Just a few words...
First of all, kudos to everyone who's reviewed so far – you guys are awesome and I really appreciate it.
Secondly, I hope this chapter clears up a few questions that have been asked... I know that it's been a bit slow moving so far, but I'll try to speed it up.
...and on that note, enjoy!
The next morning found Phoebe back at the manor, her face set with determination as she rang the doorbell and gazed through the stained glass entryway. She was anxious to see the boys again, her nephews. They were beautiful children, and she couldn't believe how much they had grown in her absence. It was just a reminder of how much she had missed. On top of the birthdays and special occasions, however, it was that she was not able to see them every day, that Phoebe regretted most of all. Now, they hardly even knew her, and to Chris, she was a complete stranger. Will Piper ever forgive her, though? Will she ever let her be apart of the boys lives again? Yes. Yesterday, underneath all of the anger and hatred that glared off of her older sister, Phoebe didn't need to be an empath, to see how much Piper had missed her.
Upon hearing footsteps approach the door, Phoebe took in a calming breath and thought to herself, "Well, here goes nothing."
She watched as the door began to open, and instead of revealing who she thought it would, who she was prepared to deal with, a pale, dark haired woman instead appeared before her.
"Paige..." Phoebe started, but was at once interrupted by the welcoming embrace that her younger sister unexpectedly smothered her with.
"I'm sorry," Paige exclaimed, suddenly stepping back. "It's just that...well...I knew you'd come back, and I've missed you so much – Piper has too, no matter how much she tries to hide it. And, when Piper said that you were here yesterday, and she got to see you and --"
"Sh, Honey. It's alright, I understand," began Phoebe, saving herself from Paige's emotional rambling, while pulling her into another hug. "I've missed you too. I've missed you both so much."
Unable to speak another word, Phoebe continued to hold her sister, silently soothing and comforting her. As Paige rested her head on her shoulder, powerful sobs wracking through her body, Phoebe found it hard enough to keep her own tears from escaping, although they more than once threatened to. In fact, she found herself so submerged within the embrace that she almost didn't notice the tiny tug at her pants.
"Mommy! I have to go pee pee!" a tiny voice cried, inevitably breaking the moment.
Paige immediately broke away, staring at the little girl who had just appeared before them.
"She called you... Mommy," Paige started hesitantly, confusion evidently laced within her voice.
"That's right," responded Phoebe calmly, holding the small girl's petite hand.
"But...why? Who is she?" continued Paige.
Before Phoebe could respond however, the little girl skipped over to Paige, wrapping her arms around the leg that towered in comparison to her small body.
"I'm Paiwey!" the little girl exclaimed.
"Paiwey?" Paige repeated, looking up at Phoebe in confusion.
"Paisley, my daughter," Phoebe clarified, with a slight chuckle in her voice. "She's having a little difficulty with her pronunciation, can you tell? So, can we come in? I fear she'll wet her drawers if we don't."
Paige nodded, and made her way into the kitchen as Phoebe escorted little Paisley into the bathroom. She hardly had enough time to reorganize her thoughts when Phoebe joined her only a few minutes later, after leaving Paisley safely amused by the television in another room.
"I'm sorry about that," Phoebe began nervously. "It wasn't how I intended for you too to meet at all. I left her asleep in the car, but...are you ok?"
Phoebe glanced at Paige, awaiting an answer, but the room remained silent. Paige was still trying to comprehend what exactly had happened. It was hard enough to see her sister after all of these years. Meeting Phoebe's daughter, her niece - it was all too much for one day.
"Is that why you left?" Paige finally questioned in a tone laced with resentment. "Because you were pregnant? That's all? I don't understand! You know that we would have supported you. We would have been glad to help you!"
"Paige, sweetie, it was much more than that," Phoebe responded.
"Really, you expect me to believe that?" Paige retorted. "Because it's kind of hard to - I mean, you did show up on our doorstep today, kid in tow."
"Paige," Phoebe began only to be interrupted.
"Don't Paige me!" she responded angrily. "Why did you leave then? Can you answer me that?"
Phoebe could only stare. No. She couldn't answer that. Not right now, not without Piper. Then, as if on cue, before either of them could state another word, Paisley's excited shriek ran into their ears, "Aunt Piper!"
"Oh no," Phoebe whispered under her breath while jogging into the room where she had left her daughter only minutes earlier.
"And who is this?" asked Piper, eyes bulging, of the little girl who had jumped into her arms.
"I'm Paiwey! Paiwey Nicole Hawiwell!" Paisley, knowingly, filled her Aunt Piper in. "And you're Aunt Piper! You're the oldest sister after Pwue, but she's with Gwams, who's in heaven, but we miss her very much. And you can fweeze – like me!"
"Huh?" was the only response to come from Piper.
"Oh boy," said Phoebe, while taking Paisley from her sister. "I'm so sorry Piper, but she kind of likes to talk."
"This is...you're daughter?" Piper offered.
"Right. This is Paisley," Phoebe said hesitantly, unsure of what Piper might do next.
"Oh, you have a family," she began, rather calmly. "How nice."