Charmed Again Part 2

I heard various comments made by my aunts and uncle Leo over the next two days. Paige was my mom and aunts' half sister. When Aunt Phoebe told me this I replied with no word, no sound. I knew this, had known it for months. She wasn't supposed to be a witch, she wasn't supposed to be involved with magic. She was supposed to be kept safe- away from the danger that magic really was. I said none of this to my aunts or uncle, or Paige. I had yet to even say a word to her- or many words to my other family members.

I listened to conversations about trying to convince Paige to accept her magic, to accept her place in the Power of Three. Phoebe piped in saying she needed to accept her place in the family too. I listened to them because I sat across from them in the living room. I sat holding a cup of tea. The tea would never grown cold, not as long as I held it. I kept it hot, careful to not let it boil and splatter everywhere, this would draw attention.

Instead I listed, I didn't drink my tea, I didn't cry, I didn't join in on these conversations that happened more and more often. I became invisible. I was talked to but I merely responded with a nod or a small smile. Occasionally I would respond with, "I was just thinking," or "Sorry, what did you say?" or, my most common two that were often interchanged, "I'm just tired, that's all. I'm not that hungry, I ate earlier."

So I sat a meal times sipping on water and eating a few bites of whatever was in front of me. I declined dessert, or extra servings. Not once was Prue brought up unless it involved magic. I hadn't heard them talk of how they missed her. They had to fight demons, protect innocents, and their newest younger sister. I understood this, just like I would have to do if Gwen had died. But it wasn't Gwen that died, it was my mom. The reasons the sisters couldn't mourn was because of the Elders. If they weren't working for them, if they didn't come beck and call, they could at least be able to step away. They could have that here, there were plenty other witches in the world.

Phoebe for a few nights after the funeral came to me before I was supposed to go to sleep. She'd ask how I was doing and I'd shrug, not really having or knowing an answer. She would pull me into her arms but I would push her away. She sometimes had a hurt look on her face but one of understanding as well. I didn't care, I didn't care I had hurt her. They didn't understand, they didn't even ask, they didn't dig deeper or try to talk about my mom casually. Well, there had been one attempt but I shut it down. I couldn't recall that moment, or how long ago it had been. The days seemed to blend together now.

I wasn't sure when it was I met Paige, they were headed to P3 or something. She gave me a warm smile and introduced herself.

"I don't know if you remember me but-"

"You were there when I was adopted," I said feeling like I was being kicked in the stomach. I then quickly turned away and went to my room curling into a ball on my bed letting tears fall onto me cheeks. Late that evening I felt someone sit on my bed.

"Estelle," it was Grams.

"How are you here?" I asked trying to rub away the stains the tears made on my cheeks.

"Your aunt Paige is meeting her birth mother for the first time," she said, "I thought I'd come down and see you." My stomach clenched again with guilt.

"What's the matter? And don't lie, nor you or your mother could ever lie."

"I knew, I knew who she was when I first met her. I found these news articles in Sams' cabin. I swore I wouldn't say anything. And now- if I had said something- maybe she- she wouldn't-" hiccups were dispersed through my soft sobs. Grams pulled me into a hug and even though I tried to pull away, to push her away from me she wouldn't allow it.

"Everything happens for a reason Estelle, I know it's hard to understand..." but I stopped listening. If I had introduced Paige properly to my mom and aunts things would be different. My mom would have gotten along well with Paige after time of distrust but that chance was taken away because of me. Perhaps that mess could have been avoided if I had acted differently. My mom would still be alive if it wasn't for me. She traded my life for hers and because of that she was gone and I was alone.

"Estelle, if you ever need anyone to talk to you have your aunts and you can always call me. We'll come. I promise I'll come or my daughter will come." I knew enough that famous Penny Halliwell didn't make promises often if at all. I said nothing. I wanted my mom, not them, my mom was who I wanted more than anything in the world.

"You will get through this, I promise," she said looking at my face, "Just light a few candles and chant that spell, doesn't matter that you aren't a witch. You're a Halliwell, witch powers or not, you're family. I have to go now, take care."

Looking back over that past two hours later that night, the conversation had been mainly one sided. I nearly let my emotions slip all out completely. I couldn't let that happen again, Grams may not blame me but I did. And what if my aunts did as well? Or Paige? Or- but I stopped myself from completing that thought. I wouldn't let them find out, it'd be my secret.

Piper had Paige over for dinner one night, a couple days after the cleanup of Shax. Paige asked me a few questions which were simple and easy to answer but it was too hard to talk.

Where are you from? Camelot, but I couldn't say so because I couldn't even think of going back. Leo answered for me.

Are you a witch too? No, I'm a faery but I couldn't say that because that showed how different I was from them, how I was weaker than them. Piper or Phoebe, didn't know which of them, had said I was a faery.

So, you fight demons? Yes, I fight demons- I fought demons. I was supposed to fight demons in Camelot to save my people but I couldn't even save my mom from Shax. He was powerful, another strong element like myself but I should have been stronger. Phoebe piped in saying that I did and was very strong.

She asked about school, friends, boyfriends, and such. My answers were short and to the point. I eventually got up to leave, Piper stopped me saying I should eat more. I told her I had a big lunch- she couldn't argue because she was at P3 and Phoebe was out job hunting. Just as I passed where Paige was sitting, she turned to say that she was sorry about my mom. I nodded or something and went to my room deciding to never leave this Manor or room again. I would be left alone; to cry, to sleep, to do what I wanted which was nothing but miss my mom.

A/N: Thank you all for reading the second chapter! I hope you enjoyed it, please free to check out Changing Fates(Alternate Ending story), the second chapter as been uploaded as well. Charmed Always- K