3. Denial

Love is a hard word to define. Some say it's a feeling of bliss – that you are on top of the world and no one can beat you. Some say love is just a word in disguise for heartbreak and pain. I say love is…actually I don't know how I feel…maybe that's what's called denial?

--

By the time I had taken my shower, gotten dress and walked out into the apartment Piper had already gotten breakfast started. Just like every other day – not that I complained.

I sat down at the kitchen table and let my head land in my palms as I looked up at my sister who was doing something to something that smelled like eggs.

"Did you have fun last night?" she asked and placed a cup of juice before me and backed it up with a plate of eggs and toast.

"Yeah" I took some of the juice and played around with the eggs for a while. "What about you? How was work?"

"Good" she answered with a smile. But the smile soon faded as she sat down opposite me. "And uhm…Phoebe called."

"Oh" I didn't know what to say. We hadn't seen either of our sisters in so long now.

"She wanted to know if we came to dinner" Piper said and I swear I almost choked on my toast. Maybe I shouldn't eat when people talk.

"Okay and when is this fabulous dinner taking place?" I asked and made a mental note to be busy that day.

"Tonight" the second the word came out of her mouth my heart dropped.

"Tonight…but…no" I shook my head. "No way!"

"Look Prue, I know you don't want to go back but it's our sisters" Piper pleaded.

"No" I rose and grabbed my coat. "There is no way in hell I'm going!" with that I stormed out of the house…

--

Four hours later there I was. On a freaking plane to go home. Sometimes I hated how my sister had that effect one me, to just look at me or say something and I cave. I really need to strengthen myself against her.

Beside me Piper was lying on two seats sleeping. She had a blanket wrapped around her and didn't even seem to be bothered by the turbulence. I on the other had been thrown from side to side slightly in my chair and I couldn't help but feel as if the plan would go down and crash every time we hit an air pocket.

Outside the window all I could see were clouds and blue sky. I let my forehead lean against the side of the cold glass and I closed my eyes, slowly drifting to sleep.

"It's only three years" my voice was cracking and I could feel the tears coming.

"A lot can happen in that time" he answered.

Wasn't he supposed to be the optimistic one? The one to always make me feel safe in my decisions?

"I'll be back…" I said, tears streaming down my face… "I promise."

"Prue!" I woke up by Piper shaking me. "We have to get off" she said and dragged me to my feet so fast I almost knocked my head in the sealing.

"Right" I grabbed my purse and my jacket and followed her out of the plane with the dream clearly in mind…

--

"Here we are" Piper said and led the way up the steps towards the big pink Victorian manor.

I just remained at the street watching it, the house seemed to much bigger then I remembered.

"Are you coming?" Piper asked forms her position by the front door.

"Sure" I walked up the steps with my bag in my hand.

I wonder how long I would come if I turned around and ran down the street. Probably not very long once grams found out.

I reached the door just as it flung open to reveal Phoebe. She looked so different from last time I had seen her, she was now 17. Okay she had been 17 last time I saw her too which was last Christmas but still.

"Hey" she flung her arms around us both and hugged us so tight I was beginning to gasp for air.

"How are you Pheebs?" I asked when she finally stepped back and let us inside.

"Great" she smiled. "I met this guy…" she started to go on and for some reason I didn't listen.

I wasn't mean it was just I mean it was Phoebe, she loved to talk. I was happy to see her so happy though, I don't think I ever had.

"I'll go say hi to grams" I said and Phoebe took Piper into the living room to tell her about this guy I guessed.

I found Paige, my baby sister in the dining room setting out plates.

"Hey Paigey" she looked up and smiled weakly.

"Hey."

"So what's up in your life?" I leaned over the table and watched her. She was so different, no longer the baby girl I was used to. She was more quiet and distanced.

"You know, school and stuff" she said with a shrug.

"Okay" I sensed I wouldn't get anything else out of her so I continued into the kitchen.

I found grams standing over the stove with a spoon in her hand and an apron on. The site looked so normal and it made me feel right at home again.

"Need any help?" I asked and she looked.

"Hey darling" she showed for me to join her which I did. "God you've grown" she said and gave me a hug.

"You saw me just a few months ago" I replied with a laugh.

"Still" she said and went back to her food. "Hand me the salt will you?"

"Sure" I gave the salt before I sat down at the island, watching her.

"Are you stuck?" she looked up at me.

"What?"

"Are you stuck? Because otherwise you should help Paige set the table" she smiled and I dragged myself up. Maybe I shouldn't have had that last tequila…or the last five to be more precise.

I walked out and into the dining room. Paige was almost done and I started placing out the glasses. It was only when I reached the last place I started getting a bad feeling. I looked around the table to be sure.

"Why are there 6 plates?"

"We get another guest" Paige said and placed her last fork by the last plate.

Before I had time to ask the doorbell rang. I heard Phoebe running for the door – all which made me feel worse. I knew what was to come but how could I?

Yet time seemed to stand still as he walked into the dining room…the dark hair was as nice as ever but longer then I remembered. His blue eyes met mine and my heart did a double take.

"Andy…" I whispered before my legs gave up on me and everything wet black…

--

Denial is good – denial keeps all the feeling stuffed away. Denial keeps you from feeling and you can go on living. But not even denial works forever…