Finding My Real Family
Chapter 3 "Are You My Dad?"
A/N: Here is the long awaited third chapter. I hope it was worth the wait.
Emma and Just Always: Yeah, the beginning of this story is similar to the 'Face on the Milk Carton' book, but it really changes and there are some huge twists in up coming chapters. I promise. :-D
Thanks to everyone who reviewed: CharmingTess, wAnNaBpIpEr, Hyperpiper91, Caryn, line, Emma, Just Always, Evilpiper421, kangaroo, Rory, Charmed4life, Alex Lipman and Bel-Halliwell. Okay, on with the story:
'Patty and Victor Halliwell', I typed in to the computer search engine. It had been a week since I learned that I was kidnapped and I have been trying unsuccessfully to find my real parents ever since. My parents, well, my fake parents, thought it was a bad idea. Especially Dad, he didn't want me 'digging up the past' as he called it and he didn't think I would like what I found. For once mom agreed with him, I think this is the first thing they have agreed upon since the divorce. It's still weird to look at them and think that there's another family out there, but I'm starting to get used to feeling like I don't belong. And my parents don't even talk about it unless I bring it up first anyway.
The search engine came up with one match, a Victor Halliwell living in San Francisco, California. My heart quickened as I saw it. San Francisco is where I was taken from, could it be possible that my family was still living there? I quickly copied down the phone number that the search engine gave and stuffed the piece of paper in my pocket, deciding not to tell my parents until after I had already called him and was sure. But why wasn't there a listing for Patty? I couldn't help but wonder. Maybe they got divorced too, or maybe she moved away. I clicked off the computer as Mom walked by, I didn't want her to see what I was dong. I told her I was going to call Liz and I went up stairs.
My hands shook as I dialed the number, I wanted more then anything to talk to this man, and find out if he really was my father, but at the same time Dad's words echo though my mind 'don't go digging up the past…you might not like what you get' But before I could worry further about what I was about to do, a male voice answered on the other line. "Hello?" My voice stuck in my throat, and for an instant I was paralyzed in fear, wondering; Is this the guy? Is this my father? "Hello?" he asked again. "Uh, hi" I answered uncertainly, "Is this um, Victor Halliwell?" I held my breath waiting for an answer. "Yes, this is he speaking, can I help you?" Victor answered, sounding hurried, but not unkind. "I…" I trailed off, how could I just tell him that he was my father? "I think you're my dad" I told him honestly. Now it was Victor's turn to pause, and when he spoke again, he did so slowly, as if weighting each word before he said it, "I'm sorry, I only have two daughters" I sighted and wiped the tears out of the corners of my eyes, fighting to keep my voice steady so he couldn't hear it quiver over the phone, "Oh, okay, sorry to bother you."
"Wait a minute, what did you say your name was?" Victor asked. and I realized I hadn't told him it yet, "Piper Johnson" I replied and then cringed at my slip "I mean Piper Halliwell, my birth certificate says Piper Halliwell" "hmm" Victor answered and I could tell he was waiting for me to continue, "I was born in San Francisco, in 1988 and my birth certificate says my parents names are Victor and Patty Halliwell." "Piper…" Victor said, and trailed off, but there was a recognition in his voice that he didn't have before and my heart swelled in excitement, he was my dad! "But Piper, how…, where are you?" Victor asked. "I live in Colorado, when I was two, we moved here. My parents and I, well, my other parents" I told him. "Your kidnappers?" Victor asked immediately. "No! No, my parents" I replied and then realized that they did kidnap me and that it must not sound very good to Victor, but he just didn't know them. "Yeah, they did kidnap me, but their good people, they've taken care of me" I reassured him. "So you've… you've been living with these people for 12 years?" Victor asked in astonishment. "I though they were my parents, I only found out they weren't last week" I explained to him.
"Oh" Victor answered "Piper, may I please talk to one them?" he asked, and I could tell the conversation he was about to have wasn't going to be a pleasant one. But, it had to happen eventually. "Okay, hold on" I told him, walking down the stairs and handing the phone to mom.
"Hello?" Mom answered and blanched as she listened into the phone. "Well… well it wasn't exactly a kidnapping" mom sputtered and turned scarlet red in anger as she listened into the phone more, "Well, what kind of people leave a two year old alone in a grocery store?" she snapped, "Don't you dare talk about suing us, Mr.…Mr. Halliwell, my ex-husband is a lawyer and I assure you we have taken the best care of Piper possible." Mom listened into the phone slowly nodding and she started to look less angry, "Well, I'm sure she would, yes, that could be arranged, if she wants to. Okay, my ex-husband and I will make the arrangements. I'll talk to you later, bye." Mom hung up the phone and shook her head. "That Victor is a real…" she trailed off and shook her head, realizing I was still in the room. "I'm sorry, I guess I shouldn't have called him" I said suddenly feeling guilty for having Mom have to deal with him. He obviously wasn't nice to her.
"Don't be, honey." Mom replied, giving me a hug "It's only natural that you want to find your real parents. Victor said you could go stay in San Francisco this summer to meet your family if you wanted." "Summer vacation is in a week and a half, are you sure it's okay?" I asked, unable to keep the excitement out of my voice. "Sure, it would be nice for you to meet your family" Mom replied and I jumped up and hugged her. I can't believe in less than two weeks I am about to meet my real parents, I wonder what they'll be like?
A/N: Please, please, please R&R!
