I just wanted to say, thank you once again for your reviews.....I didn't intend to update this soon, but I couldn't sleep last night [ my Cole muse wouldn't shut up about me writing him in eventually] so I decided what the hell ;)



To the person who asked about the Cole and Phoebe relationship....yes, they were together....I mentioned in a previous chapter (I think; ) about when Phoebe died, Cole lost the love of his life....so they were indeed together. I never liked the fluctuating relationship that Cole and Prue had on the show [ one minute they're civil, the next she's bangin' on at him about being evil ], so in my stories, I try to improve it :)

To Barb, although it doesn't happen in this chapter, I am setting up events to bring them all together....but it's my master plan to leave you all hanging for as long as possible ;)

And to Maggie....thank you for the quote....I do find it fitting :)

Now for a little rambling..... I was reading through what I'd writen so far the other day, and I couldn't help but wonder about something.....I don't know how long they would mourn for their sister like that....I know on the show is not a proper time frame, but it didn't last for that many episodes. But I have three sisters myself.....and I have no idea what I would do if I lost one, so I believe that they would still be this affected after a year.

Lastly, I hope you all enjoy....



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~~~

"Say cheese!"

Phoebe smiled, looking directly at the camera.

"How about *cheesy?*"

Prue hit the button, blinding Phoebe slightly for a moment with the flash. "Very funny. You know, just 'cause you're the birthday girl, doesn't mean you get the right to make bad jokes."

"Excuse me, bad?"

"Hey," Piper intervened, half believing that she might actually have to separate them for real.

"Sorry, mom," Prue and Phoebe chorused, before giving each other a startled look. But instead of making the two uncomfortable as it once would have, they merely smiled at one another.

Piper had to suppress her own smile as she watched the display, glad that the two had managed to find common ground since Phoebe's return from New York, and their subsequent discovery of their Wiccan heritage.

"I think," Phoebe grinned, "that it's time for cake.......how about you, Prue?"

~~~

"Prue?"

With a start, Prue came back to the present. "Huh?"

"I said, how about you head home early, Prue?"

Prue shook her head, giving her friend a distracted smile. "Darla, I'm fine -- "

"No Prue. You're not," she contradicted, tucking her blond hair behind her ear. "You've been somewhere else all day.......you should take the rest of the day off, you might be coming down with something."

Prue took a breath, intending to decline, but let it out in a sigh. "You now what......I think you're right. I will head home.....thanks, Darla."

"That's okay. Take care."

Prue smiled, gathering up her gear and heading wearily to her car. And as she drove home, she wondered how long it would be before the memories of Phoebe and the times they all shared would stop intruding on her day to day life.....and when they would stop hurting so much.



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"The nerve of some people," Prue muttered, slamming the door behind her. "If you don't know how to drive, then you shouldn't be on the road."

She was still cursing the driver of the car that had cut her up, when Piper came home.

"Hey, sweetie."

Prue grunted, not taking her eyes from the magazine she was reading.

Piper pursed her lips. "Okay.....did Prue have a bad day?"

Her elder sister slammed the magazine down on her lap. "Yeah, I mean this guy, just.....cut me up, right in the middle of traffic.......he could have killed someone."

Piper nodded. "Okay. Well, there's nothing you can do now.......just try to let it go, okay?"

Prue sighed. "You're right. But sometimes......"

"You wonder if the idiots in the world are really worth us risking our lives for?"

"Yeah."

Piper went to sit on the couch next to her sister, wrapping an arm around her. "I've wondered the same thing......many times. Usually when I have an obnoxious customer or......the drinks don't turn up on time. But it's just a random thought.....I know that you take your......duty, for lack of a better word, or destiny, far too seriously to ever consider giving up."

"I wanted to," Prue whispered. "When they took Phoebe away from us."

Piper tightened her grip. "They didn't take her away from us......evil did. And that's why we kick their asses."

"Yeah," Prue agreed with a small smile. "Hey," she realised. "Where's Leo?"

"Oh, Leo was called 'up there.' So, I came home alone."

As if called by the mention of his name, Leo orbed in.

"Hey honey," Piper smiled.

"Hi....I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

Prue shook her head. "Just a little griping at the world.....but it's okay. What's up?"

Leo came to sit on the couch opposite them. "Well, one of the charges I guide was attacked by a demon this morning."

"Is she alright?" Prue asked.

"He, actually, and yes.....he managed to repel the demon long enough to make his escape."

"He, huh?" Piper said, looking at Prue. "It's nice to know that the bad asses of the underworld don't discriminate."

"Yeah," Prue answered. "So?"

"So, the Elders want you to protect him......this young man is part of an important and powerful prophecy.....its imperative that he be allowed to fulfil his destiny."

"Alright," Prue sighed. "Where and when do we find this guy?"

"Well, he knows you're coming.....he's waiting at a safe house.......or a hotel, as it's sometimes known."

"What's the demon's name?" Piper inquired.

"John identified him as Estad."

"John?" Prue said.

"Yes, my charges name. We'll make the introductions later, but right now someone needs to check the Book."

"Yes sir," Prue muttered sarcastically, shooting Piper a contrite look at the elbow she received.

"I'll go brew a vanquishing potion in case it's needed, Prue, you check the Book."

"Sure," she agreed.

After she'd left, Piper sighed, turning and exiting the living room with Leo following.

When she got to the kitchen, she immediately started rummaging through the cupboards for the right ingredients.

"What was all that about?" Leo finally asked.

Piper sighed, pausing for a moment. "It was....Prue just had a bad day. I was....commisorating. I know what it's like to get the feeling that you're not appreciated, or that the work you're doing just isn't worth the hassle......I've been there."

She started lining up some jars on the counter, her motions more forceful than necessary. Leo watched for a moment, before walking over and wrapping his arms around her from behind.

She gave up, leaning back against him with another sigh. "I think.....I think this whole thing with Cole is getting to her as well. Before....before Phoebe died, she was starting to change her attitude to Cole. She felt.....like maybe there was something good there. But then....we lost Phoebe, and he just disappeared. I know that he had lost the love of his life, but we lost our sister! He could have really helped around here, if what he said was true......that he wanted to be good, he could have helped.

But he just left. And as much as I understand that, I just get a little angry when I think of it. Then, I feel like it's wrong, or I should stay quiet about it....."

"Its normal, Piper. What you're feeling, *and* what Prue is feeling. So you don't have to feel like you can't express your emotions."

She turned in his arms, hugging him. "Thanks. You always seem to know just what to say."

He smiled. "I wouldn't say always......"

She echoed his smile. "It's just with Phoebe's birthday coming up...."

"I know. Don't worry.....we'll all get through it together."

Piper stayed in his embrace for a moment longer before leaning back her head to look into his face.

"As nice as this is, I think I have to start with this potion if we ever want to get it done."

Leo nodded, giving Piper one last squeeze before he stepped back.



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