Disclaimer: The Charmed Characters are the property of Aaron Spelling and Constance Burge. I just borrow them for your enjoyment and my writing addiction.
This is set around and between The Fifth Halliwell and Bite me.
Trials of the past.
Early Summer 1995:
The music blared, as the noise levelled increased. Voices nearly shouting, just to be heard over the loud music that was thumping inside of them. The age of youth where one had no fears of anything in life. Parent's rules were non-existence for the crowd that was gathered. It was their own way of rebelling against the hands of time as the years of school closed around them and behind them. They used this as their last outlet to fight off the eventually birth of adulthood.
The small group gathered outside the house, drinks in hands, as they took off on their own private party. It was what they always did. Making their scheduled appearance at a party before going out on their own.
"Did someone grab that case of beer?" his voice deep and yet playful.
"No, but I got the vodka." She held it up before them, smiling knowing tonight would be as good as any other. She cast her boyfriend a quick glance, each knowing that during the night they too would lose their friends and they would find themselves at their own private place at the beach.
"I got the case." Another voice called out as they wandered down the road.
They ran across the green grass of Golden Gate Park, seemingly chasing one another but no one really getting the upper hand. One would fall the rest would laugh as the alcohol consumed their bodies and minds.
He held her in his arms, "What say you and I go?" he ran his hand along her arm, as she took another swig from the now near empty bottle of vodka she had been drinking,
"Hey you two knock it off." One spoke as he too cradled his own girlfriend.
"We were just leaving." He answered with a crooked smile as he pulled his girlfriend to her feet.
--- ----
Having staggered along the grass he stopped.
"Oh this is perfect." He let her go and took off after his prize.
"Mike what are you doing?" she laughed as she saw him leaning inside the car.
"Having some fun. Come on, this pompous ass deserves this."
"So what, you are going to steal Rick's car?"
"Come on. I'll let you drive." He leaned over and kissed her as the sound of the engine roared.
As always she melted into his kiss and found herself behind the wheel setting it in gear. "The usual place?"
"Anywhere you wanna go babe. I'm right with you."
"Prue hurry up we'll be late."
"I'm coming already. Not even sure why I am doing this." Prue added in later under her breath, but it wasn't quiet enough.
Piper walked into the living room, "Because it's Grams birthday and no matter how much you two fight and nearly kill each other you still love her."
"Yeah yeah." Prue grabbed her purse from the chair and started towards the door. "I suppose our baby sister will be making a short and very brief appearance?"
"Prue don't start, please. Can you two get along for a few hours, for Grams?" Piper looked at her older sister. She was the one in the middle and lately it wasn't just between Prue and Phoebe. Prue and Grams have been going at each other more then ever lately. All because Grams wouldn't let her go away to university like Prue had planned. "Look she is just going through a stage. You did. Cut her some slack."
"OK. I will. For Grams, and you."
"Thank you." Piper got out the vehicle and walked up the steps beside her sister. Hoping that today wouldn't become another famous Halliwell battle of wills.
---
Prue made her way through the friends in the Manor towards Piper.
"So whose the guy that Phoebe can't keep her hands off of?" she cast her glance to her youngest sister in the corner.
"I think it's Kevin. Prue don't you dare start anything." Piper glared at her sister hoping to get the message across. "Not today."
Prue looked at Piper and held her hands up in defeat. Piper looked over at Phoebe before making her way through the crowd towards the kitchen.
"Piper darling, stop fussing and enjoy yourself."
"I am Grams. Happy Birthday." She embraced her Grandmother in a warm hug.
"Well I wish your sisters were as attentive as you are."
"Grams they are both trying to remain civil to each other. Consider it your gift from them."
"I know darling. And I appreciate you playing dodger as you have for so many years."
"I just wanted today to be special for you."
"It is."
"Get off of it Prue!" Phoebe's voice carried towards the back of the Manor to the kitchen. Causing Grams to turn and Piper to sigh.
"I got it Grams." Piper said quietly as she walked into the living room to see Prue and Phoebe facing off to each other, neither one willing to back down.
"What are you two doing? This is Grams party."
"Same as we always do Piper. Look I am out of here." Phoebe spun on her heals taking Kevin's hand in hers and started for the door.
"Sure Phoebe, take off like you always do." Prue shot back at her retreating sister.
"Only when you won't butt out of my life, Prue." Phoebe shot back over her shoulder before slamming the front door closed.
Prue started after her but felt the restraining hand on her arm. "Prue let it go." Piper voice was soft and warning. Holding in it an edge that Prue knew well. One that the middle sister didn't use that often, but Prue know she was pissed when she did.
Prue closed the door behind the last of the guests as she went back into the living room flopping down in the couch, "Well that's the last of them."
Piper didn't say a word as she cast a glance at her sister.
"What?"
"You just couldn't leave well enough alone could you. You had to start something today."
"Piper they were all over each other. This wasn't exactly the time or the place for that."
"Maybe, but you could have said something quietly. Or got me too. You didn't have to let it go that far where all of Grams friends were watching."
"Look Piper I'm sorry ok. I just didn't want her making a spectacle of herself."
"Right. So instead you made one of both of you." Piper replied, as she got off the couch to the kitchen to help Grams clean up.
--- ----
The car pulled in front of the Manor as it had many times before. The families had known each other since the kids were little and attending grade school. He always knew there was something special about the family, but it was their friendship that drew him here that night.
Prue opened the door and saw the familiar face, "Mr. Trudeau. You're a little late for the party." She reached up and embraced the man whom she seeked out at times as her own father figure.
Returning the embrace, "Hi Prue, I know but, this is business." He pulled away from the girl he saw as his own daughter, "Is your Grams around?"
"Um yeah." She was getting worried. He never kept anything from her. But there was something in his body language. "Grams."
Penny Halliwell walked into the foyer with a dishtowel in her hand, "Jim. We saved you some cake."
"Thank you Penny but that isn't why I've come."
"Let me guess. Phoebe. What she do now? Get herself arrested?" Prue put in as she felt a gentle hand on her back. She knew it was Pipers and it was her sisters' way of letting her know to be quiet till they had all the facts.
He looked into the eyes of each face. This was always harder when it was family you knew. "No Prue. There's, been an accident. Her and her boyfriend where hit by a drunk driver. As soon as I saw who it was I came right over. It's pretty bad." He held his eyes to Penny's seeing her doing everything to keep her emotions in line, "I need to get you to SFMH ASAP."
Prue and Piper felt as if the wind had been knocked out of their sails, as they both froze in one spot. Grams grabbed her coat and took off out the front door with Jim Trudeau right behind her. Leaving her older two granddaughters alone and scared.