Disclaimer: Twenty-four chapters and I still don't own Charmed. Oh well.
Tales of December
a story by Ryeloza
Paige: December 24, 1994
Her cousin Lisa had gone with her fiancé to his church this Christmas, but Peter had come home from school and lazily shrugged into a nice sweater to join them. Paige honestly had no idea why she had agreed to come; she hadn't been in a church since her parents' funeral and to mass since her freshman year of high school. At the time she hadn't thought going would be a big deal—and it would please her aunt and uncle—but now she hesitated at the back of the church, even as her family proceeded up the aisle to a pew.
The front of the church was aglow with light and the warmth of a rainbow of poinsettias. Everything about it spoke of hope and promise and love and all Paige could feel inside was a strangling grief and guilt that had been ever-present since her parents' deaths. And she couldn't do it. She couldn't bring her feet to move; couldn't bring herself to sit and sing and pray for the next hour while her parents—who had believed so wholeheartedly—lay buried in the cold earth outside.
She could see her uncle turning to come back and see what was wrong and panic rose within her; she had to get out. Before she could turn however, a hand slipped into hers and a voice whispered in her ear, "Are they going to kick me out because I'm not Catholic?"
A smile bloomed from her inside out and Paige turned to look up at Glen. "What are you doing here?" she asked. She and Glen had been so busy with family activities that they hadn't seen each other since their impromptu make-out session the previous week. She still wasn't even sure what it meant, but for now the fact that Glen was in her church holding her hand was more than enough for her satisfaction.
"I'm escorting you to church like a proper young gentleman," said Glen with a waggle of his eyebrows. Paige stifled a giggle and sent a reassuring wave to her uncle, who seemed relieved to see Glen there. Once he had turned his back on them, Paige leaned up and pecked Glen on the lips, not caring whether or not she should.
"Thank you."
"Anything for you." Paige nodded, touched because so many people had said those words to her over the past eight months, but Glen was one of the few who she knew meant them. "Merry Christmas, Paige."
Impulsively, she kissed him again. "Merry Christmas."
-Fin-
A/n: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story! I'm glad that you all enjoyed it so much; I had a ton of fun writing this. I'd like to wish everyone a very happy holiday and a great new year. I'm sure there will be plenty more from me in 2009 since I am obsessed. Thanks again.
-Katie