FOUR
"That's quite a story," said Phoebe, after Prue had finished
explaining what had happened. "It's been some years since we . . .
since I had any contact with the supernatural. Without you, the
demons seemed to consider us less of a threat. No Power of Three."
"The Power of Three was always the greatest threat," said Prue.
"Without all three of us, the demons had no need to worry about it."
"I haven't even had a premonition in years," said Phoebe. "I
guess with no reason to use it, I just sort of lost it."
"You still have it," said Prue. "It's part of who you are."
"Maybe," said Phoebe. "All I know is I don't get premonitions
anymore."
"I noticed you don't have a wedding ring on," said Prue.
"Oh, I did at one time," said Phoebe. "In fact, I've had three
different ones. Things just never seemed to work out, though. Guess
I'm following in grams' footsteps."
"No kids?" asked Prue.
"No," said Phoebe. "There just never seemed to be the right
time for them. In some ways, I'm glad. I've never had to worry about
them having to face demons or warlocks like we used to."
"Phoebe," said Prue hesitantly, "what about Piper? Darryl
didn't know anything about her. He doesn't even know if she's alive
or dead."
"Oh, she's alive," said Phoebe. "I see her from time to time.
But it's probably not a good idea for you to see her."
"Why not?" asked Prue.
"Prue, she hates you," said Phoebe. "She feels that you
abandoned us, just like dad did. We knew you were still alive because
we still had our powers. But she thinks that, after that argument,
you just left. She wants nothing to do with you."
"I have to see her," said Prue. "I have to explain what
happened. That I didn't walk out like she thinks I did."
"It won't do any good," said Phoebe. "Piper's had it even
rougher than I have. She's been divorced four times. And she has a
seventeen-year-old daughter named Heather. Heather thinks we're a bit
crazy when we talk about the Charmed Ones and fighting demons and
all."
"So, she has no powers?" asked Prue.
"No," said Phoebe. "And no interest in the Craft at all. But
then, neither did we at that age."
"That's because grams bound our powers," said Prue. "But I
still have to see Piper. Try to explain to her what happened."
"Do you remember how you reacted when dad came back into our
lives the first time?" asked Phoebe.
"Yes," said Prue.
"That was kind compared to how Piper talks about you," said
Phoebe. "When she talks about you at all. It's usually a forbidden
subject."
"I know how she must feel," said Prue. "But I have to at least
try. Phoebe, you have to take me to her."
Phoebe thought for a minute. They were both her sisters and she
loved them dearly. She knew it wouldn't do any good, but if there was
even the slightest chance they could work things out, she had to take
that chance.
"Come on," said Phoebe finally. "I know where she works. She
usually works the night shift and it won't be very crowded this time
of night."
As they drove in silence to where Piper worked, Prue couldn't
help but wonder at the turn of events. Evidently, Phoebe had never
finished college. While her life seemed content and peaceful, it was
far from what Prue had imagined for Phoebe.
Pipers' work place turned out to be one of those chain
restaurants. The kind that had places in most major cities and served
assembly line type meals. The kind that Piper had always detested as
a professional chef.
Now, she was working as a cook in this place. A place she
wouldn't' have set foot in when she was younger. And a cook, not a
chef. It must be totally embarrassing for her.
Prue waited outside while Phoebe went in to get Piper. If there
was going to be a scene, neither of them wanted to get Piper in
trouble over Prue being there. After a few minutes, Phoebe came
outside with Piper in tow.
"What's so important that you have to drag me away from . . .?"
Piper was protesting as they came out the door.
Piper saw Prue and just stopped. She stared at Prue long and
hard.
Older, grayer, and a little heavier, Prue had no trouble
recognizing Piper. The years had not been kind to Piper. She
reminded Prue of the matrons she had seen in old prison movies. As
hard and as unforgiving as the stone the prisons were constructed
from.
"You've got some nerve," Piper spat out vehemently.
"Piper, please," pleaded Prue, "just give me a chance to
explain."
"Explain what?" Piper shot back. "How you abandoned us just
like dad did? How you just walked out on us without a word, without
even an explanation?"
"It wasn't like that," protested Prue.
"I'm sure you believe that," returned Piper. "After nearly
thirty years I'm sure you've convinced yourself it was necessary."
"Piper, I think you should listen to her," said Phoebe.
"Like hell I will," said Piper. "If you want to listen to her,
that's your choice. To me, she's just a backstabbing bitch who runs
out on her family when things get rough."
"Piper, please, you're my sister," pleaded Prue. "Just give me
five minutes to tell you what really happened."
"I only have one sister," said Piper. "My older sister died
twenty-eight years ago. I have nothing to say to you and whatever you
have to say if of no interest to me."
Piper turned to go back inside the building.
"Piper, please," pleaded Prue, on the verge of tears.
"You're dead to me,' said Piper without turning. "Don't ever
come back here. You're not welcome in my life anymore."
Piper went back into the building without saying another word or
without waiting for a response. Prue could do nothing but watch as
Piper walked away. She couldn't think of anything to say to her
sister.
She knew that Piper had always had a temper. But this was
unlike even her. The hatred and bitterness was undisguised in her
voice. The Piper that Prue had known and loved was gone. This Piper
was a complete stranger to her.
"That's quite a story," said Phoebe, after Prue had finished
explaining what had happened. "It's been some years since we . . .
since I had any contact with the supernatural. Without you, the
demons seemed to consider us less of a threat. No Power of Three."
"The Power of Three was always the greatest threat," said Prue.
"Without all three of us, the demons had no need to worry about it."
"I haven't even had a premonition in years," said Phoebe. "I
guess with no reason to use it, I just sort of lost it."
"You still have it," said Prue. "It's part of who you are."
"Maybe," said Phoebe. "All I know is I don't get premonitions
anymore."
"I noticed you don't have a wedding ring on," said Prue.
"Oh, I did at one time," said Phoebe. "In fact, I've had three
different ones. Things just never seemed to work out, though. Guess
I'm following in grams' footsteps."
"No kids?" asked Prue.
"No," said Phoebe. "There just never seemed to be the right
time for them. In some ways, I'm glad. I've never had to worry about
them having to face demons or warlocks like we used to."
"Phoebe," said Prue hesitantly, "what about Piper? Darryl
didn't know anything about her. He doesn't even know if she's alive
or dead."
"Oh, she's alive," said Phoebe. "I see her from time to time.
But it's probably not a good idea for you to see her."
"Why not?" asked Prue.
"Prue, she hates you," said Phoebe. "She feels that you
abandoned us, just like dad did. We knew you were still alive because
we still had our powers. But she thinks that, after that argument,
you just left. She wants nothing to do with you."
"I have to see her," said Prue. "I have to explain what
happened. That I didn't walk out like she thinks I did."
"It won't do any good," said Phoebe. "Piper's had it even
rougher than I have. She's been divorced four times. And she has a
seventeen-year-old daughter named Heather. Heather thinks we're a bit
crazy when we talk about the Charmed Ones and fighting demons and
all."
"So, she has no powers?" asked Prue.
"No," said Phoebe. "And no interest in the Craft at all. But
then, neither did we at that age."
"That's because grams bound our powers," said Prue. "But I
still have to see Piper. Try to explain to her what happened."
"Do you remember how you reacted when dad came back into our
lives the first time?" asked Phoebe.
"Yes," said Prue.
"That was kind compared to how Piper talks about you," said
Phoebe. "When she talks about you at all. It's usually a forbidden
subject."
"I know how she must feel," said Prue. "But I have to at least
try. Phoebe, you have to take me to her."
Phoebe thought for a minute. They were both her sisters and she
loved them dearly. She knew it wouldn't do any good, but if there was
even the slightest chance they could work things out, she had to take
that chance.
"Come on," said Phoebe finally. "I know where she works. She
usually works the night shift and it won't be very crowded this time
of night."
As they drove in silence to where Piper worked, Prue couldn't
help but wonder at the turn of events. Evidently, Phoebe had never
finished college. While her life seemed content and peaceful, it was
far from what Prue had imagined for Phoebe.
Pipers' work place turned out to be one of those chain
restaurants. The kind that had places in most major cities and served
assembly line type meals. The kind that Piper had always detested as
a professional chef.
Now, she was working as a cook in this place. A place she
wouldn't' have set foot in when she was younger. And a cook, not a
chef. It must be totally embarrassing for her.
Prue waited outside while Phoebe went in to get Piper. If there
was going to be a scene, neither of them wanted to get Piper in
trouble over Prue being there. After a few minutes, Phoebe came
outside with Piper in tow.
"What's so important that you have to drag me away from . . .?"
Piper was protesting as they came out the door.
Piper saw Prue and just stopped. She stared at Prue long and
hard.
Older, grayer, and a little heavier, Prue had no trouble
recognizing Piper. The years had not been kind to Piper. She
reminded Prue of the matrons she had seen in old prison movies. As
hard and as unforgiving as the stone the prisons were constructed
from.
"You've got some nerve," Piper spat out vehemently.
"Piper, please," pleaded Prue, "just give me a chance to
explain."
"Explain what?" Piper shot back. "How you abandoned us just
like dad did? How you just walked out on us without a word, without
even an explanation?"
"It wasn't like that," protested Prue.
"I'm sure you believe that," returned Piper. "After nearly
thirty years I'm sure you've convinced yourself it was necessary."
"Piper, I think you should listen to her," said Phoebe.
"Like hell I will," said Piper. "If you want to listen to her,
that's your choice. To me, she's just a backstabbing bitch who runs
out on her family when things get rough."
"Piper, please, you're my sister," pleaded Prue. "Just give me
five minutes to tell you what really happened."
"I only have one sister," said Piper. "My older sister died
twenty-eight years ago. I have nothing to say to you and whatever you
have to say if of no interest to me."
Piper turned to go back inside the building.
"Piper, please," pleaded Prue, on the verge of tears.
"You're dead to me,' said Piper without turning. "Don't ever
come back here. You're not welcome in my life anymore."
Piper went back into the building without saying another word or
without waiting for a response. Prue could do nothing but watch as
Piper walked away. She couldn't think of anything to say to her
sister.
She knew that Piper had always had a temper. But this was
unlike even her. The hatred and bitterness was undisguised in her
voice. The Piper that Prue had known and loved was gone. This Piper
was a complete stranger to her.