At around 2 in the afternoon, Shea finally came down stairs. She had been up for an hour, ignoring the pains in her stomach. When she reached the kitchen, she heard voices. She paused and listened for a little while.
"Cole what am I going to do?" A woman was saying.
"No Piper. It's what are we going to do?" Cole responded.
"Cole, you can't help me." Piper said.
"Yes I can, and I will. This is my problem too." Cole yelled.
"Cole…stop yelling. Oh god. What am I going to do." Piper said, her voice filled with concern.
"Let's go visit him." Cole suggested.
"Yes… That's good…let's do it." Piper said.
Shea heard chairs scraping and footsteps walking her way. Putting on a sleepy face, she walked into the kitchen. Piper turned to look at her.
"Morning." Shea mumbled as she reached into the fridge and pulled out the orange juice. She poured a glass and offered some Piper. Piper refused.
"Shea?" Cole asked.
"Umphm?" Shea asked between swallows.
"Cole and I are going to run some errands, just in case anyone is looking for us." Piper said as she grabbed her car keys.
"K…" Shea mumbled as she grabbed a muffin.
Piper motioned for Cole to follow her and they left. After they left the driveway, she ran upstairs. She peeked in Phoebe's room and saw them wrapped up in blankets and sleeping soundly. Next she checked Paige's room. Stock and Paige were talking quietly and didn't notice Shea. Shea closed the door and checked Piper's room. Leo had fallen asleep still dressed and on top of the covers.
Shea shimmered up to the attic and saw that Shane was still asleep. Shea quickly changed and ran back downstairs. She scribbled a not saying she went for a jog and then shimmered out, following the trace of Cole and Piper.
Shea shimmered back in standing in front of a big brick building. She looked at a faded wooden sign that was cracked in half. Piecing it together, she read the words: St. Anne's Orphanage.
What are they doing here? Shea thought
Shea saw Cole and Piper through the windows. They were talking to a nun. Shea snuck around back and let herself in through the back kitchen door. Her back to the kitchen, she quietly closed the door.
"Hey." A voice said from behind her. Shea turned around slowly. A guy her age was sitting at the table, peeling potatoes.
"Hey." Shea said in reply.
"I don't think I've seen you around. Are you new here?" He asked her.
"No. I'm actually spying on my aunt and a friend of hers. They're inside talking to a nun, and I didn't want them to see me." Shea explained. The boy nodded.
"I'm Shea, by the way." Shea said, extending her hand.
"Ian." The boy replied, shaking her hand.
"How long have you been here?" Shea asked, taking a seat next to him and grabbing a peeler and a potato.
"You don't have to do that. Really." Ian said as she started to peel.
"Don't worry about it. My aunt is a super freak when it comes to cooking. I don't mind, really." Shea replied.
Ian shrugged. "Alright, whatever shuffles your cards." He said.
"So. How long have you been here?" Shea asked again.
"My whole life." Ian responded.
"I'm sorry." Shea said softly.
Ian laughed. "Don't be. I located my mom and I actually snuck out and visited her this morning. I think she might adopt me. She's amazing." Ian said proudly.
Shea smiled. "That's awesome." She said.
"Yea it is." Ian said. "What about you…what is your mom like?" He asked.
"Umm…well, until about 1 year ago, I was a orphan, mostly foster kid though. I met my mother a few times, mostly on 20 minutes meetings and such, but she was a witch, literally. My dad was pretty cool though, and he fell in love with on of my aunts." Shea explained to the confused Ian.
"One of your aunts? How many do you have?" Ian asked.
"None on my dad's side, and 3 on my mom's side. The aunt that's here right now, is the cook. She owns a club. The two aunts at home, are the journalist and the…unemployed." Shea replied.
"Any uncles?" Ian asked.
Shea nodded. "I have…well, it's complicated. See my unemployed aunt is also like my step-mom. And then the journalist is dating someone, but she was married to my ex uncle, if you can call it that. My ex uncle is also here with my club owner aunt. The club owner was married to another ex uncle, but she might get back together with him." Shea said, confusing herself.
"Wow. You have one screwed up family." Ian said as he laughed.
"Oh really?" Shea asked, her own voice cracking with laughter.
"How does your boyfriend cope with it all" Ian asked. Shea thought of Colin.
"Colin's pretty cool about it." Shea said, noticing the hopeful look in Ian's eyes disappear.
"Well, you got lucky with him." Ian said, his voice still filled with humor.
"Yea, I guess I did." Shea said
"Cause I know that if I was your boyfriend, I'd never be able to deal with that." Ian continued, his eyes sparkling again.
Shea could only laugh. She reached for a potato and realized they had run out.
"Where are the other potatoes?" Shea asked.
Ian pointed to cupboard under the sink. Shea nodded and squatted down to grab some more.
"I'd like to meet your mom and dad." Shea said as the kitchen door opened.
"You can." Ian said. Shea grabbed as many potatoes as she could. She turned around as the nun was talking to Ian.
"Ian. These are your parents." The nun said. Shea looked up and dropped the potatoes on the ground. Her mouth dropped to the floor, a mirror image of Piper and Cole, who were standing in front of her.