Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed, unfortunately. I do not presume to, I simply use the characters that I love in my own stories. It's harmless fun.
AN: You know, I would think that having to start school again would slow me down, not regulate me...but then, I've never been one to do things the "normal" way. I'm really thankful for the positive feedback, it inspires my muse..lol, well, kaysies, my twin is my muse, so that doesn't make sense. Hey, it sounded good! You guys are really dealing with the twist well, which relieves me greatly. I was worried about reactions. Anyway, enough with my little speech I've got going....And the Thank Yous go to...
Prue3: thanks for commenting on the end of Race to Rescue, because that helped relieve a little (haha) stress I was experiencing over it. you rock!
CharmingTess: Yepperz, there's more...as you can see. lol, thank you for the compliment.
Jessie: thank ya! I hope you continue to read
Twin (Starring Piper): awwww, thanks!!! I hope we talk today, but if not, like you said, ttyimh and lwyimh! PTTT!!!
Charmed Princess: hey sissy, you finally read my story!!! :D Thanks, love ya!
lmcheese: lol, I'm glad you're happy. Thanks for your review, and thanks for still reading after the whole gross Piper thing...lol
Paige sat at her desk, staring at the forms she was supposed to be filling out. Her mind was far from work, though, and it had been for days. The intense happiness she'd felt when she had finally realized that she wasn't dreaming up her sisters had faded, mixing with doubtfulness and the feeling of rejection. It didn't exactly make her feel warm and fuzzy when she thought about Piper's reaction to her. More precisely, it left her with a painful gash she wasn't recovering from too quickly.
Phoebe had been welcoming, but Paige knew it would take time before either could fully accept her. Still, she hadn't expected the icy indifference on Piper's part. Apparently, her older sister had never longed for another sister, not like she had. Only, she hadn't had siblings, at least that she knew of until jsut recently. She understood Piper's reluctance to acknowledge her as a sister. If it were her, she probably wouldn't be too keen on opening up either. All things considered, though, she didn't understand why she was being treated as "jsut another innocent".
"Paige," a voice called, shaking her from her thoughts. She looked up and into the eyes of her very perturbed boss. "I need those papers in my office by five," he reminded her. She gave him a reassuring smile and busied herself with the pile of forms in front of her. After observing her for a few moments, her boss left her to her work.
Paige struggled to keep her mind on the paperwork, but it wasn't long before her thought train derailed once more. She wasn't sure what to do about Phoebe and Piper. Did she give them time before intruding on their lives again? Did she show up every chance she got until they learned to accept her? Neither idea appealed to her and she felt she was running out of options. Sighing, she forced her eyes to her work. It wouldn't help to lose a job over this.
"Hey," a coworker of hers, Leslie, said, interrupting her before she could do much, "What's up with you lately?" Paige smiled and shook her head, indicating that she didn't feel like talking.
"I know something is wrong. You haven't gotten a thing done all day," she insisted. Apparently this particular 'friend' didn't understand gestures or body language.
"I jsut have a lot on my mind," Paige told her firmly, subtly telling her to butt out. Leslie didn't pick up on the hint, either. Leaning her upper body across Paige's desk, she braced her hands against the surface and stared into Paige's eyes.
"Look, whatever it is," she whispered conspiratorally, "You can tell me." Paige rolled her chair back several inches, creating distance between them. She forced a polite smile on her face. She shouldn't insult her co-workers, including the nosy ones.
"I don't want to talk about it," Paige responded, her voice edgy. Leslie pulled back, and Paige sighed in relief.
"Fine," Leslie said curtly and walked away. Rolling her eyes, Paige pulled herself back to her desk. Some people did not understand the meaning of personal business. Leslie was the type of person who went around collecting gossip and then passed it on to her kind, full of embellished details. Paige knew this and tried to stay clear. Well, as much as possible, considering that they worked in the same building. Finally, she was able to fully concentrate on her work. The small distraction with Leslie had pushed her mind into work mode. At least the irritating woman was useful for something!
Prue watched Phoebe sing to Piper and had to fight tears. She wanted to return to earth and fix things, like she'd always done before, but rules were rules. Regardless of how much she hated the restrictions that had been placed on her, she had to accept them. There was no other choice.
That first day had been so hard. Mom, Grams, and Andy had been there to ease her shock and disbelief, but they weren't the people she needed most. Even now, after days, all she could do was watch her sisters helplessly, trying to stay in their lives without direct contact, and it hurt like hell. Piper was taking her death pretty hard, but she knew Phoebe was mourning in her own, quieter way. It didn't seem fair. All of her life, she had sheltered them from the more painful things in life. Now, they were faced with an almost unbearable pain and she was stuck here, in heaven.
"Prue," Andy whispered, standing behind her. Prue turned around and let him embrace her. Resting her cheek on his chest, she breathed deeply and held back her tears. She didn't want to cry anymore. Nevertheless, a few tears trickled down her cheeks. Andy felt the salty drops through his clothing and pulled her gently away from him. Locking his eyes on hers, he wiped the teardrops away with his thumbs.
"I know this hurts. You have to let them go, though, Prue," he told her. Her look told him she completely disagreed. "I'm not saying that you can't still watch them. That's one of the few things we all still do, but you cannot hold on to them through this. They are being forced to let go, and you have to do the same. Otherwise, the pain will never lessen, for any of you." Prue closed her eyes, denying his words, knowing he was right.
"How can I, Andy? I made them my whole life," Prue said, her voice strained with emotion. Andy had no answer for her, so he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as close as possible.
"I don't understand why this happened," she said quietly, "I don't see how this makes any sense."
"It will take a while, but you'll see eventually. Your sisters had to meet Paige, they had to continue their destiny," he explained gently. Prue jerked away, fire flashing in her eyes. Andy knew that look.
"Their destiny? Their destiny was linked to mine. Paige wasn't there for either of them like I was! How is it fair to let her take my place after all this time? She doesn't know them," Prue protested angrily.
"She's your sister and theirs, too. Doesn't she deserve the chance to get to know them?," he asked her softly. Prue stared at him, unable to answer. She hated him for pointing out the truth when she wanted to be furious. She loved him all the more for the same reason.
"That doesn't make any of this right," she finally argued weakly. Andy grinned, knowing he'd won...for now.
"Maybe not, but it's what is happening. Sooner or later, you will have to learn to accept it," he responded. Prue rolled her eyes.
"Whatever," she replied, but the fight had gone out of her tone.
AN: You know, I would think that having to start school again would slow me down, not regulate me...but then, I've never been one to do things the "normal" way. I'm really thankful for the positive feedback, it inspires my muse..lol, well, kaysies, my twin is my muse, so that doesn't make sense. Hey, it sounded good! You guys are really dealing with the twist well, which relieves me greatly. I was worried about reactions. Anyway, enough with my little speech I've got going....And the Thank Yous go to...
Prue3: thanks for commenting on the end of Race to Rescue, because that helped relieve a little (haha) stress I was experiencing over it. you rock!
CharmingTess: Yepperz, there's more...as you can see. lol, thank you for the compliment.
Jessie: thank ya! I hope you continue to read
Twin (Starring Piper): awwww, thanks!!! I hope we talk today, but if not, like you said, ttyimh and lwyimh! PTTT!!!
Charmed Princess: hey sissy, you finally read my story!!! :D Thanks, love ya!
lmcheese: lol, I'm glad you're happy. Thanks for your review, and thanks for still reading after the whole gross Piper thing...lol
Paige sat at her desk, staring at the forms she was supposed to be filling out. Her mind was far from work, though, and it had been for days. The intense happiness she'd felt when she had finally realized that she wasn't dreaming up her sisters had faded, mixing with doubtfulness and the feeling of rejection. It didn't exactly make her feel warm and fuzzy when she thought about Piper's reaction to her. More precisely, it left her with a painful gash she wasn't recovering from too quickly.
Phoebe had been welcoming, but Paige knew it would take time before either could fully accept her. Still, she hadn't expected the icy indifference on Piper's part. Apparently, her older sister had never longed for another sister, not like she had. Only, she hadn't had siblings, at least that she knew of until jsut recently. She understood Piper's reluctance to acknowledge her as a sister. If it were her, she probably wouldn't be too keen on opening up either. All things considered, though, she didn't understand why she was being treated as "jsut another innocent".
"Paige," a voice called, shaking her from her thoughts. She looked up and into the eyes of her very perturbed boss. "I need those papers in my office by five," he reminded her. She gave him a reassuring smile and busied herself with the pile of forms in front of her. After observing her for a few moments, her boss left her to her work.
Paige struggled to keep her mind on the paperwork, but it wasn't long before her thought train derailed once more. She wasn't sure what to do about Phoebe and Piper. Did she give them time before intruding on their lives again? Did she show up every chance she got until they learned to accept her? Neither idea appealed to her and she felt she was running out of options. Sighing, she forced her eyes to her work. It wouldn't help to lose a job over this.
"Hey," a coworker of hers, Leslie, said, interrupting her before she could do much, "What's up with you lately?" Paige smiled and shook her head, indicating that she didn't feel like talking.
"I know something is wrong. You haven't gotten a thing done all day," she insisted. Apparently this particular 'friend' didn't understand gestures or body language.
"I jsut have a lot on my mind," Paige told her firmly, subtly telling her to butt out. Leslie didn't pick up on the hint, either. Leaning her upper body across Paige's desk, she braced her hands against the surface and stared into Paige's eyes.
"Look, whatever it is," she whispered conspiratorally, "You can tell me." Paige rolled her chair back several inches, creating distance between them. She forced a polite smile on her face. She shouldn't insult her co-workers, including the nosy ones.
"I don't want to talk about it," Paige responded, her voice edgy. Leslie pulled back, and Paige sighed in relief.
"Fine," Leslie said curtly and walked away. Rolling her eyes, Paige pulled herself back to her desk. Some people did not understand the meaning of personal business. Leslie was the type of person who went around collecting gossip and then passed it on to her kind, full of embellished details. Paige knew this and tried to stay clear. Well, as much as possible, considering that they worked in the same building. Finally, she was able to fully concentrate on her work. The small distraction with Leslie had pushed her mind into work mode. At least the irritating woman was useful for something!
Prue watched Phoebe sing to Piper and had to fight tears. She wanted to return to earth and fix things, like she'd always done before, but rules were rules. Regardless of how much she hated the restrictions that had been placed on her, she had to accept them. There was no other choice.
That first day had been so hard. Mom, Grams, and Andy had been there to ease her shock and disbelief, but they weren't the people she needed most. Even now, after days, all she could do was watch her sisters helplessly, trying to stay in their lives without direct contact, and it hurt like hell. Piper was taking her death pretty hard, but she knew Phoebe was mourning in her own, quieter way. It didn't seem fair. All of her life, she had sheltered them from the more painful things in life. Now, they were faced with an almost unbearable pain and she was stuck here, in heaven.
"Prue," Andy whispered, standing behind her. Prue turned around and let him embrace her. Resting her cheek on his chest, she breathed deeply and held back her tears. She didn't want to cry anymore. Nevertheless, a few tears trickled down her cheeks. Andy felt the salty drops through his clothing and pulled her gently away from him. Locking his eyes on hers, he wiped the teardrops away with his thumbs.
"I know this hurts. You have to let them go, though, Prue," he told her. Her look told him she completely disagreed. "I'm not saying that you can't still watch them. That's one of the few things we all still do, but you cannot hold on to them through this. They are being forced to let go, and you have to do the same. Otherwise, the pain will never lessen, for any of you." Prue closed her eyes, denying his words, knowing he was right.
"How can I, Andy? I made them my whole life," Prue said, her voice strained with emotion. Andy had no answer for her, so he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as close as possible.
"I don't understand why this happened," she said quietly, "I don't see how this makes any sense."
"It will take a while, but you'll see eventually. Your sisters had to meet Paige, they had to continue their destiny," he explained gently. Prue jerked away, fire flashing in her eyes. Andy knew that look.
"Their destiny? Their destiny was linked to mine. Paige wasn't there for either of them like I was! How is it fair to let her take my place after all this time? She doesn't know them," Prue protested angrily.
"She's your sister and theirs, too. Doesn't she deserve the chance to get to know them?," he asked her softly. Prue stared at him, unable to answer. She hated him for pointing out the truth when she wanted to be furious. She loved him all the more for the same reason.
"That doesn't make any of this right," she finally argued weakly. Andy grinned, knowing he'd won...for now.
"Maybe not, but it's what is happening. Sooner or later, you will have to learn to accept it," he responded. Prue rolled her eyes.
"Whatever," she replied, but the fight had gone out of her tone.