Chapter 4 Patience

The music still blared as Paige walked back into P3. She scanned the room, her eyes finally falling on Piper. She was behind the bar now, helping serve drinks. Paige could still see the worn look on her face. She took in a breath to relax herself and slowly made her way to the bar. She rehearsed what she was going to say as she walked.

Piper hurriedly placed drinks on the counter. Her thoughts were anywhere but here. She thought about Leo, how she had caught him rehearsing his proposal in the bathroom. A smile crept across her face. He was so nervous, more so than when they had first met. She thought about his smile, the way it lit up his face and made his blue eyes seem to glow. She missed him, more than anything right now. She pulled herself from her thoughts as she looked up to meet the gaze of that girl again. What was her name, Paige? She wanted to look away, just pretend she wasn't there. Something made her stop though, something about her eyes seemed so familiar. Piper couldn't help but smile a little as she watched her, she looked like she was talking to herself.

Paige didn't back down, she steadily made her way to her sister. She tried to smile as she leaned across the bar. "Can we talk?"

"I'm kind of busy." Something inside Piper screamed at her. Something inside kept telling her not to shut this girl out. She took in a defeated breath and started around the bar toward Paige. "Come with me." She pressed through the crowd and into the storage room. Paige followed close behind. She waited until Paige was through the door before closing it behind them. "So, talk."

"Just give me chance, ok. I'm not here to be a problem or a pest. I can't tell you why, but I was sent here to help you and your sisters." Paige watched, trying to read through Piper's expression.

"How do you know about me and my sisters?" She raised her eyebrows a little less irritated and more curious.

"I can't tell you that. Not yet, at least. I'm not a threat, I promise. I can tell you that I'm here kind of because a spell gone wrong or maybe it went right. I'm still trying to figure that out."

Piper crossed her arms, trying to understand this girls ramblings. She reminded her a lot of Phoebe for some reason. "So, you're a witch?"

"Yea. It's a little more complicated than that though."

"Who sent you here? Cause if it was the Elders you can tell them to stick this precious charmed destiny straight up..."

Paige cut her off. "I'm not a fan of theirs either. They've kind of screwed me and my sis I mean my family over in the past. I don't exactly understand what I'm suppose to do either, I just know I can't go home until I help you guys. You especially."

Piper felt the rage build inside her again. This was just an attempt by the better than thou Elders to get her to help them again. "Look, I don't know exactly what it is you're suppose to help us with, but I'm not falling for this. My sisters and I can handle this, we don't need or want your help."

Paige couldn't help but feel the sting in her words. She watched as Piper turned to go. Searching her thoughts she said the only thing she could think of to make her stop. "Leo thinks you do."

Piper's heart skipped a beat just hearing his name. She turned to face Paige, tears threatening to fall but she really didn't care. "You've seen Leo?"

Paige nodded. "I have. I talked to him. I can't tell you how I know, but I do know that he loves you more than anything. You can't give up, not now. You two are destined to be together."

She watched as Piper didn't even try to fight the tears now. Paige felt lost at first, she watched her sister cry. Taking a step forward she pulled Piper into an embrace which she was grateful she accepted. For the first time since she got here, Paige felt safe. She reached up, wiping a tear away from her eye.

Prue stood at the doorway, Phoebe by her side. They had been looking for Paige and stopped by to check on Piper. Prue felt her heart break as she watched Piper. She felt relief, as well as jealousy. Jealous of the way Piper let Paige help, but not her.

Paige caught sight of Phoebe and Prue. She slowly backed away, allowing Prue to step up in her place. She watched as they stood there, all three of her sisters. Her heart ached again, knowing she couldn't be part of something even as simple as this. She didn't have time to think about it as she watched Belthazar shimmered in behind them. "Look out!" She screamed, pushing the three out of the way as an energy ball flew by.

Prue threw her hand up, throwing the demon against a pallet of mineral water. He seemed to smile a little as he stood up. Raring back he threw another one.

Paige reached her hand out. "Energy ball." The ball disappeared and reappeared in her hands. She put full force into throwing it back at him. She watched as he shimmered out again

"Where'd he go?" Phoebe asked, helping to pull Piper up from the ground.

"Right here witch." They watched as he appeared behind Paige, knocking her unconscious and disappearing with her.

The three stood there for a moment, not really sure what just happened.

"We gotta find her." They said in unison.

Present 2006

Piper shifted a little, still uncomfortable from being in the attic for so long. She stood quickly as she watched Paige's body jump. "Phoebe!"

Phoebe rounded the doorway, having gone downstairs to the restroom.

"Something's wrong Pheebs."

Phoebe looked down as Paige's body jumped again.

"Something's hurting her." Piper placed a shaking hand on Paige's arm.

"What do we do, we already tried waking her up." Phoebe felt her eyes water, wondering exactly what was happening to her baby sister.

"You have to let her work through it on her own."

Piper and Phoebe turned to see where the voice had come from. "Chris?" Piper asked, standing up and hugging her son.

"Hey mom, aunt Phoebe."

"What are you doing here?" Phoebe asked as she hugged him.

"I came back to help ease your minds. Aunt Paige is fine, and I know what you're thinking, but you can't. Aunt Paige knows what she can and can't tell, if you guys go back you could change things, and not for the better."

"So you're gonna tell us we just have to wait this out?" Piper asked, trying to hide her aggravation.

"You have to mom, have faith. The bright side?"

"I dare you." Phoebe joked.

"I get to stick around until she wakes up. And you each get to ask me one question about the future. But only one question." He smiled to try and help ease their minds.

Piper and Phoebe shared a glace, both contemplating what they should ask.