Piper dropped the laundry she was carrying on her way upstairs, and ran into the kitchen in response to Phoebe’s high-pitched shriek.

“Whoa, what the hell was that?” Piper stood in the doorway and looked quizzically at her younger sister who was crouched on the counter holding a spatula. “Phoebe, what…?”

Piper glanced down and spotted a large brown rat scurry under the table. Piper’s confused look was replaced by a giggle as she looked again at Phoebe’s terrified expression.

She crouched down and tried to coax the animal out. “Mitsy, Come on… Mitsy!”

Phoebe lowered her spatula but still cowered on the work top. “Mitsy? Who’s Mitsy?”

Piper scooped her up and hugged the rat, stroking the top of it’s head with the tip of her finger. “My rat” she said simply and started to walk across the room towards phoebe.

“Get that thing away from me” she warned, shooting an annoyed glance at her annoying sister. “Since when do you have a rat?”

“Aww, my lovely husband bought her for me, he thought I might be lonely while you’re all at work. Isn’t that sweet?”

“Yeah, cute. Now put it away.”

Phoebe finally hopped off the counter and put down the kitchen utensil she had been waving in the air. She inched towards the door, still keeping a wary distance from Piper and the rat.

“Phoebe, relax. She’s harmless.”

“I notice you’re still holding that thing when I specifically told you to put it down.” Phoebe still looked worried and reached for a wooded spoon. “I’m gonna kill him! Well, if that thing doesn’t kill me first.”

“Who, Leo…?

Suddenly Leo orbed into the room, narrowly avoiding colliding with the refrigerator. He stumbled to one side and stood up, composing himself. “You called?”

Piper placed the rat down on the table and put her hands on her hips. “No. I was talking about you, not to you. Don’t you think your let’s-run-to-the-aid-of-your-helpless-pregnant-wife radar is a little sensitive?”

Leo shrugged and shuffled his feet like a guilty little schoolboy.

Phoebe took her eyes off the rat long enough to give Leo a questioning look. “Yeah, and what’s with the bad aim?”

“I’m just a little anxious.”

Piper’s expression softened and she walked over to her husband, lovingly placing a hand on his chest. “Honey, stop worrying. I’m fine. I may be pregnant but I’m not totally incapable of looking after myself.” She paused. “You weren’t like this last time”

Leo nodded in understanding and kissed her hair. She wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Well, you were invincible last time. Are you sure you’re ok?” Leo asked again, then flinched when he knew what was coming.

Piper looked up at his face, annoyed. “Yes!”

Leo realised smiling and hugged his wife closer. “I was on my way anyway. What was with all the screaming?” He looked in Phoebe’s direction and she shied away, embarrassed.

Piper lifted her head again. “Rat.”

Leo nodded, not saying anything, and went back to kissing Piper. Phoebe rolled her eyes at the pair of them and turned. She picked up a magazine and headed out of the room.

“Oh! Paige!” she said, surprised, spotting the youngest sister standing in the living room doorway. “You made me jump. I didn’t hear the door shut.”

Paige sighed and collapsed against the wall. “That’s because it didn’t. I orbed in.”

“Oh.”

“It was raining” she said, by way of explanation. “Besides, I had to get away from this freaky guy. He’s been following me all week. He’s such a creep.” Paige paused for a second and a mischievous smirk crept over her face. “I bet I gave him one hell of a shock when I just disappeared.”

“What?” Piper exclaimed, emerging in the doorway. “You did what?!”

Leo walked up behind her and placed both hands on her shoulders. “Sweetie, calm down. All this stress isn’t good for the baby.”

“Don’t give me that crap!” she snapped.

‘Hormones’ Phoebe mouthed silently to Leo and Piper’s face softened.

“Sorry” Piper said, looking very apologetic. “Ah, who cares? It’s not like I haven’t done anything like that before.”

“Bad day?” Leo asked, slightly amused.

None of them said anything then Phoebe suddenly spoke up. “The rat’s still out!”

“Aww, Mitsy. Where is she?” Paige replied, smiling.

“What? You know her too?”

Paige shot a confused expression at Piper and she nodded. “She’s scared of her.”

Paige turned her head to face Phoebe. “We fight demons for a living and you’re scared of a little rat?”

Phoebe sighed. “Yes, we’ve all established that I’m a wuss. Could someone please change the subject?”

“You’re not a wuss Mom” Brooke said, grinning, as she walked in from the back yard holding a soccer ball. “You kill lotsa demons! It’s cooooool!”

“Shoes!” Phoebe warned.

Brooke rolled her eyes and deposited her muddy sneakers on the doormat. “I beat Wyatt 4-0” she announced, “for a boy, he sucks at sports.”

Phoebe groaned at her 6 year old daughter, noticing the large quantities of dirt that covered her clothes. Brooke didn’t seem to care and went over to the refrigerator to find some juice, enthusiastically recounting her brilliant victory to anyone who was listening.

Wyatt drudged in through the door, remarkably clean and plonked himself down on a chair. “Hey sweetie” Piper greeted, ruffling his hair. He tried to squirm away and pouted. Piper rolled her eyes.

Brooke stuck her tongue out, gloating. He did his best to ignore her. He didn’t do very well. “She beet me! It’s not fair! Girl’s aren’t meant to play sports, that’s for boys.”

“You’re just grouchy cos I won, I always win!”

“Well, you always cheat!”

“I do not!”

“Do too!” he looked from his mom to his aunts, waiting to see their reactions. “She uses her powers!”

“Don’t lie!” she paused and folded her arms. “No magic for personal gain.”

Wyatt responded by giving her a kick. “Ow!” she yelped and whacked him back.

“Hey! Cut it out!” Leo glared at his 9 year old son, who pretended not to notice. Brooke giggled and took another sip of her juice.

“And don’t think I didn’t see what you did missy.” Paige warned her niece and sat down at the table too, still stroking the rat.

“What’s up honey? You’re not usually like this.” Piper crouched down next to her son. Wyatt shrugged.

“I’m only like this when she beats me!” He pointed meaningfully at his cousin. Brooke gave him a look. That’s all the time then.

“Stop it guys.” Phoebe walked over to the table, cookie jar in hand. Both kids forgot what they were arguing about and looked at her eagerly at the prospect of sugar.

They both lunged for the cookie jar as soon as Phoebe put it down. Brooke’s elbow accidently collided with Wyatt’s face. Piper cringed, she knew what was coming.

“Ouch! Mom, she hurt me!”

Piper looked across at her middle sister and rolled her eyes. So much for that idea.