When Paige woke up the next morning she was all alone, frantically she scanned the room, kicking the sheets out she jumped out of the bed.
"Penny?" she called out.
Knocking on the bathroom door she waited for a response. No answer. Opening the door she quickly checked, 'She's not there!' she thought panicking. Flinging open the door, she ran down the stairs.
"Penny?"
Quickly she checked the sitting room and the solarium.
"Penny?"
Running into the kitchen she stopped short, at the table sat Piper, Phoebe, Chris and Penny. Grabbing her chest she let out a sigh.
"I thought that I had dreamt you up, when you weren't there when I woke up." she said breathlessly.
Penny handed her a steaming hot cup of coffee.
"I didn't want to wake you."
"Where are the kids?" Paige asked.
"Leo took them to Sheila's then went up to speak with the Elders." Piper answered. "Sit down and have something to eat."
"Quickly. Then I have to go get ready."
After a quick breakfast Paige went upstairs to shower and dress, and the others waited for her. Pacing in the solarium Penny started to fret.
"What if it doesn't work?" she asked Chris. "What if in coming here they don't meet now?"
"Calm down. You needn't worry. James is Paige's destiny, just as you are." he told her.
Piper and Phoebe were standing over a table with the book casting a protection charm, just in case.
"Magic forces far and wide,
Enhance these so those can't hide.
Allow this witch to use therein,
So she can see the evil within."
"That should do it." said Phoebe.
Paige came down the stairs.
"Where are my keys?" she asked as she entered to room. "What are you doing?"
"We enhanced the keys so that you would be able to identify evil." Phoebe explained. Rolling her eyes Paige picked them up.
"Was that really necessary. Penny told us I wasn't in danger."
"It's just in case. Daniels may not harm you, but there may be someone watching him." Piper told her.
"So where are you going to go?" Phoebe asked.
Paige shrugged and looked over at Penny.
"Where do we meet?"
"At your favourite coffee shop, Cuppa Joe's."
Paige looked surprised, then giving Penny a quick smile she started to walk out of the room.
"Do you want to know the funny thing?" she asked turning back around, "I just remembered that I was supposed to meet Caroline there today."
"Well you better get a move on then." Piper laughed.
When Paige had left the house Penny turned and faced her aunts.
"I guess now we wait."
James paced around his office, wringing his hands. He kept one eye firmly on the clock and one on the door. 'What am I going to do?' he thought. Marching to the door he reefed it open turning quickly on his heels he walked back to his desk and grabbed his brief case and jacket. When he reached Sue's desk he paused, looking down at her.
"I'm going out for a while. I don't know when I'll be back." he told her.
Paige took a seat at the window not sure who she was even waiting for. Checking her watch she picked up the menu and casually perused it.
"Hi!" someone behind her said.
Spinning around on the stool, she saw Caroline, a tall, willowy woman with beautiful big brown eyes, cropped black hair and clear tanned skin. She was wearing a figure hugging light pink skirt suit, with a white shirt and burgundy sling back pumps.
"Hi. I thought I was late." Paige said biting her lip. She hated lying to her.
"I don't know about you being late, but I was held up in traffic. So what's new?"
Paige considered the possible reply to her question, settling on an answer she responded.
"Nothing much. I've been working a lot lately."
Caroline nodded in agreement.
"I know what that's like. I've been working hard, pulling late nights and…" she stopped and looked at Paige, "You don't really want to hear my problems do you?"
"Of course I do."
"Well as I was saying working hard, late nights, brown nosing like you wouldn't believe, and they give the promotion to someone else. I swear I can't win."
Paige frowned sympathetically.
"That sucks. I've totally forgotten, where do you work again?"
"Reid, St. Clair and Partners." she said intently reading the menu.
Paige's mouth dropped, and her eyes widened.
"I knew that name sounded familiar." she said quietly.
"Pardon?" Caroline asked, looking up.
"Oh. Nothing it doesn't matter. So I know you said you've been working hard, but have you meet anyone?"
"Nope. Haven't had the time. I know what I'm having. You?"
Shaking her head Paige quickly scanned the menu again.
"I don't believe it." Caroline said staring at the man who just walked in.
"What?" Paige asked turning around to look at him. Rasing one eye brow she surveyed him. He was tall, but not too tall, with dark auburn hair, sparkling blue eyes, a warm smile dressed smartly in a dark charcoal two piece suit.
"It's James Daniels, the guy who beat me for the promotion! I had no idea he even knew this place."
Quickly swinging back around she took a sip of water and took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. 'So that's my future?' she thought. Caroline sat up straight and smiled, Paige gave her a funny look, not wanting to turn around, but out of the corner of her eye she saw a blur of grey.
"Hello Caroline." said a breathy but intoxicating voice.
Paige looked up at him.
"Hello James. This is my friend Paige Matthews. Paige, James. So what are you doing here?"
Shrugging his shoulders he stared at Paige.
"I had to get out of the office, I was suffocating."
"Would you like to join us?" Paige asked, transfixed by James' eyes.
Pulling up a chair he continued to stare.
"Sorry if I'm staring." he said catching himself. "It's just you look so familiar, and I can't place where I've seen you before."
After they had all had a little something to eat, Caroline stood.
"I have to get going, I should get back to the office." she said looking at James who hadn't moved.
"Can you tell Sue that I'll be back later." he said picking up his glass. Paige stood and gave her a hug goodbye.
"I'll talk to you soon ok." stepping back Caroline picked up her bag and left with a wave. Sitting back down, Paige gave James a quick smile.
"You have a beautiful smile." he said. Covering her mouth in embarrassment she looked at the table in front of her.
"Thankyou. Yours is very nice as well." Checking her watch she saw that it was 1 o'clock. Playing with the sugar pourer in front of her she thought about what Penny had said the night before. 'He is a very nice man.'
"So Paige Matthews what is it that you do?"
"I'm a teacher."
"That must be very rewarding." he said trying to catch her attention.
"It is. But it's also very tiring."
"And what do you do with your time off?"
"I help my sisters, play with my nephews…" looking up at him she revealed a mischievous smile. "And hanging out with strange men that I just met in coffee shops."
Both started to laugh, feeling at ease. James tapped his fingers on the edge of the table, then stopped his eyes revealing his thoughts. 'I know where I've seen her before!' he thought. Paige watched James who was suddenly quiet.
"Is there something the matter?"
"No. I just remembered where I've seen you before." he said quietly.
Paige was unsure of what he meant.
"Where."
"This is going to sound a bit strange. But I've had a recurring dream for the last few weeks, and well, you were in it." he said staring at his hands.
Paige was intrigued, her recurring dreams had a habit of happening.
"At least I know it's not a pick up line." she said taking a sip of water. "I have a confession for you. I was told that I was going to meet you today."
James looked up, his eyes meeting hers.
"Really? Like what? Horoscopes?" he asked smiling.
"No it wasn't horoscopes. It was just something that someone told me." she said smiling back.
James leant forwards and brought his face close to Paige's.
"I know this may seem brash, but would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"
Paige blushed slightly, she usually wouldn't have accepted with such short notice but with what Penny had said and what her heart was telling her she couldn't help but feel it was right to accept.
"Yes. I would love to have dinner with you." she said she said smiling at him.
"Great! I probably should go back to work and then I'll pick you up? Or we can meet at the restaurant?"
"Which one?"
"Carrington's"
Paige lost her breath for a moment.
"That's a very good restaurant."
"It is so pick you up or meet you there?"
Thinking about it for a moment, 'If he pick's me up Piper and Phoebe will see that he's a great guy.'
"I guess you could pick me up" she said picking up a napkin, then searching her bag for a pen. To her surprise there wasn't one in there. James opened his briefcase and held one out for her, smiling she took it and quickly wrote down the address.
"One of my sisters or my brother-in-law might answer, but they're harmless." she told him handing him the napkin. Their finger tips touched for a brief moment, both of their cheeks instantly flushing. Pulling her hand back slowly, Paige saw a small cut on the inside of his hand. Knowing how it had happened she pretended not to see it.
"So what time should I expect you?"
"Well, I should finish at, well on second thoughts I will finish at six and I'll have to go home and get changed so at about seven for a seven thirty dinner."
"Sounds good."
James stood and straightened his jacket, feeling brave as he bent down to pick up his brief case, he gave Paige a peck on the cheek.
"Until tonight." he whispered.
Standing straight he headed towards the door, he turned back and gave her a quick wave.