Disclaimer: I don't own charmed, the actresses, the characters or anything you recognise.
Chapter Eight
Paige sat down in the armchair and without even realizing she was doing it started wringing her hands together nervously. She was dressed in a black denim skirt and a pink top which only covered one shoulder.
"You really like this guy huh?" Phoebe smiled as she sat on the arm of the chair and fixed her sister's hair which she had straightened and parted to the left.
"I'm attracted to him, that much I know for sure and we get on well together but really, its early stages so ….." Paige trailed off thoughtfully.
"Well, you look stunning and he'd be mad not to be interested in you so just be yourself and if he has a problem with that its his loss – just remember that missy and you'll be fine" Phoebe tucked a final strand of hair out of Paige's eyes.
"Thanks Phoebe, we are just going to take things slow but yeah I think we'd make a good match", Paige agreed "at least one sister is offering her support", she muttered under her breath.
"What was that sweetie?" Phoebe questioned having not quite heard it but Paige just shook her head preoccupied with her thoughts and Phoebe didn't push it.
Across the room and unseen by her younger sisters Piper leaned against the doorway looking at the scene before her eyes. Phoebe and Paige were talking and laughing and Phoebe was helping Paige get ready for her date. This was something sisters did they helped each other and looked out for each other in good times and in bad. To Piper though this scene looked wrong, there was something different and it didn't take a genius to work out what it was. Just a few months ago Phoebe was the one getting ready for her dates with Cole, Piper would have been doing her hair and Prue would have been there too, telling them about her day and making sure Phoebe's outfits weren't too revealing. In just a few months so much had changed and there was no going back.
Piper admired Phoebe and her ability to accept Paige straight away. Piper also loved Paige but she couldn't see how they would ever have a similar relationship to the one she had with Prue. She would give anything to keep Paige safe and deep down she knew that's what Prue would have wanted but why, then, did she feel so damn guilty?
Her thoughts were interrupted as the doorbell rang and Paige jumped up nearly sending Phoebe flying off the arm of the chair.
"Oh my God, oh my God, what do I do? What will I say?" Paige asked frantically and checked her hair and lipstick in the mirror.
"Paige, Paige, calm down" Phoebe grabbed her sister by the arms "Just take a deep breath and answer the door", Phoebe soothed and gave her a quick hug.
"It'll be fine Paige, don't worry and we'll just be upstairs if you need us", Piper added stepping fully into the room. She and Phoebe went upstairs as they heard Paige greet her date for the evening.
"Adam, hi, come in", Paige smiled and stepped back as she opened the door fully to let him in.
"Hi Paige", Adam smiled warmly and gave her a peck on the cheek, something Paige thought was quite forward considering it was the first date but she couldn't deny the fact that she liked it. "How are you feeling?" he asked her as she hung up his jacket.
"I'm doing good, just not taking any risks ya know?" she replied as she showed him into the living room. "Take a seat, dinner wont be long – is Italian ok?"
"Perfect, I love Italian", he nodded as he sat on the sofa.
Phoebe lay on her bed upstairs with Cole who had just shimmered in soon after Adam's arrival. She sighed as he rubbed his hand up and down her arm which she had draped across her waist. Right now everything seemed perfect, she and Cole were together and there was no demon attacking, Paige was happy because she was allowed to go on her date and Piper was getting a peaceful evening with her husband. Yet something was nagging at her in the back of her mind. There had to be something she was forgetting.
"What is it?" Cole asked noticing his girlfriend's pensive face.
"I just, I don't know, I get the feeling I'm forgetting something", Phoebe shrugged wondering if she was just being paranoid.
"You're forgetting how much I love you?" Cole suggested grinning.
"Never", Phoebe smiled pushing the thoughts out of her head. She gave him a kiss on the lips to reassure him.
"Oh I know what it is", Cole cried triumphantly and began to kiss her neck. "You are forgetting how good it feels when I do this", he murmured and kissed her between each word.
"You're right, I'm being crazy. I should just relax and enjoy the time I have with you", she moved closer to him and lay on her side so she was facing him.
He didn't reply but moved his hand to her skirt, raising it up a little as his hand crept up her thigh making her squeal. She began to open his shirt with expert fingers as their lips locked together in a passionate kiss. He began to undo her shirt when she suddenly pulled back making him moan.
"Phoebe don't do this to me, I want you", he groaned but it was no use she was already sitting up and redoing her shirt. "Phoebe"
"Cole, honey, I'm sorry I just suddenly remembered what it is I'd forgotten", Phoebe apologized and rubbed his hand with hers.
"Can't it wait?" Cole pleaded pulling Phoebe back onto the bed.
"Cole I missed you too but this is important, you can help or not", Phoebe sighed but remained firm as she left the room.
"Leo, do you really want to keep this shirt? I mean you have a million other cheque shirts", Piper asked as she pulled a shirt out of the closet she was currently clearing out.
"Yes Piper, I like that shirt", Leo sighed rolling his eyes. He was seated on the bed with a newspaper but found himself reading the same line yet again as Piper kept interrupting him.
"What about these jeans Leo? At least let me throw these out?" Piper asked oblivious to the fact her husband was trying to read.
"Piper, why don't you leave my side of the closet to me to clear out? Take a break for a while" Leo sighed and let down his paper inviting his wife to sit next to him on the bed.
Piper complied and closed the door on the closet as she sat at the end of the bed. She smiled as she looked at her husband, just being together doing ordinary things made her immensely happy and if things went to plan they could be even happier but should she tell him yet? She still wasn't sure if she was right but if she was then how would Leo feel?
"Piper, something bothering you?" he asked kindly taking her hand "You know you can always talk to me as your whitelighter but foremost your husband and soul mate".
Piper looked into his eyes and found her self getting lost in them. As much as she tried not to get her hopes up she wanted to tell him right now. She smiled at him as she took his other hand.
"Leo, I don't want you to get your hopes up or anything….." Piper began getting his attention.
"My hopes up about what honey?" he interrupted but quickly stopped with his questions realising the best way to get them answered was to shut up and listen.
"Well, I'm not at all certain or anything and of course I'd have to take your feelings into account and it would be difficult adjusting especially now that we have to train Paige in and we're pushed for money as it is so I'd have to work extra hard at P3 to make things work and obviously I need to find out how Phoebe and Paige feel about this because in a way it would affect the Power Of Three too and ………" Piper started to ramble until Leo squeezed her hand.
"Piper, whatever it is just tell me. I'll be here for you no matter what" he soothed and Piper took a deep breath.
"Thanks", she replied gratefully "What I was trying to say is, that well I didn't notice at first what with all that's been happening but I'm -"
"Piper, Leo, Phoebe needs you in the attic, something about a demon?" Cole interrupted as he barged in. "I'm sorry did I interrupt something?"
"Yes", Leo replied shortly.
"No, its ok Cole it wasn't important", Piper replied over Leo putting on a big smile as she rose to join Phoebe in the attic.
"I'm so sorry about this Adam but hey I work for social services not for a restaurant", Paige tried not to blush as she put her fork down. She had managed to burn the pasta and no matter how hard she tried she just couldn't force it down.
"Lucky for the citizens of San Francisco", Adam grinned cheekily as he shovelled another forkful into his mouth and tried not to grimace.
"Look, don't eat it, you'll make yourself sick", Paige laughed taking the fork from his and enjoying the feeling of their hands touching.
"Ok, I promise I won't eat it ……. If I can take you out for dessert", Adam countered and raised his eyebrows focusing his eyes on Paige.
She felt another wave of dizziness as she looked at him and found herself wanting more than anything to go with him. The problem was she had promised Piper she would stay at home and she didn't particularly want to fall out with her sisters just as they were beginning to accept her.
"Paige, what do you say? Dessert – my treat?" he took her hand as he started to push back his seat about to stand up.
"I'd love to Adam but I sort of promised my sisters I'd stay in for the night. They're a bit worried cos I've been getting dizzy spells recently" she explained hoping she wasn't sounding completely lame.
"Hey, Paige, trust me I won't let anything happen to you and besides your sisters are upstairs. If we're quiet they will never know", he encouraged pulling her up.
Paige grinned. How could she say no? She had been waiting for this night since he had asked her out. He had promised to look after her and she was a big girl after all. Why did she have to ask her sisters for permission to go out?
"I'll go ….. As long as I can choose the place", she stuck her tongue out at him.
"You drive a hard bargain Ms. Matthews but ok, if it's the only way to get you to come out with me then I'll do it", he replied dramatically putting a hand over his heart.
"Ever the gentleman", she teased as he pulled her up and led her to the door which she quietly opened and went through.
"Finally I hear a car. Adam must be gone at last", Phoebe observed and stretched as she stood up from the sofa in the attic.
"He wasn't here that long Phoebe, give Paige a break", Piper hit her playfully on the arm.
"I just don't see why we had to be confined to upstairs when she had access to the kitchen, the sitting room, and all the best rooms in the house", Phoebe pouted.
"Hey, no be fair honey, if you ask me the bedroom is the best room in any house", Cole grinned at her mischievously.
"Phoebe, would you have preferred it if Paige had gone off on her own accord with this stranger? At least here we can keep an eye on her?" Piper reasoned ignoring Cole's comment.
"No, you're right. C'mon let's go see how she got on tonight", Phoebe headed for the door.
"Wait, what are we going to tell her about what we…..found out?" Piper asked.
"Oh, easy, we say Paige I hope you had a great night but you can never see Adam again cos there's an upper level demon working for the source of all evil and he kind of wants you dead", Phoebe answered sarcastically.
"Phoebe, don't be so ridiculous. Paige deserves to know, she is his main target and if he gets to her the power of three will be no more", Piper snapped trying to get her younger sister to focus.
"I know, Piper, I'm sorry. Look, I think it's best if we don't tell Paige anything. She's new to all this and we don't want to scare her away again. We'll just try to keep an eye on her and for a while that shouldn't be too hard cos I'm sure we can convince her to stay off work", Phoebe suggested.
"I think we need to tell her Phoebe. Paige is going to get really mad if she finds out we're looking out for her. She has yet to realise that sisters always look out for each other but she's too damn independent. What I'm saying is it's going to be really hard to keep a watch on her without her finding out", Piper replied.
"I agree with Phoebe, Paige has enough to worry about", Cole interrupted walking around Phoebe and putting his arms round her waist.
"What a surprise", Leo rolled his eyes "maybe, Cole if you used your head instead of your nether regions to think you'd see that Piper has a point", Leo argued back standing directly behind Piper.
"Come on Leo, we all know you're only supporting Piper cos you sleep with her", Cole snapped back.
"Actually Cole, I unlike you, actually took the time to listen to both girls and their opinion and I have decided that I agree with Piper. Paige needs to know", Leo moved towards Cole but Piper held his hand keeping him back.
"Oh that's right do what Piper says as always -"
"Stop it. Both of you", Phoebe cried suddenly stopping Cole mid sentence. "This is stupid. Cole, remember what happened last night? I suggest you shut your mouth before you say something you don't mean", Phoebe gave him a stern look as Piper turned to Leo.
"Look I agree with Phoebe to an extent Leo. Paige has a lot to deal with right now and as long as she's near us she doesn't need to know but I'm not going to lie to her if she suspects something is wrong" Piper concluded and he nodded.
"Let's go see how the date went then", Phoebe smiled accepting the compromise and she linked arms with Piper to go and see Paige. They left the Leo and Cole to follow and lucky for the boys the sisters didn't see them trying to elbow each other to get to the door first.
"Paige?" Piper called entering the living room to see the dishes still on the table and the lights on.
"She must have gone out to say goodbye to him. She'll be back in a minute I'm sure", Cole reassured them when he saw the look of anxiety on Phoebe's face.
They waited ten minutes but Paige never came back.
"Damn, it I'm going to strangle her", Piper sighed in frustration. "She knew she was supposed to stay here. What if she gets sick again?" she was annoyed with Paige but she couldn't hide her worry.
"We'll find her Piper. I'm sorry its all my fault", Phoebe tearfully comforted her sister.
"What? Phoebe no, nothing about this is your fault", Piper looked at her seriously.
"It was Piper I shouldn't have been so hard on Paige earlier. I know she's knew to having sisters and I cant protect her the way Prue used to protect me, at least not until she realises how sister act around each other and that cant be learned overnight", Phoebe cried.
"Phoebe, listen to me, Paige is well able to stand up for herself and knows that you were only looking out for her. We'll get her back and explain to her that we're just worried and that we want to get to know her", Piper comforted.
"I'll try and sense her", Leo offered and closed his eyes as if he was in deep thought. "Got her, she's ok for now", he replied as he started to tell the sisters of her location.
Club on the other side of San Francisco
"I love the White Stripes", Paige shouted enthusiastically as she danced with Adam. The evening couldn't have gone much better for her. Adam was perfect in every way and he didn't seem to mind that she couldn't cook.
"Me too. I've a friend who works as a bouncer here so he gets me into all the VIP nights", Adam informed her. "That's how I got us in tonight"
"Seven Nation Army makes me feel so free, kind of adventurous", Paige flirted as she continued to dance.
"I like a girl with a sense of adventure", Adam smiled and leaned in to kiss her. "You and I are going to have some adventures together", he said into her ear before moving to kiss her lips.
A/N: sorry bout the delay guys. Good news is I now know where I'm going with this story and the character of Adam. I have a subplot for Piper and one for Phoebe and they'll be put in motion soon but I think you'll enjoy the storylines of the fic. I'm excited about it so as soon as I update A Chance….. then I'll be writing more on this. It wont take too long in fact I may even start the next chapter right now. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Don't forget to review, let me know what you think of Adam or what his plan might be if he has one, if there's anything else you might like to see in the story and just what you thought.
Until next time, Missy Paige 06. More reviews mean faster update :D
