Jan 26/06

And I dedicate this to my friend. Lacorra. :) May our friendship last longer then this fic...lol This is also a WHOLE BUNCH outta the box for me as it centers around Piper.. yeah in case you hadn't picked up yet i'm a Phoeb writer

Why Did You Leave?

October 1976

She sat at the top of the stairs once more hearing the words of her parents yelling at one another. She looked back on the day and wondered inside if it was her fault. She had fought with her baby sister that day. Taking back her own doll that in turn sparked something between her parents. She was just getting back what was hers. She didn't want her baby sister chewing on her things. She got everything all yucky with slobber.

As she leaned against the wall she felt a presence sitting down beside her and the arm pulling her close. "Its ok Pipe. Everything will be fine in the morning."

The wisdom of her older sister always brought her some comfort. She leaned into Prue hoping she was once again right in her words of wisdom.

"Come on, let's go to bed." Prue stood up and pulled Piper to her feet. Though as they made their way down the hall they heard the restless cries of their baby sister.

"You go Pwue. I'm otay." Piper spoke, as she turned towards their room leaving Prue to deal with the new baby.

Prue quietly peaked in through the bedroom door that led to her parent's bedroom. She saw the small figure sitting at the side of her crib her lungs crying out for anyone who would listen.

Getting the stool her mother had in the room, she stepped up on to it and then she reached down, lifting her year old, well in a few days anyway, sister into her arms. "It's ok baby, big sister has you now." Prue soothed as she held her baby sister close rubbing her hand over her back to soothe the cries of the night. Though as she held close to Phoebe, her mind was also on Piper. Her younger sister was worried about something, and she intended to find out what it was.

--- ----

Victor had heard the cries and had watched as Patti walked quickly up the stairs. Though he was surprised to find her back in the kitchen again so quickly. "She ok?"

"Yeah, Prue has her."

"Prue? She is five years old!" Victor started to head for the stairs when Patti placed a hand on his chest.

"They are ok Victor. Phoebe is safely in Prue's arms fast a sleep, and Prue isn't going anywhere." Patti assured him as she then stepped away and towards the sink. "And in case you forgot Prue's was 6 on Thursday."

They were celebrating both Prue's birthday and Phoebes, as the oldest had just turned six and Phoebe would be one on Monday.

Victor processed the information before realization struck, "They grow up to fast Patti."

She looked up and smiled at him knowing he was right. But the argument they had earlier would remain the same. And she wasn't yet sure how to get around it every night, yet at all.

Piper lay in her bed tossing in her covers, her parent's argument still ringing in her head. She could her Phoebe sniffling in the room across the hall. Her baby sister was still too young to understand her parents yelling, she herself didn't understand it. She knew though it had to do with something she did, for that was when it started.

Sleep finally over came her as she closed her eyes and wondered what the next day would bring, more arguments from her parents.

Prue lifted her head slightly at the sound from across the hall. She looked down at Phoebe before carefully getting up from her bed and making her way across the hall quietly. Seeing Piper tossing in her sleep, she made her way down the stairs to her Mother.

"Mummy?"

"Prue? Sweetie what are you doing up?" Patti held her arms out as her oldest daughter stepped into them easily.

"Piper. I think she is having a bad dream again."

Patti got up and lifted Prue in her arms, "She is is she? Well what say I go fix that? As soon as I get you back to bed."

"Ok." Prue rested her head on her mothers shoulder and slowly gave in to the sleep she was woken from.

Patti turned to Victor in the living room. "I'll meet you in Piper's room."

"Sure." he followed after his wife as she returned with Prue to her room and got her tucked back in with Phoebe, who immediately snuggled next to her big sister. Giving a loving smile at her two daughters, Patti turned towards the other room.

Victor stepped into Pipers room and was immediately concerned as his daughter thrashed on her bed. It was then he was thankful that Phoebe still slept in their room and now better that she was with Prue, "At least this way we only have one awake." He spoke to no one as he sat on the edge of the bed resting his hand on Pipers shoulder gently shaking her awake.

Patti walked in the room just has her daughter was startled awake screaming at the top of lungs, trying everything she could to wake the rest of the Manor.

Patti took Piper in her arms and wrapped her arms around her tight, "Ok sweetie Mummy's got you. It's ok. Can you tell me what happened?"

Piper rested her head on her mother's chest trying to recall what had woken her so suddenly. "No. I don't wemember."

"OK sweetie I got you now go back to sleep we'll talk about it tomorrow."

Patti looked across at Victor who was helpless against what had scared his little girl.

--- ----

Victor sat downstairs resting his head in his hands as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Victor?"

"It's this damn magic isn't it?"

"No it isn't, she had a nightmare, that is it." Patti argued back

He looked up at his wife, "Is it? Damn it Patti you can not stand there and tell me this has NOTHING to do with her or her sisters powers?"

"I can. And I will. Mother and I bound their powers when Phoebe was born. There is NOTHING supernatural about this." She retaliated towards him. "She had a bad dreams that is it. Children get bad dreams Victor."

He stood up and looked down at his wife. "I can't be sure of that any more. We agreed Patti."

"And I upheld my end. Their powers are bound. End of story. Nothing magical will come to or for them until their power are unleashed."

"And when is that. Tomorrow, the next day, the middle of Prue's graduation?"

"When both Mother and I decide or…" she turned and met her mother's eyes in the doorway to the kitchen, before turning back to her husband, "Or until we are both dead."

He held her gaze never wanting the last to be true. He couldn't imagine his daughters spending life without their mother or grandmother. He had his differences with Penny Halliwell but he still wanted her there for his girls

"I'm not sure I can ever accept that." He turned and walked up the stairs to the room that he shared with Patti.