For disclaimer see Chapter One. Big thanks, as always, to my reviewers, you guys are all great.
Mysterious Midnight - I'm glad you liked! TFR.
.elementbabe. - I'm not sure whether Kyle will be in this story, I haven't actually thought about it to be honest. If he is, it won't be for a while. TFR.
PrueTrudeau - The black/blue hair is permanent, her demonic face is when her eyes change colour, the iris changes to look like they're flames. Her hair isn't that extreme, it's like a blue so dark that it looks black. Most people will see it and think that it's natural, and the rest will think it's dyed. No exposure, don't worry! TFR.
jadelouise - I'm happy that you like it. As for your idea, it is definitely a possibility. TFR.
Melinda Prudence Halliwell - Doesn't everyone need reviews? Well, if not need them, then at least like them. Anyway, I'm glad you like it. TFR.
Amy P. Halliwell - I apologise for it being so short, I can't help it! TFR.
TVCrazed - Lol, you're review was sweet. As for what Nicki dreams of, it will be revealed, but a little at a time. TFR.
lillynilly - Lol I'm glad! TFR.
o0oWeird1o0o - I'm really happy you like it! TFR.
--Chapter Twenty-One--
Sunday passed peacefully for all members of the newly expanded Halliwell household. Nicki and Phoebe did a little more training in the morning, whilst Paige played a little with Wyatt. Piper was still sleeping. Paige and Phoebe were starting to get a little worried about Piper; she was working into the early hours almost every day, and really wasn't getting enough sleep. She was heading for burnout, and refused to acknowledge that anything was wrong. Piper always had liked to flatly ignore anything that she couldn't deal with, until it got so big that she couldn't see anything else. Her sisters didn't want to see that happen to her again.
The car was slightly tense on Monday as they drove to Social Services. Phoebe was at work, trying to get ahead enough to take two days off next week, after all, they did have to go and see the Elders. Wyatt was strapped in his car-seat in the back with Nicki, and Paige was riding shotgun. Piper drove silently through the San Francisco streets, heading over to Paige's office. Even Wyatt seemed to pick up on the mood, he was quietly chewing on his rattle, gurgling happily.
As Piper pulled into the parking lot, Nicki's voice drifted from the back seat, worried and scared. 'Everything's going to be okay, right?' she asked, nervously.
Paige looked behind her, leaning over the seat. Nicki was looking kind of small, shrunk into herself. She was twisting her hands in her lap, over and over, and not meeting Paige's eyes.
'Nicki, honey,' Paige said, reaching over and stilling Nicki's hands with her own. 'We're not letting you go that easily, okay?'
Nicki looked up, searching Paige's face with her eyes. She seemed to find the reassurance she needed there, and smiled slightly, visibly relaxing.
The beginning stages were fine, Nicki and Piper had blood tests, but Paige was spared. After all, Piper was a closer relative to Nicki than she was, being Prue's full sister. Paige spent the time filling out paperwork, she knew exactly what needed to be done and she spoke to her boss, Mr Cowan, about fast-tracking the adoption. Then came the part that Nicki had been worried about, the interviews.
Paige and Piper were interviewed first by Mr Cowan, answering questions about their home life, financial position and family stability. They made an appointment for Phoebe to be interviewed at home that evening, and then it was Nicki's turn.
'Can't they stay with me?' she asked nervously, when Mr Cowan asked to speak to her in his office. She didn't stand, but held Wyatt a little closer to her.
'How about we talk a little first,' Mr Cowan said gently, bending down to her level, 'and then if you get uncomfortable, you can ask Paige and Piper to come in with you, okay?' His face was very sincere and open. Years of working with children in trouble had taught him that they didn't need patronising, just time and patience.
'Okay,' Nicki said slowly, carefully handing Wyatt over to Piper. She stood up hesitantly, looking to Piper and Paige for reassurance. They nodded encouragingly, and she let Mr Cowan lead her into his office.
One side of the room had a desk, covered in papers and forms, with a computer and a desk chair. The other side had several armchairs, a couch and a coffee table, arranged informally. The coffee table was covered with a variety of children's toys, crayons and paper. Mr Cowan sat down in one of the armchairs, gesturing Nicki to take the couch. She almost unconsciously reached for a small stuffed teddy bear and began toying with it, turning it over in her hands.
Mr Cowan, noticing this, smiled gently to reassure her. 'So, it's been quite the week for you, hasn't it Phoenix?' he asked, jokingly.
She looked at him, and smiled back. Her shoulders relaxed a little. 'I guess,' she said, shrugging.
'Do you want me to call you Phoenix?' he asked, sensing her bristling at the name.
'Nicki is better,' she said, gingerly. 'I don't like people calling me Phoenix really.'
'Why not?' Mr Cowan asked curiously, leaning back into his chair.
Nicki looked a little apprehensive. 'I just don't, that's all.'
'Okay,' Mr Cowan said, slowly, 'that's fine.' Taking in the tension that had suddenly appeared, he changed the subject. 'So how did you get all the way to San Francisco?' he asked, purposely leaving an open ended question, hoping that she'd start talking. To his relief, she did.
'I took a train to London, I had some money saved. I used to work after school sometimes; my foster parents didn't know, and I had nearly a hundred pounds. I had to wait in the airport for fourteen hours,' she said, looking down at her hands again, still turning the teddy bear over and over. 'When the flight came I snuck on. There was this crowd of people, all going through the gate at the same time. There was a mum and dad, and they had three children, and they all looked so happy. I walked in the middle of some teenagers, and avoided all the airport people. I was so scared that they were going to catch me.' She looked up at Mr Cowan, her eyes registering fear, tears trickling down her cheeks. 'I hid in the bathroom until the flight took off, and then I found an empty seat. When I got to San Francisco I gave them my passport, because they didn't need a ticket or anything. And then I went to find my aunts.'
Mr Cowan sensed that he could push just a little bit more. 'How did you know where to look for them?' he asked, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees.
As if by instinct, Nicki shrunk back in her chair, away from him. 'It was in my photo,' she explained. She took the photo out of her back pocket, where she kept it now, and handed it over to Mr Cowan. He took it and examined both the front and the back carefully. Nicki sat in silence whilst he did this, working up the courage to say something. She looked up, her face set. 'Am I going to have to go back?' she asked, her eyes worried.
'Would you like to?' Mr Cowan said, looking up from the photograph and handing it back to Nicki.
She took it with trembling hands and looked at it, now painfully aware of the tears making blotches on its surface. She brushed them away with her fingertips. 'No thank you,' she said, her breath catching in her throat. I think I'd like Piper and Paige to come in now,' she said, clutching the teddy bear tightly in one hand, the photo in the other.
Mr Cowan nodded. He got up and went to the door, opening it and gesturing to Piper and Paige to come in. Piper came in, cradling Wyatt on her hip, and Paige followed. When they saw Nicki crying on the couch they both hurried over to her. Piper sat down beside her, and put her arm around her. She awkwardly handed Wyatt over to Paige, and then pulled Nicki onto her lap and embraced her, not knowing the reason for her tears, and not needing to. She trusted Paige to discover that.
That was exactly what Paige planned to do. She put Wyatt down in the corner near Piper and Nicki where the stuffed animals were, and strode over to Mr Cowan. 'What did you say to her?' she asked angrily, her voice raised and her stance aggressive.
Mr Cowan looked a little worried, but stood his ground. 'Perhaps we should discuss this in your office?' he said, gesturing out of the room and down the hall.
Paige looked to Piper who nodded, and then walked out of the room, headed towards her own office. Mr Cowan closed the door, leaving Piper with Nicki and Wyatt in the corner.
Piper could hear Paige's door slam as she cradled her niece in her arms. At that moment in time, she almost felt sorry for Mr Cowan. Almost.
--End of Chapter Twenty-One--
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