close. “Hi baby, did you have a good night?” Piper asked her. Kristen shook her head and started crying. “Awww, what’s wrong love?” Piper asked her gently. “I’m hot,” she whined. Piper shifted herself so she was sitting up and cradled Kristen on her lap. She gently felt her forehead and Kristen was definitely hot, something was wrong. “It’s okay baby, I’m here now, we’ll fix you up okay?” Piper told her gently. Piper had been playing Mommy to her cousins since day one. She was with them the majority of the time, and they all depended on her, as they would have their own mother, if she were still around. “Pipew, I wanna mommy,” Kristen said after a few minutes.” “You have a mommy baby, she’s just up in heaven, and with my mommy,” Piper explained. “She wants you,” Jayana said quietly as she made her way over to Piper and crawled up with her. Piper smiled and sighed at the same time. “Maybe we should all talk about this later,” Piper told them. “Leo,” Jayana said quietly, squirming over to him as best she could. “I’m hot,” she sighed, and she was indeed very hot.

9:30am

Piper sighed and put down all the ingredients she had in her arms on the counter. She walked into the playroom, where all four little girls were sitting on the couch, under a blanket, drinking a cup of juice, and looking miserable. “How ya doin ladies?” Piper asked them gently as she walked closer to them. “Hot!” Marissa complained. “I know baby,” Piper said kindly. Piper stood up and took Brayden’s and Kristen’s juice cups. “Let me get you more girls,” she said kindly. “Pipew why we soooo hot,” Brayden whined. “Because you all got sick,” Piper said. “Well why? We didn’t go out in da rain or nufin,” Brayden reasoned. “I know baby, but sometimes, you just get sick, it happens to everyone,” Piper said. “Well who takes care of us?” “I do, silly girl, and Prue, and Phoebe, and Paige, and Leo, and Andy, and Jason, and Kyle,” Piper explained. “Well who takes care a you?” Jayana asked before she went to drink more of her juice. “My family,” Piper answered. “That’s everyone who lives in this house,” Piper explained. Kristen wormed her way free from the blanket and hugged Piper tight. “I wanna be your baby,” she said. Piper sighed, knelt down and hugged Kristen tight, to reassure her from whatever it was that was seemingly making her nervous, and to keep the chill off of her. “You are my baby Kristen, you all are,” Piper said seriously. “No, I wanna be like Miss Ruth’s baby to you,” Kristen said. Piper sighed and moved to the couch and was quickly surrounded by all four little ones. “Alright troops, spill it, what’s bothering you all so much?”

“Miss Ruth has a baby,” Marissa said snuggling up close to Piper. “Miss Ruth has a grandchild, it’s a different kind of baby,” Piper said. Jayana snuggled up to Piper on the other side and Brayden squirmed her way on to Piper’s lap, leaving Kristen on the other leg. “Wuz dat mean?” Jayana asked. Piper sighed. “Okay, what that means is that some time ago, Miss Ruth had a baby, in her case, she had a daughter, a little girl, and then her little girl grew up and got married and had a baby of her own, a little boy, which makes little Michael Miss Ruth’s grandson,” Piper explained. Kristen shook her head defiantly and cuddled close to Piper. “Miss Ru’fs daughter calls her Mommy, I wanna call you dat,” she said strongly as the tears ran down her face. Piper sighed and hugged Kristen tight. “Baby you have a mommy, she just went to heaven, I’m your cousin,” Piper told her gently, at which point, Kristen dissolved into tears.

Jayana and Marissa stood up and hugged Piper tightly and explained why Kristen was crying. “Miss Ruth said our Mommy had to go to heaven, but you is like a mommy to us, we want a mommy,” Marissa told her. Jayana nodded and gripped tight to Piper. “We want a mommy here, not a mommy in heaven,” she said softly. “And what about you Bray, how do you feel about this?” “Hot,” Brayden said honestly. “See means about a mommy,” Jayana said. “Miss Ruth says we have four Mommies,” she said. “Oh this is complicated,” Piper sighed. “Okay, when everyone comes home tonight we’ll all talk about it okay, as one big family. In the mean time, let’s have some more juice, and we can all watch a movie together.” She sat them down on the couch again and Kristen started bawling, she wasn’t feeling well, her emotions were all over the place today and as far as she was concerned, she didn’t have a mother.

Piper had the other three set and took Kristen with her into the kitchen. “Pipew!” Jayana called after her. “JJ, you stay out of Kristen’s head,” Piper warned her. “I need juice!” she said. Piper went back and took the juice cup from her and looked at her. “I need juice what?” Piper asked her. “I need juice please,” she said. “Good girl, okay, sit tight, I’ll be right back,” Piper told them. Kristen hung on to Piper for all she was worth and tried to stop crying, sadly not having a lot of luck with it. Piper held her close and picked up the phone. “Halliwell.” “Come home, I need help, it’s a bad day,” Piper said. “I’ll be right there.”

12:30

“Three hours,” Piper snapped. “Five accidents and a water main break,” Prue snapped back. “PRUE!” Marissa exclaimed when she saw her. “Hi baby,” Prue said scooping her up. “Are you feeling better?” “I frowed up two times.” “I’m so sorry baby,” Prue said kissing her cheek. “It’s okay, Kitten been cwying for a long time, she wants a mommy,” Marissa babbled. Prue was a bit floored by this statement and looked to Piper, who was trying, without much success, to calm Kristen. “Ya know what baby, I would really appreciate it if you went back and sat with your sisters,” Piper told her. “K,” she said as she hugged Prue and then went off to the other room. “Good, now help me,” Piper insisted. Prue sighed and took Kristen from Piper and held her close. “Shhh, shhh, you’re okay baby, as soon as you get it all out, we’ll go have one of our special talks okay?” Prue told her softly. Kristen nodded and hugged Prue and then reached for Piper for all she was worth, nearly throwing herself from Prue’s arms. “Okay, okay, shhh, it’s okay, I have you,” Piper said catching her. “Baby, it’s okay, I need you to calm down and talk to me though,” Piper tried. She was a bundle of raw nerves and Piper had to think fast in order to get her to calm down, before she threw up again. “How many times has everyone thrown up?” Prue asked. “Them once or twice each, six times for Kitten face over here,” Piper said rocking her back and forth. “She’s dehydrated, we have to get her to calm down,” Prue sighed. “Gee ya think?” Piper asked. “I wanna mommy,” Kristen wailed finally.

3:00pm

Paige and Phoebe walked in around the same time and headed into the play room to find Brayden, Jayana, and Marissa all curled up in a pile on the couch, under a bunch of blankets. Piper was in the rocker in the corner and she seemed to be sleeping. “Hey, what’s up?” Paige whispered walking over to her. “Family meeting tonight,” Piper yawned. “You look beat, what happened?” Phoebe asked. Piper sighed and looked at them. “What do you two think about the word Mommy?” Piper asked. “You’re pregnant?” Phoebe asked wide eyed. “Shhh,” Piper hissed. “No I’m not pregnant, and don’t yell they’re not sleeping all that well today,” she said quietly. “Honey, you aren’t making much sense, what’s going on?” Paige asked gently. Before she could answer Prue came downstairs with Kristen who had a tear stained face and she looked very tired and upset. “Okay baby, come on,” Prue said gently as she brought Kristen back to the play room and put her in Piper’s arms. “Pwease!” Kristen begged. “Pwease I wanna mommy,” she said sadly. “Sh-sh-shhh,” Piper said. “We talked about this baby, it’s okay, don’t get upset about it anymore,” Piper tried. “No you have to!” she wailed. “Shhh, it’s okay baby, it’s okay,” Piper soothed her. “Play into Piper, or she’s going to get sick again,” Prue sighed. “You be quiet, you were no help last time,” Piper said.

Paige had enough babble and got in front of Kristen and Piper. “Hey, Kitten,” Paige said softly. “Can I talk to you while Piper holds you?” she asked. Kristen nodded and swallowed a few sobs. “Thank you baby, now I want to know, are you okay, did the demons attack again?” Paige asked. “No,” Kristen hiccupped. “Okay,” Paige said gently. “Can you tell me why you are crying?” Paige asked. “I want a Mommy,” she said clearly. Paige nodded and gently brushed back Kristen’s hair, since it was plastered to her face. “I understand that, we all want a Mommy,” Paige smiled. “Do you have anyone specific in mind?” Paige asked. “I wanna be Pipew’s baby,” she sobbed. “I think that’s great,” Paige said gently “and I bet Piper would be so happy you’re her baby, and I think you’re not telling us the whole story. Are you saying you want Piper to be your Mommy?”

7:00pm

Piper and Phoebe finished feeding the little ones a dinner of chicken soup. They were all still pretty sick and when they got that way, then tended to not want to do anything for themselves. Piper cleaned them up and sent them off with Phoebe. “Pipew,” Brayden said walking over to her. “What’s up baby?” “Is Kitten gonna be ok?” Piper smiled and hugged Brayden. “Kristen is going to be just fine, I promise, we’re all going to talk as soon as everyone gets home and we’ll figure it out, so don’t worry about it okay?” Piper asked her gently as she held her close and kissed her cheek a few times. Brayden nodded and leaned into Piper a little bit. “She frowed up too muss,” Brayden said. “That’s because she got very upset today, she’ll be alright,” Piper promised. “Cuz you is her Mommy now an’ dat means you gotta take care her,” Brayden said. Piper sighed and kissed Brayden again. “Go sit with Paige and your sisters,” she said kindly. “Wiw you carry me?” she asked softly. Piper smiled and kissed her cheek. “Come on,” she smiled as she picked her up and brought her over to Paige.

Piper got to sit for about two minutes, before she heard Kristen screaming from the other room and then a small explosion followed the scream. Piper and Paige went running as fast as they could and Piper flicked her wrists causing the demon to freeze and she quickly went in and picked up Kristen. “Get the potion,” Piper told Paige. Paige called for the potion, it orbed into her hands and she threw it at the demon. The demon shrunk to the size of a quarter before exploding in a small puff of purple smoke. Kristen had been sleeping when she was attacked, and while she knew what to do, she didn’t like it. Once she caused the demon some severe pain she called for Piper and her little body became wracked with sobs and she was shivering. Piper held her close and realized that the demon must have gotten close, because Kristen was soaked from the waist down. “Come on baby, let’s go clean you up,” Piper said gently. “We’ll be upstairs, send Leo up when he comes home please?” Piper said. Paige nodded and watched Piper go off. “Who wants some more juice?” she asked the rest of the little ones. “Kitten was huwt?” Marissa asked concerned.

“No baby, she’s okay,” Paige said. “Pipew wants Leo!” Marissa said. “Yes, but not to heal Kristen, I promise she’s okay,” Paige said. They knew Paige wouldn’t lie to them, so it sounded good and they accepted the juice cups, just as Andy walked in the back door from work. “ANDY!” they shrieked at him and he beamed when he saw them. They were the best part of his day when he got home, aside from Prue. “Hi girls. How is everyone?” “Kitten’s scared!” they all told him. “Kristen is scared? Why?” “Demon showed up, she messed herself,” Paige offered. Andy nodded and looked concerned. “Did she get hurt?” “No, Piper took her upstairs to clean her up,” Paige said. Andy nodded and hugged each of the little ones in turn. “And what about the rest of you?” “We’re gonna get a mommy!” Brayden said happily. “Payz is gonna be my mommy!” she said intently. Andy raised an eyebrow at this and before he could finish Marissa was quick to put in her two cents. “Andy, if Prue is my Mommy does that make you my Daddy?” she asked. “Girls, we have to talk about this later, once everyone comes home okay?” Paige tried. “But you is gonna be my Mommy,” Brayden insisted. “I am huh?” Paige asked as she pulled her up to her hip. “Uh-huh an’ Kyle’s gonna be my Daddy,” she said happily. “Payz, can I go to see my Jason?” Jayana asked. “You want to go see Jason?” Paige asked. Jayana nodded and prepared to orb. “Freeze young lady!” Paige scolded her. “You and your sisters all have a touch of the flu, you are not orbing anywhere.” “But I want to see him and tell him, he’s gonna be my daddy!” Jayana pouted. “Well why don’t you go tell Phoebe she’s going to be your Mommy instead,” Paige suggested. Jayana nodded and ran off in search of Phoebe.

Upstairs Piper brought Kristen into the bathroom and stripped her of her pajamas. “Pipew, peeze me you baby,” Kristen cried. “Shhh, you are my baby Kristen, you are, that’s not going to change,” Piper assured her. She ran a bath of warm water and put Kristen in it. After washing her down she took her out of the tub and wrapped her in a giant towel. She dried her off and brought her into her room. She sat her on her bed and combed her hair gently, got her dressed in a clean pair of pajamas, put on her night time underwear and dried her hair. Then she picked her up and brought her to the rocker and the two of them had a talk. “Kristen, do you want to call me Mommy?” Piper asked her. Kristen nodded and shoved her thumb in her mouth as she leaned further into Piper. “Kristen you will always be my baby, all four of you will, but we need to talk to Leo and everyone else to find out what you all want to call the rest of us,” Piper said. “No,” Kristen said suddenly. “You just my mommy!” she said seriously. “Shhh, shhh, okay, well what about your sisters?” Piper asked. “Dey have udder mommy’s,” she said. “Okay, can you help me?” Piper asked. “Tell me who their mommy is,” Piper said. “Prue is Mara’s mommy, an’ Phoebe for JJ, and Payz for Bray,” Kristen said. “Oh, I see,” Piper said as she continued rocking Kristen.

“What about the boys in our family, they are our husbands, what are you going to call them?” Piper asked. “Daddy,” Leo said from the doorway. “Obviously that’s the right answer,” he said as he walked over to them. “Hi honey,” Piper smiled. “Hi,” he said kissing her and then he kissed Kristen. “So I hear someone has been having a not so great day,” he told Kristen. “I wanna be you baby, you an’ Pip… Mommy’s,” she said. “You do? How come?” “Cuz you love me, an I juss wan it,” she said. “Peeze?” she asked. “Well I’m glad they learned that,” Piper smiled. “Okay, so if you call us Mom and Dad, what are you going to call everyone else?” “Dere names,” Kristen yawned. Leo kissed her cheek and looked at Piper. “All day?” “All day,” Piper confirmed. “She hasn’t let up about it, and now the rest of them are starting in on it, although she is the only one who made herself sick over it,” Piper said. “We should be honored,” Leo said. “Cousins weren’t enough, the bond is there, they want it, and I think we’ve shown them we want it, so what harm can it do?” he reasoned. Piper sighed and Leo could see the wheels turning in her head and then he saw her heart reach out and she nodded her consent. “I think we need some potions and stuff to legalize it, but I see no problems with you calling us Mom and Dad,” Piper told Kristen. Kristen nodded and she began crying happy tears. Piper held her tight and let her cry it out. Once she was done she took her downstairs for dinner.

August 8, 2000 2am

Paige rolled over onto her side and let out, what she thought was a small sigh. “You’re not as quiet as you think you are,” Kyle told her. “What? Oh, I’m sorry,” Paige said. “Go back to sleep,” she told him. “Honey, I love you, and you’ve been tossing and turning since we went to bed, so spill it, what’s going on?” he asked her. “There is no chance in hell that I am ready to be a mother,” she said bluntly. “What? Oh come on Paige, I’ve watched you with all of them, and like it or not, you already act like a mom to them, now they just stuck a label on you, that’s all that happened.” Paige laughed at Kyle’s comment. “Did you not hear them downstairs, were you not listening. She called me Mommy and what’s worse is now the rest of them are calling me Aunt Paige!” she said angrily. Kyle flopped back down on the bed and groaned, this was going to be an interesting conversation. “Okay, stop, think about it, you and your sisters and occasionally us guys, have been the ones to raise these girls, they don’t know anything else, and somehow they got it in their heads they want moms and dads,” he explained. “I’m too young to be a mom,” Paige protested. “You’re who Brayden wants, what are you going to do tell her no?” “It doesn’t freak you out in the least little bit she calls you daddy?” Paige asked him. “Honestly!” she put in quickly. “Yeah, it freaks me out, Paige I’m human, but it only freaks me out because we just started this after three years,” he told her. “Honestly?” Paige asked him. He nodded and Paige threw up her hands. “I can’t be a mom, I’m not good at it!” she practically whined.

Kyle sighed and pulled Paige to his lap. He snaked his arms around her waist and cuddled her tight. “You’re good cousin, you have helped Piper raise these girls from day one and you do a very good job,” he told her as he gently ran his hand across her belly and then trailed them up her body, stopping just below her breast. “Stop, that’s not what I want,” Paige said. “You must be tired, you always want it,” he said. “Oh no, Bray broke you, maybe we can get her to relinquish your title for a while,” he teased. Paige leaned back into him and sighed. “I can’t fail this, it’s too big a responsibility,” she said. “You were not this freaked when you and your sisters brought them home, what’s changed?” “I wasn’t a mommy then,” she said and as soon as it dawned on her she clapped a hand over her mouth. “No, no, you said it, which means you do feel it,” Kyle teased her. “NO NO, I take it back,” she hissed so as not to wake the rest of the house.” “No you can’t, too late, I heard you,” he teased pulling her back down onto the bed next to him and crawling on top of her. “I heard you, you can’t take it back,” he said. “No, you heard wrong,” she said giggling and squirming trying to avoid getting tickled by her husband. After a few seconds, Kyle stopped torturing Paige and kissed her passionately. “Come on you married me, how hard could this be?” he smiled.