Arc I: Something Wicca This Way Came

Part One: "The Funeral"

"You have to calm down," Piper hissed into her cellphone phone as the hysterics rose in her sister's chest on the other line, "I just came home from work."

"Piper, she-"

"I know. I'm sorry to hear. We all loved Serena," Piper said while folding the cocktail apron she wore during her Saturday night shift at Quake. The stinging pain of the loss of her sister's college roommate ebbed with each word. "I have to go, Ph-."

"Piper, is that you?" The melodic voice of Prudence echoed through the Prescott Manor. "I'm working on the chandelier."

"I have to go but if you-" Piper said, sniffling a bit on the phone before the line went quiet. Click. The call was over. Taking in a deep inhale, Piper set her apron down on the wooden cabinet in the front hallway, where a vase of violets rested. Wiping her hands on her work pants, she turned a corner to find Prudence on a ladder.

"What's wrong, Piper?" Prudence asked, while continuing her work at the chandelier. With an all knowing glance, the eldest Halliwell sister cocked her head towards Piper.

"Nothing, nothing's wrong." Piper replied with a hushed voice. "I just need to wash my hands. Work was super hectic today. There was almost a fight at the bar. The bartender had to break it up. It's been a stressful day, for sure." Piper rounded the corner of the ladder and made her way into the kitchen.

"I know you better than that, Piper. Something's wrong, Switzerland." Prue's voice echoed just behind her while she continued to wash her hands at the kitchen sink.

Piper sighed gently, swiveling on the heel of her non-slip, chunky, black sneakers. "It's Serena."

Prudence's nostrils flared, "You mean, Phoebe." Her arms folded across her chest, hazel eyes scanning her sister's own mahogany hued visage. "I hope she isn't coming back here." The eldest sister said in a huff.

"She's not. It's Serena," the quiver in her voice caused Prudence to come closer, taking in her sister's grief. "She's dead."

"I should call, Andy." Prue said, pivoting on her tennis shoes as she made her way to her purse on the dining room table.

"What is Andy going to do, Prue? He's just a rookie." Piper called back to her sister, trailing behind her on the frantic chase to the eldest sister's purse.

"He might know something."

"Are you calling Andy because you want to call Andy or do you want to call him because of Serena?" Piper said, folding her arms across her chest while her sister ruffled through her purse. The keys to Buckland's were slammed onto the table while Prue continued to rifle through her belongings.

"I have no idea what that means, Piper." Prue said, ignoring her sister chirping behind her.

"You know what it means."

"We should at least go to the funeral to pay our respects."

"You can't. You have that auction thing at Buckland's." Prue was the creative director of Buckland's, an open-air art gallery just against the California coast.

"It's not an auction. We're just premiering work from an artist, who we've commissioned to work here for the summer to do art classes, sell some art." Prue replied with a shrug, turning her back away from her purse in mock indifference. "That reminds me, did you pick up the port that I asked you for."

Piper's hands immediately covered her face, her shoulders falling in deflation. "I totally forgot. I'll pick it up tomorrow."

"Piper, if I'm paying you to cater, then you can at least follow through." Prue said, pursing her lips into a tight line.

Piper's shoulders slumped in disappointment. "I know. I know. I'll pick some up tomorrow. I was thinking about going to the funeral."

"Maybe I should go."

"No, stay home and I'll work on grabbing the port from Young Lee market. I'll go to the funeral and then I'm coming right back home because I work the night shift tomorrow."

"Pissed that they haven't made you bartender, yet?"

"No. I mean, I asked Hannah for a promotion to bartend and she said I wasn't ready." Piper replied with a roll of the eyes.

"Such a b-"

"Biotch, I know." With a shrug. "Whatever. I'm going to get some rest. Have a good night, Prue. Love you."

"Love you too, Piper." Prudence called out to her sister in the midst of gathering her belongings from the top of the cabinet. Piper rounded the corner of the banister and began her slow saunter up the stairs.

"Busy day, tomorrow."

"Get some rest, Piper. You've been working too hard."

"I know. Night." Piper replied while continuing to make her way to her bedroom. Pulling out her cellphone from her pocket, she began to text her youngest sister. flashed on her screen. Groaning to herself, "Prue's going to hate this." Flopping onto her bed, she swallowed the swell of emotions forming at her throat before beginning to undress to get ready for bed.