Sorry I didn't update earlier, but I have been soooo busy with work, etc. Anyway, here is the next chapter. And I've included another flashback (haven't put one of those in for quite a few chapters!).
This isn't my best work, but oh well. Hope you enjoy it anyway...
Chapter 15
'You're our what…?' Phoebe asked in astonishment.
'That's impossible!' Piper gasped at exactly the same time.
'It's really true,' Paige insisted. 'Your…our mother came to me, to tell me.'
She gave a shaky laugh.
'It was hard for me to believe it at first, even though I wanted to believe it. I mean, after my adopted parents died, I always hoped that my real family would come and find me. It never occurred to me that I would find you first.'
Paige could hardly believe that it had simply been a few hours since she had first met Piper and Prue, and everything had started to happen. Now she found herself closely scrutinised by Piper, Phoebe and Leo. Prue, however, was staring at the ground.
'I should have guessed,' Prue said softly. Everyone spun around to face her.
'What do you mean?' Piper demanded.
'I was six years old. It was the middle of the night, and I was thirsty, so I got out of bed and went downstairs…'
Flashback. Prue stumbled back up the stairs, having satisfied her thirst. Tiredness had crept in again, and all she wanted to do was climb back into bed and sleep. But then she heard voices. Patty's bedroom door was open, and Prue crept closer, suddenly feeling wide awake. She could see Grams, who had her back to the door. Then Grams moved, and Prue caught sight of her mother. She gave a gasp.
'Who is it?' Grams approached the door hurriedly. 'Oh Prue honey, what are you doing?'
'Mommy, what's wrong?' Prue asked in confusion. Her mother, who normally had an extremely slim waist, was sitting on the bed with an enormous stomach!
'It's nothing, Prue sweetie,' her mother replied gently. 'Mother, please hurry up.'
Grams picked up Prue, and carried her into the room. Prue could hear her grandmother whispering something. Penny sprinkled some sparkling dust onto Patty with her free hand. As Prue watched, Patty's stomach started to shrink before her very eyes. Suddenly, Patty was back to her old self again.
'Come on Prue, back to bed.'
Prue had already begun to fall asleep in her grandmother's arms.
'When I woke up in the morning, I couldn't remember whether it had been a dream or had actually happened,' Prue explained.
'So, what you're saying is that Paige is telling the truth?' Piper questioned. Prue nodded.
'I saw Patty too,' Leo broke in for the first time. 'Paige's father is Sam, Piper.'
'As in Sam, mom's whitelighter?' Piper asked. Leo nodded.
Paige held her breath, feeling sick with anxiety. What if the Halliwells hated her? What if they wanted nothing to do with her? What if…?
Prue, Piper and Phoebe stared at Paige for a few moments, and then turned to stare at one another. Phoebe broke into a large smile.
'Welcome to our dysfunctional, nutty family!'
Paige gaped at her, and then looked at Prue and Piper. They too were smiling.
'You…you mean it? You don't hate me?'
This time it was Piper who answered.
'Why should we?' she shrugged. 'There's always room in our family for one more.'
'And you did put your own life in danger by helping us today,' Prue added.
Prue's words made everyone think about the problem they all faced. Phoebe voiced everybody's thoughts.
'How are we going to fix this mess?'
The group stood still for a few minutes as they tried to think of a plan. Paige couldn't help having a large grin plastered on her face. She had finally met her real family.
I guess when you are a witch wishes really can come true.
'I still like my memory idea,' Phoebe said suddenly.
Piper put her hands on her hips.
'Really Pheebs, I thought that we had discussed this already.'
'How about if I help?' Paige asked tentatively. 'I am half witch, after all.'
There was a moment's silence.
'It might work…' Piper said slowly.
'The Power of Four?' Prue asked.
'Well, she is family,' Phoebe agreed. Paige felt rather lost as she heard this confusing conversation.
'So I'm helping?'
Phoebe nodded vigorously.
'Leo, can you orb us back to the Manor?' Piper asked with a smile. Leo took hold of Paige's arms with one hand and Phoebe's with the other. Piper grasped Phoebe's spare hand while Prue linked arms with her on her other side.
'I feel like a pack-animal,' Leo grumbled as the group disappeared in blue orbs.
They reappeared in the Manor.
'Urgh,' Paige groaned. 'Does your stomach always feel like this when you orb?'
'You get used to it,' Phoebe smiled. 'And for your sake, I hope you do. You are half whitelighter too.'
Paige stumbled, her legs still feeling wobbly after having orbed. Prue put out an arm to stop her from falling. Suddenly, blue lights filled the room and washed over the four girls. The chandelier above them glowed brightly. And then it was over as quickly as it had begun.
'I think,' Piper said in a hushed voice, 'that the Power of Four has just been awoken.'
'Now you really can't escape this family,' Phoebe joked as Leo orbed out and back again, this time clutching the Book of Shadows.
'We need to find a memory spell…' Prue muttered as she flicked through the book. 'AHA!'
'Found one?' Phoebe asked, peering over Prue's shoulder.
'To erase memory,' Prue announced. She stood up, taking a deep breath. 'Are you ready?'
Piper took hold of Prue's right hand, and Phoebe took hold of her left. Paige hesitated, and then grasped Phoebe's other hand.
'Ready,' she said.
And Prue began to read from the book.
So I hope this chapter was ok, and that you enjoyed reading it!!! I know there wasn't much happening, but the next chapter will have a bit more action. Anyway, after all the action of the last few chapters, the girls deserved a break!!! Heh heh… I will try to update as quickly as possible, but I do have loads of work.
Huge thank you to all of you have reviewed. It is so great to get people's feedback!!
So thanks: Ally-617-luv-tv, -0-charmed-freak-0-, EmeraldCityTourist, Afw, CharmedOneForever and Shawn-n-Bell!
And please review!!!!!!!