Disclaimer: The Charmed Characters are the property of Aaron Spelling and Constance Burge. I just borrow them for your enjoyment and my writing addiction.

Lost

It was the same nightmare that had haunted her every night for the past four months. Each case the ghostly apparition would approach her. She could see through it, as the skeleton remains glared down on her. The once loving person stood before her, now not much more then a dead carcass, pointing at her accusingly. Repeating over and over that it was her fault. It was her fault that she died. It was her fault that they no longer had a big sister.

The once loving blue eyes bore through her soul, "It's your fault Phoebe. I'm dead because of you!"

Phoebe sat up, her body glistening in the moon light from the perspiration on her. She tried to calm down but she couldn't. Closing her eyes she did the only thing she had done for the past four months: she cried alone.

She had never shared her guilt or grief with Piper. She was trying to be strong for her, but lately it was getting harder and harder. She knew that Cole suspected something was up but he never asked about it. Phoebe had a feeling that he knew what it was and knew that it was not his place. Maybe he felt it was just as much his fault as she felt it was hers. After all she had gone down there to save him and in the end she lost her big sister.

Turning she looked at the clock by her bed. 3:00AM. Every night it was the same. 3:00AM. Never before or after always the same. She knew why as the memory once again came back to her, adding more pain then she was already feeling. Sobbing in her hands she wanted it all to just go away. Why wouldn't it just leave her alone? It wasn't like she had murdered her sister, or had she? She had insisted on going to the Underworld to help save Cole. She never thought of the consequences of her leaving them behind. She had saved Piper but in the end she had killed Prue

Piper pulled up to the dark Manor. As she got out of the Jeep she stood and looked up at her family home that she now shared with Phoebe and Paige. She couldn't believe how much her life had changed in four months. She had lost one of the two most important people in her life, in Prue. And yet they had found Paige. She loved Paige and would do anything for her, but she was still not quite ready, to completely let her into her heart.

As she made her way upstairs she was still getting used to the fact that Prue would not be there when she got home. She would usually wait up for her even when she worked late, like tonight. They would talk over a cup of tea before each going to bed. Now she was met with silence each night. No not each night. Sometimes Phoebe would wait for her. They would talk, but some how it just wasn't the same.

Placing her keys in the table quietly and hanging up her coat she was startled by the person that came out of the living room.

"Paige." she hel her hand to her heart, "Oh god. What are you doing down here? And why are you trying to scare the crap out of me?"

"Sorry Piper. I just needed to talk to you about something."

"So you sat in the dark waiting for me. Couldn't it wait till morning?"

"Um no. And I only just got in myself. Now I know I'm still fairly new to this sister thing but I'm getting worried."

"Worried about what?" Piper made her way into the living room. She was exhausted from the busy night, but there was something in Paige's voice that had Piper starting to worry. "Paige. What's going on? What's wrong?"

"It's Phoebe."

"What about her? Is she hurt?"

"No. It's just. The last few nights I've gotten home really late. When I go up to my room and when I walk by her door. I think I hear her crying. Now it's quiet enough maybe it's just in her sleep, but it's happened for the past four days now. And tonight."

"Tonight makes it five. Paige why didn't you say something earlier?"

"I don't know. Like I said I'm new at this sister stuff. Maybe it's something with Cole. We all know he's been having a hard time ever since he lost his powers."

"Or maybe there's more to it than that." Piper said more to herself then anything, as she cast a glance up the stairs.

"What?"

"Nothing. Look go to bed. I'll take care of Phoebe." Piper said as she sat on the couch thinking on her baby sister. Even now she still thought of Phoebe as the baby. Old habits hard to die from.

Paige looked at Piper and knew that their conversation was over. She still wasn't sure how her and Piper were doing in the relationship department. But she did know one thing. It was a slow progress. Standing up she headed for the stairs.

"Paige."

Turning back to Piper, "Yeah."

"Thank you."

"Your welcome." She answered as she continued up the stairs to bed, pausing briefly outside Phoebes room resting her hand on the closed door, before retiring for the night.

Piper sat in the dark thinking about what Paige had told her. She had a feeling that she knew what Phoebe was going through every night but she couldn't push her. She had to let her deal with it on her own first. She had to just let her sister know that when she was ready that she would be there for her. Closing her eyes she took in a deep breath before letting it out. "Oh Prue. I miss you. We miss you. I love you." She spoke to no one there but she knew that her sister would hear her words. As she then made her way up the stairs to bed.

& &

Piper changed and was about to crawl into her own empty bed when she turned around and headed out of the room. Leo was away on assignment somewhere, as was Cole.

A few months after Cole lost his powers he was reinstated as the ADA. All charges or suspicions on his landlord's death dropped. He had been working out of town on a big case for the past few weeks.

She quietly opened Phoebes bedroom door to find her sister sitting up just holding her knees to her chest. Walking over to the bed Piper pulled her sister in to her arms and just held her as she had many times when they were children.

"I'm here Phoebe. Whenever you're ready sweetie." Piper whispered to her as they both drifted off to sleep.

The next morning as the sun rose to the east the Manor stirred quietly to life. Piper quietly got up from the bed she had shared with Phoebe that night. She had felt her sister stir in the night but she held on to her as she had many times in the past. Leaving the room she put on her robe and made her way down the stairs. Only to find Paige already up and the coffee made.

"Morning Paige. You're up early for a Saturday. What gives?"

"Oh nothing. I just couldn't really sleep. What about you?"

"Paige haven't you figured it out yet. I'm always up this early."

"Yeah, I just thought that you would have waited for Phoebe to get up." Paige stated as she drank her coffee. Seeing the look on Pipers face, "I was looking for you and I saw you in with Phoebe. Sorry."

"No it's ok. Leo was away and I knew Cole was too, so I just thought she would have."

"Piper it ok. I understand. You have to let her know that you're there for her."

"Exactly."

"So how is she?" Paige asked as she sat at the table

"I don't know. We both fell right to sleep. But I can't push her. She'll come when she's ready."

"You sound like you know what's going on."

"I have a strong feeling." Piper said dropping the topic by getting a coffee, "So what do you say to a sister day? We haven't had one in some time."

"Yeah that sounds great. Actually now that I think about it wasn't the last time we had one was right after Phoebe and I switched bodies?"

"AUGH! Don't remind me."

"Morning. What aren't we reminding you of now Piper?" Phoebe asked as she walked into the kitchen

"When you and I switched bodies."

"Oh I'm with Piper, don't remind me."

"Phoebs, Paige and I were just discussing a sister day. What do you think?"

"Sounds great. Just tell me when and where and I will be there."

"Umm, how about noon, at Golden Gate Park."

"Perfect I'll meet you there."

"Whoa. Where are you going? It's Saturday?" Piper questioned her sister as she started out of the kitchen.

"I know. There is just something I need to take care of this morning." Phoebe said as she grabbed the keys to the Jeep, kissing Piper on the cheek, "Thanks. Love You." As she walked out the back door.

Paige sat across from Piper at the park waiting for Phoebe to arrive.

"So what do you think is taking her so long?"

"I'm not sure Paige, but when I see her I'm going to give her a piece of my mind for making us wait and worry this long." Piper said scanning the parking lot once again for any sign of her Jeep.

The sound of her cell phone breaking the silence that was there once again.

"Darryl. Hi." Piper said as sh answered her phone,"WHAT! WHEN?"

Paige looked at Piper with concern as she heard only one side of the conversation.

"We'll be right there Darryl. Thank you." Piper turned off her phone and looked at Paige.

"What? What's wrong?" Paige could almost see the fear in Pipers eyes.

"It's Phoebe. She was attacked in some alley."

"WHAT?"

"She's in the hospital." Piper explained as the fear of losing another sister tore at her heart.