A/N: I know, I know, with three other fanfictions in desperate need of updating, I shouldn't be starting something new- but this fanfic is not going to be anywhere near as long as my others, plus it's already half written.
As always, feedback is very much appreciated, so read on and enjoy my brand new creation...
For the love of her sister
It was Paige Matthews' birthday, she was tired, cranky and her sisters' laughing had awoken her two hours before she wanted to be up.
It was eight in the morning and she was not a happy Charmed One.
"This is not going to be a good day," she grumbled.
Paige didn't like her birthday's, each one she'd had since her parents died always brought back happy childhood memories, which were just too painful for her to cope with.
'But this year will different,' she smiled slightly, 'I may not have my parents but I do have my sisters.'
This was to be the first birthday she'd celebrated since she met her sisters. She may only have known them for ten months but she already loved them more than she could've described.
Paige stumbled downstairs, yawning all the way, intent on making and drinking as many cups of coffee as her body could handle.
Approaching the kitchen door, she could still hear Piper and Phoebe laughing, she stopped and listened in.
'Okay, bad, Paige, very, very bad Paige! It's rude to listen in on other people's conversations!'
Paige bit her lip but chose to ignore her own misgivings, yes it was rude, but she was curious as to what could have her sisters so animated at such an ungodly hour.
"Okay, okay, last one for you!" That was Phoebe's voice. "Who was my first boyfriend and why did we split up?"
Piper started laughing harder.
Paige grinned slightly, 'Christopher Mc-something-or-other and she dumped him for kissing her.'
Phoebe had told her that story after only a few weeks of meeting, they'd stayed up talking till late about old boyfriends, crushes and loves, it was the first time Paige had felt remotely close to either of the Halliwells.
"On second thought," Phoebe said hurriedly, "don't answer it, I'll give you the points anyway!"
'Points?' Paige questioned.
"Nah-ah, baby 'sis, I always like to rehash favourite memories!"
Paige chose that moment to walk in the kitchen but Piper and Phoebe, with their backs facing her, didn't notice.
"So, Christopher Mcdonahue?"
Phoebe chuckled and nodded.
"You were seven, right?"
Phoebe nodded again.
"And you broke up with him, if I remember correctly, which I do, because, and I quote, 'he did'ed the sex wid me!'"
Both Phoebe and Piper burst into hysterics.
"Grams nearly had a stroke when I said that!"
This time, all three sisters laughed, Piper and Phoebe turned around and saw Paige standing in the doorway.
She blushed under their scrutiny. "Sorry, I just heard the laughing from upstairs..."
The two Halliwells' said sorry for waking her.
Paige waved off their apologies, "no, no, it's fine." She paused, "I always like hearing stories about you guys," both Piper and Phoebe smiled.
"Have you got any more?"
Piper pulled a magazine from Phoebe's hands, "not right now, we're doing a stupid 'how well do you know your sister?' quiz and it's the last question. Pheebs. It's your turn to answer a final one about me."
Paige was a little upset that they hadn't wished her happy birthday yet. 'I'm sure they haven't forgotten, I mentioned it a couple of days ago, they're probably going to say it once they finish the quiz.'
"Okay, Pheebs, what's my favourite movie," Piper held up her hand to stop Phoebe from answering, "and, what's my favourite line from it?"
Paige almost smiled, the last two questions were pretty easy, 'you know how Sister Berthe always makes me kiss the floor after we've had a disagreement? Well, lately I've taken to kissing the floor whenever I see her coming, just to save time.'
Paige had first watched Sound of Music when she was seven-years-old with her adopted parents, she'd loved it ever since and was really pleased to learn that it was Piper's favourite film. Piper and her had watched it together just a few weeks previous.
Phoebe chewed her lip, "that's hard, I know it's Sound of Music, but I've got no idea what your favourite line is," Phoebe frowned and stared suspiciously at Piper, "you do have one, don't you? It's not a trick question or anything?"
Piper laughed, "yes, I have one! Come on, I know I've told you before."
Phoebe sighed dramatically, "I'm sorry, 'sis, no clue."
Piper opened her mouth to recite the quote, but Paige got there first.
Piper gaped at her in surprise, "How'd you know that?"
Paige stumbled over her words, why was Piper so shocked? "You, um, told me, remember?" Piper's blank face indicated that, no, she didn't remember. "We watched it a couple of weeks ago? After you worked late at P3?"
Piper's face suddenly showed some recognition, "oh, yeah, God, I was shattered that night, d'you remember, Pheebs? When Mascara Story played at P3 a while ago?"
Phoebe nodded, a wistful smile gracing her face, "the night I hooked up with that cute teacher, yeah! That was definitely…"
And they fell into a conversation.
No wishes of happy birthday, not even an invitation into their talk, she'd just been shut out by two people who were standing less than a foot away from her.
Paige probably could've controlled the intense feeling of hurt building up inside of her; she was used to doing that. The anger however, was another story. She viciously grabbed the magazine and scanned through the page.
"You both scored high," Paige got Piper and Phoebe's attention, "didn't you?" Her tone was strangely tight.
"Yeah!" Phoebe didn't notice the change in her younger sisters' demeanour, but Piper did. "We're perfect sisters apparently!" Phoebe laughed.
"Paige," Piper stated carefully, "what's wrong?"
"What's my favourite colour, Piper? Pheebs, any ideas?"
Phoebe looked confused, "what's -"
"My favourite film? My first love? How old was I when I got my first kiss?"
"I…I don't know, Paige," Piper stammered.
"Who's my favourite band?"
Phoebe felt her face redden.
"Do I have any allergies?" Paige's voice started to rise, "What were the names of my adopted parents?"
Piper looked down, ashamed because she honestly didn't know the answers.
"Too hard, huh? Okay, let's try a real easy one, when's my birthday?"
Phoebe suddenly smiled, "It's the sixteenth of…oh…oh no…" The smile left her features. "We are so, so, sorry, please –"
"No! No, no, no! You don't get to apologise and feel better; it's not about the birthday! You both know nothing about me! All those questions I asked you about me? I know them about you both! Why? Because I listen, because you're my sisters! Clearly, that means more to me than it does to you."
Paige paused and lowered her voice, "so let me make this real easy for you, we're finished, I'm a Charmed One, so whenever you need a demon vanquished, I'll be there. Other than that, I'll stay away; I doubt anything will be much different for you anyway."
Piper stood up and Paige was surprised to see that she was shaking, "Paige, you have to believe we love –"
"What?" Paige laughed, sounding bitter rather than amused, "you love me? Now that I'd be shocked to hear! I'll pick up my stuff in the morning." She orbed out, leaving one last statement for the Halliwells' to contemplate, "don't worry, it'll be like I was never here at all."
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Dun, dun, dun!
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