Part 1

Prue - 12

Piper - 10

Phoebe - 5

Paige - 4

Grams pulled up to the Manor late that afternoon. It had been a long day. With four busy girls, there was so much that she was always doing. She was constantly hoping that she was raising them right, that she wasn't making mistakes with them. She helped the girls out of the car. Paige was asleep in the back seat. Prue took Phoebe's hand and led her up the steps. The girls were happy and things were okay.

The girls' mother had died in a car accident a few years earlier. Their father had left soon after that. It was too much for him. He left the girls. However, despite the circumstances, their grams took good care of them. She loved them more than anyone ever could

"Prue, can we go to the park again today?" Phoebe asked as they climbed the steps.

"Once today wasn't enough?" Prue asked.

"No. Can we go again?"

Piper was on one side holding Phoebe's hand and making sure she didn't fall. Prue looked back at Grams who gently shook her head.

"Not today, Pheebs. Maybe tomorrow."

"Tomorrow is too far away," Phoebe whined as she headed into the house.

Prue looked at Grams with pleading eyes. Grams gave a smile.

"I know, Prue, but the answer is still No. It's late and we need to get dinner on the table and them to bed," Grams said with a weak smile.

"How about tomorrow?" Prue asked eagerly.

Grams hesitated more than usual. Something was in her eye.

"Sure . . .tomorrow sounds good."

Prue took Paige from her Grams and led her into the living room.

"Piper, sweetheart, you want to help with dinner?"

Piper came running in.

"Yeah, what are we making?" Piper asked.

" I don't know what do you want to make?" Grams asked as she led her into the kitchen.

Prue sat with Paige on the couch. She was grumpy though. She had just woken up and she didn't want to sit with Prue. Prue was trying her best to read her sister a book but no avail.

"NO!" Paige said as she struggled to get out of Prue's arms. "No, book. I want Piper."

"Piper's doing dinner, Paige. You have to wait."

"No, I don't want to."

Paige finally got free from Prue's grasp and fell onto the rugged floor. Phoebe skipped in. She had forgotten about her disappointment about the park. She never really dwelled on things like that for long. As for Paige, she would hold a grudge for weeks, even at four.

"What are we doing?" phoebe asked as she climbed next to Prue.

"Reading," prue said seeing her opportunity.

Phoebe snuggled in next to Prue. With Paige pouting on the floor, Prue continued with the book.

Later that nigh as the girls were getting ready for bed, Prue sat next to Phoebe on her bed. Paige was being put to bed across the room.

"Hey, Prue?"

"What?" prue asked as she put away the storybook she had just finished.

"My stomach hurts."

Phoebe had been known to complain about things just to stay up. The kid was smart.

"Phoebe," Prue said with a gentle warning. "Go to sleep, baby. I'll see you in the morning."

Prue looked at her sisters and kissed them good night. She knew she shouldn't have favorites, but at least at the moment Phoebe was her favorite. she was so uncomplicated. She loved you no matter what. She rarely got made and rarely cried. She was so easy to love. At twelve, that was what prue needed.

The next day was Sunday. When Phoebe hadn't come down yet at noon, Prue went up the stairs to get thegirl up. It wasn't surprising that Phoebe wasn't up yet, but thye didn't like having Phoebe sleep so long.

"Phoebe?" Prue knocked and came in.

Phoebe hadn't tossed her blankets to the side. Nor had she moved from the position. Prue walked over to her calling her name gently as she did. No response. She touched Phoebe's forehead. It was cold.