A/N: Wow, I'm so glad everyone likes my story so much. Well, since I'm sure everyone wants to know just what the hell is going on, read on....

Charmed At Last
Chapter 4: To Be Or Not To Be Dead?

Piper narrowed her eyes at her mother and then her grandmother. "Explain what?" Piper questioned.

"We should go to the attic, for this." Patty said.

Penny and Patty disappeared in a swirl of white lights.

Prue, Piper, Phoebe, Paige, and Leo walked up to the attic to find Penny and Patty already there.

"Umm, Leo, I think I hear someone." Prue said.

"I really need my powers back." Leo said.

Prue nodded and mumbled the spell to herself. There was a flash of light and then Prue narrowed her eyes at a box and it went flying across the room. "All fixed." Prue said.

"Thanks." Leo said, then he orbed out.

Penny took a step back. "I think I should be glad that I'm dead right now..." Penny mumbled.

Phoebe glared at Penny. "Grams, tell us what's going on!" Phoebe said.

"You see, Prue isn't in spirit form...." Patty said, pointing to Prue.

Piper, Phoebe, and Paige took one look at Penny and Patty then looked at Prue. They had just now realized this. You could see through both Penny and Patty but Prue was solid. Usually spirits were see through, unless under special circumstances.

"Go on..." Phoebe urged.

"And she's not actually dead..." Penny finished.

Piper's mouth dropped open. "What the hell are you talking about?!" Piper burst out.

"Prue never died." Patty said, bluntly.

"What?! We saw Prue's dead body, we buried Prue! How can you saw she never died?!" Piper asked, her voice was rising with each word.

"No, you saw Prue get hurt. But you saw an illusion of Prue's dead body. You buried an illusion." Penny said.

"But the Power of Three was broken!" Phoebe said.

"No, it wasn't. See, you are all Charmed Ones. Any combination of you three make up the Power of Three. So Prue, Piper, and Paige could be the Power of Three or Prue, Phoebe, and Paige." Penny answered.

"That was why you weren't allowed to see her, Prue was never actually dead." Patty said.

Tears started to form in Piper's eyes. "So, she was alive and here this entire time?" Piper questioned.

"Yes...." Penny answered.

"And you made refused to let me see or hear her? You purposly kept her from me?!" Piper asked.

"Piper....Paige needed to be found but we couldn't do that with all four of you together. It wasn't time, yet. Paige needed to make her own destiny within the Power of Three. Since Paige was born with the telekinetic gift, we had to take Prue away from the power of three so the prophecy would still be correct." Penny explained.

"Why couldn't you tell us?!" Piper asked, she was sobbing now.

"Because, it wasn't time. You couldn't know yet." Patty said.

"Prue, did you know about this? Did you agree to it?" Piper asked, as tears streamed down her face.

Prue nodded. "Yes, but I didn't want to at first. But once I learned that I'd see you again, I agreed." Prue said.

"I can't believe you! You should've fought to stay with your sisters! How dare you just abandon us like that!" Piper yelled. Piper spun around to Penny and Patty. "And why does this family have so many damn secrets?! First us being witches, then Paige, then the baby, and now this!" Piper yelled.

Prue felt a pain shoot through her body. She loved her little sister dearly and never meant to hurt her so much, twice. "Piper...." Prue said, as she held out her arms and took a step closer to her sister.

Piper pulled away. "No!" Piper said. Piper turned and ran from the attic.

Prue looked at Phoebe and gave her a sympathetic look. Phoebe just stared at Prue and then looked to Penny and Patty. Phoebe sighed and shook her head and then ran out the attic door after Piper.

Paige watched the scene. Soon she could feel hurt and guilt. "I can't believe that I tore this family apart. I made mom and Sam suffer when they gave me up. I made Piper suffer when she lost Prue so she could find me. Then I stole Piper's chance to have the first baby." Paige said. Paige could feel the tears forming in her eyes. "I just wreck everything for everyone." Paige whimpered. Paige placed her hands on her face and then disappeared in a swirl of blue and white orbs.

Prue stared at Penny and Patty. "Look, now I've messed up the happy home again. Piper and Phoebe are angry with me and Paige thinks it's all her fault." Prue said.

"We'll be back later." Penny said.

Patty shook her head. "Come on Patty." Penny said, then Penny disappeared in a swirl of white lights.

"It's nobody's fault, Prue. Piper and Phoebe need time to adjust. Paige needs you. She's never had her oldest sister and she needs you now more than ever. You may not know it, but you need her too." Patty said.

Prue nodded. "Thanks mom." Prue said.

Patty smiled. "I love you Prudence." Patty said.

"I love you too, mom." Prue replied. She smiled weakly.

"Blessed be, my darling." Patty whispered, then she disappeared in a swirl of white lights.

Prue wiped a tear from her cheek and then took a deep breath. "Well, first things first..." Prue said. Prue walked out of the attic and down the hall. "Let's see. My room, Piper's room, Phoebe's room, and Grams' old room. I bet that's Paige's room." Prue said to herself. Prue walked over to the room and knocked on the door.

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"Yes?" Paige's voice answered. Her voice sounded small.

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"It's Prue, can I talk to you?" Prue asked. There was a long silence and then finally Paige in." Paige said, in a quiet tone.

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Prue turned the door handle and then walked into Paige's room, shutting the door behind her.

TO BE CONTINUED....