CHARMED

"Vendetta"

by J. B. Tilton

email: aramath@isot.com

Rating: G

Disclaimer: "Charmed" and all related characters and events are the property of the WB television network, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.

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(Authors note: This story takes place between season 5 episodes "House Call" and "Sand Frisco Dreamin'".)

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While searching for a birthday present for Paige, Phoebe encounters a woman who looks remarkably like her mother. However, she soon discovers that she has a very different connection to this woman than her dead mother.

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ONE

Phoebe looked around the department store. Paige's birthday was coming up and Phoebe had yet to find a gift for her. She had promised herself it wouldn't be like it had been with Prue. No card three days late as an afterthought. With Paige, it was going to be different.

But she just couldn't find anything that seemed right for Paige. Two days of searching and she still had no idea what to get. There was still so much about Paige she didn't know. So, on a whim, Phoebe had taken off early from her job and had been browsing through the department store for something, anything, that Paige might like.

As Phoebe tried to think of what to get her younger sister, he gaze fell on a woman across the store. The woman was paying for a purchase at the cosmetics counter. Phoebe just stared at the woman. It couldn't possibly be who it looked like.

Yet, Phoebe knew that face. The hairstyle was even the same. Even the smile seemed the same. But that was impossible. Phoebe was staring at the face of her dead mother.

The woman turned and glanced in Phoebe's direction. Phoebe immediately turned away. This was impossible. Her mother was dead. She had been dead for years. Even when her mother appeared at the manor, she was a spirit. She couldn't be flesh and blood.

"Excuse me," said a voice behind her.

Phoebe turned and looked directly in the face of the woman. Her heart nearly stopped. Even the voice was similar. And the way the woman accented her words. But at this closer inspection, Phoebe could tell it wasn't her mother. The woman looked enough like Patty to be her sister, but the face was distinctively different.

"Are you okay?" asked the woman. "I noticed you staring at me and to be quite frank, you looked like you had just seen a ghost."

"What?" muttered Phoebe. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. It's that you look so much like my mother that it's remarkable."

"I'll take that as a compliment," said the woman. "Looking at you, I can imagine your mother must be quite beautiful."

"Yes, she was," said Phoebe. "She died when I was very young."

"Oh, I'm sorry," said the woman. "No wonder you were staring. It must have been quite a shock. My name is Marie Parker."

"Phoebe Halliwell," said Phoebe. "I was just so shocked when I saw you. Even though it's been a long time, sometimes it's still hard to believe she's gone."

"I know exactly what you mean," said Marie. "I recently lost my son. Sometimes it's very hard."

"I'm sorry," said Phoebe. "I hope I didn't stir up any bad memories for you."

"Not at all," said the woman. "I still have my memories. So, what brings you in here today?"

"A birthday present for my sister," said Phoebe. "Only I can't figure out what to get her."

"I'll tell you what," said the woman, handing Phoebe a card. "I own a little shop that carries an assortment of unusual items. Things you don't usually find in a department store like this. Why don't you come by and look around. Maybe you can find something there that she would like."

"Thanks," said Phoebe, "I think I will. She does have unusual taste."

"Then I'm sure we'll find something for her," said Marie, smiling. "I specialize in unusual."

"Great," said Phoebe. "I'll see you there, then."

"Good," said Marie. "I'm looking forward to it."