Chapter 2

"This, celebrating, doesn't feel right without Paige," Pheobe said with a sigh, putting down her glass and leaning back against the couch. "I don't understand why she's being so resistant," she said.

Piper swirled the champagne in her glass and nodded in agreement. "She's acting like we're doing this to her, instead of for her. For all of us." She downed the last of her drink and set her glass on the table beside Pheobe's. It had taken Piper a long time to get used to the idea of having another sister and someone besides Prue completing the Charmed One's but she was slowly coming around to it.

Pheobe getting married and not being around as much then the whole Cole fiasco and the terrifying possibility of losing another sister had shaken Piper from her stupor and it was as if she started to truly see Paige, not as just a witch or a replacement but as a person, as a sister and had been mildly amazed by the person she'd seen. A competent, confident witch as well as an intelligent, warm woman who was struggling to connect with the sisters she had never known.

A flash of memory surfaced, the two of them in the kitchen one morning a few weeks ago. The look in Paige's eye, sadness masked by determined cheer, obviously expecting to be shut out yet again as she reached out. "I know I'm not Pheobe but I'm still your sister. You can talk to me. Piper had surprised both of them by opening up and had been taken aback by how good it had felt.

The two of them had lived together for months now and still had yet to spend any quality time together. They fought demons together, shared meals and were part of each other's daily routine but they'd never really connected. Never spent time together outside the manor. They'd had weeks when it was just to two of them, Pheobe living with Cole and Leo taking care of his charges more often than not and they'd continued to live like strangers, communicating through notes on the fridge about grocery shopping and who was going to take care of the chores. Paige was up and out of the house early for work, Piper was home late from the club. Unless a demon attacked they had little face-to-face contact. That she had let it go on without even noticing made Piper feel incredibly guilty.

There was a lot Piper needed to make up for. If only she hadn't been so wrapped up in her own pain, maybe some of the tension they were experiencing now could have been avoided. Maybe now without demons popping up all the time they would be able to spend some time together as sisters. If it wasn't too late. She picked up her glass, making a silent toast that she would improve her relationship with Paige and welcome her youngest sister into her life.

The house was in darkness when they got home, a little before 1:00, but when Piper went upstairs to change she saw light shining from beneath Paige's door. She knocked on it gently.

"Can I come in?"

"Don't see why not, it's your house."

Frowning, but refusing to take the bait, Piper pushed open the door and poked her head in. Paige had her easel set up by the window, working on something though either it wasn't far enough along or Piper was too far away to tell what it was. She didn't look up as Piper came in, didn't lower her brush, though she did stop painting.

"Hey, I know you're mad at me but can I ask a favour?"

Paige finally turned to look, saying nothing as she waited expectantly.

"I've got a doctors appointment tomorrow and I was wondering if you'd come with me? I think I might need some sisterly support."

"And you want me to go with you? What, is Pheobe busy?"

Piper bit her tongue, refusing to get angry.

"I don't know. I didn't ask Pheobe, I asked you."

"Oh." Paige sounded surprised. An unreadable expression flashed across her face then was gone as quickly as it had come. "Okay. Sure, I guess." Her tone was flat, non-commital.

"Well, don't put yourself out or anything," Piper snapped, and instantly regretted the words as Paige's shoulders slumped slightly.

The two of them sniping at each other like teenagers. A glimpse of what it might have been like if they'd grown up together.

She took a moment to consider that. She suspected Pheobe and Paige would have been close, two rambuctious, independent spirits getting into trouble and stirring tempers. Just as she suspected Prue would have been Paige's confidant. Even though there would have been quite an age gap between them they had similar temperments. It would have been Prue tempering things when they got bad between Paige and Piper. the way Piper had often done for Prue and Pheobe.

With a sigh she rubbed her eyes. "Sorry. It's been a long day."

"Yeah," Paige said with a small nod. "I'm sorry too. I'm just tired."

Piper hesitated in the doorway a moment. "Good night, Sweetie. Don't stay up too late huh?" she said as she backed out of the room and pulled the door closed behind her.