Consider this my St Paddys day gift to you all... even though I posted a St Paddy's day fic hehe.. Cheers

Piper leaned against the tree watching as the kids played in the park. She recalled many days with Prue and Phoebe in the park when they were younger. Phoebe pushing everything to the limit as best she could. Swinging the swing to high, sliding down the really big slide, running through the trees. Then she recalled her and Prue chasing after her. There were the times that Prue and her would come out and just sit on the swings and talk until all hours. Getting in way past their curfew and having Grams freak out on them. She knew now though why Penny had acted that way. They were destined for the greater good. And with their powers bound they were easy targets for demons and warlocks.

She wasn't even sure now what she needed to do. Her heart told her one thing, her mind told her another. But the one thing she had ever learned over the years was to follow your heart. But this time she wasn't sure if it was right.

He watched her from the distance. He knew what she was thinking. He made his way softly and sat down beside her. Neither one saying a word. Until he spoke breaking the silence. "You know what you have to do."

"I know. But it's hard. I enjoy both. How can I decide?"

"No one can answer that for you Piper. You need to answer that on your own. But I think when the right times comes, you will know." He leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her check before standing up and disappearing in a bask of golden orbs.

Piper stayed where she was. She knew what Leo was telling her in his and their own cryptic message. But she still didn't know. They had taken everything from her. Leo to her, was everything. But then there was her own mother; she had died fighting evil taking her from her three girls.

"It's a hard decision once you start to really think about it isn't it Piper?"

Piper looked up and saw her robes hanging off her softly.

She watched as she sat down next to her. "Sorry about Ronim. He was a good person at one point."

"Yeah well we all still have our other lives that we live. His was demonic and no matter how hard I try to break away from it, I am a Charmed One. Even though I want something simpler."

"Everyone gets what they desire Piper. It is just how and when you get it. You are here now, away from Prue and Phoebe. What is you want?"

She thought for a minute before even letting her thoughts voice out. "I want to be free of the demands of the elders. The demands of a life I never asked for."

She placed he hand on Pipers shoulder. "Then you know what you need to do."

--- ---- --- ----

Leo orbed into the Manor and cast his eyes quickly around. He has news for them and needed to tell them fast. "Prue!"

"Leo."

Leo spun around not expecting his call to be answered so fast. "Hey. I need your help."

"Yours as in me, or the power of three?"

"The power of what ever you have. I know Piper is fighting something right now. But I have another charge that is in over her head. I need the Charmed Ones to help her."

"Ok, Piper is not here and Phoebe is dead with the flu."

"I need at least two of you Prue." Leo pleaded.

Prue could see the despair in his face and quickly made the decision. She may not be 100 percent but at least she was still on the side of good and willing to fight the good fight. "We will be down in less then ten minutes." Prue shot back, as she ran up the stairs to Phoebes room.

"Phoebe you sure you're ok "

"I don't have a choice Prue. Lets just get this over with so I can go back to bed." Phoebe leaned her head against Prues shoulder as they made their way down to the car and to the place that Leo had specified for them.

Prue looked over at Phoebe. Her pale features against the car window did not pass her by. The faster they could deal with this the faster they could get Phoebe home to bed where she belonged.

"Were here Phoebs. Come on and let's get this over with." Prue acknowledged as she got from the car and made her way towards the alley. She could feel Phoebes presence near her as she looked around.

"Where is he or her Prue?" Phoebe asked her own alert on full. she was looking for Leo's charge as well as anything or anyone else thta may be there

Prue looked around though seeing nothing.

"Need some help?"

They both turned quickly to the sound of the voice. Though coming face to face with the demon they were looking for.

Prue stepped protectively yet instinctively in front of Phoebe.

"Always the one to protect weren't you Prue. But can you protect two at once?" He held his hand to his left revealing to them the sister they thought they had lost.

"Piper?" Prue stepped forward to her sister.

"Ahah, not yet Prudence. She needs to decide what her heart and mind think. Which way to turn. But I'm not going to let her get that far."

Phoebe saw the innocent coming around the corner, the one they were meant to protect.

"Prue."

"I see Phoebs." Prue responded as she held the demon's gaze.

He turned to Piper. "This isn't really what you want is it? To continually fight demons and Warlocks." He played on what he knew her fears and wants were.

Prue and Phoebe stood protectively around the alley but they were weary of Piper. Her action could be the death of all of them.

Piper looked at Prue as she stood before the innocent. "I'm sorry Prue. I just can't anymore." She locked eyes with her sister before turning and starting back the other way. But as their Grams said to them years ago, everything happens for a reason and in that one instant Piper understood everything.

He cast an eye between the oldest and the middle child. "Your choice Piper. But I will get what I came for." He suddenly tossed his arm out sending an energy burst at the innocent stepping into the alley. But what Piper saw she was not expecting. As she watched her younger sister leap forward and toss herself into the flying energy ball.

Piper hesitated for that split second as the demon used his powers but when she saw the ball heading towards her sister she felt her insides churn as she reached inside herself and froze the ball seconds before it struck Phoebe.

--- ---- --- ----

The fire crackled in the fireplace, as the three sisters sat curled up against the other, yet not to close to the youngest.

"I can't even express how sorry I am to you two." Piper broke the silence

"Don't worry about it Piper. We all go through those times." Prue said as she gave Pipers hand a gentle squeeze. letting her know in her own way she too had gone down that road.

"But you two never actually did it."

"No, but we wanted to." Phoebe cast her eyes over to her sister.

Piper looked up at Phoebe on the couch and saw an undying love in her eyes. No matter what happened, her sisters would love her. But for now she was willing to take her roll in life as all the Warren witches had before her.

--- ---- --- ----

She lay on the bed, later the next morning, beside her sleeping sister. She ran her hand over the top of her head, "I almost cost you your life. And for that I am sorry. I love you and will always be there for you. No more rouge, I want away from them." Piper ran her hand over Phoebes head as she bent down and kissed her softly on the cheek. Her sisters had been the breaking point for her. A demon had come for one of them and she had thought she didn't need to fight them, one of her sisters was in danger, leaving her no choice. A choice she knew that she would have to make time and time again.

"It was in your heart the whole time Piper. You were never meant to be one of us." the voice came from teh dark

"But I felt it."

"You felt the confusion which can be mistaken as the need and want of one of us. But you have your own destiny to follow. The Charmed Ones are meant for great things and as much as I want and need your power you are meant for that. Take care of yourself and your sisters until we meet again." with that she was gone.

Phoebe looked up at her sister and studied her face. "I love you Piper."

Piper looked back down on her sister, "Love you too honey. Now get some rest."

Piper watched for what seemed like hours as Phoebe slept. All it took was an energy ball heading for her sister as Piper realized that who she was and it wasn't buried that deep inside, but on the surface. Protect thy sister no matter what. The sacrifice of a sister was all she needed to realize where she belonged. Home with her sisters until next time.

Prue leaned against the doorway watching the both of them. She smiled to herself as Piper pulled her arms around Phoebe. They were all whole again till the next time that a demon or other being tried to separate them. But even against differences, the power of sisters would forever over power the power of evil.

Phoebe snuggled against Piper as she felt her sister wrap her arms around her. A love that no demon or evil would ever break.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed my story. Not sure what I'll post next.. but keep an eye out you never know what will appear...

Di