Chapter 4.5 – M.I.A.
"Glad to be alive and here with the people I love," Piper told her before opening one of the cupboards in search of serving dishes for breakfast. She pulled out one of the dishes she wanted and turned to her sister. "And in my kitchen. Breakfast is ready; we're just getting it onto the table. Want to go see if Phoebe and Cole are up? I assume you know whether or not Andy is."
Prue gave her sister a broad grin. "Yes, Andy is up. He'll be down shortly. I'll go find out about Phoebe and Cole." She smiled. "Funny, I was doing the same thing 24 hours ago, wanting to know why they weren't down here yet. But what a huge difference," and she couldn't resist reaching out to hug her sister.
As Prue left the room Piper put the pancakes and the bacon and the eggs onto the serving dishes and carried them into the dinning room, while Mary carried the bowls of the artfully cut and arranged pears.
Paige was busy putting silverware near the dishes that already sat on the table. She looked up as Piper and her mother entered the room with the food. "Wow. That smells awesome."
Piper smiled as she started setting the serving dishes on the table. "Thanks. I hope it tastes just as good as it smells." She pulled a trivet off the nearby hutch and set the platter of pancakes on it. "I'm just thankful for the opportunity to get to know all of you better, and things just tend to be a lot more relaxing at mealtimes."
"I'll second that," Paige told her as she put the last fork down. "Dad and Mom have something to ask you along those lines, but it will hold until later."
"Now, you have me curious," Piper admitted. "Better not make me wait too long."
"Patience, Piper," Mary told her with a smile. "Be patient."
"Oh, I'm waiting," Piper assured her. "Have a seat, both of you."
"Hostess first," Paige replied.
Piper shrugged and sat down. Paige and Mary followed suit as Leo and John entered the room. "Have a seat, gentlemen," Piper told them. She caught her husband's eye and patted the seat next to her. Once everyone had sat down she said, "Prue's getting Phoebe and Cole. She said that Andy . . ." She trailed off as Andy entered the room. "Andy is here. Have a seat."
Andy sat down next to John with an empty seat between him and Leo on his left. Now if only Prue would come down with Phoebe and Cole. Remembering what had kept them from coming the previous morning made Andy nervous. That couldn't be the reason again; it simply couldn't.