Chapter One
The year was 2006 and in downtown San Francisco, an ever growing family was bustling about in an old, red Victorian house. In the kitchen, Piper Halliwell was busying herself around the stove, making breakfast for your two sons. With an jingle, a mass of blue and white appeared at her side, revealing her three-year-old son, Wyatt.
"Did you brush your teeth?" she asked the boy as she bent down to give him a kiss on the top of his head.
"Yeah," he replied, standing on his tip toes to try and see what she was making.
"Why don't you go sit down at the table and wait for Daddy and Chris," Piper instructed the child. He complied happily, climbing into the chair just as his father and younger brother appeared in the doorway.
"What are we having?" Leo asked, situating Chris in his high chair.
"Pancakes," his wife answered, flipping several onto a plate, extending her arm in his general direction. He took the plate and began distributing them between the two boys, cutting Chris' up into small pieces so he could eat it with his fingers. Wyatt, after receiving his portion, proceeded to dump a large amount of syrup on his pancakes, getting himself as well as his plate thoroughly covered in the sticky substance.
"Not so much, buddy," Leo remarked, taking the syrup from the boy.
"Yummy," Wyatt giggled as he began to consume the sickly sweet concoction.
Piper joined her three boys at the table but was looking rather sullen. Leo placed his hand on hers to get her attention. She looked at him.
"What's wrong?" he asked, concern etched in his features.
"I don't know. Just getting tired of kicking demon butt everyday," she replied with a sigh. He leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips.
"You and your sisters will get a break. The Elders know you deserve it," he consoled.
"Can we please not talk about them?" she asked, growing irritated. The higher beings had don't enough in the recent past to be a sore subject in the household.
"Sorry," he apologized.
"I'm going to take the boys to the park," he announced as the family finished up the morning meal.
"Do you want to come?" he inquired of his wife, who was presently trying to scrape the sticky remains of her son's breakfast from a plate.
"I have some things to do around the house. You guys have a good time," Piper declined. With a nod, Leo began to collect the necessary items he would need to take the boys out. Fifteen minutes they were walking out the door. Not half a minute later, Leo came running back in. Piper raised her brow at him as he snatched the car keys from the counter.
"Forgot I couldn't orb," he muttered, blushing briefly before disappearing once more.
With a shake of her head, Piper moved upstairs to the attic. She wasn't sure what she was doing but felt it was where she needed to be. Phoebe was at work, Billie was at school, or at least Piper assumed that's where she was and Paige…Piper had no idea where her baby sister was.
Across town, Paige was just closing the door to Henry's office. The parole officer looked up at the sound and smiled at his girlfriend. They'd only been together only a short while but he always welcomed her visits.
"Hi stranger," Paige greeted, flashing him a smile.
"Hi," Henry answered, getting up from his seat to pull her into a hug. They stood there, embracing one another for what felt like forever. Paige felt safe in his arms, as if she didn't have to worry about anything. Unfortunately for her, that serenity was going to be short lived.
"So are we on for tonight?" Henry asked, staring down at her.
"Of course," she answered, batting her lashes flirtatiously. However, her face suddenly screwed up in annoyance.
"What's wrong?" Henry asked as Paige pulled out of his embrace and moved towards the door.
"Paige? Where are you going? What's wrong?" Henry repeated.
"I have to go…I forgot I had to do something," Paige lied and rushed out of the building. Once in the cover of some trees, she disappeared in a mass of blue and white.
Moments later she reappeared behind a clump of bushes in a park. She wasn't entirely sure where she was but she began looking around for signs of a struggle or demon attack. At first she saw nothing, just a few people strolling leisurely along the paved paths. It was not until she turned to face the side street directly across from her that she noticed something out of place. In the alley was a young man in his mid-twenties, pinning to one of the walls. There were several other individuals, Paige couldn't tell from the distance whether they were demonic or not. With a sigh, she moved closer, trying not to look suspicious yet simultaneously trying not to be spotted by the goings on in the alley. Finally she caught a glimpse of one of the assailants and to Paige's annoyance, it was indeed a demon.
"Give me a break," she grumbled as she stepped into view.
"Hey!" she shouted, catching two of the demons' attention.
"Where did she come from?" one of them asked, forming an energy ball.
"I wouldn't even bother. Unless you feel like getting your ass vanquished," Paige taunted.
"A witch," the second commented, advancing on Paige. The first demon took the opportunity to send his energy ball hurtling at Paige.
"Energy ball," she called and sent it at the second demon, vanquishing him instantly.
Without a word the first demon and his silent companion shimmered out, leaving Paige and the victim alone in the alley. She turned her attention to the young man, bending down to examine him. He had a large gash on his forehead and several other cuts on his arms.
"Here, let me help you," Paige offered.
"Who are you?" the young man asked weakly, coughing when he spoke.
"Don't speak," she shushed him and orbed him to the Manor. She hoped Piper was home. The moment they rematerialized, she laid him on the couch in the living room.
"Piper!" she called out as loudly as she could.
"Paige?" her oldest sibling answered, appearing at the top of the stairs.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, moving to meet the whitelighter.
"I had to take him somewhere," Paige replied, and moved back towards where she'd left her now unconscious charge.
"Take who?" Piper questioned as she walked in and saw the boy lying on the couch.
"God, what are you waiting for woman? Heal him!" Piper ordered.
Paige moved to the couch and rested her hands above his bodying. A healing glow began to flow from her hands and into the boy, healing him completely. She stepped back as a series of coughs escaped his lips. Slowly, his eyes fluttered open and he tried to sit up, only to find Paige's hand keeping him down.
"Just rest," she urged.
"Where am I?" he asked, confused.
"You need to rest right now. I'll explain everything when you wake up," Paige whispered kindly, backing away. She and Piper retreated to the kitchen.
"Who is he/" Piper demanded immediately.
"A charge," Paige answered with a shrug.
"He was in an alley getting the crap beat out of him by three demons. So I saved him," Paige elaborated.
"Is he a witch then?" Piper questioned.
"I didn't exactly have time to ask him before he passed out," Paige shot back.
"Alright, don't take my head off," Piper grumbled.
The sisters lapsed into silence for a while, busying themselves with small task; making coffee, reading parts of the morning paper. Finally Paige grew impatient and wandered back into the living room, Piper hot on her heels. The young man from the alley was sitting up, taking in his surroundings.
"How do you feel?" Paige asked.
"Ok, I guess," he answered.
"This may sound like a strange question, but are you a witch?" Piper asked.
"Piper!" Paige hissed. Piper sent her a 'what?' look.
"Yes," he answered, sounding nervous.
"That makes more sense," the sisters whispered to each other.
"What's your name?" Paige questioned.
"Bryce," he answered.
"Well, Bryce, you're safe here," Piper informed him.
"Look…I don't know you people. I'd like to leave," Bryce commented.
"I don't think that's such a great idea right now. You still have two demons after you," Paige answered.
"Do you know why they were after you?" she pressed.
"No. I don't. Look, I can take care of myself," Bryce shot and pushed past them towards the front door. He reached for the handle but got no further.
"Bryce," Paige called and he was swallowed in orbs, only to be deposited back on the couch.
"Don't run away from a whitelighter," Paige shot.
"Ok," he murmured, looking frightened, not having been conscious the previous time he had orbed.
"Can I at least call my Dad to tell him that I'm ok?" Bryce asked.
"Sure," Piper answered and got the phone. He dialed a series of numbers and put the phone to his ear.
"Dad?" he spoke into the receiver.
"Where are you calling from?" his father asked.
"That's not important Dad. Just, I wanted to tell you that…I might be late for dinner tonight. I have some things to do," Bryce lied.
"Bryce, where are you? Do I need to come get you?" he asked.
"No. I'm fine. I'm not a little kid anymore. I just wanted to let you know that's all," he spat before hanging up. He looked up to meet two pair of eyes.
"Does your dad know you're a Wiccan?" Piper asked.
"No. He'd freak," Bryce replied, looking disappointed at having to lie to his father, yet again. He knew how much it was wedging them apart but he just couldn't do it.
"Well, I could help you. I'm your whitelighter, for the time being at least," Paige offered.
"I think that would make it worse. He'd probably think I was bringing home some stranger," he murmured.
"You can think about it and let me know," Paige told him, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks…" he trailed off, lacking her name.
"Paige," she inserted.
"Thank you Paige," Bryce spoke, extending his hand to her. She shook with, giving him a smile.
"And this is Piper," she introduced her sister.
"Nice to meet you," Piper orated with a nod.
Just then the front door opened and Wyatt came barreling into the room, thrusting himself at Piper. She bent down to pick him up. He was slightly muddy but beaming from ear to ear.
"Did you have a good time with Daddy and Chris?" she asked.
"I jumped in a mud puddle," Wyatt answered.
"I can see that. Why don't we go get you all cleaned up," she said, setting him down and beginning to take off his shoes. He started to take off her shirt but Piper stopped him.
"Let's do this in the bathroom, come on," she told him, taking his hand and beginning to walk out of the room. Just as they crossed the threshold into the hallway, Leo appeared with Chris on his shoulders. He stopped short when he saw Bryce on the couch. He set Chris down immediately so as not to drop the child.
"Max?" he breathed, staring at the young man before him.