I was doing homework in the kitchen when the phone rang. I answered it. It was Piper saying she was on her way home. Prue was gonna be pissed- Piper was very late so I decided not to tell Prue. I had blonde hair and was the only one besides Buffy, my cousin. She had blonde/ brown hair and brown eyes. Dawn, her younger sister had brown hair and blue eyes. I was only 1 when I last saw them, but I remembered perfectly- Piper said she would have been 7 years old when I last saw her, she would now be 10- Buffy was 16- Piper told me. Buffy would have been 13 when I last saw her. The image of them wouldn't go away from my head. I haven't seen them since I was 2- about a year ago.
I had brown/ hazel colored eyes.
Prue asked for me to come to her, ah oh!" I walked into the dining room where Prue was.
"Sam, who was on the phone?" Prue asked me. When I didn't say anything she guessed it was Phoebe. Apparently, she doesn't want me talking to her but I secretly ring her when Prue is asleep. She is my sister and I have a right to call her.
"SAMANTHA PATRICICIA PRUDENCE PAISLEIGH HALLIWELL answer me when I'm talking to you," Prue said.
I looked at Prue. "It was Piper, she's on her way home," I told her before returning to my homework- Prue would kill me if I didn't finish it. I was learning my shapes and I had reading books- every night I had to read with one of my sisters. I was only 3 years old, but I could read a little, Prue taught me. I was in Pre- school at Storybrooke Elementary school- it was linked to the high school and Elementary- my Pre school- teacher is impressed because no one else in my class could yet. Henry Mills is my only friend- nobody wants to play with me- maybe it's because I believe in the Fairytale book that his teacher Mary Margaret gave him. Henry needed someone to believe in him, and I believed him. Prue made me see Dr. Archie Hopper/ aka Archie. He was my counselor. Regina, Henry's adoptive mother made him to Archie too." Henry was my best friend. According to the book, he was my second cousin. I don't talk like a baby- in fact I'm advanced for my age. My verbal skills are advanced and we don't know why. I guess some kids are like that and I'm one of them. I must be a little like Matilda Wormwood- Piper read that book to me; it's one of my favorites. I also loved Piper and Prue reading me Good Night Moon." I was smart for my age. I understood a lot of words, I can remember stuff and it won't go away- it's natural for me.
Prue, Piper and I had been living in San Francisco, Storybrooke Maine, for 6 months now- ever since Grams died. Grams- well the state of California had put me in Prue's custody- I had lived with Prue and Piper since I was 2 because Grams had fallen down the stairs and it was decided by Social Services that I had to live with them because Grams wasn't fit to look after me anymore. They took me away from Grams and took me to Chicago where Prue and Piper were.
For a while, it was hard for Prue to be responsible for me. She and Piper didn't know what foods I liked- I was only 2. Prue couldn't leave me on my own- she and Piper had to get me a nanny. Grams had willed the huge red and cream-colored Victorian house to us- the manor was so big- it had 7 bedrooms. Prue said the manors been in our family for four generations.
Our bedrooms were on the second floor that had one master bedroom and 6 smaller bedrooms. Prue is in the master bedroom; she moved in there when Grams died, the second bedroom next to her is Piper's room, the third bedroom is Phoebe's, the forth bedroom is unused and is a spare room, the fifth is my room, and the other bedroom is another spare bedroom. And next to it was another room.
The attic is on the forth floor and can be accessed through the stairway. It is a large room that nearly takes up the whole third floor.
The kitchen bight colored room that has an entrance to the dining room, the basement, and the laundry door. The basement is underneath the manor, which is accessible through the kitchen. The dining room is a room that is connected to the kitchen, the conservatory and the sitting room. It is used for fancy or special meals. The sitting room is the central room of the manor, which leads to the front door through the foyer and is also connected to the living room, conservatory and the dining room. The conservatory connects to the sitting room, the living room, and the dining room. We come here to relax. We had a living room, foyer and two bathrooms. We had a garden and a garage too.
Prue, Piper and Phoebe had grown up in the manor. I was born in the manor and had lived with Grams since I was 2. I was happy because I was living in the manor again. I had my bedroom back. Piper was out and Prue was fixing the chandelier in the dining room and Phoebe was in New York. Piper said she's looking for their dad. I don't see her often, she missed out on a big part of my childhood. She last saw me when I was 2.
Phoebe left for New York after she and Prue had a big fight over Roger- Prue's boyfriend. Phoebe had said that Roger had tried to seduce her- I don't know what that meant- I was only 3. I eavesdropped on them fighting on the phone. Prue was engaged to him- until Phoebe said that what Roger had tried to do. When Prue tried to tell Roger, he told her it was Phoebe who made a pass on him- I don't believe that for a second. Prue broke up with him, but blamed Phoebe for it, which I think is unfair. She never forgave Phoebe, which is harsh. Piper believed me as I told her.
I wasn't even born when it happened. Mummy died when I was 5 months old. Prue told me. It's not fair!" They grew up with her- I didn't and never will get to see her.
They don't know who my father was as I was apparently Prue, Piper and Phoebe's half sister- Patty was my mother though.
I heard Piper's car pull up and Piper walked through the front door of the manor. She had paper bags in her hand and I grabbed one off her and placed it on the bench near my homework. "Hi Sammy," she said, ruffling my hair. "Prue?" Piper called.
I pointed to the dining room. "In here, working on the chandelier," Prue says.
Piper goes into the dining room with me following behind her. She sees Prue working on the chandelier.
"Sorry I'm late," Piper said, smiling. Prue shook her head. "What else is new?" "Piper, I would have been there to meet the electrician, but you know I can't leave the museum until six- I got a call from Sam's long day care program saying you haven't picked her up yet, so I had to hurry from work to pick her up."
"Oops, I didn't realize how long I was in Chinatown for, it started raining. "I forgot to pick Sammy up, sorry, won't happen again, I promise," Piper says. "Did you fix the chandelier?" Piper asked Prue
"No," Prue complained.
"Piper, Social Services could take her away from us," Prue said and I whimpered. Prue realized I was in the room with them and Prue wrapped her arms around me.
"Did Jeremy call?" Piper asked Prue. "Ah, lover boy called," I say to Piper and she ignored me- she knows I know that she doesn't like Jeremy being called lover boy. She's told me a lot of times to back off, but I liked teasing her. There was something about Jeremy that just isn't right, but when I tried to tell Pipes/ that's her nickname, she wouldn't believe me. I somehow know that he was a demon, whatever that was.
"Lover boy… lover boy… lover boy… lover boy," I kept saying to tease her.
Piper glared at me. "Prue, tell her to stop, please," she said as I continued.
Prue pulled me close to her and took me over to the lounge, sat me down on it before she sat down.
"SAMANTHA, I warned you what would happen if you said lover boy again, you know Piper doesn't like you saying that- you have to respect you're elders- that's us. "You know the drill, Piper hold her down please- make sure she doesn't go anywhere," Prue said. "You know what happened last time."
I had a sudden flashback of what happened two days ago- I had escaped out the door as it was open and had decided to play hide and seek with Prue- Prue had used her serious voice on me and when she does that, I know she meant business. I ignored her and not only had a spanking, but I also had a timeout for an hour, where I was forced to stare at the wall. I had tried to get away from Prue before she spanked me. Prue had put a lock on the front door so I couldn't get out.
When Piper held me down, Prue pulled me onto her knee, put my pants down and started spanking me.
SAMANTHA PATRICIA PRUDENCE PAISLEY HALLIWELL, YOU WILL NOT DISRESPECT PIPER BY CALLING HER BOYFRIEND LOVER BOY," Prue said.
"Pwue, Jeremy is a demon, he wants to kill us," I told Prue.
SAMANTHA, THAT'S ENOUGH- DO YOU WANT ANOTHER SPANKING," Prue asked me. I shook my head. "No, I whispered. "He's a Poo Poo head," I said, earning another spank from Prue.
"I won't call him Lover Boy anymore," I said.
Prue stopped the spanking.
"No, Jeremy didn't call, but he had some roses and a package delivered," Prue said. "What were you doing in Chinatown?" I thought that you had an interview in North Beach."
"I did, but I went to Young Lee Market after my interview to get the ingredients for my audition tomorrow- I have to go back tomorrow and cook for him. "Something worthy of me," Piper said, mimicking the chef's voice.
"By the way, I ran into Regina, she wants to have coffee with us at Granny's," Piper said. "She said bring Sam because she's bringing Henry for them to play together."
"Good idea," Prue said as I nodded. "So that Wolfgang- puck knock off didn't hire you?" Prue asked.
"What!" You have you do dition morrow," I told Piper.
"Yes, I do, and it's audition, not dition," Piper said.
I pointed to the bottle that Piper has in her hands. "What's that?" I asked her.
"This is my ultimate ingredient for my recipe tomorrow," Piper told me. she sees the old spirit board. "Oh my god, I don't believe it- tell me that's not our old spirit board?" Piper goes over to the table. She picks it up. The spirit board was antique- it was brown and had triquetra in the middle. It was covered with letters, numbers and symbols and came with a pointer to spell out words.
"By the way, where did you find it?" Piper asked.
"Pwue and I found it in the basement when I was playing with Magic, he can fly. "Pwue had to find the circuit tester. Magic was my stuffed blue toy turtle that I'd had since I was born, I carry it everywhere, it was the last thing I had of mummy.
Piper read the inscription on the back that apparently mummy wrote. "To my four beautiful girls. May this give you the light to find the shadows. The power of four will set you free, love mum. "We never did figure out what this inscription meant, and that was way before Sammy was even born."
"We'll find out," I told them.
"Prue looked at Piper and I. "Well, maybe we should send it to Phoebe, that girl is so in the dark, maybe a little light will help," Prue said in a condescending manner.
"So, who made you the boss of the light," I said smartly as a comeback.
"Go Sammy," Piper told me, slapping my hand.
Prue glares at Piper. "Piper, don't teach her bad manners."
Piper sighs. "I'm sorry, it's just… You're always so hard on her."
Prue had started to walk off, but she spun around to face us.
"Piper, that girl has no vision, no sense of the future."
"Pwue, Phoebe's different now, give her a chance," I said, defending Phoebe..
"Sam, are you disobeying me, are you talking to Phoebe," Prue said, demanding that I answer her.
"Yes," I whispered. Prue sighs.
"I really think Phoebe's coming around," Piper said.
"Look, I don't care why she left," Prue said. "Just as long as she doesn't come here, I guess it's good news." She spun around and stomped through the foyer.
Piper got a nervous look on her face before Piper and I left the dining room.
The pointer on the spirit board moved as they walked out.
BUFFY'S POV
In Los Angeles California Dawn, Celia and I watched as the paramedics wheeled our mother's body out the door, tears were in their eyes. My younger sister, Dawn and I just lost the one person in our life that we cared about. Celia just lost her grandmother. I also lost Merrick, my watcher and now I'd lost my mother. I didn't know what would happen to Dawn, Celia and I now that our mother had died- we were on our own. Our father left us when I was a baby. He raped me when I was 10. I had a 7-year-old daughter, Celia. I named her after Dawn and I's cousin, who had passed away when we were little. Our father was in jail.
We had four cousins, Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Samantha, but we haven't seen them since 1 year ago. Sam would have been 2- will she remember us?" I held Celia in my arms and held Dawnie's hand with my free hand. Poor Celia was traumatized- she hadn't spoken a word since this morning. She buried her head in my hair. Dawnie was Dawn's nickname and I called Celia Bunny. In Celia's arms, she had her baby blanket and pink teddybear. At least we had each other. I was scared, would we go into foster care?" I'd die if my sister and daughter got separated from me.
"Why did she have to die?" Dawn whispered to me. "I don't know," I said to her. Dawn, Celia and I had come home from school- Celia was in year 2 in Elementary school- anyway, we come home on the school bus to find our mother lying lifelessly on the living room floor. I called the paramedics. Dawn and Celia wouldn't let go of her- I had to pull them off mum when the paramedics arrived. Then a car parked near the paramedics and a 20-year-old woman had come out and introduced herself as Paige Matthews. She said she will be staying with us until her boss decides what to do with us."
PIPER'S POV
At the Halliwell manor, I am looking out the window and Prue is fiddling with the circuit tester. I walked over to Prue, Sam on my heels. She was carrying Magic.
I was nervous about telling Prue that Phoebe was coming home- Prue had made it clear that she didn't want Phoebe back in the house- Sam was exited about Phoebe coming home. Sam had called me a chicken. Prue was not going to be happy.
I had hoped that in the 2 years apart that Phoebe and Prue would patch up their disagreement about Roger- Phoebe was willing to make peace, but Prue obviously wasn't.
"Brark, brark, Chicken," Sam, teased me. "Ah, stop it," I said. "I get you're message," I said, lightly hitting her.
We stood in front of Prue. Sam stood next to me- I was in the middle. "I don't get it. "I have checked everything, there's no reason why the chandelier should not be working," Prue said. I put my left hand on my head. "Ah, you know how you and I have been talking about what to do with the 4 spare rooms?" "I think you're right, we do need a roommate," I said.
Prue nods walking into the kitchen. Sam and I follow her. "Well, we can rent the rooms at a reduced rate in exchange for some help around the house- they could help with Sammy." "We need the extra help."
Piper nodded. "Phoebe's good with a wrench."
Sam nods. "I could see Phoebe."
Prue turned around. "Phoebe lives in New York."
Sam and I shook our heads, but before I got to speak, Sam beat me.
"No, she doesn't, not anymore- Phoebe's on her way home," Sam says.
Prue frowned. "What?"
Sam and I smiled. "She has left New York- she's moving back in with us. "Prue, Sammy needs Phoebe in her life, she hasn't seen her since she was 2. "She hardly knows Sam," I said.
Prue glared at me before stomping off. "You've got to be kidding me?"
"Well, I could hardly say no, it's her house too." "Grams willed it to all of us," I said before taking Sam's hand and following Prue.
We walked into the dining room. "Yeah, months ago and we haven't seen or spoken to her since!" I told Prue. I sigh. "No, you haven't spoken to her. "I know you don't want Sam to speak to her, but she has and I allowed for it to happen."
"Yeah, suck it up Pwue, she's our sister," Said, and I couldn't help but laugh. She was a real smartass at times."
Prue nods. "You should have told me first and gotten my permission, and no, I haven't. "Look, maybe you've forgotten why I'm still mad at her."
I sighed. "No, of course not but she had nowhere else to go. She lost her job, she's in debt," I said."
Prue frowns, "And this is news? How long have you and Sam known about this anyway?" Prue said, glaring at Sam and I.
A couple of days, maybe a week or two." I said.
Prue sighs, "Thanks for sharing. "When does she arrive?"
Sam covered her ears with her hands, trying to block out our arguing. I put an arm around her, she hated it when we fought, especially with Phoebe.
"It's okay, Sammy," I assured her.
The front door opens and Phoebe walks in.
Phoebe smiles, "Surprise! I found the hide-a-key."
Prue looked at her second youngest sister as she hung up her dripping wet umbrella and put her wet backpack on the floor.
Sam looks at Phoebe, before running over to her- I know she's exited, but she must remember her too."
"Phoebe," Sam said, excitement in her voice. Sam put up her arms and Phoebe picked her up and spun her around, Sam giggling away. Sam puts up her arms when she wants to be picked up.
"Sammy, you've grown, you're at least 1 metre tall," Phoebe told Sam.
"Phoebe, welcome home," I say, walking over to her where I hug her.
Piper, it's good to see you too," Phoebe said.
"It's good to see you," I said. "Isn't Prue?"
Prue nodded. "I'm speechless."
A car horn beeped outside.
Phoebe smiled, "Oops. I forgot about the cab."
I sighed, "I'll get it," I said, grabbing Prue's purse and going outside to pay the cab.
"Piper, that's my purse, but it was too late because I was already halfway out the door.
PRUE'S POV
I looked at the backpack. "Is that all you brought?"
Phoebe nodded. "Yes, that's all that I own and a bike. She looked at Sam, who was still in her arms. "Look, I know that you don't want me here..."
I hope Phoebe doesn't want to sell the house," I thought.
I shook my head. "We're not selling Grams' house."
Phoebe looked at Sam, who had fallen asleep in her arms, her head resting on Phoebe's shoulder.
I noticed and went to take her out of Phoebe's arms, but Phoebe held her back. "Sam's fine in my arms, Prue." "This is the first time I've seen her in about a year." "And to answer you're question, I came back home to see you all."
"The only reason Piper, Sam and I gave up our apartment and moved back here because this house has been in our family for generations," I told Phoebe."
"No history lesson needed. "I grew up here too, you know. "So can we talk about what's really bothering you?"
I frowned. "No, I'm still furious with you," I said as calmly as I could."
Phoebe shuffled Sam in her arms- she really wasn't used to holding a child. "So, you'd rather have a tense reunion filled with boring chitchat and unimportant small talk?"
I shook my head. "No, but otherwise we won't have anything to talk about."
"I never touched Roger," Phoebe said, sighing.
"Whoa," I said, frowning.
"I know you think otherwise because that's what that Armani-wearing, Chardonnay-slugging, trust-funder told you..."Phoebe said, and Sam woke up.
"What's an Armani- wearing, Chardanny- slugger mean," Sam asked us. "Oh, boy."
"Um, he's a rich kid who isn't used to doing things on his own," Phoebe said.
Sam nodded. "I'm glad you dumped him Pwue, he isn't the man for you."
"Sam, how do you know about that?" I asked her.
Piper comes back into the house. "She knows because she eavesdropped on you two talking on the phone- I've already told her that it was wrong to listen." "Hey, I have a great idea, how about I make up a fabulous family reunion dinner?"
I shook my head. "Not hungry."
"I ate on the bus," Phoebe says.
"I'm hungry," Sam says and Piper takes her off Phoebe and takes her into the kitchen. Sam sat in a chair. I followed behind them where I put on the kettle while Piper made Sam a ham and cheese toasted sandwich. I put mayonnaise on it. When it was ready, because I was the closest to the sandwich press, I took it out and put it on a plastic plate- we don't let Sam have glass plates. I waited until it was cool enough before taking it over to Sam. She ate it straight away. After she was finished, she ran up the stairs, looking for the third bedroom that was Phoebe's. The fifth room was Sam's. Piper went to follow her, but decided not to. She made a coffee with me.
PHOEBE'S POV
I heard footsteps and looked up to see Sam run in and jumped on my bed. I hugged her. I was so glad to have this bundle of joy back- she was a tiny toddler last year- still is. She's so adorable."
I then remembered something. I told Sam to stay sitting on the bed before I went to my backpack. I unzipped it and took out the small stuffed white and black toy zebra that I found in the gift shop on the way from New York. I go back to the bed where I place the zebra in my little sisters hands. She opened her eyes and squealed with delight upon seeing the zebra.
"Thank you, Phoebe," Sam said, hugging it to her. "I calling it Stripes."
"I'm glad you like it, munchkin," I told her, ruffling her hair.
Sam jumped off the bed and ran out of the room and in seconds was back with her pink baby blanket that had her name on it and in the middle, it had stitched triquetra on it. She jumped back on the bed.
DAWN'S POV
In Los Angeles, Buffy, Celia and I walk through our empty house and went upstairs to our attic looking around. Buffy sees a trunk and walks over to it. I followed her, Celia behind me- since mum died this afternoon; Celia and I have been her shadows, following her around everywhere. She pulls out a big leather antique book with ease that said The Book Of Shadows. It had red triquetra in the middle. Celia and I know of Buffy being the Vampire Slayer- Celia and I found out when we followed Buffy and saw her kill a vampire.
Buffy put the book back in its trunk and we left the attic and sat in three chairs in the kitchen next to our Social Worker, Paige. I missed mum- her long blonde flowing hair, brown eyes, and the way she sang to us. I'll miss it all. I was only 10- Buffy was 6 when I was born. I was 3 when Celia was born. I am thrilled to be an aunty- at least Celia spent 7 years with her grandmother. Mum said Celia looks just like Buffy did when she was her age.
PHOEBE'S POV
At the Halliwell Manor, I stood in front of the mirror in my room, but I'm not really watching it. I have Sam tucked in my bed, fast asleep, with her baby blanket next to her. Magic and Stripes were next to her too, her baby blanket covering her face. She was sucking her thumb- it was so cute.
There was a knock on my door. "It's me Piper.
I nodded, "Come on in." Piper came in, carrying a tray with drinks and sandwich's on it. "Thank God. I'm starving."
I glance at Sam's sleeping form. "Has Sam had anything to eat?"
"Yes, I made her a toasted ham, cheese and mayo sandwich," Piper responded. "She scoffed it down."
"I figured you were hungry." Piper looked at the TV. She sees her boyfriend on TV. "Hey, that's my boyfriend, Jeremy. What happened?" she asked me.
"Some woman got whacked," I said, shrugging.
Piper frowned. "Whacked? Phoebe, you've been in New York way too long."
"Yeah, I should have stayed- why didn't you tell her I was coming back?" I asked her.
"And risk her changing the locks? I don't think so and besides, I think you should have been the one to tell her not Sam and I," Piper told me."
"Good point, Chicken Little. It's just so hard for me to talk to her. She's always been more like a mother," I explained to Piper.
"Now, she's more like a mother to Sammy, then a sister- exactly like she was to me," I said.
"You're the only one- sometimes she treats me more like a child too," Piper said.
"Yeah, well, Sammy is only 3 years old." "I don't need a mom anymore, you know, I need a sister," I said."
There was another knock on my door and Prue comes in, holding a blanket. "This was always the coldest room in the house."
I smiled. "Thanks, Prue."
Prue sees Sam sleeping on my bed, and gently picks her up so she doesn't wake up and leaves my room.
The phone rings downstairs and I hear Prue answer it.
PRUE'S POV
I'd just put my little sister to bed when the phone rang. I ran downstairs to get it. "Halliwell residence, this is Prue speaking. "Can I ask who's calling, please," I said into the speaker. "Paige Matthews.
"Aunty Joyce…" "Oh, my gosh, thank you for calling to let us know," I said, hanging up the phone. "Piper!" "Phoebe!" I called my sisters names and they came walking into the hall. "Piper, Phoebe, do you guys remember Aunt Joyce?" I asked them.
Piper and Phoebe rolled their eyes. "Of course we remember Aunty Joyce- she has two kids right?" "Buffy and Dawn Summer's," Piper and Phoebe said at the same time. "Why?" Phoebe asked me.
I sigh sadly. That was a Social worker on the phone- Aunt Joyce died this afternoon," I said. "The funeral is tomorrow at 12:00." "The funerals at Hillside Memorial Park in Los Angeles." "We're going to pay our respects."
PIPER'S POV
Awhile later, I asked if Phoebe wanted to play with the spirit board like old times and Phoebe agreed.
"When did you meet Jeremy?"
I smiled, "About six months ago - right before Grams died. We met in the hospital cafeteria the day Grams was admitted. He was covering a story and I was bawling over a bagel. So, he handed me a napkin."
Phoebe smiles, "How romantic."
I nod my head, "As a matter of fact it was. The napkin had his phone number on it." Phoebe laughs. "Stop pushing the pointer."
Phoebe sighs, "I'm not touching it."
I nod my head, "You used to always push the pointer. More popcorn?" She gets up and heads for the kitchen.
"I asked if Prue would have sex other than herself this year."
Phoebe wrinkled her nose, "That's disgusting. Please say yes."
"That's disgusting. Please say yes." Suddenly, the pointer zipped across to the letter 'A' by itself. "Piper," she called out. It then moved to the letter 'T'. "Piper, get in here!"
PHOEBE'S POV
I stared at it, amazed. No one was touching it now. "Piper, get in here!" I cried out.
Piper sighs. "What?" Piper demanded, coming in from the kitchen.
"What did you guys do now?" Prue asked as she entered the living room.
Piper shook her head, "Me?" "I didn't do anything."
I nodded. "The pointer on the spirit board moved on its own."
Prue and Piper stare at me. "I'm serious. It spelled 'A' 'T'," I told my disbelieving sisters."
Piper sighed. "Well, did you push it?"
I shook my head. "No."
A crack of thunder rumbled the house and Sam screamed and we could hear her running down the stairs, through the hallways, running into the living room. She ran over to me and I scooped her up.
"It's okay, Sammybear, it's just thunder," I said as she looked scared. I was overjoyed that she chose to come to me.
Prue looked at me. "You used to always push the pointer."
"My fingers were barely touching it. Look." She puts her fingers on the pointer. Nothing happens. Prue and Piper turn and start to leave Sam and me. Sam looks at the spirit board.
As soon as their backs are turned, the pointer jerked to the bottom, then back to the letter 'T'. "Ah, it moved again!" "It moved," I said.
Prue and Piper turn back around and look at the board.
Prue shakes her head, "It's still on the letter 'T'."
I sighed, "I swear it moved."
Piper turned around and Prue leaves the room. The pointer moved again across the spirit board. This time the pointer rested on the letter 'I'. "You saw that right?" I asked Piper.
Piper nods, "I think so, yeah."
"I told you I wasn't touching it…" I replied. I gestured to the moving pointer.
The pointer moved again, this time on the letter 'C'.
"Prue, can you come in here for a sec?" Piper called.
"It's moving," Sam said from my arms.
Prue comes back in the room. "Now what?" she glared at me.
"I think it's trying to tell us something," I told Prue.
I grabbed an envelope and wrote the letters down. Shakily, I held up the envelope. "ATTIC" it read. Prue gave me a worried look as the lights flickered then went out. There was a loud clap of thunder.
"Why are the lights out?" "Can we turn them back on?" Sam whispered, scared.
Awhile later, Piper is walking towards the door. Prue is following her. "Don't you think you're overreacting? We're perfectly safe here," Prue reasoned."
"Then why is Sam whimpering?" Piper replied back. "In horror movies, the person who says that is always the next to die."
That sentence made Sam whimper louder. I hugged her.
"It is pouring rain. There's a psycho on the loose. Jeremy's not even home," Prue said."
Piper frowns, "Well I'll-I'll-I'll wait in the cab until he gets home."
Prue frowns, "That'll be cheap."
"Prue, I saw that pointer move," Piper said."
Prue shook her head, "No, look, what you saw was Phoebe's fingers pushing the pointer. "Who knows?" "Maybe Sam was too," Prue argued. "There's nothing in the attic, she's playing a joke on us."
Piper sighs, "We don't know that. We've lived in this house for months and we've never been able to get that attic door open." She crosses the foyer and picks up the phone. "Great, now the phone doesn't work."
"Yeah, the power's out. "Look, go with me to the basement." Prue said. "I need you to hold the flashlight while I check out the main circuit box."
"Phoebe will go with you to the basement won't you Phoebe?"
"Nope, I'm going to the attic," I said as I put Sam down.
Sam clung to my leg, so I took her hand in mine. "I'm going now."
"No, you're not, we already agreed," Prue declared.
I am not waiting for some handyman to check out the attic and I'm certainly not waiting until tomorrow. I'm going now," I told Prue.
Sam followed me when Prue called out to me.
"Sam, you're not going."
"Pwue, suck it up, I'm going. "And nothing you say will change that," Sam said, smartly.
Then we walked up the stairs to the attic.
SAM'S POV
Phoebe and I were going up to the attic when the door swung open. Slowly, we walked into the attic. It was filled with lots of old antique furniture.
As we looked around we saw orange, blue and white stained glass windows and suddenly a light shone on a trunk. The trunk was old with engravings on it. We walked closer to it. The rain was beating down against the windows on the far wall showing a bolt of lightning flashing through the windows. We saw a strange white glowing light and we made our way closer to the trunk. The light lit up the whole room. It beamed like spotlight on the old trunk. We felt ourselves being drawn towards the trunk.
Phoebe put the flashlight on a table before she opened the trunk. There was an old book inside. It was covered in brown leather and looked ancient. It had triquetra in the middle of the old book. Phoebe blew the dust off and I sneezed. Phoebe opened it up. It had triquetra in the middle of the first page. Underneath it, it said 1093.
"The Book Of Shadows," Phoebe read softly, I was sitting beside Phoebe in her lap. Phoebe turns the page and we start reading. "Hear now the words of the witches, the secrets we hid in the night, the oldest of Gods are invoked here, the great work of magic is sought. In this night and in this hour, I call upon the ancient power. Bring our powers to we sisters three."
Suddenly the word "Three" disappeared and the word four replaced it.
"We want the power, give us the power."
As soon as we finished, the room started shaking, and a hazy blue light shone down on us through the crystals of the chandelier. The pictures of us sisters moved together. With those last words they spoke, an icy draft transformed into a wind- blowing around Sam and I, around the table, swirling around and around like a tornado. I was mystified- what was causing this to happen?"
Phoebe and I sat perfectly still, Phoebe clutching the book and me holding onto Magic. I couldn't wait to tell Henry- his book was true, our family were Warren witches- the latest in a long line of woman, with incredible supernatural strength. In 16OO, Melinda Warren had said there would be four very powerful witches of all time- The Charmed Ones . Henry would have to have inherited powers too." His mother, Emma is the Savior and is my cousin.
BUFFY'S POV
At that same moment in Los Angeles, Dawn, Celia and I were in the attic when suddenly a light shone on us, leading to the trunk. We to the trunk and I opened it. There was a large book – the Book Of Shadows. Dawn, Celia and I had seen it earlier but we left it in the trunk. This time I picked it up and opened it to the first page and we read an incantation out loud. "Hear now the words of the witches, the secrets we hid in the night, the oldest of Gods are invoked here, the great work of magic is sought. In this night and in this hour, I call upon the ancient power, bring your powers to me, I want this power, give me the power."
The word give your powers to me disappeared and the word we want this power replaced it. We read "We want this power." "Give the power to my daughter, Celia."
A wind formed around the three of us, blowing around us like a tornado, swirling around us. I pulled out my stake just in case- but no vampire came. I shook my head and muttered, "Mum, what have you gotten us into?"
PHOEBE'S POV
Back at the Halliwell Manor Prue and Piper entered the attic. They found Sam and I sitting on an old trunk, Sam was staring around her in wonder.
"What are you doing?" Prue said, frowning.
"Sam and I read an incantation, I found it in that trunk." I said.
Piper frowned. "How did you get in here?"
"The door opened." Sam answered.
"Wait a minute, an incantation? What kind of incantation?" Piper asked, putting her hands on her hips. Prue took the book off me.
"It said something about there being three essentials of the moon. Timing, feeling and phases of the moon." "If we were ever gonna do this, now - midnight on a full moon - is the most powerful time." I said.
Piper frowned, "This? Do what?"
"Receive our powers," I gushed.
"What powers?" "Wait, our powers? You included me in this?" Piper asked.
"Yep, Piper, it wasn't just Phoebe, it was me too," Sam said. "It was cool- Pwue you should have seen the lights shining."
"No, they included all of us." She reads from the book. "Bring your powers to we sisters four." "Phoebe, what were you thinking! Sam's 3 and you got her involved in this." "It's a book of witchcraft." Prue said.
Piper, Sam, Prue and I walked down the stairs with Prue shining the flashlight.
"Spirit boards, books of witchcraft. It figures all this freaky stuff started when you arrived." Prue told me.
"Hey, I wasn't the one who found the spirit board."
Prue nods, "But it wasn't my fingers sliding around on the pointer."
Piper shook her head, "It doesn't matter. "Because nothing happened, right Phoebe, when you and Sam did that incantation?"
I nod. "Well, my head spun around and I vomited split-pea soup. "How should I know?"
Piper sighs, "Well, everything looks the same."
Phoebe nods, "You're right."
Prue sighs, "But the house still needs work."
Piper nods, "Everything feels the same, so nothing's changed."
The next morning, I was sitting with Sam on the steps outside drinking coffee out of a mug; Sam had a plastic cup with juice in it, because Prue doesn't trust her with glass yet.
The door opens and Piper walked out. "You two are up early." Piper remarked.
"We never went to sleep."
"Don't tell me you and Sam spent the night flying around the neighborhood on a broomstick?"
Sam laughed and I smiled as Piper sat next to us.
"So what were you doing?" Piper asked us. "Is Prue around?"
I shook my head. "No, she went to work early, Sam and I are reading aloud.
"According to the Book of Shadows, one of our ancestors was a witch, named Melinda Warren."
Piper laughed. "You and Sam have too much of an imagination- stop feeding her with false information."
Sam stood up. "No, we're serious!" "She practiced powers. Four powers. She could move objects with her mind, see the future, stop time and could control all of the elements," Sam said. "And she had said I would have each one of my sister's powers- that's you guys. "I think I have them. "Before Melinda was burned at the stake, she vowed that each generation of Warren witches would become stronger and stronger, culminating in the arrival of three sisters- Melinda said there might be four- that would be me." we walked to Piper's car. "These four sisters would be the most powerful witches the world has ever known." "They're good witches and I think we're those sisters," I said.
"Look, I know what happened last night was weird and unexplainable, but we're not witches and we do not have special powers besides, Grams wasn't a witch and as far as we know, neither was mum." She kissed Sam and I on the cheek. "So take that Nancy Drew. " "And we have a cousin who's a drunk, an aunt who's manic, another aunt who died yesterday and whose funeral is today, a father who's invisible, and Sam's father- who she doesn't know, yada, yada, yada." She stands up.
She gets in her car. "I will see you two at noon, please be ready to leave when I get here." "We're the protectors of the innocent. We're known as the Charmed Ones." Sam and I said as Piper drove off.
CELIA'S POV
In Los Angeles, my mum and aunty Dawn are asleep in our mum's bed- we all slept together. I went downstairs where our Social Worker was. I held my baby blanket and teddy bear- since grandma died, I've carried around them. It was comforting.
"How are you this morning?" Paige asked me. I didn't answer- I'd turned mute after I saw grandma's body. I wrote on paper. "Yes."
Paige gives me my fairy-coloring book and I start to color- I was getting really neat. I can also draw- I would love it if they came to life."
Suddenly a there's knock at the door. I go and open it. I wrote on my pad of paper and hand it to him. "Yes?"
The man at the door smiled at me. "Hello, is you're Social Worker her?" "I need to talk to her."
Paige heard the man and come up beside me. My name is Timothy Smith. I am the attorney for your mom's estate. As you're grandfather, Hank Summer's is in jail, you, you're mother and aunty have no one- you're all underage." "You're Social Worker, Social Services and the state of California have recommended we place you, your mother and aunty with another member of your grandmother's family.
"You're grandmother's maiden name is Halliwell, and we've looked you're family information and we're going to place you three under Prudence Halliwell's care." "Timothy looked at Paige. "There's more family members in San Francisco." I will make some calls while we wait for the funeral."
I heard footsteps and looked up to see mum and aunty Dawn coming down the stairs. We eat breakfast.
PRUE'S POV
At the Museum of Natural History in San Francisco, Storybrooke."
Roger smiles. "There's been change of plans."
"Change of plan regarding the Beals expedition?" Prue asked Roger.
"The extra money that you help raise through private donations has sparked significant corporate interest. The Beals artifacts will now become part of our permanent collection." Roger said.
"Well, that's terrific." I said.
"Which is why the board wants someone a little more qualified to handle the collection from now on." "You look surprised."
Prue shook her head, "I don't know why. I'm furious. Not only have I been on this project since its inception, but also I'm the curator who secured the entire exhibition." "I looked at Roger. "You're the person a little more qualified aren't you?"
Roger nodded his head. "I could hardly say no to the board of directors, could I?" But I know you'll be happy for me, after all, what's good for me is definitely good for you. Right, Miss Halliwell?"
"Miss Halliwell?" "Since when did we stop being on a first-name-basis?" "When we stopped sleeping together or when I returned your engagement ring, Roger?" I told him.
"I didn't realize the two were mutually exclusive. Although I certainly enjoyed one better than the other." He said, smiling at me.
"Bastard!" I said. I turned to leave.
"Prue, wait." She stops. "I feel like I should say something if only to avoid a lawsuit." She leaves.
As I leave, I think of Roger's pen losing its ink and unknown to me, Roger takes it out and the ink sprays in his face.
As I went to the car, my cell phone rings and I don't recognize the caller's id. I answer it. "Hello, may I ask who's calling?"
"Hi, Timothy Smith on the phone. "Is this Prudence Halliwell?"
"Yes."
"I am the attorney for Joyce Summers I'm calling on behalf of Buffy, Dawn and Celia Summers."
I frowned. "Who?"
"Buffy and Dawn Summers, Joyce Summers daughter." "Celia Summers is Buffy's 7 year old daughter."
I was confused as I wasn't aware that Aunt Joyce had two daughters and a grandchild."
"I didn't know that Aunty Joyce had two daughter- much less a grandchild," I told him. "We haven't seen our aunty in a while."
"The reason for my call is because Miss Summers and her sister and daughter are without a legal guardian. "Their father can't take care of them because he's in jail. The State of California has requested they be placed with a family member in their mother's family. From the information I found, you and your sisters have more family on her mother's side…"
PIPER'S POV
At Quake Piper is in the kitchen making her audition meal. Just as she's pouring the port wine in a measuring cup.
Chef Moore comes into the kitchen. "Your time is up. Let's see." He reads the index card. "Roast pork with gratin of fennel and penne with a port giblet sauce."
"Chef Moore..."
Chef Moore nods, "What?"
I sigh. "Uh, the port..."
Chef Moore nods, "Yes, without the sauce it is nothing more than a salty marinara." "A recipe from a woman's magazine. "Puh!"
"I didn't have time for…"
"Ah-ah!" Chef Moore said.
"But, but..." He puts some on a fork and raises it to his mouth. I wave my hands around and he stops. He stands there like a statue. "Chef Moore?" "Chef Moore?" I wave her hand in front of his face again. "Hello? Hello?" I go over to a bench and picks up a baster and fills it up with some port. I dribble some on Chef Moore's forkful of food, just as he unfreezes. He puts it in his mouth. "Mmm ... this is very good. C'est magnifique."
I smiled.
PRUE'S POV
At the Museum of Natural History, Roger was sitting in his chair.
It was my idea to spark corporate interest from private donations. "Besides, Not only have I been with this project since its inception, but we both know who really secured the entire exhibit. "He swings around on his chair and sees me walk in.
"Prue..."
I nod. "I quit."
Roger speaks into the phone, "I'm going to have to call you back." He hangs up. "Think about this, Prue- you have Sam to look after."
"Don't you dare talk about Sam," I told Roger. "Besides, it's a lousy job, lousy pay, lousy boss. "What's to think about?"
"Your future. Because, believe me, if you walk out with no notice, you can kiss goodbye any references…"
I glare at him. "Don't threaten me, Roger."
"You know me. Had to try. "You're hurt, you're angry, your pride is wounded. I understand all that. That's why you can't see that I'm doing you a favor."
I frown. "Excuse me?"
"I had to take the exhibit away from you." "If I hadn't, the board would of come and put a total stranger in my place. "Think about it, Prue. "I'm here for you." "Not some stranger." "You should be thanking me not leaving me."
"Well, I'm not worried. I'm certain that your intellect will make quick work of the seventy-five computer discs and thousands of pages of research I left in my office."
"You're gonna regret this." Roger said.
"Oh, I don't think so. "I thought breaking up with you was the best thing I'd ever done. "But this definitely tops that." Goodbye, Roger." She turns and leaves towards the door.
Roger nods, "I hope there are no office supplies in your purse." I stop and wraps my hands around an imaginary neck. Roger's tie tightens around his neck and starts strangling him. He opens his draw and finds a pair of scissors. He cuts the tie off. "What the hell was that?"
PIPER'S POV
Outside Quake, I am in a phone booth. "Phoebe, answer the phone. Answer the phone." She hangs up when Phoebe doesn't answer and walks out of the booth. Jeremy walks up to her. "Oh, God, Jeremy you scared me."
"I-I can see, I'm sorry. You okay?" Jeremy said.
I nod. "Yeah, now I am. "I really am. "Um, what are you doing here?"
Jeremy nods, "Well, I wanted to be the first to congratulate you on your new job."
I smiled "You always surprise me. How did you know?"
"You prepared your specialty, and everyone's who's ever sampled your work, can truly see how talented you are."
"I get so turned on when you talk about food," I said, nodding.
Jeremy smiled. "Hotdogs, Hamburgers, pizza." They kiss.
SAM'S POV
Somewhere in San Francisco, California, Phoebe is riding her bike on the road, with me in a kids seat next to her when All of a sudden Phoebe and I have a premonition. In it she sees two boys on rollerblades and they skate right in front of a car, which hits them. The premonition finishes. Phoebe continues riding and then we see the car and the two boys. "No! Wait!" we shouted.
Phoebe rides in front of the boys stopping them from skating in front of the car. The car honks and Phoebe falls off her bike, me disappearing in a flurry of all the elements and appearing beside Phoebe. I felt a stabbing pain go up my arm. I looked down. My arm was twisted at a wrong angle. I whimpered. I see Regina hurrying over before everything becomes black from the pain.
REGINA'S POV
I was walking on the sidewalk, when I see Phoebe riding her bike with Sam in her baby seat that was on the bike when I see a car coming and two boys that about to be hit. "No! Wait!" Sam and Phoebe shout, getting in the boy's way and falling off the bike- the car narrowly missing them by about a centimeter. Phoebe falls off her bike while to my surprise; Sam disappears in a flurry of all of the elements before appearing beside Phoebe. I see Sam's arm- it was twisted at a 70- degree angle. I freeze the sight with my powers before rushing over and gently used my magic to make Sam rise in the air before gently lowering her into my arms. Phoebe woke up, but I told her not to move, before calling the paramedics. They came and brought two stretchers and gently lowered the Phoebe and Sam unto the stretchers before taking them in the van.
"Mum!" I heard Henry's voice and saw him run over to me. "What happened," he asked and as we got in the van, I explained to him that Sam and Phoebe nearly got hit by a car."
PRUE'S POV
I rush into the Hospital, walking up to a desk. I see Andy is standing there with his back turned to me. "Hi, um, I'm looking for my two sisters, Phoebe and Samantha Halliwell."
The Nurse nods. "One second please." She looks to Andy. "What's the name again?"
Andy nodded. "Inspector Andrew Trudeau." Homicide. Dr. Gordon's me."
I blinked. "Andy?"
Andy turns to Prue. "Prue?" I don't believe it. "How are you?"
Andy nods, "Fine. I just can't believe I'm running into you."
I nod. "Yeah, I'm picking up Phoebe and Sam. "They had some kind of accident."
Andy blinks. "Are they gonna be okay?"
Prue nods, "Yeah, they'll be fine. "Um, what are you doing here?"
Andy sighs, "Murder investigation." There was an awkward silence.
The Nurse looks to me. "You're sister's are still in x-ray's so it'll be another twenty minutes." She looks to Andy. "Dr. Gordon's office is to the left and down the hall. He's with a patient right now but you're free to wait outside his office."
"Thank You." Andy and I said at the same time.
Andy nods, "Well, it's good seeing you, Prue." They shake hands.
I smiled. "Yeah, you too, Andy. Take care."
Andy nods, "You know, Phoebe's busy, Dr. Gordon's busy. Can I buy you a black cup of coffee while we wait?"
"Sure." They walk towards the coffee machine. "So, you're an inspector now?" I asked him.
Andy nods, "What can I say? In any other city I'd be called detective." "Sheriff Graham Humbert is helping me."
I smile. "Inspector's classier."
Andy laughs, "Liking it better already."
I nod. "Your dad must be so proud."
Andy nods, "Third generation. "You bet he's happy.
"How about you? "You taking the world by storm?"
I nodded. "Well, I'm living back at Grams' house, and as of an hour ago, looking for work."
Andy nods, "Oh."
"I heard you moved to Portland." I told him.
Andy smiles, "I'm back. "You, uh, still seeing Roger?"
I frowned. "How did you know about him?"
Andy smiles, "I know people."
"You checked up on me?" I said, sighing.
Andy shakes his head, "I wouldn't call it that."
I frowned. "What would you call it?"
Andy smiles, "Inquiring minds want to know. "What can I say?" "I'm a detective."
"ahh…" "Prue and Andy sitting in a tree. Kissing, first comes love then marriage, the baby in the big white carriage," Henry sang. We turned around, embarrassed that our quite spot just became invaded.
"Mum's with Sam in X- ray- they say she broke her arm," Henry said. "Prue, if it's all right with my mum, can I go with you to get you're cousins Buffy, Dawn and Celia?" "My mum told me- she knows everything in this town, she's the Mayor."
To Be Continued