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

Fate Plays a Hand

Piper stood in the kitchen as she prepared dinner for her and her sisters. She always felt safe in the kitchen. It was her special spot in the Manor. Ever since their Grams had past away a few months ago and Phoebe had come back from New York, she had found herself spending more time in the kitchen, she wasn't sure why. Maybe it was to get away from any fighting that may occur in the Manor. For even after all this time, Prue and Phoebe still could get into a good fight.

You would think after all this time of fighting warlocks and saving each other's butts that they would just get along. What would it take for them each to just admit they are too much alike, stop fighting and love each other like sisters should? What disaster or hurtful words or tragedy would have to make them truly see their special bond? Little did Piper know that her thoughts of her sisters bonding had already been set in motion.

Something's are just destined to be the way they are. It doesn't matter if you're the Charmed Ones or just a regular person. Something's just happen for a reason. But it was the fall out of that happening that they would all have to get through. With the help of her sisters or on her own. One sister would have to overcome something that could break the fragile bond that was already there.

"Piper I'm late for work can you pick up the supplies we need from the Wicca shop?"

"No. I have a huge party I need to cater for at Quake."

"Piper we need those supplies." Prue argued as she reached for her coffee cup.

"I know Prue." Piper said sarcastically, "But I have to work as well."

"Fine, give Phoebe some money and she can. But make sure she gets the right stuff."

"Prue, Phoebe is the last one we need to tell what stuff to get. She is more in tune with this witch stuff then you and I put together. And speaking of Phoebe. Did you hear her come home last night?"

"Yeah." Prue said with a hint of anger in her voice.

"And?"

"I think it was around 4." Prue said matter of factly

"4! What was she doing out till then?"

"What she always does. Partying and having us worry "

"Prue you know she doesn't do it on purpose." Piper defendd heri youngest sister

"Whatever. I gotta go." Prue placed her mug in the sink

"Ok love you."

"You too." Prue called back as she left the Manor.

-CO- -CO-CO-CO- -CO- -CO-CO-CO-

Phoebe woke up and looked at her clock. 10:33. She closed her eyes and rolled over. She had gone out the night before with some old friends from school and she got in a little later then she had hoped: A lot later actually.

She made her way out of bed and down the hall to the shower. She knew that Prue must have heard her coming in last night. She always did. Even when they all lived there with Grams, her oldest sister always knew when she came home late.

She made her way down the stairs and went to the kitchen in search of one of her sisters. "Piper?" she said as he stepped into the kitchen. She knew her sister always felt safe in the kitchen it was her home in the home.

She spotted the note on the fridge.

'Morning sleepy head.

We need some stuff from the Wicca store. Prue asked me to but I don't have any cash and I had to get to Quaek to get ready for a party. Can you go to Bucklands, get some money from her, and get what we need?

Thanx Love you. Piper'

"Sure, you just want me to go walking into Bucklands and ask Prue for money. Thanx Piper" Phoebe said sarcastically as she finished the note.

-CO- -CO-CO-CO- -CO- -CO-CO-CO-

Phoebe looked up at the office building before her. She had never been inside Bucklands before. It was Prues place and she always felt it out of bounds. Taking a deep breath she made her way inside and towards the elevator to the 12th floor.

-CO- -CO-CO-CO-

Prue sat at her desk thinking about what they were going through, her and her sisters. How all of a sudden, had things gotten from bad to worse for them? Or was it weird? She still was not convinced on the whole witch thing, but how could she deny it? It was her. No, it was their heritage.

She continued to look over the articles for the next auction when she heard the faint knock at the door. "Yes." She answered without looking up

"Hi."

Prue looked up and saw her youngest sister standing just inside her doorway leaning against the door. "Hi."

"What's up?"

"Nothing. What do you need?"

"You see Prue, that is half our problem." Phoebe started as she walked in the office, "As soon as I see you or say hi, you automatically assume I want something."

"Ok, so you don't." Prue remarked, though she knew her sister wanted something

"Well actually I do, but that is not my point." Phoebe replied in her own defence again.

"So what is?' Prue asked getting a bit irate with her sister.

"Well Piper said we needed some stuff from the 'store', but apparently she didn't have any money."

"Great, so once again I'm handing out money." Prue sighed as he reached hfor her purse

"Hey Prue you know I didn't ask for this." Phoebe retaliated back at her sister. Why couldn't she be more of a sister then a mother. Why couldn't they just get along?

"Ok Phoebe, look I don't have time to argue with you now. Here." She handed her sister a couple of twenty's, "And don't forget the sage brush." she said added.

Phoebe took the money and turned back to the door as she saw Prue going back to work. "Prue." She stopped herself

"What?" she replied though not looking up at her sister

"Um.. You want to grab some lunch, or something?" Phoebe asked not sure what her sister would say.

Prue looked up at Phoebe. She was going to say no, but there was something in Phoebes eyes that made her think about her answer.

Phoebe stood there waiting for her sister's answer. She just wanted a normal sister relationship with her oldest sister. Was that so much to ask?

"Sure."

"Look Prue, if you don't want to that's... What did you say?" she looked at her sister shocked

"I said ok?" Prue smiled at Phoebe and the look on her face

"Wow. My big Sis is willing to have lunch with me."

"Ok Phoebe, enough. Can I meet you in say half an hour?" Prue suggested.

"Oh yeah, sure." Phoebe said still stunned that Prue had said yes, as she left the office.

-CO- -CO-CO-CO- -CO- -CO-CO-CO-

He had watched the new witches and he couldn't believe his luck. The foreseen Charmed Ones were going to walk right into his grasp. All he had to do was set the trap.

-CO- -CO-CO-CO- -CO- -CO-CO-CO-

She leaned against the pillar out front of the auction house. What would they talk about? Why had she proposed such a stupid idea in the first place? The two of them had nothing in common, except now their Wicca heritage.

"Hey." Prue called out to her sister as she approached her

"Hi."

"So. We going for lunch or we going to stand her all afternoon?" PRue said as she started down the street.

"Lunch. Lunch is good." Phoebe said as she followed her sister.

-CO- -CO-CO-CO-

They sat in the small café a few minutes away from Bucklands. Neither sister getting the start of a conversation.

"So you have another auction this weekend?" Phoebe finally asked.

"Yeah. A big estate from out of town."

"Cool." Phoebe said as she ate her salad

Prue looked up at her sister. Had she really grown that much since she left for NY? Had she really been that cruel to her? "Phoebe. I want to say I'm sorry."

Phoebe looked up at Prue confused, "For what?"

"The whole Roger thing. You were right. You're my sister and I should have believed you over him. I'm sorry." Prue placed her hand over Phoebes on the table.

"Oh Prue, I forgave you a long time ago, but you know there was nothing to forgive. I knew he was wrong."

"But you're my sister. I should have believed you." Prue insisted, trying to mend the broken bridge between her and her sister

"It's not like I've given you lots of reasons not too."

"So we're ok on that then?"

"On that. But Prue I think you and I have a long way to go." Phoebe said as her world suddenly went black and white.

Burning, fear. She could see the building burning down but she couldn't help. She was trapped. Then she saw him as he smiled back at her, evil written upon him.

Prue watched as her sister was pulled into a premonition. They may be new to the craft but that was something that Prue would always recognize. And as she usually did, she waited.

As Phoebe came out of her vision she gasped for breath.

"Phoebs you ok?" Prue asked with genuine concern.

'I don't know." she net her sisters eyes and could see the worry

"Take your time." Prue said as she tightened her grip on her sisters hand.

Phoebe waited a few minutes to get her composure. "I saw one of us getting burned alive." She said with hesitation as she looked at her big sister. "I couldn't tell who it was."