Soul Exchange

Halliwell Manor Conservatory- Moments Later

         "Okay, Phoebe, Kate, if we do anything magically related in the house today, Piper's gonna kill us. Not only due to the mess, but also because of the fact that she needs her rest, so I propose we go to the backyard; now who's with me?" Paige inquired. Kate glanced in Phoebe's direction and shyly raised her hand. When Phoebe only squirmed in discomfort, Paige whirled on her sister, demanding. "Are you with us, lady? Or are you being a chicken-shit, now?"

"No, I'm not wussing out, Paige," Phoebe informed her, with an angry glare at Paige's choice of words. "I kind of have to pee before we do anything, here, or I'm gonna wet the floor."

"Well for crying out loud, go!" Paige commanded as she gestured with an arm in the direction of the downstairs bathroom. "I'm going to take Kate upstairs and see if there's anything in the book that will help us."

"Good luck," Phoebe stated over her shoulder as she waddled down the hallway. "We had to wing it last time...I don't think we took notes, either."

"Oh, for the love of Pete! Why doesn't this family ever write stuff down after a vanquish?!" Paige grumbled as she and Kate climbed the stairs again.

Attic- A Few Minutes Later

"Find anything, sis?" Phoebe asked as she entered the attic. "No, but I have a suggestion for you," Paige snapped as she looked up from the couch where she was seated with Kate. "And what might that be?" Phoebe asked as she perched on the edge of the couch bedside Paige. "How about writing things down after a vanquish, huh?" Paige asked. "Not all members of a species die sometimes, and it would help to have some sort of reference to look back on later."

"Good thinking," Phoebe praised as she put an arm around Paige's shoulders. "Thank you," Paige answered with a smile of satisfaction. "You're welcome," Phoebe answered as she gave Paige an affectionate squeeze.

Paige then sank back into the couch cushions, briefly closing her hazel-brown eyes. "Paige, this is no time for a nap!" Phoebe scolded her sister. "We have to get this taken care of before guests start showing up for your wedding."

"Not sleeping, thinking," Paige announced without opening her eyes. "Shoosh!"

"Sorry!" Phoebe mumbled, looking like she was ready to cry. "No, I'm sorry," Paige stated, again with her eyes closed. "Please don't cry... I can hear it in your voice."

"Apology accepted," Phoebe assured her sister, and then fell silent, allowing Paige to concentrate.

After a brief period of silence, Paige's eyes suddenly snapped open as she announced, "I think I've got a plan!"

"What did you come up with?" Phoebe asked excitedly. "Well, the gremlins owe me a favor, to make up for all the trouble they caused on my temp job, and since they're about the same size as the trolls, it would be a fair fight. I say it's time I summon their little blue butts for payback."

"What are you going to do if they refuse?" Phoebe queried. "Well, then I'll just have to threaten those little blue butts of theirs with my handy-dandy vanquishing gel," Paige informed Phoebe as she got up and went to the cabinet where it was stored. "They don't agree, and their asses are mine."

"Paige..." Phoebe trailed off disapprovingly as she covered her belly and glanced in Kate's direction. "Whaaaat?" Paige drawled as she removed the tube of gel from the cabinet and turned to face her sister.

"Little ears!" Phoebe snapped. "It's okay, Phoebe," Kate assured her. "I've heard that word on the playground at school."

"Doesn't mean I want Auntie Paige teaching my baby bad language," Phoebe said. "Oh, those little ears." Kate replied. "I even came up with a summoning spell one night when I couldn't sleep, just in case we ever needed it," Paige announced. "Well, we're going outdoors before you cast it," Phoebe commanded. "Come on, Kate."