CHAPTER7 THE POWER OF FOUR WRITTEN BY MARISSA

Prue and Piper stood in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Prue was slicing vegetables for the salad, while Piper put the roast beef in the oven. Paige walked into the kitchen from the living room.

"Can I help?" Paige asked. Prue glanced at Piper. After a moment's hesitation, Piper said,

"Sure. You can slice the bread." She handed Paige a knife. Just then, Prue's cell phone rang. She glanced at the phone to see who was calling.

"It's work," Prue said in an unenthusiastic tone.

"You don't have to go in today do you? It's Saturday," said Piper.

"I hope not," said Prue as she answered the phone. She walked out of the kitchen as she talked to her boss.

"You better not," Piper called after her. Piper and Paige were left alone in the kitchen. Paige glanced at her half sister. Piper hasn't said much to me since that awkward hug we shared after we vanquished the demon. Paige knew that Piper was having trouble accepting a new addition to the family, but she didn't really blame her. She can take her time, I know this isn't an easy thing to deal with. Piper spoke, interrupting Paige's thoughts.

"Paige, I think I owe you an apology," said Piper.

"What for?" said Paige.

"Well, I haven't really been as warm and fuzzy toward you as Prue and especially Phoebe have."

"It's ok," said Paige. "There's no need for an apology."

"Well, I'd just like to say that I'm sorry. I misjudged you," said Piper. "When I first found out you were our sister, I was kind of upset. You see, I don't handle change very well." She paused. "And I guess I thought that a new sister would…"

"Come between the three of you?" ventured Paige. Piper sighed.

"Yeah. But I realized that you are not the type of person that would break us up. I have a feeling that you'll only make our sister bond stronger. And I'm glad to have you in the family." Piper smiled. Paige smiled back.

"Thanks Piper," said Paige. "That really means a lot to me." The two girls stood motionless for a moment.

"Come here," said Piper playfully. She held out her arms. Piper and Paige embraced. Just then, Phoebe entered the kitchen.

"Hey, who forgot to invite Phoebe to the group hug?" Phoebe asked in a childish voice. She pranced over to Piper and Paige and threw her arms around both of them. Piper and Paige giggled. Finally, the three girls let go of each other.

"We'd better finish getting dinner ready," said Piper.

"Yeah, Glenn should be here any minute," said Paige. As soon as she said that, the doorbell rang. Paige and Phoebe hurried to the front door. Phoebe opened the door.

"Hey," said Glenn. "Hope I'm not too early."

"Hey Glenn," said Paige. Glenn stepped inside and Paige gave him quick hug. "This is Phoebe," Paige said as she motioned toward Phoebe. "Phoebe this is Glenn."

"Nice to meet you , Glenn," said Phoebe.

"Pleasure's mine," said Glenn. Just then Prue and Piper walked into the foyer.

"This is Prue," Paige said as she motioned toward Prue. "And that's Piper."
"I'm Glenn," said Glenn. Prue looked Glenn up and down. Woah, major hottie.

"I'm charmed," said Prue with a smile.

"Nice to meet you, Glenn," said Piper.

"Paige has told me so much about you guys," said Glenn. "I feel like I already know you."

"Really," said Prue. Poor guy doesn't even know the half of it. Prue chuckled on the inside. "Please, make yourself at home."

"Dinner is just about ready," said Piper. "We're just waiting for—" All of a sudden, Leo orbed in a few feet behind Glenn. Piper froze the room quickly, and then unfroze Leo. "Leo!" she said in a frustrated tone. Leo looked confused, until he saw frozen Glenn standing in front of him.

"Oops, sorry," said Leo.

"Just get out the door," Piper said rolling her eyes. Once Leo was on the front porch, Piper unfroze Glenn.

"—my husband Leo," Piper finished. Leo opened the door and stepped inside. "What do you know?" said Piper sarcastically.

"Hey Leo," said Phoebe.

"Leo, this is my friend Glenn," said Paige. Leo and Glenn shook hands and exchanged greetings.

"Shall we go into the dining room?" suggested Prue. As the group made their way to the dining room, Pheobe said,

"Where's Cole?" Just then, Cole joined them. Upon seeing him, Phoebe said, "Glenn, this is my boyfriend Cole." Cole and Glenn shook hands and said their "hello's". The group sat down as Piper brought out the last of the food. They ate, and chatted, and laughed a great deal. All the while, being very careful not to let anything witchy slip out.

"This is delicious," Glenn said to Piper.

"Thank you," said Piper as she blushed slightly.

"Piper used to be a chef," said Paige.

"I believe it," said Glenn. Following dinner was cake and coffee and many more laughs. Finally, Paige said,

"We'd better get going."

"Yeah," said Glenn. "Thanks a lot for dinner. It was so nice meeting Paige's sisters."

"Nice meeting you too," said Prue with a smile. As Paige and Glenn headed for the door, Piper said,

"Paige, can we talk to you for a sec?"

"Sure," said Paige. "I'll meet you at the car," she said to Glenn. Glenn went out the door.

"Paige, we really appreciate you keeping the big secret from Glenn," said Prue. "It must be tough."

"Yeah, it is," said Paige. "I mean, he's my best friend, and I'm used to telling him everything. But I know how important this is."

"You know, maybe some day you'll be able to tell him," said Phoebe with a smile.

"And maybe some day," said Piper, "you'll move in with us." Prue and Phoebe looked at Piper, surprised. Paige looked shocked as well. "Really, I mean it. It would be great having you here. For demon fighting purposes." She paused. "Oh yeah, and because you're our sister." Piper winked, and smiled.

"I don't know what to say," said Paige.

"We know you're probably not ready to move in right away," said Prue. "But when you are, we've got a place for you."

"Thanks," said Paige with a smile. "I love you guys."

"We love you too," said Phoebe as she gave Paige a quick hug.

"Well, I'd better go," said Paige. "Glenn's out there probably wondering why I came here without my car. See you guys later."

"Bye," said Prue, Piper, and Phoebe as Paige left. Prue closed and locked the door.

"Wow Piper," said Prue. "You've really turned over a new leaf."

"Eh, it's nothing," said Piper.

"What made you change your mind about Paige?" asked Prue.

"Well, I realized that I was being selfish," said Piper. "And that Paige deserved a chance to become a part of this family."

"I'm proud of you," said Phoebe as she hugged Piper from behind and rested her chin on Piper's shoulder.

"Plus, you know, she's got a pretty kick-ass power that we could totally use when we fight demons," said Piper. Phoebe gave Piper a playful tap on the head and said,

"Now you ruined it." The girls laughed. Everyone was tired, so they said their goodnights, and headed off to bed.

Paige Matthews trudged through the door to her apartment after a long day at work. She picked up the stack of mail sitting on the table, and then collapsed onto the couch. She yawned and then sighed. It seemed like the first time in a while she was able to just sit and relax. Glenn had left a few days earlier, and it had been about a week since she had last seen her sisters. Both she and they had gotten busy getting back into the work routine, and she hadn't really had time to hang out with them.

Paige began sorting through the pile of mail. She tossed many of the advertisements in the trash, and then she came to the bill for her rent. She cringed, and then slowly began to open it. She had a feeling the owner of the apartment complex had raised the rent again. When she opened the envelope and took out the bill, her fear was confirmed. My job doesn't pay well enough for me to comfortably afford this. Maybe it's time to look for somewhere else to live. And then Paige remembered that she had been offered somewhere else to live. As she left the Halliwell manor last week, Piper had stunned her by asking her to move in. Although she had appreciated the gesture, she had sort of written it off. Don't most people move away from their family at this age? Besides, it is a little crowded there. The manor was large, but there was already five people living there. Paige wasn't sure how she felt about that. Being an only child, she was very used to having her own space.

Paige thought for a moment. On the other hand, it would be rent free. But I can't let that be the reason I want to move in. They're my sisters, and I barely know them. If I lived with them, I would get to know them so much better. There's so much I still want to learn from them. And besides, wouldn't it be more convenient for them if I'm there when demons attack? The more she thought about it, the more Paige liked the idea of moving in with them. She looked down at the bill again. I think i'm going to talk to them about this.