Chapter four
Payton's lesson
Like on most weekend days Payton was outside enjoying the new spring air. She loved being outside and she loved everything about nature. In fact she would rather be playing outside than watching TV or playing on a computer.
"Birthday girl your guests are here" Prue shouted out the back door.
"Send them out" Payton shouted back.
Payton's friends Bryan, Joel, Leah and Ryland ran out of the manor into the back yard, Next to come out was: Paris, Patty, Ginny, Preston, Parker, Henry Junior, P.J., Tamora, Kat, Melinda, Chris and Wyatt. They were followed out by Austin, Darryl, Sheila, Andy, Henry, Leo, Coop and Victor. Last to come out was Prue, Piper, Phoebe, Paige and Billie who were each carrying their one year olds Passion, Aria, Penny, Mackenzie and Jamie.
The adults seated themselves on the lawn chairs Paige had laid out. The children were running all over the hard, which was nothing out of the ordinary. The babies were placed on the ground so they could run around. Passion, who was the curious baby, went investigating everything. Jamie ran off towards his big sister Ginny. Aria was a nosey baby, so she walked over to the little kids to see what they were up to. Penny was scared to wonder off, so she started crying and was picked up by her dad. Mackenzie decided to pinch her dad's ankle. Henry picked her up only for her to start screaming, then she orbed to the other side of the yard.
"What's the update on Payton" Victor asked.
"She's hard headed like her mother" Prue admitted.
"She is bossy at times" Andy stated.
"In terms of school, she's doing well in both mortal and magical education" Prue stated.
"She's halfway through her witch training, but has long ways to go in her white-lighter training" Andy added.
Fights were breaking out all over the place. Chris was calling Melinda a baby lover for choosing to play with Aria instead of him, Melinda was not happy about being called this. Wyatt attempted to break it up but winded up getting in the middle of it. Tamora was yelling at her younger brother and twin sister for not playing their game her way. Parker was scolding Preston for being ruff with Ginny, Preston screamed at her to mind her own business. Ginny attempted to tell Parker she didn't mind, but scolded for not defending herself. The five one year olds were pushing each other down. Jamie, who was a delicate baby, just sat there and cried.
"They're ruining my party" Payton complained to the adults.
"Kids there will be no fighting today so say you're sorry and move on" Piper shouted to the children.
When the BBQ food was ready, Wyatt conjured up a table that fit them all. The children and guests seated themselves and the babies at the table. Prue, Andy, Piper, Leo, Phoebe, Coop, Paige and Henry served the hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks.
Halfway through the meal a big food fight started because of Aria orb stealing Passion's food. The kids joined in as the adults attempted but failed to stop them. When Parker hit Piper in the cheek with a patty floating in ketchup it was all over. It became silent as Piper stood up and took the patty off leaving behind a circle of ketchup.
"That's enough!" If you live in this house and are over the age of 1 and under the age of 16 you will clean this up with no magic: if you're a guest or baby you may go in the house, Prue and Paige will serve you some cake" Piper sternly shouted pissed off.
The children got off their chairs and slowly began to clean up. The father's took their babies from the high chairs and brought them into the bathrooms for baths, two babies per tub. Piper and Phoebe stood outside watching the kids clean up. Phoebe handed Piper a baby wipe to clean the ketchup off her face. Prue and Paige served cake to the others.
For the rest of the party the kids were on their best behaviour. However that night there was so issues with the kids who share rooms. Since it was the weekend there was no bedtime. This was only the second time there was a problem with sharing rooms.
Paris and Patty shared the first room on the third floor. Paris decided she wanted to sleep in Patty's bed. However Patty wasn't in the mood to switch beds or share so she pushed Paris off. The girls then got in a hitting fight.
P.J. and Parker shared the first room on the fourth floor, they had shared a room since Parker was a baby. The problem was they were fighting over Belle. Parker wanted Belle to sleep with her. This is what P.J. wanted too, and made the argument Belle was her dog. Parker pointed out that over the past five years Belle had become the family dog, despite the fact Belle was given to P.J. for her fourth birthday.
Tamora and Kat shared the third (and last) room on the fourth floor, they had been sharing a room their entire lives. The problem was Kat was having a tea party while Tamora was trying to sleep. Tamora got mad and bickered with Kat who refused to stop playing.
Wyatt and Chris shared the second room on the fifth (and last) floor, they had been sharing a room since Chris was born. The problem was Chris was playing his video game on a loud volume while Wyatt was attempting to read. Of course this caused them to argue.
The adults were too tired to deal with Chaos and thought it best to let the children sort it out on their own. Within two hours the manor became quiet. Paris and Patty were passed out snuggled up to each other in Patty's bed. P.J. and Parker were asleep, Belle had decided to sleep with Payton. Tamora was asleep in her bed and Kat was passed out at the table she had been using for her tea party. Wyatt and Chris ended up both playing the video game on a normal volume.
The rest of the children were quiet as well. Melinda was watching Tangled in her room, her room was the first room on the 5th floor. Henry Jr. was reading with the light from his bedside lamp, his room was the second room on the fourth floor. Payton was passed out from celebrating her seventh birthday, her room was the third (and last) room on the third floor. Preston was sleeping in between his parents (the third and last room on the fifth and last floor), his room though was the second room on the third floor. Passion was asleep in her crib that was located in her parent's room. Aria was asleep in her crib that was located in her parent's room, which was the first room on the second floor. Penny was in her crib awake smiling at the ceiling, her crib was located in her parent's room (the second room on the second floor. Mackenzie was awake in her crib deciding if she wanted to cry, her crib was located in her parent's room (the third and last room on the second floor.
The next morning when the babies, Paris and Patty were up, Piper woke up the other children. As the adults and little kids reached the kitchen the other children orbed/beamed in. Henry Jr. was last to arrive since he had to walk.
"Alright listen up" Piper stated.
"There has been way too much fighting in this house. So this Friday after magic school each set of siblings will spend the evening together to bond" Prue said.
"Saturday will be cousin day, you will spend the day with your age group cousins" Phoebe added.
Later that day the children were playing outside and the babies were napping. Wyatt and Chris over at Carter's house. The adults were in the living room watching TV when Payton came over to them.
"Mom, dad, from now on I will use my powers whenever and wherever I want, they're my birth right" Payton stated.
"Are you willing to accept the consequences" Andy asked.
"Yes"
"Alright go ahead" Prue agreed and watched her orb away.
"Are you guys serious" Paige asked.
"She's experimenting and testing her limits, she'll learn from her mistakes" Andy replied.
The next morning Payton decided not to take the school bus with her brother and cousins. Instead she orbed right into the school yard, catching the attention of many student including Kennedy and Dakota, who both knew about magic.
"We don't know much about magic, but Wyatt said mortals are not supposed to know" Dakota recalled.
"Her parents are allowing her, to teach her why mortals shouldn't know" Wyatt explained approaching them.
Payton gave Wyatt a hug then ran off to her friends so she could finally tell them her big secret. Wyatt watched her, he had made it his job to look out for her. He didn't agree with his aunt and uncle on allowing a newly turned seven year old to do this. He was fourteen and didn't want to test the limits himself.
When Payton got to class she was surrounded by her classmates. They were begging her to preform magic. Payton smiled and orbed in a box of cookies. As her classmates enjoyed them Payton thought to herself "See there's no reason mortals shouldn't know."
From then on the day kept on getting better and better for Payton. She enjoyed getting the attention, especially when she showed them her astral projection power. She was even gaining the attention of the seventh and eighth graders. Getting the attention of the big kids was a huge deal for a first grader.
That night Payton experienced her first personal gain consequences. While getting ready for bed she orbed on her pajamas. When she went downstairs for her goodnight kiss everyone was staring at her. She looked down and saw she was nothing but her underwear.
"Dam personal gain" Payton stated in a snappy tone that was almost cute
Payton orbed back to her room and attempted to dress herself. However everything she put on winded up back in her closest or dresser. She had no choice but to go to sleep in just her unaware. Payton wasn't the type of kid who liked being undressed.
The next day didn't have a good start. When she orbed to school she was captured by Wyatt's old enemy Wesley, along with another 8th grade boy. The boys wanted Payton to give them powers. Payton refused knowing this would be going way too far.
The boys didn't like this and knocked her to the ground. The second boy held her down as Wesley threw some punches at her. At this moment she received her power of telekinesis and used it to send the boys flying across the school yard.
"I knew your magic was dark" Mrs. Hudson stated, she had seen it.
Mrs. Hudson grabbed her arm and brought her to the principle's office. She was seated on a chair in the waiting room while Mrs. Hudson talked with Principle George. During the wait Payton used her astral projection to tell the others what was going on. She could have just orbed out but thought that would just make things worse for herself.
Preston and Wyatt orbed to the office instantly and barged into the principal's office. They attempted to explain Payton had only used magic on the boys for self-defence. Up until that point no one had known Payton wasn't the only witch in the family. That ended when Preston opened his big mouth.
"You've know this family for years, have any of us used our magic to harm anyone or anything before?"
"You're all witches? I should have known, expel them all, you know how dangerous Chris, Tamora and Preston are even without magic just imagine how they are using it" Mrs. Hudson instructed principle George.
Just like that the ten school age were brought to the office. Tamora and Chris didn't know if they should be madder at Payton or her brother. Luckily little Ginny's magical secret remained a secret. For the Halliwell and Mitchell children, they were expelled and all six parents were called.
"I'm so sorry it's all my fault" Payton cried when the family arrived home at the Halliwell manor.
"Have you learned your lesson" Prue asked.
"Yes, it is best for mortals to stay in the dark about magic. I thought it would be ok because of the mortals who did know, Darryl and his family, the Henrys, Kennedy and Dakota, Grandpa Victor" Payton stated.
"Ok, I can cast a spell to make everyone forget the magic events over the past few days" Prue informed.
Friday evening came and the children sat around the table after returning home from magic school. It was time to go over the plans for sibling bonding night.
"Wyatt, Chris, Melinda and Aria, you will be going to the park" Piper told her kids.
"Tamora, Kat, Henry and Mackenzie, you are going to the indoor playground" Paige told her kids.
"P.J., Parker, Patty and Penny, you are going to the art gallery" Phoebe told her kids.
"Payton, Preston, Paris and Passion, you are staying here" Prue told her kids.
Wyatt got Aria out of her high chair and helped her into her coat and shoes. With her in his arms Wyatt took Melinda's hand and followed Chris out the door.
Wyatt (age 14) and Melinda (age 10) were happy to have sibling time. Wyatt had a good relationship with his siblings, as did Melinda with Wyatt and Aria. It was only Chris (age 12) who needed to learn how to get along with Melinda and be nice to Aria (age 16 months.)
The twins (Tamora and Kat age almost ten) usually got along, and Kat also got along with Henry Jr (age almost nine.) and sometimes liked her baby sister Mackenzie (age 16 months.) It was Tamora who didn't get along with her brother and hated her baby sister.
P.J., Parker, Patty and Penny (ages 9, 7 and half, 3, and 16 months) almost always got along. Payton (age 7) got along with her sisters but not her brother. Preston (age 4) did not get along with any of his sisters. Paris (age almost 3) and Passion (age 16 months) mostly got along with their other siblings and each other.
When they arrived at the indoor playground Paige handed Kenzie over to Kat. Tamora wasn't in the best mood, she had no interest in bonding with her brother or with her baby sister. Henry Jr. was feeling shy and nervous being forced to spend time with Tamora.
P.J. walked into the art gallery pushing Penny in her stroller and holding Patty's hand, Parker was holding Patty's other hand. The four sisters were pretty close and didn't really need this bonding time. Still, they were happy to spend quality time together without the other twelve kids around.
At the park Wyatt and Melinda were placing Aria on the baby slide and watching her slide down with that adorable smile on her face. Chris was over by the swings refusing to join his siblings. So Wyatt put Aria in the baby swing and started pushing her while Melinda started swinging herself.
At the indoor playground Tamora and Henry Jr. were already having issues. Tamora was sitting on the stop of the slide refusing to her brother go down (this is how Tamora and Alyssa became enemies at age four.) Kat, who was with Makenzie in the ball pit, threw a ball towards Tamora. To avoid getting hit Tamora ducked making her fall down the slide landing in the ball pit. Instead of getting mad Tamora started laughing, soon after her siblings burst out laughing.
At the art gallery, the girls were admiring a painting of Noah's ark. The family wasn't religious, but P.J. knew the story. She told it to her sisters.
"Noah should have left behind the bees and mosquitoes" Parker stated making her sisters laugh.
At the manor Payton, Preston and Paris were playing house using Passion as the baby, which worked since Passion was a baby. Payton was the mom and she was pretending to cook supper in her play kitchen that was in her room. Preston was the dad and he was outside pretending to be at the park with Passion and Paris who were playing the kids.
The next day over breakfast the adults went over the plan for cousin bonding day.
"Wyatt Chris, do want you want since you don't have any cousins in your age group" Leo said.
"Melinda, P.J., Tamora and Kat, you are going rock climbing" Piper said.
"Henry Jr., Parker and Payton, you three are going to gymnastics" Andy said.
"Preston, Patty and Paris, you're going to the indoor playground" Coop said.
At rock climbing the girls buckled up and started climbing up one of the smaller walls. Tamora made it a competition, last one up had to climb the tallest wall. Melinda wasn't going to let Tamora ruin all the fun. P.J. and Kat on her other hand went with the flow.
At gymnastics Henry Jr. and the girls started off with somersaults. They were being taught by a trainer on how to do them properly. At first Henry was uneasy but quickly started having fun.
At the indoor playground Preston, Patty and Paris were taking turns going down the slide that ended in the ball pit. It was going fine until Preston decided to stay on the slide. Paris came along and pushed him down, she wasn't scared to stand up to him. In revenge Preston threw a ball that hit her eye, giving her a black eye.
At the manor sixteen month old Passion, Aria, Penny and Mackenzie were having a play-date. Aria took the pony that Mackenzie had reached for, which of course started a fight. Mackenzie grabbed it from her, so Aria orbed it back. Passion, who had become the bossy one, slapped both of them and orbed the toy away. Mackenzie bit Passion and Aria pushed her. Just like that they got into a hitting fight. Penny started to cry to get away from them, Phoebe took her into her arms.
At rock climbing Tamora was the last one up the wall, which meant she had to climb the tallest wall. She buckled up and took a deep breath as she took her first step up. She was nervous but brave enough to do it.
At Gymnastics the kids were working on balance, It was a team effort. One would walk across a thin bench while the other two walked along it to help the walker keep balance. When it was Payton's turn to walk across the bench, Parker got distracted causing Payton to fall knocking down Parker in the process.
At the indoor playground the kids were finally getting along. They were burring each other in the ball pit. Preston was on his best behaviour, it had been awhile since his powers had needed to be taken away as a punishment.
At the manor the babies were scribbling on paper. Penny happened to be using the red crayon that Aria wanted. Being the impatient baby she was, Aria orbed the crayon into her hand. If this had happened to Passion or Mackenzie there would of been a fight. However Penny was the passive baby, so she simply took another crayon.
After that weekend the kids did get along better at first, but it didn't last long. Having sixteen kids in the house meant sixteen different personalities. Having gentle kids, bossy kids, impatient kids, and ruff kids all mixed in together meant chaos and fights were bound to happen. The adults realized there was no way all these kids were would get along all the time, but at the end of the day these sixteen kids were still a family who deep down loved each other. That's all that really mattered.