17-year old Paige is absorbed in life, love, attitude and rebellion, but when normal teenage turmoil is turned upside down by something she can't explain, has she pushed her family too far? All 4 sisters. Paige-centric with Glen/Kyle

A/N: At the end…

Disclaimer: Everything to do with Charmed Not mine!

---Epilogue---

Six Months Later…

"Ugh, Pheebs, what the hell is that!" I shriek looking at pile of hangers that she's thrown on my bed. I like having my favourite sister back, but god, sometimes you just want to strangle her. She's waving a red blouse and a tiny skirt at me, sometimes I wonder if she knows her little sister at all. I'm glad I managed to slip into my skinny jeans, my Docs and a black corset top before she got in here.

"Why not?" She whines, looking disappointed. I roll my eyes at her and she pokes her tongue out at me in reply.

"I'm still traumatised from being used as your life-size Barbie doll, remember?" I say remembering the time seven-year old Phoebe, gave five-year-old me a makeover. My eyes were surrounded by bright blue eye-shadow with red cheeks, lips and uneven bunches tied in ribbon. To top it all, Phoebe put me in one of her ballet outfits and stole a pair of Grams's shoes from her closet that she strapped to my tiny feet. It was so not a good look and after she was done she left Prue scrubbing my pale cheeks for ages to get it all off.

"You were soo cute" She giggles. I grab my pillow and throw it and it's right on target. Square in the face, Yesssss!

"Hmm… well at least I learned a valuable lesson to never take your fashion advice ever. Again."

"You'll look hot" Great. It's back to the clothes thing again. There's no way I'm even considering putting that on. Not even for my favourite big sister, who's looking at me with her special 'Pleading Phoebe' look in her big brown eyes. Ha, I know that they only work on Piper. It's not as if I even need to look hot…

"I haven't got anyone to look hot for." I say sadly, Phoebe smiles sympathetically, squeezing my hand. "Not like you" I giggle wanting to change the subject, "What's his name?"

Phoebe blushes but bounces on the bed excitedly, "Cole Turner, he's a law student…"

"And?" I ask innocently.

"He's cute!" I shake my head at my big sister. She never really changed after all and I'm so glad. She just bonded with our sister's more. Although they apologised for leaving me out again, I guess I wasn't completely innocent of that jealousy thing and holding her relationship with Prue and Piper against her. "What about Kyle?" She probes, putting an end to my thoughts which, let's say are newly mature. Wow, that's crazy especially for me…

"He's sweet, I guess" I say, "But…he's not…" I don't need to finish. She knows who I'm talking about. The person I miss the most in the world.

"C'mon sweetie" She says as I push the final brush through my dark waves, "It's party time…"

My eighteenth birthday, I can hardly believe that it's here. In fact I can hardly believe anything that has gone on in the past few months.

---

"Guys what happened?" Phoebe gasps worriedly tugging me thorough the door of the dining room. The balloons are popped; Leo is up a ladder attempting to fix an 18th birthday banner. And the cake is a mush now saying: HayBir hda Pige.

"Demon attack?" I sigh. I hope not. Not demons, on my birthday. The magical stuff has given me so much, my confidence and given my sisters and I a stronger bond but this constant demon stuff can sometimes get you down mainly due to the whole lack of normal in the Manor these days.

"Not exactly" Piper says sheepishly, "Well there was a demon…but…"

"He didn't have a chance" Prue cuts in, placing cutlery on the table. "We think Piper has had a little power advance, she blew up the demon and…everything else." she tries to hide her grin.

"You vanquished my cake?" I say distraught. Piper looks panicked looking from me to Leo, with wide eyes.

"Leo can you heal it for me?"

"Sorry Piper," He grins at her disapprovingly, "That's personal gain you know"

"Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry Paigey" Okay, so I'm pouting, but that's what baby sisters do best. Piper panic is almost comical, so I better put her out of her misery.

"I'm kidding Piper, it's still a beautiful cake" In a gesture that would have been impossible six months ago I give my big sister a kiss on the cheek. It's not easy and it's far from perfect but we're learning, about power, magic and each other.

---

Exuberant chatter is flying across the dining table over dishes of Piper's wonderful cooking andthe cake whichis allready to be eaten. I'm getting used to this feeling of being included, at first I thought that it would be suffocating and sometimes my sisters do get a little too intense and we'll have an argument or something. Now, I know they're really there for me and I kind of like it. I'm glad that on this special day everybody important sitting here with me…well, almost everyone, someone who has been at every birthday party since Kindergarten, someone who filled the gaping space that I'm staring at.

"Paige?" Oh I gotta lose this daydreaming habit. "You ok sweetie?"

"Yea" I lie. I don't want to go down the 'sharing' road today; it'll open a whole can of crap. Prue looks at me sceptically thorough narrowed eyes. Please not the sisterly interrogation. Not today.

"It's okay to miss him, you know that right?" Whoa. I'm not sure I like Prue reading me this easily. Her reassuring smile melts it away as clutches my hand in hers, running her thumb over my knuckles softly.

"It's not just Glen…" I sniff quietly thinking of all the absent people who could be here. Prue looks at me, her blue eyes reaching right into my soul. I let her, it's not so easy to shut my sisters out anymore. Especially Prue, it's like we're making up for lost time. I've gained the oldest sister that I always wanted. The one that I sought in Achlysa, Oh my, turning eighteen has given me a wiser outlook on life and I think I'm doomed.

"I know, sweetie, I know" She whispers in understanding. The comfort they provide is like a drug, I can't believe I rejected it before, but I still wanna change the subject and the fact I can comfort them too, it's hard but worth the pure liquid high that rushes to my brain.

---

It's all finished, the place is a mess, food demolished and three full witches and their Whitelighter sit all stuffed around the table. Piper is whining that the telekinetically aided party-poppers were not a good idea because of the messand Leo is still disapproving about the whole thing. Prue disappeared to the bathroom a while ago and I'm starting to wonder where she's got to. Meanwhile I'm having fun in my pointy witch party hat (red glitter with streamers in the top) and blowing my party horn in Phoebe's face.

"Paige, quit it!" She moans.

"Nope, I'm the birthday girl…" I reply, before making even more noise.

"Paige!" Her brow furrows into little creases and she pouts slightly. I try not to laugh.

"They're ready, guys" Prue says appearing in the doorway. Piper immediately stops whining, Phoebe's frown turns into a vacant, stupid grin and Leo smiles. What did I just miss? There's definitely something going on when even my serious sister has a look of pure happiness on her face, I'd even say that she was twinkling with happiness. It's very weird.

"What?" I ask and receive bigger grins in return. They stretch from ear to ear and are really scary.

"Let's go to the attic Paige?" Prue says pulling me away from the table.

"Why?"

"You'll see…" Ugh, I hate surprises. But I let her drag me away and follow the familiar raven head up the stairs as my other sisters bound after us.

"Close your eyes" Prue says as we reach the door. Okay, this games has gone too far for me.

"No"

"Paige" She say warningly.

"Still Nooo, What's going on?" I whine pushing past her into the dimly lit attic. It's a sight that takes my breath away.

Several candles give the attic a beautiful glow, enhancing the other glow of two figures that bask in an indescribable light.

"Mom? Grams?" I say, blinking just to make sure.

"Happy Birthday my darling" Mom says, her glow warms me as I hug her tightly. When she pulls away she grasps my face and studies it carefully as I take in her long dark hair that soaks in the glow, big brown eyes, every last one of her pretty features, "My baby girl is eighteen…"

"As is my Granddaughter…" Grams interrupts pulling me into another hug. I can't prevent the tears that prickle in my eyes this time. "Happy Birthday Paige."

"Oh Mom!" Phoebe cries and launches herself at her. Then it's one large cuddle Mom, Grams, Prue, Piper, Phoebe and me all together in the attic. Wow.

"Oh! My beautiful girls" Mom sniffs, kissing all of our heads in turn.

"Patty, remember we're here for a reason." Grams says in her no-nonsense tone that hushes all of us.

"Ok Mother." She sighs "Well girls, you've found your magic, and discovered the power of four but we have to tell you…" She begins seriously, "…we know that things haven't been easy for the four of you, but this magic, it depends on your bond as sisters it can't function without it and that could endanger you all."

We share a knowing grin remembering that day. "I think we realised that" I say quietly.

"Well then girls, your destiny awaits…"

I have a burning question, "How? I mean how were you here on that day with the demon? and now?"

"You have a lot to learn my baby, I am with you, Paige, always. I am with all of you, your pain brought me to you that day" She says cupping my cheek, "I knew you needed help. As for today you'll have to ask Prudence"

A blush creeps into Prue's porcelain skin "Summoning spell, in the Book of Shadows, it means Mom and Grams can come for short visits to do with magical, you know, problems."

"And Birthdays?" I giggle, figuring that Prue, renowned member of the personal gain police has maybe bent the rules just a little bit.

"Not just me" She pleads, accusing Piper and Phoebe with a pointed look at each of them, which makes me laugh. I'm so grateful; this is the best birthday yet apart from…Wait? What if?

"Prue?" I ask. She seems to have figured out my chain of thought. She trades a grin with Piper and Phoebe; I'm so out of the loop again.

"Leo!" They call in unison.

Two sets of orbs appear in the room with their typical blue glow leaving Leo and another familiar face behind and as feeling rushes through me my brain crashes leaving me with my mouth wide open, in disbelieving silence. He's here again, but I'm scared after what happened before…

"Happy Birthday, P-girl" His voice breaks my trance, as soon as I'm in his arms, his hands tracing light patterns on my back. His lips meet mine gently in the sweetest of kisses. As he brings his forehead to mine I know it's him. I feel warm, safe and loved.

"Glen?"

"Yea baby, it's me, shush, I'm here…" Oh damn eyes, why am I crying I'm happy, it's so weird. The tears are streaming, oh man. As my thoughts are racing I'm confused about one thing.

"You orbed?"

"I know, wasn't it cool…"

"But how?"

"Well, y'know, P-girl, those Elder dudes decided that because I died to help you figure out your destiny and since that had something to do with service to the greater good, they asked me if I wanted to become a Whitelighter, like Leo, I thought that it would really ace so I said yes…'cause I'm training to be a Whitelighter I'm going to hanging out with Leo a bit…" He finishes excitedly. I look a Leo who nods at him in a fatherly manner.

"So you're back?" Hope rolls in my stomach.

His face darkens, "Well yes, I get to see you, but we…" and he can't finish.

"…can't be together." I sigh. He silences me with a long kiss. Well they say save the best till last, my eyelids flutter, my heart flutters and my stomach somersaults, my hands find his hair as I savour this not-quite-goodbye, I wish he hadn't told me something that would make me cry harder. Hey, when have Glen and I been famous for following rules. If there's a way we'll find it that's for sure.

"Ahem" Grams clears her throat. Oops I forgot that we had an audience quite a large one actually. Well, large enough to make me blush.

"Too cute" Piper snickers, as Phoebe and Prue join in with a chorus of "Awws."

---

It's getting better but it's hard. Magic brought us together but it is gonna throw lots of crazy at us yet. What I do know is that

We've got to stick together. We have to, we're the Charmed Ones. I know that know and someday I think things might be completely okay because…

I remembered that they love me and they remembered that I'm here.

THE END


A/N: Wow! I finished a fic! Scary...anyway if you've got this far, then thank you so much for reading and hope that you can forgive and error that will inevitably be here. I'd love to hear what you thought of this chapter or the whole story. If you are one of the kind people who offered encouragement then a big thanks to all of you too :) I'm not sure if I can sequel this story and if i do it won't be for a while (I've got a few other ideas for Charmed fics that i'm excited to explore...yay!) but if you want a sequel I might be tempted to write one. Enough from me...

Thank you so much...

itsybitsyshelley :)