Disclaimer : My name’s not Aaron Spelling, so I don’t own them. But I really, really, really like to write about them.

This is a follow-up story to a couple of others I‘ve written. Reading them first isn’t necessary, but you may not understand Rion‘s connection to the Halliwell sisters.

Little Rascals
by Freaky Fan


Prologue

He looked down at the book in his hands, knowing it was out of his league. But he wanted everything to be perfect for the haunted house. And what could be more perfect than a couple of real ghosts to scare the kids? Harmless ghosts, not poltergeists or ones with a grudge against the living. Just something to spice up the place a bit. The kids had been so disappointed the year before.

“Hey, Gideon.”

He slammed the book shut and tried to hide it when he heard the voice behind him. “Hey, Gabby.”

“What have you got there?”

He tried to shove the book under the couch. “Nothing.”

“Aw, come on. Let me see.” Gabby catapulted herself over the back of the couch and came crashing to a stop next to him, grabbing his arm before his hand could let go of the book. She raised her eyebrows as she pulled the text from his grasp and read the title. “Conjuring Spirits. What are you doing with this?”

“Nothing.” She gave him the big sister look. The one that made him squirm until he told her the truth. “All right. I was doing a little research for the haunted house. Happy now?”

“No.” Gabby gestured with the book. “You shouldn’t be messing with something like this yet. You were just introduced to this whole being a witch thing a month ago. You’re not ready for turning people into toads, let alone conjuring up spirits.”

“But...”

“No, Gideon. In this case practice doesn’t make perfect. Remember the meals on wheels van?”

He closed his eyes. She would have to bring that up. His first attempt at a spell was to speed up the lumbering meals on wheels truck his Aunt Bridget drove so they could deliver more meals to needy families in less time. Unfortunately it backfired and the van’s engine blew up.

“And how about the lemonade stand?”

Did she have to remember everything?! Like it was his fault the cosmic forces behind magic couldn’t decipher his spell to bring the kids more customers instead of more lemons. At least they had had some success selling the fruit door to door to raise money for the new playground.

“I’ll admit I’ve had my problems in the past, but this seems pretty straight forward.”

“There’s no way I’m going to let you do this.” Gabby stood up, taking the book with her. “Sorry little brother, but Aunt Bridget expects me to keep an eye on you. Maybe you’ll be ready for something like this next year.”

He sighed and threw himself against the back of the couch as she left the room. Like she was such an expert. She had only been a witch for a year. Well he would show her he wasn’t completely stupid. He could remember a simple conjuring of spirits spell. And once it worked and the kids loved the haunted house, he would rub it in her face that for once she was wrong.

************

He waited until everyone else was asleep that night to sneak out to the garage they used for food storage and, once a year, the haunted house. He had been tempted to tell his Aunt Bridget about his plan but decided to keep it a secret. She probably wouldn’t understand any better than Gabby had. And it wasn’t like he was lying to her. She was the one who told him to have more confidence in his abilities as a witch. What better way was their to boost your confidence than an ultra top secret middle of the night casting of a spell?

He lit the candle before him and took a deep breath before closing his eyes. His mind had to be completely focused on the spell for it to work. No Gabby, no Aunt Bridget, no self doubt. He could feel his new power surging through his veins as she started the chant.

Those beyond, here me now
A few to come I do allow.
Cross the barrier of time and space
Bring kind spirits to this place.

He held his breath, expecting something to happen right away. He opened his eyes when the familiar silence of the garage surrounded him. Great!! He finally did everything perfect and nothing was going to...

A strange sound interrupted his thoughts. He looked up in time to see a can of creamed corn rolling toward him. A second later a can of green beans followed it. Then a can of peaches. He stood up, not quite sure of what was going on. They had crammed all the food in the back three days ago to get the garage ready for Halloween.

“Don’t be scared, kid. We’re just here to have a little fun!”

He jumped as something brushed against his shoulder. He turned to find himself face to face with two ghostly looking men, each with a big smile on their face. His high pitched scream filled the night air.

The ghost who had already spoken laughed. “All right! A screamer!!”

The other ghost nodded his approval. “Gotta love a screamer!”

Twenty-one year old Gideon Wells flew out of the garage and down the street, knowing his aunt and sister would have heard his scream and would go to investigate. There was no way he could face them right now. Which meant there was only one place he could go. One place where they wouldn’t judge him or make fun of him or tell him he was a screw up. 1329 Prescott Street. The Halliwells would know what to do.


“Rion, don’t you dare open that door until we’re all down here!“

Rion rolled her eyes at Piper but did what she was told. She highly doubted a demon or warlock or anyone else involved with magic would be beating their door down at three in the morning, but sometimes is was best just to do what her cousins said to avoid a disagreement. The last thing she needed was Piper angry at her after the whole Phoebe fiasco.

“Come on, Phoebe.” Prue appeared at the top of the stairs, dragging her little sister behind her.

Rion didn’t wait for them to reach the landing where Piper was waiting. She slowly slid the dead bolt back and threw the door open, causing whoever had been knocking to spill to the floor at her feet. She was about to go into protector mode when she recognized who it was.

“Gideon?! What the hell are you doing here?!”

Phoebe pulled away from Prue and went to the boy, helping him back to his feet. “Don’t mind her, Gideon. She’s just being a grump.”

“How is asking someone what they’re doing knocking your door down in the middle of the night being a grump?”

Piper put her hand on Rion’s shoulder. “Let it go, Rion. Now’s not the time.”

Rion wanted to argue but knew it would do her no good. “Fine. I’ll be the adult here.”

Prue gave her a smile and slipped her arm around her cousin’s shoulders as Piper followed Phoebe and Gideon into the living room. “I speak from experience when I say this won’t last forever. Eventually Phoebe will get over it and stop being such a brat. Until then bear with her and remember it’s not nice to hit your cousins. Now let‘s go see what‘s up with Gideon.”

Rion sighed. “All right. But as soon as Gideon‘s gone, we‘re having it out.”

Phoebe was sitting next to Gideon on the couch. “All right, Gideon. Calm down and tell us what’s going on.”

Piper patted the boy’s knee. “Did something happen, sweetie?”

Gideon swallowed hard. “I know you guys are witches. I know I’m not supposed to know, but I heard Phoebe and Aunt Bridget talking at the shelter one day. I came here because I need your help. See, I made a big mistake. I cast a spell I had no right casting and now there are two ghosts in the garage at the house.”

Rion frowned. “And what are we supposed to do about it?”

Phoebe glared at her. “Would you stop being so mean? He’s obviously upset.”

Rion looked down at Gideon, completely ignoring Phoebe. “I meant is there some way to reverse the spell?”

Gideon shrugged. “I didn’t read that far. I just wanted to make the haunted house a little more realistic for the kids this year. I knew Aunt Bridget and Gabby wouldn’t like it, so I waited until they were asleep.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I can’t believe I screwed up again.”

Prue grinned. “Let me guess, you had something to do with the van and the fifty million lemons, didn’t you?”

“Yeah.” Gideon looked at the floor. “I was only trying to help.”

“Oh, honey.” Phoebe wrapped her arms around him. “Everything will be all right. We’ll take you home and...”

“No. I think I should stay here for a little while. Aunt Bridget’s not going to be too happy with me.”

Phoebe nodded. “All right. Prue and Rion can go see about the ghosts while Piper and I keep you company.”

“No. Piper and I will go see about the ghosts.” Prue shared a look with her middle sister, telling her to trust her. “Come on Piper.”

Piper followed Prue out of the room, waiting until they had started up the stairs to change to speak. “What are we doing?”

Prue looked at her over her shoulder. “We’re giving Phoebe and Rion some much needed time alone. I have a feeling if we’re not around to play mediator, they’ll hash everything out and stop fighting.”

“Or kill each other. And what about Gideon?”

“So he hears a little arguing. He’s getting off easy after what he did.”

Piper nodded. “All right, we’ll try it. But if this doesn’t work I’m scheduling an intervention for the two of them.”

(Meanwhile, back in the living room.)

Phoebe watched Rion as she paced the living room. “You could go with them, you know. It wouldn’t break my heart.”

“I think Prue wants me here in case something happens, miss I don’t have an active power.”

“I can levitate!”

“Oh, how impressive.”

Gideon looked from Rion to Phoebe and back again. He had never seen the two of them so much as frown at each other, let alone fight. “Did something happen to make you two so angry?”

Phoebe chuckled sarcastically. “You could say that. She got my boyfriend in trouble.”

“No I didn’t! Cole went down there all on his own!”

“Because you had already asked him one hundred and one questions about that stupid demon and he was sick of talking. Cole is a man of action.”

“One question! I asked him ONE question!” Rion looked at Gideon but pointed at Phoebe. “She’s upset because a bounty hunter appeared in her bedroom while her and Cole were... You know...” She couldn’t bring herself to say the word ‘sex’ in front of the boy. He was more than old enough to know what it was and had probably done it a time or two, but it still didn’t feel right. “Let’s just say they were caught in a compromising position and Cole had to take off for a little while. My cousin is the type who has to have someone to blame whenever something goes wrong. I happen to be her choice this time.”

“Because it makes sense to blame you! Cole wouldn’t have gone into the underworld if you hadn’t asked him about that demon!”

Gideon couldn’t believe this was happening. He didn’t want Phoebe and Rion to be mad at each other. He wished there was something he could... There was something he could do. It involved casting another spell, but this one was fool proof. He used it all the time on the kids at the shelter when they were arguing.

“Do you even know what demon we talked about?”

“Does it really matter? Asking a demon trying to reform his life about anything demonic is like asking a recovering alcoholic what brand of Scotch they liked best when they were still a boozer!”

Rion shook her head. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, Phoebe. I would never ask Cole to do anything that might jeopardize his life with you.”

“Right.”

“I wouldn’t!”

“Well you did!”

Gideon closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He didn’t even have to say this one out loud.

Vines of unity gather here,
Take these two and draw them near.
Let them relive a time ago
When love, not anger, made things so.

He realized his mistake the moment he finished the incantation. It wasn’t ‘relive’ it was ‘remember.’ As in make them remember a time when they were getting along, not relive it. He opened his eyes, petrified of what he would find. He was right to be worried. Standing in the middle of the living room, holding hands, were what he could only assume were child versions of the Phoebe and Rion he knew.

*************

Piper had just pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt when Leo orbed into the room. “Sorry, honey. Prue and I...”

“Need to get downstairs right now.”

Piper frowned. “What?”

Leo opened the bedroom door. “I don’t know, Piper. One minute I’m trying to help one of my charges and the next I’ve been pulled back up there where They said to get down here and tell you and Prue to get to the living room as soon as possible.”

Prue smiled at Leo as she came to stand in the doorway. “Hey, Leo. I‘m...”

“Going downstairs.”

Prue looked confused. “Yeah. But I need to get Piper first.”

Piper shoved past Leo and grabbed her sister’s hand, explaining as she pulled her down the stairs. “They sent him here to tell us to get to the living room. I told you leaving Phoebe and Rion alone was a bad idea. What if they’ve...” Her voice trailed off when she realized there was no one in the living room. “All right, where did they go?”

Prue’s mouth dropped open when she spotted the pint sized Phoebe and Rion huddled together under the dining room table. “Uh, Piper.” She pointed them out with her free hand. “I think we have a problem.”


Piper could hardly believe her eyes. “Is this some sort of Halloween prank?”

Leo shrugged. “Don’t look at me. I told you I was with another charge before They told me to come here and warn you and Prue.”

Prue held her hands up in a ‘don’t look at me’ gesture. “I was with you.”

“Then how do we explain THAT?!” Piper pointed at the little girls. “They’re what, four?”

“And a half.”

“Wion, we’re not apposed to talk to stwangews!”

“Oops! I forgotted. Maybe they didn’t hear me.”

Leo felt Piper glaring at him as he chuckled. “What?! They’re adorable.”

“Well we’ve gotta find a way to get them out from under there so they can tell us what happened. Like how they got turned into kids again and where Gideon went.”

“The bad man wented away.”

“Wion!”

“Sorry.”

Piper started toward the table. If she remembered correctly, Rion was willing to talk to anyone, anytime as long as they were willing to listen. “What do you mean the bad man went away? What bad man?”

“He...”

Phoebe covered Rion’s mouth with her pudgy little hand. “She can’t tawk to you! We don’t know you!”

Piper sighed. “Sure you do. We’re Prue and Piper.”

Little Phoebe frowned, releasing her grip on Rion. “Nuh uh! Pwoo and Pipew are widdle wike us!”

“Phoebe, calm down. You’re ‘w’ing everything to death.” The old phrase slipped from Prue’s lips before she even realized it was coming. She shook her head, and tried again. “Look, we’re... distant relatives that your Grams asked to keep an eye on you for a little while.”

Rion eyed her. “Like a babysitter?”

Piper nodded. “Exactly. We’re the babysitters your sisters are named after.”

Rion giggled. “That’s funny. Peru and Petunia named after you two.” She suddenly looked serious. “I’m named after some twinkles.”

Leo laughed again, drawing another glare from Piper. “Sorry.”

“See, we can talk to them Febe. Aunt Penny sended them.”

Prue smiled. “That’s right. Now what were you saying about a bad man?”

Rion shrugged. “He wented away.”

Piper cocked an eyebrow. “What do you mean he went away?”

“She means he went away! Pwain and simpew!”

It was Prue who chuckled this time. “Sorry. But they really are cute.” She apologized before Piper could glare at her as she continued to laugh.

Rion joined in her laughter. “I like you.”

Prue picked her up, forgetting how little a four year old could be. “Good cause I like you too. Now what do you say we get you to bed?”

“Okey dokey.” Rion squirmed out of her arms and took Phoebe’s hand. “Come on Febe. It’s bed time.”

Phoebe yawned. “All wight. But I still don’t fink we should be tawking to them.”

“Yeah, well I did. Aunt Penny can yell at me when she gets home if she wants to. Hey Peru?”

“Yes, Rion?”

“Where’s my mommy?”

Prue shared a look with Piper. “She, uh... She went away with your Aunt Penny.”

Rion looked at the floor. “Figures.”

Phoebe started up the stairs, pulling her cousin with her. “Come one, Wion. I’ll keep you company. I‘ll even tell you a stowy.”

Leo started after the girls. “How about I help you get ready for bed and then tell you a story?”

Phoebe frowned. “Who awe you?”

“I’m Leo, Piper’s husband.”

Rion nodded. “Okey dokey. Let’s getted to bed.”

Leo looked back at the Prue and Piper as he followed the little ones up the stairs. “I’ll get them to bed and then see what They can tell me. Why don’t you two try to get a hold of Bridget and see if she’s heard anything from Gideon? And take a little time to adjust. I know you‘ve got to be confused.”

“Come one Weo! We’we tiwed!”

He smiled. “Gotta go. My audience awaits me.”

Piper rolled her eyes. “Leave it to him to be calm at a time like this.”

Prue grabbed her hand. “Let’s take Leo’s advice. I could use some coffee.”

Piper looked up the stairs. “Do you really think it’s safe to leave Leo alone with those two? He has no idea what they were like. He’s heard stories, but that’s not the same thing as living it.”

“He’s a Whitelighter, Piper. I think he can handle a couple of kids. Besides, they’re both tired. They’ll be asleep in no time. And you need to call Bridget.”

“Why me?”

“Cause you’ve known her longer.”

Piper growled as she followed Prue into the kitchen. “That’s about the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard.”

*************

An hour later Piper and Prue were still sitting at the kitchen table, an empty coffee pot and two well used cups between them.

“Just another day at the Manor. Our cousin and little sister turn into four year olds and a young man disappears off the face of the earth.”

Prue shook her head. “I think Gideon will show up. He’s probably just scared. Unleashing two ghosts and turning two of my friends into kids would sufficiently freak me out.”

Piper suddenly frowned. “Did you hear that?”

“What?”

“It sounds like giggling.”

“Uh oh.”

They both tore threw the house and up the stairs, well aware of what giggling had meant when they were younger. Phoebe and Rion might be cute, but they were the dynamic duo when it came to finding ways to get in trouble. The trail of shaving cream, toothpaste and a couple of things they couldn’t quite identify going from the bathroom to Phoebe’s room told the eldest Halliwells the little troublemakers had struck again.

Piper silently pushed open Phoebe’s door, expecting the worst and finding it. Laying on the foot of the bed was Leo, his face and hair a streaked mess of the things they had just found in the hallway. Rion sat on his right, filling his hand with a mass of what looked like scrubbing bubbles while Phoebe stood over him, a long string in her hand. She was about to use it to tickle Leo’s nose when Rion spotted Prue and Piper in the doorway.

“Uh, Febe...”

“Shh. This is just gettin’ fun.”

“Yeah, but I think we got caughted.”

Phoebe turned, her little eyes getting big as saucers when she saw the two of them. “Uh oh.”

“Uh oh’s right, young lady.” Piper barreled into the room. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Rion drew in a sharp breath. “You curseded.”

“I’m free, white and over twenty-one. I’ll curse if I want to! Look at what they did to him Prue. I told you leaving them alone with him was a bad idea.”

Prue put her hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Piper, I know this looks bad, but yelling at them isn’t going to help. Just wake Leo and help him get cleaned up. I’ll handle the girls.”

Phoebe pointed at Rion. “She sung him to sweep.”

Rion put her hands on her hips. “I was singin’ cause you said you missed Aunt Penny. Is it my fault he falled asleep? And it was your idea to tickle him.”

Piper shook her head. “Where did you come up with such an idea?”

“From Pwoo. She did it to the wast gwandpa Gwams bwought home.”

Prue saw the look on Piper‘s face and started the girl‘s out of the room. “It’s both your faults and you’ll be punished for it in the morning. You’re going to clean up the mess you made in here and in the hallway and, I’m sure, in the bathroom. But for right now you’re going to come to bed with me. And you’re going to go to sleep this time.”

Rion looked at Phoebe as they left the room. “No wonder Peru’s named after her. She’s bossy too.”

“Watch it, missy.”

Phoebe giggled. “Hew name’s not Missy. It’s Wion.”


“Oh, honey.” The next morning found Piper running her fingers through Leo’s still stiff hair. “I’m so sorry.”

Leo grinned at her. “For what? You didn’t do anything.”

“I should have warned you about them. They were infamous for testing babysitters.”

“You talk about them like they’re a plague of locusts or something, Piper. They’re a couple of little girls.”

“But your hair.”

Leo pulled her into his lap. “Is going to be fine. I think it actually makes it look better.” He laughed before laying a gentle kiss on her lips. “They’re just kids. They were having a little fun.”

Piper laid her head on his shoulder. “Well I hope they didn‘t have fun with Prue too.”

“Good morning you two. It’s nice to see you survived last night, Leo.” Prue smiled as she came into the kitchen, a still sleepy Phoebe in her arms and a serious looking Rion at her side.

Piper looked up at her sister. “And how did you sleep last night?”

“Like a baby. I think tormenting Leo wore these two out. They conked out as soon as their head... the pillow.”

Rion suddenly took a step forward. “Leo, can I talk to you?”

The three adults shared a look before Leo nodded. “Of course you can, Rion.”

“Sorry. That’s from Febe and me both. We got carried away last night.” She leaned in close. “Febe would say it herself, but she‘s bein’ a sleepyhead.”

Leo tried not to laugh. “Apology accepted.”

Piper sighed as she scooted out of Leo’s lap. “Who wants some breakfast? Blueberry waffles and pancakes.”

Phoebe lifted her head from Prue’s shoulder. “Bluebewy waffles?”

Piper nodded. “There’s one order.” She looked down at Rion. “How about you?”

“Pancakes, please.”

“And I know Prue wants waffles.”

Prue sat down next to Leo, making sure Phoebe was settled comfortably on her lap before starting a conversation with her brother-in-law. Piper headed to the stove, completely unaware of her little shadow until she almost tripped over Rion.

“Hey, lady? Are you mad at me?”

Those sad blue eyes were almost more than Piper could take. She knelt down in front of the little girl. “Of course not, sweetie. What makes you ask?”

“Cause you seemed real mad last night and haven’t saided much today. When my mommy gets mad, she gets real quiet. You kinda remind me of my mommy. That’s why I asked.”

Piper pulled her into a hug. She had been a little young to realize just how cute Rion and Phoebe were when they were kids. She knew she still needed to keep a close eye on the two of them, but she needed to loosen up a little too. They really were just kids.

“Wanna help me with the pancakes?”

Rion smiled as she pulled out of the hug. “Sure.”

“Good. I could use a hand.” Piper pulled on of the bar stools over to the stove. “Just be careful. Wouldn’t want you to get burned now, would we?” She felt Prue and Leo watching her and frowned. “What?”

Prue shook her head. “Nothing. Just watching my hard hearted sister finally warm up to our little cousin.”

Phoebe lifted her head again. “She’s not you cousent. She’s my cousent.”

Leo and Prue both smiled, Prue running her fingers through Phoebe’s long dark hair. “Sorry, kiddo. I didn’t mean to get it wrong.”

“That’s OK. Just don’t wet it happen again.”

Prue raised her eyebrows as she and Leo laughed. Piper saw the confused look on Phoebe’s face and couldn’t help but join in. Rion looked up at her and smiled.

“She’s real funny sometimes.”

Piper laughed even harder as she put her hand on Rion’s back. They may have been devils the night before but they were being angels this morning. Maybe this whole thing wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Phoebe sat on the white pages while Rion sat on the yellow, their little feet swinging back and forth as they enjoyed being at the grown up table for breakfast. Piper grinned as she watched them, half listening to Rion talk about someone’s imaginary friend at preschool as Phoebe slowly ate her waffles and half listening to Prue and Leo trying to guess what happened to Gideon.

“So They don’t know anything?”

The desperation in Prue’s voices drew her completely into their conversation. So far had been the calm one. The one taking their now tiny sister and cousin in stride while she freaked out over anything and everything. She wasn’t prepared to be the calm one.

Leo shook his head. “They felt a minor disturbance, but had no idea anything this big,” he looked at the girls, “or should I say small, had happened.”

Prue sighed. “Poor Bridget. She and Gabby must be going out of their minds right about now.”

Piper relaxed. Prue was just worried about Bridget. Not that that wasn’t important. She was worried about Bridget and Gabby and Gideon too. And she would have been a wreck if anyone in her family suddenly disappeared. Of course she and Phoebe had been with Rion when she got sucked into the vortex on the patio.

Leo suddenly got an all too familiar look on his face. “I’ve gotta go.”

Rion looked up as he stood. “Where ya goin’, Leo.”

“Uh...” He thought for a moment. “Work.”

Phoebe finished the last bite of her waffle. “Whewe do you wowk?”

Leo frowned. “Outside.”

Rion looked interested. “Doin’ what?”

“Um...” He raised his eyebrows at Piper and Prue, hoping for a little help.

“He’s a...” Prue paused, obviously struggling.

Piper jumped in, saying the first thing that came to mind. “Tree surgeon.”

She closed her eyes as she realized what she had said. The big oak tree out back was in need of some attention and she intended to call a tree surgeon as soon as they could afford it. Why that had suddenly come to mind and out of her mouth was beyond her, but it had happened.

“What the heck is a tree sturgeon?”

“Wion! You not awwowed to say heck!”

Rion hung her head, prompting Piper to tap her in the arm with her elbow. “It’ll be our little secret, kiddo.”

Rion grinned at her before sticking her tongue out at Phoebe. “Mommy won’t finded out, so heck, heck, heck!!”

Phoebe covered her mouth with her hand, her face a mask of shock. “Aw! I’m tewing!”

Leo watched them impatiently. “Guys...”

Rion looked up at him again. “Are you gonna telled me what’s a tree sturgeon?”

“That’s surgeon, honey. Leo fixes sick trees.”

“How?”

Piper had hoped her explanation would be enough, but Rion was like a dog with a bone when it came to something she was interested in. And the great outdoors was Rion’s favorite place to be. “By making them feel better. Right now there’s a tree out there with his name on it.”

“Wion’s mommy says it’s bad to cawve you initiaws in twees.”

Prue smiled at Phoebe. “She meant there’s a tree waiting for his help, not that his name is actually on the tree.”

“Oh.” Phoebe looked at Piper. “Then she shouwd say what she means.”

“Sorry, but I’ve really got to go.” Leo interrupted before Piper could respond. He kissed her as he headed for the back door. “You two be good.”

Prue winked at Rion. “We will be.”

Rion smiled. “Yeah, us too.”

Leo shook his head as he opened the door, making sure it was shut behind him before orbing away.

Piper sighed. “There goes our advantage.”

Prue looked confused. “Huh?”

“It was three against two before. Now it’s just us,” she pointed at the girls, “and them.”

Rion covered Piper’s finger with her little hand. “It’s not polite to pointed.”

Prue chuckled. “Yeah, it’s not polite to point, Piper. Now how about we get dressed, girls?”

“I wanna watch cawtoons.”

“You can watch cartoons as soon as you get dressed, Phoebe.”

“I wanna watch Leo be a tree sturgeon.”

“You can’t, honey. Leo has to be alone with the tree.”

“But Febe gets to watch toons. How’s come I can’t do what I want?”

Piper didn’t like this. The girls were testing their limits and a lot depended on how Prue answered them. She held her breath, hoping her sister could handle it.

“Because we can’t always have what we want, Rion.”

Wrong answer. Piper felt a change in the air as Phoebe glared at Prue. A change that could only spell trouble.

“You mean!”

Rion nodded her agreement. “Yeah, Peru, you’re mean!”

Prue sighed. “Now girls...”

“Come on, Wion.” Phoebe grabbed her cousin’s hand. “You can watch cawtoons with me.”

“Thanks, Febe.”

Piper looked at Prue as the girls left the kitchen. “Now look what you’ve done.”

Prue threw her hands in the air. “What?!”

“You ruined everything miss ‘we can’t always have what we want.’ They were being good!”

“But they can’t always have what they want, Piper.” Prue stared after the girls. “Young ladies, I told you to get dressed first.”

“Wun, Wion!”

“Hey!”

Piper put her head in her hands when she heard tiny feet hurrying up the stairs followed by Prue’s angry tread. Those two had a hundred and one different places they could hide upstairs. It would take them forever to find them. So much for angels instead of devils. She got up, deciding two was better than one when it came to finding the dynamic duo of doom.

Piper flopped down next to Prue on the park bench, glaring at her sister who seemed to be enjoying the sun just a little too much. “Remind me again why we’re here?”

Prue kept her head tilted back, eyes closed. “Because it was the only way to get Phoebe and Rion to stop running around the house naked, yelling like banshees.”

“And why am I the only one chasing them now?”

“Because I’m still miss ‘we can’t always have what we want,’ remember? Every time I get close to them they run away.”

Piper nodded. “Right. So why are you here?”

Prue finally sat up and looked at her sister. “I seem to remember the words ‘die a thousands deaths.’”

“Did I really say that?”

“Yep.”

Piper looked as apologetic as she could. “I didn’t mean it.”

“Right.” Prue saw the hurt look on Piper’s face and put her arm around her. “I was just kidding.”

Piper snuggled in close. “I know.”

Prue held her sister. “You know, I was thinking. We should take the munchkins shopping. They can’t keep wearing the same clothes.”

“Why not?”

“They’re four, Piper. There’s bound to be at least one rip or hole or stain by the time we leave here. They’ll look like ragamuffins in a few days.”

Piper pushed away from her. “A few days?! How long do you think they’ll be like this?!”

A woman walking by with her twin sons caught the tail end of what Piper was saying and stopped. “I know exactly how you feel, dear. But take it from someone who’s been through it, it does get better. They’ll grow up eventually.” She patted Piper on the knee. “You hang in there. And be glad you have your special friend here to help you.”

Prue covered her mouth to keep from laughing as the woman walked away. Piper watched her go, wide eyed with disbelief.

“Did you hear what she said?! She thinks they’re my kids! And she thinks you’re my ‘special friend!’ And she touched me! She doesn’t even know me and she touched me!!”

Prue put her hand on her sister’s shoulder, still trying not to laugh. “Piper, calm down.”

Piper shrugged away from her. “Don’t touch me! Someone else will think we’re ‘special friends!’”

Prue couldn’t hold it in any longer and started laughing. She smiled at another woman passing by who looked at them as if they were crazy. “Lover’s spat.”

“Prue!” Piper smacked her sister. “Stop it!! Let’s just get the girls and...” Her voice trailed off when she realized the girls weren’t where she had left them. “Uh, where are the girls?”

“What do you mean ‘where are the girls?’ They’re right...” Prue frowned and pointed toward the sandbox. “OK. They were right there.”

“That’s just great. Now we’ve lost the kids. As if everyone thinking we were lovers wasn’t bad enough.”

“Maybe if you’d stop saying we’re ‘special friends’ people would realize we’re sisters.” Prue looked around, not finding the girls anywhere. “All right. We’ve got to think like four year olds.”

“Where’s the grown up Phoebe when you need her?”

Prue grimaced. “That was low. Especially when she’s not here to defend herself.”

Piper sighed. “Let’s just find the girls. You go left, I’ll go right.”

The woman who had started it all shook her head as she watched the two young women run in opposite directions. “Amateurs.”

*************

“Hey, Peru. Wanna play?”

Rion smiled up at her innocently, as if she didn’t know she was covered from head to toe in mud. Phoebe, who was in the same shape, frowned at her little partner in crime.

“Wion, we’we still mad at Pwoo.”

“Nah uh. I gotted over it.”

Piper shucked in a shocked breath as she came to stand next to Prue. “Oh my God! Look at you two.”

Rion smiled at her too. “Hi, Piper.”

Piper looked at Prue. “What the hell happened?”

“Pipew, don’t sweaw.”

Piper stared at Phoebe until the little girl looked away. “This is perfect! How are we supposed to get them home without ruining the inside of the jeep?!”

“I don’t know, Piper. Calm down and I’ll think of something.”

“I don’t want to calm down! I think I have every right to be freaking out right about now! Our sister and cousin have gone back to the worst possible age! I just want everything to go back to normal!”

Prue grabbed her by the arm, leading her away from the girls before speaking. “OK, look Piper. You’ve really got to settle down. You’re going to scare the girls.” She could see her sister was trying to take her advice and decided to lighten the mood. “And do you really think four is the worst age they could have reverted to? Don’t you remember twelve year old boy crazy Phoebe and her sidekick look at my cousin wrong and I’ll kick your ass Rion? Which is worse, a little mud or Darryl pulling some strings to bring our delinquent sister and cousin home?”

Piper grinned. “I guess you’re right. But how are we going to get them home?” She watched the girls over her shoulder as they continued to play. “I mean, look at them. Which has more mud, them or the ground?”

Prue laughed. “Tell you what. I’ll hold them on my lap so they don’t get mud on your seat. You can drop us off at the Manor and go pick up some new clothes for them. It’ll give you some alone time.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

Piper hugged her. “Thanks, Prue. You’re the best.”

“I know. Now lets go before I change my mind. You know how I feel about mud.”

Piper smiled at her sister’s exaggerated cringing as they went to collect the girls.

Prue waved at Piper as she backed the jeep out of the driveway. She didn’t really want to stand in the middle of the yard looking like a mud wrestler with two midget sidekicks but she had to make sure Piper left. She loved her sister more than life itself but she needed a break from her as much as Piper needed a break from the girls. The middle Halliwell had always had a tendency to overreact, but never like today. Granted, Phoebe and Rion were more than a handful but they hadn’t done anything to get overly upset about. Certainly nothing to warrant the hysterical breakdown in the park.

“Prue!”

Her head snapped up when she heard her sister’s voice. Piper had stopped in the middle of the road and was yelling out the passenger side window. Probably to remind her to carry the girls up the stairs in the Manor to keep from having to clean the floors or something. Like she couldn’t take care of two little girls.

“Yes?”

“Just thought you’d like to know Rion is trying to climb a tree.”

Prue rolled her eyes. “Very funny.”

Piper pointed toward the big tree between the Manor and the house where Dan used to live. “I’m not kidding. Bye, I love you.” She gave a little wave as she hit the button to roll up the window and sped away.

Prue turned, her heart falling to her toes when she saw Phoebe giving Rion a boost so she could reach a sturdy enough branch to support her weight. “...!!” She hurried across the lawn, kicking herself for forgetting Rion’s passion for climbing trees. She couldn’t believe the girls were finding another way to get even with her for earlier.

“You two stop that this instant!” She grabbed Rion, not letting go of her until she was safely on the ground again. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Rion frowned. “The kitty’s stuck.”

Phoebe nodded. “Yeah. She was just twyin’ to hewp the kitty.”

“Well both of you can help me by getting your butts in the house right now. There’s a bathtub upstairs with your names on it.”

Phoebe smacked Rion as she they started into the house. “I towd you not to twy and cwimb up thewe.”

“Did not! You tolded me to help the kitty.”

“No, I didn’t!”

“Dided too!”

“In the house now! And wait for me inside the door. We‘ve got to get you out of those clothes before your bath.” Prue sighed as she finally heard the front door open. She looked up at Kit as the cat made its way leisurely back down the tree. “And you. You’d better behave too.”

Kit mewed as Prue walked away. The eldest Halliwell made a beeline for the house, knowing the girls were bound to find something else to get into if she didn’t hurry. All she had to do was get them in the tub and she had it made. Bathes were like sleeping pills to the two of them. Get them cleaned up and in front of the television and they would be out like...

She slapped her forehead as she walked into the house. Leave it to her to tell the girls her plan. They hated bathes. So instead of waiting for her they had thrown their muddy clothes in a heap and taken off for Lord knew where. How they managed to get out of the clothes and disappear without a trace in the short time it took her to make it to the house was a mystery she would have to solve later. Right now she needed to find them. For all her complaining Piper wouldn’t want to be away from the girls for long. And it wouldn’t do for her to come home and find Prue had lost them again.

“Hi, Peru!!”

She jumped when she heard Rion’s voice. Her reaction set the two naked girls into a fit of giggles, their little eyes twinkling as she turned to look at them.

Rion pointed at her. “We goted you.”

Phoebe nodded her agreement. “We suwe did!”

Prue shook her head, finding it impossible to stay angry at them. “All right you little mud balls. Let’s get you in the tub before Piper gets home.” She took Rion’s hand in her left, Phoebe’s in her right and led them up the stairs.

*************

Maybe the whole thing would be over. Maybe Gideon had come back and reversed the spell. Maybe Leo had come back with some answers from the Elders. Maybe they would be able to pack away the clothes she had just spent a small fortune on for one of their own children to use someday. Or maybe she was dreaming and should just accept the fact that she and Prue may have become instant moms.

Piper frowned when she found the front door unlocked. It wasn’t like her sister to leave the Manor open for just anyone to walk in. Especially since they became witches. She entered the house silently, looking for any of the tell tale signs of trouble as she sat her shopping bags down. She was so intent in her search that she didn’t see the pile of muddy clothes until she stepped in it. The feel of crusty mud against her sandaled foot made her yelp in surprise.

“Hi, Pipew.”

Four year old Phoebe smiled as she came down the stairs dressed in one of Leo’s old t-shirts. So much for the spell being reversed.

“Hi, sweetie. Is Leo home yet?”

“Nope.”

“Where’s your twin?”

Phoebe frowned. “Huh?”

“Rion, you know the little girl whose with you twenty-four seven.”

“Oh. Wion is helping Pwoo cwean up the bathwoom.”

It was Piper’s turn to frown. “The bathroom? I just cleaned it last night.”

“We took a bath.”

Those four words were all Piper needed to hear. She took Phoebe by the hand and drug her back up the stairs, wanting to see the damage for herself. Bath time had always been a nightmare when they were younger. Grams would get grumpy, knowing the two of them would find some way to get water all over the place or write on the walls with the soap or fog up the mirror and leave little handprints as their calling cards. Whatever it was, the bathroom ended up a disaster area every time.

Rion almost ran into the them as she came bustling down the hallway. Her eyes got big as saucers when she saw Piper. She quickly turned on her heal and started back toward the bathroom. Piper was about to call out to her when she heard Prue’s voice coming from behind the closed bathroom door.

“...can’t believe I was so stupid. ‘Come see what I can do with a wash cloth.’ Who falls for a line like that?”

Piper smiled and stopped Rion from opening the door, putting a finger to her lips to keep the girls quiet. It wasn’t every day she heard her older sister admitting she was wrong about something.

“Put those two in the ocean and they could empty it out in a matter of minutes! I’m glad Piper wasn’t around for this. She would...”

Prue’s voice died in her throat as she opened the door and found herself face to face with her sister. They stood that way for a moment before Piper started laughing hysterically.
Prue’s hair was plastered to her head and her clothes were soaked, making it look like she had taken a bath rather than the girls.

“You...”

Prue held up her hand to silence her sister. “Not now, Piper. Not now.” She walked the rest of the way down the hallway without looking back, leaving a set of wet footprints in her wake.

Piper looked down at the girls, trying not to laugh any more. Leo and Prue had already fallen victim to their pranks. There was no use in encouraging them to do the same to her.

“Do you think she’s mad?”

Phoebe nodded. “Yep. You shouwdn’t have spwashed hew so much.”

“You splasheded just as much as me.”

“Did not.”

“Did too.”

Piper took Rion’s hand in her free one and started back downstairs, knowing Prue would join them once she was done berating herself.

“Come one girls. Let’s get something to eat.”

Rion smiled up at her. “Okey dokey.”

“Bwown nosew.”

“Shut up!”

“No, you shut up!”

Piper sighed as they made their way down to the kitchen. It had been a long day already and it only seemed to be getting longer.

Piper looked across the table at Prue, knowing it had only been an hour and wondering if it was safe to talk to her yet. She decided to give it a try. “Still sulking?”

Prue sighed. “Trying not to, but you know how I am.”

“Do I ever.” Piper was hoping for a laugh and decided to take a different route when she didn’t get one. “Look, I’m sorry I came home when I did. I know this whole wounded pride thing is because I saw you...” She hesitated, trying to come up with a tactful way to describe what she had seen.

“Looking like a drowned rat?”

“No! Not a rat. A small dog maybe, but definitely not a rat.” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. She held her breath, expecting the worst.

Prue narrowed her eyes as she squeezed Piper’s hand. “You’re so bad sometimes.”

They both laughed. The first one they had shared since before Leo left. A thought suddenly struck Piper. One she didn’t really want to share but knew she had to.

“Not to sound paranoid or anything, but how long has it been since you heard anything from Mutt and Jeff in there?” She motioned toward the living room with her head.

The smile faded from Prue’s face. “Too long.”

Piper patted Prue’s hand as she stood. “I’ll go. Seeing as how you’re still recovering and all.”

“Ha! Ha! Very funny!”

Piper held her smile in place until she was out of Prue’s sight. She started toward the living room cautiously, finding it hard to admit she found two little girls so intimidating. The possibility of what they could be into next bothered her more than the prospect of facing a demon. At least you knew that a demon was evil from the get go. Kids were wolves in sheep’s clothing. One minute they were good as gold and the next they found some innocent seeming way to ruin your whole day.

She wasn’t prepared for what she found when she finally walked into the living room. “Prue!” She said her sister’s name loud enough for her to hear and with just enough urgency to bring her running.

“What’s the...”

Piper motioned for her to be quiet and come into the living room. Prue frowned and went to stand next to her sister. Her frown turned into a motherly grin when she saw what Piper was looking at. Phoebe and Rion were side by side in one of the chairs, sound asleep. Phoebe was cuddled into Rion’s right side with her head on her cousin’s shoulder and her feet curled daintily beneath her. Rion had her right arm thrown lovingly around Phoebe’s shoulders and her head nestled in her cousin’s hair.

“Thank God for the cartoon network.” Piper whispered her remark as she went to get the afghan off the back of the couch.

Prue nodded her agreement. “Bathes always did put them to sleep.” She ran her fingers through Rion’s shoulder length locks. “It’s hard to believe they’re the same holy terrors who almost drowned me.”

Piper smiled as she tucked the afghan around them. “And you thought I was overreacting again.”

“I...”

“Don’t even try it, Prue. I know you too well.” She locked eyes with her sister. “And it’s all right. I do tend to be a bit spastic at times. I’m just glad you realize you’ve got to watch out for them.”

“But they look so innocent like this.”

“Yeah, well if being witches has taught us anything it’s that looks can be deceiving.” Piper’s eyes softened as she looked down at them. “But they are awfully cute. Almost makes me want to have twins.”

Prue looked at her sister. “Piper, are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“Uh huh.”

Prue flopped down on the couch. “Wow.”

Piper looked up, frowning at her sister’s response. She immediately realized what Prue was thinking and got flustered.

“Oh, I meant no. I’m not. Of course I’m not!”

“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

Piper sat down next to her sister. “Both, I guess. You see, Leo and I have talked about starting a family but I don’t think now is the right time. It’s hard to tell what They would do if I got pregnant after all the grief they gave us about falling in love in the first place. And there’s the situation in the underworld. I’d like to know who’s going to be trying to kill us before I further the Halliwell line.” She looked over at the little girls in the chair. “And there’s Rion to consider. It wouldn’t seem fair to be doting over a baby when she’s only been back a couple of months.”

Prue slipped her arms around Piper’s shoulders. “All very good points, but you can’t try and schedule your life around circumstances. First of all, to hell with Them. They’ll face the wrath of the Halliwells if They ever tried to do anything to you or Leo. And no matter what happens in the underworld you’ll always have me and Phoebe and Rion and Leo and even Cole to watch out for you. And I agree that Rion could stand a little more doting after all the years she was gone, but Phoebe and I are here for that too. I guess what I’m trying to say is that we’ll all be behind whatever decision you make one hundred and ten percent. Just don’t let it be unduly influenced by things you can’t control.”

Piper leaned against her sister. “Thanks for the pep talk.”

Prue held her close. “You’re welcome. Now how about watching some cartoons with your big sister until the little ones wake up?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

Leo orbed into the living room, smiling when he saw the two of them. They looked so cute all curled up together. It still amazed him how innocent mortals looked when they were sleeping. Even the most vile of humans could look like an angel when caught in the grip of slumber. He hated to wake them, but he had news he thought they would want to hear.

He was about to shake Piper by the shoulder when he heard something in the kitchen, making him frown. Who could possibly be in the kitchen when Prue and Piper were both on the couch? He got his answer when he realized what he heard was giggling. He forgot about his news and hurried toward the kitchen, hoping he would make it in time to avoid a catastrophe.

“Febe! That’s not funny. The cheese is supposed to go on the noodles.”

“But the noodwes are stiw hawd. Besides, it wooks pwetty on the countew.”

Leo’s breath caught in his throat as he ran into the kitchen. He was too late. Way too late. It literally looked like a bomb had gone off. Cabinet doors hung open, various boxes and bottles hanging haphazardly out of them. Pots and pans with who knew what in them were strewn everywhere. The sink was full of what appeared to be every plate, bowl, cup and piece of silverware in the Manor. And an empty flour sack at his feet marked the end of a spiraling design he could guess Phoebe made from the mess she was now making with powdered cheese sauce on the counter next to the stove. Rion watched her indignantly, Piper’s apron tied around her waist and the chef hat Prue had gotten Piper as a gag gift for Christmas the year before perched on the side of her head. Both were covered in little red hand prints.

“That’s cause they’re not cookeded yet. We have to wait for Piper or Peru to wake up and turn on the stove.”

“What are you two doing?”

They both looked up when they heard his voice. Phoebe smiled and waved, throwing the cheese sauce still on her hand all over the place.

“Hiya, Weo. Wanna hewp?”

Rion smiled too. “We’re makin’ dinner.”

“OH MY GOD!!”

Leo cringed when he heard Piper’s voice behind him. Everyone had one thing in their lives you didn’t mess with and Piper’s was the kitchen. He turned, motioning for Prue to get to the girls while he tried to calm his wife