NO SOUVENIRS

by

Piper Merlyn

Chapter 13

The Chapters

INTRO

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

Friday, March seventeenth dawned cool and hazy. Joe donned a Kelly green T-shirt that announced 'Kiss Me, I'm Irish' in yellow letters. When Frank looked at him, Joe shrugged. "What?" He looked down at his shirt. "What? Didn't we figure out that we are Irish way back?"

"Did you have to buy that shirt?" asked Frank as a knock sounded on their door. He went to open it to find, Vanessa standing there, clad in a green shirt. In pink letters it said 'Kiss Me, I'm Irish' but the word Irish had been marked out and the word 'Cute' added in. Frank looked at Vanessa and then at Joe, remembering another time they'd worn matching tops. "Uh...Vanessa, did you buy him that shirt?"

"No." She  looked over at Joe and laughed. "I like mine better."

Joe pulled Vanessa into his arms. "Ahh, well, yours is truer." He kissed her. "Good morning, by the way."

Frank moved to close the door but Callie walked on through. "So...what are we doing today. It's St. Patrick's Day, are there any fun things going on?"

Frank noted Callie was wearing a green shirt as well, that read 'When Irish eyes are smiling, you have to wonder what they're up to.' He shook his head and sighed as he reached for the telephone. He was the only one wearing a simple green polo shirt. He dialed the front desk, asked about St. Patrick's Day celebrations and hung up a moment later. "They had the parade and snake races Sunday."

Vanessa blinked. "Snake races?"

Frank shrugged. "I didn't ask."

"It probably has something to do with the legend about St. Patrick, wouldn't it?" asked Callie. "Didn't he rid Ireland of all the snakes?"

"I thought that was just a myth or something," said Joe. He looked down at his T-shirt. "We have to show these off. Hey, Frank, why don't you have one?"

"Because you three probably got the last ones. The convention might be doing a little something."

Joe frowned. "I bought all the detective comics Adams had. What do you expect me to do now?"

Vanessa bit back a grin. "Why don't we just go sightseeing?  We haven't really seen all the sights."

Frank nodded. "That's a good idea. We can start here at Union Square and go from there."

The four teenagers headed down to the lobby. Frank paused by the desk to get a map of the best places to go and they left Hotel Triton. Joe claimed first turn at the wheel and after an in-depth discussion in the parking lot about what they would make a point of seeing and what they wouldn't, Joe headed south on Grant Avenue. He checked the map, took a right on Market and then half a block later took a left on Fourth Street. He pulled up to the building and grinned. "Ahh...the Cartoon Art Museum."

Frank rolled his eyes and the four of them explored the museum full of every cartoon from Krazy Kat to Batman, plus even popular icons from underground comics. They lost Joe immediately to the museum store and ended up spending fifteen minutes just waiting for him to leave.

Frank took the wheel, cut across on Howard Street to Third to see the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Feeling brave, Vanessa took the wheel after their quick tour of the museum and headed north on Third to meet up with Market Street again. She took a right turn and drove until they met with Montgomery, since all four of them wanted to see the Wells Fargo History Museum and the Transamerica Pyramid.

Lunch-time found them at a quaint seafood restaurant in the Fisherman's Wharf district. Then they visited the Ripley's Believe It or Not museum and the Wax Museum. Eventually they worked their way to Fort Point National Historic Site for pictures in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Further south, in Golden Gate Park, Joe and Vanessa walked through the Japanese Tea Garden, holding hands. He fingered the pin attached to the T-shirt he wore. It was the most tangible reminder of what had happened here.

"Penny for your thoughts?" asked Vanessa softly, sparing a glance over her shoulder to where Callie and Frank were walking slowly.

"It's weird, Van. I think this is the first time I've actually played tourist in a long time."

She rested her head on his shoulder. "It's been fun."

"Yeah, it has been. Especially playing tourist with you."

She giggled and kissed him. "Well, at least we know where to go later."

Joe nodded and kissed her back. When Callie had taken the wheel, they'd turned on the wrong road to get to the Presidio. They'd found an unassuming building with the sign reading P3. They'd all made a note of where it was, so now they knew how to get there.

The four teenagers then visited the Strybing Arboretum, the Morrison Planetarium and the Steinhart Aquarium. Finally, with Frank at the wheel, they took a leisurely drive down Fulton Street, heading back to the Hotel Triton.

Joe suggested a side trip through Japantown and Chinatown since it was in the direction they were heading. Finally late in the afternoon, they arrived back at the hotel, tired and worn out from their whirlwind sightseeing.

Both Vanessa and Callie wanted to clean up and Frank agreed. He and Joe headed to their room and decided to take showers as well. Joe looked down at the T-shirt he'd discarded for a shower. "I'd really wanted to wear this tonight."

"Yeah, well, dripping cocktail sauce all over it kind of messed that idea up, didn't it."

"Well, I still don't see how you could have gotten grease all over you. The USS Pampanito hasn't run for years." Joe poked through the clothes in his suitcase, finally finding another green shirt. "Ahh...here we go."

Frank chose a black polo with black jeans and combed his damp hair. "Didn't Leo say five o'clock?"

"Yeah." Joe finished dressing and glanced at his watch. "You think the girls are halfway done?"

Frank rolled his eyes and stepped past his brother to the door. He opened it to find Callie and Vanessa standing in the hallway. He glanced over his shoulder at Joe. "I'd say it's a strong possibility."

Joe started to say something when a swirl of blue lights announced the arrival of Leo. Joe blinked. "Don't you ever knock? Is that even possible?"

Leo gave a one-shouldered shrug. "It was too risky in the corridor. Are you all ready?"

Joe nodded. "But I'm driving."

Leo frowned. "I don't..." He shook his head and looked at Joe. "You know where it is?"

"Fisherman's Wharf district," answered Frank. "We went sightseeing today and found it."

"Thanks to me," said Callie with a grin.

Leo shrugged again. "Okay. I'll tell Piper you're coming."

Joe nodded. "Deal."

*****

The club was empty, looking more like a warehouse than a place for dancing and music. But no sooner had all four teenagers walked in through the doors than music started up from somewhere. Spotlights swiveled around and strobe lights blinked on and off. Joe grinned. "Nice welcome."

"Glad you like it." Piper Halliwell came to the foot of the stairs and smiled. She was clad in a strappy camisole-style top with a skirt that reached her knees; both were a rich dark green in color. "Welcome to P3."

Phoebe walked in, clad in a lime green dress with sheer lace sleeves and on the edge of the short skirt. She carried a tray and set it on the bar. "Hi."

Paige showed up a moment later, in skin-tight black pants, ankle boots and a fern green blouse with flaring sleeves and low-cut neckline. She waved, making her sleeve flutter wildly. "Hi."

Frank looked around. "We're the only ones here?"

Piper's smile faded slightly. "P3 is a '21-and-up' club. You can be here as long as the club isn't open. Regulations," she added with a sigh. "Sorry."

"This is cool," said Joe. "Never had a club all to myself," he said, darting down the stairs, Vanessa right behind him.

Callie tugged on Frank's hand. "Oh, Frank, it'll be fun, like an exclusive party just for us."

Piper waited until all four of them were close and made a small gesture with her hands, freezing them. "Paige."

Paige nodded and held out a hand. "Pin."

A moment later, the small golden four-leaf clover pin appeared in her palm. She set it down on the bar and glanced first at the four teenagers to make certain that they were still frozen. She looked at Phoebe. "You sure about this?"

Phoebe nodded. "I am."

Piper took a deep breath. "Okay. Let's do it."

They each blew a single breath on the pin and touched a finger to it. Then they quickly recited a spell:

"We enchant this pin we sisters three

For the protection of Joseph Hardy

To keep him, soul and body, from harm

We sisters three enchant this charm

Protection from time undone

Until all four leaves be gone

Fire to send, fire time to bend

Fire to bring home again."

Piper took a deep breath and looked at Paige. "Can you orb it  back onto his shirt?"

"I can try." She closed her eyes for a moment.

Just then the four teenagers stirred. There was a small clatter and Joe spotted his pin on the landing. "Hmm, must have not fastened it right." He picked it up and pinned it to his shirt again. Piper walked past him and said something softly as she went on to the bar to set out the food.

Phoebe smiled. "Come on now. We've got green sodas and snacks to have our own celebration."

"Yum." Joe thought a moment on what Piper had said and rubbed his hands together. "Sounds good to me."

At the sound of a door opening, they saw Macey and her friends coming in, followed by Detective Morris and his wife, Sheila – so Paige whispered to them – and Leo brought up the rear.

Piper, Paige and Phoebe sat down in their little alcove near the stage as their guests enjoyed the sodas, snacks and music. Piper relaxed against the sofa and let out a soft sigh.

Her sisters both glanced at her and she grinned at them. "I think I'll go dance. Oh, Leo..."

Leo looked up and smiled as she passed by his seat. He grabbed her hand and let her lead him to the dance floor. Paige shared a look with Phoebe. "You really think something will happen?" she asked, nodding to the four teenagers dancing.

Phoebe shuddered. "I saw it, Paige. It changed everything. We have to stop that from happening."

Paige nodded and watched them for a moment longer. She sighed softly. "Blessed be," she whispered so softly her sister didn't even hear her above the pulsing music. She hoped the charm would be enough....  

The End

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