Ok, this story is set in the alternative future shown in 'Morality Bites' (S2, ep2), in the year 2009. It isn't essential that you watch the episode, as I have changed most of it, but it might help. By the way, their past is the same as shown is S1, and 'Witch Trials' of S2, but after that, their history has changed. Oh, and Prue is 38, Piper is 35, Phoebe is 33 and Paige is 31 (yep Paige is in it too!).

Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed. There SOB the truth is out.

Chapter One

Prue Halliwell was fast asleep. Her arms supported her head as she rested forward on her desk, and she was breathing deeply. Her dyed-blonde hair had fallen across her peaceful face. Then the telephone rang.

'Wha…?' she muttered, lifting her head and staring around her with a confused expression. I must have fallen asleep at work again she realised as her office came into focus. There was another ring, and she lifted the receiver quickly.

'Prue Halliwell,' She answered in a business-like voice. A woman's voice came from the end of the line.

'Ms Halliwell, I was phoning to confirm your flight to London tomorrow at eight,' the woman began to stutter. There wasn't a single employee of Ms Halliwell's who wasn't afraid of their boss.

'Tomorrow at eight?' Prue snapped. 'That's not right, I'm due to be in Paris tomorrow evening. Which idiot double-booked me?'

The woman gulped audibly. Prue Halliwell had a heart of stone. No one could anger her and escape unscathed. And the annoyance in her employer's voice was apparent. The woman tried again.

'There must have been some mistake,' she began. 'I'll try and…'

'I have to go,' Prue cut in shortly as a knock sounded on her door. 'This problem had better be sorted by tomorrow, or heads will roll.'

With that she slammed the phone down and barked an order to the person outside her office. Her assistant Anne poked her head around the door.

'Miss Halliwell? I need your final ok on the acquisition…'

Prue interrupted, frowning.

'What's the date today?'

Anne looked confused.

'Date? I…'

'WHAT IS THE DATE?' Prue snapped loudly.

'The 26th of February,' Anne replied quickly. Prue shut her eyes and sighed heavily.

'Alright. Anne, please tell Thomas to be ready with the limo in five minutes.'

Anne hurried out of the office. The job paid well, and Ms Halliwell was influential throughout the business world, but her employer could be a bitch sometimes.

No one knew the real reason why Prue Halliwell hid at work, day in and day out. Prue had locked her painful memories inside her, and she wasn't about to let them out. Not now, not ever.

Piper Halliwell Wyatt kissed her eight-year-old daughter on the cheek.

'Be good at daddy's,' she told the young girl with a smile. Melinda stared at her mother with her dark eyes.

'Don't worry, mommy,' she whispered with a serious face. 'I promise I'll do what you ask. I won't use my magic again. EVER.'

And with that she gave Piper a hug around the waist and ran out the door. Piper's neighbour Lara sat in her car, waiting for Melinda.

'Ok, Piper?' she called out. 'Are you sure you want me to take Mel to your ex's?

Piper nodded and waved to Melinda until the car had driven out of sight. She sighed. Why was life so complicated sometimes? Melinda would always come back from seeing Leo with a huge smile on her face. Piper wished Mel could have both her parents together, as a happy family…as they used to be…

Flashback. She was arguing with Leo again. These days they always seemed to argue.

'Piper, listen to me!'

'No Leo! I never get to see you any more! You always have some charge to see to, some Whitelighter meeting to go to! Why can't we just be a normal family once in a while?'

'Piper, the Elders have told me something! I've seen the future! Please understand…This is so hard…I have to go, Piper.'

'Leo, NO! Don't leave me! Don't leave your four-year-old daughter! What about us? What about Mel?' she realised tears were streaming down her face, she held out her hands. 'Don't give up on us!'

'Piper, we can't. We can't be together. We can't live happily ever after. We can't BE a normal family.'

He orbed out, leaving her crying. Leaving her alone.

'Us alone,' she whispered as she remembered Mel.

'We can't be together…'

Piper sighed. Life definitely wasn't a bed of roses. She had found it hard, at first. Still did. But she had Mel, and Prue and Phoebe.

A black limo pulled up in front of the Manor. The chauffer jumped out, and held the door open as a beautiful yet harsh looking blonde woman stepped out.

'Prue!' Piper said as she hurried towards her sister. Prue hugged her as her assistants held back respectfully. Prue dismissed them with a wave of her hand as the two sisters walked back inside the Manor.

'Are you ready to save Phoebe?' Prue asked Piper as soon as they closed the front door.

Phoebe. Today Phoebe would burn if Piper and Prue didn't save her quickly.

Ok, so waddya think? This is my first fanfic, so if you review (and please do!) remember that and try to make this story better by giving helpful ideas! Sorry if the first chapter is boring, it will be more interesting later, I promise! Please, please review!!!!!!