Author Note -

This is based in an alternate reality where Prue, Piper and Phoebe know Paige from the beginning of the story (Season 1), but none of them know they are related. Aside from this I'll probably follow major events in the series.

This first chapter is a sort of 'before' bit to show how Paige comes into their lives.

Chapter 1 - The Meeting

7th June '98

Piper sat on the bench and looked around, desperately trying to hold back the tears that threatened to overflow. She couldn't believe Prue had agreed to go to work today they had planned to come here, to Gram's favorite park to have Piper's birthday lunch. Stupid museum.

Piper glanced down at the unopened sandwich on her knee, and burst into tears. While blindly looking for a tissue in her handbag she heard someone approach.

Great just what I need, she thought hopelessly. Someone to witness my misery.

'Do you want this one?'

Piper looked up to see a young woman with pale skin and dark hair holding out a tissue.

'Oh thanks, I can't seem to find my own.' Piper took the tissue and wiped her eyes and nose then tossed it in the trashcan next to the bench.

'Are you okay? Sorry...stupid question.'

'It's okay, I just...it's just not the best day today.'

The girl sat next to Piper handing her another tissue.

'Do you want to talk about it?' Piper looked at her confused. 'Sorry. It's just they say sometimes it's easier to talk to strangers and you kinda look like you need to talk so...'

Piper gave a small smile at the girl's kindness and shook her head.

'I wouldn't know where to begin...'

'Well. How about...why'd ya pick this bench?'

'It was my Grams' favorite park, we used to come here for lunch on a Sunday when I was off work.'

The girl smiled and made a motion for Piper to continue.

'My Grams was really tough but she loved coming here to just sit and relax, even after...' Piper trailed off remember again that Grams would never come back here or anywhere else.

'I take it she's...not here anymore?'

Piper nodded and wiped at her eyes again.

'How long has it been?'

'Just a couple of months. She got ill, heart problems, and then she had a heart attack.'

The girl reached over and held Piper's hand.

'I'm sorry. My parents died a few years ago, I know it's hard.'

'Today it's just worse, my sister was going to come here with me but she got called to work. It's the first time I've come back here since...It's my birthday today. I don't know how to...'

'How to have a birthday without her?'

Piper nodded again.

'You can't really, not this one anyway. My first birthday after my parent died I spent the whole day crying in my room, my Aunt and Uncle didn't know what to do either.'

'How did you manage the rest of the time?'

'I just went through the motions.' The girl look at Piper with a sad smile. 'And then one day I realized I was actually looking forward to the next day, to the next part of my life.'

'Didn't you feel guilty about...moving on?'

'Sure,' the girl nodded slightly, 'but then I asked myself what my parents would say if they could see me, and I got past the guilt and I remembered the good things more than I remembered the bad after that.'

'I know if I'll ever get to that bit.' Piper looked off into the distance.

'Then ask yourself this. What would your Grams say if she where here right now and could see you?'

Piper laughed at the thought and smiled.

'She would tell me to quit moping, get off my butt and do something cheerful.'

The girl laughed.

'She sounds like a fun lady.'

'She was, she always had an opinion on everything whether you wanted it or not. And she could cook like nobody's business, she actually taught me to cook.' She smiled remembering all the different things Grams had taught her to whip up.

'Well there you go, why don't you go cook something like...a decadence cake or something!'

'That would be a mistake I 'd eat it all.'

'So what! It can be your birthday cake.'

Piper thought on that and then decided go home and do just that.

'You know what, I think I will. I mean even if I only eat a bit, I'll enjoy making it.'

'There you go, much better. Now your Grams won't be scolding you from the other side.'

Piper laughed again as she and the girl stood up.

'I'm sorry, didn't even ask your name. What is it?' Piper looked the girl as she dusted the back of her tight pants.

'Oh, I'm Paige, Paige Matthews,' Paige stopped dusting her pants and held out her hand.

'I'm Piper Halliwell,' she shook the girl's hand. 'Nice to meet you.'

'And you.'

'So do you often stop and help strangers with problems, or am I just special?'

'Uh no actually I don't, but I guess it's my social worker training kicking in.'

'Your a social worker? You seem a bit young?' Piper looked at her again taking the bright lipstick, lime green top and leggings.

'No, no. I'm studying for a degree in social work, I'm in my third year at Berkeley.'

'How come you're on this side of the bay?'

'Oh my Aunt and Uncle live this side, I had dinner there last night and stopped over. I don't have classes until later on. So I'm just going to get the bus back now.'

'So you live on campus?'

'Yep, at Bowditch, it right next to the campus practically.' Paige took a lollipop out bag, unwrapped it and popped it in her mouth.

Piper smiled again and checked her watch.

'I better get going, if I'm making that cake I need to get a couple of things at the market.'

'Sure, sure. I've got to catch my bus anyhow. I'll see you around Piper.' Paige turned and set off across the park.

'Hey Paige!' Piper called after the girl.

Paige turned to look back, 'yeah?'

'Thanks.'

Paige just smiled and nodded and walked on again.

Piper headed back to her car feeling better than she had this morning.

The Next Day

Piper looked at the number on the door to double check she had the right one before knocking.

She had no idea why she'd trailed out here to give a perfect stranger a piece of cake, she just felt she had to thank Paige somehow.

Taking a deep breath Piper knocked on the door. A few seconds later the door opened to show Paige with a surprised look on her face.

'Piper! Hi, what are you doing here?' Paige's expression changed to one of confusion. 'How'd you know what room I'm in?'

'Oh I asked someone downstairs if they knew where I could find you and turned out she was your room mate Lila something?'

'Turnbill.'

'Yeah, so she gave me directions,' Piper smiled brightly at Paige.

'Oh okay. So how come you're here?' Paige asked her again, waving Piper into the room.

'Oh right!' Piper held up the Tupperware tub she was holding to show Paige. 'I brought you some cake.'

'It that the decadence cake?' Paige took the tub and looked inside.

'Yep, my sister and I had more than enough last night so I thought I'd bring you some to say thank you.'

'You came across the bay just to bring me a bit of cake? Paige opened a drawer a raked for a plastic fork she knew was there somewhere.

'I know, crazy, but you were so nice yesterday and what you said really helped so...' Piper looked down at her hands embarrassed.

'Well your welcome. Ah hah! Jackpot!'

Piper looked at Paige to she her brandishing a plastic fork like it was a winning lottery ticket.

'You're eating it now?'

'Why not?' Paige shrugged and gestured for Piper to sit on the bed next to her. 'It looks great.'

'Thanks, I really love cooking and it was nice to do it again yesterday, and I made a massive one so I thought I'd share.' She watched as Paige took a big fork full of chocolate cake.

'Mmm, oh Piper this is great!' Paige grinned at Piper around the fork.

'Really? You like it?' Piper smiled back at Paige relieved.

'Are you kidding? This is heaven. You should totally be a chef!'

Piper grinned at Paige's enthusiasm.

'Piper, this is the beginning of a beautiful, beautiful friendship.'

A.N. - This is my first story so please tell me what you really think. Thanks.