Disclaimer: No, I don't own Charmed. Hey, it disappoints me as much as it does you. lol. Seriously though, I would have done some things a lot differently if I'd owned the show...anyways. That's my disclaimer and I'm stickin' to it! (In case you were wondering, no I don't do drugs, yes I really am THAT weird!!!:P)
AN: As always, all of you are awesome!
Lara-Beth: Awww, I got flowers for BOTH of you, because you both are such wonderful reviewers. Thank you so much, you are soooooo sweet. I loves ya for it!!!!!! And, oh my gosh, you gave me sugar...oh, I'm going to be soo hyper now. *hands enough flowers for both* Thanks a whole bunches! *grin*
HalliwellGirls: You talking about Paige? The series started when she came into their lives, read Grief and Rejection, that's where she came in.
wAnNaBpIpEr: Aw, I'm glad I could make you happy. I don't mean to make you sad with my chapters, but it's a really sad thing that is happening. You can complain to me anytime, I'm welcome to any complaints you may have!
Rea: I'm sorry, I won't laugh. Really, that's nice of you to say...
SnOwBuNnY: I loved your review, thank you so much.
Wotcha: Hey!!! You are back...you DID warn me that you wouldn't be reviewing so often, so I'm not holding it against you. Although I DO miss your reviews, I'm happy to get a couple every now and then too.
The dark stormy weather marked the mood of the Halliwell house the next morning. Something about the restless sleep the previous night robbed them of the cheerfullness they'd been feeling and set them none too gently in the midst of near depression. Piper walked without entusiasm dowstairs to make coffee. She had a gnawing feeling that caffeine would be the only way for them all to survive the day. The familiar motions of brewing the coffee helped smooth some of the rough edges, but she still felt unhappy. Weighted was the perfect word for the crushing feeling. It felt as though something heavy were just sitting on her chest. The stark contrast of her feelings this morning and her feelings last night only hightened the feeling of sadness. Sighing, she stirred cream and sugar into her coffee, and lifted the cup to her lips. The aroma comforted her, oddly, as did the feeling of the warm, sweet liquid as it slid down her throat. Oh yeah, coffee was definitely their only lifeline.
Paige walked in with a look that mirrored Piper's. Pained and dreary. With a nod of acknowledgement, she reached into the cabinet and pulled out her favorite mug. The smiling face staring at her just reminded her of how upset she was, so she put it back in its place and grabbed a pitch black one instead. Pouring her coffee, she noted that the blackness of her coffee matched the emotion she was experiencing, and instead of adding cream to its contents, she left it black and gulped it down. Piper watched her over her mug, taking in Paige's every motion. Though no actual words were spoken, each reached out subconciously to the other, longing for the comfort they had obtained the night before. None came, the only absorption was one of sadness, the kind that you felt in every piece of your broken heart. Piper closed her eyes, wishing she could send the pain away into a distant place. Unfortunately, in the Halliwell life the only kind of fairy tale endings they got were the twisted kind. Her thoughts turned to the scene she'd looked upon before creeping downstairs. The three most precious people in her life, sleeping peacefully and innocently, all pulling together for warmth, and also for the simple closeness. She had to blink rapidly to keep the tears from surfacing. Paige noticed, but decided to say nothing.
Their attention was drawn to the door as Prue walked in, looking surprised that she hadn't been the first one up. Like Paige, she refrained from saying a word. She could tell this wasn't the mood for small talk and useless chatter, and she simply didn't feel up to the task of conversing. She grimaced, summing up everything in that one facial expression. It took her all of three seconds to have a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. The taste lingered in her mouth even as the black velvet beverage glided down her throat. With her senses more alert, she heard the soft padding of socked feet as Phoebe walked in. She ventured halfway in, and smiled warmly.
"Good morning. Don't look so grim, it's another day and we are TOGETHER," she said, stretching her arms wide, "It is a great day."
"Phoebe, I love you," Piper stated, laughing and running to give her a quick hug.
"Me too," Paige agreed, embracing her tightly. Not one to be left out, Prue followed suit. Phoebe grinned as the air around them changed. Suddenly, everything was wonderful.
"As great as that little speech was, Phoebe, if you had added something equally cheerful like 'Turn those frowns upside down' I would have been forced to hit you," Prue teased, taking another drink of her coffee.
"Want some?," Paige asked, lifting her mug. Phoebe nodded, and Paige rushed to the cabinet and took out the Smiley mug and poured her some coffee. She didn't have to ask how Phoebe liked it, a fact that didn't escape either one of them.
"I'm selling P3," Piper announced, making everyone pause. Paige nearly spit the mouthful of coffee she had out on the floor.
"It just...isn't worth the time anymore. I've been neglecting it, and I know that it has been taken care of by my superhero husband, but I just don't want to worry about it anymore," Piper explained. They took a minute to digest it before anyone said anything.
"I think it's best," Phoebe said, supporting her. Piper shot her a grateful look. She hadn't been sure how her sisters would take it, but Phoebe's vote of confidence helped a lot.
"Piper, don't you think we need the money?," Prue asked, trying to carefully step around the reason they suddenly needed money.
"I'll get another job. I need to be here more. With my family," Piper answered quietly. Prue sighed.
"Alright, we'll both get jobs then," she said, supporting her decision in her own way.
"Paige?," Piper asked, looking at the only one who hadn't said anything.
"I love the idea. The name doesn't even fit anymore. There are FOUR of us," she said, chuckling softly. No one dared to ask for how long.
"She's right, Piper. Let's dedicate today to finding another job, and working on selling the club," Prue said gamely. Piper consented, following her sister out of the room and listening to Prue ramble on about the 'many job opportunities they had' and how 'great it would be to get back into the real world'. Phoebe made a face, disliking the topic of careers.
"Hey, Phoebe, while Prue is distracted with this, you want to plan her birthday bash?," Paige asked, grinning. Phoebe's eyes widened. In all the excitement, she almost forgotten. In two days, Prue would be turning 30. (AN: I have no idea how old she actually is, so I just took a guess! Hope you don't mind!!)
"Yeah, we have to remind her of the old maid she's becoming," Phoebe replied. Paige only laughed, slapping her arm playfully.
"I don't know about making her feel old, but we can discuss that upstairs," Paige said, racing out of the room and up the stairs with Phoebe at her heels.
"Do you mind? Some of us are working, and you sound like a herd of elephants," Prue called after them. Phoebe and Paige knew that tone. It was All Business Prue Halliwell, complete with the attitude and lack of time for anyone who wasn't as focused as she.
"Sorry," Paige called down, not really meaning it, but at least she'd attempted it. Prue grumbled a response, already back on track with Piper. Phoebe and Paige exchanged looks, both thinking that their sister was far too dull.
AN: As always, all of you are awesome!
Lara-Beth: Awww, I got flowers for BOTH of you, because you both are such wonderful reviewers. Thank you so much, you are soooooo sweet. I loves ya for it!!!!!! And, oh my gosh, you gave me sugar...oh, I'm going to be soo hyper now. *hands enough flowers for both* Thanks a whole bunches! *grin*
HalliwellGirls: You talking about Paige? The series started when she came into their lives, read Grief and Rejection, that's where she came in.
wAnNaBpIpEr: Aw, I'm glad I could make you happy. I don't mean to make you sad with my chapters, but it's a really sad thing that is happening. You can complain to me anytime, I'm welcome to any complaints you may have!
Rea: I'm sorry, I won't laugh. Really, that's nice of you to say...
SnOwBuNnY: I loved your review, thank you so much.
Wotcha: Hey!!! You are back...you DID warn me that you wouldn't be reviewing so often, so I'm not holding it against you. Although I DO miss your reviews, I'm happy to get a couple every now and then too.
The dark stormy weather marked the mood of the Halliwell house the next morning. Something about the restless sleep the previous night robbed them of the cheerfullness they'd been feeling and set them none too gently in the midst of near depression. Piper walked without entusiasm dowstairs to make coffee. She had a gnawing feeling that caffeine would be the only way for them all to survive the day. The familiar motions of brewing the coffee helped smooth some of the rough edges, but she still felt unhappy. Weighted was the perfect word for the crushing feeling. It felt as though something heavy were just sitting on her chest. The stark contrast of her feelings this morning and her feelings last night only hightened the feeling of sadness. Sighing, she stirred cream and sugar into her coffee, and lifted the cup to her lips. The aroma comforted her, oddly, as did the feeling of the warm, sweet liquid as it slid down her throat. Oh yeah, coffee was definitely their only lifeline.
Paige walked in with a look that mirrored Piper's. Pained and dreary. With a nod of acknowledgement, she reached into the cabinet and pulled out her favorite mug. The smiling face staring at her just reminded her of how upset she was, so she put it back in its place and grabbed a pitch black one instead. Pouring her coffee, she noted that the blackness of her coffee matched the emotion she was experiencing, and instead of adding cream to its contents, she left it black and gulped it down. Piper watched her over her mug, taking in Paige's every motion. Though no actual words were spoken, each reached out subconciously to the other, longing for the comfort they had obtained the night before. None came, the only absorption was one of sadness, the kind that you felt in every piece of your broken heart. Piper closed her eyes, wishing she could send the pain away into a distant place. Unfortunately, in the Halliwell life the only kind of fairy tale endings they got were the twisted kind. Her thoughts turned to the scene she'd looked upon before creeping downstairs. The three most precious people in her life, sleeping peacefully and innocently, all pulling together for warmth, and also for the simple closeness. She had to blink rapidly to keep the tears from surfacing. Paige noticed, but decided to say nothing.
Their attention was drawn to the door as Prue walked in, looking surprised that she hadn't been the first one up. Like Paige, she refrained from saying a word. She could tell this wasn't the mood for small talk and useless chatter, and she simply didn't feel up to the task of conversing. She grimaced, summing up everything in that one facial expression. It took her all of three seconds to have a steaming cup of coffee in her hands. The taste lingered in her mouth even as the black velvet beverage glided down her throat. With her senses more alert, she heard the soft padding of socked feet as Phoebe walked in. She ventured halfway in, and smiled warmly.
"Good morning. Don't look so grim, it's another day and we are TOGETHER," she said, stretching her arms wide, "It is a great day."
"Phoebe, I love you," Piper stated, laughing and running to give her a quick hug.
"Me too," Paige agreed, embracing her tightly. Not one to be left out, Prue followed suit. Phoebe grinned as the air around them changed. Suddenly, everything was wonderful.
"As great as that little speech was, Phoebe, if you had added something equally cheerful like 'Turn those frowns upside down' I would have been forced to hit you," Prue teased, taking another drink of her coffee.
"Want some?," Paige asked, lifting her mug. Phoebe nodded, and Paige rushed to the cabinet and took out the Smiley mug and poured her some coffee. She didn't have to ask how Phoebe liked it, a fact that didn't escape either one of them.
"I'm selling P3," Piper announced, making everyone pause. Paige nearly spit the mouthful of coffee she had out on the floor.
"It just...isn't worth the time anymore. I've been neglecting it, and I know that it has been taken care of by my superhero husband, but I just don't want to worry about it anymore," Piper explained. They took a minute to digest it before anyone said anything.
"I think it's best," Phoebe said, supporting her. Piper shot her a grateful look. She hadn't been sure how her sisters would take it, but Phoebe's vote of confidence helped a lot.
"Piper, don't you think we need the money?," Prue asked, trying to carefully step around the reason they suddenly needed money.
"I'll get another job. I need to be here more. With my family," Piper answered quietly. Prue sighed.
"Alright, we'll both get jobs then," she said, supporting her decision in her own way.
"Paige?," Piper asked, looking at the only one who hadn't said anything.
"I love the idea. The name doesn't even fit anymore. There are FOUR of us," she said, chuckling softly. No one dared to ask for how long.
"She's right, Piper. Let's dedicate today to finding another job, and working on selling the club," Prue said gamely. Piper consented, following her sister out of the room and listening to Prue ramble on about the 'many job opportunities they had' and how 'great it would be to get back into the real world'. Phoebe made a face, disliking the topic of careers.
"Hey, Phoebe, while Prue is distracted with this, you want to plan her birthday bash?," Paige asked, grinning. Phoebe's eyes widened. In all the excitement, she almost forgotten. In two days, Prue would be turning 30. (AN: I have no idea how old she actually is, so I just took a guess! Hope you don't mind!!)
"Yeah, we have to remind her of the old maid she's becoming," Phoebe replied. Paige only laughed, slapping her arm playfully.
"I don't know about making her feel old, but we can discuss that upstairs," Paige said, racing out of the room and up the stairs with Phoebe at her heels.
"Do you mind? Some of us are working, and you sound like a herd of elephants," Prue called after them. Phoebe and Paige knew that tone. It was All Business Prue Halliwell, complete with the attitude and lack of time for anyone who wasn't as focused as she.
"Sorry," Paige called down, not really meaning it, but at least she'd attempted it. Prue grumbled a response, already back on track with Piper. Phoebe and Paige exchanged looks, both thinking that their sister was far too dull.