'Through The Rain'-*FINISHED* 8/8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SimplyAretha]

posted by Alain


DISCLAIMER All characters, places, ect. are property of Spelling Television Inc., E. Duke Vincent, The WB, and are the fictitious worked of the mind of Constance M. Burge. I think that about covers it.

SUMMARY The Elders have finally snapped and are placing all witches that they suspect of love affairs with Whitelighters on trial 'up there'.

This will not be one long post, but several posted every now and then.

"Where're we going Mommy?" a timid voice broke into Piper's consciousness. She glanced down to find her three-year-old son Brian tugging gently on the side of her shirt. She looked up at Paige for help, but her sister just kept her eyes focused on the dark corridor they were being lead down.

“I don’t know Sweetie,” Piper finally replied, attempting to keep her voice steady so as not to frighten her children. She and Paige both knew she was lying through her teeth. They knew exactly where they were going. Only Brian and her daughter Melinda skipped along completely oblivious to their surroundings.

I just wish… Piper’s thought trailed off momentarily. I just wish Prue were here. She could only imagine Phoebe’s terror when she awoke to find both her sisters and her niece and nephew missing from their beds.

“Is Daddy coming too?” Melinda asked hesitantly. Piper’s jaw locked.

“No,” she said sternly. She had barely spoken to Leo since the divorce and he seemed perfectly content with staying away. For that matter, she was perfectly content to have him stay away. Brian had never known him well enough to inquire about his absence, but Melinda mentioned him frequently, as though she were trying to make sure he wasn’t forgotten around the Halliwell household.

The distance between them simply insured Piper’s belief that Leo would join the others rather than standing up for the family he barely acknowledged. Paige was lucky. Piper knew Sam was there for her, just as she knew their mother would be were she here.

“In here.” The Whitelighter leading the way through the twisted hallways pointed toward a small room, or what looked to Piper like a cell. As they stepped inside he slammed the heavy metal door behind them.

* * * * *

Piper was jarred awake by the metallic clang of the door being pulled open. She sat up quickly in her cot, trying to adjust her eyes to the sudden glaring lights that had been flicked on. Two Whitelighters entered the room, one behind the other. She squinted at them curiously. One of them stared back at her steadily while the other began pulling the children out of their beds.

“Hey!” she yelled, throwing the thin blankets aside and rising to her feet abruptly.

“Silence, Witch,” he ordered, hoisting Brian into his arms.

“Daddy!” Melinda cried, running across the room to the other man. The first Whitelighter caught her by the hair, stopping her dead in her tracks.

“Do as you’re told, child, and be still!” he commanded. Piper stepped forward to stop him from hurting her further but was immediately stopped by Leo as he mouthed ‘Don’t’. The other lead both of the little ones out of the room. “You’ve got your five minutes,” he called to Leo on his way out.

“Where is he taking them?” Piper demanded as soon as he was out of earshot.

“There’s a separate room for the children,” Leo explained.

She glared at him. “I knew you’d join them,” she said accusingly.

“Piper-”<br>
“I don’t wanna hear it Leo,” she cut him off. “Stay away from me.” He opened his mouth to protest, but she didn’t let him get any words out. “No. Just get out.”<br>
“Piper, my trial is tomorrow,” he finally managed to say. She stared at him for several seconds.

“You’re lying.” He had to be. They would put her on trial, not him.

“Do I look like I’m lying? Why would I joke about this? Do you realize how serious this situation is? They’ll kill you if you don’t give up your kids.”<br>
“Our kids,” she corrected pointedly. “Or had you forgotten?”<br>
“You shut me out of their lives!” he argued. “Do you really think there was one night I didn’t think of them? One night I didn’t long to hold you?” She stared back at him, her face expressionless, covering her imploding emotions. The door behind him swung open.

“Time’s up.”<br>
*********************************************

TBC soon!

[SimplyAretha]

NEXT POST!!!!


The loud murmurings around the room could be heard clearly from every corner of it. As Piper glanced around she got a rough idea of the basic set-up. It was arranged like a court room would be, only much larger and with all twenty-four Elders serving as judges. Most of the audience was of course Whitelighters, but a small section was set aside for the witches that had been brought up and there was a secluded group that she could only assume were the Whitelighters that were awaiting their own trials.

The voices grew silent as a man, obviously the one that had been chosen to question Piper, stepped away from his hushed conversation with the head Elder to stand in front of the chair she sat in centered in the middle of the room in clear view of everyone.

“Good morning Mrs. Wyatt,” he greeted her, his smile neither friendly nor threatening.

“Halliwell,” she corrected immediately.

“Oh, of course, excuse me,” he agreed, nodding. “And how are we today?”<br>
“We? I’m sure you’re fine. Me, I feel like crap. But I suppose that’s the result when someone is ripped out of bed in the middle of the night and brought up here to stand trial. And I’m sure I look like crap too. But you know what? I’m not caring so much right now. Because I’m pretty sure that being imprisoned and having my children taken away from me is at least worth a pout.”<br>
“Yes, well,” His eyes darted around the room uncomfortably. “I’m sure we’d all agree with you on that. After all, everyone is tired-”<br>
“Why don’t we avoid the small talk and just skip straight to what you came here to ask me?” she suggested, growing frustrated.

“Alright then.” He gave a compliant nod. “We’ll skip ahead. Mrs. Wyatt, who is the father of your children?” Her dark eyebrows shot up in surprise at his forwardness, but she quickly recovered.

“It’s Halliwell. H-A-L-L-I-W-E-L-L. I would prefer to not have to remind you again.”<br>
“You show this court the proper respect and I will address you by the name you wish,” he quipped harshly. He stepped closer to the stand in an attempt to intimidate her. “I repeat-who is the father of your children?”<br>
“Isn’t that a rather rhetorical question?” she asked.

“Are you stalling?” he demanded. He received no reply. “Very well. We’ll go another way. Perhaps if I pointed out who this court believes to be the father, you would acknowledge if I am correct in some way?” Piper remained silent. Exasperated he stabbed a finger at the closed off section of Whitelighters, indicating Leo. “Is this him?” He waited for a good thirty seconds before getting discouraged and abandoning the question.

“Ms. Halliwell,” he began again pointedly. “You are aware that affairs between Whitelighters and their charges are expressly forbidden, are you not?”<br>
“Yes,” she replied. He smiled knowingly at her and gave a slight chuckle.

“Ms. Halliwell, it appears that you and I have each other over the same barrel, doesn’t it?” he grinned. “You can’t leave this court until my questions are answered, and I can’t deliver punishment without a confession. But let me assure you, it is we who have the upper hand here.” He gestured to a sentry on the far side of the room who stood guarding the doors that lead back to the cells. He nodded in understanding and pulled one of the doors open.

Another Whitelighter, who evidently knew this job to be a possibility from the beginning entered the room carrying Brian and dragging Melinda be her left arm. Piper and many of her family members, including Leo all rose from their seats in protest. One of the Elders motioned for Leo and Sam to sit back down, and having no choice, they obliged, knowing better than to question orders in their current state. Paige followed their lead. One of the men guarding Piper forced her roughly back into her chair.

“Darren, what is the meaning of this?” a female Elder demanded, indicating the bewildered children.

“I assure you, that question will be answered momentarily,” Darren vowed. He turned to Melinda who was blinking at both of her parents in confusion, occasionally looking to her aunt.

“Would you mind doing me a favor?” he asked her gently. She stared back at him, her expression wary. “Could you orb for me?” She shook her head vehemently. “Please?” he persisted. She remained motionless. Piper sighed in relief. Darren wheeled around to face her. “Make her orb,” he commanded. Piper also sat dormant. He turned back to Melinda. “One more time,” he told her. “Orb.” Again, she shook her head. “Fine.” He spun around on his heal and snatched an athame from the nest of papers on his desk. He strode back over to Piper, seized her right arm and slit a long line down her wrist. She cried out in pain. Sam had to hold Leo back to keep him from running to her and even then it took all his strength.

Melinda watched Darren with wide eyes. He held her mother’s arm out to her as though it were an offering of some kind.

“She doesn’t stop bleeding until this girl heals her!” he announced to the crowd. “Not one Whitelighter moves!” And no one did move for several moments.

“Darren, she’s a child,” the head Elder finally stepped in. “It is not in your hands to decide if the witch dies. You are coming dangerously close to undermining our authority.” He waved a hand at a guard who stepped forward to heal Piper. “I must suggest that you prove your theory in a more humane way.”<br>
“Then the children are of no use.” He waved his hand at them dismissively. They were instantly dragged back outside. He turned back to Piper, who was now seated again, rubbing her wrist.

“How about an easy question Ms. Halliwell?” he offered. She raised her head to look at him. “You are a witch, am I right?”<br>
“Yes,” she replied. He nodded.

“And who is your Whitelighter?” he continued.

“I don’t have one,” she informed him. He gave her an expression of mock surprise.

“You mean to tell me that your offspring have been growing and using their powers without a guide?”<br>
“They don’t need one,” she argued. He shrugged.

“Well surely you had one at some point? I mean, you are, after all, a Charmed One?”<br>
“Yes, I had one,” she told him reluctantly.

“Would you state his name please?” he asked, glancing at a few of his papers. She sighed, knowing she could not avoid the question forever.

“Leo Wyatt,” she revealed. The whispers started up again as if no one in the crowd had been expecting the answer. Darren ignored them and continued with his questioning.

“And did you have an affair with him of a romantic nature?” he asked. Leo looked up at her and their eyes locked for a split second.

“That’s enough,” one of the Elders told Darren, cutting Piper off before she had a chance to answer. “We have others to deal with today. You can continue with Mr. Wyatt’s trial tomorrow.”<br>
*********************************************

So? Comments? I feed off 'em you know.

[SimplyAretha]

NEW POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Piper drew her knees up and rested her chin on them. She was barely resisting the urge to curl up in the fetal position and cry. She wanted her children, she wanted her sisters, her mother…Leo.

Her attention jerked to the door at the sound of someone banging on the other side. She didn’t rise to open it. She couldn’t even if she’d wanted to. It was locked from the outside.

Who knocks on a jail cell anyway? she wondered, keeping her eyes transfixed on the floor and the shadows cast by the harsh light of the single bulb dangling from the ceiling. She wasn’t at all surprised to see the door swing open without her aid.

“You alright?” Leo ventured. Well, at least she assumed it was Leo. It sure sounded like him.

“Go away,” she commanded, turning her back to him completely.

“Piper,” He stepped closer.

“I said ‘go away’,” she repeated. He ignored her, lowering himself to sit beside her on the cot. She instinctively coiled away when she felt the mattress lower under his weight and heard the springs pop. He placed a hesitant hand on her shoulder. It seemed to break down all her shields. She let the tears come and leaned over to lay in his arms. He sighed and simply held her, forgetting that she was soaking his shirt. It was the last thing on his mind at the moment. “I’s…awys bin…dmns,” she hiccupped, clutching the folds of his sweater.

“What?” He pulled back enough that her face wasn’t muffled by his chest. She lifted her head, wiping her tear stained face.

“It’s always been demons,” she clarified, her words coherent this time. “I don’t know how to fight good.”<br>
“I’m not so sure the Elders can be defined as ‘good’ anymore,” he admitted, pushing a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear.

“Then what is?” She pulled her legs back up and crossed them, her expression making her look very much like a lost little girl. “I’ve never known anything else. It’s always been simple. Us versus the demons and the warlocks. Now they’re not our definition of ‘good’ anymore, so being their charges, what does that make witches? What does that make you?”<br>
“I’m sorry.” He pulled her to him again. “You shouldn’t have to go through this. Neither should Melinda and Brian.”<br>
“Neither should you.” She looked up at him. And he did something that she had been expecting him to do, yet she was surprised when it actually happened. He kissed her. When he felt her begin to kiss back, he drew her closer, anchoring his hand in her hair. Eventually, the need for oxygen forced them apart. He cupped her face in his hands.

“We’re going to get through this, Piper,” he told her, his voice full of conviction. “I promise.”<br>
**********************************************

TBC Comments PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SimplyAretha]

Here's more!


"Wyatt," a voice called from the doorway, almost in a menacing tone. Leo pulled away from Piper and they both turned to it to find Luke, an old family friend standing behind them. "It's almost curfew," he announced. Leo nodded and rose to his feet, squeezing Piper's shoulder reassuringly on his way out. Luke slammed the door and started down the hallway without a word to his friend. Leo trailed behind him.

"You seem angry," he observed, struggling to keep up with Luke's longer stride.

"I'm not..." he sighed and stopped long enough to face him, leaning against the cold stone wall, "I'm not angry. I just...you're treading on thin ice Leo, and you know it. Sneaking into Piper's cell..." He sighed again, running a hand through his black disheveled hair, "If the Elders found out-"

"The Elders aren't going to find out," Leo insisted, eyeing the man who was younger at least in appearance. "Are they?" There was a moment of uncomfortable silence.

"Not from me, I guess," he said finally. "Just, you gotta be more careful. If not for you or me and not for Piper, then at least for the kids."

* * * *

"Mr. Wyatt," Darren began, glancing at the head Elder for confirmation to continue. He received a curt nod of approval. "I've known you many years. There was a time when you used to confide in me."

"Worst mistake I ever made," Leo quipped, shifting in his chair and glancing around the room for familiar faces. Only Paige offered a reassuring smile. Piper seemed too frightened.

"Just as uncooperative as your ex-wife, I see," Darren rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Things will go a lot smoother for everyone, including your children, if you simply answer my questions directly." Leo remained motionless. "You were married to one of the Charmed Ones?"

"Yes," Leo divulged reluctantly.

"Did you make an attempt to hide this from the Elders?"

"That's ridiculous!" He stood suddenly, nearly knocking his chair over in the process. It teetered on its back lags, then straightened. "They knew! They consented!"

"And what of your first attempt to wed Piper Halliwell?" Darren went on, heedless of his co-worker's outburst. Leo opened his mouth to reply, then realized that the only answer he had prepared was exactly what Darren wanted to hear. "You hid it." It was a statement, not a question.

Leo nodded, returning to his seat. "Yes."

"And you had been warned of the consequenses of marrying a charge?"

"I had been so advised," he complied.

"I believe it is the duty of the Elders to make it perfectly clear that they can perform 'unspeakable wrath', in the event of disobeying them, is it not?"

"Yes."

"And they did make this clear to you."

"Yes."

"And to Ms. Halliwell."

"Yes."

"And you married anyway?"

"Yes."

"And you concieved two children with her?"

Leo wasn't as quick to reply to that one. He glanced over at Piper. To put them through the trials was enough. It was almost more than he could handle to watch them put Piper through it. But if he answered, would they drag Melinda and Brian into all this?

"Leo, they will be questioned either way."

"You can't do that," he objected, restraining from standing again. "They're just kids."

"They're evidence. I'll do whatever's necessary. Now," He stepped forward. "Are Melinda and Brian Halliwell your children?" He couldn't look to his wife for an answer this time. He would eventually have to tell the truth no matter what he endured beforehand. He gave a sigh of defeat.

"Yes."

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

HEEHEE!!!! I know, I'm evil with the cliffies, but I love 'em! Feedback!

[SimplyAretha]

Finally! Sorry guys. Enjoy!!


Sighing as though he had been expecting the answer he received, Darren nodded discreetly at one of the sentries. "Bring the girl," he instructed.

"You can't do that!" Piper protested, rising from her seat and glancing to Leo for help. "She won't understand! She's done nothing wrong!"

"No, but you have," Darren reminded her, gesturing for her to sit back down. "I can't help that she's evidence." Another guard pulled Leo to his feet and led him back to the secluded group of Whitelighters. When the first returned, he was dragging Melinda behind him by her left arm. He sat her down in the chair that her father had been sitting in.

"Hello," Darren greeted her. She gazed up at him, her dark eyes wide.

"I want my mommy."

"I know. And you'll see her soon, I promise. I just need to ask you a few questions. Can you tell me how old you are?"

"Five," she said, proudly displaying her hand, fingers spread wide in a declaration of her age.

"And where are you from?"

"San F'ancisco."

"Who lives there with you?"

Her eyes drifted to the ceiling as if she were trying to remember all of the occupants of her house. "Umm...Mommy, my aunt Paige, my aunt Beebee, and my broder."

He nodded. "Not your Daddy then?"

She shook her head. "He works."

"Works?" he echoed. "Doing what?"

"Mommy says he helps special people. Like me."

"You're special?" he asked. She nodded vehemently. "You have special powers, yes?" The question earned him another nod. "What can you do?"

"I can stop stuff."

"Anything else?" he prompted. Melinda glanced around nervously, her gaze finally landing on Paige. Knowing Piper had taught both her and Brian to never reveal their Whitelighter powers, she nodded silently at her niece as confirmation. Melinda turned back to the man in front of her.

"I can make people better," she said finally, knowing no better way to explain it.

"You can heal?" Darren clarified. She nodded reluctantly. Sighing, he turned to the guard that had brought the girl in. “I’ve heard enough. Take her.” Nodding, the sentry lifted Melinda out of the chair and began carrying her off toward the door.

Darren then turned to the Elders who were awaiting his closing argument. “This entire family has admitted to who they are. It is obvious that Leo Wyatt and Piper Halliwell married in secret and produced two children, perfectly aware that what they were doing was expressly forbidden by this council.”<br>
“What do you suggest?” the head Elder inquired.

“There is only one clear befitting ramification.” He glanced back at Piper. “Immediate extermination.”<br>
*****************************************

Oh, and Happy late Ostara!

[SimplyAretha]

Sorry it took so long guys. Enjoy! ( warning. heehee)

“You can’t do this!” Piper screamed, struggling against the sentinel’s grip on her wrists as he dragged her into a side corridor. Had her powers not been bound he would have been blown to bits long ago.

“Speak to your wife!” Luke commanded, practically shoving Leo toward her. “Calm her down or she will be executed here and now.”<br>
Leo stepped forward and nodded at the guard to release her, then caught her flailing arms himself. “Piper,” he began. She continued to struggle. “Piper! This isn’t going to help anyone! Listen to me!”<br>
She attempted to pull her hands from his grasp but he held on until she stood still. “You’re going to let them kill them, aren’t you?” she accused.

“Piper, now is not the time.” He brought his hand up to touch her cheek Her own came up to shove it away.

“Don’t touch me!” she hissed, glancing at Luke to see how much he was observing. “You’ve got to do something about this.”<br>
“There’s nothing I can do,” he explained, willing her to understand.

“Do something, or I will,” she insisted. The look in her dark brown eyes told him that that was a threat.

“Piper, if you try something now, you’ll end up killing yourself a lot faster,” he said firmly.

“My concern is not for myself at the moment.” She sighed and wiped a stray tear from her face, erasing the trail it had already made. “I am not just going to stand by and watch them kill our children.”<br>
“Neither am I,” Leo assured her.

“So what do you plan to do?”<br>
“Nothing that I can discuss right now.” His eyes shifted to Luke and the guard pointedly. “But I have an idea.”<br>
“You do?”<br>
He nodded. “Though I’m not sure it’s one you’ll like.” He looked back into the room they had just come from, checking on the proceedings. They seemed to have moved on to a different trial. One that seemed to be going much the same as theirs had. If something wasn’t done soon, Paige would soon be sentenced as well. He turned back to Piper. “Let them take you to your room,” he instructed. “I’ll handle this.”<br>
She appeared hesitant at first, but reluctantly nodded and eventually allowed Luke to lead her back down the hall. Leo watched them go, then turned and headed back into the Elders’ council room.

Darren, who had been questioning the next witch, stopped mid-sentence when he saw Leo approach, step onto the platform, and turn to face the Elders. One of them held up a hand, signaling for Darren and everyone else to remain silent.

“This is highly inappropriate, Leo,” Gabriel, the head Elder spoke up first.

“Please excuse my interruption,” Leo said, looking him straight in the eye. “I come to plead for the lives of my ex-wife and children.”<br>
“I understand that,” he replied. “But their fate has already been decided. We have passed judgment. Please do not question us.”<br>
“I’m asking that you release them partially on the grounds that Piper is a Charmed One.” Perhaps the idea of losing a powerful ally would sway their decision.

“This Council is aware of that fact.”<br>
“But…” he paused. “I’m proposing a trade.”<br>
“We are not here to barter,” Gabriel said, his tone growing more stern. It was clear he was impatient to return to the trial at hand. “The guilty party will pay the price here. There is nothing that can be done to change that.”<br>
“The guilty party will pay,” Leo sighed. “I offer my life in exchange for theirs.”<br>
*********************

Another cliffie, I know.

[SimplyAretha]

Okay, guys, I'm making this up as I go along and it's four in the morning, so wish me luck...


Silence settled throughout the chamber and Gabriel shifted uncomfortably in his seat. It was the first time Leo had succeeded in making an Elder nervous, but his thoughts kept him too preoccupied to appreciate the moment. If they refused his offer...his own life was one thing. His family's was something else all together.

"This is ludicrous!" Darren suddenly exclaimed, stepping up next to Leo near the council table. "Please don't tell me that you're actually considering this."

"I think we shall be the judges on what should and should not be considered," a female Elder told him harshly, gesturing for him to take a step back.

"But the witch-"

"The witch's crime was no greater than Leo's," Gabriel reminded him. "His suggestion is not without meritt(sp?)."

"I have conditions," Leo broke in, hesitantly.

"Conditions?" Gabriel prompted.

He nodded. "If I do this..." he trailed off before continuing, "the children and both of the Charmed Ones you hold captive will be set free. I must have your word on this before I agree to anything."

Concerned and reluctant glances were exchanged between the majority of the Council before Gabriel turned back to Leo. "Your terms are acceptable."

* * * * *

"Let's go," a new Whitelighter barked after entering Piper's cell. He held the door open and stood to the side as if he were waiting for her to exit.

"Where are we going?" Piper asked, rising to her feet. Her eyes shifted briefly to the hallway behind him to see that he was alone.

"You're going back down," he informed her, beginning to gather some of her belongings into a sack he had carried slung over one shoulder.

"They're sending me home?"

"Yes." He rolled his eyes, obviously not concerned with hiding his annoyance from her. "Why is beyond me."

"My kids," she began, "my sister-"

"Are going with you," he assured her. "It's all been taken care of."

"How?"

He stopped his work momentarily to answer her. "Look, lady, I said I didn't know, okay?"

"Piper?" Paige's voice preceeded her and Melinda and Brian scammpered into the cell ahead of their aunt. They ran straight for their mother who was waiting with open arms.

Wiping a few tears from her face, Piper stared up at Paige over the tops of the children's heads. "They're letting us go," she stated. Paige nodded. "Why?"

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

Short, I know, sorry. More soon! (I hope) )O(

[SimplyAretha]

Sorry it took so long, but you guys know me. this will be the last post. But there will be a sequel!

picks up right where it left off



"They're letting us go. Why?"

"No questions," the Whitelighter ordered, pulling Paige further inside the cell and slamming the door behind her.

"But no one will tell us anything," Paige complained, lifting Melinda into her arms. Brian sat at her feet.

"And that's the way it stays," he said, shoving Piper's bag at her.

"Now, hold on," she began and Paige could tell Piper's pissy side was starting to surface. "What's going to happen to Leo?"

"That's not your concern."

"The hell it isn't!" she yelled back, stepping forward and resisting the urge to blow him into a million pieces.

"Piper," Paige stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder in an effort to calm her. She shrugged her off.

"Don't you 'Piper' me!" She turned back to the Whitelighter. "I wanna know, and I wanna know now!"

"You seem to be under the impression that you are the one giving orders here."

"Mommy?" Melinda said, barely audible. She lifted her head from its previous position-buried in her aunt's shoulder.

Piper turned, her tome immediately turning less harsh. "What is it sweetie?"

Melinda hesitated, glancing nervously at the stranger in the room. "Can we go home now?" she finally asked.

"Yes," the Whitelighter responded before Piper had the chance. "I need to get the four of you out of here as soon as possible."

"Why?" Piper asked.

He sighed, turned to her, and for a moment she thought he was going to slap her. But as quickly as his expression had hardened, it softened. "Leo..." he trailed off, reluctant. He hesitated for a good ten seconds. "It has been decided that your ex-husband will bear your punishment himself."

Both Piper and Paige stood there, rooted to the spot in shock. It was Paige who spoke first, and even then, slowly. "What...what does that mean?"

"He's taking your," He looked at Piper, "place. The children too."

"They're going to kill him?" Piper practically shrieked.

"They have no choice," he expleined futiley. "The rules-"

"Damn their rules!" Piper cut him off. And this time, no effort from Paige would stop her. "No one deserves this, least of all Leo!

"He is not the person you should be screaming at," Luke's voice called as he entered the cell and took hold of the children's hands, both of which had been set on the ground. "And even were you screaming at the right people, your complaints would fall on deaf ears."

"I cannot just let this happen," Piper protested, almost desperately.

"Did you think they were joking when they threatened unspeakable wrath?" Luke asked rhetorically, lifting Brian into his arms. "We have to leave now." He nodded at the other Whitelighter who grabbed ahold of Piper and gestured for Paige to follow him.

Luke headed back out the door, guiding Melinda and carrying Brian.

Piper was dragged by his companion, her hands bound behind her back to prevent her from employing her powers.

"You can't do this!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Paige was silent, as if she had accepted, unlike her older sister, that there was nothing she could do to help the situation.

Piper struggled the whole way.

* * * * *

I watched them kill my father.

I don't think anyone knew I saw. No, scratch that. I know no one knew I saw.

Luke hadn't bothered to block my view of the Elders' coucil room as we left that horrible place, the place I'd remembered as being the most serene of my childhood before the Great Trials as they came to be known.

I know Brian didn't see, and I'm glad he didn't. I don't think he could have handled it. I still can't believe I did. It's certainly not an experience I wish to relive. Though it haunts my memory every day.

Whitelighters are assigned to witches yet again toady. The Trials ended long ago. I have no desire for any sort of guardian angel, despite the fact that my Watcher insists I need one. Since when do I listen to him anyway?

Eventually, I plan to avenge my father's death. How, I don't know. Doesn't matter. It's an idle plan right now anyway.

But some day, it won't be.

They'll pay.

All of them.

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

For those wondering, yes that was Melinda talking, and yes, she said 'Watcher' (watching Buffy'll help with the sequel). Sequel comes soon (about Melinda mainly, but I might bring Leo back ) and it will be called "Destiny's Child".

heehee