I'm backkkkkk . Im sorry that took so long and I left you all hanging. I got sick one week, and was in bed the whole time and then I spent this week trying to get back on track. I'm sorry if I made you think I was abandoning the story but I wont do that. I hope to update again very soon actually.

You know what? I really like Paige's POV too much to drop it yet

Once Prue gets me inside the house and out of the rain she places me gingerly on the couch and looks at me, taking in my blue lips and ocean soaked form that I caught a glimpse of in the mirror by the entanceway. I want to be anywhere but here, and even though I have the power to leave at the drop of a hat, something is keeping me here.

I expect her to yell at me some more, or Piper to open her mouth, but neither do this. Instead Prue takes up being nice like it counts all of the sudden

"Okay Paigey" she says " Just hang with Piper for a minute. I'll get back to you in a few"

"Whatever" I mumble, wishing that I hadn't been found.

She gives me a tight smile and then rushes off upstairs. I sit tight twiddling my thumbs until Piper snaps

"So why'd you do it? Why'd you go off like that?" she demands

I shrug "Phoebe told me to stop annoying her so I left"

"Do you realize that you could've drowned or been kidnapped again? I was worried sick. You know better"

Yay. A lecture. I won't mention I did almost drown and that there are way worse things in the world than kidnapping.

" I obviously didn't or else I wouldnt've have gone" I muse

'Cheeky. You always have to be so cheeky Paige. Well its not working as a cover up. I know something's wrong. Prue obviously does too or else she would'nt have let you off so easy."

Then I remember. Prue looked straight on into my eyes when she found me for a long enough time that if she was looking, she probably could've seen that something was wrong.

Lovely.

Piper seems to be studying my reaction, looking for something that'll tip her off as to exactly what is wrong. I'm certainly not going to tell. I've already made up my mind about that one.

Before she can say anything else though, Prue's voice calls us "Come upstairs to the master bathroom you guys"

Um why? I look at Piper questioningly. A smile tugs at the corner of her lips and she just sing songs "You'll see"

So we climb up the stairs and Piper directs me to the bathroom because I certainly have no clue where it is and I open it only to be shocked once again by the size of this house. There is a huge tub in the center of the room filled with bubbles in which Phoebe and Prue are already sitting in bikinis of their own. Piper pulls off her clothes to reveal a bikini as well and hops in the tub with the others. Prue grins at me "We brought the ocean to you"

I can't help but grin back as I jump in as well. Only my sisters would be crazy enough to do this.

"Ah look she's smiling for once. I knew this would work." Phoebe says

I look at her "I'm mad at you"

She pouts "I'm sorry I told you to stop annoying me. Sometimes I just don't want to deal with you"

I pout right back "You don't get to pick and choose when you are my big sister and when you're not"

"I'll always be your big sister no matter what I say." she insists

'Okay" I force a convincing smile, knowing its the right thing to do, but not necessarily what I want to. Its no secret me and Pheebs have got issues with one another. Yes she will always technically be my sister, by blood, but if she keeps being so nasty maybe not by any emotional bond.

"No come here and give me a hug" she says pulling me rather aggressively into a bear hug and getting me all soapy. I laugh. This is sort of fun.

Phoebe tosses some soap foam at Prue who retaliates and returns the favor. I sit back and watch the scene before me. If someone saw us right now, they would never guess the underlying problems that we have. They'd never know I was the source of those problems. In a way its reasurring to pretend you are on the outside, and to step out of your reality for a while. It may be the only thing keeping me sane.

I laugh some more as Phoebe gets some soap in her eyes and is temporarily blinded. Its funny when she flails like a nut.

But then she gets out of the tub saying she has to get ready for tonight, whatever tonight is. Since I don't know about it I must not be invited. Anyway, faux normal moment expired.

"You're right Pheebs. It is getting pretty late. We should all start getting set to go." Prue agrees as she and Piper step out of the tub one after the other.

"Come on Paige, you're coming to." Prue explains when I stay in the tub. I want to ask where, but then again I don't really think I want to know.

I nod, and climb out to the stairs, as I start to climb down I get stopped by Phoebe's hand.

"Wait Paige." she says "Prue aren't you going to do what you used to do with me when I was little?"

Prue grins. "I totally forgot about that."

Im lost again. No matter how hard they or I try, I will never be part of the unspoken language the three of them share. It sucks.

Prue holds out a huge fluffy towel and looks up at me "Jump, little sister"

I look at her skeptically. "No way" I hear myself say "I'll knock you over."

"Will not"

"Will too"

Prue sighs in a way I even know is exaggerated. "Fine then. I guess thats just another Halliwell tradition you'll never be a part of" she mocks me

The comment stings and I relent. Anything, no matter how stupid to gain acceptance. I take a leap of faith, and am once agains surprised as I find myself beign twirled about by my loon of a sister safe inside the towel.

It feels like childhood, even though I know mine's been lost somewhere along the line. I giggle as Prue lowers me to the ground.

"You see? I knew you would like it, Phoebe always did when she was little." Prue says

I just smile at her, and don't mention that I'm not little. Again, its nice to pretend.

She hands me a robe monogrammed with a P and puts an exact copy on herself. Phoebe and Piper are wearing them too. Boy was Victor, or Dad I guess you could say (gag) cheesy.

"Be ready by 6" Prue tells Phoebe and Piper who each head off to their rooms.

"We know" Piper says with an eye roll before scampering off to see Leo.

Prue follows me to my room, which I would've thought was strange a few months ago, but now is just typical. She probably wants to talk. Maybe she'll tell me where we're going tonight.

I sit down on my freaky bed because i'm not changing while she's in here, and she plops down next to me.

"Turn to the side" she instructs, and I do, as she begins to french braid my hair. A fancy hairstyle, that takes a lot of work with my curly hair.

"Where are we going?" I inquire finally. Anticipations a bitch.

"To see Daddy" she says without hesitation as if shes speaking to a small child.

"He's not my Daddy" I spit in disgust "My daddy is dead"

"Paige." She says getting into lecture mode " We are just going to find out your whole story. I thought this would excite you."

"I never dreamed of finding my birth parents you know" I say matter-of-factly. "I had parents"

"Twiceover" she points out "Besides, I find it hard to believe you never cared where you came from."

"I didn't know I was adopted until I was 14. I found out the hard way. They didn't even tell me, I found my birth certificate." I admit softly

She doesn't stop braiding "That must've been so hard for you." She says

"Thats why I started drinking." I confess

"I don't want to think about you doing bad things."

"Maybe if things would've been different, you'dve stopped me."

"Maybe."

"How come when you turned 18, you didnt come find me?"

She is silent for a while "I convinced myself you didn't exist, because Grams kept telling me so."

"She hated me"

"She hated not having you with us."

"Do you remember the day I was born?"

"What do you think?" She says her eyes gliding over to the identical eyed sisters in the portrait on my wall.

"What was it like?"

"You had the most beautiful eyes. Everyone thought they would stay."

"Oh"

"Mom and Dad loved you Paige, they really did."

"Then why'd they give me up?"

"Thats the part I don't know. It was hard for me Paige. One day you were just gone. No one explained to me why, and it was as if you never existed."

"Did you love me then?"

"More than you will ever know" She says securing my hair with an elastic "I wish I had been there for you when the Matthews died."

She won't call them my parents. "I wish you had been there too." I say tracing my finger along the bedspread's floral pattern

There is a long silence before Prue stands up and leaves the room "Make sure you look your best" She says before she exits

I will, because Victor might not accept me otherwise. Not that I care if he does,but it would be nice to share a live parent with my sisters.

I slip into one of my nicer summer dresses, a blue checkered number, and can't help but feeling like I'm climbing into the skin of a girl who is happy enough to wear it and have it suit her.