Piper xox Leo: Thanks for catching that. I had originally intended to just have Paige take the phone, butthen I was like, "Why not have Pearl do something that backfires on her too?" So then I edited it to make that happen and I meant to say that her television was blown up, but I guess I still had the cordless phone on my mind. Anyways, I fixed that.
The-Cheese-Fairy: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Good luck with your Senior year though. (I'm dreading it, maybe even more so than this year.) Oh I know! Paige is such a better parental figure than Phoebe! She may be younger, but she kinda took on the Mom and head witch thing when Piper couldn't. Phoebe was just the obsessive aunt. Damn writers. I'm glad you liked Duvay, I'm hoping to have some fun with him. As far as a baby Halliwell goes, I'm not gonna say yay or nay.
Prince Halliwell: Persia's Prom starts in this chapter! lol And yes, Phi will be getting a new friend, but not until the final subplot of this fic. AHH! I know! How dare they cut Leo out of over half the season! I really wanna hurt someone! There should be MORE Piper/Leo and LESS Wyatt & Chris!
moonfirefairy: Yep, I wish they'd show a little more of Paige's ferocious side in the show.
damien455: Oh yeah! Baby Phat, as my friend would say, "pretty much owns." lol Thanks for reviewing and I'll definitely we waiting for more of your fic too.
RJF: Oh, you should've said something earlier! I feel so bad now! You just seem to write more femininely I guess. Please don't take that offensively or anything, it's supposed to be a compliment. What I mean is, you just put a lot of detail into your writing and you're really in tune with the characters' (especially the female characters) feelings and personalities and generally (from what I've read personally), guys just aren't able to do that very well (if at all). So many kudos. Haha, your penname also makes more sense now.
chyp: Isn't he? Well, he'll definitely be around more later on to cause some major trouble for the sisters.
Ed: Oh hey, I know you from reviewing the fic I co-write with Piper xox Leo. Thanks for stopping by. lol I'm really glad you liked that line. Given Paige's past, I could just see her saying it too. Ha, my dream job would be to write for Charmed, so that is a really inspiring compliment.
Every Halliwell Counts
Chapter 29: P Day
"Shoo, shoo, shoo! Into places, everyone!" Phoebe Turner grinned wildly as she pressed the view finder of the video camera straight to her eye and held it towards the stairs.
The Halliwells, Cole, Leo, Andy, and Glenn had culminated at the base of the stairs inThe Villa and were now waiting patiently for Persia Halliwell's arrival.
"Here she comes!" Pandora grinned cheekily.
The clicking of heels across the hard wood hallway signaled Persia's arrival, at the top of the steps. A warm smile printed across her face, radiating a soft glow that only a teenager on her Prom night could have. She released a hand clad in a ruby satin, elbow length glove to take hold of the railing as she descended the stairs.
"Cole, Cole!" Phoebe giggled, waving a free arm while she still ran the recorder.
Teardrop shaped ruby stones dangled from Persia's ears and a deep red velvet choker with a matching gem in the center hugged her soft neck. Her golden heart locket, matching that of her best friend's, hung an inch or so below the velvet choker, but just high enough to be above the top of her gown. A crimson satin corset style bodice hugged her upper body which led into a pleated v waistline dress that spread out like those of a Southern Belle. The teenager's honey brown hair was piled gently on her head, with two stray stands hanging down each side of her face. A light shimmering blush had been neatly applied to her already rosy cheeks and her full lips were accentuated with ruby colored lipstick. She made her way to the bottom of the stairs and took center stage in the middle of the room.
"Twirl for the camera!" Phoebe giggled like only a mother could do for herteenage daughter's Prom night.
The electric witch placed a satin gloved hand on each side of her flowering skirt and lifted the heavy edge so it wouldn't drag on the floor, the way a woman in 'Gone With The Wind' would have done with their fancy plantation dresses. She did a slow, glorious spin before the rolling film and her already electrifying smile became that much brighter at the sound of her mother's delighted squeaks.
"We have something for you," Cole smiled as he pulled a fancy blue bag that seemed to be overflowing with tissue paper from behind his back. Cole gently dug through the tissue paper and retrieved a beautiful silken shall, crimson in color, and dotted with tiny silk roses. "May I?"
Persia's hand flew to her mouth, gaping at the beautiful and very expensive garment. "Oh my gosh!"
Cole walked behind his stepdaughter and draped the silken wrap across her bare shoulders and arms.
"Thank you!" Persia cried, throwing her arms around her stepfather in glee.
Cole bathed in the warmth of Persia's reaction. "You're mother still has something else for you," he whispered into her ear and then slid from her grasp as he exchanged places with Phoebe, taking the camera from her so she could present her daughter with her own gift.
"Mom, you've done so much already..."
"Nonsense, this is your Prom!" Phoebe exclaimed as she pulled a tiny black velvet box from her pocket and opened it up to reveal a golden Triquetra hair pin, dotted with tiny deep red garnet stones. "It's the finishing touch," she gushed as she slipped the hair pin from it's velvet case and slid it neatly into her eldest's brown hair. "You look gorgeous!" Then the psychic witch enveloped her daughter in a hug, before pulling away and wiping a streak of salty mascara onto the sleeve of her shirt.
"Mom, you're gonna make me cry too." Persia stifled.
"Don't you dare, you'll make your makeup run," Phoebe scolded as a few more mascara filled drops tumbled down her cheeks.
"You really do look beautiful, Persia," Prue noted. "Just make sure that you and..."
"Dane?"
"Yeah, Dane, actually make it to Prom."
Piper playfully dug her elbow into Prue's rib, as her elder sister was referring to the Prom that Prue and Andy never made it to.
"We will, I promise," Persia giggled. "I'm not like that, Aunt Prue."
"We know you aren't, honey, we're just making sure though." Piper grinned.
"Family picture!" Paige announced, shoving one of Prue's photography camera's into her hands.
Cole clicked the button to pause the film and handed the recorder to Leo, as he walked over to his wife and stepdaughter, taking his place on Persia's right.
"Okay, move a little to the left," Prue said as she wiggled her fingers to the side and her family complied. Then she clicked the button a few times from a few different angles. Then her nose wrinkled. "Where's Pam?"
Phoebe's previously bright face fell. "In her room."
Piper quickly waved her hands. "No problem, I'm sure she's tired anyway. Long day, ya know?" She, as well as everyone else, knew that Pam had wanted absolutely nothing to do with Persia's big day and she had been hiding away from everyone since they'd arrived. "Maybe Prue should just get a few shots of Persia by herself?"
"Sure," the telekinetic witch nodded in agreement. She allowed Phoebe and Cole to move away, before she snapped a few more shots of Persia in several different poses. "Now I do want to get a couple of shots of you and that Dane guy before you leave. You know, for the photo album."
Persia grinned. "Of course, Aunt Prue!"
As if on cue, the doorbell rang as the words left Prue's mouth, and Phoebe ran to the door and swung it open. "Hello, you must be-"
"Dane Burnham," the five foot nine inch teenager cut in. He held out a solid hand, shaking the psionic's hand before she could piece together what was happening. He appeared to be a handsome young man with broad shoulders and was very well built for his age. A brand new black suit and tie added maturity to his features. Dashing hazel eyes and short, wavy auburn hair gave a trusting air about him. He smiled, displaying a row of perfect pearly whites.
"Well a smile like yours could light up the block!" Phoebe exclaimed.
"Mom!" Persia hissed.
"Just giving him a compliment!" Phoebe snorted in response. "Come, come in. I'd like you to meet everyone."
"Oh good Goddess," Persia whispered to herself as her mother shut the door behind Dane.
"I'm Phoebe, Persia's mother," Phoebe smiled. She led the teenage boy over to Cole.
"It's good to meet you," Cole greeted. "I'm Cole, Persia's st-"
"Dad," Persia said as she slipped between her stepfather and her date. "He's my dad."
The room seemed to hold its silence for a minute, before Cole wrapped an arm around Persia's shoulders and pulled her to his side. "Her dad."
Dane didn't seemed detoured by the sudden pause, he simply took ahold of Cole's hand and gave him a firm shake. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Halliwell."
Cole smiled, deciding not to correct the young man's innocent mistake of his last name. After all, why make a fuss Persia's special day after reaching such an exciting moment in their relationship. He let it slide. "The pleasure's mine," Cole returned.
"Uhm," Persia cleared her throat. "My Aunts Prue, Piper, and Paige. My cousins Pearl, Phiona, Pandora, and the baby is Prissy. And of course my Uncles Andy, Leo, and Glenn. Like I told you, we're a really close nit bunch." She gave a nervous laugh. "Sorry to rush things, but it is getting late."
"Too late for a picture?" Prue asked.
"Of course not!" Dane grinned, snaking his arm around Persia's petite waist. "Snap away."
Prue grinned, winking at Persia when Dane turned his head for a moment. She placed the camera to her face and snapped a few thoughts, then shook Dane's hand and thanked him for such a pleasant meeting.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" Dane exclaimed, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small plastic case. "I got you this," he said as he retrieved a beautiful corsage of mini white and red roses, with one blooming pink rose in the center. He knelt down and quickly slid the corsage onto Persia's wrist, fastening it with a white ribbon. Unbeknownst to him, Phoebe once again had the camcorder rolling and Prue was snapping a few more lovely pictures of him.
"Well you guys should get going," Phoebe said, as Dane pulled to his feet. "I just wanna get you guys walking out the door!"
Dane grinned, waving at the camera. "It was really good to meet you, Mrs. Halliwell."
"As was you," Phoebe beamed.
Persia snatched her small, satin red purse which was trimmed in tiny diamonds from the edge of the sofa and looped arms with Dane before waving to her family and heading out into the night.
"Be home by Midnight!" Phoebe reminded, knowing that the dance ended at 11:00 P.M.
TO BE CONTINUED...