A Hidden Truth

The Truth is Revealed

A/N: I also forgot to mention that Paige once again works at Social Services, because, well, I say so. Want to challenge me? Sees some hands.

Grrrr. Woof! Hands go down.Didn't think so. He he, I'm a freak. If you are a freak, I just have one thing to say: "Power to the FREAKS!" Any normal people out there: you'll see. One day, us freaks will TAKE OVER THE WORLD! lol. Whoa.

Disclaimer: Mine? Ya, riiiight.

The next morning, Paige got out of bed, got dressed, and went downstairs where she found Phoebe and Piper at the kitchen table. Remembering her dream, ad how real Prue seemed, she said, "I have to tell you guys something really important."

"Yes, Paige," Piper said, looking up from the newspaper she was reading.

"I-I have a daughter," Paige spoke, hoping they couldn't hear her. But they did.

"What!" Piper shouted, causing hot coffee to spill all over her lap. It would've been quite comical if it wasn't a serious moment.

Paige spoke with guilt. "When I was seventeen, about a month before 'the crash' some senior was having a party on a Friday night. I knew from experience that my parents wouldn't let me go, so I waited until they were asleep and snuck out the window. The punch at the party was spiked, so I got a little drunk. I don't really remember what happened next, I just remember waking up in a bed and room I didn't recognize." Paige paused, trying to look for a way to phrase the next part. "About a month later, I realized I was late. Not having much money, and not wanting to be judged, I stole a pregnancy test from the local drug store. It was positive. I was young and alone, and I didn't know who the father was, so I went though it by myself," Paige said, starting to cry silently. "I named her Peyton Cassidy Matthews, but I thought it would be best for both of us if I gave her up so she could have the life she deserved."

"Aw, Paigey; it's okay," Phoebe comforted. "Out of curiosity, why are you telling us this now?"

"Yesterday, when you two were at worked, she came by. You guys, she was beautiful. She is twelve now. I want to see her again. We only got to talk for ten minutes."

"I'm sure we can work something out. After all, you do work at Social Services."

"Ya, I guess. I'll look in the database."

"Okay, Paigey. I'll make you some coffee, and then you should head to work."

"Thanks, Piper, but I think I'll pass on the coffee," Paige said sadly.

"Okay, sweetie. See you later," Phoebe replied.

Paige walked out the door and got into her car. She didn't drive straight to work, but first to the park to watch the little kids. As she watched them on the swings or the slide, she started to cry. She had done that so many times in the last twenty-four hours that she felt as if her eyes had no more tears left.

After about ten minutes, she drove away to South Bay Social Services.

When she got to work, she went to her cubicle and logged onto the adoption database. (A/N: I don't know anything about Social Services, except what I've seen on TV. So if this is wrong, so what? Sue me.) She typed in the name 'Peyton Andrews' into the search bar. What came up felt like an arrow through her heart. And not just any arrow, a darklighter's arrow that was killing her slowly and painfully. It said that Peyton had been bounced from foster home to foster home. Currently, she lived in a group home. Each of the foster parents seemed to have said, in slightly kinder words, that she was a freak. They said she was mentally unstable, because she was always saying that she saw ghosts, even though she was long out of that magic phase. Wow, apparently Peyton already has her powers. It also said that she seemed to disappear when she claimed to be scared and appeared on the other side of the room. That would be her orbing. She probably has her powers under control by now since it seems as if they've been saying it was happening since she was a baby.

She quickly found the address of the group home and went to MapQuest to find directions. When the results came up, she found that it was only two blocks from the manor. Throughout her work day, she wasn't really focusing. All she wanted to do was go talk to her daughter. The last five minutes she spent staring at the clock, waiting for the minute hand to get to the twelve. When it finally did, she was out of her chair like a dog trying to run away from getting its shots. She hopped into her little lime green VW Bug and drove toward the group home, directions in hand. She knew she was probably going over the speed limit, but she didn't care.

After what felt like hours, Paige finally pulled up to the house. She could see a bunch of little girls running around the house. Most of them didn't look much older than eight or nine. Paige looked up to see a girl at the window upstairs. It was Peyton. She looked sad. Paige got out of the car and rang the doorbell. An older woman answered the door.

"Hello. What can I do for you, sweetie?"

"I'm here to see Peyton Andrews," Paige said.

"And how do you know Peyton?" the woman asked.

"Um…I'm, uh, her mother," Paige said, knowing as soon as she said it she should have just said she was a social worker.

"Oh, really? When did you come into her life?" the woman questioned (rather rudely, might I add).

"Look lady, can I please just see my daughter? She came to me yesterday, and I'd like to talk to her!"

"Peyton! There is someone here to see you!" the woman shouted. It was really loud. God, this woman is annoying, Paige thought as Peyton came bouncing down the stairs.

"Hey, how did you find out where I live?" Peyton asked when she saw Paige.

"I work at Social Services. I have my ways," Paige said with a smile. "Can I take Peyton out for a while to talk? That is, if she wants to."

"Uh, yes, I don't see why not. Be back in time for dinner at seven thirty, Peyton," The woman said.

"Okay, Toni," Peyton replied. As soon as they walked out the door and were sure that nobody could hear, Peyton said, "I really don't like Toni. She's really strict and buts in where she doesn't belong."

"Ya, I caught a bit of that," Paige said. Then Paige got serious. "Peyton: I want you to know that the reason I gave you up wasn't because I didn't love you, but because I do love you." Wow, where have I heard that before? Oh, ya, that's what my biological parents told me when I met them. "I was only seventeen and I couldn't handle a kid. Especially considering I was by myself because my adoptive parents died in a crash about two days before I found out about you."

"Wait-you were adopted?" Peyton was obviously interested.

"Yup. I'll tell you the whole story later. First: do you believe in magic?"

A/N: Originally it was going to be one chapter, then I decided to do it as two, but I realized how short the second one would be if I did that. In the end, as you can see, I decided to out it all in one. Hope you like it!