In Murphy's Luck, the girls talked about an accident that happened when Prue was twenty that ended up with Phoebe in the hospital for over a week. This is my take on what happened.

1992

Prue – 20

Piper – 18

Phoebe – 15

Prue pulled up to the curb in front of the Manor. This was the last thing that she wanted to do. As a junior in college she was supposed to be having the time of her life. For goodness sakes, she should be living in a dorm. Instead, she was here. She had gotten to the point where she couldn't venture outside everything that was familiar and she was practically a stay at home mom. At least, she had this weekend. Her friends had invited her to head up to the mountains and stay at their cottage and ski. It would be great. No sisters, no Grams, no responsibility.

Prue stared up at the Manor. A big part of her didn't want to go in. She leaned back with her head against the head rest and closed her eyes. Maybe they wouldn't see her. Just maybe.

Suddenly a knock on the window pulled her abruptly from her thoughts. It was dusk, but she could still see her sister standing close to her window. She felt badly about how she had been treating her sister lately. She couldn't even wrap her mind around why she was being so mean to her. Every little thing that she did had been setting her off.

Prue gave an exasperated sigh.

"What?" she asked angrily as she got out of the car.

Apparently, I still can't control my anger, Prue thought to herself. Prue opened the back of her car to grab her books from the day.

"Just seeing what you were doing. You passed me a couple blocks back," Phoebe's voice trailed off. "I waved."

"I'm sorry, Pheebs, I just had a long day," Prue said not making eye contact with her as she headed toward the front steps.

"I know," Phoebe replied, somewhat more chipper than Prue anticipated. "I figured."

Phoebe looked down at her feet as they climbed the steps into the house. Prue was about to ask Phoebe how her day was but Phoebe threw her bag on the floor in front of Prue when they got into the foyer. Prue was too irritated by then to care what Phoebe's day was like.

"Grams!!!" Phoebe yelled and she ran toward the kitchen.

"Phoebe, don't scream in the house!" Prue called after her.

"Hey you," Piper said as she descended down the stairs. "Long day?"

"Aren't they all?" Prue laughed. "I hate to say it Piper, but I wish I was you. A senior in high school, eighteen. Perfect life."

"Oh shut up Prue, you're twenty and in college. I'm the one who's jealous."

"Do you see me living the college life, Piper?" Prue said slightly more serious. "I don't think so."

"Don't start with me," Piper said as she moved Phoebe's bag.

"Make her do that, Piper. She's so lazy."

"Don't be a bitch to her, Prue, just because you're grumpy about your life," Piper said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Prue watched after Piper as she walked back into the kitchen. She was taken aback by Piper's words. She knew Piper was right and her words weren't intended to be hurtful, but they hurt Prue. Prue sometimes didn't catch how mean she could be.

Grams walked through the door and interrupted Prue's thoughts.

"Hello, Prue," Grams said with a slight tiredness in her voice. "I'm so glad you're here, I was about to call you."

Prue gave a sigh.

"About what, Grams?"

"I need you to stay with the girls this weekend, something has come up and Gail needs me."

"Grams, Piper and Phoebe both babysit, I don't understand why they need babysitting," Prue said slightly aggravated. "I made plans with some of my friends this weekend. Friends? You know I do have them."

Grams started to walk toward the stairs.

"Prudence, you three are stronger together," Grams said without turning around.

Prue didn't know it then, but Grams's words would prove truer than she could have ever imagined in about seven years.

"I'm not arguing, Prue. You need to stay here. I will be back by Monday, maybe Tuesday. . ."

"Grams, that's not a weekend, that's five days!" Prue yelled. "Are you kidding me?"

Grams stopped at the top of the stairs. Prue could tell she was getting angry. Penny turned and walked back down the stairs.

"I know you feel like this isn't the hand you were meant to be dealt, Prue. I know that you feel like I've wronged you in some way. Your sisters need you here. I need you here. This is why you moved in remember? This is your responsibility, whether you like it or not." Her voice was calmer than Prue expected. "And this is no longer an issue." Grams turned and walked up the stairs.

Prue was fuming. She collapsed into a chair in the front room. Her friends had gone out of the way for her. They always let her bunk at their places when Prue wanted to stay on campus. This weekend was a way to pay them back. She had offered to drive up the mountains. Her car was perfect. Now she had to disappoint them again.

On queue Phoebe rounded the corner.

"What's wrong?" Phoebe asked with a cookie in hand.

"You're ruining everything as usual," Prue spat.

"Hi, are you eight years old?" Phoebe retorted. "Seriously, though, what's your issue?"

"Grams is making me babysit you when I had plans this weekend," Prue said angrily.

"So," Phoebe said much to Prue's surprise.

"So? I have to stay here," Prue said no understanding why Phoebe didn't get it.

"Piper and I will cover for you. Go and have fun," Phoebe said like it was the simplest thing in the world.

"Are you joking?" Prue said not sure of how she felt about this proposal.

Phoebe finished her cookie.

"You said it yourself, Prue," Phoebe said with a smirk. "We don't need a babysitter."

Prue looked at Phoebe for a moment contemplating the idea. Piper and Phoebe had been doing fine. She would play it by ear. Tomorrow was Friday. The girls would be fine just for a weekend right? Prue would be back by Sunday evening and she would beat Grams back home. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

Phoebe smiled back at Prue.

"You're life isn't that bad, Prue," Phoebe said as she walked out of her room. And for some reason the words stung Prue. However, she couldn't figure out just quite why.