This part is written by Roswellian Princess 2001

Part 5

The next morning Maria awoke to the smell of frying bacon and fresh air. She had slept with her window open to breathe in the fragrant ocean air. Back home all they had was dust.

Following her nose she entered the kitchen to see Piper happily humming while frying bacon.

"Good morning, Piper."

"Morning, sleep good?" Piper smiled. That was one thing that Maria always loved about her sisters. Whenever she needed them to they would cheer her up with a simple smile.

"I slept like a rock. Must be the ocean air."

"Well sit and have some breakfast. I have to be at the club in an hour, and you are more than welcome to join me. I think Pheobe has class, but she can come pick you up after to spend the afternoon shopping. Prue works all day but she will be home by dinner."

"Sounds like a plan. Anything to take my mind off of what's going on back home."

Piper sat next to Maria and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. "You know you can't run away forever. You will have to face your fears eventually. But you are more than welcome to stay here as long as you like. But whenever you are ready to face your demons," Piper chuckled at her pun, "we will be here to help you."

Maria smiled at her sister. Piper, always cracking lame jokes, but that was part of her charm. "Thanks Piper. I love you guys. I really want to thank you for letting me come here. But I probably wont be able to stay too long. My mother doesn't know why I left, only that I came to San Francisco. Unless," Maria paused thoughtfully, "if I tell her the truth then maybe she would let me stay longer."

All of Maria's sisters knew that it was tough for her to keep their secret. At least the Haliwell's had each other to talk to. Maria didn't have anyone. But it was still too important that they remain secretive about who they were. "Maria I know it's hard for you. Especially with your friends' non-human status. But ours is a secret that is vital to the battle between good and evil. Just like your aliens if anyone discovered who we were our lives would be in grave danger, and all the innocents we were meant to save would be lost."

"I know. But I just feel like between you guys and the Chekoslovakians I am lying to everyone about something. The only people who know the complete truth are you guys, and I can't talk to you as often as I would like."

"Maria you know that if you ever need us, for anything," Piper stressed, "all you have to do is call Leo's name. He is your whitelighter too. He will come running."
Maria hugged her sister. "Thanks Piper. You have really helped me. Now I think I will go get ready because I want to see this joint that you have been raving about for so long."

Piper watched her youngest sister bounce up the stairs. Ever since they discovered her existence Piper has taken upon herself to make Maria feel included. She has never felt as though Maria was only a half sister. To her, Maria was her sister, and no one was going to hurt her, alien or not.

TBC