"Hello I'm home? Where is everyone?"
"Nancy, wow is it that time already? How was your night, because you're oh let's see 15 minutes late."
"Mom, I'm sorry. I mean technically I was home five minutes ago, it just took time to get out of the van. But that's not the point. Listen, Chad noticed that the van was low on gas, so we stopped to fill it up, and I tried to call you, but your cell phone battery was dead. Here's the receipt from the gas station to prove we stopped."
Nancy was talking at a million miles an hour, she thought she was really in trouble. She was trying to beat Prue to any punishment that she was about to dish out. She only stopped talking when Phoebe stepped forward.
"Prue if Grams grounded us every time we were 10 minutes late we would still be grounded. Come on give her a break, she wanted to call."
Prue took her cell phone from Nancy and saw that the battery was indeed dead. She was usually really good about charging it up, she must have forgotten since she was going to be with all of her sisters tonight.
"Alright you're free this time, but next time use a pay phone. I'll get my purse and give you the money for the gas."
"That's not necessary Miss Halliwell.."
"Prue!"
"Sorry wasn't sure if I could still use your first name. I'm really sorry about being late. I figured you would be angrier if I speeded and got into an accident then if we were a few minutes late. It will never happen again, I promise."
"It's alright. It's as much our fault as it is yours. We'll just have to make sure we fill the gas tank up, and charge our phones."
She looked at Phoebe when talking about the gas tank. Phoebe just giggled and looked at the floor, she knew she was responsible for the gas tank, she did drive the van more then anyone else. Prue would probably give her a lecture later.
"Would you mind if I used your phone, I need to call my parents or I'll be in trouble as well."
"Sure it's right over there."
As Chad walked over to the phone they tried to not listen to his conversation with his parents. Moments later Prue heard her name being called.
"Excuse me Prue, but my dad wants proof that I'm not out and around, would you mind talking to him?"
"Sure. Hello Mr. West, my name is Prue Halliwell, and Chad was kind enough to give my daughter Nancy a ride home. Yes he is leaving as soon as this conversation is over. Well I appreciate your understanding. Have a good night."
Prue retuned to the others who were waiting for her.
"Everything's alright, you just better go straight home."
"I will, but could I have my car keys?"
"Right, almost forgot. Here are your keys. Are you sure you don't want money for the van's gas?"
"No it was my pleasure. Thanks again for letting Nancy come tonight, and allowing me to drive her home. I guess I'll be going now."
They all stood in the hallway not moving, Nancy really wanted to say goodnight to Chad without them present. She locked eyes with Prue.
"Guys could you give me break here?"
"Well we're off to bed. Goodnight all."
Phoebe said as she grabbed Prue's arm and lead the way upstairs.
"I had a great time tonight Chad."
"Me too. How about I call you tomorrow?"
"You don't have to."
"I want to."
"Well if you have time."
"I make time for things that are important."
He leaned forward and planted a kiss on Nancy's forehead, then headed out the door. Nancy took a moment to bask in her glory, then locked the front door and headed upstairs herself.
Entering her bedroom she pulled out a clean pair of pajamas and changed her cloths. Sitting on the edge of her bed she took a moment to remember her evening, it was a night she would never forget. The silence in the house really gave her time to think about everything, especially the wonderful kiss that she was given. The silence was broken when Nancy screamed so loud she could have broken a window.
"OH MY GOD! GUYS COME QUICK, GET IN HERE!"
From every corner of the upstairs the girls ran into each other as they each tried to be the first one's inside Nancy's room.
"Where's the demon? What's going on?"
"No there's no demon. It's something really good, look!"
Nancy pointed toward her feet and just starred at them like they were going to do a trick.
"Look at what honey?"
"My legs, they moved."
The girls now had her full attention and they too starred at Nancy's legs waiting for them to move as Nancy had stated. After several minutes of watching, with no movement, Phoebe bent down and looked into Nancy's eyes.
"Nancy honey they aren't moving, are you sure you didn't imagine it."
"No I swear."
"Alright, take a deep breath, and tell us exactly what happened."
"I just finished changing my cloths and I was sitting here thinking about what a great time I had. All of a sudden I felt them move, it was only for a moment but they did."
"I believe you sweetie, I really do, but they aren't moving now."
"I know, but they did before. If they moved once then they will move again."
"I'm sure they will. So did you really have fun tonight?"
"You bet, it was the greatest night of my life. Chad danced with me, the girls danced with me. We had a great time and Chad even gave me…"
"Wait a minute, guys I think she's right look…"
Piper stopped Nancy from speaking when she noticed the toes on Nancy's left foot wiggle. The girls were in complete shock but the joy they were feeling trumped any feeling in the world.
"I told you guys, I told you…"
"Congratulations, Nancy this is a first step toward your first step."
They celebrated and enjoyed each others company for several minutes before they started to leave the room.
"Pheebs before you go, could you give me a hand I need to use the bathroom."
"Jump in your chair and follow me."
Hopping in her chair she rolled into the hall and followed the girls toward the bathroom. Phoebe opened the door and stepped out of the way while Nancy rolled inside. Nancy was shocked by what she saw.
"Dan came by while we were gone to the game, and finished some things that we were putting off, and shouldn't have. Do you still need help?"
Nancy noticed that a bench had been added to the shower, and there was a handheld shower head at Nancy's level. At the sink a mini ramp had been added so Nancy could roll up to it and reach everything, and near the toilet hand rails had been added so Nancy could get on and off on her own.
"No, I think I'm good, thanks."
"Then we'll leave you to do what you got to do."
They exited the bathroom and gave Nancy the privacy she needed. Nancy spent several minutes inside the bathroom, basking in the glory of her independence. Exiting the bathroom she rolled over to her room, but changed her mind and rolled over to Prue's door. Hesitating for a moment she knocked on the door very softly. After not hearing a response she was about to head back to her room when she heard a voice come from the other side.
"Come in."
Opening the door Nancy rolled inside and placed her chair right next to Prue's bed.
"Mom can we talk?"
"Sure what's on your mind?"
"I just wanted to apologize for my behavior the last few weeks. I know I've been a pain, and not very appreciative of the things you do for me."
"No, I understand really I do, and we're going to try harder to actually listen to you. We realize that you were asking for some space for a while now, we just didn't hear it. We'll just move on from here."
"Thanks."
"Sure. By the way what did Chad give you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Back in your room, you started to say Chad even gave you…Fill in the blank!"
Nancy cleared her throat she had actually been grateful that Piper stopped Nancy from speaking earlier she had been so happy she didn't even realize she what she was saying.
"Right…um…it's nothing."
"The look on your face didn't say nothing. What was it, you can tell me?"
"Ok but don't freak out, or go all parental with me. Chad gave me, my….first…um….um….kiss."
Prue was trying to be cool about this, but she instantly did want to go into mother mode.
"I know what your thinking mom."
"You know you shouldn't use your power in situation like this."
"No, not because of my power, I didn't enter your mind or anything. I can tell by your face."
"Alright then, tell me what I'm thinking."
"Your thinking, Chad's older then her, she's only 13, and where will this lead, will she get hurt. How'd I do?"
"Pretty good actually. So you got any answers?"
"I don't know. Listen I know he's older then me, trust me I thought about that too, but it's a simple fact that it's not like I'm going to meet kids my own age unless their a classmates younger brother. I know I'm only 13, but mentally I'm much older and I know I could get hurt, but what kid doesn't. Isn't it part of growing up. As to where this will lead, I don't know, I guess we'll see, he plans on calling me tomorrow, or at least that's what he said."
"Well he is a nice kid, I just want you to be responsible, and I want us to keep talking."
"Trust me, I'll be responsible. I won't do anything that would hurt you, or me, and I'll be honest with you, as long as you will keep listening to me."
"Deal."
"Well I'm off to bed, can you tuck me in?"
"All you have to do is ask."
Prue put on her bathrobe and followed Nancy into her room and watched while Nancy jumped into her bed before stepping on the side of the bed and pulling the covers up to Nancy's neck.
"Sleep tight, and have sweet dreams."
"I think I will for the first time in a long while."
"What do you mean?"
"Well you know how I've had nightmares and stuff the last few night."
"Yea?"
"I kept thinking that I would never get better, and that I would never be able to do things on my own."
"Nancy…"
"No mom it's alright, I know that I will get better, and I know I can do things on my own. If I had forced you guys to listen to me, and had told you what I was thinking when you first asked me, this wouldn't have gone on so long. I now have a future to dream about, and friends to dream of, and happy things to think about. I don't need to dwell on the negative."
"That's right, I'll see you in the morning."
"Thanks for tucking me in mom. I may want to do things on my own, but it's nice to know when I want help, you'll be there."
"For now, and forever…"
"Forever's a long time."
"Hey I got a long time. Love doesn't run on a clock, neither does family."
Kissing Nancy on the forehead Prue clicked off the light, closed the door and headed off to bed. Nancy rolled over closed her eyes with plans of dreaming of Chad, and her friends, and the family who really loves her no matter how much of pain she is. It's true what they say….
LOVE IS BLIND, BLOOD IS THICKER THEN WATER, AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!