A/N: As you might have already guessed, not that last chapter was not the last one. This one is! Or is it...? Thanks for the reviews!
Chapter Seven: A Welcome Return. Well, Mostly Welcome.
Piper hummed along to the tune in her head as she pulled the tray out of the oven. It had been ages since she'd cooked anything, and she was worried she was beginning to lose her touch. Of course, she now had plenty of time to practise what with being 'mortal' again.
It felt so weird, not having to worry about being attacked at all hours of the day. But she was still remorseful that she wouldn't really get to do any innocent saving. Still, she had to admit the rest was great! She'd really needed a break. Though not a permanent one...
The tray of muffins clattered to the floor in her shock when she turned around and saw someone.
Prue. And she was standing opposite her.
She wasn't a ghost either.
"Damn, I wanted one of those," Prue said, looking down at the wasted muffins then smirking at the shocked look on her sister's face. "Come on girl, if you go any whiter you'll look like that new sister of yours!"
The oven gloves on Piper's hands flopped to the floor too. Prue rolled her eyes. It was taking a while for Piper to say something. To occupy herself, Prue grabbed one of the muffins from the previous batches and broke a piece off. "Mmm, this is good," she struggled to say, her mouth full.
Piper continued to gape at Prue. It was getting a little annoying now.
"Piper, talk to me!" Prue said. "Hello? It's me - Prue. Your dead sister. Here. You don't have anything you wanna say?"
Her hand clutching at her chest, Piper found her tongue. "Prue? Is that... really you?" Tears were tracking down her cheeks, leaving glistening trails on her face.
Prue nodded, suddenly feeling the tenderness of the situation spreading over her. "Yeah," she whispered, "it is."
Piper still didn't react. She stood and stared. Prue didn't know what to do! Her sister was probably having an embolism or something, and she was just standing there! However, it would be a good opportunity to use her healing powers...
She wondered where Phoebe was, and decided to take a look - using her location powers of course! Cautiously, Prue took several steps to Piper's side and took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. Then she felt Piper return the action, gripping on to her hand tightly.
Sniffing, Prue twisted her body and wrapped her arms around Piper's shoulders. Finally, after all her begging to The Elders to visit her sisters, they were together again. She pressed her lips together to suppress the tears when she felt Piper's arms curl around her back, returning the embrace.
Smiling tearfully over Piper's shoulder, Prue orbed them both out.
*
In Phoebe's bedroom, Phoebe and Paige were looking at the now useless Book of Shadows. The aged and yellow pages were now full of... nothing. The entire Book was blank. It was a sad thing to look at now, for only nine days before it had possessed so much knowledge, so much power. And now it was simply another object.
They both yelped at Piper's sudden arrival. Piper stumbled out of the orb before it had fully formed, showing Paige and Phoebe that there was someone else too. The tiny blue orbs arranged themselves not into Leo, who they expected, but into Prue.
Phoebe's jaw fell open.
Prue composed herself. She still wasn't brilliant at the whole orbing thing, but she was learning fast. She stared at them all, Phoebe and Paige sitting on Phoebe's bed, gaping at her. Piper standing a few feet away, also watching.
"Hey," she whispered. She felt her eyes well up. It'd been a good few months since she'd last seen her sisters, and it seemed like it had been even longer now she was with them again.
Phoebe was the first to let her emotion overcome her. "Prue," she uttered, and leapt off the bed, enveloping her big sister in a huge hug. Then the tears came. Phoebe had thought she was over the tears - recent events hadn't given her enough time to give it much thought. Sure she frequently cast her mind back to when Prue was alive, when they were...
"Hey honey," Prue was saying to her, her voice high and trembling. "I missed you."
At hearing these words, Piper melted. "Oh, god," she cried, and joined in on the hug. The three of them felt an electric shiver travel through them.
But Paige actually saw it.
She sat on the bed, watching, trying not to let her jealousy become apparent to them. But she couldn't help lodging a firm dislike for her 'dear' sister Prue. It was obvious who Piper and Phoebe loved more. Paige felt anger beginning to build up inside her. How dare she just return like this? She could muck everything up!
As soon as she'd taken that idiot's life, Paige knew the Charmed Ones were destined for great things. Evil. Prue could not get in the way of it all.
Paige's faced changed. What was she thinking? The Charmed Ones were not destined for evil - they weren't destined for anything! They were the past, gone, dead. The Charmed Ones were no more.
Prue broke the hug first, and all of their faces were red and tear-streaked. She had felt a shiver travelling through her body from the embrace she had shared with her sisters. She didn't know what it meant, but she sure as hell hoped it was good.
There was a pause, then Prue's eyes rested on the youngest Halliwell sister. Phoebe saw this, and decided to do the introduction.
"This is Paige," Phoebe said, smiling warmly at her younger sister. "She's been doing great-"
"Has she?" Prue said coldly, her voice spiteful. As much love as she felt at that moment, it couldn't quell the feeling she got when she looked at Paige. "She killed someone." 'She destroyed the Charmed Ones,' she added in her head. Were some things best not said aloud?
Paige lowered her eyes. But she knew she was faking shame, and regret - it seemed this was the only way for the future to happen - to pretend she cared. Really she was glad. She almost relished the memory of feeling his heart try to squeeze it's way out of his body. How did none of the others see that the Charmed Ones were meant to be different? Paige wasn't even sure how she knew this, but somehow the idea was planted firmly in her mind. She shook herself mentally, shocked once again at the strange thoughts embedded in her head.
Phoebe sighed. "We're working around it. On the bright side, she's not evil!"
"It's not like she could be," Prue said sadly.
Piper had to change the subject off their newfound helplessness. She grinned, forcedly. "So you were orbing - are you a whitelighter?"
Prue's reaction made them forget the unhappiness. "It's amazing," she told them, "It's the most fulfilling and... amazing thing I've ever done. I can heal people!" she was almost crying with joy! "I mean, it's weird not having my old powers anymore, but... listen. I don't want you guys to worry about me anymore - I'm happy."
"Wow," Phoebe said, "Can we be one- three of your charges? Please?"
Prue laughed. "And where would Leo go?"
"Hey," Piper scolded playfully, "I'm sorry, but Leo stays."
"Well we could have two whitelighters - I mean there is three of us. We need the protection." Phoebe said, half seriously.
Then they all remembered - they weren't witches anymore. They didn't need whitelighters, they had no reason to be protected. A heavy silence came over the room.
"You did the right thing," Prue said softly.
"I just..." Piper choked out, "Just, why couldn't we have become normal three months ago - when you were here? Things would've been so different..."
Prue placed a reassuring hand on Piper's shoulder. "But they're not. Things happen for a reason Piper... maybe Paige isn't supposed to go through the same things we did."
Paige, who was still sitting awkwardly on the bed glared at Prue loathingly. But Prue didn't see it.
"You'll get through it," Prue told them, "You two have done amazing things in your lives. And now, maybe... maybe this is fate's way of giving you a break."
"Why now?" Phoebe asked.
Prue smiled wanly at her. "I'm being called," she said. "I'll come back to check up on you guys - I promise. And I swear you'll get through this. You may not have powers, but you have each other." She looked at Paige. "Welcome to the family Paige," she said, "You're gonna get the best part of being a Halliwell - hanging out with these guys."
She took several steps back. "Goodbye. I love you." Then she orbed out.
The three who remained watched the place where Prue had stood. Sobbing, Piper sank into Phoebe's arms. Phoebe hugged her back warmly. Prue had actually made her feel joy for the first time since she left them. The Charmed Ones might have been gone, but it pleased Phoebe so much to know that at least Prue was still helping people. Perhaps Prue was what was left of The Charmed Ones - carrying on their duties when the living ones couldn't. She'd always been the strongest one.
"Where's my hug?" said Paige from behind them. Piper glanced up at her youngest sister, and knew she was glad Paige had decided to stick around. She wanted to find out about her heritage and ancestors - who she really was. Although she was still Paige Matthews, she was really Paige Halliwell. Part of what had been the strongest family in the world. At least she had the honour of being part of it for a while, anyway.
And besides, it didn't take magical powers to get to know a sister.
The End
By the way, it's not really the end. There is a lot, lot, lot more to come.
... Oh I crack myself up.
Chapter Seven: A Welcome Return. Well, Mostly Welcome.
Piper hummed along to the tune in her head as she pulled the tray out of the oven. It had been ages since she'd cooked anything, and she was worried she was beginning to lose her touch. Of course, she now had plenty of time to practise what with being 'mortal' again.
It felt so weird, not having to worry about being attacked at all hours of the day. But she was still remorseful that she wouldn't really get to do any innocent saving. Still, she had to admit the rest was great! She'd really needed a break. Though not a permanent one...
The tray of muffins clattered to the floor in her shock when she turned around and saw someone.
Prue. And she was standing opposite her.
She wasn't a ghost either.
"Damn, I wanted one of those," Prue said, looking down at the wasted muffins then smirking at the shocked look on her sister's face. "Come on girl, if you go any whiter you'll look like that new sister of yours!"
The oven gloves on Piper's hands flopped to the floor too. Prue rolled her eyes. It was taking a while for Piper to say something. To occupy herself, Prue grabbed one of the muffins from the previous batches and broke a piece off. "Mmm, this is good," she struggled to say, her mouth full.
Piper continued to gape at Prue. It was getting a little annoying now.
"Piper, talk to me!" Prue said. "Hello? It's me - Prue. Your dead sister. Here. You don't have anything you wanna say?"
Her hand clutching at her chest, Piper found her tongue. "Prue? Is that... really you?" Tears were tracking down her cheeks, leaving glistening trails on her face.
Prue nodded, suddenly feeling the tenderness of the situation spreading over her. "Yeah," she whispered, "it is."
Piper still didn't react. She stood and stared. Prue didn't know what to do! Her sister was probably having an embolism or something, and she was just standing there! However, it would be a good opportunity to use her healing powers...
She wondered where Phoebe was, and decided to take a look - using her location powers of course! Cautiously, Prue took several steps to Piper's side and took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. Then she felt Piper return the action, gripping on to her hand tightly.
Sniffing, Prue twisted her body and wrapped her arms around Piper's shoulders. Finally, after all her begging to The Elders to visit her sisters, they were together again. She pressed her lips together to suppress the tears when she felt Piper's arms curl around her back, returning the embrace.
Smiling tearfully over Piper's shoulder, Prue orbed them both out.
*
In Phoebe's bedroom, Phoebe and Paige were looking at the now useless Book of Shadows. The aged and yellow pages were now full of... nothing. The entire Book was blank. It was a sad thing to look at now, for only nine days before it had possessed so much knowledge, so much power. And now it was simply another object.
They both yelped at Piper's sudden arrival. Piper stumbled out of the orb before it had fully formed, showing Paige and Phoebe that there was someone else too. The tiny blue orbs arranged themselves not into Leo, who they expected, but into Prue.
Phoebe's jaw fell open.
Prue composed herself. She still wasn't brilliant at the whole orbing thing, but she was learning fast. She stared at them all, Phoebe and Paige sitting on Phoebe's bed, gaping at her. Piper standing a few feet away, also watching.
"Hey," she whispered. She felt her eyes well up. It'd been a good few months since she'd last seen her sisters, and it seemed like it had been even longer now she was with them again.
Phoebe was the first to let her emotion overcome her. "Prue," she uttered, and leapt off the bed, enveloping her big sister in a huge hug. Then the tears came. Phoebe had thought she was over the tears - recent events hadn't given her enough time to give it much thought. Sure she frequently cast her mind back to when Prue was alive, when they were...
"Hey honey," Prue was saying to her, her voice high and trembling. "I missed you."
At hearing these words, Piper melted. "Oh, god," she cried, and joined in on the hug. The three of them felt an electric shiver travel through them.
But Paige actually saw it.
She sat on the bed, watching, trying not to let her jealousy become apparent to them. But she couldn't help lodging a firm dislike for her 'dear' sister Prue. It was obvious who Piper and Phoebe loved more. Paige felt anger beginning to build up inside her. How dare she just return like this? She could muck everything up!
As soon as she'd taken that idiot's life, Paige knew the Charmed Ones were destined for great things. Evil. Prue could not get in the way of it all.
Paige's faced changed. What was she thinking? The Charmed Ones were not destined for evil - they weren't destined for anything! They were the past, gone, dead. The Charmed Ones were no more.
Prue broke the hug first, and all of their faces were red and tear-streaked. She had felt a shiver travelling through her body from the embrace she had shared with her sisters. She didn't know what it meant, but she sure as hell hoped it was good.
There was a pause, then Prue's eyes rested on the youngest Halliwell sister. Phoebe saw this, and decided to do the introduction.
"This is Paige," Phoebe said, smiling warmly at her younger sister. "She's been doing great-"
"Has she?" Prue said coldly, her voice spiteful. As much love as she felt at that moment, it couldn't quell the feeling she got when she looked at Paige. "She killed someone." 'She destroyed the Charmed Ones,' she added in her head. Were some things best not said aloud?
Paige lowered her eyes. But she knew she was faking shame, and regret - it seemed this was the only way for the future to happen - to pretend she cared. Really she was glad. She almost relished the memory of feeling his heart try to squeeze it's way out of his body. How did none of the others see that the Charmed Ones were meant to be different? Paige wasn't even sure how she knew this, but somehow the idea was planted firmly in her mind. She shook herself mentally, shocked once again at the strange thoughts embedded in her head.
Phoebe sighed. "We're working around it. On the bright side, she's not evil!"
"It's not like she could be," Prue said sadly.
Piper had to change the subject off their newfound helplessness. She grinned, forcedly. "So you were orbing - are you a whitelighter?"
Prue's reaction made them forget the unhappiness. "It's amazing," she told them, "It's the most fulfilling and... amazing thing I've ever done. I can heal people!" she was almost crying with joy! "I mean, it's weird not having my old powers anymore, but... listen. I don't want you guys to worry about me anymore - I'm happy."
"Wow," Phoebe said, "Can we be one- three of your charges? Please?"
Prue laughed. "And where would Leo go?"
"Hey," Piper scolded playfully, "I'm sorry, but Leo stays."
"Well we could have two whitelighters - I mean there is three of us. We need the protection." Phoebe said, half seriously.
Then they all remembered - they weren't witches anymore. They didn't need whitelighters, they had no reason to be protected. A heavy silence came over the room.
"You did the right thing," Prue said softly.
"I just..." Piper choked out, "Just, why couldn't we have become normal three months ago - when you were here? Things would've been so different..."
Prue placed a reassuring hand on Piper's shoulder. "But they're not. Things happen for a reason Piper... maybe Paige isn't supposed to go through the same things we did."
Paige, who was still sitting awkwardly on the bed glared at Prue loathingly. But Prue didn't see it.
"You'll get through it," Prue told them, "You two have done amazing things in your lives. And now, maybe... maybe this is fate's way of giving you a break."
"Why now?" Phoebe asked.
Prue smiled wanly at her. "I'm being called," she said. "I'll come back to check up on you guys - I promise. And I swear you'll get through this. You may not have powers, but you have each other." She looked at Paige. "Welcome to the family Paige," she said, "You're gonna get the best part of being a Halliwell - hanging out with these guys."
She took several steps back. "Goodbye. I love you." Then she orbed out.
The three who remained watched the place where Prue had stood. Sobbing, Piper sank into Phoebe's arms. Phoebe hugged her back warmly. Prue had actually made her feel joy for the first time since she left them. The Charmed Ones might have been gone, but it pleased Phoebe so much to know that at least Prue was still helping people. Perhaps Prue was what was left of The Charmed Ones - carrying on their duties when the living ones couldn't. She'd always been the strongest one.
"Where's my hug?" said Paige from behind them. Piper glanced up at her youngest sister, and knew she was glad Paige had decided to stick around. She wanted to find out about her heritage and ancestors - who she really was. Although she was still Paige Matthews, she was really Paige Halliwell. Part of what had been the strongest family in the world. At least she had the honour of being part of it for a while, anyway.
And besides, it didn't take magical powers to get to know a sister.
The End
By the way, it's not really the end. There is a lot, lot, lot more to come.
... Oh I crack myself up.