The Second First Born

N.B.I hope you're in it for the long haul! Please R&R! Also, disclaimer. I don't own Charmed, the show or any of the original characters.

Paige sat down wearily, recounting the events of the past day in her head. The conservatory was dimly lit, a perfect place for her to reflect; a single lamp casting long shadows over the table where she sat.

The emotions that she thought she'd never have to feel again haunted her memory…emotions she had suppressed, that were now rearing under her skin. She stared blankly at the piece of paper and pen that were resting on the table in front of her and she sighed. She usually thrived under pressure, what had changed?

Inside, she knew what had changed. As she remembered Leo's deadpan stare as he orbed out of the room with Piper, she knew what had changed.
She felt second best, a nagging echo in the back of her mind whispered to her that whatever she could do, Laura could do better.

Her eyes drifted around her, looking for something to get her inspired.
'Where's Melody when you need her?' she murmured, to no one in particular.
Determined, she picked up the pen, and held the nib to the paper, hoping that something would happen, and idea would flow from the pen like the ink itself…but nothing happened.

'Want me to have a go?'

Paige's head shot up, and her eyes widened as she spotted Laura sat directly opposite her, her head resting on the back of the wicker sofa.
'How long have you been skulking in here?' Paige asked
'I wasn't skulking…if you don't make the effort to look around you, it's not my fault…' Laura said, innocently.

Paige frowned, 'I swear you weren't there before…I looked up, I would have seen...' Paige stooped herself, 'You know what? I'm not going to do this…'
Laura looked confused, 'Do what exactly?'

Paige smiled, 'Do you always speak in riddles?'
Laura shook her head, 'Not always, when the situation calls for it, it's good to be mysterious…'
Paige threw down the pen, 'Well, most of the time it can be downright annoying. So stop.'

Laura slid over to the table and sat on the chair opposite Paige, her eyes searching Paige's face.
'What's the matter?' Laura asked her.
Paige gave an embarrassed laugh, 'I can't talk to you about this…'
Laura frowned, 'Why not?'

Paige said, 'No offence…but I don't know you…' she saw Laura about to interrupt, 'Wait…let me finish. I know you think I have trust issues…but this isn't about trust.'
She caught the look Laura gave her, 'Okay…it's all about trust. It's just, you're like…for want of a better word, a stranger to me.'

Laura leaned back and sighed, 'I know this is difficult for you to grasp but believe me, you can trust me completely.' She gestured upstairs, 'It's Wyatt you should be wary of…'
Paige looked confused, 'But, Wyatt's not evil…at least not yet.'
Laura said, suddenly serious, 'Wyatt is a powerful kid…so just watch your back around him…otherwise, you might find a dagger in it.' Her voice sounded bitter and cold; pure resentment in words.

Paige didn't know what to say to this, and a lull fell upon the pair. Laura picked up the pad and started to scribble fixedly on the surface.
Paige watched Laura's face; she had the same expression on her face that Chris got sometimes, hard to put into words, explained no better than anguish.

In the silence, a single question untangled itself from all the others inside her head, and she found herself breaking the silence, 'Why are you here?'
The question hung in the air, as if captured in the moment.
Laura cast her eyes downwards, 'Don't you think we should be concentrating on helping the others?'

Paige raised her eyebrows, 'Now who's the one with trust issues? Come on…speak to me.'
Laura, not shifting her gaze, simply said, 'I can't.'
Paige said, 'Can't? Or won't? You want help, don't you? I would have thought that it would be better to share…'
Laura's head suddenly snapped upwards. She spoke sharply, yet quietly to Paige, 'You'd think that wouldn't you? I wouldn't be so eager to curse other people with what I know, Auntie, to see what I've seen…'

Paige was shocked into silence. She wanted to tell Laura that it didn't matter that she wanted to know, but something held her back. Paige instead stammered, 'What…what you know?'
Laura nodded, sinking back down into her chair and taking back the notepad from Paige's relaxed grip, 'It's a curse…' she said, heavily.
Paige looked at her with kind interest, not wanting to say anything.

Laura continued, 'You guys don't understand how hard this is…I mean, I love you all so much, and you just stare right through me. You don't know me… which is exactly the reason I can't tell you anything. I know it doesn't make much sense, but if I let myself get too close to you all…I won't be able to do what I have to.'

Paige realised that while she had been speaking, she had pushed the pad over to her.
Laura sighed, 'That spell should work on Chris, if our theory is proven…'
Paige nodded, not wanting to push anything more from her.

Laura stood up and walked through the living room door, 'Shall we?'
Paige stood up and followed her.