Yo bodacious dudes and dudettes! (Yes, you are correct in sensing I've been watching Wayne's World (It's Wayne's World! Party Time! Excellent!) …Right, I've been bad and changed the contents of this chapter because there was something I had to add in at the beginning, which made the chapter too long. So I'm leaving you with a cliffhanger…kinda. :p
LeoPiper-Forever- You want Leo? You'll have to fight me for him:p Muahahahha! I'm glad you like it! Thankles for the review!
Phiona- I'm glad you liked the name. And sorry for not updating on Sunday, but I hope you had a good birthday!
Moonfirefairy- Thanks for the review. I thought I made it really obvious what Amy and Warren's powers were...
BlueOrbs998- Okay, dude! I seriously think you are clairvoyant...and that's all I'll say :p Thanks for yet another awesomely awesome review! I walked around with an inane grin on my face for a week! lol! And as for a Paige/Piper/Cole scene, your wish is my command (But be patient, it'll be in a later chapter:p)
Money Makes Me Smile- Ooh, Kerr Smith... I knew you'd like 'cooed'! lol! Yes, Paige did get her powers back...did I forget to write that...damn!
Powerof4- Thanks for the review! I'm sorry you don't like the name :( But don't worry, my Warren won't be killing Tara any time soon! You'll see quite a bit of his personality in the next chapter...I hope you like him...
Prince Halliwell- Thanks! Heehee, I thought you'd like the MJ mischief :p And I think you'll be seeing a lot more of Charlotte in the near future. Also, I'm gonna dedicate the next chapter to you instead because it is fully Piper based and this one isn't any more. So don't think I've forgotten! Lol.
RJF- Thanks! Heehee, orb trips to Scotland! There will be many more of them in the future... And a lot more of Cole too. I'm glad you like 'my' Cole. :D
.elementbabe. - Thanks for the review.
PrincessPrue- Thanks Mags! Here's the chapter you've been waiting for :p
Chapter28- Voice of an Angel
Clutching her pink Carebear close to her chest, Rachael slowly and shakily pulled the bed covers over her head. Her deep breathing, only just heard over the raging storm and heavy rain lashing against her window, became increasingly louder. Panic was radiating from the tiny redhead. The booming thunder struck fear into her heart. The power had cut out half an hour ago and Rachael, too frightened by the storm to move from her room, remained in her bed with her Minnie Mouse flashlight as her only source of comfort.
Everywhere she looked, an ominous looking shadow penetrated terror into her heart. She wanted more than anything to run through to her mother's room, but since they had moved into Uncle Cole's old apartment, Paige's room had been all the way at the other side of their home. An echoing boom of thunder sent chills down Rachael's spine. She clutched her Carebear so tightly that if it had been a real animal it almost certainly would be dead. She was trembling in fear and her jaw was quivering. Rachael did not realise the thick coat of ice forming on her mattress as ice chips sparked rapidly from her fingertips.
Another crash of thunder and Rachael's heart skipped a beat. She took a sharp intake of breath and clutched her Carebear even closer to her chest. It too, was covered in frost from Rachael's fingers. It was times like these when she envied her family's orbing power. She wanted so badly to crawl into bed with her mother and be protected from the raging storm. Deciding that she could not stay alone any longer, the tiny redhead slowly and shakily brought her duvet from off of her head and began to slip a small foot out of the bed. She closed her eyes, not wanting to encounter the evil shadows which were lurking around every corner and slipped out of her bed.
CRASH!
Rachael nearly jumped out of her skin. She let out a small scream and leapt back into her bed. The covers made a small tent over her head and her flashlight was keeping the shadows away, but Rachael had not been more scared since…since Decron had kidnapped she and her sister. As she gulped back tears of fear, her mind turned to her father. There had been a song he had sung to her whenever she had been frightened before. And as she began to hum the tune a certain level of calm settled on her.
"A gentewl bweeze fom Hushabye Mountain…" Her voice was shaking as the words escaped her lips but she continued, "Softy blows ober Lullaby Bay… It fiws da sails of boats dat a' waitn'… Waitin' to saiw yo' wowwies away…"
Her voice trailed off. She could not remember the rest of the words. The safe feeling the song had momentarily given her quickly melted away and her jaw began to quiver. But then she heard it, It rang out through the terrifying sounds of the storm like an angel's melody, but it hit Rachael's heart like a ton of bricks.
"It isn't far to Hushabye Mountain. And your boat waits down at the key. The winds of night so softly are sighing. Soon they will fly your troubles to sea…"
He was finishing the song. She knew his voice immediately- the mellow and raspy, yet strangely beautiful tone- but she refused to believe it was real. It couldn't be real. He was dead. Her father was dead.
"So close your eyes on Hushabye Mountain. Wave goodbye to cares of the day. And watch your boat from Hushabye Mountain, Sail far away from Lullaby Bay…"
And then the song ended, but Rachael still remained calm. Whoever had been singing created a peaceful and protective atmosphere. One Rachael had only ever felt around two people: Her father and her Uncle Leo. But this could not have been Leo. She had heard him sing and it was, for lack of a better term, dire. Her mind wondered in thought. Had her father been singing to her from heaven? It was impossible. She knew not to get her hopes up.
CRASH!
The thunder seemed louder than ever this time. Fear crept slowly back into Rachael's heart. An eerie flash lit up the room followed by yet another loud crash and the three-year-old redhead began to whimper.
"Mommy," She whispered, not forgetting about the calming voice which had snag to her, but continuing to tell herself it was her imagination. "Mommy?" Her voice cracked as a pleading expression formed on her face.
"Snowflake." It was not her mother's voice. But there had only ever been two people who called her snowflake. And this voice sounded remarkable like the voice which had just been singing-like the voice of her daddy. Fear remained in her heart, but a small spark of hope joined it. Her daddy was an angel now. The voice must have been a trick of the storm… But it had sounded so real.
Now almost the entire surface of the bed was covered in a layer of frost and ice. It was continuing to flow from her fingertips, but Rachael seemed unaware.
"Snowflake." The voice came again. Rachael's breath caught in her throat. "It's really me." Maybe he was really here.
Timidly, never letting go of the Carebear her father had given her the previous Christmas, the redhead lifted off her duvet cover tent. Once again, she kept her eyes tight shut fearing what she would see when she opened them. However. when she caught a waft of the smell which reminded everyone so strongly of her father- the scent of oranges mixed with tobacco- her eyes sprang open in hope.
And then she saw him. Her heart pumped rapidly in her chest- faster than the three-year-old could ever remember it beating- and tears strolled freely down hr cheeks. No longer tears of fright, but of both sorrow and joy. Her brilliant white, but slightly crooked teeth were shown in a huge smile which seemed to stretch from ear to ear.
"Daddy." She gasped, leaping from the bed and bounding across the dark room towards him. She did not take notice of his strange attire- full Scotsman outfit- as she jumped into his open arms. "I missded you." She told him through a small happy sob.
She gazed into his face. He had not changed a bit but for a long, damaged scar which stretched across his left cheek. His slightly worn face too, was glazed in hot tears.
"I miss you too." He told her quietly.
Another boom of thunder echoed through the stormy night sky and Rachael's grip on her father's hand tightened. "Shh," He soothed, running his free hand through his youngest daughter's sleek ginger hair. "It's just a storm. Be a big brave girl for Daddy, okay?" Just his voice made Rachael feel safe. She remained silent, but her eyes never left his face, as if frightened that if they did he would disappear. Sleep was beginning to was over her, but, through a huge yawn, Rachael managed to ask her father the question he appeared to be dreading.
"Daddy," She said, a heart wrenching look in her blue eyes, "You won't go away again, wiw you?"
Mark sighed and looked towards the ceiling, unable to make eye contact with his daughter. "I will always be watching over you." He told her and in her sleepy state his answer seemed satisfactory. The next crash of thunder brought no fear into Rachael at all and before she knew it she had drifted to sleep in Mark's arms, unaware of the salty tears streaming down his cheek or his troublesome expression.
xxxxx
The next morning Rachael was wakened and found herself in her own bed. Her memory of the previous night was somewhat hazy and when she saw that it had been her mother who had woken her, her heart sank. It had all been a dream- a stupid dream. She was never going to see her father again.
"Snowflake, what's wrong?" Paige asked in deep concern seeing the sullen expression appear on Rachael's face.
"I-" She began, looking desperately at her mother. She did not know what to say. "I dweamed about Daddy last night…" She looked down, not meeting Paige's eyes. "…I miss him."
Paige suddenly looked sorrowful, angry and upset all at the same time. She placed her hand on Rachael's petite shoulder and gave her a sympathetic smile. "He misses you too honey…"
"I know." Rachael replied, startling her mother. "He telled me in my dweam."
xxxxx
By the time Paige had all the kids up, dressed and fed, Rachael did not look any happier. The tremendous hope and joy she had been feeling had been ripped out of her, and it hurt. Mark had been gone for ten months now and things were beginning to seem normal, but Rachael had been changed for the worst. She would never be the same again.
A loud knock on the apartment door drew Paige's attention from her youngest daughter. Laura jumped from her seat, where she had been putting her colouring pencils into her Tinkerbelle schoolbag and started towards the door. As she skipped, her ponytail brushed her shoulders and her grey school pinafore bounced in time with the skips. Her maroon blazer, which had been tied around her waste, slipped slowly down and eventually fell onto the floor unnoticed by Laura. Of course, because Laura simply refused to wear dull colours, she had a pair of lime green tights with fuchsia pink flowers embroidered on them, but she certainly looked smart in her school uniform.
She stretched up to open the door and was greeted by a face she was mildly surprised to see. "Auntie Phoebe!" She beamed, "Charlie!"
"Hey sweetie." Phoebe greeted her niece, placing Charlotte on the floor.
"Lola!" Charlotte giggled excitedly, grabbing her cousin's hand. "Go skull." She chirped, pointing at Laura's 'San Francisco Elementary' logo.
"It's school silly." Laura said with a Paige-like roll of her eyes. "What is you doing here Auntie Phoebe?"
"Yeah Phoebs," came Paige's voice. "Shouldn't you be at work?"
"Wednesday's my day off." Phoebe reminded her sister with a smile. "I just dropped MJ at Cole's. I'm meeting Piper outside the school and we're heading for some coffee, do you want to come?"
"I don't know…" Paige looked a little reluctant, "Rachael's a little upset about something and I don't think Warren would cope well with all those people…"
"Paige." Phoebe said firmly, "Stop making excuses. You know Warren is a little people person and maybe Rach will cheer up if she's with her cousins. We hardly ever get to spend time with you any more. We're your sisters. We miss seeing you so often!"
The look Phoebe was giving her was the look Paige hated. One which was enough to drive guilt into a person's heart and make it almost impossible to refuse. "Okay." She sighed. "Just give me two minutes to get the kids ready."
Phoebe saved her satisfied smirk until Paige had turned away.
xxxxx
Paige pulled up behind Phoebe outside the school. She lifted Warren, who was sound asleep, out of the car and held him to her chest. She proceeded to open the back door for Laura and Rachael to climb out and clutched her youngest daughter's hand as they walked towards the school gate.
"Guess what we gots today?" Laura said excitedly skipping ahead of her mother and siblings.
"What Pixie?" Paige replied with a genuine interest as to what was making Laura so excited.
"Arts and crafts!" Laura yelled excitedly and a little too loudly for Warren's liking as he began to cry. "Oops… I'm soree Warren." She gulped, turning back to her brother. But Warren soon calmed down and Laura pecked him on he forehead in a bid farewell.
"Bye sweetie." Paige said, accepting her kiss on the cheek from her eldest. "Have fun, and be good."
"I'm always good." Laura said with an innocent smirk. "Bye Mommy! Bye Rachy! By Warren!"
Paige watched her daughter skip into the playground and excitedly join Shauna Morris by the hopscotch. She had to admit that Laura's enthusiasm for school was one thing she did not inherit from her mother, but more from her Auntie Piper. As she turned back to her car where she knew Phoebe, and very probably Piper, would be standing, she was startled by the sudden appearance of a rather handsome man behind her.
"Sorry." She muttered, having walked straight into him.
"That's quite alright." He replied with a smile, his floppy brown hair falling into his equally dark eyes as he smiled. He had a broad New York accent and Paige had to admit he was rather attractive, but nothing compared to what Mark had been. "Hayden Smith." He said, offering his hand. Of course, Paige accepted, but a little reluctantly. She did not like feeling attracted to someone else.
"Paige Anderson." She replied.
"Oh, I know." He said, startling Paige slightly. She must have clearly looked alarmed because Hayden continued with an explanation. "My daughter Morgan is friendly with Laura. They're both in Mrs Mottram's class.
"Oh." Paige did recall Laura talking about a Morgan Smith so she relaxed somewhat, but she could feel Rachael getting impatient at her side, and also see Phoebe's eyes watching her like a hawk. "That's right." She could almost sense Rachael's impatient frustration so decided to include her in the conversation. "This is my other daughter Rachael, and her brother Warren."
"Hi," Rachael said with a scowl. Why was her mommy talking to other men?
"Well hello there." Hayden said, ruffling her hair. An angry blast of ice shot from her hand, bu she quickly hid it behind her back in the hopes that he had not seen anything. Apparently he hadn't because he continued. "I don't mean to sound very forward, but Morgan told me about your husband… I was wondering if you might like to grab a bite to eat sometime…?"
Paige couldn't help but smile. He was charming and most certainly cute, but every time she found herself smiling, guilt and anger towards herself bubbled inside of her.
"I…um…" How did she reject someone so nice? "I just don't think…"
"Don't think your ready?" He finished her sentence. How had he known? "I was the same after Samantha- my wife- was killed… drunk driver hit her. Morgan was only two."
Paige was amazed at how openly he could talk about it. Would she ever be able to talk about Mark like that? "Well…I'll see you around." She said and hurried away before the conversation could get any further. Unfortunately when she reached her car, Phoebe was ready with an interrogation.
"Who was that Missy Paige?"
"His name was Hayden Smith. He's one of Laura's friend's dad." Paige narrowed her eyes. Phoebe looked ready to play cupid and Paige did not want to go on a date with that man. She did not want to go on a date with anyone.
"He looked like he was flirting…" Phoebe grinned, bouncing Charlotte on her hip.
"He asked if I wanted to go out sometime." Paige told her. "And before you ask, I told him no." Paige was glad to see Rachael climbing into the car and she herself pushed past her sister to strap Warren into his car seat. She had never felt so guilty in he life…not since high school at least. How could she even have considered dating another man? How could she even have given him a second glance? She was horrified with herself. "I'm so sorry." She whispered quietly, clutching her wedding ring tightly, with the sudden urge to visit Mark's grave.
"You know what Phoebs, I'm not really in the mood for coffee today. How about we catch up on Saturday instead?"
"But-" Before Phoebe could object, Paige was already sitting in the car. She gave her younger sister a wave goodbye wearing a quizzical expression on her face. And as Paige pulled out, Piper pulled in.
"Isn't Paige coming?" Piper asked, slightly disappointed, letting Prue out of the car.
"I-well- She was going to and then some guy asked her if she wanted to go out some time and she just…left."
xxxxx
When they had reached the coffee house, the conversation about Paige was continuing. Amy had remained at home with her father so only Andy and Charlotte joined their mothers, but were happily sufficed with their large portions of carrot cake and chocolate milk.
"I'm worried about her." Phoebe told her big sister sincerely, taking a sip of her latte.
"Me too Phoebs, but what can we do?" Piper replied, wiping the spill of chocolate milk Andy had just made on his clean, red, Batman T-shirt. "She lost Mark. And I know that was almost a year ago, but it takes time for wounds to heal."
"But after Andy died Prue met Jack and-"
"Phoebs, Paige isn't Prue. Everyone deals with things in their own way and at their own pace. Think about it, if Jason died tomorrow you wouldn't get over him quickly would you?"
"I guess you're right." Phoebe replied. But then again, when wasn't Piper right? From living with a family of whitelighters Piper had become very in touch with people's emotions and had developed a very good advice giving side. Almost as good as Phoebe and she was the empath! "But I just wonder if Paige will ever be the same again?"
"Me too…" Piper had to admit that although she had sometimes been irritated by Paige's childish sense of humour and stubborn temper, she missed her baby sister. It wasn't just the personality she missed either. Paige had not cast a spell- at least not one Piper or Phoebe could recall- since Mark's death. They knew her powers had returned to her after Decron's death, but she very rarely used them any more. It suddenly dawned on two thirds of the Power of Three that perhaps the problem was deeper than they thought.
"You don't think we could…" Piper picked up on Phoebe's thought train immediately. It technically wouldn't be personal gain…
"What if we just cast a spell to-" She had not realised that she had been speaking so loudly and a few heads turned to give her a very curious stare. So she lowered her voice and pretended her conversation was perfectly normal- as if she were discussing clothes or food. "To find out if Paige will ever return to her normal self?"
"Or maybe one to help us understand her pain? So we can, y'know, help her more better?"
"Phoebs, that was the worst piece of grammar I've ever heard…" She gave a snort of laughter, which Andy imitated, though he was unsure why he was doing so. "But actually a good idea."
"And, it won't be personal gain because the problem is affecting her powers and that concerns the greater good." Phoebe continued, actually amazed that Piper was willing to cast a spell.
"Well, let's get back to the Manor."
xxxxx
The older two Charmed Ones stood in the Halliwell Manor attic. Leo had gladly accepted a chance to look after the kids. Of course, they had not told him of their plans to cast a spell because he would, undoubtedly, have gone to 'check with the elders'. It was an odd feeling as they stood there with the scroll of parchment, which had the spell written on it. They could not remember the last time they had cast a spell together that was not to vanquish a demon or warlock. And both found themselves hit with the memory of when they had cast a spell to find a man. That had been ten years ago- a frighteningly long time.
"You ready for this?" Phoebe asked, slipping her glasses on.
"Yeah." Piper replied. There was something in her gut telling her that this spell would backfire, but she was too insistent on helping her sister to care. They both took a deep breath and began to read from the parchment. (AN- I apologise profusely for the supreme cackness of this spell.)
"We call upon the powers of love. Our sister's lost her power to love. Help us feel our sister's pain. Tell us if she'll be the same again."
xxxxx
Phoebe kept her eyes tightly closed. The spell didn't appear to be doing anything. In fact, the only thing she had felt was a small tug in her stomach. No power advancement that she was aware of, or no change of location.
"Fat lot of use that was." She said, opening her eyes to fins herself standing in exactly the same spot as before. "Piper?" Curious as to why her sister had not replied, Phoebe turned to her left only to find Piper was not there. "Oh yeah, sure. Work for her!"
"Who are you talking to honey?" Came a voice from the door. A voice which had not called her honey for a very long time.
"What?" She gasped, turning to face the doorway where Cole stood with a goofy grin on his face. "Did you just call me honey?"
"Isn't that what I usually call you?" He asked, looking tremendously confused. "Are you okay?"
"I…uh…I'm fine. I just need to find Piper."
"She left for P3 half an hour ago Phoebe." Cole said, and a mischievous grin spread across his face, "Which means we have the house all to ourselves…" She strode across the attic and wrapped his arms around her, placing his hands firmly on her butt and giving it a tight squeeze. She had to admit Cole knew exactly how to please her, but she was as confused as sin as to what was happening. When he leaned in for a kiss, she pursed her lips together and pulled away.
"Phoebs, what's the matter?" He asked, looking slightly rejected.
"I…uh…I've got my period." She lied. Whatever warped universe she was in she did not want to mess it up. "And I really need to talk to Piper."
"Okay," Cole replied with a pretend pout, "I can wait. I guess I'll just go and buy you presents…"
Phoebe gave him a forced smile and dashed towards the door. This was beginning to get a little weird.
"Wait!" Cole called before she could place a foot on the top stair. "Did you change your hair?" He asked curiously.
"Um…no! I just tied it back." And then before he could say another word Phoebe was running at top speed down the attic stairs. She passed the portraits of Grams, of Charlotte Warren and of Brianna Wentworth…the one Phoebe knew she had in her own house. The one which was also hanging where the photo of Prue's first ballet recital now hung. When she reached the corridor she headed straight towards Andy's bedroom in a mad panic, hoping that her worries were not necessary. But they were. What should have been Andy's room was most definitely not the room of a three-year-old boy. No. It was the room of none other than Phoebe herself. The room which had been hers seven years ago at least.
"Damn it!" Phoebe cursed, "I hate time travelling!"
xxxxx
Slowly, Piper brought a hand to her forehead and groggily opened her eyes, which were beginning to focus on her surroundings. She found herself still in the attic, but sitting on the floor, her back resting against the loveseat she was sure was in the living room…
She remained seated on the floor, rubbing her head which felt as though it had been slammed against a wall, and she squinted her eyes. Something about the attic was different, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. And her eyesight seemed to have worsened considerably in the past two minutes. As if she suddenly needed glasses. For a moment she stopped in a dead panic. Had she somehow switched bodies with Phoebe? But a quick examination of her body told her she was still herself…but wearing different clothes.
Hearing footsteps on the creaky wooden stairs, Piper jerked her head towards the door. She hoped it was Phoebe come to tell her that all the spell had done to her was change her outfit too. She shook her hear, trying to get a clear chain of thoughts and her long ponytail brushed her back- a ponytail Piper had definitely not put in that morning. Something funny was going on here.
When the door creaked open, the eldest Charmed One prepared to see her younger sister, but instead she found herself face to face with a complete stranger. 'Demon!' her mind screamed. She could feel the power radiating from the young man, At six foot his stance was somewhat looming, but he was too thin to be terribly dangerous- physically at least. The floppy, sandy hair, which fell over his face, gave him a slightly rugged appearance but he did not intimidate Piper in any way. In fact, he almost looked like the kind of guy she would have hung out with at school- a little dorky, but very handsome, with a great sense of humour. However, Piper pushed this thought to the back of her mind. Looks could be deceiving. She had learnt that from both Cole and Paul McFarland.
"Who the hell are you?" She asked accusingly. But the young man's smile broadened.
"Ha ha, very funny!" He moved towards her and offered her his hand. She just stared at him, utterly bewildered. She remembered the time Paige had gotten sucked into an alternate reality. Was she in one of those? The stranger shook his head, apparently in amusement, causing his hair to fall away from his face. In doing this he revealed the most beautiful pair of sharp green eyes Piper had ever seen. But she had seen them before. She saw them every day. However, she refused to believe this was him. She jerked backwards causing the young man to roll his eyes and Piper's jaw nearly hit the floor. He had perfected Paige's eye roll down to an art. This was him.
"Andy?" She gasped.
AN- Oooh! Lol! Can you see why the next chapter is called 'Let's do the Time Warp…Again'? Lol. The summary I left for what was going to be this chapter is now the summary for the next one. I hope you enjoyed that! Anyway, Until next time my pretties…remember to review!