"Mommy, what's wrong?" asked a very concerned looking little Chris, startling his mother.

Quickly wiping the tears off of her face, Piper turned to her younger son and replied, "Oh baby, don't look so worried. Mommy's just a little sad right now, but I'll be alright in just a minute. But, what about you? Would you like a glass of juice?"

Chris hesitated a moment before shaking his head, "No thanks Mom. But can I go watch TV?"

Upon receiving a nod of approval from his mother, Chris raced out of the room, but not before embracing Piper in an affectionate hug. "I love you baby," she whispered as she watched him leave the room.

Finding herself alone once again, Piper turned her thoughts towards that afternoon's events. Seeing Phoebe for the first time in nearly four years had been overwhelming, to say the least. She had missed her baby sister so much, and today, part of her just wanted to reach out and hold her in her arms, to talk with her, to cry with her. Watching Phoebe with Wyatt had been especially emotional, but Chris had quickly shattered that moment by reminding her of what Phoebe had done. She had abandoned them. Abandoned her family, abandoned the power of three. No matter how much she longed to welcome her sister back home, Piper couldn't. She could never forgive Phoebe for leaving them.

Piper suddenly felt a hand rest upon her shoulder, quickly snapping her back into reality.

"Piper is everything ok?" questioned the hand's voice.

"Leo, Phoebe was here," Piper croaked, turning into her husband's arms, tears rushing from her eyes.

Leo stood in the kitchen holding his wife, stroking her hair, unable to say a word. It had been a long time since they had done this. Since they had held each other, since they had allowed each other to see their emotions. Ever since Phoebe had left, their relationship had begun deteriorating. Piper felt responsible for her younger sister, and was unable to forgive herself for driving her away. She had instead submerged herself in her work and in her children, pretending as if Phoebe had never existed. If only she knew the real reason why Phoebe had left, maybe she would finally stop blaming herself.

Feeling her sobs beginning to subside, Leo took in a deep breath and carefully questioned, "So, did you talk with her?"

Piper glanced up at her husband and pulled away from his embrace. "No," she responded curtly while wiping her eyes. "I made her leave."

"You made her leave? You didn't even give her a chance?" Leo asked, confused.

"She doesn't deserve a chance," Piper hissed. "Maybe you've forgotten what she's done, but I sure as hell haven't. She left us Leo. She left us short of a sister, short of a charmed one. We've had demons on our ass non stop since she left and we haven't been able to a thing about them. Why? Because we didn't have her. We didn't have the power of three. My children have been unable to have a normal childhood – hell; we practically live at Magic School because the manor is so unsafe. And now you, of all people, expect me to welcome her home with open arms? I'm sorry, but I just can't do that. She's been dead to me since the day she left us."

"Piper, I'm not asking you to forgive her," Leo began hesitantly. "But I am asking you to let her explain herself--"

"No Leo," Piper interrupted. "I will not let her explain herself! Why are you on her side anyway? She abandoned you too! She left us all."

"Piper I'm not on her side!" Leo started, anxious to have his wife see where he was coming from. "I just think that there must be some reason why she's back! Maybe she's back to help you - to help us, or to explain why she's been gone for so long. I mean, she wouldn't just disappear for nearly four years without a good reason!"

"I know very well why she disappeared," Piper responded, her voice filled with anger. "She was sick of all of the demons, of all of the fighting. She was sick of having to lie to people... she was sick of being a witch. Now she's gone and experienced the normal life that I've always dreamed of having. It is for this very reason why I can never forgive her."

"Piper--" Leo started, but he was unable to continue.

Piper had frozen him, and just before leaving the room she muttered, "I've had quite enough of Phoebe for one day, Leo."

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