Not so Charmed a Life

By Demoness Paige

I want to thank everyone who reviewed so thanks and please keep them coming as the reviews are the fuel for my techno muse.

"Paige, honey, we really need to talk." Piper said as soon as Paige wearily made her way inside the manor. She couldn't call it home, she thought that she could when she first moved in but since then realized that she wasn't truly wanted there. The only reason they wanted her was for the power of three, they couldn't care less about her as a person much less a sister.

"Why bother?" Paige asked softly, unable to hide the hurt from her voice. Glancing up at Piper she thought that for just a brief second pain flashed in the elder girl's eyes but it quickly disappeared.

"Because something is clearly bothering you." Piper said reaching out toward Paige who just backed away slowly.

"And what do you care, you have your power of three so who gives a damn about the worthless little bitch?" Paige asked remembering what most of the foster homes referred to her as.

"Paige!" Piper gasped in shock.

"Just leave me alone Piper, I know none of you want me here." Paige cried unable to hold back the torrent of tears that were now falling. "If it wasn't for the power of three you wouldn't even have me here in your precious home."

"That's not true." Piper cried wiping her eyes.

"Bullshit, not once have you even said you cared about me! You never said you loved me! I'm nothing but half bred trash!" Paige sobbed as she orbed out and reappeared on top of the bridge. She collapsed against the wall behind her and watched out over the waters as the people below drove by unaware of the devastated girl above them.

"Happy birthday Paige." Paige whispered hoarsely, bitterness lacing her voice.

"Today is your birthday?" An unwelcome familiar voice asked softly as they sat down next to her. She didn't care any longer though, she just didn't have the energy to care.

"What do you want Leo?" Paige asked tiredly, refusing to look up at him.

"Want to talk about it?" Leo asked gently.

"What's to talk about?" Paige asked hugging her knees to herself tighter. "That for once I actually believed that every thing was going to turn out okay? That I finally had people who loved me besides the Matthews?"

"You do have people who love you Paige." Leo said squeezing her shoulder but Paige shrugged it off angrily.

"No Leo, I don't. I grew up going from one foster home to another with people who hated me, despised my very existence." Paige cried, "I know the signs by now."

"Paige, I'm sure they didn't hate you." Leo sighed, sadness clearly in his voice.

"I'm sorry, Leo." Paige snapped, "I didn't realize that beating someone and telling them how worthless they were signs of being loved. Thanks for letting me know, Leo, it makes everything oh so much better now."

"Oh Paige." Leo said pulling Paige into his arms holding her tight as she struggled against him.

"Let me go!" Paige sobbed, "Please…Please don't hurt me…Please…"

"Shhh…It's okay Paige, I'm not going to hurt you." Leo said, "I do love you, your family."

"Why do they hate me Leo?" Paige sobbed, giving up as she buried her face in his chest shaking. "They couldn't even say happy birthday. They wouldn't even tell me that they loved me last night!"

"It'll be okay." Leo whispered stroking her hair, "Maybe they just didn't know today was your birthday."

"I told them when I first moved in." Paige cried.

"I'm so sorry." Leo whispered. "You should talk to them, Paige. Let them know how you feel."

"I…I can't Leo…I can't believe I even told you anything." Paige sniffed pulling away from Leo.

"How about if I'm there while you talk to them?" Leo asked, "I know they care about you."

"Leo…" Paige sighed.

"Please, Paige." Leo begged.

"Fine." Paige sighed, she knew that it was useless trying to get out of it since Leo could just follow her anywhere she went and she doubted he would just give up. She took his hand as he orbed them back into the living room at the manor where Piper was pacing back and forth in worry.

"Where the hell have you been?" Piper asked, impossible to tell if she was angry or worried but she was scaring Paige a little as she walked closer to the younger girl.

"I-I'm sorry." Whimpered Paige backing away as fear started overtaking her. She was sure that Piper wouldn't strike her but the look on her face, it looked so much like the ones some of her old foster parents had before starting to beat her. On pure instinct she orbed away from Piper and the manor this time reforming in the park shaking in fear.

"Are you okay?" Someone asked scaring her. Spinning around she came face to face with a man maybe a little older than her. He had sandy blonde hair that was short and spiky, a piercing above his eye which were colored a deep shade of blue and wore a white sleeveless shirt and black leather pants with way too many zippers. For some odd reason he reminded her of Spike from that Buffy show she liked.

"Who are you?" Paige demanded turning on him, fear flashing through her eyes.

"My names Mitchell, I saw you crying and was worried." Mitchell said showing his hands to show he wasn't trying to hurt her, "I don't want to hurt you but I'd like to help you."

"Why would you want to help someone like me?" Paige sniffed.

"Let's see, beautiful girl crying, looks like something is really wrong and me being the gentleman I am I had to come see what was wrong." Mitchell said smiling a little, "So wanna talk about it?"

"You're a complete stranger though." Paige said a little shocked.

"Sometimes a complete stranger can help more than someone who isn't. They could help give you a new perspective on your problems." Mitchell said, "And besides I'm not a total stranger, I told you my name didn't I? Might I ask the name of this beautiful young woman?"

"Paige." Paige whispered wondering what possessed her to answer this guy.

"What was that?" Mitchell asked softly.

"Paige…My name…It's Paige." Paige said tucking some hair behind her ear nervously.

"Well milady, shall we find a place to sit and discuss what is bothering such a beauty as you?" Mitchell asked offering his hand.

"I guess." Paige said nervously taking his hand wondering what she was doing. She wasn't like this normally but as she took his hand she felt a comforting warmth spread through her as she followed him.