Chapter 8 - In My Arms Again

We materialized in the car park of the station - thankfully it was empty.

"Do you think they're back yet?" Phoebe asked as we made our way quickly to the front door.

"Andy probably waited until they were in the car park before calling." Prue said, rolling her eyes. "Just so he could be there before us."

I didn't care. All that mattered was that I would be seeing her again, hugging her again ...

I'd have my baby back.

We burst through the front door, Leo and I ahead of everyone. We must have looked weird, such a huge group - six adults and two toddlers - but I didn't care.

I took two steps towards Andys desk - and out of a side room came a small, dark-haired cannon ball, flying towards us.

I turned, beaming, knelt down, Leo right beside me. Arms outstretched, it felt like she took an eternity to reach us.

So long I almost jumped up and ran to her ... but I was scared that if I moved I'd miss her somehow ...

Finally, she threw herself at us, wrapping her arms around mine and Leo's necks, so tightly I could hardly breath - but I pulled her closer, tears I hadn't realised were there soaking into her hair.

I didn't want to to let go, but I knew we couldn't stay there like that forever, and eventually I drew back, looking at her. The clothes she had been wearing that day were still on her, dirty, crumpled, but familiar. Her hair looked like it hadn't been washed or brushed since she'd been snatched, but it was still soft, still felt down her back.

She was the same as she'd always been.

Perfect.

"Thank you." I said, looking up at Andy. He smiled.

"Your welcome."

"Oh, and by the way, the next time you spend that long telling me something that important, I'll blow you up." I hissed. He looked at me, obviosuly unsure if I was joking or not.

I wasn't.

I struggled to stand up, and Leo lifted Patty up.

"What about Michael? Did you catch him?" Prue asked.

"Yeah. He's being quiestioned ... ah ... Dan admitted to it all." Andy told us.

"He did?" I asked in surprise.

"Yeah. Uh -" He looked at Darryl, who was stood next to him.

"He laughed." Darryl told us. "I asked him if he knew anything about Patty, and he laughed. Said of course he did. I think he knew we knew, and he ... I don't know ..."

"Wanted to take the credit?" I suggested weirly.

"Yes." Darryl nodded. "He admitted to it all, though. Said he arranged the whole thing ... Um ..." He looked back at Andy - as did the rest of us.

"When they searched his cell ... they found this ..." Andy reached onto his desk and held up a ... photo.

"What the ..." Prue muttered, Phoebe gave a little gasp, and Paige looked away in disgust.

It was of me and Patty, on her second birthday. But ... the top looked like it had been burnt ... all the way down to our necks ...

"He burnt their heads off?" Prue whispered. Andy nodded.

"He said he wanted ..." Darryl trailed off, then looked back at Andy.

"This double act thing is really cute, but can you just get to the point?" I snapped.

"Uh - ah - Dan said her wanted Michael to kill Patty, then you." Andy said quietly. "Michael wouldn't do it. He refused to." He added quickly. "He said he wouldn't hurt her - she's been checked over, she's fine." He added.

I nodded.

"Can we - can we go?" Leo asked.

"Yeah, sure. I need to tie a few things up here, but I'll be home soon." He told Prue.

"Thank you, for everything." I added. "And you, Darryl. Thank you."

They both smiled, as we turned away.

We got into the car park, and Patty looked around. Not seeing our car, a huge grin spread across her face.

"Clouds?" She said brightly. It's her way of asking to orb, and Leo beamed at her.

"Clouds." He nodded.

"Here." Paige handed me Chris and Wyatt grabbed my hand. Leo wrapped one arm around me, still holding Patty with the other, then white lights danced before my eyes.

Our family, back together.

The orbs cleared away to reveal we were back in the manor. Patty, a huge smile on her face, jumped down, and looked around.

"Home sweet home." She said, copying a film she had seen, in that cute was small kids do.

"I know what you mean." I murmered.

"Wyatt! Chris!" Patty cried suddenly, and hugged them both tightly.

"Patty, Patty, Patty." Wyatt beamed. Chris just gurgled. But it was a happy gurgle.

When the boys had finally let go of their sister, she ran to me. But not to hug me again, oh no.

"Haloo baby." She smiled. Before she was - before she went, she'd say good morning, good night, hello and goodbye to the baby before me.

"I forgot about you." She cooed. I rolled my eyes, then hugged her again. It was so good to have her home.

Everyone else thought so too. The orbs had barely disappeard before Patty was picked up and hugged by Prue, then Paige, then Phoebe and Cole, then Paige again, then Prue, then a big tangle of arms. She was thrown into the air and passed around so many times I'm surpirsed she didn't get travel sick. But she loved the attention, I suppose.

Eventually, she was put down, and I pulled her towards me, and we sat on the sofa. I had to ask. I don't want to spoil it, but I have to know.

"Piper." Leo warned. "Not now, leave it."

"No." I replied. "Honey," I said brightly to Patty. "Why don't you tell mummy what happened the other day? When uncle Michael picked you up?"

Her smile vanished.

"Am I in trouble?" She asked me, her eyes wide.

"No! No, no, mummy just wants to know where you went. Can you tell me?" I asked, in that fake-cheerful voice.

"He said you told him to pick me up." She mumbled. "And we went to hotel. He said you told him to take me there, but uncle Andy said you didn't." She sounded tearful, looked at the floor, and I felt guilty.

"No, I didn't say he could." I said gently. "But it's not your fault ..." I stopped, looking at Leo. How can I explain this?

Now I know why he wanted me to wait.

"Patty, do you remember before you met me?" Leo asked carefully. "You're ... old dad?"

Her face clouded over, her eyes almost seemed to darken.

"Well ... he wanted to hurt you and mummy ..." Leo said, sounding pained. "And he asked ... he asked his brother to take you away, to upset us."

She looked up at us tearfully. "Why?" She asked innocently.

"I don't know." Leo said quietly. "I don't know."