Chapter 3: Every Now And Then

A/N: Thanks for the reviews. This chapter will fast forward to late July 1980. The ages currently are: Penny(49), Prue(91/2), Piper(almost 7), Phoebe(41/2), and Paige(almost 3). The story will continue at these ages for about a few chapters, then I may fast forward a few years. Also the girls don't have their magic now. Penny bound all of their powers. Also, I am going to make a few tweaks to the previous chapter. First, I'll fix some grammar, and second I'm going to have the police officer, Adam Martin, come to the funeral and after get together. So on with the fic....

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            It was morning, July 30, 1980. Penny lay in her bed. It had been over two years since Patty's tragic death and Penny still found it hard to get out of bed in the morning. But every day she was reminded of why she had to get up, and the reason was the four little girls Patty left behind. One of whom was calling on Penny now.

            "Grams," Piper shouted, "how many days 'till my birthday?"

            Penny smiled to herself. For the past week, Piper had been asking her about her birthday. She was very excited. Everyday she asked although she new the answer herself.  "Just five days, Darling."

            "Wow! That is really soon! Do you know what I want, Grams?" Piper continued the routine excitedly.

            "Yes, I do. You want...uh...a bicycle and Barbie and her cooking kit."

            "You are right. But Grams, if you can't get me that you can get me something else and I'll be happy." Piper said this because, although she was only six, she knew that things were financially difficult.

            "You will just have to wait and see," Penny said getting out of bed. "Go downstairs and watch some cartoons or something. I'll be down in a minute."

            "Kay, Grams," Piper said leaving the room.

            Penny walked downstairs. Prue, Piper, Phoebe, and Paige were sitting on the sofa watching television. Piper was humming "Happy Birthday" to herself. She was very excited about her birthday. Penny sorta felt bad for her, because Patty wasn't there.

            "What do you girls want for breakfast?" the woman asked.

            "Pancakes!" Prue shouted

            "Waffles!" Piper said.

            "Yeah, waf-fuls," the feisty little sister shouted.

            "Cereal," Phoebe said simply.

            "I think that can be arranged."

            "Can Andy come over today?" Prue asked.

            "After breakfast."

            "Okay, do you need any help?"

            "No...um...I think I'll be okay." Penny went into the kitchen and began to make the meal. Then, someone knocked on the door. Penny went to get in to the foyer. When she opened the door she was surprised to see a man she hadn't seen in a while...Adam Martin- the police officer.

            "Hello...Adam! It is so nice to see you," Penny greeted the man happily.

            "Hey, Miss Halliwell. How are you?"

            "Good, but it is Penny to you."

            "All right," Adam smiled.

            "Are you here on business or is this a social call?"

            "Social call...I came to check up on you and the girls. I know Piper's birthday is coming up, so I decided to stop by."

            "That is very sweet of you," she said leading him into the house. "I thought you went to New York."

            "I did," he answered walking into the house, "but I had to come back, you know, there's just something special about San Francisco."

            "I know exactly what you mean. Girls! Girls! Someone's here to see you."

            "Who is it?" Prue shouted running into the room; sisters on her tail, "...Officer Adam!" She ran to hug the man that had taken care of her in the months after her mom had died. "Look Piper and Pheebies! Paige! It's Officer Adam!" The younger girls didn't know him that well, but Piper and Phoebe hugged him anyways for they remembered him, but Paige stood back from the stranger.

            "Paige," Penny said walking over to the girl, "do you remember Officer Martin?" The little girl shook her head. "He is a very nice man."

            "Hi, Officer Martin," Paige said softly. 

            "Well, Paige, it is nice to meet you." He walked up to the girl, squatted down, and stuck his hand out to her and she stuck her hand out too. "you girls are gonna have to start calling me Adam if I have to call your grams Penny."

            "Kay, Adam," Piper said patting him on the back. "Ya know my birthday's coming in a few days."

            "I know. Why do you think I'm here?" Piper's eyes widened.

            "Really?"

            "Sure." He said picking her up and leading the rest of the family into the living room. "What do you want for your birthday?"

            "A bicycle, a Barbie, and Barbie's cooking set."

            "Is there anything else you want?"

            "Well...uh..." she said looking towards Grams to see if she could ask for more; Penny nodded. "I would like a Ken doll or a baby doll or something like that, ya know?"

            "Yes, well I think I can handle that. Then after your birthday would be Paige's birthday, right?"

            "Yes!" Paige shouted.

            "Well, Paige what do you want?" Adam said taking Piper off his lap and allowing Paige to occupy the spot.

            "I would like a baby doll and a baseball bat and a baseball mitt and a baseball ball and a baseball tee."

            "Really? You like baseball?"

            "Yes, I do. I ain't very good at it."

            "How would you like me to teach you?"

            "Yeah! I like that!"

            "Well, we'll see what we can do in a couple of days. Okay?"

            "Uh huh."

            "Okay," Penny began, "it is time for breakfast. Would you like anything, Adam? Pancakes? Waffles? Cereal?"

            "Pancakes sound good."

            "That's what I'm having," Prue said.

            "You have good taste."

A little while later, breakfast was over, and Adam had left. Now, the girls were playing with each other and Andy.

            "Phoebe," Piper shouted. "Give me my jump rope back!" Phoebe proceeded to use the jump rope and Piper ran up to her grabbing the toy. "Give it back you little thief!"

            "I am not a thief! It is mine! See it says 'Phoebe' on it!" she said this as she picked up a piece of chalk and scribbled her name on the handle.

            "Phoebe! That does not mean it is yours!"

            "Why not?"

            "Because you just put your name on it!" Piper was screaming and flailing her arms.

            "You're gonna get it now," Phoebe shouted, hands in fists, and beginning to jump on Piper.

            "Whoa!" Penny pulled Phoebe back just before she was about to hit Piper's face. "What is going on here?"

            "Phoebe stole my jump rope!"

            "No uh! Piper took mine and I took it back!"
            "You two are both wrong!" Prue shouted joining the argument. "It's mine!"

            "Girls! Girls! Calm down!" Another eruption of shouting began again. "Stop it!" All was quiet. "I would've expected all of you girls to act more appropriately. Get inside now!" Now, the girls didn't usually fight a lot, but when they did they fought tough. Patty sat the girls down on the sofa.

            "Girls, I really never expected this from you. You girls never fight. What's wrong?"

            "I don't know." They all answered.

            "Well, You're all gonna have to get over it because Piper's birthday is coming up. So get happy."

            They again answered in unison, "Okay."

            Piper ran into her Gram's room. "Grams! Guess what! Today is my birthday!"

            "Really, Piper?" Penny said as she turned over in her bed.

            "I'm seven years old," she said using her hands to show that she's seven.

            "Are you all up?"

            "Uh huh!"

            "Well, why don't you go downstairs and I'll be down to make breakfast in a minute."

            "Kay, Grams!"

            Penny walked downstairs to see four very lively girls running around.

            "What do you want for breakfast?

            "Blueberry pancakes!" Piper shouted as she ran by chasing Paige.

            "Me toos!" Paige screamed.

            "I want," Prue said "eggs and bacon and toast."

            'I want a waffle and cereal!" Phoebe shouted.

            Piper added, "I want bacon too and sausage!"

            "Okay, big breakfast all around!" Penny exclaimed. After awhile they all sat down to eat. Penny took the girls, along with three of Piper's friends, Andy, and his mom to the park and then the zoo.

Now, she was preparing for Piper's party and dinner. Piper's friends were already there. The only two people left to arrive were Officer Adam and Sam. They both arrived at the same time. Dinner was served. It was Piper's favorite meal: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn-on- the-cob, and pizza. Then, Piper opened her presents. First, she opened all of the gifts from her friends. They were an assortment of toys. Penny had given Prue, Phoebe, and Paige some money to buy Piper a small gift and make her a card. Andy and his family had gotten Piper a toy and a sundress. Her dad had sent her a card with $15. Sam gave Piper a beautiful handcrafted doll. When she saw it Piper exclaimed, "Mommy always loved China dolls." He them said that he knew this and that was why he got it for her.

Then Piper opened the gifts from Adam. He got her a doll and roller skates, along with a helmet, elbow pads, knee pads, and safety gloves. "Wow, thank you Adam!" She got up to hug him and he embraced her in return.

Penny let her open her gift, which was from the whole family. It was exactly what Piper wanted: a pink bicycle, a Barbie, and her cooking set, also a small cooking set for Piper herself. Piper hugged everyone and said thank you. Then cake and ice cream was served. Every one sang the traditional song. "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to Piper! Happy birthday to you!" As Piper, Prue, Phoebe, and Paige smiled in the glow of the candles, Penny was reminded of something. She saw what she saw every now and then: Patty in her granddaughters. When she saw that, she didn't feel said, because she knew her daughter was with her, so she smiled as Piper blew out the candles on her cake. Now, the girl was 'officially' seven.

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A/N: So, what did you think? Is it good? If you have any ideas let me know. I always have ideas, but I can't write dialog to good. Was it too short? Review please! Please Review! Please Review! Please Review!

Thanx

shininglight14