<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/cb/Charmed_Helen_%28100d%29.png)</div><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">H</span><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">ELEN</span> <span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">B</span><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">RIANNE</span> <span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">M</span><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;">ITCHELL</span> <span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 7pt;"><br/>          it is in you to carry on      |      it is in you to lay down fears that hold      |     it is in you to find your way home          </span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial;"><em>passing the time before joining tray and austin...</em><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 8pt;">   » paisley . wyatt . angelo . tragan </span></span><br/><hr/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/8/85/Charmed_brianne_c.png)</div>Brie downed her shot without so much as a second blink, enjoying the way the alcohol warmed her insides. She tossed some of her hair out of her face as she returned the shot glass to the bartender, passing him a bill underneath. He winked and served her up another glass of cider. Brie, unused to the feeling of alcohol in her system, sipped slowly at her cider while she followed the path of the alcohol's heat, spreading from her core and making its way through her limbs.<br/><br/>Before she could do more than take a couple of sips, several things happened - a woman who turned out to be a female cop slid up next to them at the bar (at one point inadvertently flashing her badge and gun holster), and an incredibly familiar-looking guy walked up to say hello to Melinda. Brie couldn't place him, at first, until her cousin coolly returned the greeting.<br/><br/><em>Connor? Didn't he go off to England years ago, when things went south?</em>If she remembered correctly, there had been some huge falling out between Melinda and her boyfriend, and he'd even had the gall to leave without a word... Brie couldn't remember what about, but from Paisley's icy reaction and icier shoulder, it had probably broken all sorts of trust between the two of them.<em>Lying, cheating, or stealing, probably.</em><br/><br/>This was one of those times when Brie regretted not being as close to the other two branches of the Halliwell family - you missed a lot, only seeing them once every few weeks or months. Before she'd gone off to college, she hadn't wanted to strain her relationship with her father even more by visiting the others. After her first year at Stanford, though, she'd begun reconnecting with everyone, visiting whenever she was back in the city and making sure to use her minutes, her unlimited text messaging plan, and her email to keep in touch.<br/><br/><strong>"Wyatt."</strong>Brie's relief was well-hidden, but it colored the tailing edge of his name. Connor took off after Melinda towards the dance floor, leaving the cop (Jack?), the darkly handsome Angel, Jinni, Paisley, and Brie at the bar with the oldest Halliwell cousin.<strong>"Things are great. I was out on the dance floor earlier... awesome DJ tonight. Prue always manages to snag the best ones when they come into town."</strong>Having gone to almost every club in San Francisco at least once or twice, Brie could say that with more than casual knowledge. Several of them had made appearances at P3 on her recommendation, when she'd met them on tour or worked with them on filming sets. The young woman wondered if Wyatt would ask Jinni to dance, since he was here and Angel's attention was now focused on Paisley, looking like he was trying to find a way to keep the Ice Age from making an appearance right there at the bar. Wyatt could be so dense sometimes. It was obvious to anyone from the way the two looked at each other that they both liked each other.<br/><br/><strong><em>"So...Paisley, yes? Jinni seems all danced out. Would you care to join me on the floor?"</em></strong><br/><br/>Hearing the question, Brie shifted just in time to hear Paisley get the lucky invitation to dance with Angel. Brie couldn't help but watch enviously as he extended his hand to her cousin, but she helped the younger woman out of her seat, giving Paisley's shoulders a warm squeeze before taking the seat she had vacated, next to Jack.<br/><br/><strong>"Don't break too many hearts out there, Paisley!"</strong>Brie said with a cheerful wave and a sharp wolf whistle. She felt a little disappointed that he hadn't asked her, but the disappointment passed. She knew Jaxom was still at P3, charming any number of girls out on the dance floor, and Brie didn't care if she danced stag or with complete strangers - it was fun no matter the company, and it was sometimes easier to let go of all her stresses and worries when she was alone. Maybe she could even see if Austin was up for a song or two, later.<br/><br/>Glancing unconsciously down the bar at the thought of her old crush, Brie felt a gentle tugging in her chest when she noticed that Tray and Austin had both disappeared, probably into one of the empty booths where the family usually chilled when they weren't at the bar or on the dance floor. She didn't want to interrupt them while Tray talked to Austin - her twin hadn't said anything, but he'd had that look on his face again. How to see them this evening without walking right into the middle of a serious conversation?<br/><br/>It took a couple of healthy swallows of cider before Brie thought of a plan. Hailing one of the bartenders, Brie pulled two bills from an inside pocket in her blazer as tips.<strong>"When you have a free moment, can you tell one of the waitresses to take a couple of beers over to Tray and Austin for me? My treat. They're over there."</strong>Brie pointed, making sure the bartender spotted them. She grabbed her unused napkin and scribbled a note onto it -<em>I'll be here when you're done talking. ♥ Text me once you've got things sorted.</em>- before handing it to the bartender along with the bills.<strong>"Those are for you and the waitress, as thanks. The napkin is for Tray."</strong>Brie leaned forward to give the cute guy a kiss on the cheek before letting him get back to work.<br/><br/>That done, she turned to Jack with a cheerful smile, who still had a vague expression of amusement on her face from the Connor-Melinda face off.<strong>"It was a good night for you to come out - DJ Adieu's one of the best mixers this side of the country. Fortunately, the music is loud enough to keep the entire place from witnessing our family drama."</strong>Brie extended her own hand in greeting, rubbing her thumb along the gentle  callouses on her fingers and palms out of habit.<strong>"In case you had trouble catching it earlier, I'm Brie."</strong>