"Oh come on Paige! You're telling me you didn't find that guy even the least bit attractive?"
Warm sunlight streamed through the windows of the kitchen, and the thick smell of freshly brewed coffee hung in the air.
Phoebe raised her eyebrows in anticipation of her younger sister's response. Even Piper let her eyes drift from her baby-food covered son's to Paige's.
Paige sighed and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"I never said I didn't think he was hot…He was."
Phoebe smiled victoriously and opened her mouth to speak, only to be silenced by Paige's voice.
"The problem is I don't have time for him right now – or anyone, for that matter. I've got enough to worry about, without the added stress of a new relationship."
It was true. Paige Matthews, the youngest of the Halliwell clan, certainly did have her work cut out for her. On top of being a full time witch (which she was still getting a handle on), Paige was now being, for all intensive purposes, forced into embracing her whitelighter half. It wasn't that she didn't want to be a whitelighter – she did; helping people was what got her up every morning – but she just wasn't ready to handle anything more at the moment. With the family falling apart on a daily basis, and her unquenchable desire to find her place in the mortal world, Paige certainly had enough to deal with. The fact that she got little to no sleep did not seem to help the situation, nor did the throbbing pain currently occupying her head.
Piper was also especially on edge that morning. Her marital problems were piling up on her, as were her professional ones.
"Paige you can't keep using magic as an excuse to run from a real life – sooner or later it's going to bite you in the ass."
Paige looked up as she heard a charge calling for her.
She raised her eyebrows at Phoebe and smirked. "Saved by the bell."
Paige began to stand, stopping when a hand gripped her wrist.
She looked at the owner of the hand, Piper, and was surprised to find the anger in her eyes.
"I think Phoebe's right Paige – It's time to stop running."
Paige stared at Piper for a moment, only to yank her wrist out of Piper's clasp moments later. "Piper, I don't have time for this. Someone needs my help."
Before either sister could protest, blue orbs surrounded the area Paige resided in just moments ago.
Neither sister expected that when the orbs cleared, their sister would be gripping at the table, hunched over and shaking.
Immediately, Phoebe jumped up from her seat and wrapped an arm protectively around Paige's shoulders.
"You okay, honey?" Phoebe asked with concern, looking to Paige, and then to Piper when Paige didn't respond. Phoebe's worry lines were not matched on her sister's face, however. The look etched into Piper's features was one of anger.
Paige collected herself and then stood up straight, releasing the death grip she had held on the table.
"Yeah…" She looked up at met the eyes of her sisters. "Yeah, I'm fine. I guess I just orbed out a bit too quick…" Paige laughed dryly, her eyebrows furrowed in pain.
"Maybe you should sit down," Phoebe said, guiding Paige to sit.
"Yeah…" Paige sat absent-mindedly, only to spring back up the moment she touched the chair. "No, wait, my charge. I have to go." Blue orbs began to form once again.
Piper stood abruptly and yanked Paige's hand, causing the orbs to disappear. "Oh no you don't missy."
"What don't you guys understand about 'have to go?'"
"I think it's the 'have to' and the 'go' part that's throwing us," Piper responded humorlessly.
Paige rolled her eyes and began to orb out again, only to be stopped once more by Piper.
"Just what the hell do you think you're doing? I know you've made some dumb decisions, Paige, but honestly – could you at least pretend to think before you act?"
Paige stepped back, thrown and hurt by Piper's words.
Phoebe, also dumbfounded by her sister's seemingly random outburst, looked at Piper in confusion. "Piper, that's a little…."
"No Phoebe!" Piper cried angrily. "I'm sick of this. For the past four years, all Paige has done is bitch and moan about how she never has enough time to do anything she wants, and yet she never makes an effort to do any of those things."
Paige looked back and forth between Piper and Phoebe, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Piper I….."
Piper held up her hand, silencing Paige. "Paige I don't want to hear it."
Paige's look of confusion greatened. "Piper, I don't understand what's going on here."
Paige looked to Piper expecting an explanation, but continued when she didn't get one.
"All I've ever done is try and please you guys. It hasn't exactly been a carnival ride for me either. Do you know what it's like to try and fill Prue's shoes?"
At that, Piper looked up, anger radiating off her body.
"You'll never fill Prue's shoes, Paige, so stop trying."
Piper breathed heavily, still staring at Paige, though the breath had left the two other sisters still bodies.
They stood there for what felt like hours; Piper staring at Paige, Paige staring at Piper, and Phoebe looking between the two sisters. The thick silence was cut by a small whimper from Paige, who clumsily backed out of the room, breaking eye contact with Piper, and ran upstairs, her charge now forgotten.
Both sisters' eyes followed Paige out of the room. When Piper moved back to feed Chris, Phoebe jumped into action.
"Piper…!" Phoebe looked to Piper in awe.
"What Phoebe! It's about time she heard that. She's going to get herself killed if she doesn't slow down soon."
Phoebe shook her head, still stunned by Piper's words.
Piper looked down at the baby food she was holding in her hands, and abruptly, her angered face melted into an agonized one. Pools of tears quickly formed in her eyes, and she shook her head, struggling to hold them back.
Understanding at once, Phoebe moved to Piper and knelt before her. She took the baby food she was holding and placed it on the table, then took Piper's hands in her own.
"I don't know why….I just….When she mentioned Prue…." Piper shook her head, unable to say anymore.
Phoebe nodded solemnly, and then pulled Piper into a hug.
"I know sweetie…." Pause "Have you been to the cemetery yet?"
Piper shook her head into Phoebe's neck.
They held the embrace for a few minutes, only breaking it when Phoebe pulled away.
"But, Piper…"
Piper swallowed hard, slowing the flow of tears pouring down her cheeks.
"I know. I'll go apologize now." She wiped her face clean. "Will you take Chris and go check on Wyatt?"
"Of course, honey." Phoebe picked up Chris, mumbling incoherent baby words as she carried him out of the room.
Piper stood and smoothed out her shirt and took a deep breath, composing herself and preparing to walk out.
Before she could move, however, she heard a series of loud banging coming from upstairs.