Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed, unfortunately. I do not presume to, I simply use the characters that I love in my own stories. It's harmless fun.
AN: Massive case of writer's block. I have no idea where this story is going, I'm hoping my imagination will kick in soon...Wish me luck!
Missy-Paige: Thanks sis, glad you like it so far. Love ya
Charmed Princess: Woo, you're still reading. Yay! Love ya
Starring Piper: Thanks twin, I can't wait to see what happens either. Lol. *megahugz* PTTT
lmcheese: Thanks for your review. your support is greatly appreciated.
Prue3: Glad you are satisfied. hope you continue to read!
CharmingTess: You aren't an idiot. Happy to oblige you. Finally...
Enchanting Charmed: Why, thank you. I'm really sorry Race to Rescue confused you!
Rea: Aw, thanks! Your compliments mean a lot to me, as do your reviews. I'm glad you like the new story, and I'm glad you're still reading!
Piper cried openly as the last few chords faded away into silence. The song worked to ease a little of her pain, but she could not allow it to do more. Grieving Prue was her duty. She had to hold on and feel the agony of loss continuously in order to honor her sister properly. That was what her conscience told her even as her weary spirit screamed for release. Her heart ached and strained against the confinement of pain. Letting go of the sister who had spent a lifetime protecting and caring for Piper and Phoebe was not easy, nor was it something that felt right to her.
Phoebe tightened her embrace while Piper sobbed. She was having a hard time deciding whether she had made Piper's situation better or worse. The soft, shuddering sounds Piper was making caused Phoebe's throat to constrict painfully. If she could only soothe her older sister, she would do nearly anything. It wasn't as though she wasn't hurting, but it made everything so much more painful to watch Piper go through these phases of intense anguish. Besides, she was keeping herself under tight control. She longed for the chance to loose the reins she had on her emotions, yet she knew she could not do so until Piper could handle the weight of the burden which Phoebe carried. She had spent her entire life being the care-free youngest Halliwell. Now, she was not only shoved into the role of middle child, but she was playing oldest sister too.
Piper shrugged Phoebe's arms off of her and rolled out of her bed. She needed to walk. Phoebe's eyes followed her as she pulled on a pair of jeans and a light blue shirt. Without an explanation, she hurried from her room and down the stairs, socks and a pair of tennis shoes in hand. Phoebe trailed after her silently. When Piper sat down in the living room to put on her shoes, Phoebe sat down next to her.
"Piper, where are you going?," she asked quietly. Piper glanced at her, but didn't respond. Sighing, Phoebe stared at her sister, fully expecting an answer. Piper tired of the scrutiny and stopped in the middle of tying her shoe to look up at Phoebe.
"I am going for a walk," she said in a monotone.
"Want me to come with you?," Phoebe offered. Piper shook her head and pulled her shoe laces tight. Once finished, she practically leaped off the couch and made a dash for the front door. It wasn't until she had pulled the big wooden door closed did she slow her pace. She needed to get away from Phoebe and her smothering concern. Even more, she knew if she didn't leave the oppressive memories of her older sister that lurked throughout the Manor behind for a while her sanity would snap. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that her departure had more than likely wounded Phoebe, who had been increasingly worrisome towards Piper. Guilt wormed its way into the storm of emotions already riding on her. Sighing, she began briskly walking down the sidewalk, turning left when she reached the junction.
It was a humid day and her hair felt heavy on her neck. The sun beat down on her back with a steady warmth. She glanced around, checking out her surroundings. The neighborhood seemed quieter than usual. No one was out watering their grass or weeding their gardens. A cat was lazily sprawled under a bush next to the house she was passing, and Piper found herself wishing she could be that content. Just as suddenly as it had washed over her, the desire to walk fled from her. Piper turned on her heel with a sigh and began the short journey back to the Manor.
Phoebe heard the door open and shut from her spot in the kitchen. She resisted the urge to charge at Piper and demand answers, but only because she had no idea what questions she wanted answers to. She heard heavy footsteps on the stairs and felt a twinge of anger. Piper didn't even have the decency to tell her she was back. Quickly, she forced her frustration back down.
A crash and a small scream had Phoebe sprinting for the stairs. In her mind, she saw a hundred different scenes. Piper, laying dead on the floor... She quickened her pace and was now at a dead run. The stairs took a grand total of three seconds to climb and she turned to fly down the hall towards Piper's room. She halted in front of the door, her heart beating rapidly in her chest and a sickening sense of dread building in her stomach. Before she could lose her nerve, she flung open the door and stepped inside, fully prepared to do battle if necessary.
Piper whirled around to face Phoebe, fury darkening her expression. Phoebe looked around the room and caught a glimpse of what had caused the noise. A picture frame lay broken on the floor, the glass shattered into tiny pieces. Piper let rage take over and she picked up the lamp on her bedside table. Angrily, she jerked the cord from the wall outlet and heaved the object across the room.
"Piper," Phoebe protested loudly, cautiously walking towards her sister. Piper continued to throw anything she could get her hands on, but the fury refused to ease. Finally, Phoebe reached her and gently extricated the glass figurine from Piper's fingers.
"Look at me," she demanded forcefully. Piper raised wild eyes to meet hers. "I know you are hurting. I know it because I am, too, but you can't keep doing this to yourself." She waited for some sign that Piper was listening. Gradually, Piper began to relax and tears surfaced to replace the rage.
"How can we go on living without her?," Piper asked quietly, "I don't think I can." Phoebe wrapped her arms around Piper, cradling the back of her head in one hand.
"Yes, you can. You have to," she whispered past the lump in her throat, "For me."
She could hold on no longer. The tears she had repressed for days began pouring from her eyes in rivers. Her sobs shook her body so violently that Piper pulled away and searched her face.
The pain in Phoebe's expression did what nothing else could do. The film of grief that had covered her so closely lifted slightly and she moved to comfort her younger sister. Phoebe knew that her role as "oldest" sister was finally over and wept harder, finally letting go completely. Piper gently led Phoebe to her bed and sat her down. Sitting down beside her, she smoothed back the hair plastered to Phoebe's face and held her.
"How could she leave us?," Phoebe asked brokenly. Piper had no answer. She was wondering the same thing.
AN: Massive case of writer's block. I have no idea where this story is going, I'm hoping my imagination will kick in soon...Wish me luck!
Missy-Paige: Thanks sis, glad you like it so far. Love ya
Charmed Princess: Woo, you're still reading. Yay! Love ya
Starring Piper: Thanks twin, I can't wait to see what happens either. Lol. *megahugz* PTTT
lmcheese: Thanks for your review. your support is greatly appreciated.
Prue3: Glad you are satisfied. hope you continue to read!
CharmingTess: You aren't an idiot. Happy to oblige you. Finally...
Enchanting Charmed: Why, thank you. I'm really sorry Race to Rescue confused you!
Rea: Aw, thanks! Your compliments mean a lot to me, as do your reviews. I'm glad you like the new story, and I'm glad you're still reading!
Piper cried openly as the last few chords faded away into silence. The song worked to ease a little of her pain, but she could not allow it to do more. Grieving Prue was her duty. She had to hold on and feel the agony of loss continuously in order to honor her sister properly. That was what her conscience told her even as her weary spirit screamed for release. Her heart ached and strained against the confinement of pain. Letting go of the sister who had spent a lifetime protecting and caring for Piper and Phoebe was not easy, nor was it something that felt right to her.
Phoebe tightened her embrace while Piper sobbed. She was having a hard time deciding whether she had made Piper's situation better or worse. The soft, shuddering sounds Piper was making caused Phoebe's throat to constrict painfully. If she could only soothe her older sister, she would do nearly anything. It wasn't as though she wasn't hurting, but it made everything so much more painful to watch Piper go through these phases of intense anguish. Besides, she was keeping herself under tight control. She longed for the chance to loose the reins she had on her emotions, yet she knew she could not do so until Piper could handle the weight of the burden which Phoebe carried. She had spent her entire life being the care-free youngest Halliwell. Now, she was not only shoved into the role of middle child, but she was playing oldest sister too.
Piper shrugged Phoebe's arms off of her and rolled out of her bed. She needed to walk. Phoebe's eyes followed her as she pulled on a pair of jeans and a light blue shirt. Without an explanation, she hurried from her room and down the stairs, socks and a pair of tennis shoes in hand. Phoebe trailed after her silently. When Piper sat down in the living room to put on her shoes, Phoebe sat down next to her.
"Piper, where are you going?," she asked quietly. Piper glanced at her, but didn't respond. Sighing, Phoebe stared at her sister, fully expecting an answer. Piper tired of the scrutiny and stopped in the middle of tying her shoe to look up at Phoebe.
"I am going for a walk," she said in a monotone.
"Want me to come with you?," Phoebe offered. Piper shook her head and pulled her shoe laces tight. Once finished, she practically leaped off the couch and made a dash for the front door. It wasn't until she had pulled the big wooden door closed did she slow her pace. She needed to get away from Phoebe and her smothering concern. Even more, she knew if she didn't leave the oppressive memories of her older sister that lurked throughout the Manor behind for a while her sanity would snap. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that her departure had more than likely wounded Phoebe, who had been increasingly worrisome towards Piper. Guilt wormed its way into the storm of emotions already riding on her. Sighing, she began briskly walking down the sidewalk, turning left when she reached the junction.
It was a humid day and her hair felt heavy on her neck. The sun beat down on her back with a steady warmth. She glanced around, checking out her surroundings. The neighborhood seemed quieter than usual. No one was out watering their grass or weeding their gardens. A cat was lazily sprawled under a bush next to the house she was passing, and Piper found herself wishing she could be that content. Just as suddenly as it had washed over her, the desire to walk fled from her. Piper turned on her heel with a sigh and began the short journey back to the Manor.
Phoebe heard the door open and shut from her spot in the kitchen. She resisted the urge to charge at Piper and demand answers, but only because she had no idea what questions she wanted answers to. She heard heavy footsteps on the stairs and felt a twinge of anger. Piper didn't even have the decency to tell her she was back. Quickly, she forced her frustration back down.
A crash and a small scream had Phoebe sprinting for the stairs. In her mind, she saw a hundred different scenes. Piper, laying dead on the floor... She quickened her pace and was now at a dead run. The stairs took a grand total of three seconds to climb and she turned to fly down the hall towards Piper's room. She halted in front of the door, her heart beating rapidly in her chest and a sickening sense of dread building in her stomach. Before she could lose her nerve, she flung open the door and stepped inside, fully prepared to do battle if necessary.
Piper whirled around to face Phoebe, fury darkening her expression. Phoebe looked around the room and caught a glimpse of what had caused the noise. A picture frame lay broken on the floor, the glass shattered into tiny pieces. Piper let rage take over and she picked up the lamp on her bedside table. Angrily, she jerked the cord from the wall outlet and heaved the object across the room.
"Piper," Phoebe protested loudly, cautiously walking towards her sister. Piper continued to throw anything she could get her hands on, but the fury refused to ease. Finally, Phoebe reached her and gently extricated the glass figurine from Piper's fingers.
"Look at me," she demanded forcefully. Piper raised wild eyes to meet hers. "I know you are hurting. I know it because I am, too, but you can't keep doing this to yourself." She waited for some sign that Piper was listening. Gradually, Piper began to relax and tears surfaced to replace the rage.
"How can we go on living without her?," Piper asked quietly, "I don't think I can." Phoebe wrapped her arms around Piper, cradling the back of her head in one hand.
"Yes, you can. You have to," she whispered past the lump in her throat, "For me."
She could hold on no longer. The tears she had repressed for days began pouring from her eyes in rivers. Her sobs shook her body so violently that Piper pulled away and searched her face.
The pain in Phoebe's expression did what nothing else could do. The film of grief that had covered her so closely lifted slightly and she moved to comfort her younger sister. Phoebe knew that her role as "oldest" sister was finally over and wept harder, finally letting go completely. Piper gently led Phoebe to her bed and sat her down. Sitting down beside her, she smoothed back the hair plastered to Phoebe's face and held her.
"How could she leave us?," Phoebe asked brokenly. Piper had no answer. She was wondering the same thing.