Phoebe sat out on the steps as she had many mornings before over the years. But now it seemed different. The crime in the city had heightened over the years. She worried about her sisters living on their own with their guys. The world she lived in was nothing of the world she had dreams about. A place with less violence, less crime. Less evil as she like to call it.

Prue pulled against the curb and saw her baby sister sitting there with a cup of coffee in her hand.

"Hey you. I thought I told you not to start drinking that stuff." Prue laughed as she sat down on the steps with her baby sister.
"Yeah well blame it on Piper. She got me to try my first taste. I think she was hoping I would cringe away from the taste." Phoebe laughed "So what brings you by on this spring day. I thought you were off to work?"
"I am. But I came by to see you. You seemed kinda down lately." Prue looked at her sister eyeing her for a reaction.
"Yeah I have been a downer lately haven't I?"
"Wanna talk about I?" Prue asked as she looked over at her sister.

Phoebe took a drink of her coffee not really sure where to begin. "Its hard do explain, because I don't really even know myself. But I'll tell you what." She reached over and took Prue's hand in hers. "As soon as I figure it out. I'll let you and Piper know, ok?"

Prue took in her sisters' face to her eyes. "Ok. But sweetie I am always here for you. I always have you know that right?"
"Like always." Phoebe reached over and hugged her sister as she got up and walked into the Manor leaving Phoebe on the steps to herself one more time.

"This is ridiculous. They will never receive their power as long as the Mother and Grandmother are alive."
"All is being taken care of. "
"Care of. The water demon was to take care of their mother years ago and he failed. He lurks in his own waters waiting for innocents as the witches vanquish our fellow demons."
"Not all demons are lost. The side of good is fighting for control. As long as the witches have no idea of their power we are winning the battle. "
"Then why not just kill them. Why have me and countless others suffer?" Jeremy's words were spoken of fear and the unknown.
"It is his plan. To let the Wicca world know, that the Charmed Ones are but a fable. They can not save them because they do not exist."
"So what we just sit here and wait?" his words bit into all of them.

Silence filled the small room. "We kill as many innocents as needed to make them show their hand."

They all knew what he meant. Sooner or later they would have to unbind the powers of the Charmed One to save the innocents that were being killed. Innocents that were normally saved by the Charmed Ones.

He disappeared leaving his bosses to sort things out.

"We have been gaining the advantage for the last couple of years now. I would think the witches would have unbound their powers by now."
"Maybe there is something that is holding them back. But for now we are winning the battles. I say we continue to our plan."

Patty sat starring at her coffee thinking of many years before, when her girls were just children. Everything changed in that one instance. She never even told her Mother what she had seen when she was pregnant with Phoebe. Even now it seemed like a lifetime ago. She often thought if she was the cause for the darkness that was dwelling around them everyday. But she knew she had made the right choice.

"Hi Mum."

Patty looked up and was met with a hug and kiss from her baby girl. "Hi sweetie. Late class today?"
"No I slept in. I won't get there in time but I will for my next one"
"And I am very proud of you. Are you working tonight."
"No I switched with a friend. I need to study tonight if I am going to pass that final on Friday." Phoebe reached for her coffee cup and filled it with her favourite drink of the morning.

Patty laughed as she watched Phoebe take the first morning swig of fuel. "You're just like Prue. She couldn't get a day started with out her coffee."
Phoebe laughed. "Trust me she still can't." she came and sat next to her mother, "So you think she will stay here now that her and Andy are getting married. Or will she be taking off on some assignment that drags her somewhere around the world."
"Phoebe you know how much being a photographer has means to Prue. Let her follow her dreams. She'll stay home eventually. You'll see." Patty reached over and gave her youngest a kiss. "I have to go. I'll see you tonight for dinner?"
"I will be here. Have a good day Mum."

--- ----

"Phoebe!"
"In my room!" Phoebe ran her hand over her face trying to fight off the weariness that was trying to envelop her.
"Hey you, I was looking for you at lunch." Piper came over and sat on her sisters' bed. "You looked wiped Phoebs. What's up?"
"I am just trying to get everything in my head for my finals. Sorry I completely forgot about lunch. Was Prue mad?"
"No she actually figured that you forgot because of your exams. You gotta take care of yourself Phoebs."
"I know. Besides you forget who you are talking to." She laughed at her sisters' comment. "So if I looks wiped you looked bummed. What's wrong?"
"Oh just this guy I know in Chinatown. He helps me sometimes find certain spices and things for the restaurant."
"And this is bad why? Don't tell me Jeremy is jealous of him?"
"No. Its not that we were suppose to meet in Chinatown after I had lunch with you and Prue and he didn't show."
"Maybe he forgot too sweetie."
"No that's not it. I stopped by his restaurant and no one has seen him in days."
"So what, do you think something happen to him?" Phoebe put her pen down and really looked at Piper.
"I don't know but after the murder there last week of that gangster guy I'm a little worried."

Phoebe got up and sat next to Piper on her bed and draped her arm over her shoulder. "Honey I am sure he's fine."
"Ok well that isn't all."
"What more dead people in Chinatown?" Phoebe raised her eyebrow at her big sister.

Piper swatted at her arm, "No. One of the waitresses at work. Turned up murdered last night."
"What? Oh my god. Who?"
"Skye."
"Oh god Piper, I am so sorry. That is why you wanted lunch with Prue and I isn't it?"
"Yeah I was pretty upset when Andy came by this morning and told me."

Phoebe pulled her sister into a loving hug.

"Ok I have to get back to the restaurant before anything else happens today. You home for dinner or you got rounds tonight?"
"Nope as I told Mum I will be home. Hey maybe we should invite Prue and Andy over. I mean it's been what four, five months since we all sat down together."
"Yeah well with your school and work, my restaurant and Prue photographing the world, since Christmas our lives have been nuts. I'll call her, you study." Piper gave Phoebe a quick kiss before leaving.

--- ----

Prue walked into the Manor and placed her camera gear just inside the door.

"Anyone home?" she made her way through the dining room and into the kitchen. "Hey Piper. Where's Mum?"
"Running late with Grams as usual. Where's Andy?"
"He just got paged as we were pulling up. Phoebe?"
"Probably up in her room still studying." Piper tossed in a handful of spices before checking on the food in the oven.
"Ok, I'm gonna go up and see her before she gets paged too."
"She said she was off tonight."
"Yeah well we both know that girl doesn't know how to turn her pager off any more then she can take a night off." Prue said with a smile making her way back towards the stairs

Piper laughed as she watched Prue exit the kitchen. "She gets it from her big sister." Piper called out after her almost seeing Prue waving her comment off at her.

Prue knocked on her sisters' door as she slowly pushed it open and popped her head in, "Phoebs?" Getting no answer she made her way to the bed seeing her sister lying there with a medical book across her chest.

"Look at you. My baby sister the doctor." Prue ran her hand over Phoebes forehead and brushed back a stray piece of hair before gently lifting the book from her grasp.
"Hi Prue." Phoebe spoke though not opening her eyes.
"Hey. How did you know it was me?"

Phoebe opened up her eyes and pushed herself up on her bed. "Piper can't stand to even look in those books let alone take one from me."
"Yeah well, she always was squeamish at the sight of blood."
"Yeah, explain that to me again. She can't stand blood yet she is one of the most prominent chefs and restaurateurs in San Francisco. I mean she can butcher chicken and beef, and anything else raw but she doesn't like blood."
"Can't help you there. So your almost done your year. What you got planned for the summer?"
"Prue you know even though my classes are done I am still 'at school' I have my patience and work. Hell I'll be lucky to get a break by 2010."
"Yeah well don't forget to still have some fun. I miss that about you sometimes."
"You didn't when we were in high school."
"Yeah well you were young. Besides Mum always got you back on the right path. I wasn't worried."

The quick intervals of a soft beep broke the mode that was set.

"I knew I should have bet Piper."
"Yeah." Phoebe laughed almost hearing the conversation that had taken place downstairs. "I have to go."
"Phoebe. What?"
"Tell Piper to save me some."

Prue watched as her sister ran from the room and could hear her footsteps descending down the stairs. Closing her eyes and sighing she got up and started down stairs.

"Well Pipe I guess its you and me..." She said as she walked into the kitchen to be greeted by emptiness and a note.

Prue something came up at the restaurant I had to go. Dinner is in the oven all ready. Sorry. Maybe next time. Love you Piper.

"Great." She said to no one as she placed the note down.