The Enchanted Ones
A/N: I know absolutely nothing about adoption procedures, or how to find kids once they've been adopted, so I'm inventing most of this off the top of my head, and please don't complain that its inaccurate. This goes for this chapter, and all the ones after that involve the adoption procedures I'm makin up.
Disclaimer: No, sad as it is, I do not own charmed.
A smile crossed Paige's face. "Well, we are in luck, because I work with social services." Paige was pleased that she would be able to help find her nieces despite knowing nothing about them. "All we need to know, is the name of the adoption agency you used, and the kids' names."
"Um… yeah. Peyton… Paris… and, uh, Pandora. They have middle names too, there's copies of the birth certificates… somewhere." Piper leaned back on Phoebe, almost too exhausted from crying to even speak. "The adoption agency… it's written down, with the birth certificates. Can we deal with all this tomorrow? I'm really tired, I just want to go to sleep right now."
Paige and Phoebe exchanged worried looks. Piper hadn't been that tired earlier, or if she had been, she hid it well. But she certainly looked tired then, so they didn't argue. "Of course, sweetie. We'll find everything in the morning. Just get some rest." Phoebe kissed the top of Piper's head. The three sisters slowly got up from the couch and walked upstairs towards their respective bedrooms.
Just before Piper turned and walked into her bedroom, Paige reached over and squeezed her hand. "Hey," she said quietly. "You okay?"
Piper nodded. "Yeah… yeah. Just… tired. And a bit overwhelmed. You know, losing a daughter… thirteen years ago… and then all of a sudden finding out that she's going to be one of the most powerful witches of her generation, and deciding to go out and find her. It's a, uh, lot to deal with." Piper's tone brightened a bit. "But, I just need some sleep, in the morning I'll be fine."
"Okay," Paige smiled. "G'night." She opened the door to her own room, but before walking in, turned around. "But, if you need to talk, you know where I am."
Piper smiled. "Thanks," she said, then walked into her room and closed the door.
The next morning Piper awoke to find both of her sisters already downstairs. She joined them in kitchen. The three of them sat at the table, clutching cups of coffee, no one speaking. Finally, Piper spoke. "Why is nobody saying anything? Talk, talk! The silence is killing me."
Paige and Phoebe giggled. "Okay, I have to be at work in about an hour… do you want to go look for the birth certificates now?" Paige asked.
Piper nodded. "Good idea. They're probably in the attic. Let's go!" She got up, coffee in hand, and started walking to the stairs. Phoebe and Paige followed.
For forty-five minutes, they looked unsuccessfully through boxes, and trunks, and piles of junk. Right before they were going to give up for then and take a break, Paige said, "Hey guys, I think I found something."
Phoebe and Piper walked over to where Paige sat in front of a small trunk. Inside were photographs, a baby blanket, hospital ID bracelets, and at the very top of the pile were six pieces of paper. Piper grabbed the papers and quickly leafed through them. It was the three birth certificates, and three confirmations of adoption with the South Bay Adoption Agency. "Paige… you found them!" Elated, Piper hugged her youngest sister.
Before anyone had a chance to say anything more, a demon shimmered in behind them. He grabbed Phoebe, and put an athame to her throat. "Give me the papers… and you can have your sister back!" He growled in a low voice.
"Phoebe!" Paige and Piper screamed in unison.
"Give them to me, witch."
"Paige, don't. Don't give him the papers, please." Piper started crying. She couldn't lose her daughter and nieces, not after coming so close to being able to have them back.
Paige called for the athame. As it appeared in her hand, she threw it at the demon. It didn't do much, but it took a big enough chunk out of his arm that he let go of Phoebe. "Piper, blow him up!" It took her a few seconds to regain her composure, but she blew him up. He burst into flames and disappeared, all that was left was the athame.
"What the hell was that?" Phoebe asked. "And why did he want the papers?"
"So he could get the kids. And either kill them or make them evil. Remember, the Source tried to do that with Paige. But he didn't get her, and they won't get the kids, either." Piper replied.
"Yeah, but that wasn't the Source."
"It was a lower-level demon, Bruka." Paige called from where she stood hunched over the Book. "He probably wanted them so he could get on the Source's good side… if he has a good side."
The information reassured all three sisters. They took the papers and the trunk, and went downstairs. They sat around the kitchen table, looking at the confirmations of adoptions. "South Bay Adoption Agency… I kind of work with them," Paige said. "They're associated with South Bay Social Services. I can get us an appointment to see about finding them, if you'd like."
"That'd be great, Paige." Piper replied. "Hey, don't you need to go to work?"
"Oh, shit!" Paige stood up. "Bye, guys!" She grabbed her coat and was out the door.
A/N: next chapter will be all nice and happy! But ya only get it if ya review!