<div align="center"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Payton Vincentia Halliwell</span><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 13pt;">“I'm innocent! I swear!”</span><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 8pt;">Tagged: the Halliwells</span></span></div><hr/><br/><div class="floatright">(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u133/kokotigress/Elliquiy/Ashley-Greene_5-1.jpg)</div><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 11pt;">Payton somehow wasn't surprised when the door seemed to meet with resistance as she tried to close it. Nor was she surprised to see her sister's head pop in, amusement glinting in those familiar eyes. Tonight just wasn't her night it seemed. She tried her best not to look at all guilty but it was hard considering most times she usually was guilty of something or other. She didn't pretend to be anything other than who she was, but she was trying to settle down some... sorta. <br/><br/>Having already braced herself for some sort of lecture or admonishment, Lee's words were a pleasant surprise that had her eyes widening and gratitude showing through. Leaning in she kissed her sister on the cheek, very deliberately ignoring the the look that said she expected to hear the details later, and  then turned to dash up the stairs before someone else could come along to bust her. <br/><br/>The pictures along the stairs were a blur as she made her way toward the room that had been hers for the past two years. She'd moved in after a big fight with her father that had resulted in a bit of a strain in their relationship. It still pained her to think about it and honestly she wanted nothing more than to fix it, to go back to how they had been before, but she didn't know how. She knew she was a disappointment to him and there was no easy fix. Rather than deal with the rift between them Payton had run to the Manor and thankfully, rather than see his cousin homeless, Wyatt had allowed to to lay claim to the room that had once been her mother's. She was glad that so far her powers hadn't tuned into any lingering memories. She was so not anxious to get glimpses of the woman she'd never gotten to know and if she'd gotten any as a kid she couldn't remember them. It would just be a tease and she sincerely hoped the powers that be weren't that cruel.<br/><br/>Once safely in her room, Payton quickly shed her damp clothing and made a beeline for the shower. She was aware her cousins were gathering downstairs and likely she wouldn't get away with sneaking in for long. Wyatt would likely be the one to sense her and if everyone was gathering to eat he wouldn't leave her out. <br/><br/>Despite her exhaustion after the yo-yoing her powers had put her through today combined with the many tedious demands of her employer, she made quick work of her shower. Considering she woke up late for work almost religiously, she was now queen of the five minute shower so it didn't take her long at all. Feeling at least cleaner, if not exactly refreshed, Payton found her way into a pair of thick oversize sweats she'd stolen from some ex-boyfriend or other. Tugging on the matching hoodie over her tank top she glanced at her reflection in the mirror and huffed. Stylish she wasn't but at least she was warm and comfy in the sweats that threatened to swallow her. <br/><br/>Eyes drifting toward her collection of Disney movies and romantic comedies, she briefly considered hiding out in her room. She could just pop in <em>Beauty and the Beast</em> like she'd done since she was a kid and let everything else fade into the background while she recited almost all of Belle's lines. It was her absolute favorite movie and she'd even spent a good 3 month stretch when she was 5 pretending she was Belle and wearing a costume as often as her father would let her get away with so it was no secret. She'd been teased a bit for it but it hadn't fazed her much. She'd wanted to be Belle so badly back then and fall in love with a handsome Prince in disguise. Now she'd settle for a decent relationship that didn't end with, “Its not you, its me” or some other tired line. In any case she liked to put it in on those days where things just seemed out of control. It was her way of comforting herself since she rarely turned to anyone else for such things. Usually she helped comfort others by listening and sometimes even directing them toward what they most needed. It was an innate thing, less reliant on her powers and more just who she was, but she couldn't seem to do it for herself. However odd it sounded, it seemed her own emotions were just out of her reach. Of course when Lee's voice came drifting up the stairs telling her to get her scrawny butt downstairs—she was so not scrawny—she knew that she had no choice but to go down before someone took it upon themselves to orb up to her or worse. <br/><br/>Determined not to feel bad about something she didn't do, Payton took a deep breath and and let it out slowly, willing all the negative emotions away as the air streamed out. It was time to relax and just chill with family. No need to worry. <br/><br/>Her socks muted her footsteps as she left her room and headed down the stairs. Entering the kitchen she blinked when she realized Brie was here as well. Tray and Melly she'd expected since she'd recognized their cars and of course she'd known Wyatt was home by the smell of his cooking but she didn't usually see Brie all that often outside of the shows she attended. Boy did she envy her cousin's grace.<br/><br/><strong>”Smells good. What's for dinner?”</strong> The smile that came to her lips wasn't at all forced as she ran a few steps and slid across the floor toward the table. She hadn't been able to resist. Coming to a stop near Wyatt she kissed his cheek in greeting then sat at the table. <strong>“Hey guys.”</strong></span></span>