AN: Okay, this is going to be kind of weird. It's just something that came
to mind. I hope it will work out okay. Flames are okay, as long as they
aren't hurting/criticizing. They just let writers do better. At least I
think so.
Summary: A woman comes to San Francisco running from her past. But it catches up with her and she once again runs. This time from her future.
Prologue:
Silently packing the last of her things she picked up her bags and her purse. Listening she sighed in relief before slipping downstairs. Once more she listened then left the house. She quickly walked to the corner and the taxi waiting, not once looking back.
Vowing never to come back she stepped into the taxi. Out of her past and into her future.
Chapter One:
Waking up once again in the middle of the night Carina breathed heavily, trying to calm down. Running a hand through her hair Carina swore under her breath. Glancing at the clock Carina climbed out of bed and went into her small kitchen. Turning on the light she made a cup of tea to try and calm her nerves.
Sitting down she closed her eyes trying to clear her mind. After a bit Carina opened her eyes not at all better. Finishing the tea Carina went to start her day. She kept quiet as she could be, knowing that the neighbors wouldn't like being woken up at two in the morning. By the time it was seven Carina had drank three cups of tea and was working on her first cup of coffee.
Grabbing her bag Carina headed out to her jeep, yawning even as she locked the door. Getting in and starting it up she pulled out of the driveway and onto the road. Popping in Good Charlotte she hummed along to keep awake.
Pulling into Hurtz parking lot Carina walked inside finishing her cup of coffee. Waving a greeting to Steve Carina slipped into her office. She got to work on the files on her desk as the rest of the crew came in. Lisa greeted Carina before going to her desk to start her own day.
Three hours later Lisa came inside followed by a woman. Placing the file she was reading down the brown haired young woman stood. Greeting them with a smile, Carina introduced herself. "Carina Hurtz. Nice to meet you Miss..."
"Halliwell. Paige Halliwell. I hope I'm not interrupting you too much."
"No, you're not." Carina waved Paige to a seat as Lisa slipped out of the room. "What can I help you with?"
Paige handed Carina a picture as she explained. "I was wondering if you could make a beautiful frame around this. It's a gift for a sister."
Glancing at the photo Carina felt her breath catch. A man with beautiful green eyes was standing beside a woman who looked to be his mother. Which probably wasn't true since the woman looked like she was in her early thirties while the man looked to be about twenty. In the woman's arms was a baby boy grinning up at the man who was smiling at the baby. The woman herself was watching this display with a grin. A little ways off stood another man, whose face also showed a smile as he looked at the family.
"Would you like us to move the man on the edge closer to the others? He seems as if he belongs with them." Carina finally looked at Paige, her eyes flashing with some kind of emotion.
"He does and that be great." Paige answered wondering what the emotion was that Carina was showing.
Carina nodded, her eyes clearing of any emotion. They talked a bit more how to change the photo around and what frame would look best. By the time Paige had left Carina had done a short sketch, which Paige had agreed with. Carina had told her the company would drop it off but Paige had protested. Rolling her eyes the brown haired woman told the older that it wasn't a problem. Carina drove past the house on the way to her apartment. Paige had finally agreed and went to pay but Carina shook her head. Telling her it was free she let Paige out. The youngest Halliwell had vowed to pay Carina back somehow.
By the time Carina left Hurtz Photo and Finish shop it was seven o'clock that night. Locking up she drove to the Halliwells house the finish photo and the original in a bag on the passenger's seat. Taking them carefully she walked up the steps, her car still running. Ringing the doorbell Carina smiled as she heard Paige shout that she got the door.
Opening the door Paige's eyes lit up upon seeing Carina. "Hey! Come on in."
"I can't stay long. My car's running but I wanted to drop these off since we finished them." Carina explained as she refused to come inside the house.
"Here. I'll take and you go turn off your car. We're just about to eat. Come join us." Paige shooed Carina down the steps as she took the bag. Turning off the jeep Carina came back to the porch and followed Paige inside. Paige led her to the dining room where the rest of the family was waiting along with two others. "Hey guys. I hope you don't mind but I invited my friend Carina to eat with us." Paige explained as she nodded to Carina who smiled shyly.
"That's fine Paige. Nice to meet you Carina. I'm Piper the oldest Halliwell sister. This is Leo, my ex-husband, Chris Perry, Phoebe the middle Halliwell sister, Leo's and my son Wyatt Halliwell, and our friends Darryl and Sheila Morris." Piper introduced everyone with an encouraging smile.
Phoebe waved before going into the kitchen to get another plate. Paige placed Carina beside Chris, smiling innocently at his glare. Carina sighed, inwardly cursing herself for letting Paige see her emotions from earlier. Paige took Carina's purse as the younger woman caught her eye. Once again smiling innocently Paige sat down giggling quietly at Carina's small groan.
Coming back in Phoebe glanced at Carina, hearing the groan. "Don't ask. Just your sister probably being her normal self." Carina answered to Phoebe's look.
"You're right about that." Piper agreed, seeing the arrangement.
Paige shrugged making Piper shoot Paige a look. Ignoring her older sister Paige passed a bowl of rice to Carina. They ate, Carina listening to the family and friends talk about their day. Noticing that they were trying to hide something Carina ignored it; having her own secrets she knew it was best not to say anything. Chris was teased about a girl as he protested loudly. Carina sighed as she heard this, her own past coming to mind.
She was brought back to the present by Chris' touch. Both of them jumped lightly as electricity seemed to flow between their skins. "Sorry." Chris mumbled, face red. "Paige wants to ask you something."
Carina turned to Paige, wanting Chris to touch her again but knowing that wouldn't happen. Paige noticed the longing on Carina's face but decided not to ask. "Why won't you let me pay for it? I don't like having you say it was free."
"I do this for everyone. It keeps them coming back. I learned it would bring back the people I want not the people who want everything free. Plus, if it's not what they like I do it again and it won't cost them a dime. Whether it's the first time or the second or third time." Carina shrugged.
"What are you talking about Paige?" Darryl asked curiously.
Pulling a box from the bag she had beside her Paige handed it to Piper. "Here, it's something I think you'll love. It's for Leo, Chris, and Wyatt also but mostly you."
Opening the box Piper saw the original photo on top. Moving it to the table she gasped as she lifted the new photo out. A silver frame with the charmed logo surrounded it, highlighting the people in the picture. Carina had left everything the same except for the fact she had lightened the room and one other detail. Leo was now behind Chris, the same smile on his face as he observed his family. "It's beautiful. Thank you Paige." Piper handed the photo to Leo who looked at it before sending it around.
Carina handed it to Chris without looking at it since she had worked on it for hours. Paige turned to Carina, a smile lighting up her face. "Since she loves it what can I do to thank you? And don't say nothing. You deserve it for dropping everything just to help me out."
"Just come back. That's all I ask." Glancing at the time, Carina stood. "I'm sorry but I nee to head home. Thank you for the supper Piper and for inviting me Paige."
"Anytime. Want me to see you out?" Piper offered.
"We'll see her out. We need to get back so the sitter can go home. We'll see you guys later." Sheila smiled as she and Darryl stood also.
Saying goodbye once again the couple and Carina walked out of the house and headed home. They left the family comparing the new picture to the old and laughing at the memories they brought to mind.
Summary: A woman comes to San Francisco running from her past. But it catches up with her and she once again runs. This time from her future.
Prologue:
Silently packing the last of her things she picked up her bags and her purse. Listening she sighed in relief before slipping downstairs. Once more she listened then left the house. She quickly walked to the corner and the taxi waiting, not once looking back.
Vowing never to come back she stepped into the taxi. Out of her past and into her future.
Chapter One:
Waking up once again in the middle of the night Carina breathed heavily, trying to calm down. Running a hand through her hair Carina swore under her breath. Glancing at the clock Carina climbed out of bed and went into her small kitchen. Turning on the light she made a cup of tea to try and calm her nerves.
Sitting down she closed her eyes trying to clear her mind. After a bit Carina opened her eyes not at all better. Finishing the tea Carina went to start her day. She kept quiet as she could be, knowing that the neighbors wouldn't like being woken up at two in the morning. By the time it was seven Carina had drank three cups of tea and was working on her first cup of coffee.
Grabbing her bag Carina headed out to her jeep, yawning even as she locked the door. Getting in and starting it up she pulled out of the driveway and onto the road. Popping in Good Charlotte she hummed along to keep awake.
Pulling into Hurtz parking lot Carina walked inside finishing her cup of coffee. Waving a greeting to Steve Carina slipped into her office. She got to work on the files on her desk as the rest of the crew came in. Lisa greeted Carina before going to her desk to start her own day.
Three hours later Lisa came inside followed by a woman. Placing the file she was reading down the brown haired young woman stood. Greeting them with a smile, Carina introduced herself. "Carina Hurtz. Nice to meet you Miss..."
"Halliwell. Paige Halliwell. I hope I'm not interrupting you too much."
"No, you're not." Carina waved Paige to a seat as Lisa slipped out of the room. "What can I help you with?"
Paige handed Carina a picture as she explained. "I was wondering if you could make a beautiful frame around this. It's a gift for a sister."
Glancing at the photo Carina felt her breath catch. A man with beautiful green eyes was standing beside a woman who looked to be his mother. Which probably wasn't true since the woman looked like she was in her early thirties while the man looked to be about twenty. In the woman's arms was a baby boy grinning up at the man who was smiling at the baby. The woman herself was watching this display with a grin. A little ways off stood another man, whose face also showed a smile as he looked at the family.
"Would you like us to move the man on the edge closer to the others? He seems as if he belongs with them." Carina finally looked at Paige, her eyes flashing with some kind of emotion.
"He does and that be great." Paige answered wondering what the emotion was that Carina was showing.
Carina nodded, her eyes clearing of any emotion. They talked a bit more how to change the photo around and what frame would look best. By the time Paige had left Carina had done a short sketch, which Paige had agreed with. Carina had told her the company would drop it off but Paige had protested. Rolling her eyes the brown haired woman told the older that it wasn't a problem. Carina drove past the house on the way to her apartment. Paige had finally agreed and went to pay but Carina shook her head. Telling her it was free she let Paige out. The youngest Halliwell had vowed to pay Carina back somehow.
By the time Carina left Hurtz Photo and Finish shop it was seven o'clock that night. Locking up she drove to the Halliwells house the finish photo and the original in a bag on the passenger's seat. Taking them carefully she walked up the steps, her car still running. Ringing the doorbell Carina smiled as she heard Paige shout that she got the door.
Opening the door Paige's eyes lit up upon seeing Carina. "Hey! Come on in."
"I can't stay long. My car's running but I wanted to drop these off since we finished them." Carina explained as she refused to come inside the house.
"Here. I'll take and you go turn off your car. We're just about to eat. Come join us." Paige shooed Carina down the steps as she took the bag. Turning off the jeep Carina came back to the porch and followed Paige inside. Paige led her to the dining room where the rest of the family was waiting along with two others. "Hey guys. I hope you don't mind but I invited my friend Carina to eat with us." Paige explained as she nodded to Carina who smiled shyly.
"That's fine Paige. Nice to meet you Carina. I'm Piper the oldest Halliwell sister. This is Leo, my ex-husband, Chris Perry, Phoebe the middle Halliwell sister, Leo's and my son Wyatt Halliwell, and our friends Darryl and Sheila Morris." Piper introduced everyone with an encouraging smile.
Phoebe waved before going into the kitchen to get another plate. Paige placed Carina beside Chris, smiling innocently at his glare. Carina sighed, inwardly cursing herself for letting Paige see her emotions from earlier. Paige took Carina's purse as the younger woman caught her eye. Once again smiling innocently Paige sat down giggling quietly at Carina's small groan.
Coming back in Phoebe glanced at Carina, hearing the groan. "Don't ask. Just your sister probably being her normal self." Carina answered to Phoebe's look.
"You're right about that." Piper agreed, seeing the arrangement.
Paige shrugged making Piper shoot Paige a look. Ignoring her older sister Paige passed a bowl of rice to Carina. They ate, Carina listening to the family and friends talk about their day. Noticing that they were trying to hide something Carina ignored it; having her own secrets she knew it was best not to say anything. Chris was teased about a girl as he protested loudly. Carina sighed as she heard this, her own past coming to mind.
She was brought back to the present by Chris' touch. Both of them jumped lightly as electricity seemed to flow between their skins. "Sorry." Chris mumbled, face red. "Paige wants to ask you something."
Carina turned to Paige, wanting Chris to touch her again but knowing that wouldn't happen. Paige noticed the longing on Carina's face but decided not to ask. "Why won't you let me pay for it? I don't like having you say it was free."
"I do this for everyone. It keeps them coming back. I learned it would bring back the people I want not the people who want everything free. Plus, if it's not what they like I do it again and it won't cost them a dime. Whether it's the first time or the second or third time." Carina shrugged.
"What are you talking about Paige?" Darryl asked curiously.
Pulling a box from the bag she had beside her Paige handed it to Piper. "Here, it's something I think you'll love. It's for Leo, Chris, and Wyatt also but mostly you."
Opening the box Piper saw the original photo on top. Moving it to the table she gasped as she lifted the new photo out. A silver frame with the charmed logo surrounded it, highlighting the people in the picture. Carina had left everything the same except for the fact she had lightened the room and one other detail. Leo was now behind Chris, the same smile on his face as he observed his family. "It's beautiful. Thank you Paige." Piper handed the photo to Leo who looked at it before sending it around.
Carina handed it to Chris without looking at it since she had worked on it for hours. Paige turned to Carina, a smile lighting up her face. "Since she loves it what can I do to thank you? And don't say nothing. You deserve it for dropping everything just to help me out."
"Just come back. That's all I ask." Glancing at the time, Carina stood. "I'm sorry but I nee to head home. Thank you for the supper Piper and for inviting me Paige."
"Anytime. Want me to see you out?" Piper offered.
"We'll see her out. We need to get back so the sitter can go home. We'll see you guys later." Sheila smiled as she and Darryl stood also.
Saying goodbye once again the couple and Carina walked out of the house and headed home. They left the family comparing the new picture to the old and laughing at the memories they brought to mind.