Oh brother
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Sorry i haven't had time to answer you guys who have reviewed and thank you but next chap i will promise! Thanks for all your support it reasuring to know that u acctually read it! LOL. Thanks to all. TOTEM
CC. - So glad you are happy. here is another chap!
...On the house!!
Rick walked up the steps of the Halliwell manor. It was now eleven and knew that he should make an appearance. It was now eleven and knew that he should make an appearance. Just as he walked through the door, his mobile rang. Pulling it out his pocket he continued towards the kitchen.
Just as he walked through Prue and Phoebe were in there and hared him talking, "Hay Rick" He spoke into the phone, and there was a pause the two sisters looked at him as he stood in the doorway. "Mark...where the hell you been man..." Rick's eyes instantly lit up, "...well you're not the only one. Jesus it's so good to hear from you." Rick had a mixture of shock and happiness on his face but, it faded a bit, "P? She...a lots changed in her life. Me? Pretty much the same old...me! Not such a good thing." Rick couldn't help but smile, as Mark spoke into the Phone he turned to the sisters. "No, it's a shock but P's good, big change...Great change actually. No doubt you'll find out." Rick laughed, "No MK you missed out she's with a guy already...yes it serious...no you can not...he's taking great care of her...MK lets remember P's my sister I don't need to hear or even think such things. Okay look man...me...you...meet up. Well I know a great club that belongs to..." He hesitated momentarily... "A good friend and it's the best club actually in San Francisco. Tonight...not a word to P. She'll love this" Another gap then, "Alright man, I'll see you then." With this he turned of the phone and looked at the screen taken a moment to soak up what has just happened he turned to those in the kitchen.
"Hay Rick" Phoebe said from the place where she was stood.
"Hay Phoebe, Prue. Good morning and how are you?"
"Much the same as your sister" Phoebe added
Rick, now intrigued, asked "Oh, and how would my sister be?"
"Worried about you. Are you okay Rick you seem a bit off last night"
Rick put his mobile on the side, "Halliwell's you shouldn't worry, and neither should P I am a complicated person. I am moody, and suffer greatly from odd spells of depression. I drink, I sleep, and I'm usually fine."
"You, you are trying to give me a break down are you not?" Paige's voice rang through the kitchen.
Rick swung around, "Hay P""Don't you hay P me. I have decided on something next time you have one of these...these...things I do not leave you. I take you home, we talk, and you do not push me away not anymore..." Paige let out all in one breath, then she leapt forward and put her arms around him, "Are you okay?" She asked her tone softening.
"I'm good. Really, good actually." He stopped and hugged her back, "And hay, I'm the oldest...I worry about you it's how it works"
"Not when you're the one doing stupid stuff."
"Okay, I'm sorry and all that but you know what happens... I lose it. But I think that things are going to get better now. I can feel it"
"I'm glad...because after this little sister moment...you and me. Need to have a chat" Piper's voice rang as she stood in the door way.
All looked at her, Rick cocked an eye, "Well this seems like I'm in trouble! And I thought you were the calm one so if I got you angry it means that I did something to make you really pissy. And it's not good at all."
"Wow he's a fast learner" Phoebe spoke up earning a smack from Prue and a stern look. Paige stepped close to Rick, "Good look, you'll need it!"
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Rick walked out the front door followed by Piper who shut it behind them, "Walk with me Rick" She ordered, as she started off down the steps. When at the bottom Piper turned to him, "...Your with us and your sister been sisters. Yeah?" She asked
"Look it was a shock at first but, I'm cool with it now" HE spoke as he stood in front of her.
"Good. I'm glad because I have to admit it Rick. I like you! You're a great guy. One problem thought, that I will not tolerate is People who I consider part of my family paying for beer and drinks at my club" Rick pushed his hand through his hair and sighed, "Why?" Piper asked
"Because..." Rick spoke his voice slightly raised, "That's just it Pipe, I am not part of your family." He walked back and took a seat on the bonnet of his car. Piper walked over and sat next to him
"You are Paige's sister, that makes you part of my family. I hope one day you truly belive that. I will treat you like any of my sisters. You can get angry at me, argue wit me...hell, I'll even take you wrestling me to the ground but like any of my sisters I will forgive you and you ever need anything from me you come to me. Talk to me."
"Piper I appreciate all of that I truly do. But I do not want to take anything from you and your family. I feel like I'm robbing you. I know that it sounds stupid but Piper...I have worked for everything that I have ever had and It's kind of...I just can't take from you"
"What do you feel. Right now?" She asked,
Rick looked uncomfortable down at his hands, the floor and then up at the manor...that is where his view stopped, looking at the manor. "Right now?" He asked, "To be honest, lonely. Confused. Like everything I ever thought I knew fell apart and now I'm rebuilding it. I'm scared of what is a head of me..." He admitted
"What do you fear Rick...No matter what you may think we are not bad people, Paige loves you more than anything and I am, weather you like it or not, the mother of that house. I mother people...and I'm afraid that includes you so, talk to me? Trust me?" Piper said as she looked at his face, she saw sadness, but also something else, acceptance.
Piper stood up slowly and just as she was about to walk he spoke, "How do you know?" He asked
Piper looked at him, "Know what?"
"That she still loves me?" He asked, now for the first time since the convocation began making eye contact with Piper.
"Because Mark, I was the one that was sat with your sister all night as she worried about you. I was the one who made the coffee for her, talked to her. All the fear you have, Paige mirrors it. She is scared to...scared she is going to lose you."
"Maybe I should just walk away! I always seem to complicate her life..."
"Rick, you walk away then you kill her" Piper explained, "She loves you so much"
"I love her too Piper, I always have." Rick lowered his head, "I just..." He laughed, "I'm afraid that there's more she isn't telling me." He admitted.
Piper cringed inside knowing what he was been hidden from, the world of magic. He didn't know who Paige had become!
"Do you trust her?" Piper asked, Rick nodded. "Well then trust that she loves you and remember that she needs you. And Rick..." She spoke getting him to look at her... "If I hear that you pay for another drink in my club, I'll kill you and Paige will miss you then"
Rick smiled. Then he stood up...faced Piper and looked into her loving, motherly, caring eyes. He wrapped his arms around her and she him "Thank you" He spoke
"No problem Rick"
"Tonight, you take it off...a really good friend of Paige and myself is coming into town and I want you guys to meet him. Do not tell her, it's a surprise. Do not say you can not make it and this is my way of saying thank you for sorting my head out. I can not 100 confidently tell you that I may not go a little crazy again because that's just me but...I'll be okay. Thanks"
Piper smiled, "No problem Rick. No Problem and any time. Now get inside and let me feed you and my sisters a slap up lunch."
"How can I resist" He smiled
Piper hugged him again and then turned towards the house; she walked a few steps and then looked back at Rick who had not move. "You coming?" She asked
"Yeah, just...need a minuet" HE explained,
"Okay then. Don't be too long." She walked again, but stopped, "And if I tell them your okay...I wont be lying right"
"Actually you will because I'm better than okay thanks to you" He explained looking at Pipers back. She was smiling feeling a sense of achievement; she had made him feel loved and accepted. She continued and walked into the house. Rick sat back on his car bonnet and smiled to himself...looking at the house he knew that in that moment he was more than Paige's sister. He was the Halliwell's friend and maybe, someday, he'd be there brother to.