A/N. Thanks for the reviews. Please keep them coming.
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Chapter 16
Two months later
Paige stepped back, a paint roller in one hand, to admire her handy work. The basement wall in front of her used to be bare brick, but now it was a creamy magnolia, thanks to the youngest Charmed One. It had taken her weeks, but finally the basement was ready for her and Ryan to move into. For the past few months the male witch had shared Paige's bedroom in the Manor, but now, what with Prue growing up, the young couple had decided to relocate into the Manor's basement.
Ryan popped his head around the door and looked down. "Is it safe to come down?"
"Yeah," Paige called, beaming with happiness.
The love of her life walked down the stairs and cautiously made his way over the various obstacles. Paint can, brushes and stencils all littered the floor, making it hard to cross. When he reached Paige he burst into a fit of giggles. Now he was closer, he could see Paige decked out in over size white overalls that hung limply from her slim frame. A steak of cream paint was smeared across her forehead and her hair was tied up carelessly.
"What?" Paige asked, slightly annoyed that her fiancée was laughing at her work.
"You…you look so funny," Ryan gasped into between chokes.
"Well, thank you very much," Paige replied, not sure if she preferred Ryan laughing at her or her art.
"Oh, I'm sorry baby," Ryan apologised, though a few stray hiccups escaped his lips. "You just look so adorable."
"Well thank you very much," Paige repeated, this time without the sarcasm. "I can't wait until tomorrow."
"Neither can I." Ryan's mind filled with thoughts of this time tomorrow, when Paige would be Mrs Williams. "Speaking of which, I should probably go."
"But you just got here," Paige whined. She sauntered forward and wrapped her arms around Ryan.
The male witch jerked back. "Mind the suit!"
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"Please Prue, let Mommy get some sleep," Piper pleaded later that evening, her voice thick with fatigue. The dark shadows had now become a permanent feature underneath her chocolate brown eyes. She rocked the three-month-old baby, hoping it would soothe her. Leo had been called away nearly every night that week and Piper craved sleep.
It wasn't that Prue wasn't a good baby, because she was. She just never seemed to need sleep. She also seemed to be coming into her powers quite nicely. She could now control her force-field ability and had even frozen a few energy balls, just like her mother. This didn't surprise the family, as Prue was the Blessed One, the most powerful witch in existence.
Piper had finally managed to calm her daughter down when bright lights deposited Leo in the middle of the nursery. The light disturbed Prue and she began to wail.
"I'll take her," Leo offered. "You get some sleep. Paige would never forgive you if you looked tired at her wedding."
"Thanks," Piper said gratefully, handing the baby over.
"It's okay. Daddy's here," Leo cooed, kissing his daughter's forehead.
Piper stumbled form the room and collapsed onto her bed. The moment her head touched the pillow she was asleep.
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The next morning"Are you ready?" Paige asked through the attic door.
"Ready," came Piper and Phoebe's unified response.
Paige took in a deep breath and slowly reached for the door handle. Her arm trembled violently. Paige had heard about wedding nerves, particularly on the morning of the wedding, but she had seriously never thought she would experience any. How wrong could a girl get? Of course mixed with the nerves was excitement. In fact, it was all Paige could do to not burst spontaneously into song and grin like an idiot.
Paige turned the door handle, thrust open the door and stepped inside the attic.
"Paige, you look so beautiful!" Piper gasped.
It was true. The youngest sisters' strawberry-blonde hair was piled on top of her head in an elegant bun, and wavy tendrils framed her face. Her wedding dress was pearly white and strapless. The bodice fitted like a corset and was adorned with pale gold embroidery in the pattern of little delicate flowers. The skirt was long and silky. Diamond encrusted chandelier earrings were fixed to her ears and a single pearl hung from a delicate white gold chain around her slender neck.
"You look stunning," Phoebe agreed.
Paige moved further into the attic, allowing herself to grin to her heart's content. As she walked, the skirt of her gown swished around her and when she stopped settled like little clouds at her feet. "Thank you," she said. "You two look gorgeous."
Piper and Phoebe both wore deep burgundy bridesmaid's dresses. Piper's hair was curled and cascaded down her back, while Phoebe had tiny pink flowers woven through her short hair.
"So, are we ready to summon Mom and Grams?"
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Down in the newly decorated basement, Ryan Williams was also preparing for his up-coming nuptials. He hadn't seen Paige since early evening yesterday, and already he longed to see her.
"So, are you nervous?" Leo asked, doing his best man duty in asking the question.
"No," Ryan replied unconvincingly.
Leo fixed his friend and soon to be brother – in – law with a disbelieving glare.
"All right, I'm nervous as hell," Ryan confessed.
Leo laughed lightly. "Don't be."
Ryan sighed and flopped down onto the bed. "But I just want everything to be perfect for Paige."
"Trust me, she's marrying the man she loves. That's all that's needed to make the day perfect."
"Hello!" A shrill voice sing-songed. Ryan's mother, Rowena, appeared at the top of the stairs. "Oh, you look so handsome!" she cried, trotting down the stair and gripping her only child in a vice like embrace.
"Thanks Mom," Ryan's voice was muffled and it seemed like his ribs were being crushed.
"I'm proud of ya son," Ryan's father said gruffly. Alan Williams was a man who rarely showed his emotions, but Leo could tell he was fighting back tears.
"So, where's your little one Leo?" Rowena asked, referring to Prue.
"Oh, she's with Piper's father. We didn't want her to start crying in the middle of the ceremony.
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Paige floated down the stairs of Halliwell Manor. Entwined around the banisters were rich purple hydrangeas, hot pink flowers and pale lavender accents. At the bottom of the steps was Leo awaiting Paige. As his youngest sister – in – law had no contact with her father, Leo had also accepted the task of giving Paige away.
"Are you ready?" he asked as Paige slipped her arm through his.
Paige breathed in and let it out slowly. "As I'll ever be."
Together, Leo and Paige glided into the sun-streamed conservatory of their home. The large, open room was beautifully decorated with flowers of the same type as the ones on the stairs attached to chairs and petals strewn across the floor. Because this was a Wiccan ceremony, and the ghosts of Penny and Patty Halliwell were attending, only witches and Darryl and Sheila Morris had been invited. Phoebe had desperately wanted to ask Jason, but she knew she couldn't. She just wasn't ready for him to know the truth.
As the music began to play and Leo and Paige entered the room, all the guests stood and turned to watch Leo guide Paige to where Ryan and Penny stood. A murmur of compliments for Paige spread through the guests. Paige glanced to her side, to where her sisters were standing. Both were beaming with joy for their little sister. Just behind them sat Patty, and Paige welled up. Her mother had tears streaming down her face and her eyes shone with tears. She noticed her youngest daughter staring at her and she gave Paige a reassuring smile.
"You look amazing," Ryan whispered in Paige's ear.
"You don't look to bad yourself," she whispered back.
"We are here today to unite two souls as one," Penny intoned, begging the ceremony. She winked at her youngest granddaughter, showing her pride. "Do you, Ryan Williams, and you, Paige Matthews, join us here of your own free will to acknowledge the eternal bond shared by you both?"
"I do," Ryan said.
"I do," Paige echoed.
"Ryan, please recite you vows."
"Paige, I loved you since the moment I met you. Your beauty overwhelmed me and your heart captivated me. I promise to love you and respect you always."
Paige felt cold tears slide down her face and she found it difficult to breathe. Ryan's words had literally taken her breath away.
"Paige," Penny prompted.
Paige swallowed down the lump in her throat and willed herself to speak clearly. "Ryan, I am so pleased to have found someone as sweet, caring and funny as you. You bring me happiness every second I spend with you. I promise to love and cherish you until my dying day and beyond."
"Here before witnesses, Ryan and Paige have sworn their vows to each other." Penny telekinetically wrapped a piece of rope around Ryan and Paige's clasped hands. "With this cord I bind you to these vows."
"Heart to thee, body to thee. Always and forever, so mote it be," Paige recited together.
"You're now husband and wife," Penny announced with a joyous grin.
Ryan bent down and pulled Paige to him. Tears of elation flowed down both their faces as they kissed passionately.
"Sorry to break up the party," A voice trying to sound bored whimpered.
A collective scream swept through the guests as a demon appeared in shimmers. His dirty blonde hair was smeared with dirt and grease, his hook nose shiny and pimply. However, when his from became apparent the screams ceased. The demon was nothing to be afraid of.
Instinctively Piper whipped out her hands to freeze him. The majority of guests stayed moving as the snivelling demon known as Orchrist stopped.
Paige felt her breathing shallow and her heartbeat quicken. Adrenaline and fury pounded through her system. How dare a demon gate-crash her wedding day?
"Athame," Paige commanded. Instantaneously an athame orbed into her palm from somewhere in the house. With as muck force as she could muster, Paige hurled the double-edged ceremonial knife at the demon. It embedded itself deep in Orchrist's chest and he was vanquished in a burst of flames.
"Paige," Ryan reached out a hand to comfort his new bride.
"No!" Paige snapped, shrugging away. Seething, she gathered her skirts up and stormed out the room.
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The demon hiding under the cover of invisibility smirked as he watched his minion go up in flames. It was an honourable way to die; in service of one's master. His ice blue eyes glinted in happiness. The witches had no idea how Orchrist was and better still, they believed his master dead. Not in a million years would they suspect that he was watching them, waiting for the opportunity to strike.
The red haired demon flinched as the youngest Charmed One stormed passed him. He drew in a breath as she stopped and gazed at where he stood for a split second, as if she could sense the immense evil radiating from him. Paige shook her head and carried on her angry stride.
The demon let out a relieved sigh and disappeared in an eruption of fire. It was time to move to the next stage of his plan.