Paige's POV

I pulled my Green VW bug up to the sidewalk in front of the Halliwell Manor. My rightful home – but which was still denied to me. Granted by my own choice – but still denied to me. I still wasn't ready for my sisters to know the truth about me. So I was still a guest in what should have been my rightful home. I saw with relief that daddy's and Prue's cars were out of the driveway. So that meant that they were at the lake all ready. I looked at the dashboard clock and saw that it was a little after eleven.

I shut off the engine and pulled out my cell phone and quickly dialed a number. I looked at the manor as I waited for the phone to be picked up on the other end. I smiled as I heard Darryl's voice on the other end. "Have they called you yet?"

"Not yet, Paige, are you sure they will call?" Darryl asked with slight concern in his voice.

"Trust me Darryl once they figure out that Sam was from New York; they will call you for information through the police files." I said leaning back in my seat as I turned my eyes to face the front window, I saw a neighbor walking her dog ahead of me. I smiled as I thought about how much I always wanted a dog and daddy never allowed me to have one. Seeing how we kept moving around a lot.

"Do you know when they will call Paige? I can't keep trying to find excuses on my remaining at the station. The chief wants to send me and Henry out on beat." Darryl said in a slight grumpy voice.

"Soon." I said into the phone not really paying attention. "Look Darryl just stay at the station a little while longer, they will call and than you can give them the information as we planned."

Darryl sighed on his line.

"I have to go. I need to see how Piper is doing. Daddy called me this morning and told me about her having poison ivy," I said as I opened my car door and got out of the drivers side. I looked up at the manor and smiled sadly. "She must be in so much pain, especially as the Elders saw fit to rush the poison all through out her body and Leo can't heal her."

"I have a call on the other line." Darryl said.

"Bye." I said and flipped my cell phone closed after he said his good bye and I walked up to the front door of what should be my nature home. I have come to help tend to my painful sister. I knew that Leo was all ready inside trying to be as much comfort as he could be.

I stood at the front door and knocked.

Piper's POV

"Who the hell can that be at a time like this?" I demanded hotly as I stormed to the door as best as I could with the serve pain that I was in. I starting to have puss ooze out of some of my wounds. Let me tell you that it is very painful and very fiery to move even an inch in this condition – and having to walk to the door to answer it was share murder. If it wasn't a freaking Elder on the other side allowing Leo to finally hell me than I just may commit murder.

With tears stinging at my eye lids I jerked open the door. What I found didn't help my mood any better. "What the hell do you want." I seethed at Paige.

"I came to see if I can be of any help." Paige said with a soft smile. "I know Daddy and the girls are at the lake today. I thought I would come over so I can help you take your baths and sooth calamine lotion onto you if you would like."

"No!" I almost screamed. I held onto the door for dear life – so I wouldn't lose control and commit murder. "I don't need you and I don't want you! Now get the hell out of my sight." I slammed the door in Paige's shocked and sad voice.

"She was only trying to help." Leo said from where he stood behind me with a frown on his face.

"Wipe that look off your face Leo Wyatt! You have no right to tell me anything." I moved passed him and into dining room with a tear falling down my right cheek.

Prue's POV

Answer your damn phone already, I thought. "Hey Darryl, it is Prue,"

"Hey Prue..."

"Look, when you get a chance could you check up on a guy name Sam Wilder," I said, walking away from Victor. "Look, I know you have known Victor for years...but he knows something about this Sam character, and he is hiding. So please stop jerking me around, because I know that Andy wouldn't hide this from me," I growled angrily.

"Prue-,"

"Just get back to me on it ok?" I snapped, ending the phone call.

Darryl's POV

Paige what the hell do I do if Prue doesn't ask me about the painting? How the hell can I give her the information on the painting if she doesn't bloody ask for it. I sighed through my nose and picked up my phone and quickly dialed Paige's cell phone. "Paige, she didn't ask about the painting," I said in a rush. "She wants answers on Sam right now." I was beginning to get a headache. I knew that this day was going to a long one for me.

"Don't worry Darryl, I'm going to call daddy now and ask him how's it going. Give me five minutes and Prue or Phoebe will call back and ask about the painting." Paige said and than hung up on me.

I sighed and replaced the phone. I looked up and saw Henry coming up to my desk with two cups of coffee. God I needed the coffee so bad.

Paige's POV

I sighed deeply through my nose. Prue why do you have to be so damn difficult. I dialed daddy's cell. "Daddy, why didn't Prue ask Darryl about the painting?" I asked without saying hello.

"I don't know Paigey ... what do you want me to do?" He said softly into my phone and I knew Prue and Phoebe were close at hand.

"Talk normally." I said with a hint of a smile.

Victor's POV

"Yes the painting is an original ... 1824 ... but the artists name is rubbed off. Can you find out about the painting Darryl?" I said in my normal voice as I looked over and saw Prue glaring at me.

"Is Prue getting irritated that you are the one who called Darryl about the painting?" Paige asked in my ear.

"Yes Darryl, I understand. I know it is a hard search for you ... but I would thank you for the rest of my days if you would check the information out that I have given you." I said.

"Thanks Daddy." Paige said.

"I know Darryl that you are a detective and not an art dealer, but you fully understand that we can't leave the lake right now, so Prue can't have access to her office ...," a smile lit up my face. "Thanks Darryl, I owe you one." I hung up the phone.

Prue's POV

Shaking my head in utter disgust, I just walked out of the shack. I am not going to let Victor ruin my job, and he has more than enough resources to vanquish the bastard that murdered mom. "Prue..." Phoebe said to me.

"Get a ride from Leo," I snapped at her, and headed once again towards my car. Phoebe bit her lip, and in my peripheral vision I saw her look for Victor.

"Prue...we aren't done here..." Victor started.

"You got some nerve, you know that?" I asked, turning around. "We were fine before you came back into our lives Victor. We had the witch thing covered, and before you open your stupid mouth, we worked as a team. And before Darryl even found out we were witches, Andy was there for us, and he didn't try to hold us back either," I snapped at him, swishing my finger at his cell phone, sending it across the lake. "We have all the information we got here. So if Darryl has anyone to call it is me...so I am going to work before I lose my job," I snapped.

Victor's POV

I sighed deeply. "I'm sorry Prue, but you aren't leaving." I held up her spark plugs. "If you think of using your powers to retrieve them, don't brother. I had removed more parts from your car and hidden them that you will never be able to find them."

"What the fuck!" Prue breathed as she rushed to me and raised her hand and slapped me opened palm. I knew that my check had a pink mark where her hand was.

"Prue ..." Phoebe cried out in shock. "How could you hit daddy."

"I use my powers against him so why shouldn't I use what God gave me." Prue said as she stepped away, but I could read the shock and ... could it be sadness in her eyes.

I rubbed my check ruefully. "Don't worry Phoebe, I'm all right. I was expecting this at some point."

"Fix my car Victor." Prue seethed as her face turned back into an angry scowl.

I shook my head. "I'm sorry Prue, but you aren't going anywhere until you discover who Sam truly is." I held up my hand. "Sam has sent you and Phoebe on a quest, and the painting inside that shack is part of the quest. So you won't get any more information until you find out about the painting."

Suddenly Prue's cell phone ranged. I smiled gently. "I believe that's Darryl right now."

Prue ripped out her cell phone and opened it. "Darryl Morris you are a dog! How dare you go behind my back and talk to Victor and decided to help Victor out in his sick game instead of helping me and Phoebe find the truth out so we can vanquish the demon all ready."

Darryl's POV

I sighed deeply through my nose. "I'm sorry Prue. But I did put Samuel Wilder's name in the data base and what came up with was find the answer to the painting. I had questions and I knew that you wouldn't answer me, so I called Victor. He told me about the painting that you found and what you had said about it. I typed in the information and bingo I got some answers."

Prue sighed on her end. "Well what the hell is the answers."

I smiled, "The painter is J.M.W. Turner, he was born on April, 23rd in the year 1775,"

"I don't fucking care when he was born for Christ shake. I just want to know about the damn painting." Prue almost shouted in my ear.

"He painted it in 1824, and he painted for his great nephew." I stopped speaking.

"So how did it get into a shack?" Prue wondered.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. That's what you have to find out."

"Thanks Darryl." Prue said on the other end of the phone. With that she hung up on me.

Prue's POV

Still shaking my head angrily, I put it back in my pocket. "You have no idea who you are fucking over right now Victor," I growled, and I felt Phoebe sidle a little closer to me.

"Dad, we already have enough information. I have honestly had enough of this hide and seek crap. Now as we all know, the Elders are more the willing to let us get fired...or arrested, but I am done with this. Now, you are going to put the car back together, and let Prue go back to work. Considering I still haven't been able to get a job, we need the income," Phoebe whispered guiltily.

"Phoebe...sweetie it is ok," I told her.

"You know I have more than enough money to help you with the bills," Victor started.

"And you know I have lost all my patience," I snapped, interrupting him, ripping my spark plugs from Victor's hands. "You know Victor, since you been out of our lives, I know certain things, and believe me I do know how to fix my own car without magic. Andy taught me how..." I said turning around once again.

"Daddy...I think just me and you will be good with getting whatever we need to do," Phoebe said, and I felt grateful that Phoebe was siding on me with this. "So...why don't we stay here?" Phoebe suggested, and I didn't wait for Victor's answer, I just turned to Phoebe.

"Thanks Phoebs..." I said, heading back to my car, and muttering a spell to put my car back together. Starting the car up, I drove over towards Bucklands, hoping that Jack wasn't going to be there. I am stressing too much to deal with him right now.

"Prue where have you been?" Jack asked, a little grumpily.

"Look, I am here now so it doesn't matter," I shot at him just as grumpy. "Look, I got to do some work, so get outta here," I commanded going on my computer.

Victor's POV

"That went well." I said more to myself than to Phoebe. Quite frankly I didn't realize I had spoken out loud.

You did all you could Victor.

Prue left Patty. I didn't keep her here.

Prue wasn't meant to find out anything else here. She needs to be at work to figure out the painting clue.

You could have told me that sooner, Patty, it would have saved me so much time and made Prue a lot less angry at me.

It wouldn't have made any difference concerning how Prue feels about you Victor. You know that very well.

Yeah you are right. Wishful think.

Give Prue time. She'll come around.

When?

I have seen that you have yet reminded her about the time you saved her from the nothing.

I'm not going there with her, Patty!

Why not?

I will not have my little girl remember the last time that I was a actually father to her. No way, no how.

Victor ...

"I said no Patty." I said roughly.

"Daddy?" Phoebe's voice hit me fully. It was full of pain and fear. Like a little girl's fear of overhearing her parents fighting and thinking that they would be getting divorced. I went to Phoebe and pulled my baby girl to me into a hug. "I was just discussing things with your mother's spirit is all, Lady bug. She was just reminding me of some things that I chose to ignore is all."

Phoebe's POV

"Does Mommy ever talk about me?" I asked, laying my head against his chest.

"All the time," Daddy softly said. "She tells me things that I have personally missed out of your childhood."

"Like, the time you lost your teddy and Prue was making fun of you trying to rid you of your dependence on a stuffed toy. How you never found it and you couldn't fall asleep and you always used to crawl into Prue's bed and she would always cuddle you and make sure that you feel asleep." I sighed as I remembered that memory, and sidled closer to him.

"I wish I could hear her voice...I mean...I only got to see her once..." I said with a sniffle.

"You will soon sweetie," he whispered to me, rubbing my back.

"Daddy...why are you pushing Prue so hard?" I questioned. "She isn't ever going to forgive you if you keep doing stuff like tearing apart her car..." Daddy sighed, and I pulled away slightly. "Its ok if you don't want to tell me Daddy..." I assured him, and ran a hand through my hair. "I am going to go see if I can go get a premonition off of something in Sam's shack," I told him pulling away.

"Phoebe wait..." Daddy called as I was walking away from him. He sounded so sad.

I turned around, and asked softly, "What is it Daddy?"

Daddy sighed and nodded his head. I could tell he was talking to mommy once more. He walked to me and took my face in between his face. "This is between you and me honey, I don't want you telling your sisters about this. Do I have your promise, Ladybug?"

"Daddy...you do know I can hardly ever keep a secret..." lightly teasing him. "What is it?" I asked, hoping it wasn't something too big.

Daddy sighed. "I love Prue with all my heart, you know that right." I nodded. "I want to be there for her as her daddy, like I am with you and Piper, but with Prue there is so much history and hurt. I know she blames me for your mother's death."

"Daddy, why would Prue blame you for Mommy's death? It was the water demon's fault," I said, shuddering as I looked over towards the dock.

"I wasn't there to protect her. I had abandoned my wife." Daddy said in a tight voice like he was trying not to cry. "I blame myself."

"Daddy, don't blame yourself..." I whispered, walking over to him in two bounds and pulling him in a hug. "I don't think Mommy blames you either," I assured him. "I am sure Grams blamed herself too...she was so sad..."

"Penny blamed me all the way." Daddy said a little more tightly. "She had every right to blame me." Daddy pulled out of the hug and looked me in the eyes. "I know that Penny blamed herself. Your mother told me countless time that she did. But I was still angry at Penny that I gleefully was glad that she did. But deep down I took all the blame onto myself." He chocked. "I should have stayed and learned more about magic and how to protect my family the mortal way." His next words confused me. "Why did I wait so long too ... Paige was what turned me around."

"I am trying to jump on the same train as you there Daddy...but I am a little lost on your last statement..." I murmured.

"Oh Patty, I have failed you in life, and I won't fail you in death." Daddy started to sob. "I will keep your daughters safe. Even if I have to give up my life too do so. I couldn't save you darling, but I will save them. "

"Daddy...stop talking like that..." I whispered, and I shook him gently. "No one is going to die..." I said to him.

"How can you know that Phoebe, look who died because of magic. Your mother, your grandmother, Melinda Warren, and what about the rest of the Halliwell / Warren bloodline?" Daddy said in a little angry voice.

"We are all meant to die at some point Daddy...everything happens for a reason...even if we don't know the reason why right now..." I whispered sadly.

"Don't give me that bull. I'm so sick and tired of that line. Your mother had used it since she first appeared in my dirty hotel room." Daddy said. "Did you know that your mother was the one who told me to go find Paige and adopt her as my own?"

"It is a good thing that you did find her Daddy, or she would be on the street or worse,"
I countered. "Mommy just pushed you in the right direction," I said, starting to get a little angry at him.

Daddy shook his head. "I didn't want to go and find Paige. I didn't care about her. But your mother kept after me and I promised that I would."

I pulled away fully, and leveled him with a Prue-like glare, "Is this why you left Mom, because you couldn't handle an actual truth?"

Daddy grew red in the face. "What truth is that Phoebe?" He demanded. "The truth that your mother never l ..." He shook his head.

"I don't know what you were going to say Dad, but do you regret adopting Paige?" I accused. "She would have died if you hadn't come around..."

Don't you bloody don't think that I know that! My God she was at death's door when I found her in that stinking alley. She was just two in half years old and she was black and blue all over. Her eyes weren't little girls eyes, she saw way too much horrible things in her life, had too much horrible things happen to her in her short life. She lost trust in humans when I found her." Daddy cried out.

I opened my mouth to speak but daddy kept going on. Tears running down his checks, "My God, Phoebe, when I saw her I knew that I was so wrong to deny Patty's request to find her and love her as my own daughter. I looked into her eyes and I saw my own soul burning brightly in her depths. I saw myself as the inhuman to my own family as the monsters who had done the things they did to her." Daddy couldn't go on.

"Daddy..." I whispered, once again pulling him into a hug. "I have forgiven you for that already..." I breathed, once again feeling tears starting to pour out of my eyes.

"But I don't forgive myself, how can I when I still see Paige's eyes every waking moment and every time I go to sleep." Daddy whispered brokenly. Daddy was just blubbering now, so I didn't say anything. Maybe if he got out what was making him feel guilty, he will feel a little better.

"Oh God Patty, why did you leave Paige in my charge. You know that I'm not strong enough." Daddy cried. "You should have picked someone else, anyone else besides me." He feel silent as he held me. He finally pulled away and looked at me. "Promise me that you won't tell Prue or Piper about this, Lady bug. I - I didn't mean to fall apart in front of you like this."

"I won't tell anyone, I promise..." I told him, leaning my head onto his chest. "Feel better?" I questioned after a minute.

"Yes." Daddy said. He held me tightly. "You are a very good and compassionate listener Phoebe. You always were. Even as a little girl, you would listen to me sometimes." He paused and laughed gently. "Although you couldn't understand me half the time, you always showed your wise eyes at me and I got things off my chest."

END CHAPTER FOURTEEN