Paige's new job comes to her and of course, she's not happy. ;)


To lizardmomma: Thanks once more and hope you stay tuned till the end!


11. Whitelighter Calling

ANNOYING JINGLING

Paige woke up startled. Her teeth were aching as if she were at the dentist. Sighing, she leaned back in her bed and tried to sleep once again. However, it was easier said than done. Any attempt increased her ache, and this made her frustrated.

As the morning came, the youngest sister yawned and really slurped into the kitchen where her family already was. "Morning," she greeted them and grabbed instantly a cup of coffee. "Man, my teeth ache."

"Do you need to see a dentist, Paige?" Piper asked worried as she was feeding her men, one literally. "Shall I give you a pill for it?"

"Maybe." She sighed. "Ow. I don't know what it is, and it's getting annoying." Another sigh.

Leo looked at her and had an idea. "Maybe you've got a call from the Elders. You are half whitelighter and now you should or could be a full one."

"No thanks," Paige immediately determined. "No, not after what they did to you and Piper. No, and also what they did to Chris. No thanks!"

"Paige, you can't ignore this forever," Phoebe tried to help. "But I have to go now. Work's calling."

As an answer, Paige only groaned and laid her head on her arms. "It's not fair. I don't wanna." It was more like whining. Leo put some toast in front of her. "What's this, Leo?"

"Eat, and you feel better, believe me. I've had enough experience with this," he only offered smiling. "And I'd suggest that you'll speak with the Elders since they are the only ones who can stop your pain."

Another groan. "Not fair! Damn it. Piper?"

Piper just smiled at her baby sister. "He's the expert, not me. Besides, wouldn't we need a whitelighter anymore if we have one already in the family? It'd be easier, I think."

"Not helping," Paige growled. "Okay, you've won. I'm going to speak with our lovely Elders!" Angrily she stormed away but knew, deep inside, that there was no other choice. Sighing, Paige changed her clothes and decided to walk through the city, to clean her head.

Meanwhile, Piper laughed at her sister's antics. "Do you think she will go?" she asked her husband. "I mean, it'd be quite a challenge for her."

Leo laughed as well and tickled his baby boy on his stomach, making him squeal happily. "Oh, that's for sure but I think she will accept it in the end. You are right though, we need a whitelighter in the family." He kissed his wife lovingly on the head.

Wyatt decided that he also needed some attention from his parents and stomped his feet angrily. Mommy then took him and he was satisfied, again. Making silly faces at his baby brother and his world was complete, again.

"I think, it's time I go to Magic School. To get these under control." Leo grinned at his family. "Anyway, have fun today!" He kissed his wife and took his boys. "Okay, you two. Orb Daddy to his office in Magic School. Bye honey."

Piper waved good-bye to her men and wondered what tricks her boys would play on their father today. Still, she had to run a club and this was their main income at the moment. Sighing, she took her car and drove to P3. Working all day.


THE BAY MIRROR

Phoebe walked into her office and was immediately seen by her boss, Elise. The woman followed her and shut the door a bit angrily. "When would you have told me about your newest addition? It's been months!"

"I'm sorry? Really, Elise, I forgot to tell you. So much has happened in between. It totally slipped my mind," Phoebe apologized with a laugh. "Am I forgiven?"

"Maybe, if I've got to see some photos of the baby soon. How's the mother and your …?!" Elise wanted to know curiously.

"Nephew." She smiled at her boss. "Yes, I've got two nephews now. And Piper's fine. Of course, the boys know their parents!"

"Huh? Any sibling rivalry yet, because that's normal, believe me." Elise watched her closely, knowing this all so well. After all, she grew up in a big family and all were in therapy.

Phoebe grinned suddenly. "You know, we all had expected it but to our surprise it didn't happen. Wyatt's really protective of Chris, his baby brother. More likely overprotective."

Elise gasped. "How come that there's no sibling rivalry? It's something unusual and I've ever heard of."

"Well, it's a long and complicated story, and it involves, in a way, kinda the story of 'Back to the Future' if you remember this movie, do you?" Phoebe explained, hopefully.

"Oh." Elise was stunned and shocked. "I see." Still, the woman had to run a newspaper. "Write your column and we'll watch photos tomorrow, right?"

Phoebe nodded and started her work, picking a letter up and looked for a suitable advice.


MEANWHILE … GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

Paige was pacing up and down. She just didn't know how to approach the Elders but the ringing hasn't stopped yet and she was simply annoyed. "Oh god! Can someone help me?"

Kevin orbed in smiling. "Hey Paige, you were calling?" He grinned at her.

"Very funny," she answered angrily. "I want you to stop that noise in my mouth! It's annoying and stopping me from doing anything, you got it?!"

"I did," he replied, a bit afraid of a Charmed One. "But what your family said it's true. You're going to be the family's whitelighter when you've accepted this annoying noise."

Paige shook her head. "No! Not after what you folks did to Leo and Chris! There's no way for me to accept this."

Kevin sighed. This was going to be hard but there might be a way. Risky but it could help. "How about you'll look after someone who could be a whitelighter in the future? It could help you and also the new guy/woman for us, you know."

Paige nodded. "Sounds like a great idea. Can I have a name, maybe? And when do I know if I found them?"

Another sigh. "You'll notice when the ringing stops. And then you can concentrate on helping your family. They need you as much as you need them." Kevin orbed away quickly.

Paige rolled her eyes and for the first time she could look over the bridge and enjoy the view. Now she did understand why Leo and Chris liked this spot. Maybe there was hope for the Elders, yet. Still, she had to find a charge and orbed away.


MAGIC SCHOOL

Leo was going through the time-table of his teachers and issues. Not easy since the new semester was about to start in two months. At least, the pranks by the pupils had lessened but they fully knew if they did it again, they were punished immediately.

"Dada, pway," Wyatt demanded his Daddy's attention. He and his baby brother were on their blanket but Chris was sleeping and he was bored.

Leo looked down at his boys and smiled. "I wish I could, Wy but I have to work. This is important!"

But Wyatt shook his head and then simply orbed his Daddy's stuff away. "No work, now pway," the boy only offered smiling. Hopefully, he won't get grounded but by looking at his Daddy he may be.

Leo gasped and scolded his eldest son softly. "If you do that again, Wyatt, you'll be grounded until you go to school, clear?" His son looked sad. "But today it's okay, son. Let's play, shall we?"

Wyatt nodded and played with his toys while his Daddy sat behind him and took his brother into his lap. He was happy but knew, deep inside, that his Daddy meant what he said. The little boy swallowed hard.

Leo just ruffled his son's hair and enjoyed his free time.


IN THE CITY

Paige walked around, with no aim but she visited both her older sisters at their working places. At the Bay Mirror Phoebe sent her away immediately since there was nothing to help with. At P3, on the other hand, Piper needed help with her stock for drinks etc.

"Piper, I really don't understand why I should become a whitelighter. After all what has happened with Leo and Chris, I don't want to," the youngest sister complained while helping her sister.

The eldest one sighed. "Paige, you know you can't run from destiny. Of all of us you should know it better. How would you have found us if not for destiny?"

Paige snorted. "You are the one to talk. As far as I remember, you didn't want to be a witch. So, tell me, what has changed your mind?"

Piper began to dream. "It's just all that has happened recently. Chris coming back and changing history, for good, for us, and then dying at the end. His birth and Leo being a mortal now. If this is not destiny, what is it?"

Paige sighed. Thinking about her sister's words, it did make sense but she didn't want it. "Okay, you've won. I'm looking for my charge."

"Still ringing?"

The youngest Charmed One only nodded before hurrying away. It seemed that her spirits were awakened anew. She ran through the city and promptly into a young man.

"Whoa. Whom are you running from?" he asked bewildered. "Name's Julian, by the way. Nice to meet you."

Paige snickered. "Sorry," she replied laughing. "I'm Paige. Nice to meet you too." All of a sudden, her ringing stopped. "Yes, yes. What's your problem?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Julian asked confused. "I don't have any problems at the moment but it seems that you need help."

Paige snorted irritated. "I'm fine, really." She sent him a glare. "How about I'll invite you to a coffee in that nice little café over there? I won't bite."

"Okay, I think I can accept." Julian grinned and took Paige's hand, leading the way. He chose a table and ordered two Latte promptly. "It's okay, isn't it? Let's talk then."

The two of them chatted as if they were best friends. Julian had found a new friend, and Paige her peace. For the moment at least as she knew a talk with the Elders was due, again. She sighed.


MAGIC SCHOOL

Leo was tired but happy. After Wyatt had had enough, Chris had woken up and therefore kept his Daddy busy. Well, the father wondered how much energy his sons had and where this energy was coming from. By now, both boys were asleep, again.

"Oh boy," Leo said smiling and standing up. "At least I can finish my work now." Yet the moment he'd sat down, orbs came in and revealed Paige. "Paige, what are you doing here? Did you find your charge? But please be quiet, the boys are sleeping."

"Okay," she whispered. "And yes, I found my charge, yet I'm not sure what the Elders want as he doesn't have any problems."

"I see," Leo only offered, working on his papers. "But I'm not sure if I could be of help to you."

Paige raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You're kidding me, right?" But Leo remained silent. "Great. That means I have to talk the Elders! Damn it." She orbed away.

Leo sighed in relief and continued on his work.


GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

Paige was angry as she paced up and down on the top beam. Thinking that Leo could help her? The man's only focus were his boys nowadays, though he had a lot of experience as a whitelighter. Her pacing stopped as orbs came up behind her.

"Hey Paige," Kevin greeted her smiling. "Did the jingling stop and did you find your charge, by the way?"

"Oh you," she replied furiously. "Yes to both your questions. Unfortunately, my charge did not have any problems. So, who was my real charge?"

Kevin grinned. "You were your own charge. It was the only way to make you accept your new destiny. Your family needs you, especially your nephews – for the future. Just accept it!"

Paige's jaw dropped, nearly down to the top beam, spoken literally only. "You're kidding me, right? How can I be my own charge? No, don't answer that." She sighed. "Right. I'll be a whitelighter in the future. For whom?"

"Mainly your family. We mainly let you decide if you wanna have more. One day." Kevin orbed away.

Paige, meanwhile, sat down and enjoyed the view the bridge provided. Slowly she could understand why Leo, and Chris, liked it here. Another sigh. Maybe she can accept it.


LATER THAT DAY

At the Manor, all three sisters and Leo with the boys came together again. Piper took her baby into her lap while Leo held their oldest son. Phoebe and Paige sat around them and all looked at each other, waiting for anyone to start talking.

"Alright, each of us tells us now what they did today," Piper suggested after some silence. "Oh, c'mon, such thing is interesting."

Phoebe sighed and began to talk. "Elise got on my nerves as I haven't told and shown her anything about our newest addition. She was kinda angry."

"But you explained it, didn't you?" Paige asked grinning. "Let me guess, she also wants some photos of Chris, right? What else?"

Phoebe simply nodded. "Yeah, a lot of photos and she asked if there was sibling rivalry which I negate and that made her wonder. As there always is, yet I told Elise it's a rather long story and then she backed off."

"Thank godness," Piper agreed and smiled as her sons were sleeping in her and Leo's lap. Then she turned to her husband. "And my Daddy dearest, what did you do all day at Magic School?"

Leo blushed a bit. "Actually not much since our little devils here kept me occupied. Wanting to play anytime. First Wyatt, then Chris and let me tell you their powers are really advanced. They got me tired until Paige came and asked about whitelighter things which I couldn't answer. Naturally." He grinned at her.

"Yeah, and he's really not helpful," Paige continued snorting. "Admit it, you knew what was going on but you decided to let me find out myself, right? Yet I can assure you that I've accepted my new destiny as I had no other choice, did I?"

"Hey, don't forget my part in your new deal," Piper complained amused. "I did convince you after all to accept it as you can't run away from destiny. We've all learned that the hard way. After all, we wouldn't be charmed now, would we? This is and will be our life."

"Interesting that you insist on it," Paige offered smiling. "But what have you done, dear sister, after I left P3?" she wanted to know curiously.

Piper grinned back. "The usual. Getting everything ready for tonight so that my employees can work without me. I may have planned something special for my family."

"Care to share with your sisters?" Phoebe asked curiously, back to her normal self. "You know we don't like to be excluded."

Leo and Piper blushed. Paige saw this, "Wait, what are you two hiding from us and then, of course, when, in God's name, did you plan it as Leo being in Magic School and Piper in P3? So, do tell!"

Piper smacked her youngest sister playfully. "Well, there's an invention called telephone which also works from Magic School to P3 and the other way around, so we spoke. Secretly. Question answered?"

"And what's with the boys?" Phoebe wanted to know. "I can see they're already sleeping. What will you do with them now?"

"My secret," Piper insisted and took Leo's hand, guiding him to the door. Their sons still in their arms. "And now enjoy your evening like we do." The parents were gone.

Phoebe and Paige did exactly that. They sat in front of the fire, talking and enjoying their time together. It was a quiet evening but both wondered if they would ever find the man for life. The younger Charmed Ones sighed.

Their older sister, meanwhile, was in a secret room in Magic School and enjoyed her time with her husband and kids. Piper and Leo were looking at each other lovingly and ate the meal Piper had made before. From time to time the parents looked at their kids who slept in peace.

"You know this was a good idea," Leo whispered, kissing his wife on her lips. "It was needed."

"I know," Piper whispered back. "You were tired and so was I. Why not a dinner for two was my idea and you see now the result."

In the end, the parents just talked about all and nothing, yet Piper and Leo were worried. Zankou had yet to make the next move.

TBC...


Hehe, Paige can't resist and all have their freedom and space for the moment! Don't worry - the fight will be back!

Reviews are very appreciated!