It was teaming rain outside when Piper tiptoed down the stairs. She didn't want to wake up anyone else. It was very early in the morning, but this was important, especially to her. When she reached the foot of the stairs, she walked over to the divider that separated the family room from the conservatory. She lifted up her hand very steadily and hesitated to set it on the wall. A tear started to roll down her smooth cheek. More tears started to form in her eyes when she finally got up the courage to touch the wall. The tan paint that covered the wall matched the rest of the color that was in the hallway. Only this spot was special, and not in a pleasant way. It was where Piper's worst fears came true. Right where her hand lay was where her big sister's life came to an end. Prue flew this wall almost three years ago, and this was Prue's second birthday she wasn't there to celebrate. She would have been 33 today. Even though Prue was gone, Piper felt an obligation to pay her respect and to honor her. She was an outstanding warrior, a great friend, more importantly; she was the best sister anyone could of asked for. Prue had raised her and Phoebe after their mom died, and Prue never really got a chance to be a kid. Piper felt like she owed her this.

Piper slowly took her palm off the wall, and wiped the tears form her face. She continued into the kitchen. Piper couldn't help but remember all the time her, Phoebe, and Prue had spent in the kitchen. From family breakfasts, to potion mixing. Opening the fridge, she took out a white box with a gold string tied into a neat bow. She pulled one of the ends of the neatly tied bow. Gradually she continued to untie the rest until she could open the box with ease. A beautiful cake occupied the box. Purple flowers surrounded the bottom of the cake, and the white icing had been written on with deep blue coloring. Piper took her index finger and followed the cursive writing that was on the cake, being careful not to touch or smudge it.

"Happy Birthday Prue." She said following the letters. A tear fell form her face and landed on one of the flowers. She closed up the box and retied the gold ribbon. She carefully picked up the box and carried it out into the foyer. She placed it down on a table and opened the cabinet that contained old photos. She took out one of all three of them when they were only little girls, and one of them taken right before the accident. Next to where the pictures were there was a bouquet of colored flowers. With the cake in one hand, and the flowers, and pictures in the other, Piper opened the front door. Just then she heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Have room for one more?" a voice said from behind her. Phoebe walked over to her big sister and put her arm around Piper's neck. "You didn't think that I forgot did you?" Phoebe said trying to hold back her tears.

"I honestly didn't know what to think." Piper said quietly.

"I would never forget Prue's birthday Piper, she was my sister too, and I really miss her. I wouldn't miss this for the world." Phoebe said staring into her sister's eyes. "Ready to go?"

Piper stared down at the floor, her tears falling off her face a lot faster than before. "I don't know if I can go." She said wiping her face, "It is just so hard. She was my big sister, my guide, my lifeline, my everything. I still have trouble accepting the fact that she is gone, out of our lives, and that she is never coming back. She was always so great, so organized and so strong. She was never afraid of anything. I can't live up to that, I try, I really do, but I can't. I'm scared every day, all the time."

"Piper," Phoebe said lifting up her sister's chin. "You don't need to worry about that. You are doing a great job, none of us could ask for more. You are my guide, my lifeline, my everything. I look up to you so much. I couldn't ask you to do anymore, you kept this family together, and you started your own. You don't have to feel bad at all. You should nothing but pure satisfaction; no one could have done better. Prue would be proud." They walked out the front door hand in hand.

Leo and Paige stat at the top of the stairs listing intensely to the girls' conversation. Paige had her face buried deep in her hands looking down at he oriental carpet the covered the stairs, while Leo was looking up toward the ceiling. Paige raised her head and looked at Leo, "Should we go with them?" she asked feeling uncomfortable.

Making eye contact with Paige he replied, " No, this is something they have to do on their own. They still are learning to deal with their pain. We have to let them find peace by themselves."

"I know what they mean." Paige muttered to her self so quietly that Leo couldn't even hear it.

Phoebe cranked open the door to the dark, damp mausoleum. She had on a soaking wet black raincoat that was covering her pink and blue pajamas. She held the heavy steel door open for Piper whose hair was soaking wet from being out in the rain. They stood together looking around the gigantic room. It gave them both an empty feeling inside their stomachs. Piper and Phoebe linked arms at the elbow and began to walk forward to Prue's grave.

"It feels like it was just yesterday." Phoebe said tucking her free hand deep inside her pocket. She leaned her head on Piper's shoulder.

"I know." Piper replied stroking her sister's long silky hair. In her mind, Piper recalled all the times that she had spent trying to bring back her lost sister. From lost sister spells, to séances, to potions, but nothing had worked. They stood in the middle of the damp mausoleum staring at the older sister's terrible fate. Their eyes watered more than ever before and their tears were falling rapidly on the stone floor. They joined hands at the waist and they both squeezed each others had tightly for reassurance. Together they stepped forward toward Prue's grave. Taking small steps, they approached the slate with their sisters' name written in gold letters. Piper set the cake, flowers, and pictures down on the ground and then traced the finger over the smooth letters, which got rid of some of the dust that had been covering it since her last visit. "Happy birthday Prue."