Chapter 1
Melinda stood in the back room of her mother's restaurant gazing into nothingness. Her two brothers had just left the present time to go into the past because Wyatt had suddenly lost his powers. She wasn't exactly sure how, or even why her oldest brother had lost his powers. She knew that he and Chris had gone to the underworld to clean out a clan of demons, but they wouldn't let her come along. They said it was too dangerous, and they wanted to make sure that she was safe. She had the distinct feeling that they just didn't want her to slow them down since she was the only one that couldn't orb away at the first sign that the danger was out of control. Despite her resentment, she was still worried about them.
"Melinda," she heard Piper call from the kitchen. "There's three tables out there waiting for someone to take their orders, what are you doing back there?"
"Sorry, Mom." Melinda replied as she came out of her daydream. "I'm on my way now."
"Wait a minute," Piper said as she saw her daughter walking past her. "What is wrong?"
"Nothing," Melinda replied curtly.
Piper put down her wooden spoon she was using to stir the huge pot of marinara sauce and looked intently at her youngest child. The past few weeks Melinda had been moody and curt with everyone in the family which included her two brothers, six cousins, two aunts, and both parents. However, today, she seemed a little more cranky than usual. Piper wondered if perhaps she and her boyfriend had a fight or perhaps little Henry had been taunting her again. When Melinda came back to the kitchen to deliver the orders, Piper gently grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side.
"Sweetie, what is wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing, Mother." Melinda replied, avoiding eye contact.
"Something is wrong, just talk to me." Piper replied desperately.
Melinda sighed and looked at her mother. "Why are you so concerned about customers out there, when Wyatt and Chris are back there?"
Suddenly, Piper understood and smiled.
"Why are you smiling? This isn't funny Mother. Wyatt suddenly lost his powers, and they went to the past which can potentially screw everything up now!" Melinda could feel her blood begin to boil. She was 20 years old, and she was tired of being treated like a child!
"I told you all when they came back from the underworld in a panic, it's not a problem," Piper replied. "This happened over two decades ago, and we fixed it. They'll be back soon and there won't be any problems, I promise."
"You didn't fix it," Melinda spat. "Chris did. Chris always fixes it doesn't he? Chris is the Haliwell Savior! A regular time traveler! His whole purpose in life is to go back in the past to fix what you and your sisters screwed up!"
"Excuse me?" Piper managed to choke out.
Before Melinda could reply, her two cousins Porche and Pepper, orbed in. Melinda jumped as they materialized in front of her and shot them a look of distaste.
"Would it be so hard for you to use the employee entrance like normal people? What if somebody saw you?" Melinda asked.
"Sorry," they replied in unison. "We were running late."
"Whatever," Melinda replied, annoyed that the twins talked together at the same time. "You're here, I'm gone."
"Melinda," Piper called as her daughter stormed out the door. She sighed and turned to her nieces. "Do you have any idea what's gotten into her lately?"
"Nope." They replied. "Sorry Aunt Piper."
