Disclaimer: The Charmed Characters are the property of Aaron Spelling and Constance Burge. I just borrow them for your enjoyment and my writing addiction. I also dont own the original tale of a Gingerbread Hose. I ahve no idea who it is, but I thought what a cute lil idea for the sisters. .

Gingerbread Witches…November 26, 2004

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Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away.. Ok wait stop.. That is another story all together. Let's try that again…

Once upon a time deep in an enchanted wood lived an old woman. Though many called her the witch in woods she was anything but. Her soul lost when she lost her daughter many winters before. But the love inside her never wavered.

She had met and seen many a man until she found the one right for her. His face as handsome and caring as his body was strong and inviting. Especially when he wrapped his arms around her. In his arms she had never felt safer.

"What are we to do Mike? The pantry is running low and you are still to find work."

"I was thinking last night to what we could do Penny. But we need to collect firewood. Maybe we can sell it to our neighbours." He had more in mind, but wasn't ready to divulge that yet.

Penny looked up at him and understood what he was saying. They had to do something less the children starve.

How many weeks had it been? Load after load they were still barely making enough to feed them all.

"Mike it isn't working. The children are growing thin with each passing day." She held to little Phoebe rocking the small one to sleep. At four she was so much smaller then the other kids in her playgroup. And it was to that that Prue, the oldest sister, at nine, protected her to anyone.

He looked at his wife. All he saw was love and devotion. Both words fitting to how she felt of her grandchildren.

"Penny, tomorrow we go deep in the woods. We take the children with us and then I will light a fire and you and I will walk out of there."

"What? No I can't leave them out there they will…" her sentence unfinished as she looked into his eyes.

"It is our only way." He took her face into his hands as they held each other's love in that one moment. He knew this would be hard on her, "Its the only way we will survive. There isn't enough food for the five of us."

"I…I can't"

"You must. Better they die at the claws and teeth of a wild beast then to suffer months from starvation."

Over the years Penny had seen a change in the man she had loved. He wasn't the same loving caring man he had been. He had become hard on the inside almost cold. But she knew he was right. At least a death by the beasts would be quick for her girls.

"Tomorrow then." He saw her defeated knowing what she was to do was hard but better then the alternative.

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Prue stood just outside the kitchen entrance and heard everything. Making her way back to the small room she shared with her sisters she saw Piper sitting up on her bed looking back at her.

"Prue?"

"Don't worry sweetie I'm going to take care of you and Phoebe, I always do don't I?"

"Yes but..."

"No buts. Now lay down and get some sleep." Prue lay down beside her sister wrapping her arms around her protectively. Though as Piper quickly fell back to sleep Prue lay awake trying to think of something to save her and her sisters.

Later that night, once she heard her Grams and Mike go to bed she quietly eased off the bed. As she pulled on her jacket she noticed movement in the darkness. Making her way to the bed she sat down and pulled the small girl to her lap.

"Pwue wun way?"

"No sweetie. I would never leave you and Piper. Be very quiet though ok. We don't want to wake Mike or Grams."

"Why you yacket on if no wun way?"

"I have to go out for a little bit to get something. But I'll be back before you miss me."

"Where you going Prue?" Piper sat on the bed next to her older sister. For seven Piper was mature for her age and knew that Prue was doing something to help them.

"I'm just going to go collect some of the white stones around the garden. Take care of Phoebe. I'll be right back." She leaned down and placed a kiss on the top of Phoebes head before she started for the door

Phoebe crawled onto Pipers lap as Prue quietly and carefully opened their door. Making her way through the small house and then outside into the frigid cold weather.

"She be back?" Phoebe asked with hope

"Sure she will baby. You'll see." Piper replied giving her sister the hope she was not only wanting but also needing.