Pepper stood in front of the Halliwells' house. She stared up at the two story house and took a deep breath before walking up the front steps. She knocked on the front door and waited for a response. When the door swung open she came face to face with a brunette.
"Hi, can I help you?" the brunette asked. Pepper became speechless. How was she supposed to explain to this person that she was a long lost family member?
"Uh, I uh…" Pepper stuttered.
"Could you speed it up I'm kinda busy? Wyatt, don't you dare!" The brunette turned around to yell at a little blonde boy before turning back to Pepper looking expectantly. Pepper took another deep breath before letting everything pour out.
"Hi, I'm Pepper Stevens and I'm here because when I was a baby I was given up by my mother Prue Halliwell to live with my father's sister, Tabitha Stevens. She has recently retired and is looking to have some free time so she sent me to you. Are you a Halliwell?" The brunette looked at Pepper like she was crazy but stepped aside so she could come in.
"I don't really know what's going on or if anything you just said is true but my name is Piper." Piper held out her hand and Pepper shook it.
"I know this seems strange but maybe this will help." Pepper pulled a letter out of pocket and handed it to Piper.
Piper quickly opened it and pulled out the contents. Inside was a letter from Tabitha, Pepper's birth certificate and the agreement that Penny Halliwell had made with Tabitha. Piper read over everything before looking back at Pepper who was standing in the doorway. Pepper smiled at Piper and Piper returned a tentative smile.
"Would you excuse me for a second? Phoebe! Paige!" Piper yelled.
Pepper stood in the doorway and looked around. There were pictures hanging on the walls and sitting on the side table. One picture in particular caught Pepper's attention. It was of three women and the one on the left had black hair. Pepper knew exactly who the woman was she was staring at a picture of her mother. Pepper was lost in thought about how it would have been nice to have met her mother when Piper came back with two women trailing her. She assumed they were Phoebe and Paige.
"Phoebe, Paige, this is Pepper Stevens, our niece according to these papers," Piper said. Pepper waved at them.
"Hi, nice to meet you all," Pepper said.
"Hi, I'm your aunt Phoebe!" Phoebe hugged Pepper and Pepper was shocked but then hugged her back.
"Phoebe! Hi, I'm Paige, the normal sister," Paige said. Paige shook hands with Pepper before stepping back behind Piper.
"Like I said I'm Piper. Welcome to our home," Piper said.
Piper led Pepper into the house and into the sitting room. Piper signaled for Pepper to sit down in a chair so she did. Paige and Phoebe both sat on the couch and Piper sat across from Pepper in another chair. Everyone sat in acquired silence until Piper cleared her throat. She looked at Phoebe and Paige before looking back at Pepper.
"So Pepper, tell us a little about yourself." Pepper looked up from where she was staring at her hands.
"Well, I'm 17 and I grew up not too far from here. I used to live with my aunt Tabitha but she decided that it was too dangerous for me to live with her anymore because I'm coming into my 'practical' powers. She was afraid I would be attacked by evil beings and thought you guys could protect me." All three sisters sat forward and looked shocked.
"So, you know about our powers and that we're witches?" Phoebe asked. Pepper nodded before looking back at her hands.
"Yes, I know that you are 'practical' witches that fight evil beings for the greater good. I also know from what little research I did before coming that you guys are the strongest 'practical' witches around. Pretty cool if you ask me." The sisters all looked at each other before Paige spoke.
"Why do you call us 'practical' witches?" Pepper looked at Paige before looking at the fireplace. Pictures were on top and she could see one of her mom with Piper and Phoebe.
"Well, that's what my aunt called you. See, not only am I a witch by your side but my father was a witch too. You may have heard of him Adam Stevens?" Pepper looked between the sisters from her seat.
"Wait! So your father's name is Adam and you aunts name was Tabitha. What is your grandmother's name Samantha?" Phoebe scoffed. Pepper looked at Phoebe and nodded.
"Yes, it was. My grandfather's name was Darrin." Piper threw up her hands and then stood up.
"Alright, what kind of stunt are you trying to pull. You just named off the characters from the show 'Bewitched'!" Pepper looked at Piper.
"I'm not making this up! Here look!" Pepper stood up and then snapped her fingers. She popped out and then popped back in behind Piper. She tapped Piper on the shoulder and Piper jumped.
"How did you do that?" Pepper shrugged and then went back to her chair.
"It's one of my 'whimsical' powers. I can pretty much do anything I want. As for the powers that I get from your side." Pepper threw up a vase and then froze it. Piper grabbed the vase and set it back down.
"You have the power to freeze!" Pepped nodded and looked at Phoebe and Paige.
"I also had a premonition the other day or at least that's what Tabitha called it but in my 'premonition' I called you guys and my mother so I just think it was a dream." Phoebe and Paige nodded before looking at Piper who was staring at Pepper.
"Only one way to find out if this is all real. Follow me!" Piper signaled for them all to follow.
Piper led the way upstairs and up into the attic. She set up candles while Paige flipped through a giant book. Pepper just stood to the side. She knew they must be doing some type of spell. She just watched as Piper and Phoebe lit the candles. The sisters all stood next to each other and began chanting. Pepper stood in the doorway and watched as wind started to spin in the circle and then turned into a ghost. Pepper walked around so she was facing the person. The sisters were all staring at the old woman expectantly.
"Girls, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Piper pointed at Pepper. Pepper just stood there with her arms crossed.
"Who is she?" Pepper looked at everyone before looking back at the ghost.
"She's Pepper, your niece." Piper slammed her hands down on the podium where the book was sitting.
"How could Prue have a child and not tell us!" Piper stormed out of the attic and Phoebe went to follow. Paige took off not long after.
"I guess I really screwed things up. I was just doing what I was told." Pepper stared at her hands and noticed that they were clinched in fists and sparks were coming off of them.
"It's not your fault. Now allow me to introduce myself, I'm your great grams, Penny." Pepper nodded and then stepped towards Penny who stepped out of the circle of candles and became whole.
"Nice to meet you. So, what do I do now?" Penny took Pepper's hands and led her over to the couch in the attic.
"Give them time. They will come to love you. Now tell me how is your aunt Tabitha?" Pepper shrugged and looked at the floor. She was mad at Tabitha for leaving her.
"She's okay. She moved to the 'witchy' realm. I'll probably never see her again." Penny nodded. She didn't know much about the 'witchy' realm. She just knew what she had learned after giving up Pepper.
"Yes, I knew she would one day move there. Does all your family live there?" Pepper nodded.
"Tabitha was the last to move in there. My father left when I was really small and moved there. I never met him. I've never met either of my parents." Penny patted Pepper's back.
"I know, I am sorry that you never met your mother but I can tell you that she is so proud of you." Pepper smiled and looked at Penny.
"Is there anyway I can call her like my aunts called you?" Penny shook her head and Pepper frowned.
"Unfortunately no, the elders aren't quite ready for your mother to come back. Although there is another family member you can meet." Pepper looked at Penny confused and then watched as she stood up and waved her hands. Another swirl of lights and wind flashed before another ghost showed up in the lights. The younger ghost stepped out and looked at Penny.
"Mother, what's going on? Is something wrong with the girls?" Penny shook her head and pointed at Pepper.
"I thought you might like to meet your granddaughter, Pepper." The ghost clasped her hands over her mouth and walked towards Pepper. She became whole as she left the circle.
"Oh my goodness! I can't believe it's you. You're so big." Pepper stood up and walked over to Penny.
"Who is she?" Pepper asked. Penny laughed and the ghost looked confused.
"She's your grandmother, Patty." Pepper's eyes lit up as she was pulled into a hug by Patty. She'd never met her grandmother on her father's side. It was nice to meet all this family.
"Hi, it's nice to meet you!" Pepper pulled back from the hug and looked up to see Piper standing in the doorway. She looked like she had been crying.
"Piper dear, please don't be mad at your sister. She was forced to give up Pepper. I was the one who made the decision." Piper nodded and walked into the room.
"I'm not mad. Just confused, why does that family like to keep such secrets? I mean we just got Paige and now we have a niece. Is there more family we don't know about?" Penny shook her head as Patty pulled Piper into her arms.
"No, Pepper was the last secret." Pepper looked at Piper and then at the ground.
"Aun… Pi… Miss Halliwell, I'm so sorry for dumping this on you. I didn't know what to do when Tabitha told me that I was coming to live with you. I really didn't mean to upset you. Maybe I should just go." Pepper moved towards the attic door but Piper reached out and pulled Pepper to her. Piper positioned Pepper in front of her and then lifted her chin so she had to look at her.
"First off, it's Piper or Aunt Piper, none of this Miss Halliwell stuff. Second, you aren't going anywhere. You're family and we stick together. Lastly, I know your mom would have loved you. You are just like her. I'm very glad you're here and we get the chance to know you." Pepper nodded and the glanced towards the door when she heard someone sniffle. Phoebe and Paige were standing there and they walked over to where Piper and Pepper were standing.
"The same goes for both of us. We are either Paige and Phoebe or Aunt Paige and Aunt Phoebe. We are both happy that you are here." Pepper smiled at the sisters and they all pulled her into a hug.
"I don't know what to say… It's great having family! Why am I crying? I'm feeling a ton of joy but it's not all mine!" Phoebe began jumping up and down.
"You have my power of empathy… Ahh, this is so great!" As Phoebe kept jumping up and down Pepper covered her ears and sank to the ground. Piper smacked Phoebe and she stopped jumping before Piper knelt down next to Pepper.
"Are you okay?" Piper asked. Pepper nodded and stood up as Piper helped her.
"Emotion overload. I'm okay though." Pepper looked around at everyone and instantly felt like one of the family.