Faithfully Yours Part 5: A Time in the Affairs of Witches   Chapter 42 "The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means."   Oscar Wilde

Piper and Paige orbed into Therold's hideaway. Neither had visited Cotswold cottage in his hidden magic nook in the supposedly most haunted village in England before. Both apprehensively glanced around at the cluttered room, with most furniture piled high with books and manuscripts and newspapers, three computers on different tables and all but two of the assorted chairs that were squashed into the room occupied by what Paige at a quick glance counted as nine cats.

Proctor his long dark form overwhelming the room, lounged more or less at his ease in one of the larger chairs. He also had a tea tray beside him and an empty cup while an enormous tabby cat sitting on the back of the chair glaring at him. Proctor the watcher pretended not to see it ,seemingly occupied in a very old leather bound tome.

Phoebe sat at the window seat, her legs curled under her, Pookie hidden behind a dress that was more like a tent than a garment. She was staring out the window her chin resting on her hand, two large tabby cats on her knee, and an even larger black cat on the seat beside her. There was also a large teapot on beautifully laid out tray beside her and a half empty cup of tea resting on it

Both witches nervously glanced at Proctor, who slowly and deliberately stood up.

"Greetings Mistress Paige, "he said with a sardonic politeness that seemed to mock them. "Mistress Leo" he added with a bow then he smiled demonically "I will inform Brother Therold that he has guests."  He said with another bow and sauntered toward the kitchen at the back of the house.

Phoebe jumped up and hugged her sisters.

After returning the hug, Piper sucked her breath hard "What in the hell happened Phoebe?" she demanded.'

"Cole is pretty pissed?" Phoebe asked swallowing a choking sound.

"Ranting" said Paige not mincing words.

"You know Phoebe" Piper said blunt "whatever you did running off with Therold was not the answer. It didn’t help. Cole wouldn’t hurt you "she said "and at the moment I would not trust him not to obliterate Therold if he gets half a chance."

"Me either "said Phoebe "so thank god for Proctor." She sat back on the window seat  "'Therold will be in here in 3 seconds to ask you what tea you like' she told her sisters  "ask him is advice and listen to him. It’s the fastest way'" she assured her sisters '"Trust me" she said.

She barely had the words out when Therold shuffled in wearing slippers and an old baggy grey cardigan. He greeted Piper and Paige politely, and procedure to do his duty as a host, but sounded just a little strained to Phoebe.

Both Paige and Piper, apparently feeling the stories of Therold's tea ritual were exaggerated, tried to fob him off saying they liked black tea, but more powerful creatures than them had failed to turn Therold away from tea. When Therold was not looking at her, Phoebe rolled her eyes, as he proceeded to deliver a long and complicated homily on just the sort of tea that appealed to American witches, with certain powers. Piper and Paige were almost mesmerised as they finally agreed that Piper wanted a green tea grown in Zhejiang the Chinese province it was developed in,  and Paige accepting an offer of Indian white tea which had a delicacy Therold assured her exactly matched her own.

"Oh'' said Paige.

Therold just a little strained shuffled off to his kitchen as all three sisters watched him go.

Paige shook her head." It's hard to believe he is the first man that has ever turned Cole into a jealous raving lunatic.'"

"First demon guardian" Piper corrected.

"So Cole is ranting?" Phoebe asked concerned. "Given up chasing errant wives."

"Ranting crazy 'said Paige grinning. "Not even remotely near giving up chasing errant wives."

"Jealous, nuts, off his head, threatening to kill Therold by mangling him into small pieces. Raging. Furious" Piper said.

"Oh" said Phoebe sucking her lip, pleased. "How is Patsy?" she asked nervously.

"Screaming the place down" Piper told Phoebe in  voice intended to make her feel guilty. "Can't seem top help him. At least he is keeping Cole from trying to kill Therold. Won't settle with any one else."

"I should be there" Phoebe hung her head the guilt working "Patsy needs his mother. I should not leave Cole alone.:."

"He left you along last time" sad Paige. "You want to say its okay for you to have to deal with this alone and not him."

"Patsy needs me" Phoebe moaned  "Can you take me.." she started to say and then swallowed as almost instantly Proctor appeared at the door and asked if she was well.

Phoebe nodded and the smile Proctor gave her made all three witches shudder as he turned to leave the room.

''What happened Phoebe?" demanded Piper in a no nonsense voice. "When you ran off to screw George." She put her hands on her hips and faced Phoebe.

Phoebe stood up and found Piper's coat. She pulled a piece of paper out of the pocket and handed it to her sisters.

"That's what happened "Phoebe said with a sniff. "It's supposed to be the answer to Patsy's teething problems'"

"Half those ingredients a total demonic" said Paige. "and you need demonic blood."

"I know" said Phoebe.

"You didn't sleep with George?" Paige asked.

Phoebe shook her head.

"So what happened?" Piper pushed George didn't ra…" he voice tailed off.

"He tried" Phoebe conceded as her horrified sisters gasped.

"Phoebe, how could you be so stupid as to get yourself in that position" Piper asked, the shake in her voice giving way her concern.

'"How did you stop him?" Paige asked quietly.

"He was disintegrated by a pissed off demon." Phoebe nervously confessed, carefully watching her sisters' reaction

"A demon murdered him" Paige gaped.

Phoebe shook her head "No disintegrated him into a pile of black goo. Upper level demon" she said as her sisters stared "Power of Three was the only way I could have done it. George" she said. '"Turned out he was the Honoured One" she said "the Geztalt leader' she said as Paige and Piper just looked at her. "Sisters "she said.

"What is it with you and demons?" Piper demanded unceremoniously dumping a large black cat off a chair and pulling it up.

"I knew that weasel was a fraud" Paige said pacing up and down. She winced "so the Geztalt were targeting you?"

Phoebe nodded. "They sent the spites. I figure George was there to get a bit extra payoff on me. I never did anything extra special nasty to the Geztalt. Why target me."

"Getting in Tempus good books" suggested Paige "You know apart form Cole you ought to know any man you are attracted too, is either going to be stupid or evil. You're a demon magnet Phoebe" Paige told her

"I know" said Phoebe hanging her head. "I guess it was being born in magic nexus" she sniffed "he was the latest Honoured one" Phoebe explained again. She took a deep breath "A brotherhood demon blew him up."

'"What if Therold finds out they weer fighting in this realm?" Paige asked nervous.

"Well I'm not telling him and he doesn't know from the spirit winds so I'm guessing this one is witches' business'' Phoebe explained "That is why Proctor does not think Cole should know. Why he thinks I should stay away until… Cole calms down and understands about witches' business. I think Proctor is right." she added.

"You do know Cole will probably understand even that. A demon got vanquished and you were saved." Piper told Phoebe purposely ignoring the look of pure disgust as the black cat she had displaced eyed her off. "He may even be grateful to the demon

Paige sat on the window seat beside Phoebe and put her arm around her sister.

"Not this one'" Phoebe said "It was Elisabeth…Elisheeva… Cole's mother" she explained, and then turned to stare out the window.

"O.M.G "said Paige

'"Shit" said Piper. She stood up and ignored the cat glaring and then sat down "Why did the bitch do it?'"  she asked suspiciously

"Cole mustn't know" Phoebe said, pushing back a sob "She wanted something" Phoebe told them.

"Murdering bitch" said Paige "god if she had kidnapped you"

"Cole would do more than rant.  "said Phoebe. "Maybe" she said. "if he isn't fed up with me."

"Bugga Cole' said Piper "what did she offer. The bitch I mean what did she want?"

"Us to fix the spite attack" Phoebe told them "because spite attacks aren't good for the brotherhood, only their enemies. In exchange for well helping, well the secret to stopping Patsy hurting when he's teething. Elisabeth gave me that salve, " and  she indicated the paper Paige was holding. "as down payment."

"Good "said Piper thinking of the night before. She took the paper from Paige. Then she frowned '"mm', Marly made something last night and when Cole put it on Patsy bit his finger and there was some blood.' it eased him a bit, only a bit."

Paige shook her head "It's disgusting" she said "and how to we get Cole's blood, the non acidic type. Without telling him where we got the recipe."

"He is probably so desperate by now he will just give it without asking why:" Piper said dryly.

Phoebe sniffed and muttered Patsy.

"Book of Shadows says reality is the only cure for spite plague" Paige said. "No magic cure. So what does the bitch expect us to do?" She asked.

Before her sisters could say what they thought of using demon help, Therold shuffled back with a beautifully laid out tray, laden with 3 small teapots. While the sisters exchanged glances he found a small table under another bench, and set the tea in front of them. In response to polite thank you, he then proceeded to explain the exact details of the drying and blending process that produce delicate flavours.

Paige and Piper both taking deep breathed, duly complimented him on the tea and noticeably flagged when as a good host he said he would make them a fresh pot each but without, Phoebe noticed, quite his usual enthusiasm.

"I'm drinking so much tea all I do here is pee" Phoebe whispered as he shuffled back to the kitchen.

"That's sad" said Piper "Where? she said  standing up. I've had two kids" she said. The black cat immediately jumped back on her chair. She glared at it.

"Upstairs first door on the left" Phoebe old her "Therold leaves the seat up." She added and Piper pursed her lips.

"Therold's after Mark for pissing off the Elder's" Paige whispered glancing toward the door that Proctor went though. She sat down beside Phoebe "I want you to change Therold's mind" she said.

Phoebe nodded and took Paige's hand "If he'll listen to me" she said. She whispered "women should be protected and not listened too" she told her sister with a deep sigh.

Paige looked at her "You over spite attacks "she said

Phoebe nodded. "For the moment' she whispered '"stuck here with two demon guardians is reality enough for anyone."

"Me too reality is a bitch " Paige told her sadly. "Knowing elders could … murder Mark for saving some-one" She looked at Phoebe "That's as real as I can face. Reality is a real bitch" she added.

"Piper over Glock?" Phoebe asked.

"No "said Paige bluntly. "I don't think that is a fantasy. I think it's real."

She nodded her head toward the stairs as Piper came back shaking her head. "That bathroom is a man's bathroom" she said disapproving,

"I know 'said Phoebe raising her eyes "And they call it a toilet in England. A bathroom is where the bath is."

Piper gave Phoebe an exasperated glare and she sent another one the way of the black cat which had got back on the chair she had been sitting on.

"So" said Piper removing the cat from the seat and ignoring the glare of pure evil she got back "The deal with Elisheeva is she wants the spite plague stopped '

Phoebe nodded "Because people are to busy running after the fantasies to be seduced into evil. She wants it back to normal so evil can you know seduce mortals, instead of having to compete with people who just want to seduce people for sex."

"So we should fix the spites to help evil" Paige said frowning

"She told me how to get the spites" Phoebe explained "she told me how to spread the anti plague and how to resist. She said demons never are seduced by spite fantasies.

"Why?" said Paige.

"She said demons are immersed in the real realm. Know what they want. Know how to get it. Don't waste time fanaticising about things they can never have. They act. No fantasies'" Phoebe said " its all about sating their evil.

"And kill innocents to get what they can and kidnap pregnant witches to steal grandchildren " Piper reminded Phoebe.

'Particularly kill innocents" said Paige remembering how Mark met his demise.

"Why doesn’t she just spread the anti plague herself?" Piper asked.

"She needs an infected witch to spread it, like it needs a witch to spread the spite plague. Doesn't work on demons". Phoebe explained. "Because they don't have fantasies

"So "said Paige "What the consequence of doing it?'

"Reality" Phoebe said. "Immediately.

"Paige and Piper exchanged glances.

"How do we set the anti plague about"? Piper asked

"First you have to catch a spite," Phoebe smiled apprehensively.

"Hmm "said Paige "Reality seems to be fixing us okay without reversing anything."

"You think what is happening to us is okay" Phoebe asked petulantly "I'm stuck here when my baby needs me, I'm stuck here with Cole wanting to kill Therold and Therold wanting to kill him"

"And of course it's all about Phoebe" said Piper sarcastically.

"I'm just saying" Phoebe started to explain.

"I know what you're saying"  Piper interrupted "so what's in for your mamma in law.

"I'm guessing "said Phoebe "She's put her status, you know her place in the hierarchy on the line, that she can end this spite plague for the Brotherhood, which gives them one up against the Geztalt. I think… she needs some points at the moment. Get the feeling being Belthezor's mother is not scoring well on the demon status scale.'"

"So if we do something we help that bitch" Paige asked. "We help her and the brotherhood."

"And if we don't, we do help the Geztalt and their minions." said Phoebe "If you think about it we're just making it back to reality for most of us.  Except, just guessing, that because of the fantasy overdoes the bad bits are going to be really bad. Maybe the odd good thing happen as well."

"Guessing or premonition?" asked Piper.

"Premonition "Phoebe admitted. "I mean if we let it go it will just take ten years but there are will be some good bits to. Last time like a war ended and Nixon going… but, you know seventies stuff, greed is good, some nasty diseases, quite a bit of social change."

"Ten years" said Paige. "The spite plague takes ten years to die out."

Phoebe nodded.

"I hate history'" said Piper passionately  "So reality is going to mostly stink but maybe not completely. What's the short term … reality if we get rid of it.

"Some people are going to be pretty pissed about the way partners behaved and really hurt. Daddy'" Phoebe said.

"Archbishop thinks I'm a porn freak?" said Paige facing it.

"Some of the women at work and running around, .. after John Cotton and other fantasy guys went  .. the distance" Phoebe said. "Marriages weren't that good and this has probably finished them."

"Some women are going to find they haven't got anything except fantasy. It isn't going to happen." Paige said "like Jean and father Jo at work."

"Maybe some will find it work" said Phoebe.

"So short term is a lot of bad personal stuff reality and long term is'" Piper said "What?'

"Big changes, some things good, but"  said Paige "Some ..not so good.'

"Some pretty evil" said Phoebe.

"Premonition?" Paige asked.

Phoebe nodded "I think" she said.

"So" said Piper "If we go with what helps Patsy it's just a decision not personal gain or anything."

'"That would be what I want" said Patsy's mother with a sniff.

"But that bitch has already given you something…so what does she really want' Paige asked suspiciously.

"Cole, kids, power everything" said Phoebe without hesitation.

"What's stopping her just trying to take it?" asked Piper also suspiciously. "Why didn't she just take you?"

"Does quite trust that Cole won't find a way to get her" Phoebe said.

"Hell she know what he is ' Piper asked'.

"No" said Phoebe "But Í think she knows what he is capable of doing to get everything.  Because he is her son she believes he would have to find a way to be powerful. He couldn't just give it up. She's his mother and in a way she's right "Cole can't ....mustn't kill her" Phoebe added

"Why "said Piper "One less demon in the realm. One less powerful demon who is a danger to out kids to us. And I can guarantee he would kill her right now."

'"Because to kill his mother would damn him" said Phoebe.

Paige and Piper exchanged glances.

"How do we reverse the spite attack?" Paige finally asked.

"Do what they did in reverse" Phoebe told them

'"They sang and danced "said Piper.

"Yes "said Phoebe. "We need to reverse the song and dance. Find a spite and get them to tell you the words and dance steps. Then sing and dance in reverse". Phoebe winced.

"Dance"said Paige sucking her breath.

Therold came back with another tray and Piper and Paige under Phoebe's determination managed to swallow most of the tea , while with an effort Therold who seemed to be feeling the strain of company as he glanced longingly a  few times at his books and manuscripts,  made polite small talk.

He finally took the tray away

"How come you're so damned careful of his feelings?" Paige demanded. "'You're never are that careful of Cole's."

"Í don't have to be" Phoebe sniffed "Cole never had any illusions about me." She sniffed again "Even in the beginning you know when I first suspected he was Belthezor before the first vanquish. He didn't really think I wouldn't try to throw the potion. Downright suspicious. He … understood me" Phoebe whispered. "Therold is ..sweet but he doesn't well… understand all of me. So I have to try to be.. kind' she said. "Í want my baby "she said putting her hand on Pookie  'I w ant to be with Cole"

Paige and Piper just looked at her.

"Cole wasn't encouraging Margaret" Paige told Phoebe "he was freaked by it

"I didn't think he was encouraging Margaret "she agreed. ''It just hurts like, like you wouldn't believe watching some-one you love, even … just to have other people.. and all those things she said. "Phoebe added.

Piper flushed "He wouldn't do anything about it no matter how much anyone… threw herself at him"' she told Phoebe.

"It still hurts" Phoebe told her sister "and then he didn’t come after me."

"He couldn't because of Patsy" Paige assured her.

"Yeah I know "Phoebe said "But I was really pissed he didn't."

"We better go back and try and find a spite" Piper said making a huge effort not to say anything else.

"I'll come with you" Phoebe said determinedly standing up

"Better you stay here Mistress Belthezor" said Proctor suddenly appearing by the kitchen door, almost like a along black demonic shadow.  All three witches winced and shuddered at the chilling tone of his voice.

Phoebe stopped. And sat down on the window seat.

 Proctor smiled demonically.

"Probably better I stay here" Phoebe told her sisters.

"Good Idea" said Piper catching Paige's hand.

She and Paige politely thanked Therold for his hospitality again and Paige quickly orbed before he could offer them any more tea.

……………………………………….

When Piper and Paige arrived back a still ranting Cole was still holding a wailing and totally exhausted Patsy.  Glock and Leo had apparently joined forces to avoid Cole and what they could of the noise and were in the downstairs bathroom replacing that plumbing too. They were watched by a sulky Melinda who kept muttering about chocolate while she crashed the unbreakable ball in the corner, and Wyatt amused himself doing not much of anything in the playpen.

Glock was showing a fascination with a swiss knife that Leo used to get under a small piece of tiling. He was pulling it apart and shaking his head at Leo's explanation of each of the tools, commenting that there was not much in Burvjara it could be used for.

"Hardly a weapon. I doubt you could kill an enemy with it" he said examining the knife.

"Not every sharp thing is for killing" Leo said a touch sanctimoniously. "Sometimes they are just tools."

"I thought Piper said you had been to war" Glock commented.

Before Piper could do anything more than pick up Wyatt, she and Paige were confronted by an angry Cole.

Cole immediately demanded to know what Phoebe was doing.

"Keeping away from you" Piper said her voice strained.

"Being kept away from you" Paige corrected. "By Proctor. Or at least he is keeping you away from Therold and she is staying with Therold."

Cole froze; "I would never hurt her, you know that" he insisted "I love her. I never could hurt her. No matter what she did. She knows that. I love her. So why the hell didn't she come home. "I want my wife" he said touch pathetically.

"Would you hurt Therold? " Paige asked sweetly.

"Do you know what I want to do to the whining bastard sage" Cole roared, "what we used to do to winging little lore gnomes in the old days. When their god damned sage …wisdom… lore failed." he smiled with  grim satisfaction "it was slow" he said "Ripped apart, burnt , while they screamed. "The tension in his voice made patsy scream louder. "Why won't Proctor let Phoebe come home?"

''Gee fantasising about ripping Therold apart. Go figure why" said Piper sarcastically. She caught Paige's arm and dragged her upstairs. Followed by a still whining Melinda.

"Patsy needs rescuing from his damned father" Piper said as the noise followed them upstairs.

"So do we use that bitch's stuff to help Patsy" Paige asked wincing as the sobs echoed in the attic.

"That salve is evil"' said Piper shaking her head but not quite sure.

Paige trying to ignore the noise opened the Book of Shadows." It doesn't say anything about reversing the magic with spites. Doesn't say that turns fantasies into reality." she said.

"It only has good magic" Piper said. She came over and looked. "Maybe try magic plagues'" she suggested.

"I did that last week " Paige said and winced as the noise of Patsy's whimpering.  "How long can he keep that up?" she demanded "poor little guy".

They also heard Cole cornering Leo and Glock to tell them what he thought of sages and their sneaking sleazy ways.

"How long can he keep that up?'' asked Piper in a strained voice. She tried to ignore the by flicking the pages of the Book of Shadows.

However not even shutting the door helped and when Wyatt started grumping in sympathy even though his big sister did her best to cuddle him, Paige looked at Piper. She held out the bit of paper Phoebe had given her.

"We keep getting to demonic magic isn't the same as evil." she said wincing at the sound "and it's evil to hear that poor little guy sobbing his heart out."

"It will be evil if his father finds out how we fixed him" Piper said. "Chances are he would do to Elisheeva what he wants to do to Therold. He needs a victim."

"Kids come first "said Paige "And we make sure he doesn't know."

"Good Idea" said Piper.

"I'll orb it over to Marly to see if we can do something about it." Paige said.

"So if we are listening to evil "Pipe swallowed. "I'll look up spite summoning spells" she said making a decision.

"Good idea" said Paige and orbed.

Paige was a long time coming back. Piper put Wyatt and Melinda to bed for an afternoon nap, while Cole, muttering and cursing to himself, stalked the floor with a wailing Patsy in his arms, his ranting abating as his son became worse.  Leo and Glock were still working on plumbing.

"If it wasn't for Pasty do you think I would be here?" Cole demanded.

"Shut up" snarled Piper who was getting pushed to her limit. "You are the one who always says kids come first." And walked off ignored the snarling noise that came from Cole.

She went up to the attic and looked at the spells for spites and with determination wrote a summoning spell, until Paige finally orbed in holding a large bottle of murky queasy looking liquid.

 "That's it" Piper asked looking at it dubiously. Piper sniffed at Paige and turned her nose up "You smell disgusting "she said

"It smells disgusting" said Paige. "Marly was puking when she made it. I left her burning every incense stick she had and wafting her place with fresh air potions after making it. She said is she was going to shower for an hour in lavender to get rid of the smell and burn her clothes

"I'll make it up to her" Piper sighed.

"Marly said if it helped she was only too happy, only she was puking as she said it" Paige said.  Piper sniffed the potion again then grimaced,  put it down and holding her hand to her mouth to stop throwing up

Patsy wailed loud long and heart breaking.

"Cole said being a good father is the only reason why he isn't going over to rip Therold's guts out regardless of spirit winds" Piper told Paige.

"Maybe we shouldn't use this on Patsy" Paige asked and sucked her breath at the pain in Patsy's next wail was made worse by a hoarseness in his throat that made her catch her breath in sympathy. "I can't stand it "said Paige "hearing that little guy in such pain". She shook her head, inspecting the bottle with a frown "Patsy should not suffer because his father is nuts.'"

Piper took the bottle from Paige "That stuff looks revolting" she said. She walked to the attic door.  "You think maybe that demon bitch Elisheeva was lying to Phoebe and this stuff does something else."

Paige shook her head. "I thought about it" Paige said "You know I think if when Cole was a kid and he was wailing like that.. demons aren't noted for their sympathy or patience.  She would find something. If it wasn't the right stuff. I think she would have given us something that looked... smelt less evil. Made it more likely we would use it. You know maybe because she knew we would be revolted by the real cure or Phoebe would….. she thinks we won't use it and Phoebe will call her again.":'

"You worry me when you think like a demon" Piper said as she went downstairs

Paige snorted. On the landing she stopped Piper.  "How do we get Cole's blood" Paige asked.

"Easy" Piper said "Keep hold of this "she said giving Paige the potion bottle and went downstairs with Paige following, holding the bottle behind her.

They arrived downstairs to see Cole in the hallway still stalking with Patsy in his arms, alternately pleading with Patsy and telling him what he thought of Therold.

Piper walked up to Cole and said "I'll take him."

"Why?" demanded Cole "How are you going to help him. He's my son he's deserted by his mother."

Piper tapper her foot "He's not doing any better feeling all the emotional crap going on with you "she said as Patsy wailed again.

She held out her arms and Cole tried pulling Patsy away as Piper reached up Patsy half held his arms to auntie Piper for sympathy and glowering Cole reluctantly surrendered Patsy.

As Piper turned away she moved her hand and the glass from the front door blew up, five shards landing on Cole's arm and face, causing blood to spurt in any number of directions.

"Oops "she said "The strain of the  noise must be affecting my powers." She smiled at Cole smugly.

"What the hell are you doing?  Are you trying to do kill me?" Cole screamed.

"Don’t think I haven't thought of it " Piper snarled "Clean that up" she told Paige.

"Keep your hands to yourself" she ordered Cole before he could fix it with magic. He gave Piper a deadly look and walked away.

"Easy" said Paige swotting blood into the potion. She held up the vial which seemed to clot into a revolting mess.

She looked at Piper "Well sister?'"

"Let's do it' Piper said taking Patsy purposely into the kitchen.

It took both his aunts to get the vile smelling stuff into Patsy's mouth and around his inflamed and clearly painful gums. Piper tried freezing him but he fought his way out. He gagged spat and cried and tried to get his hand into his mouth, making such a racket that his father came running.

Piper without ceremony kicked Cole out of the kitchen as she picked up Patsy and walked with him, watched anxiously by Paige. They nervously waited while he sobbed and cried and then it seemed to get easier.

Ten minutes later Patsy had fallen into an exhausted sobbing sleep, on Piper's shoulder as she walked him around.

"Damn bitch of a grandmother" Paige said as she stroked Patsy's sleeping face. "you do realise we have now taken away his daddy's reason not to go hunt Therold and Phoebe."

"Kid's come first" said Piper.

She took Patsy up to his bed and carefully changed him, relief that he was sleeping . A few minutes after she put him in his cot he turned himself on his tummy and levitated, his favourite sleeping position. Always a good sign.

Piper stroked his head. "How the hell; you make it with parents and grandmother like you have I don't know" Piper  said. "I think you’re going to need me Patrick Victor "she told him leaning down to kiss him.

She jumped as Cole walked up behind her

"What did you do?" he demanded.

"Second batch of Marly's potion" Piper told him, her head on the side. "Okay we figured it was your blood that was the secret ingredient" she said.

Cole opened his mouth to say something.

'"Look after you son" Piper ordered him and hastily retreated. She crashed into Leo suspiciously looking into Patsy's room.

"The blood was the secret ingredient" she said "Cole's blood."

"Marly made another potion." Paige explained quickly. "We need to look up that reality stuff" she told Piper and grabbed her arm before Leo could do anything more than give them a suspicious look.

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