The banging and creaking around the landing outside Paige's bedroom was the first thing to stir her awake. Phoebe was rushing from one end of the corridor to the other, from the shower to her bedroom at the other end and back again.
The shower was running and Phoebe was stalking around in just her towel picking up skirts and tops and taking them into the bathroom or discarding them along the way.
Piper popped her head around the door with Wyatt in her arms, looking mildly bemused by the sight of his petite aunt frantically running in one door and out the next.
"What the hell are you trying to do Phebes?" Piper looked both exasperated and curious.
"I have a big presentation coming up with Elise and some other high flyer people, about the layout of the magazine etc etc…"
She moved her hands in a circular motion while rolling her eyes to emphasis this and she was bouncing nervously on the balls of her feet.
"Anyway I kind of forgot my input was both necessary and needed to be like WOW in order for me to look even relatively professional around these big wigs and so I have to get in really early to prepare my unprepared input
and so need to find the write clothes to suit the input I am going to have, kapesh?"
" Well hun, I need to remind you that it is really early, and right now the whole house is awake because it sounds like the running of the balls out here, how can you make that much noise?"
Phoebe had zoned out and was beginning to chew her nails while dancing on the spot distractedly.
Piper rolled her eyes and put the hand that wasn't trying to placate Wyatt on Phoebe's shoulder to keep her from squirming.
"you are going to be great, you have saved the world, you can definitely do this."
Phoebe seemed unconvinced and scuttled back into her bedroom in what seemed like lightning speed. Piper shook her head and was about to turn back into her own room when Phoebe reappeared again behind her.
"which one?"
Phoebe presented a classy beige sleeveless top with thin black straps and jeans, and a strapless burgundy summer dress.
"Hmmm to convey the input you are going to have I would say the top and jeans, wear your stilettos and it is neutral, comfortable and not over the top."
Piper tried to sound serious while containing her annoyance and mocking at her sister's antics.
Phoebe looked pleadingly at her and held it up closer.
"So you think this one is the winner, to convey my message and sell myself, as a great columnist I mean?"
"Oh Phoebe I don't know, I don't know everything and if you don't mind I would like to put my son down and enjoy the rest of my morning in peace. And if you don't stop thrashing around outside you will have to sell your 'input' or 'message' or whatever to the rest of this family as to why you involved everyone in your fashion dilemma! C'mon, when were you ever so anxious about stuff like this?"
Phoebe looked at her sister apologetically but replied.
"I am the only one working, and I would like it to stay that way, okay? Now I am going to go shower."
Piper was about to argue Paige was working, sometimes, but decided it was too early and Phoebe was too neurotic at this point in time.
She was finally about to put Wyatt back when Phoebe shouted from her bedroom.
"Should I get Paige to give me a second opinion?"
Piper felt like she was trying to help an eight year old.
"Not if you want a black eye to impress your superiors as an accessory of your wardrobe!
There was no response and so Piper thought it was safe to return to the comfort of her bed.
She didn't need to go to the club today so she had decided it might be nice to just relax and perhaps talk with Paige. It felt like she hadn't seen her for ages and she felt really motivated to try and find the bastard that attempted to kill her sister and son.
But that was after 10 am, and not before.
Paige wasn't planning on getting up today, she thought she would wallow in her sorrows, brood and generally feel sorry for herself and be melodramatic and selfish. After one day of that she was sure she would bounce back to her old self again, the one that had no feelings for Chris, just ones of annoyance and mild curiosity like it used to be. He had grown on her, kind of like a fungi, and she wanted to remove it before it before it spread."Paige, I know your awake, its 10:30pm and I need you to get up and help me."
Piper knocked loudly on her door with her usual exasperated tone.
Paige moaned loudly.
"Do it yourself, I am not in the right state of mind to be helping anyone."
There was silence, but Paige knew better then to hope she had given up then and there. Considering she had an infant son, Piper didn't have an abundance of patience.
"Fine, whatever Paige, I'll just go prevent your nephew and my son's death on my own."
Paige knew there was no answer to that, now Piper was being melodramatic.
They were always preventing someone's or their own deaths at some point. And it wasn't like Wyatt was just any bundle of joy that was completely helpless. He was the bundle of joy that could shield himself from attacks and suspicious people as well as use his powers before he could walk and talk, now that could be something to worry about. That, and the attempt on his life of course.
She knew she didn't mean to belittle her nephew's stream of death threats but he always ended up okay, and he was never really the wiser either way, and hopefully today would be peaceful.
After all there was nothing to suggest it would happen again, the demon that attacked before could have been a renegade member of a cult, fed up of serving and was willing to risk his life to secure his own glory but killing the charmed one's powerful spawn. She felt satisfied with the unlikely assessment, satisfied enough, if for only a day, to think about something unrelated to magic.
" Well Paige, it's nice to know your so involved with your nephew, he'll be glad if he lives to understand, what you did for him. Oh wait that is neither you or Phoebe as you're both so wrapped up in your own lives and careers you forget your family and the fact you are what you are to help the innocent, and I would say a baby boy is about as innocent as they come. But hey, you probably have some really big issues to deal with so I will leave you alone."
Piper always knew how to work the guilt trip. Yet Paige couldn't succumb to it this time, she was unusually angry that because she was a witch, she could help everyone but herself, everyone could get married and have a family without a care, she couldn't. Everyone could enjoy using their skills and talents to be successful at their jobs and be recognised, she risks her life and gets no thanks, well not enough in her eyes.
At the moment, she couldn't feel proud of being a witch, she could only feel trapped. Although she decided instead of going back to sleep, that she would take and walk and clear her head. Hopefully, these feelings would go away and she might be in the right state of mind to help Piper later, but at the moment she wanted to get as far away from the manor and these feelings as possible. Chris just emphasised a fact they were destined to live with. They were likely to have saved a lot of people in their time, and feel happy about that, but would have no real love of their life or security, and that was even provided they live until old age.
After all, their grandmother hated men, then there was Phoebe and Cole, and even Piper and Leo, some of the strongest forces of good, happily married with a kid were ripped apart because of magic. Although magic gave Piper Wyatt, the only thing that was keeping her sane. Yet even he, if the countless demons were right, would be the source of evil in the future, of course she could let herself believe that.
As much as Piper dismissed or denied it, nothing in their lives was forever, peace, love, life and at this moment, these grim realities were the only thing that occupied her mind. She quietly got up and showered, tip toeing around upstairs so not to alert Piper, and then orbed out of the manor.
She sat down at the top of a large hill overlooking San Francisco, it was beginning to rain and was bitterly cold but Paige was determined to remain here and just sit. This place was where she used to come with her parents when she was only a toddler, she remembered it so well as they were some of the happiest times of her life, the times she felt safe and loved.
The view was beautiful despite the gathering rain clouds and impending storm. It reflected her feelings of doom quite well and she just listened to the harshness of the wind as it made the trees around her creak and moan as they bowed to it. She moved right to the edge of the cliff side and dangled her legs over, her father wasn't here to hold her anymore in case she fell. Her hair flew up around her and she closed her eyes. Her mind was blank and she felt connected with nature, with the angry weather as the rain poured down and thunder shuddered around her. The sky grew darker, she hoped she could stay here forever. She wasn't scared of falling off the edge of the steep hill, she felt like the weather was on her side, had sympathy for her and impressed by her boldness to stay in such ruthless conditions. These were unusual ideas but she felt like she had a friend in the weather. The rain beat down even harder as her soaking wet hair whipped her face with the wind. Her clothes were drenched but amongst the noise she thought she heard a voice.
" Perhaps it would be better to view the city, when you can, well actually see it."
Chris was always so cocky and sure of himself, he had totally messed with her head last night and he acted like everything was normal. Paige wanted lightning to strike him down where he stood.
Chris was scared shitless, out of everyone, he had wanted Paige to hate him least, he really liked her and using smart ass comments as a defence mechanism probably wasn't helping. He just didn't know what to say, but he didn't want her to stay out here almost suicidally on the edge of the cliff because of him.
Paige didn't turn around, she wanted to block him out, to look at him would bring back the feelings she felt last night, the good and the bad, and she wanted neither. What was the point of trying to love if it wouldn't last?Then she turned herself around to look at him, she had decided the best method of getting over this was to do it like ripping of a bandage. Quick and clean with the pain as short as possible. She knew she would have to face him for a long time to come, she couldn't avoid him forever so she may as well face him.
But when she went to talk, the words wouldn't come out, the wind had died down a bit as she stared at the drenched figure of Chris, his floppy hair ruffled and wet and his squinting blue eyes looked almost anxious. He seemed like he actually cared, but she didn't want to contemplate it, it would make the heartache worse. Heartache? She wasn't in love with him, was she? She then commented slowly:
"I forgive you for what happened last night, and I think we should just move on and I don't think we should hang out unless discussing demonic activity with my sisters.
Her voice was curt and cold, a little too formal. It was also a lie, she didn't forgive him but didn't not want to see him either. Yet she was scared if she did either she would be back where she started.
Chris nodded slowly, accepting her words, if this is what it took for her to be happy, then that's what he would do.
"Okay, I just wanted to say I am sorry about what -"
"It's fine, really." She cut in and forced herself a fake smile and turned away from him.
"Well are you coming back to the manor anytime soon? You'll just get sick if you stay out here any longer, I'll feel bad if you get phenomenia because of me, I am supposed to help you not kill you."
Paige was pissed off, he thought everything was about him, It wasn't! She just wanted to make him feel as shitty as she did now, no matter how she felt in the long run.
"No, I want to stay here and for the record, I know your egotistical but I am not here because of you. You only emphasised and point I never really acknowledged before. So thankyou for that, you made me understand where my life is going, or rather isn't. So if you could leave, that would actually make me feel better, because you, not the weather is making me sick and so do me a favour as my white lighter and get lost."
She couldn't help the tears that streamed down her face, she hoped he didn't notice amid the rain. No guy had ever made her feel this tormented before.
Chris felt like the bottom of his stomach had dropped out, he knew he deserved it, but the funny thing was if he just told her the truth, she would perhaps understand. But the truth would only complicate things for him. He had been heart broken before, he hoped he could deal with it. He just felt weird, he had never seen Paige so angry.
"Okay, I'll go back, I wont tell your sisters where you are." His voice was soft and reassuring.
"Thanks." The sarcasm was evident, she hoped the slight guilt wasn't.
Chris was about to orb."Chris?"
"Yes?""How did you know where I was in the first place?"
Chris didn't know how to lie out of this one, and so he did something very unusual, he told her the truth. He figured she deserved at least a piece of it.
" I see you come here sometimes when you are upset, I get it is special to you, so I assumed you would be here."
He didn't want to wait for a reply, feeling rather young and stupid he orbed out.
Paige felt her heart lift, the anger and the hate disappeared, he cared for her. She began to wonder about Chris, she wanted to understand his pain, his loneliness and his isolation, after all the future he came from wasn't pretty and who knew who he had left behind?
She knew she had some sort of feelings for him, but she would try to not let them get in the way of a potential friendship, after all he was their white lighter and ignoring him couldn't help the fight against evil, it wouldn't help her sisters either, and she loved them more than anything.
She began to cheer up a bit even though the weather still waged war upon the city. She felt proud again to be part of a unit, a magical unit of sisters who saved lives and loved each other, who cares what happened to her social life? She was making a difference in the world which is more then many could say, she scolded herself forever being so ungrateful for her gifts and was glad her tantrum was over. She was back to being herself and after she returned home she was looking forward to helping Piper.
Chris sat on the top of the golden gate bridge, looking at the lights of the grey city, he had never even dreamed the world could be this happy and free. Sure the place wasn't perfect but compared to where he came from, the people here had it great.Yet he still couldn't lift the dead weight in his stomach, the guilt and the disappointment. He wasn't sure why he was disappointed really, after all he didn't want or need anything to happen with Paige, but he felt like even the opportunity of talking and being with her as friends had slammed shut in his face.
It was sad as he liked hanging out with Paige, she was beautiful and easy going and didn't ask too many questions, she had a knack of knowing when to stop and Chris appreciated her company. Its not like he got much anyway.
The kiss though, wouldn't quit repeating itself in his mind, he had wanted to kiss her more then anything, and now he did again, he loved being close to her and she made him feel at ease for the short spaces of time they were together. He loved her smile and her eyes. Then he halted the trip down memory lane and gave himself and mental slap. Listing how great she was, was not going to help anything, after all, he still felt he deserved her anger. He just wished that he wished things hadn't happened that night, but he didn't, kissing her was worth the cold shoulder for he could remember it and savour it for as long as he needed to, other wise he would still be thinking about her and watching her all the time, he decided that it helped his infatuation end.
He had been heart broken before, but only once. He had never truly cared for a woman since, and now there was Paige. He liked Phoebe and Piper too, but they weren't so understanding and if Chris was truthful, a little more self absorbed.
He knew Paige was his charge, and he dreaded seeing her next, he dreaded talking to her when she hated him and he felt burdened by trying to save the future that he couldn't have a life. He needed to get somewhere to live, to have some sense of normality if he was going to keep sane, after all he needed somewhere, he didn't want to feel completely abnormal to the charmed ones.
It was about midday by the time Paige got home, she had orbed home quickly, changed her clothes and decided to do some shopping, since Phoebe was home too exhausted to do it last night and perhaps as some sort of peace offering to Piper, although Piper was unusually grumpy through lack of sleep she assumed.She wound through the busy aisles thoughtfully, mixing healthy, nesscary food with junk food and fizzy drink. Now she knew why Phoebe did the shopping. As she approached the checkout she felt mildly ashamed of her assortment of groceries and knew Piper would go crazy, but she would pay her back after the next temp job she got, she just really needed chocolate.
"I envy your selection."
Paige almost jumped in surprise at the voice behind her. She turned around and was taken aback by handsome the man was. He had deep brown eyes and a mischievous grin, his hair was brown and slightly curly, he had boyish good looks and was well built.
"Thankyou." She laughed nervously.
"I have a date with the TV."
He nodded sympathetically.
"I am sure it wont be disappointed." He stared at her and his dazzling smile made her want to swoon.
He held up his own basket of goodies. It was packed with necessities like milk and bread but also with a dummy and child's cup. She realised he must have a family, to say she was devastated was an over exaggeration, but she was bitterly disappointed.
" You have a child?" She tried to sound enthusiastic about the fact he was taken.
He nodded proudly. " Yep, she's my everything."
Paige smiled, it was so sweet.
"How old is she?"
"About eighteen months."
Paige hardly realised the line was moving forward as she busy hanging off the stranger's every word. It was funny how easily they flowed into conversation considering they knew nothing about each other.
"You and your wife must be very proud." She knew it was a bold move but she had to know if he was unavailable, and end the anticipation.
He laughed.
"No I am not married any longer unfortunately." Paige didn't want to ask anything further, she didn't feel it was her place, as much as she liked him already.
" She died giving birth to Emma." He added it in solemnly as if knowing what she wanted to ask.
" I am so sorry." She couldn't think of anything better to say, after all she didn't know him, she just wanted to show her support, she knew what it was like to lose someone you love.
"It's okay, I still have her with me, our daughter was part of her for nine months and is the last I have of her."
He smiled weakly.
"Anyway, I am sure this isn't the sort of aisle talk normal people have, so tell me about yourself."
Paige tried to think of something truthful but impressive to say, neither really went hand in hand.
"Well, there's not much to know really, I am sort of unemployed at the moment, although I baby sit my nephew and help out around the house. I live with my sisters, it's a long story."
He raised his eyebrows curiously.
"I would love to hear it some day."
They looked at each other awkwardly.
"Well I mean, we could swap the nightmares and joys of looking after children."
Paige hadn't felt this excited, for, well she couldn't even remember. She was moving on. She doubted he had better stories about his child then about Wyatt but she just wanted to watch him speak, drown in his words.
"That sounds fun, oh and just for the record, I'm Paige."
She held out her hand politely and couldn't help but beam.
"That's a good start, I'm Ben." He shook her hand heartily.
Paige put her groceries on to the moving conveyer belt as a thousand thoughts entered and exited her mind. She thought how funny life was and how fate worked. This morning she felt rejected and thought she had no romantic future, now she was conversing with a really cute guy and he actually thought she was something special other wise he wouldn't have asked her to see him again. She put her hair behind her ears self consciously as she handed the cashier the money.
She shifted the weight of the grocery bags from one hand to the other as she waited for Ben to pay.
"So, do you want to get a coffee sometime?" He began to walk with her out of the supermarket.
The aroma of his cologne was surrounding Paige as she couldn't help but want to take him home.
"That sounds cool, I am free most of the time, what do you do for a living? Are you quite busy, because that's cool if you are, I was just wondering."
She couldn't fathom why she was rambling and felt completely out of her depth.
Yet he just smiled as if he hadn't heard the nervousness of her words.
"Well I am actually a writer, which means I cans stay home with Emma and my hours are pretty flexible."
"That's wonderful." She couldn't help but let her enthusiasm show.
"What sort of books do you write?"
"I have a psychologist degree so my first couple of books were about the brain and also criminal tendencies and what causes them, and well the most recent was dealing with loss and grief, and now I am writing about psychosis."
He was clever, sexy and sweet. Was she dreaming?
"I must sound like such a dork going on about my books, they really aren't that interesting, but its my passion and it pays the bills."
"I can totally understand that, you have to dedicate yourself to what you love."
His eyes twinkled slightly and he smiled in agreement and understanding."Well this is my car."
He stood by a large blue people carrier. Paige hadn't even processed the fact they were moving, time seemed to have stood still, now it was speeding up, fast. Paige sighed quietly while he put his bags in the back, she didn't want him to leave, just a few more hours and she would be content.
"Well shall we swap numbers and addresses?" He got out his wallet and took out a pen and an old receipt.
"Sorry this is my only writing material. I hope I am not too forward. I haven't done this in a long time."
Paige just smiled reassuringly. "No it's fine, I am a bit rusty too."He scribbled down his digits and his full name and address. He handed her the receipt tentatively.
"Are you seeing anyone? Sorry if I am being forward again." He cringed quickly.
"No, I am single, enjoying getting to know people, so I would love to hang out with you!"
She hoped she didn't sound desperate, or that she slept around, Paige didn't always have a way with words.
She gave him her number did on her supermarket receipt and then they said their goodbyes. He promised to call her in the next day or two and she could hardly wait. As she approached her own car she felt the sickly sensation of nerves and excitement that come of change.
"Piper?" She was half way up the stairs.
Piper came to the top of the stairs and looked over.
"I thought you were in bed moping about something?" She was obviously still a little narked.
Paige paused.
"I was, but I am over that now, so need any help?"
Piper smiled gratefully.
" Well since neither of you saw the demon very well, we couldn't really achieve that much, but hey maybe you were right about the rouge demon thing, either way we'll have to wait and see."
Paige knew wait and see meant wait to get attacked but she was just relieved everything was good between them.
"So do you wanna talk about anything? Sorry I was a bitch this morning." A look of concern crossed Pipers face.
"I mean, you shut yourself away from us for a day and I just want to make sure your okay."
Paige smiled, she loved having sisters, she had best friends, confidants and siblings all in one, or rather two.
She didn't want to dwell on the negativities of this morning though and so she decided to tell Piper about Ben.
As Paige made them both coffee she gushed about the family man Ben, the writer Ben, the funny guy Ben and any other part of Ben she could comment on, then someone orbed in."Hey." Chris smiled at Piper and then awkwardly at Paige before looking at the ground.
Paige did much the same and Piper looked curiously from one to the other.
"Hi Chris, what is it?" Piper was still looking suspiciously at Paige.
"I was just wondering about the demon you were looking up?"
Piper sighed.
"No luck, with such a sketchy description it was a waste of time."
Chris nodded solemnly before looking quickly at Paige who was conveniently searching her coffee cup for cracks.
" I also wanted to let you guys know I am going to find somewhere to live, something more permanent."
"Are you sure that's necessary Chris?" Piper was doing her motherly routine.
" Well I wont be far away but I need a normal place, where I can have my privacy and feel like a normal guy."
He smiled at how funny that sounded, but after all none of them were normal but they still held down jobs and still did the everyday things non magical people did, and he wanted to do the same.
"What are you going to do for money?" Piper realised how silent Paige had been as she was questioning Chris.
"I thought about getting a job, or you know robbing a bank or something."
Piper laughed.
"I hope the latter wasn't a serious proposition."
Chris smiled slyly.
"Well I am a desperate guy…..but I am sure I can find an alternative."
Piper turned to Paige. "Your unusually quiet, what did you burn your tongue?
You couldn't stop talking about your new boyfriend Ben a minute ago."
She couldn't have picked a worse topic. Chris looked slightly taken aback but tried to keep a straight face.
"Who is this mystery man?"
Chris couldn't help but ask, after all he wasn't going to watch her anymore and he wanted to keep on talking terms somehow.
Paige still liked Chris but she also wanted to throw it in his face the fact someone was interested in her and that she was somewhat special and perhaps even make him jealous.
"Just a really nice guy I met in the supermarket, he's taking me out in a few days."
It was very vague and a bit over exaggerated, sure the guy was interested in her, but she didn't know in what way.
Chris tried to look uninterested even though he felt like punching a wall.
He wanted to know more, but he knew he wasn't exactly Paige's favourite person, or even a friend at the moment and he desperately wanted her to forgive him.
"Well I am going to call Phoebe and ask if she's pulling a late night work spree again, see how her 'input' went, I doubt she'll be back for dinner."
Piper couldn't help but mock the mood Phoebe had worked herself into this morning, she just hoped she was over it. Everyone was weird this morning, Piper was as constant as gravity, well almost.
There was a murmur of agreement.
"Well until you go flat hunting your welcome to stay for dinner tonight Chris."
No one spoke, Paige was praying Chris had somewhere else to go.
Paige sighed, she could hardly say no without a reason and so agreed politely.
'Paige brought some good food that we can throw together, how does that sound?"
They both chanted a not so overly eager "Good."
As Paige knew a comment of the sort would come back to bite her in the ass sometime.
"Well I am going go call Phoebe, Paige why don't you make Chris a coffee or something?"
Piper left the kitchen and Paige suddenly felt less generous in spirit towards Piper, sometimes she could be so bossy, but did was she was told reluctantly.
"Would you like a coffee Chris?" She tried to sound sweet although it wasn't completely genuine.
"No, I can get it myself it's okay." He moved over to the sink next to her.
Paige knew this would be a long night.
I will try to incorporate some more of Phoebe and Leo later on. Please review and give me some ideas of what you think!