Chapter 4
A/N: It took a while, but here's chapter four! I hope you all enjoy and remember, I am a review junkie!
Patricia practically flew off the walls as she made sure (for the hundredth time in the last half hour) that she had everything packed and ready.
Paige Matthews had agreed to allow her daughter to move to Smallville and live with her friend, Roxanne—under certain terms. Patricia had to finish the second term rating (which meant a month of waiting before she even bought the plane ticket) at her school. And it was drilled into her head thousands of times that she HAD to call the family every other day and come to them if any trouble arose. Chris even made a miniature version of the Book of Shadows for Patricia to take with her. Piper made sure she knew anything and everything about herbs and oils for potions (and cooking), and Cole and Phoebe upped her fighting exercises (many different forms of karate that Patricia had been taking since she was five, and weapon wielding). Paige tried to teach her how to heal, but Patricia had been unable to grasp it.
Patricia's cousins and siblings had, at first, been worried about her moving away (especially Wyatt who had refused to talk to Patricia for almost an entire week), but did everything they could to make Patricia enjoy her last month at home, even if it did annoy her. Patricia e-mailed Roxanne to let her know she was allowed to come and both friends were ecstatic.
She would be living with Roxanne in her two bedroom flat above the cafe and work part-time, while attending Smallville High. Paige and Henry had made it clear that they would drop in when they felt they needed to or if Patricia didn't call home every week, at the most.
And today was finally the big day. Patricia's bags (quite a few and almost bursting open. She took after Aunt Phoebe) were packed and ready to go by the front door. She would say goodbye to everyone before her mother drove her to the airport for her one o'clock flight. It was now the realization that she was really leaving hit. She wouldn't see her cousins and siblings every day, argue and play around. Help Aunt Piper cook and watch romantic soaps with Aunt Phoebe; help Mom grade papers or watch football with her dad and uncles. Do NOT get teary-eyed. Do NOT get teary-eyed, Patricia Matthews! she scolded herself, even as tears pooled in her eyes.
The Halliwell clan stood gathered in the living room, and Phoebe already wiping away tears with a tissue. She was the first to come up and wrap Patricia in an embrace so tight she thought her ribs would break. "Have a good time and call us, alright?" Phoebe whispered to her. Patricia nodded against her shoulder, breathing in Phoebe's perfume. Uncle Cole was next and he jokingly told her to call him if she ever needed a lawyer. Patricia half sobbed, half laughed at this and almost fell into Piper and Leo's arms as they came to hug her. Piper drilled her on a few important potions and Leo simply smiled with all the love and concern Patricia had grown up with. Prue, Polly, and Paula pulled her into a big hug, crying just as their mother had. Paris, Pandora, and Sam all hugged her tightly, Sam ruffling Patricia's hair.
Wyatt and Chris pulled her into a group hug, Wyatt holding on longer. "You sure you wanna go?" he asked, looking down into his baby cousin's gaze.
Patricia rolled her eyes and smiled. She knew very well that Wyatt wanted nothing more than to lock her up in her room and keep her there for years. "Yeah, Wy. I'm sure."
Finally, it was time to say goodbye to her father. Henry shifted nervously on his feet and offered her a small smile. Something inside Patricia fell in disappointment. She'd never really been close to her father and they'd never really talked, but Patricia had expected some form of sadness from a dad letting his youngest child out into the world where he couldn't watch over her.
Instead, Henry simply pulled her into a half-hearted hug and pressed a hundred dollars (in the form of five twenties) into her hand. "Call us when you're settled."
Patricia half nodded and almost smiled before moving toward the door where Paige stood. With a last wave, she picked up her bags and walked out the Manor. Paige helped her put her bags into the trunk of the car and they set off for the airport. The entire ride was silent (with the exception of the radio), but not awkwardly. Nothing was spoken as the two stepped into the airport and found Patricia's terminal. It wasn't until the last call for her plane rang out over the loud speakers that Paige drew her daughter into a tight hug.
Patricia returned it just as tightly, burying her face into the crook of her mother's neck and refusing to cry anymore. "I love you, you know that?" Paige whispered into her ear.
"I know, Mom. I love you, too, and I promise to call as often as possible."
"You better and don't think I'm above drilling Roxy about your life over there." Paige joked, hastily wiping away tears and releasing Patricia who smiled sadly and began to walk toward the flight assistant.
"I love you. Don't worry about me, okay? I'll be fine," she called, walking backward to keep her mother in sight. Paige nodded and waved and Patricia was forced to turn away as she handed over her plane ticket. She caught one last glance of Paige, tears running silently down her cheeks, and she stepped onto the plane that would take her away to her new start.
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Almost four long hours later the plane landed in Metropolis. Patricia had spent most of the time reading a novel, watching the airplane movie, or listening to her iPod, and she breathed a sigh of relief when she stood and made her way into baggage claim. For a moment, Patricia simply stood still, watching as people walked passed her, collecting bags and saying hello. An odd sense of excitement and fear mingled in her. Excitement that she'd be able to make a life for herself, away from the influence and drama of her family, and fear for the simple fact that Patricia would be starting a new life. New friends, new teachers, a new home. Suddenly she felt like a small child on their first day of school, clinging to her mom's skirt and staring wide eyed at all the other children.
With a start, Patricia realized that her cell phone was ringing and she took it out, pressing it to her ear. "Hello?"
"Patty! C'est toi! T'es déjà rendue en ville... oh mon dieu je suis en retard hein? Ton vol c'est bien déroul? T'as apellé ta mère pour lui dire que tu t'es bien rendue ? J'ai tellement hâte de te voir!" Patricia quickly pulled the phone away from her ear as Roxanne's excited voice barreled over the line. She laughed as Roxanne continued to chatter on in French and shook her head in fond amusement. Roxanne'd always had a knack for languages, but after a trip to Montreal, she had insisted on taking French classes and could fluently speak the language. Whenever she was excited or nervous, Roxanne tended to speak in French. Roxanne had tried teaching it to Patricia and although she wasn't fluent, Patricia knew enough to translate her friend's words: Patty, is it you? You're already in town! Oh my god, am I late again... you had a nice flight? And did you call your mom to tell her you're here and safe? I can't wait to see you!
"Roxy! Calm down. The answers are yes, yes, and no." With the phone tucked between her shoulder and ear, Patricia struggled with pulling her suitcases off the claim belt.
"Sorry, sorry! I'm just so excited to see you! I can't believe you're actually going to be living with me!" Roxanne practically squealed and Patricia could just imagine the young woman bouncing behind the wheel of her car. "I'll be there soon, okay? Twenty minutes, at the most. Call your family and make sure they know you're safe!" Roxanne ordered.
"Yes, Mother," Patricia replied jokingly. Quick goodbyes and Patricia dialed home. On the third ring it was picked up by Paige. "Patty?"
"Yeah, Mom. Just calling to let you know I got here and Roxy's picking me up soon." They talked for another few minutes, Paige constantly making sure Patricia was alright and Patricia constantly replying that she was. "Mom, I'll call you in the morning, alright?" Patricia said, barely holding back a yawn. It was nearly eight o'clock and, although she'd never been tired this early before, the flight had taken a lot out of her.
"Okay. Everybody sends their love."
"I love you guys, too. Bye."
"Bye."
With a few directions, Patricia found the main lobby of the airport and took a seat by the windows to wait. It wasn't long till a voice from behind her called out, "Firefly!"
Patricia whipped her head around and was nearly tackled to the floor in what she felt like was her millionth hug that day. "J'ai peine à croire que tu es vraiment là! Ca va être malade, on va trop casser la baraque!" (I still can't believe you're really here... it's going to be soooo sick. We're gonna break the place down!)
It took a moment for Patricia to gather her wits and breathe properly. "Umm, Roxy. Not that I'm not happy to see you, but do you think you'll let me breathe anytime soon?"
Roxanne pulled away with the broadest grin Patricia had ever seen and the witch took the time to soak in the image of her friend. Roxanne hadn't changed much over the years: her light brown hair, streaked with red, was no longer shoulder length but touched the middle of her back in soft waves. Bright green eyes sparkled in her round face, and Patricia realized Roxanne had pierced three tiny diamond studs in her left eyebrow. "Welcome to Kansas, Firefly!"
Patricia grinned at the old nickname. Roxanne had first started calling her that a week after they'd met. When Patricia asked her why, Roxanne had replied with, "Because you always stand out in the crowd, even in the dark." Patricia had never forgotten those words and she doubted she ever would.
"It feels great to be here, Jackie." Jackie was Roxanne's middle name. Her friend hated it, but Patricia thought it was cute and she was the only one allowed to call her that.
"Come on; let's get you home! Oh, it feels amazing to be able to say that!" Roxanne helped Patricia carry her bags outside to her car. The night was cool and crisp and Patricia was amazed to feel the difference between San Francisco and country air. From what she'd read Metropolis was a lot like New York City, but being so close to the country left the air clean and fresh.
Maybe, she thought, sliding into Roxanne's car, one day this'll be the smell of home.
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And that is the end of Chapter Four! Ch. 5 is being started as we speak and I hope ya'll enjoyed this! I have to give credit to my beta, wildwolffree17 who gave me that wonderful line to end this chapter! Thank you, my darling!