Power Surge

Back In The Living Room- 6:00 AM

         "Missy Paige, what are you doing?" Piper asked. "Is that wine in that glass?"

"So what if it is?" Paige sassed, slurring her speech. "What happened to apple cider missy Paige?" Piper interrogated her. "You, who freaks out when I use the slightest bit of that wine you just polished off-"

" I'll get drunk any time I want to, and YOU are not gonna stop me, lady..." Paige cut Piper off, slurring her words even worse as she continued to speak. "And for another thing, Bitchzilla-" Paige never completed her sentence as she passed out instead on the couch.

"What was Paige bitching about? I could hear her all the way down the hall. And why is she sleeping now? She was sitting on the couch drinking something when I got up to pee a few minutes ago."

"She's not asleep, Phoebs... she's passed out cold," Piper informed her. "Just like that?" Phoebe queried.

"Tends to happen when you get drunk off your ass for the first time in who knows how long," Piper answered. "She's DRUNK?! What about our little niece? Or nephew?" she added quickly. "What about what she's doing to the baby? I wanna wake her so I can yell at her."

Before Piper could stop her, Phoebe reached out and gave Paige's shoulder a firm shake. "Phoebe, don't! The Persian!" Piper shrieked. Phoebe grimaced in reply and then sighed with relief as Paige let out a quiet snore and continued to sleep soundly. "Okay, what did she drink, exactly, and how much did she have?" Phoebe inquired. "Well, the only alcohol in the house was my Calera Jensen that I've had since my audition at Quake, oh so long ago," Piper answered.

"Wow. That's gotta be pretty potent by now," Phoebe exclaimed. "How much was left?"

"Oh, about two thirds of the bottle," Piper stated. "I only use a little at a time when I'm cooking my pasta sauce, because of Paige, here." As Paige's name was mentioned, she shifted in her slumber and let out another, louder snore. "And did she leave anything in the bottle?" Phoebe queried. Piper sadly shook her head no, and Phoebe flipped out on her, shrieking. "Piper, she's most likely pickled our little niece or nephew in there! We have to get her into the bathroom and make her throw it up right now!"

Piper felt a sudden wave of nausea wash over her at the prospect, and she tried not to visibly gag as she swallowed hard. "Okay, but if she does it on the way to the bathroom, you're gonna be the one cleaning it up, lady," Piper informed her younger sister. "She's happily passed out on the couch, so I say we leave a bowl within her reach, lay her down with a towel under her head, and let the little barfly sleep it off."

"Maybe you're right," Phoebe agreed. "If you can go get the towel, I'll get a bowl from the kitchen."

"You're on," Piper answered as she headed down the hall to the first floor bathroom.

Moments later, the sisters met again in the living room and set about lowering their baby half-sister gently to the couch. Once she was safely lying down on her side, Piper tucked a throw pillow covered with the towel beneath Paige's head as Phoebe covered her with a blanket. "Sleep well, sweetie," Piper murmured as she kissed Paige near her hairline and then straightened up. "I hope it was worth it," Phoebe whispered as she gave Paige a gentle kiss on the forehead. "Sweet dreams." Piper and Phoebe looked at their sleeping sibling one last time before climbing the stairs to their bedrooms.

"I've got both kids in my room for the night, so I'm gonna try to get some more sleep before they wake up," Piper announced as they ascended the stairs. "My back hurts." Phoebe complained. "Yeah, sleeping on the couch when you've got a baby pressing on your spine to begin with will do that to you," Piper answered. "If it keeps bothering you, let me know and I'll try to help if I can. Really sucks that you're the Whitelighter, now, because you can't heal yourself. If you were able, it wouldn't be personal gain that I know of," Piper pondered aloud. "Sucks to be me, doesn't it?" Phoebe answered as they reached Paige's door. "Hey, do you think Glenn's back?" she asked in a whisper. "Do you really want to open the door and find out?" Piper questioned. "Honestly, no," Phoebe replied with a comical grimace worthy of Paige. "I think I'd rather go to bed and find out later... goodnight, Piper."