Third Time Charmed

Black as Cole (Part 1)

Sunlight streamed into the attic through the stained-glass window, scattering colored fragments across the worn pages of the Book of Shadows as Paige searched through it. She looked frustrated but determined.

"Thanks for coming over today, Paige. Leo wanted us all on this one," said Piper, marking points on the map of San Francisco she was sitting in front of.

"Are you kidding? A demon killing witches? I had to come," she replied, sighing at the thickness of the book. "I just wish a penchant for targeting witches helped narrow down our list of suspects."

Piper mumbled in agreement. "We do have one clue. We know he likes to use an athame."

Paige gave her a dubious look. "How does that help?"

"Well, it means he has hands," Piper explained impassively, only half joking. "Keep flipping."

Paige snorted, a smirk tugging at her glossy pink lips. She turned the next page, deciding to push a button as only a sister could. "So, did you and Leo ever have that chat?"

"Which chat would that be?"

"The baby chat!"

Piper looked up. An expression of stone-faced calm disguised the conflict below the surface. "We did," she shared. "Briefly."

Paige felt uneasy, wondering whether she should have asked. Maybe the question would be more appropriate coming from Prue. Then again, Prue was rarely around, so maybe Piper needed someone to talk to. "And how did that go? Not to be nosey, but if I'm going to be an aunt and all...."

Piper let out a slow breath, folding her arms over her red top as she leaned back in her chair. There was a rawness in her voice, "You're not going to be an aunt. At least, not any time soon. I think it's too risky. A baby would be in constant danger around us."

"What does Leo think?" Paige asked, more gently now.

"Leo is never around," Piper said bitterly, "but he thinks that there's enough magic around here, we'd be able to protect it."

"Maybe he's right," Paige suggested, glossing over the guilt she felt about being one of the reasons Leo was always so busy these days. She stood by her decision not to move into the manor, but it was unfortunate that Piper's marriage was suffering due to her requiring protection.

"Maybe he's not," Piper retorted, pushing off the table. "Keep flipping!"

"I'm flipping," Paige insisted, letting the subject go...for the moment. A few pages later, however, she spoke again with faux nonchalance. "You know, it's not like having a baby isn't hard enough, even without demons attacking, but for what it's worth, there are ways of seeing what it's like before you actually have one."

"Mm-hmm, great. Well, the next time you pass a baby rental, pick one up for Leo," Piper quipped.

"Maybe I will."

Before Piper could ask what this odd comment was supposed to mean, dazzling blue-white lights spun into existence, and her husband materialized in the attic. She jumped when he moved into her peripheral vision.

"So, did you find anything out?" he asked both women.

"Uh, yeah. I Scryed for the location of the demon using the slime from the last victim, and Prue and Cole are checking it out."

Leo nodded solemnly as he ruffled his sandy hair, "Alright, well, I hope that it pans out, because with three dead witches, they're pretty concerned up there."

Piper frowned. She knew Leo was in work mode, but sometimes she wished he would have their backs more with the Elders. They weren't sitting around watching soap operas. "Okay, well, we are pretty concerned down here, too," she shot back.