Phoebe's POV
Once again we were driving in silence, I know Piper was extremely pissed off at me right now, but I know I did the right thing calling Andy, I mean how else was Prue going to calm down? Dammit, Dad, why did you have to leave us? Things would be so much easier if he stayed. An actual father, would have been really nice to have, I mean now that Prue had mentioned things of when we were younger, I really remember all the tears split over Dad leaving.
I know that is probably the last thing on Piper's mind right now, but we need to give Andy time to calm Prue down. I made it look like I turned into a wrong street by mistake, but Piper was not even paying attention. Oh... she is really mad, if she even isn't bitching me out for calling Andy. I guess I am going to have both of my sisters angry at me for awhile. God Phoebe, just get your sisters pissed off at you, that will do the trick of keeping them around and proving you are not still "Freebie" like you used to be.
Piper looked like she was starting to dose off, but I didn't even try to stop her. Sorry Piper, I really want to see Dad. I turned to the street near the Ballmark Hotel, and slowly entered in. I turned off the car, and Piper's eyes snapped open. Then she glared at me, oh geez, she inherited Grams' evil glare from Prue and Grams. "Phoebe, what are we doing here?"
"Seeing Dad, duh," I said flippantly.
"What?!" Piper shouted at me. Ok, apparently I have done something else wrong besides driving to see Dad. "Phoebe, what is the matter with you? We can't just walk in now, I mean look at us,"
"Piper, Dad is not going to care about what we look like, he just cares that we came to try and forgive him," I emphasized try, hopefully getting Piper along with the idea
Piper's Pov
I stared wide eyed at my baby sister and saw the hopefulness in her expression. I also saw the little girl who truly missed her daddy and just wanted to be with him once more. I knew that I probably looked the same to Phoebe. But damn it all to hell why did she freaking have to trick me like this. "You planned this all along didn't you." I growled.
"Yea pretty much." Phoebe got out of the car and made a show at pocketing the keys from her side.
I groaned as I undid my seat belt and jerked opened the passenger side door. I quickly made sure all the doors were locked before I slammed the door shut. "I would have appecitated a little heads up on this little reunion idea of your Phoebe Halliwell. I mean dinner with dad was a surprise enough, but at least we would have had time to get ready to get ready to meet with him once more." I looked down at my jeans and my yellow tee shirt that was all dusty from the dust that was in the living room. "But you really want to see dad once more while we are all dirty." I shake my head.
"Dad won't care. He just wants to see us. We could go in there naked and he would be happy." Phoebe started to walk through the parking lot towards the main doors of the hotel.
"Only you would say something that crude Phoebe Halliwell." I watch as my baby sister walked with a happy jaunt to her step towards what she hoped was a good surprise meeting with their father. I sighed finally and started after Phoebe, catching her before she reached the bottom of what turned out to be thirty steps that we had to climb before we reached the front door.
IN PAIGE'S BEDROOM
Paige had gotten up from the coffee table when she saw orb lights light up underneath the door that she used for her bedroom. "I'll be right back, dad, I forgot to do something."
Victor didn't say anything he was still mulling over everything that Paige had told him.
Paige walked to her bedroom and opened the door and saw the medium built man standing in the middle of her bedroom at the end of her bed. She smiled at the sight of the blond haired green eyed man as she closed the door. "You came back, Leo."
"I promised you I would didn't I?" Leo said with a smile at the young woman who had come to stand in front of him. "How are you Paige?"
"I'm good. Dad went to see Prue at her office today and she pretty much threw him out." Paige softly said so not to alert Victor that Leo was in the penthouse. She didn't want her dad anymore upset than he all ready was.
"Yea I figured that was why Prue's power went haywire this afternoon." Leo folded his arms across his chest as he frowned gently.
"Is everyone ok?" Paige looked up in shock at this news.
"Your sisters can handle anything. This is the first time one of their powers went hay wire so now they have learned how important it is to keep in control of their emotions." Leo said with a tight nod. "The grandfather clock was shattered but I was able to heal it before I orbed to you."
"Are they going to come to dinner tonight?" Paige tightly asked.
"Prue won't be attending, but Piper and Phoebe will be." Leo said with a smile. "At least you get to meet two of your half sisters Paige."
"I wish Prue would come also." Paige said looking down at her hands.
"Give her time. She has a lot to work out before she is ready to see her father once more." Leo advised. "Why don't you want Victor to know that I'm here?" He asked finally noticing how softly they were speaking.
"Dad knows that you are assigned to watch over his daughters, I don't want him to hear about Prue's power going hay wire. It would just upset him because he would just blame himself for the cause of it." Paige explained.
Phoebe's POV (Outside Victor's room door)
I looked over tersely at Piper. I know she is really mad if she is just silent, I couldn't even hear her soft breathing. Man, did I really piss Piper off. This can't just be me calling Andy, and coming over to see Dad. I know something else is bugging her, and why do I feel like it is my fault? And then it was right there, that I felt the fear I have been pushing back so long. What if Dad just leaves us again? There was were Prue was really right about their dad, he was very unpredictable. I reached up to knock the door, but my hand froze right before I knocked. Piper gave me a surprised look, and she knocked the door for me. "Thanks, I whispered.
Piper's Pov
"No problem." I said softly. I knew that Phoebe was scared out of her mind about seeing dad again. I knew I was too hard on her and so was Prue. Phoebe had the same fear that we had, what if dad left again. What would we do? What if we put our selves out there fully and dad just upped and left. He did it when we were little what would stop him doing again now. Would we be strong enough to get over the pain of the loss of our father once more as adults, our would we feel the pain of our childhood.
It was too late to back out now because the door opened to show a much older version of our father. A very surprised older version of our father, but he was our father never less.
Victor's Pov
The knock shook me out of my downer mood, I was surprised that Paige wasn't still sitting in front of me. But I just shook my head figuring that my adopted daughter got bored with just sitting in front of her silent and far away in his own thoughts father. Couldn't blame her. I always hated when my own parents didn't pay attention to me that I went off to do my own thing. But I could feel that Paige was still in the penthouse so I wasn't too concerned about her whereabout.
I stood to my feet to go answer the knock on the door and when I passed Paige's door I heard her talking to Leo inside. I smiled glad that the young white lighter had come back to see Paige. I knew whenever Leo had to go off to help his charges Paige missed him solely. He was like a big brother to her. He in fact had been the one to teach her how to orb properly and how to mediate like how full blooded white lighters do. I suddenly frowned as I thought of Leo being assigned to my daughters; I had known since he had found Paige; that Leo Wyatt had always been assigned the Halliwell women as his charges. After all it was Patty and Penny who first brought Leo to me when Paige was just two and ½ years old and just figuring out that she could orb. I like Leo and consider him as a son, but I wish he was still at the manor keeping an eye on my daughters. Something must have happened.
As soon as I see who is at the door I am going to go into Paige's room and demanded to know what is going on with my daughters. But first I have to answer the door. I grab the door handle and open it and had the shock of my life. Standing before me were my two younger daughters, Piper and Phoebe, both of them looking at me with surprise and fear. Fear that I would leave them again. I shake my head as my surprise and shock left me. I smile gently and stepped aside. "Would you two like to come in?"
Phoebe's POV
I stood there frozen. Whatever courage I had was gone, and I felt like a scared little girl. Snap yourself out of this Phoebe. "Daddy," I say, trying to sound happy, but I sounded freaked out. He must sense our real reluctance to be there, seeing him after all these years. Dad cautiously reached out with one hand and gently put it on my shoulder, and the other one on Piper's. He brought us close and hugged us. We snuggled into our Daddy.
"My girls," he whispered, and brought us even closer. He pulled away to get a good luck at our faces.
Piper's POV
I was about to speak when dad spoke.
"How are you Phoebe?"
He looked straight at me when he said my little sister's name. I couldn't speak for a moment and I knew my face was frozen in shock. When he turned and smiled at Phoebe and asked "How are you Piper?" He seemed to notice how stricken our faces were because he frowned as he realized that he made a major ass mistake where we were concerned.
Phoebe's POV
Oh my god, did he just call me Piper? Not that we don't look alike, it is just that I thought he would recognize his daughters when he would see them. I wonder if this might be one of the reasons Prue didn't want to talk to Dad.
Victor's POV
"Oh my God." I stepped back from my two children who were looking at me with such sadness in their faces back at me. I looked at my youngest "You are Phoebe," I turn and look at my middle child "and you are Piper. I'm so sorry girls I should have known. I should have been able to tell the difference between you two." I stopped speaking as Piper spoke up finally.
"It's quite all right, dad, Phoebe and I do look a like a bit. We always had. Even when we were children." Piper softly said with a smile.
"Yea dad forget about it." Phoebe put in quickly with such lightness that I knew that my daughters had forgiven me for my thoughtfulness.
"Would you two like to come in?" I said stepping back and waving my hands towards the living space of the penthouse. "I have someone I would love you two to meet."
My daughters look sideways at each other before they took a step into the penthouse. I knew what they were thinking and I rushed to correct their thinking.
"No girls, I haven't remarried. You don't have a step mother you have to get used too. I know it's hard enough getting used to your old man after so many years of my being gone." I said walking past Paige's closed door and heard the silence behind the door. I knew that Paige and Leo were listening waiting to see what I would do.
Paige's POV
As soon as I heard my dad open the door and exclaim Piper and Phoebe's names I put my finger to my lips towards Leo and walked quickly and quietly over to the door and leaned my head against the door to hear as much as I can. But all I got was mumered. I felt Leo's hand on my shoulder and I turn around and face my friend once more.
"They were opposed to come for dinner. I wasn't expecting them to show up unexpected here at the penthouse." I whispered just as my father and my half sisters walk pass my door. I was slightly shaking.
"Don't fret, Paige, all works out in the end." Leo leaned down and gently kissed my right check. He stood back up and listened to was relieved that non of his charges or the Elders were calling for him. There was no way he could orb out of the room, not with the two middle Halliwell sisters in the penthouse. They didn't know about white lighters yet and for the time being they had to be kept in the dark.
"Did you know about this little visit." I suddenly hissed.
"No." Leo shook his head. "If I had known than I would have told you when I first orbed in."
Before I could speak the door opened and my father stuck his head in. "It's time Paige."
Piper's POV
"I like the room you got dad. Very nice." I said for lack of anything better to say. I was too shocked to say anything else.
"I thought you were poor dad." Phoebe burst out. "I mean I never thought you could afford the penthouse."
"My luck had changed a few years ago and I invested in the right stocks and here I am." Dad waved his hands around the penthouse. "I still don't quite feel comfortable in this surroundings. But until I can find an apartment this suits us."
"Us?" Phoebe and I both blurted out.
Dad walked over to the closed door that we had passed on the way into the sitting room and opened it and stuck his head in. Phoebe and look at each other curiously before turning back to watching dad.
Victor's POV
"It's time Paige." I said softly as I stuck my head into my adopted daughters room. I watched as Leo gently pulled Paige into a hug before releasing her. I watched as Paige walked to me and I held out my right hand for her to take. I lead her out to the living space of the penthouse and see my daughters very shocked looks at me.
"This is Paige." I said with a smile as I slip my hand around her shoulders and pulled her against me.
"We better go." Piper said standing to her feet and turned to Phoebe. "Now, Phoebe!"
"But we just got here, Piper." Phoebe prosted without standing up.
"We are leaving." Piper said meaningfully.
"Paige isn't my mistress. She's my adopted daughter." I said quickly knowing where Piper was coming from.
Piper's POV
My jaw dropped opened at what my father had just said. I slowly sat back down on the couch. "Y-your adopted daughter." I chocked as I looked at the young woman who couldn't be more than twenty or twenty one who was standing next to my father. My father who actually had his arm around her and in a protective fatherly way. I didn't like her. I would go as far as saying I hated her, but I don't hate anyone, expect demons.
"Yes my adopted daughter. Your adopted little sister." Dad said with a smile as he finally let Paige go and came over to sit next to me on the couch while Paige went to sit on the chair oppost Phoebe.
"Hello." Paige softly said. "It's finally nice to meet you. I have heard so much about you from dad over the years."
"Victor." I said with heat rising in my face.
"She calls me dad." Dad said with a tense smile as he realized how truly tensed I was.
"Whatever." I snorted.
Leo's POV
I wish I could be out there making things more easier for not only Paige, but Piper and Phoebe also. I had watched all three of the girls grow up and I knew better than they ever realized how painful this interview was to each and everyone one of them. I could just image how hard it will be on Prue once she learns of Paige. But there is nothing that I can do because I can't go against the Elders. So I remain here in Paige's room with my ear against the door and listen to my three charages.
Paige's POV
I knew my sisters didn't like me much. I was the one after all the one who had their father's love through out my childhood; while they had to grow up missing him and wondering if he actually loved them at all. I had always known that my sisters wouldn't warm up to me right away, I knew I had to fight my way into my heart but it looks like I will have to fight even harder to win Piper over. I prepare myself for the fight of a life time. I was relieved that I had decided not to allow my sisters know my true idenity right from the start. I don't want them to think less of mom. I don't are about myself, much.
"Do you mind if I join you guys for dinner this evening? I don't have to if you want to spend alone time with dad, Victor." I said.
"No you are totally welcomed." Phoebe said excitedly as she looked me in the eyes. "I have always wanted to be a big sister. I guess I am in away seeing how dad adopted you."
"Thanks." I said with a soft smile. I turned a question on my face at Piper.
"Whatever." Piper said with a shurg. She folded her hands across her chest as she simply glared at me.
"Piper." Dad said in a warning voice as he placed a hand on Piper's shoulder.
Piper's POV
"Don't you Piper me, da ... Victor." I stressed his first name out. I shake his hand off my shoulder.
"So dinner at six o' clock." I said standing to my feet.
"We can't leave yet." Phoebe quickly said leaning back in her chair as she looked imploying at me.
I knew my baby sister ... my real baby sister had something up her sheelve.
Phoebe's POV
Well I guess I am being a little selfish, seeing that I want to be with Dad, despite the fact of learning about Paige. It shocks me that Piper is calling her Victor, I mean Prue usually does that kind of thing, considering she was closest to him before he left. "We can't leave yet." I repeated. I squinted my eyes really quick trying to imply that Prue is most likely not going to be calmed down, even with Andy there. In fact, it may be worse if we show up, and suprise Prue and she loses control of her powers.
To my suprise Piper gave me a whatever look and flopped down on the couch next to the chair I was sitting in. I guess I am a little angry at Dad. I mean, not being in our lives, and yet he adopts a daughter, when he already had us. Paige does seem really nice, but what the hell? If he had enough money to get this penthouse, and support a daughter, how come he couldn't help when Grams died. But I am not going to start asking these questions now, I want this to be happy moment between us finally reuniting. I can't really hold it against Paige if Dad was able to raise her, and not us.
God I hate uncomfortable silences. Why can't anyone break this silence? Piper just kept glaring at me, and I definantly knew I really pushed it when I forced her to stay here. I could tell that she inherited Grams' deadly glare from Prue, and it was scaring me. I looked towards Dad, and can tell he was starting to get nervous. He still looked stung about Piper calling him Victor. Second daughter to call him that in one day.
"Phoebe, we have stayed long enough, let's just go home," Piper was clearly stressing out. She looked like she was gonna blow up if we didn't get out of here.
"Ok," I said defeated. I really didn't want to anger Piper anymore. I got up, as did Piper and she started to head for the door. I went up to Dad, and I gave him a hug. "I'm sorry we couldn't stay longer Daddy,"
"We can catch up later. Goodbye Phoebe,"
"Bye Daddy," I turned to Paige, and I pulled her into an awkward hug.
"Sorry we couldn't talk more Paige. I can't wait to talk to you more," and with that I headed down towards Piper.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye?" I asked her.
"He didn't do it for us, so why should we do it for him?" and she slammed the door right after I walked after her. "Phoebe, what is the matter with you? How can you be so forgiving towards him? Prue was right, we can't trust ourselves to be around him?"
"Piper,"
"Phoebe, I am tending to go towards what Prue was saying earlier. We can't trust him." I really hoped that Dad wasn't hearing this. "How dare he come back after all these years, and have, have another daughter? It was bad enough that he wasn't there for us, but he was there for someone else?!"
And with that she started off for the stairs.
Paige's POV
"It's ok to come out now Leo." I said over my shoulder towards my closed bedroom door. I stayed facing my father as Leo made his way over to sit in the chair that Phoebe had vacanted a moment earlier. "Tell Dad about what happened at the manor earlier today." I said looking meaningfully over at Leo.
"Paige ..." Leo hestiantly began looking waryly over at dad.
"It's ok Leo. I need to know." Dad said in a low but firm tone as he turned his graze to meet Leo's open blue eyes. "Tell me."
Leo's POV
I sighed and nodded my head one last time. "Prue came home all upset and she lost control of her powers. She wrecked the living room of the manor, managed to destroy the grandfather clock to pieces. I was able to 'heal' the clock before I orbed here. Last time I checked Prue locked herself in her room so she wouldn't hurt her sisters."
"So the girls have received their powers." Victor sighed deeply. "I just knew it, once Penny died I knew it was just a matter of time before the girls would unbound their powers. I wish they hadn't." He shook his head. "Well I know what I must do now to protect my girls."
"What is that Victor?" I asked not for the first time in my time knowing Victor Bennett.
Victor opened his mouth to speak but than he closed it firmly and shook his head. "It's something that I have to do myself, Leo. I'm their father. I'm the one who has to protect them now."
"I'm their white lighter." I said.
"But they don't know that yet." Victor quickly cut in. He held up his hand. "Look, Leo, I am relieved that you are watching out for my little girls while I can't. But after tonight, I'll be the one who will protect them."
"I will always be their white lighter, as I am Paige's." I said.
Victor's POV
Even if I get the Book of Shadows away from my daughters they will still be witches. They will always need Leo to heal them. Doesn't matter I have to get the Book of Shadows. My daughters lives depend on it. I look over at Leo and smiled. "Of course you will be Leo. I didn't mean that you wouldn't be. I just meant ..."
"I know what you meant, Victor." Leo said with a smile. He looked up. "I have to get back the manor." He orbed out with a smile at Paige and I.
"So dinner will be interesting tonight." I turned and smiled gently at my adopted daughter.
"If they show up that is." Paige sighed as she placed her fingers underneath her chin and bowed her head in deep thought.
"They will show up." I said with a tight nod. "If only to give me more grief on being out of their lives their entire childhood, adopting you and being the father to you, that I should have been to them."
"I don't have to be there." Paige said softly.
I stood to my feet and walked over and knelt down in front of my adopted daughter. I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into a hug. I held her for serveal minutes before letting her go. "It will be fine, Paigey girl, I promise." I kneel up so that I could place a kiss on her forehead.
"Thanks daddy. I needed that." Paige whispered as I pulled away. She couldn't hide the tears from me through. I reached up and gently wiped her tears from underneath her eyes before they could fall onto her checks. I held up my fingers for her see. "I'm putting these with the rest of your tears that I catch. Close to my heart."
Paige smiled and leaned forward and kissed my check before pulling back.
I stood to my feet once more. "I suggest we begin to get ready for dinner." I said holding out my hand for my adopted daughter to take. Once Paige was on her feet once more I walked her to her bedroom and tapped her nose before walking to my room.
END CHAPTER SIX