The next morning Paige woke up, buzzing with excitement. She stretched her arms up over her head and rolled over to her side. She looked up at her alarm clock and shot from the bed. 10:00. She had over slept! She ran towards the bathroom, silently hoping no one was in there. Thankfully no one was and she hurried inside. If she was quick she might just make. Paige took the quickest shower of her life and did her make-up in record time. The only thing left was what to wear.
By the time Paige reached her bedroom, wrapped in a towel, it was 10:30. She threw open the doors of her wardrobe and began pulling clothes out. She grabbed a short, denim skirt, one of her old work ones. 'Too desperate,' she decided, discarding the item of clothing. Next came a cream coloured blouse she didn't even know she owned. That would never do.
Finally Paige settled on a cropped pair of dark denim jeans and a white tank top. She pulled her red coppery hair into a high ponytail. Perfect. Casual enough for a lunch date, but dressy enough to show she was interested.
All preparations made, Paige bounded down the stairs and nearly collided with her eldest sister in the foyer.
"Whoa! Where's the fire?" Piper asked through a mouthful of pickled onion crisps. Clutched in her hand was the bag. Ever since becoming pregnant, Piper had had a craving for the odd flavour snack.
"No fire. Just a date," Paige replied smugly.
"Really?" Piper said with a smirk. "Who with?"
"Ryan, from the supermarket."
Piper's smile vanished. " What? Paige, her could be a demon!"
"I know," Paige admitted, frowning slightly. Although she had considered the idea that the invisible man was a demon, she had hoped Piper would be happy for her. "If I suspect anything I'll leave and orb straight home. But I have to take this chance."
"Fine." Piper finally gave in, though she wasn't pleased. Paige was a big girl and she could take care of herself. " Just be careful."
"I will!" Paige promised. She threw her arms around Piper and gave an excited squeal. Releasing Piper, she made for the door.
Paige was barely out the house when there was a crash from the conservatory. The crisps fell from Piper's hands and she moved as fast as she could through the house towards the sun-filled room. The sight she saw there made her stop dead in her tracks.
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Paige sat outside a cosy Thai restaurant, on a small two-seater table. Deliciously spicy smells wafted from inside the restaurant, and the place was a bustle of activity. Waiting staff manoeuvred around tables and young couples gazed at each other from across the tables. Opposite her was Ryan, in the midst of telling Paige the mischief he got up to as a child.
"So the spell backfired and gave you the acne?" Paige giggled incredulously.
"Yeah. It took two weeks to go completely. If you look closely you can still see the scars!"
Paige and Ryan burst into fits of laughter. When they subsided Paige studied Ryan's handsome face. His full lips were still turned in a smile and small creases at the corner of his eyes showed he laughed a lot. The more time Paige spent with him the more convinced she was that he wasn't a demon.
Casually Paige glanced at her watch.
"Am I boring you?" Ryan asked, taking a sip of his water.
"No," Paige answered quickly, feeling terrible for creating the impression she wanted to leave. She felt quite the opposite. This was one of the best dates Paige had ever had. It helped that Ryan was a witch, and they could be open with each other right from the beginning. "I'm sorry, it's just that I promised I'd help at my sister's club. But I don't need to leave yet."
"Your sister owns a club?"
"Yeah. P3," Paige answered.
"No way! I love that place!"
"Really?"
"Yeah. Maybe we can go there sometime. Together I mean," Ryan said.
"Sure, that would be great." As Paige settled back in her seat and spooned a mouthful of noodles in her mouth, she felt a bubble of happiness swell in her chest. It was early days, but she felt like she felt she had found the man of her dreams.
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Piper surveyed the conservatory with dismay. Phoebe was sprawled on the floor, surrounded by a smashed table and blood flowed from a gash on her forehead. That wasn't the worst of it. A darklighter stood with his crossbow pointed menacingly at Leo. Leo's eyes flicked to Piper and screamed a silent message; 'get out!'
Before Piper had a chance to even think about acting, the darklighter whipped around and fired an arrow at Piper. As the arrow neared, a bubble-gum pink force field appeared around Piper's expanded stomach. The arrow hit the shield and fell to the floor with a clatter. The shield dropped and Piper blew up the demon with a flick of her wrists.
"Are you okay?" Leo asked, rushing to his wife's side.
"Yeah. I'm fine. I think the baby prefers Mommy to be indestructible."
Phoebe groaned and stirred on the hard tiled floor. Leo and Piper ran over to her.
"What happened?" Phoebe asked groggily, propping herself up on her elbows and touching her wound lightly.
"A darklighter," Piper replied simply.
"Ooh, he was strong too," Phoebe complained. She rubbed her hip, where a bruise was rapidly forming. "I didn't even have chance to react!"
"Here, let me." Leo bent down and placed his hands over Phoebe's head. Instantly the warm healing glow washed over the middle Charmed One, and her bruises and cut was gone.
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A/N. So, is Ryan all he seems? Read on and find out. And don't forget to review.