"Nancy, how are you feeling?"
"I'm just a little tired. Haven't used that much power in a long time. Takes a lot out of me."
They exchanged smiles as the girls sat down on the edge of Nancy's bed.
"So were you there the whole time?"
"Yes. Do you really think I would let you go without me there in some way? Listen, I don't want you to think I'm not grateful for what you have done, but this changes nothing. I'm still planning on leaving after tomorrow."
"But why? The Controllers are gone."
"You heard him as well as I did. They will start over and come back. This is a never ending circle. All you did was buy me time to hide again. Maybe I can look at the Book Of Shadows and figure out a way to cloak myself from them for a while, like Grandma did."
The three ladies looked at each other with large smiles on their faces. Nancy was very confused, and slightly offended. Do they want me to go? Are they happy about this? She thought to herself until Phoebe took Nancy's hand in hers.
"Bob only thinks that they will be back. They all do. They all do. That's why the vanquish was so easy. They didn't fight back. They thought that once they were vanquished they could just come back, start over, and move on. They didn't know that we had the secret ingredient to their vanquish to hell. You."
"I don't understand?"
Prue moved next to Phoebe to help explain.
"You see Nancy, the trick to permanently vanquishing them is to have a surviving member of a victims family not only say the spell, but also be a witch. That extra ingredient makes them gone for good. Although your Dad was our Uncle, the fact that we never met him is what made it a problem to do it alone. We have no real connection to him, except through you."
Nancy sat and mulled this over. She was really starting to feel tired but kept holding Phoebe's hand until she fell fast asleep.
Morning came and Prue got up late, knowing that she could sleep in a little while longer. She had told the people at work that she wouldn't be in today, since Nancy's social worker, Jamie, would be over today of a house visit.
Prue was surprised when she walked downstairs and found Phoebe not only up, but showered and fully dressed. She usually wasn't up until well after noon if she could help it, but here she was sitting at the computer typing away like a mad woman.
"Hey Pheebs, your up early. How come?'
"Who can sleep with all that's going on today. I figured I would start the morning off with a hot shower for a change, then pass the time by talking with some of my internet buddies on this really great message board. Just give me a minute, and I'll be off."
Prue leaned over Phoebe's shoulder reading while she typed away.
Well Guys, have to go. BIG SIS is up and playtime is over. Gary, Larry, and Jethro.. talk to all you guys later.
Phoebe
THE CHARMED ONE
"Phoebe, you're named the Charmed One? Couldn't that be a little dangerous?"
"No way! People think I'm called the Charmed One because I'm so charming. Besides, this is no ordinary message board. It's Safesearchers. It's a clean and hassle-free internet site. Any harassing and you get kicked off. It's great."
"Yea, I can see you met a lot of guys on the board."
"Hey, those aren't just any guys, their friends, and in some ways family. We talk about real stuff. You know, I have a mind too, and I do know how to use it."
"I know. I'm just giving you a hard time."
"What are you giving Phoebe a hard time about now Prue?"
Turning to the sound of her name Prue and Phoebe saw Piper walking down the stairs with Nancy at her side. Prue headed to the stairs to help get Nancy down. She took hold of Nancy's arm, and helped her maintain her balance, as she took each step one at a time.
"How you feeling?"
"Better thanks."
Just as Nancy made it down the final step, she jumped slightly when the doorbell rang. Taking a breath she began to make her way toward the den.
"I'll get it. It must be Jamie."
Phoebe finished closing up her laptop, and clearing it off the table, before heading to the door. Opening it she was greeted by a smiling blond haired woman in her mid-thirties.
"Jamie, hi it's nice to see you again."
"Phoebe nice to see you too. May I come in?"
"Oh God I'm sorry. Of course come on in."
Jamie entered the den and found Piper and Prue helping Nancy to get comfortable on the couch. She walked over to Prue, shook her hand, followed by Pipers.
"Would you like some coffee Jamie?"
"That would be great Piper. You know what would be even better? If Prue, you could get me some cream, and Phoebe how about some sugar?"
When none of them moved, Nancy looked at them all, smiling because none of them got the hint.
"That means get out guys. She want to talk to me alone."
Piper grabbed Prue and Phoebe dragging them into the kitchen. Piper began to make the coffee, as Prue and Phoebe hung around the doorway trying to listen to what was going on in the other room.
"Guys cut it out. They'll call when their ready for us."
"What do you think she is going to say?"
"I'm not sure Pheebs, but when I went in her room to help her downstairs, she seemed, I don't know different. Almost happier."
Prue and Phoebe exchanged looks, and then helped to get the tray ready, while continuing to try to listen to the conversation in the other room. The tow of them jumped when a voice came bellowing from the other room.
"Alright you guys. You can stop trying to listen in. We're done, you can come back in now."
Picking up the tray with the coffee, and a glass of juice for Nancy, they headed back into the den. As they entered they noticed that Jamie was still taking some notes before she looked back up at the girls. Grabbing a coffee off the tray, she took a sip and waited for them to get comfortable.
"Well I've heard Nancy's side of the story. Now I need to ask you guys a few questions before I can make a final decision."
Nancy grabbed her juice off the tray and sat back taking a sip, loving the confused expression of all three of their faces.
"Now how do you guys feel about Nancy living her on a permanent basis?"
"Well we left the decision up to Nancy. We all want her to stay, but if she isn't comfortable with us, or she feels that there is something better out there, then we don't want to stand in her way."
"What makes you think that Nancy would want to live anywhere else but here?"
They each looked at each other not knowing what to say, they were trapped. It wasn't like they could tell Jamie that Nancy didn't feel safe because of all the demon attacks that go on in this family. After thinking for a second Phoebe came up with the best response she could.
"With everything that happened to Nancy, she has been a little jumpy. We have tried our best to show her that we love her, and want her. We asked on a few occasions how she felt about living with us. She said she didn't want to answer at the time. She wanted to think about it."
"Prue for all intense purposes you are the head of the family. Are you willing to become Nancy's legal guardian, and take on all the responsibilities of raising her as if she were your real daughter?"
"Of course I am. I know that I will never be able to take our Aunts place, but I would try to show her all the love and support that Aunt Sarah, and Uncle Paul would have. I…I mean we all know what it's like to loose our mother, ours died when we were all very young. We feel that we can help Nancy through the rough times, and help celebrate the happy ones."
Jamie wrote down what Prue said, then turned the pages of her day planner. She took several seconds to study it before she opened her mouth again, she was making the girls very nervous.
"How does a month from today sound?"
"For?"
"Your court case of course. This will give me plenty of time to file all the necessary paperwork. I will also need to run everything past my boss, and get the right signatures made. The court case won't be anything but a formality. I think it would be best if Prue was named the legal guardian. She is the oldest, and brings the most income into the family. I mean, Piper owns her own night club, but independent businesses are not always a steady form of income. Phoebe you are unemployed at this time, so that is out of the question. However, we will need them there to show the family support will be there. Without a husband we need to show that Nancy will not be on her own if you have to work late…excreta."
"Not a problem."
"You guys will also have to take care of a few things before we go to court. I have a list here, some of it might take a little time, so I suggest you get started on it as soon as possible."
She handed the list to Prue as the three girls stood from their chairs and showed Jamie the door. It seemed like they couldn't get rid of her fast enough. After the door was closed, they walked back into the den to find Nancy doubled over with laughter.
"You should have seen the looks on your faces. It's priceless. A real Kodak moment. Don't look so surprised guys."
They each sat down not knowing what to say. Phoebe being typical Phoebe just said what was on her mind.
"What made you change your mind?"
"Well I had a few visitors last night. Phoebe you should know that Grams was the one who made sure you could fine me. Apparently ever since she died she was with me almost 24/7. When she realized that the situation was getting way out of control, and noticed that I was giving up hope, she knew it was time to get you guys involved."
"Typical Grams. Always waiting till the last minute to fill us in"
"Second, my parents stopped by last night. After they let me yell at them for twenty minutes, for not coming sooner, they explained a few things to me. Basically they said that it wasn't necessary for me to keep that promise anymore. They said they felt responsible for what happened to me, because they made me make that promise to stay away. They want to do everything in their power to make sure I'm not hurt again, and they knew I wouldn't stay without their blessing."
"When you say visit?"
"They came to me in a dream. I just wish I could have hugged them, but they were in the form of spirits. I guess you guys are stuck with me. If you still want me?"
No answer was necessary, the girls simply got up from their seats and pulled Nancy into one of the biggest group hugs she had ever had in her entire life. They didn't break apart until they heard Nancy let out a small whimper.
"Oh God, sorry we got carried away and forgot."
"No don't be sorry. This ouch is a good ouch."
"Well we have a lot of work to do before next month. This list Jamie gave me has a lot on it. We need to get Nancy set up in a full Physical Therapy program. We need to have her school information transferred to here. We also need to have a more permanent living arrangement."
"What's wrong with my room as it is?"
"Nothing, except it still looks like a guest room. We need to buy you some new cloths, you don't have much. We also decided that you get to decorate your room anyway you want. Maybe a few posters, and any pictures that you want to hang on the wall."
"We get to go shopping?"
Nancy voiced was filled with a great deal of excitement. The girls had to laugh, because this was the first real sign that a teenage girl was going to be living with them.