Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed or any of it's characters, any others that are not in charmed on the other hand are mine. But this story does happen to be mine and my own idea.

© Charmed-Phoebe03

The Baby Bargain… Chapter 4 (The Package)

Piper's PoV

She had just got back and she was sore! That was a definite she thought as she made her way to the manor's front door. She had made sure Leo hadn't dropped her off right on the door step, she hadn't wanted him to know exactly were she lived, sure he knew the address but that was a bit different from knowing what it looks like too, she had got him to drop her off at the end of the street. She had walked only a few feet when the heavens let loose and the rain came down. She couldn't believe what she had gotten herself into, she had signed a contract and everything. She was going to be pregnant, she thought to herself as she hung her jacket up. She was cold and she couldn't stop shivering ever since she had left the doctor's office. They had gotten what they had wanted from her for now, she was happy she was going to be able to save the manor but she couldn't help but feel hollow inside too, her first child was going to be paid for and given away- she had no idea how she was going to be able to get through that, flesh of her flesh. And Leo Wyatt's. The contract had been pretty sound, or at least she had thought so reading though it. She hadn't been able to get a lawyer to look over it herself- she could have asked if she could have had time too, she had no doubt Leo would let her. But she had no money, or at least barely enough to live on without adding lawyer expenses. And besides she trusted Leo, she didn't know why, she just did. There was something about his eyes that told her everything would be fine; would her child have those green aquamarine eyes? No not her child, his. It would never really be her child, that much was done now. She'd have no rights to her child after the first three months of her child's life, she just hoped when her child was older he or she would ask about his or her biological mother, and maybe seek her out, but that was all she could ask for she would never be able to see her child grow up, she would never see her child's first steps or hear her child's first word. She'd have to watch tabloids to find out if her child was in college or getting married, she'd never be able to experience these with them, just be in the background. Just watch. Would Leo let her hold her child when it is born? Or would he take it away from her as soon as it was out of the womb? No matter how she thought now, she couldn't back out the deal now, she had signed the contract. She supposed she was rushed into it but she suppose she could understand is urgency. She had to admit she would like a child herself- the idea of motherhood had always made her feel warm inside, teaching her child new things, but this child wasn't going to be hers- she had already signed that part away. This was going to happen she knew that more than anything, she knew she was going to be carrying a child fathered by a man she hardly knew, but she didn't know how she was going to tell her sisters. She thought as she sat on the couch with a camomile tea in her grasp. Camomile was supposed to be calming; she had to admit it had a slight effect but not the effect she was hoping for. She was going to be carrying a child while not knowing if she or her sisters we're safe in their own home, or if their home would be on the auction block. She shuddered- she couldn't think about that now, there were already too many things to consider. The manor door opened and shut abruptly. And Phoebe came boldering through to the living area where Piper was sitting. She looked tired and angry.

"I can't believe it" she said stomping her foot on the old wooden flooring "you remember that interview I had today Piper?" she said taking her gaze of the side wall.

"Yeah I remember" now she did, she hadn't really paid much attention earlier today to hear how Phoebe was excited she would be contributing to help pay the manors debts, she had known it wouldn't really make much of a difference- but as the bank had said 'as long as at least one of the residence of the house was working and significant funds were coming then the house would stay off the block and they'd pay in monthly disbursements, Prue's museum paycheck had counted to 'significant' but it didn't make any difference to their situation. They were desperate; the money wasn't coming in fast enough. That's why they were all looking for jobs. She had a job now, she thought dryly. But Phoebe being in High School didn't have many options.

"Apparently I'm too young!" she said exasperatedly "but it didn't say anything about age in the ad, I spent best part of the day trying to convince them I could do the job in the end they got security to throw me out!" she said her cheeks turning red, proving she was reliving the experience in her head. Piper knew she wouldn't get the admin job, even if she did know how to file invoices she was still in school, not leaving her much but working at a fast food restaurant. Not that Piper wasn't happy with Phoebe trying to take responsible turns, normally Phoebe would be out most of the day and night drinking with friends but it seemed she had had a new out look recently.

Pausing to take a breath and about to start ranting again it seemed her face shot to Piper's "Are you okay Piper?" she paused coming to the end of the couch "you look really pale" she had to admit, the doctor extracting a few of her eggs had shook her up a bit, but she could tell that to Phoebe, it was their only chance. But when she was going to tell them, she had to make sure she was already pregnant- otherwise they would sway her back from her decision.

"I'm fine, just-" the way the doctor was prodding inside me, that's all- not that she could say it. Although she longed to tell them. "… Worried" Phoebe's eyes softened then she hugged Piper. "Don't worry Piper we'll be okay, we'll pay off the creditors and then we'll be all good, yeah?" Piper looked at her; Piper knew what Phoebe thought of her. She thought Piper was weak- she knew it, Phoebe probably didn't think she was so transparent, but Piper could see behind those eyes was pity, pity that Piper wasn't strong but she was strong she told herself maybe not Phoebe's kind of strong, but to do something like she was she had to be strong, even if it was for herself alone.

'DDDDDDDDDDDIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG – DDDDDDDDOOOOOOOOOONNNNNGGGGGGGGG'

The bell of the manor rung, looking at Phoebe as she began to rise, Piper motioned her down and started to get up herself, she would act strong even if she didn't seem it she told herself sternly.

'DDDDDDDDDDDIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG – DDDDDDDDOOOOOOOOOONNNNNGGGGGGGGG'

Opening the door stood a man with a small package, he turned his head toward her as opened the door.

"package for a-" he looked on his clip board "Ms. Piper Halliwell" He said finally looking up at her.

"That's me" she said accepting the package, signing for it and shutting the door. Phoebe had gone up stairs so she was alone in the hall with her package. Then it began ringing, opening it up she saw a flip cell phone, opening it up she press the answer button and put it to her ear.

"Hello?" she said quizzically.

"Hi Piper" it was Leo

"Er hello"

"I hope you like the phone, it's so I can keep in touch with you, you can give out the number to others if you like, it's yours but I thought you might appreciate a private line."

"Thank you"

"you're welcome, in the meantime though I'll be in touch- bye"

"Goodbye"

she beeped the button and slid the phone into her pocket, she was really getting in deep.

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