Phoebe felt the warm arms wrap around her as she woke up the next morning and she knew who it was. After everything that had happened she still couldn't believe that she was lucky enough to find love twice.
"Morning."
She rolled over and looked deep into his loving eyes. "How did I get lucky enough to find you in my life for a third time."
"Well to use an old cliché 'Thirds times the Charmed,'" he laughed as he pulled her closer to him. Their lips meeting for another passionate kiss.
"Hmmm I like that." She spoke softly as she looked down into his eyes.
"I thought you might." He laughed as he flipped her down on the bed taking in her face he smiled, "Phoebe, I love you. I always have."
Phoebe just smiled at him. Was it too soon? She didn't want it to be yet her feelings for Clay had always been there. It just somehow now felt different. She pulled him to her as they found each other again in love.
--- ---- --- ----
Piper stirred the batter as she felt Leo's arms wrap around her from behind. His sweet kisses along her neck were making it hard for her to concentrate on what she was doing.
"Ok you keep that up and we're going to have some unhappy people in this house."
"After last night I doubt it. Prue and Bane disappeared pretty fast last night, not to mention Phoebe and Clay." He laughed as he continued his trail of kisses.
"Yeah well mister, we weren't that far behind either of them." Piper laughed as she turned in his embrace letting her lips meet his.
Prue and Bane walked in at that moment, "Ok EW. Go back to your room if you're going to do that." She laughed at her sister.
Piper looked over Leo's shoulder and glared at her big sister, "You're one to talk missy. You two sure made a fast disappearing act last night." Piper smiled over at Prue, her meaning not getting past the oldest.
Prue had no reply back as she felt Bane's arms wrap around her waist. "Whatever it is, it smells great Piper." He said as they moved as one further into the kitchen.
"Hmm just give me the coffee." Prue laughed as Piper slid her sisters' mug into her hand. "Leaded anyone?" she laughed as Prue smacked her hand.
Breakfast was almost over as the four of them sat around the table.
"I guess we better keep some of this warm for Phoebe and Clay." Piper suggested as she started to clear off the table.
"Ok those two were right behind us last night. Do I even want know?" Prue looked up at Piper, getting her answer in her sisters' face, "Yeah, didn't think so."
"You guys talking about us?" Phoebe walked into the kitchen with Clay's hand in hers as she moved and sat on Prue's lap.
"Hi you." Prue looked up at her baby sister and recognized all the signs on her face.
Phoebe didn't say a word she just smiled at her big sister.
--- ---- --- ----
Prue leaned against Bane as they sat in the living room later that day. Piper and Leo had gone down to the club, and Phoebe and Clay had gone out for a walk.
"Do you really have to leave?" she looked down at thier hands as she entwined her fingers through his.
"I think I should. For awhile anyway. Try and find my dream again." He said as he placed a kiss on the top of her head. "You made me see a long time ago to reach for it. So I think I will. I just need to start fresh somewhere else first. Find what I was looking for all these years. Though finding you back in my heart again isn't making this any easier."
"So where you gonna go?" she knew she had to let him go, even though it was hard,
"I'm going to go back to NYC with Clay. He says he knows a few people and that they might be able to help me out. Who knows, the two of us might make a good team."
"I see."
Bane looked down at her face and gently brushed a way a tear, "I'll be back Prue. I promise." He cupped her face into his hand and leaned down to kissed her.
--- ---- --- ----
Clay pushed Phoebe gently on the swing, their conversation becoming much the same as Prue's and Bane's.
"So Cole?"
"He's gone. I don't want him back in my life. I know he helped us yesterday, but that doesn't change what he did."
"Killing that witch?"
"He didn't even try Clay." She explained, "Can we change the subject please. I don't really want to spend today talking about Cole."
Clay grabbed at her waist as the swing came back towards him. Her small screech was stopped as he pulled her around and kissed her. "I love you Phoebe."
"But you are still leaving again." Her hand resting on his face. "I don't want you to go." her words were soft and quiet.
"I'll be back. I always seem to find a path that leads to your door."
"Hmm that you do Clay. And I am glad." She pulled him down drawing him into another kiss.
--- ---- --- ----
Piper looked over at Leo as he unloaded another box of beer into the cooler.
"So what do you think will happen now?" she asked him not really sure herself what was going to happen.
"With what?" he looked up confused.
"My sisters and their guys. Keep up Leo." She laughed at the look on his face.
"Well if they're happy." he started
"I know. I should be happy for them. It is just. Those two come and go from their lives about as much as demons come into them. I don't want to see them get hurt."
Leo stood up and made his way across the bar, taking her hands in his. "You'll be there for them." he said as he leaned in and kissed her. Yet as soon as he felt the passion he sahred he pulled back and looked up, "I gotta go. I'll see you tonight."
"Love you." She kissed him across the bar as he disappeared. "I hate when he does that."
--- ---- --- ----
The ride to the airport started out with chatter and laughter, but as they drew closer it became quieter. Prue felt Bane's hand covering hers on the gearshift, as Phoebe just snuggled against Clay in the back.
They wandered around the airport before the two had to walk through security. Phoebe wiped away a tear on her face, as she felt Prue's arms around her waist. Drawing her near, to give them both the comfort they needed.
"What do you say you and I stop for ice cream down at the beach?" Prue suggested as she wiped away her own tears.
"Sure." Was the only reply Prue got from her baby sister. Too many times they had watched the men from their hearts disappear.
"Ok. Come on." Prue turned with her sister still in her arm, as they made their way to the parking lot.
Phoebe leaned her head against the glass and looked out to the waves rolling into the shore. Prue looked over and reached down and took her sisters hand into hers.
Phoebe turned her head slightly and met her sisters' brief gaze as they made their way along the windy road. "PRUE LOOK OUT!" Phoebe yelled out as she saw the car heading straight at them.
Prue saw him right before Phoebe had screamed out and swerved to miss him. The Jeep gripped the soft shoulder before hitting the guard-rail.
Everything slowed down as if her life was flashing before her eyes. She felt the Jeep pull as it gripped the soft dirt, she heard it make contact with the wooden rail, but it wasn't enough. She felt herself falling as the side of the road and the rail gave out. Sending the Jeep over the edge rolling towards the bottom.
--- ---- --- -----
The shrill of the phone broke Piper from her thoughts on her sisters. She knew that Bane and Clay where leaving later today and she knew that they would both need some support from her.
"Dinner. Their favourites." She said to no one. "P3, Piper speaking." as she answered the phone
She listened to the voice she knew all to well at the other end. She felt her legs grow weak as Darryl told her about the accident.
"They are on their way now to Bay General Piper." He said as he watched the ambulance pull away from the road. He didn't even hear her say anything. Just the sound of the phone being dropped. Hanging up his own phone he got in his car and followed after the ambulance.
--- ----
Piper ran into the hospital and rushed over to the ER. She felt a hand grip her arm and spun around to see Darryl face.
"Come on." He wanted to break right then, but he had to stay strong for a little bit longer.
Piper stopped in her steps as she looked into the ER. Her one sister was on the bed cradling the other. The tears a non-stop stream of pain. The blood on both of them was almost more then she could take, but the words she heard broke everything in her body.
"No no no no. Come back to me baby you can't leave me." More tears shed as she held her sister close to her heart. "Don't you leave me damn it! Come back."
Piper looked as her normally strong confident older sister broke down holding on to Phoebe. She felt her knees buckle as she slide to the floor, as realization came to her. Her baby sister was dead.