Christmas Morning 1997

Piper made her way through the kitchen and spotted Prue on the couch, "You're up earlier then usual."

"Was awake."

"I see." Piper sat next to her oldest sister on the couch. "You seem lost."

"Just thinking. Remember when we were little and Grams took us to Tahoe for Christmas?"

"Yes. I can still see the look on Phoebes face on that sleigh ride."

"I can remember her smile on the toboggan. And getting off before we stopped."

"And running back up the hill before us." Piper finished

"What happened Piper?" Prue asked quietly

Piper had a feeling she knew what her sister was thinking. "We grew. Changed." She placed her arm around Prue's shoulder and drew her towards her. "But our bond will never break Prue, nor our love. You know that as much as I do."

"I know. I just miss those days." She cast her gaze towards the fire, "I miss Mum."

"Me too."

Piper snuggled closer to Prue as they both looked back over the years and waited for Grams and Phoebe. Piper had a feeling she knew there was more then Prue just missing Mum. "You should go get her."

"And say what?"

"Nothing. Just like every Christmas you would go and get her from her room. I can vaguely remember our last Christmas with Mum. You went and got her and brought her to our room. We had to try and keep her quiet from laughing so hard."

"And in the end she still woke up Mum."

And Dad." Piper added.

Prue shifted under Pipers weight. "I'm losing her Piper."

"No you aren't Prue. You two are just too much alike." Piper explained. "Go and just talk to her Prue. Like you used to when she was three on the sleigh ride."

--- ----

Phoebe rolled over in her bed and looked out her window. She could see the sun shining through her curtain. "Merry Christmas Mum."

She knew her family was waiting for her downstairs, but she just wanted some time alone. Christmas to her was always sad for as long as she could remember, and this year was no different. She missed her Mother, and to top it off Prue and her had gotten into an argument once again the night before.

She looked back on the fight and how now it seemed so minor so stupid. But it had been like that for some time now.

"Maybe we need a break from each other for a while." She spoke to no one, but she wanted to speak to her Mother. "Why is it so hard for us Mum?" she brushed back a tear that was escaping down her face.

--- ----

Prue stood outside the door that led to her sisters' room. She knew what happened last night was stupid, but she just seemed to be living on a short string with Phoebe of late. Knocking gently on the door she opened it up and walked in.

Making her way across the room, she sat up on the bed and pulled in behind Phoebe, wrapping her arms around her. "Merry Christmas baby."

Phoebe held on to Prue's arms, "Merry Christmas Prue."

"I am so sorry about last night."

"Its Christmas Prue, it never happened." Phoebe rolled over and looked at her sisters blue eyes for a momeny, "You ever think of Mum at Christmas?"

Prue held own gaze to Phoebes as her heart broke off another piece, as she thought of another Christmas without their Mother, "Every year."

"I don't remember Christmas with her." She paused a moment as she broke the gaze they held. "Or Dad."

Prue knew that Phoebe might have missed their mother more then any of them. And this time of year she was a little more fragile. "Is that what started last night?" she gently asked her sister, "Missing them."

"Yeah. I'm the one that is sorry Prue. I know you miss Mum too, and I know you want nothing to do with Dad. It's just. This time of year I get sad." she felt another tear start down her face

"Me too sweetie." Prue reached up and wiped her thumb across her sisters' cheek, wipping away a part of the saddness, "But right now you have Piper and Grams and me. None of us are going anywhere any time soon."

Phoebe closed her eyes and tightened her hold on Prue. "I love you Prue."

"Me too sweetie. Now what say we go down stairs and see what Santa left us?"

"Deal." Phoebe got up and pulled Prue after her.

---

Piper looked up when she heard her sisters walk in the living room. "Hey you two. Grams and I were about to start without you." Piper saw her sisters and could tell Phoebe had been crying and Prue looked not that far from it.

"Yeah well we are here now. Lets get at this." Phoebe said as she sat on the floor leaning against the couch with Prue in behind her.

Phoebe pulled back from the table, "Piper you are amazing. I am soo stuffed."

"Yeah like a turkey." Prue laughed, "Where do you put all that food Phoebe?"

"Hollow leg sis. You know that."

"And she'll be jogging it off tomorrow morning too." Grams added in as her granddaughters laughed and talked after dinner.

"Not if she has any more wine she won't be." Piper put in as she took her own glass and started for the living room

Prue picked up the bottle of wine and topped up Grams, Phoebes and her own glass. "And if you are crazy enough to still go. Don't call me." She smiled putting the bottle back in the bucket and joining Piper.

Phoebe twirled the glass between her fingers watching the golden liquid swirl around inside the glass.

"Grams?"

"Yes dear."

Phoebe looked up at her Grams, "Mum is here with us, right?"

Penny stood up and walked around the table and wrapped her arms around Phoebe from behind, resting her chin on her grand-daughters shoulder. "She is with us every year at Christmas darling, and through the year."

"That's what Prue said too."

"Well then Prudence is right."

"She usually is." Phoebe said quietly.

"Phoebe its ok to miss her. We all do. And I know its hard for you ever year. But I am also betting that Prue told you that we are all her and we aren't going anywhere. I plan to live well into the new Millennium." She moved around and looked at Phoebe pulling her to her feet, "Now lets go join your sisters."

Prue walked quietly through the old Manor as she made her way to Pipers room.

"Where have you been?" Piper asked as she sat up looking at her sister.

"Getting the book. Come on." Prue pulled Piper from her bed.

Together the older Halliwell sisters walked into Phoebe room. "Need me to read you to sleep baby?" Prue bounced on Phoebe's bed

"Oh, Prue get off."

"Nope come on, story time." Prue pulled her sister towards her as she opened up the old book. Its cover getting worn from the years it had been read. But it was a tradition their parents started and one they had continued to do, even now, as young adults.

---

Piper smiled as Prue closed the book. "What?"

"Phoebe."

Prue looked down at her sister. "Gets her every year doesn't it?"

"It does." Prue placed a kiss on her sister forehead, "Merry Christmas Phoebs."