"Prue," Phoebe called out, having just had a premonition, "We need to find this woman," she said, pointing to a picture in the newspaper. "Why?" Prue asked, out of curiosity and not out of doubt, "What did you see?" Piper looked up from the eggs she was cooking, wondering what Phoebe saw as well. Phoebe began, "I saw this woman being attacked," she looked back at the paper, "by a demon." Prue took the paper from Phoebe and nodded, "It says here she is a writer. She is signing autographs at the main library downtown." Phoebe nodded her head, "I saw her being attacked at night time, though, in the back room at P3."
Piper took the flying pan off the stove, "The back room at P3?" She asked, "Why would she be back there?" Phoebe shrugged, "Who knows?" Prue sighed, "Well, it is my day off. Phoebe, you have to go to the Bay Mirror today, right?" Phoebe nodded her head, "Yeah," she sighed. Piper added, "I have to go to work anyway, so I can watch for her at the club." Prue nodded her head, "I'll just go to the book signing, then, and see what I can find out."
A few hours had passed and Prue was just pulling up the library. She found a parking space and pulled in. Normally, there would be more cars here but it was the middle of the day. Prue checked how she looked in the mirror and then got out. She sighed, locking her car, and entered the library. She saw a sign describing the book signing. Coping with Loss by Paige Matthews book signing is in the Conference Room F-1, bottom floor, and second door to the left. The billboard displayed Paige Matthews holding the book next to her.
Prue walked to the stairs and went down to the basement. There were a few people there, around twenty, who were either buying the book or getting already-bought books signed. Prue, having not heard of the book before, picked one up and looked at the back. Paige Matthews, 24, has certainly survived a lot of heartache; having survived the car wreck that killed her adoptive parents, at the age of 16 and three quarters, she found a way through the heartache and was able to move forward by discovering who she is and what she was meant to do. Even though, no one can tell someone else who they are and what they are meant to do, what Paige Matthews does do is help the reader see that they too have a special destiny; and that they, too, are worth something. If you have ever wondered 'Am I worth it?' then this book is for you.
Prue noticed that the back cover also mentioned that Paige had spent time as a social worker, along with writing two other books; Moving Forward and Survivor's Guilt; It's not your fault. Prue smirked, thinking that Paige has done a lot for a 24-year-old. Prue looked up to the person selling the books and gave the $40.00 required for all three books. She was also informed that Paige would autograph all three, no extra charged, if Prue didn't mind waiting in the line.
By the time Prue got to the front of the line, she was the last one there. The autograph signing ending at 1:00PM, and it was now a quarter to one. Paige looked up at the woman and smiled, "Hello," she said, going through the motions of taking the books to sign them. Prue looked at the other woman and said, "Hi. I admire your courage to write and help others." Paige smiled, "Thank you." She went to shake the other woman's hand and they both jumped, a bit of static electricity forming between them. Both of them also felt the butterflies building up inside their stomach.
"Who do I," Paige paused mentally telling herself to calm down, "make this out to?" She continued. Prue smiled, "Prue Halliwell." Paige looked up, "The Prue Halliwell?" Prue chuckled and said, "I guess so?" In truth, Prue was a little used to the reaction. Her sisters and she were famous in both the magical and non-magical worlds. She was famous for photographs, particularly her wedding photos, since the ones she did for Leo and Piper became so popular, but she had many other photos that were well-acclaimed. In fact, some of them were even displayed in various museums and art shows. Piper was famous because of the line of P3 night clubs that were a hit around the country. Finally, Phoebe was famous because of her syndicated advice column for the Bay Mirror.
Paige smiled, finishing the autographs, "I don't suppose you'd like to grab some coffee?" Paige asked, handing back the three books. Prue smiled back, wondering why she was feeling this way, "Sure." She said still smiling. Paige nodded, getting up and looking over to her publicist, Jackie, "All done, right?" Jackie looked over, "Yep." Paige smiled, picking up her jacket, "I'll be back at the hotel later. See you," she waved back and followed Prue out, "Any recommendations on good coffee places?" Prue shrugged, "Antonio's is good, especially if you want something light as well; like a sandwich." Paige thought for a moment, "Yeah," she finally said, "a sandwich would be good," she laughed, "I haven't ate anything other than a bagel on my way out this morning."
Prue nodded, "Alright then," she looked across the street to make sure it was clear, and then they crossed over and entered the small diner slash restaurant. After Prue ordered a strong coffee, which Paige seconded, they decided to make it a carafe since they both really liked coffee. Prue ordered a ham and cheese sandwich and Paige ordered a Reuben. Paige thought for a moment and then spoke up, "So, Prue," she said looking at the other woman, "Excuse me for being so direct, but I wanted to know if you actually have read my books?" Prue coughed a bit, having just taken a sip of her coffee, "Er," she paused, "No." She shook her head.
Paige chuckled, "I didn't think so." She shrugged, "That's okay." Paige smirked, leaning in, "So," she begun, as Prue raised an eyebrow, "Why did you seek me out?" Prue stuttered for a moment, trying to think up an excuse, "Well, I heard about the book signing in the newspaper." Paige nodded her head, "I see." She smirked and then looked down to the table, "No sugar," she said, holding out her hand. A glow of orbs appeared followed by a sugar shaker. Prue seemed surprised, looking back up to Paige, "You're a whitelighter?" Paige nodded her head, "Yes." She poured some sugar into her coffee, stirring it, and then said, "So," she smirked, "Why did you seek me out?"
Prue raised her left eyebrow, having to admit that she liked this girl's style, "My sister had a premonition of you being attacked by a demon." Paige nodded her head, "I see." She leaned back as the sandwiches arrived, "Thank you," she said to the waiter before he left. She bit into the Reuben, "Don't forget to eat, Prue, gotta keep up your strength," Paige said with a wink and a giggle. Prue nodded her head, biting into her sandwich as well, "Yeah," she said absent-mindedly.
After about ten minutes, Paige finally asked, "So, when did the vision show me being attacked?" Prue answered, "Night time, in the back of one of my sister's clubs." Paige nodded her head, "I see. It was a demon, not a darklighter?" Prue nodded her head, "Yes." Paige rubbed her forehead, "That doesn't make sense." She sighed, "I don't know why a demon would be attacking me." She shook her head, "Odd." Paige finished her sandwich. Prue had just finished hers as well, and they had both downed all the coffee.
"Maybe we should just go back to your place," Paige finally said, "and figure out the reasons with your sisters?" Prue nodded her head, "Yeah," she said, "that might be the best idea." Paige chuckled, "Still surprised?" She smirked. Prue nodded her head, "A little, yeah." Paige nodded and stood up, walking over to pay before Prue had a chance to object; and she would have too, but Paige's news had left Prue almost completely speechless.
By the time Paige and Prue had gotten to the manor, Phoebe and Piper were already there. Since Prue had driven Paige there, instead of them orbing, it took some time. Paige had said she preferred that method of travelling anyway. It turned out that Paige was born a whitelighter, instead of dying and having been made one, so she had gone most of her life without powers. Prue opened the door and escorted Paige inside and into the living room. Paige smiled at the other two women, "Hi," she said with a wave, "I'm Paige Matthews." Phoebe stood up first, "Phoebe Halliwell." Piper was next, "Piper Halliwell."
Paige was about to say something when Leo walked in from the kitchen. He looked over to Paige and smiled, "Paige?" Paige smiled back, "Hey Leo." Piper looked between the two, "Oh," she said simply, "Of course you know each other," she chuckled. Paige nodded her head, "Leo helped guide me when I discovered my powers." They all sat down, the three sisters on the couch, with Leo on the arm next to Piper, and Paige in one of the large chairs. "I already told Prue but I wasn't made into a whitelighter when I died, like Leo, I was born one." Leo spoke up, "So," he said to Phoebe, "I take it she's the one you had a premonition about?" Phoebe nodded her head, "Yeah."
Paige sighed, "Any idea what demon is supposed to attack me?" Phoebe shook her head, "It wasn't in the book and Leo checked with the Elders, describing the one I saw, and they had never even heard of it." Paige shrugged, "Probably a lower level demon then." Paige sighed, "Why a demon would attack me, and not a darklighter, I do not know." Prue spoke up now, "So, how were you born? I didn't even know whitelighters could have children?" Piper looked up, interested in knowing this as well. Paige nodded, "Technically, before Piper and Leo, whitelighters were forbidden to be in any type of relationship. My father and mother, who were both whitelighters at the time, broke the rules."
Phoebe smiled, "Forbidden romance, how exciting!" She laughed a little. Paige smiled as well, "Yeah. Unfortunately for them, after my mother gave birth to me, the Elders found out. They were going to bind my powers but, somehow, my mother and father hid me until I was 16." Prue looked up, "When your adoptive parents died?" Paige nodded her head in agreement, "Yes. I orbed out of the car, although I didn't realize it at the time, and managed to find myself in the heavens; during an Elder meeting no less. I was scared and confused. My parents had just died and I had no idea where I was, but I had impressed them." She chuckled here, "By teleporting there, without any prior experience, I had proven that I had the ability to learn about my heritage."
"After that, they assigned me to Leo. He taught me what I needed to know and, eventually, I proved ready to take on charges of my own." Leo chuckled here, "During all that time, she even managed to write three books and graduate high school and college." Paige smirked, "Following your advice, of course." Leo nodded, "I knew, if she was going to continue her life here on earth, she would need a good education." Piper smiled at her husband, he was always a caring person.
Phoebe smiled at the exchange and then said, "Sounds like you were busy?" Paige nodded her head, "Very." Prue spoke up, "The one thing I don't get is how two people who, no offense," she looked between Paige and Leo, then back to Paige, "are, technically, dead have a child?" Both Leo and Paige shrugged. Leo spoke up first, "The elders, as far as I'm aware, never quite found out how. I mean, obviously," he blushed here, "They know how, but," he coughed, "it shouldn't technically be possible." Paige nodded, feeling bad for Leo having to talk about sex, "When they tested my DNA, it came back as 100% whitelighter."
Phoebe had been wondering so she finally asked, "So, Paige, who are your birth parents?" Paige smiled at Phoebe's use of birth parents, which showed how trained in proper terms Phoebe really is, "Sam Wilder and Melissa Paige." Prue looked forward, "Sam?" Phoebe and Piper both looked to their elder sister, "You know him?" They asked with a confused tone. Piper thought she might know the name, but was not completely sure. Phoebe didn't know the name at all.
Prue nodded her head, "Sam was mom's whitelighter for a while but eventually he had to leave, so another whitelighter was assigned to mom." Paige nodded here, "He left because of my mom becoming pregnant with me." Leo spoke up, "From what I know, he told Patty, your mom," he looked between the sisters, "and she promised to keep it a secret." Prue looked over to Leo, "How do you know that?" Leo shrugged, "Whitelighter gossip." Paige began laughing, "It doesn't hurt that he knew my dad too." Leo sighed, "Paige," he sounded annoyed, but had a gleam in his eyes, "Alright, yes, I knew Sam. As you three know, there aren't many whitelighters, so most of us know each other pretty well. Sam was one of the whitelighters who helped train me. I looked up to him," he smiled at Piper, "Still do, actually."
Paige smiled here, "That's also why Leo was the best person to help train me. He fathered me in a way, helping me get over the issues I had with both my birth and adoptive parents, and past that helping me realize my potential as a whitelighter." Leo smiled, "Oh," he said, "by the way, thanks for the mention in your latest book." Paige smiled, "You're welcome." Phoebe leaned forward here, "So," she said getting serious, "How do we prevent a demon no one seems to know from attacking Paige?"