Penny Halliwell fumbled around in her bag for her keys, and then stopped herself, smiling. She glanced around the deserted street, checking for people. A woman pushing a pram crossed the otherwise empty street and then disappeared around the corner. She pointed a finger at the door and smiled in satisfaction as the lock clicked open. Pushing it open she entered the hallway, taking off her charcoal grey jacket and placing it on the coat hanger.
"Mom, I'm home," she called. When no one replied, she continued walking "Dad? Phoebes? Paige?" she walked further, glancing around the lounge. She went to go up the stairs when she heard someone call her.
"Well, I thought you had all-" she stopped when she realised that it was Chris "Oh it's you," a scowl crossed her face.
"Nice to see you too," he replied through a sugary mouthful of cereal. She went to continue up the stairs but suddenly turned back.
"Dad told me to tell you that you're getting a new charge," she informed him.
"Why didn't Leo tell me himself?" Chris questioned her.
"He obviously has better things to do than sit around, telling you stuff," she told him spitefully, carrying on upstairs. Chris watched her for a few minutes, and then went into the lounge to eat, switching on the TV as he did so.
Meanwhile, Penny dumped the remainder of her stuff onto her bed and went to see her little brother, Wyatt. She entered the peaceful nursery and switched off the classical music that her Mom had obviously left on when she went out. Piper was adamant that classical music would make him more cultured and calm in later life, a theory which everyone else in the family dismissed. She leant over the side of his pale blue crib, stroking his rounded belly affectionately. He opened his eyes and yawned, stretching his little arms skywards.
"Good afternoon, sleepy head," she smiled, stroking his head of fluffy hair.
Then she left him to fall back to sleep, she had work to do. She opened up her laptop and sat cross legged on her bed, to begin typing her thesis.