Disclaimer: if I owned Charmed would I be writing a disclaimer?? Also Chris wouldn't have died!!
A/n: Warning-this has a bit of swearing in it. Also thanks to JanaRose for reviewing me. Yeah Cole is a bit scary but still he's quite interesting and kinda hot, but that's just my opinion.
Chapter 5
Powers emerge
Piper woke Phoenix early next morning.
"Phoenix? Come on. Wake up," she said, gently shaking the girls shoulder. Phoenix screwed up her face. She had been up in the attic most of the night, reading about her dad in the Book of Shadows. Piper couldn't blame her. The truth had been kept from her for fifteen years.
"Why do I have to get up?" mumbled Phoenix
"Because I want you clean, fed and dressed by the time the social worker gets here," said Piper, checking her watch, "Which is in a little over an hour. Now get up." Phoenix slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"What time is it?" she asked
"Quarter to eight," said Piper.
"Shit," said Phoenix, "I've been asleep for three hours."
"Well, maybe you shouldn't be up in the attic that late at night," said Piper. She left the room and hurried up to the attic where Phoebe and Paige were waiting.
"Ready?" asked Phoebe, "I've got the spell."
"Yep," said Piper.
"Hide this door until tonight,
Remove it from our sight," chorused the sisters and the door vanished and was replaced by a wall that matched the rest of the wall.
"Ok, breakfast," said Piper.
Phoenix hummed a song to herself as she got out the shower. She wrapped a towel around herself and one around her hair. She went into her room. She thought she saw something move in the shadow of the wardrobe but when she checked there was nothing. Brushing it aside as a trick of her imagination, Phoenix dried herself and put on clean jeans and a white t-shirt. She tried to brush her hair but it was too stubborn today. She eventually gave up and went downstairs to the kitchen. There she found the Halliwell family in full pandemonium (chaos if you didn't know). Phoebe was arguing with Paige over who got the last cup of coffee, Piper had Wyatt on one hip and tried to serve breakfast at the same time and Leo was trying to get Chris to quiet down. Phoenix took care of the Phoebe-Paige problem by taking the last cup of coffee and then she took Wyatt off Piper and turned off the radio. Chris fell silent as did Phoebe and Paige. Phoenix turned to face them, taking a sip of the coffee.
"What?" she said, looking at their dumb-founded faces.
"Who wanted what?" said Piper.
By nine o'clock, everyone was fed, dressed and clean. Well except maybe Wyatt who had insisted on throwing his food everywhere instead of eating it and was now refusing to cooperate with Piper who was trying to get him dressed. Paige was trying to clean the kitchen and Phoenix was nervous. They had trusted her with a secret and the last thing she wanted to do was shimmer in front of a social worker or have any new powers show up. The door bell rang. Wyatt stopped struggling long enough for Piper to get a t-shirt and jeans on him. Phoebe yelled, "I'll get it. I'll get it." She ran and opened the door. Phoenix looked out of the living room at the front door. A tall, stern man with graying hair stood there, frowning at Phoebe. Phoenix gulped. She'd better start packing for the orphanage.
"Halliwell?" said the man.
"Yep," said Phoebe, "I'm Phoebe."
"Rogers," said the man, "Clark Rogers. I'm from Social Services. I'm here to assess your ability to care for the minor, Phoenix Turner."
"Oh, you must have read her birth certificate," said Phoebe, "She usually goes by the name Halliwell."
"The certificate names her as Turner and so it shall remain," said Clark.
"Come in," said Phoebe. He stepped inside and looked around the hall way.
"Who owns this residence?" he asked
"My grandmother left it to me and my sisters," said Phoebe, "Everyone's in the living room. Follow me." Phoenix sat down on the sofa, her stomach twisting itself in knots. Clark entered and looked around. Leo wasn't there. He had explained that he was actually dead and couldn't have Social Services asking questions.
"Who are you?" he said to Piper.
"I'm Piper Halliwell," said Piper.
"Ok, I need to know the names of everyone who lives here," said Clark.
"Well, I do," said Piper, "And then there's Phoebe. Our sister Paige Matthews lives here too and my sons, Wyatt and Chris." Clark wrote down the names.
"Paige Matthews?" he said, "Didn't you used to work at social services?"
"Yes," she said, "I did."
"Well, I have to run all your names through a police check," said Clark, "Its procedure. Now I need to look around the house." Phoebe led him into the kitchen and Paige sighed with relief.
"I know Clark," she said, "He's a nice guy really. Everything should be ok."
After about an hour of looking round the house and asking Piper, Phoebe and Paige questions, Clark asked to speak to Phoenix.
"Are you alright?" he asked. Phoenix nodded. Paige watched nervously from the other side of the shut door. One wrong answer from Phoenix and she'd be sent to a group home.
"How are they treating you?" asked Clark.
"Good, Piper showed me the club she owns yesterday," said Phoenix.
"Have you noticed any strange behaviour on their part?" he asked
"No," said Phoenix, "They seem completely normal."
"Is anything bothering you?"
"Nope," said Phoenix.
"Well, I think everything is in order," said Clark. He reached into his pocket and took out a small card.
"If you notice anything strange or they treat you badly, call this number," he said, handing it to her. He left the room and saw Paige and Phoebe standing, watching him.
"I'll get back to you in a few days about your police checks," he said and showed himself out.
"Phew," said Phoebe, "I thought Phoenix had mentioned something about Wicca." She laughed at the thought.
"We should be ok," said Paige, "None of us have a dangerous past that they know about."
Three days later, the phone rang.
"Phone," said Wyatt and Phoenix laughed at him. Phoenix had settled in well and the cuts on her face had faded. Piper grabbed the phone.
"Hello?"
"Ms Halliwell? It's Clark Rogers."
"Oh, hello, Mr. Rogers."
"I was just calling to inform you that you passed the police checks. You and your sisters are Phoenix's legal guardians now."
"That's great news. Thank you."
"I also discovered that your sister, Phoebe, was married to Phoenix's father Cole Turner. Is this true?"
"Yes."
"Well, I was just curious. Goodbye."
"Goodbye." Piper put down the phone and yelled at the top of her voice.
"We got Phoenix!" she yelled, causing Paige to orb down to her, "She's staying!" Phoenix came in carrying Wyatt.
"I'm staying?" she said, "Yes!" Piper gave Phoenix a hug, causing Wyatt to start squirming as he got crushed between his mum and cousin.
"Did you hear that, Wyatt?" said Piper, taking him from Phoenix, "Phoenix is staying!"
"Fi, stay," he said, trying to say Phoenix's name.
"This is great!" said Phoenix, throwing her hands in the air. Energy had formed around her hands as her excitement built. When she threw her hands in the air, energy balls were thrown at the walls.
"What the?!" said Piper.
"Looks like another power has shown itself," said Paige.
"I need to stop getting excited," said Phoenix. There was a crash in the basement.
"What was that?" said Piper. Wyatt started crying. Chris' screams came through the baby monitor.
"Something is not right," said Paige. Clutching Wyatt to her chest, Piper crept towards the basement door. Voices were coming through the door. She beckoned to Paige and Phoenix to follow her. She slowly opened the door. Three people were stood in the basement. They saw Piper and Phoenix.
"Look!" said one, "The child of Balthazar!"
"Uh-oh," said Phoenix. Her fear made energy form around her hands.
"Push the energy from your hands towards them," said Piper. Phoenix concentrated and threw the energy balls, destroying two of the demons. Piper successfully destroyed the remaining demon with her powers. She shut the door and calmed Wyatt.
"This really sucks," said Phoenix, "I can't use my powers without them following me."
"It's tough," said Piper, "But we'll find a way around it."
"Hey, at least something good happened," said Paige.
"Yeah, I can't wait to tell Phoebe," said Phoenix.
"You two are getting along well aren't you," said Piper
"Of course Phoebe's great," said Phoenix, "She's told me every good thing about my..." Phoenix stopped. She knew it was a bad time to mention her father.
"Hello!" rang Phoebe's voice, breaking the awkward silence.
"Pheeb!" said Wyatt, clapping his hands. Piper, Paige and Phoenix went into the entrance hall and saw Phoebe closing the door behind her, carrying a vase of flowers in one arm.
"More flowers from Jason?" said Piper.
"Yeah," said Phoebe.
"He's keen but then again he's hot," said Paige.
"Do you mind? That's my boyfriend," said Phoebe
"And your boss," Piper said.
"Do you have to remind me every time I mention him?" asked Phoebe
"We've got great news!" said Phoenix
"What is it, sweetie?" said Phoebe
"Two things; don't call me sweetie and you passed the police check. I'm staying," said Phoenix
"Oh, that's great," said Phoebe, giving Phoenix a hug.
"I've also discovered another power, energy balls," said Phoenix.
"Won't demons..." started Phoebe
"Oh, we already got them," said Piper, "So to celebrate Phoenix's staying with us, I suggest we go out to dinner!"
"Piper! Are you passing on an opportunity to cook?" said Phoebe
"Yes," said Piper, "And tomorrow, I'm taking Phoenix clothes shopping so we can get some nice stuff fro school. I'm getting you enrolled before the new semester." Phoenix smiled at Piper.
"Leo!" said Phoebe. Leo orbed in.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Phoenix is staying so we're going out for dinner," said Piper, "Are you coming?"
"Yeah, that's great," said Leo, "The Elders are impressed at how quickly Phoenix is learning to control her powers especially as they're all demonic so far." Phoenix blushed.
"Ah, they're too kind," said Phoenix.
"Oh believe me, I think they're just doing this to stay on your good side," said Piper, "You won't believe the trouble they caused when Leo and I wanted to marry."
Yet another crappy chapter but it gets better, I hope.
